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Cable Cards?

I've seen a number of negative messages about using Cable Cards. I was wondering if things have gotten any better?

If I get a cable card instead of a set-top box, do i place it into a computer? USB port? Does the remote control control it? If it goes into a computer, is there software you can use to control it?

Sorry for all the dumb questions, but I couldn't find a cable card FAQ anywhere...

Comments

walt178

I've never used one so I don't have any first hand info. Hopefully the following link will answer your question.

http://www.verizon.com/Support/Residential/TV/FiOSTV/Other+Hardware/CableCARDs/CableCARDs.htm

prisaz

You would need to place it into your purchased third party hardware. You would lose some Verizon features, but would get all of your subscribed channels. I have the Ceton Corp tuners with Cable Cards running with Microsoft Media Center PCs, and various extenders that are used instead of STBs. I have 2 PCIe cards in a Windows 7 PC and each expansion tuner card has a cable card installed. They have six tuner models out now. I have 8 tuners shared out of the pool in that PC, to an X-box, Echo Extenders, other PCs, and I also I have just recently installed a network version of their device that has six tuners and is Windows 8 compatible with Beta firmware and software. So what I have are 14 tuners total that operate as a DVR and are shared out to 6 Extenders or PCs. Which is probably a highly unusual configuration, and extremely complex with 14 tuners storing recorded media content in various locations. It would be like having 7 of the current DVRs, but more complex, and additional feature, with a loss of some of the Verizon features.

Now my configuration is Beta and cutting edge, and for most users it would be to complicated. I started out a few years ago with a TiVo device that I purchased and installed the CableCard into. Verizon must activate the card and make sure it is paired properly to the device. Now having the Card activated and paired to the device has been troublesome at times, and must be done manually by the support tech. I just had installed the Ceton InfiniTV6 ETH network device and had to have the support rep. manually activate mine a second time to get it paired properly. Having the experience, I knew it was not 100% when I ran the diagnostics. There are various reason why someone may want their own hardware, but remember if it breaks it is yours.

Verizon is scheduled to be coming out with the VMS-1100 Media Server and IPC-1100 STBs some time in the near future. These have more that the standard 2 tuners, and I believe 6, that will allow you to watch or record up to 5 programs while viewing a 6th if I remember correctly. I saw these devices at the CES-2013 and did a right up about my trip to the Consumer Electronics Show 2013 this past January, with pictures and links to various press releases. I am not sure when they are scheduled to be available to the customer.

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-TV-Programming/CES-2013-and-items-that-will-change-the-way-you-enjoy-your/m-p/526733/highlight/true#M18372

marylanders

One thing to be aware of is that Verizon nickles and dimes its customers with the cable cards. They just increased the monthly fee to $4.99--an exorbitant price considering we're talking about a cheap piece of machinery. Verizon, as usual, is engaging in questionable business practices meant to punish people who don't pay for Verizon DVRs. That contempt for its customers is enough to make me lean toward abandoning Verizon and going with its competitor (which doesn't charge anything for the first cable card--so, $4.99 vs. $0) the next time my contract is up. No cable/internet/cell company is perfect, but Verizon without doubt is worse than the other major US companies.

johnh10315

I've had a cablecard with Fios for the last 2 years, with minimal problems until yesterday. Verizon deactivated the NFL RedZone channel, which I had been receiving without interruption since Nov 2011. In fact, the RedZone channel was why I selected their more expensive Ultimate HD plan in the first place.

They blamed it on the cable card (same card has been in use since Nov 2011). They want me to stop using my TIVO and cable card - and rent one of their DVRs or set top boxes (more revenue for them). I think this may be an FCC rules violation and intend to pursue it. The FCC implemented CableCard Rule 76.1205(b)(5) to protect consumers against this type of action.

prisaz

Have you tried this?

If you only have cable cards (or if the activation from the stb fails), you need to call orders and ask for the Zero Rated NFL Red Zone for Ultimate HD to be added. If the person you get doesn't know anything about it, ask for a supervisor. I got that added to my account, and now all my tivos show the red zone splash screen on ch 835/335. As the Zero Rated part of that name implies, it is not an additional cost. I suspect it's a way to track those that actually use the channel in order to then pay the NFL less, rather than having to report everyone who subscribes to Ultimate HD as a subscriber to the Red Zone.

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