[BC] Subsidy For Digital TV?

[Robert Meuser]

I was thinking more of those sets that are now not on cable in a cabled 
home. Using cable is trickier. You then need to be able to decode QAM 
channels as well as 8 VSB. I dont know if the subsidised boxes are going 
to do QAM as well 8 VSB. Of course, you can always rent a converter box 
from the cable company. Either option comes at a low cost.  The way I 
see it, if you can afford to have 5 or 6 TV sets in your home you can 
afford an additional 20 or 30 dollars a month on your cable bill.

R


Chris Gebhardt wrote:

> Robert Meuser wrote:
>
>>
>> why a windfall for cable????? Cable is already delivering a down 
>> convert for no extra cost. In short time all the set top boxes will 
>> be HD. In NYC, a second hoook up is only $6.95. Off air converters 
>> will cost under $99 and they will make a drastic improvement.
>>
>> I just did an experiment with off air reception with indoor rabbit 
>> ears. I have no direct line of site to any TV transmitters. Analog 
>> was as expected, ghosty and noisy on 2 4 and 5. Ghosty and slightly 
>> unstable on channel 7 through 68. In digital, PERFECT - like glass. 
>> In fact it is better quality than the cable company delivers.
>>
>> I think these boxes will be hot new items just because they so 
>> greatly improve the picture on those 3rd and 4 th sets that are not 
>> on cable.  People will wonder why it took so long.
>>
>
> Good point.   Except that on OTA signal, you only get the local OTA 
> channels, and none of the basic-cable goodies folks like me are used to.
>
> I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I enjoy being able to hook up as many 
> sets in my house as I've got jacks for, and no need for additional 
> boxes or gadgets (or remotes!)
>