US Cable Support > Comcast Cable TV > [DTA] Motorola's High Definition Digital Transport Adapter

[DTA] Motorola's High Definition Digital Transport Adapter

they have been working on that for some time now, bout a year or so....never saw a paper on it though....nice find
--
I'm better than you!

reply to PaulGo
Yeah, nice find.
They have actually list HD DTAs on our local rate card as an option for limited basic HD subscribers since early summer. Since they have not been available they provide a HD set top box programmed to only get the limited basic channels.
--
Registered Bandwidth Offender #40812

One problem with the HD DTA is that they do not have analog audio outputs. This is a problem if you have a set with a DVI (HDCP) input which requires a analog sound input.

I was looking art the Monoprice one that goes from HDMI to component. The other option is putting the RF channel 3 out into a VCR and using the audio from the VCR.
Whatever happened to providing backward comparability to DVI that was always supposed to be part of the standard. Hopefully Comcast will come up with a solution for the people who have DVI. I would think that a DVI set would be one of the most likely candidates for an HD DTA.

Also this would work and the price is pretty good since I also have a Blu-ray player hooked up to the TV.

»www.monoprice.com/products/produ···format=2

reply to PaulGo
The RF output is asking for trouble.

I'd hate to see people hook up with that and expect to see HD!

Correct. HDMI for HD and RF only to get sound.

this is suppost to be a "LOW COST" solution probaly the basic way to get Digital Cable. For someone who needs more intermediate or Advanced capabilities, why not just get the regular STB from your cable company? They cost roughly $40 bucks Canadian for sale, and they have a lot more outputs such as composite video, L/R, as well as the RF. if this is not compatible with your tv, then that is when you should be looking for the next STB up, hope this helps
--
Happiness is like peeing your pants... Everyone can see it, but only you can feel its Warmth!!

Unfortunately, in the U.S. we currently cannot buy our own STBs (at least for Comcast) like we can our cable modems. We must still rent them from Comcast.

The SD DTAs cost about $1.99/month, not sure what the HD-DTAs will rent for. STBs currently start at about $7.95 - $8.95 a month.

reply to PaulGo
What's interesting about the Motorola HD-DTA is that it shows having both IR and RF remote control (though it doesn't seem to have an input for the corded IR receiver - with RF remote controls, you don't need that).

Most of the new HD-DTAs seem to be using RF remote controls, like this one from Evolution: »www.evolutionbb.com/cable/assets···5.11.pdf

reply to Paolo
Sorry Paolo, but we are 2 different countries with 2 different rules, so none of your information (From Canada)is going to help us here in the USA!!!

But for the USA the Dta's is becoming the Cheap Permanent Replacement box for all normal SD Programming, because it does not have the full encryption's schemes and is only an 1 way device and most people can install themselves, and we are no longer stocking any additional Motorola SD boxes either, just maintaining all the existing ones for the people who do want On-Demand programing!!!

On The HD side, the reason boxes are expensive is because, US Cable labs charges $150 a box just for certification alone (they charge this to everybody), because they are in charge of all those technical standards like seeing if you Cable Card will work and to make sure the HDMI signals work and to make sure stuff is encrypted when it should be and so on and so on)!!!!! and the HDMI connection is worth $150 dollars even for computers!! But though they cost a few bucks to manufacture since they are made in China, someone still needs to pay for it!!!

So to keep Cable costs down for the MSO's only (Sorry not for you) they are now making HD Dta's with the HDMI connection (Even with a discount being charged still $75 just for that part), and then just using Full HD boxes for everything else, because everything else is being controlled electronically could disable DVR and/or HD with a push of a few buttons with out requiring truck rolls which saves money!!!! Thus even the cheap people could still have access to certain services!!!

Also unlike Canada, we in the USA are really killing all types of analog services, we 1. all ready killed it in the form of the broadcasting stations from over the air,!! 2. killed most, if not all of analog on Comcast systems in the USA,!!! 3. As a side effect of HD, VCR and some DVD recorders are being slowing killed off because they only record in standard resolution of 480i!!! Also even the Video games systems have HDMI now, PS3, then XBOX 360, and even Nintendo gets the Message With the upcoming Wii U!!! 4. Even Blu-Ray Players are starting to remove the analog ports with the Component first then Composite!!

I do want you people to NOT wait until the last minute to get ready, but in case you did not know, analog is dying and soon to be DEAD!!!!
Digital is the future so start buying HDMI cables and Enternet Cables too because that is the ONLY way your ever going to see 1080p or soon to be even higher resolutions because Hollywood does not trust you people!!!

By the Way i should not be telling you this part but to further this point i have all ready been working with a test TV from a MAJOR manufacturer that does not even have the Composite Connections, that is NO Yellow, Red and White on the back on this TV!!Shocker!!! It still has Component, but that is to test the Video quality difference between Component and HDMI, and is to test technical difference between 720p and 1080p, first tv to not do any programming in 480 i or p!!! Personally it is beautiful every time i see it, But has loads of HDMI and USB connections!!!

(Of course it could be used right now for Testing those HD Dta's but of course i not giving that information away yet!!!!)

Sorry for the long post but there are A lot of NEW people coming here in the last few days even thought us, regular people know all this stuff all ready!!!!!!

Judging how well the HDMI works on the Motorola boxes I think the cable companies should gert a refund! If you put the HDMI through a receiver in a DCX box it loses its settings - on the DCX3400 it defaults to 720P and on the DCX3501 it defaults to 1080P.

Since you have a familiarity with HD DTAs will any of the ones Comcast is purchasing have an analog audio output so it can be used with TVs that have DVI inputs?

reply to cypherstream

reply to Paolo
the cable providers really have no desire to support HD DTA equipment because they want you to use their digital set top boxes, and I fully support it.

Do they make regular SET TOP BOXES? just answer that question, forget about what I said about buying them? YES? ok so if you need seperate L/R analog outputs why not just get that one? problem solved.

The DTA's should be the BASIC BARE BONES, the STB's are the next one up, then the HD Box are next, then the HD PVR's are the top of the line. Follow that and you should be fine regardless if your cable company does not allow you to sell it.
--
Happiness is like peeing your pants... Everyone can see it, but only you can feel its Warmth!!

The cost in my area for an HD STB is $9.25 per month. Currently the cost of a standard definition DTA is free but should eventually go to $1.95 per month. The TV in question is in a guest bedroom so it is rarely used. Currently I am paying for fur HD boxes plus one DVR (at $16 per month). I will just probably go for the Monoprice switch-box when the HD DTA is available if Comcast does not offer an HD DTA with an analog audio output.

reply to J Jefferson3
so J. you sneaky sneaky boy, you've been holding out on us? kidding

anyway yeah its a matter of time till equipment no longer encorporates analog connections, like how new set top boxes no longer have an RF output. I've noticed that on HDTV's with 1920x1080 native resolution, there is an option to use "native" or "full pixel" mode when displaying 1080i/p video and I've noticed a big difference in the amount of screen real estate.

reply to PaulGo
4 HD boxes + a DRV wow you are better with directv where you can pay less rent and get better MRV.