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Hey everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone's heard of a dual cable modem / tv tuner card? Has anyone heard of these, do they exist, or know where to find one?

The way I figure, tv tuner cards just have a lil input for a tv cable line, so why not have it built-into a cable modem?

Also ... if they do exist, would they work with Optimum Online?

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Dani AI

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Following ’s question (and expanding on ’s short answer), a single consumer card that combines a DOCSIS cable modem and a PC TV tuner hasn’t been a mainstream product. Although both use the same coax plant, a cable modem runs the DOCSIS two‑way protocol (downstream + an upstream return channel managed by the CMTS), while TV tuners demodulate one‑way QAM/ATSC broadcast channels — they’re different functions even if they share the same wire. DOCSIS. QAM (television).

Content access and operator policies make integration harder. Many cable channels are encrypted or delivered with two‑way services (VOD/pay‑per‑view); PC tuner cards can only tune unencrypted “clear QAM” channels unless the host uses a conditional‑access module (CableCARD) or the operator provides decryption. CableCARD and the industry rules around it are the historical workaround, but retail CableCARD use has always been limited. Hauppauge (clear QAM note). CableCARD.

Practical approaches that address the original idea: run the single incoming coax into a good quality bi‑directional splitter (rated ≈5–1000 MHz or higher), feed one leg to the modem and the other to a tuner — but expect insertion loss, possible signal issues, and that the modem must be an ISP‑approved model and be provisioned on the operator’s network. If the signal is marginal, a tech install (dedicated tap or re‑arranged splitter) is common. Motorola support: splitter advice for modems. Xfinity page on approved/activated modems.

For a cleaner experience, network tuners (HDHomeRun and similar) put the tuner on the LAN so the TV stream is independent of the modem location, and many users prefer provider apps or the operator’s set‑top box for encrypted channels. HDHomeRun example and splitter note.

Note: ’s point about separate NICs isn’t necessary for cable — the modem already hands off Ethernet; sharing Internet access is normally done with a router/switch, not by putting a modem and tuner on two NICs inside the same PC.

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Member Avatar for Tekmaven

No, they don't exist.

Member Avatar for aeinstein

that would be VERY kewl tho.... but would it work? if both cm's are run off the same demarkation point how much benefit would you get? getting a dedicated line - from the pole/underground junction box - would probable help quite a bit. without addressing the tuner issue, one could but two nics into a sys and run a cm thru each one....

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