/UNC, I can't imagine that comcast is activating the SATA port on back; as we all know, they have not activated ANY of the "extra "features on any of their boxes, so it would be a shock if they started now..

And, for all those folks asking about DVI vs HDMI, there is one big difference; HDMI carries video AND audio signals, so, if this box is properly configured by Comcast, (which would be a shock!) then you could recieve the audio and video signal via one cable; those of us with DVI outputs usually have to run seperate audio cables when hooking it up to a HD TV; although, if you hook it to a home theater system, you would be using CO-AX or a TOSLINK cable anyway...

Also,you do NOT lose any video quality when using a DVI to HDMI type cable, you just pay a bit more for the cable!

One last thing; I think that Comcast still does not OFFICIALLY support using the DVI output on these boxes; maybe that will change with the deployment of al these HDMI boxes....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0508170154aug17,1,7426214.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

I guess I won't be ordering the DVR after all, thank you! :eek:

CSN is retarded, why is the Chicago Baseball Home Team always on CLTV when they're both on Comcast and CSN+ is used , giving the HD users the shaft?!?!?

They just had an on air promo for the HD telecast of the sox game even though it's not being shown in HD....weird.....btw with the sox game being in the 3rd inning and the cubsbeing in the 7th some of the sox game should be in HD after the conclusion of the cubs game.

I have switched to Comcast digital cable with HDTV and DVR and have a few questions. I have 3 HDTV's and 1 standard TV. I have 2 HD-DVR, 1 HDTV Dig Cable box and just plain old cable on the standard.

The 2 HD-DVR boxes are the Motorola 6412.
Are these the latest and greatest from comcast?
Does that network ethernet jack on the back serve a purpose yet?
If i turn them off does it still turn on to record?

my last question is if i want to get a standard digital cable box for my standard TV does that cost any extra, such as $5.00 a month or something?

I came from D* and i watched my first HD white Sox game on comcast sportsnet HD and i am in love!

I have switched to Comcast digital cable with HDTV and DVR and have a few questions. I have 3 HDTV's and 1 standard TV. I have 2 HD-DVR, 1 HDTV Dig Cable box and just plain old cable on the standard.

The 2 HD-DVR boxes are the Motorola 6412.
Are these the latest and greatest from comcast?
Does that network ethernet jack on the back serve a purpose yet?
If i turn them off does it still turn on to record?

my last question is if i want to get a standard digital cable box for my standard TV does that cost any extra, such as $5.00 a month or something?

I came from D* and i watched my first HD white Sox game on comcast sportsnet HD and i am in love!
The 6412 is the latest. The firewire jack is the only jack that works. No ethernet, no usb. This forum has everything you could ever want to know about the 6412: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6047298#post6047298

Yes, the box will record if you turn it off. My advice, never turn it off. There are several bugs associated with turning it on/off. When you turn it off, it doesn't really shut off anyway. It only shuts off the video outputs.

Why are ESPN HD Cubs road games blacked out? I can understand them blacking out ESPN HD when the Cubs are at home because we get a true HD broadcast but when the Cubs are on the road, all we get is crappy quality HD on Comcast Sportsnet (or is that why its blacked out, because its on a Comcast station?)

Why are ESPN HD Cubs road games blacked out? I can understand them blacking out ESPN HD when the Cubs are at home because we get a true HD broadcast but when the Cubs are on the road, all we get is crappy quality HD on Comcast Sportsnet (or is that why its blacked out, because its on a Comcast station?)

Yep, when a local station has the rights it's blacked out. The same thing with ESPN and ABC with a Bears game for example. It's on ESPN-HD for national but WLS-TV carries it OTA for the Chicago market, the ESPN feed is blocked and we don't even get the HD feed on WLS-TV.

Yep, when a local station has the rights it's blacked out. The same thing with ESPN and ABC with a Bears game for example. It's on ESPN-HD for national but WLS-TV carries it OTA for the Chicago market, the ESPN feed is blocked and we don't even get the HD feed on WLS-TV.

Right - ESPN does have exclusive access to Sunday night baseball. That's why we've gotten to see two Sunday ESPN broadcasts of the Cubs recently.

Well Comcast showed up with the wrong box, so I sent them away. Sorry can't test the SATA port yet.

Bears games aren't blocked locally when they're on EspnHD btw.

I got the two tuner hdtv dvr today. I'm loving it so far. Of course the guy rushed and didn't connect my digital optical wire that I had already connected to my a/v receiver, so I had to do it myself, then I went to the store so that I could connect the dvi on the cable box to the hdmi on my tv. I'm loving things so far. I only ask that comcast gets more hd channels and doesn't compress things as much. I'll be sure to give you any updates in the future, hopefully no problems will occur. Later. :)

:) Maybe im crazy but i have comcast chicago. I subscribe to internet and basic cable. Yes i know basic is pretty free but i save 10.00 on internet with basic included.
I just bought the new sansung tv 1080p 61". I hooked up basic cable coax to the tv input so i can turn off my other Dishnet and Direct tuners when i go to sleep and watch basic cable on the sleep timer.
When i went through the channel setup it said 489 stations. What? So i went to look at the stations. I have all basic stations and in the 100 to 480 there is a lot of black stations but low and behold i have all my locals in hd also, and all the music choice stations with the ads and everything.
This is not a hack so i guess its ok to tell you all.

CHICAGO DAN

Received our Comcast bill today....

They are shutting off HBO & Showtime from our analog cable Aug 23rd, and bill is for Aug 25--Sept 25, and Charge for HBO & Showtime is still on the bill! Bill shows analog cable, and HBO/Showtime!!!

How Nice!!!!

I decided not to yell, but to politely call.

First person says she doesn't see anything wrong with our bill, and can't make any changes to it!!!

So much for being polite!!!

I eventually got to someone who could make changes to our bill, and I gave her an ear-full when she tried to sell me digital cable.

Replacement bill being mailed...

I then requested a credit for Sci-Fi channel removal.

I then requested a credit for Sci-Fi channel removal.
Yah, how did that go over? Did they hang up on your, transfer your call into oblivion or ask you if you are nucking futs?

Received our Comcast bill today....
...

So much for being polite!!!

I eventually got to someone who could make changes to our bill, and I gave her an ear-full when she tried to sell me digital cable.

Replacement bill being mailed...

I then requested a credit for Sci-Fi channel removal.

You may want to take a close look at the mailing address on your bill next month... :D

How much you want to bet that when I get the "revised" bill, that it doesn't inclule a 2 day's credit for removal of HBO & Showtime? (They are removing it on 23rd, billing cycle is 25th).....

I'll bring up Sci-Fi at that time, too!

I noticed a recent change in pricing on the Comcast website. Expanded Basic (or Standard Cable as they now label it) is now just $27 more than Basic Cable ($42.99 vs $15.99). I think the difference was formerly $32 ($42.99 vs $10.99).

Basic cable has been $15.99 for as long as I can remember. $25.99 if you order the dvr with basic cable.

Looking back 3 pages to my Post #3428, as recently as 7/21/05 comcast.com was showing the $10.99/$42.99 rates for Zipcode 60056. (We were discussing the post by dag16 that in Boston you could save $32 by subscribing to Basic Cable and a digital package w/o the Expanded Basic channels. (That wouldn't work here because we have digitals on Chs. 59 & 61, so you couldn't trap out 38-78 and have access to all the digital channels).

That must have been an old rate that was updated to the correct $15.99/42.99 sometime after 7/21. I'll delete most of my Post #3520.

I've had basic for $7.99 for almost 5 years (since I moved to satellite) to which they added $10.99 when I got the 6412, at which time they removed the tap, giving me all the analog channels.

UncD, I guess it goes to show that two people in the same zipcode don't even pay the same rate!

I just checked out Palatine 60067 and they do show $7.99/46.99. Pretty hefty $39 premium for Standard Cable. I hope they still have SciFi analog.

I thought maybe there was some grandfathering in Mt. Prospect, since I definitely remember my sister paying $10.99 + fees when she switched to Basic a few years ago.
I checked her latest bill today, however, and it's $16.91 total.

I just checked out Palatine 60067 and they do show $7.99/46.99. Pretty hefty $39 premium for Standard Cable. I hope they still have SciFi analog.I'm at 60074 but apparently the rate's the same. That does sound like a huge jump, although it can be circumvented with the $10.99 HD locals. BTW, the only reason I kept basic back then was because I'd be paying more for broadband without it.

SciFi's gone here too.

I am moving into my apartment in Warrenville on Sept. 9th. I called Comcast to set up service, and they said that they couldn't do it until the person that currently lives in the apartment cancels their service. They told me to call the people that live there and tell them to cancel so I can set it up. lol. I am planning on calling again tomorrow, but was wondering if this is really the case or if the CSR was just dumb.

I am calling so far ahead of time because I wanted to make sure I get the current deal that is 49.99 for Digital Cable Silver w/HBO and HSI. It is supposed to end tomorrow.

I was pricing it out by doing it online, and the only reason I don't just set up online is because there seem like a bunch of installation charges that I have questions about. Does anyone know if you really have to pay all of these?
$14.99+$29.99 for Digital Cable installation
$15.99 for HDTV
$15.99 to have the additional outlet in my bedroom turned on just to have the analog cable channels
$29.99 for HSI installation.

Thanks for the help!

What is HSI???

Thanks

Larry

HSI= High Speed Internet, now offering download speeds at 6mb/s by the way

I called last week, but ended up not getting it installed.

29.99 for cable
9.99 for HD + DVR
19.99 for HSI
14.99 for the cable install
Free self install for HSI or 44.99 for premium install, whatever that is.

59.97/mo + 14.99 install/

I just got a Samsung SIR T-451. Does anybody have a list of where the clear QAM channels are in Naperville?

Comcast has just started a 2-week free preview of Digital Classic and Digital Plus channels. It will continue through September 5.
I have noted the encryption removed on these (Comcast Ch. No. in parentheses):

61-1 Biography Channel (275)
61-3 History Ch. Intl. (276)
61-5 Toon Disney (122)
61-6 MTV 2 (135)
61-8 Style (183)

83-2 Fit TV (222)
83-3 Nicktoons (126)
83-4 G4 (136)

84-8 TV Land (68)
84-11 Sci-Fi Channel (160)
84-12 OLN (404)

86-2 Discovery Home (201)
86-5 Discovery Times (271)
86-7 VH1-Country (471)
86-11 VH1-Classic (473)
86-12 Nat. Geographic (273)
86-13 Military Channel (274)

91-6 Encore Westerns W (524)
91-7 Encore Love W (520)
91-8 Encore Mystery W (522)
91-9 History Channel West (277)
91-10 Weatherscan Local (101)

93-1 Encore Drama E (527)
93-2 Encore E (517)

94-6 VH1 Soul (474)
94-7 MTV Hits (472)

99-6 Encore Westerns E (523)
99-7 Encore Love E (519)
99-8 Encore Mystery E (521)
99-9 History Channel (53)
99-10 Bravo (180)
99-11 HGTV (71)
99-14 ESPN Classic (70)

101-8 FLIX (586)
101-9 Encore WAM (516)

102-1 Great American Country (484)
102-2 Shop NBC (164)

116-1 Fine Living (124)
116-2 DIY (122)
116-3 Nick 2 (132)
116-4 MTV Jams (142)

The following are on QAM Ch. 59, but my tuner can't tune them:

59-? Noggin (120)
59-? Discovery Kids (130)
59-? BBC America (162)
59-? Discovery Health (220)
59-? The Science Channel (272)
59-? ESPNews (402)
59-? IFC (503)

I didn't realize that History Channel, TV Land, HGTV, & ESPN Classic from Expanded Basic analog are being simulcast on the digital tier.

These are simulcast from Basic Cable:
129-1 Access (96)
129-2 MP Access (15)
129-3 ARTS/Oakton CC (24)
129-4 Comcast Network (3)
129-5 MP Access )17)
129-6 MP Access (Test Pattern) (26)
129-11 TV Guide Channel (30)

Some Digital Classic and Digital Plus channels that should be available are still
scrambled.

The PQ on most of these looks very good - seems better than when viewed normally through the 6412. This must indicate that my LG LST-3410A does better with the upconversion to 1080i.

The QAM numbers for the local digital stations carried by Comcast are:
92-1 WLS 7-1
92-2 WGN 9-1
92-3 WLS 7-2
114-1 WBBM 2-1
114-2 WTTW 11-1
115-2 WFLD 32-1
115-5 WMAQ 5-1
115-6 WMAQ 5-2 (Weather)

The 46 Music Choice channels are on QAM Channels 103-5 thru 103-51.

Here in Schaumburg, no change in simulcasting yet. Just the local access/TVGuide channels so far.

UncD2000,

I just got an HDTV with NTSC, ATSC, QAM tuners. I have Comcast/Elmhurst, basic & Digital Classic, and fed the coax directly into the TV. I did find the local HD channels on the TV, but they acted strange. Initially 92.1 was WLS and 92.2 was WGN. But when I came back to them, 92.1 was Discovery Kids and 92.2 was the Science Channel. They changed. If my set re-scanned & re-programmed the channels, it was back to WLS & WGN. I went to a diagnostic mode and it indicated WLS was channel 108.1 and WGN was 108.2. Even thou the TV displayed otherwise. It stayed that way until I started channel surfing again. If I manually went to 108.1 & 108.2, they were there. But the "Auto Programming" could not detect them at 108.

While I get NBC at 115.5, diagnostic shows it channel 117. So I manually found it at 117.5 also. So it's at two different channels. And FOX was strange too. And "Auto Program" did not find CBS either, I hunted it down at 116.1.

Is Comcast shifting frequencies a bit in order to throw things off? Or could the tuner on my new set be faulty?

Mike

I know that the various Comcast systems have different analog lineups, but I thought the digital tiers were more uniform. With channel space so limited, you wouldn't think they have much leeway to do what you describe.

Do you have CableCard? I remember a post about tuning problems with unencrypted QAM channels where the owner just had analog cable and no card. A separate QAM tuner that didn't have the CableCard system was tuning the same channels without problems.

Mike99,

Comcast did change ABC and WGN about two weeks ago. Near downtown Chicago, they were 82.1 and 82.2 respectively. They are now 107.1 and 107.2. This doesn't entirely explain what your TV is doing, but there was a change.

I found out about the switch when a recording failed on my Sony DVR. Thanks, Comcast, for keeping your customers informed. :rolleyes:

If you have a TV with a QAM tuner and have the digital packages should you be able to receive the digital channels without going through the box?

I have a splitter running to my ANT A and use that occasionally if I have something recording on my Replay but I can only pick up the analog channels, local HD channels and the music tier unscrambled.

If you have a TV with a QAM tuner and have the digital packages should you be able to receive the digital channels without going through the box?You should be able to receive most of the Digital Classic and Digital Plus channels as noted in my post above (although the channel numbers may not be identical in your area) through 9/5. After that the free preview will be over and encryption will be restored on those channels.

Those who have the CableCard system in their TVs or DVRs will be able to receive their subscribed digital channels without an external box once an authorized card is installed by Comcast, but I understand you may not receive the Comcast program guide. The TV or DVR may supply the Onscreen TV Guide which is transmitted by certain local OTA stations.

I had standard basic until a couple weeks ago. I got Digital Classic because Comcast moved the Sci-Fi channel. So for this one channel I had to get a digital STB. However I only use it for the Sci-Fi channel. Otherwise coax right out of the wall. I do not have a CableCard.

Just got a new TV with QAM tuner. If it does an Auto-Program search, none of the local HD channels come up properly. Some are missed, some are at the wrong channel as determined by the set's diagnostic function. After searching I have found them all. Even if I do an UP/DWN channel selection, it blows by most of them. I have to manually enter the channel number. So somehow my set is not detecting them. I'd say it's the sets fault, but the one common factor is it did this with all local HD channels. I did an Auto-Program for digital only channels and the set finally found ABC at 108.1 and WGN at 108.2. These do show to be proper per the diagnostic function.

UncD2000,
I did a manually entry and found WBBM at 114.1 and WTTW at 114.2 just like you listed. But the diagnostic indicated these 116 and 747,000 KHz. And I do get WBBM at 116.1 and WTTW at 116.2, at 747,000 KHZ. So they appear twice. But the diagnostic indicates both at 116, so I presume 116 is the "real" channel. But I don't understand this.

How did you get the channel numbers for Comcast? Did Comcast supply these or did you just search the hard way?

Mike in Darien

You should be able to receive most of the Digital Classic and Digital Plus channels as noted in my post above (although the channel numbers may not be identical in your area) through 9/5. After that the free preview will be over and encryption will be restored on those channels.

Those who have the CableCard system in their TVs or DVRs will be able to receive their subscribed digital channels without an external box once an authorized card is installed by Comcast, but I understand you may not receive the Comcast program guide. The TV or DVR may supply the Onscreen TV Guide which is transmitted by certain local OTA stations.

If the TV's can receive these channels through the QAM, what purpose does the cablecard serve? Is it just to unlock the encryption? It would be nice if you could ditch the box and the cablecard and just go through the coax like the good ol days.

UncD2000,
I did a manually entry and found WBBM at 114.1 and WTTW at 114.2 just like you listed. But the diagnostic indicated these 116 and 747,000 KHz. And I do get WBBM at 116.1 and WTTW at 116.2, at 747,000 KHZ. So they appear twice. But the diagnostic indicates both at 116, so I presume 116 is the "real" channel. But I don't understand this.

How did you get the channel numbers for Comcast? Did Comcast supply these or did you just search the hard way?

Mike in DarienWe have to find these ourselves. One approach is to select 2 channels that you are interested in, tuning one on Tuner 1 and the other on Tuner 2. Then in Diagnostics you will find the frequency, and thus the channel numbers. Maybe one of the frequencies is 117 MHz (Ch. 99). Entering 99-1, 99-2, 99-3, 99-4, 99-5, my tuner indicates "scrambled," so nothing can be determined about what those are. Due to the free preview, however, I am able to tune 99-6, 99-7, 99-8, 99-9, 99-10, 99-11, & 99-14. Most will be displaying logos; others can be guessed pretty well. Sometimes you run into hard ones to identify; I have the Comcast 6412 so I can look at the guide to get some help on these.

One thing I haven't been able to figure out is why the QAM tuner in my LG LST-3410A will not tune anything on Ch. 59. All I get is "no signal" responses. As noted above, I found 7 Digital Classic/Plus channels at 435 MHz, but no luck tuning any of them. Anyone??

If the TV's can receive these channels through the QAM, what purpose does the cablecard serve? Is it just to unlock the encryption? It would be nice if you could ditch the box and the cablecard and just go through the coax like the good ol days.That's my understanding. With the Card installed, the TV can be told by the cable provider which encrypted channels you subscribe to. With this setup and the 6412 DVR you could watch one HD program live and record two others.

The old analog setup was great because every TV and VCR could tune all the channels that weren't scrambled.

That's my understanding. With the Card installed, the TV can be told by the cable provider which encrypted channels you subscribe to. With this setup and the 6412 DVR you could watch one HD program live and record two others.


This is correct. All the CableCARD does is de-crypt the signal based on whatever package you have. There is no PG, PPV or VOD. Any PG guide would be whatever the display has which uses info from the station's signal. Many displays which use the TV Guide system seem to work fairly well from what I've read.

UncD2000,

The tuner that I am using is the one in the Sony HDTV. I do have the Motorola digital STB, model DCT 2524/1612, but it is not an HD model. This is what I needed for the Sci-Fi channel.

Regarding channel 59, this is analog MSNBC on my TV (and the Comcast channel lineup), and the diagnostics provide no information.

Just for reference, my BBC America, Comcast STB channel 162, is on my TV channel 92.12 and 633,000 KHz, 480i.

What is this LG LST-3410A tuner that you are using?

Mike

This LG is an HD DVR. It can tune/record ATSC OTA, unencrypted QAM, and analog cable. Normally it can only tune the local HD stations and the music channels from Comcast, but whenever there is a free preview of anything, those channels will not be encrypted. It has the Onscreen TV Guide system, which is great when it works. LG made a 2003 and a 2004 model of the LST-3410A, but took it out of production late last year. They have it built into a few of their high end TVs in 2005.

About Ch. 59: Over 10 years ago, the Comcast predecessor began offering "digital cable". This was not the present QAM system, and the PQ wasn't great. In those days, the Mt. Prospect system didn't have today's bandwidth, and I think Ch. 65 (470-476 MHz) was about as high as they were comfortable with. In order to get the digital option going, they vacated analog channels 49, 59, & 61 and put maybe 10 digital channels on each. When system upgrades permitted higher frequencies later on, they gave Ch. 49 back to analog, but Ch. 59 and 61 have remained digital to this day. With the encryption removed on many digital channels right now, I find that I can get everything on Ch. 61 with no problem, but for some reason I get "no signal" on Ch. 59 even though the 6412 Diagnostics tells me there are several things on that channel (as noted above). I was just wondering if anyone else in local Comcast systems with digitals on Ch. 59 is able to tune them right now.

A bunch of messages about channel changes here in Schaumburg. Most are coming around September 27:

LOGO, MTV's gay/lesbian channel, will be added on channel 143

OLN is moving from digital to analog 76 (and for this, they dropped SciFi????)

VH1 Soul is moving from Digital Plus to Digital Classic. VH1 Country is moving from Digital Classic to Digital Plus.

UncD2000 I tried it on my 3410a last night... QAM Channels. None of the 61 channels had anything in Skokie, (Little or no signal level), and I had same problem with all the channel 59's as you did... Plenty of signal, no picture. "No Signal" .

Interested in the "Diagnostics" you mentioned, either here, or over at the 3410a forum!

Like to learn more on the Diagnostics.... Jan

Comments on picture quality on the "Free" digiatal signals vs. their analog transmissions.

Digital signals appear less noisy, because they are "Throwing Away" High Frequency video (and therefore noise) information. This is either in addition to, or, as a 'feature' of, vertical rate video compression whose artifacts are seen as steppy-ness in slow vertical camera tilts or diagonal lines.

So, whereas the picture quality appears better, it is at the expense of picture detail.

As an example, examine the Analog History channel, and the QAM "Free" Digital simulcast.
The Logo in lower right is degraded on the QAM reception, vs the analog reception. The scene behind the logo greatly affects the amount of degredation of the compression engine artifacts.

Audio was different as well, but I'm not exactly sensitive to audio, so I'll let others report on that...

Overall, I'd say to a cricical eye, the ANALOG transmission had more fine detail than the DIGITAL QAM transmission had.

I guess you just can't put 6 pounds of video in a 4 pound box!!!

I noticed the degredation when SciFi moved to digital. In fact, SciFi now looks better via DirecTV than on Comcast digital. I have noticed during the free digital preview that these channels look better via the LG LST-3410A tuner than on the Comcast 6412 DVR. I'm thinking the difference comes in the upconversion to 1080i.

Jan, the 6412 has a Diagnostics Menu that contains some interesting information, such as the frequency of the channels that Tuner 1 & Tuner 2 are receiving. From this you can determine the actual QAM channel. It also analyzes S/N & AGC in % and assigns a rating of good, fair, poor. It also gives a correctable & uncorrectable error count.

I noticed the degredation when SciFi moved to digital. In fact, SciFi now looks better via DirecTV than on Comcast digital. I have noticed during the free digital preview that these channels look better via the LG LST-3410A tuner than on the Comcast 6412 DVR. I'm thinking the difference comes in the upconversion to 1080i.

Jan, the 6412 has a Diagnostics Menu that contains some interesting information, such as the frequency of the channels that Tuner 1 & Tuner 2 are receiving. From this you can determine the actual QAM channel. It also analyzes S/N & AGC in % and assigns a rating of good, fair, poor. It also gives a correctable & uncorrectable error count.


I obviously didn't look that close in all the menus (EDIT: or read your post I mistakenly thought you meant 3410a Diagnostics... Sorry! !!)!!!!!

(Watch! it will be rediculously easy!)

Could you post the proceedure for getting into this menu? TNX!!!

A close relative of mine just bought an HDTV (a Samsung LNR408D). He has standard cable (Comcast in Darien, IL) with no set-top box, and he reports that his HDTV has found some HD channels.

But he says that the channel numbers are bizarre. WGN, for example, is 92-2. He wants to know if there is some automatic way to map those numbers into reasonable, well-known channel numbers. (I myself get HD off the air, and my HDTV automatically maps the bizarre channel numbers into well-known ones. So for example, when I enter 9 into my HDTV's remote, it goes to WGN-DT.)

If he pays the $16 for a CableCard, will he then be able to use reasonable, well-known channel numbers?

He also says that he cannot get to an HD channel even by entering the bizarre channel number. He says that although WGN-DT is displayed as 92-2, when he enters

9 2 - 2 Enter

into his remote, he gets something completely different. What's going on?

Please pardon my ignorance of cable TV conventions. As I mentioned, I myself get HD off the air, and so I don't see all these bizarre problems.

The weird channels numbers are because they are rebroadcast at different frequencies. In your case, it's one of several channels squashed into the frequency that would be analog cable 92. He will need to read the TV manual to find out exactly how you are supposed to tune into cable channels. I believe broadcast digital has extra signals sent with the video so the TV knows the 'virtual' channel number.

I believe a CableCard will 'fix' the channels, as it tells the TV what standard channel number belong to frequency/subchannel. I believe WGN-HD is usually channel 192. Cable boxes/CableCard get their channel/frequency information from a multicast sent every once in awhile on a special data frequency.

Wasn't HBO/Showtime/Cinemax supposed to be dropped from analog on the 23rd? Using my TV's built-in tuner, I can still receive them. HBO [4] has always been unscrambled. Showtime [17] has inerference-like scrambling. Cinemax [98] has horizontal-sync scrambling.

I think the scheduled date is August 31.

Initially 92.1 was WLS and 92.2 was WGN. But when I came back to them, 92.1 was Discovery Kids and 92.2 was the Science Channel. They changed. If my set re-scanned & re-programmed the channels, it was back to WLS & WGN. I went to a diagnostic mode and it indicated WLS was channel 108.1 and WGN was 108.2. Even thou the TV displayed otherwise. It stayed that way until I started channel surfing again. If I manually went to 108.1 & 108.2, they were there. But the "Auto Programming" could not detect them at 108.

While I get NBC at 115.5, diagnostic shows it channel 117. So I manually found it at 117.5 also. So it's at two different channels. And FOX was strange too. And "Auto Program" did not find CBS either, I hunted it down at 116.1.
This is what my relative is seeing too, and I have a hypothesis as to why.

We know that OTA HD includes channel remapping information; so when an HDTV detects an HD signal on OTA channel 47, the datastream itself says, "I am virtual channel 11." By convention, these virtual channel numbers correspond to the old analog channel numbers, because we are familiar with them and identify stations by them.

I think the same thing is occurring on cable HD, but the problem is that the virtual channel numbers (after remapping) are no more logical or predictable than the original channel numbers, so they merely confuse us further! I think that Comcast in Darien (Elmhurst?) is virtually remapping

108 (ABC, WGN) to 92
116 (CBS, PBS) to 114
117 (FOX, NBC) to 115

This is why my relative is reporting channel numbers occurring twice. He sees a (real) 114-1 which is blank, then later he sees 116-1 (CBS) which is remapped so that it displays itself as 114-1. Talk about confusing!

I'm afraid that in order to get to a channel manually, he has to enter the real channel number, not the virtual one. In other words, to get to WGN he has to enter

1 0 8 - 2 Enter

even though the resulting picture will claim to be 92-2. Yuk.

It's not set up that way here in the Mt. Prospect system. Ch. 92, 114, & 115 are the actual channels carrying the 6 local HD stations. Ch. 108-1 carries ads for the NBA package, and the rest of Ch. 108 is scrambled. Ch. 116 carries Fine Living, DIY, Nick 2, & MTV Jams. Ch. 117 has several scrambled channels.

One of the scenarios I have is that after my Sony TV does an Auto Program scan of channels, I can manually enter 92.1 or 92.2 and get WLS or WGN. This keeps working until I do an UP/DN function at those channels with the remote. Then they are gone & replaced by Discovery Kids and the Science Channel. I cannot get them back by manual entry until I do another Auto Program.

After I did a couple Auto Programs, the set found these at 108.1 and 108.2, and has retained these. When at 92.X, the TV displays the channel name. When at 108.X no name is displayed. So even though 108 is the real channel, no name comes up. In fact no name come up at 116.X or 117.X either.

lgmayka,
Did your relative ever get WGN at 92.2?
What is the different channel he gets now?
Where does he get WGN-DT displayed as 92-2, on 108.2?

Wierd - I just checked 114.1 and 114.2, which I used to get, but now no signal. Yet 116.1 and 116.2 are there.

Confused Mike

In the free trial that Comcast is currently running, where are Comcast Sportsnet HD and TNT HD? They are included in the regular Digital Classic, but I cannot find them in the trial.

Note that my relative has neither a cable box nor a CableCard. We found the six broadcast HD channels (WBBM, WMAQ, WLS, WGN, WTTW, and WFLD) as well as four trial HD channels (INHD1, INHD2, ESPN HD, and Discovery HD). But we simply could not find Comcast Sportsnet HD and TNT HD. Were they left out of the trial?

In answer to Mike99's question: As I suggested earlier, Comcast is apparently sending virtual channel instructions, to remap 108 to 92, 116 to 114, and 117 to 115. The worst part is that to get to these channels via the remote's keypad, one must enter the original channel number (e.g., 108-1) instead of the virtual channel number (92-1). What I did for my relative was simply to put all HD channels on his Favorites list. All he has to do is round-robin through the Favorites.

HD channels are usually not made available for the free previews. The one exception I recall was the Showtime 9/5 - 9/12 freebie, which included removing the encryption from Showtime HD (QAM 111-2). FWIW, in our system Comcast SportsNet HD is on QAM Ch. 85, and TNT HD is on Ch. 116, but both are always encrypted.

There are also some SD channels excluded from the current preview for some reason. SciFi is one of them (it remains encrypted on QAM Ch. 84). Your relative is fortunate to be receiving INHD1&2, ESPN HD, & Discovery HD "in the clear." Don't be surprised if they don't stay that way forever.

lgmayka,

I hear what your saying, but what is purpose of re-mapping? If the real channel is 116, why make a virtual channel 114? And if there is really a channel 116 out there, then how come the TV Auto Program function does not detect it?

I did put these locals on my Favorites list also, but cannot label all of them. I cannot label 117 FOX or NBC because 117 never showed up when doing the Auto Program. If I recall, channel 116 never came up on Auto Program either, but 114 did. So maybe this allows access to the 116 for labeling. I'd have to check my notes though as I did several Auto Programs.


UncD2000,

I currently get SciFi on QAM 93.11 and it is not encrypted. I did subscribe to Digital Classic, but am not using the digital STB at the moment. However I don't expect SciFi stay that way when the free preview period is over. Also get Discovery HD at 115.1, but again expecting this to go away also.

Mike

Mike99,

Ordinarily, the purpose of remapping to virtual channels is to make the channels more familiar to the user. So for OTA HD, channel 47 in Chicago (WTTW) is remapped to 11-1, because most of us know it and refer to it as "Channel 11."

But on cable, why remap 116 to 114? I think UncD2000 gives us the answer. He said:

"[In Mt. Prospect] Ch. 92, 114, & 115 are the actual channels carrying the 6 local HD stations."

Apparently, Comcast in our area has some standard channel numbering that it would like to maintain. For some technical reason, it cannot impose this on the physical channels; but through channel remapping, it can ensure that the virtual channel numbers are consistent across the metropolitan area.

Unfortunately, Comcast does not publish this list, so we all have to hunt for channels by hand. Comcast's published list uses yet another set of numbers, like 187 to 192 for the local broadcast HD channels.

What has been the recent experience with lead time for upgrading to HDTV DVR in the suburbs?

Has anyone ordered both an HDTV STB and CableCard? Any problems with this and what is the CC cost?

Thanks

FYI,

Comcast still doesn't know how to install Cablecards for Panasonic TVs and they are the worst company ever (in case that wasn't already obvious)

Anybody have any experience with Comcast Cablecards in a Mitsubishi 62525 set?
I have the latest & greatest, V4.05 firmware, which, according to Mitsubishi, is 'fine' for Concast cablecards....

I'd prefer end user comments, though!!!!

Jan (ready to jump in 3-4 weeks)!

Anybody have any experience with Comcast Cablecards in a Mitsubishi 62525 set?
I have the latest & greatest, V4.05 firmware, which, according to Mitsubishi, is 'fine' for Concast cablecards....

I'd prefer end user comments, though!!!!

Jan (ready to jump in 3-4 weeks)!
FWIW, that is the version in my WS73615 and with a Comcast Motorola CableCARD it works perfect.

FWIW, that is the version in my WS73615 and with a Comcast Motorola CableCARD it works perfect.

Yes, but you are not in the Chicago area. For example, I have the Sony DVR, which is known to work with Comcast CableCARD in OTHER parts of the country. Yet Comcast can't even get my card authorized, let alone send channel information. This has been going on for 9 weeks. According to a local tech supervisor, the Comcast provisioning of the cards for the other Sony DVR accounts is exactly like mine, yet mine does not work. They have the same problems here with Panasonic, as mentioned by Brad79, as well as other brands. If I understand correctly, more Comcast Chicago card installs fail than work --- many more. Yet there is no urgency on the part of Comcast to solve this. The supervisor is stymied thus far by Comcast's structure, or perhaps a purposeful lack of interest from departments that can solve this. Their engineers should be on the phone with CableLABS, Motorola, and Sony.

My point is, to make comparisons of CableCARD success or failure, your must compare the same model TV, the same card (Moto or SA), AND the same cable company in the same area.

Of course, knowing that a particular model works SOMEWHERE is more proof that the fault lies with the local cableco.

My point is, to make comparisons of CableCARD success or failure, your must compare the same model TV, the same card (Moto or SA), AND the same cable company in the same area.

Of course, knowing that a particular model works SOMEWHERE is more proof that the fault lies with the local cableco.
Understood, I was just giving you confirmation that the Mits FW is the most up to date one they have, so you do have ammo to go after the cable company as the problem isn't with the display.

I have read pages and pages from this thread but there is way too much information and I can;t find the information I need. So if anyone here would be kind enough to help, I would greatly appreciate it!

I live in the city (60626) and am considering switching from RCN to Comcast. They have a special where I can get the On Demand Silver PLus Package with HBO and DVRs for a really good price. I don't have a HDTV yet but plan on buying one very soon. Now, I am not sure what I should do. Should I ask for a cablecard? Is there an additional charge? Which kind of hdtv DVR should I get? How about for the Tvs that are not HDTV? Does anybody know the installation charges associated with this? Are there any additional charges for the HDTV DVR? WIll I still be able to use PIP with the cable box?

I am a huge F-1 fan and see that comcast has the Speed channel listed, but not as part of any package. How do I order it and how much would it cost?

Sorry guys, but I always liked the simplicity of standard cable and never had to deal with cableboxes, so this is all new to me.

Thanks!

Thanks keenan and PhillyC for that information....
When we decide to 'jump' and in which direction, will be determined by things like this...

I'm convinced that there are some people who frequent this and other forums, that seem to know more about the hardware than does Comcast, or __________ (Insert name of your favorite Manufacturer here!) :)

I have read pages and pages from this thread but there is way too much information and I can;t find the information I need. So if anyone here would be kind enough to help, I would greatly appreciate it!

I live in the city (60626) and am considering switching from RCN to Comcast. They have a special where I can get the On Demand Silver PLus Package with HBO and DVRs for a really good price. I don't have a HDTV yet but plan on buying one very soon. Now, I am not sure what I should do. Should I ask for a cablecard? Is there an additional charge? Which kind of hdtv DVR should I get? How about for the Tvs that are not HDTV? Does anybody know the installation charges associated with this? Are there any additional charges for the HDTV DVR? WIll I still be able to use PIP with the cable box?

I am a huge F-1 fan and see that comcast has the Speed channel listed, but not as part of any package. How do I order it and how much would it cost?

Sorry guys, but I always liked the simplicity of standard cable and never had to deal with cableboxes, so this is all new to me.

Thanks!
As far as I know, there is only one type of DVR available to new Comcast customers. It is the 6412 and it is an HDDVR. The cost is $10 month. If you have a tv that has a cable card slot, the cable card is free. Yes, if you connect a box to your tv, you lose the ability to use the builtin features, like pip, unless you do some extra wiring.

You can run coax from the wall directly to your tvs to avoid the box, but you will only get analog channels (2-99).

Q&A,

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6116480#post6116480

SCI-FI UNENCRYPTED in Mount Prospect

Better late than never, the following turned up today:

84-11 Sci-Fi Channel (160)
84-12 OLN (404)

I'll look back and add these to my channel list for the digital preview. BTW, an HBO free preview is scheduled for 9/3 - 9/6.

I have read pages and pages from this thread but there is way too much information and I can;t find the information I need. So if anyone here would be kind enough to help, I would greatly appreciate it!

I live in the city (60626) and am considering switching from RCN to Comcast. They have a special where I can get the On Demand Silver PLus Package with HBO and DVRs for a really good price. I don't have a HDTV yet but plan on buying one very soon. Now, I am not sure what I should do. Should I ask for a cablecard? Is there an additional charge? Which kind of hdtv DVR should I get? How about for the Tvs that are not HDTV? Does anybody know the installation charges associated with this? Are there any additional charges for the HDTV DVR? WIll I still be able to use PIP with the cable box?

I am a huge F-1 fan and see that comcast has the Speed channel listed, but not as part of any package. How do I order it and how much would it cost?

Sorry guys, but I always liked the simplicity of standard cable and never had to deal with cableboxes, so this is all new to me.

Thanks!

I was told last night that Speed is available on the Premier Tier (whatever that means or is available with the Sports Package for $6.95 per month. As far as your TV goes, upgrade as soon as possible. The whole reason for having the HD DVR and programming is to see it in HD. To have the service and not see it is like driving a F-1 car on a go-kart track.

You can still get analog cable without a box but you won't have HBO, Showtime or Cinemax in your line-up. I would guess analog cable is going to suffer more and more attrition as the demand for HD bandwidth increases on the digital side.

Ok guys, I just spoke with Comcast. They told me I cannot have a cablecard and the HD DVR. They also said some DVRs have PIP some don't. They also didn't know how much storage it had, only that you can record 50-80 hours? No instal. fees for up to 4 outlets seems pretty good.

Is there a specific DVR i should ask for? I really like that I don;t have to pay extra for HDTV with this promotion.
Any other comments based on this and my previous post?

Thanks for the help!

Comcast/Mt. Prospect is now simulcasting all of the local analog stations on QAM Chs. 122 & 123. They are also duplicating many of the digital channels on 124, 125, 126, 127, 128. Seems like they want to have every channel active up through 825 MHz (Ch. 129). Besides the locals, some new simulcasts are:

123-18 EWTN (56) (no audio)
125-208 Golf Ch. (69)
126-8 Travel Ch. (75)
127-6 Court TV (73)

Ok guys, I just spoke with Comcast. They told me I cannot have a cablecard and the HD DVR. They also said some DVRs have PIP some don't. They also didn't know how much storage it had, only that you can record 50-80 hours? No instal. fees for up to 4 outlets seems pretty good.

Is there a specific DVR i should ask for? I really like that I don;t have to pay extra for HDTV with this promotion.
Any other comments based on this and my previous post?

Thanks for the help!


Thats a load of crap. I have both a DVR and CableCARD. Insist on both if you desire.

Hi,

Does anyone happen to know if it is possible to order only the comcast HD package (and not any basic service or anything). On their site I can add just the HD package for $5 per month and get to checkout, but I'm not sure if this would actually work. If so I'd like to get just the HD package and their HD DVR which should give me some pretty good programming for under $20 a month. This seems a little too good to be true...is it?

Ok guys, I just spoke with Comcast. They told me I cannot have a cablecard and the HD DVR. They also said some DVRs have PIP some don't. They also didn't know how much storage it had, only that you can record 50-80 hours? No instal. fees for up to 4 outlets seems pretty good.

Is there a specific DVR i should ask for? I really like that I don;t have to pay extra for HDTV with this promotion.
Any other comments based on this and my previous post?

Thanks for the help!
- Several people here have confirmed you can get both.
- The remote has PIP on it, but NO Motorola box so far has had PIP ability.
- The 6412 is the latest (dual tuner). The 12 stands for 120gig harddrive.
- The previous box was the 6208 (single tuner). The 8 was 80gig.
- The 6412 costs $10/month. Most areas never charge an HD fee. Very few charge $5/month as an HD service charge.
- Chances are 50/50 that there will be no fees. The install fee is usually 16 and the 6412 setup fee is 16 for a total of 32. They rarely waive the 6412 setup fee.

When you talk to comcast and don't hear what the people in this thread are telling you, politely hang up and call again. You'll eventually get somebody who knows something.

Hi,

Does anyone happen to know if it is possible to order only the comcast HD package (and not any basic service or anything). On their site I can add just the HD package for $5 per month and get to checkout, but I'm not sure if this would actually work. If so I'd like to get just the HD package and their HD DVR which should give me some pretty good programming for under $20 a month. This seems a little too good to be true...is it?
I guess its possible. Order it, what do you have to lose?
Most areas don't charge the $5 HD fee, so we don't even have the option. In my neighborhood, basic is $16 and the box is $10, so we get HD plus 30+ cable channels for $26.

This morning WFBT was added on channel 223 and WWME (ME-TV) was added on channel 248.

Did Comcast goof up? According to http://www.wciu.com/whatsNewItem.asp?pub_id=891 ME-TV was supposed tu be added on channel 223 and later in the month WFBT was to be added on channel 248. Seems like they reversed the channel numbers.

Nevermind. They fixed it now. ME is on 223 and WFBT is on 248 now.

Thanks for all the replies.

I will call them back next week and see what I can do.

Thanks!

Nevermind. They fixed it now. ME is on 223 and WFBT is on 248 now.
Here in Schaumburg, they show as reversed in the guide. If I try to tune them in, I get nothing but a freeze-frame of whatever I was tuning away from. After a few seconds, it changes the channel if I moved to it by channel up or down.

As for simulcasting, no changes yet, at least as far as the cable box knows.

Here in Schaumburg, they show as reversed in the guide. If I try to tune them in, I get nothing but a freeze-frame of whatever I was tuning away from. After a few seconds, it changes the channel if I moved to it by channel up or down.

As for simulcasting, no changes yet, at least as far as the cable box knows.

I'm on the Shaumburg headend too. I am seeing same thing as you now. I think they are still working on it. It was working fine couple of hours ago.

When I looked into diag menu, they were both on 435Mhz, marked as Digital, but thye both had that dotted line on the right hand side that is only on analog channels.

Here in Schaumburg, they show as reversed in the guide. If I try to tune them in, I get nothing but a freeze-frame of whatever I was tuning away from. After a few seconds, it changes the channel if I moved to it by channel up or down.

Both seem to be working now.

I live in Northern suburbs, and am just putting in a new home theater. I have Comcast cable, but dish sattelite has been highly recommended. Can you offer me any advice on which to choose? I see that many out there appear to be dispensing with cable or sattelite, and are just getting HD antennas? Is this in addition to cable or sattelite, or in lieu thereof, assuming you don't watch cable channels?

A question for anyone that has a Cablecard and 6412. What does the Cable card show up on for an input? Right now I have my box going into the component connection 1 on my set and I also have a splitter run to my antenna a on the set so I can watch a second show while recording with my ReplayTV.

Would the connection on the antenna a use the cable card for descrambling? I still haven't been able to get Comcast to waive the installation charge for the 6412 but if I can get a cablecard at the same time I may just bite the bullet and get it done.

I'm on the Shaumburg headend too. I am seeing same thing as you now. I think they are still working on it. It was working fine couple of hours ago.

When I looked into diag menu, they were both on 435Mhz, marked as Digital, but thye both had that dotted line on the right hand side that is only on analog channels.
They work now, and are both listed at 627MHz, shared with Weatherscan [101], TVOne [172], History West [277], Encore Love W [520], Encore Mystery W [522], Encore Western W [524], Starz Edge [536], HBO2 W [553], HBO Signature W [555], Showtime Too W [578], and TMC W [591]. That's at least 13 channels squashed together!! At least it's 256QAM.

What is WWME anyways? Is it a real station or something else?

just noticed METV (had it on DirecTV ch 23 when it launched and a subchannel of WCIU OTA). My parents liked it, so they will probably be happy (they show older TV shows: Lucy, Laverne and Shirley, etc), but surprised it was on Digital. Is this a sign of the analog being replaced by digital to make bandwith room that everyone has been talking about?

I guess its possible. Order it, what do you have to lose?
Most areas don't charge the $5 HD fee, so we don't even have the option. In my neighborhood, basic is $16 and the box is $10, so we get HD plus 30+ cable channels for $26.
So are you saying all you subscribe to from comcast is basic and the box? I just want to be clear that they are letting you get away with that. Cause, when I signed up they didn't let me. And, if so, do you still get TNT HD and Discovery HD?

They work now, and are both listed at 627MHz, shared with Weatherscan [101], TVOne [172], History West [277], Encore Love W [520], Encore Mystery W [522], Encore Western W [524], Starz Edge [536], HBO2 W [553], HBO Signature W [555], Showtime Too W [578], and TMC W [591]. That's at least 13 channels squashed together!! At least it's 256QAM.

What is WWME anyways? Is it a real station or something else?

Yes, it is a real station on ch 23 OTA. Owned by Weigel (ch 26) Here's their fall program guide:

http://www.wciu.com/whatsNewItem.asp?pub_id=810

Yes, it is a real station on ch 23 OTA. Owned by Weigel (ch 26) Here's their fall program guide:

http://www.wciu.com/whatsNewItem.asp?pub_id=810

In doing my own guide list (there are too many to keep track of), I figured out the following:

WWME (actually WWME-CA) is the old WFBT on broadcast 23

WFBT is now WFBT-CA on broadcast 48

Cable 599, Azteca America, is WOCK-CA, broadcast 13

http://www.tvradioworld.com/region1/il/tv_information.asp?m=chi

I got really bored and created an Excel file containing all the information about the cable channels here in Schaumburg. It includes the cable box number, the frequency used, that frequency's analog equivalent channel, the QAM level of digital channels, the analog and digital tuner (as from a TV) channels (digital tuner subchannels come from posts by UncD2000, where they appear to match Schaumburg info. I don't have a digital tuner myself.)

There is also a simple Word document that is just a 2-column list of the channels available under Digital Plus (what I have.) It's my cheat-sheet to help find where channels are at times.

Just e-mail me if you have any additions, suggestions, etc.. Especially any Excel wizards out there that can figure out how I can make a second page duplicate the first, auto-update, and keep itself sorted, preferably without using macros that many will disable when loading in fear of virii.

You can download a .ZIP of the files here:
http://home.att.net/~andyross/Schaumburg_Cable_Channels.zip

An excellent project. BTW, I had forgotten the HBO free preview 9/3-9/6, and I wasn't able to do much with it today. I did find HBO HD unencrypted on 111-1. There seem to be only these two HD channels on QAM Ch. 111:

111-1 HBO HD (186)
111-2 Showtime HD (187)

Here are a few other HBO channels:

91-1 HBO 2 W (553)
93-3 HBO E (550)
99-1 HBO 2 E (552)
99-2 HBO Signature E (554)

Quite a few of the Digital Classic/Plus channels remain unencrypted from the preview period, including SciFi on 84-11. In addition, Mount Prospect headend has filled up virtually every digital channel, much of it analog simulcasts & duplications. Seems like they're trying to test the system at full capacity from Ch. 2 thru 129.

I have had a cable card installed on two of my six HD displays for three months now. They never have worked right from day one. All I would get was the local digitals. Today I noticed all the channels are now working and all the channel information is there. Anyone know what changed??? Obviously this was a Comcast headend issue and not a card issue as Comcast implied. Sure glad I put off on having them swap out the cards. PQ is leaps and bounds better than the 6412. SD and HD are simply amazing on a Mits 52725 and Sharp LCD.

So are you saying all you subscribe to from comcast is basic and the box?
Yes


And, if so, do you still get TNT HD and Discovery HD?
No, I only get the local channels in HD. No hd versions of tnt, discover, espn, inhd. On demand is also disabled.

Kipp, the improvement may be related to the recent free digital previews. Many digital channels from the Mt. Prospect headend remain unencrypted, and as noted above, they seem to be testing the system at its full capacity. They have a mind-boggling number of subchannels running on every QAM channel through 129 (825 MHz).

I agree that the PQ is impressive on the SD channels. I've been using the QAM tuner in my LG LST-3410 DVR which seems to do a much better upconvert to 1080i than my 6412. The HD channels are fine on the 6412, but it tends to degrade the SD channels.

..anyone notice a problem with their discovery HD. It seems to have developed a pulsing or strobing effect over the last few weeks. It's especially noticeable in some shows more than others. I called comcast and they said they were aware of the problem and "tracking" it. I also called discovery at 1-859-342-8439 and complained. Customer rep. was clueless. I called comcast again and this time the CSR stated more ppl would have to call and report the problem. Please take a few minutes to report this problem if it is affecting your service. Thanks.

BC

Is there a list of the QAM HD channels for Comcast in downtown Chicago? I just got my HDTV hooked up an hour ago, and only found a few HD channels, and I know a lot more are out there. I'm not scheduled for my 6412 install until next week, and I'd love to watch some football in HD this weekend! I've been over the last 8 pages of the thread, and have tried the Mt. Prospect/Shaumberg numbers, but no dice.

thanks.

Chicago downtown HD channels:

ABC 107.1
WGN 107.2
CBS 115.1
WTTW 115.2
FOX 116.2
NBC 116.5

HBO 113.1 (through the free preview that ends on 9/7)

..FWIW..looks like discovery hd corrected the problem. Programming looked great tonight.

Is it me or had everyone HD ABC been pixelating like crazy, techs have been out 3 times, and even installed a new node, and we have had repeated hits.

Does any one know if the comcast HD DVR boxes output higher than 480i through the DVI connection? I was told by a CSR from Comcast that their boxes don't pass through the 720P or 1080i output through their cable lines. I was a a friends house in Naperville and noticed that the DVI Input said 480i (LG 20" LCD TV). I tried several stations with no better results. When I called them to see if I could get higher resolution output, the guy said they don't output any higher than 480i. Was I told the truth or was I miss informed?

Does any one know if the comcast HD DVR boxes output higher than 480i through the DVI connection? I was told by a CSR from Comcast that their boxes don't pass through the 720P or 1080i output through their cable lines. I was a a friends house in Naperville and noticed that the DVI Input said 480i (LG 20" LCD TV). I tried several stations with no better results. When I called them to see if I could get higher resolution output, the guy said they don't output any higher than 480i. Was I told the truth or was I miss informed?

They output both 720p and 1080i.

After reading Kipp's post about vastly improved picture quality with a cable card I went ahead and scheduled an install for this Friday. But I have a couple of questions I hope either Kipp or someone else can answer. First of all I have a Mits 52725 and am wondering does the cablecard automatically show up as another input separate from the 6412. I certainly don't want to lose the functionality of the DVR and plan to use the cablecard separately for instances when I am mostly viewing channels 2-99(for example the U.S. open on USA which has frankly looked pretty brutal through the 6412). Secondly, have most people experienced a big improvement in picture quality using the card versus the DVR? And lastly the customer rep quoted me a total of $38 to have the card installed(23 for the card and 15 for the install). Is that in line with what other people are paying? I guess I have one more question. If the card doesn't work properly like it seems not to for a lot of people will Comcast refund the money? A lot of questions I know but I'm guessing a number of people are probably in the same boat and would like to know the answers. Thanks.

Comcast apparently charges about $10/mo for an upgrade from Standard to Digital Classic. That apparently includes a set-top box and remote. Is there any discount if the customer neither needs nor wants the set-top box and remote, but is going to use a CableCard instead?

I did a rescan on a Sony DHG-HDD250 to tune the new channels and it ended up changing all of my existing local HD channels as well. Now I cannot find WGN and ABC is on 1-1. Anyone have the latest channel numbers for Comcast in the west suburbs - Lombard?

gtcharlie,

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6116480#post6116480

I was charged 24.99 only (no additional 15.00). This charge was removed, since my card still does not work.

Secondly, have most people experienced a big improvement in picture quality using the card versus the DVR? And lastly the customer rep quoted me a total of $38 to have the card installed(23 for the card and 15 for the install). Is that in line with what other people are paying? I guess I have one more question. If the card doesn't work properly like it seems not to for a lot of people will Comcast refund the money?The 6412 is fine for HD, but it does a poor job of upconverting SD to 1080i. Your TV's built-in tuner should do much better.

A few months back Comcast was not charging for the card itself, just for the installation. This may have changed. $15 for the install sounds about right. If you aren't happy with the card and persist with your complaint, getting a refund shouldn't be a problem.

I strongly encourage everyone to file complaints with the FCC stating that Comcast is not installing nor is working on being capable of installing cable cards. I volunteered my home/TV for them to figure out how to get the cable cards working for Panasonic TVs and seriously have spoken to 50 people, they are all incompetent, the customer service "supervisor" doesn't even know anything but apparenlty he doesn't have a boss.

Here is the FCC complaint website lets flood it with complaints!!

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

A friend of mine in Streamwood got a Panasonic Plasma working with Cablecard through Comcast. So, apparently the knowledge is present somewhere... It did take Comcast three trips though.

charlie, your prices are what I was being quoted as well. Though i just asked the guy to give me some discount and he said he could give half off install.

I had my 6412 installed yesterday. it wouldnt bring in the menu or guide but I could watch some channels including HD. They came back today and the guy switched the box and left, same situation. Could this be 2 bad boxes? I think that the problem must be with comcast and setting up my box. I have called them numerous times and they say my box is on the system but they cannot connect to it? I have cable modem and that works fine. The main line is split once to the modem and then to the 6412. My TV can pick up channels through its tuner but I really need DVR service. Or at least USA network to watch tennis. I am in zip 60618 8 miles North west of downtown Chicago - not sure which head end that puts me on.

Anybody else had these issues - I have looked in diagnostics I have error in the general page EP04.

I just switched from direct TV and comcast are driving me crazy,

..I'm not trying to be offensive, but how is your 6412 hooked up to your telly?. Mine is connected via dvi, component, and regular cable input. If my tv is switched to channel 3(using the cable) to watch it, the guide and menu will not show up. So try switching your input modes on your tv as the guides show up for me only using component or dvi input. Good Luck with your viewing.

discovery HD update...still looks shaky and terrible here in st. charles...called discovery inc. twice with no solutions or suggestions what may be wrong...grrrrr

Here is the FCC complaint website lets flood it with complaints!!

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Well, 71 days of ZERO PROGRESS in getting my CableCARD authorized is enough for me. My complaint has been filed.

After reading Kipp's post about vastly improved picture quality with a cable card I went ahead and scheduled an install for this Friday. But I have a couple of questions I hope either Kipp or someone else can answer. First of all I have a Mits 52725 and am wondering does the cablecard automatically show up as another input separate from the 6412. I certainly don't want to lose the functionality of the DVR and plan to use the cablecard separately for instances when I am mostly viewing channels 2-99(for example the U.S. open on USA which has frankly looked pretty brutal through the 6412). Secondly, have most people experienced a big improvement in picture quality using the card versus the DVR? And lastly the customer rep quoted me a total of $38 to have the card installed(23 for the card and 15 for the install). Is that in line with what other people are paying? I guess I have one more question. If the card doesn't work properly like it seems not to for a lot of people will Comcast refund the money? A lot of questions I know but I'm guessing a number of people are probably in the same boat and would like to know the answers. Thanks.


I was charged only $15.99 for the 3 minute install. No separate card fee or monthly fee. I guess I got lucky because my CableCARD has worked flawlessly since day one.

My 6412 is connected via component, i see the menu system, but there is no information being downloaded, the clock stays at 1200m. They are checking the lines on sunday

If your splitter is touching metal of any kind, such as ductwork or pipes, move it off there, or it will bleed off the signal. (Don't ask me how I found that one out...) Al :D

My 6412 is connected via component, i see the menu system, but there is no information being downloaded, the clock stays at 1200m.What does your Diagnostics Menu show under 03: OOB Status? The Guide info, menus, and activation signals are transmitted "out of band," in the guard band between Ch. 4 & 5 around 75 MHz. Something appears to be blocking that frequency in your system. Do Ch. 4 & 5 look OK? If there is a Ch. 4 trap somewhere in your line (these were used to block the analog HBO signal that many local systems have been carrying on Ch. 4), that trap may be defective. It should trap out 66-72 MHz and allow the 72-76 MHz guard band to pass through.

Are you receiving the analog cable channels 2-75, either with your TV tuner or the 6412? If not, but you receive most of the digital channels, someone may have failed to remove a Ch. 2-78 trap somewhere in your incoming line. This trap wouldn't bother your cable modem, but would take out the analog channels and the OOB signals around 75 MHz.

what a hassle this seems to be. I had a great time over last weekend when they unencrypted all the channels and my tv was able to see them all no problem. These problems must come to and end! Keep united and keep updating everyone with information. When my install happens the only thing i know to tell him is to make sure there are 2 ports open, one for the card and the other for the dvr. ANything else?

I just had my cable installed today. I got the HD DVR box, the 6412 III. I have a Panasonic CT30wx15. It's hooked up through component currently. Is it normal for some of the HD channels to not take up the entire screen, like ComcastSportsNet ChicagoHD doesn't take up the entire screen.

In the book for the DVR box it says you can set your preference for watching wide-screen TV in the "TV Type" menu. I don't see this menu anywhere. Is there something I am missing?

Is it normal for some of the HD channels to not take up the entire screen, like ComcastSportsNet ChicagoHD doesn't take up the entire screen.

In the book for the DVR box it says you can set your preference for watching wide-screen TV in the "TV Type" menu. I don't see this menu anywhere. Is there something I am missing?

Depending on which channel you're watching, yes - some programs may not fill the screen because they're recorded not recorded/broadcast in high definition. Standard definition programs recorded in 4:3 aspect ratio will result in black bars on the sides. For Comcast SportsNet, wait for for a home Cubs or Sox game, or just wait for SportsNite to come on - those are in HD and will fill the screen.

As for the TV Type menu, turn the 6412 off and then press the Menu button. A USER SETTINGS screen will appear and you can change the TV Type on that screen. Press the Menu button again to exit that mode.

Depending on which channel you're watching, yes - some programs may not fill the screen because they're recorded not recorded/broadcast in high definition. Standard definition programs recorded in 4:3 aspect ratio will result in black bars on the sides. For Comcast SportsNet, wait for for a home Cubs or Sox game, or just wait for SportsNite to come on - those are in HD and will fill the screen.

As for the TV Type menu, turn the 6412 off and then press the Menu button. A USER SETTINGS screen will appear and you can change the TV Type on that screen. Press the Menu button again to exit that mode.

It was during the Cubs game this afternoon on channel 200. It didn't take up the entire screen. You could definitely tell the difference between 200 and 37. So it was in HD, it just wasn't taking up the entire screen.

No, the game wasn't in HD. The Cubs are in San Francisco. Road games are not braodcast in HD. You were watching a Standard Definition broadcast on the HD channel. The digital channels will always look better than the analog. Standard definition broadcasts on most of the HD channels will have black or gray bars on the side. An exception to this is the ABC HD channel broadcast on Comcast Channel 187. They broadcast a stretched version of the analog signal, which will fill your screen.

Home games are in HD on Comcast Sportsnet and Channel 9 (WGN). The Comcast HD Channel 9 broadcast is on channel 192.

Mike K.

No, the game wasn't in HD. The Cubs are in San Francisco. Road games are not braodcast in HD. You were watching a Standard Definition broadcast on the HD channel. The digital channels will always look better than the analog. Standard definition broadcasts on most of the HD channels will have black or gray bars on the side. An exception to this is the ABC HD channel broadcast on Comcast Channel 187. They broadcast a stretched version of the analog signal, which will fill your screen.

Home games are in HD on Comcast Sportsnet and Channel 9 (WGN). The Comcast HD Channel 9 broadcast is on channel 192.

Mike K.

Gotcha

Are the PIII's widely available yet? I just got my DVR swapped out a week or two ago and I got a PII. I really wanna get a PIII for the HDMI and potentially the SATA expansion (has anyone tried this yet?). Also, I had an excuse for that swap out, but if I just want a new box is Comcast going to charge me?

The digital channels will always look better than the analog. Standard definition broadcasts on most of the HD channels will have black or gray bars on the side. An exception to this is the ABC HD channel broadcast on Comcast Channel 187. They broadcast a stretched version of the analog signal, which will fill your screen
TNT-HD (204) also stretches SD material. Unlike WLS, they also seem to have a bit of a vertical stretch, and the picture is vertically offset a bit, so it is more watchable. Both WLS and TNT have round logo's so it's usually pretty easy to tell when it's stretched.

TNT-HD (204) also stretches SD material. Unlike WLS, they also seem to have a bit of a vertical stretch, and the picture is vertically offset a bit, so it is more watchable. Both WLS and TNT have round logo's so it's usually pretty easy to tell when it's stretched.

TNT has one of those stretch modes where the central portion of the picture has the correct aspect ratio, but the left/right edges are stretched to fill the screen (less so on the top and bottom). You can really notice when the camera pans horizontally and the left/right edges move faster than the middle and objects distort.

Are the PIII's widely available yet? I just got my DVR swapped out a week or two ago and I got a PII. I really wanna get a PIII for the HDMI and potentially the SATA expansion (has anyone tried this yet?). Also, I had an excuse for that swap out, but if I just want a new box is Comcast going to charge me?Yep, someone has tried it and it sounds like it's not active yet, although I'm not sure what area he is in. So far I've only heard that Chicago proper is deploying the P3's.

Has anyone heard any new news about new HD channels for Comcast in Chicago? I know that Turner Classic Movies is supposed to have a new HD channel sometime. I also heard that we were supppsed to be getting ESPN2HD soon too. Anything else?

Has anyone heard any new news about new HD channels for Comcast in Chicago? I know that Turner Classic Movies is supposed to have a new HD channel sometime. I also heard that we were supppsed to be getting ESPN2HD soon too. Anything else?

ESPN2HD and UniversalHD are under active negotiations along with all the channels that Disney and NBC have. That's why they take so long. The results may try our patience but we don't pay extra when they come.

The other new channels coming, MTVHD, TCMHD, National Geographic HD, FoxHD are all vaporware at this time. Comcast won't get any of the new channels for (my guess only) 12-18 months after initiation when new negotations can be completed.

So 2 are definitely on the radar screen and the rest are probably, realistically, two years away.

And HDNET still awaits, with no solid rumors at all.

Rich N.

The situation at DirecTV is similar. I have to pay both providers because D* does not offer Cinemax HD, Starz HD, TNT HD, INHD1&2, & Comcast SportsNet HD. They won't have sufficient bandwidth until the MPEG4 system is fully operational next year. D* managed to squeeze ESPN2 HD into their lineup on 9/8, but it would rank well behind the 6 named above for me personally.

Comcast gives us true full bandwidth HD. DirecTV offers "HD Lite" with reduced resolution and bitrate. Whether the new system will remedy this remains to be seen.

My 6412 is connected via component, i see the menu system, but there is no information being downloaded, the clock stays at 1200m. They are checking the lines on sunday

Comcast spent 3+ hours and went through 3 boxes at my place on Monday with no luck. From what my wife said, it was the same issue. It would start downloading data and just hang. They came back on Tuesday with another box that eventually downloaded the data.

This may be a stupid question, but if I switch my cable service to comcast, do I have to also switch my cable modem service (I now have RCN bundle)? If yes, then my guess is that VOIP phone service also will need to be from the same company (comcast doesn't offer phone service for my zip code 60626).

Thanks!

This may be a stupid question, but if I switch my cable service to comcast, do I have to also switch my cable modem service (I now have RCN bundle)? If yes, then my guess is that VOIP phone service also will need to be from the same company (comcast doesn't offer phone service for my zip code 60626).

Thanks!
If your cable modem is on a dedicated cable run, it would be no problem. But, if your whole house is currently sharing one entry point, Comcast would probably run new lines through your house for cable service - because I doubt they'll touch/split any cable that is currently being used by RCN.

As far as the phone goes, you should be ok. At my house everything for the cable phone is outside the house.

The situation at DirecTV is similar. I have to pay both providers because D* does not offer Cinemax HD, Starz HD, TNT HD, INHD1&2, & Comcast SportsNet HD. They won't have sufficient bandwidth until the MPEG4 system is fully operational next year. D* managed to squeeze ESPN2 HD into their lineup on 9/8, but it would rank well behind the 6 named above for me personally.

Comcast gives us true full bandwidth HD. DirecTV offers "HD Lite" with reduced resolution and bitrate. Whether the new system will remedy this remains to be seen.
sorry if this is off-topic, but i wanted to know if it's possible to subscribe to just the HD Pack from DirecTV? i'm assuming you subscribe to a digital tier from Comcast to get the HD channels; are you also subscribed to a Total Choice package from DirecTV?
i would like to wait what DirecTV has to offer later this year into early next year before fully committing, but at the moment, i would like to subscribe to just HD, Sports Pack, and Setanta, if that's possible?

Thanks HD Rookie.

Right now I have everything through one cable - Cable TV, Internet and VOIP phone. So if I want, I can keep my current cable for VOIP and internet and get Comcast to install a new cable for TV signal running into the house???
Will they charge me more for that (I currently have an offer with free installation)?

sorry if this is off-topic, but i wanted to know if it's possible to subscribe to just the HD Pack from DirecTV? i'm assuming you subscribe to a digital tier from Comcast to get the HD channels; are you also subscribed to a Total Choice package from DirecTV?
i would like to wait what DirecTV has to offer later this year into early next year before fully committing, but at the moment, i would like to subscribe to just HD, Sports Pack, and Setanta, if that's possible?You could call (800-531-5000) to be sure, but I think DirecTV began requiring a subscription to a Total Choice package about 2 years ago. There are some grandfathered accounts with ala carte items like NFL Sunday Ticket and no TC sub, but D* won't allow any changes to such accounts without adding a TC package.

Did anyone else notice that the NIU-Tennessee Tech football game was in HD today on CSN?[that's the 1st college game they've done in HD afaik]

Are the PIII's widely available yet? I just got my DVR swapped out a week or two ago and I got a PII. I really wanna get a PIII for the HDMI and potentially the SATA expansion (has anyone tried this yet?). Also, I had an excuse for that swap out, but if I just want a new box is Comcast going to charge me?
What's the difference between the PII and PIII boxes? Are we ever going to get a larger hard drive? :(

What's the difference between the PII and PIII boxes? Are we ever going to get a larger hard drive? :(

HDMI output instead of the DVI.
RF output is back.
SATA port (not activated).

I got a second DVR last week, that was a phase III. The manual that came with it was for a DCT6412 and a DCT6416. The DCT6416 had a 160 Gb hard drive.

b

What's the difference between the PII and PIII boxes? Are we ever going to get a larger hard drive? :(
I assume you are asking about the 6412 dvr??? Take a look at this thread. It has more than you ever wanted to know about the 6412 box. Do a search on PIII.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6239596#post6239596

Am I the only one who consistently has a problem with sound/picture with show ER? Seems like every week there is a problem. This week at first there was no sound. Then the picture switched to an upconvert with sound. Then I was back to the HD feed with no sound. Finally got sound with a very strange echo effect that I had never heard before. At about 40 minutes into the program everything was fixed. Very frustrating. I will say once things got fixed it looked and sounded very good. For twenty minutes anyway.

Am I the only one who consistently has a problem with sound/picture with show ER? Seems like every week there is a problem. This week at first there was no sound. Then the picture switched to an upconvert with sound. Then I was back to the HD feed with no sound. Finally got sound with a very strange echo effect that I had never heard before. At about 40 minutes into the program everything was fixed. Very frustrating. I will say once things got fixed it looked and sounded very good. For twenty minutes anyway.

You are not alone, I had numerous audio problems with my ER recording last night. It looked like they were having troubles because they kept switcing back and forth from HD to nonHD. I also had issues with my Survivor recording, lots of breakups. Maybe weather related, who knows.

You are not alone, I had numerous audio problems with my ER recording last night. It looked like they were having troubles because they kept switcing back and forth from HD to nonHD. I also had issues with my Survivor recording, lots of breakups. Maybe weather related, who knows.
I haven't watched ER yet but it seems NBC as a whole has been having problems. We recorded Surface on Monday and it started off fine. After the first commercial break, the sound on the program got very low (had to turn the TV volume up all the way) but the commercials were at the normal volume. The exact same thing then happened during Law & Order on Wednesday night. :(

I've noticed two problems last night/today (Fri/Sat).

Cartoon Network disappeared sometime between 6:30 and 10:00pm Friday. On the TV's tuner, I get no signal.

In the guide, there are an unusually high number of 'To Be Announced' entries beginning at roughly October 1st. Even major network entries are TBA.

it's 11:30am today and in the middle of watching tv, my comcast box went into "dl" mode - i'm assuming downloading or something and it's still like this for the past 10 min-

has anyone else experienceed this today?

Are there any known issues with the dual tuner DVR box (6412) freezing up?

I'm having, and have been for quite a while, problems where the box itself does not respond to the remote control commands and then all of a sudden (after it unfreezes - maybe a half minute, minute or even longer sometimes) executes every command that I have entered during the time it was frozen.

It's not only a pain the arse when it happens, but it also caused me to delete some programming I had saved on the DVR....

I was wondering if this is an isolated problem or somewhat well known...I have not kept up with this thread a great deal in the last six months or so.

I tried both leaving the box on all the time and turning the box off when not in use, neither seemed to fix the problem. I've also cycled the box by unplugging it for a while and that did not help either.

It's also probably one of the older dual tuner DVR's as I had it installed within a week or so of when the folks on this forum made it known they were available.

Thanks.

Tom

Are there any known issues with the dual tuner DVR box (6412) freezing up?

I'm having, and have been for quite a while, problems where the box itself does not respond to the remote control commands and then all of a sudden (after it unfreezes - maybe a half minute, minute or even longer sometimes) executes every command that I have entered during the time it was frozen.

I think it's a fairly well known issue. For me, the situation seems to get worse as the hard drive fills up, or the longer the box stays on. To alleviate the problem I literally unplug the box once a month to force a reboot. (I do it right before I go to sleep so the program guide can reload overnight.) This makes the response return to normal.

I think it's a fairly well known issue. For me, the situation seems to get worse as the hard drive fills up, or the longer the box stays on. To alleviate the problem I literally unplug the box once a month to force a reboot. (I do it right before I go to sleep so the program guide can reload overnight.) This makes the response return to normal.

Thanks Frank, I'll check to see if mine acts up more often as it fills up too.

I don't have any freezing issues but I do have I issue on 2 6412's. If you have a recording set and the 6412 is turned off, when it records 2 things happen, it mutes the receiver & it doesn't allow you to watch the 2nd tuner. Anyone else experience this?

I don't have any freezing issues but I do have I issue on 2 6412's. If you have a recording set and the 6412 is turned off, when it records 2 things happen, it mutes the receiver & it doesn't allow you to watch the 2nd tuner. Anyone else experience this?

The muting behavior is normal, but I've never had a problem switching to the second tuner. I just hit the swap button and everything performs normally.

Do you have this problem if a recording starts while the box is on?

I haven't watched ER yet but it seems NBC as a whole has been having problems. We recorded Surface on Monday and it started off fine. After the first commercial break, the sound on the program got very low (had to turn the TV volume up all the way) but the commercials were at the normal volume. The exact same thing then happened during Law & Order on Wednesday night. :(
Yep, NBC is having problems. Comcast gets its signal via antenna; over-the-air
viewers are seeing/hearing the ame thing. If you wish, you can see the posts over on the Chicago - OTA thread, but they pretty much mirror what you're seeing
here.

Considering master control for WMAQ is in New York, I wonder what the problem is?

The muting behavior is normal, but I've never had a problem switching to the second tuner. I just hit the swap button and everything performs normally.

Do you have this problem if a recording starts while the box is on?

No, only if the box is off. When you say the muting is normal behavior is that how the box is designed? I will try the swap button next time and ee if that works, I've only tried entering another channel # and it always prevents that.

No, only if the box is off. When you say the muting is normal behavior is that how the box is designed? I will try the swap button next time and ee if that works, I've only tried entering another channel # and it always prevents that.

Yeah, if the box is off and a recording session starts, the volume is muted. That's by design. I guess the idea is you don't want to suddenly hear the program being recorded if you left your TV or receiver on in the middle of the night.

If a recording is in session, you need to hit the SWAP button on the remote or you risk stopping your recording. The SWAP button will send you to the second receiver and you'll be able to change channels (unless that's recording something, too).

apparently Comcast may have a fix for the Panasonic Cablecard issue, will know on Saturday...would be a positive development!

apparently Comcast may have a fix for the Panasonic Cablecard issue, will know on Saturday...would be a positive development!

Hopefully they're making progress for Sonys too- they called and asked for my CableCard settings as I'm a successful install (though it's now disconnected cause my signal isn't strong enough to split to the DVR AND the CC.. sigh)

A few weeks ago, my brother purchased a Samsung LNR408D LCD HDTV. Fortuitously, Comcast was running a promo in which some digital channels, including a couple of HD ones, were temporarily unscrambled. The promo convinced my brother, who called Comcast to install a CableCard and subscribe him to Digital Classic.

Comcast scheduled a home visit for 2 or 3 weeks later (!). The installer finally came the other day. He saw his job as merely to install the CableCard, and that the Digital Classic subscription would occur "at the office." After CableCard installation, my brother did notice that the broadcast HD channels (ABC, NBC, etc.) had their new correct numbers and names.

But by the next day, my brother still didn't see the new channels to which he had subscribed. (The Comcast Web site specifically says, "A subscription to Digital Classic is required to receive channels 173-175 [ESPN HD and iN DEMAND HD 1 and 2], 200 [Comcast Sportsnet HDTV], 204 [TNT in HD] and 205 [Discovery HD Theater].") He called Comcast, and a flunkie claimed that he needed a different kind (!) of CableCard for those channels, and that he would have to go to the end of the line on another installation. Later, at my suggestion, he demanded to speak to a competent technical person, who reportedly checked all that he could, but then pronounced that he didn't know why my brother was not getting the new channels.

So today an installer is supposed to visit again. Why can't Comcast get this right the first time? Does anyone have an idea as to what is wrong?

Chicago CableCARD installs will probably improve soon. A tech supervisor and a headend engineer were at my home on 9/16, got the card in my Sony DVR working (after ONLY 11 weeks), and then did some experimenting with card communication. They said a lot was learned.

One breakdown in communication between Comcast and the cards was occurring in something called the "Rads". More of these (whatever they are) were added in June to get ready for a surge in new cards in Chicago, and that's when most of the big problems began. But no one thought to look there until now.

A big problem is the apparent lack of internal cooperation between Comcast departments. I was told that, with the recently gained knowledge, Comcast is developing a procedure that will increase the likelihood of successful card installs.

But it still ain't perfect! They can successfully communicate with my card to authorize it and supply the initial channel information. When the hit arrvies, you can see a momentary picture freeze or breakup. However, when they tried to make a CHANGE to the channel lineup, the hit arrived but had no effect --- until I removed and reinserted the card. They are in conversations with Motorola about this.

I was told that their system is automated. That is, when a lineup change is necessary, their system will automatically send hits to all cards in the field. Obviously, this would not be successful if everyone had to manually reinsert the card.

Some of the above may apply only to my system, and much of it to everyone in Chicago. But, from everything I saw and heard, they ARE working on the card problems in a determined way --- finally.

However, when they tried to make a CHANGE to the channel lineup, the hit arrived but had no effect --- until I removed and reinserted the card.
Did you do this with the TV set on? After card reinsertion, did you have to redo the card setup at all?

No, I turned off the Sony DVR, removed and replaced the card. When I turned the power on, the changes took effect. The card can be removed and replaced any time and still retains its authorization and channel information. I was told that at least part of this info is actually retained in your TV (or DVR in my case). The card is also paired with your TV so that it won't work in a different TV..

No, only if the box is off. When you say the muting is normal behavior is that how the box is designed? I will try the swap button next time and ee if that works, I've only tried entering another channel # and it always prevents that.

There is a way to unmute the box when this happens. I have an unmute programmed into my remote. You can search this thread or the 6412 thread and I'm sure you'll find it. Unmute, Swap, and Skip all needed to be programmed into some of the early remotes. I have everything programmed into a HTM 700 remote.

Or just leave your 6412 powered on all the time. You will have a lot less problems if you just leave it on.

Just switched back to Comcast. As an FYI Schaumburg has the Phase III boxes available now. I got one.

And as someone else posted in another thread the SATA port isn't active yet. I'll have to get used to having a small HD again. Bummer.

Several channel changes:

OLN (Outdoor Life Network) has moved from 404 to analog 76, at least here in Schaumburg.

Logo is now available on 143

The TVGuide scroll mentions that the analog HBO, Showtime and Cinemax will now be dropped on October 4th (was originally August 23.)

Just switched back to Comcast. As an FYI Schaumburg has the Phase III boxes available now. I got one..
How do you go about requesting an Phase III box? I've called Comcast twice now and they had no idea what I was talking about. Also, does the phase 3 box have a larger hard drive in it? I also asked Comcast if they had any plans for boxes with larger hard drives and they said no.

Is anyone else having a problem with the recording times on their boxes? Everything I record is starting in progress and I'm missing the very beginning of every show I record. Is this a problem with box or with the time Comcast is sending to the box? I went through the box setup and it doesn't look like I can change the time on the box.

Is anyone else having a problem with the recording times on their boxes? Everything I record is starting in progress and I'm missing the very beginning of every show I record. Is this a problem with box or with the time Comcast is sending to the box? I went through the box setup and it doesn't look like I can change the time on the box.

I've noticed this just recently. It seems like I'm missing the first 15-30 seconds of almost every show I record. I believe we're on the same head-end, so maybe it's a localized problem.

How do you go about requesting an Phase III box? I've called Comcast twice now and they had no idea what I was talking about. Also, does the phase 3 box have a larger hard drive in it? I also asked Comcast if they had any plans for boxes with larger hard drives and they said no.

Don't bother mentioning "Phase III" to the customer service reps. You need to ask for a cable box with an HDMI connector. There's a much better chance that they'll understand that request. If the rep you speak to doesn't know what an HDMI connector is, try calling in again. On occasion I've had to call in three or four times before I spoke with someone who was knowledgeable about my request.

Same thing happening in Naperville.

I've noticed this just recently. It seems like I'm missing the first 15-30 seconds of almost every show I record. I believe we're on the same head-end, so maybe it's a localized problem.

I finally spoke to someone at Comcast who agreed that this could be a head-end issue. They are going to "investigate" and we'll see if anything changes. She told me to have anyone else that is experiencing this same issue give them a call so they can try to determine how widespread the problem may be.

After reading these posts I thought I remembered some delayed starts, but I couldn't get it to happen today. Also, the time readout on the guide is changing at the exact second that it should, so the Mount Prospect headend seems to be OK on this issue.

I live in Aurora, and my 6412 time is sync'ed to atomic time. I can't ask for better than that. If the networks don't use the same time, then I can't complain to Comcast.

I've haven't had any problems with start/end times.

Many of the cable networks have sloppy timing. What's funny is looking at the XDS data some send out. Many are are WAAAY off in the time remaning or similar.

Hey folks, anyone having sound issues? I'm in Lockport and have the 6412 and I'm not getting 5.1 on anything including the hi-def HBO. Everything is coming over in linear PCM.

Also, I'm having the same issue as an earlier poster whose sound is way low during the actual programming but really excrutiatingly loud on the commercials.

Just wondering if this is an all over issue, or just with my box or receiver.

Thanks for shedding any light!

Hey folks, anyone having sound issues? I'm in Lockport and have the 6412 and I'm not getting 5.1 on anything including the hi-def HBO. Everything is coming over in linear PCM.
I had this same problem just yesterday. Everything was PCM even recordings. I solved it by waiting till I wasn't recording anything and turning the box off and back on. Don't know about the low sound issue. I've seen it once or twice but only on NBC. So, I figure it's an NBC problem.

Don't bother mentioning "Phase III" to the customer service reps. You need to ask for a cable box with an HDMI connector. There's a much better chance that they'll understand that request. If the rep you speak to doesn't know what an HDMI connector is, try calling in again. On occasion I've had to call in three or four times before I spoke with someone who was knowledgeable about my request.
I've given up on trying to get them to send me a Phase III. Last time I called I argued with the woman for 15 min. Trying to get her to understand that it wasn't a "new box", but simply a new revision with a better video connection for my TV. She assured me there was no such box and even "confirmed" it with her superior. She also said they could send someone to replace my box with whatever they had (again assuring me it would be the same thing), but it would cost me. So, I figure I'll wait a couple more weeks and just lie about having problems with it so they will replace it for free.

Anyone have trouble today with their DVR recordings?
I can list all my old recordings, but can't play them anymore. I just get a black screen. Also there is a recorded entry dated "01/01/1986" or something that I cannot delete...
Does anyone know how to "hard reset" the 6412?

Help me decide - Chicago, northern suburbs, Comcast or Dish, and why? Please help. Need to decide quickly!

Thanks.

I've haven't had any problems with start/end times.My 6412 recorded the entire 61 minutes of Surface on NBC last night with no problems.

I've given up on trying to get them to send me a Phase III. Probably just as well. Postings in other threads indicate it hasn't addressed the delayed response problem, and has some quirks of its own. Since the SATA port isn't enabled by Comcast anywhere so far, the only advantages would be the HDMI and RF outputs.

My main issues are the delayed response problem, the difficult procedure for accessing the closed captions, and the limited storage with 120GB. Since the Phase III doesn't solve any of these, I think I'll stick with my Phase II until the 6416 w/160GB HDD shows up locally.

I had this same problem just yesterday. Everything was PCM even recordings. I solved it by waiting till I wasn't recording anything and turning the box off and back on.

I had the same issue and turning the box off and back on work for me also.

b

After reading these posts I thought I remembered some delayed starts, but I couldn't get it to happen today. Also, the time readout on the guide is changing at the exact second that it should, so the Mount Prospect headend seems to be OK on this issue.
UncD, I'm at the NE corner of Mt Prospect and my recordings are also starting 1 minute late. It started being one minute off within the last few days.

I think Comcast was doing some tinkering last night.

Between 7:00PM and 8:00PM I was watching a recording from a few days ago and noticed the same PCM / no 5.1 noted above. As I was recording something at the time, I decided to wait before rebooting.

Around 7:30PM my picture goes totally blank and my TV gives me a message indicating there was no signal. I was watching via DVI which is screwed into the ports on the TV and cable cox, so I knew it hadn't come unplugged. I switched over to component and watched the remainder of my program.

After it finished (7:45PM), I tried unplugging / replugging the DVI to see if it would "re-activate". No luck. Just as I was reaching to unplug the unit from the wall, I heard a click and my picture returned - but on a different channel. I realized it had mysteriously flipped tuners to the channel I was recording. I pulled up the DVR recording menu and saw that my program had been split in two, just like it does when they break in for an emergency weather announcement.

Sorry for the rambling, but I found this all very strange. On a good note, I did notice that the program I recorded at 8:00PM started on time.

OK, My wife made me do it!!!

Went to comcast in Skokie, and got a 'deal' on digital cable. Package comes with HBO & Showtime, and the most beat-up and scratched used box that I've ever seen... No instruction manuals, and we had to go back for a remote....

Cabled up and it's been 'on' for an hour now.... "Program will be available shortly" is all we get... It has learned while it flashes that slogan.... Learned the time, then channel program start & end times, and then program names and then brief notes on the program, and when a red light came on, I found out I have 'messages' (about a new spanish channel).... OK, I'll agree that the data is being received.... So when will the video and audio be switched on? Dunno... No instructions were given me!!

So I call Comcast, and guess what? Their computers are down!!!

So, how long till pictures get turned on????

Follow up... About 10PM talked to a support lady at comcast who's computer worked. She sent 'reset codes' to the box... She remotely power cycled box...
We verified that the channel ID's were downloaded, clock downloaded, program information downloaded, messages downloaded...... Everything works except picture & audio... "Program will be available Shortly"

She kept asking me to tune to channel 3. Explained politely that RF to display was not connected (Getting fed cable RF already -- Box connected to TV via composite video & audio(s). She didn't seem to understand what I was saying, or was reading off flip cards, take your pick...

Service call Saturday morning... I requested they bring a new box, as I want to feed component video to display, not composite.
I think she understood what I was saying...

Box still saying "Program will be available Shortly" This morning at 6AM......

Might be best to ask them to bring an HD receiver. Sounds like you have the SD model.

We didn't order HD on cable... We're getting that via outside antenna.

My plan (after I get a new box that works) is to feed YUV to display, and SVideo to a CH4 modulator. Audio will be multed between Display and modulator.

Resulting CH4 signal will be notched back into an isolated cable feed, which will be amplified and fed back to basement for distrubution, so wife's VHS decks can record whatever the "BOX" is receiving on CH4.... or the other analog cable channels...

Now if the new boxes have a feature to change channel via time.... OH boy would I be happy!

I don't think any of their SD boxes have component outputs. The HD models may not cost any more per month, and they receive channels like HBO HD, Comcast SportsNet HD, TNT HD, Discovery HD Theatre, ESPN HD, INHD 1&2, & Video on Demand. I notice their current special is HBO & Starz for $39.99 (for 6 months).

Now if the new boxes have a feature to change channel via time.... OH boy would I be happy!


I believe they do. My box has a feature that says to set a time and set my VCR to record at the same time.

That would sure be sweet....
Does your box have component outputs? The Comcast guy said new boxes have YUV, SVideo & Composite outputs, all active simultaneously... That's what I would want.... To feed Mits Display YUV, and SVideo to CH4 Modulator...

What is the model number of your box?

If there is a way in box to do a programmed record, that would be real sweet!!!

Thanks.

Message on the box for two channel changes coming October 26:
PBS Kids Sprout will be added on channel 127
MoviePlex will be added on channel 149
Both appear to be part of Digital Classic.

Encore now has movies ONDemand, under Premium channels. You should have access if you have Digital Plus or greater.

Message on the box for two channel changes coming October 26:
PBS Kids Sprout will be added on channel 127
MoviePlex will be added on channel 149
Both appear to be part of Digital Classic.

Encore now has movies ONDemand, under Premium channels. You should have access if you have Digital Plus or greater.


After seeing your post Andyross63, I checked our box. Same messages here!
No programming, no audio, but I get messages!!!

Comcast guy is scheduled for 8AM.... Haven't seen him yet... Hope he brings a new box......

:)

Comcast guy just left. Good guy...

Gave him an overview of what happened (and didn't happen!), and explained the 'system' here in depth... Didn't phase him at all.

He took a signal strength reading (cable feed in basement, hits a Motorola Cable data pass amp, Splits 4 ways, and at box splits 3 more ways, to feed LG DVR, SVHS/Mitsubishi display, and "Box"), and found feed to 'box' was 7Db greater than 'average', which confirms my cabling is OK, over 90' from where the cable enters the house.

Old Box still at "Available Shortly", with program data, messages, timestamps.

He pulled box, and while he got another I re-programmed Mits display for YUV input (From composite). Replacement is a DCT6200/2005, which I believe is HDTV compatible. On power up, pix visable & audio in approx 1 minute.. :) He sent message for other channels to be turned on, and I'll check that later.

No ops manual..... maybe that is normal?

So, does anyone have an Ops manual on this? In a couple days I'd like to experiment with programmed channel changes, if it exists in this model.

One last thing..... Since the Mitsubishi has the same cable feed to it that the "Box" has, I did a visual comparison of Discovery channel (CH 21) received via analog cable on Mits, to the "Box" receiving 'digital' Ch 21, fed YUV (Box found to be in 1080i mode, so this test could be an upconverter artifact issue), a side by side comparison could be done.....

Lotsa MPEG artifacts..... on box..... Cable feed decoded by Mits cleaner... I might be able to 'hide' some or most of this in the Mitsubishi, as it has input specific video and noise reducer settings....

Anyway, it WAS the box.....

For now I'll leave things alone, and won't "Stir the Pot" for a few days.... :)

Jan

Are you receiving Ch. 173 (ESPN HD), 174-175 (INHD 1&2), 185 (Showtime HD), 186 (HBO HD), 200 (Comcast SportsNet HD), 204 (TNT HD), 205 (Discovery HD Theater)? Your original box probably would not have received those, so it may have been a blessing that it didn't work.

When I tried to receive it... I got "Channel will be available Shortly"

So I swtiched back to CH2... Same. Others.... Same.....

Analog cable still works.... Another call to Comcast... They tried to send codes

again, no good. They are contacting guy to come back....

Honestly! I didn't touch it!!!

Edit: I think they are sending reset commands, as Box reset itself to CH 1....
but no pix & sound, again, unless I switch from 'box' to cable feed on mits, which works fine.

Follow up: Saturday, 12:07P.

Called comcast again, and lady says she knows what is going on.... The Billiing information wasn't entered in the 'system' correctly.... (we've only had Comcast Cable for 8 years?)
Aparantly, a box can be turned on, but billing has the capability to turn it off again, if things in the billing system don't jive with the account.

Hey! I'm NOT making this up, I'm just reporting it...

Anyway, there is presently a 77 minute 'que' in the data transmissions (probably billing is busy turning things off & on! :) ) so somewhere near 1:30Pm the system should marvelously "Awaken" !!!!!

HOWEVER, they are dispatching a Serviceguy again, just to "make sure"....

This whole digital cable thing seems suprisingly too "Big Brother!" to me...

Oh yes, a revision on the MPEG Artifacts I saw (for a few minutes, anyway)... I think the
box does NOT have a "Native" setting (power off-menu for settings) I was in the 'upconvert to 1080i" mode....

If I ever get picture & sound back, I'll revisit the analog cable vs. digital box comparison again, and post revision, if necessary...

If I ever get picture & sound to come out of the "box".... :D!

Update!! 1.22 PM... Box reset itself... Not all that was purchased was turned on. On HOLD with comcast again.. They confirm error on their end.... "Que" is now 2 hours.....

This almost feels like a second job!!!

I had NO IDEA I would have to doublecheck everything they do, step by step....!!!

Oh yes, via another website I was given information that the timed recording function was TURNED OFF by Comcast on their boxes, but remains on their DVR.....

Thanks!!!

I received Comcast e-mail that download speeds are supposed to have been increased by 2Mbit today. So far, doing some speed tests, I'm still at 4000/384. Anybody get a speed increase? I *AM* also a cable TV subscriber.

Another comcast Soap Opera Update!!!

When I got home last night, checked , and premium channels had not been upgraded, so I called comcast again.....

They say they have NO RECORD of the premium channels I'm requesting on our records.
So, I pick up my copy of the repair guy's printout for service yesterday, and read off the information regaring the premium channels that are indicated on our service.

What I read off, and what the lady is looking at on her computer are two different things...

I asked how it is that at 1:30PM the person I spoke to saw the premium channels, and now at 10PM there is no record of premium channels on our records????

She doesn't understand, but claims that the channels I'm asking for are not scheduled for our service.

I blew up.... Explained step by step how this 'simple' install starting Wednesday PM has turned into a fiasco....

So, she & I went over our 'service' records, and verified the services that we did, and did not want. She then sent more codes, and as of 11:30PM, the services that we had contacted for last Wednesday, were finally operational....

That was Saturday (last) night at 11:30PM.

No, I haven't turned the box on today to find out what works, and doesn't work!!!!

(Almost afraid to! :( )

I can't wait to see how badly the billing is screwed up!!!

I received Comcast e-mail that download speeds are supposed to have been increased by 2Mbit today. So far, doing some speed tests, I'm still at 4000/384. Anybody get a speed increase? I *AM* also a cable TV subscriber.

Schaumburg received the speed update months ago. I've been cruising at 8Mbps since June or July (I forget when the speed bump went through). And yes, I am paying for the gold tier (standard speed is 6Mbps).

If you're still at 4Mbps, unplug your cable modem for a few seconds and then turn it on again. It needs to download a new profile for you to see the new speeds.

Yeah we also recieved the speed update monthes ago here in Northbrook, now if only we could get comcast to up the upload rate a bit it would be perfect

What is a good site to test your download speed?
I'm also on the "faster" internet with Comcast and I unplugged my modem last night to see if they made another increase. Some of the speed tests sites I've tested since are showing my speeds being below 4Mbps. I should be around 8Mbps.

One of the ones that I know of is.Testmyspeed.com (http://testmyspeed.com) . I was getting 6842KBPS downloads and 346KBPS upload. Not sure how that translates into MBPS. Maybe if someone had another site

Isn't this supposed to be the Chicago Comcast HDTV thread? There hasn't been any HD related discussion for some time. Can we get back on topic?

Got a call from comcast... Asking me if all was still good.
Checked, it seems so, but I had some questions regarding my service and TV Guide.
In my surfing, it's not exactly clear what channels I do and don't get. Where is the listing of channels per my service? So I can see what I do, and don't get?
Lady on phone doesn't know.
On my LG DVR, I can change the TV Guide around such that it displays only what channels I want it do, and I've got it configured for my favorites at the top, and suff I don't care about at the bottom... This prevents confusion on program selection... Want to do the same on the TV Guide on the comcast box... To move channels that I don't get to bottom, to avoid confusion... How do I do that?
Lady on phone doesn't know.... But says she'll send a service guy.... OK.

Service guy gets here, and we check system.. Seems ok, So I ask him where there is a list of what channels I get, and don't get.
There really isn't a list for you, you just see what works and doesn't work!
I show him the photostat I was given last Wednesday, and compare it against his. My Photostat is dated 6/1/05...
Copies he has are dated 12/21/03. So much for updated information....

He plays kitten on the keys, looking for channels soas to make a 'map' for me, and while he does that I went into the TV Guide question.

I'm trying to setup TV Guide like my LG DVR so that I won't in-advertantly select channels that aren't turned on...... "No way to do that"

I'm on a roll now.... "I've got some more questions, but each involve manuals regarding the unit I was given... I'll bet that if I had manuals on this gear, I wouldn't be bothering Phone support or you....

"I don't have any more manuals than you do..."
(He did eventually find a simple DCR4200 manual in his truck, along with other handouts).

I guess "Ignorance is Bliss" when it comes to comcast......

"I don't have any more manuals than you do..."
(He did eventually find a simple DCR4200 manual in his truck, along with other handouts).

I guess "Ignorance is Bliss" when it comes to comcast......

The DCT6200 user guide (http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/products/DCT6200/downloads/DCT6200_User_Guide.pdf) is posted on Motorola's web site.

What is a good site to test your download speed?
I'm also on the "faster" internet with Comcast and I unplugged my modem last night to see if they made another increase. Some of the speed tests sites I've tested since are showing my speeds being below 4Mbps. I should be around 8Mbps.
Here's two I use.

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

http://miranda.ctd.anl.gov:7123/

Isn't this supposed to be the Chicago Comcast HDTV thread? There hasn't been any HD related discussion for some time. Can we get back on topic?
Sure. What topic do you wish to discuss? I know...

1. WPWR-DT/HD. Going on two years without appearing on Comcast.

2. WYIN-DT/HD. OK, I haven't heard any word if they are showing anything in HD,
but they are broadcasting in 720p, and have the capability if nothing else.
Comcast should also have them.

3. When are WSNS-DT, WGBO-DT, and WXFT-DT going to broadcast HD?
Better yet, when in the world is WXFT and WGBO ever going to come back
on the air? They have been off since early summer...although I have heard a few boxes can get WXFT in standard definition.

4. WCIU-DT is going HD in the spring. Comcast, you'll carry it right off the bat so
we can see the defending world series champion Chicago White Sox in HD?
(I'm a Cubs fan, you have no idea how much it hurts to say that, but they
ARE a part of Chicago, and ANYBODY is better than St. Louis or Detroit!)

5. When will Comcast boxes be able to plug in an antenna and view DTV OTA
signals directly from air, in full native HD resolution?

6. When will a pay TV service finally take HD customers seriously, besides the
now-defunct VOOM and Wide Open West, which isn't available in many areas?

7. After seeing the threads about Comcast's struggles with HD boxes, I'd
be calling the Better Business Bureau and flooding them with complaints.
NO ONE deserves treatment like some of you have gotten without big
apologies, and a refund of your money. Then again:

http://www.jdpower.com/cc/telecom/ratings/cable_satellite/index.jsp

Being nearly dead last on that list speaks volumes.

There. Now, discuss!

5. When will Comcast boxes be able to plug in an antenna and view DTV OTA
signals directly from air, in full native HD resolution?

As far as I know Comcast feeds you the same signal they get. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't on any QAM 256 system.

6. When will a pay TV service finally take HD customers seriously, besides the now-defunct VOOM and Wide Open West, which isn't available in many areas?

WOW isn't all that much better than Comcast as far as HD channels go. Their customer service is way, way above Comcast. But as for HD, WOW has HDNet, HDNet Movies that Comcast doesn't, kind of miss those two channels. WPWR, not that big of a deal for me as I can get it OTA if needed. WealthTV, oh boy, we're missing a lot there let me tell you. NFL-HD, that has most of it's programming in SD. And for whatever reason, WOW doesn't have SHO-HD. And WOW has Comcast sportsnet, but not in HD. So in reality, the only thing we're missing out on is HDNet.

Jan,

I lost track of what your problem is like 10 or 15 posts ago. No offense, but it sounds like there are problems on both ends... yours and Comcasts.

BTW: Channel lists are available on the Comcast web site.

Sure. What topic do you wish to discuss? I know...

5. When will Comcast boxes be able to plug in an antenna and view DTV OTA
signals directly from air, in full native HD resolution?



I've been watching HD programing OTA for the last 3 or 4 years when the stations starting coming online digitally in Chicago. I've recently changed to Comcast and ditched my DirecTV and my OTA antenna. The picture via Comcast looks identical what I've been watching OTA the past few years with less hassle.

Same here on the north side of Chicago (Lakeview). Reset the modem after receiving the e-mail yesterday and again just now today. Still 4000/384. I *have* noticed signal strength here in Lakeview has improved over the last month. No more blockiness on any of the HD channels anymore, which was a problem for me when I first switched to Comcast in August (from RCN). I had to have techs out three times, including a line truck, and still had some signal problems after that, but they have since went away.

For all users.... If you think your video level is low... Re-seat connectors....
Low Luminance on YUV was Y cable that wasn't fully seated!!!

FSugino: Thanks so much for the 6200 Link!

I have some 'light reading' to do! :)

sebenste: I see what you mean about HD transmissions.... comparing OTA HD to the compressed local HD signals... My LG 3410a DVR or Mits 62525 receiving Chicagoland HD signals off outside antenna runs rings around signals the 6200 receives....

I'm still trying to evaluate the YUV output options.... If I set box to 720P it matches the Mits display, and some signals will be downconverted (from 1080i), and some upconverted (from 480i)

I'm trying to find a "Native" selection (which I don't think exists in the 6200)
Trying to do minimal up/down conversions.

What is the opinion of others here?

Simple question. Are both the hdmi and component outs active at the same time? I want to do a comparison between the picture using both on my mits 52725 and I would like to hook both up at the same time and simply flip between inputs to see how they both look. Is this possible?

both the mitsu xx525 and xx725 are native 720p so for the least scaling, set the output of the STB to 720p. but scaling quality between the STB and TV is debatable. i personally prefer the TV's so i set the output resolution of the STB to the original signal whenever convenient. i could also use FireWire which is always at native resolution but no OSD. both DVI/HDMI and component outputs are active simultaneously so you can definitely compare both signals by switching to one or the other. the quality between these two outputs is also debatable and seems to vary by box or area. i personally find the DVI out too soft.

Cable box feeding YUV direct to display, SVideo to a CH4 modulator, and audio multed between display and modulator.

Cable RF is amplified (Motorola) and split 3 ways: Test point, to Cablebox, and a third which goes to a CH 4 Notch/combiner. CH4 from modulator also goes to CH4 Notch/combiner. Resultant is amplified (Another Motorola) and distributed through whole house to TV's & VHS decks.

Whatever is received on Cable box is distributed to the whole house on CH4 along with the cable channels....

Took a bit of doing, and have to trim up gains in a couple rooms, but it's looking quite nice!!!

gtcharlie and memnoch...
I'm using an LG3410a into my 62525, and (on the LG at least) the DVI output (going into HDMI interface on 62525) is better than the YUV ouput to YUV input of 62525.

I'm presently running the YUV outputs of the 6200 box to 62525, and SVideo ouputs to a CH4 modulator, which is then mixed back into cable for distribution around the house.

If there is a way in box to do a programmed record, that would be real sweet!!!

Thanks.


When you find a program in the program guide you want, hit the info button once or twice. Several options will appear on the bottom. One of the is to "Set a Recording" or something like that. At first I thought it was for a DVR feature that I wouldn't get since I don't have a DVR. BUt I clicked on it anyway and what it will do it change the channel on the box at that program's time. You have to then separately set your VCR to record at the same time.

THis is for us folk who fear getting the DVR because we will watch too much TV then.

OH BOY!!! NDHorse!!!! What a find!!! DCT6200 Box

I'm doing a test right now... Set it to channel change 10:30-11:00 Set a second channel change 11:00-11:30, and a third channel change 11:30-12am
All three different channels, and switched to a 4th while I wait for the first programmed swtich!...

The LG DVR is set to record it all off CH4 (My 'inserted' cable channel on cable) as a timed recording...

Thanks for that info!!!! We'll know in a while how powerful this is!!!

OH BOY!!! At 10:30 Box changed from 21 (where I left it) to 121 to record what I selected!!!

DCT6200

Man this is GREAT!!!! at 11:00 it changed to 2nd channel...

worked like a champ!!! THANKS!

Don't know if this has been asked before, but does Comcast normally include the local digitals in their absolute lowest basic (analog) tier (the $12.-$15. one)? I was just wondering. Thanks - Steve

THis is for us folk who fear getting the DVR because we will watch too much TV then.

Fear realized...I though I was a couch potato before.

Don't know if this has been asked before, but does Comcast normally include the local digitals in their absolute lowest basic (analog) tier (the $12.-$15. one)? I was just wondering. Thanks - Steve
If you are using your own QAM-compatible tuner, you should be able to pick up some of the unencrypted channels. Most are the broadcast equivalents, a few preview/weather channels, and maybe some religious. One issue might be if they put a simple channel block to prevent you from viewing Enhanced Basic channels. That would block most of the digital signals, depending on just what frequencies are involved. Part of the problem is that some digital channel frequencies are sandwiched in unused gaps amongst the analog channels.

Fear realized...I though I was a couch potato before.Same problem here. As late as summer of 2004, I had no HD recording capability, but now I can watch a live HD show and record up to four others. So much unwatched programming has accumulated that on a typical day I just try to view enough stuff to clear space for that night's recordings.

The Sox postseason success is adding to the problem, but let's hope that keeps up until the World Series is over!!

If you are using your own QAM-compatible tuner, you should be able to pick up some of the unencrypted channels. Most are the broadcast equivalents, a few preview/weather channels, and maybe some religious. One issue might be if they put a simple channel block to prevent you from viewing Enhanced Basic channels. That would block most of the digital signals, depending on just what frequencies are involved. Part of the problem is that some digital channel frequencies are sandwiched in unused gaps amongst the analog channels.Here in the NW 'burbs, they would typically install a 39-78 trap on the line to keep you from viewing the Expanded Basic channels. This would block out digital transmissions on Chs. 59 & 61, but those are usually encrypted anyway. The unencrypted digital channels that we receive are all above Ch. 80, so the 39-78 trap shouldn't be a problem.

Does anyone know where I can purchase a good quality CH3 filter?
Pass all but CH3? Thanks.

Here in the NW 'burbs, they would typically install a 39-78 trap on the line to keep you from viewing the Expanded Basic channels. This would block out digital transmissions on Chs. 59 & 61, but those are usually encrypted anyway. The unencrypted digital channels that we receive are all above Ch. 80, so the 39-78 trap shouldn't be a problem. Thanks - that sounds about right. (Yeah - I forgot about those filters.)

Does anyone know where I can purchase a good quality CH3 filter?
Pass all but CH3? Thanks.Arcom makes the inline traps that Comcast uses. They have installed many of the (excellent) Ch. 4 models over the years to block HBO from non-subscribers. There may be an online source for a Ch. 3 model, or maybe TriState Electronics could order one.

Having a problem with HDMI from new PIII box, When hooked up str to the TV works fine, but when I run it through a Marantz SR9600 it looks to me like the HDCP is not working .will not pass video audio is ok anyone else having this problem

Here in the NW 'burbs, they would typically install a 39-78 trap on the line to keep you from viewing the Expanded Basic channels. This would block out digital transmissions on Chs. 59 & 61, but those are usually encrypted anyway. The unencrypted digital channels that we receive are all above Ch. 80, so the 39-78 trap shouldn't be a problem.
Are you sure it only blocks a range like that, or is it more likely a simple low-pass filter, blocking 39+ (although 95-99 would pass as they are actually between 13 and 14).

I have one here that I have experimented a little with. It is an Arcom DDR8-38/77 069. I'll insert it ahead of my 6412 and likewise my LG LST-3410A DVR and report back later.

I connected it at the 3410A input. This DVR shows signal strength even on scrambled QAM channels. In the MP Comcast system, the lowest channels with digital signals are 59, 61, and 82. The trap wipes out 59 & 61 of course, but 82 and above are unaffected. Our lowest unencrypted QAM channel is 85-3 (On Demand promos), and that is received normally. On the analog end, 2-36, 95, 96 are fine, but surprisingly 37 is unwatchable. The 3410A tuner is very sensitive to overload, so I have 3 2-way splitters ahead of it in the line. The signal is thus down about 10 dB from entry level, but from some meter readings a Comcast tech made when I got the 6412, the 3410A should still be getting about 0 dB on most channels. Thus the Ch. 37 degredation was a surprise. Any channel in the 38-76 range is wiped out by this trap.

Has anyone ever tried a Wireless Remote Control Extender on a DCT6200?
Would like to run the remote in 2 different bedrooms, ~20' and 30' from remote.

Interested if it can be done, and if anyone has prefernces over which type to purchase...

Thanks... Jan

Hooked up the component output from the 6412 to my Mits 52725 this weekend. In a direct comparison between the picture from the hdmi output and the component output the latter was a clear winner. Much better color and brightness. The component output made the hdmi look sort of washed out. I think this is something particular to the Mits set but if you have the 6412 and just assumed you would get a better picture from the hdmi output you should probably give the component output a try

Anybody's local HD channels unwatchable during the P.M. hours on Saturday and Sunday?

Saturday evening all local HDs were totally pixilated and unwatchable. I was watching local HDs in A.M. on Sunday up until 3:00pm without issue. I came back at 6:00pm and the HDs were unwatchable again.

I have a 6412. Tuner 1 was unwatchable, swapped to tuner 2 and it was worse - which makes it seems like a weak signal problem???

HD Rookie, I experienced the same thing over the weekend.

I ran into that too, and noticed it was affecting one device more than others. Turned out to be a (Regal) splitter that had developed a low-output port problem. Got a replacement at the Comcast office this morning; FWIW they have changed from Regal to the Extreme Broadband Engineering line of splitters (made in China of course).

Has anyone ever tried a Wireless Remote Control Extender on a DCT6200?
Would like to run the remote in 2 different bedrooms, ~20' and 30' from remote.

Interested if it can be done, and if anyone has prefernces over which type to purchase...
I have a Terk Leapfrog LF-IRX I bought from www.smarthome.com:
http://www.smarthome.com/8220F.HTML

The radio receiver end will 'blast' an IR signal, but it also comes with an extension you can plug in and run near the device. I have mine hidden behind the AV cabinet, with the extension sitting on the shelf in front of the cable box. I did that because both the main and bedroom TV's are Sony's and respond to the same codes. They don't sell separate IR receivers, but you could buy 2 sets and keep the second RF receiver as a spare.

Comcast just brought me out the new 6412 yesterday. My old one seemed to have a fried hard drive. I sure wish these boxes ran a little cooler. The new one does seem a little more responsive to my remote. Are there any other improvements on the new boxes? I know they have a hdmi output instead of dvi ( I of course only have a dvi to hdmi cable but that doesn't seem to be an issue as the component output looks better on my TV). Anything else I should look for. Same hard drive size? As an aside when I called to get the box replaced I asked the CSR if they could also bring a cablecard along as they missed my scheduled appointment a few weeks ago when they were supposed to install one. Her response- "Our installers can't do more than one thing at once". I really fought the urge to say something like you mean chew gum and walk at the same time but as she was really nice I just let it go. And of course the installer who showed up yesterday turned out to be one of the most competent comcast installers I have come across. He actually did everything instead of me having to help out.

He actually did everything instead of me having to help out.
And that is a good thing? ;)

I don't allow them to touch my equipment when they come out, and they always seem pleased!

You can find endless info on the 6412 in this thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6393583#post6393583

I'm getting my new HD TV tomorrow but comcast isn't coming out with the cablecard until Monday. Will I be able to get the local HD channels without it? I'd love to see the Sox in HD over the weekend.

Thanks.

I'm getting my new HD TV tomorrow but comcast isn't coming out with the cablecard until Monday. Will I be able to get the local HD channels without it? I'd love to see the Sox in HD over the weekend.

Thanks.

If your set has a build in ATSC HD tuner, and trying cable doesn't work you could alway just try a UHF indoor antenna and you might just get lucky.

Thanks. It's got ATSC and QAM.

Search this thread, someone posted the QAM local channels a while back, FSugino or AndyRoss63 maybe don't recall. I think they were in the 110's.

Try 115-2 for Fox.

I'm getting my new HD TV tomorrow but comcast isn't coming out with the cablecard until Monday. Will I be able to get the local HD channels without it? I'd love to see the Sox in HD over the weekend.

Thanks.FOX - 32 has a pretty strong signal output , at least in my experience -- if you're not too far from the towers, or in the midst of a bunch of high rises downtown. Go Sox !!

Try 115-2 for Fox.
This didn't work as I think it's for Schaumburg and I'm in Hoffman so I get the Rolling Meadows channel line up.

FOX - 32 has a pretty strong signal output , at least in my experience -- if you're not too far from the towers, or in the midst of a bunch of high rises downtown. Go Sox !!
Thanks but they're coming with a cablecard on Monday and I don't have an antenna.

While I'm asking about the Fox digital channel, what's the one for CBS. If I can get them to work I can watch the Bears and the Sox tomorrow.