digital to analog converter - the cable co. are going to them as a two-fold device. 1st they can compress the basic/exp. basic channels to digital so thewy can put multiples on a single channel and the box decompresses them back to analog . this saves bandwith for them to upgrade for more channels and/or more broandband capacity. 2nd they can stop cable piracy and increase revenue from preventing piracy.
it's a win - win situation for the cable companies, but for the contractors doing the work at the rates they want to pay the primes, it bacomes a lose - lose for the primes and their subs .....