Uni vs Bi-Directional CableCard Question

[DoubleDAZ]

With new HDTVs adding CableCard slots and the current CableCards being uni-directional, does anyone know for sure if the next generation of bi-directional cards will be compatible with the current card-enabled HDTVs?

My take is that the slot is simply a mechanism to marry the card to the TV and the card itself controls everything. Someone made the comment in our local forum that they thought current card-enable TVs would not work with bi-directional cards in the future. I think they will, but don't know for sure. So, I thought I'd throw it out to the experts here :bow: to get the correct answer before starting a whole conversation with incorrect info from the start.

[namechamps]

Everything I have read says that current cablecard TV WILL NOT work with bidirectional cable cards. The problem is that the controller chips inside the TV do not have the capability to do anything beyond the current standard. There are only a couple companies making the cableCard chipsets. One is SCM.

http://www.scmmicro.com/dvb/cimax.html

I wouldn't worry that your cableCard TV is not 2way capable, it may be 2007 or later before we see bidirectional cable cards. The industry goup has no even agreed on a standard yet. It will be based on current cable card standard but will require different equipment in TV tuner, slot, and card design. So you may have a bidirectional cableCard capable TV in 2008 or 2009 but I wouldn't hold your breath.

[DoubleDAZ]

That's only 3 years away and it seems silly to redesign HTDVs yet again in so short a period of time. I know they get upgraded every year and maybe this won't be quite the major upgrade I think it will. Oh well, glad I'm not in the market for a new HDTV and don't have an aversion to STBs. :)

[57U]

Not being bi-directional is going to be a problem. It's useless for a lot of the features that people use/need - IPGs, PPV, VOD, etc.

Many people use these features today and these features are being added very quickly, with more people using/enjoying them.

If they wait 3 years for those feature, CableCard will be dead in the water.

[namechamps]

2007 would be the absolute earliest. Here is my prediction:
2007 - some press releases, some meeting but nothing really happens.
2008 - spec agreed upon and release. Prototypes workings and electronics companies begin designs for cards, slots, chipsets etc. New TVs are sold with "2way cable ready" logo.
2009 - Still no operations 2way cable systems; customers are complaining.
Late 2009 - FCC issues mandate that all digital cable companies must provide 2Way cableCard system by July 1 2010.
July 1 2010 - Some companies have rolled out but availability is spotty. Other companies complain "we don't have enough time/resources/bandwith/money to complete the system.
Late 2010 - Slowly more and more consumers are given access to system
2011 - CableCard, and HD become commonplace and begins replacing the STB, and analog cable.

Over the history of cable. The cable providers have been horribly slow when it comes to modernizing, or improving their product. If it wasn't for sat, I think we would still be watching analog cable and paying $180/month for expanded cable + HBO and Showtime. Cable companies generally will only improve their product if they see either:
1) Customers are upset and may leave.
2) The upgrade allows them to charge higher monthly fees.

CableCard fits in neither category. If it wasn't for the FCC we wouldn't even have 1way cableCard today.

[57U]

I believe that "Forcing" internal ATSC tuners and CableCard into TVs does very little for the good of Digital or HD TV.

This stuff needs to be "pull" instead of "push".

If the customer doesn't see a need or benefit, then there's no use building a bunch of ATSC-tuner/CableCard-equiped TVs that people don't want/need.

If you build more than 10% of your cars in the US with manual transmissions, they're going to sit on the lot - the opposite is true in Europe. Try to force someone to buy a manual or automatic if they don't want one...

HDTVs are selling because people can see the difference, even if 80-90% of them only use them for watching DVDs and not HD....

[Ratman]

Life would be grand if these 'geniuses' would just standardize on TV interfaces. If all larger TV's were similar to PC's where all you need to do select an interface type (cable, satellite, OTA, or any combo) and install in a PCI slot. Buy/rent the card from the provider or at a retailer.

When you buy a new TV, remove the board and put in your new set. Simple!

Nah... that makes sense.

[DoubleDAZ]

Amen, Ratman!

I don't think it's a big conspiracy by the cable companies to keep us from enjoying more upgrades. I think it's simply the nature of a fragmented, competitive business. Even though there are very few places where you actually have a choice in cable companies, they still compete with each other and I'm not really sure why, other than for future mergers and contracts I suppose. I'm not sure, but I don't know of any time a major cable systems has replaced another. Once a city goes with a major service, it generally renews that service. The only time things change is when mergers and buy-outs happen, so there really is no direct competition that I can see.

Anyway, I don't know why they don't see that it would be in their best interests over the long haul to become a single, standardized industry wit multiple players where what works on one cableco automatically works on all others. With Moto, S-A, Pioneer, Pace, etc., all making cable STBs, wouldn't it be nice if they all worked on all cable systems and you had a choice in which one you wanted, kind of like DirecTV where you have a choice of STBs with varying capabilities but the underlying service is the same?