Cable Card vs. QAM Card

Jesse · #1 09-20-2005, 09:51 AM

Hi Folks,

Would someone out there be kind enough to explain the difference between a "cable card" and a "QAM" card. I am hoping to upgrade to a plasma in the next few monthes

and I am want to make sure I make an informed decision.

Thanks in advance.

Jesse

src666 · #2 09-20-2005, 10:13 AM

A "cable card" is a PC Card sized device that acts as a cable box - it is a piece of hardware that allows you to view programs that you can't see with just your TV tuner. These programs can include HD channels, Video On Demand, and other programs that you currently need a cable box for.

QAM is the encoding method the cable companies use to broadcast their HDTV programs over the wire. This encoding is different than the ATSC encoding used by broadcasters (over the air). A QAM capable tuner allows you to view the _unencrypted_ HDTV programs being sent by your cable company. A CableCard compatible device or cable box is necessary to view the encrypted HDTV channels.

stanger89 · #3 09-20-2005, 10:22 AM

Basically:

QAM == a modulation scheme used to transmit digital cable channels
CableCard == a specification/system for recieving/decrypting/viewing encrypted digital cable (premium) channels without a cable box.

CableCard sits on top of QAM.

Jesse · #4 09-20-2005, 10:29 AM

Thanks.

Sounds like both of these take part of the place of a digital cable stb. Why not just one card to do it all?

Thanks,
Jesse

stanger89 · #5 09-20-2005, 10:31 AM

Cablecard is basically just an access system. It requres a QAM card, basically it's an option on top of QAM. A CableCard TV would do everything a QAM-only TV would do, plus view encrypted channels. vs a QAM-only TV, which can only view unencrypted channels.

flashbacck · #6 09-21-2005, 01:12 AM

Doesn't a Cablecard system have to be certified by some Cable organization in order to be used? I think that's part of the reason no PC solution exists yet. The Cable companies don't want programming on PCs because they're afraid of mass file sharing.

stanger89 · #7 09-21-2005, 07:22 AM

Exactly, CableCard is "administrated" (for lack of a better term) by CableLabs, and requires a certification/license to be used. I wouldn't expect CableCard on the PC before Vista.

phenixdragon · #8 09-21-2005, 11:15 PM

If you read what MSFT has said recently which is basically CableCard already works on XP MCE BUT the cable companies won't allow it released supporting it because of security issues. Vista has the security that cable companies want and Vista will support CableCard at some point. MSFT wants to own the TV media centers and MCE is there way and w/o CableCard it will fail when other companies such as TiVo using CableCard. So it is just a matter of time and I beleive that time is less then a year. I give it 3-6 months after Vista is released. Also CableCard isn't out to all markets yet considering TVs are just really not including the option.

Personally, I think a lot of other companies, sadly such as SageTV, will never be able to support CableCard just because they are too small and can not offer what MSFT can such as real extenders instead of a type of hack to existing ones. And the Xbox 360 is going to be a major factor.

rotaryracer · #9 09-22-2005, 09:43 AM

Depending on how hard M$FT tries to monopolize CableCard, it may be difficult for Sage to get in the game....hence why it's even MORE important for them to be working hand-in-hand with DVICO to develop drivers that would support the Fusion 5 QAM card natively in Sage.

That's a one-two punch to MCE - first you get QAM working natively in the app, then you do it well in advance of Vista and/or CableCard hardware.

CableCard support would/will be great when it's available and OTA is okayif you can receive a signal without an antenna farm, but I'd pay extra to have QAM HDTV support now.

Jason

phenixdragon · #10 09-23-2005, 07:07 PM

I still don't see QAM as the way to go because don't you still need an external box? CableCard you have a pure digital connection from the get go (can be done with a box, but less likely for awhile) and you won't need to mess around with setting up your system to control the box.

That alone is the main reason I want CableCard, just QAM is not an option for me.

stanger89 · #11 09-23-2005, 08:07 PM

No, the MyHD 130 Fusion 3/5, and Aver A180 can all tune QAM directly. CableCard is an access mechanism to encrypted digital (QAM) cable, nothing more, nothing less.

phenixdragon · #12 09-24-2005, 09:23 AM

Well CableCARD is also the tuner, it might have encryption/decryption but it also enables you to tune the channels. Without it you would still need an external box.

stanger89 · #13 09-24-2005, 03:01 PM

My MyHD 130 can tune every channel we get, including the encrypted ones, but it can only play the in-the-clear ones. CableCard is to digital cable/QAM, what CAM is ot DVB.

phenixdragon · #14 09-24-2005, 05:24 PM

So are you saying you will be able to tune to all channels that are HDTV through your cable line?

waynedunham · #15 09-24-2005, 06:06 PM

Yep, it's just QAM can only do the unencrypted channels/sub-channels.

stanger89 · #16 09-24-2005, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenixdragon

So are you saying you will be able to tune to all channels that are HDTV through your cable line?

Yup, I've tuned and recorded (AFAIK) everything available on my line. That amounts to some 20-30 frequencies and probably 150-200 channels (they run a lot of subs). Of course of those, there are only about 5-10 that I can actually watch, and (except for when it was cool and I got Discovery HD and the HDNets) it's not much interesting.

phenixdragon · #17 09-25-2005, 04:14 AM

Interesting.

So did you have teh cable line hooked directly to the card? Or are you only talking about OTA?

gplasky · #18 09-25-2005, 06:15 AM

I think you're missing how this works or the purpose of CableCard.

Instead of a box, the cable company provides you with a CableCard, which looks a lot like a PC Card you'd stick in your laptop. You (or, typically, the cable guy) slide the CableCard into a slot on the back of your TV set, plug the cable from the wall into your TV, and you're good to go. No ungainly box. No extra remote to deal with (you change channels with the TV's remote). And fewer wires cluttering up your entertainment system.

This now gives you all the digital TV channels that you have paid for through your Cable Company. There are drawbacks.

1. No video on demand (VOD) or electronic program guide (EPG). One way communication only.
2. You very well may get a DVR anyway. Their cheap enough so you'll already have a box that gets you your channels.
3. CableCard-equipped sets are more expensive--for now. Right now they add $600-$900 for a TV set.
4. It's buggy. New technology
5. It's obsolete. A new CableCard on the horizon that presumably fixes many of these issues--and current CableCard sets won't be able to take advantage of those fixes

Gerry

blade · #19 09-25-2005, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenixdragon

Well CableCARD is also the tuner, it might have encryption/decryption but it also enables you to tune the channels. Without it you would still need an external box.

I didn't think CableCARD itself was a tuner. Even if you have the card you still need a tuner that is physically capable of tuning to the desired frequency. From my understanding the card plugs into the TV and allows the tuner in the TV to view the encrypted channels.

phenixdragon · #20 09-25-2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gplasky

I think you're missing how this works or the purpose of CableCard.

Who are you referring too because I know what CableCARD is.

I just never have seen a PCI card tuner to all the channels like Sanger is talking about.

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