I live in a condo complex in West Houston where TV Max is the cable service provider. Standard analog cable is provided as part of our monthly maintenance fees as TV Max has a contract with our condominium associate for provide service. I don't get a cable bill even though I am indirectly paying for it. I bought a digital TV nearly a year ago and found that TV MAX has channels 2, 11, 13, 20, 26 and 39's digital signals (HD and subchannels) on Channels 85-90 (as well as the digital radio stations, audio only, no picture) on QAM. However, only Channel 11 and 26 digital signals come in reliably. Channel 13 comes in more often then not, Channel 2 vary very rarely, and I have yet to get channel 20 or 39 through the QAM. Right now, the signal strength for Channels 2, 20 and 39 through TV MAX QAM ranges from upper 30s to just above 50..not enough for a signal.
TV Max customer service says that they don't provide service on channels 85-90 at my complex and the person on the phone didn't understand what QAM was. What a backward company. Zap2IT shows the listings for TVMAX with the locals at channels 85-90 so someone out there knows the digital channels are on QAM. I also don't know why TV Max doesn't carry the other locals (particularly channel 8).
Is there any way to boost or amplify the signal being received via cable through QAM so that it is viewable? And is TV Max ever going to be required to carry the digital signals of all of the broadcast channels?
An antenna is not a great option for me being in the condo complex. I have a good quality indoor antenna, and I switch it out sometimes, but I cannot get channel 13 or 26 digitally with the antenna ( I understand channel 13 antenna is side mounted and their signal will improve when they switch back to UHF.. not sure what the problem with 26 is). ( I also have not been able to get channel 8 or channel 49 digital signal, but I know those are challenging, and they are not on the QAM anyway).
Also, I have a cheap TV with only one antenna input so I have to keep switching. (It was a bargain though.. last 4th of July at Fry's -- $399 for a 32 inch 720p HDTV).
I would like to just receive the digital signals that TV Max is already providing through QAM rather than pay to upgrade to digital cable.
Any way to boost these QAM signals or do I have to just take them as they are provided?
TV Max customer service says that they don't provide service on channels 85-90 at my complex and the person on the phone didn't understand what QAM was. What a backward company. Zap2IT shows the listings for TVMAX with the locals at channels 85-90 so someone out there knows the digital channels are on QAM. I also don't know why TV Max doesn't carry the other locals (particularly channel 8).
Is there any way to boost or amplify the signal being received via cable through QAM so that it is viewable? And is TV Max ever going to be required to carry the digital signals of all of the broadcast channels?
An antenna is not a great option for me being in the condo complex. I have a good quality indoor antenna, and I switch it out sometimes, but I cannot get channel 13 or 26 digitally with the antenna ( I understand channel 13 antenna is side mounted and their signal will improve when they switch back to UHF.. not sure what the problem with 26 is). ( I also have not been able to get channel 8 or channel 49 digital signal, but I know those are challenging, and they are not on the QAM anyway).
Also, I have a cheap TV with only one antenna input so I have to keep switching. (It was a bargain though.. last 4th of July at Fry's -- $399 for a 32 inch 720p HDTV).
I would like to just receive the digital signals that TV Max is already providing through QAM rather than pay to upgrade to digital cable.
Any way to boost these QAM signals or do I have to just take them as they are provided?
