What is the point of Cablecards with a S3?

[Jakobud]

I'm not new to Tivos but Cablecards is something I've never really paid much attention to, and I have some basic questions.

I have Time Warner. I just got one of their HD DVR. It's interface is simply horrible. I'm getting rid of it immediately and thinking about going with a Tivo HD S3.

I'm only a little confused on why I would need a Cablecard (or two Cablecards for the S3 apparently). Like what is the advantage of having Cablecards in the S3 vs. not having them? And if I don't get them, then why should I get an Series3 vs. a Series2? I obviously won't be getting HD signals with a non-cablecard S3 right?

Is this correct?:


Series 3 w/o Cablecards:

I get normal cable up to channel ~70 or something. Nothing else.

Series 3 w Cablecards:

I get normal cable up to channel ~70 or something
I get all the xtra channels I'm paying for (Digital Cable)
I get the HD channels I'm paying for
I get access to OnDemand and Pay Per View channels? (I don't care about these anyways)



Sorry if there is something in a FAQ about this. I looked and didn't see anything. And the only Cablecard related sticky is with regards to people's luck with various cable companies and their installations.

[NOD]

no on-demand or ppv w/ cc's.

only HD signals you'll get w/o the cablecards are:

1) OTA local signals from an antenna
2) QAM local stuff that comcast may pass through w/o requiring cablecards

Is there something odd about that? Out of the 17 HD channels and 400 channels I get from my cable company, about 5 HD channels and 70 sd channels would be available w/o cablecards.

Which would you prefer?

[hunts]

Also it should be mentioned that if you go *without* the cablecards, that you can not create a season pass due to the tivo not knowing what data goes with the specific channel. (e.g. 110-7)

[Pilot20]

Also it should be mentioned that if you go *without* the cablecards, that you can not create a season pass due to the tivo not knowing what data goes with the specific channel. (e.g. 110-7)


Does that include OTA channels as well?

[SullyND]

Does that include OTA channels as well?

No, only non-encrypted digital cable (QAM).

[classicsat]

In short:
Cablecard(s) map the QAM channel neumbers to linup channel numgers so you can use the guide with cable, and it provides access to linear/static encrypted channels.

Having Two allows you to use both tuners at once.

[rmassey]

Will analog basic cable work on the S3 w/o cable cards? Will I get guide data that I can use to create a SP?

[lessd]

I'm not new to Tivos but Cablecards is something I've never really paid much attention to, and I have some basic questions.

I have Time Warner. I just got one of their HD DVR. It's interface is simply horrible. I'm getting rid of it immediately and thinking about going with a Tivo HD S3.

I'm only a little confused on why I would need a Cablecard (or two Cablecards for the S3 apparently). Like what is the advantage of having Cablecards in the S3 vs. not having them? And if I don't get them, then why should I get an Series3 vs. a Series2? I obviously won't be getting HD signals with a non-cablecard S3 right?

Is this correct?:


Series 3 w/o Cablecards:

I get normal cable up to channel ~70 or something. Nothing else.

Series 3 w Cablecards:

I get normal cable up to channel ~70 or something
I get all the xtra channels I'm paying for (Digital Cable)
I get the HD channels I'm paying for
I get access to OnDemand and Pay Per View channels? (I don't care about these anyways)



Sorry if there is something in a FAQ about this. I looked and didn't see anything. And the only Cablecard related sticky is with regards to people's luck with various cable companies and their installations.

The Series 3 replaces the cable box and unless you are getting rid of cable for OTA HDTV you must get the two cable cards (from your cable co) or not bother getting the Series 3 at all as the Series 3 cost too much (in my opion) not to fully use its capabilities.

[mrmot]

Will analog basic cable work on the S3 w/o cable cards? Will I get guide data that I can use to create a SP?

Yes, analog basic cable works fine and you'll get the guide data.

[rmassey]

Yes, analog basic cable works fine and you'll get the guide data.

excellent, thanks for the info :)

the Series 3 cost too much (in my opion) not to fully use its capabilities.

even if it means you have a $100/mo cable bill :rolleyes: :down:

[dianebrat]

without cablecards you're limited to analog and then basic HD,
with cablecards, you can get all your digital channels

That's enough of a plus to get me into Cablecards. (it's at least 20 addl channels that I will watch, like BBCA)

Diane

[ewilts]

The other thing to remember is that many cable providers simulcast the analog channels in digital. The CableCard remaps the analog channel number to the digital version of the channel. This means, at least for me, that all of the analog channels are much clearer than they were when I had a Series 2. Some channels that were previously unwatchable are now nice and clear. So although you may think that channel 2 is analog, I'm actually watching the digital version of it.

.../Ed

[drew00001]

no on-demand or ppv w/ cc's.

Actually, PPV is available with a cablecard enabled S3 if your cable company allows you to order PPV via phone. I've seen NOD write that it is not possible before. I'm not sure if his cableco doesn't allow or he just has not figured out that you have to order by phone. I suspect the latter but anything is possible. In any case, I am on Seattle-Comcast and order PPV every couple of months.

[kido]

having just made the switch from standard cable + OTA HD to digital cable + 2 cable cards, i can say for myself that it is an improvement. we had a few channels that never came in very well and overall the picture quality is better for the non-HD channels. comcast in chicago transmits the same signal, i believe, as the local OTA HD signals, so the quality is the same for those, but i was never able to tune CBS OTA HD, and all the digital channels have good strength so i haven't seen any blocking or pixelation like i would with OTA from time to time. we are paying about the same per month as we would for the standard analog package and the cablecards were free.

if they weren't about to turn off analog cable in chicago, i probably would have continued with my original setup, but in the end the improvement is a pleasant surprise.

btw, the S3 handled the switch beautifully. it even remapped all my season passes for me.

[GoHokies!]

There's a bunch of people that are satisfied with analog cable+OTA for a huge cost savings. Everyone has to make their own decisions and nobody is wrong for using/not using cablecards.

Personally I couldn't live without ESPNHD during football season, then I get spoiled by things like Discovery HD, so I'll keep on using cable cards.