Mark Lasswell of Eagan recently received a letter from Comcast stating that he will be receiving a free upgrade to his standard cable package. He was skeptical about getting something for nothing, especially from Comcast. "Do I have any options here?" he asked in an e-mail.

Not really, but it's not as painful as it sounds. Lasswell is one of thousands of Comcast standard cable customers in the Twin Cities who have gotten or will be getting letters announcing the change. It affects standard cable customers getting channels 2 through 99 who receive cable from the wall with no set-top box. Comcast is switching the Basic 2 tier of channels (24 to 99 with a few exceptions) from analog to digital to make room on the bandwidth for additional features.

Comcast spokesman Dave Nyberg said the upgrade will offer On Demand content (17,000 choices), new channels (Lifetime Movie Network, History International, Biography, PBS Kids Sprout), more international channels and multicultural programming and more high-definition channels. Most, but not all, of the new features are at no additional cost. Nearly 80 percent of On Demand choices (movies, TV series, sports) are free, but some newer movies or sports events are not. Most of the HD channels are free, but can be accessed only if the subscriber pays an additional $7 per month for the first high-definition digital set-top box.

Standard cable customers who don't have set-top boxes (paying about $52 a month before taxes) will receive one free with a universal remote. Customers with additional TVs will get up to two free smaller digital adapters and remotes. The adapters measure 1 by 4 by 5 inches, about half the size of a typical set-top box. Additional adapters are $1.99 per month each. If a customer chooses not to use an adapter on a set that gets cable through the wall, it will receive only channels 2 through 23.

Basic 1 cable customers, who pay about $15 to $28 per month, will not be affected by the change and will not be required to get the adapters because channels 2-23 will still be broadcast in analog.

To order the adapters and an installation kit, customers can call Comcast (1-877-634-4434) or go online (www.comcast.com/digitalnow). The units are sent within five business days via UPS. Installation instructions are included, but video demonstration is available online. Nyberg said it takes 10 to 15 minutes per TV to install the adapter and that more than 80 percent of customers nationwide have successfully installed and activated the adapters themselves. Customers who ask Comcast to do the installation will be charged $16 per outlet.

Most customers will be able to substitute the TV's original remote control with the new one from Comcast. But customers with off-brand TVs such as Initial or Advent might find themselves using two remotes if the programmable code isn't in Comcast's list, said Doug Mamer of East Lake TV in Minneapolis. Ninety-five percent of the codes aren't a problem, he said.

Lasswell's letter indicated that his change wouldn't go into effect until June, but different areas around the Twin Cities have staggered transition times. The east metro and Hudson and River Falls, Wis., will start in March. Minneapolis' schedule has not been finalized, but the entire Twin Cities area is to be completed by the end of the year.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/blogs/dealspotter.