Channels without box
DonnaW
Enthusiast - Level 3
Cannot seem to get a clear answer to this question. I am considering FIOS TV but have 7 TV's. Do not want to pay for a box on all of them. What stations can you get without a box? Live in Drexel Hill, Pa. ( southeastern Pa. )    Thank you.
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Re: Channels without box
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

I am fed from the same Philly VHO in SE PA.  If  your TV has a QAM tuner you will get the SD locals, digital locals (HD), music, and PEG channels.  No nationals like USA, FX, ESPN, etc.

In case you are thinking of it, the government coupon digital converters are not useable on FiOS or any cable system.  You must have a QAM (cable) not ATSC (OTA) tuner in able to receive anything from FiOS.

Message Edited by Keyboards on 01-21-2009 10:02 AM
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Re: Channels without box
TimSykes
Specialist - Level 2
If your tv will pick up a clear qwam signal you will get all locals, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX ... etc in both sd and HD, as well as the audio music channels.
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Re: Channels without box
DonnaW
Enthusiast - Level 3
Frogive my ignorance. What is a qwam cable. I currently use Comcast Standard Cable. Have no HD TV"s
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Re: Channels without box
TimSykes
Specialist - Level 2

Sorry its QAM. Its a type of tuner for your TV. Its like ATSC, but if your don't have a HDTV you probably don't have a QAM tuner and will need a STB. You can always get the DTC700 for $3 a month, but it does not have menus or POV


QAM tuner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In North American digital video, a QAM tuner is a device present in some digital televisions and similar devices which enables direct reception of digital cable channels without the use of a set-top box.[1]

QAM-based HD programming of local stations is sometimes available to analog cable subscribers, without paying the additional fees for a digital cable box. The availability of QAM HD programming is rarely described or publicized in cable company product literature. If cable providers provide rebroadcasts of locally aired programming, they must also carry rebroadcasts of high-definition digital locally aired programming, in an unencrypted form, that does not require the customer to use leased equipment, per FCC Sec. 76.630 and CFR Title 47, §76.901(a). These usually include the local affiliates for CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, and FOX, and the cable providers comply by rebroadcasting them over QAM channels. The law does not require the cable provider to advertise their availability, and the cable customer service representatives are known to unequivocally (and incorrectly) insist to customers that a converter box is mandatory to view any HD channels.

QAM stands for "quadrature amplitude modulation," the format by which digital cable channels are encoded and transmitted via cable. QAM tuners can be likened to the cable equivalent of an ATSC tuner which is required to receive over-the-air (OTA) digital channels broadcast by local television stations; many new cable-ready digital televisions support both of these standards. QAM carries nearly twice the data of over-the-air ATSC 8VSB but since it requires a significantly cleaner signal path it is appropriate for digital cable.

An integrated QAM tuner allows the free reception of unscrambled digital programming sent "in the clear" by cable providers, usually local broadcast stations or cable radio channels. Which channels are scrambled varies greatly from location to location and can change over time; the majority of digital channels are scrambled because the providers consider them to be extra-cost options and not part of the "basic cable" package.[2]

In the United States a television that is labelled digital cable ready can have a CableCARD installed by the cable provider to unscramble the protected channels, allowing subscribers to tune all authorized digital channels without the use of a set-top box.[3]


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Re: Channels without box
DonnaW
Enthusiast - Level 3

Thank you very much. Sounds like what the rep is telling me is correct - that I will need a box for each TV.

One more question. I am going to get a HD TV in the near future. He said to ask for one HD box ( currently free ) because I would be able to use the HD box on my non HD TV. True ?

Re: Channels without box
TimSykes
Specialist - Level 2
yes you can use a HD on a non HD TV. If you can, see if they will give a free upgrade it to a Multi Room HD DVR. I was able to get that. What that will do is record like a normal DVR but you will be able to watch the shows you record on any set top box. But you will not be able to view HD recorded shows on non HD STBs
Message Edited by TimSykes on 01-21-2009 10:46 AM
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Re: Channels without box
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

@DonnaW wrote:

Thank you very much. Sounds like what the rep is telling me is correct - that I will need a box for each TV.

One more question. I am going to get a HD TV in the near future. He said to ask for one HD box ( currently free ) because I would be able to use the HD box on my non HD TV. True ?


Yes.

All of the HD boxes have SD outputs.  The HD boxes will also downconvert HD channels through the SD outputs for use with older TVs.

If you are new to FiOS, I would highly recommend that you get at least one DVR -- the HDTV DVR if you plan to get a HDTV at some point.  As a new FiOS customer, you should be able to get a HDTV DVR free for at least six months.

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Re: Channels without box
DonnaW
Enthusiast - Level 3
Yes, they are offering a multi room DVR for 6 mo. Which leads to yet another question. Can the DVR play a saved program at the same time it is recording another ?  Thanks again.
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Re: Channels without box
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

@DonnaW wrote:
Yes, they are offering a multi room DVR for 6 mo. Which leads to yet another question. Can the DVR play a saved program at the same time it is recording another ?  Thanks again.

You can record up to 2 shows and playback a recorded show at the same time.  You can watch something live while recording 1 show.  You can't do VOD (video on demand) if you are recording 2 shows.

The DVR has 2 tuners.

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