For over a week now, KLAS has been very unstable at my end. I live near 95 and Decatur. I have always received a perfect signal with no break-up until now. Could the problem lie with them adding a sub channel for the new hispanic network they are adding? My signal on my VIP 622 shows 100% strength and steady, but the picture breaks up about every 30 seconds. It is unwatchable. Has anyone else seen this OTA or on Cox?

For over a week now, KLAS has been very unstable at my end. I live near 95 and Decatur. I have always received a perfect signal with no break-up until now. Could the problem lie with them adding a sub channel for the new hispanic network they are adding? My signal on my VIP 622 shows 100% strength and steady, but the picture breaks up about every 30 seconds. It is unwatchable. Has anyone else seen this OTA or on Cox?

I have a feeling the problem is with KLAS.
I live in Pahrump and get my network HD channels (and everthing else) from DirecTv. The past few days, everything from KLAS HD has had pixelization, some major, some minor, along with intermittent audio dropouts.

The problem may actually lie with CBS, as some people in Dallas as well as in Los Angeles posting on
http://forums.directv.com/pe/action/forums/displaysinglethread?rootPostID=10228896&returnExpertiseCode=
have stated they have had similar problems.
Hopefully, the problems will clear up for all of us.

For over a week now, KLAS has been very unstable at my end. I live near 95 and Decatur. I have always received a perfect signal with no break-up until now. Could the problem lie with them adding a sub channel for the new hispanic network they are adding? My signal on my VIP 622 shows 100% strength and steady, but the picture breaks up about every 30 seconds. It is unwatchable. Has anyone else seen this OTA or on Cox?

i have this problem via ota and also via directv's hd feed. (it's actually more annoying on d*, instead of dropping frames, there is ugly pixelation.) directv must be getting an ota signal. i read an earlier post that cox gets a fiber feed of klas, but i couldn't verify that. i am going to e-mail the station and ask what is going on. i thought it was my equipment at first but enough people are having this issue that is definitely a klas broadcasting error. btw, did you see klas 11pm newscast tonight? horrible production. at one point, they only put up six digits for the crime stopper phone number.

Thank you for you email regarding KLAS-TV.

We are experiencing an interference issue with our signal we send from
our studio to our transmitter site. We are doing our best to track it
down. I am sorry for any inconvenience this is causing.

Doug

Looks like its the digital transmission fron the studio to the transmitter, not the transmitter to us. Thats why I have no signal lock problems with my Dish VIP receivers.

On another note: I wish they would cann all the weather forcasters who can't forecast. I'm starting to think the forecasts are dictated by the casino owners.

Although it is annoying that KLAS is having these problems, I give them props for being accessible to the public. I also got e-mails back from both Kramer and the station GM. Hopefully things are fixed soon but at least they aren't like those companies that won't tell you the truth!

btw, did you see klas 11pm newscast tonight? horrible production. at one point, they only put up six digits for the crime stopper phone number.

It was embarrassing to say the least! I have seen better produced Spanish language newscasts!

Could the problem lie with them adding a sub channel for the new hispanic network they are adding?

Hispanic Network? What is this about? Curious minds want to know! :)

I just noticed on COX LV that there is a channel 852. Says it is AMCOD, I assume AMC on demand. Going to the channel brings up one program, an long commercial for De La Hoya vs. Mayweather.

Just wondering if anyone as heard about any HD on demand channels in our future......or anywhere?

I just noticed on COX LV that there is a channel 852. Says it is AMCOD, I assume AMC on demand. Going to the channel brings up one program, an long commercial for De La Hoya vs. Mayweather.

Just wondering if anyone as heard about any HD on demand channels in our future......or anywhere?
It says right on the screen it's the "About My City" On Demand. It's promoting the PPV boxing event here this weekend, which is also available as HD-PPV.
As for On Demand, there are several Comcast systems with about 1000 hours of HD on Demand. I think that Las Vegas has about 10,000 hours of SD On Demand including the usual PPV current release movies and past PPV events, and subscription services, like Howard (Stern) TV, WWE channel and Anime channel, etc. Included with any movie subscrition to it's affiliated movie service are HBO, Starz, Showtime and Cinemax OnDemand. There's also thousands of hours of free libraries of movies, sports, videos, Karoke, and local advertising on the other channels like Freezone and NFL Network. I've been using it for a while now, and it's growing on me, although other markets (Comcast) have HD services and more content from networks, etc.
HD On Demand is probably coming to Vegas, it's just a matter of when will it be here and nobody know that right now.

vegggas

Couple of quick questions

When will the 8300MR be available?
When will the 15meg down and 2meg up cable modem service be available?
When will HD in demand be available
When will any new chanels in hd be available

Thanks
8300MR was available in select markets. Cable co's are not using it because it's not OCAP compatible and do not want uncompatible equipment on their networks.

15M/2M is available if you want to pay for it. It's a business class connection up to 100M/10M or more if you are willing to pay for it.

HDIndemand is on channel 706. On Demand VOD is not available here in Vegas yet. See previous post.

New HD channels are added as contracts are negotiated. NatGeo specifically would not allow any of the owners of Discovery channel to show their content, but now that Cox has been bought out of that channel, it may be available - It's reportedly popping up in Arizona later this month. Other than that there's not much available. A&E sucks with virtually no HD content, Food Net is kinda lame too. What else is nationally available that is worth it other than HDNET$$?

vegggas

It says right on the screen it's the "About My City" On Demand. It's promoting the PPV boxing event here this weekend, which is also available as HD-PPV.
As for On Demand, there are several Comcast systems with about 1000 hours of HD on Demand. I think that Las Vegas has about 10,000 hours of SD On Demand including the usual PPV current release movies and past PPV events, and subscription services, like Howard (Stern) TV, WWE channel and Anime channel, etc. Included with any movie subscrition to it's affiliated movie service are HBO, Starz, Showtime and Cinemax OnDemand. There's also thousands of hours of free libraries of movies, sports, videos, Karoke, and local advertising on the other channels like Freezone and NFL Network. I've been using it for a while now, and it's growing on me, although other markets (Comcast) have HD services and more content from networks, etc.
HD On Demand is probably coming to Vegas, it's just a matter of when will it be here and nobody know that right now.

vegggas

Thanks for the quick reply. I watch Starz Early Premieres and get HowardTV since I don't get Sirius at work, but I know they film in HD. They have that 1/2 hour promo on INHD every Friday night. Just drives me a little crazy with so much HD out there waiting to be grabbed, yet no way to do it with COX. In know HD on demand would get a good workout in my house.

.....and the wait continues.

New HD channels are added as contracts are negotiated. NatGeo specifically would not allow any of the owners of Discovery channel to show their content, but now that Cox has been bought out of that channel, it may be available - It's reportedly popping up in Arizona later this month. Other than that there's not much available. A&E sucks with virtually no HD content, Food Net is kinda lame too. What else is nationally available that is worth it other than HDNET$$?

vegggas

Besides the ones you've mentioned there are:

Golf Channel/Versus HD
NFL Network HD
Lifetime Movie Network HD
HGTV HD
TMC HD

Of course, once DirecTV launches their new satellites, a number of the top tier cable networks like USA, FX, Sci-Fi, and CNN will go HD.

Anyhow what about locally available HD.

Is Cox ever going to come to terms with Sinclair for KVCW and KVMY?

And what about RSNs?

Cox could offer:

FSN West HD
FSN Prime Ticket HD
4SD HD

(and we can wish)
FSN Arizona HD
FSN Bay Area HD

Besides the ones you've mentioned there are:
Golf Channel/Versus HD
NFL Network HD
Lifetime Movie Network HD
HGTV HD
TMC HD
Golf/Versus/Tennis/NFL are put onto INHD when available. Funny how D* is saying that the Tennis channel will be seen in HD for subscribers for the first time, even though they have been putting their events on INHD for a few years now.
Lifetime Movie HD? Anyone actually seen this, or want to see/pay for this? Is this a real channel? How much real HD content?
HGTV HD - Maybe- if it's free
TMC HD - Doesn't compare to the other pemiums, IMO - unwilling to pay extra.

Of course, once DirecTV launches their new satellites, a number of the top tier cable networks like USA, FX, Sci-Fi, and CNN will go HD. And once Cox launches their new networks...
Once the channels go HD, then there's a possibility they could be seen here. We'll see next year. I've been getting the message all along that by the time the channels are all actually available as packages to cable co's (not individually or one at a time), the bandwidth will not be a problem, even for 150 -200 HD channels.
Anyhow what about locally available HD.

Is Cox ever going to come to terms with Sinclair for KVCW and KVMY?
Are they providing full HD yet for more than 10 hours a week? They are still demanding carriage fees, although that may change as I'm hearing about cable-labs developing STB's with OTA inputs so that they won't need to carry locals that demand carriage fees.
And what about RSNs?

Cox could offer:

FSN West HD
FSN Prime Ticket HD
4SD HD

(and we can wish)
FSN Arizona HD
FSN Bay Area HD
My understanding is that the FSN networks are terrestrial, and not delivered by them through sat distribution. Any out of market channel offered has to be brought in via dedicated land lines (there's no dedicated FSN studio here either), or legally available in a specific market, and upinked to private sats for distribution to other areas. This is what D* is doing to get all the RSN's associated with Vegas - They uplink all their local feeds from other markets and redistribute them as allowed. Cox doesn't have direct links or sat uplinks to those markets.
The old Cox San Diego Padres HD channel was a direct link from SanDiego, but I think there were issues maintaining the link. They are not allowed to stream and capture the feeds, and can only show realtime feeds, so the link has to be rock solid.
vegggas

If Cox wanted to I'm sure there is a way for them to get FSN HD. They just choose not to. Now why they choose not to is something only the execs at Cox knows.

Lifetime Movie HD? Anyone actually seen this, or want to see/pay for this? Is this a real channel? How much real HD content?


Yes, it's on FiOS. Apparently, they've been producing their library of made-for-tv movies in HD for quite a while.

New HD channels are added as contracts are negotiated. NatGeo specifically would not allow any of the owners of Discovery channel to show their content, but now that Cox has been bought out of that channel, it may be available - It's reportedly popping up in Arizona later this month. Other than that there's not much available. A&E sucks with virtually no HD content, Food Net is kinda lame too. What else is nationally available that is worth it other than HDNET$$?

vegggas
NatGeo HD is confirmed for launch on 4/25 in Phoenix and Tucson, and is already up in Louisiana. A&E HD now has 2 original series, Sons of Hollywood and Gene Simmons' Family Jewels, in HD, as well as the CSI Miami reruns, so they're starting to add more, even if most of it is crap. VSGLF has the advantage of not getting bumped for NBA games which happens far too often on iNHD. Word is that Comcast is making the channel available for free to any providers which carry the SD versions, which Cox does, so hopefully we'll all see it before the next hockey season starts.

If Cox wanted to I'm sure there is a way for them to get FSN HD. They just choose not to. Now why they choose not to is something only the execs at Cox knows.
Just looked it up and FSN does indeed use a land based hardline network from studio to studio in each maket, but there's not one of those studios (FSN VEGAS?) here in Vegas. With that, Cox could design, build and launch a sat just to get a few HD channels, if negototiated, but imagine how high the cable bill would be at that point. :eek:
If the RSN's were delivered via sat, then Cox could just get agreements to pull them down and distribute them. For now, unless someone is running dedicated fiber links between Vegas and all the cities that can call Vegas home, and will allow FSN and Cox to pull those feeds, it's not gonna happen any time soon.

vegggas

Lifetime Movie HD? Anyone actually seen this, or want to see/pay for this? Is this a real channel? How much real HD content?
Yes, it's on FiOS. Apparently, they've been producing their library of made-for-tv movies in HD for quite a while.
Will wonders never cease? Is this posted anywhere? It's not even on their website at http://www.lmn.tv
Actually, you lost me somewhere between the "Made for TV" description and "Lifetime" name. ;) It's not somethng I was ever interested in, so I don't know much about it. When I did stumble on it, it seemed that Markie Post from Night Court and Valerie Bertinelli were each making a movie a week for the channel.

vegggas

Thanks for the update on NatGeo launches.
A&E HD now has 2 original series, Sons of Hollywood and Gene Simmons' Family Jewels, in HD, as well as the CSI Miami reruns, so they're starting to add more, even if most of it is crap.
And people think TNT-HD is a waste of bandwidth, but at least they show quite a bit of HD content. Even MyNetworkTV shows more HD than A&EHD.

VSGLF has the advantage of not getting bumped for NBA games which happens far too often on iNHD. Word is that Comcast is making the channel available for free to any providers which carry the SD versions, which Cox does, so hopefully we'll all see it before the next hockey season starts.
NBATV-HD does seem to get priority on INDH, but the majority of HD content is available for all the part time sports channels using INHD as an outlet, barring blackouts of course.

vegggas

Besides the ones you've mentioned there are:

Golf Channel/Versus HD
NFL Network HD
Lifetime Movie Network HD
HGTV HD
TMC HD




I believe you missed some key words in his post:


New HD channels are added as contracts are negotiated. NatGeo specifically would not allow any of the owners of Discovery channel to show their content, but now that Cox has been bought out of that channel, it may be available - It's reportedly popping up in Arizona later this month. Other than that there's not much available. A&E sucks with virtually no HD content, Food Net is kinda lame too. What else is nationally available that is worth it other than HDNET$$?

vegggas

It looks like if its on COX (HD), then the channel is great and is deserving, if it not on Cox, it sucks and the channel must have terrible shows and very little HD.

Looks like flawed logic to me. :rolleyes:

Gee the people at Cox must be gods to have such great tastes in programming. :rolleyes:

ok i see that there is a consensus and a validation that KLAS HD is having signal issues. has anyone been having OTA 33-1 (CW) signal issues? one day it just died on me and i cant pull a signal above 10 out of 100 according to my D* Tivo HD box.

It looks like if its on COX (HD), then the channel is great and is deserving, if it not on Cox, it sucks and the channel must have terrible shows and very little HD.

Looks like flawed logic to me. :rolleyes:

Gee the people at Cox must be gods to have such great tastes in programming. :rolleyes:
No, It's just that gven the pool of currently available HD channels, the prime content has already been negotiated. All that's left, are channels rated much lower in popularity and actual HD content. NatGeoHD wasn't even a possibility until about a week or two ago, due to poitical constraints associated with DiscHD ownership. A&EHD, so far, had only shown ONE HD show - Reruns of CSI Miami.
I've said all along that the only other available channels most would want to see are the HDNets. So far, there hasn't been an agreement due to having to put it as a premium (paid) channel, which is against the corporate policies of many cable co's (specifically Cox and Comcast who do not charge extra for HD programming).
So again, I could ask
Which nationally available HD channels are left to get in the near future?
NatGeoHD is a promising development that could potentially happen now that Cox is no longer a DiscHD partner
A&EHD is offering HD Reruns of CSI Miami and now, two other shows in HD = low intrest and contnet
HGTVHD is an unknown - Those that do have it are not jumping for joy and extolling it's virtues - How many posts comment on their content?
LNMHD is an unknown
HDNet & HDNM require premium subscription fees for those exclusive channels
TMCHD is a subscription based on wether or not the TMC package is ordered - lowest penetraton of the 5 movie packages

What other "full time" HD channels are out there again?

vegggas

I always thought that the Food Network would be great in HD...all that scrumptious mouthwatering colorful food being prepared in glorious HD...not to mention Giada De Laurentis ;)

I always thought that the Food Network would be great in HD...all that scrumptious mouthwatering colorful food being prepared in glorious HD...not to mention Giada De Laurentis ;)
I keep forgetting about Food HD - Thanks for reminding me. It has to be leaps ahead of A&E and Lifetime for content.

vegggas

It looks like if its on COX (HD), then the channel is great and is deserving, if it not on Cox, it sucks and the channel must have terrible shows and very little HD.

Looks like flawed logic to me. :rolleyes:

Gee the people at Cox must be gods to have such great tastes in programming. :rolleyes:

just make the switch...

just make the switch...

He did. He has E*.

I keep forgetting about Food HD - Thanks for reminding me. It has to be leaps ahead of A&E and Lifetime for content.

vegggas

Well, everything shown on Food HD is actually in HD. It's not a mirrored channel like A&E.

He did. He has E*.

Yes, I sure did, and I've never looked back. Reguadless of the quantity and quality. At any given time, there is alot more good HD to choose from when you have Dish. For cheaper too.

Well, everything shown on Food HD is actually in HD. It's not a mirrored channel like A&E.

Right, Veggas said it sucks, I say its the most watched HD channel in our home :D

I always thought that the Food Network would be great in HD...all that scrumptious mouthwatering colorful food being prepared in glorious HD...not to mention Giada De Laurentis

I keep forgetting about Food HD - Thanks for reminding me. It has to be leaps ahead of A&E and Lifetime for content.
Right, Veggas said it sucks, I say its the most watched HD channel in our home :D

I never said FoodHD sucks. I said it has to be better than the other choices (see above for exact quote)
Since I don't have that channel, it slipped my mind.

vegggas

I've said all along that the only other available channels most would want to see are the HDNets.

I think cox is testing this channel right now. I was trying to figure out who was playing waynes world 2. After searching online I found the schedule was for hdnet movies.

It breaks up every so often but more than likely I imagine once this goes live it will be encrypted. darn it!

I think cox is testing this channel right now. I was trying to figure out who was playing waynes world 2. After searching online I found the schedule was for hdnet movies.

It breaks up every so often but more than likely I imagine once this goes live it will be encrypted. darn it!
Yes, HDnet is privately on Cox right now and the time of this writing, showing AlphaTrade.com 150 at Phoenix International Raceway . It was on this time last year too for Mark Cuban and the NAB show. I was able to pull the test patterens and even the HD shuttle launch at the time.
Here is a link to a pic of the HDnet test pattern in a PIP window on my TV from last year - The PIP was used to show both the HDnet patteren and the Cox data.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=58895

vegggas

Yes, HDnet is privately on Cox right now and the time of this writing, showing AlphaTrade.com 150 at Phoenix International Raceway . It was on this time last year too for Mark Cuban and the NAB show. I was able to pull the test patterens and even the HD shuttle launch at the time.
Here is a link to a pic of the HDnet test pattern in a PIP window on my TV from last year - The PIP was used to show both the HDnet patteren and the Cox data.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=58895

vegggas

What channel is this on?

What channel is this on?
Channel 72 on my node and scanner. Looks like they are tweaking it though because it's not clear. I'm not pulling HDNet Movies right now like Joey was, just the main channel.

vegggas

I woke up this morning thinking that the channel would be gone but its still there. West side story right now.

It is also on channel 72.2 for me as well. But every now and then the picture breaks up.

8300MR was available in select markets. Cable co's are not using it because it's not OCAP compatible and do not want uncompatible equipment on their networks.

15M/2M is available if you want to pay for it. It's a business class connection up to 100M/10M or more if you are willing to pay for it.

HDIndemand is on channel 706. On Demand VOD is not available here in Vegas yet. See previous post.

New HD channels are added as contracts are negotiated. NatGeo specifically would not allow any of the owners of Discovery channel to show their content, but now that Cox has been bought out of that channel, it may be available - It's reportedly popping up in Arizona later this month. Other than that there's not much available. A&E sucks with virtually no HD content, Food Net is kinda lame too. What else is nationally available that is worth it other than HDNET$$?

vegggas

Food net is kinda lame too? Hard to tell since you don't have it.

Food net is kinda lame too? Hard to tell since you don't have it.
I have seen it at other locations, just not currently in my house (I have friends with Dish). I have at one time or another viewed most of the HD channels available on most systems although, the "most compared HD channels" award would go to HDVFanatic, with his plethora of providers and comparisons.
Compared to everything else available in HD, Food HD is kinda lame. It's the MyNetworkTV of HD channels. Sure a few people like it and are glad to have it (or is it just Giada?), but for the most part, it goes unnoticed and passed over when something else is available.
My opinionated guess is, if given the choice between HDnet or FoodHD, the majority would pick HDnet.

vegggas

I woke up this morning thinking that the channel would be gone but its still there. West side story right now.

It is also on channel 72.2 for me as well. But every now and then the picture breaks up.
HDNET is on 72.1 with conditional access enabled (encrypted)
HDNetMovies is on 72.2 currently open
Usually entire QAM channels are encrypted, not individual program streams.
Interesting testing, but I'm still more convinced that it's on the network for NAB and not residential viewers - Maybe Marc or Jeff need a full bitrate feed for NAB for something. Currently Cox does a ton of special events for conventions that are liscensed only for the convention use, but with the influx of QAM tuners, many can rescan and see tidbits of things not meant to be seen by the general public.

vegggas

BTW, CBS will be broadcasting the Gemstar TV guide data soon, expect another small dip in bitrates (-2mbps) across the board to providers as they insert ads into the guide. No ETA yet, but it's a national agreement for both O&O and Affiliates.

vegggas

Can HDNET be viewed using the Cox stb?

I did notice that 72.1 was encrypted in my scan. I usally scan once a week just incase they add more in the clear channels. (I know how you feel about Food but Im actually hoping it comes along in the clear)

But I sorta figured that HDnet would go away or just be encrypted all together as I was trying to match the channel to my guide and cox has no listing for HDnet.

I do wonder if they plan to have more channels in the clear to their basic expanded customers. One could dream but it would be nice.

vegggas: would you happen to know what is on ch 80 for qam? I noticed they are constantly in the clear but I get no visual/audio on the subs. Is that the music station?

There is no listing for HDNet. It's a test feed that was found by Joey during a channel scan of his own QAM tuner. It is most likely available for a private non-advertised test feed at NAB.
For expanded basic, the general industry consensus is that it SHOULD be encrypted. It is above the basic level of unencrypted service and requires an additional charge, thus there is no reason for it not to be encrypted. It would also have to be encrypted if there is any hope of a la cart'e or if parents wanted to exclude specifc channels from their TV's. This can be done by keeping them encrypted so that jr doesn't buy a cheapo digital tuner and watch -gasp- FX, Spike, Comedy or USA, or some other channel the PTC wants banned from their homes. Face it, encryption is the ONLY way it can ever happen.

vegggas

Face it, encryption is the ONLY way it can ever happen.

vegggas

Yeah, I wasnt holding my breath for that.

I have seen it at other locations, just not currently in my house (I have friends with Dish). I have at one time or another viewed most of the HD channels available on most systems although, the "most compared HD channels" award would go to HDVFanatic, with his plethora of providers and comparisons.
Compared to everything else available in HD, Food HD is kinda lame. It's the MyNetworkTV of HD channels. Sure a few people like it and are glad to have it (or is it just Giada?), but for the most part, it goes unnoticed and passed over when something else is available.
My opinionated guess is, if given the choice between HDnet or FoodHD, the majority would pick HDnet.

vegggas

Right and Cox has neither, so no choice. If you want HDNet go D* or E*, if you want both go with E*. Who knows when Cox will give you more HD.

Who knows when Cox will give you more HD.

Don't know the answer to that question. But if you want delaying tactics, lots of BS, hemming and hawing and a non-commital stance. Cox is for you.

Don't know the answer to that question. But if you want delaying tactics, lots of BS, hemming and hawing and a non-commital stance. Cox is for you.

Could not agree more!

Don't know the answer to that question. But if you want delaying tactics, lots of BS, hemming and hawing and a non-commital stance. Cox is for you.

Exactly, with all the bandwidth Cox claims they have, with or without switched digital (which is designed to really make you rent their boxes), they offer very little HD. Satellite with their limited bandwidth offers more?

Who is really your friend in the digital age?

NatGeo HD is confirmed for launch on 4/25 in Phoenix and Tucson, and is already up in Louisiana.

I used the "Contact Us" link at Cox.com to ask about National Geographic HD and its availablility in Las Vegas. I received the following response:

Thank you for contacting Cox Communications. Cox is committed to
providing the best customer service possible.

We are currently in the process of upgrading our facilities in the las
Vegas area to add more HD channels. Once this work is completed by the
end of 2007, channels such as National Geographic will be added to our
lineup.

If you have any further questions, contact Cox Communications at
http://www.cox.com/support/lasvegas/contactsup/.
All emails are responded to within 24 hours. You may also contact Cox
Customer Care at 702.383.4000.

Just more BS, more delaying tactics, more hemming and hawing, more non-answering of a question.
That's Cox Communucations

Why would you say that? They actually answered an email.
Cox Las Vegas is in the middle of a major upgrade. It's not like doing a software patch for a PC, they have to physically upgrade hundreds (thousands?) of miles of local fiber infrastructure and thousands of nodes to complete the upgrades to handle more content and bandwidth.
As I have been saying all along, as the masses start to move to HD, and when the channels actually start broadcasting HD content become available, it will be shown. Unlike the dish thats further squeezing and reducing quality day by day to add on extra channel or event, Cox is revamping their infrastructure to handle more without sacrificing quality - Simiar to what D* is doing by launching a new sat. It's a complete addition of bandwidth several years in the making, not a reduction in quality.

vegggas
Q: "How many new HD channels will be available in Las Vegas in the near future?"
A: "All of them"

Q: "How long is 'near future'"
A: "We'll tell you in the near future"

I thought it was pretty clear - end of 2007. So 7+ months away.

Vegggas, does this upgrade include the big switch to SDV? The S3 TiVo box just came down to $500 + commitment and its very tempting to pick up. But its of no use if it becomes a doorstop next January.

I thought it was pretty clear - end of 2007. So 7+ months away.

Vegggas, does this upgrade include the big switch to SDV? The S3 TiVo box just came down to $500 + commitment and its very tempting to pick up. But its of no use if it becomes a doorstop next January.
I don't have any idea, but the SDV software was loaded into the STB's during the last upgrade push for DST. Technically, they could put a SDV channel on at any time, but it's only beneficial if done in groups to clear QAMs

vegggas

I doubt any cable company would use SDV before there was a cablecard that could use it too. I read the wikipedia article on cablecards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cablecard) and my interpretation would be that the cable companies would be breaking the 1996 law that mandated cable cards by doing so.

As for the TiVo my mom has one and once you get the cablecards working it's a great unit. It has a great remote, looks good among your other CE devices, has the great TiVo interface with Amazon Unbox support too. While I have no idea what the future may be for SDV I would hope TiVo could come up with something to make the unit still work. I could see a box that goes between the coax going from the wall to the TiVo that also connected to the USB port that could send the signals needed to switch the video then the cards in the device could decode the signal.

I doubt any cable company would use SDV before there was a cablecard that could use it too. I read the wikipedia article on cablecards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cablecard) and my interpretation would be that the cable companies would be breaking the 1996 law that mandated cable cards by doing so.
SDV is already in several TWC markets (and others) around the country, and works perfectly fine with cablecard devices with return signal hardware. All of the forthcoming STB's use cablecards and are SDV and VOD capable. The key element is that the device has to have a provision to send back a return signal, of which the hardware spec is the same as the cable modem spec and is required to be able to send back up to a 60dB signal to overcome signal loss back to the node. I have already seen and used some of these new SA STB's with current version cable cards.
<snip>While I have no idea what the future may be for SDV I would hope TiVo could come up with something to make the unit still work. I could see a box that goes between the coax going from the wall to the TiVo that also connected to the USB port that could send the signals needed to switch the video then the cards in the device could decode the signal.
At a bare minimun, the so called external box would have to be AC powered in order to send back a return signal - There is not enough power available on a USB port for a 60dB signal. There is no talk of an external box or upgrade for Tivo to be able to use SDV or VOD other than internet rumors by users who want those features. Tivo is, however, comng out with a lower cost version that will most likely support SDV because it will contain the hardware for a return signal. Although not confirmed yet, it is most likely OCAP based hardware and software that conforms to the communications standards for two way communication. They are already working on the OCAP software to port to SA STB's for Comcast and Cox (after the direct hardware to software port on the Moto STB's, which are not fully OCAP complient).

vegggas

So how many commercially available hardware has cablecard with the return signal hardware. You can't go around changing everything every year and still have different CE companies make products as mandated by congress. The way I see it either the cable company (in our case Cox) or the cable equipment maker (SA) doesn't want other people (like TiVo or Sony) to make devices that make you not need the cable companies equipment. If I were on the board of the FCC I would tell the cable companies to come up with one standard that you can follow for 20 years (much like satellite) so that when someone makes a STB it can last in the marketplace for more then 18 months.

So how many commercially available hardware has cablecard with the return signal hardware. You can't go around changing everything every year and still have different CE companies make products as mandated by congress. The way I see it either the cable company (in our case Cox) or the cable equipment maker (SA) doesn't want other people (like TiVo or Sony) to make devices that make you not need the cable companies equipment. If I were on the board of the FCC I would tell the cable companies to come up with one standard that you can follow for 20 years (much like satellite) so that when someone makes a STB it can last in the marketplace for more then 18 months.
Cable modems are sold retail with the exact same hardware specs needed for a return signal. If that hardware was installed in the Tivo, they could send a simple software update to solidify any communication standards that are ratified. The return path hardware has been pretty much a standard since the late 80's, but the communication protolcols between different headend encryptor vendors (SA and Moto) have not been set as a single standard - yet - due to each having a specific standard.
All the STB's being manufactured now for July release use cablecard, and they all have VOD, SDV and full two way capability.

vegggas

So what you are saying is that you know of no currently available cablecard device that can handle SDV that I can walk to Fry's and buy at lunch today.

So what you are saying is that you know of no currently available cablecard device that can handle SDV that I can walk to Fry's and buy at lunch today.
Correct - although there is also no SDV here to test it on either. If Tivo did put in return hardware though, they could push down a minor update to enable that feature.

vegggas

From what I've read its unlikely they did.

However there has been talk of how the CC slot can be used as a PCMCIA slot with a breakout box that has the CC slot and QAM w/return path hardware. But it would be duplicating an awful lot of technology in the S3 box already. But the upside is you dont have to throw away a $500 box. You just have to spend an additional $200 or whatever to get the new breakout box.

I guess I'm stuck waiting for whatever TiVo offers next. I'm not going to take the risk.

It was embarrassing to say the least! I have seen better produced Spanish language newscasts!

Hispanic Network? What is this about? Curious minds want to know! :)

I never received a response to my question however I just noticed today that LATV is now broadcasting on 8-02. Looks great! Great to see a station putting up a subchannel that isn't a weather or traffic channel! Learn more about the new channel at http://www.latv.com/

LATV is on Cox channel 129.
It says it's real launch is May 7th and is just previews right now.

vegggas

<SNIP>However there has been talk of how the CC slot can be used as a PCMCIA slot with a breakout box that has the CC slot and QAM w/return path hardware. But it would be duplicating an awful lot of technology in the S3 box already. But the upside is you dont have to throw away a $500 box. You just have to spend an additional $200 or whatever to get the new breakout box.
I've never heard anything like that and presume it's completely false and improbable. First, the CC slot is not a PCMCIA slot, and only has a similar form factor to PCMCIA. Second, there is NO provision for the QAM return to go through the CC slot at all and QAM is not physically tied to the CC in any way. The unique address of the CC is used in a low level format as a base of the signal, but the return path is generated by the STB hardware and sent through the RF coax signal back to the node.

vegggas

I never received a response to my question however I just noticed today that LATV is now broadcasting on 8-02. Looks great! Great to see a station putting up a subchannel that isn't a weather or traffic channel! Learn more about the new channel at http://www.latv.com/

Sorry, but I'm no fan of a channel targeted at the latin community degrading the CBS HD quality when there is plenty of bandwidth available on the SD only digital channels of Univision and Telemundo.

Sorry, but I'm no fan of a channel targeted at the latin community degrading the CBS HD quality when there is plenty of bandwidth available on the SD only digital channels of Univision and Telemundo.


Sorry George but $$$ talks. KLAS obviously has no concerns over a potential loss of "quality." I watch NBC HD and ABC HD daily OTA and have never noticed lower quality due to KVBC and KTNV having a Traffic/Weather subchannel. (I have noticed lower quality on PBS HD, but that is different since KLVX is running three subchannels)

LATV is a competitor to Univision and Telemundo so why on Earth would LATV be subchannels on KINC or KBLR?? KINC has Telefutura as a subchannel but Telefutura is owned by Univision, so they are essentially one in the same.

The only great thing about more spanish channels is that we get to see more latinas if you know what I mean. Bikinis, thongs...bring em on 8.2!

If they will broadcast 16:9, it would be better suited for those locos shows :D

For the rest of the programming....who cares!

Sorry George but $$$ talks. KLAS obviously has no concerns over a potential loss of "quality." I watch NBC HD and ABC HD daily OTA and have never noticed lower quality due to KVBC and KTNV having a Traffic/Weather subchannel. (I have noticed lower quality on PBS HD, but that is different since KLVX is running three subchannels)

Really!?

Have you ever watched the NFL on NBC?

I'd say that KVBC does not allocate sufficient bandwidth for their HD encoder to function adequately in high-motion scenes.

Really!?

Have you ever watched the NFL on NBC?

I'd say that KVBC does not allocate sufficient bandwidth for their HD encoder to function adequately in high-motion scenes.

Yes really. The KVBC/NBC programs I watch on a regular basis look crystal perfect in HD. They are as high quality as the HD programs on KVVU/FOX, KLAS/CBS, or KTNV/ABC. Not sure about the NFL on NBC but NASCAR on NBC in HD looks picture perfect. Cars racing at about 200 MPH has about as much motion as you can expect to watch in one scene! :)

^^ Huh, what are you talking about? NASCAR isn't even on NBC anymore.

^^ Huh, what are you talking about? NASCAR isn't even on NBC anymore.

Lat time I saw Nascar, it was on Faux Five.

^^ Huh, what are you talking about? NASCAR isn't even on NBC anymore.

I know that one George..thanks for pointing it out though :rolleyes:

I'm not sure what you are watching but when NASCAR was on KVBC/NBC in HD these past few years in the late summer/fall, it was picture perfect.

I think the chief engineer at KVBC might know a thing or two about how much bandwidth to allocate for their HD encoder to function adequately. Based on the crystal clear HD images I witnessed during the races, their HD encoder was functioning perfectly.

http://www.speedguide.net/read_news.php?id=2315

"Cox: high speed Internet getting faster"

"the company introduced a new technology to its networks nationwide on Wednesday that boost Internet speeds during large file downloads. The technology, called PowerBoost, detects when a major download is in progress and finds space on the fiber optic network to move it along more quickly.

The boost is free for high-speed Internet customers. Cox says the bursts can decrease download times by up to 50 percent. The move comes as Verizon increasingly is moving into Cox territories in Hampton Roads and elsewhere with its high-speed FiOS Internet service."

KVBC quality as gone down in the fine details, but has increased in contrast and VSM (results from lowering datarates and attempting to increase the "pop" of the image [also seen on Dish]). A good test is to watch Jay Leno. Old recordings easily show all the background buildings with their names clearly visible and readable ("One Wilshire", "Arco", etc) while he is sitting at his desk. Current episodes show the signs with less detail and much harder to read, if at all.

vegggas

The speedboost seems to help standard basic HTML web download files, but I don't think it helps usenet or torrent files or specialized download services.

vegggas

Old recordings easily show all the background buildings with their names clearly visible and readable ("One Wilshire", "Arco", etc) while he is sitting at his desk. Current episodes show the signs with less detail and much harder to read, if at all.

vegggas

Yeah, so what?
Does anybody watch Jay Leno in order to read the signs on the buildings behind him? I doubt it. I enjoy the increase in contrast, and don't miss at all the "fine details" that you have described.
Besides as you get older (as we ALL do) those "fine details" become unreadable anyway.

Yeah, so what?
Does anybody watch Jay Leno in order to read the signs on the buildings behind him? I doubt it. I enjoy the increase in contrast, and don't miss at all the "fine details" that you have described.
Besides as you get older (as we ALL do) those "fine details" become unreadable anyway.

I agree, noticed how he mentioned Dish in his remark reguarding this also. But sometimes sitting on your toilet seat, you may want to see the intricate details on Jay Leno's background :D

You really have to have HD OCD to worry about stuff like that.

I agree, noticed how he mentioned Dish in his remark reguarding this also. But sometimes sitting on your toilet seat, you may want to see the intricate details on Jay Leno's background :D

You really have to have HD OCD to worry about stuff like that.

LOL! I thought I was hardcore into HD. Guess there are others like yourself with more severe cases of HD OCD! :D

Yeah, so what?
Does anybody watch Jay Leno in order to read the signs on the buildings behind him? I doubt it. I enjoy the increase in contrast, and don't miss at all the "fine details" that you have described.
Besides as you get older (as we ALL do) those "fine details" become unreadable anyway.


Gee, I thought we are all in this forum because we enjoy HD's ability to bring "fine details" to our screens that we paid a handsome price for. Isn't that what high definition's function is? If "fine details" are an annoyance to you because others can see the difference, why don't you and foghorn take a trip to WalMart and pick up a $100 standard definition set and save yourselves the cost. I mention foghorn also for two reasons. He seems to somewhat share your disdain for others who actually care about picture quality and I await some sophomoric response that can give us all a group eye roll to the skies. Very Pavlovian.

I specifically mentioned Jay Leno because it's a national nightly show that everyone can compare from past to present. It used to have stellar quality for NBC, but as the local affiliate reduced the bitrate, it lost resolution and fine details. As the details were lost, it looks like the station INCREASED the contrast to make the image appear to have more pop. Dish Network is doing the same thing with their reduced HD signals. They reduced the resolution, then they reduced the sampling frequency, then they increased the contrast.
The techniques done here can be compared to high end stereo systems annd boom boxes. Imagine if you removed all the higher frequency sounds, but added voice boost and then sent that signal to your reciever and speakers - In terms of the frequencies getting to your display, it's exactly the same thing. Eventually there is no diference between your high end sound system and a cheap boom box because the signal coming in is being reduced to the point where all the differences are no longer sen.
Anybody who know TV's and calibration techniques knows that increasing the contrast and VSM also effectively reduces the quality by making black lines twice as thick to appear bolder. Those black lines smear over whatever details were there next to them. On a display and program correctly showing a black suite with grey pinstripes, you will see exatly that, but on a pogram (or display) with increased contrast, the suit appears all black and you can no longer see the details.
With all of that information being lost, you can take a good SD set, put the signal into 16x9 mode 480i and it will appear almost as good just as the true HD display signal. The only difference between the 480i signal and the 1080i signal is the fine details. Most of the displays being shown on stores are set to Torch Mode where the contrast, picture and brightness controls are set to high levels to attempt to grab the shoppers attention.

Final point - KVBC quality has gone down. It is no longer as good as it used to be and that is a direct result in adding a multicast channel which reduces the avalable bandwidth and information available. KTNV had already added a subchannel, but at 720P had less to lose. KLAS has now done the same thing with 1080i and we are seeing that reduction now too.

vegggas

If "fine details" are an annoyance to you because others can see the difference, why don't you and foghorn take a trip to WalMart and pick up a $100 standard definition set and save yourselves the cost.

I don/'t appreciate people putting words in my mouth that I did not utter myself. I don't recall ever saying that "fine details" were an annoyance to me, or that they should not be appreciated on an HD TV.
I DID say that the details which Veggas described were IMO UNimportant when compared to the increase in contrast levels which KVBC was able to provide. I stand by that comment. If you're going to quote or paraphrase my words, please do so accurately. Or else, keep your mouth shut, where I am concerned.

I don/'t appreciate people putting words in my mouth that I did not utter myself. I don't recall ever saying that "fine details" were an annoyance to me, or that they should not be appreciated on an HD TV.
I DID say that the details which Veggas described were IMO UNimportant when compared to the increase in contrast levels which KVBC was able to provide. I stand by that comment. If you're going to quote or paraphrase my words, please do so accurately. Or else, keep your mouth shut, where I am concerned.
But increased contrast reduces overall details in all subject matter. By increasing the contrast, the fine details in everything you watch are reduced. Another case I would like to mention is that I was able to see the building called "One Wilshire" on the Jay Leno set on the SD version of the broadcast. If you can't even see that on the HD broadcast anymore, how much resolution and fine detail have you lost and are willing to lose?

vegggas

I for one want the signal exactly like it was when it left the network. Everytime someone that far down the stream messes with things like Contrast and modfing the bitrate it can only make things worse. If Jay Leno wanted more contrast they would do it before they send it down to the affiliates. Why do we need traffic and weather channels anyways. Traffic is always bad and the weather is almost always hot. Especially this time of year.

Wow it's not too often I agree with vegggas about something.

I don/'t appreciate people putting words in my mouth that I did not utter myself. I don't recall ever saying that "fine details" were an annoyance to me, or that they should not be appreciated on an HD TV.
I DID say that the details which Veggas described were IMO UNimportant when compared to the increase in contrast levels which KVBC was able to provide. I stand by that comment. If you're going to quote or paraphrase my words, please do so accurately. Or else, keep your mouth shut, where I am concerned.

First off, words were not put into your mouth. The absence of quotation marks around "annoyance" should have been the tipoff to you that I was not quoting you. But, then again, you knew that. But the tone of your post was that you either found "fine details" an annoyance or that you missed vegggas' point. And that point was merely a demonstration on a common level (Leno show) that we could all potentially use in order to understand what was meant by picture degradation in regards to HD. And trust me, my quotations of your great oration was indeed accurate as it was only two words...so don't worry about what I say.

Thank you vegggas for clarifying what increased contrast means in terms of KVBC's quality. Sounds like some kid just turning up the bass on his stereo to compensate for lack of sonic quality. In this case, that would be a coverup to offset visual quality by increased contrast use. However, it seems that some folks don't mind the trickery and I stand by my suggestion of taking ownership of cheaper equipment as an investment in HD television seems to be a bit of an overshot of expenditure.

I for one want the signal exactly like it was when it left the network. Everytime someone that far down the stream messes with things like Contrast and modfing the bitrate it can only make things worse. If Jay Leno wanted more contrast they would do it before they send it down to the affiliates. Why do we need traffic and weather channels anyways. Traffic is always bad and the weather is almost always hot. Especially this time of year.

Wow it's not too often I agree with vegggas about something.

+1

Do we really need someone else to tell us it will be sunny and hot?

+1

Do we really need someone else to tell us it will be sunny and hot?

+1 more.

Do we really need that same information brought to us by channel 3, 5 and 13? And if you have cable, you will also get that info from channel 44 and digital channel 328. Five sources of the same information??? And then we lose detail in the local HD broadcasts to get it. Even worse...If I really want to know the details for the weather, I go to the Weather Channel before anywhere else because my confidence in the local broadcasts is slim to none. I know that their update was recorded one to several hours ago.

+1 more.

Do we really need that same information brought to us by channel 3, 5 and 13?

NO! I agree with you 100%. In addition to the five sources you mentioned, anyone can check the weather on dozens of internet websites. Same thing with traffic. A digital traffic channel is useless once you leave the TV and hit the road. Television stations already do a good job covering traffic anyways. KVBC has "Traffic on the 3s" and many others do the same. Why do viewers need a second channel dedicated solely to traffic?

Looking at it from a business perspective however, the marginal costs to add additional digital content are relatively low. Since the digital equipment is already there, limited capital investment is required for an additional subchannel. Stations see a traffic or weather channel bringing additional ad revenue and added value to current station advertisers.

Personally, I would rather go the route of KLAS and rent out one of my subchannels for a constant, steady source of income than going the route of KVBC/KVVU/KTNV and setting up my own traffic/weather channel with a potentially questionable revenue model.

Since it costs these stations next to nothing to keep their traffic/weather digital subchannels on the air, unfortunately we are stuck with these channels for the time being.

Wondering if anyone else is having problems with the local networks in the 700's via Cox? These channels, 730-735, have been going in and out all day. They are currently down as I write this. I can view them via their regular channel numbers (3, 5, 8, etc), and also in the 100's, but not in the 700's. None of the other HD channels are affected. This is happening on both my boxes. Anyone else?

KLAS Channel 730 kept dropping out while watching 60 Minutes. We switched to Ch 128 until 9 when we made the switch to HBO. HBO HD was picture perfect for The Sopranos.

I had the signal drop yesterday on several HD channels...Fox 735 during the Nascar race , 730 CBS and 731 PBS. havent checked them out today yet to see if the problem still exists.

Had the same drop outs on the local HD channels. TNTHD, HBOHD, etc. were OK. Switching to 128 for CBS or 123 for NBC was working fine.

I know sub channel weather/traffic is a sore spot for some here but I just want my windows media center to populate the correct data. KTNV has their 24/7 weather channel on 13.2 and I can pull the station just fine but trying to find the correct guide listing is causing some issues. Every time I put in a the KTNV call sign or a variation -DT, DT2, DT3 it pulls up the same guide as the standard KTNVDT (13.1).

Anyone using windows media center or any other type of software with an EPG pull up the correct guide data? And how?

I emailed KTNV and received the following response:


I am not familiar with Windows Media Center but I can tell you that our traffic channel has a different programming table then the HD channel. Our HD is channel 13-1 and our traffic channel is on 13-2 and they should show up accordingly. If it doesn’t then I would suspect something with the Media Center card. Other than that, it works fine on the $200 Samsung receiver we have here so I’m not sure what else to tell you.



Good Luck, and let me know if you figure it out.

I had the dropouts over the weekend too - it sucked.
Seems like everytime we get an HD PPV, the locals don't work right. I guess we'll see this weekend if it repeats.

vegggas

I know sub channel weather/traffic is a sore spot for some here but I just want my windows media center to populate the correct data. KTNV has their 24/7 weather channel on 13.2 and I can pull the station just fine but trying to find the correct guide listing is causing some issues. Every time I put in a the KTNV call sign or a variation -DT, DT2, DT3 it pulls up the same guide as the standard KTNVDT (13.1).

Anyone using windows media center or any other type of software with an EPG pull up the correct guide data? And how?

I emailed KTNV and received the following response:
What would the guide data say? It's 24 hours of the same program. It should just say "Traffic", or something.
The Cox IPG has two hour block and says:
"Las Vegas Traffic" - The Las Vegas Problem Solver Traffic Channel presents live updated traffic information from around the valley. Traffic incidents, accidents, and construction updates are presented 24 hours a day for all area ajor roadways. News"

vegggas

Just wondering if you guys that use Cox for internet recommend it?

What would the guide data say?

Just my preference that the guide data be correct. But I do realize that it will say the same traffic program over and over again like the NBC/FOX station already do.

I just like my epg complete. :p

Just wondering if you guys that use Cox for internet recommend it?

Yep. It's good.

Just wondering if you guys that use Cox for internet recommend it?
It's pretty good, but comes at a price and I think the price is the biggest drawback for many. Bundled with video and phone averages the lowest cost. There are other lower cost options, but they are not as fast, so it boils down to how much you are willing to pay for speed. Embarque is flooding the area with it's high speed interenet for 24.95 forever slogan. I also think Keyon wireless is still around.

vegggas

I had the dropouts over the weekend too - it sucked.
Seems like everytime we get an HD PPV, the locals don't work right. I guess we'll see this weekend if it repeats.

vegggas
Just noticed that the big boxing PPV this Saturday is the same price for SD or HD - 54.95 for either version.

vegggas

Just wondering if you guys that use Cox for internet recommend it?

Absolutely

Rock solid and faster than (insert your favorite speed related simile here).

I live in Green Valley Ranch, your mileage in other parts of the valley may vary.

It's pretty good, but comes at a price and I think the price is the biggest drawback for many. Bundled with video and phone averages the lowest cost. There are other lower cost options, but they are not as fast, so it boils down to how much you are willing to pay for speed. Embarque is flooding the area with it's high speed interenet for 24.95 forever slogan. I also think Keyon wireless is still around.

vegggas

This is true, but it also depends on where you live. Where I live Gibson and Horizon Ridge I'm too far away to get DSL and Keyon isn't in my area either. So for me Cox is the only way to go. Plus like vegggas said it's faster then the other two.

Just wondering if you guys that use Cox for internet recommend it?

Their Internet is so good, I use Voip on top of it :D

Ooops, I should not have said that, they just may start throttling it and then send me flyers to convert to their overpriced phone service :eek:

I was getting a fair number of HD channels until I did a re-scan this morning. I have lost my NBC (channel 3) HD and and a couple others and cannot seem to get them back even by entering the channels manually. I did gain a couple (PBS, etc.) How can I have a perfect HD channels one minute and then have them disappear entirely. Re-scanning won't get them back either. I am stumped. :confused:

thanks.....
GPJ

Sometimes the channel numbers change. Look back at this thread. there are posts that list the available clear QAM channel numbers such as 101-3 and the like. Enter each one and add manually to your TV.

thanks gvc, I have seen the table and tried that but still no go. NBC was 3-1 before the scan this morning and came in perfectly. Immediately after the scan (5 minutes later...Panasonic 37PX60U) it disappeared completely along with 2 traffic/weather channels and I can't get it back no matter what I do.....I gained PBS (10-3), CBS (8-3), KLVX (5-1), and Create (5-2).

Re-scanning and manual addition are not doing a thing. I wonder what happened. Thanks for the help.....
Those low numbers are not real channels, they are virtual channel numbers that come through on the feed from the stations. The real numbers for NBC are 2.1, 2.2 and 7.1, 7.2 for CBS, etc over OTA and up in the 100's coming through the cable line. Sometimes those data tables do not make it from the station intact for virtual channel mapping.
Your TV should have a manual input where you can enter the real channel number of the QAM channel. The real channel was 102 and was shared with ABCHD, ABC Traffic, NBCHD, NBC Weather, and NBCSD. Try entering 102.x for whatever subchannel you want to view.

vegggas

thanks gvc, I have seen the table and tried that but still no go. NBC was 3-1 before the scan this morning and came in perfectly. Immediately after the scan (5 minutes later...Panasonic 37PX60U) it disappeared completely along with 2 traffic/weather channels and I can't get it back no matter what I do.....I gained PBS (10-3), CBS (8-3), KLVX (5-1), and Create (5-2).

Re-scanning and manual addition are not doing a thing. I wonder what happened. Thanks for the help.....


Try resetting your TV. I have a Mits and whenever something weird happens like this type of thing , pushing my reset button on the front of the HDTV will fix it. It forces a complete system reboot. After rebooting the TV, rescan again and see if the missing channels come back.

Sounds like that Panasonic px60u series could be quirky when it comes to QAM tuning. If that's the case, then unless Panasonic has a fimware update that fixes the situation...
I can still tune those channels on my tuner, as I supose many others can too.

vegggas

Hi everyone. I am using rabbit ears ($9 pair) and have read online that there is a channel 8.3 and 8.4 here in Las Vegas. Can anyone verify that? I am only able to pick up 8.1 and 8.2.

Thanks.

Charles

I believe 8.3 and 8.4 exist but are not currently being used

Hi Guys,

Are these channels currently available OTA with a QAM tuner? If so my tuner only picked two of them up. How do you suggest I get the others?

Thanks

Chris

Broadcast Networks OTA
------------------ ----- -----
ABC (KTNV) 13-1
CBS (KLAS) 8-1
Fox (KVVU) 5-1
NBC (KVBC) 3-1
PBS (KLVX) 10-1
CW (KVCW) 33-1
MyTV (KVMY) 21-1

Gee I did not know broadcasters used Qam for transmission :D

You are probably getting those through the ATSC tuner in your TV. If you have Cox cable connected, you are getting bleed-through of the strongest channels. In this case ditch Cox cable and hook up and antenna. There are subchannels not listed and spanish channels you''l get if you use an antenna. Not to mention the Shooping channel which is also diigital OTA (84.1 I believe).

Hi Guys,

Are these channels currently available OTA with a QAM tuner? If so my tuner only picked two of them up. How do you suggest I get the others? Thanks

Chris

Broadcast Networks OTA
------------------ ----- -----
ABC (KTNV) 13-1
CBS (KLAS) 8-1
Fox (KVVU) 5-1
NBC (KVBC) 3-1
PBS (KLVX) 10-1
CW (KVCW) 33-1
MyTV (KVMY) 21-1

Ok, So how many of us ordered the PPV from our perspective providers?

Me - HD via Cox on channel 701 for $54.95.
You - ?

Any odds if this beats the previous best PPV buyrate for Tyson vs. Holyfield II?

vegggas

Edit to add the top selling PPV to date from Wiki sources:
Holyfield vs Tyson II
Tyson and Holyfield would fight again on June 28, 1997.
The highly anticipated rematch was dubbed "The Sound and the Fury", and was held again at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena. It was a lucrative $100-million plus drawing fight, with the rematch drawing more attention than the first bout; with Tyson getting $30 million and Holyfield $35 million. The fight was purchased by 1.99 million households, setting the PPV buyrate record that still stands as of 2007

Ok, So how many of us ordered the PPV from our perspective providers?

Me - HD via Cox on channel 701 for $54.95.
You - DishNetwork HD, same price.

LET'S GO DE LA HOYA!!!

I have just purchased a Denon DVD 3930CI, "Universal Player". It handles DVD-Video, DVD Audio, SACD and ordinary redbook cds. It has received the highest ratings from both professional and customer reviewers.
I fully intend to connect it to my HDTV via the HDMI output/input. But my HDTV has only one such HDMI input which I have been using as the connection for my SA8300HD cable box.
I realize I could buy an HDMI switcher which will enable me to connect both the new DVD player and the cable box to the same HDMI input on the TV.
But a well reviewed such switcher is in the $300 price range. Which leads to the following question.

If I use the component video connections from my cable box to the TV (instead of the HDMI connection) and use the HDMI connection exclusively for the DVD player. (That seems to be necessary in order to enjoy the upconversion features of the DVD player), will I notice a visual diminution in the quality of the picture from my cable box as a result of downgradiung the connection from HDMI to component?

If I use the component video connections from my cable box to the TV (instead of the HDMI connection) and use the HDMI connection exclusively for the DVD player. (That seems to be necessary in order to enjoy the upconversion features of the DVD player), will I notice a visual diminution in the quality of the picture from my cable box as a result of downgradiung the connection from HDMI to component?

I doubt it. I've never really seen any difference between component and HDMI on my Sony 34' Tube, My Panny 50' Plasma, or my Pioneer 60' Plasma. I'm using HDMI on the Plasmas, but only because the single HDMI cable is so much easier to hide and deal with than component/audio cables.

I highly doubt it too, but I guess it really depends on your TV. It's worth a shot anyways. If you end up needing a HDMI switcher I would look into getting a new receiver since quite a few of them do HDMI switching besides.

I realize I could buy an HDMI switcher which will enable me to connect both the new DVD player and the cable box to the same HDMI input on the TV.
But a well reviewed such switcher is in the $300 price range.

No need to spend $300 on an HDMI switcher, just like it's not necessary to spend $100 on an HDMI cable.

Go here: http://monoprice.com/home/index.asp

I buy all my "HT stuff" there and the quality is exceptional.

I just had my first experience using HDMI. I was sadly dissapointed. I plugged a Dishnet VIP 622 into a Samsung 1080p DLP. Switching between componet and HDMI, the HDMI was dull and faded like the blacks were turned up too much. It was almost like the 8mm effect. Via componet, it was sharp, bright and crystal clear. I don't know what's up with that, but componet was the clear winner. On another note. It would seem D* caved in today and let me out of my contract. And they refunded my last month's payment. I cancelled because of six months of failures of their HD DVR. They tried to charge me $175 for early cancellation. But after sending them a stack of horror stories (over 40) on the device (printed from their own website) and the threat of legal action, it would appear they did not want to press the matter.

I just had my first experience using HDMI. I was sadly dissapointed. I plugged a Dishnet VIP 622 into a Samsung 1080p DLP. Switching between componet and HDMI, the HDMI was dull and faded like the blacks were turned up too much. It was almost like the 8mm effect. Via componet, it was sharp, bright and crystal clear. I don't know what's up with that, but componet was the clear winner.

Did you remember to calibrate the HDMI input?

Boy, George you sure made me feel dumb. I forgot you can adjust each input. Now the picture looks good after adjusting! Thanks.

For most devices, there is no difference between the HDMI and Component outputs and it can be argued that the colorspace of the component is greater on current and past generation devices. The differences mainly are in the way the display handles each signal source and weather it's calibrated for that input or not. Try it both ways with both devices and let your eyes judge.
You should like the DVD player if you are into the the hi-res music formats. Be sure to use the multichannel analog out for the highest quality, unless you have one of the specialty matching Denon I-Link recievers. If you are new to the h-res audio formats, it's comparable to seeing HD for the first time, then hating SD (or CD) afterword. :)

vegggas

For most devices, there is no difference between the HDMI and Component outputs and it can be argued that the colorspace of the component is greater on current and past generation devices. The differences mainly are in the way the display handles each signal source and weather it's calibrated for that input or not. Try it both ways with both devices and let your eyes judge.
You should like the DVD player if you are into the the hi-res music formats. Be sure to use the multichannel analog out for the highest quality, unless you have one of the specialty matching Denon I-Link recievers. If you are new to the h-res audio formats, it's comparable to seeing HD for the first time, then hating SD (or CD) afterword. :)

vegggas

I don't have multichannel audio. I have a simple stereo setup with ONLY two channels. But I use a McIntosh pre-amplifier, and McIntosh amplifier( 250 Watts per channel) and have two corner standing Klipschhorn speakers. They give me the concert hall (non-gimmicked) massive sound that I love and grew up with, having attended literally hundreds of concerts in Carnegie Hall, The Met Opera, Symphony Hall in Boston, Vienna, Berlin and Salzburg

SACD and DVD-Video discs sounded wonderful when played on my old Sony, as did orchestral concerts and operas. I expect nothing less (in fact more) from my new player. Two channel audio will do very nicely, thank you.

Veggas,

In case you didn't realize it, I also plan to listen to the audio portion of any DVD-Video discs, SACD or DVD-Audio, through my stereo system, and to mute the sound available on the TV itself. The puny speakers and amplifiers built into 95% of available HDTVs are as "nothing" compared to the sound I obtain from the Klipschhorns. Just last night (using my old sick Sony) I listened to/watched the Mahler Symphony #2 (Resurrection) played by Claudio Abbado conducting the orchestra and chorus of the Lucerne Festival. The DVD was in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and so filled the screen without any stretching, zooming, black borders, or distorion of the image of the participants. The sound (although merely PCM) was overwhelmingly refulgent. With a deep, wide, massive stereo spread.
All in all, a great experience

PS- And again, in case you didn't realize it, my HDTV has been placed directly in the middle between my two speakers (which are 9 ft apart).

Did you remember to calibrate the HDMI input?

By "calibration", I assumeyou mean adjusting the contrast, brightness, color saturation and tint. Is that what you mean, or is there something more?

Theres much more to calibration than just adjusting contrast and brightness, saturation and grey scale. Much like your typical car uses about 60% of it's potential from the factory, you can do a few things yourself to bump it's performance up a few notches. That said, only a qualified few can take that performance level and increase it to Nascar levels that the engine is truely capable of.

Word, I was merely mentioning that many with hi-res players, many don't realise the potential of the formats because they use a digital interconnect that vastly reduces their sonic potential by using Dolby Digital soundtracks, etc. Hearing the DVD-A or SACD tracks over analog interconnects, either in multichannel or stereo versions are a much better reproduction than over digital options.
If you have never heard any of the multichannel mixes, it may be difficult to reproduce the other channels with the same finesse as your mains, but there are multi-use setups that could be done to recreate a more level soundstage. Each person is different in the way they see and hear things, but I prefer multichannel hi-res music, mostly because all of my speakers are considered mostly extended full range (not as full as a klipsh horn) and all have the same drivers and charateristics. After good multichannel music, stereo can sound - well two dimensional :)
Just be forewarned that when setting up the player that you set it to downmix to two channel mode if that is all you are using. Many hi-res disks have stereo tracks, but some may not have that option.

vegggas

Theres much more to calibration than just adjusting contrast and brightness, saturation and grey scale. Much like your typical car uses about 60% of it's potential from the factory, you can do a few things yourself to bump it's performance up a few notches. That said, only a qualified few can take that performance level and increase it to Nascar levels that the engine is truely capable of.
vegggas

Professional calibration costs a fortune and takes several hours to complete. If you have access to your HDTVs service menu there are other options to tweak the picture other than the normal color, contrast, brightness, stuff. Also, dont forget to check your convergence also every now and then.

One other thing I noticed using the SA8300 . switching the format option from fixed , auto hdmi, passthrough, upconvert, downconvert, etc. can have an impact on the picture settings and may need readjustment should you elect to change format settings .

Boy, George you sure made me feel dumb. I forgot you can adjust each input. Now the picture looks good after adjusting! Thanks.

May I ask, just what calibrations you made on your HDMI input?

Professional calibration costs a fortune and takes several hours to complete. If you have access to your HDTVs service menu there are other options to tweak the picture other than the normal color, contrast, brightness, stuff. Also, dont forget to check your convergence also every now and then.
Yes, professional calibration is expensive, but worth it to me. I actually used to work at a place where I manually set the purity and convergence of tubes (with magnetic shims). I can get so far with my own calibration and convergence in the service menus that it would be giant leaps over the average user. For that last 10% though, I call the professionals. They can reprogram my I2C circuits correctly and set the drive parameters for the red circuits, etc and do it right the first time. I keep using the auto reference. Sure you can do your own tuneup and modify you car to do greater than average thing, but give that car to someone like Ford's Roush Racing or SVT unit or Chryslers SRT division, and they can transform the car to the next level. The same can be said about professional calibration of a decent to good display.


One other thing I noticed using the SA8300 . switching the format option from fixed , auto hdmi, passthrough, upconvert, downconvert, etc. can have an impact on the picture settings and may need readjustment should you elect to change format settings .
I think most, if not all, fixed panels have different scaling and parameters for each input resolution. There is an easy test with a DVD player where you can cycle through the different resolutions and see how your panel handles each of the resolutions. It's EXTREMELY common to see screen shifting of several inches between 420, 720 and 1080 and how the scaler handles each of those resolutions with clarity issues trying to scale it back to it's native resoultion.

vegggas

Veggas,

What happened to that guy in the east that traveled around the country, performing calibrations by appointment for a fee in the neighborhood of $400? I believe he was in Las Vegas about 2 years ago. Do you still have his name and contact information? If you do would you share it with us?

That was Gregg Loewen of Lion AV Consultants. He ISF calibrated my display again after it had drifted a bit from the previous calibration done by another touring ISF a few years back. CRT tubes tend to need maintainace...
He does tours and if enough people are available in an area, we will come to town. I think he was just here during CES. Prices are varible based on the display, amount of work needed and done and how much the owner messed up the factory default ;)

http://www.lionav.com/

There is also a Display calibration section (under displays) of the AVS forum that has calibrators, tours, and contacts, etc.

vegggas

I would appreciate any input that would help me choose between Cox or Embarq for broadband.

I would appreciate any input that would help me choose between Cox or Embarq for broadband.

As I write this, I am getting 6635kbps down, 826 up.... On the standard (cheapest) service.....I don't think dsl can touch that.... if speed is important to you...

I personally have been down once, for 3 hours (television signal was down to), in the last six months, so reliability for me has been pretty good.....

-bob

DSL all depends on how close you are to the switching station. Cable doesn't have that limitation I think. It all depends on the speed you want and how much you want to pay for it.

As I write this, I am getting 6635kbps down, 826 up.... On the standard (cheapest) service.....I don't think dsl can touch that.... if speed is important to you...

I personally have been down once, for 3 hours (television signal was down to), in the last six months, so reliability for me has been pretty good.....

-bob

That is the speed you are getting for the 1.5m speed service?

That is the speed you are getting for the 1.5m speed service?


No idea. It is called "cox high speed internet preferred" on the bill.

Since I use a slingbox to send TV when I travel, the up speed was fairly important to me, and 864k I think is pretty good for a consumer level ISP.

-bob

No I bet he has the middle service.

Veggas...... any word on when Fios might be coming to Las Vegas???

While I'm not vegggas, but I'd be surprised if FIOS ever came to Vegas. Verizon isn't the local phone company here.

Yea, and Embarq cant justify the price of FTTP (fiber to the premesis) to their shareholders since 90% of the copper in the ground here is brand spanking new. VZW stock has taken a hit because of their FIOS project. However, their hand may be forced if/when Cox goes DOCSIS 3.0, as Cox speeds could hit FTTP-level speeds, 10/2 could be the normal package with speeds up to 50Mb/s possible from a technical standpoint, and DSL wont be able to compete. You think DSL is slow now?

Did not realize that Verizon was the only one pushing FIOS. A co-worker in Dallas was telling me about converting over to FIOS.... he has had both cable and satellite and was just Stunned at how good FIOS looked. He said even the SD channels were amazing.

FIOS = Verizon's brand name for FTTP. Though they are one of the few carriers doing FTTP - AT&T/SBC are doing FTTN (fiber to the node) and from there DSL (ADSL2+ or something) to pump 23Mb/s into the home, which is divided for TV and internet.

Thanks for the info DoorMat...........!!! I have been slacking :-(

Once Verizon builds out their own markets they may start moving FiOS into others, but it will most likely be in areas that have historically poor service from the local providers. While Embarq seems to have a rather poor reputation in the Las Vegas area, Cox has a huge market share and regularly takes top honors in the Southwest region for customer service, so there would be little incentive for most people to switch. If I was Verizon, my first target would be the San Francisco area. Comcast has very poor service in many areas there, people are not fond of the local phone companies, there are a lot of tech-savvy people who would benefit from the faster connection, and most important of all, California has implemented statewide franchising agreement laws, which means that providers do not have to negotiate with each municipality where they want to provide service.

Do I have to use the modem from Cox or can I buy one myself.

As soon as everyone will be able to get FIOS or higher speeds, MicroBrainSoft will find a way for the web pages to load just as fast as they are now with the faster speeds. Everyone else will be surfing at todays 56k speeds.

Its all a silly game.

What in the world are you talking about foghorn. I don't use anything from Microsoft to browse the web. Just look at the difference between pages today and pages just 5 years ago. There is so much more going on now. You can stream video that is better then SD is on TV today. The USA has about the slowest speed for their internet connections. I heard that some country in Europe (I can't remember which) has a 100MB connection to the internet and pays like $5 a month for it.

Vegashomes you can use any docsis cable modem. I know Fry's sells them. When I signed up Cox was running a spectial on the modem and they sold it to me for like $10 or something like that. I'd call them and ask first and see what's cheaper.

It's been at least a year ago....but Cox used to periodically offer the modem for $0.01 if you got the Preferred service. I turned a few people on to that deal.

The HDMI switcher that I purchased from Monoprice.com is the simplest device they offer. It's a manual switcher (no electronic remote). I personally don't find it too effortful to get out of my armchair every two hours and push a button, It has 2 inputs (ForDVD and STB) and 1 output. It is capable,of passing 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i. I have no need for 1080p, as my TV will not handle that Not having an electronic remote means there is simply one less thing to go lousy. It's model HDS-201, and out of 51 reviews, all are favorable except 2. It cost $29.95 (inc. tax), as opposed to switchers that for the same capabilities, are in the $300 range.
Does anybody have experience with an HDMI switcher of this type?
My new DVD player has not yet arrived. But when it does and I complete the hookup with the switcher in the circuit, I'll let you all know if it does the job it's supposed to do,

What in the world are you talking about foghorn. I don't use anything from Microsoft to browse the web. Just look at the difference between pages today and pages just 5 years ago. There is so much more going on now. You can stream video that is better then SD is on TV today. The USA has about the slowest speed for their internet connections. I heard that some country in Europe (I can't remember which) has a 100MB connection to the internet and pays like $5 a month for it........

The pages 5 years ago loaded a lot faster than they do now. Yes there is more going on now, more CRAP and Ads that make it so much slower. I have yet to see a CONSTANT stream that is better than SDTV.

Is cox really your friend in the Digital age?

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/video-on-demand-deal-bars-ad-skipping/story.aspx?guid=%7BD3E00E8E%2DDB73%2D4E1B%2DBCC8%2D2FDECF91C AE8%7D&siteid=yhoof

Is cox really your friend in the Digital age?

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/video-on-demand-deal-bars-ad-skipping/story.aspx?guid=%7BD3E00E8E%2DDB73%2D4E1B%2DBCC8%2D2FDECF91C AE8%7D&siteid=yhoof

It really doesn't matter to me because if those VOD broadcasts aren't in HD, which looks to be the case, I won't be watching it anyway. I'm sure many others feel the same way. If I want to watch them I'll just record them myself, in HD, and with the ability to skip commercials. The only people that will be interested in things like this are those with SD TV's and no DVR's.

Well I connected that Monoprice HDMI switcher that I spoke about yesterday. It works FLAWLESSLY. There is absolutely no degradation in the picture quality from my 8300HD and the DVD picture looks perfect. I highly recommend this switch to anybody that may need one in the future. Imagine spending $300 for a switch that does nothing more than this one for which I paid $29.95?

Well I connected that Monoprice HDMI switcher that I spoke about yesterday. It works FLAWLESSLY. There is absolutely no degradation in the picture quality from my 8300HD and the DVD picture looks perfect. I highly recommend this switch to anybody that may need one in the future. Imagine spending $300 for a switch that does nothing more than this one for which I paid $29.95?

You're welcome.

Well I connected that Monoprice HDMI switcher that I spoke about yesterday. It works FLAWLESSLY. There is absolutely no degradation in the picture quality from my 8300HD and the DVD picture looks perfect. I highly recommend this switch to anybody that may need one in the future. Imagine spending $300 for a switch that does nothing more than this one for which I paid $29.95?

We are so glad you are exited over this. I'm a gonna go and buy one of these here switches twoo.

But for an old geezer with multiple surguries and no leg such as you, wouldn't one with a remote be better?

The pages 5 years ago loaded a lot faster than they do now. Yes there is more going on now, more CRAP and Ads that make it so much slower. I have yet to see a CONSTANT stream that is better than SDTV.

Try these free SonyBMG music videos. http://musicbox.sonybmg.com/ They look better then SD and stream really well. Have you ever seen SD on a computer monitor. 480i is really small on most modern monitors.

We are so glad you are exited over this. I'm a gonna go and buy one of these here switches twoo.

But for an old geezer with multiple surguries and no leg such as you, wouldn't one with a remote be better?

Well, I wouldn't call myself an "old geezer" just yet. My brain works a damned side better than yours even at my advanced age of 71. And yes, I do have only one leg. But I have a prosthesis on which I walk without a limp, drive a car, and participate in all the activities of the non-handicapped population. And by the way, you can kiss my a**, while you're at it.

And by the way, you can kiss my a**, while you're at it.[/QUOTE]
Proof positive that he is a a** act

Vegas is one of the slowest internet connections available from cox :eek:

coxcom/Fairfax/HighSpeedInternet
15Mbps down and 2up!! for residential

even New Orleans has 20% faster service than vegas

coxcom/louisiana/highspeedinternet/pricing.asp

everywhere that I have looked from cox has 12mbps down except vegas

Why doesn't cox have 15mbps down for residential at a reasonable cost here in vegas????

Other countries have 100mb down and is a hell of a lot cheaper!

Verizon needs to come to vegas and I believe sprint are rolling out Wimax this year so hopefully that will help.

Cox seem to have some decent sevices :) but their prices are through the roof
Cox internet and 2 boxes $170 per month! :mad:

We are so glad you are exited over this. I'm a gonna go and buy one of these here switches twoo.

But for an old geezer with multiple surguries and no leg such as you, wouldn't one with a remote be better?

Shoot..you said he "exited"...and i got excited for a second...

Why can't we all just get along guys?? :)

Have you guys seen that DirecTV commcercial featuring a spoof of the movie American Pie?? Hilarious!! Almost makes me want to switch from Dish Network..key word..almost :D

Vegas is one of the slowest internet connections available from cox :eek:

coxcom/Fairfax/HighSpeedInternet
15Mbps down and 2up!! for residential

even New Orleans has 20% faster service than vegas

coxcom/louisiana/highspeedinternet/pricing.asp

everywhere that I have looked from cox has 12mbps down except vegas

Why doesn't cox have 15mbps down for residential at a reasonable cost here in vegas????

Other countries have 100mb down and is a hell of a lot cheaper!

Verizon needs to come to vegas and I believe sprint are rolling out Wimax this year so hopefully that will help.

Cox seem to have some decent sevices :) but their prices are through the roof
Cox internet and 2 boxes $170 per month! :mad:

I am now getting 12mbps down and .5mbps up for around $50 (middle level package -- non-video rate). I noticed my down speeds doubled about a month ago.

Charles

I am now getting 12mbps down and .5mbps up for around $50 (middle level package -- non-video rate). I noticed my down speeds doubled about a month ago.

Charles


What do you use to test this? I would like to check mine out.

What do you use to test this? I would like to check mine out.
test.lvcm.com[/url]

What do you use to test this? I would like to check mine out.


I usually get 11-12 when I test via the Speakeasy page. The URL that is mentioned in the post above gives me 14.6!

Charles

remember the test.lvcm.com is still inside Cox's network which is fine if the stuff you are after is there, but to get a true test I would use something like dslreports.com Speed test. That will get you outside Cox's network which is where most things are.

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/3839/coxhsifb8.jpg

Try these free SonyBMG music videos. http://musicbox.sonybmg.com/ They look better then SD and stream really well. Have you ever seen SD on a computer monitor. 480i is really small on most modern monitors.

I watched a Kate Bush video I have on VHS. VHS looks better. Get real, the picture sucks.

The PC in general sucks for TV, except for my old 486 windows 3.1 with a happague wintv card that doesnot use ERECT X. MicroBrainSoft in its usual regressive technology. Remember- VISTA IS NOT AN UPGRADE.

remember the test.lvcm.com is still inside Cox's network which is fine if the stuff you are after is there, but to get a true test I would use something like dslreports.com Speed test. That will get you outside Cox's network which is where most things are.
Indeed, test.lvcm.com is good for making sure your signal strength is good and you have no problems at the local level (node, hub, etc). However they're not indicitive of real-world speed. I pay for 6/512 and when I test at test.lvcm.com I get around 6.5/550.

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/3839/coxhsifb8.jpg

Yep...the middle tier speeds are what I got about a month ago. I am now getting double of that when I do speed tests to Seattle and San Francisco.

"Indeed, test.lvcm.com is good for making sure your signal strength is good and you have no problems at the local level (node, hub, etc). However they're not indicitive of real-world speed. I pay for 6/512 and when I test at test.lvcm.com I get around 6.5/550. "

Agreed, however it appears a lot may depend on what part of the valley you are in. I just ran multiple tests to servers on the West Coast and got anywhere from 11 and 13. The upload is almost always right at 550.

Charles

I watched a Kate Bush video I have on VHS. VHS looks better. Get real, the picture sucks.

The PC in general sucks for TV, except for my old 486 windows 3.1 with a happague wintv card that doesnot use ERECT X. MicroBrainSoft in its usual regressive technology. Remember- VISTA IS NOT AN UPGRADE.

Vista may not be an upgrade for you, but I like it alot. Also have you watched on VHS tape on a computer screen or have you hooked your computer up to a real TV. comparing a picture on a SD TV to a picture on a high res computer monitor is not the same.

Yep...the middle tier speeds are what I got about a month ago. I am now getting double of that when I do speed tests to Seattle and San Francisco.



Agreed, however it appears a lot may depend on what part of the valley you are in. I just ran multiple tests to servers on the West Coast and got anywhere from 11 and 13. The upload is almost always right at 550.

Charles

you better check your bill. Or ..could this be one of their famous "rolling" upgrades that they farm out on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis?

Looking at modems I see a Motorola 5101 and 5201. Can't seem to find what the difference is . Anyone help me with this?

Here's one for your amusement. My modem went down today so I called for service and a service guy came later in the day. After he got the connection working again he was looking at my desktop which had a few windows open and he said that it "looked different". He asked if it was a Mac. I said no, that's how Vista looks. Get this. He said "What's Vista"? I asked him if he was kidding and he said no. I told him that it was the new Windows OS. "Hmmmm, never heard of it" he replied. :eek: Unbelievable. How can a guy whose job is to work with computers all day not know what Vista is? Obviously, it doesn't take much to become a Cox internet tech. It's a wonder they can even do their jobs. Simply incredible. Just thought I'd share that with you guys. Hope you got a laugh out of it like I did.

Wow I'm sure hope you didn't let him touch your Vista machine then.

Here's one for your amusement. My modem went down today so I called for service and a service guy came later in the day. After he got the connection working again he was looking at my desktop which had a few windows open and he said that it "looked different". He asked if it was a Mac. I said no, that's how Vista looks. Get this. He said "What's Vista"? I asked him if he was kidding and he said no. I told him that it was the new Windows OS. "Hmmmm, never heard of it" he replied. :eek: Unbelievable. How can a guy whose job is to work with computers all day not know what Vista is? Obviously, it doesn't take much to become a Cox internet tech. It's a wonder they can even do their jobs. Simply incredible. Just thought I'd share that with you guys. Hope you got a laugh out of it like I did.
Did he fix your problem?

This is one reason why I resort to using forums like this to get information. In store salespeople in general know very little about the products that they sell. I am amazed at how often the salesman gives out false info.

Did he fix your problem?

Yes, after I told him how.

Yes, after I told him how.

If you were able to tell HIM HOW to fix your problem, why couldn't YOU fix it yourself?

If you were able to tell HIM HOW to fix your problem, why couldn't YOU fix it yourself?

Because the problem was in the outside junction box that feeds the four units at my condo. Obviously, I don't have access to that. Earlier in the day, a tech had made a service call for one of the other residents and he was fooling around in the outside box. He leaves, and I have no internet connection. Coincidence? I don't think so. When the other tech came for my service call, he insisted on coming inside to check the levels even after I told him that wasn't necessary. The problem was in the outside box. I told him I'd bet my next ten paychecks that the cable had been disconnected. He still insisted on coming inside first. After wasting 15 minutes checking this and that inside the house, he finally went outside and, lo and behold, my cable for internet had been disconnected. He reconnected it and I have my internet back. He could have saved some time if he would have just listened to me in the first place.

Customers are ALWAYS wrong ! :eek:

Because the problem was in the outside junction box that feeds the four units at my condo. Obviously, I don't have access to that. Earlier in the day, a tech had made a service call for one of the other residents and he was fooling around in the outside box. He leaves, and I have no internet connection. Coincidence? I don't think so. When the other tech came for my service call, he insisted on coming inside to check the levels even after I told him that wasn't necessary. The problem was in the outside box. I told him I'd bet my next ten paychecks that the cable had been disconnected. He still insisted on coming inside first. After wasting 15 minutes checking this and that inside the house, he finally went outside and, lo and behold, my cable for internet had been disconnected. He reconnected it and I have my internet back. He could have saved some time if he would have just listened to me in the first place.

The same problem happened to me. It took three service people about 9 days to fix it. To their credit, COX gave me the money back for the time that I was not online.

Charles

The same problem happened to me. It took three service people about 9 days to fix it. To their credit, COX gave me the money back for the time that I was not online.

Charles

9 days?!?!? And all you had was a disconnected cable?

anybody out there got 10/1 cable the top tier?

if so please do a speed test at

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

and let us know what results you get from seattle and LA

another good speed test is at

http://www.speedtest.net/

please post your results asap

thanks

I have the 10/1 service. Upload is fantastic on several tests...but I could not get anything better on download then around 7 meg.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/128720558.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

anybody out there got 10/1 cable the top tier?

if so please do a speed test at

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

and let us know what results you get from seattle and LA

another good speed test is at

http://www.speedtest.net/

please post your results asap

thanks

From Speakeasy:

LA: Down- 11590 kbps Up- 1085 kbps
Sea: Down- 9602 kbps Up- 1090 kbps

10/1
http://www.speedtest.net/result/128726526.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

test.lvcm.com: 9.27/950

6/512
http://www.speedtest.net/result/128851666.png

6/512
http://www.speedtest.net/result/128854557.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I think they may be upping the download speed since my parents got over 10 too.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/128885275.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

6/512
http://www.speedtest.net/result/129333348.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
ouch :-(

...though test.lvcm.com gives me 6.42M/564k.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/129504967.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Pahrump WiFi Beta Test

http://www.speedtest.net/result/129555688.png (http://www.speedtest.net)


Lakes area..ft apache/sahara

http://www.speedtest.net/result/129625611.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
Sahara/Sunrise Mt area

Went to watch NBC Nightly News and there's nothing there, just black. Anyone else not getting anything over KVBC OTA? All of my other OTA channels are fine.

NBC must be having HD transmission problems of some kind. I have had Cox channel 733 freeze up and go blank at various times over the course of the last couple of weeks. kind of crappy when your watching the Kentucky Derby stretch run or the like and have the pic completely freeze on you. Its the only channel that I have had problems with recently. I thought someone mentioned a while back that some of these problems crop up when they add that special HD pay per view channel 701., but who knows

South end of town, middle tier.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/122441679.png

Anyone here go from using component video to hdmi? Just wondering if it makes any sense to upgrade my 3150?

The difference in signal quality between hdmi and component is negligible, imo. you may have to play with your picture calibration settings a bit after making the switch but after tuning the pic you should be satisfied. But, if your happy now, why spend the extra bucks? But, each display is different and hdmi cables are cheap enough over the internet to give it a try to satisfy your own curiosity.


on an another note.... anyone know if both the hdmi and component outputs of the 8300 dvr can output 1080i at the same time now. I know before you had to use one or the other but not both. I thought this might have been fixed in a firmware release. I guess I'm too lazy to test myself but will if no one can answer.

Anyone here go from using component video to hdmi? Just wondering if it makes any sense to upgrade my 3150?
No real difference that I can see, but one small HDMI wire sure is cleaner looking to me...

No real difference that I can see, but one small HDMI wire sure is cleaner looking to me...

Yep. That is the big benefit of HDMI. One cable instead of 5.

I am going to sign up for the Cox $99 bundle, phone, internet, and cable. Which HD STB should I ask for?

Thanks

Chris

I am going to sign up for the Cox $99 bundle, phone, internet, and cable. Which HD STB should I ask for?

Thanks

Chris

For 99, you wont get any HD Box. But if you pay more ask for the sa8300HD, the Volvos of the dvr world. Thats the best they can offer. :eek:

Anyone missing PSIP data on some HD channels? 5-1, 8-1 and 10-1 dont show up on my QAM receiver now. It might just be my TV, but rescanning channels hasnt solved the problem.

Sorry if this is the wrong forum to ask these questions, but it seems the only reliable place for info from people actually living in Vegas.

I'll be switching to Cox for my television needs soon.

I would like to know how well Cox does with HD content as far as hardware goes.
I know I will need a STB for viewing encrypted HD channels, but can I get the major networks in HD (Fox, NBC, etc) by just going straight from the wall socket (going into my HTPC)?

For 99, you wont get any HD Box. But if you pay more ask for the sa8300HD, the Volvos of the dvr world. Thats the best they can offer. :eek:
Cox quoted me $108 and change with the HD STB.

Thanks for the tip.

Cox quoted me $108 and change with the HD STB.

Thanks for the tip.

Sounds about right for the 3250, for the 8300 (with the DVR), add ten more bucks.

Anyone missing PSIP data on some HD channels? 5-1, 8-1 and 10-1 dont show up on my QAM receiver now. It might just be my TV, but rescanning channels hasnt solved the problem.

a few weeks ago when I first setup my new 20" hdtv it scanned all the clear Qam locals as their normal station numbers but I had to do a rescan last week and the ones you mention are in the 101,102,112 area now. I did another rescan and it didnt change.

Got my HD box today and it seems to be working just fine on my CRT. Now my plasma has an Integrated ATSC / QAM Tuner what HD channels can I expect to receive with the built in tuners and no STB?

I was hoping to get Discovery HD without a STB?

Thanks

Another thing, I swear my SD looks much better now with the HD STB. Is that possible or is it my imagination?

All you will get on your TV's integrated tuner are the local HD channels. You will not get Discovery HD or ESPN HD or Mojo without the STB or a CableCard.

And yes...the SD channels will probably look better thru the digital STB because you are seeing an all-digital lineup; but only on the STB. Cox digitally simulcasts all of their analog channels (2-98). So with the STB, you are watching a digital channel...thru your TV, you are watching an analog version of the same channel.

Just watched cox hd ON A NEW jvc rs1 SIMPLY ORGASMIC!

All you will get on your TV's integrated tuner are the local HD channels. You will not get Discovery HD or ESPN HD or Mojo without the STB or a CableCard.

And yes...the SD channels will probably look better thru the digital STB because you are seeing an all-digital lineup; but only on the STB. Cox digitally simulcasts all of their analog channels (2-98). So with the STB, you are watching a digital channel...thru your TV, you are watching an analog version of the same channel.
Thank You very much for your help. I don't seem to get any additional HD channels with the QAM. I really wanted Discovery HD but I did not want another STB.

Thanks Again

Chris

From near Green Valley High School:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/133180572.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

(Using the COX middle tier service)

Charles

9 days?!?!? And all you had was a disconnected cable?

The technician said the problem had to do with the cable box that a group of the townhouses in my subdivision use. He said that someone had disconnected my cable at the box.

I also found out from my neighbor that the landscapers cut the cable when they were removing trees.

By the way, if you think your speed is slow, COX will send someone out for free to test your line. I did that the first week I moved here and it turned out one of the connections had been damaged which was causing a signal loss. He also changed the line to just go to one outlet to maximize the bandwidth. I noticed a nice speed increase and more stability. :-) Total cost: $0!

Charles

I dont get it....according to Cox , the middle speed tier is supposed to be 6Mbps. Why are so many getting 10Mbps which is listed as the top tier speed? I feel like I'm getting ripped off paying the same money for 6Mbps when I should be getting 10Mbps?

I dont get it....according to Cox , the middle speed tier is supposed to be 6Mbps. Why are so many getting 10Mbps which is listed as the top tier speed? I feel like I'm getting ripped off paying the same money for 6Mbps when I should be getting 10Mbps?

It appears that they are rolling out a faster service and only some sections of the Las Vegas valley have it.

I noticed my speeds went up around 80% about two months ago.

Charles

Hey vegggas,

You are cable God for posting this information:

Removing Bars On SD Channels. Factory default displays side bars on non-HD channels. Toggling zoom modes eliminates them, but this often cuts much of image. Adding resolutions allows TV to stretch images and avoid uneven phosphor wear (burn-in). Use Setup Wizard to enable resolutions other than 1080i. Also set picture format to Pass-Through (press Settings twice, scroll to Set:Picture Format, select Pass-Through).

* With box OFF and TV ON, press Info /Guide (on box) together, then follow on-screen directions to enable 480i and others. Cable passes 720p (ABC, FOX, ESPN), 1080i (all other HD channels), 480i (SD channels), and 480p (music channels). If you do not see difference between 1080i/720p, enable only one to minimize reformatting while channel surfing. Note: The 480i/p Widescreen options allow 8300 to stretch image. Do not enable if you use TV to stretch image.

For 2 days no one @ Cox could explain to me how get rid of the black bars on the sides of the screen while watching SD. They told me everyone just has to live with them. Today after following the instructions above I can view SD or HD without switching inputs or changing formats all through component cable.

Today is a good day!

Thank You

Best Wishes

Chris

Anyone missing PSIP data on some HD channels? 5-1, 8-1 and 10-1 dont show up on my QAM receiver now. It might just be my TV, but rescanning channels hasnt solved the problem.

Having exactly the same problem. Spoke to Ron in technical support who said "We don't support QAM tuners. If you can receive it through that, great, but we don't support it."

I believe they are required by law to carry HD over the air channels. How do we report this to the right people???

I dont know if its law. I dont think there is anyone to report it to. Just rescan until the channels show up.

Well, I went from having 6 HD channels to 3 HD to zero HD channels over the past 5 months. Nada, no more HD for me on the bedroom TV. Rescanning does not do jack, nothing is available.

What did COX do?

I have a SB for the living room TV with HD service. The bedroom tv has no SB, cable from the outlet straight into the tv. I used to enjoy some HD in bed, but no more I guess.

I may consider satellite now. Any benefits to making a switch? thx....

Go with Dish. The Benefits? The best DVR, all local channels OTA in true digital, more HD than anyone else, better equipment, better price.

When you order the boxes, get a VIP 622 and a VIP 211. Get some clip ons and you'll had everthing possible in HD in your bedroom and living room. Pretty soon they will activate the ethernet ports and you'll be able to get stuff off the net.

I made the switch last year and I'll never will go back to Cox. :)

[QUOTE=doormat]I dont know if its law. I dont think there is anyone to report it to. Just rescan until the channels show up.[/QUOTE

If they removed the channels, rescanning will do nothing. I received the following reply from Cox. I tried the channels, and none actually exist:

Thank you for contacting Cox Communications. Cox is committed to
providing the best customer service possible.

We recently moved our local channels to a new facility located in the
Southeast area of Las Vegas. During our move, customers with a "Clear
QAM" TV who normally tune to HD channels without a receiver were unable
to view this programming.

Please note that you will find the channels are available at the
following locations:

Channel Station
101-7 CBS
102-1 ABC HD
102-2 NBC-HD
102-4 NBC
103-1 CBS HD
103-3 PBS HD
112-2 FOX HD
112-3 Fox 5 Weather

If you are unable to tune your television to these stations, please
contact the television manufacturer for programming instructions.

Im ready to switch from Cox too

Go with Dish. The Benefits? The best DVR, all local channels OTA in true digital, more HD than anyone else, better equipment, better price.

When you order the boxes, get a VIP 622 and a VIP 211. Get some clip ons and you'll had everthing possible in HD in your bedroom and living room. Pretty soon they will activate the ethernet ports and you'll be able to get stuff off the net.

I made the switch last year and I'll never will go back to Cox. :)

As long as you need an OTA antenna for local HD, Dish would not be the best DVR for me or anyone unable to catch OTA signals. I live in Pahrump and do not have access to cable, so I get my local HD broadcasts from D* along with all the other content I would ever be interested in.
I have not experienced any reliability or picture quality issues with my two hr20s since the beginning of this year, so I don't know how Dish equipment would be better. I guess "the best" dvr depends on what you need and how the equipment/service meets those needs.
For those who want MLB, NFL or NHL games (I'm not one), I believe that D* provides a wider choice of games with their subscription packages. As far as "stuff off the net", D* is expected to launch VOD in July. With the two new sats going up this year, they will also be expanding the number of HD stations that they will carry.
A far as price, I have no idea how D* and E* compare, as I really don't have a choice in service if I want HD network broadcasts. When I first moved out here, the locals had not started to broadcast HD off the sats, and I was turned down for waivers. All I could get at that time was crappy SD.
I'm not a D* fanboy, I just believe that they provide me with reliable, quality equipment and service.

I am finally sick & tired of cox's service and rates.... they keep going up... I like the picture & my 8300 has been perfect for 2 years.. 500gig max sata addon..
but there stupid policy of not informing me of the rsing fees and specils designed to sign u up and then screw u later.
What dish pac should I get.. I want 2 hddvrs... with similar or better features... do they have 2 hd tuners and expansion capabilites?
I am ready... I was recording from my Mits TV local channels in HD with my RCA 2080 and they seem to have blocked that now..
How much do they want to rip u off for and still not give you firewire activation.
Please help me get out from under their opressive thumb.
I would even dump their fast overpriced internet, that slows way down a lot.
Do you see a plan for me? They also seem to bill me before I am due... I get this call by computer saying I need to call them and I have been paying my bill for over 20 years
I try to pick up phone to talk to someone and get bull
Help

Like Foghorn said, I too belive Dish has the most reliable HD DVR. However, what really sucks about the VIP622 is it only has one ATSC tuner. So you can't record 2 local HD broacasts at the same time. Which for us is most of the programing we watch. After all the most HD is the local networks. That is a huge flaw in my opinion on the 622. As for D* their HD DVR has all the features one would want, but it is the most unreliable piece of crap they ever dumped on their subscribers. It's been on the market for almost a year and they are still pushing upgrades to deal with the bugs. They let me out of my contract and refunded my money for six months service after the Idaho state attorney generals office got behind me. Idaho is where their customer service office is, and that's why I have deal with that state.

Like Foghorn said, I too belive Dish has the most reliable HD DVR. However, what really sucks about the VIP622 is it only has one ATSC tuner. So you can't record 2 local HD broacasts at the same time. Which for us is most of the programing we watch. After all the most HD is the local networks. That is a huge flaw in my opinion on the 622. As for D* their HD DVR has all the features one would want, but it is the most unreliable piece of crap they ever dumped on their subscribers. It's been on the market for almost a year and they are still pushing upgrades to deal with the bugs. They let me out of my contract and refunded my money for six months service after the Idaho state attorney generals office got behind me. Idaho is where their customer service office is, and that's why I have deal with that state.

Yeah, it would have been nice if it had 2 ATSC tuners, not to mention a ATSC immudium explosive space modulator for TV2 :) but this is good as it gets for now. After all, they have to leave something to improve on for the next model.

If Dish had MPEG4 locals in HD, that would solve the problem.

Keep Cox for the internet, dump them for TV, as with Dish and the VIP622, soon you'll be able to view programs off the net using Cox's network ;) ;) ;) :p

As long as you need an OTA antenna for local HD, Dish would not be the best DVR for me or anyone unable to catch OTA signals. I live in Pahrump and do not have access to cable, so I get my local HD broadcasts from D* along with all the other content I would ever be interested in.
I have not experienced any reliability or picture quality issues with my two hr20s since the beginning of this year, so I don't know how Dish equipment would be better. I guess "the best" dvr depends on what you need and how the equipment/service meets those needs.
For those who want MLB, NFL or NHL games (I'm not one), I believe that D* provides a wider choice of games with their subscription packages. As far as "stuff off the net", D* is expected to launch VOD in July. With the two new sats going up this year, they will also be expanding the number of HD stations that they will carry.
A far as price, I have no idea how D* and E* compare, as I really don't have a choice in service if I want HD network broadcasts. When I first moved out here, the locals had not started to broadcast HD off the sats, and I was turned down for waivers. All I could get at that time was crappy SD.
I'm not a D* fanboy, I just believe that they provide me with reliable, quality equipment and service.

If I were in Pharumumph, I'd make friends with Boss Hog and Roscoe Picole Train and start my own local cable company before cletus does.

If I were in Pharumumph, I'd make friends with Boss Hog and Roscoe Picole Train and start my own local cable company before cletus does.

False modesty does not become you. It is way too close to reality.
Spelling Pahrump incorrectly was really funny. Are you a professional comedian or did you learn that in clown school?

I've been thinking of switching to D*from Cox for quite a while now. Dish is out of the question because of their lack of sports programming. The ONLY drawback that I can see that D* has vs Cox is that D* does not carry PBS HD. A station which I find both informative and entertaining (despite its sometimes less than perfect picture quality). The local PBS station here in Las Vegas, provides nowhere near the program quality that PBS HD does. And for me that would be a great loss.
The HR20 DVR from D* has undergone significant upgrades in recent months (according to D*) and has become more reliable in long term use. But still. before I would make the switch, I would want to see the HR20 in action. I cannot find one local store that has it set-up to receive the local HD networks.
Is there a D* "headquarters" anywhere here in Vegas that I might visit in order to see the thing "in action"? But until then ...no dice.

I have 2 HD Tivo Series 3s and think they are fantastic. I went from Cox to D*TV and back because of the hassle to get HD locals over satellite. Yes, I had an antenna and it did not work well. The Tivo device they had only recorded OTA HD locals - it was ridiculous.

If you aren't going to be recording your shows, and just have a limited number of televisions, try satellite. With the amount I was paying in "mirroring" fees, I could have just had cable - with a LOT less hassle...

Hmmm. I go away for a while and all sorts of things happen.
I can't use either sat proider anymore because I record multiple HD local channels (up to 4 at once with 2 HDDVR's) at the same time and have more than 7 sets to display digital content. Just as cs04 notes, those are probems for me with the other providers.

Speed tests. The only relevent speed tests for Las Vegas are through test.lvcm.com. All other tests exit the Cox network and are subject to national backbone and city area delays. That's why you will get different results from LA, SanFran, and other cities.
Another speed factor is line noise. A noisy line will result in retransmitted packets trying to overcome data errors that take up bandwidth and lower your throughput. Line noise is almost always limited to the end of line power and cabling in the home.

vegggas

I went from Cox to D*TV and back because of the hassle to get HD locals over satellite. .


That must have been quite awhile ago. I am SURE that D* carries the HD locals on satellite with NO additional antenna required. So what would be the "hassle" now?

I have 2 HD Tivo Series 3s and think they are fantastic. I went from Cox to D*TV and back because of the hassle to get HD locals over satellite. Yes, I had an antenna and it did not work well. The Tivo device they had only recorded OTA HD locals - it was ridiculous.

If you aren't going to be recording your shows, and just have a limited number of televisions, try satellite. With the amount I was paying in "mirroring" fees, I could have just had cable - with a LOT less hassle...

IMO, $1500+ worth of Tivo's seems like a much bigger hassle to me. If you have that kind of money to throw around so you can keep your favorite DVR interface than more power to you, but realize that you dealing with a product that was obselete on release.

I know this thread has covered the flaws of the TiVo series 3/cable cards in general before, but it seems prudent to repeat the big ones in big bold letters.

NO ON DEMAND SUPPORT

NO SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO

May you don't care about the first, but the second is how Cox and most (if not all) cable companies plan to deliver future HD channels.

S3 TiVos are cheap nowadays. You can get one at amazon for $400 or so after 200MIR, plus tax and SH.

I agree on the SDV part, and thats why I'm holding off on them. TiVo says they're working on a way to address this problem with the providers so the TiVo box can do SDV someway. Once they actually produce this and it works, then I'm in for one.

Its a shame we all cant go DCAS tomorrow and be done with it.

Test.lvcm.com will not work on a Mac computer. I get an error stating Java is required. Yes, I have Java. It still does not work.

S3 TiVos are cheap nowadays. You can get one at amazon for $400

$400 is cheap? Maybe, if your name is Trump. ;)

Personally, I don't care if someone wants cable or satellite. I have never commented on the issue before, and I only started reading this thread because I noticed Cox dropped several HD locals via QAM.

I can tell you as a matter of fact that I spent a hell of a lot more money on the HD D* equipment (about $1,200 total). Unfortunately, I did not actually own any of it, and had to return it all. I am not playing the "poor me" card; I knew that it was a lease ahead of time. There was absolutely no way to actually own the equipment as a new customer. Since I wanted the HD equipment over the free SD equipment, they charged an incredible amount.

The "hassle" Word Maestro asked about was twofold; first, the dish, switch, and set top receivers all had to be a certain specification to receive OTA locals. The installation person they sent had never worked on an OTA antenna before (which I was using along with the D* HD Tivo to receive and record OTA HD channels until they were available in Vegas.) The Tivo did not and could not receive satellite HD locals. As a result of the antenna, reception was very poor and many times the signal dropped.

I had ordered all of the equipment to "future proof" the installation; i.e. the dish and all receivers other than the Tivo were supposed to be able to receive satellite HD locals once released. When that day came, I did not receive any of the locals. Three service appointments were made. The first time the guy didn't even know HD locals existed. The later two were missed by the D* technicians. Someone had to climb on the room and tinker with the dish. Meanwhile, I was paying that stupid mirroring fee, and had to use a box just to watch television. No thanks. After that, it was getting out of the 1-2 year contract you are required to sign as a new customer. Could I have chosen not to sign it, thereby not becoming a customer? Absolutely. However, this was more of the hassle.

After switching back to cable, there were some hassle with the CableCard Tivos as well, as they usually send technicians that know absolutely nothing about CableCards. Thankfully, that "installation" consisted of a few sets of numbers being read. I also liked that I would only pay the CableCard fee on the televisions I wanted; I can get expanded basic and even HD locals on any QAM tuner television, without the need for a box or paying $5 extra.

If all things had been equal, I would have definitely chosen satellite. I was a D* customer for many, many years until I moved here. I decided to leave them because of the HD issue; both service and equipment. If they had a Tivo DVR that would record all of the HD channels, and not just some of them, the decision would have been made more difficult. Could I have just gone with their no-name DVR? Sure, but I could have rented the cable company's DVR as well. I chose not to.

I think that most anyone would want an HD Tivo if they could comfortably afford one. They are certainly pricey; and the argument becomes "it's not worth it" after privately resolving "I can't afford it" :)

[QUOTE=doormat]I dont know if its law. I dont think there is anyone to report it to. Just rescan until the channels show up.[/QUOTE

If they removed the channels, rescanning will do nothing. I received the following reply from Cox. I tried the channels, and none actually exist:

Thank you for contacting Cox Communications. Cox is committed to
providing the best customer service possible.

We recently moved our local channels to a new facility located in the
Southeast area of Las Vegas. During our move, customers with a "Clear
QAM" TV who normally tune to HD channels without a receiver were unable
to view this programming.

Please note that you will find the channels are available at the
following locations:

Channel Station
101-7 CBS
102-1 ABC HD
102-2 NBC-HD
102-4 NBC
103-1 CBS HD
103-3 PBS HD
112-2 FOX HD
112-3 Fox 5 Weather

If you are unable to tune your television to these stations, please
contact the television manufacturer for programming instructions.
I have no problem tuning these channels on either a Sharp or Panny TV. I don't use the scan feature or require psip data to tell me which channel it is mirroring in analog format and just punch in those numbers on the remote and there they are.
Are others having a problem tuning those channels? For OTA use, the digital channels are:
2.1 NBC
7.1 CBS
10.1 PBS
12.1 ABC
etc with psip data showing the analog equivilent common numbers.

vegggas

The Tivo did not and could not receive satellite HD locals. As a result of the antenna, reception was very poor and many times the signal dropped.
If they had a Tivo DVR that would record all of the HD channels, and not just some of them, .



When you refer to the "D*HD Tivo", are you referring to the HR20DVR?
That unit is DEFINETLY capable of recording all HD channels carried by D* INCLUDING THE LOCALS, WITHOUT any additional antenna. I have two Masters degrees, One in English and one in Chemistry, and I am still having difficulty understanding your problem. And although other problems with the HR20 do exist, it appears that nobody else has/had a problem even remotely similar to yours. Which leads me to believe that something was/is wrong at your end of things.

What is a "mirroring" fee?

When you refer to the "D*HD Tivo", are you referring to the HR20DVR?
That unit is DEFINETLY capable of recording all HD channels carried by D* INCLUDING THE LOCALS, WITHOUT any additional antenna. I have two Masters degrees, One in English and one in Chemistry, and I am still having difficulty understanding your problem. And although other problems with the HR20 do exist, it appears that nobody else has/had a problem even remotely similar to yours. Which leads me to believe that something was/is wrong at your end of things.

I believe he is refering to the HR10-250 which is the HD-Tivo, not the new DTV Mpeg 4 HD-DVR the HR20-700S.

The HR10 is not capable of receiving the HD-local stations from D* as it is a Mpeg2 device not an Mpeg4 unit like the HR20.

The HR10 could however record from HD-OTA local channels... assuming one had an OTA antenna and lived in a neighborhood where the signals can be received.

If for some reason he is speaking of the Tivo3 units with cable cards... your on your own 'cause I know nuttn about those! (other than they are way way to pricey)

What is a "mirroring" fee?


D* charges an additional $4.95 per month for every STB you add to your account... to which they "mirror" the stations you have contracted for.

When you refer to the "D*HD Tivo", are you referring to the HR20DVR?
That unit is DEFINETLY capable of recording all HD channels carried by D* INCLUDING THE LOCALS, WITHOUT any additional antenna. I have two Masters degrees, One in English and one in Chemistry, and I am still having difficulty understanding your problem. And although other problems with the HR20 do exist, it appears that nobody else has/had a problem even remotely similar to yours. Which leads me to believe that something was/is wrong at your end of things.

You do quote me correctly - TIVO. Unfortunately, you did not retain the correct information. To my knowledge, the HR10-250 was the only HD Tivo available from D*TV. The HR20 is certainly capable of receiving satellite locals - but it's not a Tivo. As I said in my post, I purchased the Tivo first as the HR20 had not been released. Every other unit I had was capable of receiving satellite locals. When that day came, none of them received the satellite locals. Why did that happen? I have absolutely no idea. That's why I called technical support, to have a technician come to my home. Did it happen to anyone else? According to you, I was the only one. That is rather sad.

I have one Masters degree, not two like you. Out of curiosity, what data are you referring to regarding the fact that "nobody else had/had a problem even remotely similar to yours"? Did you do an area study? Do you work for D* technical support? If so, please ask your technicians to keep their appointments! :rolleyes:

cs04......... the satellite locals (at least the HD ones) are broadcast via SpotBeams and encoded with an Mpeg4 codec.

The HR10-250 is only capable of decoding the older Mpeg2, which is why you were unable to receive the HD local channels on your HD-Tivo.

I have both the HR10-250 and the HR20-700S so I am familiar with the situation, you are not the "only one." However, whoever you spoke to in Tech Support "should" have been able to tell you what the problem was in 5 seconds without the need for a "house call." :eek:

cs04......... the satellite locals (at least the HD ones) are broadcast via SpotBeams and encoded with an Mpeg4 codec.

The HR10-250 is only capable of decoding the older Mpeg2, which is why you were unable to receive the HD local channels on your HD-Tivo.

I have both the HR10-250 and the HR20-700S so I am familiar with the situation, you are not the "only one." However, whoever you spoke to in Tech Support "should" have been able to tell you what the problem was in 5 seconds without the need for a "house call." :eek:

Perhaps I was not specific. I was well aware that I would not receive the locals on the Tivo. I got that so I would have DVR in the meantime. I did not receive the locals on any of the non-dvr boxes that were supposed to receive them when the day came. I am not going to bother looking up models, etc, but they were the right ones.

Regardless, I don't need to deal with any of that anymore...

Out of curiosity, what data are you referring to regarding the fact that "nobody else had/had a problem even remotely similar to yours"?
No I don't work for Direct TV. But I do try to keep up with the latest developments in the equipment they release. And of course the data I was referring to in stating that "nobody else had a problem even remotely similar to yours" was regarding the members of this forum. THEY have not reported any similar problem. And there are many members here reporting all sorts of problems. But NOT the one that you were having.

However, whoever you spoke to in Tech Support "should" have been able to tell you what the problem was in 5 seconds without the need for a "house call." :eek:

Are you kidding me???
Calling Direct TV "Tech Support" often connects you with an operator in the Phillipines. And unless you also are from the Phillipines their use of English and the idiom in which it is used leaves alot to be desired. Having spent my entire professional life as a teacher, I am capable of expressing my thoughts quite clearly and understandably. Yet, many of those "off shore" operators can't figure out what the hell you're talking about and even if they could, they may provide an answer that has/is;
1. Nothing to do with your problem
2. Absolutely unintelligable
3. Totally wrong

Are you kidding me???
Calling Direct TV "Tech Support" often connects you with an operator in the Phillipines. And unless you also are from the Phillipines their use of English and the idiom in which it is used leaves alot to be desired. Having spent my entire professional life as a teacher, I am capable of expressing my thoughts quite clearly and understandably. Yet, many of those "off shore" operators can't figure out what the hell you're talking about and even if they could, they may provide an answer that has/is;
1. Nothing to do with your problem
2. Absolutely unintelligable
3. Totally wrong

Well I must admit I agree with your assessment of most all the off-shore CS/TS folks, but I guess I had better luck... if you call the advanced tech support people that deal with the HD equipment they should have been able to take care of this situation...

The other poster opted out of the conversation, but if he truly had Mpeg4 receivers and the new 5LNB dish then he certainly "should" have been able to receive the HD locals when they turned on the Vegas spot-beam. I suppose it could possibly have been an alignment issue with the new spot beam... but other than that my mpeg4 units have been just plug and play.

Well I must admit I agree with your assessment of most all the off-shore CS/TS folks, but I guess I had better luck... if you call the advanced tech support people that deal with the HD equipment they should have been able to take care of this situation...

The other poster opted out of the conversation, but if he truly had Mpeg4 receivers and the new 5LNB dish then he certainly "should" have been able to receive the HD locals when they turned on the Vegas spot-beam. I suppose it could possibly have been an alignment issue with the new spot beam... but other than that my mpeg4 units have been just plug and play.

If you have the correct equipment and it is installed correctly, you should be back up from a problem like that in about 30 seconds since the first thing the happens on the automated tech support system is all you receivers are "re-hit" with programming authorizations.

Hey, Cox subscribers, you're finally on the track to getting some new HD channels. Cox just signed a deal to carry the HD signals of KVCW and KVMY. That means you can finally watch all you favorite CW programming like Smallville in 1080i HD and, uh, whatever exactly My Network TV broadcasts in 720p HD.

The Business of Television
Cox, Sinclair Reach Retransmission-Consent Deal
Pact Covers Nine TV Stations in Six Markets
By Linda Moss Multichannel News 6/5/2007

Cox Communications and Sinclair Broadcast Group reached a four-year retransmission-consent agreement that includes carriage of HDTV signals.

The agreement provides for Cox systems to carry nine TV stations owned by Sinclair, serving about 1.25 million unique subscribers, in six markets. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

"With this transaction, Sinclair has now completed long-term retransmission-consent agreements with all major multiple system operators in our markets, ensuring that cable subscribers in our markets will continue to receive some of the most popular programs on television," Sinclair CEO and president David Smith said in a prepared statement.

"Our agreement with Cox, which includes mutually acceptable economic arrangements and an exchange of value, again demonstrates the value of broadcast television to alternative delivery systems," he added.

The stations included in the agreement are: KVMY/KVCW in Las Vegas; KOKH/KOCB in Oklahoma City; WEAR/WFGX in Pensacola, Fla./Mobile, Ala.; WTVZ in Norfolk, Va.; WRLH in Richmond, Va.; and WGGB in Springfield, Mass.

Sinclair has also closed retransmission-consent deals with Time Warner Cable, Mediacom Communications, Comcast and Charter Communications.

http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA6449158

A member of this forum that has the D*HR20, was kind enough to accomodate me in my request to visit his home so that I might see that receiver "in action". I was forced to make that visit because there is no commercial establishent in the Las Vegas area that I could find that had that receiver set-up to display LOCAL NETWORK HD. Having now viewed the device "in action", I can say that the picture and sound it produces are in every way comparable (or better) to that which Cox Cable provides using the SA 8300HD. In addition the program guide is voluminous, and more importantly, ACCURATE. I therefore conclude that although the HR20 did have problems at the time of its initial release, those problems have been largely overcome, and the device is just as reliable as any other comparable device from any other company. I was able to view both recorded material and presentations being broadcast at the moment. In each case I was more than satisfied with what I saw.

What could the "sportsless" DISH network provide that could be better, or even preferable? I'll answer my own question. ....ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!