42 replies to this topic

[Darthvader]

For $8 /month, you don't really get many more channels. You will get local channels ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC, and PBS in HD, plus a few of the sideband channels such as KVIE2 and KCRA Weather Plus. You will also get A&E HD, TNT HD, and ESPN HD. But the A&E and TNT only seem to show reruns of "Without a Trace" and "Cold Case." You also get a digital set top box which allows you to get On-Demand programming as well, but HD on-demand programming is very limited.

As Mylo said, the reception of your analog channels will not change. The HD channels will look a whole lot better than analog, but are subject to jitters, pauses, and momentary losses of sound. If you want to record the HD channels, but don't want to pay extra for a DVR, you can run the S-Video and audio output from the HD box to your DVDR. You won't record the picture in true HD, but instead 480p letter box. It will look better than directly recording an analog channel, though.

This is only true if you have signal quality issues. My HD channels never have this problem and if you do they may need to amplify your signal to the HD box.

[mylo]

This is only true if you have signal quality issues. My HD channels never have this problem and if you do they may need to amplify your signal to the HD box.

All signals have loss. On analog signals, you might see 1/30th of a second of fuzz. On digital, that can drop an entire block and give you a jitter or pause. Digital can be better when it works, but since the signal is inherently flawed, I'd rather have undetectable fuzz than missing faces.

[ChipShot]

For $8 /month, you don't really get many more channels. You will get local channels ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC, and PBS in HD, plus a few of the sideband channels such as KVIE2 and KCRA Weather Plus. You will also get A&E HD, TNT HD, and ESPN HD. But the A&E and TNT only seem to show reruns of "Without a Trace" and "Cold Case." You also get a digital set top box which allows you to get On-Demand programming as well, but HD on-demand programming is very limited.

As Mylo said, the reception of your analog channels will not change. The HD channels will look a whole lot better than analog, but are subject to jitters, pauses, and momentary losses of sound. If you want to record the HD channels, but don't want to pay extra for a DVR, you can run the S-Video and audio output from the HD box to your DVDR. You won't record the picture in true HD, but instead 480p letter box. It will look better than directly recording an analog channel, though.

When I switch to the HDTV digital box and do the rescan again to locate all the available channels, will it still give all the subchannels?? That's what has me confused...Ch. 3 is in analog and the picture is so-so, but Ch. 3-1 is in perfect HD right now, but the DVDR doesn't allow you to record channel 3-1...it only allows whole-numbered channels....do you know what I mean??

[mylo]

3-1? Never heard of that. The HD/Digital version of channel 3 is on something like channel 203. Your box must be recognizing this and making "subchannels". Try going to the higher numbers directly?

[ChipShot]

3-1? Never heard of that. The HD/Digital version of channel 3 is on something like channel 203. Your box must be recognizing this and making "subchannels". Try going to the higher numbers directly?

Oh, I see....the channels get re-numbered when converted to HD/Digital. That makes sense...but if I try to go to 203 or 903 now with analog, I'm sure I'll get nothing.

[ChipShot]

3-1? Never heard of that. The HD/Digital version of channel 3 is on something like channel 203. Your box must be recognizing this and making "subchannels". Try going to the higher numbers directly?

Ok, I just thought of something else. When they change my package to the digital package, I will want 1 box for the main living room to receive HD, but what about the TV in another room?? Will I be able to get TV reception, although not HD since I don't want or need HD for that TV?? Same with the TV in the garage?? Or does every TV need a box when your signal is digital in order to get TV??

[mrdavex]

Ok, I just thought of something else. When they change my package to the digital package, I will want 1 box for the main living room to receive HD, but what about the TV in another room?? Will I be able to get TV reception, although not HD since I don't want or need HD for that TV?? Same with the TV in the garage?? Or does every TV need a box when your signal is digital in order to get TV??

If you don't want HD reception for your other TVs, then you don't need a box for those TVs. They will work just fine being connected directly to the cable. Of course, they will receive ONLY the analog channels.

In Comcast world, there is no channel 3-1, 3-2, etc. For KCRA, the analog channel is #3. For HD, the channel is 903. And for KCRA Weather Plus, it is channel 193.

[mylo]

If you don't want HD reception for your other TVs, then you don't need a box for those TVs. They will work just fine being connected directly to the cable. Of course, they will receive ONLY the analog channels.

Now, and this I love about Comcast, despite them sending you an unblocked cable with the analog channels "publically" visible (you can even pick them up from the RF off of the cable itself, without even connecting it), you still have to pay for that extra box in the garage.

Remember, buying the digital package just means they give you a digital box, unblock channel 903, and a license to watch it in one room. It doesn't affect your existing analog channels or receivers at all.

[ChipShot]

If you don't want HD reception for your other TVs, then you don't need a box for those TVs. They will work just fine being connected directly to the cable. Of course, they will receive ONLY the analog channels.

In Comcast world, there is no channel 3-1, 3-2, etc. For KCRA, the analog channel is #3. For HD, the channel is 903. And for KCRA Weather Plus, it is channel 193.

But the weird thing is this: we are getting some HD channels (in the subchannels)...the local channels and some others, and we don't currently have an HD box...I guess that's what's been confusing me...If there's all this talk about needing an HD box to get HD, then why do I have HD without a box, especially if I have analog and not digital?? Or am I chasing my tail...

[Chad Vander Veen]

But the weird thing is this: we are getting some HD channels (in the subchannels)...the local channels and some others, and we don't currently have an HD box...I guess that's what's been confusing me...If there's all this talk about needing an HD box to get HD, then why do I have HD without a box, especially if I have analog and not digital?? Or am I chasing my tail...

You can still watch the 900s without an HD box. Your TV will display them in standard definition.

[Dave Burrell]

If you don't want HD reception for your other TVs, then you don't need a box for those TVs. They will work just fine being connected directly to the cable. Of course, they will receive ONLY the analog channels.

In Comcast world, there is no channel 3-1, 3-2, etc. For KCRA, the analog channel is #3. For HD, the channel is 903. And for KCRA Weather Plus, it is channel 193.

OR just buy an HD antanae and you get all that for free - including 3-1, 3-2 etc, those channels do exist over the air for FREE

[Nylaan]

OR just buy an HD antanae and you get all that for free - including 3-1, 3-2 etc, those channels do exist over the air for FREE

You don't even need an HD antenna. It's nice to not have to fiddle with it, but I created a ghetto antenna (coax wire + 25 cent cap for filter) and picked up everything except NBC. Now I have just a standard antenna that you can get for about $15 (or find) and get them just fine. (Of course, your TV needs to have the digital decoders to display it.) Certainly the signal cuts out on occasion (but very rare now that I have it positioned right) but that's not worth the $100/yr I can put to something else.

The reason I don't have an HD package is directly because there's just not enough HD content that it has to offer beyond what I can get free out of the air. ESPN would be nice, but not all ESPN broadcasts are HD either and I still don't watch it much. Keep in mind that just because you have HD doesn't mean all shows are broadcasted in HD, even on HD channels.

[ChipShot]

OR just buy an HD antanae and you get all that for free - including 3-1, 3-2 etc, those channels do exist over the air for FREE

But that's what I'm trying to say...I don't even have an HD antenna and I get some HD....just the cable directly to the TV...no box, no digital...I guess this is normal??

[ChipShot]

You don't even need an HD antenna. It's nice to not have to fiddle with it, but I created a ghetto antenna (coax wire + 25 cent cap for filter) and picked up everything except NBC. Now I have just a standard antenna that you can get for about $15 (or find) and get them just fine. (Of course, your TV needs to have the digital decoders to display it.) Certainly the signal cuts out on occasion (but very rare now that I have it positioned right) but that's not worth the $100/yr I can put to something else.

The reason I don't have an HD package is directly because there's just not enough HD content that it has to offer beyond what I can get free out of the air. ESPN would be nice, but not all ESPN broadcasts are HD either and I still don't watch it much. Keep in mind that just because you have HD doesn't mean all shows are broadcasted in HD, even on HD channels.

I think you make alot of sense....I'm leaning against the idea now. Besides, I don't even think The Golf Channel is in HD....a travesty .....That's NOT Comcastic..

[mylo]

Also keep in mind that barely any HD broadcast are ever "Full" 1080p HD