I need help. When we watch the games on our LG hdtv...say channel 704 cox...the game comes in and out...like a pause. Is that the cable or the tv or?

Newbie.

We have had that occur on our HDTV as well and mostly it is when it is a live show, so we believe that it is the cable service and not the TV if this helps at all

For those that may want to upgrade their COX-Rhode Island service to HD for the game, they will be disappointed. Cox has no HD cable boxes and don't expect any until March

Don, what's your source on that? Did you try to order one, and couldn't schedule an installation?
-- Sheila

Don7A replied in email:

I personally bought a Sharp HDTV, and needed to get a digital box. Cox Technical service told me they could not get me a HD box until March. I went to the Wakefield office and was able to pick up a digital box, but there is a sign on the counter that says they are out of HD boxes due to equipment unreliability.

Many thanks, Don.
Sheila

Hello again,

Yes, I spoke to Cox this a.m. Sheila, they were very helpful. I talked to Angela in tech. She checked from her end and found that there was a 'signal' missing...whatever that means. And, she 'authorized and refreshed' the signal. She did something about the signal from their end and said to call during the game if we were having issues. She said sometimes other services such as Verizon setting up new services in the area might have something to do with the signal needing to be authorized and refreshed. Hopefully, that does the trick.
Gloria

From Sheila: I emailed Gloria this message I had gotten from Cox in response to a question I asked in the form that contacts first-level support:

"We recommend that you call 383.2000 to speak to a Video Technical Specialist (available 24/7) who will be better able to assist and advise you."

And I asked her to come back here and post what happened.(Thanks, Gloria.)

Feel free to use that number if you're having trouble.

Someone should write a guide from the ground up, i.e. assuming one is a clueless old analog tv user, about what this all is, including defining all the terms.

Looking for guides out on the net, they all seem to start assuming you know an alphabet soup of stuff already.

Your readers should know that most people who have a working rooftop TV antenna do not need a new "high-definition" antenna to receive over-the-air HDTV broadcasts. Readers can check the FCC HDTV website for more information. Unfortunately, sales reps at electronics stores often tell people that need to have cable or a special new antenna to receive HDTV broadcasts. Neither is true. A group of circuit City sales reps even claimed that I could not receive HD broadcasts without cable, and actually wouldn't sell me a new TV! I do not have cable, and I receive excellent reception using an old rooftop antenna. If the antenna works well with a non-HDTV, it will usually work well with HDTV. By the way, cable alters the HD signal for transmission, so over the air HDTV reception can be better than cable.

Finally, game day.

Trudy, if you search using terms like "HDTV" and "primer," you'll find lots of beginners' guides. David Katzmaier (his email is pubished above) wrote one at CNet: HDTV 101: A beginner's guide.

Marsha, I think what most people are actually buying from a pay tv service -- cable or FIOS or Dish -- is a consistently clear picture on a giant screen across hundreds of viewing choices.

The TV manuals usually begin by explaining antenna hookups. You can buy $15 rabbit ears at Radio Shack for the OTA HD channels -- and many do for that period between installing the TV and installing the cable/FIOS/dish HD box. When I did it, I flashed back to my family's first TV, when TV meant lots of channels showing buzzing "snow," 2 stations that came in well and a third changed with the weather.

Maybe those salesmen can't imagine that a signal through the air could carry that much information.

A 21st-century version of the classic first encounter with invisible technology, "Is there a little man inside the radio?"

I think it's in Feb.2009 that the cable companies are broadcasting totally in digital ? I have just a plain extended basic cable service. How will this change next year affect me. Will I have to get a digital service or am I grandfathered ?

Rick, I found a good column by Andrew Kantor at USA Today (Coming TV change won't make your set obsolete). He writes,

Most cable and all satellite systems already send a digital signal, and the set-top boxes those companies provide — Cablevision, Cox, DirecTV, or whatever — already do the conversion for your analog set.

In other words, the only people who have to worry are those who A) get their TV over the air via a "rabbit ears" or rooftop antenna, and B) don't have a digital TV.

If you get your signal from a cable TV or satellite company, nothing will change. Your TV will work the same as it always has. Ditto if you have an HD or HD-ready TV.

Certainly, there's a portion of the population that does get its television over the air, either because they don't get cable or satellite at all, or because some of their TVs (maybe the little one in the kitchen) just use an antenna. For them, Congress may provide a subsidy to buy converter boxes.

Another misconception that needs fixing: The idea "Digital TV" means "HDTV." It doesn't.

When you talk about digital television, you're talking about how the signal is sent — as ones and zeros instead of as a old-fashioned analog stream. (Although it's a bit more complex than that. See sidebar.)

Once the signal is in digital form, you can use it to carry a standard television picture, or you can carry an HDTV picture, or both. Going digital enables HDTV, it doesn't require it.

Andrew keeps going, and it's worth a read.

According to Andrew, Marsha, who commented before you about her over-the-air HD TV, will have to convert or go dark, but you'll be fine.

I work for Cox and wanted to respond to some of the questions raised in this conversation.

To Rick who asked about the Digital Transition: The short answer is, if your TVs are currently connected to cable, Cox has taken care of the transition for you.

The federally-mandated Digital TV transition is time period during which local broadcasters must make the switch from analog to digital broadcasting. On February 17, 2009, owners of analog television sets (think rabbit ear antennas) may no longer be able to receive local over-the-air television broadcast stations (CBS, NBC, FOX and ABC). There is lots of information in the market that is alarming consumers into thinking they need to purchase brand new TVs to make the transition. For cable and satellite customers, that is simply not the case. Cox and many other cable providers have the technology in place to take care of the transition for customers with TVs currently hooked up to cable. After February 18, 2009, Cox will take the broadcasters’ digital signals, convert them to analog, and send them down the cable to the TV set, just as we do today.

With respect to the HD/DVR boxes, this temporary shortage is a result of unprecedented customer demand for our free HD service. The manufacturer has been unable to keep up with this demand, which is affecting many cable companies. For customers interested in signing up for our free HD service, we currently are noting their account. As soon as the manufacturer indicates when we'll receive a shipment, we will contact the customers to arrange either a self- or professional installation.

Hmm,

Andrew Kantor seems to assume we all have settop boxes. My Cox cable just plugs into my ancient tv.

My old PBS station, to which I still belong, sent out this info a few days ago. Note the coupon off on boxes:

By law, television stations nationwide must switch from the method of transmitting TV signals known as analog to digital television (DTV) on February 17, 2009. DTV is an innovative new type of broadcasting technology that delivers movie-quality pictures and sound, more channels, and even high-definition television (HDTV) to consumers with HD television sets. While the benefits of DTV are remarkable, millions of households risk losing television reception unless they take the easy steps needed to receive a digital signal. We're here to assist you throughout the entire transition process. How does the DTV transition affect me? If you receive TV signals through an antenna (for example, using "rabbit ears") and you currently do not subscribe to cable or satellite, the TVs in your home will be affected. You will need to take action to continue receiving TV service. You have three options:

1) Purchase a converter box for each television in your home that receives TV signals through an antenna.

2) Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner; or

3) Subscribe to a cable or satellite service that carries the channels you want to watch.

To help consumers who choose to purchase a converter box, the federal government has created a coupon program that will reduce the cost of a converter box. (Converter boxes are expected to cost around $70; each coupon is worth $40.) To learn more about the converter program and to apply for converter box coupons, visit www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009.

Please visit www.kteh.org/dtvtransition for extensive information about this transition.