QAM Tuner Information & Changes

A QAM tuner refers to a specific type of television tuner that has the capability to receive and display digital based channels. Unlike a conventional Analog signal that displays one service per one channel, a digital channel can hold multiple services in the space of one channel. This is why a QAM tuner television can display 54-1, 54-2, 54-16 and so on.(These extra channels are often referred to as sidecars) It is this ability that allows Cable Television operators to offer more channels than they could in the past. This is also one of the reasons why many cable operators make it mandatory for a subscriber to have a “box” installed on their television. This “box” can point the digital channels to any channel the operator wants, making viewing for the subscriber easier and seamless. Rather than the subscriber needing to relearn channel numbers or get use to using a television differently than they have in the past, the box allows a cable operator to give a virtual view of the channels and can keep things how subscribers are used to seeing and using them. One example would be; locally, WKYC has been on channel three and is often referred to as channel 3, rather than the call letters WKYC. WKYC is actually received via off-air signal on channel 17 and its main channel (what we call channel 3) would actually be 17-1. So channel 3 is not really channel 3 at all.

As you can see, a cable box helps in stopping a lot of confusion about where channels are located. Cable Co-op decided not to require all subscribers to have a box. If you have spent the money and effort in obtaining a digital television with a QAM tuner, why should you not be able to use it? For this reason, those who choose not to use one of our boxes will often notice channels have changed location. Channel location changes happen for many reasons including, programmer requirements, equipment restriction, and bandwidth consolidation. But not only will QAM tuner users notice these changes, they will also not see any new channels that have been added, for the vast majority of QAM tuners will not automatically scan for new channels.

It is for these reasons we recommend that any of our subscribers that use a QAM tuner do a reprogram to their television at least once or twice per month. You can always find the latest updated QAM tuner lineup on our website. Go to www.oberlin.net , under Services; Cable Co-op Channel Lineup, and you will find a link to our QAM tuner lineup. This lineup is current and is changed when QAM channels are affected by changes we have to make. You will also notice that all channels you can pick up via a QAM tuner are not listed, the channels not listed are either not supported by us or will be going away soon.

Recent changes being made to the QAM lineup are the relocation of the “local” channels and their sidecars. This is being done to improve plant performance, and is also dictated by equipment requirements and limitations.