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Thursday September 10, 2009
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 One thing no one's ever said about CableCard: how easy it is to install the darn thing. In fact, only a tiny fraction of the millions of CableCards currently in use are plugged into computers. That's because CableCards can only be used in "cable-ready PCs," meaning a certain class of new systems sold by manufacturers and blessed by Cable Labs. Enthusiasts couldn't build their own, nor could they add the tuners to existing computers. At least, not until yesterday, when Microsoft announced that the regulators of CableCard will decrease the severity of digital rights management from the television tuner and widen the pool of PCs that can take advantage of them.
Great news, but how will you, an enthusiast, ever get your hands on the darn things? According to Ken Plotkin, CEO of leading tuner manufacturer Hauppauge Computer Works, his company will sell a TV tuner at retail by the end of the year. This probably means that other manufacturers will be quick to join; watch for CableCard tuners from AVerMedia and DViCo, and the crazy multichannel CableCard from Ceton Corp, which Engadget recently spent some quality hands-on time with.
Until then, keep in mind that you can always install one of the OEM units yourself, provided you can track one down on eBay.
Image © Ben Drawbaugh/Engadget.
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September 10, 2009 6:19 PM
That's a great news. Form my experience, Hauppage tuner products are easier to install and better quality than AIT.
September 10, 2009 7:19 PM
Just noticed that Ceton Corp has updated the FAQ with regard to the company's sick CableCard tuner (linked above). It says:
We’ve added support for Switched Digital Video so the Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card will natively support SDV on Windows 7 PCs via a Tuning Adapter.
Native SDV means no tuning adapter, a big boon for these cards.
September 10, 2009 7:24 PM
Correction: The FAQ goes on to spell out that tuning adapters are required.
Q: Will the Ceton Multi-Channel PC Card support Switched Digital Video? (SDV)
A: With the recent announcement by Microsoft and CableLabs that Windows 7 supports Switched Digital Video, we’re pleased to announce that the Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card has been designed to natively support SDV as well via the Switched Digital Video Tuning Adapter available from your cable operator.
September 11, 2009 9:31 AM
Jeremy,
Did Ken (Hauppauge) say this in person, an e-mail, or in print? Just curious if he's made this announcement public or not.
Thanks!
September 11, 2009 11:32 AM
This is definitely great news! I wonder how much they'll be?
September 12, 2009 9:01 AM
Jeremy,
"the Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card has been designed to natively support SDV as well via the Switched Digital Video Tuning Adapter"
That reads to me like the card will support EITHER native SDV (no adapter) OR SDV via a tuning adapter.
September 13, 2009 1:59 AM
After purchasing an Hauppauge 2250 for Windows Vista and not being able to tune digital with it, I'm looking forward to Cetons product.
Yes, I was burned by Hauppauge and will avoid their products for the Windows 7 life cycle. Depending on how Hauppauge supports their Windows 7 products I may patronize them again (If their product works.) As a purchaser of their products I received poor tech support and lousy drivers.
Here's hoping that Windows 7 outlasts Windows XP!
September 19, 2009 12:32 PM
The Hauppauge 2250 is a dual ATSC/QAM digital TV receivers which is over the air digital tv = ATSC not cable or Satellite TV for these you still need a box from these services for use with this card. QAM is Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) is a method of modulating (encoding) digital signals on a cable television system. It is commonly used to transmit digital cable TV channels on the otherwise analog RF cables, and can be decoded by several types of tuner cards (assuming that the video signal is not encrypted).
September 26, 2009 2:26 PM
Hauppauge 2250
Dual everything!
Two analog tuners and hardware encoders.
Two digital TV receivers for ATSC or clear QAM.