Going Digital Requires a mini box?

1. More channels (especially HD, plus the SD digital channels on your tier that you weren't getting before.)

2. Better video quality (no more analog transmission noise and distortion.)

1. Don't need\want any more channels. That's why I have basic package.

2.  Picture quality I have now is just fine. 

Isn't the real reason they are going all digital and requiring this box is because the signal will be scrambled thus keeping from having their product pirated?

what kind of tv do you have now?  as soon as your area is done handing out miniboxes or shortly after the analog system is turned off you will need a mini box or cable box or a cable card device for all your tv's

CoxHostage said:

1. Don't need\want any more channels. That's why I have basic package.

2.  Picture quality I have now is just fine. 

Isn't the real reason they are going all digital and requiring this box is because the signal will be scrambled thus keeping from having their product pirated?

1. Without any box, you are not getting half the channels you are already currently paying for.

2. You must not have any HDTVs, 4:3 Analog picture looks like garbage on a 16:9 HDTV

Yes, part of going all Digital is to encrypt everything to prevent the theft of the better digital video quality.  But the biggest reason is bandwidth, one Analog channel uses 6Mhz, You can fit several SD channels or 3 HD channels in that same 6MHz.  Cox will need the extra bandwidth before they can roll-out 1 Gbps (G1GABLAST) HSI using DOCSIS 3.1 over Coax.

CoxHostage said:

1. Don't need\want any more channels. That's why I have basic package.

So you enjoy paying for channels that you can't receive?

2.  Picture quality I have now is just fine.

Funny, that's what my dad said about his b&w Philco. Seriously, looking at a digital video version of a channel side-by-side with it's NTSC transmitted counterpart can be eye-opening.

Isn't the real reason they are going all digital and requiring this box is because the signal will be scrambled thus keeping from having their product pirated?

That's part of the reason, but you asked for consumer advantages. We haven't even discussed the more than 350 MHz bandwidth savings.

I am getting tired of all the Cox double talk about being good for the customer. Bottom line, just change all channels to digital and let people that have digital tuners (large majority) tune the channels. Rent converters to those with analog TV’s and be done with it…. Oh… I guess this wouldn’t satisfy the over paid, money grabbing executives at Cox.

Don318 said:

I am getting tired of all the Cox double talk about being good for the customer. Bottom line, just change all channels to digital and let people that have digital tuners (large majority) tune the channels. Rent converters to those with analog TV’s and be done with it….

...And let the HSI customers get all of the TV free, let "basic" subscribers get the rest free...

How can I replace the "mini boxes"?  I know I can & will buy a zoom cable modem so I can stop paying $8/month, what about the other tv's?

rednails said:
How can I replace the "mini boxes"?  I know I can & will buy a zoom cable modem so I can stop paying $8/month, what about the other tv's?

A cable modem will not replace your miniboxes... Modems are strictly for the Internet. Not sure what your understanding of modems are?

Unable to delete this post which is included in below post. Just edited to remove, Sorry about that.

Domino said:

Don318 said:

I am getting tired of all the Cox double talk about being good for the customer. Bottom line, just change all channels to digital and let people that have digital tuners (large majority) tune the channels. Rent converters to those with analog TV’s and be done with it….

...And let the HSI customers get all of the TV free, let "basic" subscribers get the rest free...

I guess I am just slow, but can’t tune all digital channels now, why would I be able to later after switch to all digital? I now have to use STB to tune all above 900, will that change?

Don318 said:

Domino said:

Don318 said:

I am getting tired of all the Cox double talk about being good for the customer. Bottom line, just change all channels to digital and let people that have digital tuners (large majority) tune the channels. Rent converters to those with analog TV’s and be done with it….

...And let the HSI customers get all of the TV free, let "basic" subscribers get the rest free...

I guess I am just slow, but can’t tune all digital channels now, why would I be able to later after switch to all digital? I now have to use STB to tune all above 900, will that change?

If Cox lets "people that have digital tuners (large majority) tune the channels" as you suggest above, then they can't be encrypted. That's the difference. Current digital channels are encrypted. When analog transitions to digital, they will also be encrypted.

Domino said:

Don318 said:

Domino said:

Don318 said:

I am getting tired of all the Cox double talk about being good for the customer. Bottom line, just change all channels to digital and let people that have digital tuners (large majority) tune the channels. Rent converters to those with analog TV’s and be done with it….

...And let the HSI customers get all of the TV free, let "basic" subscribers get the rest free...

I guess I am just slow, but can’t tune all digital channels now, why would I be able to later after switch to all digital? I now have to use STB to tune all above 900, will that change?

If Cox lets "people that have digital tuners (large majority) tune the channels" as you suggest above, then they can't be encrypted. That's the difference. Current digital channels are encrypted. When analog transitions to digital, they will also be encrypted.

I am trying to understand. You’re saying Cox can now encrypt selected channels, but will only be able to encrypt all channels after switch? That is hard for the lay person to understand. I suspect this is not correct and they could leave the now basic channels unencrypted as the locals channels are now, which would allow digital tuners to access those without mini-box.

Don318 said:

I am trying to understand. You’re saying Cox can now encrypt selected channels, but will only be able to encrypt all channels after switch? That is hard for the lay person to understand. I suspect this is not correct and they could leave the now basic channels unencrypted as the locals channels are now, which would allow digital tuners to access those without mini-box.

Currently Cox Does NOT encrypt:

1. The low quality Analog channels, this includes most 4:3 SD channels 2 thru 99, but Cox has been slowly removing some of those Analog channels. (The removal of the rest of the Analog channels should have happened in 2012, but Cox has been very generous and has left them until this year.)
2. The Local Broadcast Digital HD channels and Local Digital SD sub-channels.

Currently Cox Does already encrypt:

1. All Non-Local Digital channels, whether 4:3 SD or 16:9 HD

The two things changing are the encrypting of the Local Digital channels, and the complete removal of the 4:3 SD Analog channels.

The complete removal of the 4:3 SD Analog channels is absolutely necessary and should have been done a few years ago. Every other major provider in major cities has already done this.

The encryption of the Local Broadcast Digital HD channels and Local Digital SD sub-channels, is overkill in my opinion, but does keep freeloaders from getting Internet and Free TV.  It also keeps Cox from having to send out technicians to place filters on drops, and keeps people from attempting to do a DIY illegal cable hook-up, which could effect your service negatively, especially if it was one of your neighbors.

Do you really want all your neighbors getting free TV when you pay $90/mo for it?