EddieT
join:2010-01-16
Dubuque, IA | [IA] Digital transition question I see in my town of Dubuque today that the digital transition happened and we have three flat screen tvs and only two have digital boxes. Those are working fine but the third one which had no box lost the channels.
My question is, I thought this digital transition was for old style tvs and flat screens wouldn't need a box? |
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| Have you tried a re-scan? If you're on family cable, most of the channels will be in 52-55 range (52-1 through 55-29 or something like that). Check the channel listings for your zip and look under the "Digital-Ready" portion. |
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EddieT
join:2010-01-16
Dubuque, IA | I tried but didn't work. |
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k9iua6
join:2004-05-23
Dubuque, IA
1 edit | How old is the TV that is not giving you channels? Any fairly modern TV (last three years or so) should be good to go with a rescan - make sure you are set for "cable" channels and not "antenna" or "TV" channels for type of reception if you must choose.
Also, you should still be getting the lowermost analog channels (like the locals - channel 2, channel 7, etc.) in the Broadcast Basic range, as those didn't go completely digital yet. Can you still get those?
Now it is possible that our head-end temporarily messed up and took all analog channels offline. I don't have any analog TV directly connected to cable any more, as all are through boxes, so I can't quickly check. Maybe in a little I can try one that way.
UPDATE: 8:23 p.m. - I just hooked an analog TV directly to my cable. I am still receiving the lowermost analog channels, so you should be at least seeing those. You will need a digital QAM tuner in the one TV without a box to get the digital Family channels. If not, you may need to get a third box or move your boxes about. |
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 ZC_217
join:2010-02-07
Des Moines, IA | reply to EddieT
A key check is on your tv remote, do you have a "-" or a "." buttons on the keypad? If you don't, then it could be that the TV isn't a digital ready TV. |
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EddieT
join:2010-01-16
Dubuque, IA | yeah, the remote doesn't have a - or .
so I guess my next question is do they charge for the boxes? |
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| You should be able to get the little DTA's for free from Mediacom for the first year and then after that I think they are $0.99 or $1.99/Month.
It is far cheaper than getting a full size set top box. |
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Reviews:
 ·Mediacom
| said by IowaGuy :You should be able to get the little DTA's for free from Mediacom for the first year and then after that I think they are $0.99 or $1.99/Month.
It is far cheaper than getting a full size set top box.
one advantage of the dta's is that the channels will be in the location you are used to, like 48 for Sy-Fy instead of the QAM numbers of 54.21 for example
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Humanity - The greatest natural disaster of all time. |
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| Flat screens have nothing to do with having a ClearQAM tuner. You are confusing the digital tuner - the ATSC tuner with a ClearQAM tuner which is what cable uses. Most newer TVs still don't have that, they ALL however have a ATSC tuner which is to pick up signals broacasted OTA picked up with an antenna on your roof/rabbit ears.
If the TV doesn't have a ClearQAM tuner you will need a box, simple as that. |
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EddieT
join:2010-01-16
Dubuque, IA | well if there going to charge for the box I might as well just get a tv that will work for the new signals. |
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