Question on local Clear QAM channels

[Demo24]

I've been doing my best to try and find some hidden CQAM channels with my Hauppage 2250, but little luck. The only local channel I get like this is PBS, which is nice but I'd also like to get my other local channels like this. I get a few others unencrypted but they are some religious 'whatever' things.

My question is; is my cable company (Windstream) suppose to be encrypting these channels to me? I can't seem to get a clear answer on this. I realize that higher end channels will be, but what about my local ones? Or is it simply at the discretion of the provider whether or not channels are broadcast in CQAM?

 

[vi edit]

No clue on the "do they have to" thing...but I will say that WMC did a pretty crappy job finding many of my clear QAM's with my provider. I had to go in and hand enter many of them and then manually map to the channel listing.

Do you have a channel lineup with the listings? If so try adding them to WMC and then previewing to see if they show up.

 

[postmortemIA]

Hi, I am glad I can help with this! My cable provider, Mediacom has bunch of ClearQAM channels well hidden. But recently they made them public as they are going all-digital. Gov't rule is that local channels have to be provided ny cable providers in ClearQAM, so it is just matter of finding them. Looks like another rule was to put public TV on its default channel, that explains why you have found them.

WMC does find them, but it does not report them as found because channel number of such channels (for example, 115.2 is our local ABC) are not what is expected for your zip code.

I suppose you have supplied zip code duing WMC setup so that you get program guide. Here's how you enable these hidden channels in WMC (after you have finished scan for ClearQAM channels):
Go to:
Settings
TV
Guide
Edit Channels
Now at this point you should have lots of channels that are deselected.
If you select them, you'll be able to watch. Moreover, you can edit channel name and Edit Listings so that programming guide is pulled for it.

There's another way to do this manually, using "Add Missing Channels" instead of Edit Channels.

This site should have ClearQAM listings for your zip code and provider:
http://www.silicondust.com/support/channels/
After you enter your zip code, select your provider form drop down menu.

good luck!

 

[Emulex]

SDV can eliminate those free channels quick.

 

[Demo24]

Nono, I've tried all those tricks. I found the PBS one in an 'unlocked' section of the Clear QAM in WMC and then I proceeded to combine the source with channel 8. So PBS for me works great in HD. However I can not find any of my local ones just sitting unlisted in the channel setup.


That site does not have my provider listed, simply the antenna channels I should be able to access. I just looked on Windstreams website and saw this line: " Customers with compatible HD sets can watch local broadcast stations in high-definition." Looks like I have cause to complain to them tomorrow when I go in

 

[Brainonska511]

Have you tried this to look up your channel numbers?
http://www.silicondust.com/support/channels/

I had to use that with manually entering channels since WMC didn't pick them up.

Edit:
I missed the part where you said that site doesn't have your provider. Is there another local cable provider that the site lists? Maybe some stroke up luck and they'll use similar channel line ups.

 

[Demo24]

Have you tried this to look up your channel numbers?
http://www.silicondust.com/support/channels/

I had to use that with manually entering channels since WMC didn't pick them up.

Edit:
I missed the part where you said that site doesn't have your provider. Is there another local cable provider that the site lists? Maybe some stroke up luck and they'll use similar channel line ups.

Comcast in city like 20+ miles from me :\