Ceton's quad CableCARD tuner for Windows Media Center gets a price
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted January 5th 2010 6:36PM
posted January 5th 2010 6:36PM
posted January 5th 2010 6:36PM
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@Shanne69
In theory, G can handle a single HD stream (I've tested that theory myself with my PS3 ala Netflix, seemed to work fine), though your mileage may vary. N on the other hand should be able to handle multiple HD streams just fine.
@powermatt
I'm having trouble with one HD stream on my N right now. It will start off fine and then say network problems are preventing the HD from streaming at it's best (or something to that effect). Nothing else is eating my bandwidth. So I'm concerned.
@Shanne69
Because of the potential to drop packets due to your surrounding environment, it may not even matter what speed your wireless is running because by the time your hardware has realized that the packet has been dropped, you've already got stuttering on the screen.
If possible, always go for a wired connection. It'll save you headaches in the long run.
If it was Tru2Way instead of Cable Card... then it might actually matter.
@Amnesia87
It might not matter to you, but to the hoards of HTPC enthusiasts that have been looking for a practical way to get premium HD content from their cableco, this is a complete dream come true. Tru2Way would be nice, but I dare say Ceton's accomplishment matters a lot more.
@powermatt
First of all, hoards? Really? What was that one post about only 400,000 cable cards sold since they've been available when like 80+% of the TV viewing country has cable or sat? More like a spec in the ocean. I wish I didn't have to rent a cable box at all as well, but let's call a spade a spade. And all I hear about Cable Card is that it's not compatible with SDV whereas Tru-2-2Way is, so you don't even get all your HD channels, or On Demand if that's you're thing. Let's bring on the Tru-2-Way TV's that don't need boxes!
@Amnesia87
Is that right? Let's see ... I could give a crap about Tru2Way and Cable VOD. That's all you need Tru2Way for, and with T2W you'd have to use the Cable Co's SHIT interface. That's right. With WMC I can stream on demand from NetFlix and many other providers.
What the fuck do I need T2W for? I'll take a 4-tuner MOCUR now, thank you very much.
@THizzle7XU
Holy shit ... where to start? First, get a clue.
You hear that CableCARD isn't compatible with SDV? That's what a tuning adapter is for ... compatibility with SDV, and supposed to be free from the Cable Co. YOU DON'T NEED TRU2WAY FOR SDV!
Then you spout some bullshit about 400,000 cable cards. You are aware, right, that the previous limitations on CC on Windows Media Center that required an OEM machine to use CC have been lifted right? And that users can attach a CC to any system that meets the required specs now? And that change opens up CC to many more users, especially those with home built HTPCs running Windows 7? While HTPCs will never be dominant, I'd expect CC usage to grow with the HTPC restrictions lifted and all the new MOCUR adapters coming out.
Good gawd ...
Very nice. Hopefully this means it'll be shipping very soon. Yeah, it costs as much as the HTPC I built to put it in, but they're getting my money as soon as I can buy one.
At that price it's as good as bought for me. I did not expect it to be this cheap.
Damn me and my having U-Verse! I thought Media Center was cool when I had 2 tuners, but this is kick ass!
@moldymac This could make me think long and hard about going back to cable...
Whole home dvr could be achieved with this and extenders.
Sweet if you get a chance ask Balmer when Windows Media Center will support DisplayPort for content protection.
I want to be able to use my Display Port cable but I have to use HDMI to play anything from my ATI cable receiver.
@visionep get a displayport to HDMI adapter (HDCP compliant), the only thing that accepts a displayport in is a an Apple display.
How is this different from the HDPVR? I have an HD PVR with DVBLink, I'm not too happy with it.. there is a lot of degradation in quality (very noticeable on black images), will this have the same problem? Can I still use Dish Network? I'm sorry, I'm just not understanding what's so special about this.
@jtadeo It doesn't work for dish, it's a CABLECard tuner.
@jtadeo The difference as I understand it, is with the Cablecard you can access the HD content through HDMI, thus you don't have any possible degradation that could happen with the component signal tapped by the HDPVR.
Since I only have basic cable right now with OTA HD and thanks to Comcast clearQam, I get all the cable channels in SD. The tough pill to swallow for me would be buying this, renting a cablecard, and then another $40-50/mon for digital service.
@KevinQ Then its not really for you, is it?
DAMN! Thats a tad pricey in my opinion, $299 wouldve sold out on day 1 guarenteed. Still gonna get one though, already using the ATI one that I got on craigslist a while back (engadget hack) two tuners = no more cable box :)
I just got my HDhomerun I thought that was a dream but i only get QAM channels here in NJ, only locals channels ABC CBS NBC, etc.... but if I can get all the other channels and record 4 channels at once and distribute them to 3 HTPC I have. this would pay for it self in a year.......
I got my $400 ready. Just tell us WHEN!
Does anything like this exist for DVB-C? I'd like to get some Virgin Media HD onto an HTPC.
Question? I thought cable providers were moving away from CableCARDs, no? Aren't they moving to some other technology? I guess I'm confused on what to get. Also, I'd like this, but would like the option to do OTA if necessary.
@sirthought
CableCARDs are not going away anytime soon.
I'm sure time warner is already scrambling to figure out how to charge me for all four tuners.
I am not sure it matters much as they charge like $11/month for their own digital HD DVR box...
So I am guessing a cable card (which I am sure I can only rent from them) is like $9.95/month.
This must be the magic of the markets I keep hearing about.
I am sure it is just so high because of all the regulations.
... is the sarcasm coming through OK?
@savagemike
CableCARDs are between $2 and $5 per month. They are limited in what they can charge by the FCC.
@savagemike
Rather then make random guesses why don't you just look it up?
Comcast provides the first CableCARD for free. Each one after that is $1.50 each.
I hear HD-Homerun has a cablecard announcement.... Imagine if they had a networed quad-core tuner! Then we could potentially share some of those tuners with laptops in the house as well as with our HTPC!!! I hope they have an announcement and price for comparison soon.
Awesome. I was hoping for $299 like others but I was willing to spend up to $400. I've got my money ready Ceton. Just tell me when and where I can pickup the tuner.
It's too bad my HTPC case will only take half height cards. I have no complaints at the moment thought, I was able to pick up an ATI tuner on ebay for $200 and score another on craigslist for $50 last year. Combined with my HDHR for additional clearQAM channels, I should be set for while. When the time comes to upgrade, I will be picking up the Centon, hopefully the price will have dropped by then too.
@jhow Last I heard, Ceton also has a slim version in the works... so your patience may pay off without needing a new case!
This tuner only comes in a low profile format so you're good to use it.
This tuner only comes in a low profile format so you're good to use it.
Per Brier Dudley's blog in the Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2010708363_ces_kirklands_ceton_releasing.html) the card will be releasing no later than April 1, 2010.
Now... my real question is, will this be a two way cablecard device? Or is it still limited to one way.. two-way cable card would allow for on-demand services and usage of the providers on screen menus... If this is a two way cablecard device, then I think it would be worth the 399.. especially since it is said to allow 4 simultaneous HD Program recordings.
@skim32
Not 2-way. Unfortunately if you go with True2Way then you lose that nice Media Center UI in favor of the crap UI provided by your cable company. If you like the providers' on-screen menu, perhaps this is not the device for you. However, it does support SDV.
The real problem now is in distributing said media throughout your house. As it stands, Xbox360's are the only worthwhile extender; and, thus far, we haven't heard any rumblings about new extenders at CES this year.
I'm also waiting to see what SiliconDust has up their sleeves for their networked HShomerun systems. If they come out with a dual or quad CableCARD solution that can easily be distributed over the network to any PC, then they might just get my money instead.
Then there's the third option of waiting for Ceton to release a cheaper 2-card solution of their own that I could pop into independent HTPC's at each TV in my house. It would be a real shame to lose centralized recording and distribution capabilities though! :(
Now, if only MS would release the new WHS to include tuner management and softsled distribution... that would be tits!! one can dream, right?
@palehorse
err,"HDhomerun" systems...
Is Engadget itself going to announce a new EDIT button at CES this year? (Or am I just too dumb to find it?)
I was at the Ace Computers Hospitality Suite tonight at Mandalay Bay and they HAVE THE CETON INSTALLED IN THEIR BOOTH in both AMD and Intel flavored MEDIA PC's and have 8 TUNERS GOING ON ONE OF THEM as a "Technology Demonstration" but not officially for sale on the dual Ceton card based system. Ace was one of the OCUR partners last year who broke the $1K Cablecard PC barrier and their people said they expected to be able to do that with a 4 tuner card based system although their official version is offered at a $1499 price point. Their booth is supposed to be next to Control 4 in the front of the South Hall 1 and I want to get a look at that bad boy!
Steve
PS: They said they're running the party again tomorrow night so be sure to ask for a ticket if you go to their booth!
Looks like according to Ceton's website here: http://www.cetoncorp.com/buy.php , The Ceton Digital Cable Quad-Tuner Card will be available for sale by March 31, 2010.
$399 may appear to be expensive but consider how much you save on box rental. Plus a good tv tuner costs around $100 and you can't get your pay channels. Also, the DVR I have only has 160GB and won't allow an external HD. My computer has 1.5TB. Lots more room for a media library.
Here's the thing the new CC that are out right now are SDV compatible. And have multi-stream capabilities unlike the old s cards the new ones are called M-cards and are now per fcc spec installed in every cable box manufactured as off last year.
I agree that the price is abit much for these but think of the long run you don't have to pay any extra fee except for a $3 per month for a M-card.