Converting to digital tv

[Serpent7]

It's all fuckin bullshit !!!

So true...

 

[Friday on my mind]

About a month ago, my cable tv provider called me at home one night to inform me that I was on the list of those who had not yet requested the new mandatory digital signal receiver units. Anyway, the long and short of it was that I gave the cable tv rep guy the relevant info and 2 days later, just as he had promised, I received a box from UPS.

The following day after receiving this box, I decided, what the hell, I'm going to open it and see what it was that they sent me and just as I anticipated, nothing real exciting.

Now, It was my understanding that if I had failed to connect these digital receivers into my system by a certain date of which had already passed (by about three to four weeks already) I would no longer be able to receive any channel above channel 33.
Guess what ? I never hooked up these new cable tv
provider digital receivers and I still receive every channel just as if nothing ever happened.
Think about that one.


Now for my conspiracy theory :1orglaugh

"They're" using these "special boxes" not for any digital upgrade, they're using these so called "digital receivers" to monitor what it is that we are watching.
They're probably also using them to listen in on our household conversations too ! :shocked: e.g. anti obama, pro 2nd Amendment, any confessions with respect to a member of the household admitting or confessing to discarding an old cell phone in the trash can, anti same sex marriage households, anti immigrant RACIST EXTREMIST daddies, that sorta stuff. :jester:

I'm just kidding ! rest assured ! At ease !

The conspiracy is on the part of the the cable providers and other corporations not the govt.They are trying to use the digital switch as a way to get more people to pay more by getting more services like a box.Most people know that you didn't need to do anything if you were on cable or satellite.But the cable companies sure want you to upgrade anyway.I recently downgraded my cable from comcast.Had the digital box and was on a deal for $60 a month for it.That ran out and it jumped to $80 and I was like this isn't worth $80! So downgraded to limited service for $14.50 a month.I originally still got my favorite channel (TCM) with that but at the end of may Comcast moved the channel and I would have to now get the digital box to get it again,the bastards.There's the conspiracy (a corporate profit one).

 

[Hot Mega]

The conspiracy is on the part of the the cable providers and other corporations not the govt.They are trying to use the digital switch as a way to get more people to pay more by getting more services like a box.Most people know that you didn't need to do anything if you were on cable or satellite.But the cable companies sure want you to upgrade anyway.I recently downgraded my cable from comcast.Had the digital box and was on a deal for $60 a month for it.That ran out and it jumped to $80 and I was like this isn't worth $80! So downgraded to limited service for $14.50 a month.I originally still got my favorite channel (TCM) with that but at the end of may Comcast moved the channel and I would have to now get the digital box to get it again,the bastards.There's the conspiracy (a corporate profit one).

No way. The RF spectrum is becoming saturated and the government wants to ease the saturation by freeing up terrestrial, commercial broadcast bands.

A layman's analogy would be like a mega freeway with 50 lanes on one side and 50 on the other is becoming congested. The freeway belongs to the government but you have several different entities (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc) who lease lanes (analog broadcast) in both directions from the government. Better technology has allowed the government to build another, better freeway (digital) which runs parallel to the old freeway. Now the government wants to incentivize a few of it's lessees (ABC, NBC, etc.) who generally use a certain type of vehicle to migrate to the new freeway so they (the g'ment) can make use of their old lanes. They do this by not requiring them to put down a deposit on the new lease (FCC auction bid) and cancelling their old leases by a certain date.

By that certain date the lessee is no longer authorized to travel in the lanes on the old freeway so they must have all of their vehicles onto the new freeway if they want to continue to commute their customers back and forth.

The only reason "cable" and sat. is involved is because they also deliver ABC, NBC, CBS, etc. programming over their network and in most cases it's already "digital".

 

[busenbust]

Let them monitor what I watch: I don't hide the fact that I watch Larry King Live (and that I like his braces :1orglaugh

 

[Friday on my mind]

No way. The RF spectrum is becoming saturated and the government wants to ease the saturation by freeing up terrestrial, commercial broadcast bands.

A layman's analogy would be like a mega freeway with 50 lanes on one side and 50 on the other is becoming congested. The freeway belongs to the government but you have several different entities (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc) who lease lanes (analog broadcast) in both directions from the government. Better technology has allowed the government to build another, better freeway (digital) which runs parallel to the old freeway. Now the government wants to incentivize a few of it's lessees (ABC, NBC, etc.) who generally use a certain type of vehicle to migrate to the new freeway so they (the g'ment) can make use of their old lanes. They do this by not requiring them to put down a deposit on the new lease (FCC auction bid) and cancelling their old leases by a certain date.

By that certain date the lessee is no longer authorized to travel in the lanes on the old freeway so they must have all of their vehicles onto the new freeway if they want to continue to commute their customers back and forth.

The only reason "cable" and sat. is involved is because they also deliver ABC, NBC, CBS, etc. programming over their network and in most cases it's already "digital".

My post does not contradict what you posted at all.I understand why the govt did what it did.But I also understand that people like the cable companies have tried and will try to use that to expand customers and get existing customers to upgrade and to get more revenues.I would like to see them unbundle their packages and let people choose the channels they actually want instead of trying to get you to pay $80 a month or even lots more to watch the 10-20 channels many watch almost exclusively.For what I was getting and watching $80 was a rip.Even without my beloved TCM the $14.50 a month pkg is a better deal.

I have long experience with Comcast,they can really be SOBs lol.They and the other companies really tried to use the switch to scare people to get cable or you might loose TV on June 12th.I don't really think thats so bad.Whats so bad is what they charge nowadays for their bundles.I only wanted my TCM ,the PBS channels,some sports and news.But to get those I have to pay $80 a month or more and take a bundle which has the golf and food channels etc.??

 

[busenbust]

^Re Comcast: not to mention the huge cap they introduced with regards to download bandwidth for Internet users. How many customers lost...

 

[Hot Mega]

I also understand that people like the cable companies have tried and will try to use that to expand customers and get existing customers to upgrade and to get more revenues.

Isn't that what business do though, take advantage of every opportunity to expand their customer base/revenues?

I just disagreed with the suggestion they had anything to do with the reason for the conversion. That was all because the government wants to eventually make use of the spectrum vacated by the terrestrial t.v. broadcast stations and was not going to renew their licenses for those channels.:2 cents:

 

[Facetious]

If you've got cable television, you've got a DTV converter in your cable box.

I have no cable box. The single coax goes from the splice directly to my tv set(s).

Cable companies have put the DTV converters in their boxes since they started offering digital television channels. The only people who wouldn't have gotten reception from their television would be those who have a TV with "rabbit ears" (the tuning antenna) that don't have a) cable or b) satellite TV. If you've got one or the other service, you don't have to worry about the boxes.

I forcibly subscribe to monopoly cable outlet "Comcast" FWIW.

The cable company probably called you because they still offer analog channels, and wanted to try to sell you a new converter.

They sold me nothing, yet they delivered what would appear to be 2 - 3 - $400 (est.) electronics i.e."boxes" (3 in total), one includes a remote control unit.

As for the listening in, although I know you were sarcastic, they already do pay attention to what we watch through ratings boxes.

But do they "listen" ? :shocked: :eek: :1orglaugh



As for now, during this rough and tumble economy, it's too bad that a Corp as large as Comcast can't cut back on waste such as this. :dunno:

Now, I'll be an honest guy and on my own time, phone Ccast, wait on hold ('till I get to speak with a live human being) and see if they would like to make arrangements in reacquiring this equipment.

:hatsoff:

 

[Facetious]

I have long experience with Comcast,they can really be SOBs lol.They and the other companies really tried to use the switch to scare people to get cable or you might loose TV on June 12th.I don't really think thats so bad.Whats so bad is what they charge nowadays for their bundles.I only wanted my TCM ,the PBS channels,some sports and news.But to get those I have to pay $80 a month or more and take a bundle which has the golf and food channels etc.??

:hatsoff:

 

[Hot Mega]

I have no cable box. The single coax goes from the splice directly to my tv set(s).

While I have given much thought of the interoperability of a regular DTV converter working with you cable feed. I would suggest you try getting the voucher and paying the one-time $10 for the converter and seeing if it works by feeding the cable in and out.

I'm thinking it should work since cable channels are readily tunable with any cable ready t.v.:2 cents:

 

[extremeb]

My understanding (and correct me if I'm wrong) but previously all channels are piped down the cable line, now...with smart (scam) receivers, when you click the remote for say ABC, only ABC is delivered down the line. So the days of multiple TV sets on one cable line are soon to be gone (scam) If you have 3 sets, you'll need 3 receivers (scam). I live just outside of town, the cable line ends 350 ft from my house, and my neighborhood of 15 houses or so is to insignificant for the cable company to extend the line. I also refuse to give up $45 per month for a shitty basic package from the satelitte co (scam) and as previously mentioned I won't subscribe to packages that have 2 or 3 stations I want and 12 that I have no interest in. The porn is better on the internet anyway...

 

[busenbust]

^^^LOL. And 'free'

 

[calpoon]

A layman's analogy would be like a mega freeway with 50 lanes on one side and 50 on the other is becoming congested. The freeway belongs to the government

you know, that's really fucking weird and kind of insane. How can the government "own" a radio frequency? that is literally the exact same thing as them "owning" the color purple, and anything that is made in purple has to pay a fee to the government because you are using "their" color spectrum when you look at it.

You've heard of "intellectual property", is the next big money scheme going to be metaphysical property? :helpme:

 

[Hot Mega]

you know, that's really fucking weird and kind of insane. How can the government "own" a radio frequency? that is literally the exact same thing as them "owning" the color purple, and anything that is made in purple has to pay a fee to the government because you are using "their" color spectrum when you look at it.

You've heard of "intellectual property", is the next big money scheme going to be metaphysical property? :helpme:

The government licenses commercial entities to operate in different bands. Since it's rf and not a physical structure which would need to be built like a freeway...it's regulation more than it is ownership.

For example, all radio devices which transmit and receive in the US have FCC ID tags somewhere on them or in them signifying they are FCC approved and regulated. And they must have met commissioning requirements for rf offset freq, desensitivity, etc. so that they are strictly in compliance for that band.

Virtually all commercial rf broadcast stations had to have bid on the frequencies they are licensed to operate on. They must continually meet FCC requirements (semi-annual or annual) to maintain their license to operate.

The RF spectrum is such that you can't have entities or individuals willy-nilly operating on any band they want because of adjacent and co-channel interference. It would be like 100 lanes of traffic with and no traffic rules for direction, etc....you'd have tons of collisions. So it needed to be regulated to make sure certain entities and individuals drove only in their assigned (or licensed) lanes.:2 cents:

 

[Legzman]

I have a nice LCD tv and cable so I wasn't the least bit concerned with the transition. I do however think its bullshit that the "digital transition" is a forced thing. No one ever forced color tv on people and there are still people who watch black and white tvs...or rather a month ago used to.

 

[shayd]

I have no cable box. The single coax goes from the splice directly to my tv set(s).

If that's the case, then your TV has got the converter in it.

 

[Hot Mega]

If that's the case, then your TV has got the converter in it.

Not necessarily. The t.v. could merely be an older, cable ready set.

 

[shayd]

Not necessarily. The t.v. could merely be an older, cable ready set.

I know it's not a sure thing, but judging from the fact that he doesn't have a cable box, and is still getting the channels, it sounds like his TV has it.

 

[Hot Mega]

I have no cable box. The single coax goes from the splice directly to my tv set(s). I forcibly subscribe to monopoly cable outlet "Comcast" FWIW. They sold me nothing, yet they delivered what would appear to be 2 - 3 - $400 (est.) electronics i.e."boxes" (3 in total), one includes a remote control unit.

I know it's not a sure thing, but judging from the fact that he doesn't have a cable box, and is still getting the channels, it sounds like his TV has it.

My thinking based on the above is that he has televisions that were merely cable ready as they delivered DTV equipment to him and now he's able to get converted channels.

 

[shayd]

My thinking based on the above is that he has televisions that were merely cable ready as they delivered DTV equipment to him and now he's able to get converted channels.

Totally missed the first part the first time. You're right, he got them earlier.