There is something wrong with your DVR. If it is functioning normally, it will most definitely turn on to record what it's programmed to record.
Really? I have a DCT3400 and when I first got it, it wouldn't turn on to record shows. I'm hoping to swap it out with a DCX3400 today so I guess I'll have to try turning it off when I get it.

Do all of the Comcast DCX3400 boxes have the 250GB hard drive in them? According to this:

http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Products/TV%20Video%20Distribution/Customer%20Premises%20Equipment/All%20Digital%20QAM%20Set-tops/DCX3400/_Documents/552791-001_DCX3400.pdf?localeId=33

160GB is standard and 250GB is optional.Mine is 250GB. Loving it!

MTV2.

MTV2 is not even provided by them in HD yet... :confused:

Mine is 250GB. Loving it!
This may be a stupid question, but how do I figure out what size drive is in the DCX3400? I picked one up today and everything hooked up fine and its working but I can't figure out what size drive is in it.

This may be a stupid question, but how do I figure out what size drive is in the DCX3400? I picked one up today and everything hooked up fine and its working but I can't figure out what size drive is in it.

Using the remote, turn the DCX3400 off. Immediately afterwards (within a couple seconds) press the red OK button on the remote. This should bring up the diagnostics screen. Scroll down and check D13 - that will give you the stats on your hard drive.

Using the remote, turn the DCX3400 off. Immediately afterwards (within a couple seconds) press the red OK button on the remote. This should bring up the diagnostics screen. Scroll down and check D13 - that will give you the stats on your hard drive.
Thanks. Confirmed its 250gb.

Do all of the Comcast DCX3400 boxes have the 250GB hard drive in them? According to this:

http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Products/TV%20Video%20Distribution/Customer%20Premises%20Equipment/All%20Digital%20QAM%20Set-tops/DCX3400/_Documents/552791-001_DCX3400.pdf?localeId=33

160GB is standard and 250GB is optional.
Comcast seems to be mostly using the 3425, but on another forum, somebody posted, including a diagnostics screen, that they had a 3432 (320G).

Anyone in the Arlington Heights area having trouble with hbo hd, cinemax hd, and some other hd channels. All it says is "one moment please, channel will be available shortly." I talked with comcast and they don't seem to know what is going on. They sent some signals and nothing seemed to fix it. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time for them to send a technician to my place. I have hd dvr box dch3416. Thanks.

Anyone in the Arlington Heights area having trouble with hbo hd, cinemax hd, and some other hd channels. All it says is "one moment please, channel will be available shortly." I talked with comcast and they don't seem to know what is going on. They sent some signals and nothing seemed to fix it. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time for them to send a technician to my place. I have hd dvr box dch3416. Thanks.

That message typically means it cannot lock onto the channel. It could be due to a weak signal, or the frequency itself was out. There are typically 2-3 HD channels per frequency, so just frequency out or having problems can affect multiple channels.

Well, I received my "Good News" letter from Comcast, although I guess it's a matter of perspective since it doesn't feel like good news to me. I'm in the Elmhurst area and it's finally going all digital in the spring following in the footsteps of other suburbs.

I knew this was happening but didn't become too concerned until I saw that Comcast got approval to enable the security in their DTAs. As I currently have analog service and use no STB, just a connection from the wall to my equipment, I sense a great disturbance in my ability to record/time shift if the same analog expanded basic channels aren't going to be available in clear QAM. (No thanks, I'm not interested in their DVR or any additional service expenses)

I want to do some research and would really appreciate if someone could point me to the brand and model of STB and DTA that Comcast is deploying in the area as I'm not sure if they are consistent region to region. I want to review the specs and see if they have features like a timer/channel change capability and what are the various output options (i.e. RF, component, composite, HDMI, are they all active or only one at a time, etc). I don't want to wait too late before figuring out what I need to revamp or exploring other options.

Thanks

The DTA I have in Naperville is a Pace DC50X. It is as basic as a box gets - RF output only, no menus or configuration options. The thing changes channels and that's it. I'm going to have to dig up the IR blasters to make it work with an old TiVo Series2.

I want to do some research and would really appreciate if someone could point me to the brand and model of STB and DTA that Comcast is deploying in the area as I'm not sure if they are consistent region to region. I want to review the specs and see if they have features like a timer/channel change capability and what are the various output options (i.e. RF, component, composite, HDMI, are they all active or only one at a time, etc). I don't want to wait too late before figuring out what I need to revamp or exploring other options.The Motorola DCH3200 is is one model I know of that has timers.

The Motorola DCH3200 is is one model I know of that has timers.

Actually, most, if not all, of the full boxes have a 'record' function that will turn them on and set the channel. In some cases, there is the red record button on-screen. For others, it may only work if you hit the record button on the remote while choosing from the guide.

The DTA I have in Naperville is a Pace DC50X. It is as basic as a box gets - RF output only, no menus or configuration options. The thing changes channels and that's it. I'm going to have to dig up the IR blasters to make it work with an old TiVo Series2.

From what I've been reading, the DTA's use a unique IR code that few, if any, devices or remotes support out-of-the-box. Since the Tivo can be updated remotely, maybe it will support it.

I've read that the Series2 has been updated to support the most common DTAs. Guess I'll find out soon enough.

Anyone else notice white dots/sparkles in the picture lately? I only notice it on my projector, no other tv's in the house have it. I also have a blu-ray player hooked up to the projector and there is no problem with that.

If you're using HDMI, try a different cable.

As mentioned in my last bill, several South Asian channels were added as 660-664.

I also noticed there is now a channel 666. It has no channel name or program info. It may be for ZeeTV, as that is the only channel not listed. (SONY is SET [Sony Entertainment Television] Asia.) I'm surprised they are using that channel number...

Anyone in the Arlington Heights area having trouble with hbo hd, cinemax hd, and some other hd channels. All it says is "one moment please, channel will be available shortly." I talked with comcast and they don't seem to know what is going on. They sent some signals and nothing seemed to fix it. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time for them to send a technician to my place. I have hd dvr box dch3416. Thanks.

I had that problem with CBS and other channels on comcast-- I would get that same screen saying it was getting the channel but never did. I could not watch 60 Minutes on CBS for the last 2 months I had comcast. I ended up getting rid of Comcast for that, plus they were increasing my bill, and the fact that people in Chicago got more HD channels than I did in the suburbs.

MTV2 is not even provided by them in HD yet... :confused:

my post was more general - like "these aren't available to me in HD"

Is glen ellyn still scheduled for the analog conversion tonight?

Just noticed that BETJ is now Centric.
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=853853

anyone in the city of Chicago have the new channels yet? I forgot to check this morning.

Just noticed that BETJ is now Centric.
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=853853It might have been The N but i have teen nick now. different programming and stuff i think.

anyone in the city of Chicago have the new channels yet? I forgot to check this morning.

You mean the new HD channels in the 290's?  I thought they were expected tomorrow, October 1.

The N's new name TeenNick shows in On Demand and the mnemonic is now TNCK for channel 215.  I can find neither BET J nor Centric and am not sure we ever had it here under either name.

You mean the new HD channels in the 290's?* I thought they were expected tomorrow, October 1.

The N's new name TeenNick shows in On Demand and the mnemonic is now TNCK for channel 215.* I can find neither BET J nor Centric and am not sure we ever had it here under either name.BET J was in the 400's or something here in glen ellyn. Have not looked for centric today though.

BET J was in the 400's or something here in glen ellyn.Thanks for the clue.  Centric is on channel 481 with CTRIC as its mnemonic.

On the new Channels, I thought they were suppose to be added today also but when I checked this morning at 7:30 am did not see them. Location: Des Plaines, IL.

On the new Channels, I thought they were suppose to be added today also but when I checked this morning at 7:30 am did not see them. Location: Des Plaines, IL.
Not here yet in Oswego either. I'm pretty sure the notice I got said September 30th.

I know my notice said September 30th.

I too got a letter stating Sept. 30th. I'm not showing any new HD channels. :(

On the bright side - analog channels didn't go away on September 28th
They are still available

Then that's the problem. The new HD channels can't happen until they pull the plug on all those analogs and free up the bandwidth.

In Plano, the 16 analog channels went away today instead of yesterday as announced. The new HD channels have not showed up as of 9p.m.

I got a notice with my latest bill today that the new HD channels are coming tomorrow[the only one I can remember is NBATV HD].

In Joliet, 17 analogs disapeered yesterday and the following HD's added today:
HD Adds to Digital Starter:
227) Hallmark Movies
229) Lifetime Movies
264) Fox Biz
266) CNBC
269) Biography
282) QVC
HD Adds to Digital Classic:
231) ESPN News
234) NHL
235) NBA
261) Planet Green
263) Encore
278) Bravo
279) Fuse
280) IFC
281) WE
283) Disney XD
284) MGM

Pus NFL Red Zone HD on channel 254.

Then that's the problem. The new HD channels can't happen until they pull the plug on all those analogs and free up the bandwidth.

Where I live all the channels they said would be moving to digital were moved yesterday. They no longer show up on analog. The HD channels they were supposed to add today however are not showing up.

no new HD channels here.

Just got the new hd channels in Glen Ellyn. Most with limited guide info. Rest without channel name or listings. Was not there at 11:45pm when i got home. Pretty sweet!

Nice. I didn't check before I left home. Hopefully Tivo is on top of it

Sadly, TiVo has not been on top of the last few rounds of HD additions in my area. I've had all those channels listed by Spiderman865 for several months now, but it took weeks and three support tickets for TiVo to get the lineup correct.

seems like they always add the odd foreign or local channels fast. but it took forever for Nick and Spike to come through. Sigh. I love Tivo though.

In Joliet, 17 analogs disapeered yesterday and the following HD's added today:
HD Adds to Digital Starter:
227) Hallmark Movies
229) Lifetime Movies
264) Fox Biz
266) CNBC
269) Biography
282) QVC
HD Adds to Digital Classic:
231) ESPN News
234) NHL
235) NBA
261) Planet Green
263) Encore
278) Bravo
279) Fuse
280) IFC
281) WE
283) Disney XD
284) MGM

Pus NFL Red Zone HD on channel 254.
In Elgin, the only ones of those we didn't have yet were NHL, NBA and Red Zone. NBA is the only one showing up now. No NHL or Red Zone HD showing up yet.

so most people are seeing VH1, MTV, Comedy Central, and Travel in HD?

so most people are seeing VH1, MTV, Comedy Central, and Travel in HD?

Yup! In Plano all of the new promised hd channels are up.

What the hell happened, I'm missing like half of my channels! CBS 2 HD is gone and several other Analog channels. I'm using QAM without any cable boxes on my TV's. What is going on? Will the channels get back or do I need some stupid cable box? BTW on one of my channels I got a message that says something along the lines of "your TV isn't prepared for comcast digital network enhancement"... It's a $2000 TV for christ sakes...

What the hell happened, I'm missing like half of my channels! CBS 2 HD is gone and several other Analog channels. I'm using QAM without any cable boxes on my TV's. What is going on? Will the channels get back or do I need some stupid cable box? BTW on one of my channels I got a message that says something along the lines of "your TV isn't prepared for comcast digital network enhancement"...

Yep, you missed the SECOND analog shutdown---the one Comcast (and all cable companies) are doing or have done. Yep, you need a box now, and many of the rest of the analog channels will be gone relatively soon.

I have the new HD channels here in Naperville. and my TiVo caught the new lineup after a forced service connection. Here's what I have now that I didn't before:

225 Nickelodeon HD
226 Cartoon Network HD
228 Lifetime HD
234 NHL Network HD
235 NBA TV HD
262 E! HD
287 Style HD
288 G4 HD
289 TV One HD
290 Spike HD
293 Travel Channel HD
294 Comedy Central HD
296 MTV HD
297 VH1 HD

Are the locals still working for anyone else watching on QAM in Chicago?

Yep, you missed the SECOND analog shutdown---the one Comcast (and all cable companies) are doing or have done. Yep, you need a box now, and many of the rest of the analog channels will be gone relatively soon.

So why can't they just send them in ClearQAM like they do with the local channels? I so don't want to have cable boxes laying around my house and I like my remotes too...

Are the locals still working for anyone else watching on QAM in Chicago?

Yes they are, except CBS 2 HD and WTTW HD went out for me couple days ago.



BTW you guys with those 15 HD channels, what plan are you using to get them? Can I just get a cable box and that's it, or do I have to get some special HD plan?

I scanned through the analogs on my LCD TV and a few of the old ones are static and a few more show the message about "your TV is not ready ...". I checked the channels on my TivoHD and the new ones are in the list. I can't flip to them at the moment since I am recording two shows.:)

PS I did not lose any of the clear QAM HD locals. Of course my cable install is less than a year old and no filters were installed on the line.

So why can't they just send them in ClearQAM like they do with the local channels? I so don't want to have cable boxes laying around my house and I like my remotes too...


You don't have much of a choice, unfortunately. Cable box mandatory. They encrypt them so the enticement to steal them from thieves is next to zero.

So why can't they just send them in ClearQAM like they do with the local channels? I so don't want to have cable boxes laying around my house and I like my remotes too...

Sorry to break it to you this way, but no amount of complaining will change the new reality-
Unless you only watch network TV, you will have to get a box.

At least Comcast sends broadcast channels in clear QAM. I had Wide Open West cable at the townhouse I lived in a few years ago and none of their HD content was sent clearQAM. The most I got was their music channels.

My god, all my TV's (5) are hanged on the wall and the cables are already in the walls. Now I will have to rip all my walls open again, Thanks Comcast :rolleyes:

Has anyone convinced Comcast to give them a real box vs that cheap DTA with RF only?
I already have a HD-DVR and Tivo with cable card in the family room. I'd like something that works in the bedroom. If I hook up the DTA, I'll lose the QAM local HD channels. Also my Panasonic dvd-recorder won't work with the DTA.

My god, all my TV's (5) are hanged on the wall and the cables are already in the walls. Now I will have to rip all my walls open again, Thanks Comcast :rolleyes:

Do they support cablecard?
If so, you can "fix" this without breaking the drywall.

Has anyone convinced Comcast to give them a real box vs that cheap DTA with RF only?
I already have a HD-DVR and Tivo with cable card in the family room. I'd like something that works in the bedroom. If I hook up the DTA, I'll lose the QAM local HD channels. Also my Panasonic dvd-recorder won't work with the DTA.

Just today, my friend picked up one moto DCX dvr box, and two HD non-dvr boxes. As long as you are willing to pay, they will provide them, pending availability.
He lives in Lombard.

Comcast is finally starting to roll out the system upgrades, and with that comes a bunch of new HD channels for the various area headends. I've updated the list of Comcast HD channels with the usual warning that certain areas may not have all the channels listed (some channels go live at the end of October).

I've incorporated new channel info from Chicago, Plano and Joliet into the list (they seem to be most complete), but I'm sure there are errors in here, too. Please send me any corrections and I'll put them in for the next release (probably in a week). I'd also appreciate if people with the new channels can send me the channel designators info so I can complete the table.

Thanks.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/3973707690_2ce7602197_o.png

As long as you are willing to pay, they will provide them, pending availability.

Yep, that's the thing: money.

DTAs are free, but a "real" box means you get dinged for an additional digital outlet. I would rather lose a tuner on my TiVo S2DT than give Comcast another $5.99/month. (It's not my only TiVo, or else it would be a different story.)

What the hell happened, I'm missing like half of my channels! CBS 2 HD is gone and several other Analog channels. I'm using QAM without any cable boxes on my TV's. What is going on? Will the channels get back or do I need some stupid cable box? BTW on one of my channels I got a message that says something along the lines of "your TV isn't prepared for comcast digital network enhancement"... It's a $2000 TV for christ sakes...If it's just the local digitals you want, then try a re-scan. They occasionally move them around. They should at least still be leaving all of those in the clear.

Has anyone convinced Comcast to give them a real box vs that cheap DTA with RF only?
I already have a HD-DVR and Tivo with cable card in the family room. I'd like something that works in the bedroom. If I hook up the DTA, I'll lose the QAM local HD channels. Also my Panasonic dvd-recorder won't work with the DTA.You need to split the signal, with one feed going to the DTA, and the other going to your QAM tuners.

At least that way you'll still get the local HD's on the TV, and be able to record from the digital locals (different channels) through the Panny's tuner.

Otherwise, for recording from all the other channels with the recorder, if you want to be able to record from more than one channel unattended, you'd have to have one of their tuners which has a timer feature so that it can change channels on it's own.

Anyone else getting a ton of breakup on the local HD channels this morning? All the olympic coverage has been horrible for me, audio drops, picture drops, massive pixelation.

I noticed that you have G4 as being in the digital starter package, but currently I'm not authorized to get that channel. I'm located in the city in the 60641 zip. Am I suppose to be receiving that channel?

so most people are seeing VH1, MTV, Comedy Central, and Travel in HD?

Yup! In Plano all of the new promised hd channels are up.

Not here in Chicago Area 2.  The new HD channels in the 290's are not coming in, and 294 still has G4 in SD.

You need to split the signal, with one feed going to the DTA, and the other going to your QAM tuners.

At least that way you'll still get the local HD's on the TV, and be able to record from the digital locals (different channels) through the Panny's tuner.

Otherwise, for recording from all the other channels with the recorder, if you want to be able to record from more than one channel unattended, you'd have to have one of their tuners which has a timer feature so that it can change channels on it's own.
One of the problems with the DTA is that they are RF only output. If you want to use the same TV to watch clearQAM HD and any scrambled through the DTA (assuming they start scrambling), then you will need an RF switch. :mad: Otherwise, you could use an SD box, which at least has composite output.

Not here in Chicago Area 2.* The new HD channels in the 290's are not coming in, and 294 still has G4 in SD.

Live in Chicago Lakeview neighborhood. Is that area 2? I never know :)

Nothing new here, either. Here's hoping I get Comedy Central before SouthPark comes back next week.

Me wants Cartman in HD :D

One of the problems with the DTA is that they are RF only output. If you want to use the same TV to watch clearQAM HD and any scrambled through the DTA (assuming they start scrambling), then you will need an RF switch. :mad:That's right - I forgot about that. You could use an old VCR to convert it to composite, also.

Still getting the Clear-QAM channels in the upper level channel numbers, but lost their analog equivalent on the lower level.

Landlord hasn't said anything himself about the loss of channels, not sure if he's even noticed since he just watches the locals.



I was half hoping for the NHL Freeview channels to be in Clear-QAM when I went through and re-scanned to eliminate the now non-existant channels, but I couldn't get that lucky. :o:D

I have the new HD channels here in Naperville. and my TiVo caught the new lineup after a forced service connection. Here's what I have now that I didn't before:

293 Travel Channel HD
294 Comedy Central HD
296 MTV HD
297 VH1 HD

yeah these 4 should have been added to mine, yet have not. I live in the city.

Live in Chicago Lakeview neighborhood. Is that area 2? I never know :)

Nothing new here, either. Here's hoping I get Comedy Central before SouthPark comes back next week.

Me wants Cartman in HD :D

same here!

ours is Area 1,4,5.

still none here. trying to get a comcast rep in chat.

They are not available yet in 1,4,5 per a comcast rep (Jomarie)

No word on when they will be.

Live in Chicago Lakeview neighborhood. Is that area 2? I never know :)No, it's area 1.  I'm not sure of the exact boundaries, but there basically are five sectors spreading out from downtown, numbered counterclockwise from north to west to southeast.

They are not available yet in 1,4,5 per a comcast rep (Jomarie)

No word on when they will be.
The rep I got, whose name was unintelligible when she picked up the line and again when I asked her to repeat it, told me the same: nothing listed in upcoming changes as far as she could see, and we'd have to settle for viewing those channels in SD.

This time the burbs got some HD channels before the city.

FSugino: please update your table to indicate that 293-298 are available in "some suburbs" and not "Chicago and some suburbs."

MORE CHANGES COMING IN PLANO AREA

According to the letter I received in the mail today from Comcast, the following changes are coming at the end of October.

Effective October 27, 2009 the remaining Expanded Basic channels (29-75) will be transmitted in digital format only. Looks like all of them to me.

Effective October 28, 2009 the following HD channels will be added to Digital Starter:
Ch. 295 BET HD Ch. 292 In Demand HD ppv Ch. 320 truTV HD
Ch. 460 Game ppv HD Ch. 319 Turner Classic Movies HD Ch. 270 Weather Channel HD
Ch. 318 Hdline News HDCh. 450 Team ppv HD

Effective October 28, 2009 The following channel will be added to Digital Classic:
Ch. 298 CMT HD

Effective October 28, 2009 The following premium channels will be added:
Ch. 316 5StarMax HD Ch. 302 HBO Family HD Ch. 306 More Max HD
Ch. 307 Action Max HD Ch. 305 HBO Latino HD Ch. 310 Showtime Extreme HD
Ch. 300 HBO 2 HD Ch. 303 HBO Signature HD Ch. 309 Showtime Showcase HD
Ch. 301 HBO Comedy HD Ch. 304 HBO Zone HD Ch. 308 Showtime Too Hd
Ch. 314 Movie Channel HDCh. 315 Movie Channel Xtra HD

Effective October 28, 2009 the following channels will be added to Sports Package:
Ch. 232 CBS College HD Ch. 236 Tennis Channel HD

Also on October 28, 2009 a whole slew of South Asian and Hispanic channels (too numerous to post here)

As I mentioned this was in a letter from Comcast affecting the Plano (I believe Aurora) headend.

anyone else losing the digital signal for fox during the bears games? the last 2 games while watching i have lost the signal and the tv switches to channel 5-after a few minutes i am able to get it back. it also seems odd it goes to channel 5 each time-any thoughts? my tv is hooked up to cable from the wall, no box.

MORE CHANGES COMING IN PLANO AREA

According to the letter I received in the mail today from Comcast, the following changes are coming at the end of October.

Effective October 27, 2009 the remaining Expanded Basic channels (29-75) will be transmitted in digital format only. Looks like all of them to me.

Effective October 28, 2009 the following HD channels will be added to Digital Starter:
Ch. 295 BET HD Ch. 292 In Demand HD ppv Ch. 320 truTV HD
Ch. 460 Game ppv HD Ch. 319 Turner Classic Movies HD Ch. 270 Weather Channel HD
Ch. 318 Hdline News HDCh. 450 Team ppv HD

Effective October 28, 2009 The following channel will be added to Digital Classic:
Ch. 298 CMT HD

Effective October 28, 2009 The following premium channels will be added:
Ch. 316 5StarMax HD Ch. 302 HBO Family HD Ch. 306 More Max HD
Ch. 307 Action Max HD Ch. 305 HBO Latino HD Ch. 310 Showtime Extreme HD
Ch. 300 HBO 2 HD Ch. 303 HBO Signature HD Ch. 309 Showtime Showcase HD
Ch. 301 HBO Comedy HD Ch. 304 HBO Zone HD Ch. 308 Showtime Too Hd
Ch. 314 Movie Channel HDCh. 315 Movie Channel Xtra HD

Effective October 28, 2009 the following channels will be added to Sports Package:
Ch. 232 CBS College HD Ch. 236 Tennis Channel HD

Also on October 28, 2009 a whole slew of South Asian and Hispanic channels (too numerous to post here)

As I mentioned this was in a letter from Comcast affecting the Plano (I believe Aurora) headend.
Hopefully this effects Oswego as well?

Any other areas having outages with Comcast over the past couple of days. In Oswego we lost Internet Saturday night and then last night we lost Internet and Cable a little after 10pm.

this sucks. I was really looking forward to South Park in HD.

When I do a scan with my tuner card in my HTPC I'm only really getting ION, and PBS. No locals.

Anyone have any idea why?

I've tried Arcsoft Total Media 3.5.256 that came bundled with my card as well as Windows Media Center on Win 7 x86. I'm also not entirely sure what "area" I am, where can I get this info? I'm zipcode 60612 around UIC.

When I do a scan with my tuner card in my HTPC I'm only really getting ION, and PBS. No locals.

Anyone have any idea why?

I've tried Arcsoft Total Media 3.5.256 that came bundled with my card as well as Windows Media Center on Win 7 x86. I'm also not entirely sure what "area" I am, where can I get this info? I'm zipcode 60612 around UIC.

Do you have a TV you can test with? Some tuners are more sensitive than others.

Do you have a TV you can test with? Some tuners are more sensitive than others.

I plugged it into a TV and got some SD locals but didn't spend too much time with it, just made sure I was getting things other than ION and PBS.

It is an Asus PE9400 that is in the computer if it matters.

Could the scans be missing a chunk of channels or something? I see all these posts about comcast being odd with their numbering scheme. Should I be doing something else than an auto scan?

edit: I should say, I do see several other channels, they are just all encrypted/locked.

[QUOTE=keithj;17300333]Hopefully this effects Oswego as well?

Looks like Oswego is on the same rollout schedule as Plano for the additional channels. Just got a letter in the mail today.

Still nothing new in Northbrook / Highland Park. :(

I haven't gotten a letter in Naperville yet, but given that we were on the same timetable as Plano/Oswego for the first round, I assume we'll get the same stuff later this month.

anyone having issues with some HD channels this morning? I couldn't get ABC, NBC, or FOX to come in - my TivoHD just said "searching for channel"

Hopefully this effects Oswego as well?

Looks like Oswego is on the same rollout schedule as Plano for the additional channels. Just got a letter in the mail today.
Yeah. My letter came yesterday too.

Funny thing about the letter though. According to Comcast's records, I didn't not have digital boxes for all of my TVs and I had to call them. I know I have digital boxes on all my TVs but I wanted to call about my bill anyway since I haven't changed my services for a long time but after seeing NFL Red Zone this weekend, I was wondering to see how much it was going to cost me to keep it.

I have been paying:

On Demand Platinum
Includes: Basic and Expanded Basic, Digital Basic, Digital Music, HBO, HBO Plex. Showtime, Showtime Plex, STARZ, STARZ Plex.
$102.99

PLUS:

Cinemax
$10.00

Total $112.99

I looked on their site and they have the following package listed:

Digital Premier
Includes HBO, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax, along with their multiplexes and On Demand libraries, plus the Sports Entertainment Package
$115.99

Basically, I could keep everything I currently have and add the sports package for $3 per month so I figured it was worth it and decided to upgrade. Once I got the agent on the phone, I asked what the price was for the Digital Premier package. She said they currently have a special for 12 months for $84.99. I quickly did the math and decided a $31 per month savings was worth it so I told her to sign me up. She “cautioned” me that after 12 months the price would go up. I asked what the price would go up to and she said $104.99 which is still $11 less than I am currently paying.

The moral of this story? If you haven't changed your Comcast service in a long time, call them up. It could save you a bunch of money.

I have a Sony SXRD 50XBR1 set. It has 2 tuners and a cable card slot and twin view. Instead if the garbage DTR, I was thinking of getting a cable card instead. If I want to access the digital channels on both tuners at once (watching with twin view/PIP). So I need a M-Card? Would an S-card also work. Is one needed vs the other?

I called Sony support and they said it had to be an S-card (M-cards not supported). Has anyone tried this?

I have a Sony SXRD 50XBR1 set. It has 2 tuners and a cable card slot and twin view. Instead if the garbage DTR, I was thinking of getting a cable card instead. If I want to access the digital channels on both tuners at once (watching with twin view/PIP). So I need a M-Card? Would an S-card also work. Is one needed vs the other?

I called Sony support and they said it had to be an S-card (M-cards not supported). Has anyone tried this?

Are BOTH tuners digital? Some TV's may have one digital and one analog. If only one tuner is digital, then you can only use an S-Card. I guess you could test the tuners by trying to tune in two clearQAM channels at the same time.

Are BOTH tuners digital? Some TV's may have one digital and one analog. If only one tuner is digital, then you can only use an S-Card. I guess you could test the tuners by trying to tune in two clearQAM channels at the same time. Not sure what the strict definition of a digital tuner is; do you mean QAM? I know only the left side can display HD, the other side can only access non-HD channels and non-HD video inputs. Comcast is coming Sat so I guess I will found out then. So is the cable card only usable by the digital tuner, is that it? Usually I have the left (HD) side's input to my Tivo-HD, does that mean I won't be able to access any digital (non-HD) channels with the tuner on the right side thru the cable card?

It's that time of the year again.. Received my latest bill...and rates for "standard" (basic+expanded) are going up $2/month starting November.

It's that time of the year again.. Received my latest bill...and rates for "standard" (basic+expanded) are going up $2/month starting November.

I end up calling Comcast every 6 months & asking what they have for a promo rate. I explain I get mailings from the satellite companies which give me more channels for less money. And this is the truth. I ask what can they do to be competitive. You may have to call more than once in order to get a person that can do something. Currently I'm paying $44.99 for Digital Preferred which gives me just about everything except the premium channels (HBO, etc) and the sports packages. Of course a STB, HD STB or HD DVR are additional. If you're TV takes a CableCard I understand that costs anywhere from free to $2.

Not sure what the strict definition of a digital tuner is; do you mean QAM? I know only the left side can display HD, the other side can only access non-HD channels and non-HD video inputs. Comcast is coming Sat so I guess I will found out then. So is the cable card only usable by the digital tuner, is that it? Usually I have the left (HD) side's input to my Tivo-HD, does that mean I won't be able to access any digital (non-HD) channels with the tuner on the right side thru the cable card?
I'm guessing you only have one digital tuner. The second is analog. Can the second tuner tune into non-HD digital channels (xxx-1, xxx-2, etc...) or only analog channels?

I have a pre-digital Sony 30XBR910, with 2 analog tuners. Like yours, it can only display HD (from component or HDMI) on the left window.

We just received the digital letter from Comcast indicating that Barrington (right in the village) will be switched over April 27, 2010. They will supply us with one stb and two adapters for free. We been expanded basic analog customers for many years.

Will the local QAM stations stay in the clear, or does Comcast scramble everything?

We just received the digital letter from Comcast indicating that Barrington (right in the village) will be switched over April 27, 2010. They will supply us with one stb and two adapters for free. We been expanded basic analog customers for many years.

Will the local QAM stations stay in the clear, or does Comcast scramble everything? Eventually all will be scrambled except for the local basic stations. The free adaptors are junk; only coax in and out ports. If you want to watch an HD local station you have to put a RF switch in or use a HD STB or not use the adaptor and not have the digital channels. A real pain... Since I already have a HD DVR, I have to pay for the STB so I can use it with a dvd recorder in the other room.

I'm guessing you only have one digital tuner. The second is analog. Can the second tuner tune into non-HD digital channels (xxx-1, xxx-2, etc...) or only analog channels?

I have a pre-digital Sony 30XBR910, with 2 analog tuners. Like yours, it can only display HD (from component or HDMI) on the left window. Well they installed it and it looks like there is 1 digital and 1 analog tuner. On the left side I can get all channels, on the right side I can only get analog channels and it appears to be there are only 2 of them (some public station and cbs somehow on 92).

Does anyone else have a cable card installed on their tv? Comcast just installed and it looks like I'm not getting any channel > 194 on it. I get the gray cable card diagnostic screen on any channel beyond 194. I think I had a similar problem when I first got my tivo installed but not sure.

anyone having audio issues with SNL in HD tonight? It seems kind of low quality, and there are pops every few seconds.

I had the same issue with Saturday Night Live; thankfully, the episode offered no compelling reason to keep watching after the Weekend Update segment.

agreed. what a crap episode.

anyone having audio issues with SNL in HD tonight? It seems kind of low quality, and there are pops every few seconds.

I noticed it, too. I've also been noticing it at some level or another on other NBC network stuff, especially Leno and Conan.

Should check with the OTA thread to clarify if it's NBC or Comcast.

As I mentioned over on the OTA thread:

I noticed the SNL popping watching WMAQ on Comcast via TiVo. I thought it was my setup, but maybe not.

I did not notice the popping when I watched it live OTA on WNBC-DT/New York---nor when I was in Studio 8H for Saturday night's dress rehearsal. :D (Sorry, had to brag.) My favorite moment of the show was in a sketch that got cut, and other things were rewritten, probably because of NBC censors. Disappointing.

Checked my latest bill on-line, and it had these notes (Schaumburg):
News from Comcast
Thank you for choosing Comcast.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to increases in programming
and business costs, we will be adjusting monthly prices for
some residential services and equipment while many other
prices remain the same. Please see the "Important Account
Information" section of this statement for details.
On 10/1 CLTV moved from Expanded Basic to
Digital Starter Service. Expanded Basic customers
can continue to view CLTV during the month of
October. Beginning 11/3, a subscription to Digital
Starter will be required in order to continue
receiving CLTV.

Important Account Information
IMPORTANT NOTICE CON'T: The following residential
monthly prices will change effective with our November
billing statements.
- Expanded Basic will increase from $40.00 to $41.99.
- The monthly prices for Digital Starter, Digital Premier
and Digital Preferred Packages will remain the same.
- The Service Protection Plan will increase from $1.49
to $1.99.
- Comcast Digital Voice and/or Internet modems will
increase from $3 to $5.
- The monthly price for Performance, Blast! and Ultra
Internet services, for non-cable TV customers, will be
reduced by $2.
(All prices are subject to applicable franchise fees
and taxes, and are subject to change.)

Got mail from Comcast today saying that my part of Schaumburg is finally getting the digital conversion process started. Also, effective Nov. 10 some channels are moving from Digital Starter to Expanded Basic, and others from Digital Classic to Digital Starter. The only HD channels that seem to be affected are BIO and Hallmark Movie Channel (DC to DS).

Hopefully that means we'll get those additional HD channels that the others have received in the past few weeks.

Got mail from Comcast today saying that my part of Schaumburg is finally getting the digital conversion process started. Also, effective Nov. 10 some channels are moving from Digital Starter to Expanded Basic, and others from Digital Classic to Digital Starter. The only HD channels that seem to be affected are BIO and Hallmark Movie Channel (DC to DS).

Hopefully that means we'll get those additional HD channels that the others have received in the past few weeks.

It's a bit misleading. I think it just means those channels will be unencrypted (or in an encryption supported by the DTA's.) They only are added to EB if you have a digital box, DTA or CableCard (and maybe clearQAM for awhile.)

I guess they had to do something to explain the $2 increase while losing CLTV.

BTW, I just did some testing, and CLTV is showing up as clearQAM 72-22 here in Schaumburg.

FYI, Comcast is having cablecard issues in the Chicago area this week. My card gives a 161-10 error every minute or so. Comcast cablecard group called me this evening and said this is happening to many, many cards with either 161-10 or 161-52 errors.

They think they tweaked something in their system that caused the problem and they are trying to figure out what happened. They asked for a couple of days and issued a $25 credit to my account.

It's a bit misleading. I think it just means those channels will be unencrypted (or in an encryption supported by the DTA's.) They only are added to EB if you have a digital box, DTA or CableCard (and maybe clearQAM for awhile.)

I guess they had to do something to explain the $2 increase while losing CLTV.

BTW, I just did some testing, and CLTV is showing up as clearQAM 72-22 here in Schaumburg.

I went looking for CLTV today (no STB/DTA yet) and found it on 76-11. Don't know if it's what Comcast does to their signals or the gear, but I've heard different tuners may map the same Comcast channels differently.

FYI, Comcast is having cablecard issues in the Chicago area this week. My card gives a 161-10 error every minute or so. Comcast cablecard group called me this evening and said this is happening to many, many cards with either 161-10 or 161-52 errors.

Interesting... I've got two TivoHDs with cablecards, one has been fine but the other has been getting 161-52 errors every 10 minutes or so, which basically results in frozen or blank video for 10-20 secs. I've called in 4 or 5 times since Wednesday and swapped the card out at the local office today (the new one has the same issues, of course), and nobody gave any indication that that it was a known issue. Did they call you out of the blue?

FYI, Comcast is having cablecard issues in the Chicago area this week. My card gives a 161-10 error every minute or so. Comcast cablecard group called me this evening and said this is happening to many, many cards with either 161-10 or 161-52 errors.

They think they tweaked something in their system that caused the problem and they are trying to figure out what happened. They asked for a couple of days and issued a $25 credit to my account.

Count me lucky I guess.. I have an mcard in my TivoHD in the Lincoln Park area and have been ok.

knock on wood..

I went looking for CLTV today (no STB/DTA yet) and found it on 76-11. Don't know if it's what Comcast does to their signals or the gear, but I've heard different tuners may map the same Comcast channels differently.
It depends on where you live and your head end or master head end for your area. CLTV is on 72-22 here in Schaumburg and possibly nearby areas.

Interesting... I've got two TivoHDs with cablecards, one has been fine but the other has been getting 161-52 errors every 10 minutes or so, which basically results in frozen or blank video for 10-20 secs. I've called in 4 or 5 times since Wednesday and swapped the card out at the local office today (the new one has the same issues, of course), and nobody gave any indication that that it was a known issue. Did they call you out of the blue?

It started Wednesday and I called that night. I was lucky to get someone who understood (instead of reading from a script). After sending hits to the card did not help, he promised a call from the "cablecard group". They called the next night and canceled my Friday service call because they knew swapping cards would not help.

BTW, my card is in a Sony HDD500 DVR with an M-card that has been perfect for a long time. Comcast did not say the problem was specific to any brand of equipment. Again, they said "give it a couple of days or so". I just checked, and the error is still popping up today.

I guess Comcast really screwed something up.

It started Wednesday and I called that night. I was lucky to get someone who understood (instead of reading from a script). After sending hits to the card did not help, he promised a call from the "cablecard group". They called the next night and canceled my Friday service call because they knew swapping cards would not help.

BTW, my card is in a Sony HDD500 DVR with an M-card that has been perfect for a long time. Comcast did not say the problem was specific to any brand of equipment. Again, they said "give it a couple of days or so". I just checked, and the error is still popping up today.

I guess Comcast really screwed something up.

Ahh, you managed to get a call back, lucky :). Two of my calls ended in a promised callback, but nothing. Oh well, its good to know its them at least. I was a bit worried that since it was only happening to one tivo and a swap didn't fix it that it was something wrong with the Tivo ... not good when I had only got about 18 months out of the lifetime (of the hardware) tivo subsciption.

Thanks for the info.

Mike

Comcast called this morning (hard to believe, I know). The Chicago cablecard issues have been resolved.

The Chicago cablecard issues have been resolved.
Looks good here. Yay.

Now for the surprisingly difficult task of getting my cards re-paired -- without a truck roll -- so I can watch the Encore block (a pre-existing condition). Its amazing how hard it is to get 1 freaking number in front of a person who has the ability to do something with it.

This is on my October 19 bill:

IMPORTANT CHANNEL CHANGE NEWS ¿ On 12/1/09, TBN & TBN Enlace will be replaced by WWTO TBN & WWTO Enlace on chls 230 & 633; WWTO JCTV chl 147, WWTO TBN chl 230, WWTO Smile chl 337, WWTO Church chl 488 & WWTO Enlace chl 633 will be added to Basic Service and require digital compatible equip.

On 12/16/09, Style chl 84 will move from Expanded Basic to Digital Starter chls 84 & 118; ShopNBC chl 164 will move from Digital Classic to Basic Service and will require digital compatible equipment; Fuse will remain on Digital Classic but will move from chl 476 to chl 134.

On 10/1 CLTV moved from Basic Service to Digital Starter Service. Basic Service customers can continue to view CLTV during the month of October. Beginning 11/3, a subscription to Digital Starter will be required in order to continue receiving CLTV.

Thank you for choosing Comcast.

ADDITIONAL CHANNEL CHANGES EFF. 12/16/09 ¿ Travel Channel HD will be added on Digital Starter chl 293. 5StarMAX chl 567 & 5StarMAX HD chl 316 will be added to digital Premium Services & be available with subscription to Cinemax. Also, other new digital Premium Services will be added: Setanta for $14.99/mo.; ART (Arabic) for $14.99/mo.; CTI Zhong Tian & CCTV-4 (Chinese) for $14.99/mo.; RAI (Italian) for $14.99/mo.; RTN (Russian) for $14.99/mo.; SBTN (Vietnamese) for $14.99/mo.; TFC (Filipino) for $14.99/mo.; TV Japan for $21.99/mo.; TV5 (French) for $14.99/mo.. Basic Service required to add Premium Services. Prices exclude franchise fees & taxes. An HD television (not provided) & HDTV equipment required to view HD channels. For channel changes affecting Business Class TV services, please call Comcast.

So we're being promised only one of the six new HD stations in the 290's (Travel Channel HD on 293), but we'll have 5starMAX in HD if we get Cinemax.

this sucks. I was really looking forward to South Park in HD.

Seems there's still no promise of Comedy Central HD for the city, but I see "South Park" in HD is available in On Demand.

I find it odd that you guys in the city aren't getting things that we in some of the suburbs already have. It's been the complete opposite scenario for over a year.

Travel HD, Comedy Central HD, MTV HD and VH1 HD were all added to my lineup on 9/30.

I find it odd that you guys in the city aren't getting things that we in some of the suburbs already have. It's been the complete opposite scenario for over a year.

Travel HD, Comedy Central HD, MTV HD and VH1 HD were all added to my lineup on 9/30.

Must be nice. We continue to get the shaft here in Joliet. We still don't have any of those channels. No Spike either.

Must be nice. We continue to get the shaft here in Joliet. We still don't have any of those channels. No Spike either.

Arlington Heights is getting no love either...

Must be nice. We continue to get the shaft here in Joliet. We still don't have any of those channels. No Spike either.

Naperville is rich with a median family income of $124,701.00. Naperville is mostly white and asian, with only 3.8% of the population black.

Joliet is poor (median famiy income is $55,870) with more mexicans (18.41%) and blacks (18.6%).

Comcast is redlining based on race and using income as the reason. I see a class action lawsuit.

Must be nice. We continue to get the shaft here in Joliet. We still don't have any of those channels. No Spike either.
You will get them on 10/28. You should have received a notice in the mail around the begining of October.

Naperville is rich with a median family income of $124,701.00. Naperville is mostly white and asian, with only 3.8% of the population black.

Joliet is poor (median famiy income is $55,870) with more mexicans (18.41%) and blacks (18.6%).

Comcast is redlining based on race and using income as the reason. I see a class action lawsuit.

What is your statement implying? Only people with higher income have HD service or that only low income people live in Joliet? You do realize that the Romeoville head end serves other towns/cities beside Joliet. A few of them are: New Lenox, Plainfield, Homer Glen. The last time I checked these where not considered "poor".

Arlington Heights isn't exactly known for being full of "mostly poor people", either.

Comcast is redlining based on race and using income as the reason. I see a class action lawsuit.

If that's the case, why doesn't Evanston and Willmette have all the HD channels yet?

ADDITIONAL CHANNEL CHANGES EFF. 12/16/09 ¿ Travel Channel HD will be added on Digital Starter chl 293. 5StarMAX chl 567 & 5StarMAX HD chl 316 will be added to digital Premium Services & be available with subscription to Cinemax. Also, other new digital Premium Services will be added: Setanta for $14.99/mo.; ART (Arabic) for $14.99/mo.; CTI Zhong Tian & CCTV-4 (Chinese) for $14.99/mo.; RAI (Italian) for $14.99/mo.; RTN (Russian) for $14.99/mo.; SBTN (Vietnamese) for $14.99/mo.; TFC (Filipino) for $14.99/mo.; TV Japan for $21.99/mo.; TV5 (French) for $14.99/mo.. Basic Service required to add Premium Services. Prices exclude franchise fees & taxes. An HD television (not provided) & HDTV equipment required to view HD channels. For channel changes affecting Business Class TV services, please call Comcast.
Here in Schaumburg, we've had all of those ethnic channels, other than Setanta, for a long time. They added several Indian and Polish channels over the past few months.

I find it odd that you guys in the city aren't getting things that we in some of the suburbs already have. It's been the complete opposite scenario for over a year.

Travel HD, Comedy Central HD, MTV HD and VH1 HD were all added to my lineup on 9/30.


I'm down the road from you in Darien & do not get any of those in HD . Our feed is from Elmhurst. Where do you get yours from?

I'm down the road from you in Darien & do not get any of those in HD . Our feed is from Elmhurst. Where do you get yours from?

I don't know for sure. Previous tech tickets have said that the headend is Naperville/Warrenville ADS. My bill comes from Elmhurst.

I don't know for sure. Previous tech tickets have said that the headend is Naperville/Warrenville ADS. My bill comes from Elmhurst.

Thanks,
I guess eventually we'll get those in HD also.

Got the latest Comcast "good news" letter about the digital transistion. Now it's time to start requesting the STB/DTAs. I know the DTAs are crappy RF only output. Is everyone getting the same STB as part of this conversion process?

My concern is getting one with the most flexible set of outputs i.e. HDMI, component, etc and ideally a timer for setting channels so my time shift recording gear doesn't get completely screwed up (no thanks, no Comcast DVR for me). So I'm wondering whether to grab the boxes now or wait until later when there's risk of shortages?

The RF output from the my DTA's looks better than the component output from the crappy old General Instruments cable box I got when I signed up for digital classic. I am considering swapping them on my Humax DRT400 Tivo.

So I'm wondering whether to grab the boxes now or wait until later when there's risk of shortages?

I'd say the sooner, the better, especially if you're looking for a certain type of box.

Personally, I went with the DTAs because I'm not interested in giving Comcast another $5.99/month for a full STB.

I'd say the sooner, the better, especially if you're looking for a certain type of box.

Personally, I went with the DTAs because I'm not interested in giving Comcast another $5.99/month for a full STB.

I'm a current "standard" user with no CC equipment and I'm not giving them any more than the overpriced cost of service. My letter says I can get 1 STB and 2 DTAs at no extra charge to me.

Got the latest Comcast "good news" letter about the digital transistion. Now it's time to start requesting the STB/DTAs. I know the DTAs are crappy RF only output. Is everyone getting the same STB as part of this conversion process?

My concern is getting one with the most flexible set of outputs i.e. HDMI, component, etc and ideally a timer for setting channels so my time shift recording gear doesn't get completely screwed up (no thanks, no Comcast DVR for me). So I'm wondering whether to grab the boxes now or wait until later when there's risk of shortages? I couldn't get a Motorola box that even had s-video out (manual showed it but the spot was sealed). They had a small Pace SD box with hdmi (not sure what else) but I need something my dvd-r knew remote codes for.

I couldn't get a Motorola box that even had s-video out (manual showed it but the spot was sealed). They had a small Pace SD box with hdmi (not sure what else) but I need something my dvd-r knew remote codes for.

I'm pretty much in the same scenario...wanting something I know will work with my DVDRs and give me a decent picture and not completely destroy my time shifting. Depending on whom I've talked to, some have boxes that have timers and some haven't. Comcast support can't tell me any detail about the STBs in my area so I can't research before going to the office where I expect them to know less than the online/phone people.

For a while this morning Comcast was giving me WLS-HD on both 187 and 217 and no Livewell (not that I missed Livewell).  The OTA broadcast still had WLS on 7.1 and Livewell on 7.2, so it wasn't WLS's nor ABC's fault.

A couple hours later I thought of checking the QAM feed, and it was correct, but by then channel 217 was showing Livewell again, so I don't know what was going on with the QAM feed at the time there was a problem with the STB output.

Got the latest Comcast "good news" letter about the digital transistion. Now it's time to start requesting the STB/DTAs. I know the DTAs are crappy RF only output. Is everyone getting the same STB as part of this conversion process?

My concern is getting one with the most flexible set of outputs i.e. HDMI, component, etc and ideally a timer for setting channels so my time shift recording gear doesn't get completely screwed up (no thanks, no Comcast DVR for me). So I'm wondering whether to grab the boxes now or wait until later when there's risk of shortages?
Basically, DTA's only have RF output. SD boxes have RF and composite. Only HD boxes have S-Video, component, and HDMI/DVI.

I don't think DTA's have timed tuning. Regular boxes do, although the oldest DCT-2000's may not support it due to memory issues. Suposedly, newer DCT-2500/700/DCH-70 do, along with all of the HD's.

Schaumburg headend additions as listed on latest bill:

CHANNEL CHANGES EFFECTIVE 12/16/09
RLTV (Retirement Living TV) chl 487 will be added to Digital Classic & Business Class TV Preferred/Dig.
Deluxe. Nickelodeon HD chl 225, Lifetime HD chl 228 & Spike HD chl 290 will be added to Digital
Starter. Style chl 118 will move from Digital Classic to Digital Starter & be available on Business Class TV Preferred/Digital Deluxe. ShopNBC will move
from Digital Classic chl 164 to Basic Service and Business Class TV Standard/Dig.Standard chl 164
and will require digital compatible equipment. Fuse remains on its current service level but will
move from chl 476 to 134. Setanta chl 683 will be available as a digital Premium Service priced
at $14.99/mo. Basic Service is required to add Premium Services. Prices exclude franchise fees
& taxes. HD television (not provided) & HDTV equipment required to view HD channels.

I'll bet those HD's will use CLTV's soon-to-be-vacated analog space.

anyone hear word on these in the city?

293 Travel Channel HD
294 Comedy Central HD
296 MTV HD
297 VH1 HD

I'll bet those HD's will use CLTV's soon-to-be-vacated analog space.

Maybe on some systems. I've had those HDs since 9/30 and still have CLTV in analog.

Here's what came in my bill this month:

IMPORTANT CHANNEL CHANGE NEWS
Please refer to the Important Account Information section of this statement for details about upcoming channel changes which are effective 12/16/09.

On 10/1 CLTV moved from Expanded Basic to Digital Starter Service. Expanded Basic customers can continue to view CLTV during the month of October. Beginning 11/3, a subscription to Digital Starter will be required in order to continue receiving CLTV.

CHANNEL CHANGES EFFECTIVE 12/16/09
RLTV (Retirement Living TV) chl 487 will be added to Digital Classic & Business Class TV Preferred/Dig. Deluxe. Style chl 118 and where available, Style HD chl 287 will move from Digital Classic to Digital Starter & be available on Business Class TV Preferred/Digital Deluxe. ShopNBC chl 164 will move from Digital Classic to Basic Service and Business Class TV Standard/Dig. Standard and will require digital compatible equipment. Fuse remains on its current service level but will move from chl 476 to 134. Setanta chl 683 will be available as a digital Premium Service priced at $14.99/mo. Basic Service is required to add Premium Services. Prices exclude franchise fees & taxes. Not all channels are available in all areas.

I'm in Warrenville.... I just noticed that all my channels above 13 are not coming in on my Panasonic dvd-r or on my hdtv which has no DTA/STB connected. For example, Comedy Channel on 47 just gives a blue screen. I do get QAM digital stations on the hdtv. There's no message like before that says this channel requires a DTA. If I tune 47 on my tivo HD with cable card, it comes in fine.

I thought they weren't blowing away all the expanded cable stations yet???

I'm in Warrenville.... I just noticed that all my channels above 13 are not coming in on my Panasonic dvd-r or on my hdtv which has no DTA/STB connected. For example, Comedy Channel on 47 just gives a blue screen. I do get QAM digital stations on the hdtv. There's no message like before that says this channel requires a DTA. If I tune 47 on my tivo HD with cable card, it comes in fine.

I thought they weren't blowing away all the expanded cable stations yet???Yesterday was phase two for the west chicago system. (warrenville, wheaton, glen ellyn area). It's over for analog here. New stations have not come in yet. It's no more.

Yesterday was phase two for the west chicago system. (warrenville, wheaton, glen ellyn area). It's over for analog here. New stations have not come in yet. It's no more. Thanks, I don't think they said that in any notices on bills? This really sucks. If I wasn't locked in to cable with my Tivo, I'd quit them.

Thanks, I don't think they said that in any notices on bills? This really sucks. If I wasn't locked in to cable with my Tivo, I'd quit them.They sent me 2 notices. Not in the bill but in a different mailer that said important. I've known for 2 months now from comcast. Don't know why you did not get them.

Thanks, I don't think they said that in any notices on bills? This really sucks. If I wasn't locked in to cable with my Tivo, I'd quit them.Can you get all the local channels you want OTA?

If so, just use the TiVo for that, and sign up for satellite without locals.

Can you get all the local channels you want OTA?

If so, just use the TiVo for that, and sign up for satellite without locals.
I can't record stations like TNT, etc on the tivo without cable...

I'm confused... I hooked up the Motorola STB that I had sitting. Hooked it up to my Panasonic EH-50 dvd-r. If I go into the Comcast tv guide (not the TVGOS from the dvd-r), I see channel 47 is TOON and channel 42 is comedy channel. If I go to my Tivo HD which has cable card installed, it says Comedy channel is on 47 (where it always was before they zapped the analog channels) and TOON is on 32. Why am I getting different guide listings?

They say I have to swap the box, does that make sense??

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me, unless it's a truly ancient box that they can't update remotely... and I don't know why that would be.

If your lineup in Warrenville is anything like mine in Naperville, your TiVo has it right. I have Comedy Central on 47 and Cartoon Network on 32.

As for the promised new HD channels: My TiVo HD now sees them in the Channel List menu (but they are not showing video if I tune them), when it didn't see them as recently as an hour ago. The Comcast Web site now has them listed, too.

EDIT, 12:57am: TWC HD now comes in - but of course, there is no local forecast because the WeatherStar HD isn't rolled out yet. Haven't checked the rest of the new channels yet.

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me, unless it's a truly ancient box that they can't update remotely... and I don't know why that would be.

If your lineup in Warrenville is anything like mine in Naperville, your TiVo has it right. I have Comedy Central on 47 and Cartoon Network on 32.

As for the promised new HD channels: My TiVo HD now sees them in the Channel List menu (but they are not showing video if I tune them), when it didn't see them as recently as an hour ago. The Comcast Web site now has them listed, too.

Yeah, I don't understand either... First they mailed me an old Motorola box and I was mad that it had no s-video out. So I returned it to the Lisle office and they gave me this box which looks newer but still no s-video. They wanted to give me a Pace box which I refused since I know the dvd-r can't control it.

All of the promised new HD channels are up in Plano (though many of them are not yet in the guide) this morning. Nice to see TCM does not appear to be using "stretch-o-vision. The expanded basic analogs went away yesterday.

Here in Schaumburg, the analog copy of WYIN (14) has been dead for at least 2 days. I've read nothing about it being dropped. Hopefully this is just a glitch?

The clearQAM/ADS copy is working.

After the last major channel addition at the end of September, my TiVo lineup basically updated immediately. A few forced connections later, I remain without guide data for anything added this week. My lineup ticket has been acknowledged by TiVo; we'll see how long it takes them to fix it.

Yeah, I don't understand either... First they mailed me an old Motorola box and I was mad that it had no s-video out. So I returned it to the Lisle office and they gave me this box which looks newer but still no s-video. They wanted to give me a Pace box which I refused since I know the dvd-r can't control it. Turns out the box wasn't activated by Comcast. So even though it could receives channels, it wasn't on the right lineup.

Turns out the box wasn't activated by Comcast. So even though it could receives channels, it wasn't on the right lineup.That's familiar.  Every time I've gotten a new box, brought it home, and connected it to get ready to phone in and have it activated, it defaulted to the lineup for Areas 1, 4, and 5, despite my having always picked them up at an office in Area 2.

CLTV on analog 41 is now gone here in Schaumburg. The QAM has also been re-encrypted.

I noticed this also about CLTV. Whats up with that? It really makes me wish Tribune would have just put CLTV on 9.2 instead of LATV.

Isn't CLTV partly owned by Comcast?  If so, it wouldn't be the Tribune's decision alone.

Isn't CLTV partly owned by Comcast?* If so, it wouldn't be the Tribune's decision alone.I don't know if it is but they recently started to allow other providers to carry cltv. RCN and Wow may or may not have it. Not sure about dtv or dish.

really bugging me we still don't have Travel, MTV, Comedy Central, VH1 in HD in the city. Come on.

Here in Schaumburg, there has been some QAM shuffling. The SD ClearQAM local stations have moved from 122 and 123 to 81 and 82, which was unused before. With CLTV gone, that means there are at least 3 usable slots open, good for 6-9 HD's. There are also still several unused frequencies.

These are the channels labeled as 202-1, 205-1, 56-1, etc... Depending on your TV, you may need to do a full scan, or just try to tune into 81 and 82, and it will then pick up the new ones. On my Samsung, I also had to delete the 'old' channels from the channel map.

In a side question: Anybody with a recent Samsung know how to TRUELY delete a channel? With mine (LN19A450), once it sees an analog signal, that channel will not even attempt to try digital. If they start putting channels on 41, the only way I currently know to get it to see it is a full rescan.

In a side question: Anybody with a recent Samsung know how to TRUELY delete a channel? With mine (LN19A450), once it sees an analog signal, that channel will not even attempt to try digital. If they start putting channels on 41, the only way I currently know to get it to see it is a full rescan.

I have that same TV. I'm pretty sure if you enter 41-1, it will force it to look for the digital channels on that frequency (even if there's nothing on -1 per se). In a similar manner, entering -0 forces it to try and treat the channel as analog (i.e. 41-0).

really bugging me we still don't have Travel, MTV, Comedy Central, VH1 in HD in the city. Come on.

Take a number. I live in the SW suburbs and list of Comcast HD channels that I get is absolutely pathetic. What do I not get? Let me count the ways...

NICHD, TOONHD, HALLD, LIFED, LMNHD, ESWHD, CBSCH, NHLHD, TNNSD, NFLRedZone(HD), GRNHD, EHD, ENCHD, FBNHD, CNBCD, BIOHD, TWCHD, BRVOD, FUSED, IFCHD, WEHD, QVCHD, DXDHD, MGMHD, STYLEHD, G4HD, TVONEHD, SPKHD, HDNet, Headline News HD, TCMHD, TRUTVHD.

Plus all the channels you're asking for.

Plus all those extra premium channels.

On the other hand -- I get scads of analog channels that I never watch (about 65 or so at last count).

Take a number. I live in the SW suburbs and list of Comcast HD channels that I get is absolutely pathetic. What do I not get? Let me count the ways...

NICHD, TOONHD, HALLD, LIFED, LMNHD, ESWHD, CBSCH, NHLHD, TNNSD, NFLRedZone(HD), GRNHD, EHD, ENCHD, FBNHD, CNBCD, BIOHD, TWCHD, BRVOD, FUSED, IFCHD, WEHD, QVCHD, DXDHD, MGMHD, STYLEHD, G4HD, TVONEHD, SPKHD, HDNet, Headline News HD, TCMHD, TRUTVHD.

Plus all the channels you're asking for.

Plus all those extra premium channels.

On the other hand -- I get scads of analog channels that I never watch (about 65 or so at last count).

I feel your pain.

Unless it's a glitch, it looks like the Expanded Basic channels are now clearQAM here in Schaumburg. I can see Animal Planet on 125-203 for example. I have to go through and see how extensive it is.

Unless it's a glitch, it looks like the Expanded Basic channels are now clearQAM here in Schaumburg. I can see Animal Planet on 125-203 for example. I have to go through and see how extensive it is.

I've seen the same thing happen in my area shortly after the digital conversion notices came out so I assume these movements were in preparation for that. I went through and found all of my expanded basics (and a few others) on my QAM tuner. I've got Animal Planet coming in on 84.3. Once they start using protected mode of DTAs, then most of those will no longer be clearQAM.

Unbelievably bad experience with Comcast in Downers Grove. They shipped me two DTA's. Installed them Sunday morning. Tried to activate online, didn't work. Tried to activate by phone, didn't work. Tried again today (Monday), still won't activate. And I keep getting put on hold, referred to different numbers, etc. I've spent well over two hours on the phone. Now they scheduled a truck to roll next Sunday, and in the meantime want the DTA's left connected and on, meaning no Comcast service from those outlets. Comcast is a MESS!

Update: I returned them both to the Lisle storefront this evening. I'm just fed up with Comcast!

Unbelievably bad experience with Comcast in Downers Grove. They shipped me two DTA's. Installed them Sunday morning. Tried to activate online, didn't work. Tried to activate by phone, didn't work. Tried again today (Monday), still won't activate. And I keep getting put on hold, referred to different numbers, etc. I've spent well over two hours on the phone. Now they scheduled a truck to roll next Sunday, and in the meantime want the DTA's left connected and on, meaning no Comcast service from those outlets. Comcast is a MESS!
The DTA's seem to have very poor tuners. They need a very good and clean signal in order to work.

Unbelievably bad experience with Comcast in Downers Grove. They shipped me two DTA's. Installed them Sunday morning. Tried to activate online, didn't work. Tried to activate by phone, didn't work. Tried again today (Monday), still won't activate. And I keep getting put on hold, referred to different numbers, etc. I've spent well over two hours on the phone. Now they scheduled a truck to roll next Sunday, and in the meantime want the DTA's left connected and on, meaning no Comcast service from those outlets. Comcast is a MESS!

They are going to make you wait a week? Can't they get you support quicker? You are a paying customer.

Unbelievably bad experience with Comcast in Downers Grove. They shipped me two DTA's. Installed them Sunday morning. Tried to activate online, didn't work. Tried to activate by phone, didn't work. Tried again today (Monday), still won't activate. And I keep getting put on hold, referred to different numbers, etc. I've spent well over two hours on the phone. Now they scheduled a truck to roll next Sunday, and in the meantime want the DTA's left connected and on, meaning no Comcast service from those outlets. Comcast is a MESS!

Update: I returned them both to the Lisle storefront this evening. I'm just fed up with Comcast!

Sadly, not an uncommon tale from them...it's Comcastic :rolleyes:

I received two DTAs and a Motorola 2000 STB. Am I correct to assume the 2000 STB is NOT an HD box, and it simply will decode digital signals?

So if I want HD stations, I'll need to get those QAM OTA stations via an antenna, correct? Or will the 2000 pass through the QAM HD local channels I now receive directly from Comcast? It sure feels like 1978 when I had a Motorola STB!
What is the step-up with Comcast from the basic digital starter?

I received two DTAs and a Motorola 2000 STB. Am I correct to assume the 2000 STB is NOT an HD box, and it simply will decode digital signals?

So if I want HD stations, I'll need to get those QAM OTA stations via an antenna, correct? Or will the 2000 pass through the QAM HD local channels I now receive directly from Comcast? It sure feels like 1978 when I had a Motorola STB!
What is the step-up with Comcast from the basic digital starter?

The OTA channels are sent clear QAM. Put a spiltter in and run one cable to the STB and one to the coax in on the TV. Set the TV for cable/QAM and scan. You should get the OTA channels mapped to their correct "channel" and the expanded basic channels on their QAM channels (eg 75-12). The STB will not do HD.

That sucks. Looks like for a HD STB comcast wants another $8.99 per month.
If we split the incoming cable, then I assume the output from the STB2000 would need to use S video or composite to the tv, and switch between the inputs for local qam or cable.

I think the basic SD boxes only have composite outputs (yellow/red/white.) No S-Video.

Depending on just where you are, the expanded basic channels may be unscrambled if you want to watch SD digital instead of SD analog. They should be unscrambled if you have DTA's.

The only HD you can pick up with a TV's built-in Tuner are the local broadcast. No ESPN, History, etc.... Those HD's are encrypted. CLTV and Oxygen are encrypted.

I'm figuring in my area (Barrington) with DTAs aplenty, the all digital feed will be unencrypted for expanded basic. So I'm still good to ignore the Motorola 2000 STB, still use my Elgato Eyetv 250 for recording, and just use the DTAs that I received for my two older SD tv sets.

I'm figuring in my area (Barrington) with DTAs aplenty, the all digital feed will be unencrypted for expanded basic. So I'm still good to ignore the Motorola 2000 STB, still use my Elgato Eyetv 250 for recording, and just use the DTAs that I received for my two older SD tv sets.From what i read, comcast got permission from the fcc to encrypt them and plans on doing just that. I keep hearing the same thing all over the web. If they stop working one day, at least you know what's up.

From what i read, comcast got permission from the fcc to encrypt them and plans on doing just that. I keep hearing the same thing all over the web. If they stop working one day, at least you know what's up.

This cannot be emphasized enough. The time will come when unencrypted QAM will stop working for expanded basic, and I think that time is coming a lot sooner than most think.

This cannot be emphasized enough. The time will come when unencrypted QAM will stop working for expanded basic, and I think that time is coming a lot sooner than most think.

Yes but you can still get the OTA HD channels unencrypted.

This cannot be emphasized enough. The time will come when unencrypted QAM will stop working for expanded basic, and I think that time is coming a lot sooner than most think.
Beyond that, once analog is completely eliminated, ALL digital will be encrypted. This way, they don't have to worry about connecting or disconnecting people. Everything will be controlled through encryption.

I have updated the big spreadsheet with all the channels and frequencies for Schaumburg, although many nearby areas will be similar or identical. I also added a .CSV version for those who don't like Excel or Open Office. The update is mainly for the recent ClearQAM changes.

I also updated the MSWord .DOC file with the channels, including the new ClearQAM numbers. If you don't have Microsoft Word, you can use many viewers or 3rd party programs to open and print it.

http://home.att.net/~andyross/Schaumburg_Cable_Channels.zip

We have a install from Comcast on Tuesday here in New Lenox...we are coming from Dish network. My question is which HD DVR does Comcast use...is it a Motorola brand? Is there one better than the other. I hope it's as good as my Dish vip622. Has anybody switched from Dish to Comcast and if so, is the PQ/AQ close in performance. I'm a little scared switching over to Comcast.

We have a install from Comcast on Tuesday here in New Lenox...we are coming from Dish network. My question is which HD DVR does Comcast use...is it a Motorola brand? Is there one better than the other. I hope it's as good as my Dish vip622. Has anybody switched from Dish to Comcast and if so, is the PQ/AQ close in performance. I'm a little scared switching over to Comcast.
Motorola's are used in the Chicago area. There are several models, depending on what they have on hand. The DCX series are newest, followed by the DCH, then the DCT's. They all run the same software, so pretty much work the same. The newer ones are a bit faster, but have their own quirks.

It's hard to say on PQ. I believe Dish uses MPEG4, which allows higher compression, but tends to make high compression smoother, whereas the MPEG2 used by Comcast tends to get blocky. Most of the sports channels are only 2:1 in the 256QAM signal, which allows for 2 full-bandwidth HD signals. Many other HD's are 3:1, but use variable compression and bandwidth. Initial issues when they first started doing it have been ironed out. Local broadcast HD are pretty much identical to what is broadcast OTA.

Audio should be pretty much the same.

You can check out the DVR link in my sig below.

In the Plano area most of the hd channels look decent but not as good as the MPEG4 channels which Dish and DirecTv deliver. AMC-HD and WE-HD look just plain awful with black blocks filling the screen during quick scene changes. Local channels look great! Your area may be different.

This weekend, my boss got "The Letter" in DeKalb. The DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle area (DeKalb head end) will go all digital April 27, 2010. That's later than I heard before. Oh, well.

This weekend, my boss got "The Letter" in DeKalb. The DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle area (DeKalb head end) will go all digital May 25, 2010. That's later than I heard before. Oh, well.


So now we know that there will still be doing transitions on 5/25/10, but there is still no date for the true southern cities in cook county. Thats just great.

So now we know that there will still be doing transitions on 5/25/10, but there is still no date for the true southern cities in cook county. Thats just great.

The letter is a tad confusing. It says:

"It is important to order your digital adapters soon, because starting on April 27, 2010, your Expanded Basic channels will be transmitted exclusively in digital format and you will need digital equipment to view them."

But at the bottom, it says:

"P.S. If you do not have Comcast digital equipment on TVs connected to cable by May 25, 2010, you will not be able to view Expanded Basic channels on those TVs."

I am assuming that means they will encrypt everything at that date, but yank analog cable on 4/27/2010.

Yeah, that is confusing. Based on how they did things in the western suburbs and how our letters were worded, I would interpret that slightly differently:

- First round of analog reclamation occurs April 27. Roughly half of analog expanded basic channels disappear. (This was September 29 for us.)

- Second round occurs May 25. The rest of analog expanded basic goes away. (October 28 for us.)

But the idea is the same: "Get DTAs before April 27 or you lose channels."

Yes, we're in the same situation. HD TV, expanded basic cable, and just hooked up the STB. Boy, does that look lousy. Even the non-HD channels look better without the new box. So I unhooked it. I guess we have to talk about that extra nine bucks or whatever it is for the HD STB.

Looks like Schaumburg is coming late to the digital party. Got mail today that says Expanded Basic channels (36-76) will switch to digital only on July 27, 2010. Channels 2-35 and 98 are unaffected by this change.

Got the same thing. Being an 850MHz system, they still have room to cover most channels. I like how they say to order soon, even though the change is not for 8 months! I also noticed they say I have Digital Starter, when I actually have Classic.

Also, today, they moved some of the ClearQAM's to new channels. The ones on 124 and 125 are now on 79 and 80. I'm guessing this was done to get them down to lower frequencies to help with older wiring in many houses.

I show the following open:
41, 91-92, 95-97, 103, 123, 127-128

It goes beyond just those ClearQAM's. There has been alot of rearranging. Food/SyFy/UHD have moved to 124 (not good, as it hovers around Good/Fair on tuner 2.) Those on 77 moved to 102. Music Choice has moved from 103 to 125. I'm going to have to do a full scan soon to find all the changes.

Got the same thing. Being an 850MHz system, they still have room to cover most channels. I like how they say to order soon, even though the change is not for 8 months! I also noticed they say I have Digital Starter, when I actually have Classic.

Also, today, they moved some of the ClearQAM's to new channels. The ones on 124 and 125 are now on 79 and 80. I'm guessing this was done to get them down to lower frequencies to help with older wiring in many houses.

I show the following open:
41, 91-92, 95-97, 103, 123, 127-128

It goes beyond just those ClearQAM's. There has been alot of rearranging. Food/SyFy/UHD have moved to 124 (not good, as it hovers around Good/Fair on tuner 2.) Those on 77 moved to 102. Music Choice has moved from 103 to 125. I'm going to have to do a full scan soon to find all the changes.

135 is also open 860MHz systems can tune up to 861MHz.

135 is also open 860MHz systems can tune up to 861MHz.

Interesting. Here in the SW suburbs (where it seems like we will never see the big digital switchover), they run an analog version of Lifetime Movie Network with no sound on channel 135.

I assume it's there as a test; reception varies depending on suburb (in Chicago Ridge it's barely watchable; in Palos Hills it's crystal clear).

So the HDMI port on my DCH-3416 puked yesturday. I go into the Carpentersville Comcast office and the nice (crabby) lady tells me that they have ZERO new HD DVR's and ZERO new analog DVR's for that matter. She gives me a reconditioned scratched up DCT-3412 :mad::mad: She said that they are "hoping" that they get some new DVR's in by the first of the new year!!! This is unacceptable!!!!! I have put a call into a customer service guy I dealt with in the past. We shall see.

Gov, try the McHenry Comcast office 2508 W Rt 120 east of town, they are friendlier than the C'ville office. You could also try the Lake Zurich office, but I don't know where it moved to, it's at 880 Donata Ct. Maps aren't showing the address yet.

anybody around Montgomery had dish and switch to comcast. I am really worried about PQ with switching over?:)

I received my DTAs yesterday and got them working today. I've noticed that they only give the extended basic lineup, not the Digital Preferred lineup which I pay for. Is this all they do? This would be complete crap if I can't get the stations I pay for beyond the one set top box. I don't see why the DTA should limit me. Is there a problem or is this what the DTA does? Hooked it up to my Clear QAM TV, hoping I can expand the number of channels it received. Looks like the DTA just passes the unencryted channels, which is pointless.

I received my DTAs yesterday and got them working today. I've noticed that they only give the extended basic lineup, not the Digital Preferred lineup which I pay for. Is this all they do? This would be complete crap if I can't get the stations I pay for beyond the one set top box. I don't see why the DTA should limit me. Is there a problem or is this what the DTA does? Hooked it up to my Clear QAM TV, hoping I can expand the number of channels it received. Looks like the DTA just passes the unencryted channels, which is pointless.

I think you have to call Comcast to activate it.

Looks like the DTA just passes the unencryted channels, which is pointless.

DTAs provide expanded basic, nothing more. For now, DTAs just pass unencrypted channels, but that will change. At some point after the analog cut-off, Comcast will activate the DTA's "privacy mode" encryption on expanded basic channels (already done in Portland, OR). When that happens, Clear QAM tuners will receive only limited basic (OTA) channels.

Gov, try the McHenry Comcast office 2508 W Rt 120 east of town, they are friendlier than the C'ville office. You could also try the Lake Zurich office, but I don't know where it moved to, it's at 880 Donata Ct. Maps aren't showing the address yet.

Thanks, I am waiting to hear back on Monday from the CS rep who takes care of my area. Is the DCX still the latest HD DVR STB?

I received my DTAs yesterday and got them working today. I've noticed that they only give the extended basic lineup, not the Digital Preferred lineup which I pay for. Is this all they do? This would be complete crap if I can't get the stations I pay for beyond the one set top box. I don't see why the DTA should limit me. Is there a problem or is this what the DTA does? Hooked it up to my Clear QAM TV, hoping I can expand the number of channels it received. Looks like the DTA just passes the unencryted channels, which is pointless.

I believe DTA's will NEVER work with more than expanded basic. They do not have the full addressability of a regular cable box. They are semi-addressible in that they can be activated/disabled, but the channel map comes from a generic map that is sent mixed in with the digital video data.