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

Wed Nov 29 15:48:14 EST 2023

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
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>