Two Cards vs. One

[murrays]

The cable guy (Charter in Madison WI) installed two cards today. Card two seemed to pick up everything fine, but card one doesn't. When I go to "Test Channels" under settings, card one says "No Channels Available" IIRC. He's coming back tomorrow to try a different card. No panic there, yet.

After playing around, it appears that the only time two cards are needed for dual tuner functionality is when trying to get two "HD Tier" channels at once. IOW, I was able to record one HD channel (local station) and tune in other HD channels with just one card installed.

Personally, about the only thing I want to record that's not on a local station is ESPN so I'm thinking I only need one card. Anyone else out there running with one card?

Thanks
-murray

[hookbill]

The cable guy (Charter in Madison WI) installed two cards today. Card two seemed to pick up everything fine, but card one doesn't. When I go to "Test Channels" under settings, card one says "No Channels Available" IIRC. He's coming back tomorrow to try a different card. No panic there, yet.

After playing around, it appears that the only time two cards are needed for dual tuner functionality is when trying to get two "HD Tier" channels at once. IOW, I was able to record one HD channel (local station) and tune in other HD channels with just one card installed.

Personally, about the only thing I want to record that's not on a local station is ESPN so I'm thinking I only need one card. Anyone else out there running with one card?

Thanks
-murray


Just when you think you've heard it all. :)

Most people have trouble with the second card. It probably is just a bad card, but he will have to reinstall both cards. Make sure he does it just like the directions say. Don't try to force anything with the remote. Card one first, wait until diagnostic screen comes up, then card two. It should take about 5 minutes for card 2 to activate.

[murrays]

Just when you think you've heard it all. :)

Most people have trouble with the second card. It probably is just a bad card, but he will have to reinstall both cards. Make sure he does it just like the directions say. Don't try to force anything with the remote. Card one first, wait until diagnostic screen comes up, then card two. It should take about 5 minutes for card 2 to activate.

When you say "diagnostic screen", is that the pairing screen (first choice on the card menu)?

-murray

[hookbill]

When you say "diagnostic screen", is that the pairing screen (first choice on the card menu)?

-murray

Yes, exactly. I never remember what it's called so I say diagnostic. Main thing is have him redo it. You know card 2 is good but it has to be done this way so they can marry them properly.

[Thursday]

Just make sure that you wait until that 'diagnostic' screen that says 'this screen is shown on the behalf of your cable provider' and has the Host ID and Data values on it comes up. If you navigate to the pairing settings, it could potentially be the old values and not the new ones.

From what I've seen, each time you remove the Cablecard and re-insert it, the host will stay the same but the data value might change.

Definately wait for that 'diagnostic' screen to just pop up after installing the cable card, it takes anywhere between 2 - 5 minutes, and it's necessary you wait.

[murrays]

From what I've seen, each time you remove the Cablecard and re-insert it, the host will stay the same but the data value might change.

Does the cable co need to enter the new data values when the card is removed and reinserted? What about when the unit restarts?

I played around with pulling the cards out, swapping their position, etc. and now card two doesn't pick up the HD tier stations :o

Oh well, the cable guy will be making another trip so all should be well soon.

Any thoughts on one vs. two cards?

-murray

[hookbill]

Does the cable co need to enter the new data values when the card is removed and reinserted? What about when the unit restarts?

I played around with pulling the cards out, swapping their position, etc. and now card two doesn't pick up the HD tier stations :o

Oh well, the cable guy will be making another trip so all should be well soon.

Any thoughts on one vs. two cards?

-murray

Well, you can't have dual tuner with one card. It's the same in my opinion as purchasing a car and saying "I only need third and fourth gear."

This is an expensive piece of equipment you want it to run at it's full capability.

[murrays]

Well, you can't have dual tuner with one card. It's the same in my opinion as purchasing a car and saying "I only need third and fourth gear."

This is an expensive piece of equipment you want it to run at it's full capability.

Are you sure? I want to try again, but it appears that the dual tuner works fine with one card so long as both channels aren't in the "HD Tier". The only thing I really want from the HD tier is ESPN so that's not an issue.

-murray

[murrays]

I just confirmed, I can record two local HD channels from through cable at the same time with only one card inserted.

I can't tell how this works with the encrypted HD channels (HD Tier) since those are not coming through at the moment. Cable guy is coming this afternoon.

-murray

[BruceShultes]

Does the cable co need to enter the new data values when the card is removed and reinserted? What about when the unit restarts?

I played around with pulling the cards out, swapping their position, etc. and now card two doesn't pick up the HD tier stations :o

Oh well, the cable guy will be making another trip so all should be well soon.

Any thoughts on one vs. two cards?

-murray

Switching the cards between slots will definitely give you trouble. Each slot has a different host-id. Unless your cable company has an old head end that doesn't pair the cable card id with the host-id, switching cards will lose you access to all encoded channels.

[Roderigo]

Just make sure that you wait until that 'diagnostic' screen that says 'this screen is shown on the behalf of your cable provider' and has the Host ID and Data values on it comes up. If you navigate to the pairing settings, it could potentially be the old values and not the new ones.

This isn't true. If the card is going to generate a new Data value, they it will say "Information not available" it won't give you outdated information


From what I've seen, each time you remove the Cablecard and re-insert it, the host will stay the same but the data value might change.

The data only changes if you move the cards around, or the cable company sends a message to the card to regenerate that value.. As long as the card gets put back into the same slot, it will keep the same data value. And, if the Data value changes, you need to give it to the cable company (assuming they're using copy protection, which requires this value).

[murrays]

Just an update: The new card from the cable guy works so we have two operational cards :up:

FWIW, if all you want from your cable cards are the local HD stations, you may be just fine with one cable card, I know we would be.

-murray

[hookbill]

Just an update: The new card from the cable guy works so we have two operational cards :up:

FWIW, if all you want from your cable cards are the local HD stations, you may be just fine with one cable card, I know we would be.

-murray

Good news. In my area you can get all local HD stations without any cable card.

Glad it all worked out. :)

[Jerry_K]

I am a Series 3 user with no cable or no cable cards. OTA is great for me. HD-DVD does the rest for movies.