So Comcast just left after failing to get the VMC box working with CableCards. They tried both  "dual" CableCard and a "single" CableCard. The VMC box has two tuners with two CableCard slots so I'm wondering if it has to use single.  In any case, the VMC wizard doesn't recognize the cards at all.  I also went to the "Help Setting up CableCard" link and looked through that stuff and couldn't get it to recognize it either.  It's like VMC just doesn't know you inserted a CableCard.

They did try getting both cards working in directly in my Samsung DLP TV and failed as well ... so I'm hoping it's just bad cards.

Any other thoughts, stuff I should confirm before I head down to Comcast and ask for replacement(s)?  Should I get two single cards or a dual or does it matter?

 

 

It usually doesn't really matter which cards M or S. If they can't get the card(s) going in your Samsung Tv then they are most likely bad. Can you recieve analog cable through the DCTs? Run Set up again and pick the Guide for analog cable in your area. If you can tune and record programs, the DCTs are probably fine. Another question is are the DCTs recognized by vmc? Can you see them in the network?

I'm now suspecting the DCTs as I couldn't get analog working via the tuners, but it works direct to the Samsung.  I did pick up 2 new CableCards from Comcast.  My plan is to pull both DCTs, reboot, put one back, reboot and see if it installs, etc. 

The DCT's are recognized by VMC and you could pull up the ATI utility but it would always say "Removed" on the Card tab.

 

 

Progress.  I now have the ATI control panel showing the card as inserted.  But somewhere along the way VMC got into a state where when you run TV signal setup it just assumes you have a digitial antenna and won't let you choose otherwise. 

Edit: I also get both green lights now. 

Once the cards are paired mark them so you don't mix them up, they cannot be swaped around (between tuners or tv). You need to get a host ID and card ID to comcast and have them authorize the cards. You should be able to run set-up and choose comcast as your supplier and download the guide.

Then once the cards are authorized you'll be able to get the tv signal. Make sure if you have one than one display connected to your computer that it's set-up as an extended desktop or DRM will give you a restricted content message.

John

Vista still does not want to see them as CableCard tuners from within VMC setup.  It either says there is no signal detected or once to automatically think it is a digital antenna. 

Any thoughts on this one?  Is there a way to "reset" the TV signal set up in VMC?

 

JohnW248:

Once the cards are paired mark them so you don't mix them up, they cannot be swaped around (between tuners or tv). You need to get a host ID and card ID to comcast and have them authorize the cards. You should be able to run set-up and choose comcast as your supplier and download the guide.

Then once the cards are authorized you'll be able to get the tv signal. Make sure if you have one than one display connected to your computer that it's set-up as an extended desktop or DRM will give you a restricted content message.

John

 

Ok I found where you can get the host info from the ATI control panel.  So the idea is to authorize them first, the run set up?  Comcast said to wait 20 minutes or so ... I'll give it another shot in 30.

 

rknight29:

Ok I found where you can get the host info from the ATI control panel.  So the idea is to authorize them first, the run set up?  Comcast said to wait 20 minutes or so ... I'll give it another shot in 30.

 

 

I have one tuner working now.  When I run set up it says it detected and configured one tuner and that additional tuners were detected but not configured because they either don't have a signal at all or the signal does not match.  Something along those lines.

 

Ideas?

 

Check your spliters and signal level. The ATI boxes are very senstive to over or under level and comcast should have checked that level. Also cablecard require a spliter that allows back feed (the oob signal is actually a talk back circuit to the head end). I would first check all your RF connections and splitters, then signal level. Last step unplug the working tuner and try setting up the other tuner. If that works, chances are you need to read the threads on the firewall problems. (You have turned off the firewall on connections 2 & 3, right?)

Actually I appear to have mis-spoken.  The "working" tuner only gets up to channel 25.  2-25 are fine, nothing else works.  On the channels that don't work, VMC says the CableCard does not have data to tune to that channel.  Comcast has checked pairing and basically says I'm SOL and it's not their problem.  Typical Comcrap customer service.

The techs who were here did not check signal at all ... they couldn't even get a CableCard plugged in in the right direction ... I'll try the separate tuner thing but right now even the working tuner doesnt' get all the channels.

 

Sometimes the first install is slow because the card has to update firmware. That in the cablecard not the tuner. My cable system it (with M-cards by SA) it shows as updating firmware in diagnostics. Once paired, the cablecards have to download a virtual channel table and this can take some time for the first download. As that happens, the channels slowly add in. I've seen this more with S-cards than M-cards.

If you have the guide downloaded, go to guide and click on a channel you know you subscribe to and see if you get a picture. In order to check both tuners, once you get a picture, click record (that locks that tuner) then you can click the up or down button, if you get the channel, then the second tuner is working. Go back to the first channel and stop recording.

Apparently if you just keep calling back and/or ask the right questions you'll eventually get someone at Comcast who knows what they are doing.  Last night they insisted it was all on my end, equipment, etc. Nothing they could do.  Today when I called back they figured out that they hadn't sent all the right codes to the CableCard to unlock anything but the most basic package.  Sent the code and the first tuner has everything now.  Sheesh. 

Putting 2nd tuner in now ... we shall see.