[mythtv-users] To survive the switch to digital...

[Nick Ellson]

I just spent 40 mins in a live chat with Comcast (wanted to keep a record 
of what I was told) and wow was that painful.

I still do not believe I got a clear answer as to what channels my local 
Portland/Vancouver area Comcast loop will send in the clear.

It was clear that if I elect to "go digital" that I will be forced to a 
$29.99 introductary Digital package for 6 months. hey were all to happy to 
switch me right then and there too.

Here are the highlights,  anyone want to help me with the decoding of 
this?:

" (Thu Dec 4 15:13:21 PST 2008)>In situations where a cable network is 
migrated from analog to digital, a customer would normally need equipment 
to continue to receive that channel on a TV set. Comcast has promotional 
available to customers to upgrade to digital when we migrate channels. 
However, this does not mean that equipment is required to view ANY 
broadcast channels  these will continue to be available without any 
equipment for a minimum of 3 years from the DTV Transition cutoff date of 
Feb 17, 2009. "

(Thu Dec 4 15:17:02 PST 2008)>If the customer has a HDTV without an ATSC/ 
QAM tuner, then an external QAM tuner is needed to receive local HD 
channels OR a set top box is required to receive cable HD channels.

(Thu Dec 4 15:21:29 PST 2008)>If your HDTV has an ATSC/ QAM tuner, you 
will be able to view HD channels from local broadcast stations without a 
set top box. To accommodate additional programming, occasionally a 
broadcast channel could be moved from its original frequency. In this 
case, the TV will have to be re-programmed to identify it. See your TVs 
user manual for channel programming or auto-programming.


(Thu Dec 4 15:55:25 PST 2008)>Cable networks like ESPN, 
Discovery, CNN, USA, etc. are not impacted by the DTV Transition. While, 
the switch from analog to digital will shut off broadcast TV signals such 
as ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS and Univision that millions of TV viewers 
receive with reliable analog TVs, rooftop antennas and rabbit ears.

Nick_(Thu Dec 4 12:57:21 PST 2008)>Well, they won't get them with Analog 
tuners, sure. But digital capable tuners of their own they can, they will 
not be encrypted over the air. So what I hear is that neither would your 
re-transmission of them, correct?

(Thu Dec 4 15:58:19 PST 2008)>Yes, Nick.

Nick_(Thu Dec 4 12:59:29 PST 2008)>So now I am confused.. now you agree 
that you will be sending OTA digital in the clear?

(Thu Dec 4 16:01:24 PST 2008)>I apologized for the confusion, 
Nick. What I mean is that you will need to have digital box in order for 
you to have digital channels.


And he did paste me a listing of all the channels a kept every other line 
trying to sales pitch me into digital... it was exhausting...


I was hoping to maybe try using an HDHomeRun device and try this OTA 
stuff. They work well??? :)

Nick




-- 
Nick Ellson
CCIE# 20018
MCSE 2000, Security+, Network+
Network Hobbyist, VFR Private Pilot.