Las Vegas, NV - HDTV [Text View] - Page 26

GeorgeLV

12-28-07, 01:38 PM

DirecTV adds CSTV and Tennis in HD.

Las Vegas HD Channel Guide December 28, 2007

Broadcast Networks OTA Cox DirecTV Dish CMA (Pahrump)
------------------ ----- ----- --------- ------ -------------
ABC (KTNV) 13-1 732 13
CBS (KLAS) 8-1 730 8
Fox (KVVU) 5-1 735 5
NBC (KVBC) 3-1 733 3
PBS (KLVX) 10-1 731
CW (KVCW) 33-1 734
MyTV (KVMY) 21-1

Cable Networks
------------------
A&E 707 265 9419
Animal Planet 282 9489
Biography 266
Bravo 273
Cartoon Network 296
CMT 327
CNBC 355
CNN 202
Discovery 727 278 9487
Food Network HD 724 231-1 9462
Fox Business 359
FX 248
HGTV HD 723 229-1 9461
History 703 269 9491
MTV 331
National Geographic 702 276 9429 562
Nickelodeon 299
Science Channel 284 9490
Sci-Fi 244
Spike 325
TBS 726 247 9499
TLC 722 280 9488
TNT 709 245 9420 565
USA 242
VH1 335
Weather Channel 362

HD Only Networks
------------------
HD Theater 700 76 9421 555
HDNet 79 9422
HDNet Movies 78 9423
MGM 255
MHD 725 332 9492
Mojo 706
Smithsonian 267
Universal HD 708 74 9427 560
Voom - Animania 9474
Voom - Equator 9471
Voom - Family Room 9486
Voom - Film Fest 9480
Voom - Gallery 9472
Voom - GamePlay 9485
Voom - HDNews 9482
Voom - Kung Fu 9479
Voom - Monsters 9481
Voom - Rave 9470
Voom - Rush 9476
Voom - Treasure 9477
Voom - Ultra 9478
Voom - World Cinema 9475
Voom - WorldSport 9473

Premium Networks
------------------
HBO East 501 9456
HBO West 710 504 510
Cinemax East 512 9458
Cinemax West 711 514 530
The Movie Channel 544
Showtime East 537 9460
Showtime West 720 540 520
Sho Too 538
Starz East 520 9435
Starz West 721 521
Starz Comedy 519
Starz Edge 522
Starz Kids & Family 518

Sports (* games only)
------------------
Big Ten Network 220 9500
CSTV 610
ESPN 704 206 9424 550
ESPN2 705 209 9425
FSN West 652 367*
FSN Prime Ticket 653 361*
FSN Arizona [1,2] 649-1* 365*
FSN Bay Area [3] 654-1*
Fuel 612
Golf/Versus HD 604 9468
NBA TV 601 9508
NFL Network 729* 212 9464
NHL Network 215 403
Speed 607
Tennis 217

1 - MLB D'backs only. Other pro teams blacked out.
2 - NHL Coyotes in Pahrump and some other outlying zip codes, blacked out in Las Vegas valley.
3 - MLB Giants and A's. Other pro teams blacked out.

Sports Subscriptions
------------------
MLB Extra Innings HD soon yes no
NBA League Pass HD soon yes yes
NHL Center Ice HD soon yes yes
NFL Sunday Ticket HD no yes no

Word Maestro

12-28-07, 02:12 PM

gvc and hdtvexpert,

I live in an apartment complex, but fortunately have a southern facing patio on which I was able to have the D* antenna mounted. I have D* SD on my secondary TV, on which I watch the MLB EI package. But now that those games will be available in HD and now that D* apparently has plans to add PBS-HD to its lineup, I am planning to change that SD antenna and receiver to the 5 LNB dish and the HR20 DVR, and of course connect them to my HDTV, and jettison Cox as quickly as I can.
If the url provided by bruin95 is accurate, PBS-HD will soon be available on D*. Since classical music programming will be very sparse on PBS-HD after January (and until next autumn) and since the baseball season doesn't start until April, I am in no hurry. I doubt if a "rabbit ears" antenna would work very well in my apt, as I am on the ground floor of a three story complex. What makes me believe this, is that I had a Sirrius Satellite Radio installed in my apt and the antenna which was provided brought in ZERO signal, thus necessitating the return of the unit. For me, D* is the way to go as far as PBS-HD and baseball coverage are concerned.

hask

12-28-07, 02:37 PM

Haven't you switched to DirecTV yet?

This wasn't addressed to me, but I will answer anyway. I would love to switch to DirectTV, if for no other reason than hockey in HD, but I don't want to give up the convenience of On Demand that I have with Cox, both for premium services such as Showtime and HBO, as well as channels such as Howard TV.

Hask

LVKeith

12-28-07, 04:05 PM

You can get PBS-HD on D* as long as you get the H-20 or HR-20 receivers.

Not yet. PBS-HD will be added sometime in 2008 as they just reached an agreement on this recently. Channel 3, 5, 8 & 13 are the only local HD stations on D* at this time and this is only on the H-2x or HR-2x receivers and requires the 5LNB dish.

Keith

GeorgeLV

12-28-07, 04:41 PM

This wasn't addressed to me, but I will answer anyway. I would love to switch to DirectTV, if for no other reason than hockey in HD, but I don't want to give up the convenience of On Demand that I have with Cox, both for premium services such as Showtime and HBO, as well as channels such as Howard TV.

Hask

Do you have a high speed internet connection?

If yes, DirecTV has On Demand. For the most part the selection is better than what's on Cox, but no Howard TV yet.

GeorgeLV

12-28-07, 04:45 PM

Not yet. PBS-HD will be added sometime in 2008 as they just reached an agreement on this recently. Channel 3, 5, 8 & 13 are the only local HD stations on D* at this time and this is only on the H-2x or HR-2x receivers and requires the 5LNB dish.

Keith

What he was saying is that those models have built-in OTA tuners. All you need to do is plug in an antenna and all of the OTA HDTV channels and sub-channels will be integrated into your guide and DVR.

gvc

12-28-07, 08:32 PM

The newer h21 and hr21 do not have a built in OTA tuner.

Word Maestro

12-29-07, 02:01 AM

Does anybody have experience using the HR21DVR?

Additional question: Right now I have a 3LNB dish mounted on my patio wall. Will the larger size and weight of the 5LNB "Slimline" cause me any installation or operational problems?

HiHoStevo

12-29-07, 02:49 PM

Has there been local signal outage on 8.1 and 13.1 via OTA here in Vegas??

I am up in Anthem and was receiving 8.1 & 13.1 via a powered antenna and then a week or so ago the signal is no longer receivable. 3.1 for NBC has always been the lowest of the three and it appears to be less reliable also although it does still work.

I am wondering if it is a problem with the power for my antenna or if the local stations (ABC & CBS) had for some reason had signal problems on their HD OTA broadcasts.

gvc

12-29-07, 03:28 PM

bruin95

12-29-07, 06:50 PM

got a new laptop for xmas with Vista home premium loaded. This is my first experience with Vista. The one thing I'm pulling my hair over is the slowness of the internet and downloads with the Vista laptop as compared to the XP laptop. Same cable modem and router used between the two. When I use the lvcm.com speed test I normally get over 20 Mbps downloads with the XP machine but less than 8 Mbps with Vista. Does anyone here familiar with Vista know of a setting or tweak I can use to get "up to speed" ?

I bought a new machine in March that came with Vista. Had a similar problem with a seemingly slower connection. I had a router that was about 6 years old. Once I connected the computer directly to the modem, bypassing the router, the speeds jumped to "normal" levels. I went out and bought a new router, making sure that it said "Vista compatible" on the box. I haven't had any speed issues since. So my advice would be to connect the laptop directly to the modem and see if your speed jumps. If so, first see if there is updated firmware for your router to make it work better with Vista. If that doesn't work, it's time to go shopping. If the speed didn't increase when hooked directly to the modem, you may need to buy a new one also. That's the one major issue with Vista, hardware compatibility. It just doesn't like older hardware and manufacturers have been slow in updating their drivers and firmware for Vista. They'd rather you go out and buy new hardware.

foghorn2

12-29-07, 08:28 PM

How is it the same football game is on both 8 and 3 tonight?

It does look better on 8 though.

vegggas

12-29-07, 09:41 PM

Back in town for the holiday weekend...
Watching and comparing the NFL game tonight between NFLNHD, CBSHD, and NBCHD. This clearly shows how the same feed can look different on the varying networks here in Las Vegas.

Best quality = NFLNetwork HD - No breakup at all and a sharp clear picture throughout the game and decent sound (some minor breakup with full screen wipes) . PCM Stereo sounds good using Neo6 mode and Dial Norm autoatically adjusts up by +4db.

Second best quality = CBSHD - Looks like slighty better than normal CBS quality with some picture breakup during fast plays and whole screen graphics wipes. Grass just starting to look "digital" in some shots where you can see the individual blades and light reflections. Stereo audio as usual here for us, but lower and flatter (less dynamic) than NFLN feed.

Worst picture quality = NBCHD - Looks like average NBC feed quality or possibly worse with a flatter less dynamic image. Noticing more picture breakup during plays and many screen graphics wipes. Grass looks very "digital" in comparison to the other feeds. NBC locally takes the Stereo feed sent nationally and "converts" it to a fake Dolby Digital 2.0 feed.

vegggas

vegggas

12-29-07, 09:57 PM

How is it the same football game is on both 8 and 3 tonight?

It does look better on 8 though.

Fog,
Even if you dont watch the game, you should also compare it to the NFLNetworkHD feed on your Dish, compared to your OTA feeds. ;)
The networks are all getting the same feed from NFLNetworkHD and this is what the individual stations do to the pristine signal...
NBC has dropped their video quality a lot over the last few years, and both stations multicast and degrade the image a bit (moreso on NBC).

vegggas

Word Maestro

12-30-07, 12:44 AM

I watched the first quarter on the NFL Network, the second quarter on CBS, and the entire final half on NBC.
I AGREE that the NFL Network had the best picture and sound.
But I DISAGREE that the CBS feed was better than the NBC feed. I thought the NBC feed was superior to that of CBS.
On CBS when an end zone camera was being used (for extra points and punts), the picture was momentarily out of focus and there was an apparent "snap" in the picture (not the audio) to bring it back into focus. This did NOT occur on the NFL or the NBC feeds. In addition during rapid action sequences, the CBS feed turned blurred and the NBC feed remained rock solid. For a very brief time in the fourth quarter, I toggled between the NBC and CBS feeds, and DID FIND that the NBC feed was at least 5 seconds BEHIND the CBS feed. But I couldn't see that it affected the picture or audio quality in any way..
I can't wait to FINALLY be rid of Cox after the New Years holiday.

vegggas

12-30-07, 01:11 AM

Word,
I'm glad you got a chance to compare signals, but you do understand that the differences that you saw were related to the networks and had noting to do with Cox, right?
I stopped doing a lot of comparasons between networks at halftime, but there was a brief outage on NBCHD and their weather channel. After that happened, it appears, that NBC may have reduced the bitrate of their subchannel and the audio was warbling there, and the PQ of NBC went up a bit. I still watched NFLNet for their audio because NBC's fake 5.1 sounded bad. The blurring you describe on CBS is related to their old (by todays standards) transmitter encoder that takes the network feed from 40Mbps down to a broadcastable 15 to 18Mbps per signal. They were the first local broadcaster to get their encoder, and it is also the oldest and least efficient. The latest ones can take that same network feed and reduce it down to less than 13Mbs and still look better than their current one at 16Mbps.

vegggas

vegggas

12-30-07, 01:24 AM

I will be hanging around with the local crew of industry techies tomorrow and hope to have comments, answers, and tidbits on Monday before I leave again. I better make it back for CES!

vegggas

coyoteaz

12-30-07, 02:37 AM

The blurring you describe on CBS is related to their old (by todays standards) transmitter encoder that takes the network feed from 40Mbps down to a broadcastable 15 to 18Mbps per signal. They were the first local broadcaster to get their encoder, and it is also the oldest and least efficient. The latest ones can take that same network feed and reduce it down to less than 13Mbs and still look better than their current one at 16Mbps.

vegggas

The blurring is caused by an incorrect setting used in the Harris Flexicoder the station is apparently using. The manual for the Flexicoder even states that this setting should not be used, though for some reason it is enabled by default. My canned answer any time this issue is brought up:
Blurring on high-motion shots is almost certainly due to your local affiliate using an improperly-configured Harris Flexicoder. The station's engineer needs to go into the config for the encoder and set the prefilter (aka "prefilt") to 1 or disabled. Having it set to 0 or adaptive causes the encoder to blur when high motion is shown, such as a fast pan across a detailed screen, or a logo flying across the screen after a replay or whatever. This issue (and the fix) is known by all the networks, and the station engineer should be able to contact the network's engineering department to confirm this.I would highly suggest contacting the station's engineering department and bringing this up. We had to do it for the NBC, CW, PBS, and independent stations here in Phoenix, and all of them adjusted the setting and we are now blur-free.

hask

12-30-07, 10:58 AM

Do you have a high speed internet connection?

If yes, DirecTV has On Demand. For the most part the selection is better than what's on Cox, but no Howard TV yet.

Could you elaborate on that? Would I have to watch the movie on my computer?

Hask

gvc

12-30-07, 11:03 AM

... Once I connected the computer directly to the modem, bypassing the router, the speeds jumped to "normal" levels. I went out and bought a new router, making sure that it said "Vista compatible" on the box. I haven't had any speed issues since. So my advice would be to connect the laptop directly to the modem and see if your speed jumps.....

thanks bruin for the advise. I connected the new Vista laptop with wired ethernet to the router and the speeds were normal again. I suppose the issue is related to the built in wireless card in the machine. I have updated all drivers but still have the wireless speed problems. Will look into updating the router firmware also.

Word Maestro

12-30-07, 01:23 PM

Word,
I'm glad you got a chance to compare signals, but you do understand that the differences that you saw were related to the networks and had noting to do with Cox, right?

vegggas

Since you are comparing different networks, you may be correct.
However, what explanation accounts for the following?
Lets assume you restricted your viewing to only one network. Lets say it was NBC. If one further assumes that the signal emanating from NBC is picked up by Cox/D*/and Dish, and sent out to the public via their individual facilities, .....why, if the quality of the signal is only determined by NBC, is there a discernible difference between the video and audio provided by Cox, D* or Dish?

Now a viewer may feel that any one of those three entities provides the best HDTV experience. Which of the three they think is best, is of little consequence. Nevertheless, if the source (NBC) of the signal is the same in every case, those discernible differences MUST be the result of signal processing (or lack thereof) by the company which delivers the signal to the viewers home.

trdn1

12-30-07, 01:49 PM

HiHo,

I've phoned and just emailed Cox about the digital feed of FOX. It's been out for about a week now, maybe more. The phone conversation took about 10 minutes to get the person on the other end to figure out how I'm able to watch HD without one of their digital cable boxes. After that she said that, yes channel 735 (5-1) is out and they are working on fixing it. I will let you know if I hear back from the email I've sent them.

I get my HD from their basic cable ran through a samsung HD tuner.

Word Maestro

12-30-07, 02:08 PM

Interesting.

I'm watching Fox-HD right now (channel 735) and it looks fine to me.

lvthunder

12-31-07, 10:00 AM

Could you elaborate on that? Would I have to watch the movie on my computer?

Hask

No you hook the receiver up to the internet and it downloads there and plays on your TV. You need one of those MPEG4 receivers though.

vegggas

12-31-07, 03:54 PM

Since you are comparing different networks, you may be correct.
However, what explanation accounts for the following?
Lets assume you restricted your viewing to only one network. Lets say it was NBC. If one further assumes that the signal emanating from NBC is picked up by Cox/D*/and Dish, and sent out to the public via their individual facilities, .....why, if the quality of the signal is only determined by NBC, is there a discernible difference between the video and audio provided by Cox, D* or Dish?

Now a viewer may feel that any one of those three entities provides the best HDTV experience. Which of the three they think is best, is of little consequence. Nevertheless, if the source (NBC) of the signal is the same in every case, those discernible differences MUST be the result of signal processing (or lack thereof) by the company which delivers the signal to the viewers home.
You answered your own question at the end of your message.
First, lets rephrase that local stations are not "picked up" by the providers, but are "Delivered" to the providers by the stations based on retransmit contracts - There is a big difference.
Local stations deliver their signal to all the other providers and OTA users. The OTA signal AND cable signal is directly controlled by the local station (ABCHD went down on Cox because ABC had a failure of thier delivery equipment during their studio move and had to get equipment flown in over the holiday) That same signal sent to DirecTV can be RE-ENCODED, RE-SIZED and RE-COMPRESSED from that original signal to fit on their sats in a different mpeg format that is not the original signal anymore. This is why as long as it has been available, there have been no discernable differences between OTA and Cox delivered signals.
The last factor is the tuning and local delivery and display method in the home. Where is the signal tuned depends on a STB, or internal tuner for OTA. Those with internal QAM (Cable tuners) and 8VSB (OTA tuners) see the exact same signal quality between the two outlets. Using a STB to tune an OTA signal or from Cox has the added difference of the STB outputs, the connection method used and the TV's input processing or lack therof on varying inputs. Most STB's outputs are very similar between HDMI and Component connections, but most TV's will do some processing on the component connection, but not on the HDMI connection. Getting all your inputs calibrated helps this dramatically.
As for STB's, each one will have a unique look, similar to how different DVD players look different with the same DVD. SA STB's have been reported as being softer than other STB's as they usually do processing in the analog demain (softer image, but with more detail), while Dish's STB's have been reported as having much harder contrast, eliminating many fine details or thin lines, while emphasizing thick lines with hard edges (harder image with less detail). DirecTV's STB's have been more middle of the road providing decent quality and output that is pleasing to the eye for most users. Until recently, DirecTV used OTA tuners for local HD channels, but their newest STB's will only get the signal from the sat after it's been re-encoded and converted to Mpeg4 format.

vegggas

vegggas

12-31-07, 04:04 PM

As touched on in the previous email, the problem with ABCHD over Cox was a result of the local KTNV station moving to it's new HD studio (both studios are located at Desert INN and Valley View right next door to each other) and having a problem sending a transmitable signal to Cox after the move. KTNV had to get replacement equipment flown in over the holiday to again deliver a signal that was able to be transmitted over Cox's network. Note that the traffic channel was down at this time as well.
Cox had to take KTNV's analog signal, which they do process to digital for their analog to digital simulcast and insert it in that slot to show SD progamming until KTNV was able to replace the equipment.

vegggas

vegggas

12-31-07, 04:10 PM

As mentioned earlier in this thread Cox as an agreement to make the Passport Echo version of the IPG the standard version of an IPG in all markets. Passport echo is the standard interface used in Motorola markets, but is being ported over to SA markets. it will also be their OpenCable interface for TV's and STB's using OpenCable standards.
Expect changes to be made sometime in the first half of the year (or earlier if we are a test location). Cox has been granted a patent license to modify and have a unique looking interface, but that may take a bit longer to develop, but some of the first features users will notice are the enhanced search by letter or keyword functions for both the IPG and VOD (SARA only usues letter search for VOD), Use of TV-Guide online profiles, search and remote scheduling, and caller ID and other interactive applications.
More specifics after CES

vegggas

vegggas

12-31-07, 04:20 PM

Local system upgrades to increase bandwidth up to 1Ghz were delayed, but completed recently as they pushed to complete Boulder city's structure to be the same as Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, SW Las Vegas and Henderson plants. Due to the few weeks delay in completion, major launches of HD channels were also delayed, but should continue in January (after CES). Expected HD lineup should include all of the currently available nationally contracted HD channels, with a possible chance of a new premium HD channel tier available (think OC).
With Las Vegas hosting CES private HD channels and communication logistics, don't expect to see any public release of channels until after CES.

vegggas

vegggas

12-31-07, 05:46 PM

I just looked on my IPG and HD on Demand. I can currently choose any of 50 different HD channels or movies instantly. Of course, 23 of those are HD movies that are instantly available on demand. 1 is a PPV event channel. 1 is NFLHD channel that doesn't broadcast unless there is an HD game on. NBAHD is on Mojo, but at least Mojo shows HD content when there are no games available.
That leaves 25 linear HD channels currently available here on Cox Las Vegas as of the end of 2007. Fuzzy math (as once defined by DirecTV with 100's of HD channels available and comcast of up to 800 channels) says that there are 50 HD channels available by the end of 2007. Although that seems low, I seem to have a hard time watching what I want without 3 dual tuner HDDVR's already. As I posted above, expect that count (real and virtual) to go up dramatically over the next few weeks after CES.

Happy new year and I will be back (hopefully) for CES coverage.

vegggas

gvc

12-31-07, 09:46 PM

With Las Vegas hosting CES private HD channels and communication logistics, don't expect to see any public release of channels until after CES.
vegggas

If I recall , last year, the HDNet channels were available unencrypted on local QAM during last years CES, but that may just be my "fuzzy" memory.

fisherman39

01-03-08, 06:01 PM

Hello, I was wondering if anyone knew what the newest and/or best Cox HD set top box is. I have the Explorer 3100HD right now and it has some major problems, like when I change channels fast it re-boots. I am not interested in the DVR version for this TV, just the regular box. Thanks in advance for any advice.

vegas-steven

01-03-08, 07:52 PM

I have a question regarding cox services... and no one can answer it within cox:

what is up with the cox cable IPG (interactive program guide)?

Months and months ago (almost an entire year) it was announced that cox and tivo were in partnership to deliver tivo services over subscribers existing DVR Boxes... comcast cable customers in the northeast (new england i think to be correct you can see a video of it here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8430392525257197566&q=comcast+tivo&total=46&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0)
already have the service.... so where is the new guide for cox cable?

Someone posted here in this thread that there is a renewal of a deal with gemstar/tvguide but those deals dont pan out.

i like all my technology new as it can be... we (my wife and I) have always had the newest and best so to speak... and i cant stand the old guide that cox las vegas uses.

I know i could drop $300-$400 on a tivo box, but i dont want to give up vod... as low resolution as it is, it is NICE to be able to throw on some sugary kids show for the kids when they visit around the holidays, and i like the idea of HD on demand.

any info on this?

p.s.
check out that link. tivo looks so slick as opposed to the cox guide... makes me jealous.

doormat

01-03-08, 11:30 PM

Here is an odd one, my dad got a new cable box. The front says Explorer 3250HD. The back looks like a regular 3250. No component output, no firewire output, etc. Whats up with that.

I have a question regarding cox services... and no one can answer it within cox:

what is up with the cox cable IPG (interactive program guide)?

Months and months ago (almost an entire year) it was announced that cox and tivo were in partnership to deliver tivo services over subscribers existing DVR Boxes... comcast cable customers in the northeast (new england i think to be correct you can see a video of it here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8430392525257197566&q=comcast+tivo&total=46&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0)
already have the service.... so where is the new guide for cox cable?

Someone posted here in this thread that there is a renewal of a deal with gemstar/tvguide but those deals dont pan out.

i like all my technology new as it can be... we (my wife and I) have always had the newest and best so to speak... and i cant stand the old guide that cox las vegas uses.

I know i could drop $300-$400 on a tivo box, but i dont want to give up vod... as low resolution as it is, it is NICE to be able to throw on some sugary kids show for the kids when they visit around the holidays, and i like the idea of HD on demand.

any info on this?

p.s.
check out that link. tivo looks so slick as opposed to the cox guide... makes me jealous.
Wait for the fourth generation TiVo? Maybe 2009? Who knows. It will have dual mode OCAP and TiVo.

bruin95

01-04-08, 01:48 AM

JoustGod

01-04-08, 02:36 AM

EricUtah

01-04-08, 03:08 PM

I have the ancient 3250HD box from Cox. How do I eliminate sidebars with this unit? I've tried the suggestions from vegggas' thread concerning the 8300 (the press guide/info buttons method) with no reaction from my STB. Any suggestions or do I need to switch this box out for a newer model?

Since sidebars/columns are there because there is no actual video data to fill them in on a 16x9 display, the only thing you can do is hit the HD Zoom or # button on the Cox remote, or the screen/aspect button on your TV remote. That should stretch the picture for you.

If that doesn't seem to be helping, try the "settings" suggestion on page 24/25 in the user guide below:

www.scientificatlanta.com/products/consumers/userguidepdfs/752313.pdf

GeorgeLV

01-04-08, 06:58 PM

coyoteaz

01-04-08, 09:42 PM

GeorgeLV

01-04-08, 10:15 PM

Are those streamed over the net like other D* VOD content? If so, it won't take long for Cox, Comcast, TWC, etc. to decide that the traffic from DirecTV is degrading the service of their network and start shaping it like many already do for P2P and VOIP.

Yes, they're delivered over you net connection. And I agree with you assessment, so people ought to support net neutrality if they want choices in innovative net content.

vegas-steven

01-04-08, 11:55 PM

cox does not block any p2p traffic though. They do cripple usenet though limiting news servers to about 125k max. My old ISP in Canada let usenet connections go up to 1 meg download speeds.

Of all the lame cox policies the capped news servers are IMO the worst of it.

primet

01-05-08, 12:22 AM

As to Usenet... Newsleecher $29.95 first year, free from then on.

http://www.newsleecher.com/?src=inprog

Newshosting.com $14.95 month.

http://newshosting.com/

8 threads, Unlimited speeds per thread, Unlimited transfers, 45+ days retention, 99% completion rate. Totally max out a 10+meg connection.
1.32MB/s...up to 2.5MB/s with burst.

It sucks having to pay but Cox gave up any real attempt at Newsgroup service years ago and this will pay for itself every month no matter what you collect!

Primet

jedster

01-05-08, 08:22 PM

KTNV HD has been down for me for about 24 hours on both D* and OTA ATSC.

Anybody else experiencing this? What about on Cox?

hdtvxpert

01-05-08, 10:46 PM

13 is out on Cox too.

vegas-steven

01-05-08, 11:24 PM

good deal. I may check it out. What gets me is that afaik newsgroups are pretty self explsnitory and should be one of the easiest things they can run.

As to Usenet... Newsleecher $29.95 first year, free from then on.

http://www.newsleecher.com/?src=inprog

Newshosting.com $14.95 month.

http://newshosting.com/

8 threads, Unlimited speeds per thread, Unlimited transfers, 45+ days retention, 99% completion rate. Totally max out a 10+meg connection.
1.32MB/s...up to 2.5MB/s with burst.

It sucks having to pay but Cox gave up any real attempt at Newsgroup service years ago and this will pay for itself every month no matter what you collect!

Primet

vegas-steven

01-05-08, 11:37 PM

last night i noticed that cox channel 732 (abc hd) is no longer listed as an hd channel.

Anyone else notice this? I was watching local news. The logo said hd on it but the guide is stated as simply "abc"

Every other channel on the hd tier is listed as:
"---HD" ad in "nbchd" "foxhd" ect.

So did cox just give up on abc for now?

And this started a few weeks after abc started to broadcast local news in hd.

bjp_lv

01-06-08, 12:25 AM

bjp_lv

01-06-08, 12:27 AM

vegas-steven

01-06-08, 12:41 AM

I have 4 different family members with TVs that have digital tuners in them and no STB. At two locations near Lone Mountain, neither TV picks up any of the HD channels on the Cox cable wire. At the other 2 locations near Craig and US95 they can pickup the HD signals on 3.1, 8.1, etc. using the Cox cable wire.

Does anyone else see this kind of spotty support for the HD channels on Cox's system?

Does anyone pickup HD channels on Cox's system without a STB near Lone Mtn?

if the televisions have digital TUNERS, and you arent using cable cards, doesnt that mean that you are getting the signals over the air? that being the case, would that have anything to do with cox at all?

afaik, all the locak channels broadcast a signal, and if you live too far away or by a mountain, you wont get the signal... which is why some people like those living on mt charleston etc have to resort to cable or to D*

but i am just speculating. i am not saying that is the case. i know very little about this stuff, and every day i read this forum i learn tons.

But yeah... seems to me that digital tuners rely on an exterior antenna to get the signal from the air. that signal is then converted by the digital tuner... this is the same function that the cox boxes perform, but the box signal comes from the cable line, not the airwaves.

you can always by an hdtv antenna from bestbuy etc.

Rick89114

01-06-08, 01:30 AM

bjp_lv

01-06-08, 10:39 PM

There are no rabbit years involved... I wired one of the TVs and Cox is putting the signal over the wire in clear qam, but it only seems to be in certain locations.

vegas-steven

01-06-08, 11:22 PM

I am sorry. I still don't get it. Donthe tv's have an account with cox cable hookedup to them?

If so then call cox to fix the problem. Get the service you pay for. Otherwise it is as I said. Not cox cables signal and not their responsibility.

Rick89114

01-07-08, 01:32 AM

There are no rabbit years involved... I wired one of the TVs and Cox is putting the signal over the wire in clear qam, but it only seems to be in certain locations.

Just make sure all your digital tv's have QAM, not all of them do. Digital tuner means a minimum of ASTC (over the air). QAM and clearQAM are options in addition to the digital tuner. If your family and friends all have QAM tuners it may be that the signals are only available in certain areas. Anysone else??

michaelc

01-08-08, 07:19 PM

We've received a rather neat offer from DTV, so I'm going to ask the forumers here what could be a heated question:

Can anyone who has seen both DTV as of late and Cox as of late and compared the two give any kind of insight as to picture quality?

To field off what I know could be incoming, I know some people (Word Maestro in particular) are unhappy with Cox's support, the number of times they lose video signal or accidentally SD an HD feed and how long it takes for them to correct their problems, etc. I am not asking for a critique on how the two companies are operated. I am asking only for direct comparisons on PQ. Thanks.

lvthunder

01-08-08, 07:22 PM

I can't tell the difference between D*'s MPEG4 and Cox. With D* you will get more channels though.

lvthunder

01-08-08, 07:26 PM

Also for the person that was asking about TiVo on Cox. TiVo is showing it at CES.
http://www.betanews.com/slideshow/Tivo_Booth/182/3

Chadowe

01-08-08, 08:00 PM

I still find Cox PQ to be better than D*. HD PQ is a tad better, and SD PQ is TONS better. I also find myself watching things on D* that I could still be watching on Cox. NFL Sunday Ticket, better parental control, and a few more HD offerings that I actually do watch make D* a good move for me. If Sunday Ticket is ever offered on Cox, I may switch back (not holding my breath). For now I'm satisfied with the move to D*, but, to me, there is absolutely a loss in PQ, assuming what your watching is available on Cox.

gvc

01-08-08, 08:16 PM

We've received a rather neat offer from DTV, so I'm going to ask the forumers here what could be a heated question:

Can anyone who has seen both DTV as of late and Cox as of late and compared the two give any kind of insight as to picture quality?

.

I have both. SD is better on Cox. HD is better on D*. just my humble opinion. of course, your HDTV and hookups make a difference too. everyone's setup is different .

LVKeith

01-09-08, 04:27 PM

I had Cox up until Nov of this year. Switched to D*-not because of picture quality - I just got tired of waiting for the new HD channels with Cox.

I agree with the prior poster. The SD on Cox is better than D*, (although I find that if I watch SD on a 480i connection (S-Video) that cleans it up a good bit. The HD on D* is better than Cox. I don't watch much SD at all so that made the decision to switch much easier for me.

One thing I can't figure out is why Fox5 HD on D* looks much better than it did on both Cox and OTA (I still have OTA available). Cox and OTA look identical, but Fox5 HD on D* is much cleaner and crisper. It amost looks like the resolution is increased some. I wonder if this is because they are using a different feed or if it is due to the MPEG4 encoding (or both). NBC, CBS, and ABC look the same on D* as OTA.

Keith

coyoteaz

01-09-08, 11:39 PM

vegas-steven

01-10-08, 04:52 AM

It is physically impossible for a Fox station to have better PQ in the D* feed than OTA. The Fox network broadcasts a feed to all affiliates in a timezone who put that directly to air without reencoding (other than the small area where the logo goes). This also applies to cable channels originating in MPEG2. Cox does no reencoding, while D* has to take the same feed Cox is receiving and reencode that in MPEG4 format. This will change when some of the new channels start to be distributed in MPEG4 as HBO plans to do, but for now, the feed of a given channel on Cox is better than on D*.

That having been said, the receiver you are using might do a better job of decoding than the STB you had with Cox. There are a number of posts elsewhere indicating that many STBs, especially older ones, are limited in the effective resolution output. Because of how MPEG2 and MPEG4 work, there are multiple different ways to decode the same input that can result in very different outputs. There is always a tradeoff between CPU/memory usage and quality, and older STBs will utilize less powerful processors and have less memory, and therefore might be using some algorithms that give suboptimal output simply because the hardware can't do any better. If you had one of the really old 3100HD or 8000HD boxes from Cox and are comparing to a brand new HR20 or HR21 from D*, this could quite neatly explain things.

You know i had d* and found almost all of the sd channels lacked angreat deal ofncolor and clarity as opposed to cox.

I had a "new" hd reciever and the newest dish required for the new hd channels etc. What I came to conclude is that cox wins on sd and he looks the same

A good example I can think of is when I use iMovie hd to make decent quality versions of youtube movies. With h264 encoding which isnan advanced version of mpeg4 you can make a movie 640x480 in size with a nitrate between 1500-4000 Kbps depending on length. With those settings you can create a file which looks almost identical to the source which is minidv tape and sometimes 10x larger file size.

You can check out the .mkv format. It is developed to be a way to create hd qu ailty files. S 720p version of a 90 minute film is 2 gigs in this format. In wmv hd (high def windows media video) the same file is 4.5 gigs.

It is all about the codec used. Imvho it will be more important in the future for more efficient codecs as opposed to more sattelites or bigger data pipelines.

Why not usenthw bandwidth you have more effciently?

scbauer

01-10-08, 01:16 PM

Hey everybody, I hate to interrupt the "Dish is better, Cox is better, Direct TV is better" conversation that has been going on for 106 pages now, but...

I'm curious to know if anybody here in Las Vegas with Cox has a Media Center PC with the ATI Digital Cable Tuners. I'm buying one of these and was looking for feedback about compatability with the Cox CableCard system.

When I called Cox, they said it was as easy as stopping by the Rancho office, picking up 2 CableCards (at $2.99/month each), then calling them with the proper info once they are installed.

Does anybody use the ATI DCT's with Cox CableCards? If not, maybe somebody with a TiVo S3 or TiVo HD could chime in as I believe they both use CableCards, too. What has your experience been with Cox Las Vegas and CableCards?

Thanks!

-Scott

lvthunder

01-10-08, 01:43 PM

This is the first time I have heard of Cox letting you pick up the CableCards at the office. They generally make you schedule an installer which they haven't trained very well. My parents both have a TiVo. My mom has an S3 and my Dad the HD. The S3 uses the single stream cards and you have to reboot the unit everytime Cox moves the channel frequency around. The TiVo HD has the Multi Stream cards and they pick up the changes without having to reboot the unit. They have only had one card go out. Cox pushed out an update and it broke one of the cards. The TiVo did not handle this well at all. If the ATI's can use the Multi stream cards that would be better because you only need one. It's quite a savings on your monthly bill.

vegas-steven

01-10-08, 03:47 PM

another option is to get a media center of (or just get a new vista pc with media center built in) and an xbox 360. Install the dual tuner cable card on the pc and set up a network in your house to the 360. This creates a remote media server. Alot of people have either an xbox 360 or vista of already and don't know how easy it is to do this sort of network.

My experience calling cox just to ask about cablecards and TiVo was notmreasurring. The rep actually told me cox would prefer not to support cable card because it means customers cannot get advanced features like vod. But you can bet the company line is more to get you with a cox stb to get you to buy ppv ECT.

Cox told me you can't order ppv with cablecards. That seems odd they must mean you can't order from in the guide and have to phone them.

scbauer

01-10-08, 06:41 PM

Thanks for the reply, guys. Unfortunately, steven, it isn't that easy. If all I wanted was to watch regular cable, or OTA HD, that would be fine, but I couldn't live if I couldn't tune the channels in the 7xx range... I am a HUGE fan of HD content. For that reason, if you want to tune to digital cable channels on a Media Center PC, you must get the new ATI DCT's that support CableCards, you can't just use a standard ATSC tuner.

With that said, once this thing is up-and-running, I can get a Media Center Extender (either 3rd party or Xbox) and stream content directly from the Media Center (even HD content), so I am very aware of that and looking forward to it.

I'm a little concerned that the first response said I can't just pick up the CableCards. This is what the rep on the phone told me. She also said I could just request them from her and she would add them to my account ($2.99 per month each) and have them sent to me in the mail. This is probably what I will do, but my ATI DCT's won't arrive for another 2 weeks, so I'll place the order next week.

Thanks again for the responses... I think I will use the MCards if they are supported (and I think they are, but I'll double-check).

-Scott

lvthunder

01-10-08, 06:51 PM

scbauer

01-10-08, 07:32 PM

Drift King

01-12-08, 02:51 PM

gvc

01-12-08, 08:08 PM

"major launches of HD channels were also delayed, but should continue in January (after CES). Expected HD lineup should include all of the currently available nationally contracted HD channels, with a possible chance of a new premium HD channel tier available (think OC).
With Las Vegas hosting CES private HD channels and communication logistics, don't expect to see any public release of channels until after CES."

Ok , vegggas, CES is over..time for your update?

foghorn2

01-12-08, 09:08 PM

Ok , vegggas, CES is over..time for your update?

isn't the Adult shop up next?:D

bruin95

01-12-08, 11:16 PM

Ok , vegggas, CES is over..time for your update?

I was going to wait about two weeks and then come on here and ask "So where are all the new HD channels for Cox?" I may still do that. ;)

gvc

01-13-08, 11:37 AM

isn't the Adult shop up next?:D

Yes, and cox channel 340 G4 tv is broadcasting a 2hr special on the adult expo tonight , sunday, 10pm :)

Eeeerock

01-13-08, 04:36 PM

bruin95

01-13-08, 04:53 PM

Hi!

A friend of mine has HD service with Cox. He's thinking about getting NBA League Pass but he was wondering, do they have the TEAMHD channel? He looked through the channel guide and sees the TEAM1-9 channels, 651-659, but he doesn't see one for TEAMHD. Thanks for your help with this!

Eric

There are no HD "League Pass" games via Cox. You do get the HD games broadcast on NBATV via the MOJO channel slot (706), but you don't have to sub to the NBA package to get those games.

vegas-steven

01-13-08, 09:01 PM

yeah and you also don't get them in hd live as they are being played on mojo either. Still mojo us a great he channel.

bruin95

01-13-08, 11:33 PM

yeah and you also don't get them in hd live as they are being played on mojo either.

Yes you do.

lvthunder

01-14-08, 10:25 AM

Hey lvthunder, could you elaborate a little more on the "they make you get the digital gateway for each card, too" part? I currently have Cox with the digital package, HD programming, and the HD DVR. I think I pay $10 per month for their HD DVR service, so I figured I would be saving $4 per month (2 CableCards = 2.99 x 2 = $6 versus $10). Not that I really care about a few extra bucks a month, but if they are going to charge me an excessive amount each month then that sucks!

Cox charges you for the digital gateway for every device (IE set top box or cable card) you get from them. Of course on TV and such they only tell you the rental price $2.99 and don't tell you that you must get the digital gateway for each card until you order. The price for the digital gateway is $5.00 a month. So if you don't have digital cable now and get two cable cards your bill will go up $15.98 a month.

scbauer

01-16-08, 08:28 PM

If the rep told you that it might be a new policy. Definitely take them up on that. They will want to charge you an installation fee (I think it's $50) to install the card and read the number to the person on the other side of the phone. I think a 5 year old could do it. The cards are $2.99 a month but they make you get the digital gateway for each card too.

Well, unfortunately when I showed up at the Rancho office and told them that the rep told me to go there, they just laughed and said "it's too bad you drove all the way down here."

I called back in hopes that I would get the same rep, and surprisingly the person I talked to said "oh yea, we can send those out to you or you can just pick them up", so I told her I would like them sent to me. She said "okay, let me just transfer you over to the sales department and they'll send those right out to you"

Of course, the sales person also told me they would have to schedule a tech to come out and charge me $30 for the first card, $15 for each additional card. I thought about asking why the first card was $15 more, assuming they would say something like "that's the cost of the travel time for the tech" at which point I would reply, okay, then give me a $15 credit for making me drive out to your office and get rejected! I didn't do it...

Cox charges you for the digital gateway for every device (IE set top box or cable card) you get from them. Of course on TV and such they only tell you the rental price $2.99 and don't tell you that you must get the digital gateway for each card until you order. The price for the digital gateway is $5.00 a month. So if you don't have digital cable now and get two cable cards your bill will go up $15.98 a month.
Bummer... looks like I'll be paying Cox the $45 to "install" the two CableCards, then another few bucks each month. I currently pay about $10 for the DVR that I have, and there might be another $5 for the digital gateway. I guess that adds up to $15 per month, so it should end up being about the same.

-Scott

scbauer

01-16-08, 08:31 PM

lvthunder

01-16-08, 09:40 PM

By the way, I've seen some people here mention that Cox is replacing the 8300 HD DVR with a different model that uses CableCards. I asked the Cox rep's both in the office and on the phone, but they all said that they didn't use CableCards in their DVR's. What's the deal?

I was thinking I would just pick up one of those, pull the CableCards out and put them into my ATI Digital TV Tuner's (OCUR's)... Then I would call Cox and say something like, I accidentally pulled the CableCards out of my DVR, here is the code to do the pairing. Would that work?

-Scott

On all the new equipment Cox buys they have to use Cablecards, but it would do no good to remove them. They are tied to the hardware they are in. There is a serial number for the hardware device and the card and Cox's system know both those numbers and it won't work if they are changed. As long as the device is certified by Cablelabs Cox has to give you the cards to use.

scbauer

01-17-08, 12:40 AM

Sorry, I should have been more clear... I know it won't work to just take the CableCards out of one device and put them into another. My understanding was that there is a process that takes place where Cox essentially enters the number from the device and the number from the CableCard and from that point forward, the two are joined.

My question was, instead of having a tech come out and "install" the CableCards, could I take the cards out of a Cox-issued DVR that has CableCards in it, put them into my ATI Tuners, then call Cox with the serial number of the tuner and the serial number of the CableCard so the two can be "joined"?

Really what I'm asking is, if I were to somehow magically get my hands on 2 CableCards from Cox, would I be able to call customer service and have the pairing done, or can that only be done by calling the magic "technician only" phone number?

Thanks for the reply, lvthunder.

-Scott

Demodave

01-17-08, 11:06 AM

lvthunder

01-17-08, 11:25 AM

scbauer

01-17-08, 07:06 PM

I doubt just any CSR can do this for you. I bet the installer calls a different phone number to pair the card and the device. Plus why would you want to pay the rental fee of a box your not going to use instead of just paying for the cards which should be a lot cheaper.
The only reason to do this would be to avoid the "installation" fee. I believe it was you who said the CableCards are $2.99 each and the digital gateway is $5. For 2 CableCards and 2 Digital Gateways, we're talking $16 per month. I believe right now I'm paying $10 per month for the DVR rental and $5 for a single Digital Gateway. I would actually save $1 per month as well as avoid the $50 fee.

I do agree that there is probably a different phone number. I also know that they would just try to re-pair the DVR with the CableCard, but I figured if people had done it before I could give it a shot. Guess it won't work.

I just hate the idea of having to pay $50 just to have a guy come out, read a number from my OCUR, then call a phone number and repeat the number he read. Oh well...

Thanks for the replies!

-Scott

vegas-steven

01-17-08, 07:56 PM

By the way, I've seen some people here mention that Cox is replacing the 8300 HD DVR with a different model that uses CableCards. I asked the Cox rep's both in the office and on the phone, but they all said that they didn't use CableCards in their DVR's. What's the deal?

I was thinking I would just pick up one of those, pull the CableCards out and put them into my ATI Digital TV Tuner's (OCUR's)... Then I would call Cox and say something like, I accidentally pulled the CableCards out of my DVR, here is the code to do the pairing. Would that work?

-Scott

erm... i have a "new" HDDVR never opened i havent installed here... and it has a cablecard slot... the box says it is the explorer 8240DC.

lvthunder

01-17-08, 08:01 PM

The cablecards they use in the DVR boxes are the M-Stream Cards unless there are 2 slots. If your ATI thing can use the M-Stream Cards then you only need one card and one digital gateway.

lvthunder

01-18-08, 12:17 AM

Also Cox CSR's aren't trained very well so it's not surprising to me that they don't know that there boxes use cablecards.

gvc

01-18-08, 07:54 PM

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6523482.html

"DirecTV Plans Price Increase
$3 Package Hikes Set To Go Into Effect Feb. 27"

scbauer

01-21-08, 02:27 AM

The cablecards they use in the DVR boxes are the M-Stream Cards unless there are 2 slots. If your ATI thing can use the M-Stream Cards then you only need one card and one digital gateway.

The M-card will work, but only for a single stream, so I would still need 2. I didn't realize that the new DVR used a single M-Card. Thanks!

Larry Stewart

01-21-08, 09:48 AM

scbauer

01-21-08, 04:54 PM

I have a Velocity Micro Cinemagix with 2 ATI tuners. Other than the original headaches of getting the cards properly paired by COX, I am having really good luck. I love the MCE interface.

Thanks Larry, I am really glad to hear people like the interface. That is one of the main reasons I wanted Media Center with Digital Tuners... I couldn't give up my HD channels, but I absolutely HATE the Cox DVR interface. Coming from TiVo to Cox, it was like going from Heaven to Hell. I've played with the Media Center interface for a while now, and so far I think it is a similar user experience as TiVo. I haven't had a chance to use the actual TV interface, though, just the DVD, music, etc...

Larry, just out of curiosity, do you have the internal tuners or external? I know VM has the internal tuners as an option with their systems. Also, could you give me some more details about the "headaches of getting the cards properly paired by Cox"? Anything specific I should pay attention to? I'm assuming you had to have a Cox technician come out to do the "installation"?

Thanks again!

-Scott

Drift King

01-26-08, 12:26 PM

I am having a problem receiving Channel 8 via ClearQAM (for my HTPC). I was able to watch it a few nights ago when I set up my new tuner. Also, I am able to receive the rest of the available (unencrypted) ClearQAM channels. Now it is showing up as no signal. If anyone is using a ClearQAM turner, could you check to see if Channel 8 is broadcasting of ClearQAM? Thanks!

Larry Stewart

01-26-08, 06:17 PM

Larry Stewart

01-26-08, 06:47 PM

Thanks Larry, I am really glad to hear people like the interface. That is one of the main reasons I wanted Media Center with Digital Tuners... I couldn't give up my HD channels, but I absolutely HATE the Cox DVR interface. Coming from TiVo to Cox, it was like going from Heaven to Hell. I've played with the Media Center interface for a while now, and so far I think it is a similar user experience as TiVo. I haven't had a chance to use the actual TV interface, though, just the DVD, music, etc...

Larry, just out of curiosity, do you have the internal tuners or external? I know VM has the internal tuners as an option with their systems. Also, could you give me some more details about the "headaches of getting the cards properly paired by Cox"? Anything specific I should pay attention to? I'm assuming you had to have a Cox technician come out to do the "installation"?

Thanks again!

-Scott

Hard to know where to start...
When I first got the Velociy Micro, I setup the cable tuners (internal) in MCE to tune everything that didn't require the cable cards (including clear QAM). As soon as the tech showed up and we put the cards in, I started getting a restricted content error. After about 2 hrs the tech gave up (seems like we tried everything) and said a supervisor would have to be scheduled to come out and complete the install. About 2 hrs later the tech called me and said the supervisor told him to pick up the cards, and that Cox would not support MCE.
I proceeded to play with the system for the next week and finally discovered that the HD 2600 XT video card supplied by VM would not work with the driver disk supplied by VM. I downloaded new drivers off the web, and got everything functioning with the cable cards inserted (but still no digital or premium channels).
I now contacted Cox tech support via phone, and spent 2 hrs trying to get the Cox side talking correctly with my PC. They never could get their system properly configured so they eventually gave up and said a supervisor would call me (let's call him unknown supervisor #1).
The next day, when I had not received a call, I called Cox and spoke with another supervisor (#2). #2 told me that Cox would not support a media center system and he wanted to pick up the cards. I explained to him that I had authorized equipment, tested by CableLabs and authorized for cable cards, and the FCC mandate did not allow Cox to pick and chose which approved equipment could be used with their cable cards.
He said he would have to do some research and call me back in 30 minutes.
2 hours later he called back and said he would send a tech to try again.
That evening, the technician was in my house and on the phone with Cox for about 4 minutes (verifying all of the equipment serial numbers jived with their computer) when everything was up and running perfectly. I've now had it for about 3 weeks and it's working great.
Read the troubleshooting section on http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/mediacenter/cablecard.mspx to get a really good synopsis of how to set up the cards.
Another helpful link - http://dondumitru.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=amonth%3d10%26ayear%3d2007

P.S. I did finally get a call back from the unknown supervisor #1 about 2 days later to explain to me why they would not support media centers.
I laughed and said they would and they did, and everything is working fine after they sent the tech I had requested in the first place. He got quickly off the phone.

It is an adventure... :)

P.P.S. The internal tuners are not really pc cards. They still hook via USB and power internally and just sit in a card slot cause they have to sit someplace. Go external unless you have a problem with the esthetics.

Drift King

01-26-08, 07:19 PM

All of the clear QAM channels are working fine of Cox cable LV (including CBS HD) on both a QAM TV and my HD homerun.

Thanks! I check to see if it is a signal issue on my end.

scbauer

01-27-08, 02:44 AM

I ordered a Dell XPS 420 about 2 weeks ago, and received my PC about a week ago. I received my DCT's on Thursday, set them up without CableCards on Friday. Everything was working fine. Had the cable company (Cox in Las Vegas) come out this morning and everything actually went fairly smooth. One CableCard was DOA, so the tech left and came back an hour later with another card. Everything was working. And then...

Just before the tech left, he got a phone call from some "really high-up guy at Cox" (those were the tech's words). The person from Cox told the sub-contracted technician that he is not allowed to install CableCards in ATI DCT's. Apparently, there was an issue where a tech did something wrong and killed the ATI DCT's, and so Cox had to pay for the new DCT's.

The tech told me that he was going to have to remove the CableCards. Well, considering the fact that I specifically purchased a new $1,500 computer primarilly for watching HDTV, it's pretty obvious what came next. I looked the tech right in the eye, glared as if I was going to kick is a$$, and said "nope"... easy as that. Nope. He took a moment and then said that I could keep the CableCards installed if I signed a "waiver" that said neither Cox nor the sub-contracted company were liable if something were to happen to my DCT's or my PC. Not a big deal since I know that the CableCards aren't going to do any harm to my PC, especially not now that they are successfully installed.

Anyways, long story short, I now have my CableCards installed and everything seems to work great. I'm just waiting on my 750-gig hard drive to arrive and my setup will be complete (for now).

One last, very important note... as the tech was walking out the door, he received an e-mail on his Blackberry (and it went to all sub-contractors of Cox Las Vegas) that said something like:

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: No technician shall even attempt to install CableCards in an ATI Digital Cable Tuner or any other PC. Cox will not support these installations. If a contractor installs CableCards in a PC they will be held liable for any and all damages that may occur.
So, it looks like for now, Cox Las Vegas will not support or allow ATI DCT's. I don't know if there are any legal implications to this with some new laws that require cable companies to support decryption (or something like that).

Finally, I should mention that when I called for the appointment, I told them I had a new TiVo. The tech told me that had I said I had a new PC with the ATI DCT's, they would have refused my request immediately.

I hope this gets resolved quickly as I would hate to see other people get stuck with useless DCT's.

-Scott

scbauer

01-27-08, 02:50 AM

Hard to know where to start...
When I first got the Velociy Micro, I setup the cable tuners (internal) in MCE to tune everything that didn't require the cable cards (including clear QAM). As soon as the tech showed up and we put the cards in, I started getting a restricted content error. After about 2 hrs the tech gave up (seems like we tried everything) and said a supervisor would have to be scheduled to come out and complete the install. About 2 hrs later the tech called me and said the supervisor told him to pick up the cards, and that Cox would not support MCE.
I proceeded to play with the system for the next week and finally discovered that the HD 2600 XT video card supplied by VM would not work with the driver disk supplied by VM. I downloaded new drivers off the web, and got everything functioning with the cable cards inserted (but still no digital or premium channels).
I now contacted Cox tech support via phone, and spent 2 hrs trying to get the Cox side talking correctly with my PC. They never could get their system properly configured so they eventually gave up and said a supervisor would call me (let's call him unknown supervisor #1).
The next day, when I had not received a call, I called Cox and spoke with another supervisor (#2). #2 told me that Cox would not support a media center system and he wanted to pick up the cards. I explained to him that I had authorized equipment, tested by CableLabs and authorized for cable cards, and the FCC mandate did not allow Cox to pick and chose which approved equipment could be used with their cable cards.
He said he would have to do some research and call me back in 30 minutes.
2 hours later he called back and said he would send a tech to try again.
That evening, the technician was in my house and on the phone with Cox for about 4 minutes (verifying all of the equipment serial numbers jived with their computer) when everything was up and running perfectly. I've now had it for about 3 weeks and it's working great.
Read the troubleshooting section on http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/mediacenter/cablecard.mspx to get a really good synopsis of how to set up the cards.
Another helpful link - http://dondumitru.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=amonth%3d10%26ayear%3d2007

P.S. I did finally get a call back from the unknown supervisor #1 about 2 days later to explain to me why they would not support media centers.
I laughed and said they would and they did, and everything is working fine after they sent the tech I had requested in the first place. He got quickly off the phone.

It is an adventure... :)

P.P.S. The internal tuners are not really pc cards. They still hook via USB and power internally and just sit in a card slot cause they have to sit someplace. Go external unless you have a problem with the esthetics.

Thanks for the update Larry... as you can see by my post above, I actually had a fairly smooth install. I have 2 external tuners, and it really is the asthetics that I don't like, but buying a Dell XPS 420 I didn't have the option for internal. I am going to make a built-in entertainment center that will house my AVR and my HTPC, so the DCT's will end up hidden anyways.

I hope we get some resolution to this "unsupported" issue.

-Scott

coyoteaz

01-27-08, 03:58 AM

Cox has no right to refuse installation of a CableCard in a CableLabs-certified device. Anyone who is refused should immediately contact a Cox supervisor and notify them that you will be contacting the local franchising authority as well as the FCC regarding their refusal which is a violation of federal code.
Part 76, section 1204:

(a)(1) A multichannel video programming distributor that utilizes navigation devices to perform conditional access functions shall make available equipment that incorporates only the conditional access functions of such devices. Commencing on July 1, 2007, no multichannel video programming distributor subject to this section shall place in service new navigation devices for sale, lease, or use that perform both conditional access and other functions in a single integrated device.
(b) Conditional access function equipment made available pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be designed to connect to and function with other navigation devices available through the use of a commonly used interface or an interface that conforms to appropriate technical standards promulgated by a national standards organization.

Word Maestro

01-27-08, 08:04 PM

I have been accused of tediously complaining about the quality and services provided by Cox Cable. And Cox Cable is an entity shared by probably more than 90% of the members of this forum.
Yet I have never read anything as tediously boring as posts number 6350 and those that have followed it. There are enough acronyms in those posts to keep the Central Intelligence Agency guessing as to their meaning. It's no wonder that this forum has been dead since Jan 18th.

scbauer

01-28-08, 02:10 AM

coyoteaz

01-28-08, 04:37 AM

What exactly are you looking for in an HDTV thread, WM? Most scripted shows are on hiatus because of the WGA strike, most reality isn't HD, the college football season is over, and the NFL season is all but done. LV has no home NBA or NHL teams, it isn't time for March Madness, and the 6 MLB teams that claim LV as part of their market haven't started spring training yet. D* shot their wad of new channels for now and probably won't have too much more added before D*11 goes up; E* is quiet with some new channels in testing but not live and no announced date, and Cox is in the home stretch of upgrading their national network in preparation to launch enough HD channels to get them to 80 by year's end. Seems to me that there isn't much happening worth talking about at the moment other than issues people are having with their hardware.

gvc

01-28-08, 11:20 AM

we miss Vegggas. He's got all the "inside" Cox scoop.

vegggas

01-28-08, 12:36 PM

we miss Vegggas. He's got all the "inside" Cox scoop.
And I miss being in Las Vegas with a high speed internet connection!
My out of town work project is officially a month over schedule (see, unexpected delays CAN happen), and I have no info.
I usually have to connect once or twice a day and download all my subbed forums and read them offline, so it's very hard to reply or add comments.

See ya next month?

vegggas

Word Maestro

01-28-08, 12:49 PM

Cox is in the home stretch of upgrading their national network in preparation to launch enough HD channels to get them to 80 by year's end.

Wasn't that supposed to happen by the end of 2007?

Talking about hardware is certainly an appropriate topic for this forum. But talking in "acronyms" adds a mystery to the proceedings that I (and I assume many others) do not have either the time or inclination to decipher. Why don't you let us all know what those "salads of letters" mean? Then perhaps we can ALL be enlightened by the conversation

Demodave

01-28-08, 02:30 PM

Wasn't that supposed to happen by the end of 2007?

Talking about hardware is certainly an appropriate topic for this forum. But talking in "acronyms" adds a mystery to the proceedings that I (and I assume many others) do not have either the time or inclination to decipher. Why don't you let us all know what those "salads of letters" mean? Then perhaps we can ALL be enlightened by the conversation

Word,

The acronyms are used because a basic understanding of HD is assumed in most users of this forum. In fact, I would say that almost everyone that reads this forum on a regular basis is an enthusiast of technology and especially the technology surrounding HD. If a newbie does participate in the forum, the answers to the meaning of the acronyms are easy to find. And by all means, if anyone asks, they will get a friendly response from one of us.

So if YOU have questions regarding the acronyms, why not just ask the meaning instead of adding another complaint to this forum? This is not meant as a personal jab, Word; but adding senseless complaints to this forum benefits nobody.

coyoteaz

01-28-08, 09:47 PM

Starting with post 6350:
M-Card: Multistream CableCard, device that lets boxes like the Tivo HD tune 2 separate channels using only 1 card (and thus requiring only 1 digital gateway subscription)
DVR: Digital Video Recorder, magic box that plugs into an antenna, cable, or satellite connection and digitally records stuff
MCE: Media Center Edition, version of Windows with shiny widgets designed for playing with audio and video
VM: Velocity Micro, company that makes the tuners Larry is using
QAM: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, way of encoding digital data to fit on a cable line
Clear QAM: channels on cable (encoded using QAM) that are not encrypted and can therefore be accessed by compatible tuners without the need for a subscription
HDHomeRun: Device with 2 over the air/clear QAM tuners that allows digital TV to be streamed over a standard Ethernet network (or wireless with the appropriate bridge hardware)
DCT: Digital Cable Tuner, tuner that supports the use of a CableCard to receive encrypted QAM channels
HTPC: Home Theater Personal Computer, computer with TV tuners designed for watching TV, movies, etc.; often runs Linux using MythTV or other packages, or MCE
FCC: Federal Communications Commission, suits in Washington who set the rules for broadcast, cable, and satellite TV, frequently based on who contributes the most to the congress critters responsible for oversight
Part 76: FCC rules governing cable television

gvc

01-29-08, 11:29 AM

WM: Word Maestro

Word Maestro

01-29-08, 03:28 PM

sweet9

01-29-08, 08:24 PM

Hey everyone,
We just bought an HDTV, and I'm trying to get the local HD channels figured out.

We have Dish network which apparently doesnt have Local HD yet.

I want to buy an Indoor Antenna to pick up the HD channels, but I want to see what people here in Vegas recommend.

I'm trying to get everything ready for the Superbowl.

Do you know if FOX broadcasts in HD in las vegas?

Because on Antennaweb, if I click on "Show Digital Stations only," fox is not in the list.

I just went to antennaweb.com, and here are my results:
yellow - uhf KVCW 33 CW LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 33
yellow - vhf KLAS 8 CBS LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 8
yellow - vhf KLAS-DT 8.1 CBS LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 7
yellow - uhf KINC 15 UNI LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 15
yellow - uhf KINC-DT 15.1 UNI LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.0 16
yellow - vhf KTNV 13 ABC LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 13
yellow - vhf KTNV-DT 13.1 ABC LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 12
yellow - uhf KBLR 39 TEL PARADISE NV 123° 20.9 39
yellow - uhf KBLR-DT 40.1 TEL PARADISE NV 123° 20.8 40
yellow - vhf KVVU 5 FOX HENDERSON NV 123° 20.9 5
yellow - vhf KLVX 10 PBS LAS VEGAS NV 123° 20.9 10
yellow - vhf KLVX-DT 10.1 PBS LAS VEGAS NV 123° 20.9 11
yellow - vhf KVBC 3 NBC LAS VEGAS NV 123° 20.9 3
yellow - vhf KVBC-DT 3.1 NBC LAS VEGAS NV 123° 20.9 2
yellow - uhf KVMY 21 MNT LAS VEGAS NV 123° 20.9 21
green - uhf KELV-LP 27 TFA LAS VEGAS NV 123° 20.9 27
green - uhf K57FA 57 TBN LAS VEGAS NV 123° 20.9 57
green - uhf KTUD-CA 25 IND LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 25
green - uhf KEGS-LP 63 IND LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 63
lt green - uhf KVTE-LP 35 IND LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 35
red - uhf KVCW-DT 33.1 CW LAS VEGAS NV 123° 20.9 29
red - uhf KHDF-CA 19 HTN LAS VEGAS NV 336° 4.7 19
red - uhf KEEN-LP 17 A1 LAS VEGAS NV 336° 4.8 17
red - uhf KVMY-DT 21.1 MNT LAS VEGAS NV 123° 20.9 22
blue - uhf K49AB 49 CBS PAHRUMP NV 203° 22.2 49
blue - uhf K44AA 44 NBC PAHRUMP NV 203° 22.2 44
blue - uhf K46GX 46 CBS HENDERSON NV 113° 27.2 46
blue - uhf KNBX-LP 31 BOX LAS VEGAS NV 134° 23.1 31

Any antenna recommendations, or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks.

foghorn2

01-29-08, 09:33 PM

I'm in the Silverado Ranch area so I'm pretty close and tried an indoor antenna but got tried of doing the Mr. Bean trick to get the channels to come in right all the time.

I also have Dish and setttled for a Channel Master Stealth affixed to the bottom of the dish pole that I diplexed to my receiver. Gets all locals flawlessly and WITHOUT AMPLIFICATION.

It looks very cool to. My kids think imagine its a bird.

And Fox does broadcast in HD.

docprego

01-31-08, 08:19 PM

Having read some of the posts on the previous page and soon to possibly order a Dell XPS 420 with the ATI digital cable tuner, I called Cox to try and get to the bottom line. I talked with a representative in video technical support. She had to go to a supervisor to get an answer. Here is what I was told. The supervisor said Cox will no longer install the cable cards, BUT I could make an appointment and they would bring one out to me. I then could install it myself (which I guess means placing it in the slot?) and the technician would assist in the setup of the card. Apparently cox is paranoid about physically touching people's computers. I am on hold and I wrote down the supervisors name ....UPDATE they just came back and told me that they may still be installing them after all. They are going to research it and get back to me. Either way the rep told me I could get the card.

lvthunder

02-01-08, 11:30 AM

If they insist on you installing the card make sure they don't charge you an installation fee.

vegggas

02-02-08, 03:09 AM

gvc

02-02-08, 10:47 AM

Welcome back Vegggas....sounds good....looking forward to it!

foghorn2

02-02-08, 03:07 PM

Hello kiddies,
I'm back now, going through emails, talking to friends, and gathering some local HD data. There will be a large group of us gathered for the big game this weekend, but initial comments and emails sound almost too good to be true. Give me a few days to find out the truth, check some details and confirm some things and I will get back to this forum.

vegggas

Is Cox gonna have all the HDs the sat subs get and are getting Tivo software in the boxes and are lowering the prices and providing multiroom access?

If not , don't bother.

Drift King

02-02-08, 07:43 PM

Is Cox gonna have all the HDs the sat subs get and are getting Tivo software in the boxes and are lowering the prices and providing multiroom access?

If not , don't bother.

Mmmm... Tivo Software... We can all dream can't we... :(

A few quick questions... Will the Tivo software run on existing boxes? Are they ever going to offer the SA8300HD Multi Room? Can anyone confirm if the firewire ports are unblocked on any of the locally offered HD boxes (neither of my SA8300HD's are)? Are they offering MCards in Vegas yet? TIA!

vegggas

02-02-08, 07:49 PM

Is Cox gonna have all the HDs the sat subs get and are getting Tivo software in the boxes and are lowering the prices and providing multiroom access?

If not , don't bother.

Actually, they may have more than what you currently have ;). Looking at the latest engineering mode lineup, there are MORE test channels in engineering mode than currently available subscribable HD channels :eek: Engineering mode shows channel allocations and placeholders for testing. Not all the channels are populated yet and it takes a day or two to install the equipment to receive and transmit EACH set of channels (meaning a lot of new equipment to install, setup and test a couple at a time). It looks like they are about halfway through populating some of the test channels and it may be a while before it's finalized. That means no time frame known yet, but this is the last technical step before launching. I won't say any specific names of channels until they are announced because I've been burned before when they don't get the agreement the the "Nets", but some of the viewable test channels (they come and go) have been associated with News, Movies, Sports, Science, Animals, etc.

Fog, There are other specific forums for this, but...
I hope you didn't get too used to that stolen Tivo software that E* has been using and you can probably expect a large increase in subscriber fees in the future to cover costs and revenue loss. You should read the latest news (Feb 1) that they, Echostar, are now forced to pay the original amount, plus interest and supplemental costs for an amount around $90 Million in damages to Tivo. This is a PERMANENT and FINAL injunction and not open to appeals. There is also the fact that they probably have to cease DVR operations on a majority of their older DVR recievers specifically named in the lawsuit. I would not like to be locked into a multi-year agreement right now...
I'm getting a copy of the court ruling to look at the actual wording to see how deep it will impact Echostar, since I have several friends that use the older DVR's.

vegggas

vegggas

02-02-08, 08:03 PM

Mmmm... Tivo Software... We can all dream can't we... :(

A few quick questions... Will the Tivo software run on existing boxes? Are they ever going to offer the SA8300HD Multi Room? Can anyone confirm if the firewire ports are unblocked on any of the locally offered HD boxes (neither of my SA8300HD's are)? Are they offering MCards in Vegas yet? TIA!

The new Tivo software is OCAP/Tru2way based and will run on the 8300/8240HDC and later series DVR's, as well as compatible RETAIL products. The headend will have to be upgraded to support the Tru2way system and Cox has announced nationally that they wil be upgrading a majority of their larger headends to these new services during the 2008 year.

MultiRoom through the DVR's was shot down when it was announced two years ago at CES due to incompatibility with newer emerging technologies and the way the DVR used it's own system for transport. Since then, it has been rumored that MOCA will be used as the multiroom option for future DVR's. Just so you know, VOD is already multiroom. you can start playing on any STB, stop the program and continue on any other STB on your account within the 24 hour window.

Firewire is enabled on most STB's, but current PC software lacks the correct drivers and protocols for a good transfer. If you have a MAC, though, it's smooth sailing and works great.
M-cards have been available for a while, depending on current inventory. Right now, only the Tivo HD (from retail) can actually use the multiple streams the M-card can decrypt at once. None of the retail cablecard Tivo products are two-way compatible.

vegggas

gvc

02-02-08, 08:49 PM

Good news....my cable bill went DOWN this month...a whopping .01

foghorn2

02-03-08, 01:02 AM

Actually, they may have more than what you currently have ;). Looking at the latest engineering mode lineup, there are MORE test channels in engineering mode than currently available subscribable HD channels :eek: Engineering mode shows channel allocations and placeholders for testing. Not all the channels are populated yet and it takes a day or two to install the equipment to receive and transmit EACH set of channels (meaning a lot of new equipment to install, setup and test a couple at a time). It looks like they are about halfway through populating some of the test channels and it may be a while before it's finalized. That means no time frame known yet, but this is the last technical step before launching. I won't say any specific names of channels until they are announced because I've been burned before when they don't get the agreement the the "Nets", but some of the viewable test channels (they come and go) have been associated with News, Movies, Sports, Science, Animals, etc.

Fog, There are other specific forums for this, but...
I hope you didn't get too used to that stolen Tivo software that E* has been using and you can probably expect a large increase in subscriber fees in the future to cover costs and revenue loss. You should read the latest news (Feb 1) that they, Echostar, are now forced to pay the original amount, plus interest and supplemental costs for an amount around $90 Million in damages to Tivo. This is a PERMANENT and FINAL injunction and not open to appeals. There is also the fact that they probably have to cease DVR operations on a majority of their older DVR recievers specifically named in the lawsuit. I would not like to be locked into a multi-year agreement right now...
I'm getting a copy of the court ruling to look at the actual wording to see how deep it will impact Echostar, since I have several friends that use the older DVR's.

vegggas

For your first paragraph, we will beLIEve it when we see it. Its been a long time coming.

For your second P. Echostar has already reserved $$ in case of payment. The software currently used does not violate Tivo's "patent" so no DVR's will be shut off. And Dish's new ATSC DVR's (TR-50) with no monthly fees will kill Tivo and take subs away from you. Too Bad.

If anything, Charlie may just buy Tivo and go after you for the same things they got sued for. We will see who has the last laugh.:p

JoustGod

02-03-08, 02:09 AM

For your first paragraph, we will beLIEve it when we see it. Its been a long time coming.

For your second P. Echostar has already reserved $$ in case of payment. The software currently used does not violate Tivo's "patent" so no DVR's will be shut off. And Dish's new ATSC DVR's (TR-50) with no monthly fees will kill Tivo and take subs away from you. Too Bad.

If anything, Charlie may just buy Tivo and go after you for the same things they got sued for. We will see who has the last laugh.:p

And you think Echostar's cash reserved for this lawsuit decision is just money they had laying around? It would be rather naive to think that a corporate entity will not pass on the cost to its consumers. It may have been "reserved" money, but not totally "lost" money as far as their accounting goes until they actually have to give it up.

What is your compulsion to deride vegggas when he is doing nothing other than divulging info that a great deal of us are interested in? If you don't like Cox, that's fine. What do your juvenile spellings of "beLIEve" hope to achieve? I'm willing to listen if you have a reasonable answer.

And on that note, much thanks to you vegggas for your insight. I don't expect everything you say to come to fruition instantly as there are numerous roadblocks that always seem to sidetrack progress for any companies delivering video content, cable, sat or otherwise. But, it is nice to have a heads up as to what state things are in for us locally.

Rick LV

02-03-08, 02:09 AM

Anyone having issues with Cox channels 704 and 705 (ESPNHD and ESPN2HD)? They both seem to be really jittery.

EDIT: Problem seems to be solved. I rebooted my TiVo HD and all is now well.

foghorn2

02-03-08, 11:12 AM

And you think Echostar's cash reserved for this lawsuit decision is just money they had laying around? It would be rather naive to think that a corporate entity will not pass on the cost to its consumers. It may have been "reserved" money, but not totally "lost" money as far as their accounting goes until they actually have to give it up.

What is your compulsion to deride vegggas when he is doing nothing other than divulging info that a great deal of us are interested in? If you don't like Cox, that's fine. What do your juvenile spellings of "beLIEve" hope to achieve? I'm willing to listen if you have a reasonable answer.

And on that note, much thanks to you vegggas for your insight. I don't expect everything you say to come to fruition instantly as there are numerous roadblocks that always seem to sidetrack progress for any companies delivering video content, cable, sat or otherwise. But, it is nice to have a heads up as to what state things are in for us locally.

What is your compulsion to deride me when I am doing nothing other than divulging info that a great deal of us are interested in? If you don't like Dish, that's fine. What do your juvenile spellings of "JoustgOD" hope to achieve? I'm willing to listen if you have a reasonable answer.

<Veggas is no Jesus and neither am I>

BTW, what info has your "friend" been "divluging" here, I'm willing to listen.

As for E*'s money laying around, they already counted for all their losses in a previous 1/4. they have been collecting DVR fees soon after inception so no more fees need be collected from customers.

Tivo killer:

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-13855_1-9840910-67.html

When the TR-50, a ATSC standalone HD-DVR, that does not violate tivo and has no monthly fees, look for tivos demise or Charlie buying it and going after eveyone else who has a DVR.

JoustGod

02-03-08, 01:36 PM

What is your compulsion to deride me when I am doing nothing other than divulging info that a great deal of us are interested in? If you don't like Dish, that's fine. What do your juvenile spellings of "JoustgOD" hope to achieve? I'm willing to listen if you have a reasonable answer.

<Veggas is no Jesus and neither am I>

BTW, what info has your "friend" been "divluging" here, I'm willing to listen.

As for E*'s money laying around, they already counted for all their losses in a previous 1/4. they have been collecting DVR fees soon after inception so no more fees need be collected from customers.

Tivo killer:

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-13855_1-9840910-67.html

When the TR-50, a ATSC standalone HD-DVR, that does not violate tivo and has no monthly fees, look for tivos demise or Charlie buying it and going after eveyone else who has a DVR.

First off, thanks for underscoring what I said in your first paragraph. Like the old saying goes, "Give 'em enough rope...".

Umm, I don't believe that "Jesus" has been mentioned anywhere. So, drop it.

Point three. What has he divulged? You are apparently a failed student of the Evelyn Woodhead speed reading course. All speed at the lips with no comprehension. Good going.

foghorn2

02-03-08, 11:30 PM

First off, thanks for underscoring what I said in your first paragraph. Like the old saying goes, "Give 'em enough rope...".

Umm, I don't believe that "Jesus" has been mentioned anywhere. So, drop it.

Point three. What has he divulged? You are apparently a failed student of the Evelyn Woodhead speed reading course. All speed at the lips with no comprehension. Good going.

Are you done?

Now back to reality......

The Dish Dvr recorded the game flawlessy OTA using a Channel Master Stealth antenna. Not one blip or glitch. I saw most of the game using the 30 second skip. I must say Manning is a great QB, reminds me of Bradshaw back in the days. Nice to see them together in the end.

I watched all the commercials though.:D
The best one was the one with Trent Lott and James Carville enjoying a Coke.

Would you like a coke Veggggasss?

gvc

02-07-08, 02:46 PM

Cox Faces HDTV Set-Top Shortages

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6529807.html

Demodave

02-07-08, 03:13 PM

Cox Faces HDTV Set-Top Shortages

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6529807.html

It appears from the article that this shortage is only in the markets using Motorola boxes. So I am guessing that Las Vegas is fine.

claudel

02-07-08, 07:09 PM

Can anybody recommend such a thing?

Free, preferably. :rolleyes:

I've been using TitanTv, but they seem to be having trouble keeping up with the new HD additions.

Zap2It seems way too slow.

Cox's guide pages ( and most of their other pages :mad: ) don't display properly for me. ( iMac/Firefox)

TIA

gvc

02-08-08, 09:41 AM

claudel

02-08-08, 01:02 PM

http://tv.yahoo.com/listings_setup;_ylt=AgmjqRp9AZA3eIZtmiVf7ciAo9EF

Thanks, I'll try that for awhile.

hdtvxpert

02-08-08, 09:31 PM

I am not a big fan of the CW's Smallville, but my wife is. For the last 2 weeks ch. 33-1 has not shown it in HD. This station leads the pack in it's inability to pass a network HD signal. What is their problem? Any thoughts?

Word Maestro

02-09-08, 01:18 AM

Fox HD, outta commission on Cox.
All day its 480 instead of 720p

vegas-steven

02-09-08, 02:45 AM

Is Cox gonna have all the HDs the sat subs get and are getting Tivo software in the boxes and are lowering the prices and providing multiroom access?

If not , don't bother.

dont know if you heard, but the tivo software that was sent out to cable customers on what... comcast was it? it is more like the first version of tivo than the current gen of tivo.

that being said, it will be nicer to look at, have some more advanced features, but dont expect it to recomment much to you, nor let you access your guide from the net, nor have a good response time when you press the buttons on your remote.

oh yeah... and expect it to cost you a few bucks more each month. yipee.

vegas-steven

02-09-08, 02:49 AM

Actually, they may have more than what you currently have ;). Looking at the latest engineering mode lineup, there are MORE test channels in engineering mode than currently available subscribable HD channels :eek: Engineering mode shows channel allocations and placeholders for testing. Not all the channels are populated yet and it takes a day or two to install the equipment to receive and transmit EACH set of channels (meaning a lot of new equipment to install, setup and test a couple at a time). It looks like they are about halfway through populating some of the test channels and it may be a while before it's finalized. That means no time frame known yet, but this is the last technical step before launching. I won't say any specific names of channels until they are announced because I've been burned before when they don't get the agreement the the "Nets", but some of the viewable test channels (they come and go) have been associated with News, Movies, Sports, Science, Animals, etc.

vegggas

Hey, ive a question:

Any way for the end user to access these test channels? I am from canada, and the cable co that i had there had a pretty advanced network in the city i lived in, and as such through set top boxes a user could acccess test channels...

also, i had directv for a few days, and noticed that you can see test streams of HD before they added those channels last september.

Another question about vegas:
does this market have the capacity for a rollout yet? a cox CSR told me that digital phone wasnt available because my area did not have proper "capacity"... it now has it, but does that make sense? Could some old and less economically well off part of the city hold back the rest of us?

vegas-steven

02-09-08, 02:53 AM

What is your compulsion to deride me when I am doing nothing other than divulging info that a great deal of us are interested in? If you don't like Dish, that's fine. What do your juvenile spellings of "JoustgOD" hope to achieve? I'm willing to listen if you have a reasonable answer.

<Veggas is no Jesus and neither am I>

BTW, what info has your "friend" been "divluging" here, I'm willing to listen.

As for E*'s money laying around, they already counted for all their losses in a previous 1/4. they have been collecting DVR fees soon after inception so no more fees need be collected from customers.

Tivo killer:

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-13855_1-9840910-67.html

When the TR-50, a ATSC standalone HD-DVR, that does not violate tivo and has no monthly fees, look for tivos demise or Charlie buying it and going after eveyone else who has a DVR.

actually, the new cablecards can run what are essentially java based program guides. that being said, tivo could work well there.

on the other hand, from what i have heard, the cable companies control what goes onto those new cablecards, so who knows if they will push for tivo or some other standard.

bftlg

02-09-08, 08:32 PM

Fox HD, outta commission on Cox.
All day its 480 instead of 720p

5pm and fox (735) HD is still out for me too. I called cox, and the tech support person told me he could see the HD signal fine.

They have "top men" working on it I am sure.

-b

Word Maestro

02-09-08, 11:38 PM

5pm and fox (735) HD is still out for me too. I called cox, and the tech support person told me he could see the HD signal fine.

They have "top men" working on it I am sure.

-b

I just called Cox too. They told me its a "Fox" problem, and that Cox can do NOTHING about it.
As far as the information YOU were given is concerned, just another blatant lie to get the customer off their backs. Those IDIOT TECHS watch EVERYTHING in the stretch mode, and they wouldn't know a true HD signal from a kettle of fish.
I'm so fed up with Cox and its excuses, words fail even the Word Maestro.

bftlg

02-10-08, 11:44 AM

so... can anyone confirm if this is fox or kvuu or cox? Maybe some one on Directv or antenna can pop over and see if, for example, Daytona Qualifying or the Pro-bowl is in HD?

TIA,
bob

rsblaski

02-10-08, 02:24 PM

The problem was with Fox local. When I went to watch a recording of the Bud Shootout, which I believe started 5pm our time, there a message from D* stating that there was a problem with our local broadcaster and that they were aware of it. So if you folks had problems on Cox and I had problems on D*, it was obviously something at Fox 5. (At least D* acknowleged the problem and let me know what was going on. I don't know why Cox didn't put up a message.) BTW, the signal came back about 40 some minutes into the broadcast.

bftlg

02-10-08, 04:25 PM

It did not ever come back on Cox, and was out for the entirety of Daytona Qualifying, and is not on now for the beginning of the pro bowl.

-b

rsblaski

02-10-08, 09:45 PM

I really feel for you Cox subscribers.
The qualifying was great. Nice to see a one car team (Front Row Joe) get locked in to the race. Third place after J. Johnson and Mikey. (And good for him too!)

vegggas

02-10-08, 11:06 PM

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6529086.html

Q&A: Cox’s Steve Necessary (Cox Corporate VP of Video Product Development and Support)

George Winslow -- Multichannel News, 2/4/2008 4:12:00 PM
As the satellite operators and telcos tout their ability to deliver more HD tonnage than cable, major operators are scrambling to free up bandwidth for bulked-up HD packages. Cox Communications vice president of video product development and support Steve Necessary spoke to HD Update about the “tool box” Cox is using to free bandwidth for more high-def content. An edited transcript follows:

Q: We’ve seen a lot of very dramatic announcements about the amount of HD channels satellite and telcos will be offering this year. Is this marketing hype or does it mean that they are ahead of cable in terms of the amount of HD channels they can offer?

A: There is a lot of rhetoric. But I suspect that it is rhetoric that passes legal muster. We all have lawyers and they look at everything. So, one would have to assume that the tonnage claims are backed by fact.

That said, the fundamental question behind those claims is simple. How much of that tonnage does the consumer actually care about?

If 20 of those channels or some large number of the channels being offered are regional sports networks, what’s the value in that? Most of us are not very interested in out-of-market regional sports.

You can also make the same argument about some of the unbranded content or niche content that is part of those packages. The channels that have strong name appeal will have highest value for consumers. Having a large number of channels that no one knows about will have commensurately less value.

But when you peel that onion, you see that we are offering the same amount of high value content. Then, on top of that cable has the advantage of being able to augment its high-def offering by literally orders of magnitude with the choices you’ll find in our HD on-demand offering.

So we are not particularly worried about tonnage itself. Ultimately quality is what matters. We are confident that our variety of choices will ultimately dwarf the number of HD choices that satellite can offer.

Q: That will require a lot more bandwidth. What are you doing to get the capacity for more HD choices?

A: The good news is that we have a pretty good tool box. We basically are using all of the tools at our disposal.

A quick laundry list would be bandwidth expansion -- we’ve taken all of our markets or are in the process of taking all of our markets to at least 860MHz. We are deploying switched digital video in several markets. We are selectively and modestly looking to take away analogue channels, which frees up capacity.

We are also looking to increase our compression ratios, which you have to do carefully so it doesn’t have a negative impact on signal quality. But there are some things that can and are being done that yield great pictures with a little less bandwidth with MPEG-2, and in the future MPEG-4 will be another tool in that mix.

Last but not least, is the physical architecture of our systems. You can reduce node sizes so that your capacity -- particularly your on-demand capacity -- is shared over a smaller footprint, which effectively increases the capacity in that node.

So we have a pretty full tool box. We are very confident that with the number of tools we have available that we will be able to provide a superior HD experience for our customers.

Q: What is your timetable for switched digital?

A: We have it operational in our Northern Virginia system and then we have two other large markets in the deploying in the first half of this year, Phoenix Arizona and Orange County California.

Q: How much new HD content have you added as a result of switched digital in Virginia?

A: It will obviously allow us to add more. But, Cox has a very high emphasis on quality. So we have been and will continue to be very deliberate in assessing the utilization and how much bandwidth actually gets freed up by switched digital before we try to fill all that capacity back up.

Said differently, the last thing we want is for a customer to turn to a channel and get an error message that says that channel is not available. We have not had that scenario and hope to never have that scenario. It is working very well and we are very encouraged by that.

Q: What are you dong in the area of compression?

A: The typical implementation of high definition would mean that we would carry that content on a system at somewhere around 19 Mbps.

We have found that with improved MPEG-2 encoders, that we can get equally good pictures to the eye in the 13 Mbps to 14 Mbps. So basically, that means you can squeeze three high-definition channels into one of the 6 MHz blocks instead of 2 channels.

Q: With increasing broadband speeds, do you have plans to offer more HD content online?

A: There is an opportunity to utilize the IP path as a means of delivering video. But our plans for it would at best be considered nascent. Frankly there are easier and more efficient ways to deliver HD content with MPEG-2 over QAM as opposed to MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 over an IP path. Yeah, it is ultimately another tool but it is a tool that we will leave at the bottom of the box for a while.

vegggas

vegggas

02-10-08, 11:27 PM

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Cirque's "Love" at the Grammy Awards for a rEVOLutionary and outstanding performance.
We appreciate and are proud of all of you local Las Vegans who are being recognized for your hard work!
Enjoy your spotlight and a few days off, at least until Wednesday's show :-)

vegggas

KRiS1

02-10-08, 11:43 PM

cliffs on Cox commentary: more lip service from our "friends in the digital age"

:rolleyes:

Drift King

02-10-08, 11:45 PM

Still no HD on Fox... :(

vegggas

02-11-08, 12:19 AM

The information in the previous post about the Cox Q&A confirms some of what I am seeing on the test channels. There are dozens of new channels spanning upwards towards the 860Mhz mark and it appears that they are running three HD channels per QAM without reducing the resolution or affecting the picture quality. The quality of those channels is on par with the same channels already on the system and in some cases, I can do a direct comparison between the two versions.
I strongly think that the new channels are not originating from Las Vegas, but are being pumped from the two super headends located in Atlanta and San Diego. This means, except for local channels, most of the HD will be based on national distribution feeds of high bitrate SDI source material and instead of local sat and decoding/encoding schemes, the highest value ($$$) encoders are being used.
At CES last year (Jan 2007) I got to test out the advanced mpeg2 encoders being fed by an uncompressed studio backbone SDI signal (200Mbps?). I was able to personally crank down the bit rate of the 1080i signal to the 13mbps range before noticing any blocking or distortion at full resolution with heavy screen movement. Since that time, the encoding has gotten a bit more efficient and I see no problem with the new encoders as long as studio feeds are being encoded. The problems will exist when the studio feeds are first compressed by the originators removing some resolveable detail before being sent to distributors.

vegggas

Word Maestro

02-11-08, 01:36 AM

Word Maestro

02-11-08, 01:40 AM

Word Maestro

02-11-08, 01:49 AM

vegggas

02-11-08, 03:01 AM

Veggas,
You quoted Steve Necessary as saying,

"If 20 of those channels or some large number of the channels being offered are regional sports networks, what’s the value in that? Most of us are not very interested in out-of-market regional sports."

Who says THAT'S True??

Most Las Vegans were NOT born in this city, and have migrated here from other sections of the United States.

This is yet another example of Cox "head-honchos" imposing their likes and dislikes on the viewers in this city.

Ok, I'll bite. What the heck, here's my $.02 worth of an opinion, based on a quote from a news magazine.
The Q&A was from a VP at Cox corporate in Atlanta Georgia, not Las Vegas Nevada, answering questions about the corporate stance of Cox in general terms compared to other providers carrying out of region programming. Many Cox markets have major league sports teams and Cox either carries their own sports network affiliates or owns a local television channel dedicated to carrying local sports coverage. Why would Atanta be interested in carrying all the NorthEast RSN's, or for that matter all the NorthWest RSN's? Since Las Vegas has people from all over the world, should we have dedicated channels for each city and state in the US and every television market in the world? Why not carry 1000 channels of sports and no HD at all? I'm sure relocated Canuks would want to see their hometown curling preliminaries and our heavy population of Futbol fans would love to see more soccer events, but how does that relate to our Las Vegas market? The major events are carried by the existing outlets in a crippled, but useful way, until franchising and viewership rights can be changed, or until Vegas can get it's own teams.

Las Vegas is a unique market where we have no major sports teams, but where nearly all teams in the entire Western region claim us as their home market for television rights. This kind of regional licensing screws with distribution platforms, where a local provider has virtually no say in providing out of region programming due to local competition, but a national distributor, like D*, can claim programming to all markets, so it's no problem to open those channels to other viewers.
I'm rambling now, and there are others on here with more detailed answers. Since you have D* already, you should enjoy that programming and be done with it. You have a choice, make it so.

ve666as

vegggas

02-11-08, 03:12 AM

Why has the Fox HD signal been restored on D* while it has NOT been restored on Cox?
I suspect that the Cox "engineers" are away from their consoles because its Sunday night.
We peons can wait until Monday morning at the earliest. And we probably won't get it back by then either.

Who knows?
What HD programming on Fox are you missing out on tonight or tomorrow morning? There is no HD programming until 8:00 PM on Monday. Today there was only one program in HD and that was the qualifying from Daytona. Too bad the ProBowl was SD (widescreen, but still SD), or there could have been more than two hours of HD on today.

I know, it's still the point about it being in SD, but it looks like Cox reprogrammed the STB's to view the SD channel version until they can reprogram the STB's again to view the HD version. They only remap and reprogram STB's overnight, so probably sometime overnight during paid programming hours, they will send out reprogramming and rebooting instructions to alll the digital STB's. I guess you would rather they reboot a couple hundred thousand HD STB's during the Probowl or during the Grammy's, leaving everyone with a down box for 5 minutes?

ve666as

vegggas

02-11-08, 03:28 AM

I suspect that D* has a built in advantage over Cox which Cox can NEVER equal.
This is only conjecture, but it sure makes alot of sense to me. When the problem is at our local Fox 5 affiliate, D* simply switches another cities national feed to their local Fox HD channel. For example it may be possible for D* to present us with the San Diego, or LA feed when our local Fox affiliate or Cox Communications is asleep at the switch.

They can't replace a local feed with an out of market feed. There would be hell to pay and D* would lose the right to carry that station.
Most D* users can pick up the OTA signal and see any changes in real time as the station actually fixes the OTA feed. This is the stations priority signal as it is transmitted from the tower. The D* users that get the Mpeg4 feed from D* instead of from OTA, still get an OTA signal as carried by the local affiliates broadcasting tower. Cox, as a Local into Local provider, gets a feed via fiber with commercial insert feed splices. Meaning that Cox gets to insert a small percentage of commercials into predetermined timeslots of local programming, but they need a seperate feed before it hits the local ad splicer, muxer and transmitter. This level of programming doesn't get as much priority as the tower feed because it's Cox vs. local affiliate ad revenue being lost. A station will always get THEIR OTA signal on air first if at all possible to maintain their ad revenues, where Cox would lose any ad revenue they couldn't provide.

vegggas

Drift King

02-11-08, 09:17 AM

Who knows?
I know, it's still the point about it being in SD, but it looks like Cox reprogrammed the STB's to view the SD channel version until they can reprogram the STB's again to view the HD version. They only remap and reprogram STB's overnight, so probably sometime overnight during paid programming hours, they will send out reprogramming and rebooting instructions to alll the digital STB's. I guess you would rather they reboot a couple hundred thousand HD STB's during the Probowl or during the Grammy's, leaving everyone with a down box for 5 minutes?

ve666as

FYI, the ClearQAM signal for FoxHD was also broadcasted in SD all day yesterday...

BTW, keep up the good work vegggas! I have been lurking here for years but only recently registered for the forum. Your insight on our local cable provider is amazing and I always look forward to reading your posts.

bftlg

02-11-08, 03:03 PM

Who knows?
What HD programming on Fox are you missing out on tonight or tomorrow morning? There is no HD programming until 8:00 PM on Monday. Today there was only one program in HD and that was the qualifying from Daytona.

ve666as

Exactly. Daytona Qualifying. As well as the Bud pole shootout on Saturday. Not a huge deal to most, but I enjoying racing, and NASCAR has gone to great lengths to get everything on in HD. I just hope it gets fixed for the Main Event on Sunday.....

If only cox could get SPEEDHD in time for the Duels. I can dream can't I?

-b

lvthunder

02-11-08, 03:44 PM

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6529086.html

Q&A: Cox’s Steve Necessary (Cox Corporate VP of Video Product Development and Support)

George Winslow -- Multichannel News, 2/4/2008 4:12:00 PM

You can also make the same argument about some of the unbranded content or niche content that is part of those packages. The channels that have strong name appeal will have highest value for consumers. Having a large number of channels that no one knows about will have commensurately less value.

Unless you happen to like one of those niches. The MGM channel and HDNet Movies come to mind for me.

Now if Cox could only make it where you didn't have to reboot the stupid CableCards everytime Cox decides to move stuff around.

vegas-steven

02-11-08, 08:20 PM

lvthunder

02-11-08, 09:36 PM

And that's the rub. Who defines what the real important HD nets are? For me they would include HDNet Movies and Fox Sports West.

vegggas

02-11-08, 09:44 PM

Unless you happen to like one of those niches. The MGM channel and HDNet Movies come to mind for me.

Now if Cox could only make it where you didn't have to reboot the stupid CableCards everytime Cox decides to move stuff around.

Still in negotiations - Stuck on subscriber fees and charging them as premium channels. Cox wants them to be free with whetever tier of service you already have, but the channels want individual fees based on every viewer.
Both have been talked about and tested.

vegggas

vegggas

02-11-08, 09:47 PM

has anyone ever noticed how much actual HD programming per week some of those D* Channels offer? IIR the smithsonian channel had a whopping 13 hours of programming per week when it launched last fall.

Whew, and i thought that HD Theatre was bad for repeating.

Anyhow...

Any word on when the last of the real important HD nets will get to vegas? Namely:

Animal Planet
Travel Channel HD

And are these a simulcast like Discovery channel and TLC are?

As with all the Discovery Suite of channels besides HD Theater, there are a LOT of upconverts where they zoom the image halfway between cutting off the top and leaving black lines on the sides. Puppy bowl in HD was fun though and looked great.;)

vegggas

vegggas

02-11-08, 09:49 PM

And that's the rub. Who defines what the real important HD nets are? For me they would include HDNet Movies and Fox Sports West.

See my previous posts about carriage fees for both of these Channels.

vegggas

rsblaski

02-12-08, 02:22 AM

Exactly. Daytona Qualifying. As well as the Bud pole shootout on Saturday. Not a huge deal to most, but I enjoying racing, and NASCAR has gone to great lengths to get everything on in HD. I just hope it gets fixed for the Main Event on Sunday.....

If only cox could get SPEEDHD in time for the Duels. I can dream can't I?

-b

Yes, you can dream....or you could get the reality with D* which has had SPEEDHD for months now.

trdn1

02-12-08, 03:38 AM

lvthunder

02-12-08, 10:31 AM

Fox's feed hasn't been out for two months. What kind of equipment are you using to get it with.

vegggas

02-12-08, 10:35 AM

FOX's HD feed has been out for the last two months at least. I thought they were in cahoots with COX to get folks to buy the their HD STB for the Super Bowl, but I guess I was wrong.

Any one have any info on what's going on here? I called COX two separate times about this and they say that it is FOX's issue, not theirs - they just pipe whatever feed they get from fox over basic cable (the way I get my HD).
FoxHD had a transmit issue over the weekend and Cox replaced the blank HD feed from them with the SD feed until Monday. All is working now, as has been.
Not sure what kind of problem you are having a problem, but FOXHD has been working and is in the same place for a long time. If you have an HD STB it's on channel 735, if you have a manual tuner, it's located at 723 Mhz or cable channel 112.1. You might want to recheck your equipment and connections and if you have your own QAM tuner, do a rescan.

vegggas

vegggas

02-12-08, 10:40 AM

Yes, you can dream....or you could get the reality with D* which has had SPEEDHD for months now.

D* has an exclusive with the fox owners of Speed channel to be the only US carrier of SpeedHD until sometime after speed weeks are over and will be available to other providers sometime after the start of the regular season.

vegggas

vegggas

02-12-08, 10:40 AM

bftlg

02-12-08, 12:39 PM

Yes, you can dream....or you could get the reality with D* which has had SPEEDHD for months now.

NOT having "exclusive private use of a south facing balcony or patio" makes this difficult....

-b

trdn1

02-12-08, 02:28 PM

I use a samsung HDTV tuner, since my older sony doesn't have a built in tuner. Fox used to just show up on channel 5-1. I'll rescan again...all the other channels work fine in their normal local channel numbers.

trdn1

02-12-08, 02:52 PM

Don't know why I didn't do it before, but of course a rescan worked...thanks all

GoldenEarDrum

02-12-08, 03:59 PM

Hello all. I've searched and cannot find the latest QAM and OTA current channel listing. The latest I found was beginning of 2007.

It would be nice to know what everyone gets as different area/nodes can get different listing. It would also be nice if we keep an updated list to keep track of new additions and/or channel changes.

Here's what I can get with mine. Note that QAM MAIN was automatically remapped by my TV. Listed are major ones and a few minor 480i DTV channels:

QAM MAIN
3-1 NBC-HD 1080i
3-2 NBC-123 480i
3-3 NBC-WTH 480i
5-1 FOX-HD 720p
5-2 FOX-WTH 480i
6-1 CW-HD 1080i
8-1 CBS-HD 1080i
8-2 LATV 480i Spanish
10-1 PBS-HD 1080i
10-2 CREATE 480i
10-3 PBS 480i
10-4 VME 480i
13-1 ABC-HD 720p
13-2 ABC-TR 480i

QAM DTV
74-10 NBC 3 480i
75-10 FOX 5 480i
85-8 KCLV 2 480i
85-9 CCTV 4 480i
88-10 CBS 8 480i
89-10 ABC 13 480i
94-1 (Edu.) ?? 480i
109-7 (Edu.) ?? 480i
116-7 (Gov.) ?? 480i

OTA
3-1 KVBC-DT 1080i
3-2 KVBC-WX 480i
5-1 KVVU-HD 720p
5-2 KVVU-SD 480i
8-1 KLAS-DT 1080i
8-2 LATV 480i
10-1 KLVX-HD 1080i
10-2 KLVSSD1 480i
10-3 KLVXSD2 480i
13-1 KTNV-HD 720p
13-2 KTNV-SD 480i
15-1 KINCDT1 480i Spanish
15-2 KINCDT2 480i Spanish
21-1 MyLVTV 720p
32-1 KMCC-DT ???
33-1 TheCWLV 1080i
40-3 ??? 480i Spanish

...

Word Maestro

02-14-08, 02:02 PM

Nutty occurrence on CBS-HD yesterday.

Watching "Criminal Minds" at 9PM on Cox (730). The sound track FOR DIALOG was totally absent. While the soundtrack for background sounds and music was intact.
Never saw that before and hope never to see that again. Proof positive that NOBODY is monitoring the signal. Either at Cox or at KLAS. The SD feed on Channel 8 was fine.

lvthunder

02-14-08, 02:37 PM

That's weird since KLAS doesn't even broadcast in DD5.1.

jedster

02-14-08, 08:49 PM

anyone having problems with channel 13 OTA ATSC? I haven't had it for a couple of days now.

foghorn2

02-14-08, 09:14 PM

anyone having problems with channel 13 OTA ATSC? I haven't had it for a couple of days now.

None here.

rsblaski

02-15-08, 02:02 AM

That's weird since KLAS doesn't even broadcast in DD5.1.

I thought I read on this forum several months ago that KLAS was going to start broadcasting in DD5.1.
Does anyone know what the deal is on that?

vegas-steven

02-15-08, 02:26 AM

^Fox doesn't broadcast that much in HD as it is... Most of their primetime, but no gameshows with the exception of "the Moment of Truth" which looks alot like upconverted HD to me.

Fox5 is one of the only channels in vegas that has no local HD news broadcasts, and you really notice it when you watch a fox show "live" without skipping commercials.

Example of this:

Watching family guy. The show itself isnt even in HD, but the colors and sound look great compared the the SD feed.
Commercials come on, and are in HD as they come from the national network... then come the bumpers for fox shows (still in HD) and at the very end, the fox5 local news bumper - and right before the fox5 ad starts, you see the signal switch in midstream to SD... and the difference is quite dramatic.

It took me a day or two after getting HD to realize what was happening. seeing as NBC/CBS/ABC are all HD from their local vegas studios, they do not have the same issues.

Interesting, i think.

Rick89114

02-15-08, 06:57 PM

I thought I read on this forum several months ago that KLAS was going to start broadcasting in DD5.1.
Does anyone know what the deal is on that?

My reciever was showing 5.1 for KLAS Cox 730 during survivor last night. I'm sure it was a "fake" 5.1 though.

smithy123

02-15-08, 11:47 PM

http://www.cox.com/sandiego/digitalcable/hdtv/programming.asp
when will cox vegas have starz HD on demand, hbo hd on-demand etc etc?

when will cox increase their speeds?
http://www.cox.com/gulfcoast/highspeedinternet/speedComparison.asp
50% faster than vegas!

France has 100mb down, when will we see speeds like this in vegas?

Will cox vegas ever release a multiroom dvr like the 8300MR ?

thanks

smithy123

02-16-08, 01:03 AM

Wow check this out

http://www.cox.com/newengland/highspeedinternet/personalize.asp#Premier

20meg down from cox ! available in vegas 2015 :)

bruin95

02-16-08, 02:33 AM

Wow check this out

http://www.cox.com/newengland/highspeedinternet/personalize.asp#Premier

20meg down from cox ! available in vegas 2015 :)

I'm getting more than this NOW from Cox, so I really don't know what you're talking about.

From http://test.lvcm.com/

Internet Download/Upload Speed Test

MySpeed Results
Download 25,780,136 bps
Upload 1,110,384 bps

gvc

02-16-08, 09:49 AM

http://www.screenshots.cc/view_thumb/a3ec6837/speed.jpg

TEST.LVCM.COM

I will say this , though.... I cannot find another speed test site to even closely match these results

doormat

02-16-08, 12:51 PM

when will cox increase their speeds?
http://www.cox.com/gulfcoast/highspeedinternet/speedComparison.asp
50% faster than vegas!

France has 100mb down, when will we see speeds like this in vegas

http://www.onetrak.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=2870&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

DOCSIS 3.0, whenever it manages to get rolled out. Cox's nationwide target is 25/4 (which is damn fast if you ask me - you'll be hard pressed to find servers that can provide you with 25Mb/s). Its supposed to be in testing this year, probably roll out next year. Though I expect it to take a while to switch everyone over (I can imagine the groans when people find out that in order to get the much faster speeds they have to go buy a new modem - hey its the 14.4/28.8/33.6 days all over again!).

GoldenEarDrum

02-16-08, 01:31 PM

http://www.screenshots.cc/view_thumb/a3ec6837/speed.jpg

TEST.LVCM.COM

I will say this , though.... I cannot find another speed test site to even closely match these results

I was getting this speed last year even before they had superboost. Of course I had to tweak my PCs and and everything else:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/136684820.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

...

GoldenEarDrum

02-16-08, 01:34 PM

http://www.onetrak.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=2870&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

DOCSIS 3.0, whenever it manages to get rolled out. Cox's nationwide target is 25/4 (which is damn fast if you ask me - you'll be hard pressed to find servers that can provide you with 25Mb/s). Its supposed to be in testing this year, probably roll out next year. Though I expect it to take a while to switch everyone over (I can imagine the groans when people find out that in order to get the much faster speeds they have to go buy a new modem - hey its the 14.4/28.8/33.6 days all over again!).

Even our current modems can handle speeds much faster than that. IIRC they can handle up tp 48Mb/s. So all Cox have to do is flip a switch at the headend.

...

smithy123

02-16-08, 04:55 PM

smithy123

02-16-08, 04:57 PM

sorry last link didn't work
http://www.cox.com/sandiego/digitalcable/hdtv/programming.asp
thanks

Rick89114

02-16-08, 05:50 PM

http://www.screenshots.cc/view_thumb/a3ec6837/speed.jpg

TEST.LVCM.COM

I will say this , though.... I cannot find another speed test site to even closely match these results

my result from speakeasy using LA server.

Download Speed: 20524 kbps (2565.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 452 kbps (56.5 KB/sec transfer rate)

gvc

02-16-08, 06:49 PM

Speedtest.net gave me 15847
Speakeasy LA gave me 17401

vegggas

02-16-08, 10:54 PM

Network Speed seems to be more determined by the setup of the computers than limitations of the modem. I have several friends whose speed went down after getting Vista and they had to go through several tweaks before getting anywhere close to what they once had. Wireless connections will take a big hit on total throughput too.
Just a note to say that the http://test.lvcm.com/ is the one that actually tests your PC -> modem -> local server and back again speed without the internet's traffic slowing things down. The speakeasy and speedtest.net links are testing throughput of the internet and it's traffic congestion across multiple servers outside of the Cox domain (check out how many hops it has to make). I've got 5 PC's and two modems and get diffrent speeds across all of them, depending on the tweaks I've done, the OS and other running processes and wether or not I use wired or wireless connection. For the most part, I get speed above my rated pricing structures, except for my wireless connection, which is always slow due to a neighbors high power interference.

vegggas

vegggas

02-16-08, 11:02 PM

HD On Demand of the other services is coming soon. Part of the expansion of Cox is from the San Diego super headend. Their library of content will be available directly to us to view as they migrate to a national network.
Check the HD on Cox thread for other national Cox related info.

vegggas

vegggas

02-16-08, 11:11 PM

thanks for the info on the speeds any ideas on the

http://www.cox.com/sandiego/digitalc...rogramming.asp
when will cox vegas have starz HD on demand, hbo hd on-demand etc etc?

Will cox vegas ever release a multiroom dvr like the 8300MR ?

thanks

As an aside, all the HD channels and services listed on that webpage have been in testing here in Las Vegas for a few weeks already. :D
Not sure of a public launch date yet though :(

The multiroom DVR from SA had some problems and was not released here. As Tru2way becomes available, you can get any compatible DVR you want, including the Diego units with Mocha and mediacenter functions. There are other services in long term testing that may or may not pan out if you want to lease something from the cable co.

vegggas

Chadowe

02-17-08, 12:20 AM

smithy123

02-17-08, 04:09 AM

thanks for all the info. Once Tru2way comes available will I be able to get say a tivo or media center pc with hd card and access everything including channel 1 and 699 on demand content?

Thanks

doormat

02-17-08, 01:56 PM

thanks for all the info. Once Tru2way comes available will I be able to get say a tivo or media center pc with hd card and access everything including channel 1 and 699 on demand content?

Thanks

Yes, since it will have real 2 way capabilities.

Even our current modems can handle speeds much faster than that. IIRC they can handle up tp 48Mb/s. So all Cox have to do is flip a switch at the headend.

...

No, they cant. DOCSIS 1.1 modems only support 38Mb/s down and 9Mb/s up maximum, and thats for the entire node which is about 350 homes. Since that bandwidth is shared, it would take only 2 users to max out the speeds for 350 homes (even if there are only 25 subs on a node, thats pitifully low and people would gripe about not getting advertised speeds). In order to get speeds in the 100Mb/s range, you will have to buy a new modem since the DOCSIS 3 modems support a technique called channel bonding in which several 6MHz channels are grouped together to increase the aggregate speed. If Cox provides 25/4 to their customers and their system has 140Mb/s down and 100Mb/s up per node it would take a lot of subs to saturate that upstream bandwidth (which is usually the constraining factor).

In order to get faster speeds, your 1.1 modem will not work.

vegggas

02-17-08, 02:53 PM

thanks for all the info. Once Tru2way comes available will I be able to get say a tivo or media center pc with hd card and access everything including channel 1 and 699 on demand content?

Thanks
Tru2way is an interface standard that STB and display manufacturers can use to operate in a 2-way environment to access services and features of modern cable systems.
Once Tivo comes out with a tru2way device (meaning a device that can actually receive and send back commands), then you may be able to purchase one. They are in development of such a device right now, which will essentially run the same software interface that the Scientific Atlanta DVR's will be running. They will also have a way of changing their interface to
operate independently for original OTA Tivo use.
There are several other companies that are much further along in releasing tru2way devices than Tivo and the PC maaket, and you will see them in the marketplace over the summer. Samsung, and Panasonic already have displays using the technology scheduled for release this summer. Diego, Samsung, and Panasonic also have DVR STB's ready for release this summer.

vegggas

vegggas

02-17-08, 03:30 PM

For those with dish wondering if they are getting any more local HD anytime soon. They would have a long way to go to catch up to DirecTV and even further to match cable's must carry requirement. It looks like they admit they are maxed out in bandwidth already.
http://www.tvtechnology.com/pages/s.0015/t.11300.html

Dish: Local HD Would Cost $1 Billion, 3 Satellites, 4 Years

February 15, 2008

If satellite providers were required to broadcast all local must-carry channels in HD, it would cost EchoStar “over a billion dollars” in upgrades across the 174 markets where Dish Network offers local service, the company told the FCC.

“Our fleet of eight DBS satellites is at, or near, full capacity today,” the company said in a filing describing a Feb. 8 phone conversation with FCC officials. “If Dish Network were required to carry all must-carry channels in HD, approximately three new, state-of-the-art satellites—with access to corresponding new spectrum—would need to be designed and constructed to meet those new burdens, This is a four-year process with a price tag of over a billion dollars.”

Furthermore, said Dish, if bandwidth on transponders waited fallow for local broadcasters to start their HD broadcasts, it would deprive many communities from receiving popular HD channels including those of NFL games and the 2008 Summer Olympics.

“HD-hungry consumers would be forced to subscribe to higher-priced services, such as cable,” Dish said.

The company also said HD carriage is a far greater burden for satellite providers than for cable, since the satellites are not reclaiming any spectrum previously used for analog channels.

GoldenEarDrum

02-17-08, 07:13 PM

No, they cant. DOCSIS 1.1 modems only support 38Mb/s down and 9Mb/s up maximum, and thats for the entire node which is about 350 homes. Since that bandwidth is shared, it would take only 2 users to max out the speeds for 350 homes (even if there are only 25 subs on a node, thats pitifully low and people would gripe about not getting advertised speeds). In order to get speeds in the 100Mb/s range, you will have to buy a new modem since the DOCSIS 3 modems support a technique called channel bonding in which several 6MHz channels are grouped together to increase the aggregate speed. If Cox provides 25/4 to their customers and their system has 140Mb/s down and 100Mb/s up per node it would take a lot of subs to saturate that upstream bandwidth (which is usually the constraining factor).

In order to get faster speeds, your 1.1 modem will not work.

Sorry that was a typo. I meant to write 38Mbps.

Currently were are now using DOCSIS 2.0 which are rated at 38Mbps down and 30Mbps up and those are the limitation of the modem and not the node allocated bandwidth. Each NODE has a HFC (Fiber) backbone and its bandwidth limit is determined by the total number of homes it serves and speed allocated for each services. Though it is not uncommon for cable to allocate more homes than the total node can handle since most users does not max their bandwidth allocation all the time.

So even an old DOCSIS 1.1 modem can very well handle an 25/4 service without changing to a new modem. Provided that the node is not already congested, all the cable company has to do is flip a switch.

...

Desert Hawk

02-18-08, 01:35 AM

Does anyone know what happened to KDWN 720 AM's HD radio signal? I got my first HD radio about a month ago. For awhile I was able to receive an HD signal from KDWN at night, but now it isn't HD anymore.

rsblaski

02-18-08, 03:52 PM

foghorn2

02-18-08, 04:01 PM

I really feel bad for E* subscribers.
First the Tivo decision, and now this.

I don't know if I'm reading something into this, but is the FCC considering making sat companies fall under the "must carry" provisions that cable has?

I already get my locals free with Dish. It feels good, my wallet feels good too.

vegas-steven

02-19-08, 12:07 AM

Wow check this out

http://www.cox.com/newengland/highspeedinternet/personalize.asp#Premier

20meg down from cox ! available in vegas 2015 :)

Well. Cox already has the capacity for 25 mbit downstream. Want to see it in action? There is a cox test site here in vegas you can hit up. Otis about the best vegas speed test there is and I get 21-25 mbit down speed on the best connection they offer.

Since I am
posting this from my ipod touch I can't paste a link, but google "cox las vegas speed test" and it is the first result.

rsblaski

02-19-08, 03:30 AM

I already get my locals free with Dish. It feels good, my wallet feels good too.

I admit I don't keep up with the progress of E*. I know when we built our house 1.5 years ago, all they offered was SD for local programming, but it's great that they now have HD locals. It will keep D* on their toes. That's why we stayed with D* since the HD programming was coming soon after we moved in.

GeorgeLV

02-19-08, 07:41 AM

I admit I don't keep up with the progress of E*. I know when we built our house 1.5 years ago, all they offered was SD for local programming, but it's great that they now have HD locals. It will keep D* on their toes. That's why we stayed with D* since the HD programming was coming soon after we moved in.

Dish Network doesn't offer HD locals in Las Vegas.

foghorn was probably expressing that HD locals by antenna are fine by him. By the way, for some odd reason Dish skips out on some SD locals (VegasTV 25, Azteca 19, and Telefutura 27) that Cox and DirecTV carry.

If you can't get reliable reception with an antenna, Cox and DirecTV remain your only legit HD local options in Las Vegas. (The more grey-market options are to be a Dish Network "mover" or go Canadian with a StarChoice setup.)

foghorn2

02-19-08, 08:17 AM

vegas-steven

02-19-08, 06:14 PM

Dish Network doesn't offer HD locals in Las Vegas.

foghorn was probably expressing that HD locals by antenna are fine by him. By the way, for some odd reason Dish skips out on some SD locals (VegasTV 25, Azteca 19, and Telefutura 27) that Cox and DirecTV carry.

If you can't get reliable reception with an antenna, Cox and DirecTV remain your only legit HD local options in Las Vegas. (The more grey-market options are to be a Dish Network "mover" or go Canadian with a StarChoice setup.)

you do NOT want Canadian sat. Coming from Canada Ivan assure you they are so far from usa tv you would be extremely dissapointed. Bravo oj Canadian tv is bravo in name only - the channel does some of the same programming as inthe states but it is so different 90% of the time you can't tell it is bravo at all. That is just one eg.

There is no espn at all. Just a Canadian version called tsn which is canadiancentric.

Just not a good idea. Why do you think so many canadian get USA sat. On the grey or black market?

lvthunder

02-19-08, 06:32 PM

you do NOT want Canadian sat. Coming from Canada Ivan assure you they are so far from usa tv you would be extremely dissapointed. Bravo oj Canadian tv is bravo in name only - the channel does some of the same programming as inthe states but it is so different 90% of the time you can't tell it is bravo at all. That is just one eg.

There is no espn at all. Just a Canadian version called tsn which is canadiancentric.

Just not a good idea. Why do you think so many canadian get USA sat. On the grey or black market?

It just depends on what you want. If you only want it for the networks (I think they have both East and West) then you can get it.

doormat

02-20-08, 02:25 AM

Sorry that was a typo. I meant to write 38Mbps.

...
You don't need to explain to me how CM systems work - I've had one for over ten years and used to follow the NG back in the day when JFJ used to post to it all the time and told us how things worked. I can still remember the time he was at the West Charleston Library when him, me and a bunch of other folks stood outside for an hour after the LVCUG meeting just talking and asking how things worked. Then he had to cut it off because it was 930 already and he work the next morning (I think I had school too).

Regardless, I'm curious as to what part of my previous post didn't you understand? Yea, the modem might be able to handle fast speeds, but you'll never see them because Cox's nodes don't support fast enough speeds. Which is what DOCSIS 3.0 solves (sorta, it makes things better numbers wise).

TWO users could congest the upstream of a single node with 25/4 service and that why you'll never see it. Because if Cox were to provision modems at those speeds, you'd never see those speeds because the nodes would be congested all the time (even if its users uploading legal Linux Distros or WoW patches via BT). Even Comcast is crying because, according to their recent filings with the FCC, even as few as 9 users can clog the upstream path.

Cox has about 350 homes on a single node. If you take my neighborhood that has 120 houses and just with the 10 APs I can see from my bedroom, thats a recipe for congestion were Cox to give us 25/4. Do you remember the days many many years ago when Cox Las Vegas dropped the ball and was 90 or so days late in getting the third (or fourth) DS3 added? How every day from 3-7PM the internet would come to a screeching halt because everyone was trying was trying to download stuff and the pipes were essentially full? Well take that down to the local node level and its the same thing were Cox to increase upstream speeds to 4Mb/s.

Granted it would be much harder to saturate the 25Mb/s downstream speeds simply because its hard to find servers (or even groups of servers) that can provide data that fast to you. However, 4Mb/s in upstream would be easy to saturate, just by sending a large file across town to a friend of mine in GV.

There is a huge gap between what your modem can support and what the system can support. This isn't the 33.6K days.

And while your modem is DOCSIS 2.0 and might support 30Mb/s upstream, I never saw any info as to Cox's node-level equipment migrating to DOCSIS 2.0, and from what I understand most Cable companies didn't go to 2.0, instead they decided to wait until 3.0.

GoldenEarDrum

02-20-08, 03:41 AM

Regardless, I'm curious as to what part of my previous post didn't you understand? Yea, the modem might be able to handle fast speeds, but you'll never see them because Cox's nodes don't support fast enough speeds. Which is what DOCSIS 3.0 solves (sorta, it makes things better numbers wise)

You said in your previous post that current DOCSIS 1.1 modem can not suppot 25/4 and we will need to buy a new DOCSIS 3.0 compliant modem. Well it can support it and all the cable co have to do is tell it ("flip a switch") irregardless if the segment is congested or not.

I do see your point though that we are "oversold" by Cox of our supposedly "guaranteed" bandwidth which will never happen if even a few dozen users would download an MP3 at the same time.

...

jdallaire

02-20-08, 11:21 AM

rsblaski

02-20-08, 12:26 PM

Hi I am think of moving to Pahrump ,NV They have CMA for there cable tv system. I quarried the net for the channel listing and got nothing. Anyone Have the channels for CMC cables for pahrump. Also what are the options for OTA antenna in Pahrump. Do they get Las Vegas very well? Thanks for your time off to the antennaweb.com web site to see what my options are.

I live in Pahrump but in a development (Artesia) that does not have any cable availability (other areas in the valley do, though). As far as OTA, I believe that there are a couple of local stations. Whether they broadcast in HD, I don't know for sure, but I highly doubt it. Las Vegas stations are provided by a repeater (SD only) but the repeater antenna was blown down in a wind storm late last year and I am not sure if it has been repaired or replaced. I have D* since I wanted the Las Vegas net affiliates in HD so that was my only real choice. (E* does not offer satellite broadcast of local HD). I am quite happy with the quality they provide. You would probably have to contact CMA directly to see what they offer.

GeorgeLV

02-20-08, 02:03 PM

Hi I am think of moving to Pahrump ,NV They have CMA for there cable tv system. I quarried the net for the channel listing and got nothing. Anyone Have the channels for CMC cables for pahrump. Also what are the options for OTA antenna in Pahrump. Do they get Las Vegas very well? Thanks for your time off to the antennaweb.com web site to see what my options are.

I strongly recommend getting DirecTV for the Las Vegas HD locals.

However, here is the information for your other options:

Here's a direct link to the CMA lineup card:
http://cmaaccess.com/angl/files/pahrump.pdf

Note that cable in Pahrump usually (always?) from an overhead power pole so the installs don't look as clean as the prewired underground service you usually get in Vegas.

The Pahrump town OTA repeaters for the main Las Vegas stations were destroyed in a wind storm and from what I hear there is no plan to rebuild them. The main Mt. Potosi repeaters are still up, but they require a stronger antenna. There are no digital signals that reach Pahrump yet.

15 KINC Univision
(17 KVBC NBC) repeater down
(19 KVVU Fox) repeater down
20 KTUD VegasTV
(24 KLAS CBS) repeater down
(28 KLVX PBS) repeater down
30 KVPT ind/FamilyNet
(36 KTNV ABC) repeater down
38 KLVX PBS
41 KPVM ion
42 KTNV ABC
44 KVBC NBC
49 KLAS CBS
51 KVMY MyTV
53 KVVU Fox
62 KHMP ind/A1

jdallaire

02-21-08, 05:10 PM

Thanks guys for all the info looks like direct Tv maybe the way to go. later

michaelc

02-25-08, 10:50 PM

I've thought about the Canadian dishes before, though I have no real idea how it's done (I think you need a Canadian friend, and I have quite a few.) As a Canadaphile who gets most his news from CBC & BBC that'd be fun, but probably pretty expensive?

Anyway, I'd be happy if Cox would just get some extra HD channels up and running. I had to call the CW station and leave somebody a voice mail for it to happen, but they're running WWE SmackDown in HD (yes, I know, guilty pleasure) and the other two shows on USA and Sci-Fi would be nice, though CNN doesn't sound bad. I might watch it more that way.

bruin95

02-26-08, 03:00 AM

I've thought about the Canadian dishes before, though I have no real idea how it's done (I think you need a Canadian friend, and I have quite a few.) As a Canadaphile who gets most his news from CBC & BBC that'd be fun, but probably pretty expensive?

You would get the service through a broker who sets everything up for you. The costs are the same as if you were living in Canada.

vegas-steven

03-06-08, 01:19 AM

Wow. Just sorts died here didn't it?

rsblaski

03-06-08, 03:19 AM

Wow. Just sorts died here didn't it?

It happens from time to time. And then it will get active again.

bruin95

03-06-08, 03:24 AM

Maybe when Cox finally adds some more HD channels, probably some time in 2010, we'll have something to talk about. :rolleyes:

Word Maestro

03-06-08, 12:59 PM

rsblaski

03-06-08, 01:54 PM

Regarding DirectTV.......Late last year they released a blurb about carrying PBS locals in HD. I've seen no reports or any indications that such a thing is about to happen. I've been VERY critical of Cox Cable in the past (and expect to be in the future). But I have to say that their carrying of PBS-HD locally (in Las Vegas) has been very well appreciated by at least one viewer (me). It;s time for Direct TV to recognize "quality", rather than the "Simpsons" or "American Idol" crowd.

I remember reading somewhere a while ago that the sticking point with PBS HD had to do with PBS's demand that anyone providing their broadcasts would be required to carry all of the sub-channels. While cable has always had the bandwidth to do this, D* is just now getting to the point where it might be possible. It is also possible that PBS has started to back down on its demands. This is just speculation on my part, but even though I don't watch a lot of PBS, from time to time, I see something that I wouldn't mind watching in HD.

Word Maestro

03-06-08, 04:09 PM

I remember reading somewhere a while ago that the sticking point with PBS HD had to do with PBS's demand that anyone providing their broadcasts would be required to carry all of the sub-channels. While cable has always had the bandwidth to do this, D* is just now getting to the point where it might be possible. It is also possible that PBS has started to back down on its demands. This is just speculation on my part, but even though I don't watch a lot of PBS, from time to time, I see something that I wouldn't mind watching in HD.

The following is the Press Release I was referring to. WHEN will it happen in Las Vegas?
_______________________________________________________

DIRECTV to Carry Public Television Stations in HD
DIRECTV, Association of Public Television Stations and PBS Reach Landmark Agreement for Digital Carriage in Local Markets Across the Country Beginning Next Year
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec. 19, 2007 — Public Television stations across the country will soon be available in high-definition (HD) to DIRECTV customers through a landmark agreement reached today by DIRECTV, Inc., the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). DIRECTV viewers will have access to other Public Television content as well.

Continuing its unprecedented expansion of HD services, DIRECTV, the industry leader in HD programming, will include the local HD feeds of Public Television stations in its HD rollout plans beginning in 2008. DIRECTV currently offers local HD programming in 68 markets, representing more than 72 percent of U.S. TV households.

DIRECTV, APTS and PBS also will work together to develop new video on demand offerings to make available local and national public television programming to DIRECTV's customers anytime they want it. In addition, DIRECTV will carry two national standard-definition channels of Public Television programming, further expanding its commitment to high-quality educational programming.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with APTS and PBS to offer our customers award-winning HD programming from local Public Television stations across the country," said Chase Carey, president and CEO, DIRECTV, Inc. "agreement is the result of a cooperative effort that will utilize innovative technology to deliver the highest quality local content to DIRECTV viewers. DIRECTV is committed to offering the best HD programming lineup available, and we are delighted to begin carrying programs of the caliber of The NewsHour, Frontline, NOVA, American Masters, the American Experience and award-winning children's programming in this visually compelling format."

APTS President & CEO John Lawson said: "This is a forward-looking, innovative agreement for the digital age. It means the great HD programming from PBS and local Public Television stations will be available to DIRECTV customers in every market where DIRECTV carries any local HD. We will also work together to make available a vast library of on demand content from local Public Television stations across the country. This is a great day for public service media in America."

"One of our foremost priorities is extending the quality content that PBS offers across the broadest range of platforms," said PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger. "We are pleased with this agreement, which enables Public Television stations to provide even better service to viewers in their communities."

The terms of the deal were unanimously approved by the APTS Board of Trustees yesterday and are pending approval by the PBS Board of Directors. The agreement must be ratified by local Public Television stations.

Information regarding the full DIRECTV HD programming lineup, which includes 87 national HD channels, and details on receiving equipment needed for the new DIRECTV HD services, are available by calling 1-800-DIRECTV or visiting directv.com/hd.

GeorgeLV

03-06-08, 06:57 PM

KRiS1

03-06-08, 07:17 PM

Maybe when Cox finally adds some more HD channels, probably some time in 2010, we'll have something to talk about. :rolleyes:

But they have the capapcity!:eek:

:rolleyes:

Word Maestro

03-07-08, 01:22 AM

bruin95

03-07-08, 03:49 AM

Purchasing the HR-21-600 DVR at Best Buy
_____________________________________

Our local "Best Buy" (Charleston Blvd, across from the "Red Rocks Casino" )had the receiver on display for a price of $199.
Is that what the receiver will cost me in total, or is that the initial rental fee?

If it's only a rental fee, how much additional monthly charge will the receiver cost me? I intend to get the "full boat package" ALL the movie channel's, Regional Sports Pack and MLB "Extra Innings" + whatever is "standard fare" and all available HD channels (including network locals).
I choose this method of obtaining a receiver as I thereby insure getting exactly the receiver I want, without having to depend on whichever receiver DirectTV grabs for me.

I believe you will pay a monthly $5.99 "DVR fee". If you get a non-dvr HD or SD receiver, there are no extra monthly fees. Everyone charges these DVR fees, though. E* and Cox do, so you can't escape it. Isn't Cox's DVR fee like $10 extra a month? Anyway, I think you would be better off making your purchase online through D*'s website as you can build the exact package you want, with the equipment you want, and also get a $100 rebate on the HD DVR to boot.

Rick89114

03-07-08, 09:57 PM

Isn't Cox's DVR fee like $10 extra a month?

Cox charges me 5.95 Digital/HD box and 9.99 for DVR service. The DVR is the only cable box I have. Only good thing is if the box has a problem it can be exchanged for a different one.

bruin95

03-08-08, 04:26 PM

Does anyone know if there are problems, locally, with ABC-HD? The Cal-UCLA game, on as I write this, is being broadcast in HD, but it's only SD via Cox on 732. I don't have an OTA setup, so I can't check that. I have confirmed with a friend in So. Cal. The game is in HD for him. Just trying to figure out if this is a local problem or a Cox problem.

Word Maestro

03-08-08, 04:42 PM

It's probably a local problem. Has happened very often in the last 2-3 months. But naturally, Cox bears some responibility. They sit on their hands when such problems arise, instead of being the customers advocate and holding local ABCs feet to the fire. And of course, they DO NOT monitor the signals they are passing to us. If you complain to a "tech" at Cox, they will say the picture IS in HD. The reason being that when they check the picture for you, they always set their views to the stetch or zoom modes.
Idiots/Morons.

bruin95

03-08-08, 05:09 PM

It's fixed now.

coyoteaz

03-08-08, 11:14 PM

Cox says it is in HD because it IS in HD. Cox receives a 720p signal from the ABC affiliate and passes it on in 720p and therefore it is HD. The content on said channel might have been upconverted from 480i, but Cox is indeed passing on an HD broadcast. You might have a case for being upset at Cox for the time when they were sending ABC at 480i due to hardware failure, but you can't place blame on them for delivering what they set out to deliver. FexEx isn't responsible if some company sends you a box of rocks instead of a shiny new gadget; they are simply responsible for getting a package from point A to point B, and Cox is no different.

Word Maestro

03-09-08, 03:46 AM

but you can't place blame on them for delivering what they set out to deliver.

You miss the gist of my complaint, entirely.

IF, Cox was monitoring the signal it was receiving from ABC, (as I believe they should be doing 365/24/7) they would be aware that SOMETHING was amiss with ABCs feed. Maybe ABC knew it and maybe they didn't. But I believe that Cox acting as a (Consumer Advocate) should push ABC every second to fix the problem. And if the problem cannot be easily repaired, I believe (and others disagree) that Cox has a moral (if not a legal) duty to inform the customers that a problem exists, whom they believe is responsible for it, and an estimated time for repairs to be made. This should be accomplished via a crawl at the top or bottom of the station in question in a manner similar to the one they use for weather alerts and emergency broadcast tests.

coyoteaz

03-09-08, 04:54 AM

You're missing the point, entirely. Cox is receiving an HD signal and passing it on to their customers. That is the extent of duty to their customers. Should there be a problem such that they are unable to receive an HD signal or are unable to deliver it to their customers, then they become responsible for informing customers, and working to the best of their ability to restore service. There is no difference in the incoming signal based on whether the content is originating as HD, SD, or even a black screen. Cox has no way to know that something is amiss: from their perspective, they are receiving the exact same 720p feed from the station that they have for the last X number of years. You want to place the burden on a company that has absolutely no information as to why a given program isn't in HD, let alone if it is even supposed to be in HD in the first. place. What's next, bitching to Cox because the porn they happen to carry isn't good enough to get you off?

JoustGod

03-09-08, 12:14 PM

I believe (and others disagree) that Cox has a moral (if not a legal) duty to inform the customers that a problem exists.

Let's keep morality out of this. Cox has no more duty to morality than the Chicken Ranch does in Pahrump. Funny anyway to attach the word "moral" to a company that also provides porn. Sorry, made me chuckle.

I understand the frustration. However, the practicality of hundreds if not thousands of cable providers hammering the source with phone calls for answers doesn't appear to be the solution. By the time any given cable company finally gets through, the problem may very well resolve itself. I think it should work the other way and lay the responsiblity of information to the viewing public on ABC and others. I don't know. Perhaps some sort of relay of information that starts at the source. Can't be that hard. We ARE technologically capable.

Demodave

03-10-08, 11:18 AM

If KTNV Channel 13 forgot to throw the switch to HD for the basketball game, how in the world would Cox know that the original broadcast from ABC was "supposed" to be in SD or HD? Should Cox be monitoring the ABC backbone feed to the affiliates to make sure that we are getting the same feed from KTNV? Impossible. And simply not practical.

Demodave

03-10-08, 11:26 AM

Talking about KTNV...

An odd problem with the SD channel of channel 13 on digital cable (and maybe OTA too). While watching LOST at the girlfriend's house, SD only via Cox digital cable, I noticed that they are feeding the HD feed with the sides simply cut off. It's very obvious during the opening credits as all the names are cut off on the left and right sides. Even the TV14 block in the upper right-hand corner is half cut off.

I'm assuming that the SD feed of LOST should be letterboxed. But it is shown full screen with the sides missing. Does this happen on the OTA feed of channel 13? How about in other markets? This will help nail down if the problem is with ABC, KTNV or Cox. Then we can send in an email to the correct person to fix it.

Demodave

03-10-08, 04:45 PM

I sent an email to the engineer at KTNV. Here is the quick response:

Thanks for the feedback. We feed Cox an analog feed as will as an HD feed via fiber from the station. I believe your assessment is correct that Cox is taking the wrong feed to the analog channel. We did receive other complaints, your’s is the first to include detail on how your receiving the signal..thanks again..

Greg Rogers

Word Maestro

03-10-08, 06:24 PM

gvc

03-12-08, 03:50 PM

JoustGod

03-12-08, 05:53 PM

FYI, I have confirmed that Cox and KLAS will be teaming up again this year to show ALL of the regional action in the upcoming NCAA tourney. The main feed will be in HD but the other 3 regions will be on regular digital cable.

Thanks for the info. Great news!

Anyone heard about the MLB EI package and its HD implications on Cox?

Word Maestro

03-12-08, 09:32 PM

Thanks for the info. Great news!

Anyone heard about the MLB EI package and its HD implications on Cox?

They'll probably be adding them. But you'll have to wait until approximately 2012*.

Direct TV will have them THIS year.

* = my personal estimate

bruin95

03-13-08, 03:11 AM

Anyone heard about the MLB EI package and its HD implications on Cox?

You mentioned Cox and HD in the same sentence....now that's funny! :D

samrum

03-14-08, 12:08 AM

Is Lost not showing in HD for anyone else right now? OTA, btw.

Killi

03-14-08, 12:17 AM

sd here too

tfjazz

03-14-08, 12:41 AM

jflatt

03-14-08, 01:14 AM

Other sources on the internet have widescreen, although you can hardly call the rips HD, so at least some people had HD. Thanks for nothing KTNV

rsblaski

03-14-08, 02:07 AM

No Lost in HD from D*.
I'm guessing it's a local affiliate issue although it is possible that their feed was bad.
These type of problems are rare for me so it really didn't bother me that much. I can live with a few screwups--Lord knows I've made a few.

Word Maestro

03-14-08, 03:28 AM

yea LOST has been in SD for the entire broadcast OTA. I tried calling KTNV, but no one is picking up the phone there. I just decided to email the following people listed on the website to tell them of my disappointment.

# Vice President & General Manager - Jim Prather, jprather@ktnv.com
# Programming (non-news programs) - Ashley Johnson, ajohnson@ktnv.com
# Production - Greg Rogers, grogers@ktnv.com
# Engineering - Ron Adair, radair@ktnv.com
# Station Manager/General Sales Manager - Thomas Porterfield, tporterfield@ktnv.com

I did the same for the CW today since the entire episode of tonights Smallville was also in SD.

That's one of the ancillary effects of living in a city with no standards. I GUARANTEE you that if such "goofs" were occurring in NY, LA, SF, Chicago and other similar large cities, the errors in transmission would be brought to the attention of the broadcasters immediately. Network stations, (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox) should have people manning a switchboard 365/24/7. Or failing that, it should be possible to reach an engineer at the station. But I doubt that one is actually on duty (automation rears its ugly head).

Their attitude is "the hell with the public. We just want our advertising revenue"