Eddie K
@level3.net
moderated:
January 16th, @06:38AM
| [CATV] RCN Chicago - QAM channels gone
Anyone else notice the last few days that QAM access to most of the channels is now gone? Including a few locals? Is this temporary? Can anyone officially answer? If I can't get QAM channels, then goodbye RCN, back to comcast. |
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djdanska
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Chicago, IL
edit:
January 14th, @01:48PM
| Re: RCN Chicago - QAM channels gone
I noticed i lost fox, wciu, and tbs (both hd) and a few others too. I last scanned 2 days ago. I might rescan later to see if i get them back. I understood the tbs one but wciu and fox? |
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rcbrcb
Premium
join:2007-02-21
Chicago, IL | reply to Eddie K
Yep...I lost Fox, NBC, WCIU and a few others this weekend.... |
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rcnman
Jason Nealis
Premium,VIP
join:2003-05-02
Herndon, VA | I'm looking into it .. |
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rcbrcb
Premium
join:2007-02-21
Chicago, IL | reply to Eddie K
WGN HD as well |
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Raz3000
join:2006-05-07
Chicago, IL | reply to Eddie K
I will miss the idol premiere tonight on FoxHD 
Please get PBS and Fox up ASAP. |
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ESPN
join:2003-02-22
Allentown, PA
edit:
January 15th, @05:50PM
|  Re: RCN Chicago - QAM channels gone
Wow....this sucks big time! QAM was one of the reasons I bought a HDTV with QAM.
Does this include the locals? Are the locals also going to be encrypted?
I believe that the locals were to be clear, mandated by the FCC.
This does not surprise me as most of the big cable co's also encrypt MOST of everything. |
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rcn_not_for_long
@level3.net
| reply to Anon
With all due respect, this absolutely blows. Mind you, I am not talking about premium channels, I'm talking about broadcast local channels. It is absolute bull that you won't put the local channels in clearQAM. Even Comcast does this at the very least.
There is only one reason to not broadcast clearQAM - and that is to try and force people to rent more cable boxes. This is the sort of thing where the FCC needs to come down on all of your corporate greed in order to protect us.
Who's got a good recommendation for an OTA antenna? I'm done with RCN. |
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mjr
join:2003-09-18
Bethlehem, PA | reply to Anon
What's the reasoning behind encrypting standard basic cable type stuff? Who are you trying to keep from getting them? Also, I believe FCC requires Locals be carried in the clear as other posters have mentioned. |
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tigrzeye
join:2007-07-18
Northampton, PA
| reply to Anon
Just to be clear as I am in process of searching for replacements for 3 TVs that do not currently have a QAM tuner and would go "black" when Feb 2009 and digital arrives.
I was under the impression that, and have read it in many articles, that once signals go digital you need to have a QAM tuner in a tv to view digital signal tv channels. Not counting the HBO's, Cinemax's, and other pay to view channels, with a QAM tuner you would be able to view digital channels without the need of a cable box. They also report that it would be a mandate in TVs sold after a certain date that they contain a QAM tuner to be compliant with and receive digital signals.
Have we been lead down an expensive and worthless upgrade to QAM tuners in order to be in compliance for digital tv reception for no good reason??
And if so, sans having a "box" for each tv, would a cable card in a digital ready tv receive and display the encrypted digital signals?? |
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mjr
join:2003-09-18
Bethlehem, PA
| Sorry your impression was incorrect. ATSC has to do with digital tv reception. QAM has nothing to do with it.
This is all very complicated. I think if you go back through the articles, with your current understanding, you may find it reads slightly differently. Also, I wouldn't assume people who write articles know all the intricate details of what they write about. (Nor should you assume I do... But of course, I know everything...  )
A cable card in a digital ready TV with a cable card slot will decode the encrypted signals. If your TV's don't have the cable card slots you'll probably be out of luck for everything but the locals. |
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mjr
join:2003-09-18
Bethlehem, PA | Re: RCN Chicago - QAM channels gone
Understood. Just not sure why the sudden change. Any word from the legal dept. on the locals? |
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rcnman
Jason Nealis
Premium,VIP
join:2003-05-02
Herndon, VA | I'm told that we will be un-encrypting locals until we finalize with the FCC on how to proceed. I don't believe this will be the HD versions though. |
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kcblack
Premium
join:2000-09-11
Chicago, IL
 ·RCN CABLE
| What about MDU units Jason?
My Mothers building pays RCN a fee for service which includes all the channels in the expanded basic lineup?
She and others on the Condo Board are not happy.
Kevin
--
"Because we’ve invested over $4 billion in building our MegaBand network so you can enjoy the internet the way it was intended to be – fast and uncapped." (RCN marketing Promo) |
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tigrzeye
join:2007-07-18
Northampton, PA
| reply to mjr
I assume you were answering my post mjr.
I have always thought that having a QAM tuner assured you access to digital signals after the Feb. 2009 deadline.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_tuner
This mentions cable as one of the services that a QAM/digital tuner will work with.
On reading further on Cnet.com they specifically tie a QAM and ATSC digital tuner to "over the air" digital signals and state that for cable ... you must get an STB (set top box)
»reviews.cnet.com/4520-7608_7-1016109-3.html
So we/I am back to the original dilema of having 3 tv's that will go black when RCN goes all digital and encrypts the signal. And it looks like no matter what tv or tuner I get my only resolve is to have a seperate STB for each tv. (if I want to be able to display 3 seperate programs on them)
And RCNMAN the cost for that is going to be what???
Last I remember it was $5.00 per month per box and that does not get you HD just digital signals. An HD box is more. More charges on top of an already costly service.
Cable must be licking it's chops at the new revenue created by digital tv signals.
Don't get me wrong. The 3 tv's that I considered replacing with tv's with QAM tuner are all in my bar area. I don't use them on a regular basis, only for parties or friends over to view a game or race. I DO NOT get digital channel programming on them now, just basic cable. And I really didn't want anything more for the areas they are in than basic cable. But now am I forced to upgrade in features and equipment just to be able to see basic cable on them??
RCNMAN answers please -
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mjr
join:2003-09-18
Bethlehem, PA
| QAM is nowhere to be found on this page. QAM Does work with unencrypted cable (you know that.)
Everyone here seems to think Feb 2009 has something to do with cable. It really doesn't. That's the point I'm trying to make in thread after thread. I guess I'm not doing a very good job of it.
I'll say it again. QAM has nothing to do with Digital TV compliance as mandated by the FCC Feb 2009 deadline. This is the element of your post I was responding to.
Maybe you were misled by incorrect information, or you, like many many others misunderstood the information, but the FCC was never proposing QAM tuners to address the end of analog TV broadcasting. |
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machpost
join:2002-01-11
Washington, DC
edit:
January 18th, @07:58PM
| reply to Eddie K
Re: [CATV] RCN Chicago - QAM channels gone
While it's nice that RCN has thusfar made so many clearQAM channels available, I've never thought of it as something that should be taken for granted. And there are lots of QAM channels on the system here in D.C. that have always been encrypted, primarily those channels 100 and up, pre- digital-analog simulcast, which have always been unavailable without a cable box. On the other hand, it's unfortunate that a number of people who are receiving these channels on TVs with QAM tuners are going to be left out in the cold. Knowing that RCN is one of the most consumer-friendly cable operators out there, I hope that a reasonable compromise can be reached. |
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tigrzeye
join:2007-07-18
Northampton, PA
| reply to mjr
Re: RCN Chicago - QAM channels gone
As you so eloquently point out I appear a bit dumb on this subject. Well maybe it is because it is a government mandate and an explanation there off. That usually confuses everything and leaves it open to interpretation.And yes YOU are correct nothing about the digital mandate set to happen on or before Feb. 2009 has to do with cable. Sorry to be so dumb!!
BUT.....
My point is cable is tv and I should be able to view as much, not in an encrypted format, as I was prior to the change over to digital. Basic cable channels should be available using a QAM tuner, »qamtuner.com/
Look I am not looking for anything free, or more than what I already have, but instead having a choice on how to receive digital tv without having to have multiple digital set top boxes all over the place and the cost that goes with them.
I just want a tv with a picture receiving basic cable channels by connecting a single cable to the wall. WHICH IS WHAT A QAM TUNER WAS DESIGNED TO DO. »qamtuner.com/
And I am not alone in my interpretation. I just had an acquaintance at dinner last night say the same thing. That he had read all you need is the QAM or digital tuner in a tv to continue getting cable without an STB. A coworker as well thought the same.
So I feel better that I am not the only dumb confused consumer!! |
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