Cable TV Going 100% Digital :(

[caver]

Many years ago when I switched to cable internet you had the option to rent a modem or buy your own. I thought, ehhh it's cheap I'll rent theirs that way if I have connectivity problems (and I have) they can't blame the modem since it's theirs. Now you have to use their modem and it's a $9 fee tacked on. Crooks!

 

[kennyd]

The best remotes IMHO at the Harmony ones from Logitech. They are super easy to program with the software they provide, and it's easy to create items like "Watch TV" or "Watch DVD" that with a single touch of a button will turn on and set proper input/outputs on all your devices, like I have the tv, satellite receiver, and surround sound amp all on to watch tv but the satellite is not on to watch a DVD.

 

[s219]

Have you tried an amplified HD antenna? My nearest stations are 45-60 miles away, and a regular antenna didn't pick them up well. But I put an amplified "Mohu" antenna on the roof and we now get about 20 HD channels. All the networks, PBS, plus a bunch of stations that show classic TV. I have been real happy with it, and really happy about not paying $80-100 per month for cable or satellite.

I want to put another Mohu antenna to run a TV in my office. I could tie into the existing antenna with a splitter, but I think it would end up being a lot more work running wire to that end of the house. So I'll probably just buy a second antenna and put it close to my office.

 

[MarkF48]

Have you tried an amplified HD antenna? My nearest stations are 45-60 miles away, and a regular antenna didn't pick them up well. But I put an amplified "Mohu" antenna on the roof and we now get about 20 HD channels. All the networks, PBS, plus a bunch of stations that show classic TV. I have been real happy with it, and really happy about not paying $80-100 per month for cable or satellite.

I want to put another Mohu antenna to run a TV in my office. I could tie into the existing antenna with a splitter, but I think it would end up being a lot more work running wire to that end of the house. So I'll probably just buy a second antenna and put it close to my office.

I was playing around with an old UHF antenna today. Got it up about 40' off the ground clamped to a chimney and had an inline signal booster. Looked up the headings for the stations I wanted to receive and pointed the antenna with a compass. Was able to get 11 stations, 3 of which were Hispanic, and one shopping channel. The terrain is somewhat hilly between me and the stations and I've trees in the line of sight in that direction. The two stations I want most (54 miles away) were breaking up every so often and it is a clear day. I'm sure bad weather would pretty much kill those two. I'm a bit encouraged and maybe a better antenna and more height might work. I'll give that Mohu antenna look.

 

[s219]

There are websites that can help figure out range and bearing to the stations, and determine how well antennas will work. I remember googling and finding 2-3 sites that were helpful enough that I took a gamble ordering that antenna.

 

[MarkF48]

There are websites that can help figure out range and bearing to the stations, and determine how well antennas will work. I remember googling and finding 2-3 sites that were helpful enough that I took a gamble ordering that antenna.

Yeah, had found a couple of those sites and that's where I got the compass headings for antenna direction. Pretty sensitive to direction, a couple degrees off and the picture breaks up or the signal is gone.

 

[dmccarty]

Yeah, had found a couple of those sites and that's where I got the compass headings for antenna direction. Pretty sensitive to direction, a couple degrees off and the picture breaks up or the signal is gone.

That is the problem with the new and improved, my fanny, digital over the air signals. On the over the air channels, we only watch a PBS channel or two, every now and then. The tower is close but we can have the signal drop even though there is not a cloud in the air or a breath of wind. The signal just drops for a second. If it was an analog signal no big deal but with digital we usually loose audio and then the picture.

Later,
Dan

 

[techman]

. Now you have to use their modem and it's a $9 fee tacked on. Crooks!

I guess I am lucky. This spring I switched from DSL to cable for internet. I was able to use my own model. I pay the same as before buy jumped from 1.5 mbps to 10 mbps.

Paul

 

[s219]

That is the problem with the new and improved, my fanny, digital over the air signals. On the over the air channels, we only watch a PBS channel or two, every now and then. The tower is close but we can have the signal drop even though there is not a cloud in the air or a breath of wind. The signal just drops for a second. If it was an analog signal no big deal but with digital we usually loose audio and then the picture.

Later,
Dan

What are you using for an antenna? A good one will have more leeway and a wider directivity.

 

[Bird]

We started with Charter cable in October of last year, and it was some time after that when they went 100% digital, but we didn't have to change anything or pay any more because what they delivered and installed in October was already digital stuff.