Please explain why I need this digital box from my cable company?

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.

how do i get the full hd experience for a sony bravia?

joey

i just got it recently and it looks just like my old tv. it says it has 1080p, but how do i get it to show its best picture? also do i need to buy an hdmi cable and what is the cost?

Answer
To get an HD experience from your TV you need to feed it HD. So you need HD television for starters. To get that you need an HD antenna or a cable/satellite HD set top box. That will allow you to at least get HD channels. Even with basic programming, if you have an HD box, you get the major networks in HD (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, etc.). Just remember that they have HD and SD channels. So say right now Fox is channel 28 for you, HD Fox is a completely different channel, like maybe 208.

With broadcast television you will get 720p and 1080i signals primarily. The Dish Network claims it now has 1080p movies, but I kind of question how real that is (the fine print vanishes pretty quick in the commercial).

Next, for movies, you need an device to up-convert DVDs for you. You can get a regular DVD player with up-conversion abilities (it will have an HDMI port) - also called "Up Converting DVD player." Or you can get a BluRay player (all BluRay players are also up-converting DVD players). With the BluRay player you happen to also get access to BluRay discs then.

BluRay is realistically where you will find 1080p sources. This is when you TV will say "1080p" on the screen. But not all BluRay discs are 1080p. So again, don't get panicked if you get one that says something else.

To maximize image quality yes you need an HDMI cable. But DO NOT pay a lot of money for one. Loads of consumer groups have shown that the cheap cables work 100% as well as the expensive ones. $10-15 should cover you. Look to computer stores first, as they often have no-name brand options (some of the big box stores try to push name brand cables). You can also look online at places like amazon.com, monoprice.com, bluejeanscable.com, newegg.com, or tigerdirect.com.

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Please explain why I need this digital box from my cable company?

buy dish tv set top box online image

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.

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?

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.

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how do i get the full hd experience for a sony bravia?

buy dish tv set top box online image

joey

i just got it recently and it looks just like my old tv. it says it has 1080p, but how do i get it to show its best picture? also do i need to buy an hdmi cable and what is the cost?

Answer
To get an HD experience from your TV you need to feed it HD. So you need HD television for starters. To get that you need an HD antenna or a cable/satellite HD set top box. That will allow you to at least get HD channels. Even with basic programming, if you have an HD box, you get the major networks in HD (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, etc.). Just remember that they have HD and SD channels. So say right now Fox is channel 28 for you, HD Fox is a completely different channel, like maybe 208.

With broadcast television you will get 720p and 1080i signals primarily. The Dish Network claims it now has 1080p movies, but I kind of question how real that is (the fine print vanishes pretty quick in the commercial).

Next, for movies, you need an device to up-convert DVDs for you. You can get a regular DVD player with up-conversion abilities (it will have an HDMI port) - also called "Up Converting DVD player." Or you can get a BluRay player (all BluRay players are also up-converting DVD players). With the BluRay player you happen to also get access to BluRay discs then.

BluRay is realistically where you will find 1080p sources. This is when you TV will say "1080p" on the screen. But not all BluRay discs are 1080p. So again, don't get panicked if you get one that says something else.

To maximize image quality yes you need an HDMI cable. But DO NOT pay a lot of money for one. Loads of consumer groups have shown that the cheap cables work 100% as well as the expensive ones. $10-15 should cover you. Look to computer stores first, as they often have no-name brand options (some of the big box stores try to push name brand cables). You can also look online at places like amazon.com, monoprice.com, bluejeanscable.com, newegg.com, or tigerdirect.com.

How to get the picture crystal clear on my HD 1080 LCD TV.?

Kay<3

We just purchased a 52' Sharp Aquos, and the picture wasn't nearly as clear when we brought it home as it was in the store on display. Can anyone give me some tips on how to fix this, or what I can do to help it... thanks for any help!

Answer
I'm a former employee of the Home Entertainment department of Circuit City, so I'll try to help you as best as I can, and be a little bit more clear than these other guys.

First of all, congratulations on your new TV. Sharp is a good brand to go with, and you won't have to squint to see your new 52"!

Most stores these days use high-definition to really show off their display TVs. They might be using DirecTV, Dish, or Comcast (or it's equivalent in your area.) This is not a sleazy way to sell TVs...in fact, it was usually a teaching point for most of my customers.

Right now, your TV is probably plugged up straight to the wall/cable box (if you have cable) or straight to your satellite box with the standard "screw-in" coax cable. This cable is fine for analog signals, however, if you want the same picture you saw in the store, you will need two more things:

1. An HD box from your provider.
2. An HDMI cable.

Simply call your provider and tell them you just got a new HDTV and you want to subscribe to HD programming. They will have to ship you a new box to replace your current box, or, if you don't have one, be the middle-man between your coax cable and your TV. Expect this cost to be about $10 more per month on top of your current bill.

Also, if this is your first box, there is usually a $5 lease fee for the box as well. If this box is replacing a non-HD box, then obviously, the lease fee will transfer over to the new box, and you won't be charged twice unless you keep the old box.

Once you receive your new HD box, you will need an HDMI cable to plug it up with. An HDMI cable is a single cable that connects between your HD box and your HDTV to give you the best picture and sound quality. These cables have what is called a "very fast transfer rate" which moves the information from the HD box to your TV, giving you the best picture possible.

There are millions of HDMI cables out there that you can buy. I recommend Monster Cable as they have the best shielding on their cables (which helps maintain a great picture and not get lines in your TV from interference from power cables and other cables) and also most of their cables come with a lifetime warranty that covers not only breakage, but if technology goes so far as to replace HDMI cables, they will replace your cable with the newest cable format out.

Here is some information regarding cables based on different providers:

Comcast or Cable equivalent: will provide you with a set of "HD cables" called Component cables for setup, but if you want the best picture, have an HDMI cable ready when the guy sets it up for you.

DirecTV: Provides an HDMI cable to its customers during setup of an HD box. These cables are good, but again, if you want the best, choose Monster Cable, and have one waiting for them when they get there.

Dish: I'm not too sure about Dish. I would think that if they were keeping up with DirecTV, they would also be providing an HDMI cable during installation, however, for the best, go ahead and have a Monster Cable HDMI cable on hand for best results.

You can purchase Monster Cables online at www.monstercable.com or I believe Best Buy also sells Monster Cable.

Well, that was a ton of information. If I was unclear on anything, please, feel free to email me at spanky87 AT gmail DOT com.

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Please explain why I need this digital box from my cable company?

buy dish tv set top box online image

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.

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?

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.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers