Partial release of new cable line-up

[Creative]

I see the RMA has release a partial new cable line-up.

The Rancho Murieta Association is pleased to announce the launch of the first 38 channels of a new combination enhanced digital, high definition and music tier of cable television programming. When completed, the tier will be comprised of up to 80 enhanced digital/high definition and 55 music channels. The channels not currently launched will be added to the tier as they become available.

Once all scheduled channels are added to the tier, a 30 day free trial period of the complete package will begin. During the free trial period, all participants will be contacted to determine their interest in subscribing to the new tier. The cost of the tier will be $24.99 per month. At the end of the 30 days, anyone not wishing to continue the new tier will have the trial programming automatically deleted. In advance of the 30 day free trial period, the programming currently launched is also free of charge.
All current RMA premium programming subscribers already have immediate access to these new channels. A listing of these channels is attached. Those members who do not currently have a converter box can sign up for the free trial by calling the RMA office at 354-3500. The number of converter boxes is limited, so please call early to be reserve a place on the free trial list.

A promotional brochure is being prepared and will be mailed to all members shortly. The brochure will highlight the new programming, current programming, complete channel lineups, costs and the advantages of Rancho Murieta Association cable television and broadband services. A separate letter to current premium programming subscribers will be forthcoming early next week.

[Luke]

To the $24.99 per month, don't you have to add the $5.00 per month billing charge, plus rental costs for each converter box you get?

[Matthew]

Originally Posted by Luke

To the $24.99 per month, don't you have to add the $5.00 per month billing charge, plus rental costs for each converter box you get?

That is my understanding.

[Dude]

If I want these new channels in three rooms is this my cost?

$31 - Current Service
$25 - New channels
$5 - Billing Fee
$5x3 - Basic Converter ($10x3 for advanced converter)

= $76 per month. Is that about right?

[steepndeep]

Might be a stupid question, but can I get this trial by rescaning my TV with QAM tuner?

[Creative]

Originally Posted by steepndeep

Might be a stupid question, but can I get this trial by rescaning my TV with QAM tuner?

We did not get those new channels when we rescanned.

[Wilbur]

I think you need the set-top box to descramble the non-basic channels. Those already subscribing to the existing premiums (HBO etc) already have a set top box to descramble those, and I think what they're saying is that the new channels are now showing up on those set top boxes even in advance of the 30-day trial (?) Others who want to check it out will need to sign up to request a box for the trial. I think that's how it's intended to work, anyway. Feisty?

[DBCooper]

I remember Matthew recommending a reciever with a QAM functionality but I havent found one yet at CC, BB, or Fryes.

[Wilbur]

I'm not sure whether there are any full-featured "receivers" (amp as well as tuner in one box) out there. Home theatre "Receivers" at a certain price point do contain "HDMI switching" capabilities so that all devices can be routed into the receiver and then the selected signal goes to the TV with one HDMI wire. But when I was shopping I don't remember coming across any (in the three figures range anyway) which actually had the TV tuner within them.

"Tuners" which will capture the signal, change channels, route the channel to your receiver or TV are around, but getting scarcer as it has become so common to have all the needed tuners built-in in the HDTV sets.

This tuner at Circuit City looks like it will work:
Buy the Samsung High Definition Terrestrial Tuner and other HD receivers & TV tuners at circuitcity.com
even though Circuit city's paucity of info on the product says nothing about QAM, this review says it will tune in QAM channels (which is what RMA's digital basic needs):
HDTVexpert — Product Review: Samsung DTB-H260F Terrestrial DTV Set-Top Receiver


One of the other cost effective ways to get a QAM tuner is to buy a DVD recorder with a QAM tuner built in. One that caught my eye is the Sony RDR-GXD455, which goes for a little over two bills. Decodes unscrambled QAM HD, upsamples regular DVDs for you to pseudoHD (I'm simply amazed at how well my upsampling DVD player does - if you have an older DVD connected to an HDTV which doesn't do this and send it to the TV via HDMI, give it to the kids and go get an upsampling DVD!), will record on DVD-RW like a primitive DVR.
Sony RDR GXD455 - DVD recorder with TV tuner DVD Recorder reviews - CNET Reviews



"QAM" tuners only capture the unscrambled digital channels. And most HDTVs built in the past few years seem to have them. If you have your TV scan for digital channels and it gets ANY of RMA's HD channels, you already have a QAM tuner in it.

If one really needs to spend money on a separate QAM tuner, such as for what they used to sell as "HD ready" HDTVs that lacked them, an alternative is to consider going all out and buying or building building a Windows Media Center home theatre PC which includes a QAM tuner, can record like a DVR, can store all your movies and CDs on its hard drive, can let you use the TV screen as a monitor to check email or player stats between innings, etc. etc.
Build It: A Living-Room Media Center PC - Solutions by PC Magazine

RMA's cable box will, I'm sure, also tune in the unscrambled channels for those who decide to subscribe to their premium service.

[Matthew]

Originally Posted by Dude

If I want these new channels in three rooms is this my cost?

$31 - Current Service
$25 - New channels
$5 - Billing Fee
$5x3 - Basic Converter ($10x3 for advanced converter)

= $76 per month. Is that about right?

Karen just revised her story and added more pricing info. Looks like you are pretty close unless you want Tivo. That will run you $17.50 per box. Your pricing does not include movie channels (i.e. HBO, Showtime)