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Cablevision Scamming People Into Getting Converter Box With Basic Service
DTV Coupon Program Broke, Busted
DTV Coupons to Run Out Next Month?

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Kaiser-Machead
02/23/09

In reply to Cablevision Scamming People Into Getting Converter Box With Basic Service
I grow weary of these Scientific Atlantic boxes. I want to grind them. I want to put them into a giant blender, and pulverize these wretched set-top turds into a fine toxic powder, mix it with ketel one and floor cleaner, and funnel this poisonous swill down the gaping maw of our cable repair man.
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
02/23/09

In reply to Cablevision Scamming People Into Getting Converter Box With Basic Service
"UPDATE: It has come to our attention that some neighborhoods do require a box."

Is there any way of finding out which neighborhoods require it and which do not, in order to avoid being scammed if it's not needed?
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warf0x0r
02/23/09

In reply to Cablevision Scamming People Into Getting Converter Box With Basic Service
SCIENTIFIC ATLANTIC BOXES ARE TEH SUC!!!
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ripfire
02/23/09

@warf0x0r: Seriously, this should have been the first comment.
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ZLevee
02/23/09

In reply to Cablevision Scamming People Into Getting Converter Box With Basic Service
It actually sounds more like they were trying to say that if you don't have a built-in digital tuner, your "cable-ready TV" will still need a digital cable box (or a store-bought digital converter) to interpret the signal. The coaxial wire alone is not any better than an antenna.
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ZLevee
02/23/09

@ZLevee: Another thing: Since this guy is probably going to find out that he needs a converter box or cable box after all since the uncles TV probably doesn't have a digital turner despite being "cable-ready", he should know that in Manhattan at least if you use a generic converter, you get better results with an antenna that with the cable line, as ridiculous as that sounds. So either go with the actual cable box if you want to use the wire, or cancel the cable service and get a converter with the antenna.
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ZLevee
02/23/09

@ZLevee: thirdly, I still think cable-company employees don't know shit.

I say this despite them being somewhat correct in this instance. It's evident here not only by the fact that they didn't suggest a simple converter (could be they wanted a sale) but by the fact that they couldn't explain the difference between "cable-ready" and a digital tuner which would have cleared up why soem type of box might be needed.
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Elliuotatar
02/23/09

How do you know if your TV has a digital tuner? And how do these "cable cards" fit into all this?
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ZLevee
02/23/09

@Elliuotatar: Digital Tuners - some TVs say it right on them, but otherwise I'd either check the manual or look up your model on the manufacturer's website.

You're gonna have to get more specific with your cable card question. Generally, cablecards were supposed to eliminate set top boxes and allow you to get digital and HD channels directly to a cablecard TV, cablecard PC, or cablecard DVR. Certain non-cable company DVRs (Tivo HD for example) accept cable cards. I haven't seen a Media Center PC that takes one yet, though I have seen an external ATI box that connects to a PC which can use cable cards to get HD channels from digital cable service. There are single stream cable cards and multistream cable cards, the latter of which will let a Tivo HD for example get 2 broadcasts simultaneously while only requiring one card. The downside of cable cards is that cable companies haven't made them compatible with sending info, so you can't order Pay Per View or On Demand content with them. Version 2 is supposed to fix this, along with adding switched video (basically frees up bandwith for other services by not sending you channels you aren't watching at the moment). Other tech is in the works that may replace all this.
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davezatz
02/23/09

In reply to Cablevision Scamming People Into Getting Converter Box With Basic Service
Actually, in more and more regions cable-cos are going all digital. The first neighborhoods seem to be high density, like Brooklyn, as a means of preventing piracy. So maybe the old guy needs a "cable ready" TV... with CableCARDs. If he doesn't want a box.
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mnerd
02/23/09

In reply to Cablevision Scamming People Into Getting Converter Box With Basic Service
If they were so knowing, he should have advised them to get a 40 dollar converter box. Cable should not have even come up in this situation.
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ZLevee
02/23/09

@mnerd: Both the dude making the request and the cable company don't know what their talking about.

The 95-yr old uncle might have a "cable-ready TV" but they called TVs that before the days of digital tuners. His is probably one of these older types. Without a digital cable box or digital converter box, it ain't gonna work. The guy asking and the guy explaining both seem to think they're so knowledgable but neither seems to know that.

And yes, they both should have known about the option of a converter box with an antenna without any cable service.
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ripfire
02/23/09

@ZLevee: Actually, some cable companies (Comcast & Charter as far as I know) still transmit basic analog signals through the cable along with the digital signal. That's how my parents get digital cable in the living room but still get basic from a split wire hooked directly to their TV in the bedroom.
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ZLevee
02/23/09

@ripfire: and @tande04: As far as I know, they're not planning on maintaining the parallel signals indefinitely
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ZLevee
02/23/09

@ripfire: @tande04: out of luck on Febraury 2012: [seattletimes.nwsource.com]
Of course, for the 95 yr old guy that might be long enough.
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Toshie
02/23/09

@ZLevee: You're making some pretty large assumptions but I was thinking the same thing. Especially since Cablevision has switched so many of their channels (don't know if that includes OTA channels) to digital only. That *would* require a cable box.

I hate Cablevision with a passion, but even the FiosTV reps do the hard sell on the 'free' channels. Hoping that you'll forget to cancel the free services at the end of the trial period...
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ZLevee
02/23/09

@Toshie: we posted at the same time so see the link to the Seattle Times article.
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ripfire
02/23/09

@ZLevee: Even if it was planned to discontinue in the future, I just wouldn't go as far as saying that this guy doesn't know what he's talking about.
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ZLevee
02/23/09

@ripfire: Well OK, then he wasn't clear that his assumption was that he only cared about the next 3 years.
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Purple Dave
02/23/09

@ZLevee:
"As for the nation's analog-cable subscribers, cable operators must either convert the digital signal to analog at the point where the cable signal originates,
OR SUPPLY CUSTOMERS WITH A 'DOWN-CONVERTER' DEVICE THAT WILL CHANGE DIGITAL SIGNALS TO ANALOG AT THE TV SET."

Or you could be out of luck today. This seems to be what Cablevision was opting for. Hand out cable boxes to the customers who don't have ATSC-ready TVs, and cut your transmission costs in half. Being that it was probably SOP, it _would_ actually require a manager's approval to do anything different.
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ghackett
02/23/09

In reply to Cablevision Scamming People Into Getting Converter Box With Basic Service
It's not that easy in BK or anywhere in NYC for that matter. If you're in an apartment you proably can't use a dish cause you'd have to install it (unless you have a window facing the correct direction). If your building has a deal with CableVision, you're stuck with em. That's the only reason I'm suckling the TimeWarner tite.
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OMG! Ponies!
02/23/09

@ghackett: Preceisely. I was going to cut the Cablevision cord last week (to save some money) but it would only save about $45 a month. I need to have a landline for my fax machine and dropping cable would make my phone service go from $15 to $30. Also, I'd lose my movie discount and see an increase in my cost for internet.

Still, I am looking at something like a Vudu box.
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Purple Dave
02/23/09

@ghackett:
I keep trying to explain to one of my coworkers that just because her apartment complex has an exclusive contract with Comcast doesn't mean she can't opt for AT&T's U-verse service, since it comes in on the phone lines. Likewise, she could drop AT&T for Comcast's phone and internet, since they come in on the cable lines. These days, there's _always_ a choice, unless you live in a place that doesn't have cable and/or phone service available.
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Geisrud
01/07/09

In reply to DTV Coupon Program Broke, Busted
I find myself unable to feel sorry for people who now "won't be able to watch TV" come February, as big media tends to report.

Come on, you've had years to get a box before the program went broke. Or, you can pony up and buy a converter box all by yourself. Of course, door #3 where you pay for for a subscription service (cable, sat, etc.)

It's not like there weren't any warnings that this was coming.
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ripfire
01/07/09

In reply to DTV Coupon Program Broke, Busted
How about a coupon for a BluRay player?
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OMG! Ponies!
01/07/09

In reply to DTV Coupon Program Broke, Busted
Can't we get this program for other electronics. I'm thinking of upgrading my 2 year-old MacBook.
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Serolf Divad
01/07/09

In reply to DTV Coupon Program Broke, Busted
Bah, I guarantee you that once the funding dries up, DTV converters will be selling for $10.00 at Best Buy, and I'm not talking old stock.
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zenpoet
12/29/08

In reply to DTV Coupons to Run Out Next Month?
I don't see any converter boxes anywhere for $38.00 How about a box that doesn't actually cost anyone money, other than the government?
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Monty
12/29/08

In reply to DTV Coupons to Run Out Next Month?
It is ironic that the people least able to use an extra box hooked up to a boob tube are the only ones forced to do so. Here's hoping they all get their $40 coupon, at least.
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nutbastard
12/29/08

In reply to DTV Coupons to Run Out Next Month?
Ah yes, the US Government - so incompetent they can't even give money away according to plan.

Of course that's been sort of a theme with em lately so yeah... color me unsurprised.
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