It's been a few weeks since the
FCC mandate for seperate security went into effect, and when our cable company offered us a free STB for a year -- to make up for the fact that they moved an HD channel to
SDV and out of the reach of our
Series3 -- we told them, sure, as long as it had a
CableCARD.
We knew that cable companies didn't want to support CableCARDs, and as we suspected they've discovered a disingenuous way of supporting them. Basically the STB (4250HDc, manufacture date 6/29/07) is shipped with the CableCARD installed and for all
intents and purposes it's business as usual. We don't see how this is going to help 3rd party CableCARD devices get better support when you consider that the installers won't have any experience installing cards and also unlike 3rd party devices these STBs
are certified for two-way services. CableCARD is here to stay, lets just hope the FCC steps in and ensures the open cable dream is actually realized.
Just to make sure the CableCARD was actually in use, we went ahead and pealed off the tape and removed the card, and as expected the box ceased to work, but luckily for us, re-inserting the card got us back up and running in a few minutes.
Update: While this box does just about everything that a CableCARD 2.0 host device can do (like SDV, VOD, PPV), it doesn't support OCAP, which according to many means, it doesn't meet the CableCARD 2.0 specification. We've requested clarification from CableLabs.
posted July 19th 2007 9:15AM
How do we know this is a CC 2.0 card? It looks like an M card.
You'll have to take my word on it, I guess I could make a video of me using VOD and PPV with it.
2.0 is a spec that allows 2-way, not an actual physical card.
Actually, 2.0 is the spec to certify 2-way Multi-stream cards.
can you view SDV channels with this CableCard stb?
Yes, the SDV channels work fine, it works exactly like a normal STB.
A video would be awesome!
It would be a boring video, there is no difference from the UI perspective, between it and a integrated security STB.
Is it the card or the device that needs to be multi-stream capable? Or both?
For example; could I take that cable card and pop it into my TV and receive VOD services? Or does it have to reside in the box?
Engadget, all CableCARDs can support two way cable cards, it's the hosts that are two-way or not. You guys keep making this mistake even though you got it (somewhat) right once:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/22/cablecard-2-0-is-ready/
"We aren't sure why this is so complicated, but right off the bat, lets clear something up. CableCARDs have supported two-way communications for some time, it is the two-way host device certification that is new to 2.0."
It's somewhat right because it should just read "two-way". There is no "2.0 host".
You have posted this article under the heading "CableCARD 2.0 caught in the wild". It's wrong, which causes confusion - look at the comments. THERE IS NO CABLECARD 2.0 right now. There will probably never be. These are the same old Cable CARDs. The one you have is a multistream CableCARD, meaning that it has support for multiple streams of video at once (so it can support your dual tuner SA DVR).
Also, it's "separable security", not "seperate security".
Don't believe me? Check it out with CableLabs. They'll be happy to talk with you again.
@glide:
It is a set of standards. It has to reside in the box / card slot. The multi stream cards are backwards-compatible, but for support of 2.0 features like VOD your TV has to support 2.0.
A CC 1 M-Card can do this if there is two-way support in the box. Just having PPV and VOD doesn't prove it's a 2.0 card.
CC 2.0 is a host device specification, so technically there is no such thing as a CableCARD 2.0, as far as the card is concerned.
Uhh... I sent in "tip" about a month ago about this. I've been using my SA 8300HDC via CableCARD and access all CC2 functions for a month now.
Sorry, we get alot of tips, we must of missed it.
Oh it's not a big deal, I'm not mad or anything haha. I was just surprised to see the news just now pop up when devices have been out for so long. I got mine on June 21st with Time Warner, and I think I was one of the first. As of July 1st all cable companies had to have boxes with CCs in them, but I guess no one said they HAD to be CC2 boxes (or was that part of the new rule, not sure now). Glad to see TWC getting the CC2 out immediately instead of sending crippled boxes first.
As you said though, it's basically just business as usual for them. My box was the same, CableCARD preinstalled. Hell, I don't even think the installers knew it had one. It functions just like any other cable box before though, so I'm happy.
How do I know if my local cable company has SDV channels, and if no such channels, I don't see how this box has any advantage over my current non cable card box??
It doesn't have any advantage over your current box other than it complies with new laws effective July 1, 2007, mandating all boxes sent out from that point forward to have CableCARDs. It adds no new features, and thankfully (because this was the worry) takes away no features either.
CableCARD 2.0 is a specification that exists, not sure why you don't thin it does.
Based on my understanding after discussing the spec with CableLabs, I believe this box complies with that standard, which is why the title makes sense.
Just to be sure, I have emailed CableLabs, we'll see if they can shed some light on what it is about this box that makes it a two-way, multi-stream, separable security STB, but not a CableCARD 2.0 device.
OK, there's a draft CableCARD 2.0 spec that hasn't been issued yet. There's no CableCARD 2.0 product and no box support. And for business reasons, the CableCARD 2.0 spec will probably never be issued and no product will be made.
Here's the mistake you're making: you're treating "CableCARD 2.0" as synonymous with "two-way cable" which is not true. You don't need CableCARD 2.0 to do two-way. You need a two-way capable host like your new set top box that uses the M-Card.
Say hi to my buddies at CableLabs.
Also, I just read your update. CableCARD 2.0 has nothing to do with OCAP either. The industry will rollout OCAP without having CableCARD 2.0.
Well, perhaps that's the case, but honestly, I could care less what version number my CableCARD is as long as it has what have been known as "CableCARD 2.0 features". SDV, VOD, PPV, etc. My box does all of that with an MCard so I'm happy. I can see what you're saying though, that they aren't actually CableCARD 2.0, they just have the features of it. If that's the case, then who cares about CC2. All we care about is having a fully featured CC system that does all our bidirectional stuff.
I really appreciate your comments, but when I spoke with CableLabs they specifically told me that CableCARD 2.0 was ready and that Samsung, LG and others were already working on compliant devices.
As for OCAP, I didn't say it required CC 2.0, I said that at least 3rd party CC 2.0 host devices required OCAP support.
Please be sure to keep us up to date on those Samsung, LG and other cablecard devices.
This is true, pre-pro devices from Samsung, LG, Panasonic, TiVo and others are being tested at CableLabs now. I highly recommend the tour...
cableric
We have covered them previously.
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/08/lg-and-zodiac-showing-off-ocap-ui/
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/01/18/new-dvr-coming-from-comcast-and-panasonic/
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/08/samsung-and-cox-get-friendly-over-ocap/
Also Intel has announced a chipset to help deploy OCAP. (sorry no link)
Can you provide a list of OCAP devices currently available in stores, and are not rented by cable companies? I suspect that it is a very short list.
So can I use this new cable card in my Series 3 Tivo and access the VOD and PPV options?