Run OTA And Cable On Same TV?

[JamesK]

^^^^
No, the 2 would interfere and you may wind up transmitting the Rogers signal. Industry Canada takes a dim view of that.

[HWP]

The frequencies that cable TV uses and the OTA signals use are the same. So there would be interference and it would not work.

Because they use different parts of the spectrum, you can combine satellite signals and OTA over the same cable without interference.

[classicsat]

Don't use the cable, you aren't entitled to, even if it is there. You need to subscribe to cable to have that entitlement.

When you do, do as mentioned, use a cable box on the TV A/V in.

[CamDAB]

Hey, JamesK, not only would Industry Canada take a dim view of the egress from the cable, but Rogers would surely have something to say about the ingress the cable would experience along with nearby subscribers.

An unintended way of creating the maximum number of enemies with the minimum amount of effort.... :-)

Cameron

[ScaryBob]

There is no way to combine the two signals. Separate tuners or a switch are required.
Method 1: Use a 75 ohm coax switch (cheap but inconvenient.) This may present issues for channel scans and tuning. This works best with analog only tuners.
Method 2: Add another tuner. This works best when ATSC channels are present. If the TV has a good ATSC tuner, use it for OTA and get a cheap, used analog tuner. If not, get an external ATSC tuner and connect it to the TV using composite, component or HDMI/DVI cables.

[stampeder]

We're going over well-trodden ground again so I've joined an earlier thread with this one since they cover the exact same topic.

New members: the OTA FAQ already has your answers about whether you can run OTA and CATV over the same cables. No need to re-invent the wheel. For further info on Signal Leakage beyond the OTA FAQ you can start with Post #77 in the Splitters, Attenuators, Filters, Diplexers, Other Signal Gear thread.

Knowing that we cannot combine OTA and CATV on the same cables, the alternative solutions offered in this thread are precisely the kind of feedback we ask of our more experienced members, whom I thank once again for their generosity.

[Titan91]

My grandmother is still using analog cable on a 16 year old TV and I've been talking her into exploring some of the local HD digital OTA channels with an antenna (as well as getting a new TV at the same time, obviously). I must add that she is extremely stubborn and VERY behind the times.

I'm trying to find the simplest way to allow her to get both her analog cable channels as well as the digital OTO local channels. There are a few local channels broadcast in HD she is interested in that she doesn't get with cable. She doesn't want to drop cable because there are news stations she watches regularly that aren't broadcast OTA. Would it be possible at all to seamlessly merge cable channels and OTA channels into a single list? I know you simply can't use a reverse splitter to merge the cables together as analog and digital UHF occupy the same signal spectrum. I have also seen suggestions for external devices with tuners such as VCRs connected through a plain old RCA video input. A wireless A/B cable switcher could work but the TV would have to rescan for channels every time there is a switch from cable to OTA or vice-versa.

At this point there really doesn't appear to be an alternative to simply getting a TV with 2 seperate dedicated coax inputs, one for cable and another for an antenna. I've seen a setup like this before and surfing through channels is really simple as the TV merges them into the same channel list for you as well as scan for both analog and digital channels if you so choose.

She is specifically looking for a 24" flatscreen and doesn't want to go bigger than that. She has a small living room. The problem I have with the size restriction is 100% of the TVs I've been looking at online are technically PC monitors with digital ATSC tuners built in. I'm not sure if it's possible to find at least a 720p monitor with dual coax inputs with a size like 24". Has someone seen something like this? Thanks a lot for your help.

[majortom]

Install an A/B switch, and screw it down to the entertainment center or TV stand so it doesn't move around...
label it for her:

Cable / Antenna

You don't have to rescan anything on my TV here, it's a 42" LG from ~ 2009 or 2010.

I also have a 22" LCD TV that I use more as a PC Monitor, it supports up to 1080p.
So they are out there, just I think generally the smaller they get the less convenience/features so might have to look around
for one that'll do like the LG does.. Or if ya have to maybe ya can get creative while setting it up for her, be quick to flip the switch at the right time of the scan process. so u scan in the analog Cable and digital OTA in one shot.

[JamesK]

You won't get HD through the video input, though RF pass through should be OK. Also, I get the impression she doesn't have a digital STB. If not, she might not be getting anything via cable in the not too distant future, as analog channels will eventually go away. With a STB, you'd use a video input for it and antenna input for OTA.

[Titan91]

Well the idea is to upgrade her TV and somehow get digital HDTV channels as well as her existing cable at the same time. A switch would work, even if it has to be a more expensive wireless one, but the TV would have to be reprogrammed every time she switches. I'm wondering if any TVs exist in a 24" size or around there with dual cable/antenna inputs. That would solve the problem but I'm not sure they exist in that size.

[Dr.Dave]

Titan91, as majortom mentioned, he has a LG TV that doesn't require a rescan. My 2011 Samsung doesn't require a rescan either. I can press the "Channel List" button on the remote and then press another button to switch between Air and Cable. The TV keeps separate lists of OTA and cable channels so it doesn't have to rescan.

I set up a 60" LG TV for a relative about a year ago and it had to rescan when you changed from OTA to cable, so it depends on the model of TV you buy.

You may want to read some of the previous posts in this thread.

[majortom]

That's right. In fact I have analog cable, ATSC OTA, and Clear QAM Cable
in my channel list at the same time. To watch any one of them I just switch the antenna input around to a different feed and select the right channel.

Obviously if I tuned to a Cable channel but the OTA antenna was hoooked up at the time I'd get No signal & vice-versa. But no rescan required.

[Titan91]

Ultimately after considering the limitations we both agreed that sticking to cable would be best. She's getting a newer TV from a family member anyway. Thanks for the help.

[matryx]

A few years ago I ditched Rogers cable and decided to get OTA.
There are some channels I want to watch that I don't have on OTA and would like to get Rogers again. I was wondering if this is possible and how it would effect my OTA cable runs. I'm guessing it's not possible to have OTA and Rogers cable in the same line so I'll probably have to run another cable line.
If there is another way I can do this please provide some insight or some suggestions.

Thank you

[57]

I don't believe it's possible (or recommended) to have OTA and cable on the same coax. Therefore you would need a direct connection from the Rogers demarcation point in your home to your Rogers STB and connect the Rogers STB to the TV. If you have multiple TVs, you'd need multiple runs and multiple STBs. You can leave your OTA connections as is.

The reason I mention STBs is because Rogers analogue is disappearing slowly as discussed in the following:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=146605

Which channels specifically are you interested in? Are they above channel 28, because if they are, they will probably soon be gone. If you're interest is in HD, of course you'll need a Rogers HD STB for each TV and an HDMI or component video connection from the STB(s) to the TV. Rogers digital (HD) channels are encrypted.