DTV Converter instead of cable box?

anthony · 02-15-2009, 06:19 PM

I have two TV's. One is an analog version and the other is a new HDTV digital ready model.

When I hook the new digital tv up to my cable I get tons of channels (all the regular channels, plus all the decimal channels, plus music channels and all the free HDTV channels like Animal Planet, NBC, CBS, etc.)

The analog tv only gets the basic cable lineup.

I bought a DTV converter to hook to the analog tv to try to tune in the decimal channels and music channels, etc. but the DTV converter box when hooked to the cable finds NO SIGNALS.

How can I get the DTV converter to recognize a cable input (as opposed to an antenna) or in other words, how can I get my analog tv to tune into the same cable channels as my new digital ready TV?

Thanks

cowboyup4christ · 02-15-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthony

I have two TV's. One is an analog version and the other is a new HDTV digital ready model.

When I hook the new digital tv up to my cable I get tons of channels (all the regular channels, plus all the decimal channels, plus music channels and all the free HDTV channels like Animal Planet, NBC, CBS, etc.)

The analog tv only gets the basic cable lineup.

I bought a DTV converter to hook to the analog tv to try to tune in the decimal channels and music channels, etc. but the DTV converter box when hooked to the cable finds NO SIGNALS.

How can I get the DTV converter to recognize a cable input (as opposed to an antenna) or in other words, how can I get my analog tv to tune into the same cable channels as my new digital ready TV?

Thanks

you must get a box from the cable company that coverts digital cable to analog this will be an extra fee to get. cheaper to get an antenna for the local network digital

anthony · 02-16-2009, 04:01 AM

Do you know what the difference is between a digital tv and an anlog tv with converter? Why is it that my digital tv does not need a cable converter box but my analog tv does? Can I not buy externally for my analog tv what my digital tv has inside that is performing this function?

Richard Schmidt · 02-19-2009, 04:47 PM

I have the same question. I think the converter box handles only over-the-air modulation, and the cable provides a different kind. The HDTV apparently can handle either and selects the appropriate one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthony

I have two TV's. One is an analog version and the other is a new HDTV digital ready model.

When I hook the new digital tv up to my cable I get tons of channels (all the regular channels, plus all the decimal channels, plus music channels and all the free HDTV channels like Animal Planet, NBC, CBS, etc.)

The analog tv only gets the basic cable lineup.

I bought a DTV converter to hook to the analog tv to try to tune in the decimal channels and music channels, etc. but the DTV converter box when hooked to the cable finds NO SIGNALS.

How can I get the DTV converter to recognize a cable input (as opposed to an antenna) or in other words, how can I get my analog tv to tune into the same cable channels as my new digital ready TV?

Thanks

HTNut · 02-19-2009, 05:22 PM

That's because your converter box only has an 8VSB modulation type tuner. Most new HDTVs are built with both 8VSB and QAM type modulation tuners, which is why you can receive HD on local programming. We can thank the cable companies for "petitioning" the FCC to allow them to use the QAM modulation over 8VSB because they can "broadcast more data" that way. More about it QAM tuner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

TonyT · 02-19-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HTNut

That's because your converter box only has an 8VSB modulation type tuner. Most new HDTVs are built with both 8VSB and QAM type modulation tuners, which is why you can receive HD on local programming. We can thank the cable companies for "petitioning" the FCC to allow them to use the QAM modulation over 8VSB because they can "broadcast more data" that way. More about it QAM tuner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Yeah, we wouldn't want the cable companies and OTA having the same modulation now, would we? That would make life too simple.

anthony · 02-20-2009, 02:59 AM

Well at least I can understand why it doesn't work, I think. If the converter box only recognizes 8Vsb and the new digital tv's recognize 8VSB and QAM, what's in the old analog TV's that allow them to recognize cable and the new converter boxes cannot? Is there a third type of tuner?

Anthony

HTNut · 02-20-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthony

Well at least I can understand why it doesn't work, I think. If the converter box only recognizes 8Vsb and the new digital tv's recognize 8VSB and QAM, what's in the old analog TV's that allow them to recognize cable and the new converter boxes cannot? Is there a third type of tuner?

Anthony

New TVs can recognize cable, it's just that one's with a QAM tuner can get Hi-Def on local channels from basic cable or from premium cable with a set top box.

Wait, are you trying to use an over-the-air converter box with cable?

bicker · 02-20-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyT

Yeah, we wouldn't want the cable companies and OTA having the same modulation now, would we? That would make life too simple.

Hehe. However, if cable was required to use 8VSB, cable subscribers might have half as many HD channels as they have, now, so perhaps the problem was not using QAM over-the-air!

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthony

Well at least I can understand why it doesn't work, I think. If the converter box only recognizes 8Vsb and the new digital tv's recognize 8VSB and QAM, what's in the old analog TV's that allow them to recognize cable and the new converter boxes cannot? Is there a third type of tuner?

Yes: NTSC. That's the kind of tuner in old analog televisions.

TonyT · 02-20-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bicker

Hehe. However, if cable was required to use 8VSB, cable subscribers might have half as many HD channels as they have, now, so perhaps the problem was not using QAM over-the-air!

Yes: NTSC. That's the kind of tuner in old analog televisions.

I guess that's true, but if QAM is so much more efficient, then why didn't OTA broadcasters adopt it as their standard modulation?