QAM channels vs digital channels

feh · 07-08-2006, 10:25 AM

Hi folks. I'm new to the world of high def tv and digital cable.

I just received a Philips 37PF7320A lcd tv. It has a QAM tuner.

My cable provider is Charter, but I'm not a digital cable subscriber. However, I do use Charter for internet access, and I've read that in that situation, they aren't able to filter out the digital tv channels.

Anyway, I hooked up my new set and had it autoscan for channels. Even without a cable card or set top box, the tv found over 100 digital channels, apparently thanks to the QAM tuner. Am I correct in that assumption?

What I'd like to do is map the channels that the tv found automatically to the official channel lineup, and I can't find that information anywhere. For example, my local ABC affiliate is supposedly digital channel 842, but the tv found it at 107.2.

Is there some information source available that maps the 2 sets of channel numbers?

Thanks!

saturnx · 07-08-2006, 12:27 PM

Qam = quadrature amplitude modulation. it is the carrier that brings the video/audio/digital info to your home via coax systems.

Each carrier is 6mhz. Wide and depending on the type of Qam it is (16,64 or 256) it is capable of holding up to20 channels.

Requarding the 107.2 that is the freq. of the Qam carrier.

call your cable provider and ask them if they have a list of what channels are on what carriers and ask them for a list or channel line up guide so you know where they are mapped on their equiptment.

dels28 · 07-08-2006, 12:35 PM

The mapping obviously depends on your market. In terms of getting the digital stations, in my particular area, they were all encrypted, except for the local digital stations (ABC, Fox etc). I was able to receive all of the music channels. I would check this forum, look for your local thread to get a possible channel map. When I called my local comcast about QAM stations, they acted as if they had never heard of it. http://www./avs-vb/forum...ysprune=7&f=45

feh · 07-08-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dels28

The mapping obviously depends on your market. In terms of getting the digital stations, in my particular area, they were all encrypted, except for the local digital stations (ABC, Fox etc). I was able to receive all of the music channels. I would check this forum, look for your local thread to get a possible channel map. When I called my local comcast about QAM stations, they acted as if they had never heard of it. http://www./avs-vb/forum...ysprune=7&f=45

Thanks for the info.

I'm shocked that all these channels are unencrypted. The HD and movie channels are encrypted, but it seems all the extended programming channels (about 70 channels) are not!

goober22 · 07-10-2006, 11:43 AM

First, you said this: "My cable provider is Charter, but I'm not a digital cable subscriber. However, I do use Charter for internet access, and I've read that in that situation, they aren't able to filter out the digital tv channels."

Sure they can, internet is using the sub 54Mhz range. All they do is just place a filter to block out the higher freq. range above it. They just didn't for you or don't in your area, but it is very common.

AS far as the odd 87.1 channels being mapped to the cable ones, in my area they routinely change freq so what may be 87.2 today, may be 107.1 tomorrow. I got tired of scanning every so often. Using a company box, you never see this as the box gets remapped.

Also, most all channels in my area are encrypted. With Comcast I can get about 20-30 but most are Music Choice. With Knology, only about 3-4 come thru.

skipzeedoodle · 12-07-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feh

Hi folks. I'm new to the world of high def tv and digital cable.

I just received a Philips 37PF7320A lcd tv. It has a QAM tuner.

My cable provider is Charter, but I'm not a digital cable subscriber. However, I do use Charter for internet access, and I've read that in that situation, they aren't able to filter out the digital tv channels.

Anyway, I hooked up my new set and had it autoscan for channels. Even without a cable card or set top box, the tv found over 100 digital channels, apparently thanks to the QAM tuner. Am I correct in that assumption?

What I'd like to do is map the channels that the tv found automatically to the official channel lineup, and I can't find that information anywhere. For example, my local ABC affiliate is supposedly digital channel 842, but the tv found it at 107.2.

Is there some information source available that maps the 2 sets of channel numbers?

Thanks!

I just bought a 19" hd tv, and I can get channels starting with #79 that are the digital music channels, 88's that are digital, 500's that are digital. My local Hidef channels are in the low 100's. I also have Charter. When I found all those channels on my small TV, I couldn't believe it! We are new to the hidef world, and so far it's been fun discovering all the new things.
I tried to program my tv with the upper channels, but so far no luck. I haven't tried to list them individually.
p.s. The channels are also in the 800's!

Eggplant · 12-10-2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skipzeedoodle

I just bought a 19" hd tv, and I can get channels starting with #79 that are the digital music channels, 88's that are digital, 500's that are digital. My local Hidef channels are in the low 100's. I also have Charter. When I found all those channels on my small TV, I couldn't believe it! We are new to the hidef world, and so far it's been fun discovering all the new things.
I tried to program my tv with the upper channels, but so far no luck. I haven't tried to list them individually.
p.s. The channels are also in the 800's!

Sweet! I've got Charter (in St. Louis) and with my new HDTV I can pick up a few VOD channels, but I haven't found any HD content or the digital music. Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to make my tv (Hitachi P50H401) scan for digital channels; it only seems to scan for analog channels.

jmcohen23 · 12-14-2007, 07:39 AM

In my 3-year experience with a TV with a QAM tuner, here is what I have realized:
The QAM is responsible for converting the digital signal for your tv, simply having the HD tuner is not enough. You should get all of the local channels in HD regardless. The bonus is the music stations, other movie stations, and the "on-demand" content. I used to get ESPNHD, ESPN2HD, and few others, but they eventually went away. Getting the on-demand content only works when someone (probably on your box network) orders the show. I tested this out recently, and it worked. I got a digital box for another tv in my house, ordered a movie, and then check my TV with the QAM. The show came on. I check every once in awhile for new channels to emerge, but nothing much recently. As for the free HD local channels, they should come through to the channel based upon your local broadcast. For example, if NBC is channel 4 (over the air), then your NBC HD station should be 4-1.

There used to be a site that listed the lineup of the QAM channels for different cities, but I think the site went down. Someone should start one up again. I might.... I'll keep you posted....

StudioTech · 12-14-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmcohen23

There used to be a site that listed the lineup of the QAM channels for different cities, but I think the site went down. Someone should start one up again. I might.... I'll keep you posted....

This might be the site you're thinking of.

http://www.silicondust.com/wiki/hdhomerun/channels

cabledog · 08-22-2009, 05:12 PM

The xx.x channel numbers refered to are the EIA channel number on the left of the decimal and the MPEG program number to the right. For SD programming you can have 10 or so programs per 6 Mhz EIA channel or 2-3 HD programs.

07-08-2006, 10:25 AM	#1
feh A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 12	QAM channels vs digital channels Hi folks. I'm new to the world of high def tv and digital cable. I just received a Philips 37PF7320A lcd tv. It has a QAM tuner. My cable provider is Charter, but I'm not a digital cable subscriber. However, I do use Charter for internet access, and I've read that in that situation, they aren't able to filter out the digital tv channels. Anyway, I hooked up my new set and had it autoscan for channels. Even without a cable card or set top box, the tv found over 100 digital channels, apparently thanks to the QAM tuner. Am I correct in that assumption? What I'd like to do is map the channels that the tv found automatically to the official channel lineup, and I can't find that information anywhere. For example, my local ABC affiliate is supposedly digital channel 842, but the tv found it at 107.2. Is there some information source available that maps the 2 sets of channel numbers? Thanks!

07-08-2006, 12:27 PM	#2
saturnx Comcast Maintenance Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mount Penn, Pa. Posts: 1	Qam Qam = quadrature amplitude modulation. it is the carrier that brings the video/audio/digital info to your home via coax systems. Each carrier is 6mhz. Wide and depending on the type of Qam it is (16,64 or 256) it is capable of holding up to20 channels. Requarding the 107.2 that is the freq. of the Qam carrier. call your cable provider and ask them if they have a list of what channels are on what carriers and ask them for a list or channel line up guide so you know where they are mapped on their equiptment.

07-08-2006, 12:35 PM	#3
dels28 Hoosier Man Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 687	The mapping obviously depends on your market. In terms of getting the digital stations, in my particular area, they were all encrypted, except for the local digital stations (ABC, Fox etc). I was able to receive all of the music channels. I would check this forum, look for your local thread to get a possible channel map. When I called my local comcast about QAM stations, they acted as if they had never heard of it. http://www./avs-vb/forum...ysprune=7&f=45 __________________ Sony WEGA KDL-52XBR4 Daddy's Room Onkyo TX-SR705 Klipsch Synergy Series Quintet 100-Watt 5-Piece Home Theater Speaker System Klipsch 12" 650W Powered Subwoofer Logitech Harmony 880 HR 20-600& HR 21-200, Direct TV PS3 60GB, PS3 80GB HD-A30 HD-A2 Nintiendo Wii Sony WEGA KDF-55WF655 retired to family living room Ready Nas Pro Duo 1.5 TB Media Server

07-10-2006, 11:43 AM	#5
goober22 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Panama City / Ft Walton Bch, FL. Posts: 702	First, you said this: "My cable provider is Charter, but I'm not a digital cable subscriber. However, I do use Charter for internet access, and I've read that in that situation, they aren't able to filter out the digital tv channels." Sure they can, internet is using the sub 54Mhz range. All they do is just place a filter to block out the higher freq. range above it. They just didn't for you or don't in your area, but it is very common. AS far as the odd 87.1 channels being mapped to the cable ones, in my area they routinely change freq so what may be 87.2 today, may be 107.1 tomorrow. I got tired of scanning every so often. Using a company box, you never see this as the box gets remapped. Also, most all channels in my area are encrypted. With Comcast I can get about 20-30 but most are Music Choice. With Knology, only about 3-4 come thru. __________________ DirecTV = HR20-700x2, HR20-100x2, All Networked, R15-500x1, D12-300x2, Zinwell WB616, OTA=17, TVs=9, Knology Cable = Internet & Phone Only, HD=34, Comcast Cable = Not Currently Subbed, HD=32, Hitachi 65S700 65", Sanyo 30" HD, Sony Home Theatre 7.1 Receiver, Sony 7.1 Speaker System , Harmony 686 x3

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12-14-2007, 07:39 AM	#8
jmcohen23 He who hesitates is lost Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 313	In my 3-year experience with a TV with a QAM tuner, here is what I have realized: The QAM is responsible for converting the digital signal for your tv, simply having the HD tuner is not enough. You should get all of the local channels in HD regardless. The bonus is the music stations, other movie stations, and the "on-demand" content. I used to get ESPNHD, ESPN2HD, and few others, but they eventually went away. Getting the on-demand content only works when someone (probably on your box network) orders the show. I tested this out recently, and it worked. I got a digital box for another tv in my house, ordered a movie, and then check my TV with the QAM. The show came on. I check every once in awhile for new channels to emerge, but nothing much recently. As for the free HD local channels, they should come through to the channel based upon your local broadcast. For example, if NBC is channel 4 (over the air), then your NBC HD station should be 4-1. There used to be a site that listed the lineup of the QAM channels for different cities, but I think the site went down. Someone should start one up again. I might.... I'll keep you posted....

08-22-2009, 05:12 PM	#10
cabledog What is HD? Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4	The xx.x channel numbers refered to are the EIA channel number on the left of the decimal and the MPEG program number to the right. For SD programming you can have 10 or so programs per 6 Mhz EIA channel or 2-3 HD programs.