So is anyone getting those channels now because according to TWC you are supposed to with at least the DigiPC 1000 level of service. Or are you saying that you dont get them on the QAM but can get them with a cable card or box now?
I don't get them on my tv's built-in QAM tuner anymore (but I don't have a cable card installed). Probably with a cable card I would. And yes I get them on my TWC 8300HD DVR cable box.

The information I dispensed was based on entering transmitter coordinates from the FCC database into Google Earth. If I am wrong, the FCC database is wrong, because it distinctly shows WRDC/WLFL on "the other" tower.

Regardless, please accept my personal apologies for any negative comments. They are directed at Sinclair, not at you personally.
No worries, man... I figured that much. I didn't take it as an offense at me, and I know that I'm not going to change any minds. I just wanted to make it clear that I don't have any problems working for SBG, and am actually quite proud of the high quality of new technology that SBG has invested. I cannot speak for other departments of the group, but I'm proud to work with such a fine group of engineers and techs that SBG provides. We may not be the ones that blaze the new trails all the time, but we definately ride those same trails in style.

kd4pbs,

Again, thx for the info. Unless HDNet/HDNetMovies, InHD/InHD2, ESPNHD, HBOHD, TNTHD, SHOHD & UniversalHD that I get along with the other Raleigh, Florence and Wilmington stations I get are passed to us @ 18Mbps or more and with no artifical enhancement (which I doubt) I really don't recall reading of any other HD feed offered at 18Mbps. Maybe that 18Mbps and no enhancement is what makes WLFL-HD look different and nobody is use to seeing HD like that. :)

What the heck, show us how HD can look like diamonds, feed us the whole 20Mpbs. :D j/k.

Although I was viewing through a 32" calibrated analog back around 1996/7 when I first saw an HDTV being feed an HD signal on the Cnet show it looked to have a glossy look to it (something I've not seen yet after owning an HD display for over 5 years, even ISF'd). I've yet to get WLFL's primetime HD feed but hope to one evening.

Just don't leave this forum please. We need all the input all broadcast engineers can provide. ;)
20Mbps? Try 19.392658Mbps. Hehe... sorry, egg-headed engineer absoluteism there :D
Don't worry, I have been a member here for some time, will continue to be, and will offer all the input I can.

I don't get them on my tv's built-in QAM tuner anymore (but I don't have a cable card installed). Probably with a cable card I would. And yes I get them on my TWC 8300HD DVR cable box.

Ditto for me, I still get them on my 2 TWC STBs, but no longer on QAM. sigh

No worries, man... I figured that much. I didn't take it as an offense at me, and I know that I'm not going to change any minds. I just wanted to make it clear that I don't have any problems working for SBG, and am actually quite proud of the high quality of new technology that SBG has invested. I cannot speak for other departments of the group, but I'm proud to work with such a fine group of engineers and techs that SBG provides. We may not be the ones that blaze the new trails all the time, but we definately ride those same trails in style.

Don't forget to check out the Zoom on the SD content.

So what's up with CW? Seems like most of the "stars have aligned" for CW (and FOX Jr.) in the top 50+ markets, with the exception of the markets where the only remaining likely CW candidate is a Sinclair outlet. I understand CW is seeking "reverse compensation". That would seem to go against the Sinclair grain.

We all hope Sinclair comes "out of the closet" and becomes a little cable friendlier. You know and I know that even with the advent of ATSC capable TVs, most viewers won't bother with off-air channels, especially for those channels not affiliated with the Big 4.

Anyone else haveing problems with HD onTime Warner Cable?

I am unable to correctly set the screen aspect ratio since the firmware update to my Pace Digital High Definition cable box this week.

The analog channels can not be set in a mode to fill the screen without major distortin and missing regions of the picture. In letter box mode there are light grey sidebars surrounding the picture.

None of the modes allow correct and complete visibility of the picture on both my Sony XBR 4:3 high definition television and digital recorder.

My digital cable service is essentially unusable since the update. To release an update this defective is unimaginable.

Don't forget to check out the Zoom on the SD content.

So what's up with CW? Seems like most of the "stars have aligned" for CW (and FOX Jr.) in the top 50+ markets, with the exception of the markets where the only remaining likely CW candidate is a Sinclair outlet. I understand CW is seeking "reverse compensation". That would seem to go against the Sinclair grain.

We all hope Sinclair comes "out of the closet" and becomes a little cable friendlier. You know and I know that even with the advent of ATSC capable TVs, most viewers won't bother with off-air channels, especially for those channels not affiliated with the Big 4.

Not in my realm of responsibility on that one. I'm sure that the people that need to will get it all worked out in the end. It should be interesting to see how it all pans out. I just hope they change "CW" to some other acronym. Being a ham radio operator, CW to me means "continuous wave", or the slang term for transmission of a signal using morse code... Then being a redneck it also means "Country & Western", as in the two types of music in the world. :D
Just remember, the other side of the coin is that Time Warner is not Sinclair friendly. From what I hear, in other markets Sinclair and the local cable companies have come to an agreement, and Sinclairs DT signal is on these cable companies lineup.
Do you think that xyz-HD would be carried on TWC Raleigh's lineup if Time Warner didn't pay xyz for the priviledge of carrying thier signal?

To tell you the truth, the four friends of mine that have HD capability have ditched getting the local HD channels from TWC and gone back to an OTA antenna to get the broadcast networks. They have told me that the signal quality is too iffy at best over TWC's system. I don't have TWC's cable service so I couldn't tell you my experience with them. So, from my point of view, OTA is the only way to get the locals. Guess what... it's also FREE!

Not an HDTV issue, but I'm less than thrilled with TWC moving IFC out of my Digipic 1000 package and into a higher pricing tier. Grr. Evidently this occurred sometime in the last few days.

Not an HDTV issue, but I'm less than thrilled with TWC moving IFC out of my Digipic 1000 package and into a higher pricing tier. Grr. Evidently this occurred sometime in the last few days.

Yes, on march 30th. They also moved the Game Show Network. I found no mention of this change on their website, but there was a mention about it in the News and Observer.

Anyone else haveing problems with HD onTime Warner Cable?

I am unable to correctly set the screen aspect ratio since the firmware update to my Pace Digital High Definition cable box this week.

The analog channels can not be set in a mode to fill the screen without major distortin and missing regions of the picture. In letter box mode there are light grey sidebars surrounding the picture.

None of the modes allow correct and complete visibility of the picture on both my Sony XBR 4:3 high definition television and digital recorder.

My digital cable service is essentially unusable since the update. To release an update this defective is unimaginable.

I set the STB for "TV" as 4:3 (Standard) with Picture as 16:9. This is counter intuitive since my Sony 55XS is 16:9. I then let the Sony take over, since it does a better job (IMO) of sizing to the screen than the STB (SA8300).

I don't like grey (or black) bars, so the Sony is set to Wide Zoom (my preference vs Full or Zoom). I prefer this to the STB Zoom or Stretch.

This got me back to where I was before the upgrade. Before changing the settings to the above, I had the same circumstance that you described.

...To tell you the truth, the four friends of mine that have HD capability have ditched getting the local HD channels from TWC and gone back to an OTA antenna to get the broadcast networks. They have told me that the signal quality is too iffy at best over TWC's system. ...

I don't know how things used to be, but I can tell you now there is no difference from OTA and TWC HD-Locals. I am not a TWC fan and would tell you if the HD-Locals weren't up to par.
HDTV-NUT seems to be the most purist on the forum when it come to quality, so I would bow to his expertise.

I think they were complaining more about breakups in the signal, the inconvenience of having to have a set top box, and not being able to record the HD signal onto, eg. a DVHS deck. All these things may have been rectified by now, I'm not sure. Regardless, I think the amount of money TW charges for all the HD services is going to be the limiting factor with alot of people when it comes to the choice of either getting OTA HDTV or cable HDTV. I'm sure that many of the enthusiasts will decide that the extra money is worth it, but for many of the HD "newbies", like my 72 year old mother, they'd prefer to get it for free. You gotta remember that a good majority of the customers could care less about getting anything other than the networks in HD, simply because that's what they watch almost exclusively. All those channels above 13 is what they watch when there's nothing else on.
Now I'm off to watch the race in HD, for FREE!

I don't know how things used to be, but I can tell you now there is no difference from OTA and TWC HD-Locals. I am not a TWC fan and would tell you if the HD-Locals weren't up to par.
HDTV-NUT seems to be the most purist on the forum when it come to quality, so I would bow to his expertise.
I cant say im an expert, more along the lines of very very obsessed when it comes to PQ. :p

In my experiance on my setup using HDMI direct from my 8300 to my TV, the picture is identical to that of OTA.

i can only speak for myself and my setup though. there might be some reason elsewhere why OTA may look better.

[QUOTE=Robbie]Anyone else haveing problems with HD onTime Warner Cable?

I am unable to correctly set the screen aspect ratio since the firmware update to my Pace Digital High Definition cable box this week.

QUOTE]

Robbie,

See my posts from earlier in the thread. The firmware update from early last week completely hosed the Pace HD boxes. The TWC rep I talked to on the phone said the Pace boxes did not take the update very well. I was able to get the pillar boxing back to black by setting the aspect ratio to 16:9 and rebooting. However, that does not fix the biggest bug, which is that we can no longer control the output resolution over DVI. After talking to a couple of people along with reading here, I am just going to try my luck with one of the SA DVRs. It can't get any worse can it?

im looking at my bill this month with TWC.

$206.36 LOL

That includes Phone and Internet also though.

Digipic 2000 Combo, HBO and Showtime unlimited. HD Suite, HD DVR service. 1 HD-DVR Box and 1 HD Box.

My bill is usually $197 something but I ordered 2 HD Pay Per Views last month.

Well, there ya go...
A guy comes on here and tries to answer some questions, and suddenly people start assuming things that are not even close to reality.

I'm very glad you are here. Please don't let posg drive you away, those of us who watch WB in HD are very glad you are here.

On a slightly different subject, I have noticed horrible lip sync problems on "Reba Beginnings" (7pm, Sundays). However, the 1st run Rebas (9pm Fri) are fine. Could you please look into this and see if you notice the problem tonight? It could very well be that the feed is screwed up, but you might be in a position to get it fixed.

Again, I'm very glad you're here.

Drew

Why isn't WB in HD on TWC???
As far as I'm concerned Cable nor SAT should pay for any station that runs commercials. Because carrying the stations that run commercials is mutually beneficial.
If Cable and SAT stopped carrying any channel that ran commercials and wanted payment, those stations would soon be offered up for free.
How would they sell ad time if no one carried their channel?

Anyone here have an old SAT Dish they aren't using anymore?
It doesn't matter what brand they will all work for what I'm doing.
I tried to get DISH installed last week and the installer stood in one spot for 2 minutes and said he couldn't get a line of sight. I want to lock in to the 3 sats independently to prove it can be done, so an old single LNB would do the trick.
Thanks in advance.

im looking at my bill this month with TWC.
$206.36 LOL


Wow. I paid less than this for rent in college. Of course that was 15 years ago, but still...

Drew

That's why A La Carte won't work.

I very much concede that via ALC, if you tried to subscribe to every ch you have now, the price would be higher... but since most of us will chose to subscribe to < 1/3 of the WGaS ch's (first word is who), they can charge "more" per ch, and our total (overall) price could still be less.

Again, you don't want to call it ALC (someone got a better name), but other than for purposes of "surfing", I could buy every epiosde I watch per month via iTunes, and just use OTA for the other shows I watch, and pay less than I pay now for DigiPic 1000, and only have 2? less HD channels.

Once I get my new Mini hooked up as a media center I will very much explore doing just that.

So from my point of view, the operators need to innovate their subscription models, or find themselves bypassed by new technology. (I include Dish, TWC, DirectTV all in that statement)

Mike

As far as I'm concerned Cable nor SAT should pay for any station that runs commercials. Because carrying the stations that run commercials is mutually beneficial.
If Cable and SAT stopped carrying any channel that ran commercials and wanted payment, those stations would soon be offered up for free.
How would they sell ad time if no one carried their channel?

Right on. I've never, ever understood why I have to pay so much more for for "standard" (ch14..77) cable than for "basic" (2..14), when all those channels are advertiser supported. I can understand paying a small marginal cost difference for the cable company's increased infastructure and labor, but not 3x as much as "basic". All these advertiser supported channels must be making them pay a lot. I really wish the cable / sat companies would band together and do this. It is fun to root for one monopoly / oligopoly against another monopoly/oligopoly. Especially when it saves you money.

It reminds me of how Wal Mart (a company I love to hate) makes up like 50% of the sales of the music industry, but music sales are peanuts to Wal Mart, so it is in a great position to hold down prices.

Drew

Cable companies willl extract their pound of flesh regardless of the pricing scheme. Only when content can be delivered over broadband and a content provider breaks away from the pack and offers it that way will things begin to change. Valve took a chance with Steam, but it is now very successful and distributors and retailers are no where to be found. In spite of gathering clouds, cablecos will cling to their wildly successful biz model until outside forces overrun them.

Just my $.02.

I'm very glad you are here. Please don't let posg drive you away, those of us who watch WB in HD are very glad you are here.

On a slightly different subject, I have noticed horrible lip sync problems on "Reba Beginnings" (7pm, Sundays). However, the 1st run Rebas (9pm Fri) are fine. Could you please look into this and see if you notice the problem tonight? It could very well be that the feed is screwed up, but you might be in a position to get it fixed.

Again, I'm very glad you're here.

Drew

Sorry, I was out with my family this evening. I would suspect that it's a network issue, but I will put this on my ToDo list to look out for. There's nothing more frustrating than tracking down a lip-sync issue when one is not capable of producing an HD test stream one's self!
I don't think that posg and myself have any beef between the two of us... no worries there. I'm just a socially retarded engineer; I am good at doing my job, and whatever SBG decides to do I must support simply because that's my job. THis will never change as long as I'm working for them. Look at it this way, nobody can please everyone. If you do, you're BSing them all. I personally don't like tomatos; nothing anyone can ever tell me will make me decide that I do. THe only difference between myself and posg is that I have tried eating tomatos. ;)

Why isn't WB in HD on TWC???
As far as I'm concerned Cable nor SAT should pay for any station that runs commercials. Because carrying the stations that run commercials is mutually beneficial.
If Cable and SAT stopped carrying any channel that ran commercials and wanted payment, those stations would soon be offered up for free.
How would they sell ad time if no one carried their channel?

How would the cable companies sell cable if they didn't have any channels that have commercials on their system? Would you like to pay for something that you can otherwise get for free?

Please understand that this MY question, as a consumer, and has nothing to do with the company that I work for. Maybe this is why I don't have cable service at my home. I find it silly to actually pay for television when I can get all the TV entertainment I can stand for free.

Sorry, I was out with my family this evening. I would suspect that it's a network issue, but I will put this on my ToDo list to look out for. There's nothing more frustrating than tracking down a lip-sync issue when one is not capable of producing an HD test stream one's self!
I don't think that posg and myself have any beef between the two of us... no worries there. I'm just a socially retarded engineer; I am good at doing my job, and whatever SBG decides to do I must support simply because that's my job. THis will never change as long as I'm working for them. Look at it this way, nobody can please everyone. If you do, you're BSing them all. I personally don't like tomatos; nothing anyone can ever tell me will make me decide that I do. THe only difference between myself and posg is that I have tried eating tomatos. ;)

I LIKE TOMATOES. I just spell it with an "e". ;) ;) ;)

For The Record:

Once upon a time, I lived in a really cool downtown loft apartment in a city that was 60 miles from the market's TV transmitters. This was pre- "local into local" from satellite, your options were limited to cable, off-air, or distant network signals

There was no cable available in the area, so that was not an option. Off-air reception was abysmal in the area, so much so that three of the four major network affiliates had translator stations nearby. But not the major network affiliate owned by Sinclair.

I applied in writing for waivers from all four of the local affiliates (back when the subscriber had to do the leg work). Three of the four responded promptly, and I had network service within a week. Except for Sinclair. So I called the station. The response was that "We are not giving ANY waivers at this time", and that it was a corporate decision. I wrote corporate. No response. So I called. I was informed that this was a LOCAL decision. I got through to the station engineer, who told me that if I had a signal survey done at my expense, and that I received less that -10db, he would personally see to it that I got a waiver.

So I did so. When I called back to ask for the engineer, he no longer worked there. I explained my situation to the operator, and asked to talk to someone who could help me, and she rudely replied that she was instructed not to forward calls regarding waivers and to write.

I wrote a personal letter to the Station Manager, and never got a reponse. I called DirecTV and "moved" my zip code.

It was clear to me that the people I dealt with were not enpowered to solve problems, only to act as a "first line of defense". Except for the nice engineer, who mysteriously disappeared.

How would the cable companies sell cable if they didn't have any channels that have commercials on their system? Would you like to pay for something that you can otherwise get for free?

Please understand that this MY question, as a consumer, and has nothing to do with the company that I work for. Maybe this is why I don't have cable service at my home. I find it silly to actually pay for television when I can get all the TV entertainment I can stand for free.

I think cable could still charge the consumer a small carriage fee, due to infrastructure and bandwidth cost for free channels. But when the Fed is forcing "must carry" legislation on to SATS and Cable and giving away tax dollar provided spectrum, I would expect to see all local channels delivered free of charge including UPN-HD.

Now for the other channels that run commercials like ESPN and Discovery Channel, they should all be happy to give their channels to as many providers as are willing to take them.
Every Cable Channel should go premium if they want to make money off of subs or go free if they want to make it with ads.

Totally Off Subject:

I was SHOCKED last night to see a "Crosh Row Four" (Crossroad Ford) advert with a pleasant female voice-over rather than Tom Smith poking his finger in my face. Nice change.

Kd4pbs,

What does the pbs in your "handle" signify? Your text below confuses me:

"In fact, we're all at the same height, give or take the height of the actual antenna, on top of the tower thanks to the candelabra design that Capitol Broadcasting Company (WRAL/WRAZ) incorporated into this tower."


This text makes me think you are not associated with PBS which is a completely different tower but the PBS in your handle makes me think you are.

-DonB2

Did anyone else notice that this morning 11.1 ATSC OTA out of Raleigh was off air?

-DonB2

Totally Off Subject:

I was SHOCKED last night to see a "Crosh Row Four" (Crossroad Ford) . ahahahha. I moved down from New Jersey last year and I about **** myself the first time I saw that guy on TV. I cant even understand what he is trying to say. lol. I love Raleigh, but it is very different then where im from. (Newark NJ).

Its so odd, you can be driving down the street and see POS house and then right next to it is a multi million dollar house. LOL. Its like, Old Raleigh VS New Raleigh. I think the new Raleigh needs to start by kicking that "Crosh Row Four" tool off TV. LOL

Re: Cable Pricing.

The last major cable build I was involved in, the underground construction cost of the cable system was $40/foot, that's PER FOOT. That worked out to over $2000/per POTENTAL subscriber. Add a $300 DVR, a $100 NIU, $100 installation labor for each aquired subscriber, and at 50% take rate, the cost of aquiring a subscriber is nearly $5000.

A third of the revenue a cable operator receives goes right out the door to pay programmers. Cable companies handle 1000's of phone calls and 100's of truck rolls a day.

The city gets 5%, broadcasters want 5%, gas prices are though the roof, and ESPN supports major league sports star drug habits.

Stop whining about cable prices.

Re: Cable Pricing.

The last major cable build I was involved in, the underground construction cost of the cable system was $40/foot, that's PER FOOT. That worked out to over $2000/per POTENTAL subscriber. Add a $300 DVR, a $100 NIU, $100 installation labor for each aquired subscriber, and at 50% take rate, the cost of aquiring a subscriber is nearly $5000.

A third of the revenue a cable operator receives goes right out the door to pay programmers. Cable companies handle 1000's of phone calls and 100's of truck rolls a day.

The city gets 5%, broadcasters want 5%, gas prices are though the roof, and ESPN supports major league sports star drug habits.

Stop whining about cable prices.
agreed. i have no problem with the cost aslong as they keep giving me full res HD.

Re: Cable Pricing.
A third of the revenue a cable operator receives goes right out the door to pay programmers.

I think this is what dslate69 and are I complaining about. The content should either be free to the cable providers if it has adverts, or it should be a premium channel with no adverts.

As to the rest of the charges: I'd be happy to pay them $2200 up front in exchange for not getting reamed every month. They can keep their DVR, I'd rather use one I built myself.

Sigh. I think I'm one of the few Americans left under the age of 70 who prefers to *own* things, as opposed to paying a "nominal monthly fee" for every damned thing in their life. This country is going to hell in a handbasket, and the willingness of the majority of the sheeple to get ripped off for $50/month for cable is just the tip of the iceberg.

Drew

I wonder how in ground Fibre cable compares to TV cable price wise.

It seems like I see them running fibre everywhere.



-DONB2

I think this is what dslate69 and are I complaining about. The content should either be free to the cable providers if it has adverts, or it should be a premium channel with no adverts.

As to the rest of the charges: I'd be happy to pay them $2200 up front in exchange for not getting reamed every month. They can keep their DVR, I'd rather use one I built myself.

Sigh. I think I'm one of the few Americans left under the age of 70 who prefers to *own* things, as opposed to paying a "nominal monthly fee" for every damned thing in their life. This country is going to hell in a handbasket, and the willingness of the majority of the sheeple to get ripped off for $50/month for cable is just the tip of the iceberg.

Drew

Well, an educated guess says most people would not be willing to pay $2200, and even fewer can build their own DVR. Just a guess. ;)

As far as "owning", technology changes so fast that most things are obsolete before they're paid off. I wish I could "lease" stuff. I've got an attic full of crap that still works, but has no value. Anybody need a Betamax or Laserdisc player???

As far as the economy, "flowing" money is the fuel that keeps the economic engine running. My "depression" raised father always buys American, the only problem is that he only replaces things when they no longer function. He is a "GM" buyer, but only every ten years. If everyone spent money like he does we would have total economic stagnation.

Well, an educated guess says most people would not be willing to pay $2200, and even fewer can build their own DVR. Just a guess. ;)


But there are a lot of people who are paying well over $100/mo, which is what totally mystifies me. I keep nearly everything longer than 2 years, even computers. I am typing this on a 3 year old P4.


As far as "owning", technology changes so fast that most things are obsolete before they're paid off. I wish I could "lease" stuff. I've got an attic full of crap that still works, but has no value. Anybody need a Betamax or Laserdisc player???


You're paying for it, the costs are just hidden in a shell game. I really doubt that the cable company is loosing money on DVRs and such. Plus, if you pay cash up front, you're not paying interest and lining the pockets of some finance company, so there is no question about when something is "paid off".


As far as the economy, "flowing" money is the fuel that keeps the economic engine running. My "depression" raised father always buys American, the only problem is that he only replaces things when they no longer function. He is a "GM" buyer, but only every ten years. If everyone spent money like he does we would have total economic stagnation.

My car is 12 years old. I bought it new in 1994, it was the (and last so far) new car I have ever bought. I think your dad and I should have a beer. BTW, I'm 36. :)

Drew

You're not even in the ballpark with me - I'm the original owner of a still running 1988 Acura Integra. That we use as a daily car.

My Grandfather on my mothers side was from the depression years and he learned also not to rent. He claimed and rest his sole that renting is what brought on the depression.

I don't know if he was correct as I was not yet born.

On the other hand my father and Grandfather were running a farm at the same time and my father says he did not even feel the effects of the depression. They raised there own food and so on.

I guess only time will tell if renting vs owning is the way to go.

-DonB2

Did anyone else notice that this morning 11.1 ATSC OTA out of Raleigh was off air?

-DonB2
Yes, I did and they're still off.

I LIKE TOMATOES. I just spell it with an "e". ;) ;) ;)
LOL, that was funny. :)

Kd4pbs,

What does the pbs in your "handle" signify? Your text below confuses me:

"In fact, we're all at the same height, give or take the height of the actual antenna, on top of the tower thanks to the candelabra design that Capitol Broadcasting Company (WRAL/WRAZ) incorporated into this tower."


This text makes me think you are not associated with PBS which is a completely different tower but the PBS in your handle makes me think you are.

-DonB2
kd4pbs is his amateur radio callsign. Not affiliated with PBS tv. ;)

I recently lost a lifelong friend to cancer. He'd spent his whole life preparing for financial stability in his old age. He denied himself luxuries, vacations, even simple pleasures. The last time I saw him he said he wished he'd just lived more in the moment, not so much in the future, a future to which he was denied. He was 55.

Life itself is only borrowed time. In a certain sense, you never really own anything, you just get to use it while you're here.

I recently lost a lifelong friend to cancer. He'd spent his whole life preparing for financial stability in his old age. He denied himself luxuries, vacations, even simple pleasures. The last time I saw him he said he wished he'd just lived more in the moment, not so much in the future, a future to which he was denied. He was 55.

Life itself is only borrowed time. In a certain sense, you never really own anything, you just get to use it while you're here.
Sorry about your loss.

Yes, I did and they're still off.

They'd better get it (channel 11) fixed before Wednesday at 9 PM !!!

Sorry about your loss.

Thank you, loss of friends and family really puts life in perspective.

Re: Cable Pricing.

The last major cable build I was involved in, the underground construction cost of the cable system was $40/foot, that's PER FOOT. That worked out to over $2000/per POTENTAL subscriber. Add a $300 DVR, a $100 NIU, $100 installation labor for each aquired subscriber, and at 50% take rate, the cost of aquiring a subscriber is nearly $5000.

A third of the revenue a cable operator receives goes right out the door to pay programmers. Cable companies handle 1000's of phone calls and 100's of truck rolls a day.

The city gets 5%, broadcasters want 5%, gas prices are though the roof, and ESPN supports major league sports star drug habits.

Stop whining about cable prices.

To turn the free-market argument on its head... they wouldn't spend the $$ if it wasn't worth their while.. and I guess it is worth their while.. TWC (just the cable side of the business) profits were up 11% last qtr. Gosh, I really feel badly for them, maybe we could pass the hat :) I wish I could charge more and provide less to my customers (ie. my employer) and get an 11% "raise".

Mike

To turn the free-market argument on its head... they wouldn't spend the $$ if it wasn't worth their while.. and I guess it is worth their while.. TWC (just the cable side of the business) profits were up 11% last qtr. Gosh, I really feel badly for them, maybe we could pass the hat :) I wish I could charge more and provide less to my customers (ie. my employer) and get an 11% "raise".

Mike

Charge more and provide less ???

In the last five years, the cable industry has brought the following to wide spread deployment:

Deployed high speed internet, faster and cheaper than equivalent DSL.
Fixed rate local and long distance phone service.
Nearly doubled channel offerings.
Rolled out High Definition programming and equipment.
Introduced standard and HD DVR service.
Made true Video On Demand a reality.
Offering digital simulcast.
Starting to roll out true switched video.
Upgraded most facilities with a much deeper fiber backbone.
Improved reliabilty.
Improved customer service availability.

Now tell me what Exxon/Mobil has done to justify record profits.

Charge more and provide less ???

In the last five years, the cable industry has brought the following to wide spread deployment:

Deployed high speed internet, faster and cheaper than equivalent DSL.
Fixed rate local and long distance phone service.
Nearly doubled channel offerings.
Rolled out High Definition programming and equipment.
Introduced standard and HD DVR service.
Made true Video On Demand a reality.
Offering digital simulcast.
Starting to roll out true switched video.
Upgraded most facilities with a much deeper fiber backbone.
Improved reliabilty.
Improved customer service availability.

Now tell me what Exxon/Mobil has done to justify record profits.
Would you agree that cable has an image problem?

Daryl L,

"kd4pbs is his amateur radio callsign. Not affiliated with PBS tv. "

Thanks- that explains it.

-DonB2

Re: Cable Pricing.

The last major cable build I was involved in, the underground construction cost of the cable system was $40/foot, that's PER FOOT. That worked out to over $2000/per POTENTAL subscriber. Add a $300 DVR, a $100 NIU, $100 installation labor for each aquired subscriber, and at 50% take rate, the cost of aquiring a subscriber is nearly $5000.

A third of the revenue a cable operator receives goes right out the door to pay programmers. Cable companies handle 1000's of phone calls and 100's of truck rolls a day.

The city gets 5%, broadcasters want 5%, gas prices are though the roof, and ESPN supports major league sports star drug habits.

Stop whining about cable prices.

Was your point to show how inefficient TWC operates. If TWC wasn't a monopoly in this area you wouldn't hear so much bitchin'. But the truth of the matter is the SATs can't go everywhere TWC can. If we had another Cable company or FIOS that could go into every neighborhood or apartment complex, you would be jumping ship like the rest of us. The best thing that could happen to any of us is true competition in the Cable industry around here.
I guarantee this: we would have ESPN2-HD and NFL-HD if they were fighting for our business. I am fairly happy with RoadRunner but I would never pay $39 for their phone service when I pay $17 through SunRocket or could pay $25 with Vonage with more features.

If TWC is so great why does everyone beat them on Price and Features?
Is a 2 week guide too much to ask?

Charge more and provide less ???

In the last five years, the cable industry has brought the following to wide spread deployment:

Deployed high speed internet, faster and cheaper than equivalent DSL.
Fixed rate local and long distance phone service.
Nearly doubled channel offerings.
Rolled out High Definition programming and equipment.
Introduced standard and HD DVR service.
Made true Video On Demand a reality.
Offering digital simulcast.
Starting to roll out true switched video.
Upgraded most facilities with a much deeper fiber backbone.
Improved reliabilty.
Improved customer service availability.

Now tell me what Exxon/Mobil has done to justify record profits.

SATs are cheaper, provide more channels and their receivers have more features.
SunRocket and Vonage are cheaper and provide more features.

Im not sure why there is so much hate for TWC here. I had comcast when I lived in jersey and I like TWC much more. Comcast didnt have HDNET or HDNET Movies. There cable boxes sucked, there customer service was garbage, so on and so on.

I am very happy with TWC. Sure, you can always wish for more as with anything. Dosent mean you cant be happy with it now.

You guys that hate it so much should go ahead over to Dish. LOL. I have already been there and back. Didnt realize how good we have it with TWC until I gave Dish a try..

SATs are cheaper, provide more channels and their receivers have more features.

Ya and the PQ sucks compared to TWC.. Thats what it comes down to for me. I will glady pay TWC for a great picture. I wouldnt take D* for free with the PQ it provides. They can have all the features in the world, but until the PQ looks as good as TWC im staying right here.

Satellite is a little cheaper if you only have one receiver connected. Add $5/month/TV, and it adds up pretty quickly. What about HD or DVR??? Satellite's "loss leader" pricing may look cheaper, but in reality, for the typical subscription level, it's actual more.

Now how do you use Vonage if you don't have phone or cable ???????? Through the power lines, or plumbing ???????

REAL COST vs. PERCEIVED PRICE. Don't fall into the trap.

Now how do you use Vonage if you don't have phone or cable ???????? Through the power lines, or plumbing ???????
Plumbing? Hmmm, you may be onto something there. Like to see the GUI!

I have the luxury (thanks to my employer) of having TWC, DirecTV, and Dish on my LCD TV in my office. In a side by side comparison, TWC has by far the best PQ, and getting better, DirecTV is passible, and getting worse, and Dish, well, no comment.

Plumbing? Hmmm, you may be onto something there. Like to see the GUI!

I think you mean "gooey", not GUI ;) ;) ;)

Ya and the PQ sucks compared to TWC.. Thats what it comes down to for me. I will glady pay TWC for a great picture. I wouldnt take D* for free with the PQ it provides. They can have all the features in the world, but until the PQ looks as good as TWC im staying right here.

That is your opinion. Not mine and many others as we have had the PQ discussion before.
I had Charter before and TWC is a lot better. But after the wow factor wears off of how much better TWC is than a crappy provider, then you are still stuck with TWC on it's on merits. Which I have stated aren't up to snuff.

I stayed home from work last tuesday to get DISH with a 2 week guide a 250gb hard drive and 23 HD channels. But alas my neighbors trees and a lazy installer put a hold on my conversion. I now am trying to get a dish so I can find a suitable dish mounting location myself. So I am only too happy to leave, but you are stuck with me until I do. :p

Satellite is a little cheaper if you only have one receiver connected. Add $5/month/TV, and it adds up pretty quickly. What about HD or DVR??? Satellite's "loss leader" pricing may look cheaper, but in reality, for the typical subscription level, it's actual more..

Not True. My HD and DVR with TWC is not free.

Now how do you use Vonage if you don't have phone or cable ????????

If TWC internet was free with their phone service, you would have a point. It is $39 on top of RoadRunner compared to $17 for SunRocket.

Not True. My HD and DVR with TWC is not free.



If TWC internet was free with their phone service, you would have a point. It is $39 on top of RoadRunner compared to $17 for SunRocket.

Didn't say free. No contract. No equipment purchase. When the equipment becomes obsolete, it gets replaced. Dish Network is a marriage. Try to disconnect. It's easier to get the IRS off your back than Dish Network. Trust me.

Ok that does it, I am sticking with Basic OTA ATSC.

-DONB2

Ok that does it, I am sticking with Basic OTA ATSC.

-DONB2

Coward !!!

POSG,

Actually I almost had my self sold on Voom.

-DonB2

On a completely different note.

I would be interested in gathering some more stomping ground when trying to get my Geek-Fix.
I know I go to the following web sites daily. Are there any I should add to my list.

www.HDBeat.com
www.Engadget.com

POSG,

Actually I almost had my self sold on Voom.

-DonB2

Joking??? Not Joking??? It's always sounded like a whole lot of nothing to me.

POSG,

Actually I almost had my self sold on Voom.

-DonB2

Don't let these wanna be experts talk you out of anything. See if you can get a demo and make up your own mind.

"Night Rider" and "Charmed" may be ok for some, but for those that need more; VOOM might be the way to go.

And the best and hardest part is I almost had the better half sold on Voom. But than Voom went over and than it went under. In that order.

OOPS I correct myself it did not go over, it was always over, as in Geosync Satellite orbit.

-DonB2

The problem with VOOM as a Dish Network exclusive, it can never really develop into anything much more than it is, and as more and more of the major studio allied cable networks really ramp up their HD offerings, VOOM will be, well, DOOMED.

Universal HD may not be much right now. But look who owns it. Talk about vertical integration. The potential is there, and once the reach passing a "tipping point" look for filler like Knight Rider to go bye-bye.

And there is always:

http://www.usdtv.com/

which when I mention it usually raises a hornets nest.

-DonB2

Or if we were across the pond instead of here in Raleigh we would be able to have this free offering of digital - not sure if they are HD but they are digital and all for free:

http://www.freeview.co.uk/


-DonB2

Or if we were across the pond instead of here in Raleigh we would be able to have this free offering of digital - not sure if they are HD but they are digital and all for free:

http://www.freeview.co.uk/


-DonB2

no it's not HD and will not be for a very long time. In fact some of the channels actually only broadcast until 6pm, then they shut down.

It's also partly funded by the BBC so it's not technically free either, since you still have to pay the license fee whether you have Freeview or not. It's just additional optional services you can get besides the regular 5 terrestrial channels.

I LIKE TOMATOES. I just spell it with an "e". ;) ;) ;)
:D

Kd4pbs,

What does the pbs in your "handle" signify? Your text below confuses me:

"In fact, we're all at the same height, give or take the height of the actual antenna, on top of the tower thanks to the candelabra design that Capitol Broadcasting Company (WRAL/WRAZ) incorporated into this tower."


This text makes me think you are not associated with PBS which is a completely different tower but the PBS in your handle makes me think you are.

-DonB2

Read back a few posts and you'll find the answer. :rolleyes:

Don't let these wanna be experts talk you out of anything. See if you can get a demo and make up your own mind.

"Night Rider" and "Charmed" may be ok for some, but for those that need more; VOOM might be the way to go.
Today 4:03PM. Hmm, didn't Voom disappear months ago?

Im not sure why there is so much hate for TWC here. I had comcast when I lived in jersey and I like TWC much more. Comcast didnt have HDNET or HDNET Movies. There cable boxes sucked, there customer service was garbage, so on and so on.

I am very happy with TWC. Sure, you can always wish for more as with anything. Dosent mean you cant be happy with it now.

You guys that hate it so much should go ahead over to Dish. LOL. I have already been there and back. Didnt realize how good we have it with TWC until I gave Dish a try..

I *LOVE* TWC actually. The only service I have with them at home is my internet access, and despite having to constantly have to go through the same old hoops with their front line support when a damn mole chews a hole in the buried cable in my yard and sends my SNR falling, all the time leaking their damn NTSC cable signal into my ham radio receivers, having to deal with incompetent operators when they take the wrong bank account numbers over the phone and cutting my service off without calling me and discussing it first when lo and behold the bank payment comes back as "insufficient funds", they deliver a good product to me. It sure beats dialup, and I am too far out in the sticks to get DSL (at last check).
So really, even after all this, the problems were eventually rectified. So, as a TIme Warner customer, I'm about 97% satisfied, and as a professional, I have found the TWC engineers to be highly intelligent and helpful when there is a problem. I imagine that's much more than alot of other service providers out there, except maybe local telcos.
Yeah, the little dish sat companies deliver some poor looking pictures and even poorer customer service, speaking from experience.

You all seem like very interesting people. I often think there may be things an Engineer or Employee may not be able to say in writing and publicly - but would in private over a beer.

So my question is: (No its NOT deal or no deal!)
Should we arrange a gathering of HDTV geeks for a local brew (or 2)? I'm thinking someplace easy for us all to get to (like the new Carolina Ale House at Rt 70 West of 540 - Brier Creek) as many are from Raleigh and Cary. I hope their TV's are good :)

Drop me a note (rather than slamming this board) and I'll post the results ( and recommendations).

Send me your recommendation for Day of week, time and vote (for/against).

Pepar, Raleigh's not THAT far from York, Pa. :)

Didn't say free. No contract. No equipment purchase. When the equipment becomes obsolete, it gets replaced. Dish Network is a marriage. Try to disconnect. It's easier to get the IRS off your back than Dish Network. Trust me.
Haha! Sounds like you and I had the same experiences, only mine were with DirecTV!

I'm in Apex. antenna web shows most of the dtv channels are 20 miles to the east of me, and a couple are in the opposite direction. I currently get pretty much one of each of the OTA stations, except UPN. ABC gets choppy too. I'm using a MCE system with the ATI HDTV Wonder and the antenna that came with it. Can someone tell me what's a better (or best) antenna to use for my situation?

Sorry, I was out with my family this evening. I would suspect that it's a network issue, but I will put this on my ToDo list to look out for. There's nothing more frustrating than tracking down a lip-sync issue when one is not capable of producing an HD test stream one's self!
I

Hmm.. It may be fixed already at the network end or something. We just watched the Reba Beginnings recorded on 3/27 and 4/3, and the lip sync problems are either gone, or have gotten so much better it is no longer noticable.

Drew

Pepar, Raleigh's not THAT far from York, Pa. :)
Thanks and that's true before the brew.

If anyone's passing through York, PA, they are very welcome at our house and should PM me in advance. But that's a wee bit far for me to drive to visit anyone anywhere near as geeky as I. :D

Alpha,
Have you tried getting UPN in the last week or so?

I believe that we will be returning to TWC within the next 2 weeks and wanted to seek some help on what I schould ask TWC for.

I know I will want 8300HD (LR) & another HD box, (Bonus Room) but what about enabled firewire and HDMI ports? I remember reading that they (either) are not always active.

Is there a way to get a box with firewire and HDMI enabled? Anything else I should ask for?

I'll miss Sunday ticket, but the savings and the**lack of an investment for a HD-PVR will be well worth it.** TWC is taking $15 off my bill for switching.

Thanks for the help!
--Carl

Alpha,
Have you tried getting UPN in the last week or so?

Yes, I just set my system up last week. In MCE, I get 3 bars of signal at most with UPN. That's with the default antenna the HDTV Wonder card came with. I just purchased a radio shack double bow-tie UHF antenna I saw on slickdeals. They say it's good, but we'll see. I was hoping to catch someone with a similar setup who's been successful at getting UPN to enlighten me on the antenna selections.

And there is always:

http://www.usdtv.com/

which when I mention it usually raises a hornets nest.

-DonB2

I'll take the bait.

USDTV, now there's a REALLY dumb idea.

kd4pbs,

Thanks for "unzooming" the SD content on WLFL. I actually watched some HD on WLFL, and I take back what I said earlier. It didn't look that bad. The SD though could use some tweaking. WNCN and WRAZ both do an exceptional job at upconverting local SD content.

Question: Will WRDC ever pass network HD???

I think I just answered my own question "Will WRDC ever pass network HD???" Clicking on the USDTV link above, I noticed that the Norfolk/Hampton Roads market will be the fifth roll out, which is a Sinclair market. In as much as USDTV uses multicast bandwidth from local broadcasters, and in as much as Sinclair is already leasing bandwidth in other markets to USDTV, my guess is the WRDC will sacrifice available bandwidth to USDTV rather than transmitting HD. Hope I'm wrong.

The problem with VOOM as a Dish Network exclusive, it can never really develop into anything much more than it is, and as more and more of the major studio allied cable networks really ramp up their HD offerings, VOOM will be, well, DOOMED.

Universal HD may not be much right now. But look who owns it. Talk about vertical integration. The potential is there, and once the reach passing a "tipping point" look for filler like Knight Rider to go bye-bye.

On the other hand... VOOM was 10(15? 20?) channels of HD over a year ago now.. well ahead of the major cable operators. If their content repeats, well, again, they were still a year ahead of the cable operators who are only now learning that crawling stage of content called "infinite loop" :) :)

Long term doomed or not, Sat has more HD quantity (PQ arguments aside) and I give them points for that (I believe you can get the "Bronze" 23? HD ch package on the order of $60/month (excluding initial equip costs) and I'm not sure TWC even has 23 ch of HD, even if you subscribe to every pay service via Digipic 4000 @ $90/month)(so you have $30/month to invest in the equipment costs)

I anxiously await the "tipping point", but see little evidence that it is close. When the point has been tipped, then I could be swayed, but until then other offerings seem more attractive.

Mike

I'll take the bait.

USDTV, now there's a REALLY dumb idea.
"Wireless cable" - WTF?

The problem with VOOM as a Dish Network exclusive, it can never really develop into anything much more than it is....

Yea, the same thing happened to the Big Mac. If only Burger King would have carried the Big Mac too, it might still be around.

Universal HD may not be much right now. But look who owns it. Talk about vertical integration. The potential is there, and once the reach passing a "tipping point" look for filler like Knight Rider to go bye-bye.

How much of that still working electronics up in your attic had "potential"? ESPN2-HD has "potential" and is viable today, the same with the NFL network. The "potential" you talk about may just be a more recent rerun. I read yesterday when A&E-HD starts it will show a CSI-Miami marathon, whoopee.

Voom may not be what everyone is looking for in programing, but I think it adds HD content that I couldn't get by buying an "Knight Rider" DVD and putting it in my upconverting DVD player.

"Wireless cable" - WTF?

Yea, we need this just about as bad as we needed AM stereo.

Yea, the same thing happened to the Big Mac. If only Burger King would have carried the Big Mac too, it might still be around.

If the Big Mac had been made with "mystery meat" raised exclusively on Old MacDonald's farm, it might not have acheived mainstream success either ;) ;) ;) .

I just remember the early days of satellite delivered cable programming and carrying ANYTHING to fill channels, MSN - Modern Satellite Network, PTL, public domain movie channels. As the Big Boys got serious about playing, those services quickly went away.

I'll take the bait.

USDTV, now there's a REALLY dumb idea.

Actually, it would be perfect for me, and for quite a few people I know. They carry the *only* stations I care about in TWC's "standard" cable (espn/espn2), and for less than 1/2 the price of TWC. The big problem is that it is that they are only SD currently, and I cannot see how they could ever get enough bandwidth to broadcast in HD.

The other potential problem is that if they do somehow acquire enough b/w to broadcast in HD, it could by sucking up OTA b/w from other channels. I could care less if all the networks dropped their SD subchannels and sold the b/w to USDTV, but I'd be pretty upset if they dropped their HD subchannels and sold that b/w to USDTV.

Hmm.. I wonder if they use the same DVB-T CA hardware that is used in Europe. It would be a plus if I could get it to work with my MythTV DVR.

Drew

Actually, it would be perfect for me, and for quite a few people I know. They carry the *only* stations I care about in TWC's "standard" cable (espn/espn2), and for less than 1/2 the price of TWC. The big problem is that it is that they are only SD currently, and I cannot see how they could ever get enough bandwidth to broadcast in HD.

The other potential problem is that if they do somehow acquire enough b/w to broadcast in HD, it could by sucking up OTA b/w from other channels. I could care less if all the networks dropped their SD subchannels and sold the b/w to USDTV, but I'd be pretty upset if they dropped their HD subchannels and sold that b/w to USDTV.

Hmm.. I wonder if they use the same DVB-T CA hardware that is used in Europe. It would be a plus if I could get it to work with my MythTV DVR.

Drew

Not only never in HD, but fairly low resolution SD. This is not a service for "techies" or "enthusiasts". I'm not sure who it's for. And it IS an "instead of HD".

It would be OK if it were only transmitted as "sidecar" channels on the likes of TBN, PAX, SAH, Univision, and other channels which are not likely to ever be HD.

But the sad part is that some GREEDY mainstream broadcasters (you know who you are!!!!) will lease bandwidth to USDTV rather than providing HD.

Not only never in HD, but fairly low resolution SD. This is not a service for "techies" or "enthusiasts". I'm not sure who it's for. And it IS an "instead of HD".

It would be OK if it were only transmitted as "sidecar" channels on the likes of TBN, PAX, SAH, Univision, and other channels which are not likely to ever be HD.

But the sad part is that some GREEDY mainstream broadcasters (you know who you are!!!!) will lease bandwidth to USDTV rather than providing HD.
It is for people who understand what "wireless cable" is and have no further questions about the phrase. :)

It is for people who understand what "wireless cable" is and have no further questions about the phrase. :)

I've always had a problem with the term "wireless cable".

I assume your talking about REALLY clueless folks.

I've always had a problem with the term "wireless cable".

I assume your talking about REALLY clueless folks.
Well, sure. Unless the people behind this are dolts, they've crafted their marketing to appeal to the people they see as their target demographic. Scary . . .

Not only never in HD, but fairly low resolution SD. This is not a service for "techies" or "enthusiasts"....

If this is Mpeg4 the resolution might not be as low as one might conclude. This is a proprietary box that doesn't need to conform to the so called digital standard. Granted it does not look to be aimed at enthusiast.

Well, sure. Unless the people behind this are dolts, they've crafted their marketing to appeal to the people they see as their target demographic. Scary . . .

40 channels for $19.95. OOPS, 29 of those channels are actually free DTV off-air channels, including every B.S. sidecar 24/7 weather channel and the like. It's actually eleven cable/sat networks for $19.95. Let's see - USDTV - $1.81/channel, TWC - $.60 channel. Such a deal.

40 channels for $19.95. OOPS, 29 of those channels are actually free DTV off-air channels, including every B.S. sidecar 24/7 weather channel and the like. It's actually eleven cable/sat networks for $19.95. Let's see - USDTV - $1.81/channel, TWC - $.60 channel. Such a deal.
Still, for those who don't need 57 channels they never watch, $20/mo will be infinitely more attractive than $60. Viable or not, ventures such as this have gotta make cable hear footsteps.

On a completely different note.

I would be interested in gathering some more stomping ground when trying to get my Geek-Fix.
I know I go to the following web sites daily. Are there any I should add to my list.

www.HDBeat.com
www.Engadget.com

No self, those are the only 2 websites out there.

I mentioned this a few posts back, and I'm suprised it didn't get more reaction. I'll try one more time. What the hell happened to Tom Smith from Crossroads Ford???

Yea, we need this just about as bad as we needed AM stereo.
Is AM in stereo? Geeeeeez, I haven't listened to AM since I got an underdash FM adapter for our car back in 1978 when I got my license. :D

I mentioned this a few posts back, and I'm suprised it didn't get more reaction. I'll try one more time. What the hell happened to Tom Smith from Crossroads Ford???

I think Marc Jocobson turned him in to a Shitzu. :D

I just wanted to follow up with the whole SATA external hard drive thing.
I had sent some information to some forum members privately but never posted here.
The problem is that having an external SATA drive hooked up kills the "live buffer". So you can't rewind a live show or pause a live show and pick up where you left off.
That being said it would be a pretty good feeling to hook up a 250gb HD on your way out of town, knowing you have plenty of space for all your scheduled recordings.

Here is what you will need if you still want to do it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16817145167

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16822144048

I mentioned this a few posts back, and I'm suprised it didn't get more reaction. I'll try one more time. What the hell happened to Tom Smith from Crossroads Ford???

according to my "a la carte" news and observer subscription :) :) this AM, he moved to another dealership (in SC, I believe). Good riddance.

Mike

Is AM in stereo? Geeeeeez, I haven't listened to AM since I got an underdash FM adapter for our car back in 1978 when I got my license. :D

There are probably a handful of AM stereo stations left. The technology was introduced in the 1980's, and never really took off. The latest "technology enhancement" for AM (and FM) is IBOC (in band on channel) or "HD Radio" as it is marketed to the consumer.

Once again, a cobbled mess of trying to upgrade an incumbant service without disrupting the installed consumer hardware base.

In the rest of the world, digital radio is outside the existing AM and FM bands. Downgrading the quality of the existing service is avoided, while maximizing the potential of the new service is achieved.

according to my "a la carte" news and observer subscription :) :) this AM, he moved to another dealership (in SC, I believe). Good riddance.

Mike

THAT'S THE BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD IN A LONG LONG TIME !!!!!!

The IFC thing finally pushed me over the edge and I took my Pace box back to TWC yesterday.

The weird thing about TWC is how different their attitude is about customer retention if you've ever been through the DirecTV thing. They really don't care. The person I talked to on the phone, and the person I actually cancelled with in the office--not even a perfunctory 'I'm being forced to ask this' query about why I was shutting off my cable service.

I still have RR; anyone know how long it'll take them to come out and filter out the basic cable? Which I'm still receiving.

I have a Zenith with a built-in HDTV tuner and I'm trying to decide whether to go OTA or...bleh...get a DirecTV package going again. I'm in Durham, my big-antenna experience is nil, and I'm afraid of heights, so...it's not boding well for OTA.

It's tempting to go DirecTV and then switch the account to my parents' zipcode, thus removing myself from the Sinclair issue and getting WB/UPN (and then the CW) in at least something approaching HD.

Edited to add: Actually, I have no clue if D* is offering WB/UPN in HD anywhere (maybe LA or something?) so scratch that assumption.

I still have RR; anyone know how long it'll take them to come out and filter out the basic cable? Which I'm still receiving.

No idea, but according to the tech who replaced my shunt when my RR connection started flaking out, it'll be about 2-3 years before the filter goes bad and your RR connection starts flaking out ;)

(uh oh, I think I'm coming up on that point again...)

The IFC thing finally pushed me over the edge and I took my Pace box back to TWC yesterday.

The weird thing about TWC is how different their attitude is about customer retention if you've ever been through the DirecTV thing. They really don't care. The person I talked to on the phone, and the person I actually cancelled with in the office--not even a perfunctory 'I'm being forced to ask this' query about why I was shutting off my cable service.

I still have RR; anyone know how long it'll take them to come out and filter out the basic cable? Which I'm still receiving.

I have a Zenith with a built-in HDTV tuner and I'm trying to decide whether to go OTA or...bleh...get a DirecTV package going again. I'm in Durham, my big-antenna experience is nil, and I'm afraid of heights, so...it's not boding well for OTA.

It's tempting to go DirecTV and then switch the account to my parents' zipcode, thus removing myself from the Sinclair issue and getting WB/UPN (and then the CW) in at least something approaching HD.

Edited to add: Actually, I have no clue if D* is offering WB/UPN in HD anywhere (maybe LA or something?) so scratch that assumption.

My understanding is that initially D* HD LIL offerings are limited to the "BIG 4". As far as retention goes, you gotta respect the fact that they DON'T hassle you. Once you start offering "retention specials" you've really opened Pandora's box.

My understanding is that initially D* HD LIL offerings are limited to the "BIG 4". As far as retention goes, you gotta respect the fact that they DON'T hassle you. Once you start offering "retention specials" you've really opened Pandora's box.

I guess it's less that I wanted an offer and more that I wish they were interested in improving their service.

Yeah, it sounds pretty stupid when I type it out.

40 channels for $19.95. OOPS, 29 of those channels are actually free DTV off-air channels, including every B.S. sidecar 24/7 weather channel and the like. It's actually eleven cable/sat networks for $19.95. Let's see - USDTV - $1.81/channel, TWC - $.60 channel. Such a deal.

But you miss the point. A lot of people, me included, don't care about most or all of those filler channels that cable/sat providers make you pay for as part of all the back-room dealing you've previously described. If I don't watch it, I don't want to pay for it.

Let's say I want only ESPN, and ESPN2. TWC charges roughly $50/month to get the 2 channels I care about. So, for me, that's $10/channel with USDTV and $25/channel with TWC. I know what the better deal is for me.

If they can eventually offer ESPN/ESPN2 in HD at 720p by using a more efficient encoding than MPEG2, that makes them all the more attractive.

Drew

USDTV- SO what do people see on their OTA ATSC receivers in an area that is xmitting USDTV? Would they just see a scrambled signal or nothing at all on the given channels? I know they would keep seeing the main broadcast channels such as ABC, NBC, and CBS. But I am referring to the USDTV package channels like Disney and such.



-DonB2

USDTV- SO what do people see on their OTA ATSC receivers in an area that is xmitting USDTV? Would they just see a scrambled signal or nothing at all on the given channels? I know they would keep seeing the main broadcast channels such as ABC, NBC, and CBS. But I am referring to the USDTV package channels like Disney and such.


My assumption is that they are using some sort of conditional access scheme, and you'd just see jumbled data if you did not have the correct decoder. That's why I was wondering if they use the same DVB CA scheme as used in Europe, so that the same PC DVB cards would work with their smart cards to decode it.

Drew

Drewwho.

They sell the boxes at Wallmart, you can use them for regular ATSC OTA reception also.

There is some kind of phone in protocol to enable the pay for view OTA USDTV channels.

That is how I stumbled across USDTV to begin with, when I was in Wallmart one day looking to buy a OTA ATSC receiver.

-DonB2

My understanding is that initially D* HD LIL offerings are limited to the "BIG 4". As far as retention goes, you gotta respect the fact that they DON'T hassle you. Once you start offering "retention specials" you've really opened Pandora's box.

getting a "retention" pkg from TWC isn't very hard at all :) I've seen mention that the sat companies have similar policies.

Mike

getting a "retention" pkg from TWC isn't very hard at all :) I've seen mention that the sat companies have similar policies.

Mike

Word to the wise. Don't ever elect an automatic debit option when dealing with a satellite provider. Sometimes they just "forget" to stop billing you.

I need help...

I purchased a Samsung DLp in January. At first I could receive many OTA HD Channels throught the integrated tuner. After about 2 weeks I lost WRAZ Fox 50 channels. I can see the analog channel but no digital channels. All the other channels that I receive are working perfectly even WRAL channel 5-1, 5-2, etc. Could this be a tuner issue or am I just out of the area. I live roughly 60 miles south of Raleigh but I pick up many channels further away than WRAZ. I get all major stations in HD but I really would like to receive Fox. I have tried numerous indoor HD antenna but I can still not receive WRAZ, although I am receiving more digital channels than before.

Any Help would be gratly appreciated.....

ncbosoxfan,

60 miles away and Indoor antennas? What size antenna are you talking about? A tv top antenna or a large antenna like a 4228 up in your attic.

If you are receiving all those digital channels with a tv top antenna I am impressed.

-DonB2

oops... double post

kd4pbs,

Thanks for "unzooming" the SD content on WLFL. I actually watched some HD on WLFL, and I take back what I said earlier. It didn't look that bad. The SD though could use some tweaking. WNCN and WRAZ both do an exceptional job at upconverting local SD content.

Question: Will WRDC ever pass network HD???

Again, I don't have any edge enhancement on the upconverted stuff, so it may look "soft" to some people. I personally prefer the extra resolution to artificial enhancement.

Answer:
Yes

Answer to Carl, if you did not get an answer yet.

I have the 8300 HD with PVR from TWC and it is excellent. You can record in HD for later viewing. The only problem is TWC uses the old Passport software and realistically you can only go out the 8300 with component video with audio L+R to your TV, and optical or coax out to your receiver. You select 5.1 surround sound out and you get HD video on the TV, stereo on the TV and 5.1 through the receiver. HDMI does not work. If you go HDMI to the TV, you must select HDMI out on the 8300 which deactivates the 5.1 out of the 8300 so you can't get dolby digital except into the TV where it is no use.

The HD package from TWC is also very good.

Hope this helps.

I have the 8300 HD with PVR from TWC and it is excellent. ......HDMI does not work. If you go HDMI to the TV, you must select HDMI out on the 8300 which deactivates the 5.1 out of the 8300 so you can't get dolby digital except into the TV where it is no use.


False. If you have HDMI to your TV you can change settings to DD on the STB. This feeds video to TV via HDMI and DD to the Receiver. It is true that if you select HDMI from settings, then you'll get 2 channel and not DD.

ncbosoxfan,

60 miles away and Indoor antennas? What size antenna are you talking about? A tv top antenna or a large antenna like a 4228 up in your attic.

If you are receiving all those digital channels with a tv top antenna I am impressed.

-DonB2


DonB2,

Yeah 60 miles away with a $50 Radio Shack antenna, had a smaller antenna on top of tv at first. Like I said I was able to pick up WRAZ Fox 50 and its sub-channels originally then I lost it and my TV will not lock onto the channel. I get the following stations no problems currently:

WWAY
WRAL
WECT
WITN
WNCT
WTVD
NBC 17
WLFL
WRDC
62 - 1i

And I get digital channels for all of these, thats why it makes no sense to me why I cannot get WRAZ. I am much closer to WRAZ than some of these other stations. Anyway, I am thinking about getting a larger antenna to attach to the roof,but I do not want to waste the money just to find out I still cannot get a Fox HD feed.

Answer to Carl, if you did not get an answer yet.

I have the 8300 HD with PVR from TWC and it is excellent. You can record in HD for later viewing. The only problem is TWC uses the old Passport software

dig around in the settings area. You should have just had a software update which is pretty much close to the latest .1 version floating around in some areas from what I can tell.

New menu features to look for include, better power management, channel surf skip, reminder timer and some extra options in your diagnostic screen including support for external drives. Check around this thread for earlier examples.

ncbosoxfan:

I bet there is one word to describe your problem:

Foliage

Welcome to the wonderful world of 8VSB terrestrial broadcasting.

Ever wonder why when the "pros" want to make sure they can achieve a long distance digital transmission they chose COFDM? (flame suit on)

ncbosoxfan:

I bet there is one word to describe your problem:

Foliage

Welcome to the wonderful world of 8VSB terrestrial broadcasting.

Ever wonder why when the "pros" want to make sure they can achieve a long distance digital transmission they chose COFDM? (flame suit on)

Gee, perhaps a little nepitism there ;) ;) ;) .

Actually, I think the problem is as much the propogation characteristics of signals in the UHF frequency range as it is the modualtion scheme. UHF works much better in Arizona. It's the trees.

One of the many reasons people gave up on off-air reception years ago and went with cable. The laws of physics never seem to change.

Here's what happens when USDTV comes to town. The market below is Las Vegas. KVWB and KFBT are owned by Sinclair. Think KFBT will ever do HD? And how about 11.4Mbps of HD on WVWB for you purists. Can anybody say "HD extra-lite"???

KINC-DT (16)
3.1Mbps 15-1 Univision
3.0Mbps 15-2 Telefutura
2.0Mbps 99-4 USDTV (Disney Channel)
1.7Mbps 99-5 USDTV (Toon Disney)
2.1Mbps 99-7 USDTV (Discovery Channel)
2.6Mbps 99-8 USDTV (TLC)

KVWB-DT (22)
11.4Mbps 21-1 WB HD
3.5Mbps 99-10 USDTV (Lifetime)
2.4Mbps 99-50 USDTV (Starz!)

KFBT-DT (29)
4.2Mbps 33-1 Gold 33 (independent)
1.8Mbps 99-1 USDTV (USDTV Guide)
3.7Mbps 99-2 USDTV (ESPN)
4.4Mbps 99-3 USDTV (ESPN2)
2.0Mbps 99-6 USDTV (Food Network)
2.6Mbps 99-9 USDTV (HGTV)

KBLR-DT (40)
3.3Mbps 39-1 Telemundo
2.5Mbps 99-4 USDTV (Disney Channel)
1.6Mbps 99-5 USDTV (Toon Disney)
2.8Mbps 99-7 USDTV (Discovery Channel)
2.9Mbps 99-8 USDTV (TLC)
2.4Mbps 99-11 USDTV (Lifetime Movies Network)
3.0Mbps 99-12 USDTV (Fox News Channel)

I was working on a cable project in the UK when their terrestrial pay TV service "ITV Digital" shut down. They'd made an exclusive deal with a soccer league that just didn't pencil out financially. Can anybody say Howard Stern???

Speaking of Sinclair, the latest round of CW Affiliates (http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/pr.cgi?id=20060404cw01) was released yesterday. We still don't have one.

Thanks guys for the responses!

Anyone here capture via firewire to their HTPCs? If so, which box are you using and did you have to request anything special from TWC.

--Carl

One more comment regarding USDTV. Their model is dependant upon all the transmitters carrying their programming to be somewhat co-located. In Raleigh, channels 30, 40, and 47 DTV are not part of the 5, 11, 17, 22, 28, 50 DTV cluster. I don't think they could put together enough co-located bandwidth here to pull it off.

Speaking of Sinclair, the latest round of CW Affiliates (http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/pr.cgi?id=20060404cw01) was released yesterday. We still don't have one.

Why is that not a surprise. CW is seeking "reverse compensation". Sinclair is not likely to agree to those terms. I wouldn't be surprised if CW ends up bypassing Sinclair by either buying a fixer-upper channel in a market, or doing what their doing in New Bern, going as a digital sidecar channel on a Big 4 channel.

The STB's got some kind of update last night. They went out around at 1:44am and rebooted around 2:30am. only thing i could find different was that now the Multi Room section on channel 999 has 1 more opption.

ncbosoxfan ,

I assume you have tried moving your existing antenna around to see if you can get 50.1.

BTW- I experienced similar problems when I was playing with tv top antenna with built in booster connected to my Samsung STB.

I also could not fathom why 5.1 would come in like a rock while 50.1 was marginal at best. And I am much closer to Garner array than you are. I thought maybe 50.1 was xmitting at less power but I don't think that is the case.

All I can say is that 50.1 is still out there and hey you can always return a roof top antenna if you buy it from Radio Shack and it does not help with your receiving 50.1.

OTA reception is a very touchy thing and atmospheric conditions, trees, placement of antenna, noise in lines, a bad cable or connector that is killing a certain frequency can all be factors.

You may need a rotor for fine tweeking also.

I am not sure if 50.1 broadcasts on 50 or not, it could be one of those remapped stations and you need to do a rescan with your set top box to find it.

Someone else on this forum may know if it is a remapped station.

Good Luck,

Don

The STB's got some kind of update last night. They went out around at 1:44am and rebooted around 2:30am. only thing i could find different was that now the Multi Room section on channel 999 has 1 more opption.
Dribs and drabs. Evidently that's the way MR will be enabled. SATA support, probably, as well when it happens. No big bang for either, code-wise.

I am not sure if 50.1 broadcasts on 50 or not, it could be one of those remapped stations and you need to do a rescan with your set top box to find it.

Someone else on this forum may know if it is a remapped station.


All OTA stations are remapped to their familiar analog frequencies. FOX "50.1" broadcasts on UHF 49. WRAL "5.1" broadcasts on UHF 53, etc. See www.antennaweb.org for the frequency assignments.

BTW, does anybody remember what happens to the OTA spectrum after the analog shutoff? The plan is that all the stations will move to VHF, freeing the UHF spectrum for sale to the lowest^W highest bidder. Is that correct?

Drew

As far as retention goes, you gotta respect the fact that they DON'T hassle you. Once you start offering "retention specials" you've really opened Pandora's box.

I just cancelled my cable service today, and while they were polite, and didn't hassle me, they did offer me retention specials. I was cancelling "basic" and "standard", and the first offer was an upgrade to digipic1000 (presumably for free). The second offer was a discount on "basic" and "standard". I didn't press for details because I was not interested, and did not want to waste the rep's time.

I agree with your assessment of Dish. My Mom subscribed to Dish in the mid 90s, a year or so before she passed away. After her death, my Dad tried in vain to cancel the service which was solely in her name, but they wouldn't let him, even with a valid death certificate. About 2 years of threatening letters and collection notices addressed to the deceased followed, after which they finally gave up. I would never do business with these people.

Drew

All OTA stations are remapped to their familiar analog frequencies. FOX "50.1" broadcasts on UHF 49. WRAL "5.1" broadcasts on UHF 53, etc. See www.antennaweb.org for the frequency assignments.

BTW, does anybody remember what happens to the OTA spectrum after the analog shutoff? The plan is that all the stations will move to VHF, freeing the UHF spectrum for sale to the lowest^W highest bidder. Is that correct?

Drew

Post analog shutdown, the TV band is condensed to channels 2-51. Locally here's what happens

4.1 WUNC-DT moves from 59 to 25
5.1 WRAL-DT moves from 53 to 48
11.1 WTVD-DT moves from 52 to 11
17.1 WNCN-DT moves from 55 to 17
22.1 WLFL-DT moves from 57 to 27
28.1 WRDC-DT moves from 27 to 28
30.1 WRAY-DT stays on 42
40.1 WUVC-DT stays on 38
47.1 WRPX-DT stays on 15
50.1 WRAZ-DT stays on 49

All the low power stuff in the 50's and 60's will have to find new homes.

All channels will continue to be mapped to their legacy analog channel number.

I just cancelled my cable service today, and while they were polite, and didn't hassle me, they did offer me retention specials. I was cancelling "basic" and "standard", and the first offer was an upgrade to digipic1000 (presumably for free). The second offer was a discount on "basic" and "standard". I didn't press for details because I was not interested, and did not want to waste the rep's time.

I agree with your assessment of Dish. My Mom subscribed to Dish in the mid 90s, a year or so before she passed away. After her death, my Dad tried in vain to cancel the service which was solely in her name, but they wouldn't let him, even with a valid death certificate. About 2 years of threatening letters and collection notices addressed to the deceased followed, after which they finally gave up. I would never do business with these people.

Drew

Thanks for validating my comments on Dish. Similar story. Our Dish account was also in my wife's name, and they would not let me cancel. So I called back, and when they asked who I was, in a totally undisguised voice, gave them my wife's name. After a pause they took the cancellation, after wisely choosing not to call me a liar. Now getting them to stop taking debits out of my bank account is another story.

Well I finally got to watch a couple WB shows in HD lastnight. I did a sync up of the antenna and rotor then tinkered a little with antenna direction yesterday. It weakened up my Wilmington channel stations (so I loose WWAY-DT during the afternoon) but with slight improvement of Raleigh stations. I got to watch Gilmore Girls and the premiere of Pepper Dennis on WLFL-HD WB22. :)

I did not notice a so-called vaseline effect, BUT! what I did notice wasn't a total suprise but a joy to see in an HD picture. I say depth (kinda like the 3-D appearance you hear about HD suppose to have). I've been watchin HD since the superbowl in 2000. I saw an image that showed more depth to objects in those shows that are lacking on nearly all the other HD shows on the other networks. Like I said, it wasn't a total suprise. I kinda figured it would be that way. I chalk it up to the 18Mbps feed WLFL uses compared to the other networks 12Mbps to 15Mbps signal being sent by the other networks on their HD channel (obviously the fault of multicasting). That extra 6Mbps to 3Mbps = more information = more detail = more depth. Did any of you watch Pepper Dennis? The outside scenes were there was no softning and very little filtering in post editing offered some amazing picture quality. Granted not like a live outdoor sporting event but the outside shots looked great. Gilmore Girls was filtered to death (almost to the point of washing out blacks).

Thx kd4pbs for the 18Mbps feed. ;)

I just cancelled my cable service today, and while they were polite, and didn't hassle me, they did offer me retention specials. I was cancelling "basic" and "standard", and the first offer was an upgrade to digipic1000 (presumably for free). The second offer was a discount on "basic" and "standard". I didn't press for details because I was not interested, and did not want to waste the rep's time.

Weird. When I initially called to ask about the cancellation procedure, and then when I went actually return the box, neither rep asked why I was leaving, made any offers, or said more than the two or three words necessary to deal with me.

Again, I wasn't looking for an offer, I was looking for the opportunity to tell someone that I wasn't impressed with the lack of Bravo, or channels I watched being removed from my package.

"the TV band is condensed to channels 2-51"

Is 2-51 UHF or VHF or both?

This will be a concern for people who are buying CM 4228's and he like that are UHF only antennas.

-DONB2

I did not notice a so-called vaseline effect, BUT! what I did notice wasn't a total suprise but a joy to see in an HD picture. I say depth (kinda like the 3-D appearance you hear about HD suppose to have). I've been watchin HD since the superbowl in 2000. I saw an image that showed more depth to objects in those shows that are lacking on nearly all the other HD shows on the other networks. Like I said, it wasn't a total suprise. I kinda figured it would be that way. I chalk it up to the 18Mbps feed WLFL uses compared to the other networks 12Mbps to 15Mbps signal being sent by the other networks on their HD channel (obviously the fault of multicasting). That extra 6Mbps to 3Mbps = more information = more detail = more depth. Did any of you watch Pepper Dennis? The outside scenes were there was no softning and very little filtering in post editing offered some amazing picture quality. Granted not like a live outdoor sporting event but the outside shots looked great. Gilmore Girls was filtered to death (almost to the point of washing out blacks).
It could also, perhaps, be due to better "production values" - better cameras and other supporting gear. Newer shows especially are made with newer gear. We all know how electronics gear improves generation-to-generation, and the same applies to cameras, mixers, etc.

"the TV band is condensed to channels 2-51"

Is 2-51 UHF or VHF or both?

This will be a concern for people who are buying CM 4228's and he like that are UHF only antennas.

-DONB2

channels 2-6 are low band UHF, rarely used for DTV
channels 7-13 are high band VHF
channels 14-51 are UHF

4228's may work for channel 11, the only one locally to be concerned with. Other area stations on high band VHF after transition are WGHP (8), WFXI (8), WNCT (10), WCTI (12).

Post analog shutdown, the TV band is condensed to channels 2-51. Locally here's what happens

4.1 WUNC-DT moves from 59 to 25
5.1 WRAL-DT moves from 52 to 48
11.1 WTVD-DT moves from 53 to 11
17.1 WNCN-DT moves from 55 to 17
22.1 WLFL-DT moves from 57 to 27
28.1 WRDC-DT moves from 27 to 28
30.1 WRAY-DT stays on 42
40.1 WUVC-DT stays on 38
47.1 WRPX-DT stays on 15
50.1 WRAZ-DT stays on 49



I didn't know it had been settled yet. When did this occur ?

Posg,

Thanks, I got worried there for a minute.

pepar,

I have been speculating the same thing.
At the best, the OUTPUT HD quality can only be as good as the INPUT HD quality.

I have seen some bang up OTA HD on PBS 4.1 - not that you can view it from PA.

One of my criteria for great HD is that the background scenes are almost as clear as the forground scenes. And on some PBS broadcasts I can literaly read the text on sheets of paper tacked on Professors walls in some of those PBS science shows.

But than I will watch a crime show in HD on another channel and the backgrounds will be as fuzzy as 4:3 shows always were.

Don't get me wrong here as I do realise that the camera person may be adjusting the F stop to achieve this clarity and it may not be the High Res cameras fault.

-Don

Posg,

Thanks, I got worried there for a minute.

pepar,

I have been speculating the same thing.
At the best, the OUTPUT HD quality can only be as good as the INPUT HD quality.

I have seen some bang up OTA HD on PBS 4.1 - not that you can view it from PA.

One of my criteria for great HD is that the background scenes are almost as clear as the forground scenes. And on some PBS broadcasts I can literaly read the text on sheets of paper tacked on Professors walls in some of those PBS science shows.

But than I will watch a crime show in HD on another channel and the backgrounds will be as fuzzy as 4:3 shows always were.

Don't get me wrong here as I do realise that the camera person may be adjusting the F stop to achieve this clarity and it may not be the High Res cameras fault.

-Don
Sure, depth of field, lighting, composition, etc. With masters such as Bruckheimer & team, you can be sure that if a background is blurry it was intended to be that way for artistic reasons. CSI: Miami continues to amaze me with their stunning cinematography. And I watched a Discovery HD piece on snakes and was mesmerized, especially by one shot from below a piece of glass on which a snake was writhing. Every undulation, every scale, every shadow cast by every scale upon the next scale. The thought went through my mind that THIS is why I invested in a home theater. Not spent my money, but "invested" it in the entertainment of myself, my family and my friends.

I didn't know it had been settled yet. When did this occur ?

I think there is one more round, where stations who have not confirmed their final assignments can make a final application for a more desirable available channel. However, for the most part, stations have locked in on their final assignments.

I think round one concluded in June of last year, round two in November. If I'm wrong, I'm sure I'll be corrected. ;) ;) ;)

It could also, perhaps, be due to better "production values" - better cameras and other supporting gear. Newer shows especially are made with newer gear. We all know how electronics gear improves generation-to-generation, and the same applies to cameras, mixers, etc.
I agree. But even comparing all the shows I watch (new and old) the two on WLFL still appeared to have better depth to objects (even on the post editted over filtered Gilmore Girls). I'm stuck in bed at home 24/7 and watch an excessive amount of tv and constantly critiqueing picture quality nearly to the point of forgetting to enjoy the show/movie. :D

I'm stuck in bed at home 24/7 and watch an excessive amount of tv and constantly critiqueing picture quality nearly to the point of forgetting to enjoy the show/movie. :D
:D , indeed.

The funny practices aren't limited to Sat.. I recently was offered a retention pkg by TWC, which I accepted, but found out 2 weeks later that my RR special had been cancelled, and HD Suite had been added (at normal cost), effectively negating all retention "savings". I did not ask for HD Suite (never had it before), nor was I informed of it.

Mike

As many of you are aware not all of us are worshiping at the feet of TWC.
But as someone that is trying to move over to DISH, I started thinking "What could TWC do to keep me?" (besides a 2 week guide)
It really comes down to more HD. As much as I'd love for them to offer every HD channel that is available, I realize that is not feasible. But they could do something even better, that SAT couldn't do.
They could offer HD VOD, and I don't mean movies you have to pay for. I don't know how hard it would be to make this happen, but it would definitely be something that would keep customers from jumping ship.

I know TWC doesn't create programming, but they could subsidize PBS-HD to create a VOD channel. They could pressure HDNET or DISCOVERY-HD toward a mutually beneficial HD-VOD channel. I don't know, if all else failed couldn't they buy the rights some HD programming and throw it up on their own channel.

Maybe a better question would be "Does anybody know if their is a HD-VOD in the works by anyone?" I know HGTV-HD is almost here and they have a HGTV-VOD, is a HGTV-HD-VOD around the corner?

"constantly critiqueing picture quality nearly to the point of forgetting to enjoy the show/movie"

I have just the opposite problem, the better half goes to bed and I am left with "Keep the volume level down!" I finally decided it was easier just to use closed captioning. So now I read the text and follow the show but I might as well be reading a book considering how much of the graphics I miss.

-DonB2

"constantly critiqueing picture quality nearly to the point of forgetting to enjoy the show/movie"

I have just the opposite problem, the better half goes to bed and I am left with "Keep the volume level down!" I finally decided it was easier just to use closed captioning. So now I read the text and follow the show but I might as well be reading a book considering how much of the graphics I miss.

-DonB2
Wireless Dolby Headphones?

Wireless Dolby Headphones?
HeHe, I was gonna say the same thing. It doesn't even have to be wireless. My receiver has Dolby Headphone technology and I tried it once and it works quite well.

"constantly critiqueing picture quality nearly to the point of forgetting to enjoy the show/movie"

I have just the opposite problem, the better half goes to bed and I am left with "Keep the volume level down!" I finally decided it was easier just to use closed captioning. So now I read the text and follow the show but I might as well be reading a book considering how much of the graphics I miss.

-DonB2
I read slow so when I've tried watching with captions I also would miss the action due to trying to keep up with the CC.

HeHe, I was gonna say the same thing. It doesn't even have to be wireless. My receiver has Dolby Headphone technology and I tried it once and it works quite well.
Guess you'd have to stiffle the urge to LOL. :)

False. If you have HDMI to your TV you can change settings to DD on the STB. This feeds video to TV via HDMI and DD to the Receiver. It is true that if you select HDMI from settings, then you'll get 2 channel and not DD.

I thought that you might this relevant to the HDMI - Dolby Digital discussion...

From the Getting Started with the Explorer 8300 and 8300HD DVR

The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is an all-digital audio and video interface.
HDMI provides a digital interface between any audio and video source.
HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus digital audio.

Some HDTVs do not contain circuitry to decode Dolby ® Digital formatted
content. If you connect your DVR to an HDTV that cannot support Dolby Digital
audio, the HDMI interface instructs the DVR to switch its audio outputs to
2-channel PCM audio (to be compatible with the HDTV). In this case, all digital
audio outputs on the DVR are formatted as 2-channel PCM. As a result, you will
not be able to receive Dolby Digital or DTS audio on your home theater system
when connected to either the optical or coax (RCA Connector) S/PDIF ports.
You can avoid this by overriding the automatic configuration through the General
settings menu and switching the audio output to Dolby Digital.

Important: If your HDTV cannot decode Dolby Digital formatted content and you
have configured the DVR to output in the Dolby Digital format, you will not be
able to listen to audio through the TV. Instead, you must use your home theater
or your Dolby Digital decoding device in order to hear audio. Alternatively, you
can reconfigure the DVR to output 2-channel PCM any time you want to use the
TV to produce the audio portion of the content by selecting HDMI in the General
Settings - Audio Output screen. Depending upon your equipment capabilities to
select alternate audio sources for input, other configurations may be possible.
Refer to your equipment user's guides for more information.

"Wireless Dolby Headphones? "

It is possible, but I have never liked headsets. I get a headache with in minutes after putting them on , and I don't like buds or any of the other cattle prods that go in your ears.

If they still made Bone Phones I would give them a try even if they didn't provide good stereo.

If you are old enough you may remember Bone Phones, they wrapped around your neck and transmitted sound thru the bones in your neck.

-DonB2

And even more relevant - and not put together by marketing boffos - is this thread at Audioholics - http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=166307 - with the MOST relevant quote being "Neither Scientific Atlanta or Motorola boxes were originally designed to recognize a "REPEATER" (a repeater is a switching device in the HDMI format)."

Check it out!

As many of you are aware not all of us are worshiping at the feet of TWC.
But as someone that is trying to move over to DISH, I started thinking "What could TWC do to keep me?" (besides a 2 week guide)
It really comes down to more HD. As much as I'd love for them to offer every HD channel that is available, I realize that is not feasible. But they could do something even better, that SAT couldn't do.
They could offer HD VOD, and I don't mean movies you have to pay for. I don't know how hard it would be to make this happen, but it would definitely be something that would keep customers from jumping ship.

I know TWC doesn't create programming, but they could subsidize PBS-HD to create a VOD channel. They could pressure HDNET or DISCOVERY-HD toward a mutually beneficial HD-VOD channel. I don't know, if all else failed couldn't they buy the rights some HD programming and throw it up on their own channel.

Maybe a better question would be "Does anybody know if their is a HD-VOD in the works by anyone?" I know HGTV-HD is almost here and they have a HGTV-VOD, is a HGTV-HD-VOD around the corner?

I already have HD VOD (sort of). It's called an HD DVR.

Really, TWC is keeping up quite nicely in the HD race, and once they deploy SDV (switched digital video), bandwidth will NOT be an issue, then it just comes down to the really hard part, negociating with greedy programmers.

"Wireless Dolby Headphones? "

It is possible, but I have never liked headsets. I get a headache with in minutes after putting them on , and I don't like buds or any of the other cattle prods that go in your ears.

If they still made Bone Phones I would give them a try even if they didn't provide good stereo.

If you are old enough you may remember Bone Phones, they wrapped around your neck and transmitted sound thru the bones in your neck.
I am, but mine were damaged in a Boones Farm accident.

"I am, but mine were damaged in a Boones Farm accident. "

Maybe you cranked up the receiver too much!

-DonB2

I am, but mine were damaged in a Boones Farm accident.

Boone's Farm. Strawberry Hill. Goofey Grape. They don't still make that swill do they???

"Boone's Farm. Strawberry Hill. Goofey Grape. "

Wash it down with Genesee Beer.

Probably it is all stashed away in those Pennsylvania Coal Mines for posterity or the "Cold War"!!!

-DonB2

Why anybody would name a beer after a nasty river is beyond me. "Gimme a Ginny!!!"

I see in the TV guide that the Pax 47 logo is an "i", has it always been an 'i" and I just missed it, or is it not called Pax anymore?

-DonB2

I see in the TV guide that the Pax 47 logo is an "i", has it always been an 'i" and I just missed it, or is it not called Pax anymore?

-DonB2

PAX rebranded their primary network "i" awhile back. It's supposed to stand for "independent TV", but it really stands for "informercial TV" as everything outside evening hours is long form advertising. Snooze......

Back when it was Pax I was kinda hoping they would get a repeater or however it is done so that I could get their digital station in Raleigh. I even wrote to them and asked them if they had plans to this effect. But as I remember they did not respond to my letter.

I kinda liked Diagnosis Murder for old times sake now and than, but I don't think they have that now.

I have not tried rotating my antenna to even see if I can still marginally receive the digital station. At the time I believe they also were broadcasting with simulcast channels.

-DonB2

ncbosoxfan ,

I assume you have tried moving your existing antenna around to see if you can get 50.1.

BTW- I experienced similar problems when I was playing with tv top antenna with built in booster connected to my Samsung STB.

I also could not fathom why 5.1 would come in like a rock while 50.1 was marginal at best. And I am much closer to Garner array than you are. I thought maybe 50.1 was xmitting at less power but I don't think that is the case.

All I can say is that 50.1 is still out there and hey you can always return a roof top antenna if you buy it from Radio Shack and it does not help with your receiving 50.1.

OTA reception is a very touchy thing and atmospheric conditions, trees, placement of antenna, noise in lines, a bad cable or connector that is killing a certain frequency can all be factors.

You may need a rotor for fine tweeking also.

I am not sure if 50.1 broadcasts on 50 or not, it could be one of those remapped stations and you need to do a rescan with your set top box to find it.

Someone else on this forum may know if it is a remapped station.

Good Luck,

Don


Thanks Don,

I have moved the antenna around pretty much to every place possible to no avail, still no 50. I purchased this TV and 2 weeks later I had to have it serviced because I was seeing alot of shadowing effects in blacks. Anyway, the service person replaced the lamp and motherboard(not sure if this is the technical name). Before service I had WRAZ, after service = no WRAZ. I guess I wonder if the service person could have done something to the internal tuner and if so, is it possible to reset it. Turns out there was nothing wrong with the TV except I needed to tweak the video settings. Now I have a great HDTV but no WRAZ. Its just hard for me to beleive that 2 months ago I could get it and now I cannot, even with a much better antenna.

Thanks for all of yor help...I will just keep trying...

ncbosoxfan

jfalek and pepar, thanks for the info.

Yeah, like everyone else here I know: RTFM

ncbosoxfan,

As drewwho pointed out FOX "50.1" broadcasts on UHF 49.

Have you tried just keying in 49 on your remote and seeing if your tv will remap to 50.1 for you?

Don't laugh I have had my ATSC tuner lose a station now and than and I would for example punch in 50.1 and get nothing. I then would punch in 49 and within a fraction of a second the ATSC tuner remaps it and displays 50.1 on the tv.

It is worth a try if you have not already tried it.

Another option would be to pick up a Samsung 451 or the like and see if you can get Fox 50.1.

Samsungs are going for around $200.00 or so these days. If it works, great you get to watch 50.1 again , if it doesn't you can return it.

Sounds like you have some 24 to catch up on!!!

-DonB2

Posg,

How did you come up with the MBPS numbers in your list below? I didn't think they are posted on the USDTV site, but than maybe I should go there and see.

KINC-DT (16)
3.1Mbps 15-1 Univision
3.0Mbps 15-2 Telefutura
2.0Mbps 99-4 USDTV (Disney Channel)
1.7Mbps 99-5 USDTV (Toon Disney)
2.1Mbps 99-7 USDTV (Discovery Channel)
2.6Mbps 99-8 USDTV (TLC)


-DonB2

Posg,

How did you come up with the MBPS numbers in your list below? I didn't think they are posted on the USDTV site, but than maybe I should go there and see.

KINC-DT (16)
3.1Mbps 15-1 Univision
3.0Mbps 15-2 Telefutura
2.0Mbps 99-4 USDTV (Disney Channel)
1.7Mbps 99-5 USDTV (Toon Disney)
2.1Mbps 99-7 USDTV (Discovery Channel)
2.6Mbps 99-8 USDTV (TLC)


-DonB2

I just "copied and pasted" the info from some other string on this site, but I can't remember where. You could do a "search".

I already have HD VOD (sort of). It's called an HD DVR.

Really, TWC is keeping up quite nicely in the HD race, and once they deploy SDV (switched digital video), bandwidth will NOT be an issue, then it just comes down to the really hard part, negociating with greedy programmers.

And here I was thinking the Cables "competition killer" was VOD.
If DVRs make it a nonissue, SATs have nothing to worry about.
I would just think TWC would play to its strength; namely VOD. If DISH and DirecTv for that matter are attracting customers with their HD content (ESPN2-HD, NFL-HD, VOOM), I would think TWC would want to play the one card they are holding; VOD-HD.

And here I was thinking the Cables "competition killer" was VOD.
If DVRs make it a nonissue, SATs have nothing to worry about.
I would just think TWC would play to its strength; namely VOD. If DISH and DirecTv for that matter are attracting customers with their HD content (ESPN2-HD, NFL-HD, VOOM), I would think TWC would want to play the one card they are holding; VOD-HD.

As program producers have more and more HD content in the vault and as soon as the bandwidth choke points have been resolved, cable will exploit the VOD advantage to the hilt. That's what "switched video" is all about.

The cable industry has been talking about VOD for 20 years now. It's just now at the "tipping point". Look how long it's taken HDTV. WRAL has been transmitting HD for what, 10 years now???

I have an inside contact at DirecTV, and they are scrambling to figure out how to remain viable over the next ten years. Believe me, they're concerned, if not worried. "One Way" is quickly becoming obsolete.

... I have an inside contact at DirecTV, and they are scrambling to figure out how to remain viable over the next ten years. Believe me, they're concerned, if not worried. "One Way" is quickly becoming obsolete.

Any inside information on their plans to use their subscribers high-speed internet to accomplish their VOD offering?

DIVX Labs now has a plugin that streams HD superbly.
http://www.divx.com/movies/browse.php?categoryID=3

Any inside information on their plans to use their subscribers high-speed internet to accomplish their VOD offering?

DIVX Labs now has a plugin that streams HD superbly.
http://www.divx.com/movies/browse.php?categoryID=3

Yes, but if you stream programming over a land-line internet connection, well, that's not satellite, is it? There is no sense having a hybrid system which has linear programming on the satellite and VOD on a land-line IP. If you could accomplish that, why would you use the satellite at all? You can do everything you need to do over the land-line IP. It would be a switched video system, which is exactly where cable and telcos are headed.

If you're talking about streaming VOD programming over the satellite, you might be able to support a couple dozen programming requests at a time on the existing satellite configuration. If you had one satellite dedicated to streaming video, even with spot beams, were only talking hundreds. With 12,000,000 subscribers, well, you see the problem.

Follow Up:

Actually, the VOD solution "du jour" is "forced downloads" to a DVR hard drive. They would download, for example, all of a networks prime time lineup on a two week rotational basis. Or maybe all of a pay channels movies for that month. Obviously you really can't store a whole lot of HD, so mostly we're talking SD.

And we're talking a "mother set-top box" with "slave" boxes on additional outlets.

The whole scheme just sounds expensive, and well, "messy".

Yes, but if you stream programming over a land-line internet connection, well, that's not satellite, is it? There is no sense having a hybrid system which has linear programming on the satellite and VOD on a land-line IP. If you could accomplish that, why would you use the satellite at all? You can do everything you need to do over the land-line IP. It would be a switched video system, which is exactly where cable and telcos are headed.

If you're talking about streaming VOD programming over the satellite, you might be able to support a couple dozen programming requests at a time on the existing satellite configuration. If you had one satellite dedicated to streaming video, even with spot beams, were only talking hundreds. With 12,000,000 subscribers, well, you see the problem.

Yes I am talking about the VOD comming over the internet just like the HD stream I link to in my last post.

You don't have to be Dairy Queen to sell Milk Shakes.
If the SATs use a hybrid system to accomplish a VOD that frees up that much more bandwidth for their straight tv channel offerings from their birds. Their is no way every household has enough bandwidth (right now) for the SATs to offer their current service just through someones broadband, but there is more than enough to accomplish a nice VOD system that is as good as what TWC is offering right now. How many times have we all seen the "try again later" screen?

And just think a box that can stream VOD off the internet (in Mpeg4 to boot) is just a software update away from being a full fledged IPTV box. Just think of the head start they would have over all other competition if they wanted to get into the IPTV business.

[QUOTE=dslate69]Their is no way every household has enough bandwidth (right now) for the SATs to offer their current service just through someones broadband, but there is more than enough to accomplish a nice VOD system that is as good as what TWC is offering right now.[QUOTE]

In a true switched video system, ALL content, linear as well as VOD, is delivered on demand. You don't need to deliver all 500 channels to all subscribers all the time, just the two or three they're actually using. If you tune the set top to HBO HD, the remote switch aggregates that channel onto the stream being delivered to your house. Otherwise, it's not there. Channel surfing is actually faster in a switched video system than in a traditional delivery system. The subscriber is oblivious to the technology. The "human" interface piece is identical to traditional delivery schemes. Landbased infrastructure can accomplish this because you can easily segment bandwidth. Sat's just can't do that.

... Landbased infrastructure can accomplish this because you can easily segment bandwidth. Sat's just can't do that.

You may have missed my point. Cable can do things SAT can't and visa versa. My point is SATs can continue to deliver programming the way they do now, and add the ability to deliver VOD thru the internet. Once every subscriber had a box that could receive content thru the internet it would then be possible to convert them over to complete IPTV is so desired. But don't miss the ultimate goal of providing VOD right now. That would be one less advantage Cable would have, right now.
And I hope we can agree on at least one thing; the more even the playing field and more competition, the better product we will all end up with.

I understand what you are saying. I hope Cable, SAT, Telephone, and any other content providers continue to upgrade their infrastructure to allow capabilites that before weren't possible. Don't dismiss advancements by SATs to offer a new product (VOD) as a cludgy hybrid solution. To steal a word from one of your post, think of the "Potential".

You may have missed my point. Cable can do things SAT can't and visa versa. My point is SATs can continue to deliver programming the way they do now, and add the ability to deliver VOD thru the internet. Once every subscriber had a box that could receive content thru the internet it would then be possible to convert them over to complete IPTV is so desired. But don't miss the ultimate goal of providing VOD right now. That would be one less advantage Cable would have, right now.
And I hope we can agree on at least one thing; the more even the playing field and more competition, the better product we will all end up with.

I understand what you are saying. I hope Cable, SAT, Telephone, and any other content providers continue to upgrade their infrastructure to allow capabilites that before weren't possible. Don't dismiss advancements by SATs to offer a new product (VOD) as a cludgy hybrid solution. To steal a word from one of your post, think of the "Potential".
Some attention should be directed to the just-defeated amendment for "net neutrality" proposed for a bill working its way through congress as this will most likely affect ANY IPTV scheme.

No self, those are the only 2 websites out there.

Those are the 2 I check every day.

Mike

My Sr+ cable arrived from Pioneer. The wierd thing is it came in two boxes? Go figure? How can one cable come in two separate boxes?

For some reason they sent me two of the cables. I will probably get billed for two also!

In case anyone cares. As a minimum the SR+ cable allows me to control my Pioneer Home Theatre receiver through the infrared eye on the Pioneer Plasma. Consequently the receiver can be housed inside a closed cabinet. In addition it allows me to visually see a graphic on the plasma of the receivers volume.

-DonB2

Some attention should be directed to the just-defeated amendment for "net neutrality" proposed for a bill working its way through congress as this will most likely affect ANY IPTV scheme.

The bandwidth requirements for IPTV will require a dedicated proprietary network, not just dumping video content onto the World Wide Web. There seems to be a little confusion when "IP" is attached to a transmission scheme. IP telephony and IP video are not delivered to your home or office on the "internet".

Now, DOWNLOADING, as opposed to streaming, is a different story. Don't confuse the two.

... Now, DOWNLOADING, as opposed to streaming, is a different story. Don't confuse the two.

Yea I might have used the wrong terminology.
If the video starts playing before it finishes downloading, I consider that streaming.
It's what the consumer sees, that counts. If the consumer doesn't know exactly how the show is getting to them, no big deal; as long as it is getting there.

Yea I might have used the wrong terminology.
If the video starts playing before it finishes downloading, I consider that streaming.
It's what the consumer sees, that counts. If the consumer doesn't know exactly how the show is getting to them, no big deal; as long as it is getting there.

Streaming basically means buffering data faster than you can use it from the git go, then automatically discarding it immediately after use.

A DVR "saves" data only as long as you stay on that channel, and the program doesn't change. You can FF and Rewind as long as you don't violate those conditions. Once you do, all buffered info is lost, unless you instruct it to record.

Downloading refers to transfering data at a rate slower than required to support real time use. The whole file is saved, and then discarded by the user after use.

True VOD requires streaming capability.

The bandwidth requirements for IPTV will require a dedicated proprietary network, not just dumping video content onto the World Wide Web. There seems to be a little confusion when "IP" is attached to a transmission scheme. IP telephony and IP video are not delivered to your home or office on the "internet".

Now, DOWNLOADING, as opposed to streaming, is a different story. Don't confuse the two.
Currently, VoIP is via the internet, or at least the packets travel along some of the same wires. And I don't know of anyone doing IPTV yet. Is there? Anyway, your dedicated proprietary network sounds like the "next internet" to me. Are you sure about the proprietary part? Seems redundent to build another network beside the one we already have and the IPv6 that's just being built.

Here's the link to get a quick overview of what IPTV is, and isn't.

http://arstechnica.com/guides/other/iptv.ars/1

AT&T's Project Lightspeed most closely resembles the description here.

Robbie,

See my posts from earlier in the thread. The firmware update from early last week completely hosed the Pace HD boxes. The TWC rep I talked to on the phone said the Pace boxes did not take the update very well. I was able to get the pillar boxing back to black by setting the aspect ratio to 16:9 and rebooting. However, that does not fix the biggest bug, which is that we can no longer control the output resolution over DVI. After talking to a couple of people along with reading here, I am just going to try my luck with one of the SA DVRs. It can't get any worse can it?

Just an update for all of those TWC Pace HD box users. I got the SA8300 DVR and it works pretty well with comparable picture on HD and actually better picture for SD. It outputs any combination of resolutions you select, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it outputs 480i over the digital out. This is something that the Pace 550 cannot do.

Here's the link to get a quick overview of what IPTV is, and isn't.

http://arstechnica.com/guides/other/iptv.ars/1

AT&T's Project Lightspeed most closely resembles the description here.
Nice. Thanks. Why do they want tiered pricing on the internet when they're already going private/proprietary and charging what the market will bear? Bastids.

Cable better straighten out and fly right, and in a hurry, too, or T is going to eat their lunch.

How does VOD impact that advertising sector?

Does it inherintly become more obvious to advertisers as to what shows are in demand and which ones are not?

-DonB2

Just an update for all of those TWC Pace HD box users. I got the SA8300 DVR and it works pretty well with comparable picture on HD and actually better picture for SD. It outputs any combination of resolutions you select, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it outputs 480i over the digital out. This is something that the Pace 550 cannot do.

I think I told you you'd be happy :) :) :)

Nice. Thanks. Why do they want tiered pricing on the internet when they're already going private/proprietary and charging what the market will bear? Bastids.

Cable better straighten out and fly right, and in a hurry, too, or T is going to eat their lunch.

Good: IPTV over fiber/twisted pair copper (Project Lightspeed) Cheap and fast to deploy, but bandwidth choke point on copper segment.

Better: IPTV over fiber/coax (Traditional Cable Infrastructure) Network and subscriber base already in place.

Best: IPTV over FTTH - fiber to the home (Verizon FIOS) Platinum technology, platinum price.

Satellite: WTF ???

Other issues - franchising, being sorted out as we speak.

My money is on cable.

How does VOD impact that advertising sector?

Does it inherintly become more obvious to advertisers as to what shows are in demand and which ones are not?

-DonB2

There's obvious advantages. Advertisers could by time by Zip Code, or demographic, or time of day viewed, etc. rather than by program.

In other words, if you watch CSI via VOD, you might see a Ford commercial, and I might see a Pizza Hut commercial. The possibilities are endless.

I think I told you you'd be happy :) :) :)

You did, but I trust no one when it comes to cable service. ;)

"There's obvious advantages. Advertisers could by time by Zip Code, or demographic, or time of day viewed, etc. rather than by program.

In other words, if you watch CSI via VOD, you might see a Ford commercial, and I might see a Pizza Hut commercial. The possibilities are endless."

Yikes I would almost be paying directly for each commercial I am honored to watch. Well maybe that is not so bad as it may rule our the commercials I dislike.

I can see it now, if you don't want to see Pop Up VOD commercials than turn off your POP VOD selection.

-DonB2

Yikes I would almost be paying directly for each commercial I am honored to watch. Well maybe that is not so bad as it may rule our the commercials I dislike.


And maybe they can keep track of the commercials you've seen and show you new ones.

I'd rather see a wide variety of commercials if I have to watch any. After watching nearly all TV via my MythTV DVR (which does automatic commercial skipping), I watched the Men's and Women's NCAA tournaments live at a friend's. I was astounded at the sheer lack of variety of the commercials. If I see that Harley ad one more time, I think I'll shoot somebody..

Drew

"which does automatic commercial skipping"

How does Myth skip the commercials?

I have been wanting to set up a Macro on my remote so when a commercial comes on I press a button and the commercial goes to half volume or should I say back to normal listening level. Than when the commercial is thru I press it again to get it back to pre commercial level.

I did kinda gain this capability when I got the Pioneer Home Theatre. I discovered that if I leave the Pioneer Plasma included speakers at a low volume setting, that when a commercial comes on I mute the Home Theatre audio and end up with the commercial at a normal or slightly below normal listening level.

BTW- I am shocked that so many commercials are still in 4:3 stereo mode. Is it that expensive to film a 16:9 Dolby surround commercial these days?

I would have thought commercials would have been on the 16:9 HD band wagon long ago.

-DonB2

How does Myth skip the commercials?


Pretty well ;-)

It does things like look for black frames (the Law and Order black frames confuse it sometimes), logo changes, scene changes, etc. As the show is being recorded, the commercial flagging software saves (in the database) the mpeg frame numbers where the commercials start and end. By default, when you are watching the show, it will skip the commercials and throw a "commercial:2:30" onto the screen to let you know what is happening.

You can set it up to automatically transcode the show and remove commercials if you really trust it. That way you save quite a bit of space.

If you don't trust it at all, then you have the "commercial m:ss" message appear, but make it so that you are required to hit a button on the remote to skip to the end of the commercial.

It works almost perfectly on OTA network HDTV (except for a few problems with blank frames in L&O). However, back when I could get Alias from QAM via TNTHD, it did a pretty poor job. It also did a poor job on Cold Case on TNTHD (but does OK with it on CBS), so I think it must be something about the TNTHD logo, or how TNTHD slips commercials in.

Drew

drewwho,

Thanks for the info. I had not even thought of the added bonus of space savings.

Probably I and everyone else has thought you could do it based on the spike in audio volume, when a commercial comes on, but after you think about it a few seconds, it of course dawns on you that it would also trigger on loud passages in the show you are watching.

I had not heard of the sophistication you described.

-DonB2

Do the Cable companies own the cable that is laid or attached to telephone poles or do they just rent the space?

It just seems like once VOD takes off the a lot of VOD providers could supply VOD to their customers via the same shared cable.

-DonB2

Just an update for all of those TWC Pace HD box users. I got the SA8300 DVR and it works pretty well with comparable picture on HD and actually better picture for SD. It outputs any combination of resolutions you select, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it outputs 480i over the digital out. This is something that the Pace 550 cannot do.
It will output 480i if connected to a DVI input. But, unless something changed since the latests upgrade it won't output 480i when connected to an HDMI input. When I got my newest tv I first connected to the DVI input then later switched to the HDMI input. On the DVI input, while SD was centered HD was shifted to the right atleast an inch so I switched to HDMI input.

Gee, perhaps a little nepitism there ;) ;) ;) .

Actually, I think the problem is as much the propogation characteristics of signals in the UHF frequency range as it is the modualtion scheme. UHF works much better in Arizona. It's the trees.

One of the many reasons people gave up on off-air reception years ago and went with cable. The laws of physics never seem to change.
Nope; just pointing out that when professionals do ENG microwave (UHF) links, they use COFDM for it's superior performance in multipath environments. Oh, it works in a straight line too. I've participated in and seen the studies. COFDM beats xVSB hands down in all reception tests that have been performed.
It's all moot now; we got what we got.
Remember that Sinclair wasn't the only company touting COFDM. It was a matter of the rest of the pro-COFDM crowd coming on board too late.

Thx kd4pbs for the 18Mbps feed. ;)

Hey, I'm a home theater geek myself, and have been for over 20 years. "Good enough" isn't for me.
You're welcome :D

I know you aren't the part that does this, but it would sure be nice if the management would get something signed with the CW network..

I was having the issue that's been discussed upthread about DVI connections being affected by the software push of a few days ago from TWC. I called them tonight to find out if there might be a solution to re-enable access to the wide modes on my TV remote.

I talked to a really nice guy there who reported that Pioneer is aware of the issue and is working on a patch which will be sent down in an overnight push sometime soon.

I also alerted him to this forum and this thread, and he was interested to learn about it. He said he'd be checking it out, and may decide to get an account and post. I hope he does! He's a fellow enthusiast, and in a line of work that's of great interest to us AVSers in the RDU area.

So, here's a message board wave to you, Mr. TWC support guy! Welcome aboard, and I hope you enjoy reading the posts and will contribute what you can as well.

I hope Pioneer is more responsive to helping TWC than I have found them to be when I call them. I mean the help desk tries to help but typically I know more about the product I bought from them then the help desk does and that is not saying much.

-DonB2

im still having to reboot my 8300 connected via HDMI every once in awhile in the morning. it seems to only happen when my girlfriend is watching TV in the morning. im thinking its the way she turns it off or something. anyone else having problems still?

im still having to reboot my 8300 connected via HDMI every once in awhile in the morning. it seems to only happen when my girlfriend is watching TV in the morning. im thinking its the way she turns it off or something. anyone else having problems still?

I'm having problems with the HDMI signal after switching through my TVs inputs (OTA, Component, HDMI). I get the whole flashing rainbow effect. Rebooting the 8300HD works but cycling though the inputs a couple a times works too. It just has to establish that handshake so killing the HDMI on either side should work. I think I tried unplugging and replugging the HDMI cable on mine and that wasn't enough to fix it.

Well, I started checking WLFL-DT WB22 lastnight around 7:30pm hoping I would get a signal lock to finally watch Smallville and Supernatural (especially Supernatural) in HD for the first time. UPN28 was locked in at 25% signal strength but WB22 was only maxing at 18% (I need minimum 21% for video lock). Finally at 7:55pm I get a lock on WB22. :) Now I finally get to see Smallville and Supernatural in HD! All through Smallville there was no video loss and I kept thinking how I was gonna get on here today and brag about finally getting to to see them in HD (especially Supernatural). Next Supernatural starts, I hear the announcer say "Previously on Supernatural" and CRAP, I LOOSE VIDEO! I had to switch over to watch in SD on cable. Every couple minutes all through Supernatural I check WB22 for a picture but no go. Finally at 10.05pm video comes back on. :( What a bummer. Well, I'll cross my fingers for next Thursday. :)

Well, I started checking WLFL-DT WB22 lastnight around 7:30pm hoping I would get a signal lock to finally watch Smallville and Supernatural (especially Supernatural) in HD for the first time. UPN28 was locked in at 25% signal strength but WB22 was only maxing at 18% (I need minimum 21% for video lock). Finally at 7:55pm I get a lock on WB22. :) Now I finally get to see Smallville and Supernatural in HD! All through Smallville there was no video loss and I kept thinking how I was gonna get on here today and brag about finally getting to to see them in HD (especially Supernatural). Next Supernatural starts, I hear the announcer say "Previously on Supernatural" and CRAP, I LOOSE VIDEO! I had to switch over to watch in SD on cable. Every couple minutes all through Supernatural I check WB22 for a picture but no go. Finally at 10.05pm video comes back on. :( What a bummer. Well, I'll cross my fingers for next Thursday. :)

Predictions:

WLFL will become a CW affiliate at the last minute, or maybe even after CW launches. But not before Sinclair looses a key market or two they thought they'd get.

Neither WLFL and WRDC will be on Time Warner for at least another year. Once HD becomes ubiquitous enough (30% of the homes) and there are enough HD programming choices, not being in HD on the pipeline into viewers homes will start to damage Sinclair ratings and their revenue. They'll cave.

And for every person like yourself who cares enough to TRY to pick up their signal off air and can't, there's a thousand who could, but won't bother.

Viewer's will not settle for watching the SD version of a mediocre show when they have a couple of dozen HD options, nor will they struggle with an antenna for a second tier station.

Well, I started checking WLFL-DT WB22 lastnight around 7:30pm hoping I would get a signal lock to finally watch Smallville and Supernatural (especially Supernatural) in HD for the first time. UPN28 was locked in at 25% signal strength but WB22 was only maxing at 18% (I need minimum 21% for video lock). Finally at 7:55pm I get a lock on WB22. :) Now I finally get to see Smallville and Supernatural in HD! All through Smallville there was no video loss and I kept thinking how I was gonna get on here today and brag about finally getting to to see them in HD (especially Supernatural). Next Supernatural starts, I hear the announcer say "Previously on Supernatural" and CRAP, I LOOSE VIDEO! I had to switch over to watch in SD on cable. Every couple minutes all through Supernatural I check WB22 for a picture but no go. Finally at 10.05pm video comes back on. :( What a bummer. Well, I'll cross my fingers for next Thursday. :)

I have to give props to WB22 last night too for stellar PQ! PQ throughout the whole show was great, but when the opening credits rolled for Smallville, I was like wth, was that in 3D? It was amazing! First time I've seen the show in HD.

Will this HD receiver work for me? Does anyone have any opinions on this particular reciever? I'm just wanting something cheap to pick up OTA HD stations in Chapel Hill and last for a couple years until I upgrade my set.

http://cgi.*********/Samsung-SIR-T451-HDTV-Terrestrial-Receiver-HDTV-TUNER_W0QQitemZ9709163035QQcategoryZ61396QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIte m

I already have the silver sensor but will get another antenna if it's not good enough. I have a Toshiba 46H84 as my tv.

It will output 480i if connected to a DVI input. But, unless something changed since the latests upgrade it won't output 480i when connected to an HDMI input. When I got my newest tv I first connected to the DVI input then later switched to the HDMI input. On the DVI input, while SD was centered HD was shifted to the right atleast an inch so I switched to HDMI input.

Yes, I should have specified that I go to the DVI in on an HD+.

My post about catching Smallville and Supernatural in HD on WB22 and planning to brag about it during Smallville then lossing video just as Supernatural started then getting video back shortly after was just a humorous post about Murphy's Law shutting be down because of my planning to boast about it. :)

Will this HD receiver work for me? Does anyone have any opinions on this particular reciever? I'm just wanting something cheap to pick up OTA HD stations in Chapel Hill and last for a couple years until I upgrade my set.

http://cgi.*********/Samsung-SIR-T451-HDTV-Terrestrial-Receiver-HDTV-TUNER_W0QQitemZ9709163035QQcategoryZ61396QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIte m

I already have the silver sensor but will get another antenna if it's not good enough. I have a Toshiba 46H84 as my tv.
I've used three HD STB's. Toshiba DST-3000, LG LST-3510 and Samsung SIR-T415 and I liked the Sammy best. It had reception slightly better than the toshiba and equal to the LG. Although I felt the sammy had less video breakups than the LG when the signal was borderline. The only thing I dreaded on the sammy was having to access the menu to check signal strength. I loved it's manual channel add/remove feature. Plus if you manually tuned to an unadded channel and got not video there's a blue symbol on the front display that lights up if it detects any signal at all even if it's too weak to lock on to letting you know somethings there. The guide sux at downloading data. When accessing the guide after turning it on each time, it downloads the data for all channels thats in memory then It dumps all info when shut off and starts over next time you access the guide after turning it on again. The LG did the same.

Yes, I should have specified that I go to the DVI in on an HD+.
I knew. I read your earlier posts. :)

anybody know?

i have a sony xbr960 qam-hdtv.
i also have TWC's basic cable service.

for the past few days, my regular non-digitial, non-HD channels do not come in (basic network channels 2-22 or somewhere thereabouts). they flash on for a second -- picture, sound -- but then the screen turns black and my TV reads "No Signal."

anybody know if this sounds like a TW cable problem or is it my TV? and if it is a symptom of my TV, anybody know how I can correct it?

i ask so i might know before i call time warner...

thanks much,

only channels 2 to 22 do that?

did you try another coax from the wall to the tv?

can you try another tv with that outlet?

anybody know?

i have a sony xbr960 qam-hdtv.
i also have TWC's basic cable service.

for the past few days, my regular non-digitial, non-HD channels do not come in (basic network channels 2-22 or somewhere thereabouts). they flash on for a second -- picture, sound -- but then the screen turns black and my TV reads "No Signal."

anybody know if this sounds like a TW cable problem or is it my TV? and if it is a symptom of my TV, anybody know how I can correct it?

i ask so i might know before i call time warner...

thanks much,

Are you using a Cablecard, Set Top Box, or direct connection??? The channels you are refering to are transmitted both analog and clearQAM. Either you TV's tuner or your Set Top has to decide which channel 2 for example to display, analog 2 or virtual digital 2. Unless other people are having similar problems, it's probably a problem with your tuning device. TWC may be able to "refresh" your access parameters, BUT TRY DOING A HARD REBOOT FIRST (unplug the devices for a minute or so).

Are you using a Cablecard, Set Top Box, or direct connection??? The channels you are refering to are transmitted both analog and clearQAM. Either you TV's tuner or your Set Top has to decide which channel 2 for example to display, analog 2 or virtual digital 2. Unless other people are having similar problems, it's probably a problem with your tuning device. TWC may be able to "refresh" your access parameters, BUT TRY DOING A HARD REBOOT FIRST (unplug the devices for a minute or so).


i use a direct connection on my xbr960...i tried a fresh round of autoprogram, and things changed...now i get the usual HDs -- 5.1, 17.1, etc... -- but analogs 2-22 just come in fuzzy (instead of a clear blip and then no signal). however, all those channels now come in in places all over the map...analog CBS as 78.11, ABC as 78.10, analog UNC as 89.11, etc. The QVC and other shopping networks, which used to come in somewhere on 2-22, also come in in other odd places but they do come in...
thus, i've programed the up/down remote function to capture only those that come in cleanly...and it seems all the usual basic cable channels are there (just not where they used to be, or supposedly, where they are supposed to come in)...
this seems fine i suppose...just not quite "right" if you know what i mean.
i guess this will work..
finally, i say this...i've had an HDTV for a month...basic cable for almost that long...and in that month, i've had to search around for changed circumstances at least a half dozen times...as i say, it works for now...i get the usual suspects and i know, at least for today, where they are...
my question is, for those of you with the basic cable-HDTV QAM connection, is there ever a period where things remain stable for months at a time? is this just a period of flux or can i expect to have to do this kind of searching on a regular basis?
thanks in advance for your help to this point, and for answers to my question here...

with the basic cable-HDTV QAM connection, is there ever a period where things remain stable for months at a time? is this just a period of flux or can i expect to have to do this kind of searching on a regular basis?


You came in at a bad time. Before all their upgrades, I had not rescanned in months. They added their digitization of the analogs a few (6? 9?) months ago, so I rescanned for that. But ABC/FOX/CBS/NBC and PBS have been at the same assignments for over 2 years.

With that said, the thing to remember is you're essentially mooching, and beggars can't be choosers. Be aware they don't support QAM tuning, and can move or remove channels at the drop of a hat if it suits their needs. They only care about the people who are renting STBs. AFAIK, there is no "must carry" rule for HD digital channels. If you want to not mess with things, get a good antenna or rent one of their STBs.

Drew

With that said, the thing to remember is you're essentially mooching, and beggars can't be choosers.
Tuning unencrypted digital channels is not "mooching" any more than tuning unscrambled analog channels, especially since you are paying for them.
Be aware they don't support QAM tuning, and can move or remove channels at the drop of a hat if it suits their needs. They only care about the people who are renting STBs. AFAIK, there is no "must carry" rule for HD digital channels.
It is true that they can move or remove channels, but they are not allowed to encrypt the digital channels that are also available over the air.

By the way, if you rent a CableCARD (and your QAM tuner has a slot for it), the channel numbers will be mapped automatically.

Tuning unencrypted digital channels is not "mooching" any more than tuning unscrambled analog channels, especially since you are paying for them.

The original poster said he was getting "basic" cable. The last I checked, that was advertised and sold as stations 2-24 in analog for $12/.month (give or take a few dollars or a few channels). There is no mention of digital service. He's not paying for digital service (and neither was I when I had cable). I considered myself lucky to be able to get the HD locals.

they are not allowed to encrypt the digital channels that are also available over the air

Hmm.. What about PBS-HD, which is available OTA only 3 hours/day, but available on cable 24/7?

Drew

The original poster said he was getting "basic" cable. The last I checked, that was advertised and sold as stations 2-24 in analog for $12/.month (give or take a few dollars or a few channels). There is no mention of digital service. He's not paying for digital service (and neither was I when I had cable). I considered myself lucky to be able to get the HD locals.
I believe that TWC is not allowed to charge more than $15/month (or whatever basic service costs) for OTA channels, regardless of how they are advertised, and regardless of whether they are analog or digital.

Eventually all analog channels will go away, and there will be only digital channels, and some of them will be included in the basic service, just as they are now.
Hmm.. What about PBS-HD, which is available OTA only 3 hours/day, but available on cable 24/7?
The PBS-HD channel is unencrypted, and it is available OTA up to 24 hours/day in other parts of the US. Similarly, WGN is unencrypted, and it is available OTA in Chicago.

speaking of PBS, i'm really frustrated with UNCTV... i live in north raleigh (leesville road) and i can receive everything rock steady but UNCTV. sometimes i get 59-64% for half a minute then the signal nosedives.

then when rotate my indoor antenna i get rock steady signal for PBS then unstable for other channels

what should i do? get a new indoor antenna (don't wanna deal with external antenna) right now i have samsung axxession (silver arrow like)

Learn to live with it.

WUNC's transmitter antenna is out by Chapel Hill and all the other major digital stations (for Raleigh, anyway) are east of Garner. It would be worse if you want to watch PAX or the Univision (channel40) affiliate.

Even if you got an external antenna, you probably would still need a rotator for it.

Or, pay for the basic service level for TWC (if your digital tuner does QAM as well as ATSC) - but that still wouldn't get you channel 22' s HD channel without an antenna.

Anyone know why a few channels are duplicated in the mid 300's? Food Network is now at 360 (still at 77). Around it is DIY, Discovery Science, and a few others.

I thought that you might this relevant to the HDMI - Dolby Digital discussion...

From the Getting Started with the Explorer 8300 and 8300HD DVR

The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is an all-digital audio and video interface.
HDMI provides a digital interface between any audio and video source.
HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus digital audio.

Some HDTVs do not contain circuitry to decode Dolby ® Digital formatted
content. If you connect your DVR to an HDTV that cannot support Dolby Digital
audio, the HDMI interface instructs the DVR to switch its audio outputs to
2-channel PCM audio (to be compatible with the HDTV). In this case, all digital
audio outputs on the DVR are formatted as 2-channel PCM. As a result, you will
not be able to receive Dolby Digital or DTS audio on your home theater system
when connected to either the optical or coax (RCA Connector) S/PDIF ports.
You can avoid this by overriding the automatic configuration through the General
settings menu and switching the audio output to Dolby Digital.

Important: If your HDTV cannot decode Dolby Digital formatted content and you
have configured the DVR to output in the Dolby Digital format, you will not be
able to listen to audio through the TV. Instead, you must use your home theater
or your Dolby Digital decoding device in order to hear audio. Alternatively, you
can reconfigure the DVR to output 2-channel PCM any time you want to use the
TV to produce the audio portion of the content by selecting HDMI in the General
Settings - Audio Output screen. Depending upon your equipment capabilities to
select alternate audio sources for input, other configurations may be possible.
Refer to your equipment user's guides for more information.

Following this stream of comments, this weekend I tried to connect the HDMI out from the 8300 HD to my DVI in on the TV. I got sound, but only snow on video. Anyone have any suggestions?

Anyone know why a few channels are duplicated in the mid 300's? Food Network is now at 360 (still at 77). Around it is DIY, Discovery Science, and a few others.

Could be a channel shuffle in the works, they've changed the lineup once in the past few weeks so another one wouldn't be a surprise. They've also added a 590 Customer Care channel which allows you to view and pay your bill using the box and a credit card.

Anyone know why a few channels are duplicated in the mid 300's? Food Network is now at 360 (still at 77). Around it is DIY, Discovery Science, and a few others.
Sounds like the new FAMILY CHOICE digital tier:
http://www.timewarnercable.com/CustomerService/FAQ/TWCFAQCategories.ashx?CatID=1521&MarketID=0
On 31 March, it became available on TWC-San Diego.

or forget the rotator and get two antennas: one pointed to WUNC the other to all the rest.

Henry


Learn to live with it.

WUNC's transmitter antenna is out by Chapel Hill and all the other major digital stations (for Raleigh, anyway) are east of Garner. It would be worse if you want to watch PAX or the Univision (channel40) affiliate.

Even if you got an external antenna, you probably would still need a rotator for it.

Or, pay for the basic service level for TWC (if your digital tuner does QAM as well as ATSC) - but that still wouldn't get you channel 22' s HD channel without an antenna.

or forget the rotator and get two antennas: one pointed to WUNC the other to all the rest.

Henry

That will introduce its own set of problems with multipath. If you could still get the channelized combiners, it could be a real solution.

Sounds like the new FAMILY CHOICE digital tier:
http://www.timewarnercable.com/CustomerService/FAQ/TWCFAQCategories.ashx?CatID=1521&MarketID=0
On 31 March, it became available on TWC-San Diego.

On the San Diego TWC Channel line-up, it appears these channels remain mapped to their original channel numbers, while in Raleigh, they are duplicated in the 350+ channel range.

Unless they plan on doing a major channel line-up overhaul (doubtful), it appears that these 15 channels will just show up twice in the line-up. It's a little annoying in that you can't set your set top to skip one of the two assignments. It either skips neither or both.

At least one of the channels (Weather Channel) is not a digital simulcast channel, Curious as to how they remap that analog channel if they "trap" out the analog channels, which they do in San Diego according to their website.

P.S. - Regarding TWC's "Family Tier" - One Big Fat Yawn !!!!!

"Originally Posted by hbehrman
or forget the rotator and get two antennas: one pointed to WUNC the other to all the rest.

Henry



That will introduce its own set of problems with multipath. If you could still get the channelized combiners, it could be a real solution. "

------------------------
A rotator would be great if my Receiver was smart enough to rotate the antenna on its own for time shift recording.

On the other hand I use a A/B switch to swap between two antennas and that can be a pain also. Especially when I have failed to locate a wireless A/B switch or wireless infrared repeater with enough range to work smoothly between first floor and attic two floors up.

Two antennas so much fun.

-Don B2

"Originally Posted by hbehrman
or forget the rotator and get two antennas: one pointed to WUNC the other to all the rest.

Henry



That will introduce its own set of problems with multipath. If you could still get the channelized combiners, it could be a real solution. "

------------------------
A rotator would be great if my Receiver was smart enough to rotate the antenna on its own for time shift recording.

On the other hand I use a A/B switch to swap between two antennas and that can be a pain also. Especially when I have failed to locate a wireless A/B switch or wireless infrared repeater with enough range to work smoothly between first floor and attic two floors up.

Two antennas so much fun.

-Don B2

All the reasons above are why the vast majority of households gave up on antennas decades ago.

Antennas are not user friendly devices for the average consumer. The average household wants a simple interface without switches or rotor dials or fiddling with an indoor antenna everytime they change channels.

There are only a half a dozen reasons to depend on an antenna for reception of television stations.

1) You're a hobbyist who enjoys tinkering.
2) An important channel is not available on cable.
3) Cable is not available where you live.
4) You bought the HDTV that does not tune ClearQAM channels.
5) The cable company disconnected you for "non-payment".
6) You're the guy who's proud of the fact that he got 70,000 miles from a 40,000 mile set of tires. ;) ;) ;)

Following this stream of comments, this weekend I tried to connect the HDMI out from the 8300 HD to my DVI in on the TV. I got sound, but only snow on video. Anyone have any suggestions?

Set the STB Audio Out to HDMI (if not already done). Try using the channel up/down button as if changing the channel from snow to ....

1) You're a hobbyist who enjoys tinkering.
2) An important channel is not available on cable.
3) Cable is not available where you live.
4) You bought the HDTV that does not tune ClearQAM channels.
5) The cable company disconnected you for "non-payment".
6) You're the guy who's proud of the fact that he got 70,000 miles from a 40,000 mile set of tires. ;) ;) ;)

7) I'm a cheapskate who hates paying "small monthly fees" when an up-front outlay will solve the problem.

For me, it is simple math. $75 and a coat hanger can get me an additional tuner card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815100134) pointed at PBS for my MythTV based DVR. After 6 months of saving $12.99,/month, this solution pays for itself. Especially if I deduct the $75 from our yearly WUNC donation as a penalty for putting their antenna in a dumb place..

Hmm.. Does this put me in both the "hobbyist" and "cheapskate" categories? :)

Drew

Following this stream of comments, this weekend I tried to connect the HDMI out from the 8300 HD to my DVI in on the TV. I got sound, but only snow on video. Anyone have any suggestions?
On my tv, when connecting something to the DVI input I have to go into the tv's menu and set it to either Digital PC, Analog PC, Digital AV, Analog AV. Maybe yours has a similar setup option.

Hmm.. Does this put me in both the "hobbyist" and "cheapskate" categories? :)
Yep, convergence.

7) I'm a cheapskate who hates paying "small monthly fees" when an up-front outlay will solve the problem.

For me, it is simple math. $75 and a coat hanger can get me an additional tuner card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815100134) pointed at PBS for my MythTV based DVR. After 6 months of saving $12.99,/month, this solution pays for itself. Especially if I deduct the $75 from our yearly WUNC donation as a penalty for putting their antenna in a dumb place..

Hmm.. Does this put me in both the "hobbyist" and "cheapskate" categories? :)

Drew

Yes, both, but cheapskates don't typically make donations to public TV, or anything else for that matter. I'm confused. ;) ;) ;)

8) - Tired of listening to the Umbilical Cord TWC owners ranting about all the problems they are having with their new cable boxes.
9) -Tired of hearing the wars going on between who has better reception and HD Channel line up Dish or Direct TV.

-DonB2

8) - Tired of listening to the Umbilical Cord TWC owners ranting about all the problems they are having with their new cable boxes.
9) -Tired of hearing the wars going on between who has better reception and HD Channel line up Dish or Direct TV.

-DonB2

One things for sure. ANY choice is has a better line-up than off-air.

Locally:

WRAL - The most with around 10 hours/day HD
WTVD - 2 hours in the morning, and a average of 2 hours in primetime
WNCN - 2.5 average primtime plus 2 hours late night
WLFL - 1 hour average/day
WRAZ - 3 hours WRAL news plus 1.5 hours average from FOX
WUNC - 3 hours/day

Total: Less than 24 hours of actual HD programming OTA/day

Yes, both, but cheapskates don't typically make donations to public TV, or anything else for that matter. I'm confused. ;) ;) ;)

Maybe I'm not cheap. I guess I'm just overly selective about who I want to pay money to. :)

We try to give PBS roughly the same amount we pay to TWC (we have "standard" cable 3-4 months out of the year for basketball) since roughly 50% of the TV we watch is PBS. I also try to give the EFF about the same amount, so they can use it to lobby against the greedy content industry and head off things like the broadcast flag. (http://www.eff.org/)

Drew

posg ,

"One things for sure. ANY choice is has a better line-up than off-air."

True, but all those other HD xmission mediums have a very high price per month admission. The exception maybe being QAM which the jury is still out on. As TWC could pull the plug on BASIC CABLE HD QAM at any time.

-Don B2

One things for sure. ANY choice is has a better line-up than off-air.
Total: Less than 24 hours of actual HD programming OTA/day

Personally, that's still more than I have time to watch. My 450GB volume is 75% full right now, and I typically delete everything as I see it. I'm wondering if I'll have to throw another disk at it, or transcode some things to divx before the summer rerun season hits and I start watching more than I record again.

Drew