[joeags]

Just for information's sake, I have noticed fairly consistent staying power of the clear QAM channels here. I started tracking in December, and although I have been told it's gone (by the repair guy), I still have most of my original channels.

For HD, I only get TVO, CTV & CTV2 as the "local" channels - TVO changed once. I recently lost the NFL network altogether, but still have Food, E! and one other.

SD is not recorded often, but treehouse moved once, but all local stations are in the same location. Definitely lost some higher level ones, but probably only 2.

Pay networks on freeview are definitely fickle - I never trust those staying.

 

[cableredneck]

I haven't checked the clear QAM since it was removed, so I'm not sure what if anything is there. Interesting about Food Network, we lost that one (clear QAM) in June.

 

[joeags]

Well, that's pretty much the end of HD clear-qam for me in Hamilton. I had TVO, CTV & CTV2 for the past year, but the last 2 disappeared after the Amazing Race on Monday. I have 1 channel that I never watch that is still available, but to me clear-qam is dead. No clear-qam, no cable card, just disappointment.

 

[joeags]

And now the last HD channels are gone. Only basic SD channels available in Dundas with clear qam...

 

[bigoranget]

Most cable systems in Canada having nothing on clear QAM. I'm with Source Cable and the only channels on clear QAM are channels in free preview.

 

[cableredneck]

I checked my clear QAM not that long ago, and there were basic channels, freeview channels, and some other channels. We are in the Burloak system.

 

[ancaster]

Cogeco QAM 2013 updated channel list?

I have been running OTA HD for a few years, no cable service.

At the beginning of 2013, I switched from DSL to Cable internet. Max for DSL in my neighbourhood is 6down, and the reason I switched.

I am with Start Communications which uses Cogeco's line, and I recently discovered QAM channels (I know, sooo late to the game).

When I split my cable line, and connected one end to a TV, did a scan, I noticed many channels not present on the 2009 RemoteCentral Cogeco QAM channel list.

I understand Cogeco has been removing them but does anyone know where I can find an updated channel list? I'm in Ancaster-Hamilton.

And if what I see is what I get, are there any factors I'm unaware of that can change how many channels I see?

 

[joeags]

Analog has died in my neck of the woods, which is disappointing for my wife and her dual tuner series 2 tivo. I've pumped all recordings over to the computer with NextPVR, although my wife used the tivo as a single tuner, and will update here. So just in case anybody checks in on this through searches, here is where I am at with clearqam channels in Dundas through Cogeco:

HD: if there are free previews, you will generally get them on clearqam - Cottage Life, FSN, A&E and Travel & Explore are currently available, History Channel was last month, Oasis / Smithsonian / RadX / HIFI were in December / January, etc. Not bad if you want to grab some shows you wouldn't normally see. Otherwise, only 1 HD channel available.

SD: I thought these would be gone with analog, but I do still get the basic cable versions of SD on qam - network channels mostly, but a few others. Of course free preview channels are showing up, but I just set up the HD version. I do like the SD just because I can sometimes record more than one show in SD at the same time since they share a "channel."

If ancaster above checks, what you see is what you get - and no real channel list online, you just have to do the manual mapping. It takes a bit, but you can generally figure out most quickly with a tv guide. Network channels will have the logo on the screen, making it easier. Make a spreadsheet - my first time I did it on the tv naming the channels, and when we lost power, the mapping was gone with the outage!

 

[ancaster]

Thanks for your update joeags.
Due to the lack of HD channels, I decided not to use it after about a week of trying it on one TV last fall.
Our content mainly comes from our HD OTA antennas, and internet sources (U.S. NF, Hulu+, downloads).

 

[denben73]

Just did a QAM search for the first time since getting Cogeco service, rather surprised to see analog is gone, just four channels with colour bars (3, 14, 58 & 70). I had seen comments and rants posted to their FB page about having to have a digital box to see anything come this April, looks like it changed already.

Also, I noticed an unexpected find in a clear QAM channel - FXX Canada in HD. There it was in clear crisp HD, 16x9 with the FXX logo in the corner. From the numeric label, it looks like it would be going on channel 761. For all I know that could have been there for months now but could it also mean that there may be other new ones on the way?

 

[mrvanwinkles]

There's still clear alot of Clear QAM - Unencrypted Digital - on Cogeco Kingston - but all SD stuff, and nothing highly special. But still there and somewhat useable.

(the specialty channels and HD stuff - is all encrypted)

And we've received a letter, from COGECO Kingston, advising us:
" Analog Shutdown is coming April 2015. " We'll see what happens. There's still alot of analog here too.

(? shutting down all analog here ? Kingston? April 2015? not sure - we'll see)
(Much analog still remains here - even today - but we've gotten our two (2) "free" little digital adaptor boxes - long ago - two or more years ago )

Me too...
In the past, I've also noticed the odd HD Specialty channel magically pop up / appear on Clear QAM / during a re-scan of the Clear QAM receiver - here - even the odd movie channel - watch for a little while - but tends to "go away" quite quickly - even half way through the movie.

And alot of movement around - of those Clear QAM channels.
(renumbering / changing of frequency & channel numbers / moving of the Clear QAM assignments)

Clear QAM is a bit of a nuisance ... practically - as a viewer - the way the numbering works on the "receiver".

Clear QAM - No guarantees - can go away anytime - constantly moved - possibly encrypted - at any time.

It's not an "official" way to try and receive digital channels over cable.

Nuisance ... PITA. Just like the BDU / local Cable Co. themselves.

 

[Stoney Creek]

Free Cogeco Cable TV Channels Are Gone

Our tvs have built in antenna. I live in Hamilton/ Stoney Creek and we always got 26-3 (Global) Thru to 26-13 - including City tv and CHCH, and approx 20 other good channels, including Slice Yes tv, Vision.- 2 days ago we lost Global and CHCH - now we don't get any channels except ones that are on free preview and all of the music channels. It is not isolated issue as I have checked 3 of our tvs...anyone else having the same issue? I have tried to reprogram/ channel scan several times

 

[Frankzappa]

Do you have a cable running from the wall to your tv, if you do that's CABLE TV ,not FREE OTA. Rogers is eliminating all analog signals, if you are PAYING for Cable contact Rogers for a FREE Digital to analog converter. If you aren't paying for cable buy an antenna, tv's today have a Tuner but not a built in ANTENNA.

 

[JJMoney]

"Stoney Creek" is likely talking about Cogeco's Clear-QAM channels. My work office is serviced by Cogeco and the basic channels that were unencrypted have disappeared over the last week.

 

[stampeder]

Yep, that's what we were talking about, and definitely it is either that the TVs are set to CATV instead of Antenna, or else there is a Signal Leakage problem.

 

[denben73]

Well, clear QAM is basically history now, at least with the Windsor system.

There were about 50 to 60 channels in the clear ranging from the Detroit stations, various cable channels, local channels like TVCogeco and TWN and Stingray Channels. Those were SD with a few HDs. Basically, the only thing coming through right now are some of the channels that are free preview in SD, Sportsnet 1 & FXX in HD (both in preview), the VOD barker channel and 3 Stingray channels to make 12 channels. There are also 4 channels that get tuned but have nothing on them at all, they have been there since I started scanning weeks ago.

 

[Jason Spaceman]

Is CBC News Network still available on 64-28? I was getting it up until this past Monday, now it's gone.

I thought maybe my signal was just weak and I need an amp or to run the cable straight from the wall to the TV rather than through my surge protector.

 

[denben73]

Nope.

This is what I get as of today:

31.911 - Black screen (nothing has ever shown up here)
32.736 - Sportsnet One HD (Free Preview)
32.911 - Black Screen (nothing has ever shown up here)
84.761 - FXX HD
85.101 - Cogeco VOD corner ad (I have no idea what to call this, this is what appears in the top right corner when you are browsing the VOD menus)
86.101 - Black Screen (nothing has ever shown up here)
101.1477 - Stingray Music - Country Classics
102.1463 - Stingray Music - Urban Beat
107.1459 - Stingray Music - Hit List
110.751 - W Movies HD
119.911 - Black Screen (nothing has ever shown up here)
123.759 - Cottage Life (Free Preview)
125.927 - TV Cogeco
126.145 - Action (Free Preview)
128.1 - Cogeco VOD Preview Channel
128.149 - W Movies (Free Preview)
129.911 - Black Screen (nothing has ever shown up here)

 

[casanova1012]

Same here. All my channels have disappeared. I have cogeco internet, my cable is connected to the tv. Did a channel search, all there is are music and preview channels. How can i get them back?

 

[stampeder]

Cogeco Has Gone To Full Encryption - Free Channels Gone

How can i get them back?

You cannot. They used to be delivered in what is called "clear QAM" that any modern TV could receive, but they are now delivered in encrypted QAM so you will never see them again without paying Cogeco for a set top box.

If you want to get free OTA channels then we will be very happy to help you set up your home for OTA reception.