I finally purchased a digital cable card tuner from Sony (I should have originally bought it with my Dell XPS 420).  My computer system has Vista w/digital cable support, I have the product key, and my BIOS is configured properly.  I am trying to get my tuner set up so that when Time Warner Cable arrives any minute, the CableCard install can go smoothly.

My understanding is that this tuner will still be able to tune cable signals even though I don't have the CableCard.  I only won't be able to tune HD channels.  Is that right, or will it not be able to tune anything without the CableCard?

Right now its not tuning anything.  I downloaded the latest firmware and disabled my security software, but I'm still not able to download the Guide or tune anything.  I tried following Microsoft's help here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/mediacenter/cablecard.mspx

It says to make sure the carrier lock on the OOB Tuner is set to 1.  Mine is set to 0, and I can't change it.  Any thoughts/suggestions on how to proceed?  I'm concerned that the installer won't be able to install the CableCard if I can't at least get regular channels. 

Thanks!!

Wow I am probably to late to help

You carrier signal will only go lock if you signal is strong enough but you media center should detect and let you tune analog channels without a cable card.

Did you also disable windows firewall on the tuner?

Hope you had some luck tonight.

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Dell xps420 w/ dual ATI cable cards
Hdhomerun for QAM
Panasonic 50" Plasma fed by xbox 360
Panasonic 42" plama fed by xbox 360
3TB in storage and counting

Turns out the cable guy was running late, so I rescheduled the appointment to buy some time. :)

I'm not sure how to disable the firewall for the tuner.  How do you do that?  Thanks!

Go to control panel windows firewall and hit change settings and then hit advanced and make sure it is not selected on the cable card tuner

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Dell xps420 w/ dual ATI cable cards
Hdhomerun for QAM
Panasonic 50" Plasma fed by xbox 360
Panasonic 42" plama fed by xbox 360
3TB in storage and counting

Ok, did that.

I got the Guide now, but it still says no digital signal. :(  I was so excited to see the Guide, but then nothing but a blank screen.  How could it not get a digital signal, but still get the guide?

Try tuning to an analog channel are you able to? You won't be able to tune to digital channels until you have the cable cards

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Dell xps420 w/ dual ATI cable cards
Hdhomerun for QAM
Panasonic 50" Plasma fed by xbox 360
Panasonic 42" plama fed by xbox 360
3TB in storage and counting

Now Media Center is saying that I don't have a digital tuner card at all, which is strange since I was able to download the Guide yesterday.  It's plugged in and its on.  I'm not a computer savvy person, so I have no idea how to proceed.  Could it be that I have a bad tuner?  I need to return it within 30 days, so I'm feeling alot of pressure to resolve this quickly. 

:( :( :(

Alright, so this time I turned off my firewall, so now I'm getting a guide, though I get a message saying that all of the channels are unavailable.  Is getting the Guide related to the ability to tune a channel?  I wouldn't think so, but I thought I'd ask because I don't know.  It seems I'm still not able to get regular analog channels, even though I have the Guide, and I need to have my firewall off just to get the Guide.

Leave the firewall off at all times. You are not running any virus protection are you? If so disable it as well

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Dell xps420 w/ dual ATI cable cards
Hdhomerun for QAM
Panasonic 50" Plasma fed by xbox 360
Panasonic 42" plama fed by xbox 360
3TB in storage and counting

Nope, I am not running any virus protection, either.  I am able to get the guide, but when I select a show, nothing comes on the screen.  It's blank.

Since I'm getting the guide, does this mean I have a weak signal?

I'm wondering if I should have the cable guys come out tomorrow or not since I can't view analog channels, even though the tuner seems to be working.

you also need the latest firmware for the tuner.  I think its 1.16h.  I will have to look back on some earlier post I had with this same issue.