Hi Frank,
I think I know enough about this subject to get my size 8 wedged behind a molar, but here goes.
Out here in the boonies, (Tumalo, OR, jest west of Bend)we have a "digital"/analog hybrid cable feed to my house. The MSO is Bend Cable and they seem to be pretty close to the bleeding edge. I just signed up for the digital package and we now get an additional 12 or so TV stations, including Bloomberg TV and ZDTV in my "sports package" (go figure...) which I like and which is clearly being delivered in digital blocks (MPEG-2??) rather than NTSC format. The STB is a GIC 2000 series and we also have several dozen digital audio feeds that we can access as well. I can't tell you exactly how they are dividing the bandwidth, but I also get my Internet connectivity on one channel and still get all the basic TV stations in NTSC format. So, there is some clever thinking going on here. Furthermore, I have been told that I will be able to get telephony services as soon a 1Q01. And I will do so immediately. Of course, it's coax as far as the eye can see. But I have no (meaningful) complaints so far, as far as bandwidth to my headend. Of course, as with everybody on the planet, we could use a bigger backhaul onto the 'bone, and one is in fact in the works.
HTH, Ray
Best, Ray |
