ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable tuner

Yes.  Whose your cable provider?  You need a cablecard for each tuner you have.  FIOS is the only one that currently does not use SDV.  If you have anything else, you will be missing channels.  Also VOD, widgets, etc will not work with a CableCard.   A new Vista TV Media Pack has just been released.  I suggest you wait for that as it apparently will not be an update and will only come with a new machine.

My cable provider is Time-Warner and they do have CableCards which are supposed to work. I realize that the are one way devices and can't be used to order programs online, etc. (which is why the Cable companies try to discourage their use). I can easily live with this.

 

Is the additional program you refer to "Windows Vista® Home Premium w/ Digital Cable Support SP1?" If so, this is the program Dell is now offering.

 

Larry

I am having a similar problem with Time Warner - they say that they do not support external tuners such as the ATI Digital Cable Tuner - how do I get time warner to give me a cable card?

I just checked with Time-Warner technical service and they definitely supply cable cards for the ATI tuner as long as you have a version of Vista that supports them. Tell the rep to look in his manual and it will spell this out for him.

Where do I find information on the new TV additions to Vista so that I can find out when they are available?

Thanks,

 

Larry

Their are leaked versions out there but ofcourse no support will be provided that's why it would be best to wait for it to be packaged with the system.

 

http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/18/microsoft-ships-windows-media-center-tv-pack-update-to-oems-on/

 

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/06/hands-on-with-the-vista-media-center-tv-pack/

The OEM version of the pack was released to manufacturers in the middle of July, according to the information on the web. If Dell use the version of Windows of Windows Media Center with the build number ending in 18273 it has the latest TV pack. If it ends in 18000 it is the old version.

 

All,

Dell has not yet decided when or if it will include Fiji Windows Media Center TV Pack in future PCs. What has been decided is that none of our currently selling PCs and older ones will not be given Fiji since it is not backwards compatible to older Vista systems.

Chris_M  posted today aug 15/08 in another thread Media Center TV pack will Not Be Given to Dell owners as an upgrade... While HP/Voodoo PC and others have comfirmed the TV Pack Upgrade will be available for those who ask.. But Not Dell , I will receive my TV Pack from HP/Voodoo PC in sept. One more reason to abandon Dell. NO TV PACK UPGRADE FROM DELL.

Media Center TV Pack 2008 works wonderful on my Dell XPS 720

First this new media center service pack was released on 7/16, over 6 weeks ago now.  Second it only says it was initially released to OEM's, obviously this is because retailers aren't even allowed to sell the units in the first place (yet). 

 

Why wouldn't Dell offer this upgrade to its current XPS 420 (and perhaps 410) systems?  We already have confirmation that one user with an XPS 720 is using it successfully so it obviously works.  Has anyone gotten their hands on it and applied it for the XPS 420 desktop or is it included with it already since this is the most current media center PC Dell sells with the digital tuner?

 

Dell (Chris) it is time for an update, please advise.

 

Toronto699, where did you get the udpate from?  Was it off Dell's support downloads or elswhere?  I can't even configure a XPS 720 with the digital media center tuner, only the non-cablecard tuners without full HD and digital support, so this would not be of any help.

What do you mean by this exactly?  I am going to be getting the dual tuner (digital) with my new XPS 420 and my cable provider (Brighthouse) does provide cable cards.  I should be able to get either SD or HD channels (both) without any issue.  Why would someone using the FIOS cablecard be missing SD channels or content?

 

I do understand that the VOD and two way features will not work.

 

>Yes.  Whose your cable provider?  You need a cablecard for each tuner you have.  FIOS is the only one >that currently does not use SDV.  If you have anything else, you will be missing channels.  Also VOD, >widgets, etc will not work with a CableCard.   A new Vista TV Media Pack has just been released.  I suggest >you wait for that as it apparently will not be an update and will only come with a new machine.

you can find links to  Media Center TV Pack 2008 @ thegreenbutton.com this is a microsoft message board , they have decided to leave up the links . The TV pack is not available from Dell , as its  official release is in sept ,, if u google media center TV pack u can also find links dell will give no  warranty the TV pack if u install it.  only new PC's will have the TV pack after sept 3rd but u better ask dell when as they are slow to update OS or software.