Re: record digital TV without "digital cable ready" PC?
- From: "Curious" <mailmenot@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 07:51:00 -0800
Karl,
I post my post above before I saw and read your most recent post.
Barb is the expert on cable card and She will probably correct that my following hypothesis is correct.
AFAIK systems with Vista MC TV pack can configure a cable card tuner without the separate cable card key.
If this is true then the error you received from MC saying your system was not cable card ready was caused by the fact that did not have a card installed in the tuner yet and you do not have a separate clear QAM capable tuner.
"Curious" <mailmenot@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:eHqzKPacJHA.2132@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It sounds like your Vista OS includes VMC TV-Pack which includes digital cable support which means that it supports a ClearQAM tuner and/or a cable card tuner.
However, that does not mean that the system configuration itself includes a cable card tuner check your actual order invoice to see what physical components were ordered and included with the system.
<kar13@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:8f419b84-eb0d-462a-9d77-c6a657eb42f3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Dec 31 2008, 4:26 am, Barb Bowman <b...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Dell's fact sheet on the 430 states
"XPS 430Intel® Core™2 Q8200 Quad-Core (4MB L2 cache,2.33GHz,1333FSB)
Specifications - XPS 430
Operating SystemGenuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium w/DigitalCable
Support, 64-bit"
so it sounds like you should get what you need.
On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:42:45 -0800 (PST), ka...@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>On Dec 28, 11:42 am, "Curious" <mailme...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Since MC does not currently support clear QAMdigitalchannels you can >> not
>> use your ATI tuner for anydigitalchannels without leasing a cable card
>> from your cable company. Most cable companies encrypt alldigital
>> channels(100+) not just the premium ones with the exception of the >> local
>> ones which you can receive with an antenna and just a plain HDTV tuner >> card
>> in your PC.<ka...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>news:abd3a525-7c22-45b8-a4d3-392755bd9d93@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> On Dec 27, 2:20 pm, "Curious" <mailme...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> > Did you have your cable company come out and install as cable card >> > in the
>> > slot in your ATI tuner?
>> > When you say you can get SD channels are your referring to SD analog
>> > channels or to SDdigitalchannels or both?
>> > Is it possible that you are trying to receive HD channel 2 by >> > selecting
>> > channel 2 which would give you analog channel 2 instead of your >> > cable
>> > companies channel number fordigitalchannel 2? For example with my >> > cable
>> > company I have to select channel 702 to get CBSdigitalchannel 2.
>> > "kar13" <ka...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> >news:77A33919-7899-412E-A45D-93B3ACD8D695@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > > Hi,
>> > > I just purchased a Dell XPS 420 (with ATITVWonderDigitalCable >> > > Tuner)
>> > > under the assumption that I could use Media Center torecordTV,
>> > > including
>> > > the HD versions of my local news. I am able to get standard def
>> > > channels,
>> > > it
>> > > appears, andrecordthem to the PC. Going through the setup, I >> > > received
>> > > a
>> > > message in Media Center that my computer "is notdigitalcable >> > > ready"
>> > > and
>> > > I
>> > > "will not be able to use a CableCard" with this computer.
>> > > I am very annoyed that Dell would sell me the ATI tuner and not >> > > inform
>> > > me
>> > > that the PC selected was notdigitalcable ready. However, I only
>> > > subscribe
>> > > to Comcast standard cable... nodigitalpackages, no HD... so am I >> > > right
>> > > to
>> > > assume that a "digitalcable ready" computer would not benefit me
>> > > anyway?
>> > > When the transition happens in Feb, will I still be able to >> > > receive my
>> > > current channels via the ATI tuner/PC set up as I do now?
>> > > What is the benefit of a "digitalcable ready" PC, *really*?
>> > > My intent for this computer set up was to be able >> > > torecordTVprograms
>> > > digitally, and do away with VHS recording. I'm hoping to use >> > > certain
>> > > recordings in the classroom for educational lessons (burned on >> > > DVD)
>> > > Dell has a 21 day return policy. My 21 days expire in 2 days >> > > (12/29)
>> > > Should
>> > > I return this XPS unit and order one that's "digitalcable read" or >> > > is
>> > > that
>> > > overkill given my current Comcast subscription and intended use >> > > for the
>> > > system?
>> > > Any advice is greatly appreciated!- Hide quoted text -
>> > - Show quoted text -
>> Curious,
>> I do not have a cable card installed. I thought the cable card was
>> only necessary for premium channels (HBO, etc) I do not have premium
>> cable through Comcast. I am simply trying to get local news, and
>> possibley CNN or History channel, indigital, or HD. I'm not sure
>> what's possible without a premiumdigitalcable subscription. Through
>> my ATI tuner, I am able to get channels up to around 100. That means
>> they are all analog, right? When I try to get channel 231, which is
>> WPVI-DT (digitalversion of my local station, I assume) I get this
>> message: "Cannot play program. Channel may not be supported...."
>> Perhaps I have my intentions wrong. I was thinking that if I could get
>> adigitalsignal, I couldrecorditems from my local channels, and
>> other non-premium channels, in better quality than what I get on a VHS
>> recording. Am I wrong in that thinking?
>> With nodigitalcable package from Comcast, am I not able to receive
>> any kind of better quality (SDdigitalor HD) signal? Is it a
>> limitation of Media Center? I've read posts of people using Hauppage
>> tuners and they get QAM (which I believe is a better picture than SD
>>digitalor analog, right?) I've read conflicting reports of MC not
>> supporting QAM. What's the truth?
>> Do I even need "digitalcable ready" functionality within Vista? How
>> are people recordingdigitaltvnow - without that functionality?
>> When thedigitaltransition happens in Feb, will everyone then need
>> "digitalcable ready" OS functionality?- Hide quoted text -
>> - Show quoted text -
>Thanks for all the responses. It was very helpful. I packed up the
>XPS420 and sent it back today. Once I got routed to the correct
>person, Dell was pretty nice about returning the box and ordering me a
>new one. However, when I called back a day later just to triple check
>that I am getting the "digitalcable ready" version this time, I
>learned that the Dell tech ordered me an XPS 430 instead of the 420. I
>certainly questioned the woman I had on the phone to be certain it
>would be "digitalcable ready" and would work with the ATI tuner that
>I have (I previously purchased the tuner with the 420, but was told to
>only return the CPU)
>So now I'm wondering what new problems may lay ahead for me! I told
>the guy I wanted the exact same computer, butdigitalcable ready. I
>went through the options list with him 3 times and never once did he
>tell me he switched to the 430. I know it's the newer model (faster
>RAM and bigger hard drive) so I'm not totally disappointed, but it
>just makes me wonder.
>I'll post another update once I receive the new system and test it
>out.
>Thanks again for the help. Happy New Year.
--
Barb Bowman
MS-MVPhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspxhttp://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
Well, I received my new Dell XPS430 today.
First thing I did was look on the back of the machine for the extra
"digital cable ready" key #. Nothing. I only have the same sticker as
the old machine, listing the Microsoft Vista key. After going through
the Windows Media Center set up, I still get the same message when I
try to go through Settings > Set up TV signal: "Your computer is not
digital cable ready. You will not be able to use it with a CableCard."
I called Dell support. I explained that this is the 2md computer and I
ordered it over the phone so I could explicitly order the new system
with DCR set up. This new support guy ran through the same
troubleshooting steps (trying to reconfigure Media Center) I told him
that last time, I was told the computer needed some special BIOS key
set at the factory. He assurred me that my XPS430 computer was totally
ready and capable of working with digital cable. (When I look at my
computer properties, it lists Windows Vista Premium 64 bit. No mention
of Digital Cable Ready)
He told me to make an appointment with my cable company to get the
cable card... and that I will also need a digital cable box as well.
Is that really it?? I need a digital cable box? The error message I
receive in MC says "your computer is not digital cable ready" so to
me, that sounds like a deficiency in my computer's set up, not the
cable set up. Am I crazy? Is it an issue with having a 64-bit OS? Am I
simply lacking a digital cable box?
I have an appt with Comcast on Saturday morning. I have my fingers
crossed that this will fix the problem, but I won't hold my breath.
Any insights?
.
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