Cable TV @ Campgrounds

[locoduck]

When I check in they give me a list of channels availble... But when I hook up with coax I only get channels 2 thru 13... Do I need some kind of cable box or something else??? Thank you

[westernrvparkow]

Johno02 wrote:
Change your TV from antenna to cable. Antenna only had VHF channels 2-13 at one time, so that is all it will tune. Change TV to cable and it should fix your problem.

This is the correct answer. You go into your televisions setup menu and set the imput to "cable" Then you will probably need to run the "scan for channels" program. This will fix your problem. The channels above 13 are not scrambled, you just need to set your Television to the proper imput to find them. "Antenna" and "Cable" are different imputs because they are very different signals above channel 13.

[SCVJeff]

locoduck wrote:
Thanks for your reply... I get the other channels but they are scrambled or not viewable...

Thats because you are looking at cable formatted carriers (who's acronyms escape me.. been too long) where the carriers above 13 are offset enough that the tuner in OTA (antenna) mode cannot properly tune them. If these were QAM or ATSC carriers (both digital), you wouldn't know they were even there since they look almost exactly like noise.

As mentioned above, find the setup menu to set 'antenna' or 'cable', and set to CABLE


(edit: oops, wrong setting)

[Johno02]

Change your TV from antenna to cable. Antenna only had VHF channels 2-13 at one time, so that is all it will tune. Change TV to cable and it should fix your problem.

[Bill_Satellite]

My guess is that your ComCast service in not a setup for RVers overnighting in a campground. If it is, shame on them! If it's not then it would not be an issue to the RVer.

[rk911]

wkswenson wrote:
With a change in the laws more cable systems are scrambling all channels for transmission. You need a QAM capable tuner on the TV to actually receive the channels.

Do a google search on QAM and you will get additional details.

a QAM tuner, which all of our TVs have, is not enough. our Comcast system scrambles virtually everything.

[Terryallan]

Agree with most, We have not yet been in a CG where we needed to do anything other than hook up, switch from air to cable, and let the TV scan all channels to watch them all.

[Bill_Satellite]

It's very unlikely that you will need anything other than what you have in your coach now. Assuming you have a new flat screen digital TV in your coach you should be able to get whatever they have coming in.
First of all, you have to ensure that the power supply to your over the air antenna is turned off as this is also where your cable connection comes in. On you get OTA TV. Off you get cable.
Second, when you do a channel scan on your TV there will also be an antenna type selection and you need to change this from Antenna to Cable before doing a new scan.

[wkswenson]

With a change in the laws more cable systems are scrambling all channels for transmission. You need a QAM capable tuner on the TV to actually receive the channels.

Do a google search on QAM and you will get additional details.

[rk911]

locoduck wrote:
Thanks for your reply... I get the other channels but they are scrambled or not viewable...

assuming you have scanned for cable channels; AND assuming your video selector switch (if you have one) is set to CABLE; AND assuming your TV is modern and you have selected CABLE in the input or source menu; AND assuming you have connected a length of 75-ohm RG-59 or (better) RG-6 cable to your cable TV input then, yes, you may need a descrambler box to view those other channels.

based on our experience it would be pretty rare to encounter a campground offering cable where you would need a descrambler but they are out there. we've encountered only two and most nights we usually end up in parks that offer cable.

basically, the same law that enabled the broadcast TV stations to switch to digital from analog also permitted but did not require the cable providers to require a descrambler device on all subscriber TV's. Comcast has done this where we live. we used to be able to just connect TV's to the wall outlet and we would get everything except the premium channels (HBO, etc) without the need for a descrambler. several years ago that changed and now without a descrambler about all we get is C-SPAN, weather and a few others.

[sch911]

Your tuner menu TV may need to be set to Cable, sounds to me its currently set to Air/Antenna.

[the_bear_II]

Sounds like the RV park has gone with a basic package.

To get the other channels unscrambled you would need a receiver box from the cable company. Check with the office they may be able to provide a box while you are there.

We decided to go with Dish Network Satellite service I was tired of dealing with the differences in the "cable" offerings from the various RV parks. Plus the signal quality was usually poor.

Now we get all of the channels we want whereever we go as long as we can see the southerner sky.

[Bumpyroad]

some campgrounds will give you the basic channels but you have to pay a little more a day for the rest. did you turn off the TV booster?
bumpy

[locoduck]

Thanks for your reply... I get the other channels but they are scrambled or not viewable...

[sdianel_-acct_c]

we have to go into "setup" in our TV menu and scan for cable channels each time.