Easy question .....maybe

[tennosuke]

Here is the only thing I have not heard a definitive answer for....... Even if you are using Digital cable or a satellite service, will you need to get a converter box for the tvs that do not have Cable/Satellite boxes hooked up to them, if they do not have a Digital Tuner in them already?

 

[Jason Fritz]

Hi tennosuke,
I have a question for you when you get a chance, are the TVs that do not have cable or satellite boxes connected to them connected for basic cable? Or do you just use an antenna to receive television broadcasts?

 

[tennosuke]

yes there is basic cable service. But thanks to Comcast they are pulling channels off of analog and moving strictly to digital slowly but surely...... they even took the program guide channel.

 

[Byte24]

I went searching on Comcast's website and found this page: Comcast | Digital Broadcast Transition

It looks like as long as you have your TVs connected to their basic cable service. "Comcast has you covered in the switch to digital broadcast."

 

[Jason Fritz]

Just to further ease the thoughts of anyone with cable (basic cable or set top box), the government has provided the following information available on their website.

Will cable customers with analog TVs have to buy or rent a set-top box from their cable company? If so, how much will it cost?

First, it's important to know that the February 17, 2009 deadline for the digital television transition only applies to full-power broadcast stations. Cable companies are not required by the government to transition their systems to digital, and can continue to deliver channels to their customers in analog. Cable companies are actually required by FCC rules to continue offering local broadcast stations to their customers in analog as long as they offer any analog service. This requirement will continue for at least three years after February 17, 2009. The Commission will decide in 2011 whether the requirement should be continued beyond February 17, 2012. This means that customers who receive analog cable service (without a cable set-top box) will be able to continue to do so.

I've underlined the most important part of the paragraph for cable and satellite subscribers, so, at this current time, the government has mandated that cable and satellite companies offer analog local stations for 3 years past the February 2009 transition date.

 

[tennosuke]

Well apparently Comcast is taking the "local" channel thing to heart. Because they are slowly moving channels off of analog service and strictly broadcasting in digital. It wouldn't make me so made but my DVR uses the program guide from the TV Guide channel for it's program guide ad now that they have taken it and stuck it on digital I have a very expensive paper weight just sucking up electricity. But thank you for the replies. I was just hoping that someone would know if it works on cable the way it works with antenna and takes the digital signal off the cable. I really don't want to buy a new tv yet since this is a fairly new 20" Sharp Aquos

 

[Aaron62]

Well apparently Comcast is taking the "local" channel thing to heart. Because they are slowly moving channels off of analog service and strictly broadcasting in digital. It wouldn't make me so made but my DVR uses the program guide from the TV Guide channel for it's program guide ad now that they have taken it and stuck it on digital I have a very expensive paper weight just sucking up electricity. But thank you for the replies. I was just hoping that someone would know if it works on cable the way it works with antenna and takes the digital signal off the cable. I really don't want to buy a new tv yet since this is a fairly new 20" Sharp Aquos

That's so funny you mention that only because, notice how the government specifically stipulated "local channels". So the cable and satellite companies can pull every other channel off of their basic programming if they wanted to.

You won't be able to use a over-the-air converter box with basic cable service, you have to use their set-top cable box. It was mentioned on here for the reason why somewhere, but it has something to do with the signal that cable companies put out...

 

[tennosuke]

Thank you Aaron62. I am glad I found out b4 I wasted the time. So I really have no choice but to buy a new tv or get more cable boxes for all the other tvs in the house. Figures, more money for the freaking cable companies

 

[Aaron62]

Thank you Aaron62. I am glad I found out b4 I wasted the time. So I really have no choice but to buy a new tv or get more cable boxes for all the other tvs in the house. Figures, more money for the freaking cable companies

No problem! I can't imagine that cable companies are going to pull all of their programming (except for local channels) off of basic cable service, but I've been wrong before. You could literally go from 2009-2012 without touching any of your basic cable TVs...

I know that's my plan on my other TV in the bedroom connected to basic cable.