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Question about HD TV cable boxes

J

james t kirk

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2001
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Why is it not possible to build these HD cable boxes right into the TV itself?

Is this some sort of scam?

I'm not quite up on my TV technology still having a nice plain and simple cathode ray tube myself....

It reminds me of 1978 when converters first hit the ground and if you wanted more than channel 2 through 13, you needed to buy (or better yet rent (sound familiar) a converter.

Later, the damn things were just made part of the TV tuner.
 
The signals are encrypted and delivered in proprietary fashion. There is smart card technology that is available on some TV's to allow standard addressible/encryted delivery, but don't expect Rogers/Cogeco to ever go that route. Maybe its because they feel the cards would be too simple to duplicate, but I'm not certain.

Most newer flat screens have ATSC tuners to receive HD channels free over the air if available in the area with the addition of an antenna.
 
1) It would increase the cost of the TV.

2) It would tie TV manufacturers with cable providers. Majority of folks will probably have a problem with that.
 
Since we need set top box to view digital TV we can use monitor with no TV turner to view TV programme. I got a 22" LCD wide screen monitor for less than $300
 
If you have a new LCD or Plasma you can get a cable card for the TV. However Rogers/Cogeco will not support them as it would be a revenue loss for them when users don't rent their crappy digital boxes.
 
Over the air HD, all public stations have to start broadcasting Digital signals in HD. Most HDTV's have the turners built in, you just need a set of Rabit ears and get better then Rogers HDTV.
 
2wheeljunkie said:
If you have a new LCD or Plasma you can get a cable card for the TV. However Rogers/Cogeco will not support them as it would be a revenue loss for them when users don't rent their crappy digital boxes.
Click to expand...

I think this is exactly the reason.

It's a scam.

I figure that in 5 years, those dumb boxes will be as obsolete as converters are now. In the mean time, milk it for all its worth.
 
The Rogers box really looks ugly too. Looks like an early 80’s candle clock radio bought at consumers distributing. I hate the way it looks shinny silver that doesn’t match any stereo component with big green led digits.

Bell’s looks a bit better black sleek but both are a pain in the ass when it comes to unifying remotes to them.

If you can just go free to air and though the junk out that has a monthly charge
 
As has been mentioned, the US is moving towards a "Cablecard" system, with smart-cards in the TV, instead of actual seperate boxes. Once the technology is adopted more widely in the US, I expect you'll see it move to Canada, as well...
 
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