What do I get without set top box
rpb_sr
Newbie
I want to connect to a TV tuner card on my computer, but don't want to install another set top box. Is it doable? If so, what channels will I get in the West Chester, PA area?
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Re: What do I get without set top box
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

@rpb_sr wrote:

Just to be clear, if I get a tuner card for my PC, it sounds like I will need the DCT700 to receive stations like CNN, USA, TNT, Bravo, etc.Is that correct?

Slightly different question based on what I've read here: My aunt has several DCT700s on various TVs. She is considering buying Gov't subsidized converters to get around Verizon's monthly fee. It sounds like that would be a mistake, as she would lose the SD national channels. Correct?


Correct - without a Verizon STB nothing but the locals, music and PEG channels (unless you have a high end Vista Media PC and a cable card tuner).

The government boxes do not work with any cable system, they are for antenna use only (totally different modulation method).  Not only would she lose the national channels, she would get NOTHING for her money but a lighter wallet Smiley Surprised.

View solution in original post

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Re: What do I get without set top box
Keyboards
Master - Level 3
The following assumes that your tuner card has QAM capability.  You'll get all the SD channels (although they will be in unfamiliar places - QAM channels typically in the low 60's), the local digital channels (HD - hopefully remapped to their OTA through the embedded PSIP - if not remapped they will be in QAM channels 71.x to 75.x), the music channels, and the PEG channels.  All national channels are encrypted and require either an STB or a cable card device to receive.
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Re: What do I get without set top box
philhu
Contributor - Level 2

What is an 'embedded PSIP'?

This might explain my problem when I plug the cable line directly to an antenna port on my tvs.

My Samsung shows the locals on their OTA equivalents, like 4-1, 5-1, etc.

My Mits DLP shows them on 64-004, 64-005, 64-007 etc

Oh, and I do not get 'all' SD channels.  I get the locals, Music Choice and 5-6 SD Channels, like weather channel, WGN, etc
Message Edited by philhu on 01-09-2009 07:45 AM
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Re: What do I get without set top box
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

@philhu wrote:

What is an 'embedded PSIP'?

This might explain my problem when I plug the cable line directly to an antenna port on my tvs.

My Samsung shows the locals on their OTA equivalents, like 4-1, 5-1, etc.

My Mits DLP shows them on 64-004, 64-005, 64-007 etc

Oh, and I do not get 'all' SD channels.  I get the locals, Music Choice and 5-6 SD Channels, like weather channel, WGN, etc
Message Edited by philhu on 01-09-2009 07:45 AM

PSIP is a header that is added by the broadcaster (for OTA) and by the cable company for cable transmission.  This causes QAM channel 71.2 to tune as 4.1 (just an example - not necessarily a real mapping).  Only used on the OTA digital channels (HD).

The channels at 64.x will not map (these are the SD locals).  The only ones that map are the digital locals (HD).

My error in the original post - should have said all LOCAL SD not all SD, however I did qualify that the national channels are encrypted.  Sorry for the mispost.

Message Edited by Keyboards on 01-09-2009 11:07 AM
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Re: What do I get without set top box
Kappy
Newbie

FIOS In The Clear Channel Guide

 

 

 

NUMERICAL by

 

Traditional Channel

 

Chan/Network Discripton

Digital#

2CBS

63-001

4NBC

63-002

5FOX

61-003

6WRNN48

63-004

7ABC

63-005

9WOR

63-006

10WLNY55

63-007

11WPIX

64-001

13WNET

64-003

14WVVH - RSN

63-009

18WMBC63

64-004

21WLIW21

64-006

23WNJN50

64-005

25NYCTV

64-008

29WFME

65-003

31ION

31-003

48TV Guide

66-002

49WeatherScan

66-003

460NBC-Weather

04-002

464NBC-Sports

04-004

467ABC - Plus

73-003

468ABC - Now

73-002

470WLIW-HD

21-002

471WLIW-Create

21-003

472WNET - Kids

74-001

473WLIW-World

21-004

502CBS-HD

02-001

504NBC-HD

04-001

505FOX-HD

05-001

507ABC-HD

73-001

509WOR-HD

65-006

510WLNY-HD

74-002

511WPIX-HD

71-001

513WNET-HD

72-002

531ION-HD

65-002

 Weather Channel

66-001

 CNET

87-001

 

 

 

 

 

 

MUSIC STATIONS:

 

 

66-004 thru 66-050

 

84-001 thru 84-050

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Re: What do I get without set top box
philhu
Contributor - Level 2

Kappy, that is what YOU get in YOUR area.

Everyone's mileage will vary

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Re: What do I get without set top box
Kappy
Newbie
>>Kappy, that is what YOU get in YOUR area.

Everyone's mileage will vary<<

So are you saying that I should not have posted it?

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Re: What do I get without set top box
philhu
Contributor - Level 2

No, just your channel lineup is completely different than mine, here in Boston. 

This is a national group, you showed your local QAM lineup.

It DOES give an idea how things are laid out though.

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Re: What do I get without set top box
jdearmond
Newbie
I have a panasonic HDTV which I bought in September and I could receive digital and a few HD channels on it with Time Warner, but now that I switched to Verizon, I don't get anything. The digital converter box I bought with my coupon doesn't work either. Both have ATSC tuners, and my TV has a QAM as well. Shouldn't they work?
Message Edited by jdearmond on 01-13-2009 02:50 PM
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Re: What do I get without set top box
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

@jdearmond wrote:
I have a panasonic HDTV which I bought in September and I could receive digital and a few HD channels on it with Time Warner, but now that I switched to Verizon, I don't get anything. The digital converter box I bought with my coupon doesn't work either. Both have ATSC tuners, and my TV has a QAM as well. Shouldn't they work?

Digital converters bought with government coupons will not work.  They are for OTA (over the air) broadcasts only.  The transmission modulations are not the same as used on Verizon (and other cable providers - OTA uses 8-VSB and Verizon / cable uses QAM-256).

 Your QAM tuner should be able to pull in the local SD, local digital (HD), music, and PEG channels when hooked directly to the Verizon cable (using a splitter obviously and assuming your tuner  handles QAM-256 which it should). 

Did you do a rescan when you changed from TW to Verizon?  You will need to since the frequency allocations won't be the same.

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