Cable Company went total digital on some channels my vcrs willnot record?

Question

My cable Optimum (Cablevision) within the last couple of weeks has changed some channels like Scifi, TLC to name a few to total digital.

I have split the cable line into the box and separatly into three VCRs. Using each VCR tuners and record timers I could record everything except for the movie channels until three weeks ago. Now I get a screen that says this channel can only be viewed through your cable box.

I sometimes watch one channel and record three others at the same time. I cannot do this anymore for some channels. Just today 3-4 more channels seem to have gone box only viewing. In another month there probably be more. HELP!!!

Do these new digital to analong converters plug into the line or do they have channel selector buttons? That would not help completely.

Would the new VCR/DVD players with ATSC tuners be able to convert the cable companies new signal. An expense I would prefer not visit.

Cable company (Cablevision) of absolutley no help!!!

Answer 1

The new recorders with the ATSC might work, but many cable systems are using the QAM system in addition to ATSC, so you need to make sure any recorder you get can do both.

The cheap (~$50) converters that use the gov't $40 coupons can only decode the over-the-air signals -- they are the 8VSB system.  They will not decode ANY cable signals; I know, I've tried.

Your cable company will probably convert everything except the bare bones local channels to digital to force conversion on everyone else.

Start saving for those new recorders...sorry!

Answer 2

You need to get a dual Tuner set-top box with a HDD.

This VCR business is getting out of hand.  If you need even more recording, you can get digital TV tuners for your PC and use them as PVRs as well.