Thanks Micky,

So I will get any of the Celts and B's games that are brodcast in HD on INHD2? Thats cool. So I should get all of the games listed on this site?

http://www.roachxp.com/

This is because they price it as an a-lacarte service. I am saying a day may come when it isn't,especially when they can consider extednned as part of digital cable with ADS.
Theoretically, that's correct, however, the francise agreements with many municipalities don't permit it. Additionally, if you've seen the recent grumblings from the FCC about cable a la carte, if Comcast were to try to require expanded basic to receive digital cable, the FCC would be even more likely to react in the opposite direction, and force true a la carte pricing across the board. The portion of customers who even know that they can order digital without expanded basic is currently so small, that it is not worth it for Comcast to risk provoking the FCC and the politicians on this issue.

Thanks Micky,

So I will get any of the Celts and B's games that are brodcast in HD on INHD2? Thats cool. So I should get all of the games listed on this site?

http://www.roachxp.com/
That website is great. I believe the OLN-HD hockey games will be on InHD-1 (881). Also, Comcast does not carry ESPN-2-HD at this time. Otherwise, 882 is the place, including the Red Sox HD games.

Mickey

Theoretically, that's correct, however, the francise agreements with many municipalities don't permit it. Additionally, if you've seen the recent grumblings from the FCC about cable a la carte, if Comcast were to try to require expanded basic to receive digital cable, the FCC would be even more likely to react in the opposite direction, and force true a la carte pricing across the board. The portion of customers who even know that they can order digital without expanded basic is currently so small, that it is not worth it for Comcast to risk provoking the FCC and the politicians on this issue.

Many folks are not even aware of a lifeline (basic only) tier. Other systems are requiring extended in order to get digital and requiring digital in order to get HD locals. (Comcast says HD locals are considered PART of the basic tier)

The teir buy through technically only applies to HBO and/or other premium channels,and PPV (probably including PPV on demand) :)

They may be working on an alacarte family tier which makes some sense and would include family friendly programming from all of the tiers. (extended/Digital classic and digital plus)

I had a rather unfortunate disaster with Comcast today:


After spening nearly a grand on a second HDTV (Samsung LCD for my bedroom) I excitedly called Comcast and setup an install for today of a 2nd HD STB............I was not only assured a box, but I was told I would get a courtesy call 15 minutes prior to the tech's arrival ( I work 10 min down the road)......At 11:15 am I was called by Comcast asking me to let the tech in the door, after I informed the woman on the phone that I was not home, but I would be there in 10 minutes I hung up. I raced home to find the tech had left. I called Comcast and bitterly explained the situation. They finally tracked down the technician and said he was not coming back today. At this I demanded a reschedule and free installation. They obliged, but it came to their attention that I already had a HD set top box and there is a limit on both HDTV boxes and DVR boxes of 1 per household. I am now on waiting lists for both.

This sucks, I now have a $950 paper weight in my room. Reg cable is sh!t after experiencing HDTV. Anyone want to venture how long I'll be waiting for my 2nd HD box? I am begging to give Comcast more of my hard earned cash (as if they don't already take enough) and they are saying no. Living in a condo, I can't put a dish on my roof, so I am therefore given an ominous choice: rabbit ears or Comcast.......monopolies suck!

I had a rather unfortunate disaster with Comcast today:


After spening nearly a grand on a second HDTV (Samsung LCD for my bedroom) I excitedly called Comcast and setup an install for today of a 2nd HD STB............I was not only assured a box, but I was told I would get a courtesy call 15 minutes prior to the tech's arrival ( I work 10 min down the road)......At 11:15 am I was called by Comcast asking me to let the tech in the door, after I informed the woman on the phone that I was not home, but I would be there in 10 minutes I hung up. I raced home to find the tech had left. I called Comcast and bitterly explained the situation. They finally tracked down the technician and said he was not coming back today. At this I demanded a reschedule and free installation. They obliged, but it came to their attention that I already had a HD set top box and there is a limit on both HDTV boxes and DVR boxes of 1 per household. I am now on waiting lists for both.

This sucks, I now have a $950 paper weight in my room. Reg cable is sh!t after experiencing HDTV. Anyone want to venture how long I'll be waiting for my 2nd HD box? I am begging to give Comcast more of my hard earned cash (as if they don't already take enough) and they are saying no. Living in a condo, I can't put a dish on my roof, so I am therefore given an ominous choice: rabbit ears or Comcast.......monopolies suck!

I suggest you challenge the "limit". There are two systems in my household and I was offered a third. If they have them they will place them. Boxes =Money. Ask to speak with a manager and keep at it. You waited and they should deliver.

I suggest you challenge the "limit". There are two systems in my household and I was offered a third. If they have them they will place them. Boxes =Money. Ask to speak with a manager and keep at it. You waited and they should deliver.

Agree.

Is cablecard an option? Very happy with mine.

I suggest you challenge the "limit". There are two systems in my household and I was offered a third. If they have them they will place them. Boxes =Money. Ask to speak with a manager and keep at it. You waited and they should deliver.
I have two 6412's and didn't have to beg a manager to get the second.

Mickey

I had a rather unfortunate disaster with Comcast today:


After spening nearly a grand on a second HDTV (Samsung LCD for my bedroom) I excitedly called Comcast and setup an install for today of a 2nd HD STB............I was not only assured a box, but I was told I would get a courtesy call 15 minutes prior to the tech's arrival ( I work 10 min down the road)......At 11:15 am I was called by Comcast asking me to let the tech in the door, after I informed the woman on the phone that I was not home, but I would be there in 10 minutes I hung up. I raced home to find the tech had left. I called Comcast and bitterly explained the situation. They finally tracked down the technician and said he was not coming back today. At this I demanded a reschedule and free installation. They obliged, but it came to their attention that I already had a HD set top box and there is a limit on both HDTV boxes and DVR boxes of 1 per household. I am now on waiting lists for both.

This sucks, I now have a $950 paper weight in my room. Reg cable is sh!t after experiencing HDTV. Anyone want to venture how long I'll be waiting for my 2nd HD box? I am begging to give Comcast more of my hard earned cash (as if they don't already take enough) and they are saying no. Living in a condo, I can't put a dish on my roof, so I am therefore given an ominous choice: rabbit ears or Comcast.......monopolies suck!

I got my second 6412 without any problem...Why do you say that you can't put a dish up? Is it a physical limitation? The condo association can't prohibit you from installing a dish as it is illegal to do so (and has already been challenged in court without being overturned). This is a federal law and applys to standard TV antennae as well. If you're in a large building with no south facing mounting available, that's a different story.

Thats the first time I ever heard of a limit of 1 per household and can not find it in writing on their website as well. I would ask to speak to a supervisor because the CSR might not have been to honest with you unless this is a new policy change.

When I first got Comcast... I mean AT&T... I mean MediaOne service back in '00, the local office claimed a 2 digital box per household limit, but since then, I haven't had any trouble having three digital boxes (two HD, one of which is a DVR).

I had a rather unfortunate disaster with Comcast today:

---SNIP---

This sucks, I now have a $950 paper weight in my room. Reg cable is sh!t after experiencing HDTV. Anyone want to venture how long I'll be waiting for my 2nd HD box? I am begging to give Comcast more of my hard earned cash (as if they don't already take enough) and they are saying no. Living in a condo, I can't put a dish on my roof, so I am therefore given an ominous choice: rabbit ears or Comcast.......monopolies suck!


I just visited my local Comcast office in ManchVegas and got a HD STB for my Panny LCD for my bedroom. No problems.

Hey guys... if I buy one of those Motorola DCT 2244 units off ebay which supposedly supports QAM, will I be able to watch the basic comcast HD channels? I currently only have very basic analog service.

I've read alot of posts and I'm still confused :/

Thanks.

A DCT-2244 doesn't do HD (to my knowledge). I have a single DCT-2000 in my household, and while it can get audio off the HD channels, it leaves black screen for video.

Even assuming you'd get a DCT-5100 (HD capable) or tried tuning the local SD channels, I'd be left to wonder if A) You'd have to register the box with comcast; B) be limited to the local channels.

Hey guys... if I buy one of those Motorola DCT 2244 units off ebay which supposedly supports QAM, will I be able to watch the basic comcast HD channels? I currently only have very basic analog service.

I've read alot of posts and I'm still confused :/

Thanks.
I can't answer your QAM question, so hopefully someone else will.

However, here is my unsolicited advice on buying the box versus renting it from Comcast: Many of us here have already done the following:

Started with a basic analog box.
Swapped to a basic digital box.
Swapped to a basic HD box.
Swapped to a single tuner HD-DVR
Swapped to a dual tuner HD-DVR
Will quickly swap to an HD-DVR with larger disk capacity, when available
Will quickly swap boxes to take advantage of other enhancements, when available.

Generally, these swaps are free if you can avoid the dreaded truck roll charge. If the box stops working, you get a new one. We are paying monthly rental fees for these boxes, but most of us will say it is worth it.

Mickey

So, over the past couple weeks, I've been noticing what can best be described as "smearing" on the lower channels (2-300 or so), and much more pixelation on the HD channels. Is Comcast doing anything to their infrastructure at the moment, or is this due to something on my end?

Since getting a new 6412 months ago, I have not made any changes at all to anything on my end (settings, cables, wall connections, etc.).

I got my second 6412 without any problem...Why do you say that you can't put a dish up? Is it a physical limitation? The condo association can't prohibit you from installing a dish as it is illegal to do so (and has already been challenged in court without being overturned). This is a federal law and applys to standard TV antennae as well. If you're in a large building with no south facing mounting available, that's a different story.

Not sure about other poster. but my condo's bylaws state that an antenna or dish can only be placed in indivdual unit owner's balcony. Two buidlings with 35 units in each. One faces south and some have dishes but mine faces north. Roof is "common" property and my guess is that they don't want 35 people plus churn number of dish's up there.

I had a rather unfortunate disaster with Comcast today:


After spening nearly a grand on a second HDTV (Samsung LCD for my bedroom) I excitedly called Comcast and setup an install for today of a 2nd HD STB............I was not only assured a box, but I was told I would get a courtesy call 15 minutes prior to the tech's arrival ( I work 10 min down the road)......At 11:15 am I was called by Comcast asking me to let the tech in the door, after I informed the woman on the phone that I was not home, but I would be there in 10 minutes I hung up. I raced home to find the tech had left. I called Comcast and bitterly explained the situation. They finally tracked down the technician and said he was not coming back today. At this I demanded a reschedule and free installation. They obliged, but it came to their attention that I already had a HD set top box and there is a limit on both HDTV boxes and DVR boxes of 1 per household. I am now on waiting lists for both.

This sucks, I now have a $950 paper weight in my room. Reg cable is sh!t after experiencing HDTV. Anyone want to venture how long I'll be waiting for my 2nd HD box? I am begging to give Comcast more of my hard earned cash (as if they don't already take enough) and they are saying no. Living in a condo, I can't put a dish on my roof, so I am therefore given an ominous choice: rabbit ears or Comcast.......monopolies suck!
I too have more than one 6412 and was looking to add another one. Iwas told that they are in short supply right now, due to Motorola not being able to meet demand - which is why they are limiting them to one unit per household. I was also told to try again in a month - they expect things to ease.

Hey guys... if I buy one of those Motorola DCT 2244 units off ebay which supposedly supports QAM, will I be able to watch the basic comcast HD channels? I currently only have very basic analog service.


Don't know about that Moto box specifically. Does it have an ATSC tuner as well as a QAM tuner?

My Sony tv with a built in qam and ATSC tuner does pick up all the local HD channels with out paying anything in addition to the extended basic service that I am getting. The channel locations are weird (87.1, 87.2, etc). I have read that they are not permitted to encrypt the HD locals.

I do not get ESPN-HD, TNT-HD, Discovery-HD or the In-demands channels. I do get all the audio (music only) channels.

Don't know about that Moto box specifically. Does it have an ATSC tuner as well as a QAM tuner?

My Sony tv with a built in qam and ATSC tuner does pick up all the local HD channels with out paying anything in addition to the extended basic service that I am getting. The channel locations are weird (87.1, 87.2, etc). I have read that they are not permitted to encrypt the HD locals.

I do not get ESPN-HD, TNT-HD, Discovery-HD or the In-demands channels. I do get all the audio (music only) channels.

Cable uses QAM for digital and dosent need an ATSC tuner. The digital cable box maps each channel to the proper number designation. (WGBH-DT to 802,WBZ-DT to 804 ect....) A cable card will also map channels to the same numbers as a box and will decrypt services you wish to receive.

HD locals are considered part of the Lifeline basic tier.

Since you do not seem to have a card or box,you are currently getting extedned basic on analog channels. In most areas all of them are available digitally,but extedned basic digital will still be encrypted.

I too have more than one 6412 and was looking to add another one. Iwas told that they are in short supply right now, due to Motorola not being able to meet demand - which is why they are limiting them to one unit per household. I was also told to try again in a month - they expect things to ease.


thats exactly what I was told, that Motorola was struggling to keep up with demand (the silver lininig is high demand, I am glad to hear that)......the CSR was very helpful and even tried to get me a DVR box at the reg price, but those were short too....She gave me her personal contact info and said she would follow up. I told her I'd call back after the holidays to check on the status. She says she escalated the issue and the 2nd box was denied from above.

It makes me feel better that you heard it is expected to ease soon.

Not sure about other poster. but my condo's bylaws state that an antenna or dish can only be placed in indivdual unit owner's balcony. Two buidlings with 35 units in each. One faces south and some have dishes but mine faces north. Roof is "common" property and my guess is that they don't want 35 people plus churn number of dish's up there.

I don't disagree with you, that's why I commented that if he was in a large building and didn't face south, he may be out of luck. I was referring to the associations (I still see stories in the paper) that try and forbid them completely.

I was having problems with the 6412 box (random shutdown, lockup, reboot) and got a 3412 delivered today.

My 6412 was hooked up to the TV with a DVI -> HDMI cable.
The 3412 has HDMI output, so I plugged that in using a straight HDMI cable.

All HD channels have horizontal lines appearing randomly. I can't find any pattern to it. Enough to be annoying and evident if you watch for 15-30 seconds. When I a pause the TV when lines are present, the paused image does not have the lines (nor does the image when I continue playing via the DVR).

Any ideas? The 6412 box did not have this behavior. Both were hooked up to the TV HDMI input and the TV settings have not changed. Must be the box, right?

Anyone else seeing this behavior?

I asked this question a few weeks ago and got no responce. I'll try again:

Does anyone have the 12.22(?) not 12.18 fimrware fore the 6412 phase III? I hear that this firmware update fixes the Dolby Digital bug over HDMI.

I don't disagree with you, that's why I commented that if he was in a large building and didn't face south, he may be out of luck. I was referring to the associations (I still see stories in the paper) that try and forbid them completely.

I'll have to check my condo documents, I live in a townhouse style, 1 floor condo, so I have no one above me, and am on the end, so i have 1 neighbor on my side.......My condo is pretty restrictive, and I doubt Dish's on the roof are allowed, which isnt necessarily a bad thing, lookswise..............Stupid question, you can't put a dish in the attic right?

I'll have to check my condo documents, I live in a townhouse style, 1 floor condo, so I have no one above me, and am on the end, so i have 1 neighbor on my side.......My condo is pretty restrictive, and I doubt Dish's on the roof are allowed, which isnt necessarily a bad thing, lookswise..............Stupid question, you can't put a dish in the attic right?

No, you can't put a dish in the attic...The association may disallow dishes on the roof if a more aesthetic alternative is available. If you can mount it to a deck rail or put it on a pole in the ground, that can be an alternative. There's nothing wrong with making the neighborhood look nice, they just can't forbid you access to it completely.

I got my second 6412 without any problem...Why do you say that you can't put a dish up? Is it a physical limitation? The condo association can't prohibit you from installing a dish as it is illegal to do so (and has already been challenged in court without being overturned). This is a federal law and applys to standard TV antennae as well. If you're in a large building with no south facing mounting available, that's a different story.Yes they can prohibit you from putting up a dish for any number of reasons. Please let's not get into this here. This has been covered infinite times in the HD Hardware forum.

Did anyone else with a 6412 have lots of stuttering/stalling with yesterday's Patriots game?

I just had this same problem with a college hoops game I recorded off ESPNHD Thursday. Trying to play it back, I get frequent freezes and slowdowns....it's unwatchable. They do not take place at the same time each play. Tried unplugging it, no luck. I checked the 6412 thread on the hardware forum and didn't see anything about this from other people, maybe it's just the box going bad?

Is ADS done? According to a flyer included in my December cable bill, it is. In Bristol County it looks like only Boston OTA (except WGBH), C-SPAN,CN8, Disney, WJAR, QVC,HSN are ADS. Any info? Also, where is the new HD Channel offerings??

Is ADS done? According to a flyer included in my December cable bill, it is. In Bristol County it looks like only Boston OTA (except WGBH), C-SPAN,CN8, Disney, WJAR, QVC,HSN are ADS. Any info? Also, where is the new HD Channel offerings??

No ADS is not done yet, almost tho. No new HD offerings because there are no new HD chnls yet. It probably won't be until February we'll see new HD chnls.

UHD and ESPN2 will probably be first. Unfortunately I have little interest in either.:(

UHD and ESPN2 will probably be first. Unfortunately I have little interest in either.:(

These are the 2 I have the most interest in!

NATIONAL TREASURE on COMCAST HD tonight, just on (Nicolas Cage/Diane Kruger) shown on STARZ HD at 9.00 pm looked excellent in apparently 2:35 to 1 aspect ratio HD, excellent color and detail, viewed on a 96" screen via a Panasonic AE700u LCD hi def Front Projector

Glad to see (so far) that Comcast HD has not dumbed down the signal to "HD-Lite" like some of the Satellite DBS services are doing

Better quality than the movie theater

No ADS is not done yet, almost tho. No new HD offerings because there are no new HD chnls yet. It probably won't be until February we'll see new HD chnls.

In Laawrence ADS has been done for some time now.
Once finished everywhere there should be a short transitional period then Extedned basic channels should start geting digital ONLY!

I asked this question a few weeks ago and got no responce. I'll try again:

Does anyone have the 12.22(?) not 12.18 fimrware fore the 6412 phase III? I hear that this firmware update fixes the Dolby Digital bug over HDMI.


Everyone with a DCT6412 III please help. Does anyone have the 12.22 or higher firmware? Has anyone gotten the box in the last month or recently?

Hit Menu - Menu - Setup - Cable Box Setup Configuration (Select to display) to check the firmware.

If you gotten this box in the past month do you have 12.18? I was thinking of calling my local office every Tuesday to see if a new shipment came in and just swaping the box until I get 12.22+ firmware. It would nice to know if the 12.22 firmware even exists for us in the Boston area.

When you call comcast their morons stating they can't upgrade the firmware, someone there can definately do updates, maybe not the morons that do the phone support.

Everyone with a DCT6412 III please help. Does anyone have the 12.22 or higher firmware? Has anyone gotten the box in the last month or recently?

Hit Menu - Menu - Setup - Cable Box Setup Configuration (Select to display) to check the firmware.

If you gotten this box in the past month do you have 12.18? I was thinking of calling my local office every Tuesday to see if a new shipment came in and just swaping the box until I get 12.22+ firmware. It would nice to know if the 12.22 firmware even exists for us in the Boston area.

When you call comcast their morons stating they can't upgrade the firmware, someone there can definately do updates, maybe not the morons that do the phone support.

First off, calling people morons is going to get you nowhere. The old saying "Takes one to know one..." well...

Anyways, when upgrades are available and approved they are sent out en masse to all boxes of the specific type. They aren't done on an individual basis for people who scream loud. For the HD boxes (DVR and non-DVR) they come in with no firmware loaded at all. Each cable company loads on whatever firmware package they have approved for their markets. So, the only thing calling and swapping your box often is going to do is 1) Mark you as "Oh great, its him again." and 2) You'll have to keep paying for service calls to get that box swapped out. If 12.18 is the currently approved version, you are going to keep getting a box with 12.18 until a new version is approved and released... and then of course your box will be updated along with everyone else's.

Besides, better dealing with the bugs you know about then the ones that come along in the next revision. :)

If you gotten this box in the past month do you have 12.18? I was thinking of calling my local office every Tuesday to see if a new shipment came in and just swaping the box until I get 12.22+ firmware. It would nice to know if the 12.22 firmware even exists for us in the Boston area.
when upgrades are available and approved they are sent out en masse to all boxes of the specific type. They aren't done on an individual basis for people who scream loud. For the HD boxes (DVR and non-DVR) they come in with no firmware loaded at all. Each cable company loads on whatever firmware package they have approved for their markets.
As they used to say in the intro to the old Outer Limits TV show:
"We are in control of the transmission... we will control all that you see and hear."

Fox sometimes goes to full 720p for sports events and a few other things

in some locations in massachusetts, if you already have regular digital and want to go to HD, Comcast simply has you pick up the HD boxes, and skips the install - which is far better - or maybe that was common before - I am not sure

in some locations in massachusetts, if you already have regular digital and want to go to HD, Comcast simply has you pick up the HD boxes, and skips the install - which is far better - or maybe that was common before - I am not sure

When I had the first DVR installed I seemed to know more then the installer and ended up hooking it up myself.

When I had the first DVR installed I seemed to know more then the installer and ended up hooking it up myself.

Same here and with cablecard as well. I spoke to one good rep who said that I couldn't just pick it up and install myself with them over the phone. She didn't doubt I was capable, but said they have the install mandate because the majority of people find all this way to confusing. Easy to forget that we are the minority and a vast amount of people wouldn't know dvi form hdmi. But they're learning...

I know this has been posted many times but the thread search tools return too many hits for me to search them all.

What is the difference in terms of HD between Digital Plus and Digital Classic. The channel guide that I found on comcast-ne.com list only 833 & 838 for both packages.

If it is not too much trouble what is the difference in SD channels between Digital Plus and Digital Classic. The description on Comcast's site leads me to believe there are additional channels beyond what the blurb below says.

Digital Classic

Includes digital channels such as BBC America, Discovery Health, ESPN News, Independent Film Channel, National Geographic, Noggin, The Science Channel and Style. You also get access to multiple channels of iN DEMAND Pay-Per-View, free and pay ON DEMAND programming and a wide variety of commercial free digital music. This package also includes TV Guide Interactive™.


Digital Plus

Includes all of the channels in Digital Classic, in addition to other digital channels such as Biography Channel, Nick Toons, History Channel International, Discovery Home and Leisure, Toon Disney, Lifetime Movie Network, Great American Country, MTV2 and more. You also get the Encore channel pack, access to multiple channels of iN DEMAND Pay-Per-View and a wide variety of commercial free digital music. This package also includes TV Guide Interactive™.

Perhaps a mod can make this info part of the first post or somehow sticky in this thread.

Sign the Petition to have Comcast add HDNET :

http://www.**************.com/comcast1/petition.htmlIn case anybody hasn't seen this and wants HDNET. Not very many people have seen it or nobody cares because I was just number 299!

larry

I just signed it

When I had the first DVR installed I seemed to know more then the installer and ended up hooking it up myself.

I've installed all the HD boxes from Comcast, of course all my equipment is installed in shelving tucked back in a close under the stairs. I wouldn't expect, or want, the installer poking around back there. :D

Quick question. I am having a dvr installed, replacing my 6200. I read something about a Phase 3 box. Can anyone tell me what I should be asking for and more importantly what I should be looking for when the install rep arrives. Thanks

Just noticed Easton (Bristol County) now has all ADS.

Also signed petition.

I know this has been posted many times but the thread search tools return too many hits for me to search them all.

What is the difference in terms of HD between Digital Plus and Digital Classic. The channel guide that I found on comcast-ne.com list only 833 & 838 for both packages.

If it is not too much trouble what is the difference in SD channels between Digital Plus and Digital Classic. The description on Comcast's site leads me to believe there are additional channels beyond what the blurb below says.



Perhaps a mod can make this info part of the first post or somehow sticky in this thread.
When it comes to HD the locals are considered part of the Limited basic broadcast package.

TNT-HD,Discovery Home THeatre,INHD,INHD2 (including NESN/FSN HD)and ESPN-HD are part of digital Classsic.

You do not need to get extended basic in order to get digital,which means some of us GET TNT and ESPN-HD but NOT the SD versions.

These channels come with digital classic (in addtion to TNT-HD,Discovery Home THeatre,the INHDsand ESPN-HD )
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movieplex (I think you may need extended basic to get this one,or it is listed as Not authorized if you get digital plus)
Flix
National Geographic
Style
IFC- Independent Film channel
TVOne
WE
PBS Sprout
G4
Nick toons
Discovery Kids
Noggin / the N
Discovery Health
Science channel
Nick west
Trinity
JWLTV -Shopping
BFC
Word gospel
EWTN fulltime
BBC America
Weatherscan
ESPNews
AZT Television
MTV hits
MTV2
VH1Soul
VH1 Classic
MTV Jams

Digital plus consists of aLL the channels i nDigital classic plus these
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Sundance Channel
Encore Action
Encore Love
Encore Mystery
Encore Drama
Encore Westerns
Toon disney
Nick GAS
Encore WAM!
Fit TV
Inspirational Life
Discovery Home and Leisure
fine living
DIY
History Int
Biography
Discovery Times
Milirtary channel
NFL Network
VH1country
GAC
logo
Encore (including Ecnore on Demand)
MTV Espanol

<<<<<< 12/15 update >>>>>>>>
CMT (New!)
Fuse
Oxygen
TVG

These channels are now viewable with Digital plus .Some may also be viewable with digital classic

TNT-HD experiencing digital breakups this week making some movies unwatchable

I currently subscribe to expanded basic analog service. I have one drop plugged directly into an HDTV on which I am receiving the HD versions of the regional OTA channels that broadcast in HD, plus the various WGBH digital services, by virtue of the TV's assorted included tuners. I have neither STB nor CC, but the TV can accept CC. Question: What is the lowest cost route to adding Speed Channel which is included in Comcast's digital Premier and Sports packs? I have gotten a variety of answers from a variety of Comcast phone sales agents. I would like to retain access to the analog expanded basic channels for my wife's use on an analog TV. I suspect that I may be driven to satellite, but would like to learn of any "sweet spots" in the Comcast jungle of options that would get me to Speed Channel without being held for ransom.

I currently subscribe to expanded basic analog service. I have one drop plugged directly into an HDTV on which I am receiving the HD versions of the regional OTA channels that broadcast in HD, plus the various WGBH digital services, by virtue of the TV's assorted included tuners. I have neither STB nor CC, but the TV can accept CC. Question: What is the lowest cost route to adding Speed Channel which is included in Comcast's digital Premier and Sports packs? I have gotten a variety of answers from a variety of Comcast phone sales agents. I would like to retain access to the analog expanded basic channels for my wife's use on an analog TV. I suspect that I may be driven to satellite, but would like to learn of any "sweet spots" in the Comcast jungle of options that would get me to Speed Channel without being held for ransom.

the cheapest way is going the cable card route with dig classic (required to ger premier or sports pack) 5.95, sports pack 4.95. + one time install 16.95, cable card, no monthly fee. your looking at a 10.90 monthly increase.

Just noticed Easton (Bristol County) now has all ADS.

How can I check for this and what difference should I notice?
Panasonic Plasma w/cable card.
Thanks

the cheapest way is going the cable card route with dig classic (required to ger premier or sports pack) 5.95, sports pack 4.95. + one time install 16.95, cable card, no monthly fee. your looking at a 10.90 monthly increase.

since Sports Pack is a truly alacarte service,you do not even need digital classic. (This is what a friend was told when she wanted a package that included NFL Network but not Logo -she gets digital classic anyway to access ON Demand.)

Can't help with cable card but I did just recently switch from DTV and feel the HD is much improved. As for TV's I'm a big Hitachi fan, one main reason is their presets are great. I have not touched any setting since taking it out of the box !!!! It's a 60V710 and the picture is fantastic.


Really? Where are your contrast and brightness set to?

Yes full ADS in Bristol County. Noticed that there are analog feeds for WGBH on 97,CN8 on 903, NECN on 908 and WJAR on 910. Also, all audio is mono if connected from the box via the RF output of the box. Need RCA cables from audio out to get stereo. Also,how does one access a SAP channels if it is being broadcast?

mgpt6, for SAP, go into the audio menu and switch to spanish language.

Quick question. I am having a dvr installed, replacing my 6200. I read something about a Phase 3 box. Can anyone tell me what I should be asking for and more importantly what I should be looking for when the install rep arrives. Thanks HDMI output instead of DVI.

larry

Look what I saw on the comcast web site:
* Standard Cable (Basic Cable plus Expanded Basic Cable) must be purchased in order to receive Channels 2 through 98 with any Digital Cable Package. Customers who subscribe to Basic Cable only will receive up to 26 channels in addition to those included with the Digital package of their choosing.

Explicit proof that extended basic is NOT REQUIRED to get digital cable. I know most folks here know that and in other parts of the country people have to get extended ,even on other Comcast systems.

Look what I saw on the comcast web site:
* Standard Cable (Basic Cable plus Expanded Basic Cable) must be purchased in order to receive Channels 2 through 98 with any Digital Cable Package. Customers who subscribe to Basic Cable only will receive up to 26 channels in addition to those included with the Digital package of their choosing.



Can you post a link ?

Can you post a link ?

check the channel lineup.

Be Careful with the low end Black Moto Cable Boxes!

My Friend had Comcast come out and hook up his TV to standard digital service and they used the new low end Moto box. The box only offers Component, Composite and Coax hookups. His TV is 10 years old and has only has composite, S-Video and Coax inputs. After going throught the set ups I couldn't even set the box to output 480P, I don't think Coax or Composite support that. He's returning the box and going to get one that has a S-Video output so he can at least get 480P. I've got a Moto 5100 box outputing 480P to my old Sony and it looks much better than his coax connection

Be Careful with the low end Black Moto Cable Boxes!

My Friend had Comcast come out and hook up his TV to standard digital service and they used the new low end Moto box. The box only offers Component, Composite and Coax hookups. His TV is 10 years old and has only has composite, S-Video and Coax inputs. After going throught the set ups I couldn't even set the box to output 480P, I don't think Coax or Composite support that. He's returning the box and going to get one that has a S-Video output so he can at least get 480P. I've got a Moto 5100 box outputing 480P to my old Sony and it looks much better than his coax connection

the black moto boxes are for analog tvs. the max resolution you can get is 480i. there is no way you can change the output on a regular digital box. if he wants a 480p signal, he has to pay extra for a hd box, which is a pointless added expense if he doesn't have a hd tv.

Be Careful with the low end Black Moto Cable Boxes!

My Friend had Comcast come out and hook up his TV to standard digital service and they used the new low end Moto box. The box only offers Component, Composite and Coax hookups. His TV is 10 years old and has only has composite, S-Video and Coax inputs. After going throught the set ups I couldn't even set the box to output 480P, I don't think Coax or Composite support that. He's returning the box and going to get one that has a S-Video output so he can at least get 480P. I've got a Moto 5100 box outputing 480P to my old Sony and it looks much better than his coax connection

S-video doesn't support 480p. Even if it could, no 10 year old TV that I know of can accept/display a 480p signal...The only benefit of a different box is the slight improvement of S-video over composite, but it would still be 480i only. Don't think it would be worth any extra cost IMO.

the black moto boxes are for analog tvs. the max resolution you can get is 480i. there is no way you can change the output on a regular digital box. if he wants a 480p signal, he has to pay extra for a hd box, which is a pointless added expense if he doesn't have a hd tv.

I wouldn't say that. The HD boxes tunes channels faster and can downconvert HD channels to a letterboxed SD version :)

Here is an interesting one...I was talking with a friend, who like me has the 6412 in MA, and he was watching last night's Simpsons episode after he recorded it, starting around 8:45. At 9, when the President's speech started, he said that playback of the Simpsons stopped and the DVR switched to the live Fox 25 feed!!! Is there any possible way the DVR could have done this, like picking up some flag in the broadcast?

CBS Letterman CBS Hi def far better picture quality than Leno Hi def on NBC

S-video doesn't support 480p. Even if it could, no 10 year old TV that I know of can accept/display a 480p signal...The only benefit of a different box is the slight improvement of S-video over composite, but it would still be 480i only. Don't think it would be worth any extra cost IMO.


Please educate me here. I thought that any tube TV can display 480P, just like a progressive scan DVD player outputs 480P over S-Video. I have a 10 year old sony hooked up to a Moto 5100 though a S-video cable. The picture looks much better when I set the box to 480P rather than 480i.

Thoughts?

Are there many cablecard users here ? If so what version of firmware do you have ? I have 4.05. I am wondering if CC firmware is same for the entire region of varies from HE to HE.

BTW - I know there are newer versions of CC firmware, just not sure if they are an improvement :)

Please educate me here. I thought that any tube TV can display 480P,

Nope

just like a progressive scan DVD player outputs 480P over S-Video.

Nope here too


I have a 10 year old sony hooked up to a Moto 5100 though a S-video cable. The picture looks much better when I set the box to 480P rather than 480i.

S-video has no idea what 480P is. You probably are getting a better picture do to the internal scaler in the moto box is all. Just like if you have a HD box and no HD set you can watch the stations in downrezed 480i.[/QUOTE]

Are there many cablecard users here ? If so what version of firmware do you have ? I have 4.05. I am wondering if CC firmware is same for the entire region of varies from HE to HE.

BTW - I know there are newer versions of CC firmware, just not sure if they are an improvement :)

Mine is 4.05 also. i have wondered if comcast will bother allocating any resources to this technology since it is not a money maker for them. My feeling is no and we probably won't see firmware upgrades unless absolutely necessary.

COMCAST HD + MOT 6412 + 100" screen size Hi Def 720p projected pic = often is better than real movies in real movie theaters

glad to see (unlike Satellite), Comcast HD (so far) has not gone to HD Lite

Any news on new channels?
FREAK!

In Burlington only a few channels ( in the 0-99 range) are transmitted in ADS.
Any ideas when all the channels will be ADS.

In Burlington only a few channels ( in the 0-99 range) are transmitted in ADS.
Any ideas when all the channels will be ADS.

Make a double check.
Lawrence has had ALL of THEM transmitted that way for months.

Make a double check.
Lawrence has had ALL of THEM transmitted that way for months.

I did check and double check. To make matters worse , the channels which are not in ADS is of very poor quality.

Here is an interesting one...I was talking with a friend, who like me has the 6412 in MA, and he was watching last night's Simpsons episode after he recorded it, starting around 8:45. At 9, when the President's speech started, he said that playback of the Simpsons stopped and the DVR switched to the live Fox 25 feed!!! Is there any possible way the DVR could have done this, like picking up some flag in the broadcast?

Sounds like your friend Aesop may have been telling some more fables. ;)

I did a count today to see how many channels have converted to ADS here in Watertown. I count 13, which I don't think has changed much in the last few months.

COMCAST HD tonight via HBO-HD broadcast PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - looked fantastic on a 96" screen powered by a Pan AE700u LCD Front Projector. Thanks to Comcast, HBO, and Andrew Lloyd Webber - television at its best

Was it in the right aspect ratio though? I've given up watching a lot of HBO-HD since they crop their shows.

Was it in the right aspect ratio though? I've given up watching a lot of HBO-HD since they crop their shows.

Generally just many of the scope ones but not all :(

The regular 1.85:1 films are in OAR! :)

Since Phantom was Widescreen 2.40:1, I'm assuming that the HBO-HD broadcast was severely cropped then? Glad I passed on it then.

I did a count today to see how many channels have converted to ADS here in Watertown. I count 13, which I don't think has changed much in the last few months.

How can you check do see if a chanell is ADS?

Was it in the right aspect ratio though? I've given up watching a lot of HBO-HD since they crop their shows.

According to this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=621548) it was not OAR but it looks like people still enjoyed it. I recorded it but haven't watched it yet.

Speaking of HBO, I have been thinking of dumping it since there is alot of fluff on the HD (re-run of HBO series, nfl show, etc.) What movie channel do most people gravitate towards for good HD quality movies ? I am thinking of switching to Starz.

I don't doubt that people enjoyed it; I know my wife watched it and really liked the visuals for it. I'm just one of those freaks that knowing that it's been cropped means I can't bring myself to watch it.

I still keep HBO for their original series and for the new premiers but I find myself actually watching Cinemax HD far more as they typically keep the right OAR and do a good mix of older and newer movies.

Hello,

I was looking for some advice from my fellow Comcast community. I have always had standard analog cable connected directly to TV with no STB. I am in the process of reviewing HDTVs and leaning towards the 40" Sony Bravia and therefore would be upgrading my service. TI am also considering a new receiver with HDMI switching and connecting cable from STB to that and then on to TV. The Comcast website does a horrible job imo in providing straightforward information as to what is really required for someone like me who has the following goals/criteria:

1. Minimize my bill increase which is currently $45/mo.

2. Maintain an equivalent level of service with basic HD channels.

3. Bravia has Cablecard slot but based on problems I am hearing with cablecards, I will probably break down and go to a STB.

4. Have to have Red Sox in HD!!

Based on the above can someone tell me what my best options are? Do I need to specifically request an STB with HDMI output or are these standard these days?

All and any advice is much appreciated!

Hello,

I was looking for some advice from my fellow Comcast community. I have always had standard analog cable connected directly to TV with no STB. I am in the process of reviewing HDTVs and leaning towards the 40" Sony Bravia and therefore would be upgrading my service. TI am also considering a new receiver with HDMI switching and connecting cable from STB to that and then on to TV. The Comcast website does a horrible job imo in providing straightforward information as to what is really required for someone like me who has the following goals/criteria:

1. Minimize my bill increase which is currently $45/mo.

2. Maintain an equivalent level of service with basic HD channels.

3. Bravia has Cablecard slot but based on problems I am hearing with cablecards, I will probably break down and go to a STB.

4. Have to have Red Sox in HD!!

Based on the above can someone tell me what my best options are? Do I need to specifically request an STB with HDMI output or are these standard these days?

All and any advice is much appreciated!


If you are willing to forgo the analog channels 24-69 (in most areas) you can save some BIG time cash!

HD locals (2,4,5,7,9,25,38,and 56) are considered part of BASIC service (around $10 a month)

HD channels (ESPN HD,TNT HD, discovery HT,INHD1 and 2 {including your Red Sox} is part of Digital Classic currently going for $5.95 a month.



You do NOT need to get extended basic in order to get digital cable.


You do have to call the office to get this tier buy through. You cannot order it on the website.

My recommendation

Basic service (Around $10,currently $8.10 in my city ,let's use that for comparision)

Digital Classic $5.95

HD DVR $15.00 (They do have them with HDMI outputs)

General total $29.05 before taxes compared to $47 folks with standard cable only pay :)

Note: not ALL Red Sox games are in HD. Those that aren't will be seen on NESN-SD only and will not be available to you (unles you chose to maintain standard cable)

Note: although you would not get ESPN or TNT in standard,yoiu WILL get the HD channels. :)

MHD,Universal HD,and ESPN2-HD MAY be on the horizon.

Hello,

I was looking for some advice from my fellow Comcast community. I have always had standard analog cable connected directly to TV with no STB. I am in the process of reviewing HDTVs and leaning towards the 40" Sony Bravia and therefore would be upgrading my service. TI am also considering a new receiver with HDMI switching and connecting cable from STB to that and then on to TV. The Comcast website does a horrible job imo in providing straightforward information as to what is really required for someone like me who has the following goals/criteria:

1. Minimize my bill increase which is currently $45/mo.

2. Maintain an equivalent level of service with basic HD channels.

3. Bravia has Cablecard slot but based on problems I am hearing with cablecards, I will probably break down and go to a STB.

4. Have to have Red Sox in HD!!

Based on the above can someone tell me what my best options are? Do I need to specifically request an STB with HDMI output or are these standard these days?

All and any advice is much appreciated!

I can provide some commentary.

1. Re-consider the purchase of the Sony Bravia. The black is nearly grey and the overall picture provided makes this an overpriced selection. If your budget permits, consider one of the plasmas, with Panasonic offering good price-performance.

2. It is likely that your bill will increase perhaps as much as another $20-$40/month.
The HD service, plus the box rental, plus the minimum channel package will move you beyond $45 rather easily I believe.

3. At the moment, do not select cable card. Comcast is about delivering content so most of what they offer is related to program options. For example, if you get the card you cannot access certain "On Demand" options. This may or may not matter to you but then you will be missing what Comcast is really good at ( sort of).

4. The HDMI issue is a non-issue. It merely is a way of combining audio and video connection in a more convenient way than several connectors. The new STBs include HDMI connection. Component works OK too.

5. As a member of the Nation, I can refer you to my item one. The Red Sox HD transmission looks very good on my Panasonics and Phillips displays (plasma and LCD (small, respectively). I found the transmissions from Fenway and a few other parks to be very good, but keep in mind that not all away games are available in HD.

6. If you have a choice I can recommend the Motorola 6412 or one of its relatives from Comcast that includes at least one tuner and DVR. The latter function can change your viewing techniques.
7. If you can, plan to connect the audio output from the STB to your audio system. Do not purchase nor use the audio available in the displays.
8. Comcast is about content.
9. Comcast is about content.
10. In view of 8 and 9, plan to be mystified by the diversity of quality of the video and sound feeds that you get.

2. It is likely that your bill will increase perhaps as much as another $20-$40/month.
The HD service, plus the box rental, plus the minimum channel package will move you beyond $45 rather easily I believe.



if he wants to keep ANALOG extended basic. (no HD on extended basic)

According to this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=621548) it was not OAR but it looks like people still enjoyed it. I recorded it but haven't watched it yet.

Speaking of HBO, I have been thinking of dumping it since there is alot of fluff on the HD (re-run of HBO series, nfl show, etc.) What movie channel do most people gravitate towards for good HD quality movies ? I am thinking of switching to Starz.

I had HBO and Showtime, but cancelled both. HBO has the best selection, but butchers all their movies to 16:9. Showtime does the best job of keeping OAR, but typically would only have 3-4 movies/month that were interesting to me. From what I've read, Starz has a lot of upconverts and Cinemax was similar to HBO (maybe that's changing?). So I am sticking with DVD and hoping for Blu Ray soon!

Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate it, a few follow-ups:

I can provide some commentary.

1. Re-consider the purchase of the Sony Bravia. The black is nearly grey and the overall picture provided makes this an overpriced selection. If your budget permits, consider one of the plasmas, with Panasonic offering good price-performance.

LOL... I have been reading about this battle for months now and it came down to this and a particular Panasonic Plasma. My eyes were the judge and for me, I preferred the Sony.

2. It is likely that your bill will increase perhaps as much as another $20-$40/month.
The HD service, plus the box rental, plus the minimum channel package will move you beyond $45 rather easily I believe.

Wow....That much really?

3. At the moment, do not select cable card. Comcast is about delivering content so most of what they offer is related to program options. For example, if you get the card you cannot access certain "On Demand" options. This may or may not matter to you but then you will be missing what Comcast is really good at ( sort of).

Although the "On Demand" would be nice it is not that important to me. If the STB is a big adder, I may give the cablecard a shot

4. The HDMI issue is a non-issue. It merely is a way of combining audio and video connection in a more convenient way than several connectors. The new STBs include HDMI connection. Component works OK too.

Do you think component quality is as good as HDMI?


6. If you have a choice I can recommend the Motorola 6412 or one of its relatives from Comcast that includes at least one tuner and DVR. The latter function can change your viewing techniques.

Don't care about DVR? Are others available with HDMI?

7. .....Do not purchase nor use the audio available in the displays. .

What do you mean by "displays"?

Don't care about DVR? Are others available with HDMI?



If you don't care about DVR then I would go with a cablecard TV and avoid the STB rental fee and probably get better PQ as a bonus (assuming the de-interlacer is better then one in the STB).

Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate it, a few follow-ups:



LOL... I have been reading about this battle for months now and it came down to this and a particular Panasonic Plasma. My eyes were the judge and for me, I preferred the Sony.




Wow....That much really?





Although the "On Demand" would be nice it is not that important to me. If the STB is a big adder, I may give the cablecard a shot



Do you think component quality is as good as HDMI?






Don't care about DVR? Are others available with HDMI?


What do you mean by "displays"?


1.Unless your eyes made the call from a Comcast feed in HD, I would recommend a revisit to your decision.

2.Everyone I know who migrates exceeds their budget. I hope you you escape with the minimum.

3. (Component vs HDMI) In most cases the differences are not apparent. Keep in mind that the variation in quality of the feeds provided to Comcast and sent to you will be far more noticeable.

4. I believe all new Motorola boxes come with HDMI. Confirm with Comcast when and if you migrate.

5. Audio in displays: Many models of "TVs" and video "monitors" include audio amps and speakers. Avoid them is my recommendation, independent of Comcast.

Thanks "lpfactor". You seem very anti-Comcast? Have you considered satellite?

Thanks "lpfactor". You seem very anti-Comcast? Have you considered satellite?

Not anti Comcast at all. One of the main reasons I have not migrated to satellite is that the Red Sox are available on Comcast and so far not as often, if at all, on satellite. So far I've got no issues with Comcast other than it would be easy for me to blow my budget to get some of the content.

How can you check do see if a chanell is ADS?

I used to use this time-consuming method:

1) Turn off STB

2) Immediately Press "OK" button (within 3 seconds), get menu.

3) Scroll down to option #4, which will tell you whether a channel is ANALOG or 256 QAM.

Then I noticed that all the digital channels have a Dolby logo (you know, the "D" facing a backwards "D") in the info bar. That's *much* faster.

Was it in the right aspect ratio though? I've given up watching a lot of HBO-HD since they crop their shows.


no doubt cropped where necessary, however overall it looks great

There is a key scene near the end where Christine gives back the ring - basically it starts by showing the Phantom singing to the (cymbal clapping monkey) musical box and the camera sweeps left (keeping the Phantom far left) very slowly as Christine then appears in the far right of the screen, so the Phantom ends up in profile on the far left screen and Christine facing forward extreme far right, and this works very nicely in 16:9

5 minutes earlier (in I believe the key scene of the movie) when she puts the ring on- some cropping does appear as you can almost miss her putting it on if you don't watch for it

This movie should do well on HD-DVD or Blu-ray once the people start putting more mega-screen HD's in their homes

I definitely adding another MOT 6412 in a few weeks, because movies like PHANTOM are just too good to not keep in permanent storage on the HARD DRIVE - at least until HD-DVD and Blu-ray hit the market

[QUOTE=lpfactor]I can provide some commentary.

1. Re-consider the purchase of the Sony Bravia. The black is nearly grey and the overall picture provided makes this an overpriced selection. If your budget permits, consider one of the plasmas, with Panasonic offering good price-performance.

Agree on the Sony but I'd avoid the Plasma. Your paying for the picture frame design. From a price/performance standpoint a DLP (like the Samsung) is far superior:
1) No burn in from network logo's, video games , attached PC
2) Superior picture brightness
3) Superior long term brightness (renewable with a simple bulb change). A plasma's brightness is degrading every minute you use it (and it's non-reversible)
3) Excellent side-to-side visibility
4) Excellent blacks
5) Size - Still very light (90 lbs for a 56") and approx 20" deep
6) Cheaper for similar features

According to this faq (http://www.comcast.com/Support/Corp1/FAQ/Faq2_356_0.html) the family tier won't be available to the end of 2006 ? Is this true ? Anyone know when out area will get the family tier ?

I have a samsung plasma and play alot of games for the last 3 years on it. No burn in. Network logos etc, no burn in.
Side to side visability is amazing
Brightness could be better but does not effect movies or games to any noticable extent.
On the wall with a picture frame I had made to order via the web for under $100 and it looks like frmaed art. Now my buddies DLP looks very nice but it dominates the whole livingroom. Keep the Mrs happy and go with the plasma.
Last Rant, id stay away from LCD... I work in a NOC and we had started out with a few and just like a laptop display when you blow a pixel the screen is Sh*&. @ least with a plamsa when it gets a little dim after years of use you can adjust the brightness up..


[QUOTE=lpfactor]I can provide some commentary.

1. Re-consider the purchase of the Sony Bravia. The black is nearly grey and the overall picture provided makes this an overpriced selection. If your budget permits, consider one of the plasmas, with Panasonic offering good price-performance.

Agree on the Sony but I'd avoid the Plasma. Your paying for the picture frame design. From a price/performance standpoint a DLP (like the Samsung) is far superior:
1) No burn in from network logo's, video games , attached PC
2) Superior picture brightness
3) Superior long term brightness (renewable with a simple bulb change). A plasma's brightness is degrading every minute you use it (and it's non-reversible)
3) Excellent side-to-side visibility
4) Excellent blacks
5) Size - Still very light (90 lbs for a 56") and approx 20" deep
6) Cheaper for similar features

although I agree sony is generally overpriced (I own a XBR) I do belive your opinion on the bravia is dead wrong. its prob one of the best LCD's I have seen yet on the market. the blacks are very black for a LCD.

plus why buy a LCD when CRT still rules and in every catagory will give you a better picture. I bought a panny 26" WS set and for under $400 its a very nice set! pansonic does make great sets overall.

If you want an LCD, then you probably have space constraints that make a CRT impractical.

According to this faq (http://www.comcast.com/Support/Corp1/FAQ/Faq2_356_0.html) the family tier won't be available to the end of 2006 ? Is this true ? Anyone know when out area will get the family tier ?

Many people in this area laready havre ADS so they could technically start to offer it now.

One thing that surprises me is that Noggin/the N is NOT in this package. A possible reason is because many of the hsows on The N compnent are rated TV-PG and one episode of "Degrassi:TNG" ,the most popular show on that channel got a TV-14 rating.

Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate it, a few follow-ups:





I STILL say get the DVR. If viewing is mainly HD,you really do not need the extended basic channels .

Getting tier buy through with the DVR costs LESS then what you have now (standard cable with no box or HD, except HD locals if one has a QAM tuner)

Hello Everyone,

I really appreciate the comments to date and my main goal here is to try and figure out how to get the most bang for my buck with Comcast. I am looking for the advice similar to what "chitchatjf" has offered which I must say is a very creative way to get HD and nothing that I considered. Unfortunately, the bulk of what we watch is between those channels 24-69 which we wouldn't get with what you proposed but I am still thinking about it.

To update everyone on where I am at can best be summed up by frustration as I have inquired with Comcast on three different occasions with advice and have been very disappointed with the answers. Here is a sampling of what each rep has told me:

1. You can get HD with your current analog cable

2. You have to have the HD box from Comcast to get HD channels.

3. You cannot get HD channels if you want the cablecard

All I can say is Ughhhhh....... I was so frustrated after these three phone calls that I started looking at satellite as an option for HD. I feel like I cannot get an educated response from a Comcast customer service rep as to what is best for me. Very discouraging...

Anyway, if anyone can offer more advice (even on how to deal with Comcast) and rough pricing I'd appreciate it. One question, I have right now for everyone is if I do decide to get the STB, should I ask for a particular model # or will I get a good HD box from them regardless. I was a little unsure if the threads ont he boxes had to do with just HD boxes or DVR boxes. I any event, I was told that they are all out of HD boxes right now so I guess I have some more time to kick this all around in my head.

Thanks again AVS community!

1. You can get HD with your current analog cable

2. You have to have the HD box from Comcast to get HD channels.

3. You cannot get HD channels if you want the cablecard



hope this helps

1. Yes, you can get HD with current analog cable, but you tv must have a qam tuner & yo will only be able to get local HD chnls.

2. Yes, you need a Comcast HD box to get HD chnls that are not local HD chnls, ie ESPN, TNT, DISCOVERY & etc

3. With a cable card you can get all HD chnls available if you subscribe to them.

Every cable package includes local HD chnls, PBS, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, WB & UPN(if your in the Boston DMA)

Digital Classic ($5.95) or above will give you TNT-HD, ESPN-HD, DISCOVERY THEATER-HD, INHD1 & INHD2.

You need premium channels to get the HD counterpart

HD box is $8.25 for the 1st HD box. $10.70 for each additional HD box.

Cable card is $0 if its the only piece of cable equipment you have, if not its $2.45.

Cable card gives you everything the HD box has, except VOD & the on-screen guide or interactive ppv.

$16.95 for installation.

Short supply of HD boxes currently, you will need to be put on a waiting list.

All HD boxes are the same, you don't need to request a specific box.

HD outputs on the box are Component & DVI (you will need a DVI-D Dual Link Cable)

No HDMI on HD boxes, only the PHASE 3 or 3412 DVR has HDMI


If you decide to go down to basic & then change your mind, it will cost $11.95 to get a tech back out to make the change. Unless you are in the city of Boston, it cannot be done over the phone.

If you decide to go down to basic & then change your mind, it will cost $11.95 to get a tech back out to make the change. Unless you are in the city of Boston, it cannot be done over the phone.

Will this change (have to have tech come out) after full ADS?

Will this change (have to have tech come out) after full ADS?


Probably not until analog is completely gone or scrambled & you need to have a box on all sets. Right now you can have 2 sets one with a box & one with out a box. If done from the office the only set that can be affected is the one with the box. The set w/o the box would still get what ever the filter is not blocking.

"You have to have the HD box from Comcast to get HD channels."

I bought a LG LST-4200A HDTV/QAM tuner as I didnt want to spend $11 extra a month for their box in my bedroom. it might take me 3 years to pay off the LG box compared to paying $11 out a month to comcast but then atleast I will own the piece of equipment. 1 year down so far!

HD channels I dont get with my own tuner- TNT, ESPN, DISC, INHD 1 & 2. I dont watch a whole lot of TNT. I watch ESPN but not a whole lot unless a local game happens to be blacked out. DISC is a big waste of a channel=seen it/been played...etc, only INHD 1 & 2 I miss for celtics and red sox games in HD. but I do have a comcast box in the living room for that on my other HD tv. stilll I dont watch alot of prorams on those channels and again have been played over and over. most of what I watch is local free channels- primetime!

what you have to do is add up how much you watch on the channels you wont get. to me it doesnt add up to very much and those channels IMO wouldnt be a whole lot missed.

I find most of what I watch is 2,4,5,7,25,38,56. those are all the channels that play all the programs I watch at night and most of all the HD I watch are on those free and clear channels. I dont miss TNT, ESPN, DISC or the INHD channels at all in my bedroom as they get a very small percentage of viewing in my household anyway.


I have no idea why comcast charges $3 more(over the original $8) for a second box but thats a rip off and they lost business from me on the other boxes I would have rented. if anything it should be cheaper for each additional box. I will always rent one box from comcast for ondemand...etc but if I need another HD box I will buy another retail box again as the idea of owning rather than throwing money away to comcast appeals to me more.

the LG box is a killer box and has some great hidden features I wont go into.

I have heard such horror stories with cablecard but it really would be best suited for me. Anyone have any success stories? Also I would want 5.1DD with my home theater system if I went with cable card. Would that work and how would that connection go?

Otherwise, looks like I would have a $5.95 charge for Digital Classic and an $8.25 adder for the HD box correct? This sounds like it would give me the equivalent of my standard analog cable service with HD channels with minimal upcharge. I am also assuming this would include NESN in HD for Red Sox correct?

One more question, surprised HD box does not provide DVI or HDMI but if I do get this HD box, I assume that there is also an optical connection to allow DD audio to pass to receiver. Correct?

Thanks again!

Probably not until analog is completely gone or scrambled & you need to have a box on all sets. Right now you can have 2 sets one with a box & one with out a box. If done from the office the only set that can be affected is the one with the box. The set w/o the box would still get what ever the filter is not blocking.

L Supreme, Any idea when Burlington will be full ADS.

HD box does have DVI and optical out.

HD outputs on the box are Component & DVI (you will need a DVI-D Dual Link Cable)

You should only need a single link DVI cable, I don't think there are many (if any) displays using a dual link connection.

One advantage of Comcast over sat dish is that Comcast doesn't appear to down-sample the HD channels. I've heard that some sat companies reduce the bitrate (meaning reduce the PQ) in order to fit more channels on one transponder.

Or, I may have heard wrong, but I sure wouldn't want to pay good money to have "HD" channels that have been bitrate reduced by the carrier.

Need to vent a little, please hear me out.....Last week I bought a HD tv for the 1st time, so i called up Comcast and wanted to order a HD box(no DVR), but they said they were all out and would get some "sometime in January" so they told me they would give me a cable card until then. They said they were gonna come by this saturday to install the card....but of course 5 minutes ago they called me and said they were all out of cards, Id have to wait until January 10th to get one...So im pretty pissed off that they called me 2 days before they were supposed to come and cancel....So now I have to waiti over 2 weeks for my cablecard and who knows how long for my box


Now I have a question on the HD box...my buddy told me a few weeks ago that if i get the HD box, i should get the HDMI cables, for they are the best....So when I bought my HD tv last week, I also picked up the HDMI cables, the best ones i could find($120)...now Im reading that the HD boxes without the DVR doesnt support HDMI?? Please tell me this is not true....

One advantage of Comcast over sat dish is that Comcast doesn't appear to down-sample the HD channels. I've heard that some sat companies reduce the bitrate (meaning reduce the PQ) in order to fit more channels on one transponder.

Or, I may have heard wrong, but I sure wouldn't want to pay good money to have "HD" channels that have been bitrate reduced by the carrier.

"HD Lite" (as its referred to now happening) on selective Ku band satellite broadcasts, because unlike terrrestrial based cable - there in fact are severe capacity contraints facing Satellite broadcasters - for example a finite number of places to park satellites in space

Fortunately when HD-DVD and Blu-ray hi def discs hit the market, HD-lite showings of movies will become obvious to many when they compare the quality of a disc to whatever dumbing down the HD signal DirectTV or DISH is attempting

Need to vent a little, please hear me out.....

I hear you BrotherFred. At least you got someone in customer service to tell you that the cable card would work with HD. I think Comcast has gotten to big too care about the average customer and the service provided. Lucky for them, their content is good and in many areas (like mine), there aren't many other options. I find it frustrating. I am curious as to what the response to your e-mail is because I was going to go out and get an HDMI cable but now it looks like I'll need to get a converter one.

Need to vent a little, please hear me out.....Last week I bought a HD tv for the 1st time, so i called up Comcast and wanted to order a HD box(no DVR), but they said they were all out and would get some "sometime in January" so they told me they would give me a cable card until then. They said they were gonna come by this saturday to install the card....but of course 5 minutes ago they called me and said they were all out of cards, Id have to wait until January 10th to get one...So im pretty pissed off that they called me 2 days before they were supposed to come and cancel....So now I have to waiti over 2 weeks for my cablecard and who knows how long for my box


Now I have a question on the HD box...my buddy told me a few weeks ago that if i get the HD box, i should get the HDMI cables, for they are the best....So when I bought my HD tv last week, I also picked up the HDMI cables, the best ones i could find($120)...now Im reading that the HD boxes without the DVR doesnt support HDMI?? Please tell me this is not true....

1. it should have DVI at least, which is almost the same (w/o sound)

2. however not sure why you wouldn't get a combo hi def tuner/DVR, as- Comcast HD (ia the Motorola 6412) has the best deal going in the industry right now - plus once you get a DVR you will wonder how you did w/o it

Its worth every nickel extra

How much extra for the Tuner/DVR STB compared with just the Tuner STB?

Hi,

Just stopped by my local comcast office to finally upgrade my 5100 to a dvr. To my surprise I did not get a 6412, but instead got a 3412. Unfortunately the 3412 does not have a dvi-d connection, it has HDMI. So for now I'm using component connection.

The unit has been plugged in for about 30 minutes, and I'm getting the "this channel will be available shortly message" on all channels. Is this normal?

Thanks

Edit user error (had the cable connected to the wrong port)

Need to vent a little, please hear me out.....Last week I bought a HD tv for the 1st time, so i called up Comcast and wanted to order a HD box(no DVR), but they said they were all out and would get some "sometime in January" so they told me they would give me a cable card until then. They said they were gonna come by this saturday to install the card....but of course 5 minutes ago they called me and said they were all out of cards, Id have to wait until January 10th to get one...So im pretty pissed off that they called me 2 days before they were supposed to come and cancel....So now I have to waiti over 2 weeks for my cablecard and who knows how long for my box


Now I have a question on the HD box...my buddy told me a few weeks ago that if i get the HD box, i should get the HDMI cables, for they are the best....So when I bought my HD tv last week, I also picked up the HDMI cables, the best ones i could find($120)...now Im reading that the HD boxes without the DVR doesnt support HDMI?? Please tell me this is not true....

For the most part, cables are cables. $120 won't buy you a better picture than
ones that cost MUCH less. I got mine from svideo.com. Excellent prices.

Need to vent a little, please hear me out.....Last week I bought a HD tv for the 1st time, so i called up Comcast and wanted to order a HD box(no DVR), but they said they were all out and would get some "sometime in January" so they told me they would give me a cable card until then. They said they were gonna come by this saturday to install the card....but of course 5 minutes ago they called me and said they were all out of cards, Id have to wait until January 10th to get one...So im pretty pissed off that they called me 2 days before they were supposed to come and cancel....So now I have to waiti over 2 weeks for my cablecard and who knows how long for my box


Now I have a question on the HD box...my buddy told me a few weeks ago that if i get the HD box, i should get the HDMI cables, for they are the best....So when I bought my HD tv last week, I also picked up the HDMI cables, the best ones i could find($120)...now Im reading that the HD boxes without the DVR doesnt support HDMI?? Please tell me this is not true....

Brother Fred - I see you signed up to AVS just to vent :)

What do you expect Comcast do about low inventory ? Motorola makes such wonderful products (DVR & Cablecard) that Comcast can't buy them fast enough.

Do yourself a favor and return the $120 monster cable you bought and get a HDMI cable from blue jeans or monoprice (both forum sponsors), if you only need 3-6 feet lenght then you can probably get a hdmi-to-hdmi AND hdmi-to-dvi cable for 20 bucks.

L Supreme, Any idea when Burlington will be full ADS.


I would say before February/March

Brother Fred - I see you signed up to AVS just to vent :)

What do you expect Comcast do about low inventory ? Motorola makes such wonderful products (DVR & Cablecard) that Comcast can't buy them fast enough.

Do yourself a favor and return the $120 monster cable you bought and get a HDMI cable from blue jeans or monoprice (both forum sponsors), if you only need 3-6 feet lenght then you can probably get a hdmi-to-hdmi AND hdmi-to-dvi cable for 20 bucks.

Yea , i just found this website today and I love it...

So they sell hdmi to dvi cables? Im a rookie to this stuff so this is new to me..lol

Thanks for the info

For the last few days I'm getting no video, only audio, on ENPN HD (ch 849) and TNT HD (ch 833). I'm in Easton (Bristol County), using a Panasonic plasma with cable card, everything else is working fine. Anyone else seeing this problem? Thanks

Yea , i just found this website today and I love it...

So they sell hdmi to dvi cables? Im a rookie to this stuff so this is new to me..lol

Thanks for the info

I use one to connect my DVI PC to my HDMI TV.

For the last few days I'm getting no video, only audio, on ENPN HD (ch 849) and TNT HD (ch 833). I'm in Easton (Bristol County), using a Panasonic plasma with cable card, everything else is working fine. Anyone else seeing this problem? Thanks

Called Comcast, they reset the CCard and all is well.

Need to vent a little, please hear me out.....Last week I bought a HD tv for the 1st time, so i called up Comcast and wanted to order a HD box(no DVR), but they said they were all out and would get some "sometime in January" so they told me they would give me a cable card until then. They said they were gonna come by this saturday to install the card....but of course 5 minutes ago they called me and said they were all out of cards, Id have to wait until January 10th to get one...So im pretty pissed off that they called me 2 days before they were supposed to come and cancel....So now I have to waiti over 2 weeks for my cablecard and who knows how long for my box


Now I have a question on the HD box...my buddy told me a few weeks ago that if i get the HD box, i should get the HDMI cables, for they are the best....So when I bought my HD tv last week, I also picked up the HDMI cables, the best ones i could find($120)...now Im reading that the HD boxes without the DVR doesnt support HDMI?? Please tell me this is not true....

My cablecard works great. Getting it installed was another issue.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=597453&highlight=gee+cablecard

Don't give up.

Hello,

This is for Chaz01 and Contsi and anyone else with cc experience. I also live in Easton and considering cable card. Last time I checked Consti, youhad issues with 5.1 DD on the higher tiered channels with use of cable card. Is this an issue with you and/or Chaz01 anymore? I would like the cablecard but want to make sure I can take full advantage of my home theater set-up. Sounds like if I go this route I will need to be patient with Comcast and expect them to take a few trips to my house to get it to work right. Correct?

Hello,

This is for Chaz01 and Contsi and anyone else with cc experience. I also live in Easton and considering cable card. Last time I checked Consti, youhad issues with 5.1 DD on the higher tiered channels with use of cable card. Is this an issue with you and/or Chaz01 anymore? I would like the cablecard but want to make sure I can take full advantage of my home theater set-up. Sounds like if I go this route I will need to be patient with Comcast and expect them to take a few trips to my house to get it to work right. Correct?

Running optical out from the tv to reciver and no problems with 5.1

Has anyone else been experiencing very jittery video on most HD channels? I first noticed it before I left for a trip. After being gone for about a week, I checked tonight and the HD channels are still very jittery and jumpy.

None of the analog channels are like this. Let me know. I'd like to see if it's happening to others or if only I am experiencing it.

Has anyone else been experiencing very jittery video on most HD channels? I first noticed it before I left for a trip. After being gone for about a week, I checked tonight and the HD channels are still very jittery and jumpy.

None of the analog channels are like this. Let me know. I'd like to see if it's happening to others or if only I am experiencing it.

I haven't seen anything like you describe here in Hudson, HD channels have been working fine, especially the bowl games :)

Hd channels have been fine except Ch 809(ABC Manchester) has been a mess. Has anyone had this problem?

happy 2006!

Comcast techs are dopes.....

I was over my friends house on New Year Eve and he was showing off his New 60" hi def Sony connected to recently installed Moto 5100 box. He was proud, but the picture looked like crap to me. A quick tour of the service menu that I learned from this forum showed that the Comcast tech had hooked it up to the component connections but set the box to output at 480i. I set the box to 1080i and showed the TV in it's true glory. I do believe that statistics that show that 1/3 of the people have their TV's set up wrong

==
.......the Comcast tech had hooked it up to the component connections but set the box to output at 480i. I set the box to 1080i and showed the TV in it's true glory.
==

How do I verify this? I got the box installed last week.

Thanks.

download the manual:
http://broadband.motorola.com/hdtv/dct5100_manual.pdf

The easiest way on the 5100 and 6214 is to power up the unit, power it off, and quickly press the "select" button to throw it into the diagnostic mode and scroll down to the user settings section. To change the settings power up, then power down and quickly hit the "menu" button. This is all from memory, please download and read the manual to get the details right.

If you have a 16:9 TV with Component, DVI or HDMI ports Comcast probably hooked it up wrong and you don't know what you are missing

Has anyone else been experiencing very jittery video on most HD channels? I first noticed it before I left for a trip. After being gone for about a week, I checked tonight and the HD channels are still very jittery and jumpy.

None of the analog channels are like this. Let me know. I'd like to see if it's happening to others or if only I am experiencing it.

I had the same problem last week. I've had HD service and a 3412 DVR for about one week. Comcast had to come out 3 times (!) to replace the DVR unit---I'm on my 3rd---until it worked and I could actually watch HD channels without the annoying jitters. The first two boxes had this issue but the third did not and my problems were solved? Coincidence ... not sure.

-KJ

Hd channels have been fine except Ch 809(ABC Manchester) has been a mess. Has anyone had this problem?

happy 2006!

Yep, I am having that problem. They appear to be running the SD feed on 809.

When I had my DVR installed (before dumping it for a cablecard) the tech had the 4:3 set incorrectly (for my set). At the time, I had a crt projection and it wouldn't stretch the pic like I wanted. anyway, I showed him how to get into the menu and change it and he said he never knew how to do that. Comcast mandated that I have a "tech" appointment for the install and couldn't just pick up a box and do it myself.

Read these forums and educate yourself on the equipment. The techs do not.

Has anyone else been experiencing very jittery video on most HD channels? I first noticed it before I left for a trip. After being gone for about a week, I checked tonight and the HD channels are still very jittery and jumpy.

None of the analog channels are like this. Let me know. I'd like to see if it's happening to others or if only I am experiencing it.

Assuming you are using a STB what kind is it ? I am not having any problem with 6412P2.

Does anyone know if Comcast NE will be offering the Motorola boxes with Moxi on it any time this year? I was out at my brother's in Colorado over Christmas and he has one of these Mot/Moxi boxes. I had a chance to use it and I must say that its interface is leaps and bounds ahead of what we are currently using with the 6412. It was smooth, responsive, intuitive, and it looked pretty to boot. :-)

Tennberg, I believe Comcast signed a deal with TiVo last year to supply a TiVo interface to all their Motoroloa boxes to be rolled out in 2006. i could be wrong on that though.

===
The easiest way on the 5100 and 6214 is to power up the unit, power it off, and quickly press the "select" button to throw it into the diagnostic mode and scroll down to the user settings section. To change the settings power up, then power down and quickly hit the "menu" button. This is all from memory, please download and read the manual to get the details right.

If you have a 16:9 TV with Component, DVI or HDMI ports Comcast probably hooked it up wrong and you don't know what you are missing
===

I did this and the output is set to 1080i in the STB.
My TV is only 720p.
Is this good or should I change the component output to 720p?

WMUR lost their HD STL microwave, so they are encoding the analog feed at the tower. They hope to have it back up tomorrow.
Mallego

UHD, where are you?:(

===

===

I did this and the output is set to 1080i in the STB.
My TV is only 720p.
Is this good or should I change the component output to 720p?
===

with my limited understanding, a high def feed is defined as either 720P or 1080i, chose the setting that looks best on your TV. Setting the feed to 480i on a high def TV will result in a crappy picture and this appears to be the default setting on the boxes and the Comcast tech's don't always change it

Has anyone else been experiencing very jittery video on most HD channels? I first noticed it before I left for a trip. After being gone for about a week, I checked tonight and the HD channels are still very jittery and jumpy.

None of the analog channels are like this. Let me know. I'd like to see if it's happening to others or if only I am experiencing it.

I noticed some of my HD recordings were doing this. I switched to component, and had the STB output 720p. Jitter-free!

WMUR lost their HD STL microwave, so they are encoding the analog feed at the tower. They hope to have it back up tomorrow.
Mallego
Mallego.....
Thanks for the info!!
I was wondering what had happened....onne day I had 'em, the next I didn't!
Just curious who you talked to for the info....Do you know if Joe Patchikowski is still their Chief? This was several years ago....I worked at the transmitter back in the early '80s, before they even HAD STL....OR even 24 hour operation!!!! :p Maurice Wynne was the Chief back then.....

I was having horrible audio issues last night while watching Dirty Jobs on Discovery Channel (SD).

Drops every 30 or so seconds. Anyone else experience this last night?

I did this and the output is set to 1080i in the STB.
My TV is only 720p.
Is this good or should I change the component output to 720p?

Since the Motorola boxes don't allow "pass through", you have to pick. Some channels are 1080i and others 720p. So the 1080i stations have to be deinterlaced and scaled down to 720p for your display. The easiest thing to do is leave it at 720p and let the STB do the deinterlace/downscale. But your TV probably has a better deinterlacer/scalar, so the quality may be better if you set the output to 1080i and let the TV do the work. It's also a question of whether the difference is enough to make it worthwhile to change back and forth....

I was having horrible audio issues last night while watching Dirty Jobs on Discovery Channel (SD).

Drops every 30 or so seconds. Anyone else experience this last night?

I created a series recording for "It Takes A Thief", which airs on Discovery (SD). When I went to play it back, there would be periods of 5-8 seconds with no audio at all. The video was also a bit garbled at points. So, you're not alone.

Now that all the analogs are simulcast as digital, it seems like they're even a bit worse. Having an HD set makes only HD worth watching, which is both good and bad. Good because HD is superior to SD, bad, because there's still a lot of channels/content on SD.

Hi all:

I'm making the jump to Comcast, after having RCN for about 6 months. After placing my order, I decided to check back here to see what everyone's latest thoughts were, and came across the conversations on the dual-tuner dvr stb.

Will the installer (coming next week) give me one of the dual-tuner dvr moto boxes by default, or do I need to call Comcast back and specifically request one (as opposed to the single-tuner dvr)?

Thanks...

Hi all:

I'm making the jump to Comcast, after having RCN for about 6 months. After placing my order, I decided to check back here to see what everyone's latest thoughts were, and came across the conversations on the dual-tuner dvr stb.

Will the installer (coming next week) give me one of the dual-tuner dvr moto boxes by default, or do I need to call Comcast back and specifically request one (as opposed to the single-tuner dvr)?

Thanks...

I could be wrong, but I don't think they deploy the single tuner (6208) ones anymore. You will get either the 6412 phase II (DVI), 6412 phase III (HDMI), or 3412 (HDMI and digital only for places that have full ADS). Each one has their own issues and are discussed fully on other forum threads.

desanbo, check your private messages. Mallego

So when can I get my hands on a Panasonic (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=626325) STB :)

I am using a Digital Cable Ready (i.e., QAM tuner equipped) plasma with no cable card. I have been doing this for several weeks now. Other than the annoyance of having to figure out which digital channels were which (i.e., 86-3 = channel 5, ABC HD), everything was fine. A few days ago, I noticed that all of the digital channels give me sound but no video. I see that someone else using the cable card had this problem, and Comcast had to reset the cable card. Any thought on what I need to do to restore video on digital channels to my set?

The set is a Toshiba 42HP95, with Comcast cable. The cable is connected to the ANT 1 input, which has a QAM tuner. As I said, everything was fine for a few weeks, but now I get audio and no video.

Also - has anyone mapped out the digital channels? I spent a couple hours one night and made a nice long list of the unscrambled digital channels, but I was just wondering if anyone else had this info, or if there was an "official" source for it.

I wonder now that WSBK will no longer have Red Sox games if Bristol county will get WSBK.. Can dream anyway :)

Hi all. Please forgive me if this information has been mentioned elsewhere, but I've been searching these forums & googling for several weeks with no conclusive results.

I'm currently subscribing to the absolute basic Comcast cable service (something like $9/month) that gives me the standard broadcast channels, plus a handful of other cable channels. However, I also get the 50 or so basic cable offerings that you normally have to pay around $30 for, because Comcast hasn't set up the blocks in my part of Cambridge yet to distinguish between minimal customers (like me) and basic customers.

Anyway, I'm wondering if I can buy an HD tuner box that would allow to receive any in-clear HDTV stations that are being sent down my wire. Over Christmas, I picked up the Samsung SIR-T451, but that didn't seem to pick up much of anything - just the broadcast channels, but none of the other ATSC channels that I can receive on my TV, and no HD channels as far as I could tell.

I've heard that the LG LST-4200a is supposed to pick up Comcasts HD stuff, but I'm not sure if that applies to Comcast in the Boston area.

The funny thing is, I don't even have an HDTV in my house, just a decent 27" Wega with component inputs, but I'm sick of watching the local channels in SD, since on my Comcast line they come in extremely poorly - vertical bands on channel 7, static & poor signals on channels 4 & 5. When I was testing the T451, I hooked up an HD antenna and saw that the HD signal for those stations was nice & clean on my set. I'd just like to find a tuner box that can get all the info over the cable so I don't have to switch back & forth between video modes depending on which stations I want to watch.

Does anyone out there know what piece of hardware I can use to accomplish this?

Thanks,

-Steve

I'm a little cramped for space beneath my current TV stand (the limited space is already consumed by my receiver, dvd player, and PS2) ... I've currently got my RCN cable box (non-DVR) standing on its side to the left of the tv stand, nearly hidden from view. When I make the jump to a Comcast DVR next week, any ideas if I can retain this configuration, or will the hard disk suffer from being stood on its side constantly?

Also - has anyone mapped out the digital channels? I spent a couple hours one night and made a nice long list of the unscrambled digital channels, but I was just wondering if anyone else had this info, or if there was an "official" source for it.
Short answer - no.

My answer: Since I run mythtv I figured out most of them, but news ones are a royal pain.. I posted a while ago it would be nice to have the _first_ post in the thread always updated with the latest information so as not to have to search 4000 pages of this thread.

here is what I have:
802 - 84.1
804 - 87.2
805 - 86.1
807 - 86.2
809 - ?
825 - 87.1
838 - 85.5
856 - 84.2

I'm a little cramped for space beneath my current TV stand (the limited space is already consumed by my receiver, dvd player, and PS2) ... I've currently got my RCN cable box (non-DVR) standing on its side to the left of the tv stand, nearly hidden from view. When I make the jump to a Comcast DVR next week, any ideas if I can retain this configuration, or will the hard disk suffer from being stood on its side constantly?

The DVR is around the same size as the cable box (assuming you mean digital)

Hi all.
I'm currently subscribing to the absolute basic Comcast cable service (something like $9/month) that gives me the standard broadcast channels, plus a handful of other cable channels.
Anyway, I'm wondering if I can buy an HD tuner box that would allow to receive any in-clear HDTV stations that are being sent down my wire.

Does anyone out there know what piece of hardware I can use to accomplish this?

Thanks,

-Steve
Comcast uses QAM. Any QAM tuner should be able to techically give you the channels including digital versions of the SD channels and letterboxed downconverted versions of the HD signals.

The DVR is around the same size as the cable box (assuming you mean digital)

Yes, I figured they'd be about the same size... but will the hard drive suffer from being in a vertical state constantly (as opposed to the traditional horizontal sitting on a shelf...)?

Thanks --

the more I read, the more confused I get.
I'm having my first HDTV installed this weekend and want to know what to get through Comcast. Right now I have a very basic digital cable setup. Using Comcast's info on their lineup page, it appears to be Digital Premier.

I obviously want the HD channels with the new tv, but what I'm unclear about is this STB vs Cablecard mess. Comcast has very little info about Cablecards on their website and I've learned that unless I ask specifically for what I want, I'm unlikely to get help from Comcast.

I'm primarily interested in PQ. The TV supports HDMI inpots and I understand that if I get a newer box (probably one with DVR) that I will likely get a HDMI connection. I've also read the the cablecard generally provides a better picture for various reasons, but generally speaking because the TV provides a better decoder and there's far fewer configuration settings to potentially get wrong with the card over the box.

So, my questions are mainly in what do I get with the card vs the STB. I know it's a one way signal so I'm giving up On Demand programming (which I rarely use) and Comcast's On Screen Guide (which I use quite a bit). I know I'm also giving up being able to hit a button and getting pay per view, but I can still get it via phone or website. With the CC, does the tv's built in guide function on the digital channels and really all I'm giving up is Comcast's guide? or does it not work at all and i have to know what's on and what channel it might be on?

Also, what am I actually getting with the card? This is the most confusing aspect. I get a "free" card from Comcast and with that I get "basic service", which is (I think) channels 2-64ish and local HD channels (abc, nbc, CBS, Fox, WB, Upn) but nothing else? So, say I really want is the channels that come with the digital plus package (comedy central, bbc america, etc) Do I have to pay for the plus package, or is the card going to receive these without paying more than the standard price? Same with the HD channels, if I want ESPN and TNT, etc I have to pay the $10 additional for the HD package?

So, basically, that's what I want,

-Am I paying for all the packages and I'm really only saving the cost of the STB (and additional if its the DVR model)?

-Is the card capable of receiving all those channels or do I HAVE to get the STB?

-is the PQ that noticably better with the CC over the box that if PQ is my primary concern (which it is) I'd be better off getting a CC?

Sorry this question probably seems basic and is answered time and time again in this thread, but it's really long and hard to follow and know if all the information is up to date.

PQ on my set (JVC DILA) is noticeably better in both SD and HD with cablecard over Moto 6412 that I had.

Comcast was mandated by the Fed to offer cablecards. They will not promote because they don't make money. When you ask about one, they will give you the hard sell on a STB.

Because of above, the on screen guide will not work with the cablecard. I believe it should, but mine just gives the channel number, call letters and "no information available" when I hit the on screen guide button.

The cable card decodes the channels and maps them to your tv, letting the tv do the scaling. Channels and numbers will be the sam as with the box. Example-if HBO is channel 302 and HD HBO is channel 870, the channel numbers will be the same using the cablecard.

Bottom line for me is that the PQ was significantly better so I went cablecard. You could do both.

My experience here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=597453

can a comcast tech explain to me why the HD signals like ESPN, DISC,TNT and INHD are scrammbled ? I have my own cable box which does QAM tuning and I can get the clear channels but dont understand if the law says I can use my own box why I cannot get the channels I pay for on that other box in my bedroom ? is this done at the pole or the office ?


I think its funny I can pick up those channels on that same box on analog but cannot get the HD counterparts. its very frustrating and dont understand why these channels I pay for I can get over analog are scrambled in HD.

is there anything that can be done about that ?

Since I forget about the On Demand feature for weeks at a time, I was there last night and noticed that there is no more movie category for "Widescreen/Dolby" movies. Is there any way to tell beforehand what format the movie is in? I don't want to watch Batman Begins for the first time, for example, and end up with a butchered P&S cut. Or are they all WS now?

can a comcast tech explain to me why the HD signals like ESPN, DISC,TNT and INHD are scrammbled ? I have my own cable box which does QAM tuning and I can get the clear channels but dont understand if the law says I can use my own box why I cannot get the channels I pay for on that other box in my bedroom ? is this done at the pole or the office ?


I think its funny I can pick up those channels on that same box on analog but cannot get the HD counterparts. its very frustrating and dont understand why these channels I pay for I can get over analog are scrambled in HD.

is there anything that can be done about that ?

Encryption of digital services is currently manufacturer specific. Motorola systems require a Motorola box to decrypt Motorola's encryption scheme. Cisco Atlantic systems require a Cisco Atlanta box to decrypt Cisco's encryption scheme. While your box is capable of tuning a QAM signal, it is likely not able to decrypt any form of encryption.

Without a manufacturer specific box, you cannot decrypt any encrypted services. This is there to protect the cable provider from service theft. If you want to get encrypted digital services without using a settop box, you need to get a TV or another STB that supports CableCard, which gives that TV or STB the capability to decrypt manufacturer specific encryption.

Since I forget about the On Demand feature for weeks at a time, I was there last night and noticed that there is no more movie category for "Widescreen/Dolby" movies. Is there any way to tell beforehand what format the movie is in? I don't want to watch Batman Begins for the first time, for example, and end up with a butchered P&S cut. Or are they all WS now?

Batman Begins was 4:3. I found out the hard way. I don't know if they are offering wide screen for any paid movies anymore unless they are HD. Starz notes whether a movie is wide screen but other than that I guess it's a crap shoot.

can a comcast tech explain to me why the HD signals like ESPN, DISC,TNT and INHD are scrammbled ? I have my own cable box which does QAM tuning and I can get the clear channels but dont understand if the law says I can use my own box why I cannot get the channels I pay for on that other box in my bedroom ? is this done at the pole or the office ?


BTW - I don't believe the law say you can own your own box. Just as Scoops pointed out the encryption schemes used by the STB providers, in our case Motorola have propriety encryption. Even a cable card is made by the same people as the STB. All this will change once OCAP (see CES press release) boxes get released and downloadable security is real. Althought it appears that Comcast will still want to lease boxes to thier customers but we should have the option to buy them retail as well.

Batman Begins was 4:3. I found out the hard way. I don't know if they are offering wide screen for any paid movies anymore unless they are HD. Starz notes whether a movie is wide screen but other than that I guess it's a crap shoot.

That's exactly why I only On-Demand HD movies, and most of those are cropped. Close Encounters is FREE in HD this month and looked pretty darn good all things considered - except that the Comcast offering only had stereo sound. I'll have to rent the DVD to see if that provides OAR and DD5.1 or not.

Althought it appears that Comcast will still want to lease boxes to thier customers but we should have the option to buy them retail as well.

The motivation behind this right now I believe is Comcast started seeing the Moto HD boxes on Ebay with the Comcast logo right on them. Obviously, those boxes were stolen by techs and put on ebay for profit.

Last I saw the retail price on the Moto HD boxes is somewhere between $600-$1000. I doubt anyone would purchase one at that price anyways.

That's exactly why I only On-Demand HD movies, and most of those are cropped. Close Encounters is FREE in HD this month and looked pretty darn good all things considered - except that the Comcast offering only had stereo sound. I'll have to rent the DVD to see if that provides OAR and DD5.1 or not.

It does and it is so inexpensive you should just BUY it.

the more I read, the more confused I get.
I'm having my first HDTV installed this weekend and want to know what to get through Comcast. Right now I have a very basic digital cable setup. Using Comcast's info on their lineup page, it appears to be Digital Premier.

I obviously want the HD channels with the new tv, but what I'm unclear about is this STB vs Cablecard mess. Comcast has very little info about Cablecards on their website and I've learned that unless I ask specifically for what I want, I'm unlikely to get help from Comcast.

I'm primarily interested in PQ. The TV supports HDMI inpots and I understand that if I get a newer box (probably one with DVR) that I will likely get a HDMI connection. I've also read the the cablecard generally provides a better picture for various reasons, but generally speaking because the TV provides a better decoder and there's far fewer configuration settings to potentially get wrong with the card over the box.

So, my questions are mainly in what do I get with the card vs the STB. I know it's a one way signal so I'm giving up On Demand programming (which I rarely use) and Comcast's On Screen Guide (which I use quite a bit). I know I'm also giving up being able to hit a button and getting pay per view, but I can still get it via phone or website. With the CC, does the tv's built in guide function on the digital channels and really all I'm giving up is Comcast's guide? or does it not work at all and i have to know what's on and what channel it might be on?

Also, what am I actually getting with the card? This is the most confusing aspect. I get a "free" card from Comcast and with that I get "basic service", which is (I think) channels 2-64ish and local HD channels (abc, nbc, CBS, Fox, WB, Upn) but nothing else? So, say I really want is the channels that come with the digital plus package (comedy central, bbc america, etc) Do I have to pay for the plus package, or is the card going to receive these without paying more than the standard price? Same with the HD channels, if I want ESPN and TNT, etc I have to pay the $10 additional for the HD package?

So, basically, that's what I want,

-Am I paying for all the packages and I'm really only saving the cost of the STB (and additional if its the DVR model)?

-Is the card capable of receiving all those channels or do I HAVE to get the STB?

-is the PQ that noticably better with the CC over the box that if PQ is my primary concern (which it is) I'd be better off getting a CC?

Sorry this question probably seems basic and is answered time and time again in this thread, but it's really long and hard to follow and know if all the information is up to date.

It sounds like your research is pretty close. Assuming that you/Comcast can get the Cable Card to work (there have been lots of issues), it will give you all the channels that you subscribe to. The only thing you lose from not having the STB will be On Demand and the guide. You will still pay for packages just as you did with the STB, but you won't have the STB rental fee. There is no $10 HD package, that is the increased STB rental price. You will get the HD version of ESPN, TNT, etc. if you subscribe to whatever package includes the SD version. The PQ will be improved, but by how much depends on how good your setup was previously. I can't answer the question about the built in guide for your TV as mine doesn't have one. Also, do not confuse the Cable Card with built in tuners. A built in QAM tuner will get you all the non-scrambled channels only (including the HD ones).

The motivation behind this right now I believe is Comcast started seeing the Moto HD boxes on Ebay with the Comcast logo right on them. Obviously, those boxes were stolen by techs and put on ebay for profit.

Last I saw the retail price on the Moto HD boxes is somewhere between $600-$1000. I doubt anyone would purchase one at that price anyways.

Actually, I was referring to the next generation OCAP boxes. With downloadable security and OCAP middleware the boxes are expected to be sold at retail, at least that was my understanding.

It sounds like your research is pretty close. Assuming that you/Comcast can get the Cable Card to work (there have been lots of issues), it will give you all the channels that you subscribe to. The only thing you lose from not having the STB will be On Demand and the guide. You will still pay for packages just as you did with the STB, but you won't have the STB rental fee. There is no $10 HD package, that is the increased STB rental price. You will get the HD version of ESPN, TNT, etc. if you subscribe to whatever package includes the SD version. The PQ will be improved, but by how much depends on how good your setup was previously. I can't answer the question about the built in guide for your TV as mine doesn't have one. Also, do not confuse the Cable Card with built in tuners. A built in QAM tuner will get you all the non-scrambled channels only (including the HD ones).

The difference between the HD box and the SD box is only $4.45 ($4.50 for SD box vs $8.95 for HD box)

THe DVR is $14.40. ESPNHD and TNTHD are part of digital Classic. I don't get the SD versions but I do get them in HD :)

The difference between the HD box and the SD box is only $4.45 ($4.50 for SD box vs $8.95 for HD box)

THe DVR is $14.40. ESPNHD and TNTHD are part of digital Classic. I don't get the SD versions but I do get them in HD :)

I did know that about digital Classic and I should have said STB rental price and not used the word increased (price varies slightly between towns)...I guess, I just poorly worded the point that the HD versions of the channels don't cost extra. He mentioned subscribing to certain packages and also paying $10/month for HD.

I can't believe these boxes are on e-bay for 600-$1000. I was so dissatisfied with their performance that I opted for a cablecard. They just aren't worth $14 a month to me. Besides, I got tired of being nickeled and dimed by comcast so I'm nickel and diming them back.

ChazTastic!

I just read in multichannel news (a subscription service so I can't repost the article) that Comcast plans to include Boston in their initial rollout of OCAP.

"Comcast Corp. pledged deployments in Philadelphia, Boston, Denver and Union, N.J."

Most of the larger MSO are targetting the beginning of '06 for these rollouts. Things should get pretty exciting around here in a couple months.

NICE!

Multichannel News:

New England Sports Network said Thursday that it will become the first regional sports network to air an entire season in HD when it delivers every game of the 2006 season for Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox.

The network added that it produced 152 live HD games in 2005, and it plans to boost that total to more than 225 in 2006.

In addition to game coverage, NESN will also originate more than 700 studio programs in HD this year, the network said.

NESN will fire the first pitch of its 2006 baseball season Friday, Feb. 17, with 45 days of Red Sox spring-training coverage including daily reports from Tom Caron and Don Orsillo on NESN SportsDesk.

NICE!

Multichannel News:

New England Sports Network said Thursday that it will become the first regional sports network to air an entire season in HD when it delivers every game of the 2006 season for Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox.

The network added that it produced 152 live HD games in 2005, and it plans to boost that total to more than 225 in 2006.

In addition to game coverage, NESN will also originate more than 700 studio programs in HD this year, the network said.

NESN will fire the first pitch of its 2006 baseball season Friday, Feb. 17, with 45 days of Red Sox spring-training coverage including daily reports from Tom Caron and Don Orsillo on NESN SportsDesk.

There's a whole thread on this over in Programming:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=626660

With all those studio programs being added, how much INHD2 will be left on 882?

There's a whole thread on this over in Programming:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=626660

With all those studio programs being added, how much INHD2 will be left on 882?

Be on the lookout for channel 851 in the near future.

Be on the lookout for channel 851 in the near future.

Source?

Is this more likely than the already-speculated-on MHD, UHD, or ESPN2?

Source?

Is this more likely than the already-speculated-on MHD, UHD, or ESPN2?

Just a hunch

Hi folks, would not be suprised to see full-time NESN-HD by spring training on Comcast. Hope that we will see several other HD channels added during 1st quater 2006. Any chance with Sox no longer on UPN38 , that we will get UPN38 In Bristol County. Also, ESPN2, and Universal HD would be nice adds.

Oh yeah, Hazel Mae in HD.....

I'm still rooting for national geographic hd!

Comcast uses QAM. Any QAM tuner should be able to techically give you the channels including digital versions of the SD channels and letterboxed downconverted versions of the HD signals.
You mention that any tuner should work, but as I mentioned in my original post, I couldn't seem to get the Samsung SIR-T451 to work, but this is a QAM tuner. When I had it do a channel scan, I didn't really get much - just the standard broadcast, all in SD, and none of the standard cable offerings (CNN, HGTV, MTV, etc), but I can get these when I use my SD tuner built into my TV.

The T451 had three "modes" for scanning cable, none of which said QAM (one was STD, I believe), but all seemed to return the same stuff. Do I have to be explicitly subscribing to these channels for a tuner to pick them up (i.e., does Comcast have better granularity over channel broadcast in HD land than in SD land), or should I be able to get more? Does anyone have a list of channels that you can get in the clear on Comcast in Cambridge, as long as you're subscribed to Basic Service (i.e. have a live cable hookup)?

Thanks,

-Steve

You mention that any tuner should work, but as I mentioned in my original post, I couldn't seem to get the Samsung SIR-T451 to work, but this is a QAM tuner. When I had it do a channel scan, I didn't really get much - just the standard broadcast, all in SD, and none of the standard cable offerings (CNN, HGTV, MTV, etc), but I can get these when I use my SD tuner built into my TV.

The T451 had three "modes" for scanning cable, none of which said QAM (one was STD, I believe), but all seemed to return the same stuff. Do I have to be explicitly subscribing to these channels for a tuner to pick them up (i.e., does Comcast have better granularity over channel broadcast in HD land than in SD land), or should I be able to get more? Does anyone have a list of channels that you can get in the clear on Comcast in Cambridge, as long as you're subscribed to Basic Service (i.e. have a live cable hookup)?

Thanks,

-Steve

If you are a basic only subscriber with no digital package at all, you likely have what is called a Basic Trap. It essentially filters out all frequencies except the low end of the spectrum. And since most digitals are in the high end of the spectrum, the filter would be stopping them... thus you can't tune them.

If you are a basic only subscriber with no digital package at all, you likely have what is called a Basic Trap. It essentially filters out all frequencies except the low end of the spectrum. And since most digitals are in the high end of the spectrum, the filter would be stopping them... thus you can't tune them.

The basic trap only traps analog channels 24-68 with channel 69 bleeding in.
HD locals are considered part of the basic broadcast tier and they can NOT be trapped out.

I have had digital Platinum without extended basic (Right now I have Silver)

You mention that any tuner should work, but as I mentioned in my original post, I couldn't seem to get the Samsung SIR-T451 to work, but this is a QAM tuner. When I had it do a channel scan, I didn't really get much - just the standard broadcast, all in SD, and none of the standard cable offerings (CNN, HGTV, MTV, etc), but I can get these when I use my SD tuner built into my TV.

The T451 had three "modes" for scanning cable, none of which said QAM (one was STD, I believe), but all seemed to return the same stuff. Do I have to be explicitly subscribing to these channels for a tuner to pick them up (i.e., does Comcast have better granularity over channel broadcast in HD land than in SD land), or should I be able to get more? Does anyone have a list of channels that you can get in the clear on Comcast in Cambridge, as long as you're subscribed to Basic Service (i.e. have a live cable hookup)?

Thanks,

-Steve Usually there is an analog TV carrier around 750MHz. This would be either channel 116 or 117 on a standard cable ready TV. Check to see if you have a black screen (not all snow) on that channel, it would be a steady black screen and not fluctuating. If ch116 is there does the picture of the black screen look clean? If not then you have signal rolloff. You might have an old 450 or 550MHz splitter somewhere that is causing the digital channels to rolloff. Otherwise poor cabling, cable run through a VCR and then out to the settop box or outside cables that are water damaged could cause the problem. If the splitter, poor cabling and the VCR scenarios aren't your reality then check the cables on the outside of the house. Unscrew the fittings and see if the center conductor is all black and tarnished, thats water damage. You could scrape it off till the center conductor is shiny copper or replace the fitting ensuring that you cut the cable far enough back to the location on the cable that hasn't been damaged by water.

Yes Scoops, I know, trolling again!

the more I read, the more confused I get.
I'm having my first HDTV installed this weekend and want to know what to get through Comcast. Right now I have a very basic digital cable setup. Using Comcast's info on their lineup page, it appears to be Digital Premier.

I obviously want the HD channels with the new tv, but what I'm unclear about is this STB vs Cablecard mess. Comcast has very little info about Cablecards on their website and I've learned that unless I ask specifically for what I want, I'm unlikely to get help from Comcast.

I'm primarily interested in PQ. The TV supports HDMI inpots and I understand that if I get a newer box (probably one with DVR) that I will likely get a HDMI connection. I've also read the the cablecard generally provides a better picture for various reasons, but generally speaking because the TV provides a better decoder and there's far fewer configuration settings to potentially get wrong with the card over the box.

So, my questions are mainly in what do I get with the card vs the STB. I know it's a one way signal so I'm giving up On Demand programming (which I rarely use) and Comcast's On Screen Guide (which I use quite a bit). I know I'm also giving up being able to hit a button and getting pay per view, but I can still get it via phone or website. With the CC, does the tv's built in guide function on the digital channels and really all I'm giving up is Comcast's guide? or does it not work at all and i have to know what's on and what channel it might be on?

Also, what am I actually getting with the card? This is the most confusing aspect. I get a "free" card from Comcast and with that I get "basic service", which is (I think) channels 2-64ish and local HD channels (abc, nbc, CBS, Fox, WB, Upn) but nothing else? So, say I really want is the channels that come with the digital plus package (comedy central, bbc america, etc) Do I have to pay for the plus package, or is the card going to receive these without paying more than the standard price? Same with the HD channels, if I want ESPN and TNT, etc I have to pay the $10 additional for the HD package?

So, basically, that's what I want,

-Am I paying for all the packages and I'm really only saving the cost of the STB (and additional if its the DVR model)?

-Is the card capable of receiving all those channels or do I HAVE to get the STB?

-is the PQ that noticably better with the CC over the box that if PQ is my primary concern (which it is) I'd be better off getting a CC?

Sorry this question probably seems basic and is answered time and time again in this thread, but it's really long and hard to follow and know if all the information is up to date.I like to think of it this way...for about $9/mo you get guide, program scheduler and free VOD with a STB. With a cablecard you get none of those for a savings of about $4 less. Plus your sticking a peice of Moto equipment into your TV if you use a Cablecard.

Yes, I figured they'd be about the same size... but will the hard drive suffer from being in a vertical state constantly (as opposed to the traditional horizontal sitting on a shelf...)?

Thanks --NO

Hi all. Please forgive me if this information has been mentioned elsewhere, but I've been searching these forums & googling for several weeks with no conclusive results.

I'm currently subscribing to the absolute basic Comcast cable service (something like $9/month) that gives me the standard broadcast channels, plus a handful of other cable channels. However, I also get the 50 or so basic cable offerings that you normally have to pay around $30 for, because Comcast hasn't set up the blocks in my part of Cambridge yet to distinguish between minimal customers (like me) and basic customers.

Anyway, I'm wondering if I can buy an HD tuner box that would allow to receive any in-clear HDTV stations that are being sent down my wire. Over Christmas, I picked up the Samsung SIR-T451, but that didn't seem to pick up much of anything - just the broadcast channels, but none of the other ATSC channels that I can receive on my TV, and no HD channels as far as I could tell.

I've heard that the LG LST-4200a is supposed to pick up Comcasts HD stuff, but I'm not sure if that applies to Comcast in the Boston area.

The funny thing is, I don't even have an HDTV in my house, just a decent 27" Wega with component inputs, but I'm sick of watching the local channels in SD, since on my Comcast line they come in extremely poorly - vertical bands on channel 7, static & poor signals on channels 4 & 5. When I was testing the T451, I hooked up an HD antenna and saw that the HD signal for those stations was nice & clean on my set. I'd just like to find a tuner box that can get all the info over the cable so I don't have to switch back & forth between video modes depending on which stations I want to watch.

Does anyone out there know what piece of hardware I can use to accomplish this?

Thanks,

-SteveAfter seeing this post from you, you definitely have some signal issues that are causing the highend channels to rolloff. More than likely it is water damage. The 'skin effect' is a known phenomenon where higher frequency signals travel on the outer most diameter of a wire, that is where the tarnish results from water damage hence high end signal rolloff. When you have water damage it is clear that there is a path for the water to get there. When there is a path for water to get into your cable fittings the off air signals get in too. Your horizontal bars on the locals are caused by off air signals combining with the same signal generated at the headend and sent down the wire. The two signals are slightly out of phase and one is then processed in time slightly after the other and then you get horizontal bars. Clean up the fittings and water damage and your issues will be corrected. Make sure you rule out any internal connector problems first though.

For the most part, cables are cables. $120 won't buy you a better picture than
ones that cost MUCH less. I got mine from svideo.com. Excellent prices.
as indicated, cables are cables...unless that is if you are running fifty foot cables. But even then you'd probably not notice any issue. DON'T PAY HIGH PRICE FOR CABLES YOU CAN GET A THE RAD SHACK OUTLET STORE ON RT1N IN SAUGUS. Monster (PRICE) cables.

==
.......the Comcast tech had hooked it up to the component connections but set the box to output at 480i. I set the box to 1080i and showed the TV in it's true glory.
==

How do I verify this? I got the box installed last week.

Thanks.with the TV connected to a constant power source and the box on press power then press menu within two seconds. From there you can change the ypbr outputs from 480i/480p/720p/1080i. Your TV may change and you lose display but the current setting is always displayed on the front of the settop box. After you change to the output setting you desire press power to turn the box off and then power again to turn the box back on.

I like to think of it this way...for about $9/mo you get guide, program scheduler and free VOD with a STB. With a cablecard you get none of those for a savings of about $4 less. Plus your sticking a peice of Moto equipment into your TV if you use a Cablecard.

I agree. If the pic wasn't so greatly improved by the cc, i would've kept my box. I was planning on having both. My dvr was $15 and the cablecard was ~$3 with the DVR, free without DVR. After CC install, STB was not functioning. Rep couldn't reset it and said I would need a swap out and possibly another tech visit.

Back it went.

I'm still rooting for national geographic hd!

I thought I read somewhere that D* was supposed to add that sometime this month.

BTW, Cox Cable has committed to rolling out MHD throughout their systems, possibly at launch.

I thought I read somewhere that D* was supposed to add that sometime this month.

BTW, Cox Cable has committed to rolling out MHD throughout their systems, possibly at launch.

I was under th eimpression that Comcast would be carrying it too.

If this is the case,keep your eyes on channel 828.

davatar -
Thank you for the reply. I will get around to posting some of what I found one of these days.

For anyone who has a similar problem to mine (losing video on digital channels using tv's internal QAM tuner, no cable card): I was able to restore video by unplugging the set for about 30 seconds, then plugging it back in.

did anyone else have frozen local HD channels today? I went to put on the Simpsons at 730 on FOX and it was frozen. All the local ones are - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, UPN. the cable HD channels are fine

I just came here to check on that myself. Same thing here in Milford.

Here in Natick too. I turned on my TV to find Malcom in the Middle frozen on the screen. How horrific :eek:

From
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=629087

"All 54 games of both the men's and women's hockey tournaments will be seen live on the networks of NBC Universal. This will mark the first time in U.S. television history that the entire Olympic women's tournament will be televised. All Team USA hockey games and the gold medal games, both men's and women's, will be broadcast commercial-free and in their entirety. The women's gold medal game will air live on President's Day, Monday, Feb. 20, on NBC. The men's gold medal game will air live on the final day of Olympic competition, Sunday, Feb. 26, on NBC."

Here in Natick too. I turned on my TV to find Malcom in the Middle frozen on the screen. How horrific :eek:

I called Comcast and there's a recording acknowledging the problem and that they are working on it.

I lost my HD channels today (I have analog cable but get the HD through the QAM tuner). I did the unplug thing for 30 seconds then plug back in and they all came back. Why does this happen?

I am currently working on a channel map (87-1 = CBS). I'll post when I get it done.

My 804/805/807/825/838 cut out (along with *all* Dolby on the digital channels) sometime after 7, then the channels came back about 8:40, then the box suddenly went into 'dl' mode, followed by various other lettter combinations, then more 'dl'.

Luckily, I was aware of this, so I was able to switch "House" to the #1 SD box (where the TiVo is hooked up), and now I'm here in the bedroom watching "Commander In Chief" live and wondering what the box will be doing when I go back upstairs at 10.

I lost my HD channels today (I have analog cable but get the HD through the QAM tuner). I did the unplug thing for 30 seconds then plug back in and they all came back. Why does this happen?

I am currently working on a channel map (87-1 = CBS). I'll post when I get it done.
Yay!
<-particularly interested in what 809 is

My 804/805/807/825/838 cut out (along with *all* Dolby on the digital channels) sometime after 7, then the channels came back about 8:40, then the box suddenly went into 'dl' mode, followed by various other lettter combinations, then more 'dl'

I never noticed the channels being out - I think I was watching DVR when it happened. But 10ish, when I was looking in future days to see what was being recorded, I saw TBA. So it remembered that there was a show at 3pm on Thursday that it wanted to record, but couldnt tell me what it was.

Yay!
<-particularly interested in what 809 is

809 is WMUR-DT

809 is WMUR-DT

I think he was asking what digital channel on the QAM tuner 809 would map to.

I am currently working on a channel map (87-1 = CBS). I'll post when I get it done.

Bump, this would be great!

Just hooked up LG3510a to the cable from the wall (Hudson, MA), getting quite a few channels in HD (70 to 120+ range), but don't know what some of them are.

Comcast Maynard, no ESPN-HD though, quite a few scrambled channels and no channel guide over DVI.

Bump, this would be great!

Just hooked up LG3510a to the cable from the wall (Hudson, MA), getting quite a few channels in HD (70 to 120+ range), but don't know what some of them are.

Comcast Maynard, no ESPN-HD though, quite a few scrambled channels and no channel guide over DVI.

The only HD channels you should get would be of the locals.

Is anyone with cable card getting guide data for InHD2 ? I have guide data for all the other channels I subscribe to, including Starz and InHD1. I am thinking the problem is with TV Guide feed.

The only HD channels you should get would be of the locals.

yes, I get all locals in HD (abc, cbs, nbc, wb, upn, fox, pbs). I also get WMUR abc affiliate from NH in HD. I get a bunch of channels in SD (picked up by QAM tuner on HD channels) but don't know what some of then are. I also seem to get digital music channels

I did expect to get ESPN-HD, as I've read somewhere that Comcast doesn't scramble it. I guess I was wrong

I just dont understand why if I pay for espn, disc, inhd...etc why dont I get them in HD on my own tuner ? I get them in SD! isnt it illegal for them to scrammble channels that I pay for? I should be able to use my own equipment by law, yes ?

if I can get espn in sd why would the HD espn channel be scrammbled ?

yes, but that should be done at the pole. clear channels are not moto encrypted or encrypted at all as by law they have to offer local free channels in the clear- free! premium/pay channels are not automatically moto encrypted and I believe thats done at the office manually. but yes inturn then you do need a moto box but thats pretty much common knowledge. my point is they purposely scramble channels I pay for and in turn need their box and its wrong. if I pay for a certain service and want to use my own box there should be a filter that de-crypts the services I pay for at the pole.

somehow this has to be illegal to encrypt services that a customer pays for. why would manus put in qam tuners in new HDTV's(gov says so) only to receive local channels? in the end its expensive and then worthless cause to get the channels you pay for you have to rent a box anyway. so why put qam tuners by law in tv's when they cant be used anyway. its not right and shows the cable co has too much control over the customer. $11 a month for a second box is over $120 a year. when the 1st box is only around $8 a month. it might take me 2.5 years to pay off the box I own but in the end I will own it instead of paying for a second box instead of giving comcast $120 a year for a second box. but I guess its not a big deal as the primetime stuff I watch in HD in my bedroom on my own box is all I watch anyway. but the point is I should be able to get the channels I pay for with my own equipment. I spoke with the dept that turns on the boxes and they said scrambling is done at the office. ala why clear is able to be picked up(not scrambled) so the quote I attached makes no sense about moto equipment.


comcast shouldnt be scrambling services customers pay for when they want to use their own equipment. we shouldnt be forced to pay outrageous prices to rent a second box. its not economical. how many customers has comcast lost to verizon dsl ? I bet alot cause comcast has not lowered the broadband price since it first came out. eventually verizon will offer something better than direct tv and then comcast is in for it. if the prices were not so outrageous for cable I wouldnt comlain so much but they squeeze every penny they can get out of the customer and its forced as we dont have a choice. I know comcast cant touch the prices I get for phone and dsl internet services via verizon.




Encryption of digital services is currently manufacturer specific. Motorola systems require a Motorola box to decrypt Motorola's encryption scheme. Cisco Atlantic systems require a Cisco Atlanta box to decrypt Cisco's encryption scheme. While your box is capable of tuning a QAM signal, it is likely not able to decrypt any form of encryption.

Without a manufacturer specific box, you cannot decrypt any encrypted services. This is there to protect the cable provider from service theft. If you want to get encrypted digital services without using a settop box, you need to get a TV or another STB that supports CableCard, which gives that TV or STB the capability to decrypt manufacturer specific encryption.

yes, but that should be done at the pole. clear channels are not moto encrypted or encrypted at all as by law they have to offer local free channels in the clear- free! premium/pay channels are not automatically moto encrypted and I believe thats done at the office manually. but yes inturn then you do need a moto box but thats pretty much common knowledge. my point is they purposely scramble channels I pay for and in turn need their box and its wrong. if I pay for a certain service and want to use my own box there should be a filter that de-crypts the services I pay for at the pole.

somehow this has to be illegal to encrypt services that a customer pays for. why would manus put in qam tuners in new HDTV's(gov says so) only to receive local channels? in the end its expensive and then worthless cause to get the channels you pay for you have to rent a box anyway. so why put qam tuners by law in tv's when they cant be used anyway. its not right and shows the cable co has too much control over the customer. $11 a month for a second box is over $120 a year. when the 1st box is only around $8 a month. it might take me 2.5 years to pay off the box I own but in the end I will own it instead of paying for a second box instead of giving comcast $120 a year for a second box. but I guess its not a big deal as the primetime stuff I watch in HD in my bedroom on my own box is all I watch anyway. but the point is I should be able to get the channels I pay for with my own equipment. I spoke with the dept that turns on the boxes and they said scrambling is done at the office. ala why clear is able to be picked up(not scrambled) so the quote I attached makes no sense about moto equipment.


comcast shouldnt be scrambling services customers pay for when they want to use their own equipment. we shouldnt be forced to pay outrageous prices to rent a second box. its not economical. how many customers has comcast lost to verizon dsl ? I bet alot cause comcast has not lowered the broadband price since it first came out. eventually verizon will offer something better than direct tv and then comcast is in for it. if the prices were not so outrageous for cable I wouldnt comlain so much but they squeeze every penny they can get out of the customer and its forced as we dont have a choice. I know comcast cant touch the prices I get for phone and dsl internet services via verizon.

By law, cable companies cannot encrypt services that are FREE to the Air. For example, HD and SD broadcasters that you can pick up using an antenna and a TV or ATSC tuner. Those services you PAY for (as you so rightly pointed out) are not FREE. Therefore, the cable companies and dish companies can all charge you to receive their services. An STB is required to decrypt services from these providers to receive them. These companie encrypt their services to protect both THEM and the CONSUMERS.

Decrypting a digital service is not a wam-bam-thank-you-maam proposition with a little filter up at the tap. If it were that easy, the cable companies would do it. No... it requires sophisticated circuitry to both TUNE the service and THEN decrypt it. If you want to not have to rent a cable box from your cable company... do what everyone else is doing... OR... get a cable card. Thats what the cable card was designed for. To allow consumers to not have to rent cable company boxes and also gives them the option to by their own (once production and demand allow it).

Don't want to rent a box from your local cable company (which helps to defray the cost of the cable company buying it, servicing it, upgrading it, replacing it), then A) get a cable card and a cable card TV, B) find a company out there that provides STBs that can handle cable card, C) goto Dish (oh wait, you NEED a box from them to get ANY service... oh and if you want to upgrade your box or it dies after a year, you need to BUY another one).

Oh wait... I read the final paragraph...

Lessee how much do you pay for Verizon DSL?
Lets do an apples to apples (non promotional pricing) comparison

You have been a Verizon DSL subscriber for at least a year.
I have been a Comcast Cable High Speed Internet subscriber for at least a year

Monthly Payments:
Verizon : $37.95
Comcast: $42.95

Okay... so far... $5 dollars difference.

Speed:
Verizon: Up to 3mbps
Comcast: Up to 6mbps

Oooh lessee... so if I break this down:
Verizon: $12.65 per MBPS of speed
Comcast: $7.15 per MBPS of speed

Wow... Comcast charges a whole lot mo... oh wait, damn, its cheaper than Verizon when you look at the actual cost of what you are paying for.

I tried running my Comcast service directly from the wall into my Samsung HL-R5078W HDTV. I used the cable in coax input. I was not able to get any channels on the main tuner, but the pip tuner picked up a few. No HD channels were shown.
Shouldn't I be able to use the TV's tuner just like I do on my other TV's? I don't use STB's on my other TV's.

Not sure if this was already posted, but the entire NESN schedule for the Red Sox is HD this year: EDIT: was already posted, sorry.

Did I read that there will be no Friday games on 38 this year? That would be great news for me as I am in the Providence DMA (Bristol County) and would be screwed out of Fri HD games on UPN HD since I don't get that channel.



Also, any news on additional HD channels for Comcast?

I just dont understand why if I pay for espn, disc, inhd...etc why dont I get them in HD on my own tuner ? I get them in SD! isnt it illegal for them to scrammble channels that I pay for? I should be able to use my own equipment by law, yes ?

if I can get espn in sd why would the HD espn channel be scrammbled ?It's very simple.

If the channels were in the clear, anyone with a QAM tuner could receive them; there is no way to prevent non-subscribers from also receiving them.

For Comcast, ESPN SD is included with the standard analog tier, ESPN HD is not. You must sub to the digital tier to get ESPN HD.

As for local HD, there is considerable contradiction in the cable industry as to if they have to be in the clear or not. Comcast believes they should be in the clear, so they pass them that way. Other cableco's, like Cox, encrypt all HD channels.

The digital tier HD channels and premium HD channels are almost always encrypted by all cableco's, and by law they are allowed to do so. If you want to receive them with your own equipment, you need a CablCARD HDTV, or external CableCARD receiver, like the two Sony HD receivers; http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_DHG_HDD250/4652-6474_7-31155637.html

By law, cable companies cannot encrypt services that are FREE to the Air. For example, HD and SD broadcasters that you can pick up using an antenna and a TV or ATSC tuner.This is incorrect.

As I will say one more time: There is no cable industry agreement on the issue of cableco's being required by law or FCC regulation to pass local HD in the clear.

This has been the case for years, and the proof is the fact there are many cableco's who pass local HD in the clear and many cableco's who encrypt local HD.

If there were any clear government direction in this matter, it would have been uniformly enforced by the FCC by now, and this is not the case.

I tried running my Comcast service directly from the wall into my Samsung HL-R5078W HDTV. I used the cable in coax input. I was not able to get any channels on the main tuner, but the pip tuner picked up a few. No HD channels were shown.
Shouldn't I be able to use the TV's tuner just like I do on my other TV's? I don't use STB's on my other TV's.What kind of digital cable tuner does the Samsung have?

If it's QAM, you should get all local HD that Comcast carries, if it's CableCARD, you can rent the CableCARD from Comcast and get all subscribed cable channels, HD and otherwise.

This is incorrect.

As I will say one more time: There is no cable industry agreement on the issue of cableco's being required by law or FCC regulation to pass local HD in the clear.

This has been the case for years, and the proof is the fact there are many cableco's who pass local HD in the clear and many cableco's who encrypt local HD.

If there were any clear government direction in this matter, it would have been uniformly enforced by the FCC by now, and this is not the case.

Good point Ken. Now that you point it out, I remember a similar conversation quite awhile ago concerning this very thing. It wasn't so much a law that determined if the cable cos could or could not encrypt a service but rather, agreements with the broadcasters. I believe Comcast in NE had made agreements with the broadcasters that precluded them being able to encrypt the broadcasters HD signal. Though at times my memory fails, I could likely be interpreting those very memories wrong.

bruman - Are you planning on a weekly rant ? You said the same stuff here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6859137#post6859137) and here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6805124#post6805124) :)

BTW - You can get a good deal on the Sony DHG at Best Buy and if you give Comcast another $2.45 a month for a cable card then you can watch and record whatever services you are paying for !

Scoops - What is the point of buying a cable card, won't we still have to pay the service replication fee ?

is not this subject over after scoop had to edit his post? lol


if you would like I could. but I dont think people here would like that. but I could email you my weekly rant if you would like.

I am not gonna go out and spend money on something new for a cable card slot when I have tons of equipment already. maybe some of you here like paying up the nose for entertainment but I dont and dont like being forced to pay for certain packages or equipment.

I own 3 HDTV displays....etc I think i am a little late for the cable card game althought it would have been an option if it were on a tv I wanted at the time.

I am not gonna go out and spend money on something new for a cable card slot when I have tons of equipment already. maybe some of you here like paying up the nose for entertainment but I dont and dont like being forced to pay for certain packages or equipment.

I own 3 HDTV displays....etc I think i am a little late for the cable card game althought it would have been an option if it were on a tv I wanted at the time.

That is the beauty of Sony, it is a host box or settop that has a cable card slot. Go sell you 4200 or whatever QAM tuner you have on ebay and get the DHG for $450 (w 10% coupon).

good idea, I just might do that. gonna go check out that box. I did see a sony box on BB.com last week but it was like $900!


I am gonna check the site. I do know the 4200 is selling on ebay for more than I paid for it. thanks for the advice. just might go that route.


Thanks!

I don't know if the channel maps are different in different towns. I live in a Metro West town. I spent a few hours one night stepping through the un-encrypted digital channels that the QAM tuner in my tv found to see if I could figure out what is what. My list currently includes ~47 digital, non-HD, non-music stations, ~48 digital music stations, and 7 HD stations. Here are the HD stations; all are 1080i unless marked otherwise:

84-1 WGBH-HD
84-2 WB-HD
85-7 UPN-HD
86-1 NBC-HD
86-3 ABC-HD (720P)
87-1 FOX-HD (720P)
87-2 CBS-HD

I don't get ESPNHD, TNTHD, INHD1, INHD2, DiscoverHD. I am not using a CableCard, just the built-in QAM tuner. I do get the additional HD channels on my other tv using the Moto STB.

One of these days I'll getting around to typing up my scribbled notes on the channels. I'll post the file when I do.

good idea, I just might do that. gonna go check out that box. I did see a sony box on BB.com last week but it was like $900!


I am gonna check the site. I do know the 4200 is selling on ebay for more than I paid for it. thanks for the advice. just might go that route.


Thanks!

The 500 gig model Sony hasn't come down in price at all and is still at retail. The 250, which isn't sold online anymore, is 499. I know the BB stores I frequent still have some on the shelfs.

hhhmmmm, yes just checked online. guess I will have to go to the store and see what I can find.

will give it a try.

I don't know if the channel maps are different in different towns. I live in a Metro West town. I spent a few hours one night stepping through the un-encrypted digital channels that the QAM tuner in my tv found to see if I could figure out what is what. My list currently includes ~47 digital, non-HD, non-music stations, ~48 digital music stations, and 7 HD stations. Here are the HD stations; all are 1080i unless marked otherwise:

84-1 WGBH-HD
84-2 WB-HD
85-7 UPN-HD
86-1 NBC-HD
86-3 ABC-HD (720P)
87-1 FOX-HD (720P)
87-2 CBS-HD

I don't get ESPNHD, TNTHD, INHD1, INHD2, DiscoverHD. I am not using a CableCard, just the built-in QAM tuner. I do get the additional HD channels on my other tv using the Moto STB.

One of these days I'll getting around to typing up my scribbled notes on the channels. I'll post the file when I do.

thanks for the inventory.
I also get WMUR-HD (will check and post its QAM channel # later)

what's the Moto STB you are talking about? Is that the one from Comcast?

Yes - the Motorola STB is the Comcast provided 5100 HD STB. I use that with my other tv - a Sony GWIII, which has no built-in ATSC or QAM tuners.

good idea, I just might do that. gonna go check out that box. I did see a sony box on BB.com last week but it was like $900!
Before you spend any more money, you should know existing CableCARD products are all limited in what they do, compared to the cableco supplied STB's.

Current CableCARD products are all first generation, one way devices. They have no two way capability, which means no Pay Per View, no Video On Demand, no Interactive Program Guide. All of these features are available from cable STB's.

Second generation, two way CableCARD devices are on the drawing boards, and should be available later this year.

The other advantage of cableco supplied STB's is the service aspect. If you have any problems, just call and it's up to them to fix it.

Before you spend any more money, you should know existing CableCARD products are all limited in what they do, compared to the cableco supplied STB's.

Current CableCARD products are all first generation, one way devices. They have no two way capability, which means no Pay Per View, no Video On Demand, no Interactive Program Guide. All of these features are available from cable STB's.

Second generation, two way CableCARD devices are on the drawing boards, and should be available later this year.

The other advantage of cableco supplied STB's is the service aspect. If you have any problems, just call and it's up to them to fix it.

The cablecard supplied by Comcast would have to be fixed by them as well.

Well I just had my DVR hooked up yesterday...just wondering if I need to change any settings to get max performance. I read on here that half the people who have their hd box dont have it set up right...If it helps i have a sony lcd xbr...

The comcast tech said that channels 804,805,807 only broadcast HD after 8pm...is this true? Are there any other channels that have time specs like this?

The comcast tech said that channels 804,805,807 only broadcast HD after 8pm...is this true? Are there any other channels that have time specs like this?
The Comast tech probably should watch those channels once in a while. They broadcast in HD all the time. Now weekdays before primetime still sometimes have a dearth of HD, except for some soaps (I think) and Good Morning America, but they are still broadcasting in HD.

I was under th eimpression that Comcast would be carrying it (the poster is referring to MHD) too.

If this is the case,keep your eyes on channel 828.

According to this article (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6297545.html?&display=Features&referral=SUPP) from Multichannel News, Cox is the only carrier onboard right now.

The Comast tech probably should watch those channels once in a while. They broadcast in HD all the time. Now weekdays before primetime still sometimes have a dearth of HD, except for some soaps (I think) and Good Morning America, but they are still broadcasting in HD.

Not to nitpick but, I think its more accurate to say they broadcast a digital signal at all times on these channels, some standard def, some high def., mostly dictated by what programming they receive from the networks. There's not much, if any, locally produced high def programming on these channels so its only when they switch to the network programming at 8:00 pm that you're apt to see high def programs, outside of the soaps and GMA.

In additional distribution news, this article (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6297546.html?&display=Features&referral=SUPP), also from Multichannel news, says that NGC-HD currently has no affiliates (they seem to be positioning themselves for anticipated capacity improvements).

Bruins/Stars was not in HD on WJAR-DT via Comcast of the NHL on NBC. Also, rates are going up over 5% for basic Cable services on Feb 1. Very little new HD in 2005. Will 2006 be the same. I will have fewer HD channels because I will new to downgrade to Digital Silver from Digital Plantuim and lose 2 or 3 Premium channels that have HD.

Comcast is jacking up the prices yet again, they better plan to add at least 2-3 HD channels this year, if not more. I am not optomistic though.

Are there ANY new HD channels in the pipeline?

People should not complain THAT much. We still get ALL THE HD LOCALS! We will get AL:L the Red Sox games in HD! Many systems have fewer channels.

However,we could use HDNet and HDNet Movies :)

long time lurker first time poster.


whatever is going on this year i cant take anymore team tennis on inhd1. please for the love of god find some other stuff to put on inhd 1 and 2.

long time lurker first time poster.


whatever is going on this year i cant take anymore team tennis on inhd1. please for the love of god find some other stuff to put on inhd 1 and 2.

How 'bout more exteme skiing film converts then?...

or octagonal wrestling/kickboxing matches...

or replacing it with hdnet.

Anyone else notice audio level changes on Fox during 24 and during football?

Is anyone else having audio sync problems on PBS-HD? It has been seriously out-of-sync all day for me; all other channels are fine (including GBH-World and Create).

Is anyone else having audio sync problems on PBS-HD? It has been seriously out-of-sync all day for me; all other channels are fine (including GBH-World and Create).

Didn't notice it particularly bad yesterday, but it is out of sync quite often. Not as bad as WJAR-DT (810) which I've never actually seen IN sync...