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Cable TV + OTA at the same time?

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Ant

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Apr 25, 2012, 12:37:36 AM4/25/12
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Hello.

I get very few OTA channels on where I am moving to and most likely be
getting cable TV, but it won't have all channels that can be fed with
OTA (same for satellite services). Is it possible to merge both cable TV
and OTA on a single coax cable to TVs and recorders (e.g., DVRs and
computers)?

Thank you in advance. :)
--
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--Sai Yuk from The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk movie (English subtitles)
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Wes Newell

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Apr 25, 2012, 12:56:29 AM4/25/12
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On Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:37:36 -0500, Ant wrote:

> I get very few OTA channels on where I am moving to and most likely be
> getting cable TV, but it won't have all channels that can be fed with
> OTA (same for satellite services). Is it possible to merge both cable TV
> and OTA on a single coax cable to TVs and recorders (e.g., DVRs and
> computers)?
>
As long as they aren't using the same frequency range they should coexist
nicely on the same cable. How your TV handles them is another story.

Sal

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Apr 25, 2012, 1:31:34 AM4/25/12
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"Wes Newell" <w.ne...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:jn805s$ffh$1...@dont-email.me...
Most metropolitan cable systems are packed with signals. There's no open
frequency to put anythng. Imagine trying to merge a kazoo with the keys on
a piano.

In the old days of 56-channel analog cable and before cable Internet, there
was unused frequency space above the topmost channels. A device called a
Channel-plexer (and there probably other brands) would allow you to add up
to three channels to your existing cable run. It worked but there were
complications. No matter now, considering the way the cable is jam-packed.

Best bet is to run dual cables, one OTA and one CATV. Connect the OTA to
the antenna input and connect the CATV to the rented orpurchased converter
box. Connect the output of the converter box to the HDMI, component or
composite inputs -- whatever it has -- on the TV.

"Sal"


Ant

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Apr 25, 2012, 1:47:12 AM4/25/12
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Thank you for the quick replies/responses, Wes and Sal. :)
--
"In every enemy that is an ant, behold an elephant." --Turkish
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
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Ant is currently not listening to any songs on this computer.

Jim Wilkins

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Apr 25, 2012, 7:38:01 AM4/25/12
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"Ant" <ANT...@zimage.com> wrote in message
news:XJ6dnZo6y6QN4grS...@earthlink.com...
> Hello.
>
> I get very few OTA channels on where I am moving to and most likely
> be
> getting cable TV, but it won't have all channels that can be fed
> with
> OTA (same for satellite services). Is it possible to merge both
> cable TV
> and OTA on a single coax cable to TVs and recorders (e.g., DVRs and
> computers)?

Does your TV's Setup ask you to choose either the Cable -or- Antenna /
Air tuner?

You could connect both cables to an AB switch and change the tuner
type.

These are the cable frequencies:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_cable_television_frequencies

and the OTA broadcast ones:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_broadcast_television_frequencies

Since the cable signal doesn't leak out to cause interference it uses
the same frequency bands as FM radio, aircraft, police and military
communications etc which OTA has to skip over.

If you wired the cable to an antenna you would transmit the cable
signal and might soon hear from the FCC and FAA.

jsw


Ant

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Apr 25, 2012, 9:04:22 AM4/25/12
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On 4/25/2012 4:38 AM PT, Jim Wilkins typed:

> Does your TV's Setup ask you to choose either the Cable -or- Antenna /
> Air tuner?

I have seen that option before. So, I would have to rerun setup every
time I switch between cable and satellite?
--
"I have to sit up with a sick ant." --unknown
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
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| |o o| |

Patty Winter

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Apr 25, 2012, 11:58:30 AM4/25/12
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In article <jn826j$ojd$1...@dont-email.me>, Sal <sob...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>Best bet is to run dual cables, one OTA and one CATV. Connect the OTA to
>the antenna input and connect the CATV to the rented orpurchased converter
>box. Connect the output of the converter box to the HDMI, component or
>composite inputs -- whatever it has -- on the TV.

Some satellite TV tuners have antenna inputs so that folks can get
their local stations that way. That's probably not the case with
cable tuners, but it might be worth his checking on.


Patty

UCLAN

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Apr 25, 2012, 2:56:19 PM4/25/12
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On 4/24/2012 9:37 PM, Ant wrote:

> I get very few OTA channels on where I am moving to and most likely be
> getting cable TV, but it won't have all channels that can be fed with
> OTA (same for satellite services). Is it possible to merge both cable TV
> and OTA on a single coax cable to TVs and recorders (e.g., DVRs and
> computers)?

Yes, it is possible. But to do it *right* is kinda expensive. What channels?
What frequencies?

Ant

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Apr 25, 2012, 9:03:04 PM4/25/12
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OTA would be KCBS2, KNBC4, KTLA/CW5, KABC7, KCAL9, KTTV/FOX11,
KCOP/UPN13, KSCI18, KCET28, 31, KOCE50, KLCS58, and 62 for the ones I
want. Not all of them work. I need to write down which ones do work and
not work. 31 definitely works because it is only a half of a mile away.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d40330909db0c9f
for that full technical list.

Drewdove

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Apr 25, 2012, 9:19:27 PM4/25/12
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Ant wrote:
> Hello.
>
> I get very few OTA channels on where I am moving to and most likely be
> getting cable TV, but it won't have all channels that can be fed with
> OTA (same for satellite services). Is it possible to merge both cable
> TV and OTA on a single coax cable to TVs and recorders (e.g., DVRs and
> computers)?
>
> Thank you in advance. :)
Are you going to get a cable STB or use a cablecard in your TV?

If you get an STB that will plug into one of your a/v inputs leaving the
coax in for your antenna.


Sal

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Apr 25, 2012, 9:37:50 PM4/25/12
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"Jim Wilkins" <murat...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:jn8nke$vh9$1...@dont-email.me...

< snip >

> If you wired the cable to an antenna you would transmit the cable signal
> and might soon hear from the FCC and FAA.

Yes. This is a very bad idea without some special equipment, even if we
imagine the cable company had left any spare frequencies.

A tech from my local cable company visited my home last month to fix some
"leaky" cables. As it happens, they regularly patrol their service area
with a specially equipped truck that looks for leakage. They found a
problem at my house and sent the tech. He was friendly and helpful and the
work was done at "no charge," as they have an interest in not having their
signals leak out.

"Sal"


Patty Winter

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Apr 25, 2012, 11:47:22 PM4/25/12
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In article <ybOdnVTpgOlVAwXS...@earthlink.com>,
Ant <ANT...@zimage.com> wrote:
>In alt.tv.tech.hdtv UCLAN <UC...@invalid.net> wrote:
>
>> Yes, it is possible. But to do it *right* is kinda expensive. What channels?
>> What frequencies?
>
>OTA would be KCBS2, KNBC4, KTLA/CW5, KABC7, KCAL9, KTTV/FOX11,
>KCOP/UPN13, KSCI18, KCET28, 31, KOCE50, KLCS58, and 62 for the ones I
>want.

Nope, those aren't their actual channels (except maybe some of the UHFs).
Those are their virtual channel numbers. In order to determine what
frequencies your tuner needs to find them on, you'll need to know their
actual channels. That information is easy to find on the web.


Patty

Sal

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Apr 26, 2012, 12:28:45 AM4/26/12
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"Patty Winter" <pat...@wintertime.com> wrote in message
news:4f98c54a$0$16170

< snip >

>>OTA would be KCBS2, KNBC4, KTLA/CW5, KABC7, KCAL9, KTTV/FOX11,
>>KCOP/UPN13, KSCI18, KCET28, 31, KOCE50, KLCS58, and 62 for the ones I
>>want.
>
> Nope, those aren't their actual channels (except maybe some of the UHFs).
> Those are their virtual channel numbers. In order to determine what
> frequencies your tuner needs to find them on, you'll need to know their
> actual channels. That information is easy to find on the web.


Yup. http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php Click Los Angeles and see the
virtual channels (Display) and their actual transmitter channels (Physical).

If you click on a station link, have your seatbelt fastened, as it is a wild
ride through a tornado of information.

Enjoy.

"Sal"


UCLAN

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Apr 26, 2012, 12:46:52 AM4/26/12
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On 4/25/2012 6:03 PM, Ant wrote:

> In alt.tv.tech.hdtv UCLAN<UC...@invalid.net> wrote:
>> On 4/24/2012 9:37 PM, Ant wrote:
>
>>> I get very few OTA channels on where I am moving to and most likely be
>>> getting cable TV, but it won't have all channels that can be fed with
>>> OTA (same for satellite services). Is it possible to merge both cable TV
>>> and OTA on a single coax cable to TVs and recorders (e.g., DVRs and
>>> computers)?
>
>> Yes, it is possible. But to do it *right* is kinda expensive. What channels?
>> What frequencies?
>
> OTA would be KCBS2, KNBC4, KTLA/CW5, KABC7, KCAL9, KTTV/FOX11,
> KCOP/UPN13, KSCI18, KCET28, 31, KOCE50, KLCS58, and 62 for the ones I
> want. Not all of them work. I need to write down which ones do work and
> not work. 31 definitely works because it is only a half of a mile away.
> http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d40330909db0c9f
> for that full technical list.

I'm sorry. I thought that you only wanted to add a few stations that would
NOT be on the cable system. Most of those you listed above WOULD be included
on the cable system. I guess I'm confused as to what you want to do.

Ant

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Apr 26, 2012, 4:42:01 AM4/26/12
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On 4/25/2012 9:46 PM PT, UCLAN typed:

>>>> I get very few OTA channels on where I am moving to and most likely be
>>>> getting cable TV, but it won't have all channels that can be fed with
>>>> OTA (same for satellite services). Is it possible to merge both
>>>> cable TV
>>>> and OTA on a single coax cable to TVs and recorders (e.g., DVRs and
>>>> computers)?
>>
>>> Yes, it is possible. But to do it *right* is kinda expensive. What
>>> channels?
>>> What frequencies?
>>
>> OTA would be KCBS2, KNBC4, KTLA/CW5, KABC7, KCAL9, KTTV/FOX11,
>> KCOP/UPN13, KSCI18, KCET28, 31, KOCE50, KLCS58, and 62 for the ones I
>> want. Not all of them work. I need to write down which ones do work and
>> not work. 31 definitely works because it is only a half of a mile away.
>> http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d40330909db0c9f
>> for that full technical list.
>
> I'm sorry. I thought that you only wanted to add a few stations that would
> NOT be on the cable system. Most of those you listed above WOULD be
> included
> on the cable system. I guess I'm confused as to what you want to do.

Like I said, I don't remember which ones did not work in the attic. I
know cable and satellite did not have channel 31.x for sure. Only OTA
had that. So, that's a starter.
--
"If ants are such busy workers, how come they find time to go to all the
picnics?" --Marie Dressler
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |

Ant

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Apr 26, 2012, 4:44:10 AM4/26/12
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On 4/25/2012 6:19 PM PT, Drewdove typed:

> Are you going to get a cable STB or use a cablecard in your TV?
>
> If you get an STB that will plug into one of your a/v inputs leaving the
> coax in for your antenna.

I have no idea. Well, I was planning to get TWC's house DVR setup since
I don't have a DVR for its cable TV. We don't have HDTVs since we still
use CRT TVs, but we're planning to get rid of them soon. For CRTs, they
just use the coax inputs. OTA antenna connect to old VCRs and my DTV Pal
DVR for old CRTs.
--
"I like ants, in chocolate. Crunch, hummmm." --unknown
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |

Steve Stone

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Apr 26, 2012, 2:24:41 PM4/26/12
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For our small kitchen TV I use a diplexer to merge the SD satellite
receiver feed over RF channel 3 into the coax carrying the OTA feed from
the roof antenna. Works great for the kitchen. Nothing OTA below RF
channel 7 in my area. Most would not be happy with SD on the big screen.

HankG

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Apr 26, 2012, 3:40:59 PM4/26/12
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"Sal" <sob...@aol.com> wrote in message news:jn826j$ojd$1...@dont-email.me...
How about tying the inputs to an A/B switch? I've done that. My question
is, whether he is using an analog tv to watch. In my case, I can take the
digital feed directly off the air, but in order to view, I have to (using
the remote) enable 'antenna' as my input.

HankG


TJ

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Apr 26, 2012, 9:12:16 PM4/26/12
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On 04/26/2012 03:40 PM, HankG wrote:
> "Sal"<sob...@aol.com> wrote in message news:jn826j$ojd$1...@dont-email.me...
>>

>> Best bet is to run dual cables, one OTA and one CATV. Connect the OTA to
>> the antenna input and connect the CATV to the rented orpurchased converter
>> box. Connect the output of the converter box to the HDMI, component or
>> composite inputs -- whatever it has -- on the TV.
>>
>> "Sal"
> How about tying the inputs to an A/B switch? I've done that. My question
> is, whether he is using an analog tv to watch. In my case, I can take the
> digital feed directly off the air, but in order to view, I have to (using
> the remote) enable 'antenna' as my input.
>
I was wondering that, myself. He needs a device I picked up at a garage
sale once, an "amplified video selector." It has five inputs - Antenna,
cable, VCR, aux1 and aux2. And, it has three outputs - TV, VCR, and
"Remote TV." There are three rotary switches on the front, one for each
output port, each able to switch to each input - well, except for "VCR,"
which can't connect to itself. So, you could have the TV on cable, the
VCR on the antenna, and a TV in another room on something else, each
signal amplified, and you can switch them around if you want. Only
drawback is you have to get up out of your chair and walk over to the
device to change the switches.

It was made for Radio Shack... Wait, let me look a little... Ah, here it
is - here's an eBay listing of the same model, with a copy of the
original catalog listing: http://tinyurl.com/6v6gfgc (I used tinyurl
because the original link is 154 characters long)

TJ

G-squared

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Apr 27, 2012, 1:10:17 AM4/27/12
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On Apr 25, 6:03 pm, ANT...@zimage.com (Ant) wrote:
> In alt.tv.tech.hdtv UCLAN <UC...@invalid.net> wrote:
>
> > On 4/24/2012 9:37 PM, Ant wrote:
> > > I get very few OTA channels on where I am moving to and most likely be
> > > getting cable TV, but it won't have all channels that can be fed with
> > > OTA (same for satellite services). Is it possible to merge both cable TV
> > > and OTA on a single coax cable to TVs and recorders (e.g., DVRs and
> > > computers)?
> > Yes, it is possible. But to do it *right* is kinda expensive. What channels?
> > What frequencies?
>
> OTA would be KCBS2, KNBC4, KTLA/CW5, KABC7, KCAL9, KTTV/FOX11,
> KCOP/UPN13, KSCI18, KCET28, 31, KOCE50, KLCS58, and 62 for the ones I
> want. Not all of them work. I need to write down which ones do work and
> not work. 31 definitely works because it is only a half of a mile away.http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d40330909db...
> for that full technical list.
> --
> Quote of the Week: "Although you're a little ant, I won't bully you."
> --Sai Yuk from The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk movie (English subtitles)
>   /\___/\   Ant(Dude) @http://antfarm.home.dhs.org(Personal Web Site)
>  / /\ /\ \                 Ant's Quality Foraged Links:http://aqfl.net
> | |o   o| |
>    \ _ /           Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail. If crediting,
>     ( )          then please kindly use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.

Hi Phillip,

We're in LA also and run cable (Cox Palos Verdes) and OTA. The
recording computers are all fed from the antenna. One of the 3
computers is dedicated to the TV and can function like a Tivo along
with being a plain old PC. Since they operate as 2 separate systems
(and require 2 coax cables) rescans (which can take a LONG time) are
rarely needed.

As far as sharing the cable, forget it. The cable will have little to
no dead spectrum and any digital on it will be QAM and OTA in LA is
pretty busy with 26 digital 8VSB RF carriers and a few low power
analogs (WHY??). A second coax is the only practical way to run
parallel systems. Think of a TV PC as a really high performance set
top box.


Ant

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Apr 27, 2012, 1:13:25 AM4/27/12
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Thanks! :)


On 4/26/2012 10:10 PM PT, G-squared typed:

> We're in LA also and run cable (Cox Palos Verdes) and OTA. The
> recording computers are all fed from the antenna. One of the 3
> computers is dedicated to the TV and can function like a Tivo along
> with being a plain old PC. Since they operate as 2 separate systems
> (and require 2 coax cables) rescans (which can take a LONG time) are
> rarely needed.
>
> As far as sharing the cable, forget it. The cable will have little to
> no dead spectrum and any digital on it will be QAM and OTA in LA is
> pretty busy with 26 digital 8VSB RF carriers and a few low power
> analogs (WHY??). A second coax is the only practical way to run
> parallel systems. Think of a TV PC as a really high performance set
> top box.
--
"Lay a stick of bubble gum on an anthill for instant Siamese Ant Twins."
--unknown
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
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