robbym627
Premium
join:2003-09-14
Springfield, IL
 ·surpasshosting
 ·Comcast
|  [News] Analog channels going digital !
It has been said that analog channels on the digital service will be broadcast in digital format. This means channels 2 through 72. If you have digi service now they are of course still broadcast in analog format. I don't know how soon this is supposed to happen but the dish companies won't be able to use that as a comparison anymore after this happens. I don't know what all areas this will happen in but from my understanding Springfield will be one and I am sure it would be a company wide change.
This is just my opinion and I know nothing.  |
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oldjack
join:2002-12-26
Springfield, IL
1 edit | If this happened, would analog customers lose their analog signals? |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to robbym627
This is something way overdue. I've been asking the question of when this would happen for several years. I was always told their was some legal reason they had to keep the analog around. Now if Insight would just add the selection the competition has. But I doubt this will happen.
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Test Your Security Cable DiagnosticsIggyz Blog ZoneAlarm Help |
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robbym627
Premium
join:2003-09-14
Springfield, IL | reply to robbym627
It won't do away with analog channels. It just makes the digital package completely digital. |
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Xsk8er
join:2001-01-02
Columbus, OH
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to robbym627
and it means everyone will have to have a box per each tv if they want cable  Since they will no longer be pushing the analog signal, no more splitting the cable and pluggin it into your RF input You will have to have a box for each tv you want cable on and probally pay a per box rental change! Just like satellite.
Btw, Digital is not always better than analog, the digital format used is in Mpeg2 and you can heavly compress it (read DBS forums and people complanning that have super large HDTV sets and try to view digital satellite on it! Some say the analog channels (if done right) produce a very nice picture. |
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robbym627
Premium
join:2003-09-14
Springfield, IL | reply to robbym627
You won't have to have a box on all tv's. If you order basic and classic then you will get it. If you order digital then all of the channels will be digital. |
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adz133
join:2002-12-03
| reply to robbym627
I'd rather have all the channels digital only when there is a digital box to receive them. I will still have good old crappy TV's scattered around the house for basic viewing.
It would be nice if the new cable boxes had a pair of firewire ports that would allow you to hook up a computer and receive multiple digital streams.
I run mythtv and that would be awesome. |
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Catwoman
Premium
join:2003-06-11
Normal, IL
1 edit | reply to robbym627
I emailed Insight several weeks ago with questions regarding when they will offer all digital and dual tuner dvrs.
Here are the answers I was given
They said that because 80 to 95% of insight customers don't have digital tv that it was hard to change to all digital, but they are aware that customers are now buying digital TVs and that they are testing in the industry now and that they hope to offer a all digital package sometime in 2005. ( I wonder if that means we will have to pay extra?)
They said the dual tuner dvr should start to be available sometime between March-May time frame in 2005
I also inquired about hidef in my area and said they working hard at offering more hidef local channels, but contract negotiations were holding that up. It didn't sound like I would be getting fox hidef or CBS hidef anytime soon, but would be getting NBC hidef hopefully soon. I live in the Bloomington/Normal area of Illinois.
This is not verbatim but essentially what I was told by the Insight rep that emailed me back
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL | That is interesting. In my area we get NBC high definition. Not sure why they would have such an issue providing the feed in other areas of Illinois. |
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robbym627
Premium
join:2003-09-14
Springfield, IL | reply to robbym627
It all depends on the local station. If they broadcast in HD to Insight then Insight can broadcast it in HD. Some stations do some don't. The majority don't. |
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Catwoman
Premium
join:2003-06-11
Normal, IL | reply to robbym627
Yes it sucks, I only get ABC and PBS in hidef.
I have the hidef package and get HBO,ESPN,Discovery,ect. |
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The_INSIder3
join:2004-11-19
Anderson, IN
| reply to robbym627
said by robbym627  :It has been said that analog channels on the digital service will be broadcast in digital format. This means channels 2 through 72. If you have digi service now they are of course still broadcast in analog format. I don't know how soon this is supposed to happen but the dish companies won't be able to use that as a comparison anymore after this happens. I don't know what all areas this will happen in but from my understanding Springfield will be one and I am sure it would be a company wide change. This is just my opinion and I know nothing. They HAVE TO do this as DVR + analog signal + cheap compression chip = fuzzier picture than classic analog cable.
The digital signal fits wonderfully on the DVR and looks sharper.
It's taken a LONG time, hope it actually gets done soon. |
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robbym627
Premium
join:2003-09-14
Springfield, IL
·surpasshosting
·Comcast
| They HAVE TO do this as DVR + analog signal + cheap compression chip = fuzzier picture than classic analog cable.
The digital signal fits wonderfully on the DVR and looks sharper.
It's taken a LONG time, hope it actually gets done soon.
Motorola is shipping out new boxes to fix that problem. I guess the new boxes will be dual processor one for hd and one for analog. I was told they should be coming in January. |
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BeesTea
Network Janitor
Premium,VIP
join:2003-03-08
00000
| said by robbym627 :Motorola is shipping out new boxes to fix that problem. I guess the new boxes will be dual processor one for hd and one for analog. I was told they should be coming in January. Do you know if people who already have an existing DVR will be able to replace it with a new one ?
Cheers,
-BeesT
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echo 16i[q]sa[ln0=aln100%Pln100/snlbx]sbA0D4D465452snlb xq |dc |
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thfx
join:2004-03-11
Springfield, IL | reply to robbym627
yes I am curious as well...will current DVR be replaced? |
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Catwoman
Premium
join:2003-06-11
Normal, IL
| Hopefully I can answer your questions to your satisfaction.
Currently Insight Cable offers a combination of Analog and Digital services,
the primary reason being is the 85-90 percent of all TV's are analog, which
means a customer would need a box on every TV set in order to receive
programming. Satellite always requires a box, which often limits the number
of sets to 2-4 in a household, but we do realize that many households are
starting to get 1 or 2 digital televisions, we are looking at a total
digital offering for customers- this product is being tested within the
industry and could be available sometime within 2005.
HD signals- Currently in the Peoria market 3 channels broadcast in HD, WEEK,
WHOI and WTVP, we do carry 2 of these broadcasters and will hopefully add
WEEK in the near future. The problem with WEEK is in the contract
negotiations, which have been lengthy, there has recently been some movement
in these negotiations so I am very hopeful that they will be on soon.
Fox and CBS, while the Networks do make the programming in available, they
are currently not offered in the Peoria Market.
Dual Tuner DVR- Our plans are to offer the next generation dual tuner DVR -
which should be out in March-May time frame.
Programming- we are looking at several networks, but until carriage
contracts are signed it is difficult to project what we may or may not add.
If you have specific channels that you are interested in, I would be the
person to ask.
Again thank you for your questions and comments.
John Niebur
District Vice President
I decided to just post the email I recieved from Insight, I hope that's ok.
It looks like to me that we will have to replace the dvr box to the next generation.
I don't know why he said Peoria market cause I'm in the Bloomington/Normal market. |
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acadiel
Keep trying - don't give up
Premium
join:2002-06-22
Bloomington, IL | Gotta love John - he's a great guy.
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Catwoman
Premium
join:2003-06-11
Normal, IL
| Yes I was really satisfied with the response, He answered everyone of my questions. I received the response the next morning after asking the questions. I have been very happy with Insight. If I have had a problem with any of my service from Broadband to Cable the installers and technicians have stayed at my house until the problem was solved. |
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thfx
join:2004-03-11
Springfield, IL
| reply to robbym627
I had a tech come out and check out my 6208 box today. apparently my playback issues are heat related. He said that he has had lots of complaints and it is usually heat. unplugging it and letting it cool down, etc is what helps.
anywho, he informed me that any service calls that are being done to the 6208 boxes are being noted on the sheet and I am now on a list to get the new box! the new box will have dual tuners and all the channels will be digital so no more fuzz. He, like me says he will believe it when he sees it so I have my fingers crossed it will be soon!
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www.thfx.com |
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rlocone
Honor Our Heros, Our Armed Forces
Premium
join:2002-04-10
Kokomo, IN
| reply to oldjack
said by oldjack :If this happened, would analog customers lose their analog signals? Ppl in Frankfort IN, already been shafted! They eliminated analog service about a yr ago.
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Come to the "Home of rlocone" »www.rlocone.com |
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