There was a rumor that there was supposed to be one with active firewire, but we now know that's a software issue. No software update has yet activated either the firewire or serial ATA ports. And I'm not holding my breath.

So, has anyone heard anything about UHD sticking around after next Saturday night? If not, hopefully they'll at least keep it up until Monday to give us one more episode of BSG in HD. I've written e-mail asking the question, but have not received even the courtesy of a reply (shock!).

Hello.
Can anyone tell me why there are so few hi-def movies on demand? Thanks.

Hello.
Can anyone tell me why there are so few hi-def movies on demand? Thanks.

Can't really answer that but right now they probably have the best selction of programs up there that they ever had. 3 relatively recent movies and some Imax films is better than its been. Sometimes they have no movies.

That's it. And with Cisco buying the farm, I wouldn't hold my breath looking for updates anytime soon.

There is a multroom version of the SA8300(HD). I've not heard if our market is handing that one out or not...


From the press release on the aquisition...
"Following the close of the transaction, Scientific-Atlanta will operate as a division of Cisco, under the leadership of Mike Volpi in the Routing and Service Provider Technology Group."

So, SA will be a standalone group much like Linksys...so, it should be business as usual for those guys.

The real question is, when will TWC let us use whats already there like the SATA connection?

The real question is, when will TWC let us use whats already there like the SATA connection?

When Pioneer gets around to updating the software...

TWC in some other markets use the SARA software, and it supports SATA. But, from what I've read, that's the only good feature about SARA.

anybody else having trouble tonight? my SA8300 is set to output all of the various resolutions but only 1080i output is coming through . all the shows in all other outputs are scrambled looking.

anybody else having trouble tonight? my SA8300 is set to output all of the various resolutions but only 1080i output is coming through . all the shows in all other outputs are scrambled looking.

I am watching NBA game on ESPNHD in 720, and it looks super......

Well the Olympics are over. The question now is, will we have UHD in the morning?

Ok, Time Warner officially sucks. I check UHD this morning and it was still on. But I had the chance to check again at lunch and no dice. UHD is gone. And the thing that really gets me is that there is no good reason why.

UHD is gone. And the thing that really gets me is that there is no good reason why.

Uhh.. maybe because the rights to carry the service was granted only for the duration of the olympics by UHD? :rolleyes:

Uhh.. maybe because the rights to carry the service was granted only for the duration of the olympics by UHD? :rolleyes:

Well, it's my understanding that TimeWarner reached a carriage agreement with NBC/Universal for UHD a few months ago and various TWC outlets have been adding it permanently to their lineups, including Raleigh and Columbia, SC.

So, why not here? What are we, chopped liver?? Swamp is right: there is no good reason (or any reason whatsoever apparently, since they've steadfastly refused to explain it to any of their customers).

Come to think of it, when was the last time they added any new HD channels to our system? Monopolies suck.

I get it at home.. Oh wait, I gots duhwreckedtv too.. :>)

IMHO, not missing much.. The OutDoor Channel-HD is much better, I think..

You must not be a BSG fan, Bob. Hard as that is to understand. ;)

Ok, Time Warner officially sucks. I check UHD this morning and it was still on. But I had the chance to check again at lunch and no dice. UHD is gone. And the thing that really gets me is that there is no good reason why.

Why? It's not like you didn't know it was coming. You should be happy that TW was able to get UHD long enough to show (in my opinion) the crappy Olympics. With events being shown in HD, the same day. Perhaps UHD wants more money per customer than TW wants to hand out. There could be a million reasons why TW didn't leave UHD on.

It will be back. Someday.

Why? It's not like you didn't know it was coming. You should be happy that TW was able to get UHD long enough to show (in my opinion) the crappy Olympics. With events being shown in HD, the same day. Perhaps UHD wants more money per customer than TW wants to hand out. There could be a million reasons why TW didn't leave UHD on.

It will be back. Someday.

Well look. As Archiguy most recently pointed out, the issue is NOT a "TW" issue. Time Warner has a corporate agreement to add UHD along with some kind of NBC VOD channel. You can search the programming board for the press release. So the issue shouldn't have anything to do with rights or subscriber fees. It also shouldn't be a bandwidth issue since it was up for 2 weeks without a problem. And most importantly, it has been added, permanently, to other Time Warner systems in the Carolinas. So, you see, whatever the reasons for UHD going dark here in Charlotte, they are entirely local.

Good post swamp; you've summed it up nicely. There really isn't any excuse for this, and if there is, someone from TWC who knows what it is should come on here (or answer the e-mails) and explain it to us. To not do so, while we watch this channel added by other TWC outlets all around us, simply breeds resentment, distrust, and defectors to satellite. You'd think they'd realize this by now. :rolleyes:

On an unrelated subject, does anyone else have a dramatic decrease in sound volume levels when switching to certain cable channels like SciFi? I'm forced to crank my receiver volume all the way up (my Yammie 2400 maxes out at +13.5 db) to hear it and even then have to turn on closed captions to catch soft dialog now and then. And then I forget when the show is over, change channel back to a "normal" one, and risk blowing out my speakers and/or eardrums. Anyone else? What's up with that??

Good post swamp; you've summed it up nicely. There really isn't any excuse for this, and if there is, someone from TWC who knows what it is should come on here (or answer the e-mails) and explain it to us. To not do so, while we watch this channel added by other TWC outlets all around us, simply breeds resentment, distrust, and defectors to satellite. You'd think they'd realize this by now. :rolleyes:

On an unrelated subject, does anyone else have a dramatic decrease in sound volume levels when switching to certain cable channels like SciFi? I'm forced to crank my receiver volume all the way up (my Yammie 2400 maxes out at +13.5 db) to hear it and even then have to turn on closed captions to catch soft dialog now and then. And then I forget when the show is over, change channel back to a "normal" one, and risk blowing out my speakers and/or eardrums. Anyone else? What's up with that??


I really think Swamp answered his own question. It's a local thing. Each TW market is its own entity. Many markets are adding faster speeds to Roadrunner while most are not.

And you enjoy UHD over there on DirecTV at 11Mbps and 1280x1080 :) (course if you've got an older plasma, DLP or LCD set, that'd be all you need.

As to your volume problem - have you noticed what format your receiver is picking up? Many of the "normal" channels are now digital and your receiver might be getting the Dolby Digital 2.0 signal and having trouble with it. Switch to another channel that isn't in digital and it goes to PCM (or vice vesa) might be causing your receiver some heart burn.

I really think Swamp answered his own question. It's a local thing. Each TW market is its own entity. Many markets are adding faster speeds to Roadrunner while most are not.

Well, I think the salient point is that TWC "national" has reached a carriage agreement with the network to carry this channel. Why it has shown up on some systems and not others is the big question here. The real problem is that nobody from TWC is willing to explain this situation to their customers, and there apparently is no penalty for not doing so. This is a piss-poor way to run a business and why monopolies are bad. Before someone says, "...then just change providers", there are other technical reasons why I can't do that just now.

As to your volume problem - have you noticed what format your receiver is picking up? Many of the "normal" channels are now digital and your receiver might be getting the Dolby Digital 2.0 signal and having trouble with it. Switch to another channel that isn't in digital and it goes to PCM (or vice vesa) might be causing your receiver some heart burn.

This is the only channel I've noticed this with. My receiver is only a couple of years old and should be able to handle any Dolby stream, and generally does. If nobody else has this issue, then it's definitely a puzzler.

Hello fellow TWC customers, the following is info gathered from emails to TWC Executive Fred Dressler. These are his quotes.

Future HD channel update

ESPN2-HD - hopeful to have espn2hd in time for baseball.
STARZ-HD - End of the year at the earliest
CINEMAX-HD – is almost done
TMC-HD - is done
Wealth TV-HD - are not in the works
Outdoor Channel 2-HD – are not in the works
MHD (MTV) - will take many months to conclude.
National Geographic-HD - No Word
Food Network-HD - Scripps has not yet made us a proposal.
HGTV-HD - Scripps has not yet made us a proposal.

Hello fellow TWC customers, the following is info gathered from emails to TWC Executive Fred Dressler. These are his quotes.

Future HD channel update

ESPN2-HD - hopeful to have espn2hd in time for baseball.
STARZ-HD - End of the year at the earliest
CINEMAX-HD – is almost done
TMC-HD - is done
Wealth TV-HD - are not in the works
Outdoor Channel 2-HD – are not in the works
MHD (MTV) - will take many months to conclude.
National Geographic-HD - No Word
Food Network-HD - Scripps has not yet made us a proposal.
HGTV-HD - Scripps has not yet made us a proposal.

Thanks for the info. Since TMC-HD is "done" I wonder when they are going to offer that. Of course it might not matter in Charlotte. UHD is a done deal as far as Dressler is concerned, but the folks down on Arrowood refuse to let us have it.

Just when I wanted to DVR the movie Bullitt, I find the 2 HDNet channels are missing. At least the audio and video are, the banners are there. Arrggghhh

wow, its awfully quiet here lately...


Does anyone know when TWC will actually offer details on the MLB Extra Innings package and allow us to purchase it? I have emailed them a couple times and they give me the stock "sometime soon" answer. Baseball season starts in a couple weeks after all.


Bruce

Oh,Sometime soon...

Sorry.. I feel your pain..I love baseball.. :>)

It has been quiet!

I got tired of bitching about things that probably nobody can do anything about.....ESPN had a pregame show before the ACC tournament finals. The game was broadcast on ESPN nationally(I presume in Hi-def since they had pregame activities from the Greensboro Coliseum in high def). Then at game time ESPNHD goes blank and you had to watch it on a local cable channel wtih a crappy JP sports feed (worse def than std def in my opnion).

I know that JP has some kind of contract to do the games but if you pay TW extra to have high def and it is available in high def I sure wish there was a way to watch it in high def!!

It has been quiet!

I got tired of bitching about things that probably nobody can do anything about.....ESPN had a pregame show before the ACC tournament finals. The game was broadcast on ESPN nationally(I presume in Hi-def since they had pregame activities from the Greensboro Coliseum in high def). Then at game time ESPNHD goes blank and you had to watch it on a local cable channel wtih a crappy JP sports feed (worse def than std def in my opnion).

I know that JP has some kind of contract to do the games but if you pay TW extra to have high def and it is available in high def I sure wish there was a way to watch it in high def!!

Please tell me that the basketball games we'll get on CBS will be in HD. CBS can disappoint HD enthusiasts at times...

Please tell me that the basketball games we'll get on CBS will be in HD. CBS can disappoint HD enthusiasts at times...

Today the last three games are in HD on WBTV. CBS is doing a very good job and you can see which games are in HD by going to http://www.hdsportsguide.com/

Hugh

It has been quiet!

I got tired of bitching about things that probably nobody can do anything about.....ESPN had a pregame show before the ACC tournament finals. The game was broadcast on ESPN nationally(I presume in Hi-def since they had pregame activities from the Greensboro Coliseum in high def). Then at game time ESPNHD goes blank and you had to watch it on a local cable channel wtih a crappy JP sports feed (worse def than std def in my opnion).

I know that JP has some kind of contract to do the games but if you pay TW extra to have high def and it is available in high def I sure wish there was a way to watch it in high def!!

First of all you are not paying TW for local channels in high def. Secondly, TW has no control over what WBTV broadcasts due to their contractual agreements. TW cannot show you the local channels in HD and then show you a non-local on a high def. channel when the local doesn't show something in HD.

First of all you are not paying TW for local channels in high def. Secondly, TW has no control over what WBTV broadcasts due to their contractual agreements. TW cannot show you the local channels in HD and then show you a non-local on a high def. channel when the local doesn't show something in HD.

I'm not sure that I understand what you are saying-

I personally have the HD package and get HD locals from TWC. Am I not paying TWC for local HD channels?

Also, currently, the local CBS SD channel is showing the Boston College game. However the HD CBS channel is showing the Wichita St/Seton Hall game.

Again, maybe I'm totally confused as to what you're saying...

The local channels have their own contractual agreements. Specifically, Raycom/JP has an agreement with WBTV to broadcast certain ACC basketball games. As part of the agreement, the game is blacked out on all other channels but the one showing the Raycom/JP feed. That is why, for example, the rest of the country got to see UNC/Dook II in HD, and we saw it in crappy SD on Raycom.

I'm not sure that I understand what you are saying-

I personally have the HD package and get HD locals from TWC. Am I not paying TWC for local HD channels?

Also, currently, the local CBS SD channel is showing the Boston College game. However the HD CBS channel is showing the Wichita St/Seton Hall game.

Again, maybe I'm totally confused as to what you're saying...

The HD package does not include the locals. All the cable companies have to provide local channels in the basic package. You are paying for cable but not an additional charge for the locals in HD.

WBTV started out with Wichita St. game since the BC game came on later at 12:40 and the BC game is not in HD. WBTV has shown the entire BC game as shown in today's Observer. Every game is not in HD and WBTV will show those games of interest in the area rather than the ones in HD. The next three on WBTV are in HD per the web site I mentioned above.

FYI... sometimes CBS will have a different game on 227, the "occasional expanded" channel. They aren't in HD, but it will give you more to choose from sometimes.

The local channels have their own contractual agreements. Specifically, Raycom/JP has an agreement with WBTV to broadcast certain ACC basketball games. As part of the agreement, the game is blacked out on all other channels but the one showing the Raycom/JP feed. That is why, for example, the rest of the country got to see UNC/Dook II in HD, and we saw it in crappy SD on Raycom.

Does anyone know if Raycom/JP Sports has near term plans for HD? I'm sure it has to be on their radar, they do cover one of the most popular college conferences in the country.

That would solve the problem

Does anyone know if Raycom/JP Sports has near term plans for HD? I'm sure it has to be on their radar, they do cover one of the most popular college conferences in the country.

For everyone wondering why programming is blacked out when shown on Raycom and with questions about when, if ever, they will have programming in HD here is a link to their site which answers the questions.

http://www.raycomsports.com/blackout.htm

Does anyone know if Raycom/JP Sports has near term plans for HD? I'm sure it has to be on their radar, they do cover one of the most popular college conferences in the country.

Heh, if JP isn't doing sports today, they'll never, EVER do it.

Seing as how JP Sports has gone the way of the do-do bird. Well, not technically, yet. I think the deal with Lincoln Financial closes in the next 30 or so days.

In diagnostic mode (SA 8300 HD-DVR) I entered 400 in and got channel 400 Time Warner Customer Care Channel.

Anyone else seen this?

For everyone wondering why programming is blacked out when shown on Raycom and with questions about when, if ever, they will have programming in HD here is a link to their site which answers the questions.

http://www.raycomsports.com/blackout.htm



UMMMM.......BS

I was fortunate enough to be able to see the ESPN HD feeds for the ACC Tournament via Directv. I've never been blacked out for a JP/Raycom feed on D* like I was on TWC. That's one of the reasons why I stay with D* over TWC. I really feel that cable is still lagging behind the satellite services with regard to HD content.

Also, I can't understand why WBTV channel 3 doesn't multicast on the opening rounds of the NCAA tourney, like WRAL channel 5 (Raleigh) and Greensboro channel 2 do. It was great being able to watch 1 HD game as well as 2 or 3 other games in SD on the sub-channels.

I was fortunate enough to be able to see the ESPN HD feeds for the ACC Tournament via Directv. I've never been blacked out for a JP/Raycom feed on D* like I was on TWC. That's one of the reasons why I stay with D* over TWC. I really feel that cable is still lagging behind the satellite services with regard to HD content.

Also, I can't understand why WBTV channel 3 doesn't multicast on the opening rounds of the NCAA tourney, like WRAL channel 5 (Raleigh) and Greensboro channel 2 do. It was great being able to watch 1 HD game as well as 2 or 3 other games in SD on the sub-channels.

You are confusing TWC with the problem. It is WBTV and their agreement with Raycom/JP that prevents us from seeing certain games on ESPN. WRAL does not have the contractual agreements with Raycom that WBTV has so it is not a problem with WRAL.

Has nothing to do with TWC.

Hello All...

I'm coming to the Charlotte thread from the Brighthouse (Central FL) thread.

I'm moving up in April and am curious as to how my services will differ.

We currently have 7 mbps as the standard RR speed. 10 and 15 are optional.

I think the HD offerings are similar, although we have Universal HD. From browsing this thread, it looks like you all do not.

Do you have HD on Demand? Not that there is much on ours.

Are network just went fully digital a few months back. What's the timeframe on the SC/NC network going fully digital?

Thanks,

-Tony

Hello All...

I'm coming to the Charlotte thread from the Brighthouse (Central FL) thread.

I'm moving up in April and am curious as to how my services will differ.

We currently have 7 mbps as the standard RR speed. 10 and 15 are optional.

I think the HD offerings are similar, although we have Universal HD. From browsing this thread, it looks like you all do not.

Do you have HD on Demand? Not that there is much on ours.

Are network just went fully digital a few months back. What's the timeframe on the SC/NC network going fully digital?

Thanks,

-Tony

7Mbps is a premium service here (no competition with FIOS). No UHD, but we do have HDoD.

"Fully digital" is kinda wrong. There is still analog service on the wire. And yes, most of the "analog" cable channels are simulcast digitally here, now.

Hello All...

I'm coming to the Charlotte thread from the Brighthouse (Central FL) thread.

I'm moving up in April and am curious as to how my services will differ.

We currently have 7 mbps as the standard RR speed. 10 and 15 are optional.

I think the HD offerings are similar, although we have Universal HD. From browsing this thread, it looks like you all do not.

Do you have HD on Demand? Not that there is much on ours.

Are network just went fully digital a few months back. What's the timeframe on the SC/NC network going fully digital?

Thanks,

-Tony

7Mbps is a premium service here (no competition with FIOS). No UHD, but we do have HDoD.

"Fully digital" is kinda wrong. There is still analog service on the wire. And yes, most of the "analog" cable channels are simulcast digitally here, now.

Raycom's feed looks like something off of ESPN classic from the mid 80's.

Also, I can't understand why WBTV channel 3 doesn't multicast on the opening rounds of the NCAA tourney, like WRAL channel 5 (Raleigh) and Greensboro channel 2 do. It was great being able to watch 1 HD game as well as 2 or 3 other games in SD on the sub-channels.


I agree... they did this some in the first round, but not since. Last night there were 2 games being played at a time... why not show one on 225 and the other on 227? Makes no sense to me... has anyone emailed WBTV about this?

Time-Warner and WLTX carry multiple games in Columbia.. :)

I agree... they did this some in the first round, but not since. Last night there were 2 games being played at a time... why not show one on 225 and the other on 227? Makes no sense to me... has anyone emailed WBTV about this?

I'll ask around when I go in tonight...


Update:
And I asked the wrong question. Oops. I asked about the HD feeds. To which, the unofficial, unsanctioned reply is: JP/Raycom don't have HD facilities. CBS sent some early games to WBTV in SD and WBTV simply relayed those games.

I will ask the question about 2 games (but I don't work again until Friday). Generally, though, BTV has to take what CBS is given to them. Which comes from NY. I've not seen where WBTV could broadcast both games that CBS is covering unless WBTV had a setup for that. I could see if it were JP/Raycom and CBS providing coverage ... we'll see.

Did anyone else lose their digital channels besides me today? I turned on the set and the only Digital
channels I'm getting with my Sony A-10 is Local networks over the cable. TNT, Disc., etc. are all
gone. Says, "Not Authorized". I'm not happy. :-(
Grateful11

Did anyone else lose their digital channels besides me today? I turned on the set and the only Digital
channels I'm getting with my Sony A-10 is Local networks over the cable. TNT, Disc., etc. are all
gone. Says, "Not Authorized". I'm not happy. :-(
Grateful11

No problems at our house...

No problems at our house...

I just went to Time-Warner's site and it seems they're making changes today. Do you
have a Cable Card or STB? I'm not using either one, I've just been picking up what's not
scrambled, didn't even know I was going to get them until I scanned the set.

Change Notice Link (http://www.timewarnercable.com/charlotte/customer/0329_message.html)

So I ended up going in tonight and got the chance to ask about the one thing on HD and the other on the secondary SD channel off of HD. So here's the officially unofficial answer I got.

WBTV has done two different programs before on the HD/Primary SD and the secondary SD channel. But that content has been provided by CBS.

We can't insert local commercials on the HD channel w/o them airing on the primary SD channel. Yet. So that's kept some stuff off.

No one has really wanted to do seperate programming and dealing with all of the logistical issues (as well as some legal compliance issues) of having seperate content on like that.

Going rumor has it, JP Sports (well Lincoln Financial Media Sports) will have HD facilities up for this coming Football season. So that might provide some opportunity. We'll see.

I can tell you that there's plenty of room for stations to do this kind of thing. It is just a matter of getting the facilities in place (this hardware ain't cheap, you know. Plus, you've got to get it installed, and get people trained and never mind the testing) before broadcasters go crazy with multicasting.



You know, I love my DVR, but I think if I had to give it up so that the gear was back at the head end, I'd stop paying for those services.

http://news.com.com/Comcast%2C+Time+Warner+back+Cablevision+DVR+plan/2100-1033_3-6056149.html?tag=nefd.top

From the Charlotte Business Journal on the 14th

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2006/03/13/story3.html

The announced aquisition of BellSouth by ATT/SBC may lead to an accelleration of TV service rollout in the form of the SBC/ATT Project Lightspeed, equivalent to Verizon's FIOS offering.

It would be GREAT to have 15-30MB downloads for internet, AND a wide offering of HDTV channels...
It will be interesting how TWC responds in the next 6-12 months to this as well as the slew of new channels that will be possible on Direct once they roll out two new sats in 07 and make the complete switch to MPEG4.

From the Charlotte Business Journal on the 14th

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2006/03/13/story3.html

The announced aquisition of BellSouth by ATT/SBC may lead to an accelleration of TV service rollout in the form of the SBC/ATT Project Lightspeed, equivalent to Verizon's FIOS offering.

It would be GREAT to have 15-30MB downloads for internet, AND a wide offering of HDTV channels...
It will be interesting how TWC responds in the next 6-12 months to this as well as the slew of new channels that will be possible on Direct once they roll out two new sats in 07 and make the complete switch to MPEG4.


I'll believe this when I see it. Bellsouth (owned by AT&T or not) is too greedy to get every last single drop out of their existing infrastructure.

And the DBS companies haven't exactly been striking great fear into cable ops. Everyone is raising their prices. And that won't stop.

Be greedy. I don't think it'll be interesting until we get atleast 100 (maybe even 500) mbps symetrical connections to the homes. Then, all kinds of neat things will crop up.

Looks like TW Charlotte is finally in the process of launching interactive TV.

In diagnostic mode on you receiver, go to channel 700.

They have interactive news, weather, sports, movie listings/descriptions and local events calendar. I look forward to seeing it's offering beefed up over the coming months.

This is in addition to the Customer Care application (diagnostic mode - channel 400) that's currently in testing (as mentioned previously in this forum).

If you check out channels 701 - 716 you'll also see test channels - no idea what they are planning for these channels - I would guess more interactive content but we'll see.

Oh - and check out the 600's on the guide. After the spanish language channels you'll see TWC's family-friendly package that includes some simulcasts of analogue channels including CNN Headline News and The Weather Channel.

It was my understanding that there would be a free preview of the MLB Extra Innings package on TWC on April 3-9th. TWC's website even has a crude schedule for this week. However when I look on the on-screen guide I do not see any specific games listed on channels 971-980.

The first game starts at 1 pm - shouldn't it be listed by now?

Personally, I want to see what HD games this package will be showing. I cannot find the HD schedule anywhere. I'm still deciding if I should order this package or the MLB.TV package via the internet. If there is a decent amount of HD games on MLB E/I then I'll pay the $160 price tag. If not, I'll stick with MLB.TV and its $80 price tag instead.


Bruce

GO CARDINALS!

No problems at our house...

I ended up shooting the works and getting the HD/DVR STB and the 6 months Showtime/TMC deal.

Does the 8300 have the audio option now to select dolby digital when using hdmi? I switched back to the 8000 because of this but want the 8300... thanks

Is WBTV going to show Rounds 1/2 of the Masters in HD? They did last year, but I haven't seen any news about this year.

Is WBTV going to show Rounds 1/2 of the Masters in HD? They did last year, but I haven't seen any news about this year.

A bump to see if anyone is watching The Masters on WBTV-HD on TWC....? If so, how's it look?

Is WBTV going to show Rounds 1/2 of the Masters in HD? They did last year, but I haven't seen any news about this year.

According to this thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=655828

CBS will be offering the Masters in HD/5.1. So WBTV will be sending that out in HD/5.1.

I recorded the 225 CBS feed, and it was absolutely horrible. Picture going in and out, audio going from golf commentators to Montel's transgender talk. I love the masters and was there on Monday, but after watching 45 minutes of this nonsense I had to delete it.

Anyone complained to wbtv yet?

Most likely your cable drop, you need to put in a service call to TWC..

Does the 8300 have the audio option now to select dolby digital when using hdmi? I switched back to the 8000 because of this but want the 8300... thanks

I'll try to find out. I'm brand new to these STB's. I've been watching the unscrambled
HD and digital channels for a while and they went I had to do something.
Grateful11

PS: I was just looking through the downloaded User's Manual for the 8300 and according to it,
it does have that option. You may want to download it a take a look. I tried to copy and
paste it in here but the documant wouldn't allow me to copy its contents.

Ok got a question. My brother wants to get a 30" tube hdtv tomorrow and wants the 8300hd dvr for LOCAL HD only. Anyone know the price monthly for that and how to ask TWC for that? I've read somewhere here at the avs that there's a certain way to ask for this so you don't have to buy extra channels, etc. He's already got TWC basic cable in Shelby/Boiling Springs.

thanks

Is anyone else getting audio breakups on Fox & CBS?

Has been hapening more & more - ~5 times during 24 last night

Is anyone else getting audio breakups on Fox & CBS?

Has been hapening more & more - ~5 times during 24 last night

I thought it was just my DVR being goofy. Everything I recorded this weekend on FOX has tons of audio dropouts.

Is anyone else getting audio breakups on Fox & CBS?

Has been hapening more & more - ~5 times during 24 last night

Yes I noticed some minor audio breakups when watching 24. Definitely more than normal. Have had major issues with CSB HD & Digital channels with both audio & video break ups for about a week now.

No compliants via Off-air reception...

No compliants via Off-air reception...

Of course there isn't. Cause it's "off" ;)

Of course there isn't. Cause it's "off" ;)


Oh, You mean the CBS station.. :D

anyone watching the bobcats game in HD on WJZY-DT? pretty good pq, but im used to watching them on news14 in sd

I have been experiencing audio drop outs and quick video freeze during "24" as well. 2 or 3 times during the past few shows. I had TWC put in a booster inside and outside when I first moved into the house, so I'm puzzled. Atleast I see others are experiencing the same thing.

I have been experiencing frequent audio dropouts and video freezes too on TWC, as recent as a couple of minutes ago. I hate to go thru the hassle of a service call, but maybe that is the path I need to take.

I was also having significant audio dropouts during Austin Powers (ch 240) last night, so much that we watched Primetime. Primetime (ch 235) just had a couple dropouts. Is it safe to assume this is a system wide problem?

We haven't had any complaints from viewers using antennas..

I use an antenna and the only complaint that I have is that I have problems getting ch9. The others work great. I have had a little sound drop out but not that much.

Count me in on the audio dropouts and video freezes. I've got the 8000, but the 3250 doesn't seem to have the same issues. Problem occurs with all channels, whether I try to navigate from the guide or just by incrementing channels one at a time. My wife is ready to go to D*. Has anyone called TWC on this yet and, if so, does it require a service call? Any chance the 8300s aren't having the problem?

Count me in on the audio dropouts and video freezes. I've got the 8000, but the 3250 doesn't seem to have the same issues. Problem occurs with all channels, whether I try to navigate from the guide or just by incrementing channels one at a time. My wife is ready to go to D*. Has anyone called TWC on this yet and, if so, does it require a service call? Any chance the 8300s aren't having the problem?

I have one 8300 and a SA 2100 analog receiver. I am having more issues on the 8300 but honestly I watch the 8300 much more. I have seen some of the same issues on the analog receiver lately when watching the Food Network. Also, on the 8300 I see the issues more on the HD channels but that can be attributed to those channels requiring more bandwidth and more susceptible to dropouts/freezes.

Personally, I'm going to call TWC today.

I have one 8300 and a SA 2100 analog receiver. I am having more issues on the 8300 but honestly I watch the 8300 much more. I have seen some of the same issues on the analog receiver lately when watching the Food Network. Also, on the 8300 I see the issues more on the HD channels but that can be attributed to those channels requiring more bandwidth and more susceptible to dropouts/freezes.

Personally, I'm going to call TWC today.

It was happening on both my 8300 and my 3250.

It was really really bad tonight on the War At Home on WCCB's HD feed. Probably 8-10 times in 30 minutes. I've got a 8300HD DVR.

It was really really bad tonight on the War At Home on WCCB's HD feed. Probably 8-10 times in 30 minutes. I've got a 8300HD DVR.

Before geting TWC recently, I was receiving local HD via OTA with a Dish 811 receiver and outdoor antenna. I noticed WCCB seemed to have some drop outs even with a strong OTA signal. I encountered the same thing at a friend's house.

Before geting TWC recently, I was receiving local HD via OTA with a Dish 811 receiver and outdoor antenna. I noticed WCCB seemed to have some drop outs even with a strong OTA signal. I encountered the same thing at a friend's house.

We don't see any on any of the receivers we use..Sony, Lg, Samsung..but have heard of problems with the 811's., both here and other parts of the country.
Have yet to be able to get a 811 to test .

My sony 300 is solid, as is my dish 6000..

Same problem here with dropouts on my 8300. I've been having them for a long time... they seem to come and go.

I've also had some problems with my road runner recently. The internet seems slower, I've had to reboot my modem 3 times in the last week, and my phone (vonage) has had a lot of breakups/dropouts lately. Has anyone else experienced similar problems?

We don't see any on any of the receivers we use..Sony, Lg, Samsung..but have heard of problems with the 811's., both here and other parts of the country.
Have yet to be able to get a 811 to test .

My sony 300 is solid, as is my dish 6000..

It may be a Time Warner Issue. I have noticed the audio drop outs on Fox for about 5 days now. I use a SA8000HD with a a Onkyo TX-SR603X. I have had the Onkyo hooked up for about 3 years with very few issues.

It may be a Time Warner Issue. I have noticed the audio drop outs on Fox for about 5 days now. I use a SA8000HD with a a Onkyo TX-SR603X. I have had the Onkyo hooked up for about 3 years with very few issues.

Add me to the "noticed some audio drop outs the past few days" list. I use an 8300HD, and am located in southern Union Co NC.........

All this after a TWC tech replaced a splitter to alleviate a digital phone problem on Easter Sunday. I "should have a much stronger signal" said he after replacing the splitter.

WCCB-DT should be more better now. We found a microwave problem, and TWC has regroomed us back onto the system. Let us know if that doesn't correct the problem.

Same issues OTA at least from Sunday night prime through Prison Break tonight.

[edit] & 24.

WCCB-DT should be more better now. We found a microwave problem, and TWC has regroomed us back onto the system. Let us know if that doesn't correct the problem.

I'm watching "24" now and getting constant picture freezing and sound drop-outs.

We're still working on the issue.

No compliants via Off-air reception...

Well, Bob, you'll have to count me in on the OTA side. The NASCAR race on Saturday night had occasional dropouts, but Prison Break and 24 last night (4/24) were nearly unwatchable. I turned on the Closed Caption because I was missing so much dialogue. It got worse as the night went on.

I use a HDTivo via D* and my Hughes E86 was having some difficulty as well.

By the way, when local spots were aired, (5.1 audio switched to 5.0) signal was SOLID. News at 10 was also glitch free.

This seems similar to the problems we discussed last year with the HDTivo, near the end of the "24" season. But it got worse at times, even totally smearing the screen around 9:40...even the FOX box was gone.

If it's any help, LIVE programming from FOX like American Idol comes through much better. I can let you know after tonights' broadcast.

We did find a microwave problem that some receivers weren't happy with, including TWC's..
But there still may be a splicer configuration issue that needs to be addressed by FOX, let me know what you see tonight. I'm in Vegas at the NAB, (as are all the other broadcasters including the FOX guys) so I can only help by phone at this point.

Everybody here please email TWC and share your thoughts on new HD channels.
We all have a couple minutes to spare to post here so please Email Corporate.

Fred.Dressler@twcable.com

Let's be civilized.

We did find a microwave problem that some receivers weren't happy with, including TWC's..
But there still may be a splicer configuration issue that needs to be addressed by FOX, let me know what you see tonight. I'm in Vegas at the NAB, (as are all the other broadcasters including the FOX guys) so I can only help by phone at this point.

'24' tonight (well, I watched it tonight; haven't seen Prison Break yet) was almost unwatchable because of all the dropouts, as others have said; no exageration. We had to turn CC on to even be able to keep up, and some of the captions would drop out (with video) as well! Worst I've ever seen from WCCB. Bob, you guys have got to get a handle on this. :eek:

We did find a microwave problem that some receivers weren't happy with, including TWC's..
But there still may be a splicer configuration issue that needs to be addressed by FOX, let me know what you see tonight. I'm in Vegas at the NAB, (as are all the other broadcasters including the FOX guys) so I can only help by phone at this point.

What a difference a day makes! Idol was rock solid, and I watched the first 15 minutes of House without a single dropout--save the quick jump to 5.0 and pillarboxing for severe weather updates during Idol.

Does FOX use different "splicer configurations" from night to night? If so, tell 'em to keep Tuesday's!!

I've been accused of being super-sensitive, but even my easy-going wife was frustrated trying to follow "24" on Monday.

Again, I watch an OTA signal through a D* HDTivo.

What a difference a day makes! Idol was rock solid, and I watched the first 15 minutes of House without a single dropout--save the quick jump to 5.0 and pillarboxing for severe weather updates during Idol.

Does FOX use different "splicer configurations" from night to night? If so, tell 'em to keep Tuesday's!!

I've been accused of being super-sensitive, but even my easy-going wife was frustrated trying to follow "24" on Monday.

Again, I watch an OTA signal through a D* HDTivo.

Not to be too picky, but you should post this in the OTA thread, this thread is for cable delivery.

Not to be too picky, but you should post this in the OTA thread, this thread is for cable delivery.

Not necessarily.. since the problem affected OTA (which is how TWC gets the feed) as well as cable.. :)

Not necessarily.. since the problem affected OTA (which is how TWC gets the feed) as well as cable.. :)

This time, it may not have have mattered, I only pointed it out because you mentioned in a previoud post that nobody seemed to be complainign about OTA, which isn't true :)

Anyhow, thank you for monitoring this forum and keeping us updated with the issues at FOX.

At that time we had no complaints about OTA. Not all OTA receivers will react the same way with problems in the signal. However, we get a LOT of complaints on TWC, certainly more so than OTA.

The Fox hi def broadcast on TWC seems to have improved since last week. I didn't have any dropped sound or pixalation during Prison Break last night but the sound did drop for about one second on 6 different occasions during 24. Anyone experience the same?

my wife went ballistic last night.....2 instances when the sound dropped during American Idol (again it seems to happen on Fox)

Hi everyone. This is my first post in this thread. I live in Harrisburg and have TWC and the 8300 HD DVR. I've been noticing the momentary problems with FOX and some other HD channels, as some folks have mentioned.

However, I have a MUCH worse problem with channels 225 (CBS HD), 226, 227, and 18. The picture sometimes is so blocky that it is completely unwatchable. This usually happens only during certain shows -- How I Met Your Mother (rarely), CSI, Without A Trace, NUMB3RS, Cold Case, etc.

We moved into this new house (in a new neighborhood) in February. I figured the problems were related to wiring in the neighborhood or our house. We have had about 5 service calls so far because of this problem. The first tech who showed up said that those channels are in the highest frequency band, so when there is a signal leak they are the first channels to go. (What genius decided that CBS HD should be in the most sensitive band? How about putting a bunch of channels that people don't watch there?!) Anyway, the tech did find a potential leak and corrected it. Problem did not go away. The cable from the street to our house was replaced. Still had the problem. Techs say that our signal is strong. One tech rearranged the cables on our splitter so the one going to the 8300 would have 3dB drop at the splitter instead of 7dB. Still had the problem. Finally, during the most recent service call, the tech said that 'last week' they found out that it was a system-wide problem (Metrolina? system -- Kannapolis, Concord, Harrisburg area) and that it had been 'fixed the day before'. Well, CSI had no problems that night! And I think Without A Trace was clean, too. (I only checked that show a couple of times.) And NUMB3RS had a few problems the next night but they cleared up during the show. So I thought all was well. Now... tonight... Cold Case is worse than ever.

I'm looking for advice. What should I do? Who can I contact to find out if it is system-wide or not? And what if it is... how can I help? I'd really like to get this problem resolved, but I'm not sure what the best course of action would be.

Anyone out there also having this problem in this area?

THANK YOU for listening, and for any help you can provide!

-Steve

Hi everyone. This is my first post in this thread. I live in Harrisburg and have TWC and the 8300 HD DVR. I've been noticing the momentary problems with FOX and some other HD channels, as some folks have mentioned.

However, I have a MUCH worse problem with channels 225 (CBS HD), 226, 227, and 18. The picture sometimes is so blocky that it is completely unwatchable. This usually happens only during certain shows -- How I Met Your Mother (rarely), CSI, Without A Trace, NUMB3RS, Cold Case, etc.

We moved into this new house (in a new neighborhood) in February. I figured the problems were related to wiring in the neighborhood or our house. We have had about 5 service calls so far because of this problem. The first tech who showed up said that those channels are in the highest frequency band, so when there is a signal leak they are the first channels to go. (What genius decided that CBS HD should be in the most sensitive band? How about putting a bunch of channels that people don't watch there?!) Anyway, the tech did find a potential leak and corrected it. Problem did not go away. The cable from the street to our house was replaced. Still had the problem. Techs say that our signal is strong. One tech rearranged the cables on our splitter so the one going to the 8300 would have 3dB drop at the splitter instead of 7dB. Still had the problem. Finally, during the most recent service call, the tech said that 'last week' they found out that it was a system-wide problem (Metrolina? system -- Kannapolis, Concord, Harrisburg area) and that it had been 'fixed the day before'. Well, CSI had no problems that night! And I think Without A Trace was clean, too. (I only checked that show a couple of times.) And NUMB3RS had a few problems the next night but they cleared up during the show. So I thought all was well. Now... tonight... Cold Case is worse than ever.

I'm looking for advice. What should I do? Who can I contact to find out if it is system-wide or not? And what if it is... how can I help? I'd really like to get this problem resolved, but I'm not sure what the best course of action would be.

Anyone out there also having this problem in this area?

THANK YOU for listening, and for any help you can provide!

-Steve

I live in the University area in Highland Creek & have had problems with these 3 CBS HDTV & digital channels as long as I have had a HDTV receiver. (well over 2 years) I have had TWC out to my house several times and get a different response each time. Once they actual told me that there was nothing that they can do and I just should live with it or drop the service. I have always suspected that the problem was on TWC side and not in my house. Your only course of action is to check with your neighbors to see if anyone else has digital service and has the same issues. If they do have them call TWC and complain to a manager. Going this route has not solved my problem but at least has gotten TWC attention and there trucks have been out to our neighbor hood several times. The problem for me comes and goes but in the last month as been pretty steady. Late Sunday afternoon was the first time in several weeks that I actually could watch 225. I would like to think that they have finally found the problem and fixed this issue but only time will tell.

Keep calling, keep calling, keep calling, and when you're done calling, call them again.

Make them yank out the splitter and put in a whole house signal amp (though I have one and still get audio issues from time-to-time).

Don't forget to keep calling them.


I'm looking for advice. What should I do? Who can I contact to find out if it is system-wide or not? And what if it is... how can I help? I'd really like to get this problem resolved, but I'm not sure what the best course of action would be.

Anyone out there also having this problem in this area?

THANK YOU for listening, and for any help you can provide!

-Steve

PROBLEM>>> Anyone else have center channel voices coming from their right surround speaker from cbs 5.1 shows??? I'm in shelby now and thought my receiver was messing up but it's not. All the cbs hd shows I recorded this week sounded crappy and I just noticed the center channel dialog is coming out of my center AND the right surround speaker giving everything a messed up echoey sound. I checked nbc, fox, etc and it's only happening on cbs shows that have 5.1 surround sound. Can you guys check to see if this is happening on your setups as well? thanks

Serious problems with the first 5 minutes or so of Prison Break last night... seemed to clear up after that though.

Yep..had a local problem that required splicer reboot..

However, I have a MUCH worse problem with channels 225 (CBS HD), 226, 227, and 18. The picture sometimes is so blocky that it is completely unwatchable. This usually happens only during certain shows -- How I Met Your Mother (rarely), CSI, Without A Trace, NUMB3RS, Cold Case, etc. Finally, during the most recent service call, the tech said that 'last week' they found out that it was a system-wide problem (Metrolina? system -- Kannapolis, Concord, Harrisburg area) and that it had been 'fixed the day before'. Anyone out there also having this problem in this area?

THANK YOU for listening, and for any help you can provide!

-Steve

I'm in the Concord area, too - same Metrolina system - and same problems with CBS. Like someone else posted... call and call again. (My personal favorite is to ask if they'll expect me to send only part of the payment for my cable bill, since they're only providing part of their service, although some CSR's handle rhetorical questions better than others!)

At some point soon, you should get "the node" speech from a tech. As in, "It's a bad node between your neighborhood and the headend, but we changed it." They (TWC techs) also like to attibute the problem to WBTV splitting the signal between the HD channel, the 'occasionally expanded' channel and the weather radar channel.

I'm in the Concord area, too - same Metrolina system - and same problems with CBS. Like someone else posted... call and call again. (My personal favorite is to ask if they'll expect me to send only part of the payment for my cable bill, since they're only providing part of their service, although some CSR's handle rhetorical questions better than others!)

At some point soon, you should get "the node" speech from a tech. As in, "It's a bad node between your neighborhood and the headend, but we changed it." They (TWC techs) also like to attibute the problem to WBTV splitting the signal between the HD channel, the 'occasionally expanded' channel and the weather radar channel.

So, it isn't just me... that is good to know, I guess. I spoke with a "Technical Manager" @ TWC on the phone this morning. He admitted that he is not technical, but told me that he was told that it is a "broadcaster problem" (meaning that the problem is caused by WBTV) but that the problem only affects some of TWC's nodes. HUH?!?! At any rate, a "Lead Tech" is going to show up at our house sometime tomorrow morning for YET ANOTHER SERVICE CALL. Hopefully, the problem will be happening during the visit this time.

The Technical Manager said that I will receive an adjustment on my account because of the inconvenience. I didn't ask for it -- he volunteered it. So, that is good.

Interestingly... I had spoken with a man at WBTV about 30 minutes before the TWC manager called. He said that if they had a problem, their "switchboard would light up", especially during CSI. And, that has not happened.

-Steve

Keep calling, keep calling, keep calling, and when you're done calling, call them again.

Make them yank out the splitter and put in a whole house signal amp (though I have one and still get audio issues from time-to-time).

Don't forget to keep calling them.

ke4pym... are you saying that you used to have this particular problem, and that it was (mostly) fixed by a whole house signal amp? -Steve

ke4pym... are you saying that you used to have this particular problem, and that it was (mostly) fixed by a whole house signal amp? -Steve

Oh, I still have blocking problems and audio problems from time to time. How I Met your Mother was fine last night.

I'd be curious to know who you spoke with at WBTV... (if you remember, PM it too me).

I believe it is time to go another route.

George.Bodenheimer@ESPN.com
VP of Programming at ESPN

I was wondering what subdivision you live in Harrisburg. I too moved into new development in h-burg in Dec and have TWC digital cable and picture is awful on lower channels ( basically all locals) . Heavily pixelated or blotchy , whatever you want to call it. Watching CSI or Lost etc. looks awful. Picture on other sets with standard cable definitely worse than old house in Univ. area .Numerous tech visits, put amp on line - same blah pics. Going HDTV soon -leaning towards Sat service for it now. Oh, I'm in Magnolia Springs Sub.

I believe it is time to go another route.

George.Bodenheimer@ESPN.com
VP of Programming at ESPN

Speaking of other routes, I'm thinking of making a right onto DirecTV Drive instead of a left onto Ask ESPN to Help TWC Lane. Are the local channels available in HD? Yet I digress...

Is there anyone on the board who works or knows of anyone who works for WCNC?

did anyone else with twc check on the center/surround problem I posted on above? thanks

I was wondering what subdivision you live in Harrisburg. . . . Going HDTV soon -leaning towards Sat service for it now. Oh, I'm in Magnolia Springs Sub.

I sent you a PM regarding my location. I'm also considering satellite. Maybe later this year (?) after DirecTV offers local channels in HD and begins to roll out their new MPEG4-capable HD DVR.

That's my plan as well if nothing else changes.

Well, the TWC tech came this morning. As luck would have it, the channels that had been completely gone for two solid days reappeared less than an hour before the tech showed up. Anyway, he told my wife that 225, 226, and 227 are a problem in many places. He said that "as close as we are" our signal strength should be "11" and we were at "-1". He installed a booster. From what my wife told me, it sounds like it is installed at the DVR's location, not in the box outside. Time will tell if this is the solution...
-Steve

did anyone else with twc check on the center/surround problem I posted on above? thanks

I'll let you know soon, now that I can actually tune to the channel... at least for now. :cool: I'll try to check one of the 5.1 shows tonight.

We've made a few changes to the WCCB_DT audio configuration, please let us know what you think.

Anyway, he told my wife that 225, 226, and 227 are a problem in many places. -Steve

You know... I'm not a cable tech, nor do I play one on TV. Hell, I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn last night! But if it's a problem in many places, then it ought to be fixed!!!

Sorry for preaching to the choir, stating the obvious and all else...

Seriously, anyone know someone in the employ of WCNC? I have a gripe with them, too.

did anyone else with twc check on the center/surround problem I posted on above? thanks

Mine was OK last night.

Well, the TWC tech came this morning. From what my wife told me, it sounds like it (the booster) is installed at the DVR's location, not in the box outside. Time will tell if this is the solution...
-Steve

It is a whole house booster. (The power inserter is installed at the DVR.) And 225 was OK last night until about 5 minutes 'til 11:00. Then the blockiness began... and lasted well into the news. So, this isn't the final solution. I guess I'll have to call TWC again. Anybody know what government agency monitors/regulates cable companies in the Harrisburg/Concord/Kannapolis area? Would going this route help at all?

Anyone who is in Charlotte notice a very grainy ABC HD picture through TW. I use the SA8300 and record most everything I watch, I also have OTA, but rarely use it. I record Alias, and Grays Anatomy and both blotchy and grainy. None of my other HD channels produce these symptoms only ABC. Anyone else finding these same issues with ABC.

My set-up:

50 - SXRD
SA8300 - HDMI - set to 1080i only

Anyone who is in Charlotte notice a very grainy ABC HD picture through TW. I use the SA8300 and record most everything I watch, I also have OTA, but rarely use it. I record Alias, and Grays Anatomy and both blotchy and grainy. None of my other HD channels produce these symptoms only ABC. Anyone else finding these same issues with ABC.

My set-up:

50 - SXRD
SA8300 - HDMI - set to 1080i only
Yeah, a lot of shows are just naturally grainy since they're done on film.

I'm actually switching from Sat to TWC. Direct TV wants 400 bucks up front for a LEASE on a HD DVR, plus a 2 year commit. So, even after two years, you have to return the DVR if you stop service. Until SAT folks match cables offers, then, they are going to loose out (SAT cust for 9 years now)

It is a whole house booster. (The power inserter is installed at the DVR.) And 225 was OK last night until about 5 minutes 'til 11:00. Then the blockiness began... and lasted well into the news. So, this isn't the final solution. I guess I'll have to call TWC again. Anybody know what government agency monitors/regulates cable companies in the Harrisburg/Concord/Kannapolis area? Would going this route help at all?

I have the same booster but TW plugged in the power to the amp on the back of the SA8300. This caused sporadic problems the TW tech never could figure out what was causing every TV in my house have a poor signal, just sometimes not all the time. Well it hit me the 8300 automatically turns that AC outlet off when it was powered down. I changed it in the 8300 to "always on" and still had weird problems out of it, so I took the amp and connected it and powered it in my attic where the cable enters, no more problems at all.

I have the same booster but TW plugged in the power to the amp on the back of the SA8300. This caused sporadic problems the TW tech never could figure out what was causing every TV in my house have a poor signal, just sometimes not all the time. Well it hit me the 8300 automatically turns that AC outlet off when it was powered down. I changed it in the 8300 to "always on" and still had weird problems out of it, so I took the amp and connected it and powered it in my attic where the cable enters, no more problems at all.

Mine is plugged into a separate outlet beside the DVR, so it is on all the time. My problem is still happening, so I think a bad signal is occasionally coming into my house and the amp is just making it a stronger bad signal.

Does anyone else notice constant but random drop outs in the audio on channel 235? The picture keeps going but the sound will stop for about 5 seconds.

Also why does WSOC keep the 5.1 flag on at all times, even when the content is not 5.1 such as local news?

I talked with the 'technical manager' at TWC on the phone again this morning. He talked with someone there who told him that the problems with channel 225 are caused by equipment at the head-end of the metrolina system. Apparently, they are waiting for software that will fix the problem. They don't know how long the wait will be.

Also why does WSOC keep the 5.1 flag on at all times, even when the content is not 5.1 such as local news?

Local configuration issue.

Any update as to when the HDMI/5.1 issue will be resolved?

Thanks,

-Tony

Is anyone here having trouble with the supposedly QAM channels?
Downstairs I have the HD-DVR (8300?), and full digital cable.

Up until a few weeks ago, my upstairs tv (sony 42" hd) was able to get DISC-HD, TNT-HD, and a few others. Now if I try to tune to these channels, I get "Not Authorized" (the tv shows this).

I am going to call TWC now, but just wondered if anyone else noticed this.

-jamie

Is anyone here having trouble with the supposedly QAM channels?
Downstairs I have the HD-DVR (8300?), and full digital cable.

Up until a few weeks ago, my upstairs tv (sony 42" hd) was able to get DISC-HD, TNT-HD, and a few others. Now if I try to tune to these channels, I get "Not Authorized" (the tv shows this).

I am going to call TWC now, but just wondered if anyone else noticed this.


I spoke with someone at TWC, and was told that they did some frequency reshuffling a few weeks ago which might have changed where these channels live.

Is there a list somewhere of QAM channels for TWC/Charlotte?

Looks like we are back to the usual FOX and/or TWC cable problems. The season finale of 24 had a few instances of dropped sound. American Idol had the same problem on Tuesday. But the worst was last night during the Finale of American Idol on FOXHD 240 they started the broadcast completely over form the beginning when they came back from the break at 9PM. I switch over to SD Fox on 11 and caught the end of a live Carrie Underwood tune......very confusing!

Stacey,
Suggest you have TWC come out and check your drop. Those here who watched had no issues with drop outs.
As to the "start-over at 9pm" that was a national network control issue that has been covered here in other areas of the forum.

Is anyone here having trouble with the supposedly QAM channels?
-jamie

Yes, my Mits 62725 will no longer see ANY of the QAM's.. period. :(

Yes, my Mits 62725 will no longer see ANY of the QAM's.. period. :(

The tech suggested that I rescan, to see if that helps. Since it takes an hour, I will do it later...

Will do.

The tech suggested that I rescan, to see if that helps. Since it takes an hour, I will do it later...

I did, that's when it came up with no Qam's at all..

Looks like we are back to the usual FOX and/or TWC cable problems. The season finale of 24 had a few instances of dropped sound. American Idol had the same problem on Tuesday. But the worst was last night during the Finale of American Idol on FOXHD 240 they started the broadcast completely over form the beginning when they came back from the break at 9PM. I switch over to SD Fox on 11 and caught the end of a live Carrie Underwood tune......very confusing!

The same thing happend on Fox 18's OTA signal. The second hour started with a rebroadcast of the begining of the first hour and then it appeared someone realized the screwup and went to the second hour live and in progress....

The same thing happend on Fox 18's OTA signal. The second hour started with a rebroadcast of the begining of the first hour and then it appeared someone realized the screwup and went to the second hour live and in progress....

"As to the "start-over at 9pm" that was a national network control issue that has been covered here in other areas of the forum. ""

Read...Think.. Post :)

Read...Think.. Post :)

With all due respect to bdfox...

I had a question regarding QAM's, but didn't want to back up thru 96 other pages of our section, or trouble you all. So I searched and found the answer to my own question in the FAQ/Glossary section of the board:

Quadrature amplitude modulation - A digital modulation method in which the value of a symbol consisting of multiple bits is represented by amplitude and phase states of a carrier. 64 or 256 QAM is used for downstream transmission in cable systems. :eek:

Right!!!

Now that I've found my answer, I have another question. Well, actually the same question: what's a QAM??!! :confused:

Basically,QAM is the modulation format that Cable companies use to put digital signals on the cable, It's better suited to noisy and interference prone environments than 8VSb which is what OTA ATSC uses. Each channel that carries "digital" channels on the cable is referred to as a QAM.. WCCB-DT is carried on QAM 101 @ 665 mhz, which is he same as WUNG-Tv's OTA digital channel 44. This is a large part of why many viewers, especially in the concord-kannapolis area, have problems with us on TWC.

A good primer is located here: http://www.coolstf.com/ See the MPEG section there Teddy,
probably more than you want to know, but Rod explains it fairly well. Hope this helps.

Looks like we are back to the usual FOX and/or TWC cable problems. The season finale of 24 had a few instances of dropped sound. American Idol had the same problem on Tuesday. But the worst was last night during the Finale of American Idol on FOXHD 240 they started the broadcast completely over form the beginning when they came back from the break at 9PM. I switch over to SD Fox on 11 and caught the end of a live Carrie Underwood tune......very confusing!

I'm also having this same problem audio dropouts and video freeze ups. I'm going to call
them. I'm glad I came here first to see if anyone else is having the same problem. I've
only had my STB and HD about 2 months and I wasn't having this problem when I first
got it. It's most annoying. It probably won't do it when they come out.

There were some audio dropouts during the race yesterday OTA from WCCB, but no problems during the 24 or AI finales and no problems since the few days at the end of April at least during AI, 24, PB, House, Bones or Malcolm. If you had any problems during that programming, it is likely on TWCs or your end.

Did some work on Saturday with TWC, and discovered an issue, while fine for OTA, was causing their processor to have some major issues when regrooming and mixing streams. We and TWC will be sending recordings of the streams to FOX and Terayon to see what is causing the problem. Our HD system, as well as how TWC handles the signal, is somewhat advanced and on the cutting edge, so there are still bugs being worked out even today.

I'm also convinced that there is another problem that has developed on our end late Friday or early Saturday which led to TWC's discovery. Rather than risk killing the race altogther, I let it go as it wans't that bad. All of this gear, including the FOX splicer, is single thread with NO redundancy. Even if I wanted to buy an extra splicer, FOX doesn't make them available.

Did you mean Sunday?

Then agian, I guess you mean Sunday, because Fox didn't broadcast the race on Saturday.

No, I specifically meant Saturday.

Bump!

Anyone?

I know a firmware update will resolve this.

Thanks,

-Tony

Any update as to when the HDMI/5.1 issue will be resolved?

Thanks,

-Tony

Has anyone been noticing an audio sync issue on WSOC news and WCCB Fox news. I have been noticing it for about a week now. Its only on the live broadcasts. Pretty noticeable when watching the anchors especially. I am using an 8300 box with component/coax audio and never had a problem until recently. Anyone else notice?

Brian

Does anyone know if TWC is planning on adding anymore channels to their HD package?

Does anyone know if TWC is planning on adding anymore channels to their HD package?

Nope; not for a loooong time. :( They have bandwidth issues, apparently. They were able to add UHD briefly during the Olympics, but had to juggle some things to do it and "had" to take it down right after. They may be able to add one or two before the end of the year, but need to implement something called, I believe, digital switching before they can free up enough bandwidth to add more HD channels. All of TWC is making this upgrade, but only Charlotte and LA, out of the entire country, are so bandwidth challenged they simply cannot add any more HD channels at the present time. This seems fantastic to me, but that's the word I hear.

That's how it was presented to me by Frank Hosea, Director of Marketing for TWC here in Charlotte. I asked why they can't just flush a bunch of SD channels that nobody watches or cares about, but he said there are "contractural agreements" that prevent that. Also, their top priority isn't us HD viewers, but adding more spanish-speaking channels to the lineup. Nobody who lives in this area should be surprised by that. :rolleyes:

Makes me wish the fecking HD TIVO for DTV wasn't so expensive.

Makes me wish the fecking HD TIVO for DTV wasn't so expensive.

Well, it's not just that it's expensive (which it is - horribly so), but that it also comes with "HD Lite", or reduced resolution HD, courtesy of the "someone up there loves you" provider. :rolleyes:

All things considered, factoring in the fact that they don't make you buy the excellent SA8300 HD-DVR and even with the limited number of HD channels available (and no more to come for quite some time), cable still gives you the best deal around, IMO. I've had 'em all - the original Primestar, followed by D*, then E*. Went to cable 2 years ago principally because of the active firewire port offered on the SA3250 (I have a D-VHS deck.).

Yup, they gave me a great deal when I turned in my dish a year ago. Now, they are extending that deal another year, so I'll stay. I do wish they would get CSTV and ESPNU on there!

also a lot of bandwith might be used up by the 400 on up stations that are useless.

I was planning on ordering the Hopkins/Tarver fight on PPV this saturday night... will this be available in HD? Does Time Warner have an HD PPV channel?

Will no one chime in on the 5.1/HDMI issue and a possible date for a firmware update?

-Tony

Just wondering if TWC-Charlotte has ESPN2-HD? I see where the College Baseball World Series (featuring the Tar Heels of course) is on ESPN2-HD today and tonight.

Just wondering if TWC-Charlotte has ESPN2-HD? I see where the College Baseball World Series (featuring the Tar Heels of course) is on ESPN2-HD today and tonight.

Unfortunately NO

Is anyone else NOT getting HD on ABC right now for Ghana vs. Czech Republic ?

I am on TWC. Other channels are coming in HD fine....

Sure hope it's fixed before the USA game!! GO USA!! We can do it!

Who is going to call WSOC? ;)

Thanks,

Perry

12:15 PM: It's back! We have HD.... Hope it stays on now through the USA v Italy game!

Time Warner Cable Has added Starz-HD & Cinemax-HD in Austin & San Antonio, ask them about your area receiving these channels.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/sanantonio/programming/updates.html

Won't matter Andy. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Director of Marketing here in Charlotte has told me that our system is, along with LA of all places, the most bandwidth challenged of all the TWC outlets in the entire country (why, I have no idea). And there's lots of new spanish language channels, in bandwidth hogging analog, that just have to be added to our system. Just ain't got no room for more HD.:rolleyes:

But "digital switching" will change that paradigm as soon as they can get it implemented, I'm told.

I just had a DirecTV HD DVR (HR10-250) installed. I did not go for the pro installation of an outdoor HD antenna thinking that my reception would be good enough since my set top RCA antenna generally gave good reception of the major channels.

Well I think the OTA receiver in this thing is not as good as my Samunsung TV's receiver. If I have the antenna tunning in ch. 3 I cannot get 9. 36 comes in fairly strong since they have a tower here in Gaston Co. But 64, 55, 46, and 42 will not tune in using the atenna on top of the TV, run with a 100 foot cable up to my top floor in a bedroom that has a window facing Charlotte.

I just had a DirecTV HD DVR (HR10-250) installed. I did not go for the pro installation of an outdoor HD antenna thinking that my reception would be good enough since my set top RCA antenna generally gave good reception of the major channels.

Well I think the OTA receiver in this thing is not as good as my Samunsung TV's receiver. If I have the antenna tunning in ch. 3 I cannot get 9. 36 comes in fairly strong since they have a tower here in Gaston Co. But 64, 55, 46, and 42 will not tune in using the atenna on top of the TV, run with a 100 foot cable up to my top floor in a bedroom that has a window facing Charlotte.




Wrong thread.... :rolleyes:

Oh, just a typical newbie sin of Post first, Read second, Think third..

Kpurcell you may want to see the Charlotte OTA thread. But you do need an outdoor antenna for optimum reception, and not that POS the directv folks install. There is a lot of good info over in the OTA thread.

Welcome to AVS

Hell, I just wish the TW site for Charlotte had a "Programming Update" section.

And just why does someone in Memphis need to know that?

Of course, it's not as if they ever add anything new here, in HD especially.. :(

b/c I live in Charlotte now, just haven't updated my profile in a year!!

The tech suggested that I rescan, to see if that helps. Since it takes an hour, I will do it later...

Finally did it, they are all just gone... :(

I'm moving next month from Nashville (Comcast) to Charlotte, it looks like my only option for cable TV is TWC? (Unfortunately I cannot get a DirecTV signal from my new apartment.)

From reading this thread, it looks like TWC Charlotte is rather poor in terms of HD selection, with no improvement in sight, so I'm hoping there's another option. Comcast in Nashville has been adding HD channels (including ESPN2), but their customer service/tech support is the worst I've ever experienced, and not just among cable companies!

Anyone know if TWC in Charlotte will be getting NFL Network HD before Thanksgiving? Starting on Thanksgiving NFL Network will be showing a weekly football game. If TWC is unable to get NFL Network, I may have to switch to Satellitte.

Anyone know if TWC in Charlotte will be getting NFL Network HD before Thanksgiving? Starting on Thanksgiving NFL Network will be showing a weekly football game. If TWC is unable to get NFL Network, I may have to switch to Satellitte.

I posted this exact question out in the HD Programming forum a couple months ago. I didn't get a lot of responses, but the one I did receive was negative. I'm with you. If TWC doesn't add NFL Network I'll be looking to switch to Dish. I'd rather have the NFL Network over additional HD.

Just got a 46' LCD and the HD DVR box from TWC.
(I also am paying the extra $6.50/mo for the HD Tier with ESPNHD, HDNet, InHD, etc . .FYI)

How should i set things up to make sure my HD is as good as it can be (within $$ reason)
Thus far i have bought and connected the HDMI cable to/from cable box and tv.
I have connected an optical audio from the cable box to the tv (this is that fiber optic thing)
I forget what i am using to and from my dvd player, i think its a single cable that is orange on the end? Not sure what this is called, all the terms are confusing. Compenent or composite maybe?

What i dont know is exactly under the Settings (then A for more settings) menu on the cable, what to put for best performance? I have selected the following settings which comply with my TV: 480p, 780p, and 1080i. Are there any other settings under the Settings set up i should set for best viewing?

What else should i do to make sure i have things set optimumly?
Oh, i am using a standard coax from the wall to the HD box. Will upgrading make a signifcant difference? If so, upgrade to what?

I find that my HD channels arent as loud through my surround (5:1) as the non hds are. Anyone else have that problem? I have to turn up the sound when i go to an HD channel, and then down when i go to CNN for example. But i have that supposed better quality fiber optic sound thing. Did i mess something up? (yes its connected to the right places on both ends)

Also i find that when i switch channels, in the upper left of my tv it tells me whether its 480, 720, or 1080 for the first 2 seconds, then goes away. The 720's seem just as clear as the 1080s i think. Anyone else agree? Am i doing something wrong with my setup? Should 1080 not be better?

ABCHD (channel 200something) i found the horse race last month, the NBA finals, and the World Cup to be super clear (i mean this is what i spent the $$ for!. Even better than ESPNHD and the other network versions. Does anyone else find this to be true?

Does anyone else with TWC and the HD box get a super grainy picture on ESPN, ESPN2, yet a great pic on OLN, TWC, etc . . ? I dont get why the differences when neither of them are HD. I guess some are 480 and the others 720? Maybe i answered my own question here.

Finally, what's a pain is that when i go to some channels, i get the side bars. I have to stretch the screen each time to correct, or i'm watching a 32' version (I didnt buy 46" to watch 32 for God's sake!). Is there a way to set this all the time without stretching the HD channels when i go to them? They are best viewed on "Standard".

I know, a LOT of ??s, but i'm new to all this so i appreciate your wisdom and guidance.

Sammydoo,

email me at abcward@yahoo.com and i'll see if I can help you out with some of your questions

Bruce

Sammydo, how does the picture look with HDMI vs. component? HDMI looks awful coming from my Scientific Atlanta box from TWC.

As far as the sound in HD channels vs. non-HD, it's louder from non-HD since sound is coming in stereo from all four surround speakers, sans the center channel. With HD, sound usually comes from the center channel only in terms of dialogue.

As far as side bars, I would suggest having those on non-HD content or you'll see a stretched, distorted picture. You should only get a full picture on HD and DVD content.

well I'm with Adelphia now, and was told that Comcast was going to take over my area, as it turns out, TWC is going to be my provider, hopefully it will be somewhat of a upgrade from Adelphia

Sammydo, how does the picture look with HDMI vs. component? HDMI looks awful coming from my Scientific Atlanta box from TWC.


I've tried it both ways and, once you bump up the color on HDMI, there's virtually no difference at all. I'm feeding a Sony 34XBR910 (direct-view CRT), so if there were a noticeable difference, I'd probably be able to see it.

So, I use component for the SA cable boxes/DVR and save my HDMI input for my upconverting DVD player where there's more of a perceptible difference.

I posted this exact question out in the HD Programming forum a couple months ago. I didn't get a lot of responses, but the one I did receive was negative. I'm with you. If TWC doesn't add NFL Network I'll be looking to switch to Dish. I'd rather have the NFL Network over additional HD.


Any word on the NFL Network? This was posted on the NFL website.


NFL Network completes 75 affiliation agreements
(June 19, 2006) -- NFL Network announced the completion of 75 affiliation agreements with cable companies to carry the 24-hour, year-round football channel from the National Football League -- including the rights to air its primetime regular season games this fall.

All of the deals are for the "expanded basic" level of service, meaning the most broadly distributed package the video provider offers. All distributors will also get to carry NFL Network's exclusive national slate of 52 preseason games as well as benefit from the ability to sell ads in programming targeted to America's most avid fans, NFL fans.

Cable operators are signing up at a torrid pace since NFL Network became the exclusive home to the new primetime regular season NFL games package and announced that Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth would be the Network's primary broadcast team.

NFL Network will televise 168 football games in 2006, including preseason, regular season, game re-airs, NFL Europe League, the Insight Bowl and Senior Bowl games, in addition to the most robust and popular sports Video-On-Demand content in the industry.

"We have had terrific partnerships with the distributors who have been carrying NFL Network the past two years," said Brian Decker, NFL Network's vice president, national accounts. "They recognize the value proposition NFL Network offers and the opportunities an association with the NFL presents, so these newcomers to NFL Network will begin to see immediate benefits to being part of our team."

These new and existing NFL Network distributors have received significant advertising inventory during each NFL Net game telecast. This telecast time represents some of the most valuable and sought after advertising opportunities in cable. NFL games accounted for nine of the 10 most watched basic cable programs in 2005 and NFL football has been the No. 1 rated series on cable for 19 consecutive years -- since its inception in 1987.

With the creation of the new primetime Thursday/Saturday package of games -- the first new NFL game package in sixteen years -- the cable industry is in a position to reap substantial benefits.

NFL Network plans nearly 2,000 hours of original programming in the coming year, including 52 preseason games, 75 game re-airs, eight primetime games, plus the expansion of programming including a half-dozen new series in the fall.

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the first television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football.

Any word on the NFL Network? This was posted on the NFL website.


NFL Network completes 75 affiliation agreements
(June 19, 2006) -- NFL Network announced the completion of 75 affiliation agreements with cable companies to carry the 24-hour, year-round football channel from the National Football League -- including the rights to air its primetime regular season games this fall.

All of the deals are for the "expanded basic" level of service, meaning the most broadly distributed package the video provider offers. All distributors will also get to carry NFL Network's exclusive national slate of 52 preseason games as well as benefit from the ability to sell ads in programming targeted to America's most avid fans, NFL fans.

Cable operators are signing up at a torrid pace since NFL Network became the exclusive home to the new primetime regular season NFL games package and announced that Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth would be the Network's primary broadcast team.

NFL Network will televise 168 football games in 2006, including preseason, regular season, game re-airs, NFL Europe League, the Insight Bowl and Senior Bowl games, in addition to the most robust and popular sports Video-On-Demand content in the industry.

"We have had terrific partnerships with the distributors who have been carrying NFL Network the past two years," said Brian Decker, NFL Network's vice president, national accounts. "They recognize the value proposition NFL Network offers and the opportunities an association with the NFL presents, so these newcomers to NFL Network will begin to see immediate benefits to being part of our team."

These new and existing NFL Network distributors have received significant advertising inventory during each NFL Net game telecast. This telecast time represents some of the most valuable and sought after advertising opportunities in cable. NFL games accounted for nine of the 10 most watched basic cable programs in 2005 and NFL football has been the No. 1 rated series on cable for 19 consecutive years -- since its inception in 1987.

With the creation of the new primetime Thursday/Saturday package of games -- the first new NFL game package in sixteen years -- the cable industry is in a position to reap substantial benefits.

NFL Network plans nearly 2,000 hours of original programming in the coming year, including 52 preseason games, 75 game re-airs, eight primetime games, plus the expansion of programming including a half-dozen new series in the fall.

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the first television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football.

Now if they just had some of their broadcasts in HD that would really be awesome.

Hugh

I'm hopeful that TWC will add the NFL Network before the season starts. You would think that a cable company as large as TWC would make this additional a no-brainer, especially with it being a SD channel and not a bandwidth hog HD channel.

I have virtually no interest in the SD version of the NFL Network. I want NFL Network HD!

I have been faithfully paying my $180 cable bill for almost 2 years, including the $6.95 for an "HD package". It is time for TWC to step up and get more channels. I would like Food Network HD, Universal HD and others, but give me NFL Network HD and it will placate me for now.

I'm hopeful that TWC will add the NFL Network before the season starts. You would think that a cable company as large as TWC would make this additional a no-brainer, especially with it being a SD channel and not a bandwidth hog HD channel.

You've got it backwards; read back to some of my posts talking about why they "can't" add more HD channels. Analog SD channels eat up far more bandwidth than digital channels, including HD channels.

I'm hopeful that TWC will add the NFL Network before the season starts. You would think that a cable company as large as TWC would make this additional a no-brainer, especially with it being a SD channel and not a bandwidth hog HD channel.

You and everyone else who wants the NFL Network needs to e-mail the VP of Programming for TWC:

fred.dressler@twcable.com

Quick programming question for tonight-

The Braves/Cardinals game tonight is scheduled to be shown on both Turner South [channel 60] and ESPN-HD [channel 285]. Please tell me that the HD broadcast will not be blacked out due to TSO's broadcast of the game.

Any info would be appreciated.

Can someone tell me if i should be able to pick up OTA HD channel out of Charlotte in the Hickory area. I am looking to give Charter Comm. the axe and go satellite for the first time in my life. I am just trying to do my homework first. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You and everyone else who wants the NFL Network needs to e-mail the VP of Programming for TWC:

fred.dressler@twcable.com

So I took your advice and emailed Fred - here is the email i sent him:

Mr. Dressler,

As a loyal Time Warner subscriber in the Charlotte, NC area, I have a
request. With the changes the NFL has made to their television
schedule, the NFL Network is now showing football games this year. As
you know, TWC currently does not offer the NFL Network in Charlotte.

I have been more than satified with TWC since I have been a subscriber.
However, if you are unable to add the NFL Network I will be forced to
go to satellite to get all the football I can get.

Thanks for your time and efforts.

And here is the response I got:

Just a quick question: what makes this so important now? Direct tv has
had every out of market game for the last 10 years, but you say you are
a "satisfied" customer. You will not lose a single carolina game, home
or away, with time warner cable, so again I ask: why now?

Is it me or his response not quite the politically correct response that you send to one your customers if you wish to retain them?? Newsflash Fred: not everyone who lives in Charlotte is interested ONLY in Panthers games.

And just why does someone in Memphis need to know that?

Of course, it's not as if they ever add anything new here, in HD especially.. :(


Bob,

Any word on the Panthers doing any pre-season games in HD?

Thanks.

Is it me or his response not quite the politically correct response that you send to one your customers if you wish to retain them?? Newsflash Fred: not everyone who lives in Charlotte is interested ONLY in Panthers games.

For one thing, Fred Dressler has no say-so in terms of which channels are adopted by TWC-Charlotte, so I don't know what you are attempting to achieve by contacting him. As I've said before on several posts in this thread, TWC-Charlotte is the most bandwidth-challenged outlet in TWC's stable along with Los Angeles (reading back a few pages would be enlightening for you). They have no more room to add more HD channels when the pressure to add more analog Spanish-speaking channels is the primary focus. We can disagree on whether this focus is warranted, but that appears to be the direction management has elected to go.

They will have much more room to add additional HD channels when they implement digital switching, which I'm hoping happens this year. I'm sure the NFL network is among the most requested channels, but you can't get blood out of a turnip. Until then, no amount of e-mail to Mr. Dressler will have any impact on the TWC-Charlotte schedule and will only serve to frustrate you even more.

Bob,

Any word on the Panthers doing any pre-season games in HD?

Thanks.

The answer is "NO" to us from the Panthers. :( Unless one or more of the games were to be picked up by one of the networks, which I believe one will be by FOX.

Bear in mind that WCCB has NOTHING to do with the production of the Panthers preseason games. That's all handled by the Panthers in conjuction with JP
(er....LINCOLN FINANCIAL) Sports. WCCB (and WOLO) can take live sports programming in HD,when and if available,as we did with the 2004 Allstars game from FOX. That was in the pre-splicer era, before FOX was delivering HD. We and Houston were the only stations to air the 2004 Allstars game in HD if memory is correct.

Any complaints on the games not being produced in HD should go directly to the Panthers and not WCCB. :)

So I took your advice and emailed Fred - here is the email i sent him:



And here is the response I got:



Is it me or his response not quite the politically correct response that you send to one your customers if you wish to retain them?? Newsflash Fred: not everyone who lives in Charlotte is interested ONLY in Panthers games.

Did you respond back to him? This is typical TWC. Dressler could care less if you are "satisfied". So much so, that he's daring you to drop TWC for satellite. Unbelieveable.

At any rate, that's an indication of what TWC is doing about getting an agreement for the NFL Network.

For one thing, Fred Dressler has no say-so in terms of which channels are adopted by TWC-Charlotte, so I don't know what you are attempting to achieve by contacting him. As I've said before on several posts in this thread, TWC-Charlotte is the most bandwidth-challenged outlet in TWC's stable along with Los Angeles (reading back a few pages would be enlightening for you). They have no more room to add more HD channels when the pressure to add more analog Spanish-speaking channels is the primary focus. We can disagree on whether this focus is warranted, but that appears to be the direction management has elected to go.

They will have much more room to add additional HD channels when they implement digital switching, which I'm hoping happens this year. I'm sure the NFL network is among the most requested channels, but you can't get blood out of a turnip. Until then, no amount of e-mail to Mr. Dressler will have any impact on the TWC-Charlotte schedule and will only serve to frustrate you even more.

While you're right about what eventually gets on the Charlotte line-up, Dressler is the one to contact about programming requests. Without a corporate carriage agreement, no TWC local can carry anything.

Mooresville and Mecklenburg County, along with the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius and Troutman, have formed a consortium that is looking into the option of acquiring and operating the Adelphia cable system.

Mooresville Tribune Article (http://www.mooresvilletribune.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MOT/MGArticle/MOT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149189244631)

I can't see the Town of Mooresville being able to run a top notch cable system...

t123

hopefully the statesville area will not be included in that group, but it prolly will be if that were to happen

Maybe? Possibly the start of a community broadband initiative here? TW really needs some competition in this area (and DirecTV ain't cuttin' it).

BTW ... through a friend who e-mailed Dressler (VP, TWC Programming) a couple of days ago about whether ESPN2HD and the NFL Network (SD and/or HD) will be available by September 1st ...

In his typical fashion, he responded- "we are negotiating hard and are very hopeful". Translation: no **'ing way.

AIs everyone getting drop outs during the broadcast?

AIs everyone getting drop outs during the broadcast?

Yes. There's been a lot of trouble with TNT-HD and audio dropouts lately. In fact, during the "Nightmares & Dreamstakes" series, it's so bad we often have to turn on the CC in order to keep up with what's going on. I don't know if this is a TWC problem (probably not since it doesn't seem to occur on other channels with the same frequency) or, more likely, a TNT network problem. Along with the chest-crushing overcranking of LFE on their DD5.1 telecasts, this is a real problem that someone at TNT needs to look at.

Along with the chest-crushing overcranking of LFE on their DD5.1 telecasts, this is a real problem that someone at TNT needs to look at.

Actually, that probably has more to do with TW than TNT. There was an article a month or two ago in TV Technology discussing the many problems cable companies have in keeping all the audio levels proper. Pretty good technical article. I went digging for it but couldn't turn it up in a quick search.

Actually, that probably has more to do with TW than TNT. There was an article a month or two ago in TV Technology discussing the many problems cable companies have in keeping all the audio levels proper. Pretty good technical article. I went digging for it but couldn't turn it up in a quick search.

Yep, there's probably some truth to that. I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the Sci-Fi channel and the Golf Channel (there may be many, and almost certainly are, other affected channels I don't watch) have volume levels that are far lower than the others. In fact, I have to crank my receiver up to it's full volume level to hear these shows and then hope I remember to crank it waaay back down before I change channels in order to avoid blowing out either my eardrums or speakers.

I called TWC about this and they said I was the only person who had complained about it, thus they wouldn't do anything about it (same argument they give me about my 5C/D-VHS troubles - that problem has been ongoing for 2 1/2 years now). You just gotta' love monopolies, don't you? :rolleyes:

Digital channels are "groomed" from satellite onto the system for distribution. TWC can do nothing to change the levels, that's in the programmer's hands.

So, have others noticed the abnormally low volume levels on some of these channels, specifically the two I referenced above? It's not just me??

BTW ... through a friend who e-mailed Dressler (VP, TWC Programming) a couple of days ago about whether ESPN2HD and the NFL Network (SD and/or HD) will be available by September 1st ...

In his typical fashion, he responded- "we are negotiating hard and are very hopeful". Translation: no **'ing way.


Long time lurker, first time poster.

I believe the NFL Network has sewn up rights to a few college bowl games as well.

Wonder what Fred would say about that, or would there just be another wise guy comment?

So, have others noticed the abnormally low volume levels on some of these channels, specifically the two I referenced above? It's not just me??

Oh yea..

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I believe the NFL Network has sewn up rights to a few college bowl games as well.

Wonder what Fred would say about that, or would there just be another wise guy comment?

Email him and let him know that you're pissed.

fred.dressler@twcable.com

Hi folks. Saw a reference for this place on another site and figured I could get some help here, though I'm not even sure I'm in the right forum for tech support/questions. This may have been addressed but there just too many pages to wade through.

I've noticed that on virtually all of my HD channels, I'm having a ton of muted spots where the audio drops for 1-3 seconds. This probably happens once every 5 minutes, if not more often. And it occurs in live time viewing as well as during shows I've recorded. I can't say I've noticed this on the non-HD channels and from what I can tell, it happens on all the HD's and not just a specific station.

I have had TW out to check the signal and they said it was fine. And I've swapped out DVR boxes and still having this issue. I'm paying a good bit of money a month to TW and I expect a product that isn't so glitchy. Does anyone know what causes this and if there is a way to fix it? It has become so annoying, that I find myself not even watching the HD channels which defeats the purpose of me shelling out big bucks for a new HDTV.

Any help would be appreciated.

I back-tracked thru the thread, and I'm assuming TWC does still have the HDMI port activated on the 8300 HD-DVR box . I'd appreciate any feedback on how much difference there is between using the HDMI port compared to using the component connections?

Obviously, using one smaller cable is better than 5, but is the picture quality considerably better.

I'm considering the purchase of a new receiver - Onkyo TX-SR803 - and one feature I think I now really want is HDMI connectivity. This model would allow me to run 2 HDMI connections into the receiver, then one output into the television, in this case a Samsung DLP.

Any thoughts, feelings, secrets, rumors or innuendo...?

I back-tracked thru the thread, and I'm assuming TWC does still have the HDMI port activated on the 8300 HD-DVR box . I'd appreciate any feedback on how much difference there is between using the HDMI port compared to using the component connections?


I've tried it both ways feeding into my Sony 34XBR910 direct-view HDTV and, once you "bump up" the color on HDMI, I find them to be basically indistinguishable. So, I save my TV's one digital input for my upconverting DVD player. I use the digital audio connection to my receiver. Never have understood why anyone would want to use HDMI for video and audio since all A/V receivers have a digital audio input.

Get ready all you TWC football haters ...

Check out this article in today's USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/foot...l-network_x.htm

I LOVE IT!!!!! Finally, TWC is being exposed. I can't wait until I see the first ad that the NFL Network runs that mentions Time Warner. I especially like the NFL Network rep's quote:

"We think it's asinine that Time Warner (the nation's No. 2 cable provider) carries 12 shopping channels and 50 other channels you don't want — but can't find room for one dedicated to the most popular sport in this country," Palansky says. "We're replacing the kid gloves with bare knuckles."

Amen. :D

The way I see it, TWC now has 2 choices. They can continue their current stance of ignoring customer demand and crying the blues about subscription fees (while they count the record profits they are reaping from you and me)-- all the while not giving a damn how many THOUSANDS of subscribers leave for satellite. OR, they will grudgingly sign up with the NFL ... for about double the cost that they could have gotten 2 years ago.

So, all you shopping channel lovers, can get busy and dial your favorite TWC sychophant and tell them to hold firm and not bend under the pressure of the mean old NFL. Somehow, I think that the football lovers who will finally realize what TWC is doing, will also pick up the phone (better yet, email our pal Fred Dressler, TWC VP of Programming at fred.dressler@twcable.com) -- and I bet they out number the sports haters.

I don't blame the NFL for doing this-- they know that most cable subscribers just sit back ignorantly, and take whatever is jammed down their throat--- sound familiar (i.e. federal government ... but that's another story for another day)?

It shall be interesting, at the very least!!!!

I've tried it both ways feeding into my Sony 34XBR910 direct-view HDTV and, once you "bump up" the color on HDMI, I find them to be basically indistinguishable. So, I save my TV's one digital input for my upconverting DVD player. I use the digital audio connection to my receiver. Never have understood why anyone would want to use HDMI for video and audio since all A/V receivers have a digital audio input.

Thanks. Do you know if it's possible to use HDMI for video switching and use the digital audio connection for audio switching? It doesn't sound as if that's the way you have your system configured, but I'm curious if you - or anyone else - knows.

My current receiver is a bit older and doesn't have any digital audio connection, so I'm running audio into the TV, then out of the TV and into the receiver, thus the potential upgrade.

I've tried it both ways feeding into my Sony 34XBR910 direct-view HDTV and, once you "bump up" the color on HDMI, I find them to be basically indistinguishable. So, I save my TV's one digital input for my upconverting DVD player. I use the digital audio connection to my receiver. Never have understood why anyone would want to use HDMI for video and audio since all A/V receivers have a digital audio input.

HDMI 1.3 should fix the need to bump up the color. Could be an expensive upgrade to deal with it though :)

HDMI 1.3 should fix the need to bump up the color. Could be an expensive upgrade to deal with it though :)

What is HDMI 1.3?

What is HDMI 1.3?

http://www.hdmi.org/press/pr/pr_20060622.asp

http://www.hdmi.org/press/pr/pr_20060622.asp

I'd like to thank you and give you the finger all at the same time!!! :eek:

No offense, of course!

I appreciate the link, though now I'm more confused than ever about how to proceed regarding this new receiver.

Thanks. Do you know if it's possible to use HDMI for video switching and use the digital audio connection for audio switching? It doesn't sound as if that's the way you have your system configured, but I'm curious if you - or anyone else - knows.

My current receiver is a bit older and doesn't have any digital audio connection, so I'm running audio into the TV, then out of the TV and into the receiver, thus the potential upgrade.

There are HDMI switchboxes out there that will allow you to switch both digital video and audio, is that what you're asking Teddy? Most "newer" (in the last 5 years or so) A/V receivers have a bunch of digital audio inputs, both coaxial and fiber optic (toslink). Most of 'em also have analog 5.1 inputs as well. What I do for DVD is this: I have a Marantz 7600 universal player and its DAC's (digital to analog converter chips) are so superior that I let my player do the digital to analog conversion of the DD5.1 or DTS soundtracks for all DVD's (and CD's digital audio as well, for that matter) and use my receiver's 6-channel analog (multichannel) inputs. I have "turned off" the digital audio output of my player. This, of course, means 6 audio cables instead of 1 running from the player to the receiver, but who cares? I can then turn off the video circuitry and use my receiver as a "dumb" amplifier and the sound is heavenly! And, as I mentioned above, for video, I run the HDMI out to the DVI input on my TV, bypassing the receiver altogether.

For my Scientific Atlanta cable STB's (I have both the 8300 HD-DVR and the 3250 STB), I run component video into a Zektor component switchbox (along with 2 other HD devices) and the output into a component input on the TV. I use only the digital output from those boxes into my receiver (Yamaha 2400).

Probably the first thing you need to do is to upgrade your receiver to a modern A/V receiver. Lots of good options out there (check out the amps/receivers forum here on AVS) and you don't have to spend a lot to get a lot of machine these days. Given a new receiver with all the appropriate inputs, there will be no good reason to use HDMI for both video and audio, IMO - just run video directly into your display, and audio directly into your receiver.
Good luck!

I'd like to thank you and give you the finger all at the same time!!! :eek:

No offense, of course!

I appreciate the link, though now I'm more confused than ever about how to proceed regarding this new receiver.


None taken. I'd rather you be educated now, than being sk00led after you've dropped thousands of dollars. :)

It's going to get worse, I'm affraid.

All,

I am a Charlotte Time Warner analog customer who is thinking about upgrading to a HDTV, but am leery of using the SA 8300. I know someone who has had to replace his SA 8300 6 times!

Anyways, I had planned on getting a TiVo Series 3 when it is released, but Time Warner cable is implmenting something called Switched Digital Video down the road in Columbia, SC that makes CableCards obsolete.

Time Warner's rationale is that it frees bandwidth, and I have read on this forum that Charlotte TWC is maxed out, but I have noticed the addition of analog channels in the past year. Discovery Health for example has been added as well as a few others. TWC could have added 3 HD channels instead of Discovery Health.

I have posted an open letter to Diana at TWC Columbia, who is a frequent poster here at avsforums, regarding SDV that you can read by following the link below. Unfortunately she has not responded, but I thought readers here might be interested since the CTO of TWC said he wants to roll out SDV everywhere.

If you were planning on getting a TiVo Series 3 or a Windows Vista HTPC with CableCard, SDV is bad news.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7956765&&#post7956765

Get ready all you TWC football haters ...

Check out this article in today's USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/foot...l-network_x.htm

I LOVE IT!!!!! Finally, TWC is being exposed. I can't wait until I see the first ad that the NFL Network runs that mentions Time Warner. I especially like the NFL Network rep's quote:

"We think it's asinine that Time Warner (the nation's No. 2 cable provider) carries 12 shopping channels and 50 other channels you don't want — but can't find room for one dedicated to the most popular sport in this country," Palansky says. "We're replacing the kid gloves with bare knuckles."

Amen. :D

The way I see it, TWC now has 2 choices. They can continue their current stance of ignoring customer demand and crying the blues about subscription fees (while they count the record profits they are reaping from you and me)-- all the while not giving a damn how many THOUSANDS of subscribers leave for satellite. OR, they will grudgingly sign up with the NFL ... for about double the cost that they could have gotten 2 years ago.

So, all you shopping channel lovers, can get busy and dial your favorite TWC sychophant and tell them to hold firm and not bend under the pressure of the mean old NFL. Somehow, I think that the football lovers who will finally realize what TWC is doing, will also pick up the phone (better yet, email our pal Fred Dressler, TWC VP of Programming at fred.dressler@twcable.com) -- and I bet they out number the sports haters.

I don't blame the NFL for doing this-- they know that most cable subscribers just sit back ignorantly, and take whatever is jammed down their throat--- sound familiar (i.e. federal government ... but that's another story for another day)?

It shall be interesting, at the very least!!!!


I emailed Mr. Dressler yesterday and did get a quick repsonse. Seems like we're getting different answers.

"We have offered to carry the network on all our cable systems. the nfl has declined our offer because we want to offer the channel only to those who want it, not to everyone"

Got a buddy in Huntersville with Adelphia. He wants to upgrade to HD when he gets a new LCD at Costco on the 7th.

What box is available in that area? The SA8300HD or something else? If so, you know the make/model?

Just hoping he can take advantage of the HDMI connection. Thanks.

I emailed Mr. Dressler yesterday and did get a quick repsonse. Seems like we're getting different answers.

"We have offered to carry the network on all our cable systems. the nfl has declined our offer because we want to offer the channel only to those who want it, not to everyone"

What he's saying in his cryptic way is that TWC wants to add the channel a la carte so that they can make back their cost, tack on a hefty markup consisting of pure profit, and charge a much higher rate than normal for one channel to those who "want" it, and the NFL Network wants it added onto a package or tier of some sort so that they can claim higher audience penetration and thus, command more ad dollars in addition to the base fee they charge the MSO's to carry it.

Both entities see NFL football as the ultimate cash cow and want to squeeze as much moola as they can out of it. This is your typical battle between billionaires driven completely by greed. We've seen it all before; and it's always the customer that loses.

Is anyone experiencing no audio at all this morning? I am receiving the video fine on my 8300DVR but have no audio. Its definately the cable because all other devices work fine with the tv. When I reset the STB I noticed for the first time TWC has changed the initial screen. It now says Aptiv Digtital at the bottom and has 2002-2006 Copyright. Unlike the Pioneer Digital 2002-2004 before. Is TWC changing software or upgrades on our 8300's?


Brian

Is anyone experiencing no audio at all this morning? I am receiving the video fine on my 8300DVR but have no audio. Its definately the cable because all other devices work fine with the tv. When I reset the STB I noticed for the first time TWC has changed the initial screen. It now says Aptiv Digtital at the bottom and has 2002-2006 Copyright. Unlike the Pioneer Digital 2002-2004 before. Is TWC changing software or upgrades on our 8300's?


Brian

I've got the same problem. Appears to only be happening over HDMI.

Is anyone experiencing no audio at all this morning? I am receiving the video fine on my 8300DVR but have no audio. Its definately the cable because all other devices work fine with the tv. When I reset the STB I noticed for the first time TWC has changed the initial screen. It now says Aptiv Digtital at the bottom and has 2002-2006 Copyright. Unlike the Pioneer Digital 2002-2004 before. Is TWC changing software or upgrades on our 8300's?


Brian

I just checked my 8300 and I am having no audio issues at this time.

Abcward,

Are you using hdmi or component?

I am currently at work so the problem could be already fixed.

Maybe they are upgrading it so when using hdmi one will now be able to output DD to your AV receiver? I can only hope!

There is definitely new software here- atleast on my 8300HD. It does say Aptiva (I believe?). There are new options in the options menu, and my picture seems to improved on the lower number stations. Anyone else have changes?

Just got off the phone with TWC in Charlotte. They did send out an upgrade for digital subscribers. It started at midnight and TWC has stated it is taking much longer than expected. Also noted they said in the options panel Digital Audio Out should be listed ,so ones with HDMI can FINALLY run Coax/fiber to their AV receivers for DD 5.1.

Guys I am still at work ,so anyone with an 8300HD DVR who can verify this I would appreciate it. All I have is internet access and a phone line!

Yes, I can confirm. you have choices between hdmi, dolby digital and two channel stereo.

Wonder if they finally enabled the eSATA connector on the back? Perhaps it's time I plug a hard drive back into it.

Had to finally reboot the DVR. Sure enough when it restarted it had Aptive Digital on it.

However, the channel guide was all screwed up. So I called TWC to have them fix the account. There is a very lengthy message up that discusses system wide upgrades as well as the HDMI option for audio (and that said option should be used for customers with HDMI inputs).

I'm in the process of clearing out a SATA drive and I'll hook it up as soon as I can. However, the exit+info key combination to get to the diag screen results in a n0 on the display.

Any ideas on how to get to the diag screen now?

SUCCESS!

I successfully got the 8300HD to see a Maxtor 160GB SATA drive!

Sorry for the fuzzy pictures. My camera sucks when I don't take the time to setup proper lighting. Wanted to get this posted fast.

Final image will be in the next post.


The trick is to allow the DVR to fully boot. With the hard drive turned off, connect the eSATA cable to the DVR and then to the drive. Power up the drive and wammo blammo!

Now, if I could just find that diag screen!

Final conformation image:

Any ideas on how to get to the diag screen now?

Select+Exit, wait for ding then Exit

Which one here in Charlotte is everyone getting the best results from. If you use hdmi do you select only 1080i in the options menu. I was told by one of there techs to just keep it on 1080i. I just started using hdmi yesterday with the new upgrade.

Select+Exit, wait for ding then Exit

Same as before, isn't it?

Same as before, isn't it?
Yeah, believe so.

dbalone,

I am using hdmi set at 1080i. For my set that seems to do the job. I have audio running from STB to AV receiver via Coax. My audio settings are currently set to DD, but I can switch to hdmi for TV speakers if need be by just pointing the remote.

Thanks TWC Charlotte for the much needed upgrade for us hdmi users!

Thanks for the response - Outgolfn

I will leave mine there too. It does seem the best, even for SD channels.

SUCCESS!

I successfully got the 8300HD to see a Maxtor 160GB SATA drive!

Sorry for the fuzzy pictures. My camera sucks when I don't take the time to setup proper lighting. Wanted to get this posted fast.

Final image will be in the next post.


The trick is to allow the DVR to fully boot. With the hard drive turned off, connect the eSATA cable to the DVR and then to the drive. Power up the drive and wammo blammo!

Now, if I could just find that diag screen!
What size drive did you use and how much more HD recording time is available for you after you installed it?

The drive I used was a 160GB Maxtor SATA 7200 RPM drive. Finally got into the diag screen and the DVR reports a total capacity of 280GB available to it.

By adding 160GB to the 160GB I have, that would double the HD recording time to 40 hours.

Here's the kicker.

You can no longer fast forward or rewind -live- programming with an external drive connected. You can, however, pause it. Though the live button won't take you to the "live" content.

Also, interestingly enough, the diag screen seems to indicate that MR-DVR (multiroom) functions are enabled. As are the FireWire functions.

You can no longer fast forward or rewind -live- programming with an external drive connected. You can, however, pause it. Though the live button won't take you to the "live" content.

Ooooh, that's a bummer. :( Wonder if that's just a bug that can be fixed?

Also, interestingly enough, the diag screen seems to indicate that MR-DVR (multiroom) functions are enabled. As are the FireWire functions.

I'll try the firewire port with my D-VHS deck and see if it's working. How much did that external drive set you back?

I don't remember. I bought the drive in 2003 when I built this current PC. It's a data drive so I just moved everything on it to the other identical drive and took it out of the computer.

Newegg has a 320GB drive for $94. Seagate, SATA 3.0GB. Just need a case for it.

I don't remember where I got the cable. But I'm sure I can find the place if anyone is interested. It was around $18 for a 3 foot cable.

Here's the deal with the firewire port:
It works. Sorta. All channels work, no 5C bugaboos. But just for a few seconds with a few audio dropouts, then it freezes up my D-VHS deck. The deck will sometimes do a firewire reset and I'll get a few more seconds before it chokes again. Not ready for prime time just yet. :(

However, they also changed the 5C flags somehow because I am thrilled to report that after 2 1/2 years of said 5C bugaboos, all channels are now available on my D-VHS deck from my other STB, the SA3250HD, which has long had active firewire. But only about 4 "copy once" flagged channels and no "copy freely" channels were ever available because of that infernal 5C crap. Now everything's available and, unlike the 8300, rock solid! Better order me a gross of D-VHS tapes; who needs that HD-DVD or Blu-ray stuff? :D

The drive I used was a 160GB Maxtor SATA 7200 RPM drive. Finally got into the diag screen and the DVR reports a total capacity of 280GB available to it.

By adding 160GB to the 160GB I have, that would double the HD recording time to 40 hours.

Here's the kicker.

You can no longer fast forward or rewind -live- programming with an external drive connected. You can, however, pause it. Though the live button won't take you to the "live" content.

Also, interestingly enough, the diag screen seems to indicate that MR-DVR (multiroom) functions are enabled. As are the FireWire functions.


Thanks for the info... I've been waiting a long time for them to hook that port up.

Can you explain a little more what you mean about not being able to fast forward or rewind live content? Since it is "live" there is no way to fast forward it anyways, right? I guess you just mean you can't rewind any "live" programs? Other than that, does everything seem to work fine?

Thanks.

I believe that one of the drawbacks to the Passport software package is that the SATA external drive will not allow trick play on buffered data, but any program being buffered on the original drive will work as it always has. The SARA software package does not seem to have that limitation. Perhaps it can be corrected with a software update to Passport.

For more information, check out the HDTV Recorders forum. There is a thread on the 8300 w/ Passport and another one on the 8300 w/ external drives.

No, it is pretty much as I said.

If the eSATA drive is hooked up the rewind and fastforward functions do not work from the moment you turn that drive on.

Disconnect the drive or turn it off and the FF/RW functions magically work again.

You certainly can FF through "live" content (well, with no external drive). If you pause the show and the show gets ahead of you you can FF through it to catch up. Can't do that with a eSATA drive attached. :(

Other than that, the DVR works like you'd expect it too.

Just to clarify then, when the external drive is hooked up you can't use the FF or REW functions for anything, whether or not you're watching something "live" or an already recorded show? Still a bit of confusion on that point...

If so, that's a deal-killer. I could deal with it if I'm watching live TV from the buffer, since I don't do that very often, but not if it affects all recorded shows.

Based on this link on WCNC.com the Carolina Traveler is going HD this fall. Do any of you know if this is the first step for the news cast going HD?

http://www.wcnc.com/traveler/stories//wcnc-072006-al-andy_journal.b994274.html

When the new update occured I switched to using hdmi. I notice when I record a show in HD and then play it back the HDTV light on the box display screen does not light up. I am almost sure it used to. The 720 or 1080 is lit. The picture quality appears to be ok. Just want to make sure nothing is wrong.

Based on this link on WCNC.com the Carolina Traveler is going HD this fall. Do any of you know if this is the first step for the news cast going HD?

http://www.wcnc.com/traveler/stories//wcnc-072006-al-andy_journal.b994274.html

While I don't have this on any definitive source - I wouldn't hold my breath for WCNC's (or anyone else's in this market) news going HD anytime soon.

It's cheap to do something like the Carolina Traveler in HD.

The nightly news? Not so much. For the nightly news you've got to upgrade all of the field cameras and trucks (ENG, Sat, receive sites, etc), gotta upgrade the chopper's camera and the associated electronics. Need to upgrade the studio cameras (and set, as necessary). Need to upgrade the graphics, CG, switcher, and probably most of master control. Don't forget you've got to upgrade the edit bays, and you need a way to archive everything, AND you've got to get training in.

I'm probably missing some stuff, and I'm sure Bob can chime in with the remaining items.

Just to clarify then, when the external drive is hooked up you can't use the FF or REW functions for anything, whether or not you're watching something "live" or an already recorded show? Still a bit of confusion on that point...

If so, that's a deal-killer. I could deal with it if I'm watching live TV from the buffer, since I don't do that very often, but not if it affects all recorded shows.




Adding a eSATA drive only affects FF/RW when you're watching live/buffered shows. Anything recorded by a schedule or manual record will FF/RW fine.

Based on this link on WCNC.com the Carolina Traveler is going HD this fall. Do any of you know if this is the first step for the news cast going HD?

http://www.wcnc.com/traveler/stories//wcnc-072006-al-andy_journal.b994274.html

I hope so, I'm really lusting for some HD News for some reason. Might need to actually set upa Season Pass for Carolina Traveler now.