CableCARD: Is the End Upon Us?

VIDEO INDEX:
00:00 - Intro
00:23 - What Are CableCards ?
01:47 - FCC Dropped CableCard Mandate
03:04 - Internet Driving Cablecard's demise
05:45 - HDHomerun's Solution
06:11 - CableCARD Demo
09:28 - CableCARD Alternatives
10:55 - Channels App
12:25 - Your Alternatives?
13:41 - Conclusion

Subscribe to my email lists!

Join the Facebook group to connect with me and other viewers!

Want to help the channel? Start a Member subscription or give a one time tip!

or contribute via Venmo!

Follow me on Facebook!

Follow me on Twitter!

Catch my longer interviews and wrap-ups in audio form on my podcast!

[JoeSiegler]

2:47 - Yes, TiVo still makes cable card devices. They still sell them new now. The model is the "TiVo Edge for Cable". If you go to their site and look at the info page for this, and scroll down to tech specs, it clearly states there's a CableCard slot in there.

I personally use the model before this, a TiVo Bolt - and the OTA variant that has no cable card, it's 100% antenna. But yes, they definitely still make and sell Cablecard boxes in 2022.

[lunarxdfx]

I used a Prime with Cablecard years ago, but eventually switched to over the air with a HDHOMERUN Quad tuner. We’re lucky to live in an area where over the air is a viable solution. It really is amazing the quality of OTA, and I would urge anyone who lives in an area where it’s a viable solution to use it assuming you don’t care about losing access to cable only channels. It takes a little bit of work to get it all figured out, we went through several antennas until we found one that worked well, but the cost savings were worth it. For DVR, we have an old MSI mini pc running Ubuntu server with Plex. The mini pc is only a dual core Celeron, but because it supports quick sync it can even handle a couple of 1080p transcodes simultaneously. Very nice for when I’m on travel for work and want to watch one of my recorded shows in the hotel.

[SuperBigDogU]

Hi Lon! I'm also using 2 of the HDHomeRun Prime tuner boxes and 2 cable cards to my Plex DVR. I got hooked on this setup from watching your setup years ago, have had mine for years like you, and I thank you for that. I've also used the Channels setup directly to my Plex and it kinda worked ok, but not as well like you brought up for some channels. Like you I can't get local channels. I had in the past bought one of the early HDHomerun OTA that had built in transcoding, but it was a waste as I never could get a good signal by antenna. I've started using a program called Audials One which works like a VCR in it can record (not always easily) streaming media but this would not in any way replace something that will automatically do what my cable card / tuner box does now. Your videos on this subject are wonderful and I greatly appreciate all you do to keep us all informed and educated on this. I think all us cable card users definitely need to start looking/planning NOW for the day coming very soon when our cable cards go kaput and we are unable to dvr freely any more with them. Please let us all know any new industry options as you learn them, as I know you always do. With all the streaming features (not wanted really by OG Plex Pass customers) Plex has been rolling out, maybe they could come up with something like what Audials does and be able to DVR streams from local network streams. We can dream. Thanks again.

[Brewskii]

I was a long time user of the hdhomerun + cable card. When I recently moved we checked out the youtube TV and decided to go with that, it has built-in dvr and I don't have to fuss with the hardware anymore.

[daveschmarder-US]

I remember getting cable TV in 1955. I was 5 years old and could only get one channel with an antenna from 70 miles away. The "cable rights" to get the cable was $125, and the monthly rate for 5 channels was a couple bucks a month.

[roopey]

Forced device rental by providers is absolutely anti consumer.

There was a time in Germany where you had to rent not just the device but also functions like WiFi... For an extra fee, of course.

[neurobioboy]

Cable companies died long time ago in France. We use offers bundled with our internet providers, and it is way cheaper, with almost all the channels.

[missydg]

We had a cable card with wideopenwest for many years until 2008 when they upgraded cable headend. After a few months wideopenwest told me we had to rent their cable box. After a few complaints to local government and FCC plus my contacts. We were given a modem box at the cost of a cable card $5.00

[PaulieORF]

Hey Lon. You can actually get some locals via TVE using Channels DVR. In your server dashboard, scroll way down to "Experimental" and put a check in the box next to "Local Networks via TV Everywhere ". I'm in CT and using YouTube TV, and with TVE through Channels DVR I get WFSB, WVIT, WTNH, and WABC. No WTIC yet.

[mannyteixeira]

This is one of the best and informative channel to follow.

[handydadtv]

I currently use a CableCARD in a TiVo DVR with a couple of Minis. I’ll continue using it as long as Optimum supports it here in NJ. Like you, I’m too far from NY and Philly to get local channels over the air.

[charlesgi]

Hi Lon,
I wish there was a future for CableCard. We are in a similar situation. I ended up getting an outdoor OTA ant and using AirTv with Sling however the experience is subpar. we did get the high end AirTV box but I can confirm that the thermals are atrocious on this unit. You can use a USB SSD with it for OTA DVR and it does work well enough. We ended up getting a Sling package and it is workable. X1 xfinity is awful too... often the image stalls, sometimes the box needs a random reboot or update. Notice on vaca in New Hampshire they still have cable offered with the old xfinity style, back when OnDemand was the new hotness, blue chunky menu and all. It is so much better, more responsive, you can actually channel surf without a 2 sec delay between changes... The Sling app is also unstable and they sometimes don't vet changes well. Its a sad state. I think they hamper it on purpose to steer people to other services. Best ive found so far though... Cable Tv used to be so much more functional...

[TonyPadgett]

@Lon - For Channels, did you scroll all the way down to the bottom. There is a checkbox "Local Networks via TV Everywhere". I can get all my local channels other than PBS, CW, and MyTV.

[cggage]

Good video, Lon!

I cut my cable about 2 years ago in favor of a ChannelsDVR system with HDHomeRun for the OTA. I have 2 homes and use one of the home's DirecTV "TV Everywhere" feature to feed ChannelsDVR. This works well. I have the same problem with OTA reception. My DC Metro home area is now broadcasting in ATSC 3.0. This has improved OTA reception but it's not 100%.

What we need is an affordable replacement for Locast. It work flawlessly for $5/month. The problem with the streaming services is that their "add-on" local channels are just that - something added on, expensive, and of marginal quality. Locast was perfect. I never agreed with the Court decision against Locast. There is a reasonable argument that broadcasters who are granted licenses to broadcast OTA should allow a service like Locast for those people who live in high-rise apartments and condos where an effective external antenna is not feasible. This could even be hosted by the local library or some other local government institution as a "public service."

Have you heard of any viable alternatives to Locast? I have not.

[Christopher_Ago]

Comcast started rolling out a NEW 2 gig down and a 100 up over DOCIS 3.1 already. It will be nationwide by the end of the year. I’ve seen people get almost the the full 2.5 gig down the modem supports and bursts of 300 up. There’s a few posts on Reddit already about it and Comcast has started emailing customers about it.

[jeremyjedynak]

Cable companies only ever half-heartedly supported these. Roku sticks and streaming services have thankfully made these obsolete anyway.

[RFC]

I Want to make sure I’m hearing this right, if they disable the cable card, that will render the home run prime obsolete?

[mjb]

As a fellow CT resident and long time cable card/hdhomerun/plex user I found this video really great! I ultimately decided to give up any entertainment that couldn’t be delivered without the cable company. Went to streaming only with Netflix, HBO, etc. Has gotten much easier recently with so many companies offering streaming packages but also expensive again if you want them all.

[bbgarnettTotallyNotABot]

Been using my HDHomerun Prime for about 8 or so years now and it's been very steady as well.

[mapguy]

I've been a YouTube TV subscriber for at least 3 years and it runs very well. It's a big change from Cable but I think it is one you should look at.