From Issue #2 , Page #15
Plug-and-Play is about to get a whole lot simpler. As of July 1, digital TV owners may have a little extra space in their entertainment centers, thanks to CableCARD. This tiny electronic card is designed to replace your bulky set-top box.
Beginning in July, cable operators with a bandwidth of 750 MHz or more need to be ready to support this new product, And manufacturers will be out in full force, rolling out products to accommodate CableCARD.
"This is monumental, as it actually is the first step in true portability," says a Mitsubishi spokesperson. "And it's great for people that want to jump on the digital bandwagon." When you sign up, you'll receive a CableCARD, which plugs into a slot in the back of your digital TV set—and one size fits all. Soon you'll be reaping the benefits of DTV.
The downside: All CableCARDs may look alike, but they are not universal. At press time, details amongst cable operators were still being worked out. Some providers may require you to purchase the card, while others may offer it for a monthly fee. Also, the CableCARD is one-way in nature, so say bye-bye to ordering Pay-Per-View or On-Demand, or even accessing the electronic program guide from your remote control.
This movement is all part of the recent "Plug-and-Play" agreement between consumer electronics manufacturers and the cable industry.
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I purchased an LG LCD TV and have run into an issue that LG says it is the cable company that is not carrying the correct cards and Mediacom, our cable provider says it is the manufacturers problem. We purchased the TV because of this option and now seem to be caught in the middle.
This will be great when they finally get these cablecards to work. I bought a a Toshiba 46 in DLP TV with built in HD but the Motorola cablecard that Comcast is using won't work with my TV. I have a trouble ticket in with Toshiba but this has not been resolved for a number of months. I think the problem lies between Motorola and Toshiba at this point.