Cisco Intros SDV Tuning Adapter

[Skaggs]

Cisco Intros SDV Tuning Adapter



Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) has developed a "tuning adapter" that will enable inherently one-way digital TVs and some TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO) recorders to display channels an operator offers via switched programming tiers, Cable Digital News has learned.

Cisco is calling its entry the STA-1520, and the first-generation version will look much like the RNG 100, a new standard-definition cable box that will support MPEG-4 and the removable CableCARD. The STA-1520, however, will be a dedicated SDV "tuning adapter," which is apparently the new industry name assigned to what was previously known as the tuning resolver.

The TiVo angle is that the STA-1520 will work with some of that company's standalone digital video recorders (SDVs) that have CableCARD slots.

Jeff Kasten, the senior product manager for product strategy and management at Cisco's newly formed Service Provider Video Technology Group, said the company plans to show off the device at next month's Cable Show in New Orleans, and expects to submit it to CableLabs for certification testing for Wave 60, which is just getting underway.

Cisco has already conducted some interface testing with TiVo and expects to provide some samples to MSOs soon for their internal testing. "So we're pretty far along," Kasten says.

Another vendor that's pretty far along is Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT - message board), which calls its SDV tuner the MTR700. Motorola is also showing off the MTR700 at the cable show, including a demo at the CableNET pavilion, and likewise plans to include it in Wave 60. (See As the 'Tuning Resolver' Turns.)

Cisco plans to offer the STA-1520 directly through cable operators.

"We haven't thought about a retail play," says Dave Clark, director of product strategy and management for Cisco's Service Provider Video Technology Group. "A lot of that has to do with what the service providers want to do. We're still trying to figure out what the market size of this [product] is, as well."

Although it will operate with different SDV platforms, the STA-1520 will work only on systems that use the Cisco digital cable platform.

Motorola and Cisco have not disclosed any pricing figures on their respective SDV tuning adapters.

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Cable Digital News

[hurnik]

Let's hope that:

a) it's truly 100% compatible with existing SA systems (Cisco bought SA, but that doesn't necessarily mean it'll work)

b) It doesn't require TW upgrade the head-end (we all know what'll happen then)

c) And that our local TW office will actually be making them available (I still highly doubt Tivo's statement that they expect these available in Q2, 2008 and that they expect them to be free).

[Skaggs]

Hands-on with the Cisco Tuning Adapter STA1520



Unlike Motorola's Tuning Adapter demo, Cisco's wasn't a functional demo, but basically the two boxes do the same thing. The Cisco version is considerable bigger (the box on the top is a basic digital converter, not the TA), but includes the same exact connections. While Moto claims its adapter will be available in July, Cisco is saying it'll come sometime during the 3rd quarter, which could mean the same thing. Like Moto, Cisco is reusing an existing STB form factor so although it appears the box has a CableCARD slot, it doesn't.

Link to more photos

From EndgadgetHD

[Skaggs]

Over at the TiVo Community forums, a letter was posted from TWC San Diego indicating that they will offer the tuning adapters at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE!!!

Time Warner Cable thanks you for choosing us as your video provider. We are writing to our valued CableCARD customers to provide advance notice of important upcoming changes that will affect your ability to watch certain channels if you use a CableCARD-equipped retail device that only provides one way service. These one way devices are also called a "UDCP".

Time Warner Cable is rolling out a new two way interactive technology known as Switch Digital Video [sic] (SDV). SDV is a particularly exciting bandwidth breakthrough that makes it possible for us to offer many additional services, including new HD channels and HD versions of popular existing channels, to our customers. SDV allows us to provide these additional services, while at the same time continuing to offer existing services, because channels delivered using SDV are only transmitted over the cable system on an as-needed basis. As a result, SDV uses system capacity more efficiently than the traditional, always-on method.

The current CableCARD compatible devices sold at retail can only access one way services. They were not designed to be compatible with SDV, which is a two way service. On July 28, 2008 Time Warner Cable will begin providing a number of our existing, less-viewed channels via SDV. Please see the reverse side of this letter for a list of these channels. This means that beginning July 28 you will not be able to view these channels on your one way CableCARD device.

We recognize the frustration this may cause you so Time Warner Cable has worked with the rest of the cable industry and TiVo Inc. to develop an external device called a Tuning Adapter that will allow certain UDCPs, including TiVo Series 3 and TiVo HD digital video recorders, to access channels delivered using SDV.

We expect to be able to offer Tuning Adapters to customers with compatible UDCP's later this year. At that time we will provide you with additional information on availability and device compatibility. It is currently contemplated that the Tuning Adapter will be provided at no additional charge. In the meantime until the Tuning Adapter becomes available, a Time Warner Cable digital cable set-top box will be required to view channels migrated to SDV. In addition, certain non-TiVo UDCP models may not work with the Tuning Adapter.

We have created a special offer to help you during the transition. Please contact us at [phone] if you would like to learn about the offer or have other questions. Either way, we will contact you when the Tuning Adapter is available.

We thank you again for choosing Time Warner Cable San Diego.

Also, a spec sheet for the Cisco tuning adapter has been released.

[Skaggs]

Kansas City TWC will also offer FREE tuning adapters:

Let's go to the letter, being sent out today by TWC Kansas City:

Time Warner Cable would like to thank you for choosing us to be your video provider. We are writing to you as a valued CableCARD customer in order to provide advance notice of important upcoming changes that may affect your ability to access certain channels on your one-way CableCARD-equipped retail device (also known as a “UDCP”).

Time Warner Cable is rolling out a new interactive technology in your area known as Switched Digital Video (“SDV”). SDV is a particularly exciting bandwidth-management breakthrough that makes it possible for us to offer many additional services, including new HD channels and HD versions of popular existing channels, to our customers. SDV allows us to provide these additional services, while at the same time continuing to offer existing services, because channels delivered using SDV are only transmitted over the cable system on an as-needed basis. As a result, SDV uses system capacity more efficiently than the traditional, always-on method. However, in order to launch all the new services our customers want, first we must migrate some existing services to SDV in order to make additional bandwidth available.

Starting on August 20th, Time Warner Cable will begin providing a number of our existing, lesser-viewed channels via SDV.

The current generation of CableCARD-compatible devices sold at retail are only capable of accessing our one-way services. They were not designed to be compatible with SDV, which is a two-way service. As a result, once the channels listed above are migrated to SDV, they no longer will be available to UDCPs. However, Time Warner Cable has worked with the rest of the cable industry and TiVo Inc. to develop an external device called a Tuning Adapter that will allow certain UDCPs, including TiVo Series 3 and TiVo HD digital video recorders, to access channels delivered using SDV.

We expect to be able to offer Tuning Adapters to customers with compatible UDCPs later this year. At that time we will provide you with additional information on availability and device compatibility. It is currently contemplated that the Tuning Adapter will be provided at no additional charge. Until the Tuning Adapter becomes available, however, a Time Warner Cable digital cable set-top box will be required to view channels migrated to SDV – even if you own a Tuning Adapter-compatible UDCP. In addition, certain non-TiVo UDCP models may not work with the Tuning Adapter.

[hurnik]

Good news. Hopefully our local TW will decide that as well.

[Skaggs]

Add TWC Wisconsin to the list. So, thats three TWC divisions that will be supplying the tuning adapters for FREE. Looks like it may be a corporate policy.

Will Albany TWC follow suit?

[adam]

I've come to have a low level of expectations with TW Albany. My guess would be the tuning adapter will be much delayed here and there will be distribution problems when they do arrive.