[GTALUG] ot: sort of, is it really impossible to get real cable anymore?

Wed Nov 29 15:34:42 EST 2023

Don,
Let me be forthright,
between not being able to use a phone in my house in spite of paying for 
it, losing access to my main gmail account,   fighting bell for an 
accessible phone, not being able to work fully because I have no land line, 
falling behind on rent, as a result,  and fighting Canada post... I 
need solid 
solutions.
1. can such an Antenna be bought, instead of constructed, and if so where?
Evan referenced a loop.
2, if that is not possible, before I lose time awaiting sighted help to 
construct an Antenna,  can that be made clear?
I would rather buy a solution  that gives me many choices then construct 
one  if I can.
Especially since hook up a temporary antenna is where I am lost.
Kare

On Wed, 29 Nov 2023, Don Tai wrote:

> first hook up a temporary antenna, put it near your window, scan your TV
> and see how many channels you can get.
>
> On Wed, 29 Nov 2023 at 15:20, Karen Lewellen <klewellen at shellworld.net>
> wrote:
>
>> I still have the box, but have not been a rogers customer since  2017 or
>> so.
>> you are suggesting that I can use the box for the digitization process?
>> plugging things into the rogers  box?
>> or use the port for cox to plug in this antenna?
>> if so that will be magical, as I have both cable, and know where that port
>> is!
>> and the antenna, if I  want to buy one is in the walmart.ca link?
>> that referenced HDMI, will check that..this is becoming quite
>> sensational!
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 29 Nov 2023, Don Tai wrote:
>>
>>> There should be a specific port just for "antenna" or "ANT", a coax cable
>>> port, or the port that you plug in your Rogers cable. Unplug your Rogers
>>> cable and plug in your antenna. It should not affect your other ports.
>> You
>>> should not need to change anything else.
>>>
>>> On Wed, 29 Nov 2023 at 13:13, Karen Lewellen <klewellen at shellworld.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Don,
>>>> Can you be more specific about the digital TV side?
>>>> My Toshiba is quite fancy,  however I have a number of converter units
>>>> that may bridge the gap.
>>>> have wondered if I connected an antenna to a spot for one on the set if
>>>> that
>>>> would do the trick.
>>>> or if I reconnected one of the existing digital converter units I have,
>>>> got them from both radio shack  and the source years back, if that might
>>>> do the trick..
>>>> Going to check my TV manual, as well.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, 29 Nov 2023, Don Tai via talk wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I've been using Over the Air OTA TV for 10 years now, and have been
>> happy
>>>>> with the free service. The digital signals are uncompressed, providing
>>>>> visibly higher quality images than Rogers (My Mum's service). I receive
>>>> 17
>>>>> digital channels, Southern Ontario and Buffalo, despite my neighbour's
>>>>> large evergreen. OTA works well during clear, rain and snow storms, but
>>>> may
>>>>> go out during foggy weather.
>>>>>
>>>>> You will need a digital TV (slim width one), and an antenna. The
>> antenna
>>>>> can be as simple as a coat hanger, but a better one will get you more
>>>>> stations. Simply attach the antenna to your TV, place the antenna near
>> a
>>>>> window and rescan your TV with the antenna option and presto, free
>>>>> digital uncompressed TV stations will magically appear. There is no
>> cost.
>>>>> If you dislike it you just rescan your TV to cable.
>>>>>
>>>>> tvfool.com will generally tell you in which direction to point your
>>>>> antenna, though downtown there may be signal bouncing off nearby
>>>> buildings,
>>>>> so you might need to experiment. A free TV guide is available at
>>>>> https://tvlistings.zap2it.com/ just put in your postal code, antenna,
>>>>> "Local Over the Air Broadcast" and a schedule appears.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, 29 Nov 2023 at 04:07, Evan Leibovitch via talk <
>> talk at gtalug.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> One option available to some cord cutters is going back to the
>> antenna.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have one on my rooftop and it does quite a good job of picking up
>>>>>> Toronto and Buffalo channels, which I find preferable to the Robellus
>>>>>> options for two reasons:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    - The off-air signal is not compressed so it can be noticeably
>>>> sharper
>>>>>>    than cable or satellite
>>>>>>    - The cable/dish options usually get their US feeds from Detroit or
>>>>>>    Boston or some such; Buffalo local news and weather will be more
>>>> relevant
>>>>>>    to me
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This isn't just limited to people with their own houses. A good small
>>>> UHF
>>>>>> antenna can also work well from an apartment building, especially if
>>>> you're
>>>>>> south-facing. I once lived on an upper floor in a St. Jamestown tower
>>>>>> (Wellesley/Parliament) and my reception was outstanding with just a
>>>> simple
>>>>>> loop. A really good website for determining what you can get at your
>>>>>> location is tvfool.com.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I use these channels mainly for local news, sports and weather. Most
>>>>>> actual programming can be found on the web, either through a
>>>> subscription
>>>>>> to a service like Crave or ... there are other paths
>>>>>> <
>>>>
>> https://www.howtogeek.com/71315/the-how-to-geek-guide-to-getting-started-with-usenet/
>>>>> .
>>>>>> I also have a tuner called an HDHomerun that takes antenna input and
>>>>>> provides it through your home network (ie, accessible to your PCs and
>>>>>> phones) so you don't even need a coax-input TV.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Of course you can in theory receive over the air channels using an
>>>> antenna
>>>>>>> and an ATSC tuner, but if you are in a basement that seems unlikely
>> to
>>>> work.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For the expense of a simple loop
>>>>>> <
>>>>
>> https://www.amazon.ca/Antenna-Indoor-Amplified-Digital-Miles-Support/dp/B0BWDSXVLG/ref=sr_1_20
>>>>>
>>>>>> -- some are available for under $25, and you can return it if it
>> doesn't
>>>>>> work -- if you're close enough to the CN Tower you might be surprised.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - Evan
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Wed, Nov 29, 2023 at 12:23 AM Karen Lewellen via talk <
>>>> talk at gtalug.org>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>> If I could get the digital box, without having to use a modem, I
>> would
>>>>>>> likely  be fine, because the digital box would tap into the existing
>>>>>>> blanket internet  wireless wise would it not?
>>>>>>> In fact that was my landlord's idea adding an extra receiver to his
>>>>>>> account, for which I would pay the rental, as it is just on another
>>>> floor.
>>>>>>> I am curious how the antenna idea works, I am above ground for the
>> area
>>>>>>> where   my television sits, so perhaps?  what do I need?
>>>>>>> Oh  boy does my television have optical outs..in spades
>>>>>>> The DVD player  has an HDMI port, I imagined connecting the cable box
>>>> to
>>>>>>> this, and since the set is connected to the  player it would be
>> enough.
>>>>>>> I still have my old Roger's  digital cable box, the one they provided
>>>> for
>>>>>>> older televisions as well.
>>>>>>> wish I had fewer trees, not only is satellite less complex, from bell
>>>>>>> there
>>>>>>> are   channels automatically provided with audio description for the
>>>>>>> blind
>>>>>>> enabled..they do not provide this for Fibe.
>>>>>>> Kare
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, 29 Nov 2023, Lennart Sorensen wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Tue, Nov 28, 2023 at 08:09:47PM -0500, Karen Lewellen via talk
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Hi folks,
>>>>>>>>> before simply saying you avoid television, Part of what I do
>>>>>>> professionally
>>>>>>>>> means accessing  a great deal, news channels and other things for
>>>>>>> example.
>>>>>>>>> And for me, the, I will just watch it on my computer is a nailed
>> shut
>>>>>>> door.
>>>>>>>>> This entire property is Bell fibe saturated which  while it might
>>>>>>> translate
>>>>>>>>> to one of their fibe TV boxes working for me, its almost December
>> and
>>>>>>> I am
>>>>>>>>> no closer to my land line solution..even with photographs of the
>>>>>>> existing
>>>>>>>>> jacks.
>>>>>>>>> So,I am wondering if at all, it is still possible from anyone to
>>>>>>> simply find
>>>>>>>>> old fashioned cable box cable.
>>>>>>>>> I have all the rest of the equipment, and it all works..even my
>> VCR.
>>>>>>>>> I am even wondering if, since the place is so saturated for
>> wireless,
>>>>>>> if I
>>>>>>>>> got an older apple TV, third gen still had optical connectors, or a
>>>>>>> rocku, I
>>>>>>>>> could come up with something. not as good as regular cable, but I
>> am
>>>>>>>>> grasping for ideas.
>>>>>>>>> thoughts?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Bell's Fibe service has only ever worked with their boxes.  Rogers
>>>> cable
>>>>>>>> has been moving to all digital over the last quite a few years, and
>>>>>>>> analog cable (that a VCR could directly tune) has been gone for a
>>>> while,
>>>>>>>> with everything going digital.  They even gave people free little
>>>> boxes
>>>>>>>> for a while to connect to older TVs that could tune the basic
>> digital
>>>>>>>> channels but I don't think they even do that anymore.  I think
>>>>>>> everything
>>>>>>>> now involves a digital cable box.  On top of that they have been
>>>> moving
>>>>>>>> to IP based systems (Rogers Ignite) for a number of years and I
>> doubt
>>>>>>>> they would install the legacy digital cable anymore for new
>> accounts.
>>>>>>>> Definitely no analog cable left anymore.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Of course you can in theory receive over the air channels using an
>>>>>>>> attenna and an ATSC tuner, but if you are in a basement that seems
>>>>>>>> unlikely to work.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So unfortunately as far as I can see, the only things you can get
>>>> these
>>>>>>>> days is Bell Fibe or Rogers Ignite, both of which require using a
>> box
>>>>>>>> from the respective company and only outputs HDMI.  VCRs won't do
>>>>>>> anything
>>>>>>>> with that, and older TVs won't either.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The streaming method might work, although if you were looking to get
>>>>>>>> access to local TV stations, I have no idea if any of the streaming
>>>>>>>> services offer that.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> As far as I can find, some of the Bell Fibe boxes have optical audio
>>>>>>> out.
>>>>>>>> The Rogers Ignite boxes do not appear to have it.  Of course some
>> TVs
>>>>>>>> also have optical audio out, so it might not have to be optical out
>> on
>>>>>>>> the box you are receiving with, if the TV has that.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Len Sorensen
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ---
>>>>>>> Post to this mailing list talk at gtalug.org
>>>>>>> Unsubscribe from this mailing list
>>>>>>> https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Evan Leibovitch, Toronto Canada
>>>>>> @evanleibovitch / @el56
>>>>>> ---
>>>>>> Post to this mailing list talk at gtalug.org
>>>>>> Unsubscribe from this mailing list
>>>>>> https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>