DTV channels change numbers

wescottle · Post by **wescottle** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:19 am

I have a Polaroid 32" HDTV with built-in digital receiver. When I first programmed it, everything was fine with all of the channels, however, I had to disconnect it and reprogram it, and since then, some of the channels changed numbers (7.1 and 7.2 are now 26.1 and 26.2 and 2.1 is now 28.1). I am not quite sure what is causing this.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:21 am

The channel number displayed is determined by the broadcaster and is embedded in the PSIP data of a DTV transmission. The channel number will be either the actual channel frequency used for the transmission or the legacy analog NTSC channel you have known for years.

In your case channel 2 and 7 are likely the legacy channel numbers and the other is the actual channel number of the DTV counterpart.

Yep, they change 'em back and forth... I have seen it numerous times here in Atlanta over the last 7 years.

eliwhitney · Post by **eliwhitney** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:36 am

Hello wescottle -

We, too, use the antenna for O.T.A.-HD and have found this re-mapping to be needed periodically.

All such channels will almost always be of the (3) digit format that you found , rather than a single number as w/ analog, as Richard explained.

As an associated "strange" item, whenever one has local digital cable service & uses the HDTV's internal
.. "QAM" .. tuner { to avoid a cable box } to scan unscrambled channels, very weird numbering will appear, with still more digits!

CBS might come as .. 106.29 ... , etc..

These seem to need re-programing monthly!

eli

dabhome · Post by **dabhome** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:26 am

Those strange number (106.29) are probably (can't be for sure) PPV or OnDemand channels. I thought the same thing and was watching one of those strange channels one day and it started fast forwarding and going backwards. What I was seeing was one of my neighbors controlling a show they ordered.

Be careful, if one of your neighbors orders porn it can show up on your HDTV.

David

eliwhitney · Post by **eliwhitney** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:13 am

Hello dabhome -

- certainly not with a QAM tuner sweap -- one must use a Cable Box to have an authorized account / pay for those selections before viewing.

All channel numbers seen on a "QAM" programing are of these 4 - 5 digit format, by-the-way.... actually, 6, if one 'counts' that decimal point or dash !

eli

bobby_c · Post by **bobby_c** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:39 am

Eli, Dab is correct with the On-Demand programming from a neighbor's home. On-Demand is sent out unencrypted on a frequency chosen by the cable company to send that signal to the user's digital box. This happens all over the nation on various cable provider services. So, if you do a scan, you can very well get a selection you may not have bargained for.

dabhome · Post by **dabhome** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:57 pm

Thanks Bobby. I have the cable coming into my house split. One end goes to my cable box. The other end goes directly into my HDTV. This allows me to watch a third program when two programs are being recorded on the cable box. When I perform a scan on the cable coming directly into the HDTV I get QAM channels which are OnDemand channels.

David

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DTV channels change numbers

DTV channels change numbers

HD - O.T.A. ... channel numbering ...