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Wednesday November 28, 2007
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 As I was paying some bills this morning, I stumbled across a notice from Cablevision about forthcoming rate increases. For the most part, the jumps are reasonable; for example, the cost of the cable box I'm forced to rent will increase by a mere 25 cents come February. But going through the list, I noticed that the cost of CableCARDs will go up from $1.25 per month to a whopping $2.00 per month--that's nearly twice as much!
CableCARD is a fairly contentious issue. The little PC Card shaped gizmos are designed to separate the decryption of television signals from the cable box itself, so that TVs, PCs, and DVRs can receive and decode those signals themselves. They're supposed to increase the number of devices that can receive cable signals, eliminate a remote control from your coffee table, simplify home theater set ups, and reduce rates for everyone. But in reality, they simply don't do the job. CableCARDs are expensive--now far more than ever--and you can't just buy the damn things, you've got to rent them. Remember when Ma Bell used to rent you your telephone? In addition, most cable companies are loath to disseminate info on them, and good luck getting any devices that are compatible.
And did I mention that they're designed for one-way communication only, even though the initial spec laid the groundwork for CableCARD 2.0, which would allow such futuristic features as programming guides and pay-per-view? Bottom line: I'm calling shenanigans on the whole industry.
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November 28, 2007 1:32 PM
It's the cable companies trying to keep a monopoly on the set-top boxes, etc.
I looked at getting an HD-Tivo because of how easy to use the Tivo is. But when you add the cost of a cable card (2, for the dual tuner), it's quickly far more expensive for the Tivo monthly service than for the Cable company's DVR. Charter's DVR sucks, but for the cost I'm trying to live with it.
Cable monopolistic practices haven't gone away, they're just shifting. It's the same with those that "rent" you a cable modem (or build it into their pricing and call it "free") rather than letting you buy the same thing for $30.
November 28, 2007 11:59 PM
Cable companies hate CableCards because they have less control over you - you don't have to use their program guide, for instance. My installer fussed and fumed for an hour and couldn't get it installed. He said he had a couple set top boxes on the truck that he could have running in a flash and they, unlike CableCard, let me do video on demand. Sorry, I said, let's get the CableCard working today or tomorrow or the next service call. Funny thing - once the cable guy realized I wasn't going to budge, he got CableCard working. A miracle! Out on the West Coast, I hear the U.S. president of Sony (this is a year or two back) sent a Sony engineer to his house to make sure the cable guy installed CableCard and not an STB. Sheesh! - Bill
November 29, 2007 7:18 AM
As a cable operator I can give a little perspective on the Cable Card: They don't work!
The premise for the things is good, put security on a simple PC card that can be moved from device to device. But the cost of headend equipment to administer them is approximately $30,000 and the cards themselves cost close to $100 each for the one-way version. Lord knows what the two-way version will cost if and when it ever becomes available.
Right now most cable companies are steering clear of these things while waiting for the "next big thing" of downloadable security to come to market. We have never had a customer come in and request a Cable Card anyway. They are simply a nightmare to set up and authorize.
November 30, 2007 3:35 PM
Glenn, that's very interesting, but completely opposite my own experience.
I picked up a CableCARD from our local Comcast customer service center and "installed" it myself into our Mitsubishi 46131 LCD TV. "Installed" is an misnomer as all I had to do was plug it in to the TV and call the cable company. A couple minutes on the phone and it was working perfectly. I have a two-tuner DVR hooked up to the TV, but use the CableCARD "input" daily and it has not failed once in nearly a year.
I think the cable companies just don't like that the government requires them to make CC's available for third-party competition.
November 30, 2007 4:14 PM
I had grumbling service people twice without getting it to work. A young lady was the third to try and she had it up and running in 20 minutes. It's worked fine ever since.The negative side is that I can'get the cable high def stations on my computer TV. Also, can't record the HDs on on my DVR but I refuse to give in and get get a cable box.
November 30, 2007 4:30 PM
Glenn's way off base...as are most cable co reps I've talked to.
Dane should take another look, because my HD-TIVOs w/cable card are much cheaper than cable co DVRs.
The TIVO requires 2 cards only if no multistream card is available. I'm with RCN in NY--we plugged in a multistream card & I had full functionality in minutes. I pay for just 1 card per TIVO, & the card includes the "HD Tier" which previously cost $10/mo on top of DVR rental.
One of my TIVOs is lifetime, the 2nd is $7/mo. If I didn't have lifetime, the 1st box would still be cheaper [if paid on the 3-year plan] than the cable co DVR.
I have vastly better service, pay significantly less, & add 2 key features cable co doesn't offer: A] my TIVOs are networked, & I can stream freely between them [& my PC]; B] I can expand storage simply by plugging in big eSATA drives to the TIVOs...no hacking, no extra fees.
Check it out--the new TIVO is a hard package to match in terms of quality OR price!
November 30, 2007 9:45 PM
I agree with Larry Simms. I just replaced a Tivo with the new HD Series and got 2 cable cards from Atlantic BB (they didn't have the multistream card). They charged me for installation $25.00 but I have lifetime on two of my Tivo's and I only pay $2.00 for each card. Before I was paying Atlantic $16.00 for HD and DVR. It works great and my Tivo's too are networked and it's fantastic !
December 7, 2007 1:55 PM
Glen...that is standard cable co monopoloy crap...They work great. I have 3 in my house. 2 multi tuner from comcrap that work. First one is free, the other is 1.90! The third is a single tuner for my TV. I love not using an ugly poor functioning cable co remote. Top it off, my tivo fees are 19 a month add the 1.90 for the cable cards and I am at 22.8. Two comcrap HD DVR's are 25.9...then I need something for the third TV. Sorry....but I like to give my money to others...like my family not a degenerate business
May 20, 2008 9:05 PM
I have gotten two different notices from CableVision that first over a dozen, and now almost a score of my HD channels will stop working with CableCard shortly and I will have to rent a settop box (STB) to continue receiving them. These are not premium channels, they're part of (and now, the majority of) their regular "IO" HD lineup. It is blatantly illegal, as FCC's ruling was that within technical capabilities (and without a waiver from the Agency) service was to be identical to renters and CableCard-using equipment owners alike. CableVision was recently granted a temporary waiver based on inability to meet some of the new specs, but this is removing service from those who already had it - and who can keep it if they give up their CableCards.