ok, explain to me what the deal is with cable TV converting into digital or whatever

We don't have any new TVs & we only have one cable box that has the silver package. Both of my kids have TVs, there is one in the guest room & our bedroom.
Does this mean I need to get cable boxes for every room?
What about the "converter" that I've heard people talk about?
What if you have a brand new HD TV, then will you get all of the basic channels without a cable box?
We were thinking about switching to flat panels but I still don't want cable boxes in every room.
What's the deal with satelite, is it uneffected by this cable nonsense?
I'm totally out of the loop about this stuff because I'm not a big TV person but I'm PI$$ED that I can't watch TLC or Animal planet anymore because those & HGTV are basically all I do watch. And DH is mad about the History channel.

Give me all the info

Re: ok, explain to me what the deal is with cable TV converting into digital or whatever

If you have a HDTV and a HDTV box then it is unaffected. Sattelite is already digital.


Here is a linky to all the FAQ's about the conversion and it should be of more help.

Message edited 5/18/2008 10:42:00 AM.

Re: ok, explain to me what the deal is with cable TV converting into digital or whatever

so if I buy a new HDTV I also need a HDTV box?

Re: ok, explain to me what the deal is with cable TV converting into digital or whatever

Message edited 5/18/2008 10:43:04 AM.

Re: ok, explain to me what the deal is with cable TV converting into digital or whatever

Did the link help explain it a bit better?

Re: ok, explain to me what the deal is with cable TV converting into digital or whatever

I don't know but we just got a letter in the mail from Cablevision that if we do not get cable boxes by the end of the month (we don't currently have any on basic) we will lose a whole bunch of channels.

utter BS if you ask me

how convenient that you hae to also pay monthly for cable boxes and remotes.

Re: ok, explain to me what the deal is with cable TV converting into digital or whatever

Cablevision is in the process of telling it's customers to bend over. They are slowly converting all the "cable" stations over to digital - the plan is to have them all converted by Feb. of 2009. They are doing it slowly now to avoid a mad rush in February. This slow change-over will force customers to get the boxes now as they realize favorite stations are no longer available. (instead of everyone trying to get them at once). I'm not sure if they are going all digital or will have just the broadcast stations available.

Here's the info from the link that indicates you will need a box, or possibly a TV with the cable card slot - not sure if Cablevision will work with that - if it does you might be able to get away with a TV with a slot and a $2.00 per month card. I think Cablevision charges about $9.95 for the IO Digital service into the house and another $8.50 per box set (It's $6+ for the box, about $0.22 for the remote and $2.00 for the card). Those are fees before taxes too.

Some cable companies have decided to switch to digital service. This is a business decision made by the cable companies and is not required by the federal government. Your cable company may decide to move certain cable channels off of its analog service tier and onto a digital service tier, or it may decide to switch to all-digital service at once, so that there is no analog service tier for any subscribers. If your cable company decides to move some or all of the channels it provides onto a digital service tier, it may notify you that you need to get “digital cable” equipment to continue receiving that cable service. This may include renting or purchasing a digital cable set-top box or purchasing a digital cable ready TV equipped with a “CableCARD” slot. The digital cable equipment is different from the digital-to-analog converter boxes that are used to receive over-the-air broadcast signals.

We're in the process of talking to Verizon about the FIOS service. They require some conversion equipment too but it seems to be more reasonably priced that Cablevision and I'm just so tired of Cablevisions FU attitude towards their customers.

Cablevision loves to increase their rates when they add programming - where's my discount now that they are taking it away?

Re: ok, explain to me what the deal is with cable TV converting into digital or whatever

Re: ok, explain to me what the deal is with cable TV converting into digital or whatever

Look under QAM256 and that's all the channels you would get