AstroBoy
join:2008-08-08
Parkville, MD | I was told analog will be gone by year end
I was talking to a Comcast support person about the 2 free DTAs and I was told analog will be gone by year end, so I better get DTAs on my analog TVs.
Can anyone confirm this? |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL | Yes, this is true. About 20% of their markets will see the drop of analog by years end. I believe all markets will see it by the end of 2010. |
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CRP
Comcast of Ocean County
join:2005-12-26
Brick, NJ | reply to AstroBoy
Celebrate when that comes!  |
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AstroBoy
join:2008-08-08
Parkville, MD
| said by CRP  :Celebrate when that comes! I am sure the digital TV will look great on my 5 analog TVs!
And I will have yet another remote to use. |
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hussle87
Premium
join:2008-01-06
Sykesville, MD | reply to AstroBoy
I heard from a lady at my local Comcast office that we are sopposed to go all digital too. Hopefully were part of that 20%. |
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CRP
Comcast of Ocean County
join:2005-12-26
Brick, NJ
 ·Comcast
| reply to AstroBoy
Look, I'm not a fan of Comcast by any means and have had my share of problems with them over the past 15 years, but I support them on this initiative. Once this digital migration of everything above Limited/Lifeline Basic is complete, they'll be able to offer more HD, faster internet etc. |
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scanpa
Premium
join:2006-09-06
Lebanon, PA
| reply to AstroBoy
said by AstroBoy :said by CRP :Celebrate when that comes! I am sure the digital TV will look great on my 5 analog TVs! And I will have yet another remote to use. time to upgrade to some digital tv's. Analog Tube tv's went out 3-5 years ago when the FCC stopped allowing them to be type accepted for production. Same with the VCR. |
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lake stevens
@qwest.net
| reply to AstroBoy
I don't like having to use their box on my tv. I would like it alot better if they mapped the digital channels in a usable format. I got about 75 or do channels in 89.1,89.2 .... Another 75 or so in 97.1, 97.2 ... and so on. My set found 500+ channels but they are mostly on 6 channels and sub channels |
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GTFan
join:2004-12-03 | reply to Rob
Analog is not completely going away, the basic channels (2-34ish) will still be in analog. |
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rrlover
join:2001-03-25
Marlborough, CT
| reply to AstroBoy
My area Vernon CT system will be fully digital on July 28.
they are adding an additional 8-10HDs on that day. so we will have over 75 HD channels (with premiums).
no increase in internet speeds (currently 8mg with powerboost).
the biggie for me is all basic cable will be on QAM but encrypted so you need a box for basic cable (except networks) regardless if you have a digital TV. you can use DTA or regular cable box. |
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markofmayhem
join:2004-04-08
Pittsburgh, PA
| said by rrlover :the biggie for me is all basic cable will be on QAM but encrypted so you need a box for basic cable (except networks) regardless if you have a digital TV. you can use DTA or regular cable box. Or CableCard |
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ak3883
join:2005-08-20
Bensalem, PA
| reply to rrlover
said by rrlover :the biggie for me is all basic cable will be on QAM but encrypted so you need a box for basic cable (except networks) regardless if you have a digital TV. you can use DTA or regular cable box. Not true. Areas that Comcast has rolled out DTAs in, "basic cable" as you call it (ESPN,CNN,Discovery,TLC, etc) is NOT encrypted. Any TV with a QAM tuner can pick up these channels. This only applies to SD cable channels.
If Comcast/Pace gets the waiver(looking more likely that they will based on similar devices getting recent waivers), then this will all go away, and you would be right, you would need a cable box,DTA, or cablecard for every TV to view any "cable channel" |
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rrlover
join:2001-03-25
Marlborough, CT
| said by ak3883 :said by rrlover :the biggie for me is all basic cable will be on QAM but encrypted so you need a box for basic cable (except networks) regardless if you have a digital TV. you can use DTA or regular cable box. Not true. Areas that Comcast has rolled out DTAs in, "basic cable" as you call it (ESPN,CNN,Discovery,TLC, etc) is NOT encrypted. Any TV with a QAM tuner can pick up these channels. This only applies to SD cable channels. If Comcast/Pace gets the waiver(looking more likely that they will based on similar devices getting recent waivers), then this will all go away, and you would be right, you would need a cable box,DTA, or cablecard for every TV to view any "cable channel" The letter i have specifically states that even a current digital TV will not pick up basic cable (15-99) unecrypted (QAM turner). it made no mention of SD channels (100>). You need either a cable card, dta or box. that is why i found it so strange that they are forcing boxes for regular cable. |
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Chaldo
join:2008-03-18
West Bloomfield, MI | reply to AstroBoy
My area in Michigan got a letter saying after june 20, any day now we can lose channels 29-79 and they will go to digital, so we need to get DTA's. I already have my DTA's. |
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markofmayhem
join:2004-04-08
Pittsburgh, PA
| reply to rrlover
said by rrlover :The letter i have specifically states that even a current digital TV will not pick up basic cable (15-99) unecrypted (QAM turner). That is the eventual goal. In the mean time, because the DTA will not decrypt in it's current application, these channels are in the clear. People not using boxes/CC's to access these channels (clear QAM tuners) are on borrowed time. It is the broadcast channels carried on cable with granted, approved must-carry FCC licenses that are restricted from encryption. All other channels can be encrypted at the discretion of the negotiation between that channel and Comcast.
Death To Analog |
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mikedz4
join:2003-04-14
Weirton, WV
 ·DIRECTV
 ·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Comcast Digital Vo..
·Comcast
| reply to AstroBoy
ok, here's my suggestion. Comcast and other cable companies should put a device at the demarcation point (point where the cable from the pole or underground enters the house) that decrypts the digital signal and turns it into analog signal. This would give you your current analog channels and maybe digital starter. Anything above that would require a few free dta's and if you want dvr,etc you pay extra for it.
This would quiet alot of the people who say "but i don't want to pay for a box on every tv." They wouldn't need a box on every tv, just the ones they want premium servics like on-demand or the guide on. The rest of the channels would be decrypted by the box on the outside of the house.
Wasn't there supposed to be a product like that released about 4 or 5 years ago? I read about it but haven't heard anything about it since. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
1 edit | Yeah mike it was the Broadlogic Terapix.
I don't think they are able to meet price and qty requirements that would be acceptable to Comcast's goal. You figure every single analog sub, or sub with an analog TV would need one of these fairly expensive $2000+ bulk decoding device. However these will be beneficial to large scale in house systems. Think Hospitals / Nursing Homes, Schools/Colleges, Hotels/Motels, or other public places where there is a very large number of active connections. |
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mikedz4
join:2003-04-14
Weirton, WV | reply to AstroBoy
there has to be a way to have something like that so that people who don't want stuck with boxes or those who need more than the alloted 2 or 3 free boxes wouldn't have to pay for those boxes. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| said by mikedz4 :there has to be a way to have something like that »lmgtfy.com/?q=Broadlogic+Terapix |
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markofmayhem
join:2004-04-08
Pittsburgh, PA
2 edits | Ooooo, I got one too!
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