Channel 12 didn't want digital channel 12 because there is a more powerful station in Tampa on that frequency so they stayed with 13. WPTV took digital channel 12 because they said, it was the only thing left.

However, when WPEC went to the FCC and asked to double their power, it was granted. When WPTV ask to double their power, it was denied.

WPEC was the winner in this ball game. Even though their tower is 300 feet shorter than WPTV's, their signal and coverage area is almost the same as WPTV's.

Same thing with Channel 29. They broadcast on digital 28 because there is a stronger station from Tampa on 29. Great choice. I've picked up that station in Fort Pierce, but I've never had an issue with WFLX, 61 miles away.OK, that explains why WPEC is on 13, but there was literally nothing left on either VHF or UHF for WPTV? Sort of hard to believe.

But all this just points to the fact that the FCC totally dropped the ball for the digital conversion.

OK, that explains why WPEC is on 13, but there was literally nothing left on either VHF or UHF for WPTV? Sort of hard to believe.

But all this just points to the fact that the FCC totally dropped the ball for the digital conversion.

The FCC removed channels 52-69 from the broadcast spectrium. I was travelling all over Europe this summer and noticed that everyone had a small UHF antenna. In Europe, Channels 2-13 are gone, and everyone uses 14-69.
All it takes is one small antenna above the house.

Furthermore, channel 14 doesn't work well for broadcasting and channel 37 is reserved and can not be used. Digital 27 in Orlando knocks out WXEL 20% of the time in the Ft. Pierce area and even more in the Vero Beach area.

There's a digital channel 31 in Miami, Ft. Myers and Ft. Pierce. The digital 31 in Miami knocks out the digital 31 in Ft. Pierce about 20% of the time.

Last night WPLG from Miami came in at 88% strength. This morning, I couldn't pick them up.

People in Miami/Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach fair a lot better than those of us living between the Orlando and West Palm Beach markets.

WWCI-CA (ch-10) in Vero Beach has gone digital, showing up as ch-10.1. I’m not sure when it happened, but it couldn’t have been more than a week or so ago, maybe just days ago. They still don’t have any programming data, or even a station ID, just video and audio data.

WWCI-CA (ch-10) in Vero Beach has gone digital, showing up as ch-10.1. I’m not sure when it happened, but it couldn’t have been more than a week or so ago, maybe just days ago. They still don’t have any programming data, or even a station ID, just video and audio data.

I can't pick them up in Fort Pierce--I tried today. However, WPLG in Miami came in at 88% over the weekend. According to www.tvfool.com, their (Vero Beach channel) power is .300 KW. Even Channel 5 has more power than that!

I sat down to watch 60 Minutes last night and at 7:00 p.m., the thunderstorms were still going strong. The dropouts on WPEC were incredible! I finally had to change the channel, and I watched the old people sing on WXEL.

By the way, what is going to happen to WXEL if the school board of Palm Beach buys the channel. Will it be more like WLRN in Miami (Channel 17-1)? This will mean that Miami/Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have their own school board channel on the air.

Channel 21-1 is suppose to be an Educational Channel for the Treasure Coast but the religious station has that station and plays three hours of educational programming each week to keep the license alive.

Channel 5 tells me that no one in Port St. Lucie is having trouble picking up their station in the morning hours. They can even get it with rabbit ears. Is that so, Port St. Lucie?

I can't pick them up in Fort Pierce--I tried today. However, WPLG in Miami came in at 88% over the weekend. According to www.tvfool.com, their (Vero Beach channel) power is .300 KW. Even Channel 5 has more power than that!

I sat down to watch 60 Minutes last night and at 7:00 p.m., the thunderstorms were still going strong. The dropouts on WPEC were incredible! I finally had to change the channel, and I watched the old people sing on WXEL.

By the way, what is going to happen to WXEL if the school board of Palm Beach buys the channel. Will it be more like WLRN in Miami (Channel 17-1)? This will mean that Miami/Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have their own school board channel on the air.


I see that they have two 300 watt digital entries. One has a shaped antenna coverage pattern, and excludes Ft. Pierce, but the other one is an omni and goes all the way down to PSL. I don’t know which one they're using right now (I’m close, I’d get it no matter what), so maybe you’ll eventually be able to receive it. No big deal though, it’s basically nothing but commercials and girl talk. Still kind of a lame station.

My WPEC reception has become totally unreliable, I use WKMG almost exclusively these days. WPTV is borderline, but on the bad side of the border unfortunately. Nights are sometimes acceptable, but it’s mostly 50/50 and I don’t have a ‘backup’ NBC. They both seem to have deteriorated a lot since 6/12. I just assumed it was due to summertime atmospherics, but could by either my setup, or theirs, just simply not doing as well as a couple months ago.

WXEL is the worst PBS station I’ve ever seen (but they all seem to be going down hill these days). The only reason I watch it is that it has a very strong signal on W31DC-D (when it’s up). WMFE is better, and WDSC is good too. I like WBCC ok but they don’t have any HD, so it’s the bottom of the lineup for me. I rarely get WLRN, but at night is seems to have the regular PBS lineup (am I wrong?). If WXEL changes owerns, seems the worst it could do is go sideways, there isn’t much worse to get.

I see that they have two 300 watt digital entries. One has a shaped antenna coverage pattern, and excludes Ft. Pierce, but the other one is an omni and goes all the way down to PSL. I don’t know which one they're using right now (I’m close, I’d get it no matter what), so maybe you’ll eventually be able to receive it. No big deal though, it’s basically nothing but commercials and girl talk. Still kind of a lame station.

My WPEC reception has become totally unreliable, I use WKMG almost exclusively these days. WPTV is borderline, but on the bad side of the border unfortunately. Nights are sometimes acceptable, but it’s mostly 50/50 and I don’t have a ‘backup’ NBC. They both seem to have deteriorated a lot since 6/12. I just assumed it was due to summertime atmospherics, but could by either my setup, or theirs, just simply not doing as well as a couple months ago.

WXEL is the worst PBS station I’ve ever seen (but they all seem to be going down hill these days). The only reason I watch it is that it has a very strong signal on W31DC-D (when it’s up). WMFE is better, and WDSC is good too. I like WBCC ok but they don’t have any HD, so it’s the bottom of the lineup for me. I rarely get WLRN, but at night is seems to have the regular PBS lineup (am I wrong?). If WXEL changes owerns, seems the worst it could do is go sideways, there isn’t much worse to get.

I'll be glad when these thunderstorms are over. They are killing the VHF reception. Why would a television station in Florida want VHF. They sound like AM radio during a thunderstorm.

Check out this link: www.hdtvantennalabs.com/reviews/Winegard-YA-1713-reviews.html

This is the highest rated VHF antenna on the market. Very directional. Good luck. Vero Beach is past the line of sight point for West Palm and Orlando, so if you are picking up these stations, it's on a bounce.

Comcast is now issuing the new Cisco RNG-200HD/DVR set top box in lieu of the 8300HD/DVR in this area. Its appearance is better but I would hate to swap out my 8300 which gives me no problem, for a new box that could have issues. I am interested in knowing if anyone is using one and if they are satisfied.

EDIT: After visiting a Comcast office to pick up this box, I decided against it. The appearance of the box is not better. It is still the same color as the 8300 which appears to me as a yellowish silver. The inputs and outputs are exactly the same except there are no composite outputs on the front. Of course the rep had no idea if it contained a newer software version or any other improvements. I have also read a lot of negative feedback about the RNG-200, i.e. different guide, problems with freezing picture, etc. I'll stick with the 8300 until I hear more from posters, on this area's system, that may be forced to use it.

I was wondering if anyone in the Martin County area has one of the Comcast bundles that includes HDTV (cable), Internet, and Comcast Voice (VOIP) telephone who also has- or has had- recent experience with DISH HDTV channels. My questions:

HDTV
Is Comcast HDTV quality worse-same-better than DISH HDTV channel quality?
Is there any HD channel features (VOD?) that is meaningfully better than what you can get with DISH?

Internet
Is Comcast internet pretty reliable vs. AT&T DSL? I used to have it but it went down fairly regularly. And during bad storms, I could lose internet for several days. I know it is much faster than DSL, but DSL almost never seems to go down. So how about Comcast (these days)?

Voice
Is Comcast Voice a pretty good quality experience vs. AT&T?
Local & long distance good? Inbound and outbound calling work well?
Can you fax with it? send & receive?
Alarm systems work?
Has anyone ported their AT&T number and then had trouble getting it ported elsewhere/back?

Due to our HOA embedding a core cable package in the agreement, the (upgrade?) offer for all 3 of the above is coming in at $55/month which is including 6Mbs Internet & 2 phone lines (plus porting).

I already have DISH and am pretty happy with it, but I would like faster Internet and I'd love to get rid of AT&T for phone service. If I could swap out the internet and phone service- even with ambiguous taxes, etc on phone- I would expect total monthly costs to drop by about 50%. Online reviews of the phone service has incredible praise and absolute disdain, but Comcast markets & technology covers a very broad area. We're on the old Adelphia setup, so I am particularly interested in hearing from people with experience with these 3 things in Martin County. I'd much prefer to hear about real experiences as opposed to "I've heard..." experiences.

Thanks for any answers

Internet
Is Comcast internet pretty reliable vs. AT&T DSL? I used to have it but it went down fairly regularly. And during bad storms, I could lose internet for several days. I know it is much faster than DSL, but DSL almost never seems to go down. So how about Comcast (these days)?

Voice
Is Comcast Voice a pretty good quality experience vs. AT&T?
Local & long distance good? Inbound and outbound calling work well?
Can you fax with it? send & receive?
Alarm systems work?
Has anyone ported their AT&T number and then had trouble getting it ported elsewhere/back?

Due to our HOA embedding a core cable package in the agreement, the (upgrade?) offer for all 3 of the above is coming in at $55/month which is including 6Mbs Internet & 2 phone lines (plus porting).

I already have DISH and am pretty happy with it, but I would like faster Internet and I'd love to get rid of AT&T for phone service. If I could swap out the internet and phone service- even with ambiguous taxes, etc on phone- I would expect total monthly costs to drop by about 50%. Online reviews of the phone service has incredible praise and absolute disdain, but Comcast markets & technology covers a very broad area. We're on the old Adelphia setup, so I am particularly interested in hearing from people with experience with these 3 things in Martin County. I'd much prefer to hear about real experiences as opposed to "I've heard..." experiences.

Thanks for any answers

I question the premise that Comcast is faster than DSL. Do you have 6MB DSL service?

When DSL became available (3 MB ), I tried it along side Comcast. To my surprise, DSL browsing was noticeably faster. A tracer route showed comcast router delays in the Miami area that Bell South did not have. Since this was 6-7 years ago this may be no longer germane. I now have 6 MB DSL and can watch full speed Netflix streaming while my wife uses SKYPE for international calls without a hiccup. It doesn't seem like DSL speed is an issue.

Before you make a decision for digital voice, take a look at OOMA.

IRT to porting, about six months ago I called AT&T to cancel my landline. They offered to reduce my DSL bill by $20 per month for 6 months if I kept the land line, which I agreed to since this made the line essentially free. Since my 6 months is almost up, if AT&T does not extend the offer I will port to OOMA.

When my HOA signed a contract with Adelphia, I dropped DirecTV and switched to cable. Although I think satellite is generally better than the current Comcast product, it's just not worth the price if you have an HOA deal.

The parent Company of Freedom Broadcasting—with Eight TV Stations—Expected to File Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection This Week

Freedom Communications, the parent company of Freedom Broadcasting, is expected to file a Chapter 11 bankrupcy reorganization this week, according to a number of published reports.
One of those reports is in the Orange County Register in Southern California, which is owned by Freedom Communications.

Freedom Broadcasting, led by president Doreen Wade, has eight TV stations.
In DMA size order (largest to smallest), the stations are:

WPEC, a CBS affiliate in West Palm Beach, Florida

WWMT, a CBS affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan

WRGB, a CBS affiliate in Albany, New York

WCWN, a CW affiliate, also in Albany, New York

WTVC, an ABC affiliate in Chattanooga, Tennessee

WLAJ, an ABC affiliate in Lansing , Michigan

KTVL, a CBS affiliate in Medford, Orgeon

KFDM, a CBS affliliate in Beaumont, Texas

The reports say the financial difficulty for Freedom started in 2004, when it had to borrow a significant of money to buy-out a number of family members who wanted to cash out of the closely held company.

Joel (as always- and I'm sure many people in this thread feel the same), thank you for the great reply. A few comments or answers...

No, AT&T can't get 6mb DSL to work where I am (max out at 3mb). I have definitely experienced the difference between the 2 (Comcast vs. AT&T) in the past, primarily when downloading bigger files (like downloading video via Apple TV or big software upgrades for the computers).

My experience is such that Comcast broadband is generally much faster. The one (big) fault is that a good storm could knock it out for up to several days in the past. If that pipe becomes our phone pipe, we would then lose phone for several days too (assuming Martin County Comcast internet still suffers such outages).

I have looked at OOMA (and many other solutions) for some time. If you have it, could you give me a quick review (especially what's wrong/weak with it). One of our needs is "free" calls to Canada, which apparently is not a a part of the OOMA package. We also must be able to send & receive faxes, and we need the alarm to still function. A big concern is related to porting the existing numbers, then being able to get them ported again if OOMA goes under (maybe parking the numbers with Google Voice is the ultimate answer?).

Lastly, could you elaborate on the last sentence (satt not worth it if you have a HOA deal)? Our HOA deal covers "basic", so this Comcast offer upgrades us to digital with a variety of HD channels. But I just can't absolutely get them to pin down exactly what channels are included (in writing), nor do I have any feel for the quality of HD channels on Comcast vs. the quality of HD channels on DISH (which I use now). Currently, I have the old DISH "Absolute" package, which includes most of the HD channels with a good DVR for $29.99/month (about $45 total with fees/taxes). So, I'm interested in how equivalent the Comcast package might be.

Right now, the package offer at $55/mo (probably around $70 with taxes/fees) would look considerably more interesting considering our AT&T bill (2 line phone & 3Mb DSL) is consistently totaling about $130/mo with DISH adding another $45. If that Comcast package has a pretty rich mix of HD channels, it would be like going from $175 to about $70 and maintaining good(???) or maybe some better(?) solutions for all 3 kinds of services.

I generally despise AT&T and Comcast and would really love a 3rd & 4th+ option, and feel like I am potentially making a deal with only a different devil after reading some online reviews, but the AT&T "robbery" is getting old, so maybe trying a different "bandit" is the way to go.

Thanks for any additional feedback. And, if anyone else- especially those in Martin County using these services from Comcast- could offer some insight on worse-same-better experiences, I'd love to hear from you.

I have looked at OOMA (and many other solutions) for some time. If you have it, could you give me a quick review (especially what's wrong/weak with it). One of our needs is "free" calls to Canada, which apparently is not a a part of the OOMA package. We also must be able to send & receive faxes, and we need the alarm to still function. A big concern is related to porting the existing numbers, then being able to get them ported again if OOMA goes under (maybe parking the numbers with Google Voice is the ultimate answer?).

Lastly, could you elaborate on the last sentence (satt not worth it if you have a HOA deal)? Our HOA deal covers "basic", so this Comcast offer upgrades us to digital with a variety of HD channels. But I just can't absolutely get them to pin down exactly what channels are included (in writing), nor do I have any feel for the quality of HD channels on Comcast vs. the quality of HD channels on DISH (which I use now). Currently, I have the old DISH "Absolute" package, which includes most of the HD channels with a good DVR for $29.99/month (about $45 total with fees/taxes). So, I'm interested in how equivalent the Comcast package might be.



You identified what could be he biggest OOMA problem. It is a small company and its longevity is uncertain However it is so much cheaper than Vonage the risk is small. BTW, the voice quality is super. Another negative is if you retain a land line you don't get caller ID unless it is provided by the land line company. Caller ID is required for OOMA selective call processing. I don't use OOMA for international calls. I also like the ability to control phone services such as call forwarding and voicemail via the internet.

I added the HD DVR and all the digital channels to comcast - no premium movies. All the locals are available via QAM and the STB. My comcast bill is $39. This also gives me VOD with lots of movies, but the interface is so clunky if I am looking for a movie I use Netflix streaming. Comcast HDTV quality is excellent, at least as good as D* was when I last subscribed 3-4 years ago.

Too bad you can't get 6MB DSL. It has been very reliable. Even worked when I lost my voice service last year.

I got DTV and for the last few days have noticed really loud bass with FS-HD when watching the Marlins HD games. Normally I would adjust the bass on my receiver, but the bass sounds fine on every other HD channel. It's pretty annoying and I was just wondering if you guys were experiencing it too.

The parent Company of Freedom Broadcasting—with Eight TV Stations—Expected to File Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection This Week

Freedom Communications, the parent company of Freedom Broadcasting, is expected to file a Chapter 11 bankrupcy reorganization this week, according to a number of published reports.
One of those reports is in the Orange County Register in Southern California, which is owned by Freedom Communications.

Freedom Broadcasting, led by president Doreen Wade, has eight TV stations.
In DMA size order (largest to smallest), the stations are:

WPEC, a CBS affiliate in West Palm Beach, Florida

WWMT, a CBS affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan

WRGB, a CBS affiliate in Albany, New York

WCWN, a CW affiliate, also in Albany, New York

WTVC, an ABC affiliate in Chattanooga, Tennessee

WLAJ, an ABC affiliate in Lansing , Michigan

KTVL, a CBS affiliate in Medford, Orgeon

KFDM, a CBS affliliate in Beaumont, Texas

The reports say the financial difficulty for Freedom started in 2004, when it had to borrow a significant of money to buy-out a number of family members who wanted to cash out of the closely held company.


They announced it last night on the news on Channel 12. Maybe the network will buy the station. It would be nice to have a network owned station in West Palm Beach.

Given that CBS sold off stations in markets of roughly the same size as West Palm Beach not too long ago, I'm going to suggest that it's unlikely that CBS buys WPEC.

- Trip

I would guess that they will just restructure their debt and keep on doing what they have always done.

Anyone notice Comcast added Channel 400 - CSSHD? Great another HD channel that shows virtually nothing to go along with that stupid channel that "shows" German radio broadcasts. :mad:

Anyone notice Comcast added Channel 400 - CSSHD? Great another HD channel that shows virtually nothing to go along with that stupid channel that "shows" German radio broadcasts. :mad:
Yes, it was added to my system. "University of Florida - PPV Games". The screen is blank right now.

Today, DirecTV added channel 34, WTVX to their HD lineup.

WXEL 42 HD was added to DirecTV as well.


I see WHDT 44 is there too.

I see WHDT 44 is there too.

WHDT is a waste of bandwidth, Comcast added this as well at it is pretty bad.

Anyone notice Comcast added Channel 400 - CSSHD? Great another HD channel that shows virtually nothing to go along with that stupid channel that "shows" German radio broadcasts. :mad:


We had the channel back in 2007, except it was on channel 402, not 400. It showed 2 Gator games that were out-of-market (I think) then disappeared forever.

See link from Stewpidity. As a funny aside, I randomly clicked a page on this thread and I actually went right to this page. Amazing luck! ;)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11460111#post11460111

WXEL 42 HD was added to DirecTV as well.


I see WHDT 44 is there too.

About time!

I haven’t been getting WXEL (or W31DC-D or W44AY either), am I the only one? In its place, WRDQ comes in fairly reasonably now in Vero.

Also, WWCI disappeared, and of all things, WPLG showed up on 10.1 and 10.2. I can’t imagine any way WPLG could knock out the LP WWCI from where I live, even with the best of skip. The WWCI tower is only a little more than a mile from my house.

I rescanned hoping to replace WPLG with WWCI, but no luck, it’s gone. WXEL did scan in, but with a black screen (the old WRDQ conflict). W31DC-D did not scan in, and W44AY (analog) is also still missing.

Actually, I noticed 3 new HD channels. Channel 400 by the way was working for me today airing a game. The other two HD channels are 511 and 512 - iNHD1 and iNHD2. Nothing is showing on them now so I am assuming that they haven't activated them yet. I am also assuming these are pay per view channels due to their placements in the 500 range. Pay per view HD is actually good news because - unlike on demmand - you can record pay per view and keep it for as long as you don't erase it from your DVR hard drive!

Comcast is now issuing the new Cisco RNG-200HD/DVR set top box in lieu of the 8300HD/DVR in this area. Its appearance is better but I would hate to swap out my 8300 which gives me no problem, for a new box that could have issues. I am interested in knowing if anyone is using one and if they are satisfied.

EDIT: After visiting a Comcast office to pick up this box, I decided against it. The appearance of the box is not better. It is still the same color as the 8300 which appears to me as a yellowish silver. The inputs and outputs are exactly the same except there are no composite outputs on the front. Of course the rep had no idea if it contained a newer software version or any other improvements. I have also read a lot of negative feedback about the RNG-200, i.e. different guide, problems with freezing picture, etc. I'll stick with the 8300 until I hear more from posters, on this area's system, that may be forced to use it.

Here are the new box' specs: http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/products/settop-rng200.html#~specifications

The hard drive is a downgrade, but here's some improvements I've noticed:

- Dual HD MPEG decoder (SA8000 series only decodes 1 HD stream at a time, or 1 HD + 1 SD, or 2 SD streams)

- 1080p HD decoding! SA8000 series does 720p or 1080i HD. This is a MAJOR
improvement. 1080p is Blu-ray quality. Albeit, no channels are broadcasting yet at 1080p and nothing is available in On Demmand in 1080p yet, but I assume up-converting would be available on the box and this allows the capability to view programs in 1080p whenever they become available!

- Graphics processor does 16 million colors. Graphics processor on the SA8000 series does only 64,000 colors. If you tune to the music channels in the 800 range, you can see the pixilation of the images using the 64K color graphics processor. At 16 million colors, the graphics will no longer look pixilated and will look photo-realistic!

...The hard drive is a downgrade, but here's some improvements I've noticed:

- Dual HD MPEG decoder (SA8000 series only decodes 1 HD stream at a time, or 1 HD + 1 SD, or 2 SD streams)...

What is the downgrade of the hard drive? Also, I don't understand the decoding capability you make reference to. I have the 8300HD and I can record two HD streams at the same time. Maybe I misunderstood you. Do you have this box and do you think it is worth exchanging the 8300 for it? After much research, I have found more negative than positive comments about the RNG-200. Please see this link concerning some negative feedback.
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12542_102-0.html?threadID=312615

I rescanned hoping to replace WPLG with WWCI, but no luck, it’s gone. WXEL did scan in, but with a black screen (the old WRDQ conflict). W31DC-D did not scan in, and W44AY (analog) is also still missing.

I'm not getting WXEL on Digital 31 or Analog 44 either. I'm having trouble getting it on Digital 27 from West Palm Beach, too. WRDQ is the problem in Orlando. I called Jerry Carr at WXEL and left a phone message. I think WXEL should ask the FCC for a different channel to broadcast on. I also told him that both repeater signals are down.

What is the downgrade of the hard drive? Also, I don't understand the decoding capability you make reference to. I have the 8300HD and I can record two HD streams at the same time. Maybe I misunderstood you. Do you have this box and do you think it is worth exchanging the 8300 for it? After much research, I have found more negative than positive comments about the RNG-200. Please see this link concerning some negative feedback.
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12542_102-0.html?threadID=312615

That's right. I was thinking actual HD outputs but the 8300 does record two HD streams at once.

The hard drive is a downgrade

Hard drive space is the same. It is nice to see they kept the ability to connect an external drive for extra recording capacity.

WD's MyDVR Expander to the rescue!;)

http://reviews.cnet.com/external-hard-drives/my-dvr-expander-wdg1s5000/4505-3190_7-32609584.html


- 1080p HD decoding! SA8000 series does 720p or 1080i HD. This is a MAJOR improvement. 1080p is Blu-ray quality. Albeit, no channels are broadcasting yet at 1080p and nothing is available in On Demmand in 1080p yet, but I assume up-converting would be available on the box and this allows the capability to view programs in 1080p whenever they become available!

The new stb can output a 1080P signal but only because it is doing the deinterlacing of the 1080i signal. Something which most medium to high end displays will likely be better at. I have my 8300's set to pass through the 480i, 720P and 1080i signals natively and let my displays do the heavy lifting.

Unfortunately, there won't be any 1080P material due to bandwidth constraints. Maybe when some enterprising company comes up with a better compression algorithm that is cost effective it will be possible. Just pray that the picture quality isn't degraded even further to bring you that pseudo 1080P singnal.

Actually, I noticed 3 new HD channels. Channel 400 by the way was working for me today airing a game. The other two HD channels are 511 and 512 - iNHD1 and iNHD2. Nothing is showing on them now so I am assuming that they haven't activated them yet. I am also assuming these are pay per view channels due to their placements in the 500 range. Pay per view HD is actually good news because - unlike on demmand - you can record pay per view and keep it for as long as you don't erase it from your DVR hard drive!


So what are they, regular PPV channels that show PPV events like fights, etc? I wonder if you can use them with a cable card.

I'm not getting WXEL on Digital 31 or Analog 44 either. I'm having trouble getting it on Digital 27 from West Palm Beach, too. WRDQ is the problem in Orlando. I called Jerry Carr at WXEL and left a phone message. I think WXEL should ask the FCC for a different channel to broadcast on. I also told him that both repeater signals are down.

I’m beginning to get a sickening feeling about those repeaters. The fact that both are off the air at the same time for so long makes me think it’s no accident. Personally, I think it would be easier (and wiser) for WRDQ to go back to 14 (I never saw the kind of interference they seem to be worried about) than WXEL trying to move, but whatever works would be a great improvement. For me, I now have no WXEL at all. Too bad, with the ole W31DC-D, it was a nice signal. Maybe someone can talk WPTV into moving over on W31DC-D if nobody’s going to use it. It’s already digital and ready to go.

I’m beginning to get a sickening feeling about those repeaters. The fact that both are off the air at the same time for so long makes me think it’s no accident. Personally, I think it would be easier (and wiser) for WRDQ to go back to 14 (I never saw the kind of interference they seem to be worried about) than WXEL trying to move, but whatever works would be a great improvement. For me, I now have no WXEL at all. Too bad, with the ole W31DC-D, it was a nice signal. Maybe someone can talk WPTV into moving over on W31DC-D if nobody’s going to use it. It’s already digital and ready to go.

There has been talk that Berry University might get rid of WXEL and the Palm Beach School Board will run the station. Not good news for the Treasure Coast. Channel 21 (WTCE) is suppose to be an educational station but the religious station broadcast a few hours of educational programming with their religious programs to keep the license.

Channel 5 has told me that they do not have the money to run a repeater signal on the Northern Treasure Coast. I guess a stronger signal in Broward County means more $$ from advertising.

My signals on both channel 5 and 12 run between 40% up to 98%--quite a fluxuation. Evenings are stronger with signals around 83%, but mornings are weak, with signals between 40% and 78%. The problem must be those Tampa stations.

My signals on both channel 5 and 12 run between 40% up to 98%--quite a fluxuation. Evenings are stronger with signals around 83%, but mornings are weak, with signals between 40% and 78%. The problem must be those Tampa stations.

My WPTV is about 50/50 (signal to no signal) in the daytime lately. With sunset coming earlier and earlier now, it is improving though. I really don’t watch the major networks in daytime much except for the morning and evening news. Things have to be going my way to get WPTV dependabley at 6:30 PM, maybe about 1 out of three days I’ll ‘sidetone’ WPTV while watching WPBF, then at 7:00 I’ll watch WKMG and WMFE or WDSC at the same time to get my news fix. By 8:00, everything’s pretty much opened up, even WPEC makes an appearance (but I don’t need it with Orlando’s much stronger WKMG). I’m hoping by the time daylight savings time goes away, everything should be fairly dependable by 6:30. I used to love daylight savings time, but now that I’m an OTA’er, I hate it!

My WPTV is about 50/50 (signal to no signal) in the daytime lately. With sunset coming earlier and earlier now, it is improving though. I really don’t watch the major networks in daytime much except for the morning and evening news. Things have to be going my way to get WPTV dependabley at 6:30 PM, maybe about 1 out of three days I’ll ‘sidetone’ WPTV while watching WPBF, then at 7:00 I’ll watch WKMG and WMFE or WDSC at the same time to get my news fix. By 8:00, everything’s pretty much opened up, even WPEC makes an appearance (but I don’t need it with Orlando’s much stronger WKMG). I’m hoping by the time daylight savings time goes away, everything should be fairly dependable by 6:30. I used to love daylight savings time, but now that I’m an OTA’er, I hate it!luminance, what's your antenna setup and approximate distance from both WBP and Orlando towers? Please don't hesitate to go into detail. TIA.

luminance, what's your antenna setup and approximate distance from both WBP and Orlando towers? Please don't hesitate to go into detail. TIA.

The attached file gives probably more detail than you want, but it is complete. These two images show the antenna and mast.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/rclayramsey/array0509.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/rclayramsey/supports.jpg

After looking over that file, I’d put WPTV in the next lower category. These days it does not give dependable daytime reception.

WXEL did call me back and told me that they had a breakdown on their repeater transmitter. It is back up, however, it does show, in my opnion, that since the FCC removed channels 52-69 from the broadcast spectrium, stations will be broadcasting closer and closer to each other in the future. The FCC only wants stations to travel 55 miles--not 80 miles--and WXEL and WPTV, WPEC and WFLX will need to eventually move their transmitter to the Jupiter area so they can serve all of their market--not the Miami Ft. Lauderdale market.

I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years the FCC allowed Melbourne stations to broadcast on the same frequencies that the West Palm Beach stations are on.

Remember how Channel 2 in Orlando had to broadcast from Deltona because Orlando was too close to Miami's Channel 2? And now we have WXEL and WRDQ both broadcasting on Channel 27, just 150 miles apart.

The attached file gives probably more detail than you want, but it is complete. These two images show the antenna and mast.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/rclayramsey/array0509.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/rclayramsey/supports.jpg

After looking over that file, I’d put WPTV in the next lower category. These days it does not give dependable daytime reception.

My Channel 12 is just as strong as Channel 5, but channel 12 is often stronger at night. I guess you could say, NBC is the "Weakest Link."

Have you tried Channel 18 in Orlando? They carry the local channel 2's news (NBC) from Orlando. They broadcast on Digital 17.

Sometimes I can get WXEL at 90% signal strength, but on some mornings, I get nothing.

If your blood pressure goes up, just remember this quote:

"If a category 5 hurricane hit Vero Beach, and a bomb when off in downtown Vero killing 200 people, the breaking news on Channels 5 and 12 would be, 'West Palm Beach has fired their dog catcher.'"

Remember when they had the school bus accident in Indian River County. Channel 5 was live on the "Telephone" with film from an Orlando station. That's what I call "coverning a market."

Is WHDQ on the air? I checked twice on a friend's DirecTV and it wasn't.

The attached file gives probably more detail than you want, but it is complete. These two images show the antenna and mast.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/rclayramsey/array0509.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/rclayramsey/supports.jpg

After looking over that file, I’d put WPTV in the next lower category. These days it does not give dependable daytime reception.
That's a pretty impressive antenna array. What frequency is the lowest Yagi cut for, and what direction is it pointed?

Have you tried Channel 18 in Orlando? They carry the local channel 2's news (NBC) from Orlando. They broadcast on Digital 17.

Yes, my WKCF reception if reasonable, but WESH only puts the local news on WKCF. As far as I can tell, no NBC network stuff ever shows up there. Unfortunately, I don’t watch much local news other than weather.

"If a category 5 hurricane hit Vero Beach, and a bomb when off in downtown Vero killing 200 people, the breaking news on Channels 5 and 12 would be, 'West Palm Beach has fired their dog catcher.'"


Been there, done that. Francis and Jeanne. We’re getting clobbered and all West Palm is talking about is how it missed us, and everything’s fine. Since only West Palm stations survived (Orlando isn’t ‘getable’ from inside the house), there was very little detail on wind speed, movement or direction.

That's a pretty impressive antenna array. What frequency is the lowest Yagi cut for, and what direction is it pointed?

That’s channel 12 (WPTV), but it does ok on 13 (WPEC) fairly well, and sometimes even WPLG on 10 comes in. It’s pointed directly at WPTV.

That’s channel 12 (WPTV), but it does ok on 13 (WPEC) fairly well, and sometimes even WPLG on 10 comes in. It’s pointed directly at WPTV.

I have a similar setup, am using a 5 element ch 13 Yagi for VHF 12 & 13 which works fine for me.

Since you are having low signal problems, have you considered beefing up this antenna to a 10 element Yagi?

I have a similar setup, am using a 5 element ch 13 Yagi for VHF 12 & 13 which works fine for me.

Since you are having low signal problems, have you considered beefing up this antenna to a 10 element Yagi?

Yes, but the weight on the mast is already maxed out (actually too much), and the wind resistance is a little much for that lightweight mast too. With 10 elements, it’d really be sticking out there. Right now, I don’t have the material I would need to build a 10 element beam, maybe one day I’ll run across another old VHF antenna for parts.

Anybody have any experience with AT&T u-verse. I know people rave about FIOS over cable, and I guess u-verse is supposedly similar, but anyone have any real life experience?

Mine has yet to return at all. Please keep us posted!
Robin

I added cable 9 (WPEC analog) to my TVGOS channel list. Bingo! The next day all my guide information was displayed.

Anybody have any experience with AT&T u-verse. I know people rave about FIOS over cable, and I guess u-verse is supposedly similar, but anyone have any real life experience?

In most cases UV is different than FIOS as most installation are Fiber to Node and copper from the Node to the house. Right now to get 2HD/2SD streams you need to be <3500' from the node otherwise you get 1HD/3SD.

I have been using it since Dec and my view is:

Stream Limit - For my house 2/2 is working Ok but 3/2 would be perfect. Rumors are they will be doing a 3/2 or 3/1 config in the near future.

HD Picture Quality 4/5 - Good HD but not as good as high bandwidth cable or D*

SD Picture Quality 5/5 - better than I have seen on any other syste

Sound Quality 4/5 - They still have a few issues with sound drops in 5.1

DVR 5/5 - I love the whole house DVR it does not have as many functions as Tivo but works great for me

HD Channels 5/5 - pretty much everything you want they just added NFL Redzone

Internet - no problems running at same speed as my old DSL, see no problems moving to VDSL. Higher speeds can be bought bu 6/1 is good enough for me.

So did everyone check out WPBF's new news studio in... standard definition.

So did everyone check out WPBF's new news studio in... standard definition.
They will always be #3.:confused:

So did everyone check out WPBF's new news studio in... standard definition.

Agree its pretty sad. Until they added the dumb "HDTV" sidebars, their 480p video during the news was excellent. Now its worse than good analog.

I was very disappointed last night when I saw WPBF last night. Their news has become a junk yard with so many commercials. And still no Wide HDTV news. Maybe they could get Channel 5 to do their news, kinda what Channel 29 does.

Even though I don't get WPBF (they're too far north), I'm sure they can't be any worse than WFOR (4.1 in MIA/FTL). Local content is still fuzzy SD with horrible color. That said, the preseason Dolphin games were in HD, but I guess they couldn't bring the HD cameras back to the studio for their local news... ;)

Even though I don't get WPBF (they're too far north), I'm sure they can't be any worse than WFOR (4.1 in MIA/FTL).

I get both WPBF and WFOR here.. and yes... WPBF is worse in content and picture quality in my opinion.

The way that new channel 25 black anchor went on and on about how excited he was about the new set during teasers you would think that it was coming in super-duper HD and was built of solid gold.

The only time I miss living in Los Angeles is when I turn on the local news here. Amateurs.

Hard drive space is the same. It is nice to see they kept the ability to connect an external drive for extra recording capacity.

WD's MyDVR Expander to the rescue!;)

http://reviews.cnet.com/external-hard-drives/my-dvr-expander-wdg1s5000/4505-3190_7-32609584.html




The new stb can output a 1080P signal but only because it is doing the deinterlacing of the 1080i signal. Something which most medium to high end displays will likely be better at. I have my 8300's set to pass through the 480i, 720P and 1080i signals natively and let my displays do the heavy lifting.

Unfortunately, there won't be any 1080P material due to bandwidth constraints. Maybe when some enterprising company comes up with a better compression algorithm that is cost effective it will be possible. Just pray that the picture quality isn't degraded even further to bring you that pseudo 1080P singnal.

Um, my SA8300HDC's hard drive is 500GB, so this new box is a downgrade as far as HDD capacity goes.

Also, the satellite companies already have 1080p on demand (via DSL). I don't know if U-verse has as well. Point is... if the competition has it, it's only a matter of time before Comcast gets it.

Speaking of bandwidth, new technologies are pushing the urgency for bringing more of it. Besides 1080p broadcasts that will require a doubling of bandwidth, 3DTV is 'round the corner. 3D will require doubling the bandwidth as well. 3D at 1080p will require quadruple capacity. Add to that the "hundreds" of new HD channels that were promised....

What happened to Comcast's promise of Switched Digital Video (SDV)? I think they introduced it to a few areas a long time ago, but then stopped and nothing more has been heard since!

...Um, my SA8300HDC's hard drive is 500GB, so this new box is a downgrade as far as HDD capacity goes...

Is this correct? The HDD is 500GB?

Originally Posted by PeterAlt
...Um, my SA8300HDC's hard drive is 500GB, so this new box is a downgrade as far as HDD capacity goes...
Is this correct? The HDD is 500GB?

No.


http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/video/ps8611/ps8612/ps8613/product_data_sheet0900aecd806c6920.pdf

Is this new Cisco STB available for all of Palm Beach County? Reason I ask is there is a major stuttering problem going on with FOX and their broadcasting of sporting events. It is happening nationwide with various cable providers and seems to occur mainly with Scientific Atlanta STBs.

I added cable 9 (WPEC analog) to my TVGOS channel list. Bingo! The next day all my guide information was displayed.

Joel and others:
Last Wednesday I got a single download of TVGOS data via Comcast (analog-no box) which actually gave me listings for three days in the future. I scheduled two successful recordings but have had no data downloads since then.
I guess they ALMOST had it??
Ever hopeful!
Robin

Joel and others:
Last Wednesday I got a single download of TVGOS data via Comcast (analog-no box) which actually gave me listings for three days in the future. I scheduled two successful recordings but have had no data downloads since then.
I guess they ALMOST had it??
Ever hopeful!
Robin
I am still getting my data. It seems like cable 9 is the place to look.

Joel and others:
Last Wednesday I got a single download of TVGOS data via Comcast (analog-no box) which actually gave me listings for three days in the future. I scheduled two successful recordings but have had no data downloads since then.
I guess they ALMOST had it??
Ever hopeful!
Robin
As like Joel, I have been receiving TVGOS updates with no problem for my DVDR. A few weeks ago when entering the guide, I was presented with the page to re-select a channel lineup which included a choice for AT&T U-Verse. My host channel is still cable channel 9.

Is there anyone out there use Comcast Boca ClearQAM who has lost WPTV-DT and WFLX-DT in the last two days?

WPTV and WFLX are on the channel 81 QAM carrier.

COMCAST'S NEW HD CHANNEL ADDITIONS FOR FT. PIERCE, VERO BEACH, SEBASTIAN AND BREVARD COUNTY AS OF NOVEMBER 10, 2009

NEW! 395 TCM HD
NEW! 396 ESPNU HD
NEW! 397 CNN Headline News HD
NEW! 398 truTV HD
NEW! 423 CNN HD
NEW! 428 Fox News Channel HD
NEW! 429 AMC HD
NEW! 441 TWC HD
NEW! 442 Cartoon Network HD
NEW! 443 Nickelodeon HD
NEW! 450 Speed HD
NEW! 451 FX HD
NEW! 452 Spike HD
NEW! 453 Comedy Central HD
NEW! 457 E! HD
NEW! 458 Travel Channel HD
NEW! 459 Lifetime HD
NEW! 473 MTV HD
NEW! 474 VH-1 HD
NEW! 475 BET HD
NEW! 476 CMT HD
NEW! 478 NBA TV HD
NEW! 479 MLB Network HD

Maybe our announcement is forthcoming :mad:

Maybe our announcement is forthcoming :mad:
I called and asked about any time frame for this area was told that we should see additional HD channels by the end of the year. I'll believe it when I see it!

I called and asked about any time frame for this area was told that we should see additional HD channels by the end of the year. I'll believe it when I see it!

Where is Port Saint Lucie???:mad: I'll give it to comcast as they blow away the competition in HD PQ as I have had U-Verse and Directv in the last 3 months and no matter how many channels they offer their HD PQ is dredful in comparison to comcast (over compressed, soft, black crush). I just can't take only having 33 HD channels...I really would love to have fox news HD as that is the only SD channel I watch.

I thought we were all part of the same system as the ones mentioned above getting the new channels.

Those areas are legacy Comcast systems. They were not part of Adelphia.

Those areas are legacy Comcast systems. They were not part of Adelphia.
Maybe we should be called "Comphia:rolleyes:

Where is Port Saint Lucie???:mad: I'll give it to comcast as they blow away the competition in HD PQ as I have had U-Verse and Directv in the last 3 months and no matter how many channels they offer their HD PQ is dredful in comparison to comcast (over compressed, soft, black crush). I just can't take only having 33 HD channels...I really would love to have fox news HD as that is the only SD channel I watch.

Thanks for keeping me from the "dark" side.:D

I have been contemplating the Uverse dimension for a while, but if indeed we will get more HD, I will be able to resist!!!

J

DirecTV has gone over to MPEG4 with most of their HD channels now in the last 12 months or so. The days of over-compression and resolution reduction are largely over.

Where is Port Saint Lucie???:mad: I'll give it to comcast as they blow away the competition in HD PQ as I have had U-Verse and Directv in the last 3 months and no matter how many channels they offer their HD PQ is dredful in comparison to comcast (over compressed, soft, black crush). I just can't take only having 33 HD channels...I really would love to have fox news HD as that is the only SD channel I watch.

Comcast seems to have just added Channel 402 Sun Sports HD. I love sports so I'll take it but it does seem like an odd choice considered we still don't have CinemaxHD, TLCHD, etc...

Comcast seems to have just added Channel 402 Sun Sports HD. I love sports so I'll take it but it does seem like an odd choice considered we still don't have CinemaxHD, TLCHD, etc...

I noticed that too. It'd have been better had they added it during baseball season. I guess we'll see how much programming they air in HD for Hockey and Basketball!

Comcast seems to have just added Channel 402 Sun Sports HD. I love sports so I'll take it but it does seem like an odd choice considered we still don't have CinemaxHD, TLCHD, etc...

I woulda taken Fuel HD or Speed HD over Sun any day !!! :mad:

I woulda taken Fuel HD or Speed HD over Sun any day !!! :mad:

My vote is for MLB TV.

Strange, Comcast is part owner of this network and they give it short shrift.

It appears that the WXEL repeater signal broadcasting on digital channel 31 has had their power cut from 35,000 to 15,000 watts. Can anyone second this information?

As a translator, W31DC-D has always had its digital power level capped at 15 kW.

- Trip

As a translator, W31DC-D has always had its digital power level capped at 15 kW.

- Trip

That was a pretty quick answer for a 20-year old. OK, let me ask you another question.

I moved my antenna up to 32 feet above the ground. There wasn't much of a difference in reception. All UHF channels are around 90-93%, and Channels 5 & 12 (the VHF channels) are averaging around 81% during the daytime. Is that about the best I can do being 61 miles from the towers?

In the early morning hours, the signal can still go from 4% to 98%. Did you see this VHF map?

www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs/path.cgi?map=na

I thought they fixed their 5.1 sound for their HD broadcasts? I noticed for last nights Sunday Night Football that the 5.1 sound is no longer working. Can't they get their equipment to work here on the local level?

That was a pretty quick answer for a 20-year old.

I'll be 21 in three weeks. :D

OK, let me ask you another question.

I moved my antenna up to 32 feet above the ground. There wasn't much of a difference in reception. All UHF channels are around 90-93%, and Channels 5 & 12 (the VHF channels) are averaging around 81% during the daytime. Is that about the best I can do being 61 miles from the towers?

In the early morning hours, the signal can still go from 4% to 98%.

I'm sure you've posted what kind of antenna you have, but I've forgotten.

It depends on why your signal is that low. If it's co-channel interference from WTVT-12/WEDU-13 Tampa raising the noise floor under the desired signals, there may not be much you can do about it. If it's just insufficient gain, then a bigger upper-VHF antenna might help you. You might also try to aim the antenna not for best signal from WPEC/WPTV, but instead aim to best null out Tampa. Not sure if that will help or not, but it might.

Did you see this VHF map?

www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs/path.cgi?map=na

Yep, it's quite interesting. I've yet to have a chance to play with it and try it for DXing.

- Trip

For everyone's information, AT&T has been installing fiber to the curb for U-verse in Wellington. A friend of mine (in Wellington) already has the service. I checked to see if it's available in my Wellington neighborhood but to no avail. Apparently, they are building U-verse fiber to the curb service block by block, selectively discriminating, prioritizing higher density neighborhoods and higher average per household income than others with favor over others.

I think that this practice (on the behalf of AT&T) is unfair and needs government intervention. By the time they finally decide to dig fiber in my neighborhood, Comcast may have their act together and I'll probably stick with them as my way over protesting AT&T discrimination policy.

UPDATE: I was told by my friend with Wellington U-verse service that HALF the homes in their neighborhood made the switch to U-verse when that build-out completed!

I think that this practice (on the behalf of AT&T) is unfair and needs government intervention. By the time they finally decide to dig fiber in my neighborhood, Comcast may have their act together and I'll probably stick with them as my way over protesting AT&T discrimination policy.

The people of Florida voted to allow this this type of cherry picking by the telcos. It was on the ballot back in '04 or 06'. I distinctly remember AT&T's radio/tv ads, "The Future, Faster!" and those paid for by the cablecos opposing it and stating this would happen.

Since my neighborhood was built with "fiber to the curb", I voted for it. It's still not available to my address and even if it was, I doubt that I'd switch. From what I've read here at AVS, it's not as good as Comcast's upgraded service and is a far cry from the quality of FIOS.

The people of Florida voted to allow this this type of cherry picking by the telcos. It was on the ballot back in '04 or 06'. I distinctly remember AT&T's radio/tv ads, "The Future, Faster!" and those paid for by the cablecos opposing it and stating this would happen.

Since my neighborhood was built with "fiber to the curb", I voted for it. It's still not available to my address and even if it was, I doubt that I'd switch. From what I've read here at AVS, it's not as good as Comcast's upgraded service and is a far cry from the quality of FIOS.

Uggh... We need some way to minimize corporate lobbyists from buying people's votes! They just take advantage of people who do not have the time to study the issue. Or worse, those who do know the issue but are made Pie In The Sky promises for voting with the lobbyists. This shows that people are willing to set aside their morale values (if the price is right)!

Uggh... We need some way to minimize corporate lobbyists from buying people's votes! They just take advantage of people who do not have the time to study the issue. Or worse, those who do know the issue but are made Pie In The Sky promises for voting with the lobbyists. This shows that people are willing to set aside their morale values (if the price is right)!Lobbyists should have a special place in hell reserved for them - right along side health care company CEOs. IMO, of course.

Uggh... We need some way to minimize corporate lobbyists from bribing our elected officials ! Fixed!


They just take advantage of people who do not have the time to study the issue.

That's a lazy ass excuse.

Everyone has a duty to educate themselves on the issues we are facing and vote accordingly. Unfortunately, the majority of the citizens of this country are ingnorant and apathetic.

The freedom to choose the individuals who represent our interests is one of our most cherished rights. A few choose to exercise this right. Others just complain, never taking the opportunity to change the status quo.


Or worse, those who do know the issue but are made Pie In The Sky promises for voting with the lobbyists. This shows that people are willing to set aside their morale values (if the price is right)!

A little hyperbolic, don't you think?

This is all very interesting gents, but let's get back to HDTV info and reception topics.

Has anyone heard anything about WHDT? Please post it if you have. The stations is suppose to be as strong as WFLX when they start broadcasting on Channel 42.

Interesting article I read states that over 20 television stations across the United States have requested to the FCC a UHF assignment because there have been so many complaints about the VHF reception. (and more would like to do it) WLS, channel 7 in Chicago is the biggest station.

Read the entire article:

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32917495/

"TV consultant Peter Putman said a lot of reception problems for digital VHF channels can be attributed to the fact that VHF antennas need to be large. The long rods on an outdoor antenna are for VHF reception, and it's difficult to make a compact indoor antenna with good VHF performance."

Is there any reason I should be experiencing issues with WFLX OTA the past week at my Hotel IN west palm?

I don't know how many have any experience w/the D-TV AM-21 OTA tuner, but especially for those who are contemplating one, I thought I'd share my experiences.

What it does well - the integration w/the HD DVR works seamlessly. No recording issues with OTA signals to date - going on almost a year.

What it does not do well (or it's something with my setup) - the dual tuners appear to capture only signals that are very strong (e.g. register at >70%-75% on the TV tuner). Weaker signals (most of the Miami stations, WTVX and WPBF) do not come in at all/no signal strength on the built in signal meter. Yet, when plugging the coax into the TV directly, the signals for these stations are typically in the 60-70% range. I even purchased another tuner, thinking there might be something wrong with the first one. Same story with the second tuner. And D-TV offers nary a days' worth of warranty on this tuner.

I have a ChannelMaster 3016 in the attic oriented towards the south, and have two coax runs, ~ 20 ft to one TV and ~ 30 ft to the TV with the DVR. I added a Winegard 8700 Preamp to the D-TV OTA Tuner and at least WPBF now comes in. I think there's nothing wrong with the signal or antenna connections since everything comes in when the cable is plugged directly into the TV. Interestingly, I first placed the PreAmp next to the antenna per the directions, to give a boost to the weaker signals going to both coax runs. Nothing beyond 5, 12 and 29 came in. Yet, plugging the PreAmp next to the TV itself at least helps a bit. I'm guessing that there's interference/overload from WIRK-FM, or another FM station, since I'm <10 mi from the towers, and the FM trap can't attenuate all of the interference - at least for what's needed for the D-TV OTA tuner? Or there's interference from somthing else - just enough to affect the AM-21, but not enough to bother the TV (Sony) internal tuner. If anyone has any suggestions of something else to try that I'm not thinking of, short of moving the antenna outside, I'd appreciate it.

Two other observations. Per the UHF/VHF discussion, while I don't get Ch 7 and 10 (30%- 50% signal) typically as strong as the UHF signals for 4, 6, 33and 39 (usu 40%-100%), I've noticed that the Miami VHF signals don't fluctuate nearly as much as the UHF signals do. Second, Ch 25 was initially only coming in ~ 30% on my TV w/the stronger signals, and moving the antenna 2 ft to the east, but not changing the antenna height improved the signal to a consistent 80+%. That's with no tree/building obstructions, so that was a bit surprising. And manuvering that anntenna through the trusses in August heat was a real treat!

Has anyone actually seen any programming on channel 400 CSS HD on Comcast?

Has anyone actually seen any programming on channel 400 CSS HD on Comcast?There have been some college football games on Saturday afternoons.

Yeah that is pretty much it, college football so far. 401 now seems to have regular programming albeit not all in HD.

For everyone's information, AT&T has been installing fiber to the curb for U-verse in Wellington. A friend of mine (in Wellington) already has the service. I checked to see if it's available in my Wellington neighborhood but to no avail. Apparently, they are building U-verse fiber to the curb service block by block, selectively discriminating, prioritizing higher density neighborhoods and higher average per household income than others with favor over others.

I think that this practice (on the behalf of AT&T) is unfair and needs government intervention. By the time they finally decide to dig fiber in my neighborhood, Comcast may have their act together and I'll probably stick with them as my way over protesting AT&T discrimination policy.

UPDATE: I was told by my friend with Wellington U-verse service that HALF the homes in their neighborhood made the switch to U-verse when that build-out completed!

Uverse is not really fiber to the curb.
Uverse is traditionally built out with fiber to the neighborhood then 3-pair copper (6 wires) to each home. What happens then is depending upon the copper length from the fiber/copper "box" transition point, some people get Uverse, others do not. In my neighborhood, the front half of the community has Uverse, the back half does not. I'm five houses away from the last point of Uverse service. Per the Uverse folks, the copper runs are too long to provide Uverse TV.

The only real fiber to curb (actually house) is FIOS by Verizon. Not available in PB County.

Yea, that's the draw back with Uverse. They put the vrad at the existing cross box serving the community so the back half gets nothing due to loop length. AT&T is going to have to install new boxes in the middle or hope that some kind of pair bonding works.

Bellsouth did deploy fiber to the curb in some communities a long time ago but that has been stuck in limbo for a while now. Copper DSL and Uverse actually deliever a lot more.

How can one not noticed all of the ads for the Palm Beach Solid Waste Authority. The green bin, the blue bin--what is their yearly advertising budget?

At a time when ad revenues are at a low, the palm Beach Solid Waste Authority are keeping the locals in business.

Uverse is not really fiber to the curb.
Uverse is traditionally built out with fiber to the neighborhood then 3-pair copper (6 wires) to each home. What happens then is depending upon the copper length from the fiber/copper "box" transition point, some people get Uverse, others do not. In my neighborhood, the front half of the community has Uverse, the back half does not. I'm five houses away from the last point of Uverse service. Per the Uverse folks, the copper runs are too long to provide Uverse TV.

The only real fiber to curb (actually house) is FIOS by Verizon. Not available in PB County.

Actually UVerse is either installed Fiber to a neighborhood VRAD FTTN or Fiber to the house FTTP. But FTTP is only done in very new subdivisions i.e. they are installing UVerse at the same time they are building the subdivision. The majority of users are FTTN so copper the last 3000'. But they do do Fiber to the house for some people.

How can one not noticed all of the ads for the Palm Beach Solid Waste Authority. The green bin, the blue bin--what is their yearly advertising budget?

At a time when ad revenues are at a low, the palm Beach Solid Waste Authority are keeping the locals in business.All the info is on their website. http://www.swa.org/site/information_and_documents/financial_and_budget.htm

The Customer Relations 09 operating expenses budget is $2,969,555. I'm sure that isn't a total just for advertising but it is part of it.

Yea.. I was bored so I read it. :o

Channel 5 and 12 were not able to be picked up this morning OTA. Amazing what a little fog will do. Channel 28-1 from Tampa came in at 75% and Orlando stations were coming in at 85%. And still, my antenna was pointed south.

Can someone explain to me what channels I'm really supposed to get? Using the built in QAM turner I used to get all the locals in HD, but Comcast seems to have blocked that now. I thought the HD versions came under the "must carry" rules?

Tomorrow is the big HD day for Comcast costumers in FT Pierce and surrounding areas. My parents got a flyer about a week ago, detailing all the HD channel additions and channel relocations. I’m having some serious channel envy issues.

When oh when will Comcrap West Palm give us more HD?

When oh when will Comcrap West Palm give us more HD?
I'm getting tired of waiting.

Good name for them, by the way.

Can someone explain to me what channels I'm really supposed to get? Using the built in QAM turner I used to get all the locals in HD, but Comcast seems to have blocked that now. I thought the HD versions came under the "must carry" rules?
No problem here. I'm receiving all the broadcast sub-channels as usual. I believe we are on the same head-end.

The latest rumer is that we will get more HD channels on February 30th. :p

The latest rumer is that we will get more HD channels on February 30th. :p
Is that just for the legacy Comcast systems or will it include the old Adelphia systems?

Is that just for the legacy Comcast systems or will it include the old Adelphia systems?
Doesn't matter. February 30th will never come. :)

Ha!!!!!!!!!!!

Just noticed NFL Redzone HD is on channel 390. I don't subscribe to the sports pack so I can't watch it.

Just noticed NFL Redzone HD is on channel 390. I don't subscribe to the sports pack so I can't watch it.

Yey, another HD channel that only has programming 1 day a week!!

I noticed that and that they moved all the In Pay Per View channels from 501-?? to like 555-561.

Anyone counted to see if we have more HD channels or channels telling us where to find PPV and On Demand. :p

Anyone counted to see if we have more HD channels or channels telling us where to find PPV and On Demand. :p
I don't think the new HD channels will hit until 11/10.

I don't think the new HD channels will hit until 11/10.

Did Comcast announce something for our area for the 10th?

Did Comcast announce something for our area for the 10th?
For the Vero/Ft Pierce area check out this notice:

http://web.tcpalm.com/adv/comcast/index.html

I was over at my parents (Ft Pierce Beach) on the 31st and no new channels. I gave up trying to call comcast after waiting too long on the phone. Did they push back the date or just having normal comcrap issues?

Two potential buyers reveal interest in WXEL license. The school board of Palm Beach county has given up on their interest of the channel.

The Community Broadcast Foundation and WPBT Ch. 2 in Miami have submitted proposals showing interest in taking over the station.

The Community Broadcast Foundation is saying that they are more experienced than WPBT's, however, WPBT says they are a 50-plus-year-old public broadcasting station.

The Community Broadcast Foundation is saying that they are more experienced than WPBT's, however, WPBT says they are a 50-plus-year-old public broadcasting station.

True, but they’re not WTVJ! I remember them back when I was in school. Hour after of hour of some teacher in front of a camera droning on and on about this or that. It was very crude stuff. I’m not really knocking them as far as should they buy WXEL or not (I sure hope someone does), just saying their argument is probably a little more lame than they make it out to be.

There are several shows that WPBT does get but WXEL does not get. If WPBT purchased WXEL, and they carried all of the shows that WPBT carried, I would be happy!:o

If WPBT (or anybody) takes over WXEL, I hope for two things: 1) and most important, that they keep operating the W31DC-D repeater, and hopefully the W44AY also (but that’s not as critical), and 2) that they improve the content on their sub channels.

If WPBT (or anybody) takes over WXEL, I hope for two things: 1) and most important, that they keep operating the W31DC-D repeater, and hopefully the W44AY also (but that’s not as critical), and 2) that they improve the content on their sub channels.
I have the opposite view. subchannels should be curtailed during prime time to enable HDTV on the main channel.

I have a 2 yr old HDTV that is HD ready. How do I input the channels to get the HD without a cable box. I try to enter 25.1 but I don't know how to enter the .
Anyone?

What is the Brand and Model # of the set you're using. You may not have the correct type of tuner to get HD from the cable company with out a box. Can you get HD from over the air signals (regular antenna)?

I have a 2 yr old HDTV that is HD ready. How do I input the channels to get the HD without a cable box. I try to enter 25.1 but I don't know how to enter the .
Anyone?

The remote should have a button on it that has either a dash (-) or a dot (.).

However if the TV is HD "ready" as you say, I believe that means that it is able to accept and display HD content but doesn't have an HD tuner built into it. If that is the case you won't be able to receive HD channels without a cable box or something else with an HD tuner that can receive the signal and pass it to the TV.

If I'm wrong here I'm sure someone can correct me.

I have the opposite view. subchannels should be curtailed during prime time to enable HDTV on the main channel.


Do you really notice a difference with the subchannels going? I haven't, but I have 720p--not 1080i.

The remote should have a button on it that has either a dash (-) or a dot (.).

However if the TV is HD "ready" as you say, I believe that means that it is able to accept and display HD content but doesn't have an HD tuner built into it. If that is the case you won't be able to receive HD channels without a cable box or something else with an HD tuner that can receive the signal and pass it to the TV.

If I'm wrong here I'm sure someone can correct me.

Consider going to Setup and autoprogram.

Do you really notice a difference with the subchannels going? I haven't, but I have 720p--not 1080i.

I noticed a big difference several months ago when the Spanish channel was added.

I have no way of measuring this, but their HDTV resolution appears to be poorer than 480p with my setup ( 61" 1080p ). I am surprised it isn't noticeable on a 720p TV.

One good thing this station has done is to improve the signal coverage in this area. For about a year, I rarely received a consistent picture. Recently it has been good every time I watch.

I noticed a big difference several months ago when the Spanish channel was added.

I have no way of measuring this, but their HDTV resolution appears to be poorer than 480p with my setup ( 61" 1080p ). I am surprised it isn't noticeable on a 720p TV.

One good thing this station has done is to improve the signal coverage in this area. For about a year, I rarely received a consistent picture. Recently it has been good every time I watch.If it's not noticeable on a 720p display, it's most likely not noticeable.

Arguably, 720p is a better experience simply because it's not an interlaced display.

http://forums.soundandvisionmag.com/showthread.php?p=632576
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JXfyvlPh0

I noticed a big difference several months ago when the Spanish channel was added.

I have no way of measuring this, but their HDTV resolution appears to be poorer than 480p with my setup ( 61" 1080p ). I am surprised it isn't noticeable on a 720p TV.

Not so long ago, WXEL had 1080i for their 42.1. About 6 months ago (going on memory), they went to 720p, not too long after that, they added the Spanish sub channel. As far as I’m concerned, getting rid of the Spanish sub channel itself would be an ‘improvement’ in sub channel content.

Not so long ago, WXEL had 1080i for their 42.1. About 6 months ago (going on memory), they went to 720p, not too long after that, they added the Spanish sub channel. As far as I’m concerned, getting rid of the Spanish sub channel itself would be an ‘improvement’ in sub channel content.I fully agree. I might also suggest that this is true for any of the primary English channels that carry Spanish sub-channels.

No new HD channels today on comcast in PSL. Thought we had a chance but no dice!!!

I have had no tlc hd amc hd cnn hd fx hd and the list continues,,,,,move some of those useless analog channels to dgitial. I am look to go to direct tv,

^^^ I switched to both u-verse and directv but came right back to comcast because of PQ...all I want is fox news HD!!!

^^^ I switched to both u-verse and directv but came right back to comcast because of PQ...all I want is fox news HD!!!

I have heard that u-verse's picture wasn't as good as cable but I am suprised to hear that directv was also worse. I have always read that directv's hd quality was better than comcast. Glad I never switched, now I just wish comcast would get on the ball and add some more channels.

I have heard that u-verse's picture wasn't as good as cable but I am suprised to hear that directv was also worse. I have always read that directv's hd quality was better than comcast. Glad I never switched, now I just wish comcast would get on the ball and add some more channels.

I was a long time user of D* and switched to Comcast about 3 years ago. At that time, local channels on D* were so bad that they were nearly unwatchable.
HDTV was OK, but Comcast had noticeably better video quality. Of course, this might not be true today. Satellite vs cable comparisons are always a moving target.

My HOA had a presentation from Comcast last night. Details were fuzzy (inept Comcast rep.), but I understood two significant changes for Martin County. A new channel lineup starting Jan 1, and significant analog to digital changes in the 2nd quarter of next year. These changes will coincide with introduction of the new el cheapo digital to analog converter.

I have heard that u-verse's picture wasn't as good as cable...
Interesting... I wasn't aware of that. Too bad, since I'd love to switch away from Comcast.

Anyone notice more dropouts on Channels 5 and 12 over the weekend. I'm going to guess that it was because of the wind.

Why would anyone want to be a VHF?!

I just went over to hdhomerun.com, in the "resoures" section, and entered a Pompano Beach zip code to see how their clearQAM lineup is doing. To my surprise, I noticed that they have cleared (unscrambled) many basic cable channels. All cable systems are required by an FCC mandate to keep all channels that can also be picked up over the air clear. Palm Beach Comcast conforms to that ruling by keeping just the required channels clear - and not one channel more! Well, it looks like Comcast down south is going above and beyond the call of duty and keeping clear - not just the mandated ones - but also the standard definition digitized versions of basic cable channels and a significiant amunt of other channels. It would be nice if they cleared the HD versions of those same channels, but this is still an improvement over before. I assume Palm Beach will one day be on par with Broward, so I report this as something we can expect here down the road in the future.

For a system that needs more bandwidth, I can not understand why Comcast carries both HD and SD versions of each channel. It would make so much sense to just carry the HD versions to free up the bandwidth of the SD variations of the same channels. Set-top boxes can easily convert HD to SD, so there is no logical reason for them to keep the SD copies and choke up valuable bandwith. Heck, that's what the satellite companies do!

Strat if you're around did your sammy switch wpbt from channel 2 to 18 Thurs. Mine has a nasty habit of doing this on different channels while my set top boxes do not. If I input 2 I get analog 2 with snow and if I input 18, I get 18.3 but doesn't redirect to 2. Should I try a rescan? Im hesitant because after I do re scans for some reason a random channel will always disappears and sometimes inputting by hand the missing channel after a re scan is not an option. Possible someone else with a sammy might know? Thanks

Strat if you're around did your sammy switch wpbt from channel 2 to 18 Thurs. Mine has a nasty habit of doing this on different channels while my set top boxes do not. If I input 2 I get analog 2 with snow and if I input 18, I get 18.3 but doesn't redirect to 2. Should I try a rescan? Im hesitant because after I do re scans for some reason a random channel will always disappears and sometimes inputting by hand the missing channel after a re scan is not an option. Possible someone else with a sammy might know? Thanks

I have posted in the past that same "problem"...with Channel 12-1 that occasionally becomes 13-1 and then returns to 12 just as 'randomly' (that is, without my input...)

I have posted in the past that same "problem"...with Channel 12-1 that occasionally becomes 13-1 and then returns to 12 just as 'randomly' (that is, without my input...)

I have this same problem about once a month. Never with any other channels. I wonder if this is unique to Samsung TVs.

Indeed, WPBT-2 (RF 18) stopped displaying 2 and became 18 last night. I suspect they lost their PSIP, which, among other things, "translates" the RF channel into the virtual channel. This happens every so often with some stations (others seem to have staff that actually monitor their equipment and correct issues as they arise). WSVN used to have that problem a lot, and WPEC has had it off and on.

It's not the TV, as it happens to both of my 2 HD sets - it's the station. When they fix their PSIP issues, things will return to normal. Rescan is not necessary (at least with the Sammy). That said, channels without PSIP that were in your 'favorites' will most likely have to be restored.

Thanks for the responses, strat I've been meaning to ask you for a while on your sammy if you're on ota have you noticed that the time it takes for a picture to come on channel 6 and 51 is greater than other channels. What I mean is if youre on a channel and press another channel number on the remote it usually goes there pretty quick but if your in another channel and press 6 or 51 on your remote you will get a black screen for what seems 3x as long before the pic comes on. I was just curious thanks.

Is there some major reason why Comcast in West Palm has minimal HD channels?
I see my folks in Vero Beach this week just got a number of new HD channels.
I was in Michigan from 2005-2008 (lansing) and comcast there had more HD channels than either system in vero or here.

was the adelphia system that bad? I thought in 2004 they totally rebuilt it with fiber and so on (when they started offering high speed internet)?

I also cant stand these scientific atlanta boxes any chances those will go away an we get motorola ones?

Thanks for the responses, strat I've been meaning to ask you for a while on your sammy if you're on ota have you noticed that the time it takes for a picture to come on channel 6 and 51 is greater than other channels. What I mean is if youre on a channel and press another channel number on the remote it usually goes there pretty quick but if your in another channel and press 6 or 51 on your remote you will get a black screen for what seems 3x as long before the pic comes on. I was just curious thanks.Yes, I'm strictly OTA, and I have noticed that once in a while there is a delay in the picture coming on when switching channels. Certainly it's the exception rather than the norm, but it does happen on occasion. Now that I'm thinking about it, I have to see if it happens on any other channels. I don't speak Spanish, so I never watch 51.

If you are an NFL fan, be sure and check out NFL Red Zone on game days. They do an excellent job of telecasting key plays of all games in progress.

In Martin County it's carried on Comcast 390.

Unfortunately, antenna television was a disaster. I gave it a good try. I purchased a very large VHF/UHF antenna ($139.00), mounted it 32 feet in the air and actively became involved in several Internet blogs. Here are some of my problems.

My Zip code is 34949. Most of my stations are 61 miles away and many of these stations have been allowed to broadcast 20 miles from their southern border and 90 miles from their northern border so that much of their signal goes into the wrong market--the Miami/Fort Lauderdale market. By doing this, these stations increase their listeners and can generate more advertising.

Problem 1: WXEL (PBS) from West Palm Beach broadcasts on digital channel 27. So does WRDQ in Orlando. I'm 61 miles from WXEL and 93 miles from WRDQ. In the early morning hours and evening hours, WRDQ's signals bounce into the atmosphere causing reception problems. Note: The FCC gave WRDQ three times the power of WXEL.

Problem 2: WXEL has a repeater signal 8 miles from my house. WTVJ in Miami is also broadcasting on Digital Channel 31 with 1,000,000 watts. While Miami signals are 103 miles away, the atmospheric bounce makes reception impossible on some evenings and mornings.

Problem 3: WPTV was only given 50,000 watts by the FCC and when they asked for more power, the FCC said no. Their signal is 61 miles away. When the wind blows, lightning occurs, there are constant dropouts. On many evenings and mornings, the station is not available because stations in Tampa are broadcasting on the same frequency. Tampa is 130 miles away. While this has never been a problem during the daytime, I only watch television in the early morning and evening.

Problem 4: WPEC only has a 1,000 foot tower and I'm 61 miles from the transmitter. The dropouts and pixilization problems during wind and thunderstorms are a big problem. There is also a station in Tampa on the same frequency which has caused problems many times with the early morning and evening reception.

Problem 5: WHDT is licensed to Stuart, Florida, just 22 miles away, but it appears that they have been given permission to put their transmitter in another television market. I have never picked up the station with an antenna, but DirecTV carries it.

Please note that my zip code was recently listed as the worst housing market in the United States. How many people have lost their homes because they can not afford the house payments? I'm back to spending $95.00 a month on satellite television. I've only seen two outside antennas in my neighborhood.

Antenna television doesn't work in the 34949 zip code.

James E. Wallace
222 Granada Street
Fort Pierce, FL 34949

We had many, many email exchanges in the past about your reception problems. I am sorry, that so far, we were not able to resolve it. We had no reception complaints from other viewers from the same or near-by locations. My latest correspondence to you was on 10/29/09. I didn’t receive a response, instead you choose to write to others. Your latest email was forwarded to me again as always, for reply. As I mentioned it before, we are broadcasting with 100% authorized power from our 1350’ tower at the intersection of State Road 7 and Lantana Road. Our field strength measurements at the various locations, including in Saint Lucie County consistently indicated sufficient reception signals and always at a considerably higher level than that of WPEC-TV. It seems, that with all those stations available at your location and with some of the signal levels extremely high, because of the transmitters being near-by and high powered, such as WPBF among others, the front-end of your system might be overloaded. The overload can affect various channels differently depending on the relationships of their frequencies. There might be problems with your antenna also, if it can pick up CH28 in Tampa and stations in Orlando (as you previously noted) way off from the main lobe of the antenna, when I assume, it is aimed at WPTV. Fog, humidity, rain, temperature, etc. can cause considerably different receptions on the different channels also.

For your information again, during one of our field tests, reception of our signal in Palm City at the Saint Lucie County line was excellent and much better than that of WPEC’s. We used inexpensive rabbit ears, only four feet off the ground and there were obstacles such as trees and houses in the signal path. I am sorry, that I am unable to offer solutions to your problem at this time. It has to be unique to your particular location, equipment, system. You may contact me at your convenience if you wish.

John Falvi, B.S.E.E.

For your information again, during one of our field tests, reception of our signal in Palm City at the Saint Lucie County line was excellent and much better than that of WPEC’s. We used inexpensive rabbit ears, only four feet off the ground and there were obstacles such as trees and houses in the signal path. I am sorry, that I am unable to offer solutions to your problem at this time. It has to be unique to your particular location, equipment, system. You may contact me at your convenience if you wish.

John Falvi, B.S.E.E.


Am I the only one having problems in St. Lucie and Indian River Counties?

Nope. I'm in Saint Lucie West and have never been able to get consistant signals from any stations other than 25 and 34. However, I've only got a set of rabbit ears mounted in the attic. The signals from the other WPB stations have been better since the digital switchover, but I still can't lock into a signal long enough for a full program. I just use D*'s channels.

Am I the only one having problems in St. Lucie and Indian River Counties?

Wow, I’d rather eat dirt than give the cable company (or satellite) 95 bucks a month (of course, if I had the cash to throw around, OTA wouldn’t be my primary TV). I don’t know what the problem there is either, but it’s not WPTV. Their signal carries to 32960 (certainly not solid, but I’d say perfectly usable about 90% of the time if it’s early or late). I have the same weird problem with WFLX, I only get it off a reflection from something I can’t even see, my FOX is shakey a lot, even with the weak WOFL backup out of Orlando. My VHF-12 antenna is at the same height as yours, and it’s a small one (half wave, but it’s a tuned 5 element beam). I doubt moveing your mast would help much on ch-12, but I’m really wondering if the antenna may be the problem. Too bad you don’t have access to some other high band VHF antenna you could compare with. I’m assuming you do have a drop amp. All the money I put into my setup (which wasn’t much) has already paid for itself, and I only had the super basic cable.

John Falvi, B.S.E.E.

Totally off subject but who puts their bachelor's degree as post-nominal letters after their name??

ManOfSnow, Pre-K, K, 1-8th, H.S.

I have counted one so far and it would be that guy.

Panth1, B.S.C.I.S. :cool:

John Falvi's a good guy...don't 'rag' on him so much.
If not for John's technical expertise, WPTV would be so much worse technically!

Ian

I'm in the Palm Beach Gardens area and wanted to know please what to expect in regard to charges from Comcast for a new Tivo HD? Right now I have 2 DVRs from Comcast and would like to return one and set up the Tivo as the second DVR.

Comcast told me that they do not have M cards so 2 cable cards are required. They said I would be charged twice for the HD service since it's 2 cards. This doesn't seem right. I'm hoping someone can tell me what are the only items/services that should be charged with the Tivo and what price if possible.

Thank you for your help.

Anyone hear anything about new HD channels?

(I'm getting tired of waiting, personally...)

I'm in the Palm Beach Gardens area and wanted to know please what to expect in regard to charges from Comcast for a new Tivo HD? Right now I have 2 DVRs from Comcast and would like to return one and set up the Tivo as the second DVR.

Comcast told me that they do not have M cards so 2 cable cards are required. They said I would be charged twice for the HD service since it's 2 cards. This doesn't seem right. I'm hoping someone can tell me what are the only items/services that should be charged with the Tivo and what price if possible.

Thank you for your help.
I can't answer your question, but can offer a related experience.

I bought my current TV with a cable card slot 3 years ago. I had Comcast install a cable card. The installation cost about $50 and it took several hours for them to get it to work. Unfortunately, the card reset itself daily and wiped out the program guide which could never rebuild itself properly. So I decided to rent their STB, and for a while had a card and an STB. (sounds strange, but I had a reason) This proved to be an even worse setup as using both just didn't work properly. However, they did not charge for 2 HD services, only about a dollar/month for the card.

Wow, Broward County just got a boat load of new HD channels. :eek: I am sure we will see them here in another 2 years or so. :mad:

I am sure we will see them here in another 2 years or so. :mad:
Maybe 3 or 4, most likely.

OK, my wife is tired of running out of recording room on our Comcast HD DVR box (I'm in West Palm and understand we have a smaller recording capacity box than some other areas). I remember reading on here sometime back that you can attach a hard drive to the Comcast box and record a lot more shows. Can someone tell me some details, what all do I need to buy, appx cost and how well does it work.
Many thanks

WD's MyDVR Expander to the rescue!

http://reviews.cnet.com/external-hard-drives/my-dvr-expander-wdg1s5000/4505-3190_7-32609584.html?tag=mncol;lst

Connects via a USB cable that's included in the box.

Simple and effective. Been using one for a couple of years now and the only problem I've encountered is finding the time to view all of my recordings. ;)


Edit:

Wow! I paid $129 for 500GB drive at Costco and now you can get the 1TB drive for that price.

Smithfarmer - thanks. This sounds like just what I need BUT I have a question.

From your screen name, I think I live across the street from you (Lake Ch). So I assume we should have the same COMCAST HD DVR box.

Mine is a Scientific Atlantic Explorer 8300 HDC. I was reading about these boxes yesterday and it said they would NOT WORK on the HDC boxes, only the HD boxes. Would you please check and see if you have the same box?

Thanks again -

TLTURBO,

My screen name makes my location that obvious? ;)

My stb's are the SA Explorer 8300HD DVR's. You have the newer version but I don't see why they woudn't work also. You can always take your box down to the Comcast office and swap it out for the older version. Trust me, they have plenty of them.

Politely tell the CSR that you bought a new plasma and your cable box isn't working nicely with it. Tell the CSR that your friend has the same TV as you and one of the older boxes and he has no problems so you did some research online and read that there is a known HDMI handshake issue with the 8300HDC box and your new TV. Ask nicely if they could please give you one of the older 8300HD cable boxes. Purchase a MY DVR Expander and make the wife a happy woman.

I was thinking about doing this as well. The 8300HD has an SATA port on the back and not a USB port. I believe that is the model that is needed.

I read somewhere that if you use WD's MyDVR Expander (with an 8300HD box) you lose the "buffer"... meaning you won't be able to Pause or Rewind live TV.

Is this true?

I was thinking about doing this as well. The 8300HD has an SATA port on the back and not a USB port. I believe that is the model that is needed.

Sorry about that. The model you want is the one with the eSATA port and the cable is included.

I read somewhere that if you use WD's MyDVR Expander (with an 8300HD box) you lose the "buffer"... meaning you won't be able to Pause or Rewind live TV.

Is this true?

Whatever you read could have been due to that persons cable company. There are many Cablecos using the SA8300HD boxes with their own software versions. Buffer works fine on mine while watching a live show and I hit pause to get a snack. If I miss what was said or because I was distracted and I want to rewind a bit it works just fine.

500GB
$112 with free shipping and no tax:

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Expander-External-WDG1S5000VN/dp/B0018O77Q2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1260162731&sr=1-1

1TB
$129 if you can wait until they're back in stock:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UHOR88/ref=pd_luc_sbs_02_01


Can be had cheaper if you shop around a bit.



.

Buffer works fine on mine while watching a live show and I hit pause to get a snack.
Good to know, thanks. I think I'll grab one. I heard that the 500gb is a tad more stable than the 1tb, so I'll probably get the 500gb version.

Do all the features like pause, rewind, fast fwd, etc work just as seamlessly on recorded shows as live and is the HD just as good?

I just want to make sure it all works just like what I have now on the DVR except with more capacity before I go to the trouble to try and swap the HDC receiver for a HD and buy this.

How does it know where to store a recorded program - DVR or external drive?

Thanks

Do all the features like pause, rewind, fast fwd, etc work just as seamlessly on recorded shows as live and is the HD just as good?

The only difference you'll see is the ton of extra space for recordings. ;)
I think I have about 38 movies stored in HD and am around 68% full. I'll check it the next time I turn on the projector and give you a more accurate answer.

How does it know where to store a recorded program - DVR or external drive?


Once the new drive is installed, the dvr just sees one big hard drive. New recordings are spread randomly across both drives. If the dvr goes bad, you'll lose all recordings. If the external drive goes bad, you'll lose only the recordings done since it was installed but still have the older ones that were already on the dvr's drive.

Personally, I'd buy it from Amazon.com where you'll have 30 days to notify them if you're not happy with the product and return shipping is free. Amazon has some of the best customer service you'll find anywhere.

Anyone else notice that the Comcast analog channels are now digital if you have a box?

Anyone else notice that the Comcast analog channels are now digital if you have a box?
They do seem to look better. How do you know if they are digital?

They do seem to look better. How do you know if they are digital?The usual 2-3 second delay to tune them, they have the 'digital' look in terms of no grain and blocky smearing with some colors. The box diagnostics screen also says it is tuned to a QAM channel and not the corresponding analog frequency. :D

Anyone else notice that the Comcast analog channels are now digital if you have a box?

Yes, I see mine are all showing QAM-256. I have also been noticing a better picture on the analog channels lately but I still believe the digital channels are clearer. The HOA channel for my community is even showing QAM-64 and it still looks bad. :confused:

Does this mean they are reclaiming analog channels now in Palm Beach County?

Eventually they will in order to add more HD channels. Comcast SA areas seem to be taking longer then the Motorola systems. Maybe due to the fact that the low cost digital tuners are only work with Motorola systems currently.

I did notice that my SA8300Hd box is still tuning the analogs while the non hd box is tuning the digital channels.

Eventually they will in order to add more HD channels. Comcast SA areas seem to be taking longer then the Motorola systems. Maybe due to the fact that the low cost digital tuners are only work with Motorola systems currently.

I did notice that my SA8300Hd box is still tuning the analogs while the non hd box is tuning the digital channels.

Did you state that correctly? I'm getting the QAM's on the SA8300HD/DVR box.

My SA8300HD displays the analog group in digital also. It seems like the digital versions should be available on QAM tuners also, but I can't see them.

Anyone had success?

Yes, my HD box still is tuning the analogs. I will try to restart it later on to see if it makes a difference. If not, I will call to have them reset it.

I scanned the QAM's to see what is available and it's just the locals still. Everything else is encrypted.

How do you guys know if the SA8300HD is tunning the channels digital or analog?

My SA8300HD displays the analog group in digital also. It seems like the digital versions should be available on QAM tuners also, but I can't see them.

Anyone had success?
No, I re-scanned both my TV's with with QAM tuners and no new digital channels were added but I found the audio of the old analog channels are now coming through the STB as Dolbly Digital 2.O, through my receiver!:)

How do you guys know if the SA8300HD is tunning the channels digital or analog?Go into the box diagnostics by holding down the dvr pause button for about 10 - 12 seconds, the mail light will flash on the box, press the page + button.

Look at the Tuner: line. It will be the current frequency of the channel you are currently watching. Analog channels will be under 500MHz. Digital QAM channels are above 500MHz.

Page + to page 5 and the right column will show the Frequency and the tuning Mode. Tuning mode will say QAM-256 or QAM-64 for digital channels and analog for analog channels.

Press the exit button to exit the screen.

Thanks Panth1.

Turns out all my analog channels are tunning digital as all were above 500 MHz and were QAM-256.

Maybe we can expect more HD soon?

Maybe we can expect more HD soon?
Let's hope so...

WD's MyDVR Expander to the rescue!

http://reviews.cnet.com/external-hard-drives/my-dvr-expander-wdg1s5000/4505-3190_7-32609584.html?tag=mncol;lst
I ordered one of these last week and just noticed it's due to be delivered today.

Are there any tips or special instructions needed for setting this up? Like, does the cable box need to be OFF? ON?

Thanks.

I have two identical hd dvr boxes, one is posting all channels digital, the other channels 2-69 are in analog, how could this be, same type of boxes and in the same house?

I have two identical hd dvr boxes, one is posting all channels digital, the other channels 2-69 are in analog, how could this be, same type of boxes and in the same house?

My guess is that the digital change requires an STB firmware update. One of your boxes didn't get it yet.

Question for those using ota. I noticed WLTV TV 23 signal is now displaying with the black bars on the sides including their hd. I noticed the same for Telefutura. Why? WPLG for example displays the black bars for its non hd but displays full screen during the hd news for example not so with WLTV 23 or Telefutura. Therefore it appears to be an issue with the stations I mentioned as all others have seen no change in the way the image self adjust

On another note I remember about a year ago The Doctors transmitted hd in full screen for several weeks then went back to bars on the side. So is all hd now going the route of the bars on the side like WLTV even on hd programming? that makes no sense at all.

EDIT: I just found this which makes even less sense http://www.univision.com/content/con...ml?cid=2194649

So they're claiming I will now see black bars on the screen after their Dec 21, 2009 on their station. They say you will know its hd because the image will be "spectacular" and you will see a "symbol" on the screen. Wait what? so now I get to see a spectacular image with black bars on the side on my big screen unlike others that transmit hd program where you not only know its on hd because of the sharpness but also because "THEY EXPAND THE IMAGE".

The channels switched their broadcast resolution from 480i (4x3 picture) to 1080i (16x9 picture) so they can pass HD content when it's available.

If you send a 4x3 non HD video through an HD resolution like 1080i, you will have blank space on the sides. They obviously don't have HD programming as of now but will in the future.

The channels switched their broadcast resolution from 480i (4x3 picture) to 1080i (16x9 picture) so they can pass HD content when it's available.

If you send a 4x3 non HD video through an HD resolution like 1080i, you will have blank space on the sides. They obviously don't have HD programming as of now but will in the future.

Thanks Panth

The first program filmed entirely in high definition, which will be seen with the full sharpness and beauty of HD will be the Tournament of Roses Parade, airing live on January 1st.

The first program filmed entirely in high definition, which will be seen with the full sharpness and beauty of HD will be the Tournament of Roses Parade, airing live on January 1st.

The Rose Parade has been telecast in HD for quite a few years. One of the cable channels (HGTV?) usually even shows a commercial free version.

What does film have to do with a live telecast?

He must have polished off the last of the eggnog!

I ordered one of these last week and just noticed it's due to be delivered today.

Are there any tips or special instructions needed for setting this up? Like, does the cable box need to be OFF? ON?

Thanks.

How did it work out for you?

How did it work out for you?
Great, thanks! Didn't work the first time (I had to unplug everything and do it again) but then it worked fine.

It's so nice to be able to see something listed in the Guide and say "Sure, why not -- I'll record it." And it's even nicer to look through our recorded shows and NOT have to make extra space: "Do we have to keep this? Delete. How 'bout this? Delete." :)

Yeah, it certainly is nice not having to worry about available recording space. Glad to see you're happy with it.

I've been viewing most of the bowl games on ESPN & ESPN2, through a SA 8300HD STB, and have noticed the sound dropping out for a few seconds every fifteen minutes or so. I seem to remember reading posts in the past on this forum or other forums, that this was a problem with ESPN and not Comcast or an HDMI problem. Is anyone else experiencing this or could you enlighten me on this?

Yes, I have noticed the audio drop outs on ESPN HD as well. Sometimes the video also skips.

I figured it was a problem with their feed.

He must have polished off the last of the eggnog!

No No, you ding dongs, if you read the last post before mine we were talking about WLTV CH 23 going HD on Jan 1st with the parade.

Will,

How is anyone supposed to infer that from your previous post and did you read the few posts prior to the comment you just made? It's understandable if you are not familiar with how forums work but in the future, when you have something to add to a thread, it generally helps if you quote the person or info you are refereing to when you make a post. This prevents any confusion and/or people drawing conclusions that you may have indeed polished off the rest of the eggnog. ;)

Will,

How is anyone supposed to infer that from your previous post and did you read the few posts prior to the comment you just made? It's understandable if you are not familiar with how forums work but in the future, when you have something to add to a thread, it generally helps if you quote the person or info you are refereing to when you make a post. This prevents any confusion and/or people drawing conclusions that you may have indeed polished off the rest of the eggnog. ;)

Ok, Point well taken. Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!

And to you, as well!

Here's to everyone having more HD programming in the New Year. :)

+1 for more HD. Comcast make it happen.

+1 for more HD. Comcast make it happen.

LOL!

On a completely off-topic (Well, not really), I got a new HDTV (Sharp Aquos LCD LED) & HD Tivo for Christmas. So I called Comcast and said that I wanted to get rid of my current SD cable box and replace it with a cable card. The rep even asked me which version of the HD Tivo I had, which made sense as the old one requires two cable cards for recording multiple channels. I told him I only needed one and we scheduled my appt for last Tuesday. So, Tueday rolls around and at about 7:20pm I call Comcast and ask "is the installer ever going to show up?" The rep proceeds to call the tech and gets back on the phone and says "the rep they sent out doesn't know how to install cable cards." After much, "well, thanks for calling me and telling me that you weren't coming" she agreed and said "I don't know why they'd send a tech out who doesn't know it when the call says 'Install Cable Card', that's just retarded." Retarded, indeed. :)

Happy New Year All!

They owe you free installation and/or service credit for not showing up.
Call cutomer service, be poilte, but firm.;)

They owe you free installation and/or service credit for not showing up.
Call cutomer service, be poilte, but firm.;)

Yeah, I got the free installation and a $20 credit for not showing up. I just wanted to share the story to ruin the hopes of those that think Comcast will deliver in 2010. :)

ManOfSnow, thanks for the story - sort of confirms my suspicions.

Between stuff like this and the U-verse horror stories I've been reading, I think I'll just stick with my free OTA with superior PQ. ;)

ManOfSnow, thanks for the story - sort of confirms my suspicions.

Between stuff like this and the U-verse horror stories I've been reading, I think I'll just stick with my free OTA with superior PQ. ;)

Strat I've seen some advertisements lately on ota about a push to get rid of free tv or something to that effect. have you heard anything? This is what I pulled from the net http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/80563307.html

Between stuff like this and the U-verse horror stories I've been reading...
What sort of U-verse horror stories?

I recently visited a friend in Chicago that has U-verse, and he just LOVES it.

What sort of U-verse horror stories?

I recently visited a friend in Chicago that has U-verse, and he just LOVES it.Various things, such as billing, installation, picture quality, 5.1 dropouts/stuttering, latency, etc.

There are also a few things to be aware of with IPTV:

If you're maxing out your HD feeds, your internet may slow down.
Distance from the VRAD dictates how many concurrent HD feeds you get.
VOIP might not work correctly with your alarm system.


Check out some of the stuff on the U-verse forums:
http://utalk.att.com/utalk/board?board.id=billing
http://utalk.att.com/utalk/board?board.id=Uverse_TV_Equipment
http://utalk.att.com/utalk/board?board.id=HSIA
http://utalk.att.com/utalk/board?board.id=voice_setup

I guess it's not unlike any other Pay-TV/Internet/Phone service in that some people have great experiences, others not so great. The forums are interesting, as they contain a fairly high tech level.

LOL!

On a completely off-topic (Well, not really), I got a new HDTV (Sharp Aquos LCD LED) & HD Tivo for Christmas. So I called Comcast and said that I wanted to get rid of my current SD cable box and replace it with a cable card. The rep even asked me which version of the HD Tivo I had, which made sense as the old one requires two cable cards for recording multiple channels. I told him I only needed one and we scheduled my appt for last Tuesday. So, Tueday rolls around and at about 7:20pm I call Comcast and ask "is the installer ever going to show up?" The rep proceeds to call the tech and gets back on the phone and says "the rep they sent out doesn't know how to install cable cards." After much, "well, thanks for calling me and telling me that you weren't coming" she agreed and said "I don't know why they'd send a tech out who doesn't know it when the call says 'Install Cable Card', that's just retarded." Retarded, indeed. :)

Happy New Year All! I think a few of us are curious on how this box is working for you in comparison to the 8300HD. How much is the monthly TIVO fee?

Strat I've seen some advertisements lately on ota about a push to get rid of free tv or something to that effect. have you heard anything? This is what I pulled from the net http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/80563307.html

The cable companies *are* ripping us. Fox is right, why should they provide their signal for free when cable just makes money off of it. If cable was as efficient an operation as that article says it is, we wouldn’t have to pay for it at all. After all, they *do* show commercials on cable, you think they show them for free? Hardly.

I wouldn’t complain about cable so much if 1) it were free, or 2) there were no commercials. But of course, neither are true, they get cash coming from both directions (fox’s argument again). If broadcast goes away, I would like a ‘pay as you watch’ system to be in place, where each show (not just channel) has a price (which is disclosed), and you pay by the minute. It would be easy to implement (sort of the way telephone used to work). I wouldn’t be surprised if NBC quickly goes off the air, and soon after, all the other majors will probably follow.

I think a few of us are curious on how this box is working for you in comparison to the 8300HD. How much is the monthly TIVO fee?

Joel, well the comcast installer came out today and installed the cable card. Much like 4 years ago when I had them put a cable card in my TV, this guy cursed every minute of it. The first multi-stream card didn't work, so he defaulted to installing two Single stream cards. I wonder how I'll get billed.. :rolleyes: Overall, he was really nice, but said that he only installs cable cards once every 3 months. The way he went through the tivo menus and talked to the rep on the phone, made me think he was probably at the higher end of the comcast tech spectrum. He had to rattle off about 60 different numbers/codes, which he got one of them wrong and I corrected. It's no wonder why they hate cable cards.

Anyhow! you asked about how the box is working. Well, i only had it setup for analog and QAM channels. Unfortunately, tivo doesn't provide guide data for QAM channels, so I had to manually record WPBF, WPEC, etc. over the past week. In my opinion TiVo blows away all competition in terms of the box. The user interface (in my opinion) is a bit dated, but the functionality is far superior to anything. It's basically the same UI as my first SD tivo 10 years ago. Recording programs, watching TV and going onto Blockbuster On Demand/Netflix/Amazon are a breeze. I've never like Comcast's On Demand and never been happy with the fact that they push their "we have more HD than anyone because we have HD on demand" crap. The price is $12.95 for the first tivo, $6.95 for each subsequent. There are cheaper plans if you pay 1 year in advance, 2 years, or buy a lifetime plan. The cable card should rent out at about $1.95. We'll see though.

+1 for more HD. Comcast make it happen.

+1 as well. e*, dtv and uverse all over 100 channels...comcast = 33!

It would seem with the analog channels apparently now in digital that something should be happening in the not to distant future but since they never tell us anything who knows.:rolleyes:

It would seem with the analog channels apparently now in digital that something should be happening in the not to distant future but since they never tell us anything who knows.:rolleyes:
I heard we're getting 6 new HD channels in February of 2010. I've got my fingers crossed that we really get them.

I heard we're getting 6 new HD channels in February of 2010. I've got my fingers crossed that we really get them.

Did you read about it or hear it from Comcast? I have my fingers crossed also.

The only difference you'll see is the ton of extra space for recordings. ;)
I think I have about 38 movies stored in HD and am around 68% full. I'll check it the next time I turn on the projector and give you a more accurate answer.



Once the new drive is installed, the dvr just sees one big hard drive. New recordings are spread randomly across both drives. If the dvr goes bad, you'll lose all recordings. If the external drive goes bad, you'll lose only the recordings done since it was installed but still have the older ones that were already on the dvr's drive.

Personally, I'd buy it from Amazon.com where you'll have 30 days to notify them if you're not happy with the product and return shipping is free. Amazon has some of the best customer service you'll find anywhere.
i just got the WD my dvr expander 1tb for my 8300 hd. I am having problems. I think the esata in the dvr may be bad. I have tried the setup 20 times and only a few times have i gotten the format question when i am asked to push the A button. Then either it freezes or nothing. And the percentage does not change. I have tried 2 cables and still nothing. I have never gotten the confirmation screen after the format. Has anyone had issues with the expander?

I live in Winston Trails and have been looking all over the internet for help for 2 days.

Are you following instructions, or are you winging it?
I installed one on myHD Tivo and you have to follow on-screen instructions. Once you get to the format part, how long did you wait for the format to complete? It may be that they did a poor job in giving feedback on what is currently happening. I have see this on many products. The display does not update real-time. It updates at the start, and at the finish only. Did you put your ear to the case to detect any sound that my indicate activity?
It takes a while to format the drive, and the drive is very quiet.

Try the format again and put your ear to it to see what you hear. If you hear activity, go have a cup of coffee and give it time to complete.

Good luck..

i just got the WD my dvr expander 1tb for my 8300 hd. I am having problems. I think the esata in the dvr may be bad. I have tried the setup 20 times and only a few times have i gotten the format question when i am asked to push the A button. Then either it freezes or nothing. And the percentage does not change. I have tried 2 cables and still nothing. I have never gotten the confirmation screen after the format. Has anyone had issues with the expander?

I live in Winston Trails and have been looking all over the internet for help for 2 days.

Are you following instructions, or are you winging it?
I installed one on myHD Tivo and you have to follow on-screen instructions. Once you get to the format part, how long did you wait for the format to complete? It may be that they did a poor job in giving feedback on what is currently happening. I have see this on many products. The display does not update real-time. It updates at the start, and at the finish only. Did you put your ear to the case to detect any sound that my indicate activity?
It takes a while to format the drive, and the drive is very quiet.

Try the format again and put your ear to it to see what you hear. If you hear activity, go have a cup of coffee and give it time to complete.

Good luck..
I was following the instructions, and I tried again this morning, and it worked. I pushed the cable pretty hard to the left as I put it in to the DVR. After the boot up and the time came back to the DVR there was a message that the External drive was working. The plug in the DVR must be a little hokey. I hope it continues to work. I started at 34% and went to 4% usage when the drive became active. WOW

Did you read about it or hear it from Comcast? I have my fingers crossed also.

Well, according to the Century Village newsletter it says we are getting ONLY 6 HD channels

AMC HD – channel 429
CNN HD – channel 423
Cinemax HD – channel 417 (customer must be a subscriber of Cinemax)
Fox News Channel HD – channel 428
TLC HD – channel 425
WGN HD – channel 437

here is the link to their newsletter where I got this info from
http://century-village-wpb.blogspot.com/2010/01/news-from-comcast.html

I have switched to AT&T U-Verse from Comcast. I am very pleased with the service. At a glance:

- Light years ahead in terms of # of HD channels offered
- Great HD picture quality
- Internet speeds comparable to Comcast
- Microsoft Media Center-derived software in set-top box
- HD DVR programs accessible from any PC in a home network
- Feature-rich DVR software, including DVD cover-art for movies
- Free Wi-Fi router included with installation
- Free internet from any AT&T-affiliated wi-fi access points
- Interactive televison program applications
- Sizable on-demand selection, but HD (as of now) is limited to pay movies and subscribers with Showtime. This is one area Comcast currently has an advantage, with HD on-demand offerings from many cable networks, broadcast networks (including WXEL), HBO, Cinemax, Encore, and Stars.

I have switched to AT&T U-Verse from Comcast.
Nice! I still can't get it in my area. Where are you located?

Nice! I still can't get it in my area. Where are you located?

Wellington. Some parts of Wellington got fiber to the curb, but not my neighborhood probably because the density is less than those that got fiber.

Here, they use the existing twisted pair copper as dedicated bandwidth to the fiber node (located a few blocks away). At the fiber node, the U-Verse service is switched, according to individual user demands. On each twisted pair copper line per home, up to 4 channels can be directed at a time.

To my surprise, there's no wait time whatsoever (meaning fast response timings of the client, server, and switch). In fact the response is so fast and smooth that channel changing takes less time that changing digital channels on the Comcast cable system that uses SA boxes). This is very impressive considering that on the Comcast system, all channels in their lineup stream all at once on a single coax and to all its customers), so channel changing SHOULD be faster on Comcast since the channel you'd want to change to was already streaming beforehand. In theory, the system U-Verse is using should be slower since the client must first call the server, the server must answer that call, the client must send the "change to channel #xxxx" command to the server, the server must send this request to the switch, the switch sends the new stream to the server, and the server then sends the new stream to the client. In other words, it's a lot of commands back and forth and each step requires to wait for a response before it can continue to the next. Regardless of this fact, channel changing on AT&T U-Verse is faster than that of Comcast. I'm guessing this is due because of faster equipment at all levels of the AT&T U-Verse network than the equipment being used on the Comcast system.

I have switched to AT&T U-Verse from Comcast. I am very pleased with the service. At a glance:

- Light years ahead in terms of # of HD channels offered
- Great HD picture quality
- Internet speeds comparable to Comcast
- Microsoft Media Center-derived software in set-top box
- HD DVR programs accessible from any PC in a home network
- Feature-rich DVR software, including DVD cover-art for movies
- Free Wi-Fi router included with installation
- Free internet from any AT&T-affiliated wi-fi access points
- Interactive televison program applications
- Sizable on-demand selection, but HD (as of now) is limited to pay movies and subscribers with Showtime. This is one area Comcast currently has an advantage, with HD on-demand offerings from many cable networks, broadcast networks (including WXEL), HBO, Cinemax, Encore, and Stars.Thanks for the report.

You mentioned a channel selection delay using the Comcast STB. Altho my 8300HDC is slow displaying the guide, channel changes are quick without a noticible delay.

I've heard reports that AT&T HD quality isn't as good as Comcast. From what you say this isn't true.

I've heard reports that AT&T HD quality isn't as good as Comcast.
I've heard that as well.

I also heard there were sound issues.

I also heard there were sound issues.

I reported once or twice on the issues with U-Verse. I have had all services in the last 2 years and comcast always comes out on top for PQ. U-Verse was at the bottom. Very poor HD PQ but their SD was the best (not that I cared about SD). The sound on U-Verse would always go in and out and it drove me nuts. I would unplug, reboot and the same thing kept happening. Their internet service was even worse. They cap you at whatever speed you choose unlike comcast where sometimes I get double the speed. It was very slow.

U-Verse had the best interface I have ever seen. I loved the DVR and the ability to see whats on other channels without changing them with the PIP feature and the fact the DVR automatically recorded a few minutes before and after your scheduled recording which came in handy for 24 to catch next weeks preview.

I stick with comcast only because of PQ and nothing else. If they don't hurry it up they are gonna be in trouble because unfortunately the majority of people out there can't tell the difference in PQ and will opt for the most channels.

Wellington. Some parts of Wellington got fiber to the curb, but not my neighborhood probably because the density is less than those that got fiber.

Which neighborhood? I am in Paddock Park and still dont have it! I always see at&t at the front of the neighborhood doing all sorts of crap. This has been going on for awhile, so I am hoping very very soon :-/

Which neighborhood? I am in Paddock Park and still dont have it! I always see at&t at the front of the neighborhood doing all sorts of crap. This has been going on for awhile, so I am hoping very very soon :-/

I'm in Pinewood Grove. As for picture quality, I have noticed with HD that areas of picture where there are shadows, the whole area of the shadow is annoyingly darkened to the point where no details can be made out. This could be a setting on my TV, but so far I haven't found a way to fix it. As for sound, I haven't experienced problems. The settop is preset for two channel audio. You can change this to Dolby Digital 5.1.

Well, according to the Century Village newsletter it says we are getting ONLY 6 HD channels

AMC HD – channel 429
CNN HD – channel 423
Cinemax HD – channel 417 (customer must be a subscriber of Cinemax)
Fox News Channel HD – channel 428
TLC HD – channel 425
WGN HD – channel 437

here is the link to their newsletter where I got this info from
http://century-village-wpb.blogspot.com/2010/01/news-from-comcast.html

They have been added in Martin County, today 1/29/10.:)

Well, according to the Century Village newsletter it says we are getting ONLY 6 HD channels

AMC HD – channel 429
CNN HD – channel 423
Cinemax HD – channel 417 (customer must be a subscriber of Cinemax)
Fox News Channel HD – channel 428
TLC HD – channel 425
WGN HD – channel 437

here is the link to their newsletter where I got this info from
http://century-village-wpb.blogspot.com/2010/01/news-from-comcast.html


Channels are activated in Port Saint Lucie, woo hoo!!! I know we got fox news HD because I called my wife to confirm.

We have them here in West Palm too. Looks like my source was right (see post #8463).

I was really hoping for more than just 6 channels, but oh well. I guess I'll take what I can get, right?

We have them here in West Palm too. Looks like my source was right (see post #8463).

I was really hoping for more than just 6 channels, but oh well. I guess I'll take what I can get, right?

Just got in, yep only the 6 here in PSL. I would like to see more as well but yes still better than nothing. On the bright side comcast is not compressing them like u-verse and the sat companies. FNC HD is looking very very nice. Found an interesting article today about how comcast is behind in S. Florida.

Here it is

http://www.tvpredictions.com/comcastflorida012110.htm

Got it here in West Boca also. All the channels look good.

Got them here in Wellington also....wish it was more than 6, but it is definitely better than nothing. I hope next they add espnu, fx, and comedy central

glad for the new HD channels. picked up the new cisco hd box yesterday. I have the resolution on the box set to auto so it is transmitting in the channels native res. BUT the hd channel changing is slowwww. Slower than the SA 4250hd set to native. I'm a purist and don't want the box to convert signal. Anybody else seeing this?

I received this e-mail from TiVo yesterday. Don't know if it means anything:

Dear TiVo Customer,

Comcast Cable is transitioning to an all-digital cable network. With all-digital cable, extended basic cable channels will be broadcast only in a digital format and will require a cable box to be viewed. However, basic cable channels, which include your local network channels like ABC, CBS, and NBC will continue to be broadcast in analog format.

There will be NO change in your recording capabilities as a result of this transition. You will, however, need a digital cable box to continue receiving all the channels you are currently able to watch. Please contact Comcast if you need a digital cable box.

To learn more about Comcast's all-digital transition, please visit the links below:
If you connect through a digital cable box, you will not lose any of your TV channels. For more information please visit our Support Pages.
If you don't connect through a digital cable box, you will need to get a digital cable box from your cable provider to continue receiving all of your channels. For more information please visit our Support Pages.
Thanks for being a valued TiVo customer!

Your friends at TiVo

Glad to see they added some new HD channels.

Quick question does Comcast have an HD PPV channel in the West Palm Beach to watch UFC/Boxing in HD ?

If bandwith is an issue, can anyone explain why we have TWO HboHD channels, and the same for other premium channels???

As for the new channels I have been DYING to watch CNN repeat the same old deathanddestruction mixed with ImminentDoom in HD!!! :eek:

Puuuhlease TWO news channels in our Six channel HD addition...uuuugh

Normal people watch tv to get away from reality :D

Check this out...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18049679#post18049679

That area was likely well ahead in the analog reclamation phase than we are in South Florida. There are some areas that Comcast has around 90 channels. I think we will be getting more as the year rolls on but doubt we will be anywhere near 90 by year-end.

If bandwith is an issue, can anyone explain why we have TWO HboHD channels, and the same for other premium channels???The same digital signal is just mapped to different channel numbers on the cable box channel map. It is mostly done for convience because I am sure some one would complain if all the HBO's were not next to each other. :p

Well I'm sure I can skip all the details, but I'm looking to find a good antenna. I don't want my apartment to look like a SETI station, but I want to ditch the rabbit ears on my BBQ (I will explain...) and the amplified POS antenna on my patio.

Due to the fact that I can't post a link just yet, I went to TVFool.com and I put in my location, Hobe Sound, FL with a zip code of 33455 and this is my issue.


Of course I don't expect great things, and the stations I need to get are all within reasonable range and fairly close together in direction. Basically, the normal channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox & the CW. All under 40 miles, but not all in the same direction. I don't live in a very developed area, at least there aren't any tall buildings within 10 miles that I know of and the trees aren't very thick.

Right now I have 2 antennas outside and a splitter inside. One antenna is a cheap $10 VHF/UHF that I have positioned on my BBQ to just pick up 2 stations (Real Channel 12 & 13, VHF) and it does a decent job at that most of the times. I then have a Phillips UHF amplified antenna, which can be temper-mental (Yes I meant to spell it that way, the antenna is very MENTAL)at times. While this system seems to work for the most part, I use my PC as a DVR for my OTA stations and I'm not home to switch between the two (Or a racoon knocks over my VHF off the BBQ) so I want one decent omni-directional antenna to take care of it. If I have to use a pre-amp, that's not a huge deal for me, I just hate having to switch between 2 antennas.

In my house I have my PC with a TV Tuner (HP-M9000T, Win7 64bit, Vixus-PureTV, No Internet) along with a TV in the livingroom that has an external ATSC Tuner and a TV In the bedroom with it's own built in ATSC Tuner. The 2 antennas outside are connected to their own individual coax connections coming into the 2way switch, then that goes to a 5way splitter.

I've been looking at the Winegard HD-1080, or something along that line. Any suggestions on what's the best bang for the buck for what I'm looking at?

Any help is appreciated!

I live in Jensen and I get great results with a Channel master 4 bow-tie antenna I bought from Solid Signal.com We don't have very many placs that sell a decent antenna in Martin County. I do suggest shopping on the internet or even Ebay. I saw some Ebay antenna's that may ship from Hong Kong, but the shipping is free. How do they do that? They must get the product for a $1.00.

Also, there ia the Orlando Hamfest coming up in a few days. That is one place that you can find almost anything computer, TV, radio, craft, auto, or anything you can imagine for a good price. Most Hams will negotiate the asking price, but not if it is a hot selling item and early in the day. Sunday is the last day and I have had people give me things just so they could go home with nothing. I will be planning a visit to the Hamfest on one of the wekend days. Rget setup on Friday, so Saturday is the biggest day for anything good. The early birds get in as a vendor and before they setup a table, they scout tables of people setting up and try to get a steal of a deal from someone who doesn't know the value of what they are selling. I know this because I am a pro at this. I did this for a few years when I didn't have any other job, and I made a good amount from it all. Miami is the other very big Hamfest. Orlando and Miami attract people from all over the country, not just Florida. There are many smaller Hamfests that attract mostly the locals, and nearby citties.

If I had your email address I would have sent you this email complete with the graphics, but it is the truth. the best HD comes from OTA. The rest is from an email I just received.
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Did you know that the best high definition TV
channels are those from an OTA Antenna?
OTA stands for Over The Air or also called an HDTV antenna. Most people don’t realize that the signal is uncompressed and offers a better HD experience compared to cable or satellite.
Sunday's Superbowl was incredible with a DB8 HDTV antenna. We flipped back and forth between the satellite feed and the over the air feed, and there was a noticeable difference in the picture quality. Surprising to be honest…
The best part about owning an HDTV antenna is how affordable it is and once installed there is no monthly bill as legally they need to be broadcasted by all local cable companies.
The first thing you need to do is see what channels are available in your market. Click this website: www.TVfool.com and enter your address. The best way to read this chart is any channel that is highlighted in green, yellow, or red areas you can most probably receive. Channels in the grey area are weaker signals and will require more work like an amplifier and larger more powerful antenna.
We prefer to simplify the above chart into 3 categories:
• Short Range
• Medium Range
• Long Range
Consider that an HDTV antenna is the cheapest component of your HDTV system it pays to buy a better quality and more powerful antenna because it impacts on the HD signal reception. We are not fans of low priced, budget antennas. Since you have made a huge investment in your high definition TV, make sure you get the most out of it. The difference between a mediocre antenna and a star performer is at most $50. It does not make sense to go for a second rate HDTV antenna.
Use the distance chart below to select the best HDTV antenna:

Did you know that the best high definition TV
channels are those from an OTA Antenna?
OTA stands for Over The Air or also called an HDTV antenna. Most people don’t realize that the signal is uncompressed and offers a better HD experience compared to cable or satellite.Been saying this for literally years. With the focus on cable/sat/fiber, many people have forgotten all about superior-quality free TV OTA.
Consider that an HDTV antenna is the cheapest component of your HDTV system it pays to buy a better quality and more powerful antenna because it impacts on the HD signal reception. We are not fans of low priced, budget antennas. Since you have made a huge investment in your high definition TV, make sure you get the most out of it. The difference between a mediocre antenna and a star performer is at most $50. It does not make sense to go for a second rate HDTV antenna.
Use the distance chart below to select the best HDTV antenna:I'm not disagreeing with the concept of 'you get what you pay for', but there's really no such thing as an "HDTV antenna". If an antenna picked up analog, it will pick up digital. The only caveat is knowing if you need a combo vs. a UHF-only.

Been saying this for literally years. With the focus on cable/sat/fiber, many people have forgotten all about superior-quality free TV OTA.
I'm not disagreeing with the concept of 'you get what you pay for', but there's really no such thing as an "HDTV antenna". If an antenna picked up analog, it will pick up digital. The only caveat is knowing if you need a combo vs. a UHF-only.

I have been into Ham Radio for a very long time, and am now at its highest level. With that comes a lot of understanding about antenna's. The four bow-tie antenna I bought from Solid Signal works great at my QTH. However, the 8 Bow-tie model picks up far too much signal. I get all the major TV channels and almost twice as many more other channels, many in Spanish.
The HD antenna is a Myth, just as you say. They did away with VHF, and you only need a UHF antenna to receive all digital content. Not all that is digital is HD, I am sure that you know that, but I say it for the benefit of anyone who doesn't know.
The Bow-tie antenna is not omni directional, but it is very broad and has very good forward gain. It is small and easy to put up. It can go in an attic, but for best reception put it outside, and know what direction your TV station transmitters are. (Note that every TV antenna that you ever saw was directional, there are no Omnidirectinal TV antennas.) You only have to point the antenna in the general direction, for me it is mostly South. I have a communications tower and I put my antenna at 38 feet. It will work at the roof line for anyone who cares to know, but put it at the highest point facing the direction of desired reception. Every (digital) TV or receiver I have ever seen has a tunning bar, much like a Dish, or DirecTV receiver. Put your TV on the channel you want to receive best and turn the antenna for the best signal strength. then scan for channels. You might try a few different positions and keep the one that yields the best channel base.
On the typical old style TV antenna, which you can still buy, the metal bars that start out small in the front and get bigger as you get to the back serve two purpose. Each bar that is behind a smaller bar acts as a reflector the bar before it. Each bar is tuned for a certain group of channels. The smallest antenna elements are for the highest frequencies. UHF antennas are much smaller than VHF/UHF antenna's. VHF is no longer needed, and if you already have an old antenna, there is no harm in trying it. You might live close enough to get very good digital reception. If your antenna has a flat 300 ohm twin lead wire, you will need a balun to turn it into 75 ohms and coax. You can get the balun at a radio shack. The Channel Master four bow tie antenna comes with a balun, you only need coax into the house. Use RG6 if you have to buy new. My antenna is a backup for hurricanes. It has survived two so far and still stands tall.

They did away with VHF, and you only need a UHF antenna to receive all digital content.

VHF is no longer needed...Not sure where you're getting this information, but it's simply not true.

Both WPTV and WPEC are broadcasting their OTA digital signals on RF channels 12 and 13 respectively. Towards the south, WSVN and WPLG are broadcasting their OTA digital signals on RF channels 7 and 10 respectively. All four RF channels are VHF.

Well I'm sure I can skip all the details, but I'm looking to find a good antenna. I don't want my apartment to look like a SETI station, but I want to ditch the rabbit ears on my BBQ (I will explain...) and the amplified POS antenna on my patio.

Due to the fact that I can't post a link just yet, I went to TVFool.com and I put in my location, Hobe Sound, FL with a zip code of 33455 and this is my issue.


Of course I don't expect great things, and the stations I need to get are all within reasonable range and fairly close together in direction. Basically, the normal channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox & the CW. All under 40 miles, but not all in the same direction. I don't live in a very developed area, at least there aren't any tall buildings within 10 miles that I know of and the trees aren't very thick.

Right now I have 2 antennas outside and a splitter inside. One antenna is a cheap $10 VHF/UHF that I have positioned on my BBQ to just pick up 2 stations (Real Channel 12 & 13, VHF) and it does a decent job at that most of the times. I then have a Phillips UHF amplified antenna, which can be temper-mental (Yes I meant to spell it that way, the antenna is very MENTAL)at times. While this system seems to work for the most part, I use my PC as a DVR for my OTA stations and I'm not home to switch between the two (Or a racoon knocks over my VHF off the BBQ) so I want one decent omni-directional antenna to take care of it. If I have to use a pre-amp, that's not a huge deal for me, I just hate having to switch between 2 antennas.

In my house I have my PC with a TV Tuner (HP-M9000T, Win7 64bit, Vixus-PureTV, No Internet) along with a TV in the livingroom that has an external ATSC Tuner and a TV In the bedroom with it's own built in ATSC Tuner. The 2 antennas outside are connected to their own individual coax connections coming into the 2way switch, then that goes to a 5way splitter.

I've been looking at the Winegard HD-1080, or something along that line. Any suggestions on what's the best bang for the buck for what I'm looking at?

Any help is appreciated!It would help if you state the direction your porch is facing.

I assume you do not have access to an attic.

One item, you should use a UHF/VHF combiner rather than a splitter to couple UHF and VHF antennas. http://starkelectronic.com/

Not sure where you're getting this information, but it's simply not true.

Both WPTV and WPEC are broadcasting their OTA digital signals on RF channels 12 and 13 respectively. Towards the south, WSVN and WPLG are broadcasting their OTA digital signals on RF channels 7 and 10 respectively. All four RF channels are VHF.

Yes, the signals may be there, but they were supposed to be gone, and they will be gone sooner or later. Our government underestimated how many people had old TV's and would not understand anything about buying a digital receiver. It doesn't change the fact that I suggest that you not buy anything new to support a dying format.

Yes, the signals may be there, but they were supposed to be gone, and they will be gone sooner or later. Our government underestimated how many people had old TV's and would not understand anything about buying a digital receiver. It doesn't change the fact that I suggest that you not buy anything new to support a dying format.

What are you talking about? Those VHF signals may move on their own if they wish to make reception easier, but VHF signals in general are not going away. And quite honestly, if they've not moved to UHF by this point in the game, I would not expect them to.

- Trip

It would help if you state the direction your porch is facing.

I assume you do not have access to an attic.

One item, you should use a UHF/VHF combiner rather than a splitter to couple UHF and VHF antennas. http://starkelectronic.com/

My porch faces West, but the sides to the North and South are somewhat open. To the south I have a line of trees separating the complex. I can't put anything huge up, so i'm trying to keep the set up as "light" as possible. Right now I have a 10' piece of 1 1/4" strapped to the fence post about 3' off the ground, and it's on the post closest to the house. I'm considering moving it to the further post.

I would like to find a VHF/UHF combined antenna, since 2 stations I want are still on VHF.

Getting to my attic isn't the problem, it's getting far enough in the attic to run the wire, and the space is limited as well on what I can put in there.

I thought about the combiner, but either way I'd still have to ditch the amplified antenna I have now. I don't trust it inline with another antenna, and the pre-amp for it isn't an outdoor type.