CableCard for Blu-ray-enabled HTPC

[WriteSimply]

I'm not familiar with the US CableCard system but from what I understand you can now use CableCards with a Tivo unit so that you can record stuff. A Tivo Series 3 unit is HD capable but without much HDD space. And then, there's DirecTV's DVR which only works with their system.

So I'm looking into building a HTPC that can record not only OTA ATSC HD, but also use a CableCard PCI card - if there is such a thing - on the motherboard so that the HD feeds off cable can be recorded onto the HTPC. Then using the BD recorder, archive the shows' .TS files if there's not enough HDD space.

So the question is, is there such a thing as a CableCard PCI card for the PC? If not, will there be one soon? If not, can you build one on your own?

Thanks a bunch.


fuad

[AV_Integrated]

Windows Vista is supposed to have such a mythological item. When it will exist is still up in the air. There are also supposed to be some version of DirecTVCard and DishCard so that the HTPC can finally do what it should have been capable of for the past 4+ years.

[2parts]

^^^^^

Agreed..

[kaliraver]

Does anyone have a PCI cablecard? I know ATI had made one but I haven't seen it on sale yet?

[dadkins]

OCUR

http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/06/a...for-vista-pcs/

Sony AR590E comes with one... external CableCard tuner(for premium and HD).
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665161511

Learn Tab...

EDIT: ATI - http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonderdigital/index.html

[The Don]

I had Comcast's cable card, but they keep accidentally shutting it off and always try to talk me out of having it even though it is free and just an additional feature...

the only advancement I know of is 2-way cable cards that are not out yet and they pretty much allow the features you see on the box with "on demand" etc...

I don't see how BD can be implemented with cablecard simply because it acts as a simcard that you see in cell phones...

the only thing I could see take advantage of this is the downloads that MS has talked about..

[saljr]

Originally Posted by AV_Integrated

Windows Vista is supposed to have such a mythological item. When it will exist is still up in the air. There are also supposed to be some version of DirecTVCard and DishCard so that the HTPC can finally do what it should have been capable of for the past 4+ years.

When will DirecTv have a tuner for pc. I heard that (Jan 2006) Microsoft and DirecTv is/or was working together to produce a tuner for pc. Anyone have any light on this subject.

[Mr. Joshua]

Time Warner is coming out with a cable card that does everything their set top box does so you will be able to have a tv guide and order on demand...

[MrBogey]

Cable companies in the US absolutely hate cablecards. They've dragged their feet for nearly a decade on making their systems fully compliant. They'd rather keep the box rental system alive.

As the HTPC with Cable card functionality. It's hard because all major cable andsatellite companies are overly paranoid about people stealing service through hacked equipment. I wish DirectTv would have a PC tuner card but they don't want people having access to the tech.

[Genocide316]

Originally Posted by MrBogey

Cable companies in the US absolutely hate cablecards. They've dragged their feet for nearly a decade on making their systems fully compliant. They'd rather keep the box rental system alive.

As the HTPC with Cable card functionality. It's hard because all major cable andsatellite companies are overly paranoid about people stealing service through hacked equipment. I wish DirectTv would have a PC tuner card but they don't want people having access to the tech.

they hate cable cards because they can't rent you their equipment and they can't make a fortune off of you lol like I mentioned before I work for a computer company who builds PC's with the ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuners and we have Comcast down here and the systems are pretty sweet I must say