[Cialug] digital cable tv cards

Tim Wilson tim_linux at wilson-home.com
Sun Dec 2 18:45:40 CST 2007 

On Dec 2, 2007 6:32 PM, Colin Burnett <cmlburnett at gmail.com> wrote:

> Channels 52-69 is this "700 MHz spectrum auction" that you see in the
> news a lot (specifically Google's involvement and Verizon's lawsuit).
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/700_Mhz_wireless_spectrum_auction
>

Ahh.  I was under the impression that it had been sold already.  I guess
that makes sense.  One of my hometown's stations is WPGH-53 in Pittsburgh.
And from what I can tell, they're still operating at the frequency that
correlates to UHF channel 53.  At least for the analog signal.  Of course,
I'm sure there's other stations that will be affected.  In any case, the UHF
channels used to go to 83 (and possibly higher, but I only remember to 83).
Now they only go to 69, and according to the link, soon (in the next couple
of years or so) they'll only go to 52.


>
> Colin
>
> On Dec 2, 2007 6:06 PM, Tim Wilson <tim_linux at wilson-home.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > On Dec 2, 2007 5:05 PM, Nathan C. Smith <nathan.smith at ipmvs.com> wrote:
> > > I have basic analog cable too.
> > >
> > > The digital conversion means the networks can squeeze the signals they
> > send
> > > now (in our area, kcci, who, KDIN, etc) into a skinnier slice of
> > bandwidth.
> > > This gives the extra bandwidth back to the government so they can
> > re-auction
> > > the bandwidth or reserve it for Government/Emergency use etc.  I'm not
> > sure
> > > what they are doing with the bandwidth they back.  It means that more
> > > channels could be offered OTA, but without demand and a profit motive
> we
> > are
> > > probably stuck with the same five or six OTA channels we have now.
> > >
> > > Anybody know what they are using the reclaimed bandwidth for?
> >
> > The way I understand it, all DT channels are in the UHF band for now.
>  When
> > everything is converted over, they will move the DT channels back to
> VHF,
> > and the upper band of UHF will be (and some already has been) sold off.
> > Remember when UHF used to go to 83?  It doesn't go that high anymore (I
> > think it is somewhere in the 50s).  And after everything is DT, UHF
> won't go
> > that high.  At least, that's the way I understand it.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -Nate
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: neal daringer [mailto:admin at c0wzftp.com]
> > > > Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 4:32 PM
> > > > To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> > > > Subject: Re: [Cialug] digital cable tv cards
> > > >
> > > > i know there is a difference between analog and digital and
> > > > HD. i've used dialup before and had a cell phone before they
> > > > were even 10% of what they are today (i.e. before callerid).
> > > > i just wish that people would take the time to investigate
> > > > what they are shopping for before they buy it. would help
> > > > keep a lot of the misleading crap off the market (if noone is
> > > > buying it then why sell it?). as it stands i only have the
> > > > ultra-basic cable plan (network and local tv plus the
> > > > shopping and religous channels), so if i can get all the same
> > > > channels that i get now OTA in digital, then why should i
> > > > stick with cable? i'm willing to shell out a few hundred
> > > > bucks now for a good antenna and pick up everything i need in
> > > > digital if it has its perks if catv wont be switching to digital.
> > > >
> > > > p.s. i emailed the fcc's 'digital changeover fyi list' asking
> > > > about the necessity of digital readiness for catv. should be
> > > > interesting to see what they say.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Nathan C. Smith wrote:
> > > > > I'm not sure what path the signal actually takes, but it
> > > > becomes OTA
> > > > > (over the air) digital at the point of transmission.
> > > > >
> > > > > The cable industry is (trying to make) making a big point
> > > > out of the
> > > > > fact that if you have cable, you are already prepared for
> > > > the change
> > > > > and when the date rolls around you don't need to do anything.
> > > > >
> > > > > Also, even though the OTA signal will be digital, it
> > > > doesn't mean that
> > > > > it will be HD.  I think this confuses a lot of people, in
> > > > addition to
> > > > > the fact that there are different levels of HD.  I think this
> whole
> > > > > transmission changeover is going to make some dishonest
> > > > people a lot
> > > > > of money as they take advantage of all the confusion to
> > > > sell gimmicks
> > > > > to make digital somehow HD etc. etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > BTW  to Neal: I don't remember when you got back, but I'm
> > > > real glad you did.
> > > > > And thank-you for your service.
> > > > >
> > > > > -Nate
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >> -----Original Message-----
> > > > >> From: neal daringer [mailto:admin at c0wzftp.com]
> > > > >> Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 3:51 PM
> > > > >> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> > > > >> Subject: Re: [Cialug] digital cable tv cards
> > > > >>
> > > > >> how will cable companies get analog broadcasts then if
> > > > there are no
> > > > >> analog originating stations?
> > > > >>
> > > > >> will they demodulate it(or whatever its called) to make it analog
> > > > >> again?
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Nathan C. Smith wrote:
> > > > >>
> > > > >>> What do you mean?
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> If you are using analog or digital cable now the change
> > > > to digital
> > > > >>> signals will make no difference to you.
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> The changeover is for analog broadcast over-the-air signals
> only.
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> I don't know about you but I intend to continue using my
> > > > TVs, Tivos
> > > > >>> and MythTVs with analog cable until they stop offering the
> > > > >>>
> > > > >> service or
> > > > >>
> > > > >>> I get addicted to HD.
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> -Nate
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>> -----Original Message-----
> > > > >>>> From: neal daringer [mailto:admin at c0wzftp.com ]
> > > > >>>> Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 9:39 PM
> > > > >>>> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> > > > >>>> Subject: [Cialug] digital cable tv cards
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> i know a lot of you are not big cable users. but i was
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >> wondering if
> > > > >>
> > > > >>>> any of you have prepared for the digital changeover yet
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >> for your pc
> > > > >>
> > > > >>>> tv tuners?
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> i'm trying to figure something out so that i can keep on
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >> keeping on
> > > > >>
> > > > >>>> with my recordings. any help would be nice.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> i found this one that looks promising for linux.
> > > > >>>> http://www.pchdtv.com/hdtv_linux.html
> > > > >>>> heard about it?
> > > > >>>> _______________________________________________
> > > > >>>> Cialug mailing list
> > > > >>>> Cialug at cialug.org
> > > > >>>> http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
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> >
> > --
> > Tim
> > _______________________________________________
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-- 
Tim
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