| Look thorough the specifications list of many of the | | | | provider,everything else stays the same. |
| current crop of HDTVs and you will see the term | | | | Perhaps the biggest advantage of HDTV CableCard is |
| CableCard listed on many of them, but what is HDTV | | | | in the picture quality. Cablecompanies are not known |
| CableCard? | | | | for the high quality of the components they put into |
| Quite simply, it's a very elegant method of receiving | | | | set-top boxes. Most consumers can't tell the |
| HDTV from a cable provider. | | | | difference between a decent picture and avery good |
| Instead of supplying you with a set-top box to | | | | one. So cable companies tend to go for features |
| receive and decode its HDTVtransmission, the cable | | | | rather than quality. With |
| supplier gives you an HDTV CableCard which simply | | | | CableCard your equipment - the HDTV tuner or |
| slotsinto your TV. The card decodes the channels | | | | integrated HDTV does the scalingand display, so you |
| that your subscription allows yourreceiver or | | | | choose how good the image quality is. If it matters |
| integrated HDTV does the rest. | | | | to you, youcan buy a good tuner or integrated TV |
| The advantage is that an HDTV CableCard takes up | | | | and benefit from better scaling and display. |
| much less room than a set-topbox, doesn't need its | | | | The disadvantage of HDTv CableCard is that it is |
| own power supply, and reduces the number of | | | | currently one-way, so cableservices which require |
| cables youneed for cable HDTV. Another advantage | | | | interaction, such as pay-per-view, on-demand |
| is that if you move house and have toswitch | | | | services,sports season tickets and program guides |
| providers, you don't need to learn how to use a | | | | don't work. For those you'll still need aset-top box. |
| brand new set-top box. Youjust relinquish your | | | | A two-way version of CableCard is currently in |
| existing card and get a new one from your new | | | | development. |