dslreports logo
 story category
ABC to Provide Analog after Digital Transition
Settling debates and taking responsibility
You’ve certainly seen the commercials warning you that if you still rely on rabbit ears to get your television signal then you’re going to be out of luck when the forced migration to digital TV happens next year. Some of those commercials also let you know that if you have cable television, you’ll be all right because it’s the responsibility of the cable TV provider to make sure that you can still get your channels. But there’s been a lot of debate behind the scenes as to just how the cable companies are going to do that for you.
quote:
"Cable operators are required by the Federal Communications Commission to make a viewable signal available to their customers after the transition, which, in some cases, will mean downconverting a digital signal to analog for subscribers who have not made the switch to digital cable. One question that has remained open is just who is responsible for providing the viewable feed."
ABC has agreed to take responsibility for providing that analog feed via wireline to their analog cable customers for up to one year after the transition. The decision is pending agreement by local cable operators.
view:
topics flat nest 

hamburglar
join:2002-04-29
united state

hamburglar

Member

Most cable is still analog anyway

"downconverting a digital signal to analog for subscribers who have not made the switch to digital cable"

All the cable systems here are still analog on the first 70+ channles anyway. This is for everyone, even "digital" cable customers. Unless they hand out (charge for) converters to everyone for every TV, it will be that way for a while. I know Time Warner has been trying to do this for years, but has yet to pull the plug completely on analog. It will be downconversion for a while. Especially for the small cable companies.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by hamburglar:

"downconverting a digital signal to analog for subscribers who have not made the switch to digital cable"

All the cable systems here are still analog on the first 70+ channles anyway. This is for everyone, even "digital" cable customers. Unless they hand out (charge for) converters to everyone for every TV, it will be that way for a while. I know Time Warner has been trying to do this for years, but has yet to pull the plug completely on analog. It will be downconversion for a while. Especially for the small cable companies.
All cable companies are moving to all digital. Charter has already begun this. They have already move 2 channels that were on the analog tier to the digital tier and 2 channels that are on the analog tier are only viewable if you have a digital box because they are digital. the reason is that it frees up bandwith to supply HD channels. Charter plans to add 30-40 HD channels this year( supposedly ). So that means several more analog channels will have to be converted to digital.

hamburglar
join:2002-04-29
united state

hamburglar

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

I understand that they are trying to move away from analog for the bandwidth. The problem is that they have to install a converter on _every_ TV in the system, which is a lot of cost and labor. It will get there eventually.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by hamburglar:

I understand that they are trying to move away from analog for the bandwidth. The problem is that they have to install a converter on _every_ TV in the system, which is a lot of cost and labor. It will get there eventually.
What do you mean install a converter on every TV? No guy is coming out to your house and opening up your TV to install converter. That can't even be done.

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

1 recommendation

dadkins

MVM

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by 88615298:
said by hamburglar:

I understand that they are trying to move away from analog for the bandwidth. The problem is that they have to install a converter on _every_ TV in the system, which is a lot of cost and labor. It will get there eventually.
What do you mean install a converter on every TV? No guy is coming out to your house and opening up your TV to install converter. That can't even be done.
Just guessing here, but I *think* he means a Set Top Box(aka converter) for every non-digital TV.

There will need to be something to take the all digital signals and convert them to analog for the millions of "normal" TVs still in use.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by dadkins:

said by 88615298:
said by hamburglar:

I understand that they are trying to move away from analog for the bandwidth. The problem is that they have to install a converter on _every_ TV in the system, which is a lot of cost and labor. It will get there eventually.
What do you mean install a converter on every TV? No guy is coming out to your house and opening up your TV to install converter. That can't even be done.
Just guessing here, but I *think* he means a Set Top Box(aka converter) for every non-digital TV.

There will need to be something to take the all digital signals and convert them to analog for the millions of "normal" TVs still in use.
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that what you get when you subscribe to digital cable? All the cable companies will do is get rid of the analog tier. DirecTV doesn't have an analog tier.

As I said Charter has 2 channels on their "expanded basic" tier that are digital that you can't get in anymore( unless you have a TV with a digital tuner ). But people are being charged full price for the expanded basic tier. Not sure if the converter boxes the gov coupons are for will let these come in. I guess I'll find out when I get my coupons and get my $10 converter

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

dadkins

MVM

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

Has nothing to do with the "government coupons" and the OTA contverters.

If Charter/COX/Comcast/??? transitions all analog cable channels to digital, just having the cable screwed into the back of the TV will be useless.

You will have to get a cable box(digital) to take the digital cable channels and convert them to analog(channel 3 or 4) for your TV.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by dadkins:

Has nothing to do with the "government coupons" and the OTA contverters.
I know this and you know I know this. I never said it did have anything to do with it.
If Charter/COX/Comcast/??? transitions all analog cable channels to digital, just having the cable screwed into the back of the TV will be useless.
Yes and try screwing the cable that comes from your DirecTV dish straight into your Tv and guess what, it doesn't work either. Show me a law where cable companies can't convert all but local channels to digital and thus force you to get to subscribe to the digital tier?
You will have to get a cable box(digital) to take the digital cable channels and convert them to analog(channel 3 or 4) for your TV.
That why I brought up the digital boxes you can get with the coupons. As I said I can no longer get G4 or Game Show Network even though they are on the "analog" expanded basic tier, but I am paying for them. So I was wondering if these boxes would work for that purpose. If so then all these people have to do is get thier digital convert box coupons and pick up thier two $10 boxes.

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

dadkins

MVM

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

Whatever BF.
You're splitting hairs and going off base.
WTF does Dish have to do with cable?

Dude, you know what the OP meant.
Don't trip friend! LOL!

JamesPC
join:2005-10-12
Orange, CA

JamesPC

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

Serious....BF is trippin!

Sean8
join:2004-01-23
Toronto

Sean8 to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

said by dadkins:

Has nothing to do with the "government coupons" and the OTA contverters.
I know this and you know I know this. I never said it did have anything to do with it.
If Charter/COX/Comcast/??? transitions all analog cable channels to digital, just having the cable screwed into the back of the TV will be useless.
Yes and try screwing the cable that comes from your DirecTV dish straight into your Tv and guess what, it doesn't work either. Show me a law where cable companies can't convert all but local channels to digital and thus force you to get to subscribe to the digital tier?
You will have to get a cable box(digital) to take the digital cable channels and convert them to analog(channel 3 or 4) for your TV.
That why I brought up the digital boxes you can get with the coupons. As I said I can no longer get G4 or Game Show Network even though they are on the "analog" expanded basic tier, but I am paying for them. So I was wondering if these boxes would work for that purpose. If so then all these people have to do is get thier digital convert box coupons and pick up thier two $10 boxes.
Why the FUCK are you talking about Dish and DirecTV?

The point here, is that digital signal CANNOT BE VIEWED on a REGULAR TV WITHOUT CONVERSION.

Whether this conversion occurs somewhere along the line, or if it happens in the home using a set top box is up for grabs. But CONVERSION NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.

The fact that you're talking about digital cable and satellite tells me you're missing the fucking point of the argument. The argument pertains to ANALOG SUBSCRIBERS.

Analog subscribers are people who take the cable from their wall, and put it intot their TV. No dish, no converter, no set top box. These customers will have problems.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by Sean8:

said by 88615298:

said by dadkins:

Has nothing to do with the "government coupons" and the OTA contverters.
I know this and you know I know this. I never said it did have anything to do with it.
If Charter/COX/Comcast/??? transitions all analog cable channels to digital, just having the cable screwed into the back of the TV will be useless.
Yes and try screwing the cable that comes from your DirecTV dish straight into your Tv and guess what, it doesn't work either. Show me a law where cable companies can't convert all but local channels to digital and thus force you to get to subscribe to the digital tier?
You will have to get a cable box(digital) to take the digital cable channels and convert them to analog(channel 3 or 4) for your TV.
That why I brought up the digital boxes you can get with the coupons. As I said I can no longer get G4 or Game Show Network even though they are on the "analog" expanded basic tier, but I am paying for them. So I was wondering if these boxes would work for that purpose. If so then all these people have to do is get thier digital convert box coupons and pick up thier two $10 boxes.
Why the FUCK are you talking about Dish and DirecTV?

The point here, is that digital signal CANNOT BE VIEWED on a REGULAR TV WITHOUT CONVERSION.

Whether this conversion occurs somewhere along the line, or if it happens in the home using a set top box is up for grabs. But CONVERSION NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.

The fact that you're talking about digital cable and satellite tells me you're missing the fucking point of the argument. The argument pertains to ANALOG SUBSCRIBERS.

Analog subscribers are people who take the cable from their wall, and put it intot their TV. No dish, no converter, no set top box. These customers will have problems.
I get it just fine. YOU are the one being obtuse. you and Dadkins. Does dish have analog tier? No. Can people with analog TV still get Dish? yes. They need a box. So how is that different if cable went all digital? It's not. Show me the rule that cable can't go all digital( except for maybe locals ). What are their customers going to only watch OTA TV? No. Are they going to switch to satellite? Maybe, but that's stupid because you need a box to watch satellite so why get mad that you will need a box to watch cable?

There is NOTHING stopping cable from saying "In 6 months we are going all digital so you will need to rent a box to have a our service". If there is please tell me what that would be.

Qumahlin
Never Enough Time
MVM
join:2001-10-05
united state

2 edits

Qumahlin

MVM

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by 88615298:

There is NOTHING stopping cable from saying "In 6 months we are going all digital so you will need to rent a box to have a our service". If there is please tell me what that would be.
The reason people keep telling you to stop mentioning Dish/DirecTV is because they have nothing to do with Cable TV. Cable TV is a completely different beast, its treated different, regulated differently, etc, etc. To fully understand the workings you would need to do quite a bit of reading on how Cable started, how franchise agreements for cable operators work, etc.

The difference between Cable and Sat first off is that sat has ALWAYS required a box so for you to continue parroting "but you can't plug your sat dish into your TV and expect it to work!" is correct, but its wrong for what is being discussed. There are TONS of customers who do not want a box, do not want a billion channels, and just want to plug their TV into the one cable and be done with it, they don't want nor did they previously need a box, hence why they would be pissed about it now...understand?

The fact that you don't exactly understand what is going on is exactly what they are supposed to be educating the consumers about in preparation for the digital switch in 2009.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by Qumahlin:

said by 88615298:

There is NOTHING stopping cable from saying "In 6 months we are going all digital so you will need to rent a box to have a our service". If there is please tell me what that would be.
The reason people keep telling you to stop mentioning Dish/DirecTV is because they have nothing to do with Cable TV. Cable TV is a completely different beast, its treated different, regulated differently, etc, etc. To fully understand the workings you would need to do quite a bit of reading on how Cable started, how franchise agreements for cable operators work, etc.

The difference between Cable and Sat first off is that sat has ALWAYS required a box so for you to continue parroting "but you can't plug your sat dish into your TV and expect it to work!" is correct, but its wrong for what is being discussed. There are TONS of customers who do not want a box, do not want a billion channels, and just want to plug their TV into the one cable and be done with it, they don't want nor did they previously need a box, hence why they would be pissed about it now...understand?

The fact that you don't exactly understand what is going on is exactly what they are supposed to be educating the consumers about in preparation for the digital switch in 2009.
I understand perfectly what's going on. Don't patronize me. YOU are the one with the understanding problem. You are either obtuse or just being an ass for the sake of being an ass. I'm not sure which one you are yet.

Who cares what people always had before. Times change. Customers that don't want tons of channels don't have to have cable either. Charter's basic tier is 2-22. Expanded basic is 23-75. Digital starts at 100 and above. Ch 38 and 59 are digital now so those won't come in without a box or a TV with a QAM tuner even though they are part of the expanded basic tier. I can tell you within 3 years everything above 22 will be digital and will require a box or a TV with a QAM tuner. If you think cable is not moving to all or mostly digital you are the ignorant one. It doesn't matter if a few people with old TV's will get pissed.

ILpt4U
Premium Member
join:2006-11-12
Saint Louis, MO

ILpt4U to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
That is not entirely accurate. Some local franchise agreements REQUIRE the cable company to provide analog/No STB required content as per the agreement. But it is controlled at the local level, and every local agreement is different.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by ILpt4U:

That is not entirely accurate. Some local franchise agreements REQUIRE the cable company to provide analog/No STB required content as per the agreement. But it is controlled at the local level, and every local agreement is different.
true but also franchise agreements eventually end and have to be renewed. Also more states are going to statewide franchising. In my state the cable and telcos have come to an agreement on a bill on statewide franchising. This will most likely pass so "local" controll will be largely a thing of the past.
SKYWARP
join:2005-02-02
Portland, OR

SKYWARP to ILpt4U

Member

to ILpt4U
Some of the language in the digital transition legislation frees up cable operators from their mandatory analogue contracts with their local franchise authorities.

EvelKub
Kitty is crazy
Premium Member
join:2002-03-17
Mesa, AZ

1 edit

EvelKub to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
BF69: The OTA digital tuners will likely not tune QAM, which is the digital format used by the cable companies. Check the boxes before you buy. ATSC is the broadcast digital format, so if supported, QAM would be listed along side that.
ISurfTooMuch
join:2007-04-23
Tuscaloosa, AL

ISurfTooMuch

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

The boxes that can be bought with the coupons can only tune 8VSB (ATSC), not QAM. You can get boxes that tune both, but you can't use a coupon to pay for them.
Georgiaboy8
join:2005-06-25
Savannah, GA

1 edit

Georgiaboy8 to dadkins

Member

to dadkins
said by dadkins:

Has nothing to do with the "government coupons" and the OTA contverters.

If Charter/COX/Comcast/??? transitions all analog cable channels to digital, just having the cable screwed into the back of the TV will be useless.

You will have to get a cable box(digital) to take the digital cable channels and convert them to analog(channel 3 or 4) for your TV.
Why the heck can't people with broadcast only just receive a digital set-top with all accept broadcast networks trapped out, but still receive the broadcast networks in digital format if the system is at least ADS. Why "must" they be down converted to analog? They'll be getting enough money from additional box rental alone. (at least more than they were getting before from OTA subscribes, that is, more than nothing). I just figure if a converter is required, the signal should be digital regardless why go through trouble of downconversion. Are they tvs that can't receive digital signals even through a converter?

AnonDude86
@comcast.net

AnonDude86 to 88615298

Anon

to 88615298
If they put they channels inside the traps they can just send them unencrypted so you would just need a TV with a QAM tuner but that makes too much sense.

Dogfather
Premium Member
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA

1 edit

Dogfather to dadkins

Premium Member

to dadkins
There is no change in cable signal.

The only changes are independent as cable operators kill of their own analog tiers to save bandwidth. Locally, Time Warner scrambles all but broadcast basic in the analog tiers so people have analog boxes anyway. Plus Time Warner digitally simulcasts analog channels (eg channels below 100) so even with a digital box, you get digital feeds. Cox broadcasts analog basic cable unscrambled but since it's their own network they're not obligated to get rid of analog. When broadcast channels stop their analog feeds, cable operators could just do digital to analog conversion on their end should they choose to (at least I haven't read any FCC rule that would prohibit it, but who knows).

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

dadkins

MVM

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by Dogfather:

There is no change in cable signal.

The only changes are independent as cable operators kill of their own analog tiers to save bandwidth. Locally, Time Warner scrambles all but broadcast basic in the analog tiers so people have analog boxes anyway. Plus Time Warner digitally simulcasts analog channels (eg channels below 100) so even with a digital box, you get digital feeds. Cox broadcasts analog basic cable unscrambled but since it's their own network they're not obligated to get rid of analog. When broadcast channels stop their analog feeds, cable operators could just do digital to analog conversion on their end should they choose to (at least I haven't read any FCC rule that would prohibit it, but who knows).
Some of us don't have any box.
Cable comes from wall to TV/computer.
So, if everything goes to digital(like they are doing slowly - and Comcast admitted they will be transitioned to digital in 1-2 years), there will need to be a box involved... or a new TV with a cable card.

Dogfather
Premium Member
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA

Dogfather

Premium Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

Correct. If you happen to be in a cable system that isn't currently scrambling analog basic cable (like Comcast/TWC does in my service area), then yeah, you will need a cable box if they drop the analog.

Corehhi
join:2002-01-28
Bluffton, SC

Corehhi to dadkins

Member

to dadkins
What makes you think the cable company won't convert their signal to analog and then keep transmitting it to you in analog? That's what they do now.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

the cablecos need that analog bandwidth to cram in more digital channels.
SKYWARP
join:2005-02-02
Portland, OR

SKYWARP to Corehhi

Member

to Corehhi
Waste of available bandwidth. HD channels have to go somewhere. . . .

hamburglar
join:2002-04-29
united state

1 recommendation

hamburglar to dadkins

Member

to dadkins
said by dadkins:

Just guessing here, but I *think* he means a Set Top Box(aka converter) for every non-digital TV.
Yes, set top box is another name for it. I have 2 of 3 TVs connected directly to analog cable now. When it goes completely digital, at the cableco's discretion, I will need some type of rented "hardware" to use an existing TV.
Corydon
Cultivant son jardin
Premium Member
join:2008-02-18
Denver, CO

1 recommendation

Corydon to hamburglar

Premium Member

to hamburglar
This is how they'll do it:

»Comcast's $35 Digital Conversion Dongle [71] comments

It's not even a real set top box, just a converter.

This is a real win-win. Granny gets to keep her basic "analog" cable while Comcast gets to reclaim all the analog channels, which will hopefully get rid of crappy HD due to overcompression and provide more space for faster internet connections.
disc
join:2005-12-31
Raleigh, NC

disc

Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

said by Corydon:

This is how they'll do it:

»Comcast's $35 Digital Conversion Dongle [71] comments

It's not even a real set top box, just a converter.
I wouldn't mind paying $35 a dongle. But I would mind paying a monthly fee per dongle. Hypothetical of course, since I'm on Time Warner.
wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Miami, FL

wierdo to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

All cable companies are moving to all digital. Charter has already begun this. They have already move 2 channels that were on the analog tier to the digital tier and 2 channels that are on the analog tier are only viewable if you have a digital box because they are digital. the reason is that it frees up bandwith to supply HD channels. Charter plans to add 30-40 HD channels this year( supposedly ). So that means several more analog channels will have to be converted to digital.
Heh, Cox just moved yet another shopping channel from digital to their analog lineup. At least it only replaced another channel, unlike Jewelry TV, which was a new add (on channel 113 analog, no less)

Corehhi
join:2002-01-28
Bluffton, SC

Corehhi to hamburglar

Member

to hamburglar
My cable company has no plans to upgrade to digital. If you want digital you have to pay extra. They carry no HDTV channels. I serious doubt anything will change for a few years.
Meester_Serg
join:2003-07-01
Lancaster, PA

Meester_Serg to hamburglar

Member

to hamburglar
said by hamburglar:

"downconverting a digital signal to analog for subscribers who have not made the switch to digital cable"

All the cable systems here are still analog on the first 70+ channles anyway. This is for everyone, even "digital" cable customers.
If your cable provider uses ADS then all channels are simulcast in digital.

"On cable television systems, analog-digital simulcasting (ADS) means that analog channels are duplicated as digital subchannels. Digital tuners are programmed to use the digital subchannel instead of the analog. This allows for smaller, cheaper, cable boxes by eliminating the analog tuner and some analog circuitry."

jt55
@comcast.net

jt55 to hamburglar

Anon

to hamburglar
sorry but you are wrong. most cable company broadcast there standard service in both analog and digital signals. when you have a dct you get digital if you dont you get anolog. cable company will also be making some changes to that in the near future.. i know comcast sometime this year will be converting there expanded basic service to all digital and drop the analog and the limited basic will be analog only. they are doing this to get back some of the bandwidth to launch more hd channels and on demand content.
ajwees41
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Omaha, NE

ajwees41

Premium Member

Re: Most cable is still analog anyway

Jt55 it is you who are wrong

The motorola dct 2000 that cox uses in some places has both an analog a digital tuner and until just within this last year we were getting both analog and digital on the dct 2000. Cox launched ADS and now the the dct2000 tunes the digital versions of the analog channels.

Jmartz0
join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ

Jmartz0 to hamburglar

Member

to hamburglar
said by hamburglar:

"downconverting a digital signal to analog for subscribers who have not made the switch to digital cable"

All the cable systems here are still analog on the first 70+ channles anyway. This is for everyone, even "digital" cable customers. Unless they hand out (charge for) converters to everyone for every TV, it will be that way for a while. I know Time Warner has been trying to do this for years, but has yet to pull the plug completely on analog. It will be downconversion for a while. Especially for the small cable companies.
Actually, they will do what Cablevision is doing and slowly turn analog off all together without giving you didly squat for the TV's that will need converters.
gaforces (banned)
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

gaforces (banned)

Member

ABC KMA

They haven't broadcasted OTA here for some years now, so who cares.
It's no great loss if their terrible shows aren't shown on cable either.
dishrich
join:2006-05-12
Springfield, IL

1 edit

dishrich

Member

several points missing from the post on DSLR

If you read the actual B&C article, there are some points missing in this post:

-First, this ONLY covers the 10 ABC O&O affiliates; it does NOT say anything about the rest of the ABC stations. EVERY location HD station (at least the ones that are not providing an SD feed on a subchannel) is going to be going through this with BOTH cable ops & DBS.

-Really, all this is doing is providing a 4:3 aspect SD feed, so that the cable ops in these DMA's do NOT have to make a decision to either crop or letterbox the HD feed, to fit on 4:3 SD analog sets.

-It would also not necessarily HAVE to be sent "by wire" to cable headends; the DT stations could simply provide an SD feed in one of their subchannels, that anyone could use. Of course, this would take away bandwidth from using subchannels for something else. (ABC Newsnow, weather feeds, etc)

Unfortunately, these type of decisions are going to be coming up for ALL local HD stations, as we get closer to 2/17/09; it appears the industry hasn't really thought about all these issues (yet)...
disc
join:2005-12-31
Raleigh, NC

disc

Member

Re: several points missing from the post on DSLR

said by dishrich:

If you read the actual B&C article, there are some points missing in this post:

Still, compared to the other issues that MSOs and network affiliates battle over (such as carriage requirements), the issues raised in the original post seem to be small potatoes.

Sure, the points you bring up mean the issue is somewhat more complex than merely deciding who buys the transcoder. But none of those are per sub cost, so nothing that the MSOs and network affiliates need to get bent out of shape about.
dishrich
join:2006-05-12
Springfield, IL

dishrich

Member

Re: several points missing from the post on DSLR

said by disc:

Still, compared to the other issues that MSOs and network affiliates battle over (such as carriage requirements), the issues raised in the original post seem to be small potatoes.
Well, not really IMHO, but we are a way's away from cutoff. But what I meant is, whoever has the decision on HOW downconvert ANY existing HD signal to SD, (whether that be the cable co, broadcast station, or DBS) is going to make some people unhappy. How DO they do this - do they do cropping, which will (potentially) be cutting important picture info on the sides, or do they do letterboxing, where viewers (particulary ones with smaller sets) will be complaining about "the new tiny picture"? Either way, it's a NO win.

BUT, by ABC sending out a true 4:3 feed, this should eliminate many of these problems.

tim_k
Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, Kasey
Premium Member
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA

tim_k

Premium Member

who needs a HDTV antenna?

warning you that if you still rely on rabbit ears to get your television signal then you’re going to be out of luck
I've read this in a couple of different articles. It's so misleading if not untrue. Rabbit ears has nothing to do with it. Me & my parents picked up digital OTA TV using nothing but rabbit ears. Of course the decoder has to be digital, but the antenna doesn't need to be anything special.

•••••••••••••••••••••••
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88

Member

analog transmission

"ABC has agreed to take responsibility for providing that analog feed via wireline to their analog cable customers for up to one year after the transition. The decision is pending agreement by local cable operators."

How is analog tv transmitted through wireline for long distences? Coax, twisted pair, fiber, or microwave (but thats wireless)? And what about amplifiers/boosters?

EvelKub
Kitty is crazy
Premium Member
join:2002-03-17
Mesa, AZ

EvelKub

Premium Member

Re: analog transmission

This is done in most larger cities anyway. The cable company already has fiber crossing the city on every major street, so they just run a fiber directly in to the TV station's building. This way they can provide a feed of all of their content to the cable company at 100% clarity, regardless of transmitter status. The cable operator in turn can provide telephone, internet and other data services to the television provider.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd to patcat88

Premium Member

to patcat88
and in a major event(like the 2003 blackout) they fire up the Analog transmitter on the roof of the empire state building. and give the FCC the finger.
amungus
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
America

amungus

Premium Member

curious

I've wondered about this...

Say, for instance, in my area, it's difficult to get analog OTA. How will Cox expect to receive digital OTA, and then pipe that through analog cable??? What if the signal is just too weak from the towers? Surely they aren't going to use up valuable satellite bandwidth for such cases...

Oh, and I take issue with this quote:
"downconverting a digital signal to analog"

Downconvert my a$$... it's standard def. Downconversion would imply going from an HD feed to SD.

Then there's this quote from the article:
"ABC stations will continue to air an analog signal after the transition to digital after all, but only for use by analog cable customers."

ONLY for cable customers??? What? How are they going to air this then? Microwave towers to the cable companies?
How will ordinary NTSC tuners not be able to receive an analog broadcast?

This whole thing is seeming like it's going to be a mess.
systems2000
What? You Say It's Fixed. Hah
join:2001-11-29
Cyberspace

systems2000

Member

The Lie Continues

The real lie is that all this digital transition activity requirement currently only applies to "High-Power" transmitters.

Because of the nature of the VHF bandwidth, this is where the Government is trying to re-allocate.

Class A, Low-Power, and Translator stations have no requirement to discontinue analog transmissions next February. Most are already on the UHF band and will not interfere with the claiming of the VHF bandwidth for other uses.

I also love the statement that analog television sets will "stop working."

The televisions still work, they just will not be recieving a signal that they can convert.

•••••••

goofy01
join:2004-02-05
Hammond, IN

goofy01

Member

Comcast has already started

They have already started dropping all analog service in some areas. I know my parents in Chicago had to get a digital box for their cable last year. Comcast supplied them with one for free, any other boxes would have cost them. Luckily for them, they only have one TV hooked up to cable. Now my mom is looking at the converters for her other TV, which isn't hooked up to cable.

rcbrcb
Premium Member
join:2007-02-21
60642

rcbrcb

Premium Member

Re: Comcast has already started

RCN in Chicago is in the process of switching over to a full digital system. Most nodes have already been converted. This new systems requires the use of set-top receiver on each TV. They are providing DC-700's (you get one free and additional are $4.95 per month)

rchandra
Stargate Universe fan
Premium Member
join:2000-11-09
14225-2105
ARRIS ONT1000GJ4
EnGenius EAP1250

rchandra

Premium Member

ptooey....nuts to STBs, I want controlled selectivity

OK, it is possible I'm missing something, but for my MythTV, I don't have a (reliable) way to manipulate TWC's STB for tuning digital (don't want to rely on an IR blaster or similar). As long as they continue to encrypt their digital signals so that I can't just throw an ATSC card in my MythTV, I have little to no incentive (at least at this time) to partake of their DTV.

Or am I mistaken? Are the channels they offer in analog format available to be tuned digitally, and viewable w/o decryption? If so, happy days, I will invest in some ATSC (or probably HDTV as they typically do that too) card(s) for the good ole Myth.

••••
cabledad
join:2007-03-13
Pottsboro, TX

cabledad

Member

digital

I am a small cable operator and I am sure as heck not going all digital,the digital boxes sold to cable companys are too expensive and full of problems.I have added the off air 8vsb channels in the upper end of my pass band on uhf channels,this way those with hdtv tuners can tune the hdtv,no cost to the customer no $500 box for me. Most of my customers are older and they don't want a set top box,they would rather to have all there 70 favorite channels on every tv in there house for no additional montht charge.