West Palm Beach, FL - HDTV [Text View] - Page 32

tvguy01

01-08-09, 12:35 PM

Obama FCC transition team also floating idea, sources say
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/7/2009 7:59:00 PM

The DTV hard date appears to be softening.

Consumers Union (CU) late Wednesday asked the heads of the congressional committees with telecommunications oversight, as well as the current and future administrations, to consider delaying the Feb. 17, 2009 transition date.

And at least one of those key Congressional players, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee, says the date may have to move.

In a letter to Rep. Markey, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committe, and others, the CU requested that Congress consider a delay "until a plan is in place to minimize the number of consumers who will lose TV signals, particularly by fixing the flaws in the federal coupon program created to offset the cost of this transition."

The National Telecommunications & Information Administration this week announced that it had hit the funding ceiling for its program to distribute government subsidies for DTV-to-analog converter boxes and that new applications would have to be put on a waiting list unless the cap were raised or the Antideficiency Act (ADA) rule preventing it from spending money it expected to be freed up by expired coupons was waived.

“Congressman Markey is working on an exemption to the ADA to deal with the immediate waiting list issue," said Daniel Reilly, a spokesman for Markey. "But with the date looming, moving the date back certainly warrants further discussion and may be a wise choice.”

According to several sources, the Obama FCC transition team has been "very busy" on the issue and has been floating the possibility of moving the date. The transition press office had not returned an e-mail request for comment at press time.

Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst for Consumers Union and one of the two signatories on the letter, said CU had met with the transition team about the issue, and that they are "rightly concerned that this is a mess that they are now going to have to clean up in a very short time frame."

He would not comment on whether they favored moving the date beyond only saying that the transition team has been "extremely active on the DTV transition issue." He said the Obama transition team had not asked Consumers Union to send the letter.

Consumers Union has suggested a move of four months or so, according to a CNBC interview with CU senior counsel Chris Murray, the other signature on the CU letter. Murray told CNBC that he thought there was a "reasonably good chance" that Congress would push the date back four months or so. "We're not ready to say there will be a delay yet," he said. "We believe that Congress should consider a delay [but] I don't think I can talk about this as something that is readily going to happen," he said.

Perhaps, but the Washington lobbying community was buzzing Wednesday with talk that it was a real possibility.

In an e-mail alert from communications law firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer obtained by B&C, the Murray CNBC intervew was cited prominently, with lawyers there saying they were hearing that "serious consideration" was being given to moving the date to June 1 (Memorial Day weekend) and suggesting more trial balloons would be floated in the coming days.

According to the lobbyist, the new administration is not looking forward to inheriting a transition with major issues about viewers not receiving their subsidies in time. That would include target populations like senior citizens, minorities and the disabled.

It would be tough to make the move at this late date. The broadcasting and cable industries and the government have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and donated airtime on hammering home that Feb. 17 date, putting it on Web sites, billboards, and even a race car. Some broadcasters have already made the switch early (Wilmington, N.C.), or are about to (Hawaii on Jan. 15), and some of the spectrum has already been auctioned for advanced services.

Stewpidity

01-22-09, 09:24 AM

Just an FYI...

For anyone who has Comcast basic cable(channels 2-69) with the new pricing you can get the digital Starter package which includes a basic digital box(not HD/DVR) for pretty much the same price. This would allow you to access on demand content, which i believe has quite a bit of free offerings.

(i have Directv & am not a fan on comcast and only have there cable, because the bundle with cable Internet made more sense)

tvguy01

01-23-09, 10:15 AM

Senate Will Vote to Delay DTV TVWeek

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., announced on Thursday night a bipartisan agreement to delay the country's changeover to digital TV from Feb. 17 to June 12, TelevisionWeek reports. Rockefeller said a Senate vote on the legislation likely would take place next week, according to TVWeek.
—Aimee Picchi

axman278

01-24-09, 11:40 PM

Why are we so far behind broward in our HD selection. We should have AMC hd tlc hd cnn hd fx hd and max hd. comcast puts last priority on palm beach county it seems. They need to drop off most of their analog channels. Like why waste having channel 10 in miami on our lineup in palm beach. and move the travel channel and e network to the digital tier. that we enable us to have around 5 more hd selections

MartyS

01-26-09, 07:46 AM

Actually, since I live in South Palm Beach County and work and travel mostly to Broward County, I'm glad we have Channel 10 and wish more of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale stations were available on Comcast. As it is, I mostly watch the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale stations off of my antenna and record to my TiVo Series 3 from that.

ozonedan

01-26-09, 03:42 PM

I am having a similar issue. I am in wpb using a cheap RCA antenna and DTT901. I was picking up 34-1 CW with a strong signal up until a couple weeks ago. Now I am not getting anything. I do still get 25-1.

Don't feel so bad. I have a Channel Master 4228 outside on a pole and I can't get it anymore. I have Directv with an AM21 OTA tuner. I reset my sat. signals and the channel was there. However, it was gone the next day. Has anyone figured out what is going on?:confused:

tvguy01

01-27-09, 06:43 AM

Senate Agrees To Move DTV Transition Date:mad:

The Senate Monday night approved unanimously a compromise bill that would move the DTV transition date from Feb. 17 to June 12, but it must now be reconciled with a House version of the bill.

MartyS

01-27-09, 11:28 AM

HobeSoundDarryl

01-28-09, 02:55 PM

Another 4 months of those silly Public Service Announcements, like several years wasn't enough :mad:

It looks like the House of Representatives shot down the delay...
http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/house-defeats-bill-to-delay-digital-tv-switch/?hp

PeterAlt

01-29-09, 03:41 PM

My problem is still only on CNN, either via STB or direct cable feed of CNN. There is a constant clicking sound, similar to AM radio reception, only on CNN. I receive 233 channels via Comcast and after carefully checking the audio on each channel, it only occurs on CNN when receiving the feed from their studio news feed. When they go to a commercial or recorded feed , it does not occur.:mad:

Yesterday, there was a time period when I lost all audio for their news feed and national commercials but continued to receive audio during local Comcast commercials. :confused: Apparently, someone was attempting to correct this problem but could not.

I believe it is a problem with something at Comcast's head-end and not CNN. Maybe after the holiday weekends are over,the regular people will be back to work and this will be corrected. I have noticed in the past years that they are very deficient during holiday periods.

I understand that this is "off topic" for WPB HD forum but it is the only place I can look for help.

Forgive me for jumping in here to give my 2 cents a little late, but lately I've been experiencing the same thing. It looks like Comcast is now sending these channels digitally down the system and they're having them converted to analog signals at the neighborhood fiber optic node or elsewhere in the system before reaching our homes.

These types of problems can happen when there's interference in the digital signal at the point of the digital-to-analog converter or if their compression ratio becomes too high. If the line is a fiber optic cable, sharp turns in its path can also cause occasional corruption of signal.

Comcast, being the experts they are, know all of this, of course. So, my guess is either they are aware of the problem and they're working on it, or they've routed the digital signals through temporary lines because maybe higher capacity, permanent lines may be currently in a state of construction.

vtpsystems

01-30-09, 03:54 AM

Alright so I just recently turned on my set to watch the evening news with the wife and I cant find channel 7.1 or 7.2 instead I find 8.3 and 8.4 transmitting the news with the 7 station logo where 7.1 and 7.2 usually transmits but now 8.3 and 8.4 are transmitting. I never programmed 8.3 or 8.4 We're Using OTA outdoor, no other channels appear to be renumbered and we have made no changes. My wife was told the stations analog ch number is 7 and digital is 8. She was told the station would remain channel 7 when the analog to digital conversion is complete so this leads me to believe what we're experiencing isn't normal. We connected a converter box to a tube and re scanned to start clean and that set picks up the 7.1 and 7.2 channels the Pio was receiving just last night and now replaced with 8.3 and 8.4. Wife and I hope you can advise us.

Do you have OTA and would you mind checking your set. Did your channel numbers change Is 7.1 right now 8.3 on your set too or is there a problem with our new set. Is it true you will see ch 7 displayed on the tv after the transition. The statin is claiming nothing has changed and you will see channel 7.1 and so forth even aftr the transition and even if you input channel 8 you will always be taken to 7.1 and not 8.3. Last night was the last time we saw channel number 7.1 and 7.2 displayed on the set its there its just called 8.3 and 8.4 now where before it was 7.1 and 7.2 and also had the station name next to it now it just shows dtv 8.3 air with no station name or anything else. My wife and I have never seen this even the cheepie converter connected to a tube tv still shows 7.1 even after a re scan or manual input of channel 8 you get taken to 7.1 and never has a tv added or switched channel numbers on us while its on and even less when its off that is something you have to do by hand. Keep in mind this tvs only connection is to a wall and an ota antenna so no cable or dish or other connection accessories that could have caused this. My wife and I thank you for your help this was a major investment

wdsnls

01-30-09, 06:51 AM

Forgive me for jumping in here to give my 2 cents a little late, but lately I've been experiencing the same thing. It looks like Comcast is now sending these channels digitally down the system and they're having them converted to analog signals at the neighborhood fiber optic node or elsewhere in the system before reaching our homes.

These types of problems can happen when there's interference in the digital signal at the point of the digital-to-analog converter or if their compression ratio becomes too high. If the line is a fiber optic cable, sharp turns in its path can also cause occasional corruption of signal.

Comcast, being the experts they are, know all of this, of course. So, my guess is either they are aware of the problem and they're working on it, or they've routed the digital signals through temporary lines because maybe higher capacity, permanent lines may be currently in a state of construction.
I haven't had any audio dropouts lately but CNN's audio has a constant background sound which is similar to the sound of "rain drops" hitting an umbrella, similar to what you hear in the background of a golf event when it's raining. Overall, I noticed much more signal degragation on the analog channels.

Over the past several weeks I have noticed, almost every day, Comcast's maintenance trucks in the gated community I reside in, doing work. I have made three calls this month for same service disruption, losing all digital channnels and horizontal lines on all analog channels. It is always fixed within a few hours.

Thanks for your explanantion.

Trip in VA

01-30-09, 08:58 AM

HobeSoundDarryl

01-30-09, 10:53 AM

And for those that have been around when the locals started lighting up their digital channels, I wonder how ready they are for the actual switch? A few of the locals seemed to spend years ironing out the bugs in their digital channel broadcast. Some would work for a while, then fail (failures blamed on our receivers of course), get repaired, work, fail again (again our receivers must have suddenly stopped working properly... with just their channel), repaired, work, fail, etc

As I understand it, in February several of them have to actually switch to their allotted band. While that seems conceptually simple, I wonder if we'll potentially have weeks of problems again (and I wonder if, yet again, it will be because of our receivers).:rolleyes:

kitatiger

01-31-09, 08:34 AM

Trip in VA Quote:
Originally Posted by vtpsystems
Alright so I just recently turned on my set to watch the evening news with the wife and I cant find channel 7.1 or 7.2 instead I find 8.3 and 8.4 transmitting the news with the 7 station logo where 7.1 and 7.2 usually transmits but now 8.3 and 8.4 are transmitting. I never programmed 8.3 or 8.4 We're Using OTA outdoor, no other channels appear to be renumbered and we have made no changes.

Sometimes if the station has equipment problems, it will lose the 7-1 mapping for a while. It sounds exactly like an equipment problem at the station. You might try either a rescan or asking if others are having the same issue.

- Trip
Me too but with channels 12-1 and 12-2...I've posted back a while that I sometimes get them as 13-3 and 13-4...and worse...I have a power antenna, and those channels do NOT come in with the power on...ONLY WITH THE POWER OFF :eek::confused::mad: .....of course, then I can't get the other channels...probably time to get a new/better antenna...

PeterAlt

02-02-09, 02:07 PM

I haven't had any audio dropouts lately but CNN's audio has a constant background sound which is similar to the sound of "rain drops" hitting an umbrella, similar to what you hear in the background of a golf event when it's raining. Overall, I noticed much more signal degragation on the analog channels.

Over the past several weeks I have noticed, almost every day, Comcast's maintenance trucks in the gated community I reside in, doing work. I have made three calls this month for same service disruption, losing all digital channnels and horizontal lines on all analog channels. It is always fixed within a few hours.

Thanks for your explanantion.

If you drive by and see them working, roll down your window and ask them if their work involves a system upgrade or just general maintenence.

I'm curious because if you look at the Dade-Broward line-up, they have several more HD channels and a dozen or so more analog channels, which tells me that that system is carrying much more bandwidth than ours. If they ever plan on merging the two systems, they will have to match our bandwidth with their capacity. So, I wonder if that's what they're doing?

kitatiger

02-02-09, 07:13 PM

Well, courtesy of a $10/mo USPS moving address coupon, I've pulled the trigger on the Borg/DirecTV...3 rooms "choice" pkge (+showtime) for $30...resistance is futile...
The reason for this post is to ask for any advice/warnings...as I've a week to cancel...
Another reason is to pass on info...'scuse me if it's old news...DirecTV will transmit LOCAL stations in HD at no extra cost...I guess that means the standard box can receive HD signals and pass them to Sami via HDMI...

A question...
Does anyone know the other outputs on the standard box? S-video for instance...the rep said it had composite outputs for recording to my VAIO dvr, but S-vid WOULD be better, but he didn't know if the standard box had S-vid....

Thank you in advance for your replies....

kitatiger

02-02-09, 07:14 PM

smithfarmer

02-03-09, 01:54 AM

I'm curious because if you look at the Dade-Broward line-up, they have several more HD channels and a dozen or so more analog channels, which tells me that that system is carrying much more bandwidth than ours. If they ever plan on merging the two systems, they will have to match our bandwidth with their capacity. So, I wonder if that's what they're doing?

I doubt we will merge with Broward/Miami-Dade. Too many STB's to replace. They are a different DMA(market) and therefore will always have different channels than we do. We should eventually catch up to them in the amount of national HD channels though.

I definitely prefer our SA 8300HD DVR's over the new Motorola STB's they're using down south. I recently installed 2 plasmas for family members living in Broward and we have way more options in our 8300's user menus that offer us greater control, features and flexibility and the 8300's menus are far easier to navigate through.

A couple of months ago I also purchased My DVR Expanders that provide an extra 500GB of recording space for each of my DVR's. They're super easy to install, just plug in the provided cable to the back of your 8300 and wait a minute while it formats. You can't do that with the Moto boxes!

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=334&language=en

Joel Graffman

02-03-09, 07:50 AM

TLTURBO

02-03-09, 10:22 AM

wdsnls

02-03-09, 10:32 AM

If you drive by and see them working, roll down your window and ask them if their work involves a system upgrade or just general maintenence.

I'm curious because if you look at the Dade-Broward line-up, they have several more HD channels and a dozen or so more analog channels, which tells me that that system is carrying much more bandwidth than ours. If they ever plan on merging the two systems, they will have to match our bandwidth with their capacity. So, I wonder if that's what they're doing?
I haven't seen them for over a week and the problem of "losing digital and lines on analog" have also gone. It must have been repair and maintenance.

PeterAlt

02-03-09, 07:43 PM

Well, courtesy of a $10/mo USPS moving address coupon, I've pulled the trigger on the Borg/DirecTV...3 rooms "choice" pkge (+showtime) for $30 + tx/mo...resistance is futile...
The reason for this post is to ask for any advice/warnings...as I've a week to cancel...
Another reason is to pass on info...'scuse me if it's old news...DirecTV will transmit LOCAL stations in HD at no extra cost...I guess that means the standard box can receive HD signals and pass them to Sami via HDMI...

A question...
Does anyone know the other outputs on the standard box? S-video for instance...the rep said it had composite outputs for recording to my VAIO dvr, but S-vid WOULD be better, but he didn't know if the standard box had S-vid....

Thank you in advance for your replies....

Edit....cancelled my order when I received my e-mail confirm that had my address wrong, my service wrong, and so many other facts different from what I was told over the phone that I would not do business with them...
1. NO HDMI on the standard receiver box...hence no reception of local HD...and...
2. 18mo contract....at no time was any length of service longer than 12 months discussed....

When I asked for written confirmation of my cancellation they wouldn't, saying it's not their policy...jheese....what a bunch of amateurs...

Besides HDMI, component video can also get carry HD signals, if the box has it. Component video is an analog HD standard and consists of 3 RCA cables coded Red, Blue, and Green. You will still need the red and white RCA pair for sound, so in total component video requires 5 RCA connections. It can handle 480i (better than S-video), 480p, 720p, and 1080i, but not 1080p. FYI, S-video only handles 480i, albeit a better 480i than composite video (single RCA video connection color-coded yellow).

HDMI and DVI are digital connection standards and can handle all formats, including 1080p, as well as uncompressed 7.1 audio according to the most recent specification. VGA, the standard PCs use, is an analog standard, but can carry all formats as well.

PeterAlt

02-03-09, 08:20 PM

I doubt we will merge with Broward/Miami-Dade. Too many STB's to replace. They are a different DMA(market) and therefore will always have different channels than we do. We should eventually catch up to them in the amount of national HD channels though.

I definitely prefer our SA 8300HD DVR's over the new Motorola STB's they're using down south. I recently installed 2 plasmas for family members living in Broward and we have way more options in our 8300's user menus that offer us greater control, features and flexibility and the 8300's menus are far easier to navigate through.

A couple of months ago I also purchased My DVR Expanders that provide an extra 500GB of recording space for each of my DVR's. They're super easy to install, just plug in the provided cable to the back of your 8300 and wait a minute while it formats. You can't do that with the Moto boxes!

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=334&language=en

Well, I believe the decision was that we will keep our boxes and that we are getting new software for compatibility of all national Comcast services. With this approach, there's no need to trade boxes. We get to keep our boxes and Comcast is free from the huge expense of purchasing new equipment for each and every customer. Their expense would be the development cost of software that's automatically installed to our SA boxes.

Channel 1 On Demand is the first such program. Even though the interface looks totally different than how it looks on the Motorola boxes, it's code compatible. Comcast has paid TiVo for development of new DVR and EPG software for both Motorola and SA platforms and will eventually roll out both versions nationally.

It makes sense to merge the systems if you take, for example, Pompano-Deerfield that has the same broadcast market as Boca-Delray. If we were merged with Dade-Broward, new channels and services would instantaneously get deployed here as well. Now, wouldn't that be nice? It's been several months since they got CNN-HD and several other new HD channels and we would be lucky if they ever remember and/or get around to adding those to our system.

PeterAlt

02-03-09, 08:32 PM

OK, here I go again.
I'm looking to cut my monthly TV costs. I have Dish HD w/DVR and it costs me about $80 a month before pay per view costs (4.99 each).

I have basic Comcast free through HOA and can get it upgraded to HD w/DVR for under $40 a month I believe.

Couple of questions.
If you record a movie on Comcast, do you still have the limited time to watch it and if you start watching it, you have to finish in 24 hours or it goes away?

How many tuners are in the Comcast HD DVR? On DISH, I have a HD off air, a HD sat and a SD sat. So I can record 2 HD channels and watch a SD at the same time.

Anyone find Comcast HD selection lacking compared to DISH?

Do you have to pay for the on demand stuff and how much are pay per view movies?

Any answers appreciated. The savings would be nice but I'd hate to run out of recording room, not have the HD channels I like, can't record more than one HD at a time.

The Comcast SA DVR is dual tuner. Comcast only carries 30-some HD channels, but those channels are the most-watched with the most programming actually in HD (versus up-converted from SD). Making up for the much more limited selection of linear HD channels, they have a huge selection of on demand programs in HD from most their HD channels as well as HD from many channels that's not in their linear HD channel offering.

LRZNole

02-03-09, 08:47 PM

I still can't over the fact that we don't have Cinemax HD. How can we not have all of the 4 main premium channels in high-def?

smithfarmer

02-03-09, 11:39 PM

It's pretty sad that the "new" Comcast STB is inferior to the clunky 8300 interface.

I've been using the 8300's for a little over four years now and find them to be pretty straight forward and simple to use. The only time it really feels "clunky" is when trying to access content on Channel One. ;)

Well, I believe the decision was that we will keep our boxes and that we are getting new software for compatibility of all national Comcast services. With this approach, there's no need to trade boxes. We get to keep our boxes and Comcast is free from the huge expense of purchasing new equipment for each and every customer. Their expense would be the development cost of software that's automatically installed to our SA boxes.

Channel 1 On Demand is the first such program. Even though the interface looks totally different than how it looks on the Motorola boxes, it's code compatible. Comcast has paid TiVo for development of new DVR and EPG software for both Motorola and SA platforms and will eventually roll out both versions nationally.

It makes sense to merge the systems if you take, for example, Pompano-Deerfield that has the same broadcast market as Boca-Delray. If we were merged with Dade-Broward, new channels and services would instantaneously get deployed here as well. Now, wouldn't that be nice? It's been several months since they got CNN-HD and several other new HD channels and we would be lucky if they ever remember and/or get around to adding those to our system.

You bring up many valid points but we have less bandwidth than the systems to the south and unless they upgrade our infrastructure, a merger doesn't seem plausible. The Tivo software really sounds great, I just hope it doesn't cause us to lose any of the capabilities that our boxes currently have.

I still can't over the fact that we don't have Cinemax HD. How can we not have all of the 4 main premium channels in high-def?
Crazy, isn't it?

Joel Graffman

02-04-09, 07:59 AM

OK, here I go again.
I'm looking to cut my monthly TV costs. I have Dish HD w/DVR and it costs me about $80 a month before pay per view costs (4.99 each).

I have basic Comcast free through HOA and can get it upgraded to HD w/DVR for under $40 a month I believe.

Couple of questions.
If you record a movie on Comcast, do you still have the limited time to watch it and if you start watching it, you have to finish in 24 hours or it goes away?

How many tuners are in the Comcast HD DVR? On DISH, I have a HD off air, a HD sat and a SD sat. So I can record 2 HD channels and watch a SD at the same time.

Anyone find Comcast HD selection lacking compared to DISH?

Do you have to pay for the on demand stuff and how much are pay per view movies?

Any answers appreciated. The savings would be nice but I'd hate to run out of recording room, not have the HD channels I like, can't record more than one HD at a time.

In regard to recording movies, if you are referring to non-pay per view you can leave them on the hard drive as long as you like. I don't buy their pay per view, but believe it's good for 24 hours.

The comcast SA 8300HD allows only 2 watch or record simultaneous channels. You can use a splitter and view a 3rd channel by using your TV cable tuner.

I was a direct TV customer for many years. In the days of analog cable service, satellite service was far superior. Now that cable is digital, there are pros and cons for both. If you are getting basic cable for free, you are paying a lot of money for little if any improvement in service.

My cable bill is a bit less than $40 for all the digital channels and renting an SA 8300. I do not have premium movie channels (HBO etc.)

TLTURBO

02-04-09, 11:02 AM

Thanks for the answers.
Yes, they quoted me 35.90/month (after cheaper first 4 months) for HD with the DVR since I have free basic.
I assume this is the 8300 box you mention?. One thing that bothers me is it says there is only 20 hrs of HD recording capability? Did I see that you can attach an external storage device to increase this or that there is a bigger storage receiver available?

Are both the tuners HD so you can record 2 HD shows at the same time?
Their DVR writeup says you can record 2 shows and watch a recorded show all at the same time.
Is that true - can you record 2 HD shows AND watch a saved HD show at the same time?

For a $50/month savings, this looks like the way to go.

Joel Graffman

02-04-09, 03:11 PM

I've been using the 8300's for a little over four years now and find them to be pretty straight forward and simple to use. The only time it really feels "clunky" is when trying to access content on Channel One. ;)

I call the 8300 interface clunky primarily because it is a low resolution display on an HDTV box. Think MSDOS/CGA on a modern computer. Adequate for the days of 21 inch TVs, but not now. I agree it is simple to use.

The Channel One implementation is worse than clunky, it is barely usable. Compare this to the Netflix movie streaming interface. I expect that STB ram and/or processor limitations forced them to use this inadequate IPTV implementation.

In all fairness to Comcast, as long as they are able to rent these dinosaurs at $10 per month there is little incentive for them to change.

smithfarmer

02-05-09, 12:18 AM

I assume this is the 8300 box you mention?. One thing that bothers me is it says there is only 20 hrs of HD recording capability?
20 hours of HD was the limit before their latest compression scheme which allows a bit more space. You can record about 10 times that amount for SD channels.

Did I see that you can attach an external storage device to increase this or that there is a bigger storage receiver available?

See my post above. I bought them from Costco.com for around $129 each.

Are both the tuners HD so you can record 2 HD shows at the same time?
Their DVR writeup says you can record 2 shows and watch a recorded show all at the same time.
Is that true - can you record 2 HD shows AND watch a saved HD show at the same time?

Yes to all ?'s

smithfarmer

02-05-09, 12:37 AM

I call the 8300 interface clunky primarily because it is a low resolution display on an HDTV box. Think MSDOS/CGA on a modern computer. Adequate for the days of 21 inch TVs, but not now. I agree it is simple to use.
Understood!

The Channel One implementation is worse than clunky, it is barely usable. Compare this to the Netflix movie streaming interface. I expect that STB ram and/or processor limitations forced them to use this inadequate IPTV implementation.
Agreed. I hardly ever use it.

In all fairness to Comcast, as long as they are able to rent these dinosaurs at $10 per month there is little incentive for them to change.

The price just went up on my Feb. bill - $15.95 for each SA 8300HD DVR.

Our HOA just signed a new 10 year contract. We now get Digital Standard w/one free STB and all channels of HBO. Including credit for the HOA deal, my Feb. bill is $129.xx for all available channels Comcast offers, 2 HD DVR's and High Speed Internet.

Joel Graffman

02-05-09, 05:31 AM

Understood!

Agreed. I hardly ever use it.

The price just went up on my Feb. bill - $15.95 for each SA 8300HD DVR.

Our HOA just signed a new 10 year contract. We now get Digital Standard w/one free STB and all channels of HBO. Including credit for the HOA deal, my Feb. bill is $129.xx for all available channels Comcast offers, 2 HD DVR's and High Speed Internet.
Do you have any details of the contract terms? Is it the DVR box?

LRZNole

02-05-09, 10:02 AM

I have the same deal with my HOA - $129 for everything, 2 HD DVRs & Internet & all channels.

TLTURBO

02-05-09, 12:53 PM

Thanks again -
Can you tell me if the SA 8300 HD DVR has an optical audio output on the back of the box to feed the audio signal to my amp? Is there any place with a pic of the back of the box showing all the cable connections? I use optical from the Sat box and coaxal from the DVD.

LRZNole

02-05-09, 01:12 PM

I use HDMI but to answer your question yes it does have optical/toslink in the back. To get a view try Scientific Atlanta's website.

wdsnls

02-05-09, 03:34 PM

smithfarmer

02-06-09, 12:32 AM

Do you have any details of the contract terms? Is it the DVR box?

Not yet. Our HOA website han't been updated with the terms of the contract. When Comcast was onsite back in Nov., they were giving out old SA 8000 boxes. These are SD DVR boxes but if you wanted to use the DVR capability there would be a charge for it.

I have the same deal with my HOA - $129 for everything, 2 HD DVRs & Internet & all channels.

Did you have the Ultimate Advantage Pak with Adelphia and were grandfathered in when Comacst took over?

The downside to our grandfathered Adelphia deal is that if we make any changes to our service like adding another HD DVR or Comcast's telephone service we will lose the special pricing that we currently have.

I'm under the impression that those of us who were grandfathered in are getting a much better deal than any of our neighbors who only have the current HOA deal and were to call tomorrow to upgrade their service to match ours.

LRZNole

02-06-09, 10:19 AM

Smithfarmer:

Yes I had the Ultimate Advantage Package. I didn'y know we could lose it if we changed something. Do you really think they could change our whole pricing if we added an additional STB? Than doesn't make any sense, but then again we are dealing with Comcast.

smithfarmer

02-07-09, 12:59 AM

Smithfarmer:

Do you really think they could change our whole pricing if we added an additional STB?

I experienced it first hand. Back in Nov. Comcast came to my community and were giving away the free STB's I mentioned earlier. I went to the designated location in my community and after verifying with one of Comcast's on-site rep's that my bill would stay the same, took one home.

When the Dec. bill arrived it had increased by $30. I immediately called Comcast and after explaining the situation numerous times to several people they fianally relented and gave me my old pricing back but I had to promise to return the supposedly free STB.

That weekend I returned the box to the local Comcast office on Lake Worth Road and was badgered again by one of the CSR's there. It was an entirely ridiculous encounter. From the bad attitude I received, an innocent bystander would have thought that I had stolen the CSR's wallet, bitch slapped her mother and raped her daughter.

I stood my ground and had my previous two months bills with me and the copious amount of notes I had taken during my phone conversation with their CSR(including the date and time of my call, names of those I had spoken to and what I had been promised). I was not so politely informed that I can't ever make any changes to this account. I paid my bill and got a receipt for it and the returned box and promptly left.

January's bill came and it wasn't correct. Again, I had to call and speak to a supervisor to get it straightened out. Sort of. They really couldn't figure out how to adjust it properly and just gave me a credit. February's bill just came in and it is finally correct.

Than doesn't make any sense, but then again we are dealing with Comcast.

Sadly, this is becoming the norm when dealing with Corporate America.

tvguy01

02-07-09, 10:30 PM

What will the individual stations do here if the delay is approved?

hdtvis4me

02-07-09, 11:23 PM

I experienced it first hand. Back in Nov. Comcast came to my community and were giving away the free STB's I mentioned earlier. I went to the designated location in my community and after verifying with one of Comcast's on-site rep's that my bill would stay the same, took one home.

When the Dec. bill arrived it had increased by $30. I immediately called Comcast and after explaining the situation numerous times to several people they fianally relented and gave me my old pricing back but I had to promise to return the supposedly free STB.

That weekend I returned the box to the local Comcast office on Lake Worth Road and was badgered again by one of the CSR's there. It was an entirely ridiculous encounter. From the bad attitude I received, an innocent bystander would have thought that I had stolen the CSR's wallet, bitch slapped her mother and raped her daughter.

I stood my ground and had my previous two months bills with me and the copious amount of notes I had taken during my phone conversation with their CSR(including the date and time of my call, names of those I had spoken to and what I had been promised). I was not so politely informed that I can't ever make any changes to this account. I paid my bill and got a receipt for it and the returned box and promptly left.

January's bill came and it wasn't correct. Again, I had to call and speak to a supervisor to get it straightened out. Sort of. They really couldn't figure out how to adjust it properly and just gave me a credit. February's bill just came in and it is finally correct.

Sadly, this is becoming the norm when dealing with Corporate America.

Ran into these issues with Comcast as well. Ordered DTV last night to replace my Comcrap HD DVRs.

pcmike

02-08-09, 12:02 AM

kitatiger

02-08-09, 11:50 AM

What the heck was going on last night during SNL? The audio kept switching between 2ch and 5.1 and the video was switching between 1080i and some regular standard definition picture. This was on comcast. I'm watching right now and its still switching back and forth like someone is drunk and flipping a switch!! Am I the only one experiencing this?!

I just returned the Standard receiver box and had the same issue last night on OTA and cable reception....thought it was something with my reduced service...oh well, comcrap in comcrap out...

One thing I noticed was that in cable mode I not only got cable but OTA broadcasts of the same stations...i.e. got channel 3 cable and its OTA counterpart channel 5.1....as well as 5.2 etc not on the list of broadcast station level of cable reception (2-23) in the past....
I don't think the reception was as good as OTA, but that may be because I need to reset the image values, brightness, contrast, color etc....

acesk8er

02-08-09, 09:10 PM

DIGITAL DIVIDE: Even in 'prepared' West Palm market, consumer static over switch to digital TV signal grows

By RANDY DIAMOND

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, February 08, 2009

PAHOKEE — Roswell Harrington thought he had done all the right things in preparing for the switch to all-digital television.

Months ago, the 57-year-old manager of Keen's Mobile Home Park requested and got his $40 coupon to help buy a converter box.

He thought it would be as simple as connecting several cables from his converter box to his TV. It wasn't.

Some stations came in with a clear picture, while others didn't come in at all. A $40 indoor antenna Harrington bought two weeks ago to replace the rabbit ears on his analog TV cleared up WTVX-Channel 34, but "Channel 12 and Channel 25 (still) fade in and out," he said.

"It's not as easy as the ads on television make it seem," said Harrington, his voice denoting his anger and frustration at his lack of reception.

For thousands of Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast viewers like Harrington, the road to the digital TV transition - a shutdown of analog over-the-air broadcasts in favor of higher-quality signals - is proving to be a bumpy one.

And while it makes last week's decision by Congress to push back the date from Feb. 17 to June 12 - a move backed by the Obama administration - look smart, industry experts are increasingly nervous that the long-overdue dream of transitioning to an all-digital broadcast spectrum could become a consumer nightmare leaving millions of unprepared U.S. households with blacked-out TV sets.

Some estimates put the number of unprepared households with older sets at more than 6 million.

Still, critics of the delay contend the new date is unneeded and altering the long-expected deadline will confuse only consumers while harming broadcasters and emergency responders. As a result, local broadcasters, concerned about hurricane season, are weighing whether to go forward with switching off their analog signal ahead of the new June 12 deadline.

According to the Nielsen Co., the West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce TV market is among the "best-prepared" with less than 3 percent of its households considered unprepared for the switch over.

It's what makes up that percentage, or about 21,900 households, that has Federal Communications Commission officials and consumer groups nervous: the poor, elderly and rural communities.

Early switch aids stations

Already, frustrated television viewers from Port St. Lucie to Pahokee to west Boynton have complained to local stations by the hundreds that they are experiencing blank screens and poor reception as they attempt to navigate the switch from analog to digital TV.

Peggy and Joel VanArman have tinkered with converter boxes, using three different antennas on three analog TVs. But, like Harrington, the West Palm Beach couple has yet to find reception for all the local television stations.

Peggy VanArman, a biology professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University, said they've encountered buzzing noises coming from the converter, frozen TV pictures and a blank screen on some stations.

VanArman said no matter what, she can still get reception from an analog TV in their living room which is connected to the Dish Network. However, she is concerned about the neighborhood's seniors who don't have cable or satellite.

"A lot of people still don't understand they will not be getting reception after the analog signal stops," VanArman said.

Whether that's enough to keep local television broadcasters from asking the FCC for permission to stick to the Feb. 17 analog service cut-off date remains to be seen. The legislation delaying the date does allow broadcast stations to switch from analog to digital signals sooner than June 12 if they clear the move with the FCC.

The FCC has said that more than 1,000 stations are operating digital channels and are ready to make the switch. More than 140 stations have already ended analog service, the agency said.

That's because the stations also have an economic incentive: They will save hundreds of thousands of dollars in electric bills by no longer broadcasting both analog and digital signals.

Indeed, WTVX already cut off its analog signal on Dec. 1 - generating more than 200 calls, letters and e-mails from viewers by early January.

Channel 34 chief engineer Jim Betts said at the time that the CW station was forced to turn off its analog signal earlier because of the $500,000-plus cost of adding a new digital frequency. Several weeks of work was needed on the station's 1,500-foot tower in Fort Pierce, he said.

"It wasn't as simple as flipping a switch to turn our analog signal off,'' Betts said.

Overall, the delay may cost public broadcasters $22 million, the Public Broadcasting System estimates.

Aggravation with antennas

Cable and satellite TV service and newer TVs with digital over-the-air tuners are unaffected by the change, but many of those proactive consumers who bought converter boxes for their older analog sets are equally frustrated.

Take Thomas Hayes. The retired Boca Raton electrical engineer said he purchased three different mail-order antennas and used a compass to set antenna coordinates to WPEC-Channel 12's tower to ensure getting a digital reception. He now gets WPEC's signal, but is still having problems with reception from some Miami stations that used to come in clear on his analog TV.

With antenna installation services a thing of the past, Hayes foresees problems for people without technical knowledge.

"I don't know how an 80-year-old senior citizen could deal with this."

Moreover, the old familiar rabbit ears sitting atop analog TV sets could be more of a hindrance than a help, according to Bob Blauvelt, chief broadcast engineer at WPEC-Channel 12.

"If viewers are getting digital reception on rabbit ears, they are very lucky," he said.

Blauvelt suggests a UHF-VHF band outdoor antenna for the best digital reception, but admits that may still be inadequate for some viewers - who might need two antennas.

Harrington, of Pahokee, laments that such antenna advice can costs hundreds of dollars, money he doesn't have to spare.

It was such concerns that TV screens could fade to black for vulnerable groups - like senior citizens living primarily on Social Security and Medicare - that led the Obama administration last month to call for a delay. A waiting list of more than a million households had developed for the $40 coupons to help buy converter boxes because the FCC had hit its $1.34 billion limit for the subsidy program.

And although only five TV markets have a better ratio of viewers who are ready for the digital change than West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce, that low rate of unprepared doesn't count another 47,000 households with at least one analog TV that won't work after the switch.

Some problems may be worked out as stations, such as WTVX, invest in new digital equipment and move to stronger frequencies.

But Steve Wasserman, the general manger of WPTV-Channel 5, said the full extent of consumer problems won't be known after the switch.

"No one knows for sure, until it happens and we make the transition, what the fallout will be," he said.

Meanwhile, Pahokee resident Belen Beltran isn't taking any chances. The mother of four has been on the waiting list for a converter coupon since Dec. 1. She decided the only safe choice to ensure an uninterrupted signal was to sign up for cable at the cost of $50 dollars a month.

It's a expense that Beltran, who makes around $300 a week as a property manager, says she can barely afford.

"But it's for the kids," she said. "It's hard to be without TV."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/business/epaper/2009/02/08/a1f_dtv_0209.html

acesk8er

02-08-09, 09:21 PM

What will the individual stations do here if the delay is approved?

My guess: The major commercial stations (other than WTVX, which did a "flash cut" back in December) will keep analog going through 6/12. WXEL (PBS A42 / D27) has already put up a countdown clock on their website for 3/31. WPXP (ION A67 / D36) and WTCE (TBN A21 / D38) will shut down analog on 2/17.

Qualcomm wants WPTV (A5 / D55) to be gone from channel 55. They may throw some money at WPEC (A12 / D13) to terminate analog early and at WPTV to move their digital early. (Channel 12 is WPTV's post-transition digital assignment.)

Joel Graffman

02-09-09, 07:49 AM

My guess: The major commercial stations (other than WTVX, which did a "flash cut" back in December) will keep analog going through 6/12. WXEL (PBS A42 / D27) has already put up a countdown clock on their website for 3/31. WPXP (ION A67 / D36) and WTCE (TBN A21 / D38) will shut down analog on 2/17.

Qualcomm wants WPTV (A5 / D55) to be gone from channel 55. They may throw some money at WPEC (A12 / D13) to terminate analog early and at WPTV to move their digital early. (Channel 12 is WPTV's post-transition digital assignment.)

Thanks for the timely info. You seem to have some very good sources. Care to share what they are?

acesk8er

02-09-09, 01:29 PM

After all that was said and done the only station in our immediate area that is going all digital on 2/17 is WPXM in Miami.

pglenn

02-09-09, 08:30 PM

I am having issues recording with the ComCast DVR Explorer-8300HD

some of my recordings will lock up mid-way thru while viewing them. If I try to PLAy and/or FF eventually the DVR will re-boot. A more common problem I am having, I am getting more and more incomplete recordings - meaning for 1-hou programs the DVR is recording anywhere from 1minute to 52minutes. as mentioned this is becoming more and more common.

I have had the DVR for almost a year with no issues. I am not using a 2nd/external drive. I have re-booted several times, in addition to the DVR re-booting itself. any and all assistance will be appreciated.

smithfarmer

02-09-09, 11:31 PM

Disconnect all cables and pull the power plug out of the wall socket and leave it like that for 24 hours. If that doesn't work then you'll have to swap it out.

tvguy01

02-10-09, 08:10 PM

491 TV Stations Want To Keep Feb. 17 DTV Transition Date

Another 190 have already switched or are doing so before Feb. 17

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/10/2009 3:15:43 PM MT

Between a quarter and a third of all TV stations want to go ahead and pull the plug on analog Feb. 17, which could make for what is effectively a staggered start to the DTV era, depending on how many the FCC allows to go on that date.

A total of 491 TV stations have told the FCC they want to make the transition to digital Feb. 17, according to a just-released list from the commission.

Another 190 have already switched or are doing so before Feb. 17.

It is now up to the FCC to let stations know whether they can or not.

tvguy01

02-11-09, 07:55 AM

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-221A5.pdf

TLTURBO

02-12-09, 07:53 AM

wdsnls

02-12-09, 08:21 AM

DISH owners
Has anyone else been having terrible trouble with channel 12-0 std def and 12-1 OTA HD?
Last night I finally gave up on Criminal Minds and CSI as the signal would freeze, or totally go away for a few minutes, or sound but no pic, etc. I also get a Signal Lost message when the strangth is 100. I change channel and come back and then it comes in.

Are they just screwing around with the digital converstion stuff and as usual, can't figure anything out? This has always been the crappiest channel of all the local networks. Dish doesn't carry their SAT HD feed and I always thought it was because the network refused but I'm wondering if DISH decided it was too crappy to carry HA HA

Did any of you on cable experience the same thing?

Thanks
They mentioned yesterday on the noon news that their digital, 12.1, was down and being worked on. It still had problems going in and out all day both OTA and via Comcast. I saw no problems on the analog feed.

TRT

02-12-09, 08:31 AM

Frankly, if the local stations went off the air; It would be months before I would even notice. There are way too many good programs on DiscHD, HD Net, SmithsonianHD, etc. Music, Blu-ray movies, DVD's and watching paint dry all trump local station programming. I was cleaning my theater the other day and saw a large clump of dust. When I hit it with the duster, I realized the dust was covering my indoor antenna!

JeffBowser

02-12-09, 10:42 AM

On an opposing note, I am actually considering going OTA only, saving myself over $100 a month. I'd really miss the very channels you mention, but if the economy keeps tanking, 40-50 free digital channels, including all the majors in HD is nothing to blow off.

Frankly, if the local stations went off the air; It would be months before I would even notice. There are way too many good programs on DiscHD, HD Net, SmithsonianHD, etc. Music, Blu-ray movies, DVD's and watching paint dry all trump local station programming. I was cleaning my theater the other day and saw a large clump of dust. When I hit it with the duster, I realized the dust was covering my indoor antenna!

kitatiger

02-13-09, 08:52 AM

DISH owners
Has anyone else been having terrible trouble with channel 12-0 std def and 12-1 OTA HD?
Last night I finally gave up on Criminal Minds and CSI as the signal would freeze, or totally go away for a few minutes, or sound but no pic, etc. I also get a Signal Lost message when the strangth is 100. I change channel and come back and then it comes in.

Are they just screwing around with the digital converstion stuff and as usual, can't figure anything out? This has always been the crappiest channel of all the local networks. Dish doesn't carry their SAT HD feed and I always thought it was because the network refused but I'm wondering if DISH decided it was too crappy to carry HA HA

Did any of you on cable experience the same thing?

Thanks

I've had trouble with 12 for months...sometimes I get it 12-1 as 13-3 and 12-2 as 13-4 and this AM (2/13) 12-1 is 13-3 and 12-2 is 13-2 :confused: ...Via cable it is VERY soft not HD at all (at least this AM with "Regis and...") With my OTA antenna, I get it better with the ac plug pulled, rather than with power...and that reduces reception of other stations...I called the station and they claimed no change in transmission...on my Accurian HD tuner I don't get it 12-1/2 at all any more...but no change in transmission ????

JeffBowser

02-13-09, 09:01 AM

Same here, it happened on the DirecTV feed as well, so it is a source issue (see posts above). It wasn't THAT bad, I was able to watch CSI well enough.

I've had trouble with 12 for months...sometimes I get it 12-1 as 13-3 and 12-2 as 13-4:confused: with my antenna, I get it better with the ac plug pulled, rather than with power...and that reduces reception of other stations...I called the station and they claimed no change in transmission...on my Accurian HD tuner I don't get it 12-1/2 at all any more...but no change in transmission ????

MVPinBoynton

02-13-09, 09:04 AM

It was apparently a pretty big problem, since they are reshowing Criminal Minds and CSI NY at 2:35AM next week. Thank goodness. I didn't see the end of Criminal Minds.

JeffBowser

02-13-09, 09:07 AM

Read post 7867 just above.

TLTURBO

02-14-09, 08:07 AM

Simple question - If you have stuff recorded on your DISH DVR (not movies but TV shows), if you cancel your subscription and unhook your receiver from the dish feeds, can you still access and watch the shows until you see them all? My thinking is if the box is unconnected how can they communicate with it and shut it down.

I'm asking this because I have been thinking about dropping DISH and going to Comcast because it will only cost me $36 since the HOA pays for basic, but I have about 30 hrs of TV shows recorded I want to watch. I have been giving this change serious thought THEN in yesterdays mail, I get the notice of the price increases from DISH. WHAT are these people thinking???? Everyone is hurting and trying to cut costs and they RAISE their prices? How many others will now cancel. $100 a month to watch TV is getting outrageous.

Thanks

wdsnls

02-14-09, 09:03 AM

I have a Scientific Atlanta 8300HD STB from Comcast that rebooted on its own, yesterday afternoon, while the box was off. I observed something I had never witnessed before. The display began an alpha-numeric sequence which appeared to be some sort of countdown. The display showed “rXXY” (“r” was constant; “X’s” were numeric and “Y” was alpha and numeric). This countdown lasted for at least five minutes. Then display went blank, then showed “conf” and “boot” and back to blank. After about ten minutes the time appeared. I turned on box and it loaded as usual, the VOD. The box worked perfectly after this and I lost no scheduled or recorded events. I went into the diagnostics, thinking there was a SARA software update but there wasn’t. There was no power glitch at the time, as I have my entire A/V system running through a Panamax power conditioner and it would have indicated a power glitch.

Usually if I have a re-boot it occurs at night when I don’t see it. My only evidence is the box defaults to channel 1 after a re-boot. I know if I do my own re-boot, i.e. pulling the plug, it doesn’t go through this sequence.

Can anyone explain what happened? Is this normal? Should I be concerned?

Stewpidity

02-14-09, 03:47 PM

WPEC 12 HD working on Comcast, not working with Directv

wdsnls

02-14-09, 04:07 PM

WPEC 12 HD working on Comcast, not working with Directv
It was mentioned this morning on their newscast that they are doing maintenance on their tower. OTA and Directv would be down and it would not affect cable. They didn't specify how long.

pcmike

02-14-09, 04:16 PM

Until the "transition" on the 17th presumably.

Stewpidity

02-14-09, 06:40 PM

It was mentioned this morning on their newscast that they are doing maintenance on their tower. OTA and Directv would be down and it would not affect cable. They didn't specify how long.

Until the "transition" on the 17th presumably.

HD came back on about 5'ish

Panth1

02-16-09, 07:55 PM

WPEC's analog signal is down for a couple days and it looks like WPTV is testing their digital signal on channel 12 now.

acesk8er

02-16-09, 11:21 PM

From WPEC's web site:

February 16, 2009 - 1:53 PM
Channel 12's analog signal will be off the air for 2-3 days. This will only affect people who receive Channel 12 via antenna. People who watch Channel 12 via Cable, Satellite, or our Digital signal should not be affected.

This outage is the result of upgrading our Digital Transmitter. The outage will begin around 1:45 p.m. Monday.

http://www.cbs12.com/news/air_4714560___article.html/analog_channel.html

February 13, 2009 - 12:48 PM
CBS 12, in preparation for the DTV Transition, will need to turn our digital signal off tonight after The Late Show with David Letterman. The digital signal will be off for approximately 12 hours. Customers who watch CBS 12 with cable will experience NO problems or outages, but if you receive our digital signal with DISH or DIRECT TV, you will not have service on CBS 12 for up to 12 hours after David Letterman tonight.

We apologize for the inconvenience, but to install a new transmitter these steps are mandatory.

http://www.cbs12.com/news/digital_4714454___article.html/cbs_signal.html

WPEC's analog signal is down for a couple days and it looks like WPTV is testing their digital signal on channel 12 now.

Panth1, how was reception of WPTV's digital test on ch. 12? Did they interrupt pre-transition ch. 55 or did they have both going at the same time?

vtpsystems

02-16-09, 11:35 PM

Can you guys tell me if you have the same problem? I have ots antenna and A few days ago I stopped receiving 35.1 35.2 35.3 and 44.1
I still get analog 35 which is pax wpxm. digital 35.1 I think is goes by the name qubo tv. 35.3 I think is ION. They have or should I say had several good programs like men 7, sport pilot tv, world championship sports and the like now its black screen says weak or no signal all the time. The weird thing is I started to notice the missing channels days after channel 35 started running a stationary warning bar 1/4 the size of the screen across the bottom of the screen saying they were shutting off analog on the 17 this warning lasted for about 5 minutes every hour every day. whdt Channel 41.1 was an hd channel that looked excellent and is gone now too. can you check if you recieve them remember Im using ota so I would need you to have ots also. Thanks

Panth1

02-17-09, 07:53 AM

Panth1, how was reception of WPTV's digital test on ch. 12? Did they interrupt pre-transition ch. 55 or did they have both going at the same time?The signal was bouncing around some but I was using my computers tv tuner card. Sometimes it plays tricks on me with signal levels and I scanned a few times to make sure I was getting WPTV on channel 12.

Their channel 55 signal was still on the air at the same time.

Not picking up any signal on channel 12 this morning as of this post.

kitatiger

02-17-09, 09:04 AM

LRZNole

02-17-09, 06:42 PM

Trip in VA

02-17-09, 06:48 PM

Does anyone know if Comcast Channel 438 - WHDT HD is finished? The channel (if you can call that) has been blank for several days. Hopefully they can replace it with a real channel like Cinemax HD. Maybe some people like listening to German radio but the fact they added this channel still baffles me.

Must-carry rules. That's why it was added, it's an OTA station.

Can't speak to why it's off the air, but it's not finished. At some point in the future, they'll be buying WXEL's analog equipment and flashing it to digital, if I read the filings right. This'll improve their OTA coverage greatly.

- Trip

LRZNole

02-17-09, 06:58 PM

Even if must carry rules apply does that mean they had to roll it our before other channels?

Strack

02-17-09, 09:43 PM

Is anyone having problems receiving 34.2, 34.3 or 34.4 using DirecTv's HR20 receiver?

I receive 34.1 just fine, but none of the other sub channels. They appear in the guide, I get a signal when I check the signal strengh, but get the error message "Searching for signal on the off-air tuner...(771)" when I tune to the sub channels. Does anybody else get this same error? Is this a problem with my system, guide issue, etc.... How can it be fixed?

acesk8er

02-17-09, 10:12 PM

From The Palm Beach Post:

By ALLISON ROSS and SONJA ISGER

Palm Beach Post Staff Writers

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

WEST PALM BEACH — Watching the black and white snow on CBS 12? You must still have analog. But don't panic. Don't adjust your sets.

Though hundreds of stations across the country Tuesday turned off their analog signal permanently, WPEC CBS 12 promises this TV storm will last only a few days, while folks there upgrade their digital transmitter.

The signal went out about 1:45 p.m. Monday, according to the CBS 12 Web site.

People who watch the channel via cable, satellite or digital should be unaffected by the upgrade. And thousands of analog viewers should see their signal return by Friday at the latest - at least until June 12, the new deadline Congress set for everyone to turn off the analog signal.

WPEC has two antennas - one tuned to Channel 12 and the other tuned to Channel 13. The current Channel 12 analog antenna is considerably stronger than the antenna that has so far been used for digital transmission, so the station decided it needed to switch the larger antenna to Channel 13.

"The whole idea was to improve the quality of the signal," said Paul Russell, CBS 12's director of engineering. "The digital signal on the smaller antenna was not covering the market as well. Our signal was very bad, and we couldn't reach the northern part of the market."

The upgrade was scheduled more than a year ago, Russell said. Since Tuesday was supposed to be the last day for analog transmission, the upgrade should have gone virtually unnoticed, he said.

However, because Congress delayed the national transition to digital, the station now has to keep both its analog and digital signals going, so it is switching the antennas each signal transmits from.

"Delaying everything really screwed us up," Russell said. "Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong."

This is the second time in a week analog customers have been left with only static on Channel 12. The station also went off the air for analog, Dish Network and DirectTV customers for a 14-hour period last weekend to improve the strength of the transmitter.

Russell said he couldn't delay the maintenance until June 12 because it would be too hard to bring in all the necessary contractors again.

Russell said he had received more than 25 calls from worried or angry analog customers by noon Tuesday.

He said the station had posted a notice online beginning last week about the temporary shut-off for analog customers and said news anchors were supposed to note it to viewers as well.

Though CBS 12 analog viewers soon will get their picture back, viewers who haven't bought or hooked up converter boxes may not be so lucky on other channels.

One local station - Fort Pierce's WTVX-34 - made the switch in December, citing technical issues.

And despite the national reprieve on the digital shut-off, more than 400 TV stations across the country shut down analog broadcasts Tuesday or are planning to shortly, according to The Associated Press.

As of Monday, those stations included about 25 in Florida. The closest to West Palm Beach are WSBS and WPXM in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/02/17/0217cbs12.html

vtpsystems

02-18-09, 02:21 AM

Things would have gone more smoothly if they would have hired this guy for the dtv psa transition ads and there is still time. At least there would have been less editing and misinformation.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/e0e1693f2d7f107a57ff9d324550a3d9c6439a74.jpg

Have you seen the psa dtv transition ads DTv is coming? Realy? DTV is Here. All the ads start with a guy walking into a home with a converter box and connecting it to a 1940s b&w tube tv and plugging the box into an outlet and telling the viewers they just have to do the same the next thing you know the homeowner is watching showtime in hd and in color that is some serious editing and extremely misleading. I exaggerated a bit.....

Let me see a show of hands how many people here get wsbs Mega tv in digital? Who even watches mega?
Does mega even have the equipment? So why are the papers saying it? I could be wrong so feel free to call mega and post it here but mega is a low power station that never had the capabilities or intention to go digital.

As for wpxm they have been running banners on the hour every hour interrupting the programs theyre running on the only channel they have 35 analog since 35.1 2 3 4 are all black and have been like that for days and at last check they did not shut of on the 17th as promised.

vtpsystems

02-18-09, 03:17 AM

I turn on my and noticed snow on 35 wpxm analog so i guess they shut off the signal a day later.

Heres the worst part I get none of their digital channels which I received like most of you until a few days ago before they went black. Its nothing on my end since others here ota confirmed they lost it days ago too. I now get the channel number and label but the screen shows black with weak or no signal. In fact a converter box that was also not getting it days ago gets it now even though its not scanned in by just entering 35.1 for example but on my new set i get the channel and label but black.

Whats going on here........?
Why would I not get digital now? was it tied to analog and why can a crap converter pick it up without even scanning just entering 35.1 and not a new set.
Most important when the analogs go am I goig to have this problem with their digital.
I should have kept my tube and never bought this pos.
Now I know why they\\\'re stalling everyone for three months by then the store wont take back your set had I known this I would have taken this set back. I am not happy

Edit Even after a re scan nothing. all I get is a black screen with the no signal sign and the channel with the channel number and name like ion 35.whatever for example. I just dont get it. does anyone have a clue whats going on?

Trip in VA

02-18-09, 03:28 AM

Be patient. WPXM-DT was operating on channel 26, but is relocating to channel 35 this morning. They've probably been working on the equipment and likely are still doing so now.

- Trip

vtpsystems

02-18-09, 03:40 AM

Be patient. WPXM-DT was operating on channel 26, but is relocating to channel 35 this morning. They\'ve probably been working on the equipment and likely are still doing so now.

- Trip

What I dont get is I walked to the other room with the converter box that did not even have 35 programmed and still doesnt (it skipps over 35 not saved) and all I have to do is input 35.1 to 35.4 and it picks it up perfectly but not on my new set. I tested before testing converter box and right after. So technically It should shouldnt it? Thanks again

vtpsystems

02-18-09, 03:50 AM

Edit Double post mistake

acesk8er

02-18-09, 06:35 AM

WPXM is back on ch. 35 in digital, re-scan and you should be good. If you're in Palm Beach you're more likely to get better reception from WPXP (digital ch. 36, 67.1 .2 .3 .4)

I turn on my and noticed snow on 35 wpxm analog so i guess they shut off the signal a day later.

Heres the worst part I get none of their digital channels which I received like most of you until a few days ago before they went black. Its nothing on my end since others here ota confirmed they lost it days ago too. I now get the channel number and label but the screen shows black with weak or no signal. In fact a converter box that was also not getting it days ago gets it now even though its not scanned in by just entering 35.1 for example but on my new set i get the channel and label but black.

Whats going on here........?
Why would I not get digital now? was it tied to analog and why can a crap converter pick it up without even scanning just entering 35.1 and not a new set.
Most important when the analogs go am I goig to have this problem with their digital.
I should have kept my tube and never bought this pos.
Now I know why they're stalling everyone for three months by then the store wont take back your set had I known this I would have taken this set back. I am not happy

Edit Even after a re scan nothing. all I get is a black screen with the no signal sign and the channel with the channel number and name like ion 35.whatever for example. I just dont get it. does anyone have a clue whats going on?

kitatiger

02-18-09, 08:53 AM

I called PEC weeks ago and they denied that they were having any difficulty...or were doing anything that would interrupt their transmission...Hah...

vtpsystems

02-18-09, 10:15 AM

I cant be more frustrated. i would have been the first to ay if your not getting digital get a better antenna but the antena is not the problem.

I checked and if you input the number the tv goes to it like before the channels are even labeled with the names like but they are black with the weak no signal and the signal strength on the menu is non existant if that makes any difference.
I dont want to repeat myself but the channels have been black for days like you probably know I even checked on a cheap converter box a room away and it was black there too. I checked to make sure it wasnt the tv. the weird part is for some reason last night as soon as analog 35 was gone i checked the converter box again and even though it still jumps from 33 to 39 since 35 isnt programmed you could input it by hand but still not on the tv which leads me to believe they did something else at the station like take power away.
To sum it up everything worked fine until a few days ago some of you also confirmed black screen now as soon as 35 analog is gone the converter box gets it but not the tv why? does the fact its giving the chanel a lable but its black or the no signal tell you anything. How can someone be receiving digital (i know in this case its been black for days but) and when analog goes they loose digital. I get the feeling this is whats to come as soon as others shut off analog I will end up with a black screen on all digitals. I dont mean to be presomptuous but I get the feeling this is why they delayd the wole thing and to think some people were putting blame on a few for the delay look at me I have an an antenna over 30 ft high and as soon as they shut off analog I loose the digital signal what does that tell you for the others that dont have their antenas 30 ft high.

Trip in VA

02-18-09, 12:52 PM

What kind of TV do you have? If it's a Sony, I know what your problem is. You can't just "Add New Channels" or whatever it's called, you have to do a completely new scan, wipe out all the channels you already have and start over.

- Trip

vtpsystems

02-18-09, 02:37 PM

What kind of TV do you have? If it\\\\\\\'s a Sony, I know what your problem is. You can\\\\\\\'t just \\\\\\\"Add New Channels\\\\\\\" or whatever it\\\\\\\'s called, you have to do a completely new scan, wipe out all the channels you already have and start over.

- Trip

Thanks Trip in VA, acesk8er, kitatiger and everyone else that helped. I missed anyone excuse me.

Trip in VA its not a Sony but the rescan worked. I was hesitant to try any more re scans at first because in the past for some reason I loose random channels after the channels are scanned in and saved and when you scan again to get the missing one you then get that one but loose another in fact I have even written down the channels I have saved and as little as a few minutes or even days later I have confirmed I will be missing channels. but Ill worry about that later. For now 35.1 2 3 4 are all on air.

I forgot to ask is 44.1 whdt still off air? I lost it during the rescan cant seem to force it by hand, if I input 44 I get analog 44 if I input 44.1 by hand (remember I lost it in this scan) it just stays on whatever channel Im currently watching. Assuming its off air how would I get it when its back on air. Dont tell me I have to do another re scan and risk loosing other channels please.......

Trip in VA

02-18-09, 05:38 PM

I don't know exactly what's going on with WHDT-DT right now. All I know for sure is that after WXEL analog goes away, WHDT will be buying their analog gear and converting it to digital. If you get WXEL-42 analog well now, except a good signal out of WHDT-DT some time after March.

- Trip

acesk8er

02-22-09, 01:05 PM

Ch. 12 analog is on again as of this morning.

I called PEC weeks ago and they denied that they were having any difficulty...or were doing anything that would interrupt their transmission...Hah...

ManOfSnow

02-25-09, 09:21 PM

We have three new HD channels: ABC Family, Disney Channel, and the Science Channel! Also, I read somewhere that iNDemand anounced it will be terminating its Mojo HD network. No word if and what will replace it.

Anyone else notice that it's been about 5 months since Comcast added a new HD channel? Way to go Comcast!! :rolleyes:

LRZNole

02-25-09, 10:36 PM

Believe me, some of us do notice. :mad: Still can't get over the fact we don't have Cinemax HD yet.

wdsnls

02-27-09, 11:09 AM

I've noticed that they list channels 472, 473, 474 and 475 in the guide. Could they be testing new HD channels on their end prior to releasing them to viewers?

TLTURBO

03-07-09, 05:05 PM

OK, I have my Comcast SA 8300 HD DVR hooked up and I have a question. On this receiver, there is a GUIDE - just like on the Sat systems. On regular cable without a box, you have to go to some channel and watch the guide scroll by and you can't go forward to see what is on later, etc. I want to have the guide feature on the other TV's. Presently all TV's get fed the signal from outside but the HD TV has the cable going to the box and I assume that is what gives that TV the guide. BUT I saw a cable out connection on the back of the 8300 so I was wondering what would happen if I fed that cable out to another TV would I get the guide? Has anyone managed to get the guide on another TV without having a box on that TV?
Thanks bunches.

acesk8er

03-07-09, 09:55 PM

You'll need a box for every TV, just like on sat. systems...

HobeSoundDarryl

03-08-09, 02:01 PM

I'm aware that channel 12 is switching towers, I've noticed a considerably stronger signal lately. However, I am also getting some "channel not found" messages fairly regularly when I try to tune 12.1 or 12.2. Interestingly enough, sometimes it's just one or the other. It tends to last a while, then when I try again, it tunes right in as it has normally done for many years.

Knowing about the tower change, on more than one occasion I've deleted the channel and re-scanned it. Again, interestingly it scans 13, seems to get a lock as 13, then switches the virtual channel to 12 (but this virtual channel substitution is not as fast as usual). So rather than ending up with just the 2 channels- 12.1 & 12.2 in my channel guide- I end up with 4 channels both 12's, plus 13.1 & 13.2.

13.1 & 13.2 seem to tune much more frequently than 12.1 & 12.2 (as if, somehow the physical channel is better captured than the virtual one). Of course, I can switch the guide so that I am only seeing the two 13's, but I would prefer to see channel "12" on channel 12 in the guide.

Anybody else experiencing this kind of thing since the tower swap? Any solutions other than waiting for channel 12 to fix (or perhaps they are still finishing the job?) it?

For hardware I'm using a Dish 622, which has always had no problem tuning 12.1 & 12.2. Signal strength is strong and consistent in the 80s on a 100 point scale.

Panth1

03-08-09, 09:41 PM

Joel Graffman

03-09-09, 09:26 AM

HobeSoundDarryl

03-09-09, 09:37 AM

I am not aware of WPEC moving their antenna location. The FCC website has the same location for all their licenses. http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=52527

I pick up their signal and it goes right to 12-1 when doing a rescan. Must just be something with your receiver and interpreting WPEC's PSIP data.

There always seems to be problems with hardware/software even when their is a supposed 'standard'.

I'm sorry, my mistake. As Joel says, it is/was a digital & analog antenna switch, not an actual change of towers.

Historically, from my location, I've received 12.1 in the 70's (on a 100 point scale) and now it comes in in the high 80's. Right when they were doing the switch, it pegged all the way to 100, but has now (seemingly) settled in the high 80's.

Nevertheless, I'm still getting a weird 13 lock, then 12, resulting in both the physical and virtual channel showing up in the guide. And with 12.2, I would gut-guess it at about a 50:50 in terms of whether it will tune the channel or give me a "signal not found" for any given try. Wait a few seconds try again, and it tunes right in.

I've received 12 on this same hardware setup for many years. Nothing has changed on my end.

kitatiger

03-09-09, 09:49 AM

wally34949

03-10-09, 10:49 AM

WXEL recently started a repeater signal on the St. Lucie/Indian Riveri County line that broadcasts on Channel 31 digitally. NBC6 in Miami is also on that frequency.

www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=80&q=call%3dw31dc-d%26type%3dD

In the mornings, the Miami station is often strong enough to knock out the PBS repeater signal. Has anyone experienced problems with this? Is anyone in Palm Beach County having reception problems with NBC6.

Also, in Port St. Lucie there is an analog station playing videos on Channel 35.

www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=80&q=call%3dwslf-LP%26type%3dA

Is anyone having problems with Channel 35 in Miami?

Because the FCC is getting rid of channels 52-69, channels will be located in closer sequence to each other than in the past. Remember back in the old analog days when Channel 6 in Miami had to be in Homestead because of Channel 6 in Orlando. Channel 2 in Orlando had to be in Delta because of Channel 2 in Miami, and Channel 10 in Tampa had to be up the coast because of WPLG in Miami.

However, because Florida is so flat, certain weather conditions can cause signals to travel and cause problems with one another.

Joel Graffman

03-11-09, 06:16 AM

WXEL recently started a repeater signal on the St. Lucie/Indian Riveri County line that broadcasts on Channel 31 digitally.

Good idea. Why do you suppose they are keeping it a secret?

wally34949

03-11-09, 09:14 AM

Joel Graffman

03-12-09, 07:51 AM

They have been having problems with the repeater. It works and then stops working or has bad reception. For awhile, I thought the purpose of the repeater was to block NBC6.

It is working better now. Can you pick it up?No, but my antenna is pointing South.

I am almost as far from the repeater as the main antenna. 42.1 is the only WPB channel that is unreliable for me. Don't believe they have as good a signal as they should in this area.

I probably need a higher gain UHF antenna, have been waiting for digital transition completion to modify my antenna system to see if I can improve reception on this channel.

wally34949

03-13-09, 02:11 PM

Joel Graffman

03-13-09, 04:03 PM

Barry928

03-14-09, 12:41 PM

I have an inquiry for ISF calibration in West Palm. Is anyone interested in getting a display ISF calibrated while I am in your area? Please send a PM or email if you are interested or have any questions.

Grampaw

03-14-09, 01:37 PM

Joel, take a look at this signal from Orlando on Digital Channel 27.

www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=80&q=call%3dwrdq%26type%3dD

Strongest station in Orlando at 1 million watts. How could the FCC have allowed this.

FYI: 1000 kW (1 million Watts) is maximum power allowed by the FCC.

WTVX DT 34 will have the same power on a 1500 ft Tower.
There are 14 stations in Miami/ West Palm markets licensed for this power.

Analog UHF stations were allowed up to 5000 kW (5 million Watts).

Walt

DigitalPlayer

03-14-09, 01:49 PM

FYI: 1000 kW (1 million Watts) is maximum power allowed by the FCC.

WTVX DT 34 will have the same power on a 1500 ft Tower.
There are 14 stations in Miami/ West Palm markets licensed for this power.

Analog UHF stations were allowed up to 5000 kW (5 million Watts).

Walt

Any idea when the wtvx-34 DT tower upgrade will be complete? Also will wpbf-25 DT get a transmission upgrade? tia

rockin robin

03-14-09, 02:58 PM

Hi all.

Hoping I can get some help from someone here on this forum? I thought it best to start with local knowledge first. I already tried solving this issue with Macrovision :confused:. They really tried but it is still not fixed. :(

For the past year and a half I have been getting regular guide downloads for my two TV Guide On Screeen-equipped DVR's with minimal problems. I have two different model DVR's: a Philips HDRW 720 and LG LST3410a. Since Christmas I have been getting virtually no programming information and the problem seems to be with both these DVR's. Macrovision insists this is a problem with my cabling inside my home but this does not seem right? I used to get the data with exceptionally good regularity. Nothing has changed in my home

Also, my mom and my boyfriend both have the same Philips DVR unit as I do and all of us seem to be having identical issues. All three households are on Stuart/PSL Comcast with extended Basic-no box. Could ALL three households have identical issues???

Do any of you have any insight into this problem?

Please advise.

Robin
Jensen Beach/Rio

wdsnls

03-14-09, 04:18 PM

Grampaw

03-14-09, 10:23 PM

Any idea when the wtvx-34 DT tower upgrade will be complete? Also will wpbf-25 DT get a transmission upgrade? tia

Have no info on completion dates, but I think they are trying to finish before the final transition date. WPBF also has a construcion permit for 1000 kW at 1490 ft.
The most confusing to me is WBEC 40.1 Licensed in Boca Raton (Palm Beach County), owned by Broward County School Board, and the transmitter is in Miami-Dade County.

Walt

rockin robin

03-15-09, 11:51 PM

Hi again!

Just got an email from the Senior Broadcast Engineer at WPEC CBS12. He says they are waiting on a piece of equipment from Macrovision/Gemstar. It should be arriving and (hopefully) installed by midweek!! He has been manually rebooting the system twice a day which explains my intermittent data downloads as well as the many failures to download. :p

So stop adjusting your sets! The solution is at hand! :cool:

Robin

UPDATE! PBS, CBS, Comcast and Macrovision working together to get our data restored! Should be soon???

Fingers Crossed!!!

wally34949

03-16-09, 08:13 AM

I was able to watch Channel 42.1 and 42.2 over the weekend and the reception was excellent. Could they have switched their analog and digital antennas on the Channel 29 tower?

BTW, I like to listen to music through my stereo system with DirecTV's music channels and I watch local television with the closed captioning on. If you've got a kid who can't pass the FCAT at school, you may want to turn on the mute during his/her favorite show and make them read the subtitles. I've heard that some people can learn a second language that way.

TLTURBO

03-24-09, 03:45 PM

If anyone needs to (or thinks about) rebooting their COMCAST box, DON'T.

I was having trouble Sunday with On-Demand and called tech. They had me reboot the box (HD SA 8300) and I haven't gotten it to work since. It seems there is a multi county problem where the boxes for HD services WILL NOT REBOOT. AND the kicker is they have NO comment on how long it will take to fix. Sooooo, I have been watching SD COMCAST and NO DVR since Sunday. I gather you only experience this IF you try to reboot your box. Thanks Tech, it was working fine Sunday until you told me to reboot it.

Panth1

03-24-09, 08:26 PM

I had some problems with On Demand on Sunday too but with an SD box. The menu was not loading and after a couple tries it did but the box froze. The box rebooted a few times but I finally gave up after a while.

I figured it was some software update causing the problem.

rockin robin

03-25-09, 03:27 PM

Hi all!!

Yesterday, under the PROMOTIONS tab on the TVGOS menu I saw an entry for "Guide system re-initialization." When I scroll down to this item, on the bottom left it reads (in the place where the ads would normally be) "Are you having trouble getting a lineup or listings?" When I pressed the INFO button (or left arrow) the screen instructs you to go to the SETUP menu and use the Zip 00000. Then turn unit off for 5 minutes and when you turn it back on again use your correct zip. It claims that listings should return within 24 hours.
I am pretty sure I have seen this reset method posted on other threads in this forum but this is the first time I had heard of it appearing on the PROMOTIONS menu within the TVGOS menus.

Worth a try!

Robin

Lazza

03-26-09, 08:12 PM

I was able to watch Channel 42.1 and 42.2 over the weekend and the reception was excellent. Could they have switched their analog and digital antennas on the Channel 29 tower?

Interesting. During the past several days I have been unable to pull in channels 42.x whereas I could previously. I live in Fort Lauderdale. Are these stations now being broadcast from a different location??

_Lazza

Joel Graffman

03-27-09, 06:19 AM

Interesting. During the past several days I have been unable to pull in channels 42.x whereas I could previously. I live in Fort Lauderdale. Are these stations now being broadcast from a different location??

_LazzaI used to receive 42.1 most of the time. For the past few months it has been unreliable and I rarely get a consistent signal. I noticed last night ( via cable ) that they will be terminating their analog signal in April. Hopefully this will lead to better reception.

BTW, their web page implies a June analog shut-off.

wally34949

03-27-09, 08:09 AM

I'm getting really bad reception over the air on Channel 34.x. Last night the signal would actually drop down to 4% and then back up to 79%. I send the station an e-mail two days ago. I guess they don't respond--most likely because I don't live in Palm Beach County.

So if you are an advertiser, I've stopped watching 2 1/2 men from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

ManOfSnow

04-02-09, 11:59 PM

So, I am wondering if Comcast doesn't feel the urge to give us more HD channels because we have 1000+ choices :rolleyes:

wally34949

04-03-09, 07:18 AM

Reception was much better last night on 34.x

DigitalPlayer

04-08-09, 11:04 PM

First local spanish station in palm beach county expected to go on air tommorrow April 9th to next week at latest. 12-2 Will carry local news & other local programming in spanish.

MartyS

04-09-09, 07:44 AM

First local spanish station in palm beach county expected to go on air tommorrow April 9th to next week at latest. 12-2 Will carry local news & other local programming in spanish.

It was on yesterday... I was surprised....

Joel Graffman

04-09-09, 09:09 AM

First local spanish station in palm beach county expected to go on air tommorrow April 9th to next week at latest. 12-2 Will carry local news & other local programming in spanish.
Good idea.

It would be nice if they transmitted their excellent weather radar on 29.2 which has been a waste of bandwidth for long time.

Panth1

04-09-09, 08:06 PM

What a waste. More crap on sub channels taking away bandwidth from the main HD channel.

I am sure WPEC is making money off of carrying this new channel since the radar probably was making them zero even through the radar was more useful.

acesk8er

04-10-09, 10:00 PM

There is no sound on 12-2... (Zenith DTT-901 converter.) So far they've been showing wall-to-wall silent infomercials.

http://www.mipueblotv.tv/

UPDATE: The sound comes in if I set the Zenith's audio output to "Mono" instead of "Stereo". Something is FUBAR in their audio chain, the E/I programs that were shown earlier today had audio with the "Stereo" setting.

Grampaw

04-11-09, 09:54 PM

On 12-2, the PSIP still shows 'Radar Sweep'.

Walt

PeterAlt

04-13-09, 06:38 PM

- News Hour with Jim Lehre on WXEL is now in HD. While nationally, PBS has been broadcasting their news program in HD; locally at WXEL, this program has not been airing in HD on their HD channel until now.

- WXEL/PBS programs are now available in HD on Comcast Ch 1 On Demand.

- Quoting a new Comcast marketing flier advertising the Comcast HD Triple Play service bundling deal: "And soon enjoy brand new features that bring together all 3 services so you can experience even more of what you love."

- Comcast is now issuing new SA boxes with HD and without DVR, so it is now finally possible to get Comcast HD without having to subscribe to their DVR service. Comcast has also dropped the additional fee for HD service.

- A few months ago, I posted here that the new TiVo boxes get Comcast Channel 1 On Demand. After purchasing one, I learned that I was wrong. With a cable card that must be installed by Comcast by appointment, you get all your HD channels, but not Channel 1 On Demand, as I had thought. TiVo does have its own on demand services with the box, but that content is downloaded from the internet, not through Comcast Channel 1.

Panth1

04-13-09, 07:48 PM

- Quoting a new Comcast marketing flier advertising the Comcast HD Triple Play service bundling deal: "And soon enjoy brand new features that bring together all 3 services so you can experience even more of what you love."
Translation: We added a few more gimicks to justify the price increase. :D

LRZNole

04-13-09, 07:56 PM

Give us more HD channels for pete's (no pun intended) sake. :D

wdsnls

04-14-09, 06:23 AM

...Comcast is now issuing new SA boxes with HD and without DVR, so it is now finally possible to get Comcast HD without having to subscribe to their DVR service. Comcast has also dropped the additional fee for HD service...

I've seen this ad for free HD service with the triple play package but for cable TV only subscribers, there is still the $6.95 charge for the HD tier. Also, I had an SA HD box for several months before I switched to an HD DVR box last year.

LRZNole

04-15-09, 06:15 PM

wdsnls

04-16-09, 07:02 AM

Anyone get a letter from Comcast saying that they will be removing the Movie Channel? Letter says I can keep it for $5.99 per month for 6 months. Are they nuts, who would do that?

I called and apparently Showtime decided to pull it from their package I have the old Adelphia Ultimate Advantage Package, which is supposed to include everything but Comcast said it was Showtime not them.

Seems rather weird.
I received the same letter but it's not Showtime's doing.

Back in Aug. '07, Comcast attempted the same thing. Comcast put The Movie Channels into their own tier @$15.99 for two channels. I did not subscribe. Then I found I could not access Showtime VOD. The screen told me I must call and subscribe. After numerous calls to customer service and my repeated refusals for service calls to my home, I wrote a letter to the Executive Center in PA. Within days, I received a call from this office from a very concerned, receptive individual. He understood that this was a problem on their end and said he would get back to me ASAP. Well, he did and it had been found that there was a coding problem with the accounts that subscribed to Showtime and TMC. Not allowing TMC also prevented the access to Showtime VOD because, as he stated, they are one and the same service. He had it corrected and I am still receiving them.

My letter states that I have been receiving TMC on a "complimentary" basis but then they state they are going to correct the "error".:confused: I also notice the letter is a form letter, my name is not on the letter and it is not even signed by anyone. The envelope was addressed to "my name" or "current resident".

Checking Showtime's website, one can see that TMC is part of the Showtime package. DirecTV also includes TMC in the Showtime package. I think they finally found a way to separate the channels and make more money!:mad: When May 15th comes make sure you can still receive Showtime VOD!

smithfarmer

04-16-09, 08:11 PM

My letter states that I have been receiving TMC on a "complimentary" basis but then they state they are going to correct the "error".

I received the same letter and it's total BS! We ordered the Ultimate Advantage Pak from Adelphia so that we would receive ALL PREMIUM CHANNELS, the Sports Pak and every other available channel plus High Speed Internet. This is simply another ploy by Comcast to get more money out of former Adelphia subscribers who were grandfathered in under an older agreement.

Comcast has obviously decided they don't wan't to honor that agreement and this is only the first step in their plan to bring former Adelphia customers into pricing parity with regular Comcast customers.

I was basically told this was going to happen a few monhs ago when I received a call from their Local Corporate Office in response to a complaint I filed with their National Corporate Hdqtr's regarding no changes being allowed to our accounts.

In essence, I was told to be happy with what I have because it's a lot cheaper than their regular customers are paying and our pricing structure should have been changed a long time ago but for some reason it hadn't happened yet.

For anyone interested in calling and complaining here is the Comcast Corporate Office phone # for Palm Beach County, 561-881-3265. Don't bother wasting your time calling the # on your bill as you'll only get a clueless CSR that won't be able to help you out at all.

alkemyst

04-17-09, 07:28 AM

Same letter here, in my area they are in the process of changing the website...my package still lists ALL PREMIUMS, the others say ALL FOUR PREMIUMS (HBO, MAX, SHO, STARZ) and multiplexes. They act like it's only you that got affected, however; everyone I know got it that's on comcast that I have talked too. None of us are happy at the costs to begin with, but it's a slightly cheaper deal with faster broadband than going Dish for TV and DSL for internet until Bellsouth gets more DSLAMS out in neighborhoods.

I called and simply asked where can I go to get a list of what I am paying for as every 'package' lists all the stations. I was told I was in the wrong place and I had to go to the SHOP page not Channel Line up (I was on the shop page)...I was then told "Well you must not be logged in"...so I logged in...finally I was told "OH We don't tell you that".

Makes it easy to change things later on I guess and then say you just got some stations by mistake, but at least they were free.

I could have understood if I was told Showtime elected to price TMC separate so Comcast has to pass that down...at the same time I really doubt $15.99 is a fair price and more or less just Comcast hoping to lose those two channels.

In my area $75 is basic cable with all the entertainment channels, $94 gets you one premium..$104 gives you ALL of them ...however I am worries that soon my ALL will become just 1 or 2 premimums and maybe their multiplexes.

May On Demand will become something that was really never intended to be free as well (not that it works reliably anyway).

Don't lie to us!

Joel Graffman

04-18-09, 08:33 AM

SNIP None of us are happy at the costs to begin with, but it's a slightly cheaper deal with faster broadband than going Dish for TV and DSL for internet until Bellsouth gets more DSLAMS out in neighborhoods. SNIP

This is a bit off topic, but I feel it is germane to the discussion. Is comcast internet faster than DSL?

I had Comcast internet for a year or so when it was initially offered, it was a revolutionary improvement from dial-up. When BellSouth offered DSL, I thought I would give it a try and used both for a while. As I recall at the time, Comcast advertised 5 MB/s and Bellsouth advertised 3 MB/s. However for me the DSL was faster, primarily because the latency was much less. Tracer checks showed that Comcast browsing really slowed down due to delays in the Miami area. The Comcast modem I had also ran hot which I didn't like, so I made the switch.

Now, $42.95 buys 6MB DSL internet which I consistently get. This also includes a first class security suite ( one computer ). I can watch Netflix while my wife uses Skype on another computer without a hiccup. I am happy with the service.

I am not a BellSouth lover, their integration with AT&T has not been painless or complete. But dealing with Bellsouth/AT&T is much better than dealing with my cable provider Comcast.

I wonder what kind speed and services others are experiencing from Comcast internet.

acesk8er

04-18-09, 02:02 PM

WXEL (formerly analog 42) dropped its analog broadcast on Thursday night, WHFT (formerly analog 45) followed shortly thereafter. There was no notice, it was there and then it was gone. WXEL was wrapping up its "Community Calendar", WHFT was showing yet another "Praise The Lord" marathon.

Panth1

04-19-09, 01:16 PM

Did not notice till you mentioned it. Do not see any info on their website to say they were turning it off early. Unless they are doing some tower work this weekend.

wally34949

04-20-09, 09:28 AM

In June, Channel 5's power will drop from 900,000 watts to 50,000 watts because they are switching from Channel 55 to Channel 12 for digital broadcasting. NBC6 in Miami will still be 1,000,000 watts. This means that the Orlando stations will be stronger in Indian River County than the West Palm stations. Any comments?

Trip in VA

04-20-09, 11:07 AM

VHF stations (below channel 14) cover greater distances with less power.

- Trip

wdsnls

04-21-09, 09:31 AM

LRZNole

04-21-09, 10:11 AM

Comcast lying again. What a suprise.

Joel Graffman

04-21-09, 03:48 PM

wdsnls

04-21-09, 07:12 PM

Got a letter from Comcast detailing NFL cable network woes. Apparently they will be dropping the network. As a consolation, they are offering 12 months free Starz or an internet speed upgrade to "valued customers".

Thought there might be a catch, called the special number, 866-671-0782 and added Starz for no cost.

As far as I can tell this offer only is good if you have a package that includes the NFL Network.

I received the same letter today. I was offered the 'speed upgrade' (don't use their internet service, use DSL) or the '6 free movies'. I subscribe to Starz, so I assume that's why this was not offered. I've read that the NFL coverage after 4/30/09 is in the hands of a judge and he has 30 days to make a decision. I don't know what will happen in the interim.

thechiz

04-21-09, 11:50 PM

I contacted Showtime via their website and asked about this. Here is my question and their reply:

Q: My cable company, Comcast (W. Palm Beach, FL) wants me to begin paying an extra $15.99 p/m for The Movie Channel and The Movie Channel Extra, in addition to my Showtime subscription. They claim that Showtime has separated these services into two premium packages. Is this true? Please advise.

A: Thank you for contacting us. Showtime makes both East and West time zone feeds of all its networks available to all service providers nationwide, and each service provider determines its own package offerings and pricing structure. It is my understanding that your local Comcast office has restructed their packages and are now making The Movie Channel available only on an a la carte basis.

Thats very interesting.

In my Comcast Cable bill thru 05/07 it lists the
"Ultimate Adv. Pak (includes Digital Basic, Digital HBO the Works,
Showtime Unlimited, Multimax, Starz Superpak and Discounted High-Speed Internet at $25.22)"

I wonder if it will have the same breakdown next month with
"Showtime Unlimited" still listed ?

Perhaps it will now read "Showtime Partial Lineup Limited by Comcast" ?

If it still reads "Showtime Unlimited" I guess it would mean that Comcast has gotten so big that it can redefine words in the English language.

On a similar note will they be changing "Ultimate Adv. Pak" to read
differently ? Maybe "As Ultimate Adv. Pak as we can get away with" ?

I guess they can "spin" any way they want ?

wdsnls

04-22-09, 05:10 AM

Thats very interesting.

In my Comcast Cable bill thru 05/07 it lists the
"Ultimate Adv. Pak (includes Digital Basic, Digital HBO the Works,
Showtime Unlimited, Multimax, Starz Superpak and Discounted High-Speed Internet at $25.22)"

I wonder if it will have the same breakdown next month with
"Showtime Unlimited" still listed ?

Perhaps it will now read "Showtime Partial Lineup Limited by Comcast" ?

If it still reads "Showtime Unlimited" I guess it would mean that Comcast has gotten so big that it can redefine words in the English language.

On a similar note will they be changing "Ultimate Adv. Pak" to read
differently ? Maybe "As Ultimate Adv. Pak as we can get away with" ?

I guess they can "spin" any way they want ?
My bill used to list my service as "Digital Premier, Includes HBO, Starz, Showtime, Cinemax, MoviePlex and OnDemand". Beginning in January '09, it lists my service as "Total Premiums", with no premiums listed. I made no changes in service.

Up until January '08 it was listed as "UltimatePak" when it was Adelphia, with the same services. It's sad to admit I still have these statements and change notices from the newspaper in my possession.:o

kitatiger

04-22-09, 05:34 AM

How 'bout "Showtime Penultimate backpack?"...Comes with one free backback...

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/5457/showd.jpg

wally34949

04-22-09, 07:07 AM

Joel Graffman

04-22-09, 08:32 AM

This morning, WFOR (CBS Miami) was coming in at 76%. Channel 12.1 WPEC (CBS West Palm Beach) was coming in at 12%. I live in Fort Pierce. Another reason why the West Palm Beach television market is the "Worst Television Market," in the United States.
Sorry I don't agree with that assessment. I have lived in areas that are much worse.

You are unfortunately in an area that is poorly served by OTA television. On the other hand, you don't have the traffic congestion of well served TV areas found in most large cities. Look on the bright side :-)

Unfortunately, cable has a stranglehold on the TV market that will probably only be broken by internet based TV or perhaps via an outgrowth of the cell network, not conventional OTA. The last time I looked at my cable bill, franchise fees and taxes were over 15%. These franchise fees subsidize local projects and ameliorates the requirement for increased property taxes. We are talking about a lot of money here, a strong disincentive for local officials to push for improved OTA that could be provided by local TV translators.

Trip in VA

04-22-09, 08:57 AM

jerseyfla

04-23-09, 10:39 PM

This morning, WFOR (CBS Miami) was coming in at 76%. Channel 12.1 WPEC (CBS West Palm Beach) was coming in at 12%. I live in Fort Pierce. Another reason why the West Palm Beach television market is the "Worst Television Market," in the United States.

I wholehardedly agree living in Sebastian like I do. I just moved here a couple of months ago but after seeing the post-transition maps from the FCC it is clear that the major players in the DMA (WPTV and WPEC) need to move their transmitters north or Indian River County needs to be moved into the Orlando DMA because I get more Orlando stations then WPB which benefits me being a satellite subscriber and using an OTA indoor antenna but it's still not right. I understand WPTV and WPEC's logic behind having their transmitters in Wellington and keeping them there to cover the downfalls the Miami DMA had with WCIX then WTVJ's analog signals not covering the DMA completely but now that we are in the digital age and WTVJ is moving up to the Broward-Dade line, there is no reason why WPTV, WPEC, and others should be having their signals dip into Central Dade County.

Wally, I have to say wow, that's odd you were getting WFOR better than WPEC in Fort Pierce.

wally34949

04-24-09, 09:11 AM

I'm glad to see there is someone else from the Northern Treasure Coast on this blog. Whenever certain weather conditions are present (usually night, early morning, fog, front has just passed) all of the Miami stations come in quite strongly. And, there is only a 2% of a degree difference from the West Palm Towers and the Miami towers from my antenna. However, when this happens, Channel 42's repeater signal on Channel 31.1 can not be picked up because NBC6 from Miami is broadcasting on the same frequency.

In this day and age when I can call Australia from my cell phone, Channel 12 can't get a signal 60 miles away.

Once again, if there are any advertisers out there, I have NEVER picked up WPEC in HD on my television in Ft. Pierce. (Well, I once did for 30 seconds) :D

But I was shocked to see that Channel 4 (WFOR) is still not doing their local news in HD. :eek:

wally34949

04-24-09, 09:12 AM

But it agree, Indian River County should be moved into the Orlando television market, or perhaps become their own television market.

wally34949

04-24-09, 09:20 AM

Port St. Lucie is the largest city in the West Palm Beach television market, however, if you go to the website www.antennaweb.org, (that is the website all of the local stations talk about concerning digital conversion) only three digital stations can be picked up from the zip code markets of 34952 and 34953 in Port St. Lucie. They are Channel 25 or 16.x, 34.x and the religious station on 38.x.

wally34949

04-24-09, 09:27 AM

PeterAlt

04-24-09, 09:28 AM

I think Comcast updated our SA8300HD software recently.

Last night as I was watching a recorded program, I accidentally hit the "info" button and the detailed description of the program I had recorded and was now watching popped up on the screen as a transparent overlay, as it has normally for live TV. Previously, if I were to press "info" while watching a recorded program, I got an annoying transparent pop-up saying something to the effect of "800 DVR Payback Channel", oblivious to the actual programs I just happen to be playing back.

Then, this morning, I walked to the box (instead of using the remote) to turn it off. To my surprise, the box simultaneously triggered a signal, through the HDMI cable, turning off my TV. I've known that the HDMI specifications allow for 2-way device control signal communication, but I rarely see devices programmed to use it. The SA boxes haven't been using it previously, but it did this morning by turning off my TV!

Between these two new features I noticed, the only explanation I can think of is that we've been downloaded a sofware update relatively recently! If I find anything else that's new, I'll post it. If anyone here finds anything, please post!

Joel Graffman

04-25-09, 06:13 AM

I typed the Erie, Penn. zip code into www.antennaweb.org, and it says I should be able to pick up the NBC, PBS, CBS, Fox, ABC and TCT networks.

Can anyone think of a city of 160,000 (PSL) where you can only get three digital stations with an antenna?:rolleyes:It would be nice if people in your area had better OTA, but you cloud the facts.

All of St Lucie County has a population of 160K, not PSL. The population of Palm Beach County exceeds St Lucie county by more than 1,000,000.

jerseyfla

04-25-09, 08:25 AM

Joel Graffman

04-25-09, 10:46 AM

I don't go by antennaweb anymore, I find tvfool is a better website. Tvfool lets you enter your address see the reception levels on a google map then move the needle around the map to see reception levels in other areas. I seem to be finding that the signals of the WPB stations are best closer to the coastal areas in Indian River and St. Lucie Counties. In St. Lucie County, any areas near I-95 only get a few stations while anything near Federal Highway and eastward has moderate reception of the other stations.
A short distance can make a big difference especially if you are cribbing on your antenna height. I have seen this in my area with attic antennas.

I haven't seen any hard data to back this up, but in flat terrain I believe if your antenna is high enough to get around local buildings and trees you should usually achieve the theoretical signal strength.

When I was a young man, I installed TV antennas for a few years. There were few reception surprises.

wdsnls

04-26-09, 09:28 AM

PeterAlt

04-26-09, 10:28 PM

Where is your head end? Mine is in Stuart and the box still goes to 800 when info is pressed. I assume your box also uses SARA software like mine. My version is still from 8/07.

I checked the SARA version. It was dated 10/07, three months more recent than yours. I don't get the 1 1/2 year lag time.

I also did a search for info on what the changes are with the SARA versions and confirmed the change with the Info button.

I'm in Wellington. Where would my headend be?

wally34949

04-27-09, 12:44 PM

According to the website, wikipedia.org, Port St. Lucie is now the tenth largest city in Florida. Palm Beach County has a population of 1,265,293 and the Treasure Coast (Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee) have a population of 569,989.

There are no cities in the top ten list in Palm Beach County.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Florida

Anyway, I've pretty much decided to get rid of DirecTV in June. Has anyone been to the website, www.hulu.com? I'll be watching my television on the Internet and the local stations that I can get. $100 a month for DirecTV is just too much and I'm not getting any pay channels. I might get XM radio. However, most of those channels are available on the Internet, too.

Joel Graffman

04-29-09, 08:00 AM

For those of you interested in OTA TV, the new FCC web effort at http://www.dtv.gov/ makes it easy to find out about anything you would want to know regarding TV broadcasting the area. It's worth a look.

mgfl

04-30-09, 10:37 AM

vtpsystems

04-30-09, 01:11 PM

I’ve scanned through this thread and the Pioneer 5010 and blue led threads but can’t seem to get a solution for my problem. Any ideas would be welcome.
I live in Delray Beach and have Comcast. Just got a Pio5010 with TVGOS. From what I’ve read the CBS station in West Palm Beach has been confirmed as sending digital TV guide info. However I set up the TVGOS three days ago but have received no information yet. What I have noticed is that the clock on my TV ids off by 30 minutes but it is not possible to change it, as I get a message that the TV Guide is now controlling the clock. Does this mean some communication is taking place? Do I have to do anything else to try and get TV Guide information?

thx

Not sure but my set mfr for example asks that you set your clock to manual in the settings. I can tell you even those with ota sometimes experience the no program info on their tv if thats what you mean. Even though my clock region etc was set correctly and to manual it was also off by about 30 minutes also it had something to do with the dst and after making a change in the dst setting everything resolved for the most part.

rockin robin

05-01-09, 08:06 AM

I’ve scanned through this thread and the Pioneer 5010 and blue led threads but can’t seem to get a solution for my problem. Any ideas would be welcome.
I live in Delray Beach and have Comcast. Just got a Pio5010 with TVGOS. From what I’ve read the CBS station in West Palm Beach has been confirmed as sending digital TV guide info. However I set up the TVGOS three days ago but have received no information yet. What I have noticed is that the clock on my TV ids off by 30 minutes but it is not possible to change it, as I get a message that the TV Guide is now controlling the clock. Does this mean some communication is taking place? Do I have to do anything else to try and get TV Guide information?

thx

I, too am on Comcast. I am on expanded basic cable with no cable box. I have had NO LISTINGS for over a month now. Have you tried contacting CBS12 about this? They are probably sick of hearing from me!!
I did get a response a few weeks ago saying that it is working at CBS12 but I am still getting nothing??
Perhaps if you ask, too then they will know that there is really a problem and not just for one person (me)?? Paul Russell is one of their broadcast engineers: prussell@wpecnews12.com
When I emailed Macrovision/Gemstar they say it is my cable/signal strength but Comcast came out and tested this last week and all is well with signal strength, etc. Comcast's CSR's don't know anything about TVGOS. It took several tries with them before I gave up.

Please try! Then post your results or PM me!
Thanks in advance!
Robin