What will people do if and when Cable Cards are no longer supported?

WVZR1 · Feb 9, 2025

MScottC said:
So I've been using YouTube TV for about a week now... very dissapointed...

Automatic Ad skipping seems to take the extra step of processing the show, haven't actually tried to do that yet.

But far worse is that the audio intermittently goes into crackle mode. Other streaming services seem fine, but about half my viewing time with YouTube TV has had distorted crackling audio. The picture quality is perfect, no complaints there, so I can't imagine bandwidth is the issue. I'm using the app built into my LG TV that's abot 2 years old. Everything software wise is up to date.

Do you have any other 'streamer' - ATV or maybe a FireStick of sorts? Each will likely have maybe different issues. Are you using external speakers or a sound bar?

chiguy50 · Feb 9, 2025

MScottC said:
So I've been using YouTube TV for about a week now... very dissapointed...

Automatic Ad skipping seems to take the extra step of processing the show, haven't actually tried to do that yet.

But far worse is that the audio intermittently goes into crackle mode. Other streaming services seem fine, but about half my viewing time with YouTube TV has had distorted crackling audio. The picture quality is perfect, no complaints there, so I can't imagine bandwidth is the issue. I'm using the app built into my LG TV that's abot 2 years old. Everything software wise is up to date.

WVZR1 said:
Do you have any other 'streamer' - ATV or maybe a FireStick of sorts? Each will likely have maybe different issues. Are you using external speakers or a sound bar?

I have had no audio issues whatsoever in the three months that I have been using YTTV on a variety of dedicated media streaming devices. As @WVZR1 implies above, I would recommend that you not rely exclusively on the native apps in your display.

CommunityMember · Feb 9, 2025

chiguy50 said:
I would recommend that you not rely exclusively on the native apps in your display.

TV manufacturer (and LG is not the only example) 3rd party apps are typically out of date within a year. Some of the 3rd party app vendors have alluded to a less than transparent slow-walk of updates by the TV manufacturers, who are not interested in fixing their own OS bugs if it does not impact their TV itself (they gain no revenue from fixes, so they tend to stop most efforts in about a year (when the next TV model gets released)). And when the TV manufacturer is not helpful to the 3rd party app developers, those 3rd party app developers may end up moving to platforms that want to work together.

The only thing to do with the in-built TV apps is not plan to use them. There are many 3rd party streaming solutions available, each with their own particularities (although none have a remote that feels as good as the TiVo peanut), but they mostly just work, and are properly supportable and supported.

cwoody222 · Feb 9, 2025

I go one step further and delete the apps off my TV. If I’m not going to use them, what’s the point of them being there? Worse, again to use LG as an example, LG will send way way too many “messages” regarding offers to use their apps - the only way I found to stop this incessant marketing (short of removing from Internet, which I use for smart home controls) was to remove the actual apps themselves.

They had some event, “LG Streaming Week” I think they called it?, where I was getting messages daily. I just thought, “Who do they think wants this?!”

I got my first LG OLED last year and I absolutely love the picture but they shoot themselves in the foot with their constant nagging marketing messages.

My Vizio is just as bad - whenever Vizio sends a full screen promotional message to their streaming hub, my TV changes input automatically to show it to me. That, plus Walmart owning them now, and hardware problems in the past, ensures I’ll never buy another Vizio again.

spiderpumpkin · Feb 9, 2025

I keep our LG TVs disconnected from the internet. When I first bought them I connected an ethernet cable to update the firmware and then disconnected it.

We use AppleTVs mostly but occasionally use a Roku and Firestick. Besides those are main network TV watching is done with Tivo Roamios.

chiguy50 · Feb 10, 2025

CommunityMember said:
The only thing to do with the in-built TV apps is not plan to use them.

cwoody222 said:
I go one step further and delete the apps off my TV.

I myself rely exclusively on an array of dedicated media streaming devices. However, it is only fair to mention that there are those who argue that they feel the picture quality is better on their display when it is not run through an external device. And for gamers, doing so might also improve on the lag in data transmission.

Finally, for the sake of added flexibility, where eARC is an option I am not averse to resorting to the apps on my display either as a last-ditch alternative to my other devices or for trouble-shooting purposes to verify app performance on another platform.

Albert · Feb 10, 2025

MScottC said:
So I've been using YouTube TV for about a week now... very dissapointed...

Automatic Ad skipping seems to take the extra step of processing the show, haven't actually tried to do that yet.

But far worse is that the audio intermittently goes into crackle mode. Other streaming services seem fine, but about half my viewing time with YouTube TV has had distorted crackling audio. The picture quality is perfect, no complaints there, so I can't imagine bandwidth is the issue. I'm using the app built into my LG TV that's abot 2 years old. Everything software wise is up to date.

Agree with others. Update your LG TV (in case there are any fixes that actually affect the TV) and then just disconnect it from the Internet altogether and use a decent streaming device. I've settled on Apple TV 4K as the best and only use those units now.

CommunityMember · Feb 10, 2025

spiderpumpkin said:
I keep our LG TVs disconnected from the internet. When I first bought them I connected an ethernet cable to update the firmware and then disconnected it.

Last I remember, LG TV's allow updating using a USB stick, although there was not a notification email option when updates were released, so you had to remember to go look for newer firmware from time to time... That is useful for both those without reliable Internet, and to insure the TV does not have the ability to call home.

dougdingle · Feb 10, 2025

chiguy50 said:
I myself rely exclusively on an array of dedicated media streaming devices. However, it is only fair to mention that there are those who argue that they feel the picture quality is better on their display when it is not run through an external device. And for gamers, doing so might also improve on the lag in data transmission.

Finally, for the sake of added flexibility, where eARC is an option I am not averse to resorting to the apps on my display either as a last-ditch alternative to my other devices or for trouble-shooting purposes to verify app performance on another platform.

If your display's apps are used, most higher end displays will show you what's actually coming in in terms of resolution, frame rate, and dynamic range. I find that to be handy at times.

Most other mainstream streaming devices will refuse to tell you anything - the ATV4K for example requires that you have a separate Apple computer that you can boot into terminal mode and jump through a bunch of other hoops to make that happen, and even then the trick is only good until the next reboot of either device. The one exception in the past was the Amazon Firestick but I haven't used mine in a long while and don't know if current versions still support that.

ThosParB · Feb 10, 2025

I’m going to share a different thinking and direction for me to handle the now very certain future when Comcast eliminates CableCards and therefore TiVo. As an electrical engineer (now retired) I’m attracted to the notion of cobbling some alternative technologies together as proposed and mused in various TiVo Community threads. But for me now the operative word is “retired.” I would like to just sit on my couch, grab a remote to watch channels and occasionally record some (streaming is done elsewhere). Nothing will ever, ever be better than the traditional TiVo UI, but it’s time to move on.

So, I visited an Xfinity branch store to see what options they have to propose. Most of you are probably aware of their offerings, but for me this was new and eye-opening because I’ve exclusively used TiVo boxes since the very first one came to market.

I must admit the Xfinity options don’t seem that bad. They offer an Xfinity box that provides access to all our subscribed channels and provides the ability to record shows to their cloud. We could access these cloud recordings via the box at home and also via the Xfinity Stream app anywhere we log on. Also the Stream app provides access to all our channels today as part of our subscription (which I never knew).

So overall this doesn’t seem to be a bad solution going forward for a geezer like me. I will miss the TiVo experience, but for simplicity's sake I’m fine with giving my TV-watching soul to the Xfinity overlords, unless TiVo manages a stay of execution. Cheers.

CommunityMember · Feb 10, 2025

dougdingle said:
If your display's apps are used, most higher end displays will show you what's actually coming in in terms of resolution, frame rate, and dynamic range. I find that to be handy at times.

Some (higher end?) AVR's used to, I presume still can, show the incoming and outgoing resolutions (as the AVRs do various transformations on the video/audio).

Reryro · Feb 10, 2025

ThosParB said:
I’m going to share a different thinking and direction for me to handle the now very certain future when Comcast eliminates CableCards and therefore TiVo. As an electrical engineer (now retired) I’m attracted to the notion of cobbling some alternative technologies together as proposed and mused in various TiVo Community threads. But for me now the operative word is “retired.” I would like to just sit on my couch, grab a remote to watch channels and occasionally record some (streaming is done elsewhere). Nothing will ever, ever be better than the traditional TiVo UI, but it’s time to move on.

So, I visited an Xfinity branch store to see what options they have to propose. Most of you are probably aware of their offerings, but for me this was new and eye-opening because I’ve exclusively used TiVo boxes since the very first one came to market.

I must admit the Xfinity options don’t seem that bad. They offer an Xfinity box that provides access to all our subscribed channels and provides the ability to record shows to their cloud. We could access these cloud recordings via the box at home and also via the Xfinity Stream app anywhere we log on. Also the Stream app provides access to all our channels today as part of our subscription (which I never knew).

So overall this doesn’t seem to be a bad solution going forward for a geezer like me. I will miss the TiVo experience, but for simplicity's sake I’m fine with giving my TV-watching soul to the Xfinity overlords, unless TiVo manages a stay of execution. Cheers.

I think we're probably similar in age, (retired)vocation, and maybe avocations, so I'd be interested in your actual experience with your Tivo replacement. Specifically, how quickly can you flip back and forth between live channels, are there limitations or restrictions on what you can save (and how much and how long can you save) to the "cloud", how long does it take to find one of your cloud-based recordings, how long to start playing one of these recordings, do they ever "hang" while buffering...

These are the things that I wonder about with these replacements, because I never have to be concerned with any of them while using my Tivo.

dougdingle · Feb 10, 2025

CommunityMember said:
Some (higher end?) AVR's used to, I presume still can, show the incoming and outgoing resolutions (as the AVRs do various transformations on the video/audio).

I have not seen that since UHD/4K became a thing. In my experience what AVR manufacturers know about massaging video signals can fit in a thimble.

There is absolutely no way I would allow a company like Denon (or their other brand - Marantz) do anything to my video except pass it on to the HDMI output connector - don't inspect it, don't scale it, don't affect the dynamic range or colors to make it look 'filmic', don't remove the HDR metadata. Pick off the audio signal for processing and just connect the video from the HDMI source I've selected to the output HDMI connector.

In 2025, Denon/Marantz are still using a 25 year old gigantic, crude, tacky volume level overlay that is almost the width of the screen and at least 20% of its height, reminiscent of MD-DOS 6.1 graphics. That is the extent of their understanding of video. Maybe other AVR manufacturers are better.

I own both brands. They do a great job with audio, but their video processing is complete and utter trash, and has been for the decade and a half I've owned their AVRs.

SNJpage1 · Feb 10, 2025

Comcast just disabled the cable card I have in my TIVO because my contract was up and they won't activate a cable card any more. So I have a TIVO and a Mini that are just sitting here to use for streaming only.

cwoody222 · Feb 10, 2025

SNJpage1 said:
Comcast just disabled the cable card I have in my TIVO because my contract was up and they won't activate a cable card any more. So I have a TIVO and a Mini that are just sitting here to use for streaming only.

For the hundredth time, you CHOOSE to select a new package, which wasn’t compatible with cablecards.

If you would have DONE NOTHING when your contract was up, nothing would have changed.

CommunityMember · Feb 10, 2025

cwoody222 said:
For the hundredth time, you CHOOSE to select a new package, which wasn’t compatible with cablecards.

If you would have DONE NOTHING when your contract was up, nothing would have changed.

Well, the price would have (most likely) gone up, possibly by a significant amount.

People are free to choose to save money by changing their package(s). They are also free to choose to keep their CableCARDs. Individuals need to choose wisely, and accept the impacts of their choices.

cwoody222 · Feb 10, 2025

CommunityMember said:
Well, the price would have (most likely) gone up, possibly by a significant amount.

People are free to choose to save money by changing their package(s). They are also free to choose to keep their CableCARDs. Individuals need to choose wisely, and accept the impacts of their choices.

Right.

But this persons continued fear mongering is not correct.

“Comcast just disabled…” is a gross exaggeration without any important context.

MScottC · Feb 11, 2025

An update on my YouTube TV audio issue while watching on an LG OLED TV (only two years old). While watching the last quarter of the Super Bowl (I finally decided to tune in when a friend texted me regarding the awful graphics FOX was using.) The crackling became really bad, so on a whim I disabled my LG sound bar, and low and behold, the audio sounds decent. I'll have to do some more experimenting.

dougdingle · Feb 11, 2025

CommunityMember said:
Well, the price would have (most likely) gone up, possibly by a significant amount.

People are free to choose to save money by changing their package(s). They are also free to choose to keep their CableCARDs. Individuals need to choose wisely, and accept the impacts of their choices.

You're talking like the person had a decent alternative instead of the Hobson's Choice crap he was offered. Awfully sanctimonious of you.

ericlhyman · Feb 11, 2025

BillyClyde said:
DirecTV Stream using one of their Gemini streaming boxes is the best and closest solution to TiVo, cable boxes and DVRs. The Gemini Air is best as it supports Dolby Vision and has a faster processor, etc.

In some ways it’s even better than TiVo as it has the entire Google Play store available as far as apps.

One imperative is that you DO NOT sign up for their streaming service that has a contract and equipment fees. Just sign up for the month to month streaming service they offer and then buy your Gemini on eBay or Solid Signal and then just log into it using your new DirecTV Stream credentials.

I believe the website for this is streamtv.DirecTV.com.

Does DirecTV stream offer 4K?

What will people do if and when Cable Cards are no longer supported?

WVZR1

chiguy50

CommunityMember

cwoody222

spiderpumpkin

chiguy50

Albert

CommunityMember

dougdingle

ThosParB

CommunityMember

Reryro

dougdingle

SNJpage1

cwoody222

CommunityMember

cwoody222

MScottC

dougdingle

ericlhyman

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