Hi Guys,

I'm pretty green with HDTV, but am a quick learner. Anyways, I called up Comcast to upgrade my cable because I have just purchased a new HDTV and want to reap the benefits. Anyways, they told me that they can give me a digital receiver box, but they are currently out of the HDTV receivers and they dont know when they will be in stock. Well, I dont feel like waiting for months, OR paying a monthly fee for a an HDTV receiver. I am going to get the all-digital package.

Can I buy just any ol' HDTV receiver? Or do I have to rent a Comcast receiver for $12 more a month? I am not sure if they have any codes or algorithms that run in their HDTV receivers in order to receive HDTV........my thinking is that the signal is already being decoded by the digital box, and all I would have to do is buy the HDTV receiver (Since my Sammy HL-S6187W does not have a QAM tuner).

Am I correct?

Thanks!

Should have bought something with a QAM tuner - you'll need to wait for the STB. The cable co won't activate a privately owned STB - at least not yet.

Or put up an antenna.

Bummer. What is required for activation?

There's gotta be some external QAM tuner that people can buy. Any decent ones that aren't too expensive?

Thanks for the reply.

The cable co activates it at the time of installation.

Few choices of external STBs with QAM - Sammy 260 - there's thread for it.

PrimeDTV PHD200 has QAM