| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 452.1 | | VAXCPU::michaud | Jeff Michaud - ObjectBroker | Tue Feb 18 1997 11:39 | 6 |
| I don't know if what you are looking for exists, but
I know what does exist and I've used in the past when
I had a TV that wasn't cable ready, was a box that
frequency shifted all the cable channels above 13 to
UHF frequencies. At the time these boxes costs like
$10 to $15 (this is going back 10 years or so).
|
| 452.2 | | METALX::SWANSON | Victim of Changes | Tue Feb 18 1997 12:03 | 22 |
| Paul,
If such a device existed to output the cable box onto video instead
of RF, it still might not solve your problem. If your TV is changing
channels when you change channels on your cable box, then it will still
change channels even with the device hooked up (provided you are using
the same cable box), and it might very well switch to RF input if
this happened. Try it and see... switch your TV to video-in and then
hit the TV's channel up button and see if it switches to RF-in.
What I would try for a fix is: Unprogram all channels on your TV
except channel 3. That way, if it tries to switch channels, it'll only
change to channel 3 again!
Or, you could call the cable company and see if they have a slightly
different model cable box that doesn't conflict with your TV.
BTW, you shouldn't have to set your TV to "TV". TV channel 3 is the
same as cable channel 3.
Ken
|
| 452.3 | This is a 1984-era Proton | FUNYET::ANDERSON | Where's the nearest White Castle? | Tue Feb 18 1997 15:38 | 39 |
| > If your TV is changing channels when you change channels on your cable box,
> then it will still change channels even with the device hooked up (provided
> you are using the same cable box), and it might very well switch to RF input
> if this happened.
If I hooked a cable box directly to the TV's video/audio in jacks, I would use
the AUX button on the TV's front panel, and there's no channel selection on the
TV then. The channel number goes out and the stray signal from the cable box
remote are ignored by the TV.
I have four choices on the front of the TV:
TV coax antenna input, currently from cable box
CABLE coax antenna input, currently direct from cable
VCR direct video/audio input, currently VCR
AUX direct video/audio input, currently unused, formerly Beta VCR
> Unprogram all channels on your TV except channel 3. That way, if it tries to
> switch channels, it'll only change to channel 3 again!
There's no ability to program channels on this set.
> Or, you could call the cable company and see if they have a slightly
> different model cable box that doesn't conflict with your TV.
When this version of the cable box first came out, over a year ago, I returned
the first one but the second one exhibits the same symptom. Continental
Cablevision said they didn't have a version that connected to video/audio-in
jacks.
> BTW, you shouldn't have to set your TV to "TV". TV channel 3 is the same as
> cable channel 3.
Right, but as noted above, the cable box is connected to the TV input. I could
connect it to the CABLE input, but I expect the TV would still flip channels,
since the signal to search to the next channel is the same whether the TV is
set to TV or CABLE.
Paul
|
| 452.4 | | WRKSYS::INGRAHAM | Andy | Tue Feb 18 1997 17:18 | 7 |
| Don't know if it helps ... but have you tried tuning your TV to channels
01, 00, 99, 98, or 97? There's a little chance that it maps a few of the
channels (which your cable box gets as 60 or thereabouts) to those channel
numbers.
Do you have a VCR? If you do, you might run ITS video/audio outputs into
your TV.
|
| 452.5 | Isn't this fun? | FUNYET::ANDERSON | Where's the nearest White Castle? | Tue Feb 18 1997 17:51 | 23 |
| > but have you tried tuning your TV to channels 01, 00, 99, 98, or 97?
Channel 1 works, but not 0, and nothing between 57 and 99.
> Do you have a VCR? If you do, you might run ITS video/audio outputs into
> your TV.
The cable box is also connected to the VCR, so I could use the cable box remote
to change channels as long as the VCR was set to channel 3 and the TV set to
VCR.
I thought most TVs these days had direct video/audio-in jacks. If so, why
wouldn't there be a cable box that talked to them? Using the TV tuner for
channel 3/4 reception seems antiquated.
I'll check around for such a box. Or is there a standalone channel 3 tuner I
could buy?
If I didn't like this TV so much, I'd buy one whose infrared signals didn't get
so confused! Actually, I had hoped I wouldn't need another set until digital
TV started.
Paul
|
| 452.6 | | WRKSYS::INGRAHAM | Andy | Wed Feb 19 1997 07:47 | 34 |
| > I thought most TVs these days had direct video/audio-in jacks. If so, why
> wouldn't there be a cable box that talked to them? Using the TV tuner for
> channel 3/4 reception seems antiquated.
Tradition?
I don't know, but there may be some logic in the sense that a good
demodulator (worthy of a larger screen TV) does have some cost. Things
like comb filters and MTS add at least a few bucks; and if only 5% of users
used them, it wouldn't make sense. They build to the lowest common
denominator.
Do the smaller TV sets (13" and under) also have video/audio-in jacks?
If you found a converter with video outputs, would it even work with
Continental's system?
Do you need descrambling for non-broadcast channels?
What is Continental's policy on direct (non-box) hook-ups? The fact that
some channels aren't scrambled may imply that they have or had such a
policy. If so, how do they explain their lineup change; or did they just
nuke the policy? I wonder if there's grounds for restoring part of their
old channel lineup.
Ask if Continental has other converter models in their stock. They may.
And be persistent! Though I've never requested specific models, I've gone
through a number of different ones within the last few years from my
cable co. (they all eventually died).
This model clearly has a compatibility problem with your TV brand, and one
would logically assume (though there is no logic to cable companies, I
know) that they aren't providing you with proper service until they fix
that problem. The responsibility isn't yours to buy a different TV.
|
| 452.7 | WHY USE A BOX? | ECAD07::DEVNO | | Wed Feb 19 1997 12:22 | 15 |
| Why do you have the Cable box hooked into the TV coax antenna input,
currently from cable box, and CABLE coax antenna input, currently
direct from cable???
Either use one or the other. Personally, I'd hook it up as follows::
Cable from outside to cable input on Box
Output on Box, to Input on VCR.
Output on VCR to TV coax antenna input on the front of your TV.
Better still, If you don't need a box, why do you insist on connecting
it? The VCR will work ok without it, as long as you keep your TV on
channel 3, and you aren't subscribed to any Pay channels.
You can change channels using the VCR remote.
|
| 452.8 | | METALX::SWANSON | Victim of Changes | Wed Feb 19 1997 12:41 | 23 |
| > You can change channels using the VCR remote.
I think that's what .4 was suggesting. ...which should work fine providing
the VCR is new enough that it gets the newly added channels on his cable
lineup.
If the VCR is adequately "cable ready" and you use this method, just
remember that above channel 54 you might find that the the channel numbers
on the cable box and those on the VCR do not match up. For example,
Comedy Central is channel 62 on my cable box, but if I use a VCR or TV to
receive this, it comes in on channel 54.
Also, dumb question but... if you change channels using your TV remote, does
your cable box also change channels?
If not, you might want to see if a universal remote could be used to change
cable channels without conflicting with your TV. Try borrowing one from a
friend if you know someone who has one. It's a shot in the dark, but it
just *might* work. I'd put better odds on the "learning remote" type over
the kind where you just enter a code that corresponds to your cable box
manufacturer.
Ken
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| 452.9 | | ECAD07::DEVNO | | Wed Feb 19 1997 14:03 | 4 |
| Never heard/seen a tv with the antenna input
on the front tobegin with, let alone why he has the Box output
connected to one input jack, and the Cable connected to another?
Like I mentioned earlier, either use one or the other.
|
| 452.10 | More ramblings | FUNYET::ANDERSON | Where's the nearest White Castle? | Wed Feb 19 1997 14:36 | 62 |
| > If you found a converter with video outputs, would it even work with
> Continental's system?
Good question.
> Do you need descrambling for non-broadcast channels?
Some channels like AMC and Comedy Channel are scrambled but most are not.
> What is Continental's policy on direct (non-box) hook-ups?
When they made the channel lineup change the last week of January, they had
already sent out brochures and labels with the new lineup. Unfortunately, they
did not mention the lineup would be slightly different if you didn't use a
cable box. There was an article the next day in the Globe about the problem,
since it affected many suburbs west of Boston. The article said that
Continental Cablevision estimated ten per cent of their subscribers used
cable-ready TVs. To this day, there's scrolling text on the Weather Channel
stating that those without cable boxes should tune to channel 3 for the new
lineup.
> Personally, I'd hook it up as follows::
> Cable from outside to cable input on Box
> Output on Box, to Input on VCR.
> Output on VCR to TV coax antenna input on the front of your TV.
Now I'd need to turn on the TV, cable box *and* VCR to watch TV! This would
eliminate the remote control interference though. The VCR goes past channel
120, so it would get all unscrambled channels.
> Better still, If you don't need a box, why do you insist on connecting it?
Some channels are scrambled. And the SmartGuide feature is nice. When
surfing, you get the time, channel number and name and description of the show
on the screen. You can also scroll through times and channels to get program
listings for channels such as Starz! which aren't listed in the Globe's TV
magazine.
> Also, dumb question but... if you change channels using your TV remote, does
> your cable box also change channels? If not, you might want to see if a
> universal remote could be used to change cable channels without conflicting
> with your TV.
Since we lost the TV remote control a few years ago, we now have a universal
remote that is programmed to work the TV, cable box and VCR. I'll see if using
the universal remote instead of the cable box remote makes any difference.
> Never heard/seen a tv with the antenna input on the front to begin with, let
> alone why he has the Box output connected to one input jack, and the Cable
> connected to another?
The connections are on the back of the set. The buttons to choose the input
source are on the front.
> Like I mentioned earlier, either use one or the other.
The reason I have both connected is so if we wanted to watch an unscrambled
channel, we could just turn on the TV and select the channel without having to
turn on the cable box separately. We've done it this way for the last ten
years, until channels we usually watch moved beyond the range of the TV.
Paul
|
| 452.11 | | NETCAD::SIEGEL | The revolution wil not be televised | Thu Feb 20 1997 12:52 | 9 |
| Why don't you just cover up the little red square on the TV that is the
infrared detector for the remote control? This will prevent the TV from
acting on ANY remote control signals. If it's not a TV model that forgets
everything when the power goes off (like the last channel selected), just
tune it to channel 3 and forget about it. This would mean you'd have to
adjust the volume manually (or maybe your cable box can control the volume
of the cable signal, like some do).
adam
|
| 452.12 | Splitter | ECAD07::DEVNO | | Mon Feb 24 1997 12:15 | 1 |
| Ever heard of Splitters & A-B Switch?? I use both.
|