The future of TV and GB-PVR

[treads6464]

You all can read from my specs listed in my signature what I have. In February of 09, no more analog signals will be available in my area unless i buy converter boxes. This leads into my questions....

1.) I currently receive basic cable through a local cable company, i boost the signal and then split it 4 times for my main gb-pvr box (the two pvr500 cards), assuming i do not want to buy converter boxes, which cards will i need to replace the pvr500's in order to still receive and record TV?

2.) Assuming that i have to update my cards, I figure it is time to go all out. What cards will I need to receive and record HD as well as the normal basic cable channels?

3.) I currently use schedules direct. What will i have to do to accomodate what i still receive for basic cable as well as any HD capability i add?

I have tried very hard to look through the forums and the wiki and on these three issues it seems that i can't find a straightforward simple answer. There is a ton of info all spread out and disorganized. The goal of this post is to centralize the answers to questions many of us will have when February '09 rolls around.

Thank you for any insight or answers any of you can provide. I really appreciate it!

Sub, thanks again for developing such an awesome program!

[pcostanza]

My cable company (Cox) has commercials about what will happen to us as well as letters sent out with each monthly bill. They state that as long as we have cable, they will send us an analog signal to our tv's that DO NOT have digital converters. I think that may only be for about another year then I believe they will make me get digital converters (for a fee, of course).
I think between now and the end of the year, we'll see new items on the market and you might just want to sit back and wait a bit before you spend money now.

[observer_11]

What was so bad about analog cable? Can you not transmit higher resolution signals or HD using analog coax?

[rob11252]

You are confused, I say.
The Feb 09 change doesn't affect you, or anybody using cable, satellite or those who receive TV from Verizon or ATT by telephone cable. ONLY OTA (OVER THE AIR) ANALOG SIGNALS WILL BE TURNED OFF IN FEB.
In other words, you are on a different schedule and only your cable company can tell you what and when you have to change something in your setup.

[zehd]

Although comparing Digital to anolog is apples to oranges, let's just say that they both transmit information. And a cable (a pipe) can only transport so much information. It requires more space in the pipe to transport an analog signal then digital. Cable compaines want to get rid of analog so they have more room for digital channels, and then can offer more channels.

THe governments ( FCC in US and CRTC in Canada) have forced cable companies to continue to provide analog so granma and granpa don't have to do anything special (legacy)

TV stations too were controlled by the government as to when to get rid of Over the Air Analog signals.

OTA and Cable companies that provide analog signals all have slightly different dates at which they can drop support for analog.

Many larger cities are now providing OTA digital broadcasts which support HD. But it's still quite slow for other centres.

Some cable companies are broadcasting digital channles signals in Clear QAM, allowing a consumer to receive those channels with just a simple digital capture card (HVR 1600)

But, most likely, cable companies will encrypt their signals, forcing the use of cable card technology, or the use of a digital Set Top Box...

[mvallevand]

I'm coming at this from a different angle. I don't think that the gramma's and grampa's are the problem. The real dinosaurs are the HTPC users who have got a a tremendous amount of time and money spend in coming up with a really good SD based system only to watch it become obsolete and fight as long as possible.

The average person in Peoria problem will just buy or rent the new generation set top box hook it up to their HD or old SD television and continue without a worry, perhaps even bragging that they have upgraded to a PVR to TiVO etc.

I'm not saying the governments like ours in Canada aren't helping the cable companies at "our" expense, but HD has been coming for al long time and no one has really been complaining. I sort of glad we've got a few more year of SD here in Canada but at the same time I wish there was more HD material for free.

Martin

[ACTCMS]

I don't think that the gramma's and grampa's are the problem.

Be careful there...I'm a grandad...

sort of glad we've got a few more year of SD here in Canada but at the same time I wish there was more HD material for free.

That's the real problem for a lot of us - for over 40 years I've been watching TV for free - 405/625 lines - B&W/Colour - doesn't matter to me - I've always kept up with technology and will continue to do so (a bit of a hobby, you understand). I'm not resisting HD as such - in fact I welcome it (something new to play with).

What I am annoyed about is the way that the introduction of HD is being used as a cover for the "you now need to pay to watch TV" model, and you need to use our box to watch it. (rant, rant, rant)

[mcervi]

What I am annoyed about is the way that the introduction of HD is being used as a cover for the "you now need to pay to watch TV" model, and you need to use our box to watch it. (rant, rant, rant)

Actually I'm taking the opposite tack. I've been subscribing to basic cable for years. Since I'm in an excellent area for OTA (midway between Baltimore and Washington DC) I'm taking the opportunity to ditch cable and go all free. As soon as my government coupons come I'll get boxes for the two non-HD TV's I own and cancel cable. While there are 1 or 2 cable channels I'd like, I really get more than I need OTA anyway. Not only is the OTA picture is better than cable (since they compress) I also don't have to worry about the cable company changing the QAM lineup all the time just to screw with me.

[Fatman_do]

Since you guys have had cable 'forever' I suspect you have become attached to it in, perhaps, an unreasonable way.

In our neck of the woods we have always had good quality FTA (OTA). By good quality I mean the picture, not necessarily the content Cable is a relatively recent addition, Video came first.

At the moment the cheapest, most basic cable, is about $40 per month. and you have to pay installation and you have to sign up for a 2 year subscription. And then they repeat everything about 3x a week and put in just as many adds as FTA.

For that price I can buy 2 seasons of my favourite soaps every month and watch them when I want, cable is for suckers who need 'live sport'.

Maybe you guys can do the same thing? I guess if you need your sports fix you might be in trouble though.

The sports fix is actually forced down our thoughts to a degree. ESPN has a contract with every carrier that it must be included as part of every package level except what would be referred to a locals only. That inflates the price for entry level packages for everyone in the U.S., even if they do not wish to have it, there is no choice. I only really care for American Football, so reliance on cable sports channels is small for me.

I also kind of use a loophole with my cable carrier. I subscribe to the bare bones service and cable internet. Since I have cable internet, they removed the analog filters to get my bandwidth at a near advertised speed, and I get the remaining analog cable channels in the clear, which is enough for me.

[Fatman_do]

Also, If my local carrier drops the analog signal, I would switch to dsl and DishNetwork.

I only really get 4 channels OTA. NBC, CBS, PBS, and a local Christian Broadcasting station. The ABC affiliate is 70 miles away and the fox affiliate is about 30miles in the other direction. If I had a good outdoor antennea, I might be able to pick the fox HD signal, but I am not sure about the ABC network.