| *sigh* The Facts about Digital Digital is advertised as being more clear than analog cable. This is SOMETIMES a misconception, however generally speaking it's accurate. You get pixelation sometimes, sometimes you see color gradients on things like sunsets. I have a nice Sony Wega TV.... I know... HOWEVER; frequently I look at the picture and it looks as good as an HDTV picture on a digital channel. For the most part, it does look better. IF things are done correctly. *THATS NOT SAYING IT LOOKS PERFECT*
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I don't know how one would think it isn't Digital as "agent" posted above.
1.) Most everything to the cable companies are digital to the head-end.
2.) The Digital signals are sent, DIGITALLY to your Box.
How isn't it Digital?
Yes, there MAY be a few channels that are analog until they get to HITS (Headend In the Sky); However at some point it becomes digital when it's sent to your digital box (assuming it's actually listed as being a digital channel).
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In Terms of cost, find out how much each channel costs per month with just analog, then do the same calculation with digital. Most always you'll find that it's CHEAPER per channel than analog. I.E. you get more "Value" for your buck. Of course it costs more. You get more! Duh?
If you don't see the channels being channels you don't want, then that's something as an individual; you decide you don't need or want. However many people do.
How many people switch to Dish each month because they get more channels, better quality, cheaper cost? A LOT. This is cables "retention" to keep it's customers. It has done quite well. It HAS NOT STOPED the flow to dish, but it has succeeded in keeping thousands (or more) customers; who WANT those extra channels they before could not get with cable.
You have to use a box if you want to get premiums. Analog or Digital or Black Box, you still need a "clumsy" box. How else could you POSSIBLY deliver the digital signal, and bill for the services?
Another person posted that they believed ALL the channels were digital. This can easily be misunderstood as sales people tend to... exaggerate the truth.
What if they made the channels ALL digital?
1. People who didn’t want to use a "clumsy box" would HAVE to, because ALL the channels are digital. (This is the same as if you want Satellite, you HAVE to have a box). Not everyone wants Digital, and the cable Co's take that into consideration. That's why they're not ALL digital.
2. You could remodulate those channels on digital, however you then suck up bandwidth unnecessarily for other channels/programming/features (such as VOD/Telephony/Modems). That'd be a poor use of your bandwidth. If you have bad picture, it can be resolved *almost always*; setup a tech call and have them come out and fix it  - If you get a hard head that doesn't, setup another tech call. There are circumstances where it CANT be fixed; however this is pretty rare.
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Remote controls: For Adelphia they offer a remote control that does just about everything you’d need for BASIC TV viewing. Unfortunately you’re not going to have a remote control that can do EVERY feature of EVERY component, unless it’s the original remote control. The remote controls you get with digital, usually take 3 remote controls and make them into 1. You can watch TV, change channels, control volume, power on and off TV/VCR/Box and watch videos. If you HAVE to be able to do EVERY feature your equipment offers, you’ll be hard pressed to find a universal remote to accomplish everything (unless you buy purely from one manufacture, and get THEIR universal remote).
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Bottom Line: Digital cable isn't for EVERYONE. Just as Modems aren’t for everyone, or expanded cable isn't for everyone. It's an option.
Is it a poor value? - No.
Is it right for you? - That's up to you.
That’s just my 2-Cents
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"When my Linux machine gives me the blue screen of death, I just wiggle my mouse to deactivate the screen saver" |
