A CableCARD replacement is due by December 2012, bandaids by this Fall
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted March 17th 2010 7:41PM
posted March 17th 2010 7:41PM
While most of the FCC's new Broadband plan has been about, well, broadband, there's also some great news for HDTV fans. We expected a few mentions about CableCARD and its future when the FCC requested comments and declared it a failure, but we're still glad to see that the FCC listened to consumer electronics companies like TiVo and Sony -- among others. The biggest news is that the FCC has asked the industry to come up with a residential IP gateway that is open and that will provide same abilities as your provider's equipment, and most importantly, it should enable the very same gear to work no matter what type of service you prefer, whether it be satellite, cable or fiber -- for example, via various gateways the same TiVo would work with either DirecTV or Comcast. But while the FCC has given the industry until December of 2012 to define and deploy these IP gateways before implementing an "appropriate enforcement mechanism," in the meantime the FCC wants to see the biggest issues with CableCARDs resolved by this Fall. The list below of immediate fixes is pretty impressive, and other than the persistent lack of video on demand support, it'll help make CableCARD a pretty respectable solution.
- Ditch Tuning Adapters and let devices with Ethernet ports communicate upstream via IP to tune SDV channels.
- If a customer has a CableCARD in their leased set-top box, it must be reflected on the bill like any other CableCARD would.
- If the provider offers a self install for leased set-top boxes, they must also allow self install of a CableCARD.
- Software shouldn't require the same CableLabs certification hardware does.
All of these resolutions are a result of comments to the FCC -- that'll make you think twice before saying our system doesn't work -- with most of them coming as a result of TiVo's comments. The first is a result of the mess that SDV has made of CableCARD devices. TiVo told the FCC that SDV was killing 'em, and a quick read of any TiVo forum makes it easy to understand why. The Tuning Adapters aren't reliable and add an extra level of complexity that just isn't necessary when many devices like TiVos already have IP connectivity to the providers network via broadband.
The price transparency and self-install items are based on comments made by the Consumer Electronics Association and honestly make way too much sense. The few who actually use CableCARDs will probably tell you they had to do the install themselves -- despite paying the $50 for the truck roll -- so might as well let them skip the wait and save some money. And the price issue might seem silly at first glance, but currently the lack of transparency makes it easy for operators to overcharge CableCARD customers and makes it difficult for consumers to determine the real cost of buying their own box.
But the last one might just be our favorite, it would allow anyone to write software to support CableCARD tuners for PCs. This would mean that if SageTV wanted to support CableCARD it wouldn't have to pay thousands to CableLabs to be certified -- although it would have to pay for a PlayReady license as it's the only DRM currently approved. Now we always suspected that SageTV wanted to support CableCARDs and based on the fact that this new rule is because of comments by the company to the FCC, it appears to be the case.
Ultimately we applaude the FCC for finally coming up with a plan that will spur real competition in the set-top box space. Sure it took way longer than it should have, and sure we're probably fool hearted to believe that all of this will become reality, but one thing that is encourage is that unlike the majority of Broadband plan, Congress has already given the FCC the power to enforce these. Our fear is that this little light at the end of the tunnel will quickly die off once the cable and satellite companies have time to figure out a way to get out of it.
Thanks for covering this Ben, it could be the major starting point for the future of the HTPC and since it will now cover Dish & DirectTv it will mean some real competition. (Finally a choice besides cable for many of us.)
The other thing I would like to see happen is to ban cable companies from owning STB and open it up just like the telephone industry. The fact that two companies have 95 per cent of the STB business in this country is certainly an indication of lack of competition.
John
Self-install will be nice. I tried to get a cablecard on my tv in anticipation of the Ceton cards, they told me the card is dead when removed (can't use in another device), and the installer wouldn't let me touch the thing and try it in another tv when he couldn't get it working on the first tv.
@astrocramp
I did the exact same thing. The tuner in my TV hasn't been used since they got it working (which took about 5 or 6 visits from a cable guy). Just waiting for my Ceton card (which is May now...grrrrr.)
One of the cable guys was actually friendly and told me all they do is read the CableCARD ID and hardware ID of the TV to the "central office". There is no other troubleshooting they can do other than trying another CableCARD.
End users SHOULD be able to call up and give them those numbers themselves.
Not saying I don't welcome these changes, but if the FCC has already declared it a failure why bother trying to improve it? If these resolutions come to fruition wouldn't that mean CableCard isn't a failure anymore - meaning no replacement needed? I just worry that come December 2012 CableCard will be decently successful only to have the replacement come along.
@knewman
Declaring it a failure doesn't make them all go away, the cable co's and CE companies will have to continue to support them for years. And even in the picture above the IP gateway still uses a CableCARD.
@knewman
I think it is only a failure due to lack of support. I use one in my ATI and LOVE what windows mc does with it. I am actually getting rid of my top boxes once the 4 tuner card gets delivered in May (?supposedly?). And as BenD said, there's plenty of people and companies that DO have it and would like those improvements. It might actually end up being successful once "fixed"
@Sepirioth
yea thats what i'm saying... it seems like theres no technical reason that cablecard needs to be replaced, only that no one uses it. why not stick to what has already been built - no need to reinvent the wheel
@knewman Because right now, the wheel being used is an octagon. Sure if you push it hard enough, it will start rolling, but it's nowhere near the rounded surface it should be!
Are these "recomendations" just that, or are they turning into "mandates". I would hope that it is te latter.
@10nisman94
"FCC wants to see the biggest issues with CableCARDs resolved by this Fall"
sounds like a mandate to me :)
@Sepirioth When you hit the read link, the chapter is called "suggestions" :-(
One word: "finally".
This is great and all, but I'd still be perfectly happy with tru2way, if only some of the tv makers or dvr guys would support it.
@Amnesia87
Actually no really. In fact only three markets are tru2way ready for 3rd party devices. So even if the TVs were made, you'd only be able to use them in Chicago, Atlanta and Denver.
@Amnesia87
I think this report closes the lid on the coffin of tru2way. The cablecos couldn't make it work on their own boxes and there was support of one Panasonic set in three markets.
Excellent post Ben, thanks for the info. Got my Ceton on pre-order, this is good news.
Dissolve CableLABS. Form a new entity. Have new, capable people running it.
@allston232
It seems like capable people just started running it. Why dissolve it now?
It would take years to put a new system in place.
CABLECARD FOR BOXEE!!!
Self-install of CableCard would be huge. Why should I need to send someone out to call up a phone number, wait on hold for 20 minutes, and then give them information that's clearly displayed on my screen?
So that gives the cable providers nearly 2 years to fight this tooth and nail. If you thought they resisted Cablecards before, you ain't seen nothing yet.
" but one thing that is encourage is that the FCC has already been given power by Congress to enforce these items, so it isn't like most of rest of the Broadband plan."
Bravo for proofing.
An amazingyly similar architecture to the network tuners already available from Silicondust.
I use 2 of the DVB versions on my home network and they are magic, all my Windows 7 PC get TV access and don't need integrated tuners.
They are in the process of testing and certifying a new M-Card version of it with Cablelabs and Microsoft.
@(Unverified)
Actually the IP gateway would be two way, while the SD CableCARD tuner is only going to be one way. But yeah, OCURs have always been IP based so very similar.
@(Unverified) You won't be able to use the HDHomerun with cablecards to two separate computers. CableLabs shot that down with Ceton, same thing will apply to HDHomerun.
http://www.silicondust.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8523&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Why continue on with a dead-end design (tuning a "channel", no matter what the "gateway" is)? They should structure for the future (internet connected TVs/set tops). Push broadband harder. The Netflix/Hulu/Vudu/Amazon/Fancast/etc. paradigm (streaming from a content provider that may or may not be related to your ISP) is already here, it just needs more people with REAL broadband access (10mbit+) and internet connected TVs/set tops (and PCs, nettops, netbooks, and phones too, why be constrained to a traditional TV?).
As far as satellite, it's worked the same way for a long time and isn't related to the cablecard fiasco, so there may be no good reason to complicate it with new IP gateway devices.
@kballs
As long as people like to watch sports and news there will always be "channels." And with the super bowl hitting new records every year, it doesn't look like people are ready to let channels go.
But yeah, IP delivery makes more sense for on demand content.
@BenD : There is nothing about web/IP based delivery that prevents live streaming (news and sports)... we had it for the Winter Olympics. The barriers are artificial (NBC won't let you view it free or pay for it, you have to prove you subscribe to cable TV service with a provider that paid NBC for the content).
@kballs
Unless you are going to go to every internet router and enabled and configure multicast. Live streaming only works because of how few people are watching it. If you tried to stream even a moderately popular HDTV show live to 10 Million people, the internet would be crushed.
And even if it was currently possible, it would cost more than cable or satellite so what's the point?
of all these things i think we could see the change in pricing on the cable cards the fastest.
NEWS FLASH:
instead of charging 14 bucks a month for a crappy dvr we will now be charging 12 + 2 bucks a month for a cable card.
Done
they will do everything in their power to resist all of these
cable companies are big slow and dumb they are the anti free open economy.
@normychas
Exactly, because right now I'm paying $4 per card, so I'd now be saving $2 a month.
@BenD
right my point was just that the language
"If a customer has a CableCARD in their leased set-top box, it must be reflected on the bill like any other CableCARD would."
doesn't demand a large change
To me this doesnt mean that they would be free for those of us using them in our htpcs.
My point was that worst case scenario comcast discounts its box rental 2 dollars and adds a 2 dollar cable card rental fee netting out to a 0 dollar change. The cable company just has to add a line item for cable card rental on each of its box rentals. I think this language would actually need to state that no user can not be charged for a cable card. It isnt as though the price charged for a cable dvr rental actually represents the cost of the dvr itself.
@normychas
Those words are my own, click through the link for the actual language used. Bottom line is they want transparency in the charges.
Can I just have a freaking standalone CableCARD tuner - no frils, no DVR, no fancy-pants TiVo Premier, just a box to watch my digital cable from as the family's decided "no more cable boxen in the house!" yet wouldn't mind getting a couple CableCARDs from TWC?
Why is this portrayed as good news? Now that CableLabs have finally started lessening the restrictions, so that more companies are finally starting to come out with CableCARD devices that are actually decent, the FCC wants to throw it all away and start again from scratch??! Sure, CableCARD was a failure, when it had all the stupid restrictions like you couldn't buy a TV card for your computer, instead you had to buy a super-expensive pre-built computer with one already in it.
But that's been fixed now, and I'm about to buy a Ceton "InfiniTV 4" for my computer. But if the FCC has its way, the card will be completely useless in two years when they force the cable companies to ditch the CableCARD technology altogether for a brand new one. Thanks a lot for wasting my time and money, FCC. I guess small startups like Ceton will go out of business, as their cards are rendered obsolete and stop working within a couple years.
@Dreamwriter
NO, this is Ceton's dream come true... they will be able to make a product that allows Media Center and lots of other software to act as tuners to not just cable systems but to IPTV and Satellite systems as well. Best of all, One product will work on any type of system.
They can also make full set tops for those that do not have or want a HTPC.
@Dreamwriter It doesn't really seem like it will completely ditch CableCard the way the article has laid it out. The gateway looks like it still uses CableCard and there's nothing there that says existing CableCard equipment gets tossed. In fact, the bandaid of tossing SDV and using the HTPC Ethernet port sounds awesome and really is the IP gateway in essence even though the cable modem is external.
I'd say that you're probably good to go buying the Ceton card. I'm sure they'll weigh in on the issue.
December 2012....what else is due by then.....I'll just watch Roland Emmerich's latest film.....
So does this new cable gateway replace the cable modem? In the chart above it contains a DOCSIS modem and outputs to a home network. So does that mean I'll just have this one gateway, instead of a gateway and a separate modem?
@Shnergin
Yes, I'd imagine you'd have one box that would deliver both internet and video services, but it could be two separate boxes. I figure this will work the way the phone service does. Some customers have one box that does both, others only have a cable modem.
There's no way it will be a 100% rollout by December 2012. I'd be surprised if it's more than 0% in reality. The reason cablecards have been a failure is simply because the providers want to charge 15-20/month for a crappy DVR STB. They've done pretty much everything possible to prevent cablecards from being widely adopted. I'd have at least two already for PC based DVRs. I'm also anxiously awaiting the Silicondust product but honestly I have a big problem paying what I believe is a $79 truck roll.
@m509272 The thing about the pricing is that I would have been happy to pay the same price for my CableCARD that I would for one of their crappy DVRs, as I'm sure most TiVo owners would, the Cable Companies just didn't realize that. The only caveat to that is that I would pay the same price as long as I got the same level of service.
@m509272 The FCC didn't say 100 per cent by Dec 31 2012, they said START by that date and by new installs or replacements at that time so you're looking at a multi-year roll out.
This isn't going to be an overnight change, it's going to be like the change from regular STB to STB with cablecards which started in July 2007 with new installs and replacements. I still have one box without a CC because it hasn't failed yet.
The big news is that this time it's going to impact all delivery systems be it cable sat or fibre.
Sure, the FCC comes out with this now, after I finally dumped TWC and got DirecTV, even though it means I can't use my beloved TiVo anymore. The DirecTV DVR isn't too bad, though, so I can live with it for now.
I love the Gateway idea....I am just worried how many QAM tuners are going to be in that gateway. I would love to see six (which is how many a single M-stream cablecard can support) but my gut is telling me it going to be more like two which is really going to cut down on the usefulness and I will still be using a standalone M/OCUR in my HTPC (Ordering my Ceton card today).
Also (as a townhouse renter), I wonder how this gets implemented in a MDU environment. This gateway could possibly be implemented like the Verizon ONT with a box on the same of the house (either indoor or outdoors) and it will need power. It won't be as large as the ONT but it will still have power requirements. Verizon just started deploying smaller ONTs to serve apartments but from what I am reading, getting power to the ONTs is a big issue.
Go FCC!!!
"If the provider offers a self install for leased set-top boxes, they must also allow self install of a CableCARD."
yesssss. Freakin comcast wants to charge me 50$ to have a tech drive to my house and install the thing into my tv. I told them to keep their money.
If the only thing they do is get rid of the tuning adapter then I will be satisfied. Mine works just fine, but I really hate having another box cluttering up the area.
I think it's great people think the cost of the STB's from the cable company will stay the same with this new legislation. Instead, what you are going to see is your $14 a month cable box become a $14 a month box + $3 a month for the Cablecard. When people call to complain, the cable companies will simply say "The FCC made us do this. If you don't like it complain to them."
You can argue that they would not dare to do it, but based on past history of decisions by these companies, you would be wrong.
So, Hell is actually going to freeze over before cable companies relinquish control so other boxes can fully function as a cable box? Too bad we'll all be dead and won't care.
I thought December 2012 was the end of the world?