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Is CableCARD support still required in the US? Why hasn't that been sufficient to break the cable monopoly on the set-top box?

awinder 11y ago
CableCard has a lengthy / costly certification process for device manufacturers, and has always had this problem where the cable companies technically support it, but it can be pretty arduous for the average consumer to get proper support from their provider to get their devices online. The first part really thinned out the herd in terms of offerings, and the second part made sure to limit the audience of people who actually went for those devices. I rocked a windows htpc with a cablecard adapter for a while, and I'm on tivo now, but I'm not sure that would have happened if I wasn't persistent and had done a bunch of the research on my own.
- NelsonMinar 11y ago
  Yeah I have a CableCARD in my Tivo myself and am terrified of what happens if I ever have to replace it. But this failure of CableCARD suggests FCC regulation isn't sufficient to disrupt the cable company monopoly. I wonder if this new push on set-top boxes will be any different?
  - ascagnel_ 11y ago
    Cable Card was hamstrung because the FCC left design and implementation largely in the hands of Cable Labs, which was owned and operated by a few of the larger cable companies. It was intentionally design-by-checkmark; it met every one of the FCC's rules, but was overcomplicated and hard to use. It was designed to fail. That said, if you can get it working, it beats the pants off of any cable box. I have an HDHR box with a Cable Card in it, and I can use it both via DLNA and on my Apple TV.
SloopJon 11y ago
When I signed up for Comcast in my current house about eight years ago, it was no trouble to get a multi-stream CableCARD for a TiVo HD. When it died a few weeks ago, I replaced it with another TiVo. Same card worked fine for the non-premium channels that I get. I discovered that I can even watch on-demand shows now after pairing the card over the phone. I had no idea that set-top box rental fees are so high. Makes the $600 I paid for a Roamio Pro with lifetime service seem quite reasonable. One thing I'm annoyed about is that Comcast now encrypts even local broadcast channels, so the tuner in the television itself is useless.

awinder 11y ago

CableCard has a lengthy / costly certification process for device manufacturers, and has always had this problem where the cable companies technically support it, but it can be pretty arduous for the average consumer to get proper support from their provider to get their devices online. The first part really thinned out the herd in terms of offerings, and the second part made sure to limit the audience of people who actually went for those devices. I rocked a windows htpc with a cablecard adapter for a while, and I'm on tivo now, but I'm not sure that would have happened if I wasn't persistent and had done a bunch of the research on my own.

NelsonMinar 11y ago
Yeah I have a CableCARD in my Tivo myself and am terrified of what happens if I ever have to replace it. But this failure of CableCARD suggests FCC regulation isn't sufficient to disrupt the cable company monopoly. I wonder if this new push on set-top boxes will be any different?
- ascagnel_ 11y ago
  Cable Card was hamstrung because the FCC left design and implementation largely in the hands of Cable Labs, which was owned and operated by a few of the larger cable companies. It was intentionally design-by-checkmark; it met every one of the FCC's rules, but was overcomplicated and hard to use. It was designed to fail. That said, if you can get it working, it beats the pants off of any cable box. I have an HDHR box with a Cable Card in it, and I can use it both via DLNA and on my Apple TV.

SloopJon 11y ago

When I signed up for Comcast in my current house about eight years ago, it was no trouble to get a multi-stream CableCARD for a TiVo HD. When it died a few weeks ago, I replaced it with another TiVo. Same card worked fine for the non-premium channels that I get. I discovered that I can even watch on-demand shows now after pairing the card over the phone. I had no idea that set-top box rental fees are so high. Makes the $600 I paid for a Roamio Pro with lifetime service seem quite reasonable. One thing I'm annoyed about is that Comcast now encrypts even local broadcast channels, so the tuner in the television itself is useless.