Uverse is finally available to me in Virginia Highlands so I can now get access to a ton more hd channels since Comcast doesn't seem to want to upgrade the city which still continues to amaze me, but hey they are no longer going to be getting my money.
Enjoy your inferior HD PQ and 2 HD stream limit. I feel your pain about Comcast's slow rollout, but once you get all the channels they leave U-Verse in the dust.

Me either. Another great job Comcast. Why won't Verizon bring FIOS to Atlanta????

Atlanta is AT&T country. I'm not expecting we'll ever receive FIOS. I am hoping that the in-town Uverse rollout will get Comcast's butt in gear for upgrading us in-towners to WOM.

Kills me that they got as far as phoning people en masse with a date and a time and then didn't deliver. My DVR shows no sign of having rebooted or anything else that would suggest that anything even attempted to touch it. This absolutely reeks of blunder. Whether technical or managerial, we'll never know.

Along with the phone call and mailings I got back in August saying WOM was coming mid Oct. . . . still waiting . . .

Me either. Another great job Comcast. Why won't Verizon bring FIOS to Atlanta????
If you go to BBR board, there's plenty of people gripping about FiOS service too. Ditto for U-Verse, Direct TV and Dish. There'll always be people who are upset with any of the providers in whatever they do or don't do. I know that won't pacify those who just hate Comcast regardless, but I see those same types on other providers boards too.

Enjoy your inferior HD PQ and 2 HD stream limit. I feel your pain about Comcast's slow rollout, but once you get all the channels they leave U-Verse in the dust.


I never had a problem with Comcast but I guess its just my one man protest against their slooooow rollout of the World of More that I couldn't justify giving them any more of my money when I finally have other options.

And 2 HD streams is enough for me with only one HDTV, and when they rollout the new 3HD service I will be able to get that.

I never had a problem with Comcast but I guess its just my one man protest against their slooooow rollout of the World of More that I couldn't justify giving them any more of my money when I finally have other options.

And 2 HD streams is enough for me with only one HDTV, and when they rollout the new 3HD service I will be able to get that.
ATT's implementation of U-Verse has been at a glacial pace too. They started in metro Atlanta a few months before Comcast started their Cavalry transition in N Fulton county sometime in mid to late 2008.

I've been reading differing comments about U-Verse, so I'm curious about your experience. So please come back and post your review when you get your U-Verse service. I'm most curious about the PQ of the HD channels. And if you're getting U-Verse Internet and VOIP phone service, let us know how they're performing.

Good luck with your new service.

And 2 HD streams is enough for me with only one HDTV, and when they rollout the new 3HD service I will be able to get that.
You'll only get it if you are close enough to the VRAD to sync at the rate where they can provision 3HD.

Have to agree with cracker, U-Verse was supposed to be available in my area last year but I still can't get it even though the nearest VRAD is not far from my house. Not that it matters, the 2HD limit is a showstoppper in my house.

At my gym yesterday 30327 (I-75 & Moores Mill) I noticed they had the scrolling 'this channel won't be available starting in March 2010'...hadn't seen in before.

I wanted to check at our house (not far but in 30318) but the only TV I watched last night was hooked up to a cable box & I understand this won't show the scroll banner.

Atlanta is AT&T country. I'm not expecting we'll ever receive FIOS. I am hoping that the in-town Uverse rollout will get Comcast's butt in gear for upgrading us in-towners to WOM.

My understanding is that the difference between FIOS and UVerse is the FIOS is Fiber to the House and U-Verse is fiber to the poll then cooper to the house. In short, UVerse is not as flexible to deliver content.

From what I've read, the expectation is that AT&T will start running Fiber from the poll to the house in select markets after UVerse has been completed in most major markets. Unfortunately, that will take many more years.

Not sure what else happened, but my parents called last night to say they were now getting ALL digital tier channels on their DTAs in 30092, still nothing on new HD though...

At my gym yesterday 30327 (I-75 & Moores Mill) I noticed they had the scrolling 'this channel won't be available starting in March 2010'...hadn't seen in before.

I wanted to check at our house (not far but in 30318) but the only TV I watched last night was hooked up to a cable box & I understand this won't show the scroll banner.

The message only shows up on analog channels when the conversion to digital is confirmed. It won't show up on cable boxes, because they are already digital. If you want to see if you're affected, unplug the cable box and attach the cable directly to the TV, and look at the basic channels. If you see the message, then WOM is very close.

Yeah, 24th came and went and no menu upgrade here either. I did notice that the message alerting me about it disappeared from my box three or four days ago, though it could have just expired.

I didn't get the guide either in 30045 like I was informed I would. However, last night I checked to see if analogs were still there and they were not but the new HD channels were not available yet either. I checked again this morning and all the HD goodness had arrived over night. Now just waiting to see if the guide will come anytime soon.

No menu upgrade in 30306 either :-( Us in-towners always get the short end of the stick on this stuff.

BTW, what's the deal with NGCHD? I have HD but I don't get NGCHD - says I have to subscribe to it. Is this right? Seems kind of weird to me.

I subscribe to the Digital Starter package and for me to get NGHD I would need to go to the next digital tier. That may be you issue too.

I didn't get the guide either in 30045 like I was informed I would. However, last night I checked to see if analogs were still there and they were not but the new HD channels were not available yet either. I checked again this morning and all the HD goodness had arrived over night. Now just waiting to see if the guide will come anytime soon.

From what I have read in the past in takes 2 -3 days after analog is turned off before the new HD channel lineup happens. Probably tonight. :)

BTW, what's the deal with NGCHD? I have HD but I don't get NGCHD - says I have to subscribe to it. Is this right? Seems kind of weird to me.

You must have Digital Starter tier. I do too. There's a few HD channels I'm not allowed to view -- Nat Geo, Biography, Science...

I'm also not allowed to see the SD counterparts either, but I never noticed those. :rolleyes: However, I pay close attention to the HD channels (mostly in the 800s) and I found out I must subscribe to a higher tier. I checked into the pricing and it was like $20 more for the next tier for me to see those 3 channels and I said nah. They've since added a few more channels that Digital Starter can't see like "WE" (whatever that is), but the only ones that interest me are Nat Geo, Bio, and Science.

From what I have read in the past in takes 2 -3 days after analog is turned off before the new HD channel lineup happens. Probably tonight. :)

I do have the channels. They were not there when I went to bed last night but were there this morning. I don't know when they cut off the analog but I checked yesterday and they weren't there so I knew the rest was coming soon and it turned out to be today. Now if only the new guide would show up...

I subscribe to the Digital Starter package and for me to get NGHD I would need to go to the next digital tier. That may be you issue too.

Yeah, we don't get it either. That's a demarcation point between packages. I like NG, but when pressed, it wasn't worth the extra expense just for that.

From what I have read in the past in takes 2 -3 days after analog is turned off before the new HD channel lineup happens. Probably tonight. :)

Where are you?

I didn't check to see if our analog channels had been turned off yet. What are you guys using as evidence of that?

Yeah, we don't get it either. That's a demarcation point between packages. I like NG, but when pressed, it wasn't worth the extra expense just for that.



Where are you?

I didn't check to see if our analog channels had been turned off yet. What are you guys using as evidence of that?

I'm using an older TV in the bedroom (not with the DTA) and checking the upper channels like 68 . . . mine are still there :(

Yeah, we don't get it either. That's a demarcation point between packages. I like NG, but when pressed, it wasn't worth the extra expense just for that.



Where are you?

I didn't check to see if our analog channels had been turned off yet. What are you guys using as evidence of that?

30078 Snellville.

When I got home from work yesterday all of the new HD channels were there. It figures, I also can not watch NGHD either but they let me watch QVCHD. What a joke.

I picked up my DTAs 2 weeks ago but I have not hooked them up and do not plan to do it either. I just rescanned for channels on my Sony 32" master bedroom TV and will just have to learn which channel is which. I refuse to dumb down my HD TV so that the evil empire :mad: can dictate which channels I can watch on my QAM tuner. It found 20 analog and 150 digital channels.

I picked up my DTAs 2 weeks ago but I have not hooked them up and do not plan to do it either.

I just rescanned for channels on my Sony 32" master bedroom TV and will just have to learn which channel is which.

I refuse to dumb down my HD TV so that the evil empire :mad: can dictate which channels I can watch on my QAM tuner. It found 20 analog and 150 digital channels.

Hmmmm.... what if you had satellite (Dish or DirecTV) or telephone-based TV (FIOS or Uverse)? You would have to hook their electronic gizmo between your HDTV and their signal for you to receive any channels. With UVerse and DirecTV you cannot hook their signal straight to the TV without a device in between. In the near future, you will not be able to do that with cable TV either.

It's not "dumbing" down. It's what is going to happen whether you like it or not. Clear QAM is an anomaly restricted only to cable signals -- not to all subscription TV. And clear QAM is going away.

In the future you will need an electronic device (box or cable card) between any subscription TV source and your TV -- whether you have cable TV, satellite TV or telephone TV.

So, enjoy your clear QAM while you can but your DTAs WILL be used -- probably even in 2010. In other markets Comcast has already starting encrypting all the QAM channels. They have a service and they want to be paid if you use it, just like the other companies.

True, but sad. It was cable's biggest advantage over the other services and now they've thrown it away instead of seriously considering other alternatives, like whole-house remodulation using the TeraPix gateway (http://www.multichannel.com/article/81520-Chipping_Away_at_Cable_Bandwidth_Crunch.php), IPTV or something else. They cheaped out with these POS DTAs that require you to come up with stupid A/B switch workarounds for clear QAM on HDTVs, but the bottom line rules.

Hmmmm.... what if you had satellite (Dish or DirecTV) or telephone-based TV (FIOS or Uverse)? You would have to hook their electronic gizmo between your HDTV and their signal for you to receive any channels. With UVerse and DirecTV you cannot hook their signal straight to the TV without a device in between. In the near future, you will not be able to do that with cable TV either.

It's not "dumbing" down. It's what is going to happen whether you like it or not. Clear QAM is an anomaly restricted only to cable signals -- not to all subscription TV. And clear QAM is going away.

In the future you will need an electronic device (box or cable card) between any subscription TV source and your TV -- whether you have cable TV, satellite TV or telephone TV.

So, enjoy your clear QAM while you can but your DTAs WILL be used -- probably even in 2010. In other markets Comcast has already starting encrypting all the QAM channels. They have a service and they want to be paid if you use it, just like the other companies.

I understand your position totally. I've read the same reports. They want to be paid for their service. On the other hand I have been using Comcast since 1985. I figured after 25 years paying them in excess of $26,000 there would be some kind of loyalty discount. But we know that is not going to happen. I am not per se complaining. It's more venting then anything else. But thanks for busting my bubble today. :rolleyes:

I am not per se complaining. It's more venting then anything else. But thanks for busting my bubble today. :rolleyes:

I feel the pain, need to vent as well...comcast can go EF themselves, pfft. It was bad enough dealing with no HD CBS or NBC for the past several months, missing out on the Superbowl and Winter Games in hi def, etc, but I KNEW they would not stop the channel juggling until they figured out a way to also remove Fox and ABC in HD as well. :rolleyes:

F$%K YOU comcast, I bought a pair of nice HD antennas, mounted them in the attic, all is well, pic is incred and F-R-E-E. :p

I only watch tv on the weekends and its almost always purely for sports, which are FREE. Not gonna be forced to upgrade to some box and a pricey service when I only need the minimal network programming for my fix.

Sorry bout that, just venting here as well after having re-scanned for the third time in the last couple days to discover ALL local HD channels have finally vanished. Seriously considering dropping comcrap all together now...

I feel the pain, need to vent as well...comcast can go EF themselves, pfft. It was bad enough dealing with no HD CBS or NBC for the past several months, missing out on the Superbowl and Winter Games in hi def, etc, but I KNEW they would not stop the channel juggling until they figured out a way to also remove Fox and ABC in HD as well. :rolleyes:

F$%K YOU comcast, I bought a pair of nice HD antennas, mounted them in the attic, all is well, pic is incred and F-R-E-E. :p

I only watch tv on the weekends and its almost always purely for sports, which are FREE. Not gonna be forced to upgrade to some box and a pricey service when I only need the minimal network programming for my fix.

Sorry bout that, just venting here as well after having re-scanned for the third time in the last couple days to discover ALL local HD channels have finally vanished. Seriously considering dropping comcrap all together now...

OTA HD has been available for years...not sure why you are complaining...

IF that's all you watch, your choice is simple.

FINALLY got the message about digital boxes being needed in mid-30318 (Fulton/City of Atlanta). Saw it at my gym in 30327 but hadn't checked the home TV yet that is hooked up straight to the wall.

What is the timeline again between that message and finally getting the extra HD? (FYI our scroll bar says starting in March 2010 but the channels haven't been cut yet).

OTA HD has been available for years...not sure why you are complaining...



P-R-I-N-C-I-P-A-L. I sometimes feel the need to complain when I continue to pay the same fee for something while watching its goods/service actually be reduced, and that's what happened here. I know, I know, thats life. So is venting some frustration. :)

FINALLY got the message about digital boxes being needed in mid-30318 (Fulton/City of Atlanta). Saw it at my gym in 30327 but hadn't checked the home TV yet that is hooked up straight to the wall.

What is the timeline again between that message and finally getting the extra HD? (FYI our scroll bar says starting in March 2010 but the channels haven't been cut yet).

Seems like ppl have been reporting about 3 days now . . . seems like analog goes away Tuesday morning and extra HD comes on Friday morning

F$%K YOU comcast, I bought a pair of nice HD antennas, mounted them in the attic, all is well, pic is incred and F-R-E-E. :p ... Seriously considering dropping comcrap all together now...

Come on over to the OTA side, the water's fine! Seriously, if you don't really need all the silly little cable only channels, and the massive time suck that goes with them, just boot the whole thing to the curb and save a ton of money. See my sig for an Atlanta OTA FAQ. Picture quality is the best there is, bar none.

P-R-I-N-C-I-P-A-L. I sometimes feel the need to complain when I continue to pay the same fee for something while watching its goods/service actually be reduced, and that's what happened here. I know, I know, thats life. So is venting some frustration. :)

Funny that you should spell it out like that. Paying that Comcast bill every month does indeed whittle away at your principal over time. :)

OK, going back to lurking now.

P-R-I-N-C-I-P-A-L. I sometimes feel the need to complain when I continue to pay the same fee for something while watching its goods/service actually be reduced, and that's what happened here. I know, I know, thats life. So is venting some frustration. :)

Honestly, they are offering you more, with the free DTA's...more than you could have gotten from strictly an analog hookup you had for years...or am I missing something? Which is entirely possible.. :)

I think the free HD locals on the QAM will still be there for the pickin...

Just got the notice in the mail that WoM is coming to the DeKalb service area (I'm in 30306). The enclosed pamphlet says 4/27/10 - I'm not holding by breath for that date but at least it's coming sometime soon. Hooray!

I just recieved a call from Comcast Corporate about my inability to recieve NBC and CBS in HD on the "Limited Basic" tier. Apparently I must be the only one in Douglas and Paulding Counties unable to tune in QAM channel 73. Supposedly all of the locals, (ABC,NBC,CBS,FOX,PBS, etc.) are broadcast in High Definition even for limited basic tier. This is accordinhg to Comcast, so if you cannot recieve all of the locals in HD with your QAM tuner,call Comcast.

In my situation I believe that I was "filtered or trapped out" of Channel 73 because I am a Limited Basics subscriber. I am not sure if this was done inadvertently or not by Comcast but if you cant recieve the locals in QAM HD, call Comcast and let them know. Don't let them tell you need to have their box to recieve the locals in HD because that is what they will tell you. Be persistent and if that fails fire off a note to the FCC, and I'm sure you will hear from someone.

Ubercool,

How is the quality of DCX 3400 better than DCX 3200? Is it the picture or what?

Thanks.
It looks even sharper, if that's possible. :)

In my situation I believe that I was "filtered or trapped out" of Channel 73 because I am a Limited Basics subscriber. I am not sure if this was done inadvertently or not by Comcast but if you cant recieve the locals in QAM HD, call Comcast and let them know. Don't let them tell you need to have their box to recieve the locals in HD because that is what they will tell you. Be persistent and if that fails fire off a note to the FCC, and I'm sure you will hear from someone.
You have been told to get Comcast to remove the trap from your line once your area is migrated to digital, because the expanded basic channels will be gone from analog and Comcast shouldn't care about the traps then. That's why they put the traps on the limited basic subs when everything was analog - so you can't get all the expanded basic channels for free. I don't know why they moved those HD channels into the trapped range, it was a bonehead move (not surprising).

Schils, ABC and Fox have not gone away, they are still on channel 98 - ABC is 98.3 and Fox is 98.804 on Vinings headend. Rescan channel 98 and see if they are there. What they did is strip out the PSIP info that remapped them to 2.1 and 5.1 for some inexplicable reason. But they don't give a damn about clear QAM and neither does the FCC, so it's no surprise that they rarely get the PSIP mappings right. Agree with others that if all you want is OTA HD, you're wasting money every month with Comcast.

Anyone in north DeKalb (30319) getting "One moment please / This channel should be available shortly" on some of the higher-numbered HD channels? My receiver (DCX3400) is acting crazy on many channels (for example: 868, Comedy Central), cycling this message and responding slowly.

I am having the same issue re: HD channels in 30329 (Dekalb, St Mtn Headend, Toco Hills area).

Not only that, but channel 830 (MSNBC HD) completely disappeared from the lineup this morning. Anyone else have that issue as well?

Schils, ABC and Fox have not gone away, they are still on channel 98 - ABC is 98.3 and Fox is 98.804 on Vinings headend. Rescan channel 98 and see if they are there. What they did is strip out the PSIP info that remapped them to 2.1 and 5.1 for some inexplicable reason. But they don't give a damn about clear QAM and neither does the FCC, so it's no surprise that they rarely get the PSIP mappings right. Agree with others that if all you want is OTA HD, you're wasting money every month with Comcast.

Thanks. I'll retry that again today but I'm pretty sure I tried 98.3 and 98.8 manually (as well as 2-1, 5-1, 46-1, etc), simply not getting them anymore, on all 3 HD tv's in the house. Comcast sent them chasing after CBS and NBC who left months ago. I'm down to ONE local channel in HD now, PBS, and I'm POSITIVE commy won't stop until THAT is gone as well, forcing the hands of many to upgrade to receive what they already had...heh.

Regarding my earlier over cooked post aimed at no one in particular (except comcast ;)), it was merely a matter of my once receiving local channels in HD via comcast and now, for the same money, not, regardless of the why or how that happened. Simple. A valid reason for anyone to whine. At the moment I am considering dropping them all together but my retired father lives with me and loves his History channel and espn...if it were only me, yep, they'd be outta my house.

Re the channels on QAM...I have two HDTV's....different brands..a Samsung and a Vizio, the Samsung picks up more off the QAM than the Vizio...maybe the signal strength is different....not sure why....that said, when i scanned the other day just for kicks on QAM, all the HD locals were there..

Good luck getting them back.

Does anyone else have the WOM channels in North City of Atlanta? I am in 30319 (Fulton side) and the analogs were taken off on Tuesday, but still not seeing the new HD channels yet.

There is supposed to be a free preview of Center Ice this week. In the past, Comcast has opened those channels into the clear (using a QAM tuner) during these previews. However, I have been unable to find them despite doing multiple scans. Any QAM gurus here know the proper channels?



Honestly, they are offering you more, with the free DTA's...more than you could have gotten from strictly an analog hookup you had for years...or am I missing something? Which is entirely possible..


Are you kidding? Right now I have two HD HomeRuns (4 QAM tuners) that feed into a Windows 7 MediaCenter PC. I can record 4 things at once plus I have access to all of the content on my home network as well as Hulu, Netflix and other Internet based content with one easy to use interface. The DTA's kill that. I would need four of them to create the same setup and some kind of IR blaster monstrosity to change the channels PLUS they don't do HD.

The day Comcast takes away my QAM is the day I cancel.

I do not want the Washing Clothes Channel in HD (even if it does look amazing when they do a load of whites...). I want what I have right now. Something Comcast can't or won't give me. Yes, I could do CableCards, but again it is a nickel and dime additional charge. Screw that noise. The only non-OTA stuff I really watch is sports and that is easily watchable in good enough quality online.

Are you kidding? Right now I have two HD HomeRuns (4 QAM tuners) that feed into a Windows 7 MediaCenter PC. I can record 4 things at once plus I have access to all of the content on my home network as well as Hulu, Netflix and other Internet based content with one easy to use interface. The DTA's kill that. I would need four of them to create the same setup and some kind of IR blaster monstrosity to change the channels PLUS they don't do HD.

The day Comcast takes away my QAM is the day I cancel.

Yes, I could do CableCards, but again it is a nickel and dime additional charge. Screw that noise. The only non-OTA stuff I really watch is sports and that is easily watchable in good enough quality online.


Then you are immediately excluding satellite TV (DirecTV, Dish) and telephone company TV (UVerse, FIOS). You really are going OTA and online only?

If you don't keep up with the news, Hulu has been effectively been bought by Comcast. Sooner or later ("sooner" being 6 months from now (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/64026;_ylt=AgsHbwco_Bey0Pmg4Xymg5eOMJA5)) they will start charging for content. They aren't going to give it away for free. The alternate plan is they will keep most OTA stuff on there -- NBC (which they bought), etc. But anything requiring CABLE TV will soon go to "subscription verification" mode and/or payments.

In a related bit of news -- over money disagreements Viacom just announced they are pulling Comedy Central content off Hulu (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/66717/loss-of-daily-show-colbert-puts-more-pressure-on-hulu/).

Point is, don't bet on Hulu to replace Comcast. ;)

You have a fairly esoteric setup using equipment and software Comcast does not support. People like you Comcast doesn't really consider...

Their competition is satellite TV and telephone company TV. If someone cancels Comcast, normally it's to go try to go to the competition for cheaper prices or more content. Right now with the recent digital upgrades, Comcast is fairly even on those counts. But to PAY for these digital upgrades they are making sure all their customers are paying for the content they are receiving. You are just getting caught in the grinder of a changing business.

People want digital signals, they especially want HDTV signals. Four years ago, Comcast could ignore the small group of people who were getting "digital" (and HDTV) signals for free with clear QAM, above their tier. Now, with all the Wal-Mart HDTV LCDs that replaced CRTs over the past year, they can't ignore that any longer. Satellite TV and telephone company TV never allowed anything like that -- hooking cable straight to TV without an electronic verification device in-between. And Comcast will not any longer.

Then you are immediately excluding satellite TV (DirecTV, Dish) and telephone company TV (UVerse, FIOS). You really are going OTA and online only?

If you don't keep up with the news, Hulu has been effectively been bought by Comcast. Sooner or later ("sooner" being 6 months from now (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/64026;_ylt=AgsHbwco_Bey0Pmg4Xymg5eOMJA5)) they will start charging for content. They aren't going to give it away for free. The alternate plan is they will keep most OTA stuff on there -- NBC (which they bought), etc. But anything requiring CABLE TV will soon go to "subscription verification" mode and/or payments.

In a related bit of news -- over money disagreements Viacom just announced they are pulling Comedy Central content off Hulu (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/66717/loss-of-daily-show-colbert-puts-more-pressure-on-hulu/).

Point is, don't bet on Hulu to replace Comcast. ;)

You have a fairly esoteric setup using equipment and software Comcast does not support. People like you Comcast doesn't really consider...

Their competition is satellite TV and telephone company TV. If someone cancels Comcast, normally it's to go try to go to the competition for cheaper prices or more content. Right now with the recent digital upgrades, Comcast is fairly even on those counts. But to PAY for these digital upgrades they are making sure all their customers are paying for the content they are receiving. You are just getting caught in the grinder of a changing business.

People want digital signals, they especially want HDTV signals. Four years ago, Comcast could ignore the small group of people who were getting "digital" (and HDTV) signals for free with clear QAM, above their tier. Now, with all the Wal-Mart HDTV LCDs that replaced CRTs over the past year, they can't ignore that any longer. Satellite TV and telephone company TV never allowed anything like that -- hooking cable straight to TV without an electronic verification device in-between. And Comcast will not any longer.

Keep spewing the company cool aid Chazz. Hope they pay you well. :p

Keep spewing the company cool aid Chazz. Hope they pay you well. :p

Tell me what the alternatives are?

I don't work for Comcast, I work for a television network. I am glad Comcast rescued me from AT&T/Bellsouth hell.

I've had Comcast for a few years now (6, I think). The first year I subscribed, I was one of the people they are now squeezing. :) I lived in an apartment complex, and I subscribed ONLY to their internet service. But, I found I had "free" cable TV since the installer didn't put in the filters.

Now I own a house, I pay for both internet AND Digital Starter service with HDTV DVR (since I have a 60" Sony HDTV) -- but I know how the holes work in the system that Comcast is trying to plug.

The technical world changes, you have to adapt. Clear QAM is a historical anomaly. Like automobile carburetors. Going, going, gone.

Tell me what the alternatives are?

I don't work for Comcast, I work for a television network. I am glad Comcast rescued me from AT&T/Bellsouth hell.

I've had Comcast for a few years now (6, I think) and the first year I was one of the people they are now squeezing. :) The first year, I had "free" cable TV since I subscribed to their internet service. The installer didn't put in the filters.

Now I pay for both, but I know how it works.

So you stole cable for a year? Damn interesting.

They have been, as you say "squeezing" me now for 26 years. And that is what the problem is "there is no alternative." Can you say Monopoly? I help pay for their Fiber Optic network. When do I get my loyal discount?
And you have the audacity to say what you say when other people vent?
You are just as hypocritical as the rest of the lot. I have said my piece so good luck misguiding others.

BTW which 60" Sony?

So you stole cable for a year? Damn interesting.

They have been, as you say "squeezing" me now for 26 years. And that is what the problem is "there is no alternative." Can you say Monopoly? I help pay for their Fiber Optic network. When do I get my loyal discount?
And you have the audacity to say what you say when other people vent?
You are just as hypocritical as the rest of the lot. I have said my piece so good luck misguiding others.

Maybe they gave it to me for free for a year, hoping I would become a TV subscriber? If so, it worked.

Not a monopoly when there's two satellite TV companies and one telephone TV company also offering TV subscription service. That's THREE competitors right there. Go to them if you don't like Comcast. But they will make you pay for what you watch.

Are you mad because Comcast is making you pay for what you watch?


BTW which 60" Sony?


1080p Sony Bravia KDS-60A3000

LCoS-- Liquid Crystal on Silicon. Basically a "rear-projection" LCD. It is NOT DLP. That's a different technology completely. It's just a thicker LCD, which allowed Sony to pack more electronics in to make the picture better.

In 2008 this TV series won several awards, including best HDTV of the Year from at least one home theater magazine -- of ALL TVs, including LCD and plasma. But Sony got out of the RPTV business entirely because they sold 400,000 of these sets the same year they sold 21 million LCD TVs. People want TVs they can "hang on a wall". Which doesn't make sense because you still need a stand for the cable/satellite box, DVD player, stereo receiver, maybe gaming console.... If you need a stand for all that, then put the TV on top of the stand -- not on the wall. The TV should be at eye level anyway.

Maybe they gave it to me for free for a year, hoping I would become a TV subscriber? If so, it worked.

Not a monopoly when there's two satellite TV companies and one telephone TV company. That's THREE competitors right there. Go to them if you don't like Comcast. But they will make you pay for what you watch.

You are just mad because you are having to pay for what you watch.

Again that is where you are incorrect. It is a monopoly, when it is a fiber optic wire to your home. Dish and Direct TV require a satellite dish with a clear view of the southern western sky in order to receive a 99% signal and At&T is a telephone wire incapable of the throughput of fiber.

What you fail to understand is the point I am trying to make. It is the outrageous amount of money that Comcast thinks it deserves in order to watch QVC and The Shopping Network in HiDef. It is beyond belief. They are no better than a crack dealer.

You might also want to see what my system is like. I do not need you to explain what kind of TV you have. I know the model since I bought the KDS-60A2000 two years before you even had an idea to get one. . Also my handle describes my status in life. I install HT systems and Computer networks for a living so you are not impressing me with your knowledge of LCoS. And also you view on Comcast's grab for excessive money.

Again that is where you are incorrect. It is a monopoly, when it is a fiber optic wire to your home. IIRC Dish and Direct TV require a satellite dish with a clear view of the southern western sky in order to receive a 99% signal and At&T is a telephone wire incapable of the throughput of fiber.

What you fail to understand is the point I am trying to make. It is the outrageous amount of money that Comcast thinks it deserves in order to watch QVC and TSN in High def. It is beyond belief. They are no better than a crack dealer.

I don't have fiber optic to my house. I don't know what you are talking about. I have Comcast with regular cable run, installed back in 2006 when I moved into my house. They ran new cable then, but have done nothing since.

AT&T Uverse is fiber optic most of the way, sometimes running fiber optic all the way to your curb -- but usually just to a neighborhood node.

It's my understanding that Comcast is doing much the same thing. Fiber to a neighborhood node.

AT&T and Comast basically have the same type fiber run.

AT&T and Comast basically have the same type fiber run.

Not in all neighborhoods. But I am no longer in the mood to debate. Have a good week and keep up the crusade for Comcast"s money grab. :mad:

Then you are immediately excluding satellite TV (DirecTV, Dish) and telephone company TV (UVerse, FIOS). You really are going OTA and online only?


OTA and Online only. I chose Comcast over DirecTV because I did not want additional boxes.


If you don't keep up with the news, Hulu has been effectively been bought by Comcast. Sooner or later ("sooner" being 6 months from now (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/64026;_ylt=AgsHbwco_Bey0Pmg4Xymg5eOMJA5)) they will start charging for content. They aren't going to give it away for free. The alternate plan is they will keep most OTA stuff on there -- NBC (which they bought), etc. But anything requiring CABLE TV will soon go to "subscription verification" mode and/or payments.

In a related bit of news -- over money disagreements Viacom just announced they are pulling Comedy Central content off Hulu (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/66717/loss-of-daily-show-colbert-puts-more-pressure-on-hulu/).

Point is, don't bet on Hulu to replace Comcast. ;)


Not just Hulu. I can access the full episodes that the networks put online through their websites (like Comedy Central) with my remote easily. Should they decide to withdraw this option or charge for it, my WHS has a torrent application....


You have a fairly esoteric setup using equipment and software Comcast does not support. People like you Comcast doesn't really consider...

Their competition is satellite TV and telephone company TV. If someone cancels Comcast, normally it's to go try to go to the competition for cheaper prices or more content. Right now with the recent digital upgrades, Comcast is fairly even on those counts. But to PAY for these digital upgrades they are making sure all their customers are paying for the content they are receiving. You are just getting caught in the grinder of a changing business.

People want digital signals, they especially want HDTV signals. Four years ago, Comcast could ignore the small group of people who were getting "digital" (and HDTV) signals for free with clear QAM, above their tier. Now, with all the Wal-Mart HDTV LCDs that replaced CRTs over the past year, they can't ignore that any longer. Satellite TV and telephone company TV never allowed anything like that -- hooking cable straight to TV without an electronic verification device in-between. And Comcast will not any longer.

Seriously? You honestly think people are going "Hey! If I type in 103-87 I can watch the History Channel even though I don't pay for it!" and have a cheat sheet printed up by their couch? Come on!

Just be honest! Comcast wants more money and by forcing people to have a box for every TV they will make more. It is all about money and control. Not some minuscule, if any, percentage of people who are "taking advantage" of channels being in the clear.

Also, I had FiOS before I moved to Atlanta and had one TV that I just plugged in to. I got a bunch of channels including my HD locals (and WGN America, TBS, several others). AND my HD locals were mapped! So 4-1 was NBC, 7-1 ABC etc! None of this 73-10 garbage Comcast pulls.

Yikes, flame war. Anyhoo, I'll just be glad if and when Comcast gets around to the world of more for my house. I was told April, but crickets are still chirping. If they continue to drag their feet, I guess I'll switch to DirecTV. I feel like I've been standing in the slow line forever, and keep standing in it thinking I've already invested this much time, might as well see it through. But my patience has limits, and I'm not waiting much longer. I am curious about one thing, at what point with HD receivers become standard, and not "extra"? I don't think I should have to pay for an HD receiver for each TV I own. Comcast needs to get their act together on that one, and quickly. I would also go as far as to say I should get at least one DVR for "free" given how much I'm already paying Comcast just for cable service. I should point out that "free" HD and a "free" DVR should be standard by now for all providers IMNSHO.

Yikes, flame war. Anyhoo, I'll just be glad if and when Comcast gets around to the world of more for my house. I was told April, but crickets are still chirping. If they continue to drag their feet, I guess I'll switch to DirecTV. I feel like I've been standing in the slow line forever, and keep standing in it thinking I've already invested this much time, might as well see it through. But my patience has limits, and I'm not waiting much longer. I am curious about one thing, at what point with HD receivers become standard, and not "extra"? I don't think I should have to pay for an HD receiver for each TV I own. Comcast needs to get their act together on that one, and quickly. I would also go as far as to say I should get at least one DVR for "free" given how much I'm already paying Comcast just for cable service. I should point out that "free" HD and a "free" DVR should be standard by now for all providers IMNSHO.

You might have a pipe dream there too. Do you really think that Comcast would be willing to throw away $6.95 per month for a HD box or $15.95 a month for a HD DVR?

But Comcast will claim " you do get two free DTAs" when they upgrade to all digital. Yeah, right, thanks for allowing me to hook up a device that only sends a 480I signal to my 1080P TV. But hey they are free right. ;) :rolleyes: Well at least the first year. ;)

Just like my DVR was only $10.00 dollars for the first 6 months then $12.95 for 6 months and now $15.95 a month for the last two years.

Again this is just my way of venting. In the end Comcast has the right to charge whatever the market will bear. And unfortunately DirectTV/Dish is not an option in my case due to not having a direct line of sight to the southwestern sky.

Tell me what the alternatives are?

Easy one, perhaps not for you though, since you apparently just love what you have. Good for you! For me, an OTA antenna, and a Netflix subscription. Here at our place, we noted on our HD TiVo this past weekend that over a 2 week period, we recorded one cable channel program, out of 25. All the rest were OTA. We watch all TV via delay (except for local news). Sutely not worth the Comcast crap and cost for that one program. My life will be fine without it. And that extra $1,000+ per year in my pocket makes for a great vacation too!

I don't work for Comcast, I work for a television network.

Wouldn't brag about that either. Probably Turner, but even if not, woo-hoo. Those content providers are really doing great, at the expense of the extortionist cable company subscribers. Let's see how long that business model lasts, or doesn't. A really good show of how that's going is in NY right now with WABC-TV and Cablevision. I hope more content providers stand up to the distributors the way WABC (Disney) did.

In any event, the costs of technology deployment for cable and satellite distribution deployment keep skyrocketing too, and how they keep spending more and more as they reach new bandwidth ceilings. It's been going on for years in broadcasting and distribution. AM, FM, analog TV, digital TV, 12 channel cable systems, two or three satellites for DirecTV or DISH. Those costs are gonna continue to skyrocket. I think there's a major transition coming, perhaps over 10-20 years, and we'll see just how long Comcast cable as a distribution platform lasts through that. I'm pretty sure that Comcast knows this, and that's why they've been on a content and content provider acquisition binge for several years now. And are scared as hell of Internet content acquisition (can you sayt 250GB/month limitation?). And much like satellite radio content wars those content wars cost that industry its success. Television content wars are just starting.

But, of course, that's my opinion. YMMV, and I am sure it probably does.

Anyone see the Comcast ad in the AJC today about anyone on limited basic now needing digital boxes and (in mouse type) that channels received via QAM would no longer be available after 4/7? I know this has been the discussion for awhile but this is the first deadline I've heard about QAM. Is this true?

Just got the notice in the mail that WoM is coming to the DeKalb service area (I'm in 30306). The enclosed pamphlet says 4/27/10 - I'm not holding by breath for that date but at least it's coming sometime soon. Hooray!

Yeah, we (finally) got that notice as well. I swear DeKalb must be last on the list to be converted in metro ATL.

Seems like this has become a pretty unfriendly place since last I visited. Just out of curiosity, to those of you who've long since abandoned Comcast or are about to, why do you even bother to come in here to browbeat the rest of us? It's like interrupting a discussion of LOST to inform the participants that you choose not to own a television. No one cares and you just wind up looking like a sanctimonious douche bag. Don't you have better things to do with your time?

Yeah, we (finally) got that notice as well. I swear DeKalb must be last on the list to be converted in metro ATL.

I'm in West Gwinnett and haven't even gotten the flyer (except again for the one they sent me in Aug. saying it would be Oct. 15th).

Seems like this has become a pretty unfriendly place since last I visited. Just out of curiosity, to those of you who've long since abandoned Comcast or are about to, why do you even bother to come in here to browbeat the rest of us? It's like interrupting a discussion of LOST to inform the participants that you choose not to own a television. No one cares and you just wind up looking like a sanctimonious douche bag. Don't you have better things to do with your time?

HERE HERE!!!!

Yeah, we (finally) got that notice as well. I swear DeKalb must be last on the list to be converted in metro ATL.

Seems like this has become a pretty unfriendly place since last I visited. Just out of curiosity, to those of you who've long since abandoned Comcast or are about to, why do you even bother to come in here to browbeat the rest of us? It's like interrupting a discussion of LOST to inform the participants that you choose not to own a television. No one cares and you just wind up looking like a sanctimonious douche bag. Don't you have better things to do with your time?

Well said, and funny too, I might add.

I think there's a major transition coming, perhaps over 10-20 years, and we'll see just how long Comcast cable as a distribution platform lasts through that.

But, of course, that's my opinion. YMMV, and I am sure it probably does.

"Can you say Wireless? Sure you can." - The late Mr Rogers

Cheers,

joe

Anyone see the Comcast ad in the AJC today about anyone on limited basic now needing digital boxes and (in mouse type) that channels received via QAM would no longer be available after 4/7? I know this has been the discussion for awhile but this is the first deadline I've heard about QAM. Is this true?

Not sure if 4/7 is true, but.... Thanks, Comcast! The ONLY advantage you have/had over your competition is that I didn't need a box for all my TVs. Since you are going to require a box for every TV in my house now, I think I will start looking at the alternatives. Hello OTA, U-verse, DirectTV, Dish, direct download, etc.

I'm sure there are a lot of others that feel the same way ;)

I'm not mad, I'm just going to search out the best deal for my TV money and when Comcast makes the change, the competition for a TV service provider for my needs increases.

Cheers,

joe

Yeah, we (finally) got that notice as well. I swear DeKalb must be last on the list to be converted in metro ATL.

Seems like this has become a pretty unfriendly place since last I visited. Just out of curiosity, to those of you who've long since abandoned Comcast or are about to, why do you even bother to come in here to browbeat the rest of us? It's like interrupting a discussion of LOST to inform the participants that you choose not to own a television. No one cares and you just wind up looking like a sanctimonious douche bag. Don't you have better things to do with your time?

Ok I deserved that. :p

I was in a foul mood yesterday about Comcast's digital switch and I felt the need to vent. It will not happen again. I got irked and forgot the rule: "Think Before Hittng Submit", about 5 times oops. LOL

Now back to your regular programming (pun intended).
Did not mean to offend.

Peace

Anyone see the Comcast ad in the AJC today about anyone on limited basic now needing digital boxes and (in mouse type) that channels received via QAM would no longer be available after 4/7? I know this has been the discussion for awhile but this is the first deadline I've heard about QAM. Is this true?

Here it is:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/niceguys_2007/COMCASTCLEARQAMWARNING.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/niceguys_2007/COMCASTCLEARQAMWARNING-1-1.jpg


Not sure if 4/7 is true, but.... Thanks, Comcast! The ONLY advantage you have/had over your competition is that I didn't need a box for all my TVs. Since you are going to require a box for every TV in my house now, I think I will start looking at the alternatives. Hello OTA, U-verse, DirectTV, Dish, direct download, etc.

I'm sure there are a lot of others that feel the same way ;)

I'm not mad, I'm just going to search out the best deal for my TV money and when Comcast makes the change, the competition for a TV service provider for my needs increases.

Cheers,

joe

April 7th date is apparently true. I scanned the ad Sammy50 mentioned. Had to go get a newspaper...

And this was what I meant about "what are the alternatives?" I didn't mean that in a bad way. It's just that some people are not educated about subscription TV. They've always had cable, they've never looked at the competition. If you go look at the competition, Comcast is about even for those who have the new upgrades. I have a co-worker who lives in the city and he just switched to Uverse because he's tired of waiting.

I checked out the alternatives and Comcast gives me what I want, especially when bundled with hi-speed internet.

Other subscription TV services don't offer "clear QAM". You have to have a device between the cable and your TV(s) to watch channels. (FIOS has a metal cabinet at your house to ensure you get what you pay for. I have enough friends with FIOS in other states to know this.)

With HDTVs too many people can use clear QAM to see other channels above what they are paying. Even "HDTV" channels. Comcast charges extra to see HDTV channels -- just like the other services. Go check them out and you'll see.

You might also want to see what my system is like. I do not need you to explain what kind of TV you have. I know the model since I bought the KDS-60A2000 two years before you even had an idea to get one. . Also my handle describes my status in life. I install HT systems and Computer networks for a living so you are not impressing me with your knowledge of LCoS. And also you view on Comcast's grab for excessive money.


Wasn't just describing the TV just for you. :p The Sony Bravia 60-A3000 is the best money I ever spent! Have you experienced any of the problems the older Sony RPTVs were afflicted with? Supposedly Sony fixed the problems with the optical blocks with the A3000s, but a few of those owners say they are seeing blobs too.

=============

Why is it an excessive grab for money when they are doing what AT&T, Verizon, DirecTV and Dish have done from Day 1? They are just ensuring you see what you are paying for? Their prices are clear -- it's just some people have been able to get around those prices. Now they won't be able to.

They are NOT raising their prices. They are just authenticating their customers.

Now if you think they should charge cheaper prices for their product, I am not going to disagree with you. I like cheaper prices!

I like cheap airplane tickets, I like cheap software, I like cheap gas, I like cheap hi-speed internet.

Let's use an analogy here. Do people get the right to complain if a neighbor locks down an open wi-fi router? Free ride is over, sorry! Well, Comcast is locking down their TV signals. If they were jacking the prices UP, that would be an excessive grab for money. They are just making sure people are only getting the programming they are paying for.

If people got free programming until now, if they got a higher tier of programming gratus, fine. But now it's all going to be verified. That is not a grab for money. :rolleyes:

Wasn't just describing the TV just for you. :p The Sony Bravia 60-A3000 is the best money I ever spent! Have you experienced any of the problems the older Sony RPTVs were afflicted with? Supposedly Sony fixed the problems with the optical blocks with the A3000s, but a few of those owners say they are seeing blobs too.


I have had zero issues with my A2000. I am around 6200 hours on the first bulb. Sometime this year it will need to be replace. We will see what happens after that. I have downloaded the updated warranty information from Sony just in case.

With regards to Comcast>> no comment.

Interesting on the Comcast Ad in the AJC. So, I've received zero notification about WOM in 30032, and now all of Atlanta (those of us STILL waiting) is going to be transitioned as of April 7th? I highly doubt that. Of course, I'm still waiting on the new guide too which I did get notification for! Does Comcast even know their own schedule???? I guess I'll cross my fingers and hope for the transition to occur on April 7th, better than holding my breath which would likely lead to my death; ) I'm wondering how many years it will be before Comcast launches 3D channels in my area. Guess I can hold off on the 3D HDTV purchase: )

got my flyer in the mail today for 30306. Showing May 4th for WOM conversion

There's nothing new about this ad, they're just implying that everything above limited basic will be encrypted after 4/7. We've been saying this for months, because they've already done it in other cities that were migrated to digital. They're going to turn on privacy mode in the DTAs for all the expanded basic channels so people can't steal them with a limited basic sub, and then they don't have to worry about maintaining traps anymore.

You don't have to like it or agree with it (I don't), but the choice is clear - stick with them or investigate alternatives. I'm sticking because I think the DVR options with Cablecard are far better than getting stuck with whatever DirectTv/Dish/U-Verse wants you to have. Yes, Cablecard sucks, but it sucks less than getting locked into a box. And you still get 2 free DTAs for secondary sets. And I like the HD channel variety, signal quality, and reliability of Comcast.

Not sure if 4/7 is true, but.... Thanks, Comcast! The ONLY advantage you have/had over your competition is that I didn't need a box for all my TVs. Since you are going to require a box for every TV in my house now, I think I will start looking at the alternatives. Hello OTA, U-verse, DirectTV, Dish, direct download, etc.

I'm sure there are a lot of others that feel the same way ;)

I'm not mad, I'm just going to search out the best deal for my TV money and when Comcast makes the change, the competition for a TV service provider for my needs increases.

Cheers,

joe
Nice post. I hear ya loud and clear, in the same boat. I took it a step further already...recently TRIED the digital box since its only a couple dollars per month more (if you stick w/limited basic), figured it was worth the try, the Comcast office is a mile down the road, returning it promtly would be easy if my hunch was right, and shocker - NO DICE on the local channels in hd WITH THE BOX, grrr. Comcast bloweth. OTA is the most practical route to get 'em, I'm convinced.

Question about WOM & 30318...

So We've had the scrolling bar now for a couple of weeks saying that the higher channels on non-boxed TV's will go away in March 2010, and this morning we get a message on our cable boxes saying the same thing, and I see there was an ad in the AJC about it.

SO...does this mean that I can expect WOM shortly after 4/7, or does it just mean that they are taking away the higher channels for TV's w/o boxes? Or does anyone know?

Haven't gotten any postcards about WOM, but then again our post office has been extremely unreliable, esp. since the floods in september (we've not gotten wedding invitations, bills, rebate checks, etc. etc.).

ther subscription TV services don't offer "clear QAM". You have to have a device between the cable and your TV(s) to watch channels. (FIOS has a metal cabinet at your house to ensure you get what you pay for. I have enough friends with FIOS in other states to know this.)


The "metal box" has absolutely nothing to do with "ensure(ing) you get what you pay for". It is how the fiber enters your home. The only thing it ensures is that the fiber stays lit.



Why is it an excessive grab for money when they are doing what AT&T, Verizon, DirecTV and Dish have done from Day 1? They are just ensuring you see what you are paying for? Their prices are clear -- it's just some people have been able to get around those prices. Now they won't be able to.

They are NOT raising their prices. They are just authenticating their customers.


Their service will cost people more. Even if it is just the electricity cost associated with running DTAs. I don't know if you have used one of the DTA's but they are terrible. They are slow and clunky. If you have an HDTV you will need to use two inputs on your TV (one for the DTA and one for straight cable) in order to get both HD channels and the expanded basic channels. I doubt most people will know how to or even want to do that so they will end up renting a regular box from Comcast which means more money.





Let's use an analogy here. Do people get the right to complain if a neighbor locks down an open wi-fi router? Free ride is over, sorry! Well, Comcast is locking down their TV signals. If they were jacking the prices UP, that would be an excessive grab for money. They are just making sure people are only getting the programming they are paying for.

If people got free programming until now, if they got a higher tier of programming gratus, fine. But now it's all going to be verified. That is not a grab for money. :rolleyes:


That is not a good analogy. I pay Comcast over $60 a month for Expanded Basic. I fail to see how that is a free anything. I also dispute that there is anyone sitting in front of their HDTV with a limited basic sub and entering the QAM channel numbers to watch other stuff. It is does not pass the laugh test.

A better analogy would be...

You pay a monthly fee to access a toll road. One day they decide that unless you drive a Ford you will only be permitted to go two exits. If you want to go further than that you will either need to get a Ford (use one of their boxes) or pay an additional fee (CableCard).

Comcast can certainly do whatever it likes. That does not mean I won't bitch about it or that I have to continue to pay them.

Some folks had mentioned that WOM would be available in the Buckhead/Midtown area today, but I still haven't seen them as of yet. The analog channels above 30 were disabled last week. Does anyone know if the cable boxes need to be reset to pick up the new HD channels?

Some folks had mentioned that WOM would be available in the Buckhead/Midtown area today, but I still haven't seen them as of yet. The analog channels above 30 were disabled last week. Does anyone know if the cable boxes need to be reset to pick up the new HD channels?

I'm in Buckhead (30326) and analog channels are still up here, as of a couple days ago. My WOM letter said 3/2 for the transition, so they are a little behind I guess.

I'm surprised how many bars I've been to where the warning crawl about the March 2010 transition is visible on the TVs. Good thing it isn't football season. ;)

Question about WOM & 30318...

So We've had the scrolling bar now for a couple of weeks saying that the higher channels on non-boxed TV's will go away in March 2010, and this morning we get a message on our cable boxes saying the same thing, and I see there was an ad in the AJC about it.

SO...does this mean that I can expect WOM shortly after 4/7, or does it just mean that they are taking away the higher channels for TV's w/o boxes? Or does anyone know?

Haven't gotten any postcards about WOM, but then again our post office has been extremely unreliable, esp. since the floods in september (we've not gotten wedding invitations, bills, rebate checks, etc. etc.).

We're in 30030. We got the mailing last week promising WOM by 4/27. Then this morning, there was a message on our box saying the digital conversion would be effective 4/7. So I think we're in the same boat. I guess we'll see what happens in about a month.

Well Tybee, that gives me hope. No scrolling notification or mailers, but I'm in 30032, so MAYBE it's just around the corner for my neck of the woods.

I'm in Buckhead (30326) and analog channels are still up here, as of a couple days ago. My WOM letter said 3/2 for the transition, so they are a little behind I guess.

I'm surprised how many bars I've been to where the warning crawl about the March 2010 transition is visible on the TVs. Good thing it isn't football season. ;)

Whoops, scratch that. Analog channels are gone in 30326. No new HD, yet.

Woo hoo! Finally got the new HD channels in 30319 (Fulton/City of Atlanta). I called today and they had to send a signal to my cable box to get them to start showing up. I had to laugh that I don't get channel 811 - Home Shopping HD because it is not in my tier of service. I am sure Comcast will have people lining up in record numbers to pay extra for that one :-)

Analog channels are still available in 30290 (Tyrone/Fayette County).

"Limited Basic" will include Clear QAM locals - that's my understanding. If your line is trapped to prevent that, have Comcast remove the trap. Traps will be uneccessary after the transition is complete.

I have had zero issues with my A2000. I am around 6200 hours on the first bulb. Sometime this year it will need to be replace. We will see what happens after that. I have downloaded the updated warranty information from Sony just in case.

With regards to Comcast>> no comment.


Well this looks like a good place for me to jump in here.

I have a 60A2020 (& I used to have a 42" A10) & the money/performance/size just cannot be beat. I just moved & got comcast cable & HSI last Friday. The internet is sporadic, as some speed tests show 22M (WOOOHOOO) & others as slow as 3.5 down & 512k up. I signed up for 20/4 but enough about that.


I only got that digital starter (essentials I think it is called) & I am impressed with the number of HD channels I get. I hate that comcast has not mapped the HD local channels to their respective local numbers. This is unforgivable in 2010, especially for the cable company which is ostensibly local. The picture quality seems ok, but I really did not get much quality time as I left for Jolly old England (I'm typing these words from there now :)) Now I am totally nonplussed because I got the non HDMI HD-DVR, but I understand that from comcasts' point of view, it works just fine.

All in all it was a fairly middling experience but can I take this HD DVR box to an office (if so where are they) & get the HDMI version?

My HD-DVR may have received some of the bad side effects of the guide update... I have not seen any of the improvements, but the last two Sunday series recordings of Big Love on HBOHD ( channel 880 ) were not in HD, but were taken from channel 301 at 480i. So somehow the series recording got switched to a lesser channel.

Seems like this has become a pretty unfriendly place since last I visited. Just out of curiosity, to those of you who've long since abandoned Comcast or are about to, why do you even bother to come in here to browbeat the rest of us? It's like interrupting a discussion of LOST to inform the participants that you choose not to own a television. No one cares and you just wind up looking like a sanctimonious douche bag. Don't you have better things to do with your time?

Hmmm, it's called debate. It's called sharing of differing, sometimes opposing, views. And if you didn't care (i.e "no one cares"), then why did you post this? Seems like someone cares, perhaps not to read it. You could always ignore the posts you don't like. Or perhaps open the mind to opposing views and alternatives and offer something of value to the debate. Sanctimonious douche bag is also a browbeat, and I will chose to ignore it. I encourage some adding of value to the debate, rather than useless words one wouldn't say to a persons face, unless they too were a sanctimonious douche bag...and then comment how unfriendly the place is. Geezus.

Now in regards to value, I would love to see some data that shows whatever corelation there may be (or not be) between major content distribution changes to subscriptions over time? Not just cable, but satellite too?

They are NOT raising their prices. They are just authenticating their customers.

<snip, then...>

Let's use an analogy here. Do people get the right to complain if a neighbor locks down an open wi-fi router? Free ride is over, sorry! Well, Comcast is locking down their TV signals. If they were jacking the prices UP, that would be an excessive grab for money. They are just making sure people are only getting the programming they are paying for.

If people got free programming until now, if they got a higher tier of programming gratus, fine. But now it's all going to be verified. That is not a grab for money. :rolleyes:

I respectfully disagree. Right now I can have however many television sets on my cable receiving the signals I subscribe to. After the change, except for what, 2 or 3 TV sets/receiving devices, I need to pay extra per "digital outlet" and conversion/decryption device? Tell me how that's not costing me more? Tell me how that's not raising the prices? The price is raised over what I currently can do.

And as for the analogy, if you aren't entitled to your neighbors access in the first place because you didn't pay for it, you were probably stealing it. So they shut you off, completely off. If I pay Comcast for a certain level of service, then they charge me more because I want that same service on the same number of sets/devices I currently use, then that's different. The analogy would only work if Comcast turned every signal off for me because I was stealing it. But I understand where you were going with that :)

I do find their market interesting on this change. They make it seem like these new boxes are needed for the customer to get their HD packages, when indeed this change is more about authentication than it is about getting the digital signals. I know it's not a perfect world, but Comcast could be more straight with us, perhaps even in fine print giving the technical/business reasons. By not doing that to some people they create suspicion, or that they're hiding something, and some consumers don't appreciate that. While I agree it's not meant necessarily to be a money-grab directly, it's meant to protect them from consumers getting what they don't deserve, they really don't seem to say that in their ads and correspondence.

I will even go on to defend Comcast in that they are late to the game in terms of authentication of this magnitude, and certainly all-digital has enabled the opportunity to protect their investment against those who steal it. It also protects the content providers, so they too get what they are entitled to. I am curious what the percentage and finance numbers are for authentication deployment, versus what they were losing to the unscrupulous who were stealing? Anyone know that?

Imagine in April that there will be some local TV news coverage of this...people complaining to the consumer gurus and that kind of stuff.

I think we all knew, Comcast included, that the digital transition was going to upset some folks apple carts.

Me, just give me more HD choices....and my internet is so much better than my neighbors with DSL it isn't even close.

My HD-DVR may have received some of the bad side effects of the guide update... I have not seen any of the improvements, but the last two Sunday series recordings of Big Love on HBOHD ( channel 880 ) were not in HD, but were taken from channel 301 at 480i. So somehow the series recording got switched to a lesser channel.

Same thing happened to me, same show! I don't think I had the guide update, though. I'll check later.

Can someone please confirm that I am understanding something correctly? If I have "digital starter"... and a cable card in my TV, do I get local HD channels? I know I can tune in local via clearQAM, but not certain if it gets blocked with a cable card. Also, am I correct that with that same setup, I would still need to pay $6.95/mo to get any HD channels?

Anyone notice that there seems to be a difference between DIGITAL STARTER and FULL/EXPANDED BASIC WITH DIGITAL SERVICE? Comcast gave us one regular box and 2 DTA's... from the regular box I can get to OnDemand, but none of the shows on G4TV come in (says I need to subscribe) even though we get G4TV.

I -PAY- for FULL/EXPANDED BASIC (ch2-ch78)... and I used to get all of those channels on all of my TVs. Now I will only get those channels on 3 TVs (3 devices) for the same cost. If I want all of those channels on all of my TVs, then my monthly cost GOES UP. So yeah... I am kind of bummed about this. However, I am fully aware that I would have to pay for EVERY TV is I used U-Verse or Satellite. Great... COMCAST wants to be more like them... but don't tell me that COMCAST isn't sticking it to us. The service I currently enjoy in my home is going to be diminished... and no money is coming off my bill.

I live in the 30324 zip, and Comcast converted the remaining high tier (>26) analog channels to digital on Tuesday, March 9th. They did not scramble the QAM channels in the process. However, all the new digital QAM channels added are all scrambled. Some duplicate QAM channels are in the clear in the new set mirroring what is available in channels 80 (physical RF channel) and above.

I fully expect Comcast will eventually scramble all QAM channels except the locals, the shopping channels, and barker channels when their digital conversion project is done. Expecting this, we were forced to get two cheap DTAs for our home which just have analog Ch. 3/4 outputs.

This post is for anyone trying to understand the limitations of the DTA on Comcast. I have the Family Tier and the DTA does not work with that plan. I hooked them up to my TVs and after talking with a CSR, she could not get them to come up. She did some checking and discovered they won't work with that plan. It wouldn't even connect to show the local channels. My options are either upgrade my plan, get additional STBs, or discontinue use of 2 TVs once the digital rollover is complete. I could still watch DVDs on them but no more broadcast channels. I may have to get those OTA adapters.

Great news...the higher channels at the YMCA on Moores Mill (@ I-75, 30327) were out today...when I last went Monday night they were still on. Sure confused the old folks there though! (And FYI there were a few channels in in the digital range (ex. 80-32 was Weather Channel) that worked, but most were blocked).

Can't wait to get home (north 30318) to see if the same thing happened on my TV I did not hook to the converter box.

HD is in the house in 30326, they are here! Finally, but earlier than I thought. Analog off yesterday and HD shows up today!!!!

Great news...the higher channels at the YMCA on Moores Mill (@ I-75, 30327) were out today...when I last went Monday night they were still on. Sure confused the old folks there though! (And FYI there were a few channels in in the digital range (ex. 80-32 was Weather Channel) that worked, but most were blocked).

Can't wait to get home (north 30318) to see if the same thing happened on my TV I did not hook to the converter box.
I'm off of Moores Mill west of 75 & W. Wesley. Analog channels are still on. I'm less than 2 miles from the YMCA. Arrg!!

Totally unrelated to the new HD...any options on an RF remote with the Comcast boxes? Any help appreciated....sorry if this is not the right place for the question.

Kudos to Comcast for the test pattern on 802 during the SEC Tournament!

Kudos to Comcast for the test pattern on 802 during the SEC Tournament!

LOL, I have no idea why they have so much trouble turning this channel on, especially when real HD is there.

@wside: Got too excited...I live in your same general area and my analog channels are still on...we're so close yet so far....maybe we're next after they do 30327

Kudos to Comcast for the test pattern on 802 during the SEC Tournament!

LOL, I have no idea why they have so much trouble turning this channel on, especially when real HD is there.

And, of course, Comcast is a sponsor of the broadcast.

The "metal box" has absolutely nothing to do with "ensure(ing) you get what you pay for". It is how the fiber enters your home. The only thing it ensures is that the fiber stays lit.


then you missed what I was replying to. :p

some guy said he used to have Verizon FIOS (or knew someone who had or something) and he was able to plug the coaxial cable straight into the TV and see all his channels. He was trying to refute the "electronic" verification that the Comcast boxes and cable cards are designed to do.

To that I call some BS. I have enough friends who live in other states and have Verizon FIOS. There is no such thing as QAM with Verizon FIOS. You will only get the channels you pay for.

Verizon requires a STB for any digital channels. Verizon says so:

Do I need a separate Set Top Box for every TV in my house?

If you subscribe to any digital packages or premium channels, you will need a Set Top Box for each television where you wish to access that programming. Set Top Boxes are also needed for Pay-Per-View, On Demand, and the Interactive Programming Guide. To access the basic analog service only (no premium channels, etc.), a Set Top Box is not required, but you will need a cable-ready TV or appropriate adapter .


Can I hook up multiple TVs with Verizon FiOS TV Service?

Yes. Set Top Boxes are required for each television where you would like to receive digital programming (all packages and channels beyond the FiOS TV Local Package). You can install FiOS TV on up to 7 televisions with Set Top Boxes. Any TVs connected without a Set Top Box to a coax outlet will receive the analog channels provided in the FiOS TV Local Package. Our representatives and technicians will work with you to set up the best FiOS TV network in your home.


So without set top boxes, all you will get is local channels. Which turns your Verizon FIOS into just a fancy OTA antenna. Everyone (Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, Dish, DirecTV) requires electronic verification -- either STB or cable card -- to actually receive subscription TV channels.


I also dispute that there is anyone sitting in front of their HDTV with a limited basic sub and entering the QAM channel numbers to watch other stuff. It is does not pass the laugh test.

I know several people who are. End of subject. "Several" being a handful of co-workers and acqaintances. One guy I know surfs through the channels finding PPV movies his neighbors are watching -- which he can do with QAM on his 52" LCD HDTV. Another woman I know has expanded basic and uses QAM on her HDTV to watch FoxNews and all the HD channels. Now I personally think Comcast shouldn't charge extra for HD access -- but they do. And people are using QAM to watch above their tier. And now people are mad because they won't be able to. That's what this whole argument is really about.

You are kidding or very naive. :confused: There's tons of requests in this very thread for QAM channel numbers. Over and over and over. Some/many of these people are doing it because they are not authorized to watch that tier of channels but can do it through the magic of digital QAM. When I got my 19" HDTV for Christmas I got a brief thrill seeing that I could watch Bio, Science, and Nat Geo on my small new TV that my 60" HDTV in the living room cannot see. (I have Digital Starter tier with HD DVR). But I now have the 19" hooked to the DTA.

then you missed what I was replying to. :p

some guy said he used to have Verizon FIOS (or knew someone who had or something) and he was able to plug the coaxial cable straight into the TV and see all his channels. He was trying to refute the "electronic" verification that the Comcast boxes and cable cards are designed to do.

To that I call some BS. I have enough friends who live in other states and have Verizon FIOS. There is no such thing as QAM with Verizon FIOS. You will only get the channels you pay for.

Verizon requires a STB for any digital channels. Verizon says so:



So without set top boxes, all you will get is local channels. Which turns your Verizon FIOS into just a fancy OTA antenna. Everyone (Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, Dish, DirecTV) requires electronic verification -- either STB or cable card -- to actually receive subscription TV channels.


That was me. Just plugging in the cable gave you channels 1-50 (or there abouts). That included your local channels as well as some cable channels (WGN America, TBS, others IIRC). I never said you could get *all* channels.



I know several people who are. End of subject. "Several" being a handful of co-workers and acqaintances. One guy I know surfs through the channels finding PPV movies his neighbors are watching -- which he can do with QAM on his 52" LCD HDTV. Another woman I know has expanded basic and uses QAM on her HDTV to watch FoxNews and all the HD channels. Now I personally think Comcast shouldn't charge extra for HD access -- but they do. And people are using QAM to watch above their tier. And now people are mad because they won't be able to. That's what this whole argument is really about.


I call ********. End of discussion. What HD channels, other than the locals, are available in QAM? None that I have found. Comcast is not allowed to charge extra for access to HD locals. Fox News is included in Expanded Basic.


You are kidding or very naive. :confused: There's tons of requests in this very thread for QAM channel numbers. Over and over and over. Some/many of these people are doing it because they are not authorized to watch that tier of channels but can do it through the magic of digital QAM. When I got my 19" HDTV for Christmas I got a brief thrill seeing that I could watch Bio, Science, and Nat Geo on my small new TV that my 60" HDTV in the living room cannot see. (I have Digital Starter tier with HD DVR). But I now have the 19" hooked to the DTA.

Yes, there are lots of requests for them and lots of valid reasons for them. Using digital tuners requires you to know the QAM channel number of whatever it is you want to watch. People who visit this site use products like HDHR at a much larger clip than the general population.

So I just don't buy it. People in this thread have made clear how this is simply a money grab for Comcast.

What HD channels, other than the locals, are available in QAM? None that I have found. Comcast is not allowed to charge extra for access to HD locals. Fox News is included in Expanded Basic.



You are kidding, right? :confused: Comcast DOES charge extra for the HD channels. Go look at their pricing. $8 extra per month. ALL the subscription TV services (cable TV, satellite TV, telephone TV) charge extra for HD channels. (I have a friend who has the SD package only with Uverse as he does not have an HDTV.) Comcast is just now starting to enforce it by taking away clear QAM channels.

All the TV services -- including Comcast -- have ALWAYS charged extra for HD channels. Here you go, straight from the Comcast website.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308/chazzmatt/hdtvprice.jpg


If you get the HD DVR it includes the HD channels for your package tier, you don't have to pay extra for HD and the DVR. But if you don't want the HD DVR, you still have to pay the $8 for HD access to ANY subscription TV channels (except OTA).

But if you are watching HD channels without paying Comcast extra money, then you are "stealing" cable TV. :)

And many, many HD channels can be found in clear QAM. If you read my post instead of blindly replying you would see that I watched Bio, Science, and Nat Geo in HD in clear QAM above my subscription tier for awhile on my office HDTV. Comcast is plugging the hole that allows this, just as all the other subscription TV services in metro Atlanta area do not allow this.

Do you really have Comcast ?


==============

Here's AT&T's Uverse:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308/chazzmatt/uverse.jpg


Note they charge $10 extra for their HD package.

DirecTV also changes a $10 monthly fee for "HD Access".

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308/chazzmatt/directv.jpg

To end the arguments about what you can and cannot get on QAM, just enter your ZIP in SiliconDust's Digital Channel searcher (http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels_us). It's fed by HDHR user boxes and is pretty much current.

To end the arguments about what you can and cannot get on QAM, just enter your ZIP in SiliconDust's Digital Channel searcher (http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels_us). It's fed by HDHR user boxes and is pretty much current.

There's also this from a couple of months ago. May be the same info.

These are the qam channels you will be able to see with the tv tuner until comcast converts then you will need a box from CC. Everything is 480I unless marked with HD. Comcast Atlanta

Channel # Name
5.246 GPB Know
5.247 GPB Kids
5.802 WPCH PeachTree HD 1080I
5.808 GPTV 8 HD 1080I
27.64 DISNEY
29.2 WATL 36 HD 720P
29.810 WUPA CW 69 HD 1080I
34.1 UNIVISION
45.812 WPXA ION HD 720P
45.816 PBA 30 HD 1080I
62.805 Blank
63.1 TBN
67.150 GEM
73.10 CBS HD 1080I

73.30 NBC 11 HD 1080I
73.211 NBC WEATHER
73.245 NBC US
80.201 WSB 2 ABC
80.202 WAGA 5 Fox
80.203 WXIA NBC
80.204 WPCH Peachtree
80.205 WGTV GPB
80.206 WGCL CBS
80.207 CW 69 WUPA
80.209 WPXA ION
80.21O WATL 36
80.212 PBA 30
81.5 Religious
81.10 Blank
81.21 DEALZ
81.22 Infomercial
81.23 Board Of Education
81.24 Board Of Education
81.25 Infomercial
81.26 Infomercial
81.27 TV Guide
81.32 TWC
82.39 TBS
82.120 MSNBC
82.134 G4
83.129 STYLE
82.202 LMN
84.1 TV Land
84.2 CNBC
84.3 Sports South
84.4 History
84.5 Spike
84.7 TCM
84.11 Lifetime
84.12 Food
84.13 TruTV
84.22 Bravo
84.54 Oxygen
85.101 CSS
85.102 Fox News
85.103 ESPN
85.104 ABC Family
85.105 TNT
85.106 HGTV
85.107 FX
85.108 ESPN2
85.109 FOX SPORTS
85.110 CMT
85.111 WGN America
85.112 Religious
86.207 Bloomberg
93.3 A&E TV
93.12 Versus
93.56 E Entertainment
93.75 SPEED
93.111 Hallmark
93.298 ESPN U
96.530 Spanish
96.532 Spanish
98.3 WSB ABC 2 HD 720P
98.248 RTV
98.804 WAGA Fox 5 HD 720P
100.63 Religious Channel
100.125 CSPAN 3
100.128 Atlanta Homes
100.129 GemsTV
103.101 BET
103.102 Cartoon Network
103.103 Comedy Central
103.104 MTV
103.105 Disney
103.106 Nick
103.107 Sy fy
103.108 AMC
103.109 Discovery
103.110 TLC
103.111 VH1
103.112 USA
104.201 C-Span
104.202 C-Span2
104.203 Animal Planet
104.204 Travel Channel
104.205 TV one
104.207 CNN Live
104.208 Golf Channel
104.209 HSN
104.210 QVC
104.212 HLN
109.218 History Int
109.219 Bio
111.801 PPV
114.271 PBS KIDS
114.503 Telemundo
116.2 On Demand

I have Digital Starter tier which does NOT include all these channels, but I was able to see them all on my office HDTV until I hooked the DAT up. I was just curious since my 60" living room TV has always had the HD DVR package.

The SiliconDust Digital Finder is more current and accurate since it is constantly updated and is by ZIP. Plus your list indicates a box will be needed for all channels, when, in fact, HD locals will continue to be QAM accessible.

I enjoyed this forum MUCH more before all the petty arguing.

Plus your list indicates a box will be needed for all channels, when, in fact, HD locals will continue to be QAM accessible.

That is not clear. Read Comcast's own words. Read the sentence about HD, the sentence after the one underlined.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/niceguys_2007/COMCASTCLEARQAMWARNING-1-1.jpg


That directly contradicts your statement?

============

UPDATE:

I did some google research and ran across this from last fall, a Comcast memo from another market. This seems to support your point of view. You can still see the local HDs if you add an A/B switch, which Comcast will provide. But you will still need a box/cable card to see all the other channels. I may get the A/B switch for my office TV.

I bolded the important parts:

RE: Content Protection Rollout

As part of Project Cavalry, Comcast began deploying digital transport adapters, or DTAs, to provide Comcast’s Expanded Basic analog customers with digital service. Since the start of Project Cavalry, Comcast had to turn off encryption (also known as digital content protection) on Expanded Basic channels for a limited period of time. Due to a recent FCC ruling, Comcast is now able to deploy digital content protection technology to DTAs. Comcast has begun notifying customers about its plans to “turn on” digital content protection on DTAs that have been deployed to date.

When It’s Happening

For our Region, the encryption process begins on November 10th. Customers are starting to receive notification this week via notices in local newspapers. In addition, customers that we have identified as being impacted by the encryption will receive additional notices starting next week through the encryption period. We are planning to encrypt channels in two groups on November 10th and 17th.

Receiving In-the-Clear Channels

In-the-clear channels are channels that a customer receives via their QAM TV tuner and not via their digital device. In order to receive the “in the clear” digital channels, a customer with a QAM TV would have had to “scan” for channels using the on-screen menus included with their TV during the brief window of time the channels were unencrypted. If a customer with a QAM TV never re-scanned for channels following the start of Project Cavalry in a market, they likely had not been receiving any digital channels, and would be receiving only the Limited Basic analog channels on their TV.

Non-Impacted Customers

The following groups of customers are not impacted by the content protection process.

* Any customer TV connected to a digital device
Customers with TVs connected to a cable box, DTA or CableCard will experience no loss of channels or service with the implementation of digital content protection.

* Limited Basic Customers (who do not have QAM TVs)
Customers with only Limited Basic service will not experience a disruption in service during Comcast’s latest network enhancement.

Potentially Impacted Customers

At-Risk Customers are any customers who have a QAM tuner TV not connected to digital device. This includes these three situations:

* QAM TVs with Expanded Basic or Digital Starter level of service NOT connected to a digital device
After the encryption process, these customers will need a digital device to view all channels in their package.

* QAM TVs receiving over-the-air HD channels
These customers will no longer be able to view over-the-air high-definition broadcast channels without adding an A/B switch. [more info below]

* QAM TVs with Limited Basic service that have been receiving Expanded Basic channels in the clear

These customers will not be able to receive the Expanded Basic channel lineup without upgrading their level of service and obtaining a digital device.

FAQs and Employee Talking Points

What is a QAM Tuner?

· A QAM tuner is a device present in some televisions that allows the TV to receive “in-the-clear” digital channels without a digital cable box.

· In some cases, QAM tuners on HDTVs allow customers to receive over-the-air HD channels. Typically these channels include local affiliates for CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX. Once a DTA or a Standard Definition digital cable box is connected to a television, the customer with a QAM tuner will have to use an A/B switch to continue viewing over-air HD programming on their television. Or, a customer can receive even more HD programming by upgrading to an HD capable cable box from Comcast.

What does a customer watching Expanded Basic cable channels via a QAM TV not attached to a digital device have to do?

In order to receive Expanded Basic or higher service, customers must have Comcast digital equipment, either a DTA, digital cable box, or CableCard from Comcast connected to their TV.

· Expanded Basic customers are eligible for 1 digital cable box and up to 2 DTAs at no additional charge.

· Digital Starter or above customers are eligible for up to 2 DTAs, at no additional charge/included with the service.

· If the customer wants to upgrade to HD service, an HD capable digital cable box or CableCard on a CableCard compatible device is required. There will be an additional monthly charge for this.

Why is Comcast implementing digital content protection now? And why are QAM tuners impacted now?

We have always protected the content on our service. Many of our programming contracts require that we protect our channels from unauthorized viewing.

For a brief period of time, certain customers with QAM TVs may have temporarily been able to access channels that they had not subscribed to, or channels that require a box to view them. For these customers, we are providing three digital devices at no additional cost to receive Expanded Basic channels. It is important to note that all other non-cable operators require a box to receive these same services.

Will customers need equipment if they have a digital TV with a QAM tuner?

Yes. At the completion of Comcast’s latest network enhancement, customers will need equipment on all TVs to receive any channels above the Limited Basic level of service. Comcast currently plans to make the Limited Basic level of service available in analog format, with no equipment required. Furthermore, Limited Basic customers with QAM TVs will be able to view Limited Basic digital channels without additional equipment. We are providing Expanded Basic customers with three digital devices at no additional cost.

How many Comcast customers have QAM tuner televisions and/or will be impacted?

There is no way of knowing how many of our customers own QAM tuner televisions; however, the universe of impacted customers is likely very small. In order to receive the “in the clear” digital channels, a customer with a QAM TV would have had to “scan” for channels using the on-screen menus included with their TV during a small window of time during Project Cavalry.

Do other video providers, such as DirecTV or DISH use digital content protection to encrypt channels?

Yes. All video providers are contractually required to protect the content they distribute from unauthorized reception. There are a variety of technologies used, which is why the equipment used is typically specific to a service provider.

What will a customer watching Expanded Basic cable channels via a QAM tuner TV not attached to a digital device see after digital content protection is turned on?

If service is interrupted on a QAM tuner television, channels may be displayed in several different ways, depending on the manufacturer/make of the TV. Some TVs may display a blue screen, some will display snow and some may broadcast the TV manufacturer’s message.

If customers currently have Comcast Expanded Basic service and receive broadcast high-definition (HD) channels with their QAM tuner TV, how will this be affected by using a DTA?

These customers will no longer be able to view over-the-air high-definition broadcast channels without adding an A/B switch. Comcast will provide everything necessary to continue viewing these channels to these customers at no additional charge (an A/B switch, splitter and the appropriate cables). Customers can pick these up at their local Comcast office or order a self-install kit from our national support center.

Additionally, Comcast offers HD cable boxes for a monthly equipment fee, which provides access to cable networks in HD, and over 1,000 HD choices.

Limited Basic customers with a QAM TV would continue to be able to view broadcast HD channels without Comcast equipment. There is no charge for HD content only equipment.

I enjoyed this forum MUCH more before all the petty arguing.

I enjoyed it when people knew what they were talking about. I asked questions and got informative answers. Now people seem to make up stuff that has to be refuted. ;)

Comcast has always charged extra for HD channels. They just didn't have a way to enforce it totally. Now they do. All the other subscription TV services not only charge for HD, they charge more than Comcast! ($8 vs $10 per month) But people in this forum are angry at Comcast for some reason.

You are kidding, right? :confused: Comcast DOES charge extra for the HD channels. Go look at their pricing. $8 extra per month. ALL the subscription TV services (cable TV, satellite TV, telephone TV) charge extra for HD channels. (I have a friend who has the SD package only with Uverse as he does not have an HDTV.) Comcast is just now starting to enforce it by taking away clear QAM channels.


Again. Please read. I know it is hard. Comcast DOES NOT CHARGE EXTRA FOR ACCESS TO LOCAL HD STATIONS. They charge extra for cable HD stations (ESPN HD, etc).

http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~pwhite6/limitedbasic.png

You really don't read do you? I never said Comcast did not charge extra for cable HD channels. Just that they were not allowed to charge extra for HD Locals.



And many, many HD channels can be found in clear QAM. If you read my post instead of blindly replying you would see that I watched Bio, Science, and Nat Geo in HD in clear QAM above my subscription tier for awhile on my office HDTV. Comcast is plugging the hole that allows this, just as all the other subscription TV services in metro Atlanta area do not allow this.

Do you really have Comcast ?


I do not see those channels available in HD on the SiliconDust list. Or any list I have seen here. They are available in SD only.

Again. Please read. I know it is hard. Comcast DOES NOT CHARGE EXTRA FOR ACCESS TO LOCAL HD STATIONS. They charge extra for cable HD stations (ESPN HD, etc).

http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~pwhite6/limitedbasic.png

You really don't read do you? I never said Comcast did not charge extra for cable HD channels. Just that they were not allowed to charge extra for HD Locals.



I do not see those channels available in HD on the SiliconDust list. Or any list I have seen here. They are available in SD only.



I admitted that point at 2:53 pm this afternoon.

I am not sure what this silly focus on LOCAL OTA HD channels is. No, when I replied to you it probably didn't register with me you want ONLY that. But I've said you don't have to pay for local HD channels.

So, Comcast can't charge for local channels. So what? They charge for the other 199 HD channels they carry. My goodness. Point is, they charge extra for HD channels. You have to be authenticated to get HD channels. The MINOR exception is HD OTA, which I said in the other post with the Comcast memo. I guess I don't understand your focus on HD OTA becuase anyone with an HD TV who subscribes to subscription service wants much more than that. They want EVERYTHING in HD.



If I want OTA HD channels I'll put up a roof antenna. Which also takes an A/B switch. It's just a glorified antenna. Anyone can do that. I want HD CABLE TV channels, period.

And Comcast, DirecTV, Dish, Uverse, Charter, Verizon, EVERYBODY charges extra for HD channels. Look at their ads that I posted.

A while back you could get some HD channels in clear QAM. Maybe not now. I don't use clear QAM so I don't care. I know a friend of mine was seeing PPV movies in clear QAM. Clear QAM is going away.

Those are the main points and if you are trying to jab by saying the handful of OTA local channels will still be in HD and free, then you win a debating point which I conceded hours ago with the memo straight from Comcast.

Go read it. It might be educational.

I enjoyed it when people knew what they were talking about. I asked questions and got informative answers. Now people seem to make up stuff that has to be refuted. ;)

Comcast has always charged extra for HD channels. They just didn't have a way to enforce it totally. Now they do. All the other subscription TV services not only charge for HD, they charge more than Comcast! ($8 vs $10 per month) But people in this forum are angry at Comcast for some reason.

I don't think the issue is about charging extra for HD channels, rather it's more about having to pay for additional boxes above the main and 2 DTA's, to get all the channels currently on 2-78 analog (and, of course, non-HD), once they encrypt all of them in the digital tier.

I know one thing...they're gonna get blasted with customer service calls.

I don't think the issue is about charging extra for HD channels, rather it's more about having to pay for additional boxes above the main and 2 DTA's, to get all the channels currently on 2-78 analog (and, of course, non-HD), once they encrypt all of them in the digital tier.

I know one thing...they're gonna get blasted with customer service calls.

I agree - Comcast did not raise the actual prices. Although they could do that too... But I will have to lease more HD STB's now to view channels I used to get on QAM including local HD's. So my bill will go up. But I will wait until they cut it off.

I guess I don't understand your focus on HD OTA becuase anyone with an HD TV who subscribes to subscription service wants much more than that. They want EVERYTHING in HD.

You might be surprised. My elderly mother subscribes to Comcast Basic. She lives in Loganville and can't get all the Atlanta locals with an antenna. But with her service she can get the locals in HD QAM just fine and will continue to get them. She could care less about getting anything else in HD and will be quite happy to get the rest via her basic Comcast box or DTA. She just wants the cheapest service available. She probably won't even notice the changeover.

I agree - Comcast did not raise the actual prices. Although they could do that too... But I will have to lease more HD STB's now to view channels I used to get on QAM including local HD's. So my bill will go up. But I will wait until they cut it off.
Why? The only HDs I've ever seen in the clear on the Vinings headend are the locals, and they will still be available after migration in the clear.

In other words, you have ALWAYS had to rent HD STBs for extra sets if you wanted anything other than the locals, because they've always been encrypted. If you received expanded basic HD channels in the clear, it was an oversight on Comcast's part, that's all.

The discussion here is mostly about having to rent STBs for SD channels on extra TVs as HomieG said, not HD STBs, because nothing has changed on the HD front.

I live in 30324 (Buckhead) and get the CC "Digital Starter" subscription through my condo HOA. When CC announced their digital conversion last October I elected to go with TiVo in lieu of the CC STB. I have two TiVo HD DVRs feeding a Sony KDL-46XBR5 HDTV in my living room and a Sony KDL-32XBR4 in my master bedroom.

I have been following this thread for the past week in anticipation of getting the add'l WOM HD channels. Sure enough, we lost our analog channels on Tuesday and got the add'l HD channels on Thursday. (Unfortunately, TiVo has not yet updated their programming database to reflect the new HD channels, so I have to use manual recording if I want to record the HD version, say, of a Comedy Central show.) I have spent the past two days mapping and updating all the channels on both TVs and both DVRs. Between selecting the channels I want to receive as well as labelling them and reselecting my favorites lists for both TVs it's been quite a chore. But that's the price you pay for OCD! By my count, I'm still getting 10 HD channels on my QAM tuners in addition to the SD versions of every channel in the Digital Starter tier.

I'll try to attach a copy of my OpenOffice document showing my channel listing. Note that there are some disparities between the two QAM tuners in my own two Sony XBRs, so YMMV. Note also that I have been somewhat selective in my channel listings and have tried to avoid listing duplicates, so you will definitely find alternative QAM channels to some of mine.

FWIW, I was very hesitant to commit to TiVo but am extremely pleased so far with the quality of the service. I paid a total of $1130 for the two DVRs with two wireless adapters and product lifetime service. I got two free DTAs from CC for my standby VCR/DVD recorders and am paying CC a grand total of $1.72 (including tax) per month for two CC multistream CableCards for the TiVos. I calculated that the TiVos should amortize the cost of two CC HD DVRs within a little over two years--not that I was interested in CC's POS STBs anyway.

And if you're wondering why I bother with the QAM reception when I've got TiVo, it's because I am used to the convenience of the picture-and-picture feature on my Sony's. Even though the TiVos have dual tuners and allow you to pause live broadcasts, you can still only watch one of them at a time. Call me spoiled, but occasionally I like to have two different channels displayed on my TV screen.

did anybody else lose wsb at 98.3. i lost it along with several other channels Friday I'm in 30171 north bartow county.

(Unfortunately, TiVo has not yet updated their programming database to reflect the new HD channels, so I have to use manual recording if I want to record the HD version, say, of a Comedy Central show.)

You need to change your channel lineup manually from Comcast to Comcast Atlanta World Of More.

You need to change your channel lineup manually from Comcast to Comcast Atlanta World Of More.

I believe you're referring to conventional STBs. My TiVo gets its channels from the CC CableCard, which only CC can program--there are no user-controlled settings. The problem is not channel reception; I'm getting all the WOM channels. The problem is that TiVo's programming guide is not up to date with CC's latest lineup changes. For example, I can see accurate progam scheduling for FX on SD 43, but FX on HD channel 843 shows only TBA.

BTW, I called TiVo on this issue on Thursday and they said that they are aware of the issue and their programmers are working on it. I will keep on their case if they don't have it fixed in the next day or two.

did anybody else lose wsb at 98.3. i lost it along with several other channels Friday I'm in 30171 north bartow county.

If you don't get it at 98.3, try 2.1 instead (see the attachment to my earlier post). Strangely, I get WSBHD at 98.3 on my bedroom Sony XBR and 2.1 on my living room Sony XBR.

I believe you're referring to conventional STBs. My TiVo gets its channels from the CC CableCard, which only CC can program--there are no user-controlled settings. The problem is not channel reception; I'm getting all the WOM channels. The problem is that TiVo's programming guide is not up to date with CC's latest lineup changes. For example, I can see accurate progam scheduling for FX on SD 43, but FX on HD channel 843 shows only TBA.

BTW, I called TiVo on this issue on Thursday and they said that they are aware of the issue and their programmers are working on it. I will keep on their case if they don't have it fixed in the next day or two.

Actually, I am referring to your TiVo. I have a TiVoHD, and am quite familiar with how it works, CableCARD included. I went through what you describe about a month and a half ago. Yes, it should be automatically handled, ideally, so feel free to continue to dance on TiVo's head about it, but in the meantime, you can deal with it manually (if you care to).

From the TiVo Central menu, go to:

Messages & Settings -> Settings -> Channels -> Channel List

Then press Enter (bottom of screen says "Press ENTER if this is the wrong channel lineup")

This will take you to the Change Channel Lineup screen. You can figure out the rest from there. Once you have the Comcast Atlanta World Of More lineup selected, the TiVo will download the guide data for the additional channels rather than leaving you in TBD-space.

As to why we have to do this manually in Atlanta (vs. other markets going through the transition), beats me.

I can confirm that cjv2's method is the way to go for TivoHDs - it's exactly what I did and the new HD channels were available immediately after it was done (i.e., the day after analog was shutoff). I also went through the list and unchecked all the old SD equivalents to the new HD channels, so the only channels I have left from expanded basic in SD are TV Land and CSPAN.

Actually, I am referring to your TiVo. I have a TiVoHD, and am quite familiar with how it works, CableCARD included. I went through what you describe about a month and a half ago. Yes, it should be automatically handled, ideally, so feel free to continue to dance on TiVo's head about it, but in the meantime, you can deal with it manually (if you care to).

From the TiVo Central menu, go to:

Messages & Settings -> Settings -> Channels -> Channel List

Then press Enter (bottom of screen says "Press ENTER if this is the wrong channel lineup")

This will take you to the Change Channel Lineup screen. You can figure out the rest from there. Once you have the Comcast Atlanta World Of More lineup selected, the TiVo will download the guide data for the additional channels rather than leaving you in TBD-space.

As to why we have to do this manually in Atlanta (vs. other markets going through the transition), beats me.

I can confirm that cjv2's method is the way to go for TivoHDs - it's exactly what I did and the new HD channels were available immediately after it was done (i.e., the day after analog was shutoff). I also went through the list and unchecked all the old SD equivalents to the new HD channels, so the only channels I have left from expanded basic in SD are TV Land and CSPAN.

Thanks for the great tip. I hadn't seen that screen since I first performed TiVo setup and had forgotten that it exists. Shame on TiVo customer service for not setting me straight and kudos to cjv2 and slowbiscuit for sharing their lessons learned. My programming info is now back on track. :)

If you don't get it at 98.3, try 2.1 instead (see the attachment to my earlier post). Strangely, I get WSBHD at 98.3 on my bedroom Sony XBR and 2.1 on my living room Sony XBR.

no 2.1 i still get the analog on channel 3 and the digital on 80.201 but no hd channel on 98.3

@wside: Got too excited...I live in your same general area and my analog channels are still on...we're so close yet so far....maybe we're next after they do 30327

I spoke with Comcast today. They said missing the analog cutoff for certain areas isn't uncommon but they shouldn't be more than 2 weeks late is making the change. I have see others on here state that their deadline was missed as well.

I spoke with Comcast today. They said missing the analog cutoff for certain areas isn't uncommon but they shouldn't be more than 2 weeks late is making the change. I have see others on here state that their deadline was missed as well.

Analogs now gone. New HD not there yet but that seems to come pretty quickly after the analogs go offline.

Got a package from Comcast yesterday...I'd called to get a second converter box for a TV I'd bought after ordering the 1st one...of course they did not send me a converter but instead sent an entire new cable box (would've replaced one of my current ones but this one isn't even an HD box).

I called to see what the deal was and she assured me they'd be charging me for it if I hooked it up. Therefore they're going to have to pick up the cable box and send me a new converter box...what a waste.

I did ask about our transition though (north 30318) and she did not have a date yet, but assured me it should be 'soon'. Apparently they get sent an e-mail every week about the upcoming transitions and our area was not there.

As of last night, Weather Channel was still working on my 1 TV not yet hooked up to a box...noticed wside got his turned off so I'm hoping that I'll find the same tonight!

They turned off my analog feed yesterday AND turned on the extra HD channels by last night in northern 30318!

Now if only TWCHD had HD local on the 8's...

They turned off my analog feed yesterday AND turned on the extra HD channels by last night in northern 30318!

Now if only TWCHD had HD local on the 8's...

Same here. Finally!

I finally got the extra HD channels here in 30324 today, probably went live earlier but I didn't notice them before. Woohoo! :):cool::D

Still no news on an analog cutoff date here in 30047 (lilburn/norcross) I received 2 DTA's a few months ago and was told that my cut off was going to be in Jan, but that didn't happen. Not even a scrolling warning on the analog tv here either. :(

Still no news on an analog cutoff date here in 30047 (lilburn/norcross) I received 2 DTA's a few months ago and was told that my cut off was going to be in Jan, but that didn't happen. Not even a scrolling warning on the analog tv here either. :(


Those of us in 30092 (P'tree Corners) got the letter that promised the cut-off for mid-October. Our DTAs were delivered in August. Still waiting for the switch to be flipped....

Same here in 30032. My DTRs are collecting dust until they make the switch. I guess pretty soon I'll have to call again to get another six months of discounts.

Called and talked to a rep to make a payment today and god some news. First he told me that the digital migration is scheduled for April 10th in my area and then he laughed and said that I should know what that means. Sounds like the comcast reps are in on the joke now about scheduled dates and actual dates.

Second I asked about the new guide and he laughed again and said to be thankful that I didn't have it. He said that almost every area that has switched to the new guide has had tons of problems, the biggest and most common is that the actual programming guide will not show up.

He also told me the reason that the digital migration is taking so long is that the technical departments wanted to shut off the whole Atlanta market at the same time and then do a gradual roll out of the WoM content. This was met with great resistance by the customer relations departments and Comcast decided that it would lead to a customer service meltdown, so the decision was to make the migration gradual. When a service area had completed the work and testing needed for the expanded HD rollout, the cut-off and switched would be scheduled in a way where it would not overload the customer service areas.

Not sure how accurate most of this is, but the rep seemed to really have a grasp of what was going on and had no problem sharing his info. Sometimes it helps to be cool with the people and make their days a little easier since I assume that the majority of their calls are complaints or people wanting discounts.

Called and talked to a rep to make a payment today and god some news. First he told me that the digital migration is scheduled for April 10th in my area and then he laughed and said that I should know what that means. Sounds like the comcast reps are in on the joke now about scheduled dates and actual dates.

Second I asked about the new guide and he laughed again and said to be thankful that I didn't have it. He said that almost every area that has switched to the new guide has had tons of problems, the biggest and most common is that the actual programming guide will not show up.

He also told me the reason that the digital migration is taking so long is that the technical departments wanted to shut off the whole Atlanta market at the same time and then do a gradual roll out of the WoM content. This was met with great resistance by the customer relations departments and Comcast decided that it would lead to a customer service meltdown, so the decision was to make the migration gradual. When a service area had completed the work and testing needed for the expanded HD rollout, the cut-off and switched would be scheduled in a way where it would not overload the customer service areas.

Not sure how accurate most of this is, but the rep seemed to really have a grasp of what was going on and had no problem sharing his info. Sometimes it helps to be cool with the people and make their days a little easier since I assume that the majority of their calls are complaints or people wanting discounts.

Honestly, that sounds legit to me, and probably smart.

For those of you who have gone through the digital transition, how long do they scroll the message on the analog channels before the switch occurs? Still no scrolling in my neck of the woods, but I'm curious as to the lead time once that occurs.

Several weeks ago I got notice that Comcast would be upgrading the DVR software, and warned that parental lockouts would be lost.

I'm not concerned about the parental lockouts, but have been looking forward to the new software Comcast is rolling out in other areas. It includes remote scheduling. I believe that is version 2.8, I still have the old 2.5.

Has anyone gotten the upgrade? I believe this is unrelated to the analog conversion roll out.

For those of you who have gone through the digital transition, how long do they scroll the message on the analog channels before the switch occurs? Still no scrolling in my neck of the woods, but I'm curious as to the lead time once that occurs.

I think it was only a couple of weeks.

Several weeks ago I got notice that Comcast would be upgrading the DVR software, and warned that parental lockouts would be lost.

I'm not concerned about the parental lockouts, but have been looking forward to the new software Comcast is rolling out in other areas. It includes remote scheduling. I believe that is version 2.8, I still have the old 2.5.

Has anyone gotten the upgrade? I believe this is unrelated to the analog conversion roll out.

As far as I can tell, no one in the area has gotten it yet. As it was pointed out by ckb1978 above, the other parts of the country that got it have reported issues with it.

As far as I can tell, no one in the area has gotten it yet. As it was pointed out by ckb1978 above, the other parts of the country that got it have reported issues with it.

Yeah, we went through the whole notification bit, but the day of implementation passed without it actually happening. That was mid-February.

Well a friend of mine in 30035 just got the letter for WOM beginning April 20th. Hopefully that means 30032 is happening at or around the same time. I guess we'll see.

New Comcast customer (had it since March 5th) in 30082. What is the definitive test/way to say that "Yes, I have the WOW"?

Lovswr,

Check your HD channel lineup if you have HD. Or if you have a TV you can hook straight into the cable outlet (no boxes), see if it will receive channels in the midband, such as channel 50. These channels will no longer be viewable without a cable box of some sort after the switch. For anyone in 30032, the tentative date is April 24th, per customer service. 30035 is April 20th.

Interesting that people are saying prices aren't changing. My prices went up, and I received notification of that with my Comcast World of More upgrade information. Something isn't adding up...

When/if we walk away from Comcast, anybody (on the east/northeast side of ATL) have old C-band dish/related equipment that want to give away? PM me (since this tag is off topic) and I will see what I can do to pick it up.

When/if we walk away from Comcast, anybody (on the east/northeast side of ATL) have old C-band dish/related equipment that want to give away? PM me (since this tag is off topic) and I will see what I can do to pick it up.

ha! Good luck with that. When I was at a local TV station back in the late 90's, even then everyone was moving from C-band to Ku Band AND scrambling their signals.

When everyone started scrambing on C-band, for awhile you could get a descrambler and pay a monthly fee to some company for an entertainment package. This was the precursor to the DBS providers like DirecTV. Then DirecTV came along, as well as their competitor Dish Network -- and they are on Ku Band.

The era of free "in the clear" C-band programming is over.

Here, go read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_receive-only

and this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_ugly_dish

ha! Good luck with that. When I was at a local TV station back in the late 90's, even then everyone was moving from C-band to Ku Band AND scrambling their signals.

When everyone started scrambing on C-band, for awhile you could get a descrambler and pay a monthly fee to some company for an entertainment package. This was the precursor to the DBS providers like DirecTV. Then DirecTV came along, as well as their competitor Dish Network -- and they are on Ku Band.

Here, go read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_receive-only

Oh, my interest is solely as a hobbyist. If nothing else, I'd put it on NASATV and watch their feeds 24/7. Our TV viewing skews well outside of the norm.

Oh, my interest is solely as a hobbyist. If nothing else, I'd put it on NASATV and watch their feeds 24/7. Our TV viewing skews well outside of the norm.

NASA TV is still on C-band. Here you go:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/digital.html#dish

To be clear in case anyone was misled by any of the posts above, pretty much all networks are distributed in C-band. Encrypted, sure, but there has certainly not been any move from C-band to Ku-band for network distribution. Note: "distribution" means from network HQ to cable headend.

Heck, we sometimes even see sports feeds in C-band, if it's a real high-dollar event.

To be clear in case anyone was misled by any of the posts above, pretty much all networks are distributed in C-band. Encrypted, sure, but there has certainly not been any move from C-band to Ku-band for network distribution. Note: "distribution" means from network HQ to cable headend.

Heck, we sometimes even see sports feeds in C-band, if it's a real high-dollar event.


Well you are wrong about one thing. Broadcast networks do not go from satellite to cable headend in any manner whatsoever. Comcast doesn't get ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox (broadcast) from any kind of satellite. The signal goes from local affiliate to cable headend -- nowadays usually via fiber optic. The cable company gets the signal from the local affiliate, like WSB -- so local news and local commercials are inserted. It's all FCC regulations for local content. Even DirecTV and Dish have to retransmit local affiliates in your area.

As for the other cable networks that may use C-Band, how do you access these encrypted satellite transmissions? Do you pay money for some service or do you have some kind of pirate descrambler? I do know you can't get any real regular entertainment on an unencrypted C-Band. DBS companies like DirecTV and Dish, and cable companies like Comcast and Charter, pay too much money for the distribution rights for the good stuff to be available for cherry picking like in the good ole days.

I haven't tuned in satellites for over a decade, when I worked for two local network affiliates. But ABC (and NBC) was moving a lot of their stuff to Ku band at the time. We hated it because of rain fade. ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox may still use some C-Band -- I'm just telling you what was happening back then.

You can still see "backhaul" feeds from sports event "in the clear", but it doesn't do you much good because it's not the "for air" program. It's usually some kind of static shot, like of the announcers.

I just discovered History International HD on 892 -

Broadcast networks do not go from satellite to cable headend in any manner whatsoever. Comcast doesn't get ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox (broadcast) from any kind of satellite. The signal goes from local affiliate to cable headend -- nowadays usually via fiber optic.

Are you sure about this? I ask because if they had a direct fiber feed then if a station had subchannels they could send each channel in full 19mbps streams to the cable companies. I dont think that is the case, at least in Atlanta. For example WRAL in NC provided 4 HD feeds for college basketball tournament to local networks through fiber. WGCL in Atlanta setup additional channels, but it was one 19mbps channel split into 4, and the quality showed as much. I know on weather feeds and other subchannel feeds i see the signal is very weak coming through Comcast, and depending on channel you can still easily see subchannels affecting the HD channel quality.

My coworker who lives in 30306 got the "WOM" HD channels yesterday, stuff like Bravo and MTV and VH1 in HD. I'm in 30307 and haven't yet, though I eagerly await them...

My coworker who lives in 30306 got the "WOM" HD channels yesterday, stuff like Bravo and MTV and VH1 in HD. I'm in 30307 and haven't yet, though I eagerly await them...

Where in 30306, I live Virginia Highlands 30306 and do not have the WOM,
and my analog channels are still active.

Are you sure about this? I ask because if they had a direct fiber feed then if a station had subchannels they could send each channel in full 19mbps streams to the cable companies. I dont think that is the case, at least in Atlanta. For example WRAL in NC provided 4 HD feeds for college basketball tournament to local networks through fiber. WGCL in Atlanta setup additional channels, but it was one 19mbps channel split into 4, and the quality showed as much. I know on weather feeds and other subchannel feeds i see the signal is very weak coming through Comcast, and depending on channel you can still easily see subchannels affecting the HD channel quality.

In Richmond, VA where I lived and worked for the ABC affiliate they installed fiber optic and ABC was doing that for all their affiliates. IF they were doing it for a market like Richmond, seems like they would surely do it for a Top 10 market like Atlanta. And that was over a decade ago. Before the fiber optic link, the cable company was actually just grabbing the signal off the air with a large antenna. :eek:

But once we went fiber optic, then we had to do newscasts and such even when our transmitter occasionally failed. Because even though OTA viewers couldn't see us, the cable viewers could.

But the point I was making is the "major" networks don't come in via satellite to the cable companies. However, if all you want is the major broadcast networks, then an OTA antenna will do. However, I don't watch much ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX. I watch the "cable" networks, and in HD. That's why I have Comcast.

Where in 30306, I live Virginia Highlands 30306 and do not have the WOM,
and my analog channels are still active.

On Lenox Road, right by Peachtree Creek, just after where N Highland splits into Johnson and Lenox... Morningside I guess you'd say...

Strange problem. I have a 3416 with THAT remote. It partially can control my Sony RPTV. Menu, volume, channel work fine I just cannot SELECT anything once I highlight it. How do I make this remote send the IR code for SELECT/ENTER?

Finally got the WOM letter from Comcast. May 4th for analog cut-off. I'm in 30312 in the Old Fourth Ward/Poncey Highlands.

Finally got the WOM letter from Comcast. May 4th for analog cut-off. I'm in 30312 in the Old Fourth Ward/Poncey Highlands.

Same here. 30306, poncey-highlands

Same here. 30306, poncey-highlands

Same here in Little Five Points, 30307. World of More, May 4, 2010!

I noticed on DSLR boards that many people in Chicago and a poster in CT got their guides upgraded to A28 today. Still no upgrade here in Atlanta yet. However, one of the posters in Chicago noted there are still a couple of bugs in the upgraded guide.

My parents in 30021 got the letter with a date of April 27th. My friend in 30035 for the 27th. I'm in 30032, and crickets are still chirping. When I called about a week ago, I was told April 27th, but if that's the case, where is the notification? I feel like Charlie Brown after Lucy pulls the football away at the last second!

I am finally able to recieve NBC and CBS in HD on "limited basic" as Comcast did remove the filter. Comcast is to provide all of the local channels, i.e. NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, PBS etc. these channels in HD. If any of you are still experiencing difficulty in recieving the channels in HD, advise Comcast that you are entitled to recieve these channels in HD as part of the "limited basic" tier without any additional eqipment.

I noticed on DSLR boards that many people in Chicago and a poster in CT got their guides upgraded to A28 today. Still no upgrade here in Atlanta yet. However, one of the posters in Chicago noted there are still a couple of bugs in the upgraded guide.


Is the upgraded guide in HD?

I don't think so.

Anyone else notice how HORRIBLE the PQ has been on the Saturday and Sunday Braves broadcasts on FSNHD (848), or is it just me?

It's the same on Dish. They aren't HD, just widescreen SD.

Today is a sad day. Get home from work and all of my expanded basic channels are encrypted.

yea, a lot of changes. Lost channels like Disney, CNN, ESPN, etc. Channel 2 HD moved from 2-1 to 98-3. Channel 5 HD moved from 5-1 to 98-804. ughhhh

I lost ESPN and ESPN2 on my QAM, anyone know whats going on?

I lost ESPN and ESPN2 on my QAM, anyone know whats going on?

I think it has to do with Comcast encrypting all their channels besides their local channels (1-31). Based on what it says here: http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?seoid=need-digital-equipment-with-qam-tuner, Comcast doesn't want people getting channels for free. Someone said that they're encrypting channel groups at a time, a few channels every few weeks, but I don't really know. Someone on another forum stated that:
This tells me that they plan to encrypt everything but locals, or possibly begin using switched video channels as the technology matures. They plainly don't want customers using clear QAM. Their CSRs know clear QAM exists but most refuse to discuss even the availability of locals in that format.

I have read various reasons for this. Mostly the security-related ones that I referred to earlier, but others as well. Such as increasing their opportunity to sell on-demand programming. ...or encouraging customers to move to HD service, since viewing clear QAM HD locals requires customers to set up their equipment differently than shown in the directions Comcast provides for SD boxes.

I have read of instances where cable companies (not Comcast) have asked to encrypt even basic cable channels in areas where too many people are tapping into cable service illegally. Also an instance where one claimed that sending out trucks to disconnect service for non-payment was wasteful when they could accomplish the same thing by disabling the customer's STBs remotely.

yea, a lot of changes. Lost channels like Disney, CNN, ESPN, etc. Channel 2 HD moved from 2-1 to 98-3. Channel 5 HD moved from 5-1 to 98-804. ughhhh

I lost TNT too what a sad day it really is. I misses 38-103 and 38-108 :mad:

Found out the hard way this morning...No ESPN.

Frankly, I don't care that much anymore. It's become such a hassle to keep up with, and it's clear this is nothing more than a money grab. Honestly, it's not worth the extra $5-$10 more per month for some ugly freakin' STB that could/should be done away with. Besides, the content for the most part is crap.

Comcast has encrypted a whole lot of QAM channels in Atlanta. The only reason I have stayed with them is because I can use my Windows 7 HTPC over clear QAM.

I am not happy with you Comcast!

Channels Now Encrypted:
SYFY
USA
CNN
Disney
TBS
Bravo
ESPN
TNT
ESPN2
Cartoon Network

C'mon guys, none of this is news, nor should it surprise anyone. It's been discussed repeatedly here - they've been encrypting the expanded basic SD channels in other areas after migrations. They want everyone to use boxes so they won't have to support traps (and get more money from us as a side benefit).

Having said that, on the Vinings headend in S. Cobb all they removed was the SDs in the 80's channel range - they are still unencrypted in the 30's and 40's (which is where they were duped to when the migration was done), probably so they would be in the limited basic trapped out range.

So if you had an expanded basic sub before, do a full digital rescan and see if you pick them up in the 30's and 40's. If they're gone from there too, at least you know why.

I agree, it's not news they are encrypting channels. It means more HD.....I like it.

I agree, it's not news they are encrypting channels. It means more HD.....I like it.

No it doesn't. There is no relationship between encrypting QAM channels and the number of HD channels Comcast can offer. Those channels are still there and take up the same amount of space they did when they were unencrypted.

Living in town I get excellent reception OTA, so tomorrow I cancel. $60 a month back in my pocket. Vote with your wallet folks.

C'mon guys, none of this is news, nor should it surprise anyone. It's been discussed repeatedly here - they've been encrypting the expanded basic SD channels in other areas after migrations. They want everyone to use boxes so they won't have to support traps (and get more money from us as a side benefit).

Exactly. Comcast was tired of losing money to people who got "free" upgrades via clear QAM.




Living in town I get excellent reception OTA, so tomorrow I cancel. $60 a month back in my pocket. Vote with your wallet folks.


Vote with your wallet? Comcast is NOT going to UNencrypt QAM no matter how many "votes" they get. Clear QAM is a money loser for them, as people with new flat panel digital TVs found out they can subscribe to basic and get almost everything via clear QAM. Nobody else in subscription TV land has QAM, much less clear QAM. All the competitors like satellite pay TV (Dish, DirecTV) and telephone pay TV (U-Verse) all require an electronic device between the signal and the TV. Cable was the exception and is not anymore.

So, for people who cancel Comcast and try to go elsewhere, they are in for a rude awakening. Comcast is only protecting the product they are selling. Now you may argue they should charge less... but try pricing the other services. They are all about the same.

Sure, if you only want broadcast OTA channels, then cancel and get a rooftop antenna..... :confused: But the "free" OTA channels are NOT why people subscribe to DirecTV, Dish Network, U-Verse, and Comcast. Most people in the Atlanta metro area can get OTA channels with a powerful enough antenna, which is a one-time cost -- usually of less than $100. Most people know that. NO, the reason people subscribe to pay-TV services is for the breadth and variety of information and entertainment sorely lacking on the ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox stations. They also want History Channel, Food Network, TLC, CNN, Fox News, Discovery...


With this encryption, Comcast is giving two free digital adapter boxes per household. You can see ALL the channels to which you subscribe. If you want the HD OTA channels, there is a way to see them, with an A/B switch Comcast provides. IF you cancel, however, all you will get from your antenna is those HD OTA channels. ;)

Vote with your wallet? Comcast is NOT going to UNencrypt QAM no matter how many "votes" they get. Clear QAM is a money loser for them, as people with new flat panel digital TVs found out they can subscribe to basic and get almost everything via clear QAM.


I do not want to have this debate with you again but the concept that there is even a small percentage of people "stealing" expanded basic with QAM is laughable at best. It is all about money and control. Money from additional outlet fees and potentially increased on demand purchases. I harbor no illusions that Comcast will unencrypt channels, but there is no reason that I should continue to pay them when their service is no longer attractive.


Nobody else in subscription TV land has QAM, much less clear QAM. All the competitors like satellite pay TV (Dish, DirecTV) and telephone pay TV (U-Verse) all require an electronic device between the signal and the TV. Cable was the exception and is not anymore.


And there was a reason I selected Comcast over DirecTV. Comcast has now eliminated that reason.



So, for people who cancel Comcast and try to go elsewhere, they are in for a rude awakening.


While saving the money I was paying Comcast for expanded basic may be an awakening I expect it to be very pleasant.


With this encryption, Comcast is giving two free digital adapter boxes per household. You can see ALL the channels to which you subscribe. If you want the HD OTA channels, there is a way to see them, with an A/B switch Comcast provides. IF you cancel, however, all you will get from your antenna is those HD OTA channels. ;)


An A/B Switch? Are we back in the early 80's? Yeah I want to explain to my wife how that works. That sounds like an awesome experience. "If you want to watch Comedy Central you have to push DTA and then 66. If you want to watch NBC in HD push...". They make it annoying to try to get you to pay more for a "real" STB.

If the choice is my WMC setup and Networks (plus Hulu, and other Internet TV) or an A/B Switch and a DTA the choice is clear.

This will be a nice test. I'll see where we are when the CableCard capable devices come out in a few months. But looking at what we watch and what is available online I doubt we will be back.

There is no relationship between encrypting QAM channels and the number of HD channels Comcast can offer. Those channels are still there and take up the same amount of space they did when they were unencrypted.

.

OK, obviously you are not a business guy, so let's explain it simply. You are wrong. There IS a relationship between encrypting QAM channels and the number of HD channels Comcast can offer.

Let's step through it...

1) People bought all these new fancy flat panel TVs. Digital.

2) They want HD channels to go with them. The bigger the TV, the more they want HD. Some people with smaller flat panel TVs don't care (especially if it's a 2nd or 3rd TV), but they also want digital channels.

3) Comcast can kill two birds with one stone by killing off the analog channels which will be obsolete anyway, as everybody will eventually have (digital) flat panel TVs. Comcast can use the extra bandwidth to give MORE HD channels.

Are you following this so far? Analog channels gone to make more room for HD channels.

Then, Comcast REPLACED the analog channels with SD digital channels, which take less bandwidth. (The extra bandwidth is going to HD channels, remember?)

HOWEVER, there's one kink.... In the rush to ditch analog for more HD and convert the SD to digital, it turns out these fancy new flat panel TVs have built-in QAM tuners. That means they can get all these SD digital channels for FREE, even if the subscribers are paying for basic....

Many of these customers (the ones with the smaller LCD TVs in the bedroom or office) don't care about HD channels so much, but they get to watch EVERYTHING on clear QAM. Comcast is (potentially) losing lots of money on these customers. They get to watch everything (even above their package level), so there is no incentive to upgrade.

How to fix that? Encrypt clear QAM.

So, the amount of HD channels is directly linked to cable analog channels going away, and everything being digitized. Since everything digitized is FREE UNLESS ENCRYPTED, that is why clear QAM is going away.

THAT is the relationship between encrypting QAM channels and the number of HD channels Comcast can offer. It takes lots of money for all the HD stuff Comcast is doing. They can't give away clear QAM channels to customers who are not paying for that level of package. If all the customers pay what they should that might cut down on rate increases in the future.



An A/B Switch? Are we back in the early 80's? Yeah I want to explain to my wife how that works. That sounds like an awesome experience. "If you want to watch Comedy Central you have to push DTA and then 66. If you want to watch NBC in HD push...". They make it annoying to try to get you to pay more for a "real" STB.

What is your anger at Comcast? Tell me how the OTHER GUYS do it? Huh? Answer that. How does Dish, DirecTV, U-Verse give you the OTA stations in HD? Just answer that, please.

They don't -- unless you are paying for HD, buddy.

Comcast is still giving you the OTA channels in HD, even if you are not paying for HD.

OK, obviously you are not a business guy, so let's explain it simply. You are wrong. There IS a relationship between encrypting QAM channels and the number of HD channels Comcast can offer.


...



That's not a relationship. There *is* a relationship between getting rid of analog channels and having more HD. However, there is NONE between encrypting the ClearQAM channels and having more HD.

Your situation still does not pass the laugh test. The idea that there are people doing that, let alone enough to cost Comcast any significant money, is hilarious.

The idea that encrypting the channels some how will mean fewer rate hikes is also quaint. Whatever Comcast is paying you to shill for them, I would demand a raise.



What is your anger at Comcast? Tell me how the OTHER GUYS do it? Huh? Answer that. How does Dish, DirecTV, U-Verse give you the OTA stations in HD? Just answer that, please.

They don't -- unless you are paying for HD, buddy.

Comcast is still giving you the OTA channels in HD, even if you are not paying for HD.

I am angry at Comcast because they changed the rules. Again, I selected Comcast specifically because they did not require a box on every TV.

As I have mentioned previously Verizon does not encrypt HD locals and a quick Google search says that U-Verse doesn't either but I have no experience with them.

Saying "all of the other providers do it..." is not a winning argument. Sorry.

That's not a relationship. There *is* a relationship between getting rid of analog channels and having more HD. However, there is NONE between encrypting the ClearQAM channels and having more HD.

Your situation still does not pass the laugh test. The idea that there are people doing that, let alone enough to cost Comcast any significant money, is hilarious.


You are so uninformed it's not funny. EVERYONE with a digital flat panel TV could see QAM channels. I know a half dozen people who were watching those channels and they had digital starter package or less. They were not entitled to watch those channels -- but there they were, free of charge!

You can't refute that, because I know these people. If you say it's not true you are a liar and and maybe even an idiot. Comcast would not be doing this if it were not a problem.

If Comcast got rid of analog and went to digital (to have more HD) they have to protect their product. That is the relationship between HD and encrypting QAM. If you can't see that the relationship or accept they have to protect their product, I have to thinik you don't have a grasp of logic.

I'm not going to argue with people who don't know anything about business, stock holders, investing in infrastructure, making profits. Giving away the product for free does not keep you in business. Somebody has to pay for the license fees and the new technology.



I am angry at Comcast because they changed the rules. Again, I selected Comcast specifically because they did not require a box on every TV.

As I have mentioned previously Verizon does not encrypt HD locals and a quick Google search says that U-Verse doesn't either but I have no experience with them.

Saying "all of the other providers do it..." is not a winning argument. Sorry.

Well, hate to tell. Again you are uninformed and wrong. And apparently you don't know how to use Google. :p

My quick Google search shows many people complaining because Uverse does encrypt local HD channels.

http://utalk.att.com/t5/TV-Programming/HD-Local-Channels/m-p/141928

U-Verse does encrypt local HD, unless you pay an HD fee. (There's one link to read. I'll be glad to post 20 more if you want.)

So does DirecTV and Dish. With them, you have to have an HD receiver to see HD channels. The HD receiver costs more. It gives you an HD package (and is the equivalent of Comcast's HD set top box). Everybody (UVerse, Dish, DirecTV -- even Comcast) seems to charge $10 for HD access. But Comast gives you the local HD channels for free.

I specifically did not mention Verizon because they are not allowed to offer service in this area. Comcast's competitors are Uverse, Dish and DirecTV.

They are the ones you would go to if you are unhappy with Comcast.

Comcast does NOT encrypt HD Lcals.


You complain about Comcast changing the rules. They are offering a different product (digital SD) than before. Plus you are using a different type of TV. This is not changing the rules. But having said that, the world changes. Nothing stays the same.

At my job, over the past 14 years my duties have changed. I've had to learn new skills, do different things. I can't say, "But back in 1997 I was hired to do 1,2,3 -- and now I am doing 1,4,5,6.". Sorry, technology changes, the world changes. You have to adapt.

=======

But go ahead and "vote with your wallet". Cancel Comcast. You will either be stuck with just the broadcast OTA channels or you will go to Dish, DirecTV and UVerse. If you go to the competitors, you will pay as much or more than you are paying Comcast -- after their promotional offers expire. In fact, here's a suggestion. Call Comcast and tell them you are going to one of their competitors and they will probably offer you some kind of temporary discount.

You are so uninformed it's not funny. EVERYONE with a digital flat panel TV could see QAM channels. I know a half dozen people who were watching those channels and they had digital starter package or less. They were not entitled to watch those channels -- but there they were, free of charge!

You can't refute that, because I know these people. If you say it's not true you are a liar and and maybe even an idiot. Comcast would not be doing this if it were not a problem.

If Comcast got rid of analog and went to digital (to have more HD) they have to protect their product. That is the relationship between HD and encrypting QAM. If you can't see that the relationship or accept they have to protect their product, again I have to thinik you are an idiot.



I am not saying *no one* did. I am saying it was a problem in search of a solution. Free of charge? No. These people are paying Comcast something.

Those channels were available in the clear long before Comcast started their analog to digital switch. The only "relationship" is that they are occurring at about the same time.

It is a money grab. Plain and simple.




I'm not going to argue with childish idiots who don't know anything about business. Giving away the product for free does not keep you in business. Somebody has to pay for the license fees.

Again you are wrong. My quick Google search shows many people complaining because Uverse does encrypt local HD channels.

http://utalk.att.com/t5/TV-Programming/HD-Local-Channels/m-p/141928

U-Verse does encrypt local HD, unless you pay an HD fee.


That does not appear to be true. Even their cheapest package, the $20/month U-Basic plan offers locals in HD.

https://uma.att.com/uma/RetrieveChannelLineup?ZIP=30309&packgeList_select=Ubasic&channelList_select=&APPID=UMA&actionType=GETCHANNELSBYPACKAGE&FORMAT=POPUP



So does DirecTV and Dish. With them, you have to have an HD receiver to see HD channels. The HD receiver costs more. It gives you an HD package (and is the equivalent of Comcast's HD set top box).

I specifically did not mention Verizon because they are not allowed to offer service in this area. Comcast's competitors are Uverse, Dish and DirecTV.

They are the ones you would go to if you are unhappy with Comcast.

Comcast does NOT encrypt HD Lcals.


Costs more? DirecTV is offering an HD-DVR plus a regular HD receiver for free.

I mentioned Verizon because I have direct experience with them.


You complain about Comcast changing the rules. They are offering a different product (digital SD) than before. Plus you are using a different type of TV. This is not changing the rules. But having said that, the world changes. Nothing stays the same.


No I'm not. I have the same TVs that I had when I signed up for Comcast. Requiring a box to get all of the channels that I received without a box is changing the rules. There is no two ways about that.



At my job, over the past 14 years my duties have changed. I've had to learn new skills, do different things. I can't say, "But back in 1997 I was hired to do 1,2,3 -- and now I am doing 1,4,5,6.". Sorry, technology changes, the world changes. You have to adapt.


Yes, in 1997 I am sure you were on AOL message boards shilling for pager companies or something.





=======

But go ahead and "vote with your wallet". Cancel Comcast. You will either be stuck with just the broadcast OTA channels or you will go to Dish, DirecTV and UVerse. If you go to the competitors, you will pay as much or more than you are paying Comcast (after the promotional offers expire).

I am *choosing* to just go with OTA channels. Why should I continue to pay Comcast $60 a month when all they would offer me is OTA (plus WGN America and a couple of other channels)?

If I chose to have a box in front of every TV, DirecTV is a no brainer for me in terms of value (hello Sunday Ticket...). Although if U-Verse enabled all of MediaRoom's features....

But I don't think that will be an issue. Hulu, Boxee, etc pick up most of the original basic cable shows and they integrate well into WMC.

Anyway, I am done arguing with shills. But you go ahead and keep believing that Comcast making their product less flexible and less customer friendly is good for customers.

No it doesn't. There is no relationship between encrypting QAM channels and the number of HD channels Comcast can offer. Those channels are still there and take up the same amount of space they did when they were unencrypted.

Living in town I get excellent reception OTA, so tomorrow I cancel. $60 a month back in my pocket. Vote with your wallet folks.


IF you could tell me how to get Espn, AMC, etc your way, I would be all about it....otherwise, I respect your choice.

Yikes, getting heated around here lately! Well Hell has officially glazed over. FINALLY got a letter stating WOM is coming to my apparently lost neck of the woods May 18th. It would be nice if my area looked suspiciously like Hawaii if I'm going to have to deal with being cut off from the mainland.

Ok as far as the encryption goes, I have a box (the lesser of the HD DVR's ) & came home today, to find every channel saying:" One Moment Please This channel should be available shortly). As far as I know, there was no power outage (the guide is still populated). So is this WOM (I'm in 30028) or something more nefarious?

That does not appear to be true. Even their cheapest package, the $20/month U-Basic plan offers locals in HD.

https://uma.att.com/uma/RetrieveChannelLineup?ZIP=30309&packgeList_select=Ubasic&channelList_select=&APPID=UMA&actionType=GETCHANNELSBYPACKAGE&FORMAT=POPUP


Costs more? DirecTV is offering an HD-DVR plus a regular HD receiver for free.



================

AT&T U-verse gives conflicting information on their website. Go look at this:

https://uma.att.com/offers/UBASIC/000003-5-AMSS-X-DMA1-POPUP.html

Says Basic includes "Includes one HD-ready digital receiver". Their own customers (many posts on AT&T's own U-verse forums) say AT&T charges $10 extra to even receive local HD channels -- which means turning ON that HD-ready digital receiver. But policies change, so go to them and see. However, I would NEVER go back to AT&T. I hate them with a passion, apparently as bad as you hate Comcast. :)

=======

DirecTV may be offering an HD receiver for free, but they charge $10 per month for HD "access" (service). Here it is directly from the DirecTV site!

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/hd/overview

And what does that extra $10 per month get you?

Local channels in HD
Enjoy everything from your local news and the hottest primetime shows in HD.** DIRECTV offers access to your local ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates and other local channels in HD in over 91% of U.S homes.

================

DirecTV may be offering an HD receiver for free, but they charge $10 per month for HD "access" (service). Here it is directly from the DirecTV site!

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/hd/overview

And what does that extra $10 per month get you?

The $10/mo is not just for the local channels, but also for the HD versions of any SD channels in the package a person is paying for.

Either way, paying DirecTV $10/mo would be worth it, IMO. I don't know if Comcast gives everyone in the Atlanta area the same crappy Scientific Atlanta boxes they do here in Mississippi, but I would pay $10/mo to not have to use one of those if I had line of sight to the southern sky from my apartment.

Besides, Comcast is charging me more than twice as much to use a vastly inferior DVR as I would be paying DirecTV for their imperfect-but-worlds-better DVR.

The $10/mo is not just for the local channels, but also for the HD versions of any SD channels in the package a person is paying for.

Either way, paying DirecTV $10/mo would be worth it, IMO. I don't know if Comcast gives everyone in the Atlanta area the same crappy Scientific Atlanta boxes they do here in Mississippi, but I would pay $10/mo to not have to use one of those if I had line of sight to the southern sky from my apartment.

Besides, Comcast is charging me more than twice as much to use a vastly inferior DVR as I would be paying DirecTV for their imperfect-but-worlds-better DVR.


I think most of us have Motorola boxes. The areas that Comcast took over from Adelphia may still have Scientific Atlanta. I'm happy with my DVR, although I hear the TiVo-based DVR that Comcast has licensed is better.

I understand that DirecTV's $10 fee is for HD access of all channels to which you are entitled, not just local. But the point was Comcast does give away local HD for free, while no one else (in this market) does. Comcast charges $8 for HD access, but that does not apply to the local channels. Those HD versions are free -- but you have to jump through hoops to get them, I am aware (A/B switch and all that). Or you can pay the $7.95 for a settop box and get the HD channels from Comcast -- just like all the customers at U-Verse, DirecTV and Dish (which charge $10 for HD access)...

My whole point is the grass is not always greener on the other side. I've been on the other side.

I have gripes about Comcast slowing my internet downloads sometimes to "manage" their network. Comcast is not perfect at all.

But when it comes to TV choices, I haven't found anyone better or cheaper for the package of programming I want. People gripe but many times they are uninformed, it seems. They just like to gripe.

I think most of us have Motorola boxes. The areas that Comcast took over from Adelphia may still have Scientific Atlanta. I'm happy with my DVR, although I hear the TiVo-based DVR that Comcast has licensed is better.

I understand that DirecTV's $10 fee is for HD access of all channels to which you are entitled, not just local. But the point was Comcast does give away local HD for free, while no one else (in this market) does. Comcast charges $8 for HD access, but that does not apply to the local channels. Those HD versions are free -- but you have to jump through hoops to get them, I am aware (A/B switch and all that). Or you can pay the $7.95 for a settop box and get the HD channels from Comcast -- just like all the customers at U-Verse, DirecTV and Dish...

My whole point is the grass is not always greener on the other side. I've been on the other side.

I have gripes about Comcast slowing my internet downloads sometimes to "manage" their network. Comcast is not perfect at all.

But when it comes to TV choices, I haven't found anyone better or cheaper for the package of programming I want. People gripe but many times they are uninformed, it seems. They just like to gripe.

I certainly agree that a lot of people are uninformed and gripe for the wrong reasons. Assuming they are any better, I wish we had the Motorola boxes. I'm assuming you get quite a few more HD channels there, too. Comcast is far from the best deal in town here.

Comcast does suck, they are, were a necessary evil because of the clear QAM and fast internet, but the internet has been sucking, and without clear QAM, there is no compelling reason to stay. Especially when another option is in the works. (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2010/jan10/01-06MediaRoom.mspx)

Also I think if anyone thinks the Comcrap DVR is decent then you are blissfully ignorant of what a DVR should really be like. The only thing worse than their DVR is their remote. It's horrid.

Oh, and I do not want ads in the guide when I'm paying for the service. Nor do I want them making money when I mistype a URL (which is why I run my own dns server now).

Comcast is evil. There is no competition, only the illusion of it.

From what I understand Verizon Fios is the best of the bunch by a country mile. Sadly, they have no plans to come to Georgia. I agree with ChazzMatt that no service is perfect, especially when given the choices we have in Atlanta. I'm curious though as to the HD quality of ATT Uverse. Anyone have first hand experience with that? Not in my hood yet, but I think they will be soon.

Comcast does suck, they are, were a necessary evil because of the clear QAM and fast internet, but the internet has been sucking, and without clear QAM, there is no compelling reason to stay. Especially when another option is in the works. (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2010/jan10/01-06MediaRoom.mspx)

While I agree that our limited number of choices suck right now, how do you think this 'Mediaroom' TV service is going to get to your house? Streaming via the net? IPTV broadcast? Either way, it's probably going to ride on Comcast, and Comcast has no incentive to broadcast IPTV right now. Wireless is not fast enough for the whole house either.

Anyone else in the 4/27 analog cut-off area missing HD channels (i.e., guide works but there's a ONE MOMENT PLEASE message across the screen)?

I've lost 807, 839, 841, and 856 on both boxes but everything else seems fine, including VOD. I'm a couple miles north of downtown Decatur and I have a Motorola 3412. I think this issue started around 11PM last evening (4/20.)

Anyone else in the 4/27 analog cut-off area missing HD channels (i.e., guide works but there's a ONE MOMENT PLEASE message across the screen)?

I've lost 807, 839, 841, and 856 on both boxes but everything else seems fine, including VOD. I'm a couple miles north of downtown Decatur and I have a Motorola 3412. I think this issue started around 11PM last evening (4/20.)

Try turning off and unplugging your boxes for like 5 minutes. Not just turn off, but also UNPLUG electricity. Then plug them back in, and turn them on.

See if that re-sets everything?

That seems to work for me when things go wonky occasionally.

So because my DVR works I'm supposed to think it sucks?. I'm sure it's not the BEST DVR on the market, not much can be the BEST. I know this, if it acts up (which it hasn't), I could drive less than 2 miles to a local Comcast Center and get another one. My remote works too, turns on my Receiver, TV, 30 Second skip, etc...I guess I should throw it out too, and BUY one that is the BEST.

I'm not sure I follow others logic on this forum. I thought this was supposed to be a forum to get the latest news, solve problems, etc...not an all out "bitch about Comcast" event. IF it's that bad to you, just get another service.

Anyone else in the 4/27 analog cut-off area missing HD channels (i.e., guide works but there's a ONE MOMENT PLEASE message across the screen)?

I've lost 807, 839, 841, and 856 on both boxes but everything else seems fine, including VOD. I'm a couple miles north of downtown Decatur and I have a Motorola 3412. I think this issue started around 11PM last evening (4/20.)

Try turning off and unplugging your boxes for like 5 minutes. Not just turn off, but also UNPLUG electricity. Then plug them back in, and turn them on.

See if that re-sets everything?

That seems to work for me when things go wonky occasionally.

Unplugging the boxes did not work. I've also had Comcast send a signal to the box, both via the automated menu and via a CSR.

Since the internet is speedy, the VOD works, and all the other channels look fine I assume the problem is outside my house. I've an appointment scheduled for tomorrow.

I switched over to TCM last night to see Robert Osborne's intro to 'Ivanhoe' when he froze mid-sentence. I noticed that TCM, TBS HD, and TNT HD were all missing at that time and I assumed the issue was Turner related but this morning TCM was back. I had watched a brief bit of playoffs coverage on TNT HD earlier in the evening but I mostly split between 802, 803, and 848 last night. My hunch is that the Turner channels failed around 11PM but I really don't have any idea how all that works.

Jay, have you double checked your connection to the outside of your house? I once lost a handful of channels, mostly HD, and was able to fix it myself by going outside and tightening the connection to my house. If it is happening on only one TV, also try the connection to that TV.

I had a couple of glitches myself watching the Braves on 802 last night. You could be on to something regarding Turner.

Oh, and I do not want ads in the guide when I'm paying for the service. Nor do I want them making money when I mistype a URL (which is why I run my own dns server now).

+1 for not wanting ads in the guide.

Also, Comcast does offer DNS servers that do not utilize the so called "Domain Helper" service - http://dns.comcast.net/dns-ip-addresses2.php

Comcast does suck, they are, were a necessary evil because of the clear QAM and fast internet, but the internet has been sucking, and without clear QAM, there is no compelling reason to stay. Especially when another option is in the works.

Just so I'm clear on this, Comcast sucks and is evil, Microsoft does not suck and is not evil. I don't like either one of 'em and you might want to re-think your position about Microsloth actually delivering a better product.

Cheers,

jr

Anyone else in the 4/27 analog cut-off area missing HD channels (i.e., guide works but there's a ONE MOMENT PLEASE message across the screen)?

I've lost 807, 839, 841, and 856 on both boxes but everything else seems fine, including VOD. I'm a couple miles north of downtown Decatur and I have a Motorola 3412. I think this issue started around 11PM last evening (4/20.)

807 and 841 returned last evening, and 839 and 856 were available this AM. I will continue under the assumption (illusion?) that this is somehow related to the upcoming cut-off.

My wife told me all of our clear qam channels were off this morning. Woodstock/30189

My question is we were only paying for basic cable before and internet. So if I cancel the basic cable will I still be able to receive those analog channels because I still have internet through them?

I see no point in paying for basic cable if I don't have to.

I'm not too concerned with having all those channels because we mostly watch ABC, FOX and NBC.

My wife told me all of our clear qam channels were off this morning. Woodstock/30189

My question is we were only paying for basic cable before and internet. So if I cancel the basic cable will I still be able to receive those analog channels because I still have internet through them?

I see no point in paying for basic cable if I don't have to.

I'm not too concerned with having all those channels because we mostly watch ABC, FOX and NBC.

It my understanding without any type of cable subscription, your internet charges will go up.

Why not inquire about a "lifeline" cable subscription? Local only, I think the HD will still be in the QAM.

The Microsoft IPTV service is using ATT Uverse so it would ride on the ATT DSL connection.

Microsoft isn't the best but it's waaaaayyyyyyyy more open than say, a comcast dvr, expecially with the new encryption your only option is a cablecard based system. That leaves you with Tivo, also a less open option. I find the comparison laughable - you can run their OS on any number of machines (millions), with your choice of hardware. I can tweak the software, hack it, do whatever I want with no repercussions whatsover. How is that closed again?

I don't think that the MS one is the best, it's just better than the Comcast DVR which IMO is completely sub-par. It's unusable, IMO.

If my microsoft box does, I don't even drive 2 miles to the comcast place, I just hook the audio and video up to another computer or laptop.

Basic cable is $13.95/month but it gives you $13.95 off internet, remove basic cable and the internet goes up $13.95, so it's the same.

The Microsoft IPTV service is using ATT Uverse so it would ride on the ATT DSL connection.

Microsoft isn't the best but it's waaaaayyyyyyyy more open than say, a comcast dvr, expecially with the new encryption your only option is a cablecard based system. That leaves you with Tivo, also a less open option. I find the comparison laughable - you can run their OS on any number of machines (millions), with your choice of hardware. I can tweak the software, hack it, do whatever I want with no repercussions whatsover. How is that closed again?

I don't think that the MS one is the best, it's just better than the Comcast DVR which IMO is completely sub-par. It's unusable, IMO.

If my microsoft box does, I don't even drive 2 miles to the comcast place, I just hook the audio and video up to another computer or laptop.

Basic cable is $13.95/month but it gives you $13.95 off internet, remove basic cable and the internet goes up $13.95, so it's the same.

Well, there's also Moxi . . . and Ceton, ATI and maybe a few others have PC digital tuners with cable card slots . . . you can build a DVR around Windows 7 or on Linux with MythTV or on windows but with GBPVR . . . I used GBPVR for years with a pair of analog tuners but have holding off on investing on cablecard digital tuners or may go with the Moxi . . . but I agree, not a big fan of the Moto box. What I loved about GBPVR is that I could play the recorded stuff anywhere on anything . . .transfer it to my laptop and go, or even stream it via web anywhere a-la Sling. I like the idea of the 3 tuner Moxi and a couple of Moxi mates because I can have 3 TV's without additional outlet charge.

Not to mention that if the MS IPTV service is using U-Verse, it's not going to be available to a lot of people. I've had a VRAD near my house for over a year (according to an AT&T DSL tech) but it's still not available where I'm at in S. Cobb.

Not that it matters because I wouldn't get it anyway - U-Verse is inferior in PQ to Comcast and the HD stream limits are a showstopper, because AT&T didn't want to invest in fiber to the home.

Other than that I agree that the Comcast Moto DVR blows, so that's why I have a Tivo HD, which is great.

I'm curious how the networks feel about the move by Comcast and other Cable Co's scrambling QAM.
This means fewer viewers of their commercials. I lost quite a few channels which in our household means several hours a day that we aren't watching commercials on TruTV, Bravo, Disney Channel, etc.
The market for these networks has been cut by pretty large numbers.

On major advantage Comcast has/had over Dish and DirecTV was that there was no STB needed to view their programming. All that was needed was a cable ready TV and with a paid subscription, people were all set. Now that we need an extra box, that advantage is gone.
I know several people who have switched. Since they needed a box, they figured they might as well jump (Van Halen reference not intended :-) ) to Dish. Good for Dish..bad for Comcast.

And it means a lot more customers that might consider upgrading to Digital Starter instead of watching expanded basic QAMs for free with a limited basic sub.

Yes, they're going to lose customers, but some (lots?) of them would have been leeching the clear QAMs after the analog migration if they didn't encrypt. It does suck that boxes are required now, but if you want HD (and more and more people do) you've always had to have a box for anything other than the locals anyway. And if they start delivering the HD DTAs it won't cost as much as an STB, so let's hope the FCC grants them a waiver to do so. The HD STB rental fee is just way overpriced right now.

Comcast does suck, they are, were a necessary evil because of the clear QAM and fast internet, but the internet has been sucking, and without clear QAM, there is no compelling reason to stay.

Oh, and I do not want ads in the guide when I'm paying for the service. Nor do I want them making money when I mistype a URL (which is why I run my own dns server now).




I've never seen ads on the internet when I mistype a URL -- but I use OpenDNS and I use Google Chrome web browser. That bypasses any Comcast DNS servers.

Ads in the Guide? I never see ads in the guide. :confused: Are you talking about Comcast promoting their PPV stuff? Are are you talking about real ads for products like Tide, Charmin, etc? I've NEVER NEVER seen any ads for retail products in the TV guide listing.
http://www.crunchgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/comcast-ad.jpg

But if you are are talking about the PPV blurb at the bottom of the guide, then I'm pretty sure all the other subscription TV services find ways to promote their PPV products too.



See? Dish Network does the exact same thing as Comcast (http://www.highdefforum.com/dish-network-forum/111941-program-guide-ppv-ads-bottom-now.html).

Program Guide PPV ads at bottom now

i just noticed tonight that the program guide is now running a PPV movie ad in the last column of the guide. i use the standard-partial with video which gave me 5 lines plus the description up top with the video window. now i have only 4 lines with the 5th being the ad. any way of removing this? i looked in the preferences and see nothing. i dont like the 4 lines of channels and do not like the other guide formats either. i want my 5 line back!


And TiVo puts ACTUAL ads on their guide: :eek:

http://www.crunchgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/tivo-ad.jpg





==================

When you go to AT&T, come back and tell us how badly they lie about their internet speeds. :p

Tivo, ads?!?! you must be joking..they, along with Dish/Direct are PERFECT...... :)

I've never seen ads on the internet when I mistype a URL -- but I use OpenDNS and I use Google Chrome web browser. That bypasses any Comcast DNS servers.

Ads in the Guide? I never see ads in the guide. :confused: Are you talking about Comcast promoting their PPV stuff? Are are you talking about real ads for products like Tide, Charmin, etc? I've NEVER NEVER seen any ads for retail products in the TV guide listing.
http://www.crunchgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/comcast-ad.jpg

But if you are are talking about the PPV blurb at the bottom of the guide, then I'm pretty sure all the other subscription TV services find ways to promote their PPV products too...


See? Dish Network does the exact same thing as Comcast (http://www.highdefforum.com/dish-network-forum/111941-program-guide-ppv-ads-bottom-now.html).

Program Guide PPV ads at bottom now

i just noticed tonight that the program guide is now running a PPV movie ad in the last column of the guide. i use the standard-partial with video which gave me 5 lines plus the description up top with the video window. now i have only 4 lines with the 5th being the ad. any way of removing this? i looked in the preferences and see nothing. i dont like the 4 lines of channels and do not like the other guide formats either. i want my 5 line back!



And TiVo puts ACTUAL ads on their guide: :eek:

http://www.crunchgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/tivo-ad.jpg

==================

When you go to AT&T, come back and tell us how badly they lie about their internet speeds. :p






Tivo, ads?!?! you must be joking..

they, along with Dish/Direct are PERFECT...... :)


Yes, there's this mythical company -- sort of like Nessie and Bigfoot -- called DishDirectATTFIOSTiVo. There's been rumored sightings, but no hard evidence. However, if you do find it, you will get 500 channels of HD for only $10 per month! That's not just the HD access charge, that's your total bill! Comes with free T3-speed internet too. ;)

Oh, and you only have to have their cable NEAR your house -- not in your house, not even connected to all your TVs. It's like magic! When you use their DVR, you only have to THINK of anything you want to see from any time in the past 5 years, and it's there on your TV. Don't need a remote control, no punching buttons. I hear they are working on a 10-year version of this fantastic DVR...

Don't let anyone tell you this DishDirectATTFIOSTiVo is not real -- because I have it on good authority (friend of a friend) that Santa Claus uses them for his big screen 3D TVs. ;)

Yeah, but DishDirectATTFIOSTiVo is missing C-SPAN3.5HD, so it's a no-go for me. You have to get ComCrapFIOSATTUverseDishDirectWorld-O-MO to get the complete package. It's free, you just have to have one kidney removed, and a receiver implanted in its place.

Yeah, but DishDirectATTFIOSTiVo is missing C-SPAN3.5HD, so it's a no-go for me. You have to get ComCrapFIOSATTUverseDishDirectWorld-O-MO to get the complete package. It's free, you just have to have one kidney removed, and a receiver implanted in its place.

You forgot the fine print. Besides the mandatory kidney replacement, they also tattoo the company name on your forehead. ;)

BUT since they don't have "ads" (even PPV blurbs) in the program guide, there are no complaints.
;)

A little humor is always appreciated on a Monday Morning....

That said, bring on my WOM in Peachtree City.

Just the beginning!

Hulu going from free to paid.


Hulu Plans Subscription Service (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362945,00.asp)

The party's over folks...well, sort of. The popular online video service will still offer lots of free content, but if you want to watch older shows, then you'll have to pay. Now let's see how this impacts the future of this site. More details on the change in this report.


Plus, they are adding more commercials you have to watch.


Hulu building a subscription pay wall (http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2010/0422/Hulu-to-expand-library-by-building-a-subscription-pay-wall)

For-pay episodes will likely still take commercial breaks – much like cable TV. Currently, Hulu runs about one ad per interruption, but according to the Times, eventually "Hulu is expected to adopt the same commercial loads as network television.


You'll have to pay AND still be forced to watch commercials!

=========

This next is speculation on my part, but based on logic:

Besides additional commercials you have to watch, the subscription requirement will be extended to CURRENT episodes of pay-TV shows (cable TV, phone-TV, satellite TV). What, you want to watch cable TV for free? :p

Of course, if you have a Comcast username and password, you won't have to pay a subscription -- since Comcast has ownership stake in Hulu. (http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/comcast-takes-control-of-nbc-promises-not-to-crush-hulu-like-a/)

All this may take a year or two to shake out, but that seems to be where it's heading.

Just the beginning!

Hulu going from free to paid.

What a misleading article. Correct me if i'm wrong but Hulu currently only has a back catalouge of about 2-3 episodes for most shows. All this is doing is going back to the begining of the season (and in some cases prior seasons) for a cost. You couldnt do that for free before, so this is a win for the consumer if they want more content.

What a misleading article. Correct me if i'm wrong but Hulu currently only has a back catalouge of about 2-3 episodes for most shows. All this is doing is going back to the begining of the season (and in some cases prior seasons) for a cost. You couldnt do that for free before, so this is a win for the consumer if they want more content.

I think you are wrong on that. One person who commented on the top story (go to that link) said they became a fan of Stagate SG-1 as the series was ending or had already ended. They went back on Hulu and watched ALL the previous seasons for free. Now, with this new scheme, they would have to be a subscriber to do that.

Plus, this is opening up the pay model. In the future, I predict they will apply it to new episodes as well. They say their example is Netflix with movies. Netflix charges $8.99 for all the streaming movies you want to watch. That will be Hulu -- but with TV shows.

For the record, Stargate SG1 had every episode but the very first on hulu (at least as of a few weeks ago). And that's the one I wanted to watch. Go look for the Office or something new, there's usually 3.

To me the Hulu deal is a step in the right direction, towards more a la carte. It sucks and is too expensive, but at least old media is making steps (small ones).

Either way, we need to separate the content from the pipe (either logically or physically), it's a net neutrality problem waiting to happen.

I think you are wrong on that. One person who commented on the top story (go to that link) said they became a fan of Stagate SG-1 as the series was ending or had already ended. They went back on Hulu and watched ALL the previous seasons for free. Now, with this new scheme, they would have to be a subscriber to do that.

Plus, this is opening up the pay model. In the future, I predict they will apply it to new episodes as well. They say their example is Netflix with movies. Netflix charges $8.99 for all the streaming movies you want to watch. That will be Hulu -- but with TV shows.

Hulu currently has 3-5 episodes archived for free streaming. Sure some programs (SG-1) may choose to have their entire archive available for free, but most shows have the 3-5 episode max:
http://lifehacker.com/5521813/hulu-plus-subscription-plan-to-offer-greater-back-episode-access

So, again, you arent losing anything for free you werent already getting. Its entirely possible SG-1 would stay free for archived purposes. Hulu is charging in order to get the content providers to provide further backlog of archived shows that dont exist currently through contract payments.

As for speculating that this will open a pay model and be permanent, well i predict that it wont happen. Seems we each have an equal chance of it occuring : ).

I've yet to find a streaming "audio" or "video" with any type of decent quality. The netflix at the highest quality wasn't impressive at all. Pandora, etc over mobile phones sounds like squeeze too.

I'm not sure why someone would want to go backwards in regards to video/audio quality.

Obviously, I'm way off target, but so is the Hulu talk etc above.

Ok, now I'm off the soap box. :)

I've yet to find a streaming "audio" or "video" with any type of decent quality. The netflix at the highest quality wasn't impressive at all.

Netflix on Tivo does just dandy for me, comparable to anything else I get in HD.

Usually. ;)

So today's supposedly the day for those of us in the 4/27 cutoff area. Anyone notice any changes? I guess they cut off the analog channels today and then we get the WoM channels when? Friday?

I've yet to find a streaming "audio" or "video" with any type of decent quality. The netflix at the highest quality wasn't impressive at all. Pandora, etc over mobile phones sounds like squeeze too.

Pandora Premium Service is 192k over a computer audio wise. Thats a fairly high stream rate quality wise. Obviously flac or uncompressed wont happen. Dont know what the standard service stream rate is.

So today's supposedly the day for those of us in the 4/27 cutoff area. Anyone notice any changes? I guess they cut off the analog channels today and then we get the WoM channels when? Friday?

I'm in zip code 30030 and I just lost TBS, and the rest of the channels, at 6:30 on the dot. I was watching TBS and poof it was gone. Unfortunately for me I just pay for cable modem(61.95) and nothing else and have been relying on my ATSC tv to bring in the channels. So free rides over for me!

So today's supposedly the day for those of us in the 4/27 cutoff area. Anyone notice any changes? I guess they cut off the analog channels today and then we get the WoM channels when? Friday?

Medlock Park received many new channels today, including TCM HD, MGM HD, ESPNU HD, etc.

I live in a townhouse in Holley Springs. They have antenna restrictions. I am getting so-so signals using rabbit ears, for the major channels. I am here only 4 to 5 days a month and did not want to pay $40.00 for cable. Please make a suggestion for a antenna or any other service.

In Florida, where I live, I cam get BASIC CABLE for $10.00 a month. I was told that I could not get any other cable service in Holley Springs.

I'm in zip code 30030 and I just lost TBS, and the rest of the channels, at 6:30 on the dot. I was watching TBS and poof it was gone. Unfortunately for me I just pay for cable modem(61.95) and nothing else and have been relying on my ATSC tv to bring in the channels. So free rides over for me!

I'm in 30030 as well, so that (for me) is good news. Hopefully the new channels will show up soon.

I feel bad for folks losing QAM channels, but as has been said, this should not have been a surprise to anyone. Regulars here have been anticipating this switch for as long as a year. Everyone else has received phone, mail, or e-mail notices in recent months, and ads have run in newspapers and on TV. It's human nature to ignore such information, which I guess explains the group of people that are now shocked, SHOCKED that the system is changing.

I've yet to find a streaming "audio" or "video" with any type of decent quality. The netflix at the highest quality wasn't impressive at all. Pandora, etc over mobile phones sounds like squeeze too.

I'm not sure why someone would want to go backwards in regards to video/audio quality.

Obviously, I'm way off target, but so is the Hulu talk etc above.

Ok, now I'm off the soap box. :)
I completely agree. To me, there's no streaming video that's even close to the quality I get on my 50" HDTV screen via cable, just as the quality of streaming audio or transistor radio quality iPod can't compare to CDs or certainly LPs. But to some people, getting something for little or no cost is the primary criteria they have as well as the primary source of joy, and much, much more important than quality.

I live in a townhouse in Holley Springs. They have antenna restrictions. I am getting so-so signals using rabbit ears, for the major channels. I am here only 4 to 5 days a month and did not want to pay $40.00 for cable. Please make a suggestion for a antenna or any other service.

John, we have a separate thread for Atlanta over the air (OTA) right here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=384623&page=93

and I have a FAQ (answers to Frequently Asked Questions) in that thread right here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16732147#post16732147

Your townhouse development's antenna restrictions are illegal. Federal law was established in 1996 that trumps it.

If you have any OTA questions, ask over in the OTA thread (link above) and we'll be glad to help you.

I live in a townhouse in Holley Springs. They have antenna restrictions. I am getting so-so signals using rabbit ears, for the major channels. I am here only 4 to 5 days a month and did not want to pay $40.00 for cable. Please make a suggestion for a antenna or any other service.

In Florida, where I live, I cam get BASIC CABLE for $10.00 a month. I was told that I could not get any other cable service in Holley Springs.
Here's a link to FCC fact sheet web page that gives all the information about what can or cannot be restricted by multiple-residential units for installation and use of outdoor antennae or satellite dishes.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

Addendum:

Also, I don't know the source of your information that basic cable is $40, but Comcast monthly charge for limited basic tier is $21.

I've yet to find a streaming "audio" or "video" with any type of decent quality. The netflix at the highest quality wasn't impressive at all. Pandora, etc over mobile phones sounds like squeeze too.

I'm not sure why someone would want to go backwards in regards to video/audio quality.

Obviously, I'm way off target, but so is the Hulu talk etc above.

Ok, now I'm off the soap box. :)

The reason we were discussing it is because there's always someone in this thread who is going to dump Comcast, go OTA antenna only and watch favorite shows on "free" Hulu.

well, Comcast owns 1/3 of Hulu now and they are pressing for paid subscriptions. They aren't going to give away "cable TV" for free.

I'm in zip code 30030 and I just lost TBS, and the rest of the channels, at 6:30 on the dot. I was watching TBS and poof it was gone.

Unfortunately for me I just pay for cable modem(61.95) and nothing else and have been relying on my ATSC tv to bring in the channels. So free rides over for me!

Sorry about that. But as I said many, many times -- and some people didn't want to believe me -- this is exactly why Comcast is doing this.

You were doing nothing wrong. Comcast was giving you free cable TV. :cool: What were you going to do, pretend it wasn't there? Also you were paying about $20 more for your internet access with the "cable modem only" billing, than if you had "internet + cable TV" bundle. (The internet portion of your bill drops by around $20 when you bundle two or more Comcast products.) So, it's not like Comcast was getting nothing from you. But you were getting all the SD ATSC channels for $20 more. :p Very good deal!

But now, Comcast has technology in place so the free ride is over. I have many friends in the same boat. They were getting cable TV for free or at least a "free" upgrade from basic.

I have a friend who bought and moved into a house a few years ago. He never subscribed to cable. But 3 years after he moved in (3 YEARS!), he accidentally discovered the cable TV was ON. So, for the past couple of years, he's had free cable TV from Comcast.

Now, he won't. Free ride is over! ;)

The 30+ new HD channels were active at my house in 30030 as of this morning. Very glad to have several of these. TCM HD is particularly exciting. Although it does highlight that I'll probably want to go to the next level package, since a lot of enticing stuff like ESPNU HD, IFC HD and a few others are not viewable. Before these channels were added, the only channel blocked at my current tier was National Geographic HD, and it wasn't hard to live without that.

Didn't check to see if the firmware/software had been updated, but I assume it wasn't. Last I heard was that they were holding on the rollout of A28 because it was causing problems on a lot of boxes.

Didn't check to see if the firmware/software had been updated, but I assume it wasn't. Last I heard was that they were holding on the rollout of A28 because it was causing problems on a lot of boxes.
I requested an update CC new guide blogger (Ted) and below was his response on April 16th:

Hi Vincent – thanks for your comments.

Step one for getting the new guide is a data cleanup. To be clear, this lead-in activity not the new guide, but rather is a pre-requisite and precursor for the new guide. The data cleanup is needed to alleviate some known current DVR recording issues and also standardize the new Watch in HD feature.

The bottom-line is that this data cleanup did actually occur in February for the Atlanta area as scheduled and as communicated with apparently little to no impact to you (and that's a good thing). The data cleanup is probably not something that would be readily noticeable to our customers and you would still have the same guide version after this guide update.

We felt it was very important to reach out directly to our customers about this data cleanup due to some possible customer impact on DVR scheduled recordings, parental controls and favorites.
Some Comcast locations scheduled the guide update and the guide upgrade within a day or two of each other. Some other locations (like Atlanta) could not schedule the work that way due to other on-going important projects.

As you have seen, we continue to roll-out the new guide across the country. The new guide is in almost 6 million homes with more areas being added every week. However, I don’t currently have a schedule that I can share yet for Atlanta. However, all sites with Motorola cable boxes are targeted to get the new guide by the summer.

Our national engineering and local operational teams are managing a dynamic schedule based on a certain preferred (and in some cases required) event sequence and also balanced between other important projects including additional HD channels, increased internet speeds and additional On Demand choices. This is a busy year for Comcast with lots of increased services and enhanced services being rolled out.

The teams are juggling a lot of important priorities in order to deliver the best products and services quickly. We appreciate your patience.



Here's the link to the forum, where they are constantly updating which areas will be getting the upgrades:

http://blog.comcast.com/2010/01/new-guide-makes-watching-tv-even-better.html

Thanks for that, cracker. I do remember that cleanup taking place. That was when they sent messages to the box (and possibly via mail) that recordings on some channels would need to be reset, as would parental controls.

One thing I've been wondering is if, following this digital transition, will it be easier for them to add new channels more quickly in the future? When new channels are introduced and Comcast agrees to carry them, they invariably start showing up in a few areas in the northeast, around Philadelphia (of course) and in a few other markets, and eventually trickle down to us over the course of several months. Will this transition (or the menu software update) speed up that channel-adding timeline?

Thanks for that, cracker. I do remember that cleanup taking place. That was when they sent messages to the box (and possibly via mail) that recordings on some channels would need to be reset, as would parental controls.

One thing I've been wondering is if, following this digital transition, will it be easier for them to add new channels more quickly in the future? When new channels are introduced and Comcast agrees to carry them, they invariably start showing up in a few areas in the northeast, around Philadelphia (of course) and in a few other markets, and eventually trickle down to us over the course of several months. Will this transition (or the menu software update) speed up that channel-adding timeline?

Well the digital conversion certainly gives them some broadband space to add new channels quickly, if they want to. The HD channel lineup they have now is quite extensive and comparable to that of U-Verse. The only HD channel currently not available I would like to have is the Tennis Channel, which I think is being added in some markets now.

i am in 30350 and as of today all my QAM channels are gone.

All my qam channels are gone also. What hd dvr with hdmi is the best to get?

Motorola DCX 3400

I too was on the free ride after I canceled cable but kept internet and phone (and they never installed a filter). I'm in 30341 and all the upper QAM channels have encrypted. I do still have locals in HD. Haven't had enough time to spend on it to see exactly what I still have.

As I knew this would happen eventually when analog was shut off last fall, I was hoping it was going to last at least until the Ceton infinity 2 cablecard was released. As it is now, I can't even get the infinity 4.

Probably going to have to up my movie rental to 3 to get series discs of shows to keep the wife happy until the Ceton is released. Maybe Hulu desktop, as well.

Motorola DCX 3400

Thanks picked up the last one they had today.

Well the digital conversion certainly gives them some broadband space to add new channels quickly, if they want to. The HD channel lineup they have now is quite extensive and comparable to that of U-Verse. The only HD channel currently not available I would like to have is the Tennis Channel, which I think is being added in some markets now.
All I want is BBC America in HD. Their lineup now is great.

All I want is BBC America in HD. Their lineup now is great.

Yeah, I'm waiting for that one too. Someday...

Those of you with the world of more package are there any more hd channels? Looking for spike and speed hd. I just got the moto dcx3400 and im missing all my qam hd channels.

Comcast wins a prestigious award. (http://consumerist.com/2010/04/congratulations-comcast-youre-the-worst-company-in-america.html)

Speed is 875.
Spike is 878.

Speed is 875.
Spike is 878. I do not have those channels. What I want to know is if that is what I can expect from the world of more. South Atlanta 30297

http://www.comcast.com/Customers/clu/ChannelLineup.ashx

Thanks picked up the last one they had today.

Ok, can I just walk into my local office (I'm in 30082 S Cobb Dr) & just hand them my "old" HD DVR & get the 3400? Do I need to tell them a reason, like it's acting up or something or will they just give me one (assuming they are available) no questions asked?

Also my clear QAM went away this past Wed. What does one look for to indicate that one is now experiencing the WOM?


*Old in quotes because I just became a Comcast customer on 5 Mar of this year.

Yep, and you'll be a whole lot better off with the DCX3400 from all accounts. Much faster hardware, bigger hard drive but you can't call ahead to see if they have one so it's just potluck. This box is capable of running the Comcast Tivo software, which may never see the light of day outside of a few markets.

Also, for anyone complaining about losing QAM here, you need to head over and bitch with your compadres at the Atlanta DTV yahoo group (http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/ATLDTV/). Lots of misinformation and ranting going on now, people moving to U-Verse or sat, etc. Probably a better forum for that than here.

Call Comcast and ask them to send you one. You will have to return your current DVR once it arrives. Tell them you want the DCX 3400. I did so months ago, and they shipped it to me for free. I returned the old box later that week to the local office.

Anyone have the channel line-up for digital TV's hooked up straight into the wall (no box)? I had a good channel line-up but they must have done some reorg b/c I went to turn on ESPN (which was something like 84.103 or similar) and it wasn't there anymore. Someone had posted the old one I was using.

I have a digital converter box but I don't want to hook it up b/c then I lose the HD network channels (ex. NBC is 11.1)

30318 in NW city of Atlanta.

Anyone have the channel line-up for digital TV's hooked up straight into the wall (no box)? I had a good channel line-up but they must have done some reorg b/c I went to turn on ESPN (which was something like 84.103 or similar) and it wasn't there anymore. Someone had posted the old one I was using.

I have a digital converter box but I don't want to hook it up b/c then I lose the HD network channels (ex. NBC is 11.1)

30318 in NW city of Atlanta.

Well, when your clear QAM channels disappear you will have no choice. You will need some kind of electronic device between the cable and your TV (cable card, digital converter box, HD set top box...)

Read some of the posts on the previous page. Happening all over Atlanta.

If you are subscribed to cable, Comcast must provide you a free standard (coax or RCA) modular box to decrypt the basic cable (up to channel ~80). You will not get HD quality with this. That would require renting their HD box.

All that is provided ClearQAM in Atlanta anymore are the local channels (FOX, ABC, CBS, etc), and for some reason Animal Planet, Fox News and CSPAN, but they could encrypt any day.

Anyone using ClearQAM (whether on PC or TV) with Comcast and cannot get either the 5.802 or 62.805 Peachtree channels? Both are off-air (with the color bars). Now and again they'll broadcast and then go back off the air. Even during prime time hours they'll be off-air.

I'm in 30341.

Anyone have the channel line-up for digital TV's hooked up straight into the wall (no box)?

I have a digital converter box but I don't want to hook it up b/c then I lose the HD network channels (ex. NBC is 11.1)

30318 in NW city of Atlanta.

If you are subscribed to cable, Comcast must provide you a free standard (coax or RCA) modular box to decrypt the basic cable (up to channel ~80). You will not get HD quality with this. That would require renting their HD box.

All that is provided ClearQAM in Atlanta anymore are the local channels (FOX, ABC, CBS, etc), and for some reason Animal Planet, Fox News and CSPAN, but they could encrypt any day.

They have one of those boxes. They don't want to use it. :rolleyes:

From now on, you will have to use some kind of box/electronic device to verify customer status -- just like all the other pay-TV providers in this market.

uvatexn,

It would be a pain, but if the modular box has RCA composite, then you could connect that to your TV and do a coax split (one to the TV and one to the box). When you want to watch local HD, you'd go to the TV coax cable input. When you want to watch extended basic cable, you'd go to the TV's RCA input.