Digital Cable Problems

Going to buy a new TV. Thanks for all the replies.

waterdawg wrote:
I apologize if this question has already been discussed but I am searching for a resolution involving an Element TV that was supposed to be able to receive a digital signal. It does not receive a digital signal but I want to know if there is a fix so that I can watch TV when I go to a new camp site . I have heard of digital television to analog television converter boxes but I don’t know if this is worth the money or if I should just get a different TV . If there is a cheap option to buy a converter box can please someone tell me the model and how much I might expect to spend to purchase it ?

I replied in your other similar thread.. You might wish to have a Moderator close one of the threads since it IS the same issue as this one.

In a nutshell, digital ATSC OTA (over the air broadcasts) and Cable Digital (QAM) channels are two DIFFERENT methods of digital transmissions which are no compatible.

Not all TV manufactures include QAM decoding.

To make things a bit more difficult, cable systems used to have to provide open or in the clear basic channels. About 4-5 yrs ago, FCC rules were changed that removed this requirement allowing cable systems to now scramble all channels provided they offer one free no charge cable box.

Many cable systems have now enabled the private data bit in the QAM channels effectively hiding and scrambling ALL channels on the cable system.

That means even if your TV has a QAM capable tuner you may still have to have a cable box.

Post your model number of your TV and perhaps the cable system provider. This will help a lot to pin point your issue.

Unless the TV has a CableCard slot, it won't be decrypting commercial cable TV. Not just Element but any brand. Under Obama the FCC repealed laws requiring basic unencrypted cable broadcast.

Some parks roll their own cable broadcasts, but my psychic powers aren't giving me a read on the park the OP is at, must be too much weather in the way.

You need a TV with a QAM tuner. Some cable companies still broadcast in Clear QAM, and some RV park decrypt the signal, and send it out clear.

It would be cheapest and easiest to just replace the TV, and buy one with a QAM tuner. You can by a stand alone tuner, but they will run around $100, or just buy a TV with one in it. In a 19" it will be pretty cheap.

Read on the specs to verify, most people in the store don't understand there is a difference between a QAM tuner, and a over the air digital tuner.

i found this :
https://element-electronics.pissedconsumer.com/digital-tv-wont-accept-digital-without-converter-20141215570385.html

Ask the campground or neighbor to try your set on their good signal location.

Yeah my guess is either you need a box from the front office or your TV has an issue. Has it ever worked on cable before or is it new?

Use your crank up Batwing. If you're somewhere with a Wally world, there's bound to be few over the air channels available.

Campground next door to me "provides" cable to all the sites. However the other shoe to drop is you need an account and box from Spectrum to make use of the connection.

I did your troubleshooting procedure with a direct connect from the TV to the coaxial output and there were still no signal. Thanks for the help but I give up