[mythtv-users] Question for Chicago Mythtv ers

Brad Fuller bradallenfuller at gmail.com
Wed Feb 13 05:24:35 UTC 2008


On Feb 12, 2008 8:21 PM, Dewey Smolka <dsmolka at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 12, 2008 10:02 PM, Brad Fuller <bradallenfuller at gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Feb 12, 2008 7:28 PM, Douglas Hitchcock <clarkaddison at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > So, the OP does not want to purchase an HD card? that's all that would
> > be needed, right? No STB needed for clear channels.
>
> That's the point, Brad. Traditionally cable networks have put all
> their 'basic' tier channels in analog bands that are tunable by any
> 'cable-ready' device, like a PVR-x50. For Comcast, and apparently RCN,
> in Chicago this is no longer the case. As of the last time I checked,
> which was about a year and a half ago, only the OTAs, public access,
> shopping, and a handful of other useless channels come through in
> analog. Everything else is digital.
>
> With an HD card you only get unencrypted digital channels -- meaning
> the OTAs and their subchannels, public access, shopping, etc. I've got
> an HDHomerun pulling directly off the Comcast feed, which works great
> for the OTAs in HD. But this is not a solution if you want your
> standard cable channels, nor is it a practical solution if you lack
> the hardware to playback HD. So yes, the OP either need an STB or
> needs to give up on ESPN, Discovery, History, TBS, and all the other
> stations he's paying for.

Hmmm... If I remember correctly,  in addition to OTA channels on the
cable, I was receiving "cable" channels like TNT, CNN and WB in
digital. Can't remember as I've since moved to a OTA antenna. At the
time I hooked up my pcHDTV3000 to cable, I figured other "cable"
channels would follow. I didn't expect the higher paid channels to be
there, but I figured the TBSs and Life channels would.

I see what you mean, though - why would they let you receive for free?

Looks like someone is getting STARZ here:
http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Working_QAM_cable_layout#downtown_Chicago.2C_IL_60610_-_RCN_.28Digital_Cable_Service_-_No_HD_Service.29

-- 
Brad Fuller
www.bradfuller.com


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