Series 3 with CableCard - Will it work?

HabuBugs · 08-04-2006, 12:38 PM

I have a Sony 50" Rear Projection HDTV I bought about a year ago, don't have the model# handy. I recently had the cable guy try to install a CableCard, it didn't work. So, I'm wondering how I will be able to tell if the S3 is going to work with the CableCard available from my provider (COX - Las Vegas). I would really hate to spend the big bucks on this box (assuming they really sell them someday) just to find it doesn't work and I still cannot record HD. Does anyone know if there is going to be some type of compatability guide/chart?

MichaelK · 08-04-2006, 12:55 PM

everything with a cablecard slot should work with every cablecard availible form a cable company. So there are no charts to compare what works where.

Many times the cards themselves seem to be faulty and at other times the TV's firmware needs to get updated to correct bugs. (so I gather from reading the threads at avsforum)

Check out avsforum.com for tons of info, provider and model specifics, and help to getting cablecard to work with your set.

Presumably Tivo will quickly respond to any software issues on their end if there are any, so long term i would think tivo will get the series 3 to work with any cablecard from any provider.

CCourtney · 08-04-2006, 02:20 PM

The vast majority of the time, the issue is with either the Installer or the CableCARD.

I use a CableCARD inside my Sony DHG-HDD500, and I remember reading through the system menu's and I could tell that it wasn't enabled, yet the guy on the other end kept telling me he could tell it was enabled. They had never sent the correct pulse to sync up.

After the third call on the second day I got a tech that at least had the brains to listen to what I said. They sent a new sync request and its worked perfectly ever since.

There have been some people who have had issues with the Cards themselves but this seems to be less common, and I'd guess that the swapping out cards and getting one that 'works' also has a bit to do with the cable company not enabling the cards correctly in the first place.

Note that the S3 has received certification via Cable Labs and they have rigorous interoperability testing in order to pass. So, the S3 should be able to interoperate with any Cable System using CableCARDs provided by the Cable Operator. That being said, you may end up with a dumb arsed tech and have to go a few rounds in order to get it working.

CCourtney