Do I need to buy HD from Comcast?

RSawdey · 07-09-2005, 04:26 PM

Upgranding to digital isn't as expensive as you might think, it's got more 'standard' stuff... here, it's $15 per month to go digital & you get lots more stations - and another $5 if you want an HD STB... And the premium Movie Channels are better - you not only get an HD version of the main channel, you get more choice... analog HBO is 2 or 3 channels, while digital is a dozen...

**rbinck** · 07-09-2005, 05:04 PM

And it will depend on the cable system. Here in Houston there is not any analog HBO or any premium channels. In order to get any of the premiums, you have to have digital cable. According to the web site, basic analog only is not available.

jpchleapas · 07-11-2005, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slcsnkman

Maybe I am the only one that feels this way but I cant fathom spending 2,500+ on a tv and then refusing to pay 40 to get the STB with HD to get the most out of the tv. I have read on so many forums, they either dont want HD or refuse to pay...then why get the HD TV to begin with?

About perfect for my way of thinking also. New Sony 60" HDTV with built in tuner for living room, and two no-frills $497 each 30" Advent HDTV "ready" tv's all coming this week for the bedrooms. I looked long and hard at the picture on the advent in BB. It is heads above my ancient Samsung 25" color TV. It is also better than my Dad's 6 year old no frills GE 30" color TC. So we are spending $3800 plus for all 3 sets brand new. The same model 60" Sony kdf-60wf655 is $3599 at CC. I found it on-line for $2,327 new. The shipping from NJ to me was only $150 for the Sony. The savings on that set paid for the two 30" HDTV Advent HT3061A sets. Life is just too short to piss about a few extra duckets a month for cable after spending close to $4K. Switched today from RCN cable to Comcast and HDTV. They have a 12 month special with the first month free. Special rates in my area for folks like me pissed at RCN and switching to Comcast Digital Silver with HBO. I ordered HDTV for all 3 TV's, two boxes, and a cable card for the Sony 60." Cost for all is only $64.00/month for one year. Then the normal price of $84 kicks in. In a year who knows maybe something better will come along in the way of Dish, or improved cable HDTV. The sad part is that in 2007 all TV broadcasts are supposed to go HDTV, right? I bet that will not happen and the date will be rolled back. Otherwise how can the cable companies make 100's of millions charging us extra for HDTV, right? So will we have to pay extra for HDTV after 2007? I have not been to a movie theater for almost a year. After the 60" Sony arrives it may be a few more years till I buy expensive popcorn when my air popped popcorn is pretty darn good. Good luck on your decisions. Comcast is the best deal for me for the next 12 months at least in Framingham, MA.. John C.

mjp29 · 10-16-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smthkd;38791 However, that doesn't have anything to do with you cable company. In order to receive the HD feed "they" have, you must subscribe to their HD package and rent the HD box![/url

first and see whats available and what type of antenna will be needed!

What you said isn't necessarily true. I have been through this and discussed it at length in a thread I created here. If you don't have a converter box and you plug the cable directly into your hdtv, then you can pick up a few free and local hd broadcasts. For example my local PBS broadcasts an HDTV show a few nights a week and I can pick it up by directly hooking the cable directly into my new SONY Bravia HDTV. However, my converter box isn't an HD box and I don't pay extra for HD from my cable company. My cable company had wrongly told me on the phone that I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO BUY HD from them to get ANY HD signal. The non HD box I have allows me to view on demand and premium channels (i pay for) but the converter box actually FILTERS OUT ALL AND ANY INCLUDING FREE LOCAL HD SIGNAL. So what I'm saying is that you can get the same, perhaps more, free local HDTV broadcasts on cable if you bypass the non HD box. The nonHD converter box does convert ALL signal to analog before it gets to your tv even though there is free HDTV signals on there from time to time (usually channels 2 through 13 local channels).

I discovered this little secret as my mother and I both use the same cable company and own the exact same Sony HDTV. Yet I have a box to get HBO and she doesn't have a box. Her Sony tv was telling and showing beautiful hdtv shows that were on local channels (like PBS) and my tv (connected to nonHD cable box) would not allow the free HD signal to get to my hd tv.

I typed a lot here, but I hope it makes sense to you. You just have to know how to split the signal (use a T) so that one signal goes to your converter box and the other one gets connected into you HDTV bypassing the cable box and then you manually switch between the 2 signals when you know something local and free is in HD. OR you could just plug the cable manually directly into your HDTV when you know a free and local program is on in HD (for example PBS here puts a PBS HD logo on screen when show is broadcast in HD).

Make sense to you? I hope you understand.

mjp29 · 10-16-2009, 04:51 PM

In addition to my reply in this thread, I would like to add one other interesting fact.

Some cable providers still sell hdtv converter boxes that are that and just that. I had a analog converter box to receive premium channels (hbo) and hbo on demand was provided free too as a part of the package.

I inquired about getting hdtv premium channels (like hbo is also broadcast in hd on an upper channel number). The cable company quoted me a price of $10/month for the hdtv service (which i would have to switch my box for the hdtv box but the hdtv box rent and hdtv would be included in the $10/price - no rental fee for box).

However, my wife recently really wanted a dvr. So we researched tivo but they have a monthly fee in addition to buying an Tivo box. I called the cable company and discovered that they had a special for around $6/month for 6 months were I get a HD-DVR box and HDTV is included in the price and built into the box. After 6 months the special price goes away and if I keep the hd-dvr box then I pay $10/month to keep using the DVR and keep getting HDTV.

So in other words, you can ask your cable company if they have any specials to entice folks. Also, you may be able to get a HD-DRV box that does much more and costs the same as just renting an hdtv converter box (that doesn't allow any recording or rewinding of a show you're watching in real time).

07-09-2005, 04:26 PM	#16
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 61 Posts: 5,981	Upgranding to digital isn't as expensive as you might think, it's got more 'standard' stuff... here, it's $15 per month to go digital & you get lots more stations - and another $5 if you want an HD STB... And the premium Movie Channels are better - you not only get an HD version of the main channel, you get more choice... analog HBO is 2 or 3 channels, while digital is a dozen...

07-09-2005, 05:04 PM	#17
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,338	And it will depend on the cable system. Here in Houston there is not any analog HBO or any premium channels. In order to get any of the premiums, you have to have digital cable. According to the web site, basic analog only is not available.

10-16-2009, 04:51 PM	#20
mjp29 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	In addition to my reply in this thread, I would like to add one other interesting fact. Some cable providers still sell hdtv converter boxes that are that and just that. I had a analog converter box to receive premium channels (hbo) and hbo on demand was provided free too as a part of the package. I inquired about getting hdtv premium channels (like hbo is also broadcast in hd on an upper channel number). The cable company quoted me a price of $10/month for the hdtv service (which i would have to switch my box for the hdtv box but the hdtv box rent and hdtv would be included in the $10/price - no rental fee for box). However, my wife recently really wanted a dvr. So we researched tivo but they have a monthly fee in addition to buying an Tivo box. I called the cable company and discovered that they had a special for around $6/month for 6 months were I get a HD-DVR box and HDTV is included in the price and built into the box. After 6 months the special price goes away and if I keep the hd-dvr box then I pay $10/month to keep using the DVR and keep getting HDTV. So in other words, you can ask your cable company if they have any specials to entice folks. Also, you may be able to get a HD-DRV box that does much more and costs the same as just renting an hdtv converter box (that doesn't allow any recording or rewinding of a show you're watching in real time).