Cannon PC starts offering internal CableCARD tuners for sale separately

If you're like some people we know - - yes Zatz, we're talking about you -- the idea of adding yet another box to your home theater setup isn't anywhere near consideration. Up until now, this meant that if you wanted to add an ATI Digital Cable Tuner to your Vista Media Center PC, you either had to hold your nose or spend the big bucks on one of the top tier OEMs that offered the internal version -- which is actually the same device sans a case, and yes it still connects via USB. Our friend Chris Lanier discovered today that Cannon PC started selling both the external and internal versions of the ATI TV Wonder DCT separately, so that finally those with CableCARD ready Vista Media Center PCs -- you know the OEM only ones -- can either add additional tuner, or opt to swap out the external variety for the internal type the takes less space, all for about $300 each.

[Via The Digital Lifestyle]

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 2:21PM]

I'm pretty sure the drivers still require the specially signed BIOS, so it's not like you can just go out and slap a pair of these bad SOBs into a machine and have a CableCARD-ready system. While I'm sure that would make more than a few people happy, I don't think it works that way.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 3:08PM]

And you cant get SDV channels

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 3:41PM]

I guess it's a Start. My Ideal device would be a HDhomerun with a Cable card slot (or two).

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 4:18PM]

I just don't understand why they force you to use that "Special" version of Vista that only the OEMs like HP and Dell can get.

[UnnDunn Posted Sep 24th 2008 5:54PM]

It's not a special version of Vista, but rather a special BIOS on the motherboard.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 25th 2008 2:29PM]

Is there anyway to flash your bios with this special bios needed to use the unit?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 4:40PM]

Good luck getting the CableCo to install a CC in one of these.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 10:28PM]

I'm a Fios technician and do it all the time for customers. I actually helped install 2 for one of the moderators at the Green Button not too long ago.

[MickBurke Posted Oct 4th 2008 11:03PM]

Hey GamerDad, FIOS doesn't use Switched Digital (or whatever the SDV is), so everything works with cable card right? Do they have the 2 tuner cards or just the singles? I'm considering getting a media center PC to replace my sagetv system which will go dark with the analog shutoff...

Thanks for any input.

[Mitchell Posted Sep 24th 2008 6:46PM]

one more step in the right direction. Maybe one day we will finally have open cable. All these restrictions only limit copyright abiding citizens!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 9:28PM]

I remember there being a bios spoof type of hack for vista, maybe the same can be done to get these cable cards to work?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 25th 2008 7:27AM]

Isn't the current inability to fast forward or jump past commercials a new permanently thing for Windows Media Center? To me, its a no-seller condition.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 25th 2008 2:14PM]

You can still skip fast forward, but some of the tools to automatically remove commercials from recordings doesn't work with the new format that MS records in. I assume someone will resolve that shortly. And this only applies to people who installed the TV pack, or buy a new machine with the TV pack installed.

You can also hack up a BIOS file and use it in VMware so you can simulate a signed BIOS. I do it all the time.