I know this isnt a Mac question but I was hoping someone here could give me an answer. After the switch to digital TV signals in feb, 2009, will people who have a cable TV line coming directly into their TV (ie, no cable box) be able to get a signal? Or will you need a special digital box to put first on top of your TV which would take in that cable line? Comcast replaced my old analog box with a digital box and I wondered if this box was necessary for those whose line went directly into their TV. Thanks

Only over the air broadcasts are required to be digital. Any digital conversion by your cable/satellite provider is their decision to make.

With all the control digital affords the providers, lets hope they will still allow one to go directly into the TV and [i]get[i/] a picture. They could get rent/purchase money from stopping this direct connection.

I think most cable providers and satellite providers already supply some digital channels. For instance, channels above 100 are currently digital for WOW!

Unlike your PC signals, digital TV is not purely digital. It is digitally modulated analog. Digital signals don't travel well over long distances in the high frequency bands used.

I think some digital TV's do have internal demodulators - something to be aware of when you purchase.

However, don't be confused by the modulator in your TV and Marvin the Martian's Illudium Pew-36 Explosive Space Modulator!