mikinho

[mikinho]

[quote=”denonsix”]
Being in Houston as well. You have any issues picking up a Cablecard from Comcast or do I need a truck roll?
[/quote]

My only issue has been finding stores with CableCARDs in stock.  I recommend calling ahead.  I had to go to a total of SIX Comcast stores to find two CableCARDs.  Ok my wife actually went but…

I spoke for some time with a Comcast manager in my area concerning the InfiniTV.  She seemed concerned on the availability of CableCARDs at the stores.  Installers should have plenty.  My impression is that Comcast basically hands out CableCARDs that were previously used in the their set top boxes as I was told that they have not received a shipment of “new” CableCARDs since the end of 2008.

I’m a freak when it comes to used electronics, even if I will never see the CableCARDs outside of the InfiniTV it really irritates me that they are used and slightly beat up.  From a business perspective it makes sense though.  The CableCARDs in the STB are installed at the factory.  When they are returned or broken it is cheapereasier to redistribute them to customers.

[mikinho]

[quote=”JohnCz”]
The channel changing performance is promising.  I’ve never used multiple tuners before in Media Center.  I’m looking to give my wife nearly instanteous channel flip between two channels.  Can that be achieved if we mark one channel for recording and tune another channel?  Essentially forcing a 2nd tuner to be used.  In this case, when she switches back to the show being recorded, Media Center is smart enough to just use the tuner/buffering already in use…without 2-3 sec delay.
[/quote]

Funny you ask.  In this particular scenario, hitting record and changing channels, it performs in the upper time range.  Speaking with Jeremy it appears that some unknown reason Media Center itself takes a few extra seconds to communicate with the InfiniTV in this scenario.

I have some ideas on why but it is pure speculation at this point.  Regardless, even in this scenario the channel changing is ~5-7 seconds.  Well within an acceptable range for me and more importantly my wife.  Our Comcast STB takes around 6 seconds to change channels.

[mikinho]

[quote=”JohnCz”]
The channel changing performance is promising.  I’ve never used multiple tuners before in Media Center.  I’m looking to give my wife nearly instanteous channel flip between two channels.  Can that be achieved if we mark one channel for recording and tune another channel?  Essentially forcing a 2nd tuner to be used.  In this case, when she switches back to the show being recorded, Media Center is smart enough to just use the tuner/buffering already in use…without 2-3 sec delay.
[/quote]

Funny you ask.  In this particular scenario, hitting record and changing channels, it performs in the upper time range.  Speaking with Jeremy it appears that some unknown reason Media Center itself takes a few extra seconds to communicate with the InfiniTV in this scenario.

I have some ideas on why but it is pure speculation at this point.  Regardless, even in this scenario the channel changing is ~5-7 seconds.  Well within an acceptable range for me and more importantly my wife.  Our Comcast STB takes around 6 seconds to change channels.

[mikinho]

And I completely forgot to include in the review two extra hints when installing:

1- When installing the CableCARD for the first time please be aware that it is a tight fit so you’ll need to give it a little force when installing.  More so than I expected or than on the ATI DCTs I have had.

2- The full sized PCI bracket is fairly malleable so when installing the CableCARD take care to not push in too far as it can bend the bracket slightly.  It is easy to bend back but you won’t want to do that often =)

[mikinho]

And I completely forgot to include in the review two extra hints when installing:

1- When installing the CableCARD for the first time please be aware that it is a tight fit so you’ll need to give it a little force when installing.  More so than I expected or than on the ATI DCTs I have had.

2- The full sized PCI bracket is fairly malleable so when installing the CableCARD take care to not push in too far as it can bend the bracket slightly.  It is easy to bend back but you won’t want to do that often =)

[mikinho]

I should have a photo gallery up in 30 minutes with that.

[mikinho]

I should have a photo gallery up in 30 minutes with that.

[mikinho]

[quote=”DBayPlaya2k3″]
A. Technical Support for Cable TV
[/quote]

[quote=”DBayPlaya2k3″]
2. Was it a noticeable difference in the HD picture quality going from your ATI DCT to your Ceton DCT. I used to have the Comcast DVR and when I gor the ATI DCT i noticed that the on the Comcast DVR the Picture Quality seemed a little better than the ATI units. [/quote]

I’ll be going into the picture quality (PQ) and tuner comparison in Part 2 but yes, the Ceton does seem to have a better PQ.  It was on par with my Comcast STB.  My wife swears that Discovery HD has never looked so good.

[quote=”DBayPlaya2k3″]
Oh and please thank your Wife for the editorial she wrote and the SAF. My Girlfriend and I experience the exact same problems that your wife spoke of with the ATI DCT. I showed the article to my Girlfriend yesterday and needless to say she was very pleased. I guess it meant a lot more for her since she saw someone else’s perspective on this.
[/quote]

She will be to very happy that it helped!

[mikinho]

[quote=”DBayPlaya2k3″]
A. Technical Support for Cable TV
[/quote]

[quote=”DBayPlaya2k3″]
2. Was it a noticeable difference in the HD picture quality going from your ATI DCT to your Ceton DCT. I used to have the Comcast DVR and when I gor the ATI DCT i noticed that the on the Comcast DVR the Picture Quality seemed a little better than the ATI units. [/quote]

I’ll be going into the picture quality (PQ) and tuner comparison in Part 2 but yes, the Ceton does seem to have a better PQ.  It was on par with my Comcast STB.  My wife swears that Discovery HD has never looked so good.

[quote=”DBayPlaya2k3″]
Oh and please thank your Wife for the editorial she wrote and the SAF. My Girlfriend and I experience the exact same problems that your wife spoke of with the ATI DCT. I showed the article to my Girlfriend yesterday and needless to say she was very pleased. I guess it meant a lot more for her since she saw someone else’s perspective on this.
[/quote]

She will be to very happy that it helped!

[mikinho]

[quote=”DBayPlaya2k3″]
Mikinho,

Like you I also reside in Texas about 40 mins from Houston (League City) and also have Comcast with 2 ATI DCT. I have a few questions for you reguarding the process.

1. Which prompt in the phone menu did you pick
[/quote]

When you install the card you’ll receive a phone number for your provider and region.  That will take you directly to cable television customer support.

The cable television customer support is able to activate and update CableCARD pairing.  I would recommend asking them to send the authorization signal a few times too.

Note: The Comcast cable television customer support does NOT have the ability to remove pairing.  So if you have an activated CableCARD at home and need to unpair it you will need to speak with cable television Technion support.

Also, if you are having issues receiving the authorization code but have received the staging request (I”ll post screenshots to help explain) try switching out cables andor removing any op-amps if you have them.

[mikinho]

[quote=”DBayPlaya2k3″]
Mikinho,

Like you I also reside in Texas about 40 mins from Houston (League City) and also have Comcast with 2 ATI DCT. I have a few questions for you reguarding the process.

1. Which prompt in the phone menu did you pick
[/quote]

When you install the card you’ll receive a phone number for your provider and region.  That will take you directly to cable television customer support.

The cable television customer support is able to activate and update CableCARD pairing.  I would recommend asking them to send the authorization signal a few times too.

Note: The Comcast cable television customer support does NOT have the ability to remove pairing.  So if you have an activated CableCARD at home and need to unpair it you will need to speak with cable television Technion support.

Also, if you are having issues receiving the authorization code but have received the staging request (I”ll post screenshots to help explain) try switching out cables andor removing any op-amps if you have them.

[mikinho]

For those concerned by the reports of Zone tracking numbers being sent out.  I wouldn’t be alarmed if you have not received yours, most likely these are Microsoft employees ordering through a special employee program.

[mikinho]

For those concerned by the reports of Zone tracking numbers being sent out.  I wouldn’t be alarmed if you have not received yours, most likely these are Microsoft employees ordering through a special employee program.

[mikinho]

I’ll have WHS v2 cover in Part 3.  In the current firmware network bridging does NOT work out of box but with a little networking voodoo it is possible.

With a little luck the lobbying Ceton and other companies have been doing with CableLabs will also allows us to split the tuners among different computers.  I’m optimistic for a relatively quick change.

[mikinho]

I’ll have WHS v2 cover in Part 3.  In the current firmware network bridging does NOT work out of box but with a little networking voodoo it is possible.

With a little luck the lobbying Ceton and other companies have been doing with CableLabs will also allows us to split the tuners among different computers.  I’m optimistic for a relatively quick change.

[Author]

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