cablevision.cable card and tuning adapter

I gave my premiere w/lifetime to my brother. He has cablevision I have fios.He hooked it up and ran setup while he went to cablevision to get a cable card. She didn't know if he needed a tuning adapter so she gave it to him.Went home installed CC called activation and got half of his channels.After 30 minutes the tech said she didn't know why and set up an appt. for someone to come to the house.They never tried the tuning adapter and when my brother tried it afterwards it made no difference.Does cablevision NY still use a TA? Does the TA have to be installed before activation of the CC?