At a minimum you need a TV with a cable card slot since Comcast is encrypting the digital channels (except over the air HD channels). - Not all over the country yet but they are doing it. If you want video on demand (VOD) you need two way communications so you will need a Comcast HD box. Down the road a one way cable card will limit your choices even more since Comcast will be going to a switched network for at least part of its channels (two way communications necessary). Bottom line: a Comcast cable box is your best bet until TV's have circuitry for a two way communication cable card or built in conditional access circuitry.
HDTV, Comcast, tuners, QAM, cable card, settop boxes -- HELP!
OK. Can someone clarify this whole mess for me?
I have Comcast (not much choice, really) and I really need to better understand the whole HDTV tuner issue before buying a 50" plasma (the children at BestBuy are really not much help at all)
Some sets have ATSC/NTSC tuners, some have QAM tuners, some have no tuners, some have CableCard slots. Then there are add-on "set top" HDTV tuners. What do I need to get HDTV signals over Comcast cable? Is it different for just the HDTV Local channels, than for the HD cable channels (ESPN, Discovery, HBO, etc.)?
Will and of the in-set tuner option guarantee me NOT to need an add-on set top box? I really have no space for yet another component -- at least the ones from Comcast seem as big as a standard DVD player.
Are there HDTV tuners from third parties that are high quality, nice small and compact and can be used in place of the big, ugly Comcast box? Also, at least from my experience a few years ago, the digital tuner box from Comcast was really poor quality (Audio really sucked, for example).
Does a QAM tuner allow you get HDTV programming without a cable box? Or do you need a CableCard with a QAM tuner (or Cablecard without an in-set tuner) to do so? ASTC only gets, as I understand it, local HDTV signals from the air, and I would need to get an antenna installed to get them. Right? Or will the ASTC tuner pull the local HDTV channel signals from the cable as well?
(Features like on-screen programming guides and video on demand don't really interest me too much -- getting a box just for that isn't worth it to me).
Fianlly, is any of this particular to Comcast -- have they rigged it so you have to use their set top HDTV tuner box, no matter what (in which case, I might as well get the less-expensive Plasma without any tuner at all).
I hope someone out there can straighten out this whole tuner mess for me. Thanks!
I have Comcast (not much choice, really) and I really need to better understand the whole HDTV tuner issue before buying a 50" plasma (the children at BestBuy are really not much help at all)
Some sets have ATSC/NTSC tuners, some have QAM tuners, some have no tuners, some have CableCard slots. Then there are add-on "set top" HDTV tuners. What do I need to get HDTV signals over Comcast cable? Is it different for just the HDTV Local channels, than for the HD cable channels (ESPN, Discovery, HBO, etc.)?
Will and of the in-set tuner option guarantee me NOT to need an add-on set top box? I really have no space for yet another component -- at least the ones from Comcast seem as big as a standard DVD player.
Are there HDTV tuners from third parties that are high quality, nice small and compact and can be used in place of the big, ugly Comcast box? Also, at least from my experience a few years ago, the digital tuner box from Comcast was really poor quality (Audio really sucked, for example).
Does a QAM tuner allow you get HDTV programming without a cable box? Or do you need a CableCard with a QAM tuner (or Cablecard without an in-set tuner) to do so? ASTC only gets, as I understand it, local HDTV signals from the air, and I would need to get an antenna installed to get them. Right? Or will the ASTC tuner pull the local HDTV channel signals from the cable as well?
(Features like on-screen programming guides and video on demand don't really interest me too much -- getting a box just for that isn't worth it to me).
Fianlly, is any of this particular to Comcast -- have they rigged it so you have to use their set top HDTV tuner box, no matter what (in which case, I might as well get the less-expensive Plasma without any tuner at all).
I hope someone out there can straighten out this whole tuner mess for me. Thanks!
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
1 - 3 of 3 Posts
Quote:
Assuming anything more than just local HD is desired, and for PVR capability, the basic plasma and a Comcast rented box is the best bet.
ATSC = Over-the-air DTV/HDTV; local Digital TV, and HDTV when it's available.
QAM = Cable DTV/HDTV, but only in the clear (not encrypted). In the case of Comcast, this means only the local HD that Comcast carries; no 'Digital Tier' (ESPN HD, TNT HD, INHD, INHD2, Discovery HD), no premium HD (HBO, Showtime, Starz! Cinemax).
CableCARD = QAM plus the ability to get all subscribed channels (local/digital tier/premium and otherwise), but no PPV, no PVR, no cable on screen guide or program info.
The Comcast HD PVR will do all of the above.
| Originally Posted by Lotus M50 OK. Can someone clarify this whole mess for me? |
ATSC = Over-the-air DTV/HDTV; local Digital TV, and HDTV when it's available.
QAM = Cable DTV/HDTV, but only in the clear (not encrypted). In the case of Comcast, this means only the local HD that Comcast carries; no 'Digital Tier' (ESPN HD, TNT HD, INHD, INHD2, Discovery HD), no premium HD (HBO, Showtime, Starz! Cinemax).
CableCARD = QAM plus the ability to get all subscribed channels (local/digital tier/premium and otherwise), but no PPV, no PVR, no cable on screen guide or program info.
The Comcast HD PVR will do all of the above.
1 - 3 of 3 Posts
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
AVS Forum
A forum community dedicated to home theater owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about home audio/video, TVs, projectors, screens, receivers, speakers, projects, DIY’s, product reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Top Contributors this Month
View All
WilliamR
961 Replies
BASSAHOLIC
529 Replies
bass addict
401 Replies
Recommended Communities
