A quick question for confirmation:

On Thursday I made a DVR recording of KDKA's prime time TV, CSI & Without a Trace. Having watched those two, I can only say that it was quite a task. Basicly it was one large audio glitch pasted together with small amounts of normality. It was so bad that I am wondering if this is a hard drive problem. Surely, they are not broadcasting this type of material. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Could someone who watched those two confirm one way or another for me?

Originally posted by wstanko
A quick question for confirmation:

On Thursday I made a DVR recording of KDKA's prime time TV ... Basicly it was one large audio glitch pasted together with small amounts of normality ... Surely, they are not broadcasting this type of material. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Could someone who watched those two confirm one way or another for me?

I recieve KDKA-DT via OTA and can confirm OTA audio has recently been a very ignoing issue for the past month or so.

Hmm this week's CSI via Armstrong seemed pretty normal to me, I didn't notice any audio glitches or sync problems. I watched a DVR recording of it, too.

Well just to put my 2 cents worth in on this subject. I live in the Dormont part of Pittsburgh and I also do not have 205-Discovery HD, 206-InHD, or 207-InHD2 on my cable system. Have been told by some Comcast employees that they are working on adding those to my area (the standard bandwith statement) and others that say I won't have them for awhile. I think it is a laugh at how few HD channels Comcast is carrying. There are other cable providers sending more HD channels to their customers.

What gives Comcast?

Originally posted by Maverick481
Well just to put my 2 cents worth in on this subject. I live in the Dormont part of Pittsburgh and I also do not have 205-Discovery HD, 206-InHD, or 207-InHD2 on my cable system. Have been told by some Comcast employees that they are working on adding those to my area (the standard bandwith statement) and others that say I won't have them for awhile. I think it is a laugh at how few HD channels Comcast is carrying. There are other cable providers sending more HD channels to their customers.

What gives Comcast?

We have the same issue way out west here in pockets of the SF bay area and the prognosis after much interaction with upper level Comcast personnel is that our 550Mhz systems will not be upgraded. Comcast is instead waiting for better compression schemes, analog channel depletion and other not-ready-for-prime-time type of equipment. In other words, nothing's going to happen for probably years.

As soon as DirecTv gets ABC, Comcast is history in my household.

Jim

Has anybody found out when Comcast locally will have the Motorola DCT6412 (http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/dct6412.asp) box (2-tuner HD DVR)?

From what I read here on the forum, it's being rolled out across the country and is already available in some areas. I've held off getting the DVR, waiting for a 2-tuner model.

A co-worker here called Comcast about it but the CSR didn't have a clue (big surprise). Is there a more reliable local Comcast contact to find out this type of information?

Thanks.

Originally posted by hondo21
Has anybody found out when Comcast locally will have the Motorola DCT6412 (http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/dct6412.asp) box (2-tuner HD DVR)?

From what I read here on the forum, it's being rolled out across the country and is already available in some areas. I've held off getting the DVR, waiting for a 2-tuner model.

A co-worker here called Comcast about it but the CSR didn't have a clue (big surprise). Is there a more reliable local Comcast contact to find out this type of information?

Thanks.

I just got off the phone with the local Comcast office and they told me that the 2-tuner DCT6412 will be rolled out at the end of November. The price will stay they same as the current DVR.

Thanks for the info. I hope to go exchange my box as soon as they are available.

A friend of mine just received his dual tuner moto box from Armstrong. Just a datapoint...

Parag

eh?? Cool :)

Originally posted by ParagPA
A friend of mine just received his dual tuner moto box from Armstrong. Just a datapoint...

Parag

Armstrong says:


A few have gone out, but the dual tuner functionality is not supported yet. We hope to finalize discussions with TV Guide concerning the software upgrade within a couple of weeks and have dual tuner capability available for the holidays.

Yep. He discovered that as well and had an email in to Armstrong regarding it. However, nice to see they're coming out finally! I plan to ask for one soon.

Is this now the appropriate channel to talk about Armstrong issues as well, since we were booted from the Pgh HD OTA channel, or are we now homeless?

Parag

Don't know, I'll talk about it in either thread I guess. :) I'm sure we are all subscribed to both of them.

Seems like this thread should be big enough for all cable HD discussions. Two threads, one for OTA, the other for Cable. Even though I'm Comcast, I like seeing the Armstrong or Adelphia discussions too so I can see what's going on in the area.

Originally posted by hondo21
Seems like this thread should be big enough for all cable HD discussions. Two threads, one for OTA, the other for Cable. Even though I'm Comcast, I like seeing the Armstrong or Adelphia discussions too so I can see what's going on in the area.

Second the motion...

mds

Hey all...imagine my surprise when I picked up my 6208 Saturday and installed it to see the Discovery HD, INHD 1&2, etc. channels that we were supposed to get in my area (Avalon/Bellevue), and then *weren't* supposed to get after all, on the onscreen program guide. I had the Comcast CSR on the phone send a signal to the box, and there they were...I then had her send the signal to my 5100 and explained why...to which she replied "well those aren't available in your area anyway, you shouldn't have them on either box". By the time I got back to the other room with the 6208, those channels were gone. So at least I can say I had Discovery HD for about 3 minutes!!

Oh and the word from the one CSR on Saturday was still a November rollout for the dual tuner Moto DVRs.

Originally posted by scottro
So at least I can say I had Discovery HD for about 3 minutes!!



Did you actually view those channels or did they just show up on the guide?

They were definitely up and running once she sent the signal to the box. I wasn't getting any of the HD channels until she did that, so yes, I caught a glimpse of what I've been missing. Those were the channels I checked first. I was so excited...temporarily. I never should have left the room!!

I'm no expert on how these boxes work....but maybe that 6208 had the guide from a previous user that received those channels, and it didn't download the new program guide right away? I don't know how channels are enabled or anything like that. Just a thought. Like I said though, when I returned to the room, the channels were gone altogether.

Originally posted by scottro
They were definitely up and running once she sent the signal to the box.

That's interesting, I have always been under the assumption that there was no room for those channels, or maybe there is room but they have reserved it for something else, on 550MHz systems. Were you not supposed to get them because of the sub package you have or did she simply say they were not available in your area?

They're not supposed to be available in my area at all, the CSR couldn't understand why I was receiving them either, because they weren't supposed to be there. The only HD channels I get are WTAE, KDKA, PBS, ESPN, and my premiums, HBO and Showtime.

Maybe there is room for those channels if they only go to *my* house...which is fine with me!
:-)

Originally posted by scottro
They're not supposed to be available in my area at all, the CSR couldn't understand why I was receiving them either, because they weren't supposed to be there. The only HD channels I get are WTAE, KDKA, PBS, ESPN, and my premiums, HBO and Showtime.

Maybe there is room for those channels if they only go to *my* house...which is fine with me!
:-)

Are you on a 550MHz system?

Wow, I also get Fox HD & WPXI HD!!!!

Whoops, that is a typo, I meant that is what a CSR told me that negotiations were in progress and the summer Olympics would hopefully make the "Guide."

It is so hard to type frustration and sarcasm, but I bet you get the jest.

550 Mhz? I have no idea...how can I find out?

I do have Comcast digital phone if that gives any clues to the bandwidth?

I can't see my area being a big priority to upgrade, other than the fact that we're pretty close to the Comcast office.

Originally posted by wstanko
Wow, I also get Fox HD & WPXI HD!!!!

Whoops, that is a typo, I meant that is what a CSR told me that negotiations were in progress and the summer Olympics would hopefully make the "Guide."

It is so hard to type frustration and sarcasm, but I bet you get the jest.



I would give up 95% of the channels I get to have Fox HD before the end of football season.

Stupid Comcast.

Scottro - you're most likely on the Ross Head-end which appears to service most of the North Hills. I believe they are a 550 MHz system. There are several of us on this forum that don't get the InHD channels and the Discovery channel.

I am in McCandless.

Originally posted by scottro
I would give up 95% of the channels I get to have Fox HD before the end of football season.

Stupid Comcast. No, I say it's:
Fox HD (WPGH-DT) = Stupid Sinclair
NBC HD (WPXI-DT) = Stupid Cox

As much as I want these channels (especially Fox for football games, including playoffs and Superbowl, 24, etc.) I support Comcast in not giving in to those broadcasters who want to be paid for their digital signals. That would mean an increase in my bill and the other stations aren't demanding the same, so the station owners are the bad guys as far as I'm concerned.

I sneer every time I see that "myfreehdtv.org" advertisement. Free, huh? Well, who exactly is paying for me to get the OTA tuner and antenna then?

Originally posted by scottro
I would give up 95% of the channels I get to have Fox HD before the end of football season.

Stupid Comcast.

No, stupid Sinclair (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=444257).

You guys are right on that one...It's on Sinclair and Cox...it's just always my first inclination to blame Comcast, it's a hard habit to break.

I may have to try another OTA box. The irony is that all I got the last time with the box and indoor antenna was exactly what comes through Comcast...still no NBC or Fox!! I like HDTV and all, but spending a good $300+ to get an iffy signal for Fox and NBC just rubs me wrong.

I called Comcast today to inquire again about availability of the Motorola DCT6412 DVR (2-tuner). The CSR told me they are still not yet available, but should be in the next two weeks or so. Still waiting...

Originally posted by hondo21
I called Comcast today to inquire again about availability of the Motorola DCT6412 DVR (2-tuner). The CSR told me they are still not yet available, but should be in the next two weeks or so. Still waiting...

Here in the City (Pgh) they are training the tech's on them now. At least this is what I was told yesterday when they were here replacing my 6208. Said they will be available in 2 weeks, so looks like it's the same here :)

I called 2 days ago and heard the same info. Keep me posted so that I can take a lawnchair and campout overnight to be first in line. :D

Is there any way that we Comcast HDTV users can put pressure on Sinclair and Cox to provide their HD signals to Comcast free?

Originally posted by holabr
Is there any way that we Comcast HDTV users can put pressure on Sinclair and Cox to provide their HD signals to Comcast free?
HDTV users probably are an attractive demographic group for advertisers. If advertisers are contacted by enough viewers who point out that we don't watch because we don't get HD, maybe they will pressure Cox & Sinclair. Are there enough interested people? Maybe BB and CC would help organize - as more available content meams more set sales.

Originally posted by WRL
Here in the City (Pgh) they are training the tech's on them now. At least this is what I was told yesterday when they were here replacing my 6208. Said they will be available in 2 weeks, so looks like it's the same here :)

I called today and they are now available. I will pick mine up this afternoon, and on Sunday it earns its keep: watch ESPN HD (go Steelers) & record Desperate Housewives HD.

Great news, but please come back and confirm when you actually get it. Based on your post I just called (Greensburg) and they told me they still aren't available. I pressed that a friend in the area just got one and the CSR said that it wasn't possible yet - that none were yet available in this area. If you confirm that you got it I'll try to call back again and see what's up.

Also, if you do get it please let us know how it works. Thanks.

I called today + found out they had them at Corliss St office, but they told me they were "going fast". So I went there as soon as I got off work + picked mine up.
First impression: 2 steps in the right direction but still no ReplayTV in terms of software.
- guide is improved - more space for program listings, less ads, grid row height adjustable
- playback of recorded programs can display a 'timeline' of the show to give an idea of where you are in the program.
- FF + RW goes to 5, and even HD programs seem to zip by much faster than the 6208.
- menu button actually brings up the main menu.
- and, of course, 2 tuners!

Couldn't use the search function as after 3 hours only 1 day's listings were dl'd. No manual, but probably don't need one if you had a 6208. No RF output, if it matters.

I'm going to search to see if anyone has found a way to move or copy shows between a 6208 and the new one via firewire. If not, I'll have to keep the 6208 for a while till I catch up on some movies I recorded.

If you're planning to get one for yourself, call first and have them check with the lobby folks to make sure they still have them. There was a sign up saying the lobby will only be open till 3pm on Sat.
Good luck!

Yes, I did get one yesterday & it is an improvement in many ways but strange in how the 2 tuners operate. I totally expected that when one tuner is busy recording the other tuner will be "available" to use for general watching purposes (live) or to record another program. The option to use it "live" is not there.

If you attempt to change channels, it gives the same warning (of the single tuner) that the recording will be stopped. The only way you can use the other tuner is to go to the program guide and begin recording another program. At that time you can watch the second channel as it records. Now that is not how I thought it would be. It is a lot like a Microsoft workaround!

There is a swap button on the remote that allows you to go between the two channels that are being recorded.

A real annoyance is the loss of the clock while a program is being recorded. If the record command is chosen, the time changes into "r EC" and stays that way until you begin to play the program from the DVR menu. Then it reverts back to the clock. The single tuner was not affected by the doors. Strange.

Also the EPG is vastly improved. It now shows move than one hour in the time slots and all the advertising is gone. You now get a channel window in the upper right that allows the current channel to be watched while browsing. Also if recording a weekly series, there is an option to record only new episodes! Wow, what a country this is.

Unfortunately, the sensitivity of the remote is again affected by my smoked glass doors. My original HD box was like this and from larger distances the door must be left open. The single tuner was not affected by the doors. Very strange.

Here is the link to a manual and how to use the interactive guide.
http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/dct6412.asp

Thanks for the link. I can get the use of both tuners on my box. For example, while recording on tuner 1, press "swap" button 1 time brings up tuner 2. Change channel & watch/record. I will like this feature as I like to record Steelers games, and start watching 1 to 1.5 hours later so I can skip thru commercials. With the 2 tuner setup, I can set the recording, switch to the second tuner & tune another channel, then turn tv off. When I come back to start watching the game, & turn tv on, tuner 2 is on so I can press My DVR to bring up the list of recordings & start the game. With the 6208 I always had to mute the tv volume & not look at the score when I turned the tv on so I wouldn't know how the game was going late in the 2nd qtr before I started watching. Kinda takes the fun out of it

I got my 6412 this morning...a question for anyone else that pcicked one up...

For some reason, I am authorized for ALL channels except for the ESPNHD and the premium HD channels. I shouldn't be getting showtime and cinemax, but I am getting them.

Will this correct itself automatically or do I need to call?

Thanks,
Scott

Dang. I just logged on to see all these replies so I called the Greensburg office and they closed at 1 p.m. today. But I was told that all offices have them and they're going fast. That stupid woman on Friday didn't have a clue, because they obviously had them.

Well, I may have to go there first thing Monday and just be a little late to work.

Originally posted by scott12v
I got my 6412 this morning...a question for anyone else that pcicked one up...

For some reason, I am authorized for ALL channels except for the ESPNHD and the premium HD channels. I shouldn't be getting showtime and cinemax, but I am getting them.

Will this correct itself automatically or do I need to call?

Thanks,
Scott

I just got my new DVR today and the same thing happened to me. I just called Comcast and asked them to "shoot the box" and in less than a few seconds everything is back to normal. This happens to me every single time I get a new box for whatever reason.

Originally posted by daverph1
For example, while recording on tuner 1, press "swap" button 1 time brings up tuner 2.

Great tip. Why didn't I think of that? :confused: Could it be that Comcast believes I am clairvoyant and do not need a manual?

Originally posted by wstanko
Great tip. Why didn't I think of that? :confused: Could it be that Comcast believes I am clairvoyant and do not need a manual?

No crystal ball here, only reason I knew was the guy at the window pointed it out when he handed it to me...

Just picked up my 6412 from the Corillis St office. Was told it was the last one. Also was told they didn't have any more remotes left for them, but will probably be getting more in later today.
Went to set it up and found out I can't use the DVI out on the box :( Kind of causes a small problem. My TV has 1 DVI input and two component inputs. Both component inputs are already used. One by my DVD player and another by my SRZ3000 OTA HDTV receiver. Guess I'll be just have to keeps swapping cables.

Picked mine up in Greensburg this morning. Won't have a chance to hook it up till tonight. The box it came in was labeled DCT6208 so I made her take it out to confirm it was actually the DCT6412.

Does anybody have any opinion on the quality of the signal for the new 6412? I'm so frustrated with the fuzzy analog signal on the lower channels on my 32" Sony HD monitor that I've been considering switching to Satellite. The problem is the up-front costs...whew!

I live in Allison Park, so I have all the same problems others have reported in the McCandless area...ugh!

Also, I just got a new Philips 17" widescreen HDTV LCD for a second room (early Christmas ;-) ...a regular HD box without the DVR will do me there...does anybody know offhand what model I should be looking at (or is the price the same to just use something like the 6208). Problem is, the straight cable quality on that is unbelievably poor, and that's why I've been thinking dish again.

Thoughts? Thanks!
Scott

Originally posted by jsyaruss
Does anybody have any opinion on the quality of the signal for the new 6412? I'm so frustrated with the fuzzy analog signal on the lower channels on my 32" Sony HD monitor that I've been considering switching to Satellite. The problem is the up-front costs...whew!

I live in Allison Park, so I have all the same problems others have reported in the McCandless area...ugh!



Thoughts? Thanks!
Scott

Just got my 6412 today. Never realized the analog channels could look so bad. They are so fuzzy it almost unwatchable. I was going to run cable right to the tv, and bypass the 6412 for all but the HD stuff. Hopefully there will be a fix for this problem

Ugh. Yeah, from what I understand, it's because of the converstion from analog to digital that goes with the DVR... I had hoped it'd be a bit better with this model. Oh well. For my 6208, I run a cable splitter so I watch the lower channels right through the TV and the higher channels through the box... of course that means that any time I want to record or shift something that's in the lower channels, it looks less than optimal. oh well. thanks for the quick response!

jsyaruss -

The one non- DVR HD box I have is a DCT-5100. I think there was an upgrade to that model however which I never switched out.

So are you all saying the analog is WORSE on the 6412 than the 6208?
How is that possible? Is it me or are we regressing to rabbit ear quality???

These cable companies need to rapidly move towards an all-digital system, or find the bandwidth to simulcast the analog channels on digital ones. The analog channels are just so incredibly poor by comparison.

Of course, what's really needed is for all broadcasts to originate in digital in the first place. This analog spectrum has outstayed its welcome!

Originally posted by scottro
jsyaruss -

The one non- DVR HD box I have is a DCT-5100. I think there was an upgrade to that model however which I never switched out.

So are you all saying the analog is WORSE on the 6412 than the 6208?
How is that possible? Is it me or are we regressing to rabbit ear quality???

For me, the analog image quality is worse with the 6412 than it was with my 6208.

Comcast can't even find the bandwidth for me to get Discovery HD...

I got my 6412 today as well (for those in the west suburbs, go to the office on Stoops Ferry Hill in Moon, they have a few left). The only problem I am having is that my guide will not go past 4-5 hours, then it just says to be announced. Anyone else having this problem?

I picked up mine up last Saturday and do not seem to have your problem. I say give it a day or so to upload all the i-guide info.

I have a question? I picked my 6412 at the Stoops Ferry office as well. Did they give you a remote with a Swap button, or was "Swap" just taped below the TV/VCR Button?

Originally posted by BamaUnc1
Did they give you a remote with a Swap button, or was "Swap" just taped below the TV/VCR Button?

The remotes I got in Washington all have the decal. I went back twice so that I could swap out one of my remotes for another. I cannot get the range (20 feet) that I used to get on the single tuner and I hoped going back a second time might get a stronger remote. Nope! Still wimpy and still with a decal.

I solved that second remote problem with a Radio Shack IR relay system. Now I can keep my smoked doors closed and still get response any where in the room.

Hey, maybe they can give me a sticker to cover over my Favorites (FAV) button I reprogrammed for the 30 second skip on the single tuner's remote...

God I love these forums!!


By the way...is there an actual "skip" function on the dual tuner box or is it still an "unadvertised" feature?

Originally posted by scottro
Hey, maybe they can give me a sticker to cover over my Favorites (FAV) button I reprogrammed for the 30 second skip on the single tuner's remote...

God I love these forums!!


By the way...is there an actual "skip" function on the dual tuner box or is it still an "unadvertised" feature?

I did not know the Comcast remote was programable. How did you change that Favorite button to be a 30 second skip & why can you not do it now?

I found it here at AVS...you may want to search the forum for the Moto 6208 for it. Let me know if you find it because I have it written on the back of the owner's manual at home if you need it.

I don't know if you can on the 6412...I was hoping they made it so that you didn't have to reprogram. Who knows, maybe the code works for both???

I don't have my 6412 yet, but I've heard the code is the same for skip on both 6208 and 6412.

See this post for links to other instructions on programming features into the 6412, including 30-sec skip, swap, and unmute:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/printpost.php?postid=4784643

One other question I have, guys...I am adding an HD set in my living room this week and want to add a non-DVR Comcast HD box to it. Does anyone know if they are still offering the DCT5100 or the 6200 and if it offers DVI or HDMI output. Motorola's or Comcast's sites were no help on this.

Not sure how long its been there but today I noticed a new HD channel in the Comcast lineup. I never saw it before. It's channel 208 here in Moon. HDPPV. It says "Off air" right now and there is only 1 event listed so far. A boxing match scheduled for Saturday at 9 pm (Klitscho vs. Williams) for $49.95.

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
One other question I have, guys...I am adding an HD set in my living room this week and want to add a non-DVR Comcast HD box to it. Does anyone know if they are still offering the DCT5100 or the 6200 and if it offers DVI or HDMI output. Motorola's or Comcast's sites were no help on this.

Not sure if this helps any but a friend of mine up here in Moon just bought a new HDTV and on Monday a Comcast tech hooked up a DCT5100. It only had a DVI output. I was kind of surprised to see it. So apparently they still have them and use them. We just got back from swapping it out with the new dual tuner DVR. The TV only has a HDMI input so we had to buy a DVI to DMI cable.
Works perfectly.
Here is the cable
DVI to DMI cable (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=15-1087)

Originally posted by jsling
Not sure how long its been there but today I noticed a new HD channel in the Comcast lineup. I never saw it before. It's channel 208 here in Moon. HDPPV. It says "Off air" right now and there is only 1 event listed so far. A boxing match scheduled for Saturday at 9 pm (Klitscho vs. Williams) for $49.95.

In a Comcast thread for a different city (don't recall) they were talking about having HD On Demand...must be nice :rolleyes:

Thanks to all who helped. I successfully programmed the remote to do the 30 sec skip and also the unmute. I also read the whole 6412 thread of 48 pages! That was just about everything I needed to know and a whole lot of discussion that makes me feel smarter than I am.

I have called Comcast & also emailed them probably about 10 times since summer. The complaint is constant------I want WPXI & WPGH in HD. They politely put me into the "your so dully noted area" and I hope that others of you are also voicing this same complaint. They can put me into the ranting lunatic bin if I am alone, but when too many voices join mine, we become heard.

Sure I have heard all the stories of Cox & Sinclair, but if other cities pay my rate & get more HD, that is not fair.

Originally posted by scottro
Comcast can't even find the bandwidth for me to get Discovery HD...

What's the story with this? I just picked up two 6412 boxes and have been having tons of problems with the HD channels. For the first few days, I was only able to tune in a few HD channels. Now most work but Discovery and WTAE still break up constantly. I've also been having alot of problems with my cable internet connection.

At first I thought it was a problem with the cable running into the house (old neighboorhood). Is the real problem their network is just overloaded?

Thanks

Here's another question...If we don't have the bandwidth or capability in the North Hills for Discovery HD and the rest of those channels...why is it that I can watch all the premiums' HD feed on my choice of HD channels?
Isn't it sort of dumb to have HBO, Showtime, Cinemax HD on 2 separate channels when there is a space constraint? I understand that they want to keep the subscription channels together...but do I really need to be able to have HBO HD both on 228 in the HD grouping...and on 300 with the HBO channels???

Originally posted by scottro
Here's another question...If we don't have the bandwidth or capability in the North Hills for Discovery HD and the rest of those channels...why is it that I can watch all the premiums' HD feed on my choice of HD channels?
Isn't it sort of dumb to have HBO, Showtime, Cinemax HD on 2 separate channels when there is a space constraint? I understand that they want to keep the subscription channels together...but do I really need to be able to have HBO HD both on 228 in the HD grouping...and on 300 with the HBO channels???

I think I remember reading in another thread somewhere that it's a matter of double labelling the same content with two channels, not actually broadcasting the same material twice.

Does anyone here have a clear (unencrypted) QAM capable HD receiver hooked up to a Pittsburgh Comcast feed?

I'm wondering what channels Comcast carries in the clear here in Pittsburgh. Trying to decide if I should stick with my current OTA HD receiver or get one that is clear QAM capable.

I got the Sun 400pm game on KDKA-DT ,this was the first time seeing a NFL game in HDTV WOW I was shocked to see how great the picture was.
I wish I could get more Pittsburgh stations in HDTV. Are all the Pittsburgh stations in full signal strength?


Tom

Originally posted by scottro
Here's another question...If we don't have the bandwidth or capability in the North Hills for Discovery HD and the rest of those channels...why is it that I can watch all the premiums' HD feed on my choice of HD channels?
Isn't it sort of dumb to have HBO, Showtime, Cinemax HD on 2 separate channels when there is a space constraint? I understand that they want to keep the subscription channels together...but do I really need to be able to have HBO HD both on 228 in the HD grouping...and on 300 with the HBO channels???

Those of us in the Castle Shannon service area are in the same boat as you. I am really getting disgusted with Comcast and their non-answers when you ask about this. Why can every other area except Ross and Castle Shannon get these additional channels? And the part that really toasts me is that I am going to have to pay the extra fee and I get less service than the other areas. That just drives me nuts!

Maybe that extra money is going to upgrade the infrastructure? That's what I keep telling myself anyway...

telamon - I saw that same post on the duplicate channels, I guess that makes sense. Thanks for the reply though.

I sure hope so but from what I've been seeing of Comcast lately I think it is more than likely going to line some fat cat's pocket!

I know when they took over from AT&T that their goal was to get at least $60 a month out of EVERY subscriber.

Have you all got the message on the STB about HD Movies featured on On Demand? It says to look for an HD Movies tab or something on the menu but I don't see it yet...I don't know why they'd put out the message if it's not available yet? Or maybe folks in my area are getting the shaft again?

Honestly if they continue to upgrade content like this, roll out new tech, etc., I really don't mind paying a little bit more. The same programming I get through Comcast would be more expensive through D*, plus the equipment, $800-1000 for an HD Tivo. I run the numbers a few times a year, and Comcast always comes out on top. Ugh.

I have not found that area for HD either so you are not getting the proverbial shaft. But if they are thinking what Dish thought, they will be awful disappointed. Dish believed that anything (read that as garbage) in HD was worth an extra dollar. So a regular movie would be overpriced, and an HD movie would be a gouge. They had only 2 per month. By the time they posted it, I had already seen it at the theater, rented it on DVD for $2, or chose to never see it. So Dish was odd movie provider out. I never viewed one of their HD choices.

I believe Comcast will err in the same manner since the "Merry Christmas $.01 Movie" tomorrow night excludes adult and HD choices (if there were any).

I agree...I'm not paying $5 to rent a movie in HD. I'm a Netflix guy anyway so I doubt I'd even have time, but I'll try anything once. Sometimes twice...

Since I got my 6412 DVR box I have been unable to access On Demand. Just gives you a message about a "communications error."

I called yesterday and they pinged the box, said it should be cleared up within the hour, but it didn't work. A co-worker with the same box has the same problem. Anybody else having trouble accessing On Demand?

Originally posted by hondo21
Since I got my 6412 DVR box I have been unable to access On Demand. Just gives you a message about a "communications error."

I called yesterday and they pinged the box, said it should be cleared up within the hour, but it didn't work. A co-worker with the same box has the same problem. Anybody else having trouble accessing On Demand?

I haven't had that problem with my 6412, but the other morning when I turned on the tv, all I had were the menus, and no picture. I called before I headed out to work, and they said they will re-send a signal and it should be fine. Got home from work, and still no picture. I just unplugged the unit from the wall outlet, waited a few minutes. When it came back on, it was working

The last time I had the "communications error" issues, I had a splitter that wasn't transmitting back to the head end, too low of bandwidth. Have you run any new splits lately?

I've been having some problems with the single tuner box lately, like flashing menu colors from full color to black and white, it will flicker in between, then go to full black and white. This happens with the On Demand content, I think it was happening on one of the HD channels the other morning...it has been intermittent so not enough to complain. I need watch the rest of my recorded content and trade that thing in for a 6412 anyway.

No new splits. I do have an amplifier just inside the house that Comcast installed awhile back because I kept having picture breakups and certain channels that wouldn't work. But nothing is changed from when I had the 5100 box. I just can't get the On Demand to work.

From an earlier post...the HDTV on Demand is up....HD feature films look to be $5.99, Imax films are $3.99.

I think the only feature film available is The Passion of the Christ.

For $6, 480p via DVD is fine for me. I might check out an Imax though just for kicks.

I looked for it and never did find it.

In regards to Comcast's "ON DEMAND" can't get it on satellite campaign, well did you try to get your $.01 movie last Thursday? The entire "ON DEMAND" system went into chaos at 7:00 and all remote commands were basically ignored. I felt like I was back in HS trying to get a date. Invisible. :D

I called to complain the next day and the CSR said they acknowledge a problem existed and would make it up to us in the future. I suggested that we get FOX HD as a substitute for the free movie, but my not so subtle suggestions as being ignored by the negotiating parties.

With the NFC playoffs so close we are really getting screwed in this Sinclair market.

Originally posted by wstanko

With the NFC playoffs so close we are really getting screwed in this Sinclair market.

Ah, my favorite company to rant on, Sinclair. Yes, we in Baltimore and Baltimore County also suffer from Fox owned by Sinclair. Two counties next door also have Comcast and Comcast was able to import the DC HD Fox channel, but we are in the home area for the Fox affiliate so afflicted.

Just one of life's little cruelties.

I wonder which cable company will be the first to give in to Sinclair?

Rich N.

Well, it appears there will be no HD Super Bowl for me this year. I won't buy an OTA setup just for Fox, which means less Fox viewing for me overall. Their loss. For this one game I'd be willing to spend a small sum for PPV on Comcast if they could work out such a deal with Sinclair, but I doubt that would happen since it isn't a national issue.

I think I'm going to change my annual family Super Bowl chilifest/party this year to an "AFC Championship Game" party instead, on January 23. HD on CBS (KDKA-DT).

I agree. I am watching a lot less Fox lately because I would rather watch HD even if Fox does have a better program on at the time. I think we should start boycotting Fox advertizers to force Sinclair to do something about it. Maybe a letter/email campaign to Fox HQ. Anyone have an email address for the head honchos?

Originally posted by holabr
Anyone have an email address for the head honchos?

http://www.sbgi.net/contact/contact.shtml
Sinclair Broadcast Group

http://www.sbgi.net/about/executives.shtml
Sinclair Broadcast Group

Yeah the whole situation really sucks. I am probably going to end up buying a MyHD card for my HTPC so I can get Fox and still be able to timeshift it. I suppose I'll have to buy a PC HD card anyway before June when the broadcast flag goes into effect, so it's not a total waste :)

I just posted the following on the Yahoo message board for SBGI:

There is increased concerns by subscribers to Comcast that Sinclair is holding out in negotiations to provide Fox HD in the Sinclair markets. There is talk of organizing a boycott of local advertizers until Sinclair gives in and comes to an agreement with Comcast. The concern is getting especially heated because HD cable coverage of the Super Bowl will not be available in the Sinclair markets.

Feel free to add your 2 cents.

How can I boycott Fox 53's local advertisers? Who exactly are they (I guess I could watch to find out but that would kind of defeat the boycott, wouldn't it), and how can they be distinguished from local advertisers of the other channels?

I support your cause, but realistically who is going to notice a boycott by 0.1% of a station's viewers? Boycotts rarely work even when the issue is well known by a lot of people.

Sadly, I think there will have to be a lot more knowledgeable HD-capable cable viewers before Sinclair will even care.

And I *sold* my MyHD card on eBay when I got Armstrong HD. Guess that was a mistake. I'm also probably going to break down and get either an PC HD card or OTA box. Sigh. So I guess there's no update on when, if ever, this might be resolved?

On a separate note, have any Armstrong folks received their 6412s yet? A friend of mine got one when he got his new install. I just called and the CSR said they weren't yet released and that she put me on "the list". When I mentioned that a friend had already received one, she kept going "hmmmm". Couldn't get more than a "hmmmm" out of her on the topic. :)

No word on the 6412s yet, I'm also on "the list". I wonder why they are waiting when Comcast is already rolling them out. When I asked about new people getting 6412s, I heard they weren't yet enabled with the dual tuner firmware, but they had single tuner code on them. Can your friend record 2 shows at once?

As of a month ago, he had single-tuner functionality only.. Just emailed to ask if that had changed...

Originally posted by holabr
I just posted the following on the Yahoo message board for SBGI:

There is increased concerns by subscribers to Comcast that Sinclair is holding out in negotiations to provide Fox HD in the Sinclair markets. There is talk of organizing a boycott of local advertizers until Sinclair gives in and comes to an agreement with Comcast. The concern is getting especially heated because HD cable coverage of the Super Bowl will not be available in the Sinclair markets.

Feel free to add your 2 cents.

My 2 cents is that Sinclair is not concerned about complaints because they don't lose any ratings, ie revenue, from not having their HD signal on cable. When they have to reduce their local rates because enough HD viewers are watching something else in HD vs. Fox (or other Sinclair-owned affiliate) SD then that will be an impetus. Boycotting sponsors is always interesting, but I can't see a sponsor worrying about the few number of HD viewers willing to do so. I don't even know who the sponsors are since I don't watch Fox except for sports.

And it isn't just Sinclair. Several other multi-station owners (ie Cox) are also withholding their HD signal from all cable companies. Lines in the sand are drawn and very deep.

My guess is that it will be years before the basic situation will change. I guess on this issue I'm a pessimist.

Rich N.

I am hesitant to even suggest this but....

Is this something that our Federal representatives should get involved in? Aren't they somehow involved in establishing the timeframe for the adoption of the HD standard? Also, didn't they make a rule that required cable companies to carry local channels a few years back? Maybe this requirement should extend to HD since the standard won't be adopted by the masses until the content is available on cable.

You're right it's an FCC issue. They apparently only require carriage of the analog local channels, and it doesn't include the digital channels, so each station is free to come to whatever arrangement they want with each provider.

Heads-up re WPXI HD:

This is from today's San Francisco Chronicle:

Void near end?: For months, Comcast customers with high-definition TV have been frustrated by the lack of the HD signal for KTVU (Channel 2). The void has resulted from a dispute between Cox Broadcasting, KTVU's parent company, and Comcast.

A source familiar with the negotiations says there is reason to believe the impasse is near an end. The source said it's "possible" KTVU's HD signal will be available on Comcast by Jan. 9, the date of Fox's first NFL playoff telecast. The source said it's "likely" KTVU-HD will be available by Feb. 6, the date of the Super Bowl on Fox.

For the sake of both Comcast and KTVU, "likely" better be "definitely." If the source is accurate, this is a positive development for WPXI HD carriage on Comcast in Pittsburgh. In fact, I would be very surprised if there was an agreement for KTVU HD which did not include an agreement for WPXI HD.

As previously discussed in this thread and elsewhere, Cox Broadcasting aka Cox Television owns both KTVU and WPXI (as well as many other stations around the country).

It would be nice to get WPXI-DT (NBC), but not as urgent right now in Pittsburgh as getting WPGH-DT (Fox), owned by Sinclair. Maybe if Cox can come to an agreement with Comcast, so can Sinclair. But the clock be tickin' ....

I did a little research. It does not seem this is a national deal. I will keep looking for something more definitive.

So I just got myself a clear QAM capable tuner the other day.

I'll probably be getting Comcast Basic cable as a pseudo requirement for Cable HSI (i.e. HSI without cable costs more than HSI + Basic cable).

I'm located in the Sq. Hill area. Anyone know what local HD channels if any will my clear QAM tuner pickup on the basic cable line? Will I have to get one of the Digital packages just to get HD locals? Or should I just leave the tuner plugged into my indoor antenna which picks up ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and WB HD signals right now. I'd like to get UPN or is it not available?

Well, here goes the CRS rumeur du jour :

In reply to my question, is Comcast launching ESPN2 HD on Thursday, Jan 6, she checked and replied, YES. :D

I asked her to also check for any others and she said that ESPN2 was the only one she could confirm.

So we shall see. But my prayers for Fox still go unanswered.

Question: I notice in the Post-Gazette Sunday TV section that there is a digital NBC & FOX affiliate in Johnstown. If local ownership is so uncooperative, could these be added or is there a TS Clause that prevents that from happening also?

Originally posted by telamon
. Anyone know what local HD channels if any will my clear QAM tuner pickup on the basic cable line? Will I have to get one of the Digital packages just to get HD locals? Or should I just leave the tuner plugged into my indoor antenna which picks up ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and WB HD signals right now. I'd like to get UPN or is it not available?

Just leave the tuner and antenna setup alone. Sounds like the only thing you're missing out on is PBS-HD. I get just CBS, ABC, and PBS in the clear through Comcast. Not much else. You could always get an A/B switch if you want PBS.

It seems I finally have my OTA setup working to get Fox and NBC digitals...so I expect Comcast to add them any day now. :D


ESPN 2, huh? I'll believe it when I see it. Can't say I'm all that geeked about the 2005 International Solitaire championship upconverted to HD anyway...maybe if the No Hockey League was playing I'd be more interested.
Give us Discovery HD in the North Hills instead.

Originally posted by wstanko
Well, here goes the CRS rumeur du jour :

In reply to my question, is Comcast launching ESPN2 HD on Thursday, Jan 6, she checked and replied, YES. :D

I asked her to also check for any others and she said that ESPN2 was the only one she could confirm.

So we shall see. But my prayers for Fox still go unanswered.

Question: I notice in the Post-Gazette Sunday TV section that there is a digital NBC & FOX affiliate in Johnstown. If local ownership is so uncooperative, could these be added or is there a TS Clause that prevents that from happening also?

The NBC affiliate in Johnstown is also a Cox station. It's Cox corporate, not WPXI being the holdup in getting the digital channel onto Comcast.

Today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette TV Q&A discusses the Fox-53 HD on cable issue, as well as the lack of certain channels in parts of Comcast's service area. Doesn't sound too promising on the HD Fox on cable front.

http://www.post-gazette.com/tv/questions/
TV Q&A with Rob Owen

Thursday, January 6, 2005

By Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This week's TV Q&A answers questions about Comcast carrying WPGH in high-definition, local Nielsen ratings and the whereabouts of Jon Stewart.

As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.
Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: With the upcoming Super Bowl being broadcast on Fox, and Comcast does not (yet) carry the local Fox station in high definition, will Comcast make any provisions to carry the game in high def?
- John, Pittsburgh

Several months ago there was a question about Comcast's high definition support. Is there any update from them on when or if they'll add more channels such as Fox or NBC? I'd really like to watch the new season of "24" in high definition, and an antenna isn't feasible for me. Or what about TNT HD or Discovery Home Theater? What's the holdup?

- Adam Rixey, Sharpsburg

The hold up is they're still negotiating. Or perhaps the line in the sand has been drawn and neither party will budge. A Comcast spokesman said "We're still in negotiations with Fox 53 and Sinclair," which owns WPGH, and made no predictions on when something might happen. Whatever is really going on, cable subscribers with HD sets are the losers.

It's not just "24" fans who are left without HD - Fox is carrying the Super Bowl this year so football fans watching on cable are out of luck, too. The Comcast representative said at this point no special plans are being made to carry the Super Bowl in HD.

Of course, you can always get Fox's HD signal over the air on digital Channel 43 without a cable connection, providing you have a digital tuner.

Comcast also continues to negotiate with Cox to carry WPXI. Comcast currently carries Discovery HD Home Theater. Comcast does not currently have a deal to carry TNT HD.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: My question is about Comcast channels. Recently, I upgraded to a DVR offered by Comcast and that meant I get all the HDTV Channels. Excited by this, my husband and I splurged and got a HDTV!
However, we noticed we do not get Discovery-HD, even though all the literature from Comcast says that we should have it. I called them and they couldn't give me reason why I don't have it. We literally get everything you can channel-wise from Comcast.

Do you know something we don't? Is Discovery HD available anywhere in Pittsburgh?

I love your columns. As you can tell, I'm a TV junkie myself. We share similar opinions and that is wonderful!

- Erin Butkovic, Glenshaw

Because various companies have owned a patchwork of area cable systems over the years, a Comcast spokesman said there are some portions of Ross, Penn Hill and Castle Shannon where Discovery Channel and two InDemand high-definition channels are not yet available. Comcast expects to complete upgrades and begin offering those channels sometime this year.

Bob Smizik also references it in the PG here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05006/437979.stm

Although he refers to Sinclair as "St. Clair" Broadcasting.

Funny how when the Steelers have a shot at the Super Bowl, everyone suddenly is concerned...

Well, now I can stop praying because it is not going to happen. After reading these two articles I am not angry with Comcast for not caving in, but even more angry with the other sides. Yes, their signals on the cable would mean that I watch them far more often and the thought pattern that they are more valuable then others is ridiculous.

I will watch them even less than I do now if that is possible. And no, I am not spending hundreds of dollars on a tuner and antenna so that I can see you. The consumer has spoken.

What, wstanko, you mean you won't spend hundreds on "your free HDTV" that they always advertise? :-D

I caved in and went OTA this week. I'm spoiled for football. Plus Nascar is starting up soon. Racing should look phenomenal in HD + 5.1....vroom vroom!

Originally posted by scottro
Bob Smizik also references it in the PG here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05006/437979.stm

Although he refers to Sinclair as "St. Clair" Broadcasting.

Funny how when the Steelers have a shot at the Super Bowl, everyone suddenly is concerned...

What cracked me up was the correction from Sinclair to St. Clair was actually the mistake.
He had the story wrong to begin with in print, they had the web site correct, then they went an undid the right thing on the web site and posted it as a clarification/correction.
OOPS!

Hey guys, I was reading in another thread about Sinclair, and this Comcast/Sinclair news got posted.
Hope is still available?????

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=492049&perpage=20&pagenumber=3

This may be a little off topic but... do you find a real inconsistent and poor signal on channels 2 through 7? At times I can't get those channels at all on several of my sets and at other times (like today) I get a watchable picture but with a lot of interferance through it. Comcast did put an amp on my line where it enters the house when they put in the digital box. When I called them about it, they implied it was my set problem since those channels are received ok through their cable box and on my main TV.

Originally posted by holabr
This may be a little off topic but... do you find a real inconsistent and poor signal on channels 2 through 7? At times I can't get those channels at all on several of my sets and at other times (like today) I get a watchable picture but with a lot of interferance through it. Comcast did put an amp on my line where it enters the house when they put in the digital box. When I called them about it, they implied it was my set problem since those channels are received ok through their cable box and on my main TV.


Did you check your connections to the other sets and length of the cable runs. Also, the connections in and out of the amps. I to noticed a degradation in the picture quality after I received my Motorola cable box on my main TV through which I use the box.

The cable length is really not an issue, since in one case the cable is actually shorter than the run to the main set and in another it is longer. I am suspecting it is more of a Comcast problem since the clarity of the picture varies so much with no changes in my setup or cabling.

Also, for us Steeler fans, it looks like having the Super Bowl in HD from Fox is no longer as great a concern. Maybe next year.

Well, if the Super Bowl is on NBC next year (NOT) you will be in luck. The following is excerpted from the press release announcing that Comcast will be carrying the Cox-owned Fox affiliate in the San Francisco area:

HDTV offers six times the picture clarity of traditional analog, providing the clearest picture available today. The agreement between Cox Broadcasting, Comcast and Charter Cable provides carriage of the digital signals of COX Broadcasting television stations including stations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Seattle.

So you should all have WPXI-DT on your Comcast systems in short order.

Excellent. Would rather have FOX than NBC right now, but anything new is welcomed, and can only put more pressure on Sinclair.

At this particular time (post loss), Fox has lost all its appeal. Next fall I will again wish for the channel, but for now, WPXI is the winner of the two in my playbook. They have primetime programming that I will watch.

Thanks SomomaSearcher for the update.

I personally think the new season of "24" in HD was worth the price of my OTA setup...

We'll see how long Comcast takes to get WPXI into the mix. Those of us in the North Hills might be out of luck until they get the system upgraded to carry additional HD channels.

Of interest for Pittsburg Comcast subs,

Comcast, Fox strike S.F. HDTV deal
Published: January 27, 2005, 5:39 PM PST
By Richard Shim
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
TrackBack Print E-mail TalkBack

Starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, Comcast digital-cable subscribers in the San Francisco Bay area will be able to receive HD broadcasts from Fox affiliate KTVU Fox 2, a move driven in part by the upcoming Super Bowl XXXIX. The agreement was part of a larger deal between Comcast and 14 other stations owned by Cox Broadcasting, the parent of KTVU. KTVU Fox 2 is the exclusive Fox affiliate in the Bay Area.

The NFL championship game airs on Feb. 6 from Jacksonville, Fla.

FYI, Armstrong just added WPGH-DT, channel 109. Still trying to see if I can get any details on how this was possible, and I'm also asking about WCWB. My cable bill went up $2 this month, which may or may not be related.

Saw this letter on a Sinclair forum. Doesn't help us Eagle's fan on watching the SuperBowl on HD, but I guess it does clarify their position.

An Open Letter From Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

To Our Viewers
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The digital television signals of television stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group,
Inc. are not currently carried on many local cable systems. The reason for this is quite simple --
the cable companies have refused to pay for the right to retransmit these digital signals. Even
though they charge you to receive our signal, they don’t want to pay to receive something which
they are essentially reselling.
These cable companies would like you to believe that Sinclair is wrong to demand
compensation from them. We think if you will consider the following points you will agree that
Sinclair’s position is correct.
1. Broadcast Television Programming Is Tops In Popularity. Consider how much you
pay the cable company every month and what that payment is for. If you are like most people
you spend a lot more time watching most broadcast television stations than any cable channel.
Yet the cable companies use your money to pay the cable channels and not Sinclair. If it was up
to you to you to determine which channels you wanted to pay for every month, wouldn’t you
designate part of your money to receive the local broadcast stations?
2. Cable Companies Routinely Pay to Acquire Programming. As noted above, cable
companies pay to obtain the right to carry most cable channels. In addition, despite their claims
to the contrary, cable companies routinely provide other broadcasters some form of
consideration in order to receive the right to retransmit their broadcast stations. It may not be
cash, but they are in fact paying to receive local stations’ signals. Sinclair simply wants to be
paid like everyone else.
3. Satellite Television Providers Pay Broadcasters Cash. The satellite providers,
DirecTV and Dish Network, are cable’s primary competition and provide essentially the same
service to consumers. These satellite companies routinely pay local broadcasters for the right to
rebroadcast their signals and, in fact, it was the addition of local channels to satellite providers’
program schedules which allowed them to obtain many of the subscribers they have today. Why
should the cable companies not have to pay for the same programming that their competitors
buy?
4. Payments to Sinclair Should Not Increase Your Cable Bill. Contrary to claims by the
cable companies, paying Sinclair should not lead to material increases in your cable bill. In the
first place, Sinclair is looking for no more than 50 cents per subscriber, per month, a very small
percentage of the average cable bill. In addition, we believe that consumers already believe the
fees they pay cable companies are in part to receive local signals. Cable companies simply need
to reallocate the fees you pay them away from the cable channels with low viewership to the
broadcast stations which have compelling programming and high viewership.
5. Sinclair Is Meeting Its Obligation To Provide Its Signals For Free. The signals of our
television stations (including the digital signals) continue, as has always been the case, to be free
to consumers over-the-air. The law, however, explicitly allows us to charge cable systems for
the right to retransmit our signals so any suggestion that we are doing anything improper is
simply incorrect. Similarly, claims that we received our right to broadcast for free are not only
irrelevant, but equally incorrect. We paid billions of dollars to acquire the stations that we own
and also spent more than $150 million to build out the infrastructure to broadcast a digital signal.
We realize that you are caught in the middle and care a lot more about the fact that you
can’t receive our digital signal than the reasons why you can’t. We certainly appreciate the time
you have taken to read this letter and hope that after you think about these various issues, you
can better understand why we think we should be paid by the cable companies for our signal.
If you would like the cable companies to provide our digital signal, we ask that you
contact them to let them know this. We also ask that you let them know that you believe it
makes sense to allocate a portion of your cable bill to the programming that you spend the most
time watching. They want to profit by selling our signals to you; it is only fair that they pay us
for the right to do so.
Thank you for your time in considering our point of view on this important subject. We
hope that together we can convince the cable companies to spend your subscription fee properly
so that you can receive our digital signals from your cable provider in the future.
Sincerely yours,
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

I'm confused. If Sinclair makes money by broadcasting OTA based on advertisers paying for ads, and the amount charged is directly proportional to the number of viewers. Isn't the cable company in affect helping Sinclair get more viewer by rebroadcasting the signal to many more viewers? The cable companies have infrastructure and support costs also. They keep reminding us every time they increase our bill. The money would not simply be redirected from other programming, it would be added to our bills. Can you imagine that one of the non-OTA channels will buy into having their fee reduced because adding a popular OTA channel is going to reduce the number of viewers watching their programming? I can understand paying for programming that isn't OTA broadcast in the first place, but it seems to me that we cable subscriber would end up paying for the OTA channels twice. Once in our advertising dollars and a second time in our cable fees if Sinclair gets what it wants.

There is a lot more discussion about the issue here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=500356).

Good news though about Cox and Comcast. Anyone have it yet?

I don't know if anyone noticed but I just came home from the bar and noticed channel 208 NFLHD in the lineup.

Armstrong Cable adds Fox in HD
Other local providers working on deal

Saturday, January 29, 2005
By Bob Smizik, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

One of the three major cable providers in Western Pennsylvania came to agreement yesterday with Sinclair Broadcasting -- owner of WPGH Fox 53, which will be showing the Super Bowl in the Pittsburgh area -- and already has begun carrying the station's high definition signal as part of its regular lineup of channels.

Armstrong Cable customers can view Fox in high definition on Channel 109. Armstrong serves Butler, Cranberry, Connellsville, Grove City and Zelienople. About 125,000 viewers will be affected.

Sinclair and the major cable providers have been involved in negotiations for some time with the goal of coming to agreement before the Feb. 6 Super Bowl.

As yet, the agreement with Armstrong has had no affect on Comcast, which serves the city of Pittsburgh, and Adelphia, the major provider in the southern suburbs.

"Comcast, the region's largest provider, issued this statement:

"Comcast has secured agreements with hundreds of broadcast television stations all across the country, encompassing dozens of television station ownership groups, in order to provide Comcast customers with local broadcast stations' HD signals.

"Comcast has made numerous proposals to Sinclair consistent with what has been offered and accepted by other broadcast television stations in Pittsburgh and throughout the country.

"We remain open to continued discussions with Sinclair in the hopes that we may secure the rights to bring the WPGH Fox 53 HD signal to our customers."

Adelphia also said it was in continuing negotiations.

For its part, WPGH Fox 53 is advising viewers they can pick up the station's HD signal by turning to Channel 43, but it's a far more difficult process than the station suggests.

In a crawl that runs during some of the station's HD programming, Fox tells viewers the following:

"This Fox station brings you this program and the Super Bowl in HDTV for free on our "Over the Air" digital channel 43."

The announcement makes it sound as if all viewers need do is turn to Channel 43 to enjoy the extreme clarity of high definition television. It takes a lot more than that.

For starters, a high definition television set is required. If the set is not equipped with an HD receiver, and most are not, a receiver and antenna must also be purchased and hooked up.

A check at one of the major electronic chain stores in the area indicated that a tuner costs about $250 to $300. An antenna costs about $15.

Even then, there's no guarantee the signal can be received because of Pittsburgh's topography.

Kerry Check, the director of engineering for WPGH and WCWB, suggested to viewers who want to pick up the HD feed on Channel 43 that placement of the set is important.

"Some people say 'I can't get your station.' I tell them if they move the TV to another place in their house, they'll probably be able to pick it up.

Originally posted by jsling
I don't know if anyone noticed but I just came home from the bar and noticed channel 208 NFLHD in the lineup.

Yep, have it here to :)

Yes, it is here in Canonsburg also.

BTW I called CS yesterday & I was determined to go up the chain until I got an answer about when WPXI would appear in menu. WOW!!!! what a treat I had instore.

The 1st CSR told me that I already had WPXI, true but you answered the wrong question. Up-the-chain......

The 2nd refereral CSR told me that Comcast was ready to broadcast the signal of WPXI in HD; the problem is that WPXI must upgrade their signal for they are not broadcasting in HD at this time!!! Yea, that's the ticket. Up-the-chain......

The 3rd and final referred CSR told me that there was no deal with Cox to allow this signal. Explaining that there was one was futile, for she repeated that noone had told her, so there was none. At this point I was just plain worn out.

There must be a very small informational loop for HD at Comcast & it is inpossible to access it as a consumer. When they do add a channel I read about it here or stumble upon it myself. One would think that they would send out the "message" over their system at ever possible opportunity available, but instead I read about the free preview of the Count the Snowflakes Channel."

Originally posted by jsling
I don't know if anyone noticed but I just came home from the bar and noticed channel 208 NFLHD in the lineup.

Only bad thing is it is the exact same as channel 180, but it's a start. Maybe something will be worked out for the Super Bowl?

The Superbowl replay will be on this channel about a week after it is over. So just don't read a paper, listen to TV or radio, talk to anyone, or leave the house for about a week.

Yes, the Superbowl is going to be on Comcast after all!!!!! Who needs Armstong Cable anyways?

take that, agtiny :)

Previously Comcast had been putting the NFL network HD programming (of which there is not much - just the NFL films one-hour game summaries, which are very good) on INHD2, pre-empting whatever was supposed to be on there. I guess now they've just added a dedicated channel to handle that chore. This is what Adelphia has already been doing (I think on channel 777 for them.)

Wow, this really upsets me. I got home and saw NFL TV as well. I really appreciate an additional HD channel, but those of us in the North Hills still don't have DiscoveryHD, InHD1, and InHD2. As much as I like football, having a football channel 24 hours a day, that doesn't even play live games has little appeal to me. I'd much rather have DiscoveryHD or either of the InHDs over NFLHD.

I never thought I'd "complain" about a new HD channel, but in this case, I'm not very happy.

BTW, last time I checked, I didn't have access to the NFL Network at all. I just checked, and now I have access to the SD and HD channels. I didn't really pay attention when they sent out their new packages, but I guess this is part of the package re-alignment.

Originally posted by scott12v
Wow, this really upsets me. I got home and saw NFL TV as well. I really appreciate an additional HD channel, but those of us in the North Hills still don't have DiscoveryHD, InHD1, and InHD2.

If you're on a 550MHz system like about 14 SF bay area cities, and Comcast has not indicated they plan to do anymore upgrades to these system, then you're probably going to end up a musical chair situation. In SF Comcast is removing ShowtimeHD(no more Huff, L-Word, boxing) and a local non-affiliate HD channel to make room for DiscoveryHD and the local Fox-HD affiliate channel which Comcast just picked up.

The bottom line with this is, the system is maxed, meaning no INHD1,INHD2, TNT-HD, UNI-HD, WB-HD, ESPN2-HD, FSN-HD or any other channel Comcast carries or may carry in the future, unless they take something else off. Or, until such time some all of the analog channels are switched to digital, which is a long ways off. Digital simulcast cannot be done on these systems because there is no BW to do it.

Sad situation indeed...

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
Good news though about Cox and Comcast. Anyone have it yet?


I just wish we could get HDTV here in the Steubenville,Ohio area from Comcast

E-Mail from COMCAST

Thank you for contacting Comcast in regards to HDTV services and
availability.

We're very excited about the potential of HD, and while we do not have
agreements with all programmers that would allow us to carry their HD
programming, we continue to have discussions with a number of them in
the hopes of reaching an agreement to carry their signals.

HDTV is currently available in limited service areas but will soon be
available to many Comcast customers. Our records indicate the head end
where your service come from does not have enough band width to carry
the HD service.

Once the head end in your area is update, this service will be
available. Unfortunately, I do not have any information on when this
will be complete.

Thank you again for your interest in HDTV services from Comcast.

Sincerely,

Darlene
Comcast Customer Care Specialist
**************************************************

WPXI-DT to be added on Comcast Channel 211, on Tuesday Feb. 8:

http://www.wpxi.com/station/4151012/detail.html

WPXI-TV, Comcast Announce Agreement To Carry High Definition Programming

POSTED: 12:09 pm EST February 1, 2005
UPDATED: 12:57 pm EST February 1, 2005

PITTSBURGH -- Tuesday, WPXI-TV and Comcast announced their agreement allowing for the carriage of Channel 11's High Definition signal and television programming throughout cable systems in the Pittsburgh DMA. The agreement is part of a larger deal between Comcast and Cox Television, owners of WPXI-TV.

Starting February 8, 2005, WPXI-HD (NBC) will be available on channel 211 to Comcast Digital Cable customers who have an HD-ready television and rent a digital set-top converter with an integrated HD tuner, which allows them to view channels broadcast in high-definition.

"This really is a win-win situation, said Ray Carter," Vice President and General Manager of WPXI-TV. "The news is great for the Pittsburgh viewing audience and it's a pleasure for WPXI to join with Comcast in making this happen."

NBC loads its primetime schedule with weekly HDTV broadcasts including The West Wing, Law and Order and ER.

"Comcast is proud to add WPXI-HD to an already strong High Definition channel line-up," said Doug Sansom, regional senior vice president for Comcast. "A recent Nielsen study of Comcast's HD households proves that our HD offerings are the place to be, as 45% say they tune to these channels first when they turn on their TV. HD programs like the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Crossing Jordan and Las Vegas to mention a few will draw more customers to a balanced HD schedule offered by WPXI-HD."

"By partnering with WPXI-TV, Comcast Digital customers will have access to watching The West Wing, Law and Order, and ER with picture resolution that is up to six times sharper than standard-definition television."

To date, Comcast makes available up to twelve (12) HD channels throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Region. Channels include WPXI, WTAE, KDKA, WQED, ESPN, Showtime, HBO, Cinemax, Starz!, Discovery, INHD and INHD2.

Channel 11 made Pittsburgh history when it broadcast the Celebrate the Season Holiday Parade in HDTV on Saturday, November 28, 2004. It was the first non-sporting event in Pittsburgh to be broadcast in high definition.

Customers who subscribe to Comcast Digital Cable, in addition to being eligible for HDTV, may receive up to 240 digital channels, including 25 premium movie channels, 45 commercial-free music channels, 7 Encore themed movie channels, six Discovery channels, seven MTV and VH1 channels, more than 30 additional pay-per-view channels, a variety of Pay-Per-View sports packages featuring the NHL, MLB and NBA as well as college sports, an interactive one-screen program guide, parental controls and much more.

About WPXI-TV
WPXI-TV and WPXI-DT are Cox Television Stations in the Pittsburgh, PA television market. About Cox Television: Cox Television includes 15 television stations, 3 national television sales representation firms, a television production company, and a Washington D.C. news office. Cox Television is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., based in Atlanta.

About Comcast Cable
Headquartered in Pennsylvania, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation, a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. Operating in 17 of the United States' 20 largest metropolitan areas, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, Digital Cable, high-speed Internet and telephone services, Comcast is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what's important in their lives. The company's 55,000 employees serve more than 21 million customers.

Comcast, whose Western Atlantic Region offices are located in North Fayette, PA serves more than 660,000 customers and employs approximately 2,000 people throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio and the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia.

hondo21

Great post. This is the station that will just about round out my local "needs" with the exception of you know what. If only that would occur for channel 213 before Sunday, my wish list would be complete. But hey, even without FOXHD this addition is great news and I will now watch many programs that I ignored only because I did not have the HD signal.

If Cox, why not Sinclair? Oh, I forgot, Sinclair ...Funny, all the stuff you read/hear about Sinclair, you don't hear anything about Cox. I guess that's reflective of the relative levels of concern the companies have for their viewers. I guess I'm cynical. I guess I'm done.
Rich N.

This is great news. I guess I'll be watching alot more NBC programming now. The more HD choices we get is better for us and I think it may be not so great for Sinclair. Maybe they'll relealize it's time to get onboard before the ship sails.

Originally posted by wstanko
The Superbowl replay will be on this channel about a week after it is over. So just don't read a paper, listen to TV or radio, talk to anyone, or leave the house for about a week.

Yes, the Superbowl is going to be on Comcast after all!!!!! Who needs Armstong Cable anyways?

take that, agtiny :)


LOL, i need Armstrong cable! I specifically bought my house in an Armstrong serviced area because they offered the best cable internet at the time, and when i bought my 57" HDTV last Feb i thought Armstrong had a pretty nice HD package and it keeps getting better. IMO its because Armstrong is a rather small cable company thats why they are able to provide superior programing to us customers, but thats just my opinion. My cable bill is $170 a month and i think its work every penny. And with the addition of FOX HD im even more pleased that i can see the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 in HD. Now if we could only get Discovery HD.


Anways just my 2 cents.

To date, Comcast makes available up to twelve (12) HD channels throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Region. Channels include WPXI, WTAE, KDKA, WQED, ESPN, Showtime, HBO, Cinemax, Starz!, Discovery, INHD and INHD2.


For those of us in the North Hills area, I wouldn't bet on seeing WPXI-HD until you can actually tune in channel 211. I've heard their "no BW" story long enough that I doubt we'll see it. I recently noticed the $5.99 HD PPV options under the IN-Demand menus, though, and wonder how the BW is available for that but not Discovery or INHDs.

does this include wtov9 as well. Will those of us in the eastern ohio and northern west virginia area receive wpxi as well as wtov9 in hd. Will any on-demand content be available from these channels?

I live north of the city as well and am frustrated with Comcast. They call and sell you on HD promising channels like Discovery that you later find out you cannot get. Then you call a customer service rep and they give you a worthless answer.

Here is the Sinclair agreement announcement!!!!!

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050204/phf025_1.html

And Mr. Stanko, it's up and running on Channel 213 RIGHT NOW! Johnny Zero was looking mighty fine!

Originally posted by bolco
And Mr. Stanko, it's up and running on Channel 213 RIGHT NOW! Johnny Zero was looking mighty fine!

What makes you think Mr. Stanko has the same taste in men? :D

i have fox on 213 now too!

Yep. I checked around 9 p.m., nothing. Checked at 10 p.m. and there it was on 213. No program guide info yet, but that's understandable.

Now, what about that local Sinclair-owned WB affiliate ... :)

Just checked, it's there! The news is on and I flipped from 213 to 07 to see if the picture quality is much better even though the news is not in HD, it looks alot better to me. The Superbowl and Daytona 500 should look great.

We got Fox here in the No. Fayette area! That's one prayer answered for an Eagles fan. Now if I get another one come Sunday, this would make for a great weekend. I'm going down to Jacksonville tomorrow, so hopefully I'll be coming back home with a Philly victory DVR'd in HD.

E-A-G-L-E-S. Eagles!

Unfortunately, Fox has no more HD programs scheduled until the Super Bowl, so we can't check out the quality any further until then. I did catch a few moments of Johnny Zero in HD, so we know it works.

I'm just as excited that I can now watch 24 in HD on Mondays!

213 Live in the North Hills!

Don't you think it strange that last week we got a "Comcast Message" announcing the WPXI HD addition on Feb. 8, but when they turned on WPGH HD Friday evening, there was no announcement message for the next 2 nights? How were customers to know? Very few read this board like us. Was Comcast thinking that they would just figure it out?

Also strange was the total lack of newspaper coverage announcing the HD availability of the Superbowl. There were several articles previously discussing the lack of coverage, so why no announcement when coverage was available?

I can remember when KDKA HD became available. I picked up the morning Post-Gazette & saw a full page color add announcing the new addition to Comcast.

I personally think that Comcast has really dropped the public relations ball in this respect. There are a lot of new or perspective customers out there who would be swayed by the fact that all 4 major locals are now HD. This was the scenario I dreamed of when I left Dish where I only had CBS HD.

I wanted the full complement that is now reality. Thank you Comcast. :D

I sent a note to the Post-Gazette online Friday night, alerting them to the Sinclair press release and the fact that WPGH-DT was live on Comcast. I thought they would at least put a note in the Saturday or Sunday paper after their previous coverage. But I haven't seen anything yet.

I did see a Friday night promo for the Super Bowl with Alby Oxenreiter touting "and now on Comcast channel 213." That was only about an hour or two after they were on.

Looking forward to recording 24 in HD for the first time tonight.

On another subject, I noticed that the KDKA-DT lip sync problems seemed to be gone this weekend. Perfect sychronization on a couple programs I watched. I hope that is a permanent fix. I noticed a lot of OTA viewers are having trouble getting the picture/sound now. Wonder if it is related to the same changes?

I stumbled upon Fox HD on Saturday afternoon by mistake...but I did read something in the PG Sunday Sports section I believe. Just a blurb though.
It could have been the Saturday Trib.

I was on the phone with a pretty knowledgable CSR on Saturday - She was exceptionally helpful with my service problem (that I caused), and she was all over the Fox HD agreement.
Unfortunately she had no idea about the WPXI agreement earlier in the week. I don't think the lines of communication flow very freely at Comcast.

Patience is such a virtue...anybody wanna buy a 6 week old OTA setup? :D

Hs anyone noticed that NFLHD on channel 208 is gone? At least it is for me here in Glenshaw. Not that they had much HD content anyway, but still it suprised me to see that it wasn't there today.

There sure are lot's of changes going on lately. First we got NFLHD, then we got FOXHD just in time for the superbowl, now we lose NFLHD and in a few days we get WPXI in HD. I wonder if those of us in the North Hills area will get it? I sure hope so, but then again I thought we would get DiscoveryHD and we got screwed out of that deal.

Originally posted by wstanko
Don't you think it strange that last week we got a "Comcast Message" announcing the WPXI HD addition on Feb. 8, but when they turned on WPGH HD Friday evening, there was no announcement message for the next 2 nights? How were customers to know? Very few read this board like us. Was Comcast thinking that they would just figure it out?

:D

We also didn't get a message in Baltimore. How about this for a thought. They won't issue a message until a final long-term agreement has be signed. I think there is still a small but significant chance that that long-term deal with Sinclair will not happen and HD Fox will disappear.

What enforces that fear is that in Harflord County, northeast of Baltimore County, Comcast is still carrying WTTG FOX HD out of DC (I watched the SB on it at my nephew's), not the Sinclair Fox45 out of Baltimore.

Of course, none of what I said may be valid, but I wonder....a framework isn't a signed agreement.

Rich N.

Originally posted by Edsynth
Hs anyone noticed that NFLHD on channel 208 is gone? At least it is for me here in Glenshaw. Not that they had much HD content anyway, but still it suprised me to see that it wasn't there today.

There sure are lot's of changes going on lately. First we got NFLHD, then we got FOXHD just in time for the superbowl, now we lose NFLHD and in a few days we get WPXI in HD. I wonder if those of us in the North Hills area will get it? I sure hope so, but then again I thought we would get DiscoveryHD and we got screwed out of that deal.


I did not notice it was gone - very true, there is very little HD content on there anyway, except Game of the Week. I'll trade NFL HD for WPXI and WPGH though. Maybe NFL will be back for next season. I don't see me watching much NFL Network until August.

I imagine we'll get WPXI in the north burbs since they were able to squeeze Fox on there and we got the message on the STB. It's supposed to be on today, right? Does the amount of HD content make a real difference in what they can jam into the pipeline? Meaning, just a handful of Fox and NBC primetime shows are HD...vs. Discovery and the INHD channels which are HD 24/7.

I'll give Comcast credit...they always seem to upgrade service just enough after a rate hike to keep me happy. OK, happy is a stretch but I'm not going anywhere to save $2/month.

I have WPXI-DT (near the airport).

Well we got WPXI-DT also here in the South Hills. One of those poor step-children that still don't get Discovery-HD, InHD, and InHD2.

I must say that I am thrilled to see FOX and WPXI in HD.

They also removed 208 NFLHD from our lineup.

I would really like to know when Comcast is going to provide us with the same programming in the South Hills and Ross that everyone around us is getting. We pay the same price and get lower service. That truly sucks!

When I call they keep blaming it on the head-end and say they are working on it. I feel like in 5 years if I call back I'd get the same canned answer. I'm only asking for the same service everyone else gets for the same price that I am paying for less service.

Come on Comcast! Throw me a bone here!

This is the cable company we are talking about. It's not supposed to make sense.

What happen on WPXI-HD and West Wing? Did everyone get the first half in HD with no voices (only background music) and the second half in SD letterbox? Was that a WPXI problem or a Comcast problem?

The problem with West Wing on WPXI was the fault of WPXI. I was having problems on the Comcast feed so I switched to my over the air version and it was messed up too. Went to SD WPXI and it was fine. It appeared to have only affected the HD channel.

From Rob Owens' TV column in the PG online:

WPGH-HD on Comcast


As reported in Sunday's Post-Gazette Sports section, Comcast and Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns Pittsburgh's WPGH and WCWB, reached an agreement "in principle" for Comcast to carry WPGH's high-definition signal as a separate channel.

"We gave them just a short-term retransmission deal," said Barry Faber, vice president and general counsel for Sinclair Broadcast Group. He declined to define "short-term" but said negotiations over getting "adequate compensation" are ongoing.

"You never know if a deal is a done deal until it's a done deal, but we wouldn't have allowed Comcast to carry the Super Bowl if we didn't think we were very close to finalizing arrangements with them," he said.

When the deal is actually done, Faber said it will allow Comcast to carry WPGH-HD and Sinclair's WCWB-HD.


There's also a little feature about an SNL skit this past week with Seth Meyers as a Pittsburgher.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05041/455261.stm

Comcast and WPGH-HD

Well I got up this morning and what did my wondering eyes see on my cable box? I red message light. I pulled up the message and they have finally told us that we have WPGH in HD on our cable line-up. Gee, I wondered how I watched the Super Bowl in HD.

LOL, I guess better late than never.

Now if only I could get Discovery-HD, InHD, and InHD2.

I was watching the Kansas Oklahoma game last night and they were talking about ESPN2HD now available. I know that we just got WPXI and FOX in HD, I wonder how much longer till we get ESPN2HD. If we got it by March 15 that would be great for the March Madness NCAA Tourny....

Does anyone know anything regarding this, or are my expectations too high for Comcast?

I called comcast about espn 2 and got the Sargent Schultz answer from the local rep. I have the feeling it will be a while before we get espn 2. Where I live we still do not receive discovery hd.

Originally posted by jagangjee
I was watching the Kansas Oklahoma game last night and they were talking about ESPN2HD now available. I know that we just got WPXI and FOX in HD, I wonder how much longer till we get ESPN2HD. If we got it by March 15 that would be great for the March Madness NCAA Tourny....

Does anyone know anything regarding this, or are my expectations too high for Comcast?

For clarity's sake,
the Women's Tourney is on ESPN and ESPN2, not the Men's

Just to add...

this year CBS will be broadcasting 39 games in the tournament in HD

also, the entire big east tourney will be broadcast in HD on ESPN

Question: Why do you think Comcast didn't upgrade the program guide for the standalone HD boxes (5100/6200)? What option is there for these boxes?
That old guide is terrible I think.

I don't want to pony up an extra $10/month for a DVR I'll hardly use...but man, that old guide is bad.

If they could upgrade the non-HD converter...why not the HD boxes? I find it hard to believe the oldest converter I have in the house would be compatible with the software but not the HD box.

Maybe that's their way of "suggesting" we get DVR service for every TV...
make us suffer with a lousy guide...

What do you all think of the new guide anyway?

I got home tonight and found out that Fox-HD was no longer listed. I live in the No. Fayette/Robinson area. What's going on???

Called CSR. They already had a recording notifying us that Sinclair has requested all local cable and satellite companies stop transmitting the signals of their channels. Looks like the negotiating is back to square one. Just when I was getting used to 24 in HD....

Wow, we still have WPGH on Armstrong, further confirming the fact that there is no deal between Sinclair and Armstrong.

I was just getting into watching FOX again but until Sinclair can come to terms with COMCAST, I'm done watching their programming. Going back to their SD station just isn't an option.

Odd....very, very odd. Both parties had said they wouldn't have put the signal up unless both felt a long-term agreement was close. Wonder how it went this bad this sudden.
I was geting ready to sell my Silver Sensor and my Sony tuner. Guess the warden called with a reprieve.

They wanted to tease everybody with the Super Bowl. Now that they have given everybody in cableland a taste, they think that the complaints will come to the cable companies, not themselves.

Looks like it's back to OTA for a while.
Glad I didn't sell my tuner either....I sorta had a feeling about this happening.

I pick up the comcast HD channels except for KDKA. I get the "this channel should be available shortly". On a few occassions I have been able to receive this making me think it is an issue with the signal being too weak. Has anyone else had problems with KDKA?

I have my signal running through a splitter and thought this may be weakening my signal. I tried hooking up an amplifier prior to my splitter to see if this would solve the problem, but to no avail. I am not sure if amplifiers work well with the digital channels. Maybel I need to call comcast.

My experience with amplifiers is 30 years ago in high school when I worked in a stereo /TV shop and cable was channels 2 through 13.

It may in fact be the splitter or connection...those HD channels are fussy.
I used a push-on type coax connector instead of a threaded one and it caused me to lose a couple of the HD channels. As soon as I went back to the threaded type, all was well. Same with the splitter, it needs a certain amount of bandwidth I guess, an old splitter was causing problems with my Video on Demand service, not allowing the box to communicate with the head end. Good luck.

From Legal...

"Sinclair appreciates your comments and is sorry that we have not yet been able to reach a long-term agreement allowing Comcast to carry our digital signals in exchange for appropriate compensation. As a gesture of good will we had allowed Comcast to carry our digital signals for a brief period (including during the Super Bowl) while we tried to finalize an agreement. Unfortunately the pace and progress of our negotiations with Comcast have not been satisfactory and the short term agreement that we had entered into with Comcast allowing them to carry our digital signals expired. We are continuing to negotiate with Comcast in the hopes of reaching a longer term agreement."

:(

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
Odd....very, very odd. Both parties had said they wouldn't have put the signal up unless both felt a long-term agreement was close. Wonder how it went this bad this sudden.
I was geting ready to sell my Silver Sensor and my Sony tuner. Guess the warden called with a reprieve.

Originally posted by Maverick481
Well we got WPXI-DT also here in the South Hills. One of those poor step-children that still don't get Discovery-HD, InHD, and InHD2.

I must say that I am thrilled to see FOX and WPXI in HD.

They also removed 208 NFLHD from our lineup.

I would really like to know when Comcast is going to provide us with the same programming in the South Hills and Ross that everyone around us is getting. We pay the same price and get lower service. That truly sucks!

When I call they keep blaming it on the head-end and say they are working on it. I feel like in 5 years if I call back I'd get the same canned answer. I'm only asking for the same service everyone else gets for the same price that I am paying for less service.

Come on Comcast! Throw me a bone here!

The only bone they'll throw you will be your own.

I made a lot of noise last summer, the bottom line from Comcan't was basically "forget about it, you won't see it in your lifetime, sorry but the cost for us to upgrade is much more than the North & South Hills are worth" or something like that - I'd have to dig up my notes to be exact. There are no plans to upgrade, period. Funny how there's enough BW for PPV-HD though, not that I would ever buy any. Still have my HD D* receiver, maybe I can talk D* into letting me cherry-pick some HD channels a la carte... dream on!

Originally posted by daverph1
The only bone they'll throw you will be your own.

I made a lot of noise last summer, the bottom line from Comcan't was basically "forget about it, you won't see it in your lifetime, sorry but the cost for us to upgrade is much more than the North & South Hills are worth" or something like that - I'd have to dig up my notes to be exact. There are no plans to upgrade, period. Funny how there's enough BW for PPV-HD though, not that I would ever buy any. Still have my HD D* receiver, maybe I can talk D* into letting me cherry-pick some HD channels a la carte... dream on!

Yep, for Comcast 550MHz system subscribers, DirecTV is going to be looking damn good around July.

From the horse's mouth regarding Comcast 550MHz systems,

"Although an amplifier upgrade in 550 MHz is a known path with known costs, it's not the only path. "If we haven't upgraded those [550 MHz] systems, there's probably a good reason- either it's too costly or there's low [subscriber] penetration" says David Fellows, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Comcast Corp. He estimates that 1 or 2 percent of Comcast's footprint falls into the two-way, 550 MHz category. "

IOW, to hell with the customer, it's not worth it for Comcast to upgrade..

From the link below,

http://www.cedmagazine.com/ced/2005/0305/03a.htm
Communications Engineering&Design: March, 2005 - Drilling for bandwidth

I got a message on my cable box last night saying that DiscoveryHD and InHD1 will be coming later this month (I think the 22nd). This is great news for those of us living in the North Hills.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050316/phw022_3.html

BALTIMORE, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI - News) is pleased to announce that it has reached a binding retransmission consent agreement providing for the cable carriage by Comcast cable systems of all Sinclair stations located in markets served by Comcast. The multi-year agreement relates to the analog and digital signals of the Sinclair stations.


Carriage of the digital signals of Sinclair's ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliated stations will begin in the coming weeks, and carriage of the digital signals of Sinclair's WB and UPN affiliated stations will begin later this year. Comcast has historically carried the analog signals of all the Sinclair stations located in Comcast markets and such carriage will continue under the new agreement.


Was there really any doubt that this would happen, only when. They, Comcast, kept them in the guide.

I sent an email to Comcast this morning asking when WPGH-DT was going to be turned back on. I thought I would share what they sent me.

Thank you for contacting Comcast.
We appreciate the opportunity to address your issues and concerns with WPGH-DT.
Even though Sinclair made the announcement, they have not yet completed the necessary FCC paperwork to give Pittsburgh Comcast the OK to broadcast this signal. We hope to be providing this to you soon!
Thank you for your patience in this matter.
If there is anything else we can assist you with, please contact us. Thank you for choosing Comcast.
Sincerely,
Valerie
Comcast Customer Care Specialist

I wonder how much longer it will be....

I just spoke to a CSR who was aware of the agreement but said the holdup is due to Sinclair not making the signal available. She went on to say that Comcast does not originate the signal so it is out of their control at this time.

I am confused. Why have some cities (Baltimore) been turned on???

Originally posted by wstanko
I just spoke to a CSR who was aware of the agreement but said the holdup is due to Sinclair not making the signal available. She went on to say that Comcast does not originate the signal so it is out of their control at this time.

I am confused. Why have some cities (Baltimore) been turned on???

i have a call into a marketing rep, i will post if i find out more...the whole situation seems ridiculous...the signal exists and Comcast had the signal a few weeks ago. Comcast really is making it hard to be loyal to them when we have to fight to get our HD stations...

Well Fox HD has been updated in the guide and in the HD Services.

It has been deleted in both of them. :confused:

I don't think I would blame Comcast about their problems with Sinclair in your area, since other areas are receiving Sinclair's signal. It must be something local impacting the situation. They are aggressive for HD locals since that, along with VOD, is what separates it from satellite.

Rich N.

Yep, WPGH HD is off the guide in the North Hills, but as of this morning INHD and Discovery HD are in there - no picture yet though.

Strange thing is, this morning on the set top box (not HD) in the bedroom, the display had changed from displaying the time to displaying the channel. (I need that clock, it has the actual time as opposed to the fake-set-10 minutes-ahead-so-I-wake-up-time on the alarm clock)
Also, there was no program guide, nor could I access any menus through the box at all, so who knows what they were doing overnight.

Originally posted by scottro
Yep, WPGH HD is off the guide in the North Hills, but as of this morning INHD and Discovery HD are in there - no picture yet though.


Great news for your area, congrats. The best HD quality I receive is from those two sources.

Back to Fox HD--- Like a dog with a pork chop, I just won't let this go. I sent email today stating my Baltimore, Richmond envy and asking what the delay was in Pittsburgh. The reply was a cut & paste piece that was a summary of Comcast's position right after the pull took place. That infuriated me to say the least.

I replied to the reply stating how the question was ignored and that someone with real information should reply the next time. Well, the summary of the new reply says that here in Pittsburgh they have no information of any final agreement. (Wow) ;) And further, any agreement reached with Sinclair in other cities does not affect Pittsburgh!!!! I guess we have seceded from the Union.

I read this with a bit of skepticism, for we have been using placeholders in the menu since the pullout. And for no reason at all they were pulled last night. That does not compute to me. Someone knows something, but rest assured, they will never get your email or answer your phone calls.

The complete lack of internal communication and critical knowledge within Comcast boggles the mind. Seems the CSRs are the last to know.

When the 6412 DVRs rolled out I read here that they were available at the local offices. I called and a CSR told me they didn't have them and didn't know when they would show up. I went the next morning and got one.

I'll bet that if you call asking about INHD to this day some of the CSRs will still tell you that it's a pay-per-view InDemand channel. Frightening and frustrating.

once again emailed Comcast tonight about WPGH HD in Pittsburgh and asked about channel 213 now bei\ng gone. Here is the CSR's answer,

At 3:17 pm this afternoon, we were notified of the agreement between Comcast
and Sinclair. Prior to this time, we have no information on a signed
agreement with Sinclair. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused
you.

Later today or tomorrow, WPGH HD will be aired on channel 213

I just checked (Greensburg) and 213 is missing from my list of channels. I know it was there yesterday. I only watched TV for an hour today, so I never noticed it was gone. Hopefully we get it before 24 next week.

I wonder if us North Hills folks are actually gonna get the new Discovery HD, INHD, *AND* DWPGH when it's back? If you recall, to make room for DWPGH they yanked NFL Network in HD around Super Bowl time, unless they had NFLHD available specifically for Super Bowl week only. Just curious, it seems they have to play a shell game to fit these new HD channels in.

Discovery HD is now gone for me (I live near the airport).

Discovery is gone for me as well.

Update: After I came home from work, Its back. Still no 213.

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
Discovery HD is now gone for me (I live near the airport).

I guess the upside is that I'm always surprised when I turn on the TV...

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
Discovery HD is now gone for me (I live near the airport).

I still have Discovery HD but INHD2 seems to be missing all of a sudden. I am getting the "This channel should return shortly" message. I was really looking forward to watching "To The Max" tonight.

Originally posted by jsling
I still have Discovery HD but INHD2 seems to be missing all of a sudden. I am getting the "This channel should return shortly" message. ... Yep. Exact same situation here. Looks like it's musical channels these days.

Just turned on the TV and channel 213 is back just in time to watch American Idol. Since they have to redo last nights show I'm glad I decided not to watch it last night in SD.

Huh? You have it? It says should be available shortly on my boxes.

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
Huh? You have it? It says should be available shortly on my boxes.

Same here. Actually my box freezes every time I try to tune to it. I have to pull the power cord to reset it each time. Never had that happen before...

Yes, it was back sometime before 10 here. And so is INHD2.

I looked for DWPGH last night around 7:30, I didn't see it in the guide, then as I was flipping around later, I stopped on American Idol...it took about 5 minutes for it to dawn on me that "hey, wait a minute...this wasn't here a little while ago..."

With Fox back and this week's addition of Discovery and INHD1, I must say, I'm finally content with Comcast's HD lineup. (For now!) I think Comcast is doing a good job.
I need something new to complain about I suppose. Maybe I'll sign up for their internet service...

Big Sigh of Relief & Contentment :) :) :)

Yes, I unsubscribed from the Sinclair Thread this morning and could care less about the bickering of you did not use "seem" to express your opinion properly. I had to play that semantic game when writing performance records & goals and trust me, it is just nitpicking. Some are just looking for a place to criticize & seem to feel so very superior. Ever wonder what the person at the keyboard is really like? Myself, I only wanted the station in HD.

You have to feel sorry for all the Comcast CSR's that we abused along the way to achieving our goal. They really get no accurate information to pass along and have to feel pretty insecure fending off questions that have details of which they are unaware. (Nothing personal, Comcast CSR's; we only wanted the channel)

Somewhere in the future we will get the ESPN2, WB, UPN, and Universal but for now there is plenty to be happy about. :D

Stay subscribed.

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
Huh? You have it? It says should be available shortly on my boxes.

Mine is still saying this same message. Comcast sent a tech out after trying to "refresh" the box several times remotely. The tech came and could not figure it out either. He made some calls and to all his co-workers and managers and they told him that the channel isn't available yet. I had to show him the press release and had to prove to him that everyone else is watching it except me. After he made several more calls they finally figured out that I should have it but anyone getting their signal from the Moon office which feeds the Moon/Coraopolis/Imperial area is having this same problem. He has his manager making calls to get the problem fixed. He said we should have the channel fixed by Monday.

I'm in Irwin/N. Huntingdon i getting ESPNHD,INHD1,INHD2,DISCHD, ABC,NBC,CBS,PBS,STARZHD AND SHOWHD. BUT SHOWHD comes in only on my box not the CableCard, but i'm only paying for starzHD.:D

Plex, I assume you're also getting FOX on 213. You're on the same system (Greensburg) as me.

And shouldn't you be in NYC working out with the Giants by now? :)

yeh 213 5/5, can't wait till UPN is added since they are a Sinclair channel also. Why move, it's still cold up there.:D

Actually, I think it's the local WB channel, not UPN, that is Sinclair.

Yep - The Fox and WB affiliates are both owned by Sinclair.

I still don't have WPGH HD in Moon twp. Comcast is killing me. I called again today to express my dissatisfaction and told them I will call every single day until they fix it. Am I the only one in Moon twp not getting this channel?

UPN is also part of sinclair in some areas. I think the pittsburgh one is viacom.

Originally posted by jsling
I still don't have WPGH HD in Moon twp. Comcast is killing me. I called again today to express my dissatisfaction and told them I will call every single day until they fix it. Am I the only one in Moon twp not getting this channel?

I still don't have it either

Did anybody have problems with the HD broadcast of "24" on WPGH-DT (Comcast 213) last night? I DVR'ed it and haven't tried to watch yet, but a co-worker who lives near me said it was freezing up and stuttering so bad it was unwatchable. He was watching live and had to switch to the analog channel which was fine. Assuming I experienced the same problems I won't have that luxury. Guess I should have recorded both channels.

I hate that they only broadcast this show once nowadays. If there is a glitch with your local channel or a power outage, you're basically out of luck. They used to replay it on FX several days later which provided a safety net of sorts. But I heard they stopped that because they think it helps DVD sales to limit the broadcasts.

Not sure when I'll get a chance to watch my recording. But you aren't completely out of luck, you can download a near-HD copy online. You can find 700MB rips encoded in something like ~900x500 resolution if you look around on torrent sites. If I miss an episode I don't feel bad getting it this way. You can't miss an episode of 24 and keep watching the season.

I wouldn't call it "unwatchable" but there were hiccups in both audio and video. I actually had to double check I was watching through the cable box and not my OTA tuner, it was acting like the OTA on a poor reception night, with audio dropouts and video stutter. Actually I've never seen a stutter like that OTA, just the audio drops.

You didn't miss much except Marwan executing Jack anyway...
:)

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
I still don't have it either

Now WPGH HD is gone off my menu all together. I am not sure if this is a good or bad sign. Maybe they finally recognize they have a problem.

Discovery HD shows up at 205 and 213 for me now...what the heck?

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
Discovery HD shows up at 205 and 213 for me now...what the heck?

Do my eyes deceive me? Is that WPGH HD on 213 I see here in Moon? Yep...

Originally posted by scottro
I wouldn't call it "unwatchable" but there were hiccups in both audio and video. I actually had to double check I was watching through the cable box and not my OTA tuner, it was acting like the OTA on a poor reception night, with audio dropouts and video stutter. Actually I've never seen a stutter like that OTA, just the audio drops.

You didn't miss much except Marwan executing Jack anyway...
:) Thanks. I watched the recording last night. It was exactly as you describe. It wasn't "unwatchable" (my co-worker's word). Just pretty annoying at times. I've never seen the video act that way on an HD broadcast before. It wasn't the typical blocking and picture breakup. Instead it was more of a frame skip phenomenon that went along with the audio dropouts. None were long enough to really prevent you from knowing what happened. Hopefully they won't have this problem again.

Originally posted by jsling
Do my eyes deceive me? Is that WPGH HD on 213 I see here in Moon? Yep...
I got it back, too.

Just watched the latest 24 episode recorded off OTA and it was perfect with no breakups or dropouts at all. Maybe the cable feeds were affected by the broken stream data or something.

Hey guys, just a little added information. On Tues. (March 29), in the Greensburg area, the WPGH (213) was badly breaking up for several hours. The KDKA (212) and PBS(220) was actually bleeding over onto 213 causing spectacular coloring and break ups. Called the lead tech (Jodie) in the Greensburg service area. Came to the house several hours later and saw first hand what was happening. He told me he had 9 other calls about the 213 behavior. From my house he had techs back at the Greensburg office pull the "plug" and restart 213 several times to see what might be the problem. It was pretty much agreed it was originating from WPGH.

We also discussed several other "bugs" in these Motorola dual DVR boxes. Mine will also freeze, and when changing channels, I also get the message occasionally, "This channel will be available shortly". To unfreeze the channel or to make the picture available, you have to go up or down one channel, then back to the one you selected, and it will now be unfrozen or now available. I can say this has worked for me every time, but is most certainly an inconvenience!!! Jodie also told me that some customers are totally losing the audio, and nor coming back on. He told me the solution is to unplug the box for a few seconds, and the sound will return.

Some good news: Jodie has really taken the lead in trying to get his Pittsburgh bosses to understand what we are all going through. He actually keeps in contact with several HD customers, myself included, to continually learn what the problems are. He was ordered several weeks ago to secure the boxes from 3 of us, and they were sent to technicians in Pittsburgh to be torn apart and analyzed for these problems. He had NO word from the techs yet. But, in his opinion, for them to order this procedure tells him, they know these boxes are a problem!!! He wants everyone experiencing inferior HD and other problems to make the lead techs in your area aware of the problems. You can tell the CSR you wish to have the lead tech in your area call you personally. In the Greensburg area, Jodie has been getting things organized.

The bad news: COMCAST just bought Motorola!!! Jodie and other techs are hoping it is a step in which COMCAST will make a serious effort to take charge of the troublesome Motorola boxes. Keep our fingers crossed. We also know that COMCAST was having financial disputes with Motorola over the costs of the boxes. This could be a reason for the take over as well.

By the way, I live in the North Huntingdon area of the Greensburg service area. I will be anxious to pass along any info I receive from Jodie.

Jodie is great, he helped me get my cablecard working on my XS955 in N.Hunt. If he has taken the lead, things will get done.

do you know if Jodie monitoring any of these postings?

Comcast also struck a deal with TIVO. Look for TIVO software to be added to the motorola DVRs.

Here is a good place to get national HD rumors that have Pittsburgh possibilities. I have read this thread for quite a while and can say that when jwhip speaks, people listen. (He works in the Comcast hierarchy.)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=497755&perpage=20&pagenumber=5

Scroll down on page 5 and pick up the reading with jwhip.

I do not work for Comcast but know a few that do and they do not do installs if you catch my drift.

Originally posted by JWhip
Comcast also struck a deal with TIVO. Look for TIVO software to be added to the motorola DVRs.

JWhip:

For us SA Comcast folks, any hope of Tivo in the SA platform?

Thanks,

Rich N.

Hopefully

Plex,

Yes, I do believe Jodie does monitor these pages. He was just at my place last Wed. to replace my HD/Dual DVR box for the 5th time in 3 months. he told me it was absolutely the last one they have. The new "corrected" boxes are to become available in 3-5 weeks. He told me that the present models which has been such a problem, are NO longer available. If a customer now calls for a HD/Dual DVR box, they must be put on a waiting list. In the Greensburg area, there are also NO HD/Single DVR's available either.

I have also heard the rumor of Comcast and TIVO uniting for the DVR boxes in the future, however when I mentioned that to Jodie, he had not heard that from his Pittsburgh bosses yet.

By the way, Plex, I also live in N. Huntingdon. Have a nice day.

NASCAR24TOM2 - where in the Hunt do live, i'm on robbins station just before Knight landing using 60XS955.:D

When ever i watch the WB i see an add to have this station added to my lineup in HD by calling comcast, but when i call they say they know nothing about the offer. Isn't comcast suppose to get broadcasting rights for WB along with FOX?

Threads merged.

Well, no one is writing locally about TNT HD, but I am sure you know of the signed contact & the multiple posts throughout the nation saying, "I got it, how about you." YOU does not include me yet, but I am looking in the guide constantly. Let me know if you see something I don't.

No use calling CSR for they will not know anything about it while we are watching the channel. :D

I believe many of you folks are on 550MHz systems as about 12 or so cities here in the SF bay area are and I don't expect to see this channel anytime in the near future, many months in fact, if even that soon...

All parts of Pittsburgh are not equal, especially the North Hills area, but I ran that diagnostic menu search of my HD channels and found several in the 600's and one in the 700's. That indicates the system has been upgraded to 750 MHz.

I'm in the No. Fayette, Imperial area. Friday evening I saw TNT-HD as I scrolled thru the channels. They even had it listed in the HD sub-menu. It had a pretty choppy resolution however. Looked for it again on Saturday and it was gone. We may be closer to getting it than we think.

Originally posted by BamaUnc1
I'm in the No. Fayette, Imperial area. Friday evening I saw TNT-HD as I scrolled thru the channels. They even had it listed in the HD sub-menu. It had a pretty choppy resolution however. Looked for it again on Saturday and it was gone. We may be closer to getting it than we think.

TNT-HD has been added on channel 249. Yeah baby...

Originally posted by jsling
TNT-HD has been added on channel 249. Yeah baby...

Well, since it will be 9 long hours until I get home, is there anybody in the North Hills that can check to see if TNT-HD has been added?

I'm cautiously optimistic...even though the North Hills is on one of the older 550MHz systems, we now seem to be getting channels that other areas that are 550MHz do not get. A lot of the posts in the main forum say that if you are on a 550MHz, then there's no way you'll get DiscoveryHD, InHD, or even Video On Demand in HD. In the North, we are getting everything except for InHD2, so I'm not sure what to think.

It did take a long time before we got DiscoveryHD and InHD, so I'm wondering if some upgrades have been done to our system??

Scott

Cautiously optimistic is probably best for us. They did add a lot in a short time span, so maybe we did get an upgrade?
I get so excited when the little red light is on, thinking there's another new channel announcement...but it's usually "The Spanish Language 24 hour Poker Tournament Channel is moving..."
Is there even enough HD programming on TNT to get excited about?

Originally posted by scottro
Cautiously optimistic is probably best for us. They did add a lot in a short time span, so maybe we did get an upgrade?


Scottro,
Do you have the HD DVR box? If so you can look in the diagnostic menu and see what frequencies are being used. That would tell you if any upgrading to 750 MHz has been done in your area.

Originally posted by wstanko
Scottro,
Do you have the HD DVR box? If so you can look in the diagnostic menu and see what frequencies are being used. That would tell you if any upgrading to 750 MHz has been done in your area.

I have the HD DVR, without being in front of my box to figure it out, what is the procedure for accessing the diagnostic menu?

Thanks,
Scott

I picked this up on the thread dedicated to the box, it is not in our documentation. Turn off the box and within 5 seconds hit the enter key.

Once in the menu use the left/right arrows to go page 2. There you can move down to the channel status section. Tip, it will give you information for each tuner, so select two different HD channels before you go into diagnostics. It will tell you the MHz information for each tuner. Then you must exit diagnostics to select two new channels. Back to diagnostics for the information. Yes, it is a pain, but informative.

I'll check it out this evening, thanks for the tip wstanko.

Thanks wstanko. As expected, 550mhz.

No TNT-HD either.

It's up in Imperial.

I was browsing the forums last night when I came across jling's post that TNT was on channel 249. I checked righgt away and there it is. As always information is always up to date and acurrate here. I bet if you called Comcast and asked when TNT will be on and what channel, you probably would get a answer such as we no information on that at this time.

No TNT HD in the North boros...550Mhz.

TNT-HD in Irwin:eek:

From Rob Owen's post-gazette.com column, 5/13/05:

Beginning on or around June 1, Comcast will add CN8, its Delaware-based mid-Atlantic regional cable network, to area systems as Channel 188. CN8 will not have a bureau to cover news in Western Pennsylvania, but area experts and elected officials will be featured on CN8 programs.

Market-specific original programming may be developed in the future.

Comcast will also add Tennis Channel (Channel 277), and some systems, including the City of Pittsburgh, will see the addition of WCWB-HD (Channel 214) and new channel positions for Style (from 118 to 66), G4 (162 to 67), Discovery HD (205 to 225), and ESPN-HD (202 to 252).

Yesterday I was channel surfing when I caught the end of a scrolling message on WPGH-DT. It said something like this...
To continue watching this station please contact your local cable company or satellite operator. :eek:
I only caught the end and never saw it again so I am not sure if it even applied to Comcast subscribers but it did worry me. Anybody else see this at all?