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

Wed Nov 29 16:18:21 EST 2023

Good that I have one, since your link does not work from the keyboard..or 
not with my screen reader.

On Wed, 29 Nov 2023, Don Tai wrote:

> https://usermanual.com/support/toshiba/document/32af43-36af43-manual
>
> page 19, "CH PROGRAM": how to automatically scan for new channels. Your TV
> can receive over the air OTA channels.
>
> page 7, "ANT"L The antenna jack is very prominent
>
> you can do OTA tv..
>
> 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
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>