TV Technology Tip

Comcast Channel Changes

Since last Fall, Comcast has been slowly upgrading their cable TV system by removing some analog channels and moving them to the digital tier. At that time each Hershey's Mill home was supplied with one free converter box to be connected to an analog TV. Additionally, 2 free converter boxes called DTA's, are now available for each home. This means you can continue to operate up to 3 analog TV's and view all the channels without any additional charge. If you have more than 3 analog TV's each additional DTA will cost $1.99/month. Call Comcast at 215-992-2712 for more information. The DTA's are also available for self installation at Comcast's Customer Service Center next to Lowes in Downingtown. Installation instructions are provided.

By August 25, 2009 Comcast will have moved 11 more analog channels to digital. Channels 36, 46, 48, 49, 50, 57, 58, 60, 65, 70, and 71 will no longer be available on analog assuming Comcast follows through on their plan. By September 25, 2009 29 more channels will move to digital. This brings the 2 month total to 63% of the available channels that are viewable only with a converter box. Comcast's current plan for analog will probably support channels 2 through 20 without a converter box.

Why is Comcast doing this? It's all about bandwidth and the more efficient use of bandwidth that digital provides. For example 8-12 digital channels, or 1 to 2 High Definition (HD) channels can fit into the same bandwidth space that one analog TV channel occupies. Comcast is also facing competition from Verizon's FIOS (not in Hershey's Mill), satellite providers, and others for video-on-demand services. Video requires high bandwidth. Also higher speeds are being allocated for Internet service in response to video being supplied to our computers. All this demands that the shift to digital does take place. As this change unfolds we will see additional digital and HD channels as the old analog era comes to an end.

Tip: Don't connect a converter box to a newer digital TV. Yes you will see a picture but its quality will be degraded. The reason is a converter box only outputs an analog signal. If you have a converter box connected to a digital TV the TV has to use its built-in analog tuner to display a picture. It will result in an inferior picture compared to the same digital channel. Also the TV will not be able to display any HD channels while connected to a converter box. The reason behind this is the HD signal requires a digital channel so it can be viewed.

Note: Adjusting your set for a full screen picture, while viewing an analog or a non HD digital channel, optically distorts the view. It does not make it HD compatible. Only a true HD signal fills the screen without distortion.

For more information about Comcast cable TV or computers please come to our PC Club meetings. They are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM upstairs in the Ardmore room in Winfield Hall. Check the Hershey's Mill website at www.hersheysmill.org and click on Tech Tips for past Technology Tips articles.

Don Trauger

To get answers to your questions about computers, please come to the PC Club meeting. The computer club meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Winfield Hall.

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