Kenta,
my digital tuner in my viewsonic digital tv didn't see squat in the comcast cable.
I believe that ALL of their digital programming is encoded.

 

Interesting. From my understanding it should *not* be encrypted at this time. I might have to check with my buddy who works there. It's definitely not encoded where I am, as I'm getting it in the clear which means all of the Southern NH area between Nasha-> Salem -> Manchester (big triangle) should all be open as we're all out of the same headend location.

Alternatively, if you're not getting the channels that could be the case or it could be that the QAM tuner in your Viewsonic needs better signal strength to lock on to and decode a channel. I have an HD recording device that WOULD NOT find any channels until I installed a booster. This is because the line coming into my condo first goes into a 3 way splitter then I had another 3 way installed down one other line and it was killing my signal.

 

The reality is they're in the business of making money They keep costs at a point where consumers will still pay with minimal grumbling. Lowering prices any more likely wont get them more customers as the saturation is already high. Granted they don't give all that money to their CEO's and workers, a ton of that goes back into investing into the infrastructure. I remember when I was there 10 years ago they were moving a large portion of the cable plant to fiber and heck they're probably still paying it off. These days they're building up their on-demand service these days and the servers and tech behind that is far from cheap.

My biggest gripe with cable is that they don't offer a la cart programming. Like I want to pay 12 dollars a month for basic cable but would gladly pay extra bucks per channel, but only for the channels I want (like NESN).

I think the competition will change soon. Network speeds are getting fast enough to support live streaming of HD content which means we might be an interesting shift to pulling content over the 'Net vs. cable plant or satellite. Now the problem is, we need more Internet providers. If the wireless companies could step up and build the next (n)G network that support HD streamable speeds we're in for some interesting times as they wont need a wire to provide last mile service.

 

That's why I made special note of the viewsonic.
I wouldn't hold it up as a benchmark unit.

maybe scho1 will weigh in.

 

Unless you live in the Groton area where the local utility company offers cable service - Thames Valley Communications FTW!! Cable internet, Digital TV, HD, DVR - all for ~$75/month. Customer service is local and real people!! love this company.

 

We have five, count 'em five TV's for two people and they ALL get used.

Kitchen one for AM news, and it's on whenever Rick cooks. Bedroom TV for AM news and while getting ready for work. Basement TV for use while on treadmill, and living room TV for PS2, and some TV watching, and one in our den for most TV watching.

I'm not about to give anyone the $$ for five cable boxes. So we have none. No digital, no premium channels, no DVR. I would not mind a DVR, but I'm not paying the for the box or that option.

I'm about ready to buy an old fashioned antenna and get the coverter boxes, that's what most Vintage folks have, right?

 

You can get TV by antenna??

Are they still showing Howdie Doodie on that signal??

 

better make sure you have your digital converter box. i heard the vintage folks were the reason for the delay

 

Years ago, before cable, we had the old antenna on the house. Heck we even got the UHF channels with that thing.

I don't know why, I don't mind spending $ for internet, but I HATE giving the cable people that much $ every month to watch TV when there is rarely anything worth watching.