QAM Tuner on new TV?

[Lifterguy]

My mom's old console TV is dying. She currenlty has the basic tier of Comcast (formerly Adelphia) digital cable, with the set-top box. She likes the digital music channels, but at age 78, having a separate tuner box can be confusing at times. I'm helping her shop for a new TV, and I'm debating whether it would be worth limiting our search to sets that have a QAM tuner. I understand the tuner will only provide digital cable signals that are unscrambled, but the question is: how much of what my mom currently gets on her set-top-box is unscrambled? A comcast CSR told me it would only work if the set has a cable card - and in the price range we're looking at (under $600) I don't see anything with a cable card. There are a handful of JVC and Toshiba models that have QAM tuners - but other models we've looked at (like Sony and Insignia at Best Buy) don't offer QAM. Any advice?

 

[briani]

My mom's old console TV is dying. She currenlty has the basic tier of Comcast (formerly Adelphia) digital cable, with the set-top box. She likes the digital music channels, but at age 78, having a separate tuner box can be confusing at times. I'm helping her shop for a new TV, and I'm debating whether it would be worth limiting our search to sets that have a QAM tuner. I understand the tuner will only provide digital cable signals that are unscrambled, but the question is: how much of what my mom currently gets on her set-top-box is unscrambled? A comcast CSR told me it would only work if the set has a cable card - and in the price range we're looking at (under $600) I don't see anything with a cable card. There are a handful of JVC and Toshiba models that have QAM tuners - but other models we've looked at (like Sony and Insignia at Best Buy) don't offer QAM. Any advice?

I don't know what channels are available in your area, but there are several advantages to a QAM tuner. My Sony 34" CRT has a QAM tuner(no cable card slot though) and I am able to receive all the local HD networks(ABC, NBC,CBS,FOX,CW,PBS) and about 20 "Digital" channels and also about 40 "Music Only" channels......along with all the analog stations. The big advantage is the picture quality on the analog channels.....crystal clear and much better then the picture from my cable box.

 

[TNGTony]

Generally speaking without a cable-card, QAM TVs will get the local channels HD and SD, sub-channels and access channels. Everything else is a "bonus".

In the Cincinnati area TWC has the following digital channels available on a QAM TV without a cable-card on the $12 tier:

5.1 Local NBC HD
5.2 Local NBC Weather Plus
9.1 Local ABC HD
---9.2 is not available though the same content is on an analog channel
12.1 Local CBS HD
12.3 Local CW
19.1 Local Fox HD
19.2 The Tube (Music Videos)
48.1 PBS HD (not the same as the SD channel)
48.2 PBS Create (Disgital SD)
48.3 PBS Kids Go! (Digital sub-SD)
54.1 KET1 / Local PBS (Digital SD)
54.2 KET2 (Kentucky Learning Netork)
54.3 KET3
54.5 Ky House of Reps (part-time)
54.6 Ky Senate (Part-time)
81.1, 81.2, 81.3, 81.6, 81.7 (Local access channels)
81.5 EWTN (SD)
81.6 TBN (SD)
931 Local PBS (same content as local analog pbs channel 48)
932 CET Teach (PBS-The Ohio Channel)
969 TNT HD
970 Discovery HD

The analog side has about the same stuff on it for the lifeline-basic service.
2 - Leased access.
3 - local Fox
4 - Educational access
5 - CSPAN
6 - Local NBC
7 - Local ABC
8 - Local PBS (48)
9 - CSPAN 2
10 - HSN
11 - Local MyTV/Indy station
12 - Weather (Same as OTA 9.2)
13 - local CBS
14 - Local PBS (Oxford)
15 - Public Access 1
16 - Local PBS (Dayton, OH)
17 - EWTN
18 - TBN
19 - QVC
20 - Local CW
21 - Local PBS (Covington/KET1)
22 - Public Access 2
23 - Government Access
24 - Metro Access
25 - E! Entertainment TV (not technically part of the tier but it is comes through)

However a "Basic" sevice (a level higher) has a ton more channels similar to Dish AT200 without the music channels in both channel selection and price!

With a cable-card, you can get anything available on cable (digital only) except for the program guide, PPV and interactive channels.

See ya
Tony

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The best part of QAM is watching other folks VOD for free.

 

[Peter Parker]

many systems encrypt even the local digital channels. My local Cox system does. In fact they even encrypt some of the barker channels. When i first got my set I tried to see what Ic ould get and it told me I had 13 digital channlsl but the only one that I could watch was an ad for NBA league pass.

i believe that Comcast does not encrypt them but the saf thing to do is ask.

 

[digiblur]

many systems encrypt even the local digital channels. My local Cox system does. In fact they even encrypt some of the barker channels. When i first got my set I tried to see what Ic ould get and it told me I had 13 digital channlsl but the only one that I could watch was an ad for NBA league pass.

i believe that Comcast does not encrypt them but the saf thing to do is ask.

Cox in my area has their stuff configured correctly. All the local networks in HD are in the clear.

 

[scootertime]

Scott how do you do that?

Not sure what you mean.

The best part of QAM is watching other folks VOD for free.

 

[Peter Parker]

Cox in my area has their stuff configured correctly. All the local networks in HD are in the clear.

Like I said i would call to be sure. SOME systems require a CableCard. Some do not.

 

[webbydude]

Not sure what you mean.

Yeah....really! Ok Scott...let's hear it.

 

[briani]

Like I said i would call to be sure. SOME systems require a CableCard. Some do not.

From My understanding, Cable companies are required by law to offer locals QAM-clear.

 

[briani]

The best part of QAM is watching other folks VOD for free.

I hear you! I just wish they had better taste in movies!

 

[Splicer]

From My understanding, Cable companies are required by law to offer locals QAM-clear.

Nope...

 

[digiblur]

I hear you! I just wish they had better taste in movies!

I hate when they hit the pause button forever or even worse the stop button.

 

[JayStil]

I'm with Scott!

Drives my wife crazy though when they FF/REW or even worse, STOP the VOD.

To the OP, Comcast here used to give me the Music Choice channels via unscrambled QAM. Several months ago they started scrambling them however. I do get:

6 local HD networks

SD versions of DIY, GAC, GSN, Local Weather, numerous SD local networks, 4 shopping channels, 3 barker channels, and 3 public access channels.

The aforementioned neighbor's VOD.

 

[minorthr]

The best part of QAM is watching other folks VOD for free.

When I first got my TV almost 3 years ago I saw this happen. my neighbors liked to watch lots of porn. I had a conversation about it with a comcast tech who was at my house working on my HSI. He kept telling me how it was impossible.

 

[Peter Parker]

From My understanding, Cable companies are required by law to offer locals QAM-clear.

Well if that si the case Cox Cable is violating thit in Fairfax County VA.