Cable Cards....TVs cable card ready...

[dickalp]

Looking to buy a TV that has the "cable card Digital cable ready" tag on it.  The Sony KD30XS955.  Questions....cable card gonna be 2 way anytime soon?  Is cable card gonna be obsolete anytime soon?  Any advice would and will be welcome!

[mhz40]

Samsung is the only manufacturer that I know of that is working on 2-way cable card capable TV's.  Don't know when/if they will be available.
I can't go into details, but while one-way cable card devices will not become obsolete, they may become a less desirable option in the future.
I wouldn't wait for 2-way and would go out and get the best looking TV and enjoy it... cable card capable or not.

Good luck and have fun shopping!

[Mark Strube]

It's not like the cable card is going to be a big investment or anything. Just buy a TV that's cable card ready (stay away from Toshiba from what I've heard, Sony should be fine) and rent a cable card from the cable company! I believe it's less than renting a digital box. If it goes obselete, just rent a box! No biggie! :wave:

[kevbeck122]

Yep.. $1.75 a month.  The XS955 works well with Cablecard... I've only had one problem where I lost all of my HD channels the day before we got Universal HD.. I just reset the card, did the channel scan and was back up within 5 minutes.

I think 2-way cards/devices are still a long ways off, so I wouldn't wait.  Also, Sony is cutting back on their Tube TVs, so you should get that TV soon if you want it.  There are a lot of people having troubles finding the set around the US.. check American or Flanner's.. they should have it the cheapest.

[jfrancour]

I just picked up a new set that is CableC ard ready. The spot I am putting this set is limited for space and I am insterested in a Cable Card, but will I get an on-screen guide with it? I don't care about VOD, so it doesn't bother me to not have that on that TV.

Any other comments on Cable Cards?

Thanks.

[Mark Strube]

You'll get all the digital channels, all the HD channels... the only things you WON'T get are Video On Demand, Pay-Per-View, and the on-screen guide.

[klwillis45]

You'll get all the digital channels, all the HD channels... the only things you WON'T get are Video On Demand, Pay-Per-View, and the on-screen guide.

Yup, right now ( and probably for some time) cards are only one way, from TWC to you.

[jfrancour]

Just to get this straight- if the cards become 2-way, will they be compatible with any TV? Or will the TV have to be compatible with a 2-way type of card?

[Mark Strube]

My best guess is the TV would have to be ready for a 2-way card... it's a different technology (that isn't available yet). There may be a way to upgrade your set that comes about, but that would mean less money for the manufacturers, so I wouldn't count on it.

But, all the 2-way is used for is pay-per-view and video onDemand... stuff you said you don't care about anyways.

[klwillis45]

I think its the on screen guide thats the major sticking point.

[kevbeck122]

Two way programs are supposed to be based on java (for the guide and interactive content), so one way devices probably won't be able to be upgraded to two way.