I've found the Samsung box to be very sensitive. I get artifacts and sound cuts at times watching certain channels. I have an SA DVR as well and it has none of these problems as well as the older SA box that the Samsung replaced. Rescue Me on tuesday, Ch. 267, was the most recent example. Digital errors throughout the show.

I don't think its a HDMI cable issue as it records the errors. It has also missed recordings before. I think its just overly sensitive to SDV signals. I'm going to give it some time, especially with the summer decrease in my TV viewing. But if it ruins too many more shows, I'll have to swap it out.

I've found the Samsung box to be very sensitive. I get artifacts and sound cuts at times watching certain channels. I have an SA DVR as well and it has none of these problems as well as the older SA box that the Samsung replaced. Rescue Me on tuesday, Ch. 267, was the most recent example. Digital errors throughout the show.

I don't think its a HDMI cable issue as it records the errors. It has also missed recordings before. I think its just overly sensitive to SDV signals. I'm going to give it some time, especially with the summer decrease in my TV viewing. But if it ruins too many more shows, I'll have to swap it out.

I haven't seen those types of issues... when it works the pic and sound have been rock solid. You may just be on the borderline for signal level and maybe the window is a little tighter for the Samsung than the SA.

Your problems may be occuring on SDV channels, but they are not SDV related, per se. The same RF problems that can occur on any channel can occur on the channels in the SDV pool. SDV itself is the control and switching process for the temporary virtual channel setup/assignment... the actually delivery of the programming the same as any other once you are assigned a channel.

MAV TV HD on 1002 and Hallmark Movies HD on 1003

I recently fished four new cables through my attic and they're now dangling neatly in front of my TWC junction box on the back of my house. Had a tech out today to check my internet connection and he said he couldn't connect those new lines to the box because it was an 'activation'. I called up and TW wanted $60 to hook them up. I think that when I'm already paying over $100/month and have done all of the hard work to use their service, I shouldn't have to pay again to get those things turned on.

Should I remind them that Uverse is in my neighborhood and is wiring houses for absolutely nothing? Anyone have any other tactics that might work? Sorry if this is the wrong thread or forum, but I haven't seen anything else here regarding TWC Charlotte.

I recently fished four new cables through my attic and they're now dangling neatly in front of my TWC junction box on the back of my house. Had a tech out today to check my internet connection and he said he couldn't connect those new lines to the box because it was an 'activation'. I called up and TW wanted $60 to hook them up. I think that when I'm already paying over $100/month and have done all of the hard work to use their service, I shouldn't have to pay again to get those things turned on.

Should I remind them that Uverse is in my neighborhood and is wiring houses for absolutely nothing? Anyone have any other tactics that might work? Sorry if this is the wrong thread or forum, but I haven't seen anything else here regarding TWC Charlotte.

Do you have the skills to terminate the cable yourself? If so, do it yourself. If not, find someone to do it for you for pizza and beverage.

TWC shouldn't charge you to simply terminate the cables. It is a 2 minute job, per cable, inside and out...

Actually the internet tech terminated them for me (outside anyway), but he wouldn't hook them into the box - that's what TWC wants to charge for. It's not locked, so I could do it myself, but the splitter on there doesn't have any other ports.

Actually the internet tech terminated them for me (outside anyway), but he wouldn't hook them into the box - that's what TWC wants to charge for. It's not locked, so I could do it myself, but the splitter on there doesn't have any other ports.

you can purchase a splitter from radio shack with how many ever ports you need. after you get it all hooked up outside see if they'll come out and terminate the cables inside for free.
and that plastic lock doesnt mean a thing...to me anyways...i'll clip it in a heartbeat and do whatever i want. that crap in that box is bolted to my house, its mine:D

Actually the internet tech terminated them for me (outside anyway), but he wouldn't hook them into the box - that's what TWC wants to charge for. It's not locked, so I could do it myself, but the splitter on there doesn't have any other ports.

You're legally allowed access to the demark box. You can cut the zip tie and do your work and zip tie it back.

Radio Shack splitters are way overpriced for what they are. Pick up something from Solid Signal.

http://www.solidsignal.com/cat_display.asp?main_cat=03&CAT=Signal%20Splitters

The 8 port splitter for $3 looks good. Only get enough ports for what you need. If you have any ports left over, put a terminator on them.

Something like this guy:
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=TT-5900

You may have to have TWC come back out and either turn up the gain on your pole or install a whole house amplifier. Which they should do for free.

Do you have the skills to terminate the cable yourself? If so, do it yourself. If not, find someone to do it for you for pizza and beverage.

TWC shouldn't charge you to simply terminate the cables. It is a 2 minute job, per cable, inside and out...

Sure someone feed me this week while I am on-call.....:)

Sure someone feed me this week while I am on-call.....:)

No Prob Rob, come by for a sammich any time! Elliott's out eating high on the hog in Vegas for you..:)

New Update to the Charlotte TWC Channel Changes Page:
May 31, 2009: HD Net (Channel 292) and HD Net Movies (Channel 293) will no longer be available on the Digital Cable HD Tier. The following channels will be added to the HD Tier:

Smithsonian Channel - Channel 292
MavTV - Channel 293
Hallmark Movie Channel HD - Channel 294


That's $6.50 a month less that they'll be getting from me, starting today.

That's $6.50 a month less that they'll be getting from me, starting today.

I turned the HD pack off on Friday night. Not sure what the beef between TWC and Cuban is. But they need to resolve it.

Interestingly enough, Universal HD went away on the cable box when I shut that package off. But I can still get it on the TV with a QAM tuner in it.

i went down yesterday to cancel the xtraHD tier, they said if i cancel that $5 tier my bill will actually be $3 higher than it is now with it.:eek:
seems some of the coding on my bill is still Adelphia. according to her if she cancels that $5 tier then everything will change to the TW coding. which apparently is $8 more than what i pay now.
she said they are still in the process of changing all the coding over to TWC and that eventually i would see the change on my bill. i told her when that happened i'd be back to cancel SHO,HBO and that HDxtra tier.......... she wasnt impressed at all:D

i went down yesterday to cancel the xtraHD tier, they said if i cancel that $5 tier my bill will actually be $3 higher than it is now with it.:eek:
seems some of the coding on my bill is still Adelphia. according to her if she cancels that $5 tier then everything will change to the TW coding. which apparently is $8 more than what i pay now.
she said they are still in the process of changing all the coding over to TWC and that eventually i would see the change on my bill. i told her when that happened i'd be back to cancel SHO,HBO and that HDxtra tier.......... she wasnt impressed at all:D

Yeah.. I expect similar things to happen next month when my Alltel cell phone service switches over to Verizon. Not looking forward to that mess.

Actually the internet tech terminated them for me (outside anyway), but he wouldn't hook them into the box - that's what TWC wants to charge for. It's not locked, so I could do it myself, but the splitter on there doesn't have any other ports.

Spidrw, your missing your chance here splitter and a sandwich......:)

yea, but he doesn't get QAM 134...:)

yea, but he doesn't get QAM 134...:)

Oh well, Piper Glenn was some work tonight, plus a lot of homes for sale in that neighborhood......:(

Interestingly enough, Universal HD went away on the cable box when I shut that package off. But I can still get it on the TV with a QAM tuner in it.

I stopped getting UHD on clear QAM several weeks or months ago. Could you let me know what channel you are seeing it on?

I stopped getting UHD on clear QAM several weeks or months ago.

Same here... along with a bunch of SD QAMs that were previously clear.

Same here... along with a bunch of SD QAMs that were previously clear.

Yep, same here.

if enough people start canceling the HD teir they might get the point .....probably not

I went to Lowe's and grabbed a $20 compression crimper and went to town. I had enough jacks inside that I don't use that I was able to get all of my new ones hooked up. If they ever come back out for something else, I'll see about a splitter. I've got one data line and 7 regular TV lines, so I think I'll be able to get by without an amp. Either way, I'm good now.

If anyone asks, my dog chewed the plastic lock off the box.

If anyone asks, my dog chewed the plastic lock off the box.

BAD DOG! give him a MilkBone! :D

I've got one data line and 7 regular TV lines, so I think I'll be able to get by without an amp.

That configuration would typically call for a drop amp! :eek:

If you get your own, make sure it supports return path otherwise the modem and digital cable boxes won't work.

BAD DOG! give him a MilkBone! :D


Last time I opened that box on the side of my house, I found that it was home to a brand new bee hive (or hornet's nest, whatever they build here).

I carefully closed the box back up and tiptoed away and called TWC to ask them to check out my intermittent reception problems.

So I'm tooling down the blvd headed home yesterday..and here comes this bucket truck booking it in the opposite lanes with the flashers on.. I wondered
if it could be.. Yep.. it sure was. YBsane headed somewhere to help another AVS Forum member in need! :)

If anyone asks, my dog chewed the plastic lock off the box.

My dog had to chew the case to bypass their fancy new metal locks. Not sure why he wanted to get in there, but it must have been a pain in the a.

so i'm tooling down the blvd headed home yesterday..and here comes this bucket truck booking it in the opposite lanes with the flashers on.. I wondered
if it could be.. Yep.. It sure was. Ybsane headed somewhere to help another avs forum member in need! :)

Hmmmmm.... :D

So this may or may not be totally off subject, but i figured since it was the only Charlotte, NC thread i could find I'd ask. When are we getting SPIKEhd, SDTV looks reallllly bad, and I can't stand watching tv unless its in HD.

So this may or may not be totally off subject, but i figured since it was the only Charlotte, NC thread i could find I'd ask. When are we getting SPIKEhd, SDTV looks reallllly bad, and I can't stand watching tv unless its in HD.

Not off-topic at all.

From the current TWC "official" Upcoming Channel Changes web page... this isn't encouraging:
Upcoming Channel Lineup Changes:

None planned at this time.
http://www.timewarnercable.com/Carolinas/support/policies/channelchange.html

Not off-topic at all.

From the current TWC "official" Upcoming Channel Changes web page... this isn't encouraging:
Upcoming Channel Lineup Changes:

None planned at this time.
http://www.timewarnercable.com/Carolinas/support/policies/channelchange.html

not very encouraging at all.
i suppose if one was to call them and ask about when they were going to add more HD they'd say "we just added MAVTVHD, SMTHD and HLMHD":(

i wouldnt mind having
all the SHO and HBO's in HD
spikeHD
comedy central HD
VH1classics HD
and
BBCHD = only because SCIFIHD isnt going to carry first runs of DrWho when the new season starts. BBC has decided to carry it themselves rather than sell it again. i hope BBC makes a similar decision about Torchwood since we no longer have HDNET for first runs of it.

YEa I would enjoy Sho and Comedy CentralHD as well....i feel as though the SD channels have gotten worse...might be the tv...its 50" plasma would that do it??

.i feel as though the SD channels have gotten worse...might be the tv...its 50" plasma would that do it??
mines a 60" LCOS display. i havent noticed that SD looks any worse than it always has.
its probably not the TV.
if you recently got it you may be seeing the unfortunate effects of blowing up crap to 50".
also, when i first got my TV PQ was terrible, especially noticeable on SD. TW techs came out and replaced some splitters and upgraded all the ends and it cleared up significantly. perhaps you have a splitter gone crazy.

YEa I would enjoy Sho and Comedy CentralHD as well....i feel as though the SD channels have gotten worse...might be the tv...its 50" plasma would that do it??

Yep, the bigger the TV the crappier the SD channels look and I am also not encouraged by the latest channel update or lack thereof. :(

i wouldnt mind having
VH1classics HD


Are you serious? You really want "classics" in "HD"? It'd just be upscaled. Or worse, 4x3.

Are you serious? You really want "classics" in "HD"? It'd just be upscaled. Or worse, 4x3.


Yep..ya can't turn poo into ice cream..:)

Bob I have to know... are you going to be the one flipping the switch in the morning?

Bob I have to know... are you going to be the one flipping the switch in the morning?

Guess you will have to watch little ol' FOX News Rising at 8am in High-Definition to know! (HINT!) :)

Ok.. now let's set it straight..There ain't no F'n switch to "Flip" to kill the Analog.. It's either a click of the mouse on a computer or the push of a membrane switch on a control panel....and BTW, we'll be killing WCCB and WFXB at the exact same time from the same place that way..Of course, there will be some other things to do to totally shut down the analog transmitters..and deal with the hazardous substance glycol (antifreeze) that is used in the cooling system..:(

Did you all know.. first Digital TV in Charlotte was WBTV-DT at 1 Megawatt on September 4th, 1998..(I did satellite and audio design)..
and that fall the first HD with the Glenn launch and NFL on CBS, the FIRST Panthers game in HD..
The RCA DTC-100 was a pile of circuit boards in the back of a van here..
Then WCCB's first digital transmission was October 31st.. 1999.. with the first HD on WCCB-DT for the July 2004 MLB Allstars Game.:D

And to think that tomorrow we move to "digital" Tv..:rolleyes:

heh I remember the DTC-100, my first digital tuner! I had it hooked into my computer monitor when I first started watching OTA programming. Ah, the good ole days. BTW Bob, it should be an F'n switch :D. I picture somethin like from Star Trek happens, as soon as u "click" us to black, there's some star trek computer warning "Coolant leak!" :eek:

i wouldnt mind having
all the SHO and HBO's in HD
spikeHD
comedy central HD
VH1classics HD
BBCHD


I most certainly agree with the HBO HD suite. Especially since they gave us HBO W HD. . . . .just a repeat channel as far as I am concerned. I have said this before and I know most won't agree but I would love to have NFL Network HD (if TWC signs a contract to get NFL Network, then the HD would be included), which I believe will happen before thanksgiving which is the first thursday night game. Comedy Central HD would also be nice.

Guess you will have to watch little ol' FOX News Rising at 8am in High-Definition to know! (HINT!) :)



I think our fav-o-rite engineer has an alter ego named (what was it?) Mr. Digital?

heh I remember the DTC-100, my first digital tuner! I had it hooked into my computer monitor when I first started watching OTA programming. Ah, the good ole days. BTW Bob, it should be an F'n switch :D. I picture somethin like from Star Trek happens, as soon as u "click" us to black, there's some star trek computer warning "Coolant leak!" :eek:

That DTC was a good unit, except for trying to find the RGB to Component adapter for it. So I had my mine on a computer monitor as well for a couple of days till my adapter came in the mail..

I bet you there may be one in Bob's stash pile somewhere.....:)

I think our fav-o-rite engineer has an alter ego named (what was it?) Mr. Digital?

That's not me..Reid aka Digital Dude is Exec Producer for Rising.

Are you serious? You really want "classics" in "HD"? It'd just be upscaled. Or worse, 4x3.

hadnt really thought about it that much. i'm kinda hoping some of the concerts they show would be of a higher quality. definitely the music vids would look like crap.

It'd just be upscaled. Or worse, 4x3
i'd rather watch 4x3 than stretch o vision.

What is really strange is our upcomeing channel guide says none planned at this time also. However a CSR told me Fox News HD . Fox Business Channel HD. E Entertainment HD, The Cartoon NetworkHD, The Tennis Channel HD and The Weather Channel HD were all comeing within the next 60 days. I am located in Greensboro in the Triad market .WE are all in Time Warner Carolinas so I guess we will all get those channels.

This is the one I am waiting for: http://www.rfdtv.com/

Bob and I can over to Zaxcom's and turn him on to some Hee Haw and Petticoat Junction...:)

And yes it is coming to a TWC near you soon...

i loved Petticoat Junction when i was a kid. The hot blonde in the water tower, oh yeah.

This is the one I am waiting for: http://www.rfdtv.com/

Bob and I can over to Zaxcom's and turn him on to some Hee Haw and Petticoat Junction...:)

And yes it is coming to a TWC near you soon...

The horror. The horror. :(

>"However a CSR told me Fox News HD"

That's just what we need. How about giving us Spike? Frankly I'd love to have RFD-TV HD or not, but then again we live on a farm!

i'd watch some RFD-TV. Andy Griffith, green acres, Petticoat Junction, Beverly hillbillies.
there are a couple TW areas that have recently got this channel. it was one of their replacements for the HDNETS.

will urban areas have to pay for this channel?:D while rural areas get it delivered for free.:D

Strutter wrote: "will urban areas have to pay for this channel?" (RFD-TV)

I'd gladly pay not to have this channel. ;)

What I really want, besides the Showtimes, HBOs, Cinemaxes, Starz, etc., in HD that aren't just in the Eastern and Western time zones is BBC-America in HD, so that we can watch upcoming seasons of "Dr. Who" and "Torchwood" in glorious HD.

While I'm at it, I'd like to bring HDNET and HDMovies back.

Everyone has their unique likes and dislikes..doesn't make them wrong or right.
Me personally, why anyone would want Spike or Sci-Fi with their excessive graphic clutter and over stuffed commercial breaks is beyond me.

What I really want, besides the Showtimes, HBOs, Cinemaxes, Starz, etc., in HD that aren't just in the Eastern and Western time zones is BBC-America in HD, so that we can watch upcoming seasons of "Dr. Who" and "Torchwood" in glorious HD.

While I'm at it, I'd like to bring HDNET and HDMovies back.
BBC america HD is launching on direct and dish July 20th.

the new season of drwho wont start untill 2010. they took a year off so that the DR (David Tennant) could work on some side projects. for some reason they didnt want to find a new DR. and decided to wait for him. so there is no 2009 season of DrWho. however BBCA is planning on airing a couple of DrWho movies this year previously not seen in the US.

BBCA is also the exclusive home for Torchwood series 3 "Children of Earth" in the USA . HDNet is not able to show those episodes.

If you like those you should also check out "The Sarah Jane Adventures" another spin off.

Spike or Sci-Fi with their excessive graphic clutter and over stuffed commercial breaks is beyond me.

true they do need to tone that down a bit. the graphic clutter bothers me more than the commercials, i just skip through them on the DVR.
and frankly i can do without another rerun of "Franken fish" but i was very happy to get scifi HD solely for the DrWho series. But with them not showing first runs anymore i can do without it. i'm sure there are a few here who maybe like the battlestar galactica first runs only on scifi.
Spike has a show or 2 i like to watch also. What with the HDNets gone now i have to get my MMA/UFC fix somewhere.

BBC america HD is launching on direct and dish July 20th.

the new season of drwho wont start untill 2010. they took a year off so that the DR (David Tennant) could work on some side projects. for some reason they didnt want to find a new DR. and decided to wait for him. so there is no 2009 season of DrWho. however BBCA is planning on airing a couple of DrWho movies this year previously not seen in the US.

BBCA is also the exclusive home for Torchwood series 3 "Children of Earth" in the USA . HDNet is not able to show those episodes.

If you like those you should also check out "The Sarah Jane Adventures" another spin off.

Thanks for the heads up! I've heard of the "Sarah Jane Adventures" but don't know where, if anywhere, they're being shown in the United States.

Guess you will have to watch little ol' FOX News Rising at 8am in High-Definition to know! (HINT!) :)

Ok.. now let's set it straight..There ain't no F'n switch to "Flip" to kill the Analog.. It's either a click of the mouse on a computer or the push of a membrane switch on a control panel....and BTW, we'll be killing WCCB and WFXB at the exact same time from the same place that way..Of course, there will be some other things to do to totally shut down the analog transmitters..and deal with the hazardous substance glycol (antifreeze) that is used

Bob,

I thought I read that the average tv station will save $10,000 a month in electricity costs by discontinuing the analog version of the broadcast.

Is that true?

Bob,

I thought I read that the average tv station will save $10,000 a month in electricity costs by discontinuing the analog version of the broadcast.

Is that true?

We won't quite save that much, but yes, for most stations there is a significant savings in shutting off the analog.

Thanks for the heads up! I've heard of the "Sarah Jane Adventures" but don't know where, if anywhere, they're being shown in the United States.
scifi is showing an 11 episode rerun on 6/22

scifi is showing an 11 episode rerun on 6/22

Great. I'll be setting my DVR to record it!

i'd watch some RFD-TV. Andy Griffith, green acres, Petticoat Junction, Beverly hillbillies.
there are a couple TW areas that have recently got this channel. it was one of their replacements for the HDNETS.

will urban areas have to pay for this channel?:D while rural areas get it delivered for free.:D

I'd take it some of us actually live on farms.

tivo coming to twc (http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/06/22/tivo-coming-to-time-warner-cable-potentially-lots-of-other-prov/)

Time Warner and Tivo are in talks If they do sign a deal based on Comcast expect it to be at least two years before Time Warner offers it. Remember they still have to finish launching Navigator to over 70% of their subs. The SARA areas have not been seeded with Navigator yet. The Navigator guide will still be offered as the "FREE" guide and Tivo will be offered at and additional charge as a premium guide. Best guess two years down the road after a contract is signed.

I don't see why anyone would pay extra for a Tivo powered box. I've used Tivo in the past and its certainly not worth any extra money. All I care about is that the box records the shows I setup. Maybe its me, but I don't spend my time flipping through the guide. I like to watch my recorded shows and don't spend time with any features in a jazzed up guide. Keep your Tivo and give me a bigger hard drive.

i don't see why anyone would pay extra for a tivo powered box. I've used tivo in the past and its certainly not worth any extra money. All i care about is that the box records the shows i setup. Maybe its me, but i don't spend my time flipping through the guide. I like to watch my recorded shows and don't spend time with any features in a jazzed up guide. Keep your tivo and give me a bigger hard drive.

+1:)

i don't see why anyone would pay extra for a tivo powered box. I've used tivo in the past and its certainly not worth any extra money. All i care about is that the box records the shows i setup. Maybe its me, but i don't spend my time flipping through the guide. I like to watch my recorded shows and don't spend time with any features in a jazzed up guide. Keep your tivo and give me a bigger hard drive.

+2

All I care about is that the box records the shows I setup. Maybe its me, but I don't spend my time flipping through the guide. I like to watch my recorded shows and don't spend time with any features in a jazzed up guide..


+3
and how about upgrading the firmware to _13 like most of the other TW devisions so maybe my sammy will quit missing recordings.

Keep your Tivo and give me a bigger hard drive.

the main reason i'm holding onto the sammy. 320GB.....+ its black.
320 should be the minimum HD size IMO.

+3
and how about upgrading the firmware to _13 like most of the other TW devisions so maybe my sammy will quit missing recordings.



the main reason i'm holding onto the sammy. 320GB.....+ its black.
320 should be the minimum HD size IMO.

I asked this before and never got a response so I will try again. Does anyone know if that new Samsung box will output 4:2:2 colorspace instead of RGB?

I asked this before and never got a response so I will try again. Does anyone know if that new Samsung box will output 4:2:2 colorspace instead of RGB?

Don't know but will find out for you....:)

I will stick with my MythTV box and add as much disk as I want....

I will stick with my MythTV box and add as much disk as I want....

Eh, with the right external hardware, this isn't an issue for the TWC issued DVR's either. Find one of those RAID jobbies that has an ESATA port and you're golden. Put 4 or 5 2TB disks in it and move along. :)

Eh, with the right external hardware, this isn't an issue for the TWC issued DVR's either. Find one of those RAID jobbies that has an ESATA port and you're golden. Put 4 or 5 2TB disks in it and move along. :)

If TWC Charlotte has enough on air worth recording then I might consider this someday. Most of what we record are short 1-hour episodes and we delete right away. The only things on my DVR's right now that have been there longer than a few weeks are the old HD-Net test patterns, a concert or two and some episodes of Bikini Destinations, Art Mann, etc.

If TWC Charlotte has enough on air worth recording then I might consider this someday. Most of what we record are short 1-hour episodes and we delete right away. The only things on my DVR's right now that have been there longer than a few weeks are the old HD-Net test patterns, a concert or two and some episodes of Bikini Destinations, Art Mann, etc.

I'm about the same way. Mostly 1 hour shows. But, I've struggled with space over the past 8-10 months. I've got an older 160GB unit. I couldn't watch shows fast enough and ended up losing several episodes.

I get into a rut where I'm just not interested in watching TV and the shows don't stop coming. I think the plan is going to be swapping out for one of those fancy new Sammys and finally getting off my rear and ordering an external case for one of the 1TB drives I have laying around doing nothing. 1.3TB should be enough space for a season's worth of shows.

I hope. :)

The downfall to a MythTV (and similar open source software packages) setup is the lack of Encrypted QAM support. Not a big dealif all you watch is the locals. But if you want to get anything else, you're relegated to the NTSC transmission of it - until TWC decides to pull the plug on that bandwidth wasting hog. Other cable operators around the country have already done it.

If I had the knowledge and the patience I would do a HTPC and archive everything to external drives, maybe get one of those Popcorn Hour boxes or network by Xbox 360 to a media center PC. It all looks really cool when I see these front end menus things with cover art and all that. It's just all over my head, ripping Blu Rays and converting files types, etc. I would love to be able to do it but I'm not sure I want the headaches of the learning curve.

We don't watch nearly as much TV as we used to either. Ever since we got Netflix we have a Blu Ray movie in the mail every other day or so and that pretty much consumes our home theater time.

If I had the knowledge and the patience I would do a HTPC and archive everything to external drives, maybe get one of those Popcorn Hour boxes or network by Xbox 360 to a media center PC. It all looks really cool when I see these front end menus things with cover art and all that. It's just all over my head, ripping Blu Rays and converting files types, etc. I would love to be able to do it but I'm not sure I want the headaches of the learning curve.

We don't watch nearly as much TV as we used to either. Ever since we got Netflix we have a Blu Ray movie in the mail every other day or so and that pretty much consumes our home theater time.

It's pretty easy to do. Especially if you've got a modern display to hook devices up too.

For the back end you've got options like SageTV, MythTV, etc. Those are going to act as your media managers. Movies, Music, pictures, interfaces to your tv tuners, etc.

For the front end, you can either use a PC/Mac or a dedicated STB that is configured for that purpose. You'd pipe either live tv, DVR'ed shows, movies, music from your back end server. With this setup, you could have clients all over the house. Each consuming whatever they want from the server.

Or, you can go for an all in one box on one tv.

The down fall is there is really no easy set-it-up-like-a-TIVO system out there. There are some guys who do turn key systems, but you've still got to do setup work.

There's no eQAM support, period for these systems. For that, you've got to look at special tuners and Windows Media Center. Though, it can do some neat tricks, it isn't nearly as flexible as Myth and Sage.

It'll be the future. If everyone doesn't lock everyone else out with DRM.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/307206-Operators_To_Miss_Tru2way_Deadline.php - added as a point of reference and general info instead of a new post.

maybe get one of those Popcorn Hour boxes or network by Xbox 360 to a media center PC. .

I LOVE my Popcorn Hour and Media Server. :) I lack one interface card being able to playback files to all the HDTv's in the house via QAM modulator. :(

I LOVE my Popcorn Hour and Media Server. :) I lack one interface card being able to playback files to all the HDTv's in the house via QAM modulator. :(

Yeah, I have read a little about them but don't really understand it completely. I guess it's basically a shell with inputs/outputs and I have to install a hard drive in it. I would be happy if I could rip all my DVD/HD-DVD/Blu Ray discs to one of those and select them through some sort of simple on screen interface. The TV stuff I don't really care about. Too me, movies are about the film as it's presented on these discs, not the way network television presents them full of interruptions, incorrect aspect ratios, macroblocking and film refresh rates converted to 60hz for TV. Maybe I will get a Popcorn Hour and play around with this.

I think the plan is going to be swapping out for one of those fancy new Sammys and finally getting off my rear and ordering an external case for one of the 1TB drives I have laying around doing nothing.

ESATA is so hit and miss with TW i wouldnt waste my money. the 8300HD's with MDN seem to be the most reliable with an external drive but that could break with an update at any time. the most recent firmware for the ODN 8300HDC's broke ESATA again. and no body on these forums has been able to get it to work on the ODN Sammy boxes either.
If TW would officially support external HDD maybe i could see getting one . but as it is and has been they wont support it and are free to break it when ever they want and not get it working again.


besides saving pennies does anyone know why the first few sammy 3090's had 320GB HDD but all that are available now are 160?

This from the TWC-Charlotte web-site:

Upcoming Channel Lineup Changes

July 25, 2009: Logo will be launched on Digital Cable Channel 197.



I Googled Logo, which I had never heard of, so you wouldn't have to. It programs for the gay, lesbian, transgender audience.

Couldn't we get BBC-AmericaHD instead? So that we can watch the upcoming "Torchwood" episodes in glorious Hi-Def. Instead of Ru-Paul in not glorious standard-def. :(

ESATA is so hit and miss with TW i wouldnt waste my money. the 8300HD's with MDN seem to be the most reliable with an external drive but that could break with an update at any time. the most recent firmware for the ODN 8300HDC's broke ESATA again. and no body on these forums has been able to get it to work on the ODN Sammy boxes either.
If TW would officially support external HDD maybe i could see getting one . but as it is and has been they wont support it and are free to break it when ever they want and not get it working again.


besides saving pennies does anyone know why the first few sammy 3090's had 320GB HDD but all that are available now are 160?

I dunno, I've had the 1TB drive working on my current 8300 - non-cable-card box in the past 3 weeks. It isn't pretty, cables are exposed and all. I hook it up every now and then to see if it still works.

Sammy may be another story.

This from the TWC-Charlotte web-site:

Upcoming Channel Lineup Changes

July 25, 2009: Logo will be launched on Digital Cable Channel 197.



I Googled Logo, which I had never heard of, so you wouldn't have to. It programs for the gay, lesbian, transgender audience.

Couldn't we get BBC-AmericaHD instead? So that we can watch the upcoming "Torchwood" episodes in glorious Hi-Def. Instead of Ru-Paul in not glorious standard-def. :(

This also popped up today:
August 1, 2009: YES HD and NESN HD will be added to the Games and Sports Tier.
Looks like all the transplanted Yankee & Red Sox fans can start battling it out here in the south, lol.

This also popped up today:
August 1, 2009: YES HD and NESN HD will be added to the Games and Sports Tier.
Looks like all the transplanted Yankee & Red Sox fans can start battling it out here in the south, lol.

Between your post and mine.....how many transgender Red Sox and Yankees fans do you reckon are in the Charlotte area? :)

We will be receiving a BS channel like Logo, but we cannot get the NFL network.

Between your post and mine.....how many transgender Red Sox and Yankees fans do you reckon are in the Charlotte area? :)

They're still out of luck. According to Wikipedia (which is always correct, since it's on the internet), YES HD launched a national feed in April 2009. It does not include the MLB and NBA broadcasts, since out-of-market rights are owned by the league's TV packages.

They will run alternate programming during games, but will show the pre and post game shows.


What still 'grinds my gears' is that TWC hasn't yet reached an agreement to air MASN.

What a waste of bandwidth. Channels devoted to the Sox and Yankees that show everything but their games. :eek:

We will be receiving a BS channel like Logo, but we cannot get the NFL network.

I'd love to have the channel also but I am glad TWC is sticking to it's guns and not letting NFL network extort TWC's customers.

I dunno, I've had the 1TB drive working on my current 8300 - non-cable-card box in the past 3 weeks.

that would be the 8300HD (no C) running MDN. as i said the MDN versions seem to be more reliable with external drives. at least the latest firmware version anyway. but it has been broken in the past with firmware updates too.

up here the newest version of MDN is v2.4.4-14. i believe there is a -16 out in other divisions.
and the newest version of ODN is v3.1.0_11 up here and i know other division have _13. dont recall if that is the absolute newest version of either available or not.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=516559

I'd love to have the channel also but I am glad TWC is sticking to it's guns and not letting NFL network extort TWC's customers.

I tend to agree. The NFL is a greed machine.

It looks like they're scraping up bottom of the barrel HD channels just so they can brag about how many they have.
MSNBC went HD this week. Don't plan on getting that one any time soon.

that would be the 8300HD (no C) running MDN. as i said the MDN versions seem to be more reliable with external drives. at least the latest firmware version anyway. but it has been broken in the past with firmware updates too.

up here the newest version of MDN is v2.4.4-14. i believe there is a -16 out in other divisions.
and the newest version of ODN is v3.1.0_11 up here and i know other division have _13. dont recall if that is the absolute newest version of either available or not.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=516559

MDN 2.4.6-19 Beta is being tested right now, and has a lot bugs fixed that everyone will be happy with.....:)

MDN 2.4.6-19 Beta is being tested right now, and has a lot bugs fixed that everyone will be happy with.....:)

great!
any news on possibly pushing through an ODN update to _13 or higher?

I've used 500GB eSATA drives on each of my 8300s for at least a year - probably 2, with no ill effects at all, including the firmware upgrade a ways back.

I've got the original showings of Planet Earth that have been on one of them since the first showings.

This from the TWC-Charlotte web-site:

Upcoming Channel Lineup Changes

July 25, 2009: Logo will be launched on Digital Cable Channel 197.



I Googled Logo, which I had never heard of, so you wouldn't have to. It programs for the gay, lesbian, transgender audience.

Couldn't we get BBC-AmericaHD instead? So that we can watch the upcoming "Torchwood" episodes in glorious Hi-Def. Instead of Ru-Paul in not glorious standard-def. :(

OMG why couldn't they give is Spike HD or something besides this cr@p.
At least put it on the paid HD Tier with UHD, MGM and Hallmark. Heck I'd
rather have Hallmark HD.

I asked this before and never got a response so I will try again. Does anyone know if that new Samsung box will output 4:2:2 colorspace instead of RGB?

Yes, on the 3090 set-top this will work, I was told by the Samsung Rep..

I'd take it some of us actually live on farms.

and visit www.mytractorforum.com :)

Yes, on the 3090 set-top this will work, I was told by the Samsung Rep..

Nice! Thanks for the info. :)

We will be receiving a BS channel like Logo, but we cannot get the NFL network.

I couldn't agree more. Camp will be starting in the next few weeks and still no NFL Network.

I couldn't agree more. Camp will be starting in the next few weeks and still no NFL Network.

They probably got the channel as a condition for renewing another channel. If you want the NFL Network, DirecTV and Dish both have it. And DirecTV even has the Sunday ticket. May want to give them a call....

Let's place bets on the next HD channel added here in Charlotte.

Knowing Time Warner, I'm going with LOGO HD En Espanol quickly followed by Farm Network HD. :rolleyes:

Nahh.. TV Guide Channel HD..:D

The 24/7 the Teletubby Channel...

The Croquet HD Network.

Lite Rail Charlotte HD

FYI everyone - watch your bills if you recently signed up for a Price-Lock contract!

I signed up back in April, listened to the whole computer verification and got a confirmation number, however this month's bill is $35 higher than it's supposed to be. I called in and they said that I never completed the verification, but they'd be happy to sign me up again at the current price which is about $8/month higher than the price I had agreed to. They claimed that they tried everything possible to reach me (phone, email, regular mail) but that my trial period ran out since I didn't complete the verification.

Giving the CSR my confirmation number didn't help, but it's being escalated now. I told her to mention in the escalation form that although I didn't get anything in the mail from TW, I do get weekly flyers from UVerse! I've had billing issues escalated before and it nothing seems to come of it until I complain to the BBB. They fix my bill and send me a letter opener every time.

Anyway, I figured I'd give everyone here a head's up, as this happened to a coworker of mine as well. He signed up about 3 days after I did.

FYI everyone - watch your bills if you recently signed up for a Price-Lock contract!

I signed up back in April, listened to the whole computer verification and got a confirmation number, however this month's bill is $35 higher than it's supposed to be. I called in and they said that I never completed the verification, but they'd be happy to sign me up again at the current price which is about $8/month higher than the price I had agreed to. They claimed that they tried everything possible to reach me (phone, email, regular mail) but that my trial period ran out since I didn't complete the verification.

Giving the CSR my confirmation number didn't help, but it's being escalated now. I told her to mention in the escalation form that although I didn't get anything in the mail from TW, I do get weekly flyers from UVerse! I've had billing issues escalated before and it nothing seems to come of it until I complain to the BBB. They fix my bill and send me a letter opener every time.

Anyway, I figured I'd give everyone here a head's up, as this happened to a coworker of mine as well. He signed up about 3 days after I did.

TWC billing issues? Say it ain't so! :rolleyes: I stopped calling a long time ago. I'm pretty sure it was taking years off of my life and I said some things not fit for human ears.

Lite Rail Charlotte HD

On, today's episode, we take the train to nowhere to see just where nowhere is.:D

FYI everyone - watch your bills if you recently signed up for a Price-Lock contract!

I signed up back in April, listened to the whole computer verification and got a confirmation number, however this month's bill is $35 higher than it's supposed to be. I called in and they said that I never completed the verification, but they'd be happy to sign me up again at the current price which is about $8/month higher than the price I had agreed to. They claimed that they tried everything possible to reach me (phone, email, regular mail) but that my trial period ran out since I didn't complete the verification.

Giving the CSR my confirmation number didn't help, but it's being escalated now. I told her to mention in the escalation form that although I didn't get anything in the mail from TW, I do get weekly flyers from UVerse! I've had billing issues escalated before and it nothing seems to come of it until I complain to the BBB. They fix my bill and send me a letter opener every time.

Anyway, I figured I'd give everyone here a head's up, as this happened to a coworker of mine as well. He signed up about 3 days after I did.

Happened to me a few months back, but they didn't try and claim I didn't complete the verification, they just said they 'don't know what happened' and they kept me on the same rate, which I signed up for last October.
When I've had trouble in the past, I complained to the city cable oversight department and got a quick response from TWC.

I just went by and picked up a Samsung 3090 HDDVR so I will give it a try tonight and see if this will replace my 8300 box.

I just went by and picked up a Samsung 3090 HDDVR so I will give it a try tonight and see if this will replace my 8300 box.

How big is the drive?

How big is the drive?

Eh, it's just a 160 and the outer case actually looks like someone took a hammer to it. I told the TWC rep I would be back tomorrow to either return my SciAtlanta box or this one if it doesn't work. Hopefully it's just cosmetic damage. He said it was a "refurb" which I thought strange until he explained that every box that goes to a customer, even if just for a short time and is then returned would be considered a refurb. At first he told me that did not have any. Then a lady came back from lunch and said, "oh yeah we have some of those in the warehouse, they just haven't brought them up here yet". Turns out they have been there over a week and I guess someone is too lazy to restock the cabinets behind the counters.

Eh, it's just a 160 and the outer case actually looks like someone took a hammer to it. I told the TWC rep I would be back tomorrow to either return my SciAtlanta box or this one if it doesn't work. Hopefully it's just cosmetic damage. He said it was a "refurb" which I thought strange until he explained that every box that goes to a customer, even if just for a short time and is then returned would be considered a refurb. At first he told me that did not have any. Then a lady came back from lunch and said, "oh yeah we have some of those in the warehouse, they just haven't brought them up here yet". Turns out they have been there over a week and I guess someone is too lazy to restock the cabinets behind the counters.

Yeah, I dropped by the Morehead office and they didn't have any. They checked with Northlake. They're out. Arrowwood road is out too. But they said they had them in a warehouse and would pull one for me and I could go get it tomorrow.

They couldn't tell me how big the drive was. I'm not going all the way to Arrowwood for a 160 gigger. Bump that.

Yeah, I dropped by the Morehead office and they didn't have any. They checked with Northlake. They're out. Arrowwood road is out too. But they said they had them in a warehouse and would pull one for me and I could go get it tomorrow.

They couldn't tell me how big the drive was. I'm not going all the way to Arrowwood for a 160 gigger. Bump that.

Well, I spent all night playing around with this "new" box and I'm a bit disappointed. I'm not getting all of my HD channels. I rebooted many times, called customer service to let them do their thing and nothing. The problems start around channel 258 or so and every now and then if I tune directly to a station it will display for a few seconds and then freeze and fade to black. I went into the diagnostics menu and played around with some things. I thought I would be able to change the colorspace format but I guess not. It shows 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 supported but seems to be forcing 4:4:4 when I want 4:2:2. I don't see a way to manually change this. Oh well, I guess this is going back tomorrow.

I too would like to know the new ODN version number.

The Croquet HD Network.

LOL!!! I am not even from this TWC region, but I love some of the channels mentioned! Here's my vote.

The Knitting Channel!!!

Jack

I hope the new MDN and ODN versions are a big improvement over the currently deployed ones.

I got a flyer in the mail the other day for showtime, starz and the movie channel for 5 dollars a month for 12 months. Does anyone remember what that special is called or if there is a code number to call in to get it? the flyer some how got trashed. or if anyone as any suggestion on how to deal with the csr when i call.

I got a flyer in the mail the other day for showtime, starz and the movie channel for 5 dollars a month for 12 months. Does anyone remember what that special is called or if there is a code number to call in to get it? the flyer some how got trashed. or if anyone as any suggestion on how to deal with the csr when i call.

That's a deal I'd be interested in. Those three groups would be worth five bucks a month.

ok, so i called and found out what the special is. you can't have showtime or cinemax on your account right now. but for 24 months you can get cinemax, showtime and the movie channel for $5 dollars a month. If i had either or both on my aacount i would call and say i want the special. they probably can do it for you.

ok, so i called and found out what the special is. you can't have showtime or cinemax on your account right now. but for 24 months you can get cinemax, showtime and the movie channel for $5 dollars a month. If i had either or both on my aacount i would call and say i want the special. they probably can do it for you.

Sold! Simple as it sounds.

ok, so i called and found out what the special is. you can't have showtime or cinemax on your account right now. but for 24 months you can get cinemax, showtime and the movie channel for $5 dollars a month. If i had either or both on my aacount i would call and say i want the special. they probably can do it for you.

I called today and got showtime, cinemax and tmc for $5 extra a month on my bill for the next 12 months

salisbury, nc
8300HD
updated to 2.4.6-19 sometime between 11:00 pm last night and 6:00 pm today

Software was apparently updated on my 8300HD last night (S. Charlotte). Seemed to be working fine earlier, but now ALL of my HD channels are not working. Anyone else having this problem?

Software was apparently updated on my 8300HD last night (S. Charlotte). Seemed to be working fine earlier, but now ALL of my HD channels are not working. Anyone else having this problem?

I'm in S. Charlotte also. HD channels are displaying but aspect ratio is not right and indicated screen resolution is 480. TWC strikes again.

I'm in S. Charlotte also. HD channels are displaying but aspect ratio is not right and indicated screen resolution is 480. TWC strikes again.

mine survived with everything intact. i even went thru everything in setup to verify. with some previous updates, some settings were reset.

you should check settings and reboot.

No HD channels above 200

mine survived with everything intact. i even went thru everything in setup to verify. with some previous updates, some settings were reset.

you should check settings and reboot.

Yeah, I did check and found that it had cleared all of my available resolutions except for 480i. So I just put them back in, didn't even have to reboot.
Looks like some folks aren't getting some of the HD channels at all.:confused:

salisbury, nc
8300HD
updated to 2.4.6-19 sometime between 11:00 pm last night and 6:00 pm today

How do you check on a 8300HD?

Hold select on the remote until a message light appears. Then press down on the remote and it shows the diagnostic menu. It has various menus. Hope this helps.

I am not receiving some of the premium west channels, most but not all. I don't know if it is from the software update or not. I'll have to look in to it.

I currently have an 8300HD as my STB but don't use the DVR functionality since I do that through my HTPC. I use an HD PVR to capture the component video off the STB, and the 8300HD has a firewire connection that allows my PC to change the channels quickly and accurately instead of using flaky IR.

Since I don't use the DVR, though, I'd like to just get a regular STB and return my 8300HD to save the monthly DVR fee. If I do that, what regular STB would I likely get? And does anyone who has one know if it has a firewire port?

Thanks!

I currently have an 8300HD as my STB but don't use the DVR functionality since I do that through my HTPC. I use an HD PVR to capture the component video off the STB, and the 8300HD has a firewire connection that allows my PC to change the channels quickly and accurately instead of using flaky IR.

Since I don't use the DVR, though, I'd like to just get a regular STB and return my 8300HD to save the monthly DVR fee. If I do that, what regular STB would I likely get? And does anyone who has one know if it has a firewire port?

Thanks!

What adapter are you using on your PC to intake the component video?

I tested a couple of the standard STB's last summer and found them flaky. Sometimes the channel would change, sometimes it wouldn't. Video was spotty. I could get it to send video over FW on only the "analog" channels.

I currently have an 8300HD as my STB but don't use the DVR functionality since I do that through my HTPC. I use an HD PVR to capture the component video off the STB, and the 8300HD has a firewire connection that allows my PC to change the channels quickly and accurately instead of using flaky IR.

Since I don't use the DVR, though, I'd like to just get a regular STB and return my 8300HD to save the monthly DVR fee. If I do that, what regular STB would I likely get? And does anyone who has one know if it has a firewire port?

Thanks!

They have regular HD-STB's but not sure which one they're using these days. Used to be the SA3250. The IEEE 1394 (firewire) ports were deliberately disabled by TWC on both that STB as well as the SA8300's back in August '06, however, as far as the one "authorized" device - the JVC D-VHS tape decks - were concerned. Surprised that you mention you have at least some functionality on the 8300's firewire port! Just checked mine, thinking they may have "fixed" it based on your claim, but no, still getting no signal through 1394 to my JVC deck.

So, I guess you're using the firewire port just to change channels...? While recording the component stream on your HTPC, yes? What brand of HD-PVR are you using in your HTPC?

They have regular HD-STB's but not sure which one they're using these days. Used to be the SA3250. The IEEE 1394 (firewire) ports were deliberately disabled by TWC on both that STB as well as the SA8300's back in August '06, however, as far as the one "authorized" device - the JVC D-VHS tape decks - were concerned. Surprised that you mention you have at least some functionality on the 8300's firewire port! Just checked mine, thinking they may have "fixed" it based on your claim, but no, still getting no signal through 1394 to my JVC deck.

So, I guess you're using the firewire port just to change channels...? While recording the component stream on your HTPC, yes? What brand of HD-PVR are you using in your HTPC?

Skip, I have made partially successful connections with the FW ports on a 8300HD and 4250 something or another device with a Mac Pro. Not sure if it was the software I was using or the implementation of FW on the box. FW is turned on on both of those boxes. They just didn't work well.

Now, since this latest software update came out, I've not tired it. So things might have changed this week.

They have regular HD-STB's but not sure which one they're using these days. Used to be the SA3250. The IEEE 1394 (firewire) ports were deliberately disabled by TWC on both that STB as well as the SA8300's back in August '06, however, as far as the one "authorized" device - the JVC D-VHS tape decks - were concerned. Surprised that you mention you have at least some functionality on the 8300's firewire port! Just checked mine, thinking they may have "fixed" it based on your claim, but no, still getting no signal through 1394 to my JVC deck.

So, I guess you're using the firewire port just to change channels...? While recording the component stream on your HTPC, yes? What brand of HD-PVR are you using in your HTPC?

The 8300HD's firewire port does work for changing the channel, I use a program called FireSTB. The developer no longer supports it, but it works well for such basic functionality. http://home.comcast.net/~timmmoore/firewire/readme.htm. I guess I haven't tested it since the new firmware was uploaded that everyone is talking about, I should probably make sure everything is kosher.

I use the Hauppauge 1212 HD PVR to capture HD (and SD) content off the STB. http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html.

I guess I will get another non-DVR STB to test and hold onto the 8300HD until I'm sure it will work, then return it.

MDN 2.4.6-19

Maybe I missed it in previous versions but:

single frame foward & back if now available: pause, then ->> or -<<

I'm in S. Charlotte also. HD channels are displaying but aspect ratio is not right and indicated screen resolution is 480. TWC strikes again.

I posted this back in Feb. because the same thing happened to us:

Okay I figured it out. They have must updated something during the day, I had to
go into the setting of the STB and reset everything, 1080i, 16x9 AR, the whole
nine yards. We've been in the fields picking hard corn almost all day, blew a
gathering chain and an elevator motor and I just wanted to watch a little TV in
peace with the screen right. I was just too tired to have deal with this today. I
wish TWC would run something across the screen or an email or something
when they do these things.

This also popped up today:
August 1, 2009: YES HD and NESN HD will be added to the Games and Sports Tier.
Looks like all the transplanted Yankee & Red Sox fans can start battling it out here in the south, lol.

Channel Change page now says:
August 1, 2009: YES will be added to the Games and Sports Tier.
No more NESN and no more HD.

Stumbled across this and thought some of you might get a laugh:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d142/jcalabria/jenny_on_the_news_big.jpg

The story that went with it indicated that someone hacked into the TWC/News 14 computers and posted their own closing. Nice job, lol.

Now that is hilarious!! :D

Was watching Travel Channel HD this morning when a test of the emergency warning system came on with a crawl and audio. After the test, I noticed program audio was very low and no 5.1 on all HD channels. Upon rebooting the 8300 HD all audio is back to normal. This is the second time recently I have had to reboot to acquire 5.1 audio. Anyone know a reason for this?

Is there ever going to be a solution to the constant "Channel is currently unavailable. Please try again later." (yellow triangle:try again) errors? I'm glad BBC-A played Children of Earth repeatedly or I wouldn't have been able to watch it. Probably the number one reason for failed recordings.

Is there like a limit to the number of viewers a channel can have before you get the message?

Is there ever going to be a solution to the constant "Channel is currently unavailable. Please try again later." (yellow triangle:try again) errors? I'm glad BBC-A played Children of Earth repeatedly or I wouldn't have been able to watch it. Probably the number one reason for failed recordings.

Is there like a limit to the number of viewers a channel can have before you get the message?

There is no limit to the number of viewers for a particular program channel... once it is assigned a physical channel for the first viewer that requests it, the same physical channel is used by all subsequently added viewers of that program, within that node. The number of viewers of a program has no bearing on the "Channel Not Available" message.


Getting that message typically means one of four things:

The number of different programs being requested within the node exceeds the number of available channels in the SDV pool of your node.
There is a node/headend equipment issue.
Your box's upstream request to watch an SDV program is not being heard by the SDV node controller. This is a physical plant problem that could be isolated to an area as small as a single outlet in your home.
The downstream SDV pool channel assigned to fulfill your request program request is not making it to your box. This, too, is a physical plant problem that could be isolated to a very small area.
The first two issues are true SDV problems. They both can be monitored and corrected by TWC. The third and fourth issues are just plain old RF plant issues, and may be so isolated that there is no way for TWC to be aware of and correct them unless you request a service call.

I live in Matthews (near Elizabeth Lane Elementary School) and can only recall a very few Channel Not Available messages since SDV was implemented about a year ago. When they have occurred they usually affected a block of SDV services and were corrected within a few hours... indicating a headend/hub problem that was quickly corrected. 99.999% of the time there is absolutely no indication that any channels are "different".

If you are experiencing chronic issues watching SDV channels, you most likely have localized RF problems that need to be reported... they are not true SDV issues.

for Dr.Who fans
BBCA tonight 8 pm ET, Planet of the Dead- the first of four specials to mark the departure of David Tennant. first airing in US. first HD episode (to bad we dont get BBCA HD)
The Waters Of Mars- cant find a set airing date so be on the look out
and 2 part finale- that i cant find a name for or an air date

for Dr.Who fans
BBCA tonight 8 pm ET, Planet of the Dead- the first of four specials to mark the departure of David Tennant. first airing in US. first HD episode (to bad we dont get BBCA HD)
The Waters Of Mars- cant find a set airing date so be on the look out
and 2 part finale- that i cant find a name for or an air date

According to the below article, linked to in the tvpredictions.com website, BBC-America has yet to reach a deal with any cable or satellite providers to cover BBCA-HD.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/316013-BBC_America_Says_HD_Launches_Will_Be_Announced_Soon.php

So if nobody can view a show in hi-def, is it really HD? :rolleyes:

MDN 2.4.6-19

Maybe I missed it in previous versions but:

single frame foward & back if now available: pause, then ->> or -<<

another fix: with guide showing, press favorites - Passport would jump to the next favorite channel within the guide - Navigator would jump to the next favorite channel, close the guide, and start showing that station/

latest version of Navigator now works like Passport

another fix: with guide showing, press favorites - Passport would jump to the next favorite channel within the guide - Navigator would jump to the next favorite channel, close the guide, and start showing that station/

latest version of Navigator now works like Passport

Now if they'd just give us the ability to lock out all the channels we don't like and/or subscribe too.

Such a basic piece of functionality...

another fix: with guide showing, press favorites - Passport would jump to the next favorite channel within the guide - Navigator would jump to the next favorite channel, close the guide, and start showing that station/

latest version of Navigator now works like Passport


Tried mine last night. It still drops me out of the guide and jumps me to the next favorite channel.

Oh well,:(

Bob.

Now if they'd just give us the ability to lock out all the channels we don't like and/or subscribe too.

Such a basic piece of functionality...

Many years ago I had Dish Network and appreciated the option to personalize my channel selection in the guide. All I had to do was keep hitting guide and it would go to the next personalized channel guide. For example: One guide was all the premium channels, the next was all sports, the next was all locals, and so on.

I still miss that option.

Bob.

Tried mine last night. It still drops me out of the guide and jumps me to the next favorite channel.

Oh well,:(

Bob.
some charlotte areas seem to have not been updated to MDN 2.4.6-19

This from TWC's website:

August 25, 2009: The following channels will be added:

Fox News HD - Channel 239 (Basic Cable with HD converter)
Fox Business News HD - Channel 241 (Digital Tier)
Fuse HD - Channel 277 (Digital Tier)
CBS College Sports HD - Channel 276 (Games and Sports Tier)


This from me: Ho-frakkin-Hum. We want our BBCA-HD!

This from TWC's website:

August 25, 2009: The following channels will be added:

Fox News HD - Channel 239 (Basic Cable with HD converter)
Fox Business News HD - Channel 241 (Digital Tier)
Fuse HD - Channel 277 (Digital Tier)
CBS College Sports HD - Channel 276 (Games and Sports Tier)


This from me: Ho-frakkin-Hum. We want our BBCA-HD!
I agree on 3&4, but on 1&2: :)

Now waiting for MSNBC-HD, but I only watch it in the morning, so not as big a deal.

I cant complain when they add new hd channels, but they really need to take a look at there hd showcase on demand, there is no premium channel contnent on there what so ever

How long until they do a complete revision of channel numbers? I'm not too crazy about the spread of all the channels, I would hope that USA, FX, TNT and TBS would all be next to each other, then Discover, History, National geographic, etc. then the sports channels are together. Then also have the networks simply be the broadcast channels but 2XX and reserve the begining of the HD section for those channels.

How long until they do a complete revision of channel numbers? I'm not too crazy about the spread of all the channels, I would hope that USA, FX, TNT and TBS would all be next to each other, then Discover, History, National geographic, etc. then the sports channels are together. Then also have the networks simply be the broadcast channels but 2XX and reserve the begining of the HD section for those channels.

What??? A logical channel lineup???:eek:

I'm not too crazy about the spread of all the channels,


Well! Personally, I think they should be grouped alphabetically..That's why I switched to DirecTv..their channel lineup thingy is more better.

Well! Personally, I think they should be grouped alphabetically..That's why I switched to DirecTv..their channel lineup thingy is more better.

no arrangement is going to please everyone. Change the software in the box to allow the user to order the guide in any order of their choosing. Channel up/down would also follow the guide order. Even offer an totally random order that changes at midnight, this option would please those of us that like to channel surf.

Change the software in the box to allow the user to order the guide in any order of their choosing. Channel up/down would also follow the guide order.

I completely like that idea. That is the first time I heard of that and I would love that.

no arrangement is going to please everyone. Change the software in the box to allow the user to order the guide in any order of their choosing. Channel up/down would also follow the guide order. Even offer an totally random order that changes at midnight, this option would please those of us that like to channel surf.

It would be an easy thing to do, but TWC seems perfectly content to let Navigator and all it's bugs and shortcomings roll right along with little modification. They still haven't fixed the jump-forward on REW function and it would take about 10 minutes; I still haven't gotten used to it. Heaven forbid they tried to make the interface more user-friendly to their beleaguered customers. The guide is just embarrassing. Still only 2 lines of truncated program information; are you kidding? Still no working firewire. And on and on... :rolleyes:

Bottom line: they don't care. It's their core business and you'd think they'd like to do it as well as possible - that pride thing 'n all - but they just don't care. And the local monopolies they're given provide them no incentive to start caring, either.

This just added to upcoming channel changes:
September 17, 2009: Too Much for TV (http://www.toomuchfortv.com/), a subscription video on demand service, will be launched on Channel 898
$14.99/mo for uncensored Jerry Springer shows... hmmmm.:rolleyes:

This just added to upcoming channel changes:
September 17, 2009: Too Much for TV (http://www.toomuchfortv.com/), a subscription video on demand service, will be launched on Channel 898
$14.99/mo for uncensored Jerry Springer shows... hmmmm.:rolleyes:

Just checked out the too much for tv website. Their programming makes MAvTV look like Masterpiece Theater. :(

We want our BBC America-HD, TWC!

Just checked out the too much for tv website. Their programming makes MAvTV look like Masterpiece Theater. :(

We want out BBC America-HD, TWC!

I know!!! Talk about the dumbing down of America...

Haven't seen any testing of the new channels yet. Are they still using 1000-1004?

Haven't seen any testing of the new channels yet. Are they still using 1000-1004?

I looked last night, too. Wherever they put them as test channels, they usually show up in the favorites setup pages (even if they do not show up in the guide or in normal channel scans), and there was nothing new there yet.

I looked last night, too. Wherever they put them as test channels, they usually show up in the favorites setup pages (even if they do not show up in the guide or in normal channel scans), and there was nothing new there yet.
They do have listed "FT" @ ch. 990 with a TWC logo. I don't know what that is, its not active right now.

August 25, 2009: The following channels will be added:

* Fox News HD - Channel 239 (Basic Cable with HD converter)
* Fox Business News HD - Channel 241 (Digital Tier)
* Fuse HD - Channel 277 (Digital Tier)
* CBS College Sports HD - Channel 276 (Games and Sports Tier)

BBC America HD is being added in NY. So it is on the network but not sure how long it will take to reach other markets.

I looked last night, too. Wherever they put them as test channels, they usually show up in the favorites setup pages (even if they do not show up in the guide or in normal channel scans), and there was nothing new there yet.

Looks like 1001 is assigned tonight, but to FOXM, Fox Movie Channel. Not sure I follow that one. It was not actually active.

The test channels start at 1011.
They were not active as of 11 am. Seems kind of late to start testing if they are going live tomorrow.

Any idea when we might get HDNET back? I was hoping to DVR the Shuttle launch for my son. We just got back from Kennedy space center.

Any idea when we might get HDNET back? I was hoping to DVR the Shuttle launch for my son. We just got back from Kennedy space center.

Don't look for it anytime soon.

I watched fox news in HD last night, their backgrounds and graphics looked pretty good. It seems they could do more but I am sure it has to do with the fact the produce the same shows in SD and HD.

I was just curious if any of you have the Sports/Games tier and watch the Yes channel. Do they blackout all of the games or do you get to see the ends of the games if they run over? My gf is a big yankees fan and all the games we get are from WWOR out of New York. I'm too cheap to get MLB EI.

I was just curious if any of you have the Sports/Games tier and watch the Yes channel. Do they blackout all of the games or do you get to see the ends of the games if they run over? My gf is a big yankees fan and all the games we get are from WWOR out of New York. I'm too cheap to get MLB EI.

They're supposed to black out the live feeds of all MLB games. I've seen a few times where they're late in doing that, but don't count on it. They show late night or next-day replays of games.

You could get her the MLB.TV package for $14.95 a month or use the iPhone app if you have one of those.

So are there any 320Gb Samsungs left? I finally watched everything on my 8300 DVR and am ready to trade in for a bigger harddrive.

So are there any 320Gb Samsungs left? I finally watched everything on my 8300 DVR and am ready to trade in for a bigger harddrive.

You do know you can add a SATA expansion drive - any size you want - via the SATA port on the back of the SA8300, right?

So are there any 320Gb Samsungs left? I finally watched everything on my 8300 DVR and am ready to trade in for a bigger harddrive.

yeah what he said...........

but if you dont want to go that route you could probably call around your area to the various kiosks and such and ask. but they probably wont know what youre talking about. they will at least be able to tell you if they have any 3090's in stock. your best bet if you want a 320 is to just visit the places and ask to see the samsungs to verify the drive size. its easily visible through the case.
of course you may get ahold of a CSR who actually knows what they got. you never know.

My Samsungs going back..I will take the newer 8300 ocap over that one.

My Samsungs going back..I will take the newer 8300 ocap over that one.

What's wrong with the Samsung? I don't see any reason to give up my two 8300HDs unless maybe if there is a TiVo series 4.

Docsis 3.0 is coming this year to Charlotte..!! It will be set to run in the Raleigh/Greensboro first than will be here right after that..Zaxcom will be the first to know after I do trust me..

The upstream change from 16-QAM to 64-QAM is seemless just like changing the upstream frequencies which happen all the time.

Right now the upstream QPSK for the boxes is at 20mhz and will not change, leaving from 22.5mhz upto 38 mhz to use for the CMTS frequencies.

Any update on DOCSIS 3.0 coming to Charlotte?

yeah what he said...........

but if you dont want to go that route you could probably call around your area to the various kiosks and such and ask. but they probably wont know what youre talking about. they will at least be able to tell you if they have any 3090's in stock. your best bet if you want a 320 is to just visit the places and ask to see the samsungs to verify the drive size. its easily visible through the case.
of course you may get ahold of a CSR who actually knows what they got. you never know.

Yeah I don't want to go that route. I lost a bunch of shows that way...

Got a note on my bill this month that I'll need a converter box to watch HBO starting 9/30/09:

Our records indicate that you subscribe to HBO®. Due to technical
changes in the way we deliver our premium channels, effective
September 30, 2009, HBO will be available exclusively through
Digital Cable. At that time you will need a digital converter on every
TV set that you would like to continue viewing HBO on. You can add
digital converters to additional TVs for an incremental charge. Call
1-800-TW-CABLE before September, 30 to add additional digital
converters so that you don’t miss any of your favorite shows.

Inevitable... but still sucks.:mad:

Why bother with keeping one channel trapped for analog..? I say go with about 36-channels of analog to keep the cable ready clients happy and go with a 5-100mhz return plant for Docsis 3.0 and the rest go to QAM-256.

What a waste to keep analog in this day and age, even for those who disagree. Direct,Dish,AT&T, and Verizon would make you have a set-top box. Plus doing analog FCC test twice a year is getting old (Like Calabria) ....lol

so what will TWC put on channel 7, that they would have to go remove all of those HBO traps for?

I'd be fine with analog only up to I..ch-22. As long as the regular cbale channels moved were clear QAM.

As long as I can have my home QAM's above 750mhz I'm fine.

so what will TWC put on channel 7, that they would have to go remove all of those HBO traps for?

I'd be fine with analog only up to I..ch-22. As long as the regular cbale channels moved were clear QAM.

As long as I can have my home QAM's above 750mhz I'm fine.

I am pretty sure there is some spare fiber in that case by the bridge, how about we just overlash a 6ct to your house and put a media converter in..? We could tie it all the way back to Sharon Amity and than let you pick and choose what channels Sel sends your way....:D

, how about we just overlash a 6ct to your house and put a media converter in..? :D

Only a 6ct? That's not worth the effort to install..if we're gonna go to the trouble I want at least 24ct. :)

Why bother with keeping one channel trapped for analog..? I say go with about 36-channels of analog to keep the cable ready clients happy and go with a 5-100mhz return plant for Docsis 3.0 and the rest go to QAM-256.

What a waste to keep analog in this day and age, even for those who disagree. Direct,Dish,AT&T, and Verizon would make you have a set-top box. Plus doing analog FCC test twice a year is getting old (Like Calabria) ....lol

Wiseass!:p

I would be happy with a 20 channel analog package, let alone 36, to feed my secondary outlets (as long as I was the one who picked what the channels were - none of this Golf Channel crap, lol).

Only a 6ct? That's not worth the effort to install..if we're gonna go to the trouble I want at least 24ct. :)

DWDM the fiber with a 6ct and you can run OC-192..!! Now we are talking bandwidth (10G's) in theory.

Wiseass!:p

I would be happy with a 20 channel analog package, let alone 36, to feed my secondary outlets (as long as I was the one who picked what the channels were - none of this Golf Channel crap, lol).

What do you think R Martin is still running the show and you can bark orders..lol

I hope your neighbor is still not ripping up the landscaping on your street..?

All this talk of fiber counts, WDMs and OC-192s is making me feel nostalgic.

What do you think R Martin is still running the show and you can bark orders..lol

I hope your neighbor is still not ripping up the landscaping on your street..?

I always asked nicely... it was Rich W. who barked. You know... the good cop, bad cop routine.

Now we are talking bandwidth (10G's) in theory.

I have been asked to downlink a sports feed from home..if you'd be so kind as to connect me up with an OC192 It would surely lessen my trips in to work at times. :D

Hey guys - few quick questions:

What are the latest (and greatest) STB's avail in Charlotte?

I currently have 2 8300HD's, an 8000 (HD DVR), and a 4250HDC. With my current bundle, I need to keep 2 DVR's and will also keep 2 HD non-DVR's. The 8000 is old old old; one of the 8300HD's is about to die (skipping on almost all channels); and the "red" (Pr?) component plug on the 4250HDC is not functional.

Assuming the 8300HD and the Samsung HD DVR boxes are the latest and greatest?

For the non-DVR boxes, is the 4250HDC the only option still or has there been a Samsung (or similar) change made there?

Also has anyone been successful using firewire for channel changing on any newer (post 4250HDC if they exist) HD non-DVR boxes.

I could never get the 4250HDC to change channels via firewire but did get the 8300HD's work. Using DVBLogic's software and 7MC so firewire channel change control is preferred on the HD non-DVR boxes.

TIA, E.

so what will TWC put on channel 7, that they would have to go remove all of those HBO traps for?

I'd be fine with analog only up to I..ch-22. As long as the regular cbale channels moved were clear QAM.

As long as I can have my home QAM's above 750mhz I'm fine.


Didn't they run into the same problem a few years ago when they moved Skinemax off of Channel 14 to make room for News 14? Is it possible that the traps are addressable by now?

For the non-DVR boxes, is the 4250HDC the only option still or has there been a Samsung (or similar) change made there?

There's a Samsung Non-DVR HD box on one of my sets. If someone can tell me where to find the model number, I'll look tomorrow.

I'd be happy if they did away with all of the analog channels and went to clear-QAM for all of the basic channels.

I doubt that will ever happen. Well, the analog bit will. But they will want to rent you their boxes.

I'm ok with renting a box for my primary set. But no more than that for the secondary tv's.

I'd be happy if they did away with all of the analog channels and went to clear-QAM for all of the basic channels.

I doubt that will ever happen. Well, the analog bit will. But they will want to rent you their boxes.

I'm ok with renting a box for my primary set. But no more than that for the secondary tv's.

I agree - it's the reason I haven't jumped to satellite or uverse. I don't want to pay a monthly charge for the guest room TV to be working. 15 years ago you almost had to have a box (one of those tiny ones, like the digital converters today) on every TV to get a signal and then technology advanced so that we didn't have to anymore. Now we're back at it again. Granted, the boxes do more than just change channels and decrypt signal, but it's still a pain.

This may be the wrong forum for this, and if so, I apologize, but I have a question about rights of way for the utility companies - specifically AT&T.

My neighborhood has all underground utilities, and AT&T has a junction box of sorts in my back yard. My neighbor apparently signed up for UVerse, because last Monday there was a fat coax cable running from the box, across my yard, through my (locked) fence, and into my neighbor's house. AT&T never notified me that they'd be in my yard, and the cable has been sitting there for over a week. To me, that's a safety issue if I had children, and it's a safety issue for the tech if my dog was more ferocious. Anyway, I can't find any information on what type of easement AT&T has in my yard, and I'm a little ticked that they'd just lay a wire, and bury it without saying a word to me. They haven't buried it yet, but someone else did hop my fence to mark the lines.

Anyone have any experience with this type of thing? Nobody I call at AT&T has any idea who to transfer me to (other than sales, since I don't have an account number to give them). I put a call into the NC Utilities Commission, and it sounds like they'll be able to get AT&T's attention, but I think all that will happen is I'll have a nice trench through my yard, covered with hay.

Sounds like you need to mow the lawn.. :D

I am sure ybsane can answer that question for you.

This may be the wrong forum for this, and if so, I apologize, but I have a question about rights of way for the utility companies - specifically AT&T.

My neighborhood has all underground utilities, and AT&T has a junction box of sorts in my back yard. My neighbor apparently signed up for UVerse, because last Monday there was a fat coax cable running from the box, across my yard, through my (locked) fence, and into my neighbor's house. AT&T never notified me that they'd be in my yard, and the cable has been sitting there for over a week. To me, that's a safety issue if I had children, and it's a safety issue for the tech if my dog was more ferocious. Anyway, I can't find any information on what type of easement AT&T has in my yard, and I'm a little ticked that they'd just lay a wire, and bury it without saying a word to me. They haven't buried it yet, but someone else did hop my fence to mark the lines.

Anyone have any experience with this type of thing? Nobody I call at AT&T has any idea who to transfer me to (other than sales, since I don't have an account number to give them). I put a call into the NC Utilities Commission, and it sounds like they'll be able to get AT&T's attention, but I think all that will happen is I'll have a nice trench through my yard, covered with hay.

There likely is a utility easement that allows them to do what they did... but it should not have been left above ground like that for that long of a time.

If there is no action to bury it then Bob's suggestion may get their attention... just depends on how friendly you are with the neighbor it serves and if you want to inturrupt their service to make your point.

Yea.. and the cable is kinda hard on the lawnmower too..eek:

This may be the wrong forum for this, and if so, I apologize, but I have a question about rights of way for the utility companies - specifically AT&T.

My neighborhood has all underground utilities, and AT&T has a junction box of sorts in my back yard. My neighbor apparently signed up for UVerse, because last Monday there was a fat coax cable running from the box, across my yard, through my (locked) fence, and into my neighbor's house. AT&T never notified me that they'd be in my yard, and the cable has been sitting there for over a week. To me, that's a safety issue if I had children, and it's a safety issue for the tech if my dog was more ferocious. Anyway, I can't find any information on what type of easement AT&T has in my yard, and I'm a little ticked that they'd just lay a wire, and bury it without saying a word to me. They haven't buried it yet, but someone else did hop my fence to mark the lines.

Anyone have any experience with this type of thing? Nobody I call at AT&T has any idea who to transfer me to (other than sales, since I don't have an account number to give them). I put a call into the NC Utilities Commission, and it sounds like they'll be able to get AT&T's attention, but I think all that will happen is I'll have a nice trench through my yard, covered with hay.

It sounds like you need to talk to your neighbor about it since he is the one with the account number and the service. The polite thing would have been for him to give you some notice that the crew would need access to your yard to reach the box but it's possible he didn't know until it was too late. I think the most you can hope for now is that they do a good job of covering their trench when the cable gets buried.

It sounds like you need to talk to your neighbor about it since he is the one with the account number and the service. The polite thing would have been for him to give you some notice that the crew would need access to your yard to reach the box but it's possible he didn't know until it was too late. I think the most you can hope for now is that they do a good job of covering their trench when the cable gets buried.

I had a cable running across my yard, waiting to be buried, for two months while the utility kept promising to come out. I finally called and told someone that it's a trip hazard and I'm very clumsy, and since they had plenty of notice, I would have expected that the cable would have been buried by now, and I didn't expect to fall on my face and cause all those costly medical bills. It was buried before the end of the week.

That worked for me as well with some power lines that were not buried. I complained for two years. Finally i called and told them kids in the neighborhood were pulling them out of the ground. They were burried two weeks later.

There likely is a utility easement that allows them to do what they did... but it should not have been left above ground like that for that long of a time.

If there is no action to bury it then Bob's suggestion may get their attention... just depends on how friendly you are with the neighbor it serves and if you want to inturrupt their service to make your point.

The easements are owned by the county, when a development is spec'd out there is an easement right away built into the design. On new home developments it is now front lot underground with depending on the county and the builders; set up to be X-amount from the curb up i.e 8'-12' from curb to front yard.

As far as rear easement aerial and underground go, it was set up with utilities in mind electric,gas,water, and sewer. Phone and cable is not.!! For a utility it is usually 10'-14' wide for the power company to gain access.

No one is allowed to hop fences and or walls to gain access, if access is an issue than one would contact the local police department to gain access. Since the county owns the easement...:)

As far as leaving it on the ground that long, call up and say you or someone else tripped over it and got hurt..? they will have a truck out there in minutes no matter what company or utility it is.

The Union County NC system has been having some "fun" with analog channel 99.

For months, it was showing the same slide show that is on Digital Channel 1. Over the weekend, it was showing Starz in the clear. Today, it's showing color bars.

I wonder why they can't eliminate that channel in favor of a few more digital HD channels.

The Union County NC system has been having some "fun" with analog channel 99.

For months, it was showing the same slide show that is on Digital Channel 1. Over the weekend, it was showing Starz in the clear. Today, it's showing color bars.

I wonder why they can't eliminate that channel in favor of a few more digital HD channels.

Ya same here on the Gastonia system. I saw Starz on it the other day and was like wtf. It's a useless channel now.

Ya same here on the Gastonia system. I saw Starz on it the other day and was like wtf. It's a useless channel now.

CATV A-5 95 91.25 90.00 91.25 MID
CATV A-4 96 97.25 96.00 97.25 MID
CATV A-3 97 103.25 102.00 103.25 MID
CATV A-2 98 109.25 108.00 109.25 MID
CATV A-1 99 115.25 114.00 115.25 MID

As you can see Channel 99 is in the aeronautical/FM band area, this has been tested by a few CATV companies and the results vary with very bad to fair. Since we are in a condensed area of FM transmitters and a major airport in the region the QAM's would be blocking and freezing every minute of the day...:(

CATV A-5 95 91.25 90.00 91.25 MID
CATV A-4 96 97.25 96.00 97.25 MID
CATV A-3 97 103.25 102.00 103.25 MID
CATV A-2 98 109.25 108.00 109.25 MID
CATV A-1 99 115.25 114.00 115.25 MID

As you can see Channel 99 is in the aeronautical/FM band area, this has been tested by a few CATV companies and the results vary with very bad to fair. Since we are in a condensed area of FM transmitters and a major airport in the region the QAM's would be blocking and freezing every minute of the day...:(

Good point...

The spectrum utilized for digital cable in most cable systems to-date has co-existed mainly with UHF broadcast, which is largely vacant in any given area. The VHF spectrum (http://www.cedmagazine.com/WorkArea/downloadasset.aspx?id=157960) in general is much more crowded. As current analog channels are reallocated to digital carriers, I'm certain that in any given system there will be channels (beyond the FM and aeros you noted) currently used for NTSC that may may in fact be unusable for QAM carriers. I'd guess that 19 & 20 in particular would make bad QAM channels... lots of high power VHF ground mobile there.

Good point...

The spectrum utilized for digital cable in most cable systems to-date has co-existed mainly with UHF broadcast, which is largely vacant in any given area. The VHF spectrum (http://www.cedmagazine.com/WorkArea/downloadasset.aspx?id=157960) in general is much more crowded. As current analog channels are reallocated to digital carriers, I'm certain that in any given system there will be channels (beyond the FM and aeros you noted) currently used for NTSC that may may in fact be unusable for QAM carriers. I'd guess that 19 & 20 in particular would make bad QAM channels... lots of high power VHF ground mobile there.

Agreed, thats why more CATV systems on their re-builds are going to a 5-200mhz return, and going all digital on the forward. Besides Docsis 3.0 there is going to be a need for a better return for set-top converters and 2-way converters and TV's. Ron Hranac of Cisco has pointed out the need for multiple return paths of QPSK and 64-QAM for set-tops/ True two way and for Docsis 3.0 you really need 4-upstreams for return path and 4-downstreams for the forward, hence the need for a lot of 256QAM's and bigger return path of a current 5-42mhz system.

How about we just eliminate the analog which is bandwidth hog and go all digital, if the TV manufactures get their butts in gear for true two way you can eliminate set-tops, plus if we can get remote DVR with the hard drive in the head-ends/hubs and not spend the money in the converter, customer's in theory could have terrabytes available to them. I guess its a wait and see how Cablevision does with their system.

...if the TV manufactures get their butts in gear for true two way you can eliminate set-tops...

Not for the millions of legacy TVs that will be around for a good bit longer... I still have a c.1975 Sony in the garage still going strong... does just fine to watch a game or race while I'm out there. I would never buy a TV specifically for the garage or rent an STB for it... so I would lose that TV if analog went completely away. I KNOW I'm not the only one w/ analog CRTs still doing just fine in locations that couldn't ever justify an STB or new tru2way TV. I know its gonna happen eventually, but let's not forget that the lifespan of legacy TVs is decades, not years. The ability to feed those secondary outlets without an STB is what keeps alot of folks, myself included, from considering satellite TV.

"The ability to feed those secondary outlets without an STB is what keeps alot of folks, myself included, from considering satellite TV."

I can see the point with that, what about this with the cost of tuner's getting cheaper, why not make a clear qam tuner for customer's and if the cable companies could agree than you could have a set-top converter that would rent for say $1.00 a month or that you could purchase and achieve the same thing as having clear analog channels, instead it would be clear QAM channels.

What about that idea...?

"The ability to feed those secondary outlets without an STB is what keeps alot of folks, myself included, from considering satellite TV."

I can see the point with that, what about this with the cost of tuner's getting cheaper, why not make a clear qam tuner for customer's and if the cable companies could agree than you could have a set-top converter that would rent for say $1.00 a month or that you could purchase and achieve the same thing as having clear analog channels, instead it would be clear QAM channels.

What about that idea...?

That's would keep me in the cable fold IF the clear QAM lineup was closer to the currented expanded basic lineup rather than the broadcast basic lineup. Otherwise, I could get the same channels from my attic antenna and a CECB. Then I would still be free to choose more freely between cable and satellite for the 1 or 2 outlets for which I would be willing to pay for an STB.

I understand that now that the cable ops have regained security control over their (digital) basic lineups they will be very hesitant to give it up by running the digital expanded basic in the clear. I know that rampant theft of basic service was the major impetus behind NYC going all digital. However, the consequence of maintaining that position is that it creates an easier path for customers to migrate to other service providers. Maybe not so much in NYC (where it is difficult if not impossible to get satellite service in the concrete canyons), but certainly here in Charlotte the satellite option is a viable one when one is comparing service offerings for only a couple of outlets in the home.

How about we just eliminate the analog which is bandwidth hog and go all digital, if the TV manufactures get their butts in gear for true two way you can eliminate set-tops, plus if we can get remote DVR with the hard drive in the head-ends/hubs and not spend the money in the converter, customer's in theory could have terrabytes available to them. I guess its a wait and see how Cablevision does with their system.

In today's environment a show in high demand like American Idol or a Panther's game takes up one channel per node and each user's DVR records the program. The issue with the network DVR is that each user's program takes up its own channel in the node much like a VOD does today. My guess is that the network DVR is going to cause Cablevision real issues unless they have very few users per node which is unlikely in NYC.

I can see the point with that, what about this with the cost of tuner's getting cheaper, why not make a clear qam tuner for customer's and if the cable companies could agree than you could have a set-top converter that would rent for say $1.00 a month or that you could purchase and achieve the same thing as having clear analog channels, instead it would be clear QAM channels.

What about that idea...?

Or TWC could give out 1 DTA per household like Comcast is doing and charge $35 for the rest. Much simpler than Tru2way. Content providers don't like clear QAM.

On a different note, I see that TWC Charlotte is supposed to launch its rebranded Clear Wimax service later this year. Maybe it will be in conjunction with a DOCSIS 3 rollout? :)

How about we just eliminate the analog which is bandwidth hog and go all digital, if the TV manufactures get their butts in gear for true two way you can eliminate set-tops, plus if we can get remote DVR with the hard drive in the head-ends/hubs and not spend the money in the converter, customer's in theory could have terrabytes available to them. I guess its a wait and see how Cablevision does with their system.

Cablevision just rolled out 101mbps cable modem service to their entire footprint as well (at $99.95/month).

Where do they get the bandwidth for all the toys?

Cablevision just rolled out 101mbps cable modem service to their entire footprint as well (at $99.95/month).

Where do they get the bandwidth for all the toys?

They are running a 1ghz system with Docsis 3.0 (4-256qam downstreams) plus they have a very well built Head-End system.

The audio breakups during the panthers game are terrible.

It would be better if it were the picture breaking up because the panthers look horrible. Correction...Jake looks terrible.

I can't watch the Panthers game anymore, it's depressing. I switched to the cowboys game. BTW, I noticed the audio problems on WCCB ota, as well as WHNS. I think it's FOX's problem.

I can't watch the Panthers game anymore, it's depressing. I switched to the cowboys game. BTW, I noticed the audio problems on WCCB ota, as well as WHNS. I think it's FOX's problem.

I wish I could watch the cowboys game, much better game there than this joke with the panthers. I was at the Steelers game and there were as many Steeler fans as there were Panthers.

I guess I should get a group of ppl in the area to come over on Sundays :) I have 2 HDTV's with PIP. So 4 games at one time :)

I guess I should get a group of ppl in the area to come over on Sundays :) I have 2 HDTV's with PIP. So 4 games at one time :)

And I guess the NFL package on Direct-TV..?

Uh no, I don't like DirecTV, they don't have as much HD as Dish or as many movie channels. I'm a Dish customer all the way.

Thats OK, Let me know and I will bring the beer...I can shoot down 85 and be there in half hour..

I get WHNS and WSPA via OTA, WCCB and WBTV on cable (i have road runner plus lifeline service). I get Distant Networks through all all american direct, which includes Stations from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Plus I get the NFL Red Zone channel too. So I'm covered :)

And I thought Bob D had the set up at his house..? I trying to convince my wife to set up a Ku dish, but between all the cable gear in the house she frowns at me...:confused:

[QUOTE=jmccurrytech;17172546I get Distant Networks through all all american direct, which includes Stations from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. So I'm covered :)[/QUOTE]

Illegally,that is.:(

It would be better if it were the picture breaking up because the panthers look horrible. Correction...Jake looks terrible.

The picture was incredible to me, with beautiful colors, and the surround was so likelike it was unreal. Oh wait, but I was at the game..where you could really smell how bad the panthers stunk today. Even the Philly fans were leaving early. :)

The picture was incredible to me, with beautiful colors, and the surround was so likelike it was unreal. Oh wait, but I was at the game..where you could really smell how bad the panthers stunk today. Even the Philly fans were leaving early. :)

I left at halftime... first time ever and I've had PSLs since day one. But the pic and sound on FOX18 were great for the last six minutes after I made it home. Giants game looks great, too!

I left at halftime...!

We stayed the full game for my kid.. best quote I heard all day: "Jake, drop the biscuit and pickup the football"..(edited to remove the redneck obscenities my 13 year old heard"

We stayed the full game for my kid.. best quote I heard all day: "Jake, drop the biscuit and pickup the football"..(edited to remove the redneck obscenities my 13 year old heard"

Good qoute!

We normally would have stayed... no matter how bad it was. But I'm just getting over the flu and felt like crap sitting in the hot sun. My son was at the game with me too... but he's 26 so I don't worry about the language anymore. But he was 12 when we started going and I certainly was then. Fortunately, we've been in a group of long time family PSL holders so it usually isn't too bad.

I left at halftime... first time ever and I've had PSLs since day one. But the pic and sound on FOX18 were great for the last six minutes after I made it home. Giants game looks great, too!

What a coincidence. I left at half-time too. And I wasn't even at the game. All I did was change the channel. :(

I dont appreciate that. I do not receive those illegally. All American Direct has my address, said I could receive them, and they sell them to me. I have a bill with my name and address on it. If there's any fault, it's there, not mine!

Sorry,didn't meant to offend you JM... but.. ignorance in the name of the law is no excuse.

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


If you are getting out of market signals where you (JM) live, then you are doing so illegally. In general - if you can get a watchable signal from a local affiliate via an off-air antenna, satellite broadcasters are forbidden by law from selling you DISTANT network channels from outside of your area.

Of course, one can "distort the truth" in order to circumvent such laws.:(

Sorry,didn't meant to offend you JM... but.. ignorance in the name of the law is no excuse.

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


If you are getting out of market signals where you (JM) live, then you are doing so illegally. In general - if you can get a watchable signal from a local affiliate via an off-air antenna, satellite broadcasters are forbidden by law from selling you DISTANT network channels from outside of your area.

Of course, one can "distort the truth" in order to circumvent such laws.:(

See I disagree, if one where obtaining a premium pay channel i.e. HBO,Showtime, PPV, etc than I say that is stealing because they rely on purchasing of their content to stay afloat, but local TV channels with commercials on them that are in different parts of our free country. If you can get them than watch them.

Just my 2-cents on that subject.

With the following CEDIA announcements it makes the HTPC for cable much more compelling.

- MS announcement that with windows 7 DIYers can build a CableCard PC
- MS announcement that windows 7 supports SDV
- Ceton announcement of internal 4 tuner PCIe card that supports CableCard and SDV.

Other than PPV(which I believe can still be order via phone) and VOD which many who use DVRs don't use, a CableCard PC will be able to do everything a TWC DVR can do + a lot more.

If you click the link below you will find that someone here in Charlotte is beta testing the Ceton tuner with Windows 7 media center! In addition, since he is a TWC subscriber here in Charlotte, he has a tuning adapter and has confirmed that the Ceton tuner supports SDV!

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/78488.aspx[/QUOTE]

I ran my address thru All American Direct's "Address Broker" and it saids I qualify for all 4 Networks no waiver needed. No Laws being broken, you can all sleep tonight!

I ran my address thru All American Direct's "Address Broker" and it saids I qualify for all 4 Networks no waiver needed. No Laws being broken, you can all sleep tonight!


All-American and Dish nets's openly flaunting of the laws and rules is no secret,
you can find a wealth of info on that via google. Notice that DirecTv does not do this, wonder why?

Funny thing is to me, you're actually paying money for what can be had for free, (and legally) with the right equipment. Like I do :D

BTw, for the Enquiring minds out there, the AUDIO problems with the Panthers game originated at BOFA stadium, and thus affected all stations who carried the game. $#%* happpens.. especially with HD.:(

BTw, for the Enquiring minds out there, the AUDIO problems with the Panthers game originated at BOFA stadium, and thus affected all stations who carried the game. $#%* happpens.. especially with HD.:(

Wow... Jake was running the audio, too!

I wish they would change the rules so the stations in the Home DMA can switch to another game when it goes the way yesterdays did. I don't think anyone wanted to see us suffer anymore!

I wish they would change the rules so the stations in the Home DMA can switch to another game when it goes the way yesterdays did. I don't think anyone wanted to see us suffer anymore!

Oh that would be a mess.. there would always be those who don't like changing the game..actually been there and done that before due to a computer malfunction many years ago at 'BTV...:o And there are contractual obligations as well that affect such a decision.

Well... let me rephrase :), I wish that if a home game were a blowout, then the home DMA should have the option of adding another game on a sub channel in SD only :D

Sorrry to bother, but I am new to this forum, and have just gotten a 8300hdc. I called TWC and was told you cannot attach external storage to the unit, while a lot of post say you can...What is the scoop?
Yes or No? Also, I read about a special hard to find cable being needed. Know anything about that?
Thanks-

Sorrry to bother, but I am new to this forum, and have just gotten a 8300hdc. I called TWC and was told you cannot attach external storage to the unit, while a lot of post say you can...What is the scoop?
Yes or No? Also, I read about a special hard to find cable being needed. Know anything about that?
Thanks-

No one that I know of (anywhere... not just in Charlotte) has successfully been able to make eSATA work on any ODN box (S-A HDC series & Samsung 3090). It does work with the older MDN boxes (S-A HD series), but even so it is not officially supported by TWC, which is somewhat understandable given the variety of external drives available.

The cable is not particularly hard to find... the boxes have a standard eSATA port. The exact cable you need depends on the connector on your external drive.

There are several discussions of eSATA ongoing in various threads here on AVS forums.

Well, ..Good to know, while dissappointing.
I was hoping for a bit more storage. Guess I'll be burning some DVD's.

Well, ..Good to know, while dissappointing.
I was hoping for a bit more storage. Guess I'll be burning some DVD's.

PM sent.

I went to a local TW location today to pickup another HD DVR box. After talking with the lady there, I realized that I'm paying $20 a month for each of my 3 DVR boxes!

Has anyone found a more cost-effective way of handling this? How much are cable cards through TWC? What I need is the ability to record 2 signals and output them to 2 zones (3 would be even better). If it helps, I can distribute component video readily.

It looks like the Ceton card with some cable cards will be a great option, once it's release. But, that is going to be next year.

Thanks,
CJ

I called TWC and was told cable cards are $2.00 per month. 1 is needed for each tuner in a DVR.

Wow, that's actually cheap. I think that you can use an M-card which enables you to use one card for multiple tuners. Maybe a Tivo is in the cards for now and the Ceton card later...

Thanks,
CJ

With the following CEDIA announcements it makes the HTPC for cable much more compelling.

- MS announcement that with windows 7 DIYers can build a CableCard PC
- MS announcement that windows 7 supports SDV
- Ceton announcement of internal 4 tuner PCIe card that supports CableCard and SDV.

Other than PPV(which I believe can still be order via phone) and VOD which many who use DVRs don't use, a CableCard PC will be able to do everything a TWC DVR can do + a lot more.

If you click the link below you will find that someone here in Charlotte is beta testing the Ceton tuner with Windows 7 media center! In addition, since he is a TWC subscriber here in Charlotte, he has a tuning adapter and has confirmed that the Ceton tuner supports SDV!

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/78488.aspx[/QUOTE]

I know that Cable Cards and SDV don't work, and I am curious about the Ceton tuner myself. I would suspect that this has more inline with Corporate ATG department than the local office.

Got it now, they are using the same type of adapters for the Tivo-http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/video/ps9159/ps9195/ps9828/7013834.pdf

No one that I know of (anywhere... not just in Charlotte) has successfully been able to make eSATA work on any ODN box (S-A HDC series & Samsung 3090). It does work with the older MDN boxes (S-A HD series), but even so it is not officially supported by TWC, which is somewhat understandable given the variety of external drives available.


Which is why they'll have to pry my 8300HD box out of my cold, dead fingers. With my external drive, I have nearly a terabyte of storage. Got up to nearly 90% full a few months back but have been able to whittle it down to about 40% over the summer. Got a lot of HD movies on there waiting for rainy days.

Which is why they'll have to pry my 8300HD box out of my cold, dead fingers. With my external drive, I have nearly a terabyte of storage. Got up to nearly 90% full a few months back but have been able to whittle it down to about 40% over the summer. Got a lot of HD movies on there waiting for rainy days.

Just keep your fingers (and toes, maybe) crossed that the next MDN update doesn't break eSATA!

October 28, 2009: The following channels will be added:

* Lo Mejor On Demand - Channel 848 (Free On Demand)
* HBO2 HD - Channel 312 (requires subscription to HBO)
* HBO Signature HD - Channel 313 (requires subscription to HBO)
* HBO Family HD - Channel 314 (requires subscription to HBO)
* HBO Comedy HD - Channel 315 (requires subscription to HBO)
* HBO Zone HD - Channel 316 (requires subscription to HBO)
* HBO Latino HD - Channel 549 (requires subscription to HBO)
* BBC America HD - Channel 219 (Digital Basic)
* Fox Sports Carolinas HD - Channel 263 (Basic Cable plus HD converter)
* Headline News HD - Channel 272 (Basic Cable plus HD converter)
* Investigation Discovery HD - Channel 274 (Digital Basic)
* MSNBC HD - Channel 273 (Basic Cable plus HD converter)
* truTV HD - Channel 275 (Basic Cable plus HD converter)
* TCM HD - Channel 218 (Basic Cable plus HD converter)