Well, you can have OTA analog and OTA Digital. Not all OTA digital is HD, but most of it is.
My point is that if your cable company carries channels that are available OTA in your area, they MUST, per FCC regulations, do so unencrypted. They can still encode it to facilitate transit over their network--currently using a method called QAM--but they can't encrypt the content. That means any device capable of Clear QAM decoding should be able to pick up all digital local broadcast networks over the cable, assuming that the cable co carries them. If the cable company does choose to carry OTA channels over their network in a digital capacity, either SD or HD, they must make them available on the most basic tier. Your typical basic tier is advertised as having 8-15 channels for less than $20/mo, typically analog, typically channels available OTA as well, plus some public access / local programming. HD versions, if present on the network, must be available in this tier as well, but they aren't usually advertised. What this basically amounts to is that assuming your cable company carries local channels in HD, you could subscribe to the most basic tier of service and, with a tuner capable of Clear QAM decoding, view any and all of those local HD channels without buying/renting an STB, CableCARD, digital or HD tier, etc. Cable companies are not bound by the 2/09 "all-digital" broadcast restriction, since they don't broadcast--they transmit over a physical cable plant. However, most are moving to all-digital anyway, since they can run 4, 6, or even 8 compressed SD digital signals (subchannels) over the spectrum reserved for a single analog channel. This frees up more spectrum for HD channels, and likely also for bonding channels in DOCSIS 3.0 internet service offerings--though that's going to be a future offering. I have Time Warner cable, and subscribe to just about everything. However, my HTPC is outfitted with two ATSC HD tuners, and I pull in local broadcast HD. It just looks better than anything you get over cable/satellite. Greg > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:hardware- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of DHSinclair > Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 8:01 PM > To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com > Subject: Re: [H] QAM and digital cable... > > Greg, > I will not argue, except to say that in my area, all CC users are > getting > upgraded to full digital. > One user at a time (whatever that means?) I do not know. I do not have > CC. > I believe this is CC's blunt to the local power company's plan to do > FIOS. > This past Sunday CC admitted that 'we are a completely fiber network in > this area.' OK, that is OK, if true (but it is cable to the house). > I still use xdsl. I can not afford CC's cable internet ($49.95/mo). So, > I > think your 1st para about "(typically analog)" may be back on the > table. > And, softened a bit for regional-specific pricing. > Yes, there will be much more talk about the 02/09 business. But, I try > not > to confuse this with anything HD now or in the future. Can we agree to > separate OTA and HD? > I know that this may be really tough. If so, tell me; I'll pound > sand............... :) > Look, > Many of us still do OTA and analog, I think; or, let's have a HWG vote > so > WE know who/what we are talking to. Otherwise, all this talk (with no > basis) has little meat. > BTW, my TV is OTA........ > Best, > Duncan > > At 18:08 07/28/2008 -0500, you wrote: > > > At 01:09 PM 7/28/2008, you wrote: > > > >Last I had looked at it the answer was "no" if we are talking > about > > > >encrypted channels (nearly all of them are). > > > > > > Actually, the networks aren't, but it is up to the cable companies > to > > > provide them unencrypted. > > > > > > >If a cable company chooses to carry local OTA networks (CBS, NBC, PBS, > FOX, > >CW, etc) over their cable plant, they MUST do so unencrypted, and must > >provide them on the most basic (typically analog) tier. It's an FCC > rule. If > >your cable co provides locals and is encrypting them, report them. > > > > > > snip
