I haven't sat down and figured out 30 second skip yet. If I could replace FF1 with 30 second skip that would be a decent work around but I'm afraid if I do that there won't be any way to access FF2 and faster?
You really should do that. I find the 30 skip combined with the IN-RP to be very functional. 'Course I have a Universal remote that in addition to the left/right arrows has FF and FRW buttons. I programmed the left/right buttons for FF/RW and the buttons FF and RW for 30skip and IN-RP respectively.

Does anyone in Bellevue have the new guide? Not that I'm eager to cope with new problems, but I would like to get it over with before something important (like recording 5AM F-1 race coverage on Speed) gets messed up in the transition.

Renton highlands does, Bothell does not. Comcast tech's didn't know when I was getting it.

I've been having the same problem, once every couple of days or so. What sucks is that since the only remedy is to power-cycle, you lose your guide.That would be even more irritating. I guess I should count myself fortunate that a soft power cycle gets the audio restarted for us, meaning that we don't lose the guide (but we still lose the current recording session).

Another thing that tweaks me, though, is that when I'm watching a show and try to start recording another show already in progress, the DVR won't do it transparently like it did with the MS software. Now, it completely aborts what I'm watching to switch the channel to the other program I'm hoping to record for later viewing (helloooo!).

Should we be compiling a list of these issues? Some of them have to qualify as "bugs".

BTW, is anyone at Comcast even aware of this thread???

I have the same problem. I've been soft power cycling the box to restore. I haven't to tried the exit/reengage onDemand page fix.

I'm wondering if I'm the only one having trouble with OnDemand shows where once I pause/ff/rew I lose the sound and it doesn't come back until I stop the show, go back to OnDemand page, and click the show again. Quite annoying and if continues I probably should call Comcast.

--
Sang

I emailed Comcast support about this loss of audio after FF/RW of OnDemand shows.... got the boilerplate reply of "check that all your connections are tight etc". Wow. BTW, I've got the DCT6200 box.

I emailed Comcast support about this loss of audio after FF/RW of OnDemand shows.... got the boilerplate reply of "check that all your connections are tight etc". Wow. BTW, I've got the DCT6200 box.

Yeah the process of FF/RW with the new guide might wiggle your connections loose! :p

I've got the 30 second skip programmed, use it all the time. Is it possible to program skips of other time periods, like maybe 10-15 minutes?

I've got the 30 second skip programmed, use it all the time. Is it possible to program skips of other time periods, like maybe 10-15 minutes?

No and yes. Thanks though you gave me an idea. If you have a programmable remote with macros simply put in the number of 30 second skips you want in a macro. Also, does the skip button queue like the other buttons? So 2 minutes would be 4 button presses.

Does anyone in Bellevue have the new guide?

Still on MS here at I-405 and SR-520...

No and yes. Thanks though you gave me an idea. If you have a programmable remote with macros simply put in the number of 30 second skips you want in a macro. Also, does the skip button queue like the other buttons? So 2 minutes would be 4 button presses.

This is what I used to do with my Tivo for 2 minute and 3 minute skips.

Hi all,

Picked up a new DCH 3200 box today, since I don't want dvr and needed an hdmi box. They just came in to the Aurora store. Same box size but with the new silver finish and light blue instead of yellow leds.

It also has the two 1394 jacks on the back, along with the hdmi.

If you're in the market, they are available now.

Paul

Does anyone in Bellevue have the new guide?
Still on MS here at I-405 and SR-520...

So much for that. We were updated sometime this morning to the new guide. :o

As expected, it has pre-loaded a number of scheduled recordings for this week, but since they all say "To Be Announced" I cannot cancel them yet. :mad:

I am hoping the full guide data hasn't loaded yet, since it is missing a ton of shows (including Formula One).

After 10 minutes of this crap, I'm ready to order the new Tivo Series 3 "lite".

No and yes. Thanks though you gave me an idea. If you have a programmable remote with macros simply put in the number of 30 second skips you want in a macro. Also, does the skip button queue like the other buttons? So 2 minutes would be 4 button presses.

Thanks. Unfortunately, that would likely be a pretty tedious way to get quickly to the end of a 2-hour movie. Was just wondering if we could somehow duplicate Tivo's 15 minute skip...

New guide arrived in Bellevue this morning for both 3416 and 700. So far nothing disastrous, just different.

bothell got it too. Comcast pushing the iguide to the eastside!

Anybody ask if they could get the MS software (12.31, not 12.35) back?

I am hoping the full guide data hasn't loaded yet, since it is missing a ton of shows (including Formula One).


The new guide does not want to do series recording for sports shows (and does not honor previous series recordings done with the MS guide) so you will have to manually record each instance of Formula One that you want.

The new guide does not want to do series recording for sports shows (and does not honor previous series recordings done with the MS guide) so you will have to manually record each instance of Formula One that you want.

Great. Time to stop by Circuit City on the way home and get a TiVo HD.

Fortunately, the Everett Comcast store is across the street from work, so I can grab some CableCards.

The new guide does not want to do series recording for sports shows (and does not honor previous series recordings done with the MS guide) so you will have to manually record each instance of Formula One that you want.

Mine had no problem carrying over the Formula One series I had set up before. It has practice, qualifying, and race scheduled for Turkey this weekend.

Anybody ask if they could get the MS software (12.31, not 12.35) back?

That just isn't going to happen.

exactly. why would they want you to go backwards? ;)

Does anyone have any news about when Seattle Comcast will finally be catching us up with the rest of the country on HD content?

I was just reading the other Comcast forums and it seems a lot of places have had NGHD and A&E for some time now, and many have also picked up Food, HGTV and NFL-HD over the summer.

So where's our new HD additions, or are they just too busy improving our guide software to get around to it this year? Maybe I just don't understand the technical aspects of what it takes to add an HD channel into the line up, but they seem to be adding them just fine in other areas. Hmmm...

Also, while browsing thru the forums I also came across this quote from Comcast again... "We’re planning to offer 32-35 HD channels (including broadcast) by the third quarter of 2007"
It's now August 2007, mid 4th quarter... I don't get it. Anybody have any insight into all this?

...
It's now August 2007, mid 4th quarter... I don't get it. Anybody have any insight into all this?

No, but it's actually mid 3rd quarter.

Mine had no problem carrying over the Formula One series I had set up before. It has practice, qualifying, and race scheduled for Turkey this weekend.

Yeah, once the guide fully populated, all my missing stuff came back.

Still, I am pretty sure I'll be a Tivo HD owner by the weekend... The MS Guide was far better then this in terms of layout and functionality.

No, but it's actually mid 3rd quarter.

woops that's fiscal 4th sorry, ok mid 3rd quarter.... I mean... so, time to start adding those HD channels by now!! ;)

I'm using the Motorola DCT-6412 DVR. Since the new guide, my FF1 and Rewind both stop after a few seconds on both live TV and shows I've recorded. The screen becomes a mess of blurred pixels and freezes. Pushing FF or rewind a 2nd time gets it moving but I usually overshoot where I'm trying to get to in the show. I haven't seen much about this issue since the Iguide has been implemented. Is anyone else experiencing this issue or know what the fix is?

I am experiencing the same problem and have seen other messages about it on the Comcast forum. The short term fix is not to use FF1 and Rew1! Then keep your fingers crossed that Comcast can actually fix this buggy and ugly software.

I'm using the Motorola DCT-6412 DVR. Since the new guide, my FF1 and Rewind both stop after a few seconds on both live TV and shows I've recorded. The screen becomes a mess of blurred pixels and freezes. Pushing FF or rewind a 2nd time gets it moving but I usually overshoot where I'm trying to get to in the show. I haven't seen much about this issue since the Iguide has been implemented. Is anyone else experiencing this issue or know what the fix is?

Well, other than swapping tuners and 30 second skip, one more nice feature of the iGuide is that when watching on demand shows I can actually see where I am in the program. This used to annoy me with the MS guide. Now if I could only see the seconds, select which channels to display in the guide, have less key presses to get to the menus I want, improve the search interface, change the graphics to not looks so 1987...

Does anyone have any news about when Seattle Comcast will finally be catching us up with the rest of the country on HD content?

I was just reading the other Comcast forums and it seems a lot of places have had NGHD and A&E for some time now, and many have also picked up Food, HGTV and NFL-HD over the summer.

So where's our new HD additions, or are they just too busy improving our guide software to get around to it this year? Maybe I just don't understand the technical aspects of what it takes to add an HD channel into the line up, but they seem to be adding them just fine in other areas. Hmmm...

Also, while browsing thru the forums I also came across this quote from Comcast again... "We’re planning to offer 32-35 HD channels (including broadcast) by the third quarter of 2007"
It's now August 2007, mid 4th quarter... I don't get it. Anybody have any insight into all this?

Last I heard NGHD was "coming soon." That was several months ago. :cool:

Fortunately, the Everett Comcast store is across the street from work, so I can grab some CableCards.

Where is the Everett store? Everett customers have been sent to Seattle for several years since they closed the Marysville center.

My mistake. What I thought was the store was their service truck dispatch center. However, they appear to have a location on 128th in the Lynwood area per Google maps.

So I get home from work and turn on the TV to watch some recordings from last night, and what do I find? Nothing. As in, no recordings, no series recordings, no scheduled recordings, nothing. Comcast could only offer an apology and a hardware swap.

I am now looking at the HD Tivo...

Got it at 2:00AM Wednesday morning. Box shut off for about 1/2 hour and came back on with the new iguide.

What a piece of crap! The buttons are slow, the graphics are horrible, the menus are cumbersome, the pop up is annoying, and don't even get me started on "Favorites".
I am a channel surfer. My up/down buttons don't do what I want and the favorites button only goes one way.

Does Comcast believe in market research? Apparently NO - because they don't have to. I am seriously looking for something better.

Can anyone describe the user interfaces of Comcast VS Dish Network, Direct TV, Tivo, and the new thing coming along from Verizon?

So I get home from work and turn on the TV to watch some recordings from last night, and what do I find? Nothing. As in, no recordings, no series recordings, no scheduled recordings, nothing.

Some updates seem to go well and some are nightmares. Mine was perfect other then I can't create a Series recording for Formula One, even though all my scheduled recordings carried over and it shows the "series" icon (the multiple red circles) so maybe it is still set as a series.


Does Comcast believe in market research? Apparently NO - because they don't have to.

We need to remember that the MS Guide was the new guide they were planning to roll out to the rest of the nation. So we've been downgraded to what the other poor SOBs have had to suffer with.

I can only hope Comcast has decided the Tivo-based guide is close enough to nationwide roll-out that it wasn't worth continuing to develop the MS guide so they cut off development and rolled us to the "standard" guide because their would be no new updates.

Still, I probably won't wait and will just ante up the cash for TiVo HD. I can always use it with the Tivo Comcast system at worse.

Some updates seem to go well and some are nightmares. Mine was perfect other then I can't create a Series recording for Formula One, even though all my scheduled recordings carried over and it shows the "series" icon (the multiple red circles) so maybe it is still set as a series.

I've had the new guide for about a week and a half. This was totally out of the blue.

I've had the new guide for about a week and a half. This was totally out of the blue.

Great... :(:mad:

Great... :(:mad:

:(

[QUOTE=rverginia;11391458]My up/down buttons don't do what I want and the favorites button only goes one way.QUOTE]

Not sure what you mean. I set up a Favorites list, press Guide, then Favorites and your Favorites list comes up and you can scroll page up and page down and scroll single-entry up and down, just like the guide.

I've found my box to react much more quickly than the MS guide, not to mention no FF/RW lag problems and no reboots. I feel there are also a number of other improvements as well. Other than some issues with canceling some episodes of series recordings, I'm not finding much to complain about.

Some updates seem to go well and some are nightmares. Mine was perfect other then I can't create a Series recording for Formula One, even though all my scheduled recordings carried over and it shows the "series" icon (the multiple red circles) so maybe it is still set as a series.

My Formula One was set up as a single series for all practices, qualifying, and races. Since all of them show up as scheduled, it appears that the series recording carried over. I don't know how you would know that you could not create a series recording unless you cancelled the series you have (which I wouldn't advise).

My Formula One was set up as a single series for all practices, qualifying, and races. Since all of them show up as scheduled, it appears that the series recording carried over. I don't know how you would know that you could not create a series recording unless you cancelled the series you have (which I wouldn't advise).

When I initially got the update, there were a couple series I had to remove and recreate. The old ones were recording something besides what it said it was recording, so I deleted and recreated and it was fine.

Now I'm recreating all the series I had (that I can remember)... still steaming about that... :mad:

I've found my box to react much more quickly than the MS guide, not to mention no FF/RW lag problems and no reboots. I feel there are also a number of other improvements as well. Other than some issues with canceling some episodes of series recordings, I'm not finding much to complain about.

Same here. Love the 30 sec skip and the generally instantaneous reaction time from the remote. Although sometimes the Last button doesn't work as it should, skips a couple steps so you hafta go thru stuff all over again, which is a pain...

Got my "upgrade."

Is there such thing as a cable-card add-on for a TV that does not have one or do I have to invest in a whole Tivo box to move off of the Motorola stuff?

Hey all I just got done chatting with comcast about some issues. I asked the question Is there any new HD channels scheduled to be rolled out? This was the response... Yes, but we do not have a list at this time. We plan to add up to 200 channels by the end of the year.
Hopefully that is true! AWESOME!

Comcast considers VOD to be channels, which is totally misleading. Other areas have gotten a few channels this year, and I would not expect more that a few "real" channels in 2007.

I am using EyeTV and would love a mapping of what each darn SOP:Service XXX maps to in real life. This one by one thing is for the birds.

Anyone have this mapping they can share?

Hey all I just got done chatting with comcast about some issues. I asked the question Is there any new HD channels scheduled to be rolled out? This was the response... Yes, but we do not have a list at this time. We plan to add up to 200 channels by the end of the year.
Hopefully that is true! AWESOME!

LOL, 200 channels of what?
When I first decided to get an HDTV, I called Comcast to ask about their HD service, etc... they told me they were going to add 20 new HD channels by the end of 2006... I was thinking awesome, time to definately get an HDTV! We ended up getting 3 new ones at the end of that year, UHD, MHD, and Golf/Versus.

When I called to request more HD last summer, they told me if I stick with Comcast I wont be dissapointed cause by Oct 31st 2006 they were going to add a lot more HD including FearnetHD! Hmmm, I guess they were talking about on demand cause I never saw an HD channel in the line up called that.

Overall, I'm very happy with the quality of Comcast HD, I'm just frustrated by how slow they upgrade HD here compaired to other parts of the country. I'd be happy if Comcast would give us a channel lineup like they currently have in Boston, Detroit, Atlanta, etc... by the end of the year, but at the rate Comcast upgrades the Seattle area, I'm really not counting on it.

As of this afternoon my Formula One series recordings are no longer set. I find that I can't set them now, so I had to go in and tell the DVR to record individual events separately. The series recording worked for the practice this morning, but then the others disappeared from the schedule today.

As of this afternoon my Formula One series recordings are no longer set. I find that I can't set them now, so I had to go in and tell the DVR to record individual events separately. The series recording worked for the practice this morning, but then the others disappeared from the schedule today.

Mine are still present and accounted for... :confused:

Mine are still present and accounted for... :confused:

Be careful. I wouldn't rely on the F-1 series recording now.

Be careful. I wouldn't rely on the F-1 series recording now.

Well I am often up at 4am - even on weekends ( :( ) - so if it doesn't record it, I'll hopefully be around to watch it live.

My settings are still there, but all the my programs set to record this week stopped doing so as of last Sunday. Started doing individual recordings instead of relying on the series recordings, then that stopped as well. Called Comcast--turns out my DVR had to be "reset". I'm waiting for it to come back on line now. Alledgedly it's supposed to be "fixed" now. Wonderful. How often is this supposed to happen?

Well F1 recorded as scheduled, so that was good.

I do note that the DVR continues to record episodes of one series that I have deleted (the episodes, not the series) and if I have two shows on at the same time and I want to delete both, deleting one automatically restores the other and vice-versa...

I need to stop by BestBuy to get a toner cartridge for my laser printer, and I strongly expect I'll be bringing home a TivoHD with it...

and if I have two shows on at the same time and I want to delete both, deleting one automatically restores the other and vice-versa...

I notice this behaviour, too, although so far it's recorded every instance of a series I've wanted it to, and it's not recorded anything unusual or that I previously cancelled.

I notice this behaviour, too, although so far it's recorded every instance of a series I've wanted it to, and it's not recorded anything unusual or that I previously cancelled.

Aye, it's just a nuisance more then anything, but when something does not operate according to how it should, I tend to get worried that what is now a nuisance will later turn into a "pain point". :eek:

Comcast not carrying the UFC in HD is absolutely unacceptable! :mad: Instead of paying $40 for the SD broadcast I will simply do what I'v done in the past.... wait'til Monday and get a free copy of the event from my friend (who will also not be paying pay for it) that was downloaded. :) Both of us would be more than happy to shell out $50 to watch it in HD.

Has Comcast released an statement as to why they don't (I can think of only one time they did) carry the UFC in HD?

Just completed setting-up my Tivo HD and am now recording HD goodness on two channels at once. :D

Comcast Redmond now has multistream cable cards (they gave me two, actually) so you only need one of them to enable both channels (so I'll be taking one back). Too about three minutes to activate over the phone with the excellent Comcast agent.

Unit plus service works out to $16 a month over three years. Since I save $10 buy sending back my 6412, for $6 more it is so worth it. Even when Comcast eventually gets around to launching their TiVo service in my area (which may be three years considering how late they are with the pilot), it's worth the money now to enjoy television again.

I have missed you dearly, Tivo. It is great to have you back.

Well F1 recorded as scheduled, so that was good.

I do note that the DVR continues to record episodes of one series that I have deleted (the episodes, not the series) and if I have two shows on at the same time and I want to delete both, deleting one automatically restores the other and vice-versa...

I need to stop by BestBuy to get a toner cartridge for my laser printer, and I strongly expect I'll be bringing home a TivoHD with it...

Whack-a-mole is the iGuide name for that bug:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#Simultaneous_series_recording_cancellation_problem.2C_a ka_whack-a-mole

I've also noticed that duplicate series episodes that I have cancelled seem to reenable themselves sporadically.

At the price of toner cartridges, they should throw in the TiVoHD free.

I do like the 30-second skip!

Whack-a-mole is the iGuide name for that bug:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#Simultaneous_series_recording_cancellation_problem.2C_a ka_whack-a-mole

Thanks. It's academic now, but I appreciate you looking it up for me.

I've also noticed that duplicate series episodes that I have cancelled seem to re-enable themselves sporadically.

Yup. Like I said, a nuisance now, but I feared it might foreshadow something more serious...

At the price of toner cartridges, they should throw in the TiVoHD free.

It was not too much more them mail-order, surprisingly, and once you add in shipping... ;)

I do like the 30-second skip!

Yes, it was nice since the current guide no longer "back-tracks" like the MSE guide, but of course I have the functionality again with my Tivo.

Do they charge you an extra outlet fee for the m-stream card?

Do they charge you an extra outlet fee for the m-stream card?

I do not believe so. That is one of the benefits of Comcast in Western WA. They did not note any additional charges for my two cards and other folks on Comcast in Western WA have said they get the cards for free, as well.

Just completed setting-up my Tivo HD and am now recording HD goodness on two channels at once. :D

Comcast Redmond now has multistream cable cards (they gave me two, actually) so you only need one of them to enable both channels (so I'll be taking one back). Too about three minutes to activate over the phone with the excellent Comcast agent.

Unit plus service works out to $16 a month over three years. Since I save $10 buy sending back my 6412, for $6 more it is so worth it. Even when Comcast eventually gets around to launching their TiVo service in my area (which may be three years considering how late they are with the pilot), it's worth the money now to enjoy television again.

I have missed you dearly, Tivo. It is great to have you back.

This is what I'm considering doing. My DVR rental is 11.99 and I'm thinking about dropping the digital basic, another 15.99. Instead of that $28/month, this $16/month (Tivo HD + 3 years service over 3 years) would make me feel ok about an otherwise slightly painful one time sum.

This is what I'm considering doing. My DVR rental is 11.99 and I'm thinking about dropping the digital basic, another 15.99. Instead of that $28/month, this $16/month (Tivo HD + 3 years service over 3 years) would make me feel ok about an otherwise slightly painful one time sum.

I have a TivoS3 and dropped digital basic about a month ago. Comcast told me they could not rent me the cablecards w/out at least one digital package. This seems like BS since Tivo requires cablecards to get guide info for local HD channels. I also use the cablecards to order pay per view (by phone).

I subscribed to the HBO package to keep digital package, but would like to cancel it when 6 months for $7.99 is over. Hopefully, I just spoke with a bad CSR.

I have a TivoS3 and dropped digital basic about a month ago. Comcast told me they could not rent me the cablecards w/out at least one digital package. This seems like BS since Tivo requires cablecards to get guide info for local HD channels. I also use the cablecards to order pay per view (by phone).

I subscribed to the HBO package to keep digital package, but would like to cancel it when 6 months for $7.99 is over. Hopefully, I just spoke with a bad CSR.

Wait, can you do that? Can you watch and record PPV on the Tivo HD by calling in the purchase? That's really the only thing keeping me from getting a Tivo HD at this point. Constant issues with this 3416 (can't access my DVR recordings right now) are really ticking me off.

Can you watch and record PPV on the Tivo HD by calling in the purchase? I have never had any problems watching and recording PPV. Comcast allows you to order such by phone. When the Cnet review came up on the TiVoHD, they got it wrong (like many do) and claimed PPV was not available. My comments got cnet to call Tivo and verify that PPV is available on the Tivo S3 and HD models. Of course, TiVo and Cnet claim you cannot "record" PPV (i.e., you have to watch live). I think they are both incorrect. I have only ordered 4 PPV movies over the last year, but have been able to record each one.

I have a TivoS3 and dropped digital basic about a month ago. Comcast told me they could not rent me the cablecards w/out at least one digital package. This seems like BS since Tivo requires cablecards to get guide info for local HD channels. I also use the cablecards to order pay per view (by phone).

I subscribed to the HBO package to keep digital package, but would like to cancel it when 6 months for $7.99 is over. Hopefully, I just spoke with a bad CSR.

Ahh... interesting. Actually, that seems right. I used to have a CableCard set and I think I remember them saying I had to have a digital package to get the card.

At any rate, all I really care about is local HD channels, do you know if the Tivo HD would allow me to record to local HD channels coming in over cable, ie. QAM?

At any rate, all I really care about is local HD channels, do you know if the Tivo HD would allow me to record to local HD channels coming in over cable, ie. QAM?

Depends if the local HD Channels are QAM or not . . . I believe they are. If so, TiVo will only let you manually record such, as their guide information will not automatically download QAM channels without a cablecard.

When the Tivo S3 was originally released, this was one of the biggest gripes. Many people requested that the S3 add "channel mapping" to overcome this problem, as all local HD channels are in the clear. TiVo never added this feature, so most people succumed and ordered cable cards. This is exactly what I did.

I am always looking for specials to keep the cheapest digital package per Comcast's requirements (which seem to conflict with FCC goals). Actually, the Encore package was only $3.99 per month. I found I never watched any of those channels, so I stepped up to HBO when they offered $7.99 per month.

At any rate, all I really care about is local HD channels, do you know if the Tivo HD would allow me to record to local HD channels coming in over cable, ie. QAM?
Yes, it will, but you must set them up as manual recordings by time and channel, because without the cablecards, the QAM channels will not be properly mapped to the guide channels (i.e. PBSHD is tuned 92-5 QAM, but it's channel 108 in the guide). None of the HD series TiVos at this time allow you to manually configure QAM->guide channel mapping.

Depends if the local HD Channels are QAM or not . . . I believe they are. If so, TiVo will only let you manually record such, as their guide information will not automatically download QAM channels without a cablecard.

When the Tivo S3 was originally released, this was one of the biggest gripes. Many people requested that the S3 add "channel mapping" to overcome this problem, as all local HD channels are in the clear. TiVo never added this feature, so most people succumed and ordered cable cards. This is exactly what I did.

I am always looking for specials to keep the cheapest digital package per Comcast's requirements (which seem to conflict with FCC goals). Actually, the Encore package was only $3.99 per month. I found I never watched any of those channels, so I stepped up to HBO when they offered $7.99 per month.

Yes, it will, but you must set them up as manual recordings by time and channel, because without the cablecards, the QAM channels will not be properly mapped to the guide channels (i.e. PBSHD is tuned 92-5 QAM, but it's channel 108 in the guide). None of the HD series TiVos at this time allow you to manually configure QAM->guide channel mapping.

Great, thanks for the info. The other option I'm considering is getting a tuner card or two for my Vista Media Center and using my Xbox 360 as extender. Similar issues there though with guide info I think.

Ugh. :( Guess I could also just keep on keepin' on with my Motorola box and hope it doesn't just delete everything again...

Great, thanks for the info. The other option I'm considering is getting a tuner card or two for my Vista Media Center and using my Xbox 360 as extender. Similar issues there though with guide info I think.

Ugh. :( Guess I could also just keep on keepin' on with my Motorola box and hope it doesn't just delete everything again...

I'm pretty sure you can map the channels in Vista MCE if you use the HDHomeRun (you can at least map them to their OTA equivalents that they get from the PSIP). If you are not interested in the HDHomerun there are definitely other windows software out there where you can use other tuners (such as MediaPortal, SageTV, etc.).

Should you dare to venture into Linux land, MythTV can do it with many different cards, and that's what I use -- although in a week good guide data for MythTV will no longer be free )-:

Should you dare to venture into Linux land, MythTV can do it with many different cards, and that's what I use -- although in a week good guide data for MythTV will no longer be free )-:

However, it will be available for a nominal fee from SchedulesDirect, a non profit org. Starts out kinda high as they do have startup costs but their stated goal is to get enough subscribers so that you only pay $20/year for guide data. And there is a rather large list of supported programs even if you don't go the Linux route. So sign up and help get the costs down!

However, it will be available for a nominal fee from SchedulesDirect, a non profit org. Starts out kinda high as they do have startup costs but their stated goal is to get enough subscribers so that you only pay $20/year for guide data. And there is a rather large list of supported programs even if you don't go the Linux route. So sign up and help get the costs down!

Yep. I'll be upgrading my MythTV and switching over to schedulesdirect this weekend. I think the fee is worth it, especially consider how much I use and do with MythTV around my house...

(for those of you who don't check your cable box messages) I got a message on my cable box about a new Comcast Cable Store opening in Lynnwood.

Lynnwood Comcast Store
15815 25th Ave W
Lynnwood, WA 98087

It's opening on Tuesday September 4th.

Question for those who have gone to the Tivo S3 or Tivo HD:

I am unable to tune 9 Digital Classic and 16 Digital Plus channels on my Tivo HD. I have tried two Multistream Cable Cards and both show the same issue. I can tune in the channel, but I get a gray screen. Each channel signal strength is 100% and my SNR is 36-37db.

Some blocks of channels don't work (183-204 and 272-276) where others are just one channel in the mix (126 doesn't tune but 125 and 127 do). My 6412, off the same splitter, gets all the missing channels fine.

I have spoken with Comcast (who were very good) and they're sending a tech out on Wednesday to take a peek, but I was wondering if anyone with an HD Tivo (or even an ATSC HDTV with Cable Cards) has encountered something similar.

I have and it's just fairly well-known flakiness with the Cable Cards. I, so far, have gone through two that flat out didn't work at all (the TiVoHD wouldn't even recognize them) and I have one now that I need to exchange because it's having an issue similar to what you're describing. Having the tech come out is a great idea because he'll have an array of Cable Cards that he can swap out for you until you get one that behaves properly.

Question for those who have gone to the Tivo S3 or Tivo HD:

I am unable to tune 9 Digital Classic and 16 Digital Plus channels on my Tivo HD. I have tried two Multistream Cable Cards and both show the same issue. I can tune in the channel, but I get a gray screen. Each channel signal strength is 100% and my SNR is 36-37db.

Some blocks of channels don't work (183-204 and 272-276) where others are just one channel in the mix (126 doesn't tune but 125 and 127 do). My 6412, off the same splitter, gets all the missing channels fine.

I have spoken with Comcast (who were very good) and they're sending a tech out on Wednesday to take a peek, but I was wondering if anyone with an HD Tivo (or even an ATSC HDTV with Cable Cards) has encountered something similar.

I have an S3, would like to help, but have never had any similar problems. I expect you are having problems due to the cablecards or splitters. I have no splitters in my system and got lucky with my first set of cablecards. Hopefully, you get a good tech. In any case, there is plenty advice on this thread to help with general system troubleshooting problems that may do the trick.

I'm pretty sure you can map the channels in Vista MCE if you use the HDHomeRun (you can at least map them to their OTA equivalents that they get from the PSIP). If you are not interested in the HDHomerun there are definitely other windows software out there where you can use other tuners (such as MediaPortal, SageTV, etc.).

Should you dare to venture into Linux land, MythTV can do it with many different cards, and that's what I use -- although in a week good guide data for MythTV will no longer be free )-:

However, it will be available for a nominal fee from SchedulesDirect, a non profit org. Starts out kinda high as they do have startup costs but their stated goal is to get enough subscribers so that you only pay $20/year for guide data. And there is a rather large list of supported programs even if you don't go the Linux route. So sign up and help get the costs down!

Thanks guys. Since I already have all the hardware besides a tuner, it just makes sense to use MCE, however, I do like MythTV as a product. HDHomerun is potentially an option, and I may end up going that way.

I just got a new looking HD cable box from Comcast Tacoma yesterday (Motorola DCH 3200). In any case, it takes about 2-3 seconds from when I hit a button to control the menu before it actually does anything. Is there a way to fix that because it gets highly annoying very fast.

On Sunday, I was watching a live show delayed and I hit the 30 sec skip. Nothing happened. I mashed it again, zero, I hit FF, still watching at regular speed, FF again, nothing, swear a little, still at regular speed. About 60 seconds later, blam they all cycled through.

Last night I hit guide, found a show to watch, hit ok, the channel number displayed on the box and the screen went black. I waited, not so patiently, and after about 20-30 seconds the box reset.

I feel like I have the old MS software. Anyone else have this happen?

BTW, I have a 3416 (± 40% full), harmony remote and panny plasma

Yeah, I have seen the keys stack up like the old software. Not as often, but this must be a firmware problem.

Haven't had a reset problem.

I have an original 64xx box, from when they were first released. (Has a DVI output, not HDMI.)

To the best of my knowledge mine hasn't reset, but I am having the IR commands stack up issue.

...blam they all cycled through.

Last night I hit guide, found a show to watch, hit ok, the channel number displayed on the box and the screen went black. I waited, not so patiently, and after about 20-30 seconds the box reset.

I feel like I have the old MS software. Anyone else have this happen?


i never had that happen with the MS guide, it always worked (seems funny saying that about an MS product).

happens all the time with the new guide...

Hi,

This isn't the ideal place to post this question, but i can't find any thread or forum more applicable, so here it goes. I'm moving to Renton this week from AZ, and need to decide between a Qwest bundle with DirecTV and a Comcast bundle. I WON'T be getting HD service to begin with (no HDTV yet), but will upgrade in 6 months to a year. I just wanted to know people's opinions from the area if DirecTV is decent, or if i should just go with Comcast?

Thanks in advance for any info!

Renton reception. You would have to know if DirecTV offers satellite transmission of local channels or an external antenna as HD line of sight is variable due to hills in the area. sam

Hi,

This isn't the ideal place to post this question, but i can't find any thread or forum more applicable, so here it goes. I'm moving to Renton this week from AZ, and need to decide between a Qwest bundle with DirecTV and a Comcast bundle. I WON'T be getting HD service to begin with (no HDTV yet), but will upgrade in 6 months to a year. I just wanted to know people's opinions from the area if DirecTV is decent, or if i should just go with Comcast?

Thanks in advance for any info!

As you probably alreay know, QWEST can only offer DSL for cable service. I've had DSL, my sistest has had DSL, IMO DSL sucks. It's really slow compared to cable. For that reason alone I would go with Comcast. That said, Comcats tuner boxes suck but are functional. If you're not going HD, perhaps you can stick with basic cable and use your TV's analog tuners. If this works for you, going Comcast is a no brainer.

I'm still adjusting to the new software. I've noticed an added glitch with the FAV button and wondered if others have noticed it. Since you can't eliminate channels anymore I've set up a FAV list of 104, 173, 549, 660. This is a list of the first channel in a series of HD programming. I can use the FAV button and then Channel UP to scroll through the HD channels only. However,

1) The FAV button only works if the scroll bar is visible. I have to press info and then FAV to get the button to work. This was not the case with the MS software. Has anyone figured out a better workaround for skipping unwatchable channels?

Thanks


PS: I actually like the fact that the FF doesn't roll back. It's much better for sports and I can use the "Go Back" button if I want to jump back a few seconds.

I have my favorites list setup and to access it simply press Guide, then FAV. That will change to your Favorites list, then you can scroll through it just the like standard guide. Only annoying thing to me is that it always defaults to the first channel instead of the channel you're tuned to.

I actually like the fact that the FF doesn't roll back. It's much better for sports and I can use the "Go Back" button if I want to jump back a few seconds.


Same here, always hated the rollback "feature"

I'm still adjusting to the new software. I've noticed an added glitch with the FAV button and wondered if others have noticed it. Since you can't eliminate channels anymore I've set up a FAV list of 104, 173, 549, 660. This is a list of the first channel in a series of HD programming. I can use the FAV button and then Channel UP to scroll through the HD channels only. However,

1) The FAV button only works if the scroll bar is visible. I have to press info and then FAV to get the button to work. This was not the case with the MS software. Has anyone figured out a better workaround for skipping unwatchable channels?
I use the FAV button a little differently, and fortunately it works the same for both the old & new guides. I just hit FAV repeatedly to cycle thru my chosen stations to see what's on them. I never really used the Favorites as a multi-line guide.

Thanks for the responses. Went with Comcast. However, it's now their policy to not let you get a DVR unless you get the really expensive cable + a premium channel package like HBO. That would've added like $40 a month to the bill, so we just declined the DVR.

Well my Tivo HD gets all the channels now, after the service call, though how we did it I do not know. I've got a Multistream card in Slot 1 and a Singlestream Card in Slot 2. I expect the Slot 2 card is superfluous (my Tivo told me it would just ignore it), but hey, if that is what it takes to get all my channels, I'll deal with it. They're free, anyway. :D

They're free? I thought there was a $5 monthly fee or something similar.

I use the FAV button a little differently, and fortunately it works the same for both the old & new guides. I just hit FAV repeatedly to cycle thru my chosen stations to see what's on them. I never really used the Favorites as a multi-line guide.


Well I use the FAV button for killing flies. How? You hold down the FAV button and then smash a fly with the end of the remote. That's about the best use of it for me. May need a new remote soon... :D

I just picked up a Comcast HD DVR today (Motorola DCT3416 I) and this thing is annoyingly loud. There is a high pitched sound I can hear across the room (even when in standby or when on and not recording).

Have others experienced this? I think I'm going to exchange this one out and see if I can get one that is quieter. Are there quite HD DVR's from Comcast out there? I can see through the top of the box and it has the 160GB Seagate hard drive in it but this sound isn't a normal hard drive sound. More of just a high pitched sound coming from the power supply or something.

Thanks.

Anyone else having problems recording series still? I can create series for regular TV program but if it is a sports item or movie say like on spike or something... no go. I have tried calling comcast about it and they say you need to hit the info button. Which of course gives you the option to record an event, but the series option doesn't show up.

So I just got done chatting with Comcast and this is what they told me about series problems.
Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is I think I know what the priobem is. The bad news is that at present there is no fix for it. My supervisor informs me that when the new IGuide came out the designations of some programming changes so that some programs aren't recognized as a series anymore. For example I'm told that an auto repair or customization show on Speed which was once classified as a series might now be recognized as a do it yourself special. At this time there's no way around it. We can just hope that they here enough feedback and adjust the designations to accommodate this problem.

Anyone else having these issues?

I've not run across a series that I couldn't record as a series yet, but will give them "feedback" when I do. ;)

Since there's no apparent value in having something designated as a "special" it would seem to me that everything with the same name should be considered a series. With the previous guide, I could record all F-1 practice, qualifying, and race programs as a single series, since they all bore the name "Formula One Racing", and have them all padded in case they ran overtime. Now I have to set each one as it appears in the listings and then add the padding.

I've not run across a series that I couldn't record as a series yet, but will give them "feedback" when I do. ;)
The reply I got from Comcast is that they hope I'll get used to the new guide.

They're free? I thought there was a $5 monthly fee or something similar.

Last I heard Comcast in Western WA still gives them out for free. I have read that other Comcast cities (mostly back East) do charge $1.75 or so for each. They didn't charge me for them when I picked them up and they didn't note my bill would go up. They just noted my account now had two cablecards and sent me on my way.

Last I heard Comcast in Western WA still gives them out for free. I have read that other Comcast cities (mostly back East) do charge $1.75 or so for each. They didn't charge me for them when I picked them up and they didn't note my bill would go up. They just noted my account now had two cablecards and sent me on my way.

I picked up a half dozen, no charge. But when I started using a Tivo, they charged me $1.79/month. Got rid of the Tivo, and they're still charging me, now they say I hafta return them to delete the charges. Go figure...

Just noticed a new addition to my i-guide called "comcast central" located under the menu button. It shows four picture in pictures on one screen, can these be changed/programed by the user or is this comcast controled ? Thanks

Comcast Central -- the choices are controlled and changed by Comcast, but there are different subsets available depending on whether you select News, Kids, or Sports. Selecting one of the displayed pictures will take you to the channel that picture represents.

I picked up a half dozen, no charge. But when I started using a Tivo, they charged me $1.79/month.

That might be the "Tivo flag" they didn't put on my account. Whatever. $2 is a small price to pay to actually be able to use Cable (which I'm paying around $90 for).

If they charge me for both, I'll take the second one out and send it back, since I only need the M-card in Slot 1.

Holy Sweet Bejeezus!!!

I swear to FSM that my DVR decided to *stop recording* a series, making me miss a week of Rescue Me. Now, it had been recording Rescue Me fine. Up until last week. When it didn't. And this week, when I re-added it.

I emailed support, made sure to use a 'dis-satisfied' word a few times, even *told them to forward this to their manager* and nothing.

Here's an odd one. For the past few days I've been watching college football in HD on ESPN and ESPN2 (173 & 174). On both channels what appears as a small smudge is visible just above and to the right of the center of the screen. I've not seen it on any other channels, HD or otherwise, so it isn't my equipment. Does anyone else have this problem? Now that I know it's there it's driving me batty.

Here's an odd one. For the past few days I've been watching college football in HD on ESPN and ESPN2 (173 & 174). On both channels what appears as a small smudge is visible just above and to the right of the center of the screen. I've not seen it on any other channels, HD or otherwise, so it isn't my equipment. Does anyone else have this problem? Now that I know it's there it's driving me batty.

Not seeing it on my Toshiba being fed by my Tivo HD or my 6412.

uggh

WHy is Fox SPorts picture so horrible here. I dont understand when ESPN shows Fox highlights they look just fine but when we watch them on the channel its awful. Is it the same on dish?? I am questioning why i have the sports package with the pictures that I am seeing.

Did Comcast mess with the mapping of the HD channels today? I'm in Mountlake Terrace and it seems like all the locals are no longer mapped to the correct channels. My fox sports channel also looks like crap.

Here's an odd one. For the past few days I've been watching college football in HD on ESPN and ESPN2 (173 & 174). On both channels what appears as a small smudge is visible just above and to the right of the center of the screen. I've not seen it on any other channels, HD or otherwise, so it isn't my equipment. Does anyone else have this problem? Now that I know it's there it's driving me batty.

I'm watching 173 right now and yes I see an elongated dark spot when they show live coverage. It is also on 174 during live shots. WTF! How can this happen on 2 different broadcasts?

I'm watching 173 right now and yes I see an elongated dark spot when they show live coverage. It is also on 174 during live shots. WTF! How can this happen on 2 different broadcasts?

Whew, so I'm not going insane after all.

Hey all, I'm fairly new to the HDTV world and have a couple of questions about Comcast. Currently I get my local HDTV OTA from Edmonds, WA, and I have no problem with it. My wife likes to watch her shows on cable, so I still pay for extended basic. When I purchased my TV, I didn't get one with a QAM tuner (not knowing it existed) and I didn't really want to rent a box from Comcast, so I left it at that. I recently got a new computer that runs on Vista that I have attached to my HDTV. If I were to get a QAM tuner card, will that let me view the channels in my extended basic plan that are in HD? If so, what channels and does anybody have a recommendation on the card I should get?

Thanks.

Wellll, I bought a beautiful Pio plasma 6 months ago and got a free cable card from comcast with by 'Basic' service-channels 2-13 for $12 a month. When I first plugged in my card, I noticed that I was essentially getting a digital package-no premium, but all the espn, lifetime, digital music, etc. I don't watch much TV, so it never was noticed. However, this weekend, when I went to watch some ESPN HD college football games, my service was gone, only to be replaced with the original package.
Again, it wont really be missed, but you wonder why it took Comcast 6+ months to figure it out?

Comcast is sure doing alot of moving stuff around and screwing it up. I noticed that on my SHOWHD channel the bottem eighth has a horizontal shift(hard to notice it. Easy durring the credits scrolling up the screen. Happens on all tvs. Only that channel. Also noticed that showhd and hbohd are running on the same frequency. How much bandwidth can each frequency handle as far as mbps on the same one. I am getting to the point now of just cancelling my premiums and going basic and getting rid of my free(minus the $5 outlet charge) hd box and watching movies exclusively on my hddvd and b-ray.

Does anyone know if the game this week will be in HD? I can't stand watching SD on FSN.

Comcast is sure doing alot of moving stuff around and screwing it up. I noticed that on my SHOWHD channel the bottem eighth has a horizontal shift(hard to notice it. Easy durring the credits scrolling up the screen. Happens on all tvs. Only that channel. Also noticed that showhd and hbohd are running on the same frequency. How much bandwidth can each frequency handle as far as mbps on the same one. I am getting to the point now of just cancelling my premiums and going basic and getting rid of my free(minus the $5 outlet charge) hd box and watching movies exclusively on my hddvd and b-ray.

1 single 6Mhz QAM channel has roughly 38mbs of bandwidth. Thats enough for two full HD signals. Most HD signals don't use the full 19mbs that is available so you might have two HDs and a couple SDs in a single QAM channel

Hey all, I'm fairly new to the HDTV world and have a couple of questions about Comcast. Currently I get my local HDTV OTA from Edmonds, WA, and I have no problem with it. My wife likes to watch her shows on cable, so I still pay for extended basic. When I purchased my TV, I didn't get one with a QAM tuner (not knowing it existed) and I didn't really want to rent a box from Comcast, so I left it at that. I recently got a new computer that runs on Vista that I have attached to my HDTV. If I were to get a QAM tuner card, will that let me view the channels in my extended basic plan that are in HD? If so, what channels and does anybody have a recommendation on the card I should get?

Thanks.

I've been looking into using Vista MCE for recording and tuning as well, and the HTPC section of the forum is a great resource. But briefly, only one tuner, HDHomerun, is compatible with Vista MCE for QAM signals. However, Vista will accept OTA HD from any ATSC card, and since you do OTA already, that may be the route you want to go. Check out the Home Theater PC forum for more help.

OT

I've just had back surgery, now i play on the web and watch HDTV to aid the recovery (vicodin helps too)

I'm going in for back surgery on Tuesday. I wish you a speedy recovery (unless you'd rather play on the web and watch HDTV :D )

BTW: Isn't it fun that you can be on Vicodin, watch a movie, really enjoy it and then watch it all over again as if though you've never seen it?
:cool: :D

Well my Tivo HD gets all the channels now, after the service call, though how we did it I do not know. I've got a Multistream card in Slot 1 and a Singlestream Card in Slot 2. I expect the Slot 2 card is superfluous (my Tivo told me it would just ignore it), but hey, if that is what it takes to get all my channels, I'll deal with it. They're free, anyway. :D
Sorry...I have only been following TIVO HD discussions peripherally...are you saying Comcast in the Seattle area will give you a MultiStream CC and that it works fine in the TIVO HD Box? And you are able to watch On Demand as well as watch one show while recording another???? If this is the case....I'll go out and buy the Tivo HD right now and send the Comcast DVR back...it sucks. And is it only me or is the "new" PG terrible or what? Why can't Comcast just hurry-up with the Tivo software already.

Sorry...I have only been following TIVO HD discussions peripherally...are you saying Comcast in the Seattle area will give you a MultiStream CC and that it works fine in the TIVO HD Box? And you are able to watch On Demand as well as watch one show while recording another???? If this is the case....I'll go out and buy the Tivo HD right now and send the Comcast DVR back...it sucks. And is it only me or is the "new" PG terrible or what? Why can't Comcast just hurry-up with the Tivo software already.

Multistream cards are just now becoming available in the Puget Sound area. They're so new, in fact, that a lot of employees either don't even know about it yet or are surprised to hear that the cards are available. I had nothing but trouble trying to use a pair of singlestream cards in my TiVoHD but, after a small battle, it's now working perfectly with a single multistream card. And, for the record, you just need one multistream card; you leave the other slot empty.

As for OnDemand, the answer is: no. The cards are capable of two-way transmissions, the TiVoHD is capable of two-way transmissions, but Comcast is not. According to one tech I spoke with, it would require 'significant changes' on Comcast's end to allow two-way communication between TiVos and Comcast. However, it's likely to happen one of these days but I don't expect to see it for at least a couple of years. I doubt it's very high in Comcast's priorities.

Even without OnDemand, the TiVoHD is far superior to the Comcast DVR in just about every way imaginable.

Multistream cards are just now becoming available in the Puget Sound area. They're so new, in fact, that a lot of employees either don't even know about it yet or are surprised to hear that the cards are available. I had nothing but trouble trying to use a pair of singlestream cards in my TiVoHD but, after a small battle, it's now working perfectly with a single multistream card. And, for the record, you just need one multistream card; you leave the other slot empty.

As for OnDemand, the answer is: no. The cards are capable of two-way transmissions, the TiVoHD is capable of two-way transmissions, but Comcast is not. According to one tech I spoke with, it would require 'significant changes' on Comcast's end to allow two-way communication between TiVos and Comcast. However, it's likely to happen one of these days but I don't expect to see it for at least a couple of years. I doubt it's very high in Comcast's priorities.

Even without OnDemand, the TiVoHD is far superior to the Comcast DVR in just about every way imaginable.
Thanks...OK.. so since I do use OnDemand a lot I will still need one of the digital boxes from Comcast but not the DVR. Not a plus with the SAF (Spouse Approval Factor). It will probably have to wait then. :-( I can't justify having two separate boxes for controlling the cable...won't fly. Plus the TIVO doesn't display the current channel...not a plus with the SAF either. (one of the reasons I just don't use a MCE PC, which would be my first choice)
Thanks,

Does anyone know if the game this week will be in HD? I can't stand watching SD on FSN.

No HD for BSU/UW.

Sorry.

I was rechecking to make sure I had set up extra time for recording the USF-Auburn game on ESPN2HD Saturday, and realized it was set to record on 32 instead of 174. Then I noticed that in the new guide both 32 and 174 are named "ESPN2". Although the MSFT guide had no such duplications for any of the HD channels, other Comcast iGuide localities have reported the following bug:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#The_DVR_records_in_SD_when_you.27ve_set_it_to_an_HD_cha nnel

I'm pretty sure I didn't set up the initial recording on 32 instead of 174, so I'm going to continue to check to see if it migrates from the HD to the SD channel, and if it does then I'll report it as something that needs to be changed in the channel designators.

I'm pretty sure I didn't set up the initial recording on 32 instead of 174, so I'm going to continue to check to see if it migrates from the HD to the SD channel, and if it does then I'll report it as something that needs to be changed in the channel designators.

I've had this happen on 104. I set it to record a show on channel 104, and it recorded the SD channel 4 version instead. At first I thought someone forgot to flip a switch or something on 104, but then I noticed it was recorded from channel 4 in the info. The info for the show also says it's in HD for both 4 and 104, and for some reason it always defaults to record channel 4 instead of 104 even though it was set to record from 104. The only way I can get it to record properly is to wait for the show to come on then hit the record button when on channel 104.

Also I noticed ESPN2-HD does not show up in my HD menu list of HD channels. Only ESPN-HD is listed there along with all the other HD channels, but ESPN2-HD is missing. Anyone else notice this or have this problem?

I'm on Limited Basic.

The digital tuner of my QAM-capable TV (Vizio 37L) no longer detects any digitally re-mapped variants of analog TV channels. Also gone are all of the local FM stations and the local variant of The Weather Channel. IIRC this occured after I briefly lost service early Wednesday afternoon.

I suspect Comcast is tightening up what can be detected on Limited Basic.

I've had this happen on 104. I set it to record a show on channel 104, and it recorded the SD channel 4 version instead. At first I thought someone forgot to flip a switch or something on 104, but then I noticed it was recorded from channel 4 in the info. The info for the show also says it's in HD for both 4 and 104, and for some reason it always defaults to record channel 4 instead of 104 even though it was set to record from 104. The only way I can get it to record properly is to wait for the show to come on then hit the record button when on channel 104.

Also I noticed ESPN2-HD does not show up in my HD menu list of HD channels. Only ESPN-HD is listed there along with all the other HD channels, but ESPN2-HD is missing. Anyone else notice this or have this problem?

I've had this problem too. I think I'm about done with this DVR. I think when I have time to drop it off, I'll exchange it for a regular digital box. I can record most of what I want with MythTV and QAM tuners anyway. The rest I'll try and catch on demand...

Ok where did Comcast hide KCPQ-HD (Fox 13 in HD) now? I just rescanned on my Fusion5HDTV QAM tuner and can't find it in Seattle? I do see all the other free digital/QAM channels.

I'm in Lake City with Comcast Digital Plus (with moto DVR box) and have been getting absolutely horribly quality on Mojo and TNT HD (the only channels I watch other than the locals). It's been happening ever since they updated the on-screen guide (which sucks now, imo).

I don't know much about video, I just wanted to know if anybody else has been experiencing this? If not I want to call Comcast and have them fix it, but if so, I can just sit tight until it's fixed.

I often get an error that says the channel will be available shortly (screen all black, no sound) that can last an hour or longer. Sometimes 20 seconds, other times 20 minutes, I haven't noticed any rhyme or reason.

Other times, when it's actually working, the framerate is awful and there are a lot of image problems. Right now Once Upon A Time In Mexico is on and it's running at like ten frames a second, with the image messing up really bad on anything that fades (smoke, scene transitions, etc).

So... my question... common issue, or just me?

I'm in Lake City with Comcast Digital Plus (with moto DVR box) and have been getting absolutely horribly quality on Mojo and TNT HD (the only channels I watch other than the locals).

...

So... my question... common issue, or just me?

I'd have a truck roll assuming no one else in YOUR area responds. I too watch TNT HD (just recorded and replayed Titanic from TNT HD in HD BTW)
and there was nary a problem. Don't watch Mojo but for me TNT HD is stable on my Moto box(es).

I'm sooo happy to read this...that dark spot has been bugging me lately. I wonder if ESPN knows this. Thanks.

Ok where did Comcast hide KCPQ-HD (Fox 13 in HD) now? I just rescanned on my Fusion5HDTV QAM tuner and can't find it in Seattle? I do see all the other free digital/QAM channels.

13-1 appears to not be working for me anymore either, but you can still find it at 111-1

Comcast decides to remap KCPQ again!!?? The day before the first regular season Seahawks game? That's just fanTAStic Comcast. Luckily I tuned in this morning, saw the problem and was able to re-scan (I use MythTV) and pick up the changes. (It isn't always that easy.) If I hadn't, I would have missed the game (I was planning to record it). Comcast is awesome.

uggh

WHy is Fox SPorts picture so horrible here. I dont understand when ESPN shows Fox highlights they look just fine but when we watch them on the channel its awful. Is it the same on dish?? I am questioning why i have the sports package with the pictures that I am seeing. It seems like they have been horrible for years now. Fuzzy and video compression artifacts all over the place.

I was watching the Husky game yesterday. I know it is SD, but still it looked ridiculously bad compared to HD on ESPN. My LCD does a fairly good job upconverting SD to HD, but still FSN has to be the worst.

As comparison, right now I am watching Fox NFL and it looks stunning.

As a sidenote, they did have a couple of FSN football games in HD yesterday. Both later games were in HD on 664 (?) but the early Husky game wasn't.

All this being said, the SD FSN equipment in the Seattle area sucks. Just try watching Husky SD basketball on FSN.

I'm watching Seahawks on FOX HD, as well. Is anyone else noticing that it looks like it's dropping a frame every second or so? It's most noticeable during ground-level shots that turn or move horizontally. It almost looks like the video is 'pulsing'. There doesn't appear to be any accompanying audio problems.

This is a new issue that just cropped up over the past few days using a multi-stream card in a TiVoHD.

Comcast decides to remap KCPQ again!!?? The day before the first regular season Seahawks game? That's just fanTAStic Comcast. Luckily I tuned in this morning, saw the problem and was able to re-scan (I use MythTV) and pick up the changes. (It isn't always that easy.) If I hadn't, I would have missed the game (I was planning to record it). Comcast is awesome.

What tuners are you guys using around here? I picked up an HVR-1600 but only seem to pick up miscellaneous local, weather, govt, etc. QAM channels. My SXRD can tune HD ABC, NBC, FOX, etc. QAM channels - I really want to be able to record these unencrypted HD channels!

Are there any known QAM tuners that work better with Comcast in this area?

Is there a current list of QAM channel mapping in the Seattle area for Comcast?

I'm riding the line between Kirkland and Bothell, right off 405 BTW.

I have been reading this post for a while and I was wondering if anyone has compained to Comcast on the new guide. While the MS guide was not perfect, I really think this new guide is a major step backwards. I have had issues like the guide freezing, deleted recordings and schedules, continues to record reruns when it not suppose to, can't block out channels that I don't subscribe to and many others. Except for people in this forum, I don't know anyone who thinks this was a step forward.

I understand that Comcast would like to only have to support one guide but I can't wait for it to change to something else. Maybe my only other option is to return my box and buy the new TIVO HD and live without OnDemand.

Who can I call or email at Comcast to offically complain?

I have been reading this post for a while and I was wondering if anyone has compained to Comcast on the new guide. While the MS guide was not perfect, I really think this new guide is a major step backwards.

I think it partially depends on how you use the DVR, whether you rely on series recording, etc. In some respects, I actually like it better than the MS version.

None of the channels have moved for me, but I'll be on the lookout, with football and the new fall show season starting. I'm in the South Everett Area...

I agree with the "step back" comment. The new guide freezes all the time, recordings vanish for no reason and I haven't figured out how to turn off the box while it's recording. The MS software wasn't perfect but it did work. And when it did lock up seconds NOT minutes.

It's so frustrating when it locks up I'm thinking about going to the dish.... I have always had Comcast but this is an unacceptable product!

you can go to http://www.comcastsea.com/newguidefeedback
and place your disatisfaction or satisfaction about the new guide and any issues.

Reading thru the forums I see Comcast has added NFL-HD for the start of this season in certain regions, and other areas will add it soon. Portland/Clark County, Wa is supposed to get it soon and about 5 other HD's, but I've heard nothing for Seattle. Anybody know if they are just gonna run Replay on 665 again this year or will we get the full channel too?

I was mostly of the "it's a wash" opinion about the new guide when it came out, but I've had enough reliability issues over the last month to downgrade my opinion. On my upstairs 6412, I've had at least 5 guide "freezes", with these symptoms:


Broadcast or playback continues
No response by the box to any kind of user input, whether from the remote or through the front panel buttons (i.e. stays on same channel or recording)
Time does not display, only channel number
"No response to user input" state will continue indefinitely (I've even left it running overnight - 10+ hours), with the only escape (that I've been able to find) is to unplug the power from the box


It's possible that some kind of "hard reset" through the front panel (or remote) will work, but I haven't tried it yet (have just been too lazy to look up the button combinations). Unplugging the power works, although guide data is lost for a while.

It's also happened to my downstairs 6412, although only once that I can remember (and the downstairs box is more heavily used - it's the one that used to have more of the "queued remote commands" problem and slow response with the old MS guide software).

This "guide freeze" and the already discussed series recording problems (missed recording, continual recording of repeats, lost "episode cancels", etc), have left me with a mounting negative opinion.

Cliff

I just got two new DCH3416's to replace a DCT6412 and a DCT3412. Don't have them hooked up yet but I'll have plenty of time to try them out starting in a few days since I'll be recovering from back surgery. Cool thing was, all I had to do was bring back the original boxes, no cables, no remotes, not even the power cords. They took my old boxes back with no questions. One thing though, you have to know to ask for the DCH otherwise you'll probably get the older boxes.

I just got two new DCH3416's to replace a DCT6412 and a DCT3412. Don't have them hooked up yet but I'll have plenty of time to try them out starting in a few days since I'll be recovering from back surgery. Cool thing was, all I had to do was bring back the original boxes, no cables, no remotes, not even the power cords. They took my old boxes back with no questions. One thing though, you have to know to ask for the DCH otherwise you'll probably get the older boxes.

I'm still confused about what they can give customers. Is it that they can only give non-cable card boxes if they were already in circulation before the law took effect, or do all new boxes have to be cable card boxes?

I turned in my 3412 today (just got rid of the DVR) ad got a DCH3200 (non-dvr) cable card box. I didn't ask for anything specific (other than it not be a DVR and be digital). I've given up on the DVR's for now... MythTV will do provided comcast doesn't muck with the QAM channels too much.

you can go to http://www.comcastsea.com/newguidefeedback
and place your disatisfaction or satisfaction about the new guide and any issues.

How many times can I fill this out before they stop reading mine? I'm up to 4, but I feel like every time I have a problem, I should be able to complain.

Well, here's my feedback: they're getting less money from me. Getting rid of the STB and digital package and going back to limited basic (or whatever they call the one that includes FSN, Sci-Fi, Comedy Central etc.). I've set up my Vista machine to be my new DVR, pulling local HD channels OTA. It's working beautifully so far! :D

Well, here's my feedback: they're getting less money from me. Getting rid of the STB and digital package and going back to limited basic (or whatever they call the one that includes FSN, Sci-Fi, Comedy Central etc.). I've set up my Vista machine to be my new DVR, pulling local HD channels OTA. It's working beautifully so far! :D

that is my feedback too -- Although I did keep showtime and HBO for the series, but no more dvrs, (built my own) and less channel subscriptions. I held on to the dvr too long... We'll see if I miss it.

This is good news for folks who live in condo or apartment.... Comcast in trouble?

http://www.tvpredictions.com/directvthomson091107.htm

I've had this happen on 104. I set it to record a show on channel 104, and it recorded the SD channel 4 version instead. At first I thought someone forgot to flip a switch or something on 104, but then I noticed it was recorded from channel 4 in the info. The info for the show also says it's in HD for both 4 and 104, and for some reason it always defaults to record channel 4 instead of 104 even though it was set to record from 104. The only way I can get it to record properly is to wait for the show to come on then hit the record button when on channel 104.

Also I noticed ESPN2-HD does not show up in my HD menu list of HD channels. Only ESPN-HD is listed there along with all the other HD channels, but ESPN2-HD is missing. Anyone else notice this or have this problem?

+1 for me on this problem as well. recorded the hawks game on 113 last sunday. came home with the family all excited to kick back and watch the game. ARGGHHH!!! SD!!! luckily it was still 3rd quarter and i just popped over to 113. this is a huge bug and something they BETTER FIX BEFORE all the upcoming season premiers or i'm going to be pissed!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you're having problems, use that link to the web form to complain. they've got to do something about this, it's worthless.

How many times can I fill this out before they stop reading mine?


what makes you think they started reading them?

I went to the new Lynnwood Comcast store and exchanged my 6412 for the new Motorola DCH6416. No questions asked as to why I wanted the new box. I also got a new remote (just because). And I asked if they had a cable to hook it all up or did I need my own, and the lady grabbed a bag from behind the counter and said "Like this?" and held up a new HDMI cable. I said, "Yeah, that looks like it".

The new box is very quiet, has a nicer front display, and the guide scrolling is much faster. I haven't hooked it up via HDMI yet.

I highly recommend getting the new box!
Motorola DCH6416 (http://broadband.motorola.com/business/digitalvideo/product_dch6416_settop.asp)

I went to the new Lynnwood Comcast store and exchanged my 6412 for the new Motorola DCH6416. No questions asked as to why I wanted the new box. I also got a new remote (just because). And I asked if they had a cable to hook it all up or did I need my own, and the lady grabbed a bag from behind the counter and said "Like this?" and held up a new HDMI cable. I said, "Yeah, that looks like it".

The new box is very quiet, has a nicer front display, and the guide scrolling is much faster. I haven't hooked it up via HDMI yet.

I highly recommend getting the new box!
Motorola DCH6416 (http://broadband.motorola.com/business/digitalvideo/product_dch6416_settop.asp)

so question on this new box. so does it require a cable card then? my current comcast dvr is the last series, not sure of the number, but it's hdmi. does the remote work better? if i just bring mine into to the redmond store will they replace it or do i have to have a story? also will they charge me for the cable card if it's required or is that part of the package? you still get on demand and all that right? it's almost worth doing it for the aesthetics alone. i'm tired of looking at that old style now. :)

any news on the new guide, bugs, recording sd when selecting hd channels, etc? anybody still having that issue? do we know what's causing it?

/edit hey one last question, how's the heat?

so question on this new box. so does it require a cable card then? my current comcast dvr is the last series, not sure of the number, but it's hdmi. does the remote work better? if i just bring mine into to the redmond store will they replace it or do i have to have a story? also will they charge me for the cable card if it's required or is that part of the package? you still get on demand and all that right? it's almost worth doing it for the aesthetics alone. i'm tired of looking at that old style now. :)

any news on the new guide, bugs, recording sd when selecting hd channels, etc? anybody still having that issue? do we know what's causing it?

/edit hey one last question, how's the heat?

I've had a similar experience as djmattyb (serveral posts back?).. No questions asked. You will not recieve a cable card separately. It looks like they put the cablecard in a slod in the back and then put some sheet metal around it to make it look like it's build into the box.

Remote is not an issue for me since I use a Universal remote. I suspect the remote is the same old remote but don't know for sure. In any event, the IR codes appear to bte the same between the DCTs and the DCHs.

Haven't had it long enough to say how good it is at recording. The one series recording I do have setup worked as expected.

Box runs a little hot but seems to be somewhat cooler than my 6412. Box is real quite. That's about it.

What does the DCH-6416 come preloaded with?.... Multistream CableCARD or the Single Stream CableCARD?

A response from anyone with this STB will be much appreciated since I am considering swapping out my current Moto box for this one TODAY.

Thanks! :)

What does the DCH-6416 come preloaded with?.... Multistream CableCARD or the Single Stream CableCARD?

A response from anyone with this STB will be much appreciated since I am considering swapping out my current Moto box for this one TODAY.

Thanks! :)
All I can say for sure is that there appears to be only one cablecard in the box and it can tune/record 2 channels at the same time.
BTW: Why would you care? Just curious.

Changes:

V-me added to 82-2
104-X multiplex has moved to 116-X
105-X multiplex has moved to 117-X
116-X multiplex has moved to 118-X
On Demand Preroll removed from 121-X

Problems (not reflected in attached list, in hopes they will be fixed):

KSTW remap to 11-1 is broken, must use 111-2
KCPQ remap to 13-1 is broken, must use 111-1

Changes:

V-me added to 82-2
104-X multiplex has moved to 116-X
105-X multiplex has moved to 117-X
116-X multiplex has moved to 118-X
On Demand Preroll removed from 121-X

Problems (not reflected in attached list, in hopes they will be fixed):

KSTW remap to 11-1 is broken, must use 111-2
KCPQ remap to 13-1 is broken, must use 111-1

Thank you so much, this actually answered teh whole reason I logged on today, to see where KCPQ-HD got moved to :p

Is the DCH-6416 the newest box from Comcast that has HD DVR functionality. I was thinking that maybe some of my problems would go away if I try the new box.

I would think there would be no DCH6416's in an ADS area, so it would be the DCH3416 -- but I wouldn't count on it being a panacea.

Ok, I have tried 7-1, 11-1, 13-1, 111-1 & 111-2

I am not getting any of these.

I have basic cable and a QAM compliant HD Tuner TV that picks up the OTA HD signal that Comcast broadcasts. Right now, I am only getting 4-1 and 5-1.

Help please! I just need CBS-HD, CW-HD, and FOX-HD Channels... Anyone?

All of the new programming comes out next week!

Thanks! :)

Well, sometime recently 5c protection was turned on for channels 113 and 105 on my cable box. None to happy about that )-: I don't really understand why either. I guess recording via firewire to PC is slowly going away. Every few months it seems I lose a few stations.

... Cool thing was, all I had to do was bring back the original boxes, no cables, no remotes, not even the power cords. ...

Did they give you new remotes or have you use the old ones? I do remember seeing a line item in their billing for non-returned remotes, so make sure you don't get charged. agree that they don't care about the cables/cords

Did they give you new remotes or have you use the old ones? I do remember seeing a line item in their billing for non-returned remotes, so make sure you don't get charged. agree that they don't care about the cables/cords

I did not ask for new remotes. I still have the old remotes. I'll check my next bill to see if they billed me for non-returned remotes but I would expect that since I didn't take any remotes I won't get charged for them.

BTW: I am using a Universal Remote that I did not have to change a single IR code to make it work with the new box.

Started setting up series recordings for the new season. Last night went to schedule Boston Legal which was 9-10 days out. Got a "to be announced". WTF? I thought with the old guide we had 14 days of data. Seems with this guide the futher out you go, the less data you have. I called Comcast support and the SR also showed TBA for the same date, time and channel.

My experience with this guide data is that listings appear and disappear quite frequently. I scheduled Boston Legal when it was listed. At the moment it is TBA, but the recording is still scheduled at the proper time.

My experience with this guide data is that listings appear and disappear quite frequently. I scheduled Boston Legal when it was listed. At the moment it is TBA, but the recording is still scheduled at the proper time.

That just sucks! With the old guide I believe they were getting their data from Tribune Media Services which is very reliable. With IGuide I wonder if they changed data providers. IMO there should be at least 10 days worth of reliable info. Guess I'll just put a big sticky on my TV to remind me to set up the BL series.

Ok, I have tried 7-1, 11-1, 13-1, 111-1 & 111-2

I am not getting any of these.

I have basic cable and a QAM compliant HD Tuner TV that picks up the OTA HD signal that Comcast broadcasts. Right now, I am only getting 4-1 and 5-1.

Help please! I just need CBS-HD, CW-HD, and FOX-HD Channels... Anyone?

All of the new programming comes out next week!

Thanks! :)
My sister-in-law had a similar issue with cable QAM channels on higher native channels. It turned out there were splitters installed behind the cable outlets in the living room and first bedroom that were very old and did not support the higher-frequency channels. The cable repairman simply replaced those old splitters with current, wider-bandpass units and all problems of weak, intermittent and missing digital channels were solved.

No amplifiers needed, just better splitters. He had a test set and measured signal levels and quality at each jack in the condo to be sure they met specifications.

She was missing the same channels that you listed above.

Perhaps you have added splitters of your own. If so, make sure they are good up to 1000 Mhz.

hey did anyone watching the seahawks yesterday think the pq was very soft? maybe widescreen SD even? just wondering because I found it to be distracting.

Worst "HD" ever. I though my box was broken till I flipped to another game which was perfect.

It was in widescreen SD. At the very beginning of the game, they announced that they were having technical difficulties, apologized, and claimed it would be fixed as soon as possible. Never got fixed, though.

Following is my grades for NFL pq:

Espn - A
CBS - A-
NBC - B+
Fox - C

That just sucks! With the old guide I believe they were getting their data from Tribune Media Services which is very reliable. With IGuide I wonder if they changed data providers. IMO there should be at least 10 days worth of reliable info. Guess I'll just put a big sticky on my TV to remind me to set up the BL series.

I think it's the iGuide software, rather than the data source, since it comes and goes. Here's a bug that has been documented in the wiki:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#Program_guide_listings_for_the_second_week_have_few_des criptions.2C_many_are_listed_as_.22To_Be_Announced.22

(When fully populated, my guide data extend just beyond two weeks now. I only have 3 days worth on the DCT700, which used to have the same 10 days as the 3416 with MSFT.)

I think it's the iGuide software, rather than the data source, since it comes and goes. Here's a bug that has been documented in the wiki:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#Program_guide_listings_for_the_second_week_have_few_des criptions.2C_many_are_listed_as_.22To_Be_Announced.22

(When fully populated, my guide data extend just beyond two weeks now. I only have 3 days worth on the DCT700, which used to have the same 10 days as the 3416 with MSFT.)
Thanks for the link. Should be required reading for all Comcast customers. As to the problem I mentioned, the guide data starts dropping out on my DCT6412 and my DCH 3416's at the same time. At best, you get 7 days of reliable information.

That's pathetic. :mad:

I just got a DCH3416 from the North Seattle office, as I am looking to squeeze as much as possible out of the slightly larger drive (120GB vs 160GB). I asked for 'cables' and received the standard Comcast component cables. I inquired about the HDMI cable that I 'needed' and they said they didn't give those out.

So far I don't notice much difference at all between the two boxes, FYI.

The next day I called and asked for a fix to my 'white line at the top of the screen' issue. It's obviously some sort of data stream, most likely audio. They said they'd send out a tech, and I said they should probably bring an HDMI cable to see if that helps. The tech they sent out spent 15 minutes trying to figure out how to get out of the cable box menu (I eventually told him to hit power twice) then spent another 15 trying to plug a HDMI-DVI cable into my HDMI-only HDTV (Westinghouse TX-47F430S). Finally he found his HDMI-HDMI cable and plugged it in. Interestingly, my TV now changes resolution when switching between SD and HD channels (the display comes up and notes 1080i or 480i now). This seemed to fix some issues with the white line thing, but it still pops up, most commonly in commercials.)

A few issues arose after that, most interestingly, dropping 660 and 661 somehow ("you are not authorized/subscribed"). These are Universal HD and Music HD channels that make up a pretty sizable chunk of Comcast's already rather lackluster HiDef offering. I had them do some remote maintenance on the box (rebooted it, lost all the data, not sure what to call this in technical terms) which solved the issue.

However, the next morning I woke up to not being able to change channels. More specifically, when I turned the cable box on, I got 660 fine, but if I tried to navigate away to any other channel all I got was 'One moment please' even if I returned to 660. Comcast preemptively called me at this point, not sure how they knew what was going on. Perhaps it was just a routine call (but it was Sunday, WTF?).

The CSR said something about it might be because I didn't have Digital Silver and that the HD DVRs are only for people who have Silver now. She confirmed this WASN'T the case, but that to not change my plan as I am 'grandfathered in' and will have to pay significantly more.

Then (as I was inquiring about how much Silver was/what channels came with it) she decided to randomly give me HBO for a year for free. I didn't even ask for it. So they can definitely give free HBO to people who are having technical issues. I'm wondering how to get Starz/Cinemax out of them somehow. I don't know if this is a special department or something, but I am definitely enjoying HBO HD.

Then she rebooted my box as I described before and all was well.

No problems since, but the HBO thing is definitely worth trying to get. She told me it was for a full year, hope it lasts.

...

The next day I called and asked for a fix to my 'white line at the top of the screen' issue. It's obviously some sort of data stream, most likely audio. They said they'd send out a tech, and I said they should probably bring an HDMI cable to see if that helps...

That's most likely the close captioning data... I fixed this for most shows/commercials by moving my image up on the screen (via the TV's menu, not the cable box).

And, just make sure and watch your bill after 12 months about the HBO :)

...
Interestingly, my TV now changes resolution when switching between SD and HD channels (the display comes up and notes 1080i or 480i now).
...


The resolution output for SD is a function of your override setting:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Setup#4:3_OVERRIDE

Strangely, the HDTV is no longer changing resolution on it's end. No matter what setting I put in the menu. Odd.

Picked up DCH3416 from the North Seattle Comcast store yesterday. Plugged in last night, and was working right away. I did have to call Comcast to "unlock" few of the channels that were showing as "subscription only", but after she performed some kind of voodoo magic I was able to receive ESPN2HD, VSHD, etc. My 2 little boys noticed the box's front panel right away (cool! was their response). If you have the 120GB box like I had, I would definitely encourage others of this board to hop on by the Comcast store (full service) near you and exchange your box with this one.

--
Sang

Has anyone noticed their HD recordings using more hard drive space? I have the 6412 and with the Microsoft guide, a 1 hour HD show would use 7% of the hard drive space. With the new guide, that doubled! A 1 hour HD show now uses 14%. Is this normal? Does the new guide not compress the show as much? Or is there a compression setting somewhere in the menus? I'm going to run out of space quick next week when the new shows start if 1 hour of HD takes 14%. I may go to the new Lynnwood Comcast store and see if I can get a new 6416 just because it has a 160gb hard drive instead of the 120gb.

I always had noticed that same 7% for my one hour Lost recording and most others. KOMO runs 720P so maybe you get 7% usage when you recored off 720P channel (most of them) and use a lot more than 7% when recording off KIRO (1080i). As 1080i uses much more bandwidth than 720P...now if you say KOMO is now taking up twice then that is a mystery...

Keith

I've been having an annoying issue with HD programming and the new guide on my 6412. If I'm watching "live", everything is ok, but if I'm either a) recording another HD channel, or b) rewind and then start playing again; I get all kinds of random digital artifacts. Generally their bars that are about 1/4 of the screen, maybe 40pixels high and generally along the right side of the screen. Additionally, this artifacting correlates highly with the IR lag issues (stacking up of IR commands).

REALLY annoying. It happened to me on sunday while watching the seahawks game and I just ended up watching it in SD - the HD feed was soo craptaculary anyway.

I may be heading to the N. Seattle store for a box swap. You fellas that have gotten the new box, do they ask you why you want a new box, or is it a slam dunk?

RE: north seattle Comcast. No hassle whatsoever. They just asked me if I was returning it (old one). I said no, just exchange to a new DVR. And at least yesterday, they had a stack full of the new DVRs.

--
Sang

One of the hour long HD shows that is now using 14% instead of 7% was on KOMO. Now that I think about it.... when I got the guide upgrade, I only had one recording saved which was an hour long HD recording on KOMO. It was taking up 7% of hard drive space. After the guide upgrade, that recording was listed as using 14%. I just figured it was a weird firmware upgrade issue and that once I deleted it, all new HD shows would be the normal 7%. But now all the HD hour long shows are 14%. Very strange.

Has anyone noticed their HD recordings using more hard drive space? I have the 6412 and with the Microsoft guide, a 1 hour HD show would use 7% of the hard drive space. With the new guide, that doubled! A 1 hour HD show now uses 14%. Is this normal? Does the new guide not compress the show as much? Or is there a compression setting somewhere in the menus? I'm going to run out of space quick next week when the new shows start if 1 hour of HD takes 14%. I may go to the new Lynnwood Comcast store and see if I can get a new 6416 just because it has a 160gb hard drive instead of the 120gb.If you're recording a digital channel, the set top box isn't doing any MPEG encoding (compression) at all. The program stream is already transmitted in compressed form - the box just saves the incoming bits to disk, "as is". The set top box only does MPEG encoding for analog channels - and the new boxes don't have an analog tuner or MPEG encoder AT ALL. So it's probably not a "compression" issue.

Could be a bug in how the new guide reports used space - or maybe it's something to do with the new "dual buffer" feature?

I don't suppose there's any chance we'll get TBS-HD for the playoffs? Comcast is supposed to add it Oct 1st in many areas.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/comcasttbs091707.htm

Also, I think tomorrow is when all that HD goes live on D*? If anyone around here has it to compare PQ on a good 1080p tv to that of Comcast please post your impressions.

Thanks

I always had noticed that same 7% for my one hour Lost recording and most others. KOMO runs 720P so maybe you get 7% usage when you recored off 720P channel (most of them) and use a lot more than 7% when recording off KIRO (1080i). As 1080i uses much more bandwidth than 720P...now if you say KOMO is now taking up twice then that is a mystery...

Keith

Actually 1080i takes a similar bandwidth as 720p since 720p is 60 frames a second and 1080i is 30.

...now all the HD hour long shows are 14%. Very strange.

I don't think there's any difference in the space taken up by recordings now vs. with the MSFT guide, although there may be slightly more overhead devoted to the two buffers. If you really want to document it, note the actual amount of disk space used for DVR content before and after recording a program (or before and after deleting one). You can find this info in the diagnostics, d13 DVR/HDD STATUS, second page. Get to the diagnostics by powering off the DVR (not unplug) and within a couple of seconds hitting OK/Select (with the TV on, of course).

I don't suppose there's any chance we'll get TBS-HD for the playoffs? Comcast is supposed to add it Oct 1st in many areas.


"well, you can wish in one hand and c**p in the other, and see which one gets filled first."

Grandpa Gustafson (Burgess Meredith) in Grumpier Old Men.

"well, you can wish in one hand and c**p in the other, and see which one gets filled first."

Grandpa Gustafson (Burgess Meredith) in Grumpier Old Men.

LOL, yeah and well lately both hands are getting full from too much wishing around here!:D

Come on Seattle, upgrade us already! We are now lacking 6 HD channels that "most" Comcast markets carry according to that article. "The addition of TBS HD will give Comcast roughly 26 high-def channels in most markets"

I don't suppose there's any chance we'll get TBS-HD for the playoffs? Comcast is supposed to add it Oct 1st in many areas.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/comcasttbs091707.htm

Also, I think tomorrow is when all that HD goes live on D*? If anyone around here has it to compare PQ on a good 1080p tv to that of Comcast please post your impressions.

Thanks

I see in the link, we're supposed to have 32 to 35 HD channels by the end of 2007. Accordingly, we should get 12 to 15 new HD channels in the next 3 months. Am I right?? Or have my hands already been filled?

I see in the link, we're supposed to have 32 to 35 HD channels by the end of 2007. Accordingly, we should get 12 to 15 new HD channels in the next 3 months. Am I right?? Or have my hands already been filled?

You've just earned another handful, because it says 32 to 35 in the 3rd quarter of 2007 -- so within the next 2 weeks.

Dunno about other folks, but I'd be in big trouble if all channels were HD. I purposely record the SD versions of many programs, in order to avoid maxing out the hard drive.

Dunno about other folks, but I'd be in big trouble if all channels were HD. I purposely record the SD versions of many programs, in order to avoid maxing out the hard drive.

Solution: upgrade your hard drive. I just upgraded my Tivo S3's hard drive to a 750GB Seagate DB35. This thing is totally silent, and I can record 98 hours of HD. I plan on getting a 1TB eSATA drive if it looks like I will need it.

You've just earned another handful, because it says 32 to 35 in the 3rd quarter of 2007 -- so within the next 2 weeks.

Doh!!! This is getting messy.

I see in the link, we're supposed to have 32 to 35 HD channels by the end of 2007. Accordingly, we should get 12 to 15 new HD channels in the next 3 months. Am I right?? Or have my hands already been filled?

About a month ago I emailed Steve and John our local Comcast reps and asked them about this and sent them the link to that Comcast announcement made last year about them providing up to 32-35 HD channels by the end of 2007.

So far I have not heard a peep from them... last year they responded by saying they were going to add MHD and UHD when I asked about HD additions, this year no response... Maybe they just don't want to say anything this year and spoil the surprise.

You've just earned another handful, because it says 32 to 35 in the 3rd quarter of 2007 -- so within the next 2 weeks.

Here's a follow up from last years article: http://www.tvpredictions.com/comcastforecast091307.htm

3 things
-Most Comcast markets now offer 25 HD channels ( soon to be 26 )
-200 hours of HD programming on On Demand
-More HD coming but can't confirm a timeline

Ok so it doesn't look like they are gonna quite make that 32-35 HD deadline in the next couple weeks; however, at least they are attempting to in other markets and who knows maybe they will. I just don't understand the hold up here, not even one channel has been added yet... bandwidth?

Here's a follow up from last years article: http://www.tvpredictions.com/comcastforecast091307.htm

3 things
-Most Comcast markets now offer 25 HD channels ( soon to be 26 )
-200 hours of HD programming on On Demand
-More HD coming but can't confirm a timeline

Ok so it doesn't look like they are gonna quite make that 32-35 HD deadline in the next couple weeks; however, at least they are attempting to in other markets and who knows maybe they will. I just don't understand the hold up here, not even one channel has been added yet... bandwidth?

Anyone know if those other major markets are still showing analog channels or have they all gone digital? It could be a bandwidth issue here since we still have analogs on our cable. All I know is that if Comcast doesn't do something they are going to lose lots of customers to DirecTV in the next 6 months (including me). It's cheaper and should have lots of HD by 2008. Their HD DVR has gotten much cheaper too.

Following is my grades for NFL pq:

Espn - A
CBS - A-
NBC - B+
Fox - C

I agree with you gdeep on NFL PQ. I really wish FOX would get their act together and at least get it up to par with NBC. Sucks watching them in "wanna be" HD with that blurry/soft FOX picture.

Solution: upgrade your hard drive. I just upgraded my Tivo S3's hard drive to a 750GB Seagate DB35.

Assuming I had Tivo. Sigh.

Assuming I had Tivo. Sigh.

You can upgrade any DVR's hard drive.

You can upgrade any DVR's hard drive.

You'd best think twice before modifying one that doesn't belong to you, or you may end up buying it.

You'd best think twice before modifying one that doesn't belong to you, or you may end up buying it.


Does Comcast allow the use of external HD via eSATA or Firewire?

No

anybody know the phone number and addy for the redmond store? i was going to run down there at lunch and see if i can get one of the new dvr's.

also, what's the latest model number with the better looking face?

anybody know the phone number and addy for the redmond store? i was going to run down there at lunch and see if i can get one of the new dvr's.

also, what's the latest model number with the better looking face?

Don't know the phone # but lastest box is Mot DCH 3416.

I got email back from Kipp and he said there are no plans to add TBS - HD or other hd channels in seattle anytime soon. I'm so sick of comcast....

looks like it's actually the DCH-6416

anybody snagged one of these yet from redmond? thinking about heading down there...

looks like it's actually the DCH-6416

anybody snagged one of these yet from redmond? thinking about heading down there...

Bastards! Just picked up two new ones from the Tacoma store asking for the lastets and they both clearly have DCH 3416 on the front panel. :eek::D

looks like it's actually the DCH-6416
...


I'd bet it's DCH3416.

what's the difference? there was a post a couple pages back where someone got the DCH6416 and the CS gal (who actually seemed pretty sharp) noted the 6416 is the newest--she was staring at one. are you simply saying it's not out there yet?

should i wait?

From past experience and I don't know about thse new boxes, it seemed to me that the DCT 64xx series was somewhat more reponsive than the DCT 34xx series. Of course, if you really want a difinitive answer go the Mot home page. You can look up the DVRs there and get the specs on them.

what's the difference? there was a post a couple pages back where someone got the DCH6416 and the CS gal (who actually seemed pretty sharp) noted the 6416 is the newest. are you simply saying it's not out there yet?

should i wait?

The difference (and the only one I know of) is that the 6416 has analog tuners, which aren't required here since we have ADS. It doesn't make sense for them to spend more money than they have to, so we'll probably never see the DCH6416 here.

thanks wareagle.

wareagle is correct. Pay no attention to me. :o

hey also for what it's worth, i re-installed my harmony 890 remote a couple days back (we moved) and i'm not getting the code stacking problem with the stb anymore.

so i read back 5 pages. nothing new for channels on the horizon? anything before xmas?

lastly, anybody still having the HD scheduled recording actually recording SD channel problem?

hey also for what it's worth, i re-installed my harmony 890 remote a couple days back (we moved) and i'm not getting the code stacking problem with the stb anymore.

so i read back 5 pages. nothing new for channels on the horizon? anything before xmas?

lastly, anybody still having the HD scheduled recording actually recording SD channel problem?

I had one. Got the SD version of "back to you" and to add insult to inury, it was unplayable due to the signal breaking up. Been watching it like hawk since then. Got two recordings now that I haven't watched but previewed and they look good. Recorded the HD versions as I told it to.

so i read back 5 pages. nothing new for channels on the horizon? anything before xmas?

Within the last few pages, the best "glass half full" version is:

If Comcast has new channels on the horizon, they're not telling us about it.

Within the last few pages, the best "glass half full" version is:

If Comcast has new channels on the horizon, they're not telling us about it.

I feel the pain! I am in Redmond and a guy came out to replace a few cables the other day. I couldn't any information out of him at all! Honestly I hate to have to switch to DirecTV but I will. SD pictures just purely look like crap! We need more HD content!!

Oh and Fox HD for the NFL is weak!

I had one. Got the SD version of "back to you" and to add insult to inury, it was unplayable due to the signal breaking up. Been watching it like hawk since then. Got two recordings now that I haven't watched but previewed and they look good. Recorded the HD versions as I told it to.

thanks james. that's my biggest fear for the new fall season. DVR's going to get a workout and i'll be bummed if i start seeing this problem again.

If anyone is interested...
http://broadband.motorola.com/business/digitalvideo/productline_host_settops.asp

If anyone is interested...
http://broadband.motorola.com/business/digitalvideo/productline_host_settops.asp

I notice that one of the features listed for the DCH3416 is picture-in-picture. Although I doubt that is implemented here, does anyone know for sure?

i'd be more interested in when they're going to rollout moca, but after this last guide update, i think it's going to be a while. :(

You can upgrade any DVR's hard drive.

You're saying it's possible to swap out the hard drive on Comcast's 3416? Has anyone actually done this?

Comcast guide lists the Husky Vs. UCLA game as in HD on channel 664.

This is probably an FSN-HD feed, on the channel that used to be called INHD (and maybe still is INHD, but the logo is MOJO.

Oh and Fox HD for the NFL is weak!

The Arizona Vs Seattle game was not in HD last week. It was widescreen 480P. I don't remember any of the games being in this format last year, they were all HD on Fox, so I don't know the story about that.

Usually Fox for NFL looks awesome.

Comcast guide lists the Husky Vs. UCLA game as in HD on channel 446.

This is probably an FSN-HD feed, on the channel that used to be called INHD (and maybe still is INHD, but the logo is MOJO.


Of course, that channel is 664, rather than 446.

Comcast guide lists the Husky Vs. UCLA game as in HD on channel 664.

This is probably an FSN-HD feed, on the channel that used to be called INHD (and maybe still is INHD, but the logo is MOJO.

Can someone verify this? When I look on my S3 TV listing for 664, I don't see football listed for 7:00 tonight. I see shows "Timeless", "Beer Nut", etc. The channel is called MOJOCOM.

I'd really like to get the HD version, if there is one, rather than the channel 30 (FSN) version. Thanks

You're saying it's possible to swap out the hard drive on Comcast's 3416? Has anyone actually done this?

Search the internet . . . there are instructions to upgrade all DVRs. When I upgraded my TiVo it was much easier than I expected. I expect the same is true off other DVRs. Of course, as Wareagle noted, if you upgrade a Comcast box, you will be doing so at your own risk.

thanks james. that's my biggest fear for the new fall season. DVR's going to get a workout and i'll be bummed if i start seeing this problem again.

BTW: I was so disappointed to miss the opening of Back to You. Went to Amazon and with Unbox was able to get the series premiere! No need to ever miss an episode again! Amazing times we live in.

Can someone verify this? When I look on my S3 TV listing for 664, I don't see football listed for 7:00 tonight. I see shows "Timeless", "Beer Nut", etc. The channel is called MOJOCOM.

I'd really like to get the HD version, if there is one, rather than the channel 30 (FSN) version. Thanks

It's in the Comcast guide at 7:15 on 664 (nothing but football listed on 664 from noon until 10:30PM).

Search the internet . . . there are instructions to upgrade all DVRs. When I upgraded my TiVo it was much easier than I expected. I expect the same is true off other DVRs. Of course, as Wareagle noted, if you upgrade a Comcast box, you will be doing so at your own risk.


I've seen some references stating that the Motorola firmware will only accept up to 160GB, so it may not even work. Getting them to activate eSata would be ideal.

It's in the Comcast guide at 7:15 on 664 (nothing but football listed on 664 from noon until 10:30PM).

I guess the Tivo guide is wrong. Makes me paranoid trusting Comcast over Tivo. Guess I will schedule both the FSN (channel 30) game and the phantom one on 664, just to make sure I get it.

I'm having guests over to watch the game and would hate to turn on the TV and see I've recorded "Timeless" and "Beer Nut" instead

ok...it's bad enough that my beloved Huskies are getting hammered in the 4th quarter. But for Comcast/Mojo/FSNHD to switch 664 back to MOJO at 10:30 PM, a mere 2 hr 45 min into the game in the beginning of 4th quarter is completely unacceptable! I called Comcast and the lady flat out told me it's not their problem...rather it's the contract between MOJO and FSNHD!

--
Sang

Like Sang posted above, Comcast switching back to Mojo late in the game is unacceptable. We all stand by and let them divvy up our stations at various times of the day, hoping that we will get to watch our chosen programs at those times, but when they switch those programs mid-show, that's to much. Directv is attempting to give us more stations, not just splitting off the ones we already have. When is Comcast gonna do something for the customer. BigTen HD, NFLHD, NGHD, A&EHD, let's go get this thing done, stop dallying and act like a company who cares. I'm sorry to vent but I am seconds from switching to Directv (who carries FSNHD on a REAL station).

FWIW, I was able to watch the Husky game to the end in HD on DirecTV using MPEG-2 and my HD DirecTiVo. Folks with the DirecTV HR-20 HD DVR using MPEG-4 apparently get more FSN in HD, but luckily DirecTV selects some college games and gives them to us in MPEG-2.

I've seen some references stating that the Motorola firmware will only accept up to 160GB, so it may not even work.

Yep, that's my understanding - installing a larger hard drive in Comcast's DVRs will not work. If anyone finds a link to the contrary, I'd sure appreciate finding out about it...

Yep, that's my understanding - installing a larger hard drive in Comcast's DVRs will not work. If anyone finds a link to the contrary, I'd sure appreciate finding out about it...

You might try some Canadian sources -- customers up there own the boxes, so might be more adventurous.

Anyone else having trouble with KSTW's HD feed via comcast. The regular channel 11 comes in fine, but 111 comes up with an error message. I first noticed this last night, and as of 12:15 this afternoon it is still the case.

Yep, 111 is down.

I guess the Tivo guide is wrong. Makes me paranoid trusting Comcast over Tivo. Guess I will schedule both the FSN (channel 30) game and the phantom one on 664, just to make sure I get it.

I'm having guests over to watch the game and would hate to turn on the TV and see I've recorded "Timeless" and "Beer Nut" instead

I guess that will teach me a lesson. Always trust your instincts. Luckily I recorded both 664 and 30 just in case. However, I must admit, it might have been better to have missed the 4th quarter. Maybe I should have watched "Beernuts" instead.

Man, was it hard to watch the SD 30 feed after the HD 664. My guests were impressed up until the switch

lucky break that you were recording channel 30 too... I just don't understand how a mistake like that happens... I think the feed switched back to MOJO before the game was even scheduled to end. amazing.

Yep, 111 is down.

Is 111 still down for everyone? I checked this morning and could not get it?:confused:

If I miss the season premiere of Smallville in HD, I am going to rage.

Sill down. Might want to check the OTA thread to see if they've reported it down.

Just got a Panasonic plasma TH-50PZ750U and Comcast DCH 3416 DVR.

Everything is working well so far, but I am curious about a few things:

1. Should I be able to use the TVs on-board tuner(s)? I expected to be able to see the local HD channels at least. Not sure about the basic analog channels. I have connected the RF-out on the back of the 3416 to the Antenna/Cable In on the plasma. Does the 3416 not pass the signal through? Or is that only for old-style channel 3/4 use, and I need a splitter?

2. On Demand - There seems to be a decent amount of HD content available; how often are new programs made available? In particular, I was hoping for the latest episode of Mad Men from AMC. They have up through Episode 9, but I would have thought Episode 10 would be there after it aired on Thursday. I was disappointed by the lack of HBO HD On Demand, just a bunch of Justin Timberlake stuff?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice!

Ted

Just got a Panasonic plasma TH-50PZ750U and Comcast DCH 3416 DVR.

Everything is working well so far, but I am curious about a few things:

1. Should I be able to use the TVs on-board tuner(s)? I expected to be able to see the local HD channels at least. Not sure about the basic analog channels. I have connected the RF-out on the back of the 3416 to the Antenna/Cable In on the plasma. Does the 3416 not pass the signal through? Or is that only for old-style channel 3/4 use, and I need a splitter?


Didn't your DCH3416 come with an HDMI cable? I think someone posted that the new dch3416 boxes come with those now... if not they will provide you with component cables I know. Since you are using the 3416dvr as your tuner, I'd recommend connecting it via HDMI to your plasma, you'll notice a huge difference in picture quality verses using the RF-out.

If your TV has a QAM tuner you should be able to tune some stations using your TV's internal tuner. I think you will want to split the signal going into the cable box as opposed to using the cable box RF output. Depending on your set's PSIP support and comcast transmitting the proper data the channels could end up being scanned to various numbers. This thread has a listing of QAM stations available unencrypted their locations.

On demand content is uneven across the networks. CBS has plenty but the other major networks don't. It's hard to know what will be available from the movie channels in advance, especially their HD offerings. When a show is available varies from show to show. I don't know about Mad Men.

ABHD, sorry for the confusion - yes, the DCH3416 is connected to the plasma via HDMI (no Comcast wouldn't supply one, they only provide component). The RF connnection is my attempt to try the onboard QAM (and NTSC?) tuner (like when I have the DVR recording two shows, and want to watch a 3rd, and/or to compare quality).

newlinux, I think you are right, I need to use a splitter. I'll search this thread for the channel listing, thanks.

...
2. On Demand - There seems to be a decent amount of HD content available; how often are new programs made available? In particular, I was hoping for the latest episode of Mad Men from AMC. They have up through Episode 9, but I would have thought Episode 10 would be there after it aired on Thursday.
...


The episode of Mad Men aired last Thursday on AMC was a repeat, so there was no new one available for OnDemand.

...
I'll search this thread for the channel listing, thanks.

The latest one is in posting #10161, by pastiche.

Sill down. Might want to check the OTA thread to see if they've reported it down.

Yes, the KSTW-DT transmitter failed on Saturday, Sept. 22nd. we are waiting for technical parts from Harris Broadcast. :eek:
Expectation is to be back on air Tuesday the 25th sometime.
Sorry for the inconvenience:o

R Diotte
CE, KSTW