if I unplug the adapter box the service guy connected into my tv & replug the cable directly into the back of my set like I used to have it will I be able to get hdtv channels again like I used to? thats what I want to know...
Question for Fellow Comcast Customers (TV)
- Thread starter Frontier
- Start date
Why not just try it? If it doesn't work, just plug it back into the box like before.
A few more points:
Many network affiliates broadcast in HD, even if the source material was recorded or distributed in standard definition. Of course if the source was SD the quality on your screen won't look much better than it would have looked if it had been left in SD. Much of the prime time network programming is HD all the way to the circuitry in your TV or ATSC(no QAM) to analog converter if you are using an antenna.
On either OTA or cable each channel has limitations on how much data it can carry. Significantly more of that capacity is used for a HD sub-channel. If a cable provider limits "channels" included with its economy tier to SD, those "channels" can be distributed as at least four sub-channels per channel over the cable company's coax (may be fiber optic part way to your property) leaving more of their total capacity for programming tiers the company can charge additional fees for. Since an analog channel (limited to SD) ties up the same amount of capacity as a digital channel with up to four sub-channels it's in the best interest (for revenue and competition with satellite) for cable providers to phase out analog services (sometimes a few channels at a time).
The channel numbers displayed on you digital converter or TV no longer correspond the broadcast or cable system frequency. The broadcaster that was broadcasting analog on channel 5 might be broadcasting digital programming on the frequency that used to be channel 37 but still shows as channel 5 when you tune in over your antenna! On a cable system you might have SD signals from four local broadcasters in the same frequency band that a single channel filled before digital cable, all having completely different channel numbers when "tuned to" on your cable converter or even an ATSC-QAM TV.
Broadcasters have a choice of "must carry" which forces cable providers to distribute their main channel without payment to the broadcaster or negotiating some sort of payment (might be in the form of advertising) for carrying the broadcaster's signal. Since many subscribers consider the broadcast networks a highly desirable "channel", that puts the broadcaster in a favorable negotiating position. If the cable company isn't willing to pay the "fee" the cable company has to remove the affiliate from their line up. Note that cable providers have been paying cable only channels for content for decades, even with those channels getting additional revenue in connection with commercials. Of course premium channels, who don't inturupt their programming with commercials, usually charge higher rates.
Many network affiliates broadcast in HD, even if the source material was recorded or distributed in standard definition. Of course if the source was SD the quality on your screen won't look much better than it would have looked if it had been left in SD. Much of the prime time network programming is HD all the way to the circuitry in your TV or ATSC(no QAM) to analog converter if you are using an antenna.
On either OTA or cable each channel has limitations on how much data it can carry. Significantly more of that capacity is used for a HD sub-channel. If a cable provider limits "channels" included with its economy tier to SD, those "channels" can be distributed as at least four sub-channels per channel over the cable company's coax (may be fiber optic part way to your property) leaving more of their total capacity for programming tiers the company can charge additional fees for. Since an analog channel (limited to SD) ties up the same amount of capacity as a digital channel with up to four sub-channels it's in the best interest (for revenue and competition with satellite) for cable providers to phase out analog services (sometimes a few channels at a time).
The channel numbers displayed on you digital converter or TV no longer correspond the broadcast or cable system frequency. The broadcaster that was broadcasting analog on channel 5 might be broadcasting digital programming on the frequency that used to be channel 37 but still shows as channel 5 when you tune in over your antenna! On a cable system you might have SD signals from four local broadcasters in the same frequency band that a single channel filled before digital cable, all having completely different channel numbers when "tuned to" on your cable converter or even an ATSC-QAM TV.
Broadcasters have a choice of "must carry" which forces cable providers to distribute their main channel without payment to the broadcaster or negotiating some sort of payment (might be in the form of advertising) for carrying the broadcaster's signal. Since many subscribers consider the broadcast networks a highly desirable "channel", that puts the broadcaster in a favorable negotiating position. If the cable company isn't willing to pay the "fee" the cable company has to remove the affiliate from their line up. Note that cable providers have been paying cable only channels for content for decades, even with those channels getting additional revenue in connection with commercials. Of course premium channels, who don't inturupt their programming with commercials, usually charge higher rates.
I got comcast cable on three tvs in my home and never needed to get any converter box. I have noticed no difference since the change.
A bit more detail would make your post more informative.
- What type of TV(s)? analog(NTSC) or ATSC-QAM?
- If ATSC-QAM are you getting all of the economy tier channels? Many cable systems have a few news channels and local cable only channels, including things like city council/county supervisor meetings and "local access" in their economy tier.
- Have you checked your local system's listing of which channels are in the economy tier and which are in an add on analog tier? Sometimes the filters that were used to control access to analog channels need to be removed when a subscriber gets broadband Internet.
- What metropolitan area are you living in? Even if owned by the same corporation, systems in different metropolitan areas might be subject to different dates for channels to shift from duplicate analog/digital service to exclusive digital.
- Which "change" are you referring to? The OTA digital transition associated with analog OTA broadcasts going dark had absolutely nothing to do with which channels are available on cable systems. If anything, the 16:9 HD signals might be getting cropped to 4:3 and downgraded to SD by the cable system's head end instead of by the broadcasters (many are no longer broadcasting the SD version). Again, the current progress of change on cable systems varies with different metropolitan areas.
b/c if it doesnt work & I need to replug the adapter I might have a problem if the adapter needs some special code that only the service tech guy knows?
b/c if it doesnt work & I need to replug the adapter I might have a problem if the adapter needs some special code that only the service tech guy knows?
It doesn't work that way. Just unplug the coaxial cable from the cable box and plug it into the TV. If you get no signal from that, just plug it back into the cable box. You won't mess anything up that way.
the reason I worry about that is b/c while he was setting it up he was looking at some kind of manual with codes so...but Ill try it...as soon as I get over my cold(dont feel like dealing with that mess of cables right now).
^ Maybe that had something to do with the remote control?
^that could be true...I just dont want to have to call Comcast again & have them send a tech to reconnect it. Ugh.
I think Comcast can do resets remotely.
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