Any new tv channels pop up, after the digital switch? (Houston: movies, station)

[TangoUniform]

How can you even think of new channels with the pandemonium that will ensue after the switch? I have 3 years worth of canned goods, bottled water, and ammo stocked in the basement right now in anticipation of this event.

[djw]

Originally Posted by ged_782

I would guess most TVs sold in the last couple of years that were equipped with a digital tuner also have a QAM tuner. You should be able to look in the back of the manual that came with the TV where it lists the specifications for the TV.

For example, my mom recently got a small flat-screen HDTV for the kitchen. She has Time Warner cable, but no set-top boxes. The coax cable coming out of the wall just plugs directly into the TVs. The new set she got has a QAM tuner, and she gets the local HDTV channels (WOAI, KENS, KLRN, KSAT, etc.), in addition to at least some of the digital sub-channels. The older TV set she has doesn't get these channels.

I don't think Time Warner advertises this feature, for obvious reasons. Just be aware that you won't get the other HDTV channels (like TNT, USA, A&E, etc.) without the high-definition set-top box, you'll only get the standard definition versions.

And as for AT&T U-verse, you need a set-top box to feed any TV you want their service on.

Thanks! Now that you mention it, when I had TWC we had an upstairs set that didn't have a set-top box. Thus, no HD and no PPV but it got all of the TWC channels. That was an older TV - at least 7-9 yrs old, And now that we have ATT I recall being required to have the box for the upstairs set - but I'm not thinking they charge any extra for it.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by djw

How would one know if the set has a QAM tuner? I certainly don't expect ATT or TWC to advertise that I don't need to pay for their stikin' boxes! And what would you do, just plug the cable into the set? Any harm in doing that just to see what happens?

QAM would be listed in the specifications. In my opinion, it's a must-have feature.

Even if it does, you'll only get the channels that are sent unscrambled over the cable in Clear QAM. In most places, that is the local broadcasters and not much else.

[wCat]

KSAT's sub channel 12.3???? Just HOW do we dial/punch that baby in?

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by wCat

KSAT's sub channel 12.3???? Just HOW do we dial/punch that baby in?

12.3 is broadcasting a signal, but no programming yet. IOW, it's currently just a blank screen. They were supposed to start broadcasting .2 Network on that sub-channel in December, but the .2 Network launch has been delayed.

WOAI was doing the same thing with 4.3 for a while (broadcasting a signal, but no programming), but that sub-channel is now gone. Don't know what that one was all about.

Right now, with the digital transition and the eleventh hour delay, It's hard to say what kind of and how many sub-channels we're going to end up with. When analog broadcasts finally cease in June (hopefully), we should be getting a better picture (no pun intended).

[temptation001]

I bought my converter box almost a year ago and one look at the instruction page and it hasnt moved at all from the closet i dumped it in. I'm just here waiting for it to plug itself in . The government should send someone over to all the houses who need someone to plug in the device.

[tony78201]

o.k. I do have the KLRN sub channels. so I guess more will be popping up soon?

and 12.3 is just a blank screen. where can I see that blank screen? what channel....pretty confusing..LOL

[ged_782]

Right now, you need to have a digital tuner and an antenna to see 12.3, but all I see right now is a blank screen with a signal strength meter that shows it is broadcasting a strong signal. Since there is no programming yet, you won't see a thing on Cable TV. I'm sure the local pay TV services will add it and assign a channel number once it gets going with some actual programming. If you go to .2 Network's website, you will see KSAT listed as one of their affiliates. Since KSAT already assigned their .2 sub-channel to LATV, their .2 Network programming (named for the presumed sub-channel assignment of .2) will be on their .3 sub-channel.

[scuba steve]

There will be a new channel broadcasting called CPTV (Cool Peoples TV). Digital only, so you either need a decent TV or one of those boxes to watch. That's how it gets the name - there's no analog signal so only cool people can see it. Can't mention the programming... word would get around if I did.

[tony78201]

here is a network that el paso and austin already have, I hope we get it.

www.myretrotv.com/index2.html