Difference between Cable Box and Cable Cards?

[ShadowXOR]

Is the only difference that you don't have to have a box? What is the price difference? I'm thinking of getting a Series3 and have an HDTV with Cable Card support and want to know what I should do.

I also heard something about it needing two Cable Cards...I'm not sure if I have two slots. Can someone clear this up for me please? Thanks.

I have Comcast for the record and I'm currently using an HD Cable Box.

EDIT: I also heard using a Cable Card you can't get On Demand or order movies via your cable provider, is this true? If so, that sucks.

[DancnDude]

The Series 3 does not work with a cable box. It has 2 cable card slots which you will need to fill with cable cards to tune in the digital stations. The Series 3 replaces the cable box.

Your TV does not need to have a cable card slot and you don't need it to have a cable card unless you want to be able to watch a 3rd program live while 2 other programs were being recorded.

You cannot get your cable company's On Demand station with the Series 3. But if you hook the TiVo up to your network, you can rent movies from Amazon that will be downloaded to your TiVo.

[Leo_N]

And depending on cable company, you can call in on the phone and order PPV as long as the PPV is on a regular numbered station that has a set program guide (i.e. no SDV pay-per-view channels)

[ShadowXOR]

How much do Cable Card costs compared to having a box?

[Leo_N]

How much do Cable Card costs compared to having a box?

That is going to vary company to company also, and sometimes headend to headend will be different too.

For Charter here in SE Wisconsin, I pay $1.50/card per month. You do have to watch out though, there are some companies that charge you a low amount for the card but then trying hitting you with additional outlet fees on each card. We don't have it on the system I am on, your best bet would be to go through the sticky thread for your particular cable company at the top of this forum.

[jrm01]

How much do Cable Card costs compared to having a box?
Comcast has different rates for each area. It may save you $10 per month, or it may add $30 to the bill. You will find out about the third month of billing. They'll quote you one thing, bill you something else, and negotiate a different price after you complain. :rolleyes:

[mike_camden]

You might want to make sure that you understand SDV and its implications as a Tivo Series 3 owner also before purchasing. Here's a nice thread on it: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=357703

[ShadowXOR]

You might want to make sure that you understand SDV and its implications as a Tivo Series 3 owner also before purchasing. Here's a nice thread on it: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=357703
Wow what a bunch of crap that is! Now I'm second-guessing the Series3.

Does anyone know if the Series3 Lite will suffer from this?

[classicsat]

So far, it seems the Series 3 Lite, at least at release, will not be able to do SDV. I doubt it ever will.

[vstone]

So far, it seems the Series 3 Lite, at least at release, will not be able to do SDV. I doubt it ever will.Tivo is supposedly working with Cablelabs about an SDV solution. I don't expect it, but I wouldn't be surprised if S3L has a DOCSIS chip in it. Even without one, an IP based system could (not necessarily will) address the SDV issue. I think SA's SDV equipment is IP based, probably making it technically very easy to build a software solution or one requiring a very small black box, with or without a DOCSIS chip.