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- GTPilot, on 10/11/2007, -7/+56but we're not talking about the type that has a dial and a fine tune knob.
- CaptMonkey, on 10/11/2007, -0/+42I think you two are missing the point entirely. It's not that you have the option to buy the cable company's crappy box, it's that you now have the option to go to a store like Best Buy or Amazon.com and pick out which box you want. Whether you want the super-deluxe HD DVR box with HDMI support or the dirt-cheap standard-def coax cable box, it's now your choice instead of the cable company's.
- jayjaykay, on 10/11/2007, -3/+28I worked for a pretty big good sized cable company for a long time. Trust me...you do not want to buy those junk boxes. Built by the cheapest bidder...and shipped out to you!
- AaronTyler, on 10/11/2007, -0/+24How about they open the debate about allowing more Cable TV providers to operate in your city. Only having one choice for our cable provider in Cincinnati really sucks for the consumer. Time Warner Cincinnati consistently provides horrible customer service and ridiculously high prices for their services.
Just across the river there is a cable company called insight; a buddy of mine pays $80 a month for digital cable (with premium channels) and 10Mb/1Mb high speed internet, and If I wanted the same thing, I'd have to pay $130.
***** ridiculous if you ask me.... - drlha, on 10/11/2007, -3/+20What, you don't want it include a time machine or give you a blow job too? Seems like you're aiming a little low with your specs to me!
- davdev, on 10/11/2007, -4/+20Anything that lets me get rid of my crappy Motorolla box is a good thing, but I do have some requirements:
Obviously HD
At least 3 tuners
At least 500 GB hard Drive, or the ability to add more drives to it.
HDMI 1.3
Great scaler for SD
Networkable with my PC and/or other boxes in the house.
Allow me to transfer files to PC or come with built in burner - MadScientist420, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15Seriously. I've had a DVR cable box for a little over a year now and I'm on my 3rd one. There is no way in hell I would buy one unless it came with a 5 year full warranty.
- Hockey37, on 10/11/2007, -0/+12Depending on price, I'd buy one.
I bought my own cable modem for $50 instead of renting from Comcast for $3/month. - zip000, on 10/11/2007, -3/+14Your government is run by personal freedoms?
- aliengoods, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9I've tried that with no luck. It would change the channel ~60% of the time. Missing 40% of the shows I want to watch really isn't a good alternative. Also, I don't have firewire.
Digg me down for it, but like I said, I'm still waiting for cablecard. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9@aarontyler: Don't I know it. Time Warner Cable sucks balls in my town. Comcast used to be in North Texas and they were rock solid. Now Time Warner is here and their ***** breaks constantly. My cable internet is a Schrödinger's Cat, I never know if it will be on or off. Since they took over I have gained 4 new HD channels, only to lose them as my bill climbs higher and they move the channels to a new (more expensive) HD tier. So now I am getting less and paying more than ever.
Time Warner in Dallas/North Texas can eat a culo. - s1mph0ny, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9@calamnet: "eventually they put enough splitters on my line that it wouldn't happen"
Actually you're supposed to run a cable modem with as few splitters as possible. The likely issue here is a lack of grounding, or improper grounding. There should be a ground block at the cable box on your building, odds are it's not. - Otto, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9A lot of HD boxes have firewire, and MythTV can connect via that method too. Sometimes.
- spiffywilco, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Can I also add that the Time Warner Cable HD-DVR sucks... hardcore. It's the worst piece of equipment ever. Such a terrible interface, and to get started on the problems...
1) I have to reset it everytime I turn my TV off, otherwise it gets stuck in 480i.
2) It completely forgets to record programs, and when you do assign programs, it always cuts them off 1 minute before the program is actually over.
3) The interface is garbage, utter rubbish.
I've called them and even taken it to the service center, and they tell me everytime that it's normal operation and that I simply have to unplug it and wait 10 seconds to restore normal operation.
And all that and it costs me 11$ per month just to have it. FU TMC! - xOpifex, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7I would rather buy my box. Since I've had my cable service for quite a long time already, it just makes sense to save the extra money in the long run to get my own box. Also, it would allow me to get a GOOD box, unlike the POS my cable company gave me (mediacom has 2 HD cable boxes, I got the bad one).
- BoneheadFarker, on 10/11/2007, -7/+14@aliengoods
Get a bi-directional IR transceiver, and your problem is solved. MythTV can send commands as well as receive. - cliffzdude, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6@thejokell,
Currently only PBS is doing a lot with sub channels, the point is valid the best looking HDTV out there is OTA. Damn dude, talk about splitting hairs.
Digg has turned into a "HA! GOTCHA IN A MINOR POINT OF NOT BEING ACCURATE EVEN THOUGH YOUR POINT IS SPOT ON AND IS STILL BASICALLY CORFRECT!!!" douche bag whine fest. - miniboss, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6I already own a series 2 TiVo but TimeWarner offered 2months free use of their box so I picked one up to see how the HD recording looked. I'll tell you what, these cable companies make the absolute worst hardware on the planet. The menus are confusing. The remots sucks. The show subscriptions are tough to manage. And the channel guide gives you a listing of EVERY channel even though they won't actually work if you tune in. It's driving me nuts trying to manage this thing.
The only good things about using their boxes is 1) you don't have that channel change delay from the IR blaster and 2) recording HD is amazing. I really hope they update their boxes to TiVo software because customers who've used TiVo will hate the experience of these rental boxes. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6@aliengoods:
The whole ***** industry is waiting for a cablecard. Microsoft supposedly struck a deal with DirecTV in March of 2006 and nothing has come to the market. If Microsoft can't make it happen, it just won't.
The cable and satellite providers are the real ***** here. A cablecard system would be simple to implement, they're just afraid that you're going to burn dvds of their shows and give them to all your friends. They're the ones dragging their feet on this issue.
I'll keep waiting with you, aliengoods, along with a million or so HTPC enthusiasts like ourselves. - litkaj, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4@davdev
You're not going to find a device that uses CableCARDs where you can transfer the files to a PC. The odds of seeing HDMI 1.3 any time soon aren't too good either (not that it matters much).
Look at the TiVo Series 3. How long has it been out? It still can't transfer files to the PC, not even OTA or analog files. Why? Because CableLabs won't let them enable that feature. - xraycat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Shaw Cable in Canada doesn't allow you to rent their cable boxes. You have to purchase them through Shaw or an authorized dealer OR you can buy one off ebay and activate it yourself. For a dual-tuner, 120GB HD PVR, Shaw charges $750. This is for the Motorola DCT-6412. I bought two off ebay, each of them were under $200. Yes they were used but they both work fine for now. The market to sell these local is about $500 for a used box. If I decide I want to get the newer model (if one ever comes out for Shaw) then I can hock this one and earn a good $200.
If you were to rent that box over 5 years, you'd pay $12.50/month. It's just too much to charge for a device like that regardless if you buy or rent.
Obviously renting is still better, the warranty is the biggest upside as well as switching your box to a newer model when they come out. - trekkie, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Until the technology settles down you're going to waste money. Unless these things are heavily subsidised a HD twin tuner DVR at $500 would take 71 months or so at the $6.95 a month you get charged here in NC. In 71 months the tech on my cable and my TV connectors have changed 4 times.
S-Video, Component, DVI-D, HDMI...
not to mention the features have changed a lot too, the first DVR wouldn't search by anything other than first character, hda to get a new DVR with a new software load to search by more than that. - ahhell, on 10/11/2007, -11/+15"Cable subscribers will soon have the option of buying their own TV set-top box rather than renting one"
Must be an American thing. We, Canadians, have had that option for years.
Whoops...reading comprehension failure. - trumpetr, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4This is the part that the article missed. All cable cards to this point have been one way. The cable cards starting in July will be 2 way with the cable companies supplying an OCAP version of their software to the devices.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Screw Cable.
- smiley2billion, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4@aarontyler
"Just across the river there is a cable company called insight; a buddy of mine pays $80 a month for digital cable (with premium channels) and 10Mb/1Mb high speed internet, and If I wanted the same thing, I'd have to pay $130."
I have that exact same package with Insight. ( http://www.insightbb.com/ ). Yes, I get a constant 10megs down and 1 meg up. Right now, Insight is being awesome with internet service, but their HD service is a bit lacking. The HD networks are always crappy looking due to the extreme compression needed to be able to pipe down 10megs AND HD streams over copper, but downloaded HD looks real nice :)
Also, they use the Motorola 6412 (I think?) and the PVR on it sucks pretty bad as well with the constant lockups, losing of recorded programming, etc. - Buelldozer, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Oh, so you're starting a major upgrade at the last minute (3 weeks out) and whining about how hard it is?
Gimme a break. Your company should have had this ***** nailed down 12 months ago. You'll get no pity from this SysAdmin who does major system upgrades on a fairly regular basis.
Any competent support person could, and should, have told you this 18 months ago!
I pity your companies customers. - 8bit_Hero, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Cable's Dilemma is Verizon's FiOS TV
- CaptMonkey, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3@chixdiggme
You went through 3 DVRs because you either have bad luck, or it was because they were the cheap kind that cable companies rent you. I've had a TiVo for years with no problems at all. The issue here also isn't just with DVRs, it's about the quality of the components of the cable box. It really ticks me off that I shell out the cash for a nice TV and a nice sound system only to have the quality ruined by some cheap cable box that I can't change out because I'm at the mercy of the cable company. - maexus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I work for the 8th largest cable provider in the US and I have to say, the only way I would even consider buying one of those boxes would be if they didn't disable all the great stuff on the box, like firewire out or on the DVR's, saving the recorded shows. Some people like to rent as they don't have a worthless box that ties them to a company, on the other hand, some people hate paying that 10 a month for the box. Atleast when you rent it, when it breaks, we will replace it anytime forever as long as you are a customer with us.
Having said all that, I personally would go with a home solution. Some of those cable boxes are just ***** like the dct2000. >_> Not pointing fingers. - cliffzdude, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3If I can buy it for a decent price, vs. $18/month then I'll take the risk. If it were $300 I'd bet I would still beat the piper if I bought.
To rent vs. buy is like buying an extended warranty. Sure it *can* save you, but statistically over the long run buying like not getting the extended warranty is the fiscally wise decistion. - Rethcir, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Depending on price, I'd buy anything!
- brettotte1, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I have Time Warner Cable and the modem is free with Roadrunner but the cable box is $7.95/mo, but we've exchanged it about 6 times in 10yrs which is about (120mo * $7.95+tax)= $1049.40. I think I'll stick to renting since I don't have to shell out $100's up front and risk it dying.
- heffae, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I a lot of markets it not an option cable card technology hasn't spread as fast as it should have here so If you want digital cable you need the cable companies equipment to decrypt it
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5If you wouldn't have capitalized Look mid-sentence, I wouldn't have laughed, but I did. You lose the grammar war.
- emjaymj, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Yeah we have had that option for years but I rent my HD PVR because the current model my cable company supports does not allow defragging the hard drive, so I'd rather have something I can switch when it gets slow.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2The DirecTV DVR is the best DVR I've used.
I've got two TiVos and the cable dvr (which is the worst DVR _EVER_ made...), and the DirecTV one is the best I've used. - deanc, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4Oh boy oh boy oh boy - it’s not your fault WSJ but you’ve just hit one of my super sore points about the US cable networks.
Please search for “cablecard” @ www.collins.net.pr/blog for more rants but to answer your question;
- You left out how the cablelabs consortium purposely crippled CableCard so that it doesn’t work with ondemand/premium services.
- You forgot to highlight that the cable companies have been purposely hiding cablecard from their customers, just by looking at the percentage of adoption you’ll see how low penetration is - well what do you expect when if you try to call cable companies they all but say it’s not available even when/if you do know your rights.
- Ever wonder how come Tivo3 is practically the only cablecard box out there…..maybe because Cablelabs refuses to license development access to the platform for everyone except the most determined (check out www.cognation.net/old/cablecard3 for more details how they refused us access)
- And you forgot to mention that now the deadline for cablecard is upon us the cablelabs consortim has hoodwinked the politicians into adopting a new standard called Chila (funny how it rhymes with killer) http://deancollinsblog.blogspot.com/2007/05/chila-is-killer.html
Like I said not your fault you brought up the topic but if you are going to bring it up at least point out the reality that the reason cablecard has failed lies squarely at the blooded hands of the cable carriers.
Cheers,
Dean Collins
www.cognation.net - ferrarif1, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4I own my tv settop box already. Im from canada though. Are you not allowed to by them in the US?
- ibeetle, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Ahhhh yes. The great cable box lie.
There is absolutely no reason for that box. None what so ever. You do not need it to decode a damn thing. Any and all decoding can be done by a cable card or even better at the point of origin (i.e. the cable company) like it is done with satellite television.
At one time the box was needed, but with todays technology it is nothing but a way for the Cable Companies to control your television, and to suck additional moneys out of your wallet.
Do a Google search. There are several organizations trying to end this plague called the cable box. Please join up with one and contact your federal Representative in ending this money sucking nonsense. - digduggler, on 10/11/2007, -0/+22 cable cards is about 3.95 a month. A dvr from the cable company is $12.95 and up
- xdevit, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2To reset it.. ON THE BOX press and hold volume up and down, then press info.
- billmccartney, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2not to poke fun @ your math.... but by your own calculations... had you bought those cable boxes @ $100... it would have costs you a grand total of $700. Saving you ~$350. Are you sure you don't want to buy them?
- mrgreen4242, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Get a TiVo for $50 or free from TiVo, pay $12 a month, and either connect it to the analog/basic cable or the free cable box they provide... problem solved? I think the MythTV route is great and all, as it gives you options, but all said and done, the TiVo interface and service is a pretty great combo for $12 a month.
- ROFLance, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4pretty big good sized, huh? that was a pretty good really awesome way of wording that.
- se7en11, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@drlha
Excuse me, your geek is showing. - ronaldb, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Not to poke fun at your reading skills... but did you see the "$100's", instead of seeing "$100"?
Even at $200 a box he would have come out ahead. - HappyScrappy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yes, it's not bidirectional because the cable companies don't really want to compete with 3rd party boxes, and they control Cable Labs.
I used to hold out hope like you do, but someone who worked on the TiVo Series 3 explained to me the situation. The cable companies will freeze out features from 3rd party boxes because they want to and the law doesn't prohibit it. - Thundercat1971, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Buy an S3 Tivo. All of your problems will be solved.
- deadbaby, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You're basically describing a PC -- not a set top box. I'm sure if you're willing to pay $1000 or whatever someone will sell it to you in a couple months.
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