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SDV Tuning Adapter-Time Warner

142K views 758 replies 226 participants last post by  trailmix 
#1 ·
I filled out a SDV Tuning Adapter order form on the Time Warner Website, and received the following reply:

October 16, 2008

Thank you for your request for the SDV Tuning Adapter. Your Pre-Order has been received. At this time the Tuning Adapter is not available to the public but is currently undergoing testing to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction upon release; which we will begin deployments later this year. We do not have a specific release date for your area, but once the Tuning Adapter becomes available a service representative will contact you to schedule the installation.

Thank you,

D. Jacobs
Corporate Tuning Adapter Desk
Time Warner Cable
 
#304 ·
yeah i cant believe that they took my cw channel on the standard lineup, and they changed the pbs hd to channel 707 and still cant get it without a tuning adapter, every new channel including the digital ones and the hd channels they add now, i cant get, i am ready to go back to dtv, i was so mad the other day before i took there wonderful dvr back, that i was going to take there cable cards out of there dvr, and put them in the tivo to see if they worked, because if you cant get them to come in on there dvr all they do is reset the box and put in the codes on the comp. and they are now talking about changing foxhd and cwhd to channel 708 and 713, if i lose these 2 i will really be p.......
 
#305 ·
It's obvious that TWC has decided to make life as difficult as possible for Tivo HD customers. That's why they're so slow deploying the TA's. I blame Tivo for not working all this out with the cable companies before selling the product. Instead Tivo relied on the FCC to force cable companies to comply and now TWC is taking it out on Tivo users by making our lives difficult. I invested $1000 (3 Tivo HDs) in useless equipment. I should have stayed with my Series 2 DirecTV Tivos. Either way I STILL have no HD channels. I've lost a lot of respect for both companies (Tivo and TWC).
 
#306 ·
It's obvious that TWC has decided to make life as difficult as possible for Tivo HD customers. That's why they're so slow deploying the TA's. I blame Tivo for not working all this out with the cable companies before selling the product. Instead Tivo relied on the FCC to force cable companies to comply and now TWC is taking it out on Tivo users by making our lives difficult. I invested $1000 (3 Tivo HDs) in useless equipment. I should have stayed with my Series 2 DirecTV Tivos. Either way I STILL have no HD channels. I've lost a lot of respect for both companies (Tivo and TWC).
So sell your Series 3's at a loss and go back to DirecTV. Buying the TiVo's you KNEW that SDV wasn't an option without an adapter yet you bought them anyway. Do you really expect a cable company to be fast in giving away adapters so the 1% of the users on their system can get SDV? Nope, no rush by them. We're a small fraction of their business.
 
#307 ·
So sell your Series 3's at a loss and go back to DirecTV. Buying the TiVo's you KNEW that SDV wasn't an option without an adapter yet you bought them anyway. Do you really expect a cable company to be fast in giving away adapters so the 1% of the users on their system can get SDV? Nope, no rush by them. We're a small fraction of their business.
I bought these Tivo HDs over a year ago so I didn't know SDV would be depoyed. Why does there always have to be a smart alec who doesn't know as much as he thinks?
 
#308 ·
I bought these Tivo HDs over a year ago so I didn't know SDV would be depoyed. Why does there always have to be a smart alec who doesn't know as much as he thinks?
Don't know as much as I think I know? Maybe so, but I'm not the one whining about a lack of a tuning adapter. Do I think they should be necessary? No. I think that TiVo should have a Series 3.5 with a built in T.A until True2Way gets here.

SDV isn't *MUCH* different from On Demand, and you knew you couldn't get that. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where the Cable Companies are headed from there.

I wish TiVo could get some more companies under their belt to just offer the TiVo software/programming to other providers so their market share could grow but I guess most folks are perfectly happy with the SARA Software that comes on Sci Atl boxes.
 
#309 ·
No. I think that TiVo should have a Series 3.5 with a built in T.A until True2Way gets here.
Not possible. The TAs have to match the proprietary technology of the network they're operating on--Cisco TAs on Cisco networks and Moto TAs on Moto networks. It also requires bidirectional comm (one of the biggest things the TAs can do is talk back to the network) and that comes part and parcel with tru2way. CableLabs will not certify a box with bidirectional comm that doesn't also implement OCAP.

Sit back, get comforable and wait. It shouldn't be too long before tru2way stuff hits and market and any interrim tech would require a wasted effort from the "standards" organization that would take much longer.
 
#311 ·
#314 ·
SDV isn't *MUCH* different from On Demand
Technologically, it isn't different at all. The only differences are with VOD, the CATV system allows the user to initiate the stream, and usually only the user who initiated the stream is authorized to receive it. With standard scheduled SDV, the stream is initiated by someone further up the line - either the broadcaster or the CATV company themselves.
 
#317 ·
The problem is, OCAP - and consequently tru2way - is unacceptable.
"Unacceptable" to who? It sucks in that it's mainly an attempt by the cable providers to coopt the user interface through which we deal with cable television, but it's pretty much a fait accompli. Most of the major CE OEMs have bought in and the "DCR Plus" initiative is dead.
 
#318 ·
While true it is a loophole for UDCPs, it is decidedly a different matter for basic service channels and even moreso for local broadcast channels.
The letter of the law only says they have to be unencrypted and available to the basic tier. It says nothing about SDV or what may be required to actually receive them. They are perfectly free to make every channel SDV -- however, no one has as yet because they don't want to give the FCC a reason make new regulations.

Oh, and it hasn't been "years". Very few CATV systems have had a widespread deployment of SDV for more than a year.
Remove the word "widespread"... TWC in Raleigh NC has had SDV equipment for 3+ years. If the FCC hadn't (allegedly) threatened to fine them and customers complained, every channel would have been SDV two years ago.

I blame Tivo for not working all this out with the cable companies before selling the product.
How exactly can this be Tivo's fault? When they designed the systems, SDV didn't exist. Furthermore, there were no standards or certification path for bidirectional cable systems; a "UDCP" was all there was. They built systems to the documented and certified standards. It's not their fault the cable companies want to change the standards AGAIN, or that they have made and deployed technology incompatible with the published standards. In fact, it's the FCC's integration ban forcing cable companies to use CC's themselves and allow 3rd party, non-cable company receivers that has them steaming, and scheming to find ways to make 3rd party equipment useless, and make the CC experience so bad everyone turns on the FCC for mandating this "crap" -- except it's the cable industry that designed it in the first place, and the receivers from your cable company that use a cablecard work perfectly and never have any of the "issues" 3rd party devices have, and don't require a $50 truck roll to have it installed.
 
#319 ·
Just received this in today:

December 30, 2008

Thank you for your request for the SDV Tuning Adapter. Your Pre-Order has been received and your information recorded. At this time the Tuning Adapter is not available in all TWC areas and we continue testing to ensure that this equipment meets the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We expect the Tuning Adapters to be released sometime in January in many remaining areas of the country. Although we do not have a specific release date for your area, once the Tuning Adapter becomes available a service representative will contact you to schedule the installation.

Thank you,

D. Jacobs
Corporate Tuning Adapter Desk
Time Warner Cable
Fellow San Antonions (?)... enjoy further lack of channels.
 
#320 ·
It sucks in that it's mainly an attempt by the cable providers to coopt the user interface through which we deal with cable television, but it's pretty much a fait accompli.
What is the status of the "dual mode" proposal from TiVo (run MSO's UI for VOD, PPV, and other interactive features, but use TiVo UI for current non-interactive features), a.k.a Series 4?
 
#321 ·
What is the status of the "dual mode" proposal from TiVo (run MSO's UI for VOD, PPV, and other interactive features, but use TiVo UI for current non-interactive features), a.k.a Series 4?
I don't think that anything definitive on the subject has been released since the discovery of this filing with the FCC describing it:
...TiVo had expressed concerns about the cable industry's OpenCable Application Platform ("OCAP") specifications and license terms. In response to TiVo's concerns, the cable industry has agreed to work with TiVo to make clarifications or adjustments to OCAP that may be necessary to enable TiVo to build what TiVo believes can be a viable retail DVR with OCAP. We explained that a TiVo DVR with OCAP would have a "TiVo mode" displaying all linear channels (including switched digital video enabled by OCAP) with the TiVo user interface and full DVR functionality as well as a "cable mode" running OCAP and displaying all cable programming services with the cable user interface without DVR functionality.

We also expressed our belief that this refined version of OCAP was a preferable solution to DCR+ for a variety of reasons, including time-to-market and the ability to receive all of cable's two-way services. Manufacturers, cable companies, and consumers will benefit most from an OCAP-based solution that enables the creation of differentiated retail devices such as TiVo DVRs and allows all of cable's two-way services to reach the consumer within a reasonable time.
TiVo helped the cable providers define and test the Tuning Adapter and have argued against the CE OEM's "Digital Cable Ready Plus" proposal--arguably, cable owes them :). They'd probably rather not have tru2way devices on the market with alternative UIs allowing access to downloadable and streaming video like TiVo, but if they tried to block it, people would just buy little standalone products like Roku's (which is apparently due to be updated to give access to other streaming video sources like Hulu).

Hopefully, we'll hear something about this from TiVo at CES--it's been a little over a year since that filing.
 
#322 ·
"Unacceptable" to who?
To me and others. To me, certainly. It is unacceptable that the CATV company can tell me which features I must have on a device I own. Under OCAP, the CATV company selects what software and what features will run on my device - including spyware if they so choose, and I cannot prevent them from doing so. The requirement that I approve any software and / or features and can block them if I so choose is essential. Under OCAP, the consumer also cannot choose to implement 3rd party software to enable any features. The requirement I be able to select whatever software maker I choose is also essential. I have no problem with the requirement a developer must meet certain specifications when developing for the platform, but any developer who wishes should be able to develop OCAP software.

It sucks in that it's mainly an attempt by the cable providers to coopt the user interface through which we deal with cable television
They are really not concerned overly much with the UI, per se. They just don't want to deal with the hassles (including security issues) of dealing with a myriad of different softwares, and they do not wish to place control of the attached system in the hands of the subscriber. Note their fears have a very substantial basis, but that's just tough. If they don't want to have to deal with the costs and problems of doing business, they should not be in business.

but it's pretty much a fait accompli. Most of the major CE OEMs have bought in and the "DCR Plus" initiative is dead.
I don't have a problem with the majority of what OCAP is or represents, but I draw the line when some company gets to tell me what I can and cannot do with my own equipment. It's bad enough they are nearly a monopoly. That they be Big Brother is too much.
 
#323 ·
The letter of the law only says they have to be unencrypted and available to the basic tier.
Which in turn means if they move any of these channels to SDV, then they must provide an STB for every user outlet. That's a very tall order.

It says nothing about SDV or what may be required to actually receive them. They are perfectly free to make every channel SDV -- however, no one has as yet because they don't want to give the FCC a reason make new regulations.
At this time there is also no reason to do so. Local broadcast channels are very popular, and there is no economic advantage to moving any popular channel to SDV. At this point in time, SDV does cost somewhat more to deploy than a linear channel. In time the differential in cost will become insignificant, but at this point in time it is not.

First you say:

Remove the word "widespread"... TWC in Raleigh NC has had SDV equipment for 3+ years. If the FCC hadn't (allegedly) threatened to fine them and customers complained, every channel would have been SDV two years ago.
Then you say:

How exactly can this be Tivo's fault? When they designed the systems, SDV didn't exist.
The two statements are mutually incompatible, given that 3 years ago was when the S3 was developed. SDV certainly did exist when the S3 was developed. The point, however, is that there was nothing TiVo could do about the fact.
 
#326 ·
Here's the email I received from TWC on October 13, 2008:
Thank you for your recent request for the SDV Tuning Adapter. Your Pre-Order has been received. At this time the Tuning Adapter is not available to the public but is currently undergoing testing to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction upon release; which we will begin deployments later this year. We do not have a specific release date for your area, but once the Tuning Adapter becomes available a service representative will contact you to schedule the installation.
"...later THIS YEAR."

Received from: tuningadapter@twcable.com

Today is the last day of 2008. Still no Tuning Adapter for Albany TWC customers :mad:

But, they were kind enough to add another SDV channel today...TV One-HD added at 1845. Also, a placeholder in the program guide for MLB Network on channel 621.
 
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