HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

Howard Brazee wrote:

Here's the odd thing - the Food Channel isn't a locally broadcast
channel, so we need cable to get it. But she can find it on channel
47 from Comcast without using the box. What we can't find is the
Cable Box 681, Food-HD.

If she's tuning it on her TV's channel 47, it is NTSC (analog), not
ATSC QAM (digital.)

They could be scrambling 681 but not 47.

Most likely. Most analog basic/expanded basic channels are not encrypted.
Most digital channels are encrypted.

Or maybe it just is a
result of not being able to tune to stations that high.

Cable box channel 681 could be on just about any frequency, even lower
than channel 47, which is at 363 MHz.

HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

UCLAN wrote:
Howard Brazee wrote:

In the US you can bypass the cable box and go straight to the tv
digital tuner - then you have to surf for the call letters to find
out the dash channels (I use dot myself).

Maybe in theory. In practice I haven't been able to find the Food
channel on my Boulder, CO Comcast cable.

Perhaps the Food Channel is encrypted? Cable channels usually are.

In the east we get 100 unencrypted channels.
Only the "Premium" channels are encrypted in MA.

HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

On Oct 19, 3:41*pm, RickMerrill
wrote:
UCLAN wrote:
Howard Brazee wrote:

In the US you can bypass the cable box and go straight to the
tv
digital tuner - then you have to surf for the call letters to
find
out the dash channels (I use dot myself).

Maybe in theory. * In practice I haven't been able to find the
Food
channel on my Boulder, CO Comcast cable.

Perhaps the Food Channel is encrypted? Cable channels usually
are.

In the east we get 100 unencrypted channels.
Only the "Premium" channels are encrypted in MA.

Wow. I wish the jerks at Cox in LA would do that. The only clear QAMs
are the local OTAs with _some_ of the subchannels.

G²

HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

RickMerrill wrote:

In the US you can bypass the cable box and go straight to the tv
digital tuner - then you have to surf for the call letters to find
out the dash channels (I use dot myself).

Maybe in theory. In practice I haven't been able to find the Food
channel on my Boulder, CO Comcast cable.

Perhaps the Food Channel is encrypted? Cable channels usually are.

In the east we get 100 unencrypted channels.
Only the "Premium" channels are encrypted in MA.

So you're saying that you get channels such as ESPN-HD in Clear QAM?

HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

G-squared wrote:
....
In the east we get 100 unencrypted channels.
Only the "Premium" channels are encrypted in MA.

Wow. I wish the jerks at Cox in LA would do that. The only clear QAMs
are the local OTAs with _some_ of the subchannels.

G²


CA has a state franchise that has allowed the cable companies to throw
away all their analog equipment. They have so much digital capacity that
they can encrypt all they want. After 2012/2015 they will want
every channel in CA to be encrypted.

HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

UCLAN wrote:
RickMerrill wrote:

In the US you can bypass the cable box and go straight to the tv
digital tuner - then you have to surf for the call letters to find
out the dash channels (I use dot myself).

Maybe in theory. In practice I haven't been able to find the Food
channel on my Boulder, CO Comcast cable.

Perhaps the Food Channel is encrypted? Cable channels usually are.

In the east we get 100 unencrypted channels.
Only the "Premium" channels are encrypted in MA.

So you're saying that you get channels such as ESPN-HD in Clear QAM?

Not sure about that! I have not seen a bug "ESPN HD".

I do get ESPN and ESPN2 however.

HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

On Oct 20, 7:23*am, RickMerrill
wrote:
G-squared wrote:

...

* In the east we get 100 unencrypted channels.
* Only the "Premium" channels are encrypted in MA.

Wow. I wish the jerks at Cox in LA would do that. The only clear
QAMs
are the local OTAs with _some_ of the subchannels.

G²

CA has a state franchise that has allowed the cable companies to
throw
away all their analog equipment. They have so much digital capacity
that
they can encrypt all they want. After 2012/2015 they will want
every channel in CA to be encrypted.

Should have figured out the government was involved. It's hard to get
that messed up without government involvement.

G²

HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

In article ,
says...
On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:01:16 -0700, UCLAN wrote:

Go to Zap2it.com and enter your zip code and click on "LOCAL BROADCAST."
The "dash channels" will be given, not the cable box channels.

Here's the odd thing - the Food Channel isn't a locally broadcast
channel, so we need cable to get it. But she can find it on channel
47 from Comcast without using the box. What we can't find is the
Cable Box 681, Food-HD.

They could be scrambling 681 but not 47. Or maybe it just is a
result of not being able to tune to stations that high.

Almost all cable systems encrypt all their digital HD and SD QAM channels
except the local broadcast and a few local access channels and a couple
others. Typically, the channels included on their lowest tier of analog
service (like a lifeline service) which includes the local broadcast and a
couple others are clear QAM. There may be a few systems that provide more
in clear QAM, as noted in this thread. I doubt if Comcast does.

So, a TV set with a NTSC cable ready analog tuner and a QAM tuner will
only see the analog NTSC channels and the clear, unencrypted digital
channels.

I'd guess the Food Channel HD is encrypted. So, all you'll see is the
analog SD version on 47 on a set without a box or a cablecard. The best
way to see what you get is to do an extended channel scan, if you haven't
already.

whosbest54
--
The flamewars are over...if you want it.

Unofficial rec.audio.opinion Usenet Group Brief User Guide:
http://whosbest54.netau.net/rao.htm

Unofficial rec.music.beatles Usenet Group Brief User Guide:
http://whosbest54.netau.net/rmb.html

HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

G-squared wrote:
On Oct 20, 7:23 am, RickMerrill
wrote:
G-squared wrote:

...

In the east we get 100 unencrypted channels.
Only the "Premium" channels are encrypted in MA.

Wow. I wish the jerks at Cox in LA would do that. The only clear
QAMs
are the local OTAs with _some_ of the subchannels.

G²

CA has a state franchise that has allowed the cable companies to
throw
away all their analog equipment. They have so much digital capacity
that
they can encrypt all they want. After 2012/2015 they will want
every channel in CA to be encrypted.

Should have figured out the government was involved. It's hard to get
that messed up without government involvement.

G²

Chortle!

HDTV Audio and Anti-Glare
 

whosbest54 wrote:
In article ,
says...
On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:01:16 -0700, UCLAN wrote:

Go to Zap2it.com and enter your zip code and click on "LOCAL BROADCAST."
The "dash channels" will be given, not the cable box channels.
Here's the odd thing - the Food Channel isn't a locally broadcast
channel, so we need cable to get it. But she can find it on channel
47 from Comcast without using the box. What we can't find is the
Cable Box 681, Food-HD.

They could be scrambling 681 but not 47. Or maybe it just is a
result of not being able to tune to stations that high.

Almost all cable systems encrypt all their digital HD and SD QAM channels
except the local broadcast and a few local access channels and a couple
others. Typically, the channels included on their lowest tier of analog
service (like a lifeline service) which includes the local broadcast and a
couple others are clear QAM. There may be a few systems that provide more
in clear QAM, as noted in this thread. I doubt if Comcast does.

So, a TV set with a NTSC cable ready analog tuner and a QAM tuner will
only see the analog NTSC channels and the clear, unencrypted digital
channels.

I'd guess the Food Channel HD is encrypted. So, all you'll see is the
analog SD version on 47 on a set without a box or a cablecard. The best
way to see what you get is to do an extended channel scan, if you haven't
already.

whosbest54

Note that Comcast does different tactics in different markets. In some
states they have negotiated with hundreds of towns and so they will tend
to abide by the most demanding franchise (contract).

Statements about what Comcast does or does not do would help by adding
what state you are talking about.