Program guide practically non-existant on new HDTV

[kranky]

Thanks to the great help I got here last month, I decided to use my little bonus to get a new TV (Samsung LN37A550). All we have at the moment is Comcast analog cable. We get some HD channels (mostly local) and the picture is wonderful.

On the initial power-up, it scanned for channels and removed the scrambled ones. It has a channel guide which displays over whatever program is on. What I don't understand is that only the local stations (SD and HD) have their call letters displayed. All other channels just say "Cable" for the channel name. And only the local stations show any form of program guide (current and upcoming shows) but even that isn't complete. No program guide at all for any other channels. There is no configuration for it so it can't be a wrong setting. According to the manual, it's just supposed to be there.

Do I need digital cable for that to work?

 

[JohnAn2112]

You'll only see that if the stations are including that info with the broadcast. If you want to see all of the details, then you'll need a digital cable set top box with an interactive guide.

 

[sivart]

call the cable company and tell them to send the information with all of their channels (although it can't be done with analog cable). Tell them you don't want to rent a box and want a full program guide.

Or better yet, dump the cable company, hook up an antenna and get the full program guide through your TV 🙂 (That's what I did)

 

[kranky]

Thanks, I guess there's nothing to do but go for digital cable. Appreciate the info.