now another question:
Does anybody know of a 256-QAM PCI card that is compatible with winXP MCE 2005 ? I'm interested in finding out if such a card can be integrated into the media center to act just as an over-the-air HDTV card ?

Theoretically, that way you would still have the DVR functionality for unencrypted DVB-C and also be able to have a working EPG (supplied by microsoft for channels in canada and us for free over the internet, comes free with a purchase of XP MCE of course). That way you'd have full dvr functionality for unencrypted cable channels.

However, you wouldn't be able to have a CableCard slot, so only unencrypted channels could be viewed through this method ... ever.

Well, I know there are no cable card tuners for PCs (Microsoft is working on it), and I'm not specifically aware of any QAM tuners either. At any rate, I don't think Microsoft is providing guide information for any digital-only channels yet; just traditional analog or OTA.

Hello Daniel et al...

I'm new here (first post), and thought I'd throw in some info I've learned over the last while...

While there aren't any CableCard capable cards yet, there are QAM capable cards for the PC. They are HDTV cards that also do QAM.

Check out this site: www.hdtvtunerinfo.com

It's a good source of info on the subject of HDTV PCI cards and USB units.

Also, you can set up a digital cable guide in MCE. A selection of possible providers shows up when you first configure MCE's TV settings, digital cable included. It's intended for use with a digital cable STB (set top box) which you'd plug in via s-video and analog audio into your computer and have MCE control it.

I use the Rogers digital cable guide info to "fill in the blanks" with HDTV OTA. Currently thats only WLNO, which I actually never watch. But hopefully as more Buffalo stations switch to higher power it'll be more useful, not to mention knowing that when I get a QAM capable card, I'll be able to have guide info for the available channels...

Figured that there may have been some HDTV tuners that could do QAM, just wasn't aware of any specifics. :-) Won't be particularly useful until Microsoft gets its Cable Card thing sorted out (which they want to do for MCE). And of course it would be helpful if Rogers actually even SUPPORTED cable cards...

Tell me if I'm paranoid but..... A couple of weeks ago, a Rogers Rep called and said there was a problem with my HD terminal box (rental) and they wanted to send a service rep to my house. There wasn't. I said no. (I only have the "free" HD channels)Sunday a service rep showed up at my door (unannounced) and said he had a work order for a problem with my terminal. I said there was nothing wrong. There wasn't - then - so, bye -bye. Then, shortly after this visit, my free access to Rogers Sportsnet HD disappeared. All other HD channels are O.K.

My question. Is Rogers Sportsnet HD free? (It has been for the 2 months since I picked up the terminal). Is there a listing somewhere of the free channels? Rogers website is absolutely useless.

Rogers does have pre-emptive troubleshooting for their boxes.

1) If the box is getting a high error rate or a signal that is out of spec, it will report this condition to the head office. It may still be operating perfectly, but slightly out-of-spec conditions will still trigger this.

2) If the box is unable to communicate back to the head office, after a while the head office will add it to a list for a tech to come out and find why (unplugged, behind a one-way amplifier, etc).

As for programming packages, these are determined solely by information sent through the cable signal to your specific box ID. They don't need a tech to come out to remove a single HD channel, they just "hit" the box with updated information (which also happens routinely on a schedule). It doesn't have to hear any response from the box, this is a 1-way thing.

I subscribe to both HDTV tiers so it's hard for me to tell if Sportsnet HD is actually free or not, but I *seem* to recall some mention a little while ago that everything but the basic US/Canadian networks were being moved to the second tier. But I could be wrong.

If this IS the case and the change happened recently, it may be that the tech triggered an update hit on your box when he came out. It also could be that they were offering you all HDTV channels for a free trial period.

Just an update that "nothing has changed".

Hi.

I just used the "Rogers Digital Cable Unscrambled Channels (Sept. 2, 2006)" list to set up my new TV. I would like to share some discrepancies in the list.

I live in Mississauga, Ontario; not sure if this affects just my area or not...

1. All the 78.xx entries should be 74.xx
2. Channel 83.77 is not listed. It's Global TV Edmonton.
3. I couldn't view 86.xx, 90.xx, 92.xx, 93.xx
4. Channel 110.1107 is not listed. It's CNN.
5. I couldn't view 111.1204 (Omni1), 114.2206 (FoodTV)
6. Channel 115.2301 is not listed. It's Omni2.
7. I could view 127.627 (reTV)

Hmm, looks like Rogers has some differences in their digital feed in Mississauga (I'm in Markham) - thanks for reporting.

Hi Daniel,

great information. I tried yesterday with my QAM enabled tv to get these channels using the Channel auto scan feature on my tv...however, it only picked up regular channels up to about channel 90. I did not see anything that remotely resembled the format of ##.#, you mentioned. Do I need to be doing something else.

Thanks

I have a sharp TV with a built in QAM tuner, but I am not able to enter a station # like 114.2206. It would go to 114.1 or 114.2. It seems to go as high as 114.12. Any one else have that kind of esxperince? Also are there any HDTV feeds through the rogers line?

Moon...how were you able to get these channels, I can't even get the format XXX.X, etc.

Not sure what to suggest - beyond that not all "QAM" tuners are fully featured. Typically, I would expect that anything with a Cable Card slot would work. I have a Sony DHG-HDD500 (DVR) and Philips 34PW9817 (TV) that both get the same channels.

Also, of course your area needs to have digital service...

I've been playing with my new Toshiba 50HM66 Tv with built in QAM tuner.
Running cable into the tv and running a channel scan I found these channels here in London Ontario on Rogers Cable.
No scrambling. No cable box needed.

DIGITAL QAM TUNER CLEAR CHANNELS
The [100] button is the dash when typing in the channel

STATION Call lettrsCable Equivalent
71-4 CTV CKY109
71-8Punch MuchPUNCH707
75-1Sportsnet East404
75-2CBC VancouverCBUT132
75-6CBC Nfld CBNT124
75-9Sportsnet West 405
75-10Sportsnet Pacific406
76-1CityTV VancouverCITYV135
76-2Global BC CHAN119
76-3CTV ATV MaritimesATV105
76-6ASN Maritimes ASN 113
76-7 Global MaritimesCIHF114
76-8CTV Vancouver CIVT 111
76-11Miracle -ReligiousMRCLE397
77-15NFL Sunday ticket preview
79-11BET BET709
82-5Viewers Choice Preview
82-11Rogers Personal TV Preview
83-2TV5 non english
84-41CLT Canadian Learning TVCLT249
85-3Rogers Personal TV Preview
85-11STAR STAR278
88-XXOnDemand Streamincludes MTV on demand, Movie Network, Rogers,
90-XXOnDemand StreamAnime Network on Demand etc.
92-XXOnDemand StreamWatch what others are watching.
101-2MyTV Buffallo WNYO167
131-2CBC Winnipeg CBWT130
131-9CityTV Calgary CITYC140
132-1CH Montreal CJNT103
132-2CBC East Coast CBHT125

I have Rogers Basic Digital Cable, a 3250HD STB, and a Sharp LC-37SH20U television, which has built in ATSC, NTSC and QAM tuners (Integrated NTSC, ATSC tuners; QAM tuner compatible with unscrambled HDTV cable reception).

Can someone clarify the process? I unplug my direct Rogers digital coaxial cable from my STB, plug it into the television, and then run a digital and analog scan. I only find analog channels, no digital. I don't see any other options there. When I key in those channels like 87.43 that you have in your list, the TV does nothing. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Thanks.

EDIT: I figured it out. I had to change the option 'Digital:Air' to 'Digital:Cable'. One question, how do you determine what channel each is? I get different channels than your list and would like to list the ones I get in Ottawa.