[BC] OTA TV makes a big jump.

[Broadcast List USER]

That is how it was in the analog days too.  You are paying for a  
number of channels, not how they are delivered.

Back in the all analog days, they would put a low-pass filter into  
your drop if you got basic, and a different one for extended-basic.   
Then, there were a few ways of blocking or allowing HBO, etc.  Either  
there was an interfering signal in the HBO... feed, and they notched  
it our, or they would notch out HBO.  Then came the various analog  
scrambling boxes, and the war continued, because as the cable  
companies developed different filtering or scrambling techniques, the  
"let's get free cable" folks came up with the bypass for that "problem."

Very soon all the cable companies will make everything QAM, but the  
basic channels will remain Clear QAM.  Eventually, everyone will need  
at least a DTA to receive anything.  I think the date that this is to  
be allowed just passed, or it is next month.

You need to look at it from their position.  Illegal taps not only  
deprive the cable companies of revenue, but often causes leakage.  I  
have been visiting the Public File of my local company for many  
years.  The trucks have leakage detectors in them, so as the  
technicians and installers drive around they find leakage problems,  
plus they do fly over tests of the county, which is difficult in a  
county will Dulles International Airport in it.  I used to be amazed  
at how many leakage problems were caused by illegal taps.  Yes, people  
use RG-59, and improperly installed "screw on" F-Connectors.  Not  
being able to tap in and watch basic, or extended-basic takes away the  
motivation to make illegal taps.

I am nothing but critical of cable companies, and I have Comcast, the  
worst, and you have the second best, with Cox being the best MSO.

I strongly suggest you become involved in your local county (town or  
city) franchise authority and voice your concerns.  I am now on the  
Commission that controls the three franchises in my county.  We are  
actually starting to make a difference.

I would love to go to OTA, but I am low and there are several ridges  
between me and the stations.  I would need a very tall tower, so I am  
screwed.  I am, however, looking at Dish Network.  They have this new  
receiver with SIX DVRs in it.  It records the four major networks and  
two programs of your choice, from what I understand.  That DVR can be  
watched on four TVs at the same time.  It costs less than cable too.

--chip

From: Charles Ring <w3nu at roadrunner.com>
>[...]
>The way they do the "basic cable" is to insert a filter that blocks  
>from
>channel 21 (?) to the real top of the analog channels. As long as you
>pay for the whole digital junkpile AND the digital converter, you can
>still connect additional receivers to get all of the real analog  
>signals.
[...]

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