First Look at CableCard Diagnostics Tool for Windows Media Center

Tuner Details. In the "Details" section, check the Host Firmware to ensure that you have the latest version.

The details also give you information about the various tuners, which is useful for Media Centers that have multiple tuners.

Encryption and Authorization. Here you can determine if you're getting the channels you're paying for. If you subscribe to HBO and you see "False" on that channel, then the cable company has some explaining to do.

One especially handy feature is the "Encryption" section which lets you know if the user can copy freely, copy once or copy never.

Pity that this information is available only to the installer and not the consumer.


(Click to enlarge) Here, there are two cable tuners and they are incorrectly paired (red buttons). Note also the "Encryption (Enc) Level" on the bottom screen. It indicates whether a channel offers copy freely, copy once or copy never protection. Unfortunately, this information is not exposed to the consumer. The "Auth" section, which is not supported on all systems, indicates which channels the customer should be getting from the cable company. You might see "off" for HBO, for example.

CableCard Tool Good for Installers

Obviously the Digital Cable Tuner Diagnostics tool is good for installers. It's also good for manufacturers.

Brian Paper of Niveus, a manufacturer of high-performance Media Centers, says that "almost all Media Centers that ship with CableCard get one tech-support call."

The call usually comes during the set-up.

If the installer doesn't have access to the diagnostics tool, Niveus can use its own software to run the diagnostics on the remote PC.

Paper believes the tool could help cut CableCard installation time by half.

He adds, "No matter how much prep work a dealer does in the shop, he still has to do the CableCard on site. The [dealers] may test it at the shop and it takes one hour, and then in the field it takes eight hours. They didn't budget for that."

Sadly, the diagnostic tool is available only to members of the Media Center Integrator Alliance, so most Media Center installers and cable guys won't have access to it.

Join MCIA ($500) at http://www.mediacenterintegrator.com. MCIA is sponsor of Media Center University at EHX.


Six Windows Media Center stations are set up in room 240 at EHX. Each is equipped with a CableCard. Students at Media Center University will get hands-on instruction on CableCard installation and using the diagnostics tool. On Friday, all EHX attendees are welcome to try it for themselves. Experts will be on hand to answer Media Center questions, and a Windows 7 demonstration is available as well.