They weren't on time for me. :) I got it for free, too. He couldn't find my house. :)

Well my saga continues...

After my latest call I was told to go to the West Chester office and re-assured 3 times they had the boxes to give me. Sure enough I drive over there and "no boxes and even if we did we're not allowed to swap here."

I call up 800 number to speak with a supervisor and while holding the CSR said she would make an appointment to swap it for a 6412. She then told me they were going to charge me $100 deposit for the box!!! I told her there was no way that was going to happen, I know people who have it and they said nothing about $100. She talked to her supervisor again and they waived it and now I supposedly have an appointment Monday.

I see we're back to the old Comcast. Time to write Mr. Bruke (again). The inconsistency is ridiculous.

Originally posted by Zack Allen
Joe, re the hookup from your STB to your Mac, do you have a way to get the data back from your Mac to your STB or TV so that you can watch the saved programs on your main TV?


You can play the files thru an ATSC STB with Firewire, a Mitsubishi HDTV with Firewire but not thru the Moto STB. If you have a G5 PowerMac, you can use VLC for playback directly to the display.

jsb_hburg replied: "You can play the files thru an ATSC STB with Firewire, a Mitsubishi HDTV with Firewire but not thru the Moto STB. If you have a G5 PowerMac, you can use VLC for playback directly to the display," regarding how to get shows back out of a Mac, to a the television.

Thanks. Our Samsung TV has some kind of a computer connector in the back (we have a PC not a Mac and don't have a Mitsubishi TV and have only a Moto STB). I will look into that and post to this forum, if I figure anything out. Have to fish though a wall to get the wires from the STB to the computer and then back to the TV, so this will take awhile.

Any Armstrong Cable users out there?

Originally posted by Zack Allen
jsb_hburg replied: "You can play the files thru an ATSC STB with Firewire, a Mitsubishi HDTV with Firewire but not thru the Moto STB. If you have a G5 PowerMac, you can use VLC for playback directly to the display," regarding how to get shows back out of a Mac, to a the television.

Thanks. Our Samsung TV has some kind of a computer connector in the back (we have a PC not a Mac and don't have a Mitsubishi TV and have only a Moto STB). I will look into that and post to this forum, if I figure anything out. Have to fish though a wall to get the wires from the STB to the computer and then back to the TV, so this will take awhile.

The PC Input on the back of the Samsung is an RGB connection for display. Since you have an XP box, there is a thread on connecting an XP box via FireWire to the FireWire-equiped Moto STBs for recording unencrypted content. You can play the files using a software player like TT 2.0 or a hardware-based solution like the MyHD card.

The files you can record on your XP would be the unencrypted local channels.

Originally posted by CPanther95
Any Armstrong Cable users out there?

Not if you're a Panthers fan! Go EAGLES!!!:D

Caught a bit of the Bucks-Pistons game on INHD last night. Now THAT is how the Sixers HD games should look. I told you the Sixers game looked a soft.

Dear Comcast,

Go back to how you were showing games two years ago.

They were prettier then.

Thanks,

D

Not sure if this was already covered, but is anyone seeing their 6412 box rebooting on its own?

Mine has already done it 3 times just today! ARGH!

It has to then redownload all program info, etc...

Not sure if this was already covered, but is anyone seeing their 6412 box rebooting on its own?

I'm not yet allowed to post links, but there is a thread called "Official Comcast 6412 w/ iGuide Discussion" in the HDTV / HDTV Recorders forum that covers the issue extensively.

Something my SA 8000 does is that usually at midnight it turns on for 3-10 minutes on it's own. It scares the **** out of me since it is in my bedroom and it is a loud start up and shut off to go with the whiney hard drive.

Also when I turn the box off when I'm done the hard drive spins for 3-10 minutes.

I'd love to be able to replace the HD with something ultra quiet (like the one in my pc) and much bigger.

Anyone in the Philly region getting basic cable?

I do, but with my Plasma with built in tuner, I am getting several digital
channels and HD channels, I didn't get before.

Specifically: Channel 100-1 is FOX HD, 114-1 WPVI (ABC-HD), 114-2 ABCnews Now, 114-3 WPVI weather, 114-4 WCAU (NBC- HD).

I can't find CBS HD, but perhaps it exists?

I also find myself getting about 10 new digital channels that I didn't get
on my old tv. Specifically I get 103-1 TWC, 103-4 Biography, 103-5 History Int'l, 103-6 DIY, 103-10 Fine Living, 119-5 Natl Geo, 119-6 ESPN news, 119-9 Cartoon Disney, 119-10 Soap

I also get the digital music channels now (87-1 to 87-50)


1) So why are the digital channels on these "sub channels" which I thought were reserved for HD?
2) Anyone else getting these channels?
3) Any way to get other channels I haven't mentioned? Specifically CBS HD
would be nice. Someone should post a master list of channels.


Thanks!

I used to use the Qam tuner in my TV until I got the 6208. CBS should be unencrypted. You may want to have the TV search for stations again. I found that on an almost weekly basis the channels were moving around.

Also your Qam tuner will pick up any unencrypted digital channels on your system. I used to get all the local HD, all the spanish channels, the digital music channels and also for some reason I could see VOD that was being played in my area.

Has anyone in our area experienced problems recording via firewire from the 6412. I am able to see channels like CBS but not channels like Discover or HBO. The 6412 also slows WAY down & sometimes even locks up when I turn on my DVHS. Anyone else experience these issues or have thoughts on correcting it??

Reply to drhill: The HD Sixers games looked like full HD up until the last few games when it seems like they "turned off" the HD. Same was true with DNL. Up until late last weeks the broadcasts were in true HD, then not. You can tell the difference because in true HD the picture will not look stretched.

Noticed at a relatives house over the holiday weekend, the new on-screen IPG is functioning in Willow Grove, PA. Anyone else able to receive this yet, and if so, please state your town....

OK, has anyone tried to record Comcast premium channels lately to firewire. I just hung up with Comcast & they tell me the 5c flag has been enabled to "copy never" for channels like HBO. Boy, if they were not the only game in town for me...

Can anyone confirm this?

OK, has anyone tried to record Comcast premium channels lately to firewire. I just hung up with Comcast & they tell me the 5c flag has been enabled to "copy never" for channels like HBO. Boy, if they were not the only game in town for me...

I know it's fun and fashionable to blame Comcast for everything (heck, I do it all the time too), but for this one you'll have to drive down to Arkansas and thank a certain former President and alleged "Man of the People" for signing the DMCA - virtually eliminating "Fair Use" provisions from Copyright law.

All HDTV content is at the mercy of 5C. Broadcasters haven't used it...yet.

To Zippy:

Apparently the Willow Grove system rolled out the new I-Guide earlier this month. From what i know this is the only system in the Philly burbs to do this. (Don't hold me to this!!)

My system (Montgomery County) is set to roll out the new guide around 12/8.

I did however just get the new Dual-tuner 6412 box last wednesday that has the new guide on it. This confirms that the system is set up to handle it.

My HD box in my bedroom (5100) still has the old tan guide on it.

Originally posted by Zack Allen
Reply to drhill: The HD Sixers games looked like full HD up until the last few games when it seems like they "turned off" the HD. Same was true with DNL. Up until late last weeks the broadcasts were in true HD, then not. You can tell the difference because in true HD the picture will not look stretched.

You must not have seen the Sixers game in HD at the end of their first season of HD. Stellar. I never said their home games lately weren't in HD, just missing something.

Last nights Lakers game (on INHD) was even better then the Bucks game the other night. Magnificent. Tonights Orlando-Boston game even looks a tad better then the Sixers games. The previous three INHD games seemed to have the camera a little close and or more zoomed in too, though that isn't the chief reason the better PQ I think.

It has to be Comcast's camera's or their encoder. I shudder at the thought that they are using the same encoder ABC uses. Maybe they have a setting to encode in 720 and then side convert to 1080i.

From the INHD and Sixers games I've seen this year I rank them this way.

1) Lakers-Hornets (last night)
2) Bucks.... Pacers? (Saturday night)
3) Maverick games I've seen
4) Sixers games

It is very disheartening.

Side note: NBA TV has made their obnoxious bar smaller... in the 16:9 area it is now cut off. So we are still stuck with that idiotic stat bar at the bottom with plenty of dead space in the score/time bar above that.

Can anyone else give some insight into this?

I am a South Philly Comcast subscriber and only have Limited Basic.

Should I be able to pickup the HDTV signal via Comcast Limited Basic (without extra Comcast HW) when I get my new Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P EDTV?

-UC

Originally posted by zub3qin
Anyone in the Philly region getting basic cable?

I do, but with my Plasma with built in tuner, I am getting several digital
channels and HD channels, I didn't get before.

Specifically: Channel 100-1 is FOX HD, 114-1 WPVI (ABC-HD), 114-2 ABCnews Now, 114-3 WPVI weather, 114-4 WCAU (NBC- HD).

I can't find CBS HD, but perhaps it exists?

I also find myself getting about 10 new digital channels that I didn't get
on my old tv. Specifically I get 103-1 TWC, 103-4 Biography, 103-5 History Int'l, 103-6 DIY, 103-10 Fine Living, 119-5 Natl Geo, 119-6 ESPN news, 119-9 Cartoon Disney, 119-10 Soap

I also get the digital music channels now (87-1 to 87-50)


1) So why are the digital channels on these "sub channels" which I thought were reserved for HD?
2) Anyone else getting these channels?
3) Any way to get other channels I haven't mentioned? Specifically CBS HD
would be nice. Someone should post a master list of channels.


Thanks!

Originally posted by Uncle Cranky
Can anyone else give some insight into this?

I am a South Philly Comcast subscriber and only have Limited Basic.

Should I be able to pickup the HDTV signal via Comcast Limited Basic (without extra Comcast HW) when I get my new Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P EDTV?

-UC

Yeah, you'll get the local digital channels for free. They're required (by the FCC) to be on the limited basic package. So assuming you have an HD tuner you can watch the Eagles on FOX, Monday Night Football and CBS NFL HD games without having to activate or pay for anything extra. If you want ESPN HD, HBO HD, Discovery HD Theater, etc., you'll have to pay the piper. If you don't have an HD box and your display doesn't have an HD tuner, you can trade in your SD box for an HD model by making an appointment with Comcrap or by dropping by your nearest office to pick one up yourself.

best--

Rob
thrilled DirecTV HD subscriber

Anyone know why Comcast can't bother to show rebroadcasts in HD? What makes it so difficult? Take for example the day game the other day; they rebroadcast it that evening in stretched SD.

Also what's the story with the studio shows? I've heard that as long as there's not a home game that day, DNL will be shown in HD. If the building is wired for HD why not show everything in HD? We're all tired of stetched SD and I can't unstretch it so I usually won't bother to watch Comcast at all if there's SD on the HD channel.

Sorry if this has been covered, but when I call Comcast I get different answers. I am in South Jersey and the DVR box I would receive would be the Moto 6412 (Once available). If I am already paying the additional $5 for the HD box and exchange it for the DVR, will I be charged $10 for the DVR and $5 for HD or does the $10 include the HD and DVR? I was originally told $10 would include both. I have been on their waiting list for quite a while now and called again. This time I was told that the cost would be $10 for the DVR and $5 for HD.

Has anyone that has made this move verify what the difference was in the cost after upgrading?


Thanks

One can choose between an HD STB for $5 or an HD DVR for $10.

I am sure some of you have complained about CSN-HD stretching SD programs; what is their reasoning?
All of the other HD channels use grey or black side bars.
I think it is so one will watch Analog CSN instead, when there is no HD. Because CSN-HD with SD stretched becomes unwatchable.

Reply to Mike3: I called Comcast Sportsnet and they said that they can't send DNL in HD when they are using the equipment for a local team's home stand during the same stretch of days.

They said that as far as they know, all home Sixers games are in true HD although it looked to me like the game when the Celts visited was in Bad-HD a/k/a SD-stretch.

They explained that they stretch the SD stuff because they get complaints from plasma owners if they don't. I guess plasmas aren't burn-proof or at least their owners of these expensive TV sets do not think that they are.

The type of TV set that we have in our house is supposed to be immune from the Great Burn (man, I hope that's true), and I change CSN to 4:3 if they are sending something in Bad-HD or else turn to regular CSN, in which case the 4:3 override that I have set up on our Comcast box sets the picture to 4:3. I will not watch a stretched picture. Whatever garbage broadcasters send in whatver shape they capture or film it, is what I want to see. I am sure that most TV personalities would agree. I hear that they already look 10 pounds heavier on TV without being stretched.

Lastly I asked why CSN does not throw up some nice looking side bars as ESPN does, instead of stretching the picture. The reply was that this is not easy to do as they have to route the broadcast via a certain pathway and they are not equipped to do that for all of their SD material. They pointed out that ESPN used to stretch their picture, too (we have had HDTV only for a few months so I didn't know that).

Anyway, I said I appreciate they're trying to provide whatever HD material they can.

Someone said that Comcast must let you have the local HD channels.
I get fox, nbc and abc.

I do not get KYW (CBS), UPN, WHYY, or WB in HD. I have to use an antenna for those channels. UNLESS, I don' t know the QAM channel number to use... but a channel search with my 42PD25U failed to find those channels.

I had my 6412 installed yesterday and what an improvement over the 6208. They must be available in limited supply to Chester County. I recieved the "black dot" remote that had tv/vcr remapped to swap. As with most installers, he had no idea what he was doing.

One side note I emailed Mr. Bruke and he & Comcast promptly responded to my issue. Its nice to see those in charge do care. Must give credit where it is deserved.

Zub,

I get all the channels you listed via QAM with the exception of UPN. Don't have access to my TV right now to check the numbers. Haven't found them published anywhere either. It's almost like Comcast doesn't want you to know that there is some HD material available at no additional charges.

PM me if you'd like the channels I've found.

Frank

Originally posted by Zack Allen
The type of TV set that we have in our house is supposed to be immune from the Great Burn (man, I hope that's true), and I change CSN to 4:3 if they are sending something in Bad-HD or else turn to regular CSN, in which case the 4:3 override that I have set up on our Comcast box sets the picture to 4:3.
I don't understand how you are able to get CSN-HD to be un-stretched?
Do you use an S-video or Composite connection that automatically compresses the screen?
Or does your TV have a 'compress' screen setting?

What the most current Comcast HD box out right now? I'm upgrading so I want to be informed. I looked at the 6412 DVR but it seems I can't use it. I have RBG inputs on my Mits RPTV. The 6412 uses DVI so unless I buy the 'promise module', I can't use the 6412. So I need a std. HD box and maybe I'll just buy a Tivo or something later.

Originally posted by Joe_R
What the most current Comcast HD box out right now? I'm upgrading so I want to be informed. I looked at the 6412 DVR but it seems I can't use it. I have RBG inputs on my Mits RPTV. The 6412 uses DVI so unless I buy the 'promise module', I can't use the 6412. So I need a std. HD box and maybe I'll just buy a Tivo or something later.

The 6412 has component and DVI out so ytou should be fine with your Mits.

Comcast Sportsnet does not have enough eqiupment to do everything in HD. They can only so one thing at a time in HD at this time. If there is a home game to be broadcast in HD, ALL of the euipment they have is allocated to that broadcast. Therefore, they can't do DNL or post game live. The same is true of DNL and Sportsnite. Their studios are not set up with HD equipment. They have to bring out the special HD equipment to do DNL, which includes cameras, switchers, routers, graphics, encoders, etc. Maybe some day they will, but it is very expensive to do so. The reason they are doing DNL in HD is that with no Flyers' games, the equipment was not being used enough considering how much they spent for it, which was several million dollars.

Originally posted by Billys9319
The 6412 has component and DVI out so ytou should be fine with your Mits.

Doesn't the component down-convert to 480p?

No. The component can pass 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i.

JWhip, I have a request if you don't mind. If it is true they stretch the SD because of whiney plasma owners who can't set their contrast properly how about a compromise. Instead of grey or black bars, why not put a ticker tape on one side of the screen (taking up the same space as both side bars would combined) and put the feed at the other side. At the bottom of the hour they could switch sides.

Not only would this improve PQ tremendously, it might satisfy those morons who demand there always be other scores bothering me on screen (stupid scores at the 4's which ruins aspect ratio even further).

Just a thought, would it be worth mentioning to Comcast, or is their software not capable of this?

I personally like the stretched non HD material on CSN-HD and have not recommended that they change it. I hate the bars on ESPN HD.

Don't you have a cable box that can stretch it though? My SA can, but it can't unstretch. Stretched SD gets all kinds of aliasing.

You take a format which inherently has artifacts and add more artifacts too it.


I'm happy they didn't black out the Sixers Spurs NBA TV game on INHD. Looks better then the CSN games. Definantly a notch above, but not as good as the games over the weekend on INHD.

jwhip, please dont encourage them to continue with this abomination that is called stretching.
if i want it stretched i'd rather have the option to do it on my own.

it looks just abyssmal when they put that score bar on the bottom.
stretches it even more.
just awful.
totally unprofessional the way i see this.

there is no reason at this point not to do an overlay for the score bar.

also why does it have to be 4 times an hour twice or 3 times would be plenty.
no wait a minute it's scores on the 4's so it's even more then 4 times an hr isnt it.
god, just awful.

oh, i forgot, because it's sponsored.

Comcast just realigned the HD channels here in south jersey, any idea why

they just realigned most of all the channels here in del county.
i think starting in jan they are also changing the tiers and how they charge subscribers.
actually they have changed the tiers here now.

my tivo is aware of the new lineups but still hasnt changed them.

Let's hope the realignment was to make room for some new HD content, like ESPN2HD, TNTHD, etc...logic says they must be freeing up that 205 thru 220 range for something...a few more HD channels would be a nice gift for the holidays...

Shades-
I had received a postcard a month ago about today's channel changes - it said on it that it was for "Future additions", etc.. so I guess we'll have to see.

All we need now is the I-Guide!

I got a message yesterday saying the I guide was coming soon

Originally posted by JWhip
I personally like the stretched non HD material on CSN-HD and have not recommended that they change it. I hate the bars on ESPN HD.


Sorry, but I must STRONGLY disagree there. The stretched aspect ratio looks awful. I watch non-HD games on standard-tier CSN (Channel 35 where I live).

Widescreen should be an indicator that the program you are watching is "True-HD".

I do not mind the ESPN gray bars at all. It is preserving the correct aspect-ratio.

Any word on the new I-Guide for the rest of us? It has been pushed back month after month...:confused:

Originally posted by JWhip
No. The component can pass 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i.

Ok, thanks guys. I also referred back to the trust owners manual (first time I believe) and sure enough the Mits can pass HD through component.

So I bit the bullet and signed up for std and digital cable with HD and HBO and the 6412 Moto box....for a whopping $50/month (dish buyback special). Saturday morning they'll be out, I'll hand over an old obsolete receiver and expect good good things from Comcast and the 6412 :)

I'll ask in this forum again since I did not get a response on my first try; has anyone in our market (Philly) successfully taped to a DVHS deck a premium (HBO, etc.) channel via the 6412?

Originally posted by drhill
Don't you have a cable box that can stretch it though? My SA can, but it can't unstretch. Stretched SD gets all kinds of aliasing.

You take a format which inherently has artifacts and add more artifacts too it.
Agreed, the fully stretched screen is unwatchable. All of the other digital channels use side bars; so let the user stretch the screen, if they choose.

But, last night's Sixers game appeared to be only slightly strecthed, and it must have been slightly zoomed, as well; it was definately better. Is this change going to continue?

I'm happy they didn't black out the Sixers Spurs NBA TV game on INHD. Looks better then the CSN games. Definantly a notch above, but not as good as the games over the weekend on INHD.

Here (Willow Grove system), there was no Sixers game on INHD. Pressing the INHD channel number just froze the current channel's screen. I checked my recording, and it was just a blank screen.
In which Comcast system are you?

Originally posted by jeepmatt
I had received a postcard a month ago about today's channel changes - it said on it that it was for "Future additions", etc.. so I guess we'll have to see.
IIRC, we are going to get ESPN2-HD at launch.
The tech. told me that they are going to simulcast all Analog channels in Digital in Q1, probably February. He also said that they will adding Telephony soon; I don't know if that uses up the same bandwith as TV and Internet, though.

Originally posted by whotony
they just realigned most of all the channels here in del county.
i think starting in jan they are also changing the tiers and how they charge subscribers.
actually they have changed the tiers here now.

my tivo is aware of the new lineups but still hasnt changed them.
How have they changed the tiers?

IMO, the more HD channels they add, the more it calls for a separate HD tier for HD 'Standard' channels.

[i]

Here (Willow Grove system), there was no Sixers game on INHD. Pressing the INHD channel number just froze the current channel's screen. I checked my recording, and it was just a blank screen.
In which Comcast system are you?


Sixers will NEVER be shown on INHD when the game is on CSN or UPN 57 in the Philly market - it will be blacked-out. However, there are a couple ESPN/ESPN2 games that Philadelphia-market viewers should see in HD if ESPN/ESPN2 chooses to produce them in the format.

I hate the new channel lineup. I was just getting use to the other lineup to. But i guess they made it for a reason. And yea i think i would prefer the bars on the side of CSN then have it stretched. CSN needs to step up there game. They barely broadcast andything in HD. Just recently added DNL in my area to HD but come on now.

And anyone else in MONTGOMERY county that can get the 6412 yet? I have called various times in the past few weeks and still have had to luck in getting the 6412. They still say its unavailable and Im getting really pissed off.

Originally posted by QZ1
How have they changed the tiers?

IMO, the more HD channels they add, the more it calls for a separate HD tier for HD 'Standard' channels. i wish i could answer that exactly.
i had a paper in the bill a couple weeks ago that had all the new changes and some of the channels were listed in a different tier then previous.

QZ1 asked how you "unstretch" the CSN-HD channel.

On a Samsung HLP, a button on the left side allows you to switch between various screen shapes and sizes. I don't have the remote with me at the moment so I can't tell you the name of the button.

In DVI or component mode, the only choices are "wide" and 4:3. If I ever hooked up via a different method (a non-HD method), then the choices of "zoom1," "zoom2" and "panorama" are added to the mix. Apparently the tech to give the latter choices in DVI or component mode does not exist, at least when coming out of a comcast cable box, at least in an HLP.

They forgot to black it (sixers on INHD) out in my area, Blackwood South Jersey.

It is sad the ESPN finally changed their way when they got the new studio but Comcast continues to kill PQ with their stretch.

If they followed my idea with putting scores on one side and then flipping the sides at the bottom of the hour no one would have to worry about burn in.

Originally posted by Hubcap

And anyone else in MONTGOMERY county that can get the 6412 yet? I have called various times in the past few weeks and still have had to luck in getting the 6412. They still say its unavailable and Im getting really pissed off.

Hubcap-
I'm down in Dresher and have the 6412. Just keep being persistent! :-)

frankd- i tried pm'ing you. Could you tell me the local HD channels you get and their channel numbers on your QAM?

Thanks!

Originally posted by QZ1
How have they changed the tiers?

IMO, the more HD channels they add, the more it calls for a separate HD tier for HD 'Standard' channels. lineup (http://home.comcast.net/~whotony/linep_11.JPG)

Originally posted by JWhip
I personally like the stretched non HD material on CSN-HD and have not recommended that they change it. I hate the bars on ESPN HD.

JWIP, I have to disagree. My Toshiba (42HDX82) can stretch an Non HD pic on an HD channel far better than the proportionate stretching CSN uses. It is terrible. I think ESPN's side bars are great. If the show is not in HD I have the choice of manually stretching the picture to fit the screen or leaving it unaltered with the side bars. I actually watch the grainy analog channel of CSN when there is no HD content rather than the stretched digital version.

That being said. Keep up the good work as we appreciate your input on this forum :)

Andy

Wouldn't be great if for SD games to show the game in normal 4x3 without graphics and put all the graphics in the 16x9 areas. I realize all this cost money, but the $130 or so that I spend on cable and internet (multiply byt that by tens or hundreds of thousands in our area) should cover some of this cost.

Also, better planning could have made them able to broadcast every studio show in HD regardles of what's going on in the building since the studio is in the building and always was. It's absurd to think that it's simply not possible to do a rebroadcast in HD.

As for plasma owners, maybe they should have thought about burn-in before they purchased? They might want to learn about the stretch features of their TVs. I find it hard to believe that their complaints are the only reason Comcast does this.

Comcast CSR told me the SJ channel reassignment was to make room for more HD channels. But he didn't know which channels or when!

Just talked to a service rep about 6412's in south jersey, gloucester county/woodbury area..alas none are available for a few weeks. However I asked him about the channel shift and he said he wasnt otally sure why but mused that Comcast got an exclusive deal with Sony that stipulates at least 2 channels on the system, a non-HD and HD, which may be part of the reason for the shift. He says now we'll have rights to Sony's movies and other content, and should hopefully be reflected in the VOD offerings, and hopefully HD-VOD. The deal apparently was Comcast payed Sony 250 million in its payment to buy MGM studios for the partnership in return. I noticed all those hopefullys i wrote, which is all they are now, hopes.

Steve

Had a message on the digital box today - I-Guide 12/15.

I'm on the Montgomery County system.

i don't know if this is related to the i-guide or not, but ever since comcast switched me to the i-guide format (i live in old city), my cablebox has been freezing up on me a lot. i'll try to bring the menu up, or even change channels, and it'll freeze for a minute or two before it registers what i was trying to do. i can't even turn off the cablebox when this is happening. the LED light on the cablebox that shows when it receives an IR signal will light up and stay on (as opposed to blinking to show it received the signal) while this is happening. i haven't called comast about this yet, but i was wondering if anyone else has had this issue.
i do split my cable signal before it reaches the cablebox and was thinking this might be part of the cause. but, i didn't have any of these problems before comcast switched to the new format for me...
any thoughts?

thx

This is a bug in the 6412 for which a fix is in the offing.

thanks. do you know in what form the fix will come in? when they offer a fix, will i need to do anything, or will it be a fix on comcast's end?

thx

You will not have to do anything

I find it funny that a company, that recently tried to buy Disney is saying buying HD equipment so Comcast sportsnet can actually be in HD most of the time is to expensive.

i-Guide Update:

FYI: Got a message on the digital box last Friday that the i-Guide will be available on 12/09.

I'm on the Lower Bucks County (Bensalem) PA system.


JohnF

Originally posted by JohnFeld
i-Guide Update:

FYI: Got a message on the digital box last Friday that the i-Guide will be available on 12/09.

I'm on the Lower Bucks County (Bensalem) PA system.


JohnF


I got the same message on the box here in Souderton, PA. Great news.

Comcast SportsNet is finally in HD! No more stretched shows I hope.

Originally posted by Hubcap
And anyone else in MONTGOMERY county that can get the 6412 yet? I have called various times in the past few weeks and still have had to luck in getting the 6412. They still say its unavailable and Im getting really pissed off.

I just got my 6412 installed on 12/3 (King of Prussia).

Originally posted by BrentHD
Comcast SportsNet is finally in HD! No more stretched shows I hope.

Don't count on it.

Originally posted by BrentHD
"Comcast SportsNet is finally in HD! No more stretched shows I hope. "

I called CSN and they say that they can send out DNL in HD only when the home teams that play in the WC are away.

They have to stretch many programs because they do not have the tech to put up sidebars for all programming. They said that if they don't distort the picture, plasma owners complain. The sidebars damage these riducously expensive TV sets.

An expanded version of this discussion appears in these forums.

Please refrain from telling us that Comcast says plasma owners are the reson they do what they do. Even if it were true, I think most of us are tired of hearing such a lame excuse.

On a side note, I called over the weekend to trade-in my 6208 for a 6412 and they said they could do it free of charge since I already had the 6208 (assumption being that I already paid an install charge). They showed up Monday with the wrong box and said they'll be back in a couple of days. I don't understand how they make mistakes like this time after time. Perhaps in thier database they might want to start tracking equipment better. I remember reading that they don't track equipment by model which is kind of silly considering they have to track it by serial to address the box.

My 6208 has been zotching out on me a few times a week now and twice while was in the middle of recording soomething. I've heard where it may be related to power source, but I'll try the better box and if that doesn't fix it, I'll investigate further.

Anyway, at least they're quicker on these calls. I remember time not along ago when they used to say you could get an appointment in a couple of weeks instead of days. For the amount of money cable costs, the service should be better.

My cable (tv and internet) costs are comparable to my car insurance costs for 2 cars. That's pretty expensive.

Sunday night football versus Despearate Housewives

I'm guessing that WPVI is going to preempt the HD broadcast of Desperate Housewives for the SD presentation/simulcast of the ESPN Sunday Night Eagles game.

I'll be watching the game in HD on ESPN and was wondering if there was any chance they could simply simulcast the game on the analog channel and the SD sub-channel 6-2, leaving the HD broadcast of desperate housewives to be shown in it's normal spot?

If not, when will it be rebroadcast? Will it be HD?

I was part of the reason for subchannels would be a situation like this. Even without subchannels they still should be able to split their analog and HD signal much the same way PBS does.

I attempted to send them an e-mail thru their webform and it got bounced back by Disney.

I currently have a digital gold package from Comcast and that's way too much money when you factor in the DVR and then the internet.

What's the minuimum package I can get away with and still pick up ESPN-HD? I have a QAM tuner built-in to my TV if that's any help. If I drop any reference to digital in my plan will I still get ESPN-HD? I find that I don't really watch any of the digital channels and since I got the DVR I don't really use onDemand.

Originally posted by Mike3
I'm guessing that WPVI is going to preempt the HD broadcast of Desperate Housewives for the SD presentation/simulcast of the ESPN Sunday Night Eagles game.

My IGuide knows already that Desperate Housewives will be on from 7-8 PM on Channel 6. Dont know if other guide versions show this.
WPVI's Site also reflects this schedule change. (http://wpvi.titantv.com/apg/grid.aspx?)

Comcast guy just left. I have a 6412. They are available in Levittown. It has the i-guide, much better than the old guide.

Mike3,

I think if you just plug the cable from the wall directly into the TV (bypass the box) you will get "basic + expanded" service (that's what I get on my other TVs without the digital box). I don't know that for a fact, and I sure wish I had a QAM capable set to try it! Let us know what you can get.

S.Jerseyites...
Any timetable on the 6412 and/or iGuide in our area? I've been too busy watching, and not keeping up!

Thanks,
Dave

Originally posted by DaveInBerlinNJ
Mike3,

I think if you just plug the cable from the wall directly into the TV (bypass the box) you will get "basic + expanded" service (that's what I get on my other TVs without the digital box). I don't know that for a fact, and I sure wish I had a QAM capable set to try it! Let us know what you can get.

I would second that motion. It should work.


FYI...I called Comcast last Thursday and signed up for the dish buyback program. On Saturday, they were at my house with a 6412. I love this thing. No glitches to speak of yet. I've got to learn some shortcuts and functions. But I've been recoding HD content and it's incredible. Big thumbs up to this box.

The only wierd thing with Comcast HD is the black levels seem darker. I had to make some minor adjustments. I wasn't sure if this was because I'm running component (vs. RGBhv with DirectTv/OTA) but after reading threads, it seems to be Comcast. Nothing that can't easily be corrected.

I'd love to see some test patterns (color, over scan, black level etc) generated from this box. I'd also like to see PIP built in since it's a dual tuner. That would be the perfect (or darned close) box.

My 6412 was setup today and when asked about a new remote by my wife, the tech said the old one should work it. When she proceeded to ask him about the two tuner feature (recording one program while watching another) he still replied it should work. it sounds as if he had no clue that such a thing existed or what the difference might be between the two remotes. Now I have to look up the program codes to create a swap button and do it myself instead of Comcast doing a job thoroughly.

In case everyone doesn't know, I beleive you can program a swap button for the 6412 and program a 30 second skip button for either Moto DVR.

I've looked through alot of this thread but don't see definitive answers to these questions regarding the 6412 (I apologize if some have been answered):

1. Is there any loss of quality for the HDTV channels with the 6412, in comparison to the 6200 (the plain High Definition box -- no DVR)?

2. Is there any loss in quality for the analog channels with the 6412. The 6200 I have has terrible quality on the analog channels, I just don't want it to be worse.

3. What exactly is the "swap" issue. Keep in mind that I don't use (nor plan to use) the remote that comes with the 6412. I use my home theater remote to control everything -- including the cable box. It is a programmable remote.

So will I be able to watch something and record something else with the 6412 -- and use my programmable home theater remote to switch between tuners?

4. If I record a 3.5 hour football game in High Definition (a Monday Night football game for example) -- will that even fit on the hard drive?

a. if so, how much space will I approximately have left (assuming an empty hard drive to start)?

b. in general, how many analog and how many high definition programs fit on the hard drive? In other words, how much space does an analog hour long program take -- and how much space does an hour long HDTV program take?

c. without getting too involved or techie, is there any way to move the program off of the 6412 hard drive onto another hard drive (or otherwise save a program forever)?

5. Is the play back from the DVR of a recorded High Definition program, exactly the same quality of the High Definition broadcast? Or do you lose anything on High Definition with a DVR (I never used a DVR -- don't have a TIVO).

6. Any other issues or functionality I should know about?

DaveInBerlinNJ...I'm in Wash. Twp. and I've had my 6412 w/iGuide for about 3 weeks now. I got on the "call list" back in the beginning of November...and they actually called me!!! I offered to do the self-install when they called, but the box was coming directly from the warehouse so I had to schedule the install...2 days later at NO CHARGE...can't complain about that. The CSR did tell me that customers who already had HD-DVR (6208) were being contacted first and they were on short supply...keep calling!!!

Originally posted by caesar1
I've looked through alot of this thread but don't see definitive answers to these questions regarding the 6412 (I apologize if some have been answered):

There's a whole thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=464986) dedicated to the 6412 With I Guide. All of these questions are answered in the pages of that thread. I couldn't have mastered (to the small extent I have) the ins and outs of the 6412 without it.

In response to Caesar1:

1) No.
2) No. The PQ of the SD channels should be improved next year when they are mirroed in digital.
3) The swap button allows you the access the second tuner.
4) Yes.
a) You would have about 11.5 hours of HD recording left.
b) 15 hours all HD, about 70 hours all SD
c) Yes. Can dump to DVHS via firewire if not copy protected, i.e copy never. The 6412 has two firewire ports.
5) Yes
6) There are some bugs like the box shutting down when the channels are changed too fast. A firmware fix should be available in February 2005.

Originally posted by JWhip
In response to Caesar1:


2) No. The PQ of the SD channels should be improved next year when they are mirroed in digital.



Thanks for the responses.

I read this about picture quality some where else, but I don't understand it.

I don't find the digital (yet non-HD channels) to be that much of an improvement over, say CNN or MTV.

In other words, the channels at 100 and above are just okay -- similar to the picture quality to the channels 1 to 99 -- with the exception of the High Definition channels of course.

Why do you expect this to vastly improve picture quality?

I thought the whole "digital" channels were basically a marketing scam -- since it allowed for more channels (and more compression), not necessarily better picture quality.

Now HDTV is a different story of course.

I have a Mitsubishi RPTV (55 inch) -- capable of 1080i. It does not have an internal HD tuner.

I have been told you will see an improvement between the digital and analog versions of channels 1 to 99. Eventually, the analog channels will be scrapped, in about 2 years I would say. I watch on a 50" plasma and really am not all that critical of the PQ on the analog channels as I do not use the plasma for those much anyway.

progear,
thanks for the heads up. I have a 6208, and I'm "on the list". I'm in Winslow Twp... wonder if they're this far out yet. I'll keep calling.

Mike3,
did you ever bypass your box to see what digital stations you'd get on your QAM set?

Originally posted by Joe_R
I would second that motion. It should work.


FYI...I called Comcast last Thursday and signed up for the dish buyback program.

What is the dish buyback program?

Been thinking of getting DVR website says I would get SA 8000 HD box....whats the diff between that and the 6412 everyone is talking about? thanks

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JWhip
[B]In response to Caesar1:

2) No. The PQ of the SD channels should be improved next year when they are mirroed in digital.

With all the talk about available bandwidth, Comcast has the bandwidth to do this? How much is left to add HD & how many??

Has anyone noticed continued problems with NBC's DTV transmission? In the last few weeks, there were video glitches during different shows, and now tonight during the apprentice there were lip synch issues.

Seems in the Philly market, NBC is at the low end of the DTV movement.

Thoughts?

Lee

Originally posted by Carl Jones
[QUOTE]Originally posted by JWhip
[B]In response to Caesar1:

2) No. The PQ of the SD channels should be improved next year when they are mirroed in digital.

With all the talk about available bandwidth, Comcast has the bandwidth to do this? How much is left to add HD & how many??

Changing existing digital channels from 64 to 256 QAM frees up enough bandwidth, it only takes about 6 to 8 6MHz channels to provide all of the analog signals in digital form.

Keep in mind that cable systems around the country (even those owned by the same company) are not equal in terms of capacity. Older systems go up to 550MHz, some new go up to 750, and some newer go up to 870 or so.

Originally posted by dbrouda
Changing existing digital channels from 64 to 256 QAM frees up enough bandwidth, it only takes about 6 to 8 6MHz channels to provide all of the analog signals in digital form.

Keep in mind that cable systems around the country (even those owned by the same company) are not equal in terms of capacity. Older systems go up to 550MHz, some new go up to 750, and some newer go up to 870 or so.

So for our market, this is a "non-issue"?

According to the red light message on my box, the new I-Guide was supposed to come on 12/9. Well, it's two days later and still no new guide.

I live in Souderton, PA. Any one else with info on this or do they have it?

I know they promised Lower Bucks the new guide on this date as well.

I live in Warrington- Bucks County- and still no I-Guide here.

Rumor has it on DSLReports.com that the I-Guide may now be delayed until 2005 due to a number of bugs that still remain...

They should just release. Even with bugs it has to be better then what is on the 6208 right now.

Dave,
I have always bypassed my box, but my concern is not what channels I get bypassing my box now, but rather what happens if I tell the cable company to cancel digital.

I have a cable card and when it's working I get all the channels. When it's not (it isn't working properly right now) I don't get DiscoveryHD, but I get everything else including my premiums.

Without the cablecard, I think I could only find the locals. I'll have to remove the card and double-check. The question I'm getting at does the programming vary from house to house based on what on what the residence pays for or does the cable company send the same feed to every house now and control it via the STB?

In the old days, every one received the same basic package and they turned option on and off at the pole, so I'm wondering if they turn off the digital what would happen or if they even can turn it off rather than just telling the box not to decode it?

Originally posted by vt600cd
What is the dish buyback program?

It's a package Comcast offers to entice satellite (DirectTv or DishTv) customer to change over to cable. You give the installer a sat reciever and Comcast gives you Std. cable, Digital cable, HD channels and a digital cable box all for $50/month for 12 months. I think it's normall $80/month. Don't quote me on any of this.

Originally posted by JWhip
I have been told you will see an improvement between the digital and analog versions of channels 1 to 99. Eventually, the analog channels will be scrapped, in about 2 years I would say. I watch on a 50" plasma and really am not all that critical of the PQ on the analog channels as I do not use the plasma for those much anyway.

Is the channel mirroring going to be a big sweep in one day or some channels one month, some more the next month, and so on?

Any idea on where these channels are going to be put?

It will all be done at once. When you enter the channel number, like 003, you will get the digital version, bypassing the analog altogether.

Originally posted by JWhip
It will all be done at once. When you enter the channel number, like 003, you will get the digital version, bypassing the analog altogether.

I personally cannot wait for this. My analog isn't all that horrible, but I find myself scouring the HD and Digital listings for something to watch - often watching only marginally interesting programs - before I venture down to 2-99 any more.

My main problem even considering dropping DirecTV has been the poor PQ on the "important" cable stations through Comcast. If Comcast fixes that - besting the heavily compressed but clear digital DirecTV look, it will be much easier to dump DirecTV. I've previously chosen compression over grain. If the grain is gone, DTV's compression will only look that much worse.

After watching Comcasts digital stations, it's very hard to go back to DirecTV. They really screwed things up by adding all the locals. They had to, but PQ has never been the same.

Then again, I watch so much HD now that none of it may matter (trying to get back OT here).

Comcast-Voorhees

Just bought a Sony with QAM, does any one know if I can get cbs, abc, etc in HD without a stb.

thanks

Hook the cable up to it and have it scan for channels. If they offer nbc, abc, fox, cbs, obs in HD in your area you should get it for free.

Here in Souderton, PA - It has appeared on my 2 regular digital cable boxes, but NOT my silver HDTV digital cable box. That one still sports the old tan interface program guide.

Anyone know why this would be?

Originally posted by zippychimp
Here in Souderton, PA - It has appeared on my 2 regular digital cable boxes, but NOT my silver HDTV digital cable box. That one still sports the old tan interface program guide.

Anyone know why this would be?

South Jersey here. Got the Iguide DL lastnight on my Digital STB. Finally :)

What are everyone's thoughts regarding the new iGuide and the preview bar at the bottom? It seriously annoys me that when flipping through and previewing everything you have to hit down to go to a higher channel. Completely defies logic and I've found myself going the wrong way since it was swapped here late last week. Haven't found a way in the options to switch it.

the new guide is terrible

In comparison to the tan guide - you think the new one is terrible??

Are you kidding me?

The only bad thing about the tan guide is the advertisements

The only bad thing about the new one is you have to go down to go up.

On another topic of local disinterest - has anyone on this list ever contacted WCAU-DT about their irregular HD switching? Seems like every show I record starts off in SD (notable exception: The Tonight Show) and switches to HD a few minutes in. Are they lacking proper equipment or merely incompetent?

Based on what I see, I would be willing to bet that no senior management of WCAU has HDTV at home.

Originally posted by chroma601
On another topic of local disinterest - has anyone on this list ever contacted WCAU-DT about their irregular HD switching? Seems like every show I record starts off in SD (notable exception: The Tonight Show) and switches to HD a few minutes in. Are they lacking proper equipment or merely incompetent?

Based on what I see, I would be willing to bet that no senior management of WCAU has HDTV at home.

I have contacted them a few times and I have never received a response back from them.

Does anyone know where I can get a list of the QAM numbers of the free HD channels in Chester County, PA?

Is Armstrong your cable co.?

If you have the digital option, there's a couple at 101. 102, etc.

The "new" (month ago) Scientific Atlanta guide has you hit the guide button to get a bar which lists: guide, vod, hbo vod, max vod, etc.

You then have to hit select to get to the guide, and it takes longer once you hit it because it has to clear the bar first. Bad programming and stupid design. I have to hit two buttons when I used to hit one.

Be happy you have all your VOD's on one channel. We have one channel per vod and it is annoying compared to the moto's elegent solution. Besides the ugly color scheme and annoying adverts, the moto software only needed more time per guide instead of half hour increments. It is much nicer then SA's solution.

I have Comcast and I just have basic cable.

Still no iGuide in South Jersey (Burlington township) :(

Greetings everybody,
I have a quick question.
Last night I hooked up my EDTV Panasonic plasma to the coaxial
cable (no comcast box). I have just an analog package (Basic and Limited).
I let my build-in ATSC tuner to scan the channels and it found: Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, INHD, INHD . However, I could not find ComcastSportNetwork, ESPN-HD and Discovery-HD.
My question is : is this because I don't have the Digital package? Or is this because I don't have the STB box/CableCard ?
Thanks,
Tankerdba.

Originally posted by tankerdba
Greetings everybody,
I have a quick question.
Last night I hooked up my EDTV Panasonic plasma to the coaxial
cable (no comcast box). I have just an analog package (Basic and Limited).
I let my build-in ATSC tuner to scan the channels and it found: Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, INHD, INHD . However, I could not find ComcastSportNetwork, ESPN-HD and Discovery-HD.
My question is : is this because I don't have the Digital package? Or is this because I don't have the STB box/CableCard ?
Thanks,
Tankerdba.

You can not access them because they are encrypted and would require either a box or cablecard to decrypt. What package you would need after you get a box depends on your area.

Thanks for you reply !
So, if I get the CableCard do I still need to order a Digital package or I can continue with an analog?
Thanks.

I just got the giude in Bucks County. Im liking it _much_ better than the old one.

Timo

Press Menu , You gotta check out the Search features , very nice... I dont know if this was in there before but Im liking it.

BTW Im in Holland PA, got Comcast and 3 digital boxes , 1 is HD all have new Guide.

Timo

Originally posted by zippychimp
Here in Souderton, PA - It has appeared on my 2 regular digital cable boxes, but NOT my silver HDTV digital cable box. That one still sports the old tan interface program guide.

Anyone know why this would be?

same thing here in Worcester. we have 2 HD boxes that didn't receive the new guide.

I called as well ( several times) regarding ch 10. Seems the psip was off by 2 minutes for months & now may not function at all. I can't lock in the station on my sam-t165 set top box due to bad data or no data. I can receive on the other tv w/ built in tuner. I would agree with comment that mgt doesn't own HDTVS. They don't get it!!!!! I can't watch or record if the digital data is not accurate. The engineer I spoke with basically said 90%+ watch analog & that is were there resources are. Gee Thanks!
Few weeks back the movie Christmas Carrol ran with no local commercials..just the peacock symbol...when asked..was told same thing... more $ to insert & then change back to HD so they left out the advertising on the digital side.

Originally posted by Brajesh
Still no iGuide in South Jersey (Burlington township) :(

Not in Ewing Twp, NJ either...

Man im in Montgomery County and still no damn Iguide. Called yesterday and told me it was available today, but i could have sworn i got a message saying it was available the 14th but i deleted the message. But i can finally get the 6412 so im happy about that, its actually going in on Monday. SO if iguide isnt up by then i guess i can just stick it out until monday.

I live in south nj will I get could over the air reciption?

Has there been any update to rumors of added HD channels for Comcast??

Originally posted by Dan Forsyth
I live in south nj will I get could over the air reciption?

http://www.antennaweb.org

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rpfotog
[B]Yeah, you'll get the local digital channels for free. They're required (by the FCC) to be on the limited basic package. So assuming you have an HD tuner you can watch the Eagles on FOX, Monday Night Football and CBS NFL HD games without having to activate or pay for anything extra. If you want ESPN HD, HBO HD, Discovery HD Theater, etc., you'll have to pay the piper. If you don't have an HD box and your display doesn't have an HD tuner, you can trade in your SD box for an HD model by making an appointment with Comcrap or by dropping by your nearest office to pick one up yourself.

I have only basic non-digital cable, just bought a Sony 55XS, and I get HBO HD, TMC HD, and Showtime HD for free. How is this possible? I won't see what cable company, because I want to enjoy it as long as possible. Looks fantastic! Is there a free preview weekend or something (has been for 5 days now so far).

Comcast replaced my 6408 with the 6412 last week. 6412 has iGuide. My upstairs 6400 still has the old guide.

I much prefer the new guide. Dual tuner is big improvement also, of course.


Dan Forsyth,

I got excellent OTA reception with a Silver Sensor antenna and a Zenith HD OTA receiver. I wouldn't bother though. Comcast is easier, with more content, and exact same picture quality. I sold my OTA stuff.

Originally posted by Hubcap
Man im in Montgomery County and still no damn Iguide. Called yesterday and told me it was available today, but i could have sworn i got a message saying it was available the 14th but i deleted the message. But i can finally get the 6412 so im happy about that, its actually going in on Monday. SO if iguide isnt up by then i guess i can just stick it out until monday.

I live in Sellersville, about 20min away from you and have the 6412 with the Iguide. :confused:

I like the 6412 I have, but I'm expereincing an unbearable problem with it. I can't watch wb17 or fox29 through it because of audio dropouts roghly every 10-15 seconds.

It happens whether I'm live or watching something recorded. It doesn't happen using the direct signal plugged into my QAM tuner.

I thought I remembered reading something about this problem recently but I can't find it. Has anyone had this problem or does anyone know anything about it?

It made watching the Eagles game yesterday pretty bad since I wasn't home at the start of the game to see it live.

Originally posted by Mike3
I like the 6412 I have, but I'm expereincing an unbearable problem with it. I can't watch wb17 or fox29 through it because of audio dropouts roghly every 10-15 seconds.

It happens whether I'm live or watching something recorded. It doesn't happen using the direct signal plugged into my QAM tuner.

I thought I remembered reading something about this problem recently but I can't find it. Has anyone had this problem or does anyone know anything about it?

It made watching the Eagles game yesterday pretty bad since I wasn't home at the start of the game to see it live.

I believe this has to do with the settings you choose under Menu: Audio Setup. Try TV Speakers with "Enhanced Stereo". These settings only effect your analog outputs on the 6412, so an audio receiver you have connected using the optical outputs will not be effected.

Don't know why this would only effect Fox and WB.

This problem did affect the digital out to the surround sound too. The DD5.1 on the game kept dropping out and I would see the DD5.1 symbol on the surround sound receiver disappear each time it happened.

It is strange that it only happens to those two channels... For more than WB. It's alo noteworthy that it doesn't appear to happen during the day when there is less bandwidth-demanding programming.

WCAU-DT about their irregular HD switching?

I called as well ( several times) regarding ch 10. Seems the psip was off by 2 minutes for months & now may not function at all. I can't lock in the station on my sam-t165 set top box due to bad data or no data. I can receive on the other tv w/ built in tuner. I would agree with comment that mgt doesn't own HDTVS. They don't get it!!!!! I can't watch or record if the digital data is not accurate. The engineer I spoke with basically said 90%+ watch analog & that is were there resources are. Gee Thanks!
Few weeks back the movie Christmas Carrol ran with no local commercials..just the peacock symbol...when asked..was told same thing... more $ to insert & then change back to HD so they left out the advertising on the digital side.


I have a Samsung set top box and also cannot tune in 10-1 because they are not transmitting PSIP correctly. I called a few weeks back and left a voicemail for the chief broadcast engineer but (surprise!) I got no call back, and they have not changed anything.

I wonder if a letter would have any more effect?

--Philly Tim

Originally posted by Mike3
This problem did affect the digital out to the surround sound too. The DD5.1 on the game kept dropping out and I would see the DD5.1 symbol on the surround sound receiver disappear each time it happened.

It is strange that it only happens to those two channels... For more than WB. It's alo noteworthy that it doesn't appear to happen during the day when there is less bandwidth-demanding programming.

I meant only that the settings would not effect the digital outputs, not that the problem isn't showing up through the digital outputs.

If it's not happening on the direct feed into a QAM and it is happening through the box, that eliminates any signal issue as the culprit since the same signal is being fed to both. It's either a box setting or the box is bad.

I called comcast they said my local office has 6412 and I could just stop by and pick it up we shall see how well this goes .

i have an appointment on 12-28 for the 2 tuner.
18.25 for insatll tho'.

aston.

I went to the local office and after the lady at the counter examined my account for like 5 minutes including my past payment history she apparently decided I was worthy to have a 6412. Which she of course gave me with the wrong remote so I have no swap button. Now to hunt down that thread that tells you how to do it

yep she wouldnt let me do a pick-up.
she said it was due to the equipment is "extra sensitive".

Okay - what exactly is the "right" remote for the 6412. What is the model number and what does it look like?

In other words, which remote has the "swap" button and everything else that you are "supposed" to have for the 6412.

Here are those instructions

1) Press the "Cable" button at the top of the remote.
2) Press and hold the "Setup" button until the "Cable"
button blinks twice.
3) Enter 994. The "Cable" button will blink twice
4) Press (don't hold) the "Setup" button
5) Enter 00173 (for 30 second Skip) or 00236 (for
Swap).
6) Press whatever button you want to map the skip or
swap function to.

Anyone get the iguide on their non-DVR HD box? SD boxes were updated a week ago but nothing on the HD box.

I have two boxes; one is HD and one is not. I have had the new I-Guide on my non-HD box since last week. The old tan guide is still on my HD box.

I'm fairly new to the HDTV game, and was hoping someone can help understand how OTA works. I'm currently getting my local digitals OTA through my Dish Network 811 receiver using an indoor amplified antenna. Now mind you, I live in Manayunk, which is less than 1 mile from all of Philadelphia's digital broadcast towers. I can literally see the antenna farm from my front window. I get almost all the local channels with at least 80% signal strength with minimal effort. The only exception is WTXF, channel 29. For some reason channel 29 is very tempormental. I can only get a signal if I turn the amplified anntenna of, and postion just right. Even then I only get 60-70% signal strength. If someone happens to park a car in front of my house, I lose the signal.

My question is, why is channel 29 so sensitive when the tower is about a mile from my house? Is there anything I can do to improve the signal strength?

anatalope:
Have you tried removing the amplifier? At that close range, you shouldn't need it.

caeser1:
The 6412 remote has 4 extra LITTLE round black buttons near the bottom, otherwise, its exactly like the 6408 remote. The only functional button is the "swap" button. The others are for PIP functions, which aren't enabled.

Mike3:
Thanks for info... I don't recall that my 6412 has a "skip" function. It'll be nice to add it.

GeoffS and cantz:
I have 2 HD boxes. A basic 6400, and a 6412. The 6412 has the new iGuide, the 6400 still has the old guide (last I checked ~ 2 days ago). It seems iGuide implementation is kind of hit or miss.

Does anyone know a way to do a 30 second skip on a SA8000HD unit?

Originally posted by DaveInBerlinNJ
anatalope:
Have you tried removing the amplifier? At that close range, you shouldn't need it.



Yes. In fact WTXF-DT will only work if the amplifier is turned off (the amplifier is built into my antenna, but I can unplug. With the amplifier off, WTXF is still very sketchy. I have to have the antenna pointed properly just to get a 65% signal. When turn on the amplifier the signal instantly drops to 0%. Its almost like I am so close that the signal is so strong my receiver doesn't know what to do with it so it just cuts it down to 0.

Most of the other channels work fine without the amplifier. However it is nice to be able to just flip a switch and improve the signal strength, rather than have to adjust the antenna. I can usually get 3, 6, 10, 12 and 17 perfectly, without having to get up and play with the antenna. Its when I switch to 29 that problems occur.

Originally posted by GeoffS
Anyone get the iguide on their non-DVR HD box? SD boxes were updated a week ago but nothing on the HD box.

In Warrington, no new iGuide on non-DVR HD box. The new DVR HD box installed on Saturday has it, but not my older HD box.

trying to be patient.....javascript:smilie(':D')
big grin

anatalope:

Sounds like the problem is not signal strength so much as it is multipath. With good ol' analog TV broadcasts, multipath showed up as image ghosting. With newfangled digital TV, multipath can confuse your tuner, preventing a strong signal lock. I could imagine multipath being a potential problem even close to the signal source.

Newer tuner circuitry down the road should provide better handling of multipath problems by filtering out secondary (reflected) signals, but until then the solution might be just to try different antenna positions. I know that is not convenient with outdoor antennas, especially since your specific multipath issues might "shift" based on factors such as weather, time of year (such as whether there are leaves on the trees), etc.

OTA has advantages, but sometimes it can be frustrating getting a dependable signal!

--Philly Tim

Originally posted by ExpensiveWino
In Warrington, no new iGuide on non-DVR HD box. The new DVR HD box installed on Saturday has it, but not my older HD box.

trying to be patient.....javascript:smilie(':D')
big grin

In Souderton, No I-Guide on Non-DVR HDTV Box - but it is on the two "regular" digital cable boxes in other parts of the home.

I heard they are having problems getting it on the HDTV - but not DVR - boxes. We may have to live with this for a while....

I am in Abington using a Motorola 6412 box. All HD channels are tiling or unavailable. Comcast claims it's a problem with their equipment. Is anyone else having problems?

Thanks.

OK. Let's try this a different way.
Are there any subscribers in E Montgomery Cty who are not having problems with HD channels?

No HD problems here this morning -

But i'm thinking you're on the Willow Grove system - i'm on MontCo.

Originally posted by minorthr
I went to the local office and after the lady at the counter examined my account for like 5 minutes including my past payment history she apparently decided I was worthy to have a 6412. Which she of course gave me with the wrong remote so I have no swap button. Now to hunt down that thread that tells you how to do it

just had my 6412 "installed".

what a rip that we have to pay almost 20 bucks for that.

also got the remote without the extra buttons.

Ive been having issues were just about everyday I have to call Comcast and have them send an activation signal to the 6412. They pretty much refuse to replace the box right now so I guess im stuck with it.

Originally posted by Philly Tim
anatalope:

Sounds like the problem is not signal strength so much as it is multipath.

--Philly Tim

Thanks for the info, Philly Tim. Great explanation! I actually have an indoor antenna so adjusting the postion is not too much of a problem. Its finding a the right position that is frustrating.

Unfortunately, in my neck of the woods (Manayunk) we are stuck with Urban Cableworks instead of Comcast. At the time I bought my HDTV, UCW didn't even offer HD programming, so I went with Dish Network. Even today, they still offer less HD programming than Dish. (Urban Cableworks provides horrible service and the only reason they stay in business is their fixed customer base. But that's another story). So until Dish Network starts offering locals in HD, I am stuck with my OTA antenna.

Originally posted by allinav
OK. Let's try this a different way.
Are there any subscribers in E Montgomery Cty who are not having problems with HD channels?
You are on the WG system, as we are. HD was fine last night; we haven't checked today.

Ok, my wife has agreed to let me get our Samsung calibrated. Actually it's a Christmas gift. Actually I bribed her with many fine gifts to get what I wanted. Now all I need is to find a good source for calibration.

Any referrals? I live in South Jersey, 20 mins from Philadelphia.

Apreciate any input from those who've been through this already.

Ok, my wife has agreed to let me get our Samsung calibrated. Actually it's a Christmas gift. Actually I bribed her with many fine gifts to get what I wanted. Now all I need is to find a good source for calibration.

Any referrals? I live in South Jersey, 20 mins from Philadelphia.

Apreciate any input from those who've been through this already.

Is anyone in NJ having trouble getting either 29 or 6 OTA? I can't seem to get 6 at all, and I usually get it really well. I'm in central NJ and get both NY and Philly stations.

I was wonderring if the fact that NY stations are moving to the antenna on the Empire State Building, and going to full power, could in some way affect my Philly reception(??).

Tom

Originally posted by tld
Is anyone in NJ having trouble getting either 29 or 6 OTA?

FWIW I am getting 6 & 29 both loud & clear OTA here in Philly

I suspect something was going on with the Philly DT OTA stations this evening. I was getting fine signal from them this afternoon and zero this evening. Could have been weather related ( I doubt it though ) but I suspect they were just off-line. I have found that many of the DT OTA stations are not always turned on.

on the 6208 remote with the 6412, "Tv/video" is "swap".

What is the non-HD DVR model currently being ditributed in the Cherry Hill, NJ area? Is it the SA Explorer 8000 or something else?:rolleyes:

Anybody else having OTA reception problems tonight? My channel 6 is non-existent and channel 10 is comming in broken up and the other channels are fine.....

Yes. Last night I could barely get 6 at all. 10 and 29 were pretty miserable as well. I'm in central NJ. My Philly reception seems to be having real problems lately (as I mentioned above). It used to be great.

Tom

Okay today (Dec 30) all my locals seem to be working except for PBS 12.1 which is out completely....what is going on in Philadelphia?????

sdpadres, it is the explorer 8000.

I had that till I was given an 8000HD, and the HD software was vastly improved.

Just got my 6412 in Maple Shade, NJ. I called 1-800-COMCAST at first, but the CSR told me to just go down to my payment center to see if they have one. Sure enough, they did!

-Dan

What HDTV can be pulled out of the air in Allentown (PA)? I would guess that Philadelphia is too far to tune w/ an attic antenna.

Originally posted by sdpadres
What is the non-HD DVR model currently being ditributed in the Cherry Hill, NJ area? Is it the SA Explorer 8000 or something else?:rolleyes:

The SA Explorer 8000 is a DVR model STB. I have a SA Explorer 3250HD which is a NON-DVR HD STB. Comcast may also have other models.

Hi guys,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this or not, but I am in Wilmington, DE and am thinking about getting D*. I see where Philly is listed on the list of O&O ABC stations that are now passing through the ABC-E feed on D*. Are any of the other networks available in HD through D* in the Philly/Wilmingon DE area? Anyone know? Thanks!

No HD here in Philly for the Eagles game :(

Is there something up with channel 17-1/17-2 from philly? I have the USDigital HD tuner from Walmart, and haven't been able to bring in this channel for the last week or two. It looks like it gets the signal fine from the look of the on-screen display (it has a little meter showing signal strength), but then it gives the error message "Channel 17-1 (WPHL-D1) is currently off the air."

I'm not sure if it's something up with my tuner or what...any ideas? I think the one night when 17 was coming in, when I turned to it, it would mess the tuner up and it would cause no channels to come in until I unplugged the tuner and plugged it back in.

Originally posted by cwllr
Is there something up with channel 17-1/17-2 from philly? I have the USDigital HD tuner from Walmart, and haven't been able to bring in this channel for the last week or two. It looks like it gets the signal fine from the look of the on-screen display (it has a little meter showing signal strength), but then it gives the error message "Channel 17-1 (WPHL-D1) is currently off the air."

I'm not sure if it's something up with my tuner or what...any ideas? I think the one night when 17 was coming in, when I turned to it, it would mess the tuner up and it would cause no channels to come in until I unplugged the tuner and plugged it back in.

FYI: WPHL-DT has been off for the last few days on our HDTV Service Electric Cable line-up (says will be available shortly).

Originally posted by jones07
No HD here in Philly for the Eagles game :(
CBS is not carrying the PHI/CIN game in HD today.

Originally posted by sdewalle
Hi guys,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this or not, but I am in Wilmington, DE and am thinking about getting D*. I see where Philly is listed on the list of O&O ABC stations that are now passing through the ABC-E feed on D*. Are any of the other networks available in HD through D* in the Philly/Wilmingon DE area? Anyone know? Thanks!

Should get CBS / NBC / Fox east feeds - all are o&o in philly

Have fun.....

Comcast is delivering a DVR box tomorrow because I was so frustrated in dealing with Directv. I have spent hours on the phone talking to CSR's and can only get CBS. On 12/24 they took away NBC and said that I need waivers for all the other "local" channels.

I will look at Directv again when they start offering true HD Local channels (not from New York) and beef up their other HD offerings.

JDB

I have analog cable running into my LG 3100A which will receive unscrambled digital channels. I can sometimes get ABC & NBC in clearly, but I've only gotten CBS in once or twice and PHYY in a few times. I've never gotten Fox. It appears to be hit & miss with this thing. Does anybody out there have this tuner? I'm in Chester, Pa. and was considering moving up to digital cable to get the 6412 DVR or putting up a Sqareshooter antenna to see what I could get. Also, for anyone that has the HD premiums, how do you like it compared to say, Netflix? I've missed alot of HD football since I can't get FOX or CBS most of the time. Do the reception with the locals have the same problem with the digital package, or is it the same as OTA? If it is, I'll just stay with OTA and basic analog cable until they get the reception issues straightened out. In fact, the only channels I almost never have a problem with are the channels I don't care about (digital music; NBA League Pass loop; InDemand etc.)

Originally posted by carmbruster
What HDTV can be pulled out of the air in Allentown (PA)? I would guess that Philadelphia is too far to tune w/ an attic antenna.
It depends very much on exactly where you are in the Valley. I'm in Bethlehem, and, with a Televes DAT-75 (An ultra high-gain UHF only antenna), I get CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, UPN, WB... Lately ABC and Fox have been a little spotty... CBS and NBC come in perfectly, always. UPN and WB seem to come in real strong, but I don't watch them. I probably need to get into the attic again and re-tweak the direction for ABC/FOX. I also get the local PBS (WLVT-DT on 62) from a side-lobe of the antenna, but not a HINT of WFMZ-69 (on digital channel 46)..

I do not have a rotor, and do not have an amplifier... I'm using a DST-3000 STB as well.. Also, am using about 65Ft. of RG-6 to get the signal to my Tuner. You may do as well with less of an "extreme" antenna and a newer STB... Obstructions to the south are critical (not having any!) as is, I would suspect your altitude... My house is at about 410ft. Above MSL (Mean Sea Level)..

- Mike

Originally posted by BrentHD
CBS is not carrying the PHI/CIN game in HD today.

I have not been able to pull 17-1 in for weeks.

Quote:CBS is not carrying the PHI/CIN game in HD today

As painful as that game was to watch, it didn't deserve to be in HD!

Indeed, but we still had to watch one SD game this year.

As much as I ride fox for sub par quality, poor HD is better then SD by a mile.

Trying to watch "Law and Order" on WCAU-DT via Comcast - the entire top half of the picture is a digital pattern while the bottom is merely breaking up.

Boy, this technology has a way to go. "Lost" was filled with audio dropouts and picture glitches earlier on PVI.

(edit) At 20 after ten, the digital station switches to SD.

Reply too chroma601 re "... "Law and Order" on WCAU-DT via Comcast - the entire top half of the picture is a digital pattern while the bottom is merely breaking up."

That problem seemed to affect them beginning at around 9:45 PM. Saw it via Comcast Coatesville system. First time I saw that. I have had HD for about three months.

When I cjecked WCAU-DT at 9:50, the picture was still SD, and the sound was music only - no dialogue!

Originally posted by chroma601
When I cjecked WCAU-DT at 9:50, the picture was still SD, and the sound was music only - no dialogue!

The beginning of Leno was SD with No Sound. Then there was a high pitch squeal for 30 seconds. Then it went to HD.

I'm pretty glad I did Alias+CSI: NY on the DVR and did L&O on the Tivo in SD.

After more than a month of not being able to lock into the OTA signal (with a Samsung STB), I gave it a try tonight and 10-1 came blazing back to life! I've been trying every few days, hoping that they would finally get around to fixing this glitch.

But judging from the most recent few posts about problems with their signal, I guess I am not out of the woods yet!

--Philly Tim

Originally posted by Philly Tim
After more than a month of not being able to lock into the OTA signal (with a Samsung STB), I gave it a try tonight and 10-1 came blazing back to life! I've been trying every few days, hoping that they would finally get around to fixing this glitch.

But judging from the most recent few posts about problems with their signal, I guess I am not out of the woods yet!

--Philly Tim

Maybe all the trouble we had via Comcast last night with WCAU-DT was a result of the fix, and it took until during Leno for Comcast to deal with whatever the fix was? First 15 minutes of Lost was glitchy, too, and Alias came back from a commercial in SD for a minute or two. Comcast HD was in rare form last night.

csi on cbs was all messed up for my tonight. Skippin all around for a good 10 minutes i just turned the tv off. Anyone else have this problem?

I watched CSI tonight and experienced no reception problems at all. I use an over-the-air tuner.

Were you tuning in with an OTA set-top box, or were you watching via cable or satellite? It helps to specify that information, so that we are not comparing apples with oranges.

--Philly Tim

Originally posted by Hubcap
csi on cbs was all messed up for my tonight. Skippin all around for a good 10 minutes i just turned the tv off. Anyone else have this problem?

No problems here (Comcast, Bensalem).

Tim
It's FRIDAY!.. Great to hear 10.1 may be back for us Sam t-165 STB users. I will try tonight. Still frustrated on the mulit-timer issue & them not fixing problem ( I have the 134 firmware that can't be rolled back to the more stable 125) Not like we have a newer, better firewire model to pick from. At least I have a built in HD tuner on my other tv.

Isn't any day now? . . . .

I'm wondering if they are ever planning more HD content for on demand.

And what about Bravo HD?

Originally posted by Hubcap
csi on cbs was all messed up for my tonight. Skippin all around for a good 10 minutes i just turned the tv off. Anyone else have this problem?

Same problem here - Comcast Bensalem. I don't know if it was CSI, but it was definitely on CBS primetime.

Frank,
Warminster, PA

GO BIRDS!!

Originally posted by frankz1
No problems here (Comcast, Bensalem).

I guess I spoke too soon up there. CSI was perfect, but when I went to watch Without a Trace tonight (broadcast after CSI) from the DVR it was skipping like crazy after the first 10 minutes. I couldn't pause or FF it either. Good thing I'm still making SD backups on the TiVo, or else I'd have been screwed!

Guess CBS3 or Comcast had some big problems on the HD front Thursday night. Nothing else before or after (that I've watched so far) was effected.

ABC is completely dead for me today (OTA).
No signal. No football playoffs.

Every other channel is fine. Anyone?

Originally posted by TraderGordo
ABC is completely dead for me today (OTA).
No signal. No football playoffs.

Every other channel is fine. Anyone?

6-1 is up via OTA for me....no 5.1 sound for the game though.

Trader..

I have been having problems with ABC also. Either its off or low signal. The same goes for NBC and PBS. All other locals come in perfect (95%). Are you having problems with either NBC or PBS also? Are you getting the signal OTA?

OTA wworking for me in Delaware county

Originally posted by spinn74
Trader..

I have been having problems with ABC also. Either its off or low signal. The same goes for NBC and PBS. All other locals come in perfect (95%). Are you having problems with either NBC or PBS also? Are you getting the signal OTA?

Yes, OTA. But NBC is fine (I had the problems others reported several days ago, but it has been fine for the last couple days and is fine right now). PBS has always been a crap shoot -- I wish they would pump up their signal power.

I don't recall ever seeing ABC "flatline" like this before. It can't be an issue on my side. It always came in strong for me before, and all other channels are normal.

Philly tim

10.1 is confirmed working again for samt165 stb user.

FYI It took a lot of calling to enginering dept.- Slow responce. I then called the HR dept to state my dissatisfaction with slow or no responce. I will say the HR dept called back with a nice business prof. reply & now couple weeks later it is working.

Watching the game now. This solidfies my opinion on how ESPN HD is way better then ABC HD (except 5.1 to circle surround).

ABC should really stop multicasting when they are doing HD sports (which is the only time I will watch network tv). ESPN has a picture that is a definitive step above ABC. I can't imagine people actual watch the news or weather channel.

Originally posted by drhill
Watching the game now. This solidfies my opinion on how ESPN HD is way better then ABC HD (except 5.1 to circle surround).
Except I was only getting DD2.0 Off the air.

Fine pic. all game long out in Oxford, 43 miles w/sw from tower, no 5.1 though.

Dr Hill...

You must be having problems with your equiptment. I have a 50" Sony LCD Projo and ABC football is by far the best picture I have ever seen for a football game. It comes in absolutely perfect....ESPN looks good also but not as good as ABC football. CBS and FOX are right behind ABC and ESPN is after that. Are you getting ABC OTA? If not your provider is compressing the signal too much because every time I watch it I am more amazed by the quality....and I am very discriminating about my PQ. I find flaws that most don't ...especially when I comment on The Tonight Show and tell people about the flaws I see and others can't see it.

Originally posted by spinn74
Dr Hill...

You must be having problems with your equiptment. I have a 50" Sony LCD Projo and ABC football is by far the best picture I have ever seen for a football game. It comes in absolutely perfect....ESPN looks good also but not as good as ABC football. CBS and FOX are right behind ABC and ESPN is after that. Are you getting ABC OTA? If not your provider is compressing the signal too much because every time I watch it I am more amazed by the quality....and I am very discriminating about my PQ. I find flaws that most don't ...especially when I comment on The Tonight Show and tell people about the flaws I see and others can't see it.

Comcast gets the exact same signal as OTA which isn't a full 19 mpbs. ESPN is full bit rate. There is the reason. The average CBS game beats both and a top notch CBS game blows them away. Then there is Fox all lonely at the bottom, but they have improved.

Originally posted by mjr
Except I was only getting DD2.0 Off the air.
I tell you... The Jets Chargers game had the 5.1 going... but the levels SUCKED... I couldn't believe how un-balanced the sound was... Center channel volume was changing throughout the brboadcast, and had to jump to the remote too many times before just saying screw-it and switching to SD....

If they're going to do DD5.1 like that... Give me DD2.0 ANY DAY and EVERY DAY!!!!

BTW. I did think the picture quality was great, but by far, still no CBS HD Football...

Anyone know if WPSG-DT plans on doing any Phillies games in HD this year??

Here's the Phils ST schedule with UPN games listed as well:

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/phi/schedule/tentative_2005_spring_schedule.jsp

doubt it.
never have in the past.

I wouldn't be suprised if UPN did get in gear and show HD sports Comcast would pick it up instantly.

Originally posted by mjr
I tell you... The Jets Chargers game had the 5.1 going... but the levels SUCKED... I couldn't believe how un-balanced the sound was... Center channel volume was changing throughout the brboadcast, and had to jump to the remote too many times before just saying screw-it and switching to SD....

If they're going to do DD5.1 like that... Give me DD2.0 ANY DAY and EVERY DAY!!!!

BTW. I did think the picture quality was great, but by far, still no CBS HD Football...

Yea, ABC was up and working again for me by Jets time. What a game! I agree with you that the sound was "funky" although I enjoyed it. The crowd noise at times was drowning out everything else including the announcers, it felt like I was really there :)

I should also note that the game today on FOX was superb image quality compared to their usual broadcast... bodes well for the Superbowl.

My biggest pet peave is when they fill the stadium with smoke (from pyrotechnics) before the game or during halftime. It really kills our viewing experience! They did this before the Jets game last night.

Actually the FOX game today was one of the worst ever. There is a huge thread in the programming section of people talking about how terrible it was

Originally posted by TraderGordo
My biggest pet peave is when they fill the stadium with smoke (from pyrotechnics) before the game or during halftime. It really kills our viewing experience! They did this before the Jets game last night.

It's not bad when the humidity is low and there's a breeze, but when you get weather conditions like we saw in San Diego or in a dome (!!) it can really kill the picture quality. I prefer the big flame jets like they have in Jacksonville over pyro every day of the week. There's no smoke and fire is much more impressive looking!

rp

Originally posted by drhill
I wouldn't be suprised if UPN did get in gear and show HD sports Comcast would pick it up instantly.

Well, today I had to reset the tuner on my Mits 52525, and did a re-scan of the digital cable channels...

...I'm recieving some form of UPN-57 on 120-8 (digital)...does this mean Comcast is picking it up? It doesn't show up on my Motorola box's channel guide anywhere I know of.

hithere - That would be exciting, I've been watching Veronica Mars on UPN, and they like to tease with the "Available in HD"...

I wonder if they are going to add anything else soon... now that the 6412 craze is dying down (as most people on here who want one have one)... I would like to see more HD stations. I wonder if the Comcast people on here know anything about new channels? Maybe more HD on-demand programming?

Originally posted by bronowyn
hithere - That would be exciting, I've been watching Veronica Mars on UPN, and they like to tease with the "Available in HD"...

I wonder if they are going to add anything else soon... now that the 6412 craze is dying down (as most people on here who want one have one)... I would like to see more HD stations. I wonder if the Comcast people on here know anything about new channels? Maybe more HD on-demand programming?



Can you or anyone else with a QAM tuner confirm this for me? ST-Enterprise in HD is a priority for me, but I live about 38 miles from the tower (Newark, DE), and the wife is none too keen on an attic-mount antenna.

I just get a signal from comcast... and I'm not at home, so I can't confirm if I new station is being listed, yet.

I unfortunately think that Comcast's priority right now is VoIP... and not adding more HD content.

Originally posted by hithere
...and the wife is none too keen on an attic-mount antenna.
Why would she care? Does she spend much time in the attic?
I'm 42 miles north and am quite happy with my attic install..

I'm in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Probably less that 20 miles from the towers in Roxborough. To anyone in or near my area, what antennas are you having success with? I personally have a LG 3100a tuner. I was looking at the Winegard Squareshooter or the Channelmaster 3228, I think that's the model. Any advice?

Originally posted by En Sabur Nur
I was looking at the Winegard Squareshooter or the Channelmaster 3228

I have a 'like new' Square Shooter that I'm looking to sell (I live in Philly). Since DirecTV put ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX HD channels on the 'bird' I don't need an antenna anymore. I also have a Channel Master 7775 preamp that I have never used. If anyone is interested, please contact me at...

heyrob@parkerdigital.net

I'll even deliver if you're not that far away.

best--

Rob

Originally posted by mjr
Why would she care? Does she spend much time in the attic?


Well, yeah. I told her i'd let her out this weekend if she'd stop moaning about the draft, dead birds, etc.:D

Actually, she gets nervous about me 'altering' the house with additional cable outlets, wiring, etc. I'll do it once I get some time to do a serious install, what with the cable run I'd have to make (family room is not beneath attic), and getting around flooring, walls, etc.

Edit: I just re-scanned for channels, and UPN-57 is now showing up on 119-8 as a digital channel. I don't know if something's up with my tv, or if Comcast is doing a channel shuffle/update, or what.

Originally posted by hithere
Edit: I just re-scanned for channels, and UPN-57 is now showing up on 119-8 as a digital channel. I don't know if something's up with my tv, or if Comcast is doing a channel shuffle/update, or what. Can you tell if it's the analog channel being simulcast in the digital tier, or has Comcast actually added the HD channel? I really hope they're adding the HD channel.....Enterprise in HD finally!

Originally posted by stoli412
Can you tell if it's the analog channel being simulcast in the digital tier, or has Comcast actually added the HD channel? I really hope they're adding the HD channel.....Enterprise in HD finally!

No, I can't tell. At least, not until something HD comes on. I suspect it is as you say: UPN similcast.

I think Kevin Hill at 9 PM is in HD. Can you check it out and let us know?

Does/would/should Comcast offer a premium package for us HDTVers which consists of only the HD channels from HBO, Cinemax, Stars, Showtime, etc.
How PHAT would that be for us.?
The stretch SD counterparts are pathetic to watch.

Same problem here in Phoenixville. Can not get PBS.

It is not WPSG-DT! What you are seeing is a test of the all digital simulcast of analog UPN 57 unencripted. Comcast is running tests on these.

JWhip, is it safe to assume these digital simulcasts are the reason we aren't getting ESPN2 and Universal HD anytime soon?

Can anyone recommend an antenna installer in the philadelphia area.. specifically north wales / montgomeryville area?

Thanks,
Justin

Originally posted by drhill
JWhip, is it safe to assume these digital simulcasts are the reason we aren't getting ESPN2 and Universal HD anytime soon?

Actually- Dr, you "Could" look at it as Comcast is testing digital simulcasting of their channels so they can then REMOVE the analog stations which would THEN clear up a huge amount of space for extra digital and HD stations. :-)

I'm still just waiting for 1 damn digital channel - CSTV - to be added to the sports tier on 274 - that's all i want! WAHHHHH!

Originally posted by JWhip
It is not WPSG-DT! What you are seeing is a test of the all digital simulcast of analog UPN 57 unencripted. Comcast is running tests on these.

What channel does that show up under Comcast's system?

If you nave the cable box you will not see it until the testing period is up. ONce the digital simulcasts are on, you will no longer get the analog ones on your box. Whem you enter 013, you will get the digital version of UPN 57 not the analog one. It should improve the PQ as they will now be bypassing the crappy algorithum in the Motorola software which gives the crappy PQ on the analog channels. THis is true in theory anyway. As far as I know, Comcast is allocating/clearing up bandwidth for Universal HD, ESPN2HD and UPN 57. Remember, Comcast is going to further increase broadband speeds and VoIP plus they are adding new SD channels all the time. All of this will slow down further HD deployment. Once they can get rid of the analog channels in their entirety in a couple of years, there will be more than enough bandwidth for any HD channel available.

JWhip-
So what you are saying is - if I go and look at say, NBC10 on my digital box on Channel 10 - it would actually be the digital simulcast of it? This would happen automatically behind the scenes?

But if i'd go into the second bedroom where there is no cable box, you'd still be seeing the analog version?

Originally posted by jeepmatt
JWhip-
So what you are saying is - if I go and look at say, NBC10 on my digital box on Channel 10 - it would actually be the digital simulcast of it? This would happen automatically behind the scenes?

But if i'd go into the second bedroom where there is no cable box, you'd still be seeing the analog version?

That's the case, and I can't wait for it.

Jeepmatt, once the digital simulcast is up and running, that is exactly how it would work. The analog channels will be processed like the other SD channels on the digital tier such as ESPN News, BBC etc. Not sure how much of a real improvement it will be though. Just to be perfectly, it is a digital simulcast of the SD signal, not the provider's digital signal.

Originally posted by JWhip
Jeepmatt, once the digital simulcast is up and running, that is exactly how it would work. The analog channels will be processed like the other SD channels on the digital tier such as ESPN News, BBC etc. Not sure how much of a real improvement it will be though. Just to be perfectly, it is a digital simulcast of the SD signal, not the provider's digital signal.

That's interesting. I hadn't thought about that. I'm sure Comcast has better Analog/Digital conversion going on at their head end than I have on my 6412 so it'll still be an improvement.

Do you have a read on which are analog converted and which are provider digital right now? Do you know if DirecTV does anything differently than comcast would.

Sorry to veer off the HD topic. I will comment that I've noticed NBC10 has a big problem recently switching into HD and, on at least three shows in the past week, it's started out SD, then the picture has switched to HD with the SD sound still going, then it's been until after the first commercial when it was right again. What's going on there?

THat is a simple engineering mistake at NBC10. A couple of years ago NBC ran Elvis' first movie. The WCAU-DT signal was nothing but green. I called the studio to ask them if they were monitoring their signal. They said no as no one watches anyway. The engineer on duty looked at it and said, wow, this is not good. It them took until the movie was almost over to correct it. I am not surprised they are still making mistakes. They are all probably watching weather radar patterns with Glenn Schwartz.

Originally posted by jeepmatt
Actually- Dr, you "Could" look at it as Comcast is testing digital simulcasting of their channels so they can then REMOVE the analog stations which would THEN clear up a huge amount of space for extra digital and HD stations. :-)

I'm still just waiting for 1 damn digital channel - CSTV - to be added to the sports tier on 274 - that's all i want! WAHHHHH!

They can only drop the analog versions of channels if the contract allows it or the contract runs up. I'm sure if they could have done it whenever they wanted there would be less analog channels and way more digital to try to force people to get digital boxes.

They will not drop the analog channels until they can supply a cheap device that they can supply to their non digital subscribers that can be used with their "cable ready" TV's. It has nothing to do with carriage agreements.

JWhip-

The Comcast in-house tech., who installed my DVR in mid-Nov., here in the WG area, said the Digital Simulcast would be complete here in Q1, probably Feb.

What are you hearing for the various service areas in the near suburbs?

Anyone else here watching their over-the-air HD signal? I find the picture breaks up quite frequently. Last night between 8 and 9, during "life as we know it" it was happening throughout the show. I switched over to the D* ABCE feed after about 10 minutes.

I just want to make sure that it isn't my set up (Channel master roof-mounted antenna) and instead the broadcast's problem. I know the issues surrounding bad weather and satellite transmission. Are there parallel issues in the over-the-air HD side?

Q1 sounds about right.