Digital converter for my comcast cable doesn't change anything.?

Question

Without the cable box all the tvs (all cable ready non-hd) in my house only get a small number of channels, mostly 2-20. I thought this was because the rest of the channels were digital. So I got a digital converter box and it doesn't find anything.

I know I will never get premium or pay-per-view channels without going through the comcast box, but I used to be able to get all the rest of the channels not more than a couple years ago, and I don't want to pay a monthly fee for another box just so I can watch a show in more than one room.

So, how can I get these channels to work? Or could someone at least explain what's going on?

Answer 1

It sounds like the cable company has a filter on your line that only allows those channels to get through.  You'll need them to climb up the pole to fix it.  Also make sure you've done a complete channel scan on your t.v.s.

Answer 2

If the converter box you attempted to use is one of the new converter boxes intended for people who use antennas then it will likely do nothing for you.  Why?  Cable uses one method to send digital channels called QAM tuning.  Broadcast uses another method in the US called ATSC tuning.  Both are digital but neither is compatible with the other.  So what you need is a digital ready TV with a QAM tuner and that may work BUT only if the channels are not scrambled.  IF the channels are scrambled you need the cable company box or a digital TV with a QAM tuner and a cable card (if Comcast is ready to rent you a cable card instead of a box).

Attempting to remove the filter that blocks the channels is illegal and dangerous if it is on a pole that also has your electrical connection.  Your life is worth much more than free illegal cable TV.