Another "fine" Enhancement By The Cable Company, Anyone encounter this at an RV Park? Options

[DXSMac]

The RV Park I'm currently spending the winter at near Seattle just got notified by their cable company that the cable connection will no longer be "direct." Meaning, you cannot just hook up your cable cord and voila get TV. Guess what, every TV, even the digital ones, will require a "box." This basically means that the RV park will have to stock those boxes, and check one out to each customer if they want TV. And hope that the box will be returned.

Another alternative is that you have to have some type of "cable card" connect to your TV, even if you already have a digital TV.

Anyone encounter this at an RV park, where you cannot even watch cable without a "box?" I have never encountered this. Oh, and guess what, you need one "box" per TV. If you have more than one TV in the TV, you need one box per TV.

I have already seen the banners from the cable provider run across the programs while watching TV.

[Dutch_12078]

The bottom line is that cable companies were required to continue analog service for basic cable for a period of time beyond the over the air broadcast digital switch. That period has now expired and cable companies are now dropping analog to make room for the additional digital content they want to add. More digital channels can be fed in the same bandwidth than analog channels.

[DXSMac]

The bottom line is that cable companies were required to continue analog service for basic cable for a period of time beyond the over the air broadcast digital switch. That period has now expired and cable companies are now dropping analog to make room for the additional digital content they want to add. More digital channels can be fed in the same bandwidth than analog channels.

But WHY does it have to go through a box? Why can't it be a "warm drop" (that's what i heard it's called when it comes right out of the wall)? Why are they insisting on a "cold drop" (the term I heard used when you need a "box")? Why can't it be right from the wall or post? Why do the "Box" thing?

[Dutch_12078]

But WHY does it have to go through a box? Why can't it be a "warm drop" (that's what i heard it's called when it comes right out of the wall)? Why are they insisting on a "cold drop" (the term I heard used when you need a "box")? Why can't it be right from the wall or post? Why do the "Box" thing?

The "box" gives the cable company remote control over what channels each "box" is capable of receiving. From a home subscriber viewpoint, the most common users, that means you can call in and ask to have HBO, for example, added to your account, and a few minutes later you're watching a movie. In the old pre-box analog days, that call would mean dispatching a service tech to add or remove a filter, usually at the pole or stanchion feeding your house, making you wait a day or two to start getting the new service.