Am I experiencing HDTV?

[MDS]

A digital cable box has NTSC, ATSC, and QAM tuners so it can tune and decode standard def analog channels (NTSC), high def digital channels (ATSC), and standard def digital channels (QAM).

The cable box (aka 'set top box') also provides features like the interactive program guide and OnDemand/Pay-Per-View ordering. A cable box or CableCard is required to receive channels which are encrypted such as movie channels like HBO, Cinemax, etc.

 

[j-p]

Thank you very much. -jp

 

[markw]

Further explanation

The cable box (aka 'set top box') also provides features like the interactive program guide and OnDemand/Pay-Per-View ordering. A cable box or CableCard is required to receive channels which are encrypted such as movie channels like HBO, Cinemax, etc.

Each digital cable box has what's analagous to a "MAC address" on a computer part, a unique electronic serial number.

When we say "encrypted", this means that your cable company has to "recognize" that specific box by sending a special signal to that "MAC address", which will authorize it to receive (hopefully) whatever channels and services you are subscribed to.

Each box has a unique address and you may have to pay for a subscrioption for each box, but not the full amount. I pay $11 for my HD box and $4.00 for my non-HD box and, aside from no HD on the second box, they receive the same channels. This is on top of the service charge

Yep, the days of good ole plug and play analog cable TV are gone.

 

[MDS]

Each digital cable box has what's analagous to a "MAC address" on a computer part, a unique electronic serial number.

Not just analogous - identical.

But additionally pay channels are encrypted; ie 'scrambled'. This is because the cable system being broadband all of the channels are present at the same time and any old box/tv with the appropriate tuner could tune them in. When you pay for the channels, the set top box is given the encryption key to decrypt those channels.

 

[markw]

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch no mo.

So, essentially, what's being said is that even if one procures a digital set-top-box from an outside source, it won't do squat for the encrypted channels (which is all the good ones) without the local cable company sending it the magic code, and for this they charge a monthly premium.