Cable companies deceiving its customers?

tommyboy

Ok, so we all know about the digital switch that will occur in Feb, 2009. We have been told that all tvs that recieve an analog broadcast over the air will now have to buy a digital tuner to keep watching. Ok, thats all good since the government are giving out rebates for digital boxes.

But what about cable? why does having cable instead of an antenna change the fact that you still have an analog tuner built in your tv? hmm...so what does the cable companies advertise (well, at least comcast)... that since you have cable, you will have to do nothing! What? Does comcast not realize that most people still use cable directly connected to their tv (or for 2nd or 3rd tv).

I was hoping you guys could maybe clarify this for me since it makes no sense. What I get out of it is that having cable (which they say won't effect you) will actually cost more cause you will be charged extra for each box each month, yet with over the air broadcast(creating the biggest buzz), you get a free box...

AsSiMiLaTeD

I haven't had cable plugged directly into my TV in years. In some areas cable companies REQUIRE that you have their digital service...

sucks2beme

OK. At this point, I know of no plans for cable to shut off it's standard cable offering,
which works with no "box". That service is output to you as traditional analog. No change,
thus no ditigal tuner needed. I don't think the tv police are gonna show up and take
away your analog tuner.

As far as digital cable goes, there is a conversion taking place, and those users should
already have an analog compatable "digital box" hooked up.
I don't really get your question. The only thing that has to go away are the
over the air broadcast stations, since the frequencies have been sold
to other businesses. CATV is allowed to provide that service as long as it wants.
Although my guess is they kill it in the next couple of years.

bobman1235

The only thing that's changing is TV broadcast over the air. The cable companies (the ones that haven't gone completely digital) are still allowed to, and will continue to as long as its profitable for them, send analog cable signals over their wires. So if you have cable, the cable company will still be providing you with an analog signal via the wire coming out of your wall; if you were to try to use rabbit ears instead you would be SOL.

Dennis Gardner

There is no provision for a forced phaseout of analog cable broadcasts at this date. Cable companies will have to downmix digital signals to analog to broadcast them on there lower channel tiers.

Cox Cable has given their customers a 3 year committment of analog broadcasts past the 2/09 DTV OTA deadline.

tommyboy

bobman1235 wrote: »

The only thing that's changing is TV broadcast over the air. The cable companies (the ones that haven't gone completely digital) are still allowed to, and will continue to as long as its profitable for them, send analog cable signals over their wires. So if you have cable, the cable company will still be providing you with an analog signal via the wire coming out of your wall; if you were to try to use rabbit ears instead you would be SOL.

Well, here in Pittsburgh, cable monopoly comcast says you won't have to worry.... if you are a basic cable suscriber. They are trying to move any expanded basic channel to digital, while the rest (I think like 15 channels) will stay analog. Already starting july 15 with about 8 channels moving digital. We have the digital box but didn't purchase the digital package. Its already expensive enough for expanded basic, the digital channels are ridiculous. I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe the switch to satelite might not be a bad idea.

Edit: here is an article I found that was just written today..

http://http://redtape.msnbc.com/2008/07/the-other-digit.html#posts

bobman1235

I guess technically they're still giving you what the ads say - all the network channels that you would get OTA are still analog. But if what you (and that MSNBC article) are saying is true then I agree they are being deceptive.

The outrage is a bit much - there are other options. As you mention, satellite, and a lot of places are getting FiOs TV which is fantastic, though still pretty sparse. But on top of it all, it IS just TV. Maybe this will be the impetus for us all to stop needing 937 channels

madmax

tommyboy wrote: »

But what about cable? why does having cable instead of an antenna change the fact that you still have an analog tuner built in your tv? hmm...so what does the cable companies advertise (well, at least comcast)... that since you have cable, you will have to do nothing! What? Does comcast not realize that most people still use cable directly connected to their tv (or for 2nd or 3rd tv).

Could it be they will continue to pipe analog signals through their cable?
madmax

polktiger

tommyboy wrote: »

Well, here in Pittsburgh, cable monopoly comcast says you won't have to worry.... if you are a basic cable suscriber. They are trying to move any expanded basic channel to digital, while the rest (I think like 15 channels) will stay analog. Already starting july 15 with about 8 channels moving digital. We have the digital box but didn't purchase the digital package. Its already expensive enough for expanded basic, the digital channels are ridiculous. I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe the switch to satelite might not be a bad idea.

Edit: here is an article I found that was just written today..

http://http://redtape.msnbc.com/2008/07/the-other-digit.html#posts

That article kind of hits on what irks me with cable. The "analog" switch doesn't apply to them since they can send what ever signal they want over their wire.

But, why do they charge more for digital cable? Since it uses less bandwidth than analog, it should be cheaper to provide (since all I hear them complain about is bandwidth limits). Also, I just took the plunge on an LCD last Christmas. The whole reason I waited, was to see if cable would ever get off their butts and start expanding the use of cable cards, but they refuse to. They are insisting that we add a new, unnecessary device, the cable box. To me it offers nothing of value since I have no interest in PPV, TIVO, Video on Demand, etc. (Not to mention I have no phone line even in the same room as my primary TV room.)

But, our only option locally is Comcast (joy) or dish. I refuse to put up with another dish (and I don't want to repull all the coax in the house for RG-6 or string telephone lines to every room with a TV.)

krabby5

polktiger wrote: »

That article kind of hits on what irks me with cable. The "analog" switch doesn't apply to them since they can send what ever signal they want over their wire.

But, why do they charge more for digital cable? Since it uses less bandwidth than analog, it should be cheaper to provide (since all I hear them complain about is bandwidth limits). Also, I just took the plunge on an LCD last Christmas. The whole reason I waited, was to see if cable would ever get off their butts and start expanding the use of cable cards, but they refuse to. They are insisting that we add a new, unnecessary device, the cable box. To me it offers nothing of value since I have no interest in PPV, TIVO, Video on Demand, etc. (Not to mention I have no phone line even in the same room as my primary TV room.)

But, our only option locally is Comcast (joy) or dish. I refuse to put up with another dish (and I don't want to repull all the coax in the house for RG-6 or string telephone lines to every room with a TV.)

just a note...I have Comcasts DVR and it doesnt use phone lines...

tcrossma

When I upgraded my Comcast to service to the digital package (probably about 8 years ago now) it was about $5 cheaper per month than I had been paying for the analog service. And yeah, cable boxes don't need phone lines. As far as cable cards go I do wish they would become more popular but until I can get on-demand from them they are useless to me.

mhardy6647

The FCC simply want to recoup and re-sell the huge amount of VHF and UHF bandwidth currently devoted to analog broadcast TV to the plethora of up-and-coming wireless services and opportunities. Analog cable is of no concern to them.

Serendipity

If I understand correctly, the 2009 Digital TV transition should not affect cable. So cable companies will still be sending analog signals through their lines - that means, if you have an analog tuner in your set AND you plug the cable directly into the TV(no box), it still should work.