6200 -> JVC DVHS (firewire) -> HDTV (component)

The Mits DVHS will not output analog (component).

Originally posted by mgpt6
Wasn't WB56 supposed to come online with Comcast HD on 4/1/04? Where did you get that info? According to recent posts from Comcast employees, they have no plans to add any HD channels in the near future.

I see that ESPN-HD is going to broadcast the womens final 4 in HD Sunday night. Does anyone know of NESN is going to be picking up the HD broadcast of the Red Sox-Orioles opener?

The Red Sox game is an ESPN exclusive. NESN does not have the rights to it. Also the game is on ESPN2 and will not be in HD.

D_Doherty- You have a JVC DVHS 30K? Are you in the Boston area?

If anyone else has a DVHS deck here in the Boston area, I'm wondering how their recording is? I can't get the digital SD (200+) channels to output properly from the Firewire (SD OnDemand and HD is fine).

Originally posted by FBGJR
I see that ESPN-HD is going to broadcast the womens final 4 in HD Sunday night. Does anyone know of NESN is going to be picking up the HD broadcast of the Red Sox-Orioles opener?

sucks, huh?
I was planning on having a party with the Hidef feed...

Looks like the first HD Sox Game is Sat. Apr. 10 vs. Blue Jays 7 pm. Friday's they're still on UPN SD.

Originally posted by Benji
The Red Sox game is an ESPN exclusive. NESN does not have the rights to it. Also the game is on ESPN2 and will not be in HD.

It's not an exclusive, and NESN is broadcasting it in the Boston area. It will on ESPN2 everywhere else.

Originally posted by jckessler
It's not an exclusive, and NESN is broadcasting it in the Boston area. It will on ESPN2 everywhere else. I stand corrected. But only NESN games at Fenway will be in HD.

Originally posted by DaveFi
D_Doherty- You have a JVC DVHS 30K? Are you in the Boston area?

If anyone else has a DVHS deck here in the Boston area, I'm wondering how they're recording is? I can't get the digital SD (200+) channels to output properly from the Firewire (SD OnDemand and HD is fine). I have had no problem outputting any Comcast channel via the 1394 connection to my Mits 2000U.

Anyone with a JVC?

I have a refurbed JVC 30K, but it couldn't be the input because it works fine with SD VOD and HD. It must be a firmware issue or something else.

Rumor has it that WB-HD, Encore-HD and Noggin-HD are coming on-line the end of this month. Also, the new Motorola 6408's should be available sometime this month in the Boston market.

I was Just about to ask about rumors of additional stations....will we have to pay anything for those three channels FBGJR? and what is "noggin-hd"?

the one i am really waiting for is discovery-hd.....any rumors on that?

Encore-HD is cool because it should be a freebie for most of us (part of the basic digital package).

Noggin-hd should be www.noggin.com (lol, that was hard).

As for the 6408 it's interesting- if they enable external harddrive support I'd rather just invest in a harddrive for my 6200.

No big deal. Just wondering when the Comcast boxes switch times to Daylight Savings Time. They're still operating on standard time though the program guide is showing programming correctly based on what's on.

I called on that this morning. The customer people said a computer screwed up and the time should be corrected later today.

Originally posted by Benji
The Red Sox game is an ESPN exclusive. NESN does not have the rights to it. Also the game is on ESPN2 and will not be in HD.

NESN does have rights to the game. They worked out a deal with ESPN since it was the Sox opener. I think the fact that the game is on ESPN2 had something to do with it also not being part of ESPN's exclusive Sunday night package. So those in Boston will get the game in NESN, rest of the country ESPN2. NESN is not showing it in HD I beleive.

Originally posted by FBGJR
Rumor has it that WB-HD, Encore-HD and Noggin-HD are coming on-line the end of this month. Also, the new Motorola 6408's should be available sometime this month in the Boston market. Those are great rumors! Where did you read about them? According to Comcast the 6408 wont be released by Moto until late Q3 or Q4 and the 6208 is scheduled for a May launch not this month. As far as the new channels, according to Comcast they have no plans for near-future additions. Hope your rumors are more than that, maybe Comcasters can respond/clarify??

Originally posted by FBGJR
Rumor has it that WB-HD, Encore-HD and Noggin-HD are coming on-line the end of this month. Also, the new Motorola 6408's should be available sometime this month in the Boston market. You should identify the source of your rumors, as they sound highly bogus.

The 6408's will not be out until October. There is no such thing as Noggin-HD.

Encore-HD doesn't seem too outlandish because it's a Starz property.

We'll get that eventually either way- it's all a matter of what "soon" means.

he was more specific than "soon" more like: "coming on-line the end of this month" anyway, the noggin-hd(doesn't exist) claim makes me doubt his info, as well as his 2-posts member status.

Well, often people don't post unless they have something to say.

For example, a rep from NBC made just made his first post in the Programming forum about 5.1 programming.

no doubt, i'm sure the rep from nbc wasn't throwing rumors around. the newbie status was just one of a combination of things about that post that i found 'off' along with the others cited by sonoma. so u misunderstood me.

So is it 100% certain that the Friday night Sox games at Fenway will NOT be in HD? I was wondering if they'll cut in on 882 like they do with NESN now. Obviously Fenway is wired for HD. Is it an issue of whether or not UPN-38 owns a HD remote trailer?

That would mean 12 games - including 3 Yankee games that we'd be losing out on....

Originally posted by avic
Looks like the first HD Sox Game is Sat. Apr. 10 vs. Blue Jays 7 pm. Friday's they're still on UPN SD.

Did anyone notice the shot of the ESPN-HD camera last night during the sox game. It was a little tough to make out given that it was in SD

Just a little frustrating, knowing that redsoxnation was getting HD everywhere except here in NE. :)

According to this thread, only the games on CBS-4 will be in HD, and the Friday night games won't be.

http://forums.redsoxnation.net/index.php?showtopic=3039

But that thread contains false information, such as that UPN38 cannot do HD, but they show Enterprise and some movies in HD from time to time.

The UPN38 games are carried on NESN elsewhere in New England, but the NESN feed is blacked out in Boston during those games. I'd guess that the contract between the Sox and Viacom would prohibit such an arrangement since UPN38 likely has exclusive rights to the Friday night games in Boston.

The Friday night games are produced by NESN, and UPN38 adds their own graphics for the local transmission, so UPN38 wouldn't need it's own truck.

Bottom line is that I'd expect were "screwed" for this year on those games.

I am incredibly disappointed that we will have to watch 90% of the sox games in SD. I was pretty pumped for HD last night, as I have not checked this thread lately and thought NESN was going HD on 882 in concert with SD on 51. On top of everything, NESN SD blows on Comcast. Always has for me anyway. Some SD looks great on Comcast, but NESN always has had poor PQ and poor audio. I tried every mode - wide, zoom, full etc., and stretching just enhanced the poor PQ. I watched it in 4:3, but was so disappointed, I went to bed and watched the rest on my 27" Zennith.

On a side not, I am not panicing or jumping off the wagon after one game, but I have a feeling it is going to be a Looooong season. Between the contract situations and the injuires...argh! I would hope the lack of contracts would be an incentive for Lowe and Pedro, but something tells me they both could implode if they get off to slow starts and then get frustrated because they are not signed and every loss is money out of their pockets. Then they will turn around and blame it on the front office.

I hope I am wrong.

All of the home NESN games, plus ESPN Sunday night games will be in HD. That's a lot more than 10% of the games.

Road games will not be in HD.

Where will NESN home games reside? 882?

I'm assuming they'll be on 882, as that's where the Bruins games have appeared.

I'm also guessing we'll get "screwed" out of HD games when the Bruin's playoff games are on NESN, since conflicting Sox games get moved to alternate channels on those days.

suppose the UPN friday night games were broadcast in HD: then wouldn't Comcast have to add the UPN Digital channel, (806?) here in Boston? I don't think they can use 882 for non-NESN broadcasts. just a thought.

I just checked my Comcast on-screen guide here in the Boston area and for INHD2 (882) on Friday, it's showing "Red Sox Pregame" from 2-3 and "Baseball" from 3-6.

Looks like all Sox home games will be in HD on 882. But since NESN is blacked out in Boston for UPN38 games, my guess is 882 will also be blacked out wherever NESN is.

Originally posted by Benji
Looks like all Sox home games will be in HD on 882. But since NESN is blacked out in Boston for UPN38 games, my guess is 882 will also be blacked out wherever NESN is.

What about those outside of Boston ? I guess I am in Comcast New England, will I be able to see on home games on 882 ? How far (miles) does Boston extend ?

I have both DIRECTV and Comcast. During the spring games, DIRECTV did not black out NESN when UPN38 simulcast the games but Comcast did. I guess Comcast determines with their own formula who gets blacked out and who doesn't.

they can black out 195NESN if they need too but for those few of us with HD i don't see why they have to black out 882NESN and deprive us of the HD broadcasts on friday nights!

I'm not sure if there is anyone here that lives on Beacon Street, but for the last 5 months I've been told by Comcast that the building I live in was not wired for digital cable. Just last week, cable tech came to my place to attempt to fix something, and upgraded my service from analog to digital. I asked how this was possible, since I'd literally called Comcast the day before asking about digital cable, and they'd told me it would be a few months.

He explained that their computer system was faulty and not always updated. He apologized for not having a hi-def box, but said just to call to upgrade.

I call today, and am told that I shouldn't even have digital cable. That our street is still being wired, and the tech made a mistake upgrading our service. The comcast rep informed me that HD wouldn't be available for another month.

It's a long shot, I know, but is there anyone else who lives on Beacon Street in Boston that has digital cable, or HD cable?

-JR

Just checked the NESN website and it explains that anyone within the Boston DMA (designated market area) will have NESN blacked out when CBS4 or UPN38 has the game. Most of Eastern Mass and Southern N.H. fall within the Boston DMA according to the map on the website. Bristol County (where I live) does not but Comcast still blacked out NESN during the spring UPN38 games. It did not specify if the HD games will be blacked out as well. Just an educated guess on my part that they will be since it is basically a simulcast of the NESN telecast.

It seems FBGJR was onto something- Taken from the Programming forum:
As Merrill Lynch analyst Jessica Reif Cohen pointed out in an investment report on Monday, Comcast plans a "major expansion" in its New England hub in digital television products. It's taking video-on-demand content from 1,500 hours to 20,000 hours and increasing high definition TV channels from 12 to 27.We have to be happy about this.

I'm hoping this means HD On Demand as well as more freebie HD channels. What could the other 12 channels be?

Bravo-HD
Encore-HD
TMC-HD
Discovery-HD
Turner-HD
HDNet (Not likely)
UPN-HD
WB-HD

That's all I can think of.

Originally posted by Benji
Just checked the NESN website and it explains that anyone within the Boston DMA (designated market area) will have NESN blacked out when CBS4 or UPN38 has the game. Most of Eastern Mass and Southern N.H. fall within the Boston DMA according to the map on the website. Bristol County (where I live) does not but Comcast still blacked out NESN during the spring UPN38 games. It did not specify if the HD games will be blacked out as well. Just an educated guess on my part that they will be since it is basically a simulcast of the NESN telecast.

Interesting. It lists MA counties and NH towns; which my town is excluded. I will have to check to see if I am blacked out or not.

you'll find out friday!

Originally posted by dozens
Interesting. It lists MA counties and NH towns; which my town is excluded. I will have to check to see if I am blacked out or not.

Is UPN38 on your cable system? If it is, I bet you get blacked out.

Originally posted by jckessler
Is UPN38 on your cable system? If it is, I bet you get blacked out.

UPN runs Voyager, right ? If so then yes it on my system.

Originally posted by dozens
Interesting. It lists MA counties and NH towns; which my town is excluded. I will have to check to see if I am blacked out or not.

To make matters even MORE confusing, the INHD web site has several Sox home games in HD scheduled ON INHD1 - is it safe to assume that those too will be blacked out or are they just taking the NESN broadcasts and listing them as part of their entire "package" and in the Boston market they'll be on 882?

Sheesh - all this for HD Sox!

hope NESN re-broadcasts are in HD this year not stretched SD, i asked them and they're looking into it.

Originally posted by DaveFi
It seems FBGJR was onto something- Taken from the Programming forum:
We have to be happy about this.

I'm hoping this means HD On Demand as well as more freebie HD channels. What could the other 12 channels be?

Bravo-HD
Encore-HD
TMC-HD
Discovery-HD
Turner-HD
HDNet (Not likely)
UPN-HD
WB-HD

That's all I can think of.

haha, only in red sox nation, could this be completely ignored for the red sox season beginning.....!!>! seriously , though dave, if this is true i am psyched!

I am not on Beacon Juice, but close. Commonwealth Ave., between Hereford and Mass Ave. I have Comcast Digital and HD (since January).

Comcast ordering/customer service is totally clueless. They told me no digital forever, then one day it was available online, so I ordered the HD service. I called to confirm, and they had no idea what I was talking about. Still, the tech showed up on my appointment date with the 6200 HD box. Works perfectly, and looks incredible.

Good luck, but my advice is make an appointment through the web interface and be persistent.

Originally posted by DaveFi
It seems FBGJR was onto something- Taken from the Programming forum:
We have to be happy about this.

I'm hoping this means HD On Demand as well as more freebie HD channels. What could the other 12 channels be?

Bravo-HD
Encore-HD
TMC-HD
Discovery-HD
Turner-HD
HDNet (Not likely)
UPN-HD
WB-HD

That's all I can think of.

Maybe they are counting Fox for the end of the year when they go HD also?

HD on demand sounds good, but if they are going to charge $8 a movie like I read in other threads where people had it, not sure I'd use it often.

And I'd give up half the channels you list for a 6408, too. ;)

$8 for HDVOD sounds fine, as long as the titles are new. where else can you rent HD movies? HD-DVD will take a long time to hit your local blockbuster, they've still to settle on format.

Originally posted by Gabatta
I am not on Beacon Juice, but close. Commonwealth Ave., between Hereford and Mass Ave. I have Comcast Digital and HD (since January).

Comcast ordering/customer service is totally clueless. They told me no digital forever, then one day it was available online, so I ordered the HD service. I called to confirm, and they had no idea what I was talking about. Still, the tech showed up on my appointment date with the 6200 HD box. Works perfectly, and looks incredible.

Good luck, but my advice is make an appointment through the web interface and be persistent.

Thanks for the info on that Gabatta!

The wierd thing is HD is available online at our location, so I should just order and see what happens. I noticed last night if I go to the HBO High Def channel, although I get no picture, I do get the audio.

I'm wondering if that means it's set up, and I'm not seeing the image simply because my box isn't HD?

Wish me luck. :)

-JR

Question for all of you. I currently do not have cable. I'm just getting HDTV OTA in Bedford, MA, which works great.

The problem is that I want more than the 1 Red Sox game a week that comes OTA on Friday. However, I really don't need the 40 or so stations that come with standard cable.

If I were to get just the basic local comcast cable package and then add a HDTV receiver to it, would I get the NESN games in HD? I assume I won't get the games that aren't in HD, right?

Originally posted by msedran
Question for all of you. I currently do not have cable. I'm just getting HDTV OTA in Bedford, MA, which works great.

The problem is that I want more than the 1 Red Sox game a week that comes OTA on Friday. However, I really don't need the 40 or so stations that come with standard cable.

If I were to get just the basic local comcast cable package and then add a HDTV receiver to it, would I get the NESN games in HD? I assume I won't get the games that aren't in HD, right?

From what I've read in other posts here, no. NESN is encrypted so you'd need the Comcast box. That means Digital Classic at the minimum I believe to get the Moto 6200/5100 (ahem) and NESN.

Now a question for you: do you get the WSBK-38 Friday night home games in HD OTA? I'm thinking of picking up the cheapest OTA tuner (no satellite, just plain old OTA) and installing an antenna so I can see these games in HD but don't want to bother if 38 doesn't broadcast 'em in HD. If so, what OTA tuner are you using?

WSBK-DT has not begun doing Red Sox games in HD at this time. The only person in this forum who probably can tell us when is Bob Yankowitz from WBZ.

msedran,

I (as well as several others here) have basic (i.e. antenna service) cable, plus digital classic ($5/mo). With the box rental, the total monthly fee is around $20-23/mo depending on the rates in your town. Digital classic includes ESPN-HD and the home Red Sox and Bruins games in HD on channel 882. Despite what Comcast may try to tell you, you do not need "Expanded Basic" (i.e. channel 24-69, your typical cable channels) to get digital classic.

That will get you all of the home games on NESN in HD, plus any ESPN Sunday night games in HD.

Originally posted by Benji
WSBK-DT has not begun doing Red Sox games in HD at this time. The only person in this forum who probably can tell us when is Bob Yankowitz from WBZ. i thought upn uses the nesn feed (cameras), which are in HD. UPN doesn't have it's own separate camera crew there, or do they?

UPN38 uses the NESN feed but uses its own graphics.

The Red Sox & Bruins are both scheduled to be on NESN this Friday at 3pm & 7pm. Will both games be in HD ? Does NESN have two sets of HD equipment ? Anyone know ?

Originally posted by dozens
The Red Sox & Bruins are both scheduled to be on NESN this Friday at 3pm & 7pm. Will both games be in HD ? Does NESN have two sets of HD equipment ? Anyone know ? Just a guess, but I think there are seperate, permanent HDTV production equipment in place both at Fenway Park and the Fleet Center. I believe both games on Friday will be in HD. INHD2 has both games listed on its Friday programming and I don't think they are in the SD business.

According to the NESN website, The Red Sox Home Opener will air on UPN38 in the Boston DMA and on NESN outside it. So the question is whether the HD feed on 882 will be blacked out for those of us in the Boston DMA? Bruins game will air on NESN-HD 882 as usual.

I bet the game gets blacked out in the Boston DMA on 882.

The Red Sox website just list NESN as the carrier for Friday.

A quick question. Did anyone have a A/V syhc problem at 11:00pm. All prime time channels seemed fine but all local news channels seemed to have a slight syhc problem. Thanks

Originally posted by dozens
The Red Sox website just list NESN as the carrier for Friday.

NESN carries the game on cable systems without UPN38.

If you get UPN38 on your cable system and tune to NESN (SD) during the game, you will not find the game on NESN.

This page:

http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/programming/schedules/redsox/

has the details.

Originally posted by jckessler
NESN carries the game on cable systems without UPN38.

If you get UPN38 on your cable system and tune to NESN (SD) during the game, you will not find the game on NESN.


I get UPN38 on Comcast cable and I believe that last season (before my downgrade to basic cable) I could simultaneously get the Sox games on NESN via Comcast cable. This season, I have been able to watch the games simultaneously on UPN38 (Comcast) or NESN (DirecTV).

FWIW, I live in Bristol County, MA and am in the Providence, RI DMA.

The Boston DMA map is here (https://bostonglobe.com/advertiser/mrktdata/bostonmrkt/dma.stm).

Interesting. Must be based on DMAs rather than carriage of UPN38...

Last year when I had standard cable, there was alternate programming on NESN during Sox games on UPN38.

I just called to sign up for the Comcast Digital Silver package along with HD. Will I automatically get the model 6200 STB with the firewire or do I have to ask for it? I was also surprised how quickly I can get the install, they are coming tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait to see the Red Sox and Bruins home games in HD. Good-bye Dish!! Hello Comcast!!

Who do I call (Comcast, NESN, Red Sox ) to get a definite answer on whether the Sox game will be blacked out on 882 on friday ? I want to invite some friends over if I will get the game in HD ?

I'd call NESN. Calling comcast is usually a useless exercise; They'll have no idea what you're taking about:

"InHD??? I think that's pay-per-view!"

Originally posted by jckessler
NESN carries the game on cable systems without UPN38.

If you get UPN38 on your cable system and tune to NESN (SD) during the game, you will not find the game on NESN.

This page:

http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/programming/schedules/redsox/

has the details. JC...You are interpreting this wrong. It should not matter if you get WSBK on your cable system. Many areas outside the Boston DMA get WSBK on cable. You should only be blacked out if your residence is within the Boston DMA. However, the twits over at Comcast will probably do this all wrong. During the spring games all the WSBK games were blacked out on NESN for me, and I live in Bristol County (Providence DMA). According to the NESN website, I should qualify to get NESN 100% of the time. But I'll probably get screwed because someone in the Comcast office that makes these determinations is probably clueless!!!!

Thanks for setting me straight!

Is is possible that the head-end for Comcast in your town also services other towns inside the Boston DMA?

anyone hear from NESN yet?

hey guys, i hear lots of good stuff about Mark Cuban's HDNET. any idea why we don't have it, or if comcast plans on adding it in the future?

thanks

Am I the only one with the incorrect time on my 6200 STB? It's an hour behind.
Spearse

Originally posted by spearse
Am I the only one with the incorrect time on my 6200 STB? It's an hour behind.
Spearse yes

did anyone see the HD baseball game on inhd last night? SF-SD? it was unreal PQ.....i hope the sox look that good.

I was watching the masters on 804 yesterday and actually saw a lot of motion artifacts and I didn't have some sounds... like the putter hitting the ball or the ball going into the hole... Did anyone else have these problems? I didn't watch until maybe 7ish so maybe it was a problem storms or something.

Chris

masters looked good for me. i saw some minor artifacts when the camera would quickly pan to a green after a shot.

I doubt Fenway will look as good; the lighting isn't nearly as bright and for HD broadcasts bright light = better PQ.

But I am extremely excited for the two games this weekend (assuming we'll be blacked out on 882 this afternoon, and UPN38 won't be sending out the game in HD OTA).

From today's Boston Globe:

"Boston-area viewers who tune in to today's Red Sox home opener (Channel 38, 3 p.m.) expecting to see the home broadcast in high definition are going to be disappointed.

NESN, which originates all non-national Sox telecasts for its network and for channels 38 and 4, produces all of its home broadcasts in high definition. And HD subscribers outside the Boston designated market area will be able to view it in that format.

But not viewers in Boston. Channel 38 will only carry its over-the-air package [home opener, most Friday nights, plus July 4] in standard definition."

Here's the entire article (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2004/04/09/boston_viewers_out_of_picture/).

With all this talk of the Sox and their home opener, did anyone catch the Padres - Giants game on one of the INHD channels last night? It was the first baseball game I have seen in HD and all I can say is Holy Cow! What a picture! The Padres uniforms looked so white it was almost blinding...from home plate view you could read the CF scoreboard, etc.

I cannot wait to watch games this year in HD if they are all going to look like last night's game did!

The Red Sox game this afternoon at 2pm will be shown in all of MA and NH. Even in the Boston DMA. I have a friend who lives in Brookline who said that on 882 at 2pm it shows Red Sox Pregame and then at 2:30 or was it 3:00 says the Red Sox game. So looks like we get to watch it in HD boys! :)

Riddle me this Batman: So why then does my channel guide have a listing for the Sox game today on iN-HD2 in Boston?

Sorry to burst your bubble but things appearing in the guide doesn't mean jack. It does not tell you if the broadcast will be blacked out or not.

Before NBA-TV and Comcast reached an agreement, NBA games were showing up in the guide on InHD1, but at game time the station was blacked out.

If you've been fooling around with the free MLB Extra Innings preview, you'll see the Boston games listed, but tuning to the channel during game time, you'll find it blacked out.

Originally posted by spearse
Am I the only one with the incorrect time on my 6200 STB? It's an hour behind.
Spearse
I still have the wrong time on my box too. I have had Comcast send a signal a few times, and that doesn't work. My guess is that it has something to do with the return path from my TV. I also have problems receiving VOD with my setup. When I have time, I will temporarily change my wiring to create a clear path and see if that works.

Mickey

Originally posted by deskjockey
Riddle me this Batman: So why then does my channel guide have a listing for the Sox game today on iN-HD2 in Boston?
The game is on NESN in New England locations outside of the reach of TV38. The NESN/InHD simulcast may appear outside the Boston-TV38 area, but will likely be blacked out in the Boston area.

Mickey

It won't be blacked out. :)

Scoops, I hope, hope, hope that you're right.

But I'm not counting on it.

We wait, watch and see! Go Sox!

If I'm blacked out in Bristol County, I'll take the 6100 box and throw it out my window!!! Good thing I live on the first floor.

Originally posted by MickeyGee
I still have the wrong time on my box too. I have had Comcast send a signal a few times, and that doesn't work. My guess is that it has something to do with the return path from my TV. I also have problems receiving VOD with my setup. When I have time, I will temporarily change my wiring to create a clear path and see if that works.

Mickey

you probably tried this but have unplugged the unit? when plugged back in the clock resets to midnight and then grabs the time again. maybe that would set it right.

INHD 881 is running promos for the Sox game on Saturday which it will air nationally. so it looks like we'll have the option of watching the HD broadcasts on INHD 881 and on NESN-HD 882. wonder who will announce the INHD 881 broadcast? who announed the padres game last night, did they 'borrow' the audio telecast?

i have a feeling it WILL be blacked out in boston area, which sux......anyone who does see it, please tell us how the HD PQ is..

well if they do black us out then i hope they leave INHD2 882 programming alone and not run NESN-SD programming on 882 like they will on 195, scheduled:

Boston DMA:
3:00 PM NESN OUTDOORS: CHARLIE MOORE OUTDOORS (R)
3:30 PM NESN OUTDOORS: "BEST OF" CHARLIE MOORE (R)
4:00 PM NESN OUTDOORS: NORTHEAST JOURNAL (R)
4:30 PM NESN OUTDOORS: CAMO-COUNTRY TELEVISION (R)
5:00 PM NESN OUTDOORS: DIVERS DOWN (R)
5:30 PM NESN OUTDOORS: THE RIDE (R)

will let u know in just 1 hour!

Originally posted by hibricc
From today's Boston Globe:
Here's the entire article (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2004/04/09/boston_viewers_out_of_picture/). Thanks for posting that, Im glad they wrote it up, bad press for WBZ/WSBK, maybe they'll do something about it. And all this so we can watch their "young and edgy" sorry excuse for a newscast, yikes.

Originally posted by avic
you probably tried this but have unplugged the unit? when plugged back in the clock resets to midnight and then grabs the time again. maybe that would set it right.
I have unplugged it a number of times for long periods of time. It goes to 12:00, then goes back to the wrong time. Sounds impossible, but that is what it does. It could also be the box, but my box is working well right now, so I am afraid to exchange it.

Mickey

Does everyone in the Boston DMA have the Red Sox pre-game show from NESN? This probably doesn't necessarily mean the game still won't be blacked out but it's promising.

I'm getting the pregame on 882.

I'm all prepared to watch the game on WSBK-DT in SD. :(

Oh Ye of little faith!

Not blacked out yet. I'm getting more hopeful.

It SD on 882

The game is on!The game is on!Oh my God the game is on!!!Fenway looks great.

Still only getting SD, but I'm not blacked out.

oh well.

Hey,How come all the players look short and fat?I knew it was to good to be true

Anyone actually getting this in HD?

Hey Comcast, you screwed up!!! The game is stretched SD. By the way, UPN38 (ch. 14) is blacked out on my system.

Who do we call to complain...NESN or Comcast? Oh well, I'll just watch the game OTA on 38-1. Looks 100% better.

I don't call anyone, since they'll probably slap on the blackout around here!

I suspect you should call NESN, Comcast is probably just passing whatever signal they get from NESN.

Maybe when 38 televises the game, it's not produced in HD?

I'm getting ch.14 but ch.51 is fishing shows.882 is stretched.This is not good.

someone outside the BOSTON DMA must be getting this in HD........how does it look?!?!?!??!?!

the 882 NESN broadcast should be either "NESN Outdoors" like on 195 or the HD broadcast. so basically no one is getting HD. argh.

Originally posted by macd23
someone outside the BOSTON DMA must be getting this in HD........how does it look?!?!?!??!?! I'm outside the Boston DMA and getting the same krappola you are.

this is actually a good thing for those of us inside the Boston DMA. no blackout on 882, if they weren't screwing up we'd be seeing HD. somebody call NESN!

What's NESN's phone number?

http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/aboutus/

(617) 536-9233

I just called NESN. The game is not being televised in HD because UPN38 is originating the telecast. I asked if this will be the same the rest of the season and the CSR said as of now that is correct.

Screw this game...time for the Masters!

I guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see Red Sox HD.

Sucks! INHD shouldn't even bother with this SD crap.

Originally posted by DaveFi
Sucks! INHD shouldn't even bother with this SD crap. Someone dropped the ball here. I would think INHD2 would have known this from last season. So much for INHD being a 24 hr. HD channel.

unbelievable. so the globe article was wrong. no HD period. well at least for the rest of the month, the UPN friday games are away so no loss. i'm writing INHD Networks so they can talk to NESN/Comast about why they're pre-empting their programming for SD sports. down by 2 in SD, =/

A lot of the UPN Friday games are away so it could be worse. These are the 9 home games that we'll be stuck with in SD:
Fri. May 7, 7 p.m.
Fri. May 21, 7 p.m.
Fri. May 28, 7 p.m.
Fri. Jun. 11, 7 p.m.
Fri. Jun. 25, 7 p.m.
Fri. Jul. 9, 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 13, 7 p.m.
Fri. Sep. 3, 7 p.m.
Fri. Sep. 24, 7 p.m.
Btw, word has it that the FOX games later in the season on 825 will be in Fox's new HD format 720p

How many games will be on WBZ?

Home? Only 2 which they're planning to broadcast in HD.
Fri. Jul. 23 vs. NEW YORK YANKEES 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 27 vs. DETROIT TIGERS 7 p.m.

watching the bruins in HD now. how do they look for you guys? i would say the bruins on INHD look only GOOD, not GREAT. ESPNHD Hockey and the NHL all star game looked better to me than the NESN-INHD broadcasts.....am i alone? i am wondering if the sox will only look GOOD too. i guess i will find out tomorrow.

Does anyone have the new 6200 firmware version 7.10? Mine is on 7.07, which has firewire problems. New version allows reliable HD recordings.

PS sounds like not everyone is getting their clocks set correctly. I have a perfect return path but am still being sent time one hour off. I suspect Boston has multiple digital clock headend equipment.

Spearse

macd23,
INHD is 1080i and ESPN is 720P. Your DLP native rate is 720P and
I assume (hope) your stb is set to output 720P. This may account for
the (slight) difference.

larry

Originally posted by PooperScooper
macd23,
INHD is 1080i and ESPN is 720P. Your DLP native rate is 720P and
I assume (hope) your stb is set to output 720P. This may account for
the (slight) difference.

larry

Larry - setting the stb to output 720p is only good advice if the scaler in the stb is better then the one in the tv/projector, right ? I do not kniw what kind of scaler motorola uses, is it a good one ?

Originally posted by MickeyGee
I have unplugged it a number of times for long periods of time. It goes to 12:00, then goes back to the wrong time. Sounds impossible, but that is what it does. It could also be the box, but my box is working well right now, so I am afraid to exchange it.

Mickey
Finally have the time correct on my box. I called Comcast again this morning. This time they did a full reset on my box, erasing the memory and doing a full re-load rather than just sending a signal to the box. It worked. They told me they were having a local problem being able to update some of the HD boxes, and they think they fixed the problem now. So if you are still having trouble getting the time updated, call Comcast.

Mickey

Larry - setting the stb to output 720p is only good advice if the scaler in the stb is better then the one in the tv/projector, right ? I do not kniw what kind of scaler motorola uses, is it a good one ?

Think of it this way.. If you set the box to 720p, then a 720p source to a 720p display would have to do ZERO scalling. On the other hand, 1080i content would have to be scaled to 720p by the STB before going to your TV which then should leave it along.

If you set the box to 1080i, then the STB has to scale 720p->1080i and then your TV will in turn have to scale everything from 1080i->720p.

So, my guess is on average, leaving the STB at 720p for a 720p would have the best results overall. But you have to remember that when comparing 1080i and 720p feeds.

Chris

Originally posted by PooperScooper
macd23,
INHD is 1080i and ESPN is 720P. Your DLP native rate is 720P and
I assume (hope) your stb is set to output 720P. This may account for
the (slight) difference.

larry
correcto, but i saw the 1080i game on inhd SF-SD the other night and WOW! best HD i have ever seen, hands down!

in general i leave my STB to 720p, to allow the native 720p feeds to come in untouched and they look the best usually. i rarely switch the STB to 1080i even when on 1080i stations as i see no difference than leaving it on the usual 720p.

sox are up in HD and no friggin sound...anyone else?

I have sound

edit - had sound

edit - just had a beep

on the horn with comcast. PQ=outstanding on main camera. action shots of outfield look good, a few artifacts here and there.

comcast says they have gotten 3 calls so far, lol.....working on audio problem. end of the first inning, still no sound, commercials have sound. hope it kicks in before my friends come to see HD baseball.

INHD (881) national feed is blacked out, at least here in Boston, anyone picking it up? just curious if they have their own crew/announcers. and comcast should really work on a "not available" screen to use for black-outs instead of the freeze. 882 NESN-HD looks good, just like last fall.

I'm getting a lot of pixellation and video noise in the Sox game. Anyone else seeing this? It isn't happening all the time, but when it happens, the audio drops out and the screen has some pixellation and doesn't refresh parts of the screen. It is happening maybe once per minute or two and it only lasts for a second. It appears to only be happening during the broadcast, the commercials look fine, of course. Anyone seeing this or have thoughts? Thanks.

no pixellation to report at all and no noise problems, that is after they turned the audio on after the 1st. all in all a good HD broadcast to start the season. the NESN-HD sidebars were a nice touch when they showed 4:3 footage. however they were overscanned so i could barely make the words out. they should use them for spots and get rid of the HD/SD switching. they clipped the game before every break.

That SD/HD switching for commercials was just plain nasty. I'd much rather see normal 4x3 (w/sidebars). I thought I was watching freakin ESPNHD.

i get some pixelation and artifacts when the ball is put in play, the mound camera is near perfect however.

They did commercicals w/sidebars for Bruins games, I wonder why they've switched for the Sox games.

no reason to. let them know, they might listen.

Some reason why the Bruins game is SD? Is there any reason why INHD shows SD at all? What's up?

You read my mind. I was going to ask if this was some kind of Canadian 480p HD. No offense to our Northern brothers. :)

bruins is only HD for home games

Figured out my problem with clock setting on 6200. I had a loose coax connection-- low frequencies were weak, but high freq's (thus HD channels) were fine. So my box wasn't sending a return path signal, which apprently is required to set the time. Fixed the coax, and clock updated.
Spearse

Comcast must give NESN-HD its own channel OR do better at switching INH2 programming back when the NESN feed goes SD. I can deal with the pre and post shows but they should not show the SD re-broadcasts which pre-empt INHD2 programming. they did it last year but i'm gonna complain every time they do this season.

My guess is that they automate the switching, and if a game goes to 18 innings and ends at 1am, they don't want to cut it off.


According to the guide, we'll be getting SD Bruins on 882 Tuesday night, instead of the Sox game. That would annoy me greatly.

I agree that I don' t understand having SD programming on INHD2. Is it really that difficult to switch? And having the hockey game in SD on that channel Tuesday makes no sense at all.

This Thursday the Bruins are playing at home but ESPN2 is advertising the game. Will we still be able to get the game in HD on INHD2 ?

Hockey on ESPN2 is usually blacked out locally in favor of the local outlet. NESN probably has local rights to that game.

call/write comcast and tell them you only want HD sports on INHD2. until they can make room for more HD channels, they should map NESN-HD on their own channel and temporarily drop 825 since FOX currently airs no HD programming whatsover.

Originally posted by avic
call/write comcast and tell them you only want HD sports on INHD2. until they can make room for more HD channels, they should map NESN-HD on their own channel and temporarily drop 825 since FOX currently airs no HD programming whatsover.

Let see, I must have been dreaming when I watched 24, Boston Public, NASCAR, NFL football in HD. My kids come over to watch The OC because it's in HD. By the way NASCAR is awsome in HD.

Originally posted by gcarrier
Let see, I must have been dreaming when I watched 24, Boston Public, NASCAR, NFL football in HD. My kids come over to watch The OC because it's in HD. By the way NASCAR is awsome in HD.

Except it's all in 480p widescreen, not true HD. Fox has announced they'll go full HD this fall.

You were dreaming. Fox only does 480p, which is not HD.

JINX!

I think the phrase "Fox HD" qualifies as an oxymoron.

I'd rather have FOX at 480p than what's on channel 13. I see my Red Sox and Bruins on INHD2 and that's all I need from NESN. Let's ask Comcast for more channels and not ask them to remove or replace them because they are not up to our standards. Besides NFL last winter was much better on 825 than it was on channel 13.

FOX will be in HD in less than 5 months... I think we all can wait that long. And I think 825 is better than 13 even on standard SD stuff.

Now, if only we could have WB on 856!

Chris

:confused: What content does FOX have that is in HD? Are they "filming" their widescreen shows (ie 24, Boston Public) in HD .. either using 720p digital or film conversion?

Do they have enough HD trucks to do all the NFL games in HD (probably not) or will it be like CBS and we have to hope the game they feed the Boston area is HD?

heard back from comcast and INHD. they will both be addressing the issue of inappropriate SD NESN content on INHD2(882).

Originally posted by avic
heard back from comcast and INHD. they will both be addressing the issue of inappropriate SD NESN content on INHD2(882).

Who and how do you get in touch with the right people at Comcast ?

pm theroob006. he can hook you up.

hey,
can anyone get their replay TV to work with a 6200, either with the IR blaster or the DB9 cable?
I've had my 6200 for 2 weeks now and can't get a thing...
thanks.

Originally posted by gcarrier
Let see, I must have been dreaming when I watched 24, Boston Public, NASCAR, NFL football in HD. My kids come over to watch The OC because it's in HD. By the way NASCAR is awsome in HD. wow you can't tell 480p from 1080i/720p?? the difference is immense!

Evidently, he thinks if it's widescreen, it must be HD...wonder what he thinks of ESPN's stretched SD??!!:p

Personally, I'd much rather get Fox in 480p on 825 than any sports at any definition, so I'm perfectly happy that they leave it alone.

Picture on 825 is just a lot clearer than on the analog channel.

guess you're not much of a sports fan, eh Toots? Couldn't beat this weekend with The Masters on CBS and Sox/Bruins on NESN-HD. TEHO, I suppose.

No, definitely not a sports fan.

thought not...not that there's anything wrong with that... ;)

I'm sorry I brought it up. Heck I'm so old I remember when hockey night in Canada showed only the last period. In black & white no less. What I want is an improvement in my viewing pleasure. 480P is just that. I can tell the difference between 480p and HD. The Bruins game from the Fleet the first two games was much better that the game from Montreal. But even the game from Montreal on 882 was of better quality than on 51. Maybe I should have worded my first post differently.

mr. carrier: my jesting wasn't directed at your previous post, it was in response to toots's post afterward.

And for the record, I think Fox's widescreen 480p looks pretty darn good on my set as well. Definitely an upgrade over SD. However, I think we'll find that, come this fall, when they upgrade to "true" HD, we'll enjoy the picture that much more!

yikes! they're NOT doing anything to 825! i was just trying to make the point that FOX is not YET broadcasting HD and NESN IS so the coming FOX upgrade to 720p though overdue is great. for now their 480p dvd-quality broadcasts will have to do which yes are better than black and white tv on a 1975 set but it still doesn't make it HD.

my original concern remains and it seems to me that the whole NESN HD/SD issue would be resolved by mapping them their own HD channel. make it happen comcast! in the meantime they should be more selective of what they put on 882 so as to not pre-empt HD material with that awful stretched NESN-SD.

and g-carrier the game from montreal was not 480p it was good ol' stretched 480i SD and painful to watch. those not into sports i'm sure would rather have seen INHD2's regular HD programming. for me i'd rather see the away SD broadcasts on the regular NESN channel since my and most hd sets do a much better job with various stretch modes.

This is what I like about this forum. Lot's of good info. People take their TV entertainment seriously. And I aggree, FOX at 480P is pretty damn good, not as good as the SOX and BRUINS in HD.

[i]g-carrier the game from montreal was not 480p it was good ol' stretched 480i SD and painful to watch. those not into sports i'm sure would rather have seen INHD2's regular HD programming. for me i'd rather see the away SD broadcasts on the regular NESN channel since my and most hd sets do a much better job with various stretch modes. [/B]

I guess were spoiled in the fact that we get the SOX and BRUINS home games in HD. Same problems watching most hockey games on ESPN-HD.

don't get us started with ESPN, what's sad is that a lot of people (no one here of course!) think it's all HD because it fills the screen and because the tvguide banner says it's ESPN-HD. there should be a mandatory standard, don't stretch SD period! i want my sidebars!

Originally posted by avic
don't get us started with ESPN, what's sad is that a lot of people (no one here of course!) think it's all HD because it fills the screen and because the tvguide banner says it's ESPN-HD. there should be a mandatory standard, don't stretch SD period! i want my sidebars!

What kills me about ESPN-HD(SD) is that on their website FAQ, they say that "most" people prefer to see the full screen as opposed to black bars and that they don't want to fiddle with stretch modes on their TV as they change channels.:rolleyes:

I don't know about anyone else, but on my TV, the HD channels can't use the various modes due to the 720p/1080i signal from the Moto box. I would rather see the black bars and a decent non-distorted picture than the stretched crap that gives me a headache after a while. To me the PQ even with black bars on 804-825 looks better than the grainy garbage on the analog channels...

ESPN-HD stretching SD may go down as one of the great mysteries of the 21st century. :)
I've yet to read anywhere somebody saying they like it. Their data must come from the
VHS'ers who buy a DVD player and complain because they're not seeing the whole movie - on
a non-fullscreen version. True, most displays don't let you stretch a pillar boxed HD signal,
but it sure looks better than stretched.

larry

After June 7, when ESPN launches their new HD facility, no one will have to suffer with ESPNs stretched HD anymore...

sure we will, they are not going to broadcast HD 24hrs. SportsCenter will be HD and more games but most of their programming will still be SD and it will be stretched along with commercials. unless you've read otherwise, if so please post link.

SportsCenter and other studio shows (e.g. Baseball tonight) will be in 720p HD. They will continue to carry many MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA and other games in HD (hopefully they will get more mobile production facilities so more and more of these games can be in HD). I would say this programming is the majority of what most people watch on ESPN.

I guess you may still have to suffer through the ESPN stretch-o-vision if you watch offsite programs like OTL

Baseball tonight isn't going HD until next season.

WBZ is studdering again, and WCVB cuts out every once and a while.

I am dealing with someone who has a DCT6200 and a Mistubishi HD1000U DVHS deck. When they run the IEEE1394 connection to the deck the deck recognizes that there is a device connected but doesn't seem to be able to respond any further than that. Just leaves the connecting screen on. I'm not 100% familiar in dealing with the DVHS decks. I don't know if there is anythat needs to be done to make this thing work. I am having the person hard reset the box to make sure that the newest firmware is updated. Aside from that is there anything that needs to be done to make this thing work?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Originally posted by scorchedangel
I am dealing with someone who has a DCT6200 and a Mistubishi HD1000U DVHS deck. When they run the IEEE1394 connection to the deck the deck recognizes that there is a device connected but doesn't seem to be able to respond any further than that. Just leaves the connecting screen on. I'm not 100% familiar in dealing with the DVHS decks. I don't know if there is anythat needs to be done to make this thing work. I am having the person hard reset the box to make sure that the newest firmware is updated. Aside from that is there anything that needs to be done to make this thing work?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I have the exact same set-up and since day 1 have had no problem. I've had this since March with the 6200 and all my recordings have been problem free. Are you certain you have the correct cable and it is properly connected?

I read in the programming forum that INHD may be picking up the NBA-TV HD games, apparently 8 in round 1. I wonder if we will see a Celtics broadcast.

Originally posted by Benji
I have the exact same set-up and since day 1 have had no problem. I've had this since March with the 6200 and all my recordings have been problem free. Are you certain you have the correct cable and it is properly connected?


I couldn't be 100 % sure on that as where I was just helping them over the phone and they weren't at home. I am going to double check with them on that next time I contact them. I will also verify that the proper cable is being used. Thanks for the help though.

Originally posted by scorchedangel
I couldn't be 100 % sure on that as where I was just helping them over the phone and they weren't at home. I am going to double check with them on that next time I contact them. I will also verify that the proper cable is being used. Thanks for the help though. Also check to make certain the firmware is 7.07. This activated the firewire port.

the INHD1 baseball games are really top of the line, like tonight's Dodgers @ Padres. HD at its best, frequent "window effect" on my 51" hitachi. i received a reply regarding the NESN SD re-broadcasts, no surprise but i hope they'll get there eventually.

"NESN's rebroadcasts of Red Sox games are currently only available in standard format. NESN's HD broadcasts currently only consist of the live game coverage that originates directly from the broadcast truck. Anything coming from our studios, including the rebroadcasts, will be in standard format. Our studios/production are not currently set up to deliver HD programming."

Anybody else see this:

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2004/04/16/comcast_launches_video_on_demand_package_with_local_programm ing/

Exerpt that we care about:
"Comcast rolled out on-demand programs last year in New England, with free programs now comprising about 75 percent of the available 1,800 shows and pay movies and premium programs the rest. In the last 90 days, Doyle said, on average 67 percent of New England Comcast digital cable customers have ordered an on-demand show, with the average customer watching nine on-demand shows per month. Comcast is currently testing on-demand broadcasts of high-definition format TV movies and shows, which it may begin offering locally in September or October, Doyle said."

Originally posted by tcable
"Comcast is currently testing on-demand broadcasts of high-definition format TV movies and shows, which it may begin offering locally in September or October, Doyle said." That will be sweet, would love to cut down on the blockbuster trips, and with HD-DVD's still years away this will be the only way to rent HD movies. Comcast and other cable co's could really make a killing here. I wonder how they will handle copyrights for HD rentals. Currently you can make a perfect digital copy of an HD movie via Firewire, am i right?

The press release said "TV Movies and Shows." Maybe they really mean just made-for-TV movies, in which case they won't give a crap if people copy them!! :p

BTW, does anyone know how they take a cinematic (not TV) movie and broadcast it in HD? Is there some sort of direct-copy from film to somethingorother or what? If there's a better place on this site to learn this, I'd like to know.

watching the sox on FOX's widescreen format on ch. 825. better than crappy UPN but can't wait until they go 720p. for this telecast they are using 1 non-ws camera but interestingly they are not stretching. this should serve as an example to all networks, if you can't give it in HD, don't stretch SD! any of you watching notice this?: when they take that 4:3 camera shot, it is off center on my set (right sidebar thinner) but centered during commercials.

well i have figured out that the PATS will probably have at least 6 games in HD:

(3 on ABC HD) Thurs night opener, 2 mon nights
(2 on FOX HD) vs the seahawks and 49ers
(1 on ESPN HD)ESPN Sunday night game


plus any CBS games that might be in HD.....does this sound about right????

sound about right. and btw kudos to NESN, maybe our feedback was heard or they wised up. no more in-game switching between HD/SD. so no more stretched dugout walks/commercials, they are leaving the sidebars for 4:3 content. not sure why they don't start the HD broadcast until the first pitch though.

Great Sox win on NESN-HD. Very Good PQ. Very nice PQ and audio on MCI Hertiage Golf on BZ-DT 804.

Originally posted by jckessler
I (as well as several others here) have basic (i.e. antenna service) cable, plus digital classic ($5/mo). With the box rental, the total monthly fee is around $20-23/mo depending on the rates in your town. Digital classic includes ESPN-HD and the home Red Sox and Bruins games in HD on channel 882. Despite what Comcast may try to tell you, you do not need "Expanded Basic" (i.e. channel 24-69, your typical cable channels) to get digital classic.

That will get you all of the home games on NESN in HD, plus any ESPN Sunday night games in HD.

This is what I'd like to do for myself... However, on the Comcast website, it looks like I can order Basic (Antenna Cable), plus HDTV for under $20 in my town... but I don't see any option to add Digital Classic for $5 a month... the only option for Digital Classic is like $55 a month...

Are you sure this is something you can still order ? Or is it something that's just not on the website but has to be ordered on the phone ? I assume I need that digital classic to get NESN in HD and ESPN HD, but I don't see the option to order this.

Also, with that package do you get ON DEMAND ?

Why do I get the feeling they'll give me a hard time or have no idea what I'm talking about if I try and order this on the phone ?

Originally posted by sha_now
This is what I'd like to do for myself... However, on the Comcast website, it looks like I can order Basic (Antenna Cable), plus HDTV for under $20 in my town... but I don't see any option to add Digital Classic for $5 a month... the only option for Digital Classic is like $55 a month...

Are you sure this is something you can still order ? Or is it something that's just not on the website but has to be ordered on the phone ? I assume I need that digital classic to get NESN in HD and ESPN HD, but I don't see the option to order this.

Also, with that package do you get ON DEMAND ?

Why do I get the feeling they'll give me a hard time or have no idea what I'm talking about if I try and order this on the phone ?

You can order HDTV sans any type of digital package and still get NESN-HD. I don't know about the others channels though but I think it would be the same. I'm not a Comcast sub but I recently helped a friend who was being pushed into buying and expensive OTA HD receiver by a sales guys at CC. I told him to call Comcast and say that he *only* wanted to upgrade to HDTV and didn't care about any other digital channels. Turns out it only cost him the price of the rental of the HD box (which is ~ 8 bucks I think).

HTH

Yeah that'd be fine with me... I don't really need ESPN-HD since I plan on sticking with Directv.. I just really want my Sox in HD, and it's worth it for me to pay the 19 a month for it (12 for basic antenna and 7 for HDTV in Malden) during the season. But if I get a little more content with that Digital Classic for $5 a month more, I wouldn't mind so much paying that either if it was actually available for that price.

So with the Basic and the HD... I wonder what'd I get for HD channels... the locals obviously, but would I get INHD1 and INHD2 as well ?

You have to order it over the phone. Just tell them exactly what you want (basic service, not standard, plus digital classic, plus the HDTV box.) I got this setup without trouble/hassle when I called.

You get the locals plus ESPNHD, InHD1 and InHD2. NESN-HD games preempt regular InHD2 programming.

I don't think you get NESN HD games without digital classic, but that may vary from town to town.

what in the wide wide world of sports is goin on here.Just lost the baseball game on 882

This sux! Can someone please turn the HD game back on, I can't watch regular NESN, I feeel like i lost my eye sight!
Anyone know the contact # for this problem?

Sox game is on 881.

Looks good- about as good as I've ever seen. A bit of macroblocking tho.

Hallelujah,the game is back.I can't wait till they fix these screwups

What? You only get 882?

They're showing the same thing on both channels now.

jckessler, thanks.

Called, got the package in question, comes to 24.30 a month with taxes. Plus a $ 30 install fee (I specifically mentioned I want a 6200 box, which to them was no problem)... , if I cancel after baseball season I'll have to pay the $30 install again if I want to re-up next spring, assuming Directv doesn't pick NESN in HD up by then.

I feel like this is the old days, when we had to pay an additional $15 or whatever dollars to get NESN. Oh well, it's worth it for me to pay 6 months out of the year to get my Sox in HD...

Now it's time for me to call Directv and have them match the deal Comcast offers on line and through mail to me... $25 off your bill a month for 16 months if I switch to Comcast.... what they don't know about me already subbing to minimum Comcast to get NESN HD, won't hurt them.

sha- As part of that basic package you'll get lots OnDemand programming for free. It's all SD, but there's lots of good stuff there.

Thanks Dave, that's a nice little bonus.

So far Directv wants to only give me $10 off a month for 6 months and free Showtime for 3 months with another 1 year commitment... I told the guy I'd think it over and call them back. That's an okay deal, and that discount would knock my Comcast bill down to $14 a month... but I always thought they'd make more of an effort to keep me. When I quit Directv a few years ago because I was travelling abroad for a year, they went out of their way to try and keep me... giving me three months completely free and so on. Maybe this time I'll call and just say I'm cancelling and switching to Digital Cable... not even let on that I'd consider staying on.... let them sweat it. I want a better deal than a $60 savings and free showtime for 3 months.

Cable is really the way things are going. Sat just can't keep up with the technology, especially since it's two way and the bandwidth is huge.

You'll get so much stuff with OnDemand you won't really miss all the digital channels. You get most of the OnDemand channels for stuff you don't even need to subscribe to like BBC, TechTV, etc.

Speaking of which, Comcast just added a Get Local category to OnDemand, which has various programming from the locals like newscasts, and even Chronicle. NESN has yesterday's hockey game. Neat.

and add DVR in a few weeks, HD VOD in the Fall & many more HD channels in between and Comcast will really have it all.

Not until they get NFL Sunday Ticket and the NFL Network will they have it all. ;)

And that may happen soon... from what I understand this coming year is the last year of Directv's current exclusivity contract with the NFL... the big Cable companies haven't picked up the NFL Network yet, despite it being offered to them for next to nothing. They're refusing to take it on because they want to use that as a negotiating point for the NFL Sunday Ticket deal... "We won't ever pick up the NFL Network until you offer us a chance at NFL Sunday Ticket...." Beyond that, the NFL is a shrewd league to deal with, they have their business in order and sure know how to make the money. They're not dumb enough to ignore the digital cable explosion. Given the way the economics and popularity of the NFL have exploded the last few years since that contract was re-upped, you can bet the NFL will demand an impossible kings ransom from Directv to maintain exclusivity. I'm betting Directv won't pay it, and we'll finally see it on digital cable and dish network.

Wish they would add ESPN Full Court, too. They offer it in other parts of the country, but not around here. I know this is more of a pro sports area, but some of us college hoops fans would like the option to buy that package. :(

I guess the real question is just how much bandwidth does Comcast have?

I think we'll see the push to all digital very soon. Eliminating analog channels should free up alot of bandwidth.

I can't wait for HD VOD, or at least proper widescreen SD 16:9.. I don't understand why they don't offer real widescreen now, as it couldn't take up much more bandwidth than the 4:3 letterboxed stuff.

So I'm trapped at work with a 13" TV to watch the Sox-Yanks. How I miss my 50" HD!! :(

Hi,
Sorry but I really can't read through 100+ pages and figure this out so I will just ask:
I live in W. Roxbury and am thinking of getting comcast. a few questions:
1: which box do they offer for HD that has live firewire.
2: ETA of DVR (HD) with firewire and which is it?
3: what is the cheapest subscription to get all HD content (movie channels and locals and HDNets)? Is there a trick or do I need to get platinum+hd and all.
What channels (HD) are coming soon?
Thanks a lot
FREAK!

Can't answer 2 and 3.... but # 1's answer is the DCT6200 box with the 7.10 firmware.

7.07 has active Firewire, and that's what most of us have in the Boston area.

The cheapest full HD/movie package is Digital Platinum. Take that and Basic Cable (~$10 depending on location).

Ah thanks, didn't realize the 7.07 had it active as well.

On another note... well this is rich...

Realizing I forgot to specifically ask for the 6200 box to come with my install next week when I placed my order yesterday, and not wanting to get stuck with a 5100 (I hear the 6200 beyond the firewire has faster menus as well), I called Comcast back this morning to specifically have them put a note on my work order for the tech to bring a 6200 with Firewire port with him to my install, and not a 5100.

At first the woman said.... "Hmmmm, I'm pretty sure we don't have the 6200". I knew that would happen, so I asked her to please check on it... after 4 minutes on hold, she came back and said that it was all set, that they did indeed have the 6200 with the firewall. :rolleyes: After correcting her, she read back the note she put on the order and everything seemed good (whether they show up with a 6200 is another thing... but at least I've made a note of it and it's on the record and in their court now...)

After I thanked her, before I hung up, without me prompting her she mentions and runs through the charges I could expect... "Okay... now that's the Basic Service for 12.15, the HDTV for 7.25 and the Digital Classic for 5.00....you can expect a 30 install fee on the first bill... " all things I knew. Then she says... "Okay with this package, you do realize that you're only going to be getting the locals in high definition... if you want ESPN and NESN in High Definition you'll have to pay extra..." At that point, I was stunned... I asked her if she was sure... she said she was. I asked how much was it to get NESN in HD... she said I'd have to bump up to the next level of service... another 40 dollars or whatever. At that point I told her I just wanted to keep what I ordered. The way I see it... this is probably some national woman without a clue, just like with the 6200. I trust the posters knowledge in this forum more than I trust hers.... but should I be worried here ? I guess I'll deal with it when it arrives and is set up... but I'm a bit chagrinned if this holds to be true. I need some reaffirming ! Do you all think she's just mistaken ?

EDIT : And upon further thought and review... she's got to be wrong. I'm betting I don't get the NESN SD channel... but since the HD feed is put on INHD2 (which you all say I should get), she probably has no clue about that and thus was just talking out of her ass trying to get more money out of me. At least I hope that's the case. I guess I'll find out a week from tomorrow (the earliest day I could get a 9AM-11AM appointment).

She's wrong. Don't worry.

Who has firmware 7.10?....
I have a DVHS with firewire hooked up to my 6200 and have firmware 7.07. I am told that 7.10 will resolve some of the recording glitches I am presently getting. I am now trying to find out how soon 7.10 will be available in my area.

I'll definetely be able to dump Comcast after the NESN HD Sox season until next spring... There will probably be a work stoppage in the NHL and they won't be playing hockey for part of next season in all likelyhood, so I won't need it for hockey. And who would want to watch these bunch of chokers in the early regular season anyway ? :mad:

The only thing that could stop me from dropping it after Sox season is some major addition in HD channels, or a forthcoming announcement of them. Otherwise, Directv and OTA alone will have everything I need outside of baseball season.

i don't think anyone has 7.10 in MA/NH yet. maybe they're waiting for the 6208's to upgrade. let us know what they say when you call in to report your glitches. they may just try ro swap your box.

I had my 5100 swapped out for a 6200 last week and the tech said he just got out of a meeting where they were told of what is coming soon. He said that by the end of the year, Comcast would have a MINIMUM of 30 HD channels. As much as I tried, he wouldn't tell me which ones.

He also said that dual tuner DVRs would be available sometime mid summer.

Originally posted by sha_now
b

EDIT : And upon further thought and review... she's got to be wrong. I'm betting I don't get the NESN SD channel... but since the HD feed is put on INHD2 (which you all say I should get), she probably has no clue about that and thus was just talking out of her ass trying to get more money out of me. At least I hope that's the case. I guess I'll find out a week from tomorrow (the earliest day I could get a 9AM-11AM appointment).

Keep in mind that only home games on NESN are in HD on INHD2. You would need SD NESN to watch the away games.

That is 20 more HD channels. Sounds like 10-12 channels on the analog tier going digital before end of 04.

In the "About Get Local" of "In Demand", Michael Doyle, President of Comcast's Easter Division states that in September we will have "In Demand HD" with Dolby 5.1.

Don't know how many of those new HD channels will actually be devoted to that but it could account for some of them.

Originally posted by capecodguy
He also said that dual tuner DVRs would be available sometime mid summer. did you ask about the 6208?

ESPN HD lists the Celtics playoff games 3 and 4 at the Fleetcenter for Friday night and Sunday afternoon. I wonder if we will get them in HD or if they will be blacked out. After last night, I am not sure if I really want to see these games anyway.

I hope they price those HD PPV flicks for <$8. For that price I'd probably go see a movie.

yeah but popcorn and drinks are much cheaper at home not to mention parking if you go into boston, still a good deal to be able to kick back and enjoy an hd flick on your own large ws-hdtv!

I eat before the movie.:p

If it was something I really wanted to see and was OAR I might do it, especially if we could archive it.

Is anyone else getting the scorebar cutoff at the top of their screen when watching NESN SD Red Sox broadcasts? I'm running my Toshy in TheaterWide1 and when watching through the Moto/Component the top is cut off.

However, it's fine in TW1 when watching via straight coax.

Ahhh, the joys of a HD tv used to view SD....

Forgot to mention that 6208 DVR rollout mid-end May, with dual tuner DVR scheduled in the Fall (if Motorola releases them on schedule).

I'll be holding out for the dual-tuner box.

Originally posted by YesJim
Is anyone else getting the scorebar cutoff at the top of their screen when watching NESN SD Red Sox broadcasts? I'm running my Toshy in TheaterWide1 and when watching through the Moto/Component the top is cut off.
However, it's fine in TW1 when watching via straight coax.
Ahhh, the joys of a HD tv used to view SD.... they moved it up higher this season. i have a hitachi and watched SD redsox in the 4:3 expanded mode with no problem last year but now since they moved it up the bar gets overscanned at the top unless i use the 16:9 mode or 4:3 with sidesbars

Originally posted by DaveFi
Forgot to mention that 6208 DVR rollout mid-end May, with dual tuner DVR scheduled in the Fall (if Motorola releases them on schedule). my inside source said may 1 for the soft launch so i'm gonna try and get my hands on one before the official release.

Any idea how much they'll charge for DVR service ?

$9.95/mo, i'll save $3/mo getting rid of tivo

Originally posted by DaveFi
Forgot to mention that 6208 DVR rollout mid-end May, with dual tuner DVR scheduled in the Fall (if Motorola releases them on schedule).

I'll be holding out for the dual-tuner box.
I also would prefer the dual tuner, but Moto/Comcast has been late on every introduction, so I will take the single tuner when they roll that out then upgrade later.

Mickey

I called technical help and they had no clue 'end of the year, we have no set date'.
FREAK!

Mickey- I already have a DVHS which will suffice until the dual-tuner unit arrives. You might consider it- it's a good thing to have anyways, and can be found for <$300 if you look a bit.

I can already record what I watch, so the dual tuner unit will be much more useful to me.

If you have a Mits with a built-in QAM tuner you can record to your D-VHS one of the pay channels such as INHD, ESPN, or HBO from the 6200 and watch on of the local HD channnels through the TV's tuner. That is how I have it hooked up, works great.

Wow. May for the 6208. I'll take 2, please! :)

Wonder if the eminent HD-Tivo rollout is a factor?

larry

silly question: will the 6208 record and playback HD? (where's that salivating icon?)

Originally posted by hibricc
silly question: will the 6208 record and playback HD? (where's that salivating icon?)
Yes. It will record and playback HD. Somewhat limited by its 80GB hardrive, which is plenty for SD but not enough to store a lot of HD.

Mickey

external hdd will solve that little prob, hopefully future firmware will allow playback.

IS the DVI active on the 6200 v7.07?
FREAK!

yes but you have to connect the cable or it will say it's not installed in the service menu

Do you have to go into the service menu to activate it once the cable is connected? How do you get into the service menu?
FREAK!

what specific problem are you having? check your Y/Pb/Pr/DVI output setting in the service menu (off then menu) set it to your display's native res (most 1080i).

Not having any specific problems. I was just curious as to what I needed to do (if anyhting) to hook up DVI.
FREAK!

Originally posted by avic
$9.95/mo, i'll save $3/mo getting rid of tivo

I would certainly consider dumping my standalone TiVo for a dual-tuner cable HD-capable DVR. It will be a shame to downgrade to less capable software just to have HD PVR functionality though... :(