[mythtv-users] Comprehend Digital Vs. Analog Cable in the US

[Barry Fawthrop]

Thanks Brian for the Info.

Forgive the dumb question. But is there anyway to make the tuner in the
card act as a STB?  What is the STB doing? If it is doing the tuning
work, then why do we need another tuner in the card?

this part I really don't understand.

I understand the try to tune into a channel, but using what software and
how, practically, I'm at a loss.

What settings should I use on the MytTV Backend  ?
and more importantly which connector on the card ?

I would think the Digial Cable One ?

Thanks again

Barry

On Thu, 2010-04-15 at 07:01 -0600, Brian Wood wrote:
> On Thursday 15 April 2010 06:48:50 am Barry Fawthrop wrote:
> > Hi all
> > 
> > >From the problems I have had installing it would appear I have digital
> > 
> > cable,  Yet when I called the provider they say no it's digital cable
> > and recommend HRC.
> > They sent me a frequencies chart
> > 
> > Right now my hookup is as follows:
> > 
> > Cable from provider -->> Splitter ---> TV channel 2-99 (old TV)
> > 
> > 
> >                         Splitter  ---> Computer HVR 1800
> > 
> > 
> >                         HD Cable Box  <<HDMI>>  HD TV  (Channel 2-1127+)
> > 
> > 
> > COMMON     EIA  Standard  IRC      HRC      Band
> > CATV T-7          7.00                      SUB
> > CATV T-8         13.00                      SUB
> > CATV T-9         19.00                      SUB
> > CATV T-10        25.00                      SUB
> > ...
> > ...
> > CATV H     21   163.25    163.25   162.00   MID
> > CATV I     22   169.25    169.25   168.00   MID
> > CATV J     23   217.25    217.25   216.00   SUPER
> > CATV K     24   223.25    223.25   222.00   SUPER
> > ....
> > ....
> > CATV OOO   78   541.25    541.25  540.00    HYPER
> > CATV PPP   79   547.25    547.25  546.00    HYPER
> > 
> > Just portions of the table
> > 
> > 1) How can I prove I have digital or analog cable ?
> 
> Most cable systems today carry both analog and digital signals. Usually the 
> digital signals are on the higher channels, though where "higher" starts 
> varies with the system (in my case digital signals start on channel 73).
> 
> The analog channels tend to be carried on the low, mid and high bands.
> 
> The only way to test (without a spectrum analyzer) is to try and receive the 
> channels. Scan them for digital (QAM) signals, and simply try to tune an 
> analog channel on 2-13. If the operator says the system is HRC just try to 
> tune an HRC analog channel, if you get a picture then the analog channel is 
> there.
> 
> Analog is slowly disappearing from cable systems, but almost all of them have 
> at least a few, usually at least the local OTAs.
> 
> Most digital channels are encrypted, though a few are still in the clear, 
> again usually the local OTA channels are not encrypted, and often a few 
> shopping channels (I get CSPAN unencrypted as well).
> 
> A purely digital cable system will requires a Set-Top Box (STB) to receive 
> anything at all, except that some clear QAM channels can be received by some 
> TV sets.