57U
02-09-2005, 05:15 PM
The answer is yes or no, depending.
You need to have a tuner that has "QAM" capability (this is the modulation used by most cable companies.)
You may then be able to pick up the unencrypted (unscrambled) digital cable stations. HD stations form some of this digital tier.
Most cable companies do not encrypt the "local OTA-type" HD stations that they carry.
Most cable companies do encrypt all other digital channels, including premium HD stations like HBO, ESPN, etc.
Sometimes, there may be digital channels that you may be able to receive, but they are usually the ones on "free preview".
This will vary from cable company to cable company and from location to location.
Just because you can receive these now, you may not be able to receive them in the future.
In many cases, you simply need to connect the cable to the TV - you don't even need to subscribe to the digital tier.
Occasionally you may also see VOD channels/movies that other people in your area are ordering. You will have no control over the movies, they may switch channels, they may pause/rewind, etc.
There are some OTA STBs (ATSC/8VSB) that have QAM capability, but be careful and be aware that they may not have full QAM coverage and of the limitations discussed above.
You can usually rent a STB from the cable company for a few dollars a month. The added features include such items as:
The ability to subscribe to any or all the digital channels
VOD (Video on Demand
PPV (Pay per view - via the remote)
IPG (Interactive programme guide)
DVR (this is an important one for many people - DVRs change the way you watch TV).
Future additional services.
Some TVs have a "CableCARD" option, which allows you to subscribe to all the channels, but doesn't provide the interactive services listed above with the STB.
The above applies for the US. In Canada almost all digital cable channels are encrypted and QAM tuners are basically useless for digital cable. If you want to use the ATSC tuner for OTA, that's a different story.
Here's an example of the unencrypted channels on Rogers Cable. This list used to be long, but now almost everything is encrypted.
http://www.remotecentral.com/hdtv/rogers.htm
As you can see from the above, the channel numbers bear no resemblance to the cable channel numbers. ie. channel 121.234 may be cable channel 381... You'll have to determine yourself what they are. Also, note that the programming is not always HD, so you may see 4:3 images on HD channels - programming is usually HD at prime time..
If you have any comments or suggestions, please PM me.
You need to have a tuner that has "QAM" capability (this is the modulation used by most cable companies.)
You may then be able to pick up the unencrypted (unscrambled) digital cable stations. HD stations form some of this digital tier.
Most cable companies do not encrypt the "local OTA-type" HD stations that they carry.
Most cable companies do encrypt all other digital channels, including premium HD stations like HBO, ESPN, etc.
Sometimes, there may be digital channels that you may be able to receive, but they are usually the ones on "free preview".
This will vary from cable company to cable company and from location to location.
Just because you can receive these now, you may not be able to receive them in the future.
In many cases, you simply need to connect the cable to the TV - you don't even need to subscribe to the digital tier.
Occasionally you may also see VOD channels/movies that other people in your area are ordering. You will have no control over the movies, they may switch channels, they may pause/rewind, etc.
There are some OTA STBs (ATSC/8VSB) that have QAM capability, but be careful and be aware that they may not have full QAM coverage and of the limitations discussed above.
You can usually rent a STB from the cable company for a few dollars a month. The added features include such items as:
The ability to subscribe to any or all the digital channels
VOD (Video on Demand
PPV (Pay per view - via the remote)
IPG (Interactive programme guide)
DVR (this is an important one for many people - DVRs change the way you watch TV).
Future additional services.
Some TVs have a "CableCARD" option, which allows you to subscribe to all the channels, but doesn't provide the interactive services listed above with the STB.
The above applies for the US. In Canada almost all digital cable channels are encrypted and QAM tuners are basically useless for digital cable. If you want to use the ATSC tuner for OTA, that's a different story.
Here's an example of the unencrypted channels on Rogers Cable. This list used to be long, but now almost everything is encrypted.
http://www.remotecentral.com/hdtv/rogers.htm
As you can see from the above, the channel numbers bear no resemblance to the cable channel numbers. ie. channel 121.234 may be cable channel 381... You'll have to determine yourself what they are. Also, note that the programming is not always HD, so you may see 4:3 images on HD channels - programming is usually HD at prime time..
If you have any comments or suggestions, please PM me.
