I noticed that their craptacular ad bar has made its appearance on the guide screen. This "update" seems to have also blitzed a fair number of my HD channels as well (NatGeo, Food, UHD). Real nice.

WTF!!! ADS in the guide!! Argh!!! Isn't my huge cable bill enough for you Crapcast? No, now I have to deal with these annoying banners! It takes up space and messes up guide navigation. Way to go Comcast! DirecTV here I come.

Looks like I got FOX back on Tuesday night, but it went away again on Wednesday night. Man, I truly wish I could get OTA instead of stupid Comcast.

WTF!!! ADS in the guide!! Argh!!! Isn't my huge cable bill enough for you Crapcast? No, now I have to deal with these annoying banners! It takes up space and messes up guide navigation. Way to go Comcast! DirecTV here I come.

I noticed the ads too tonight, and it's very annoying that scrolling thru with the arrows can actually select the ad, which forces me to only use page up and down buttons to avoid this but still somehow I manage to select the damn ads sometimes. Also it takes up the space that used to display one more channel's info. Banners and pop ups are annoying enough on the internet, now I gotta deal with it watching TV? I'm holding out for Fios-TV to check that out, supposedly we get it here this fall. Hopefully they provide a better guide.

Funny how we weren't notified in the messages about this great new update/feature to our guide.

Maybe the wrong place to ask , but they're laying FIOS on my block...Really tempted to switch... Opinions?

I noticed the ads too tonight, and it's very annoying that scrolling thru with the arrows can actually select the ad, which forces me to only use page up and down buttons to avoid this but still somehow I manage to select the damn ads sometimes. Also it takes up the space that used to display one more channel's info. Banners and pop ups are annoying enough on the internet, now I gotta deal with it watching TV? I'm holding out for Fios-TV to check that out, supposedly we get it here this fall. Hopefully they provide a better guide.

Funny how we weren't notified in the messages about this great new update/feature to our guide.

Welcome to TiVo...

Is there anywhere useful we can express our opinions on paying $100 per month and having the usability of the guide hurt by ads?

I'm in Redmond for the summer. I picked up a cablecard for my TiVo HD at the Comcast offices last week. I get all of the HD channels, and am able to record everything without any problems. The person you talked to is incorrect.

Okay, I've activated my TivoHD and called Comcast to pair my multistream CableCard. The Tivo can receive broadcast channels like PBS in HD on channel 108 and Fox in HD on 113.

However, I don't see TNT in HD anywhere; I get TNT in SD on channel 54. Do I need a different channel package to get, say, TNT in HD?

TNT-HD should be on 662.

Okay, thanks.

I probably should have gone into more detail in that last post, but I was feeling a bit frustrated. What had happened was, I called Comcast and had them pair the Cablecard; my Tivo froze, and I had to reboot. Once it was back up, I looked to see what channels I could receive. When I went to channel 54, the program description said "Law & Order, 720p" but the screen was blank (although I could get PBS in HD on 108). I called Comcast again, and the service rep tried pairing the card again, causing me to lose ALL channels. The Comcast rep then suggested a service call, which I declined. I rebooted the Tivo again and then was able to tune in to channel 54, but in SD only.

At the moment, I do get TNT-HD on 662. From what I've been reading, rebooting the Tivo seems like a fairly common activity when you're dealing with HD; we'll see if the channel lineup persists through subsequent reboots.

Test...Am I posting???

Test...Am I posting???

Not so much.

At the moment, I do get TNT-HD on 662. From what I've been reading, rebooting the Tivo seems like a fairly common activity when you're dealing with HD; we'll see if the channel lineup persists through subsequent reboots.

I can't remember the last time my Tivo rebooted . . . maybe during an update. I have had my Tivo S3, since its release 1.5 yrs ago. Per Tivocommunity.com, many people experience "channels of death," which cause your Tivo to reboot. I don't know the technical explanation, but the "channels of death" go away when you delete them from your lineup.

As for dealing with Comcast, call them back and tell them you have "paired" your cablecards but were researching your problems and found that such can be solved if Comcast "validates" your cablecards. You can research this more on tivocommunity.com. Doing such helped me get HD channels that Comcast added that were not available to me originally.

They didn't disappear, but when I went to FoodNetwork yesterday...got nothing but a black screen.

I noticed that their craptacular ad bar has made its appearance on the guide screen. This "update" seems to have also blitzed a fair number of my HD channels as well (NatGeo, Food, UHD). Real nice.
I was having problems with NatGeo and UHD last night in Sammamish. Called up Comcast and set up an appointment for a tech to come out this afternoon. My wife tells me that everything is working fine this afternoon and that she canceled the visit from the Comcast tech. Hopefully this means that Comcast has fixed whatever glitch may have been introduced when they pushed the update. I have not previously had signal strength problems at our house.

UHD was out for a while for me too last night, but was working later on in the evening when I checked it. That was the only channel I had any issues with.

Drat! I was hanging on to our DVRs despite having TiVo HDs because of the greater usability of the guide (the TiVo guide doesn't reflect what's really on channel 664 and it's much more difficult to use). Now with the ads in there it's just not worth it anymore. At least one of these Comcast DVRs are going back now. :(

Drat! I was hanging on to our DVRs despite having TiVo HDs because of the greater usability of the guide (the TiVo guide doesn't reflect what's really on channel 664 and it's much more difficult to use). Now with the ads in there it's just not worth it anymore. At least one of these Comcast DVRs are going back now. :(

If you like the grid guide better, when in the TiVo Guide press the 'Enter' button. You can then change it from the List guide to the Grid Guide in the 'Style' section. Also, by the 664 comment, do you mean if MOJO is interrupted by a sports event? I guess there is nothing you can do there.

If you like the grid guide better, when in the TiVo Guide press the 'Enter' button. You can then change it from the List guide to the Grid Guide in the 'Style' section. Also, by the 664 comment, do you mean if MOJO is interrupted by a sports event? I guess there is nothing you can do there.

Does the grid guide style for the Tivo include ads?

Does the grid guide style for the Tivo include ads?

No, there are no ads in the TiVo grid. It gives you an hour and a half of showtimes, with 8 channels. I perfer the TiVo List guide myself, however.

If you like the grid guide better, when in the TiVo Guide press the 'Enter' button. You can then change it from the List guide to the Grid Guide in the 'Style' section. Also, by the 664 comment, do you mean if MOJO is interrupted by a sports event? I guess there is nothing you can do there.Of course that's the way I use it because it's most like the Comcast DVR guide. Unfortunately, it doesn't contain any indicators for programs that are already set to record and there's no quick way to move from day to day.

Yes, I'm out of luck on the channel 664 preempting. Even Comcast's online doesn't correctly display that information.

I was having problems with NatGeo and UHD last night in Sammamish. Called up Comcast and set up an appointment for a tech to come out this afternoon. My wife tells me that everything is working fine this afternoon and that she canceled the visit from the Comcast tech. Hopefully this means that Comcast has fixed whatever glitch may have been introduced when they pushed the update. I have not previously had signal strength problems at our house.

Yep, I'm up on the Plateau as well and Food, NatGeo, and UHD all popped back in sometime yesterday. I still had the tech come out and install a signal amplifier since I'm planning to run a few more lines later this summer. Still hating that ad bar though.

Yes, I'm out of luck on the channel 664 preempting. Even Comcast's online doesn't correctly display that information.

Since Comcast doesn't report it correctly to Trinity (i.e., Tivo and many others' source), Tivo won't have correct info either. Tivo would have to manually input the games, which I doubt will ever happen.

As for dealing with Comcast, call them back and tell them you have "paired" your cablecards but were researching your problems and found that such can be solved if Comcast "validates" your cablecards. You can research this more on tivocommunity.com. Doing such helped me get HD channels that Comcast added that were not available to me originally.

Thanks for the tip. I will look into this.

Yep, I'm up on the Plateau as well and Food, NatGeo, and UHD all popped back in sometime yesterday. I still had the tech come out and install a signal amplifier since I'm planning to run a few more lines later this summer. Still hating that ad bar though.

And just like that those three channels are out again. Comcast claims that no one else in the area is having any problems. At this point I'm planning to have them roll trucks to my house each and every time those channels go out while I schedule a switch to DirectTV.

Maybe the wrong place to ask , but they're laying FIOS on my block...Really tempted to switch... Opinions?

Seriously...Verizon is actually installing FIOS in your area? What general part of town are you in?

With my old Motorola DT6200/2005, when the Comcast FSN broadcast of the M's games would begin on Channel 664 (and Mojo would end) the audio, which had been working, would always disappear - and the only way to bring the audio back was to slew the Motorola DT6200/2005channel button on the box or on the the remote up or down at least one channel and then back to Channel 664. I figured this was one of the many problems I was having which was attributable to the defective old Motorola DT6200/2005 box. But now that I have a new Motorola DT6200/2005 box, though the other problems I'd been having with the old box are gone, this loss of audio on 664 persists on the new box when the M's broadcasts begin (again, until I slew up or down at least one channel and then return to Channel 664). Am I the only one having this audio problem with Channel 664? As swapping out the old Motorola DT620/2005 box for the new one didn't fix this problem, what else, if anything, might fix it? (Or do I need to just keep doing the channel slew fix whenever necessary...?)

Thanks,
r-gordon-7

Seriously...Verizon is actually installing FIOS in your area? What general part of town are you in?

The question is if they're offering tv service yet or if it's just Internet. They''ve been adding FIOS in South Snohomish county, but only Internet to start with. I doubt anyone in Washington State has FIOS tv sevice. I'd make the switch at the first opportunity, or at least see what kind of deal Comcast offers to keep me on. I'm perfectly happy with my Comcast's Internet service at the moment with the 16Mbps down and 2Mbps up, at least until the day I get a warning letter about downloading more than 250 GB in a month.

The question is if they're offering tv service yet or if it's just Internet. They''ve been adding FIOS in South Snohomish county, but only Internet to start with. I doubt anyone in Washington State has FIOS tv sevice. I'd make the switch at the first opportunity, or at least see what kind of deal Comcast offers to keep me on. I'm perfectly happy with my Comcast's Internet service at the moment with the 16Mbps down and 2Mbps up, at least until the day I get a warning letter about downloading more than 250 GB in a month.

Yup, my question wasn't specific enough. Like you, I'm currently content with the Comcast internet service. But as for the TV service, there have been enough other little-to-medium problems adding up that it would be nice to have some non-satellite alternatives. These problems include a bad standard box that had to be exchanged, an HD DVR that sometimes says it's full and won't record when in fact it has plenty of space, and motion artifacts on some of the HD broadcasts (most noticeably Battlestar G) that started to occur only within the past few months (I assume, possibly the result of increased file compression resulting from increased number of HD channels carried??). Toss in the insipid "ad line" at the bottom of the menu screen that just started a few days ago...

From what I've been reading, rebooting the Tivo seems like a fairly common activity when you're dealing with HD; we'll see if the channel lineup persists through subsequent reboots.
I've haven't had to reboot my S3 (in over a year) and about all I watch is the HD channels.

Is anybody else experiencing audio hiccups accompanied with pixelation on ESPN? Its been happening to me for almost a month, but its sporadic...
I've been having problems with both ESPN and ESPN2. Wimbledon last week was really bad.

Maybe the wrong place to ask , but they're laying FIOS on my block...Really tempted to switch... Opinions?
The question is if they're offering tv service yet or if it's just Internet. They''ve been adding FIOS in South Snohomish county, but only Internet to start with. I doubt anyone in Washington State has FIOS tv sevice. I'd make the switch at the first opportunity, or at least see what kind of deal Comcast offers to keep me on. I'm perfectly happy with my Comcast's Internet service at the moment with the 16Mbps down and 2Mbps up, at least until the day I get a warning letter about downloading more than 250 GB in a month.
Where in Seattle is this? I'd run, not walk, to sign up with FIOS if it was available for me. I'm sure it has it's problems, but I hate Comcast so much that I'd happily go to FIOS if at all possible.

Mountlake Terrace is where my friend's dad is getting it for internet service. I think he already had Verizon DSL. My guess is they will probably only go as far South as Shoreline because once you hit Seattle you are in Quest territory.

Anyone else having issues with the DCT3412 rebooting at random times? It happened tonight at about 6:30. I know it happens at other times during the week because the scheduled recordings I have cancelled become active again.

This along with the random 30 second freeze while trying to use the remote is very annoying.

The only time I had random reboots was with the old Microsoft guide. Since, the guide switch, no random reboots, but the remote lag sucks and the now the ads in the guide really blows. I'm near justifying a TivoHD.

Just turned on channel 174 (ESPN2-HD) at 1:00pm to watch Wimbledon Tennis, and just get a blank gray screen. All other channels seem to be ok. Is this channel being blacked out because NBC had coverage earlier??

Edit, checked regular ESPN2 on ch 32 and it's being broadcast....very strange. Guess I'll be sitting on hold with the wonderful Comcast less-than-helpful folks.

174 is out in Bellevue, too ("One Moment Please").

Just as I was dialing the phone 174 came on the air. I'm in Seattle, West Lake Union.

I have a TV w/digital (QAM) tuner and have been watching the clear digital channels for a long time now. From time to time the signal strength on 4-1 or 5-1 would be low and would cause digital artifacts. However, over this last weekend I have suddenly lost ALL digital channels (well almost, the ONLY one that's still there is 22-1)? I have called Comcast and been told there is no outage in my area. Before I really "give it" to them, I would like to see if this is truly my problem only. Anyone out there with similar issue? I am in Woodinville.

...Before I really "give it" to them, I would like to see if this is truly my problem only...

Have you tried rescanning? They're still showing up in Bellevue, but perhaps not where your TV expects them to be.

Sorry... should have mentioned I did the rescan (few times even). According to my TV, those channels are nowhere to be found.

I am having the same issue in Lake City.

I have re-scanned 2x.

With 2 TiVoHD's each with 750GB drives, there's not much need for us to keep 2 Comcast HDDVRs, but we at least need digital tuners to feed our ReplayTVs (better UI and commercial advance for kids programming and other archiving needs).

I found out that if I turn in our 2nd DVR for a tuner, that the cost only drops from $19.05/mo. to $11.60/mo. For only $7.45/mo. benefit, I'm wondering what the differences are between the 2 other than the hard drive. Do you still get the same guide information, VOD, and PPV?

...
I found out that if I turn in our 2nd DVR for a tuner, that the cost only drops from $19.05/mo. to $11.60/mo. For only $7.45/mo. benefit, I'm wondering what the differences are between the 2 other than the hard drive. Do you still get the same guide information, VOD, and PPV?

That's pretty much it. I'm not sure about the price differential, but one records and the other one doesn't. If you replace the DVR with another HD box, you should get the same programming.

FIOS TV coming soon... I live in redmond in a condo and our condo community just got verzion fiber installed in all the units and just yesterday I got a couple of fliers from verizon one for fios high speed (which I can get right now) and one for TV (says coming soon)....Last I heard Fios tv suppose to launch in WA in august.

I received a letter from Comcast today, indicating that Comcast would be charging me an additional $1.79 for the second Cablecard that I use in my Tivo S3. Has anyone else received this?

With my old Motorola DT6200/2005, when the Comcast FSN broadcast of the M's games would begin on Channel 664 (and Mojo would end) the audio, which had been working, would always disappear - and the only way to bring the audio back was to slew the Motorola DT6200/2005channel button on the box or on the the remote up or down at least one channel and then back to Channel 664. I figured this was one of the many problems I was having which was attributable to the defective old Motorola DT6200/2005 box. But now that I have a new Motorola DT6200/2005 box, though the other problems I'd been having with the old box are gone, this loss of audio on 664 persists on the new box when the M's broadcasts begin (again, until I slew up or down at least one channel and then return to Channel 664). Am I the only one having this audio problem with Channel 664? As swapping out the old Motorola DT620/2005 box for the new one didn't fix this problem, what else, if anything, might fix it? (Or do I need to just keep doing the channel slew fix whenever necessary...?)

Thanks,
r-gordon-7

r-gordon-7,

Same thing occurs at my apartment in Seattle. I think it is just an issue when the channel switches from mojo to fsn and vice versa. I solve the problem the same way as you, by simply changing the channel, then changing it back. Basically, I think it's just something you gotta live with.

I received a letter from Comcast today, indicating that Comcast would be charging me an additional $1.79 for the second Cablecard that I use in my Tivo S3. Has anyone else received this?

I've always paid $1.79 for my second cable card in my S3 (always being the year that I've had the S3 that is)

anyone knows when or if the nocast people ,will be adding any new channels?

FIOS TV coming soon... I live in redmond in a condo and our condo community just got verzion fiber installed in all the units and just yesterday I got a couple of fliers from verizon one for fios high speed (which I can get right now) and one for TV (says coming soon)....Last I heard Fios tv suppose to launch in WA in august.

I haven't received any flyers about TV that I know of yet. I've had the internet service for just over a year now.

Do you happen to know the email of the rep for Verizon, I think his name was Robert maybe? He emailed me last year and said that we'd probably get TV service in the Fall this year but I've lost his email. Thanks.

I haven't received any flyers about TV that I know of yet. I've had the internet service for just over a year now.

Do you happen to know the email of the rep for Verizon, I think his name was Robert maybe? He emailed me last year and said that we'd probably get TV service in the Fall this year but I've lost his email. Thanks.

His name is John and email is john.gustafson@verizon.com

I received a letter from Comcast today, indicating that Comcast would be charging me an additional $1.79 for the second Cablecard that I use in my Tivo S3. Has anyone else received this?

I've always paid $1.79 for my second cable card in my S3 (always being the year that I've had the S3 that is)

They started charging me for that in back in February, or maybe it was a year ago February. Either way, you're fortunate to only start getting charged now.

I haven't received any flyers about TV that I know of yet. I've had the internet service for just over a year now.

Do you happen to know the email of the rep for Verizon, I think his name was Robert maybe? He emailed me last year and said that we'd probably get TV service in the Fall this year but I've lost his email. Thanks.

i just got an email back from him and following is his reply:

I forwarded your e-mail to the group that is responsible for the build and someone will get back to you. I’ve changed positions and now focus on internal communications. I do know we are scheduled to begin offering FiOS TV in some parts of Washington later this summer. I appreciate your interest in FiOS.

Does anyone know if you get a free monthly lease of 1 standard digital cable box with the digital starter package?

i just got an email back from him and following is his reply:

I forwarded your e-mail to the group that is responsible for the build and someone will get back to you. I’ve changed positions and now focus on internal communications. I do know we are scheduled to begin offering FiOS TV in some parts of Washington later this summer. I appreciate your interest in FiOS.

I just got a letter today saying fios tv is coming to my area(Kenmore)...they are laying the fiber all over my neighborhood...looking at pricing, they seem a little higher than Comcast when I add in 2 dvr's HD and HBO...we'll see...Maybe I'll bundle the net, phone and TV...Anyone know if they have M's games 664 or FSN HD? Don't see it..That's a deal breaker there...Is the picture/sound that much better than Comcast?

Does anyone know if you get a free monthly lease of 1 standard digital cable box with the digital starter package?

The digital package comes with a digital (non-HD) cable box. If you want a HD box instead, they will charge you additional.

i just got an email back from him and following is his reply:

I forwarded your e-mail to the group that is responsible for the build and someone will get back to you. I’ve changed positions and now focus on internal communications. I do know we are scheduled to begin offering FiOS TV in some parts of Washington later this summer. I appreciate your interest in FiOS.

Thanks, I emailed him on Friday too and got the same exact reply from him.. so waiting for a response from them hopefully sometime next week.

I received a letter from Verizon saying FiOS is coming soon to Redmond. I must say it is very tempting based upon some of the glowing reviews I've read.

I'm getting the same FIOS TV adverts in Kirkland. I already have FIOS installed, so I'll wait to see how the pricing compares.

Has anyone EVER seen anything on either of these channels in HD? ABC Family shows movies a lot, but they are always crappy SD 4:3. With all of the interest in FSN, CNN, TBS and others, why on earth did Comcast choose to waste precious bandwidth on these duds? I could understand if there were HD programming on them, but as far as I can tell there isn't.

Has anyone EVER seen anything on either of these channels in HD? ABC Family shows movies a lot, but they are always crappy SD 4:3. With all of the interest in FSN, CNN, TBS and others, why on earth did Comcast choose to waste precious bandwidth on these duds? I could understand if there were HD programming on them, but as far as I can tell there isn't.

ABC Family original presentations are in HD (Greek, that new show with MIlly Ringwald, THe Middleman, and some of their new original movies).

I've seen some movies and cartoons on Disney in HD as well.

. . . With all of the interest in FSN, CNN, TBS and others, why on earth did Comcast choose to waste precious bandwidth on these duds?

Don't forget FX!!!! "The Shield's" final season starts on Sept 1, with new seasons of "Damages" and "Rescue Me" in the winter.

Otherwise, I agree that Disney and ABC family are a waste of bandwidth, especially with so little HD content.

Looks like we need to start another forum for Fios TV for Seattle area....


Lynnwood becomes first washington state city to approve Fios TV

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1759803/

Don't forget FX!!!! "The Shield's" final season starts on Sept 1, with new seasons of "Damages" and "Rescue Me" in the winter.

Otherwise, I agree that Disney and ABC family are a waste of bandwidth, especially with so little HD content.

Too bad, The Shield isn't filmed in HD though.

Too bad, The Shield isn't filmed in HD though.

Was it filmed using 5.1?

I received a letter from Comcast today, indicating that Comcast would be charging me an additional $1.79 for the second Cablecard that I use in my Tivo S3. Has anyone else received this?

I got the same letter. Would be nice if the Series 3 could use the multistream card like the TivoHD. I thought it was because I had some recent activity swapping out my cable modem. Had it running since 1/2007.

does anyone know when we might be getting any new hd channels, like tbs for baseball ?

I have a question about billing. I'm currently in the triple play package and pay 125 a month (extra cable box in bedroom, HD box). In September I'll be able to opt out of that and I just want TV and internet service, but the rep I spoke to wasn't helpful at all with me and said that I would be paying the same amount after I switch. Is this how much everybody else pays for these two services? I'm in an apt and don't have any other option, but I would like to be gouged a little less than that if I can. Thanks

I was out camping in the yurts at Kayak Point Park near Marysville this weekend (very nice!). Got back and found that my house was affected by the Northgate area power outage. Our Comcast Motorola DVR now reports no saved recordings! Is there any way to refresh the recordings list after a power outage, or are they all lost to the great bit-bucket in the sky?

VinceInSeattle --

There's no way to recover lost recordings.

I have basic cable, and with my 2 newer TVs, I can receive most of the digital and HD channels comcast has, even though officially my package is only the analog...I also have a 36" tube, and the tuner is not that great - ie the picture is sharper when I use the tuner in the VCR...Can I buy (for $20 after FCC rebate) one of these new digital tuners, and use it like a digital cable box? Since it will receive the digital channels over the air, wouldn't it also receive the digital channels from the cable?
It would be cheaper than paying Comcast $5 per month, or whatever they want for the box...

I have basic cable, and with my 2 newer TVs, I can receive most of the digital and HD channels comcast has, even though officially my package is only the analog...I also have a 36" tube, and the tuner is not that great - ie the picture is sharper when I use the tuner in the VCR...Can I buy (for $20 after FCC rebate) one of these new digital tuners, and use it like a digital cable box? Since it will receive the digital channels over the air, wouldn't it also receive the digital channels from the cable?
It would be cheaper than paying Comcast $5 per month, or whatever they want for the box...Don't think so. Over-the-air digital HDTV broadcast uses quite different technology (ATSC/8VSB) than digital cable (QAM). Your new TVs' tuners apparently support both standards, but AFAIK the cheap converter boxes will only support ATSC/8VSB.

And the analog on cable as far as I know does NOT go away in 2009. One advatage of cable over dish and fios. If you consider that an advantage. :)

Has anyone EVER seen anything on either of these channels in HD? ABC Family shows movies a lot, but they are always crappy SD 4:3. With all of the interest in FSN, CNN, TBS and others, why on earth did Comcast choose to waste precious bandwidth on these duds? I could understand if there were HD programming on them, but as far as I can tell there isn't.
Yeah, it is pretty ridiculous.
I have yet to notice any HD programming on ABC Family HD. I'm sure it's there somwhere, but I've yet to see it.

Finally the other day I saw that they were playing the Harry Potter movies, and thought--hey cool, something worth watching in HD on this channel, and they weren't in HD. Ridiculous waste of a channel.

Was it filmed using 5.1?

I don't know about the audio, but it is definitely not in HD. It's 4:3 standard def. The Shield and The Wire are(were) both my favorite 2 shows, but the both were filmed in SD. It sucks.

I have a question about billing. I'm currently in the triple play package and pay 125 a month (extra cable box in bedroom, HD box). In September I'll be able to opt out of that and I just want TV and internet service, but the rep I spoke to wasn't helpful at all with me and said that I would be paying the same amount after I switch. Is this how much everybody else pays for these two services? I'm in an apt and don't have any other option, but I would like to be gouged a little less than that if I can. Thanks

Bump

Did two installs on Comcast with new sets, one Panasonic, other Samsung. Hooked cable up direct and used built in QAM. Customer has upgraded channels and HD on his plan. When the scan finished, I noticed two 4-1, same exact thing, as well as two 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 & 9-5. Ch's 5, 7, 11, 13, 16, 22 etc all had just one of all their usual sub channels. Deleted the extra ones, everything still okay......
Wierd.
Been a while since I did a hookup this way. Not unusual, just everyone has been using boxes.
Any ideas on wassup?
Dan

Did two installs on Comcast with new sets, one Panasonic, other Samsung. Hooked cable up direct and used built in QAM. Customer has upgraded channels and HD on his plan. When the scan finished, I noticed two 4-1, same exact thing, as well as two 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 & 9-5. Ch's 5, 7, 11, 13, 16, 22 etc all had just one of all their usual sub channels. Deleted the extra ones, everything still okay......
Wierd.
Been a while since I did a hookup this way. Not unusual, just everyone has been using boxes.
Any ideas on wassup?
Dan

Dan,

I actually saw the same thing the other day, and didnt' think much about it. The same KCTS/KOMO MUX was duplicated on both Chs. 82 & 135, with both MUXes PSIP-mapping to 4-X & 9-X.

My hunch is that it's just a placeholder for signal measurement during system upgrades. There was a duplicate analog CNN on Ch. 121 a few years back for just that reason.

When the scan finished, I noticed two 4-1, same exact thing, as well as two 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 & 9-5. Ch's 5, 7, 11, 13, 16, 22 etc all had just one of all their usual sub channels. Deleted the extra ones, everything still okay......
Wierd.
Been a while since I did a hookup this way. Not unusual, just everyone has been using boxes.
Any ideas on wassup?
Dan

I saw it too on a Panasonic scan.

I have a question about billing. I'm currently in the triple play package and pay 125 a month (extra cable box in bedroom, HD box). In September I'll be able to opt out of that and I just want TV and internet service, but the rep I spoke to wasn't helpful at all with me and said that I would be paying the same amount after I switch. Is this how much everybody else pays for these two services? I'm in an apt and don't have any other option, but I would like to be gouged a little less than that if I can. Thanks

Basic Cable (Limited + Expanded)
Comcast Digital (Preferred: Digital Classic, Digital Preferred, 1 Set-Top Box and Remote)
DVR Service
Service Protection Plan
____________________83.18

High Speed Internet____45.95

Taxes, etc____________15.14

Total________________144.27

I too am furious at the addition of ads in the Comcast guide and I have told them so, several times. I was basically told to piss off if I didn't like it. (But thanks for the comment.)

I have all three services from Comcast; phone, Internet and cable. Next they'll be replacing the dial tone with ads and then start popping them up on my web browser. It's the exact same principle.

I always find it interesting that companies spend millions of dollars to get new customers but have no problem at all alienating and losing existing ones. In this case losing a customer is what Comcast is doing. A few months ago Verizon installed fiber in my neighborhood. I have a choice and intend to drop my "Triple Play" and go elsewhere.

Bye, bye Comcast. It'll take another few million in advertisements to get my family back, but I'm sure you'll have no problem paying that.

I hardly notice the ads, but then I spend most of my TV time actually watching programs, and skipping through the ads that are in them.

I hardly notice the ads, but then I spend most of my TV time actually watching programs, and skipping through the ads that are in them.

Ditto . . .

Actually, I have a TiVo, which has adds on its home screen. The adds bothered me at first, but now I rarely notice them.

And the analog on cable as far as I know does NOT go away in 2009. One advatage of cable over dish and fios. If you consider that an advantage. :)

Well it sure went away the other night during the King5 test. My son has an older set on analog cable. He got snow. So the Comcast promise of "you're covered" is BS. Anyone know of a cheap QAM tuner?

edit: just chatted online with Comcast tech. He says no analog cable after Feb. BUT, Comcast has a "coupon" program or something that lets you get ONE free digital box per address (whoopeeee!). Now I just need to figure out what to do with the other 3 TV's and 2 Tivos that will become boat anchors. Digital Revolution my ass. More like Digital Reaming. Extra boxes will be $8.95 each.

Did two installs on Comcast with new sets, one Panasonic, other Samsung. Hooked cable up direct and used built in QAM. Customer has upgraded channels and HD on his plan. When the scan finished, I noticed two 4-1, same exact thing, as well as two 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 & 9-5. Ch's 5, 7, 11, 13, 16, 22 etc all had just one of all their usual sub channels. Deleted the extra ones, everything still okay......
Wierd.
Been a while since I did a hookup this way. Not unusual, just everyone has been using boxes.
Any ideas on wassup?
Dan

Dan - I believe that is called Double Vision :)
Cut back on the martinis before you do an install. :D

Well it sure went away the other night during the King5 test. My son has an older set on analog cable. He got snow. So the Comcast promise of "you're covered" is BS. Anyone know of a cheap QAM tuner?

I don't think Comcast had any intent to implement changes to cover a 5-minute test.

Well it sure went away the other night during the King5 test. My son has an older set on analog cable. He got snow. So the Comcast promise of "you're covered" is BS. Anyone know of a cheap QAM tuner?

edit: just chatted online with Comcast tech. He says no analog cable after Feb. BUT, Comcast has a "coupon" program or something that lets you get ONE free digital box per address (whoopeeee!). Now I just need to figure out what to do with the other 3 TV's and 2 Tivos that will become boat anchors. Digital Revolution my ass. More like Digital Reaming. Comcast reps want to upsell you to the higher service tiers. I would not be terribly surprised if within the next six months, Comcast bumps most of its remaining analog channels to digital. The only stuff which remaining would be analog Limited Cable Service (local broadcast +PEG channels).

It remains to be seen if Comcast will actually offer "free" digital converter boxes, or just "free for a year".

If Comcast wanted to completely liquidate analog service, they could transfer the entire Limited Cable Service tier to ATSC digital which would be compatible with the government-subsidized CECBs. It's unlikely Comcast would do this, since they inherently want to "upsell" their customers to the fancier service tiers using THEIR proprietary boxes rather than the common ATSC CECBs. If they did, it would be very easy to "multiplex" the PEG channels as subchannels (i.e. 22.1 county government, 22.2 city government, 22.3 state government)

BTW, has anyone else thought how strange it is for local OTA broadcasters (KING, KIRO, KOMO et al) to carry advertisements for Comcast, DirecTV, DISH and other competing signal providers?

I don't think Comcast had any intent to implement changes to cover a 5-minute test.

what changes? they are not going to change anything - just delete analog channels in Feb. and force everyone to buy or rent new equipment. but their ads lead one to believe "you don't need to do anything" which is just plain false.

...
If Comcast wanted to completely liquidate analog service, they could transfer the entire Limited Cable Service tier to ATSC digital which would be compatible with the government-subsidized CECBs.
...


Huh? How can a cable system "transfer" anything to ATSC? That is only allowed for OTA reception. I don't understand your statement.

What we need is a CECB coupon plan for cable that has a QAM tuner!

what changes? they are not going to change anything - just delete analog channels in Feb. and force everyone to buy or rent new equipment. but their ads lead one to believe "you don't need to do anything" which is just plain false.

The change is that they will need to convert the digital signals to analog or provide converters. Obviously they wouldn't do that for a 5-minute test.

Personally I hope they eliminate most of the analog channels and provide converters, so as to free up more bandwidth for HD.

I just chatted online with a Comcast Tech. The plan is to eliminate all analog. This is good for HD. But they are not telling people that you will need to rent/buy new equipment if you have any NTSC-only devices in your house. So far the ads indicate you need a CECB for antennas but "if you have cable you're covered." This is just plain false advertizing. This was the point of the King5 test. Turn off analog and see who has snow. The test worked perfectly. All our analog devices saw snow on cable ch 5 (105 digital was fine). Just wish Comcast had been up front with this from the beginning.

more ranting..
I just went to the official dtv site: www.dtv.gov and under FAQ's it says (and I quote):

"Does the DTV transition affect TV sets that are connected to cable services?

No. If you subscribe to cable service, the DTV transition should not affect any TV sets that are connected to your cable services. The DTV transition applies only to full-power broadcast television stations – stations that use the public airwaves to transmit their programming to viewers through a broadcast antenna."

No wonder people are confused. Even the feds are giving out wrong information!

And the very next FAQ:

"Is the FCC making cable companies switch to digital service?

No. Cable companies are not required to switch to digital service. Cable companies may choose to make their service all or partly digital, but they are not required to change from the analog service they offer today. In fact, the FCC requires cable companies to continue to provide local stations in analog as long as they provide any analog service, even after February 17, 2009. "

Note the wording "any analog service" - so that is why Comcast is dropping all analog service.

I just chatted online with a Comcast Tech. The plan is to eliminate all analog.
...

I hope you're correct... but I doubt it.

I hope you're correct... but I doubt it.


I emailed the only VP contact I know of at Comcast and asked him to give us the skinny on all of this. He was pretty forthcoming last year on the new guide software.

If I were Comcast and wanted to retain existing customers and attract new ones in Feb, 2009, I might have the following plan.

1. Starting sometime before Feb 2009, convert OTA DTV station signals to analog and continue to offer the analog version over cable, enabling customers without cable boxes to continue as before with no cost. This can keep customers from switching to OTA and the customers thus miss the opportunity for the $40 discount on CECB converts for OTA reception.

2. Before and/or after Feb 2009, gradually move non-OTA channels out of the analog lineup to recover capacity for more digital and HD channels, all the while keeping the analog versions of all OTA channels, as required by FCC "all OTA or none" regulation.

3. At some point down the road, discontinue the remaining analog service and "force" customers to acquire a box for every analog TV, or see customers leave for OTA with no help on the cost of the OTA CECB boxes needed. At this point Comcast likely offers one "free" cable converter box and then charges for others.

This would be a Comcast-friendly plan that takes advantage of customers' inability or unwillingness to get a means of OTA reception to replace their cable service.

I believe that this is what we will see in most Comcast markets, except for Chicago which was already converted to all digital as a Comcast pilot site for evaluation purposes.

Of course, these are my perceptions and opinions only. As usual, none of us can predict what Comcast will really do.

Budget_HT, I totally agree with you. Reading between the lines and interpolating from recent Comcast ads that's what they seem to be saying they will do. That said, I personnaly would like to see analog go away if Comcast uses the extra bandwidth to offer more HD and even faster internet speeds even though I will lose at least 2 TVs due to the conversion (not used often enough to justify even a free converter box). And quarque, I also agree the wareagle and wish you are correct.

However, with the defections to Satellite and with (as of now limited) competition from FIOS if I was running Comcast, I'd hang on to the analog channels for while as a selling advantage. Cable is the only way to offer analog after feb next year.

3. At some point down the road, discontinue the remaining analog service and "force" customers to acquire a box for every analog TV, or see customers leave for OTA with no help on the cost of the OTA CECB boxes needed. At this point Comcast likely offers one "free" cable converter box and then charges for others.


I think you missed: "additional outlet charge per analog TV / cable box" ;)

I think you missed: "additional outlet charge per analog TV / cable box" ;)

They would probably waive that, since it really doesn't cost them anything more for you to have more than one outlet.

They would probably waive that, since it really doesn't cost them anything more for you to have more than one outlet.


Well, that was my thinking too, up until I received that letter from them a week or two ago. :eek:


In the letter, they said that they may or may not have made mistakes in my previous bills. But, from now on, the new charge will be:

For Digital package:
Standard (non-HD) Digital box => first one included in Digital package
HD box ** => $6.50
DVR ** => $8.95
HD DVR ** => 13.95
CableCard for single CableCard device ** => first one included in digital package.

** Additional equipment (CableCard, set-to box, DVR) for outlets beyond the first, also requires a Digital Additional Outlet Service Fee of $5.10


I have a CableCard, plus a HD box.
So, that means, I need to pay $6.50 (HD box) + $5.10 (additional outlet for CableCard).


I wonder if I order Pay-Per-View, do I have to pay twice the amount because I have two Outlets.

Well, that was my thinking too, up until I received that letter from them a week or two ago.
...

I got a similar letter, prompted by the impending expiration of the year of free DCT700 (which I will return to them any day now), but there's a chance they may change the "additional digital outlet" policy when/if the analog option disappears.

...

However, with the defections to Satellite and with (as of now limited) competition from FIOS if I was running Comcast, I'd hang on to the analog channels for while as a selling advantage. Cable is the only way to offer analog after feb next year.

I have satellite and keep basic cable for the extra rooms and my HTPCs that can tune and record QAM. If they get rid of analog, I'll probably cancel my subscription and exclusively use direcTV dvrs... I could still use my PVR as I can get OTA with indoor antennas in my location.

and if Comcrass turns off the analog and is banking on folks having QAM tuners in their tv's, they better start "officially" supporting QAM reception in this manner. I'm sure the little old lady who suddenly has "missing" channels (like seems to happen every month or so), ain't gonna think "well I'll just do a rescan and update the channel mappings".

I've been off DirecTV for over a year now, and the regrets are mounting.

I got the letter too. Grrr FIOS TV is coming in September.
but there's a chance they may change the "additional digital outlet" policy when/if the analog option disappears.

Comcast reduce a fee? I don't think so.

Budget_HT, I totally agree with you. Reading between the lines and interpolating from recent Comcast ads that's what they seem to be saying they will do. That said, I personally would like to see analog go away if Comcast uses the extra bandwidth to offer more HD and even faster internet speeds even though I will lose at least 2 TVs due to the conversion (not used often enough to justify even a free converter box). And quarque, I also agree the wareagle and wish you are correct.

However, with the defections to Satellite and with (as of now limited) competition from FIOS if I was running Comcast, I'd hang on to the analog channels for while as a selling advantage. Cable is the only way to offer analog after feb next year. Personally, I can see the advantage of phasing out analog cable TV in order for Comcast to provide superior Internet performance in a bandwidth-intensive online world. For purposes of this discussion, though, I'll quote the "official story" from the "Comcast Northwest" July/August 2008 newsletter,page 4Comcast Has You Covered in the Switch to Digital Broadcast. In February 2009, all broadcast networks are switchng over to digital-only broadcasting. If all the TVs in your home are connected to Comcast, relax, you don't have to worry about a thing. If you have an older TV that's not connected to Comcast, no problem. Call us anytime and we'll make sure you're all set.:

Huh? How can a cable system "transfer" anything to ATSC? That is only allowed for OTA reception. I don't understand your statement.

What we need is a CECB coupon plan for cable that has a QAM tuner! The local broadcast channels already televise in ATSC. Is there any technical reason that a cable company couldn't transmit via cable the "public, educational and government" (PEG) channels in ATSC? Comcast currently transmits these PEG channels in QAM as well as in analog. Why can't those analog PEG channels (in my area, channels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 76, and 77) be transmitted in ATSC to service the population of budget-minded "limited cable service" viewers using CECBs? Those ten analog PEG channels could easily be carried as two or three ATSC channels with subchannels, saving a huge amount of precious bandwidth for Comcast.

Just to be clear, migrating the PEG channels to ATSC would also make it easier for the school districts, community colleges, public agencies etc. to make the transition, since the ATSC CECB tuners are much cheaper as "add-on" units than full-featured cable company digital set-top boxes. Here are the channels in my area:

analog 21 - muncipal govt (i.e. City of Seattle, City of Lake Forest Park, City of Des Moines etc)
analog 22 - King County Civic TV
analog 23 - TVW
analog 24 - C-SPAN
(25 is already bumped to QAM digital - C-SPAN II)
analog 26 - puget sound educational TV
analog 27 - UWTV
analog 28 - community college TV
analog 76 - UWTV 2
analog 77 - puget sound public access

Is there any technical reason Comcast couldn't transmit non-broadcast 8-VSB (ATSC) programming through its existing cable system? Perhaps you are right, but it appears more like QAM is preferred rather than that ATSC is impossible.

It is not a question of *possible*, it is a question of legality. Cable companies can't just broadcast any ol' format they wish. ATSC is reserved for OTA and cable has to use a designated modulation scheme (QAM) prescribed by the FCC. Otherwise they'd be violating their license.

Shoulda done a quick search. This is from Endgadet:

Link (http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/19/comcast-plans-to-go-all-digital-in-20-of-its-markets-by-years/)

Comcast plans to go all digital in 20% of its markets by year's end
by Ben Drawbaugh, posted Jun 19th 2008 at 9:42AM

Add Comcast to the list of providers getting very serious about dumping all those bandwidth hogging analog channels and plans to go all digital in 20% of its markets by year's end, and all by 2010. Of course it will have to provide free digital adapters for analog customers per the FCC, but by dropping ~70 analog channels, it'll free up enough space for about 150 HD channels (220 if you don't mind shaving a few bits). We really wonder how well this is going to go over, as we can't expect our mom to give up her simple setup, with super fast changing channels, without a fight. We figure a good percentage of customers will either give up on cable TV completely, while others may finally be enticed to switch to satellite. But honestly, we're not really that concerned, just so long as providers keep all those new HD channels coming.

It is not a question of *possible*, it is a question of legality. Cable companies can't just broadcast any ol' format they wish. ATSC is reserved for OTA and cable has to use a designated modulation scheme (QAM) prescribed by the FCC. Otherwise they'd be violating their license. Your explanation makes sense. I have read that some smaller rural cablecos have carried ATSC transmissions (hence CECBs would work on those systems) but it's possible that those small cable ops are exempt from some FCC rules due to their size. I'll research this a bit more at the FCC web site, but given the bureaucratic red tape involved, I'm inclined towards your explanation. Common sense isn't a strong point at the FCC.

FYI FCC Publication "DTV Transition Does Not Require Cable Systems to Switch to Digital (http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/dtvcable.html)"

There's a bit more history to it...

The ATSC working groups defined a standard for cable, 16VSB, essentially a denser 8VSB with the error correction stripped. (The error correction is far less important over the wire than over the air.) By the time WRC had signed on its WHD-TV test station with the first 8VSB OTA ATSC signal in Washington, DC, in the late 90s, cable had developed its own digital infrastructure, first using QPSK and QAM64, and later QAM256.

The very earliest cable simulcasts of OTA HD were indeed 8VSB, in the earliest part of this decade. They were carried out with "big three" affiliates in New York, but I can't remember if it was in the sections of the city served by Cablevision or by Time-Warner. (On a tangent, my earliest Samsung receiver was 8VSB-only, but could sweep 2-69 OTA or 1-125 (not 135, as today!) cable.)

The crux of the problem was that the MSOs had, already, a tremendous investment in QAM infrastucture, back at a point in time when a hybrid 8VSB/QAM chip wasn't to be had for a few bucks as in today's CECBs. So, while 8VSB was mandated OTA, much to the chagrin of many who'd have preferred COFDM or QPSK, QAM just became defacto on the wire, out of economic neccessity.

QAM also brings us great bandwidth savings: KOMO-DT and KCTS-DT require 8VSB OTA channels 38 and 41 to carry the same stream of bits that Comcast brings us, all on QAM256 channel 82. Going from 8VSB (or from QAM64) to QAM256 dramatically increases the potential bitrate of a simliar slice of bandwidth.

Remember that the audio, video, and other data contained in QAM and 8VSB is similar, and, in general the data itself is ATSC compliant. The wrapper in which it's encoded, however, is different. QAM fits cable's world; the ATSC working group specified 8VSB for over-the-air. Think of it similarly to Apple MP4 and DivX AVI files: they both contain MP4 video data, but the container is different.

Here's the FCC's phrasing on the topic:

Cable operators are permitted to remodulate digital broadcast signals from 8 VSB to 64 or 256 QAM. Cable operators are not required to pass-through 8 VSB.

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/2001/must_carry_factsheet.html

Regarding those guide ads: I've done some searching and according to various angry forum entries I've found, Comcast started implementing guide ads in various markets back in 2006. People complained loudly but nevertheless Comcast has continued rolling the ads out around the country. So much for listening to your customers.

The discussion about Comcast's complete move to Digital is interesting and aggravating. Analog channels are the ONLY remaining advantage of Comcast over satellite and especially Fios. Those analog channels are also the only reason I have not previously switched to DirectTV. I have 5 TV's in my house, but it very unusual for more than one to be on at any given time. I also have a HTPC with two tuners that ONLY record analog channels and once again, it is very unusual for both tuners to be in use at any one time. The idea of paying for multiple cable boxes at every set in my situation is absurd and it's not going to happen.

Once again I'm amazed. Comcast plan is to remove one of the last advantages of cable and add the disadvantages of other sources. Not a good business practice when people dislike your company and want to stop doing business with you anyway.

... Not a good business practice when people dislike your company and want to stop doing business with you anyway.

More amazing is this has never stopped them before from doing really stupid things. I think they feel that they have a monopoly on TV service and can do what they want. That is only partially true these days.

Any word on when AMC HD will be coming to the Seattle area?

Keeping in mind that Comcast frequently reshuffles Clear QAM channels around - making Clear QAM relatively unattractive to many cable customers - is a low-cost Clear QAM tuner available? The Samsung 260HF is somewhat expensive for this purpose, are lower-cost units available for this specific purpose?

Keeping in mind that Comcast frequently reshuffles Clear QAM channels around - making Clear QAM relatively unattractive to many cable customers - is a low-cost Clear QAM tuner available? The Samsung 260HF is somewhat expensive for this purpose, are lower-cost units available for this specific purpose?


you can get a refurbished Tivo HD for $179 on Tivo.com, and will be able to pickup all analog channels too. Unfortunately, you will only be able to use some of the Tivo's DVR functions (e.g., season pass) with non-QAM channels. You can however record QAM channels by time and channel.

I just got a reply from John Dietrich, a local VP at Comcast:

"During the course of next year, we will start commencing what we are call our “digital transition”, which is not to be confused with the FCC-mandated digital transition in Feb 2009 where the broadcasters have to turn off their analog over-the-air signals. The commercials you reference below pertain to the FCC digital transition. In relation to this edict, we will continue to broadcast our signals in both digital and analog so that customers will not be impacted when the local broadcasters turn off their analog signals. This is why we are advertising, “if you have cable, you don’t have to do anything”.

We have a separate project or effort next year to begin to convert a number of analog channels into digital. It is important to know that we have no plans to digitize what we call limited cable (the first 13 analog channels). We are planning to do is to digitize a large percentage, but by no means all, of what we now call expanded basic. Of the approximately 50 or so expanded basic analog channels (which sit above the 13 limited basic channels), we will digitize about 35 of those. For those expanded basic customers, we will provide a digital-to-analog adapter at no charge. These will work fine with your analog devices. Our current plan is to provide up to three analog-to-digital adapters at no charge to existing customer households. Any digital boxes that you need on top of that will be $3.50 per month, just like they are now. I have no idea where the $8.95 number came from. "


So the tech support person I chatted with was WAY off base.

...and even better news for us HD folks.

I just got a reply from John Dietrich, a local VP at Comcast:

"During the course of next year, we will start commencing what we are call our “digital transition”, which is not to be confused with the FCC-mandated digital transition in Feb 2009 where the broadcasters have to turn off their analog over-the-air signals. The commercials you reference below pertain to the FCC digital transition. In relation to this edict, we will continue to broadcast our signals in both digital and analog so that customers will not be impacted when the local broadcasters turn off their analog signals. This is why we are advertising, “if you have cable, you don’t have to do anything”.

We have a separate project or effort next year to begin to convert a number of analog channels into digital. It is important to know that we have no plans to digitize what we call limited cable (the first 13 analog channels). We are planning to do is to digitize a large percentage, but by no means all, of what we now call expanded basic. Of the approximately 50 or so expanded basic analog channels (which sit above the 13 limited basic channels), we will digitize about 35 of those. For those expanded basic customers, we will provide a digital-to-analog adapter at no charge. These will work fine with your analog devices. Our current plan is to provide up to three analog-to-digital adapters at no charge to existing customer households. Any digital boxes that you need on top of that will be $3.50 per month, just like they are now. I have no idea where the $8.95 number came from. " So the tech support person I chatted with was WAY off base. This explanation makes sense.

The only question here is that the Comcast analog "Limited Basic" tier in most of King County consists of 32 channels: 2 through 24; 26 through 29; 75 through 78; and 99. These are broken down as follows:

Local OTA stations (14 channels)
KWPX/3, KOMO/4, KING/5, KONG/6, KIRO/7, KCTS/9, KMYQ/10, KSTW/11, KBTC/12, KCPQ/13, KHCV/15, KBWF/18, KTBW/20, KUNS/29

Regional OTA stations (2 channels)
CBUT/99, KBCB/14

Government (4 channels)
21, 22, 23, 24

Education (4 channels)
26, 27, 28, 76

Public Access (1 channel)
77

Other (7 channels listed below):
NWCN/2
Discovery/8
Shopping/Leased Access 16
Shopping/Leased Access 17
Hallmark/19
KCTS Plus/75
Weather/78

I counted a total of 32 channels on analog Limited Cable, which is a lot more than 13. There are 14 local OTAs which have "must carry" rights, unless Comcast makes them a deal to waive those rights and consent to digital-tier-only carriage.

Analog Expanded Basic Cable adds 39 more channels (channels 30 through 69).

I know it's been ages since I posted one, but things have been relatively static.

The only change is that TVOne is gone, presumably encrypted.

...and even better news for us HD folks.


Agreed . . . I don't know how that is good for analog folks, but getting rid of 35 Analog stations is definately good for HD.

In any case, aren't cable companies required to broadcast local stations in analog through 2011.

Agreed . . . I don't know how that is good for analog folks, but getting rid of 35 Analog stations is definately good for HD.

In any case, aren't cable companies required to broadcast local stations in analog through 2011.

They seem to be intending to leave the locals in analog, but I believe they could satisfy the requirement by providing the free converters.

Agreed . . . I don't know how that is good for analog folks, but getting rid of 35 Analog stations is definately good for HD.

In any case, aren't cable companies required to broadcast local stations in analog through 2011.

I believe the reg is written so that they only have to carry locals in analog if they carry ANY channels in analog. Sort of an all or nothing deal. Once they get rid of everything else they can pull the plug on analog locals altogether. That is the general plan for all cablecos. Some are already all digital.

Any chance Comcast will add ESPNU this year. Many of the regional college basketball games will be broadcast on such.

Has anyone else noticed the odd/even line reversal going on (I think its only on channels 2-99 - not above 100) but I'm not sure on that. Also, it doesn't appear to be constant. One show or commercial may have it and another not have it (both on the same channel).

I see it both when tuning via the DVR and direct into my TV's digital tuner.

hmmmmmm.... we seem to have lost the last page of posts here...

everyone please re-post your questions/comments since 8/01.

Did anyone here buy a dvr/hd box? or does everyone just rent it from comcast? Also, which is the better box to have? I just bought my second plasma and am wondering it $13.95 a month the best way to go. Any ides?

After having the original Comcast DVR (with the Microsoft software) for a year or two, we went with TiVo and it was the best decision for us. The TiVo is far more reliable and stable; we've never lost any programs, never had any issues at all. Our Comcast box was very reliable compared to some of the horror stories that were relayed here. Not sure about the new Comcast boxes, however, but I'd probably still go with TiVo.

Hello. I am looking for a simple box I can plus into the wall, then to the TV (not computer), that will give me QAM. Everything I have found seems to be PC centered. I am sure I just don't know the name of this type of device and therefor can't locate it. Can someone please give me this info and/or some decent brand names to start me out?

what would the billing be for having a tivo hd unit with comcast hd programing, do you still pay tivo for their service as well? seems like that would be nickle and dimeing people to death.

I use a Tivo HD box - absolutely love it. I traded in my Comcast HD DVR and have never regretted it.

Yes Tivo charges for the service as well. Cost? I bought my box for $150 from craigslist and a lifetime subscription for $399 (monthly contracts are available for those who choose that route). So I had a $550 upfront cost but now have no monthly charge for the box & HD DVR service.

Comcast nickle and dimes you as well for the box & DVR service. I'm saving ~$16 per month off my comcast bill. I'll fully recover my upfront cost in just over 2 1/2 years.

The Tivo box is yours and can be resold. Lifetime service boxes retain a LARGE portion of their original price after you drive it off the lot. Check ebay. You can also add additional storage to your Tivo box. Having a box with 1 terabyte is awesome with all the HD olympics. If you ever switch to another cable provider (Fios), your Tivo stays with you.

Bottom line: is it cheaper? Not upfront, but in the long run yes. Once most people use a tivo they don't go back. Like comparing a Ferrari to a Ford. IMHO.

Hello. I am looking for a simple box I can plus into the wall, then to the TV (not computer), that will give me QAM. Everything I have found seems to be PC centered. I am sure I just don't know the name of this type of device and therefor can't locate it. Can someone please give me this info and/or some decent brand names to start me out?

The popular solution right now is the Samsung DTB-H260F. There should be cheaper ones available at some time. FCC did not require QAM in the CECB boxes so no cheapies or coupons.

The popular solution right now is the Samsung DTB-H260F. There should be cheaper ones available at some time. FCC did not require QAM in the CECB boxes so no cheapies or coupons.

Does that have a QAM tuner? I haven't been able to find any reference that says it does.

Does that have a QAM tuner? I haven't been able to find any reference that says it does.
Yes. You can view the manual online. Here is an excerpt talking about the connectors on the back:

"2 ANT / CABLE IN
Connect the AIR antenna or CATV antenna here.
Connect the cable in the event that a local cable
provider is passing through 8-level Vestigial Sideband
(8VSB) and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)
on their systems."

I had the same problem initially with this because many summaries for the product don't mention cable or QAM capability. Thanks to Dan Kurts on AVS for pointing this out.

The manual is at:

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/download/supportDown.do?model_nm=DTB-H260F&mType=UM&vType=L&disp_nm=DTB-H260F

Anyone know or heard what the next round of HD stations planned for the Seattle area will be? Just curious...

Anyone know or heard what the next round of HD stations planned for the Seattle area will be? Just curious... Speculation on my part, but Bellingham's KVOS is moving its OTA transmitter down to Marysville, Snohomish County (discussed in Seattle OTA thread). See KVOS Engineering Statement in Support of Amendment of Application (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=665691). Their FCC application (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101258591&formid=301&fac_num=35862) is likely to be approved. See FCC database entry (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=35862).The Marysville transmitter should be up in a few months. Given FCC "must carry" rules, it's likely KVOS will return to Seattle-area Comcast systems after being yanked 16 years ago due to frequent syndicated-exclusivity conflicts with other Seattle stations. The station has changed ownership twice since then (Ackerly, then Clear Channel, now Newport Communications).

I have no idea if KVOS will actually offer high-def programming (currently only 480p) or if their program mix will be attractive.

Our cable bill just came in, and Comcast is suddenly charging an additional $5.10/mo for each cableCard in my TiVo S3. I tried convincing the service rep that it wasn't really two additional connections, but had no luck.

Has anyone else challenged these new charges successfully? How did you do it?

$34.43 Digital Starter, $33.43 Expanded Basic, and $9.99 Limited Cable in Issaquah? (http://issaquahtv.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2007-11-15-issaquah.pdf) These were rates offered under the "old" franchise contract, and these appear to be much cheaper than rates elsewhere in Western Washington except for rates in the City of Tacoma (which has "Click Network" service competing with Comcast).

The City of Issaquah (http://www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/) apparently is one of the rare municipalities in Washington which has aggressively bargained with Comcast over consumer pricing during the periodic cable TV franchise renewal process with Comcast. A local activist writing the Issaquah TV (http://issaquahtv.org/) blog has a wealth of information regarding the dramatically lower cable TV rates offered to City of Issaquah residents, and the legal battle brewing between Comcast and the City regarding the applicability of the franchise-negotiated pricing to neighborhoods recently annexed into the City of Issaquah.

In Issaquah, a Cable TV Commission (http://www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/CCBIndex.asp?CCBID=4) appears to exercise unusual scrutiny over the ongoing cable TV franchise performance. Most local elected officials don't negotiate as aggressively as Issaquah does with Comcast during the franchise renewal process. Further, most local cities (such as the City of Seatac) don't have an active Cable TV Commission monitoring franchisee performance. Skeptics might wonder if strategic campaign contributions to local incumbents for mayor and city council positions have any impact on franchise negotiations. In any event, very few franchise authorities force Comcast to grant huge price concessions as a condition of franchise renewal.

Here's a direct comparison between Issaquah pricing in October 2007 and the Comcast "East King County and South King County Rate Card & Channel Guide, Summer 2008":

Digital Starter Service:
Issaquah $34.43 (http://issaquahtv.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2007-11-15-issaquah.pdf)
EKC/SKC $53.26

Expanded Basic Service:
Issaquah $33.43 (http://issaquahtv.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2007-11-15-issaquah.pdf)
EKC/SKC $52.25

Are Issaquah's rates as posted at the Issaquah TV site still in effect? Is anyone here familiar with Issaquah's approach to bargaining with Comcast and influencing rates and services offered to Issaquah residents? Are there lessons which could be shared with other suburban cities? I'm sure Comcast has its side of the story, but inquiring minds are definitely curious about this state of affairs.

Our cable bill just came in, and Comcast is suddenly charging an additional $5.10/mo for each cableCard in my TiVo S3. I tried convincing the service rep that it wasn't really two additional connections, but had no luck.

Has anyone else challenged these new charges successfully? How did you do it?

I also have 2 cable cards in my S3. First card is free, second card is $1.79. Always been this way for me, even on my latest statement dated July 28. Sounds like you need to keep calling until you get someone with a clue (yeah, that could take a while, but probably worth the effort.)

EDIT: Note, the first cc is free because I don't have a comcast box.

I also have 2 cable cards in my S3. First card is free, second card is $1.79. Always been this way for me, even on my latest statement dated July 28. Sounds like you need to keep calling until you get someone with a clue (yeah, that could take a while, but probably worth the effort.)

EDIT: Note, the first cc is free because I don't have a comcast box.


Yep, this is what I pay. The second cable card is not a 2nd connection.

Yep, this is what I pay. The second cable card is not a 2nd connection.

Arrrgh. I was paying nothing for the second card in my TiVo S3 until they "caught" me recently. I just checked my bill and they have $5.10 on there for this last month. Will call them in the morning. I'm the thief here? Riiiight.

Football (pre)season, yippee! Except, are we going to have Hawks games not broadcast in HD again this year? Just checked the guide data for tomorrow's game and no HD in the description (telecast on KONG 6 and 106).:mad:

Football (pre)season, yippee! Except, are we going to have Hawks games not broadcast in HD again this year? Just checked the guide data for tomorrow's game and no HD in the description (telecast on KONG 6 and 106).:mad:
it is in HD, Last weeks was...

Arrrgh. I was paying nothing for the second card in my TiVo S3 until they "caught" me recently. I just checked my bill and they have $5.10 on there for this last month. Will call them in the morning. I'm the thief here? Riiiight.


I called this morning. They wouldn't switch it. They are sending a tech out to perform a service audit. I'm getting tired of these clowns.

Yep, this is what I pay. The second cable card is not a 2nd connection.

I went to the Lynnwood store to trade in my cable box for a card a few months ago. The woman I happened to get at the counter was very well informed. She asked me which Tivo I had (Did you pay closer to $700 or $300 for it?) and asked if I had any other cable boxes. She even gave me a run down of how to activate it. I have a TvioHD, but I don't think she would've charged me for a second card if I had needed it If they don't know what the Series 3 Tivo is try calling back. Apparently some people there are fimilar with it.

Our cable bill just came in, and Comcast is suddenly charging an additional $5.10/mo for each cableCard in my TiVo S3. I tried convincing the service rep that it wasn't really two additional connections, but had no luck.

Has anyone else challenged these new charges successfully? How did you do it?

Success!!! It helped that the phone rep understood Comcast's billing practices even less than I did. Here's my strategy:

The letter explaining the new charges claimed that one CableCard is free with a Digital Cable Package, additional cards are $1.79/mo, and additional outlets are $5.10/mo.

Comcast tried to claim that each cableCard was an additional outlet.

See Comcast's policy on TiVos at http://www.comcast.com/customers/faq/FaqDetails.ashx?Id=4156 -- that gets rid of one of the extra card charges.

So then the issue is: which is the appropriate "nominal charge" for the 2nd card, $5.10 or $1.79? At that point, I asked for an example of when the $1.79 charge would apply. I claimed it would be for a 2nd TV set, which wasn't the case here. They couldn't come up with any other example, and agreed to charge only $1.79/mo for my TiVo.

I'm wondering if the Seattle OTA channels are recompressed by Comcast? (I'm moving to Seattle in a few weeks) Although I've read from other forums that Comcast doesn't do this and that it's forbidden by the FCC, I've read that this OTA recompression is actually happening in some markets.

That raises another question altogether: why does Comcast in Whatcom County have CTV and CBC, while the rest of us have only CBC?

And, yes, I expect them both in HD, too. :-) Great question!

FYI if anybody lives in Woodway... Just saw this on Yahoo news:

Woodway, Wash., Awards Video Franchise to Verizon

Tuesday August 19, 12:49 pm ET

Vote Paves the Way for Innovative, Competitive Choice for TV Service, Delivered Over the Nation's Most Advanced, All-Fiber-Optic Network Straight to Consumers' Homes
EVERETT, Wash., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of Woodway are a major step closer to having an innovative, reliable and competitive alternative for their television services, thanks to a unanimous vote by the Town Council Monday night (Aug. 18) authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080819/ny30858.html?.v=1

FYI if anybody lives in Woodway... Just saw this on Yahoo news:

Woodway, Wash., Awards Video Franchise to Verizon

Tuesday August 19, 12:49 pm ET

Vote Paves the Way for Innovative, Competitive Choice for TV Service, Delivered Over the Nation's Most Advanced, All-Fiber-Optic Network Straight to Consumers' Homes
EVERETT, Wash., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of Woodway are a major step closer to having an innovative, reliable and competitive alternative for their television services, thanks to a unanimous vote by the Town Council Monday night (Aug. 18) authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080819/ny30858.html?.v=1

All together 8 cities have approved fios tv so far. Redmond will approve early next month. Fios TV service will start end of sept or early oct for all the cities.

I'm just ready to dump comcast. You can actually go to fios site and look at the channels that fios will offer in redmond and other cities in WA.

Where is Woodway?

Where is Woodway?

Next to Edmonds (slightly SW)

What about Kirkland or Juanita area?

Success!!! It helped that the phone rep understood Comcast's billing practices even less than I did. Here's my strategy:

The letter explaining the new charges claimed that one CableCard is free with a Digital Cable Package, additional cards are $1.79/mo, and additional outlets are $5.10/mo.

Comcast tried to claim that each cableCard was an additional outlet.

See Comcast's policy on TiVos at http://www.comcast.com/customers/faq/FaqDetails.ashx?Id=4156 -- that gets rid of one of the extra card charges.

So then the issue is: which is the appropriate "nominal charge" for the 2nd card, $5.10 or $1.79? At that point, I asked for an example of when the $1.79 charge would apply. I claimed it would be for a 2nd TV set, which wasn't the case here. They couldn't come up with any other example, and agreed to charge only $1.79/mo for my TiVo.

I called about this $5.10 charge today and was informed that just today (ironically enough) an audit was run and the $5.10 charge was removed from my account. $1.79 is all TiVo users should be paying for both cable cards. I asked whether the $5.10 charge(s) would be refunded retroactively for the past 2 years I've been paying and the answer was no! Big surprise. But the rep admitted that the audit is what caught the problem since the policy/terms had been updated on their site. I began with the question of why I'm not paying $1.91 for the second card and was told the above info... A bit of good news from an otherwise expensive company to deal with.

FYI if anybody lives in Woodway... Just saw this on Yahoo news:

Woodway, Wash., Awards Video Franchise to Verizon

Tuesday August 19, 12:49 pm ET

Vote Paves the Way for Innovative, Competitive Choice for TV Service, Delivered Over the Nation's Most Advanced, All-Fiber-Optic Network Straight to Consumers' Homes
EVERETT, Wash., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of Woodway are a major step closer to having an innovative, reliable and competitive alternative for their television services, thanks to a unanimous vote by the Town Council Monday night (Aug. 18) authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080819/ny30858.html?.v=1

Great news. Verizon please get a little farther north and bless Bellingham with FIOS! :)

What about Kirkland or Juanita area?

Verizon reps are going through Kirkland now, to those that already have FIOS. I had a rep stop by Saturday. I should be hearing back from Verizon in a couple of weeks.

I noticed on the FIOS line-up on the web site for 98033, though, that MSNBC wasn't in the mix. WTF? I called the rep I chatted with and asked him to follow-up. (Gotta have my Olberman fix!)

Pricing for phone, internet & TV is considerably less than I'm presently paying Verizon/Comcast together.

I called about this $5.10 charge today and was informed that just today (ironically enough) an audit was run and the $5.10 charge was removed from my account.

A Comcast tech came by my house today and found "no problems" but said nothing about and failed to clarify their "Audit" while I was at work. He left me a message to call Comcast. I finally got someone on the other end who wasn't related to Bozo the Clown and got a refund for the "additional outlet" charges last month. Now I'm charged $1.79 going forward.

I noticed on the FIOS line-up on the web site for 98033, though, that MSNBC wasn't in the mix. WTF? I called the rep I chatted with and asked him to follow-up. (Gotta have my Olberman fix!) You're right, no MSNBC but they do televise CNBC on four channels and ShopNBC on two channels. Strange.

The FIOS channel lineup has no information as to which local broadcasters are carried. There's a disclaimer about PEG channels, but no mention of KING, KOMO, KIRO etc.

Does FIOS carry CBUT Vancouver, like Comcast and nearly all other Western Washington cable ops?

Does FIOS carry KBTC Tacoma, like Comcast?

I got a letter from comcast yesterday thanking me as there customer. Also they included 12 on demand movie coupons (1 per month).

Did anybody else get this letter too?

I also got the "audit" letter.
I have 4 cable cards, two in one tivo, one in a second tivo and one in a tv.
They are now charging me 2 x $1.79 and 2 x $5.10.
I called to complain and Comcast informed me that I have 5 cable cards.
The rep said he would have to have an audit run but in the mean time he would transfer me to customer service and see if they could issue a credit.
The customer service rep without much prompting offered to give me 12 months credit for the digital outlets and the cable cards. In addition she bumped me back up to 16 meg internet for no charge.

I thinks Comcast is starting to react to Verizon Fios service that is finally being deployed in our area

That's the question.I don't see MOJO or Fox Sports NW HD listed on thier channel lineup...Anyone know? Thanks for any reply

I got a letter from comcast yesterday thanking me as there customer. Also they included 12 on demand movie coupons (1 per month).

Did anybody else get this letter too?

I got it, just as I was thinking about returning the cable box I have for free right now... (I called to cancel my service and they basically offered me HD for free for a few months so I took it). Now I'll have to broker another deal to keep my current service for no charge so I can use this :)

So I switched ISP's from Earthlink to Comcast (Earthlink uses the same cable but is only 4Mbps without PowerBoost). Turns out they messed up my bill and started charging me $5.10 for my cablecard which is supposed to be free and they "accidentally" marked my modem as being leased when I own it outright and started charging me for that.

So I placed a call and they said they would do an audit and get back to me in two days. They didn't so I called them back and got a really nice rep. The audit had been done and they took off the additional charges. In addition, I said that I could switch to Click! (Tacoma Cable) and the took an additional ~$12 off my monthly basic service. I guess that is a standard discount for customers living in the Click! area as long as you ask for it.

I also asked for a week of free service for my troubles, and they gave it to me! Soooo.... I think they did right by me. Took about an hour of phone time, but it was worth it.

That's the question.I don't see MOJO or Fox Sports NW HD listed on thier channel lineup...Anyone know? Thanks for any replyMOJO is jointly owned by cable companies Comcast, Cox, and Time-Warner, so I'd guess it's not a big priority for Verizon...

MOJO is jointly owned by cable companies Comcast, Cox, and Time-Warner, so I'd guess it's not a big priority for Verizon...I take it back. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOJO_HD):MOJO HD is available on Verizon FiOS in select markets on channel 682 and will expand nationally over the summer.

Looks like Fios TV is live in lynnwood now with 99 hd channels:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20993008-FIOS-TV-Live-Tomorrow-in-Lynnwood-WA-99-hd-stations

You can actually go to fios site and look at the channels that fios will offer in redmond and other cities in WA.

Do you have a link to where I can look at channel lineups? I am in Brier/Lynnwood and I want to get Fios.

Nevermind, I found it...

Fios Lineup for Redmond - 98053 (http://www22.verizon.com/Content/FiOSTV/Channel+Lineup/Channel+Lineup.htm?zipCode=98053)

Checking the BTN website at http://bigten.channelfinder.net/start.asp?zip=98008 would lead me to think that Comcast in Seattle is carrying the Big Ten Network on channel 404, but it isn't there. No indication of whether it really isn't available in HD as well as SD.

You're right, no MSNBC but they do televise CNBC on four channels and ShopNBC on two channels. Strange.

The FIOS channel lineup has no information as to which local broadcasters are carried. There's a disclaimer about PEG channels, but no mention of KING, KOMO, KIRO etc.

Does FIOS carry CBUT Vancouver, like Comcast and nearly all other Western Washington cable ops?

Does FIOS carry KBTC Tacoma, like Comcast?

Verizon will carry MSNBC, CBUT in SD and FSNNW in HD. I'm looking at the Seattle Fios Channel line up that somebody uploaded at dslreports.com

Verizon will carry MSNBC, CBUT in SD and FSNNW in HD. I'm looking at the Seattle Fios Channel line up that somebody uploaded at dslreports.com

Wow, that lineup looks pretty sweet indeed! I'm seriously thinking about getting hooked up, it's available and I got the FIOS line to my house already for internet. Anyone made the switch yet? Any problems, regrets?

Wow, that lineup looks pretty sweet indeed! I'm seriously thinking about getting hooked up, it's available and I got the FIOS line to my house already for internet. It's disturbing that Verizon's FiOS TV channel lineup (http://www22.verizon.com/Content/FiOSTV/Channel+Lineup/Channel+Lineup.htm?zipCode=98053) omits disclosing whether ANY local broadcast stations are carried.

Whither KOMO, KING, KIRO, KCTS, KSTW, KCPQ, KONG, KBTC? Does FiOS carry local stations, or don't they?

It's disturbing that Verizon's FiOS TV channel lineup (http://www22.verizon.com/Content/FiOSTV/Channel+Lineup/Channel+Lineup.htm?zipCode=98053) omits disclosing whether ANY local broadcast stations are carried.

Whither KOMO, KING, KIRO, KCTS, KSTW, KCPQ, KONG, KBTC? Does FiOS carry local stations, or don't they?

They show up if you input my zip code (98008) -- which is interesting, since it isn't a Verizon service area.

They show up if you input my zip code (98008) -- which is interesting, since it isn't a Verizon service area. Thanks for the link. All fourteen local Seattle-Tacoma stations show up on the FiOS Local lineup.

However, CBUT appears to be omitted from Verizon FiOS.

Thanks for the link. All fourteen local Seattle-Tacoma stations show up on the FiOS Local lineup.

However, CBUT appears to be omitted from Verizon FiOS.

Trust me it will be there....Channel 2 on fios.

To prove it you can check the seattle channel pdf somebody uploaded on this site:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20993008-FIOS-TV-Live-Tomorrow-in-Lynnwood-WA-99-hd-stations

when someone gets verizon FIOS let us now about what's available in clear QAM, and firewire access to their boxes :)

Trust me it will be there...Channel 2 on fios.

To prove it you can check the seattle channel pdf (http://www.dslreports.com/r0/download/1342719~0247028f99dd4c9e5cc7c60220511984/Fios%20TV%20Channel%20Lineup%20Seattle.pdf) somebody uploaded on this site: Thanks! The Seattle FiOS PDF shows CBUT on channel 2 (its real OTA number). Seattle FiOS also shows KVOS (http://www.kvos.com/home.aspx) on channel 12. KVOS was deleted from Seattle-area cable lineups over 15 years ago.

Curiously, KBTC (http://www.kbtc.org/) 28 is missing from the Seattle FiOS PDF (http://www.dslreports.com/r0/download/1342719~0247028f99dd4c9e5cc7c60220511984/Fios%20TV%20Channel%20Lineup%20Seattle.pdf), while the FiOS online channel lineup (http://www22.verizon.com/Content/FiOSTV/Channel+Lineup/Channel+Lineup.htm?zipCode=98008) shown for ZIP 98008 lists KBTC but omits CBUT, KVOS and KBCB.

It looks like FiOS also offers nearly all of the OTA subchannels: QUBO, ION Life, Worship Network, KHCV 45.3 AAT TV (http://www.tv45.tv/), and (on the online version) the various KBTC subs.

FiOS not only offers an enormous selection of cable networks - including a lot of claimed HD channels - it seems to offer ALL of the local and regional OTA broadcast channels including subchannels.

Comcast, are you listening?

$34.43 Digital Starter, $33.43 Expanded Basic, and $9.99 Limited Cable in Issaquah? (http://issaquahtv.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2007-11-15-issaquah.pdf)
Are Issaquah's rates as posted at the Issaquah TV site still in effect? Is anyone here familiar with Issaquah's approach to bargaining with Comcast and influencing rates and services offered to Issaquah residents? Are there lessons which could be shared with other suburban cities? I'm sure Comcast has its side of the story, but inquiring minds are definitely curious about this state of affairs.

I can't answer your questions about Issaquah's bargaining techniques but I can confirm those rates. I just moved to Issaquah a few months ago and those prices are correct. Interesting, I thought all Western WA was getting these good deals, didn't realize it was just Issaquah. I paid much more for the same service in the Chicago burbs.

I can't answer your questions about Issaquah's bargaining techniques but I can confirm those rates. I just moved to Issaquah a few months ago and those prices are correct. Interesting, I thought all Western WA was getting these good deals, didn't realize it was just Issaquah. I paid much more for the same service in the Chicago burbs. Local governments have a huge amount of power which they could exert at franchise renewal time. Issaquah Comcast subscribers typically save more than $200/year over pricing offered to subscribers elsewhere in King County. For example:

Digital Starter in Issquah:
$413.16 for 12 months (plus local taxes)

Digital Starter in rest of King County:
$639.00 for 12 months (plus local taxes)

Does anyone know if Comcast is showing the Husky game this Saturday in HD?

I think people should start another thread about FIOS. This is "Comcast" HDTV, not FIOS. I came here to find out about Comcast stuff and everyone is talking about another service.

No, please don't take the FIOS discussion to another thread.:eek: I like reading the comparisons to Comcast so that if FIOS ever becomes available to me I'll have read what others have to say!:D

No, please don't take the FIOS discussion to another thread.:eek: I like reading the comparisons to Comcast so that if FIOS ever becomes available to me I'll have read what others have to say!:D I agree. Comcast is the 800-pound gorilla in the Puget Sound area, FiOS is only available to a tiny number of local residents.

I have observed there isn't even an active thread for Pierce County's Click! Network (http://www.click-network.com/AboutUs/tabid/88/Default.aspx), which at this time has a lot more cable TV (http://www.click-network.com/CableTV/tabid/60/Default.aspx) subscribers than FiOS.

The Big Te(leve)n Network is now live on channel 404 in Seattle.

I agree. Comcast is the 800-pound gorilla in the Puget Sound area, FiOS is only available to a tiny number of local residents.

I have observed there isn't even an active thread for Pierce County's Click! Network (http://www.click-network.com/AboutUs/tabid/88/Default.aspx), which at this time has a lot more cable TV (http://www.click-network.com/CableTV/tabid/60/Default.aspx) subscribers than FiOS.

So "FIOS is only available to a tiny number of local residents", so this means we have to read about it in the Comcast thread? This doesn't make any sense.

Does anyone know if Comcast is showing the Husky game this Saturday in HD?

According to the channel guide we will be able to watch Chariots of Fire in glorious HD. Maybe this will show up on OnDemand some day so we can actually watch it in HD. As if the Pac-10 TV contract wasn't bad enough, now we can't even watch the games in HD. I'm glad I pay extra for this.

Does anyone know if Comcast is showing the Husky game this Saturday in HD?

Well, it doesn't look good guys:

user Randy_ has entered room

Randy(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:41:20 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
FSN College Football in HD

analyst Christa has entered room
Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:42:02 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Hello Randy_, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Christa. Please give me one moment to review your information.

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 21:42:14 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Will the University of Washington vs the University of Oregon game that is broadcast on FSN on Saturday night be available in HD in Seattle? If not, why?

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:42:14 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
I will assist you in resolving your cable service issue and answer any additional questions you may have regarding your services.

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 21:43:21 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Will the University of Washington vs the University of Oregon game that is broadcast on FSN on Saturday night be available in HD in Seattle? If not, why?

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:43:53 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
If it's broadcast on the FSN, then it will be the same broadcast in HD on the FSN HD channel.

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 21:44:38 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
We do not have an FSN-HD channel in Seattle.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:44:58 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Just one moment.

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 21:45:18 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
It is usually shown on channel 664 (split with MOJO)

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:48:21 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Let me see if I can find out if it will be broadcast in HD.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:54:00 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
I'm not showing it in HD.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:54:16 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
I'm showing the game on Fox College Sports Pacific

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:54:30 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
And on channel 30

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 21:55:20 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Channel 30 is not HD. I don't even know what Fox College Sports Pacific is, but I'm sure it is not HD either.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:55:37 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
I'm aware it's not hD.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:55:45 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
I don't believe it is broadcast in HD.

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 21:56:35 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
So I'm paying extra for all this HD content (more than satellite - as the ads would say), but somehow I'm missing how I am actually getting more. Please help.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:57:11 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
That is the network not us. If it was broadcast in HD, then we would carry it in HD.

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 21:57:37 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
You just said it was broadcast on FSN-HD above.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:58:14 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
If you had the FSN HD, and if it were broadcast in HD.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:58:51 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
I'm not showing it at all in HD. On any channel in the line up.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:00:53 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Is there anything else I may assist you with today?

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 22:01:17 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
So if FSN was broadcasting the game in HD you would definitely carry it?

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:01:30 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Yes.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:03:42 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Is there anything else I may assist you with today?

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 22:04:09 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Interesting, because on www.hdsportsguide.com/cfb/ they are listing the Washington Oregon game in HD.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:04:30 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Great! Does it also say that FSN is broadcasting it in HD?

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 22:04:56 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Yes, it is shown on FSN.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:05:16 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
This is a network issue.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:05:31 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
It is not shown as being broadcast in HD.

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 22:07:05 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Well I'm sure on the standard def broadcast they will tout their HD broadcast. I guess we are stuck here in Seattle. Perhaps I can find someone with a satellite.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:07:25 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
You can check the channel 664, however, it's not showing up on the TVplanner.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:07:50 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
664 isn't showing on the TV planner.

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 22:07:54 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
I'll try that. Hopefully we will luck out. Thanks.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:08:01 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
You're welcome.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:08:04 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Have a great night!

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:08:06 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
We strive to exceed your expectations and hope that you will take a moment to complete the 3 question survey that will follow our interaction, your feedback will help us to continue improving how we serve you.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:08:08 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Comcast appreciates your business and values you as a customer. Our goal is to provide you with excellent service. If you need further assistance, you can chat with one of our Customer Support Specialists 24 hour a day, 7 days a week at http://www.comcastsupport.com/chat To close this chat, please click the close button at the top of your chat window

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 01:08:11 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
Analyst has closed chat and left the room

analyst Christa has left room

The Big Te(leve)n Network is now live on channel 404 in Seattle.

I think it requires the Sports package, though.

Christa(Wed Aug 27 2008 00:57:11 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
That is the network not us. If it was broadcast in HD, then we would carry it in HD.

Randy_(Tue Aug 26 2008 21:57:37 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time))>
You just said it was broadcast on FSN-HD above.



Someone call FSN and tell them to use the HD cameras that aren't needed for the Sonics anymore.

So "FIOS is only available to a tiny number of local residents", so this means we have to read about it in the Comcast thread? This doesn't make any sense.

I think that the number might be higher than you think. Much of the Eastside has FIOS available, plus several other areas. As a phone/internet FIOS user for over a year, I enjoy seeing the discussions (and ultimate comparisons) in this thread. If, in fact, we're a "tiny" faction, it shouldn't create too much of an annoyance.

I think that many will probably do what I plan to do, i.e., drop the Comcast service to Limited, just to keep it around for comparison. Once we become a large user base, then it will probably make sense to create a different thread.

My $0.02.

Both games this Saturday are being produced by FSN in HD. I think it is just a guide issue with Comcast.

Anyone know or heard what the next round of HD stations planned for the Seattle area will be? Just curious...

I've been wondering this myself. Personally, as a fan of F1 racing, I'd love to get SPEED Network in HD.

Other favorites would be Travel and CBUT in HD (hopefully before the Vancouver Olympics)...

I think that the number might be higher than you think. Much of the Eastside has FIOS available, plus several other areas. As a phone/internet FIOS user for over a year, I enjoy seeing the discussions (and ultimate comparisons) in this thread. If, in fact, we're a "tiny" faction, it shouldn't create too much of an annoyance.

I think that many will probably do what I plan to do, i.e., drop the Comcast service to Limited, just to keep it around for comparison. Once we become a large user base, then it will probably make sense to create a different thread.

My $0.02.

Does anyone know whether an old analog TV will work with Verizon FIOS TV?
What about a LCD TV that has a built-in QAM decoder?

I am not happy with Comcast (cost and number of HD channels), but seems like switching to Verizon FIOS TV (when it becomes available) may actually cost more if I have to rent a box for each TV.

I've been wondering this myself. Personally, as a fan of F1 racing, I'd love to get SPEED Network in HD.

Other favorites would be Travel and CBUT in HD (hopefully before the Vancouver Olympics)...Unfortunately, CTV has the rights to the 2010 and 2102 Olympics, so getting CBC-HD won't do you much good on the Olympics front until at least 2014. On the other hand, Hockey Night in Canada in HD and the occasional Blue Jays game in HD would still be pretty cool...

Does anyone know whether an old analog TV will work with Verizon FIOS TV?
What about a LCD TV that has a built-in QAM decoder?

I am not happy with Comcast (cost and number of HD channels), but seems like switching to Verizon FIOS TV (when it becomes available) may actually cost more if I have to rent a box for each TV.

Your QAM LCD should work with unencrypted channels but you will need a box for your analog TV.

On a separate note, FIOS Cablecards work with the two digital/HD Tivos. Cablecards are only necessary for encrypted channels. Further discussion is on tivocommunity.com.

This from Bob Condotta's blog on the Times site:

This is straight from the PR department at Fox Sports and includes the listings for the entire Northwest area.

Here they are, and hope you find the one that is in your area:

Bend Broadband 620

Broadstripe 737

Broadstripe (Port Townsend) 733

Canby Telephone Association 729

Charter 774

Click! 537

Comcast-OR 788

Comcast-WA 664

Crestview 626

DirecTV 687

DISH Network 426

GCI 658

Hood Canal 130

LocalTel 554

Minet 710

Northland 453

Rainier 510

Time Warner 726 or 799

WAVE:

South System (Port Orchard) 130

North System (LaConner) 246

West System (Port Angeles) 125

My understanding is this should apply for all games that are FSN national games

I think that the number might be higher than you think. Much of the Eastside has FIOS available, plus several other areas. As a phone/internet FIOS user for over a year, I enjoy seeing the discussions (and ultimate comparisons) in this thread. If, in fact, we're a "tiny" faction, it shouldn't create too much of an annoyance.

I think that many will probably do what I plan to do, i.e., drop the Comcast service to Limited, just to keep it around for comparison. Once we become a large user base, then it will probably make sense to create a different thread.

My $0.02.

Ok I did it! I ordered FiosTV, will be connected this Saturday. Going to try it and then I'll decide weather to keep it or go back to Comcast. vico512 did you get the service yet, or has anyone else? Will let you know how everything goes. Do we have a local FiosTV thread yet?

Ok I did it! I ordered FiosTV, will be connected this Saturday. Going to try it and then I'll decide weather to keep it or go back to Comcast. vico512 did you get the service yet, or has anyone else? Will let you know how everything goes. Do we have a local FiosTV thread yet?It would be nice to get a FIOS thread going to keep the FIOS news separate. We don't have FIOS in Sammamish, so I'm not that interested in getting daily FIOS news. If you set up a FIOS thread, I will certainly monitor it regularly as I am sure it is just a matter of time before Verizon rolls out FIOS in the north half of the City of Sammamish (the south half is Qwest territory). If FIOS proves to be good value for the money, I might switch when FIOS rolls out here.

I think it requires the Sports package, though.

They sure aren't advertising its arrival at all and the lack of HD makes it pretty much worthless. I'm eying the Michigan schedule and if one of their later games gets shunted to BTN then it might finally be time to jump to D*

Ok I did it! I ordered FiosTV, will be connected this Saturday. Going to try it and then I'll decide weather to keep it or go back to Comcast. vico512 did you get the service yet, or has anyone else? Will let you know how everything goes. Do we have a local FiosTV thread yet?

Due to some other commitments, I'll be getting the TV service in September. Should be only one cable to be installed from the existing FIOS box on the house.

-vic

Perhaps there should be a separate Seattle FiOS thread. FYI Verizon itself uses the weird mixed-case brand styling of "FiOS" rather than "FIOS" or "Fios".

Also, are there active users of the Tacoma/Pierce County Click! Network (http://www.click-network.com/) lurking here? They should reactivate that thread.

The guide now lists the game in HD. What I hate is that if the game goes past 10:30, the feed got shut off last year and I had to switch to cheesy FSN channel 30.

FSN-HD deserves more of a dedicated channel. At least the game deserve flexible priority, so they don't get switched off like last year.

The guide now lists the game in HD. What I hate is that if the game goes past 10:30, the feed got shut off last year and I had to switch to cheesy FSN channel 30.

FSN-HD deserves more of a dedicated channel. At least the game deserve flexible priority, so they don't get switched off like last year.

Beavers??? It's the DUCKS!!! ;)

I agree with you, though I'm happy to have any of it in HD. The picture on normal FSN is often horrible.

Go Ducks!

How do I find out if it is available for Bothell?

You should be able to just go to the FiosTV website and type in your zip code and it should tell you if it's available, but I also got stuff in the mail about it.

Beavers??? It's the DUCKS!!! ;)

I agree with you, though I'm happy to have any of it in HD. The picture on normal FSN is often horrible.

Go Ducks!

I apologize to all Beaver fans for confusing them with the Ducks. Ever since Duck fans spit on my elderly Dad down in Eugene a few years ago, I have decided there is only one team to respect in Oregon.

I've had the sports package for about a week now. The compression on some of these channels makes them almost unwatchable.

in the paper today Comcast cable tv going up 3.7% Oct 1st
link
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/377131_comcast30.html

I started a new thread ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1061867 ) since there wasn't one and nobody else has started one. I got FiosTV installed today, and so far all I can say is Wow! FiosTV completely rocks with a 1080p tv and surround system. I will post more in the above thread once I have more experience with it... I've only been hooked up for a few hours.... installation smooth and so far so good.

ps. I don't think it's a good time for Comcast to be raising their prices since I'm now paying less and getting +3x more HD ( not sure about the on demand service yet, will check that out later ) "But at any one time" I'll take this over what Comcast is providing at it's prices with no hesitation and so far no regrets!

Thanks. I'll bookmark it to follow.

in the paper today Comcast cable tv going up 3.7% Oct 1st - link
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/377131_comcast30.html Inflation is infecting more of the economy. Prices will keep going up unless a lot of people cancel their service (reduced demand) or alternative providers become available (i.e. Verizon FiOS).

in the paper today Comcast cable tv going up 3.7% Oct 1st
link
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/377131_comcast30.html

They need more $$ to buy gas for all those pointless truck rolls.

They need more $$ to buy gas for all those pointless truck rolls.

...and to pay for their glitzy BS adds about "more HD at any given time".

(Because 5 min OnDemand video game trailers count somehow as HD viewing choices :confused: )

Is anyone else "mad as hell" and not going to take it anymore? Comcast HD stations have been down all day. So much for watching the US Open in HD today. Prices going up for spotty service? AWESOME! Please Fios, come to Queen Anne. We need you!

Anyone else having trouble with CW11 and KCPQ13 digital signals on comcast today? Im using mythtv and can't get them (they are on the same QAM channel). Did a complete rescan and many channels have been duplicated and only CW11 and KCPQ13 are gone. Is it just me. Comcast was no help. All other channels still work just fine. I can't miss the Seahawks game on Sunday!!!

Anyone else having trouble with CW11 and KCPQ13 digital signals on comcast today? Im using mythtv and can't get them (they are on the same QAM channel). Did a complete rescan and many channels have been duplicated and only CW11 and KCPQ13 are gone. Is it just me. Comcast was no help. All other channels still work just fine. I can't miss the Seahawks game on Sunday!!!

No change here. On the tuner w/ PSIP, 11-1 KSTW, 13-1 KCPQ/Fox, 13-2 KCPQ/AccuWeather. On the tuner w/o PSIP, 111-1 KCPQ/Fox, 111-2 KSTW, 111-4 KCPQ/AccuWeather.

There is still something fishy with the PSIP data on this MUX. KSTW's PSIP ID on Comcast is "CW11 HD" but is "KSTW-DT" OTA. The remapping information is equally bungled: without PSIP, channels are as above. With PSIP, the mappings are correct, but direct tuning is broken: KSTW can be direct dialed at 111-1, KCPQ/Fox at 111-2, and KCPQ/AccuWeather at 111-3.

I use mythtv and can still tune both channels 11.1 and 13.1 at their same locations. I haven't had to remap any channels in a while...

OK. Thanks. Must be the signal quality of 9 on that channel. Do signals get weaker and stronger for anyone through comcast? I can't figure out if it is a problem with the cables/spliting in my house or if comcast messes with the signal strengths. BTW, im in greenwood.

Well I re-ran a scan this morning, and it did find 11 and 13. The signal strength is now 20. Enough to find it but not enough to watch. I can't figure out why different channels on cable have different signal strengths? Maybe Ill just toss all my cables and start over.

Just called Comcast and told them Fios was in my neighborhood (Kenmore) and asked them if they could give me a better deal to keep from switching. They offered me 16 Meg internet and 30 additional channels for $78 instead of the $118 I'm currently paying. Also got rid of that $5.10 additional outlet charge that showed up the last couple of months. Deal good for 12 months. Comcastic!

Guys
I know this is a bit OT for this thread but I'm hoping someone here can give me the answer I'm looking for.
We live in Redmond and disconnected our cable TV over the summer. I just called to reinstate and the CSR told me that on August 22 Comcast stopped analog broadcasting of all but the local channels. Is this true? I have a homebrew PVR with 2 capture cards, and if I can no longer just plug the cable into them I have a major headache of setting up 2 STBs and IR blasters and weeks of pain :)

Thanks for any knowledgeable replies - I trust the replies I'll get here way more than those from a CSR.

does any know if we might get tbs hd for the playoffs ?

Guys
I know this is a bit OT for this thread but I'm hoping someone here can give me the answer I'm looking for.
We live in Redmond and disconnected our cable TV over the summer. I just called to reinstate and the CSR told me that on August 22 Comcast stopped analog broadcasting of all but the local channels. Is this true? I have a homebrew PVR with 2 capture cards, and if I can no longer just plug the cable into them I have a major headache of setting up 2 STBs and IR blasters and weeks of pain :)

Thanks for any knowledgeable replies - I trust the replies I'll get here way more than those from a CSR.

I don't know about redmond but in Everett there is still analog service beyond the locals. Although it has been posted on this forum that plan is start phasing most of the analogs out starting next year...

Analogs are still available in Bellevue (including channels like ESPN and Speed). Where do they hire these misinformation specialists?

We live in Redmond and disconnected our cable TV over the summer. I just called to reinstate and the CSR told me that on August 22 Comcast stopped analog broadcasting of all but the local channels. Is this true? I have a homebrew PVR with 2 capture cards, and if I can no longer just plug the cable into them I have a major headache of setting up 2 STBs and IR blasters and weeks of pain :) There's no information on the City of Redmond cable franchise (http://www.redmond.gov/intheworks/cablefranchise/default.asp) site mentioning the phase-out of analog service. 83% of Redmond households are cable subscribers, according to the City.

It was odd that a Comcast rep described their company as engaged in "broadcasting". Using the very precise legal semantics Comcast itself uses in court proceedings asserting its immunity to certain types of regulation, Comcast itself is not a broadcaster and does not "broadcast" anything. Comcast content is "narrowcast" to its paying subscribers only via cable, rather than to the general public via OTA transmission.

The analog-to-digital cable migration is unrelated to the OTA Digital TV Transition. Redmond might be a test location for the planned analog-to-digital channel migration. This is why Comcast won't offer you "expanded basic" service. You probably could ask "limited cable service" tier (about $16/month) and receive some analog channels, but even in that service tier, some of these channels are being gradually "bumped up to digital".

Even if you opt for "limited" service, you may need a Comcast's low-end digital STBs (described on their price sheet as "limited cable service customer equipment" for $1/month) to view some of the "limited" channels unless you have a properly-functioning clear QAM decoder available on your TV/VCR/other tuning device. Comcast's $1/month STB only provides a 480p standard-def picture, though; Comcast will make you pay extra to receive the actual HD local stations as well as to receive an HD STB.

Thanks for all the info guys. Just to be clear, I was the one who used the term "analog broadcast" although the rep didn't correct me :)

I'm going to go ahead and order the Digital Starter package and hopefully I will be able to just hook up the cable to my old PVR and everythin will work. Thanks again for the quick replies!

D

Guys
I know this is a bit OT for this thread but I'm hoping someone here can give me the answer I'm looking for.
We live in Redmond and disconnected our cable TV over the summer. I just called to reinstate and the CSR told me that on August 22 Comcast stopped analog broadcasting of all but the local channels. Is this true? I have a homebrew PVR with 2 capture cards, and if I can no longer just plug the cable into them I have a major headache of setting up 2 STBs and IR blasters and weeks of pain :)

Thanks for any knowledgeable replies - I trust the replies I'll get here way more than those from a CSR.

I think the CSR didn't know what they were talking about or misunderstood your question. Analogs are still on cable and a VP assured me recently that they will be around for a long time (maybe until 2011). They do want to transition to "digital only" but they know they can't pull the rug out on a large chunk of their customer base. I think the misinformation is often used to up-sell the digital packages and it often works. If you don't want the Digital Starter then change your order to Basic Cable and save a bundle.

I think the CSR didn't know what they were talking about or misunderstood your question. Analogs are still on cable and a VP assured me recently that they will be around for a long time (maybe until 2011). They do want to transition to "digital only" but they know they can't pull the rug out on a large chunk of their customer base. I think the misinformation is often used to up-sell the digital packages and it often works. If you don't want the Digital Starter then change your order to Basic Cable and save a bundle. Per Comcast's price sheet:

Digital Starter is $55.75
Basic Cable is $54.18 (apparently NOT being offered to new subscribers in my area)
Limited Cable is $17.99 or less (price varies depending on locality).

I agree that Comcast sales agents might tend to emphasize Comcast's own analog-to-digital channel migration as a sales tool to "upsell" clients to a higher service tier. What used to be called "Expanded Basic" (75 channels) is now "Basic Cable", and the lowest level is now "Limited Cable" (39 channels).

Did anyone else have problems with their Tivo recording the Huskie game yesterday? Mine tried to use a channel around 440. The listing said the game was to be on that channel, but their was no signal to record. I happened to find the game on FSN further down the channels but missed the first half. Looks like the WSU game recorded OK.

Did anyone else have problems with their Tivo recording the Huskie game yesterday? Mine tried to use a channel around 440. The listing said the game was to be on that channel, but their was no signal to record. I happened to find the game on FSN further down the channels but missed the first half. Looks like the WSU game recorded OK.

Both games were on FSNW. Not sure if the Husky game was in HD (I was at a bar and the only had SD). I was home by the start of the Coug game, whcih I could not get in HD. Generally, when a FSNW is in HD, it is broadcast on channel 664.

I mentioned last week that Comcast offered me free 16 meg service as part of a package to keep me as a customer. They said all I had to do to get it was unplug my modem for 30 seconds. Well, I've tried it several times over this past weekend and I don't think anything has changed. This is what I am getting from DSLreports:

Speed Test #57080342 by dslreports.com
Run: 2008-09-08 12:49:45 EST
Download: 2513 (Kbps)
Upload: 256 (Kbps)
In kilobytes per second: 306.8 down 31.3 up
Tested by server: 55 java
User: 2 @ dslreports.com
User's DNS: comcast.net

Can anyone who has 16 Meg service tell me what I should be seeing here? Should I call Comcast and complain? Thanks

Both games were on FSNW. Not sure if the Husky game was in HD (I was at a bar and the only had SD). I was home by the start of the Coug game, whcih I could not get in HD. Generally, when a FSNW is in HD, it is broadcast on channel 664.
Huskies were on 664 (HD) & 30 (sd). The Tivo guide does not show the FSNW HD programs that appear on MOJO (664). Not sure why tivo thought the game was on 440 for you - perhaps you have a keyword (in a tivo seach) that triggered the program on 440.

Either way that penelty on Locker was a joke. That ref completely blew what was an otherwise great game that should have been decided in OT. That TD celebration didn't have an ounce of malice / unsportsmanlike conduct in it. That ref needs to put the rulebook to better use.

I mentioned last week that Comcast offered me free 16 meg service as part of a package to keep me as a customer. They said all I had to do to get it was unplug my modem for 30 seconds. Well, I've tried it several times over this past weekend and I don't think anything has changed. This is what I am getting from DSLreports:

Speed Test #57080342 by dslreports.com
Run: 2008-09-08 12:49:45 EST
Download: 2513 (Kbps)
Upload: 256 (Kbps)
In kilobytes per second: 306.8 down 31.3 up
Tested by server: 55 java
User: 2 @ dslreports.com
User's DNS: comcast.net

Can anyone who has 16 Meg service tell me what I should be seeing here? Should I call Comcast and complain? Thanks

I actually get close to the adverteised rates (usually 10-13 Mbps down, 1-2Mbps Up). Do you have a router connected to your modem? Does it have any speed restrictions or QoS settings? I had to modify my QoS settings on my router to get those rates.

I mentioned last week that Comcast offered me free 16 meg service as part of a package to keep me as a customer. They said all I had to do to get it was unplug my modem for 30 seconds. Well, I've tried it several times over this past weekend and I don't think anything has changed. This is what I am getting from DSLreports:

Speed Test #57080342 by dslreports.com
Run: 2008-09-08 12:49:45 EST
Download: 2513 (Kbps)
Upload: 256 (Kbps)
In kilobytes per second: 306.8 down 31.3 up
Tested by server: 55 java
User: 2 @ dslreports.com
User's DNS: comcast.net

Can anyone who has 16 Meg service tell me what I should be seeing here? Should I call Comcast and complain? Thanks

Try www.speakeasy.net/speedtest. I had a similar issue with Comcast, and they told me this is the site they use.

I've been getting very good speeds from Blast. I've seen sustained download speeds *above* 16mbps. I haven't recently tried the Speakeasy or DSLReports tests, but I downloaded a ~510MB file at an average of 16.875 mbps recently. Upload was just barely above 2mbps for a similarly sized file at the same time. I trust testing with a large file (big enough to overcome SpeedBoost) more than I trust any of those speed test sites. I can try one tonight when I get home if I remember, though.

(BTW, you're sure the dslreports numbers are Kbps and not KBps, right? Because 2513 KBps would be 20104kbps, which is well above 16mbps...)

I mentioned last week that Comcast offered me free 16 meg service as part of a package to keep me as a customer. They said all I had to do to get it was unplug my modem for 30 seconds. Well, I've tried it several times over this past weekend and I don't think anything has changed.
...

Check your modem log file to see what level the modem is provisioned for. For example, logging onto my Motorola 5120 with http://192.168.100.1/logs.htm I see that my modem has is provisioned as d11_m_sb5120_silver_c01.cm -- which indicates 6mbps.

Per Comcast's price sheet:

Digital Starter is $55.75
Basic Cable is $54.18 (apparently NOT being offered to new subscribers in my area)
Limited Cable is $17.99 or less (price varies depending on locality).

I agree that Comcast sales agents might tend to emphasize Comcast's own analog-to-digital channel migration as a sales tool to "upsell" clients to a higher service tier. What used to be called "Expanded Basic" (75 channels) is now "Basic Cable", and the lowest level is now "Limited Cable" (39 channels).

Thanks for clarifying - I meant to say Limited Cable but forgot the terminolgy.

On another note:
Tivo HD XL DVR now available for $599
150 hours of HD recording
$399 for lifetime service

https://www3.tivo.com/store/boxdetails.do?boxName=tivohdxl&boxsku=R65800

to mirror KCTS 9 SD

I also discovered that at least one future recording I had on my HD Tivo set for ch 108 was removed from the ToDo list, so fyi

Here's more info I just found on the KCTS.org web site...

http://www.kcts9.org/tvschedule/HDmoving

As part of our transition to all-digital broadcasting in February 2009, we're moving our high-definition channel from 9.5 (108 on Comcast cable) to 9.1 (Comcast 109) in Western Washington on Monday, September 8. ...

to mirror KCTS 9 SD

I also discovered that at least one future recording I had on my HD Tivo set for ch 108 was removed from the ToDo list, so fyi

Here's more info I just found on the KCTS.org web site...

http://www.kcts9.org/tvschedule/HDmoving

As part of our transition to all-digital broadcasting in February 2009, we're moving our high-definition channel from 9.5 (108 on Comcast cable) to 9.1 (Comcast 109) in Western Washington on Monday, September 8. ...

Good info... it appears to be in affect on my QAM tuner and 9.5 is gone. A channel I watch and record fairly regularly so thanks!

Yes, all my 108 Season Passes are now moot.

Try www.speakeasy.net/speedtest. I had a similar issue with Comcast, and they told me this is the site they use.

I prefer www.speedtest.net although I do get similar results with speakeasy

http://www.speedtest.net/result/306389449.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Is this Seattle Comcast High Speed forum now? Actually I don't give a damm about it as I'm moving too Fios soon.

I prefer www.speedtest.net although I do get similar results with speakeasy

Did you notice that speedtest is using speakeasy for their Seattle test?

Did anyone else notice that today, Ellen Degeneres was in HD but Oprah was not. Both are now being broadcast in HD. What gives?

Art

to mirror KCTS 9 SD

I also discovered that at least one future recording I had on my HD Tivo set for ch 108 was removed from the ToDo list, so fyi

Here's more info I just found on the KCTS.org web site...

http://www.kcts9.org/tvschedule/HDmoving

As part of our transition to all-digital broadcasting in February 2009, we're moving our high-definition channel from 9.5 (108 on Comcast cable) to 9.1 (Comcast 109) in Western Washington on Monday, September 8. ... Anyone got any idea why they did this? And, with no notice at all??? 108 was one of my favorite channels. Nice to get 2 chances to record or view some shows there.

I would expect it is to match the other local TV HD simulcasts, where the HD channel is an increment of 100 from the SD channel:

4 & 104
5 & 105
6 & 106
etc...

Up until now, KCTS-HD and KCTS-analog did not broadcast the same programming schedule. OTA, the low-def simulcast of the analog channel got the ".1" slot on the OTA broadcast, while the HD signal got one of the sub-channels.

As KCTS says on its web site, analog is disappearing, so they're getting ready for that by broadcasting only one schedule from now on - the HD and analog programming schedule will be identical from now on. Going forward the HD signal gets the ".1" slot on the OTA broadcast and there is no low-def simulcast of the analog signal on any subchannels. And in just a few months, the analog signal disappears altogether.

And in just a few months, the analog signal disappears altogether.

I wish we could get Comcast to do this.

I wish we could get Comcast to do this.
It'll happen - just not as soon as us HD-lovers would like. As quarque posted about six weeks ago, a local Comcast VP said "We have a separate project or effort next year to begin to convert a number of analog channels into digital. It is important to know that we have no plans to digitize what we call limited cable (the first 13 analog channels). We are planning to do is to digitize a large percentage, but by no means all, of what we now call expanded basic. Of the approximately 50 or so expanded basic analog channels (which sit above the 13 limited basic channels), we will digitize about 35 of those."The good news is that Comcast has now signed up enough new linear HD channels that we should actually get a bunch of new HD channels once Comcast reclaims the bandwidth. Up until very recently, we had almost all of the HD that Comcast had to offer.

That's the one silver lining about falling behind other Comcast markets (Boston and Chicago) in the push to HD - at least when we see Comcast going to to 60+ HD channels elsewhere we know that we will EVENTUALLY see it here - typically about six to nine months later. In the meanwhile, having Verizon push FiOS into our market should incentivize the local Comcast folks to try and keep up on the HD front. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Verizon is in a hurry to upgrade their infrastructure in the north half of Sammamish where I live.

I actually get close to the adverteised rates (usually 10-13 Mbps down, 1-2Mbps Up). Do you have a router connected to your modem? Does it have any speed restrictions or QoS settings? I had to modify my QoS settings on my router to get those rates.

Well, per your advice I went into my modem and adjusted my Qos to 15000/800. Using Speakeasy I now get 6000 kbps and 600 kbps. That's an improvement, but still not 16000 kbps. Thanks. Got any other ideas about how to get it closer to 16000?

http://www.speedtest.net/result/320711965.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Check your modem log file to see what level the modem is provisioned for. For example, logging onto my Motorola 5120 with http://192.168.100.1/logs.htm I see that my modem has is provisioned as d11_m_sb5120_silver_c01.cm -- which indicates 6mbps.

I went to my modem's log file (DD-WRT) but all it showed were incoming and outgoing logs (dropped, rejected, and accepted). Couldn't find any provisioning info. Wonder is WW-DRT shows that info?

I went to my modem's log file (DD-WRT) but all it showed were incoming and outgoing logs (dropped, rejected, and accepted). Couldn't find any provisioning info. Wonder is WW-DRT shows that info?

Is that the router, rather than the modem? What modem do you have?

Did you notice that speedtest is using speakeasy for their Seattle test?

They use speakeasy's server, yes, but I still prefer Speedtest's interface.

Thinking about getting a TivoHD;

I'm a Tivo noob, but I've had comcast HD since day 1, and currently have the HD DVR. What do I need to know? I've read that a multistream card is the way to go, do I just stop by the comcast office and pick one up or do I have to schedule a service call? I'll probably be dropping off a standard cablebox for now and replacing it with the tivoHD box.

Does comcast use SDV in the seattle area? I've read that there's a fix in the works for that, but it's not quite ready.

Anybody with a TivoHD and seattle area comcast have any horror/good stories to share?

I use TivoHD (have since three days after we switched to SARA). If we do use SDV, it is on none of the channels I watch.

Yes, all you need to do is stop by Comcast and pickup a Cablecard. The card should be "paired," but you may need to "validate" the card.

One tip while installing the card is that you need to be very patient. Do not rerun guided setup just because everything doesn't work right at first.

Thinking about getting a TivoHD;

I'm a Tivo noob, but I've had comcast HD since day 1, and currently have the HD DVR. What do I need to know? I've read that a multistream card is the way to go, do I just stop by the comcast office and pick one up or do I have to schedule a service call? I'll probably be dropping off a standard cablebox for now and replacing it with the tivoHD box.

Does comcast use SDV in the seattle area? I've read that there's a fix in the works for that, but it's not quite ready.

Anybody with a TivoHD and seattle area comcast have any horror/good stories to share?

I have had a Series 3 (original HD) since Oct. 06. Get the multi-stream CableCard from the "Cable Store". Plug it into the TiVo using the TiVO instructions. You may still have to call to get it "activated" but it didn't require a truck roll even in my day.

TiVo is the way to go if you don't mind the extra cost. I've had lifetime forever so I don't mind at all. Just do it!