Here is what I have. Cablevision digital cable feeding through a set top box to an HDTV in the family room downstairs.

Upstairs in two bedrooms have analog TVs connected directly to the cable.

Come Feb 2009 I fear the analog TVs will no longer work without having to pay Cablevision for their set-top boxes -- can't get a clear answer from Cablevision, but seems very likely.

So, instead can I just buy 2 of the CECBs and connect them to the cable and feed the component video out to the anlog TVs?

I have tried this already with the Zenith DTT900 box, it doesn't find any channels on the cable. So looks like it will only find channels over the air? Will a different model do it, or does the cable digiital channels come on different frequencies than over-the -air?

My other option is to get an antenna, but I live in a hilly area, OTA reception not very good.

The CECB's will only get digitals OTA. You would need something like a Samsung 260 to get any digital QAM cable channels in the clear. Note personally I wouldn't worry about losing analog cable in the near future. It has no shutoff deadline like OTA. Besides most cable digital channels are only receivable with the cable company's own box, not one you could buy. The Sammy is ~$170 so for the few channels it would probably be better to rent a cable co's box when the time comes.

On the remote chance that your cable system is serving 8VSB instead of QAM, then it would work. I understand there are a handful that do. Most cable systems use QAM because they can push twice as many bits through the same bandwidth, and they don't need as much error correction as OTA.

Here is what I have. Cablevision digital cable feeding through a set top box to an HDTV in the family room downstairs.

Upstairs in two bedrooms have analog TVs connected directly to the cable.

Come Feb 2009 I fear the analog TVs will no longer work without having to pay Cablevision for their set-top boxes -- can't get a clear answer from Cablevision, but seems very likely.

So, instead can I just buy 2 of the CECBs and connect them to the cable and feed the component video out to the anlog TVs?

I have tried this already with the Zenith DTT900 box, it doesn't find any channels on the cable. So looks like it will only find channels over the air? Will a different model do it, or does the cable digiital channels come on different frequencies than over-the -air?

My other option is to get an antenna, but I live in a hilly area, OTA reception not very good.

I suggest you call and speak to a supervisor. The TV commercials they are airing are very clear. You won't need a box for your old TV. Unless you want the Sub stations (so I was told). Then you will need a box. For 2 to 69 the answer I was given. No box or change needed

BTW CECB will not work with Cable. Only OTA

IF (very big if there) your cable system is actually putting the 8vsb transmitted signal on the cable plant - then yes. Otherwise - no.

IF (very big if there) your cable system is actually putting the 8vsb transmitted signal on the cable plant - then yes.

No one does, to my knowledge. The cable industry settled on 256QAM/64QAM modulation methods for digital cable; there won't be any 8-VSB on your cable system.

No one does, to my knowledge. The cable industry settled on 256QAM/64QAM modulation methods for digital cable; there won't be any 8-VSB on your cable system.
Cablevision in central NJ did use ASTC 8vsb back around 2000.

Ed

.....Can I just buy 2 of the CECBs and connect them to the cable and feed the component video out to the anlog TVs?...... No. As others have mentioned, the CECBs only can decode the ATSC frequencies sent out OTA and received via antenna (with very rare exceptions). NTIA/FCC CECB certification specifications force manufacturers to "cripple" any ability of their CECBs to decode QAM cable transmissions. Congress ultimately decreed that these coupon-subsidized boxes should have limited functionality for the purpose of enabling OTA ATSC reception.

Cable signals are not broadcast OTA so they are not subject to the FCC OTA digital rullings.
Cable companies are not stopping the broadcast of analog TV channels in fact they are required by the FCC to continue to broadcast them till 2012.

Walford, here is what I read on the govt website: (from dtv.gov in the faq section)

I have emphasized the portion which states that cable companies can choose for business reasons to drop analog and require customers to get a set top box:

"Will cable customers with analog TVs have to buy or rent a set-top box from their cable company? If so, how much will it cost?

First, it's important to know that the February 17, 2009 deadline for the digital television transition only applies to full-power broadcast stations. Cable companies are not required by the government to transition their systems to digital, and can continue to deliver channels to their customers in analog. Cable companies are actually required by FCC rules to continue offering local broadcast stations to their customers in analog as long as they offer any analog service. This requirement will continue for at least three years after February 17, 2009. The Commission will decide in 2011 whether the requirement should be continued beyond February 17, 2012. This means that customers who receive analog cable service (without a cable set-top box) will be able to continue to do so.


However, for business reasons (among other things, digital is much more efficient than analog), cable companies may be interested in transitioning their systems from analog delivery to digital delivery. If a cable company makes the business decision to go all-digital (meaning it will stop offering any channels to its customers in analog), it must ensure that its analog customers can continue to watch their local broadcast stations. This may require customers with analog televisions to get a set-top box. If the cable company provides the customer with a set-top box, any costs related to it will be determined by the cable company. Therefore, it is recommended that analog cable customers contact their cable company to ask if a set-top box will be needed, when it will be needed, and if there will be a cost. "

Interesting I was not aware of the details you posted, It means that if your cable company goes all digital next year they would have to supply at minimum or no cost any boxes required for your other TVs.
However, due to cost reasons and unhappy customer relations I don't think any of them will do this. In any case I have not seen any reports of this being planned by any cable company.
Many of them are allready Multicasting their analog stations by also broadcasting them over their cable in digital in order to reduce the cost of the boxes they issue and to improve the quality of the video the customer receives with digital boxes.
The following link covers both scenerios.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/fcc-extends-analog-tv-support-until-2012-299239.php

Yes, they either have to keep pumping out analog, or they have to provide set top boxes, BUT ... nothing says those boxes have to be at minimal cost, and given the cable companies' track record, I doubt it will be at minimal/zero cost.

I suggest you call and speak to a supervisor. The TV commercials they are airing are very clear. You won't need a box for your old TV. Unless you want the Sub stations (so I was told). Then you will need a box. For 2 to 69 the answer I was given. No box or change needed.

Some cable systems (like mine) have no more analog signals on them. You need a cable box for those. Broadcast stations should not be scambled, just digital, requiring either a new TV with a QAM tuner (in addition to the ATSC tuner that is required) or a cable box.

NTIA/FCC CECB certification specifications force manufacturers to "cripple" any ability of their CECBs to decode QAM cable transmissions. Congress ultimately decreed that these coupon-subsidized boxes should have limited functionality for the purpose of enabling OTA ATSC reception.

Please stop spreading mis-information. CECB are only intended to allow analog TVs to pick up over-the-air digital signals. They are not intended to be cable box replacements. They are not crippled, as you seem to imply. They were not designed or intended to pick up digital cable signals or frequencies.

The NTIA program did not prohibit the reception of analog signals (as you seem to imply.) It just did not require that they pick up analog signals. After the "analog shutdown" the only analog signals that may be on the air are low-power and translator stations that can still be received by the remaining analog TVs. Those viewers may need splitter or an A-B switch.

I don't understand your last sentence. Did you mis-type? These boxes are fully-functional for picking up OTA ATSC signals.

The NTIA program did not prohibit the reception of analog signals (as you seem to imply.) It just did not require that they pick up analog signals.
Incorrect. The NTIA prohibits a CECB from including "any device or capability which provides for more than simply converting a digital over-the-air television signal (ATSC) for display on an analog television receiver (NTSC)".

Refer to http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2007/DTVFinalRule_technical.htm#Appendix2

Some cable systems (like mine) have no more analog signals on them. You need a cable box for those.

Do I understand you correctly that every customer of your cable company has had to obtain a digital STB for every TV in their home? When did your cable company implement this change?
How much does your cable company for the digital STBs?

Interesting However, due to cost reasons and unhappy customer relations I don't think any of them will do this. In any case I have not seen any reports of this being planned by any cable company.
A number of smaller cable operators either have or are going all-digital. I know Bend Broadband in Bend, OR is one of them because I know someone who lives there. There was an article last year (?) on the digital conversion process for Liberty Cablevision in Puerto Rico which went all-digital. RCN, IIRC, recently announced they would be converting their systems to all digital over the next year or two. The cable companies have to provide low cost or even free SD STBs for their remaining analog customers. So the bigger operators are looking at significant capital costs if they do this in a short time frame. One industry option that is likely to be used is to cut back to a reduced set of maybe only ~30 locals & PEG channels in analog to free up bandwidth. Verizon Fios is in the process of shutting down it's limited set of analog channels but only those with analog TVs directly hooked up used them.

But yes, this should not concern someone with an older analog 2nd or 3rd TV hooked up to a cable system. You would hope the cable CSRs would know better, but the cable companies have a not so hidden motive in using the broadcast shutdown to encourage people to get and pay for digital STBs to reduce the future conversion process to all digital.

Incorrect. The NTIA prohibits a CECB from including "any device or capability which provides for more than simply converting a digital over-the-air television signal (ATSC) for display on an analog television receiver (NTSC)".

Refer to http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2007/DTVFinalRule_technical.htm#Appendix2

Read past the first line in the appendix you linked.

Under Antenna Pass-Through, Permitted Features:

"Equipment may pass through a NTSC analog signal from the antenna to the TV receiver"

and

"By-pass switch to permit NTSC pass-through"

No. As others have mentioned, the CECBs only can decode the ATSC frequencies sent out OTA and received via antenna (with very rare exceptions). NTIA/FCC CECB certification specifications force manufacturers to "cripple" any ability of their CECBs to decode QAM cable transmissions. Congress ultimately decreed that these coupon-subsidized boxes should have limited functionality for the purpose of enabling OTA ATSC reception.

Please stop spreading mis-information. CECB are only intended to allow analog TVs to pick up over-the-air digital signals. They are not intended to be cable box replacements. They are not crippled, as you seem to imply. They were not designed or intended to pick up digital cable signals or frequencies.No question that CECB are only intended to receive OTA DTV signals, and not for cable box replacements.

I think the point seatacboy was trying to make, is that the chip set and other hardware in (all or almost most all) coupon boxes is capable of clear QAM reception, but is intentionally disabled to allow the box to qualify for the coupon program. I believe this is accurate.

No question that CECB are only intended to receive OTA DTV signals, and not for cable box replacements.

I think the point seatacboy was trying to make, is that the chip set and other hardware in (all or almost most all) coupon boxes is capable of clear QAM reception, but is intentionally disabled to allow the box to qualify for the coupon program. I believe this is accurate.

That may be, but I think the point-maker is trying to spin it in a different direction. Electronic equipment is often designed to include all options, but only certain features are fitted for different models and price points. That's not necessarily evil.

Read past the first line in the appendix you linked.
"Equipment may pass through a NTSC analog signal from the antenna to the TV receiver"

Pass-through is not the same as reception within the CECB. Your first post was written to imply that CECB's are allowed to have analog reception. In the context of your post, they=CECB's:

Please stop spreading mis-information. CECB are only intended to allow analog TVs to pick up over-the-air digital signals. They are not intended to be cable box replacements. They are not crippled, as you seem to imply. They were not designed or intended to pick up digital cable signals or frequencies.

The NTIA program did not prohibit the reception of analog signals (as you seem to imply.) It just did not require that they pick up analog signals.

Perhaps you did not make this implication intentionally, but it could cause confusion.

Pass-through is not the same as reception within the CECB. Your first post was written to imply that CECB's are allowed to have analog reception. In the context of your post, they=CECB's:



Perhaps you did not make this implication intentionally, but it could cause confusion.

If you substitute "CECB" for "they" in my post I still don't see how you could say that I said CECBs can have analog reception (meant to mean the ability to demodulate an analog TV signal.)

Although I don't know if any box does this, why would you want a CECB to demodulate an analog TV signal so it can be sent to another analog TV? It seems to me that pass-through is what the box should be doing, and CECBs are allowed to do this and still maintain their coupon eligibility.

Is this really such a big deal?