TV Cablecards.

[Sederior]

Does anybody here use a Cablecard instead of using a Set Top Box for their Digital Cable signals? Ever since getting a new TV I've been wanting to try this new slice of Technology out.

So far the benefits I've heard about that are good:

Don't need any extra equipment (The box or a dish and box)
Signal is much better than through a box
Can still receive the full range of cable channels provided by your provider. (HBO,Cinemax....)
HD and digital signals all work.

Bad things:

No Video on Demand
No PPV
No Interactive Programming guide (I don't care for those three up top)
Doesn't work with DVRs... yet (I don't own one, and don't plan to anyways)
Installation is a pain, and could be costly. Might have to go through multiple cards before one works.(BIG factor for me)

Does anybody who has a Cablecard would like to share their experiences with me? I am planning on waiting for the next gen Cablecards to come out.

[Playstation Prince]

Here's somethings I got about it: In most cases, a CableCARD is used by a consumer in their television to watch digital cable programming without the need for an extra set top box from the cable company. The card can also act as a cable modem controller, again with the host providing modulation and demodulation functions, and the card providing decoding and IP routing functionality.

The drawback of current generation CableCARDs (version 1.0) is that they are one-way only. This means that most programming guides, and all Pay-Per-View and Video on Demand content is not available to users of the current CableCARD 1.0 technology as there is no way for the host device to communicate with the provider. As of September 2005, only a few dozen high end television models on the market in the United States are sold with CableCARD 1.0 slots.

A CableCARD version 2.0 standard has been in the works to address some of the issues with CableCARD 1.0, as well as add several new features. The new CableCARD 2.0 standard supports high definition digital cable and two way features such as Pay-Per-View, Video On Demand, and advanced electronic programming guide information. CableCARD 2.0 is also supposed to allow for up to 5 channels to be tuned in at once, this will allow for simultaneous tuning operations such as picture-in-picture (PiP). Several DVR manufacturers have also held off on integrating CableCARD slots into their machines until the CableCARD 2.0 standard is finalized. Equipment with CableCARD 2.0 support is expected during 2006.

Many cable providers in the United States have already begun to support CableCARD 1.0, with many saying that they also plan to support CableCARD 2.0 when the equipment becomes available. No cable providers in Canada currently support CableCARD.