nycityny
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join:2005-08-09
New York, NY
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1 edit | reply to tigrzeye
Re: RCN Chicago - QAM channels gone
tigrzeye - My understanding is:
The Feb 2009 changeover relates mostly to how people receive broadcast channels over the air (i.e., without cable or a satellite dish). After the changeover old non-QAM television sets will need a special converter box in order to receive over-the-air reception. Those receiving all of their channels from a cable company will not need this special converter box - they will continue to be subject to whatever rules are imposed by their cable company.
If you have a new QAM television then you will be able to get over-the-air channels in HD without a special converter box. Just hooking your home antenna to the television will give you HD broadcast channels (if available in your city). You will not receive any cable channels this way as you will be using an over-the-air antenna.
The federal government is providing $40 rebates through a coupon that can be ordered online for the purchase of the special converter box for broadcast reception on older televisions. |
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tigrzeye
Control4 Certified Installer
join:2007-07-18
LHV, PA
| okay I said I was done commenting .. fat chance lol
I understand the law and that it applies to over the air reception.
My gripe is that with a QAM tuner you supercede the need for a converter box currently to view digital channel offerings from RCN. You also can receive basic cable channels 2-97 with a standard analogue tv tuner just cabled to the wall.
If you have a QAM digital tuner in your tv, you should still be able to receive the BASIC CABLE channels 2-97 without the need of a converter box. The other digital channels that are currently only available at additional charge, keep them that way by encrypting them.
If you want to secure the system by encrypting everything to prevent cable theft (I don't argue with this, theft is theft, not good) then provide the boxes needed for the honest, paying patrons FREE. I totally agree with CHITOWN1839.
Another thought...the main reason I have not looked at satellite tv is because every tv would require a seperate receiver. That difference is now soon to be gone. My boss and a co-worker both have had DirectTV for a couple years now and are getting many more HD channels than I am. Another has DishTV. That is 50% in my little circle of workers that do not have cable tv any longer.
This new procedure may backfire on RCN in the long haul!! |
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