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Making the Most of Cable Set-top Boxes

How to understand the different types of cable set-top boxes

By Felicia R. Blue
Are you confused about cable set-top boxes? You hear about regular cable, digital cable, and then digital cable/DVR boxes. You’re new to the cable industry. However, your boss wants you to understand it, to be sure you're making the most of cable set-top boxes.

Sure, you can take some courses, but you can find plenty of information on cable set-top boxes on the Internet. For example, you can go to the website of manufacturers of cable set-top boxes and learn about their products and how best to use them. To make the most of cable set-top boxes, you want to do the following:

1. Get information on digital cable set top boxes.

2. Find out about digital cable set top boxes that integrate DVR technology in them.

3. Understand the CableCARD alternative to digital cable set-top boxes.

 

Read about digital cable set top boxes

If your customer has a high definition television set, you should learn about digital cable and suggest it to them. Digital cable provides the best quality when it comes to video and audio and is popular in settings where people view sports events. To receive this technology, you must have a digital cable set top box.
Try: Crutchfield provides more in-depth discussions about the digital cable set-top box. Its community section allows people to post questions; other users can then post their answers or solutions. You will also want to read about digital cable set-top boxes from Red Letter Day. This website discusses the need for a digital cable set-top box to view high definition programming.

Learn about digital cable set top boxes that offer DVR technology

A digital cable set top box that has DVR (digital video recorder) technology will allow customers to record television programs for later review and discussion. The program storage is on a hard drive and in digital format, such as MPEG-1 or MPEG-2. Like the VCR, you can fast forward, rewind, or playback. However, the main advantage with DVR is that customers can instantly skip to the section they want to view, without having to rewind and wait. This is especially useful in the entertainment industry.
Try: Ecoustics discusses digital cable set top boxes that provide DVR technology. For example, you can read about what one cable box manufacturer, Panasonic, has integrated in its set box. Cable-Help also provides solid information on digital cable set-top boxes.

Discover how the CableCARD will replace cable TV boxes

CableCARD does not support pay-per-view. Yet this new technology has other features that cable carriers like. For one thing, it cuts costs for the cable carrier. Secondly, it prevents thieves from stealing cable TV. The CableCARD looks like a credit card and goes into a slot on your HDTV. The CableCARD works like a cable set-top box in that it stores customers' information and allows customers to unlock and see scrambled digital-cable signals.
Try: ARS Technica explains how the CableCARD will replace cable set top boxes. It discusses how this technology came about, and the cable set-top box manufacturers that make this card. You will also want to read what CableLabs has to say about the CableCARD.

 

  • Pay attention to legislation that government passes in regards to cable set-top boxes. Since the cable industry has to abide by government regulations, you'll want to research government websites, such as the FCC, to be sure you're using the proper equipment.

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