Lately, you might have received a letter from Comcast saying that they are upgrading their network; and that you need to have the right digital equipment for your TVs. This digital equipment is call DTA or Digital Transport Adapter.
I was reluctant to get one at first because I was still being able to view the HD Channels on the HDTV without one. Then, one day, around February 2012, some of the HD Channels started to disappear. So, that was when I decided to order a DTA from Comcast.
Installation and activation did not take that long. The instructions that came with the box are easy to follow. The problem after activation was that, well, all of the HD channels were gone.
After reading the forums on Comcast, I could not really find the conclusive answers. Some people said that the Digital DTA should come out soon (which I hope they do). Some said, to use and A-B Switch. The latter seems interesting to investigate. So, I chatted online with Comcast rep asking how to view the HD channels on my HDTV with limited basic channels plan. The answer is to get an A-B switch from my local Comcast. The online Comcast rep was very helpful and nice. She provided me with what the A-B Switch kit should look like and the instructions to connect it to the DTA and the HDTV.
A-B Switch Kit:
1. One A-B Switch
2. One Splitter
3. Three Coax cables
4. (Instructions -- you can look up one on the Internet if your local Comcast did not give you one)
Assuming that you are following the instructions on how to connect the A-B Switch to the DTA and then to your HDTV I linked above, all that is left is to switch the A-B switch to "B". Then, start using your HDTV remote (not Comcast Remote) to scan for the Digital Channels. Mine showed about 20 of them. The HD Channels would be something like 2-1; 5-1; 7-1; etc.
If you want to watch other Analog channels, then switch the A-B Switch to "A". Then, use Comcast Remote to change the channels.
Enjoy!
3 comments:
Wow, this sounds like a bit too much hassle for a sub-par HD lineup. I have DISH and recently got my parents (lifelong Comcast customers) to make the switch also. They can NOT stop talking about how much better the resolution is on the DISH HD channels. Not to mention the fact that Comcast was bleeding them dry with hidden charges and add-ons (like the DTA??). DISH has the best HD, the most HD in the industry, and the fact that it is a satellite transmission directly into the home means fewer encryption roadblocks, and thus better quality. DISH even just extended their HD Free For Life promotion, meaning you would save about $120/year should you decide to go that route. When I started working for DISH I had no idea there was such an inconsistency in quality between the providers, but DISH definitely has Comcast beaten on the HD front!
Wow, this sounds like a bit too much hassle for a sub-par HD lineup. I have DISH and recently got my parents (lifelong Comcast customers) to make the switch also. They can NOT stop talking about how much better the resolution is on the DISH HD channels. Not to mention the fact that Comcast was bleeding them dry with hidden charges and add-ons (like the DTA??). DISH has the best HD, the most HD in the industry, and the fact that it is a satellite transmission directly into the home means fewer encryption roadblocks, and thus better quality. DISH even just extended their HD Free For Life promotion, meaning you would save about $120/year should you decide to go that route. When I started working for DISH I had no idea there was such an inconsistency in quality between the providers, but DISH definitely has Comcast beaten on the HD front!
I agree.. If I lived in my own house, then I would go for DISH. I live in an apartment and asking the landlord for a permission to install DISH would be more hassle. :)
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