[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Skip

No, network HD stations have always been carried "in the clear" on the subcarriers (9.1 etc.). It's the higher channels (14+) that were reassigned recently. If you want to see those higher numbers you'll need a STB (Set Top Box) or DTA (Digital TV Adapter). They (up to 1 STB & 2 DTAs) are free. However, with a STB you no longer get HD. If you want to keep HD, you'll need an HD-STB and they will want to charge you $8.50/month extra for the HD package. You'll get other HD stations too.

Think of it this way, TV sets look for stations in fixed increments (like "broadcast over the air" is set up). All the channels are predefined. Cable companies have total control over how they put stations on the "cable". They don't have to be that fixed frequency width especially if it's not all analog stations. For digital, they can cram in many more and even compress them. They can use any frequencies and widths they want. (Has nothing to do with scrambling either.) To figure out where these channels are and how to decode and decompress them, you need a unique tuner that has the cable company's "method" built in. (Or you can use a "CableCard" - but that's another story.) Thus a Set Top Box is required. It's just a special tuner. These units can receive and understand the info from the "head end" and in fact they are each addressable. Each has a unique IP address, so to speak. The STB is a two way communicator too (DTAs are not). The STB can send a signal back to the "head end" and the cable company can stream you the program you just requested. Thus you have "on-demand" and "pay-per-view". The STB has a "universal remote" that can be programmed to work the STB and your TV with one remote. Also the cable company can shut you down, change your "plan" or do lots of things by sending the box a code. Cable modems for internet access are the same. They are addressable too. Don't pay your bill on time? Comcast sends codes to your devices and bamm!, you no longer have internet or TV reception. No one has to visit your property to do that. What has happened recently is that they want to offer faster internet through-put and even more TV stations (many of them premium stations). The "pipe" is only so big, so change the analog (fat) signals to digital (skinny) signals and they can get 20-40 times as many stations through that "pipe". It's called "band-width". If we had "fiber-optic to the curb", we'd have 1000 times more band-width. Some day that may happen, but that's a lot of digging.

So far today, channels 2-13 and a few others are still there in analog, so you can still get the major networks stations without a special box. If that suits you, you can get a big reduction in your cable bill by going to just the "basic" plan. You'll get about 15 analog stations and still 5 or 6 HD stations at no extra fee. (Comcast won't tell you that some HD is free, however.)

Want to save money on your ISP bill? Buy your own Cable Modem, call in your MAC address number, return their modem and they take about $7/month plus tax off your internet bill. Make sure it's a DOCSIS 3.0 and you don't have phone service from Comcast. Zoom brand Series 1079 is a good one (Best Buy) and it'll pay for itself in less than a year.

Hope this helps. Class dismissed.

Skip

Skip:

You Da Man!!!!!