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View Full Version : What can I receive without CableCards?

jhurlbut
09-14-2006, 03:52 PM
Sorry if this info is somewhere else, but couldn't find it easily. If so and you have a link, that will suffice.

I just picked up my S3 today, but Comcast can't get out until NEXT Friday to install my cable cards, and I'm dying to hook up my S3. If I just plug it into the cable outlet will I just get basic cable? My HD locals are in the 100 - 113 range, would those come in? Or do I need the cablecard to receive those?

I don't know what a QAM is, so if you mention "unencrypted QAM" or something like that, I won't have a clue what you're talking about without a bit of basic explanation. :D

So is it worth it to hook it up tonight? Or should I just patiently wait until next Friday (which will likely kill me)?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

John
Dan203
09-14-2006, 03:55 PM
Without CableCARDs all you'll be able to record via Season Passes and Wish Lists will be OTA and regular analog cable. You will not recieve guide data for the digital cable channels until you install the CableCARDs even if they are unencrypted.

Dan
classicsat
09-14-2006, 04:34 PM
You can probably manually tune and record your HD locals on cable.
Dan203
09-14-2006, 06:05 PM
You can tune them and do manual recordings, but without guide data they just show up as Manual: date / time at the bottom of Now Playing. Hardly the true Tivo experience.

Dan
alansplace
09-14-2006, 06:33 PM
Sorry if this info is somewhere else, but couldn't find it easily. If so and you have a link, that will suffice.

I just picked up my S3 today, but Comcast can't get out until NEXT Friday to install my cable cards, and I'm dying to hook up my S3. If I just plug it into the cable outlet will I just get basic cable? My HD locals are in the 100 - 113 range, would those come in? Or do I need the cablecard to receive those?

I don't know what a QAM is, so if you mention "unencrypted QAM" or something like that, I won't have a clue what you're talking about without a bit of basic explanation. :D

So is it worth it to hook it up tonight? Or should I just patiently wait until next Friday (which will likely kill me)?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

JohnWithout CableCARD(s) the Series3 HD DVR will still be able
to access in-the clear digital cable channels (generally local
channels), basic cable channels, ATSC digital over the air channels
(available in high definition in most areas) and analog antenna channels.

The TiVo Series3 HD is capable of receiving analog basic, digital basic,
and digital premium cable television programming by direct connection to
a cable system providing such programming.

quoted from http://www.tivo.com/2.0.3hdDvr.plt.faqs_2.asp
--
Alan :D
Dan203
09-14-2006, 07:22 PM
Without CableCARD(s) the Series3 HD DVR will still be able
to access in-the clear digital cable channels (generally local
channels)

Did you even read my posts? While it's true that you will be able to tune these "in the clear" channels, without a CableCARD they do NOT have any guide data. Which means the best you can do is manual recordings by basic date and time. Which means you've effectively turned your $800 TiVo into an HD VCR. :down:

Dan
alansplace
09-14-2006, 07:35 PM
Did you even read my posts? yes, but nobody had yet referred to the info on the tivo website faqs for the s3, so i thought it worthwhile mentioning that source of info. why? do you think my post is inappropriate?
--
Alan :D
Dan203
09-14-2006, 07:40 PM
I didn't realize that was from TiVo's website. Totally misleading if you ask me!

Sorry to snap at you for TiVo's misleading information. :o

Dan
alansplace
09-14-2006, 07:42 PM
I didn't realize that was from TiVo's website. Totally misleading if you ask me!

Sorry to snap at you for TiVo's misleading information. :o

Danno problem.
--
Alan :D
jfh3
09-14-2006, 07:46 PM
Well, the FAQ sure implies there's some QAM mapping ability ... guess I'll find out for sure when I get the box.
Dan203
09-14-2006, 07:50 PM
Well, the FAQ sure implies there's some QAM mapping ability ... guess I'll find out for sure when I get the box.

There is no such ability. TiVo said they are "looking into it" but it does not exist in the current software.

Dan
alee
09-14-2006, 07:58 PM
So once I get my TiVo HD, should I wait for the cable guys to do the cards, or should I just go ahead and setup knowing that other "stuff" needs to happen once the cards are in?
g808
09-14-2006, 08:08 PM
I would say it depends on how long after your S3 arrives can they install your CableCARDs? I would (and have) setup the S3 to ensure it works. The setup instructions say its fine to setup the S3 without the CableCARDs. Just re-run the setup once they are installed to ensure the guide info and everything is updated to work with them.

My install is set for 9/20, but I setup the S3 with analog cable today. It works very nicely. Can't wait to use this bad boy with digital cable and HD!
Dan203
09-14-2006, 08:18 PM
Go ahead and set it up without the cards. Once the cards are installed all you have to do is rerun Guided Setup and you're good to go. (you will not lose any setting or recordings by rerunning GS)

Dan
Phantom Gremlin
09-15-2006, 02:59 AM
There is no such ability. TiVo said they are "looking into it" but it does not exist in the current software.

Dan
Wow, the need for useful QAM in an $800 product meant to connect to cable apparently took the "scientists" at TiVo by complete surprise.

The alternative is of course a cablecard. I checked with my local Comcast and for me to get one cablecard is free but two would be an extra $10/month. And of course the S3 is highly crippled with just one card.

Dan, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, I know you're just the messenger. But when I read something like "they are looking into it" I can't help but think of this great Far Side cartoon, one of my absolute all time favorites:

http://theory.rockefeller.edu/

Knowing how it could change the life of canines everywhere, the dog scientists struggled diligently to understand the Doorknob Principle.
Dan203
09-15-2006, 03:24 AM
The problem is that some cable companies move their QAM channels around quite frequently, and the only automated way of keeping on top of that is the CableCARD. Sure they could offer an interface that allows users to manually map QAM channels to the proper guide data, and they might just do that, but be aware that if you live in one of these areas where the changes happen frequently you'll have to stay on top of that manual map all the time. Otherwise you run the risk of missing programs.

If there was some simple "doorknob principle" to figure out, TiVo would have figured it out. But really their only choice is between requiring a CableCARD and enabling an interface which could cause users a whole lot o grief.

Dan
Phantom Gremlin
09-15-2006, 01:04 PM
But really their only choice is between requiring a CableCARD and enabling an interface which could cause users a whole lot o grief.
I know what you're saying, but this philosophy is EXACTLY what upsets me about TiVo the company.

Many TiVos are owned by nerds, geeks and the like (let's just call them "enthusiasts"). These enthusiasts understand technology, they're not afraid of it. TiVo should figure out how to accomodate them while keeping the box simple enough for Joe Sixpack.

As you say, they could have provided manual mapping for QAM. Or, in another of my pet peeves, they could provide a way to see how much disk space a recording takes plus how much free disk space remains.

They could provide features like that in some sort of advanced menu, or maybe using SPS codes to enable them, or something similar to keep the unwashed masses from hurting themselves.