TV cable question.

I have charter cable and I only have the most basic package they offer. That is 23 channels.
The question. Why is it that when I scan the channels on the TV (42" LCD) it only shows the 23 channels I get as analog. I do get 17 digital channels, I don't know why, at the high end of the scan but for the most part the signal isn't very good so most of them are unwatchable. Thse digital channels I get are not through the air.
What's the deal? Is charter taking a digital signal and converting it back to analog? I thought that I was going to get digital channels....I'm not talking about HI-Def.
Thanks

But, have you considered asking in the Science or Computer forums?

that might be the problem.

a digital box from Charter. If you have the most basic package then I assume you aren't using a cable box. http://www.charter.com/customers/Support.aspx?SupportArticleID=24

The twenty-three analog channels you get: yes, they are probably received by your cable company as digital (standard def) and transcoded to analog for the basic cable service. The higher band digital signals are there because the cable system is kind of sloppy; they really shouldn't be there but apparently they are doing enough trapping out of them that they're unwatchable.

Cable companies are required to carry the local digital broadcast stations (i.e. all of them now) in digital and in the clear. They are for a while also required to provide an analog signal of the main channel of the local broadcast stations, or provide all subscribers with at least one set top box free of charge if the cable system has discontinued analog service.

The other channels would normally be scrambled. This would require a box from your cable company, or a CableCard if your TV supports it.

that I would have to get a digital box to covert the analog signal they send me back to digital.
Kinda crazy. Orrrrrrrr....I just live with it.

is set up for people with older TV sets who get analog. If you want digital, you have to upgrade to the digital channels, or at least a better package. I'm not sure about Charter, but I suspect you would get very few digital channels without the box even if you upgrade-- the box decodes digital signals, unscrambles premium channels, lets you order pay-per-view and porn...

(...and lets the cable company know what you're watching)

That is your answer.

Digital cable is a higher level pkg and they are encrypted to prevent non paying customers from seeing them.

If you buy a digital cable box & digital cable service the box has the "keys" to decode the channels (based on the channels you are authorized).

I do get 17 digital channels, I don't know why, at the high end of the scan but for the most part the signal isn't very good so most of them are unwatchable.
What channel numbers? How do you know they are digital?

Some of them are the networks channels and a mix of sport, local network weather and a few others. The signal isn't consistent and breaks up.

Likely it is a signal issue (too hot= too much signal or too cold=too little signal).

Of course normally you could contact cable company but since you aren't paying for digital cable they aren't going to fix a problem with channels you are not suppose to have.

those basic broadcast digital signals are supposed to be there, even if you're paying for the lowest of the low tiers. Problem is the regular customer service people may not be aware they offer this service, but the digital transition did affect cable too - and those local broadcast channels that have "must carry" status "must be carried" in... digital. If the cable system offers analog they also must for at least the next year or two convert that broadcast digital signal to an analog one - or if they are all-digital offer each subscriber a free converter box.

The OP clearly stated the analog version is functional and operational.

The CATV is under no obligation to provide assistance or service on the digital channel as long as the analog version is available.

Broadcast digital must be kept in the clear but CATV do not need to provide assistance as long as an analog channel is available.

The broadcast digital signals are now the "must carry" - the CATV co has to supply the signal without material degradation, in digital, and if the signal's HD, then the CATV needs to supply it in HD. On analog systems the CATV co must also convert that digital signal to analog and supply that too, or supply subscibers with the appropriate equipment and go all-digital.

The digital transition did affect CATV but more behind the scenes and in a legal manner more than anything. The rulings affecting CATV are going to be revisited in a couple of years - from my reading CATV systems who run analog set ups are obliged to convert the broadcast digital signals to analog for only 3 years.

http://broadcastengineering.com/viewpoint/dtv-transition-digital-2009-fcc-must-carry-rules/

I still say the OP should call the cable company. The customer care people may not be clued up because the OP is getting their channels - in analog - but it's my understanding the OP is entitled to their digital signal, even if they haven't subscribed to the so-called "digital tier".

You may get something over the airwaves.

..the same signal goes to every house. It doesn't take any more bandwidth to send 200 channels to 100 houses as it does to send the same 200 channels to 1 house.

All the channels go to every house. With digital cable the box simply lets you see the others you are authorized and hide the ones you are not. With analog cable filters are put in place to corrupt the signal above a certain frequency.

Most CATV networks use a mixture of both.

Basic Analog only has basic channels.
Digital has multiple tiers which the cable box unlocks based on instructions from cable company.

... probably a bit too compressed actually but still efficient, even more so than over-the-air TV. Basic Broadcast generally must be carried in the clear in digital-land.