Cable Card vs STB

[DrDave]

I searched around but hard to find a clear answer, so maybe you all can help.

I am switching from Dish Network to Comcast Cable. I have HD Plasma that is cable card ready. I have S2 Humax Tivo now, but will want the S3 when it comes out. I also have two STB for Dish now (so I can watch HD and record off of the other)..

So should I just get two STB both with HD ability? so they can connect to the S3 when it is out? Why would I get the cable card instead? just space? or slight price difference?

Thanks.. sorry if this was elsewhere..

[ZeoTiVo]

if you do not care about PPV/VOD then get a cable card for your TV now and see what the difference is. I would think a slightly less per month on the card vs STB.

the Sereis 3 will use cable card so having experience with the cable card in your TV and how well it works will be good information when you start thinking about buying an S3

[DrDave]

I just thought of one more thing. With the cable card, where will the audio go? It looks from the hookup you plug in the cable card and then it has an antenna output. oh.,. now just thought of a whole bunch of other questions.. like how does Tivo connect into the picture, how do you control the cable card? if I get two STB how will I control those, the IR will have to be separated somehow..
It will most likely be easier when the installer gets here and I can see the connections and pieces..

[petew]

I just thought of one more thing. With the cable card, where will the audio go? It looks from the hookup you plug in the cable card and then it has an antenna output. oh.,. now just thought of a whole bunch of other questions.. like how does Tivo connect into the picture, how do you control the cable card? if I get two STB how will I control those, the IR will have to be separated somehow..
It will most likely be easier when the installer gets here and I can see the connections and pieces..

With the series 3 Tivo, the cable card plugs into the Tivo. Cable connects to RF in on the Tivo and you connect your plasma to the Tivo with an HDMI cable which carries both audio and video.

[jsmeeker]

I searched around but hard to find a clear answer, so maybe you all can help.

I am switching from Dish Network to Comcast Cable. I have HD Plasma that is cable card ready. I have S2 Humax Tivo now, but will want the S3 when it comes out. I also have two STB for Dish now (so I can watch HD and record off of the other)..

So should I just get two STB both with HD ability? so they can connect to the S3 when it is out? Why would I get the cable card instead? just space? or slight price difference?

Thanks.. sorry if this was elsewhere..


If you get the series 3, a STB from the cable company can't be hooked up to the series 3. The only source you can feed it is an antenna and a cable TV signal. There is no other input like a standalone series 1 or series 2.

[ZeoTiVo]

You should be aware that with the Series 2 DT you can only control one STB. You can not control two as that would require two independent IR or serial controllers and their is only one.

I at the moment forget if there is an IR/serial controller on the series 3 for sure but I think there is not anything like that on a series 3
edit - sorry Smeek - I see you already answered this part

[DrDave]

OK... seems like my plan would be cable card and STB and the antenna.
The series 3 can get the cable card and the antena for dual feeds (since the S3 cannot control the STB). then wait for the S3..

[Johncv]

I searched around but hard to find a clear answer, so maybe you all can help.

I am switching from Dish Network to Comcast Cable. I have HD Plasma that is cable card ready. I have S2 Humax Tivo now, but will want the S3 when it comes out. I also have two STB for Dish now (so I can watch HD and record off of the other)..

So should I just get two STB both with HD ability? so they can connect to the S3 when it is out? Why would I get the cable card instead? just space? or slight price difference?

Thanks.. sorry if this was elsewhere..

Why are you switching? Can you record HD now with your current set-up?

[jsmeeker]

OK... seems like my plan would be cable card and STB and the antenna.
The series 3 can get the cable card and the antena for dual feeds (since the S3 cannot control the STB). then wait for the S3..


The series 3 can actually record two things at once with just a cable. You'll need TWO CableCards (1.0 cards) if you want to record two of the "srambled" digital channels at once. But that should not be a problem. Just ask the cable company for two of them.

[DrDave]

Why are you switching? Can you record HD now with your current set-up?
Swiching from Dish Network to Cable and DSL to Cable. Lower costs, higher speed. Not so happy with Dish.
I cannot Tivo HD now.

[Johncv]

Your switching to Comcast Cable, so why not use your current TiVo until the Comcast/TiVo DVR come out, because renting it is going cost less then two Cable Cards, the TiVo service for the S3. Also the cost of the S3 need to be factor in, which at this point everyone is just guessing at. If you want to record HD now just rent the Comcast DVR and if turn into a TiVo box, lucky you.