[Cialug] digital cable tv cards

[Nathan C. Smith]

I have basic analog cable too.

The digital conversion means the networks can squeeze the signals they send
now (in our area, kcci, who, KDIN, etc) into a skinnier slice of bandwidth.
This gives the extra bandwidth back to the government so they can re-auction
the bandwidth or reserve it for Government/Emergency use etc.  I'm not sure
what they are doing with the bandwidth they back.  It means that more
channels could be offered OTA, but without demand and a profit motive we are
probably stuck with the same five or six OTA channels we have now.

Anybody know what they are using the reclaimed bandwidth for?

-Nate

> -----Original Message-----
> From: neal daringer [mailto:admin at c0wzftp.com] 
> Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 4:32 PM
> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Cialug] digital cable tv cards
> 
> i know there is a difference between analog and digital and 
> HD. i've used dialup before and had a cell phone before they 
> were even 10% of what they are today (i.e. before callerid). 
> i just wish that people would take the time to investigate 
> what they are shopping for before they buy it. would help 
> keep a lot of the misleading crap off the market (if noone is 
> buying it then why sell it?). as it stands i only have the 
> ultra-basic cable plan (network and local tv plus the 
> shopping and religous channels), so if i can get all the same 
> channels that i get now OTA in digital, then why should i 
> stick with cable? i'm willing to shell out a few hundred 
> bucks now for a good antenna and pick up everything i need in 
> digital if it has its perks if catv wont be switching to digital.
> 
> p.s. i emailed the fcc's 'digital changeover fyi list' asking 
> about the necessity of digital readiness for catv. should be 
> interesting to see what they say.
> 
> 
> Nathan C. Smith wrote:
> > I'm not sure what path the signal actually takes, but it 
> becomes OTA 
> > (over the air) digital at the point of transmission.
> >
> > The cable industry is (trying to make) making a big point 
> out of the 
> > fact that if you have cable, you are already prepared for 
> the change 
> > and when the date rolls around you don't need to do anything.
> >
> > Also, even though the OTA signal will be digital, it 
> doesn't mean that 
> > it will be HD.  I think this confuses a lot of people, in 
> addition to 
> > the fact that there are different levels of HD.  I think this whole 
> > transmission changeover is going to make some dishonest 
> people a lot 
> > of money as they take advantage of all the confusion to 
> sell gimmicks 
> > to make digital somehow HD etc. etc.
> >
> > BTW  to Neal: I don't remember when you got back, but I'm 
> real glad you did.
> > And thank-you for your service.
> >
> > -Nate
> >  
> >
> >   
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: neal daringer [mailto:admin at c0wzftp.com]
> >> Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 3:51 PM
> >> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> >> Subject: Re: [Cialug] digital cable tv cards
> >>
> >> how will cable companies get analog broadcasts then if 
> there are no 
> >> analog originating stations?
> >>
> >> will they demodulate it(or whatever its called) to make it analog 
> >> again?
> >>
> >> Nathan C. Smith wrote:
> >>     
> >>> What do you mean?
> >>>
> >>> If you are using analog or digital cable now the change 
> to digital 
> >>> signals will make no difference to you.
> >>>
> >>> The changeover is for analog broadcast over-the-air signals only.
> >>>
> >>> I don't know about you but I intend to continue using my 
> TVs, Tivos 
> >>> and MythTVs with analog cable until they stop offering the
> >>>       
> >> service or
> >>     
> >>> I get addicted to HD.
> >>>
> >>> -Nate
> >>>
> >>>   
> >>>       
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: neal daringer [mailto:admin at c0wzftp.com]
> >>>> Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 9:39 PM
> >>>> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> >>>> Subject: [Cialug] digital cable tv cards
> >>>>
> >>>> i know a lot of you are not big cable users. but i was
> >>>>         
> >> wondering if
> >>     
> >>>> any of you have prepared for the digital changeover yet
> >>>>         
> >> for your pc
> >>     
> >>>> tv tuners?
> >>>>
> >>>> i'm trying to figure something out so that i can keep on
> >>>>         
> >> keeping on
> >>     
> >>>> with my recordings. any help would be nice.
> >>>>
> >>>> i found this one that looks promising for linux. 
> >>>> http://www.pchdtv.com/hdtv_linux.html
> >>>> heard about it?
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>> Cialug mailing list
> >>>> Cialug at cialug.org
> >>>> http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> >>>>
> >>>>     
> >>>>         
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> >>>   
> >>>       
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