Sony HD Ready TV - DTV Transition Ready?

I have a sony kv-32hs510 which is an HDTV Ready TV. My situation is that my family and I currently have basic cable with Comcast (no set top box) and we don't want a huge cable package. We enjoy paying $13/mo and getting our 20+ channels. We've survived 8 years like this and are happy with the situation (Netflix keeps us busy).

Question: In Feb 2009, will I be able to continue to be able to watch my Comcast cable broadcasts (no set top box needed) or will I need to get digital tuner box. If I need a digital tuner box, can the digital tuner boxes being sold at radio shack or circuit city (mostly for over the air broadcast) be able to transcode my Comcast signals so that I can watch TV. :confused:

p.s. I live in the mountains just far enough away from the city, so I will receive poor or limited over-the-air reception, so I don't see that as an option. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

The analogue shutdown in February 2009 applies only to OTA broadcasts by stations with "Full Power" licenses. It has nothing to do with Cable or Satellite broadcasters.

However, you should contact Comcast to see if they are planning any changes in their service that might impact your basic service.

Virtually all of the digital tuners being sold at Radio Shack and Circuit City are the inexpensive (about $60) "Coupon Eligible Converter Boxes" which have no cable capability whatsoever. They are strictly for converting OTA digital broadcasts to SD analogue so that people using antennas with analogue TVs can continue to receive OTA broadcasts after Feb 17, 2009. The boxes convert whatever digital signals they receive (HD and SD) to an NTSC-compatible analogue signal which is then fed to the TV set. So if you use one of these boxes you can watch OTA HD broadcasts after the box has donconverted them to SD.

As for your HD Ready TV, it has no digital tuner so it is not capable of receiving anything other than analogue OTA or analogue cable broadcasts without a Set Top Box of some sort. (Digital or HD Cable box, Satellite box, or ATSC tuner for OTA).

There are some HD-capable boxes such as the Samsung DTB-H260F tuner that have both ATSC tuners (for OTA) and QAM tuners (for unencrypted digital cable signals), but these boxes cost about $160 or more. Such a box with its QAM tuner would be useful with your TV if Comcast provides any unencrypted HD locals in its basic service. With your TV you could connect the cable to the box and the box to the TV using a component-video connection and set the box's ouput to 1080i to view HD in HD.

Brian, Thanks for the detailed info. :bowdown:

Yes, we do get unencrypted HD locals in the basic service. My wife and I watch those channels in my bedroom with the QAM tuner in my Sony 40"XBR. My concern is with the Sony HD Ready TV in the living room that the kids (6 and 8yr olds) mostly use. The info you gave me has answered my questions and I now have a plan.

If Comcast changes their service then I may need to get a HD-capable box similar to the one you describe. I've called Comcast in the past regarding some of these complicated issues and I always get the long pause and unsure answers. :confused: Some of the other responses/ advice that I get is to start subscribing to their $60+/mo service so that I don't have to worry. :mad:

I think I'll just stay put until that time and read reviews on combo ATSC & QAM tuners. If Comcast changes something in Feb 09, then I'll just order an appropriate tuner at that time.

Thanks again for your help. :yippee:

Good news - as a Comcast customer, you’re already ready for the digital broadcast transition.

For your TVs that are connected to cable you do not need any kind of box to continue watching the channels you currently get. If you have any TVs in your house that are not hooked up to Comcast that use rabbit ears to get reception, you can add basic cable to those TVs at no additional monthly fee.

Hope this helps!

Jennifer from Comcast

Jen,

Thanks for your response.

Let me see if I understand this correctly. Comcast will continue to broadcast analog signals that my analog tuner inside my Sony HD ready TV can understand. I guess I shouldn't be able to watch any HD programing because I lack a digital tuner. Is my understanding correct?

At the very least, I will be able to continue to watching TV with out a set top box in Feb. With these tight economical times, it's great to have good news like that. :banana:

Thanks again!

very good posting