How much do you pay monthly for your SDV Tuning Adapter?

25985 Views 72 Replies 35 Participants Last post by rhain, Jan 26, 2013

sbiller

Discussion Starter · Jan 27, 2012

I'm building a list to see what the standard charge is for a Tuning Adapter across the U.S.

Please respond with your cable operator name, market, and monthly cost. Also add if they charge for a 2nd Tuning Adapter if there is a difference for a second box. I would also like to know the cost of the CableCARD.

Thanks in advance for helping me populate the matrix. I will share it with the group when its complete!

~Sam

Cable operator: Bright House Networks, Tampa
Tuning Adapter cost: $3.80 / month
CableCARD cost: $2.95 / month

Cable Operator, CableCARD Cost, Tuning Adapter Cost
Bright House Networks, CC - $2.95, TA - $3.80
Time Warner Cable, CC - $2.00, TA - Free
Charter, CC - $2.00, TA - Free
Optimum, CC - $2.00, TA - Free
Cox, CC - $2.00, TA - Free
Comcast, CC - $1.75, TA - N/A (limited SDV)
Verizon, CC - $3.99, TA - N/A
Cablevision Systems Corp, CC - TBD, TA - TBD
Suddenlink Communications, CC - TBD, TA - TBD
Mediacom Comm, CC - TBD, TA - TBD
Insight Comm, CC - TBD, TA - TBD
CableOne, CC - TBD, TA - TBD
WideOpenWest Networks, CC - TBD, TA - TBD
Atlantic Broadband Group CC - TBD, TA - TBD
Knology, CC - TBD, TA - TBD
Armstrong Cable, CC - TBD, TA - TBD

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1 - 20 of 73 Posts

windracer

· #2 · Jan 27, 2012

Same prices here in St. Pete.

Although I had the first year of the TA for free, so it just started showing up on my January bill and was prorated, so I won't pay the full amount until next month.

Number528

· #3 · Jan 27, 2012

Verizon Virginia
CableCard is $3.99 / Month
No TA

dlfl

· #4 · Jan 27, 2012

Time Warner Cable, Southwest Ohio (North Dayton)
CableCARD: $2/mo.
Tuning Adapter: No Charge
Reliable Tuning Adapter: Priceless (but not available)

Charging for a TA has been very rare. I wonder if it is a reaction to the recent FCC BYOB regulation? Maybe the logic is: "If you get a discount for not using our STB or VCR, you should be charged for any other box we furnish"

We TWC customers probably don't have to worry about this since there is no recorded instance of TWC giving a BYOB discount.

hifiauto

· #5 · Jan 27, 2012

Charter installed a TA last month. They have not yet activated it. They said it would not cost anything. I really can't see them charging for something that they implemented to deal with their signal degradation.

Cable operator: Charter, Cleveland, TN
Tuning Adapter cost: $0 / month
CableCARD cost: $2.00 / month

xekester

· #6 · Jan 27, 2012

Cable operator: Optimum, Piscataway NJ
Tuning Adapter cost: $0 / month
CableCARD cost: $2.00 / month

rhain

· #7 · Jan 27, 2012

I have a Series-3 Tivo

Cable operator: COX San Diego
Tuning Adapter cost: $0 / month
CableCARD cost: $4.00 / month (2 CCs)
CableCARD Credit $3.99 / month

Dan203

· #8 · Jan 27, 2012

Tuning adapter is free here. CableCARDs are $2/ea

Dan

Krellion

· #9 · Jan 27, 2012

Cox in Hampton Roads, VA

CableCARD: $1.99/mo
Tuning Adapter: Free

Ennui

· #10 · Jan 28, 2012

There should be no charge...there is NO benefit to the user. The only benefit is to the cable company (Cox). No charge now here (I have four) and there better not be later.

Cable card is $2/mo for each.

CoxInPHX

· #11 · Jan 28, 2012

Cox Arizona - Cisco SDV market
Tuning Adapters: $0 Free
CableCARD: $2/mo
Advanced TV Gateway Fee: $1.80/mo per CC, was just reduced this month. (was $3/mo for 1st, $2/mo ea addt'l) This Fee is also charged on every leased DVR or STB, perhaps it is a hidden cost for the Tuning Adapter.

eaayoung

· #12 · Jan 28, 2012

Cable operator: Brighthouse, Central Florida
Tuning Adapter cost: $3.80 / month
CableCARD cost: $2.95 / month

LoREvanescence

· #13 · Jan 28, 2012

COX in Rhode Island
Tuning adapter is free

jsmeeker

· #14 · Jan 28, 2012

$0

pileosnafu

· #15 · Jan 28, 2012

Bright House // Orlando

CableCARD = $2.95
Tuning Adapter was $3.80 (with one year free)
Next month as per the internal price memo that I got when I asked for a their annual price sheet today the cost for the TA is $4.00

However I added a second TA today and the REP did add free year to both again.

I have been forced into their packages and getting a Box of their own, which is a battle I am currently fighting with them.

aaronwt

· #16 · Jan 28, 2012

WOW!!

SO they charge for the cable card AND the tuning adapter?

HerronScott

· #17 · Jan 28, 2012

Cable operator: Comcast - Staunton, VA

No SDV so no tuning adapter
CableCARD: $1.75 / month

I too thought that tuning adapters were supposed to be provided free of charge where needed. They just went all digital here (virtually) to add more HD and to get us DOCSIS 3.0 and higher bandwidth Internet.

Scott

jpcamaro70

· #18 · Jan 29, 2012

Cable Operator: Optimum TV (Cablevision)--Manorville, NY
CableCard: $2.00/month
No Tuning adapter

sbiller

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 29, 2012

All,

Thanks very much for your responses. I had an email exchange with an official official at the FCC discussing the cost of Tuning Adapters.

Unfortunately the FCC doesn't have the power to mandate that Tuning Adapters be furnished at zero cost.

Unfortunately we don't have a lot of authority to regulate equipment costs (administrative agencies like the FCC are only allowed to work under the authority that Congress provides).

Our statement that the tuning adapters are typically free is true (Cox and Time Warner Cable both provide them for free) and also an effort on our part to encourage cable operators to continue the practice, but there's no rule that cable operators have to offer them for free.

It is interesting that Bright House Networks appears to be one of the few cable operators charging for the Tuning Adapters.

Its also interesting from the responses that Comcast is still moving in a direction that skips SDV and goes straight to IP delivery mechanisms thus not requiring a Tuning Adapter.

I will update the first post to highlight the various costs that have been provided by your responses.

Thanks!
~Sam

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sbiller

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 29, 2012

rhain said:
I have a Series-3 Tivo

Cable operator: COX San Diego
Tuning Adapter cost: $0 / month
CableCARD cost: $4.00 / month (2 CCs)
CableCARD Credit $3.99 / month

Can you clarify your cost per CableCARD? Each one is $4.00 but than they credit you back $3.99 or is each CC $2.00 for a total of $4.00 per month?

1 - 20 of 73 Posts

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