ANALOG TO DIGITAL TV TRANSITION

Does anyone have an opinion about what will happen to all of us when in February 2008, all TV programming will go from Analog to Digital? I remember Larry Kall doing an article about this a few months ago. Is it possible that Comcast will be able to convert the signal thru the cable lines? I wonder if that will happen or will we all have to buy boxes for our TVs or get new TVs?

Chrisj

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ADMIN. REPLY:

Hi Chris,
The long awaited Conversion to Digital TV is actually scheduled to occur on February 17th. 2009.

The following snippet from the FCC division of Consumer affairs will prove useful: (The entire article is a highly recommended read)
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REF: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html

"Why Are Broadcast TV Stations Switching to All-Digital?
Congress mandated the conversion to all-digital television broadcasting, also known as the digital television (DTV) transition, because all-digital broadcasting will free up frequencies for public safety communications (such as police, fire, and emergency rescue). Also, digital is a more efficient transmission technology that allows broadcast stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, as well as offer more programming options for consumers through multiple broadcast streams (multicasting). In addition, some of the freed up frequencies will be used for advanced commercial wireless services for consumers".
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While the "Fire and Safety" usage of the freed-up Spectrum is being given top billing, in reality, the Government is drooling at the prospect of auctioning off large blocks of Frequency Spectrum to major TELCO players who wish to use it to build-out and market Wireless services. One Non-TELCO wannabe in the mix is GOOGLE ; and Billions of dollars are on-deck to bid for the soon to be abandoned Spectrum.

What does this mean to the Unit owners in CV?

Every Unit in CV is wired with Coaxial Cable, over which a number of services are available. These include TV, High Speed INTERNET and Telephony. A special separate MODEM is required for High Speed INTERNET.

If you do not have a Set-Top Cable Box,
(or a Cable Card) you are receiving the CV Contract negotiated Enhanced Basic TV feed. This means that the Coaxial Cable attaches directly to your TV and your TV Tuner must extract and display the various TV channels on your TV set.

The other option is that you have independently contracted with Adelphia/COMCAST to rent a Set-Top Cable Box, in which case you may receive any or all 400+ Channels on the COMCAST system, depending on what services you subscribe to and are willing to pay for.

The Set-Top Cable Box is a Digital TV receiver with Enhanced Computer MODEM Circuitry and is capable of many spiffy tricks!

First of all the Set-Top Cable Box will be able to handle the Digital TV signals and present your TV with a compatible Signal even if your TV is an old style Analog unit. This is true because the Cable Box acts as your TV Tuner and your set is simply acting as a monitor.
Additionally, the Cable Box opens up the world of Pay-TV, Pay per View and Video-On-Demand.

The Cable-Box may be rented from COMCAST for about $5.00/month or, you may purchase a Cable-Box from COMCAST or any other vendor of your choice.

In short! If you have a Cable-Box; you need do nothing you will be totally compatible after Digital Transition occurs.

So; what of the vast majority of you who do not have a Cable-Box, and still have an old style analog TV set?

First of all, do not anticipate that COMCAST will "convert all of the channels in the CV contract Channel block to analog format" This is a complex and expensive proposition, definitely not in the cards!

You will need some sort of Set-Top Box to do the conversion for you, and the most logical way to go is to obtain a COMCAST Cable-Box.

There will be a cheap Converter available funded primarily by a Government issued chit of $40.00, however the Federal Government offer currently precludes those of us on Cable from participating.

Since we are talking about thousands of Cable-Boxes in CV, Larry Kall is attempting to negotiate a deal with COMCAST to supply these boxes for a nominal rental of $3.00/month. Also, if you have more than one TV set, each one will require it's own Cable-Box, at an additional fee.

Then comes the problem of installing these boxes in every unit! Some of you will have no problem doing this yourself, but many will require the assistance of a Technician to do so. Clearly, depending on the final negotiated deal, there could be additional costs involved.

So, keeping in mind that February 2009 is still a year away, there is no need to panic, just keep alert to your options and all things will work out in due course.
It goes without saying; if you buy a new TV between now and February 2009, be sure it is Digital TV ready and Cable Ready. This will preclude the need for any sort of Set-Top converter to receive our Basic contract TV Feed.

I hope this is helpful information

Dave