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

Don Tai dontai.canada at gmail.com
Wed Nov 29 15:23:02 EST 2023 

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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