Cable Card? TV Guide On Screen?

PhantomOG · June 2006

Does anyone have an HDTV and use a cable card instead of a set top box?

How does the TV Guide On Screen work? Does the cable company have to transmit this?

I don't care about and don't use the On-Demand features from my cable company but want the on screen guide. Newer HDTV's that accept cable cards now have this TV Guide On Screen thing but I'm not sure that its gauranteed to work everywhere with every cable provider.

Early B. · June 2006

My cable provider (nor their competitor) offers the cable card as an option. I don't use the On-Demand features either, but I'd rather have it just in case.

I think the cable box will be around for a few more years. Cable providers are looking to extend features to the box such as Tivo-type services, etc. The box will eventually become a computer and the future of television will be more interactive. For instance, for shows like American Idol you'll be able to vote immediately using your remote and for game shows you'll be able to play along with the contestants. You'll also be able to download content directly from the TV shows or from the commercials and be able to place orders for stuff in real time. The technology is already here to do this kind of stuff.

The other side of it is that marketers will be able to track what shows you watch and target products specifically to you just like they do with Gmail.

fireshoes · June 2006

The cable companies are dooming cablecard to obsolecence, by their lack of support. They'd rather rent you the box for more money than the card, and hope you order VOD/PPV with it. Locally Mediacom is telling customers the cards are backordered, telling some they will wait as much as six months to get one. Then when they do get it, their idiot installers can't get it work. As a result of this issue across the country, most CE companies are not including a cablecard slot on new models, so you won't even have the option.

unc2701 · June 2006

Same thing with TWC... Idiot installers making stupid claims, like "you can't watch HBO with this" etc. Anyhow, check channel zero or 1 for the TV guide.

disneyjoe7 · June 2006

My new plasma doesn't even come with a Cable Card slot.

So yes I think Cable Cards are on the way out.

PhantomOG · June 2006

I didn't think it was on its way out. Supposedly the 2-way cable cards will be out this fall that should allow for 2-way communication with cable providers and allow on-demand programming.

The main reason I'm interested in getting cable card is because of the better signal provided to the tv. I plan on dropping $5-6K on a plasma this fall and I know for a fact the scaler/de-interlacer in my new TV will be ten times better than the output from my 5 year old HD cable box.

Willow · June 2006

disneyjoe7 wrote:

My new plasma doesn't even come with a Cable Card slot.

So yes I think Cable Cards are on the way out.

neither does my newer LCD. Plus I don't think the cable co. offers the card

PhantomOG · June 2006

on the plasmas I'm looking at, usually a cheaper version is offered without cable card capability and a more expensive version with cable cable and maybe a couple other things.

well, luckily for me TWC does offer cable card here so I guess I'll just have to assume the TV Guide On Screen thing will work if I get a tv that is compatible.

unc2701 · June 2006

Willow wrote:

Plus I don't think the cable co. offers the card

Oh they do... a--holes just won't tell you and deny it when you ask.

As for the scaling/ deinterlacing- most boxes have a setting where you can pass the programming without any processing- so it wouldn't be too different from haveing a cable card, esp. if you use HDMI/DVI.

tledoux · June 2006

I have a small Sony Bravia LCD for the Pool table room with a CableCard, and for me it works great. I've had absolutely ZERO problems with it to date (about 5 months). At first TWC in Houston said they had the cards, but they would not support them, although they charge you $ for them, so they will provide support they just won't guarantee that it will work.

You don't get the on screen TV guide or pay-per-view titles until the 2-way CableCard is out (if ever). But I do get all of the channels, including HD channels and digital music. And there is no cable box to worry about. A nice clean installation with only the power cord to worry about, and I will fix that one soon. It especially looks good with my in-wall Polk TC615i's wired to Zone 2 on the receiver downstairs.

Early B. · June 2006

tledoux --

How much are you charged for the Cable Card? Is it more expensive than the cable box option?

Willow · June 2006

unc2701 wrote:

Oh they do... a--holes just won't tell you and deny it when you ask. .

Are you in canada? I'm not sure if Rogers offers cards ?

tledoux · June 2006

EarlyB: It's cheaper than the box, but I don't remember exactly how much, I think $2-3 per month. But I will check and see when I get home tonight.

unc2701 · June 2006

Willow wrote:

Are you in canada? I'm not sure if Rogers offers cards ?

Ok, Ok, maybe your cable company doesn't have them. I'm just pissed at TWC right now for being such jerks about it (and for for sending this idiot installer who took three hours to put in ONE splitter to TWO cable outlets)

BTW- I think cable cards $2.50 a month from TWC here in NC. I went back to a box since I wanted a DVR (still waiting for the dual cable card HD TIVO to come out

), but they'd be pretty sweet for a plasma/flat panel install.

brettw22 · June 2006

PhantomOG wrote:

I plan on dropping $5-6K on a plasma this fall and I know for a fact the scaler/de-interlacer in my new TV will be ten times better than the output from my 5 year old HD cable box.

I get the visual appeal of a minimal depth set, but I don't understand people spending this kind of money for something that when it starts to die, will absolutely without a doubt HAVE to be completely replaced. There are no replaceable bulbs or maintenance on them to get them working once they start dimming out. I know the same is true for CRT's, but they're not anywhere near 5k either, so they should be looked at as eventually being disposable.

I'm hoping/waiting for something slimmer/smaller than the current DLP/LCD sets, and maybe there will be something that resolves the issues with those two formats as well. Hopefully my tv will stay working for a few more years.

fireshoes · June 2006

The thing is, Brett, that the plasmas and lcd's are infinitely more reliable than the DLP/LCD projections, and you are not constantly sinking money into the tv with lamps. Plus the performance is better overall on the flat panels anyway.

brettw22 · June 2006

What's the difference between an LCD projo and a LCD flat panel design-wise?

EDIT: Also, you might have to replace the bulb every so many hours, but I'd rather spring for a $3-400 bulb than a $5-6k set......

DarqueKnight · June 2006

PhantomOG wrote:

The main reason I'm interested in getting cable card is because of the better signal provided to the tv. I plan on dropping $5-6K on a plasma this fall and I know for a fact the scaler/de-interlacer in my new TV will be ten times better than the output from my 5 year old HD cable box.

I replaced my HD cable box with a cable card after purchasing a plasma HDTV last March. There was a small improvement in HD video quality. The cable card made a significant difference in analog video signal quality. Plus, I got rid of the ugly silver HD cable box and its associated cables and remote control. I didn't care about losing pay-per-view since I never order it anyway.

The only thing I didn't like about the cable card was the $54.95 "installation charge" that the cable company shook me down for. I tried in vain to explain to the customer service rep that I knew full well how to insert a card in the back of my TV and call in the addressing information to their call center. I further explained that my TV's owner's manual included installation instructions for a cable card and that the cable card is much easier to install than the HD cable boxes, which the cable company lets people pick up and install themselves. The customer service rep said I had no choice but to let a "technician" install the card if I wanted one. I guess they wanted to recoup some of the lost revenue from the cable box replacement. The cable company here charges $6.99/month for the HD cable box and $1.99/month for the cable card.

I did receive some satisfaction in that the "technician" was 45 minutes late, which meant that the cable company owed me a $20 refund for missing my service appointment window. He was here for all of ten minutes "installing" the card.

PhantomOG wrote:

How does the TV Guide On Screen work? Does the cable company have to transmit this?.

My television's built-in On Screen TV guide derives program information from the cable company.

DarqueKnight · June 2006

brettw22 wrote:

I get the visual appeal of a minimal depth set, but I don't understand people spending this kind of money for something that when it starts to die, will absolutely without a doubt HAVE to be completely replaced.

The better plasmas are rated for a half life (the time until the screen brightness is 1/2 of when it was new) of 60,000 hours or more.

60,000 hours equates to 6.8 years of continuous 24 hour a day viewing.

If you watch the television for 10 hours per day, every day of the year, you will reach the 60,000 hour mark in 16.4 years.

For the "average" viewing time of 5 hours per day, every day of the year, the 60,000 hour mark will be reached in 32.8 years.

If you are a hardcore gamer or dedicated videophile who uses his plasma a lot, you are going to upgrade well before screen brightness becomes an issue.

If you are the "average" user, well, in 32 years your eyesight will probably deteriorate much more than the screen brightness of the plasma.

brettw22 · June 2006

Does the constant powering on and off of the set (I know this would happen regardless of plasma/lcd/crt) not diminish those numbers though? I have a hard time believing that a plasma is going to go 32 years before the brightness would be dimming.

EDIT: Where are you getting the 66k hours number from? I've heard around 6k before, but never 11 times that number.

DarqueKnight · June 2006

If you Google "plasma tv half life" numerous references will come up. You can also go to manufacturer's websites (e.g. Panasonic, Hitachi, etc.) and see the 60,000 hour half life spec discussed there. Both my Panasonic and my Hitachi plasma sets list a 60K hour half life spec.

BTW, I said 60K hours rather than 66K hours.;)

disneyjoe7 · June 2006

I wonder if a $2.5k Plasma isn't coming with a Cable Card slot is due to the 2 HDMI inputs? Also I read somewhere about that 60k half life for this set I now own.

DarqueKnight · June 2006

brettw22 wrote:

Does the constant powering on and off of the set (I know this would happen regardless of plasma/lcd/crt) not diminish those numbers though? I have a hard time believing that a plasma is going to go 32 years before the brightness would be dimming.

Well, since plasma displays have not been around for 32 years, we'll just have to wait and see.

Plasma sets seem to be more prone to the electrical stress caused by the power on/off cycle. The instructions for my plasma sets specifically warn against turning the power on and off and then on again within a short window of time (within minutes).

The manual for my Hitachi set states that it is preferable for the longevity of the tv for it to remain in "standby" mode, with most circuitry except the display energized, rather than completely turned off. For this purpose, the tv has a "main" power button inconveniently located under the front bottom edge of the screen that turns off all power to the set. The "secondary" power button, which is located with the rest of the channel/volume/picture setting controls on the side of the set, does not turn the set on or off, it mearly puts it in, or takes it out of, standby mode.

My Panasonic plasmas can only be turned completly off if they are unplugged. The "power" button only puts the set in, or takes it out of, standby mode.

DarqueKnight · June 2006

Here's a link:How Long Do Plasma TVs Last?

disneyjoe7 · June 2006

disneyjoe7 wrote:

My new plasma doesn't even come with a Cable Card slot.

So yes I think Cable Cards are on the way out.

So back to my first statement, hours behind as I'm not able to respond or view this forum at work off at 8pm home 8:30pm need 2+ hours to regroup.

Check out this article in USA today about the cable cards.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2006-06-04-cable-hdtv_x.htm

PhantomOG · June 2006

DarqueKnight wrote:

The cable card made a significant difference in analog video signal quality.

Exactly. This is my primary concern. I know the HD channels will look wonderful with the card or the box, but my wife and I do still watch a lot of SD programming and I know she will not be happy if the SD looks much worse than it did on our Sony 32" CRT.

My reason for choosing plasma is becuase of the quality of the picture at wider viewing angles. Yes, DLP's and LCD's can look great if you are sitting right in the sweet spot, but I have a huge living room and I want it to look great from everywhere. I don't really care about the size, but my wife definitely loves how thin and small the plasma footprints are. In fact, I think I'm probably going to wall mount it so that will open up even more space where I use to have a huge tv stand.

I'm convinced the TV will last me at least 5 years. I'm also convinced that in 5 years there will be newer technologies and prices will be MUCH lower than today. For a 50"+ plasma 2 years ago, you were paying almost $20K. You can get a 50" plasma now for ~$5K or less. I know in 5 years I will most likely want a newer bigger TV so I'm not worried.

unc2701 · June 2006

disneyjoe7 wrote:

So back to my first statement, hours behind as I'm not able to respond or view this forum at work off at 8pm home 8:30pm need 2+ hours to regroup.

Check out this article in USA today about the cable cards.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2006-06-04-cable-hdtv_x.htm

ONe more reason to hate TWC. Anyhow, I think that'll just push the next gen cable cards along a little faster.

Lsi9 · June 2006

Ive had a cablecard on my sxrd for months and I prefer it over having an ugly useless cablebox in view...I love it
I just got the 26" Pavillion lcd for the bedroom , I will also use a cablecard with this

disneyjoe7 · June 2006

PhantomOG wrote:

I know she will not be happy if the SD looks much worse than it did on our Sony 32" CRT.

I can say my Panasonic 42" Plasma looks worse with a SD channel then my old 32" Sony ever did. On the other hand sometimes it impresses me but any "Local" channel NBC, CBS, ABC and the like look like **** most of the time. This is with DTV SD local feeds so you viewage may vary. On the other hand I can't get my eyes off Discovery HD theater, I'm just WOW stuck.

:eek:

I Hate Charter · July 2009

I have finally cut the cord, bought a Terk HD-TVS Slim-Profile Outdoor HDTV Antenna from Amazon.com for $92.13. I am now waiting for it to come so I can cancel Charter once and for all!!! I just want to know if I will be able to have that very nice and convenient info at the bottom of my TV screen that tells me about the shows I am watching or may want to watch? Any help on the subject would help. Thanks.

kevhed72 · July 2009

I would guess no, but I am very curious how well the antenna works out for you. I tried one from Radio Shack - an indoor model - and it did not give me any signal.

On another note, My SD DTV signals look pretty bad on my 46" DLP, even when I run the signal through my newer AVR to 720p or 1080i....but of course my wife thinks it looks just fine:(

Cable Card? TV Guide On Screen?

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