I recently purchased an HDTV, and was assuming that I would be able to watch HD versions of the channels that are offered in the essentials package. But it seems that the Digital Adapter piece of junk (that I need since all the non-broadcast channels are encrypted) either filters out or can't otherwise decrypt the HD channels. For example, FOX-HD (which is 508 according to the lineup in my area) is a black screen, The normal Fox channel (8) is definitely standard definition, and looks bad, especially when I compare it to the HD signal I get over the air when I hook my TV up to an old fashioned antenna.
I haven't bothered to see whether any of the few unencrypted channels are HD when I plug the cable straight into my TV and use the TV's built-in digital tuner. It would be hard to do anyway: it's impossible to find anything without the Digital Adapter since the channels all come out as wacky numbers. Even if the broadcast channels did come in as HD, it's still a major pain for me: while not using the Digital Adapter, I can't access all the other channels I'm paying for, only the stuff I would get for free anyway, but if I use the Digital adapter I lose the HD I would get with an antenna.
I can't believe I'm paying for cable service (including HD channels) and I get better quality for free over the air (I realize that I'm really only talking about PBS, NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX, but that's 80% of what I watch). I already feel like I'm being ripped off for the monthly cost of the Digital Adapter, there's no way I'm going to pay more than twice as much for the HD-STB, just to access content I'm already paying for, and would be perfectly capable of viewing if it weren't for the encrypted-QAM nonsense (ie the reason the Digital Adapter is needed for TVs that have built-in digital tuners).
Since I doubt VZ (or any other cable carrier for that matter) will adopt a more customer-friendly policy on encrypted-QAM anytime soon, I guess I should invest in a good antenna.
