Closeed Captioning

[Tenorguy]

Does anyone know if you can get closed captioning with a digital cable HD signal?

I'm thinking of getting HD but I need closed captioning and I've received different answers from yes, to only with Hitachis etc etc.

Can you give me a current answer? Many thanks,

Tenorguy

[zarlor]

The answer is a definitive YES, as far ast he capability being there. The ATSC standard allows for a full path for information, such as closed captioning. Being part of that standard means that any ATSC tuner (whether built into the TV or in a STB, like you would need for an HDTV Ready or Compatible set) should be fully capable of displaying those features. However, it is up to your local stations as to whether or not they actually use that capability. There are still many stations out there that have not bothered to add those extra "features" into their digital stream at this time.

[Tenorguy]

Thanks for the quick response!... I will contact my locals to see what they are sending to the cable stations.

Tenorguy

[57U]

Tenorguy, be careful on this issue, if you absolutely need to have it, check to see it in action.

I have heard of some incompatibility issues and have seen them for myself.

For example, I checked for you today and the standard def movie I was watching had CC, however, the HD version of the same movie did not have CC. This may be because of the capability of the STB (in my case an SA3100HD), or because the HD movie was not CC.

I have, however, not seen CC on any HD material, so it is likely a "box" issue. I'm sure that as these issues come to light, future STBs will not have problems with CC, however, do not take it for granted that HD will have CC.

Also, do not believe what any CSRs tell you. See it in action for yourself. There are demonstration setups somewhere, go see them. Since HD is very new, almost no-one knows how the various pieces of equipment will perform.

What the local stations send may be perfectly fine, but the cable box may not be able to pass those signals.