PDA

View Full Version : Series three HD (THX) and M-Card support...


TiVo_Fanatic
03-18-2008, 02:26 AM
The following is taken directly from TiVo's website...

Currently, the Series3 HD DVR will support M-Cards in single-stream mode, which means that the DVR requires two (2) CableCARDs to run in dual-tuner mode. The DVR must also be running software version 8.0.1c or later. (S-Cards are supported in all software versions.) Your Series3 HD DVR may have shipped with an earlier version of the software installed. The software will be updated automatically, but not until the DVR completes Guided Setup for the first time, and then downloads and indexes the full 14 days of Guide data immediately after Guided Setup.

To ensure that your CableCARD installation runs smoothly, we recommend that you complete Guided Setup on your Series3 HD DVR before the installer arrives to install the CableCARDs. If you perform Guided Setup at least two days before your installation appointment, your DVR will update to the latest software automatically and will be ready to run either S-Cards or M-Cards.
If you perform Guided Setup on the day of the appointment, you should check your software version and, if necessary, force a software update. For more information, go to Software Version Troubleshooting.

We are exploring support of M-Cards in multi-stream mode for the Series3 HD DVR.
Now what I'm curioous about is if they've looked into this any further since the posting of that material. While using two cards in the S3 isnt a big deal it does cost a bit more. But ya, I'm curious if Tivo has looked into adding support for the S3 to use M-Cards in anything but single stream mode, would be nice to only need one card to use two digital channels and save that extra bit of cash each month.

classicsat
03-18-2008, 09:58 AM
That is something you'd have to ask the TiVo engineers.

My understanding is TiVo isn't on speaking terms with the manufacturer of the cablecard chipset, or the chipset manufacturer has gone under, with nobody to support it. With that, you will need two cards for some time to come.