Run56
@covad.net
| [CATV] HDTV without a cable card or converter box
DCMetro Area-I have a Sony HDTV with an ATSC tuner and have been receiving local HDTV programming plus several other RCN HDTV channels (ESPN for one)by simply scanning the cable, finding them, and "un-hiddening" them. Two weeks ago these HDTV channels vanished from my cable and I have been unable to re-locate them using the ATSC tuner. I spoke with an RCN (foreign) representative who told me that I now needed a cable card that I must pay for and that effective with the Feb 2009 analog cutoff I will have to start paying for the basic HDTV channels at the rate of $7.95/month. Questions: Does RCN control individual HDTV channels to my specific cable drop and purposefully deleted all HDTV channels from it or are these signals somewhere else on the cable that is outside the range of my ATSC tuner? It was my understanding that the FCC requires that RCN must provide as a minimum all through the air signals on their cable system including HD channels. If they purposefully cut them off can I can I get them to re-activate at least the local station HDTV signals? |
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alanisrox69
join:2005-03-29
LHV, PA
 ·RCN CABLE
| The law is they must pass in the clear the over the air signals, NOT over the air HD signals.
In analog crush areas, RCN is only putting the SD versions of the channels on Clear QAM.
So you will need either A) Cable card (if your TV supports it) or B) HD converter box.
-Derek-
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CHECK YOUR FSLC TAXES!!! |
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Run56
@covad.net
| Thanks. My TV does have a cable card slot but I am leery of giving RCN another avenue to keep jacking up the cost of my basic cable. They are a monopoly in DC (discounting DishTV which is unappealing to me)and are doing what all monopolies eventually do. I may just unplug them and go with the local over the air HDTV stations. |
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alanisrox69
join:2005-03-29
LHV, PA
·RCN CABLE
| said by Run56 :
Thanks. My TV does have a cable card slot but I am leery of giving RCN another avenue to keep jacking up the cost of my basic cable. They are a monopoly in DC (discounting DishTV which is unappealing to me)and are doing what all monopolies eventually do. I may just unplug them and go with the local over the air HDTV stations.
I think the cable card is very cheap, $1.50/month. While it is additional cost...it's not *so* bad in my opinion. Would be a more reliable connection than OTA in my opinion.
Good luck whatever you decide 
-Derek-
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CHECK YOUR FSLC TAXES!!! |
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cdr1000
join:2004-02-18
10100
·RCN CABLE
| A cablecard is $1.50 per month.
It causes pixcels, frozen channels, and resets all the time.
If you call RCN, customer support sends a "stonger signal" to your unit. That does not address the main issue.
OTA HD channels quality is way better.
Hopefully, RCN will overcome the challenge, or many in my area will switch to Time Warner. |
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wbertram
join:2005-08-19
Allentown, PA
1 edit | reply to alanisrox69
said by alanisrox69  :said by Run56 :
Thanks. My TV does have a cable card slot but I am leery of giving RCN another avenue to keep jacking up the cost of my basic cable. They are a monopoly in DC (discounting DishTV which is unappealing to me)and are doing what all monopolies eventually do. I may just unplug them and go with the local over the air HDTV stations.
I think the cable card is very cheap, $1.50/month. While it is additional cost...it's not *so* bad in my opinion. Would be a more reliable connection than OTA in my opinion. Good luck whatever you decide -Derek- Yes, one would think, expect, hope, that cable would be a more reliable connection than OTA from Philly, 50+ miles away and behind a mountain!
Unfortunately, that is not the case in the world of RCN. In my area of the LV at least, we suffer from what the RCN techs call "digital dropout", characterized by the loss of audio on the digital channels, and occasionally, not often, video breakup. Occurs with both CC and STB.
More and more I find myself forced to watch the OTA HD channels from Philly, and if I can't receive OTA at that particular time, being forced to watch the RCN digital SD version, or even in some cases, the analog version. The other night I ended up watching FOX29 OTA analog!
DirecTV is looking better and better. I was hoping to have a chance to evaluate the All Digital "Analog Crush" from RCN before making a decision, but with the Crush apparently being postponed indefinitely for the LV (or at least until FIOS make an appearance here), I just may be forced to make the switch sooner. |
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