I wonder if it will record the second showing if you delete the first one before the second arrives. I seldom keep a recording for more than a day or two. (Sometimes an hour or two -- just avoiding commercials.)

I got Comcast to enable channels 7xx. However, they look significantly worse than my normal 2-99 channels. Why?

when they enables the channels, comcast said they were temporary until something got fixed(?).

any info is welcome.

I got Comcast to enable channels 7xx. However, they look significantly worse than my normal 2-99 channels. Why?

The 7xx channels are analog, so in addition to the poorer quality, period, they are then converted to digital and back to analog by the 6412, making them worse.

The 2-99 channels are now broadcast digitally, so only one digital to analog conversion is necessary (to display the image on your TV), so the quality is much better.

I got Comcast to enable channels 7xx. However, they look significantly worse than my normal 2-99 channels. Why?

when they enables the channels, comcast said they were temporary until something got fixed(?).

any info is welcome.Because 2-99 are now the new digital simulcast channels, that's why. They're supposed to look better. The old analog channels (that used to be shown as 2-99) have been kept around as well, and remapped to 702-799. Frankly, I don't even know why they bothered to keep the old analog channels on our boxes at all - it just confuses the heck out of people. I guess IN CASE someone really, really wants to see the old crappy analog version - for nostalgia's sake - they can still tune to 7xx.

I wonder if it will record the second showing if you delete the first one before the second arrives.

I accidentally did that experiment last weekend. I had 'Conviction' set to record on channel 105 on Friday night. But channel 105 wasn't broadcasting on Friday. So I canceled the recording, and told it to record it from channel 5 instead. It did.

Before watching it, I noticed there was a repeat showing on Saturday night on channel 105. I'd much rather see the HD version, so I deleted the SD recording, and scheduled the HD recording on Saturday night. That didn't record, leaving me with no 'Conviction's at all.

As to Stargate, it seems that shows in syndication don't bother to set the 'Repeat' flag in the TV listings. This was a problem on my ReplayTV as well.

...I'd much rather see the HD version, so I deleted the SD recording, and scheduled the HD recording on Saturday night. That didn't record, leaving me with no 'Conviction's at all.

I think that's a "feature" I could do without. I'd prefer that the list of scheduled recordings be accurate.

I think that's a "feature" I could do without. I'd prefer that the list of scheduled recordings be accurate.

Sure; the best of both worlds would be if the list of scheduled recordings would show every program that matched, but also note "duplicate" or "repeat" programs that won't actually be recorded, with the ability for you to manually override that (similar to manually resolving a conflict) if you wish. As of now, it's a bit like my old Replay, where it's impossible to know in advance exactly what is going to be recorded.

The other day I received the following email from:
Brenda Tate
Department of Information Technology
Office of Cable Communications
Key Tower
700 Fifth Avenue Suite 2700
P.O Box 94709
Seattle, WA 98104-5065
brenda.tate@seattle.gov
Phone: (206) 386-1989
Fax: (206) 684-0911
Pager: (206) 997-3198

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
On
Proposed Comcast Cable Franchise Renewal Ordinance

Seattle Center, Shaw Room (Just North of Key Arena)
Thursday, March 30, 2006, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
(Sign-up to speak starting at 5:00 p.m. outside of hearing room)

The Seattle City Council’s Energy & Technology Committee will conduct a public hearing on a proposed ordinance granting Comcast a renewed franchise to provide cable services in most areas of Seattle. The purpose of the hearing is to take public testimony from the community and interested individuals on issues related to the proposed ordinance. If you need translation services or other accommodations, please call 206-684-8146 by March 27th to make arrangements.

If you wish to testify, you may sign up in-person outside the hearing room beginning at 5 p.m. The hearing will be cablecast live on Channel 21 and simultaneously webcast at this address: http://www2.cityofseattle.net/council/EventSearchCouncil_video.asp.

Questions regarding the public hearing process should be directed to Tom Van Bronkhorst in Councilmember Jean Godden’s office, by calling 206-684-8807 or via e-mail at tom.vanbronkhorst@seattle.gov.
Written comments on the proposed ordinance will be accepted through Thursday, April 6, and should be addressed to Councilmember Jean Godden, Energy & Technology Committee, City of Seattle Legislative Department, PO Box 34025, Seattle, WA 98124-4025, or by e-mail at jean.godden@seattle.gov. Copies of the proposed ordinance and attachments may be obtained by calling the City’s Office of Cable Communications at 206-684-8498, or on the City Clerk’s website at http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/leghome.htm under Council Bill No. 115494 (see also CB 115492 and CB 115493). These ordinances approve the franchise agreement negotiated by the executive; accept and appropriate funds to be received from Comcast; and support the public access channel through a small increase in franchise fees.

To view the proposed franchise document, see www.seattle.gov/cable.


Directions
Seattle Center is located at:
305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 684-7200 or www.seattlecenter.com
The Shaw Room is located near the northwest corner of Seattle Center
(across from the QFC on Republican near 1st Ave N.)

Bike, bus and parking info at http://seattlecenter.com/transportation/

Driving directions at http://seattlecenter.com/transportation/
directions.asp

The above hearing is the time when you need to make your voice heard about what you like/dislike about Comcast. I encourage everyone who can, to attend this hearing and let Comcast know that their customers have an opinion.

I personally would like to see al-a-carte programming because I don't watch 80% of the crap channels I pay for. That's the #1 complaint on my list.

What's #1 on yours?

My #1 is WHERE IS FSN HD and ESPN2 HD?

Was the season finale of Battlestar Galactica messed up for anyone else? I was getting constant audio dropouts and video glitches. Was it a screwup with comcast's digital simulcast or just my DVR?

I thought, at least I'll be able to catch the parts I missed when they show it again in two hours. I'll record the analog version this time. But no luck. I programmed comcast's worthless DVR to record both channel 59 and 759, but when it came time the DVR decided not to record. It's on right now, but I can't record it. I push the record button but it refuses to record. It was good, but I don't want to watch it twice in a row to catch the parts I missed the first time. Comcast is going to have one pissed off customer calling them in the morning.

I got Comcast to enable channels 7xx. However, they look significantly worse than my normal 2-99 channels. Why?

when they enables the channels, comcast said they were temporary until something got fixed

Sastimac, what was the issue with the 2-99 channels that you got Comcast to turn on the 7xx channels? These higher channels are still available to help troubleshoot and in case you have problems with the digital simulcast. They are temporary until at MOST the FCC takes them back and sells them off, or sooner if Comcast goes truly ALL digital in your area.

Call them back, don't bother to ask what was supposed to get fixed, and get a tech to your house to fix the problem. You most likely have some reception issue affecting digital and analog at this point. If checking your own connections does not fix it, then get Comcast there.

Was the season finale of Battlestar Galactica messed up for anyone else? I was getting constant audio dropouts and video glitches. Was it a screwup with comcast's digital simulcast or just my DVR?

My recording at 10:00PM on Channel 59 was fine.

Last weekend, however, Channel 42 (Cartoon Network) was a nightmare, with both the East Coast and West Coast Feeds of "Full Metal Alchemist" and, especially, "Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd Gig" suffering massive video and audio glitches (and in different places, no less).

I was able to salvage a watchable copy of FMA alternating between the two, but GiTS was a total loss - fortunately the DVD of that ep arrives shortly.

Was the season finale of Battlestar Galactica messed up for anyone else? I was getting constant audio dropouts and video glitches. Was it a screwup with comcast's digital simulcast or just my DVR?


I've had some problems with signal dropouts in the past, but I didn't experience any such problems with last night's BSG.

I'm looking into Comcast HD as I am unable to receive OTA signals from my location.

I know there has been some discussion on the quality and bitrate of the HD programming. Has anyone (with the equipment) tried recording some transport streams from the various channels to see what the bitrate actually is?
If so, I'd greatly appreciate hearing some of the results.

Also, I know that directv and dishnetwork resize the HD to 1280x1080, does comcast also do this?

I'm looking into Comcast HD as I am unable to receive OTA signals from my location.

I know there has been some discussion on the quality and bitrate of the HD programming. Has anyone (with the equipment) tried recording some transport streams from the various channels to see what the bitrate actually is?
If so, I'd greatly appreciate hearing some of the results.

Also, I know that directv and dishnetwork resize the HD to 1280x1080, does comcast also do this?Comcast doesn't modify the picture stream, except obviously to modulate it using QAM. Whatever the source network sends them, they pass thru to us - good or bad. There are conspiracy theorists who will tell you otherwise, but this is Comcast's corporate policy, and I've seen no reason to doubt it. When KOMO sends out HD programming with bad glitches - it's exactly the same glitches on both OTA and Comcast.

I know there has been some discussion on the quality and bitrate of the HD programming. Has anyone (with the equipment) tried recording some transport streams from the various channels to see what the bitrate actually is?
If so, I'd greatly appreciate hearing some of the results.

I have bitrate information in my QAM channel list. Some channels are variable bit rate, so you can't describe the bitrate by a single number.


Also, I know that directv and dishnetwork resize the HD to 1280x1080, does comcast also do this?
They don't resize what they transmit, stations come in their native 1920x1080, 1280x720 or 704x480. Comcast's cable boxes do resize to a single resolution on output. So you have to pick 1080i or 720p and everything HD will get resized to that.

If you have a cablecard TV then you don't exactly have this problem, but really you still do. Nearly all TV's only display a single resolution, so the TV is going to convert everything to one resolution just like the cable box does.

Is anyone else having issues with their 6412 acting really sluggish and not responding very fast in the last few weeks?

It's like an update came and it has been acting up since. I.E......getting stuck on FF or REV for 1-2 minutes. A long delay after hitting a number or comand on the remote.

Thanks.....

Was the season finale of Battlestar Galactica messed up for anyone else? I was getting constant audio dropouts and video glitches. Was it a screwup with comcast's digital simulcast or just my DVR?

I thought, at least I'll be able to catch the parts I missed when they show it again in two hours. I'll record the analog version this time. But no luck. I programmed comcast's worthless DVR to record both channel 59 and 759, but when it came time the DVR decided not to record. It's on right now, but I can't record it. I push the record button but it refuses to record. It was good, but I don't want to watch it twice in a row to catch the parts I missed the first time. Comcast is going to have one pissed off customer calling them in the morning.
I am *LIVID* right now. The stupid Comcast DVR failed to record BG on Friday night when it first aired and I was kind of pissed until someone told me it would air again tonight. I checked the schedule late last night and it was listed as to be recorded tonight at the proper times - no problem.

Well, needless to say I just checked. It's not recording it. The recording schedule is empty for tonight, and it was 30 minutes into the episode before I could hit the manual record button. At least for me, it did start recording, but since it wasn't on that channel when I walked up to it, it can't recover the first 30 minutes.

Fool me once, fool me twice - wish I had line of sight to satellites...

Is anyone else having issues with their 6412 acting really sluggish and not responding very fast in the last few weeks?

It's like an update came and it has been acting up since. I.E......getting stuck on FF or REV for 1-2 minutes. A long delay after hitting a number or comand on the remote.

Thanks.....
That's been happening with mine for months now. It's more than frustrating - it's infuriating.

The work-around, of course, is to turn it off when not in use as the problem only happens when it's been on for a long time. But then you run into the maddening "I'm sorry, I know better than you and I'm the one who powered the system on to do a recording because I'm so lame that I can't simply record a program without the UI running so I'm going to mute the audio and not leave you with any easy way to unmute it without having to hack a remote and worse, I'll decide to turn myself off on you when I'm done because I'm done doing what I needed to do and who cares what you are doing" bug...

(Gee, is it clear that I have the lowest opinion of whoever wrote the software for this thing?)

(Gee, is it clear that I have the lowest opinion of whoever wrote the software for this thing?)

Well, if you're in San Francisco it wouldn't be the same person(s) who wrote ours.

Well, if you're in San Francisco it wouldn't be the same person(s) who wrote ours.
Ah, good point. Sorry, I was searching for a thread where others were having the same problem. It seems that some problems seem to span the different models?

Ah, good point. Sorry, I was searching for a thread where others were having the same problem. It seems that some problems seem to span the different models?

When they do, it's probably an indication that the problem lies with the firmware (Motorola) or the guide data. In the case of the lack of response to remote commands, I'd bet on a poor design of the Motorola real time operating system.

I also have twice in the las couple weeks had a 3+ hour scheduled recording record only record 1:04 exactly and stop. That pissed me off so bad.

Is there any truth to this overheating talk? I had zero issues for the first 8+ months of owning the DVR and it missed a few recordings. Comcast insisted that I was ALWAYS supposed to leaver the power on and never turn off the box? I'm starting to think heat may be an issues as it is very warm to the touch these days.

Box temperature:

In Diagnostics, the second page of d13 (PVR/HDD STATUS) shows Temp and Max Temp. Mine are 106 & 124.

As an aside, why are most of the Washington 6412 postings appearing here instead of in the "Washington State - Comcast 6412 w/ MSFT Software" forum?

Comcast viewers using QAM only: are you still able to pick up KING and KONG? Thanks.

As an aside, why are most of the Washington 6412 postings appearing here instead of in the "Washington State - Comcast 6412 w/ MSFT Software" forum?

I can say that the reason I posted here was that this was the only thread I could find here that seemed to have any information about this box. I found the thread through Google and read the thread for several weeks prior to making my first post. Even after you gave me the name of the thread that was specific to the problems I'm seeing it took me 45 minutes of searching the boards to find that thread. Coming in through the front door of this board, it's difficult to find what you are looking for (as a newbie).

I'd love to post the link to the board that you are refering to, but apparently that's not allowed for newbies, can you post that link?

Here's the link:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=467203

NCAA Games On KIRO: Thurs. March 16
KIRO 7.0

Time
Game

9:40 a.m.
Boston College vs. Pacific (Salt Lake City I)

12:00 p.m.
Nevada vs. Montana (Salt Lake City II)

4:20 p.m.
Gonzaga vs. Xavier (Salt Lake City III)

6:45 p.m.
Washington vs. Utah State (San Diego IV)

KIRO 7.1 Seen on Comcast channel 107

Time
Game

9:20 a.m.
Wichita State vs. Seton Hall (Greensboro I)

11:40 p.m.
Marquette vs. Alabama (San Diego I)

4:20 p.m.
Gonzaga vs. Xavier (Salt Lake City III)

6:45 p.m.
Washington vs. Utah State (San Diego IV)

KIRO 7.2 Seen on Comcast channel 117

Time
Game

9:25 a.m.
Oklahoma vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Jacksonville I)

11:45 a.m.
Florida vs. South Alabama (Jacksonville II)

4:25 p.m.
Illinois vs. Air Force (San Diego III)

6:40 p.m.
Indiana vs. San Diego State (Salt Lake City IV)

---------------

NCAA Games On KIRO: Fri. March 17
KIRO 7.0

Time
Game

9:30 a.m.
Arizona vs. Wisconsin (Philadelphia I)

11:45 a.m.
West Virginia vs. Southern Illinois (Auburn Hills II)

4:20 p.m.
California vs. North Carolina State (Dallas III)

6:45 p.m.
Kentucky vs. UAB (Philadelphia IV)

KIRO 7.1, Seen on Comcast channel 107

Time
Game

9:30 a.m.
Arizona vs. Wisconsin (Philadelphia I)

11:45 p.m.
West Virginia vs. Southern Illinois (Auburn Hills II)

4:10 p.m.
Pittsburgh vs. Kent State (Auburn Hills III)

6:45 p.m.
Kentucky vs. UAB (Philadelphia IV)

KIRO 7.2, Seen on Comcast channel 117

Time
Game

9:15 a.m.
Ohio State vs. Davidson (Dayton I)

11:35 a.m.
Georgetown vs. Northern Iowa (Dayton II)

4:10 p.m.
Michigan State vs. George Mason (Dayton III)

6:30 p.m.
North Carolina vs. Murray State (Dayton IV)

If you have a cablecard TV then you don't exactly have this problem, but really you still do. Nearly all TV's only display a single resolution, so the TV is going to convert everything to one resolution just like the cable box does.

Does Cablecard "pass through" the native resolution of the channel? Do you get Fox in 720p and Kiro in 1080i? or is it just 720p OR 1080i with Cablecard?

Since they are free I am tempted to get one to test out and see...

Sastimac, what was the issue with the 2-99 channels that you got Comcast to turn on the 7xx channels? These higher channels are still available to help troubleshoot and in case you have problems with the digital simulcast. They are temporary until at MOST the FCC takes them back and sells them off, or sooner if Comcast goes truly ALL digital in your area.

Call them back, don't bother to ask what was supposed to get fixed, and get a tech to your house to fix the problem. You most likely have some reception issue affecting digital and analog at this point. If checking your own connections does not fix it, then get Comcast there.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought the 7xx channels were the digital channels. Instead, they are the analog channels. That explains why they looked worse than the 2-99 channels. My regular tv's show good 2-99 reception. However, on my plasma the difference is noticeable.

Thanks

I walked up to the counter on Saturday and asked the woman at the desk what I had to do to get a CableCARD and she replied "Just ask me nicely." - I did and she got a card, scanned it, got my signature and I walked out.

I asked about charges and she said none - and that I would save $5.10/month when I returned my STB. She asked a couple of standard questions to make sure I understood that it had no PPV, On Demand or Channel Guide.

The only other thing I had to do after installing it was to call the toll free service number and ask to have it initialized.

I do not know how you guys do that. I went to the Redmond Comcast store today and asked nicely about CableCARD. The lady checked that I have limited analog cable subscription only and told me I need to upgrade to Digital Cable for 11.99/mo. I even talked to her manager, but she said the same. Than I called Comcast 800 number and customer service person said that I CAN have the CableCARD with just basic analog subscription. However the card needs to be installed by a technician. I said fine and set up an appointment.
I was happy until got back home and found a message on my phone from that customer service rep telling me that she was wrong and I need to buy Digital Cable.

Judging from the number of posts here, there is number of people who recieved CableCARD with just basic cable. It seems like the policy changes daily or what?

Anyone has an idea how should I proceed?

I thought 100+ were the digital channels. This is what I was told by Comcast previously. Your saying the 700 channels are not digital? I thought they just didn't look good because they were old TV shows I've been recording in 700+. Is the 2-99 now digital?

I thought 100+ were the digital channels. This is what I was told by Comcast previously. Your saying the 700 channels are not digital? I thought they just didn't look good because they were old TV shows I've been recording in 700+. Is the 2-99 now digital?

Yes. Ignore 708-799, since they're just analog equivalents of 8-99. If you don't have a set top box, then 2-99 are analog.

I thought 100+ were the digital channels. This is what I was told by Comcast previously. Your saying the 700 channels are not digital? I thought they just didn't look good because they were old TV shows I've been recording in 700+. Is the 2-99 now digital?Yes, when Comcast enabled the digital simulcast channels recently, they also reprogrammed all our cable boxes so that 2-99 now represents those new digital simulcast channels. They still transmit the analog channels - but they've programmed our boxes to make those analog channels appear in the 702-799 range. Of course, if you're using an analog tuner (on your TV) then 2-99 are the same analog channels as always.

Does Cablecard "pass through" the native resolution of the channel? Do you get Fox in 720p and Kiro in 1080i? or is it just 720p OR 1080i with Cablecard?
A cablecard just deals with decrypting the signal, it's not nearly complex enough to convert from one resolution to another. Your TV will get whatever resolution is being sent. The thing is, an LCD or plasma screen is manufactured with a certain physical number of pixels. For a CRT based TV it's more complex, but they generally only do a single resolution too. Your TV may say it's in 720p or 1080i mode, but that's just the signal it's getting. The screen can't physically transform itself to another resolution, and so everything is digitally converted to the screen's native resolution.


They are temporary until at MOST the FCC takes them back and sells them off, or sooner if Comcast goes truly ALL digital in your area.
While the FCC will be taking back the analog over the air frequencies, the cable companies could continue to provide analog signals longer (or not as long) if they wanted to. It stands to reason they might want to do this, to pick up customers who don't want to buy ATSC STBs for all their TVs.

Anyone want to join my fantasy baseball league on Yahoo? If so PM me.
It is a head-to-head league. The live draft is scheduled for this Sunday at 11am. It is a PLUS league so it has all the bonus features but the cost is $10 per person. The winner gets a trophy or t-shirt.
Thanks, and sorry for the off topic post.
Nick

I do not know how you guys do that. I went to the Redmond Comcast store today and asked nicely about CableCARD. The lady checked that I have limited analog cable subscription only and told me I need to upgrade to Digital Cable for 11.99/mo. I even talked to her manager, but she said the same. Than I called Comcast 800 number and customer service person said that I CAN have the CableCARD with just basic analog subscription. However the card needs to be installed by a technician. I said fine and set up an appointment.
I was happy until got back home and found a message on my phone from that customer service rep telling me that she was wrong and I need to buy Digital Cable.

Judging from the number of posts here, there is number of people who recieved CableCARD with just basic cable. It seems like the policy changes daily or what?

Anyone has an idea how should I proceed?

What Comcast doesn’t want us to know.... If you have a cable card ready TV, you don't need to upgrade to digital service or get the card to receive non-premium digital channels.

I've got analog service only (and I'm NOT using a cable card) and I get all the unencrypted digital channels including 7 local HD channels on both my TVs.
My Philips and Pioneer both have integrated ATSC/QAM tuners with cableCARD slots.

If your TV has a QAM tuner (cableCARD equipped), just hook it directly to the cable and do a “channel scan”and it should find all the unencrypted digital channels available. The digital channel numbers it finds usually will not be in the same locations that are shown on a cable box as the box is programmed to remap them. As an example, KOMO (ABC) HD is channel 82.4 and is something like 104.1 on the Comcast box.

What Comcast doesn’t want us to know.... If you have a cable card ready TV, you don't need to upgrade to digital service or get the card to receive non-premium digital channels.

I've got analog service only (and I'm NOT using a cable card) and I get all the unencrypted digital channels including 7 local HD channels on both my TVs.
My Philips and Pioneer both have integrated ATSC/QAM tuners with cableCARD slots.

If your TV has a QAM tuner (cableCARD equipped), just hook it directly to the cable and do a “channel scan”and it should find all the unencrypted digital channels available. The digital channel numbers it finds usually will not be in the same locations that are shown on a cable box as the box is programmed to remap them. As an example, KOMO (ABC) HD is channel 82.4 and is something like 104.1 on the Comcast box.
Exactly. Why does anybody want a cablecard for limited analog anyhow? All such channels are transmitted unencrypted, so there's no need for a card (as of now). This might obviously change, if Comcast decides to encrypt these channels someday.
The situation is somewhat different for basic cable channels. For subscribers of that tier a cablecard would allow receiving these channels in digital. And there's really the question, whether it is indeed possible to get a cablecard, if you subscribe to basic cable. From what I read from various forum posts, this seems indeed depend on the wheather, the day of the week or some other random factor. In most cases the requirement seems to be having the entry level digital tier.

Cablecard is only useful to receive ESPN, DISCOVER, INHD, TNT, HBO etc in HD. Those chanenels are only included in digital cable. That may be why comcast won't give you a cable card.


What Comcast doesn’t want us to know.... If you have a cable card ready TV, you don't need to upgrade to digital service or get the card to receive non-premium digital channels.

I've got analog service only (and I'm NOT using a cable card) and I get all the unencrypted digital channels including 7 local HD channels on both my TVs.
My Philips and Pioneer both have integrated ATSC/QAM tuners with cableCARD slots.

If your TV has a QAM tuner (cableCARD equipped), just hook it directly to the cable and do a “channel scan”and it should find all the unencrypted digital channels available. The digital channel numbers it finds usually will not be in the same locations that are shown on a cable box as the box is programmed to remap them. As an example, KOMO (ABC) HD is channel 82.4 and is something like 104.1 on the Comcast box.

March Madness:

We got the early HD games on KIRO-DT when the non-HD broadcast was on KIRO's SD channel. Now they're showing the non-HD broadcast on both KIRO-SD and KIRO-DT even though the UCLA game is in HD right now.

Unfortunately, I'm not able to get to a phone right now (please don't ask me to explain). Could someone please call KIRO and find out why we're not getting the HD game from San Diego on KIRO-DT right now?

Thanks!

Tim

Cablecard is only useful to receive ESPN, DISCOVER, INHD, TNT, HBO etc in HD. Those chanenels are only included in digital cable. That may be why comcast won't give you a cable card.
No, it could also be used to receive the SD versions of some of the channels you listed, if you subscibe to basic cable only.
It doesn't mean that you automatically get all those HD channels you mentioned, if you have a Cablecard. A CableCard is used for decryption, but not for reception. It's kind of the decryption part of a stand-alone cable box.

I do not know how you guys do that. I went to the Redmond Comcast store today and asked nicely about CableCARD. The lady checked that I have limited analog cable subscription only and told me I need to upgrade to Digital Cable for 11.99/mo. I even talked to her manager, but she said the same. Than I called Comcast 800 number and customer service person said that I CAN have the CableCARD with just basic analog subscription. However the card needs to be installed by a technician. I said fine and set up an appointment.
I was happy until got back home and found a message on my phone from that customer service rep telling me that she was wrong and I need to buy Digital Cable.

Judging from the number of posts here, there is number of people who recieved CableCARD with just basic cable. It seems like the policy changes daily or what?

Anyone has an idea how should I proceed?


I went through the same thing recently (~2 weeks ago).
Here is my story (kind of lengthy)

First, I went to Redmond, and was not able to get the cable card (because the lady said I needed to upgrade to digital cable). [I only have the "expanded basic"(??) analog cable, ~$45 per month, CNN, ESPN, etc.; No HBO, No Showtime.]
Next, I went to Seattle and the lady gave me a cable card, without me paying anything or upgrading.

Went home, and plug the cable card into TV.
TV didn't work at all. (Can't see anything. 0 channels.)
Called Comcast and explained the problem.
The lady on the phone first told me that "You don't have digital cable. You are NOT supposed to get a cable card."
Then, I told her that I don't think so because the Seattle office just gave me the cable card an hour or so ago.
So, the lady beleived me and went through the troubleshoot with me.
She told me to turned off TV and unpluged and then pluged the cable cards.
Still didn't work.
So, I told her that I read from Internet that after I got the cable card, I needed to call Comcast and then Comcast would set some some signal to "authorize" the cable card.
She then told me to hold on for a minute. When she came back, she told me to turn off TV and unplugged/plugged cable card again.
This time, the TV worked. (I was able to tune to 104 / 107 to watch ABC and CBS, although the program was SD at that time.)


Hope this helps.

PS
Note: with the cable card, my TV does not allow me to select "Side Bar", "Zoom", or "Stretch" anymore for SD channels. "Side Bar" are present all the time for SD. If the same is also true for your TV and yours is a plasma, that may or may not cause the built-in problem.

Exactly. Why does anybody want a cablecard for limited analog anyhow? All such channels are transmitted unencrypted, so there's no need for a card (as of now). This might obviously change, if Comcast decides to encrypt these channels someday.
The situation is somewhat different for basic cable channels. For subscribers of that tier a cablecard would allow receiving these channels in digital. And there's really the question, whether it is indeed possible to get a cablecard, if you subscribe to basic cable. From what I read from various forum posts, this seems indeed depend on the wheather, the day of the week or some other random factor. In most cases the requirement seems to be having the entry level digital tier.

Well, agreed with you to some degree.

However, if you have "expanded" (??) anaglog cable, (i.e., CNN, ESPN, etc.), then with a cable card, you will get the digital versions of many (but not all?) of these analog channels. This is important if your cable signal is marginal to begin with so the analog channel picture quality is not good.
There is a disadvantage though in that it takes longer to switch channels.

Also, with cable card, you just tune to 104 to watch ABC HD, instead of tuning to 87.1 (or something like that).

Furthermore, with cable card, the TV Guide On Screen feature of my TV started to work acceptably (although not perfectly) again (at least for the last 2 weeks).

Why isn't KIRO broadcasting basketball in HD?

Hey everyone, first off, I am totaly new to this forum but it is great! I have a question and it has probably been answered a dozen times so far but this thread is so big I don't know how to pare it down. So here we go!

I am buying a new plasma come monday - the vizio 42 from Costco...I ultimately will have a hdmi dvd player. With comcast - what is the best way to go set up wise? the Vizio only has one HDMI slot and no cable card slot BUT does have a tuner.

What should I be looking for as #1. Best picture? #2. Most cost effective?

Thanks!

It depends on what you plan to watch. Your Vizio P42 TV's QAM tuner supports only un-encrypted digital cable channels - which is mostly stations you'd otherwise get over-the-air like the local HD stations. If you want to watch any other digital cable programming - like ESPN-HD, Discovery-HD, or any of the premium channels - then you'll need to subscribe to a digital cable package, and use Comcast's digital cable box for tuning. You'd connect it to your TV via HDMI.

It depends on what you plan to watch. Your Vizio P42 TV's QAM tuner supports only un-encrypted digital cable channels - which is mostly stations you'd otherwise get over-the-air like the local HD stations. If you want to watch any other digital cable programming - like ESPN-HD, Discovery-HD, or any of the premium channels - then you'll need to subscribe to a digital cable package, and use Comcast's digital cable box for tuning. You'd connect it to your TV via HDMI.

Comcast box also has composite. I currently have both- when I switch I can not tell the difference. In a few years, when 1) the new DVD standard becomes decided; and 2) the price of a new format DVD player gets affordable, I will use HDMI from the DVD since it will support 1080p while it will be years before 1080p is available from Comcast

Comcast box also has composite. I currently have both- when I switch I can not tell the difference. ...You mean component, right?

It's here, not that I know why...

90-332 through 90-339 & 112-420 through 112-426.

I've updated the QAM list (attached) to detail them.

You mean component, right?

Right on! Although I meant to type component, I have included the definition below, in case anyone else is confused:


Component Cables
Component cables look just like composite cables. The difference is that, where a composite cable carries the entire video signal on a single cable, component cables split the signal in three. This connection gives a superior image over composite or S-video connections. The signal itself is referred to as either Y,Cr,Cb, or Y,Pb,Pr. Most manufacturers make connecting these cables easy by color coordinating them. The tips of the cables and jacks will be red, green and blue. Unfortunately, this can be a bit confusing because computer RGB connections are colored the same way. A good rule of thumb is that, if the connections are RCA type, it is usually a component cable. Computer RGB cables will usually be BNC type. Most high-end DVD players and HDTV tuners will have component connections.

Cablecard is only useful to receive ESPN, DISCOVER, INHD, TNT, HBO etc in HD. Those chanenels are only included in digital cable. That may be why comcast won't give you a cable card.

It's also useful to receive HD locals, and those are included with Limited Basic (the $12.00 plan).

It's also useful to receive HD locals, and those are included with Limited Basic (the $12.00 plan).It is, but just to be clear - a cablecard is not required for those HD locals; just a TV w/ QAM tuner.

It is, but just to be clear - a cablecard is not required for those HD locals; just a TV w/ QAM tuner.
Correct, just look 3 posts above at pastiche's list. All channels listed there don't require a cablecard (for now).

Correct, just look 3 posts above at pastiche's list. All channels listed there don't require a cablecard (for now).

The point is that cable card is useful (not necessary), because it doesn't require you to learn the QAM channel assignments. King will be 105, Kiro 107, etc. And if Comcast changes the QAM channel assignments, you will not need to figure out those changes.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a proponent of cablecard--except cablecard enabled DVRs.

Comcast box also has composite. I currently have both- when I switch I can not tell the difference. In a few years, when 1) the new DVD standard becomes decided; and 2) the price of a new format DVD player gets affordable, I will use HDMI from the DVD since it will support 1080p while it will be years before 1080p is available from Comcast

I went the opposite route, using HDMI for the Comcast connection. I have a Panasonic plasma with a 720p native resolution, a Panasonic S97 DVD player, and the new 3412 set top box from Comcast. For me, picture quality is better using HDMI from the Comcast box. But, I don't see any difference in quality between component and HDMI from the DVD player. In my case, the scaler in my set is probably as good as the one in the DVD player, so it doesn't matter where the up-conversion to 720p takes place. But, as is the case in most of these situations, you really need to hook it up both ways and see what looks best. If both look better using HDMI, then you'll need to invest in a switch or an HDMI-capable receiver.

Does anyone have a good email to contact someone local w/ Comcast to request FSN-HD? I sent an email to a generic contact email at Comcast and got a very blah response about no announcements of plans to add FSN-HD. I want to send an email to someone who actually has some clout there.

This is an excerpt from an article in a magazine called "Sports Business Daily". It was a one-on-one with FSN National COO Randy Freer.


Q: FSN has made a big investment in HD, increasing the coverage.

Freer: We more than doubled it this year. I think we will more than double it again next year. We hope to have deals with all of our distributors for the delivery of HD by the start of baseball season this year. Once that is in place, you’ll see us over the next 12 or 18 months put ourselves in a position where we are doing most of our games in HD.


My understanding is that instead of FSN NW trying to negotiate a deal with Comcast Seattle, the National FSN is trying to negotiate a deal with National Comcast. That of course makes the deal far more complicated, but maybe it's closer then we think. I hope. Maybe soon.

Does anyone have a good email to contact someone local w/ Comcast to request FSN-HD? I sent an email to a generic contact email at Comcast and got a very blah response about no announcements of plans to add FSN-HD. I want to send an email to someone who actually has some clout there.

Steve Kipp seems to be the prime Comcast non-communicator around here:

Steve Kipp
VP of Communications
Comcast Washington
steve_kipp@cable.comcast.com

After the latest list of clear QAM channels was posted (see above post), I decided to update my EyeTV 500 for my iMac. Lo and behold, a whole slew of new SD channels that I had not been able to pick up before were there including Comedy Central, Bravo, CNN, fx, Lifetime, AMC and quite a few more. It looks like the set of channels non-digital subscribers might receive.

The only problem is, there is no sound. So, this leads me to a few questions
1. Are other folks seeing these channels?
2. Is anyone getting sound on these channels?
3. Am I the only weird Mac guy here?

All the other channels get sound, but not this one. Maybe they are encrypting the sound, but not the image.

I'd tell you the channel numbers, but EyeTV only reports the actual frequency they occupy (Comedy Central, AMC, and Discovery all occupy 669 Mhz, for example)

Any similar experiences out there?

Cheers,
Randy

The only problem is, there is no sound. So, this leads me to a few questions
1. Are other folks seeing these channels?
2. Is anyone getting sound on these channels?
3. Am I the only weird Mac guy here?


I see them occasionally. At times, they're all unencrypted (without sound), and at other times, they're all encrypted. Yet other times, some are encrypted, and some are unencrypted.

I haven't gotten sound from any "expanded basic" digital simulcast channels in about a year, since they re-arranged them and actually prepared to launch the simulcast.

After the latest list of clear QAM channels was posted (see above post), I decided to update my EyeTV 500 for my iMac. Lo and behold, a whole slew of new SD channels that I had not been able to pick up before were there including Comedy Central, Bravo, CNN, fx, Lifetime, AMC and quite a few more. It looks like the set of channels non-digital subscribers might receive.

The only problem is, there is no sound. So, this leads me to a few questions
1. Are other folks seeing these channels?
2. Is anyone getting sound on these channels?
3. Am I the only weird Mac guy here?

I get these, the sound is encrypted but the video isn't. I listed them in my channels list, about 40 posts back.

While the FCC will be taking back the analog over the air frequencies, the cable companies could continue to provide analog signals longer (or not as long) if they wanted to. It stands to reason they might want to do this, to pick up customers who don't want to buy ATSC STBs for all their TVs.

I think now I misunderstood some of the reading I was doing, or assumed too much!, so I searched more and all the information I found recently related only to broadcasters, not to cable companies.

I agree that Comcast and other providers may want to keep analog if possible, but I do not forsee them keeping more than necessary (the "must haves" on the lineup) and a couple more if at all. They will want to maximize the bandwidth that they have for HD, digital channels, and interactive services with multiple products. They have already started the process in some areas for all digital.

Anyone else have trouble with 107 tonight? It's a washed out mess for me. I can't even watch it. Just me?

Looks like both TV sets with the Comcast DVR box are doing it, but the feed on the computer (without a box) is fine.

107 -- mine is fine.

Does anyone has a list of the channels ill be able to recieve (HDTV and other) if a get a QAM compliant cable tuner for my PC? I searched the thread and couldnt find one. I assume ill still get the basic cable (channels 2-99), am i correct in that asumption?

Does anyone has a list of the channels ill be able to recieve (HDTV and other) if a get a QAM compliant cable tuner for my PC? I searched the thread and couldnt find one. I assume ill still get the basic cable (channels 2-99), am i correct in that asumption?Look at the top of this page - about 18 posts before yours.

Does anyone has a list of the channels ill be able to recieve (HDTV and other) if a get a QAM compliant cable tuner for my PC? I searched the thread and couldnt find one. I assume ill still get the basic cable (channels 2-99), am i correct in that asumption?


Check out post #6550 in this thread...has a nice file listing of the digital channels, and yes you should get channels 2-99 (if there isn't a filter in line blocking them) :D

I bought a new Philips 32PF7320A/37 from Costco a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised to see that its integrated cable tuner was capable of finding some digital and HD channels in the Comcast lineup (I have the Basic Cable package).

After reading some posts from this forum, I went to the Seattle Comcast office and got a CableCard (no problems - I avoided the Redmond office after reading people's postings in this thread).

I plugged it in last evening, went on the phone with a Comcast service rep and was able to get it working. Now I can watch:
Channels 2-29 (digital)
Channels 74-99 (digital)
Channels 101-119 (digital/HD)
Channels 702-799 (analog)
Channels 900-957 (digital music channels)

My gripe is that channels 30-73 are not working (they just display a black screen). I would love to have these digital versions of the analog 730-773 channels...

Has anyone been able to get them enabled by Comcast while still remaining on Basic Cable?

radurd,

If your "Basic Cable" is the $13 version, you normally would not get channels 30 to 73. (We don't at our house with $13 basic cable).

If you are still getting the analog versions (mapped by your cable card to channels 730 to 773), there is probably no filter on the cable line feeding your house that would exclude those channels.

Dave,

The $13 version is called "Limited cable". The "Basic cable" I have is the $46 version, one that does include channels 30-73.

...My gripe is that channels 30-73 are not working (they just display a black screen). I would love to have these digital versions of the analog 730-773 channels...

Has anyone been able to get them enabled by Comcast while still remaining on Basic Cable?AFAIK you need to have a digital cable subscription to get these. Once subscribed, your Cablecard would would decrypt those channels.

My gripe is that channels 30-73 are not working (they just display a black screen). I would love to have these digital versions of the analog 730-773 channels...

Has anyone been able to get them enabled by Comcast while still remaining on Basic Cable?

In another of your post, you said that your cable is the $45 version, which is the same as mine.
In my case (in Redmond), using cable card, my TV can tune to channels 30-73 without any problems.
I would suggest calling Comcast and try to "re-authorize" the cable card to see if it fixes the problem.

Dave,

The $13 version is called "Limited cable". The "Basic cable" I have is the $46 version, one that does include channels 30-73.
Thanks for clearing that up for me. After looking it up on their web site, I see that "Limited Cable" is the $13 version that I have. I have also seen it called "Limited Basic Cable" and "Limited Basic."

I have Limited Cable because I get a $10 package discount on my Comcast internet service. So my cable TV service effectively costs me $3 per month. Since my wife likes to watch NWCN, it is worth it. Of course, most of the time she watches recorded programs on either her HD or SD DirecTiVo box.

SNL in HD!

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/9451/saturdaynightlivemar260yp.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=saturdaynightlivemar260yp.jpg)

SNL in HD!
FINALLY!!!!

I'm watchin' it right now (off-air). It looks pretty good.

Did anyone who receives KOMO-DT OTA and watches "Lost" notice an audio glitch in the final minutes of this week's episode?

I don't run 5.1, but I am guessing the back two surround channels were swapped with the front three, since I heard loud effects levels but no voices or primary effects on my two-channel TV.

It was also on Comcast.

SNL in HD!

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/9451/saturdaynightlivemar260yp.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=saturdaynightlivemar260yp.jpg)

I noticed that too ... but I wonder if it's because it is a repeat.

Let's see if it is still in HD next week when they reenact the delay ...

Did anyone who receives KOMO-DT OTA and watches "Lost" notice an audio glitch in the final minutes of this week's episode?

I don't run 5.1, but I am guessing the back two surround channels were swapped with the front three, since I heard loud effects levels but no voices or primary effects on my two-channel TV.

Yes, I noticed that and had to switch to my SD recording to get that dialogue. It was during the scene where they let the "potential other" out of the safe and gave him cereal or something. Lasted for a few minutes.

Did anyone who receives KOMO-DT OTA and watches "Lost" notice an audio glitch in the final minutes of this week's episode?

I don't run 5.1, but I am guessing the back two surround channels were swapped with the front three, since I heard loud effects levels but no voices or primary effects on my two-channel TV.
I have 5.1, and there simply wasn't any dialog, just effects. I was able to turn on closed captions on the comcast DVR, and get the dialog that way. Glad I don't normally use the captions, as they are delayed about 10 seconds.

Did anyone get a reply back from Steve Kipp about FSN-HD? I haven't although I did receive a reply in the past.

Thanks

This isn't really Comcast TV news, but check it out. In a few places where Verizon has rolled out Fios, Comcast upgraded their customers download speeds to 16 mbps down and 1 mbps up.

C-Net Article (http://news.com.com/Comcast+matches+Verizon+Fios+speeds/2100-1034_3-6055095.html?tag=html.alert)

Fios still doubles Comcast's upload speed. That would be a bigger deal for a lot of users--I'd take a slower download speed and faster upload speed for $12.00 less a month (what Fios seems to offer per the article).

Did anyone who receives KOMO-DT OTA and watches "Lost" notice an audio glitch in the final minutes of this week's episode?

I don't run 5.1, but I am guessing the back two surround channels were swapped with the front three, since I heard loud effects levels but no voices or primary effects on my two-channel TV.

I think the front channels just went off - I could only hear the sound effects through my rear speakers.

I ended up switching over to the HD feed on directv (from LA) and it was fine there.

fingers crossed it doesn't happen again tonight!

Over QAM, I get 13-1 and 22-1 and both give guide information. Does anyone else get these or other channels with guide information? I do not get all the music channels. Discovery is the highest channel I get.

I think the front channels just went off - I could only hear the sound effects through my rear speakers.

I ended up switching over to the HD feed on directv (from LA) and it was fine there.

fingers crossed it doesn't happen again tonight!

nope - it was the center channel - the fronts (and rears) came through fine.

what's up with KOMO?

The first minutes of sound during tonights episode were messed up. The sound only included sound effects, rain, and music. The sound was missing all dialog. Fortunatley this problem only occured during the episode review played at the beginning of the show. The sound was corrected at the point when Locke opened the sock drawer.

Anyone else notice this?

[edit, corrected spelling]

Did cable lose the critical last 2 min of LOST too? OTA sure did --went to background sound only

Two weeks in a row... the critical last minutes of lost, no audio....

Same complaints over in the Seattle OTA thread (at least with HD), so it's not a Comcast issue.

Did cable lose the critical last 2 min of LOST too? OTA sure did --went to background sound only

Yes. Since Karyk says it happened OTA too then this is most likely another KOMO audio probem.

OK, where are Don and Kelly now that KOMO audio is acting up again?

I emailed KOMO this morning to ask it they were aware of the problem with the audio dropouts during "Lost", and if it would be fixed, and got this response:

Thank you so much for you interest in KOMO TV Programming. Unfortunately I have to report that this issue you experienced was due to an equipment failure at our end. We are making this first priority and plan to have the problem fixed immediately. Please accept our apologies and know that it is most important to deliver a perfect delivery in what is a very complex and problematic by nature technology.

Best regards,

John Barrett

Director of Engineering

KOMO TV

So at least they are aware of the problem.

I was wondering if anyone else is having trouble with digital cable channel 107. I have a 6412 HDTV recorder and am unable to receive channel 107 KIRO. All my other channels including HD channels are working perfectly.

Darryl

I was wondering if anyone else is having trouble with digital cable channel 107. I have a 6412 HDTV recorder and am unable to receive channel 107 KIRO. All my other channels including HD channels are working perfectly.

Darryl

works fine for me. I just checked it.

I emailed KOMO this morning to ask it they were aware of the problem with the audio dropouts during "Lost", and if it would be fixed, and got this response:

Thank you so much for you interest in KOMO TV Programming. Unfortunately I have to report that this issue you experienced was due to an equipment failure at our end. We are making this first priority and plan to have the problem fixed immediately. Please accept our apologies and know that it is most important to deliver a perfect delivery in what is a very complex and problematic by nature technology.

Best regards,

John Barrett

Director of Engineering

KOMO TV

So at least they are aware of the problem.


Certainly KOMO had a major screw ups last night. The audio problems were on LOST only, but they were also having some serious issues with commercials (choppy and pausing commercials) too, and that was not relegated to HD only, SD had it happening too. And it was OTA, Cable, all sources, clearly originating with KOMO.

Yup, they sent another firmware upgrade.....this one took about 30 minutes, and of course, they still don't have any kind of intelligent update processing (you know, something that might make sense to someone....like:
a. download new firmware, tell box to install it....
b. box says to itself
1. is there a recording occurring, or scheduled within the next 30 minutes?
if so, wait till it's done...
2. if not, are any buttons being hit right now (i.e. is anyone watching anything? has anyone hit a remote button within the last 30 minutes? has anyone hit the "all off" button lately)?
if so, go to #1.
if not, go ahead and install the upgrade....

oh well, it's the cable co....they don't care that it disrupts folks, I guess that's why they did it today at NOON, while all the folks are watching their soaps.....not at 4:30am, when the only thing that would likely be affected is some scheduled recording (but again see above, not that they'd actually implement it).

But at least there's some GOOD from it....

Not sure if it will stay fixed, but it sure seems to have helped the slow FF/RW/Pause response....it seems to be back to normal Tivo quality again (like it was before the ill-fated Olympics update....).

We'll see what else it fixes (haven't tried 30 sec skip, swap, but it still doesn't look like they added any menu item to enable/disable CC from the remote)....

Pete.

pthack --

I don't see any change in my firmware version (09.19), but my MSFT guide software version changed during the past night (from 25108S to 25129S). Is that the upgrade you refer to?

Anybody know about FSN-HD with Comcast here?!! I would really like to watch the Mariners in HD for the first time!

I don't see any change in my firmware version (09.19), but my MSFT guide software version changed during the past night (from 25108S to 25129S). Is that the upgrade you refer to?

The firmware upgrade for Bellevue was about 5:30am this morning. I know, because I was watching "Smallville" when my box shut-off and the process started. :rolleyes:

Least my HDTV has an internal non-HD tuner and Discovery Channel was interesting while I waited. :)

OK, where are Don and Kelly now that KOMO audio is acting up again?


Sorry, guys. KOMO had a problem with one of the video processors crashing. In the confusion, the Dolby encoder dropped the center channel.

I am told the KOMO will rerun "Lost" tomorrow, Saturday April 1, at 10 pm in Place of "Evidence'. Let's hope that it goes better then.

Don

i just got a prime phd-101 box to pick up HD but i found that it will also catch a lot of regular SD digital channels without sound.. not a big deal because i can use my old VCR to output the analog sound from the same channel. has anybody found the digital SD speed channel? someone's channel.txt file lists it as 91-2 but i don't see it there anymore. thx

I am told the KOMO will rerun "Lost" tomorrow, Saturday April 1, at 10 pm in Place of "Evidence'.

I see the Guide already shows it listed. Excellent. "LOST" is one of those shows where if you miss anything, you miss alot.

And I have a feeling we missed alot durnig the final moments. ;)

I am told the KOMO will rerun "Lost" tomorrow, Saturday April 1, at 10 pm in Place of "Evidence'.

It does indeed show at 10 in the Guide

anyone still have Will and Grace (from thursday) on their DVR ? (the HD version)


*crosses fingers*

How do you turn on closed captioning on the 6412? I looked for ways to do it via the box and my TV and I couldn't figure out how to do it either way.

How do you turn on closed captioning on the 6412? I looked for ways to do it via the box and my TV and I couldn't figure out how to do it either way.

Cable
--Power
----Menu

Below the options for picture (16:9 vs. 4:3, etc.) you'll find the enable/disable and other options for CC. Unfortunately, there is no other way to enable/disable CC.

Hello -- I just hooked up a new HDTV with tuner to my liited cable.

ALl digital chnnels (e.g. in the 80.2-80.9 range) look grwat, except for 1080i whiuch has annoying pixelization when ter eis any verticla movement in the picture. I'm trying to figure out whether this is just becasue I don;t have digital cable, before I opt for a digital package upgrade.

Now Sharp (the TV manufacturer) tell me these artefacts are due to porr signal quality.

Comcast firs told me to get a signal amplifier. I did that -- no difference.

Now COmcast ells me they emphatically DO NOT transmit any digital content on limited cable -- they say UI must be picking these channels up off air by using the cable as an antenna! (I'm not, and anywa I gather that OTA HD is not in the 80.n channel range anyway).

Anyone know anything about poor 1080i quality and whether it would improve if I get digital cable? 720i and lower is fine, but I'm tring to figure whether this is the TV tuner that can;t keep up, or poor signal not getting me enough bits in tie or something. I'm assuming the transmission of these chabnels is the same whether I'm picking them up off my limited cabel or off a digital package....but I'm new to HDTV so I'm probably wrong.

Thanks for heklp -- I can;t believe Comcast make it so hard to find out what's going on. -- Richard.

...I should add that I've seen teh other posts re: COmcast refusing to acknowledge teh unscrambled digital channels on limnited cable...my issue is trying to troubleshoot the quality problem with 1080i and whether the quality would improve if I did go for one of their digital packages or whether my TV is somehow not up to it.

(upscaled 1080i DVDs through HDMI BTW look great!)

THanks again -- Richard.

rmachin,

The problem with Comcast employees in this scenario is one of ignorance. They do not understand that Comcast is not only required by law to offer the free versions of the HDTV channels that broadcast over the air locally, but that Comcast already provides those digital channels "in the clear," even on limited basic cable. There are many folks in the greater Seattle area receiving their digital channels this way. Sometimes I wonder if Comcast deliberately keeps their employees in the dark so they can convince HDTV-novice customers to buy expensive digital service packages that they may not need or want.

Now, the annoying pixelation with vertical movement when watching 1080i programs. Can you tell us more about your model of Sharp TV, such as its native resolution? There is a lot of experience available in this thread to help, if they understand what your components and settings are.

IMHO, the type of problem you are seeing is not likey a signal strength or signal quality (reception) issue. I would guess more in the area of perhaps you have a display that is optimum for 720p (if it is not a CRT-based set) and you are possibly seeing some artifacts from a 1080i to 720p conversion. Also, some digital channels (KCTS-HD in particular) are sharing bandwidth with other digital SD channels, and they lack sufficient bandwidth for handling big changes all at once in the HD picture, resulting in heavy pixelation at the start of heavy transitions.

Good luck!

ALl digital chnnels (e.g. in the 80.2-80.9 range) look grwat, except for 1080i whiuch has annoying pixelization when ter eis any verticla movement in the picture. I'm trying to figure out whether this is just becasue I don;t have digital cable, before I opt for a digital package upgrade. .Picture quality has nothing to do with whether you subscribe to digital cable or not. Subscribing to a package will just get you access to *additional* channels that you don't get now.

What specific program/station are you watching when you notice this problem? Are you sure the program is actually in HD? (not just an SD program being broadcast on an HD channel).

Thanks Dave. The TV is a Sharp LC 32D6U which is 1366*768 LCD.

Jimre -- it's particularly noticable on KCTS on their HD channel. The TV reports that it is receiving at 1080i. The picture looks perfect until there is too much movement, then it kind of melts and instantly restores when the movement stops.

Re the lower quality broadcast on an HD channel -- wouldnt that just look consistently poorer, without the movement-specific blockiness? I'm seeing this in their landscape-ttype progrmas, where e,g, crashing waves will blur up.

Thanks Dave. The TV is a Sharp LC 32D6U which is 1366*768 LCD.

Jimre -- it's particularly noticable on KCTS on their HD channel. The TV reports that it is receiving at 1080i. The picture looks perfect until there is too much movement, then it kind of melts and instantly restores when the movement stops.

As noted elsewhere, KCTS multicasts several channels on its digital path, which causes exactly the symptoms you describe.

As noted elsewhere, KCTS multicasts several channels on its digital path, which causes exactly the symptoms you describe.
So, rmachin, on KCTS-HD, we all see the same bluriness that you do when there is movement in the picture.

It sounds like your HDTV is working just fine.

And don't let Comcast convince you to get something you don't want.

That said, you might want to consider whatever minimum package Comcast requires to get yourself a 3412 or 6412 HD DVR, so you can timeshift HD programs for watching at your convenience.

I am going to get one of the new Sammys in a month or two ( 50 inch ) and I have quite a few questions. I am planning to not use a cable box and have a cable card instead. I also have expanded basic for service.
1. What kind of signal will I get with a cable card? ( digital or analog)
2. Will I receive any HD channels with a cable card?
3. Will I receive any additional channels with a cable card?
4. Will a SD signal look worse on a 1080p or a 720p tv?
5. Do I need to upgrade to digital service?
6. How many more HD channels would I get with a HD cable box?
7. Would it be worth the extra $ to get a 1080p tv?
Thats all I can think of for now.

I am going to get one of the new Sammys in a month or two ( 50 inch ) and I have quite a few questions. I am planning to not use a cable box and have a cable card instead. I also have expanded basic for service.
1. What kind of signal will I get with a cable card? ( digital or analog)

Both.

2. Will I receive any HD channels with a cable card?

Yes, locals and whatever HD you subscribe to.

3. Will I receive any additional channels with a cable card?

Whatever you subscribe to, but you won't get VOD.

4. Will a SD signal look worse on a 1080p or a 720p tv?

No idea.

5. Do I need to upgrade to digital service?

No, you get HD locals on limited basic (the $12.00 a month plan). But obviously if you don't subscribe to a service, you won't get the channels associated with that service.


6. How many more HD channels would I get with a HD cable box?

Depends on what you pay for and where you live. I think most Comcast areas have from 0-15 HD channels, but I'm not sure.

7. Would it be worth the extra $ to get a 1080p tv?

It wouldn't hurt, but that's an individual budget decision. To Paul Allen the extra cost would be nothing. I don't believe there's any plans to broadcast at 1080p, but the upconverting (or whatever you want to call it), might be worth it.

Since Comcast doesn't offer ESPN2-HD, I've watched baseball on the SD channel the last two nights. On both Sunday and Monday, the video was freezing momentarily every few seconds. We have digital simulcast service and a 3412 STB. I checked the other sets in my house and found no video freezing on my analog set that is hooked up straight to the cable or on another analog set using a little black STB (can't recall the model number). I also found that the freezing happened when switching from an HD channel to ESPN2-SD. If I switched to another SD channel and then went back, no freezing. Odd. I talked with Comcast customer support. They checked the call log and noted at least one other person who had called on Monday night to report the same freezing problem on ESPN2. I have a Panasonic TH50PX500u plasma display.

Has anyone else seen this problem?

I see the Guide already shows it listed. Excellent. "LOST" is one of those shows where if you miss anything, you miss alot.

And I have a feeling we missed alot durnig the final moments. ;)

Too bad my DVR wouldn't record the replay, since it already recorded the original with the broken audio. I didn't delete my original (hadn't watched it yet), but even if you do, sometimes the MSFT software will *refuse* to record a show again. Happened with the season finale of BSG, audio glitches, reshown two hours later, dvr refused to record it.

You can turn on captions (power off, menu) and get the dialog that way. There wasn't much, but it was important!

BIslander. I have the same thing on my 3412 box. Freezing up on channel 32 and channel 30...but the other boxes in house do not..

Now my question.

Who is showing this Mariners game in HD? Comcast? Iknow last year it was on Directv...

http://www.hdsportsguide.com/

Look at April 6th...Fox HD M's game....but it appears Comcast has made no effort once again to show us these...I still sub to D* also so I will check there tomorrow...but we need to get on Comcast's case for not showing these..

Now my question.

Who is showing this Mariners game in HD? Comcast? Iknow last year it was on Directv...

http://www.hdsportsguide.com/

Look at April 6th...Fox HD M's game....but it appears Comcast has made no effort once again to show us these...I still sub to D* also so I will check there tomorrow...but we need to get on Comcast's case for not showing these..

Comcast says it is working on a deal with the Mariners/FSNW for HD coverage, but there is nothing in place yet and no public timetable. The MLB Extra Innings package on Comcast is also limited to SD and they've given no indication of any plans to offer any Extra Innings HD games.

I just received this e-mail from the Mariners:

Thank you for contacting us. At this time, FSN is still negotiating with Comcast and other cable operators to carry a schedule of HD games. FSN is confident that an agreement will be reached and finalized in April. FSN estimates that a minimum of 30 Mariners games will be available in high def, with the first game sometime after June 1. If you have more questions about HD, please contact FSN at 425-641-0104.

We appreciate your interest and thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
The Seattle Mariners



Finally!!

FSN better hurry up and get it's act together. Otherwise Comcast will lose interest because we'll be 25% of the way into the season, and the Mariners will be out of contention. :D

Stated differently, this is hardly the year for FSN to be pushing the issue of compensation. Sign a single year deal and be done with it.

out of contention Karyk??? jeeez

spoken like a true Mariners Fan - gutless and fair weathered

sorry if this is a repeat. But I notice I don't get channel 81-1 through 81-?. I have limited basic.

sorry if this is a repeat. But I notice I don't get channel 81-1 through 81-?. I have limited basic.

81-1 and 81-2 (Fox and WB), unlike the other QAM channels, transmit the same PSIP data on Comcast that they do OTA. On some receivers they are re-mapped to 13-1 and 22-1, respectively. That _might_ be what you're running into.

out of contention Karyk??? jeeez

spoken like a true Mariners Fan - gutless and fair weathered

I just don't like what the new GM has done with the team since getting on board. Signing Carl Everett was the last straw for me. If I wanted to watch a bunch of A-holes play a game, I'd watch the NBA.

I probably won't even watch a single game even if they make it to the World Series. Well, maybe then. ;)

BTW, I sat though games at many losing years. I think it was 82 or 83 when I went to between 10-15 games, and never saw them lose! I was joking that they should have given me season tickets and also take me on the road.

^ yeah

I need to set my father up with HDTV in Edmonds. I’m out-of-town and not familiar with Seattle area Comcast offerings, so I would appreciate some forum advice so I can make all necessary arrangements before I fly up in early May.

He’s currently on Comcast with, I believe, “basic cable” (about 60 channels, no set-top box). OTA is out of the question given his location. I don’t believe Dish or DirecTV are options because of a screen of tall trees to the south.

I’ll probably have him buy a 42” plasma with built-in ATSC and NTSC tuners. This is a replacement for a dying 11-year-old TV. He’s particularly interested in watching Seahawks and Mariners in HD.

Questions:

1) Would he be able to watch HDTV on local stations through Comcast without buying an HDTV package?

2) What more do you get with Comcast’s “HD box”? It sounds like ESPN HD, Discovery Channel, INHD, and that’s about all. Is the $5.00/mo just an add-on to his existing cable, or would he have to go to a digital package?

3) I saw a post earlier about Fox Sports in negotiation with Comcast for broadcasting Mariners games in HDTV. I assume you would need the HD box for those. Correct?

4) Any other advice?

Thanks in advance for your help.

1. Yes, he could watch HDTV without a box, but only if you have a QAM tuner in the set, and that's a bit problematic because of odd channel numbering. If you get a cablecard capable set, you could watch all HD programming that Comcast offers, except On Demand. Consider also an HD DVR. That way your father wouldn't be tied to a TV schedule, and you'd deal with your HD tuner issues through that. I believe they probably use the MOTO boxes up there, which are not terribly well liked, but they should be offering optional (for a fee) Tivo software shortly.

2. If you have a cablecard capable TV, all you get extra with a box is On Demand (not worth it IMHO). If you have only a QAM tuner, you get regular cable assignments (e.g. channel 5 in HD is 105, not 89-3 or whatever it is). I think it is just a $5.00 add on to basic cable, but I'm not sure.

3. The year before last the HD Mariner games were free, and I don't think they had them this last year. I suspect they will be part of a premium package of some sort this year since t will be FoxSports-HD as I understand it. Two years ago is was the Japanese HD feed with the FoxSports audio, and it was only about 10-12 games.

I have the Edmonds rate card in front of me.

Basic cable includes channels 2-99 plus 104-119 (HD locals). It is 45.99 / month.

A cable card is available at no cost - I picked mine up at the cable store at 94th & Aurora. You install it and call Comcast to activate it. I recommend that you go there to purchase a package - the folks are very friendly and helpful.

A DVR is 9.95/month addtional. There are also several digital a la carte options.

If you want a rate card, send me a message with your address.

I assume that most of you recently received a brief newsletter from Comcast that trumpeted improvements in their fiber-optic network and the improved signal that has resulted from Digital Simulcast of their analog signals. The letter was "signed" by one of their local VPs and he gave an email address to use if you wanted to ask questions.

I decided to send an email and asked a series of HD-related questions. I am pleased to report that I got a very prompt, courteous, and informative response to my initial email and a brief follow-up email. The key info I received from Comcast was:

- We currently do have some bandwidth and we are in the process of adding more HD channels. The most recent was TNT – HD.

- You are right, as the TV world goes all digital in the next three years, we will be reclaiming a great deal of bandwidth as we pull the analog channels off completely. This bandwidth for the most part will be dedicated to more HD channels as well as increased speed for high-speed internet.

- We currently have no plans to add UPN, however it is not because of bandwidth. UPN actually produces very little original programming in HD, so at the moment, it does not warrant putting up an entire channel in HD when relatively little of the content is shot in HD.

- Please do not hold me to a timeframe, but there is a strong chance in the near future we will have announcements regarding HD channels in the Disney/ABC area….this would likely include ESPN-2.

- We hope to have good news on FSN-HD shortly.

- I will have to check on CBUT.

Quote:
- We currently have no plans to add UPN, however it is not because of bandwidth. UPN actually produces very little original programming in HD, so at the moment, it does not warrant putting up an entire channel in HD when relatively little of the content is shot in HD.



Thanks for the update. In light of the above, I'd like to see him squirm when asked to justify KONG-HD.

Thanks for the update. In light of the above, I'd like to see him squirm when asked to justify KONG-HD.
A similar thought occurred to me. I can only assume that carrying KONG-HD was the price of getting carriage rights for KING-HD.

Adding the UPN digital channel will produce a picture quality that is 10 times better, that alone is enough justification to add it.

CBUT would be great.

Adding the UPN digital channel will produce a picture quality that is 10 times better, that alone is enough justification to add it.

CBUT would be great.

I assume the "CW" merger of UPN and WB will have a big impact on this.

As for CBUT, let's hope we don't have to wait until the 2010 Winter Olympics for that.

Karyk and JasG:

Thanks for the info. I have a better idea of what questions to ask Comcast and which TV to buy. Excuse my ignorance about cable HDTV. I live in OTA heaven--only 6 miles away from and more than 5000 vertical feet below the digital transmitters here in Albuquerque.

I assume the "CW" merger of UPN and WB will have a big impact on this.

As for CBUT, let's hope we don't have to wait until the 2010 Winter Olympics for that.

Actually, CBUT won't have the 2010 Olympics. Rogers/Global has the rights to 2010 and London in 2012.

Actually, CBUT won't have the 2010 Olympics. Rogers/Global has the rights to 2010 and London in 2012.

Shhhhh! Don't tell Comcast!

Thanks a lot for the e-mail update!

Peoples with HD cable boxes

FWIW, just fought a Pioneer VSX-74TXVI receiver, one that switches HDMI in/out. Seems that for them to work properly, the input voltage must be 1.02vdc or better, per their engineers, and guess what happens when you connect a HD Moto cable boX?! Zip out. You can connect the cable box to the TV, no sweat. Other devices, like DVD players by Pioneer, Denon (those are all I tested) work fine through the receiver. Cable boxes apparently put out a hair less, and won't work. (Yes, we swapped the receiver and cable box, twice)
So if you run into it, don't blame the cables or receiver!
Dan

Karyk and JasG:

Thanks for the info. I have a better idea of what questions to ask Comcast and which TV to buy. Excuse my ignorance about cable HDTV. I live in OTA heaven--only 6 miles away from and more than 5000 vertical feet below the digital transmitters here in Albuquerque.

Seattle has many hills, which can cause problems with HD OTA signal. Even though I can physically see all the main towers in Seattle, being in Wallingford only four miles from both Queen Anne Hill and Capitol Hill, I still had more problems with OTA signal than using my TVs QAM tuner and letting Comcast deliver the HD channels. Also I didn't get FOX, which is another reason I went with Comcast. In fact I am so close to the towers, that I think some of my problems were caused by an additional signal bouncing off one or the other hill and interferring with the direct HD signal. My brother lives in Burien, fifteen miles away. He gets better OTA signal from his direct line of sight signal to the TV towers from his roof, than I do with my perfect view of all the towers from my front window and Zenith Silver Sensor antenna. It is my opinion that being too close to these signals can be a problem.

Seattle has many hills, which can cause problems with HD OTA signal. Even though I can physically see all the main towers in Seattle, being in Wallingford only four miles from both Queen Anne Hill and Capitol Hill, I still had more problems with OTA signal than using my TVs QAM tuner and letting Comcast deliver the HD channels. Also I didn't get FOX, which is another reason I went with Comcast. In fact I am so close to the towers, that I think some of my problems were caused by an additional signal bouncing off one or the other hill and interferring with the direct HD signal. My brother lives in Burien, fifteen miles away. He gets better OTA signal from his direct line of sight signal to the TV towers from his roof, than I do with my perfect view of all the towers from my front window and Zenith Silver Sensor antenna. It is my opinion that being too close to these signals can be a problem.

Mike777
I agree, being too close can be a problem, but Wallingford isn't that close. The top of QA hill is, or around the base of the hill, can be a real pain at times. Almost everywhere else, if you can see the towers, you're good. You probably had other problems with the small indoor antenna, and nearby houses or trees. I have a dozen antennas in your area, with line of sight to QA hill, all getting everything.
Comcast is a great way to go, specially with a QAM tuner. You have to ask for the basic service, sometimes, as they don't always tell you about it.
Dan

Is anyone getting the Mariners Red Sox game on INHD?

664 -- just a black screen.

Comcast CSR says they've gotten several complaints and they are trying to get it fixed. The game will show up on INHD/664 when resolved. But, it looks like a blackout to protect FSNW to me. The Comcast guide says Boxing is scheduled on INHD even though the INHD schedule says baseball.

same here, it was also that way last week with the Sonics-Spurs

jhachey- What was the e-mail address of the VP?

They have always blocked the iNhd feed if the game is also on FoxNW..they protect the advertiser dollars....

They have always blocked the iNhd feed if the game is also on FoxNW..they protect the advertiser dollars....

Thanks. This is my first baseball season with Comcast cable. I emailed both Comcast and INHD to ask. Comcast has replied with two completely unresponsive answers describing the problems with expanding HD service in general and INHD has not replied. But, it looks like games are subject to blackouts if they are also being carried by the local rights holder.

They have always blocked the iNhd feed if the game is also on FoxNW..they protect the advertiser dollars....

Your not alone, I have DISH Network and I can't count the number of times I've seen a Sonics game listed in HD on HDNet but it's blacked out for this market. Now the MLB Extra Innings HD channel is showing a number of Mariners games in HD but even if I pay for MLB Extra Innings I was told they would be blacked out for me.

FSN has the exclusive rights for the Mariners and Sonics in this market for games they broadcast, so until Comcast/DISH start broadcasting the FSN-HD feeds Comcast/DISH subs are SOL.

The problem with Moto (Comcast) cable boxes and HDMI through a reciever have nothing to do with output voltages. The problem is HDCP copy protection. It "sees" the reciever as the connected device and does not get the proper authentication it is expecting, and hence will NOT pass through the signal. I am aware of only one pre-pro that will work with HDMI, and that is the new Anthem D2. The only way this works is Anthem has a by-pass setting that makes the switch "invisible" to HDCP. The Pioneer receivers do not have a bypass function (nor do most other receivers) so will not work with cable boxes. Solution: use component video...I have tested these boxes on a variety of displays and honestly, component looks BETTER! Try it yourself before flaming me....

The problem with Moto (Comcast) cable boxes and HDMI through a reciever have nothing to do with output voltages. The problem is HDCP copy protection. It "sees" the reciever as the connected device and does not get the proper authentication it is expecting, and hence will NOT pass through the signal. I am aware of only one pre-pro that will work with HDMI, and that is the new Anthem D2. The only way this works is Anthem has a by-pass setting that makes the switch "invisible" to HDCP. The Pioneer receivers do not have a bypass function (nor do most other receivers) so will not work with cable boxes. Solution: use component video...I have tested these boxes on a variety of displays and honestly, component looks BETTER! Try it yourself before flaming me....

john
I was quoting what the Pioneer engineer said, who seemed very familiar with the problem. I never thought about the copy protection. If that's the case, makes sense. You would think they were aware of that......
I also agree with you. Component looks far better. On every install I do, if there's both types of outputs available, I connect both, and show them an A/B comaprison, using a test DVD and a good clear HD channel, if it's available at the time. I don't tell them which is which, just ask what looks better. They always pick component. I also thought, when HDMI came out, that it would offer a better picture in theory, and was really disappointed. And to make it worse, some sets and projectors limit color and other adjustments in HDMI mode, when all are available in component. I keep trying, from time to time, on new models, hoping they might make an improvement in HDMI. Maybe they'll get it right. Definitely like the fact component jacks stay plugged in, though!
Dan

I got this from Comcast in response to an inquiry about why Saturday's Seattle-Boston INHD game was blacked out here:

Thank you for contacting Comcast.

I understand you have some concerns regarding Mariner games in HD. We are
disappointed to inform you that Comcast Cable will not be providing Seattle
Mariner games in High-Definition Television this season. Comcast and Fox Sports
NW have been unable to reach an agreement to carry Seattle Mariners games in
high definition. We negotiated in good faith with Fox Sports NW and made every
possible effort to reach an agreement that would both cover their costs and not
result in cost increases for our customers. Comcast could not accept Fox Sports
NW's terms because the network is asking Comcast to contribute three to four
times the network's cost to produce these games in a high definition format.
This is why your game was blacked out. It is possible that Comcast will secure
the rights to certain games in HD this season, but we have no information at
this time as to when this might happen.

That is extremely disappointing news regarding the Mariners. Comcast is really starting to frustrate me - with their incredible unresponsiveness - particularly considering what we're all paying for cable.

Anyone have any news on the addition of ESPN2HD and whether it will be up in time for the World Cup kick-off in June?

It's not Comcast's fault it's FOX Sports NW being too greedy. I don't want my rates to go up any further.

That is extremely disappointing news regarding the Mariners. Comcast is really starting to frustrate me - with their incredible unresponsiveness - particularly considering what we're all paying for cable.

Anyone have any news on the addition of ESPN2HD and whether it will be up in time for the World Cup kick-off in June?
holy toledo! i didnt even think about that. you mean to tell me that world cup games will only be broadcast on espn2? i wont be able to watch in HD?

oh boy that is a big bummer. that was one of the big things i was looking forward to now that i had hdtv.

I really hope this new FiOS technology makes it here from Verizon. The reviews have been really good that I have read. It also seems cheaper then comcast by a bit. Heres one review:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=59212


Also heres an announcement on verizons media page about fiber optic internet service, which I can only guess will proceed the tv service.


http://newscenter.verizon.com/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=93018


Even if I decide to stay with comcast, this should help lower some prices with competition. Although VoD and most every HD channel out there for less $ then comcast charges sounds good.


Oh I also found a sample channel lineup here too, man look at all the HD channels. Comcast is kinda hosing us.

http://www22.verizon.com/FiOSForHome/Includes/FiOSTV/NorthTexas.pdf

holy toledo! i didnt even think about that. you mean to tell me that world cup games will only be broadcast on espn2? i wont be able to watch in HD?

oh boy that is a big bummer. that was one of the big things i was looking forward to now that i had hdtv.


In reviewing the broadcast schedule for World Cup, I would say that over 50% of the games will be on ESPN2 - meaning no HD - unless Comcast starts doing its job... I mean chop chop for pete's sake.

Bear in mind that Verizon FiOS will only be found in some subset of areas that currently have Verizon telephone service. Most served areas would be east of Bellevue and north of Seattle.

So is there a Comcast e-mail or phone number where we can call and request certain HD channels? Voting for them in a sort of way?

ESPN2 is at the top of my list all of a sudden!

I can't believe FSN-HD!! The Mariners basically lied to me then in their last e-mail to me!

E-mail received by BIslander from Comcast:

Thank you for contacting Comcast.

I understand you have some concerns regarding Mariner games in HD. We are
disappointed to inform you that Comcast Cable will not be providing Seattle
Mariner games in High-Definition Television this season. Comcast and Fox Sports
NW have been unable to reach an agreement to carry Seattle Mariners games in
high definition. We negotiated in good faith with Fox Sports NW and made every
possible effort to reach an agreement that would both cover their costs and not
result in cost increases for our customers. Comcast could not accept Fox Sports
NW's terms because the network is asking Comcast to contribute three to four
times the network's cost to produce these games in a high definition format.
This is why your game was blacked out. It is possible that Comcast will secure
the rights to certain games in HD this season, but we have no information at
this time as to when this might happen.


This was the e-mail I received from the Seattle Mariners on April 5:

Thank you for contacting us. At this time, FSN is still negotiating with Comcast and other cable operators to carry a schedule of HD games. FSN is confident that an agreement will be reached and finalized in April. FSN estimates that a minimum of 30 Mariners games will be available in high def, with the first game sometime after June 1. If you have more questions about HD, please contact FSN at 425-641-0104.

We appreciate your interest and thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
The Seattle Mariners


Still in shock!

that's ok you don't have to watch my a's win the al west in perfect hd clarity now do u?? j/k... man that sucks... seattle gets no respect (seahawks in superbowl??)

So is there a Comcast e-mail or phone number where we can call and request certain HD channels? Voting for them in a sort of way?

ESPN2 is at the top of my list all of a sudden!

I go to comcast.com and harass the on-line help person when I have a spare minute.... squeaky wheel theory.

Well I guess if Comcast isn't buying, there is little to no chance MDM will either. Millenium customers were also told of a possible deal with FSN-HD this year. Looks bleak for us all...

The more I hear around here, the luckier I feel that we in Chicago have ALL the Sox (and Flubs, for those who actually care) home games in HD between one half on subscription Comcast Sports Net, and the other half free-to-air on two local channels (WGN and WCIU). Ah, yes - it sure is good to be a White Sox fan these days! (By the way - what is it with your division so far this year? I was really expecting more from those teams.)

Who cares that the Mariners are not in High Def they stink anyway.


T----he-- Y----annn--kkkk----eeees WIN Baby

Who cares that the Mariners are not in High Def they stink anyway.


T----he-- Y----annn--kkkk----eeees WIN Baby

Seattle has a MLB team? Who knew! :p

Who cares that the Mariners are not in High Def they stink anyway.


T----he-- Y----annn--kkkk----eeees WIN Baby Don't be so over-confident about that. Pods is gettin' on more now and our starters are getting into their groove. But it does look like them, Boston and Cleveland are going to be our main competition this year. Should be some pretty good games between the Yank's and the Sox again this year, like last.

Well I guess if Comcast isn't buying, there is little to no chance MDM will either. Millenium customers were also told of a possible deal with FSN-HD this year. Looks bleak for us all...

My cable provider (Wave Broadband) hasn't had any M's games in HD yet this year either--nor has D*. What, FSN playing hardball? Are they really producing these games in HD, as per their schedule? I guess my next ?? would be; who's watching their production?

Quit your belly aching. Us OTA Yankees fans don't get one game with our local affiliate broadcasting in HD (I think at least, since tomorrow is our first OTA game and everyone I've talked to says no), which if it is the case means that the only OTA HD game for us is a Mets-Yanks (or is it Yanks-Mets, I forget who is playing at home that weekend) game with the Mets local affiliate doing the game in HD. So stop your whining!

Comcast, which refuses to even allow DirecTV to bid on carrying its Philadelphia RSN, now blames NewsCorp for not bargaining in good faith to provide the Mariners games in HD.

What a joke.

Quit your belly aching. Us OTA Yankees fans don't get one game with our local affiliate broadcasting in HD (I think at least, since tomorrow is our first OTA game and everyone I've talked to says no), which if it is the case means that the only OTA HD game for us is a Mets-Yanks (or is it Yanks-Mets, I forget who is playing at home that weekend) game with the Mets local affiliate doing the game in HD. So stop your whining!


Huh? That's still ONE MORE GAME than we're getting! BTW, doesn't TWC and/or Cablevision carry a lot of the Yankees games in HD from the YES network? At least you COULD view the games in HD--we don't have any options, i.e. OTA, D*, cablecos, etc. So if whining is the right word, we have a right to do so.

In Seattle, even the INHD games for Sonics and Mariners are blacked out!

^ that won't do much

I think fox sports nw would be the one to email. they are the one holding the $$$ over the carriers to charge them. I have heard that in earlyl June we will see the m's on D* just as we did last year but not on comcast...I think if you look at it that it makes sense. Fox own D* so it is a no brainer to put em on D* and screw comcast with a higher rate. But cable does the exact same thing with the iNHD channels. D* would have to pay way way more to carry iNHD than Comcast does...so this is Fox's way of saying screw you back...it is right? nope..but it is the exact same thing we have seen for a couple years now...

After Comcast Seattle confirmed to me by e-mail the sad news on FSN-HD, I decided that cable and OTA customers are out of luck until the Mariners negotiate new TV contracts. So I e-mailed the Mariners - letting them know how disappointed I am that the Mariners in HD is only available via satellite. I asked them to make sure that the next TV contracts involve a partner who will bring at least SOME games in HD via cable or OTA.

Unlike the radio sponsoship, I seem to recall that the TV sponsorship contracts run for about 3 years. Does anyone know when the TV contracts (FSN-NW, UPN 11) expire ?

Does anyone here know Mark Shuken's (VP/General Manager of FSN-NW) e-mail address or phone number?

FSN won't even reply to my e-mails. Has anyone else in the Seattle area talked to them about this?

Does Anyone Have the new list of unencrypted channels in the Lakewood area? its posted a month or so ago but the link is dead. ty.

Does Anyone Have the new list of unencrypted channels in the Lakewood area? its posted a month or so ago but the link is dead. ty.

Nevermind. I did it myself. Here are all the channels you can get over clear QAM in the south sound area.

enjoy!!!!!

I just got a new Vizio 32 LCD HDTV today, and was surprised that when I did a channel scan using the QAM tuner, it found Fox and UPN and a ton of audio channels, but no ABC, NBC, CBS. Are these not being broadcast over clear QAM for some reason, or is this an issue with my TV tuner?

Thanks!

I just got a new Vizio 32 LCD HDTV today, and was surprised that when I did a channel scan using the QAM tuner, it found Fox and UPN and a ton of audio channels, but no ABC, NBC, CBS. Are these not being broadcast over clear QAM for some reason, or is this an issue with my TV tuner?

Thanks!You should find the HD versions of ABC, NBC, CBS using clear QAM, but no SD digital simulcast. Since they're already sending us the analog SD version and HD digital version of these stations - sending a 3rd copy of the same station (SD digital simulcast) would be a waste of bandwidth.

You should find the HD versions of ABC, NBC, CBS using clear QAM, but no SD digital simulcast. Since they're already sending us the analog SD version and HD digital version of these stations - sending a 3rd copy of the same station (SD digital simulcast) would be a waste of bandwidth.
There is a SD simulcast of local stations. Channels 79 and 80 seem to have all the clear SD channels. KING is 79.4, KONG 79.5, KCTS 79.7, and so on. Probably for the people who don't have HD televisions or HD cable boxes. If you tune your cable box to 4 to 13, you can tell you're not getting analog and also not getting HD, so it must be a SD digital sumulcast.

Nice for non-HD widescreen shows, which stupid broadcasters show 'picture-framed' with a black border on all four sides.

Oops, you're right. I was thinking of the new channel mapping on our cable boxes - it's the analog locals that are no longer mapped on the box (eg, no 704, 705, 707, etc). There are of course digital simulcast SD locals, which are what's mapped to 4, 5, 7, etc. And even though the analog locals aren't mapped on our boxes, they are indeed being transmitted - meaning they really are using bandwidth to transmit three copies of the same channels.

There is a SD simulcast of local stations. ...

Nice for non-HD widescreen shows, which stupid broadcasters show 'picture-framed' with a black border on all four sides.
You must have a 4x3 TV to be complaining about black borders on all 4 sides.

When I had my 4x3 HD-ready TV, and non-HD 4x3 programs were played on HD channels, I simply zoomed the picture to fill the entire screen. This gives picture quality FAR BEYOND the digitized 480i signals being sent in the 700 range today.

The "stupid broadcasters" are sending what they should be sending on an HD channel. For folks with 16x9 HDTVs, there are only black borders on the left and right of the 4x3 program material. For a while, some of the broadcasters arbitrarily stretched the 4x3 picture to 14x9 or whatever, but that was worse. We asked them to stop and they did. Most viewers prefer to have control over the stretching or not of a 4x3 picture to fill a 16x9 screen.

I e-mailed the Seattle Mariners - asking them when their TV contracts with UPN 11 and FSN-NW expire. They have yet to respond. But it appears from this May 2005 press release from Tacoma, WA 's Cable TV system that the FSN-NW contract runs through the 2008 season:

May 12, 2005

Click! Network offers Mariners games in high-definition

Seattle Mariners fans have one more reason to cheer, as Click! Network and Fox Sports Northwest offer 38 Mariners games this season in high-definition TV. Additional games will be offered for three additional seasons through 2008. Professional sports, in high-definition, just got better in Click! territory.

Click! Network cable TV customers with HD receivers can receive the games for no additional charge. Click! customers contemplating an HD television purchase may want to rush right into their favorite electronics store so they won’t miss out on the Mariners vs Boston game on Friday, May 13 beginning at 7:05 p.m. on channel 519.

“We’re excited to offer this great package of Mariners games for our HD customers, ” said Cyndi Wikstrom, Click! Network’s marketing and business operations manager. “We know many of our HD customers are big sports fans and these Mariners games will add to the programming becoming available in this high-definition format. It’s like being at Safeco Field in the comfort of your own home.”

Tacoma Power’s Click! Network is the nation’s largest municipally owned telecommunications system. Click! provides competitive cable television, high-speed data, Internet and broadband services in the cities of Tacoma, University Place and Fircrest. For more information, visit www.click-network.com or call 253-502-8900.

Any tips with using this card? I did the analog+digital scan with odd results. Analog works fine but the digital station listing is confusing.

The Channel tab under Configuration shows channels ranging from D790 and up. These all appear to be 480i broadcasts or music channels (D1190 and up).

There appear to be far more of these 480i channels than listed on Comcast's channel lineup.

I tried to manually add 104 KOMO but it says it already exists. The Channel Configruation screen shows D1040-D1049 all as channel 104, type 256Q. D1042, D1045, D1046, and D1049 are marked as "Encrypt" is QVC in 480i. D1040 is QVC, 1041 is HSN which should be channels 16 and 17.

I tried deleting all the channels, just rescanning analog and then try to manually add 104 but it says it exists. Arghh.

Tips?

I just bought a new Philips 32PF7320A/37 from costco and was expecting to get all the local HDs via the QAM tuner. For whatever reasons, the autoprogram was only able to pick up KOMO and a few others but defintiely no KING or KIRO. Does anybodu has the same problem with this TV? Or is anybody able to pick up all local HDs with another TV? I'll appreciate any info on this, as it will help me decide whether to keep it or return it. Thanks

More than likely your problem is not the TV, but rather the Comcast cable signal strength/quality as delivered to your home or distributed within your home.

Do you have any splitters between the incoming cable and the new TV? Can you try connecting it directly to the incoming cable by itself (i.e., bypassing the splitters)?

My sister-in-law lives in a condo with Comcast service and she started out the same as you for HD QAM reception. As a test, I added an amplifier and that pulled in the remaining HD channels from Comcast, but she really needs to have Comcast come out and correct their problem. They are also responsible for all of the wiring to jacks in every condo unit in her case. But she has difficulty staying home for an appointment to fix the problem.

I would ask Comcast to come out and measure the signal and perhaps bring one of their digital STBs to demonstrate that the signals for all HD channels are there and usable.

Any tips with using this card? I did the analog+digital scan with odd results. Analog works fine but the digital station listing is confusing.

I don't think the Fusion card is the best device for anything other than the HD locals, at least for recording (not sure about just viewing). So just remove all those other channels from the list.

FSN won't even reply to my e-mails. Has anyone else in the Seattle area talked to them about this?


I've also been unable to talk to or receive an email reply from anyone there. I called their number & left them a voicemail, but to date have received no reply.

I just wonder who's watching the HD telecasts--or if they're even producing them in HD as they say they're doing.



BTW, their ph # is 425-641-0104.

More than likely your problem is not the TV, but rather the Comcast cable signal strength/quality as delivered to your home or distributed within your home.

Do you have any splitters between the incoming cable and the new TV? Can you try connecting it directly to the incoming cable by itself (i.e., bypassing the splitters)?

My sister-in-law lives in a condo with Comcast service and she started out the same as you for HD QAM reception. As a test, I added an amplifier and that pulled in the remaining HD channels from Comcast, but she really needs to have Comcast come out and correct their problem. They are also responsible for all of the wiring to jacks in every condo unit in her case. But she has difficulty staying home for an appointment to fix the problem.

I would ask Comcast to come out and measure the signal and perhaps bring one of their digital STBs to demonstrate that the signals for all HD channels are there and usable.

You're right. Thanks for the tip. I removed the splitter and now I was able to get 83.x for King5 and so on, still displayed digital errors from time to time which is indicative of the signal weakness. It's still missing 84 for Kiro. I suppose I need to call comcast. I should've called them anyway because the analog channels reception were not that great to start with.

I think I've largely solved my problem by being patient. I reinstalled the Fusion software, rescanned, and then left the house for a few hours. When I came back I was receiving HD content.

I deleted all the encrypted channels but still need to figure out what I'm getting and what I might be missing. Fusion's software leaves a lot to desire. The way it numbers channels doesn't make any sense to me and certain channels make it lock up forcing me to crash the app.

You must have a 4x3 TV to be complaining about black borders on all 4 sides.

Nope, 16x9.

The "stupid broadcasters" are sending what they should be sending on an HD channel. For folks with 16x9 HDTVs, there are only black borders on the left and right of the 4x3 program material.

You missed a word in my original post, I said "non-HD widescreen shows." I'm not talking about 4x3 program material, I'm talking about 16x9 program material. When they show something that was originally broadcast in SD letterboxed, they keep the original letterboxing and add borders to the sides as well. On a 16x9 TV you get a tiny picture in the middle with black borders on all four sides. Stupid. The broadcasters probably know it's bad, they just don't care enough to fix it. To see it, look for something that has the "LB" tag but isn't HD. Stargate SG-1 reruns on KCPQ 113 are an example.

For a while, some of the broadcasters arbitrarily stretched the 4x3 picture to 14x9 or whatever, but that was worse. We asked them to stop and they did. Most viewers prefer to have control over the stretching or not of a 4x3 picture to fill a 16x9 screen.
TNT-HD still does this and it's nasty looking. TNT must think their audience is "geometrically challenged", and doesn't notice the picture is distorted all to hell with the top and bottom cut off.

tap,

Sorry about my misunderstanding! NOW I understand why you're not happy with those broadcasts. I have never seen one but I have seen the same thing in some commercials created in 16x9 but handled as if they were 4x3.

My guess is that if a program comes "in the door" to the station as non-HD, it automatically gets treated as having a 4x3 aspect ratio.

I would guess that the recorded programs are actually 4x3 with the letterboxing as part of the picture to create the 16x9 viewing area on a 4x3 TV watching an analog (SD) channel.

When NBC was (is?) broadcasting many of their HD programs as letterboxed on their non-HD stations, we could probably see what you are talking about if we tuned in to the SD channel to watch the letterboxed program on a 16x9 HDTV. But since I watch the HD versions themselves, I don't pay much attention to the letterboxed SD versions.

I agree that the TNT-HD stretched stuff is unwatchable for me.

I tried to manually add 104 KOMO but it says it already exists. The Channel Configruation screen shows D1040-D1049 all as channel 104, type 256Q. D1042, D1045, D1046, and D1049 are marked as "Encrypt" is QVC in 480i. D1040 is QVC, 1041 is HSN which should be channels 16 and 17.

The channel numbers like 104 for KOMO aren't the real numbers. It's something the comcast cable box remaps them to. KOMO-DT is on channel 82.4. That means it's program number 4 on channel 82. Digital channels can have more than one program at a time. It looks like your software isn't using the real program number, but is just listing the programs in the order it happens to find them. I think D820 would be the first program it finds on channel 82, D821 would be the second, and so on. I think you should find these channels:

D820 KCTS-DT2 (Real channel 82.1, cable box channel 119)
D821 KCTS-HD (82.5, 104)
D822 KCTS-Create (82.3, 112)
D823 KCTS-DT (82.1, 109)
D824 KOMO-DT (82.4, 104)
D830 KING-HD (83.1, 105)
D831 KONG-HD (83.2, 106)
D832 KING-Weather (83.3, 115)

The KCTS channels aren't always broadcasting, so you might not find anything there depending on when you look.

II deleted all the encrypted channels but still need to figure out what I'm getting and what I might be missing. Fusion's software leaves a lot to desire. The way it numbers channels doesn't make any sense to me and certain channels make it lock up forcing me to crash the app.

It's Comcast that numbers the channels. There's a list here somewhere of the QAM channel assignments.

Hope this is the right thread for this question, my searches did show some earlier DVR discussions. I'm currently a D* subscriber and have been very satisfied with my D* Tivo setup. However I recently purchased a HD monitor so I'm weighing my options for getting HD programming. So far D* has done a really good job of pushing me away so I'm seriously thinking about making a switch to cable, but DVR functionality has become an essential part of our TV watching so I'm trying to get some info on the DVRs that comcast offers.

From looking at their website it looks like they offer two in this area the Moto 6412 and the Scientific Atlanta 8000, is that correct? I haven't seen any mention in this thread about the Scientific Atlanta. I have seen lots of posts here about problems with the 6412, is it usable? How about the Scientific Atlanta if it's available here?

AFAIK the Moto 6412 is the only option here in the Puget Sound area. And unlike the rest of the country - the 6412's here run Microsoft's TV/DVR software, rather than the TV Guide software used elsewhere.

And hopefully relatively soon it will have Tivo software. Has anyone heard an update on that?

unlike the rest of the country - the 6412's here run Microsoft's TV/DVR software, rather than the TV Guide software used elsewhere.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

And hopefully relatively soon it will have Tivo software. Has anyone heard an update on that?I've heard absolutely zero since the deal was announced last year. IMHO, the resulting product (moto 64xx with Tivo software) would suffer most of the same problems that we see now with the MSFT software. And also the same problems that the iGuide folks see with the iGuide software. It's still going to be running on the same low-level Motorola operating system underneath. Comcast is still going to insist on crippling things like 30-second skip. And since we're Comcast's test market for the MSFT software, we'd probably be last to see any Tivo rollout.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?Well any given region uses just one or the other, so it's tough to compare. From what I've read on these forums - the MSFT stuff is maybe a little slicker visually than the iGuide stuff. Both systems have bugs - some common to the underlying Motorola operating system, some bugs specific to the application platform (MSFT or iGuide). Both generally get the job done.

Nevermind. I did it myself. Here are all the channels you can get over clear QAM in the south sound area.

enjoy!!!!!


Evening all! Anyone else experience a random scrambling of the local HD channels with limited basic cable in the Bellevue area?

I have a Sanyo Vizon HDTV with built in QAM tuner and I pick up all the channels I am supposed to with good signal strength (according to the TV's signal strength "meter"), but in the middle of watching The Office on NBC or Bob Ross on PBS I get a "Scrambled Program" and a black screen. Change the channel and it will work for a while again and then, boom, same thing.

If I run an off-air antenna I get most of the channels just fine (some multipath issues) with no "Scrambled Program" messages. (have to move the indoor antenna around a bit to catch the PBS stations)

I have searched and searched for some kind of clue on this. (I'm a newbie on the AVS forums, but have experience on others).

Any insights?

Thanks all,
George

Any advice on what cap card to get for the Redmond Area. I was looking at the HD-3000 card, but probably want to run WinXP. What cards are people using in the Seattle/Redmond area. Which ones work best and are the cheapest?

Thanks,

Zig

Hope this is the right thread for this question, my searches did show some earlier DVR discussions. I'm currently a D* subscriber and have been very satisfied with my D* Tivo setup. However I recently purchased a HD monitor so I'm weighing my options for getting HD programming. So far D* has done a really good job of pushing me away so I'm seriously thinking about making a switch to cable, but DVR functionality has become an essential part of our TV watching so I'm trying to get some info on the DVRs that comcast offers.

From looking at their website it looks like they offer two in this area the Moto 6412 and the Scientific Atlanta 8000, is that correct? I haven't seen any mention in this thread about the Scientific Atlanta. I have seen lots of posts here about problems with the 6412, is it usable? How about the Scientific Atlanta if it's available here?


On Bainbridge, we have the Motorola 3412, which is a 6412 with digital simulcast of analog channels 2-99. It has a dual tuner and a pretty straightforward user interface. The box is a bit buggy, especially when switching from an HD source to one of the simulcast channels. The SD source will freeze momentarily every few seconds. If you switch to another non-HD channel and back, the freezing goes away. We went with Comcast instead of D* to get local HD channels. D* says they'll be up in Seattle soon. (KOMO, KING, KIRO, KCPQ only)

I just spoke to Comcast about the discontinuation of their "Digital Lite" package which was $6.75 a month and allowed those with Limited Basic Cable to get HD programming without spending $50 a month.

I was told that before the end of the year that they are going all-digital in the Seattle area and that everyone will be required to have some kind of receiver. So, a cheaper solution is coming for those who balk at spending $46.95 a month for a limited number of HDTV channels that are FREE over the air.

My question still remains: Why can I receive HD broadcasts now on my QAM tuner, but they occasionally are encrypted? I get a "Scrambled Program" message (usually right in the middle of a show) from time to time. It seems to be limited to NBC and PBS.

Any suggestions?
George

I've gotten no e-mails back from FSN or the Mariners since the news was revealed

I just spoke to Comcast about the discontinuation of their "Digital Lite" package which was $6.75 a month and allowed those with Limited Basic Cable to get HD programming without spending $50 a month.


Was this $6.75 on top of your limited basic charge?
What extra HD channels did the "digital lite" package get you over the limited basic?

I have limited basic only($13.75 a month or so) and get all the local hd channels which are included in that package. Just curious what extra HD channles you got for the extra 6.75.

Rick

Since every best buy in WA is sold out of the toshiba HD DVD player, I thought I would help out someone local. I preorder the player online, but ended up picking one up at best buy a week before the other one arrived. So if any local guys are looking for a player PM me. The player is unopened and includes a best buy receipt. I will sell it for the price I paid at best buy.

Was this $6.75 on top of your limited basic charge?
What extra HD channels did the "digital lite" package get you over the limited basic?

I have limited basic only($13.75 a month or so) and get all the local hd channels which are included in that package. Just curious what extra HD channles you got for the extra 6.75.

Rick
Yeah, it was only $6.75 on top of the limited basic charge--you basically were renting the digital cable box. I didn't ask about all the channels you got with it because you can't order it anymore, although she did mention ESPN HD, DISCOVERY and TNT HD. I'm curious to see what they come up with later...

Any of your local hd channels randomly go encrypted? It must be my television's built-tuner because Comcast said it should be clear.

George

Was this $6.75 on top of your limited basic charge?
What extra HD channels did the "digital lite" package get you over the limited basic?

I have limited basic only($13.75 a month or so) and get all the local hd channels which are included in that package. Just curious what extra HD channles you got for the extra 6.75.

Rick

Back when I first signed up for Limited Basic, I swear the guy said I could get a handful of extra HD channels for that extra price (along with of course the cost of renting the HD box, which I did rent. When I tried to add them later, the rep said I needed a higher package to add them. I didn't care enough to find out if that was right (basically it wasn't worth a second phone call or even asking here).

What tuner cards are you guys using in the Seattle area w/ comcast to record HD content? I was looking at a HD-3000 but it's a bit pricey $$$. I might not go with MythTV, so I want a card that has Windows XP drivers. Hopefully it doesn't care about the broadcast flag.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Zig

You can only use the Fusion card with it's software, or the MyHD card with it's software. As far as I know, none of the other programs do QAM yet (Not MCE, SageTV, BeyondTV, etc.).

The MyHD card is better and has better software, but the Fusion card will work with the third party software products, so may be more useful in the future.

What tuner cards are you guys using in the Seattle area w/ comcast to record HD content? I was looking at a HD-3000 but it's a bit pricey $$$. I might not go with MythTV, so I want a card that has Windows XP drivers. Hopefully it doesn't care about the broadcast flag.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Zig
I have ATI's HDTV Wonder. You have to have another ATI with it for it work though...I'm using it with a Radeon 9600.

It includes XP drivers and the included ATI Multimedia Center software gets better with every release. Mine also came with a USB-powered RF Remote Control. I just got my 20 rebate check from them yesterday.

I have ATI's HDTV Wonder. You have to have another ATI with it for it work though...I'm using it with a Radeon 9600..

You're recording HD off Comcast with an ATI HD Wonder?

Has anyone else noticed massive artifacting on some of the lower digital simulcast channels off an on?

For example, Nickelodeon (40) is just a collection of random pixels right now. I only have my DVR record "Avatar: The Last Airbender" but this week's and last's episodes were unwatchable due to image. It's so bad, in fact, it's crashed my DVR (it's recording, but it doesn't think it's recording, so it can't erase the show).

I also notice Cartoon Network (42) often suffers from the same massive degradation. History Channel also fails, I have noticed.

Never seems to affect the lower channels (4-13) or the "original digital" (100+). And HD still looks great all the time.

It's mighty frustrating, however, to have to now cancel season passes and wait for the DVDs on NetFlix since I have missed whole swaths of episodes due to this issue.

Has anyone else noticed massive artifacting on some of the lower digital simulcast channels off an on?

For example, Nickelodeon (40) is just a collection of random pixels right now. I only have my DVR record "Avatar: The Last Airbender" but this week's and last's episodes were unwatchable due to image. It's so bad, in fact, it's crashed my DVR (it's recording, but it doesn't think it's recording, so it can't erase the show).

I also notice Cartoon Network (42) often suffers from the same massive degradation. History Channel also fails, I have noticed.

Never seems to affect the lower channels (4-13) or the "original digital" (100+). And HD still looks great all the time.

It's mighty frustrating, however, to have to now cancel season passes and wait for the DVDs on NetFlix since I have missed whole swaths of episodes due to this issue.

Not me. I watch the news channels, occasionally UPN, and some of the channels above 48 without any trouble.

My guess is you have a bad cable run. The signal is not clean. Could even be that it once was clean but has degraded for any number of reasons. I have one run in my house (haven't fixed it yet) that works on some of the digital channels but fails miserably on others.

Has anyone else noticed massive artifacting on some of the lower digital simulcast channels off an on?

I have no such problems with the former analogs.

Is there any chance for Universal HD to come to comcast for real? they had me hooked on HD Battlestar Galactica during the olympics and then it went away. :( I'd love to have it back, especially instead of the (lame) TNTHD.

Interesting. SPEED was hosed for a bit today, as well.

I get quite a few dropouts on the digital simulcasts. Comcast sent someone out, but they said my cable was fine.

My guess is you have a bad cable run. The signal is not clean. Could even be that it once was clean but has degraded for any number of reasons. I have one run in my house (haven't fixed it yet) that works on some of the digital channels but fails miserably on others.

It seems to be very sporadic. I record a good deal of Cartoon Network and it's mostly fine, but when it collapses, it tends to collapse for hours at a time, and in different ways (I record both showings and they suffer degradation at different points during playback), so I don't think it's a bad digital source, but perhaps interference somewhere in the chain.

Comcast replaced all our cable a few years ago with new runs to the head-end to support HD and digital cable, and they laid all new cable in the apartment when I added both services. So I'm guessing it's not the cable.

It seems to be very sporadic. I record a good deal of Cartoon Network and it's mostly fine, but when it collapses, it tends to collapse for hours at a time, and in different ways (I record both showings and they suffer degradation at different points during playback), so I don't think it's a bad digital source, but perhaps interference somewhere in the chain.

Comcast replaced all our cable a few years ago with new runs to the head-end to support HD and digital cable, and they laid all new cable in the apartment when I added both services. So I'm guessing it's not the cable.


Well, there goes one of my theories. But, I have yet another!

I do most of my viewing and recording in the evening. Are you seeing the problems mostly/always during the day? I'm not exactly sure how the digital simulcasts are transported/converted etc., but could it possibably be sunspot activity? It would happen mostly in the daytime (very, very rare for nighttime interference) and last anywhere from 15 miuntes to a couple of hours.

If you ever saw this happening live, try switching to the corresponding analog channel. If that is broken up, that could be the problem.

Just a guess.

Are you seeing the problems mostly/always during the day?

Day and night, but I mostly watch and record at night so it is more prevalent, then. 8PM to 8AM would be the times I see it most.


If you ever saw this happening live, try switching to the corresponding analog channel. If that is broken up, that could be the problem.

Analog (7xx and my TV's anaglog tuner) is fine when digital is corrupted.

Day and night, but I mostly watch and record at night so it is more prevalent, then. 8PM to 8AM would be the times I see it most.




Analog (7xx and my TV's anaglog tuner) is fine when digital is corrupted.


Sorry I couldn't help :( I don't watch the same channels you do. I'm mostly watching msnbc,fox, courttv, sci-fi and others as I am surfing. I very rarely watch anything below 45. Never have a problem. Hope you get it figured out!

I would guess that Comcast is transferring bandwidth off the kids channels to the more action oriented programs that require more bandwidth. Dish network does this when they have a bandwidth intensive program on.

I would guess that Comcast is transferring bandwidth off the kids channels to the more action oriented programs that require more bandwidth. Dish network does this when they have a bandwidth intensive program on.

Yeah, but Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" is one of the (if not the) highest-rated block in the most-desirable 18-24 audience. So you'd think the folks paying max dollars for their ads would like them to be visible. :p

I would guess that Comcast is transferring bandwidth off the kids channels to the more action oriented programs that require more bandwidth. Dish network does this when they have a bandwidth intensive program on.Maybe - but if they really are doing the same kind of "bitrate shaping" that the sat. co's do (which I don't think Comcast normally does), you wouldn't expect to see the kind of "collapse" that Nausicaa is seeing. You'd see an overall softer picture and maybe some macroblocking in fast action scenes, but not complete picture breakup - and certainly not for "hours at a time". Besides - we'd ALL be seeing it, if that were the case.

My guess is that Nausicaa's breakup problems are due to cable signal level/quality issues - either in his home (too many splitters perhaps?), or between his house & the neighborhood node. When the level drops below a certain threshold, the picture breaks up completely.

My cable configuration hasn't changed in years, so I am guessing the issue is external to my place. *shrug*

A cable/connector can deteriorate. Disconnect and reconnect tightly to see if that helps. The external line amplifier can also deteriorate due to weather and/or water. Mine is sensitive to sunlight and my HD SN ratio drops from 35 to 27 on sunny days. sam

I am in the market for my first HDTV (Sammy 5086, 5087 or Sony 50A10) and being I only have expanded basic ( 2 to 99 and no cable box ) how will a SD picture look on these sets? Will I get any HD with expanded basic? I think I live too far away to receive OTA HD

If your new TV has an internal digital tuner that supports cable (QAM), then you will get several digital and HD channels without changing your cable service. Look earlier in this thread for a more complete list, but you will at least get HD versions of KOMO-4, KING-5, KIRO-7, KCTS-9, KCPQ-13, KONG-16, KTWB-22. Depending on your TV tuner, these may have to be tuned in by their native HD channel number on cable instead of the more familiar channel numbers listed.

No QAM, so am I out of luck?

No QAM, so am I out of luck?
You have the option of buying an external QAM-capable tuner/STB.

One of my relatives has a Samsung SIR-T451 connected to her DLP HDTV and it works fine. She bought it at Circuit City for the list price of $250.

The outer box description did not even mention cable or QAM. Even the manual did not mention it anywhere I could find. But it works for her to get all of the unencrypted HDTV channels available on Comcast cable.

Whats your thoughts of getting a Tv with a cable card?

Whats your thoughts of getting a Tv with a cable card?

The tvguide feature only seems to work 25% of the time with Comcast.

So my issue is do I go with new technology with a Sammy 5086 (720p) or 5087 (1080p) with no cable card, or a sony 50a10 (720p) with a cable card? The Sony would cost more $ than the hls5087 and I do not have a cable box or ota antena. Just expanded basic (2-99)
___________
Tom

So my issue is do I go with new technology with a Sammy 5086 (720p) or 5087 (1080p) with no cable card, or a sony 50a10 (720p) with a cable card? The Sony would cost more $ than the hls5087 and I do not have a cable box or ota antena. Just expanded basic (2-99)
___________
Tom


Is there an issue with getting a cable box/DVR? You keep repeating that you only have basic cable like a mantra.

My wife and I don't want another box and there would be additional costs with an HD box or DVR. We are also fine with the number of channels on expanded basic.

If you're not going to subscribe to any digital packages, the only advantage of the cablecard would be that the local HD channels will be numbered according to Comcast's mapping scheme (eg, ch 4 HD = ch. 104, rather than the underlying frequency like 87.1 or whatever). The disadvantage of course is that you have to acquire and activate the cablecard thru Comcast. Scan thru this forum, and you'll see that this was no hassle for some folks; for others Comcast wanted to charge them, were confused, etc....

My wife and I don't want another box and there would be additional costs with an HD box or DVR. We are also fine with the number of channels on expanded basic.

To each his own. I see no downside to the HD/DVR. I wouldn't spend a ton of money for an HD TV and then not subscribe to the available channels. That's like buying a Porsche and leaving it in the garage because premium costs 20 cents a gallon more than regular.

To each his own. I see no downside to the HD/DVR. I wouldn't spend a ton of money for an HD TV and then not subscribe to the available channels. That's like buying a Porsche and leaving it in the garage because premium costs 20 cents a gallon more than regular.

The HD locals are included in even the limited basic ($12.95) plan. So it's really just a matter of getting the QAM channels with a QAM tuner. Last time I looked, the only other HD that Comcast had that I had any interest in was ESPN, and I have little interest in that. So you're right, to each his own.

But myself, I couldn't imagine life without a DVR. Once you have one, it's difficult to go back to regular TV.

... But myself, I couldn't imagine life without a DVR. Once you have one, it's difficult to go back to regular TV.
My almost-4-year-old grandaughter came and sat with me in the family room the other day. I was watching a movie that was not on the TiVo (at their SA TiVo-equipped house). She wanted me to back the movie up to the beginning so she could watch with me. I tried to explain that I was not using the TiVo and I had no means of backing up to the beginning of the movie. I was not successful in my attempts to explain.

A few moments later she asked me, "Do you mean we are watching Live TV? Now I know why you can't rewind it." I guess I had just never used the term she was familiar with. With the right terminology, she had no trouble explaining to me why we could not rewind.

My almost-4-year-old grandaughter came and sat with me in the family room the other day. I was watching a movie that was not on the TiVo (at their SA TiVo-equipped house). She wanted me to back the movie up to the beginning so she could watch with me. I tried to explain that I was not using the TiVo and I had no means of backing up to the beginning of the movie. I was not successful in my attempts to explain.

A few moments later she asked me, "Do you mean we are watching Live TV? Now I know why you can't rewind it." I guess I had just never used the term she was familiar with. With the right terminology, she had no trouble explaining to me why we could not rewind.

A 4 year old with an understanding of technology that most adults today couldn't grasp. What a world!

A 4 year old with an understanding of technology that most adults today couldn't grasp. What a world!
I think the open minds of 4-year-old's have a lot to do with their capacity to learn and understand.

Some of the adults you refer to have attitude issues that prevent them from grasping something so valuable and easy after a slight learning curve.

I dare anyone to try to take the DirecTiVo unit away from my wife, who before would have you harmed for taking away the VCR that she has since abandoned.