Can I Dual Connect Off-Air And Cable?

I have the following two TV signal sources available:

1. Comcast Cable which supplies major boadcast (ABC, CBS, FOX etc) plus the normal cable channels (HGTV, DIS, TNT etc) up to 100 channels. It is NOT a digital/high definition source, only 480i.

2. Off-Air Antenna that can supply major broasdcast in digital/high def in 720p and 1080i.

Since the only digital/high def stations Comcast can provide (at an additional charge) are the major broadcast channels, I would like to use my current Comcast Cable for the non hi-def cable network stations and use the Off-Air Antenna to feed the major broadcast hi- def network stations.

The only problem is that my new 32" Samsung LCD only has one 75ohm jack for a TV input source signal. How can I hook up both cable and off-air signal sources and switch between them?

[Yes, I called Samsung and they did not know the answer].

I cannot believe that Samsung did not know the answer...

It is NO.

P.S. Have you scanned for unencrypted QAM signals on the cable. Most cable companies carry your local Hi Def channels in QAM. See www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels_us for your list of channels.

It is NO.



Actually it depends on the TV model. Some TV tuners with single RF inputs can be set up for both OTA and Cable reception via that RF input at the same time. The OP needs to cosult his TV's manual. If his TV has the capabilty the manual will indicate how to connect both his antenna and cable (usually by means of an A/B switch), how to perform the OTA and Cable scans, and how to switch back and forth between OTA and Cable. I have a Samsung tuner and a Sony DVD/VCR combo that allow simultaneous OTA and Cable set ups.

Actually it depends on the TV model. Some TV tuners with single RF inputs can be set up for both OTA and Cable reception via that RF input at the same time. The OP needs to cosult his TV's manual. If his TV has the capabilty the manual will indicate how to connect both his antenna and cable (usually by means of an A/B switch), how to perform the OTA and Cable scans, and how to switch back and forth between OTA and Cable. I have a Samsung tuner and a Sony DVD/VCR combo that allow simultaneous OTA and Cable set ups.

Yes, Samsungs have the ability to scan both cable or antenna.

The big word there is OR, not AND.

An A/B switch will work to connect them to the F jack, but it would require a scan on each, which is a time-wasting PIA and a flick of a switch every time you wanted to change. Not really an elegent solution.

I do get QAM Tuner stations, but they are not in HD, only 480i.

Thanks for the info. . . I may give the A/B switch a try since I have good OTA reception just to see how different HD looks on a small 32" LCD.
It would be nice if the Samsung retained both the OTA and Cable scans in memory so that only the A/B switch need be flipped, rather than a rescan each time too.

Are you saying Comcast doesn't have digital service? Or, that you don't want to pay for it?

I don't understand why you aren't getting local stations in HD using your set's QAM tuner. If you have basic digital service, the broadcast channels should be there, in HD, unencrypted.

Also, if you use a cable set top box, then cable will use one of regular video inputs on the TV while OTA will use the antenna input.

I do not have a cable box. The signal goes right to the TV from the wall/cable.

I do not want to pay Comcast extra for digital/HD service because basically all they offer here are the major networks in HD and I can get those for free OTA. Plus the OTA HD signal is uncompressed and superior to Comcast's (so I was told).

I do not have Comcast's Digital Starter servive, only the service that was feeding 100 non-HD stations to my analog TV's, which I still have, plus one new HD LCD.

I do get many QAM stations but not for the major network HD channels. All the QAM stations are fed in through the Comcast line and none are HD. They all read out at 480i.

I do not have a cable box. The signal goes right to the TV from the wall/cable.

I do not want to pay Comcast extra for digital/HD service because basically all they offer here are the major networks in HD and I can get those for free OTA. Plus the OTA HD signal is uncompressed and superior to Comcast's (so I was told).

I do not have Comcast's Digital Starter servive, only the service that was feeding 100 non-HD stations to my analog TV's, which I still have, plus one new HD LCD.

I do get many QAM stations but not for the major network HD channels. All the QAM stations are fed in through the Comcast line and none are HD. They all read out at 480i.As always, you get what you pay for. Without digital service from Comcast, you'll likely be stuck with a Rube Goldberg switching solution for the local HDs. And, you'll be watching pretty wretched SD versions of all those channels you get through Comcast.

Actually the standard definition stations look pretty good. Plus, I only have one HD set and it's only 32 inches which I understand is marginal for viewing HD vs standard def.

I wouldn't mind the extra charge if Comcast could supply the other cable channels in HD, but they only supply the free ones!! Plus, I've already paid for the HD QAM tuner in the set which would be nice to be able to use!

Yes, Samsungs have the ability to scan both cable or antenna.

The big word there is OR, not AND.

An A/B switch will work to connect them to the F jack, but it would require a scan on each, which is a time-wasting PIA and a flick of a switch every time you wanted to change. Not really an elegent solution.

Sorry, but my Samsung tuner allows both. So does the Sony. It is not an either/or choice on either of them. In the case of the Samsung the user can select antenna, cable or both at the time a full scan is run. He/She can also later rescan OTA without affecting the Cable channels and vice versa. In the case of the Sony the user must scan for cable channels first and then do a second scan for OTA but once that is done he/she can access both without rescanning. Both the Samsung and the Sony maintain separate channel lists for OTA and Cable, so there are no frequency conflicts.

Whether or not the OP's Samsung can handle both at the same time is another matter. He needs to consult his manual for both the method of connection and the scanning procedure.

I wouldn't mind the extra charge if Comcast could supply the other cable channels in HD, but they only supply the free ones!!I'm surpised to hear there's a Comcast system that doesn't do HD beyond the broadcast channels. Where do you live?

Or, are you saying the broadcast channels are the only ones available without a set top box, which is the usual state of affairs? All other channels are encrypted and require an STB or a cable card.

There are about 6 other HD re-run movie channels (which I do not watch) but the other HGTV, HIST, DIS, CNN etc are not HD.

All HD channels (including the major networks) require a set-top box.

All HD channels (including the major networks) require a set-top box.Are you sure about that? I believe cable companies are required to make broadcast channels available without a set top box. If you have digital service, you should be able to get your local stations in HD using the QAM tuner in your set. The HD signal is the only one that most local stations transmit these days.

Sorry, but my Samsung tuner allows both. So does the Sony. It is not an either/or choice on either of them. In the case of the Samsung the user can select antenna, cable or both at the time a full scan is run. He/She can also later rescan OTA without affecting the Cable channels and vice versa. In the case of the Sony the user must scan for cable channels first and then do a second scan for OTA but once that is done he/she can access both without rescanning. Both the Samsung and the Sony maintain separate channel lists for OTA and Cable, so there are no frequency conflicts.

Whether or not the OP's Samsung can handle both at the same time is another matter. He needs to consult his manual for both the method of connection and the scanning procedure.

You may be right on that...I've not had both hooked up with an A/B switch, but when I did a Auto Scan with only the antenna hooked up, I lost the cable channels. I just gave up at that point and assumed it wouldn't hold both.

I still can't believe that for the cost of an F jack, they don't include 2.

Also that PIP in Samsungs only works with the analog tuner...

With respect to Comcast Cable, the major networks ARE available without a set-top box,. . . but NOT in HD.

I've spoken with Comcast and they indicated that a set-top decoder is necessary for ALL HD stations because they are on channels 200-300 vs the non-HD channels, which are on channels 1-199. For example, the major network ABC:

Comcast Cable Stations:
ABC Non-HD is on channel 27 (no set-top box necessary)
ABC HD is on channel 210 (set-top decoder necessary)

Off The Air Station
ABC is is on channel 7 and a QAM should provide OTA-HD

If I can program my Samsung with both OTA and Comcast stations using an A/B switch, and have it retain each so that I don't have reprogram every time I switch (only use the A/B switch plus the remote's input source selector (Cable or OTA) that is what I'm trying to do.

I could then use my built-in QAM tuner to receive the only HD I need (major networks OTA) and avoid needing both digital cable and a set-top decoder for all the other channels that are not even available in HD at this time.

My Owner's manual does not address this issue. It has the following three scan modes: 1. CABLE; 2. OTA; 3. AUTO ( what the heck is that??).

Yes, a second F-jack would certainly cure all this!

I appreciate all the feedback from you guys !!

With respect to Comcast Cable, the major networks ARE available without a set-top box,. . . but NOT in HD.

I've spoken with Comcast and they indicated that a set-top decoder is necessary for ALL HD stations because they are on channels 200-300 vs the non-HD channels, which are on channels 1-199.
Comcast is not going to be helpful in this area. They want you to get a set top box. Nonetheless, the broadcast channels should be available in HD without an STB as part of the basic digital package.

btw, the channel numbers you've listed are the ones Comcast assigns for set top boxes. They are not the actual QAM channels.

You may be able to get help from others in your TV market who have mapped the local Comcast QAM assignments in the local TV forum at AVS.

http://www./avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453241

I've got the problem resolved !!
Let me first indicate that I don't have basic digital. I only have whatever Comcast has piped in here for the past 5 years to my analog TV's and VCR's (which I still have and they still work fine).

The A/B switch solution does work !!
CABLE:I first connected the non-Digital/non-HD Comcast cable source and scanned for "Cable" channels via the Setup Menu. All cable channels played (including extra QAM channels), albeit not in HD.

AIR: Then, I disconnected the Comcast source and plugged in the outdoor antenna and scanned for "Air" channels via the Setup Menu. All OTA channels (major networks) played in HD.

A/B SWITCHBACK: Finally, I unplugged the outdoor antenna source to the TV and replugged the Cable source and using the remote, reselected "Cable" (without reprogramming) and all Cable channels returned.

Accordingly, the TV does retain programming from both sources. An A/B switch throw and then two clicks on the remote (to inform the TV which one is selected) allows both Cable and Air to be used.

The TV Setup's scan channel mode in addition to "Cable" and "Air" also has "Auto" as a third option. I still don't know what that does.

None of this was in the Manual, and neither Comcast nor Samsung had the solution.

I've got the problem resolved !!
Let me first indicate that I don't have basic digital. I only have whatever Comcast has piped in here for the past 5 years to my analog TV's and VCR's (which I still have and they still work fine).

The A/B switch solution does work !!
CABLE:I first connected the non-Digital/non-HD Comcast cable source and scanned for "Cable" channels via the Setup Menu. All cable channels played (including extra QAM channels), albeit not in HD.

AIR: Then, I disconnected the Comcast source and plugged in the outdoor antenna and scanned for "Air" channels via the Setup Menu. All OTA channels (major networks) played in HD.

A/B SWITCHBACK: Finally, I unplugged the outdoor antenna source to the TV and replugged the Cable source and using the remote, reselected "Cable" (without reprogramming) and all Cable channels returned.

Accordingly, the TV does retain programming from both sources. An A/B switch throw and then two clicks on the remote (to inform the TV which one is selected) allows both Cable and Air to be used.

The TV Setup's scan channel mode in addition to "Cable" and "Air" also has "Auto" as a third option. I still don't know what that does.

None of this was in the Manual, and neither Comcast nor Samsung had the solution.

Page 16 of the Samsung manual tells all about Auto scanning, although it does not say that it will save both scans.

The Autoscan feature would make sense IF the TV had 2 F-connectors, one for Air and the other for Cable, but it does not.
In fact, page 16 instructs the user to select between Air OR Cable, then in the next paragraph it goes into the Auto Scan for both combined. VERY CONFUSING when you can only hook up one at a time!!!

I still don't get it.....

When I called Samsung they indicated the TV could only save one scan, so I had to choose Air or get HD Cable.
When I called Comcast they indicated I needed a set-top box.
An electronic A/B switch and the combined feedback from users on this forum eventually solved the problem.