In case anyone else missed this:

Upcoming and Recent Channel Lineup Changes

Jan. 13, 2009: The following channels will be added:

Cinemax East HD - Channel 433
Cinemax West HD - Channel 434
The Movie Channel HD - Channel 463
Starz HD - Channel 475

In case anyone else missed this:

Upcoming and Recent Channel Lineup Changes

Jan. 13, 2009: The following channels will be added:

Cinemax East HD - Channel 433
Cinemax West HD - Channel 434
The Movie Channel HD - Channel 463
Starz HD - Channel 475

Woo hoo. About time. It's taken TWC 4 years to get some of those.

Pity then that TWC lost me as a movie channel subscriber to Netflix Blu-Ray while I was waiting. It's not as if my TWC DVR could hold any more HD channel recordings anyway. It's already at it's pitiful capacity with just network programming.

Just to add my 2 cents to the whole bitrate/format discussion...

I have always found FOX HD football inferior to all other HD football. "Other HD football" includes 1080i CBS and 720P ABC/ESPN. Further, my TV is 720P so that negates the higher resolution advantage of CBS.

I don't know the technical reasons behind it, but my eyes have always found FOX HD football to be more "SD like". I don't know how better to describe it... maybe "blurrier". It is not macroblocking. Motion doesn't seem to have anything to do with it either. Even essentially still pictures just look dull.

Oddly, I've only noticed this inferior quality with football. Maybe it has to do with the live-event cameras/processing? Or maybe because I can easily compare apples-to-apples, so to speak, with other stations. When I watch a show like House, it looks pretty good. But I can't compare House apples-to-apples.

In anycase, I don't think you can make conclusions about which format is better for sports (1080i or 720p) by comparing CBS and FOX in your living room. There's just too many other variables/signalpath differences involved.

FWIW, I get TWC.

Just to add my 2 cents to the whole bitrate/format discussion...

I have always found FOX HD football inferior to all other HD football. "Other HD football" includes 1080i CBS and 720P ABC/ESPN. Further, my TV is 720P so that negates the higher resolution advantage of CBS.

I don't know the technical reasons behind it, but my eyes have always found FOX HD football to be more "SD like". I don't know how better to describe it... maybe "blurrier". It is not macroblocking. Motion doesn't seem to have anything to do with it either. Even essentially still pictures just look dull.

Oddly, I've only noticed this inferior quality with football. Maybe it has to do with the live-event cameras/processing? Or maybe because I can easily compare apples-to-apples, so to speak, with other stations. When I watch a show like House, it looks pretty good. But I can't compare House apples-to-apples.

In anycase, I don't think you can make conclusions about which format is better for sports (1080i or 720p) by comparing CBS and FOX in your living room. There's just too many other variables/signalpath differences involved.

FWIW, I get TWC.

I agree. The Fox game looked bad. Washed out and soft.

Anybody having trouble with 5.1 OTA tonight?

It is bouncing back and forth signal level-wise, looks like it is losing PID info, and is causing my Dish receiver to lock-up if I try to tune to it. Oddly enough, the Dish version of WRALHD is just fine so I've been watching that instead. Am wondering if it is a channel 5 issue OTA with other receivers or if I have something fluky with my Dish receiver.

Last time I had this happen was a few weeks ago with WLFL 22.1... but I knew from others that 22.1 OTA was having some issues that night. Am curious if 5.1 is having the same issues tonight.

In case anyone else missed this:

Upcoming and Recent Channel Lineup Changes

Jan. 13, 2009: The following channels will be added:

Cinemax East HD - Channel 433
Cinemax West HD - Channel 434
The Movie Channel HD - Channel 463
Starz HD - Channel 475
I received a TWC flyer in the mail today, and it already had these channels listed as "coming soon." Glad to know they're finally paying attention over there (at least as regards HD).

Anybody having trouble with 5.1 OTA tonight?

It is bouncing back and forth signal level-wise, looks like it is losing PID info, and is causing my Dish receiver to lock-up if I try to tune to it. Oddly enough, the Dish version of WRALHD is just fine so I've been watching that instead. Am wondering if it is a channel 5 issue OTA with other receivers or if I have something fluky with my Dish receiver.

Last time I had this happen was a few weeks ago with WLFL 22.1... but I knew from others that 22.1 OTA was having some issues that night. Am curious if 5.1 is having the same issues tonight.

Can't say - but WLFL 22.1 has been MIA at my house OTA for a couple of weeks now. Every so often I'll get just enough wiff to know it's still there, but it is basically gone for me right now. I HOPE they are just getting ready for Febuary.

Can't say - but WLFL 22.1 has been MIA at my house OTA for a couple of weeks now. Every so often I'll get just enough wiff to know it's still there, but it is basically gone for me right now. I HOPE they are just getting ready for Febuary.

I figured you'd at least be around to notice... I honestly don't watch 22.1 except for Smallville so I haven't checked in there since the hiatus started... but I do spot-check, and it seems to be there lately.

I do notice lower than usual on 28.1 signal level... but I watch nothing there. I usually don't have problems with 5.1, but tonight was giving me the same fits that 22.1 was a few weeks back... and since they are on the same tower it got me to wondering like you if they are tweaking for the Feb switchover.

I'll be glad when that happens so we can take some of the "what ifs" out of the mix...

Can't say - but WLFL 22.1 has been MIA at my house OTA for a couple of weeks now. Every so often I'll get just enough wiff to know it's still there, but it is basically gone for me right now. I HOPE they are just getting ready for Febuary.

22.1 is fine OTA for me. I've been recording the Jericho re-runs on Sunday nights for the last 2 weeks, and they've both been fine.. 8.5 GB each, and no glitches.


Drew

Not sure of this is the right place for this but here goes...

I'm subscribe to TWC’s standard (no HD or digital) cable package. I own a Philips DVDR3576H/37 - it has NTSC and ATSC tuners built into the unit. I used to get a few, local HD channels coming in from with standard TWC connection but that stopped some time in August ’08 (I called TWC and they verified that they were no longer sending HD broadcasts of local channels with their standard cable signal). Anyway, I want to try to get HD channels OTA... so I hooked the rabbit ears to my Philips DVDR3576H/37 ant. in but was not able to receive any HD signals. From what I understand I should be able to pick up local HD broadcasts using basic rabbit ears but I'm having no luck. Does anyone have any tips for me? Thanks in advance.

Not sure of this is the right place for this but here goes...

I'm subscribe to TWC’s standard (no HD or digital) cable package. I own a Philips DVDR3576H/37 - it has NTSC and ATSC tuners built into the unit. I used to get a few, local HD channels coming in from with standard TWC connection but that stopped some time in August ’08 (I called TWC and they verified that they were no longer sending HD broadcasts of local channels with their standard cable signal). Anyway, I want to try to get HD channels OTA... so I hooked the rabbit ears to my Philips DVDR3576H/37 ant. in but was not able to receive any HD signals. From what I understand I should be able to pick up local HD broadcasts using basic rabbit ears but I'm having no luck. Does anyone have any tips for me? Thanks in advance.

The HD locals should still be available via QAM with any package. Have you tried a rescan?

...Have you tried a rescan?
Yes, I did try a re-scan but still nothing. I did call TWC and they told me they removed the HD channels from their basic cable package - is that not true?

Yes, I did try a re-scan but still nothing. I did call TWC and they told me they removed the HD channels from their basic cable package - is that not true?

I can't test it as I don't just have standar cable. Supposedly, all locals (HD or SD) should be in the clear on QAM. They might be in violation of the FCC rules. I'm not positive of that though.

I got an email from Time Warner today saying the latest version of Navigator will be deployed here next within the next week. Here is the email. Looks like the version that has been reported on the navigator forum with the new color scheme.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

At Time Warner Cable, we value our relationship with our customers and strive to keep you informed.

As you are aware, this past year we introduced the Time Warner Cable Navigator, a new interactive on-screen guide for all Digital Cable customers. The guide is a platform for many exciting innovations and has allowed us to offer additional HD programming, Caller ID on TV for Digital Phone customers and more in the coming months.

You are scheduled to receive an enhancement to Navigator on one or more boxes in your home within the next week. The main enhancement you will notice is the improved color scheme. Below are examples of two screenshots.


The transition to the new color scheme will take about four to six weeks to complete, therefore if you have multiple cable boxes in your home, you may not see the new guide appear on all boxes at the same time. You are not required to be at home during the time the software upgrade takes place.

We value and appreciate having you as a Time Warner Cable customer. Please visit us at www.twcnc.com if you have any questions. We hope you enjoy this improvement.


Sincerely,
Time Warner Cable

I can't test it as I don't just have standar cable. Supposedly, all locals (HD or SD) should be in the clear on QAM. They might be in violation of the FCC rules. I'm not positive of that though.

Thanks for the quick replies...

When you say "...on QAM" are you referring to OTA or my cable signal? (I thought QAM was just a way to encode the signal, agnostic of how it is delivered)

My question is really how can I get OTA HD channels - your comments lead me to question if the ATSC turner in my unit is functioning properly...

Can anyone out there check to see if they are getting HD channels from their standard TWC package?

Thanks for the quick replies...

When you say "...on QAM" are you referring to OTA or my cable signal? (I thought QAM was just a way to encode the signal, agnostic of how it is delivered)

My question is really how can I get OTA HD channels - your comments lead me to question if the ATSC turner in my unit is functioning properly...

Can anyone out there check to see if they are getting HD channels from their standard TWC package?

Its not agnostic of how its delivered. Cable uses QAM encoding for digital content. OTA uses ATSC encoding for digital content. There isnt any ATSC coming from TWC. When you get local OTA's from TWC... you will getting QAM.

Its not agnostic of how its delivered. Cable uses QAM encoding for digital content. OTA uses ATSC encoding for digital content. There isnt any ATSC coming from TWC. When you get local OTA's from TWC... you will getting QAM.

Ok, thanks for setting that out for me (newbie).

So can someone verify if TWC is sending HD signals with their standand QAM signal? if that is the case then I'm not sure why I would not being getting the local HD channels or even how to test my unit...

Ok, thanks for setting that out for me (newbie).

So can someone verify if TWC is sending HD signals with their standand QAM signal? if that is the case then I'm not sure why I would not being getting the local HD channels or even how to test my unit...

QAM is working fine, no need for an antenna as it comes straight from the wall. ATSC is coming from the air and therefore an antenna is needed. It all depends on the quality of the tuner and the antenna, if you received it in the past then I don't see why you can't receive today, maybe your hardware is at fault...

I have basic cable and receive all SD channels and HD QAM straight from the wall to my tv.

QAM is working fine, no need for an antenna as it comes straight from the wall. ATSC is coming from the air and therefore an antenna is needed. It all depends on the quality of the tuner and the antenna, if you received it in the past then I don't see why you can't receive today, maybe your hardware is at fault...

I have basic cable and receive all SD channels and HD QAM straight from the wall to my tv.

Ok - looks like my hardware may be a problem - thanks for the info.

Yes, I did try a re-scan but still nothing. I did call TWC and they told me they removed the HD channels from their basic cable package - is that not true?

It may be a case of terminology, or a case of customer disservice.

Basic != Standard cable, though they're often used interchangeably.

I have Standard cable and get the local digital channels, including the HD ones, in addition to the "standard" set of SD analog channels like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, etc..

I can't tell you what to expect over Basic cable since I don't have that, but it may well be the case that they've shuffled stuff around such that the digital locals are not available to Basic cable customers at all (though I suppose they could be sending converted, analog versions of the digital locals after the OTA DTV switchover in Feb occurs???).

It seems unlikely to me that they could have blocked just HD digital locals while leaving SD digital locals since the last time I checked, some of the locals have their HD and SD digital channels sharing the same frequency (I'm pretty sure that's the case for WUNC and WNCN, maybe WRAL too, while I think WTVD and WRAZ have HD and SD versions of their main programming scattered around, e.g. with WRAZ-2 (Retro TV?) being on the same frequency as WRAZ-HD, while WRAZ-SD is elsewhere??

It may be a case of terminology, or a case of customer disservice.

Basic != Standard cable, though they're often used interchangeably.

I have Standard cable and get the local digital channels, including the HD ones, in addition to the "standard" set of SD analog channels like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, etc..

I can't tell you what to expect over Basic cable since I don't have that, but it may well be the case that they've shuffled stuff around such that the digital locals are not available to Basic cable customers at all (though I suppose they could be sending converted, analog versions of the digital locals after the OTA DTV switchover in Feb occurs???).

It seems unlikely to me that they could have blocked just HD digital locals while leaving SD digital locals since the last time I checked, some of the locals have their HD and SD digital channels sharing the same frequency (I'm pretty sure that's the case for WUNC and WNCN, maybe WRAL too, while I think WTVD and WRAZ have HD and SD versions of their main programming scattered around, e.g. with WRAZ-2 (Retro TV?) being on the same frequency as WRAZ-HD, while WRAZ-SD is elsewhere??

Unless they installed a filter on your cable drop, the HD Locals are there. I helped a friend set up a TV this weekend and a scan found them just fine.... right down to the correct virtual channel numbers.

It may be a case of terminology, or a case of customer disservice.

Basic != Standard cable, though they're often used interchangeably.

I have Standard cable and get the local digital channels, including the HD ones, in addition to the "standard" set of SD analog channels like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, etc..

I can't tell you what to expect over Basic cable since I don't have that, but it may well be the case that they've shuffled stuff around such that the digital locals are not available to Basic cable customers at all (though I suppose they could be sending converted, analog versions of the digital locals after the OTA DTV switchover in Feb occurs???).

It seems unlikely to me that they could have blocked just HD digital locals while leaving SD digital locals since the last time I checked, some of the locals have their HD and SD digital channels sharing the same frequency (I'm pretty sure that's the case for WUNC and WNCN, maybe WRAL too, while I think WTVD and WRAZ have HD and SD versions of their main programming scattered around, e.g. with WRAZ-2 (Retro TV?) being on the same frequency as WRAZ-HD, while WRAZ-SD is elsewhere??

Right - I do have "standard" cable (step above "basic") and get Nick, Comedy central, espn, nat geo, disc, etc. I'll give TWC a call and see if they've some how filtered out some stuff at the street - otherwise I'm afraid I've got bum equipment.

Not sure of this is the right place for this but here goes...

I'm subscribe to TWC’s standard (no HD or digital) cable package. I own a Philips DVDR3576H/37 - it has NTSC and ATSC tuners built into the unit. I used to get a few, local HD channels coming in from with standard TWC connection but that stopped some time in August ’08 (I called TWC and they verified that they were no longer sending HD broadcasts of local channels with their standard cable signal). Anyway, I want to try to get HD channels OTA... so I hooked the rabbit ears to my Philips DVDR3576H/37 ant. in but was not able to receive any HD signals. From what I understand I should be able to pick up local HD broadcasts using basic rabbit ears but I'm having no luck. Does anyone have any tips for me? Thanks in advance.


I don't see anywhere in the specs of your unit that it has a QAM tuner.. only an NTSC and ATSC tuner. NTSC and ATSC are not QAM. You need a digital cable ready unit/TV to receive QAM. A DCR with cablecard functionality would give you encrypted QAM channels that aren't on SDV.

I have an 8300 HD DVR and a 720P Panny Plasma and have recently began seeing a lot of windowbox programming - especially on FX and HBO on Demand. Anyone else seeing this? It is extemely annoying and only happens when going through the DVR - straight from the wall to the TV produces letterbox output.

Any way to compensate for it or settings I may have screwed up?

Thanks...Ryan

I have an 8300 HD DVR and a 720P Panny Plasma and have recently began seeing a lot of windowbox programming - especially on FX and HBO on Demand. Anyone else seeing this? It is extemely annoying!

Any way to compensate for it or settings I may have screwed up?

Thanks...Ryan

That's because they broadcast in 16:9 on SD channels. The way it should be if you can't get the HD version. Use the zoom aspect.

And this is the the wrong thread for this kind of discussion.

Thanks for the reply. Why would this not be windowboxing when bypassing the DVR and just start happening? I watched last years season of Entourage via on demand and it wasn't windowboxing when this year it did - no changes in equiment.

Sorry for posting in the wrong forum - I thought it was a TWC programming issue. Not sure where else to post.

I do notice lower than usual on 28.1 signal level... but I watch nothing there. I usually don't have problems with 5.1, but tonight was giving me the same fits that 22.1 was a few weeks back... and since they are on the same tower it got me to wondering like you if they are tweaking for the Feb switchover.

Can't say about 22, but WRAL is updating the main antenna (http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/digital_tv/page/2385687/) right now and running on an auxiliary one that is lower height and (I think) power. If you were near the edge of reception or in a little but of a dip, reception could be affected.

Can't say about 22, but WRAL is updating the main antenna (http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/digital_tv/page/2385687/) right now and running on an auxiliary one that is lower height and (I think) power. If you were near the edge of reception or in a little but of a dip, reception could be affected.

BIg discussion about this (WRAL /WRAZ on aux antenna with reduced coverage).

Basically - if you are Southeast of the tower (Johnston County / Goldsboro) - you're out of luck. And the line for effective coverage roughly follows I95 to about Rocky Mount/Battleboro. North and west of that line - you should be OK, albiet at reduced power. Eastern NC will have problems until they get back on their main antennas in Febuary / get back to full power in March.

Right now - they are on full power on the aux, but at a reduced height. In Febuary on transition night - they go back to their new main antenna, but only half power. Then in March they will get the rest of the cabinets on the new frequency (Channel 48).

The text of the plans can be found on the FCC's website off the Form 387. I don't recall where I saw a coverage map of the aux, but it sucks for eastern NC right now

I don't see anywhere in the specs of your unit that it has a QAM tuner.. only an NTSC and ATSC tuner. NTSC and ATSC are not QAM. You need a digital cable ready unit/TV to receive QAM. A DCR with cablecard functionality would give you encrypted QAM channels that aren't on SDV.

Good news. I tried one more thing - unplugging my unit for several minutes (20+), then I plugged it back in and re-scanned for HD channels again. This time the HD channels were detected - it appears unplugging the unit did the trick. So, now, with my "standard" TWC cable package I am able to receive about 25 channels (4.1-4.5, 5.1-5.4, 11.1-11.3, 22.1, 28.1, etc.) over the digital tuner in my Philips DVDR3575H HDD DVD recorder - of those 25 channels about 1/3 to 1/2 are actually in HD - but hey its better than nothing... thanks to all those that replied.

twc just "updated" my box and everything went smoothly.

so i guess the only update is the color change...

twc just "updated" my box and everything went smoothly.

so i guess the only update is the color change...

My MDN box was updated to 2.4.4-15 ... and LIVED!

Jim

I got an email from Time Warner today saying the latest version of Navigator will be deployed here next within the next week. Here is the email. Looks like the version that has been reported on the navigator forum with the new color scheme.
...
You are scheduled to receive an enhancement to Navigator on one or more boxes in your home within the next week. The main enhancement you will notice is the improved color scheme. Below are examples of two screenshots.
...


tarheelone,

How did you get them to send you such emails?

Do you have MDN (8300HD) or ODN (8300HDC)? I am curious as to whether this applies to both MDN and ODN, or just one of them. I have eSATA hooked to my ODN and I'd dreading this "upgrade".

Can't say about 22, but WRAL is updating the main antenna (http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/digital_tv/page/2385687/) right now and running on an auxiliary one that is lower height and (I think) power. If you were near the edge of reception or in a little but of a dip, reception could be affected.

Thanks also to Scooper for more details... I'm in North Raleigh, so I'm not sure if I should generally be effected or not BUT if the antenna is lower in height and there is some physical obstacle between me and the temporary location, that might explain things.

Did anything change in the last couple of days? I knew they were doing some work, but wasn't sure if something happened just this week since it was a couple of days ago (last weekend was fine for example) that I noticed the reception problem.

tarheelone,

How did you get them to send you such emails?

Do you have MDN (8300HD) or ODN (8300HDC)? I am curious as to whether this applies to both MDN and ODN, or just one of them. I have eSATA hooked to my ODN and I'd dreading this "upgrade".

I got the update last night, so I guess the within the next week, meant tomorrow. I have an 8300HD(MDN) with eSATA hooked up and it appears to have survived. I understand the fear about the ODN since I've read it's been killing the eSATA.

As for getting the emails, I can only guess it's because I'm signed up for the PayXpress and they have my email address. I just looked on their website and didn't see anywhere that I could have signed up to receive notification so it had to be because of the PayXpress.

I got the update last night, so I guess the within the next week, meant tomorrow. I have an 8300HD(MDN) with eSATA hooked up and it appears to have survived. I understand the fear about the ODN since I've read it's been killing the eSATA.

As for getting the emails, I can only guess it's because I'm signed up for the PayXpress and they have my email address. I just looked on their website and didn't see anywhere that I could have signed up to receive notification so it had to be because of the PayXpress.

Thanks. So, the recordings on your eSATA drive are still viewable. I hope they issue an ODN fix soon and we do not upgrade until that fix. I know it is not likely to happen, but it would not be unprecedented for us to skip a release; we never got 2.4.8_2, went straight from 2.4.5_6 to 2.4.9_3.

Thanks. So, the recordings on your eSATA drive are still viewable. I hope they issue an ODN fix soon and we do not upgrade until that fix. I know it is not likely to happen, but it would not be unprecedented for us to skip a release; we never got 2.4.8_2, went straight from 2.4.5_6 to 2.4.9_3.

I just glanced this morning before I ran out the door for work but yes the eSATA recordings appeared to viewable. For your sake, I hope they don't upgrade the ODN until they fix the eSATA support.

Either the update killed my 8300HD or its hard drive just happened to fail at the same time as the update. Its dead, after four attempts at cold boots it always hangs in the forth square of the Mystro load with no fruther activity...The help desk also initiated a cold boot and it still hung..... Ah well guess I'll go exchange it for a newer model tomorrow.

Maybe HDMI will work on the new one. It never has on my 8300HD.:rolleyes:

For the last 2-3 days, I can no longer select the 11.x or 50.x mapped channel numbers on two of my four HDTV's. The 5.x, 17.x, 22.x, etc. work correctly. I have rescanned multiple times on both sets. Two Sony TV's still map all channels correctly but a Samsung and Sharp do not.

I have discovered though trial and error that I can get 11.1 on 92.1 and 50.1 on 92.4. I am located in north Raleigh using TWC standard service on these TV's.

I would like to know if anyone else is experiencing this problem before I call TWC. My previous experience with their call center is they have no idea what QAM is or the .x subchannel numbers. They only appear to understand HDTV if you have their digital box.

I am also having the weird QAM mapping with 11.x and 50.x on one of my Vizios. I have a newer Vizio and an older one. The older Vizio does not have this issue but the new one does. I also have a Panasonic and Samsung but have not tried those yet as they are hooked to boxes.

I have the same thing on my Sammy. Thanks for the heads up on where they channels are mapped to!

I had the same problem a year ago with Suddenlink in Rocky Mount. QAM channels went from working to none could be picked up by my Toshiba tv's. After several rescans and such, I broke down and called them, even though I knew better.

I went round and round with the Suddenlink "support" reps, and they finally broke down and accused me of trying to steal digital cable, because they didn't understand what I was complaining about. They wouldn't let me talk with anyone who did, so I called the FCC on them.

Once I finally got the FCC involved, they helped them figure out whatever change they had made that broke my QAM channels. It was above my head, but all I know is that I had to waste 4 days and involve a FCC lawyer and engineer to get it resolved.

Here's hoping you guys don't have to do the same, but know that if TWC doesn't step up, the FCC is actually on your side.

U-Verse is now officially available in the Triangle. Take a look: http://www.wral.com/business/story/4139921/

WHOOPS - Edited my post about u-verse. I was scooped by about 2 minutes. :)

U-Verse is now officially available in the Triangle. Take a look: http://www.wral.com/business/story/4139921/


Here's more info: http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1334275.html

U-Verse is now officially available in the Triangle. Take a look: http://www.wral.com/business/story/4139921/

Just played with the Uverse package config tool (I live off N Harrison in Cary)... No great deal compared to what I pay with Dish ($45/mo for 45 HD ch + HD DVR).. would be ~$105/mo for me to get U200 pkg + internet comparable to my RR (they price the DVR such that there seems to be no? reason to get U100 if you want a DVR) vs. the ~$90/mo I pay right now.

but its certainly nice to see a new option in town.

but its certainly nice to see a new option in town.

As long as your in AT&T's service area. Once again Durham is the ugly red-headed step child. It'll probably be five years before Verizon bothers getting FIOS in our area...

I tried plenty of number of people all around Raleigh, Cary and Morrisville and none of them come up as available. Not sure where it is available yet, but they certainly seem to be taking it slow.

I live near Triangle Town Center and the website claims the service is not available. Does anyone know of a local contact to find specifically where and when this service will be available?

I've tried calling customer service and technical support at AT&T and nobody has access to any specific information.

I'm thinking that a local repair office or installation group would be able to give more information on this. Please share if you can help.

I live near Triangle Town Center and the website claims the service is not available. Does anyone know of a local contact to find specifically where and when this service will be available?I don't think they're announcing any of that yet. I'm just inside the beltline near Wake Forest and Six Forks Rds., and it doesn't come up as available in my area yet.

I have TWC basic, Earthlink for Internet and Vonage phone service now, so I doubt U-Verse will offer any combination that wouldn't cost me more.

Not available for me off SW Cary Parkway. But I do love the possibility of having a 1.0Mbps upload speed...

For the last 2-3 days, I can no longer select the 11.x or 50.x mapped channel numbers on two of my four HDTV's. The 5.x, 17.x, 22.x, etc. work correctly. I have rescanned multiple times on both sets. Two Sony TV's still map all channels correctly but a Samsung and Sharp do not.

I have discovered though trial and error that I can get 11.1 on 92.1 and 50.1 on 92.4. I am located in north Raleigh using TWC standard service on these TV's.

I would like to know if anyone else is experiencing this problem before I call TWC. My previous experience with their call center is they have no idea what QAM is or the .x subchannel numbers. They only appear to understand HDTV if you have their digital box.


I'm having the same problem with my Samsung DTB-H260F digital tuner.

Greg, I agree with you.... the only reason I'm pursuing U-Verse is for the additional upload speed. I have one computer that has to stay on 24/7 just to keep up with backups I do to Mozy.com. A TWC rep came to my door recently and I told them what I thought of this and how un-green it is. Just the decrease in my electricity bill alone would more than make up for any modest increase with a fast U-Verse service. The TWC rep actually suggested that I might want to look into U-Verse!!!

They can't even find my address in their system. I guess that's a bad sign.

Has anyone gotten the 11.1 and 50.1 channels to work yet?

I found the locals on 92.1 and up, along with 77.1 I believe. This was in Fayetteville. There was no mapping to 11.1, 50.1 etc like there used to be. It's frustrating. They want to force you into a rented box.

Why all the switching around on TWC-Raleigh?
I only have the basic package

The above 92.1(abc) and 92.4(fox) work(for now)
Still can't find where they moved NBC(17.1) Anyone know where it is?

Sure was simple when the digital channel matched the station channel, using QAM

But don't understand why TWC is doing this. Is this their method to force digital set-top boxes on us?

For me NBC is still 17.1 and 17.2 (Chapel Hill).

The other channels though have been changed from 11 to 92.1, 50 to 92.4, and blah blah blah.

Also have channels up on the 100s range...and this is with basic cable.

But anyways, where the hell is my TNT HD?!

I thought digital TV meant DIGITAL (cable) TV, meaning I get the digital broadcast of certain stations. Is Time Warner holding the goodies back to those digital cable subscribers? And will I have these goodies after the "official" change?

I thought digital TV meant DIGITAL (cable) TV, meaning I get the digital broadcast of certain stations. Is Time Warner holding the goodies back to those digital cable subscribers?

Yep.

And will I have these goodies after the "official" change?

Probably not.

So after the change TNT will still be in SD? Wow... that makes me want to get illegal cable lol

So after the change TNT will still be in SD? Wow... that makes me want to get illegal cable lol

When you talk about digital TV meaning everything will be in digital, there's two different digital changes going on now in the area:

- The well publicized change to digital that is shutting down analog signals in February of next year. This only applies to OTA signals that you pick up with an antenna, and also only means they will be digital, NOT that they will be HD, so they can free up that airspace for other things (cell phones)

- TWC rolling out switched digital video, which should allow for more stations due to SDV needing less bandwidth. Eventually this should lead to the end of analog signals over cable and necessitate a box to get SDV, but once again, this only means the signal is digital, not that it's HD.

So, Digital != HD, which is important to remember. The HDTV feeds of cable channels on TWC is reserved for people that subscribe to the digital cable packages, which is why I still need to get digital cable even though the only things I watch are HD stations and HBO, but there's no cheaper package to get them.

Why all the switching around on TWC-Raleigh?
I only have the basic package

The above 92.1(abc) and 92.4(fox) work(for now)
Still can't find where they moved NBC(17.1) Anyone know where it is?

Sure was simple when the digital channel matched the station channel, using QAM

But don't understand why TWC is doing this. Is this their method to force digital set-top boxes on us?

I believe (if I remember correctly) that NBC 17 HD was on 102.2 unless it has been moved again.:confused:

I believe (if I remember correctly) that NBC 17 HD was on 102.2 unless it has been moved again.:confused:

Clear QAM locals are mapped correctly again here in CH

Why all the switching around on TWC-Raleigh?


But don't understand why TWC is doing this. Is this their method to force digital set-top boxes on us?


Time Warner is adding more HD channels on Thursday. The problems with QAM always seem to surface a couple of days before TW adds new channels. I wonder if it has to do with something they are doing to the system to get it ready for those channels.

The next time they are adding channels is January 13. We'll have to see if the problem surfaces then as well.

Just an update: FOX and the other channels that were switched from QAM to higher channels are now QAM again.

And an opinion: If TWC had a customization option for WHAT you want, they would have A LOT more customers. Not every customer wants 1000 channels of which only 100 or so will be regularly watched. Completely negates their "The power of you" slogan.

Just an update: FOX and the other channels that were switched from QAM to higher channels are now QAM again.

No, it was always QAM. The just fixed the cable virtual channel table which does the remapping from physical "higher channels" (92.1. 92.4) to virtual (50.1, 11.1) channels. A year or two ago, they broke (or stopped supplying) the remapping information for the combined FOX/ABC QAM channel for a large number of months.


And an opinion: If TWC had a customization option for WHAT you want, they would have A LOT more customers. Not every customer wants 1000 channels of which only 100 or so will be regularly watched. Completely negates their "The power of you" slogan.

Indeed. I'd take about 5 non-local channels and be done. Until then, there is Hulu and sports bars.

Right now it is the worst of both worlds. The have the technical ability to give you fine grained control on the per channel basis that would be required for a-la-carte programming choices, but can't/won't use it due to all the forced bundling going on (much of which is arguably not their fault -- I mean you ESPN/ABC). Yet they still scramble everything, rather than relying on filters to block groups of physical channels like back in the good old days before digital cable. If I can't have just my 5 channels, and have to take 1000 channels of garbage, then at least give it to me in the clear without having to rent their flaky equipment.

Drew

A rescan this morning found the "missing" channels.

I had reported the problem via email. This is the second time this problem has occurred and both times, the CSR's did not understand this problem.

I added the following reply to their incorrect response ("I have reset your cable box.") and also added it to the email satisfaction survey. "Please pass on your management that you guys needs training on understanding that the local digital channels (5.1, 11.1, etc.) are available to all digital TV's with no box required if the TV's have a QAM tuner (another term you should know)."

I was just channel hunting and have found a crapload of EDTV upscalable channels.

Here's the list:

89.10 FOX 50 480i
89.11 UNC TV 480i
104.9 NBC 480i
104.10 HSN 480i
104.11 QVC 480i
105.1 News14 Weather 480i
105.9 Paid Programming 480i (was showing me ShamWOW!)
106.9 Univision 480i
106.10 WGN America 480i
117.12 Telefutura 480i
118.2 Some garbage interview... 480i
118.3 C-SPAN 2 480i
118.9 ShopNBC 480i
118.10 News14 (Regular broadcast) 480i
118.11 Paid Programming 480i (showing Power Juicer)
119.2 TV Guide Network 480i
119.4 UNC STV (Student TV) 480i
119.4 The People's Channel 480i
119.7 ?Town Meeting? 480i

None of these look good on my 40" Full HD ... unless I'm 30 feet away lol.

I was just channel hunting and have found a crapload of EDTV upscalable channels.

Here's the list:

89.10 FOX 50 480i
...


Everything that TWC shows in the 'basic' analog package, they also send over clear QAM.

http://raleigh.mync.com/site/raleigh/news|Sports|Lifestyles/story/22134/nbc17-programming-may-be-affected-by-tower-repair

In brief - outage schedule for WNCN-TV, WNCN-DT, WRAL-DT, WRAZ-DT, WLFL-DT, and WRDC-DT

Affects - OTA and DBS viewers, cable viewers on smaller systems. Most TWC customers should be unaffected.

For me NBC is still 17.1 and 17.2 (Chapel Hill).

The other channels though have been changed from 11 to 92.1, 50 to 92.4, and blah blah blah.

Also have channels up on the 100s range...and this is with basic cable.

But anyways, where the hell is my TNT HD?!

I thought digital TV meant DIGITAL (cable) TV, meaning I get the digital broadcast of certain stations. Is Time Warner holding the goodies back to those digital cable subscribers? And will I have these goodies after the "official" change?

TNT HD is on channel 281, but you must subscribe to the Digital Variety package to get it.

Anyone have the new HD channels to be added today yet?

Anyone have the new HD channels to be added today yet?
Did a manual reboot and they are there as advertised.

So I now count 40 total HD channels, NOT including PPV HD channels, which are NOT channels at all, sorry. I'm even giving full credit for FS Carolina.

Other TWC divisions are rolling out HD channels like crazy, all the major programming deals have been done, and the SDV technology seems to work. With U-verse launching, the pressure is on to continue to add HD so it looks like 2009 will be a good year, for TV that is. Everything else looks like it's headed for the toilet.

TNT HD is on channel 281, but you must subscribe to the Digital Variety package to get it.

I do not subscribe to Digital Variety (Cinema Choice instead) and consequently do not get Speed HD, ESPNU HD, Bio HD and Planet Green HD, but I most definitely get TNT HD, but only with the TWC box, not wih direct wall-to-TV cable.

Anyone have the new HD channels to be added today yet?

Watched The Wiggles in HD this morning!

So I now count 40 total HD channels, NOT including PPV HD channels, which are NOT channels at all, sorry. I'm even giving full credit for FS Carolina.

Do you have the 9.99 digital package or something else?
Am guessing this is not QAM
I just don't want another box to have to find room for

If you go to the 8300HDC or the 8240HDC, here are my tips:.............
The newer Cisco 8550HDC, Cisco 8552HDC, or some newer Samsung boxes which are designed from the ground up with these FCC restrictions in mind along with many welcome enhancements should eliminate many of these concerns..................


Can anyone tell we what the newest TWC HD boxes are in Raleigh?

Thanks for the help.

Watched The Wiggles in HD this morning!

My condolences. ;)

bump

Does anyone know why I would not be able to receive the newer HD stations on my 2nd tv hd box? I haven't been able to receive Versus HD since it moved Golf HD, BIOHD, TLCHD etc.

I have tried rebooting the box and no luck.

Just don't ask where I got it, and apologies if it's been posted previously.


This from TWC RDU:

"they are going to start installed the tuning adapters in January"

(don't hold your breath).

I'm here to tell you- any org that can't even get the acronym correct in the title of the spreadsheet....

Rates rise Jan 1...

http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1343928.html

Time Warner Cable prices going up
Service Current monthly price Jan. 1 price
Basic cable (with no other service) $12.95 $15.95
Standard cable $40.50 $43.71
Digipic 1000 $68.00 $71.95
Digipic 1500 $79.50 $83.45
Digipic 2000 $88.00 $91.95
Digipic 3000 $96.50 $100.45
Digipic 4000 $105.00 $108.95
DVR service $7.95 $10.95
Digital sports and game tier $3.50 $4.95
Wireless home networking $9.95 $11.95

Anyone else notice weakened signal strength from OTA transmissions from WRAL, WTVD, etc? Just in this last week I've been experiencing completely broken up signals, during evening broadcasts. No changes in my antenna, tabletop Zenith Silver Sensor, or any other changes that I'm aware of.

Rates rise Jan 1...

http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1343928.html

Time Warner Cable prices going up
Service Current monthly price Jan. 1 price
Basic cable (with no other service) $12.95 $15.95
Standard cable $40.50 $43.71
Digipic 1000 $68.00 $71.95
Digipic 1500 $79.50 $83.45
Digipic 2000 $88.00 $91.95
Digipic 3000 $96.50 $100.45
Digipic 4000 $105.00 $108.95
DVR service $7.95 $10.95
Digital sports and game tier $3.50 $4.95
Wireless home networking $9.95 $11.95

Brilliant - U-verse comes to town and TWC raises their rates. Just checked and U-verse is available at my house in Cary.

Jim

Just don't ask where I got it, and apologies if it's been posted previously.


This from TWC RDU:

"they are going to start installed the tuning adapters in January"

(don't hold your breath).

I'm here to tell you- any org that can't even get the acronym correct in the title of the spreadsheet....

Hope you can snatch the next spreadsheet !!! Looks like the USA, Sci-Fi, CNBC, Bravo should be in the next batch.

Hope you can snatch the next spreadsheet !!! Looks like the USA, Sci-Fi, CNBC, Bravo should be in the next batch.

That's if they finalize whatever deal it is they are negotiating with NBCU.

It's nice that TWC are finally making some HD progress but it's too late to repair the damage done with their previous attitude. Especially now they are raising the rates (again) by about $10 to achieve it.

I'm hoping that whoever can get U-Verse takes it as soon as they can and drops TWC like a hot brick.

That's if they finalize whatever deal it is they are negotiating with NBCU.

It's nice that TWC are finally making some HD progress but it's too late to repair the damage done with their previous attitude. Especially now they are raising the rates (again) by about $10 to achieve it.

I'm hoping that whoever can get U-Verse takes it as soon as they can and drops TWC like a hot brick.

The NBCU deal is done. TWC has been rolling out the NBCU channels, and lots more, in other markets. I suspect the rollout here will continue at a fairly rapid pace. At the end of the day, the real deciding factor for me will be AT&T's HD picture quality, which has gotten some bad reviews.

As far as which of the two behemouths is the more benevelant, I've had good and bad experiences with both.

As soon as I get my rate increase, I'm going to start the process of shaking down Direct TV for their best offer.....One more missed NFL game on thursday night is going to kill me. I know, this season is over, but it's been tough.

For those of you interested - WRAL has what looks to be the 1st half of their antenna switchout (replacing the channel 53 antenna with a channel 48 one) in still photos on their website - http://www.wral.com/news/local/image_gallery/4196183/

Brilliant - U-verse comes to town and TWC raises their rates. Just checked and U-verse is available at my house in Cary.

Jim

Has anyone subscribed yet to U-verse? Are they like Dish, in that you need a box for each TV? With the latest price increase, I am ready to drop TWC, but the ability to get basic channels w/o a box is still the one advantage TWC has for me.

Keep OTA losing NBC 17 17.1 and 22.1 channels in Holly Springs
anyone else having this issue ?

Did you know about WRAL replacing their channel 53 antenna for a channel 48 one ? And did you realize that all of them are on the same tower ?

FWIW - channel 22.1 has been awol from my house in Youngsville for the better part of a month now. I'm hoping it comes back Febuary 18.

Keep OTA losing NBC 17 17.1 and 22.1 channels in Holly Springs
anyone else having this issue ?


http://dtv.myncblogs.com/2008/12/08/programming-alert/

Has anyone subscribed yet to U-verse? Are they like Dish, in that you need a box for each TV? With the latest price increase, I am ready to drop TWC, but the ability to get basic channels w/o a box is still the one advantage TWC has for me.

Just looking at their website
https://uverse1.att.com/un/launchAMSS.do

appears that yes it takes a "box" :(

Just looking at their website

appears that yes it takes a "box" :(

I did poke around their web site a bit, including the Support pages, but never found any technical description of how they terminate the fiber at the house, what they use for inside wiring, etc.

I did poke around their web site a bit, including the Support pages, but never found any technical description of how they terminate the fiber at the house, what they use for inside wiring, etc.

Here is the link to the page with the connection details. It does show a STB at each TV.

(I have to break up the link since I am a new poster. Put a http:// in front of the link)

helpme.att.net/article.php?item=11570

I was just channel hunting and have found a crapload of EDTV upscalable channels.

Here's the list:

89.10 FOX 50 480i
<snip>


Hi,
I'm been reading the last few pages of this thread specifically looking for info about tuning in WRAZ Fox 50 in HD. I have the 'Digipic1000' service from TWC and get all the HD channels that come with that on my tv that has the cable box. But my other TV (Sammy Ln26a450) is hooked straight to the wall and I can't get Fox50 in HD. even on these other channels that have been suggested(89.10). What am I missing? Or is this TW's fault?

Turn to 92.4 for FOX 50 HD, 92.5 for retro net. 92.1 is WTVD

Turn to 92.4 for FOX 50 HD, 92.5 for retro net. 92.1 is WTVD

92.x is not an option for me. I just finished a re-scan and my Sammy goes from 91.164 and jumps to 93.1 (both of which come up as "Scrambled Channel or Weak signal" when I manual select them)

Ok, so i shouldn't have been so quick to reply. While there are no channels on 92.x, the rescan seems to have found the 50.x channels: 50.1 WRAZ-HD, 50.2 for SD(retro net) and 50.3 being WRAL-WX.

I still don't understand the "why", but thanks for the quick response jspENC. At least now I can watch NFC football in HD on this TV!! :-)

OK thanks...I just saw it on WRAL web site ...oooo the "death zone" climb... why they have to "gorify" their reports is beyond me

why they have to "gorify" their reports is beyond meIt's caused by an occupational disease that eventually affects everybody who goes into the broadcasting business. ;)

For Digital Cable plus the HD tier with road runner and phone my bill has now hit over the $200 mark. I'm in Morrisville and U-verse is not out here yet...maybe time for the TurboHD...need to start looking around, any suggestions? I only watch HD programming as it is and we are thinking about giving up our land line...so maybe Dish and DSL or Dish and RR?

When will TWC ask for their bailout money?

For Digital Cable plus the HD tier with road runner and phone my bill has now hit over the $200 mark. I'm in Morrisville and U-verse is not out here yet...maybe time for the TurboHD...need to start looking around, any suggestions? I only watch HD programming as it is and we are thinking about giving up our land line...so maybe Dish and DSL or Dish and RR?

When will TWC ask for their bailout money?


Digital + HD Tier + RR is about $150. Where are you getting the other $50 from?

For Digital Cable plus the HD tier with road runner and phone my bill has now hit over the $200 mark. I'm in Morrisville and U-verse is not out here yet...maybe time for the TurboHD...need to start looking around, any suggestions? I only watch HD programming as it is and we are thinking about giving up our land line...so maybe Dish and DSL or Dish and RR?

When will TWC ask for their bailout money?

Dish requires a landline for some features like pay-per-view and updating the smart card or other decryption technology used in a satellite box.

Dish requires a landline for some features like pay-per-view and updating the smart card or other decryption technology used in a satellite box.

Landline is used only for reporting PPV and doing things like paying your bill from your receiver. With the VIP DVRs and their ethernet port, you can get away from the landline requirement.

The landline / ethernet will also eliminate the $5 access fee on the 2nd tuner of a dual tuner receiver / DVR .

Encryption stuff is all done via the dish.

Landline is used only for reporting PPV and doing things like paying your bill from your receiver. With the VIP DVRs and their ethernet port, you can get away from the landline requirement.

The landline / ethernet will also eliminate the $5 access fee on the 2nd tuner of a dual tuner receiver / DVR .

Encryption stuff is all done via the dish.

Starting in Feb, your 1st box may not even have to hook up to ethernet (except for PPV) according to the most recent retailer chat

http://www.satelliteguys.us/1630955-post7.html

Starting in Feb, your 1st box may not even have to hook up to ethernet (except for PPV) according to the most recent retailer chat

http://www.satelliteguys.us/1630955-post7.html

Well - that would eliminate one more objection. Personally - I like having the Caller ID on all TVs :D

Kudos to WTVD and WNCN for the recent significant improvements in their HD quality. WNCN's is mostly due to an improvement in NBC's network feed, and WTVD just in the last couple of days has made huge strides. Thanks to the efforts at both stations.

For Digital Cable plus the HD tier with road runner and phone my bill has now hit over the $200 mark. I'm in Morrisville and U-verse is not out here yet...maybe time for the TurboHD...need to start looking around, any suggestions? I only watch HD programming as it is and we are thinking about giving up our land line...so maybe Dish and DSL or Dish and RR?

When will TWC ask for their bailout money?

If I were you, I'd call TWC, ask for "retention", mention that Turbo Dish is a better deal and has more HD channels, and ask what TWC is willing to do to keep you. Be polite but firm, and you may get a nice price reduction. If you don't, at least you'll know for sure it's time to switch.

Digital + HD Tier + RR is about $150. Where are you getting the other $50 from?

I have HD tier, Internet, phone, Showtime and HBO and my bill is $215 before the increase.

Regardless of any work NBC-17 is doing on their antenna, why has Fox 50 been so spotty lately? I had heard rumors that they were having transmitter problems or something, but have not seen anything concrete to prove or disprove that.

I understand that they and other channels on that tower will be up and down while 17 get's their new antenna up and running, but, what about while there is no work? I keep losing their signal, while the others there are coming in fairly well.

I'm out in Chatham, between Sanford and Pittsboro, FWIW, not close in like you Triangle residents.

Digital + HD Tier + RR is about $150. Where are you getting the other $50 from?

digital phone service

If I were you, I'd call TWC, ask for "retention", mention that Turbo Dish is a better deal and has more HD channels, and ask what TWC is willing to do to keep you. Be polite but firm, and you may get a nice price reduction. If you don't, at least you'll know for sure it's time to switch.

Thanks, I will give that a shot. Maybe I go for an over-the-air antenna plus all the goodies online these days, like hulu, etc., that's an idea.

Regardless of any work NBC-17 is doing on their antenna, why has Fox 50 been so spotty lately?

Just FYI - It is WRAL that is/was changing out their antenna. Just so happens that NBC-17s digital -AND- analog antennas are on the same tower and they are the station that has been most affected. Fox50 digital is on the same tower.

I understand that they and other channels on that tower will be up and down while 17 get's their new antenna up and running, but, what about while there is no work? I keep losing their signal, while the others there are coming in fairly well.

If your issues of reception on FOX50 are happening in the middle of the day, then it may be the tower work. If it is happening after 4pm or so, then something else is going on.

EDIT: and according to the NBC17 (http://dtv.myncblogs.com/2008/12/08/programming-alert/) blog, tower work is still going on due to delays before Christmas.

digital phone service

Call them up and ask about their Price Lock Guarantee. I get RR, digital cable, phone, and cablecards for $131 a month. Locked for the next 2 years.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/Carolinas/products/pricingpages/wilson.html

phone, cable, and internet for 109.95

EDIT: and according to the NBC17 (http://dtv.myncblogs.com/2008/12/08/programming-alert/) blog, tower work is still going on due to delays before Christmas.

I was originally wondering why they had scheduled so many days of working last week (and a day or two the previous week as well) as it didn't seem like a multi-week job, though I know it is hard work.

Then I looked at the weather forecast and figured they were planning on some non-working time during rain... so with the several days/times of rain I'm not surprised they need more time to get things taken care of properly.

Just FYI - It is WRAL that is/was changing out their antenna.

If your issues of reception on FOX50 are happening in the middle of the day, then it may be the tower work. If it is happening after 4pm or so, then something else is going on.



Doh... I knew that... :-)

OTOH, yes, I can't get Fox 50 at all now... Everything else on that tower comes in fine, except for working hours when they are mucking with the antenna. But 50 doesn't get picked up at all. I e-mailed them to see if they knew of anything going on with their DTV transmission, so maybe that will turn up something useful.

Doh... I knew that... :-)

OTOH, yes, I can't get Fox 50 at all now... Everything else on that tower comes in fine, except for working hours when they are mucking with the antenna. But 50 doesn't get picked up at all. I e-mailed them to see if they knew of anything going on with their DTV transmission, so maybe that will turn up something useful.

50-1 is fine here in Apex. Signal strength is 94 with 29db SNR... pretty much perfect.

I was originally wondering why they had scheduled so many days of working last week (and a day or two the previous week as well) as it didn't seem like a multi-week job, though I know it is hard work.

Then I looked at the weather forecast and figured they were planning on some non-working time during rain... so with the several days/times of rain I'm not surprised they need more time to get things taken care of properly.

There is a National Geographic Channel program called World's Toughest Fixes (http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/worlds-toughest-fixes/all/Overview), where the host goes on all these really difficult jobs. One is to replace the antenna on the top of a 2,000ft tower. In fact, the same crew in the show is doing the WRAL job (according to WRAL's website (http://www.wral.com/news/local/image_gallery/4196183/)). After watching that show, I completely understand why it takes so long.

If you've got NatGeo, look up that show. Really fascinating.

Also, check out this video (http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/4217123/) from the WRAL website. [Turn off any ad blockers you have if the video doesn't play]

There is a National Geographic Channel program called World's Toughest Fixes (http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/worlds-toughest-fixes/all/Overview), where the host goes on all these really difficult jobs. One is to replace the antenna on the top of a 2,000ft tower. In fact, the same crew in the show is doing the WRAL job (according to WRAL's website (http://www.wral.com/news/local/image_gallery/4196183/)). After watching that show, I completely understand why it takes so long.

If you've got NatGeo, look up that show. Really fascinating.

Also, check out this video (http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/4217123/) from the WRAL website. [Turn off any ad blockers you have if the video doesn't play]

Yup... Saw that episode a couple weeks ago... Enjoyed that episode as well as the entire series. Definitely worth watching.

Call them up and ask about their Price Lock Guarantee. I get RR, digital cable, phone, and cablecards for $131 a month. Locked for the next 2 years.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/Carolinas/products/pricingpages/wilson.html

phone, cable, and internet for 109.95

I called Time Warner today just to see what I could get. The first thing they told me made me laugh. They told me they were raising prices BECAUSE of the competition. Silly me, thought competition would be a reason to lower prices. Guess I need to learn to think like Time Warner.

The pricelock Guarantee locks you in for two years with a cancelation fee of up to $150. For Digital Cable and RR it was locked in at something like $94.(I was driving down the road so I didn't write down the exact prices.) I was told that my DVR fee would be $11 on top of that. I asked why I was being locked in at the new DVR fee when I called before the increase and I was told you cannot lock in the price of the DVR or other tiers such as the HD package. So all together I would be paying $112.81 which is $20 less than I am paying now and will be about $30 less than the increase. As much as I hate giving in to TW it is a good option to save a chunk of cash.

They told me they were raising prices BECAUSE of the competition.

I would say that is a way of sugar coating "because of GREED." They lost some customers to the dishes, so they have to raise the price in order to make up for their losses. ROFL!

Time Warner losing MTV, VH1, Comedy, Spike, etc. Are they even serious? I'm tired of these jerks.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/12/30/viacom-stations-to-go-dark-on-time-warner-cable/

No NFL network, VH1 Classic or Palladia....more reason to finally go back to satellite. I really am shocked that they keep taking my business for granted with all the competition these days.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/12/30/viacom-stations-to-go-dark-on-time-warner-cable/

No NFL network, VH1 Classic or Palladia....more reason to finally go back to satellite. I really am shocked that they keep taking my business for granted with all the competition these days.

Golly.. makes the Dish line-up look awfully stable :) (only thing I've lost in 2 years was Voom..and that eventually went belly up as it deserved to)

For fans of The Daily Show and Colbert, you can watch the full episodes online at thedailyshow.com or fancast.com... while you wait for your Dish/Direct/UVerse installer to show up ...

My Mom is freaking out about the banners TWC is running saying Comedy Central etc will go dark at midnight tonight. I tried to tell her it's just two big companies being obnoxious. Does anyone think this will really go through? Haven't they done this in the past with some sports network?

Golly.. makes the Dish line-up look awfully stable :) (only thing I've lost in 2 years was Voom..and that eventually went belly up as it deserved to)

For fans of The Daily Show and Colbert, you can watch the full episodes online at thedailyshow.com or fancast.com... while you wait for your Dish/Direct/UVerse installer to show up ...


Dish network did the exact same thing 4 years ago when it dropped the Viacom stations for 2 days. This isn't unheard of. I don't know who is telling the truth here about the rate hike but I love how Time Warner is automatically the bad guy because they are standing up to Viacom. If it turns out Time Warner is just being Time Warner then yeah, they suck but Viacom is going through some tough times so I wouldn't be surprised to see them nickel and diming for everything they can get.

My Mom is freaking out about the banners TWC is running saying Comedy Central etc will go dark at midnight tonight. I tried to tell her it's just two big companies being obnoxious. Does anyone think this will really go through? Haven't they done this in the past with some sports network?


I would be surprised if this DOESN'T happen. I don't think they will be off for very long as both Viacom and Time Warner will be flooded with calls from angry parents who's kids can't watch Spongebob. Time Warner has pulled Disney owned ABC stations off the air in the past here in the Triangle as well as several other local stations in other markets. The good news in all of this is, I'm guessing that any agreement reached between the two will include a carriage agreement for Comedy Central HD when it launches this year as well as any other Viacom HD channels.

I don't know who is telling the truth here about the rate hike but I love how Time Warner is automatically the bad guy because they are standing up to Viacom.

Most of the (theoretically) neutral 3rd party articles say the dispute is over a rate hike of about $0.23 per month per subscriber, which is a 22-36% increase. Obviously, Viacom is spinning the former, and Time Warner the latter. I suspect the safe answer is that they're both at fault.

I wonder which lobby will flood the Time-Warner lines more - the angry parent lobby (Nickelodeon/Noggin) or the tween/twenties audience (MTV/Comedy Central.)

I wonder which lobby will flood the Time-Warner lines more - the angry parent lobby (Nickelodeon/Noggin) or the tween/twenties audience (MTV/Comedy Central.)

Don't forget the more general audience that watches TV Land, CMT, etc. I think it'll be an Equal Opportunity Flood from all segments of the viewing audience if the plug is pulled (by whichever side) on Viacom's Cable Channels in TWC's Markets.

MLB network HD on 268 right now. Preview until it goes live tomorrow, but it's nice to see!

^Just what you need in JANUARY, the MLB Network.

It looks like what was left of NBC Weather Plus has disappeared from NBC-17's DT-17.3. They're now only showing the Precision Weather Graphics and Forecasts from their Meteorologists.

(me=watching OTA from parent's home in Kinston)

Time Warner losing MTV, VH1, Comedy, Spike, etc. Are they even serious? I'm tired of these jerks.

I've had enough of these guys. I've been looking for alternatives since last year when I couldn't see the Cowboys Packers game. Unfortunately I don't have line of sight to either the Dish or DirectTV HD satellites because of trees in my backyard. As soon as Uverse is available in my neighborhood, I'm switching, even if it costs more.

I don't know who is telling the truth here about the rate hike but I love how Time Warner is automatically the bad guy because they are standing up to Viacom.

TWC doesn't need any help being the bad guy. They've had plenty of practice and when my cable bill goes up $15 at midnight the Viacom thing is going to be inconsequential.

They are running out this "protecting the consumer" spiel while at the same time running up the consumer bill to cover their own lack of competence over the years.

Isn't Channel 4 being broadcast in HD OTA? If so, why is TW delivering it in SD on 4.1?

Isn't Channel 4 being broadcast in HD OTA? If so, why is TW delivering it in SD on 4.1?

Could you explain what channel 4 maps to in your area? Different areas within the Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville DMA get different channels and have different numbers for the same channels in their basic and standard cable packages due to different local stations. For example, the Garner area gets WARZ-LP, while those in the Cary area once got WACN-LP until TWC struck a deal with its feeder network, the Daystar Television Network, to carry the source feed on digital cable. If you don't mention what your channel 4 maps to, we cannot be of any help.

Could you explain what channel 4 maps to in your area? Different areas within the Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville DMA get different channels and have different numbers for the same channels in their basic and standard cable packages due to different local stations. For example, the Garner area gets WARZ-LP, while those in the Cary area once got WACN-LP until TWC struck a deal with its feeder network, the Daystar Television Network, to carry the source feed on digital cable. If you don't mention what your channel 4 maps to, we cannot be of any help.
Sorry, I'm in Cary. 4.1 maps to 200, 4.2 maps to 201. However, I don't have a digital box on this TV: It's just analog cable. I was watching the Eric Clapton Guitar Fest from Chicago on 4.1. It was in SD. None of the HD shows that air on 4 (4.1) show up in HD on TW channel 4.1.

Not only is TWC not carrying PBS HD at least on QAM 4.1, the HD programming they are carrying on 4.2 is mostly junk. :mad:

Any of you Dish subs getting blurriness and macro blocking on ABC 11 HD? It's especially noticeable for me in sporting events and any kind of graphics. I'm wondering if it's just me.

I saw a post on the TiVo Community board that TWC and Viacom were able to come to an agreement. I checked and do, in fact, still have Comedy Central this morning. I think neither company was really looking out for their customers and both realized that they were rapidly approaching a lose/lose scenario.

I called Time Warner today just to see what I could get. The first thing they told me made me laugh. They told me they were raising prices BECAUSE of the competition. Silly me, thought competition would be a reason to lower prices. Guess I need to learn to think like Time Warner.

The pricelock Guarantee locks you in for two years with a cancelation fee of up to $150. For Digital Cable and RR it was locked in at something like $94.(I was driving down the road so I didn't write down the exact prices.) I was told that my DVR fee would be $11 on top of that. I asked why I was being locked in at the new DVR fee when I called before the increase and I was told you cannot lock in the price of the DVR or other tiers such as the HD package. So all together I would be paying $112.81 which is $20 less than I am paying now and will be about $30 less than the increase. As much as I hate giving in to TW it is a good option to save a chunk of cash.

I got Digital Cable with DVR and HD Suite + internet access (Earthlink, more or less the same as RR) all for about $112 *total, after taxes* locked for one year, with no obligation on my part (i.e. they promise not to increase the price for a year but I can always quit with no cancellation fee). That was before this new increase was announced, though, maybe now they won't do it.

Picture quality of Fox HD tonight is terrible. Artifacts and noise everywhere.

Any of you Dish subs getting blurriness and macro blocking on ABC 11 HD? It's especially noticeable for me in sporting events and any kind of graphics. I'm wondering if it's just me.

My buddy with Dish has been complaining of issues with ABC 11 HD for a while now. Sound cutting in and out, and now he mentioned blurriness and a line through it like it was torn.

I'd say it's not just you.

Any of you Dish subs getting blurriness and macro blocking on ABC 11 HD? It's especially noticeable for me in sporting events and any kind of graphics. I'm wondering if it's just me.
Same problems, first noticed during the Citrus Bowl yesterday...hadnt really noticed this problem before. Switched to OTA which looked fantastic...first time Ive really seen such a glaring difference between the Dish and OTA versions of the same channel.

Sorry - no Dish HD here, just SD Dish and OTA HD.

I called Time Warner today just to see what I could get. The first thing they told me made me laugh. They told me they were raising prices BECAUSE of the competition. Silly me, thought competition would be a reason to lower prices. Guess I need to learn to think like Time Warner.

The pricelock Guarantee locks you in for two years with a cancelation fee of up to $150. For Digital Cable and RR it was locked in at something like $94.(I was driving down the road so I didn't write down the exact prices.) I was told that my DVR fee would be $11 on top of that. I asked why I was being locked in at the new DVR fee when I called before the increase and I was told you cannot lock in the price of the DVR or other tiers such as the HD package. So all together I would be paying $112.81 which is $20 less than I am paying now and will be about $30 less than the increase. As much as I hate giving in to TW it is a good option to save a chunk of cash.

I checked into this today and have a couple of more details.

The $150 is prorated if you cancel before the two year commitment and you can renew this price-lock 2 additional times for a total of 6 years. They will charge you current price-lock rates at the end of each two year contract. My savings were about $35.

Jim

Looks like just in time for football, WNCN 17's signal strength on TWC is down to about 70% and going in and out between pretty good to unwatchable.

And as I type this, they're showing a Turbo HD Dish Network commercial--how appropriate :-/.

OK, the picture has been watchable for the last few minutes, so maybe it was a temporary problem. Let's hope...

Looks like just in time for football, WNCN 17's signal strength on TWC is down to about 70% and going in and out between pretty good to unwatchable.

And as I type this, they're showing a Turbo HD Dish Network commercial--how appropriate :-/.

OK, the picture has been watchable for the last few minutes, so maybe it was a temporary problem. Let's hope...

Im reading a 95 signal strength and 35db SNR on TWC and an 88 signal strength 28db SNR OTA here in Apex.

Im reading a 95 signal strength and 35db SNR on TWC and an 88 signal strength 28db SNR OTA here in Apex.

Whatever the problem was, it's gone now. I'm now seeing 98% signal strength and a steadily good picture on WNCN on TWC.

Whatever the problem was, it's gone now. I'm now seeing 98% signal strength and a steadily good picture on WNCN on TWC.

Signal Strength and SNR are still good but I am getting some uncorrectable errors in tuner statistics.... so there is some 'crud' in the signal. OTA stats are better that TWC stats... I have both tuned and monitoring stats.

FWIW, UNC is starting to mirror the HD primetime lineup on both UNC-TV and UNC-HD. This means that TWC viewers can now see the REAL PBS HD schedule, not just the HD showcase HD programming.

FWIW, UNC is starting to mirror the HD primetime lineup on both UNC-TV and UNC-HD.It's about time! :)

It's about time! :)

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I'd much rather have good looking *additional* programming, for example "Great Performances" or Jacques Pepin cooking a roast chicken that looks good enough to tempt a vegetarian (no joke), in HD than The News Hour or Charlie Rose, which are perfectly fine in SD.

Of course, shows on the main PBS schedule that should be in HD, e.g. Nova, should be available that way rather than some iffy HD filler.

FWIW, UNC is starting to mirror the HD primetime lineup on both UNC-TV and UNC-HD. This means that TWC viewers can now see the REAL PBS HD schedule, not just the HD showcase HD programming.

Now if they could just do a decent job (re-)encoding the HD content and get rid of the motion artifacts... Their bitrate is fine, but they still have motion trails in any scenes which are even reasonably fast..

Drew

I was told that my DVR fee would be $11 on top of that. I asked why I was being locked in at the new DVR fee when I called before the increase and I was told you cannot lock in the price of the DVR or other tiers such as the HD package.

If this is true and my "pricelocked" bill goes up, I'll either be back with DirecTV or on UVerse fairly quickly, even if it means paying some of the cancellation fee...

If this is true and my "pricelocked" bill goes up, I'll either be back with DirecTV or on UVerse fairly quickly, even if it means paying some of the cancellation fee...


Well you might want to start looking to see if UVerse is available in your area then... I fought them hard on this one but they told me the DVR fee is not included in the price lock. The person I spoke to even went to a supervisor to find out when I challenged her on it. The price lock I was quoted was only for the Digital Tier. Then the DVR fee and the HD suite price were added to that. So if they ever raise the price on the HD Suite or up the DVR fee or anything you will have to pay the increased rate. I would love it if she was wrong but we'll see when I get my next bill.

Since we received the Raycom ACC football broadcasts in HD here this year... any word on expanding the amount of ACC basketball games in HD? Just curious since they've proven they can at least do one HD game per week during the football season, was hoping to at least see that progress this year.

I think last year we got 4 HD games prior to the ACC tournament.

Since we received the Raycom ACC football broadcasts in HD here this year... any word on expanding the amount of ACC basketball games in HD? Just curious since they've proven they can at least do one HD game per week during the football season, was hoping to at least see that progress this year.

I think last year we got 4 HD games prior to the ACC tournament.

They were actually doing at least 2 football games a week since they were doing SEC games at the same time. I guess we'll find this Saturday since Raycom is carrying the NC State/Clemson game at noon. Checking WRAL's website they say the game will be in HD. I also sent the sound engineer who mixed the games for Raycom last year a PM to see if he could provide confirmation.

WUNC Coverage Comparison (Analog 4 vs. DTV 25)

The FCC has provided maps showing which stations will have coverage short-falls, when the analog signals are ended. The maps for the Raleigh stations which will be losing coverage can be found here:

http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_report2/Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville_NC.pdf

A significant flaw that I see in these coverage maps is that they do not address viewers beyond the contour. I also believe that the maps are overly optimistic within the contour.

Attached is a comparison coverage map for WUNC that I generated using Radio Mobile.

Any comments on the comparison plot would be appreciated. I have used -85dBm as the cut-off for both DTV and analog. I acknowledge that DTV needs about 13dB less power for "replication," but I have found that analog can be viewed at strengths far below specs. The attached chart attempts to show this difference.

Yellow areas should be able to receive analog Low-VHF 4, in watchable condition (with a decent outdoor antenna), but which will probably not be able to receive UHF 25.

WUNC's directional post transition facility will lose coverage as compared to the non-directional 59 facility as well. To make things worse, WUNC is to only be at 45kW until April. I see some complaints in their future.

I am not a proponent of using Low-VHF for DTV (far from it), but it is important to realize that many areas which were able to receive TV service with a Low-VHF antenna no longer have a realistic chance to receive UHF DTV stations.

They were actually doing at least 2 football games a week since they were doing SEC games at the same time. I guess we'll find this Saturday since Raycom is carrying the NC State/Clemson game at noon. Checking WRAL's website they say the game will be in HD. I also sent the sound engineer who mixed the games for Raycom last year a PM to see if he could provide confirmation.

I wasn't even thinking about the SEC equipment, since I figure they'd still need them for SEC basketball too. I know they probably wouldn't yet be able to handle all their ACC games since there's usually a couple on at the same time on Saturdays and one or two other weeknights during the season.

I'm just hoping for more than the Duke/UNC or UNC/State games like last year. I would find myself watching a lot more Raycom broadcasts in HD. I know I watched more football this season because of it.

Fingers crossed for this weekend, because if they do State/Clemson they surely will be doing games every week. I know in this are it'll be a big game, and with both teams having good records should be competitive as always.

WUNC Coverage Comparison (Analog 4 vs. DTV 25)

The FCC has provided maps showing which stations will have coverage short-falls, when the analog signals are ended. The maps for the Raleigh stations which will be losing coverage can be found here:

http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_report2/Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville_NC.pdf


I have a dumb question about those maps.. Why are there 2 sets of information for each station? What is the difference? Estimated vs measured, or something more?

Drew

I think the first map only shows coverage changes outside the coverage contour. So if the analog contour is different from the digital contour, the first set of maps/data show only the gain/loss areas with respect to contour changes.

The second appears to take into account interference and gain/loss within the contour, places where coverage otherwise should not have changed.

I'm not 100% sure on that, but that's what it looks like to me.

- Trip

The second appears to take into account interference and gain/loss within the contour, places where coverage otherwise should not have changed.

I find the second set of maps to be more useful, but they are showing coverage gains for WUNC to the South and West. I don't see how they are arriving at that conclusion.

Regardless, the maps ignore what is happening beyond the contour. Viewers in such areas may as well not exist, especially when WSD's start to broadcast, on-channel, beyond the contours.

I guess they are only guaranteeing that a signal will reach to the contour? If you get a signal beyond that, it's just luck and an exceptional antenna install perhaps... I dunno. I get a couple of channels outside the contours, but only because I have line of site.

There are stations whose contours aren't accurate (see Roanoke) that the FCC won't give protection to, even though their signals are loud and clear 20 miles outside the contour.

- Trip

Has anyone been able to get a price quote on ATT U-Verse around here? I'd be interested to know what the price would be for a bundle similar to RR+Digipic 1000+DVR costs.

Francisco

Since we received the Raycom ACC football broadcasts in HD here this year... any word on expanding the amount of ACC basketball games in HD? Just curious since they've proven they can at least do one HD game per week during the football season, was hoping to at least see that progress this year.

I think last year we got 4 HD games prior to the ACC tournament.

http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-baskbl/09raycomschedule.html
According to this, there are a LOT more games in HD this year than last. Every Duke and UNC game listed is in HD, and all but one State game in HD (at Miami). Even with a split for this weekends game, both are in HD...too bad we cant get the other game on FOX50.

Can't post links yet, but more good news from TWC. Additional HD on the way.

Feb. 13, 2009: The following channels will be added:

* USA HD - Channel 258
* Bravo HD - Channel 259
* CNBC HD - Channel 266
* Sci-Fi HD - Channel 267
* Telemundo - Channel 379 (Digital extension of Basic Cable)

Can't post links yet, but more good news from TWC. Additional HD on the way.

Feb. 13, 2009: The following channels will be added:

* USA HD - Channel 258
* Bravo HD - Channel 259
* CNBC HD - Channel 266
* Sci-Fi HD - Channel 267
* Telemundo - Channel 379 (Digital extension of Basic Cable)

All of these new changes mean nearly nothing to me because their interface and SW is so terrible. I would seriously rather them fix that first than to add anymore HD channels.

All of these new changes mean nearly nothing to me because their interface and SW is so terrible. I would seriously rather them fix that first than to add anymore HD channels.


You evidently don't understand how Time Warner does things then. The new channels are coming from the local level. It's up to each area to add new channels when the local system has space to do so. Navigator is developed by Corporate though, so there is nothing the local Time Warner office can do about it. They can only deploy what they are given from the national office and right now we have the latest version of Navigator that is available.(MDN away)

So I say bring on the HD! Especially those channels!

Has anyone been able to get a price quote on ATT U-Verse around here? I'd be interested to know what the price would be for a bundle similar to RR+Digipic 1000+DVR costs.

Francisco

Also, can anyone who has U-Verse provide a little more detail on what is involved with the install? I have heard there is a type of connection box attached to the house (I would assume to take the fiber optic signal and convert it to run over the phone lines....unless they also install some other type of home network system...). And then to tie multiple TVs into source from DVR/tuner...is there some type of satellite box at each TV?

Also, can anyone who has U-Verse provide a little more detail on what is involved with the install? I have heard there is a type of connection box attached to the house (I would assume to take the fiber optic signal and convert it to run over the phone lines....unless they also install some other type of home network system...). And then to tie multiple TVs into source from DVR/tuner...is there some type of satellite box at each TV?

U-verse is more "fiber to the curb" than fiber to home. Cheaper that way. The fourth post on this link gives a good overview:

http://www.highdefforum.com/t-u-verse/54435-u-verse-using-fiber.html

Frank

http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-baskbl/09raycomschedule.html
According to this, there are a LOT more games in HD this year than last. Every Duke and UNC game listed is in HD, and all but one State game in HD (at Miami). Even with a split for this weekends game, both are in HD...too bad we cant get the other game on FOX50.

Thanks for that link. I had been checking around for a list, and couldn't find anything but this past year's football schedule of airings.

That is a huge improvement over last year... looks like at least 1 HD game every weekend, and some during the week as well.

I agree, its a shame WRAL/WRAZ can't double-purpose themselves and carry the other games when they are available in HD too if there's no FOX stuff to carry on WRAZ in that timeslot.

U-verse is more "fiber to the curb" than fiber to home. Cheaper that way. The fourth post on this link gives a good overview:

http://www.highdefforum.com/t-u-verse/54435-u-verse-using-fiber.html

Frank

Also, fiber to the curb also reduces latency ironically. With both cable modems and fiber to the home, the shared network is vulnerable to collisions which waste bandwidth and time, and makes latency unpredictable. Fiber to the curb allows the head end node to buffer packets that arrive at the same time, eliminating collisions by serializing packets that arrive at the same time by storing them in RAM. Therefore, fiber to the node is one tradeoff resulting in less cost, less throughput, and less latency that is more consistent which is great for online gaming and ssh and other remote access sessions where I am controlling a computer through the Internet. Fiber to the home and cable modems result in more throughput and more latency that is much more volatile, which can damage online gaming and ssh and other remote access sessions.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend either U-verse or FIOS if email is critical because the networks that own them, AT&T and Verizon, are dumb enough to allow spammers to stay on the network. This has caused some ISPs to firewall off my family's email when I was a part of BellSouth (which has been bought by AT&T, and if what is showing up on AT&T's entry on Spamhaus is true, AT&T has refused to kick off many of the spammers inherited from BellSouth). These spammers on BellSouth and the subsequent firewalling were what forced my family to move to Road Runner.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend either U-verse or FIOS if email is critical because the networks that own them, AT&T and Verizon, are dumb enough to allow spammers to stay on the network. This has caused some ISPs to firewall off my family's email when I was a part of BellSouth (which has been bought by AT&T, and if what is showing up on AT&T's entry on Spamhaus is true, AT&T has refused to kick off many of the spammers inherited from BellSouth). These spammers on BellSouth and the subsequent firewalling were what forced my family to move to Road Runner.

Not trying to bash you, but who uses their provider's email? why not use a gmail or yahoo and always have the same address no matter where you move?
I have gone from Adelphia cable to VZ DSL, to ATT DSL to TW Cable in the past 10 years. Imagine the amount of email changes i would have. instead my yahoo account has been around for every change i have made, and i have never once used the email they gave me.

Just curious.
Dave

Not trying to bash you, but who uses their provider's email? why not use a gmail or yahoo and always have the same address no matter where you move?


He might be running his own SMTP server...

More on topic, the few minutes I watched of the Clemson/State game looked nice. I'm glad to see Raycom doing the games in HD now!

Drew

Not trying to bash you, but who uses their provider's email? why not use a gmail or yahoo and always have the same address no matter where you move?
I have gone from Adelphia cable to VZ DSL, to ATT DSL to TW Cable in the past 10 years. Imagine the amount of email changes i would have. instead my yahoo account has been around for every change i have made, and i have never once used the email they gave me.

Just curious.
Dave

I still use my provider's email. Some IPSs that still use the SORBS spam blacklist will blacklist the free email services because the operator of SORBS believes that you should have to use a paid service because it is generally harder to get onto a paid Internet service if you have a reputation of being a spammer, while it is easy to set up a sockpuppet account on a free email service when you get bounced. This was the same list that blacklisted BellSouth's email servers as spammers. I tried a free email account once and it became unusable due to the volumes of spam that arrived even though I rarely used it except to email when I was away from home.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2009/01/ces09-raleigh-twc.jpg

Raleigh, NC residents were pretty satisfied with 20 or so new HD channels at the tail end of last year, but apparently Time Warner Cable is really feeling the pressure from recent entrant AT&T. Now, Triangle citizens can start preparing for four more to hit the EPG on February 13th: USA HD (258), Bravo HD (259), CNBC HD (266) and SciFi HD (267). Don't take this personally TWC, but we appreciate the favor, AT&T. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/10/time-warner-cable-adding-four-more-hd-networks-in-raleigh-nc/

Today, my doorbell rang, and a man introduced himself as my personal Time Warner Customer Service rep. He had credentials, and a list of all TWC subscribers in the neighborhood, including what services they subscribe to, and the new, increased price each was now paying. Said he was checking signal strengths, etc, then began hawking the wonders of adding VOIP to my already too high cable bill. Told me it would practically be free. (like a $7 increase in my bill is free). When i told him that we use cell phones only, he backed off that, and then went on to say that if I ever needed service of any sort, to call him directly, and he handed me a TWC flyer with his name/number, etc. Said many people complain about calling the normal service number and get put on hold for such a long time, but now there was another way to get service .. my own personal customer service rep.

I don't doubt his legitimacy at all, but really believe, besides this just being just another way for TWC to get in your face about adding telefony services (since i have received numerous snail mails and voice calls pushing their bundled (bungled?) services), that they are starting to feel the pressure of competition now, and are now playing the personal customer service rep card..

I can only hope (dream, probably) that this keeps translating into into better offerings from them, as things like U-Verse start to take hold in the area.

If only TWC would make all those HD-versions-of-standard-service channels clear QAM!!!!

Not only were the Panthers horrible last night, but the Fox HD PQ was garbage....The earlier Ravens game was SO much better! The commercials looked better than the game AND the in-studio stuff looked like SQ....what's causes this? Also, has anyone ever noticed how good the espn in-studio stuff looks? Amazing. I wish they all could do it as good as those guys.

The problem I have been having with FOX 50 HD is that the picture starts and stops. It is so bad I cannot watch anything on that channel. This happens with TWC and OTA. Does anyone else have this issue? It is the only channel I have seen that does this. Is it a problem with their signal? I sent FOX an email about it...

I don't have the starts and stops, but I agree NFL on FOX is almost EDTV quality. Atleast from TWC in Raleigh. And it's not a 720p vs 1080i issue: my set is 720p, so CBS's 1080i scaled down to 720p on my set looks sooo much better than FOX's NFL at 720p.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2009/01/ces09-raleigh-twc.jpg

Raleigh, NC residents were pretty satisfied with 20 or so new HD channels at the tail end of last year, but apparently Time Warner Cable is really feeling the pressure from recent entrant AT&T. Now, Triangle citizens can start preparing for four more to hit the EPG on February 13th: USA HD (258), Bravo HD (259), CNBC HD (266) and SciFi HD (267). Don't take this personally TWC, but we appreciate the favor, AT&T. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/10/time-warner-cable-adding-four-more-hd-networks-in-raleigh-nc/

If only these were going to be activated before shows like MONK, PSYCH, BURN NOTICE, and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA started back.

I currently have only the TWC Basic package, which means my QAM HD channels are limited to local area stations that have HD. What I'm wondering is if any additional QAM HD channels are added with the Standard package? I might be interested in moving up to Standard IF that resulted in more HD channels I could get with QAM and without a box or card.

I currently have only the TWC Basic package, which means my QAM HD channels are limited to local area stations that have HD. What I'm wondering is if any additional QAM HD channels are added with the Standard package? I might be interested in moving up to Standard IF that resulted in more HD channels I could get with QAM and without a box or card.

Nope. You need a CableCARD or a cable box to decrypt any other channels. All digital channels except the ones required to be unencrypted arrive encrypted.

Not only were the Panthers horrible last night, but the Fox HD PQ was garbage....The earlier Ravens game was SO much better! The commercials looked better than the game AND the in-studio stuff looked like SQ....what's causes this? Also, has anyone ever noticed how good the espn in-studio stuff looks? Amazing. I wish they all could do it as good as those guys.

Fox in-studio is filmed in 16:9 480p SD. It looks like SD because it is! :)

Fox in-studio is filmed in 16:9 480p SD. It looks like SD because it is! :)

Yes it is SD, but it is not filmed, and it is not taped.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Yes it is SD, but it is not filmed, and it is not taped.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Uhhhhhh alrighty then.

Uhhhhhh alrighty then.

I think he's attempting to make some kind of comment about how analog recording is better than digital recording.

- Trip

Nope. You need a CableCARD or a cable box to decrypt any other channels. All digital channels except the ones required to be unencrypted arrive encrypted.Thanks. I was afraid that was the case. :(

I think he's attempting to make some kind of comment about how analog recording is better than digital recording.

- Trip

Or that digital recording these days goes to disk storage (or flash memory in smaller, portable devices).

Has anybody else noticed that the RTN (50-2) listings are bad?

TitanTV has just an "RTN" box, with no listing data at all.

Tribune Media Services based services (zap2it.com, SageTV listings, MCE listings) seem to have a generic series description, and no episode descriptions. The listings are also sometimes incorrect. I seem to remember that SageTV had accurate listings with full episode descriptions a few months ago..

Do TWC digital boxes have the correct listings for RTN?

Drew

Has anybody else noticed that the RTN (50-2) listings are bad?
Yes, I see the same text across the screen for every time slot with the OTA EPG. Seems to have started after the new Year.

I've noticed that TitanTV's TWC - Cary analog cable listing is missing the Cartoon Network and has been since it moved from 75 to 64 a while back.

I used TitanTV's "Help->Report incorrect listings" menu to report it, but it looks like they have yet to fix it since I just checked and it's still missing.

Regarding RTN: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6626477.html?industryid=47171

- Trip

My mother-in-law has the TWC DVR (she's in Raleigh) and is going out of town for three weeks. It doesn't look like she'll have enough space to record everything she wants to while she's gone. I remember hearing at one time that TWC was going to offer an external expansion unit, but I don't see anything in any obvious place on their web site about it. Is this an option from them, or can you add your own, or maybe she's just out of luck?

Thanks.

My mother-in-law has the TWC DVR (she's in Raleigh) and is going out of town for three weeks. It doesn't look like she'll have enough space to record everything she wants to while she's gone. I remember hearing at one time that TWC was going to offer an external expansion unit, but I don't see anything in any obvious place on their web site about it. Is this an option from them, or can you add your own, or maybe she's just out of luck?

Thanks.

I've never tried it but solutions using eSATA appear to work:

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=334

Frank

My mother-in-law has the TWC DVR (she's in Raleigh) and is going out of town for three weeks. It doesn't look like she'll have enough space to record everything she wants to while she's gone. I remember hearing at one time that TWC was going to offer an external expansion unit, but I don't see anything in any obvious place on their web site about it. Is this an option from them, or can you add your own, or maybe she's just out of luck?

Thanks.

Fortunately, your division has not deployed the "upgraded" Navigator software that adds new features but breaks eSATA support (I live with the same division). The version of ODN that is deployed here correctly handles eSATA. Also, if your DVR is one of the legacy DVRs without a CableCARD, I have heard that the MDN software on the legacy boxes support eSATA correctly. For now, you can go to Best Buy or Circuit City (which may have to start liquidating soon due to its bankruptcy) and buy a Western Digital MyDVR Expander eSATA edition, unplug your DVR, plug in the MyDVR Expander, and then plug in your DVR if you want to gamble that the newest software will not be deployed during the vacation.

By the way, does anyone know of a series 3 ODN version that does not break eSATA?

My mother-in-law has the TWC DVR (she's in Raleigh) and is going out of town for three weeks. It doesn't look like she'll have enough space to record everything she wants to while she's gone. I remember hearing at one time that TWC was going to offer an external expansion unit, but I don't see anything in any obvious place on their web site about it. Is this an option from them, or can you add your own, or maybe she's just out of luck?

Thanks.

I have an 8300HD with an external eSATA drive and have never had any problems. As jvn11 stated that newer versions of the ODN software have caused problems with eSATA support but we don't have that version here yet so you should be able to add an external drive to an 8300HD or 8300HDC with no problems. Just be careful what kind of drive you get because all drives don't seem to work. Some folks have had problems with the WD MyDVR expander. There is a whole forum dedicated to eSATA drives with a list of drives that works. It can be found here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=516559

As for Time Warner offering a solution, they don't even acknowledge eSATA so they aren't going to be any help.

In case anyone else missed this:

Upcoming and Recent Channel Lineup Changes

Jan. 13, 2009: The following channels will be added:

Cinemax East HD - Channel 433
Cinemax West HD - Channel 434
The Movie Channel HD - Channel 463
Starz HD - Channel 475
Anyone have any luck with these yet? I don't have them.

Anyone have any luck with these yet? I don't have them.

I don't subscribe to the TWC movie channels. Has anyone else checked?

Anyone have any luck with these yet? I don't have them.


As of this morning when I left home Starz and TMC were up but no Cinemax. Someone in the Greensboro thread reported the same thing there.

TMC does show for me and Starz does (even though I don't get it) on the guide but yeah, no Cinemax, which I do get.

Same here. I even rebooted the box but still no joy. Darn it! I was wanting to watch a couple of movies on Cinemax West HD tonight!

It's my first time posting in this thread. I normally just read since the Triangle is local for my parents. However, I was reading over at DBSTalk.com and noticed that Dish added the Triangle locals as MPEG4 HD networks on their new satellite last night. They're not yet available as the new bird is still in it's testing phase, but I believe it's scheduled to be fully operational sometime net month.

ADD 4612 WTVD{DURHAM, NC} MPEG4 HD Tp 1 SPOT XX Ciel 2 129w UNAVAIL HIDE

ADD 4613 WRAL{RALEIGH, NC} MPEG4 HD Tp 1 SPOT XX Ciel 2 129w UNAVAIL HIDE

ADD 4614 WNCN{GOLDSBORO, NC} MPEG4 HD Tp 1 SPOT XX Ciel 2 129w UNAVAIL HIDE

ADD 4615 WRAZ{RALEIGH, NC} MPEG4 HD Tp 1 SPOT XX Ciel 2 129w UNAVAIL HIDE

Source: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=150003

It's my first time posting in this thread. I normally just read since the Triangle is local for my parents. However, I was reading over at DBSTalk.com and noticed that Dish added the Triangle locals as MPEG4 HD networks on their new satellite last night. They're not yet available as the new bird is still in it's testing phase, but I believe it's scheduled to be fully operational sometime net month.



Source: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=150003

I believe the new bird is just going to replace the old (and decrepit) bird at 129, so I don't think we gain anything other than better (and needed) signal strength, tho the new bird may give Dish the ability to add more National HD soon (we hope). We've had all the HD locals for quite a while now (tho PBS would be nice)

I would like to know if you have following channel if you use TV qam tuner with TWC cable:

Location: Raleigh, NC
Cable: Time Warner
Channels: Ch17-1, 17-2, 17-3, 5, 22, 28

Thank You,

Anyone have Cinemax on 433 and 434 yet? It's still not on for me.

I believe the new bird is just going to replace the old (and decrepit) bird at 129, so I don't think we gain anything other than better (and needed) signal strength, tho the new bird may give Dish the ability to add more National HD soon (we hope). We've had all the HD locals for quite a while now (tho PBS would be nice)

I think it adds quite a bit of capacity too, though I could be mistaken. I didn't realize you already had HD locals, but that certainly makes sense. Still, looks like you'll be moving to the new bird very soon.

Anyone have Cinemax on 433 and 434 yet? It's still not on for me.

Still missing statewide. Charlotte nor Greensboro has gotten it yet either and they were suppose to get it yesterday as well.

I emailed customer service this morning and they told me to reboot my box and it would be there. Needless to say, that didn't work. They don't even know what's on their own system. I have a U-verse install for next Wednesday. Tired of the TWC bull.

"Regarding RTN: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/art...dustryid=47171"

Hmm, that does explain a lot of the 50.2 problems.

I tuned to 50.2 a couple of times and so far found A team I think it is called and also a LA Firemen rescue show on in about the same time slots I use to catch Magnum and such.


I hope RTN does not go like the music video subchannel on 22 or 28 I forget which.

From WRAL.com

FCC chairman to visit Raleigh, talk about digital TV

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is coming to Raleigh Wednesday as part of a promotion of next month's scheduled change to DTV. Watch the town hall meeting at 1 p.m.

RTN should be fine once the new distribution center is all set up and ironed out. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

- Trip

I would like to know if you have following channel if you use TV qam tuner with TWC cable:

Location: Raleigh, NC
Cable: Time Warner
Channels: Ch17-1, 17-2, 17-3, 5, 22, 28


Yes, all the broadcast networks are available on TWC if you have a TV with a QAM tuner. You may need to do the occasional rescan when the virtual channel mappings change.

Yes, all the broadcast networks are available on TWC if you have a TV with a QAM tuner. You may need to do the occasional rescan when the virtual channel mappings change.

In addition to the local broadcasters, clear QAM also gets you the SD digital versions of WGN, News 14, News 14 Weather, Telemundo (or is that Univision, I can't recall), I think CSPAN and CSPAN-2, and some local cable access channels that show stuff like college classes or special lectures.

One good place to check is Silicon Dust (http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels) ( home of the HD Homerun tuner). Their query returns digital OTA and clear QAM channels it knows about.

FCC chairman to visit Raleigh, talk about digital TV


http://www.wral.com/news/video/4311660/

One of the things I wish somebody would ask is why they did the transitions in 2 steps rather than three. Eg, the current plan:

1 - establish digital transmissions using low power, unused frequencies where they're mostly ignored
2 - on the 2/17/09 flag day, turn off analog, re-assign digital channels

Why didn't they do something like:

1 - establish digital transmissions using low power, unused frequencies where they're mostly ignored
2 - on the first flag day, swap the analog and digital. Analog now becomes the ugly, red-headed step child, gets poorer, lower-power equipment, etc. FCC requires channels to broadcast a crawl: "Analog is going away, get your converter box now" 24/7 on their analog channels for a year.
3 - on the second flag day (months or years later), finally turn off analog.

I guess it would have cost too much? At least doing it like above would provide a "lifeline" analog, albeit on a different channel, much weaker, and with an annoying crawl, to encourage the last holdouts to switch.

Drew

Cinemax is up and running in Raleigh.

http://www.wral.com/news/video/4311660/

One of the things I wish somebody would ask is why they did the transitions in 2 steps rather than three. Eg, the current plan:

1 - establish digital transmissions using low power, unused frequencies where they're mostly ignored
2 - on the 2/17/09 flag day, turn off analog, re-assign digital channels

Why didn't they do something like:

1 - establish digital transmissions using low power, unused frequencies where they're mostly ignored
2 - on the first flag day, swap the analog and digital. Analog now becomes the ugly, red-headed step child, gets poorer, lower-power equipment, etc. FCC requires channels to broadcast a crawl: "Analog is going away, get your converter box now" 24/7 on their analog channels for a year.
3 - on the second flag day (months or years later), finally turn off analog.

I guess it would have cost too much? At least doing it like above would provide a "lifeline" analog, albeit on a different channel, much weaker, and with an annoying crawl, to encourage the last holdouts to switch.

Drew

That would be impossible in many situations. For example, WNCN is analog on 17 and digital on 55. On feb 17 analog 17 and digital 55 goes off the air and feb 18 digital 17 goes on the air. You cant have both on the same frequency and staying on 55 with analog isnt allowed....

I forget are all TV VHF frequencies being sold off or just the lower VHF frequencies?

I forget are all TV VHF frequencies being sold off or just the lower VHF frequencies?

Neither.... its the UHF >51 that have been auctioned off.

That would be impossible in many situations. For example, WNCN is analog on 17 and digital on 55. On feb 17 analog 17 and digital 55 goes off the air and feb 18 digital 17 goes on the air. You cant have both on the same frequency and staying on 55 with analog isnt allowed....

It would have been perfectly possible had they planned for it in the first place. They should have switched the default to digital before they had to give up the spectrum to the new licensees. Eg, they should have done it a few years ago, on the original transition date..

Drew

It would have been perfectly possible had they planned for it in the first place. They should have switched the default to digital before they had to give up the spectrum to the new licensees. Eg, they should have done it a few years ago, on the original transition date..

Drew

We will have to agree to disagree then. Not enough in core channels for every station to have 2. Not to mention the costs involved to allow a 'flip the switch' channel switch to switch analog and digital channel assignments.

We will have to agree to disagree then. Not enough in core channels for every station to have 2. Not to mention the costs involved to allow a 'flip the switch' channel switch to switch analog and digital channel assignments.


I don't understand what you mean. Every station has 2 now, don't they? Or are there some analog stations that were not assigned a temporary digital frequency?

Drew

I don't understand what you mean. Every station has 2 now, don't they? Or are there some analog stations that were not assigned a temporary digital frequency?

Drew

No they do not. and some that were given a 2nd frequncy, it is out of core (locally - 11,5,17,22, and 4 are all on channels 52-59 for their digital right now).

I don't understand what you mean. Every station has 2 now, don't they? Or are there some analog stations that were not assigned a temporary digital frequency?

Drew

So in your master plan, stations like WRAL, which have to move to a third frequency (because trust me, a digital on channel 5 would be HORRIBLE) which depend on other stations to relocate before using their final frequencies, what do they do when they "swap analog and digital"?

Or does the digital signal move to channel 5, where every light switch, every bolt of lightning within 50 miles, every electric motor, etc all cause it to drop out?

- Trip

i'm watching lost ota on cable using the tuner on my tv (time warner) and only during lost does the feed seem to stutter, like dropping the frame rate or something, but its fine during commericals...anyone ever experience this?

It's my first time posting in this thread. I normally just read since the Triangle is local for my parents. However, I was reading over at DBSTalk.com and noticed that Dish added the Triangle locals as MPEG4 HD networks on their new satellite last night. They're not yet available as the new bird is still in it's testing phase, but I believe it's scheduled to be fully operational sometime net month.



Source: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=150003

not saying I doubt you or the info - but why would they be moving the channels off 118 after they went to the expense of putting the 118/119special lnbs in this area:confused: I do see that the 129W are listed as Spotbeam while the old signal on 118 was CONUS, which may mean some people cannot take their Dish unit to the Coast or the Mountains any longer and expect to see the locals.

Even if they decide to use those elsewhere (another market) that means they will be forced to install the more expensive lnbs from scratch, so it does not make very much sense - Of course, Dish has often proved it has no forward thinking.

i'm watching lost ota on cable using the tuner on my tv (time warner) and only during lost does the feed seem to stutter, like dropping the frame rate or something, but its fine during commericals...anyone ever experience this?

I had the same problem! It was stuttering so bad I had to watch the show on the SD channel instead, which does not look as good on my HDTV.

So what is causing this? Is it TWC? Or is it ABC?

So in your master plan, stations like WRAL, which have to move to a third frequency (because trust me, a digital on channel 5 would be HORRIBLE) which Trip

Yes.. I'd say they should have moved to their final digital frequency a few years ago, and should have been broadcasting low-power analog on the 50-something channel they are using for their current temporary digital assignment.

From what I saw of the webcast, the FCC seems to have wanted to do a more gradual conversion, but were pressed by Congress to make a hard cutoff date so they could sell off the spectrum.

Drew

I had the same problem! It was stuttering so bad I had to watch the show on the SD channel instead, which does not look as good on my HDTV.

So what is causing this? Is it TWC? Or is it ABC?

Curious.. Dish just fixed a similar problem.. it was with local channels broadcasting in 720p (ABC and FOX).

Curious.. Dish just fixed a similar problem.. it was with local channels broadcasting in 720p (ABC and FOX).

I remember reading on a Mythtv forum about people having similar problems specifically with ABC primetime shows like Lost last year. Here is the link to the start of the thread:
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/dev/317736#317736

What caught my eye was one of the developers said he thinks they are "broadcasting about 40 fps on a 60fps stream and marking some of the frames as repeatable" which is something not all playback devices handle well. I haven't recorded anything from ABC primetime since Mars went on hiatus, otherwise I'd check to see if WTVD is now doing this.

Drew

I replaced my SA8300 DVR with a TiVo HD last week and everything has been fine with the cable card so far, until I tried to watch something on HBO last night. I get channels 400-406, but not 407-410 (I'm not sure about 411 as it's simulcast on 285 which I know I get). Does anyone know if this is an issue with my cable card setup, or are these on SDV and I need to wait for the tuning adapter to be available here?

I replaced my SA8300 DVR with a TiVo HD last week and everything has been fine with the cable card so far, until I tried to watch something on HBO last night. I get channels 400-406, but not 407-410 (I'm not sure about 411 as it's simulcast on 285 which I know I get). Does anyone know if this is an issue with my cable card setup, or are these on SDV and I need to wait for the tuning adapter to be available here?

According to this list from a while back, those channels were going to be moved to SDV.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=402796

Is it just me, or does the red background behind the contestant singing (or destroying the judges' ears if he or she is trash) get full of compression artifacts on American Idol whenever the Fox 50 logo gets added to the lower right corner of the screen?

Is it just me, or does the red background behind the contestant singing (or destroying the judges' ears if he or she is trash) get full of compression artifacts on American Idol whenever the Fox 50 logo gets added to the lower right corner of the screen?

I've noticed the red background is full of artifacts too. It was also full of artifacts on previous seasons. But how can you tell if its the logo? It seems like there is always either a "fox-hd" or a "fox-50" logo in place during the auditions.

Drew

The logo is inserted by the Fox splicer I believe, so I am doubting the logo is causing the issue.

- Trip

I've noticed the red background is full of artifacts too. It was also full of artifacts on previous seasons. But how can you tell if its the logo? It seems like there is always either a "fox-hd" or a "fox-50" logo in place during the auditions.

Drew

I noticed that sometimes, the logo is not there like soon after a commercial ends, and the artifacts are much reduced. I wonder if the splicer is decompressing the broadcast-quality HD feed from Fox, inserting the logo, and then recompressing the video, causing all of the artifacts.

Anybody with SDTV DBS notice if Dish or DirectTV are still sending analog instead of the digital streams ?

I noticed that sometimes, the logo is not there like soon after a commercial ends, and the artifacts are much reduced. I wonder if the splicer is decompressing the broadcast-quality HD feed from Fox, inserting the logo, and then recompressing the video, causing all of the artifacts.

No,the splicer only affects the area in which the logo is present.

Anybody with SDTV DBS notice if Dish or DirectTV are still sending analog instead of the digital streams ?

DirecTV is still sending analog SD on WRAL and WTVD at least (I didn't catch any others doing the test at 6:25p). Interestingly, last week when PBS did the test, DirecTV SD for WUNC was getting the digital feed. So, at least one is ready for Feb 17th.

DirecTV is still sending analog SD on WRAL and WTVD at least (I didn't catch any others doing the test at 6:25p). Interestingly, last week when PBS did the test, DirecTV SD for WUNC was getting the digital feed. So, at least one is ready for Feb 17th.

Unsettling, but not surprising. At least I'm ready to go OTA if I have to... - in fact - it's my prefered :D

It's my first time posting in this thread. I normally just read since the Triangle is local for my parents. However, I was reading over at DBSTalk.com and noticed that Dish added the Triangle locals as MPEG4 HD networks on their new satellite last night. They're not yet available as the new bird is still in it's testing phase, but I believe it's scheduled to be fully operational sometime net month.

BeachComber mostly addressed this already, but a couple of extra of my 2 cents...

Raleigh HD Locals have been live for a couple of years now (as BeachComber already said) from the 118.7 location. That's where I've been getting them since about a month after they went live.

Last year Dish also put them up on the Eastern Arc config (I believe on 61.5) so newer installs in this area might be getting them from the 61.5 location.

Popular theory on what was just uplinked to the new 129 satellite is that Dish is firing up transponders CONUS and Spotbeam to test things out before migrating things over... and as such are just picking things to test out the various transponders.

There's no real reason to believe Raleigh HD locals will actually have a permanent home on 129 at all since new customers will be getting Eastern Arc, and existing customers already have 118.7 OR 61.5 to get them now.

According to this list from a while back, those channels were going to be moved to SDV.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=402796

Thanks. Hopefully we get that tuning adapter soon around here, I was happy to have ESPNNewsHD for a couple of days...

There's no real reason to believe Raleigh HD locals will actually have a permanent home on 129 at all since new customers will be getting Eastern Arc, and existing customers already have 118.7 OR 61.5 to get them now.

"permanent" is a relative term :) but my guess is that they'll be on 129 for quite some time. Dish only just kicked the mpeg2 folks to mpeg4 boxes... now they'd have to come back and give folks that are not on EA a new dish (to get 61.5). I'll be glad when it happens, but I'm not expecting it any time soon.

Thanks. Hopefully we get that tuning adapter soon around here, I was happy to have ESPNNewsHD for a couple of days...


They've started installing the tuning adapters in Greensboro so hopefully you will see them here soon.

i'm watching lost ota on cable using the tuner on my tv (time warner) and only during lost does the feed seem to stutter, like dropping the frame rate or something, but its fine during commericals...anyone ever experience this?

I had the same problem! It was stuttering so bad I had to watch the show on the SD channel instead, which does not look as good on my HDTV.

So what is causing this? Is it TWC? Or is it ABC?

Same problem here. It sucks because Lost is one of the few show that I MUST watch every week and it looks like garbage. I noticed it does the same thing on other ABC primetime shows too. It sucks and its obvious ABC isn't doing anything to fix the problem.

"permanent" is a relative term :) but my guess is that they'll be on 129 for quite some time. Dish only just kicked the mpeg2 folks to mpeg4 boxes... now they'd have to come back and give folks that are not on EA a new dish (to get 61.5). I'll be glad when it happens, but I'm not expecting it any time soon.

Not unless they kick 118.7 out of service. In order to have Raleigh HD locals right now as an existing customer you either have to already be seeing 118.7 or 61.5.

The dish that gets 118.7 will also get 110/119 and 129... That's what I am pointed towards right now. I've seen nothing to indicate that they are pulling 118.7 out of orbit... and the 118.7 requires a unique type of LNB to receive... so anyone who isn't getting Raleigh locals from Dish has to get a new Dish for 118.7 or get Eastern arc for 61.5 (if they don't already see that one).

There's just no logical reason to light up 129 as a permanent home for other than testing the spotbeams unless they are planning on yanking them from 118.7... and if they do that, they might have to repoint some folks from that too since it carries some other things like internationals.

Although, having said all that... I suppose there is a remote possibility they could duplicate some markets on 129 for international packages since I don't think people who want international channels can get Eastern arc right now. I could be wrong on that point though.