CableCard

Why cable tv companies don’t want you to get a CableCard.

And why you should wait for the Next Generation.

The CableCard replaces a set top box.

And cable tv operators don’t want you to have one.

Why? Excuse one: the technology is changing rapidly. The REAL reason: cable tv companies want you to feed at their trough, and CableCards don’t yet communicate TO your service – it’s one way to you. So you can’t do Video on Demand of Pay-per-view through the set (you may be able to do so via internet or with a phone call.) Lost revenue potential means ‘try not to sell these blasted things!’

Until there is two way interactivity, until the cable companies can drain more money from your account, you might get the distinct impression that the cable companies are trying to talk you out of a CableCard. You’d be correct.

At a website for Time Warner Cable, a Frequently Asked Question about CableCard televisions (aka Digital Cable Ready sets) reads;

"Q: Why should I get one? What are its advantages over a set-top box? A: A Digital Cable Ready television may not be for you. If you want to take advantage of Time Warner Cable's interactive services, such as iControl or our Interactive Program Guide, then you want the expanded features of a digital set-top box."

Translation: “we can’t sell you stuff as easily.”

But they can always charge for installation! You can't install a CableCard yourself. A cable-company technician must do the job, which includes programming the card to work only with your specific TV set in your specific location, all part of an elaborate registration process that makes these cards a lot more difficult to hack than either cable boxes or satellite security cards. The installation charge is usually around $40 or $50, although it's free from Time Warner. Your mileage may vary.

Important tip 1:

Important tip 2:

Important tip 3:

This is a complex topic, know that there are proponents on both sides of the fence - and with changing technology and so many manufacturers and constantly revised equipment, not to mention cable company changes, it’s difficult to track, but here are the issues with which you may need to contend:

CableCard realities:

If not interactive, your cable card television is about to be obsolete.

Your salesperson might not know what he’s talking about.

Your cable company might try to talk you OUT of it, because today’s cablecards are not interactive, denying the cable companies more potential revenue.

You lose the Set Top Box channel guide. (But many TVs now come equipped with Gemstar's TV Guide On Screen Electronic Program Guide.)

Interconnectivity may be a wash (equal) as set top box builders see the handwriting on the wall, yet there are many many set top boxes out there with old technology and lower quality connections Don’t get stuck with one.

Picture Quality – why CableCard is superior, or could be:

Here’s what can happen in a set top box in High Definition: for ammunition look at Fox-HD and ESPN-HD (720p sources). A 720p digital source is input to the cable box, which converts it to 1080i then converted to analog to be sent via component connection to the TV which then converts the signal back to digital, and converts it to its native scan rate (720p) for display.

But with CableCard, the 720p signal is displayed as is, without any analog / digital conversion, or 720p / 1080i conversion. Fewer conversions means better picture quality.

Here’s what happens with standard definition in a set top box: An analog source inputs to the set-top box, which converts it to digital for 1080i scaling and then converts back to analog to be sent via component cable to the TV which then converts the signal back to digital, and converts it to its native scan rate (720p) for display.

Analog in CableCard: One analog to digital conversion (in the TV).

CableCard Plusses:

One less monthly fee.

One less remote.

Fewer wires.

Better picture likely.

CableCard Minuses:

One way device.

No EPG.

Unsure about parental controls.

You might not need another tuner (instead, using one or even two in another source, like your DVR - digital video recorder.)

Current version will be obsolete when two way devices are introduced, and that one may not work on current TVs with cable card slots. The next-generation versions will be labeled,

"Interactive Digital Cable ready."

OPINION

Meanwhile, I hate set-top boxes. Another remote might put me over the limit (see WIFELY RULE NUMBER #145) (see Accessories, Universal Remote). I don’t care about VOD or the EPG. I pray TiVo will come out with a HDTV (TiVo has its own EPG), or I’ll use a satellite service anyway (and their HD-DVR.) To me, TiVo (or similar technology) so TRANSFORMS the whole recording/time shift/no commercials/ TELEVISION experience, that there’s nothing else that matters as much to me other than good quality picture and sound. See the section on TiVo. I would go with the CableCard. Lord help me.