Recommended Converter Box

Kcgreatfox · 05-01-2009, 09:26 PM

My college has recently had a change in their cable plan. The school has RCN, and this year instead of having a primarily analog service, the majority of the channels (of course, all the good ones) are now digital. Only a handful of channels are still offered in the analog format.

Unfortunately, the TV I have is a little old, and only supports analog signals. Being a poor college student, I can't afford a new TV.

My room mate and I decided that we would split the cost of a converter box, and I'm wondering what the best option would be. I'm looking for one that's a reasonable price, but has the best features and functionality.

Any recommendations?

DoctorCAD · 05-02-2009, 07:16 AM

I don't think one is available except from the cable company.

Kcgreatfox · 05-02-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorCAD

I don't think one is available except from the cable company.

There's quite a few converter boxes on the market. Just look at the search results from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...er+box&x=0&y=0

DoctorCAD · 05-02-2009, 01:53 PM

Those are for OTA only, not cable. Cable digital signals require the cable companies box only.

Kcgreatfox · 05-02-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorCAD

Those are for OTA only, not cable. Cable digital signals require the cable companies box only.

haha yeah I just figured that out... Any options for getting digital cable that isn't an illegal do-it-yourself kind of thing?

HiDefRev · 05-02-2009, 04:51 PM

Nope. In order to receive the decode the digital signals from your cable company, you must use one of their boxes.

glennb1 · 05-03-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiDefRev

Nope. In order to receive the decode the digital signals from your cable company, you must use one of their boxes.

No. Not really true.

If you have a QAM tuner in an HDTV you will get the free digital cable channels that are sent down the cabletv line as long as you are paying for the basic cableTV service.

DoctorCAD · 05-04-2009, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glennb1

No. Not really true.

If you have a QAM tuner in an HDTV you will get the free digital cable channels that are sent down the cabletv line as long as you are paying for the basic cableTV service.

From the original post "Unfortunately, the TV I have is a little old, and only supports analog signals. Being a poor college student, I can't afford a new TV."

Kcgreatfox · 05-05-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glennb1

No. Not really true.

If you have a QAM tuner in an HDTV you will get the free digital cable channels that are sent down the cabletv line as long as you are paying for the basic cableTV service.

I'm kinda confused now, because i know people with tvs that have digital tuners and they get all the channels and they don't need a cable box... they don't sell digital tuners like you would find in a newer tv?

DoctorCAD · 05-05-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kcgreatfox

I'm kinda confused now, because i know people with tvs that have digital tuners and they get all the channels and they don't need a cable box... they don't sell digital tuners like you would find in a newer tv?

I have an external QAM tuner, it will pick up the signals that the cable company sends in QAM, but NOT IN DIGITAL ONLY.

Or they are using the OTA tuner in their TVs to pick up regular TV signals over the air. Those will be (generally) in HD.

Kcgreatfox · 05-06-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorCAD

I have an external QAM tuner, it will pick up the signals that the cable company sends in QAM, but NOT IN DIGITAL ONLY.

Or they are using the OTA tuner in their TVs to pick up regular TV signals over the air. Those will be (generally) in HD.

They aren't using the OTA tuner. We actually have a cable jack in the room that will give you both analog and digital channels. All they have to do is scan for channels and they get both digital and analog channels. What is QAM exactly??

Sorry, I'm a bit ignorant about cable-related things

DoctorCAD · 05-06-2009, 11:55 AM

QAM is like FM or AM...its a type of signal that is sent down a TV cable. A QAM tuner will be able to tune in those signals that are sent in the QAM format. Lots of cable companies send all local channels in QAM, some cable companies send locals plus other signals in QAM, my cable company sends ALL of its HD channels in QAM, so I can pick them up with my QAM tuner.

What I (or anyone else) cannot pick up are the "regular" digital channels that the cable company sends down their cable. They are sent in a format that only THEIR cable box can decode. Those boxes are NOT AVAILABLE to the general public to own.

Of course at a college, nobody would be doing anything illegal to pick up the endrypted channels. We all know that students only spend their time on good and wholesome activities!

deadhead68 · 05-06-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorCAD

What I (or anyone else) cannot pick up are the "regular" digital channels that the cable company sends down their cable. They are sent in a format that only THEIR cable box can decode. Those boxes are NOT AVAILABLE to the general public to own.

That's not exactly accurate. QAM is the signal format for digital cable signals. Some of which may be in HD, but they are all digital. QAM is not only for HD channels. When I connect my cable from the wall outlet to my TV's QAM tuner, I get all the unencrypted digital/HD channels. The only digital/HD channels I don't get are the premiums like HBO, Cinemax, etc. The only thing the STB is for is to decrypt the premium channels within the package you pay for.

DeadHead68

Bigloww · 05-06-2009, 12:22 PM

As the Doctor stated, an external tuner, new HD TV or renting a set top box from your provider is your only option. We already know that a new HDTV is not in the cards... So either rent a STB for like $5 month from you cable provider (if cable is legit) or buy a terrestrial tuner with QAM on E-Bay.. The run about $75-$100 though unless you find a great deal..

Here is 1 from buy.com for $79 shipped. They have a version that has composite and component inputs and another with DVI.. Composite is what he will need most likely.

http://www.buy.com/videoclip/kworld-...ver/73163.html

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...849676#cRevSec

If he has a computer monitor, he may be able to get some locals in HD as well..

DoctorCAD · 05-06-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadhead68

That's not exactly accurate. QAM is the signal format for digital cable signals. Some of which may be in HD, but they are all digital. QAM is not only for HD channels. When I connect my cable from the wall outlet to my TV's QAM tuner, I get all the unencrypted digital/HD channels. The only digital/HD channels I don't get are the premiums like HBO, Cinemax, etc. The only thing the STB is for is to decrypt the premium channels within the package you pay for.

DeadHead68

Sorry, I should have qualified QAM with Clear QAM. My cable company (and I thought all others) does not send their digital channels in Clear QAM.

My tuner "sees" all 222 digital channels on the cable, but only the Clear QAM versions show up with a picture and sound.

I also get all 29 music channels, but without the video information screens.

05-01-2009, 09:26 PM	#1
Kcgreatfox Resistance is futile... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Boston, Ma Posts: 99	Recommended Converter Box My college has recently had a change in their cable plan. The school has RCN, and this year instead of having a primarily analog service, the majority of the channels (of course, all the good ones) are now digital. Only a handful of channels are still offered in the analog format. Unfortunately, the TV I have is a little old, and only supports analog signals. Being a poor college student, I can't afford a new TV. My room mate and I decided that we would split the cost of a converter box, and I'm wondering what the best option would be. I'm looking for one that's a reasonable price, but has the best features and functionality. Any recommendations? __________________ Living Room: 60" Grand WEGA™ SXRD™ Rear Projection HDTV Sony 800W 5.1 Home Theater System HT-DDWG700 Bedroom: RCA 32" Class LCD HDTV w/ Digital Tuner, L32HD31 Samsung HT-X40T 800W Single Disc Home Theater Surround Sound System Consoles: PlayStation 3, GameCube, Wii, N64, SNES, PSP, GBA

05-02-2009, 04:51 PM	#6
HiDefRev Is there HDTV in Heaven ? Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Georgia Age: 55 Posts: 503	Digital cable Nope. In order to receive the decode the digital signals from your cable company, you must use one of their boxes. __________________ Living Room Panasonic PT-50LCZ70 50" 1080p HDTV, Sony Playstation3 80 Gig, Onkyo HT-R667 7.1 AV Receiver, ESS HD-308 Main, Side and Surround Speakers on Bell'O Stands, Cadence C-17 Center Speaker, Acoustic Audio HD-SUB15 Subwoofer, DISH ViP 722 HD DVR, Panasonic DVD Recorder/VCR, Den Viewsonic NX2232W LCD HDTV, RCA RT-2500 5.1 AV Receiver, Yamaha Main, Center and Surround Speakers, Onkyo SKW-750X 10" Subwoofer, DISH ViP 211 HD Receiver, Magnavox Blu-Ray Player, Nintendo 64 & Wii

05-06-2009, 12:22 PM	#14
Bigloww Chi Town Baby.. Da Bears. Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In a van, down by the river. Posts: 5,130	As the Doctor stated, an external tuner, new HD TV or renting a set top box from your provider is your only option. We already know that a new HDTV is not in the cards... So either rent a STB for like $5 month from you cable provider (if cable is legit) or buy a terrestrial tuner with QAM on E-Bay.. The run about $75-$100 though unless you find a great deal.. Here is 1 from buy.com for $79 shipped. They have a version that has composite and component inputs and another with DVI.. Composite is what he will need most likely. http://www.buy.com/videoclip/kworld-...ver/73163.html http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...849676#cRevSec If he has a computer monitor, he may be able to get some locals in HD as well.. __________________ Commit to the Indian.. *In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..* Last edited by Bigloww; 05-06-2009 at 12:28 PM.

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05-02-2009, 07:16 AM	#2
DoctorCAD Direct TV Fresh Meat Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 804	I don't think one is available except from the cable company.

05-02-2009, 01:53 PM	#4
DoctorCAD Direct TV Fresh Meat Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 804	Those are for OTA only, not cable. Cable digital signals require the cable companies box only.

05-06-2009, 11:55 AM	#12
DoctorCAD Direct TV Fresh Meat Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 804	QAM is like FM or AM...its a type of signal that is sent down a TV cable. A QAM tuner will be able to tune in those signals that are sent in the QAM format. Lots of cable companies send all local channels in QAM, some cable companies send locals plus other signals in QAM, my cable company sends ALL of its HD channels in QAM, so I can pick them up with my QAM tuner. What I (or anyone else) cannot pick up are the "regular" digital channels that the cable company sends down their cable. They are sent in a format that only THEIR cable box can decode. Those boxes are NOT AVAILABLE to the general public to own. Of course at a college, nobody would be doing anything illegal to pick up the endrypted channels. We all know that students only spend their time on good and wholesome activities!