Cablecards.

[Scott D]

Can one get/buy CableCard somewhere other than your cable provider. I know what they are and what they do, just not where to get them.

Also, I take it, if the cable provider supplies them, that they are rental devices that must be returned or do they deactivate them making them useless?

[bkdtv]

Digital cable systems (750+MHz and above) are required by federal law to supply CableCards for a modest fee. Some cable companies like Comcast provide the first CableCard for free as part of a digital cable subscription. Others like Verizon FiOS charge $2.99/ea.

I don't think cable providers will activate CableCards except those they supply, but even if they would, it wouldn't be very cost effective. CableCards cost over $100/ea in quantity. On this forum, some members with smaller, independent cable companies were initially told they had to purchase each CableCard for upwards of $150.

[Marconi]

I don't think cable providers will activate CableCards except those they supply, but even if they would, it wouldn't be very cost effective. CableCards cost over $100/ea in quantity.

Cablecards are now cheaper. I wonder about the original question: Can we bring our own CableCards?

I seem to recall that, with set-top boxes, you could legally avoid the Cableco's rental by using your own box. But you had to buy it.

Is this true for CableCards? Can you buy your own?
I saw one on eBay for $40. Given my Cableco's rental for a card, I could save enough to pay for my own in a year...

[bicker]

A CableCARD provides a decryption key. Effectively, if you have "your own" then you're not going to have a decryption key that will decrypt signals encrypted with a service provider's encryption key.

[mattack]

Well, I see one cablecard for sale on ebay in a quick search. I could swear that some people have stated they *could* buy cablecards. (I thought at least one person has said they HAD to buy cablecards, at $150 each.)

It seems to me like if you could buy a cablecard that fits what the cable company needs, you should be able to do it.. but presumably that's not legally required.

[Marconi]

A CableCARD provides a decryption key. Effectively, if you have "your own" then you're not going to have a decryption key that will decrypt signals encrypted with a service provider's encryption key.Isn't that why you have the cable guy come out and set up your card -- to program it with the needed key?

I mean, with STBs, you could own one and save the rental. I think it's a federal law that they have to let you use your own, if you have one. I'm just thinking that CableCARDs ought to be the same. Maybe I'll call my cableco tomorrow and find out.

[bkdtv]

Isn't that why you have the cable guy come out and set up your card -- to program it with the needed key? Unfortunately, most cable companies won't activate the card unless they provide it.

I mean, with STBs, you could own one and save the rental. I think it's a federal law that they have to let you use your own, if you have one.The Telecommunication Act of 1996 require cable companies to separate the security from their set-top devices. That led to the creation of the OpenCable (CableCard) standard, which made the TivoHD and Moxi possible.

Cable companies with 750+MHz digital systems are required to supply CableCards and activate them in CableLabs' certified devices, but that's about the extent of their obligations (wrt equipment).

[bicker]

Well, I see one cablecard for sale on ebay in a quick search.There are suckers born every minute.

[bicker]

Isn't that why you have the cable guy come out and set up your card -- to program it with the needed key? No. The card is configured back at the head-end. The only reason to have a tech actually install it is because you don't trust subscribers not to waste the time of your advanced techs when calling in to read the pairing information off the host device, so that information can be entered into the system.

The tech is doing nothing -- can do nothing -- to the CableCARD, to make it work.

I mean, with STBs, you could own one and save the rental. I think it's a federal law that they have to let you use your own, if you have one.If it supports a CableCARD slot, and then you have the cable company install a CableCARD into it. That's how we got to this discussion, eh?

[mattack]

There are suckers born every minute.

In fact, one person posted here that he had 2 cablecards that he no longer uses. Since he HAD to buy them, he could sell them to someone else that uses the same cable company (or a compatible one).

[bicker]

Yeah, I saw that... but I think CableCARDs are specific to the head-end, not just the company.

[JWThiers]

The tech is doing nothing -- can do nothing -- to the CableCARD, to make it work.

IIRC the install tech that did mine 2 years ago, said something about getting laptops in the near future so that they could do the setup in the field (link host to CC, hit the card etc.). That would be nice. In my area the install techs had to call in on the same support line as everyone else. Presumable that got a priority once the actually got a person but mine was on hold several times during my install.

[JWThiers]

but I think CableCARDs are specific to the head-end, not just the company.

I think they are brand specific (Motorola or Scientific Atlanta) with the head end. I think its more of a this a key to my door type thing. They want to be sure that the card and your device isn't compromised in some way to allow unauthorized viewing.

[bicker]

Okay, that makes sense... each card is a key... but then that key needs to be entered into the system, so it is acknowledged as a valid key. That happens at the head-end level, right?

[dgutley]

So, what's the verdict? Can we buy them elsewhere or not? Armstrong Cable charges 7.95 per month per cablecard. I think that's outrageous. So, it costs me 15.90 per month to have the TIVO with cable cards. What can I do? Any thoughts on the reasonableness of the fees?

[Gregor]

Okay, that makes sense... each card is a key... but then that key needs to be entered into the system, so it is acknowledged as a valid key. That happens at the head-end level, right?

Correct. The first part of the setup is to enter the card in the system, and if that isn't done correctly, nothing the tech can do will make it work.

So, what's the verdict? Can we buy them elsewhere or not? Armstrong Cable charges 7.95 per month per cablecard. I think that's outrageous. So, it costs me 15.90 per month to have the TIVO with cable cards. What can I do? Any thoughts on the reasonableness of the fees?

Generally, you can't buy them and expect your cable company to install them. A fee's a fee. You have to decide if the $15.90+Tivo fee is worth it to have a Tivo instead of the cable company's DVR and their fee.

[Gregor]

IIRC the install tech that did mine 2 years ago, said something about getting laptops in the near future so that they could do the setup in the field (link host to CC, hit the card etc.). That would be nice. In my area the install techs had to call in on the same support line as everyone else. Presumable that got a priority once the actually got a person but mine was on hold several times during my install.

Verizon had laptops when they did my CC installs. Much better than trying to read 14 digit numbers over the phone.

[jrm01]

Armstrong Cable charges 7.95 per month per cablecard. I think that's outrageous. So, it costs me 15.90 per month to have the TIVO with cable cards. What can I do? Any thoughts on the reasonableness of the fees?

The FCC required the support of cablecards and indicated that the fees should be nominal. I have Comcast and a single m-card is free. A second card would cost $1.50 per month. Most companies charge less than $3 per month. Here is the report to the FCC by cable companies for the year 2008. Unfortunately Armstrong is not on the list.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520191566

I would complain to your local Franchise Authority (usually the local government agency) about the high costs.

You can also file a complaint with the FCC here:

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

[bicker]

So, what's the verdict? Can we buy them elsewhere or not?What you can be sure of is that if your cable company rents them, rather than sells them, you cannot buy one, and expect to use it.

[bicker]

I would complain to your local Franchise Authority (usually the local government agency) about the high costs.

You can also file a complaint with the FCC here:

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm$7.95 still may be considered nominal. First, we don't know what other Armstrong customers are charged. The average (which is what is regulated) may be much less. Also, the reason why no specific number, nor any specific average, is mentioned in the regulation is that what it nominal can vary based on the service provider's circumstances -- as a matter of fact, for smaller, weaker service providers, the regulation may be waived entirely.

So the previous poster should not get hopes up that their complaints will meet with any traction.

[Marconi]

I think I just had an epiphany: CableCards are only necessary if I want premium content, correct?

If I'm only using TiVo HD to record/watch plain, basic, digital SD stuff, (or HD stuff, for that matter, as long as it's not encrypted) then I don't need a Cablecard. Or do I?

[BigJimOutlaw]

I think I just had an epiphany: CableCards are only necessary if I want premium content, correct?

If I'm only using TiVo HD to record/watch plain, basic, digital SD stuff, (or HD stuff, for that matter, as long as it's not encrypted) then I don't need a Cablecard. Or do I?

With no cablecard, you can watch all unencrypted digital channels that your operator provides, but you won't get any guide data for them. Any recordings on digital channels would have to be set up manually.

[RTstratSpring]

How reliable are cable cards. I had one installed in my first TivoHD and it had been working like a charm since 2007. Today it stopped picking up the music channels in the 400 range along with HD channels down in the 200 range.

Tech was out today and could not resolve the issue. Multiple hits sent from the head-in to no avail.




Anybody else have a similar experience

[Marconi]

With no cablecard, you can watch all unencrypted digital channels that your operator provides, but you won't get any guide data for them. Any recordings on digital channels would have to be set up manually.Wha...? Guide data come from Tribune via TiVo, don't they? I don't follow.

[rocko]

Wha...? Guide data come from Tribune via TiVo, don't they? I don't follow.

If you want digital TV you need CableCARDS. Guide data goes along with the digital TV. Period.

[rocko]

How reliable are cable cards. I had one installed in my first TivoHD and it had been working like a charm since 2007. Today it stopped picking up the music channels in the 400 range along with HD channels down in the 200 range.

Tech was out today and could not resolve the issue. Multiple hits sent from the head-in to no avail.




Anybody else have a similar experience

I'd say your CableCARD may be borked. Did the tech try swapping it out?

[BigJimOutlaw]

Wha...? Guide data come from Tribune via TiVo, don't they? I don't follow.

Short answer: The cablecard maps digital channels to their "proper" dial positions. Without it, digital channels can only be found by manually scanning for their QAM positions.

Longer answer: QAM channels aren't published and provided to Tribune, so therefore Tivo doesn't have the guide data for them either.

For example, the QAM position of channel 3 could be something like 110-3. It's the cablecard's job to tell the Tivo that 110-3 = channel 3 (which DOES have the guide data.)

Without a cablecard, you could only set up manual recordings for 110-3.

[bicker]

I think I just had an epiphany: CableCards are only necessary if I want premium content, correct? Any encrypted content (which may soon include everything above basic). They're also necessary if you want to be able to use the program guide and Season Passes. Pretty much, as far as I'm concerned, a TiVo S3, used for digital cable, without CableCARDs, is a big PITA.

[tiassa]

Verizon had laptops when they did my CC installs. Much better than trying to read 14 digit numbers over the phone.

The last time RCN did a CC install the installer had a PDA with built in bar code scanner. He just zapped the barcode on the CC with it and that transmitted to the head end (or something like that).