Is it possible to get HD channels with basic cable?

[Arkitech]

I've read a few pages here and there about the possibility of picking up certain HD channels through basic cable. I think they were subchannels or QAM channels, anyone here familiar with it? Would I need a special tuner from the cable company? I have a TV with a built-in QAM tuner would that be enough to pick up any HD channels?

EDIT: So what do you guys think is the best option of recieving HD programming? I've been out to the Voom site and it looks like they offer a pretty good deal. The last I checked Voom was offering their best package at 79.99 per month which includes 21 HD channels.

 

[spidey07]

a TV with a built in QAM tuner would allow you to get non-premium channels.

although things are still changing so I for one wouldn't lock myself into a tuner in a TV.

<---pays cable company 2 bucks a month for theirs.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: spidey07
a TV with a built in QAM tuner would allow you to get non-premium channels.

although things are still changing so I for one wouldn't lock myself into a tuner in a TV.

<---pays cable company 2 bucks a month for theirs.

Who's your cable company and what channels do you get in HD?

 

[spidey07]

insight...

abc, nbc, cbs, fox, public access, bravo
premiums are HBO, showtime, espn, HDnet, HDnet-movies

 

[Apex]

Some (but very few) cable companies don't encrypt their HD channels, so with a QAM enabled receiver, you would be able to get them. Again, very few cable companies do that.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Apex
Some (but very few) cable companies don't encrypt their HD channels, so with a QAM enabled receiver, you would be able to get them. Again, very few cable companies do that.

listen to the man...

I forgot the YMMV

 

[Arkitech]

Apex what have you heard on the LCOS technology? Last I heard Intel is delaying their units, I'm still hoping they can deliver what they promised. (low cost HDTVs comparable to DLPS)

Speaking of costs do you think DLPs will drop in price for the holidays?

 

[Apex]

Currently, LCOS technology &amp; associated products are reasonably good. The JVC 52" and 61" LCOS/D-ILA rear projection sets are (for the most part) great. They're 3-chip 1280x720 native sets with great colors, very smooth gradients, accurate grayscale tracking, very high fill rate, and, of course, no rainbows. They're also competitive price wise with the DLP offerings.

The Philips single chip LCOS set, I'm not quite as impressed with. It uses a spinning prism to separate out the colors, which is more resistant to rainbows than the spinning colorwheel that DLP's use, but it's not perfect. Also, the colors are a bit more cartoonish (is that even a word?). On the flip side, their chip is FAST. We're talking 1ms total average response time fast.

The Mitsubishi 82" LCOS set, I'd say, don't bother, unless you need an 82" $20,000 TV set in your house.

Sony, we're still waiting on. Get your SXRD b*tt in gear, Sony! Not everyone can afford your $25k Qualia 004!

Intel is delaying because they (wisely, IMHO) decided to skip over the current 1280x720 generation, and develop directly to 1920x1080. There's really no advantage for them, financially, to shoulder their way into the already very crowded 720p arena.

The real problem with LCOS is the yields. It requires a very VERY good FAB to get the kind of yields it takes to turn a good profit. Intel has the world's best FAB's, but whether or not they'll be able to transition over to LCOS production remains to be seen.

The second, much smaller, problem with LCOS is the optical block. They MUST align and glue the optical block correctly from the factory, or the red, green, and blue will be off. If it's half a pixel or less, it's not a big deal. If it's bigger than that, it's ugly.

Edit: Oh yeah, about price drop for the holidays. Yeah, prices are definitely falling all the time, but we should definitely see a price shift industry wide, including DLP's, for the holiday season.

 

[ApacheXMD]

I have comcast basic cable with HD. I'm in San Francisco, and I get NBC, CBS, ABC, INHD1, INHD2, ESPNHD, and my local PBS affiliate. I pay 5 dollars a month on top of the Basic Cable cost, which is i think 15 or so a month.

-patchy

 

[Arkitech]

up for the day crew

 

[woowoo]

Why not see whats available OTA?

 

[SpunkyJones]

I get ABC, NBC, CBS, UPN, WB ( do they have HD??) &amp; the PBS channels via OTA, and ESPN, HBO, Discovery, HDnet &amp; Hdnet movies from Direct Tv.

Are you near a major city, you might get most of the major networks OTA.

 

[DingDingDao]

For an extra $5 a month I get the HD tier with Charter in L.A. ABCHD, NBCHD, FOXHD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, DiscoveryHD, ESPNHD, plus ShowtimeHD &amp; HBOHD (if you already subscribe to the regular Showtime and/or HBO).

If you're looking for a lot of HD content, Voom can't be matched, but it's quite expensive IMO and since I live in an apt I can't really commit to the dish ($700 or something pretty pricey).

 

[bcterps]

Originally posted by: Apex
Some (but very few) cable companies don't encrypt their HD channels, so with a QAM enabled receiver, you would be able to get them. Again, very few cable companies do that.

I guess I must be lucky then Comcast in my area broadcasts HD using unencrypted QAM signals. I am able to pick up Discovery HD, NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, all of the music channels, and even some On Demand stuff for free, using my LG LST3510A receiver.

I don't pay anything extra, I only have basic cable, not even extended basic. I could have rented a box from Comcast for $6 a month, just to get HD, but I decided to buy a receiver instead.

 

[Aimster]

For some reason I get basic premium channels and I dont pay anything a month, but most of the channels are a little fuzzy. Anyway to make it better? I do not have a cable box.

 

[bcterps]

Originally posted by: Aimster
For some reason I get basic premium channels and I dont pay anything a month, but most of the channels are a little fuzzy. Anyway to make it better? I do not have a cable box.

They do sell signal boosters at Radio Shack, that may improve the quality of your picture.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: benchiu

Originally posted by: Apex
Some (but very few) cable companies don't encrypt their HD channels, so with a QAM enabled receiver, you would be able to get them. Again, very few cable companies do that.

I guess I must be lucky then Comcast in my area broadcasts HD using unencrypted QAM signals. I am able to pick up Discovery HD, NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, all of the music channels, and even some On Demand stuff for free, using my LG LST3510A receiver.

I don't pay anything extra, I only have basic cable, not even extended basic. I could have rented a box from Comcast for $6 a month, just to get HD, but I decided to buy a receiver instead.

Yes, you are very lucky. I only get like 1 cheesy HD channel through QAM here, the rest are encrypted.

BTW, nice choice in receivers. That's my favorite one out of my 3.