UPC and Windows 7

Bodan

I just read this article where it said that cable systems in the US will now work with windows 7, which is pretty cool.

CableCARD is a PCMCIA plugin card that allows consumers in the United States to view and record digital cable tv on compatible devices without the use of set top boxes. Microsoft announced in a recently released press release that Windows 7 with Windows Media Center will support digital cable tuners with CableCard giving Windows 7 users the option to watch and record digital cable tv channels on their computer system.

Microsoft has also increased the number of TV tuners from two to four to allow Windows 7 users to record and watch up to four digital cable TV channels at once.

"Microsoft and CableLabs announced that customers will now be able to add digital cable tuners with CableCARD to a Windows 7-based PC with Windows Media Center. A new tool will be provided by Microsoft that assesses the PC’s ability to support the solution. This tool will analyze the customer’s PC and enable digital cable support if the PC meets requirements, opening digital cable options to Windows Media Center customers across the country. Microsoft also announced that, with Windows 7, it has increased the number of TV tuners that can be connected to the PC from two to four per tuner type, thereby allowing customers to simultaneously record or watch as many as four digital cable TV channels."

It will be interesting to see how this new feature will compete against services such as Tivo which have been offering this option for some time. Price could play a role in the decision as the Windows 7 solution would not cost the monthly fees that a service like Tivo charges.

I would love to have it over here.

I am unfamiliar with the technical details of our system, does anyone know or think that it would work on upc's network.

bk

No, unfortunately this won't work with UPC.

In the US the FCC (US government regulator) mandated the use of CableCARD by all cable companies. A cablecard can then plug into different PC's and third party devices like TiVo.

Unfortunately here in Europe, no such decision was made, so you are stuck using the cable companies own rubbish boxes

You can sort of use standard definition cable with Windows Media Center, using IR blasters and S-Video out from the cable companies box, but it is difficult to setup, unreliable and has inferior picture quality (and no HD).

Bodan

That's a shame, it would have been good to turn my pc into a pvr.

Thanks for the info.

Wheeker

Hi Bodan,

Though what bk says is true re: DVB-C tuner cards with CI being incompatible with UPC. I would say that it is totally possible to use UPC with Windows Media Center. At the moment I have the UPC SD Digital Cable STB connected to my HTPC via SCART-Analogue Tuner Card. It is not difficult to set-up and is totally reliable. However, I would concede that the picture quality is not 100% the best out there. This can be down to TV tuner card, Graphics Card, STB output quality, picture settings etc. etc.... and can be sorted with some tweaking/new drivers.

However, the straight STB-TV picture I find to be not too amazing either & I suppose I have just ended up getting used to my HTPC picture. I am 100% sold on Windows MCE being a fantastic PVR, I have preordered Windows 7 (currently on XP) & can't wait to get it running. Perhaps W7 will solve some of my picture issues. Also FYI under Windows 7 you could potentially have UPC cable, Irish DTT (if ever launched) & FreeSat satellite (incl. HD) all runnning in the same PVR & Guide. In fact if you take the UPC out of there it would be subscription free!

I have been wondering if it is possible to use the new HD UPC STB to achieve a better picture. See my thread in the HTPC Forum: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055642359. Unfortunately I never really got an answer & it went off-topic.

chalkitdown

I have to say that the picture from my tv card is displaying much better quality under Windows7 than XP.

bk

Wheeker wrote: »

Hi Bodan,

Though what bk says is true re: DVB-C tuner cards with CI being incompatible with UPC. I would say that it is totally possible to use UPC with Windows Media Center. At the moment I have the UPC SD Digital Cable STB connected to my HTPC via SCART-Analogue Tuner Card. It is not difficult to set-up and is totally reliable. However, I would concede that the picture quality is not 100% the best out there. This can be down to TV tuner card, Graphics Card, STB output quality, picture settings etc. etc.... and can be sorted with some tweaking/new drivers.

Bodan, I had this sort of set up with Windows Media Center + UPC about two years ago and then switched to a similar setup with a TiVo. Yes it does work, but it can be very finicky and too much work for most ordinary people. In the end I ended up just going back to the supplied DVR's (Smart first and now heading to Sky HD).

I really think Media Center needs cable card and a similar device for sat * to make it succesful and easy to use for most people.

* Yes I do know there are cam modules for satellite, but it is still all a little bit too finicky, needs to be mandated for by the EU and support built directly into media center.