HDTV Dummy Here - Help!

[Niagara2]

We got the Target BF HDTV 32 inch. Looks great and what a deal.

Now the set up. We do not have a cable box, only the old cable coming from the wall. That is what we have on all the TV's in the house and get all the basic stations up to 100 except the ones that you pay extra for in various packages.

I screw the cable onto the input plug on that is one the back labeled cable in tv. We bought the new type cable but the main living room TV has the DVD player and not this new one in the bedroom. The ends of that are flat instead of round so just didn't use. Just plugged in like the old fashion TV's.

Now the problem, good picture but just on this HDTV LCD, (only new style in the house) only get real basic channels 2-13! Any idea's why or what we should try? Remember on the old fashion TV's we get all the other higher channels.

 

[Rafiki31]

You need to call your cable company and subcribe to HD service, and a cable box (or at the very least cable card) for the TV.

You need to have cable (which you have, but sounds like you may not have digital), and pay for the HD service. No point in having an HD TV without HD service.

 

[Micca]

Do you have digital cable? Call your cable provider, they can help.

 

[bicker]

Now the problem, good picture but just on this HDTV LCD, (only new style in the house) only get real basic channels 2-13! Any idea's why or what we should try? Remember on the old fashion TV's we get all the other higher channels.

As others have alluded to, many service providers encrypt all digital service above the local over-the-air broadcast channels, so that they can more efficiently and effectively offer different service levels to different customers. Keep in mind that your neighbor could be paying $10 per month, while you're paying $60 per month or $120 per month, and encryption is the way digital service is divvied up. So in order to tune in digital cable channels, you need some way of decrypting the encryption. There are some televisions that have CableCARD slots, which can be filled with a CableCARD from your service provider that will provide that decryption you need. However, those televisions are pretty rare, and expensive, so you probably don't have one. Instead, you'll need, as other folks have mentioned, an HD cable box from your service provider (which is often available for an additional fee). There are two other common alternatives: The TiVo HD DVR, and the Moxi HD DVR, both accept CableCARDs, so if you're thinking about having a DVR there anyway, you could get one of those two, and you'll have all your linear channels, in HD (assuming you have that service level), and you'll be able to record them.

Best of luck.

 

[golfgal]

I don't understand her issue either--why do her old tv's get the channels and not the new one? I am missing something here.

 

[bicker]

I don't understand her issue either--why do her old tv's get the channels and not the new one? I am missing something here.

The most likely scenarios is that the old televisions are receiving analog service and her new television either isn't designed to or isn't configured to.

 

[Niagara2]

Thanks everyone. I think it is the analog service we must have. I bought the TV as we needed one and the flat screen looks so nice. It really was not the HD that was needed. I really didn't want to spend more on the cable service. I guess it sounds like I will have to upgrade my service to enjoy all the stations or watch them on the old big screen in the family room.
Funny how they made VCR/DVD combos to help with the transition but not analog/digital running side by side.
Thanks again, unless someone has another idea!

 

[bicker]

Funny how they made VCR/DVD combos to help with the transition but not analog/digital running side by side.

My HDTV (a Samsung HL-S5082W) contains both an NTSC (analog) tuner, as well as an ATSC (digital) tuner.