Channels with decimal numbers

First off, I think I should mention that I do not get digital
programming, let alone HDTV service. So, I just have the TV coaxial
coming out of the outlet straight to my TV.

I just performed an auto channel scan wtih my TV because my cable
company had adjusted the channel line-up in my area. However, as I
was going through the chanels, I noticed that there are a few channels
that has decimal values to them.

Most are just color test patterns though, but what really surprised me
was that this one channel, 89.1, is being shown in HD. The channel is
called HDNet and according to my cable company's website, it is
channel 221 in their HDTV line-up. However, I don't get any sound at
all for that channel.

Anybody know how or why this is happening? Just curious.

No Way wrote:

First off, I think I should mention that I do not get digital
programming, let alone HDTV service. So, I just have the TV coaxial
coming out of the outlet straight to my TV.

I just performed an auto channel scan wtih my TV because my cable
company had adjusted the channel line-up in my area. However, as I
was going through the chanels, I noticed that there are a few channels
that has decimal values to them.

Most are just color test patterns though, but what really surprised me
was that this one channel, 89.1, is being shown in HD. The channel is
called HDNet and according to my cable company's website, it is
channel 221 in their HDTV line-up. However, I don't get any sound at
all for that channel.

Anybody know how or why this is happening? Just curious.



It appears that you are doing a Digital Cable scan with a built in

QAM tuner located separately or inside your Digital TV.

Channel 89.1 is a QAM cable ID. These QAM IDs run from about

72.1 up thru 125.1 or so. You are picking up HDNET which is a

scrambled HD Cable channel. You are getting the HD picture

by luck & and the sound is omitted due to scrambled/encryption.

I'm guessing you are tapping into a Charter Cable feed??

Digital SD, Digital HD, & Analog Cable programs are

all carried in the 'same cable feed', just in different frequency

groupings. Most HD major network feeds should be cable available

in Digital SD/HD with NO scrambling of these channels permitted.

On Mon, 14 May 2007 21:11:42 -0500, Dennis Mayer
wrote:

No Way wrote:

First off, I think I should mention that I do not get digital
programming, let alone HDTV service. So, I just have the TV coaxial
coming out of the outlet straight to my TV.

I just performed an auto channel scan wtih my TV because my cable
company had adjusted the channel line-up in my area. However, as I
was going through the chanels, I noticed that there are a few channels
that has decimal values to them.

Most are just color test patterns though, but what really surprised me
was that this one channel, 89.1, is being shown in HD. The channel is
called HDNet and according to my cable company's website, it is
channel 221 in their HDTV line-up. However, I don't get any sound at
all for that channel.

Anybody know how or why this is happening? Just curious.

It appears that you are doing a Digital Cable scan with a built in
QAM tuner located separately or inside your Digital TV.

Yeah, IIRC, my TV has a built in QAM tuner.

Channel 89.1 is a QAM cable ID. These QAM IDs run from about
72.1 up thru 125.1 or so. You are picking up HDNET which is a
scrambled HD Cable channel. You are getting the HD picture
by luck & and the sound is omitted due to scrambled/encryption.

Ahhh, I see. That's what's happening.

I'm guessing you are tapping into a Charter Cable feed??

No, actually, I'm up in Canada and have Shaw as my cable company.

Digital SD, Digital HD, & Analog Cable programs are
all carried in the 'same cable feed', just in different frequency
groupings. Most HD major network feeds should be cable available
in Digital SD/HD with NO scrambling of these channels permitted.

Ahhh, I see. Perhaps it's different up here in Canada. Though, sure
would be nice to receive these digital and HD channels Thanks for
taking the time to explain.

"No Way" wrote in message
...
First off, I think I should mention that I do not get digital
programming, let alone HDTV service. So, I just have the TV coaxial
coming out of the outlet straight to my TV.

I just performed an auto channel scan wtih my TV because my cable
company had adjusted the channel line-up in my area. However, as I
was going through the chanels, I noticed that there are a few channels
that has decimal values to them.

Most are just color test patterns though, but what really surprised me
was that this one channel, 89.1, is being shown in HD. The channel is
called HDNet and according to my cable company's website, it is
channel 221 in their HDTV line-up. However, I don't get any sound at
all for that channel.

Anybody know how or why this is happening? Just curious.

They probably are remapping. Analog channel 45's HD feed is 745 on Warmers
TV Guide but shows up as 0-0 on my QAM tuner. The sub channel is 45-2, go
figure.

Didn't get all the channels until I removed the excess splitters. Try w/o
any first.

Sometimes I don't get Disc-HD or TNT-HD if I punch in the numbers or tune up
but do get them when going down through the channels. Either I get them or
not but it might help your audio.

I assume your in Canada but it works the same there.

"No Way" wrote in message
...
First off, I think I should mention that I do not get digital
programming, let alone HDTV service. So, I just have the TV
coaxial
coming out of the outlet straight to my TV.

I just performed an auto channel scan wtih my TV because my
cable
company had adjusted the channel line-up in my area. However,
as I
was going through the chanels, I noticed that there are a few
channels
that has decimal values to them.

Most are just color test patterns though, but what really
surprised me
was that this one channel, 89.1, is being shown in HD. The
channel is
called HDNet and according to my cable company's website, it
is
channel 221 in their HDTV line-up. However, I don't get any
sound at
all for that channel.

Anybody know how or why this is happening? Just curious.

In SoCal, my area used to be handled by Adelphia and is now
TimeWarner, after the buyout with Comcast.
Adelphia was way behind in HDTV capacity - as well as some other
areas. TW lists 19 HDTV channels at the moment, whereas
Adelphia offered but 7 (both numbers include OTA rebroadcasts
and premium channels). Those of us in this transition area
gained 7 HDTV channels almost immediately, 5 are still not
available - TW claims that the Adelphia network simply did not
have the bandwidth and that they are expanding/replacing as
quickly as they can.

During this effort, HDNet has popped up on both my clear QAM
receivers and on my HDVRs. In all cases it was without sound.
At the moment, HDNet is once again not found by any of my
tuners.

It's possible that your cable provider is working on their plant
in a similar fashion?

I have the same set-up. Just my Comcast cable going straight to my HD TV,
but no set-top box, CableCard, or digital service on that television.
However, I am able to receive the local CBS, NBC, FOX, and ABC affiliates on
85.4, 86.1, 87.1, and 86.3 respectively on that TV. I am receiving these in
HD with sound as well. I do have digital and HD service with set-top boxes
on other TVs in the house, but not the TV in question. I'm obviously not
complaining, but am just curious if this is normal?

Sue wrote:
I have the same set-up. Just my Comcast cable going straight to my HD TV,
but no set-top box, CableCard, or digital service on that television.
However, I am able to receive the local CBS, NBC, FOX, and ABC affiliates on
85.4, 86.1, 87.1, and 86.3 respectively on that TV. I am receiving these in
HD with sound as well. I do have digital and HD service with set-top boxes
on other TVs in the house, but not the TV in question. I'm obviously not
complaining, but am just curious if this is normal?

Yes, this is normal. Cable companies in the US generally provide the
HD and SD digital local broadcast stations in the "clear" or
non-encrypted. If you subscribe to the basic tier or package which
includes the local broadcast stations among the analog channel line-up,
then the digital equivalent of the primary channel for those stations
are also available. Of course, this applies to cable systems that have
digital capability & digital channels and have an agreement with the
local broadcast station allowing them to carry the digital SD or HD signal.

If your TV is showing those channels at the QAM channels 85.4, 86.1
and so on, Comcast is however, stripping out or modifying the PSIP
channel mapping information. I hooked a Samsung ATSC / QAM receiver STB
to Verizon Fios (Washington DC Metro area) as an experiment and was
pleasantly surprised to find that the local broadcast stations HD and SD
sub-channels were mapped to their broadcast channel number: 4.1, 4.2,
5.1, 7.1, 7.2, 26.1 and so on. Verizon allows the PSIP data through so
you don't have to go hunting for the digital locals.

However this ONLY applies to the local broadcast stations. In general,
all the SD and HD digital national channels - CNN, ESPN-HD, USA, etc. -
will be scrambled, so a cable box or leased cable card is required to
view those channels. I have seen reports that some cable systems provide
a few other channels such as Discovery HD in the clear, probably as a
teaser to get people to rent the STB to get the rest of the HD channels.
Now, it is not uncommon to find some of the national digital cable
channels to be unscrambled for a while when the cable company is moving
the channels around. They don't want the cable STBs to be unable to tune
to the channel until they make sure that all the STBs have been remotely
updated with the right codes. Then they will scramble the channel.

Some people have had fun finding out where the PPV channels are
because those are typically not scrambled. Channel 80 and 81 is
apparently popular for some systems. You may be able see what one of
your neighbors is watching on PPV including the pauses and fast
forwards. Someday I assume the cable companies will fix this hole or
else there will be a flap in the press when someone discovers their
young teenager watching a soft core porno movie that the neighbor is
getting on PPV.

Alan F

"Alan F" wrote in message
news:[email protected]

snip

Some people have had fun finding out where the PPV channels
are
because those are typically not scrambled. Channel 80 and 81
is
apparently popular for some systems. You may be able see what
one of
your neighbors is watching on PPV including the pauses and
fast
forwards. Someday I assume the cable companies will fix this
hole or
else there will be a flap in the press when someone discovers
their
young teenager watching a soft core porno movie that the
neighbor is
getting on PPV.

I can not express to you adequately, as a parent of three, a
grandparent of five, and a great grand parent of one, what
euphoria it is living in a childfree community ;-0) Not because
of the children - because of their parents!

And, I have noticed what some neighbors might be watching on
PPV, or possibly VOD, and reminded myself why I don't know them
very well !