CableCard question

[CubsWin]

I currently have a CableCard in my TV to receive Comcast digital service, and they installed it for me about a year ago. If I purchase a TiVo DVR, will I just be able to switch the card over myself, or does it have to be paired to the device? Would that require another call to Comcast for a technician to come out?

 

[mike123abc]

You will need your cable company to probably visit. The new TiVo premieres take an Mcard. The older TiVos took 2 Scard cablecards. Your TV probably has an Scard, so you would need 2 or if you have a new TiVo an Mcard.

 

[bicker]

Comcast pairs the CableCARDs they lease to the host device they're installed into, so they will not decrypt anything unless they are re-paired to the new device.

Mike: The OP indicated that the CableCARD was installed only about a year ago. By then, many areas had run out of S-cards, and were installing exclusively M-cards. So it is possible that the CableCARD in the HDTV is an M-card. However, as I mentioned, it is almost surely paired to the HDTV, so still would have to be re-paired to the TiVo.

 

[CubsWin]

The OP indicated that the CableCARD was installed only about a year ago. By then, many areas had run out of S-cards, and were installing exclusively M-cards. So it is possible that the CableCARD in the HDTV is an M-card.

I popped the card out of my TV and it appears to be an S-card. I have an appointment with Comcast next week for them to install a new M-card, so hopefully everything goes smoothly. It took them a couple hours last time to finally get my old card paired properly.