Open QAM is a format of cable signaling.
Basically; it works like this: to be in line with FCC regulations, every cable company must provide certain channels to any residence on the cable network without even a cable box of any kind or any service package agreement so long as the consumer carries Open QAM capable equipment.
Or, another way of saying it is, if you have Open QAM capable equipment, then you can get this FCC mandated feed from the cable line on your house without subscribing to anything.
Now; that sounds great…it’s not.
Because the “Open QAM” equipment is your TV set; like “cable ready”, but instead “Open QAM” ready.
It’s such an unpopular feature on TV’s (consumers don’t demand it); that TV’s don’t even always list it directly as a feature at all.
Many new TV’s have this capacity.
The TV has to “scan for channels” (in some form of the reference to this concept via the settings menu) and pluck out the frequencies on the cable line that traffic Open QAM signaling.
Well, rather, some of the frequencies on the line carry a data line in them that is only useful for translating information via Open QAM standard and acts as a Rosetta Stone for the channel’s picture’s frequency to data translation.
However, that said…like I said; it’s not well regulated as to WHAT frequencies a given TV’s QAM table (a list of frequencies to recognize) include or do not include.
What that means is that, out of the few channels that are FCC mandated to be available in Open QAM (by comparison to the total channels a given cable company provides), only the ones that match up the frequency of the TV’s QAM table and exist on the cable networks frequency table at the Head End (the part of the network that originates the relay of the broadcast in your zip code or zip codes - sometimes connected to the primary feed of the company via satellite; other times trunk fiber line) will show up on your TV set.
They will also appear in raw format as there is very little in the way of image format data trafficked on raw broadcast.
Most of that information actually comes from settings handed to a cable/satellite companies head end engineering by the broadcaster (CNN, NBC, ABC, FOX, etc…), and the Set-Top-Box (cable or satellite box).
Your TV then takes that format data and adds to that, it’s format data from your settings choices (default or otherwise) and cancels out anything that cancels itself out (like 4:3 on the broadcaster, yet 16:9 format on the head end [let’s say in error], 4:3 on your cable box [let’s say you only have a standard def non-widescreen format set-top-box or some field tech jacked up the settings on install mistaking himself for the Geek Squad], but 16:9 force aspect ratio on your TV settings) and reinforces where applicable (like the feed all the way coming in at 60Hz, yet the TV converting the picture to 120Hz; or the feed coming in at 1080i [interlaced] and the TV converting this to 1080p [progressive]).
When you go Open QAM; you just get what the broadcaster sent, as the alterations the head end makes at the cable company are done through proprietary equipment supplied to them by cable network communications developers like Motorola and Arris.
What that means is that it can only be translated by proprietary connection and data codex algorithmic translation by equipment that has that information installed on it.
The only equipment that is going to have that is going to be equipment that is provided by the same cable network communications developers or by competitive developers that now utilize the FCC’s open source encouragement (not direct mandate) on cable systems technologies since 2008 as a means of becoming more functional more broadly to more providers (Comcast, Time Warner, my company, etc…).
So the bottom line is…it sucks.
And the people I talk to usually that are really Open QAM enthusiasts are something akin to corporate conspiracy HAM radio enthusiasts.
They mostly call cable companies and bitch them out for stations not working on their Open QAM and want troubleshooting from that company even though there’s no FCC regulation to mandate support for Open QAM because there’s no regulation on the TV’s QAM table; nor any regulation that demands that a Cable Companies signal must work on equipment that is not their equipment as part of their responsibility outside of the standard regulations of settings which are accomplished by default of the mandate to push the frequencies along as they come from the broadcaster with the Open QAM data tag attached in whatever frequency is best for the digital channeling efficiency packaging and marketing interests (meaning; 7 digital channels per 1 analog frequency; thereby the channels are grouped to a frequency broadcasting device [SIM QAM] that does so to send the most clear amount of signal information at the highest capacity of network efficiency of bandwidth and power conservation…and of course does have marketing desire forgiveness in the regulations).
So like I said…Open QAM sucks.
Now what rocks?
Cable.
What is going to really start rocking more?
Cable.
It’s on the verge of being fully mobile on quite a liberal scale.
The only thing holding that back right now is actually the cable network developing companies; not the providers.
And right now, they are battling each other.
There are the google-like-company developers right now battling it out with the microsoft-like-company developers.
The googloids are pushing for a world of open source and provider development (meaning creating tools for the provider to use to develop their own software and features), meanwhile the microsoftians are moving politically to try to counter-use the open source technology to further the proprietary agendas that have continued to show trusted returns for the majority of the cable industries carriers.
All of this is going on behind and above the heads of anyone you normally talk to in Comcast.
This is more at the VP (of the company; not the VP of a department), Product Development, Product Lab, and Network Engineering department levels.
Now; the only current alternative to your cable-woes that I think is worth a damn is to use a CableCARD in your TV set (if it takes one), or TiVo.
The CableCARD must be carries by every cable company; if they say they do not carry them for consumers…then they are in breach of FCC regulated mandate since 2008.
No cable company is allowed to deny a CableCARD to a consumer; nor may they force you to pay for a Set-Top-Box.
If a Set-Top-Box is the only way possible of receiving their cable service and you do not want a cable box, and you cannot use a CableCARD (in your TV), then you will be given a free of charge cable box (will not be a DVR and will lack some features).
If you use a CableCARD in your TV and you want to record, then you will need to have an HDMI or Component (or similar) output from your TV set to a DVD recorder or the like.
You will not likely be able to access Video OnDemand because VOD uses the cable companies software build to transmit over IP address through coaxial cable television frequency (somewhere in the higher bandwidth ranges close to your cable modems signal - ergo; if you have crap modem signal, then you may have vod issues as well though your cable tv picture will be fine).
Since your TV doesn’t have the software application that the cable company is using to launch the IP streaming applet for VOD, you won’t get that.
Fortunately; there’s yet another alternative.
Many new TV’s are coming with built-in “VOD” variations (I put VOD in quotes because “VOD” is a product name; not a standard technology. VOD is an affiliate like the UN, but for broadcasters to providers; netflix is an example of an independent that does not fall into the “VOD” affiliate but simulates the same result).
The only thing you need is an Ethernet cord and registration through the TV’s “VOD” variation’s menu.
Some are free registration and charge for movies.
Some are monthly/yearly registration charge and charge for movies.
Just depends what’s on the TV’s system; check when buying a TV.
If they don’t know at the store; go somewhere else…they have no business selling TV’s.
So…to recap.
You’ll still need a cable subscription (for my alternative) and pay for that.
And you’ll still pay about 3 to 7 bucks a month (depending where you live) for the CableCARD.
But you won’t need to pay your cable for VOD, and you won’t need to pay your cable for a set-top-box.
It’s up to you.
Personally; I think about the only part of it that’s worth it…is the VOD alternatives.
The rest is far too much of a bother imo, to go after something that is largely too much work for what comes far more easily from the company via their box.
Now, a word of advice.
When your cable company says:
They are NOT going to charge you.
They are going to give you a credit.
To disregard a demanded payment.
To disregard charges.
Prorates will accrue in a given manner.
Or anything similar.
GET IT IN WRITING.
And when you GET IT IN WRITING, don’t have them mail it to you.
HAVE THEM FAX IT TO YOUR NEAREST RETAIL STORE WHERE YOU ARE STANDING.
Also.
DON’T WORK WITH LOCAL STORES.
Cable isn’t Franchised.
Local stores are less trained than the phone group because the stores have higher turn-over rates (if you think about it; it’s obvious as to why).
Phone groups have more recourses available from the central database and are more in-tune with the central database than local stores.
But USE THE LOCAL STORE as YOUR OFFICE.
Have everything for you that you need copies of faxed or mailed to the LOCAL STORE for you.
(not the bill of course)
If they insist to send to your address, allow for it, but also insist on receiving a copy at the Local Store.
This is the most useful method of protecting yourself from the amoebic tragedy that is the cable consumer financial centralized database network.
