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Our cable company gave us 3 free digital boxes but never explained why we need them. I think I've finally started to understand but I just want someone else to confirm it!
First, I want to say that I understand that this has nothing to do with the OTA transition so please don't tell my I will be unaffected by that! I know. I'm affected by something else....My cable company (CC from here on out) is going all digital on April 1, 2009. There is something about a QAM tuner that many TVs don't have--even newer TVs, and this is basically why we need the digital box, right? (I sure hope so).
If I find a TV that has a QAM tuner will I need the box? Also, what happens if I don't use a box on a non-QAM TV? Will I absolutely get 0 channels? For either TV situation will I maybe get some channels and not others? My family only plans on getting basic digital, nothing premium but I read somewhere that CC's can decide which channels are premium (and it's these "premiums" that are making the digital box necessary).
Can anyone confirm that?
Also, I keep reading about how CCs still need to allow analog signals until 2012. Are there any CCs that have an exemption to this rule? Ours is just a local company serving MAYBE 13,000 (and that's only if the local college is in session). If ALL CCs must continue to allow analog is it only required for certain channels (i.e.: ones that provide local information, news, etc.)?
I'm sorry for so many questions--especially ones that probably have been asked before. In my online searches I seem to keep finding bits and pieces to my answers in different places so I wanted to ask everything in one place and have it confirmed (or not). I keep reading people who ask about digital boxes but they are shot down immediately by others who say "The digital transition doesn't affect cable users!!" I think some people are misreading the question. I get that already! But my CC transitioning to all digital IS affecting my cable, apparently.
Thanks in advance.
Answer
This answer applies to the United States only...
Cable TV is going ALL digital. Sooner in some systems than others. Digital cable in almost all cases is scrambled and in order to receive the channels you MUST have a digital cable box authorized by the cable company in order to de-scramble the digital cable channels. Digital Cable boxes and Digital OTA (over-the-air) boxes are completely different.
QAM is way cable TV transmits digital signals. In the old analog days you had to set the TV to broadcast or the cable setting. QAM is the new cable setting. Just about EVERY TV set sold now has a digital QAM tuner as well as the OTA -off-air ATSC tuner. If you go to Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears etc. I doubt that you can find a TV set without a built in QAM tuner.
IF the cable system puts the digital channels in what is called "clear QAM" (unscrambled) your TV set will get them without a converter box. Most cable system put the network TV stations on in clear QAM as well as scrambled QAM.
So if you split the incoming cable wire with a 2 way coax splitter and run one leg to the TV set and the other to the digital converter box you can get on the TV set those unscrambled digital cable channels. (You will have to search for them as they are hidden and in no specific channel order)
You MUST do an auto channel scan on the TV set to pick up any digital channels. This is a one time thing and reads the channels found into memory.
Cable systems were to keep analog until 2012 with certain exceptions. As I understand it IF they provide a digital converter box they are exempt from the analog requirement. Also the only requirement for analog was the regulated tier that is BASIC BASIC. Almost NO popular cable channels are in the Basic Basic package.
Going digital is a BIG BIG advantage to the cable system. In the same bandwidth they can put one analog channel they can put up to 10 digital channels. Thus instead of 60 analog channels they can now put on up to 600 digital channels. HD is normally 4 to 1.
Also since the box acts as the authorization point for service, there is no need to come out and hook you up. Just provide you a box and with a few mouse clicks you are turned on, or OFF if you don't pay the bill. The box also gives the cable system much more control over PPV, on demand, premium movie channels etc.
Analog has the advantage of allowing the signal to All TV sets with NO box required.
Think of the cable box sort of like a satellite receiver for DirecTV or Dish you need one for each set with digital (scrambled) cable.
For your question about are cable systems required to go digital the answer is NO. Cable systems can do pretty much what they want as far as channels, only FULL power OTA TV stations were required to go digital low power stations are often still in analog.
Your statement the the digital transition did not affect cable customers is true in that the cable system had to insure that its customers got the cable channels, on there existing TV sets. At first it was digital to analog conversion of the broadcast stations, now it is by providing a set top boxes that still do digital to analog conversion if needed but more than likely now provide HDMI -High definition digital outputs.
College Cable TV Administrator.
This answer applies to the United States only...
Cable TV is going ALL digital. Sooner in some systems than others. Digital cable in almost all cases is scrambled and in order to receive the channels you MUST have a digital cable box authorized by the cable company in order to de-scramble the digital cable channels. Digital Cable boxes and Digital OTA (over-the-air) boxes are completely different.
QAM is way cable TV transmits digital signals. In the old analog days you had to set the TV to broadcast or the cable setting. QAM is the new cable setting. Just about EVERY TV set sold now has a digital QAM tuner as well as the OTA -off-air ATSC tuner. If you go to Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears etc. I doubt that you can find a TV set without a built in QAM tuner.
IF the cable system puts the digital channels in what is called "clear QAM" (unscrambled) your TV set will get them without a converter box. Most cable system put the network TV stations on in clear QAM as well as scrambled QAM.
So if you split the incoming cable wire with a 2 way coax splitter and run one leg to the TV set and the other to the digital converter box you can get on the TV set those unscrambled digital cable channels. (You will have to search for them as they are hidden and in no specific channel order)
You MUST do an auto channel scan on the TV set to pick up any digital channels. This is a one time thing and reads the channels found into memory.
Cable systems were to keep analog until 2012 with certain exceptions. As I understand it IF they provide a digital converter box they are exempt from the analog requirement. Also the only requirement for analog was the regulated tier that is BASIC BASIC. Almost NO popular cable channels are in the Basic Basic package.
Going digital is a BIG BIG advantage to the cable system. In the same bandwidth they can put one analog channel they can put up to 10 digital channels. Thus instead of 60 analog channels they can now put on up to 600 digital channels. HD is normally 4 to 1.
Also since the box acts as the authorization point for service, there is no need to come out and hook you up. Just provide you a box and with a few mouse clicks you are turned on, or OFF if you don't pay the bill. The box also gives the cable system much more control over PPV, on demand, premium movie channels etc.
Analog has the advantage of allowing the signal to All TV sets with NO box required.
Think of the cable box sort of like a satellite receiver for DirecTV or Dish you need one for each set with digital (scrambled) cable.
For your question about are cable systems required to go digital the answer is NO. Cable systems can do pretty much what they want as far as channels, only FULL power OTA TV stations were required to go digital low power stations are often still in analog.
Your statement the the digital transition did not affect cable customers is true in that the cable system had to insure that its customers got the cable channels, on there existing TV sets. At first it was digital to analog conversion of the broadcast stations, now it is by providing a set top boxes that still do digital to analog conversion if needed but more than likely now provide HDMI -High definition digital outputs.
College Cable TV Administrator.
What are some good rat toys?
Q. Okay well tomorrow I'm adopting a young female rat named Lulu from the humane society shelter that I actually happen to volounteer at. My mom fell in love with her too, and now we've decided to bring her home tomorrow. I have the cage set up beside my hamster's cage. It's got a second level, a water bottle, a food dish, a house, a wheel, and carefresh bedding. So now all we really need to get for her is toys. I was considering a crinkle tunnel for her to run through, and some wooden chews so she can keep her teeth from getting too long. She's a fancy rat ( or 'hooded' rat ), and is not fully grown yet. What are some other great toys I could possibly buy OR make for her? I want her to have the best, just like my hamster. :)
I have a little book on that breed of rat, with TONS of facts. I also did research online. She's very cute, and today she fell asleep in my shirt, and even gave me kisses on the cheek. :)
Any tips, or advice? I know pretty much all I need to but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
Oh, and I was also considering getting her some cool bird toys.
Also, what are some fun things to do with your rat when it comes to playing?
I have a little book on that breed of rat, with TONS of facts. I also did research online. She's very cute, and today she fell asleep in my shirt, and even gave me kisses on the cheek. :)
Any tips, or advice? I know pretty much all I need to but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
Oh, and I was also considering getting her some cool bird toys.
Also, what are some fun things to do with your rat when it comes to playing?
Answer
Bird toys are really good.
Especially the ropes you climb up on.
Bird toys can be very pricey so getting a few is probably only an option.
This site is amazing for any type of information, toys, good tips, everything, plenty of things to read.
Its where I learned most of my information about rats.
http://www.dapper.com.au/
I find the best rat toys are homemade toys because rats love to play but they don't care what they play with, they prefer homemade stuff from what I've seen.
They like to dig, digging boxes are good, with dirt, grass, paper, anything you can think of, peices of light fabric, etc.
I tried the fishing for peas on the Dapper Rat site, they enjoy that a lot, sometimes you have to experiment with other vegetables.
They like simple stuff such as empty kleenex boxes, simple toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls, they will chew up a shirt or pair of pants easily, if you do allow a fabric in with them make sure its one that doesn't fray a lot.
They are nocturnal, they love warm places to hide.
Simple places do it best.
Could be a kleenex box, homemade hammock, etc.
I find when they do like to sleep, they much prefer it in the air, such as a hammock, rather then the ground.
I have owned over 30 rats in a period of 3-4 years, my tips would be, homemade, they do not care about $30 store bought stuff, they love chewing and making it to how THEY like it.
They like to drag stuff, change it up, make their house, they don't want it to be done for them because they'll just change and change it again.
As for playing and stuff socially with a human, it depends on what type of rat you have, you can try and just bond with him/her on your lap while your on the computer, watching tv, reading a book, etc, etc.
When you talk, do it softly, some get startled easily, most don't but some do.
Some like a lot of noise such as keys or bells, some are terrified of such loud noise.
ALL rats are different so its important to find out what your rat likes, what he doesn't like, what you can and can't do with him, where you can bring him, where you trust him enough, etc.
Some rats like to wrestle, you can cover them up and playfully push them lightly, some like it, some are scared and some just like being gentle.
I used to put my rats on the bed and let them run around, I made sure they couldn't of jumped off, I put some stuffed animals on the bed, paper towels, keys, etc.
They dragged the keys around, ran through the tunnels especially if I had a lick of applesauce or yogurt(providing its small), and they would jump on top of the animals.
Rats should always have a second rat companion in my opinion, they definitely become more social and trusting with the human I find, whatever one does, the other one does, if one comes over, the other one isn't far behind, etc so that is something to think about.
Kisses on the cheek and that type of stuff, that is a really good sign of trust, sometimes it takes more time to warm up then others.
Best advice is to check out that site, listen to her experiences with her rats, try some of the toys, etc and go from there.
Bird toys are really good.
Especially the ropes you climb up on.
Bird toys can be very pricey so getting a few is probably only an option.
This site is amazing for any type of information, toys, good tips, everything, plenty of things to read.
Its where I learned most of my information about rats.
http://www.dapper.com.au/
I find the best rat toys are homemade toys because rats love to play but they don't care what they play with, they prefer homemade stuff from what I've seen.
They like to dig, digging boxes are good, with dirt, grass, paper, anything you can think of, peices of light fabric, etc.
I tried the fishing for peas on the Dapper Rat site, they enjoy that a lot, sometimes you have to experiment with other vegetables.
They like simple stuff such as empty kleenex boxes, simple toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls, they will chew up a shirt or pair of pants easily, if you do allow a fabric in with them make sure its one that doesn't fray a lot.
They are nocturnal, they love warm places to hide.
Simple places do it best.
Could be a kleenex box, homemade hammock, etc.
I find when they do like to sleep, they much prefer it in the air, such as a hammock, rather then the ground.
I have owned over 30 rats in a period of 3-4 years, my tips would be, homemade, they do not care about $30 store bought stuff, they love chewing and making it to how THEY like it.
They like to drag stuff, change it up, make their house, they don't want it to be done for them because they'll just change and change it again.
As for playing and stuff socially with a human, it depends on what type of rat you have, you can try and just bond with him/her on your lap while your on the computer, watching tv, reading a book, etc, etc.
When you talk, do it softly, some get startled easily, most don't but some do.
Some like a lot of noise such as keys or bells, some are terrified of such loud noise.
ALL rats are different so its important to find out what your rat likes, what he doesn't like, what you can and can't do with him, where you can bring him, where you trust him enough, etc.
Some rats like to wrestle, you can cover them up and playfully push them lightly, some like it, some are scared and some just like being gentle.
I used to put my rats on the bed and let them run around, I made sure they couldn't of jumped off, I put some stuffed animals on the bed, paper towels, keys, etc.
They dragged the keys around, ran through the tunnels especially if I had a lick of applesauce or yogurt(providing its small), and they would jump on top of the animals.
Rats should always have a second rat companion in my opinion, they definitely become more social and trusting with the human I find, whatever one does, the other one does, if one comes over, the other one isn't far behind, etc so that is something to think about.
Kisses on the cheek and that type of stuff, that is a really good sign of trust, sometimes it takes more time to warm up then others.
Best advice is to check out that site, listen to her experiences with her rats, try some of the toys, etc and go from there.
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Title Post: Please explain why I need this digital box from my cable company?
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Rating: 93% based on 9658 ratings. 4 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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