There is already a solution in the works. A device called a Tuning Resolver will be available in early 2008. It will connect to the USB port of the CableCARD device, including the TiVos, and communicate with the cable head-end to allow the device to tune SDV channels.

Currently it is only planned to support SDV channels and *not* VOD/PPV, but that may change in the future. Once the hardware is available, supporting other features is really a matter of software support and backing from the cable operators.

Good news: yes they have to schedule an appointment to stick them in the slot and authenticate

Bad news: some HD channels won’t work and no future channels work.

The latest on Time Warner Cable:

I got a new TIVO SERIES 3 for Christmas after owning and using the dual tuner series 2 with nothing but great things to say using my existing Time Warner Cable but once I got HD I wanted to upgrade.

The series 3 says you “may need” the cable cards. In the case of Time Warner - yes you must have them if you want to tune anything above channel 99 before 2009 when analog goes away. The first indication was when there were NO IR or SERIAL connections to the cable box to change channels - there is no choice.

So while contemplating to go back to the Series 2 or stick it out on 3 - I called Time Warner to find out how to get these “cable cards” and they basically warned me that the existing On Demand and PPV would no longer be available (which I don’t use so I won’t miss it) BUT they warned me that some HD channels would not work and NO FUTURE HD CHANNELS WOULD WORK! I didn’t understand why after having them explain it to me 3 times but it had to do with using a 2 way signal and saving bandwidth which still doesn’t make sense but that is their story. Then my window for TWC is 9am - 7pm!

I’m going to stick it out because I think there will be more to come between these two big kids in the sandbox.

That is 100% bullshit. They are required to provide CableCARDs for *any* approve host device - and the Series3 is approved. They cannot refuse to provide them.

The simplest thing to do is to call and just say you need to have two CableCARDs installed, and not mention the TiVo. Most of the time they presume it is for a TV anyway. If they ask, then lie and say you have two new CC TVs. When the installer gets there they generally don’t care.

But if you want to avoid the fibs, call TiVo and they should call your cable company with you on the line and straighten them out. There are many threads at TiVoCommunity.com about this kind of thing.

My email to them:
“I called today to request a cable card for a Tivo Series3 I am planning to buy.
The associate on the phone says you will not provide those to me because you have a similar product. I thought the FCC required that cable cards
be available for the Tivo boxes.

Please explain.”

Their answer:
“Thank you for contacting us with your concern. We do apologize for the misunderstanding, however the cable cards are to be provided for use of your digital television. We will not install the cable cards into Tivo services. We do offer a Digital Video Recorder, therefore, not needing a cable card.”

I sent all this to Tivo in hopes they will get onto Time Warner — but who knows how long that will take. I’ve started to look into FCC filings. But we all know how “fast” the government fixes things.

I’ve been installing cable for 3 years, not a really long time, but I know what I’m doing. I do TV, internet, telephony, everything.. and these cable cards are really the biggest PITA for us installers. If I’m installing one for the day I take 5, and I’m lucky if one out of five works. I really have no idea why it’s such a challenge to get them to work - as it seems like it’s just hit or miss.

If they still refuse, call TiVo. TiVo has said that people with trouble call them and TiVo will work with the user to get the cards installed.

You can also point them to http://www.tivo.com/cablecard

While this is probably just a miscommunication, they had better get it straightened out before the gifting season ends and people start trying to set their new techno gadgests up.

This is obviously a local Cable Co that doesn’t know what they are talking about, by the time the series 3 is release lets hope all these cable co’s get their act together.

Though it is possible they can use the fact that the Series3 is classified as a “Set Top Box” by CableLABS as a loophole. AFAIK it is the only CableLABS certified device with this designation.

If they are able to pull this off it won’t leave much recourse for consumers, as in practically all cases consumers only have a single choice for a cable provider, you can’t exactly go to satellite since the Series3 won’t work with satellite at all. This is why lack of competition is a bad thing.