QAM and Time Warner Cable

[K10]

Greetings...1st post!

I have a Samsung LNS-4051D 40" LCD with no QAM built in and I get no HD channels (even the local channels) via Time Warner Cable.  If I get an HDTV with QAM built in, then will I get all the local channels and the un-encrypted cable channels in HD?

I don't need DVR and all the premium cable channels so a STB is overkill for me.

[waterhead]

You won't get channels 18 or 24, as many people in this forum will point out to you.

They have not come to an agreement on proper compensation for re-broadcasting their television signal. These stations are owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, and they have a history of playing hardball with cable companies.

For OTA HD you're better off with an antenna and an ATSC tuner.

Paul

[K10]

then is there any benefit to having QAM built into your HDTV?

[waterhead]

If you can't (or won't) put up an antenna, and an indoor antenna is not good enough, then cable is your only option. You would need a QAM tuner for that.

Also there are cable only HD channels.

[K10]

does anyone know which cable HD channels you can get if you just use the qam tuner without the STB?

[kevbeck122]

4, 6, 12, 36 and 58 are the only HD channels you'll get with a QAM tuner.  Go with OTA if you can.

[Jimboy]

Greetings...1st post!

I have a Samsung LNS-4051D 40" LCD with no QAM built in and I get no HD channels (even the local channels) via Time Warner Cable.  If I get an HDTV with QAM built in, then will I get all the local channels and the un-encrypted cable channels in HD?

I don't need DVR and all the premium cable channels so a STB is overkill for me.

Looks like your set has a built-in ATSC tuner in it. Did you try an antenna and scan for local Off The Air channels?

[K10]

4, 6, 12, 36 and 58 are the only HD channels you'll get with a QAM tuner.  Go with OTA if you can.

someone told me that there are non-encrypted HD cable channels that you can pick up with a QAM tuner, but i guess with TWC that isn't true.

my set does have an ATSC tuner and i am able to pick up the local HD channels OTA.  i was just hoping for better aesthetics with a wall mounted LCD.

so i guess the consensus with you guys is that buying an HDTV with QAM built in has little value?

[Gregg Lengling]

someone told me that there are non-encrypted HD cable channels that you can pick up with a QAM tuner, but i guess with TWC that isn't true.

my set does have an ATSC tuner and i am able to pick up the local HD channels OTA.  i was just hoping for better aesthetics with a wall mounted LCD.

so i guess the consensus with you guys is that buying an HDTV with QAM built in has little value?

I guess you didn't understand the previous post..yes there are unencryped HD channels......Channel 4, 6, 12, 36 and 58 digital HD channels are available with the QAM tuner.

[RS922]

A few other SD channels that are available:

WHA
WMVS Delayed
WMVT Delayed
PBS Kids
Create
PBS Weather

WTMJ Weather Plus
WMLW Digital

[K10]

i have a hypothetical question on QAM: if in the future all cable channels are in HD and non-encrypted, then would any HDTV with a built in QAM tuner be able to pick them up without a STB?

i plan on keeping my HDTV for a long time. wouldn't it make sense to invest in an HDTV with QAM built in for the day when all cable channels are in HD?

[StarvingForHDTV]

i have a hypothetical question on QAM: if in the future all cable channels are in HD and non-encrypted, then would any HDTV with a built in QAM tuner be able to pick them up without a STB?

i plan on keeping my HDTV for a long time. wouldn't it make sense to invest in an HDTV with QAM built in for the day when all cable channels are in HD?

I doubt it.  Channels like ESPN are in HD right now on TWC and you can't pick it up with QAM.  I don't know why that would change in the future.

[hormy_83]

I doubt it.  Channels like ESPN are in HD right now on TWC and you can't pick it up with QAM.  I don't know why that would change in the future.

I'd disagree on this.  Right now you can't pick up ESPN HD with QAM because TWC charges extra for you to receive this channel.  So they don't want you to just use your QAM turner and not pay them - so they encrypt it making you use a box.  But come 2009 when all channels are going to be in HD they aren't going to encrypt all channels.

If you think about currently you can take a regular SD TV and plug a cable right from TWC into it and pick up 70+ channels or whatever.  Well by 2009 all those will have to be HD - and if you have a QAM tuner you'll be able to pick those all up without a box.  I could be wrong about that - but this makes sense to me...

[Gregg Lengling]

I'd disagree on this.  Right now you can't pick up ESPN HD with QAM because TWC charges extra for you to receive this channel.  So they don't want you to just use your QAM turner and not pay them - so they encrypt it making you use a box.  But come 2009 when all channels are going to be in HD they aren't going to encrypt all channels.

If you think about currently you can take a regular SD TV and plug a cable right from TWC into it and pick up 70+ channels or whatever.  Well by 2009 all those will have to be HD - and if you have a QAM tuner you'll be able to pick those all up without a box.  I could be wrong about that - but this makes sense to me...

I don't think BASIC CABLE in 2009 will be HD.....TWC will ship SD versions just like they are doing now and you'll have avenues for HD....remember there are tons of analog TV's out there and TWC will keep their analog going as long as there is a customer to pay...it really doesn't cost them a dime to continue.

[hormy_83]

I don't think BASIC CABLE in 2009 will be HD.....TWC will ship SD versions just like they are doing now and you'll have avenues for HD....remember there are tons of analog TV's out there and TWC will keep their analog going as long as there is a customer to pay...it really doesn't cost them a dime to continue.

As I said I could be wrong about this - I did think it would be hard to get ALL those channels switched...  But I thought there was legislation that was going to force all the channels to broadcast in HD - if they also want to continue SD I would assume they could.  And I figured all the analog TVs out there would just get conversion boxes - or even my 8300 HD I can hook up to my analog TV with S-Vid and watch the HD channels...