Hi all.

I'm upgrading the TVs in our bedrooms to HD sets, and I'm trying to figure out the best options for getting programming to them.

I have cable (Comcast) with pretty much all of the channels, and I'm using a TiVo Series3 with the main TV in the living room. Ideally, I'd like for the bedroom TVs to be able to get all the digital channels (in HD where applicable, of course), but since they're in bedrooms (and relatively small), I don't really want a big ugly DCT-style cable box or TiVo sitting there along with them. However, I'm not sure of any alternatives that would actually give me all of the programming (the TVs I am getting don't have CableCard slots). As I see it, these are my options:


Get a Comcast box. Don't like this because the box is too obtrusive.
Get a TiVo. Less ugly than the Comcast box, but still pretty big, and probably overkill for the application. (Still, I'd go with a TiVo before I'd subject myself to a Comcast DVR -- if I went the Comcast route, I'd be getting a non-DVR box).
Use the built-in QAM tuners and live with the fact that the channel numbers will not be right and I won't be able to get encrypted channels.
Get an antenna and get the channels OTA. Hard because we live in a very marginal reception area. Also, this wouldn't give me any channels I can't already get by just tuning the QAMs.


Are there any other options people see? Are there any third-party CableCard-equipped HD QAM tuners that are small and simple (no DVR functionality needed)? I haven't had a lot of luck finding anything like that. Most of the external QAM tuner boxes I've seen have been geared more at letting older (non-HD) TVs tune digital channels, so there's no HD output. And none that I've seen have CableCard slots, so they'd offer no advantage over just using the built-in QAM tuner.

Am I missing something?

If you definitely want all the channels and don't mind fees I'd go with Comcast boxes. If you don't want any fees, and you can live with the QAM digital locals and the extended basic analogs (if you get them), I'd just run the coax into the TV's (you won't, of course, get any extended basic analogs with an antenna).

I don't know the current monthly rental price of a Comcast non-DVR HD tuner, but it's gotta be cheaper than a TiVo subscription and a CableCARD for each TV.

There are no small, standalone CableCARD-capable, non-DVR QAM tuners for sale that I know of.

The best way to solve your situation would be to get a TV with CableCard. I had one of those (long story as to why I don't, anymore) and it worked as advertised. No box. Got all of the encrypted channels I was paying for. TVGOS meant I had the same guide functionality as what the cable box would have given me. Just no access to PPV or any Switched Digital Product. Not sure what on my system is SDV, but it didn't affect the standard HD channels at all. It was flawless.

Your only other option would be to get a Vista PC with a Cable-Card tuner card in it. Which is more obtrusive than the standard-issue cable box.

Thanks guys.


I don't know the current monthly rental price of a Comcast non-DVR HD tuner, but it's gotta be cheaper than a TiVo subscription and a CableCARD for each TV.

The cost isn't really an issue, it's all about how ugly it looks in the room. Obviously all else being equal, cheaper is better, but that's not my objection to any of the solutions at this point..

The best way to solve your situation would be to get a TV with CableCard.

Is anyone even making TVs with CableCard slots anymore? I haven't been able to find any. It's mostly a moot point anyway, since I've already purchased the TVs, but I'd be curious to see pointers to current model CableCard TVs.

Google "HDTV with cablecard"

Google "HDTV with cablecard"

I did. Most of the results are articles about it. The TVs I did find were all older models.

I guess it's all in how you define "older model." To me, anything 1080p is kinda current.

There's also the Moxi DVR which I think is slightly less obtrusive than a TiVo (nicer looking, at least IMO.) Uses cable cards, no subscription, but $800.

Motorola and Scientific Atlanta make smaller set top boxes. Maybe ask your local Comcast office if they stock any.

Your only other option would be to get a Vista PC with a Cable-Card tuner card in it. Which is more obtrusive than the standard-issue cable box.

Depends on how you set that up, you could stash the PC somewhere out of the way and use extenders at the TV's, the Linksys models are quite small black boxes with one light on them.

One option is to use a STB from the cable company but add a remote control extender to allow the STB to be hidden from view. The extender could be a RF to IR type or a IR to RF to IR type. With both types the unit next to the STB will have a RF input and IR output. The remote end would be a RF remote or an IR to RF translator allowing the STB remote to be used. See this IR to RF to IR unit for $20.
http://www.x10.com/promotions/pm5900_ed_conceal.html

That's a cool idea txrose. Hadn't occurred to me. Thanks!

The goal was that by now virtually everything would have a cable card slot. TV, STB even some CE devices like a BD player. If you wanted to be able to watch BD movies in that room you hook up a BD player and buy one with cable card slot, have cable company install the cable card and now this one box does everything.

The FCC failed on two fronts though
1) They allowed cable cards to be "optional" but recommended. As interested dwindled because of #2 this allowed HDTV manufacturers to drop cable card support.

2) They failed to understand the lengths that the cable companies would go to in order to protect the $$$$$ from STB.

3) They caved on Cable demand that CC be installed by company personel. They are no more advanced than an access card in a Sat STB. Can you imagine if sat companies required a truck roll everytime you needed to install, remove, update, or troubleshoot an access card.

The combination of the three ensured CC quick death. Cable companies did everything legal (and in some instances illegal) to kill CC. CC likely would be completely gone if it wasn't for Tivo.

So isn't True2Way (or something like that) the next cablecard? I though Comcast will be supporting that as of July this year and Pioneer or Panasonic already have such TVs?

Ed

So isn't True2Way (or something like that) the next cablecard? I though Comcast will be supporting that as of July this year and Pioneer or Panasonic already have such TVs?true2way uses current CableCards, but adds the ability to download and run a Java version of the cable company's STB / DVR software (with their program guide).

Depends on how you set that up, you could stash the PC somewhere out of the way and use extenders at the TV's, the Linksys models are quite small black boxes with one light on them.Which also could be done with any IR controlled device, like a cable box.

So isn't True2Way (or something like that) the next cablecard?'tru2way' is the next gen technology using existing CableCARDS.

I though Comcast will be supporting that as of July this year and Pioneer or Panasonic already have such TVs?This is correct right now, at a minimum in the Comcast Denver and Chicago markets, with Panasonic HDTV's.

'tru2way' adds the following functionality to the previous basic CableCARD:
- Video On Demand
- Pay Per View
- Cable Interactive On Screen Guide