ATI releases HDTV Cable Tuner - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

jonnyfreeze · 2007-01-12, 12:29 AM

I'm guessing that we'll start to see more of these after Windows Vista launches. If CableCARD every comes to Canada, this would be a very interesting product to evaluate.

Quote:

...the ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner is the world’s first PC TV tuner offering CableCARD™ support for receiving premium HD content from digital cable channels such as HBO, ESPN, Cinemax, and many others...it also supports over-the-air ATSC digital TV, NTSC analog TV, and satellite set-top box connectivity

http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonderdigital/index.html

Wayne · 2007-01-12, 04:01 PM

But to get this product you have to buy a whole new PC, not just the tuner card and it will only work on Vista.

que3jxp · 2007-01-13, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne

But to get this product you have to buy a whole new PC

Ya, that is the part that made me go meh. DRM lovers can go bleepity-bleep themselves. I will not waste my money on their foolishness.

Like I have said in other threads. This DRM (Or overpricing, or restrictiveness) garbage will see me quickly not have a lot of TV time and little or no HTPC setup (For sure, no more upgrades) and cable fees.

BerinG · 2007-01-15, 11:42 AM

Finally.. theres an option at least.. I understand though that you'd need to get a whole new PC almost.. but at least theres finally something to capture HDTV without a PVR etc..

What I'm wondering though, will this even work in Canada? What's a Smart Card anyway? For example, will it still use my Videotron Illico STB.. or would the cable be directly connected to the computer caus if it does, than i doupt it would work as other STB (from other providers) dont work on Illico.. or at least videotron does not activate them.

pnear · 2007-01-15, 12:29 PM

No, it will not work in Canada. Cablecard is only available in the US because the FCC forces the cable companies to do it. Even then, many of the cable companies are making it difficult to get one. There are no plans to bring cablecard into Canada.

Wayne · 2007-01-15, 12:30 PM

There is no option in Canada as no Canadian company is issuing CableCards to its customers. And a cable card is needed to use this device or other third party PVRs such as a TiVo Series 3. The FCC has forced cable companies to do so in the US but I don't believe that the CRTC has ever commented on the issue.

BerinG · 2007-01-15, 12:33 PM

Greeeat... so in the end, its not even an option either.. ah well.. maybe filming with an HD camcorder will be the best option hehe

Wayne · 2007-01-15, 01:20 PM

If you live in the right location then OTA is really the only way to record HD, other than on a cable/sat PVR. But that is only for OTA channels, and isn't going to help you much in Gatineau. But if you are considering a move to Windsor or Toronto then keep this in mind.

2007-01-15, 11:42 AM	#4
BerinG Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gatineau, QC (Videotron) Posts: 69	Finally.. theres an option at least.. I understand though that you'd need to get a whole new PC almost.. but at least theres finally something to capture HDTV without a PVR etc.. What I'm wondering though, will this even work in Canada? What's a Smart Card anyway? For example, will it still use my Videotron Illico STB.. or would the cable be directly connected to the computer caus if it does, than i doupt it would work as other STB (from other providers) dont work on Illico.. or at least videotron does not activate them. __________________ Panny 34WX15, BenQ FP241VW, Yamaha YHTB5570, Pace 551, Toshiba A30, PS2, Wii, Xbox 360, Harmony 680, HD-PVR, PS3

2007-01-15, 12:33 PM	#7
BerinG Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gatineau, QC (Videotron) Posts: 69	Greeeat... so in the end, its not even an option either.. ah well.. maybe filming with an HD camcorder will be the best option hehe __________________ Panny 34WX15, BenQ FP241VW, Yamaha YHTB5570, Pace 551, Toshiba A30, PS2, Wii, Xbox 360, Harmony 680, HD-PVR, PS3

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2007-01-12, 04:01 PM	#2
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,578	But to get this product you have to buy a whole new PC, not just the tuner card and it will only work on Vista.

2007-01-15, 12:29 PM	#5
pnear Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Milton, ON Posts: 664	No, it will not work in Canada. Cablecard is only available in the US because the FCC forces the cable companies to do it. Even then, many of the cable companies are making it difficult to get one. There are no plans to bring cablecard into Canada.

2007-01-15, 12:30 PM	#6
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,578	There is no option in Canada as no Canadian company is issuing CableCards to its customers. And a cable card is needed to use this device or other third party PVRs such as a TiVo Series 3. The FCC has forced cable companies to do so in the US but I don't believe that the CRTC has ever commented on the issue.

2007-01-15, 01:20 PM	#8
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,578	If you live in the right location then OTA is really the only way to record HD, other than on a cable/sat PVR. But that is only for OTA channels, and isn't going to help you much in Gatineau. But if you are considering a move to Windsor or Toronto then keep this in mind.