Having Trouble with Time Warner’s Digital Adapter?

A while back I wrote about how some changes were coming if you are a Time Warner Cable subscriber.  The company is dropping the analog cable service and all subscribers will be required to have a special digital adapter if they do not already rent a set top box from the company.  Well, the deadline is fast approaching and from my emails and comments it looks like some people are having problems getting these adapters to work.

Just to review: Ever since the cable companies began providing digital cable, a system that was much superior to the old analog system, the companies have essentially operated two separate systems. Initially this was done so customers with older TVs could easily hook up their sets.  Now that most people have digital wide screen TV sets, the analog system is no longer required.

Many customers have several TV sets connected to the cable.  Some of the sets make use of the set top box but others, up until now, could be connected directly to the cable using the TV set’s internal QAM (cable) tuner.  By the end of April, the QAM tuner will not be compatible with the cable signal so a special digital adapter, provided free by the company, will be required for each cable-connected TV set if it does not use a set top box.

For most people, setting up the digital adapter is very easy by following the directions that come in the shipping box.  However, some have found that no matter what they do they can’t get the adapter to work.  In most cases the root problem is in the quality of the cable signal running throughout the house to the TV sets.  The digital signal is not as robust as the old analog signal.  A bad cable or a cable of inferior quality could pass the analog signal and the only issue was a less than perfect picture.  Digital signals are prone to the “cliff effect.”   Essentially this means you have a perfect picture or none at all.  So if the signal in the cable is not adequate, the TV set will display nothing. 

There are some fixes for this situation.  First make sure your cable runs are as short as possible. Invest in higher quality coaxial cable for use within your house. The cable guy may be able to help you.  Keep the number of cable splitters to a minimum as each one will weaken the signal passing through it.

If all else fails call the cable company.  It is in their best interest that you are a happy customer.

Before You Cut That Cord…

Before You Cut That Cord…Before You Cut That Cord…

There has been a lot of talk lately about cancelling cable or satellite services and opting for using online and over-the-air TV offerings instead.  I have written often about this trend. As average monthly cable TV bills hover near $100, a 40% increase in just 5 years, both the desire too for cut costs and changing viewing habits are pushing more of us to consider cutting the proverbial cord.  But before you get those scissors out of the kitchen drawer there are a few things you should do to make sure you will save money and can really get along without that cable subscription.

Most people will want to continue to receive their local TV channels using an antenna.  In most cases this is very easy but not always.  A reader recently sent me a note informing me that he cut the cord only to find out that he could no longer get local Channel 12 (WKRC) over the air.  The reason behind this is grist for another column but suffice it to say in some areas getting all the local channels with an antenna can be impossible.  The good news is that you can connect an antenna to your TV before making your decision to cancel your cable.  Your out-of-pocket cost is less than $20 for a simple indoor TV antenna and an hour of your time to see what you can receive.

Taking advantage of the various streaming services on the internet requires you to have a good internet connection.  You need to decide if the monthly cost of having internet connectivity should be factored into your decision-making equation since you most likely want that connection regardless of your cable cutting decision.

I suggest that you write down, over a two week period, the TV programs that you regularly watch.  Once you have that list you need to see which of these programs are offered free over-the-air and which are available on one or more of the pay streaming services.   Each of the major internet based TV services have a base fee. Hulu Plus and Netflix charge about $10 per month each while Amazon Prime has an annual fee of about $100.  The major networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox each have offerings ranging from free to $10 per month. Good news: PBS streaming is free.

Now take a piece of paper and write down the combined costs of all the online services you will need and see how that number compares with what you are now paying for cable or satellite.  In most cases it will be less even if you factor in the entire cost of the internet service.

If you do cut the cord, when searching for your favorite show you may need to press a few more buttons. The learning curve is not steep and you will soon learn how to go from one service to the other.  If more and more of us decide to eschew cable, who knows, the providers might begin to offer a more a la carte TV menu with reduced fees.  But don’t hold your breath!

Internet Access No Luxury

Few technological advancements have been adopted faster and with more societal impact as the internet and the plethora of related applications made possible by the internet.  The worldwide web, social media like Facebook and Twitter, and countless other services have reshaped commerce, social interaction, the media, education and most every other aspect of our daily lives. It should come as no surprise that last week Federal regulators voted to expand a $1.5 billion telephone subsidy program to bring broadband to many disadvantaged in our society.

The Federal Communications Commission approved expanding the Lifeline program to include discounts for broadband Internet service. This decision expands these services to the Reagan Era program, which was originally designed to provide subsidized land-line telephone service to low-income households. Starting in December 2016, commercial broadband providers offering discounted internet service to eligible Lifeline customers will receive a $9.25 subsidy per Lifeline subscriber.

Few would argue today that having access to the internet is a luxury.  Applying for a job, interacting with government agencies, and accessing expanded educational opportunities all rely on being able to go online.  In many ways internet access has become a basic utility like water, sewer and electric power.

The US has a long history of assisting those of less means to reap benefits of new technologies.  For example, the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, provided low cost federal loans for the installation of electrical distribution systems to serve isolated rural areas of the United States. The funding was channeled through cooperative electric power companies, many of which still exist today.  That Act helped to improve the living standards of the people not only by giving them electricity in their homes but also by making it possible for industry to locate in these rural areas bringing jobs and economic growth.

It took about 60 years for home electrification to be seen as a non-luxury item and spark the beginning of a government subsidy program for the disadvantaged.  It took almost 100 years for telephone service to be recognized as a necessity.  The first internet provider began commercial service in the US and Australia about 1990.  So the path of internet access from being considered a luxury to a necessity has been much quicker.