The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
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blu87 @ 2nd Nov 01:39PM:
The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
What the heck is up with this 2012 digital cable conversion I keep reading about? I am beyond confused now.
I have digital cable through Comcast. I have their converter boxes (SA Explorer 2200). I have two analog tvs and one DTV/SDTV. Am I ready for whatever this conversion is?
I wouldn't be asking except I need to buy a new tv and I'm also considering getting one of those coupon eligible converter boxes. I want to be able to watch antenna channels in case the cable goes out. So I don't know if the 2012 conversion should play a part in any of my decisions.
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rrlover @ 2nd Nov 02:11PM:
Re: The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
It comes down to cable cos going the way of satellite in that you will need a box regardless of service to view any channels.
some posts a few months ago talked about it with cable going fully digitial and no more being able to plug in a cable to back of the tv and get channels. Comcast is going that way with the start of pushing DTAs to get expanded basic. the view is to go all digital so that the DTAs/STB will be required to view locals/pbs.
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darcilicious @ 2nd Nov 02:23PM:
Re: The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
said by rrlover :
the view is to go all digital so that the DTAs/STB will be required to view locals/pbs.
Going all digital isn't what's going to require DTAs/STBs to view locals -- going all ENCRYPTED will. I don't see that day coming any time soon. If you have a QAM tuner, you'll be able to get your locals without a DTA or STB.
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ak3883 @ 2nd Nov 02:35PM:
Re: The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
said by darcilicious :said by rrlover :
the view is to go all digital so that the DTAs/STB will be required to view locals/pbs.
Going all digital isn't what's going to require DTAs/STBs to view locals -- going all ENCRYPTED will. I don't see that day coming any time soon. If you have a QAM tuner, you'll be able to get your locals without a DTA or STB.
Right... until 2012 when the current agreement with the FCC expires that cable companies agreed to keep analog basic channels available w/o a cable box.
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darcilicious @ 2nd Nov 02:40PM:
Re: The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
said by ak3883 :said by darcilicious :said by rrlover :
the view is to go all digital so that the DTAs/STB will be required to view locals/pbs.
Going all digital isn't what's going to require DTAs/STBs to view locals -- going all ENCRYPTED will. I don't see that day coming any time soon. If you have a QAM tuner, you'll be able to get your locals without a DTA or STB.
Right... until 2012 when the current agreement with the FCC expires that cable companies agreed to keep analog basic channels available w/o a cable box.
Well, for example, Verizon has not analog channels now (been a year+ now since they've been removed from all markets) but all locals are available in the clear.
So are you saying that for Comcast, that as long as they carry locals in analog, they will carry the digital versions in the clear? Are locals even still available in analog in markets that have completed the transition to "all" digital (e.g. Oregon post November 10, 2009)?
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anon @ 2nd Nov 03:59PM:
Re: The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
said by darcilicious :
So are you saying that for Comcast, that as long as they carry locals in analog, they will carry the digital versions in the clear? Are locals even still available in analog in markets that have completed the transition to "all" digital (e.g. Oregon post November 10, 2009)?
Yes, and yes. Refer to this article on the Oregon transition: »oregonmediacentral.com/forum/200···w-device
Analog locals and unencrypted HD QAM locals remain available to "Limited Basic" customers (no STB or DTA). Higher-tier customers can still access unencrypted HD locals via A/B switch (apparently the STBs/DTAs do not have signal pass-thru.)
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beavercable @ 2nd Nov 04:45PM:
Re: The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
Don't worry about it the world is supposed to have ended in 2012 anyway. :D
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darcilicious @ 2nd Nov 04:56PM:
Re: The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
Ha! :D
(BTW, I never realized that Comcast was keeping limited basic analogs, thanks for the pointer, stillkickin)
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colorbars @ 3rd Nov 01:05AM:
Re: The 2012 digital conversion - huh?
Blu, do you actually have a converter box coupon you haven't used yet?
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