O. T.....tv switch from analog to digital........very important.

We thought since we have our tv's connected to Comcast cable we were all
set for the switch from analog to digital. We had the Comcast guy here
today for an email problem and he asked if our tv's were digital or not.

Two of ours are not digital, but we said we would be ok since we are
connected to cable. The service man told us that we are not ok and need
a digital adapter box and that they do not charge for that. It seems
that all the advertising is misleading, you are NOT ok just because you
have a cable connection.

If you do not have digital tuners in your tvs you need to call your
cable company and get one installed NOW. If you don't you will lose all
non-network channels this coming friday.

If you do need to get digital tuners installed call NOW, if you wait for
friday when you lose all non-network channels, there will be tons of
other people calling and it will be a zoo.

sue - glad to of had email problems!!

On June 7, Sue wrote:
> We thought since we have our tv's connected to Comcast cable we were all
> set for the switch from analog to digital. We had the Comcast guy here
> today for an email problem and he asked if our tv's were digital or not.
>
> Two of ours are not digital, but we said we would be ok since we are
> connected to cable. The service man told us that we are not ok and need
> a digital adapter box and that they do not charge for that. It seems
> that all the advertising is misleading, you are NOT ok just because you
> have a cable connection.

(ka-snip)

Sue has been misled.

Here is the correct answer, from the FAQ section of http://www.dtv.gov/

"Does the DTV Transition Affect TV Sets That Are Connected to Cable
Services?

No. If you subscribe to cable service, the DTV transition should not
affect any TV sets that are connected to your cable services. The DTV
transition applies only to full-power broadcast television stations –
stations that use the public airwaves to transmit their programming to
viewers through a broadcast antenna."

Regards,

Steve J

Steve Jordan wrote:
> On June 7, Sue wrote:
>> We thought since we have our tv's connected to Comcast cable we were
>> all set for the switch from analog to digital. We had the Comcast guy
>> here today for an email problem and he asked if our tv's were digital
>> or not.
>>
>> Two of ours are not digital, but we said we would be ok since we are
>> connected to cable. The service man told us that we are not ok and
>> need a digital adapter box and that they do not charge for that. It
>> seems that all the advertising is misleading, you are NOT ok just
>> because you have a cable connection.
>
> (ka-snip)
>
> Sue has been misled.
>
> Here is the correct answer, from the FAQ section of http://www.dtv.gov/
>
> "Does the DTV Transition Affect TV Sets That Are Connected to Cable
> Services?
>
> No. If you subscribe to cable service, the DTV transition should not
> affect any TV sets that are connected to your cable services. The DTV
> transition applies only to full-power broadcast television stations –
> stations that use the public airwaves to transmit their programming to
> viewers through a broadcast antenna."

I always thought that as long as we have cable, which we do, we didn't
have to do anything and would be fine.

Some posted on another group that it might be because our cable company,
Comcast, is migrating ALL of its programmin to its digital tiers.

I really don't know what is going on, but at least Comcast is not
charging to install a converter on each of our non-digital tvs. Don't
know why they would mislead us if it is costing them time/money to
install free convertr boxes?

Oh well, I have better things to worry about then this.

sue

On June 7, Sue Mullen replied to me:

> I really don't know what is going on, but at least Comcast is not
> charging to install a converter on each of our non-digital tvs. Don't
> know why they would mislead us if it is costing them time/money to
> install free convertr boxes?

TANSTAAFL. There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch!

*Someone* is paying for those boxes. That "someone" is thee & me, the
taxpayers.

Comcast is paid for each converter they install, whether it's necessary
or not.

In short, it's a scam. Yes, by Comcast.

Regards,

Steve J

Trust no one. Always count your change.

Steve Jordan wrote:
> On June 7, Sue Mullen replied to me:
>
>> I really don't know what is going on, but at least Comcast is not
>> charging to install a converter on each of our non-digital tvs. Don't
>> know why they would mislead us if it is costing them time/money to
>> install free convertr boxes?
>
> TANSTAAFL. There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch!
>
> *Someone* is paying for those boxes. That "someone" is thee & me, the
> taxpayers.
>
> Comcast is paid for each converter they install, whether it's necessary
> or not.
>
> In short, it's a scam. Yes, by Comcast.

We will find out next weekend if it is a scam or not. Kevin intends to
remove the box on the kitchen tv and see what happens.

sue

Every one of the scores of written and broadcast announcements I've seen
on this issue made it crystal clear: the change to digital has no impact
on cable TV viewers.

I.P.

"I.P. Freely" <fuhgheddaboutit@noway.nohow> wrote in message
news:hFZWl.37951$Ue2.9318@newsfe07.iad...
: Every one of the scores of written and broadcast announcements I've seen
: on this issue made it crystal clear: the change to digital has no impact
: on cable TV viewers.

'Tis true! If there was a change, I did not notice it. My plasma and 27"
are hooked up to digital cable. My den and billiard room TVs are hooked up
to analog cable. All are working just fine.

I'll have to find my little Sony 2" TV that was old when OJ was aquitted.
I'll bet that one doesn't work.

Steve Kramer wrote:
>
> I'll have to find my little Sony 2" TV that was old when OJ was aquitted.
> I'll bet that one doesn't work.

It should, if you hook it to your cable. We have several purely analog
TVs hooked to our cable circuit, all of which I expect to work normally.

I.P.

On Jun 7, 1:27*pm, Sue Mullen <kjmul...@comcast.net> wrote:
> We thought since we have our tv's connected to Comcast cable we were all
> set for the switch from analog to digital. We had the Comcast guy here
> today for an email problem and he asked if our tv's were digital or not.
>
> Two of ours are not digital, but we said we would be ok since we are
> connected to cable. The service man told us that we are not ok and need
> a digital adapter box and that they do not charge for that. *It seems
> that all the advertising is misleading, you are NOT ok just because you
> have a cable connection.
>
> If you do not have digital tuners in your tvs you need to call your
> cable company and get one installed NOW. If you don't you will lose all
> non-network channels this coming friday.
>
> If you do need to get digital tuners installed call NOW, if you wait for
> friday when you lose all non-network channels, there will be tons of
> other people calling and it will be a zoo.
>
> sue - glad to of had email problems!!

This can be very confusing.

If you just receive basic cable from Comcast, you probably don't need
any converter box. If your set is analog, the digital signals---the
only kind after the transition---will be converted to analog for
you. If your set is digital, you should get the full digital signal
from comcast. I've already checked the latter with my digital set.
In our building, we can get basic cable without a box, just by connect
ing our sets directly to the cable without a box. You tune with the
TV controls. I have a Tee connection for our digital HD set which
allows us to use this direct connection or to go through Comcast's
digital HDTV box. With the direct connection, I've been getting the
full HD broadcasts from those stations which have been broadcasting
them.

If you subscribe to a digital package, providing considerably more
than basic cable, then you presently need a converter box, whether
you have an analog or digital TV., and the same will be true after the
switch to digital.

One aside. For HD, you will actually get better reception over the
air than you would through cable. That is because the cable
companies use compression algorithms and thereby lose some
information. Of course, with over the air reception, if the signal
is weak, you will no longer get anything at all after the switch,
whereas before you might have got a snowy picture. In urban or
suburban environments, you may need a new antenna to get all the
stations you got before.

"I.P. Freely" <fuhgheddaboutit@noway.nohow> wrote in message
news:%18Xl.6900$Dr4.3544@newsfe24.iad...
: Steve Kramer wrote:
: >
: > I'll have to find my little Sony 2" TV that was old when OJ was
aquitted.
: > I'll bet that one doesn't work.
:
: It should, if you hook it to your cable. We have several purely analog
: TVs hooked to our cable circuit, all of which I expect to work normally.

I should have mentioned it's a portable, battery-operated, pocket sized
television. Nothing to hook to cable.

Steve Kramer wrote:
> "I.P. Freely" <fuhgheddaboutit@noway.nohow> wrote in message
> news:%18Xl.6900$Dr4.3544@newsfe24.iad...
> : Steve Kramer wrote:
> : >
> : > I'll have to find my little Sony 2" TV that was old when OJ was
> aquitted.
> : > I'll bet that one doesn't work.
> :
> : It should, if you hook it to your cable. We have several purely analog
> : TVs hooked to our cable circuit, all of which I expect to work normally.
>
> I should have mentioned it's a portable, battery-operated, pocket sized
> television. Nothing to hook to cable.
>
>
Open the case. Run some wires. I'm making a point here. ;-)

I.P.

The cable man was here today and I asked for an explanation.

The story is that Comcast in Burlington County, where I live, is in the
process of switching to all Digital. If you don't have a digital tv,
then you need some kind of digital box or in the near future you won't
get any stations. In the last few weeks we have seen a few stations
going digital and the rest will follow soon.

This is only a problem here in Burlington County.


sue - my last word on this!

www.gemini-aquarius7.com

Visit the Greatest site for good health products.See these Affiliates
(Wonderlabs - Health Products)
(Cloudnine - Anti-aging Products) You may also for your entertainment
register
to dwonload movies,at movies-for-all , or to watch TV on a Satellete dish,
at satellite to home.



"Sue Mullen" <kjmullen@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:792f4uF1ofbtgU2@mid.individual.net...
> We thought since we have our tv's connected to Comcast cable we were all
> set for the switch from analog to digital. We had the Comcast guy here
> today for an email problem and he asked if our tv's were digital or not.
>
> Two of ours are not digital, but we said we would be ok since we are
> connected to cable. The service man told us that we are not ok and need a
> digital adapter box and that they do not charge for that. It seems that
> all the advertising is misleading, you are NOT ok just because you have a
> cable connection.
>
> If you do not have digital tuners in your tvs you need to call your cable
> company and get one installed NOW. If you don't you will lose all
> non-network channels this coming friday.
>
> If you do need to get digital tuners installed call NOW, if you wait for
> friday when you lose all non-network channels, there will be tons of other
> people calling and it will be a zoo.
>
> sue - glad to of had email problems!!

www.gemini-aquarius7.com

Visit the Greatest site for good health products.See these Affiliates
(Wonderlabs - Health Products)
(Cloudnine - Anti-aging Products) You may also for your entertainment
register
to dwonload movies,at movies-for-all , or to watch TV on a Satellete dish,
at satellite to home.



"len" <len@math.northwestern.edu> wrote in message
news:50c83966-6713-4f3b-9321-c0fc94f3ffea@n21g2000vba.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 7, 1:27 pm, Sue Mullen <kjmul...@comcast.net> wrote:
> We thought since we have our tv's connected to Comcast cable we were all
> set for the switch from analog to digital. We had the Comcast guy here
> today for an email problem and he asked if our tv's were digital or not.
>
> Two of ours are not digital, but we said we would be ok since we are
> connected to cable. The service man told us that we are not ok and need
> a digital adapter box and that they do not charge for that. It seems
> that all the advertising is misleading, you are NOT ok just because you
> have a cable connection.
>
> If you do not have digital tuners in your tvs you need to call your
> cable company and get one installed NOW. If you don't you will lose all
> non-network channels this coming friday.
>
> If you do need to get digital tuners installed call NOW, if you wait for
> friday when you lose all non-network channels, there will be tons of
> other people calling and it will be a zoo.
>
> sue - glad to of had email problems!!

This can be very confusing.

If you just receive basic cable from Comcast, you probably don't need
any converter box. If your set is analog, the digital signals---the
only kind after the transition---will be converted to analog for
you. If your set is digital, you should get the full digital signal
from comcast. I've already checked the latter with my digital set.
In our building, we can get basic cable without a box, just by connect
ing our sets directly to the cable without a box. You tune with the
TV controls. I have a Tee connection for our digital HD set which
allows us to use this direct connection or to go through Comcast's
digital HDTV box. With the direct connection, I've been getting the
full HD broadcasts from those stations which have been broadcasting
them.

If you subscribe to a digital package, providing considerably more
than basic cable, then you presently need a converter box, whether
you have an analog or digital TV., and the same will be true after the
switch to digital.

One aside. For HD, you will actually get better reception over the
air than you would through cable. That is because the cable
companies use compression algorithms and thereby lose some
information. Of course, with over the air reception, if the signal
is weak, you will no longer get anything at all after the switch,
whereas before you might have got a snowy picture. In urban or
suburban environments, you may need a new antenna to get all the
stations you got before.