The latest on the PC CableCARD Tuner



Revised January, 2010

Finally in Windows 7, you can actually use a cablecard tuner on a standard Windows 7 PC with Media Center. The announcement was made in September, 2009. First however, your PC must pass a "Digital Cable Advisor" test. The test can be found in the Extras Gallery of Windows 7 Media Center.



Once the PC "passes", Microsoft will download the proper software to allow a cablecard tuner to function on the system.

It will also allow you to copy recorded shows from one PC to another, but you can't burn a DVD, at least not with Premium content.

Now all you need is a cablecard tuner and a cablecard installed by your friendly local cable service. The only cablecards currently available are single tuners from ATI (1 internal, 1 external) developed during the Vista days which cost almost $300. Several tuner vendors officially announced new cablecard tuners at CES (January, 2010) including Hauppauge, Ceton, and Silicondust (HDHomerun).

Ceton said their 4 tuner with only one cablecard PCI-e card will be on the market first quarter 2010 for around $400. The network connected Silicondust HDHomerun Prime tuner, featuring a single cablecard for three tuners, will run around $265, and is set to be released in late 2010. Hauppauge would only acknowledge they have a cablecard tuner in development with no price, description or release date.

Update: Ceton has now officially released their InfiniTV4 card!


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