View Full Version : Seattle, WA - Comcast



wareagle
10-07-09, 11:01 PM
...The Cisco/Scientific Atlanta 8300 may, but I don't think Comcast uses that box in this area.
...

It does, and they don't use it here.

hexachrome
10-08-09, 12:59 AM
Does anybody have any idea if there's a DVR that allows external hard drives? I know the Motorola 6416 has that eSATA connection, but does it work?

TiVo!

newlinux
10-08-09, 02:04 AM
I believe Moxi supports external drives too

SpokaneDoug
10-08-09, 04:18 PM
I've noticed that my signal strength has dropped about 10% in the last few weeks. Comcast is coming out this afternoon to poke at it.

I've seen 'termination caps' for unused coax outlets for sale at places like Radio Shack. We've got cable TV coax spread throughout our house, but we're only using one outlet; hence we've got a lot of unnecessary splitters potentially degrading the signal. Would those caps actually do anything useful for my signal strength, or are they just decorative? Has anyone else had experience with them?

Thanks for all your effusive advice!

johnhardyiv
10-09-09, 01:37 AM
I believe Moxi supports external drives too

Correct, up to a 6TB+ RAID drive / on the eSATA LaCie enclosure for example.

thefalcon2k
10-10-09, 03:42 AM
Wow! That's making me wonder about those external hard drives now! Like I said before, I keep an eye on this blog for some friends (because I can understand what you guys are saying ... thanks, by the way).

My cable company (Wave Broadband) apparently has a new digital converter coming out in 2010 that will allow the use of external hard drives via USB. How? I don't know. But, that's why I was asking ... mainly for a friend. Thanks again.

gdeep
10-10-09, 08:53 AM
Back with Comcast after year of Fios. Comcast gave me better deal plus it is good to see Comcast is adding whole bunch of HD channels.

Is there ETA when all channels will be added?

BradleyLX
10-10-09, 11:29 AM
Back with Comcast after year of Fios. Comcast gave me better deal plus it is good to see Comcast is adding whole bunch of HD channels.

Is there ETA when all channels will be added?
Depends on where you live. I'm in Sammamish and we got them a few months back. Supposedly all of the Seattle region by end of year i think.

JasG
10-10-09, 11:59 AM
Back with Comcast after year of Fios. Comcast gave me better deal...Is there any truth to the stories of asking each company for the 'retention' department to get deals from either - just for threatening to switch providers?

quarque
10-10-09, 12:48 PM
Is there any truth to the stories of asking each company for the 'retention' department to get deals from either - just for threatening to switch providers?

A guy from the Comcast "survey team" told me to do just that when he knocked on my door about 10 days ago. They have some sort of outreach program to try and stem the tide of exiting customers. I have been too busy lately to talk to the Retention Dept. but may get to it soon.

Nausicaa
10-10-09, 03:00 PM
A guy from the Comcast "survey team" told me to do just that when he knocked on my door about 10 days ago.

Since my TV was under my roomate's name and Internet was under mine (Comcast Internet came a few years later) the "survey team" were able to consolidate the two under my name by canceling the cable tv and restarting bundled service with my Internet on a special six-month deal at half-off.

gdeep
10-10-09, 04:18 PM
Depends on where you live. I'm in Sammamish and we got them a few months back. Supposedly all of the Seattle region by end of year i think.

I'm in redmond...Also Is there HD channel for Red zone?

gdeep
10-10-09, 04:19 PM
Is there any truth to the stories of asking each company for the 'retention' department to get deals from either - just for threatening to switch providers?

That's what I did called both retention departments and Comcast gave me better deal than Fios. Another plus point is comcast adding all the new hd channels.

wareagle
10-10-09, 04:57 PM
...Is there HD channel for Red zone?

Not in this area.

arf1410
10-10-09, 05:05 PM
That's what I did called both retention departments and Comcast gave me better deal than Fios. Another plus point is comcast adding all the new hd channels.

so do you just call the regular 1-800 number and ask to speak with the retention dept, or is there a special direct number?

gdeep
10-11-09, 02:24 AM
Yes, call the 1-800 line and ask for retention department.

JasG
10-11-09, 12:15 PM
That's what I did called both retention departments and Comcast gave me better deal than Fios. Another plus point is comcast adding all the new hd channels.At this point, I have both Comcast and FIOS TV (lazy - have to cancel Comcast).

Always subjective, but I find the PQ much, much better on FIOS and the channel line up is about the same. The FIOS guide simply blows Comcast out of the water.

tai4de2
10-11-09, 05:47 PM
Always subjective, but I find the PQ much, much better on FIOS and the channel line up is about the same.

Comcast compresses the signal more than Verizon, which leads to degradation. What is subjective is how that degradation is perceived. Some folks might not notice or care; others will find the FiOS picture to be better to varying degrees.

Around Seattle, and assuming the full set of post-reclamation channels on your Comcast system, here are the HD channels you get on Comcast but not FiOS (not including sports channels, which I don't care about):

Encore, CBUT, Style, E!, MSNBC, Cartoon, BET, TV One, G4, TCM, TruTV

Here are the HD channels you get on FiOS but not Comcast (again, ex-sports):

HDNet, HDNet Movies, MAVTV, Smithsonian, Wealth TV, WGN

(Plus 6 ".TV" channels that are basically worthless, not the least reason for which is that there's no reliable guide data for them.)

gdeep
10-12-09, 05:20 PM
Comcast compresses the signal more than Verizon, which leads to degradation. What is subjective is how that degradation is perceived. Some folks might not notice or care; others will find the FiOS picture to be better to varying degrees.

Around Seattle, and assuming the full set of post-reclamation channels on your Comcast system, here are the HD channels you get on Comcast but not FiOS (not including sports channels, which I don't care about):

Encore, CBUT, Style, E!, MSNBC, Cartoon, BET, TV One, G4, TCM, TruTV

Here are the HD channels you get on FiOS but not Comcast (again, ex-sports):

HDNet, HDNet Movies, MAVTV, Smithsonian, Wealth TV, WGN

(Plus 6 ".TV" channels that are basically worthless, not the least reason for which is that there's no reliable guide data for them.)

I feel Verizon has started to compress too as i have seen pq degrade from last year. Also you have to understand lot of channel's pq is really bad even they claim it is HD. Like MAVTV's PQ is really bad for some shows and .TV channels are worthless channels and I don't know why Verizon added em.

tai4de2
10-12-09, 08:50 PM
I feel Verizon has started to compress too as i have seen pq degrade from last year.

I have not seen any commentary to corroborate that, but as I just switched from Comcast a few weeks ago, I cannot say. I find the picture quality on FiOS superior to Comcast on a wide variety of channels, and Comcast's HD channel list is not compellingly better than Verizon's.

Also because the FiOS technology is superior I also have none of the signal quality issues I had with Comcast.

For other people, cost and pure channel count are the important factors. I say choice is good :).

thefalcon2k
10-15-09, 03:47 AM
I find the picture quality on FiOS superior to Comcast on a wide variety of channels.I think the picture quality on anything other than Comcast is better, LOL! I've got NFL Network HD to prove that! Man, it's amazing!

darrylc
10-17-09, 11:39 AM
Is there any reason to swap out my DVR to the DCX3400? Currently I have no HDMI handshake issues. Is there an upgrade in picture quality?

jhachey
10-17-09, 11:53 AM
Is there any reason to swap out my DVR to the DCX3400? Currently I have no HDMI handshake issues. Is their an upgrade in picture quality?The biggest reason to swap DVRs is to get a bigger hard drive. The DCX-3400 I picked up in Redmond has a 250GB drive and holds over 30 hours of HD content. There is also a 320GB version, although I don't recall anyone here posting that they have picked one up.

jameskollar
10-17-09, 12:06 PM
Is there any reason to swap out my DVR to the DCX3400? Currently I have no HDMI handshake issues. Is their an upgrade in picture quality?

Yes, the PQ is slightly better. I have both the DCH3416 and the DCX3425 and can do a side by side comparison (not blind though so my observations are subjective). There is one other thing that I really like about the DCX is you can get native output of 480i, 720P and 1080i. It can actually output any native format but that's all you'll get from cable at thiis time.

Mike777
10-17-09, 04:31 PM
The biggest reason to swap DVRs is to get a bigger hard drive. The DCX-3400 I picked up in Redmond has a 250GB drive and holds over 30 hours of HD content. There is also a 320GB version, although I don't recall anyone here posting that they have picked one up. How do you go about switching HD DVR's. I know that as of last year, they were not giving out the HD DVR boxes at their retail locations. You had to arrange for a Comcast rep to come over and swap it out. Most of the simpler boxes they were able to swap out on the spot.

jameskollar
10-17-09, 04:42 PM
How do you go about switching HD DVR's. I know that as of last year, they were not giving out the HD DVR boxes at their retail locations. You had to arrange for a Comcast rep to come over and swap it out. Most of the simpler boxes they were able to swap out on the spot. They are now. Just walk in with your old box and ask for a new one. Problem is it's a hit or miss on the new boxes as they don't always have them in stock (Tacoma anyway). I had to go back a couple of times to get one switched. I liked the new box so much I tried to switch out my second DVR but they were out of stock again. So I'll keep going back till I get one.

WA LSU FAN
10-18-09, 09:37 PM
Comcast compresses the signal more than Verizon, which leads to degradation. What is subjective is how that degradation is perceived. Some folks might not notice or care; others will find the FiOS picture to be better to varying degrees.

Around Seattle, and assuming the full set of post-reclamation channels on your Comcast system, here are the HD channels you get on Comcast but not FiOS (not including sports channels, which I don't care about):

Encore, CBUT, Style, E!, MSNBC, Cartoon, BET, TV One, G4, TCM, TruTV

Here are the HD channels you get on FiOS but not Comcast (again, ex-sports):

HDNet, HDNet Movies, MAVTV, Smithsonian, Wealth TV, WGN

(Plus 6 ".TV" channels that are basically worthless, not the least reason for which is that there's no reliable guide data for them.)

Actually, FIOS does have Encore in HD (850). Also, you have to include the sports channels that FIOS has in HD because that is a HUGE draw for a ton of people. In the basic FIOS HD package they give you NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA TV (coming next week), Tennis Channel and every other sports station out there in HD as part of the bundle. You have to subscribe to Comcast's Digital Preferred package plus the Sports Package to get half of those channels in HD. They are already lit up and available on FIOS.
Comparing FIOS HD to Comcast HD is not an apples-to-apples comparison at all. FIOS is a premium service in every way at a value price. Comcast is a cheap service at a cheap price. Big difference!

WA LSU FAN
10-18-09, 09:39 PM
Back with Comcast after year of Fios. Comcast gave me better deal plus it is good to see Comcast is adding whole bunch of HD channels.

Is there ETA when all channels will be added?

How long is your promo with Comcast for? Also, did they really give you the exact SAME service than what you had with FIOS?

gdeep
10-19-09, 12:39 AM
How long is your promo with Comcast for? Also, did they really give you the exact SAME service than what you had with FIOS?

I'm going to get same package and same equipment for about the same with comcast. My Fios contract ended this month and was going to pay extra for home media center 19.99 (which i got free for one year).

Promo is good for one year as they qualified me for dish buy back customer even though i was with Fios.

tai4de2
10-19-09, 11:49 PM
FIOS does have Encore in HD

Yes, but it's on the movie tier, which is a premium service that I don't get. Same with IFC-HD. On Comcast Encore HD and IFC-HD are on the Digital Preferred tier (equivalent to Extreme HD on FiOS).

However on FiOS HDNet Movies more than makes up for the lack of Encore HD, and IFC-HD is almost worthless as an HD channel due to lack of HD programming and the most extreme and foul stretch-o-vision I have ever had the displeasure of suffering through.

saukriver
10-20-09, 02:45 AM
How many of the HD channels in the 600s in the listings have been encrypted for the Bellevue area? The plan is that they all will be?

thewarm
10-20-09, 08:13 AM
Chime in...
None in Lake City, 98125.

SeattleAl
10-20-09, 09:30 AM
They're all up in Des Moines, WA121.

gdeep
10-20-09, 11:25 AM
Is there world of more site for seattle area? I have seen other states have sites but i haven't seen one for seattle area.

ykiki
10-20-09, 11:39 AM
New HD channels in Normandy Park this morning. Saw parts of Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" on Travel HD just before I headed to work.

Beef. Wine. Gorgeous setting in Chile. I cought myself just staring at the tv.

Can't wait to get home tonight. :D

distantmantra
10-20-09, 11:57 PM
Nothing in Seattle (Greenlake) yet. I heard the analog switch won't happen here until the 26th...

Candyman12
10-21-09, 12:33 AM
The biggest reason to swap DVRs is to get a bigger hard drive. The DCX-3400 I picked up in Redmond has a 250GB drive and holds over 30 hours of HD content. There is also a 320GB version, although I don't recall anyone here posting that they have picked one up.

I've been to Redmond twice in the last few weeks and they didn't have the DCX box either time. This last time, the rep had to go in the back to get the 160 GB DVR because they only had the 120s in front.

hergertr
10-21-09, 01:48 PM
My son just picked up a DCX-3400. Redmond was out so they told him to go to Lynnwood and he got one there.

Another public announcement for HD channels in Seattle WA0069, 0112; Shoreline WA0572; Lake Forest Park WA0160, 0545 starting on or after November 24th. My area, WA0150, is supposed to have on or after November 3rd.

gdeep
10-21-09, 03:38 PM
My son just picked up a DCX-3400. Redmond was out so they told him to go to Lynnwood and he got one there.

Another public announcement for HD channels in Seattle WA0069, 0112; Shoreline WA0572; Lake Forest Park WA0160, 0545 starting on or after November 24th. My area, WA0150, is supposed to have on or after November 3rd.

Thanks for the update. Do you know if they are adding new channel(s) that aren't listed on the channel listing?

jhachey
10-21-09, 04:30 PM
Thanks for the update. Do you know if they are adding new channel(s) that aren't listed on the channel listing?The public notice in this morning's Seattle Times looked like the same channel line-up that has been rolled out elsewhere in the Seattle area.

I think this will complete the upgrades in Washington State. Once we're all on the same playing field, maybe Comcast will begin to roll out a few more channels, the updated guide software, remote dvr programming, etc.

SeattleAl
10-21-09, 06:26 PM
Yes, I noticed that the blurb about if you are not included in the list, you will be upgraded by the end of the year, was missing this time.

Does anyone know why Comcast Seattle has not added HDNET? I think the license agreement was signed at least a year ago.

wareagle
10-21-09, 07:09 PM
...Once we're all on the same playing field, maybe Comcast will begin to roll out a few more channels, the updated guide software, remote dvr programming, etc.

I believe the next big change we see will be the encryption of the expanded basic QAM channels.

tai4de2
10-22-09, 12:25 AM
How many of the HD channels in the 600s in the listings have been encrypted for the Bellevue area? The plan is that they all will be?

All.

jhachey
10-22-09, 11:11 AM
All.619 (CBUT - Vancouver) should be in the clear.

artshotwell
10-22-09, 11:51 AM
Does anyone know why Comcast Seattle has not added HDNET? I think the license agreement was signed at least a year ago.Is Comcast carrying HDNET anywhere? I thought there was personal animosity between Comcast's head and HDNET's owner.

gdeep
10-22-09, 02:30 PM
Is Comcast carrying HDNET anywhere? I thought there was personal animosity between Comcast's head and HDNET's owner.

agreement was signed last year between two companies.

jhachey
10-22-09, 02:41 PM
Is Comcast carrying HDNET anywhere? I thought there was personal animosity between Comcast's head and HDNET's owner.HDNet and Comcast did reach a carriage agreement for both HDNet and HDNet Movies (http://www.hd.net/pressrelease.html?2008-09-04-01.html) last year. HDNet is being carried in at least some Comcast areas (I have seen a few posts to that effect), but Comcast has not seemed to make much effort to roll it out on a wide basis. I am not aware of Comcast carrying HDNet Movies anywhere.

Presumably the limited roll-out is due to some combination of bandwidth limitations and additional fees that would need to be paid to HDNet as additional subscribers are added. The press release mentions that the HDNet programming will be part of Comcast's Project Infinity, so maybe Comcast plans to roll out HDNet more broadly as they get further down the road on Project Cavalry.

A couple of years ago when there was so little HD content available, I would have killed for HDNet. Now that we have so many HD choices, it's not such a big deal to miss HDNet and HDNet Movies, although I would still like to see both of them added.

wareagle
10-22-09, 03:14 PM
619 (CBUT - Vancouver) should be in the clear.

Currently I see it on 60-2.

moose71
10-22-09, 06:19 PM
Noticed by accident that the new HD channels dropped a couple days ago here in the Newcastle/Renton area. Was told recently by Comcast that it would be around Nov-3rd. Typical Comcast, why is it that no one there seems to never know anything related to thier own products/services? such a joke! anyhow, can anyone tell me why the Weather channel on Ch.78 seems to have the local on the 8's and the new Weather Channel HD on 706 does not have them? when they say "heres your local on the 8's" it just goes to a U.S. map and shows temps in various regions of the U.S. I was bummed at this. was hoping it would be the same thing just in HD. Anyhow, I'm glad to FINALLY have the new HD channels here. Its about damn time. I was feeling that for the money we are paying for comcast, we were getting shafted and not getting what we deserved. Would be nice if they drop some more in the very NEAR future.

hergertr
10-22-09, 11:10 PM
Noticed by accident that the new HD channels dropped a couple days ago here in the Newcastle/Renton area. Was told recently by Comcast that it would be around Nov-3rd. Typical Comcast, why is it that no one there seems to never know anything related to thier own products/services? such a joke! anyhow.

Area WA0150 (northeast King County) is also supposed to get the HD channels November 3rd. As of Wednesday this week, the rest of the analog channels 30+ are now gone with a message you must have a DTA to get these digital channels. The analog channels that had been deleted previously were snow and they still are when tuning with an analog tuner. No extra HD channels yet.

artshotwell
10-23-09, 12:57 PM
I've noticed video freezes on Fox/113 lately. The picture either stutters or freezes for a few seconds while the audio continues or jumps. Anyone else notice???

newlinux
10-23-09, 02:07 PM
I've noticed video freezes on Fox/113 lately. The picture either stutters or freezes for a few seconds while the audio continues or jumps. Anyone else notice???

Yes, I've noticed this during the baseball broadcasts (using a QAM tuner for channel 13.1). It also happens on DirecTV so I believe it is the station.

gdeep
10-24-09, 11:41 PM
My son just picked up a DCX-3400. Redmond was out so they told him to go to Lynnwood and he got one there.

Another public announcement for HD channels in Seattle WA0069, 0112; Shoreline WA0572; Lake Forest Park WA0160, 0545 starting on or after November 24th. My area, WA0150, is supposed to have on or after November 3rd.

Picked up DCX-3400 today from Redmond office around 5:30 pm and the guy told me that they just got em like 25 minutes ago. Also, when i turned it on I saw all the new channels (that will light up on Nov 3 in my area) listed in guide like CBUT, MSNBC and also I saw NFL Redzone HD listed too. After like 10 minutes all new channels went away in guide.

Mike777
10-25-09, 05:05 PM
I've noticed video freezes on Fox/113 lately. The picture either stutters or freezes for a few seconds while the audio continues or jumps. Anyone else notice??? The QAM with my TV tuner was totally screwed up yesterday for 13HD. Totally unwatchable. The picture from my HD Comcast DVR was perfectly fine. Very strange.

mwnorman
10-25-09, 08:47 PM
Picked up DCX-3400 today from Redmond office around 5:30 pm and the guy told me that they just got em like 25 minutes ago. Also, when i turned it on I saw all the new channels (that will light up on Nov 3 in my area) listed in guide like CBUT, MSNBC and also I saw NFL Redzone HD listed too. After like 10 minutes all new channels went away in guide.

I have the same issue here in Bremerton. Twice I've upgraded my HD DVR in the past 8 months and twice when I got home I had all the new HD channels. But after 'activating' the box, they all disappear. It doesn't make sense...if they are there (and they are obviously there), then why are they blocking them when I activate the box?!?!?!?!?

distantmantra
10-26-09, 12:09 PM
Today is supposedly the day of the digital switchover for Seattle according to a letter I got from Comcast last month. Anyone know when we might start seeing new HD channels in the city?

arbeck77
10-26-09, 12:54 PM
Today is supposedly the day of the digital switchover for Seattle according to a letter I got from Comcast last month. Anyone know when we might start seeing new HD channels in the city?

From what I understand, they're removing the analog channels in two chunks. The first comes this week, the second a few weeks later. I'm supposed to have new HD channels on 11/24.

JasG
10-26-09, 03:56 PM
I have the same issue here in Bremerton. Twice I've upgraded my HD DVR in the past 8 months and twice when I got home I had all the new HD channels. But after 'activating' the box, they all disappear. It doesn't make sense...if they are there (and they are obviously there), then why are they blocking them when I activate the box?!?!?!?!?It could be that the box was tested or configured in an area with the HD channels, so they are loaded into guide storage when you get it.

When you hook it up and activate in your area, it downloads the correct lineup, which does not yet include the new channels.

thewarm
10-26-09, 05:25 PM
Got an email from Comcast. They said that Seattle doesn't deserve to get the new HD channels until next year. :D

gdeep
10-26-09, 05:59 PM
It could be that the box was tested or configured in an area with the HD channels, so they are loaded into guide storage when you get it.

When you hook it up and activate in your area, it downloads the correct lineup, which does not yet include the new channels.

I agree but I just wanted to let everybody know that NFL Redzone HD was listed in the guide. :)

wareagle
10-26-09, 06:16 PM
I agree but I just wanted to let everybody know that NFL Redzone HD was listed in the guide. :)

Do you recall what channel it was listed on?

gdeep
10-26-09, 07:07 PM
Do you recall what channel it was listed on?

Best guess is 637...but i'm not 100%

quarque
10-26-09, 09:39 PM
Today is supposedly the day of the digital switchover for Seattle according to a letter I got from Comcast last month. Anyone know when we might start seeing new HD channels in the city?

I got the same letter warning me about analog disappearing on 10/26 and the need to get DTA boxes etc. etc. Well, as of 6:00 PM the analogs are still all there and nothing is new in the digital realm. Comcastic!

distantmantra
10-26-09, 11:42 PM
Got an email from Comcast. They said that Seattle doesn't deserve to get the new HD channels until next year. :D

Wha, what?

thewarm
10-27-09, 12:43 PM
Wha, what?

An email from Comcast... :p

Sorry, had to do something whilst waiting.... and waiting....

gdeep
10-27-09, 07:56 PM
Best guess is 637...but i'm not 100%

Got this back from Steve Kipp on launch of Redzone in HD:
Unfortunately, no, we’re not. That was a mistake on the guide listings.

quarque
10-27-09, 08:45 PM
An email from Comcast... :p

Sorry, had to do something whilst waiting.... and waiting....

Just checked the analogs and a bunch have disappeared here in Lake City. So does that mean days, weeks or months until new HD shows up?

jameskollar
10-27-09, 10:19 PM
Just checked the analogs and a bunch have disappeared here in Lake City. So does that mean days, weeks or months until new HD shows up? Analogs went away in Lakewood in Sept. Nada on the new HD as of today. I did get a postcard saying new HD was "coming soon" but that's about it.

jhachey
10-28-09, 12:23 AM
Just checked the analogs and a bunch have disappeared here in Lake City. So does that mean days, weeks or months until new HD shows up?I had heard that the first cut of analog would be 10/28/09, the second cut would be 11/11/09 and the new HD channels would arrive 11/24/09.

bigpoppa206
10-28-09, 06:48 AM
I had heard that the first cut of analog would be 10/28/09, the second cut would be 11/11/09 and the new HD channels would arrive 11/24/09.

The already started disappearing here in the Lake City area in North Seattle yesterday.

thewarm
10-28-09, 09:24 AM
Hello to quarque and bigpapp206 from another Lake City resident... :)
Small world.

jhachey
10-28-09, 10:19 AM
Comcast says digital switch almost done, in Seattle now
Posted by Brier Dudley

Comcast's digital switch - the one that's requiring expanded basic subscribers to put converter boxes on every TV - is proceeding on schedule, spokesman Steve Kipp said today.

The switch is largely done in Washington and now moving into remaining pockets within Seattle. Conversion began today in West Seattle and Georgetown. The rest of Seattle will begin seeing the changes by the end of the week.

Comcast is moving channels 30 to 70 from analog to digital, a move that's freeing up bandwidth that will be used for additional services. The company's also providing 33 new channels to affected subscribers, although most are high-definition versions of current channels.

It's converting 30-70 to digital in blocks of 20 channels at a time, with the first 20 moving in Seattle this week and the rest going on Nov. 10 and 12. This is the same schedule that was first disclosed in June.

Channels for "limited basic" customers will continue to broadcast in both digital and analog format, Kipp said.

More than 1.3 million boxes have been issued or 95 percent of the total needed to finish the project, he said. The whole state should be done by the end of the year.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2010148071_comcast_says_digital_switch_al.html

JasG
10-28-09, 10:51 AM
Just checked the analogs and a bunch have disappeared here in Lake City. So does that mean days, weeks or months until new HD shows up?It was exactly two weeks in Shoreline.

jhachey
10-28-09, 11:21 AM
Just checked the analogs and a bunch have disappeared here in Lake City. So does that mean days, weeks or months until new HD shows up?
It was exactly two weeks in Shoreline.All through Washington and Oregon, it's been two weeks from the second analog cut and the addition of new HD channels.

Up until now, it has always been FOUR weeks between the first cut of analog and the second cut of analog. Looks like the remaining parts of Seattle are seeing that schedule compressed to two weeks.

The Public Notice placed in the Seattle Times on October 21 said that the HD channels would be added on or after November 24 in Seattle WA0069, 0112; Shoreline WA0572; Lake Forest Park WA0160, 0545.

newlinux
10-28-09, 07:45 PM
Has anybody notice any QAM stations moving or becoming encrypted? I can't lock a few channels (like ESPN) that I used to be able get a lock on. Just curious if anyone else has noticed before I rescan.

cnjvh
10-28-09, 08:34 PM
Happens ALL THE TIME. Very annoying. I use Windows Media Center for my DVR and I have to reset up the channels every month or so. And here's something even stranger: I use unencrypted QAM both upstairs using the onboard tuner in a Sharp LCD and downstairs using media center. They get the same channel on two different channel numbers. Upstairs, Disney is 80.5. Downstairs, its 80.2. I'd love to hear an explanation for this from one of the guru's here :-)

newlinux
10-28-09, 10:03 PM
Happens ALL THE TIME. Very annoying. I use Windows Media Center for my DVR and I have to reset up the channels every month or so. And here's something even stranger: I use unencrypted QAM both upstairs using the onboard tuner in a Sharp LCD and downstairs using media center. They get the same channel on two different channel numbers. Upstairs, Disney is 80.5. Downstairs, its 80.2. I'd love to hear an explanation for this from one of the guru's here :-)
Yeah I know it happens, but for the channels I care about it happens very infrequently ( maybe 2 times a year) - usually someone has already noted it by the time I noticed.

pastiche
10-28-09, 11:59 PM
Happens ALL THE TIME. Very annoying. I use Windows Media Center for my DVR and I have to reset up the channels every month or so. And here's something even stranger: I use unencrypted QAM both upstairs using the onboard tuner in a Sharp LCD and downstairs using media center. They get the same channel on two different channel numbers. Upstairs, Disney is 80.5. Downstairs, its 80.2. I'd love to hear an explanation for this from one of the guru's here :-)

A long time ago, when Comcast first added PSIP data, I used to see the same thing on Channel 111. One tuner would reverse 111-1/111-2 and moved 111-4 to 111-3. I always assumed something was wrong with the PSIP data for that MUX. It suddenly started working at some point and I hadn't really thought about it since.

My guess would be, since channel mapping is dictated by the PSIP data, that there's something in the PSIP on the 80-X MUX that one of your tuners doens't quite know how to react to.

pastiche
10-29-09, 12:13 AM
Has anybody notice any QAM stations moving or becoming encrypted? I can't lock a few channels (like ESPN) that I used to be able get a lock on. Just curious if anyone else has noticed before I rescan.

I just clicked through, and, at least here, nothing seems to have changed. Nothing encrypted that wasn't, nothing unencrypted that was, nothing moved.

Correction: I just didn't click to high enough a channel. :) CNN en Espaņol is unencrypted on 120-5, now. I also didn't notice until I'd clicked "round the corner": the PSIP on the 80-X MUX is entirely missing for me, now. (That might be related to what cnjvh was seeing, above.)

darrylc
10-29-09, 10:43 AM
A couple pages ago I asked about the new set top box. Well I was a bit nervous about introducing HDMI handshake problems to my setups, but since I needed a couple DTAs I thought I'd go ahead and pick up one of the new boxes (north seattle) and test it out. So far so good. My bedroom set-up is a STB=> Sony CT100=>Toshiba LCD. In the past changing between channels with different resolutions took a quite bit longer than is reasonable. With the new box things seem to move along alot faster although still slower than I'd like. Like a few others have noticed the PQ seems to have improved too. Thanks for the input guys.

I'll post up if I introduce any handshake issues my main system.

jameskollar
10-29-09, 12:16 PM
I found one probem with the new box (DCX3425). I tried to hook up to a Denon reciever AVR3310CI via HDMI. For some reason, the DCX which I have set to native mode gets changed to 720P on the first handshake. Frustrating since the menu for the Denon is on the HDMI connection to the TV. My Samsung Plasma saves settings for various resolutions which I am unwilling to give up. For now I am not using the Denon to switch my DVRs.

siteexperts
10-29-09, 01:59 PM
I just got Showtime added to my comcast service (bellevue).

I am using a cable-card enabled media center. For some reason, I do not seem to be receiving all the showtime channels (showtime extreme hd, showtime western) is missing.

Any ideas why (anyone else with a cable card able to receive showtime on channels 571,572,573)?

Thanks

wareagle
10-29-09, 07:49 PM
...
Any ideas why (anyone else with a cable card able to receive showtime on channels 571,572,573)?
...

Those come in fine with the M-card in my TiVo HD.

wareagle
10-29-09, 07:51 PM
I found one probem with the new box (DCX3425). I tried to hook up to a Denon reciever AVR3310CI via HDMI. For some reason, the DCX which I have set to native mode gets changed to 720P on the first handshake. Frustrating since the menu for the Denon is on the HDMI connection to the TV. My Samsung Plasma saves settings for various resolutions which I am unwilling to give up. For now I am not using the Denon to switch my DVRs.

There are similar problems with the DCX3400 reported on the Comcast help forum:
http://forums.comcast.net

pastiche
10-31-09, 05:32 PM
Since things look relatively stable clear-QAM wise in the post-transition areas, I went ahead and did an update. Not many changes have been made, other than the addition of the KPST MUX on 18-X. (CNN en Espaņol was briefly unencrypted on 120-5.)

meech123
10-31-09, 08:07 PM
Got my DTAa hooked up and activated but am still not receiving some channels. 16,17,21,22,24,25,26,28,26,43,44,45 say "One moment please, your service has been temorarily interrupted. It should be restored momentarily" Called Comcast twice to reset and still not getting those channels.

Anyone else experiencing this problem or know what might be causing it?

Thanks,
Mike

JasG
11-01-09, 10:29 AM
Since things look relatively stable clear-QAM wise in the post-transition areas, I went ahead and did an update.Has anyone kept the earlier versions of pastiche's lists? I am interested in the first list, but it is not longer there. Just pm it to me - Thanks, JasG

pastiche
11-01-09, 12:34 PM
Has anyone kept the earlier versions of pastiche's lists? I am interested in the first list, but it is not longer there. Just pm it to me - Thanks, JasG

It looks like the first one I did was on August 27, 2005, but here's the earliest one I could find. It's from sometime between that point and February 1, 2006, when KIRO's 7.2 lit up on 89-13.

Credit to Google for finding it. I'd never thought to keep any old copies, myself. (I pull the old attachments off when I post a new version so that people don't inadvertantly end up with something out-of-date.)

Obvious caveat: this is out of date. Scroll up if you want the current list.

mfisher76
11-01-09, 03:29 PM
Is anyone else having a problem with the sports programming on Fox. My picture freezes for a few seconds everynow and then, then comes back and the audio comes back and for a second or so, it sounds like it is fast forwarding to get caught up with the video. I have only noticed this on the sports shows (and a couple of times on the commercials during those sports programming). I watch other stuff on Fox and haven't had this problem. (btw, I use a TivoHD with cable card). I haven't noticed this on any other channels.

jameskollar
11-01-09, 04:28 PM
Is anyone else having a problem with the sports programming on Fox. My picture freezes for a few seconds everynow and then, then comes back and the audio comes back and for a second or so, it sounds like it is fast forwarding to get caught up with the video. I have only noticed this on the sports shows (and a couple of times on the commercials during those sports programming). I watch other stuff on Fox and haven't had this problem. (btw, I use a TivoHD with cable card). I haven't noticed this on any other channels.
Yep, me too although the audio catching up does not happen to me, just picture freeze and sound drop out. I had thought it might be due to the Comcast DCX3425 so I put my second DVR (DCH3416) on 113 to see if it was DVR related so I kept watching the sorry Hawks game hoping to record a glitch and see if it was on both DVR's. Of course did not happen again after I set this up and I gave up as I just could not stomach anymore of the game.

So, I'm taking this as confirmation that the problem is with the source. Whew! Hate to think my DVR is the prob. Thanks for the post!!! :D

jameskollar
11-01-09, 05:28 PM
Watching MIN and GB game on Fox. Glitch happend and caught on my two different DVR's. Must be source.

JasG
11-01-09, 06:55 PM
It looks like the first one I did was on August 27, 2005, but here's the earliest one I could find. It's from sometime between that point and February 1, 2006, when KIRO's 7.2 lit up on 89-13.Thanks, that is pretty much what I recall, but I think it predates Nov 2005.

IIRC, that date is when the digital simulcast of the 2-99 analog tier started and that was in Clear QAM, wasn't it?

mfisher76
11-01-09, 11:13 PM
Yep, me too although the audio catching up does not happen to me, just picture freeze and sound drop out. I had thought it might be due to the Comcast DCX3425 so I put my second DVR (DCH3416) on 113 to see if it was DVR related so I kept watching the sorry Hawks game hoping to record a glitch and see if it was on both DVR's. Of course did not happen again after I set this up and I gave up as I just could not stomach anymore of the game.

So, I'm taking this as confirmation that the problem is with the source. Whew! Hate to think my DVR is the prob. Thanks for the post!!! :D

Thanks! I guess I should be glad the problem just isn't me. Although for as long as this seems to have been happening, sure wish Fox would do something to fix it. I have had is happen at least once (maybe twice) during the baseball game. Basically it is just annoying. I was the same way with the Hawks game, I could only take so much so I quit watching around halftime, so I am not sure if it happened afterwards (freakin' Hawks :mad:). I did also notice it during the 2nd football game though as well.

pastiche
11-02-09, 05:19 PM
Thanks, that is pretty much what I recall, but I think it predates Nov 2005.

IIRC, that date is when the digital simulcast of the 2-99 analog tier started and that was in Clear QAM, wasn't it?

That's totally possible. I didn't used to write a "change log" when I posted an update.

August 27, 2005 was the original; 7-2 was added on the February 1, 2006 update. This was pre-7-2, so...

I guess it's from somewhere between Aug. and Nov. 2005 based on our collective memory. :-)

thewarm
11-02-09, 07:15 PM
I got a card in the mail from Comcast saying that by the 9th the Digital work would be completed in my Lake City neighborhood.

What I found interesting was a truck out front adding a monster line on my street today. (1 1/2"-2" diameter cable)

Only one problem... it was a Qwest truck! :confused:

At first I thought it was Verizon stringing up the FIOS stuff... What is Qwest doing???

Any ideas

gdeep
11-02-09, 07:36 PM
I got a card in the mail from Comcast saying that by the 9th the Digital work would be completed in my Lake City neighborhood.

What I found interesting was a truck out front adding a monster line on my street today. (1 1/2"-2" diameter cable)

Only one problem... it was a Qwest truck! :confused:

At first I thought it was Verizon stringing up the FIOS stuff... What is Qwest doing???

Any ideas

Probably there tv service.

troublebound
11-03-09, 12:24 AM
Probably there tv service.

The only TV service they have is in Phoenix and Denver.

Otherwise Qwest bundles with DirectTV.

gdeep
11-03-09, 01:28 AM
The only TV service they have is in Phoenix and Denver.

Otherwise Qwest bundles with DirectTV.

someday there tv service might also show up in Seattle :) like it did for Phoenix and Denver.

gdeep
11-03-09, 08:14 AM
New HD channels were added to my area (redmond) this morning.

JasG
11-03-09, 11:52 AM
I got a card in the mail from Comcast saying that by the 9th the Digital work would be completed in my Lake City neighborhood.

What I found interesting was a truck out front adding a monster line on my street today. (1 1/2"-2" diameter cable)

Only one problem... it was a Qwest truck! :confused:

At first I thought it was Verizon stringing up the FIOS stuff... What is Qwest doing???

Any ideasA co-worker told me that Qwest is building out its FTTN optical network in Seattle - that could be what you are seeing.

gimmiefuel
11-03-09, 03:02 PM
New HD channels were added to my area (redmond) this morning.

which ones?

jhachey
11-03-09, 04:06 PM
which ones?The ~60 channels that get added when analog reclamation is complete, bringing his area up to par with most of the rest of the local area (parts of Seattle are still waiting).

jhachey
11-04-09, 11:16 AM
In the the Public Notices section of this morning's Seattle Times, Comcast had a notice touting completion of their most recent digital upgrade and stating that in all areas a digital device would be required to view channels other than 2-25 and 75-99 after December 8th.

Presumably December 8 is the date that Comcast begins to scramble QAM except for those signals that are part of the limited cable package.

distantmantra
11-05-09, 12:05 AM
(parts of Seattle are still waiting).

I think all of Seattle is still waiting...

quarque
11-05-09, 01:58 AM
I think all of Seattle is still waiting...
hey it's only 1,728,319 seconds until we have HD
oops, 1,728,310 seconds
dammit, 1,728,301 sec.
crap, I can't keep up

thewarm
11-05-09, 07:35 AM
hey it's only 1,728,319 seconds until we have HD
oops, 1,728,310 seconds
dammit, 1,728,301 sec.
crap, I can't keep up

9 seconds per line... what's that in words per minute? ;)

Radnor
11-05-09, 12:49 PM
Indeed. What's taking so long, Comcast!? I need more HD.

quarque
11-05-09, 09:28 PM
9 seconds per line... what's that in words per minute? ;)

maybe 60 - I never was a fast typist... :D

distantmantra
11-05-09, 09:46 PM
Indeed. What's taking so long, Comcast!? I need more HD.

I was hoping to see at least one episode of Mad Men in HD this season without having to wait until Monday for them to show up in HD On Demand. Guess that's not happening.

I just love how I'm paying just as much as my parents are in Auburn, yet they get tons of extra HD content that I still don't have.

gdeep
11-06-09, 09:31 AM
I was hoping to see at least one episode of Mad Men in HD this season without having to wait until Monday for them to show up in HD On Demand. Guess that's not happening.

I just love how I'm paying just as much as my parents are in Auburn, yet they get tons of extra HD content that I still don't have.

Send an email to Steve Kipp and he will give you exact date and also let you know if they still on track to meet the date or not.

Radnor
11-06-09, 10:15 AM
Send an email to Steve Kipp and he will give you exact date and also let you know if they still on track to meet the date or not.

Done. :)

gdeep
11-07-09, 02:36 PM
NFLRD channel was added to channel 637 this morning in redmond area but looks like it's not HD channel. Do you see this channel in your lineup too?

jhachey
11-07-09, 02:47 PM
NFLRD channel was added to channel 637 this morning in redmond area but looks like it's not HD channel. Do you see this channel in your lineup too?It shows up under my list of HD channels here in Sammamish. Looks like we will have RedZone in HD for tomorrow.

gdeep
11-07-09, 02:58 PM
It shows up under my list of HD channels here in Sammamish. Looks like we will have RedZone in HD for tomorrow.

I take it back the 10am program for Sunday is listed in HD.

I'm shocked comcast added this channel.

jhachey
11-07-09, 04:36 PM
I take it back the 10am program for Sunday is listed in HD.

I'm shocked comcast added this channel.I'm not. They've added it elsewhere. I'm surprised we didn't get it in HD a few weeks ago.

Better late than never.

Now that Project Cavalry is almost complete in our area I am hopeful that we will get whatever remaining HD channels that Comcast has yet to add in our area (WGN, HDNet, etc.) and more HD OnDemand.

BlackLab
11-07-09, 09:09 PM
From a Comcast rep:

The next round is expected to start rolling out on 11/24 in stages.
Certain areas will get it first then slowly all will be migrated.


Vinisha
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Pedraja
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 11:51 AM
To: [CHQ -- We Can Help]
Subject: New HD channels in Seattle?


Hi there,

I was under the impression that the next round of HD upgrades was
supposed to occur on 10/26. I live in Seattle north of Greenlake.

Any idea when that will happen?

Regards,
Kevin Pedraja

Mike777
11-07-09, 10:52 PM
I was hoping to see at least one episode of Mad Men in HD this season without having to wait until Monday for them to show up in HD On Demand. Guess that's not happening.

I just love how I'm paying just as much as my parents are in Auburn, yet they get tons of extra HD content that I still don't have.

The HD channel of AMC shows Mad Men at 7PM on Sunday. I think the HD channel is showing the east coast time zone, at least on the HD channel, which I personally love. I usually set my DVR recording it and start watching it either at 7:30 or 8. I like being able to zip through the commercials. They don't have the highest quality HD, but certainly better than the SD version. Personally, I don't think the OnDemand HD is that good. I would rather record the real thing. Plus it is easier navigating through the program with my DVR than the clunky On Demand interface. Not a big fan of On Demand.

jhachey
11-08-09, 01:32 PM
I take it back the 10am program for Sunday is listed in HD.

I'm shocked comcast added this channel.RedZone is up and running in HD this morning in Sammamish.

burger23
11-08-09, 04:37 PM
My wife is upset! She can not get Atlanta Housewifes on our kitchen TV- a new digtal LG. This set gets other "upper" channels, like USA, but suddenly 66 has gone missing. Anyone else see this?

NOTE: 66 works fine on the TiVO box with a cablecard.

ANSWER TO MY OWN QUESTION: Comcast moved it to 102.3. I went to http://www.silicondust.com/ then RESOURCES, TV CHANNELS and entered my ZIP code. All channel mappings are listed.

distantmantra
11-08-09, 10:37 PM
The HD channel of AMC shows Mad Men at 7PM on Sunday. I think the HD channel is showing the east coast time zone, at least on the HD channel, which I personally love. I usually set my DVR recording it and start watching it either at 7:30 or 8. I like being able to zip through the commercials. They don't have the highest quality HD, but certainly better than the SD version. Personally, I don't think the OnDemand HD is that good. I would rather record the real thing. Plus it is easier navigating through the program with my DVR than the clunky On Demand interface. Not a big fan of On Demand.

We don't have AMC HD in Seattle yet, so OnDemand is my only option for the episodes in HD right now.

jimre
11-09-09, 12:05 AM
My wife is upset! She can not get Atlanta Housewifes on our kitchen TV- a new digtal LG. This set gets other "upper" channels, like USA, but suddenly 66 has gone missing. Anyone else see this?

NOTE: 66 works fine on the TiVO box with a cablecard.

ANSWER TO MY OWN QUESTION: Comcast moved it to 102.3. I went to http://www.silicondust.com/ then RESOURCES, TV CHANNELS and entered my ZIP code. All channel mappings are listed.Well, that'll work until around Dec. 8 or so...

thewarm
11-09-09, 08:51 AM
Well, that'll work until around Dec. 8 or so...

The card I received from Comcast last month read:

"Network enhancements in your area will be complete November 9, 2009."
and went on to say that my favorite channels are switching to all-digital format and to update my equipment now!

Lake City, 98125. Hmmmm, that's today.

jimre
11-09-09, 11:44 AM
The card I received from Comcast last month read:

"Network enhancements in your area will be complete November 9, 2009."
and went on to say that my favorite channels are switching to all-digital format and to update my equipment now!

Lake City, 98125. Hmmmm, that's today.Two separate things:

"Network enhancement" is removing the analogs and adding the new HD channels. Most areas should be complete soon. The former "expanded Basic" analog channels (30-70) should now be gone, leaving only the clear-QAM digital version of them.

Dec. 8 is when we think Comcast might begin encrypting most of the (currently) clear-QAM channels in all areas - since they recently got the FCC waiver they sought for this. Let's call this "Network UN-enhancement". When that happens, access to these channels will require a digital subscription and either:

1) one of those free cheapo DTA adapters from Comcast
2) a regular cable box from Comcast
3) a Tivo or PC with Cablecard

At this point, a digital TV set's built-in QAM tuner will no longer work for these channels.

EDIT: just to be clear, locals (both SD and HD) should continue to be available in clear-QAM indefinitely.

thewarm
11-09-09, 01:13 PM
Comcast will be able to enable the "Privacy Mode" on the DTAs which will effectively cripple all but the local channels.

Years ago, in an era of multiple VCRs, DVD Recorders, and Series 1/2 TiVos with cable ready tuners, there was no reason to even think about anything other than cable. Just run a wire from the wall to your device(s).

Shortly, with every TV in your house requiring some type of box to receive anything other than local channels, I think two things will happen...

1) Folks will explore OTA TV (free!)
2) One of them there dish thingies... (sorry, couldn't resist that one)

I currently use a TiVo HD with a Multi-Stream CC for encrypted channels and a Windows Media Center PC using a HD Homerun for the locals (QAM). I can record 4 channels at once, which I have a hard time trying to do this season! (sorry, I couldn't resist that one either)

JasG
11-09-09, 03:04 PM
1) Folks will explore OTA TV (free!)

Only for those who can give up Fox news ;)

2) One of them there dish thingies... (sorry, couldn't resist that one)
Or that there FIOS thingie (which I have done)

Electric T-Bird
11-09-09, 03:54 PM
Since KBTC starting broadcasting HD, the picture on channel 12 is small and doesn't even fill the screen from top to bottom on their SD programs. Looks like a 20" inch picture on my 50" TV. About the same as watching an HD channel on a OTA converter box with a standard TV. What's up with that? :confused:

zyland
11-10-09, 03:50 PM
1) Folks will explore OTA TV (free!)
2) One of them there dish thingies... (sorry, couldn't resist that one)

3) stream it live from the internet.

JasG: Fox News streams live.

4) watch on demand from the internet

Folks in the twitter/facebook/texting demographic really seem to prefer watching things on their own time schedule even if they have to watch on a laptop rather than a big screen TV. Go figure.

FWIW, I think that Comcast's suggestion to use an A/B switch so that you can watch expanded basic channels on the DTA or HD channels over clear QAM seems too unwieldy for the typical Comcast customer.

And why does the DTA only support RF? Not even composite video?

Electric T-Bird
11-10-09, 04:04 PM
Did anyone else experience blackness on all local channels shortly after 10pm last night? Both SD and HD versions and several of the 100 series channels were black. Analog ones were are all still there.

hummingbird_206
11-10-09, 07:59 PM
Did anyone else experience blackness on all local channels shortly after 10pm last night? Both SD and HD versions and several of the 100 series channels were black. Analog ones were are all still there.

I watched KOMO HD (104) from 8pm-11pm with no blackness.

r-gordon-7
11-11-09, 04:46 PM
Comcast will be able to enable the "Privacy Mode" on the DTAs which will effectively cripple all but the local channels.

Years ago, in an era of multiple VCRs, DVD Recorders, and Series 1/2 TiVos with cable ready tuners, there was no reason to even think about anything other than cable. Just run a wire from the wall to your device(s).

Shortly, with every TV in your house requiring some type of box to receive anything other than local channels, I think two things will happen...

1) Folks will explore OTA TV (free!)
2) One of them there dish thingies... (sorry, couldn't resist that one)



Yes, Comcast certainly does seem to be doing all it can to make itself increasingly user-unfriendly, at the same time as it continues to make itself significantly more expensive... That confluence of factors will definitely drive otherwise-complacent customers to seek out alternatives - assuming workable and less expensive alternatives exist...

jimre
11-11-09, 05:16 PM
Yes, Comcast certainly does seem to be doing all it can to make itself increasingly user-unfriendly, at the same time as it continues to make itself significantly more expensive... That confluence of factors will definitely drive otherwise-complacent customers to seek out alternatives - assuming workable and less expensive alternatives exist...Some of their changes I can understand - even applaud - like getting rid of most analog channels. They simply had to free up all that wasted bandwidth to stay competitive with HD offerings from Sat or FIOS.

But others - like the impending encryption of most clear-QAM channels - are pure greed at the consumer's expense. I'm sure Comcast has precisely modeled exactly how many subscribers this will lose them, vs lost revenues due to freeloaders. Shame on the FCC for caving in on this one!

JasG
11-11-09, 09:10 PM
But others - like the impending encryption of most clear-QAM channels - are pure greed at the consumer's expense. I'm sure Comcast has precisely modeled exactly how many subscribers this will lose them, vs lost revenues due to freeloaders.I suspect that a lot of the push for encryption is coming from the signal providers and MPAA.

I don't think that 'freeloaders' are all lost revenue - only those who decide to subscribe due to the encryption were true lost revenue. The interesting number would be if they outnumber those who leave because of the STB requirement.

Still though, once I had to get STBs for all sets, I went elsewhere - with my 'full enchilada' subscription. One entry level (former freeloader) new subscriber won't quite make things even for the revenue they lost from me.... ;) (To make it worse I am a shareholder & a bit conflicted by all this.)

levibluewa
11-12-09, 10:32 PM
G4 now at 90.4
WeatherScan at 90.11

BlackLab
11-12-09, 11:12 PM
I'm getting premium channels showing up all over the place but not where the guide says they should be. And this is with a TivoHD and a CableCard.

Anyone else having this problem?

wareagle
11-13-09, 12:57 PM
I'm getting premium channels showing up all over the place but not where the guide says they should be. And this is with a TivoHD and a CableCard.

Anyone else having this problem?

No apparent problem with TiVoHD and M-card in Bellevue. Can you provide a specific example of such a channel?

BlackLab
11-13-09, 02:11 PM
No apparent problem with TiVoHD and M-card in Bellevue. Can you provide a specific example of such a channel?

IFC (Ch. 505) showing up on 540. MTV2 showing up in the 500s. Fox Movie Channel is black (or I just haven't figured out where it is yet...)

wareagle
11-13-09, 06:30 PM
IFC (SD) is 503. MTV2 is 64. FMC is 506. This is in an area with the new HD channels, so perhaps they're playing around with your lineup.

bigpoppa206
11-14-09, 12:04 AM
Wow, HD is unwatchable for me...too many artifacts while Comcast is "fixing" the network. Lake City area.

jhachey
11-14-09, 12:52 PM
Message on my box this morning:

"As of December 8, ALL TVs must be connected to a digital device to view channels 30-70. Visit us online at Comcast.com/digitalnow or call 1-877-634-4434 to order a digital device now."Looks like that is the date to start encrypting QAM, except for the channels that are part of limited basic.

penguin killer
11-15-09, 11:46 AM
I think they have already moved some of them to encrypted. I don't get ESPN anymore on my little TV that is just plugged into the wall. :(

penguin killer
11-15-09, 11:46 AM
Looks like NFL Redzone is now available in HD!!!! Maybe I missed it the previous weeks, but it's showing up on 637 this morning.

hummingbird_206
11-15-09, 12:13 PM
Looks like NFL Redzone is now available in HD!!!! Maybe I missed it the previous weeks, but it's showing up on 637 this morning.

I've had it for a week or 2, but still no guide data on the TiVo. Just says "To Be Announced". Anyone with a TiVo getting guide data for ch 637?

jimre
11-15-09, 12:54 PM
I think they have already moved some of them to encrypted. I don't get ESPN anymore on my little TV that is just plugged into the wall. :(No, at this point they've simply turned off the ANALOG version of ESPN. There's still an un-encrypted DIGITAL version that you can get on any digital TV with a QAM tuner (physical channel 102-6, virtual channel 31). At least until December 8 :-(

niegowsj
11-15-09, 05:52 PM
I'm thinking of swapping in my box. What is the latest version that comcast has so I know what to ask for?

Chico
11-15-09, 11:41 PM
I'm looking for the Comcast Fee Schedule... Anyone have the link? They seem to be good at hiding this.

mfisher76
11-15-09, 11:44 PM
is anyone having problems with channel 110 (MYQ2 HD)? I am using a tivo w/cablecard and am not getting a signal. I do however, get a signal on the sd channel. Is something up with the HD channel?? Thanks

Nausicaa
11-16-09, 08:51 AM
is anyone having problems with channel 110 (MYQ2 HD)? I am using a tivo w/cablecard and am not getting a signal. I do however, get a signal on the sd channel. Is something up with the HD channel?? Thanks

I'm seeing massive signal break-up. Looks like it's been happening since yesterday as my recording of Legend of the Seeker crashed due to lack of signal (fortunately KCPQ repeats it later in the week).

schwaggy
11-16-09, 12:03 PM
I'm looking for the Comcast Fee Schedule... Anyone have the link? They seem to be good at hiding this.

Log in to your account and download a PDF of your current bill. The fees are listed there.

JasG
11-16-09, 01:12 PM
I'm looking for the Comcast Fee Schedule... Anyone have the link? They seem to be good at hiding this.You can pick one up at the store on 94th & Aurora, or just call and ask to have one mailed to you.

artseattle
11-16-09, 01:18 PM
The most current DVR is the DCX-3425. It has a 250 GB hardrive. Pick up a pair of free 3D glasses that they give away at the Comcast office. Use one of the plastic lenses to cover and dim the overly bright display!

hummingbird_206
11-16-09, 07:27 PM
I'm seeing massive signal break-up. Looks like it's been happening since yesterday as my recording of Legend of the Seeker crashed due to lack of signal (fortunately KCPQ repeats it later in the week).

Just tried to start watching Legend of the Seeker, and same problem here. The recording didn't crash, but what's there is basically unwatchable. Looks like it doesn't repeat on channel 113 until midnight on 11/23.:(

mfisher
11-16-09, 08:48 PM
Just tried to start watching Legend of the Seeker, and same problem here. The recording didn't crash, but what's there is basically unwatchable. Looks like it doesn't repeat on channel 113 until midnight on 11/23.:(

Thank you. Yeah, that was the show I was trying to record. My Tivo just refused to record it because the signal was so bad. Hopefully the re-showing of it on 113 will be ok. Guess I will call comcast to see what is going on (although I figure they will say it is not their fault). Hopefully it will be fixed by next week's episode.

zyland
11-17-09, 03:51 AM
Since KBTC starting broadcasting HD, the picture on channel 12 is small and doesn't even fill the screen from top to bottom on their SD programs. Looks like a 20" inch picture on my 50" TV. About the same as watching an HD channel on a OTA converter box with a standard TV. What's up with that? :confused:
If the original content is 4:3

1) pillar the 4:3 content for display on 16:9 KBTC HD (for OTA)
2) letterbox this for display on 4:3 KBTC (for Comcast)
3) pillar this once again to display on your 16:9 TV

If the original content is 16:9, you can skip the first pillar.

Any news on if/when Comcast will be carrying KBTC in HD?

jhachey
11-17-09, 11:36 AM
If the original content is 4:3

1) pillar the 4:3 content for display on 16:9 KBTC HD (for OTA)
2) letterbox this for display on 4:3 KBTC (for Comcast)
3) pillar this once again to display on your 16:9 TV

If the original content is 16:9, you can skip the first pillar.

Any news on if/when Comcast will be carrying KBTC in HD?I would guess it will be soon. I hadn't even realized that KBTC had started to transmit an HD signal. Their web site says this began on November 1 (http://www.kbtc.org/page.php?id=35). I wonder how much advance notice they gave Comcast of this change? With Comcast focusing so much of their resources on the digital transition, they probably haven't had much time to worry about KBTC. With the transition being nearly complete, they should be able to add KBTC-HD before too long.

jocu
11-17-09, 11:43 AM
yeah i have been noticing problems with my signal for months now. I use one of the philips dvd recorders. Does anyone know if the cable card that comcast has will work with this?

Dartman
11-17-09, 11:53 AM
The philips DVD recorders don't have a cable card slot so if you mean will it work in the recorder no.
I don't think there are hardly anything made now that supports it and Comcast and others never really wanted to support the standard anyway but begrudgingly will.
I think there are a few spendy HDTV cards that have it now and Tivo and a few others but I haven't really researched it.

jocu
11-17-09, 11:57 AM
well that sucks

Dartman
11-17-09, 12:19 PM
Well it sucks even more that Comcast all over is busy encrypting almost all of the formerly in the clear QAM channels we all used to get with the Philips and other units that had the tuner for it.

Electric T-Bird
11-17-09, 04:51 PM
is anyone having problems with channel 110 (MYQ2 HD)? I am using a tivo w/cablecard and am not getting a signal. I do however, get a signal on the sd channel. Is something up with the HD channel?? Thanks

That channel hasn't worked on my comcast STB for sometime.

mfisher
11-17-09, 08:54 PM
That channel hasn't worked on my comcast STB for sometime.

I meant to call comcast last night to ask about the problem, but didn't get the chance. Just got home from work and saw that it was again working, so I am not sure what the problem was or exactly when it started working, but it appears to be ok now.

zyland
11-17-09, 10:40 PM
There should probably be a FAQ for this thread and this should probably be included.

Originally Posted by pastiche
When there're problems with KMYQ-DT, it's usually becuase of ingress on the line. Channel 96 lives in the same spectrum as the FM band, so any point of ingress can be responsible for one -- or many -- competing signals/sources of interference. The 96-X MUX is QAM64, which is somewhat more resiliant to interference than QAM256. Check that all cabling is well shielded, fittings are tight, etc. It's also possible that the tuner itself is poorly shielded.

Faceless Rebel
11-18-09, 05:09 AM
Anybody have any idea when Kitsap Peninsula is going to be getting all the new HD channels?

mwnorman
11-18-09, 01:56 PM
As I have noted before, many of the channels are available here in Kitsap. They have been there since earlier this year. But for some reason, Comcast won't roll them out us.

How do I know, twice now I've upgraded my DVR and when I first connect it, about 30 new HD channels show up. But over the course of the day (or when I 'activate' the box), they disappear.

It has never made any sense to me why this happens. Even when I call and complain, there isn't anything the CSR can/will do about it.

Anybody have any idea when Kitsap Peninsula is going to be getting all the new HD channels?

Ken Blauvelt
11-18-09, 03:31 PM
I stopped getting TVGOS on my LG 42LB1DRA. It's normally broadcast on the Analog (NTSC) host channel ABC or PBS I don't know which one. My LG only gets the Analog, but I think it's broadcast on the digital side too. I think Comcast carries it as a courtesy.

Did anyone else lose TVGOS program guide info?

I'm in unincorporated Renton/Issaquah area.

SeattleAl
11-18-09, 03:51 PM
Here's a strange one.

The Hauppage USB QAM tuner on my PC, with Beyond TV started picking up KONG HD where KING HD used to be. I had to delete the lineup and rescan to correct this.

This problem did not affect my main TV, which continues to have KING HD on 5-1 as always.

Faceless Rebel
11-19-09, 12:42 AM
As I have noted before, many of the channels are available here in Kitsap. They have been there since earlier this year. But for some reason, Comcast won't roll them out us.

How do I know, twice now I've upgraded my DVR and when I first connect it, about 30 new HD channels show up. But over the course of the day (or when I 'activate' the box), they disappear.

It has never made any sense to me why this happens. Even when I call and complain, there isn't anything the CSR can/will do about it.

Hmm, I thought that was strange. I moved in to my new house a few weeks ago, when the guy came to set up my TV and Internet, he got my DVR up and running and CNN HD was there and I was watching it for a few minutes, then he activated my account and that channel disappeared. I had wondered afterwards where it went. I guess it makes sense that the channels are already there but hidden until Comcast deems us worthy of them making them visible. It's Comcastic! :mad:

Jim S
11-19-09, 09:35 AM
Here's a strange one.

The Hauppage USB QAM tuner on my PC, with Beyond TV started picking up KONG HD where KING HD used to be. I had to delete the lineup and rescan to correct this.

This problem did not affect my main TV, which continues to have KING HD on 5-1 as always.

After months of stable QAM mapping (in Auburn) on my BeyondTV + HDHomerun setup, it looks like Comcast remapped the extended basic channels last night and I'll need to do a rescan. The locals still work but I haven't checked the KONG - KING swap.

cnjvh
11-19-09, 02:31 PM
Here's a strange one.

The Hauppage USB QAM tuner on my PC, with Beyond TV started picking up KONG HD where KING HD used to be. I had to delete the lineup and rescan to correct this.

This problem did not affect my main TV, which continues to have KING HD on 5-1 as always.

I use AVerMedia tuners with Win 7 Media Center. This kind of thing happens every month or so. After a fresh scan, Disney is at 80.5. couple weeks later it moves to say 80.2 and then 80.7. A rescan resets everything (but I have to reset up the guide for tons of channels every time!)

The TV upstairs remains unaffected...Disney stays at 80.5 the whole time.

pastiche
11-19-09, 11:36 PM
I went to update the QAM list tonight since so many people have mentioned things being askew lately, but, so far, the only changes I'm seeing here are the normal "post transition" additions that I've noted on the last couple versions of the list, plus the flip-flop of the 90-X and 112-X MUXes. (All 8 FMs from 90-X ended up on the same subchannels of 112-X and all three channels and 7 FMs from 112-X ended up on the same subchannels of 90-X.)

My hunch is that changes are on the way since the transition's winding down. I'll make an update once the dust has settled. :)

pastiche
11-19-09, 11:41 PM
There should probably be a FAQ for this thread and this should probably be included.

Originally Posted by pastiche
When there're problems with KMYQ-DT, it's usually becuase of ingress on the line. Channel 96 lives in the same spectrum as the FM band, so any point of ingress can be responsible for one -- or many -- competing signals/sources of interference. The 96-X MUX is QAM64, which is somewhat more resiliant to interference than QAM256. Check that all cabling is well shielded, fittings are tight, etc. It's also possible that the tuner itself is poorly shielded.

I think that 96-X was recently flipped to QAM256. (They were packing KMYQ-DT along with 5 or so Sports iN DEMAND feeds in there last I looked. That's probably too many bits for a QAM64 channel.) My hunch is that some people who were just well enough shielded to pull in a QAM64 stream on 96-X might have just enough ingress to disrupt a QAM256 stream on that same channel.

thefalcon2k
11-20-09, 01:48 AM
OK, I've got a bizarre one for you guys. A friend of mine on Comcast never noticed the new channels (91, 92, 93) which prompted his box to reset overnight. All he has is the little DTA converter box provided by Comcast.

For a little while, his box had remapped some channels different than when I had Comcast. And, I lived about 5 miles from him on the same system. The channels were shifted over:

26 doesn't exist in Bremerton
27 became 26
28 became 27
29 became 28
30 became 29
31 became 30
32 became 31
33 doesn't exist in Bremerton (Speed is 408)

Then, 34 (and continuing) returned to normal. Later, 74 & 99 were identical, but showing an error message. Some "digital" channels made free (408 being a good example) also didn't show up. Let me add that it was not 1 DTA, it was both DTA boxes that he had! No, he didn't get one of those boxes that has a guide and On Demand access. He seriously thought everything worked great until I showed up and said "Uh-oh"!

Anyway, when Comcast pushed out channels 91, 92, & 93 here in Bremerton, it fixed my friend's problem. He had a TV Guide Channel again (as well as CBC). Speed also worked (finally)!

I'd also like to add that I know that it wasn't a local system error at the Comcast switch office (or whatever it's called). I may not have used the DTA boxes in my time with Comcast, but a second friend that I have on the same network/town confirmed to me that the channels were fine on her TV.

Has anybody experienced/heard of this problem before?

posies2323
11-20-09, 11:00 AM
I woke up this morning to discover that my TV's are no longer picking up channels in the 102-xx and 103-xx range on my Basic Limited account. They now show just a blank screen. Channels in the 91-xx and 92-xx range still appear - for now.

UPDATE: The channels on 103-xx have migrated to 84-xx and the channels on 102-xx have migrated to 83-xx

I live near University Village. I saw on my most recent statement that CBUT-HD will be coming to Limited Basic cable. Is anyone within Seattle getting this station yet ?

Jim S
11-20-09, 12:31 PM
Check for those 103-xx channels on 37-xx, e.g. Discovery for me moved from 103-4 to 37-4.

VinceInSeattle
11-20-09, 02:58 PM
The 37-XX channels aren't available to limited basic customers, so I guess our time of free clear QAM for expanded basic is coming to an end. I've also lost the 102-XX and 103-XX channels in the last few days here in Maple Leaf. But I still get 31 analog and 122 digital channels as of today. I'm guessing that will go down as more channels are relocated.

UPDATE: I also am receiving the 102/103 channels on 82/83.

wareagle
11-20-09, 06:08 PM
...I saw on my most recent statement that CBUT-HD will be coming to Limited Basic cable. Is anyone within Seattle getting this station yet ?

CBUT-HD is on 60-2 in Bellevue.

Chico
11-20-09, 11:02 PM
I had to have Comcast hit my cablecards today. Channel mapping was all messed up. I was getting FX on ESPN and BET on ESPN2. Some channels were not coming in at all.

Jim S
11-21-09, 01:32 PM
Alot of activity last night as BeyondTV warning email indicates:
Channel 571 (SHO2PHD) has been added to lineup.
Channel 739 (THITUS) has been added to lineup.
Channel 701 (TCMHD) has been added to lineup.
Channel 630 (NBATVHD) has been added to lineup.
Channel 440 (TEAMHD) has been added to lineup.
Channel 530 (STZKHD) has been added to lineup.
Channel 742 (DEPELC) has been added to lineup.
Channel 804 (HDPPV) has been added to lineup.
Channel 758 (GRNCINE) has been added to lineup.
Channel 573 (SHWXPHD) has been added to lineup.
Channel 689 (BETHD) has been added to lineup.
Channel 746 (WAPAUS) has been added to lineup.
Channel 456 (GAMEHD) has been added to lineup.
Channel 400 (ESPNU) has been added to lineup.
Channel 686 (CMTVHD) has been added to lineup.

Radnor
11-24-09, 09:32 AM
I now have all the extra HD channels on my receiver. I live in the Mount Baker / Beacon Hill area (98144). Woo!

troublebound
11-24-09, 12:23 PM
I now have all the extra HD channels on my receiver. I live in the Mount Baker / Beacon Hill area (98144). Woo!

Same here in Lake Forest Park WA0160. :)

These are the ones I found so far on my TiVo

619 CBUT
620 Speed
649 WE TV
650 Style
651 E!
652 Bravo
654 Travel
655 Fox News
656 Fox Business
657 CNN
658 CNBC
659 Spike
661 MSNBC
664 TBS
680 Cartoon
681 TOON
686 CMT
687 VH1
688 MTV
689 BET
690 Fuse
691 TV One
692 QVC
693 G4
694 Bio
695 Planet Green
697 AMC
698 Lifetime Movie
699 IFC
700 MGMHD
701 TCM
703 Hallmark Movie
704 Comedy Central
706 Weather Channel

marcvh
11-24-09, 12:30 PM
They're in 98199 too. Now I just need to wait for my Moxi to come so that I'll have enough hard disk space to actually record them.

HoNuts
11-24-09, 04:06 PM
Just got all the new HD channels here in West Seattle (98126)!!!

quarque
11-24-09, 04:49 PM
Just got all the new HD channels here in West Seattle!!!

New HD is up in Lake City (98125) area. Guide is still not caught up as of 1:45 PM. So far all new channels seem to work.

artseattle
11-24-09, 05:04 PM
Everything is up and working in 98112!

Let's hope we get true HD programming instead of 4:3 stretching!

thefalcon2k
11-24-09, 06:28 PM
Let's hope we get true HD programming instead of 4:3 stretching!*cough* TBS *cough*

tiffany
11-24-09, 11:17 PM
Thew new HD channels showed up on Capitol Hill tonight as well :)

distantmantra
11-25-09, 01:14 AM
New HD channels are also up in Greenlake!

PatrickPanny
11-25-09, 09:10 AM
New HD channels are also up in Greenlake!

A great Thanksgiving after all. I enjoyed watching several of the new channels last night here in Maple Leaf - 98115. :D

cliffg
11-25-09, 08:22 PM
Last night I went through and changed all of my SD series recordings in the DVR to the new corresponding HD channel.

For the first time, every series recording is now on an HD channel. Definitely a milestone.

(Of course, that doesn't mean everything I record is sourced as true HD material, but that's a different discussion. Although ... most of it is.)

Cliff

sangwpark
11-25-09, 11:38 PM
For those who might be interested. I'm getting the Korean pay channel, KOAMTV (ch.257) on clear QAM, 90-10 (or 90-19 on my Toshiba TV). It's probably temporary, but intriguing nonetheless :)

(edited)
I see ... free for 1 week to lure folks into subscribing. Crack dealers...

--
Sang

artseattle
11-26-09, 12:37 AM
I just realized that I first posted on this forum almost exactly 6 years ago in December of 2003. At that time, there were only about 3 or 4 true HD channels, no CBS or FOX but there was INHD1 and INHD2. How many times did you watch "Super Speedway?"

I'm remembering the old 5100 box. I hope no one is still using it. How about the Microsoft software? I still miss the old search engine.

Now we have over 100 HD channels. I have a 250 GB hard drive and a DVR that I actually like (DCX-3425). I still occasionally have an audio sync problem but either that's better or I've just gotten used to it. Maybe everybody moves their lips before they make a sound.

I've read this forum almost daily during this period and I see that many of the same members of this forum have been posting since 2003. I'll continue to subscribe but what are the new issues? I wish I had a copy of my bill from 2003. That's something to fight over.

This forum is a great example of how the internet can bring people of like minds together to foster change.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

quarque
11-26-09, 07:44 PM
For those who might be interested. I'm getting the Korean pay channel, KOAMTV (ch.257) on clear QAM, 90-10 (or 90-19 on my Toshiba TV). It's probably temporary, but intriguing nonetheless :)

(edited)
I see ... free for 1 week to lure folks into subscribing. Crack dealers...

--
Sang

That's Cracktastic!

hummingbird_206
11-26-09, 10:28 PM
Thank you. Yeah, that was the show I was trying to record. My Tivo just refused to record it because the signal was so bad. Hopefully the re-showing of it on 113 will be ok. Guess I will call comcast to see what is going on (although I figure they will say it is not their fault). Hopefully it will be fixed by next week's episode.

Just tried to watch this week's ep of Legend of the Seeker from ch 110 and it was bad, again! The re-showing on channel 113 of last week's ep was great. So I'm switching my season's pass to ch 113. It's a week behind, but doesn't do me any good to get a crappy recording a week earlier.

tai4de2
11-26-09, 11:44 PM
Korean pay channel, KOAMTV (ch.257) on clear QAM

You probably already know this but there's a Korean channel OTA on KPST-DTx (can't remember whether x is 2, 3, or 4).

jeff28
11-27-09, 10:39 AM
I just realized that I first posted on this forum almost exactly 6 years ago in December of 2003. At that time, there were only about 3 or 4 true HD channels, no CBS or FOX but there was INHD1 and INHD2. How many times did you watch "Super Speedway?"
I'm remembering the old 5100 box. I hope no one is still using it. How about the Microsoft software? I still miss the old search engine.
Now we have over 100 HD channels. I have a 250 GB hard drive and a DVR that I actually like (DCX-3425). I still occasionally have an audio sync problem but either that's better or I've just gotten used to it. Maybe everybody moves their lips before they make a sound.
I've read this forum almost daily during this period and I see that many of the same members of this forum have been posting since 2003. I'll continue to subscribe but what are the new issues? I wish I had a copy of my bill from 2003. That's something to fight over.
This forum is a great example of how the internet can bring people of like minds together to foster change.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
It is kinda like the end of a journey. One thing I still don't know, now that this analog-to-digital migration is complete and all the new HD is added, are they already maxed out on bandwidth again? As other channels come online will it take an act of congress to get them added, or are they sitting fat dumb and happy? This will be the next thing for me to keep an eye on. Would still love to see WGN, the HDNets, Comcast Sports Net (for the Northwest Trailblazers) HD "Local on the 8's" and even HLN added (there's probably more but I'm not thinking of anything else on the fly).
Also, I'll be following their compression strategy very closely, and hoping for better technology to be deployed that is truly not noticeable. With fiber from the source for the local stations, why shouldn't the Comcast feed look better than the OTA feed?
Multi-room DVR, tru2way retail equipment, better options for leased equipment and the monthly fees for leased equipment are also on the radar of things to monitor.
For me, the journey continues, but the completion of this upgrade is definitely the most significant milestone yet.

Nausicaa
11-27-09, 10:56 AM
Just tried to watch this week's ep of Legend of the Seeker from ch 110 and it was bad, again! The re-showing on channel 113 of last week's ep was great. So I'm switching my season's pass to ch 113. It's a week behind, but doesn't do me any good to get a crappy recording a week earlier.

That is what I have done, as well, after keeping an eye on 110 and seeing it's still jacked. It was the only show I watched on that station, so the KCPQ re-broadcast works for me.

thewarm
11-27-09, 01:03 PM
Just tried to watch this week's ep of Legend of the Seeker from ch 110 and it was bad, again! The re-showing on channel 113 of last week's ep was great. So I'm switching my season's pass to ch 113. It's a week behind, but doesn't do me any good to get a crappy recording a week earlier.

If you have Netflix, you can stream it (along with Heroes)...:)

jhachey
11-27-09, 01:41 PM
It is kinda like the end of a journey. One thing I still don't know, now that this analog-to-digital migration is complete and all the new HD is added, are they already maxed out on bandwidth again? As other channels come online will it take an act of congress to get them added, or are they sitting fat dumb and happy? This will be the next thing for me to keep an eye on. Would still love to see WGN, the HDNets, Comcast Sports Net (for the Northwest Trailblazers) HD "Local on the 8's" and even HLN added (there's probably more but I'm not thinking of anything else on the fly).
Also, I'll be following their compression strategy very closely, and hoping for better technology to be deployed that is truly not noticeable. With fiber from the source for the local stations, why shouldn't the Comcast feed look better than the OTA feed?
Multi-room DVR, tru2way retail equipment, better options for leased equipment and the monthly fees for leased equipment are also on the radar of things to monitor.
For me, the journey continues, but the completion of this upgrade is definitely the most significant milestone yet.Comcast removed about 40 analog channels, which should have created space for about 80 HD channels. They have added about 60 HD channels, so there should still be a fair bit of space for more HD channels, although I assume some of the space will be used for internet bandwidth and new services.

It won't be too long before Comcast once again becomes bandwidth constrained and I would bet that in a few years Comcast will reclaim the rest of the analog channels to create more space.

hummingbird_206
11-27-09, 03:04 PM
If you have Netflix, you can stream it (along with Heroes)...:)

I do have Netflix, and have watched some of the eps there (thanks for the reminder, though.) But just like channel 113, Netflix availability falls behind what's broadcast on ch 110. I'd like to be able to view sooner than either ch 113 or Netflix make possible, but I guess not enough to hassle with Comcast over 1 channel that I want for 1 show.

For anyone else who has problems with ch 110, I looked at the signal level and I get 60 for ch 110 and +95 for all other locals (104-113) using the signal strength meter on my S3 TiVo. So I'm pretty sure the problem is with Comcast, but I won't be fighting that battle.:o

bonnie_raitt
11-27-09, 10:31 PM
Is the UW-WSU game blacked out?

choli0090
11-27-09, 10:36 PM
Hi Folks,

Did KMYQ HD recently change from 22.1 on QAM? I purchased an HD tv last week & able to get all the broadcast HD channels straight from the line, but cannot find this channel anywhere on the scanned channel lineup.

If this did move, does someone know to what QAM channel # it moved to?

Thanks!!

FrayLo
11-27-09, 11:00 PM
So, I live in Ballard and finally got a bunch of the new HD channels that Comcast is rolling out. I also use a TiVoHD with a multistream cablecard.

Everything's great, except my TiVo isn't showing the right channels - for example, Channel 621 (according to the Comcast.com channel lineup) is ESPNU-HD, and I tune to that channel, and I do get ESPNU-HD. However, my TiVo claims that it's NFLHD.

I re-ran initial setup and chose "Comcast Seattle" as my channel lineup, but it didn't help.

Any thoughts on what's going on here, or how I can fix this?

[for what it's worth, I still have two 'channels' of ESPNHD listed in my program guide, and can tune to both last I checked - 173 and 623.]

ykiki
11-28-09, 02:02 AM
Is the UW-WSU game blacked out?

I don't think it'll be blacked out. Haven't had a UW or WSU game blacked out yet this year (and I believe blackouts are something that happens with pro sports and not NCAA).

jhachey
11-28-09, 12:05 PM
Is the UW-WSU game blacked out?The Apple Cup will be shown on FSN-HD (channel 627) and FSN-SD (channel 30) at 3:30 pm. There will not be a blackout.

bonnie_raitt
11-28-09, 12:40 PM
The only reason I ask is that my Tivo has the word "Blackout" on the listing when I go to record it

cbutfan
11-28-09, 01:15 PM
(Long time reader, first time poster.)

I flipped through all the channels my TV's QAM tuner picked up with the latest Comcast change here in 98125 -- but I still don't see HD CBUT! Alas, it's really the only channel I care about. I have limited cable.

Does anyone see a HD CBUT on QAM in my area? I hope I don't have to buy a box to see it.

Thanks in advance,
-J

Sea3
11-28-09, 01:28 PM
(Long time reader, first time poster.)

I flipped through all the channels my TV's QAM tuner picked up with the latest Comcast change here in 98125 -- but I still don't see HD CBUT! Alas, it's really the only channel I care about. I have limited cable.

Does anyone see a HD CBUT on QAM in my area? I hope I don't have to buy a box to see it.

Thanks in advance,
-J
CBUT HD is located at 60-2 according to http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineup_web/US:98125#lineup_1188843. In my area, it has been on 60-2 since July, but I also can't receive it because of the limited basic filter. I have brought this issue up to Comcast a couple of times and they have assured me that it will be available to limited basic customers when the transition is complete for the whole region. I will call again if I still don't see it by mid-December.

hummingbird_206
11-28-09, 01:36 PM
The only reason I ask is that my Tivo has the word "Blackout" on the listing when I go to record it

My TiVo guide info says blackout, too. Hope it's wrong. Guess we'll see at 3:30.

distantmantra
11-28-09, 02:43 PM
Time to start pining for all the HD channels we don't have yet!

BBC America HD, HDNet an HDNet movies are the big ones on my list. Any others that I'm forgetting? WGN HD?

Also, does anyone know if there is any way that we could possibly get the CTV affiliate from Vancouver? I'm still pissed the CTV has the Olympics now, and not CBC.

jhachey
11-28-09, 04:10 PM
Time to start pining for all the HD channels we don't have yet!

BBC America HD, HDNet an HDNet movies are the big ones on my list. Any others that I'm forgetting? WGN HD?

Also, does anyone know if there is any way that we could possibly get the CTV affiliate from Vancouver? I'm still pissed the CTV has the Olympics now, and not CBC.It would be nice to have CTV during the Olympics, but I think there is just about zero chance of Comcast adding CTV. The problem with CTV is that they carry so little original content. Mostly, they just carry US network programming (check out the CTV schedule at http://shows.ctv.ca/Schedule.aspx?localstation=CIVT). Because the local Seattle network affiliates have the rights to those shows, CTV's signal would probably be blacked out most nights during prime time.

Aside from the channels you have listed, I'd like to see Comcast SportsNet NW. That's pretty much it as far as existing HD channels go. I have all of the premium movie channels, so I guess I'd like their HD counterparts as they come available and the various Fox College Sports channels when they go HD (supposedly in 2010).

The fact is, Comcast now carries almost everything I watch in HD and there really isn't a whole lot left for me to complain about in terms of their HD lineup. At this point I am more interested in seeing Comcast add new features (revamped iGuide, remote DVR programming, etc.) than additional channels.

Even better would be to see the existing HD channels deliver more of their content in HD (obviously, that's not Comcast's fault).

thewarm
11-28-09, 05:05 PM
So, I live in Ballard and finally got a bunch of the new HD channels that Comcast is rolling out. I also use a TiVoHD with a multistream cablecard.

Everything's great, except my TiVo isn't showing the right channels - for example, Channel 621 (according to the Comcast.com channel lineup) is ESPNU-HD, and I tune to that channel, and I do get ESPNU-HD. However, my TiVo claims that it's NFLHD.

I re-ran initial setup and chose "Comcast Seattle" as my channel lineup, but it didn't help.

Any thoughts on what's going on here, or how I can fix this?

[for what it's worth, I still have two 'channels' of ESPNHD listed in my program guide, and can tune to both last I checked - 173 and 623.]

I contacted TiVo about the new channels on Wednesday... it should take a week (or so) to get the line-up fixed. Lake City, 98125

hergertr
11-28-09, 05:43 PM
Time to start pining for all the HD channels we don't have yet!

BBC America HD, HDNet an HDNet movies are the big ones on my list. Any others that I'm forgetting? WGN HD?

Also, does anyone know if there is any way that we could possibly get the CTV affiliate from Vancouver? I'm still pissed the CTV has the Olympics now, and not CBC.

How about local KBTC? They are broadcasting HD now. I thought cable companies need to have whatever broadcast signals are. I also second comments above. Why do we have ESPN HD on two channels? I've noticed many of the SD channels now have the small screen.

To keep the new HD channels straight, I've made a table showing the HD and SD channel number and if its a west or east coast feed. It's the only way I can keep track of programs I want to watch.

wareagle
11-28-09, 07:01 PM
I contacted TiVo about the new channels on Wednesday... it should take a week (or so) to get the line-up fixed. Lake City, 98125

Lie. I live in 98008, but set the TiVo to 98042 some time ago because of lineup problems.

troublebound
11-28-09, 09:09 PM
To keep the new HD channels straight, I've made a table showing the HD and SD channel number and if its a west or east coast feed. It's the only way I can keep track of programs I want to watch.

I did a similar thing, but haven't figured out all the east coast feeds - Comedy Central, TLC are two I noticed right away. I make a note as I stumble onto them.

Mike777
11-28-09, 09:52 PM
The Apple Cup looked terrible. It looked atrocious on FSN-HD and it looked just as bad on FSN-SD.

Just when I think FSN can't get any worse, they dig down deep an put out an even worse picture. I swear this stuff looks like bad internet video from three years ago.

By far the worst looking of any football broadcast in the last week - HD or SD!

wareagle
11-28-09, 10:00 PM
The Apple Cup looked terrible. It looked atrocious on FSN-HD and it looked just as bad on FSN-SD.

Just when I think FSN can't get any worse, they dig down deep an put out an even worse picture. I swear this stuff looks like bad internet video from three years ago.

By far the worst looking of any football broadcast in the last week - HD or SD!

Sounds like you haven't seen ESPNU (621).

arf1410
11-28-09, 10:12 PM
I assume what was shown on FSN-HD wasn't actually in HD ...

Mike777
11-28-09, 10:48 PM
I did a similar thing, but haven't figured out all the east coast feeds - Comedy Central, TLC are two I noticed right away. I make a note as I stumble onto them.
AMC HD is the east coast feed, which was really nice for watching Mad Men three hours earlier than usual. I thought TBS-HD was the same thing. I hope they don't change this.

hergertr
11-28-09, 11:34 PM
I did a similar thing, but haven't figured out all the east coast feeds - Comedy Central, TLC are two I noticed right away. I make a note as I stumble onto them.

I transferred my spreadsheet into a Word document. The feed is indicated by E or W except where it was irrelevant (E.G. news channels).

troublebound
11-28-09, 11:40 PM
I transferred my spreadsheet into a Word document. The feed is indicated by E or W except where it was irrelevant (E.G. news channels).

Thanks!

jhachey
11-29-09, 01:47 AM
The Apple Cup looked terrible. It looked atrocious on FSN-HD and it looked just as bad on FSN-SD.

Just when I think FSN can't get any worse, they dig down deep an put out an even worse picture. I swear this stuff looks like bad internet video from three years ago.

By far the worst looking of any football broadcast in the last week - HD or SD!Looked to me like the field-level and near-field-level cameras were HD, but the main cameras up in the stands were low-quality SD. It's been that way all season for Husky games. It's a shame that the cameras that are used for 85% of the game action are non-HD. I assume there is some technical reason for how they deploy the various cameras, but who knows what it is.

As bad as the FSN "HD" broadcasts are, they are still much better than the FSN SD broadcasts from last season. They were pretty much unwatchable. Hard to figure why FSN can't get this right.

thomasjaffe
11-29-09, 10:31 AM
Here is Comcast pdf I made for a friend, lists channels sorted by number and sorted by name.

Chico
11-29-09, 03:53 PM
Lie. I live in 98008, but set the TiVo to 98042 some time ago because of lineup problems.

I tried changing my zipcode to 98042 this morning, but here in Ballard I still have channels 679, 686- 689, 700-706, plus some others showing no guide data, "To be announced"

Do I need to select "South King County" instead of "Comcast"?

wareagle
11-29-09, 05:53 PM
I tried changing my zipcode to 98042 this morning, but here in Ballard I still have channels 679, 686- 689, 700-706, plus some others showing no guide data, "To be announced"

Do I need to select "South King County" instead of "Comcast"?

As I recall, I let the TiVo decide by responding to questions about what channels were showing.

quarque
11-29-09, 09:30 PM
Here is Comcast pdf I made for a friend, lists channels sorted by number and sorted by name.

Nice compilation but you missed a couple:
NFLHD 418 should be BOLD
NFLRZ 637 (not listed) should be added and in BOLD

NFL Red Zone 637 is my favorite channel when the Seahawks are not playing. You get all the "important" NFL action of every game and in HD!

quarque
11-29-09, 09:48 PM
Looked to me like the field-level and near-field-level cameras were HD, but the main cameras up in the stands were low-quality SD. It's been that way all season for Husky games. It's a shame that the cameras that are used for 85% of the game action are non-HD. I assume there is some technical reason for how they deploy the various cameras, but who knows what it is.

As bad as the FSN "HD" broadcasts are, they are still much better than the FSN SD broadcasts from last season. They were pretty much unwatchable. Hard to figure why FSN can't get this right.

I compared the SD broadcast (ch 30) with the "HD" broadcast ( ch 627) during the game and it is somewhat confusing. All the cameras on 627 were shooting 16:9 (wider FOV) so they were not 480i SD cameras. Also, they were not stretched in any way to make it fill a 16:9 frame. The image scale on 627 was no different Vertically or Horizontally except for the wider Field of View from a 16:9 camera.

So my guess is that they were using extreme compression and/or signal processing. The effect was there on the field-level cameras - it just wasn't as obvious. The shots from high up in the stands looked to me like they were over-processed the way one "over sharpens" a digital image from a cheap camera trying to make the image sharper than it would be otherwise. This causes edge effects where you have high contrast like the yard lines on the field. If you looked closely at those shots you could see the "extra" black lines on the edges of the white yard lines. These were not evident in the SD broadcast.

I'm not sure if all this is due to a lack of money or incompetence or what. But I hope they fix it before next season.

Faceless Rebel
11-29-09, 09:49 PM
Out here on Kitsap Peninsula, I still haven't got any new HD channels yet. :(

pastiche
11-30-09, 02:37 AM
Also, does anyone know if there is any way that we could possibly get the CTV affiliate from Vancouver? I'm still pissed the CTV has the Olympics now, and not CBC.

There's no technical reason they would not be able to add it: it's already on Comcast in Whatcom County, albeit only in SD.

I'd imagine that, more often than not, it would be a blank screen were it carried anywhere further south. There are local stations with exclusive rights to most of what's on CTV.

That said, Charter and Comcast carry CFCF/Montreal in the Burlington/Plattsburgh market, and Atlantic Broadband and Time Warner carry CFTO/Toronto in the Buffalo market.

distantmantra
11-30-09, 09:47 PM
I'd be fine with the black screen most of the time, I just want the Olympic coverage. I'd prefer to watch events live as they happen on the West coast, and not whenever NBC decides to show them.

mfisher76
11-30-09, 11:33 PM
I just noticed that my Tivo wasn't recording Heroes. I went to see why and noticed that the guide had some Healthlink Special listed instead of the new Heroes episode. Did anyone else have this problem with the guide? I went to comcast website to see what they had listed, and it also had the Healthlink Special listed. I don't have a comcast box, so I can't verify if that is listed on their box or not.

yvovandoorn
12-01-09, 02:10 AM
Same thing happened here mfisher. In 98107.

More is that E! is now TNTHD and channel 60 is gray, thus no Daily Show being recorded.

What in the world is going on.

thewarm
12-01-09, 02:01 PM
I tried changing my zipcode to 98042 this morning, but here in Ballard I still have channels 679, 686- 689, 700-706, plus some others showing no guide data, "To be announced"

Do I need to select "South King County" instead of "Comcast"?

I got this response from TiVo...
"Go to:

- TiVo Central (by pressing the TiVo button on your TiVo remote)

- Select Messages and Settings

- Select Settings

- Select Channels

- Select Channel List

- Press the ENTER key

Follow the onscreen instructions to complete this portion of the Guided Setup. Your TiVo DVR will ask you to answer questions regarding your channels to determine the correct channel lineup.

Please ensure that the TiVo is using zip code <<98125>>. When you are asked to select your provider, please choose <<Comcast Roosevelt/Seattle>>. On the next screen, press the ENTER key. This will take you to a list of available lineups where you must choose <<Digital Rebuild>>. You will have an opportunity to review the lineup before finalizing your selection. Please note that it will not display any of your premium channels (such as HBO) until you advance to the next few screens.

If you have any further questions, comments or concerns, please contact TiVo Customer Support at 877-367-8486 and refer to your case number. We are open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 Pacific Time everyday."

The important part... "Digital Rebuild". Fixed all of my new channels!

Chico
12-01-09, 09:05 PM
Thanks thewarm, This brought me in out of "thecold".

The only thing I changed from your instructions was I used my zipcode 98107. All channels are coming in now, thank you very much. Tivo reactivated all the SD equivalent channels I had mapped out, so now I just need to go through them again and turn them off.

Thanks

Spike89
12-01-09, 11:10 PM
I compared the SD broadcast (ch 30) with the "HD" broadcast ( ch 627) during the game and it is somewhat confusing. All the cameras on 627 were shooting 16:9 (wider FOV) so they were not 480i SD cameras.

I know a guy who worked the game for FSN. They did it in Widescreen 480i, not HD. He thinks that next year they'll be doing HD.

thewarm
12-02-09, 06:14 PM
Thanks thewarm, This brought me in out of "thecold".

The only thing I changed from your instructions was I used my zipcode 98107. All channels are coming in now, thank you very much. Tivo reactivated all the SD equivalent channels I had mapped out, so now I just need to go through them again and turn them off.

Thanks

You're welcome.:cool:

gelyon
12-02-09, 08:56 PM
I'm receiving a bunch of new HD channels in Poulsbo (Bremerton Comcast) as of Dec 1, 2009. Noticed it yesterday, got the flyer in the mail today.

ocbrody
12-03-09, 02:08 PM
I had been receiving Comcast over QAM but today almost all the channels are gone except for the locals and a few others. Did something change? I'm in Greenwood.

Edit - Nevermind, guess they're almost done encrypting everything :(

jhachey
12-03-09, 02:16 PM
I had been receiving Comcast over QAM but today almost all the channels are gone except for the locals and a few others. Did something change? I'm in Greenwood.Comcast announced that they would be doing that by December 8. Sounds like they're running ahead of schedule.

jhachey
12-03-09, 02:21 PM
Out here on Kitsap Peninsula, I still haven't got any new HD channels yet. :(Have you got your new channels yet? It sounds like they've arrived in Poulsbo .

I'm receiving a bunch of new HD channels in Poulsbo (Bremerton Comcast) as of Dec 1, 2009. Noticed it yesterday, got the flyer in the mail today.

saukriver
12-03-09, 03:51 PM
These questions may be dumb. I apologize in advance.

1. What digital channels in Bellevue area are encrypted QAM?

2. Do the first 30 channels broadcast simultaneously in both analog and digital?

3. Are there plans to encrypt the first 30 channels (if digital)?

I am trying to determine whether to buy a TV tuner card that is both analog + digital or whether the digital card will likely pick up the first 30 channels.

wareagle
12-03-09, 06:00 PM
These questions may be dumb. I apologize in advance.

1. What digital channels in Bellevue area are encrypted QAM?

2. Do the first 30 channels broadcast simultaneously in both analog and digital?

3. Are there plans to encrypt the first 30 channels (if digital)?

I am trying to determine whether to buy a TV tuner card that is both analog + digital or whether the digital card will likely pick up the first 30 channels.

Not the best time for encryption questions, since things are in a state of flux. Up through 29 should remain available in both analog and unencrypted digital. No current plans to encrypt those.

jhachey
12-03-09, 06:09 PM
Not the best time for encryption questions, since things are in a state of flux. Up through 29 should remain available in both analog and unencrypted digital. No current plans to encrypt those.Analog will probably disappear one day, leaving only unencrypted QAM for channels 2-29 (and a selected few other channels) and encrypted QAM for the rest. Looks like Comcast is already planning to do that in Augusta, Georgia by February 1.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17636281#post17636281
Our time will come too. I doubt there are all that many limited basic customers around here either. It will free up a lot more bandwidth.

saukriver
12-03-09, 08:32 PM
Up through 29 should remain available in both analog and unencrypted digital.

Thanks. Then a digital tuner should be all I need to get unencrypted digital.

arf1410
12-03-09, 11:12 PM
Not the best time for encryption questions, since things are in a state of flux. Up through 29 should remain available in both analog and unencrypted digital. No current plans to encrypt those.


Discovery is available as Channel 8 in analog...but I do not think it is on unencrypted digital less than 30...If so, what is the digital channel?

DreamWraith
12-03-09, 11:13 PM
FYI - In the Burlington/Mount Vernon Area (north of Everett) 98233, all non-basic channels were encrypted last night. No more FSN, Animal Planet, etc etc.

jimre
12-03-09, 11:38 PM
Discovery is available as Channel 8 in analog...but I do not think it is on unencrypted digital less than 30...If so, what is the digital channel?As of Oct 31 - from Pastiche's most recent QAM Channel Update (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17453518#post17453518) here in this thread - it was on physical channel 103-4, virtual channel 8.

But who knows where/if it will end up between now & Dec 8 when Comcast finishes encrypting all Extended Basic channels.

jhhyde
12-03-09, 11:52 PM
Discovery is still available in unencrypted digital on 84-4. Almost all others are gone now. I think I saw Hallmark as still unencrypted though. Forgot the channel number because I rarely watch that channel.

jimre
12-04-09, 12:11 AM
Just did a re-scan with my HD Homerun here in North Bend - looks like they are moving digital channels around like crazy in preparation for the impending encryption. Discovery Channel was previously on 103-4, but is now showing up instead on BOTH 37-4 and 84-4, both with PSIP (virtual) channel 8. Most of the 30-70 channels still seem to be available so far, albeit on different physical channels than they were recently.

sangwpark
12-04-09, 12:59 AM
Yeah, those whose QAM cable channels disappeared suddenly, try a rescan first. Mine (in Tukwila) "disappeared" a week ago, but turns out Comcast shifted them to a different channel cluster. No doubt this is a precursor to encrypting them, but as of tonight I still got FSN, ESPN, etc.

--
Sang

dbsears87
12-04-09, 02:04 AM
I'm receiving a bunch of new HD channels in Poulsbo (Bremerton Comcast) as of Dec 1, 2009. Noticed it yesterday, got the flyer in the mail today.

Comcast announced that they would be doing that by December 8. Sounds like they're running ahead of schedule.

Hi, I am in Bremerton/Silverdale area and was wondering what new channels you are referring too?

Also do you guys happen to know if we can get the DCX3400 series DVR's? I am going to be signing up soon for my new house next week hopefully.

Kermee
12-04-09, 02:41 AM
Discovery is still available in unencrypted digital on 84-4. Almost all others are gone now. I think I saw Hallmark as still unencrypted though. Forgot the channel number because I rarely watch that channel.

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5575/encryptedqam.png

Yup. Basically the days of "free" Digital Economy (or whatever the plan is called today) is over.

Cheers,
Kermee