Comcast and HDTV

[fischerj]

I am scheduling new cable television service through Comcast. I do not have an HDTV set yet but I intend to buy one soon. Comcast told me I would need to rent a box from them to decode their HDTV signal so it could be fed into the HDTV decoder for the television. The decoder for the television could be either built-in to the TV or I can rent a set-top box from them.

Does this make sense? I need a decoder box for the decoder?

[I 8 Piglet]

I pretty sure that here in Albany, Time warner offers an HD cable box that has a decoder for about the same price per month as their regular digital cable box, but if you have a HD decoder already the signal will pass through the regular digital cable box with out problem. Although no one I spoke with really knew what they were talking about.

[incubus0]

Originally posted by fischerj
Does this make sense? I need a decoder box for the decoder?

Nope...

It sounds like the person you spoke with only thought they knew what they were talking about.

In order to get cable HD channels (like HBO HD or Showtime HD) you will need to get a cable box from the cable company that is HD also (Like a Scientific Atlanta 3100HD).

In order to get broadcast HD channels (like NBC HD etc...) you will need 1 of 2 setups:

1. Your cable company has to provide that HD channel in their line-up, and you need the HD cable box from them.

or

2. You need to get an HDTV Receiver (or have a TV with one built in which is very rare) and have that hooked up to an antenna that will get the HD signal and it has to be broadcast over the air in your area.

So see what HD channels the cable company actually offers, remembering that just because a channel is broadcast in your area doesn't always mean the local cable company will be offering it.

Up and over where I am (Central Massachusetts) the company is Charter and they only offer HBO HD and Discovery HD Theater, but all the networks broadcast an HD channel here (CBS, ABC, NBC, WB, FOX, UPN, etc…)

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by incubus0

2. You need to get an HDTV Receiver (or have a TV with one built in which is very rare)

This isn't really "rare" at all. Mitsubishi has been offering sets with HD tuners for a while now and other HDTV manufacturers offer sets with built-in HD receivers in their current and upcoming models. Since he's in hte market for a NEW TV, he should be able to find one with a built-in HD receiver without difficulty at all. The TV he might _want_ might not have one, but that's a different situation.

and have that hooked up to an antenna that will get the HD signal and it has to be broadcast over the air in your area.

Getting satellite service is another option for HD content as well.

Check here for great info on HD over the air (OTA) broadcasts.

Peace...

[incubus0]

Originally posted by tomdkat
This isn't really "rare" at all. Mitsubishi has been offering sets with HD tuners for a while now and other HDTV manufacturers offer sets with built-in HD receivers in their current and upcoming models. Since he's in hte market for a NEW TV, he should be able to find one with a built-in HD receiver without difficulty at all. The TV he might _want_ might not have one, but that's a different situation.

Sorry, should have been clearer. I meant rare as in, of the people that have an HDTV most do not have the tuner built in.

Another good site for HDTV programming/broadcast info is hdtvpub.com/.

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by incubus0
Sorry, should have been clearer. I meant rare as in, of the people that have an HDTV most do not have the tuner built in.

Yeah, this is definitely true.

Another good site for HDTV programming/broadcast info is hdtvpub.com/.

Thanks for the link!

Peace...

[fischerj]

I just want to make sure I've got this!

My brother has a 65" Mitsu widescreen with the built-in HD tuner. He has basic cable (not digital) and simply plugged the cable into the tv. He's getting the HD channels that Comcast is providing and I should be able to do the same thing--they are providing differing services to different regions of the country, are they? I think they just want to charge me more money per month (oh no, not the monopolistic cable company!).

If the tv did not have a built-in decoder, then I would need to rent one from Comcast. That makes sense.

Please let me know if I've got my summary wrong! Thanks for the help, everybody.

[I 8 Piglet]

Well you say that he doesnt have digital cable and he is still getting HD signals, I dont know about that, I dont think thats possible, but it may be. I as for you haveing to rent one, thats not entirly true, you can purchase one for about $300. BUT as for Comcast offering the same options everywhere that is not true, well actually I dont know about comcast, but Time Warner offers diffrent services in diffrent parts of the country.