Thanks!

Questions though.....

1. Is that map representitive of the MPEG4 satellites or the MPEG2 satellites?

2. The teal zone that hits NH.......my primary home is right at the border of the teal circle.....does that mean that if I switch from MPEG2 to MPEG4 equipment in my NH home, that I'd lose Yankee games and Ranger games on YES and MSG?

BJ

You must have meant your Maine home. Since these maps apparently haven't been updated since 2003, they must be MPEG2. Sorry. :o

Dana

I read his post that he would be upgrading to HD equipment. D* has a policy that they will only deliver the new HR20 with an install. So they will know of the new address. He will need an install for the new dish anyway.

If the OP is going to stay SD, move the equipment himself, and use the old antenna then he would be OK. But that is not how I read the post.

Helpful. I think you're right. I left D* just before the HR20/5 LNB rollout so I'm obsolete - in more ways than one. :confused:

Dana

Just watching Smallville in 1080i, not now???

841pm, now we're back. Thank you. This and Supernatural on Thurs, but tonight the former Wonder Woman....

And now we're back to pillar viewing??????

Supernatural 480i - not what I'm used too. My Thursday is diving...

936pm now we're HD

I read his post that he would be upgrading to HD equipment. D* has a policy that they will only deliver the new HR20 with an install. So they will know of the new address. He will need an install for the new dish anyway.

If the OP is going to stay SD, move the equipment himself, and use the old antenna then he would be OK. But that is not how I read the post.

The plan would be to purchase MPG4 equipment via eBay, bring it to the Maine place, and activate it using my existing NY address that DirecTV has been using for 10+ years. I am doing this now with the MPG2 equipment.

Let's pretend that I can orchestrate that. Have an MPG4 box that thinks its in NY but it's in Old Orchard Beach. In that example, with a box authorized to receive YES, SNY, MSG and other NY locals in HD, will the signal reach me or am I out of the spot beam?

BJ

The plan would be to purchase MPG4 equipment via eBay, bring it to the Maine place, and activate it using my existing NY address that DirecTV has been using for 10+ years. I am doing this now with the MPG2 equipment.

Let's pretend that I can orchestrate that. Have an MPG4 box that thinks its in NY but it's in Old Orchard Beach. In that example, with a box authorized to receive YES, SNY, MSG and other NY locals in HD, will the signal reach me or am I out of the spot beam?

BJ

The party line from D* is that ME is not covered by the spot beam. But who knows for sure?

I think that the mpeg4 dance might be more difficult than you think. D* only wants to activate HR20 boxes that they have physically installed with the new dish.

Plus, if you spend $200 - $300 to buy on HR20 on eBay there is a question to if you really own the box. D* considers it leased.

The party line from D* is that ME is not covered by the spot beam. But who knows for sure?

I think that the mpeg4 dance might be more difficult than you think. D* only wants to activate HR20 boxes that they have physically installed with the new dish.

Plus, if you spend $200 - $300 to buy on HR20 on eBay there is a question to if you really own the box. D* considers it leased.

I do not have Directv or Dish, but I have wondered about people selling and buying this "leased" equipment. Have some people made a big mistake about who owns this stuff?

The party line from D* is that ME is not covered by the spot beam. But who knows for sure?

I think that the mpeg4 dance might be more difficult than you think. D* only wants to activate HR20 boxes that they have physically installed with the new dish.

Plus, if you spend $200 - $300 to buy on HR20 on eBay there is a question to if you really own the box. D* considers it leased.
They are really getting fussy and wanting to come out to do any installation. Last year I ordered a replacement HR20, for my HR10-250. I told them all they had to do was to ship it and I could install it. They said with their new policy everything has to be installed by their people. When I got the HR-10 250 from them, they just sent it to me and I set it up, but no more according to what they told me.

I doubt very much if that NY spot beam is going to reach you in Maine.

Okay, really new to the HDTV scene...so don't laugh too hard.

I live in Saco and I have TWC Digital Cable..and an older digital box. I was wondering if I would be able to pick up any HDTV over the air? My LG32LCD2 supports QAM but I"m not sure if I can pick up the signal without HDTV service from TWC.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Okay, really new to the HDTV scene...so don't laugh too hard.

I live in Saco and I have TWC Digital Cable..and an older digital box. I was wondering if I would be able to pick up any HDTV over the air? My LG32LCD2 supports QAM but I"m not sure if I can pick up the signal without HDTV service from TWC.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Your TV has an HD tuner so if you add an antenna you should be able to pickup HDTV over the air. # of stations will depend on your exact location, orientation to the stations, and the type of antenna. Try http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx and plug in your address to get a better idea of what you might be able to receive.

No idea if TWC is passing QAM in your area, sorry.

Okay, really new to the HDTV scene...so don't laugh too hard.

I live in Saco and I have TWC Digital Cable..and an older digital box. I was wondering if I would be able to pick up any HDTV over the air? My LG32LCD2 supports QAM but I"m not sure if I can pick up the signal without HDTV service from TWC.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Welcome to the AVS Forum and this well-mannered thread in particular! We're mostly Mainers helping other Mainers so no one will laugh. We're glad to have you!

Dana

Thanks for the quick response. My guess is TWC wont pass the QAM signal so that you can subscribe to their HDTV service.

TWC Augusta does pass some QAM signals, but I have noticed that I cannot get those channels when the cablecard is present in the set. There are number of channels on the 75 point series. (75.1, 75.2, 75.3, etc.) Plug the cable directly into the set and remove the cablecard if you have one.

I thought that they had to give you any channels you are paying for whether they are analog or HD (digital). Apparently, this is either not true or no one has pushed them on the subject. If you are paying and have a digital tuner you should have the channels in my opinion.

TWC Augusta does pass some QAM signals, but I have noticed that I cannot get those channels when the cablecard is present in the set. There are number of channels on the 75 point series. (75.1, 75.2, 75.3, etc.) Plug the cable directly into the set and remove the cablecard if you have one.

I thought that they had to give you any channels you are paying for whether they are analog or HD (digital). Apparently, this is either not true or no one has pushed them on the subject. If you are paying and have a digital tuner you should have the channels in my opinion.

The problem with clear QAM is that they can't limit who can see them because they're not encrypted. That's why it's typically just the local HD channels that are passed in clear QAM, but some cable companies don't even pass those.

The problem with clear QAM is that they can't limit who can see them because they're not encrypted. That's why it's typically just the local HD channels that are passed in clear QAM, but some cable companies don't even pass those.

Good observation. Some people purchase only the "broadcast level' of service.

Perhaps I'm not knowing how to recieve the QAM. I know the TV has QAM....i wonder if the cable has to come directly into the tv instead of the STB. I currently have the STB connected to the TV through an S-Video, and a R,L audio. I have an older series Scientific Atlanta non-hd stb. Like I said previously I'm very new to this.

Comcast completed its acquisition of all SusCom properties on May 1, 2006. We carried the story as it pertained to the SusCom Brunswick system on page 29 of this thread. It was about five months later that Comcast sent out a letter signed by Mary McLaughlin, Comcast area V-P, officially announcing the transition effective Sep. 6, 2006.

Looking back, I thought of Ronald Reagan's old campaign slogan. Are we better off now than we were? Here's my response.

HD Programming. It seems to me that even taking into account different viewer preferences, the answer is "Yes" on HD programming. Comcast brought CBS HD and PBS HD onto the Brunswick lineup and added MPBN to the digital tier. More recently it added NESN HD. HD channels that were offered by SusCom have been retained.

Rate increase. There was an incremental rate adjustment on Feb. 1, 2007. Some line item charges went up; others went down.

Customer Service/Support. My experience with telephone support has been good once I tell a Comcast rep that I am on a former SusCom system. I get connected to what I assume are former SusCom CS staff who have been responsive and helpful.

Field support has been excellent. During the recent Patriots Day storm that hit the mid-coast hard, Comcast technicians from neighboring states flooded the area making repairs. I talked with a Comcast field tech from MA; Comcast obviously has greater resources than did SusCom. I lost Comcast cable/internet for a few hours. It took CMP 4.5 days to restore service to my address.

On balance, my sense is that subscribers to the former SusCom cable system are better off with Comcast. And V-P Mary McLaughlin has been accessible and a source of reliable information.

What's ahead? In reality, the transition is still ongoing. I thought we'd get connected to the rest of Comcast before now; Brunswick is still a stand-alone system. The internet side is still SusCom. Comcast has yet to roll out its Digital Voice service. And getting WPFO/Fox23 HD onto the Brunswick lineup still hasn't happened.

So, we have more to look forward to in the next 12 months.

Dana

Perhaps I'm not knowing how to recieve the QAM. I know the TV has QAM....i wonder if the cable has to come directly into the tv instead of the STB. I currently have the STB connected to the TV through an S-Video, and a R,L audio. I have an older series Scientific Atlanta non-hd stb. Like I said previously I'm very new to this.

Yes, the QAM tuner is inside the TV, so you'll need to bypass the STB. Hook the TWC coax directly to the TV and follow your manual's instructions on scanning for QAM stations.

Also, I think you should be able to replace your STB with an HD-capable one without changing your programming package. Just tell them you have an HDTV and want the local channels in HD.

Also, keep in mind that if you upgrade to an HD STB that you will need an HDMI cable to connect the STB to the TV in order to get HD. The s-video cable will not pass HD.

Also, keep in mind that if you upgrade to an HD STB that you will need an HDMI cable to connect the STB to the TV in order to get HD. The s-video cable will not pass HD.

The TWC boxes come with component cables, which will also pass an HD signal. If you do go for an HDMI cable, don't get it from best buy, circuit city, etc. The markup on HDMI cables at brick & mortar stores is insane. www.monoprice.com has them for a much more reasonable price. For example, here's a 6' one for $18: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024002&p_id=2219&seq=1&format=2&style=. Compare that to $50-$75 for a 6' one at best buy.

The TWC boxes come with component cables, which will also pass an HD signal. If you do go for an HDMI cable, don't get it from best buy, circuit city, etc. The markup on HDMI cables at brick & mortar stores is insane. www.monoprice.com has them for a much more reasonable price. For example, here's a 6' one for $18: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024002&p_id=2219&seq=1&format=2&style=. Compare that to $50-$75 for a 6' one at best buy.

Excellent advice. Top rated in a review here http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_14_1/monoprice-cables-1-2007.html Also, a AVS Forum sponsor. Link at top of page.

Dana

I've definitely seen the B&M markup on HDMI. Monster has a huge monopoly at the BBuys and CCities. I think I'll try and get a new box. I have a very old explorer 2550 it turns out. I was just curious to see how much programming there was. I guess my first impression was that you would get all channels at an HD level..just varying degrees like some 720p, or 1080i(dont figure on 1080p's yet).

Once again thank you very much! You guys are fantastic. If anybody needs any info on the video game aspects..thats my specialty. (my main HD purpose is for the new HD gen games x360 and ps3).

Comcast just bought 50% interest in Fox Sports New England. It already owns the other 50%. I wonder what that means for FSNE on TWC. So far, with only a few exceptions, the only thing I have seen on the HD channel is Celtic home games.

Dana, I wonder if you could do me a favor since we share cable providers (I'm slumming it up on Great Island). I have a QAM tuner card in my HTPC. For some reason occasionally WSCH and WMTW will drop signal and be reported as encrypted. Before I open a discussion with Comcast have you noticed this problem or do you have any way of detecting this issue? I appreciate any help.

Tyler

Dana, I wonder if you could do me a favor since we share cable providers (I'm slumming it up on Great Island). I have a QAM tuner card in my HTPC. For some reason occasionally WSCH and WMTW will drop signal and be reported as encrypted. Before I open a discussion with Comcast have you noticed this problem or do you have any way of detecting this issue? I appreciate any help.

Tyler

Hey Tyler,

Welcome to the AVS Forum and this friendly thread in particular for your first post!

Gee, I have SA3250HD STBs so know nothing about QAM signals. Wish I could help. Maybe someone else on Comcast Brunswick has some info to share?

Dana

Thank you for the welcome, but I have been looooooooong time lurker. AVS forums have helped me out many times in the past. I noticed you had previously posted your opinion on Comcast and I would like to share mine.

I have been a previous customer of Comcast in Boston before I moved back to Maine. In general I found Comcast to be a great cable company but a merely ok internet provider. That being said I feel Suscom was awful at both, so there is really no place to go but up.

The Comcastic good:
Most of this opinion is based on my experience with Comcast when they bought out AT&T Broadband in the Boston area.
1) Good selection of HD channels. I know the Brunswick area is lacking now but based upon Boston that should improve. I assume HDNet Movies is going to be replaced with INHD and INHD2. That's not really a loss or a gain, more of a lateral move.
2) Resources - Comcast was constantly upgrading their service, and they look to be doing the same thing here.

The Sucomcast need-to-improve:
1) HD channels - no Fox-HD killed me last football season
2) Analog cable signal. This might just be my problem, but the normal analog signal is rather lousy. Does anyone else have complaints on this?
3) The no binaries usenet policy is really awful. I assume that Comcast will setup Gigaews for the Brunswick area which is slightly better.

Dana, I wonder if you could do me a favor since we share cable providers (I'm slumming it up on Great Island). I have a QAM tuner card in my HTPC. For some reason occasionally WSCH and WMTW will drop signal and be reported as encrypted. Before I open a discussion with Comcast have you noticed this problem or do you have any way of detecting this issue? I appreciate any help.

Tyler


Tyler,
As far as I know all of Comcast's digital channels are encrypted, at least my Sony LCD projection has never been able to receive them. I believe that there was discussion in this thread quite some time ago. As best I can recall, it was said that under Suscom it was their policy to encrypted all digital channels despite the fact that the FCC prohibits the scrambling of local channels which are broadcast OTA. I recall that someone addressed this with Suscom and they basically claimed ignorance of this rule. I do know that Comcast does not encrypt local channels in other markets so it my hope that when they finally connect to the rest of their network this policy will be changed. I have a DVR so I am not really affected. However, I work at the new Best Buy in Topsham (figured I may as well get paid for my hobby :) ) and it causes a lot of confusion when you explain to customers that a particular TV is capable of receiving HDTV without a box or an antenna but it won't work because of their cable system. Hope this helps.

Tyler,
As far as I know all of Comcast's digital channels are encrypted, at least my Sony LCD projection has never been able to receive them. I believe that there was discussion in this thread quite some time ago. As best I can recall, it was said that under Suscom it was their policy to encrypted all digital channels despite the fact that the FCC prohibits the scrambling of local channels which are broadcast OTA. I recall that someone addressed this with Suscom and they basically claimed ignorance of this rule. I do know that Comcast does not encrypt local channels in other markets so it my hope that when they finally connect to the rest of their network this policy will be changed. I have a DVR so I am not really affected. However, I work at the new Best Buy in Topsham (figured I may as well get paid for my hobby :) ) and it causes a lot of confusion when you explain to customers that a particular TV is capable of receiving HDTV without a box or an antenna but it won't work because of their cable system. Hope this helps.

Hey Bob,

I think your excellent memory is at work again!

Great to hear you're at BB in Topsham. Some day I'll swing by, check it out and say "Hello!"

Dana

Tyler,
As far as I know all of Comcast's digital channels are encrypted, at least my Sony LCD projection has never been able to receive them. I believe that there was discussion in this thread quite some time ago. As best I can recall, it was said that under Suscom it was their policy to encrypted all digital channels despite the fact that the FCC prohibits the scrambling of local channels which are broadcast OTA. I recall that someone addressed this with Suscom and they basically claimed ignorance of this rule. I do know that Comcast does not encrypt local channels in other markets so it my hope that when they finally connect to the rest of their network this policy will be changed. I have a DVR so I am not really affected. However, I work at the new Best Buy in Topsham (figured I may as well get paid for my hobby :) ) and it causes a lot of confusion when you explain to customers that a particular TV is capable of receiving HDTV without a box or an antenna but it won't work because of their cable system. Hope this helps.

Bob, thanks for your reply. Most of the digital channels are encrypted which is disappointing. However, TNT-HD and one Encore channel are always broadcast in the clear. I have found that the local channels will sometimes be encrypted. Tonight for example all the local channels are encrypted where Sunday I was able to get WGME and PBS. I guess I'll call Comcast and complain since they are required to broadcast the local channels in the clear. But thanks for your help.

Hello all,

I e-mailed Ken Bauder, president & GM of WMTW-TV to ask if his station will carry the three non-network pre-season Pats games this year, which are:

Friday, Aug. 10 -- Patriots at Buccaneers (7:30 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 17 -- Titans at Patriots (8 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 30 -- Giants at Patriots (7:30 p.m.)

Likely, these games will originate in HD. Whether that signal gets fed to WMTW remains to be seen.

The national network preseason game is Friday, Aug. 24 -- Patriots at Panthers (CBS, 8 p.m.) Of all the preseason games, the conventional wisdom is that the third game is the most important since major roster cuts come soon after, on Aug. 28.

Anyway, here's Ken's response.

Hi Dana,

Thank you for your email. Yes, WMTW will carry these three non-network Patriot's preseason games. We don't believe that ESPN will pick any of these games up. If they do WCVB and WMUR will be allowed to carry them because they're in the Boston market. We're not allowed to air them because we're outside the Boston market. It's an NFL rule. Last year Mr. Kraft tried unsuccessfully to get this amended for the regional stations that carry the Patriots games.

Like you, I can't wait for the season to start. GO PATS!!

Ken

Dana

A printed flyer was in my mail box today, indicating that Comcast Brunswick will be changing HD channel alignment as of June 26. HD NET will be replaced by National Geographic HD on channel 527. HD NET Movies will be replaced by A&E HD on Channel 528.

A charge of $10. for HD Service will be dropped. :)

Dana

A printed flyer was in my mail box today, indicating that Comcast Brunswick will be changing HD channel alignment as of June 26. HD NET will be replaced by National Geographic HD on channel 527. HD NET Movies will be replaced by A&E HD on Channel 528.

A charge of $10. for HD Service will be dropped. :)

Dana

Are HD NET and HD NET MOVIES actually being replaced or are they moving to different channel numbers. Why the heck would they drop those two channels. Sometimes they're kind of nice to have.

Stan,

HDNet and HDNet Movies are being dropped. They are not offered by Comcast elsewhere and were holdovers from SusCom on the Brunswick system. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDnet

Dana

PS. The announcement was signed by Stephen Hackley, Regional Vice President, Northern New England Region which covers New Hampshire, Northern Massachusetts, Vermont and Southern Maine apparently. Mary McLaughlin is Area Vice President, NH/ME. ;)

Hello all,

I e-mailed Ken Bauder, president & GM of WMTW-TV to ask if his station will carry the three non-network pre-season Pats games this year, which are:

Friday, Aug. 10 -- Patriots at Buccaneers (7:30 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 17 -- Titans at Patriots (8 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 30 -- Giants at Patriots (7:30 p.m.)

Likely, these games will originate in HD. Whether that signal gets fed to WMTW remains to be seen.

The national network preseason game is Friday, Aug. 24 -- Patriots at Panthers (CBS, 8 p.m.) Of all the preseason games, the conventional wisdom is that the third game is the most important since major roster cuts come soon after, on Aug. 28.

Anyway, here's Ken's response.



Dana

So basically those of us who get ESPN-HD should hope that ESPN picks some of the up, since WMTW will likely repeat the terrible, almost black-and-white SD upconversion that they did last year? (And those of you who don't get any sort of ESPN should hope that ESPN doesn't pick any of them up so that you can see them at all ;) ).

I was just told that earlier this week the powers that be and Time Warner Cable signed papers for adding WPXT The CW to the HD lineup. Evidently, it could be on as early as today. So keep your eyes open. Also, let me know how it looks.

WPME MyTV is next on the table.

I was just told that earlier this week the powers that be and Time Warner Cable signed papers for adding WPXT The CW to the HD lineup. Evidently, it could be on as early as today. So keep your eyes open. Also, let me know how it looks.

WPME MyTV is next on the table.

Thanks for the information. That's good news.

Chet, WPXT HD was not on TWC / Augusta as of last night (Saturday). The system added WGME within the hour of their agreement, but it hasn't been so quick this time.

MPBN/PBS HD on Comcast Brunswick channel 503 was dark - no video or audio - although the Guide was up at least last Sunday and Monday. So, I sent an email to MPBN noting the problem and asking if it was their problem or Comcast. No response but I notice that video and audio now are up again. ;)

Dana

Just bought a new Sony LCD HDTV with a built-in QAM tuner. Can someone let me know what HD channels I will be able to receive when I bring this new panel to the beach house in South Portland on Time Warner?

TIA

Just bought a new Sony LCD HDTV with a built-in QAM tuner. Can someone let me know what HD channels I will be able to receive when I bring this new panel to the beach house in South Portland on Time Warner?

TIA


500 HBO East High Definition
501 HBO West High Definition
502 Cinemax HD East
505 HD On Demand
506 WCSH 6 HDTV NBC
507 WPFO FOX HDTV
508 WMTW 8 HDTV ABC
510 MPBN
513 WGME 13 HDTV CBS
520 Showtime High Definition East
521 Showtime High Definition West
525 Starz HD East
527 New England Sports Network
530 MOJO
532 HD Net
533 HDNET Movies
534 ESPN-HD
535 Universal HD
536 ESPN2 High Definition
550 Discovery HD Theater
551 TNT HD
552 MHD
553 A & E HD

http://www.timewarnercable.com/CustomerService/CLU/TWCCLUs.ashx?menu=18877

500 HBO East High Definition
501 HBO West High Definition
502 Cinemax HD East
505 HD On Demand
506 WCSH 6 HDTV NBC
507 WPFO FOX HDTV
508 WMTW 8 HDTV ABC
510 MPBN
513 WGME 13 HDTV CBS
520 Showtime High Definition East
521 Showtime High Definition West
525 Starz HD East
527 New England Sports Network
530 MOJO
532 HD Net
533 HDNET Movies
534 ESPN-HD
535 Universal HD
536 ESPN2 High Definition
550 Discovery HD Theater
551 TNT HD
552 MHD
553 A & E HD

http://www.timewarnercable.com/CustomerService/CLU/TWCCLUs.ashx?menu=18877

I'm confused. You're telling me that if I just plug the coax into the back of my Sony HDTV with QAM tuner I'm going to get premium channels like HBO and Showtime for free?

I hope so, but it doesn't sound right. Back home in NH the best I get from Comcast are a few networks in HD for free when I plug the raw coax into the Sony TV's QAM tuner input.

Let me know.

Thanks.

BJ

this summer I am looking to get a new TV and have a few questions on local reception.

I live in Brunswick in a fairly wooded area. We currently have DirecTV but cannot get the locals due to the trees (we have not found another place to put the dish, it's in the front yard just outside the porch, not an ideal place with kids playing ball in the yard). There are very large trees in the neighbor's yard that block the satellite. We get the Portland local stations through a 13 foot rooftop antenna. In order of quality we get 6 very well, 8 not bad, 13 worse, 23 comes in and out, and 10 really doesn't exist most days. What will that be like for HD? I cannot get a straight answer from anyone since most have cable and not OTA. I am currently looking at something like: Sharp Aquos LC37D62U 37" 1080p LCD HDTV for a tv although Sharp Aquos LC37GP1U 37" 1080p LCD Gaming HDTV was recommended but just a tad out of reach with small kids in the house.

My biggest concern is the quality of the SD broadcasts since most of our watching will be SD over satellite.

Thanks,
matt

this summer I am looking to get a new TV and have a few questions on local reception.

I live in Brunswick in a fairly wooded area. We currently have DirecTV but cannot get the locals due to the trees (we have not found another place to put the dish, it's in the front yard just outside the porch, not an ideal place with kids playing ball in the yard). There are very large trees in the neighbor's yard that block the satellite. We get the Portland local stations through a 13 foot rooftop antenna. In order of quality we get 6 very well, 8 not bad, 13 worse, 23 comes in and out, and 10 really doesn't exist most days. What will that be like for HD? I cannot get a straight answer from anyone since most have cable and not OTA. I am currently looking at something like: Sharp Aquos LC37D62U 37" 1080p LCD HDTV for a tv although Sharp Aquos LC37GP1U 37" 1080p LCD Gaming HDTV was recommended but just a tad out of reach with small kids in the house.

My biggest concern is the quality of the SD broadcasts since most of our watching will be SD over satellite.

Thanks,
matt


I live in Damariscotta and can receive OTA using a Channel Master 4228. I have it fixed in the direction a little north of the Sebego Lake area and I receive very strong digital signals for WCSH, WGME, WMTW and WCBB. I do not have many trees but my initial concern was distance from the transmitter. During the winter I even swing it towards Bangor on ocassion to get UMO hockey on WABI digial.

500 HBO East High Definition
501 HBO West High Definition
502 Cinemax HD East
505 HD On Demand
506 WCSH 6 HDTV NBC
507 WPFO FOX HDTV
508 WMTW 8 HDTV ABC
510 MPBN
513 WGME 13 HDTV CBS
520 Showtime High Definition East
521 Showtime High Definition West
525 Starz HD East
527 New England Sports Network
530 MOJO
532 HD Net
533 HDNET Movies
534 ESPN-HD
535 Universal HD
536 ESPN2 High Definition
550 Discovery HD Theater
551 TNT HD
552 MHD
553 A & E HD

http://www.timewarnercable.com/CustomerService/CLU/TWCCLUs.ashx?menu=18877


However, this list will be considerably smaller (perhaps down to no channels at all) if you're planning to just use the QAM tuner. From what I've read in this thread, not even the local HD channels are being passed in uncrypted QAM (even though they're supposed to be).

However, this list will be considerably smaller (perhaps down to no channels at all) if you're planning to just use the QAM tuner. From what I've read in this thread, not even the local HD channels are being passed in uncrypted QAM (even though they're supposed to be).

Yeah, that was my question. Are any HD channels in Portland ME from Time Warner being passed through the regular coax that can be decoded by the QAM tuner?

At my primary home in NH, Comcast "gives" me 6 channels in uncompressed HD via the QAM tuner in my other Sony. Was wondering if a similar situation exists in ME.

Thanks.

BJ

I live in Damariscotta and can receive OTA using a Channel Master 4228. I have it fixed in the direction a little north of the Sebego Lake area and I receive very strong digital signals for WCSH, WGME, WMTW and WCBB. I do not have many trees but my initial concern was distance from the transmitter. During the winter I even swing it towards Bangor on ocassion to get UMO hockey on WABI digial.

Thanks, I wish I knew which antenna we got, all I remember is that it's about 13 feet and the neighbors thought I was nuts. I guess I feel better about the signal if you can get it in Damariscotta.

matt

I'm not receiveing WGME-HD over TWC nor is WGME-HD on the TV listing on the Time Warner web page for my area (Newcastle). WGME does show up under the Channel Listing for my area. Anyone know anything? I am able to receive WGME-HD OTA.

To close two loops I created regarding going HD in Portland, ME:

1. There are no 'free' HD channels on Time Warner Cable if you have a panel with a built in QAM tuner. Upon ordering my Sony V2500 to scan for all digitals with just the basic coax cable going into the tuner, all it found were 5 channels- 4 were music channels without a picture and the 5th was PBS but non-HD.

2. The NY spot beam does indeed reach Portland. DirecTV's YES HD and SNY HD as well as the CBS/NBC/FOX HD locals all come in just fine on an HR20 with a 5LNB dish.

I hope this helps others in the future, and thanks again to those who replied to my questions. Going to be a nice, high definition summer on the beach.

BJ

To close two loops I created regarding going HD in Portland, ME:

1. There are no 'free' HD channels on Time Warner Cable if you have a panel with a built in QAM tuner. Upon ordering my Sony V2500 to scan for all digitals with just the basic coax cable going into the tuner, all it found were 5 channels- 4 were music channels without a picture and the 5th was PBS but non-HD.

2. The NY spot beam does indeed reach Portland. DirecTV's YES HD and SNY HD as well as the CBS/NBC/FOX HD locals all come in just fine on an HR20 with a 5LNB dish.

I hope this helps others in the future, and thanks again to those who replied to my questions. Going to be a nice, high definition summer on the beach.

BJ

Your report also eliminates once and for all any claim by D* that the reason it doesn't provide NESN HD at the moment to Maine subs is that the Boston spot beam doesn't reach this far! :rolleyes: We knew it was a crock; the spot beam edge wouldn't conveniently coincide with the Maine-NH border. But, your report provides proof that these HD spot beams are a lot bigger than D* claims.

Many thanks.

Dana

Your report also eliminates once and for all any claim by D* that the reason it doesn't provide NESN HD at the moment to Maine subs is that the Boston spot beam doesn't reach this far! :rolleyes: We knew it was a crock; the spot beam edge wouldn't conveniently coincide with the Maine-NH border. But, your report provides proof that these HD spot beams are a lot bigger than D* claims.

Many thanks.

Dana

You beat me to it. I almost choked on my Cheerios when I read this post.

Your report also eliminates once and for all any claim by D* that the reason it doesn't provide NESN HD at the moment to Maine subs is that the Boston spot beam doesn't reach this far! :rolleyes: We knew it was a crock; the spot beam edge wouldn't conveniently coincide with the Maine-NH border. But, your report provides proof that these HD spot beams are a lot bigger than D* claims.

Many thanks.

Dana

One thing I'll add that's strange:

When I had the HR20 in my Manchester NH residence for a week, it received the NY HD locals on their NY channel numbers in the guide (ie 2 for CBS, 4 for NBC, right below their SD counterparts) but when I moved it up to Maine yesterday, those guide numbers gave me a 771 error and instead I had to start watching them on the old 82, 83, etc channels as I did on my HR10. I'm assuming that the HD RSN's like SNY and YES are on another sat because it wouldn't make much sense that I'd be in the spot beam for NY HD RSN's in Portland but out of it for the NY HD feeds of the big networks.

Either way, I get all the NY locals in HD so I'm happy. Thought the discrepancy on the guide number assignments might help with the forensics.

BJ

You beat me to it. I almost choked on my Cheerios when I read this post.

Well, if anything, my experience should prove to you that finding a friend or family member with a Massachusetts address and providing that information as a change with DirecTV will get you NESN HD up in Maine and you could use cable to get your ME locals as I'm doing with D* NY and Time Warner ME.

BJ

Yeah, that was my question. Are any HD channels in Portland ME from Time Warner being passed through the regular coax that can be decoded by the QAM tuner?

At my primary home in NH, Comcast "gives" me 6 channels in uncompressed HD via the QAM tuner in my other Sony. Was wondering if a similar situation exists in ME.

Thanks.

BJ

I'm up in Portland and use an HDHomerun QAM tuner. I get the free-to-air stations, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and PBS, plus something called Create.

I'm up in Portland and use an HDHomerun QAM tuner. I get the free-to-air stations, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and PBS, plus something called Create.

Are you saying you use this tuner with a Time Warner coax plugged into is or are you using an OTA setup with an antenna?

BJ

Are you saying you use this tuner with a Time Warner coax plugged into is or are you using an OTA setup with an antenna?

BJ

He can't be using an OTA antenna and getting FOX HD. It's only available at the moment by closed circuit feed to TWC. WPFO/FOX23 doesn't have a license to broadcast HD OTA (former owners failed to apply) and won't until the digital/HD balloon goes up early in 2009.

Dana

One thing I'll add that's strange:

When I had the HR20 in my Manchester NH residence for a week, it received the NY HD locals on their NY channel numbers in the guide (ie 2 for CBS, 4 for NBC, right below their SD counterparts) but when I moved it up to Maine yesterday, those guide numbers gave me a 771 error and instead I had to start watching them on the old 82, 83, etc channels as I did on my HR10. I'm assuming that the HD RSN's like SNY and YES are on another sat because it wouldn't make much sense that I'd be in the spot beam for NY HD RSN's in Portland but out of it for the NY HD feeds of the big networks.

Either way, I get all the NY locals in HD so I'm happy. Thought the discrepancy on the guide number assignments might help with the forensics.

BJ

To add some further information:
The HD networks in the 80s are definitely not on a spot beam (and are MPEG2, not MPEG4) because those are used for anyone on the Eastern half of the US with a waiver to get the national HD feed of a network or those that have a network owned-and-operated affiliate.

As far as the RSNs go, it would make sense to me for those to be national as well, since eventually they'll need to be able to make them available to people who buy sports packages like MLB extra innings.

To add some further information:
The HD networks in the 80s are definitely not on a spot beam (and are MPEG2, not MPEG4) because those are used for anyone on the Eastern half of the US with a waiver to get the national HD feed of a network or those that have a network owned-and-operated affiliate.

As far as the RSNs go, it would make sense to me for those to be national as well, since eventually they'll need to be able to make them available to people who buy sports packages like MLB extra innings.

My understanding, from over at DBS, is that the RSN's are currently on a spotbeamed MPEG4 satellite until September when a rocket is going to put the new D* bird up there that will allow those 100+ HD channels to rain down upon us from it. It is at that time that the RSN's will be on a national MPEG4 feed for the purpose you mention.

BJ

My understanding, from over at DBS, is that the RSN's are currently on a spotbeamed MPEG4 satellite until September when a rocket is going to put the new D* bird up there that will allow those 100+ HD channels to rain down upon us from it. It is at that time that the RSN's will be on a national MPEG4 feed for the purpose you mention.

BJ

That's an interesting spotbeam then - it exactly follows the ME/NH border. Try the D* online tool to determine eligibility: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIF.jsp?assetId=P3000004

If you enter the Portsmouth, NH ZIP 03801, RSNs in HD are available. If you key in the Kittery, ME. ZIP 03904, only RSNs in SD are available. Check a map - these two towns border each other. This applies for other towns on the border between Maine and NH. NH has HD RSNs available, Maine does not for towns on the NH border. The spot beam follows exactly the border? I don't think so.

For some reason ME is excluded from HD RSNs and it is NOT a spot beam issue!

Using the TV tuner in my PC I was only able to tune in 3 Clear QAM signals: MPBN-HD and 2 of those digital radio channels. Hardly worth the effort. I'm using TWC in Old Orchard Beach.

I do have a question for you all though. I'm having a really hard time tuning in WPXT-DT OTA. Are they still operating on low power? WPME-DT comes in fine, but I hardly get a blip from WPXT.

I lived in Old Orchard Beach 20 years ago. I could never get a clear signal of analog channel 51 whenever the wind blew. I kid you not. (Same thing with analog channel 26 of Biddeford.) :confused:

Just a heads up that they are moving some channels around on TWC.
http://www.timewarnercable.com/newengland/programming/notices/netwrkexp.html

A little bird told me that the specific reason for moving these stations is to help free up bandwidth for more HD content. Specifically Versus-HD this fall, and targeting locals in Bangor and Berlin, NH. By freeing up space now, they can add new content fairly quickly once agreements are signed.
They also needed to free up bandwidth for ESPNU this fall as well.

Thought I'd pass it on. Welcome back to Maine, all you "from away"!

Stan,

HDNet and HDNet Movies are being dropped. They are not offered by Comcast elsewhere and were holdovers from SusCom on the Brunswick system. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDnet

Dana

PS. The announcement was signed by Stephen Hackley, Regional Vice President, Northern New England Region which covers New Hampshire, Northern Massachusetts, Vermont and Southern Maine apparently. Mary McLaughlin is Area Vice President, NH/ME. ;)

Dana,

I was wondering if you have corresponded with Mary McLaughlin lately. I haven’t since NESN was put on but I was thinking about dropping her a note to see what the progress is on the cabling as well as attaching to the Comcast backbone. I was in Mass this weekend to set up a TV for my mother and was reminded of what we are missing in Maine. They have double the HD channels as well as a generous offering of HD on demand content. In addition the picture quality was sensational, the best HD I have ever seen. I was setting up a Samsung 4066 1080P and the picture quality rivaled the Blue Ray demo which we play on the same set at Best Buy. By the way, if anyone here is looking for a new TV the 4066 is the best looking LCD display I have yet seen and I look at them everyday. I am hoping that this quality was due to the increased bandwidth the new cabling will provide and was not because the Motorola box they were using is better than the SA that we have. Anyway, let me know if you have heard anything.

Bob

Dana,

I was wondering if you have corresponded with Mary McLaughlin lately. I haven’t since NESN was put on but I was thinking about dropping her a note to see what the progress is on the cabling as well as attaching to the Comcast backbone. I was in Mass this weekend to set up a TV for my mother and was reminded of what we are missing in Maine. They have double the HD channels as well as a generous offering of HD on demand content. In addition the picture quality was sensational, the best HD I have ever seen. I was setting up a Samsung 4066 1080P and the picture quality rivaled the Blue Ray demo which we play on the same set at Best Buy. By the way, if anyone here is looking for a new TV the 4066 is the best looking LCD display I have yet seen and I look at them everyday. I am hoping that this quality was due to the increased bandwidth the new cabling will provide and was not because the Motorola box they were using is better than the SA that we have. Anyway, let me know if you have heard anything.

Bob

Bob, I have been sort of looking around for 2 more HD sets. One for the livingroom and one for a small bedroom. I have a 50" Sony SXRD XBR1 in the playroom, but I think I should only go 40 or 42 inches in the livingroom, although with flat panel, I can probably stretch another inch or two. The bedroom can only be 32 inches. I would really like the bedroom set, at least, to be cablecard. If the livingroom has to be a cablebox, I guess it's ok.

What do you recommend? (I know this should be in "Displays", but I want to talk to you on this.)

Now, I have to tell you, I have seen these Samsung 1080P LCD's and they do look very, very good. About a month and a half ago, I was helping a elderly friend buy an HD at Sears. He was about ready to buy a Sharp, when I called him over to look at one of these 1080P Samsung LCD's. He immediately chose that one. After they delivered it, the cable guy hooked up the box and left. Poor old Tom pushed the wrong button on the remote and, somehow, screwed everything up. He finally plugged the cable directly into the tv, watched standard definition tv and waited for the cable guy to return and set things straight. By the time he got there, my friend Tom had died. ........ How's that for cable service? .......... Actually, Tom waited a few days before he requested service, so it wasn't really so bad.

Anyway, these are beautiful tv's, but I notice that there is a 4061F model and you mention a 4066 model. Isn't there also a 4065 model? Are there other models of the same screen size? Could you straighten me out on what Samsung has in 1080P LCD because I agree, this is maybe the best looking set I have seen including plasma? How do you rate it with regard to all makes and types of sets?

Bob, I have been sort of looking around for 2 more HD sets. One for the livingroom and one for a small bedroom. I have a 50" Sony SXRD XBR1 in the playroom, but I think I should only go 40 or 42 inches in the livingroom, although with flat panel, I can probably stretch another inch or two. The bedroom can only be 32 inches. I would really like the bedroom set, at least, to be cablecard. If the livingroom has to be a cablebox, I guess it's ok.

What do you recommend? (I know this should be in "Displays", but I want to talk to you on this.)

Now, I have to tell you, I have seen these Samsung 1080P LCD's and they do look very, very good. About a month and a half ago, I was helping a elderly friend buy an HD at Sears. He was about ready to buy a Sharp, when I called him over to look at one of these 1080P Samsung LCD's. He immediately chose that one. After they delivered it, the cable guy hooked up the box and left. Poor old Tom pushed the wrong button on the remote and, somehow, screwed everything up. He finally plugged the cable directly into the tv, watched standard definition tv and waited for the cable guy to return and set things straight. By the time he got there, my friend Tom had died. ........ How's that for cable service? .......... Actually, Tom waited a few days before he requested service, so it wasn't really so bad.

Anyway, these are beautiful tv's, but I notice that there is a 4061F model and you mention a 4066 model. Isn't there also a 4065 model? Are there other models of the same screen size? Could you straighten me out on what Samsung has in 1080P LCD because I agree, this is maybe the best looking set I have seen including plasma? How do you rate it with regard to all makes and types of sets?

Stan,
There is a 4065, it is the same TV with slightly different styling. Not sure why Samsung puts out multiple model numbers but they do. The 4061 has a different screen material. The screen material on the 4066 sets it apart. It is very shiny and black; I think they call it super clear. It really increases the contrast ratio and gives it a plasma look with LCD resolution. Be warned, the screen is very reflective and we did have some glare issues at my mother’s house. That is why some prefer the 4061. As for the Sharps they take a beating in side by sides with the Sammy and the plasma’s mainly due to lesser black levels. I usually prefer plasma, especially Panasonic except against 4066. We currently have a 1080P Panasonic Plasma, which is outstanding, and I hear that the new Pioneer 1080P plasmas may be the best HDTV display made to date. As for your bedroom, none of the new flat panels have cable cards anymore. They are phasing those out, probably had too many problems with them (almost everyone I know with one has problems). I don’t care for the larger Sharps but they make a great 32” although it is 1080P and a little pricey. Samsung has a couple of nice models and the Toshiba actually performs very well next to the Samsung and is a little cheaper. Hope this helps. Stop by Best Buy some night and I will show you what we have :)

Dana,

I was wondering if you have corresponded with Mary McLaughlin lately. I haven’t since NESN was put on but I was thinking about dropping her a note to see what the progress is on the cabling as well as attaching to the Comcast backbone. I was in Mass this weekend to set up a TV for my mother and was reminded of what we are missing in Maine. They have double the HD channels as well as a generous offering of HD on demand content. In addition the picture quality was sensational, the best HD I have ever seen. I was setting up a Samsung 4066 1080P and the picture quality rivaled the Blue Ray demo which we play on the same set at Best Buy. By the way, if anyone here is looking for a new TV the 4066 is the best looking LCD display I have yet seen and I look at them everyday. I am hoping that this quality was due to the increased bandwidth the new cabling will provide and was not because the Motorola box they were using is better than the SA that we have. Anyway, let me know if you have heard anything.

Bob

Bob,

I did email her about a month ago. The Times Record published a wire service story about a 100th anniversary tribute to Kathryn Hepburn being shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). I liked TCM when I subscribed to D* and it's also carried on other Comcast New England cable systems. But not here. :( So I wrote her, asking that the channel be added ASAP. I did thank her for NESN HD. Here's her reply.

Dana – thank you for your email. I was in Brunswick last Thursday and heard the TCM message from our front counter staff. I can’t say it was the first time the ladies have raised it with me. They are great customer advocates.

We still have the channel constraint issues facing as a result of 120+/- miles of 550MHz plant. We have a small amount of channel bandwidth available that I am holding onto for some additional HD launches, so I am not hopeful that TCM is in the immediate future. Clearly, when bandwidth becomes available, this will be on the list.

I wrote her again, noting that not everything has to be added. She could consider swapping the analog AMC movie channel for TCM digital, for example. I pointed out to her that there was never to my knowledge a customer survey of what we did and didn't like. Maybe it's time Comcast did one. In any event she ought to listen and act upon the suggestions of her counter staff, who are closer to customers than she is. She conceded that point.

Frankly, I am disappointed that the channel constraint issue keeps coming up. It's a good excuse to do nothing.

Dana

Stan,
There is a 4065, it is the same TV with slightly different styling. Not sure why Samsung puts out multiple model numbers but they do. The 4061 has a different screen material. The screen material on the 4066 sets it apart. It is very shiny and black; I think they call it super clear. It really increases the contrast ratio and gives it a plasma look with LCD resolution. Be warned, the screen is very reflective and we did have some glare issues at my mother’s house. That is why some prefer the 4061. As for the Sharps they take a beating in side by sides with the Sammy and the plasma’s mainly due to lesser black levels. I usually prefer plasma, especially Panasonic except against 4066. We currently have a 1080P Panasonic Plasma, which is outstanding, and I hear that the new Pioneer 1080P plasmas may be the best HDTV display made to date. As for your bedroom, none of the new flat panels have cable cards anymore. They are phasing those out, probably had too many problems with them (almost everyone I know with one has problems). I don’t care for the larger Sharps but they make a great 32” although it is 1080P and a little pricey. Samsung has a couple of nice models and the Toshiba actually performs very well next to the Samsung and is a little cheaper. Hope this helps. Stop by Best Buy some night and I will show you what we have :)

I have cablecard in my Sony SXRD and it works great.

You work in Topsham don't you? I'll try to make a posting in advance of coming down sometime, so that I will know you are working.

Thanks for the info and advice.

Bob,

I did email her about a month ago. The Times Record published a wire service story about a 100th anniversary tribute to Kathryn Hepburn being shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). I liked TCM when I subscribed to D* and it's also carried on other Comcast New England cable systems. But not here. :( So I wrote her, asking that the channel be added ASAP. I did thank her for NESN HD. Here's her reply.



I wrote her again, noting that not everything has to be added. She could consider swapping the analog AMC movie channel for TCM digital, for example. I pointed out to her that there was never to my knowledge a customer survey of what we did and didn't like. Maybe it's time Comcast did one. In any event she ought to listen and act upon the suggestions of her counter staff, who are closer to customers than she is. She conceded that point.

Frankly, I am disappointed that the channel constraint issue keeps coming up. It's a good excuse to do nothing.

Dana

Wow, that kind of concerns me. When she first replied to me in Febuary she said that there was only 100 miles of 550mhz plant. Not only have they not made much progress but they seemed to gained 20 miles :rolleyes: It's doesn't look like we will be seeing anything soon :mad:

Bob

Wow, that kind of concerns me. When she first replied to me in Febuary she said that there was only 100 miles of 550mhz plant. Not only have they not made much progress but they seemed to gained 20 miles :rolleyes: It's doesn't look like we will be seeing anything soon :mad:

Bob

Bob,

You don't suppose we'll get a discount because we're only on a 550mhz system, do you? :rolleyes:

Dana

TWC Cumberland County is now carrying WPXT-HD on channel 517. Smallville is on now and looks pretty good.
I think its the CW, as opposed to MyTV which is on 17 analog. They swapped 12 and 17 and few weeks back. I thought they were combining them...oh well. Or not, or whatever happened with those two stations. Either way, good to see them continue to add content.

There may be a faint light at the end of the tunnel for those who aren't fans of the SA 8300 DVR STB currently in use by Comcast in Brunswick, ME. A test is being offered in NH right now on certain Comcast Moto systems of a new HD DVR STB made by Panasonic and running iGuide, proprietary Comcast software that apparently is licensed from TiVo.

Here's the link to that thread http://www.satelliteguys.us/comcast-cable-forum/98531-new-hd-dvr.html The bad news for us with SA hardware is that the testing for such systems in NH may not begin until 2008. :(

More on the new Panny box is here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=640348 and here http://blog.itvt.com/my_weblog/2006/01/comcast_in_ocap.html

Of course a good dose of "I'll believe it when I see it." is always in order. :rolleyes:

Dana

According to jkurlanski, WPXT DT is on TWC Portland. I checked TWC Augusta last night and I don't see it, so I guess we're just going to wait awhile up here.

I am getting (in Portland) Channel 512 in HD, but no 517. The TW web site lists only 512 for Cumberland County, and lists it as CW HD. It does not list any channel 517.

Sorry. Not sure if that was me or them, but it is 512 (now anyway). I noticed that they flipped 17 and 12 back on the analog side too. Or maybe it was all just in my head. :)

The Friday 8 PM Aug. 24 Pats @ Carolina pre-season game will be on the CBS network in 1080i.

Also, just a reminder that Comcast Brunswick will be changing HD channel alignment as of June 26. HD NET will be replaced by National Geographic HD on channel 527. HD NET Movies will be replaced by A&E HD on Channel 528.

A charge of $10. for HD service will be dropped.

Dana

The Friday 8 PM Aug. 24 Pats @ Carolina pre-season game will be on the CBS network in 1080i.

Also, just a reminder that Comcast Brunswick will be changing HD channel alignment as of June 26. HD NET will be replaced by National Geographic HD on channel 527. HD NET Movies will be replaced by A&E HD on Channel 528.

A charge of $10. for HD service will be dropped.

Dana

You know, Dana, I wouldn't give Comcast credit for 'replacements' at all. They are adding two channels, which they should do anyway. On the other hand, they are removing two channels that TWC provides to its customers. ........... Why are they dropping the HD service charge? Are they going up on the regular rate? Will you be able to purchase HD NET and Movies separately? Do you think Hillary will be our next president? ............. Seriously, I would think that Comcast should turn out to be a good provider to have in the long run.

You know, Dana, I wouldn't give Comcast credit for 'replacements' at all. They are adding two channels, which they should do anyway. On the other hand, they are removing two channels that TWC provides to its customers. ........... Why are they dropping the HD service charge? Are they going up on the regular rate? Will you be able to purchase HD NET and Movies separately? Do you think Hillary will be our next president? ............. Seriously, I would think that Comcast should turn out to be a good provider to have in the long run.

Stan,

They are replacements in the sense that the two new program sources are assigned the same local cable channels as are presently used by HD NET (527) and HD NET MOVIES (528).

These channel and fee changes are apparently intended to more closely align the Brunswick MSO with Comcast systems elsewhere. These are changes driven by company policies and practices, not by customer service priorities.

While Comcast may turn out to be a good provider in the long run, the daily obit page reminds me that in the long run, I won't be here. Comcast's commitment to Brunswick includes such action words as "eventually" and "in time"... Examples:

• Customers in all SusCom areas will eventually have all of the same products and services that Comcast offers to its current customers...

• In time, customers will also have the option to order Comcast’s bundle product, which includes Comcast Digital Voice, Cable, and Internet...

Meanwhile, we're paying full freight. Maybe I am impatient. But, the largest cable provider in the country can surely do better than it has shown us to date. And its avowed commitment to communicate "early and often" is a joke.

Dana

Stan,

They are replacements in the sense that the two new program sources are assigned the same local cable channels as are presently used by HD NET (527) and HD NET MOVIES (528).

These channel and fee changes are apparently intended to more closely align the Brunswick MSO with Comcast systems elsewhere. These are changes driven by company policies and practices, not by customer service priorities.

While Comcast may turn out to be a good provider in the long run, the daily obit page reminds me that in the long run, I won't be here. Comcast's commitment to Brunswick includes such action words as "eventually" and "in time"... Examples:



Meanwhile, we're paying full freight. Maybe I am impatient. But, the largest cable provider in the country can surely do better than it has shown us to date. And its avowed commitment to communicate "early and often" is a joke.

Dana

Only perceived serious competition makes a difference in business.

Hi all - I've been reading this forum a lot but never had an occasion to post. I'm (trying) to watch WCSH6-HD on TWC in Portland, but the programming (currently The Office) is completely out of sync. Audio seems to be 1-2 seconds later than the video on screen.

I'm wondering if this is a national feed thing since the commercials are spot on.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Same here on 6-1 OTA and via the Directv mpeg4 feed.

Hi all - I've been reading this forum a lot but never had an occasion to post. I'm (trying) to watch WCSH6-HD on TWC in Portland, but the programming (currently The Office) is completely out of sync. Audio seems to be 1-2 seconds later than the video on screen.

I'm wondering if this is a national feed thing since the commercials are spot on.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Kevin.

Welcome, welcome to the AVS Forum and this thread for your first post!

Dana

Out of sync ota for me also in Sanbornville NH

Out of sync ota for me also in Sanbornville NH

Welcome aboard the AVS Forum and this thread in particular for your first post!

Dana

Haven't tuned in this last week, nor checked their website, but OTA I have 8-2, currently showing weather. 8NWSNOW Or is this old news?

I first noticed 8.2 OTA about 2 weeks ago. Now 6, 8, 13 & MPBN all have sub-channels. :(

I, for one, would like to see the full bandwidth used for the HD channel. "They" (those who work for the stations) insist it doesn't degrade the HD channels' picture quality, but I remain unconvinced. :)

Be skiing ya,

h2osports

Last night, I took a close look at the 11:00 pm news on 6, 8 and 13 digital (TWC). I rate 13 the very best in picture quality, while 6 is not far behind. 8 lacks a little "punch." They are all good, but they, still, come out in the order that I rated them.

Does anyone see it any differently?

Stan54,

IIRC, we have the same TV (Sony KDS-R50XBR1), but I'm strictly OTA.

I would agree that 13 has the most (as you say) "punch" with 6 & 8 following in that order.

Be skiing ya,

h2osports

8-2 won't be much of a factor at all if it continues to be a mostly static doppler image, especially since the main channel is 720p. However, the name suggests it will likely be a full-time loop of their latest newscast, much like channel 9 on the local Time Warner system. Because apparently people who really want to see the news right then don't have access to the internet or a DVR.... but they have an ATSC receiver and enough know-how to scan for and visit a subchannel. :rolleyes:

AccidenT,

The audio portion of 8.2 (which must use almost no bandwidth) is, I think, (I actually haven't paid much attention to it. :) ) currently a rebroadcast of Channel 8's most recent local newscast. As you said, the video portion of 8.2 is weather-related (radar, or whatever).

I wonder if Hearst-Argyle's contract with TWC of Maine precludes WMTW from rerunning their most recent newscast in full (both video & audio) on 8.2, because it is already "airing" on cable channel 9 here in Southern Maine?

Be skiing ya,

h2osports

AccidenT,

I wonder if Hearst-Argyle's contract with TWC of Maine precludes WMTW from rerunning their most recent newscast in full (both video & audio) on 8.2, because it is already "airing" on cable channel 9 here in Southern Maine?

Be skiing ya,

h2osports

The OTA broadcast of 8.2 is also only audio news with Doppler video so it has nothing to do with the TWC contract. I figure they are just testing the system and a full broadcast will eventually follow.

John

jscudder,

I was just speculating :) - I certainly have no "inside" info - that TWC might not want WMTW rebroadcasting their local newscast OTA on 8.2 when TWC is already doing so (at least in Southern Maine) on cable channel 9.

In any case, I suspect you're right - that Channel 8 is getting ready to re-air their local newscast OTA on 8.2.

Be skiing ya,

h2osports

Last night, I noticed TWC Augusta added WPXT HD on channel 710. Unfortunately, there was nothing in HD on Saturday night. I'm curious to see how it will compare with the others. We're still waiting for WPME HD to be added.

anyone know what happened to MPBN-HD? It has been showing an upconverted MPBN instead of the national PBS HD feed for a few days now.

anyone know what happened to MPBN-HD? It has been showing an upconverted MPBN instead of the national PBS HD feed for a few days now.

Good catch! I have been somewhat distracted lately (Red Sox!) and hadn't noticed. I've emailed MPBN. I'll report what I hear.

Dana

Here's my inquiry and the response I just received.

"It appears that MPBN HD, which I watch on Comcast Brunswick's cable system, is now carrying a simulcast of your regular programming and not programs directly from PBS. Is this a permanent change in programming?"

Thank you for contacting The Maine Public Broadcasting Network. The programming change is a permanent one, and is part of the process involving the mandated transition from analog to HD. As you may know, analog TV transmission will end by February, 2009.

We are aware that the HD listings on our website (and perhaps other areas) are incorrect and we are working to correct this problem and apologize for any inconvenience and confusion.

Thanks again for contacting MPBN.

Sincerely,

J. Maurice Doyon
Audience Services
Maine Public Broadcasting Network

I think Mr. Doyon mis-states the mandated transition. It's from analog to digital, not analog to HD. But, regardless, apparently we no longer will get a direct feed from PBS on MPBN HD.

Dana

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=871779 Kinda miss it. PS; 8-2 is gone? PBS 12-2, Orono same.

I first noticed 8.2 OTA about 2 weeks ago. Now 6, 8, 13 & MPBN all have sub-channels. :(

I, for one, would like to see the full bandwidth used for the HD channel. "They" (those who work for the stations) insist it doesn't degrade the HD channels' picture quality, but I remain unconvinced. :)

Be skiing ya,

h2osports

At the very least, it would be nice if WMTW would a) not show the lottery information on the HD channel or b) get the necessary equipment so that the graphic can be shown without dropping to SD.

b) is preferable since they have the same drop to SD for station id (which is always at the most exciting part of LOST, and also causes a ~1 second audio dropout)

Maybe their nifty new revenue-generating subchannel will pay for the equipment!

Here's my inquiry and the response I just received.

"It appears that MPBN HD, which I watch on Comcast Brunswick's cable system, is now carrying a simulcast of your regular programming and not programs directly from PBS. Is this a permanent change in programm



I think Mr. Doyon mis-states the mandated transition. It's from analog to digital, not analog to HD. But, regardless, apparently we no longer will get a direct feed from PBS on MPBN HD.

Dana

Your observation is a good one. We have the same thing on TWC Augusta. Do you think that we will, now, see HD on PBS just once in a while? It would appear so. Too bad, because it has been possible until now to always go to MPBN to get some decent HD programming.

Mr. Doyon gave you an answer, but it certainly didn't provide much information. It is almost as if he didn't have much of an understanding himself.

At the very least, it would be nice if WMTW would a) not show the lottery information on the HD channel or b) get the necessary equipment so that the graphic can be shown without dropping to SD.

b) is preferable since they have the same drop to SD for station id (which is always at the most exciting part of LOST, and also causes a ~1 second audio dropout)

Maybe their nifty new revenue-generating subchannel will pay for the equipment!

You are sure correct about WMTW showing the lottery information. It screws up LOST pretty badly.

I've been having problems with the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio on WGME HD on DirecTV. The audio "stutters" (for lack of a better term) while the video is just fine. If I force the audio out of surround sound and into 2 channel audio, the 2 channel audio is fine. Has anyone else run into this problem?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=871779 Kinda miss it. PS; 8-2 is gone? PBS 12-2, Orono same.

Thanks for the link, Dave. That thread indicates that some public television stations elsewhere dropped the PBS-HD feed because it was too expensive for them to carry it. Contract renewals apparently occurred on July 1. In any event, no mention by other public TV stations that such a move is in anticipation of the analog to digital transition in Feb. 2009. It has to do with $$$. And of course the viewing public has no say in the matter. :(

Dana

I've experienced the same dropouts on 13-1 OTA from time to time over the last year. Last night during Letterman it was particularly bad, dropping out almost constantly until I forced it to 2 channel. Craig Clark, an engineer at WGME, has actively investigated in the past. He tends to monitor this thread, but PM me if you'd like his email address to email him directly.

I've been having problems with the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio on WGME HD on DirecTV. The audio "stutters" (for lack of a better term) while the video is just fine. If I force the audio out of surround sound and into 2 channel audio, the 2 channel audio is fine. Has anyone else run into this problem?

Yes, I have had the same problems on TWC Augusta. It must be a problem at the station.

I am looking into the 5.1 audio problem. It is a station issue and I took us out of the 5.1 mode at 8:30PM 7.11.07 for now.

Craig

Yes, I have had the same problems on TWC Augusta. It must be a problem at the station.

The cause of the audio problem was located and corrected as of 9:20PM Thurs. 7.12.07.
A bad metadata port.... feeding our 5.1 encoder. Using the second port hope it holds until a replacment unit comes in!

Craig

The cause of the audio problem was located and corrected as of 9:20PM Thurs. 7.12.07.
A bad metadata port.... feeding our 5.1 encoder. Using the second port hope it holds until a replacment unit comes in!

Craig

Craig,

Many thanks for the info. At least you have a 5.1 encoder. ;)

I can't wait for Pats football in HD with 5.1 DD on CBS! :)

Dana

WPXT HD has been off TWC for several days. WPXT analog was back yesterday. I'm guessing the problem is electric storms.

I seem to remember getting an insert from Comcast regarding the adding of NECN (New England Cable News) to the lineup. I know it was supposed to be at the end of July, but can't remember the date. Does anyone have any info regarding this. I can't wait for the network to be added to the line up. Thanks in advance for any help.

Chris

UPDATE: Got an email from comcast saying the channel scheduled to be added on 7/25.

I seem to remember getting an insert from Comcast regarding the adding of NECN (New England Cable News) to the lineup. I know it was supposed to be at the end of July, but can't remember the date. Does anyone have any info regarding this. I can't wait for the network to be added to the line up. Thanks in advance for any help.

Chris

My July statement for Comcast Brunswick said:

Effective 8/02/2007, the following changes will be made to our channel lineup: Channel 119 Current TV will move to Channel 107 and MTV2 will move to Channel 119.


Whoopee!

Dana

I seem to remember getting an insert from Comcast regarding the adding of NECN (New England Cable News) to the lineup. I know it was supposed to be at the end of July, but can't remember the date. Does anyone have any info regarding this. I can't wait for the network to be added to the line up. Thanks in advance for any help.

Chris

TWC (Adelphia Augusta) has had NECN for a long time. If you like the news channels (as I do), this is a good one. Until HD, I spent 90% of my tv time on the news channels.

Comcast has NECN on channel 62 this morning

NEW 8300HD DVR[U]
I have had an SA 8300HD DVR for some time now. I called TWC Portland earlier this week asking about any "new" boxes in response to recent news articles re FCC regs that became eff in July. The CSR said that some were avail tho she did not have any info re any improvements. Today, UPS delivered an 8300 HD DVR which was manufactured 5/17/07. Two questions: Does this new box have improvements/features over my existing box? If so, is there a site where I can read about them? Thank you all.

NEW 8300HD DVR[U]
I have had an SA 8300HD DVR for some time now. I called TWC Portland earlier this week asking about any "new" boxes in response to recent news articles re FCC regs that became eff in July. The CSR said that some were avail tho she did not have any info re any improvements. Today, UPS delivered an 8300 HD DVR which was manufactured 5/17/07. Two questions: Does this new box have improvements/features over my existing box? If so, is there a site where I can read about them? Thank you all.

There are several SA 8300 HD threads listed here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=581843

As far as I know, the only difference in the STBs deployed after July 1 is the inclusion of a CableCard slot in the back.

Dana

As best I can determine, the three locally broadcast Pats pre-season games on Friday, Aug. 10, Friday Aug. 17 and Friday Aug. 30 will not be in HD even though at the very least, the Aug. 10 game in Tampa will originate and be broadcast in HD there. Apparently, WCVB-TV Boston will not carry the HD feed so WMTW-TV won't have access to it either.

The CBS network will carry the Pats at Panthers game on Fri. Aug. 24 8 PM which will be in 1080i HD.

One out of four. A sad state of affairs IMO.

Dana

If it makes you feel any better, those pre-season games won't be in HD here in the Hartford market either. Those games usually get aired by WTXX-TV/DT (CW) channel 20/D 12 of Waterbury/Hartford. In some cases, the games aired on a tape delay. I'm guessing that this would never happen that deep into Patriots country?

P.S. Go Dolphins! :)

WPME MyNetwork HD will be on Time Warner cable sometime soon. Our digital fiber feed was just turned on yesterday. So be on the lookout.

Us die hard Pat's fans, living here in Florida, WILL get the Pats/Bucks game in HD over several of the local stations. Looking forward to it.

WPME MyNetwork HD will be on Time Warner cable sometime soon. Our digital fiber feed was just turned on yesterday. So be on the lookout.

I'll be on the lookout for it, Chet. There seems to be a little more that I'm inclined to watch on that station than the other one. ........... Not sure how much of it is HD, however. ........... Thanks for the headsup.

I am sure I saw that pre-season Pats will be in HD- Why am I thinking WMTW? 730pm Fri. It's not listed as HD but I know I saw it cause I remember thinking drbonbi would be happy.

I am sure I saw that pre-season Pats will be in HD- Why am I thinking WMTW? 730pm Fri. It's not listed as HD but I know I saw it cause I remember thinking drbonbi would be happy.

I love an optimist! And I appreciate your thinking of me. I guess we'll know for sure in 24 hours.

The NFL Network will rebroadcast the game at 1 PM Saturday which will be in HD for those who get the NFL HD channel. Comcast Brunswick doesn't carry it.

Dana

I see HD Pats

I see HD Pats

YESSSSSS! You were right! :) :) :) :)

Dana

Few decoder issues, hope for the best. As of 805, 13 is HD and 5 is not. Football friday???

The "HD" Pats game looked a lot more like widescreen SD and the HD on WGME was significantly better. However, this was still leagues ahead of the almost-black-and-white SD picture on WMTW last year.

The "HD" Pats game looked a lot more like widescreen SD and the HD on WGME was significantly better. However, this was still leagues ahead of the almost-black-and-white SD picture on WMTW last year.

Pats HD looked good on Time Warner Augusta. No complaints at all.

Has anyone else have the problem with the EAS going screwy on Comcast Brunswick.

Has anyone else have the problem with the EAS going screwy on Comcast Brunswick.

OK, I'll bite. What is EAS? :confused:

Dana

Emergency Alert System with the weather warning message Check out channel 6

Emergency Alert System with the weather warning message Check out channel 6

Comcast cable Channel 6 is a mess; the emergency weather message is all over the screen. But, HD Channel 504 simulcasting the same program isn't affected. Interesting.

Dana

Anyone having problems with NBC, ABC, CBS, etc.. HD feeds from DirecTv??

Mine do not come in 95% of the time. I have a new HR-20 700 (5th one) and the 5 LNB dish. My in-laws have the same problem, and have the same equipment.

I called DirecTV and they were unhelpful, as usual.

Thanks,
Mike

Mike, I just checked the HD versions of NBC, ABC and CBS that come through the D* dish and they all seemed fine. My HR20-100 has been relegated to the room where we don't watch much TV, though, so I can't say much for the overall availability.

Here we go again. As best I can determine, the Pats second pre-season game - this one from Foxborough Friday night Aug. 17 starting at 8 PM on WMTW TV broadcast channel 8 - will not be seen in HD. Apparently, the game will not originate in HD. :(

I hope I'm wrong. ;)

Dana

I think if they made the effort to obtain the HD feed of the last game they would put forth the same effort for this one. Logic doesn't always apply in these situations, though. ;)

What's that I see? In HD.

What's that I see? In HD.

I'm batting zero and loving it! :)

Dana

I just turned on the Pats game to see if it ended up being HD, and was annoyed to see it in SD. Then I realized that was just for the annoying station identification :D. Looks sharper than the previous game and better than the ESPN game on Monday.

:mad: Just got a notice from Comcast stating that are raising their DVR fee $3 to $11.95 a month. Yet we still have no new channels, no OnDemand, no HD pay per view, no Fox closed circuit, ect. Dana, have you heard from Mary lately? I havn't heard anything since NESN went on the air. It will be very tempting when DirectTv's new sat goes live next month. The rep talked to us at Best Buy and said that there will as many as 70 new HD channels which may include NESN in this market. He also promised better picture quality which the big reason I have stayed away from them. I guess we will see if they can deliver on their promises better than Comcast.

Bob,

No, I haven't. I sent her an email on June 15 along the same lines...


http://www.satelliteguys.us/comcast-cable-forum/98531-new-hd-dvr.html

Mary,

On the one hand I am excited to read about the next generation Comcast Panasonic HD DVR STB being field tested in NH and apparently soon to be deployed more widely in NH and MA on Moto systems as per info on the link provided. The benefits of OCAP seem impressive.

Then I read that Comcast Scientific Atlanta systems won't be involved until next year at the earliest.

Next I read that Comcast plans to implement widespread rollout through its national backbone network.

And then reality sets in. Here we are in the Maine hinterlands with (as you frequently remind us) a 550MHz standalone system with 120 miles of wire that apparently is not completely up to date nor connected to the rest of Comcast for either cable TV or internet.

I think we are orphans. Are we doomed to languish in the woods? What does the future hold for the Brunswick system?

Dana

I got no reply. None. Maybe because she has no good answers? :(

Dana

If there's a mass exodus to DirecTV, make sure to tell them I referred you :D

News8NOW has a new look.

Zap2it keeps showing a listing for the NFL Network HD channel on Comcast channel 853 on the Brunswick, ME. system. It also shows up when I key in my ZIP code on Comcast's own channel lineup site. But not when I key the numbers in on my remote. :confused:

So, I just called a Comcast cust svc rep. He said it's being worked on but is not currently available. At least that part is correct.

Comcast promised communication with its customers "early and often." I'm sure we'll hear about it any day now. :rolleyes:

Dana

Wikipedia notes here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_Network#NFL_Network_HD that "Comcast started adding a dedicated NFL HD channel in August of 2007." That may not be coincidental with reported plans by D* to carry the NFL HD channel fulltime in September. Ah, ya gotta love what competition can do.

However, the first time the PATS play a regular season game exclusively on the NFL channel (which is simulcast on the NFL HD channel) is Saturday Dec. 29 at the Giants 8:30 PM. So, Comcast Brunswick viewers have time to wait and see before it involves a live PATS game.

BTW. Apparently TWC and the NFL Network still agree to disagree about carriage on that cable system.

Dana

I have just discovered AVSforum and am very excited to have done so. It's so cool to have a local thread here!

I live in Cape Elizabeth and subscribe to TWC SD including the HBO/Cinemax package.

I will enter the HD world on Tuesday- take delivery of a Panasonic TH-42PX77U (great deal on these at Sears now, BTW) and will shortly add an upconverting DVD (prolly a Sony DVP-NS77H/B).

I'm still having a bit of trouble figuring out what I can expect from TW. In a phone call with a rep I was told that all I had to do was pick up an HD STB and I'd have all the major networks plus HBO/Cinemax at no extra charge. This seems so un-TimeWarner-like. Is this correct?

And: assuming that the HD STB comes with HDMI, is a cable included?

Many thanks in advance...

I live in Cape Elizabeth and subscribe to TWC SD including the HBO/Cinemax package.

I will enter the HD world on Tuesday- take delivery of a Panasonic TH-42PX77U (great deal on these at Sears now, BTW) and will shortly add an upconverting DVD (prolly a Sony DVP-NS77H/B).

I'm still having a bit of trouble figuring out what I can expect from TW. In a phone call with a rep I was told that all I had to do was pick up an HD STB and I'd have all the major networks plus HBO/Cinemax at no extra charge. This seems so un-TimeWarner-like. Is this correct?

And: assuming that the HD STB comes with HDMI, is a cable included?

TWC does "give" you the nets and HBO/Cinemax in HD. But HD DVR service will run at least $6.95 and the HD Tier channels will add at least $4.95. And don't even dream about them giving you an HDMI cable; you can get an inexpensive (non-Monster) cable from several of the advertisers above. Just be aware that some HDMI users -- myself not included -- report handshake problems between the STB and their TV. If you end up with questions about the STB and/or HDMI, see the threads dedicated to the 8300 box.

Welcome aboard.

Many thanks! Just what I needed to know!

Something else occurred to me, and apologies if this is covered somewhere in these 36 pages: is there a reputable, reasonably-priced calibration service in the Portland area? I have the Avia (I think that's it) disc and will use it, but was just wondering...

I receive all of the Augusta TWC HD channels except the 4 premium movie channels for a total monthly cost of $1.75. (cablecard)

[QUOTE=Etnier;11494618]
I'm still having a bit of trouble figuring out what I can expect from TW. In a phone call with a rep I was told that all I had to do was pick up an HD STB and I'd have all the major networks plus HBO/Cinemax at no extra charge. This seems so un-TimeWarner-like. Is this correct?

And: assuming that the HD STB comes with HDMI, is a cable included?
QUOTE]

Assuming you have HBO/Cinemax already, what they said is technically true. You will get HBO/Cinemax HD at no extra charge, and you will get the "major" networks. For an extra 4.95 you can add 4 more HD Channels (MOJO, HDNet, HDNet Movies, and Universal-HD). Also Starz-HD is available if you subscribe to that Pay channel in SD. Here's the channel linup link:
http://www.timewarnercable.com/CustomerService/CLU/TWCCLUs.ashx
If you want to add DVR Service its 6.95, regardless of HD or not. There's just a different STB you need to pick up.
As for the HDMI cable, I'd echo the earlier thought...pick up your own.

Just bumping this...

…apologies if this is covered somewhere in these 36 pages: is there a reputable, reasonably-priced calibration service in the Portland area? I have the Avia (I think that's it) disc and will use it, but was just wondering...

If you go here http://www.imagingscience.com/ you will find a link to a Dealer/Tech Locator Services for Consumers page. Using it, I found four ISF calibration resources in Maine. I have no experience using any of them.

Dana

Many thanks! Just what I needed to know!

Something else occurred to me, and apologies if this is covered somewhere in these 36 pages: is there a reputable, reasonably-priced calibration service in the Portland area? I have the Avia (I think that's it) disc and will use it, but was just wondering...

Everybody that has their set calibrated raves about the results.

I was in the Topsham Best Buy the other day and saw two sets that had two sets that had been calibrated. They were integrated with all the others hanging on the wall, but had signs that said they had been professionally calibrated.

Wow! Did they ever look AWFUL when compared with the others. They looked like an ANTI-calibration ad. The clerk told me that they didn't look as good as the others in the store, but they would look much better than the others in my home. ............. I don't believe her.

The picture on the calibrated sets was dimmed down and at a low color intensity. Probably, all of the service menu adjustments were perfectly set, but the resulting picture is not what attracts us so strongly to HDTV.

As for the lighting in that particular store, I would call it good for the HDTV Section. There are signs hanging down from the ceiling that serve to block off the store lights in that area. Even if that were not the case, I would not want my set to not compare favorably with the others under any conditions.

My impression of calibration has changed since this store visit and I would want to see a different result somewhere else before I might decide to have my set calibrated.

I see you have a lot of posts under your belt here: I don't. Apologies if I'm telling you something you already know.

I hope you're aware that displays at big box stores are set to what's called "torch" mode- very vivid, very exaggerated, over-sharpened: so that they'll 'pop' out while on display. Probably great for in the store, or in a bar, but not good for seeing what a director intended when screening a great movie.

A properly calibrated monitor will be substantially less bright and vivid than a 'torch', but will be much more accurate and much better able to provide a smooth dynamic range for all the colors as they transition from deepest black to pure white.

I will be retiring a 27" CRT (it was calibrated using the Avia disc set) when my Panasonic plasma arrives today. The last movie I watched on it was Fellini's La Strada (special edition). This is a black and white movie: we were blown away at how detailed shadows were, and what a great transfer it was. We'd never have seen this using retail-store presets. We had a very similar experience just before this with the stunning transfer of A Man and a Woman, which has some of the most beautiful color I've seen in any film.

Hope this helps.

I see you have a lot of posts under your belt here: I don't. Apologies if I'm telling you something you already know.

I hope you're aware that displays at big box stores are set to what's called "torch" mode- very vivid, very exaggerated, over-sharpened: so that they'll 'pop' out while on display. Probably great for in the store, or in a bar, but not good for seeing what a director intended when screening a great movie.

A properly calibrated monitor will be substantially less bright and vivid than a 'torch', but will be much more accurate and much better able to provide a smooth dynamic range for all the colors as they transition from deepest black to pure white.

I will be retiring a 27" CRT (it was calibrated using the Avia disc set) when my Panasonic plasma arrives today. The last movie I watched on it was Fellini's La Strada (special edition). This is a black and white movie: we were blown away at how detailed shadows were, and what a great transfer it was. We'd never have seen this using retail-store presets. We had a very similar experience just before this with the stunning transfer of A Man and a Woman, which has some of the most beautiful color I've seen in any film.

Hope this helps.

I believe you are exactly correct with what you say here. People on the Forum frequently complain about the "torch" mode. My choice would be somewhere between the torch mode and what I saw on the 2 calibrated sets, but as I think about it, I would want the look a little more on the torch side than the less bright and vivid.

I have never seen anyone complain about the results of a calibration. Quite the opposite. People always seem happy about it. Perhaps, all you need to do is tinker with the user adjustments to restore brightness, contrast and color while still having the benefits of calibration which is accomplished only through the service menu which is not intended to be available to ordinary users like myself.

The professional calibraters would be wise in my opinion to not have their work on display in the stores because the difference between what you see between the calibrated and non-calibrated sets is striking and difinitely not in favor of the former. Calibration is sold better by word of mouth recommendation.

Everybody that has their set calibrated raves about the results.

I was in the Topsham Best Buy the other day and saw two sets that had two sets that had been calibrated. They were integrated with all the others hanging on the wall, but had signs that said they had been professionally calibrated.

Wow! Did they ever look AWFUL when compared with the others. They looked like an ANTI-calibration ad. The clerk told me that they didn't look as good as the others in the store, but they would look much better than the others in my home. ............. I don't believe her.

The picture on the calibrated sets was dimmed down and at a low color intensity. Probably, all of the service menu adjustments were perfectly set, but the resulting picture is not what attracts us so strongly to HDTV.

As for the lighting in that particular store, I would call it good for the HDTV Section. There are signs hanging down from the ceiling that serve to block off the store lights in that area. Even if that were not the case, I would not want my set to not compare favorably with the others under any conditions.

My impression of calibration has changed since this store visit and I would want to see a different result somewhere else before I might decide to have my set calibrated.

As some here know I work (part time) in the Home Theater department at the Topsham Best Buy. As was pointed out in the above post the calibrated TV’s do not show well in the big box environment. To give you an example I bought and later returned a Panasonic 50” plasma (I decided to upgrade to the 1080P model when the price dropped). I calibrated it using Avia and it looked great at home, plenty bright with colors fully saturated and popping. When I put it out on display in the store, with the same settings, it looked like the calibrated TV’s you saw, dull and washed out. I had to put into torch mode to sell it. As has been mentioned the manufactures ship the TV’s in torch mode, some like Samsung go so far as to make it so it resets itself if someone changes the settings. I think the problem is a combination of the lighting, it is somewhat shielded but much brighter than the average home, and the comparison with the surrounding TV’s. I know that they have had a lot of success selling these in stores that have a dedicated home theater room with controlled lighting. By the way, we do offer the service at Best Buy. I have not personally met the guy but I do know he is ISF certified and covers all of northern New England for us. We haven’t sold one out of the store yet so I haven’t got any feed back from customers. I am considering having it done after my plasma breaks in, if I do I will post how it turned out.

hi guys!!

"Torch mode" is designed for selling TVs. When you place a Panny beside a Toshiba beside a Pioneer beside a JVC...a person will pick the one with the brightest bluest image. Torch mode has nothing to do with image accuracy it has everything to do with selling displays.

Calibration is designed to accurately set Brightness (avoid black crush), contrast (avoid white clipping). When done together it will maximize the contrast ratio (aka: dynamic range). Calibration will also accurately set gray scale and color settings, so when you watch a DVD the color will be as accurate as possible to the source material (movie).

Gray scale is set using instrumentation, it is very hard to set by eye (read: almost impossible). The quality of the instrumentation has a large bearing on the accuracy of the results.

If you want to watch your display where you can see all the detail in the black and white part of the image and also see accurate colors, then calibration is for you. If you want something else, then calibration is not for you.

I am a full time video calibrationist, design consultant, and video educator. I am based in Farmington Maine and service the entire New England region. After performing more than 2000 video calibrations I consider myself to be an industry expert.

Happy viewing!!

Gregg
www.lionav.com

It's nice to hear from both Bob and Gregg. I am pretty much in agreement with what they say, but I would like to clarify a couple of things in my mind.

People often refer to having "calibrated" their set using Avia, etc., but it is my understanding that only the ordinary user adjustment controls are used with Avia while a true calibration is performed by going deep into the system through the service menu through the service menu. If I am correct on this, it is a very important distinction and could cause confusion when discussing "calibration". Perhaps, Gregg would comment.

Another thing, as I understand it, the instruments used in the procedure are pretty sophisticated and expensive. Without them, nothing even close to a "calibration" can be performed.

Also, Gregg, if you add back color, contrast and brightness after a calibration, I am guessing that the benefits might be somewhat lessened, but the set should still look better than an uncalibrated set. Would you comment a little about this because it seems to me that I could not live with the dulled down look of the calibrated sets that I saw in the store.

I have seen your listing on the internet and considered calibration with my Sony XBR1 SXRD, but didn't do it because these early SXRD's had an optical block problem that sometimes requires replacement and, then, another calibration would be necessary.

:mad: Just got a notice from Comcast stating that are raising their DVR fee $3 to $11.95 a month. Yet we still have no new channels, no OnDemand, no HD pay per view, no Fox closed circuit, ect. Dana, have you heard from Mary lately? I havn't heard anything since NESN went on the air. It will be very tempting when DirectTv's new sat goes live next month. The rep talked to us at Best Buy and said that there will as many as 70 new HD channels which may include NESN in this market. He also promised better picture quality which the big reason I have stayed away from them. I guess we will see if they can deliver on their promises better than Comcast.

Bob,

You got my attention!

I've been reviewing a list elsewhere on the AVSForum of D*s 80 HD channels now in engineering test mode. Fantastic. State of the art. Compare it with Mary's characterization of SusCom Brunswick's cable system. "We still have the channel constraint issues facing as a result of 120+/- miles of 550MHz plant."

It's hard not to conclude that I need to either (1) drastically lower my expectations of what SusCom can offer for new HD channels to one/none or (2) switch back to D*. D* now offers WPFO/Fox23 in HD (according to its local HD lineup site page) that Comcast still hasn't delivered.

Hmm.

Dana

FYI, I just checked, and D* does, indeed, carry the HD feed of WPFO. However, I'm not sure if it was a station issue or a D* issue but right when I turned it on, instead of the end of Frasier from ~10:57-11:00, I saw some sort of test pattern and a message about the transmission being private and intended to be only for Fox Broadcasting Company. Mad TV did come on at 11:00, though.

Combine that with the expected new D* HD channels, and it looks like I might have to demote my HD-Tivo and move my mpeg4 capable DVR to the main TV.

P.S. Everyone making the switch, be sure to tell them I referred you! :D

FYI, I just checked, and D* does, indeed, carry the HD feed of WPFO. However, I'm not sure if it was a station issue or a D* issue but right when I turned it on, instead of the end of Frasier from ~10:57-11:00, I saw some sort of test pattern and a message about the transmission being private and intended to be only for Fox Broadcasting Company. Mad TV did come on at 11:00, though.

Combine that with the expected new D* HD channels, and it looks like I might have to demote my HD-Tivo and move my mpeg4 capable DVR to the main TV.

P.S. Everyone making the switch, be sure to tell them I referred you! :D
AccidenT,

Thanks for confirmation. What you saw may indicate that D* is getting its feed directly from FOX. I saw a comment elsewhere - sorry, can't remember where - that their FOX HD channel went dark when local news was on, then back up when network shows played.

FOX also has the World Series this year. ;)

Dana

...It will be very tempting when DirectTv's new sat goes live next month. The rep talked to us at Best Buy and said that there will as many as 70 new HD channels which may include NESN in this market. He also promised better picture quality which the big reason I have stayed away from them. I guess we will see if they can deliver on their promises better than Comcast.

Bob,

There's a very interesting post on another forum from a very knowledgeable guy in NH who just switched from Comcast to D*. I'll paste a few sentences.

... I'm a Plus HD DVR subscriber with Boston HD local channels with all premium channels except the Sports Pak. First the current MPEG2 HD channels without a doubt don't look very good compared to Comcast. But they are so far much better now compared to four years ago when they would cut in and out and tile like no end was in sight. I'm glad to say that I no longer see much of this thus far so I can live with them for now.

Now NESN HD (spotbeam channel in MPEG4) plus my Boston CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox HD stations in MPEG4 look stunning and I honestly cannot see any difference between them on DirecTV compared to Comcast for the day I watched them. I was watched them using an Optoma HD70 at 92 inches screen size so that is far big enough to notice any major and most likely minor difference.

So with all of this said "if" DirecTV puts all current and new national HD channels in MPEG4 with the same quality of my HD local channels I believe that HD-Lite will without a doubt be a thing of the past in our world...

His complete comments as a switcher are here http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/105538-official-longhornxp-directv-review.html

Very encouraging...

Dana

I had received a "Come back. We miss you!" offer from D* a few days ago which I round-filed at the time. With the limitations of the SusCom Brunswick cable system finally penetrating my thick skull, I pulled it out of the waste basket and looked it over more carefully. It's a good deal. So I went for it.

I'll spare you the details. Much to my surprise, appointments for installation were available on Wednesday of this coming week. Ah, back on the cutting edge of technology. :cool:

Dana
GO PATS!

I had received a "Come back. We miss you!" offer from D* a few days ago which I round-filed at the time. With the limitations of the SusCom Brunswick cable system finally penetrating my thick skull, I pulled it out of the waste basket and looked it over more carefully. It's a good deal. So I went for it.

I'll spare you the details. Much to my surprise, appointments for installation were available on Wednesday of this coming week. Ah, back on the cutting edge of technology. :cool:

Dana
GO PATS!

Dana,
I got the same offer. I am strongly considering it, the only things holding me back are the HD-Lite issue and NESN HD. If MPEG-4 solves the picture quality issue then I will probably jump. As of right now, however, the HD-Lite is a deal breaker. Discovery HD is simply stunning on Comcast while it is far less so when I watch it at the store. If these problems are solved and with all the new channels then Direct TV will finally be the HD leader they have always claimed to be. If the Sox make it to the ALCS and the World Series I may not have a choice :) This may not be appropriate in this forum but we do have a great Direct TV promotion offer at the store if you subscribe while buying a new TV. Check it out, and come see me if anyone is in the market :)

Dana,
... Discovery HD is simply stunning on Comcast while it is far less so when I watch it at the store. ...

Bob,

Now you tell me... ;)

I hope there won't be a PQ loss with D*. Anyway, nothing is perfect. I'm committed to D* for two years unless I pay a penalty to bail sooner. Once Comcast gets rid of analog channels on the SusCom Brunswick system in January 2009 it will presumably have the capacity to expand its digital/HD offerings. I thought with its resources, it would make improvements sooner than it has. Perhaps there are technical reasons; Mary sure says so. Or its priorities lie elsewhere.

My previous experience with D* spoiled me. I like some of the other channels it offers. For example, Turner Classic Movies. I asked Mary about adding it here since other Comcast systems carry it. She acknowledged that the Brunswick office staff had said there was interest in it - but nothing happened. You know. Bandwidth constraints...

So onward we go. I'll post some notes about my switch but I'm not promoting anything. We'll see how it goes.

Dana

PS. It turns out that FOX is the network that will televise both the 2007 World Series and the 2008 Super Bowl. That's reason enough for me to switch, hoping that the Red Sox and the PATS will get to play in them. ;)

Bob,

Last week I queried WPFO directly about the status of carriage of FOX23 HD on the SusCom Brunswick system. Here's a response from Tom MacArthur - General Sales Manager - received minutes ago.

Our problem is that Comcast does not have us ... we would like them to but, at this time they aren’t carrying us. I would suggest that you contact them.

Thanks for watching us…

I wrote back:

Tom,

Thanks for the feedback. My contact at Comcast - V-P Mary McLaughlin - claimed months ago that Comcast "was looking into it." Guess she was misinformed.

It's water over the dam for me. Maybe you can elicit a response from Mary. You'd think with the World Series looming, Comcast would get its act together. Maybe there's $$$ involved. Or maybe it's that old channel constraint issue?

Dana

In my "Thank you" response to Tom at WPFO, I noted that D* is carrying FOX HD but I wasn't sure if it was from his station or the FOX network. Here's his response.

Dana,

As of last Friday, DirecTV is carrying our signal!!!

Let me know if you aren’t getting our signal once you have switch over.

Again, thanks for watching FOX 23

Tom

So there we have it! :)

Dana

Bob,

Now you tell me... ;)

I hope there won't be a PQ loss with D*. Anyway, nothing is perfect. I'm committed to D* for two years unless I pay a penalty to bail sooner. Once Comcast gets rid of analog channels on the SusCom Brunswick system in January 2009 it will presumably have the capacity to expand its digital/HD offerings. I thought with its resources, it would make improvements sooner than it has. Perhaps there are technical reasons; Mary sure says so. Or its priorities lie elsewhere.

My previous experience with D* spoiled me. I like some of the other channels it offers. For example, Turner Classic Movies. I asked Mary about adding it here since other Comcast systems carry it. She acknowledged that the Brunswick office staff had said there was interest in it - but nothing happened. You know. Bandwidth constraints...

So onward we go. I'll post some notes about my switch but I'm not promoting anything. We'll see how it goes.

Dana

PS. It turns out that FOX is the network that will televise both the 2007 World Series and the 2008 Super Bowl. That's reason enough for me to switch, hoping that the Red Sox and the PATS will get to play in them. ;)

Dana, do you really think that your cable company will get rid of the analog signals in January (February?) 2009? I haven't seen any indication that cable companies have an intent to do so imediately. It would be great for cable bandwidth if that happened.

Dana, do you really think that your cable company will get rid of the analog signals in January (February?) 2009? I haven't seen any indication that cable companies have an intent to do so imediately. It would be great for cable bandwidth if that happened.

Stan,

AFAIK, broadcast TV stations in this country must switch to digital telecasting NLT February 17, 2009. There must be some runup time in January, as I notice that WPFO/FOX23 says they will start broadcasting digital in January 2009. So, there will be no need for analog cable channels to continue.

Dana

Stan,

AFAIK, broadcast TV stations in this country must switch to digital telecasting NLT February 17, 2009. There must be some runup time in January, as I notice that WPFO/FOX23 says they will start broadcasting digital in January 2009. So, there will be no need for analog cable channels to continue.

Dana

Might sound crazy, but I think cable is going to convert digital to analog so that viewing will continue uninterrupted for cable customers. I saw officials of the television industry discussing things like this on CSPAN a year or so ago. The actual dropping of analog channels from cable may take some time.

Some months back, I noticed TWC advertising that local channels were "enhanced", so I suspect that they were using the digital signals even then and converting to analog. ............ (I do not use a converter box.)

Also, I think I remember the manager at WABI saying that cable would be probably be doing it when there was no agreement to use and display the digital signal as such (to include HD).

Ain't technology wonderful?

I think the underlying issue is that any analog-only cable customers would require a digital box for each TV after the analog channels were shut off. If the satellite companies had any brains at all, there'd be a big push by them to say something like "hey cable subscribers in ______, you're going to have to get a digital converter box for each TV anyway, why not upgrade to everything satellite has to offer!"

TWC would have to decide if keeping those customers would be worth lowering the price on the STBs. There would probably also be a "only the channels that used to be analog" level of service, and there's possibly quite a few people who would drop down to that level of coverage since all they wanted the digital service for was the STB or a DVR.

There is no government mandate regarding a transition from analog cable to digital cable. It is up to the cable companies whether they continue to send analog channels in the clear down their wires or switch over to digital-only service. While the cable companies have band-width forces pushing them to drop the analog broadcasts ( ~ 5 digital channels in the bandwidth of one analog channel), I think there are two reasons they may continue broadcasting analog signals:

1) Customer demand
2) Negotiated requirements of local municipalities who contract with the cable providers

I think that town halls accross New England will get deluged with telephone calls if the cable companies try to drop analog service.


Joe

This topic is a hot one at the moment in Washington. Here's a few paragraphs from a longer AP news piece posted today http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070911/D8RJ66RO0.html

The greatest impact of the digital conversion will be on viewers of non-digital televisions who receive their signals over the air. Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, they will be forced to buy a special converter box, subsidized by the government, to receive their channels.

The impact of the shift on the nation's cable subscribers is less certain.

Today, cable television system operators receive broadcast feeds in analog and digital format. Come Feb. 18, 2009, broadcasters must stop supplying the analog signal. That creates a problem for the cable industry's 32 million analog subscribers.

Cable operators can either convert the digital signal to analog at the point where their cable signal originates, or they can supply customers with a "down converter" device that will change digital signals to analog at the TV set.

This is essentially what the FCC wants to force the industry to do, under Martin's proposed rules.

Last week, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association launched a $200 million advertising campaign to assure customers that the shift won't affect them. "Every TV set you have that's hooked up to cable will work just fine," happy customers intone in a TV spot.

The FCC Chairman is Kevin Martin.

Dana

It is really ridiculous how much is being much is being made over the possibility of problems for consumers when the switch is made.

To start with, politicians, media and others act as if there is absolutely no way to inform television watchers of what is going to happen and how to deal with it. ............. Can you imagine that? No way to communicate with television watchers. Perhaps, they could try smoke signals.

Beyond that, they pretend that the cost will be a marked financial burden on the public. Really? I have seen where it is possible to put out converters with a price of $50and the government would provide 2 $40 subsidies per household. Do you think any American with a tv is going to let $10 stand between him and American Idol? ............ I don't think so. .............. Especially, when they could have years to save it up if someone could cough up a few television public information notifications.

Cable viewers don't need any special provisions either. The same $50 box would work for them as well.

I for one will be very suspicious of how cable companies might somehow use carried over analog channels to their financial advantage. If it worked to their financial DISadvantage, you know that they WOULDN'T carry the analog channels over. No, do it and get it over with.

Cable has this all sewn up:

If you are a cable customer, you may have to do little or nothing to enjoy your favorite programming after the switch to digital TV (DTV). Your cable provider will take care of the transition for you!
That's because your cable company already has technology in place to handle DTV. It does this by capturing these digital signals and sending them to your home through the same cable connection that delivers popular national channels like ESPN, CNN, HBO and hundreds of others. As long as your TV sets are connected to cable, they'll display local DTV stations, along with the many other stations cable has to offer.
And, if you've signed up for Digital Cable, you're already enjoying all the benefits of digital TV, including more channel choices, and better quality picture and sound. And even better, if you have a high-definition TV (HDTV), you can ask to be connected to Digital Cable with HDTV. You'll get lots of national and local channels in crystal-clear, high-definition resolution.
Of course any secondary analog television sets you have that are not connected to cable will not receive the new DTV signal. You can call your cable company to connect those televisions to cable, or see "What to do if... I have an analog TV connected to an antenna," below.
http://www.getreadyfordigitaltv.com/home.htm

Cable has this all sewn up:

If you are a cable customer, you may have to do little or nothing to enjoy your favorite programming after the switch to digital TV (DTV). Your cable provider will take care of the transition for you!
That's because your cable company already has technology in place to handle DTV. It does this by capturing these digital signals and sending them to your home through the same cable connection that delivers popular national channels like ESPN, CNN, HBO and hundreds of others. As long as your TV sets are connected to cable, they'll display local DTV stations, along with the many other stations cable has to offer.
And, if you've signed up for Digital Cable, you're already enjoying all the benefits of digital TV, including more channel choices, and better quality picture and sound. And even better, if you have a high-definition TV (HDTV), you can ask to be connected to Digital Cable with HDTV. You'll get lots of national and local channels in crystal-clear, high-definition resolution.
Of course any secondary analog television sets you have that are not connected to cable will not receive the new DTV signal. You can call your cable company to connect those televisions to cable, or see "What to do if... I have an analog TV connected to an antenna," below.
http://www.getreadyfordigitaltv.com/home.htm

There is only one problem. As long as cable continues to convert digital channels to analog and carry those channels as such, they limit the total number of channels they can carry and threaten the technical quality of those carried. There is a price to what they are doing. The price is paid in bandwidth.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Communications Commission approved rules Tuesday night that it says will ensure that millions of cable subscribers will still be able to watch broadcast programming after the digital television transition in 2009.

The FCC says approximately 40 million households are analog-only cable subscribers. Tuesday's ruling will require cable operators to guarantee analog cable customers will receive broadcast channels until February 2012.

While the greatest impact of the digital television transition will be on viewers of non-digital televisions who receive their signals over the air, non-digital cable subscribers have also been a concern to the commission.

Beginning February 18, 2009, broadcasters will stop transmitting old-style analog signals to over-the-air customers and to cable companies. Over-the-air customers will have to buy a converter box.

As for the nation's analog cable subscribers, cable operators must either convert the digital signal to analog at the point where the cable signal originates or supply customers with a "down converter" device that will change digital signals to analog at the TV set.

The cable industry pledged to do this voluntarily and launched a $200 million advertising campaign last week to reassure subscribers. The new FCC rules make compliance mandatory.

The FCC will also allow for certain smaller cable systems to request a waiver.



The complete story at http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/09/12/digital.cable.ap/index.html

The news bulletin and commentary from the commisioners is on the homepage of the FCC at www.fcc.gov

It looks like it does not mandate that the electronic equipment necessary for digital to analog conversion be free. One commissioner (Adelstein) says "Nothing in this Order precludes a cable operator from making available equipment – preferably for free -- that would enable subscribers to take advantage of these innovations."

"Preferably for Free" implies that the cable companies are likely to charge for the boxes.

Yup.
After yesterday's ruling, cable operators will have two choices come February 2009. They can either convert the digital SD signal to analog SD and pipe it across their lines (which means using more bandwidth and carrying three versions of a single channel) or they can offer digital SD only and roll out converter boxes to all their subscribers (which could be expensive).

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070912-fcc-to-cable-you-must-support-analog-tvs-until-2012.html

Yup.
After yesterday's ruling, cable operators will have two choices come February 2009. They can either convert the digital SD signal to analog SD and pipe it across their lines (which means using more bandwidth and carrying three versions of a single channel) or they can offer digital SD only and roll out converter boxes to all their subscribers (which could be expensive).

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070912-fcc-to-cable-you-must-support-analog-tvs-until-2012.html

Either way, when you view shows that are in digital 16x9 format, on a 4x3 screen, the letter boxed picture is going to look real small on that SD 3x4 TV.

Either way, when you view shows that are in digital 16x9 format, on a 4x3 screen, the letter boxed picture is going to look real small on that SD 3x4 TV.

NBC has already been letterboxing much of their primetime programming on the SD channel, and I don't think anyone has been adversely affected by it.

Additionally, I'm hopeful that the networks and cable companies could start taking advantage of a technology known as Active Format Descriptor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Format_Descriptor) Basically, it's embedded metadata that tells downstream systems the best way to handle differences in the aspect ratio of the video and the display device. Stuff that is shot 4:3 protected could be cropped back to 4:3 by the encoder at the cable headend before being sent out over the (analog or digital) SD channel.

AFD would also be a great way for affiliates to get away from carrying the digital SD simulcasts on a subchannel (which rob the HD subchannel of bandwidth). A guy can have hope, right? :)

I just took a look at the programming available on Dish and found nothing of any real interest that I am not already receiving on TWC. I am looking forward to TWC picking up National Geographic HD, but it is not all that important to me. (Someday, I hope that they will all be adding FOX NEWS, MSNBC and CNN in HD.)

After determining nothing excites me among the current national channels that are not on TWC Augusta, I looked to see what is available for local channels in HD. While going through the process I took note that the instructions said that the local channel list for the inquiry must be designated "HD" or they would be SD. When I came to my list, all of the channels were there, but none were designated "HD".

Question. ......... Does anyone know if Dish really means what it says? Must the local HD channels be taken over the air if you use Dish?

By the way, all of the Super Stations were available to me, but none were designated as "HD". Does anyone know whether or not they would be HD?

Question. ......... Does anyone know if Dish really means what it says? Must the local HD channels be taken over the air if you use Dish?


I know in the Auburn area they have to use an additional antenna, for DISH. DirecTV offers Portland HD locals of ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX via satellite. Plus DirecTV is going to be adding many new HD stations in the next week or so.

I know in the Auburn area they have to use an additional antenna, for DISH. DirecTV offers Portland HD locals of ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX via satellite. Plus DirecTV is going to be adding many new HD stations in the next week or so.

Thanks, ............ anyone else? If the locals are in HD, then, I wonder why the list doesn't lablel them "HD" as the guidance states.

Thanks, ............ anyone else? If the locals are in HD, then, I wonder why the list doesn't lablel them "HD" as the guidance states.

Stan

D* offers the four local network stations in HD. AFAIK, Dish does not.

Dana

I've been reading various threads on the AVS Forums for awhile and really appreciate all the info here about Comcast Brunswick. Just got HDTV and what HD channels we're getting on Comcast look great, though we really want Fox HD and have wanted TCM forever. (We are mysteriously getting HBO Latino even though we subscribe to no premium channels, but I'm not asking any questions of the Comcast folks.....)

Until we moved back to Maine in 2003, we lived for several years in Marin County, north of San Francisco. After extreme frustration with Viacom cable, we switched to DirecTV and loved it. In 2005 we were all set to switch to DirecTV here, but the tech said he thought we would have to put the dish out on the shed and bury a cable to the house----which we couldn't do very easily since it was December and the ground was frozen.

Anyway, we're going to follow the directions on the thread about using the sun to find a spot for your satellite dish and if we don't get too overwhelmed with other chores, go ahead and bury cabling before the ground freezes. Then we'll be able to make the switch to DirecTV when and if we decide to pull the trigger. I'll be following your experiences with great interest, drbonbi!

Mel

I'm scheduled for an installation for D* this coming Saturday so this may be my last post regarding SusCom Brunswick. I've pondered the pros and cons of my return to D* many times during this waiting period, especially since other family members are involved as well.

But, a news story yesterday sums up my dissatisfaction with SusCom aka Comcast Brunswick's HD offerings. A denouement of sorts. Link: http://www.tvpredictions.com/comcasttbs091707.htm

News
Comcast to Add TBS HD
The channel will air baseball playoff games next month.
...
The addition of TBS HD will give Comcast roughly 26 high-def channels in most markets...


Including four local network stations but excluding three premium subscription channels, the Brunswick system has twelve HD cable channels.

With a Comcast area V-P constantly reminding me of the limitations of the Brunswick system, I finally "get it." It is not going to resemble Comcast systems elsewhere. Not now nor in the foreseeable future. And especially not if it has to provide analog channels until 2012. With no bandwidth relief in sight, what we have is "it."

Dana

... I'll be following your experiences with great interest, drbonbi!

Mel

Welcome to the AVS Forum and this well-mannered Mainers thread for your first post!

I'll be glad to share my experience, Mel. Frankly, it's good to know it might be helpful to someone else. I don't want to bore others nor appear to be a Pied Piper for D*. But, it is an alternative. Consumers do have choices.

Others on the thread - notably AccidenT - have been with D* longer. I first joined D* in November 2004 primarily to get the Pats in HD using a D* installed OTA antenna to pull in WGME 13/CBS in HD which SusCom Brunswick didn't offer. When Comcast acquired SusCom Brunswick in May 2006 and offered WGME 13/CBS HD on cable, I jumped back on SusCom to save $$$ since I had continued with SusCom regular cable TV for other family members. We've continuously subscribed to the local cable system since it was first offered here in the early '80s.

This time I'm doing a four room install with two HD boxes and dropping cable TV altogether. We'll still use SusCom for cable internet.

Again, welcome.

Dana

Thanks for the welcome, Dana. We're also planning to stick with Suscom for internet even if we switch to DirecTV. It's worked well for us so far.

Your recent news about Suscom's lack of momentum on new HD channels is certainly a push.

One question: why do people post D* instead of the name?

Welcome to the AVS Forum and this well-mannered Mainers thread for your first post!

I'll be glad to share my experience, Mel. Frankly, it's good to know it might be helpful to someone else. I don't want to bore others nor appear to be a Pied Piper for D*. But, it is an alternative. Consumers do have choices.

Others on the thread - notably AccidenT - have been with D* longer. I first joined D* in November 2004 primarily to get the Pats in HD using a D* installed OTA antenna to pull in WGME 13/CBS in HD which SusCom Brunswick didn't offer. When Comcast acquired SusCom Brunswick in May 2006 and offered WGME 13/CBS HD on cable, I jumped back on SusCom to save $$$ since I had continued with SusCom regular cable TV for other family members. We've continuously subscribed to the local cable system since it was first offered here in the early '80s.

This time I'm doing a four room install with two HD boxes and dropping cable TV altogether. We'll still use SusCom for cable internet.

Again, welcome.

Dana

Dana, I suppose I could figure it out from D* advertising, but you are right in the process of an installation, so do you know how much it would be for 3 rooms with what I have now from TWC? (71 SD and 18 HD channels, including locals ........... No premiums or non HD digital channels.) It is my impression that once you go beyond one room, the cost mounts with D*.

This type of info could be a pain in the butt for you to try to furnish so that it can be compared in a realistic way, so don't go to any great effort. I would be happy just to have your opinion and thoughts.

It really is hard to compare cable and DBS. I have a $1.75 cablecard for my current HD set and it gives me exactly what I want. The other two HD sets that I will eventually purchase probably won't offer cablecard, so it will probably require the rather expensive box rental that doesn't provide quite the quality picture of cablecard.

Basically, I'm just thinking that D* looks like a good buy in the advertising, but when you get everything you want on 3 different sets, it might be more expensive than cable. Your opinion is solicited.

Thanks for the welcome, Dana. We're also planning to stick with Suscom for internet even if we switch to DirecTV. It's worked well for us so far.

Your recent news about Suscom's lack of momentum on new HD channels is certainly a push.

One question: why do people post D* instead of the name?

It just an abbreviation to save typing it out every time. Dish Network is often abbreviated as E* because the parent company is EchoStar Communications Corp.

Dana

Dana, I suppose I could figure it out from D* advertising, but you are right in the process of an installation, so do you know how much it would be for 3 rooms with what I have now from TWC? (71 SD and 18 HD channels, including locals ........... No premiums or non HD digital channels.) It is my impression that once you go beyond one room, the cost mounts with D*.

This type of info could be a pain in the butt for you to try to furnish so that it can be compared in a realistic way, so don't go to any great effort. I would be happy just to have your opinion and thoughts.

It really is hard to compare cable and DBS. I have a $1.75 cablecard for my current HD set and it gives me exactly what I want. The other two HD sets that I will eventually purchase probably won't offer cablecard, so it will probably require the rather expensive box rental that doesn't provide quite the quality picture of cablecard.

Basically, I'm just thinking that D* looks like a good buy in the advertising, but when you get everything you want on 3 different sets, it might be more expensive than cable. Your opinion is solicited.

Stan,

It may be that AccidenT or Bob can give you a more accurate rundown but I'll give it a shot. I responded to a "Welcome back" offer with rebates, etc. But after rebates and the dust settles, the monthly charges may look something like this.

Choice package $50. "Over 140 channels including locals..."

Sports Package $10. That includes RSNs such as NESN and Fox Sports Net New England.

HD package $10. "Over 100 HD channels by year's end..." That includes channels in the Choice and Sports packages that are in HD.

No upfront charge for one HD nor any number of non-HD receivers. Each receiver costs $4.99/mo. to lease after the first one. You don't own them.

No charge for installation, dish, etc.

That's it I think.

Dana

PS. My present Comcast cable bill for HD service is the same, about $85.

An unexpected development. While I had great anticipation about the benefits of my switching back to D* for its greatly expanded HD offerings, they have handled my order and installation dates so poorly that I decided to cancel the entire effort.

My initial order was for two HD receivers and two standard receivers for a four room installation. I placed the order and the order rep read it back to me. It was accurate. I later followed up with Installation Support to confirm the details of the order and installation date. Details and date confirmed.

But, when the installer came about mid-afternoon on Wednesday Sep. 12, his work order was for a one room HD receiver install only. That's all the equipment he had with him. And he let me know that he had to be in Wiscasset for an install that same afternoon, too. That's a one hour drive from here. He advised against his starting the installation and then coming back to finish it because I'd be charged $70. for him to return! Strike one.

So I talked with Customer Retention. The rep there was very apologetic and offered me the second ($100.) HD STB at no charge for my troubles. But, when she attempted to place a new order for me, she realized that the D* computer system wouldn't support ordering two HD STBs on the same Welcome Back order which is why the first order didn't get processed. She said. (Huh?) As a work-around she ordered three standard STB and one HD STB so the installer would "get paid for a four room installation." Then she set up a free second HD STB to be ordered "as soon as your account is active." Whatever.

She scheduled me for an installation on Sat Sep. 22. I could confirm the order and track it on line. I did so only to discover to my horror last Sunday that my second scheduled install date had vanished. I needed to call to schedule the installation - as if I had never done so. Strike Two.

I called and asked for Customer Retention again. More apologies with the explanation that the work order had never been activated to trigger the appointment on the scheduling system. The retention rep I talked with said he would activate the order and I could even schedule the next appointment myself on the D* internet web site. Indeed I did so the next day and found an open slot on Saturday Sep. 22 in the morning, coincidentally the same date/time that had been previous set up and then mysterious scrubbed. I took the slot.

I checked my order online just about every day. All was well - until tonight. Once again, my scheduled installation has now vanished from the system. I am advised to call to schedule the installation - as if I never had one. Strike three.

I called Installation Support and the rep advised me that the first open date was Sep. 27. I said connect me with Customer Retention, please. (You can't call them yourself, you have to be transferred.) "OK but they can't schedule you any sooner." I said "Oh, I'm not rescheduling, I'm canceling my entire order." Three strikes and I'm outta here.

She connected me and after a few minutes wait time, I talked with a retention rep who canceled my order. I just checked on line and indeed, the order has been canceled. At least they got that right.

A learning experience.

Dana

Dana, what a horror show.

We still plan to see where we could mount a dish and maybe we'll proceed this year. The big HD rollout could lead us to pull the trigger. We'll just have to wait and see.

Stan,

It may be that AccidenT or Bob can give you a more accurate rundown but I'll give it a shot. I responded to a "Welcome back" offer with rebates, etc. But after rebates and the dust settles, the monthly charges may look something like this.

Choice package $50. "Over 140 channels including locals..."

Sports Package $10. That includes RSNs such as NESN and Fox Sports Net New England.

HD package $10. "Over 100 HD channels by year's end..." That includes channels in the Choice and Sports packages that are in HD.

No upfront charge for one HD nor any number of non-HD receivers. Each receiver costs $4.99/mo. to lease after the first one. You don't own them.

No charge for installation, dish, etc.

That's it I think.

Dana

PS. My present Comcast cable bill for HD service is the same, about $85.

Here's a quick summary of my package:
Total Choice: 47.99 (this appears to be $49.99 for new customers)
HD Access: $9.99 (this might be more expensive for new customers, and I think there's a multiple-tiered package coming up with the launch of the new HD channels)
DVR Fee: $5.99 (this is one fee regardless of how many DVRs are on the account)
Leased receiver fee: $4.99. This will be $4.99 for each additional receiver. I'm not sure if the lease fee is waived for the primary receiver, since my primary receiver is owned.

I get NESN and FSNE without subscribing to the sports package. I believe that's only necessary to get out-of-market RSNs. NESN is not in HD yet (for anyone that's not in the Boston market), but it's supposed to be available in HD starting in October.


Dana, sorry to hear about your installation problems. If you recall, I had similar problems when trying to get an appointment when I moved last October. The earliest appointment D* showed available was a month and a half after the move date. I ended up calling the local installation company directly and got an appointment for a few days after the move. There seems to be a huge disconnect between D*'s system and the local installers' scheduling systems.

Thanks for the sympathy, guys. I might have stuck with it if I was the only person involved, but other family members who are somewhat skeptical of satellite vs. cable PQ were included this time. And when we didn't get off to a good start, I began to feel I was out on a limb with a two year commitment facing me. So I bailed.

I agree completely with AccidenT. There's a big disconnect between national schedulers and local installers. I don't know how to reach the local installers directly. The only one I met this time identified himself as from Direct Tech. Incidentally, I had a big problem in November 2004 with installation, too. Private contractors using shabby personal vehicles, no uniforms, coming without the right equipment, etc. It took two trips then to get things right with a generous tip crossing palms to make it so. I thought with all the D* branded new-looking panel trucks running around, that installation was better managed now. Wrong!

Dana

Dana, I'm pretty sure DirecTech was who did my install. http://www.directechne.com/ is the site for their new england branch, and it has a contact number.

There's always a silver lining in every dark cloud. What Maine cable and OTA viewers do have that satellite subs do not is access to MPBN HD!

There's a new Ken Burns film "The War" about WW II coming up on MPBN that for me anyway, will be a must-see. Here's the schedule.

"The War" Viewing Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 22 8 - 9:00 pm Preview

Sunday, Sept. 23 8 - 10:30 pm
Monday, Sept. 24 8 - 10:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 25 8 - 10:00 pm
Wed Sept. 26 8 - 10:30 pm
Sunday, Sept. 30 8 - 10:30 pm
Monday, October 1 8 - 10:00 pm
Tuesday, October 2 8 - 10:30 pm

Rebroadcasts of each episode,

One installment per week:

Wednesdays at 9 pm starting Oct. 3
Sundays at 3 pm starting Oct. 7

More here http://www.mpbn.net/thewar/index.html

Dana

Dana, I'm pretty sure DirecTech was who did my install. http://www.directechne.com/ is the site for their new england branch, and it has a contact number.

Good to know if and when. But especially helpful for others who may take the leap in the future. Thanks!

Dana

There's always a silver lining in every dark cloud. What Maine cable and OTA viewers do have that satellite subs do not is access to MPBN HD!

There's a new Ken Burns film "The War" about WW II coming up on MPBN that for me anyway, will be a must-see. Here's the schedule.

"The War" Viewing Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 22 8 - 9:00 pm Preview



More here http://www.mpbn.net/thewar/index.html

Dana

Dana,
Sorry to hear about the installation problems. I have had installation problems with Direct TV in the past as well. Of course, I have had problems with Comcast too :rolleyes: guess it is just part of the business. I am looking forward to this show as well. I am hoping this will be broadcast in HD. I have noticed that since they changed there format to a simelcast with the main channel that almost nothing is shown in HD :mad: This includes shows like NOVA and Soundstage which had always been shown in HD. I haven't checked lately to see if they have fixed this yet.

There's always a silver lining in every dark cloud. What Maine cable and OTA viewers do have that satellite subs do not is access to MPBN HD!

There's a new Ken Burns film "The War" about WW II coming up on MPBN that for me anyway, will be a must-see. Here's the schedule.

"The War" Viewing Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 22 8 - 9:00 pm Preview



More here http://www.mpbn.net/thewar/index.html

Dana

Wasn't it determined earlier in this thread that MPBN had dropped its HD feed? Stan54 reported the former HD channel now being a simulcast of the SD one.

Oh, and FWIW, every HD DirecTV box I know of has an OTA antenna input.

Wasn't it determined earlier in this thread that MPBN had dropped its HD feed? Stan54 reported the former HD channel now being a simulcast of the SD one.

Oh, and FWIW, every HD DirecTV box I know of has an OTA antenna input.

Yes, MPBN no longer provides PBS-HD program content on its HD channel. It's a simulcast of its regular programming. :mad: Some of the content is in HD and some isn't. I fear in some cases they stretch it. :(

A good point about OTA as it applies to the current D* H20 receiver and HR20 (DVR) HD boxes. But, the upcoming D* H21 receiver (black) now in final testing and soon to replace the H20 has no OTA receiver and I suspect its counterpart, the HR21 doesn't either. Probably D* is phasing out the OTA capability because of its spot beam broadcast of local HD channels and to reduce STB costs.

No cable box has OTA capability of which I'm aware.

Dana

Yes, MPBN no longer provides PBS-HD program content on its HD channel. It's a simulcast of its regular programming. :mad: Some of the content is in HD and some isn't. I fear in some cases they stretch it. :(

A good point about OTA as it applies to the current D* H20 receiver and HR20 (DVR) HD boxes. But, the upcoming D* H21 receiver (black) now in final testing and soon to replace the H20 has no OTA receiver and I suspect its counterpart, the HR21 doesn't either. Probably D* is phasing out the OTA capability because of its spot beam broadcast of local HD channels and to reduce STB costs.

No cable box has OTA capability of which I'm aware.

Dana

Oh, thanks for the clarification. I thought they had dropped HD altogether. It's not quite as bad if they still do have HD for the shows where it's available, but obviously not as good as HD (or widescreen upconverts) full-time. Maybe the OTA guide data will be finally be accurate now!

Since I wasn't hearing from Mary McLaughlin, I decided to write Shawn Feddeman, Vice President of Public Relations for Comcast's NorthCentral Region which includes Maine.

Here's what I wrote this morning:

I'm working on a story I plan to post online on the AVS Forum covering the Portland-Auburn DMA, an update on the status of the Brunswick, ME. cable system one year after Comcast effectively took over operations from SusCom. I have some questions for you.

Any chance that Portland station WPFO/Fox23's HD feed will be on the Brunswick system in time for the World Series? The station doesn't broadcast in HD OTA since former station owners never applied for a license, but it provides its HD signal by closed circuit to Time Warner Cable in this market. DirecTV acquired it a couple of weeks ago, too. Mary McLaughlin said some months ago that she was looking into it.

Tom MacArthur, sales manager at the station, wrote me ten days ago "Our problem is that Comcast does not have us... we would like them to but, at this time they aren’t carrying us. I would suggest that you contact them." So I am. By the way. FOX also will televise the next Super Bowl.

When I have inquired in the past about adding HD channels to the Brunswick system, Mary McLaughlin has been quick to remind me that it is constrained by 120 miles of 550 MHz wire. SusCom upgraded the rest of the 875 miles of cable to 750MHz or better before Comcast acquired it, according to 10k reports it filed with the SEC. What progress is Comcast making towards finishing the job so that the Brunswick system might more closely resemble Comcast cable systems elsewhere in Maine and New England?

Many thanks.

Here's the response I just received:

Hi Dana:

Shawn forwarded along your email to us for a reply.

We hear the call loud and clear about HD. If we could sit down at the table with WPFO, we would add the channel as soon as possible to our lineup. Currently, we’re evaluating opportunities to adjust our lineup to enable us to maximize our channel offerings within the existing system constraints. Customers will be seeing additional HD channels (and hopefully, WPFO HD) later on this year.

Best,

Marc

Marc Goodman
Comcast

I don't know Mr. Goodman's title.* I think his answers to my questions are:

• Will Comcast Brunswick have WPFOFOX23 in HD in time for the 2007 World Series? Answer: no. Maybe in time for the Super Bowl.

• Is Comcast making progress in completing the upgrade of the Brunswick system? Apparently not.

At least I received a prompt response. As for the story I was planning to write, there isn't much more to say.

Dana

* A Google search indicates he's a Comcast spokesperson in the Boston area.

Our ABC HD feed mysteriously disappeared today. I don't consider the inexplicable appearance of HBO Latino adequate recompense. Thanks, Dana, for your efforts prodding Comcast.

I just put in a Portland Time Warner HD set-top box (Scientific Atlanta 4250HDC) the other day. It's what they give you if you request HDMI connection. It has some nice configuration features and is a pretty deep box.

http://www.scientificatlanta.com/customers/Source/7008361.pdf

Unfortunately I get occasional partial frame freezes, and the unit sometimes locks up altogether when going from channel to channel (restarting clears this).

I figured we had a low signal problem, but a tech arrived yesterday and informed me that "all these new boxes do that". The incoming signal measured fine. Shortly after going into diagnostic mode the box completely reset itself. Despite this, the tech said to keep this box and perhaps ask for a replacement 4-6 months out after the bugs have been worked out.

Anyone else in the Portland area having experiences like mine with this box?

I just put in a Portland Time Warner HD set-top box (Scientific Atlanta 4250HDC) the other day. It's what they give you if you request HDMI connection. It has some nice configuration features and is a pretty deep box.

http://www.scientificatlanta.com/customers/Source/7008361.pdf

Unfortunately I get occasional partial frame freezes, and the unit sometimes locks up altogether when going from channel to channel (restarting clears this).

I figured we had a low signal problem, but a tech arrived yesterday and informed me that "all these new boxes do that". The incoming signal measured fine. Shortly after going into diagnostic mode the box completely reset itself. Despite this, the tech said to keep this box and perhaps ask for a replacement 4-6 months out after the bugs have been worked out.

Anyone else in the Portland area having experiences like mine with this box?

Unfortunately, there are other reports online of folks having problems with these HDC STBs. (The "C" apparently stands for a mandated CableCard.) I have read that a firmware update is needed/expected. Sorry I don't have links. It's apparently not a Time Warner problem but instead a Scientific Atlanta issue so the tech probably gave you the best advice available for now. :(

Dana

Our ABC HD feed mysteriously disappeared today. I don't consider the inexplicable appearance of HBO Latino adequate recompense. Thanks, Dana, for your efforts prodding Comcast.

Looks like WMTW/ABC HD is back up this morning on Comcast channel 501. :cool:

I appreciate your support for my efforts in prodding Comcast. I wish I could say it was doing some good but we did get some positive feedback. At least more HD channels are promised for "later this year."

Dana
GO PATS!

I still don't have ABC HD. I have a QAM tuner on my TV and have connected the cable directly, without the STB. The HD channels for the broadcast networks come in as 6-1, 8-1, 13-1, not the 500s. I did check the 500s after I saw your post, just in case, but there's nothing there. (The non-broadcast HD channels also don't have the same channel numbers as the Comcast guide says. For example, ESPN HD is 72-2; ESPN2 HD is 77-1. Very odd, but I'm just happy to be getting the non-broadcast HD channels without the STB. One of these days I'll have to talk to Comcast about all this, but at the moment I'm crazily paranoid that they'll start scrambling the non-broadcast HD channels if I say anything!)

Unfortunately, there are other reports online of folks having problems with these HDC STBs. ... the tech probably gave you the best advice available for now.
Dana

Thanks. Still interested to see if other Portland area TWC customers are having trouble with the 4250HDC HDMI boxes.

Well, based on the response to Dana's email I think I am going to switch to Direct TV. Reading between the lines and based upon the lack of response to my emails to Mary McLaughlin it seems clear that Comcast has no plans to upgrade the 120 miles 550mhz plant. This will mean that aside from possibly Fox there will be no upgrades in the foreseeable future including On Demand, Digital phone, ect. That coupled with the new channels and promised quality improvement on D* makes the switch a no brainer. Ironically, what pushed me over the edge is that Comcast finally did something right. They finally descrambled their HD channels so that they can be received via QAM. This means that if I keep limited service with my high speed internet then I will still get NESN HD. Hopefully, my installation experience will be better than Dana’s :)

Well, based on the response to Dana's email I think I am going to switch to Direct TV. Reading between the lines and based upon the lack of response to my emails to Mary McLaughlin it seems clear that Comcast has no plans to upgrade the 120 miles 550mhz plant. This will mean that aside from possibly Fox there will be no upgrades in the foreseeable future including On Demand, Digital phone, ect. That coupled with the new channels and promised quality improvement on D* makes the switch a no brainer. Ironically, what pushed me over the edge is that Comcast finally did something right. They finally descrambled their HD channels so that they can be received via QAM. This means that if I keep limited service with my high speed internet then I will still get NESN HD. Hopefully, my installation experience will be better than Dana’s :)

Bob,

That's 120 550 MHz wire miles remaining to be upgraded out of a 875 mile total cable plant. So, SusCom did a lot before it sold.

As for why Comcast is not willing to invest some of its vast resources to finish the job, I have two thoughts, both speculation. One is that with the BNAS closure, the SusCom Brunswick system is going to lose subs in the short run. There's always the cost/benefit ratio to consider.

The other - entirely conjecture but we recall the rumors floating around a year ago - is that SusCom is going to trade the Brunswick plant with TWC for a MSO closer to other Comcast systems so isn't willing to upfront the capital investment.

In any event, I do hope your D* install experience goes well.

Dana

I read on engadgetHD.com today where TWC in the Winston-Salem, SC area is adding more HD channels over the next two to three weeks. Some of the HD cable channels listed as new there are already available here in southern Maine (i.e. A & E HD, MTV HD & Universal HD), but others are not. I wonder if we'll see any additions to our HD channel lineup come October 15th? (Perhaps not so coincidentally, this is the same date that Fox launches their business channel - in both SD & HD, I believe - to compete with NBC/Uni's CNBC.)

Link: http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ/MGArticle/WSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352822091

Be skiing you,

h2osports

I really hope TWC adds TBS-HD by next week for the MLB Playoffs. Does anyone have any info on upcoming HD channels to TWC Maine? I tried calling them but that is a complete waste of time. You would think that with D* and their upcoming HD additions TWC would do something to keep their customers around.

I've sent some inquiries in to TWC, but no response so far. They may not have any info at this time.

I am in the Bangor area and have been e-mailing TWC and asking about more HD. Here is an example of their very vague answers;


Thank you for your email. We are currently working on upgrades that will allow us to broadcast more HD content to all of our customers, and we anticipate having more content at the end of this year. To date, we have not received a list of what channels will be included with this upgrade, unfortunately. The reason for this is that many of the channels are still in the contract negotiation phase, so the list is not fully defined yet. We do hope to be able to add WABI to the lineup as well, and we are in talks with Channel 5 right now. Updates will be available on our website: http://www.timewarnercable.com/newengland as they become available. Thank you for contacting Time Warner Cable of New England. Please contact us if we may be of assistance in the future.

I too hope that TBSHD will be here. But I would just settle for the local CBS feed.

Bob,

The first of D*s 21 new HD channels were lit up this morning and from all reports, the PQ is terrific. The AVS Forum has posted a new thread to cover the rollout here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=914047

It's hard to imagine that Comcast Brunswick will plod along, thinking that adding an HD channel or two "later this year" will keep them competitive. I may have to reconsider again (!), perhaps to have a single HD room installation and then let the rest of the household judge for themselves.

Anyway, I'll be more than a little interested in how your installation goes.

Dana

I really hope TWC adds TBS-HD by next week for the MLB Playoffs. Does anyone have any info on upcoming HD channels to TWC Maine? I tried calling them but that is a complete waste of time. You would think that with D* and their upcoming HD additions TWC would do something to keep their customers around.

Theo, it looks like you'll get your wish for TBS-HD!:) No date is given (just "next month"), though I'd be surprised if it's any later then Oct. 15th.

Link: http://www.tvpredictions.com/twtbsmore092007.htm

I'm also hoping that with SDV up and running in the Portland market (Sorry, but I can't find the link to this info right now), TWC will be able to add other HD channels on the same date.

Be skiing you,

h2osports

Bob,

The first of D*s 21 new HD channels were lit up this morning and from all reports, the PQ is terrific. The AVS Forum has posted a new thread to cover the rollout here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=914047

It's hard to imagine that Comcast Brunswick will plod along, thinking that adding an HD channel or two "later this year" will keep them competitive. I may have to reconsider again (!), perhaps to have a single HD room installation and then let the rest of the household judge for themselves.

Anyway, I'll be more than a little interested in how your installation goes.

Dana

Yes, I have been following the developements closely. More good news is that NESN HD and FoxNE HD will be deployed in the next wave of channels. My install is schedule for Oct 2, hopefully all will go well :)

Thanks. Still interested to see if other Portland area TWC customers are having trouble with the 4250HDC HDMI boxes.

The only issue I've had with the 4250HDC is that I lose the Guide information periodically. Sometimes I see the name of the program but not the detail. Other times I lose everything - it just says "No Information available". The only way I fix it is to unplug the box for a few minutes. I will probably wait a bit before I try a box exchange with TWC.

Yes, I have been following the developements closely. More good news is that NESN HD and FoxNE HD will be deployed in the next wave of channels. My install is schedule for Oct 2, hopefully all will go well :)

Bob,

Are you going through BB or picking up a "Welcome back" offer direct from D*, if I may ask?

Dana

Bob,

Are you going through BB or picking up a "Welcome back" offer direct from D*, if I may ask?

Dana

Dana,
I going with the "Welcome Back" offer. Best Buy doesn't offer a sign up accomodation for employees but we do have a discount on the monthly bill.

Dana,
I going with the "Welcome Back" offer. Best Buy doesn't offer a sign up accomodation for employees but we do have a discount on the monthly bill.

None of my business really. I was just wondering if your install will be handled by Direct Tech or whether BB had its own installers. If you don't mind a suggestion, you might want to take advantage of the info about Direct Tech that AccidenT posted and confirm your reservation, etc., with them directly instead of dealing with Installation Support at D*. I pretty much proved that doesn't work well and I've since run into other accounts that mirror my own. :(

But I've also read reports of installations that went well so there's hope yet. :)

Dana

I decided to take my own advice and try again with D*. This time I took the "Welcome Back" package (which expires at the end of the month) and a single room HD receiver install. No matter what happens next, it will involve only me.

If other family members are willing, we'll get them on board and drop SusCom cable altogether at a later date. One step at a time.

I talked with an experienced rep in cust retention who seemed to know what she was doing. My installation is scheduled for Oct. 4 AM. Thanks to AccidenT's comments about NESN and FSNE being part of any basic package, I saved some $$$ by not signing up for the Sports Pack. I'll confirm my installation with http://www.directechne.com also thanks to AccidenT. :)

Dana

Best of luck, Dana and Bob, on your upcoming switch. October 9-10 are the upcoming dates when the sun is aligned with the DirecTV satellites, so we'll be looking for dish placement spots then. I hope things work out for a switch for us, especially given all the good news about HD channel rollouts.

Dana,
...I am looking forward to this show (The War) as well. I am hoping this will be broadcast in HD. I have noticed that since they changed there format to a simelcast with the main channel that almost nothing is shown in HD :mad: This includes shows like NOVA and Soundstage which had always been shown in HD. I haven't checked lately to see if they have fixed this yet.

Bob,

Sad to say, you are correct about MPBN HD. It is a simulcast of their other broadcast channels now. That means kid's programs during the daytime when in the past, I could watch History Detectives and other PBS programs such as Legends of Jazz in pristine HD.

Even worse, they stretch the programs on the HD channel regardless of original aspect and many are not in HD as you note. Ugh. When I complained, I got a ludicrous response from the MPBN public info fellow quoting the chief engineer justifying the practice as well as telling me that simulcasting is due to the federal mandate of "HD in 2009." He's foisted that baloney on me before. I wrote back and told him he was "misinformed" and let it go at that.

Except for the occasional HD show such as The War, it is a waste of bandwidth. :(

Dana

Does anybody else out there subscribe to Comcast out of Brunswick AND connect their cable directly to a TV with a QAM tuner (in other words, without using a set-top box)?

If you fit that description, I'd be curious to know what your HD channel assignments are. I get NBC HD on 6-1 and CBS on 13-1. I used to get ABC HD on 8-1, but last week that disappeared and I haven't been able to find ABC HD anywhere since. Anybody else have that problem?

For non-broadcast HD channels, I get: A&E HD on 68-2, Discovery HD on 69-1, Universal HD on 69-2, ESPN HD on 72-2, HBO Latino (I have no idea why) on 73-13, ESPN2 HD on 77-1, TNT HD on 77-2 and NESN HD on 80-1.

Bob,

I went to the DirecTech NE web site AccidenT gave us. After checking various pages, I found the number for the Portland office! 878-3322 x 1.

And just now I talked with a real person who confirmed that I'm on their schedule. :)

Dana

We have been very disappointed with the MPBN "War" feed. Lots of the promotional clips before the show have terrible audio delay problems: "echo" sound. The program iteself is free of this, but lip sync is terrible.

Other HDTV sources on TW Portland don't have this problem. Has anyone else noticed this on "The War"?

We have been very disappointed with the MPBN "War" feed. Lots of the promotional clips before the show have terrible audio delay problems: "echo" sound. The program iteself is free of this, but lip sync is terrible.

Other HDTV sources on TW Portland don't have this problem. Has anyone else noticed this on "The War"?

Yes, I've noticed some strange artifacts, too, watching MPBN HD on Comcast Brunswick. Hollow sound, fading in and out, etc. I did read on another AVS thread that PBS apologized for poor transmission quality after the first episode. They blamed it on a faulty encoder and said they hoped to have it fixed by episode 2.

But, that doesn't let MPBN off the hook, particularly regarding local promos. The lead in to "The War" urging local station support is fuzzy, apparently another standard def Stretch-O-Vision HD distortion by their technical staff. It's a big turn-off for me.

Dana

Bob,

I went to the DirecTech NE web site AccidenT gave us. After checking various pages, I found the number for the Portland office! 878-3322 x 1.

And just now I talked with a real person who confirmed that I'm on their schedule. :)

Dana

Dana,
I called the number and got transferred to the correct one. I am confirmed as well :)

Dana,
I called the number and got transferred to the correct one. I am confirmed as well :)

Bob,

Isn't the number I posted correct? If there's a better one, I'll change my post.

Anyway, glad to know you're confirmed. Crossing fingers there'll be no screw-ups. ;)

Dana

According to a Time Warner representative I spoke with on the phone earlier today, 2 channels will be added to Cumberland and York Counties on Monday, October 1st.

CSN New England-HD(formerly FSN New England) channel 528
TBS-HD channel 529

Bob,

Isn't the number I posted correct? If there's a better one, I'll change my post.

Anyway, glad to know you're confirmed. Crossing fingers there'll be no screw-ups. ;)

Dana

Dana,
I had already called before you posted :) They left an automated message today confirming again. By the way, word seems to be getting out about the new channels. I have many more people inquiring about switching to Direct TV in last few days then usual.

There's always a silver lining in every dark cloud. What Maine cable and OTA viewers do have that satellite subs do not is access to MPBN HD!

There's a new Ken Burns film "The War" about WW II coming up on MPBN that for me anyway, will be a must-see. Here's the schedule.

"The War" Viewing Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 22 8 - 9:00 pm Preview



More here http://www.mpbn.net/thewar/index.html

Dana

You can have both. I have D* and the HR20-700 HD DVR. OTA works great through this DVR and includes the guide for OTA. I have a small antenna behind my TV out of site and I get MPBN HD with no issue.

Yes, MPBN no longer provides PBS-HD program content on its HD channel. It's a simulcast of its regular programming. :mad: Some of the content is in HD and some isn't. I fear in some cases they stretch it. :(

A good point about OTA as it applies to the current D* H20 receiver and HR20 (DVR) HD boxes. But, the upcoming D* H21 receiver (black) now in final testing and soon to replace the H20 has no OTA receiver and I suspect its counterpart, the HR21 doesn't either. Probably D* is phasing out the OTA capability because of its spot beam broadcast of local HD channels and to reduce STB costs.

No cable box has OTA capability of which I'm aware.

Dana

Dana:

The HR21 is a "prosumer" rack-mount model that retails north of $1,000 I believe. It is not meant for consumers and is NOT a replacement for the HR20.

[EDIT] It appears that now D* will be releasing a non-prosumer version of the HR21 as well. No OTA, but it will be black.

I have not posted in this thread for a while, but here is my experience with D*.

I have been a D* customer since 1996. When we moved to Topsham in 2000 I went to Comcast. Big mistake. Terrible PQ then, did not have the channels I wanted. Switched back to D*.

I almost gave Comcast another try earlier this year over the lack of NESN HD on D*, but after comparing the existing HD channel lineup then and cost I decided to wait for D* to light up the new sat and start turning on the new HD channels before I made a final decision.

I am very glad I did! The mpeg4 PQ is fantastic! No way I am going over to Comcast and their channel selection. More new HD channels are going to be enabled in October and through the rest of the year.

I've got HD locals (all 4 major networks), ch 35 and 51 in HD OTA, MPBN HD OTA (for what that is worth). The list of D* HD is at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4360044

I am very picky about PQ. No more HD-Lite for D*. The mpeg2 feeds will be converted in the next year. Oh, and NESN HD and Fox Sports New England HD get turned on mid-October. FSNE matters to me this year since the Celtics will actually be worth watching.

The biggest downside to D* currently is the install process. Sometimes you get a good tech, sometimes not. If you have a bad install experience call D* and complain. FWIW my recent D* service experiences have been better than my Comcast service experience with their cable Internet service. YMMV

If anyone has specific questions on D* in central Maine I'll be glad to help.

You can have both. I have D* and the HR20-700 HD DVR. OTA works great through this DVR and includes the guide for OTA. I have a small antenna behind my TV out of site and I get MPBN HD with no issue.

A great point in that you can't mix OTA and cable. That was the reason I went to D* in 2004, to get the PATS on CBS in HD OTA when SusCom wasn't carrying it.

But, since MPBN started simulcasting regular programming on its HD channel, HD program quality and quantity is no where near the offerings provided when it was an HD feed from PBS. IMHO. So the silver lining is tarnished. :(

Dana

A great point in that you can't mix OTA and cable. That was the reason I went to D* in 2004, to get the PATS on CBS in HD OTA when SusCom wasn't carrying it.

But, since MPBN started simulcasting regular programming on its HD channel, HD program quality and quantity is no where near the offerings provided when it was an HD feed from PBS. IMHO. So the silver lining is tarnished. :(

Dana

Great point about MPBN. I was happy to contribute to them when they were providing quality HD programming. Now that they have stopped the HD feed from PBS I am stopping my contributions. Not that it will matter in the least to them, but it is the only recourse I have.

Great point about MPBN. I was happy to contribute to them when they were providing quality HD programming. Now that they have stopped the HD feed from PBS I am stopping my contributions. Not that it will matter in the least to them, but it is the only recourse I have.

Exactly my sentiment.

Dana

Dana:

The HR21 is a "prosumer" rack-mount model that retails north of $1,000 I believe. It is not meant for consumers and is NOT a replacement for the HR20.

[EDIT] It appears that now D* will be releasing a non-prosumer version of the HR21 as well. No OTA, but it will be black.

Yes, that's what I've read. Actually, I saw a post where someone got an HR21 consumer model DVR (without rack ears) shipped to them apparently by mistake. He took pictures of it and posted them. Of course now I can't find the post. * (See PS below)

Availability of the D* H21 black HD receiver is slated for October and the black HR21 DVR by the end of the year according to a BB source quoted here http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=101982

I'd like to get the H21 since early reports are good, faster than the H20, etc. No OTA capability. I had an H20-600 from D* in 2006 and while others had complaints, mine worked well. By now I'd expect most bugs to be worked out.

BTW. I managed to use the on-line D* scheduling system to move my appointment up to Monday AM. Tomorrow! Hoping all goes well.

Dana

PS. I found the post with pictures of the new D* HR21 consumer DVR (black w/o "ears"). http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=100595&highlight=HR21

According to a Time Warner representative I spoke with on the phone earlier today, 2 channels will be added to Cumberland and York Counties on Monday, October 1st.

CSN New England-HD(formerly FSN New England) channel 528
TBS-HD channel 529

Noticed they were up this morning, although CSN was just the FSN-HD logo.

While it was not without its moments, I did get a successful one room installation today from Direct Tech of a D* H20-600 STB. It's a refurb unit which I didn't notice until after the installer left but it seems to be working fine. (I may use that info later to ask that it be exchanged for an H21 when they are available. ;) )

I'll spare everyone too many details. I did get a glimpse of what the life of an installer is like. He was 4.5 hours late getting to me. He was making out accident reports all morning in Portland I think - he lives north of Waterville - because a drunk driver intentionally hit his truck yesterday. He had the presence of mind to jot down the plate number and the police nabbed the driver who lived just up the road from where the accident occurred. Busted.

A nice young man who I think was out of sorts when he arrived. We couldn't agree on a dish location so he left politely, saying he'd have his supervisor come tomorrow. :( I called the Portland local number and Claire got hold of a supervisor who was in the area. He came to my house within 15 minutes with the installer behind him and got the fellow back on track. We really owe AccidenT a big THANK YOU since a call to the national D* Installation Support line would have been fruitless.

It took him about two hours to mount the dish (where I wanted it) and run the cable. It took him another two hours to make the proper telephone calls to activate the box, being put on hold, listening to the endless promos, being transferred, etc. He had two service calls to make after he left me and I think those customers were calling in, asking where he was and probably getting po'd. He said that by the end of the year, installers will be able to activate the boxes themselves.

The installer did such a good job after that bad start I wound up giving him a tip. He assured me that wasn't necessary but I insisted. I'm glad I did keep the initial install simple as it was complicated enough by other circumstances.

My last name isn't Murphy but sometimes I think it is.

Dana

Hope you're enjoying the Pats Game on your new DirecTV!

Hope you're enjoying the Pats Game on your new DirecTV!

Thanks! Yes, I did!!! The PQ was no different than what I was used to from ESPN HD on Comcast Brunswick. There were occasional brief pixelations but I had those with cable, too, indicating to me when it happened that Comcast was getting its feed by satellite. They have several big dishes at the head end on the Old Bath Road. (That's something the cable industry conveniently forgets to mention when bashing DTV; they use dishes too.)

Dana

Dana, I can verify that the Comcast Brunswick of the Patriots game had several pixilation events.

I'm a Brunswick region Comcast subscriber. Saw a CNN news link this morning where Comcast announced the addition of TBS and CNN in HD for its Massachusetts and New Hampshire customers. No mention of Maine. I called 1-800-Comcast a few minutes ago and they weren't aware of the announcement and politely told me they couldn't confirm any added channels for me at the present time. Can any other local Comcast people confirm or deny the addition of these channels? I sure hope we get TBS for the Sox playoffs.

Thus far I'm not overly happy with Comast. They did add NESN HD just in time for the regular season Sox games. That was nice. My big gripe is that I still do not have Fox in HD. That means I miss half the Nextel Cup races and half the NFL games, including the super bowl next year and the world series this year. That's BS. If all the local Time Warner customers can get Fox 23 in HD then that just makes me think Comcast is very slack in not providing that coverage.

I'm a Brunswick region Comcast subscriber. Saw a CNN news link this morning where Comcast announced the addition of TBS and CNN in HD for its Massachusetts and New Hampshire customers. No mention of Maine. I called 1-800-Comcast a few minutes ago and they weren't aware of the announcement and politely told me they couldn't confirm any added channels for me at the present time. Can any other local Comcast people confirm or deny the addition of these channels? I sure hope we get TBS for the Sox playoffs.

Thus far I'm not overly happy with Comast. They did add NESN HD just in time for the regular season Sox games. That was nice. My big gripe is that I still do not have Fox in HD. That means I miss half the Nextel Cup races and half the NFL games, including the super bowl next year and the world series this year. That's BS. If all the local Time Warner customers can get Fox 23 in HD then that just makes me think Comcast is very slack in not providing that coverage.

Even if they add TBS HD, you're out of luck re: the Sox games, because the American League playoff games are all on Fox. (at least, according to this: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps_07.jsp)

All the divisional playoffs are on TBS:

Gm 1 LAA @ BOS Wed Oct. 3 6:30 pm TBS
Gm 2 LAA @ BOS Fri Oct. 5 8:30 pm TBS
Gm 3 BOS @ LAA Sun Oct. 7 3 pm TBS
Gm 4* BOS @ LAA Mon Oct. 8 9:30 pm TBS
Gm 5* LAA @ BOS Wed Oct. 10 8:30 pm TBS

I'm a Brunswick region Comcast subscriber. Saw a CNN news link this morning where Comcast announced the addition of TBS and CNN in HD for its Massachusetts and New Hampshire customers. No mention of Maine. I called 1-800-Comcast a few minutes ago and they weren't aware of the announcement and politely told me they couldn't confirm any added channels for me at the present time. Can any other local Comcast people confirm or deny the addition of these channels? I sure hope we get TBS for the Sox playoffs.

Thus far I'm not overly happy with Comcast. They did add NESN HD just in time for the regular season Sox games. That was nice. My big gripe is that I still do not have Fox in HD. That means I miss half the Nextel Cup races and half the NFL games, including the super bowl next year and the world series this year. That's BS. If all the local Time Warner customers can get Fox 23 in HD then that just makes me think Comcast is very slack in not providing that coverage.

Hello and welcome to the AVS Forum and this friendly Mainers thread in particular. You might want to read the last page or two wherein we discuss the current state of Comcast Brunswick's cable system. It is bandwidth limited and Comcast apparently isn't doing anything about it. See the latest comments from a Comcast spokesperson.

Some of us are in the process of moving our subscriptions to DirecTV (often referred to as D*) for the very reasons you mention. Comcast Brunswick is pretty much a standalone 550MHz cable system that is not connected to the rest of the Comcast network. :(

Dana

Thanks for the synopsis drbonbi. Sorry for not backtracking enough on this thread. That's very interesting news. Do you local guys know if D* is able to provide local channels in HD, such as NBC, CBS, etc.? I had looked into getting the dish earlier this year but at the time they said I couldn't get any of the four major networks, local or other markets for that matter. At the time it made no sense to jump providers if I couldn't even get the normal network shows in HD.

Even if they add TBS HD, you're out of luck re: the Sox games, because the American League playoff games are all on Fox. (at least, according to this: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps_07.jsp)

That's only the AL Championship Series on Fox.

Haha, I was totally reading that wrong. I thought the top table was showing the matchups and the bottom one was showing the schedules. Shows how much I keep up with baseball. ;)

Thanks for the synopsis drbonbi. Sorry for not backtracking enough on this thread. That's very interesting news. Do you local guys know if D* is able to provide local channels in HD, such as NBC, CBS, etc.? I had looked into getting the dish earlier this year but at the time they said I couldn't get any of the four major networks, local or other markets for that matter. At the time it made no sense to jump providers if I couldn't even get the normal network shows in HD.


DirecTV now has the local CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox channels in HD. NESN HD and FoxSports New England HD (soon to be Comcast SportsNet New England HD) are scheduled to be added this month.

DirecTV now has the local CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox channels in HD. NESN HD and FoxSports New England HD (soon to be Comcast SportsNet New England HD) are scheduled to be added this month.

Actually HD locals depends on location in Maine. If the OP is in Bangor or north I believe they are not available.

Augusta south no problem.