Cable Card Question: Room Switching

[DTOlness]

I just purchased a new series 3 Tivo and I am getting my cable cards installed. I was planning/hoping to be able to use the tivo in two different rooms on occasion, meaning I would use a different cable outlet by physically moving the tivo. Does it make a different on which cable outlet is used or can it only work on one outlet?

Thanks for any replies:)

Daniel

[jfh3]

No, you can put the S3 on any outlet or move it from room to room freely.

Just don't remove or swap the cable cards once they've been installed (they are "married" to a particular host/slot)

[DTOlness]

Thanks so much, that answers my question. I just didn't know how the cable company acitvates the cards, because I didn't want to have a situation where I had an outlet activated and then for example I wouldn't be able to move it in the future:)

[jrm01]

No, you can put the S3 on any outlet or move it from room to room freely.

Just don't remove or swap the cable cards once they've been installed (they are "married" to a particular host/slot)
In theory this is correct. However, there is always the potential for different signal strength problems if the other location has longer cabel runs, additional splitters, etc.

[DTOlness]

That is very interesting point. Knowing this ahead of time do you think there is anything the cable installer can do to offset any signal issues while they are installing the cable cards? Or would this be an issue to consider IF there is a problem after the install?

Thanks for the reply!

[jrm01]

That is very interesting point. Knowing this ahead of time do you think there is anything the cable installer can do to offset any signal issues while they are installing the cable cards? Or would this be an issue to consider IF there is a problem after the install?

Thanks for the reply!
They have a meter that they can use to test signal strength at each connection. It is usually a good indicator of potential problems. If they find a problem they can sometimes improve it by switching out splitters or installing amplifiers (either in-line for problems in one location only, or at entry point if an overall problem).

[classicsat]

Thanks so much, that answers my question. I just didn't know how the cable company acitvates the cards, because I didn't want to have a situation where I had an outlet activated and then for example I wouldn't be able to move it in the future:)

They activate the cards to your account, which its tied to the cable entering your home (and more technically, you neighborhood node, or even the provider).

[Unix_Beard]

No, you can put the S3 on any outlet or move it from room to room freely.

Just don't remove or swap the cable cards once they've been installed (they are "married" to a particular host/slot)

Not always true. When I got my TivoHD, I pulled the existing CableCard from my TV and inserted it into the Tivo and it works perfectly fine. Never called the cable co.

[jrm01]

Not always true. When I got my TivoHD, I pulled the existing CableCard from my TV and inserted it into the Tivo and it works perfectly fine. Never called the cable co.
It all depends on whether your local provider pairs the cards and/or encrypts the premium channels. If not, swap away.

[wdwms]

If you don't need HD tv in the other room, modulate your Tivo on a channel w/in your house:

http://www.buy.com/prod/channel-plus-3025-whole-house-video-distribution-system-with-dual/q/loc/111/90098830.html

i have the above. In the rest of my house my S1 is channel 14 and the S3 is channel 18... I added IR control and viola.. Tivo in every room..

-t

[jfh3]

Not always true. When I got my TivoHD, I pulled the existing CableCard from my TV and inserted it into the Tivo and it works perfectly fine. Never called the cable co.

There are cases where a card will work fine. But unless your card is properly paired and validated, you may lose channels at any time if the CCI values change.