Analog vs. Digital Transmission in 2009
kevster -- Fri, 11/02/2007 - 05:27
I have one HDTV hooked up to an HD-DVR set top box from the cable company.
However, I have coax running to each room in my house and outside.
I currently have a standard-def TV hooked to five of those other jacks. So I am not receiving transmissions over the air on these TV's. The TV's were all purchased over the last six years but I'm not sure if they contain digital or analog tuners.
I read the article in #82 of TPV and am confused.
Will I need a digital converter set top box for each of those TV's in 2009, new TV's or do I not have an issue.
Thanks in advance.
If you're getting all your TV (HD and SD) via cable, you won't be affected by the DTV transition in February 2009. In fact, I recently learned that the FCC has mandated that cable companies maintain their analog service for at least three years beyond that date. In any event, since you're getting HD cable, that means you probably have digital cable service for the SD TVs as well, which means you won't notice anything come February 2009.
Scott Wilkinson
Video Editor
The Perfect Vision
Thanks for the reply Scott.
So, what the cable companies are calling "digital cable" doesn't necessarily require a set top box. If my HD set has a box then that box isn't doing an analog-digital conversion?
Also, if the cable coming in is digital then all the TV's that I have must have digital tuners since they are working as is without a box?
Actually, digital cable requires one of three things: a set-top box, a CableCard connected to the TV, or a QAM tuner in the TV, which can tune in only those channels that the cable company sends unencrypted, or "in the clear."
As far as I know, HD cable is digital; there is no such thing as analog HD cable. Thus, the cable service to your HDTV must be digital. But perhaps I didn't understand your situation fully; if the other TVs in your home are analog and they are getting a cable signal directly from the cable company, that service must be analog. I don't think I've ever heard of a situation in which a cable customer was getting both digital and analog service at the same location.
Either way, analog cable is likely to continue until 2012 at least, so you're safe for a while.
Scott Wilkinson
Video Editor
The Perfect Vision
ok so my thing is since this dumb ANALOG VS. DIGITAL thing came now we have to do a current event article for science class NOT COOL and its dumb because everyone already has digital cable who the hell still uses an intena
ok so my thing is since this dumb ANALOG VS. DIGITAL thing came now we have to do a current event article for science class NOT COOL and its dumb because everyone already has digital cable who the hell still uses an intena
Dude,
Not everyone has digital cable. Their dad's arent like yours where he sends you, your siblings and your mom out to work the back parking lot of the local truck stop so he can stay home and not work.
Wow your trailer park has digital cable mine doesn't.
Be careful playing with your intena you could poke and eye out hoss.
Don't worry when you turn 18yo you can join the Army.
Sheepherder
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