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Local Channels Free and Clear
jmcohen231
Contributor - Level 3
‎05-27-2009 09:38 AM

It is my understanding that the gov't requires cable providers to pump the local channels in HD free and clear to their customers.  Meaning that if have the coaxial cable hooked up to a tv with a QAM tuner, you should be able to get the local channels in HD clearly, and for free.

Can someone please confirm or deny this, and if true, what would determine the local channels?  In particular, I'm curious about market areas that can access mutiple markets' signals (for example, Columbia, MD is right in between DC and Baltimore, so would they get Baltimore or DC channels).

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Re: Local Channels Free and Clear
Keyboards
Master - Level 3
‎05-27-2009 03:42 PM
I'm not in your area, but I can get all the local SD, local digital (HD), music, and PEG channels - they are all in clear QAM.  The HD channels should map to their OTA equivalent (3.1, 5.1, etc.).  Some have had issues with the PSIP (mapping headers in the digital stream).  If that is the case, the HD channels should be in the QAM 70.x to 75.x area (in general).  Verizon maps up to 2 HD channels per QAM.
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