Do I need to buy HD from Comcast?

dudewithacamer · 04-30-2005, 05:56 PM

Hello, I have Comcast basic cable, which is the chapest anolog signal I can get. There's no cable box or anything. I also just got a HDTV (not HD ready) with an anolog tuner and ASTC digital tuner.

Before I got the TV, I was told that instead of renting a HDTV tuner from Comcast for $5/month, I could buy a tuner and get HD programing for no extra charge. So I figure if I get a tuner built in, it will work just as well. But I'm getting no HD signal with my new TV.

Comcast is now telling me that, while I don't need to upgrade to digital cable, I need to pay $10/month for HD service and to rent some kind of digital box to get HD programming.

I'm very confused. I appriciate any explanation someone can offer. Thanks!

Smthkd · 04-30-2005, 06:08 PM

If your HD set has a ASTC tuner built inside, that mean you can hook up a OTA (Over the Air) antenna and receive local stations HD feeds free. 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!

- Also, If you decide to use the OTA antenna, you have to do a channel scan in order to pick up you Digital stations locally. To see what available in your area go to www.Checkhd.com first and see whats available and what type of antenna will be needed!

RSawdey · 04-30-2005, 06:10 PM

Depends on your TV's tuner, but you need one with a CableCard slot to receive scrambled digital cable (and all HD is digital). Renting a CableCard is only about $2/month while a regular STB is $5 and DVR $10. You've still got to subscribe to digital, however...

gramps11 · 05-01-2005, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudewithacamer

Hello, I have Comcast basic cable, which is the chapest anolog signal I can get. There's no cable box or anything. I also just got a HDTV (not HD ready) with an anolog tuner and ASTC digital tuner.

Before I got the TV, I was told that instead of renting a HDTV tuner from Comcast for $5/month, I could buy a tuner and get HD programing for no extra charge. So I figure if I get a tuner built in, it will work just as well. But I'm getting no HD signal with my new TV.

Comcast is now telling me that, while I don't need to upgrade to digital cable, I need to pay $10/month for HD service and to rent some kind of digital box to get HD programming.

I'm very confused. I appriciate any explanation someone can offer. Thanks!

I have exactly the same circumstances as you have. I had only analog cable from Comcast. I spent much time researching different TVs (HD), assessing my in home cable wiring and reviewing whether or not I wanted Direct TV, Dish or Comcast. I learned early on that I was not located in the proper place to receive OTA HD by local channels. I also found out that I would have to run RG6 cable and telephone lines, which would be difficult and relatively costly to do if I wanted satellite. Once I found that I could not receive local HD broadcasts that narrowed my choice to Comcast, as I already have HSI (High speed internet) from Comcast and if I went with DTV or Dish this great cable HSI would cost me $15 more per month. Plus, my Comcast analog signal was already good and I have 4 different TVs connected by existing wiring.

I then called Comcast and assessed my options and costs. I was already paying $45+ for my analog. It would cost me only $15.95 to add Digital Plus (which includes one free STB). Then to add HD it would cost $5 more per month. I received two months free when I upgraded, plus I got a Premium channel free for the two months as well.

If my TV was capable of taking a cable card it was available, I believe they said it was about $30 to install their card and like $3/month--but I was not interested and my TV could not accomodate the card. There are plusses and minusses to the card--just a matter of personal preference.

I now have Comcast Digital Plus/HD and wonderful picture quality. It costs me about $20+ per month more, but it is well worth it. I really enjoy watching things like NCIS, 24, CSI and NBA playoff in HD. Once you see the difference you will never go back to SD.

Good luck.

gramps11 · 05-01-2005, 08:19 AM

Go to broadbandreports.com and check under Comcast --lots of good info there by other Comcast users.

goober22 · 05-01-2005, 10:20 AM

Some ATSC tuners "may" pull in UNENCRYPTED qam (cable) channels as well. Check if yours will. If so, you should be able to hook the cable line to the digital tuner and scan for channels.

But note, it will only pull them in IF they are unencrypted. Most of them will be (premiums, etc) but some areas encrypt them all; like mine.

In that case you would have to rent a cable box and sub to the hd pak. It is also possible that you local has a filter blocking the higher freqs.

RSawdey · 05-01-2005, 03:59 PM

They are not supposed to add encryption to retransmitted local broadcast stations... per the FCC. Including digital ones.

dudewithacamer · 05-02-2005, 01:29 AM

Do you know what FCC code that is so I can look it up?

gramps11 · 05-02-2005, 11:26 AM

It seems to me that for about $20+ a month you can get the most out of your TV by upgrading to Digital Plus/HD service from Comcast I recently did this and have excellent picture quality, plus I got 2 months of Digital Plus/HD and one premium channel for free.

As far as receiving HD OTA local channels so much depends on your location and ability to receive the signals. This is not an option for me as I cannot receive OTA signals with a standard antenna, the only way for me to get local HD was through Comcast.

Good luck.

eastbay80 · 05-03-2005, 02:12 AM

Hello all, I am new to this forum...

Here is the current situation... I am also very confused about comcast HD

... I currently have a phillips 55" LCoS HDTV...
i am with comcast (basic; channels 1-73)....paying about 18.07

I bought the samsung t451, under the impression that the QAM will be able to catch comcast digital signals...but i was wrong...

I want to avoid renting STB from comcast, but from looking around on the inet, there is really no way to avoid that

....however...
i have been looking at the LG LST-4200A; it has a QAM tuner as well

, but i am afraid i will be SOL with this if order this HDTV tuner

..

Any suggestions will be nice....

oh yeah, what is a digital cable filter?
thanks again...

goober22 · 05-03-2005, 08:44 AM

If they encrypt the digital signals (which they almost always do) you will not be able to see the digital channels - no matter what tuner you have.

In my area I have 2 cable cos. On one, about 6 channels are unencrypted - just the cheaper digital ones- no HD & no premiums. On the other one, there are about 20 unencrypted - half are music choice, no premiums & 1HD (ABC) out of 14 HD available.

In my opinion, the real benefit ot a tuner is being able to pull in OTA. If you want QAM as well, you are more than likely going to have to pick up a cablecard or stb.

hkl · 07-02-2005, 12:22 PM

I just hooked my new Samsung DLP TV (with built-in ATSC tunner) to my Comcast standard analog cable service which does not require a cable box. After auto-programming, I can now receive the HD versions of local channels. Is it because those channels are not encrypted?

What more would I get if I pay another $5 for HDTV service? I looked at the channel lineup for the HD service. Besides the local and sports channels, the only extra ones are INHD - 1, INHD - 2, Discovery HD, HBO - HD, Cinemax - HD, Starz - HD, and Showtime - HD. But I don't think I'll get HBO, Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime without purchasing their non-HD version.

slcsnkman · 07-03-2005, 08:34 AM

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?

dels28 · 07-05-2005, 08:41 AM

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?

I totally agree with you. What's the point of the big purchase? You splurge on a fantastic piece of technology and then watch crap on it?

mrow2 · 07-09-2005, 02:32 PM

I'm in the same dilemma. I really hate forking over about $48 to Adelphia every month for basic non digital cable with level 1 upgrades (things like TNT, AMC and Hist.) But I am accustomed to this, and I have my high speed internet with them, so that's another $28 per month on top of the $48 or so. Later it goes to just under $100 for both, when the special offer reverts to reg. price. That's a lot of dough to be giving the cable company when my friends in Europe are operating at a fraction of that price. I can live with OTA primary network offerings and PBS as acceptable fare for HD viewing, and we have that in this area plus the local crap. That's still quite a few channels. I don't care about sports, like a lot of you do The rest, I will optimize as best as I can. Maybe there will be a deal for HD digital cable later on, don't know.

04-30-2005, 05:56 PM	#1
dudewithacamer What is HD? Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2	Do I need to buy HD from Comcast? Hello, I have Comcast basic cable, which is the chapest anolog signal I can get. There's no cable box or anything. I also just got a HDTV (not HD ready) with an anolog tuner and ASTC digital tuner. Before I got the TV, I was told that instead of renting a HDTV tuner from Comcast for $5/month, I could buy a tuner and get HD programing for no extra charge. So I figure if I get a tuner built in, it will work just as well. But I'm getting no HD signal with my new TV. Comcast is now telling me that, while I don't need to upgrade to digital cable, I need to pay $10/month for HD service and to rent some kind of digital box to get HD programming. I'm very confused. I appriciate any explanation someone can offer. Thanks!

04-30-2005, 06:08 PM	#2
Smthkd Vick missed as a Falcon! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,270	If your HD set has a ASTC tuner built inside, that mean you can hook up a OTA (Over the Air) antenna and receive local stations HD feeds free. 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! - Also, If you decide to use the OTA antenna, you have to do a channel scan in order to pick up you Digital stations locally. To see what available in your area go to www.Checkhd.com first and see whats available and what type of antenna will be needed! Last edited by Smthkd; 04-30-2005 at 06:13 PM.

05-01-2005, 08:19 AM	#5
gramps11 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 26	Good info Go to broadbandreports.com and check under Comcast --lots of good info there by other Comcast users.

05-02-2005, 01:29 AM	#8
dudewithacamer What is HD? Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2	Do you know what FCC code that is so I can look it up? Last edited by dudewithacamer; 05-02-2005 at 01:43 AM.

05-02-2005, 11:26 AM	#9
gramps11 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 26	Just my 2 cents worth It seems to me that for about $20+ a month you can get the most out of your TV by upgrading to Digital Plus/HD service from Comcast I recently did this and have excellent picture quality, plus I got 2 months of Digital Plus/HD and one premium channel for free. As far as receiving HD OTA local channels so much depends on your location and ability to receive the signals. This is not an option for me as I cannot receive OTA signals with a standard antenna, the only way for me to get local HD was through Comcast. Good luck.

04-30-2005, 06:10 PM	#3
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 61 Posts: 5,981	Depends on your TV's tuner, but you need one with a CableCard slot to receive scrambled digital cable (and all HD is digital). Renting a CableCard is only about $2/month while a regular STB is $5 and DVR $10. You've still got to subscribe to digital, however...

05-01-2005, 10:20 AM	#6
goober22 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Panama City / Ft Walton Bch, FL. Posts: 702	Some ATSC tuners "may" pull in UNENCRYPTED qam (cable) channels as well. Check if yours will. If so, you should be able to hook the cable line to the digital tuner and scan for channels. But note, it will only pull them in IF they are unencrypted. Most of them will be (premiums, etc) but some areas encrypt them all; like mine. In that case you would have to rent a cable box and sub to the hd pak. It is also possible that you local has a filter blocking the higher freqs.

05-01-2005, 03:59 PM	#7
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 61 Posts: 5,981	They are not supposed to add encryption to retransmitted local broadcast stations... per the FCC. Including digital ones.

05-03-2005, 02:12 AM	#10
eastbay80 What is HD? Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1	Samsung T451 & Comcast Hello all, I am new to this forum... Here is the current situation... I am also very confused about comcast HD ... I currently have a phillips 55" LCoS HDTV... i am with comcast (basic; channels 1-73)....paying about 18.07 I bought the samsung t451, under the impression that the QAM will be able to catch comcast digital signals...but i was wrong... I want to avoid renting STB from comcast, but from looking around on the inet, there is really no way to avoid that ....however... i have been looking at the LG LST-4200A; it has a QAM tuner as well , but i am afraid i will be SOL with this if order this HDTV tuner .. Any suggestions will be nice.... oh yeah, what is a digital cable filter? thanks again...

05-03-2005, 08:44 AM	#11
goober22 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Panama City / Ft Walton Bch, FL. Posts: 702	If they encrypt the digital signals (which they almost always do) you will not be able to see the digital channels - no matter what tuner you have. In my area I have 2 cable cos. On one, about 6 channels are unencrypted - just the cheaper digital ones- no HD & no premiums. On the other one, there are about 20 unencrypted - half are music choice, no premiums & 1HD (ABC) out of 14 HD available. In my opinion, the real benefit ot a tuner is being able to pull in OTA. If you want QAM as well, you are more than likely going to have to pick up a cablecard or stb.

07-02-2005, 12:22 PM	#12
hkl What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1	How Come I Get Local HDTV Over Cable? I just hooked my new Samsung DLP TV (with built-in ATSC tunner) to my Comcast standard analog cable service which does not require a cable box. After auto-programming, I can now receive the HD versions of local channels. Is it because those channels are not encrypted? What more would I get if I pay another $5 for HDTV service? I looked at the channel lineup for the HD service. Besides the local and sports channels, the only extra ones are INHD - 1, INHD - 2, Discovery HD, HBO - HD, Cinemax - HD, Starz - HD, and Showtime - HD. But I don't think I'll get HBO, Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime without purchasing their non-HD version.

07-03-2005, 08:34 AM	#13
slcsnkman Gettin HD from the SLC Join Date: Jun 2005 Age: 34 Posts: 361	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?

07-09-2005, 02:32 PM	#15
mrow2 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 86	I'll try to state the case for this I'm in the same dilemma. I really hate forking over about $48 to Adelphia every month for basic non digital cable with level 1 upgrades (things like TNT, AMC and Hist.) But I am accustomed to this, and I have my high speed internet with them, so that's another $28 per month on top of the $48 or so. Later it goes to just under $100 for both, when the special offer reverts to reg. price. That's a lot of dough to be giving the cable company when my friends in Europe are operating at a fraction of that price. I can live with OTA primary network offerings and PBS as acceptable fare for HD viewing, and we have that in this area plus the local crap. That's still quite a few channels. I don't care about sports, like a lot of you do The rest, I will optimize as best as I can. Maybe there will be a deal for HD digital cable later on, don't know.