TWC Digital Cable Box question

[Vchat20]

I have Time Warner Digital Cable and the Pioneer Digital Cable Box. What id like to know is what is the card slot and USB port supposed to be used for?

 

[AlphaWolf]

the card slot is probably for a smart card for use in a conditional access system. USB port could be for either changing the configuration of the box or (even less likely though some cable boxes do) digital video capture from a PC.

 

[Vchat20]

hmm. the card slot is the size of a credit card. maybe for those cards with built in chips. and i think. im not totally sure. bu i think the usb is for saomething called a vcr commander. It will let the TV control the vcr recording shows. you set a time on the cable box to record. the vable box will make sure the vcr is on, change the channel, and start recording. But im not sure.

 

[AlphaWolf]

hmm. the card slot is the size of a credit card. maybe for those cards with built in chips.

Precisely. If your cable company ever has the need for renewable security, they would issue you a Conditional Access Module, which is basicaly a smart card. A smart card is the size of a credit card, and it has integrated circuits. In this application, the ICs generate keys which your box uses to decrypt video, and the decryption keys are only passed under the condition that your card has had whatever tier you are trying to watch activated on it.

This is the best method of delivering secure video content, as whenever their system is hacked, all they have to do is issue new cards and the pirates are back at bar none.