minnetonka
Premium
join:2006-10-28
Boulder City, NV
 ·Cox HSI
|  [COX] Question on DTV changeover for analog VCR recording
We have four tv sets that are all analog and subscribe to Cox preferred cable tv and HSI.
My understanding is that, "...Cox has committed to converting the digital signals to analog so that any TV hooked to cable can receive the broadcast stations for at least three years after the deadline," but we keep getting literature from Cox with special pricing for subscribing to digital tv.
I'm thinking that doesn't apply for us (at least for three years), but have had conflicting information about using my analog VCRs. Some forums say even with cable, I will have to have several converters and splitters (to record one channel and watch another) or at the very least a converter to record.
A guy a work who is really experienced with electronics says that can't possibly be true; i.e., if digital is converted to analog for your current tv, then the same applies for your VCR.
I guess I can wait until June 12th, but would rather be prepared since I tape several programs every day or late at night. I'll be really upset if I can't tape Deadliest Catch, for one . . .
Can anyone shed a little more light on all this for me? Thanks |
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Jahntassa
What, I can have feathers
Premium
join:2006-04-14
Conway, SC | If they're preserving Analog for three years, then your VCRs will be fine.
However as soon as you need a cable box to receive signals you're going to need to change things around. |
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| reply to minnetonka
said by minnetonka  : Some forums say even with cable, I will have to have several converters and splitters (to record one channel and watch another) or at the very least a converter to record. they are stupid.
Ok first the OTA conversion to digital has NOTHING to do with cable.
Second the converter boxes used to convert OTA digital to analog doesn't work with cable. Cable uses QAM signals for digital.
If your cable company has an analog tier, and most still do, then why would you need to do anaything? The signals are coming to your TV in analog format. They are analog before they get to your house let alone your TV.
Until your cable company goes all digital( which would require you to have a STB ) then I wouldn't even begin to worry about anything.
So your answer to what's going to happen to your VCR come June 12th? NOTHING. It will work like it always has.
To be honest I'm not sure why this OTA digital transition is so confusing to people. One of the main reasons I can't wait until June 12th gets here. When it does peoples' fears will be alleviated and people giving out misinformation will be proven wrong and everything can go back to normal. |
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tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
 ·Hollis Hosting
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·Fairpoint Communic..
| reply to minnetonka
said by minnetonka :I'm thinking that doesn't apply for us (at least for three years), but have had conflicting information about using my analog VCRs. Some forums say even with cable, I will have to have several converters and splitters (to record one channel and watch another) or at the very least a converter to record. As long as your local Cable provider has an analog tier you do not have to do anything. Cableco with either convert Digital feed to analog or will get a special analog feed from station.
Once Cableco does away with analog tier then you will need a Set-top-box or QAM compatible receiver to watch unencrypted digital programs.
/tom |
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FNG In Mich
join:2009-06-12
Northville, MI | reply to BF69
Amen Brother. |
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fw2008
join:2009-06-12
Teaneck, NJ
| reply to minnetonka
What you may find out is that some of the stations you still receive as analog after June 12 will disappear one day, and you will then have to get a STB to receive them, because they have been switched to digital.
I don't know about a 3 year promise to keep analog. Did they tell you that all of the stations you now receive as analog will remain analog for 3 years, or did they just say that you will still receive some analog stations for 3 years?
I have Cablevision, and while they are still carrying many analog signals, I have been losing these analog stations a few at a time, as they go digital.
I would recommend reading the cable provider's promise very carefully.
In any case though, you do not need to change anything now, as long as you are still receiving your stations.
FW |
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ajwees41
Premium
join:2002-05-10
Omaha, NE | cox is providing analog until 2012.
no mention of which channels, but most likely the basic tier. |
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| reply to fw2008
said by fw2008 :What you may find out is that some of the stations you still receive as analog after June 12 will disappear one day, and you will then have to get a STB to receive them, because they have been switched to digital. I don't know about a 3 year promise to keep analog. Did they tell you that all of the stations you now receive as analog will remain analog for 3 years, or did they just say that you will still receive some analog stations for 3 years? I have Cablevision, and while they are still carrying many analog signals, I have been losing these analog stations a few at a time, as they go digital. I would recommend reading the cable provider's promise very carefully. In any case though, you do not need to change anything now, as long as you are still receiving your stations. FW Legally if a cable company has an anlog tier they HAVE to provide locals in analog until 2012. In other words they can't move your locals to digital to get you to upgrade if they still have other channels on analog. Now if they are going to get rid of analog completely then yes they can move locals to digital or after 2012 they can move locals to digital regardless. I suspect the major cable companies( Comcast, TW, Cablevison, Charter, Cox ) will all be all digital by the end of 2012 anyways. |
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Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL | a lot of cables systems have most of the OTA line up in clear qam. |
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Hayward
K A R - 1 2 0 C
Premium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
3 edits | Comcaast here does as well (open QUAM locals and other channels) in both SD and HD as well as a number of other low tier sataions... like CPSAN, QVC, and some latino music stations, etc. (about 50 channels including the SD.HD local duplication.
Though still have the analog tier with locals to.... for how long who knows...seems like a rediculous waste of spectrum for a few diehard holdouts, even my secondary set is now digital.
Suck it up people, DTV, converter, or STB. It will be that way sooner or later like it or not... and likely sooner.
And if only to end the easy just hook up to neighbor THEFT factor of analog cable, let alone freeing up a huge amoungt of channel space several digital/HD's will fit in EACH analog slot..
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| reply to Joe12345678
said by Joe12345678 :a lot of cables systems have most of the OTA line up in clear qam. Clear QAM won't do a thing for VCRs and such that only take analog signals. Or SDTVs or even HDTVs that don't have QAM tuners built in and many don't. |
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minnetonka
Premium
join:2006-10-28
Boulder City, NV
·Cox HSI
|  reply to minnetonka
I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to provide information which I'll use to get ready for the final cutoff by Cox in three years. At least I know that for the time being I can record with my VCR and have all channels.
It is hard for me to accept throwing out 4 perfectly good tv sets and five VCRs. Not a problem when something kicks the dust, but when the first DVD/VCR player I bought for about $100 died in just over a year of seldom use, I have to spend a lot of time researching before replacing high-end Sony VCRs that just keep going.
Happy I have a lot of time to "get with it," and thanks again.  |
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Snowcat
join:2004-02-02
Nashville, TN
·EarthLink
| said by minnetonka :It is hard for me to accept throwing out 4 perfectly good tv sets and five VCRs. There is no reason to do that. You just will have to get cable boxes for each tv if Cox goes all digital. Plug the cable to the cable box, the cable box to your VCR, the VCR to your TV, and you are good to go. You just will need some sort of IR blaster between your VCR and cable box if you want the VCR to control the channel switching.
VCR and cable boxes have been around for years and years. It just sound like you haven't had cable boxes before. |
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minnetonka
Premium
join:2006-10-28
Boulder City, NV
·Cox HSI
| "You just will need some sort of IR blaster between your VCR and cable box if you want the VCR to control the channel switching"
Thank you for that information, Snowcat. I've started Googling IR blaster and it looks simple, but I'll have to read a while to understand. Most hits seem to be for computers, but I found a couple others for TV, and thankfully have plenty of time.
Beats the other option I'd seen using several special converter boxes and splitter, etc.
Have not had set top box in quite a few years, but like ability to remove tape and watch somewhere else, even at work. |
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ajwees41
Premium
join:2002-05-10
Omaha, NE | you could also use the cable boxes timer feature which is part the digital on screen guide, or set power on/off timers also. |
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Hayward
K A R - 1 2 0 C
Premium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
1 edit | reply to BF69
said by BF69 :Clear QAM won't do a thing for VCRs and such that only take analog signals. Or SDTVs or even HDTVs that don't have QAM tuners built in and many don't. Only if they are more than two years old. My original HDTV was NTSC only for tuner, but since have had ATSC/QUAM.... actually a predicessor to the OTA digital (orig date) changeover, no TV for a year or more before that could be sold with only a NTSC tuner, if over 13".
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| said by Hayward :said by BF69 :Clear QAM won't do a thing for VCRs and such that only take analog signals. Or SDTVs or even HDTVs that don't have QAM tuners built in and many don't. Only if they are more than two years old. My original HDTV was NTSC only for tuner, but since have had ATSC/QUAM.... actually a predicessor to the OTA digital (orig date) changeover, no TV for a year or more before that could be sold with only a NTSC tuner, if over 13". The OP was tallking about VCRs. All TVs have been required since March 2007 to have ATSC tuners. There is no requirement for QAM tuners. And VCRs certainly don't have to have them |
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