Thursday, November 19, 2009

FiOS TV or Comcast? My HD TV has QAM tuner. Don't want prem movies. Want digtl music. Can I avoid settop box?

I've spent hours reading print %26amp; online articles %26amp; checking Websites for info. Still having trouble piecing it together. My HD TV has digital ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuners built in. I've read that a QAM tuner allows you to view unscrambled digital channels thru Comcast cable without needing a set top box (I would pay for Comcast digital cable with extended basic but no premium movie channels, no on-demand, no other add-ons). I'd like to listen to digital music channels thru my audio receiver but don't know if that would work without a set top box. I have 3 RG6 coax jacks in my house %26amp; would prefer no set top boxes (extra cost, hardware, clutter, %26amp; remotes). I was leaning toward FiOS TV until I found out that my TV's QAM tuner would do nothing when on FiOS TV--for FIOS, think I need an HD set top box for main TV %26amp; a basic set top box for music in another room (different jack). Have checked Verizon FiOS TV and Comcast FAQs %26amp; sites %26amp; talked to reps. Incomplete info. Still puzzled. Any advice?

FiOS TV or Comcast? My HD TV has QAM tuner. Don't want prem movies. Want digtl music. Can I avoid settop box?
yes you need a box for fios for every tv, no you cant get comcast music without a box--that is entended basic. have had comcast now i have fios, am also a fios installer.
Reply:Thanks for your responses. I had no computer for a few days so lost chance to vote. I chose FiOS TV with 2 set top boxes. FYI to FiOS installer who responded: my 3rd coax jack (no STB) CAN get the 16 local channels only. The 2 jacks with STBs get 200+ channels. Quite happy with FiOS TV. Report It

Reply:I'm new to this too, i too bought a tv with a QAM tuner. To my knowledge, my tv receives the digital channels through the air. no cable is needed to watch the digital tv stations and music stations.





I spoke to the tech department at Philips and the woman told me that I was lucky to be getting any channels, some people weren't getting any channels through their QAM tuners. The numbering system makes no sense for the digital channels. I was able to pick up a ton of music channels and the only "premium" channel I saw was Encore. I live in the Philadelphia area.





The woman also told me that I may not always get the same channels due to reception issues. I have not watched the digital channels enough to see if a channel lost reception while viewing it.





Here is a link I found useful too:


http://www.atsc.org/faq_default.html





Hope that helps!


No comments:

Post a Comment