Microsoft emancipates Digital Cable Tuners with second Media Center update today
Read - MCE: Digital Cable Advisor Tool Available Now!
Read - ATI DCT Firmware update pops up on Windows Update, DRM-free MCE recordings & are a go
Read - MCE: Digital Cable Advisor Tool Available Now!
Read - ATI DCT Firmware update pops up on Windows Update, DRM-free MCE recordings & are a go
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Peter F @ Nov 6th 2009 10:22PM
I am very excited about this! I invested in a CableCard PC, so this won't directly affect me immediately. But it will get average joes into MediaCenter and will shine a bright light on MediaCenter.
This is the kind of technology that should be showcased at a Microsoft Store
Andy @ Nov 7th 2009 12:22AM
Will it be possible for current CAM capable tuners to be upgraded using a cablecard extension of some kind?
Peter F @ Nov 7th 2009 10:57AM
QAM tuner?
No. All the products I've seen so far are individual tuners
Andy @ Nov 7th 2009 12:24PM
So far yeah, but surely there would be a way to extend QAM tuners for CableCARD capabilities right? Such as a USB or front bay cablecard extension of some kind.
rendezvous65 @ Nov 7th 2009 5:35PM
Not possible for an existing tuner to be converted to Cablecard. It has to be cablecard certified and they have to integrate a DRM processor and all that stuff. You'll have to buy a new tuner if you want cablecard support.
Andy @ Nov 7th 2009 6:13PM
That's what the extension would do. CableCARD is essentially encrypted QAM, so the CableCARD extension + QAM tuner would decrypt the QAM signal and re-encrypt with some kind of DRM (probably done by media center I suppose)
I personally wouldn't buy a whole new tuner card to get CableCARD functionality, but I would definitely buy an extension that upgrades my current QAM tuner to have CableCARD support.
Here's an example of how that could work:
http://i38.tinypic.com/5015qh.jpg
Caveman @ Nov 7th 2009 1:01AM
Ceton hurry up with your adapter already
valiot @ Nov 7th 2009 2:51AM
Don't see it in my Windows 7 Media Center.
Garst @ Nov 9th 2009 3:55AM
It's all the way at the top under "Extras" -> "Extras Gallery"
You should see coax cable, although it doesn't seem to be in the same place for everyone. Mine was the top-center for me; unlike the bottom-left in the picture above.
Mike Garcen @ Nov 7th 2009 2:14PM
Valiot,
Go to Start > Settings > General > Automatic Download Options > Download Now, and then it should shortly appear after.
Mike
MissingRemote.com
prox @ Nov 7th 2009 9:30PM
Watch out.. the advisor will fail your system if you have < 4GiB of RAM.
- Mark
foxb @ Nov 8th 2009 3:31PM
My laptop with 2GB memory and integrated graphic chip passed certification just fine.
Alen @ Nov 9th 2009 12:01PM
Finally. Anyone know if this also enables "tuning adaptors" to enable the reception of digital switched video? I guess I'll find out in a few hours when the wife stops watching TV and I can do the upgrade. I have two Cisco tuning adapters from the cable company with flashing green LEDs waiting to go.
foxb @ Nov 9th 2009 2:17PM
Tuning adapter is supported already in Windows 7 MCE.
Rich @ Nov 8th 2009 9:12PM
This would be great if Cable company would support PC CableCARDs. Cable companies like Cox Cable only will install on TV's and Tivo's.
Allen @ Nov 9th 2009 12:28PM
Cox supports PCs just fine. They came to my house and installed the Cablecard tuners in my PC without any questions. They did say they don't see many PCs, but that doesn't mean they don't support them. Cox also provided me with tuning adapters to get switched digital signals at no charge.
foxb @ Nov 8th 2009 3:33PM
Some started to support such device now.
kevon27 @ Nov 9th 2009 10:56AM
People need to cut the cord and go OTA... Why pay for tv when you can get it for free.
DEEZNUTZ @ Nov 9th 2009 1:50PM
Can you get the following OTA:
- Food Network
- HGTV
- ESPN
- SciFi (yes I know)
- History Channel
- Discovery
- NatGeo
All in HD? The list goes on, but you get my point. We pay because there is content out there that you cannot get OTA.
kevon27 @ Nov 9th 2009 2:21PM
Trust me.. The way the economy is going, more and more cable subscribers will be turning to OTA to save a buck.. It's just a matter of time (a very short time)
Mitchell @ Nov 9th 2009 4:50PM
This would be even greater if you could actually find CC tuners.
Did ATI stop making them? You would think some inet retailer would pop up with availbility to buy.