What is it?
A CableCARD™ is a small piece of equipment designed to work with TVs and other devices labeled as “Digital Cable Ready” to allow you to access digital cable services, including premium and HD programming, without the need for a set-top box. It's about the size of a thick credit card, and fits into a special slot built into CableCARD-compatible digital TVs and other devices, such as digital video recorders (DVRs) and personal computers.
There are two types of retail Digital Cable Ready devices that utilize CableCARDs:
- Unidirectional Digital Cable Products (UDCP) are one-way only devices, and include most CableCARD-compatible TVs and all CableCARD-compatible TiVo DVRs (including the Series3, TiVo HD, and TiVo HD XL DVRs) available for purchase at this time. UDCPs are able to access one-way analog and digital cable services, including some HD and premium services. However, they cannot access any two-way services, such as On Demand programming, the Interactive Programming Guide, Pay-Per-View or Interactive & Enhanced TV services, such as Start Over™, Caller ID on TV, channels that are delivered using Switched Digital Video (SDV) technology, and future interactive technologies that may be introduced. Learn more about which channels and services are not available with UDCP CableCARDs.
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Tru2Way™ is a new category of retail digital cable equipment. Tru2Way devices, which are being introduced commercially in certain parts of the country, are two-way capable, just like Time Warner Cable’s leased set top boxes. As a result, they are able to access ALL of Time Warner Cable’s one-way and two-way services. 
We recommend that you refer to the User’s Manual that was supplied with your specific equipment to determine if it is Digital Cable Ready, and if so, whether it is a UDCP or a Tru2Way device.
CableCARDs can be activated, serviced and leased for a small monthly fee of $3.40 from Time Warner Cable. Installation fees may apply.
Services & Features at a Glance
Digital Cable Ready Device
|
Features |
CableCARD- UDCP Device
|
CableCARD- Tru2Way™ Device |
TWC Digital Cable |
|
Basic & Digital Cable Channels
|
Varies* |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Crystal-Clear Picture & Sound
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Premium Channels: HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz!, and TMC
|
Varies* |
Yes |
Yes |
|
High Definition (HD) Channels
|
Varies* |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Two-Way Programming and Services, including:
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
On Demand such as Movies On Demand, Premiums On Demand, etc.
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Interactive Program Guide
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Interactive and Enhanced TV services, such as
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Switched Digital Video Channels
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Your personal needs are your guide to selecting the technology that works best for you.
*CableCARD-equipped UDCPs can access one-way basic and digital cable channels, including some premium and HD programming. Channels delivered using Switched Digital Video technology cannot be accessed on UDCPs without the use of additional equipment Learn more.
Tru2way™ and CableCARD™ are trademarks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. Used with permission.
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