CableCARD S-Mode
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A CableCARD is a PCMCIA, Type II PC Card. The CableCARD is used in place of a set top cable decoder box, and plugs into the HD TV to provide the cable decoder function.
Other terms include Digital Cable Ready [DCR].
The S-Card works with Single-Stream data only [in the S-Mode]. S-Mode CableCARDs [S-Card] were only capable of decrypting a single stream, therefore requiring devices with multiple tuners, such as most digital video recorders, to include two CableCARD
slots.
The S-Mode of CableCard is an early version, replaced by M-Mode [M-Card]. An M-Card will operate in Multi Stream Mode or Single Stream Mode.
The S-Card may or may not work in an M-Mode Host.
The PC Card PCMCIA specification defines both the Electrical and
Physical specifications for a 68 pin interface residing in one of 3 form
factors, which differ only in thickness;
Type I: dimensions 3.3mm x 85.6mm x 54.0mm (TxLxW), Version 2.1
allows the length to increase 50mm to 135mm
Type II: dimensions 5.0mm x 85.6mm x 54.0mm (TxLxW), Version 2.1
allows the length to increase 50mm to 135mm
Type III: dimensions 10.5mm x 85.6mm x 54.0mm (Tall x Length x
Width)
The implementation of this spec based on the ISA bus is termed the PC Card with a
8/16 bit data bus, 26 address lines, and no bus mastering. PC Card-16
cards use an 8-bit or 16-bit interface that operates at ISA bus speeds
(10 MHz) using an ISA-like asynchronous protocol.
All of the PCMCIA
implementations use Plug and Play and have Hot Swapping capabilities. The
16-bit PCMCIA 'PC Card' will operate up to a maximum of 20MBps, or
160Mbps.
The actual throughput will depend on the minimum cycle
time and the transfer mode and will never reach the maximum
throughput rates.
Back to the main PCMCIA Bus page.
Flash memory cards vs. PC Card format.
CableCard is a PCMCIA slot and PCMCIA card, a tuner card that can be inserted into a slot in the TV to replace a cable set-top box.
Some TV descriptions indicate the term CableCard, while others indicate Digital Cable Ready [see below]. I was only able to find a few HDTV units from Hitachi which came with a CableCard slot. I see a few from Sony too. The CableCard allows the user to plug cable directly into a TV set without the need for a set-top box [STB]. CableCard slots may also be found on Divigal Video Recorders [DVR] |
The PC Card specification was released in 2001; version 8.0
CableCARD Interface 1.0 Specification, OC-SP-CC-IF-C01-050331; March 2005
CableCARD Interface 2.0 Specification, OC-SP-CCIF2.0-I11-070615; June 2007
PCMCIA; Personal Computer Memory Card International Association [Disbanded]
IC Manufacturers {All other types}
The PC Card uses a 68 pin connector, with two rows of 34 pins, with 0.05
inch spacing [1.27mm]. Female pins are used on the card side, male pins
on the system end.
The power and ground pins are longer than the signal
lines, allowing them to make connect first.
Refer to the main CableCARD page for connector manufacturers;
PC Card Mode
The table provides the pinout for the S-Mode Card.
Pin # | Signal name | Pin # | Signal name | Pin # | Signal name | Pin # | Signal name | Pin # | Signal name |
1 | Ground | 15 | WE | 29 | A0 | 43 | VS1/RFSH | 57 | VS2/RFU |
2 | D3 | 16 | IREQ# | 30 | D0 | 44 | IORD# | 58 | Reset |
3 | D4 | 17 | Vcc | 31 | D1 | 45 | IOWR# | 59 | Wait |
4 | D5 | 18 | Vpp1 | 32 | D2 | 46 | MISTRT | 60 | INPACK# |
5 | D6 | 19 | MIVAL | 33 | IOIS16# | 47 | MDI0 | 61 | Reg |
6 | D7 | 20 | MCLKI | 34 | GND | 48 | MDI1 | 62 | MOVAL |
7 | CE1 | 21 | -- | 35 | GND | 49 | MDI2 | 63 | MOSTRT |
8 | -- | 22 | QTX | 36 | CD1 | 50 | MDI3 | 64 | MDO0 |
9 | OE | 23 | ETX | 37 | MDO3 | 51 | Vcc | 65 | MDO1 |
10 | -- | 24 | ITX | 38 | MDO4 | 52 | Vpp2 | 66 | MDO2 |
11 | DRX | 25 | CTX | 39 | MDO5 | 53 | MDI4 | 67 | CD2 |
12 | CRX | 26 | -- | 40 | MDO6 | 54 | MDI5 | 68 | GND |
13 | -- | 27 | -- | 41 | MDO7 | 55 | MDI6 | -- | --- |
14 | MCLKO | 28 | A1 | 42 | CE2 | 56 | MDI7 | -- | --- |
There are three other card interface pin assignments that are used that differ from the PC Card Mode shown above;
PC Card Mode
CEA-679 part B, is listed on the main CableCard page
M-Mode M-Card
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