MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19
 ·Comcast
| reply to mikedz4
Re: Goodbye analog. ALMOST! ( chicago)
said by mikedz4  :are you saying that channel 2 will no longer exist cabletool? That in the city of chicago channel 2 will be on channel 1002 instead of channel 2 for instance (not a real number by the way just an example) and people who just plug in a cable ready tv and tune to channel 2 starting say Monday will get snow or a screen that says please visit 2200 south vista blvd and pickup a dct2426(also not a real cable box another example) to receive this channel on channel 1002 for no extra charge for a year." ? You can map a digital channel anywhere. They will likely keep the same channel numbers.
Some people have it in their head that a digital channel has to be displayed above 100. Not true at all. Channel 2 will likely still be channel 2. But if you have a STB, it will be digital.
Plus, this is from the original post:
said by CableTool :Basic will be the only option for cable ready tvs. ( chnls 2-22 usually) |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12
| Too true. People see cable boxes like their QAM tuners. Most QAM tuners cannot map freqs to channels.
The box basically says, Take Freq 579mHz and show that on display channel "2". Thats a digital freq and it is showing channel 2 digitally. It can just as easily be displayed anywhere.
When digital first came out channel 100 was the point of demarcation, everything above was our digital line up. Just for ease of use. But now, if you are digitally simulcasted, all your channels are digital. Locals, Lowers, uppers, everything.
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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mlx52
| reply to CableTool
I currently have a 3416, and a 3412 on the two HD sets, along with 5 additional analog only sets, can I walk into a Comcast office and pick up DCT-700's for the 5 sets? Also, does Comcast have plans to sell (either through Best Buy, or some other place) the DCT-700's, so I don't have to pay the monthly charge for each box?
Looking forward to increases in HD, and possible HSI speed increases sometime down the line. Is there any guess as to how much bandwidth this is going to free up?
Thanks |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12
| I have no idea if they would let you pick up that many at once. Sounds like a troubleshooting nightmare as far as getting them to work without knowing your signal/noise etc.
I believe there is a mandate for purchaseable equipment in the next few months. Id have to look it up, havent kept up with it.
As far as bandwidth, say approx 50 analog channels at average compression can provide space for about 4-500 digital channels. ( not that there are that many out there) But also HD content can take 2 channels per one analog and CHSI capacity.. I have no idea how they will break it up and even if they will anytime soon/this year.
Im looking at this as step one. I am not aware of steps 2,3,4 or even 1.5 
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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plat2on1
join:2002-08-21
Hopewell Junction, NY
clubs:
| reply to CableTool
said by CableTool :Too true. People see cable boxes like their QAM tuners. Most QAM tuners cannot map freqs to channels. they would if comcast would pass PSIP data |
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ji0005
@pacbell.net | FYI. I got my letter. 60614 zip code. |
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Evanston
@comcast.net
| reply to CableTool
I'm in Evanston, IL (Chicago suburb). After seeing this thread I checked the program banners, and it shows the Dolby symbol on channels 2-99. This was not true some months ago, I don't know when it happened, but I assume I am now getting digital simulcast.
I had been thinking that the 'analog' quality on my HD set had improved, and now I see why.
We haven't been notified of any package changes, though. |
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idave03
join:2005-04-07
Chicago, IL | I got my letter today. does anyone know if i buy a cable box (off ebay) will comcast still charge me the extra 5 bucks for the "extra digital outlet". Thanks |
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DMS1
join:2005-04-06
Carrollton, TX
| said by idave03 :I got my letter today. does anyone know if i buy a cable box (off ebay) will comcast still charge me the extra 5 bucks for the "extra digital outlet". Thanks No - comcast won't charge you, but the police may charge you with receiving stolen property. |
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patspub
join:2005-02-10
Philadelphia, PA | reply to CableTool
So people in Chicago are mad that they will not be able to view anolog channels directly thru the back of their TV-Correct??? We haven't been able to do this in Northeast Philly for years now. We always needed a anolog box since 1988. |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12 | About 30% or more of the city has always been addresable. They are just shoring up the rest of the city.. and then hopefully moving to the burbs...
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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markofmayhem
join:2004-04-08
Pittsburgh, PA
| So 2-22 will remain ADS (analog and digital)? Any word, or can you find out any word, what will happen after 2009? Since 2-22 is mostly local channels in all markets, after 2009 will Comcast convert them to analog (to keep providing ADS for 2-22) or just drop all analog completely in Chicago? |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12 | There is no reason for any cableco to transmit the basic tier in digital. ( IMO ) it would alienate a large segment of customers.
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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DMS1
join:2005-04-06
Carrollton, TX
| said by CableTool :There is no reason for any cableco to transmit the basic tier in digital. Unless they are desperate for bandwidth. I'm sure they'd be open to the idea if their research showed that the extra "fully-loaded" customers they could get by adding new channels were worth more than the existing basic customers they might lose. |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12
| The basic tier exists for a niche market that is still solely filled by cable. They make up a pretty decent percentage of their revenue and will most likely continue to for many years to come.
I can see some channels being taken away, but I dont see the whole tier going away.
There is a product on the market that attaches to a home and converts digital to analog. I think even if they did away with all analogs, this device would be picked up and used to still allow for analog reception.
Or not, who knows 
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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DreamWraith
Premium
join:2004-04-07
Mount Vernon, WA | I would think they would just throw out DCT-700's to everyone CT. |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12
| People do not like boxes, and people who only want 10 or so channles because they cant get reception sure as hell dont want a box for them.
Aside from the fact that we even still provide locals to a lot of dish customers as well. 
Recouping this bandwidth is great, but with Docsis 3.0 and channel bonding and a few other technologies cable will still be able to add content without actually upgrading plant.
I see an upgrade coming, looking further ahead I also see cable extending its fiber past the node.
But right now, I see a few stop gaps that will work just as well and cost a helluva lot less.
just my .02
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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WayneHolmes
join:2006-12-23
Mountlake Terrace, WA
| reply to DreamWraith
said by DreamWraith :I would think they would just throw out DCT-700's to everyone CT. As one of those limited basic customers, here is my $.02...
- From my perspective: I don't want a box. I want to plug in my TV and have it work. I watch maybe 6 hours of TV a week, and don't want the hassle of another box, power cord, cable and remote.
- From the perspective of Comcast (I'm assuming some stuff here, so disclaimers apply): I am a customer that results in just less that $15 a month in revenue to them. Those boxes are not free, plus if they gave me one there may be setup interactions that would result in truck rolls and my calling their support center. At $15 a month, it would take a while for them to recover the cost of giving me a "free" set top box (which I don't want anyway).
So if Comcast just leaves the limited basic analog channels alone, then they don't hassle people who are satisfied with what they have or take the expense hit of having a bunch of customers fiddling with new hardware to keep the same level of service.
Wayne |
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Loker
Premium
join:2004-07-11
Fargo, ND
clubs:
| said by WayneHolmes :said by DreamWraith :I would think they would just throw out DCT-700's to everyone CT. As one of those limited basic customers, here is my $.02... - From my perspective: I don't want a box. I want to plug in my TV and have it work. I watch maybe 6 hours of TV a week, and don't want the hassle of another box, power cord, cable and remote. - From the perspective of Comcast (I'm assuming some stuff here, so disclaimers apply): I am a customer that results in just less that $15 a month in revenue to them. Those boxes are not free, plus if they gave me one there may be setup interactions that would result in truck rolls and my calling their support center. At $15 a month, it would take a while for them to recover the cost of giving me a "free" set top box (which I don't want anyway). So if Comcast just leaves the limited basic analog channels alone, then they don't hassle people who are satisfied with what they have or take the expense hit of having a bunch of customers fiddling with new hardware to keep the same level of service. Wayne I thought it was said they were leaving limited basic? I thought it was just expanded basic that was getting killed?
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"While preceding your entrance with a grenade is a good tactic inQuake, it can lead to problems if attempted at work." -- C Hacking |
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WayneHolmes
join:2006-12-23
Mountlake Terrace, WA
| said by Loker :said by WayneHolmes :said by DreamWraith :I would think they would just throw out DCT-700's to everyone CT. As one of those limited basic customers, here is my $.02... I thought it was said they were leaving limited basic? I thought it was just expanded basic that was getting killed? Loker: My comment was based on the assumption that what DreamWraith was proposing was give DCT-700's to all customers and getting rid of the limited basic channels as well. This eliminates all analog channels, and makes even more bandwidth available.
My response was written from the viewpoint of someone who had "limited basic" and as long as those channels stayed analog and I didn't have to have a box, then I was fine.
I agree with your (Loker's) comment that Comcast was leaving analog limited basic alone. (Confirmed earlier in this subject thread.)
Apologies to all if I didn't make myself clear enough in my earlier post.
Wayne |
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