ronpin
Imagine Reality
join:2002-12-06
Nirvana
 ·AT&T Southwest
1 edit | Why not?
Cable cos. can cram more channels onto an all digital signal. If they're resisting the inevitable push from local broadcasters to include the new DTV subchannels -- they're dumber than I thought. The satellite TV cos. are all digital -- and cheaper than most cable providers. |
|
Sweet Witch
Be the flame, not the moth.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-07-15
Gallifrey | A new TV??
So does this mean that when my cable co switches my current TV (analog I'm guessing since it was $99 for a 19") will no longer work??
--
I'm a woman by the way  . |
|
Stewy85
Premium
join:2003-01-16
Sharon, WI
clubs: | I was just thinking the same thing.
--
010000010100110101000100 |
|
davidcb13
join:2004-02-06
Branchville, NJ | reply to Sweet Witch
No It will work but you will just need a digital Converter. |
|
dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA | reply to Sweet Witch
I was wondering the same thing. |
|
B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| reply to Sweet Witch
said by Sweet Witch  :
So does this mean that when my cable co switches my current TV (analog I'm guessing since it was $99 for a 19") will no longer work??
Eventually, YES, it will no longer work!
That's been their intent all along. I happen to think it's stupid. You WILL be able to purchase a "converter box" tuner of some kind, though, to keep using your "horrible, antiquated" old 10, 12, 19, 20, 21, 25, 27, 30, and 36" televisions. Vermin. With enough people complaining perhaps they'll postpone it again.
-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function |
|
Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | And right now those converter boxes cost $400 if I'm not mistaken....a price I bet they continually artificially inflate for the next four years to encourage users to buy new televisions..... |
|
Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
1 edit | Hoo hoo hoo hee hee hee!
 I already have all of this from my little Dish network receiver.  |
|
odog
Cable Centric Vendor Biased
Premium
join:2001-08-05
Norcross, GA
clubs:
 ·Comcast
·Metrocast Communic..
 ·Vonage
| a little more efficient
quote:
In addition to those costs, Comcast will need to spend an additional $2 billion to go "all digital", which allows them to broadcast one high definition channel for every analog channel they replace
QAM256 allows at least 2 HD channels along with a couple SD channels per 6mhz of bandwidth.
--
disclaimer: my opinions are my own, my employer is not responsible. |
|
bobafett020472
join:2000-10-10
Algonquin, IL |  And this will cost us what in the long run
I wonder what the cable rates then are going to be for this fun "upgrade" Concrap already "upgraded" my area which resulted in worse picture, less channels and more $$$$!!!
So they will just push more people to sat. like they did me. |
|
Morac
join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
·Comcast
| reply to Sweet Witch
Re: A new TV??
I know they are testing a device that sits outside your house where the cable first comes in that will convert and split out all the "analog" channels from the digital signal. This will allow people without cable boxes to continue viewing the "analog" channels.
--
The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired. |
|
Doomsday121
@205.173.x.x
 from:
dadkins
| reply to Sweet Witch
It will absolutely work. Your TV will still be able to get any analog channels on cable. Analog Channels will be available on cable tv for many years. Over the air broadcasts should end in 2006.
The FCC is only mandating that digital tuners be added to TVs. That doesn't mean they won't have analog capability. |
|
B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| said by Doomsday121:
It will absolutely work... on cable tv for many years. Over the air broadcasts should end in 2006.
That's an interesting definition of "will absolutely work"!
-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function |
|
DrTCP
Yours truly
Premium,ExMod 1999-04
join:1999-11-09
Round Rock, TX
| reply to Sweet Witch
said by Sweet Witch :
So does this mean that when my cable co switches my current TV (analog I'm guessing since it was $99 for a 19") will no longer work??
You will need an external converter box. |
|
DrTCP
Yours truly
Premium,ExMod 1999-04
join:1999-11-09
Round Rock, TX | reply to Doomsday121
said by Doomsday121:
Analog Channels will be available on cable tv for many years.
It is up to the Cable company for that. |
|
Doomsday 121
@205.173.x.x
| reply to B
Yes, especially since the life of a typical TV is about ten years and there will not be a complete conversion from analog content in less than five.....he doesn't have anything to worry about.
The point is- IT WILL ABSOLUTELY WORK regardless of these regulations.
By the time it becomes an issue for his TV, he is going to want to HDTV anyway. |
|
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| reply to ronpin
Re: Why not?
said by ronpin :
Cable cos. can cram more channels onto an all digital signal. If they're resisting the inevitable push from local broadcasters to include the new DTV subchannels -- they're dumber than I thought. The satellite TV cos. are all digital -- and cheaper than most cable providers.
The satellite companies still also have significantly less customers than the cable companies (despite being cheaper for higher level services) while the cable companies know that analog customers will ditch them in droves when they are forced to go back to having a settop box or buying a new tv.
--
ISCABBS - the oldest and largest BBS on the Internet
telnet://whip.isca.uiowa.edu
Member: American Association of Geographers, American Geophysical Union, American Water Resources Association |
|
rid0617
join:2003-07-20
Greer, SC
| Is it worth it?
Between the reality shows and other crap, at the rate it looks now, when another tv is mandatory I will probably give up tv. Not worth paying more for this garbage when there are so many other media things to do. Just want I want to do, spend $400 so I can watch more survivor, idol and idiots eating worms |
|
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| Something to consider...
Cable like going all digital. It makes it significantly easier for them to configure and change services. It would eventually reduce some of their equipment demands. It would help sell their bundled packages. Also, it gives a chance of competing with satellite on signal quality as well as allowing the transition to more HD content. And this can even all be done for a lower cost and hence potentially cheaper prices (or at least more time to the next price increase).
So why don't they go all digital? Because people hate "the box". A surprisingly large number of people drop digital cable because they do not like using the dct (even with the faster menus out now), because they do not like having to return equipment, because they do not like having a new or more complicated remote. As well, there is pretty much no scenario for an all digital conversion in which cable companies can retain price sensitive basic cable customers nor even expanded basic customers in some markets.
The option is to just simple forget about those customers are target the high end customers, after all, one of those customers can account for as much gross revenue as 8 basic customers. Only problem is, that is exactly the market where satellite can best compete with cable right now, so cable would have to improve their competitiveness with satellite before going all-digital and losing the revenue base from basic customers. (Oh yeah, and there also is that whole factor that the cities lose a fairly important revenue stream as well).
--
ISCABBS - the oldest and largest BBS on the Internet
telnet://whip.isca.uiowa.edu
Member: American Association of Geographers, American Geophysical Union, American Water Resources Association |
|
xdeadhead
220, 221, Whatever It Takes.
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Mechanicsburg, PA | reply to Transmaster
Re: Hoo hoo hoo hee hee hee!
simmer down nah there oat willy
--
I am not Herbert. |
|
