Gerneral/stupid digital TV questions

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

After reading dozens of articals about digital television in search of a
few answers, I have become confused, as some sources seem to disagree
with what I thought was common sense. Thus, I ask the following:

- When analog broadcasts stop next year, does that include "analog"
(standard) cable? (Does it mean everyone will be forced to upgrade to
digital cable?)
- If I have a digital TV with integrated decoder, will I still need a
set-top box for digital cable?
- Will everyone have to have a digital TV (or converter), or just
those who wish to pick up stations with an antenna?
Thanks,
John


P.S. I'm not referring to HDTV, just "standard" digital.


--
mousearoma
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Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

mousearoma wrote:
> After reading dozens of articals about digital television in search of a
> few answers, I have become confused, as some sources seem to disagree
> with what I thought was common sense. Thus, I ask the following:
>
> - When analog broadcasts stop next year, does that include "analog"
> (standard) cable? (Does it mean everyone will be forced to upgrade to
> digital cable?)
> - If I have a digital TV with integrated decoder, will I still need a
> set-top box for digital cable?
> - Will everyone have to have a digital TV (or converter), or just
> those who wish to pick up stations with an antenna?
> Thanks,
> John
>
>
> P.S. I'm not referring to HDTV, just "standard" digital.
>
>
1. Cable has its own tranmission standard. Only OTA stations are
required to change from analog to digital tranmission.
2. Maybe. New digital sets now come with a "cable card" which allows
the set to receive cable channels without an external box.
3. See #1 above. You'll need a decoder box to receive any OTA station.
You'll need a digital (multiscan)tv to get the benefits of digital
transmission.