FAQ - Can I get Digital Cable (and HD) Using My QAM Tuner?

[57]

Updated 2010.01.14

I developed this FAQ for a US Forum, but this question comes up a lot now that people are buying HDTVs with QAM tuners built in, or people wish to use Computer QAM cards.

In Canada, the answer is usually no, since most digital channels (including HD) are encrypted, save for the odd preview channel (or the channels you'd have anyway without paying extra). You therefore need to rent or buy a STB from the service provider or their authorized distributors to receive digital channels and you need to subscribe to the channels you want.

Occasionally you may also see VOD/PPV channels/movies that other people in your area are ordering. You will have no control over the movies, they may switch channels, they may pause/rewind, etc. I'm sure these channels will also soon be encrypted...


In the US (and a few smaller Canadian Cable companies) the answer is yes or no, depending.

You need to have a tuner that has "QAM" capability (this is the modulation used by most cable companies.)

You may then be able to pick up the unencrypted (unscrambled) digital cable stations. HD stations form some of this digital tier.

Most US cable companies do not encrypt the "local OTA-type" HD stations that they carry.

Most cable companies do encrypt all other digital channels, including premium HD stations like HBO, ESPN, etc.

Sometimes, there may be digital channels that you may be able to receive, but they are usually the ones on "free preview".

This will vary from cable company to cable company and from location to location - see examples below.

Just because you can receive these now, you may not be able to receive them in the future.

In many cases, you simply need to connect the cable to the TV - you don't even need to subscribe to the digital tier, only analogue.

The channel numbers will likely not line up with the channel numbers used by the cable company, or TV guides.

There are some OTA STBs (ATSC/8VSB) that have QAM capability, but be careful and be aware of the limitations discussed above.


You can usually rent a STB from the cable company for a few dollars a month. The added features include such items as:

The ability to subscribe to any or all the digital channels
VOD (Video on Demand
PPV (Pay per view - via the remote)
IPG (Interactive programme guide)
DVR (this is an important one for many people - DVRs change the way you watch TV).
Future additional services.

In Canada you purchase (or sometimes rent) the STB.


Some TVs have a "CableCARD" option, which allows you to subscribe to all the channels, but doesn't provide the interactive services listed above with the STB. CableCARD is only available in the US.

Those people with Rogers Ontario (GTA), may be interested in the following link which indicates the unencrypted channels:

http://www.remotecentral.com/hdtv/rogers.htm This can vary by location and have recently changed to almost no unencrypted channels.


Other Canadian Service providers have been reported to have similar unencrypted channels.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...945#post483945 (Cogeco, see posts 9, 12 - differences probably due to different areas)


Mountain Cable:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...451#post525451


Shaw Cable:

Feedback indicates that most people seem to be able to get the music channels and not much else. There may be an occasional unencrypted channel, or one on free preview.


Eastlink

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=65917


Delta

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=63665


Persona

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=94197


If you have any comments or suggestions, please PM me.

[57]

Reply to avoid archive, please ignore.