ViRGEdx
join:2002-10-25
3 edits | Digital Transport Adapter Unboxing Photos
As far as I know no one has done a proper unboxing of one of the new DTAs, so I've gone ahead and done one with one of the units that arrived today. I've photographed just about everything, so there shouldn't be anything left uncovered. And I apologize in advance for the so-so photo quality, all I had on hand was a Sony Cybershot. These are just a few of the shots, the rest are on the Picasa album I set up.
As for the installation process itself, there's not much to say. I hooked the box up to one of my TVs and programed in the TV codes in to the remote using the included remote manual. The box does not come activated and Comcast's online activation service is not yet operational, so I had to call it in.
This was part of a 3 box installation (2 DTAs and a regular STB) since Comcast is removing the analog expanded basic tier in my area. In this case Comcast had the DTA serial numbers on-hand already, so once I told them what I needed it only took a moment to activate them. Presumably once they start doing this on a national level, the website will be working and this will be even easier.
The DTA itself is a Pace DC50X; I have been told that Motorola is making DTAs too, so I'm surprised that it wasn't a Moto unit. The DTA only offers RF out, so the image quality isn't anything to write home about. Clearly if you have a bigger SD TV, Comcast wants you using a STB.
It's all very unimpressive, but if anyone does have a question, I'd be glad to answer it.
Edit: First Q&A section
Edit 2: We've been EngadgetHDed. I guess this is interesting after all, who knew?
Edit 3: There's a hidden diagnostics mode |
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rv65
Let's just say I like Dublin Dr Pepper
Premium
join:2008-08-02
San Diego, CA | Looks nice, but a composite output should have been added as well. That would have made an improvement. |
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Drumtrip
Root
join:2003-01-12
Missing
| said by rv65  :Looks nice, but a composite output should have been added as well. That would have made an improvement. I think the point of the DTA is if you want/need composite, you should order a normal box |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
1 edit | reply to ViRGEdx
Is there any sort of on screen display? I notice an Info button on the remote. Does it simply tell you the time and channel name?
Is the audio from Ch 3/4 RF out still in Mono like current digital boxes, or did they figure out BTSC Stereo encoding like the old analog boxes? |
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Greg2600
join:2008-05-20
Belleville, NJ
| reply to ViRGEdx
Great work on those pictures. FWIW I believe the Cisco and Motorola DTA's also have only RF output. That is definitely unfortunate. While there is no noticeable difference IMO between Component, S-Video, and Composite under Standard Def, there is absolutely a worse picture with RF. Although the ability to receive ALL your digital channels is a huge plus, and the reception is 100 times better than straight analog. You can receive all the premium channels right? I appreciate the IR sender, that's handy! The power supply is very thin, which means it will only take up one spot in a surge protector, also good. If Comcast would commit to pushing these to Northern NJ in the next year, I might stay with them come April. |
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Travelfan1
RIP Analog Go Digital
join:2005-08-23
Iselin, NJ
 ·Comcast
| reply to ViRGEdx
said by ViRGEdx :... The DTA only offers RF out, so the image quality isn't anything to write home about. ... It's all very unimpressive, but if anyone does have a question, I'd be glad to answer it. Great pictures, thanks for sharing with us.
Re all being very unimpressive, well, the main point was something really cheap that allowed Comcast to free up the analog bandwidth. And this DTA dongle delivers it.
One interesting point that you made: You said the picture quality isn't anything to write home about. You made this comment compared to what? Like, say, were you to plug a S-Video out from a regular digital cable box to the same TV, the picture quality would improve? Or comparing apples to apples, i.e., RF out from the DTA compared to the RF out from regular digital box?
Now, if Comcast "Freedom" area/NYC metro were only to move their... and start moving the non-broadcasting analogs to digital only and give the subscribers the DTA... Yeah, that will happen here around year 2020, maybe 2050... 
--
COMCAST of New Jersey II(Union) - Dead last in HD channels in NY metro area! Only 26 HD channels, compared to 102 for Fios and over 50 for Directv, Dish, Time Warner and Cablevision!
Verizon DSL |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to ViRGEdx
Another question,
Hows the channel tune performance. When you quickly push Ch up or down, is it relatively fast? Does it lag or hang up on you?
The only problem with the DTA solution is manufacturers are going to have a hell of a time getting enough made and shipped on a timely basis.
There's a huge delay with getting these units in, especially if even only 20% of Comcast's footprint tries to order them. The time waiting for the DTA's to arrive could of been spent swapping out 750 MHz amplifiers with 1 GHz ones. |
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Greg2600
join:2008-05-20
Belleville, NJ
| reply to ViRGEdx
cypher, great question on channel changing. Although without the guide to pop up all the time, it must be faster? Also, since there are three different manufacturers, and Comcast already started orders back in July, will there be a delay?
Travelfan1, yeah the PQ must be better than a straight Analog connection, particularly on the 2-11 channels. It's not as good as any kind of AV cable, but if you use a high quality Coax, the RF should be fine. |
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plat2on1
join:2002-08-21
Hopewell Junction, NY
clubs: | reply to ViRGEdx
wonder why it has a MAC address |
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pennstatejim
join:2007-10-10
Reading, PA | reply to ViRGEdx
Looks good for the cheap alternative it is to provide for those who don't want the STB on their TV. |
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svengali84
join:2008-07-22
Waltham, MA | reply to ViRGEdx
Is this something available for purchase from Comcast or do you still have to rent it, and if so, what's the price difference between this and a STB? |
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miscDude
@comcast.com
| reply to ViRGEdx
From my understanding about these boxes, they are basically designed to be a cheap QAM tuner that will also apply the traditional channel map. (So instead of getting channel 113.2 you see channel 45 like every other box and traditional analog). They are not really designed and intended to replace the traditional cable box for digital cable, but to instead bridge the gap for old-school "cable ready" TV's as those cable ready analog signals are pulled and replaced by digital versions of the analog lineup. As just a QAM tuner designed to go replace the analog going straight into the back of a TV, don't really think the added output options are really that big a deal.
Some things to note.... No cablecard. because of the price point I do not expect these boxes to decrypt your currently encrypted QAM signals, so your premiums, digital classic, and other advanced teirs don't expect to get on this box. Likely they will just unencrypt the standard "expanded" lineup to allow these boxes to tune them. If they are really paranoid about pirating, I don't know if these boxes are capable of doing the simple "privacy mode" encryption that is currently done on the VOD streams... but that may also require a FCC waiver so it may or may not be activated.
The MAC address is probably there in part because most electronic devices, especcially those connecting to a network, have one these days. Beyond that, I wouldn't be surprised if there was at least some sort of simple way to authorize these boxes on the cable plant, ether thru a "keep alive" message or some other indirect way they can shut one down. Considering the number of stolen cable boxes you see on Ebay, It wouldn't be too much of a jump to assume when these things were designed they included a way to prevent a box from activating or working on a foreign system as a security measure and deterrent.
From what I've heard, the on screen display consists of just the channel number when flipping channels. Since there isn't a front LED display, and no guide, you just receive a simple channel number (and maybe channel call-letter short description deally) to let you know what channel you are on.
As for the shortages issues.... I wouldn't be surprised if that's another reason for the slow roll out so far. Not so much because they have a shortage now, but maybe so they can figure out what kind of demand they might expect in a live system so they can then properly ensure they have enough in stock once they get more agressive. "Let's see.... for every XX number of digital boxes, we had requests for XX number of DTAs. Therefor, we should make sure we have XXXXXX number in inventory and available before we yank these channels."
Theoretical forecasting is one thing.... having some hard data to work with can make that forcasting much more accurate. |
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polo
@comcast.net | reply to ViRGEdx
What is Comcast charging/month for the box and what channels does it receive? |
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ak3883
join:2005-08-20
Bensalem, PA
| reply to ViRGEdx
Great writeup and pics, thanks!
Basically this thing is a QAM tuner, there is NO encryption used(for now). Any channel that an HDTV with a QAM tuner can pick up all of the channels that this thing does, except this DTA calls them by their old channels, like ch 40 is CNN, not 87-3 or whatever.
They could not put a cableCARD in these because it would be way too expensive. Removable security/conditional access cards are now required if you want to use any form of encryption. This was an FCC mandate back in the summer of 2006. Verizon won an exception by eliminating all of their analog signals, so new STBs that they deplay CAN have integrated security. Comcast applied for an exemption for these DTAs, and the FCC denied their request.
I think it has been said that the first 2 DTAs are free if you subscribe to at least digital starter, or something like that. They are designed for bedroom TVs, or TVs that don't get as much use, that you want to continue to be able to watch cable TV on, but don't use it enough to justify paying the few bucks a month for a regular cable box. |
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Greg2600
join:2008-05-20
Belleville, NJ | reply to ViRGEdx
No premium channels? That definitely stinks. I wonder if Comcast will also charge their lovely "digital outlet" fee even if the box is free? |
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Da Man
join:2008-05-08
Hanover, PA | reply to cypherstream
MTS is hard to do at the box from what I read. The analog boxes just took the channel and moved to it Ch 3/4 (no re encoding). 100% digital picture&sound now means RF modulated picture with mono sound. I can get that on YouTube for free. |
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dishrich
join:2006-05-12
Springfield, IL
1 edit | said by Da Man :MTS is hard to do at the box from what I read. The analog boxes just took the channel and moved to it Ch 3/4 (no re encoding). 100% digital picture&sound now means RF modulated picture with mono sound. +1 - of course, they could have put in a stereo mod; YEA, THAT'S going to happen on a box of this caliber...
They would be better off spending .25 to have put in composite A/V jacks - I mean really, if those cheap OTA digital tuners can ALL have them, there is NO reason these shouldn't have, too! |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs: | Yeah because internally there should be baseband audio and video feeding an RF modulator. Tap the lines prior to the RF modulator and you may be able to extract a composite signal.
Not impossible, they are just keeping things cheap. |
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Greg2600
join:2008-05-20
Belleville, NJ
| reply to ViRGEdx
I can say unequivocally that most people only use the RF cables to connect to a TV. Only on HDTV's have they not, because you can't get HD without Component or HDMI. While I see Comcast putting the term "Bedroom" TV into their manual for this device, they are not treating it as such. Clearly the aim is for the many people who have no box whatsoever. In the past, all the providers have had no problem mandating STB's to receive channels, and later moving Premiums to digital to force you into Digital cable more or less. This is to satisfy those you currently have only Analog on one, maybe two TV's.
Here's my question though, if before you had just basic or expanded analog, not digital, and now get this box, will you get all the non-premium digital channels? Or will you have to be forced into buying expanded digital tier? This box does not de-encrypt so Comcast can't separate those packages anymore, no? |
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rra
Advice
join:2008-09-19
Kingsville, MO
| reply to ViRGEdx
It seems that everyone here is confused as to what this device does. Customer's that have cablecard installed on their tv or tivo haven't been able to get SDV (switched digital video) This tuning adapter resolves that.
You still have to pay for the channels. It's only purpose is to provide authorized channels a way to be viewed without a cablebox. This makes cablecards and Tivos functional again.
Why would this device need any output but coax. It goes between the tv and the wall or between the wall and the tivo.
The only reason it has a mac address is prolly for tracking/stocking purposes. You get it for free but I'm sure there's a cost if you lose/damage it. |
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