[MickeS]

One simple question would be enough to get answered for now (well, and follow ups, but still ):

is the planned fix for this in development, or is it still just a vague concept?

I just want to know that there is a viable solution for it, and not something they are considering doing but don't even know how yet...

 

[demon]

Indeed. I don't think I'm in an area that'll be subject to SDV for awhile (most of the guys at my local cableco probably could barely spell it); but inquiring minds do want to know. The current talk is of a USB-attached dongle - how will it work? When can those affected get it? Will it be a purchased device, or will it be rented through the cableco?

 

[cjhrph]

I hear you. I want to invest in a TivoHD, but am in a TWC area with SDV. Currently, there' only a few channels switched. I am fearful that once I get the machine alot more will go to SDV and I'll be left without.


So, no sale for TIVO....

 

[dubluv]

I hear you. I want to invest in a TivoHD, but am in a TWC area with SDV. Currently, there' only a few channels switched. I am fearful that once I get the machine alot more will go to SDV and I'll be left without.

So, no sale for TIVO....

from what i've read to date, SDV seems to be for less watched channels, and major network HD and mainstream HD channels will not be SDV anytime soon. btw, for under $300 you can get your tivoHD now, if you wait til the next technology you'll never get anything. small risk, but great device. i love mine.

 

[pkscout]

from what i've read to date, SDV seems to be for less watched channels, and major network HD and mainstream HD channels will not be SDV anytime soon. btw, for under $300 you can get your tivoHD now, if you wait til the next technology you'll never get anything. small risk, but great device. i love mine.

Simply untrue. If you've read this forum at all, you know TWC Hawaii is going SDV for all digital channels. And TWC here in RDU is going to do something very similar with the digital simulcast of the 1-99 channels. All those will be on SDV.

 

[1003]

Locally
Comcast can be absolutely counted on to do whatever gets more of thier pathetic basic boxes or HD-DVRs in the field making rental fees. Converting several of the most popular basic channels to digital was thier first indication that they would be making these decisions based on getting as many customers as possible addicted to the cable box before regulations or improved technology comes along...

 

[cdp1276]

from what i've read to date, SDV seems to be for less watched channels, and major network HD and mainstream HD channels will not be SDV anytime soon. btw, for under $300 you can get your tivoHD now, if you wait til the next technology you'll never get anything. small risk, but great device. i love mine.

That's not true, take a look at the list of channels that I don't get with TW here in Rochester, NY. They also recently have added ESPN2 HD and ESPNU that I also don't get via CableCard. Those seem like mainstream channels to me. Plus the best part is that they have yet to deploy SDV here. So they are just blocking a bunch of channels it seems in prep for that to CC customers.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/rochester/products/cablecard.html

 

[cjhrph]

So, the $64000 question is :

If your in a TWC area, do you take the chance on buying the Series3 or HDTivo and just hope that the mystical device for SDV appears?

 

[BrianAZ]

Has anyone found out what channels COX Phoenix will move to SDV? I've sent them an email myself and am awaiting a response. I hope the SDV solution arrives soon...

 

[pkscout]

So, the $64000 question is :

If your in a TWC area, do you take the chance on buying the Series3 or HDTivo and just hope that the mystical device for SDV appears?

Sort of. I bought an S3 before there was even a chance of SDV working. I get all the network HD OTA, so I just downgraded to standard/basic analog service and told TWC that until I could get all available channels with a CableCard device that they could shove it. My cable bill went down, we didn't really lose access to anything I wanted, and I felt like I had a small moment where I stuck it to "the man."

TWC adds HD channels so slowly that I feel confident that I'll be able to get an SDV dongle before they add any HD channel I really want (mostly Sci-Fi HD and HGTV-HD). I'd like to have ESPN/2-HD during college basketball season, but I can live without that.

 

[Revolutionary]

I second the request. I'm on Cox in Northern Virginia, and they are going to start implementing SDV next month. I have no idea what channels I'm going to lose as of now, but it would certainly be good to know that Tivo has my back.

 

[moyekj]

I second the request. I'm on Cox in Northern Virginia, and they are going to start implementing SDV next month. I have no idea what channels I'm going to lose as of now, but it would certainly be good to know that Tivo has my back.

According to this post it's "crap" channels going SDV 1st. Hope Cox Orange County starts SDV similarly so perhaps we can buy time for Tivo to come up with a solution before some of the more mainstream channels go SDV:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5468367&&#post5468367

 

[riddick21]

i have optimum iO from cablevision of westchester. I think their lines are fiber optic so does that mean they won't be using SDV?

 

[vstone]

i have optimum iO from cablevision of westchester. I think their lines are fiber optic so does that mean they won't be using SDV?

NO, almost all major cable companies have updated their lines to fiber optic. Tons of quality bandwidth, but they have to shaer it with broadband Internet access, On demand programming, etc.

 

[moyekj]

NO, almost all major cable companies have updated their lines to fiber optic. Tons of quality bandwidth, but they have to shaer it with broadband Internet access, On demand programming, etc.

Just to be clear, most cable companies are using Hybrid Fiber/Coax (HFC) networks. They have fiber all the way to local neighborhood nodes and then coax runs from the nodes to the homes (typically about 500-1000 homes per node).

 

[BrianAZ]

Just to be clear, most cable companies are using Hybrid Fiber/Coax (HFC) networks. They have fiber all the way to local neighborhood nodes and then coax runs from the nodes to the homes (typically about 500-1000 homes per node).

Curious why they would not do fiber all the way? Just a cost concern?

 

[sfhub]

Curious why they would not do fiber all the way? Just a cost concern?

Exactly, it cost a lot of money. You need to string the fiber on the poles or underneath the streets, then they need to install those marconi boxes or whatever they are using today. Search FTTN vs FTTH. Verizon FIOS is doing it.

 

[drcos]

Curious why they would not do fiber all the way? Just a cost concern?

I believe we have a winner...
You are talking replacing how many separate cable runs, then you need ONTs for every house (or group of houses) to convert the optical to something your TV/box/cable modem can recognize...

 

[puckettcg]

Just went to Verizon FIOS where SDV is not a risk, but also learned that they basically have done away with all analog (only 11 channels), and the guy who did the install said that Comcast is getting rid of all analog by 2009. From what I've heard, analog takes up a lot more bandwidth than Digital - seems that would be what the cableco's will do first.

(unfortunately FIOS just became available in my neighborhood, and is still not available in most areas; and for those of you contemplating a switch, customer service is just as bad as Comcast but you do get more features, channels, for the money.)

 

[vstone]

Just to be clear, most cable companies are using Hybrid Fiber/Coax (HFC) networks. They have fiber all the way to local neighborhood nodes and then coax runs from the nodes to the homes (typically about 500-1000 homes per node).

When they went to fiber optic here (Adelphia system circa 2001 or 2002) they replaced all of the cable on the poles. I just assumed it to be all optic fiber, but don't really know. Still have coax running from the pole to the house.

Do you have a feel whether or not 500 homes per node is small enough for SDV? I think I've seen smaller #'s (around 200?), but I really don't know.