Still no ESPN2 HD in Buffalo Grove. We must be the only ones in Chicagoland that doesn't get it!

I tried sending e-mails to the following:

audit_committee_chairman@comcast.com
ESL_corp@cable.comcast.com
Steve_Burke@cable.comcast.com - president Comcast
Matt_Bond@cable.comcast.com - Executive Vice President of Content Acquisitions

Maybe we should all bombard them with e-mails (I know I will do it every day) asking them to turn the damn switch in our area too.

for example here in Schaumburg, NBCD = 115.5 direct = 188 cable box/CableCard..

Thanks for the explanation.

I am in Palatine/Rolling Meadows and get no subchannels on 115, but 188 is NBC HD on my cable box. Perhaps my TV just can't pick up the 115 channels.

Thanks for the explanation.

I am in Palatine/Rolling Meadows and get no subchannels on 115, but 188 is NBC HD on my cable box. Perhaps my TV just can't pick up the 115 channels.
Different areas may use different frequencies for the digital channels. You are in a former Time-Warner cable area, so it's probably different than here in Schaumburg, which used to be Cablenet(?)/TCI/AT&TBroadband.

The RM headend actually used to be attbi/@home/MediaOne.

I had mixed feelings when Comcast offered ESPN2HD just in time for the world cup, because I had just invested in an E* vip622 for that reason but then didn't feel so bad when Palatine didn't get it...

Late last night I finally started receiving ESPN2-HD on 203 in Buffalo Grove. Not sure what took so long but glad to have it.

Here in Elk Grove, I'm getting ESPN HD 2 on two channels, 203 and 175.

1. I hope ESPN 2 HD is permanent unlike Universal HD was.
2. I hope they didn't get rid of INHD 2(175) for good.

Here in Elk Grove, I'm getting ESPN HD 2 on two channels, 203 and 175.


Same here in Palatine. They also removed channel 208 HDSE ( HD Special Events ).

They didn't remove any channels where i am....from what i've read Espn2HD'S permanent where the bandwidth allows.

What box are they giving you guys for just HDTV, no DVR?

Any one in ELMHURST can give me the HD and DT channel number for me to try.

Thanks
Z

Any one in ELMHURST can give me the HD and DT channel number for me to try.

Thanks
ZHave you tried to scan for them first?

Have you tried to scan for them first?

I did. I am getting the initial 480i channels and

108—2 WGN
108-3 ABC rebroadcast
116-1 cbs
116-2 wttwD
116-3 create wttw Chicago 480i
117 NBC Weather Plus

I am wondering if I am missing any HD chanels. I have basic cable without the cable box.

Thanks
Z

Hmmmm. I don't know of anyone in the area with Comcast basic that doesn't get the HD digitals. Unless their tuner just wasn't made to pick them all up (like with Panasonic plasmas).

What town do you live in?

What kind of display (TV) do you have?

I'm just asking you these basic questions so that when the people who could actually help you better get around to responding (which should be soon), they won't have to ask you again.

I was doing lot of reading on this thread today and I am little disappointed because I have the Panasonic TH-42PX60U.

Other than getting the cable box or giving up cable and going OTA I didn't find any solutions here.
Any other thoughts any one else.
Thanks
Z

Purchase the Sony DHG-HDD500/250, the LG 3410a or one of the Samsung QAM/OTA receivers, maybe?

Or exchange the Panny for another brand if still possible?

The Friday Sox game at Cincinnati was in SD widescreen. Hawk mentioned at one point that HD viewers were enjoying the road game in widescreen. Comcast in Cincinnati evidently makes this possible, because the Cubs games there on Comcast HD were also widescreen as we discussed previously. We'll probably get it again Sunday when Comcast carries the Sox again, but today's WGN game will probably be in 4:3. It would be nice if the Cubs could win at least one from Detroit.

In general I would agree that it would be nice if the Cubs could win. However, with the Cubs not going anywhere this year, anything they can do to help Detroit stay ahead of the White Sox is worth the short term aggravation.

Mike K.

I did. I am getting the initial 480i channels and

108—2 WGN
108-3 ABC rebroadcast
116-1 cbs
116-2 wttwD
116-3 create wttw Chicago 480i
117 NBC Weather Plus

I am wondering if I am missing any HD chanels. I have basic cable without the cable box.

Thanks
Z



Up until a couple weeks ago I was able to get the HD channels on Comcast at a more friendly channel: 2.1 for CBS, 5.5 NBC, 7.1 ABC, 9.2 WGN, 11.1 WTTW/PBS, 12.3 Fox. This was on my Sony SXRD ever since I got it last Oct. Then a few weeks ago I bought a Sharp 26D40 for my bedroom; it was not able to get those channels (even connected with the cable from the Sony), but did get those mentioned at 108 and above). Then a few days later, the Sony no longer got 2.2, 5.5 ,etc.

Did anyone else notice this happen?

Also for West Chicago I had:

111-3 ABC
116-1 WTTW
116-2 CBS
117-1 NBC Weather
117-2 NBC
117-3 Fox
111-1 WGN

And strange 116-1 & 116-2 are reversed on the Sony & Sharp! IE on one 116-1 is WTTW and on the other it's CBS! Should I complain to Sharp, assuming the Sony is correct?

And it's useless calling Comcast, they refuse to acknowledge that you can get HD other than with a dvr/stb or cable card. If you call multiple time, most don't even know what QAM is. One woman understood me (or seemed to) and I asked for a channel listing for all the digital channels that I pick up over QAM, like to confirm what 116-1 should be and she said she couldn't access it from her terminal but would mail it to me. All I got was the same channel listing as what they send with the bill occasionally, the HD channels are listed with the DVR channels.

Can anyone in west suburbs tell me what they get on 116-1, since the person I'm quoting has a slightly different lineup for all the local stations.

Anybody been having cable modem connection problems the past month or so? My modem keeps losing the upstream (sticks at SEND flashing) for a few minutes to a few hours. I've had Comcast here 3 times, and they can find nothing wrong. When the modem goes dead, so does OnDemand. It happened several times today. Due to this, and the fact that I work from home and need RELIABLE service, I now have DSL, too. Mostly as a backup for now, but I may make it permanent if this keeps up. 16M sounds nice, but only when the modem works!

I'm in Warrenville and have been having problems too, the model looks like it's ok (ethernet lite flashing -- DLink DCM202), but no connection. What's worse is I have Vonage. I notice when I call my house to check messages, that I get routed to my cell phone which is where Vonage fwds calls if the cable is out. Usually if I power cycle the modem, things come back, at least when I get back from work; not sure if it ever gets service back on its own when this happens.

I'm in Warrenville and have been having problems too, the model looks like it's ok (ethernet lite flashing -- DLink DCM202), but no connection. What's worse is I have Vonage. I notice when I call my house to check messages, that I get routed to my cell phone which is where Vonage fwds calls if the cable is out. Usually if I power cycle the modem, things come back, at least when I get back from work; not sure if it ever gets service back on its own when this happens.
Looking at the manual for your modem, if the Cable and Status lights are solid green (not blinking), then the modem is connected properly. It's normal for the Ethernet light to flicker due to ARP traffic it picks up (some modems are smart enough to not blink for them.) If you have a router connected to the modem, try power-cycling that, as I've found they occasionally get stuck.
The issue I've been having (downstream found, searching for upstream) would show as the Cable light solid orange on your model, with the Status light off.

Looking at the manual for your modem, if the Cable and Status lights are solid green (not blinking), then the modem is connected properly. It's normal for the Ethernet light to flicker due to ARP traffic it picks up (some modems are smart enough to not blink for them.) If you have a router connected to the modem, try power-cycling that, as I've found they occasionally get stuck.
The issue I've been having (downstream found, searching for upstream) would show as the Cable light solid orange on your model, with the Status light off.


This morning all lites were solid, except ethernet blinking (like you say). power cycled modem, no help, then tried router, then the Dlink QOS box(DI 102) which got internet working, then I had to power cycle the linksys vonage adapter to get the voip back.

Up until a couple weeks ago I was able to get the HD channels on Comcast at a more friendly channel: 2.1 for CBS, 5.5 NBC, 7.1 ABC, 9.2 WGN, 11.1 WTTW/PBS, 12.3 Fox. This was on my Sony SXRD ever since I got it last Oct. Then a few weeks ago I bought a Sharp 26D40 for my bedroom; it was not able to get those channels (even connected with the cable from the Sony), but did get those mentioned at 108 and above). Then a few days later, the Sony no longer got 2.2, 5.5 ,etc.

Did anyone else notice this happen?

Also for West Chicago I had:

111-3 ABC
116-1 WTTW
116-2 CBS
117-1 NBC Weather
117-2 NBC
117-3 Fox
111-1 WGN

And strange 116-1 & 116-2 are reversed on the Sony & Sharp! IE on one 116-1 is WTTW and on the other it's CBS! Should I complain to Sharp, assuming the Sony is correct?

And it's useless calling Comcast, they refuse to acknowledge that you can get HD other than with a dvr/stb or cable card. If you call multiple time, most don't even know what QAM is. One woman understood me (or seemed to) and I asked for a channel listing for all the digital channels that I pick up over QAM, like to confirm what 116-1 should be and she said she couldn't access it from her terminal but would mail it to me. All I got was the same channel listing as what they send with the bill occasionally, the HD channels are listed with the DVR channels.

Can anyone in west suburbs tell me what they get on 116-1, since the person I'm quoting has a slightly different lineup for all the local stations.I think their website will tell you what digital stations are available in your area and their original channel numbers.

In general I would agree that it would be nice if the Cubs could win. However, with the Cubs not going anywhere this year, anything they can do to help Detroit stay ahead of the White Sox is worth the short term aggravation.

Mike K.It's a pretty sad, pathetic situation when all a Cub fan has to live for is them beating the team ahead of a team who doesn't affect their standings one bit.

As long as their fans keep accepting the status quo, things are never gonna change.

If you want my suggestion and you want to see a winner in your lifetime, then start getting tougher on the team as fans. Stop filling the ballpark every game when they stink so bad and start booing the living hell out of them.

And send endless, blasting e-mails to them telling them you demand more for your hard-earned money.

It's time for some tough love. Sox fans KNOW what this is, and look at the results it's gotten them.

I think their website will tell you what digital stations are available in your area and their original channel numbers.

No it only tells the channel numbers as used by the dvr/set top box. Doesn't say what channels as referenced by a QAM tuner.

Sorry - I misunderstood - I thought you were trying to find out both.

Comcast cannot tell you what the channels numbers will be that their channels will map to on your QAM tuner, so asking them is indeed futile.

Sorry - I misunderstood - I thought you were trying to find out both.

Comcast cannot tell you what the channels numbers will be that their channels will map to on your QAM tuner, so asking them is indeed futile.

Why is that? Don't they specify the channel number that the QAM tuner would detect just like what the cable channel is for Fox (ch 3 for analog vs 32 for OTA)? Is that why the Sharp & Sony can get CBS-HD on different subchannels on ch 116?

Why is that? Don't they specify the channel number that the QAM tuner would detect just like what the cable channel is for Fox (ch 3 for analog vs 32 for OTA)? Is that why the Sharp & Sony can get CBS-HD on different subchannels on ch 116?

Do you have a cable box? If you do, you can tune in CBS-HD and go to service menu to find the frequency it is on. From there it is easy to calculate which channel that corresponds to.

Calling Comcast and asking a CSR a question like that is like asking my mom to set up a VCR :) Unless you talk to someone in the know at your local Comcast headend your chances of finding out directly from Comcast are slim to none.

Here in Bartlett (we are on Schaumburg headend) I can get on my QAM tuner (DVICO Fusion usb) all HD locals, all locals digital versions from digital simulcast and there are 10-15 cable channels that don't have video encrypted, but audio is encrpted (espn, espn2, FSN, Sci-fi, etc.)

Do you have a cable box? If you do, you can tune in CBS-HD and go to service menu to find the frequency it is on. From there it is easy to calculate which channel that corresponds to.

Calling Comcast and asking a CSR a question like that is like asking my mom to set up a VCR :) Unless you talk to someone in the know at your local Comcast headend your chances of finding out directly from Comcast are slim to none.

Here in Bartlett (we are on Schaumburg headend) I can get on my QAM tuner (DVICO Fusion usb) all HD locals, all locals digital versions from digital simulcast and there are 10-15 cable channels that don't have video encrypted, but audio is encrpted (espn, espn2, FSN, Sci-fi, etc.)


The frustrating thing is the CSR wouldn't even transfer me to someone who knew what I was talking about. She was defiant saying they all had the same training and there was no one at a higher tier than her. What if something is screwed up at the high end such that those 2.1, 5.5 , 7.2 channels should still be there? How can I get it fixed if she won't acknowledge that I can get HD over QAM?

How can I get into the service menu?

The frustrating thing is the CSR wouldn't even transfer me to someone who knew what I was talking about. She was defiant saying they all had the same training and there was no one at a higher tier than her. What if something is screwed up at the high end such that those 2.1, 5.5 , 7.2 channels should still be there? How can I get it fixed if she won't acknowledge that I can get HD over QAM?

How can I get into the service menu?

I believe there are two call centers in Chicago area when you call during regular business hours. People you get to talk to are not going to be informed about you local headend (and I don't think they can connect you with someone who is). Maybe if you knew your local office number you might have better luck.

As for the service menu, tune in to the channel you are interested in, on the remote hit the power off button and immediately hit OK button. Scroll to "Current Channel Status" and select it. You will be able to see info on currently tuned channels on both tuners.

TO get out of menu, hit power off and then hit power again to turn on the box (if by any chance you don't get any picture just play something recorded from your dvr - sometimes this happens to me).

thanks for everyone's help!

Do you have a cable box? If you do, you can tune in CBS-HD and go to service menu to find the frequency it is on. From there it is easy to calculate which channel that corresponds to.

What is the magic formula to convert from frequency to channel number?

What is the magic formula to convert from frequency to channel number?
It's a complicated formula. Frequency-to-channel numbers jumps around.
This is the formula from my Excel sheet:
=IF(E12<57,"N/A",IF(E12<=69,((E12-57)/6)+2,IF(E12<=85,((E12-79)/6)+5,IF(E12<=117,((E12-93)/6)+95,IF(E12<=171,((E12-123)/6)+14,IF(E12<=213,((E12-177)/6)+7,IF(E12<=645,((E12-219)/6)+23,((E12-651)/6)+100)))))))
(the 'E' column contains the frequency.)
You can grab the spreadsheet (not quite up to date) here:
http://home.att.net/~andyross/Schaumburg_Cable_Channels.zip

Saturday's Cub game was again in widescreen. Anyone have any info on whether this is true 16:9? I was about 30 min behind the live telecast on my 6412, so I couldn't compare Ch. 200 with the 4:3 SD on Ch. 37. Whatever it is, it looks good and I hope it continues on future Cubs/Sox road games carried by CSN. Maybe Ch. 9 will have this as well - we'll see today at Noon.

I can confirm it is indeed 16x9 native SD. It is definitely not HD, it's produced in an SD production truck with cameras, switcher, graphics and tape machines set to 16x9 mode.

If anything you lose image quality in the 4:3 SD world because you're using the same cameras, but trying to get more image data out of them for 16x9.

I live in Frankfort. Basic cable connected directly to QAM tuner on Hitachi 57" CRT.

ABC 84-1
WGN 84-2
CBS 116-1
PBS 116-2
FOX 117-2
NBC 117-5

On-demand channels are subchannels of 87, 88, 89, and 90. Unfortunately they are on someone else's demand. I get whatever somebody in my area is watching. HBO, Showtime. I hadn't realized Comcast offers hardcore. Don't want my kids flipping through channels and finding that. Bad enough with the Showtime softcore.

Comcast has special offer of $10 extra a month to add On-Demand, Showtime, and Digital Classic to basic cable. Think I'll get that for my small TV and see what shows up on my big TV

I've been inquiring for awhile now as to when Comcast Sportsnet would start broadcasting road games in HD. Afterall, many of the road games that we get in SD are being broadcast in HD to the Home teams market. It should be as simple as reaching an agreement to pick up the home teams feed, & add your graphics etc. Toady I got this response from someone at CSN. Since emails I sent them were never returned, I got some help from someone in the Chicago media. He got a response from them in less than a day. Here's the response:

We are currently working on steps to eventually add HD road games to the mix. Currently, Comcast SportsNet and WGN only televise home HD telecasts. We have recently experimented with this by showing some Cubs and Sox in a 16x9 widescreen format, however, this is not full HD with complete 1080i resolution, 5.1 Dolby, etc. This is something that we are continuing to evaluate and hopefully, we'll continue the steps to get to that point.

CSN-HD is the ONLY channel that keeps me as a Comcast subscriber.

Don't forget one issue is finding, and paying for, the bandwidth to transmit the HD signal from the remote site to Chicago.

CSN-HD is the ONLY channel that keeps me as a Comcast subscriber.

Absolutely agreed! Over the past week I've been looking at DISH...but I just can't justify losing all Cubs, Sox, and Bulls home games in HD. Not to mention that you know it's only a matter of time until road games are picked up. The other problem is that DISH (and DirecTV as well) doesn't get WGNHD. They carry all other local HD channels...so I'd be without any local sports in HD.

Don't forget one issue is finding, and paying for, the bandwidth to transmit the HD signal from the remote site to Chicago.


Seems to be no problem for NESN's Red Sox coverage. But most of the local Chicago shows look on the cheap anyway so why would it matter. Expect more of the bastardized 16x9 widescreen.

Doesn't NESN send out their own HD production truck to travel with the team? Like Turner does for all the Braves games.

Doesn't NESN send out their own HD production truck to travel with the team? Like Turner does for all the Braves games.


They have a contract with National Mobile Television for an HD truck, most of the time, schedule depending, they have their own NESN branded truck, "HD6," but there are times when they use other trucks for their road shows. For the most part, yes they roll their own truck.

Though the Cubs and White Sox have a similar deal, rolling dedicated Trio Video trucks from Chicago to most cities around the MLB. Trio has two HD trucks, and one SD truck capable of doing 16:9 widescreen games.

What is the cheapest way to get Comcast's HDTV?
I have currently an analog package. I see no reasons to get the Comcast Digital packages and I don't want a Comcast PVR (I have my HTPC). Can I simply add for $5.- HDTV to my analog cable?

Channel 208 is up and running with an inhd test screen and 5.1 music mix ready for NFLNetwork HD which should be launching July 1st, next project after the launch of NFLHD, MTVHD

What is the cheapest way to get Comcast's HDTV?
I have currently an analog package. I see no reasons to get the Comcast Digital packages and I don't want a Comcast PVR (I have my HTPC). Can I simply add for $5.- HDTV to my analog cable?


cheapest way is to get the cheapest digital package and get a cable card. thats the cheapest way. even if you did convince them to add the 5 for the hd on to your account, you would not be able to pull in discoveryhd, espnhd, espn2hd, inhd,inhd2, tnthd, nflHD, comcastHD.

those are all encrypted and can not be decrypted even with a QAM tuner, therefore you either need a box or a card. its up to you the card is ALOT cheaper as its a one time fee and activation and not a stupid monthly charge. which ever way you go, good luck. you may be able to pull in wgn,cbs,nbc,abc hd without a card or box, however if thats all you want just go OTA. Also, you do know the HD channels will not be on the HTPC correct? as no cable tuner does any type of qam tuning would allow those to come in on it.

Channel 208 is up and running with an inhd test screen and 5.1 music mix ready for NFLNetwork HD which should be launching July 1st, next project after the launch of NFLHD, MTVHD

Well, I've had this since last Fall, around November. I can remember watching the NFL game of the week on it, Dallas vs Kansas City. I have a cablecard, and the call letters on my screen have said NFL Net since that time. Before then, it said HDSE. The screen has said INHD in blue since about the end of Jan. So are you saying we will be getting a simulcast starting in July? I assumed that since the NBA, and MLB games are avialable on INHD, that the NFL net games would be also.

It appears Fox Sports Net has shut down. Comcast has a text message saying they ceased broadcasting at midnight on the 23rd. I wonder what they will do with the channel now? Hopefully they'll kill it and use it for digital channels. More likely, they may fill it with some other useless Comcast-owned channel.

You're right, I guess we won't be receiving any more poker tournaments. I haven't watched this station in well over two years. Hopefully this space will be put to good use.

cheezdawg475,

Thanks. Where do I get a cable card? Is this a Comcast product? Or a 3rd aprty product that Comcast will activate?

I kind've wish CSN Chicago'd shut down instead FSN Chicago did a better job of covering Chicago sports[back when they did] imho.

cheezdawg475,

Thanks. Where do I get a cable card? Is this a Comcast product? Or a 3rd aprty product that Comcast will activate?

Comcast provides the CableCard.

I kind've wish CSN Chicago'd shut down instead FSN Chicago did a better job of covering Chicago sports[back when they did] imho.

I agree, it just seems that Comcast Sportsnet is run like a college station or cable access channel. I can't count how many times the Bulls HD Broadcast had audio issues and other technical problems.

It's a complicated formula. Frequency-to-channel numbers jumps around.
This is the formula from my Excel sheet:
=IF(E12<57,"N/A",IF(E12<=69,((E12-57)/6)+2,IF(E12<=85,((E12-79)/6)+5,IF(E12<=117,((E12-93)/6)+95,IF(E12<=171,((E12-123)/6)+14,IF(E12<=213,((E12-177)/6)+7,IF(E12<=645,((E12-219)/6)+23,((E12-651)/6)+100)))))))
(the 'E' column contains the frequency.)
You can grab the spreadsheet (not quite up to date) here:
http://home.att.net/~andyross/Schaumburg_Cable_Channels.zip


Is the digital tuner subchannel also a function of this calculation or is it something broadcast somehow in the cable protocol? I've posted before that my Sony and Sharp show different subchannels for the same station.

Well, I've had this since last Fall, around November. I can remember watching the NFL game of the week on it, Dallas vs Kansas City. I have a cablecard, and the call letters on my screen have said NFL Net since that time. Before then, it said HDSE. The screen has said INHD in blue since about the end of Jan. So are you saying we will be getting a simulcast starting in July? I assumed that since the NBA, and MLB games are avialable on INHD, that the NFL net games would be also.


yeah thats the word on the street, nflhd coming VERY soon ;)

Comcast provides the CableCard.


yup just ask for a cable card when they ask what kind of equip you would like to have installed

I agree, it just seems that Comcast Sportsnet is run like a college station or cable access channel. I can't count how many times the Bulls HD Broadcast had audio issues and other technical problems.


fox sports chicago no hd < csn chicago hd

fox sports chicago no hd < csn chicago hd

Well of course I like HDTV better. I was saying that I liked Fox Sportsnet coverage better, and if they showed it in HD, it would be no contest. If Comcast got their technical **** together, I wouldn't be complaining as i don't really watch the other shows on the channel.

Is the digital tuner subchannel also a function of this calculation or is it something broadcast somehow in the cable protocol? I've posted before that my Sony and Sharp show different subchannels for the same station.
The formula will give the analog channel, based on the frequency reported by the cable box. The Motorola boxes use the center of 6MHz channel allocation as the frequency reported. Some other frequency lists use the bottom end of the allocation (-3MHz from the Motorola.)
This only gives the raw channel number to look for. For a digital channel, you also need the subchannel (the .3 or -3, etc..) As far as I can tell, I don't think the Motorola boxes give any information to determine that.

Channel 100 seems to be a valid QAM 256 tonight with 15 encrypted channels on it. I could swear it was not there before. Can somebody else on Schaumburg headend check it out?
I went through EVERY channel on my cable box and updated the big Excel sheet:
http://home.att.net/~andyross/Schaumburg_Cable_Channels.zip

Yes, there are FIFTEEN channels crammed onto 100 (651MHz).
120 - Noggin/N
121 - DIY
122 - Toon Disney
128 - Bloomberg
130 - Discovery Kids
161 - GSN
162 - BBC America
215 - Nick G&S
230 - Trinity
267 - Fox Soccer
272 - Science Channel
273 - National Geographic
401 - Fox Soccer
402 - ESPNews
501 - iFC

What box are they giving you guys for just HDTV, no DVR?
The Moto 6200. It's a good box, besides the fact that I was disappointed in it not having HDMI. DVI works for now though.

Does Comcast actually upgrade boxes ever? (As in switching out your current box for a newer model?) Because 2 years from now, I'm not paying a "Service Call" and "Box Installation" fee for them just to give me a box that has semi-modern technology.

CAn they switch on the firewire port on this moto 6200 box?

Question for you.... Wife just finished watching Deadwood....
She started on channel 550, and I noticed that the video in blacks was clipped heavily..
So I looked at the schedule, and noticed channel 186 was HBO HD....
Changed to that, and blacks were just as clipped and detail-less as channel 550.

Could it be that Comcast is changing video into RGB colorspace and clipping the hell out of it? I used to work at a place that did HD Film Transfers, and if anybody clipped video that severly, they'd surely be fired!!!

Can others confirm or deny?

I know it's not the Display (other channels in YUV colorspace don't clip, even that same crosspoint, I just checked.)....

Or is it a possibility that the box component outputs are poor?

More information:
Display is Mitsubishi 62525
Box is Motorola 6200/2005 vintage
YUV analog at 720p is the interconnect.
Problem follows HBO, not other SD & HD Channels....
Also, just checked, other SD & HD channels are not clipped heavily as HBO is.... So that rules out box's Component outputs being bad....

Could be a signal problem for you, as im in wheeling and HBO HD was fine for me during both deadwood and entourage

Question for you.... Wife just finished watching Deadwood....
She started on channel 550, and I noticed that the video in blacks was clipped heavily..
So I looked at the schedule, and noticed channel 186 was HBO HD....
Changed to that, and blacks were just as clipped and detail-less as channel 550.

Could it be that Comcast is changing video into RGB colorspace and clipping the hell out of it? I used to work at a place that did HD Film Transfers, and if anybody clipped video that severly, they'd surely be fired!!!

Can others confirm or deny?
Deadwood looked beautiful here. Do you notice the clipping on other HD stations?

The Moto 6200. It's a good box, besides the fact that I was disappointed in it not having HDMI. DVI works for now though.

Does Comcast actually upgrade boxes ever? (As in switching out your current box for a newer model?) Because 2 years from now, I'm not paying a "Service Call" and "Box Installation" fee for them just to give me a box that has semi-modern technology.


just wait until they roll out the new comcast tivo boxes to replace the crapolla moto boxes ;)

meetings on the boxes with a working model were last week, very very nice. I can't wait for mine.

What is the cheapest way to get Comcast's HDTV?
I have currently an analog package. I see no reasons to get the Comcast Digital packages and I don't want a Comcast PVR (I have my HTPC). Can I simply add for $5.- HDTV to my analog cable?
Yes, unless they made Digital cable a requirement for HD. For $5 you get the dct6200 HD box.

Does Comcast actually upgrade boxes ever? (As in switching out your current box for a newer model?)
Yes, but you have to call them and ask for the box.

Because 2 years from now, I'm not paying a "Service Call" and "Box Installation" fee for them just to give me a box that has semi-modern technology.
Then you wont be getting a new box. They wont charge you for the installation, but they will charge $15-16 for the service call.

The program after Deadwood did not look bad.
I'm going to look at it closer tonight...
No doubt about it, it was heavily into black clipping, and when brightness was increased there was no detail in the clipped areas...

just wait until they roll out the new comcast tivo boxes to replace the crapolla moto boxes ;)

meetings on the boxes with a working model were last week, very very nice. I can't wait for mine.
So they are using a totally new cable box? I thought Tivo was just going to be a software upgrade? Or are you talking about the upcoming Panasonic 250G box?

So they are using a totally new cable box? I thought Tivo was just going to be a software upgrade? Or are you talking about the upcoming Panasonic 250G box?
Once new boxes are out, do they ever come to pick up your old box to exchange it with their newer model?

So they are using a totally new cable box? I thought Tivo was just going to be a software upgrade? Or are you talking about the upcoming Panasonic 250G box?


it looked like a brand new shell, and from the pcitures of the 250g does not look like it was the panny box. the box i saw was black not the silver and i believe the clock display was different. i could be wrong but i remember looking at it and saying thats different, because i too was under the impression it was software only. i guess we will see, i know some boxes will be given out in the area soon. you may get something in the mail and that means you were selected to try the box out. i have no idea in what part of the chicagoland region they have selected from though.

Once new boxes are out, do they ever come to pick up your old box to exchange it with their newer model?


no, usually you have to schedule and uprade or the easiest thing is to bring it into an equipment upgrade center.

ok craziness, umm i have mtv hd

only on my cable card, it overtook tnthd's spot, i ahve no idea.

I used today the Comcast web site to subscribe to HD service. On the end you chat with someone. A rough experience. Took me a while to talk to someone who was understanding what Firewire is. They told me that all boxes have now the enabled Firewire port. Is this true?

I was surprised that I have to wait over two weeks to get the service. Is there a way that I can pick up a unit at Comcast? I really don't see why they would drive to my house....

ok craziness, umm i have mtv hd

only on my cable card, it overtook tnthd's spot, i ahve no idea.

What channel, 203? I'm watching TNT on tv w/ cablecard at the moment. No MTV-HD over here in NW Indiana.

Sox game in Stretched Mode tonight. Since this ws noticed a few weeks ago with Cubs vs. Reds, I would have to say I'm not impressed with the stretched look.

It's not stretched, just SD widescreen. I like it because it eliminates the black sidebars on my plasma without having to zoom or stretch it myself. It'll do until we can get road games in HD.

I used today the Comcast web site to subscribe to HD service. On the end you chat with someone. A rough experience. Took me a while to talk to someone who was understanding what Firewire is. They told me that all boxes have now the enabled Firewire port. Is this true?

I was surprised that I have to wait over two weeks to get the service. Is there a way that I can pick up a unit at Comcast? I really don't see why they would drive to my house....


the dominicks grocery with comcast in it does give out boxes :)

What channel, 203? I'm watching TNT on tv w/ cablecard at the moment. No MTV-HD over here in NW Indiana.


tnt hd is 204 in the lineup around here.

Sox game in Stretched Mode tonight. Since this ws noticed a few weeks ago with Cubs vs. Reds, I would have to say I'm not impressed with the stretched look.



im impressed, its alot better than the crapola black bars ;)

wow, so ive had mtv hd on for awhile and its amazing

the concerts are so clear and sound just great, absolute top notch. the videos are awesome as well, there is a gorillaz video on right now and you would not believe how clear it is, there was a brooks and dunn video earlier in the night and you coudl see all the old wrinkles in their face, I really wasnt expecting anything spectacular out of the channel but, I am very impressed.

wow, so ive had mtv hd on for awhile and its amazing

the concerts are so clear and sound just great, absolute top notch. the videos are awesome as well, there is a gorillaz video on right now and you would not believe how clear it is, there was a brooks and dunn video earlier in the night and you coudl see all the old wrinkles in their face, I really wasnt expecting anything spectacular out of the channel but, I am very impressed.

I just found it on channel 209. Looks pretty good. I also found new programming on 197 (The Tube Music Network), but it looks like SD.

cheezdawg475,

Well, they do it for cable modems. I thought they have no work outside if you have already cable and Internet from them. One would think they could optimize themselves?

wow, so ive had mtv hd on for awhile and its amazing

the concerts are so clear and sound just great, absolute top notch. the videos are awesome as well, there is a gorillaz video on right now and you would not believe how clear it is, there was a brooks and dunn video earlier in the night and you coudl see all the old wrinkles in their face, I really wasnt expecting anything spectacular out of the channel but, I am very impressed.
I agree. I'm watching a Green Day video (Jesus of Suburbia) recorded live at a concert in England, and it's a pretty long cut - it must be ten minutes from start to end. Picture quality is pretty nice, and they do pump out 5.1 audio if the music video has it. Imagine that - a music channel in HD with actual music!

Interesting article on The Tube Music Network (http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2006/01/tube_music_netw.html) now on channel 197.

Interesting that Phillidelphia got UHD today on 208 and we got MHD. I wonder when UHD will come to the Chicagoland area.

-b

197, The Tube, definitly SD, and MHD,209, showing over here in NW Indiana. Wow, I don't know what to do with myself, two new HD channels in one month.

I talked to a Comcast rep. They are sending me a DCT5100 box. Does anyone have one here? If so is there typically a (enabled) Firewire port?

I talked to a Comcast rep. They are sending me a DCT5100 box. Does anyone have one here? If so is there typically a (enabled) Firewire port?
I haven't had a 5100 for 2+ years. I don't think they are used any longer and I don't remember them having firewire. Comcast now uses the dct-6200, which does have firewire.

When I called them they said that the 6200 is for DVR service only. Does this make sense?

When I called them they said that the 6200 is for DVR service only. Does this make sense?


Not really since the 6200 is not a DVR. They use the 6412 and 3412 for DVR service.

Just noticed MTVHD on 209 here in Elk Grove. It could have been added a few days ago, but I might have been too busy to notice. Looks beautiful.

its crazy that wgn is our local carrier for the tube station, you have to wonder if cw will still carry it, as I kind of hope as its nice to always have videos on sometimes. The station is a full digital station with the capability of going 720p with 5.1 without changing frequencies which could be cool, maybe after they get a profit from it would we see that, anyways i hope it stick around with the channel reorganization of wgn upn to cw, my guess is comcast wouldnt have bothered to add it if in a little while it was going away

I would like to thank Fox Sports Net Chicago for shutting down and making it possible for us to get more HD channels.

its crazy that wgn is our local carrier for the tube station, you have to wonder if cw will still carry it, as I kind of hope as its nice to always have videos on sometimes. The station is a full digital station with the capability of going 720p with 5.1 without changing frequencies which could be cool, maybe after they get a profit from it would we see that, anyways i hope it stick around with the channel reorganization of wgn upn to cw, my guess is comcast wouldnt have bothered to add it if in a little while it was going away

If you look at their business model, you'll see that HD is not in their future. They are being carried as a digital subchannel for major networks across the US. Ours happens to be the WB/CW and is a subchannel of WGN. As there is already a WGN HD channel, there isn't sufficient bandwidth to allow Tube to go HD.

its set up for it, thats for sure, they may not ever but they could as they already are broadcasting 2.1 audio on a 5.1 signal which seems like a waste.

Followup on the Deadwood post from a while back....

Watched it again, on SD only, off of HBO2.

I'm seeing the same problems....

Dark video passages clip to black... And the clipped areas, sometimes have a subtle green or blue cast to them....

When scene is overall dark I can understand the black without detail, but not the greenish or bluish cast to the clipped areas... But in a area shot in outside, I don't understand why a pinstriped suit would suddenly lose all detail and go black... Almost looks like a YUV program was run through an RGB limiting device.... Clipping detail in blacks. However this does not explain the color cast on clipped areas...

Last night I may have seen a greenish cast in blacks on a couple other channels. My next test is find a channel through box that shows greenish or bluish cast, and then check the analog channel for same other different appearance.

Definately something is going on, but I'm not exactly certain yet.... If anyone watches Deadwood, please check out my comments of clipped blacks & loss of video/detail in blacks, and look for a greenish or bluish cast when clipping occurs, please..

Thanks!!!

I've seen this effect on Deadwood on HBO1 SD (550), HBO2 SD (552) and HBO HD (86?).


Not seen on other programs....

I would like to thank Fox Sports Net Chicago for shutting down and making it possible for us to get more HD channels.
I don't think the channel space is being used yet. Here in Schaumburg, TNTHD moved from 747 [116] to 807 [126], paired with ESPN2-HD. MTVHD is on 747 [116] along with several SD channels. Tube is on 633 [92], shared with WLS-DT, WGN-DT, and WLS-DT 7.2. I guess they can get away with 2 SD's since WLS is 720p.

46 (357MHz) no longer has a signal, and it's been removed from digital boxes.

Of course, this all happens after I just updated my list!

In Elgin, MTV HD is 209. We also have Tube now on some channel below that.

i want my tntHD back :(

So far, impressed with MTVHD...

lol i am too, but i dont like it enough to have two channels of it and no tnthd, i have to go deal with comcast mis all tomorrow, and i think its about time we use the real name its MHD, as it has mtv vh1 and cmt on it not just mtv ;)

all i know is if I dont get tnt back we are going to have some problems. if i could go in there I could fix it myself. grrrrrrrr.

Great another HD channel, MTV HD! With ESPN 2 HD added earlier in the month it looks like Comcast is really serious about filling up its HD line up.

I wonder what will be the next channel. I'm in Des Plaines and the MTV HD channel shows up on 209. Its really beautiful! With the business about bandwidth, it seems like the next HD channel can occupy the space currently held by 208, the reserved channel. From reading another member's comments it looks like Comcast subscribers in Philidelphia got Universal HD instead of MTV HD. We got a taste of Universal HD around the time of the Olympics, and I tell you I wasn't really impressed with the programming. I mean, there is only so much Knight Rider one can handle. Never the less, it'll be exciting to see what the next station is going to be. I'm pulling for National Geographic HD or USA HD. I'm not sure if the Science Channel has HD in the works, but I'd really like to see that go HD. I also wouldn't mind seeing the local stations WCIU, (The U), or WPWR go HD. With "The U", we'd be able to see the Cubs and Sox games in HD and the Big Ten and Illnois basketball games potentially in HD. Both these local stations offer HD over the air, but not through Comcast.

I first got the Comcast high def. Box, 6200, back in September and had plans on replacing it with the DVR box 3400 series in April. I wanted the ability to record the high def. broadcasts. But after I saw that the 6200 out performs the 3400 in my opinion, (faster channel changing, no pixelation, no noise!, quick, easy to use.), in spite of the DVR cababilities with the 3400 series, I decided to keep the 6200. If there will be more channels that are interesting in HD I may keep my 3400 DVR and use it in addition to my 6200.

nfl channel hd was supposed to be rolled out july 1st but with the early rollout of mtvhd i dont know

Has anyone else lost ESPN2? It started out on 203, then showed up on 175 instead of INHD2. Now it's not coming in on either channel. I'm in Hoffman Estates (Rolling Meadows) and I'm using a cablecard.

Has anyone else lost ESPN2? It started out on 203, then showed up on 175 instead of INHD2. Now it's not coming in on either channel. I'm in Hoffman Estates (Rolling Meadows) and I'm using a cablecard.

Over here in NW Indiana, I sill have 203(espn2) and 175(INHD2)

Has anyone else lost ESPN2? It started out on 203, then showed up on 175 instead of INHD2. Now it's not coming in on either channel. I'm in Hoffman Estates (Rolling Meadows) and I'm using a cablecard.
Based on your comments as well as cheezdawg475's, I'm guessing that Comcast is having problems with cable card users. ESPN2-HD, TNT-HD, and MHD are all coming in fine on their usual channels (203, 204, 209) on my 6412 box.

203 OK on cablecard here.

I wonder what will be the next channel. I'm in Des Plaines and the MTV HD channel shows up on 209. Its really beautiful! With the business about bandwidth, it seems like the next HD channel can occupy the space currently held by 208, the reserved channel.
From what I can see, 208 is using the same frequency as INHD and INHD2 (174/175). Since it's usually nothing more than a static screen and sound, it uses very little bandwidth. I doubt they could add a 3rd true HD channel to that frequency. More likely, they would use any leftover bandwidth for 1 or 2 SD channels.

I know we will be getting one more HD station next week.

-b

I'll bet it's NFL-HD.

I'll bet it's NFL-HD.

I checked to make sure I can talk about and....... I can.

UHD.

Also look for INHD2 to go dark nationally by the end of July.

-b

I don't want to start a war between cable and dishnetwork...but I just need some suggestions from current chicago comcast subscribers...... I am thinking of going to Dishnetwork. I am gonna compare on HD channels only since SD only does so much for me on my 61" tv.


Dish Monthly
25 HD channels for $49.99.
4 HD locals for $5.
HD DVR Charge $6
-----------------
29 HD channels for $60.99 (will be keeping Comcast Basic for $13.00) = $73.99


Comcast Enchanced Basic Promo
14 HD channels for $41.99
DVR $9.99
---------------------
14 HD channels for $51.98

30 HR HD DVR for DISH NETWORK. lease inital $199 but they give you a $200 credit over 10 months essentiall free.

I don't want to start a war between cable and dishnetwork...but I just need some suggestions from current chicago comcast subscribers...... I am thinking of going to Dishnetwork. I am gonna compare on HD channels only since SD only does so much for me on my 61" tv.


Dish Monthly
25 HD channels for $49.99.
4 HD locals for $5.
HD DVR Charge $6
-----------------
29 HD channels for $60.99 (will be keeping Comcast Basic for $13.00) = $73.99


Comcast Enchanced Basic Promo
13 HD channels for $41.99
DVR $9.99
---------------------
13 HD channels for $51.98

30 HR HD DVR for DISH NETWORK. lease inital $199 but they give you a $200 credit over 10 months essentiall free.

I count 19 with all the movie channels, 15 without.

ESPNHD
INHD
INHD2 (for now)
SHOHD
HBOHD
ABCHD
NBCHD
CBSHD
FOXHD
PBSHD
WGNHD
STARZHD
CINAMAXHD
CSNHD
ESPN2HD
TNTHD
DHDT
MHD
UHD (next week)

-b

Yes.. you are correct... it could be 15.. but currently 14..

Question. Comcast signal is pathetically weak where I live. If I attach a Cable amplifier to my wiring, will it help at all with HD channel signal? Or is that only for analog? We always loose the audio feed and it's so annoying.

I checked to make sure I can talk about and....... I can.

UHD.

Also look for INHD2 to go dark nationally by the end of July....


What is this about!? :mad: They better not get rid of INHD2! Both INHD channels offer the highest quality HD in the Comcast line up. I was really upset when they replaced INHD2 with Universal HD in February for the Olympics, but it was O.K because it was understood that it'd only be for a short time.

If Comcast wants to keep its viewers happy it'll keep INHD2 in addition to any new channel they are planning to add. And if they are going to add a new station, don't add Universal HD. UHD is LAME! They should add a High Definition channel that at the very least has some good programming and appeals to a broad audience. I was really hoping for the Science Channel, but the NFL HD channel would have been a good choice also. That or WCIU HD. WCIU HD is a free over the air station, so why doesn't Comcast offer this now just like they offer WGN or ABC? If band width is a problem, why not get rid of a few of those standard definition public acess channels that no one watches anyway?

The INHD2 for UHD move seems analogous to trading your big homerun hitter for a weak hitting utility infielder that no one knows about. Reminds me of the Cubs getting Jerry Harriston Jr. for Sammy Sosa. This was a really, really bad trade. When they did this I turned to the "Dark Side" and became a Sox fan.

Now, if by UHD, we are talking WCIU, "The U", in HD then at least that won't be quite so bad. Maybe we can get some confirmation.

None The less, Comcast, keep INHD2! Its one of your best channels!

I hardly watch WCIU (OTA), it has virtually 0% HD programming. I watch a few things on UHD (E*) such as BSG, Surface, and sometimes Quantum Leap, Medical Investigation and an occasional movie.

I hardly watch WCIU (OTA), it has virtually 0% HD programming. I watch a few things on UHD (E*) such as BSG, Surface, and sometimes Quantum Leap, Medical Investigation and an occasional movie.

O.K, but why get rid of INHD2? Cathedrals of The Game, Fields of Glory, HD IMAX theatre, Laura Mckinzie Traveler, the extra movies, The basketball, baseball and hockey games, the live concerts, etc... Come on.. They need both INHD stations.

By getting Universal HD is Comcast declaring that it is better? There is nothing wrong with Quantum Leap and Knight Rider, I used to watch and love these shows, and there is an audience for these novelties, but I personally would have put this channel a little lower on the priority list. Universal is not really LAME, but INHD2 is a really great channel.

Please don't take the INHD2 away.

I checked to make sure I can talk about and....... I can.

UHD.

Also look for INHD2 to go dark nationally by the end of July.

bkozlowski,

Where did you get this information from? Do you work for Comcast? Is this a sure thing? What other channels are on the horizon?

Jerry Hairston Jr. for Sammy Sosa was not a "very very bad" trade. Maybe to you, as a fan of Sosa, it might have been. Analytically speaking, it wasn't. If you really believe that, then it would probably be too lengthy of an explanation to be able to post here, and I don't want to do that with something off-topic.

I'm actually surprised to hear you say that, as most Cub fans I've ever talked to don't quite seem to feel the same as you. Not that it was "very very bad" anyway.

Based on your comments as well as cheezdawg475's, I'm guessing that Comcast is having problems with cable card users. ESPN2-HD, TNT-HD, and MHD are all coming in fine on their usual channels (203, 204, 209) on my 6412 box.


mis is having issues, the best thing you can do is call up tech support and tell them of your problem some cards were affected some werent so call up 1800COMCAST

I checked to make sure I can talk about and....... I can.

UHD.

Also look for INHD2 to go dark nationally by the end of July.

-b


old news ;) :D

O.K, but why get rid of INHD2? Cathedrals of The Game, Fields of Glory, HD IMAX theatre, Laura Mckinzie Traveler, the extra movies, The basketball, baseball and hockey games, the live concerts, etc... Come on.. They need both INHD stations.

By getting Universal HD is Comcast declaring that it is better? There is nothing wrong with Quantum Leap and Knight Rider, I used to watch and love these shows, and there is an audience for these novelties, but I personally would have put this channel a little lower on the priority list. Universal is not really LAME, but INHD2 is a really great channel.

Please don't take the INHD2 away.

inhd2 never hs any cathedrals of the game on it, nor do they carry sports games, the ammount comcast pays to carry 2 is outrageous for such a low audience, i think its a smart business move

I

bkozlowski,

Where did you get this information from? Do you work for Comcast? Is this a sure thing? What other channels are on the horizon?

I do not work for Comcast but have contact with the people "in the know" in Chicago. This is a sure thing. And any channels on the horizon would be pure speculation for the deals have yet to be signed. I will say that they are not done for the year.

As to INHD2, Comcast will not be the only provider to lose this channel. The channel inself will be terminated by inDemand, so getting Universal was not a trade off. I am told we have plenty of band width to add additional HD channels when available.

I don't know how it is around the rest of Chicagoland, but here in NW indiana, my display clearly shows that WGN's HD broadcast of todays game is better than the CSNHD feed. I've never reallly noticed the difference before today. I had to look twice at the CSNHD feed to maker sure it wasn't the enhanced 480i production, noitced the HD bug in top right corner. Once again, Cubs taking it and liking it.

Why should they care when they've got so many dumb fans filling up the ballpark everyday?

I think the bigger problem is the fans taking it and liking it.

If they don't, they sure don't show it.

Comcast Enchanced Basic Promo
14 HD channels for $41.99
DVR $9.99
---------------------
14 HD channels for $51.98

What channels are included in Enhanced Basic? Does it include the expanded basic channels (36-76) or do they install a trap to remove these?

I am trying to understand the difference between Enhanced Basic and Digital Classic.

How many months does the $41.99 price last? I don't see it posted on the Comcast website.

What channels are included in Enhanced Basic? Does it include the expanded basic channels (36-76) or do they install a trap to remove these?

I am trying to understand the difference between Enhanced Basic and Digital Classic.

How many months does the $41.99 price last? I don't see it posted on the Comcast website.
If you look through the Comcast.com pages, after entering your address, there should be a 'channel lineup' link. That page has a drop-down list showing what is in each package (or what is added by a package.)

BTW, that page loads really slow (line by line) in Firefox. It works better in IE.

If it was posted in this thread I missed it...wouldn't surprise me...

How long has MTVHD been on 209? And what happened to the TUBE, was that on 209 for a few days?

On another note...Plant was pretty good on Soundstage, I thought it was a great version of Whole Lotta Love to close the show out....

How long has MTVHD been on 209? And what happened to the TUBE, was that on 209 for a few days?
MHD was added earlier this week, and the Tube went to channel 197.

As to INHD2, Comcast will not be the only provider to lose this channel. The channel inself will be terminated by inDemand, so getting Universal was not a trade off.

What a bummer! Good news, however, on the bandwidth. I'm disappointed to see one of my favorite HD channels soon disappearing!

The MHD channel has been up since the middle of the week. There is one thing of note, MHD along with the recently added ESPN2 HD do not have the 5C encryption copy once flag on. The "Copy freely" flag property is enabled.

This has significance for those who record high definition content to the PC hard drive via the IEEE 1394 firewire method and Cap DVHS software. Post Olympics recording to the PC from the set top box could only be done on the Free Over the Air stations, (ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, WGN, FOX). Using Cap DVHS the number of channels capable of being recorded are extended to include these 2 new stations. Prior to the Olympics there was no problem recording anything you wanted too the PC. After wards, until most recently nothing other that those mentioned stations were Unencrypted.

ESPN 2 HD has been on for almost a month and they still haven't switched things to "Copy Once". I wonder if they plan to reverse things and make everything copy freely as was before, or if they just haven't gotten around to changing the record properties for both stations.

Post Olympics recording to the PC from the set top box could only be done on the Free Over the Air stations, (ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, WGN, FOX). Using Cap DVHS the number of channels capable of being recorded are extended to include these 2 new stations. Prior to the Olympics there was no problem recording anything you wanted too the PC. After wards, until most recently nothing other that those mentioned stations were Unencrypted.

ESPN 2 HD has been on for almost a month and they still haven't switched things to "Copy Once". I wonder if they plan to reverse things and make everything copy freely as was before, or if they just haven't gotten around to changing the record properties for both stations.

I don't know where you're located, but I've never had a problem recording any HD channel to my PC. Most recently, I recorded the lastest Star Wars flick off HBO-HD to my PC, as well as World Cup games off ESPN2-HD. I've successfully recorded off Starz-HD, and Cinemax as well. The only HD material I can't record are the video-on-demand HD shows.

I don't know where you're located, but I've never had a problem recording any HD channel to my PC.

Wow! I'm in Des Plaines, and get my service through Comcast Mount Prospect. I thought that all of Chicagoland, (and the nation), was having the same problem I was having, but it looks like Schaumburg is an exception. I was pretty bummed when Comcast imposed this 5C "copy once" encryption flag back in February, and a whole lot of other people were as well. I still can't record anything other than the Free Over the Air stations and ESPN2 HD and MHD.

At the time, I thought everyone, not just Chicagoans, were effected by this, but it seems as though you went without a glitch. In trying to talk to Comcast customer service, all of the individuals I talked to acted like they didn't have the foggyest idea of what I was talking about. (Maybe they really didn't or this was the company line). After chatting about this in other forums, I just accepted that this was what was done and moved on.

Evenstill, I'd really like to have the ability to record all shows to the PC with this method. This was the main reason that sparked me to go and exchange my 6200 Comcast HD box for the 3400 series DVR. The DVR offered the ability to record HD content, but there were other draw backs to it that caused me to want to take it back for my non DVR recorder.

-Its very noisey, (sounds like a buzzing insect).
-Its very slow in switching channels and irresponsive at times.
-It doesn't have the same number of video out puts as the 6200.
-It has HDMI output not DVI, (Nothing wrong w/ this, just harder to work with my TV).
-The HDTV Tuner seems to perform less than the 6200
-Its $60/year more expensive then the 6200
-There is no way to off load the recorded shows from the DVR hard drive, without loosing HD quailty, apart from getting a rather expensive Digital VHS recorder and copying them that way.

You have the ability to do what a lot of others can't. As I said, the preverbial party was over right before the Olympics, (February), when they switched INHD2 with Universal HD. Does everyone have this ability or only Shaumburg patrons?

Can someone who knows at Comcast answer this question for me please....

I've gone so far as contact the company who does the film transfer for Deadwood, about the image quality I'm seeing...

I'm seeing clipped video in blacks with loss of detail, and a greenish or blueish cast applied to the clipped video.....

I've been assured that the film transfer DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THIS.

I'm using a Motorola HD Box.... On a Mits 62525 display.
(I do video for a living)
I've swapped cables to other verified good YUV analog inputs on Mits, and Problem follows
the YUV inputs from the 'box', not the inputs to the Mits Display.

What I believe I'm seeing is Luminance clipping, but color is not being clipped. Kind of like an Early Accom Noise Reducer without median filter.

I've seen this on HBO HD (Channel 186), HBO1 SD (550) HBO2 (552).

Can anyone confirm or deny that in the compression that is going on on the HBO Program, that there is or is not RGB Clororspace clipping going on,
OR, Possibly Luminance clipping without chromanance clipping?????

I'm seeing something that is not right, and just haven't got to determine if it is my box, Comcast, or HBO related.....

Thanks..
Jan

What I'd like to do is go visit the Comcast office in Skokie to see if I see it there... but don't know if they would be willing to let me look, they are kind-of cash register only operation there....

What channels are included in Enhanced Basic? Does it include the expanded basic channels (36-76) or do they install a trap to remove these?

I am trying to understand the difference between Enhanced Basic and Digital Classic.

How many months does the $41.99 price last? I don't see it posted on the Comcast website.


The $41.99 price quoted was part of a retention package the CSRs offered.

Has anyone noticed that the ANALOG (not ADS through the cable box) channels occasionally have stuttering audio. As I write this, 37 (CSN here in Schaumburg) is stuttering on/off about twice a second. Last night, it was USA doing that. Again, the ADS feed through the cable box is fine. I've noticed this occasonally on random channels on my bedroom TV, which has no cable box (but accessible on channel 91 using an RF modulator.)

I live in Schaumburg too and have Comcast Digital Cable. I've also noticed that problem with channel 37 Comcast Sports Net today where the sound cuts in and out. This has happened once before a few months ago with Cartoon Network channel 52. Since I have only one converter box and multiple outlets with TVs hooked up I checked to see what it did with the box and also found it worked fine on the TV with the box, but not the plain analog. It'll go away in a few days, but I have never figured out why it happens. I find it interesting that channel 37 was formally USA before CSN was added and took it over last year, and that channel 52 was USA many years ago before Cartoon Network was added sometime around 1998. It's funny that this has happened to the three channels that USA has occupied or is occupying.

I also have noticed that in my rooms with out the box, (just plain analog) the picture seems to freeze and turn blocky for a few seconds every few minutes. This started happening right when I got Digital Cable almost a year ago. My analog never did that before the box.

This year, channel 52 was out for about two days and was just snow. Every other channel worked fine, and it must have only been out around me, because the channel was still on air elsewhere.

Also this year every few channels was frozen for a few hours on analog, all you could see was a picture that was not moving. When I cheked the TV with the box, the channels that were frozen were just blank.

About two weeks ago there was a five minute Cable TV outage around 11:00 a.m.

Channel 46 has seemed to have been dropped recently.

It looks like the analog feed is actually an ADS feed reconverted back to analog. I think the DAC's occasionally have problems. In fact, the analog feed is a split second BEHIND my DCT-6412 DVR, which has a 1/2 second buffer delay.

That's weird, because my analog is a few seconds faster than what goes through the box on some channels. Must depend on what box model you have, or what channel you watch.

Has it always been like that, or did it change when digital cable came out?

Mine is the same way. Analog is a few seconds faster.

I checked to make sure I can talk about and....... I can.

UHD.

Also look for INHD2 to go dark nationally by the end of July.

-b

Are we still getting UHD, or was MHD added in place of UHD?

Are we still getting UHD, or was MHD added in place of UHD?

We will get UHD before the end of the week.

-b

We will get UHD before the end of the week.

-b
Sounds great.

Got any more juicy stuff?

That's weird, because my analog is a few seconds faster than what goes through the box on some channels. Must depend on what box model you have, or what channel you watch.

Has it always been like that, or did it change when digital cable came out?
It does seem to vary with the channel. I was using Cartoon Network as my sample, as I've seen it's analog feed pixelate often. The analog is just a tiny bit behind my DVR, giving an echo effect.

I received a download today at about 5:30PM which lasted for about 20 minutes. When it was done, I checked to see if I noticed what it was for, but didn't notice anything different. Firmware still 9.19 and nothing noticable. Anyone else get this download and know what it was for?

Followup on the Deadwood post from a while back....

Watched it again, on SD only, off of HBO2.

I'm seeing the same problems....

Dark video passages clip to black... And the clipped areas, sometimes have a subtle green or blue cast to them....

When scene is overall dark I can understand the black without detail, but not the greenish or bluish cast to the clipped areas... But in a area shot in outside, I don't understand why a pinstriped suit would suddenly lose all detail and go black... Almost looks like a YUV program was run through an RGB limiting device.... Clipping detail in blacks. However this does not explain the color cast on clipped areas...

Last night I may have seen a greenish cast in blacks on a couple other channels. My next test is find a channel through box that shows greenish or bluish cast, and then check the analog channel for same other different appearance.

Definately something is going on, but I'm not exactly certain yet.... If anyone watches Deadwood, please check out my comments of clipped blacks & loss of video/detail in blacks, and look for a greenish or bluish cast when clipping occurs, please..

Thanks!!!

I've seen this effect on Deadwood on HBO1 SD (550), HBO2 SD (552) and HBO HD (86?).


Not seen on other programs....


don't have any greenish or bluish phenomena, but I can definitely confirm that hd deadwood loses details in blacks on my calibrated JVC DILA 61" - moreso than any other programming I can think of

I received a download today at about 5:30PM which lasted for about 20 minutes. When it was done, I checked to see if I noticed what it was for, but didn't notice anything different. Firmware still 9.19 and nothing noticable. Anyone else get this download and know what it was for?
There is supposed to be a slight update to the IGuide sometime this month or so. Is your main menu one screen, or still 2 screens?

Its still looks exactly the same

Tomorrow's the end of the week[or is it Sunday?] so UHD'LL be here then?

I'll share a short little experiance that I had yesterday.

We've always had problems with signal strength with Comcast. All the HD channels always suffered the audio going in and out as a consequence. Yesterday though, after mentioning this like 3 times to Comcast when they were out to install new things, we FINALLY had a guy come out who said he could do something to help us instead of just saying "Oh. The signal is just weak. Hopefully it'll get better." What he ended up doing is running a seperate line to the cable box outside our house; One for the Internet, and a seperate one solely for TV. He also replaced something in the Cable box out there that supposedly will help no matter what, even if just a bit.

So far we haven't had any problems with audio going out. Though it's not like you don't have days where you don't see it at all. I'll keep you all updated to this and see if it helped. Who knows. Some of you may be experiancing similar problems.

Heck though. You can always love having a stronger signal.

bkozlowski, its Friday evening and still nothing. You sure its this week?

Anyone know when WCIU-HD'll be on Comcast?.....watching the Sox games on WCIU-SD[even digitally]is for the birds imho. :(

I know this has been mentioned before but I find it so amusing that the game is brought to us in HD sponsored by comcast yet they don't provide it to their own subscribers. To bad they had to block ESPN.

Yeah, what was up with that? Good thing my TV has a tuner and I can watch it in HD OTA but what about those that don't? Why are they stuck with the SD on WCUI when ESPN had it in HD?

bkozlowski, its Friday evening and still nothing. You sure its this week?

That's what I was told by a very reliable source that has been very accurate recently (ESPN2 & MHD). Not sure if the holiday delayed it. I have a call in and will let you all know when I know. If it wasn't this week I would bet it will be very soon.

-b

I am moving to Naperville, IL from Nashville area. I would like to get combo HD-DVR and Internet. Does anyone know of any promotion, thought to check here before I called up Comcast?

Regards,

Check Comcast.com they list specials that are in your particular area.

Anyone know when WCIU-HD'll be on Comcast?.....watching the Sox games on WCIU-SD[even digitally]is for the birds imho. :(
I am hoping we can be added soon. It's up to the business end of both companies.

At least there's hope.

I am moving to Naperville, IL from Nashville area. I would like to get combo HD-DVR and Internet. Does anyone know of any promotion, thought to check here before I called up Comcast?

Regards,They are currently offering Digital Cable Plus with On Demand for $39.99 per month for four months. The special is good through 7/31/06.

The phone number to call in the flyer I have is 1-866-753-7888.

That's the only one I know of for sure offhand.

I just got comcast last week and have the 6412 (P2) stb.

What version of software/firmare does comcast have "in" chicago for the dct 6412 (P3) stb? Also, has anyone upgraded from P2 to P3 stb and noticed an improved PQ using hdmi->hdmi vs dvi->hdmi or component?

Thanks in advance.

I am moving to Naperville, IL from Nashville area. I would like to get combo HD-DVR and Internet. Does anyone know of any promotion, thought to check here before I called up Comcast?

Regards,

To get the best deal, once you move here, call them and tell them you have satalite now, and you'd like to switch to comcast, but you need a REAL sweet deal...

They'll offer you lots of different stuff if you are offering to switch to cable from satalite...

When I switched from Comcast to E*, they offered me digital cable for $25.00 for a year.

Last night, my tv with the cablecard dropped all digital channels except for the locals, and the analog stations were all grainy. I tried calling CS three times but nothing, I was told they do not do signal hits anymore since they were temporary, and that if it were not fixed by midnight, I would get a tech visit. Then this morning the channels were all working and fixed. Funny thing, my receiver is picking up the analong stations 2-98 as digital. Up until yesterday it would say analog, and stations above 100 would always be switched over to digital by the optical connection. When I went into the diagnostics screen while watching channel two this morning, it said QAM 256. The screen is also pixelating on the supposed analog sations like it normally would with the digital stations? Anyone else noticing this.

Last night, my tv with the cablecard dropped all digital channels except for the locals, and the analog stations were all grainy. I tried calling CS three times but nothing, I was told they do not do signal hits anymore since they were temporary, and that if it were not fixed by midnight, I would get a tech visit. Then this morning the channels were all working and fixed. Funny thing, my receiver is picking up the analong stations 2-98 as digital. Up until yesterday it would say analog, and stations above 100 would always be switched over to digital by the optical connection. When I went into the diagnostics screen while watching channel two this morning, it said QAM 256. The screen is also pixelating on the supposed analog sations like it normally would with the digital stations? Anyone else noticing this.
Sounds like your neighborhood just converted to ADS (analog to digital simulcast).

I guess that explains why the tv in my sons bedroom is snowy (TV connected directly to the wall) and the tv in my room (connected to the box is perfectly clear). So if my neighborhood went to ADS, I assumed all channels would move above 100, in my case, the channels haven't changed. I have noticed that the South Bend stations I used to receive, WNDU WSBT, I'm not getting them.

I guess that explains why the tv in my sons bedroom is snowy (TV connected directly to the wall) and the tv in my room (connected to the box is perfectly clear). So if my neighborhood went to ADS, I assumed all channels would move above 100, in my case, the channels haven't changed. I have noticed that the South Bend stations I used to receive, WNDU WSBT, I'm not getting them.
When my neighborhood was converted, my channels didn't change either. Both the analog and digital versions still exist on the line. My STB now uses ADS, but the tvs that get cable directly from the cable line are still analog.

When my neighborhood was converted, my channels didn't change either. Both the analog and digital versions still exist on the line. My STB now uses ADS, but the tvs that get cable directly from the cable line are still analog.

So you are saying the tvs connected directly to the wall weren't affected? Also, how long did it take for them to work out the bugs. I'm getting pixelation on just about every station, and my HD locals 187-192 are dropping in and out. How will this affect the bandwidth? More room for HD?

So you are saying the tvs connected directly to the wall weren't affected? Also, how long did it take for them to work out the bugs. I'm getting pixelation on just about every station, and my HD locals 187-192 are dropping in and out. How will this affect the bandwidth? More room for HD?
My TVs directly connected were not affected in any way.
The TV using the STB had a slight increase in quality on channels 2-99. My local HDs were unaffected. Sounds like your signal strength has decreased.

It takes more bandwidth since both the analog and digital versions are being carried on the line. If/when the analog channels are removed, then there will be more room for HD.

Yes my signal strength had decreased, tech guy came out and tested saying there was a decrease from the box out behind my property to the connection on the box outside my garage. He dropped a new line and all is well. Yes, there is a increase in pq with channels 2-99 on the cablecard tv. I felt there was a decrease due to the signal or sound dropping on the digital stations. Interesting that the tech guy said that this area has been ads for the four months he's been working in the area, but had no explanation why it took until last night for my set to pick it up.

Hi everybody - first time poster here.

When I moved to Des Plaines a few months ago, I switched from DirecTV to Comcast digital cable and I have the Motorola Phase III 6312 box. All in all, I actually prefer it to DirecTV for many reasons. However, I'd be very appreciative if you guys could help me out with some questions:

1. Has anybody been experiencing a lot of pixelation over the last few days, particularly since yesterday? I had a lot of pixelation/skipping while watching a DVR recording of Sunday night's Deadwood on HBOHD, as well as this morning's live WGN Morning News. Basically, I'm trying to figure out if it's something wrong with my line/box or if it's more of a widespread problem. I should also mention that I hooked up a really nice Panamax MX-5100 Home Theater Power Conditioner last night, but this is a very sophisticated device that supposedly should have virtually no drain or ill effect on the cable signal (insertion loss is <1db). To the contrary, it's obviously intended to improve the signal as the coax is looped through the unit).

2. Has anybody else locally received the most recent software update (Version 73.44)? If so, what issues did it address and how do I get it?

3. Does anybody have the newest firmware upgrade to Version 12.35 (with the on-screen menu enhancements)? If so, how do I get it?

4. Does Comcast only use RG6 cable? I thought this was the standard for digital cable, but I can't tell if the no-name coax they used is actually RG6 or RG59 (it's only identified by "18AWG").

Please respond ASAP. Thank you!

- Brad

Hi everybody - first time poster here.

When I moved to Des Plaines a few months ago, I switched from DirecTV to Comcast digital cable and I have the Motorola Phase III 6312 box.
...
- Brad
1) The panamax may have weakened the signal just enough to effect the 6412, which is very picky about signal strength. Take the panamax out of the loop and you'll probably find that the signal fixes itself.
2) Don't recall my version.
3) You can't request an upgrade. When the "head end" applies the upgrade, your box will download it.

Brad you actually have a Motorola 6412 DVR. You may get better answers from this link. Every problem known to man has been discussed "ad-nauseum" on this thread. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=464986&goto=newpost

I've talked with my contact and was assured the UHD would be here very soon, if there is a more concrete date he'll let me know. Was not given a reason why it didn't happen last week. So keep your eye out for it.

-b

Hi everybody - first time poster here.

When I moved to Des Plaines a few months ago, I switched from DirecTV to Comcast digital cable and I have the Motorola Phase III 6312 box. All in all, I actually prefer it to DirecTV for many reasons. However, I'd be very appreciative if you guys could help me out with some questions:

1. Has anybody been experiencing a lot of pixelation over the last few days, particularly since yesterday? I had a lot of pixelation/skipping while watching a DVR recording of Sunday night's Deadwood on HBOHD, as well as this morning's live WGN Morning News. Basically, I'm trying to figure out if it's something wrong with my line/box or if it's more of a widespread problem. I should also mention that I hooked up a really nice Panamax MX-5100 Home Theater Power Conditioner last night, but this is a very sophisticated device that supposedly should have virtually no drain or ill effect on the cable signal (insertion loss is <1db). To the contrary, it's obviously intended to improve the signal as the coax is looped through the unit).

2. Has anybody else locally received the most recent software update (Version 73.44)? If so, what issues did it address and how do I get it?

3. Does anybody have the newest firmware upgrade to Version 12.35 (with the on-screen menu enhancements)? If so, how do I get it?

4. Does Comcast only use RG6 cable? I thought this was the standard for digital cable, but I can't tell if the no-name coax they used is actually RG6 or RG59 (it's only identified by "18AWG").

Please respond ASAP. Thank you!

- Brad
I hope for your sake its not RG-59. It should say somewhere in that stamp on the cable. If it is RG-59 then replace it with RG-6 or better.

I hope for your sake its not RG-59. It should say somewhere in that stamp on the cable. If it is RG-59 then replace it with RG-6 or better.
I guess anything is possible, but I believe Comcast has been using rg-6 in areas with digital cable, cable modem and cable phone for several years. They've used rg-6 every time they've come to my house for the last 6 years.

I guess anything is possible, but I believe Comcast has been using rg-6 in areas with digital cable, cable modem and cable phone for several years. They've used rg-6 every time they've come to my house for the last 6 years.
RG-6 is industry standard. RG-59 cannot handle the bandwidth of anything over a single video/audio source. Depending on the length of the cable run, there are sooped up versions of RG-6. We use these sooped up cables for satellite distribution in our Broadcast facility. We only use RG-59 for analog/digital video, digital audio, or a multiplexed video/audio.

I don't know where you're located, but I've never had a problem recording any HD channel to my PC. Most recently, I recorded the lastest Star Wars flick off HBO-HD to my PC, as well as World Cup games off ESPN2-HD. I've successfully recorded off Starz-HD, and Cinemax as well. The only HD material I can't record are the video-on-demand HD shows.


Do you record using the same method that I use, IEEE 1394 firewire and Cap DVHS, or do you have a HDTV PC ATSC tuner card installed in your PC?

If you do use the firewire method, would it be possible for me, though I live in Des Plaines to have Comcast Schaumburg be my cable provider? I'm really suprised that you can do this? What are your cable box settings, and how were you able to manage this?

Do you record using the same method that I use, IEEE 1394 firewire and Cap DVHS, or do you have a HDTV PC ATSC tuner card installed in your PC?

If you do use the firewire method, would it be possible for me, though I live in Des Plaines to have Comcast Schaumburg be my cable provider? I'm really suprised that you can do this? What are your cable box settings, and how were you able to manage this?
I record via FireWire off my Moto 6412 DVR or Mits 65869 HDTV (built-in ATSC tuner) to my laptop. I think the 6412 is either a first or second series; it does NOT have HDMI ports, so I know it's not the third series. And yes, I do use CapDVHS as the recording software.

As for Des Plaines vs. Schaumburg, I don't think there's any way that'll happen for you. If you're in Des Plaines, that's your head-end plant. Period.

Finally, I don't know why it's surprising. Lots of people in the HDTV Recorders section are doing the same thing.

I have a Samsung 5063 DLP hooked up to a Motorola digital tuner/DVR to get Comcast. When I'm on any HDTV channels, or when I'm watching a DVR recording from an HDTV channel, I can't call up the on-screen cable guide. The cable guide works fine on all the non-HDTV channels.

Has anyone encountered and solved this problem? Thanks!

kls125

Something is seriously screwed up with the way HBO SD is being sent....

I've been complaining off and on about Deadwood and picture quality... To the point where I contacted the colorist who did film transfer and he assured me what I'm seeing is not what was transferred...

The HBO HD feed has been cleaned up somewhat (less clipping in blacks, and fewer greenish or bluish casts in the clipped black areas).

BUT the SD HBO feed still looks seriously messed up... clipping in blacks, greenish or bluish cast in clipped blacks. Might even have too high a setup level....

So, last Sunday I did an experiment. My Motorola 6200 box downconverts the SVideo and Composite output if you are watching HD.
Here's what I did. Set box for HBO HD (186) Took SVideo and audio to a Channel 4 modulator, and modulated it to CH 4 . I then Notched CH 4 out of cable and Mixed the local CH 4 signal back into cable, and then...
Compared CH 4 with channel 550.

My Local CH4 signal (downconverted HD HBO) ran Rings around the pix quality of Channel 550, the HBO SD signal.

Far Less clipping in blacks, NO Color cast on the blacks, clipped or not!

I wish I knew who to complain to.... The people who answer the phones haven't a clue as to technical terms....

Does anyone have a number for technical people at Comcast?

When I updgraded to digital, I told Comcast that I would be getting my HDTV within a couple of months. So they gave me the Motorola 6412 box so that I wouldn 't have to swap boxes soon afterward. With the old TV hooked up thru the 6412, I was never able to access the guide on the HD channels -- which I did receive even though I was watching on an SD set. (This was a saving grace last fall when Comcast SportsNet's SD signal went down during a Sox-Indians game, and the game was still available on 200, but that's another story...) Anyway, that's my experience with the guide not working on the HD channels -- assuming you have an HD set, it could be something about the settings and the box not recognizing it as an HD. When I got the HD, I was able to access the guide on all channels.

I have a Samsung 5063 DLP hooked up to a Motorola digital tuner/DVR to get Comcast. When I'm on any HDTV channels, or when I'm watching a DVR recording from an HDTV channel, I can't call up the on-screen cable guide. The cable guide works fine on all the non-HDTV channels.

Has anyone encountered and solved this problem? Thanks!

kls125

...assuming you have an HD set, it could be something about the settings and the box not recognizing it as an HD. When I got the HD, I was able to access the guide on all channels.
Did you have to change anything more than the cables or did you have to change any settings on your box?

kls125, I've never had this issue. Are you using the proper cables? You need to use either component (red,blue,green) or dvi/hdmi. S-video (yellow) or composite (yellow) will not do the trick.

As for Des Plaines vs. Schaumburg, I don't think there's any way that'll happen for you. If you're in Des Plaines, that's your head-end plant. Period.

Finally, I don't know why it's surprising. Lots of people in the HDTV Recorders section are doing the same thing.


I used to be able to do the same thing you are doing before the Olympics. I want the ability to record the High Definition content to the PC just like I used to be able to. Something seems wrong if everyone just a couple of towns over can do it but I can't.

UPDATE/EDIT -

Thanks for the various replies, guys. I mistakenly thought I had the 6412, when I actually have the 3412. Anyway, the problems seems to have cleared up, which indicates to me that it was the quality of the feed rather than an issue on my end.

As far as the coax goes, I had two very short runs so I replaced them with some nice dual-shield Radio Shack Gold Series. The Panamax only draws <1dB of signal strength, so I can't imagine that would affect anything and, in fact, it's a high quality power conditioner that supposedly improves the image, if anything.

Bottom line - the quality of the HD signal for the home run derby last night was flawless and incredibly lifelike on my Mits 30-inch LCD. I can't imagine how good things will look when my new Samsung 5053 plasma arrives on Saturday! :cool:
- Brad

I have a Samsung 5063 DLP hooked up to a Motorola digital tuner/DVR to get Comcast. When I'm on any HDTV channels, or when I'm watching a DVR recording from an HDTV channel, I can't call up the on-screen cable guide. The cable guide works fine on all the non-HDTV channels.

Has anyone encountered and solved this problem? Thanks!
You must not be watching true HD using the component or DVI/HDMI inputs. It looks like you are using the composite (yellow), S-Video (large round with 4 pins), or (yuckkk) RF (channel 3). When the DVR downconverts HD to SD, it will not not downconvert graphics.

I do not work for Comcast but have contact with the people "in the know" in Chicago. This is a sure thing. And any channels on the horizon would be pure speculation for the deals have yet to be signed. I will say that they are not done for the year.

As to INHD2, Comcast will not be the only provider to lose this channel. The channel inself will be terminated by inDemand, so getting Universal was not a trade off. I am told we have plenty of band width to add additional HD channels when available.


while we haven't received UHD yet, I got the message this morning via STB tha INHD 2 will be gone August 1st. It is safe to speculate that this is when UHD will become avialable or another HD channel?

while we haven't received UHD yet, I got the message this morning via STB tha INHD 2 will be gone August 1st. It is safe to speculate that this is when UHD will become avialable or another HD channel?

I can not say. I have been told that UHD is still coming just not in the time frame that was anticipated.

-b

Anyone know when WPWR/UPN changed to MYTV? I've been out in the desert (Phoenix) the last 4 days, noticed this morning on the call letters.

The good news: I got the Firewire capture thing working on my Moto6200.
The bad news: Why does this only work for HD channels? Not for regular digital channels?

Anyone know when WPWR/UPN changed to MYTV? I've been out in the desert (Phoenix) the last 4 days, noticed this morning on the call letters.
With the UPN/WB merger into the CW, WPWR was left without a network as CW will air on WGN. Fox, which owns several UPN stations, has created their own mini-network, MyTV.

Well, WPWR got left with the raw end of the deal. From what I read, I guess today is the first day of the new network. Two soap operas every night of the week?

Looks like the same old reruns, and they're still flying the UPN flag on the screen.

Here in Schaumburg, Comcast has moved the channel frequencies around again. ESPN2HD and TNTHD are now on FSN's former frequency.

Much worse is that SciFi, National Geographic, and several others have been moved to 807MHz. This has SEVERE issues on my box, with POOR SNR on tuner 2, only FAIR on tuner 1. AGC is GOOD. Correctable errors are in the tens of thousands on tuner 2, with several uncorrectable. Tuner 1 has several thousand correctable errors per 5 seconds. The change must have occured this week, as a recording I made Wednesday night on NatGeo was horrible and kept breaking up. SciFi was fine last Friday.

Why would Comcast move a popular channel to the high-end of the bandwidth, knowing it will be very sensitive to problems?? I still say they are doing everything thing they can to dump channels they don't have a financial interest in.

The good news: I got the Firewire capture thing working on my Moto6200.
The bad news: Why does this only work for HD channels? Not for regular digital channels?

Ah ha! Some one to talk to! I wrote about this a few weeks ago. What high definition channels are you able to record to the PC? Here in Des Plaines, I can record the free over the air stations, (ABC HD, NBC HD, CBS HD, WGN HD, PBS HD, Fox HD) and the recently added premium stations, (MHD, and ESPN2 HD). These are the only channels that Comcast has not imposed the 5C encryption flag, "Copy Once" on. I can also record the standard def. free over the air stations, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 32, etc. and the tube.

I get my service from Mount Prospect, and if your provider is anything like mine, you can only record the 2 premium channels, MHD and ESPN2 HD and the free over the air HD and non HD channels. If you try, you'll probably see that you can record the normal standard def. over the air channels as well.

For some reason to my knowledge Schaumburg hasn't imposed the copy once thing, and everything is copy freely, meaning those falling under that jurisdiction can copy what ever they want. Like I said, I used to be able to do the same thing until right around the time of the Olympics, when comcast Mount Prospect turned on the 5C "copy once".

Just out of curiousity. When you record the broadcast to the PC and play them back, have you noticed any drop in quailty from the live HD broadcast?

Does anyone know if I can connect a 17 in. VGA, LCD, PC monitor through a VGA to DVI connection to the back of my Motorola 3400 DVR or 6200 high defition set top box and use it as a HDTV?

HDCP may be an issue. If I'm not able to use the PC monitor, (just the monitor) for high definition content, maybe standard defintion would still work?

Anyone else having issues with MHD? Since I got home from work yesterday afternoon, it has been dispalying a "Channel should be available shortly" message. It's the only channel I can see that is having any problems at this time.

Seems to be working fine here...

Much worse is that SciFi, National Geographic, and several others have been moved to 807MHz. This has SEVERE issues on my box, with POOR SNR on tuner 2, only FAIR on tuner 1. AGC is GOOD. Correctable errors are in the tens of thousands on tuner 2, with several uncorrectable. Tuner 1 has several thousand correctable errors per 5 seconds. The change must have occured this week, as a recording I made Wednesday night on NatGeo was horrible and kept breaking up. SciFi was fine last Friday.
I did some cable/splitter changes, and improved it a bit. Tuner 1 is mostly GOOD, with occasional drops to FAIR. Tuner 2 is pretty solid FAIR. Both still show 3500-4500 correctable errors, though. Over 4 hours, there were about 2 or 3 moments where the video/audio broke up on tuner 1.

In doing experimenting to get the improvement, I did learn a few things.

Originally, the cable went: splitter - amp - tap-out - cable box (the tap-out has 2.2dB loss, and the tap-tap output is 6dB loss.) I first tried bypassing the first splitter, and the SNR dropped quite a bit, with both tuners showing poor. I tried bypassing the amp, and SNR improved, but now AGC was FAIR. I ended up like this:
tap-tap - amp - splitter - cable box
In other words, I'm feeding it a somewhat weaker signal, but that apparantly also reduces some noise that is getting amplified.

I should mention the first split is for my cable modem. The second one goes to some TV's. The amp is the Motorola broadband amp.

Anybody notice the weird things going on with the ondemand menu? There's a new section that has stuff like Steve's Update, an MTV test of content received via FTP, and VOD encode tests. I can't watch any of them as it says I need a subscription.

Did anyone else see the picture problems near the end of the Cubs game today on WFLD?

Anybody notice the weird things going on with the ondemand menu? There's a new section that has stuff like Steve's Update, an MTV test of content received via FTP, and VOD encode tests. I can't watch any of them as it says I need a subscription.


..I just wish I could get to my on demand menu..hasn't been working for me at all this weekend.

Satguys and chicagoavforum.com are both reporting that HDNet will be carried this fall on Comcast; they hope it will be in time for the Dan Rather news magazine show which starts around 10/1/06. It will happen, but an exact launch date is not forthcoming, so says the source...

Satguys and chicagoavforum.com are both reporting that HDNet will be carried this fall on Comcast; they hope it will be in time for the Dan Rather news magazine show which starts around 10/1/06. It will happen, but an exact launch date is not forthcoming, so says the source...
The ChicagoAVForum is just repeating what was said here on AVS Forum, which in turn quoted Satguys. However, JWhip (a Comcast insider) has refuted that with his contacts inside Comcast.

I'm the one who posted that on ChicagoAvForum btw.[i'm keeping my fingers crossed that HDNET will be on Comcast by then if not by the end of the year....we need to keep the pressure on Comcast to do so]

I am wondering if anyone else has been having problems with ch. 174 (inhd). Whenever i tune to it, the picture freezes. I want to watch the sox game on that channel, but I can't :(.

Also, Is just inhd 5c'd for anyone else? inhd2 is fine, but inhd is 5c. Weird.

White Sox game was blacked out on INHD since we have local coverage.

I am wondering if anyone else has been having problems with ch. 174 (inhd). Whenever i tune to it, the picture freezes. I want to watch the sox game on that channel, but I can't .

Also, Is just inhd 5c'd for anyone else? inhd2 is fine, but inhd is 5c. Weird.

They always do this when the nationally televised games are being broadcast locally. The game was shown on WCIU.

What is with you guys getting around the 5C protection!? I can't record either INHD or INHD2, as they are both copy once for me. Where do you live. I know people in Shaumberg don't have any problems recording anything they want. I can only record free over the air broadcast stations and the most recently added HD stations.

Its exciting to hear about HD Net. Seems like they have a few good programs, (smallville, Roy Firestone, music shows, etc.). I wonder if they will add HD net movies also? When will they add wciu HD? Those Sox games could be seen in stunning HD without the need for an over the air HD tuner? Hopefully, they'll get it together before college football season starts and we'll be able to see a few regional college big ten games in stunning high definition on a few fall Saturday morning/afternoons. (Wishful thinking! :) )

Ah, so thats why. I was hoping there would be some HD game on that channel. Good to know that it wasnt something on my end freaking out.
On the back of my box it says Romeoville, so I guess they only enabled it on one of the inhd channels. Although, TNTHD and DSCHD are copy-once (sadly, I really like dhdt)

I have no problem recording any of the channels. I dont think that they have any of the channels 5C protected in the city. last week I recorded a ppv movie onto DVHS just fine.

When will they add wciu HD? Those Sox games could be seen in stunning HD without the need for an over the air HD tuner? Hopefully, they'll get it together before college football season starts and we'll be able to see a few regional college big ten games in stunning high definition on a few fall Saturday morning/afternoons. (Wishful thinking! :) )
Nothing new to report.

I posted this over in the Hardware forum, then realized it might be a local issue with Comcast in Chicago.

I've got analog cable with Comcast (Chicago area), but no external antenna. I'm using a Samsung HC-R4755W (actually, HC-R4755WX/XAA). According to the sales literature, the tuner supports "NTSC Tuner and ATSC/QAM (SDTV and HDTV broadcasts)" Hooking the analog cable to the cable in only gives me standard def signals (using auto program). I'm just trying for the local channels, not the premium (i.e., the local NBC broadcast in HD vs the standard def version).

I've read here that it's possible to get HD via QAM (if I'm correct on that) over the standard analog cable without getting a digital box. Can anyone give me a little guidance here? Or am I attempting the impossible?

I posted this over in the Hardware forum, then realized it might be a local issue with Comcast in Chicago.

I've got analog cable with Comcast (Chicago area), but no external antenna. I'm using a Samsung HC-R4755W (actually, HC-R4755WX/XAA). According to the sales literature, the tuner supports "NTSC Tuner and ATSC/QAM (SDTV and HDTV broadcasts)" Hooking the analog cable to the cable in only gives me standard def signals (using auto program). I'm just trying for the local channels, not the premium (i.e., the local NBC broadcast in HD vs the standard def version).

I've read here that it's possible to get HD via QAM (if I'm correct on that) over the standard analog cable without getting a digital box. Can anyone give me a little guidance here? Or am I attempting the impossible?You should be able to get them, assuming they're passing along the signals, and they should be. And assuming the Samsung's tuner covers a full enough channel/frequency range (their standalone tuners don't always, for some reason).

I've read here that it's possible to get HD via QAM (if I'm correct on that) over the standard analog cable without getting a digital box. Can anyone give me a little guidance here? Or am I attempting the impossible?
If you have a qam tuner, the signals should be on the line for you. Try manually tuning the channels. Take a look at this post: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6583899&highlight=115#post6583899

I'm using a Samsung HC-R4755W (actually, HC-R4755WX/XAA). According to the sales literature, the tuner supports "NTSC Tuner and ATSC/QAM (SDTV and HDTV broadcasts)"
I realize the following pdf is only 4 pages long, but I didn't see qam specifically mentioned. Are you sure your intenal tuner is qam comlpliant?

http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/RearProjectionTV/files/hcr4755.pdf

I've got analog cable with Comcast (Chicago area), but no external antenna. I'm using a Samsung HC-R4755W (actually, HC-R4755WX/XAA). According to the sales literature, the tuner supports "NTSC Tuner and ATSC/QAM (SDTV and HDTV broadcasts)" Hooking the analog cable to the cable in only gives me standard def signals (using auto program). I'm just trying for the local channels, not the premium (i.e., the local NBC broadcast in HD vs the standard def version).

I've read here that it's possible to get HD via QAM (if I'm correct on that) over the standard analog cable without getting a digital box. Can anyone give me a little guidance here? Or am I attempting the impossible?
I looked at the Samsung site's page for your TV (http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/ArchivedTelevisions/HCR4755WXXAA.asp) but didn't see any mention of QAM support. It's not mentioned in the spec sheet nor the user manual. As HD Rookie points out, are you sure you this set has QAM support? I think you may have been misled by your sales brochure.

My cable kept going all crazy tonight... Tons of pauses, pixilation, and intermittent sound. This was both in HD and standard. I am in Buffalo Grove. Anyone else have/having any issues?

Experienced some kinda of download last evening and my 6412 STB worked afterwards, but this morning when I woke up I saw a single dash line in the display window and was locked up. I unplugged it for a few minutes and it went through another download and froze up again. WTF!!!

Experienced some kinda of download last evening and my 6412 STB worked afterwards, but this morning when I woke up I saw a single dash line in the display window and was locked up. I unplugged it for a few minutes and it went through another download and froze up again. WTF!!!

Something similar happened to my 6412 about 9 months ago. If it is the same issue I had, the box is bad and you'll have to have it replaced.

Something similar happened to my 6412 about 9 months ago. If it is the same issue I had, the box is bad and you'll have to have it replaced.


Great!! Do the new STB have DVI or HDMI, cuz I just bought a DVI/HDMI cable. I have a first generation 6412 STB

Great!! Do the new STB have DVI or HDMI, cuz I just bought a DVI/HDMI cable. I have a first generation 6412 STB

They replaced mine with a 3412 which has HDMI.

I'm having a similar problem with the STB in my bedroom. The same box running in my livingroom is just fine. I can't get a call thru to Comcast yet...busy signals. Is reporting this on their web site possible?

I thought the shut-off day for INHD2 was 8/1, it seems that Comcast has jumped the gun. On another note, I've noticed that 208/NFL Net, has gone from the INHD screen and music to a blank no signal screen. Anyone else experiencing this or have some news about these channels swapping. Meaning 208/NFL net will move to 175.

Here in Schaumburg, INHD2 is still in the Guide, but tuning to it just gives 'channel will be available shortly.' The same goes for 208.

I also found 4 new channels, sort-of. They are channel 886-889, and are just shortcuts to various parts of OnDemand.

Yes, I found those channels the other night, on my tv w/cc they say searchl.

I'm having a similar problem with the STB in my bedroom. The same box running in my livingroom is just fine. I can't get a call thru to Comcast yet...busy signals. Is reporting this on their web site possible?

Man!! Comcast has been seriously busy all day via telephone calls!! I had a hard time getting thru as well!! Anyway, I think my STB is hosed it is still trying to download something. Tech coming out on Thursday, and I am sure it will need to be replaced

Same thing here with inhd2(175)(Romeoville)- Please wait/avaiable shortly.
Also, 208 was HDSE for me, never nfl or whatever you guys had. It also shows the please wait/avable shortly message.

I'm sad to see inhd2 go, since those caribbean escapes had some awesome pq, and inhd is 5c for me, so no recording for me.

What channels get the highest bitrate by you guys? My highest is MHD with 18-19mbps all the time, then cbs with 17-18+mbps.

Was hoping to see something new this morning, instead both INHD2 and 208/Nfl net are gone for me. In terms of bitrate, My tv has read 17-21 for basically all of the HD channels.

TNT HD on qam channel 46 is in the clear this morning (sound is scrambled but video is ITC).

Removing INHD2/HDSE without replacing it with anything stinks imho.

Same thing here with inhd2(175)(Romeoville)- Please wait/avaiable shortly.
Also, 208 was HDSE for me, never nfl or whatever you guys had. It also shows the please wait/avable shortly message.

I'm sad to see inhd2 go, since those caribbean escapes had some awesome pq, and inhd is 5c for me, so no recording for me.

What channels get the highest bitrate by you guys? My highest is MHD with 18-19mbps all the time, then cbs with 17-18+mbps.

I agree, I really liked INHD 2. Sorry if I'm asking an obvious question, but how do you figure out the bit rates for a given channel? It doesn't suprise me that MHD has such a high bit rate, its one of the clearest channels, apart from INHD now.

Removing INHD2/HDSE without replacing it with anything stinks imho.
Odds are, UHD will be added soon. If we are lucky, maybe even WCIU-DT.

I'm sad to see inhd2 go, since those caribbean escapes had some awesome pq, and inhd is 5c for me, so no recording for me.
From the message Comcast sent, INHD and INHD2 are supposedly being merged. Looking at the schedule, INHD now has some music and other stuff, not just the sports-related shows they had before. That said, the INHD web site still lists schedules for both channels.

Well my problem persisted with my beloved :rolleyes: 6412 phase 1 STB, so I traded it in for a 3412. So far so good with the 3412, not much difference at all IMHO. ANyway, I am using the digital coaxial output to my Pioneer 1014TX receiver. In the audio portion of the setup on the 3412 what is the correct settings? I remember reading heavy compression, matrix stereo? Or does it matter?

ANyway, I am using the digital coaxial output to my Pioneer 1014TX receiver. In the audio portion of the setup on the 3412 what is the correct settings? I remember reading heavy compression, matrix stereo? Or does it matter?

I'm not sure the settings matter if you're using the digital coaxial out. But, I've always put mine on Matrix Stereo / No Compression (somehow compression sounds like something I wouldn't want) just in case.

I'd be really interested in knowing how to get the Bit rate information for a given channel. Here in Des Plaines, WTTW-DT (191), in my opinion has the worst HD picture quality. I really thought it was 1080i, but came to the realization that its only 720p. At times, I question even that now. It seemed like a year ago, this was one of the clearest channels.

I got a Motorola HD compat. signal booster (+15 db), from Circuit City last weekend, $50 after Mail in Rebate, and this still really didn't help PBS to an acceptable level.

Here in Des Plaines, WTTW-DT (191), in my opinion has the worst HD picture quality. I really thought it was 1080i, but came to the realization that its only 720p.

Not sure what you mean by "only 720p", as there are many who prefer it to 1080i, but your info regarding WTTW-DT is incorrect. Their HD broadcasts have always been 1080i.

Not sure what you mean by "only 720p", as there are many who prefer it to 1080i, but your info regarding WTTW-DT is incorrect. Their HD broadcasts have always been 1080i.

I think that has changed since they have added sub channels. Could be wrong but I thought they were 720p now.

-b

With College Football Season starting in 1 month now, (can you believe it!), I'm trying to get the schedule for nationally televised games together. I can't wait!

I went to ESPN.com and have the schedule for all the televised games that ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and ESPNU are planning to broadcast this fall. CBS sportsline also has the schedule for the SEC games of the week being broadcast. NBC has their schedule for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish games, and TBS has posted thier broadcast schedule of the PAC 10 games of the week for September.

September is a huge month, with double headers on ABC and ESPN almost every Saturday in the Month.

CBS broadcasts the regional early, (11 am), games every year, (usually big 10), but I haven't seen anywhere where they have posted there fall schedule. WCIU also does the same, but I haven't see their schedule anywhere either. Does anyone know where to find this? In the past the CBS early game and the WCIU regional games haven't been broadcast in stunning HD, hopefully things'll change this year. Anyone have info on this?

Speaking of high definition, I know Notre Dame home games will be broadcast in high definition, (1080i), as they were last year on NBC. So also, the CBS SEC games of the week, starting September 16th, (1080i also). If last year was any indication this is the most beautiful high definition picture you're going to find. They say 720p is best for sports, but from what I've seen the CBS 1080i is superlative to all. They do it right. Go Gators!

I'm a little disappointed, however, with ABC. I thought they promised to have more High Def. games over what they offered last year, but looking at the HD sports guide .com web page, it appears as though they will have only one a week in prime time, (7pm CST). This will really be great, but I was hoping for more.

Also, I'm looking for the schedule for Comcast Sports net and Fox Sports Net. Does anyone know where to find this, and will any of these games be in High Definition?

Its going to be a great fall!

I think that has changed since they have added sub channels. Could be wrong but I thought they were 720p now.

-b

Odd - I've never known of a station to switch from one to the other, but according to the mesage board on their website it looks as if that is what has happened. Shows how much I watch PBS...

CBS broadcasts the regional early, (11 am), games every year, (usually big 10), but I haven't seen anywhere where they have posted there fall schedule. WCIU also does the same, but I haven't see their schedule anywhere either. Does anyone know where to find this? In the past the CBS early game and the WCIU regional games haven't been broadcast in stunning HD, hopefully things'll change this year. Anyone have info on this?

I'm a little disappointed, however, with ABC. I thought they promised to have more High Def. games over what they offered last year, but looking at the HD sports guide .com web page, it appears as though they will have only one a week in prime time, (7pm CST). This will really be great, but I was hoping for more games in HD.

Ahh - Football....

To answer your questions as best as possible, the reason you're not finding the TV schedule is that it isn't finalized. On most Saturdays, ABC will have the option to show one of 3 games at the 2:30 time slot. They will announce their choice, based upon matchups, records, etc. on the Tuesday one week (11 days) prior to the Saturday game. The other games which are not chosen will be relegated to CBS / WCIU. I wouldn't expect to see any of these games (including the 2:30 ABC game) in HD as they are all regional games and the cost still outweighs the benfits of broadcasting in HD at this time.

Any late afternoon / primetime games on ABC which are broadcast to a national audience will have a good chance of being HD this year.

Hope this helps...

I'm not sure the settings matter if you're using the digital coaxial out. But, I've always put mine on Matrix Stereo / No Compression (somehow compression sounds like something I wouldn't want) just in case.

I go through the diagnostic menu on my display since I have a cc. It shows the snr DB for both inband and out of band.

Odd - I've never known of a station to switch from one to the other, but according to the mesage board on their website it looks as if that is what has happened. Shows how much I watch PBS...


Its definitily 720p. 1280 X 720 is the resolution whenever I record things on this channel with Cap DVHS. It has been 720p for a good while now, (at least 8 months).

I think 720p is nice also and PBS is still good, as its a high def. station, its just not as sharp as some of the others.

Its definitily 720p. 1280 X 720 is the resolution whenever I record things on this channel with Cap DVHS. It has been 720p for a good while now, (at least 8 months).

I think 720p is nice also and PBS is still good, as its a high def. station, its just not as sharp as some of the others.

Their HD programming is fine, but not everything they show is in HD. Alot of programming is SD widescreen but not HD.

With College Football Season starting in 1 month now, (can you believe it!), I'm trying to get the schedule for nationally televised games together. I can't wait!

I went to ESPN.com and have the schedule for all the televised games that ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and ESPNU are planning to broadcast this fall. CBS sportsline also has the schedule for the SEC games of the week being broadcast. NBC has their schedule for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish games, and TBS has posted thier broadcast schedule of the PAC 10 games of the week for September.

September is a huge month, with double headers on ABC and ESPN almost every Saturday in the Month.

CBS broadcasts the regional early, (11 am), games every year, (usually big 10), but I haven't seen anywhere where they have posted there fall schedule. WCIU also does the same, but I haven't see their schedule anywhere either. Does anyone know where to find this? In the past the CBS early game and the WCIU regional games haven't been broadcast in stunning HD, hopefully things'll change this year. Anyone have info on this?

Speaking of high definition, I know Notre Dame home games will be broadcast in high definition, (1080i), as they were last year on NBC. So also, the CBS SEC games of the week, starting September 16th, (1080i also). If last year was any indication this is the most beautiful high definition picture you're going to find. They say 720p is best for sports, but from what I've seen the CBS 1080i is superlative to all. They do it right. Go Gators!

I'm a little disappointed, however, with ABC. I thought they promised to have more High Def. games over what they offered last year, but looking at the HD sports guide .com web page, it appears as though they will have only one a week in prime time, (7pm CST). This will really be great, but I was hoping for more.

Also, I'm looking for the schedule for Comcast Sports net and Fox Sports Net. Does anyone know where to find this, and will any of these games be in High Definition?

Its going to be a great fall!

I like this schedule to see what games will be televised, and where.

http://mattsarz44017.tripod.com/football2006.html

I like this schedule to see what games will be televised, and where.

http://mattsarz44017.tripod.com/football2006.html


Wow! Excellent reference! Beautiful website! This is really great! This is going to be a great fall! I wish I knew about this site 10 years ago! Warm Regards to the guy who complied all of the schedules, I wonder how he did it!

At the risk of asking for to much is there any chance that the location of ESPN's College Game day is also know out there by some one? I understand that this show will also be in High Definition this fall. Does anyone also know the fall schedule for INHDs Fields of Glory?

Thanks for passing along the information, I really appreciate it.

Only negative is no FSN Chicago anymore[though CSN's reported to be looking at picking up FSN's games]

Wow! Excellent reference! Beautiful website! This is really great! This is going to be a great fall! I wish I knew about this site 10 years ago! Warm Regards to the guy who complied all of the schedules, I wonder how he did it!

At the risk of asking for to much is there any chance that the location of ESPN's College Game day is also know out there by some one? I understand that this show will also be in High Definition this fall. Does anyone also know the fall schedule for INHDs Fields of Glory?

Thanks for passing along the information, I really appreciate it.

Agreed, this is obviously a guy who enjoys his football. Sometimes the site isnt updated until a few days before the games but come game day it is always accurate.

I think that ESPN normally decides on the Game Day location a week a head of time.

Its definitily 720p. 1280 X 720 is the resolution whenever I record things on this channel with Cap DVHS. It has been 720p for a good while now, (at least 8 months).

I think 720p is nice also and PBS is still good, as its a high def. station, its just not as sharp as some of the others.Yes, they switched months ago when they added 11-3, "Create". And they cut the bandwith and bitrate.

And the person who mentioned they thought that it used to be better was right. WAY better. Used to literally be like "looking out of a window" with their best HD material. Now it's no better than a good DVD, with much more artifacts on it AND 11-2, and on top of it all, 11-3 is so bad it actually hurts to watch it.

Anyone that thinks it still looks great usually never saw it in it's "glory days" (kind of akin to the ongoing argument over the HD-lite of Direct TV, in the HDTV Proramming area). On rare tropo occasions I pick up Milwaukee's 1080i PBS-HD station (and have briefly received South Bend's once), and am clearly reminded of the difference (my heart actually sinks every time I see it).

If you're really interested in the overall reaction to this by the OTA'ers, and what kind of BS responses to our e-mails that we received from WTTW, search back to that time in the OTA thread. It's pretty interesting.

Thank God we're out of the woods with USDTV recently announcing their bankruptcy, in regards to more OTA bandwith being taken up - at least for now, anyway.

...And the person who mentioned they thought that it used to be better was right. WAY better. Used to literally be like "looking out of a window" with their best HD material. Now it's no better than a good DVD, with much more artifacts on it AND 11-2, and on top of it all, 11-3 is so bad it actually hurts to watch it.

Anyone that thinks it still looks great usually never saw it in it's "glory days" (kind of akin to the ongoing argument over the HD-lite of Direct TV, in the HDTV Proramming area)....

Affirmation! Thats right, this was a great station.

When it was going good, PBS was one the best HD stations. I really wasn't interested in PBS either until I saw its brilliant high definition content.

For those who don't know, there are loads of good programs on PBS; Nova, Sound Stage (i.e Sheryl Crow, John Mahr, Wall Flowers, etc.), and a lot of great documentaries, etc.

It'd be great if it returned to its preverbial "glory" once again.

It'd be great if it returned to its preverbial "glory" once again.

Well - the only way for that to happen is to kill the sub-channels that are hogging the bandwidth. Somehow I don't see that happening.

Unfortunately, you're probably right. Once the horse is out of the barn.......

You never know though - if enough regular subscribers cancelled their support and made it clear to them why........