roveer
join:2004-01-18
Mendham, NJ
| What happens next february? (switch to digital)
I've read loads of "help" messages concerning the transition to digital but I can't seem to get a grasp of what is going to happen to people who subscribe to CATV?
Specifically, Patriot (or now comcast).
I'm a basic subscriber with no digital cable boxes. I get channels 2-80 and through the use of a channel modulator broadcast my own devices on channels 91, 93 & 101. I've got a Tivo box, a VCR and a DVD player on those channels and with distributed IR it means that we have those 3 things on all the TV's in our house with IR control. It's been a great thing over the years because we use the Tivo (well actually all 3) to play shows for the kids, and record a few shows for mom & dad.
That being said, I want to know what Patmedia (or comcast) is going to do with my "analog" channels after Feb next year? I've heard everything from they'll stay the same, to they'll transition most of the channels over to digital thus requiring a box at each TV.
We've got FIOS at our office and their analog channel line-up is worthless, basic broadcast networks, and not much else.
If I'm faced with going to cable boxes I'm going to have to figure out a why to continue to get my 3 devices on all TV's which means I might have to start working on a distributed video system.
would be interested in hearing what they are going to do next year.
Thanks,
Roveer |
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robjlevin
join:2002-10-30
Millington, NJ
 ·Verizon FIOS
| The mandatory switch over to digital is only applicable to over the air broadcasts. That said, it is inevitable that even cable will drop analog since it's simply a waste of bandwidth.
Verizon is already in the process of killing all analogs on FiOS and I'm willing to bet that Comcast, Time Warner and the rest of the cable industry won't be far behind.
In short, don't get too used to living with out either cable boxes or cable cards. |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
 ·Patriot Media
 ·Cingular Wireless
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to roveer
What happens next February has nothing to do with cable/fios/satellite. If your tv is connected to cable, its cables problem, to offer tradition analog. The main impact is ota analog, which broadcasters must end after feb 2009. Cable isnt affected, and does not have to do anything its up to them. But knowing cable, they will drop all analog and charge you another $20 a month, and blame someone else. Overall the cable companies have gone out of there way to hurt customers.
--
“Say no to fear. Don’t let anxiety crush your life. Live life free and unfettered.”
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submrge
join:2004-10-10
Bloomfield, NJ
| reply to roveer
the majority of your analog channels will go bye bye very soon. comcast will be switching over to all digital. so you'll need a box for every tv (much like satellite and FiOS).
I live in a Cablevision area and more and more of the analog channels that I get on the lone converterless box that I have show the message "a digital converter is required to view this channel" |
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shaffer001
join:2005-04-19
Annandale, NJ | reply to roveer
Will you be able to buy a converter box that only decodes the previous analog channels that are now digital or will you be forced to get a converter box from the cable provider and pay their monthly fee? |
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dcs166
join:2005-06-27
Somerset, NJ
| That's up to comcast. If they choose to send a standard digital signal without any encryption, any TV capable of receiving a digital signal will decode it just fine without a converter box at all. Also, I'm sure somebody out there will realize that there's going to be a spike in the demand for digital converter boxes and you'll see a few options on that front (they may already exist, i dunno).
Then again, comcast could decide to use some non-standard signal or encrypt the signal or something and you'd have to rent their box to decode their signal. but...i can't imagine a customer-oriented company like comcast doing that...
To reiterate what rob said earlier, the all-digital FCC requirement applies only to over the air broadcast. comcast does not have to drop analog at all - they can send whatever they want over their own wires.
-ds |
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roveer
join:2004-01-18
Mendham, NJ
| reply to roveer
Have you noticed the comcast commercials lately. Switch to digital "no problem" you don't have to do anything. Wonder how long that will last. FIOS just ditched all their analogs to keep up with the HD race they are in with satellite. Can't imagine comcast is going to keep pushing analogs forever. Just seems a little misleading that those who have analog sets conneted to cable will have "no problems". Just means there will be another feb 2009 after feb 2009.
Roveer |
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robjlevin
join:2002-10-30
Millington, NJ
·Verizon FIOS
| You're not getting it. This has nothing to do with cable, satellite or FiOS.
It's an over the air thing only. When cable companies dump analog you'll need a cable box but it's completely unrelated to the FCC mandate.
As you're already pointed out VZ is dumping its already very limited analog offering even before those stations switch to digital on their own. |
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