[MrWisker]

Could not find a topic on this yet. I just got the Cogeco letter in the mail stating that I am about to my cable service upgraded to all Digital. I live in Chatham Ontario and all I have to say it is about time........

Very pleased to finally have my measly HD package improved......

Edit by 57 - here's the manual for the adaptor:

http://www.cogeco.ca/export/sites/c...tal_migration/pdf/DTA_Adapter-Setup-Guide.pdf

 

[Jase88]

Interesting. Do you happen to know how much bandwidth the local cable network is built out to in Chatham? My guess is that they only likely have a 550MHz (or less) network, and thus capacity constraints forced their hand to drop analog....

 

[57]

Often "all digital" does not mean a total drop of analogue service, simply that all channels will be available digitally, which I call "all channels digital". There is a difference with the latter requiring more bandwidth, still providing some analogue channels to customers with analogue TVs and no STB requirement.

I therefore doubt that it's true "all digital" since there would be a major announcement about everyone on Cogeco in Chatham requiring digital STBs. Was that the case in this letter or simply a misinterpretation of what was said in the letter?

Edit- it appears that only basic cable will stay analogue and many channels will be moving to the digital tier.

 

[MrWisker]

You are right. There will continue to be a small subset of channels that will be available to users, although it would only be a handful compared with what people on analogue get now. In the letter I received it mentioned to me that if I wanted to receive the same channels I do now with a TV hooked directly to cable (no digital receiver) I would need to ask Cogeco for a digital adapter. This is right from the Cogeco site regarding Chatham (if I am not allow to post this please remove):

Digital Migration Schedule in ChathamBefore March 4, 2011

Determine if you require additional digital equipment for the other TVs that are connected directly to cable in your home. Call 1-877-675-9145.
If we don’t hear from you, we will automatically send you an Adapter so you can continue enjoying all your current channels with Option 1..

Starting the week of March 7th, 2011Receive at home your Adapter(s) or Digital Receiver(s) as selected.

Start installing your digital equipment right away with the instructions included in the setup guide.

Visit Cogeco.ca/digitalnow if you need further information with the setup..

March 21st, 2011 Analogue Value Pack service, in it’s current form on your TV’s directly connected to cable will no longer be available..

May 6th, 2011 Last opportunity to take advantage of our Adapter offers..

Many of the channels that are currently analog will no longer be available and can only be viewed through digital means.

 

[Keaters]

Finally CHM is going all Digital....maybe an increase in the level of HD provided.....then maybe I might come back to Cogeco and enjoy good HD and good Video on Demand.....But I will continue to watch to see what come available on March 4 before I make the switch from Bell back to Cogeco

 

[bigoranget]

My assumption is Catham, North Bay, Gravenhurt and Lindsay are the test markets in Ontario for going "Mostly Digital"

These digital adapters don't provide an on-screen guide, VOD access or the ability to order additional services such as TMN, Sports Packages and digital specialty channels.

 

[scrooloose]

Interesting. So a digital adpater is a reduced functionality STB? Any links to a more detailed description of one of these?

-Mike

 

[MrWisker]

Finally CHM is going all Digital....maybe an increase in the level of HD provided.....then maybe I might come back to Cogeco and enjoy good HD and good Video on Demand.....But I will continue to watch to see what come available on March 4 before I make the switch from Bell back to Cogeco

From the letter I got the amount of HD in Chatham is at least tripling. If I can find it I will post the HD channels coming in March / April.

 

[MrWisker]

Interesting. So a digital adpater is a reduced functionality STB? Any links to a more detailed description of one of these?

-Mike

Try.... www.cogeco.ca/godigital

 

[17671]

its like a stripped down stb, no guide or on demand, its still connects to your tv like a stb does.

 

[scrooloose]

I wouldn't have thought there would be much difference in price between that, and the regular SD STB.

I guess Cogeco figures this option is cheaper than upgrading their infrastructure (i.e. freeing space by removing duplicate Analog content rather than increasing capacity by way of network infrastructure upgrades). I guess this works where the customer base isn't very dense.

-Mike

 

[Jase88]

The problem with using more bandwidth on cable networks is that you need to shorten distances between amplification (higher frequencies attenuate faster). And while this is standard practice in dense urban areas, it's cost prohibitive in less dense/rural systems. Your standard two-way trunk amp, not including powering, runs well over $3k each.

 

[CntdwnToExtn]

New HD lineup

464-467 - NHL Center Ice
468-471 - NBA League Pass
472-475 - MLB Extra Innings
476-479 - NFL Sunday Ticket
480-483 - NCAA Football/Basketball
484-486 - Nascar Hot Pass
705 - Sun TV
706 - Global
707 - CHCH
708 - OMNI 1
709 - OMNI 2
717 - ABC (Seattle) ---> Confused about the Seattle? Does this mean prime time viewing will be 11pm for us????
718 - CBS (Seattle)
719 - NBC (Seattle)
720 - FOX (Seattle)
731 - TSN 2 ---> No more TSN? Score? Rogers? Rogers One?
739 - Leafs
740 - Raptors
742 - Speed
743 - Golf
744 - CBS College Sports
752 - Movie Time
753 - History
754 - TLC
756 - APTN
757 - Showcase
758 - National Geo
759 - BOLD
765 - CBC News
782 - MExcess
783 - MFun
788-789 - SuperChannel
793 - WGN
794 - WPIX
795 - KTLA
796 - WSBK
799-800 - PPV


I'm hoping these are NEW channels to only be ADDED to the existing ones? Cause CTV, HDNet, Discovery, A&E, all the sports channels as mentioned, the East coast feeds as mentioned, HBO - are missing from this list.....

 

[MrWisker]

yes these show only the NEW channels to be added. I had to re-read that statement as well on the letter I got. But it makes sense.

I am also hoping we get the new HD channels that were just added this past week for other areas. I am guessing the literature was already printed before they were announced and were just omitted.

 

[CntdwnToExtn]

@MrWisker - Tha's what I thought too, but just makin' sure....

Anyhoo
Since we're getting digital channels, will an HDHomerun work now? I bought a double tuner one off newegg cause it was darn near 80 bucks off a few months ago, but of course didn't pick up the analog signal.

I'll assume that channels 27-48 won't be re-mapped? But channels 2-70 will be digital, with 27-48 ONLY digital?

 

[Jase88]

It would depend if the digital channels are in clear (unencrypted) QAM or not. If so, you'll be fine.

 

[Danno100]

Well, you think the CRTC would protect customers and require cable co's going all digital to provide clear QAM signals. That would be nice and customer focused.

 

[57]

We have several clear QAM threads, so let's not take this thread off topic. Cogeco are supplying free STBs/adaptors.

 

[travisc]

These adapters tend to run in the $40-$50 range while a DCT700 (the cheapest Moto STB) tend to cost around $85.

 

[crockett18]

Windsor ?

A friend of mine talked to Cogeco in Windsor, about returning his Digital Box, and was told not to bother because by early summer all users will require a box. You will not be able to go simply from a wall plate cable directly to a tv.

Don't know if anyone else has heard about this?