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Bud--

wrote:
On Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:12:52 -0600, bud--
wrote:

MICHELLE H. wrote:
Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the helpful responses so far, I really do appreciate it!
Just so I understand this, let me ask something else. Unfortunately, I
don't have a newer TV with a "QAM" built in digital converter. But if I
did have one of those types of TVs, could I tape one channel through the
cable box, by using the RCA jacks plugged into the VCR, and then just
turn the TV to another channel and watch something else?

Your QAM tuner TV connected to cable can only watch channels that are
not scrambled. All the high channels (probably all that you asked about)
will be scrambled, so your QAM tuner also needs a cable card or the TV
needs to be fed by a converter. With a cable card you _may_ be able to
get 16:9 HD channels that you can't with the lower end (free) converters.

From reading this thread hopefully you know the right questions to ask
Comcast (if you call them to verify what appears here). Knowing the
questions is a real big part of getting the information you need.

Comcast usually doesn't scramble the basic cable channels, only the
ones you have to pay extra for.. At least that is the way it works
here.

That is the way works here (Minneapolis) now. I have a wide screen high
def TV. I have Comcast 2nd level of Basic (don't know if that makes any
sense in a different market). I can receive analog cable channels which
includes many of the cable networks. There are some digital high def
channels I could receive with my package, but I have to have a converter
or cable card (which my TV will use). Far as I know none are "open QAM".
Many, but not all of the digital channels, are high def duplicates of
the analog channels. Some are high def versions of local broadcast stations.

From what I have read, Comcast is getting hammered by dish sources
because Comcast does not have enough high def channels. Presumably
Comcast is at the bandwidth limit of the cable itself. Their fix is to
eliminate all but the bottom analog channels and use the bandwidth for
digital. One analog slot can provide more than one digital slot. And the
analog - digital duplication will end. As far as I know the whole
Comcast system is being changed in a staged installation. It is
currently being staged in my large metro area, but not Minneapolis yet.
It looks like, at least immediately, cable will not cost more. The
addition of digital channels is likely to take a little time.

The BEFORE and AFTER are a lot different. I believe the OP is heading
into the digital changeover.

Multiple sources say that after the changeover maybe 20 bottom end
channels will be analog and receivable by everyone. These will be mostly
local broadcast stations that can be received over the air. This service
may be mandated by the FCC. The rest of the offerings will be digital.
Digital will *all* be scrambled. You will need a converter or cable card
to watch. DVRs like Tivo have cable card built in or you can insert a
cable card. The cable cards in most areas _must_ be installed by a
Comcast service person ($16 here at present), and after the installation
there has to be an activation by Comcast. (The cable cards are the same
as a computer PCMCIA card.)

FAQs at the Comcast site include:
32. Will I need equipment if I have a digital TV with a QAM tuner?
At the completion of the digital upgrade, customers will need equipment
on all TVs to receive any channels above the Limited Basic level of
service—of course, this is now the case with most video providers,
including our satellite and phone competitors. We’re encouraging all
customers to avoid any service interruptions by installing and using the
equipment provided by Comcast or purchased from their electronics
retailer, like a TiVo or CableCardTM enabled device.
And:
37. What is digital encryption?
Digital encryption is a technology used to protect television
programming content from unauthorized viewing. Think of it as
“scrambling” the TV signal so that only customers that are authorized to
receive a channel can view it. To receive digitally encrypted signals,
customers need a digital device available through their service
provider, such as a digital transport adapter, Digital cable set top
box, or CableCardTM. All pay TV providers—cable, satellite and telco—are
contractually required by programmers to protect the content they
distribute from unauthorized reception.

Comcast for my system now (BEFORE) has 3 converters
Digital set top box - programmed channel changes, on-demand, ...
Digital adapter - simple version of the above
HD receiver

From this thread, the first two are likely to only feed an *analog*
signal out - not digital and not HD.
Not obvious what happens after the digital changeover
- 16:9 digital picture shows up as letterboxed 4:3 picture out of the
converter?
- Only 4:3 center of the 16:9 digital picture shows up out of the converter?
- These converters replaced by something else?
Comcast will probably provide 1 or more of these converters free after
the changeover.

As far as I know only the HD receiver or cable card will get me
widescreen and HD NOW. That will certainly be true after the changeover.

I have read that a cable card type technology was required by the FCC
and cable companies don't want it. Also read that the FCC sets a max fee
of $2 per month for a cable card (single card free here now).

IMHO information from Comcast sucks. I got the above from looking at a
lot of different sources.

Is anyone in an area that has had the digital changeover?