I have a CableCard equipped PC on order from Okoro Media Systems. I called Comcast yesterday and they told me that they will not install a CableCard in a PC. Isidore Okoro says there are others that have working CableCards in their PCs.

Can anyone confirm this?

Comcast is required to install CableCards in an OCUR device. Do not tell them you are ordering a CableCard for a PC. Tell them it is for a TV or a DVR.

Or did they arrive at your home and then refuse to install it?

Comcast is required to install CableCards in an OCUR device. Do not tell them you are ordering a CableCard for a PC. Tell them it is for a TV or a DVR.

Or did they arrive at your home and then refuse to install it?

No, I just called and talked to a technician. Excuse my ignorance, but what does OCUR device stand for and why is it REQUIRED? They did say that when they arrive at the house and it is being installed in a PC, they will not do it. I don't have it yet, so have not scheduled an install...

OCUR stands for "OpenCable Unidirectional Receiver." These products cannot be sold unless they are CableLabs certified. Cable companies are required by law to install CableCards in any CableLabs certified device. The TivoHD is another example of an OCUR device.

Some cable companies let you do CableCard self-installs. That's the only way around Cable companies trying to shut HTPC users out.

Point them to the cablelabs certification, educate them on the law, and if they still refuse, tell them they are breaking federal law and you are going to file a complaint with the FCC. This should change their mind. The cable guys are arrogant bastards. They were illegeally encrypting cbs in my area and this is what I had to do. They wanted to charge me for a box, to get the locals, even though my tv has qam&atsc hd tuners. They fixed it in 2 days and now cbs is in the clear! (As it should be!)

I remember reading a newspaper article about the Israelies taking out some terrorist or undesireable type by running a jet fighter by an office building and tossing a couple of missiles into his office windows. Always chuckle and think of that when I read about how the local cableTV or power company, etc., is just too good to us.

I have a CableCard equipped PC on order from Okoro Media Systems. I called Comcast yesterday and they told me that they will not install a CableCard in a PC. Isidore Okoro says there are others that have working CableCards in their PCs.

Can anyone confirm this?

This is the tragic result of TMI (Too Much Information) - Most CSRs immediately lock up when confronted by anything they either haven't heard of or is beyound their scope of knowledge. Frequently instead of talking to a manager or technician they simply say it's not supported. Many will refuse to pass a person up to management simply because they think they are doing their job and if a manager receives too many people being passed up from them that they are somehow at fault (even when that's how a customer is best served)

Yes, Cable Companies are required to support CableCARD - however at the same time NO, Cable Companies are not required to support your Media Center or any other Customer Owned equipment.

What does this mean?

1) Call and ask for a cable card install. You do not need to tell them what it's for, in fact, it will probably go better if you don't.

2) When the technician arrives, do not expect him to even touch your equipment - instead be ready to show him exactly where the card goes (and even offer to insert it) Be prepared with any documentation you have for the CableCARD install process (some like TIVO SIII can be a little tricky with multiple cards that CANNOT be done at the same time) - DO NOT LET THE TECHNICIAN HAND YOU THE CARD AND LEAVE

3) When the time and point comes - after the card is inserted and properly detected - the technian should have to either phone in or use some sort of communication (many of ours have smart phone PDAs) to authorize the cards. Generally a Initialization (usually "Cold Init") should be sent to "pair" the card with it's new host. The installer should also get the Card ID, Host ID and Data ID (which you'll need to find the interface screen for him to get these) so that you can be set up properly for CCI Encryption (or else you won't get all your channels)

If you get any oddball Errors, you'll pretty much be on your own to figure out what they mean - even if it says "Call the Cable Company" - why? Because the company that made your equipment set up those errors - the Cable Company doesn't know what they mean. Furthermore don't be suprised if a technician tries to blame your equipment as the source of the problem (they are frequently pressed for time, especially when MSOs want them to fit 18 hours of work into a 8 hour day) So if you get any oddball problems, simply request a temporary box (if you complain to customer service you can probably even get this for free) to verify the problem is indeed with your setup and not the cable line.

When I get a customer with a problem the tech feels for certain it isn't the line I have them hook up a box and test it - if it's all good I request to leave it for a week or two to verify -that the line is good - if not I tell the tech to keep looking because the box is doing the same thing.

Different batches of Cards use different firmwares... different firmwares work better, worse, not at all with different devices - so it may take several cards.

CableCARDs can be an uphill battle, the good news is once they are up and running they usually have few if any further problems.

http://www.comcast.com/customers/faq/FaqDetails.ashx?Id=4160

Why is Comcast offering CableCARDs?

Comcast is committed to supporting digital-cable-ready television sets and other devices, such as the TiVo Series 3 HD set-top box and the Microsoft Digital Cable Tuners. By offering CableCARD service, Comcast is able to provide you with more choice. Customers who prefer not to have a digital set-top box can use a CableCARD while customers who want to get the full-range of digital cable features (e.g. ON DEMAND, Pay-Per-View, and the Comcast On-Screen Program Guide) can continue to use the Comcast provided set-top box.

Thanks for the replies! I am trying to prepare myself for the arrival of the new PC and trying to understand the issues. At this time, I only use Extended Cable without a Cable Box, this I have the cable connected directly to my current MCE 2005 system and recording SDTV only.

Now for the question. My new HTPC will have a Cable Card and two OTA HDTV Tuners. Okoro is telling me that I will only be able to record HDTV, not SDTV with this HTPC. Given this, can I expect to be able to receive ALL the channels I currently watch from my Extended Cable in HDTV?

BTW, I am located in Fremont, Ca, near San Jose and San Francisco. Anyone have a working CableCard in my area?

Now for the question. My new HTPC will have a Cable Card and two OTA HDTV Tuners. Okoro is telling me that I will only be able to record HDTV, not SDTV with this HTPC. Given this, can I expect to be able to receive ALL the channels I currently watch from my Extended Cable in HDTV?

If it's not available in HD using your cable box, it won't be in HD via your HTPC. I'm guessing that they really mean, though, that if it's not a *digital* (i.e., QAM, either encrypted or unencrypted) cable channel, then you won't receive it - probably just means that their CableCARD receiver doesn't handle analog cable. This is a frequent mistake, even from vendors/technical people (well, really more of an oversimplification). You might ask your cableco if they simulcast their SD channels in digital form - some do, some don't. Certainly a bit anticlimactic if you can't, as there are still a lot of channels broadcast in analog form on a lot of cable operators' networks.