FCC Pushes For Open, Broadband-Powered Set Tops Open boxes, providing access to any and all video content The FCC kicked off an investigation this week into the rather closed set top box market, with the agency issuing a statement (pdf) saying they were eager to create "a more competitive marketplace for navigation devices." What does that mean? The FCC wants to move away from the closed set tops and broken CableCARD model in play today -- to one where consumers can buy one device (preferably one that's not locked down, and offers direct Internet access so users can get the content of their choice) and hook it up using any cable operator. Your new FCC boss, Julius Genachowski, puts the initiative this way: Consumers want devices that can navigate the universe of video programming from all of these sources and present the choices to them in a simple, integrated way. They also want to know that they can buy a device and not have to replace it if they change video providers. Granted such a migration requires a lot of logistics, which is why the FCC started talking about what's required to make this happen now. The FCC's announcement references the creation of an "AllVid" adapter to help bridge the gap between carrier TV platforms and consumer devices. Of course cable industry trade magazines (who make a living telling the cable industry precisely what they want to hear) very quickly got to work explaining why they don't think this is a very good idea: As I’ve written previously, having the FCC specify the exact technical details of how pay-TV providers deliver their service represents an undue tax on all their customers. Why is this a bad proposal? Simply put: It will impose significant costs on cable, satellite and telcos, which will potentially have to re-engineer their video-delivery platforms in fundamental ways. It could involve a complete overhaul of the IPG. It would definitely slow down and/or derail their development of new features. Of course such a move would also bring new Internet video competition directly to bear using everybody's set top -- and it would seriously harm the money made by DVR and set top rentals and Video On Demand services, so you can draw your own conclusions as to whether the central thrust of inevitable industry opposition originates with concern for technical logistics, consumer welfare, or the industry's own wallet. That said, it is very true that the FCC's record on this front (think CableCARD) isn't great. Regulators have played more than a small role in making similar efforts of this kind collapse under the weight of well-lobbied bureaucratic dysfunction, so skeptics certainly won't be in short supply. Still, the cable industry also had a role in making sure that the CableCARD initiative didn't do very well either. The dance of dysfunction has been a two way street. Still, the FCC's vision here of a uniform, open and highly content competitive set top box market (where Ethernet ports and embedded browsers abound) is a good one that could help kick sluggish Internet video growth and competition in the rear. However, the agency may have just started a fight they may not be able to win. While feigning cooperation, cable, phone and satellite operators will collectively lobby to stall, derail and crush this initiative should it truly wind up pushing for device competition -- while trying to convince users that they already exist in a Utopian set top market that needs no help becoming more awesome. The end result of this initiative after lobbying may be something ugly and unrecognizable. Update: The cable industry's primary trade organization (the NCTA) threw their support behind the more vague portions of the FCC's announcement, issuing a statement cheering the ruling as adhering to a set of voluntary principles the NCTA had previously submitted to the FCC. Of course the cable industry is fine with vague principles, but we'll see if the statement's breathless support of consumers remains fixed should the FCC make any tough rules that would actually wind up eroding set top rental or VOD revenues through a truly open and competitive set top box market.
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 | | Just fix CableCARD Fix CableCARD and a lot of people would be happy.
I would rather just get rid of the STB completely for some TVs.
The gateway approach has to be viewed with caution. We don't want the cableco's to think that 2 tuners is enough for a household. I currently record from 8 tuners, 2 of which are CableCARD, 4 are Clear QAM and 1 analog, 1 OTA. | |
|  | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD Technically the filing opens the floor to fixing CableCARD first -- then moving to this next phase later... | |
| | |  N3OGHYo Soy Col. "Bat" GuanoPremium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
kudos:1 | Re: Just fix CableCARD I dig the old cable box picture... | |
| | | |  n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
 ·Optimum Online
| Re: Just fix CableCARD said by N3OGH:I dig the old cable box picture... I remember the old push-button Jerrold boxes of the 1970's. There was a rocker switch to select between low and high.
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I support the right to keep and arm bears. | |
| | | | | | said by N3OGH:I dig the old cable box picture... No kidding.
Even in the 80s and early 90s some companies had those old hamlin converter boxes.
You want to see more old cable boxes? Look here:
»theoldcatvequipmentmuseum.org/17···dex.html
Speaking of which, the home gateways will be today's equivalent of the old analog block downconverters. | |
| | | | | N3OGHYo Soy Col. "Bat" GuanoPremium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
kudos:1 | Re: Just fix CableCARD WOW, that's an UBER cool link. I really enjoyed checking that stuff out.
I was trying to find something like that last week. Knew it had to be someplace on the 'Net. Just couldn't find it.
Thanks!
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Petty people are disproportionally corrupted by petty power | |
| | | | | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD I actually found that link posted somewhere deep in the forums here believe it or not!
Glad you like it... I really enjoyed looking at all of the old equipment... and reception sites!
Did you see the one with the large VHF parabolic antenna? 10 towers! | |
| | | | | | | N3OGHYo Soy Col. "Bat" GuanoPremium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
kudos:1 | Re: Just fix CableCARD I was just looking at that. One hell of an array..... | |
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| | | | Reviews:
·Optimum Online
| I just went into a time warp looking at that old equipment. My parents had that in their house, way back when. I remember pressing the switches of the old Jerrold box to find a station to watch.
Come to think of it, things really haven't changed that much, now I flip through using the remote connected to the 8300 looking for a station to watch, lol.
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Ken | |
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| | | | said by Karl Bode:Technically the filing opens the floor to fixing CableCARD first -- then moving to this next phase later... Actually it's not "technically." FCC wants to fix CableCARD by this fall. The rules they have in this NPRM will attempt to do just that, by banning preinstallation and making sure that the cable guy comes with the right number of cards.
What it won't do just yet is replace SDV tuning adapters with an IP based solution, which is what TiVo (and others) want. | |
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| | | said by fifty nine:Fix CableCARD and a lot of people would be happy. I would rather just get rid of the STB completely for some TVs. The gateway approach has to be viewed with caution. We don't want the cableco's to think that 2 tuners is enough for a household. I currently record from 8 tuners, 2 of which are CableCARD, 4 are Clear QAM and 1 analog, 1 OTA. Directv is working on 6+ tuner full home box with mini boxes at the tv's / new tv can have build ways to talking to sever box.
U-verse will need to do a lot work to get past the 2-3 HD / 1 sd bandwidth limit. | |
| | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD My Comcast service has this now. | |
| | | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD You have a Comcast Cable box with 6 tuners? I've never heard of one. | |
| | | | |  yaplejPremium
join:2001-02-10
White City, OR | Re: Just fix CableCARD Its probably a homebrew type DVR like mine LinHES/KnoppMyth based system. I only have 4 analog + 1 digital tuner though.
The problem is that under the current market using a homebrew Linux based DVR there is no way to access the VOD content, or to "easily" access the premium paid content without using external cable boxes to convert the premium content to a standard analog or digital signal. | |
| | | | | | | It has one central HD DVR. Then up to 6 satellite units that act as individual tuners, but can access the content on the central DVR. The satellite tuners are able to show content (DVR and tuned) in HD or SD depending on the TV they are attached to. | |
| | | | | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD That must vary market to market as you can't get a whole home DVR solution from Comcast here. | |
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| | | | said by castsucks :said by fifty nine:Fix CableCARD and a lot of people would be happy. I would rather just get rid of the STB completely for some TVs. The gateway approach has to be viewed with caution. We don't want the cableco's to think that 2 tuners is enough for a household. I currently record from 8 tuners, 2 of which are CableCARD, 4 are Clear QAM and 1 analog, 1 OTA. Directv is working on 6+ tuner full home box with mini boxes at the tv's / new tv can have build ways to talking to sever box. U-verse will need to do a lot work to get past the 2-3 HD / 1 sd bandwidth limit. I don't care what the cable/sat companies are working on. The point is that I want to be able to choose my own solution. | |
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| Cogdis
join:2007-03-26
Floral Park, NY | said by fifty nine:Fix CableCARD and a lot of people would be happy. Agreed. It seems to me that operators are doing their best to keep people from adopting these things. They create artificial limits on their abilities (think Fios' Video on demand which could probably be accessed with current IP-enabled Tivos if they had the necessary software) or they make up limits where none exist (like claiming that CC's cant get HD or premium channels- this happens far more often than it should).
A requirement for cable cards to have access to everything that a cable company STB has would go a long way toward fixing this problem.
And this doesn't have to be an added expense for the cable company either! Let the cable companies make some sort of guidelines on how devices can access their systems, and I guarantee you that the manufacturers can make it work. Even with the different standards I'm sure they can happily find a way (via something like a tuning adapter) to do this. I don't think it's the nightmare they're making it out to be. | |
| | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Just fix CableCARD I don't think the CC's have ever suggested that the Cable Card can't do HD or Premiums.. the way it's currently set up is that 3rd party boxes can't do VOD, even though there really is no *technical* reason why they can't.
The one thing that I see on the side of the cable company is that it's their system, they don't get any USF fees or other tax money from the government like telephone does, so why should the FCC, of all agencies, be the ones to press upon them an unfunded mandate to cut into their rights to make revenue off of their own investment? I can certainly see why cable would be upset that the government is forcing them to do anything "just becuase" they said they had to.
I DO agree that boxes that the cable companies supply need a lot of updating, but I can also see WHY they'd be upset that they should be forced to accept an integrated box that combines their services with that of outside sources. They spent a ton of money building out their systems and investing into them to offer these services for the government to come in and say "hey, someone else wants a piece of it"...
There are certainly arguments on both sides, but, I'm going to side on cable for this one to a point. I think the government needs to start including them on the money hand-out that the phone company gets if they want to intrude on the rights of a private business. Otherwise, this is a simple solution.. improve cable card access is all they really need to do - simply to make sure it's working correctly. I don't see the need to have an "all in wonder" cable box that can do everything in one box including broadband content.. if people are wanting these boxes for that reason, then they don't really want VOD anyway, right? SO what does it matter. Tivo can EASILY make their boxes do more, but don't, which include cable card AND access to broadband content.. ever wonder why THEY don't already?
And of course Tivo wants this.. they're not selling just the box, they're selling a box that REQUIRES service to use it. On top of that, they want to be able to provide additional content via the internet, right? Tivo is fighting for their existence on the backs of other businesses. I'd feel more sorry for Tivo if ALL they did was "sell the box".. Tivo doesn't even let you get guide data from someone else, so they're NOT just a box builder.. they're a service provider as well. Maybe if they simply sell their boxes and stop charging people to even use them, they'd have a leg to stand on.
Seriously, the giver-ment needs to take a VERY good long hard look at what they're trying to do here.. I think, as usual, they're going to go way beyond what they need to in order to accomplish something and make things worse before they make it better. Less is more sometimes as is in this case. | |
| | | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD said by fiberguy:The one thing that I see on the side of the cable company is that it's their system, they don't get any USF fees or other tax money from the government like telephone does, so why should the FCC, of all agencies, be the ones to press upon them an unfunded mandate to cut into their rights to make revenue off of their own investment? I can certainly see why cable would be upset that the government is forcing them to do anything "just becuase" they said they had to. The FCC is considering revamping the USF to cover broadband, which would include cable companies.
In any case cable companies get a lot of breaks from the states and municipalities in which they operate. | |
| | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Just fix CableCARD "In any case cable companies get a lot of breaks from the states and municipalities in which they operate. "
MANY businesses get "breaks" from the states or cities in which they operate... so?
I know a Jimmy John's sandwich shop that got 5 years free tax in Brainerd, MN from the city becuase they wanted the new business.. they wanted the income tax from the people it would employ. It happens all the time.
In addition, phone not only got many of those same breaks, etc. as any other business that knows how to negotiate the system, but also got the USF to boot.
These "breaks" they get is often done to attract business.. in trade, the government also "gets" something from those breaks.. they get sales tax, FRANCHISE FEES (which is a good chunk of change and is often simply income anyway) and they get people off of unemployment. It's not a one-sided thing... it doesn't count. | |
| | | | | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD Be careful what you wish for. Cable companies advertise their VOIP service as being free of taxes and fees.
Do you think they WANT the USF? | |
| | | | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Just fix CableCARD said by fifty nine:Be careful what you wish for. Cable companies advertise their VOIP service as being free of taxes and fees. Do you think they WANT the USF? I've long said that "phone service is phone service" no matter how it's provided. I believe this should cover POTS, Cable VOIP and services like Vonage.. period. If it hits the public switching system, then its "phone".. then I believe that all "phone service" should play by the same rules.
I believe the same with video, be it cable, satellite, or fiber systems.
With that said, I still don't agree with the USF one bit. It's an INCREDIBLY horrible managed slush fund that even the gubberment has no real clue where its going. I see it as corporate welfare.
But, if the phone companies collect and get benefit from it, then cable phone should be collecting it and getting benefit from it as well.
The only thing the gooberment needs to do is set rules for "services" and ALL providers play by the same rules. I've long been against one set of rules for satellite, one for cable, and one for phone. They're all getting into each other's business and they need to play by the same. ALL of them. | |
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| | | | | said by fiberguy:I don't think the CC's have ever suggested that the Cable Card can't do HD or Premiums.. the way it's currently set up is that 3rd party boxes can't do VOD, even though there really is no *technical* reason why they can't. CableCARDs often can't access HD content that is delivered via SDV.
Premium content is often inaccessible because of pairing issues since in many systems premium channels are copy protected and the copy keys only work if the cards are paired with the host device. | |
| | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Just fix CableCARD Really????? .....?
They have to be paired anyway.. why do you think techs are sent to do this in the first place>
Second, please... enlighten us.. just how many systems out there, pure number of actual subs, are even using SDV in the first place? Hawaii? who else.
I'll answer this simply for you... there is no common or mass issue with HD OR Premiums with CableCard that can't be fixed any different than any other issue. I can tell you that I've swapped out more boxes in my time of doing this over missing channels over CableCard. And still, it's not "CableCard" as a technology itself. PLEASE read what I said about the manufactures of devices as well. If cable cards work in other applications, and not in some, that leaves PLENTY of room open to the makers of the devices themselves. and there ARE known issues in the devices themselves. I'm sorry if you can't understand that because it doesn't support the cause of hating the card itself. What you're saying, alone, makes no sense.
So, in what you said in your post, if the card isn't paired.. then.. well.. PAIR it properly.. what's so hard? .. it's not. | |
| | | | | |  davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC
 ·Comporium
| Re: Just fix CableCARD Actually the vast majority of Time Warner Cable customers are on SDV now. And TWC HATES clear QAM. They move their clear channels around all the time and I'd swear they do it just to doodle with people who are trying to use QAM sets with them to get free HD local channels.
Contrast that w/ an indie telco/cableco in SC called Comporium that actually puts ALL of their basic and basic digital channels in clear QAM *AND* publishes a channel guide w/ the QAM tuning numbers! The only time you need a box is when your TV/tuner unit doesn't do QAM or you want the extended digital (extra cost) or premium channels. (And their pricing for Basic Digital is $20/mo cheaper than TWC and actually includes more real channels.)
}Davoice | |
| | | | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Just fix CableCARD Okay.. channel lines-ups.. that's a whole other issue. The one thing that's GOING to happen is video operators MUST be able to manage their spectrum the way they want. Otherwise, you're going to slow down any advancement in the process.. Personally, that's not a side effect I'm willing to take in order to have another box.
So, with the FCC, or the "government" involved in this, their reach should be as simple as working to develop a standard for equipment to work with provider - that's it. If Tivo or any other maker wants to sell a box that a consumer can use, then the operator still needs to be able to manipulate the core features OF that box. Moving channels around happen all the time and I don't believe it has any evil intent behind it. Providers move networks around all the time while they work on their systems. Clear QAM doesn't mean channel mapping. This is a major deficiency in the FCC's plan before. They can very well be moving frequency around in order to arrange their systems to work more efficiently.. maybe they're having an issue with a service on a certain frequency so they want to move a service somewhere else to compensate... it happens.
Also, Clean QAM is also going to be another issue with controlling tiers of service. Conditional access has to be part of the whole equation. Trapping is completely inefficient and outdated.. and expensive.
ALL that needs to happen is if they want to have a level playing field is to simply mandate 'that'.. nothing more. Not features.. etc. While it sounds good, in the end, it's not always conducive to the over all goal.
While mandating certain features in vehicles as we do is a good thing in the end, it has largely priced cars out of the reach of most people. Mandating luxury features in a video set top is only going to price people out of the range for time to come.
THIS is my main issue.. I have no issues with an attempt to foster competition, so long as the playing field doesn't harm ANY player in the process, and doesn't give one entity an advantage over another. | |
| | | | | | | | davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC Reviews:
·Comporium
1 edit | Re: Just fix CableCARD
Auto Affordability Index |
said by fiberguy:While mandating certain features in vehicles as we do is a good thing in the end, it has largely priced cars out of the reach of most people. Mandating luxury features in a video set top is only going to price people out of the range for time to come. That particular statement doesn't hold water. Adjusted for inflation, the price of cars is more affordable than it was when I parents were our age.
»www.comerica.com/Comerica_Conten···2008.pdf
This report from Comerica, shows the number of weeks worth of median wages that an average consumer would have to work to afford a new vehicle.
Plus today's cars are a better value. It is reasonable to say that today's car is twice as 'good' (from a $ spent per mile driven standpoint) as a vehicle from the 1940's. Cars last longer, have more power, get better fuel economy and are safer.
Edit: 5:51pm EDT - Uploaded chart.
}Davoice | |
| | | | | | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Just fix CableCARD Better value, and "adjusted for inflation" really also don't hold water as you say.
I just went out and replaced two of my cars.. also helped a couple friends navigate the whole new car process as well.
Many people on an income of about $20 an hour fall into the price range of a $10 - $12k loan. That puts the loan amount at about $300 a month for the car alone. How many cars can you buy at that price range today? ... and with out having to fork over a large amount down?
Many people can't afford a $450.00 per month car payment to get up into the $18K range with little money down. Not many people have savings to dip into for huge chunk payments.
While I agree.. cars are better made today and last longer.. some people realize that a car is not an investment.. it's a depreciating asset that holds no real value about the time you get past the life of the 60 month loan.
Off topic, yes.. but since you brought it up.. the issue I have with the post you made is that while this one particular issue looks good in writing, it's similar to the mistake many companies make too.. they look at the bottom line and think it applies to the masses and it doesn't. Cable and phone both believe that $100 is the sweet spot for monthly subscriptions.. the fact is, a lot of people can't or aren't willing to fork that amount over... many people would have to give up many other things to have it.
A car payment of $400 a month works for some so long as they rent, have a roommate, and don't really do much else. You have insurance and gas and maintenance to factor in as well...
There's something to be said about "your car is the second largest purchase that most people make in their life.. for some, it's THE largest".. affording a car and affording a car that has more than a gas pedal and 4 doors is the issue. Same can be said about cable boxes. If they simply work on open access and standards, great! People would be able to afford a box.. but you mandate internet based connection, sharing, hard drives, and other sources of video, you're going to price that out of the range of many consumers too, or rental fees will go through the roof.
Besides, my post was largely on how the cost of a car has risen based on mandate anyway.. just like cable set tops will as well. The V-Chip raised the price of a TV for quite some time - the same will happen with boxes and will ultimately frustrate many people for years to come. The FEATURES" are the point of my contention.. not really open access to those that want to 'sell' boxes. | |
| | | | | | | | | | davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC Reviews:
·Comporium
| Re: Just fix CableCARD And that's precisely why we need a viable "used" box market for cable boxes just like many people chose to buy a car used instead of new. Right now there is virtually no viable primary retail or secondary market for cable boxes.
My point is that mandates have NOT driven up the average price of cars bought in the market. If we compare the low prices of $1,472 in 1949 to the low price of $10,235 in 2008 that would be an average annual increase of 3.3% If we compare the mean prices of $2,680 in '49 and $27,704 in '08 that gives an increase of 4.0% per year.
(The recession and dealer closing fire sales in 2009 will make those numbers do weird things as the average sale pricing went lower.)
Compared to the increase in the price of consumables, like milk, that is below market price inflation. Milk cost $0.80/gallon in 1949. Today in my neighborhood grocery story, it costs $3.29. That is a 4.56% increase per year.
Go do your numbers and come back w/ some real facts if you want to argue.
Just because the people you helped were in a part of the employment market experiencing wage deflation and they want to own a car that is actually outside of their means is not my problem.
After taxes, a $41K, single earner income in a household with kids, is lower-middle class and probably can't afford a $27K car if they have a mortgage on a home that is similarly oversized for their budget. This is what got us into the financial mess we're in as a country now! Living above your means!
}Davoice | |
| | | | | | | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Just fix CableCARD Okay.. you want to be that way? lol
Price of milk? You really want to argue with a farmer...? .. someone who's family still runs a farm and understands WHY milk is the price it is? BAD example! Farmers receive subsidies... milk would be far more expensive if your tax dollar wasn't going to keep the prices at a certain price. Farming is NOT retail.. so please don't pretend you understand it. What you see isn't what you get.  If the price of milk goes down, many farmers will send the cows to slaughter to make money elsewhere and that will drive the costs back up.
Again, everyone's lives are different. I'm guessing you're a numbers man, right? There's a BIG problem of where you're coming from. Just becuase "numbers' look good on paper, they don't always play in the real world. You're living in the middle class.. you're not living in the ever expanding lower class with your auto example. You said very clearly that the price of cars are still affordable.. for MANY people they are not. I don't need statistical numbers to tell me that. If we wanted to play with numbers, then I can tell you right now that NO ONE here has a right to bitch about the price of cable TV either.
Low prices mean nothing, especially in the cost of a car. Who wants that $10,235 car you speak of? Go by the AVERAGE price of a car. Those cheap, low end cars, anyway, are/were also garbage. The maintenance cost on them, which you didn't factor in, plays a big part of that cost as well. I don't think everyone wants a Kai Rio either.. they're garbage. The same can be said about a DCT 2000 box.. right? I mean, they're boxes.. they work.. they're cheap.. who really wants the better boxes that cost more at $16.95 per month?
While you have "real facts" to argue.. lets talk about where the consumer is in the "real world".. I can easily turn your entire set of points that you are making right back at you for a reason why cellular phones, home phones, and cable TV isn't too much either.
I am CERTAINLY one, if you ever read what I've posted here, that argues that people need to live with in their means... I make NO argument about that.. however, I ALWAYS get beat down for that with the excuse of "but it's not fair!!" to which I say "no one ever said life was fair"..
Maybe you should do some research on my posts about people not living in their means... my biggest issue is that people want to have it all and think everything should be "affordable".. which I strongly disagree with. I believe that people CAN afford cable.. but that means they may have to lose the appetite of eating out and actually stay home. It means they don't buy iPods.. it means they don't need a 42" TV in their home, or Tivo..
But, in this case,... by adding all these features to every box as a requirement that the FCC is talking about WILL in fact drive up the cost of the box.. explain to me HOW it won't.. Is a DVR more expensive than a basic cable tuner that can perform OnDemand, security, and the basics? Why is that? Why is Tivo and Moxi so expensive over a DCT700 box? ... think about that... and tell me that these boxes won't only drive up the cost to purchase, but the cost to rent as well. | |
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1 edit | said by fiberguy:Many people on an income of about $20 an hour fall into the price range of a $10 - $12k loan. That puts the loan amount at about $300 a month for the car alone. How many cars can you buy at that price range today? ... and with out having to fork over a large amount down? Many people can't afford a $450.00 per month car payment to get up into the $18K range with little money down. Not many people have savings to dip into for huge chunk payments. if they fall into the price range of a $10 - $12k loan, and cannot afford the payments for a higher range, then what exactly is the problem with a $10k car??
at $20/hour do they expect they can have luxury?? (any luxury at all really) or they cannot buy a used car? they don't sell cars anymore at 10 and under?! or people are supposed to feel ashamed to drive them?!
I'm with "davoice" 100%, good lord no wonder we are in a total mess!!! | |
| | | | | | | | | | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | Re: Just fix CableCARD said by Bubba Rock:at $20/hour do they expect they can have luxury?? (any luxury at all really) or they cannot buy a used car? they don't sell cars anymore at 10 and under?! or people are supposed to feel ashamed to drive them?! I'm with "davoice" 100%, good lord no wonder we are in a total mess!!! You need to look for really old used cars. A 2001 Benz E Class I saw for sale for $8K, the body style was used until 2009, so owning this $8K used car will still get you major respect | |
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| | | | | | | said by fiberguy:Really????? .....? They have to be paired anyway.. why do you think techs are sent to do this in the first place> Cards don't have to be paired unless you have to use the CCI key. FiOS for example doesn't pair any of its cards because everything on FiOS is copy freely.
Second, please... enlighten us.. just how many systems out there, pure number of actual subs, are even using SDV in the first place? Hawaii? who else. Time Warner, BHN and Cablevision have SDV widely deployed at this point. Cablevision alone has 1.1 million HD subs and many more subs in total. Cox, Charter and Comcast have SDV in limited areas. Comcast has decided to go with analog reclamation instead.
I'll answer this simply for you... there is no common or mass issue with HD OR Premiums with CableCard that can't be fixed any different than any other issue. I can tell you that I've swapped out more boxes in my time of doing this over missing channels over CableCard.
And still, it's not "CableCard" as a technology itself. PLEASE read what I said about the manufactures of devices as well. If cable cards work in other applications, and not in some, that leaves PLENTY of room open to the makers of the devices themselves. and there ARE known issues in the devices themselves. I'm sorry if you can't understand that because it doesn't support the cause of hating the card itself. What you're saying, alone, makes no sense. One of the reasons that TiVo alleges CableCARDs fail to work in non-cableco STBs is because they are preinstalled, preprovisioned and tested as a whole unit before being deployed in the field.
That is why they petitioned the FCC to make separable security true to its name - i.e. ban preinstallation and have the cable guy show up with a separate CableCARD and a separate box, then attempt to join the two at the customer's premises. The thinking here is that if the provisioning system is not working properly, the cable company has incentive to fix it because it affects its own boxes. Otherwise they could do like they've been doing, which is either tell customers (in not so many words) "it aint working, rent a box" or tell them to go call TiVo or give up in frustration.
CableCARD activation and pairing fail for a variety of reasons, which may or may not be related to the CableCARD itself. A lot of issues I've seen have to do with not getting a sufficiently strong OOB signal, so the hits coming down the line don't make it to the CARD. Another is firmware on the cards. Subjecting cable company owned/leased boxes to the same procedure for provisioning as TiVo and others will ensure that they fix these plant and firmware issues because it will affect their own boxes if they don't fix it.
So, in what you said in your post, if the card isn't paired.. then.. well.. PAIR it properly.. what's so hard? .. it's not.
Apparently it IS hard, which is why so many people complain. Go over to the TiVo forums and read horror stories about cable guys calling up, the CSRs sending hits all to no avail. Usually these issues boil down to plant and firmware issues that aren't immediately obvious and it is all too easy to just blame the card and say "not my problem." | |
| | | | | | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD said by fifty nine:said by fiberguy:So, in what you said in your post, if the card isn't paired.. then.. well.. PAIR it properly.. what's so hard? .. it's not. Apparently it IS hard, which is why so many people complain. Go over to the TiVo forums and read horror stories about cable guys calling up, the CSRs sending hits all to no avail. Usually these issues boil down to plant and firmware issues that aren't immediately obvious and it is all too easy to just blame the card and say "not my problem." It took 3 service calls for Comcast to get a cable card paired correctly in my Tivo 3 months ago. | |
| | | | | | | | | said by fifty nine:Cards don't have to be paired unless you have to use the CCI key. FiOS for example doesn't pair any of its cards because everything on FiOS is copy freely. Well, that's because in FiOS, the "cable node" is the box attached to your house. So you are not getting any signal that wasn't meant for specifically you. If you're not subscribed to HBO, they don't send it to your "node." If you are, they send it clear, since it is easier to do, and they know that only you are getting it.
In a cable company node, the QAM can be seen by anyone connected to the node, since the node has to feed a neighborhood. So they can't just send channels in the clear, because everyone would see them with a QAM tuner. Which is why they have to combine the copy protect flag and digital cable boxes to control what people can see. | |
| | | | | | | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD said by skuv :said by fifty nine:Cards don't have to be paired unless you have to use the CCI key. FiOS for example doesn't pair any of its cards because everything on FiOS is copy freely. Well, that's because in FiOS, the "cable node" is the box attached to your house. So you are not getting any signal that wasn't meant for specifically you. If you're not subscribed to HBO, they don't send it to your "node." If you are, they send it clear, since it is easier to do, and they know that only you are getting it. In a cable company node, the QAM can be seen by anyone connected to the node, since the node has to feed a neighborhood. So they can't just send channels in the clear, because everyone would see them with a QAM tuner. Which is why they have to combine the copy protect flag and digital cable boxes to control what people can see. No sorry that's not how it works nor what I meant.
The CCI byte/flag is to prevent you from copying the shows off your TiVo onto another device such as a personal computer or even another TiVo. Pairing marries the card to the host device and enables the use of the CCI byte because it's how the cable company can enforce copy restrictions while allowing playback on the same device.
Even my cable provider (Service Electric) hasn't used the CCI byte in my CableCARDs. Granted I don't subscribe to HBO so I don't know if they use the CCI byte for that. | |
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| | | CAn I still get one from Verizon? I just found (embarrassed) that my HDTV has a CableCARD slot! Never even knew it (so much for RTFM...)
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Splat | |
| | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD said by cableties:CAn I still get one from Verizon? I just found (embarrassed) that my HDTV has a CableCARD slot! Never even knew it (so much for RTFM...) You absolutely can get a CableCARD from Verizon. They may charge you $70 for the truck roll though. | |
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| KearnstdElf WizardPremium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | OK besides the clear fact that the cable company does not want to give up box rental fees.
can anyone explain why cable boxes cant work like cable modems? by this i mean there is a clear standard in modems, i can take a Motorola DOCSIS modem i own now and goto a different ISP and they provision it with their bootfile and i get their service level.
why do they not have a video version of something like DOCSIS, where cable device are generic and when you subscribe your box gets sent a bootfile that tells it what package it has and what it can do.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports | |
| | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD said by Kearnstd:OK besides the clear fact that the cable company does not want to give up box rental fees. can anyone explain why cable boxes cant work like cable modems? by this i mean there is a clear standard in modems, i can take a Motorola DOCSIS modem i own now and goto a different ISP and they provision it with their bootfile and i get their service level. why do they not have a video version of something like DOCSIS, where cable device are generic and when you subscribe your box gets sent a bootfile that tells it what package it has and what it can do. You mean DCAS?
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downloadab···s_System
Sure. But that would take away the $30 or so in fees that some cablecos collect from box rental and DVR fees. | |
| | | | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | Re: Just fix CableCARD And the cable co cant record and sell your viewing habits, and cant jam VOD rentals in your face and cant do forced ads start over and cant magically make your dvr settings disappear and make you recordings disappear and cant profile you and customize ads for you. | |
| | | | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD said by patcat88:And the cable co cant record and sell your viewing habits, and cant jam VOD rentals in your face and cant do forced ads start over and cant magically make your dvr settings disappear and make you recordings disappear and cant profile you and customize ads for you. That is the most awesomest thing about using my own equipment.
The only bad thing is that TiVo has ads too but now I'm on Microsoft media center so it's all good and no ads. | |
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| | |  dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | said by fifty nine:said by Kearnstd:OK besides the clear fact that the cable company does not want to give up box rental fees. can anyone explain why cable boxes cant work like cable modems? by this i mean there is a clear standard in modems, i can take a Motorola DOCSIS modem i own now and goto a different ISP and they provision it with their bootfile and i get their service level. why do they not have a video version of something like DOCSIS, where cable device are generic and when you subscribe your box gets sent a bootfile that tells it what package it has and what it can do. But that would take away the $30 or so in fees that some cablecos collect from box rental and DVR fees. there ya go. its all about the benjamins!
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The shortest distance between 2 points adds 1.5 stars to T. want $50? solve »coord.info/GC20A37 for me | |
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| | | | said by Kearnstd:why do they not have a video version of something like DOCSIS, where cable device are generic and when you subscribe your box gets sent a bootfile that tells it what package it has and what it can do. That's mostly because the manufacturers of cable headend equipment (primarily Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola) made competing products and wanted to lock a cable company into only being able to use their hardware when digital cable first came on the scene.
Cable companies didn't necessarily not want there to be a digital cable headend standard, they did all agree on the DOCSIS standard after all. But the headend equipment manufacturers got in there before DOCSIS came around, so by the time cable companies figured out that they should have gone with a standard system, it was too late.
They are getting closer to being able to standardize, as the backend video is all becoming IP based. Even new satellite receivers now put out IP MPEG2 and MPEG4 over Ethernet. But they are still stuck with billions of dollars worth of headend gear and digital settops that they can't realistically trash. | |
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| | | said by fifty nine:Fix CableCARD and a lot of people would be happy. I would rather just get rid of the STB completely for some TVs. The gateway approach has to be viewed with caution. We don't want the cableco's to think that 2 tuners is enough for a household. I currently record from 8 tuners, 2 of which are CableCARD, 4 are Clear QAM and 1 analog, 1 OTA. I don't think there is any logic used in your thinking that cable co's think that 2 tuners is enough for a household. For one, they will lease you more than 1 DVR. Or they will lease you more than 1 CableCard that you can use in a TiVo or other DVR device.
And for two, the hardware manufacturers are building for the average household. They aren't going to waste their time making a 4 or 8 tuner DVR if the return on investment isn't going to pay off. The average person just isn't going to be recording 8 things at once.
And you know that you're the exception to the rule. So don't use your situation as proof that cable co's don't think ANYONE would ever need more than 2 tuners. They just know the average person doesn't need much more than 1. | |
| | | | | Re: Just fix CableCARD My point is with CableCARD there is the capability to expand to as many tuners as you want. Yes, some people want/need more than 2 tuners. Do you have any idea how just freaking awesome it is to record primetime TV from all 7 networks? CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, MyNetwork, CW, PBS. And yes, I do. With American Idol taking up to 2 hours 2 nights per week I need the extra tuners.
It's fine if they deploy the device with 2 tuners as long as it is upgradeable to more. But frankly the home gateway device is overkill. All they need to do is fix CableCARD and provide an open solution for SDV and VOD. That will fix 99% of the complaints from TiVo and others.
By the way, CableCARD was spec'ed with 6 streams per card. | |
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| | Well then Do you know what they call a company that doesn't make money? A Charity, so why should the various video providers roll over and give up any market advantages they have because a group of unelected morons are appointed to a government jobs in the FCC are all of the sudden deemed to be experts? There is a place for regulation, but they have done enough regulating as of late. For example the force push to the cable card model that seems to be impugned in this article. That moved cost a number of companies a significant amount of money due to regulation from the FCC who couldn't care less if the companies remain in business or not.
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See 6 replies to this post | |
| | Cable industry not complaining Despite the narrative that this story attempts to craft, the cable industry isn't complaining about the FCC's video device items. In fact, we've been pressing the FCC for years to look at devices that would work for ALL video providers and not just cable. With more than 40 million customers subscribing to a video provider other than cable, it should be no wonder why the CableCARD regime hasn't spurred a retail marketplace for navigation devices.
See NCTA's statement below for actual reaction from the cable industry on the video device items:
“We applaud the Commission for adopting a Notice of Inquiry that will explore how best to achieve a competitive retail marketplace for devices that can access the video services of all multichannel providers. We are very pleased that the Notice appears to be consistent with the series of consumer principles governing video devices which we have submitted to the Commission, especially in its recognition that the appropriate solution must involve all multichannel video providers.
“We also welcome and applaud the Commission’s targeted examination of the current CableCARD regime, particularly the proposal to increase our industry’s ability to deploy low cost high-definition Digital Terminal Adapters. Low cost digital adapters are a vital tool for all cable systems to recapture bandwidth that can be used to provide consumers with faster broadband speeds, more HD channels, and other interactive services.”
In a March 12, 2010 letter (attached) to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, NCTA pledged the cable industry’s commitment to a series of consumer principles which would serve as the foundation for inter-industry and government efforts to develop a fully-competitive and innovative retail video device marketplace. The seven principles are:
1. Consumers should have the option to purchase video devices at retail that can access their multichannel provider’s video services without a set-top box supplied by that provider.
2. Consumers should also have the option to purchase video devices at retail that can access any multichannel provider’s video services through an interface solution offered by that provider.
3. Consumers should have the option to access video content from the Internet through their multichannel provider’s video devices and retail video devices.
4. Consumers should have the option to purchase video devices at retail that can search for video content across multiple content sources, including content from their multichannel provider, the Internet, or other sources.
5. Consumers should have the option to easily and securely move video content between and among devices in their homes.
6. Consumers should be assured the benefits of continuous innovation and variety in video products, devices and services provided by multichannel providers and at retail.
7. To maximize consumer benefits and to ensure competitive neutrality in a highly dynamic marketplace, these principles should be embraced by all video providers, implemented flexibly to accommodate different network architectures and diverse equipment options, and, to the maximum extent possible, serve as the basis for private sector solutions, not government technology mandates.
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See 14 replies to this post | |
| |  Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4 | Re: +1 for The FCC said by OldschoolDSL:The last 2 things I've read about The FCC wanting to improve High Speed Internet, Cable, and Competition has been very encouraging. Normally I'm the guy who thinks these guys want to much or are putting their faces in places they do not belong.... I like where they seem to be going (thus far). I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. The other shoe is that to develop any kind of comprehensive STB std will take years & years to 1st be agreed to and then be ratified by all players(cable, telco, satellite, STB manufacturers, etc).
Just look how long it took the IEEE to come up with a simple upgrade from 802.11g to 802.11n for wireless communication. »www.ieee802.org/11/Reports/802.1···ines.htm
It took 7 years to go from concept to final approval.
Standardization is nice, but the downsides are REALLY slow innovation and obsolescence by the time product actually rolls out.
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Are you happy with your rep in Washington, DC? | |
| | | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | Re: +1 for The FCC The problem is every "stakeholder" wants to get their patents/IP into the standard and they all bicker over how to cut up the royalties until the standard is obsolete. | |
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| Reviews:
 ·Verizon FiOS
| said by OldschoolDSL:The last 2 things I've read about The FCC wanting to improve High Speed Internet, Cable, and Competition has been very encouraging. .... I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. words are cheap, it's actions that count. unless the FCC puts broadband back under title II, that other (good) shoe will never drop. | |
| | | | I'm still for it & often once things are "unified" things move along quickly. | |
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| Sahrin
join:2004-05-15
Houston, TX | This is turning into a witch hunt I'm not wild about what the FCC seems to be pushing for here. It sounds like they're trying to 'create' a product through regulation. This is not a recipe for success.
The FCC should be mandating interoperability; they can regulate a new product into existence. They can create an environment that is conducive to that product arising spontaneously. Thus, CableCard = good; telling CE companies what 'consumers want' = not good. | |
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See 9 replies to this post | |
 Duramax08A Challenger AppearsPremium
join:2008-08-03
San Antonio, TX | This would really eat up your monthly usage Hope you dont have a low cap. | |
| |  DaveDudeNo Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
kudos:1 | Re: This would really eat up your monthly usage This is just in home network, not from your cable provider. | |
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markofmayhemI can haz competition?Premium
join:2004-04-08
Pittsburgh, PA
kudos:4 | Internet Video not included quote:
Consumers are increasingly accessing video from multiple sources, including MVPD services, the Internet, DVDs, and over-the-air broadcasting. The NOI seeks input on ways to foster a more competitive marketplace for navigation devices and in particular calls for comment on a standardized interface that enables smart video devices to bring video from all of these sources together for ease of selection, recording, and viewing. The standardized interface could be implemented through an “AllVid” adapter that would act as an intermediary between the consumer’s device and the MVPD’s service. The service provider would be free to innovate within its network to improve its services, without requiring replacement of the consumer’s home devices. And a consumer could switch from one provider to another and continue to use the same smart video devices.
Note that "AllVid" is only a device to bridge between MVPD's and retail devices. "AllVid" itself will not access Internet video. There is absolutely nothing in this FCC report that will "jump start" internet video. You will need a separate internet connection and separate retail device to connect to internet video ON TOP OF the AllVid device. Many HDTV's at CES 2010 had ethernet ports that allowed access to Youtube and Facebock. AllVid has no impact on this, today, tomorrow...
AllVid is the continuation of a NCTA's claim at CES 2010 to bring all MVPD's together on a SBB, a pipe dream at best when through CableLabs. If the FCC mandates it, it has a shot. It will be Tru2Way+other security in the end. The device just needs to access all involved, not force all involved to the device.
Either way, NCTA is ahead of the FCC on this, again, no surprise.
»www.lightreading.com/document.as···lr_cable
quote:
The CableLabs specs also don't require the set-back box to be controlled with an infrared remote. It's again leaning toward HDMI and HDMI-CEC (consumer electronics control), a platform that allows one remote to control all the cable set-tops, Blu-ray players, and other home entertainment devices that happen to be connected to the television via bidirectional HDMI cables.
A device that connects any HDMI-CEC compatible retail component to the MVPD's streams and services. AllVid will combine this with what Uverse, Fios, Dish, and Direct bring to the table. No internet video involved. | |
|  koma3504AdvocatePremium
join:2004-06-22
North Richland Hills, TX | More Than 2 tuners It would be nice if they would require them to put more than 2 tuners stuck at 480i in the dvr boxes.
Really sucks you can only record 2 shows at once and have to watch one of them.
And whats up with the 480i when most tv's these days area a minimum of 720.
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† Koma †
If YOu Don't Think It's Possable!! It's Acually A Reality!!The best way to predict the future is to invent it. Alan Kay!!
Ya Don't Know The signal Till Ya Ride It!!
Voice Break's There's Trouble!!!! | |
| | DrDrew
join:2009-01-28
Apple Valley, CA
kudos:6 | Re: More Than 2 tuners If your DVR only outputs 480i then you've got an SD box, not an HD box.
Get an HD box.
The number of tuners is totally up to the box maker. The new Moxi boxes have 3 tuners. | |
| | | | | Re: More Than 2 tuners said by DrDrew:The number of tuners is totally up to the box maker. The new Moxi boxes have 3 tuners. NO tru2way
Still need to rent the cable card and a sdv adapter (free with cable card in SDV systems) that has a 2 tuner limit.
also has the Moxi guide and not the cable co guide so does it have in house channels? Event PPV? sports ppv? in demand out of market sports packs?
VOD? | |
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bt06437
join:2001-12-03
Carrollton, TX | and yet there will be oh oh oh, and will we get yet another rate increase to implement all this ? | |
| | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | Re: and yet there will be said by bt06437:oh oh oh, and will we get yet another rate increase to implement all this ? Tru2Way and DCAS will of course cost more than a cable card in rent per month because they are newer and deliver more value to the consumer  | |
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axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC Reviews:
·Verizon Online DSL
| If it's "closed", require specifications to be released The phone and internet provider configuration works pretty well for open devices. There is one cable leading to the house, and the consumer can connect their own device to talk to the network. OR, they can have the provider install everything for them and not worry about the technical details.
The reason that works is because the specifications for POTS and TCP/IP over ethernet are well understood. For cable, the communication for cable modems is open, right? Even if it weren't, the ethernet port they provide is. DOCSIS also helps, that is an open standard, right?
Nobody cares about providing their own box to plug in the FIOS fiber optic line, because they can connect ethernet to the FIOS box and have all the functionality they want. People wouldn't care about closed cable boxes if they could do everything they wanted through an open interface on the cable box. If a fully functional interface on the cable box isn't possible, then an open, well-defined spec on talking to the cable line, that lets a manufacturer create and sell their own, is enough.
I'm uninformed about CableCard. What is it supposed to do? Is it some attempt to abstract the interface to the cable line?
I'm not saying that 3rd party cable set-top boxes need to be commercially successful. If it's not worth doing, then mandating a specific outcome is stupid government regulation. But requiring open specs and preventing monopolistic behavior is fair and inexpensive. | |
| |  56403739Less than 5 months leftPremium
join:2006-03-08
Naples, FL
kudos:2 | Re: If it's "closed", require specifications to be released CableCARD is a security device which functions similarly to the access card used for DirecTV. It provides the identification required to authenticate your cable account and 'unlock' the programming you are subscribing to. | |
| | | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | Re: If it's "closed", require specifications to be released It also enforces DRM on your devices. Fair use my ass. | |
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 AlpinePremium
join:2000-01-11
Atlanta, GA | Where does it end? Seriously - is there anything this FCC (and administration, for that matter) DOESN'T want to control?
The cries of "socialism" are generally overblow, but really, why should the federal government have any say in the set-top box strategies of private, for-profit companies? Even if you agree with the general idea, can you blame the companies for being upset?
Is the next thing going to be the government mandating that all providers have the same list of On Demand shows? How about that everyone have the exact same channel lineup? Or exact same internet speeds? Maybe the techs for each company should all wear the same uniforms. | |
| | 56403739Less than 5 months leftPremium
join:2006-03-08
Naples, FL
kudos:2 | Re: Where does it end? Bad comparisons, but that was your intent anyway, wasn't it?
The idea of standardized hardware has been around since TV started. Had the NTSC not arrived at a standard for transmitting video over RF carriers broadcast television would never have gotten off the ground. Same for cable TV...which was born of the need to get those RF signals to people who couldn't receive them via antenna at their house (and then sell them a television set to watch). Cable TV is standardized. Your television is standardized. The problem is that cable has fought (by intent or neglect) any attempts to marry the two again now that analog 'cable ready' television compatibility means nothing.
I have a HD Tivo. It works brilliantly with Comcast and a M CableCARD. Getting the card, however, was a march through a firestorm of incompetent customer service, arrogant counter personnel, blown-off appointments (thanks for the $20, Comcast) and ended, finally, with a very good tech who all but admitted that the folks in Pennsylvania wished CableCARDs would go away and did all they could toward that end.
So tell me again why a $1000 standards-complaint TV (with a QAM tuner) purchased at retail should be hostage to the whims of a private, for-profit company? | |
| | | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | Re: Where does it end? Why should Bell control what is plugged into their network? | |
| | | | 56403739Less than 5 months leftPremium
join:2006-03-08
Naples, FL
kudos:2 | Re: Where does it end? said by patcat88:Why should Bell control what is plugged into their network? You must have wandered into the wrong thread. | |
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 gar187erI do this for a living
join:2006-06-24
Dover, DE
kudos:1 | lame the fcc needs to try to stop innovating/pushing tech on companies...
Foolish Communications Czar's | |
| Reviews:
·Comcast
 ·Comcast Digital ..
| I want to be able to buy my own cable box If I want to I should be able to buy my own cable box just like everyone could back when cable went past 22 channels. Back then people would go to kmart or whereever and buy a $25 convertor that tuned in the channels above 23 or how many your old tv could tune.
We should be able to go to the walmart or best buy and get a digital box for $35 and an hd box for $65. If you want a hd dvr that will cost you $150.
Sure it might cost more now but if you open up the set top market to companies like LG or Sony or Vizio the competition would drive down the prices compared to just motorola or cisco boxes. | |
| | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | Re: I want to be able to buy my own cable box But how else would the cable co pay for dividends and plant maintenance when subscription fees for programing tiers go JUST to pay for all those 1000s of channels of crap? | |
| | | | | Re: I want to be able to buy my own cable box said by patcat88:But how else would the cable co pay for dividends and plant maintenance when subscription fees for programing tiers go JUST to pay for all those 1000s of channels of crap? Then they should raise rates instead of hiding the real cost in equipment rental.
I don't want my cable company taking a loss on my service and then complaining to the FCC that people aren't renting equipment and causing them to operate at a loss.
Charge what the service costs plus your profit margin. Don't try make it up in equipment rental fees. That is just bad business. | |
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| Reviews:
·Comcast
·Comcast Digital ..
| that's the way it was back in the 80s and early 90s before digital cable. You only needed a cable company box if you wanted premium channels.
My old cable company Times Mirror (aka dimension) actually did a complete rebuild from the ground up and was one of the first to do hybrid fiber coax in 1992 and they didn't have set top revenue. Just they didn't pay their board outragous sums of money. | |
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dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | Ahhhh the Sacred cow settops are the most lucrative thing cable has!
you can bet this will go away quietly! | |
| |  rv65Ban Cat DeclawingPremium
join:2008-08-02
USA!!!!
kudos:1
1 edit | HD-DTA's The new CableCard rulings actually allow for HD-DTA waivers. This means the cableco's can deploy cheap 1 way HD boxes with integrated security. This is great as you don't need to play with an A/B switch and an SD-DTA. HD-DTA's can be made for as little as $50; however, most of them only support HD via HDMI and not component. They also don't have any composite or S-Video outputs. Just HDMI, RF, power, and an IR port. The HD-DTA waiver act hasn't been signed into law. Originally it was for those who operate 552 MHz or less systems but somehow they had to appease the cable industry lobbyists so they decided to extended it to all cable systems.
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"Down syndrome is a challenge, not a disability" - Andrea Friedman | |
| | rv65Ban Cat DeclawingPremium
join:2008-08-02
USA!!!!
kudos:1 | Re: HD-DTA's I'm pretty sure that once the Evolution Broadband HD-DTA waiver is granted then all the STB manufacturers will be applying for waivers for their one way HD-DTA devices. | |
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| | Let's let the government run everything then? Why stop with video services?
Let's get rid of Media player, and iTunes, and Word, and HTML and make everything run off one device and interface?
Let's make everything the same, and since we have to be PC and make it only as hard as the dumbest person out there every device will have about 3 buttons, "Play" "Stop" "Pause".
And since we have to be PC about this, the Government will have to subsidise every expensive device, because we can't leave the poor people out.
You know what? I have a better idea. Let's all just go back to living in caves. Who needs the stinking fancy "wheel" thing anyway, we all have 2 legs and 2 arms, well, most of us. But we can make everyone trade off carrying around people
Our government has gotten so stupid with this Nanny State carp, I'm sick of it.. | |
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See Cable TV Consumer Protection & Competition Act of 1992
Check out the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992. Section 17 defines compatibility standards. See the description of the act here:
