if you are receiving digital hd channels why do you need a dtv converter

Don't need On Demand. I just want my local HD and the analog channels they are getting rid of (there are a bunch on digital channel 116 that are receiving a poor signal...cutting out CNN, Travel Channel, and Animal Planet).

They are most likely going to switch me to the digital starter package, which costs the same. I'll have more HD options, but I lose control with changing channels with my TV remote and I have to pay $6.50 per box.

My parents' ReplayTV lasted them 6 years, I believe. If their HD box were to last that long, in 6 year period I'm paying $468 for the life of that product. Comcast's DVR is $15 a month? That's $180 a year, and $1,080 for 6 years.These analog channels are going away. Get over it. The remaining basic analog channels will likely be gone in a couple years, as well.

Killing off these bandwidth-sucking analog channels is long overdue. Each of these analog channels could be providing 2-3 new HD channels, or a couple extra megabits of internet download speed instead.

if you are receiving digital hd channels why do you need a dtv converter
Because I have more than 1 TV, and not all of them are HD TVs.

These analog channels are going away. Get over it. The remaining basic analog channels will likely be gone in a couple years, as well.

Killing off these bandwidth-sucking analog channels is long overdue. Each of these analog channels could be providing 2-3 new HD channels, or a couple extra megabits of internet download speed instead.
I'm fine with them killing off the analog channels, as long as they aren't trying to bait-and-switch me. I have more than 3 TVs in my house, so I'm going to have to pay more for those extra DTA boxes. Not to mention I have to have extra remotes for every one of those boxes. If I want to be able to get the encrypted HD and the digital channels my QAM tuner is having difficulty receiving with the service that I'm being forced into, I have to pay extra for the privilege of watching something I'm already paying for as part of my service.

You may be okay with that, but I'm not. Is it really too much to ask for choices with Comcast's "innovations"?

Because I have more than 1 TV, and not all of them are HD TVs.


I'm fine with them killing off the analog channels, as long as they aren't trying to bait-and-switch me. I have more than 3 TVs in my house, so I'm going to have to pay more for those extra DTA boxes. Not to mention I have to have extra remotes for every one of those boxes. If I want to be able to get the encrypted HD and the digital channels my QAM tuner is having difficulty receiving that I'm being forced into, I have to pay extra for the privilege of watching something I'm already paying for as part of my service.

You may be okay with that, but I'm not. Is it really too much to ask for choices with Comcast's "innovations"?

These digital to analog boxes will not give you the encrypted channels. You need a regular set top box for that and they probably will not improe yoour qam reception. They are intended for converting the signals to an analog set

These digital to analog boxes will not give you the encrypted channels. You need a regular set top box for that and they probably will not improe yoour qam reception. They are intended for converting the signals to an analog set
I understand that. Again, the DTA boxes would be for the TVs in my house that are not HD TVs.

Don't need On Demand. I just want my local HD and the analog channels they are getting rid of (there are a bunch on digital channel 116 that are receiving a poor signal...cutting out CNN, Travel Channel, and Animal Planet).

They are most likely going to switch me to the digital starter package, which costs the same. I'll have more HD options, but I lose control with changing channels with my TV remote and I have to pay $6.50 per box.

My parents' ReplayTV lasted them 6 years, I believe. If their HD box were to last that long, in 6 year period I'm paying $468 for the life of that product. Comcast's DVR is $15 a month? That's $180 a year, and $1,080 for 6 years.
Is directv an option for you?
You could get a good deal for the first 6 month to a year.
You seem to be stuck on the monthly box charge.
Look at your total cost over x number of years for rental and service.

'

Don't need On Demand. I just want my local HD and the analog channels they are getting rid of (there are a bunch on digital channel 116 that are receiving a poor signal...cutting out CNN, Travel Channel, and Animal Planet).I doubt you would be able to continue getting these after the digital switch in your area. I'm assuming these will no longer be viewable even with ClearQAM (like 99% of the other channels offered by Comcast).

They are most likely going to switch me to the digital starter package, which costs the same. I'll have more HD options, but I lose control with changing channels with my TV remote and I have to pay $6.50 per box.You will get one advanced digital tuner box (On Demand, Electronic Program Guide, etc.) with 2 DTA boxes for free. Future boxes will cost more. HD & HD-DVR boxes are still rentable for the listed monthly prices.

My parents' ReplayTV lasted them 6 years, I believe. If their HD box were to last that long, in 6 year period I'm paying $468 for the life of that product. Comcast's DVR is $15 a month? That's $180 a year, and $1,080 for 6 years.Just think of the capabilities that the Comcast DVR gives you! If the ReplayTV breaks down, you need to wait weeks upon weeks for a new box, with Comcast's DVR, you'd most likely wait about 24 hours from the initial service call.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ppshooky View Post
My parents' ReplayTV lasted them 6 years, I believe. If their HD box were to last that long, in 6 year period I'm paying $468 for the life of that product. Comcast's DVR is $15 a month? That's $180 a year, and $1,080 for 6 years.
Just think of the capabilities that the Comcast DVR gives you! If the ReplayTV breaks down, you need to wait weeks upon weeks for a new box, with Comcast's DVR, you'd most likely wait about 24 hours from the initial service call.

Was the last said sarcastically or were you serious?
Why should any box break down?
sam

Was the last said sarcastically or were you serious? Why should any box break down?
samI'm on my third Comcast DVR in 4 (5?) years. First one I swapped when a newer model with DVI outputs became available. Second one I swapped when the hard drive failed (probably the most common failure in most DVRs, including several of my old ReplayTVs).

Free replacement - for either hardware failure or technological obsolesence - is a definite advantage of leasing vs buying.

Free replacement - for either hardware failure or technological obsolesence - is a definite advantage of leasing vs buying.So true, Jim! However, I haven't had any issues with my DVR systems so far (knock on wood).

I got a letter today from Comcast saying that "network enhancement" starts on June 8th in my area of Sammamish. I'm looking forward to seeing most of my analog going away in June and seeing a lot of new HD in July.

Have any of you in the analog reclamation areas seen the additional HD channels yet? I would have thought that those who began losing analog in mid-March would have the additional channels by now.

I got a letter today from Comcast saying that "network enhancement" starts on June 8th in my area of Sammamish. I'm looking forward to seeing most of my analog going away in June and seeing a lot of new HD in July.

Damn, I have received no such letter. Only thing I got was the note letting me know NFL network was possibly going bye bye. :(

Anyone know how to email the president of Comcast to get around level one customer support.

I and most Comcast customers hate regular broadcasts being cut off to show the low quality Comcast News Makers clips. Most of the people that have complained to level one "customer support" get a canned answer that CNN requires Comcast to interupt their broadcast with News Makers as part of Comcast's contract with CNN....WHAT A CROCK:mad:

CNN's contract with Comcast *allows* them to insert the local Newsmaker segments; it does not *require* them to.

Maybe you should try your local cable franchise authority (eg, City of ....). I think this whole Newsmaker thing is just Comcast's payoff to local policitians to give them free air time for "softball" PR interviews, in return for the local cable franchise.

Damn, I have received no such letter. Only thing I got was the note letting me know NFL network was possibly going bye bye. :(

I haven't seen anything about the NFL network going away. It's the only reason I subscribe to the Sports Entertainment Pkg.:mad: Did your letter say why and when?

I haven't seen anything about the NFL network going away. It's the only reason I subscribe to the Sports Entertainment Pkg.:mad: Did your letter say why and when?

It was supposed to have been May 1, but the cutoff has be delayed while negotiations continue.

Maybe you should try your local cable franchise authority (eg, City of ....). I think this whole Newsmaker thing is just Comcast's payoff to local policitians to give them free air time for "softball" PR interviews, in return for the local cable franchise.

The wierd thing is that my "City of" has a dedicated channel as does the state for public info. There is no need for the info that is presented on NewsMaker

The wierd thing is that my "City of" has a dedicated channel as does the state for public info. There is no need for the info that is presented on NewsMakerYeah but free air time on a channel that people actually watch is priceless to a politician.

Our HOA newsletter came out today, dated April 21. It says that we will need a digital adapter for our TV sets by June 12 when Comcast's conversion to HD takes place. Comcast will be onsite next weekend to hand out DTAs to residents, two per household. Unfortunately, I'm out of town then, so I will have to go down to pick mine up at the Cable Store or have them mailed to me.

Ok, I think they got their messages confused here, but the bottom line is the digital only conversion is on for my neighborhood, and more HD should turn up soon.

It's unfortunate they would schedule your Comcast analog shutoff date on the same day as the national broadcast digital conversion day (June 12). Well, unless Congress gets cold feet again, that is...

If you follow the windows media center pc world, you've probably heard that in some cities there are hacks to let you download digital programs from your cable box via firewire. People wrote little extensions for windows media center that let you change channels via firewire (see this thread for instance http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/98686.aspx).

It depended on various seemingly random whims of cable companies and settings of cable boxes. Has anyone got this working currently in seattle area comcast, and if so what cable box are you using?

I just put win 7 on my pc, and have hd homerun, and was debating what my next step should be. And if I want to add the current bounty of stations unencrypted qam stations to my win 7 pc/hd homerun system, is there an automated way rather than doing 100 manual station edits?

-Nick

If you follow the windows media center pc world, you've probably heard that in some cities there are hacks to let you download digital programs from your cable box via firewire. People wrote little extensions for windows media center that let you change channels via firewire (see this thread for instance http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/98686.aspx).

It depended on various seemingly random whims of cable companies and settings of cable boxes. Has anyone got this working currently in seattle area comcast, and if so what cable box are you using?

I just put win 7 on my pc, and have hd homerun, and was debating what my next step should be. And if I want to add the current bounty of stations unencrypted qam stations to my win 7 pc/hd homerun system, is there an automated way rather than doing 100 manual station edits?

-Nick

I can firewire record (and change channels via firewire) on a DCT5100 box. I'm using Grafcorder to do the recording and an application called Externinator which works with BeyondTV to manage the recording schedule. There are some channels that are 5c flagged which are not available over firewire including my Premium HBO and OnDemand content.

Everett now has FXHD ch 665, haven't seen any others yet though (via TiVo s3)

Everett now has FXHD ch 665, haven't seen any others yet though (via TiVo s3)

It's been added in Woodinville but none of the other HD channels. I'm in WA0150.

Everett now has FXHD ch 665, haven't seen any others yet though (via TiVo s3)Reports of FXHD have been reported here a few weeks ago. You'll see it a couple pages back. But, at the same time, you'll also see that it was added then removed.

This morning, 655 through 659 showed up in Kent as "this channel will be available shortly". I did not check the others. They are now all working.

This morning, 655 through 659 showed up in Kent as "this channel will be available shortly". I did not check the others. They are now all working.

Hopefully this bodes well for some of the surrounding areas as well.

Hopefully this bodes well for some of the surrounding areas as well.
Nothing new yet in West Seattle. (using a TiVo Series 3).

When I came home today, my cable box was off, no display. I turned it on and later found out that I now have about twenty (maybe more) new HD stations. Most of these are between MLB and UHD 660, but there are some more between Disney HD/ABC Family HD and the Science channel.

Some of these have the mediocre version of HD, for instance Dirty Harry on AMC didn't look like real HD, but it did look better than the SD AMC. IFC HD also looked like a poor man's version of HD. Speed HD is there. CNNHD is there (as is Fox News HD, ugh.)

Finally Comcast is coming through. BravoHD is there. E HD is there. Nick is there. Toon is there.

I just did a rough count and it looks like about 25 extra HD stations. Bravo HD. Encore HD. TBS-HD. Biography HD. ESPN News HD. Shopping network in HD. CNBC-HD. I can't wait for MSNBC HD, which I heard is coming. I wish they had the Comedy channel in HD. Just to name a few.

There was no red "message" light on my cable box, so at first I didn't even look for the stations.

This morning, 655 through 659 showed up in Kent as "this channel will be available shortly". I did not check the others. They are now all working.

When I came home today, my cable box was off, no display. I turned it on and later found out that I now have about twenty (maybe more) new HD stations. Most of these are between MLB and UHD 660, but there are some more between Disney HD/ABC Family HD and the Science channel.

Some of these have the mediocre version of HD, for instance Dirty Harry on AMC didn't look like real HD, but it did look better than the SD AMC. IFC HD also looked like a poor man's version of HD. Speed HD is there. CNNHD is there (as is Fox News HD, ugh.)

Finally Comcast is coming through. BravoHD is there. E HD is there. Nick is there. Toon is there.

Drat, nothing new for me. I'm in West Kent (just SW of the Boeing Space Center) close to Seatac, but no joy:(

(as is Fox News HD, ugh.)

What's the point of this statement? Let's keep coming to avsforum to learn about and discuss a/v, not to be polarized by nonsensical, politically driven barbs.

I was surprised to see these new HD channels pop up. Nice.

Still nothing new in the Madison Valley area of Central Seattle. Could those with the new channels post their locations? (It's easy to add to your posts) It would be nice to see if things are heading in certain directions.

Art

Still nothing to report in West Seattle. Since I'm working from home, I'll be checking every so often throughout the day and will post if/when I see something new.

Still nothing new in the Madison Valley area of Central Seattle. Could those with the new channels post their locations? (It's easy to add to your posts) It would be nice to see if things are heading in certain directions.

ArtI'm assuming that all of the folks reporting additional channels are in areas where analog began to get cut back in March. It would be nice to know what the time lag is between the first cut of analog and the appearance of additional HD.

Received the attached mailer today in Covington. New lineup effective 5/13.
Double checked and looks like they are all showing up.

I just checked and all the new channels are live. It's about time. I'm pretty happy with the list. The only channel left that I would want to see is Comedy Central. I don't watch any other channels.

I'm assuming that all of the folks reporting additional channels are in areas where analog began to get cut back in March. It would be nice to know what the time lag is between the first cut of analog and the appearance of additional HD.

The Seattle Times announcement for the areas reporting new HD now said they would lose analog 30-70 on May 12. So it looks like a couple of days. Can people confirm that?

The Seattle Times announcement for the areas reporting new HD now said they would lose analog 30-70 on May 12. So it looks like a couple of days. Can people confirm that?

I'm in Maple Valley (WA0170) and I lost the analogs in mid March. The new channels showed up this week so it was almost exactly 8 weeks between analog cut-off and getting the new channels.

Just got off the phone with Comcast. I really hope they were wrong, but the CSR said it could be November or December before the new channels show up in certain areas of Seattle (I'm in West Seattle). She said it might happen sooner than that, but that is the timeframe they are willing to give out. Apparently we still need infrastructure upgrades before we can handle the addition of the new channels.

If this turns out to be true, man that really sucks!

Just got off the phone with Comcast. I really hope they were wrong, but the CSR said it could be November or December before the new channels show up in certain areas of Seattle (I'm in West Seattle). She said it might happen sooner than that, but that is the timeframe they are willing to give out. Apparently we still need infrastructure upgrades before we can handle the addition of the new channels.

If this turns out to be true, man that really sucks!
Right from the beginning, Comcast's public statements have said that it would take until the end of the year to complete the process of dropping analog. Unfortunately, somebody has to be last in line. It sounds like it might be you.

Sammamish begins to lose analog on June 8th. Based on what others have reported, it sounds like we can expect to see the additional HD about six to eight weeks later, which would position us to get new HD in late July or early August.

Comcast digital switch update: Bellevue's next, Seattle in fall
Posted by Brier Dudley

Comcast provided an update today on its digital conversion - the one affecting cable customers, and requiring most to have cable boxes on every TV.

The company's finished testing and changing the system in smaller suburbs and is now making the switch in Everett and Olympia. Then it's going to happen in Bellevue, Spokane, Tacoma, Aberdeen and South King County this summer.

Seattle's getting the switch in the fall and the entire state should be done by year-end, spokesman Steve Kipp said.

Homes that have already been converted may notice some crisper images, by the way. The company also announced that it converted 31 channels to high definition this week. They include:

Encore HD, Starz Kids & Family HD, Starz Comedy HD, Starz Edge HD, Speed HD, ESPNews HD, WE TV HD, Style HD, E! HD, Bravo HD, Lifetime HD, Travel Channel HD, Fox News Channels HD, Fox Business HD, CNN HD, CNBC HD, Spike HD, TBS in HD, Nick HD, Cartoon Network HD, Disney XD HD, Fuse HD, TV One HD, QVC HD, G4 HD, BIO HD, Planet Green HD, AMC HD, LMN HD, IFC HD and InDemand PPV Events HD.

The HD versions of those channels are now being provided in Brier, Clearview, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Black Diamond, Covington, Enumclaw, Maple Valley, Pacific, Unincorporated King County, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Carbonado, Eatonville, Graham, Orting, Roy, South Prairie and Wilkeson.

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brierdudley/2009/05/15/comcast_digital_switch_update.html

Has anybody received any updates on the analog shut-off for Kitsap/Pierce County?

My mother received a note from Comcast about the analog channels going away and telling her she was being upgraded to digital service (from "extended basic") and was eligible for a "free set-top box" and up to two "converters". I assumed the set top box was similar to the SD only one I have on my upstairs digital TV.

She has an HD TV but did not upgrade to digital - was happy to get the local HD channels and the rest in SD or analog.

I logged in to the site, answered the questions for her, and ordered the box - free delivery.

She called me when it came, and I came to install it, only to find the output is analog only! Now I knew that the "converters" were analog out (possibly even RF only) but this is a cable card device, with on-demand, etc, according to the docs that came with it. I expected a digital box at no additional charge. Does she have to rent one? She'll probably be happy with this box - at least all of the channels will be numbered right - but I had hoped it would use the digital connection for the best quality. I think I'll just leave it be - she enjoys the HD local channels and it might confuse her to have to switch inputs in order to watch the extended channels, most of which she doesn't watch.

I know that the simulcast digital channels do not have the "correct" channel number available on my service - will they be correct after the "transition"?

I thought I understood all of what Comcast was doing. It looks like those who use digital sets and just scan for channels will be fine, but won't easily be able to find all of their favorites.

She called me when it came, and I came to install it, only to find the output is analog only!It is a digital converter, known as a DTA (Digital-To-Analog) box. If you're wanting a box that accepts the YPbPr (HD) cables, then you will have to rent one from Comcast. I'm not sure how much an HD box is, since when I had their service, I had an HD-DVR box ($15.99 a month). The box that you are referring to does have the EPG with On Demand access. Anybody who has basic digital cable would have this box.

So, long story short, that box will also allow access to Music Choice, but the smaller boxes will not. Those only give access for 2-99.

...She called me when it came, and I came to install it, only to find the output is analog only! Comcast does not give away HD boxes for free; you have to pay extra for those. I don't know if they even offer an SD-only box with HDMI output. Frankly, I'm not sure what the point would be...

I think maybe your definition of "digital box" is different from Comcast's. The DCT-700 is generally their lowest-end 2-way box. As far as Comcast is concerned it's a "digital" box - since it only has a digital cable tuner, no analog tuner. But it's SD-only, and as you found - has only Composite and RF analog outputs.

I know that the simulcast digital channels do not have the "correct" channel number available on my service - will they be correct after the "transition"?No, the physical QAM channels you receive directly on a digital-cable-ready TV will never exactly match Comcast's published channel lineup. There will always be a physical-to-virtual channel mapping that has to take place, which at this point can only be done by a Comcast box or Cablecard tuner.

No, the physical QAM channels you receive directly on a digital-cable-ready TV will never exactly match Comcast's published channel lineup. There will always be a physical-to-virtual channel mapping that has to take place, which at this point can only be done by a Comcast box or Cablecard tuner.
Thanks for all the responses. I was pretty sure this was the case - I just hadn't realized the variations in boxes available. I had assumed that the channel 2-99 boxes were the only ones with analog-only output.

I will take it up to the Comcast office (I am fortunate to be very close) and see what they have to offer. As I said, I can always stick with status quo and give her a list of channels that she likes and their QAM equivalents.

Comcast does not give away HD boxes for free; you have to pay extra for those. I don't know if they even offer an SD-only box with HDMI output. Frankly, I'm not sure what the point would be...

I think maybe your definition of "digital box" is different from Comcast's. The DCT-700 is generally their lowest-end 2-way box. As far as Comcast is concerned it's a "digital" box - since it only has a digital cable tuner, no analog tuner. But it's SD-only, and as you found - has only Composite and RF analog outputs.

It is a digital converter, known as a DTA (Digital-To-Analog) box. If you're wanting a box that accepts the YPbPr (HD) cables, then you will have to rent one from Comcast. ... The box that you are referring to does have the EPG with On Demand access. Anybody who has basic digital cable would have this box.

So, long story short, that box will also allow access to Music Choice, but the smaller boxes will not. Those only give access for 2-99.

I have an SD only digital box on one of my (small) HD TV's - it is a small compact box that looks a lot like the cable modems. I have an HD Moto box also. Both have HDMI out. Both have the unbelievably crappy user interface. So there is a third box that my mom received, that has the features of the SD digital box, but assumes an analog TV. Hard to believe it is really less expensive than the digital version, but that isn't my decision. And it has the same crappy interface (3 digits to do any channel change? my poor wife just hits channel up and down 50 times rather than try to get that to work!)

Now that I know the facts, there are options and we'll just work through them without any urgency.

And it has the same crappy interface (3 digits to do any channel change? my poor wife just hits channel up and down 50 times rather than try to get that to work!)Menu->Main Menu->Setup->Guide Setup->Channel Entry Behavior->AUTO-TUNE

Has anybody received any updates on the analog shut-off for Kitsap/Pierce County?

I haven't heard anything for updates here but I just drove by the intersection of Illahee and Sylvan. Comcast and a contractor are there with huge rolls of cable and hanging them from the poles...

I keep seeing DTA described differently. Dave Clark, director, product strategy and management, cable set-tops, Cisco Systems, in an article from this months ScreenPlays has this quote:
"The use of digital terminal adapters (DTAs) as a means of bandwidth reclamation in cable is gaining momentum, thanks in part to an undisclosed deal negotiated with programmers that is said to obviate the need for protecting basic servicecontent, at least for now."

So, it's gone from "Digital Transport Adapter" - Comcast, to "Digital Terminal Adapter" - Cisco management...:confused:

Chime in out there... which is it?

What's the point of this statement? Let's keep coming to avsforum to learn about and discuss a/v, not to be polarized by nonsensical, politically driven barbs.

Sorry to hurt your feelings about the FAUX News Channel.

Does anyone know how to tell which head-end your home is connected to? When I put in my zip code on the Comcast site, I get back a big list of different possible head ends.

Thanks

P

...So, it's gone from "Digital Transport Adapter" - Comcast, to "Digital Terminal Adapter" - Cisco management...:confused:

Chime in out there... which is it?Just received a couple of them. It says "Digital Transport Adapter" on the Comcast box, in big orange letters.

A guy I work with just had FiOS installed in his Everett home, leaving Comcast in the dust. He is astounded that for around $99 (even less for the first 6 months) he gets way better TV plus better internet speed than his DSL plus phone service. I was drooling on the floor as he described the package in all its glorious detail. More HD than he could surf in one evening.

Comcast pleaded with his wife during the *disconnect-me* call not to leave Comcast ("What can we do to keep you?"). I sure wish I was in a Verizon service area...

...I sure wish I was in a Verizon service area...

Yeah, that is a (rather large) problem.

I switched to fios about 45 days ago. when i returned my modem to the comcast office and cancelled Comcast offered nothing.

("What can we do to keep you?")How about a check for $5.61?

How about a check for $5.61?

I just got my bill after I traded my simple digital box for an HD box. In addition to the extra for the new box, I was charged $1.99 for "Change of Service"!
sam

Menu->Main Menu->Setup->Guide Setup->Channel Entry Behavior->AUTO-TUNE

Thank you!!! I recall looking through options when the interface was changed from the Microsoft software years ago. I would have had no idea what "auto-tuning" meant in any case. Is "no auto-tune" the default? WHY?

But the interface is still crappy!

I am in a Verizon service area, but my apt manager won't sign the access paperwork so VZ can install the fios equipment.

How about a check for $5.61?

How about matching DirecTV or Dish on service and price? I'd prefer that...

How about matching DirecTV or Dish on service and price? I'd prefer that...So true! That would be good competition there!

Some of my stations mysteriously have no signal, specifically, the 91-X's. I can no longer find ESPN2, Speed, Versus, etc. The only channel that's still there is 91-9, which is now coming in as a second copy of USA instead of Cartoon Network. I don't want to rescan because everything else is set up correctly, and remapping all of the channels is a major pain and waste of time. Is anyone else seeing this problem, and is there anything I can do to try to get these channels back? I live in 98102 if that makes a difference.

Also, since someone posted that Seattle is going full digital in fall, what will I need to get TV after the switch? I currently go straight from the wall into the two digital tuners in my MediaCenter PC.

Also, since someone posted that Seattle is going full digital in fall, what will I need to get TV after the switch? I currently go straight from the wall into the two digital tuners in my MediaCenter PC.Not quite "full digital" yet - Limited Basic ch 2-29 will still be available in analog, probably for at least another year or two. If you already have a digital QAM tuner, not much will change - at least initially. If your tuner is really hybrid digital/analog - and you're currently viewing ch 30-70 as analog - you'll need to switch to the digital version of those (which you can do right now, since all analog channels have had digital simulcasts for a couple years now). The main thing that's happening with Comcast's digital switch in the fall is that analog ch. 30-70 are going away.

As has been noted here several times - Comcast *intends* to eventually encrypt the digital version of ch. 30-70, but cannot do this until/unless they get approval from the FCC. For now, digital versions of those channels are clear, unencrypted QAM.

I love how Comcast is taking their sweet time on giving Seattle the new HD channels, seeing how we cannot swtich to Fios in the city.

My friends in Edmonds have had Fios for a couple months now. I'm insanely jealous.

This isn't an HD issue, but this forum/thread has been the best source of ongoing Comcast Seattle information, so...

The other day CCTV-9 (the English language Chinese channel), which had been on Comcast channel 251 here in Seattle went dark, without any notice or explanation. My digital box doesn't even have a channel 251 anymore - the box skips right over it. And CCTV-9 no longer appears on either the Comcast Guide or the Comcast channel line-up posted on-line.

Does anyone know what happened to CCTV-9? I phoned Comcast and was told by the Customer Service Rep that Comcast can no longer carry CCTV-9, but the CSR could not (or would not) provide any further information.

The loss of CCTV-9 is a major blow to our household, as we watch it regularly - probably as much or more than any other channel.

Any info. as to what happened, who is responsible (Comcast or CCTV), and what if anything can be done to return CCTV-9 to the Comcast channel lineup would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
r-gorordon-7

This isn't an HD issue, but this forum/thread has been the best source of ongoing Comcast Seattle information, so...

The other day CCTV-9 (the English language Chinese channel), which had been on Comcast channel 251 here in Seattle went dark, without any notice or explanation. My digital box doesn't even have a channel 251 anymore - the box skips right over it. And CCTV-9 no longer appears on either the Comcast Guide or the Comcast channel line-up posted on-line.

Does anyone know what happened to CCTV-9? I phoned Comcast and was told by the Customer Service Rep that Comcast can no longer carry CCTV-9, but the CSR could not (or would not) provide any further information.

The loss of CCTV-9 is a major blow to our household, as we watch it regularly - probably as much or more than any other channel.

Any info. as to what happened, who is responsible (Comcast or CCTV), and what if anything can be done to return CCTV-9 to the Comcast channel lineup would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
r-gorordon-7

Some time ago (I can't remember exactly, but it's been a while) a notice about CCTV was in a message in the DVR. I was hoping the red light was a sign there'd be a message about new HD channels, but I read the message, thought "oh, that's too bad" to myself and deleted it.

FWIW, I've now gotten three different, inconsistent answers from three different Comcast Customer Service Reps about the dropping of CCTV-9...

1. From a telephone Customer Service Rep, "The CCTV-9 signal is no longer available to comcast - CCTV may have signed an exclusive coverage agreement with another provider." Me, " You said they, "MAY have signed an exclusive coverage agreement with another provider' - well, did they or or is there a different reason for the signal no longer being available to Comcast?" CSR, "You'll need to research that on your own."

2. From an on-line Phone Chat Customer Service Rep, "The reason why it has been removed is becase of the digital transition."

3. From a different telephone Customer Serice Rep, "Due to contract neogtiations".

Whatever the reason (why must Comcast feel the need to continually play hide the ball with the facts...?), unfortunately it results in Comcast continuing to charge me ~$140/mo for phone & interent service I can get from any number of other providers & for a hundred or so cable channels we really don't watch - promising to add more all the time - while they drop one of the very few we do want and do watch...

Sigh... time to investigate Dish Network, which still carries CCTV-9...

Sigh... time to investigate Dish Network, which still carries CCTV-9...

You might be able do it on the cheap instead of with Dish Network: CCTV-9 is free-to-air.

http://english.cctv.com/english/20080610/108559.shtml

There are quite a few merchants who specialise in providing inexpensive receiver/dish combinations for the unencrypted, mostly International channels on Ku band satellite, such as CCTV-9 (and -4, -E, and -F) on Galaxy 3C.

I joined AV and dwnld the QAM list kindly provided by Pastiche, which is in accord with my own map made by hand off my raw wire with my ATSC tuner. The Queen Mother went to Comcast and came home with several of their DTAs and I was appalled to see each came with a remote and required activation ( for snooping). I have a couple NTSC TV and I think I will buy one of the Panasonic VCR that has a ATSC tuner on board. Costco sells one of them. These have component outputs as well as RF so I should be able to see all QAMs through that VCR. I am going to see if Fry's has a simple DTA I can buy with a govt coupon for the one B&W TV in the shop. Thanks to all for a very interesting set of facts and opinions which I was able to find through several Google searches using QAM as a search term. Eventually I just starting reading many of the posts, page after page.

...I have a couple NTSC TV and I think I will buy one of the Panasonic VCR that has a ATSC tuner on board. Costco sells one of them. These have component outputs as well as RF so I should be able to see all QAMs through that VCR. ...I think perhaps you're confused on the terminology. ATSC is for over-the-air Broadcast digital TV. It has NOTHING to do with Comcast. You need a QAM tuner if you want to pick up unencrypted digital cable channels without a Comcast box or Cablecard.

NTSC = old-fashioned analog TV
ATSC = over-the-air broadcast digital TV
QAM = digital cable TV

Hello. I am a new Comcast HD customer with the 3416 DVR. I moved from TX to WA and changed from Dish to Comcast, and I have a few questions on the Comcast service.



1. Is there a way to hide channels on the guide so it is more streamlined? I want to remove all of the channels I do not want or subscribe to. Currently I have to hit page up or down 99 times to cycle through all of the channels.

2. If not…When I make a favorites list can I have that displayed on the guide and stay on the guide? For example, when I create a favorites, click guide and then favorite, my channels appear; but when I hit guide again in order to see my favorite channels I have to hit favorites again. Also if I hit channel up it does not go to my next favorite channel, it selects the next channel, favorite or not.

3. On many of the HD channels the shows are not the same as their SD counterpart. For example on History, TLC, Animal, A&E, TNT, AMC, Bravo, USA, and many others the programming is delayed by 2-3 hours? So if I want to watch a movie that starts at 7:00 on A&E I have to wait until 10:00 to see the HD version. My last provider they were the same on both channels.


I would appreciate any help and/or advice.

Thank you.

Question regarding comcast making channels 30-70 digital. When they make this change how will we know the change is done? Will channels 30-70 completely disappear from the guide? Just asking because they were supposed to do mine at the beginning of May and I still show channels 30-70 in the guide. Thanks

1. Is there a way to hide channels on the guide so it is more streamlined? I want to remove all of the channels I do not want or subscribe to. Currently I have to hit page up or down 99 times to cycle through all of the channels.There used to be with the old guide software we had.

2. If not…When I make a favorites list can I have that displayed on the guide and stay on the guide? For example, when I create a favorites, click guide and then favorite, my channels appear; but when I hit guide again in order to see my favorite channels I have to hit favorites again. Also if I hit channel up it does not go to my next favorite channel, it selects the next channel, favorite or not.There is nothing that can be done about that. You will just have to hit "Guide", then "Favorite" to see your subscribed channels and pick from there.

3. On many of the HD channels the shows are not the same as their SD counterpart. For example on History, TLC, Animal, A&E, TNT, AMC, Bravo, USA, and many others the programming is delayed by 2-3 hours? So if I want to watch a movie that starts at 7:00 on A&E I have to wait until 10:00 to see the HD version. My last provider they were the same on both channels.In Texas, it is east coast programming on all channels. Welcome to the west coast. And, your times are backwards. For example, as a WWE fan, I can watch WWE Raw on Mondays at 6:00pm on USA HD (672) and in SD on channel 58 at 9:00pm.

Hello. I am a new Comcast HD customer with the 3416 DVR. I moved from TX to WA and changed from Dish to Comcast, and I have a few questions on the Comcast service.



1. Is there a way to hide channels on the guide so it is more streamlined? I want to remove all of the channels I do not want or subscribe to. Currently I have to hit page up or down 99 times to cycle through all of the channels.

2. If not…When I make a favorites list can I have that displayed on the guide and stay on the guide? For example, when I create a favorites, click guide and then favorite, my channels appear; but when I hit guide again in order to see my favorite channels I have to hit favorites again. Also if I hit channel up it does not go to my next favorite channel, it selects the next channel, favorite or not.

3. On many of the HD channels the shows are not the same as their SD counterpart. For example on History, TLC, Animal, A&E, TNT, AMC, Bravo, USA, and many others the programming is delayed by 2-3 hours? So if I want to watch a movie that starts at 7:00 on A&E I have to wait until 10:00 to see the HD version. My last provider they were the same on both channels.


I would appreciate any help and/or advice.

Thank you.

1. & 2. No, there is no way to hide/remove unwanted channels. That would be too Tivo-like. The best remedy is what you describe in (2) - make a favorite list or 2 or 3 and use those to get around. Yes, you do have to hit Guide and Fav each time. Remember, that software was designed by morons who never watch TV or use a Tivo or have a clue.

3. Your guess is as good as mine. Er, what falcon2k said...

You may want to consider FiOS or Dish or DirecTV in place of Comcast - they are all cheaper and better. I would have switched years ago but a) I have trees in the way for sat. and b) Verizon can't operate inside Seattle so no FiOS for me either.

Question regarding comcast making channels 30-70 digital. When they make this change how will we know the change is done? Will channels 30-70 completely disappear from the guide? Just asking because they were supposed to do mine at the beginning of May and I still show channels 30-70 in the guide. Thanks

First off, they (Comcast) won't tell you. That would be too responsible. So it is up to you to plan for the switch. If you have any analog TV's or Tivo's etc. you'll need a DTA box (2 free per house). If you don't install those you will find out when the transition happens: 30-70 will be snow. They will not disappear from the guide. They will just disappear from the analog realm. So are you watching 30-70 in analog now?

I just installed a free DTA box for my Tivo Series 2 analog DVR. It was pretty simple. Set it up first on a TV and get it Activated. BTW, their literature is wrong about activating on their website. I could not find any way to do that. Anyway, after it is working you connect the IR blaster stuff for both Tvio and the DTA box. Then you do a Repeat Guided Setup and choose Comcast Adapter when it asks what brand your cable box is (under Other). It passed the channel-changing tests easily and works quite well on the Tivo.

First off, they (Comcast) won't tell you. That would be too responsible. So it is up to you to plan for the switch. If you have any analog TV's or Tivo's etc. you'll need a DTA box (2 free per house). If you don't install those you will find out when the transition happens: 30-70 will be snow. They will not disappear from the guide. They will just disappear from the analog realm. So are you watching 30-70 in analog now?

I just installed a free DTA box for my Tivo Series 2 analog DVR. It was pretty simple. Set it up first on a TV and get it Activated. BTW, their literature is wrong about activating on their website. I could not find any way to do that. Anyway, after it is working you connect the IR blaster stuff for both Tvio and the DTA box. Then you do a Repeat Guided Setup and choose Comcast Adapter when it asks what brand your cable box is (under Other). It passed the channel-changing tests easily and works quite well on the Tivo.

I use a TivoHD and yes, I do watch at least 1 channel in that range (I am under the impression that i don't need a DTA box with the TivoHD). I am not sure what you mean by the will not tell you as I have gotten a couple of letters from them indicating that they were going to move these channels in my area (olympia) to digital by May 4th (at least I believe this is the day). So if I understand you, it is possible that it has already happened?? I thought they were actually going to move the channels somewhere in the hundreds and remove them from their 30-70 location. Is this not true?

Thank you for your help!

Thank you to thefalcon2k and quarque.

I would have kept Dish, loved the 622 DVR, but I am facing the wrong direction at my new complex. I do love the weather and environment here in WA.
I guess this issues will be something I will have to get used to for a while.

I use a TivoHD and yes, I do watch at least 1 channel in that range (I am under the impression that i don't need a DTA box with the TivoHD). I am not sure what you mean by the will not tell you as I have gotten a couple of letters from them indicating that they were going to move these channels in my area (olympia) to digital by May 4th (at least I believe this is the day). So if I understand you, it is possible that it has already happened?? I thought they were actually going to move the channels somewhere in the hundreds and remove them from their 30-70 location. Is this not true?I don't know for sure, but I would *expect* that Comcast will just automatically re-map ch. 30-70 in all of their Guides to the digital QAM versions of these channels. So if using a Comcast box, you'd keep tuning to 30-70 - just like before. No change.

Since you use a TivoHD, you presumably have a Cablecard from Comcast. If so, it should work just like a Comcast box; re-mapping happens automatically thru the Cablecard. Again -no change.

People with their own (non-cablecard) QAM tuners will have to work out the new mappings for themselves (hint, get started: the digital versions of 30-70 have been here for 2 years already).

And finally, people with analog TVs/tuners will have to get a DTA or other digital cable tuner. Those are the people most affected by this change.

I don't know for sure, but I would *expect* that Comcast will just automatically re-map ch. 30-70 in all of their Guides to the digital QAM versions of these channels. So if using a Comcast box, you'd keep tuning to 30-70 - just like before. No change.

Since you use a TivoHD, you presumably have a Cablecard from Comcast. If so, it should work just like a Comcast box; re-mapping happens automatically thru the Cablecard. Again -no change.

People with their own (non-cablecard) QAM tuners will have to work out the new mappings for themselves (hint, get started: the digital versions of 30-70 have been here for 2 years already).

And finally, people with analog TVs/tuners will have to get a DTA or other digital cable tuner. Those are the people most affected by this change.
Thank you. That actually makes more sense then comcast moving the channels. Yes I have a cablecard. I figured I was ok with that and didn't need the DTA box. I guess the only real way to know if they are done (other than hooking up another tv - which I don't want to do) is when Comcast finally gives me all of the other HD channels that the other areas have... and I am sure that will be real soon :rolleyes:

Anyone who uses Tivo with Comcast here in Sammamish -- I am having a heck of a time. WHen you do guided setup, what option do you pick for comcast? They have two entries, one simply "comcast" and the other "comcast king county jerald" and I thought comcast would be the obvious one and yet it's giving me channels I don't get, and mapping things like playboy entirely incorrectly.

Anyone who uses Tivo with Comcast here in Sammamish -- I am having a heck of a time. WHen you do guided setup, what option do you pick for comcast? They have two entries, one simply "comcast" and the other "comcast king county jerald" and I thought comcast would be the obvious one and yet it's giving me channels I don't get, and mapping things like playboy entirely incorrectly.

If you're sure you put in the right zip code then go back and try the other Comcast choices. It should ask if a certain channel is at the right number (usually Halmark). If your answer is *no*, then you have the wrong Comcast selection. If none of them work get Tivo tech support to help.

I got a letter today from Comcast saying that "network enhancement" starts on June 8th in my area of Sammamish. I'm looking forward to seeing most of my analog going away in June and seeing a lot of new HD in July.Got another mailing from Comcast last week. The new date for "network enhancement" in my area of Sammamish is June 22. I guess that means that we won't see the new HD channels until August. Oh well...

If you're sure you put in the right zip code then go back and try the other Comcast choices. It should ask if a certain channel is at the right number (usually Halmark). If your answer is *no*, then you have the wrong Comcast selection. If none of them work get Tivo tech support to help.

Yes, and most of the channels are right. Playboy is wrong, and they give me more channels than I actually get (like AMCHD and IFCHD, which I definitely do not get).

Yes, and most of the channels are right. Playboy is wrong, and they give me more channels than I actually get (like AMCHD and IFCHD, which I definitely do not get).The guide always shows channels you do not get - it's supposed to show everything potentially available in your area. If you try to tune a channel you're not subscribed to, it will tell you. How else could they sell you these extra channels if you don't know about them?

The guide always shows channels you do not get - it's supposed to show everything potentially available in your area. If you try to tune a channel you're not subscribed to, it will tell you. How else could they sell you these extra channels if you don't know about them?

AMC-HD only requires Digital Starter, IFC-HD requires Digital Preferred -- but they'll both require the passage of time before they're available in Sammamish.

People with their own (non-cablecard) QAM tuners will have to work out the new mappings for themselves (hint, get started: the digital versions of 30-70 have been here for 2 years already).

Maybe in your area, but we only recently got the digital equivalents within the last 6 months in the Lake City area of North Seattle. I have had a Samsung Digital tuner (w/clear QAM) for a few years as well as my HTPC with digital tuner card (also w/clear QAM) for recording shows. It's only been in the last 6 months that I started receiving the digital versions of 30-70.

For others who asked, Comcast is already starting to pull some of the analog channels, ie., Oxygen and CMT. In the end, once Comcast gets permission to encrypt those channels, even my digital tuner and the HTPC will have to get a DTA on it. Bummer!

People with their own (non-cablecard) QAM tuners will have to work out the new mappings for themselves (hint, get started: the digital versions of 30-70 have been here for 2 years already).Maybe in your area, but we only recently got the digital equivalents within the last 6 months in the Lake City area of North Seattle. I have had a Samsung Digital tuner (w/clear QAM) for a few years as well as my HTPC with digital tuner card (also w/clear QAM) for recording shows. It's only been in the last 6 months that I started receiving the digital versions of 30-70. Good point; I'll amend my original statement - the digital versions of these channels have been simulcast for 2 (actually, almost 3) years now. It's just been the last 6 months or so since they've been un-encrypted in most areas.

Anyone who uses Tivo with Comcast here in Sammamish -- I am having a heck of a time. WHen you do guided setup, what option do you pick for comcast?

I'm smack in the middle of Sammamish, and I use "King County Jerald" with no issues at all.

Yes, I had it wrong. I will have to keep one of the Comcast DTA for the one NtSC set that will never get an ATSC/QAM tuner. I have decided on the Toshiba DRV 670, which although not yet available, may be more reliable than the Pana EZ-48 series. I have read the VCR deck in the 670 may not record DT unless it or something else degrades it to AT. We shall see. I mainly want to record ch 9, 48 (105.x Qam) and ch 25 (116.2 Qam). Thanks.

In the end, once Comcast gets permission to encrypt those channels, even my digital tuner and the HTPC will have to get a DTA on it. Bummer!Supposedly, Comcast has permission from the the programmers of the basic cable analog channels to supply them as binary, UNENCRYPTED signals for two years. This would mean that a digital QAM tuner can watch 'basic cable' without an additional box - just like your cable-ready analog set has been doing for years.

This blog entry (http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-05/two-year-encryption-hiatus-for-digital-basic-tv-tier/) and page 8 on this link (http://www.screenplaysmag.com/pdflib/sp409.pdf) says:

"Comcast was quietly exploring the possibility of winning dispensation from programmers that would permit the MSO to transmit the content digitally in the clear. These sources say an agreement was reached at the start of the year that will allow transmission of the analog basic tier digitally without use of content protection for a two-year period."

IMHO, this is a fair solution - it eliminates my need for a DTA and does not cripple my new digital, QAM kitchen TV (when compared to the old analog set).

I hope Comcast follows through with it. If they don't, they are just treating us all as pirates....

I know there are many who are still waiting for the last bunch of HD additions to be made available, but are there any rumblings of what and/or when the next round of new channels will come?

Is there a current channel guided for QAM tuners in the North Seattle area?
Sorry if someone recently posted one...I did not see it.

thanks

I was at a friend's house in Edmonds yesterday and noticed that Comcast recently added Nick HD and Spike HD to their lineup. We still don't have them in Seattle, but we got FX HD around the same time they did.

Supposedly, Comcast has permission from the the programmers of the basic cable analog channels to supply them as binary, UNENCRYPTED signals for two years. This would mean that a digital QAM tuner can watch 'basic cable' without an additional box - just like your cable-ready analog set has been doing for years.

This blog entry (http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-05/two-year-encryption-hiatus-for-digital-basic-tv-tier/) and page 8 on this link (http://www.screenplaysmag.com/pdflib/sp409.pdf) says:

"Comcast was quietly exploring the possibility of winning dispensation from programmers that would permit the MSO to transmit the content digitally in the clear. These sources say an agreement was reached at the start of the year that will allow transmission of the analog basic tier digitally without use of content protection for a two-year period."

IMHO, this is a fair solution - it eliminates my need for a DTA and does not cripple my new digital, QAM kitchen TV (when compared to the old analog set).

I hope Comcast follows through with it. If they don't, they are just treating us all as pirates....
If this is true, will that include encrypted HD stations that are available with the Starter Digital Package?

If this is true, will that include encrypted HD stations that are available with the Starter Digital Package?

I would say definitely not.

Is there a current channel guided for QAM tuners in the North Seattle area?
Sorry if someone recently posted one...I did not see it.

thanks

See pastiche's files at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16294642&highlight=#post16294642

If this is true, will that include encrypted HD stations that are available with the Starter Digital Package?The article only said "digital delivery of analog basic service tiers" - my interpretation would be 'any channel you can get on an analog TV without a cable box'. In other words, probably not HD other than the locals. As the providers drop the analog/SD feed, that might mean HD for things like CNN - but that is really going to depend on what the provider wants to do.

For example, if CNN decides to drop the SD feed but mandates encryption of their HD feed, they might lose quite a few customers who want to watch on a QAM set without renting a cable box. That might affect their decision to encrypt.

If tru2way or something like it takes off, then the subject will become moot...but that will take years for significant penetration.

A more interesting, related issue to me is whether Comcast can/will inject PSIP data so the channel mappings work well on a QAM set - and put pastiche out of business ;)

A more interesting, related issue to me is whether Comcast can/will inject PSIP data so the channel mappings work well on a QAM set - and put pastiche out of business ;)

They currently are mapping only the local HD channels so I'd venture that they probably will not. Never known Comcast to go above and beyond when it comes to customer service. The DTA's do that anyway.

PS: Is everyone else getting a ton of digital artifacts across most of their channels? Usually it's a signal that Comcast is monkeying with the network again.

They currently are mapping only the local HD channels so I'd venture that they probably will not. Never known Comcast to go above and beyond when it comes to customer service. The DTA's do that anyway.

PS: Is everyone else getting a ton of digital artifacts across most of their channels? Usually it's a signal that Comcast is monkeying with the network again.Yeah, but who wants to use a DTA on a digital set? It completely destroys the ability to channel surf between digital channels converted to analog from the DTA and HD locals which are in the clear. (My understanding is that a DTA with a Digital TV requires a splitter and two separate inputs)

I'd sooner put up with funny channel numbers.

Here in Shoreline, I've been experiencing lots of dropouts on a variety of channels and failure of HD On Demand (but not SD On Demand) - especially on weekend evenings. To me, that sounds like network congestion - any opinions out there on that issue?

Has anybody received any updates on the analog shut-off for Kitsap/Pierce County?

Did you see this article?

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/may/26/comcast-changes-come-amid-ramp-up-to-digital-tv/

Looks like Kitsap County will be pretty close to last in line for upgrades. :(

(My understanding is that a DTA with a Digital TV requires a splitter and two separate inputs)
That's what I had to do for my friends who live on MLK Way.

Their TV had an antenna and cable inputs, so split their line from the wall, then I plugged their DTA box to the antenna input and the direct line into their cable input.

Did you see this article?

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/may/26/comcast-changes-come-amid-ramp-up-to-digital-tv/

Looks like Kitsap County will be pretty close to last in line for upgrades. :(I find this semi-hard to believe. I'm not sure what the full detail is at this point, but because I no longer have Comcast cable as my TV service provider, I can't get the instaneous information that I use to be able to get because of my ClearQAM tuner!

Anyway, my purpose for this reply is to say that I have friends that have reported that they have gotten letters from Comcast telling them about the transition, and suggesting that they go get the new DTA boxes ASAP.

Both friends that have told me about this have gone and gotten those boxes, and had them hooked up! Amazingly, they are also reporting access to channels 74 (TV Guide), 114 (KOMO This Seattle), 115 (NBC Universal Sports), 116 (KCPQ AccuWeather), 136 (G4), 408 (Speed), 504 (LMN), 964-986 (Digital FM). I'm sure I missed a few other channels in there, but at the time of this announcement, I was only assuming that users with these boxes would get nothing more than what they had with their analog sets.

However, these same channels I listed ... I had access to via ClearQAM! And, also because I live in Kitsap County, I also had access to select Pierce County community channels as well. So, in a way, I can see the DTA boxes getting all ClearQAM available channels (without Pierce County channels, of course).

And, on another note ... at least with Wave Broadband, I get FSN HD through ClearQAM (along with local channels)! The bad news, Wave Broadband does not have PSIP technology (meaning I manually have to find everything).

Yeah, but who wants to use a DTA on a digital set? It completely destroys the ability to channel surf between digital channels converted to analog from the DTA and HD locals which are in the clear. (My understanding is that a DTA with a Digital TV requires a splitter and two separate inputs)
I totally agree. Screws up my HTPC too!

And, on another note ... at least with Wave Broadband, I get FSN HD through ClearQAM (along with local channels)! The bad news, Wave Broadband does not have PSIP technology (meaning I manually have to find everything).

I would ask the about the lack of PSIP data. Passage of PSIP data appears to be mandatory:

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

I would ask the about the lack of PSIP data. Passage of PSIP data appears to be mandatory:

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

Very interesting. So how is it that Comcast avoids that little tidbit?

Very interesting. So how is it that Comcast avoids that little tidbit?I thought Comcast *was* providing PSIP mappings for local channels, as listed in Pastiche's chanel guide. Are you saying they're not?

I would ask the about the lack of PSIP data. Passage of PSIP data appears to be mandatory:

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

Hey! You updating your QAM list soon? I think they moved a few things around recently...I can no longer find the Travel Channel or Animal Planet.

Hey! You updating your QAM list soon? I think they moved a few things around recently...I can no longer find the Travel Channel or Animal Planet.

Could it be that more is completely gone from Comcast than just my favorite, CCTV-9?

Very interesting. So how is it that Comcast avoids that little tidbit?

I do see PSIP on Comcast for 4-1/2, 5-1/2, 7-1/2, 9-1/2/3, 11-1 (though different PSIP than OTA), 13-1/2, 16-1, and 22-1. That certainly seems square with the FCC's ruling, since it is specific to broadcast channels, on cable, during the transition.

I'm not sure if there's a separate order that covers channels that are already post-transition (KTBW, KWPX, KHCV, KWDK), or channels that are still in-transition, but offering a main program that is a 480i analog/digital simulcast (KBTC and KUNS). Those channels do lack PSIP on Comcast.

Hey! You updating your QAM list soon? I think they moved a few things around recently...I can no longer find the Travel Channel or Animal Planet.

Just re-scanned, but those haven't changed on my node: Animal Planet was still on 116-82 and Travel Channel was still on 116-83. The only change I noticed was Jewelry Television is back, unencrypted, on 102-8, after having been encrypted for a few years. I'll update with that change momentarily.

Just re-scanned, but those haven't changed on my node.
My bad, had to rescan 4 times but they finally all came back. Will be glad when things settle down.

I understand no one nows for sure if channels remain QAM unencrypted but I noticed this Comcast contradiction about the need of a DTA box for QAM tuners:

From San Jose Mercury Comcast common questions April 2009(http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12250070):

"How will quadrature amplitude modulation, or QAM, tuners work with the new system?

Generally, television sets with QAM tuners do not need a DTA (a QAM tuner lets a television set receive digital cable without a traditional cable box). We have come across some makes/models that are unable to process the digital signal we send down our network. I've heard of a couple of sets that for some reason are unable to successfully process channels in very specific frequency ranges."

From Seattle PI (http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brierdudley/2008/12/08/some_faqs_on_comcast_digital_s.html):

Q: What about TVs with QAM tuners - can they get signals directly from the cable? (NEW)

A: No. "They would need a digital adapter, a standard set top box (DCT) or a CableCard in order to view the channels," Kipp said. "The first CableCard is free with each additional CableCard costing $1.79 per month." This is because the signals will be scrambled/encrypted, and a device from Comcast is needed to descramble them.

So which is true? What I hate about this transition is that my HDD recorder will be useless since it can't switch channels (channels above 30) and I see no easy solution without paying again another monthly fee to Tivo or Comcast...

So would it make sense to buy a DVR with a Digital QAM tuner like i.e. the Toshiba DR-570? Or wouldn't that work?

I understand no one nows for sure if channels remain QAM unencrypted but I noticed this Comcast contradiction about the need of a DTA box for QAM tuners:

...<deleted>...

So which is true? What I hate about this transition is that my HDD recorder will be useless since it can't switch channels (channels above 30) and I see no easy solution without paying again another monthly fee to Tivo or Comcast...I think your first statement is correct: no one knows for sure, not even Comcast! Either they'll get FCC approval to encrypt, or they won't. The two different Comcast statements are simply based on 1) how things actually work right now vs 2) how Comcast *expects* things to work, if they get their way.

Thanks so I guess you have the following options for DVR with this digital move (and I assume options stay the same whether you have digital/HD subscription or not):

1. Get Tivo and pay monthly fee
2. Rent Comcast DVR for monthly fee
3. Buy a DVD Recorder with QAM tuner (which would stop working if Comcast would be encrypting channels)
4. Get a PC Digital QAM Tuner with IR Blaster (which would work in theory even if they encrypt using the IR Blaster)
5. Buy Moxi DVR without monthly subscription fee (but not cheap device and I guess you need the comcast card to use which first one is free)
6. Cheapest: Use existing DVD Recorder and manually change channels at right times:-(.

Does any DVD Recorder or DVR exist with a built-in IR Blaster? Seems market for HDD recorders are disappearing:-(. At least I couldn't find any anymore.

PS: Is everyone else getting a ton of digital artifacts across most of their channels? Usually it's a signal that Comcast is monkeying with the network again.

Recently I have been seeing some shades of white appearing as pale yellow on HD channels. I don't recall seeing this in the past, and I don't have this problem on DVDs or Xbox360. Using a DCH3416 with a Panasonic TH50PZ700U. Anyone else seeing this?

Recently I have been seeing some shades of white appearing as pale yellow on HD channels. I don't recall seeing this in the past, and I don't have this problem on DVDs or Xbox360. Using a DCH3416 with a Panasonic TH50PZ700U. Anyone else seeing this?

Is your tv's contrast control turned up really high? Sounds like the beginnings of phosphor burn-in (at least it looks that way on a tube tv). Although I don't know why the DVD's or Xbox wouldn't do the same thing unless the DCH3416 is putting out brighter white levels... or maybe color space mismatch between the DCH3416 and the TV? (that's a guess not really based on any experience though and I'm sure somebody else can/will correct me if in error).

Is your tv's contrast control turned up really high? Sounds like the beginnings of phosphor burn-in (at least it looks that way on a tube tv). Although I don't know why the DVD's or Xbox wouldn't do the same thing unless the DCH3416 is putting out brighter white levels... or maybe color space mismatch between the DCH3416 and the TV? (that's a guess not really based on any experience though and I'm sure somebody else can/will correct me if in error).
check your cables are not loose.

Has anyone received a flyer for Comcast Caller ID on the computer and the TV? I received one this week that says it will be available for me (Renton) starting between about 5/28 to 6/15.

According to Comcast it has to be enabled via the "Interactive TV" menu selection on the cable box. So I guess this means we will be getting ITV soon? Wonder what else it entails for the TV service other then the Caller ID function?

Has anyone received a flyer for Comcast Caller ID on the computer and the TV? I received one this week that says it will be available for me (Renton) starting between about 5/28 to 6/15.

According to Comcast it has to be enabled via the "Interactive TV" menu selection on the cable box. So I guess this means we will be getting ITV soon? Wonder what else it entails for the TV service other then the Caller ID function?
I received the same notice for Olympia a couple of days ago and installed the pc version not wrking yet

They currently are mapping only the local HD channels so I'd venture that they probably will not. Never known Comcast to go above and beyond when it comes to customer service. The DTA's do that anyway.

PS: Is everyone else getting a ton of digital artifacts across most of their channels? Usually it's a signal that Comcast is monkeying with the network again.

I am getting artifacts and also video noise on many channels I didd not before. This has happened only SINCE I received the new HD channels.

This has happened only SINCE I received the new HD channels.If I remember correctly, this is usually a sign of bandwidth strain. Lots of "bleeding".

If I remember correctly, this is usually a sign of bandwidth strain. Lots of "bleeding".

That was my guess.

DTA's aren't working

I picked up my two free DTAs at the Cable Store yesterday. I hooked them up directly to the cable outlets, and called the activation number to have them activated. Auto-activation isn't working for my account for some reason so I have to talk to their CSRs every time.

Neither DTA is working after two attempts at activation. They pick up Analog 2-29, 77-99, and a handful of digital channels such as Sprout, G4, Bloomberg, LMN, KOMO-2 and KIRO-2. Channels 30-70 are dark, with the service interrupted message displayed.

This can't be common with these devices, can it? People will be marching on Comcast if this happened to a lot of the boxes.

I find that every few days my DTA malfunctions when I turn it on (or more accurately, when I turn on the TV using the DTA remote, as the DTA itself seems to stay on all the time) - sometimes sound but no picture, other times picture but no sound, yet other times no picure or sound. (When there's the problem, although I can change channels with the DTA's remote, the problem remains the same regardless of channel.) Unplugging and then replugging the power plug at the back of the DTA seems to fix the problem - until the next interation of the problem a day or two later. I assume at some point I should return the DTA for one that doesn't seem to have this problem... Anyone else experiencing this?

Thanks to a PM tip, I got the DTA boxes working.

The missing ingredient is to tune the box to a working channel (like KOMO analog CH 4) before calling for the activation signal. Otherwise, the box might be mapped incorrectly and miss the activation signal if it is tuned to a non-working channel.

There is some confusion when talking to the Activation people because they always tell you to switch to Channel 3 or 4, referring to the switch on the back, and then ask you if you see any error messages, which leads you to tune to one of the non-working channels. If you tune the box to KOMO 4, there will be a service interruption message that will show up on screen when they send the signal, and then the screen will turn black and then switch to Channel 2 NWCN. When that happens, all the channels will be working.

Any one else upset that KOMO forgot to record the ABC newscast tonight? They haven't even acknowleged their mistake.

Thanks to a PM tip, I got the DTA boxes working.

The missing ingredient is to tune the box to a working channel (like KOMO analog CH 4) before calling for the activation signal. Otherwise, the box might be mapped incorrectly and miss the activation signal if it is tuned to a non-working channel.

There is some confusion when talking to the Activation people because they always tell you to switch to Channel 3 or 4, referring to the switch on the back, and then ask you if you see any error messages, which leads you to tune to one of the non-working channels. If you tune the box to KOMO 4, there will be a service interruption message that will show up on screen when they send the signal, and then the screen will turn black and then switch to Channel 2 NWCN. When that happens, all the channels will be working.

Sheeesh! On several accounts! Can't they include such simple bits of information like that in the stupid setup poster? It also says you can activate online. I went to the website mentioned and there is no "activation" page or button or link. If you follow the only links there you get help screens or a process for ordering DTA boxes. Nothing about activation anywhere I could find. I did not have any trouble getting mine to work - probably just dumb luck I was on a tuneable channel when I called. So far they have worked flawlessly but I've heard that, just like other tuners, if you have a poor signal (level or noise) you may have trouble. I wish the DTA's had a menu like the Moto boxes so you can check signal levels etc.

The activation page is at http://www.comcast.com/digitalnow/

Unfortunately, this page does not recognize my account number, nor do I have a Unique ID because I picked up my DTA at the cable store instead of having it sent to me. They also do not recognize my address/phone number, and they give me an invitation to chat online with a CSR. That basically is the same as calling the helpdesk, so I don't recommend it.

The auto-activation number does not recognize my phone number and sends me to a live CSR every time.

Finally, I've activated dozens of digital cable boxes, including a DCT-700, DCT-3416's, and DCT-3400's, and it never mattered what channel you were tuned to. You just called the local Comcast CSRs to activate the box, and it always worked within seconds.

I can understand why they're doing this so piecemeal because a hundred thousand people being switched all at once would overwhelm the activation process.

[QUOTE=SeattleAl;16599140]The activation page is at http://www.comcast.com/digitalnow/
...
QUOTE]

That is the page I went to and put in my account # because the DTA's did not come with a "unique ID" that I could find (I did have them shipped to me). So I followed the Start button after putting in my account # and it started asking me about how many TV's I have etc. etc. and then wanted to start ordering boxes. Again, where is the "activation" page/step/button? All the other links/buttons lead to help pages. Am I missing something here? I ended up calling after wasting 20 minutes on their website.

EDIT:
I just went back and repeated the process at that site just to see what happens. Now I get a whole different scenario after I put in my acct #. The first page I get lists the 2 DTA's and there IS an ACTIVATE button. This is not what I got the first time. So they either didn't have my info up to date or they've fixed the site. The first time through it did not know I already had 2 boxes. Hard to believe since they shipped the boxes and must have had them in their system for a couple days by the time I got them. It's Comraptic!

Yeah, I missed the news. But I got a kick over how long it took them to discover there was a problem. They sat on the satellite test signal several minutes.

Hey kids, what time is it? Not time for Howdy Doody - it's time to unlock all the secrets of your little DTA boxes. If you hold the INFO button down for about 5 seconds you get a Diagnostics screen and hitting CH+ takes you to 3 more screens, one of which has a Signal-to-Noise value. This last item is invaluable if you have intermittent problems with your DTA and you suspect a bad cable or such. My two boxes show 35 and 36, which I assume are in dB.

You can also use CH- to go the other direction for more screens - I think there are 4 altogether.

Have fun... :)

P.S. you just can't hide stuff from an engineer/programmer for very long!

P.S. you just can't hide stuff from an engineer/programmer for very long!

LOL, good thing they didn't make some button combination that automatically purchases every adult pay-per-view program on NonDemand. :D

Hey kids, what time is it? Not time for Howdy Doody - it's time to unlock all the secrets of your little DTA boxes. If you hold the INFO button down for about 5 seconds you get a Diagnostics screen and hitting CH+ takes you to 3 more screens, one of which has a Signal-to-Noise value. This last item is invaluable if you have intermittent problems with your DTA and you suspect a bad cable or such. My two boxes show 35 and 36, which I assume are in dB.

You can also use CH- to go the other direction for more screens - I think there are 4 altogether.

Have fun... :)

P.S. you just can't hide stuff from an engineer/programmer for very long!

yeah, but can you put it into pause mode and then do a 30 second skip to get past the commercials. Now THAT would be a really neat trick! :rolleyes::D:rolleyes:

yeah, but can you put it into pause mode and then do a 30 second skip to get past the commercials. Now THAT would be a really neat trick! :rolleyes::D:rolleyes:

sure - it's A B up down + - ... no, that was Nintendo or something
uh, Mute, 0, Mute, 1, Mute ... no, that is for my Sceptre TV secret screens
uh, I'm working on it...
dammit Jim, I'm not a magician...

Still no new channels in 98203, between Everett and Mukilteo. :confused:

Hey kids, what time is it? Not time for Howdy Doody - it's time to unlock all the secrets of your little DTA boxes. If you hold the INFO button down for about 5 seconds you get a Diagnostics screen and hitting CH+ takes you to 3 more screens, one of which has a Signal-to-Noise value. This last item is invaluable if you have intermittent problems with your DTA and you suspect a bad cable or such. My two boxes show 35 and 36, which I assume are in dB.

You can also use CH- to go the other direction for more screens - I think there are 4 altogether.

Have fun... :)

P.S. you just can't hide stuff from an engineer/programmer for very long!

Also, if you enter 1-2-3, while in the Diagnostic screens, you get a channel map of the first 12 channels, and a few other screens. Presumably, there is a way to scroll >> to see more channel mappings, but I haven't found a way to do that with the remote they give you.

Recently I have been seeing some shades of white appearing as pale yellow on HD channels. I don't recall seeing this in the past, and I don't have this problem on DVDs or Xbox360. Using a DCH3416 with a Panasonic TH50PZ700U. Anyone else seeing this?

Turns out it was a bad HDMI cable. I always thought HDMI cables either worked or didn't.

Turns out it was a bad HDMI cable. I always thought HDMI cables either worked or didn't.

An engineer is telling you that there is always a failure mode that you did not think could happen.
sam

Also, if you enter 1-2-3, while in the Diagnostic screens, you get a channel map of the first 12 channels, and a few other screens. Presumably, there is a way to scroll >> to see more channel mappings, but I haven't found a way to do that with the remote they give you.

Nice work Al - I'll have to try the other 10 trillion key combinations to see what else shows up!

EDIT:
OK, combination 3,459,297 - found that the Enter key lets you page through the channel table. Sweeeet!

I am seeing PSIP information on 79 and 80. These are mainly local SD channels but even NWCN (79-1) and Disney (80-5) have info. Maybe this is preparation for the locals all becoming digital.

I am seeing PSIP information on 79 and 80. These are mainly local SD channels but even NWCN (79-1) and Disney (80-5) have info. Maybe this is preparation for the locals all becoming digital.

This is cool! I'm going to have to re-scan and find an easy-to-read way to integrate that information into the QAM list. I will probably do a big update this weekend to remove all of the analog OTA channel references, regardless.

Anyone else missing episodes of Mad Men on demand?
I'm watching season 1 for the first time and the HD episodes skip from 105 to 107.
It looks like 103 is missing from the SD section.

Guess I'll just have to grit my teeth and suffer through 106 in SD.:eek:

Mad Men -- same episodes missing (Bellevue).

I am seeing PSIP information on 79 and 80. These are mainly local SD channels but even NWCN (79-1) and Disney (80-5) have info. Maybe this is preparation for the locals all becoming digital.

Here's what I'm seeing:

There is PSIP w/ identification and mapping on KWPX 79-2 to 33-1, KBTC 79-10 to 28-1, KHCV 80-3 to 44-1, KTBW 80-6 to 20-1, KUNS 80-8 to 51-1, and KBCB 80-10 to 24-1. :)

Everything else on the 79-X and 80-X MUXes is PSIP identified, but not mapped.

On the down side, my receiver is unable to cope with whatever change was made to the PSIP on the 111-X MUX. No identification or mapping on KCPQ 111-1/111-4, and only a VChip rating coming through on KSTW on 111-2.

I heard many providers are giving free HBO preview this weekend. Sadly not on Comcast. I remember the old days when they had free weekend previews all the time. I can't remember the last time Comcast did one of these. This is kind of stupid as the free previews do generate new customers. Bad business decision.

Here's an update of the QAM lists.

* Included PSIP information for those channels on the 79-X and 80-X MUXes which Comcast is now remapping. (All broadcast channels are now mapped, except for CBUT, KWDK, and those which are downconverted duplicates.)

* Replaced analog and transitional digital OTA channels with post-transition digital channels. (All broadcast channels are now digital, except for CBUT.)

I am seeing KVOS on 110-1021. It shows up as KVOS-DT and is mapped to 12-1. I previously didn't receive KVOS.

I am seeing KVOS on 110-1021. It shows up as KVOS-DT and is mapped to 12-1. I previously didn't receive KVOS.

Hmmm, I'm not seeing this on any of my QAM tuners. Where are you located?

Hmmm, I'm not seeing this on any of my QAM tuners. Where are you located?

I'm in Mill Creek.

Differences to the 6-13 posting...

91.4 -- Univision

110.1021 -- KVOS12

116.1027 -- HSN

117.1019 -- ARTS (PBS)
117.1020 -- BTV10
117.1022 -- blank -- was CBCDT (CBUT) 16:9 aspect ratio never HD
117.1023 -- TVG
117.1025 -- WEA (Weather Channel sd)
117.1026 -- CCast
117.1068 -- VMe

I am seeing KVOS on 110-1021. It shows up as KVOS-DT and is mapped to 12-1. I previously didn't receive KVOS.

I looked around at the screen captures on silicondust.com, and it looks like from Snohomish County northwards, KVOS is on both 110-1021 (mapped) and 117-1021 (unmapped). These are the same areas as still have a national feed of Univision on 91-4.

I'll take a stab in the dark and guess that the logic behind this move is, "Why buy a PSIP generator for the 117-X MUX when there's usable space left on the 110-X MUX and it's already got one?" :)

I also noticed that, in some outlying places where the analog-to-digital conversion is complete, that the 91-X, 92-X, 102-X, 103-X, and 116-X MUXes are now duplicated on 34-X, 35-X, 36-X, 37-X, and 38-X. Eventually moving those MUXes into spectrum that's filtered by the traps on limited basic customers' lines would certainly make make business sense.

...
I also noticed that, in some outlying places where the analog-to-digital conversion is complete, that the 91-X, 92-X, 102-X, 103-X, and 116-X MUXes are now duplicated on 34-X, 35-X, 36-X, 37-X, and 38-X. Eventually moving those MUXes into spectrum that's filtered by the traps on limited basic customers' lines would certainly make make business sense.

And would be encouraging to customers with expanded basic plans and higher who would like to be able to continue to use digital tuners.

Anyone knows if this Sony DVD recorder with IR Blaster would work with the set top boxes:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665414142

What is required to control the set top boxes? Officially Comcast told me only Tivo is 'supported' right now but doesn't mean much probably.

UPDATE: wouldn't work with the DTA boxes since they don't have video out. Might work with the Motorola DCH70 set top box I received from Comcast (which I believe is also free although it has warning sticker). Except not sure if the Motorola code numbers would work to control the DCH70. Doing a search on that model I found potentially code 1376 might work. If this is a decent DVR solution not sure yet.

PS Also noticed now that my old Toshiba HDD recorder (like almost all Toshiba's) does have an IR blaster. Codes in manual don't quite match but it might work. Hope this might be helpful to other people trying to get their recorder still working.

Saw this in the paper this morning. Appears to be only in King County south of Seattle, not including Renton.145579

Saw this in the paper this morning. Appears to be only in King County south of Seattle, not including Renton.145579
For those of us still waiting for the extra HD Channels (I'm in Sammamish), has anyone gotten Comcast to give them any concessions (lower price, free movies, etc..) due to the fact that we're paying customers and not receiving the same benefits as other paying customers...

For those of us still waiting for the extra HD Channels (I'm in Sammamish), has anyone gotten Comcast to give them any concessions (lower price, free movies, etc..) due to the fact that we're paying customers and not receiving the same benefits as other paying customers...

I've been thinking about this for a while now. I've been considering calling them to ask for an ETA and then complain. I'm in W. Seattle and it's going to be months... They are getting too much of my money for a whole lot of cr*p.

If anyone does call, please let us know the results.

Saw this in the paper this morning. Appears to be only in King County south of Seattle, not including Renton.145579CBUT-HD!!! YES!!!!
Sammamish is supposed to start losing analog next week, so hopefully I will see all of these in late July or early August!

Saw this in the paper this morning. Appears to be only in King County south of Seattle, not including Renton.145579


While I'm excited about getting more channels (including CBUT-HD) there are a couple of things that disappoint me. Unless I missed it, there seems to be no mention of SPEED-HD. :( Also, aren't there more stations in the 650-range that other customers have received?

While I'm excited about getting more channels (including CBUT-HD) there are a couple of things that disappoint me. Unless I missed it, there seems to be no mention of SPEED-HD. :( Also, aren't there more stations in the 650-range that other customers have received?

Speed-HD is included in the batch of channels that some of us received as far back as December (620). It should be added everywhere eventually, along with the others you refer to.

While I'm excited about getting more channels (including CBUT-HD) there are a couple of things that disappoint me. Unless I missed it, there seems to be no mention of SPEED-HD. :( Also, aren't there more stations in the 650-range that other customers have received?I'm pretty sure all of the areas listed in the notice already have SPEED-HD as part of the line-up expansion that happened in a number of areas already this year.

While I'm excited about getting more channels (including CBUT-HD) there are a couple of things that disappoint me. Unless I missed it, there seems to be no mention of SPEED-HD. :( Also, aren't there more stations in the 650-range that other customers have received?

Yep, speedHD is 620 on my STB. Range goes like this:
620 - 629 HD
649 - 655 HD
666 Skipped. They should put the Wicken channel here. :D
667 - 699 HD

Mind you, a lot of these supposed HD channels do not have much HD contect. That's not Comcast fault, it's the source. And there are a lot of these stations that do stretch-o-matic on 4:3 material, and they tend to do it in different ways, some of which are really bad. At the bottom of the list for me is when they stretch the edges but maintain the aspect ratio in the middle. UGGGLLYY. Again, though, not a Comcast problem. It comes from the source.

BTW Just bought a QAM enabled TV. I'm shocked at how many digital stations do not map. Looks like I'll be spending some time going over the list of current mapping provided in this forum and programming my TV. What a waste of time though.

BTW Just bought a QAM enabled TV. I'm shocked at how many digital stations do not map. Looks like I'll be spending some time going over the list of current mapping provided in this forum and programming my TV. What a waste of time though.The worst part is none of those channels are HD. The only unencrypted (for now) and unmapped channels are the digitizied non-HD feeds. All HD channels other than local broadcast are encrypted and unavailable to your QAM set. To get them, you have to rent another STB.

CBUT-HD!!! YES!!!!

The only channel I've ever asked for. :)

Now, to see if they make it part of Limited Basic! :D

The only channel I've ever asked for. :)

Now, to see if they make it part of Limited Basic! :D


You're lucky. My continuing request for them to reinstate CCTV-9 (just in SD - don't think it's available in HD), which they recently dropped, has been met by nothing but silence from Comcast...

r-gordon-7

OK, after working with a very cooperative person at KCPQ, who in turn got Comcast to fix the problem, KCPQ HD can now, once again, be watched on 13-1!

However, my TV can no longer watch it on 111-1, which I thought was the QAM version of KCPQ HD. 111-1 gets automatically remapped to 11-1 = KSTW! Can someone who is using their TVs built in QAM tuner tell me what channel(s) they can find KCPQ HD?

Thanks

Comcast muxes KCPQ-HD and KSTW-HD on QAM channel 111. -1 and -2 respectively. When we switched off our UHF channel 18, and turned on VHF channel 13-1 (Friday 6/12/2009 at 9am), the mux that Comcast uses for this had a data port lockup. This removed the CVCT table from PSIP, which prevented the auto-remapping in tuners from properly acessing the correct channel. They finally got it fixed in mid-afternoon, but any tuners that were re-scanned for QAM before they got the table fixed, were confused.

I had one TV in my ofice that would only find us if I punched in 111-1. The TV in my bosses office if you punched 13-1 would switch, the guide and banner would say KCPQ, but the video and audio were KSTW.

After they got the CVCT back in the stream, all directed tuning worked properly.

It's amazing what you can see with TS Reader...

Cheers!
JRZ

Comcast muxes KCPQ-HD and KSTW-HD on QAM channel 111. -1 and -2 respectively. When we switched off our UHF channel 18, and turned on VHF channel 13-1 (Friday 6/12/2009 at 9am), the mux that Comcast uses for this had a data port lockup. This removed the CVCT table from PSIP, which prevented the auto-remapping in tuners from properly acessing the correct channel. They finally got it fixed in mid-afternoon, but any tuners that were re-scanned for QAM before they got the table fixed, were confused.

Hey, JRZ, just out of curiousity...

How much of your (and Ron's over at KSTW's) PSIP is Comcast passing, and how much are they generating?

I've noticed that Comcast identifies "CW11 HD", "KCPQ HD", and "AccuWea", but on the airwaves, you're identifying "KSTW-DT", "KCPQ", and "KCPQ-SD"?

The only unencrypted (for now) and unmapped channels are the digitizied non-HD feeds.And those too will soon be encrypted.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1156194

Expect only the local HD channels in clear QAM.

And those too will soon be encrypted.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1156194

Expect only the local HD channels in clear QAM.
Thanks for the info. I guess I'll stick with limited basic and stick to the locals from cable. Or maybe I'll pay the full amount to get an antenna installed on my house.

If there was some way to just get FSN HD I'd be all over it. I can't live with out Baseball in HD.

Keep in mind, the newer DVD recorders won't record any protected shows (e.g. all HBO). I used my older DVD recorder for time translation. The newer one is almost useless.

and, the NHL Network in HD!!!! Finally....

Hey, JRZ, just out of curiousity...

How much of your (and Ron's over at KSTW's) PSIP is Comcast passing, and how much are they generating?

I've noticed that Comcast identifies "CW11 HD", "KCPQ HD", and "AccuWea", but on the airwaves, you're identifying "KSTW-DT", "KCPQ", and "KCPQ-SD"?

I thought I had replied to this, but the reply hasn't shown up...If it does, and this becomes a double post; sorry...

Comcast strips off the TVCT and adds to CVCT tables. I believe they also strip guide data from the cable boxes. The EIT tables we send out are still on there if you look at the QAM signal on 111.

As to the naming, we went to KCPQ strictly because we wanted commonality between what is displayed and our legal call letters, which are KCPQ. We opted NOT to add the "-DT" to make it KCPQ-DT as we would have filed for the call letter change with the FCC to make it legal. We saw no reason to do that. We add the SD on 13-2 to differentiate it from the HD KCPQ on 13-1. We would have liked to have KCPQ 13-2 instead, but you only have 7 characters to work with, so unless we ran it together like KCPQ13-2, we didn't have room for it all.

We're still thinking about what it will ultimately end up being, but for now it's KCPQ for the 13-1 and KCPQ SD for 13-2.

Cheers!
JRZ

Simple question here, and I'm just trying to vet the accuracy of what the Comcast CSR told me: Currently I have a CableCard (included with my cable package), and an SD digital cable box (with a $5.10 additional outlet fee.)

If I wanted to turn that SD digital cable box into an HD digital cable box (because, perhaps, I was switching that TV from an SD one to an HD one), what would that $5.10 fee turn into?

Simple question here, and I'm just trying to vet the accuracy of what the Comcast CSR told me: Currently I have a CableCard (included with my cable package), and an SD digital cable box (with a $5.10 additional outlet fee.)

If I wanted to turn that SD digital cable box into an HD digital cable box (because, perhaps, I was switching that TV from an SD one to an HD one), what would that $5.10 fee turn into?

I am not sure off the top of my head if the $5.10 fee would still exist, but my HD (non dvr) box is 6.50 a month.

...
If I wanted to turn that SD digital cable box into an HD digital cable box (because, perhaps, I was switching that TV from an SD one to an HD one), what would that $5.10 fee turn into?

The $5.10 should have $6.50 added to it for the HD box. If you want an HD DVR, it should be $5.10 plus $15.95.

Comcast strips off the TVCT and adds to CVCT tables. I believe they also strip guide data from the cable boxes. The EIT tables we send out are still on there if you look at the QAM signal on 111.

Wow. Complicated, a bit? :) Thanks for the info!

The $5.10 should have $6.50 added to it for the HD box. If you want an HD DVR, it should be $5.10 plus $15.95.
Don't need a DVR. Have a Tivo HD. Mmmmm, TiVo. :)

But this is exactly why I asked...the CSR suggested that the $5.10 fee would be replaced with the $6.50 one, and so the difference to my bill would be $1.40 (plus taxes and fees and other crap, no doubt.) So to learn that he was wrong and that the $6.50 is IN ADDITION TO the $5.10 (despite me repeating that exact scenario back to him to make sure that what he was telling me was what he meant and him assuring me repeatedly that it was) doesn't surprise me a bit, nor does it compel me to pull the trigger on that TV-in-the-bedroom upgrade anytime soon. :)

Don't need a DVR. Have a Tivo HD. Mmmmm, TiVo. :)

But this is exactly why I asked...the CSR suggested that the $5.10 fee would be replaced with the $6.50 one, and so the difference to my bill would be $1.40 (plus taxes and fees and other crap, no doubt.) So to learn that he was wrong and that the $6.50 is IN ADDITION TO the $5.10 (despite me repeating that exact scenario back to him to make sure that what he was telling me was what he meant and him assuring me repeatedly that it was) doesn't surprise me a bit, nor does it compel me to pull the trigger on that TV-in-the-bedroom upgrade anytime soon. :)

The CSR was right. It's 6.50, not 5.10 + 6.50. Of course you need to trade in the STB you currently have.

BTW: For those of you who only watch SD they now have an SD DVR that records 40 hours, dual tuners for 8.95 per month.

The CSR was right. It's 6.50, not 5.10 + 6.50. Of course you need to trade in the STB you currently have.
(Right, of course, and that's my point, I want to know what's going to happen before I go to the trouble of disconnecting this box and traipsing it down to the cable store.)

Seems we have conflicting reports here, then.

So what you're saying is that there are two "additional outlet" fees, one, for $5.10, for an SD box, and one, for $6.50, for an HD box, and you are only charged one or the other.

You know, it pisses me off that Comcast doesn't make this more transparent on their site. I don't know what to believe now. The CSR might be right, or might not be, but in my past experience they've been wrong enough that I know I can't take their word at face value.

I've found the info from Comcast's CSRs varies pretty widely from one to the next. Maybe you can place several CSR calls and average the result? :confused:

(Right, of course, and that's my point, I want to know what's going to happen before I go to the trouble of disconnecting this box and traipsing it down to the cable store.)

Seems we have conflicting reports here, then.

So what you're saying is that there are two "additional outlet" fees, one, for $5.10, for an SD box, and one, for $6.50, for an HD box, and you are only charged one or the other.

You know, it pisses me off that Comcast doesn't make this more transparent on their site. I don't know what to believe now. The CSR might be right, or might not be, but in my past experience they've been wrong enough that I know I can't take their word at face value.

It's really not that hard. I just looked at my bill to verify. I have two DVRs one HD STB and a cable card. I am not charged for the first DVR nor am I charged for the HD STB or the cable card. The second DVR costs me 15.95 per month. My total cost for my four Comcast devices is 15.95 per month. If I want an ADDITIONAL HD STB it would probably cost me $6.10. I don't know how many DTV boxes they allow per house without charging but since the analog has not gone away yet, I wouldn't worry about that unless you want the superior quality of the Digital SD feeds (my analog signals look like crap).

BTW: I like the idea of averaging the costs quoted by the CSRs. :D

I thought the HD box (non-dvr) ran $8.95 a month. ????

PS. I don't care where CSRs are working they all have different info!

I can 100% guarantee you that an additional outlet with HD costs $11.60 per month. Otherwise stated $5.10 digital access fee plus $6.50 advanced set top box fee.

Only having to pay $6.50 for an HD box only applies to your primary outlet (because you get one box included in your package so the $5.10 doesn't apply on the primary outlet). Hope this makes sense and clears up the conflicting information.

The CSR probably meant well, but is mistaken. They would have noticed if they had actually tried to put the order through and it would have been straightened out. They're only human.

EDIT: levibluewa, there is a scenario where HD equipment is $8. If your package does not include equipment (example: limited cable customer who wants an HD box even though that package does not normally get a box at all). In this event, the a la carte equipment rate applies which is $8. This is probably unusual. The only equipment I can think of that costs $8.95 is an SD DVR. They run $8.95 on a primary outlet or $5.10+$8.95=$14.05 on an additional outlet.

...

The CSR probably meant well, but is mistaken. They would have noticed if they had actually tried to put the order through and it would have been straightened out. They're only human.
...


Uh, I'm not 100% sure they are human. :D

I've never gotten the same answer twice from them. Pricing is a confusing nightmare.

The CSR probably meant well, but is mistaken. They would have noticed if they had actually tried to put the order through and it would have been straightened out. They're only human.
Which is still a bad customer service experience, especially after I tried to clarify with them and they STILL gave me wrong information.

I really have a hard time shrugging it off as "they're only human" when it's their job to know this stuff and they get it wrong as much as they do. I also have a hard time shrugging it off when Comcast seems to make an active effort to obfuscate this information from the customer.

(As it happens, I contacted the "comcastcares" department (but through email, not Twitter), and the person who called me back (within a couple of hours, to their credit) suggested that my account could be jury-rigged so that the HD box was made primary, so the $6.50 extra would be charged on that, and then the CableCard would be an extra $1.79. Which is better than $6.50 extra outright, but still not the $1.40 the CSR was claiming. (And honestly I'm still not convinced I wouldn't get popped that extra $5.10 instead of the $1.79. In fact, looking at the Products And Services Price List that came in my bill last October (anyone know if an updated one of those is available online?) I'm fairly sure I would be.))

(But thanks for the clarification nonetheless.)

I've never gotten the same answer twice from them. Pricing is a confusing nightmare.
And the frustration is that there is not one single legitimate reason for it to be.

Uh, I'm not 100% sure they are human. :D

I've never gotten the same answer twice from them. Pricing is a confusing nightmare.

That's not nice! True, but not nice. :) Yep, pricing is confusing. I live in an aerea where Comcast has a competitor (Click!) so I get a discount for that. Bundling adds even more confusion and more discounts. For example, I'd normally have to pay 19.95 for the second DVR I have but the bundling gives my one free DVR and 15.95 for a second DVR, one free Cablecard, and one free DTV STB (I originaly said HD STB, I was wrong). All this for 15.95.

To add a HD STB which I am kinda interested in since I just bough a new TV would indeed cost me 11.6 if I kept everything I currently have. But what if I brought in my DTV STB? Would I be able to get the HD STB for 6.10 which is the price on their product page? Forgot to ask when I called for the price on a HD STB but for now I need the DTV STB anyway so it's a moot point.

BTW: Wait until they add ala carte selections instead of the bundling tiers as they have now. You'll need a PHD in mathmatics to figure out the pricing.

For those of us still waiting for the extra HD Channels (I'm in Sammamish), has anyone gotten Comcast to give them any concessions (lower price, free movies, etc..) due to the fact that we're paying customers and not receiving the same benefits as other paying customers...

I did. I called up and complained about SpeedHD that my friends with satellite had but I did not. And that I didnt care about cable or satellite. The CSR-guy gave me an amazing deal but sadly for only 1 month, I thought it was permanent!

Also in Sammamish and looking forward to HD on Monday June 22!

I did. I called up and complained about SpeedHD that my friends with satellite had but I did not. And that I didnt care about cable or satellite. The CSR-guy gave me an amazing deal but sadly for only 1 month, I thought it was permanent!

Also in Sammamish and looking forward to HD on Monday June 22!Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you're not going to see more HD on Monday June 22. The extra HD is still about six weeks away.

Sometime next week, you will see about 20 analog stations go digital-only. About four weeks later, about 20 more analog stations will go digital-only. It will be another couple of weeks after that before you see all of the new HD.

is anyone else watching the open in HD on 105 and getting a lot of stutters and breaking up of the picture? Trying to figure out if my DVR is whigging out.

is anyone else watching the open in HD on 105 and getting a lot of stutters and breaking up of the picture? Trying to figure out if my DVR is whigging out.

Same here in Lakewood although I would not say "a lot". Seems like I'll get several close to each other then 5 minutes no problems, then it comes back. Oh, and never during the commercials. :)

Open is stuttering on 105 in Fairwood area also.

Does anyone know when Comcast will start using the DCX3400 DVR (http://www.motorola.com/business/US-EN/DCX3400_US-EN.do?vgnextoid=0ac33ead2d4c9110VgnVCM1000008406b00aRCRD) in this area? I'm pretty much fed up with my DCT6412 but willing to wait a bit longer before switching to Tivo or Moxi.

Our Comcast store, in Burlington, WA, has price sheets printed and folded at the counter.

That's not nice! True, but not nice. :) Yep, pricing is confusing. ...
Yes, it was not nice but when you pay over $100 a month for mediocre service and then get wrong answers half the time from CSR's, it gets mighty irritating. I don't blame the individual CSR's, I blame Comcast for poor training and oversight. Either they don't know how bad it is or they don't care. Maybe both. So, no apologies here. The comment I made hints that a good automated (computerized) system might actually work better. Right now it is like a really BAD automated system.

What we need is competition, especially inside Seattle. Verizon would drive them out of business in less than a year with FiOS. But we can't get it due to the Comcast monopoly.

Anybody hearing whether or not when BBC America HD launches on July 20th if Comcast will be carrying it then or soon after?

Is anyone having problems with HBO HD and TLC HD? I'm getting tons of audio and video drop outs on those two channels.

I have been experiencing sporadic problems while on the web for the last 6-8 months. Symptoms include slow internet and having to refresh a web page several times before it loads. This happens on all my PCs, 2 Win7 and 2 XPs. I have upgraded the DD-WRT on my my Buffalo router to the latest version. Problems show up on both wired and wireless PCs

I'm wondering if perhaps it's my cable modem which is a Linksys BDFCMU10 Ver 2. Does anyone know of any problems with this modem or with Comcast service in general that might explain my problems?

Can anyone recommend a good modem should I need a replacement? Thanks

BR

About twenty analog channels disappeared today in Sammamish. They have been replaced by a graphic that states that a Comcast-supplied digital device is now required to view the channel.

Presumably we will see the second analog cutover four weeks from now, followed by an expanded HD line-up a week or two after that.

Yea, wiped out in Renton-Issaquah too. Their digital couterparts have been available QAM in the clear for awhile now. Just so long as the clear QAM digital eqivalents don't dissappear too!

Bummer though, my LG LCD has a 2 tuner HD DVR, 1 analog - 1 digital. Was nice to surf the analogs while a digital was recording - or vice-versa.

Yea, wiped out in Renton-Issaquah too. Their digital couterparts have been available QAM in the clear for awhile now. Just so long as the clear QAM digital eqivalents don't dissappear too!

Bummer though, my LG LCD has a 2 tuner HD DVR, 1 analog - 1 digital. Was nice to surf the analogs while a digital was recording - or vice-versa.
Odd, I live on the Renton-Kent border, and I still have analog.

Lost some channels here in the north edge of sammamish also. I was afraid I would have to whip out those 2 DTA boxes I picked up from Comcast a few months ago to beat the rush...but looks like I have found everything "missing" on the digital channel - typically 9X-X, thanks to Pastiche's list. Is there still some speculation that Comcast will ultimately scramble all the digital channles?

...but looks like I have found everything "missing" on the digital channel - thanks to Pastiche's list

Amen to that! Thank's Pastiche.

Still many analogs left but I suppose some of them will transfer too. At least I was able to remap all of them and they are still in the clear.

From Brier Dudley's column in the Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2009380561_comcast_digital_update_channel.html):

Comcast digital update: Channel changes underway
Posted by Brier Dudley

After mentioning Comcast's digital switch on Monday, I heard from several "expanded basic" subscribers who said they're losing channels.

What's happening, according to spokesman Steve Kipp, is that Comcast has started converting blocks of channels 30 to 70 from analog to digital.

As reported earlier, expanded basic customers will need to have some sort of Comcast converter box to get the digital channels, even if their TV has a digital tuner. Comcast is providing converters or a free set-top box for free to affected customers.

Comcast hasn't yet scrambled the digital channels, so subscribers with a digital TV tuner may still be receiving them without a converter device. Subscribers with a non-digital tuner who haven't yet added a converter may start "losing" channels as the conversion proceeds.

Channels 50 and 61 - Oxygen and CMT - went digital in mid May, under agreements Comcast made with those networks.

On Monday Comcast also began converting more channels in Bellevue and Spokane, moving a block of 20 channels to digital. The remaining 20 will be moved at the end of July in those areas. The conversion is already complete in Everett and some smaller suburbs. The process should begin in Seattle in October.

The same process is going to happen throughout Comcast's network eventually. Moving from analog to digital will free up spectrum, increasing the capacity of its system so it can add new services such as faster broadband and additional channels.

But it's still a hassle for customers who have to add a converter.

Here are the blocks of channels being converted to digital. This list was provided by Kipp, who said the block on the left converted Monday in Bellevue and Spokane:

From Brier Dudley's column in the Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2009380561_comcast_digital_update_channel.html):

Comcast digital update: Channel changes underway
Posted by Brier Dudley

After mentioning Comcast's digital switch on Monday, I heard from several "expanded basic" subscribers who said they're losing channels.

<...snip...>

Moving from analog to digital will free up spectrum, increasing the capacity of its system so it can add new services such as faster broadband and additional channels.

<...snip...>




I'm so very sick and tired of hearing this disingenuous, "so we can add new services such as faster broadband and additional channels " from Comcast, while for no good reason they've just totally dropped CCTV-9 - the one channel our family watched most... I so very much wish we had a CHOICE of cable providers...

"Comcast hasn't yet scrambled the digital channels" - I assume the cheap DTA boxes have no de-crypting capabilites, so Comcast would need to release a bunch of new hardware before they can scramble more of the digital channels?

As an added, unrelated note, does my Cablecard have the ability to decrypt HBO, if I have that channel?

"Comcast hasn't yet scrambled the digital channels" - I assume the cheap DTA boxes have no de-crypting capabilites, so Comcast would need to release a bunch of new hardware before they can scramble more of the digital channels?

As an added, unrelated note, does my Cablecard have the ability to decrypt HBO, if I have that channel?The DTA boxes can de-crypt scrambled signals, but do not have "separable security" (i.e. they don't have a cable card) so Comcast is not allowed to use the decryption ability of the DTAs without getting a waiver from the government regulatory authority. As I understand it, Comcast has applied for, but has not yet received a waiver. If Comcast gets the waiver, Comcast will scramble the digital versions of the extended basic channels. For the moment, those channels are unscrambled.

Your cable card should allow you to receive HBO if you ever sign up for HBO.

What we need is competition, especially inside Seattle. Verizon would drive them out of business in less than a year with FiOS. But we can't get it due to the Comcast monopoly.

I think Qwest has more to do with FIOS not being in Seattle than Comcast does.

[QUOTE=jhachey;16718116]From Brier Dudley's column in the Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2009380561_comcast_digital_update_channel.html):

[INDENT]Comcast digital update: Channel changes underway
Posted by Brier Dudley

After mentioning Comcast's digital switch on Monday, I heard from several "expanded basic" subscribers who said they're losing channels.

What's happening, according to spokesman Steve Kipp, is that Comcast has started converting blocks of channels 30 to 70 from analog to digital.

As reported earlier, expanded basic customers will need to have some sort of Comcast converter box to get the digital channels, even if their TV has a digital tuner. Comcast is providing converters or a free set-top box for free to affected customers.

Comcast hasn't yet scrambled the digital channels, so subscribers with a digital TV tuner may still be receiving them without a converter device. Subscribers with a non-digital tuner who haven't yet added a converter may start "losing" channels as the conversion proceeds.

Channels 50 and 61 - Oxygen and CMT - went digital in mid May, under agreements Comcast made with those networks.

On Monday Comcast also began converting more channels in Bellevue and Spokane, moving a block of 20 channels to digital. The remaining 20 will be moved at the end of July in those areas. The conversion is already complete in Everett and some smaller suburbs. The process should begin in Seattle in October.

The same process is going to happen throughout Comcast's network eventually. Moving from analog to digital will free up spectrum, increasing the capacity of its system so it can add new services such as faster broadband and additional channels.

But it's still a hassle for customers who have to add a converter.

Comcast says they are dropping analog channels in Bellevue and Spokane but according to other posts here Sammamish, Issaquah, Renton have also recently dropped. Out here in Woodinville nothing has happened yet other than 50 and 61 being gone. Seattle is to come in October. When will the rest of us see the analog drop?

I also have a DVR and an HD box. On my third HD TV I use my QAM tuner to get local HD channels and the expanded basic digital channels. If I need a converter box if Comcast encripts then I'll lose the local HD channels.

As noted earlier in this thread (which referenced the below URL below), another company has already received the waiver so it is probably just a matter of time before comcast receives the waiver and encrypts.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1156194

What we need is competition, especially inside Seattle. Verizon would drive them out of business in less than a year with FiOS. But we can't get it due to the Comcast monopoly.The monopoly belongs to Qwest, not Comcast. If you want competition for Comcast, you need Qwest to make the kind of investment that Verizon has made.

Here's a link to a map showing who has the various telephone monopolies:
http://www.wutc.wa.gov/webdocs.nsf/0/2cc6eaebe1019fe08825716900538f4c/$FILE/TelecomExchangeMap11x17.pdf

Of course, now that Verizon has sold off its Washington state territory to Frontier, it will be interesting to see whether Frontier will invest further in FiOS.

Comcast states that the digital channels will be scrambled by the end of the year...

So the choice I will have then is use the free DTA, but loose HD, do nothing, and loose channels >30 (but keep free HD)..or spend $6.50/month for the first HD box...and $11.50 for the second and third ones

Comcast states that the digital channels will be scrambled by the end of the year...

So the choice I will have then is use the free DTA, but loose HD, do nothing, and loose channels >30 (but keep free HD)..or spend $6.50/month for the first HD box...and $11.50 for the second and third ones

Or split the coax, feed one to the DTA and one to the HD digital tuner, and lose nothing (except your mind, while switching back and forth).

Or split the coax, feed one to the DTA and one to the HD digital tuner, and lose nothing (except your mind, while switching back and forth).

That assumes (1) TV has 2 coax inputs, or I use an old fashioned switch, and (2) wife and kids like that hook-up ...

Suddenly I cannot receive any 91-X channels. I saw a post a couple of pages back about someone else having the same problem.

Anyone else?

Maybe I need to have Comcast re-zap my cablecards just for good measure.

Suddenly I cannot receive any 91-X channels. I saw a post a couple of pages back about someone else having the same problem.

Anyone else?

Maybe I need to have Comcast re-zap my cablecards just for good measure.

Following up to my own question...

I had Comcast re-init my cablecards and tried other similar troubleshooting to no avail.

I had a small Radio Shack inline amplifier lying around and when I inserted it into the chain at the demarc point, the problem went away. The signal arriving from Comcast must be a little weaker in the 91-X frequency range than in other ranges, or my OCUR tuners are especially sensitive to signal strength in that range.

Everything is working well now.

As an aside, Comcast was a pleasure to deal with. It's quick and easy to get them on the phone and the tech support person was reasonably knowledgeable about CableCards and what it takes to re-init them. They readily scheduled a truck roll for me (which I have now canceled). I know people like to complain about Comcast but honestly over the past few years for TV I have had good experiences with them.

Got some interesting news here. It's looking like things are either moving ahead of schedule, or Comcast is really slow at rolling out new technology. The DTA boxes are now available in Bremerton, but I've heard that the channels will not be cut off until at least November or so. But, I'm now hearing that channels 30 and above will be cut off in Bainbridge Island on June 30th. Last time I checked, that's Kitsap County! Could be just a matter of time now since Bremerton is just around the corner!

At my house in Sammamish, the channel line-up is not identical to what Pastiche posted a week or 2 ago...Is it possible the channels are moving, or they vary by city or even neighborhood?

At my house in Sammamish, the channel line-up is not identical to what Pastiche posted a week or 2 ago...Is it possible the channels are moving, or they vary by city or even neighborhood?

By dart toss! :p

Has anyone successfully hooked up an external hard drive to the HD DVR?

Got some interesting news here. It's looking like things are either moving ahead of schedule, or Comcast is really slow at rolling out new technology. The DTA boxes are now available in Bremerton, but I've heard that the channels will not be cut off until at least November or so. But, I'm now hearing that channels 30 and above will be cut off in Bainbridge Island on June 30th. Last time I checked, that's Kitsap County! Could be just a matter of time now since Bremerton is just around the corner!

I did an online "chat" with Comcast on Thursday so I could have a written record of the conversation. First person was no help at all. After a half hour getting nowhere, I had to leave. When I returned I got another person who was very helpful. She told me tentatively Comcast would start dropping analog channels in my area (WA0150, unincorporated Woodinville) the second week of July. She could not say for sure the timing and it would probably be phased in as they are doing in other areas.

I also asked about encryption and was told, again in the second Chat session, local HD channels wouldn't be encrypted for QAM tuners.

Finally I asked about the free HD box they are advertising. I currently have three HD TV's, one DVR, one HD box, and using my QAM tuner without a box on the third. My bill has a $15.95 less $10.96 discount for the DVR, and $11.60 for the HD box. What I was told is the discount was for the free HD box and getting another HD box would be an additional $11.60.

At my house in Sammamish, the channel line-up is not identical to what Pastiche posted a week or 2 ago...Is it possible the channels are moving, or they vary by city or even neighborhood?

It's technically possible that the lineups could be different by node, but I can't think of a reason they'd want to do that.

The last time there was a "big shuffle", about 2 years ago, from what I remember, it showed up on the Eastside first, then everywhere else, then in Seattle. So, it's possible they're moving. In areas that have had their digital migration, the MUXes that contain the migrated channels are currently simulcast on MUXes in the 30s. That's surely not an effective use of bandwidth in the long term, so, I'd think there'd be some shuffling in the future.

For a long time, the only major differences have been:
91-4 Univision (only Everett & northwards)
110-1021 KVOS (only Everett & northwards)
117-X Local PEG, Local TVGuide Network, Local Weather Channel

What differences are you seeing out in Samammish?

The whole idea of Cable Card was to foster a competitive market in customer-owned set top boxes, or TVs with Cable Cards built in to completely eliminate the set top box. This is because cable companies screw, screw, screw their customers with STB rental fees. It was true in the 1990s and it's true today.

The FCC has totally failed in executing the policies to reach this goal. Cable Card doesn't provide full functionality. The only alternative to a cableco-supplied STB is Tivo, which is a premium and high-priced product. You can't buy a Moto or SA STB in a store - why? - I guess it's because Comcast and the rest like it that way.

The FCC should have conditioned the Cable Card waiver with a requirement for retail availability of HD-capable STBS at a fair price. I hope Obama's FCC appointments put the consumer first in their decisions!

The whole idea of Cable Card was to foster a competitive market in customer-owned set top boxes, or TVs with Cable Cards built in to completely eliminate the set top box. This is because cable companies screw, screw, screw their customers with STB rental fees.
...


I think you're missing a screw! It's screw, screw, screw and then screw some more. Isn't it wonderful how the promise of "competition" and "free market economics" etc. never seem to work out for consumers. Corporations figured out years ago that stuff only cuts into profits and should be avoided at all cost.

The whole idea of Cable Card was to foster a competitive market in customer-owned set top boxes, or TVs with Cable Cards built in to completely eliminate the set top box. This is because cable companies screw, screw, screw their customers with STB rental fees. It was true in the 1990s and it's true today.

The FCC has totally failed in executing the policies to reach this goal. Cable Card doesn't provide full functionality. The only alternative to a cableco-supplied STB is Tivo, which is a premium and high-priced product. You can't buy a Moto or SA STB in a store - why? - I guess it's because Comcast and the rest like it that way.

The FCC should have conditioned the Cable Card waiver with a requirement for retail availability of HD-capable STBS at a fair price. I hope Obama's FCC appointments put the consumer first in their decisions!It seems to me that tru2way could be the big hope to get out of the hardware dilemma. It's early yet - so far Panasonic seems to be the only TV company making tru2way sets, but it sounds a lot easier than cablecards. Comcast is supposed to have tru2way rolled out across most of their network within a year.

"What differences are you seeing out in Samammish?"

I'm not smart enough to do quotes in the propoer way. I was stepping thru the channels this evening and was going to write down the different ones, which my daughter and I notices a couple nights ago...but couldn't find any differences! A few nights, MTV, among others, were in different places!

I'm in Sammamish and have a PDP 5080. Have they been making more changes today? I noticed this afternoon that my set was failing to pickup any video. I had to shut down completely and pull the cord to reset. Then the TV would work. It is updating time and channels now. I've got a cable card also, no box. Again, looking for anyone that knows if changes were made out this way today?
Mike

If tru2way depends on consumers buying new TVs, that's no answer for the tens of millions of households who've already purchased HDTVs in the last few years. Those sets won't be replaced for ten years. If tru2way and downloadable security could be made available in consumer-purchased STBs, that sounds more useful to the consumer. But the cable companies won't do it on their own.

If tru2way depends on consumers buying new TVs, that's no answer for the tens of millions of households who've already purchased HDTVs in the last few years. Those sets won't be replaced for ten years. If tru2way and downloadable security could be made available in consumer-purchased STBs, that sounds more useful to the consumer. But the cable companies won't do it on their own.The cable co's will do it, but only if it's cheaper for them than cablecards (which they're currently being forced to use). In the long run, you'd think downloadable bits would be a lot less expensive to buy, provision, and manage than physical PC-card type devices.

I think the cable companies will be happy to use the cheapest solution that lets them remain the near-exclusive providers of STBs at obscene rental rates. The FCC should break up the collusion that keeps Motorola and SA out of the retail, customer-owned STB marketplace, instead of allowing waivers to the Cable Card requirements. The principle that should guide regulation in this area is simple: you shouldn't have to rent a cable company box to subscribe to cable. Don't you agree with that principle?

One more note: the tru2way web site states in several places that it is for "leased set top boxes and retail digital televisions." Why not retail set top boxes? I guess the cable companies just wouldn't like that very much.

Does tru2way incorporate DCAS, the downloadable security scheme? Or is that in permanent limbo, now that the cable companies are pursuing Cable Card waivers?

I, too, was searching for an STB that could just pass the signal through a few pages back.

Cable companies want to bilk us for whatever they can. And Legislators don't care.

Anyone know of any electrical engineers that can build one of these?

I, too, was searching for an STB that could just pass the signal through a few pages back.

Cable companies want to bilk us for whatever they can. And Legislators don't care.

Anyone know of any electrical engineers that can build one of these?

Apparently, the Motorola DCX3400 has native output capability:
http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Products/TV%20Video%20Distribution/Customer%20Premises%20Equipment/All%20Digital%20QAM%20Set-tops/DCX3400/_Documents/staticfile/DCX3400%20User%20Guide.pdf?localeId=33

For those of us who saw 20 analog channels disappear last week, the official arrival date for additional HD is August 5th. There is an ad on page C6 of the Seattle Times sports section listing the channels to be added. By my count, there are 64 new HD channels (not counting PPV or ExtraInnings type sports packages), which will bring our total to 101 HD channels in most of the Eastside suburbs.

For those of us who saw 20 analog channels disappear last week, the official arrival date for additional HD is August 5th. There is an ad on page C6 of the Seattle Times sports section listing the channels to be added. By my count, there are 64 new HD channels (not counting PPV or ExtraInnings type sports packages), which will bring our total to 101 HD channels in most of the Eastside suburbs.

how about a link to that article for those of us who don't get the paper

how about a link to that article for those of us who don't get the paperIt's a public notice advertisement and not available in the on-line version of the Times. I saw the ad just before leaving for work and didn't have time to scan and paste the ad.

Sorry...

FWIW, I was driving through Burien on the way to work today and saw a couple of the large Comcast trucks (the ones that carry the large spools of cable) at work today along 1st Ave S. One was at 148th (former IHOP, now a Thai place) and the other was at 152nd by the KFC. Perhaps a sign of a future upgrade in the area?

For those of us who saw 20 analog channels disappear last week, the official arrival date for additional HD is August 5th. There is an ad on page C6 of the Seattle Times sports section listing the channels to be added. By my count, there are 64 new HD channels (not counting PPV or ExtraInnings type sports packages), which will bring our total to 101 HD channels in most of the Eastside suburbs.Here are scans of the two notices that appeared in the Times this morning.

I thought the big news in that list was CBUT HD on 619 being added to Digital Limited.

That means the Vancouver Olympics HD coverage should be great, assuming the rest of us get those channels within 6 months as promised, of course.

I thought the big news in that list was CBUT HD on 619 being added to Digital Limited.

That means the Vancouver Olympics HD coverage should be great, assuming the rest of us get those channels within 6 months as promised, of course.CBC lost the Olympics bid to CTV, so unfortunately there will be no Olympics coverage on CBC.

The addition of CBC had been announced for other areas a week or two ago, so I had pretty much assumed that we would get CBC in Sammamish shortly after the second cut of analog channels. It's nice to confirm that we will be getting CBC-HD and it's nice to have a date to expect to see CBC.

Has anyone tried the free DTA boxes Comcast provides? If so, do they provide the basic channel and program info that a "real" comcast box does?

Has anyone tried the free DTA boxes Comcast provides? If so, do they provide the basic channel and program info that a "real" comcast box does?

I have two of them. They do not have the guide information that the real boxes have. They only get what a Digital Starter sub would get, but without the guide, and of course, no HD channels.

I have two of them. They do not have the guide information that the real boxes have. They only get what a Digital Starter sub would get, but without the guide, and of course, no HD channels.

We have one too. About every other day when we turn on the TV to which it's attached, either there's a picture but no sound, or some combination of no picture/no sound/no ability to change the channel with the box essentially frozen. Either way, pulling the power plug on the DTA box & then replugging it resets the box & starts it working again... for a while...

It's frustrating and rather defeats the purpose of the thing having a remote, if we have to get up to unplug/replug the box so often.

Sometime when I'm passing nearby the "cable store" off Aurora, I'll bring it in and exchange it for another, but at the moment it's not really worth the trouble of the trip... (It's on the "upstairs TV" - which we used mostly to watch CCTV-9 until Comcast recently dropped CCTV-9 - and the loss of CCTV-9 is much more upsetting to us than the intermittently defective DTA box on a TV that we now have much less reason to watch.)

From Brier Dudley's column in the Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2009408896_comcast_channel_shuffles_in_au.html):
Comcast channel shuffles in August, Clearwire bundles in 2010
Posted by Brier Dudley

Comcast is shuffling a bunch of channels in early August in King County, including a few moves related to its digital conversion.

Mostly affected are customers who already have digital cable service.

Starting around Aug. 5, Digital Starter subscribers will start getting high-definition versions of 28 channels such as MTV, Comedy Central, Travel, BET, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. The full list was printed in the paper's legal notices section.

Digital Preferred customers will get four additional sports channels - NBA TV, NFL Network, NFL Network HD and NHL Network - but lose ESPN Classic to the optional "sports entertainment" tier that costs an extra $5.99 per month.

Also being added is an HD version of CBUT, at channel 619. It will be available to "Limited Basic" customers using an HDTV and a digital tuner.

Comcast spokesman Steve Kipp also provided a little information on the Clearwire 4G/WiMax mobile wireless bundles that Comcast began selling in Portland on Tuesday.

Comcast plans to offer the Clearwire bundles in the Seattle area in 2010, Kipp said.

Portland's promotional price, at least, doesn't sound too bad.

Comcast is offering a $50 per month bundle that includes 12 megabits per second home broadband plus Clearwire mobile service in the metro area, offering up to 4 Mbps. After the first year promo, the plan will cost $73 per month.

Subscribers to Comcast's triple play phone/TV/broadband plan can add Clearwire for $30 per month. It's also offering a Clearwire/Sprint combo that provides local 4G and national 3G via Sprint for an additional $20 per month.

Comcast invested in Clearwire in 2008.