[mythtv-users] Comcast to drop analog cable

[Kevin J. Cummings]

Mark Covington wrote:
> Well this could be excessively annoying.
> http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2008-06-12-cable-digital_N.htm
> http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2008/06/got_expanded_analog_cable_from_comcast_not_fo_1.html
> 
> Comcast plans to drop all analog service by 2010 and other cable 
> providers are expected to follow depending on how successful Comcast 
> is.  Between Comcast's move to switched digital video and dropping 
> analog service its going to be harder and harder to keep running a 
> Mythtv box.

Here in Massachusetts, RCN has already started notifying customers that 
various towns will start the inevitable march towards all digitial/no 
analog.  In some towns it will happen as soon as July, 2008.  I think 
RCN is testing the waters *for* Comcast.  I'm not looking forward to the 
switch as I only have analog TVs in the house, and 3 of them are using 
the analog cable straight from the wall (only 1 STB in the house).

I'm actually surprised at the move by Comcast, when my Mom moved into 
her new house, Comcast told her to just plug the analog cable into the 
backs of any TVs only interested in receiving basic cable service.

What *is* going to become of "basic cable" service under digital only 
cable?  Will we still be able to watch un-ecrypted channels over the 
coax connection without the need for an STB????  Even if the TV is 
required to be an HDTV?  Is this what the FCC had in mind when retiring 
analog broadcast?

> It looks like a firewire connection out of a set-top-box might be the 
> only route in the future unless some other options start appearing.  
> What are y'alls thoughts?

I think is sucks.  I've been telling people that cable companies have no 
incentive to go all digitial.  I guess I was wrong!

> Mark

-- 
Kevin J. Cummings
kjchome at rcn.com
cummings at kjchome.homeip.net
cummings at kjc386.framingham.ma.us
Registered Linux User #1232 (http://counter.li.org)