I just got FIOS a couple of days ago and want to add a CableCARD to my Win7 x64 system so I can get rid of the STB. After a couple of calls to Verizon, I've determined that they will be of no help to me. First I was told that CableCARD won't work in a PC, someone else told me they had to send an installer which would cost $80 for him to hand me a card, and finally the Fiber Solution Center told me that I'm better off with the STB as I currently have it without providing any answers to my questions. None of these are acceptable options so I decided to search around the forums here for answers.

If (when) I buy my own CableCARD, is there a particular model required to get all FIOS channels? All that I could get from Verizon is that they use Motorola cards.
Are there any solutions other than the ATI DCT currently on the market that will work?
From what I read on the Ceton site, I will still have to rent a CableCARD if I buy one those cards when they launch. If I get the external ATI DCT now and later buy the Ceton card, can I gut the ATI CableCARD box and use it with with the Ceton?

Sorry for the question barrage, I've been out of the media center loop for quite some time. I've been running a media center PC since XP MCE first launched and until now never had any issues.

Actually you have a simple solution. I assume you have the ATI DCT already in your house. Call FIOS and tell them you need a Cable Card for a TiVo. They'll send somebody over with the card, tell him it's in fact an ATI CableCard Tuner and he won't complain because it might have been a mistake from the Fios Customer support. In my case, I originally had a TiVo, then bought an ATI Tuner and had them come over as if it was a second TiVo. I know they are reluctant to give CableCards for devices other than TiVo. An so you know, once the Card is activated, you can swap them. At least I can use the TiVo card in the ATI tuner and vice versa, so I assume you (we) will be able to just plug it into the Ceton, pair them and make it work. You won't escape the installation fee though. They won't allow self installation for CableCards.

I'm not knowledgable about "buying" a cableCard...

However, unless you're an integrator, you'll be restricted to 4 tuners of any given type in Windows 7. If you get the 4-tuner Ceton card, you'll have to find another use for the ATI tuner, which is the only CableCard tuner currently on the market.

hysonmb

If (when) I buy my own CableCARD, is there a particular model required to get all FIOS channels?

A cablecard brand is irrelevant in regards with the TV provider. I am not aware of the possibility to buy a cablecard, by law Verizon needs to rent it to you should you ask for it. Unfortunately they will not hand the card(s) to you, a technician will come and install it for you even if this means just to insert the card into the tuner's slot. They will also need to pair the card with the tuner by phoning back to HQ and dictating some serial numbers from screen. Once paired that cablecard will only work with that tuner a subsequent re-pairing needs to be done if you change either.

 

hysonmb

From what I read on the Ceton site, I will still have to rent a CableCARD if I buy one those cards when they launch. If I get the external ATI DCT now and later buy the Ceton card, can I gut the ATI CableCARD box and use it with with the Ceton?

As I said, yes, you still need to rent the cablecard but since the Ceton card is one card with up to six tuners on it you will need an M-card (multi stream) cablecard whereas for ATI DCT an S-card will suffice. So, if you get an S-card now you will need to exchange it for an M-card when you replace the ATI DCT with Ceton.

eugenpaval

As I said, yes, you still need to rent the cablecard but since the Ceton card is one card with up to six tuners on it you will need an M-card (multi stream) cablecard whereas for ATI DCT an S-card will suffice. So, if you get an S-card now you will need to exchange it for an M-card when you replace the ATI DCT with Ceton.

Thanks for the help. I was under the impression that the external ATI box contained an actual cablecard, now I know better. I have seen M Cards online and intended to buy one as opposed to renting from Verizon. Since they'll have to come out and program it anyway I'll just send it back if I'm still going to have to pay the rental fee.
I appreciate the responses from everyone.

No device except for the cableco STBs will ever contain a CableCARD when you get it. You always need to get it from your provider. 

A couple of important points.

1. You cannot buy a CableCard - they are not for retail sale.  If you buy one, it is stolen or was never returned to a cable company.

2. If you acquire a card like this, no cable company will activate it for you - they only do that for card that they own and have registered in their computers.

3. Verizon only offers M-Cards for rent these days, all S-Cards have been withdrawn.

 All of this info is from my FiOS installer last fall.

 

I've had a FIOS cable card for about 3 years now and here are the things that I have learned.

- Yes, they're going to send a guy out and charge $80. 

- But what he does isn't as simple as handing it over to you and you wave goodbye to him. He has to take action with the home office to make it pair with your tuner.

- If you're unlucky you get a guy that doesn't know cable cards.  He'll spend a lot of time talking on the phone to second level support.  The second level support guys don't know much about cable cards either.  They act as a go-between to level 3 support.  They use instant messaging and don't talk directly to Level 3 guys.   Level 3 guys know what they're doing but they're sparse and thus aren't permitted to verbally talk with anyone.  They can handle 5 or so level 2 guys at once via instant messaging.   Your entire installation can take hours with this kind of back and forth.

- If you're lucky you get the one guy in your area who knows what he's doing.  He's the equivalent of a level 3 guy in the field.  He'll show up with a laptop computer and can do all the pairing via that PC.  He never needs to call anyone and will be in and out in about 10 minutes.

- When dispatch calls you to confirm your appointment make sure you get the guy that knows what he's doing.  I have cell phone of that guy on my speed dial.

- Make sure you get an M-Card.  that way when you buy a Ceton it will be able to stream 4 HD channels.  My installer tells me that there are still S-Cards in the field although they no longer get them new.  He says they're valuable as some older Tivo's won't work with M-Cards.  

- Cable Cards are fickle and my installer tells me that about 50% of them don't work properly.  I had one that wouldn't get about a half dozen HD channels.  One of them was ESPN and you can imagine I wasn't happy.  Don't let him leave until he gets things working to your satisfaction.  Look at least a dozen of your favorite channels and make sure they are working and aren't pixelated.   If you get the right installer he has at least a half dozen Cable Cards in his truck.  Have him change them until it works to your satisfaction.

- Once it's working properly, as mine is now, it's flawless.  Works just like the DVR.  I still have the DVR as I only have one tuner and that just doesn't cut it.  Once I get a Ceton installed the DVR's going back.  And so will my HD tuner up in the bonus room.  I'll get a used Xbox for $100 and send the tuner back.

HTPCwatcher

I've had a FIOS cable card for about 3 years now and here are the things that I have learned.

- Yes, they're going to send a guy out and charge $80. 

- But what he does isn't as simple as handing it over to you and you wave goodbye to him. He has to take action with the home office to make it pair with your tuner.

- If you're unlucky you get a guy that doesn't know cable cards.  He'll spend a lot of time talking on the phone to second level support.  The second level support guys don't know much about cable cards either.  They act as a go-between to level 3 support.  They use instant messaging and don't talk directly to Level 3 guys.   Level 3 guys know what they're doing but they're sparse and thus aren't permitted to verbally talk with anyone.  They can handle 5 or so level 2 guys at once via instant messaging.   Your entire installation can take hours with this kind of back and forth.

- If you're lucky you get the one guy in your area who knows what he's doing.  He's the equivalent of a level 3 guy in the field.  He'll show up with a laptop computer and can do all the pairing via that PC.  He never needs to call anyone and will be in and out in about 10 minutes.

- When dispatch calls you to confirm your appointment make sure you get the guy that knows what he's doing.  I have cell phone of that guy on my speed dial.

- Make sure you get an M-Card.  that way when you buy a Ceton it will be able to stream 4 HD channels.  My installer tells me that there are still S-Cards in the field although they no longer get them new.  He says they're valuable as some older Tivo's won't work with M-Cards.  

- Cable Cards are fickle and my installer tells me that about 50% of them don't work properly.  I had one that wouldn't get about a half dozen HD channels.  One of them was ESPN and you can imagine I wasn't happy.  Don't let him leave until he gets things working to your satisfaction.  Look at least a dozen of your favorite channels and make sure they are working and aren't pixelated.   If you get the right installer he has at least a half dozen Cable Cards in his truck.  Have him change them until it works to your satisfaction.

- Once it's working properly, as mine is now, it's flawless.  Works just like the DVR.  I still have the DVR as I only have one tuner and that just doesn't cut it.  Once I get a Ceton installed the DVR's going back.  And so will my HD tuner up in the bonus room.  I'll get a used Xbox for $100 and send the tuner back.

Thanks, went through hell to get Comcast to get my cable card pc paired correctly, if I go through the same with Verizon next Friday when Verizon comes out for the install, wife will say "I told you so".

hey, guys, I am planning on getting FIOS soon. I'd love to hear how your install went. Also, what's the final answer to ordering cablecard?  Should I just tell the moron behind the phone that's it for Tivo and not bother arguing with nor explaining it to them?

Is it possible to just order FIOS bundle with just cablecard?

 thanks

jasg

A couple of important points.

1. You cannot buy a CableCard - they are not for retail sale.  If you buy one, it is stolen or was never returned to a cable company.

Actually in some cases you can buy them - from the cable provider.  I have two that I bought from the cable provider. At the time they only offered a purchase option.  Most providers are leasing them now though, and Verizon definitely leases them. But a few of them still ofer the purchase option.  I would lease if I had the choice, and when I get my M-card(s) for the Ceton card I'm going to lease. 

JackLuminous

hey, guys, I am planning on getting FIOS soon. I'd love to hear how your install went. Also, what's the final answer to ordering cablecard?  Should I just tell the moron behind the phone that's it for Tivo and not bother arguing with nor explaining it to them?

Is it possible to just order FIOS bundle with just cablecard?

 thanks

 

Don't say anything.  Just say your wife/husband told you to call.

I'd suggest just saying it is a Tivo.  Chances are they won't even know what a cablecard is.  Then when they have to ask someone about it (internally) they will likely hear that it's a card used with a Tivo.

I've got an install scheduled for next week and really hoping that they tech actually brings the cablecards with him.  I had to spend some time with the rep on the phone to convince them that I don't need an STB to go along with the cablecards.  Verizon offers something they call a Digital Adapter which may or may not be a cablecard. 

 

 I would say CableCARD for TiVo...

Craiz,

how did your install go?

Craiz

I'd suggest just saying it is a Tivo.  Chances are they won't even know what a cablecard is.  Then when they have to ask someone about it (internally) they will likely hear that it's a card used with a Tivo.

I've got an install scheduled for next week and really hoping that they tech actually brings the cablecards with him.  I had to spend some time with the rep on the phone to convince them that I don't need an STB to go along with the cablecards.  Verizon offers something they call a Digital Adapter which may or may not be a cablecard.