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

Wed Nov 29 16:02:14 EST 2023

I have a  Toshiba 32L1350UC TV from 2013..and have done OTA for 10 years.

On Wed, 29 Nov 2023 at 15:48, Karen Lewellen <klewellen at shellworld.net>
wrote:

> Is the walmart.ca link for an antenna?
> for the record, my set is a Toshiba 32af43.
> My goal is swiftness. If I can walk into a store, buy an option, try it
> out, and return it if it fails, I prefer this.
> the investment is worth it, especially as I have nothing at all right now.
>
>
>
> On Wed, 29 Nov 2023, Don Tai wrote:
>
> > you may, of course, buy an antenna and try it. Of all your tech issues,
> the
> > antenna will be, by far the easiest to do. It will either work or not.
> You
> > will get channels to watch or not. It is also reversible,  so there is
> very
> > little risk.
> >
> > On Wed, 29 Nov 2023 at 15:34, Karen Lewellen <klewellen at shellworld.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> 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
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>
> >
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