slg@ukma.UUCP (Sean Gilley) (04/11/85)
I just bought a Beta HiFi VCR. I've heard that
Moviechannel broadcasts in stereo, and I've also heard that
HBO and Cinemax will soon begin doing so.
So my question is this: Do I still recieve stereo
*after* the signal has been pushed through the cable con-
verter, or do I have to pull the stereo signal off before it
is run through the converter as an F.M. station. Or is
there another way I don't know about.
ad-Thanks-vance,
Sean.
--
-=<>=-
Sean L. Gilley Phone: (606) 273-6021 or (606) 257-3092
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Of all forms of caution, caution in love is the most fatal.albert@ucbvax.ARPA (Anthony Albert) (04/12/85)
In article <1600@ukma.UUCP> slg@ukma.UUCP (Sean Gilley) writes: > > I just bought a Beta HiFi VCR. I've heard that >Moviechannel broadcasts in stereo, and I've also heard that >HBO and Cinemax will soon begin doing so. > > So my question is this: Do I still recieve stereo >*after* the signal has been pushed through the cable con- >verter, or do I have to pull the stereo signal off before it >is run through the converter as an F.M. station. Or is >there another way I don't know about. > Until cable companies gear up for stereo, the audio sent with the RF signal will be in mono. What cable systems have done as a (hopefully) temporary measure is to send a separate stereo audio signal on FM. Once the conversion to stereo is made, the converter should output a stereo signal.
lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) (04/13/85)
I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for cable conversion in many areas. The capital investment in non-stereo decoders is so high that a rapid changeover is unlikely. --Lauren--
chris@columbia.UUCP (Chris Maio) (04/13/85)
In article <6188@ucbvax.ARPA> albert@ucbvax.UUCP (Anthony albert) writes: > Until cable companies gear up for stereo, the audio sent with the > RF signal will be in mono. What cable systems have done as a (hopefully) > temporary measure is to send a separate stereo audio signal on FM. > Once the conversion to stereo is made, the converter should output > a stereo signal. I have a stereo tv and vcr in New York, where NBC (channel 4) is broadcasting stereo programming (at least the Tonight Show) and a SAP (currently just WNBC radio, I think). Both are hooked up to a Group W cable without any cable converter box. My tv receiver indicates that the stereo signal is there, and the vcr led's suggest that the left and right channels are different, but a listening test seemed to suggest that if there was any audible distinction between the left and right channels, it's probably a small amount of "simulated stereo" or perhaps distortion introduced by the stereo decoder when the input is subject to whatever limitations cable imposes on a stereo tv signal. I assume that the tv receiver can be "fooled" a bit, since the stereo indicator occasionally pops on for a few seconds on other channels. Unfortanately, Group W doesn't provide separate stereo audio programming for FM stations and movie channels here. I didn't buy the tv for the stereo decoder, since I'd been told that there were bandwidth problems that prevented cable operators from using the same stereo encoding, but since I do get the SAP and slightly different left and right channels, can someone explain what's going on? Are SAP signals not a problem for cable systems the way the stereo signals are (since my SAP signal is ok)? - Chris
brown@nic_vax.UUCP (04/13/85)
> > I just bought a Beta HiFi VCR. I've heard that > Moviechannel broadcasts in stereo, and I've also heard that > HBO and Cinemax will soon begin doing so. > > So my question is this: Do I still recieve stereo > *after* the signal has been pushed through the cable con- > verter, or do I have to pull the stereo signal off before it > is run through the converter as an F.M. station. Or is > there another way I don't know about. So far no one broadcasts stereo via the MTS method on a cable system. At least not to my knowledge. There is a big hassle about the must-carry rule from the FCC. As it stands now, the FCC has said that the MTS signal is NOT included in the must carry rule. But, you say, must carry is for broadcast stations. Correct. But, with most cable companys in financial trouble as it is, why should they but in equipment for MTS (if it even exists in any kind of quantity) for pay channels when they don't even have to install it for local/import stations. There is still the technical discussion about how MTS will work with scrambled pay channels, as most pay channel systems using a AM modulated sine-wave (of 1fh or 2fh) placed on the audio carrier to re-sync the sync and they don't know what the wider FM audio bandwidth will do to the sine- wave signal. So say it will work and others say it will cause problems. What has all of this got to do with the original question, you may ask? Well, what it means is that the stereo signal cannot be obtained thru the MTS method (at least not today). A cable company normally places the stero audio portion on the FM band, ie, MTV, VH1, TNN (The Nashville Network), The Movie Channel and The Disney Channel. MTV and VH1 HAVE to be carried in stereo as an FM hook-up or the cable company CANNOT carry either of these two services (unless the equipment is on order). We have all of the above listed stuff, but only MTV, TNN are in stereo. VH1 will be as soon and the equipment arrives. HBO will be in stereo as soon as the signal and the equipment arrive. So, to receive the stereo signal, you will need a two-way splitter, with one output going to your FM receiver and the other going to the PSD (Pay Service Decoder) or the VCR. You will then have to use the simulcast recording method of recording stereo. If you bought a MTS capable VCR, sorry, can't use that feature just yet. Here is the neat part. If your local stations start broadcasting in MTS stereo, don't count on it being in stereo on cable using MTS (reason discussed above). You will have to disconnect the cable and hook up the obsolete antenna again. Now, our cable company has all of the local TV stations (and imports as well) on the FM band. Their plans (at the moment anyway) are to put the stereo on the FM band. The sound quality will be better than MTS could provide anyway. I have heard bad things about MTS quality. Video magazine has not said nice things about it when reviewing equipment that has it. Our cable company has DIRECT connections to the local TV stations so will be able to get high quality (well maybe :-)) stereo sound feeds from them. Now, what was the original question? Mr. Video