Nope. I checked last night.

It's so weird, because at 6:30 on Friday night (when they usually flip on Savran pre-game or whatever) the screen went to the test pattern (what FSN-HD used to show before they dumped it) for a minute and then went back to MOJO already in it's own broadcast.

It is almost like someone at Comcast forgot to flip the switch.

Or, that they DID flip it...only to find that FSN was failing to provide the feed...so, they opted for MOJO over a test pattern.

I actually like the shows on MOJO. I hate that they already got rid of the FSN HD channel.

Has FOX-HD (213) not worked for people in the North Hills recently? Another joke by Comcast?

Fox-HD (213) is no problem for me in Ross.

F.Y.I.

Verizon and FSN Pittsburgh have reached agreement on an HD channel for Pittsburgh-area subscribers. FSN HD will launch the first week in October on Verizon and be carried on Channel 576.

First published on September 26, 2008 at 12:00 am on http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08270/915234-80.stm

F.Y.I.

Verizon and FSN Pittsburgh have reached agreement on an HD channel for Pittsburgh-area subscribers. FSN HD will launch the first week in October on Verizon and be carried on Channel 576.

First published on September 26, 2008 at 12:00 am on http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08270/915234-80.stm

<mr.burns>Excellent</mr.burns>

I have yet to call and order my FIOS. I've been so busy with my move and getting the house ready it was easier for now to transfer my Comcast service to the new address. I figure with the lead time to installation though, I should be able to order it soon and everything will be settled by the time that they come install.

I just need to order it before the end of Oct. so I can be sure to get the free DVR for a year deal.

Now, on my transfer of service for Comcast. I had it transferred Sunday to my house since I started living there this past Saturday. I get a voice mail from Comcast CS wanting to talk to me about what I thought of the install (which went fine and quick) and to welcome me to my new Comcast service and to let me know of several features that come with my new service. New service? I just transferred service, I've been a Comcast customer (on the same head end no less) for as long as Comcast has owned the cable system in Pittsburgh. I also notice on my account page that I have two account numbers associated with my service. I just hope they don't try to double charge me. I noticed that the service isn't shut down at my apt yet which, while nice wile I move the last remaining bits out of there, is worrisome.

It would be kinda amusing if I talked to CS since I would be telling them "Having my Comcast service transferred here is just a stopgap until I get FIOS installed."

Anyone else notice the outage at around 12:15am Weds Night/Thurs morning? It was due to some power line things they were doing at the head ends. ALL the head ends. My friend tells me that they estimated 1.9 million customers were without service during that interval.

My dad said he noticed the outage when he watching around that time.

I am praying for FiOS in Franklin Park one day.

Does Verizon make you agree to a long term deal or pay a lot more? I want to dump Comcast for Fios now but I might end up moving before the end of the year, at which point I would get DirecTV.

What's Verizon's install backlog like? In August I was told October.

I wonder if MOJO will be replaced with HDNet or something else when it is removed from our lineup? Hopefully, they just don't make it FSN-HD.

Did I miss a press release about MOJO?

in Demand is ceasing the distribution of Mojo as a channel. Word is some shows will continue on as OnDemand content, but the channel itself is going bye bye.

Any chance we'll get TBS HD in time to catch the rest of the playoff games?

Or are we still getting screwed?

Remember, remember the 19th of August!

My predition: we will get the TBS HD channel in the North Hills in plenty of time to see the Pirates in the playoffs.

I ordered my FIOS last night. I actually could have gotten an install date next week, the 8th, but I'm not going to be ready for it that soon. Next available date is the 28th which isn't too bad. Certainly less than the predictions that were flying around before. I can handle a few week wait.

Oh, I can't wait to answer the question about why I'm canceling Comcast. "Look at everything you've done to your Ross customers over the past year, you have only yourself to blame."

I enjoyed watching the MLB playoffs in HD for 10 minutes tonight when it was on TNT. :mad:

The midwest sucks when it comes to HD.

I heard the rest of the new HD channels in the Ross area won't be coming until the end of the year.

!@#*(%!&@@!#

I've all but confirmed this with some people I know. It actually could be even longer (like well into 2009.)

Any resources that were going to be used to help with our transition are being diverted to get service back up and running in Houston and Galveston (oddly enough, Pittsburgh is the main call center for the Texas area.) I will honestly be surprised if anything changes even 6 months down the line in Ross.

The only thing Comcast is going to understand at this point is massive subscriber loss. Don't sit around and be complacent with "good enough" from them, there are tons of options out there (especially in Ross area where FIOS is widely available.) Honestly, unless you were in my old situation where Comcast was the only choice, I can't see why ANYONE in Ross should be a subscriber anymore.

The Verizon trucks have been in my 'hood lately...bye bye Comcast!

In all fairness, I do have to report frustration with Verizon already.

I ordered online and everything went fine and I have an install date of the 28th. Well, due to some circumstances it would be better if I could move to the 29th. So, I call them up. After wading through the menus and finally getting to an operator, I state what I wanted to do. There's a little bit of a pause and she asked me "Did I order online." I said yes and she responded, "Please hold."

And hold I did, for 15 minutes until I got frustrated enough to hang up (not to mention I had things to do and couldn't hang on the phone all day.) No one has called me back yet either. I'll try again later tonight and state upfront that i got forgotten on hold for 15 minutes the last time I called and this has made me reconsider going through with my order.

Not that this is the longest I've been on hold for a provider either. One night when I called Comcast, I didn't even get to speak to anyone at all and I was on hold for 25 minutes.

I think the thing that annoyed me the most is that this is the number they included in the email to change install date, but it seems to be a general generic "verizon" number instead which requires menu navigation in order to get where I need to be.

Edit: Online chat ended up being far less painful. I was able to get my issue resolved in about 10 minutes (though, I found out that the 29th isn't available, doh). I can make the 28th work, the 29th would have just been a little more ideal. I can work from home in the morning to wait for them to come, but it all depends on how early they come and how long it takes to install. If they come at 8 and are out of there before noon. Great. If they come at noon and take another 6 hours to install, not so good.

I've all but confirmed this with some people I know. It actually could be even longer (like well into 2009.)

Any resources that were going to be used to help with our transition are being diverted to get service back up and running in Houston and Galveston (oddly enough, Pittsburgh is the main call center for the Texas area.) I will honestly be surprised if anything changes even 6 months down the line in Ross.

The only thing Comcast is going to understand at this point is massive subscriber loss. Don't sit around and be complacent with "good enough" from them, there are tons of options out there (especially in Ross area where FIOS is widely available.) Honestly, unless you were in my old situation where Comcast was the only choice, I can't see why ANYONE in Ross should be a subscriber anymore.

Since no one at Comcast seems to know a thing about this timeline I've decided that bull's info is more reliable than anything they've fed us over the past year or so regarding the North Hills channel changes/additions. Therefore I called Verizon today and the full blown Fios package is going to be installed in our house on 11/8. I could have had it done a couple of weeks earlier but I wanted a Saturday and that's all they had for now.

I hesitated to do this for more than a year now because I didn't want to deal with changing my email addresses, but I've had it with the lack of HD channels in the North Hills and the new 250 GB download limit Comcast just imposed on all of us. I probably won't ever come close to that limit, but just the fact that they did it annoys me a lot!

I built the package online and then called before I submitted it. Ordering online would have given me a free month of phone and internet and, with all the extra boxes and such, I would have been paying $153 per month for their "triple play" after month one. Over the phone I lost the free month of phone and internet but the same "triple play", again with all the boxes and such, is $135 per month for me ($109 + 2 extra HD boxes, one SD box, and a free DVR for one year). That's a little more than Comcast but I do get a box on each TV now wheras I only had one HD box and one SD box with Comcast. The rest were just lines right into the TVs so I could get HD channels OTA. I don't think you can do that with Fios and I know they don't have nearly as many channels through the line as Comcast does so you need some kind of box no matter what in most cases.

The rest were just lines right into the TVs so I could get HD channels OTA. I don't think you can do that with Fios and I know they don't have nearly as many channels through the line as Comcast does so you need some kind of box no matter what in most cases.

You mean QAM? Verizon uses the same sort of QAM + encryption that any cable provider uses (it's just their VOD that's handled a bit different, more like streaming video over IP). The local HD stations that were unencrypted on Comcast that you tuned with a QAM tuner should be in the clear on FIOS as well. What you really lose is the analog channels so you can't get any channels without a box if you don't have a QAM tuner in the TV. (With a QAM tuner, you'll only get the unencrypted ones, basically the locals.)

Ditto for any cablecard devices, they should work the same under FIOS as they did under cable. The only caveat to that again is VOD. Granted, even with the SDV add-on for Tivo, OnDemand content wouldn't work for comcast either with a TiVo. However, when new True2Way devices come out, VOD content is likely not to work on FIOS with those devices (but will for cable.)

I may be tempted to get a TiVo HD now. But I'll have the free DVR for a year for now.

You mean QAM? Verizon uses the same sort of QAM + encryption that any cable provider uses (it's just their VOD that's handled a bit different, more like streaming video over IP). The local HD stations that were unencrypted on Comcast that you tuned with a QAM tuner should be in the clear on FIOS as well. What you really lose is the analog channels so you can't get any channels without a box if you don't have a QAM tuner in the TV. (With a QAM tuner, you'll only get the unencrypted ones, basically the locals.)

Ditto for any cablecard devices, they should work the same under FIOS as they did under cable. The only caveat to that again is VOD. Granted, even with the SDV add-on for Tivo, OnDemand content wouldn't work for comcast either with a TiVo. However, when new True2Way devices come out, VOD content is likely not to work on FIOS with those devices (but will for cable.)

I may be tempted to get a TiVo HD now. But I'll have the free DVR for a year for now.

That's exactly what I meant bull. QAM, not OTA. My bad. I'm glad to hear I can get those with Fios too but I want Food HD in the kitchen anyway. ;)

Comcast has a great selection in OnDemand but I hardley ever use it. I understand Fios is catching up, albeit slowly IIRC, so i'm not feeling I'm losing anything there.

I have 2 S2 TiVos so those should work fine with the Fios boxes as I have hooked one up to my MIL's new Fios SD box with great success. I too was going to buy an HD TiVo but the free DVR from Fios killed that for at least a year. I know their DVR will suck compared to TiVo but it is free. I'm certainly not going to pay $15 per month for it when that time comes though. Hopefully it's at least better than Comcast's DVR which is absolutely terrible. But I am spoiled by TiVo so I can see how non-TiVo users could view it as being just fine for their needs.

I keep hearing different stories as to whether FIOS here has any analog channels. I believe that six months ago they had about 22, but that recently they eliminated all of them, including the local channels. Others have told me that they still have the locals in analog (thus capable of viewing without a box). Anyone know what the real answer is? I know that Verizon says that you must have a box for every outlet, but I keep hearing that you can get the locals with just the cable input.

If, indeed, they have gone to 100% digital I do not believe that they are required to provide the local HD channels in unencrypted format, and therefore they could not displayed on a TV with QAM tuner (without cablecards).

BTW, in early 2009 (hopefully) there is supposed to be a Tru2way TiVo available (S4). There is no reason that it could not work VOD with Verizon just as it would with Cable since TiVo can handle IPTV for it's TiVocasts from the internet now.

I keep hearing different stories as to whether FIOS here has any analog channels. I believe that six months ago they had about 22, but that recently they eliminated all of them, including the local channels. Others have told me that they still have the locals in analog (thus capable of viewing without a box). Anyone know what the real answer is? I know that Verizon says that you must have a box for every outlet, but I keep hearing that you can get the locals with just the cable input.

If, indeed, they have gone to 100% digital I do not believe that they are required to provide the local HD channels in unencrypted format, and therefore they could not displayed on a TV with QAM tuner (without cablecards).

BTW, in early 2009 (hopefully) there is supposed to be a Tru2way TiVo available (S4). There is no reason that it could not work VOD with Verizon just as it would with Cable since TiVo can handle IPTV for it's TiVocasts from the internet now.

See, from what I've read, Pittsburgh never had any analog channels to begin with because Pittsburgh wasn't in the first wave of FIOS TV rollout. (What I understand is only the first wave of FIOS rollouts got analogs while subsequent rollouts were all digital only.) Also, why would it be if they go 100% digital they would be relieved of the obligation of providing the locals unencrypted? I would think, if anything, that would enhance the need for a requirement to leave those channels unencrypted since there would be no way to receive TV from the provider without renting a box otherwise (not saying you are wrong, that just seems counterintuitive.)

As far as the S4 TiVo. Technically it's possible to get VOD to work. Will it though? I doubt it. It would require TiVo and Verizon to collaborate and basically make special software just for FIOS users and I don't see that happening. It may also require hardware changes because Verizon's Hybrid QAM-IP boxes are anything but standard.

If enough engineers work on a problem, anything's possible. However, there has to be financial incentive behind it and while I'm sure TiVo would like all the marketshare they can grab, it may not be worth chasing after the small number of FIOS TV users that won't buy a TiVo due to lack of VOD content. They would also need Verizon's cooperation and they have even less incentive to do so since they would lose revenue from DVR rental. The only way I see this being resolved is if the FCC intervenes and mandates it. However, the FCC usually only half asses things or they may actually side with Verizon and say that their setup is too specialized to require other devices work 100% on it.

Really, all verizon needs to do right now to clear up the VOD issue is to provide some sort of client app that can connect to the VOD servers or even some Media Center plugin that can do it. Since it's all over IP, there's no reason why any computer connected to a FIOS network can't stream off their VOD servers (aside, of course, from copyright concerns.)

The FCC has mandated that all cable providers must provide the local channels un-encrypted and available on basic cable. Then a few years ago they allowed for an exception if a provider decided to go all-digital. There never was any explicit mandate for the HD version of the local channels, but virtually all of the providers continued to provide these HD versions on basic cable (clear-QAM, unencrypted). I am only saying that once they go 100% digital and move the local channels to a digital tier, they may decide to encrypt the HD channels. The FCC regs are vague on what they can do. It is my understanding that some cable companies have already done this.

It is also my understanding that when FIOS first eneterd this area last year they told their subscribers that they needed a cablebox for each connection, but in reality there were still 22 analog channels available if you just connected without the box. However, it appears that they are now 100% digital.

I agree that there would have to be some effort put forth by TiVo to adapt to an IPTV VOD model, but I wouldn't think it would be too great since they already have the IPTV capability.

What's up with Pens hockey on Fox SPorts. How many will be broadcast in HD? I use Comcast cable.

What's up with Pens hockey on Fox SPorts. How many will be broadcast in HD? I use Comcast cable.

http://penguins.nhl.com/ext/pdf/Penguins%20on%20FSN%20TV%20schedule%2008%2009.pdf

More Comcast hilarity (is that a word, oh well :confused: )

Anyway, the Texas/OU game is blacked out because Pitt is on a bye so we get to watch Rutgers/Cincinnati instead. Not really Comcast's fault.

Oh but you can watch the game on ESPN360.com. Oops, Comcast doesn't have that. I can't wait until I move to Ohio (how weird does that sound?).

http://penguins.nhl.com/ext/pdf/Penguins%20on%20FSN%20TV%20schedule%2008%2009.pdf

Actually, that link doesn't work.

Try:

http://penguins.nhl.com/ext/pdf/2008-09PensHDschedule.pdf

will they meet their own nov. 12th schedule this time ?

http://pa.mypublicnotices.com/PublicNotice.asp?Page=PublicNotice&AdId=1150922

will they meet their own nov. 12th schedule this time ?

http://pa.mypublicnotices.com/PublicNotice.asp?Page=PublicNotice&AdId=1150922

Yay, TBS HD right in time for the MLB play... oh wait nevermind.

And you left out one note...

Effective on or after November 12, 2008

Comcast put that little note in there for a reason. :mad:

Yay, TBS HD right in time for the MLB play... oh wait nevermind.

And you left out one note...

Comcast put that little note in there for a reason. :mad:

Actually, doesn't that mean the original notification is still valid (On or after July 15th) ?? Maybe lies don't count :-)

The public notice seems to have a glaring ommission. usually that list of municipalities includes: Town of McCandless. It is missing.

awesome, 226 is completely not working for the Pens game

awesome, 226 is completely not working for the Pens game

Yep. Is it that difficult. :mad:

awesome, 226 is completely not working for the Pens game

Actually towards the end of the first period Comcast finally got 226 to work for the game. Unfortunately, that corresponded to the exact time that the Penguins decided to quit working.

Man, isn't that the truth.

Yep. I was looking forward to watching the whole thing in HD, but when they weren't broadcasting, I grabbed something to eat. When I came home, NJ nabbed that cheap goal off of Gill's skate. OT was ugly. We didn't deserve to win that game, but if we had, I couldn't complain.

Did your friend mention that sometimes they "forget" to switch over to the FSN-HD broadcast?

That opens a whole new Pandora's Box because it is totally dependent on someone at the Comcast headend "realizing" or "being aware" of an HD broadcast that is about to happen.

The human factor now becomes a large part of the process because if someone doesn't throw the switch, then nobody gets the HD feed.

Believe me, more than once I've had to call Comcast to let them know a feed was happening.

One time, on a Sunday afternoon (I guess everyone at Comcast was picnic-ing), they didn't pick up a Pirate game until the 5th inning---and only after my persistence through the Comcast telephone menu system and internet research as to the "inside" number to call.

Such a shame.

This was my post back from August when Comcast said they were discontinuing the HD FOX Sports feed.

Already, as we've seen with the Penguins broadcasts, this "human factor" is coming into play.

And now the customers have to tolerate not seeing ALL OF THE GAME in HD and having to call Comcrap to remind them to "flip the switch."

Simply unnacceptable!!!

Actually, that link doesn't work.

Try:

http://penguins.nhl.com/ext/pdf/2008-09PensHDschedule.pdfThe link worked when I posted it. Thanks for providing a corrected link, and I see that it has been updated to show all 64 HD games now. Today's Smizik article (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08288/919786-194.stm) notes that change:
HD games increased

FSN Pittsburgh has increased the number of Penguins games it will carry in high definition this season to 64. The station previously had announced 47 games in HD. The new figure represents almost double the number of games carried in HD last season.

It will be interesting to see what, if any, response Comcast has to the latest FIOS offerings. Verzion has added 53 HD stations today (including FSN HD) to FIOS which brings their total number of HD stations offered to 100.

The 28th cannot come soon enough.

Did anyone see the latest message on their set top box? Their advertising a PPV boxing match that is ONE MONTH AWAY. Seriously, guys, don't forget to order up your PPV package that is ONE MONTH AWAY. Is that the best they can do? How about actually serving up a message that is worth reading, like when our new channels will be arriving?

It will be interesting to see what, if any, response Comcast has to the latest FIOS offerings. Verzion has added 53 HD stations today (including FSN HD) to FIOS which brings their total number of HD stations offered to 100.

The 28th cannot come soon enough.


From the PG. Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08289/919877-67.stm

Comcrap better get its act together and get rid of the analog channels (they take up way too much bandwidth), and GIVE a digital converter box for each of their TV's and not CHARGE their customers an extra fee for said box, and start adding more HD programming (and I DON'T mean OnDemand) --- or folks like us will be dropping like flies.

Honestly, I think they will be very slow to pull the analogs. They charge a CRIMINAL amount for analog cable (I actually reduced my cable bill by switching to digital cable and HD by getting a deal) and for many people that's all they have because they don't want to have to deal with a box per each TV. Compound that with the older population of this area, and you have a PR disaster if they kill the analogs.

I actually expect this to become a selling point with comcast very soon ("You can get many of your channels with no additional equipment in as many rooms as you want!") considering how far into the corner they are being backed right now.

When Verizon finally catches up to Comcast in total OnDemand offerings (which is happening at a rapid pace), they will have no marketing material left over FIOS in any FIOS area. About the only thing they'll be able to do is heavily discount their service.

I hope Verizon really steps up and puts the pressure on Comcast in their service areas from a marketing prospective. There exists zero reason anymore for someone to have Comcast in a FIOS serviced area and the sooner that becomes a reality, the sooner Comcast will be forced to actually compete and the better things will get for everyone.

Looks like they plan to begin simulcasting atleast 4 channels in SD on Nov. 12th, ... purportedly. I spotted alteast these 4 that will be on the new digital tier, but, they haven't said they will remove them from analog:

33 Headline News
40 Disney Channel
49 Food Network
51 HGTV

http://pa.mypublicnotices.com/PublicNotice.asp?Page=PublicNotice&AdId=1151816

I guess they are still trying to encourage more people to get a settop box

I hope comcast doesn't monitor this forum, like they do Twitter ?

We should all call and schedule a service disconnect for Nov. 14th, and when they ask why, tell them "Its in case comcast doesn't meet their own Nov. 12th schedule for HDTV channel additions, I will switch to provider XXXXX, which has a LOT more HDTV channels". Canceling service to reduce revenue is the best way to get their attention ! Then obviously the disconnect can be canceled before it actually occurs. :cool:

When Verizon finally catches up to Comcast in total OnDemand offerings (which is happening at a rapid pace), they will have no marketing material left over FIOS in any FIOS area.


But then there are the "Sweetheart Deals" that go on for a long, long, time. I checked with the Borough Manager in Canonsburg, and the exclusive, no competition deal they signed with Comcast will not expire until 2013. Then there will be negotiations with Fios, maybe, and only if a contract is signed, there will be construction.

The way I calculate, either I will be dead already, or the North Hills upgrade will almost be done, before there is Fios in Canonsburg. And that is only one community with no completion.

I hope comcast doesn't monitor this forum, like they do Twitter ?

We should all call and schedule a service disconnect for Nov. 14th, and when they ask why, tell them "Its in case comcast doesn't meet their own Nov. 12th schedule for HDTV channel additions, I will switch to provider XXXXX, which has a LOT more HDTV channels". Canceling service to reduce revenue is the best way to get their attention ! Then obviously the disconnect can be canceled before it actually occurs. :cool:

Not to rag on you, but I hope you realize how silly you sound. You are trying to extort a level of service out of a company that we should get by default.

Switch providers if you are capable of doing so and don't look back. Don't give them warnings, don't give them second chances (they are on what, their 4th chance now anyways?)

I will be calling to cancel my service, but not until after my FIOS is installed. It's not going to be a negotiation tactic. Even if they granted all those backfill channels today, it wouldn't change a thing. They are an inferior service provider and do not provide good value for the money so I am dropping them and I advise everyone to do the same if you can.

That, and only that, will change things for the people who have to keep Comcast for some reason.

Maybe, just maybe, that will clue them into the fact that they should be dumping money into infastructure upgrades rather spending $22mil on a video wall for their office.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/comcast-centers-video-wall-packs-10-million-pixels-into-27-x-87/

Those of you in the North Hills will be happy to hear this:


Comcast rates going up
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Comcast cable subscribers will be paying more as of December 1.

The company announced a 3.7 percent rate increase, yesterday.

Jody W. Dougherty, a spokeswoman for the company, said the rate increase, which she called a price adjustment, was necessary because of the "increased cost of doing business in this challenging economic environment."

Ms. Dougherty said the increase will not affect Comcast Digital Voice service or Comcast High Speed Internet service if the customer has one of the other Comcast products.

The company is also going to be rebundling channels so that viewers here receive the same packages available in other parts of the country.

First published on October 22, 2008 at 12:00 am

www.post-gazette.com/pg/08295/921597-100.stm

Bwhahahahhhahha.

Wow, they aren't even waiting till the first of the year.

One week from today, one week, and I'll be riding the fiber light.

Yea, I know this is a digital TV and HD forum, but for those interested in this type of info:

Comcast to roll out faster Internet speeds

Oct 23, 7:57 AM (ET)


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) (CMCSA) on Wednesday said it will begin rolling out faster Internet speeds over the next few weeks in selected markets to homes and businesses.

The nation's largest cable operator and residential Internet service provider will offer speeds up to 50 megabits per second, which enables users to download a high-definition movie in 16 minutes and a standard definition movie in 5 minutes.

Most Comcast customers will double their speeds for free.

The service will be available in parts of New England, including the Boston area and southern New Hampshire, as well as in portions of Philadelphia, New Jersey and the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Over the next few months, Comcast expects to roll it out to over 10 major markets.

For residential users, Comcast's new 'Extreme 50' tier, including up to 10 Mbps upstream service, will cost $139.95 a month. For businesses, it will cost $189.95 monthly, including extra features and support.

The 'Ultra' plan for individuals will offer speeds up to 22 Mbps for downloading and up to 5 upstream for $62.95 a month. The business "premium" tier will offer the same speeds for $99.95 a month.

To get the new Internet plans, individuals must also subscribe to Comcast's cable TV service.

Yet another improvement on paper to give them something to spin to their advantage over fios "We have 50mb connections, they only have 35mb!" Nevermind that docsis 3.0 does nothing to actually INCREASE bandwidth availability in a node, it simply allows for the bonding of channels to allow a single subscriber higher peak bandwidth. So, people already limited in speed by the traffic on their node will see no improvement in speeds by moving to these more expensive plans.

Also, keep an eye out for further diminishing bitrate on the HD stations if these internet plans prove popular since they will have to allocate more of the bandwidth in a node to internet data rather than TV.

Of course, that just makes it take less time to hit your 250gb cap and have your service terminated.

Not that it matters anyways, it will be a cold day in hell before the north hills gets upgraded to docsis 3.0 at the rate things are going.

One of the reasons I stuck with Comcast for so long was for the promise of TiVo software on the Comcast DVR. They originally planned to roll it out in our area sometime earlier this year. Seeing how the initial roll out has gone in the Boston area, I'm glad I'm leaving. This faster internet news is a bunch of bull (no offence bull3964) too. Maybe I'll go back to them in a couple of years if, and only if, they do make good on their promises and become competitive again.

Anyone happen to use the HDHomeRun with their Pittsburgh Comcast.. I've configured it, i have about 39 stations that it finds, which have a signal.. of those, 19 are what i'm looking for, ie: chopped out the non-HD local stations and some misc ones, brought the list to 19..

Can anyone confirm this is about right?

I'm guessing there is no way to get such stations as the sci fi or discovery or hd cnn etc..

Thanks

FIOS being installed as we speak. Can't wait.

FIOS being installed as we speak. Can't wait.

Let us know how it goes either here or on the FIOS thread bull. I'm still scheduled for the 8th and am curious as to how fast it gets done.

On another note, I originally ordered a FIOS 2-year bundle with their now defunct Premier08 TV package which was much like Comcast's Premier package in that you got most of the channels and had to subscribe to a sports package to get those. I switched to their new package yesterday after learning that I would not be able to watch the new HD channels they just added because they only come with their new TV package (called Extreme HD). This new package does come with all of the sports channels however, so that's a bonus. And the "triple play" is now $5 cheaper per month.

So unlike Comcast, where you get their HD channels as they add them, this having to switch plans kind of turned me off a little. Fortunately their new packages can only be had for 1 year so if they keep doing this, I'm going to look for the best option come next October.

I'm still pissed off that I can't get FiOS. I'm in the part of Franklin Park that can't get it because of NPTC. When will we be emancipated?

Let us know how it goes either here or on the FIOS thread bull. I'm still scheduled for the 8th and am curious as to how fast it gets done.

On another note, I originally ordered a FIOS 2-year bundle with their now defunct Premier08 TV package which was much like Comcast's Premier package in that you got most of the channels and had to subscribe to a sports package to get those. I switched to their new package yesterday after learning that I would not be able to watch the new HD channels they just added because they only come with their new TV package (called Extreme HD). This new package does come with all of the sports channels however, so that's a bonus. And the "triple play" is now $5 cheaper per month.

So unlike Comcast, where you get their HD channels as they add them, this having to switch plans kind of turned me off a little. Fortunately their new packages can only be had for 1 year so if they keep doing this, I'm going to look for the best option come next October.

Install took about 4 hours. Guy showed up around 10 and wrapped up around 2. Part of the delay in my install came from the packaging stuff that you are talking about. I too was subscribed to the premire08 package with 10/2 internet and I wanted to switch to Extreme HD. This caused some delays in setup, but the install tech took care of all the phone work while he was running the fiber and such. He just handed the phone to me when the CSR wanted to explain the changes.

The current ONT that they are using they install completely inside. The UPS is integrated in the unit. He didn't run cat5 to the router, coax only. I probably could have pressed the issue, but since I have my cat5 and coax terminated to the same place, this is easy for them to enable remotely if I want to install the patch cable.

His software that he brought with him didn't want to provision the STBs for some reason from inside the network, so he connected though his notebook and did it on the backend. The install tech seemed very knowledgeable and was pretty efficient.

The software is about 800 times better than the software on the comcast boxes, even though it looks almost exactly the same as my comcast box. No 16:9 mode in the guide though like sat, still 4:3 here. The DVR software has many more recording options which makes it much easier to keep from recording 80 bazillion reruns.

The picture quality of HD... They should have sent a poet. I was just jumping around the movie channels and watched a little bit of "The Rock" on one of the Starz channels (they are all in HD on fios) Fast action sequences, not a HINT of macroblocking. Really it looks nearly as good as my blu-ray player output on my 40" LCD.

SD image quality I'm adjusting too. One minute I want to say it looks amazing and almost DVD like and another minute I'm thinking it looks too soft from what I'm used to. There are no MPEG2 artifacts though. I haven't had a chance to try to calibrate my display to this new STB (recording HDNet's test pattern on sat morning to do so) so I think i'm running a little hot on contrast now because I recall the DVI comcast boxes being a bit washed out compared to the HDMI counterparts for some reason. No noise in the image though, but that's to be expected and everyone who has ADS in a comcast system gets about the same on that front. However, I'm watching Adult Swim right now and Venture Bros has never looked better on TV. Colors are so much sharper and blacks are actually black for once.

I ran an SD episode of South Park VOD, here's where I say that FIOS seems to be lacking. I wasn't too impressed with the VOD quality I saw for that SD material. The HD VOD content, on the other hand, i feel is a notch better than comcast VOD picture quality. I fired up Ratatouille to take a look at things. I do want to be clear though that the VOD content still doesn't look nearly as good as a live broadcast. The depth of VOD content is lacking compared to Comcast though, so if that's your bag then you will be disappointed. It takes a little while to get used to how it's organized too.

I too saved money after switching to the more "expensive" extreme HD package. Mine wasn't a triple play though, instead they bundled it with the 20/5 internet service instead of the 10/2 I originally ordered.

I left the Actiontec downstairs by the ONT and disabled the wireless radio. I then put my Buffalo router (flashed with tomato firmware) in AP only mode and connected it to the cat5 I had running to the Actiontec. That way, my wireless is upstairs and rock solid (tomato firmware rocks) and it also acts as a 4 port switch for the devices in my entertainment center (xbox 360, HD-DVD player, blu-ray player.) For my, desktop I'm going to fish cat5 directly to the Actiontec so I have a wired connection for my desktop.

I benchmarked my Comcast internet connection on Speakeasy.net before I switched over to the FIOS connection. I got around 8mbs down and a sucky sucky 227kbs upstream.

Well, ehem, the fios connection...

http://bull3964.googlepages.com/fios.png

Yeah. That's fast.

The DVR software has many more recording options which makes it much easier to keep from recording 80 bazillion reruns.

Thank God!!!! I only used the Comcast DVR becuase it was free for a year which the Fios DVR is too. Glad to hear it won't be quite as frustrating as the Comcast DVR. I'm used to TiVo so nothing is going to compare no matter what.

I was just jumping around the movie channels and watched a little bit of "The Rock" on one of the Starz channels (they are all in HD on fios) Fast action sequences, not a HINT of macroblocking.

That's funny, I was watching that last night too. Plenty of macroblocking on the Comcast broadcast. Every fast action sequence looked like a mosaic in motion.


We mostly pull up VOD programs for the kids and they don't care what they look like. We might rent one movie per year, if that.

I too saved money after switching to the more "expensive" extreme HD package. Mine wasn't a triple play though, instead they bundled it with the 20/5 internet service instead of the 10/2 I originally ordered.

My original bundle included the 20/5 internet and the new one does too. I think the 10/2 was $5 less per month IIRC with the new and the old bundles.

I left the Actiontec downstairs by the ONT and disabled the wireless radio.

How did you do that? I've found some ways to do it but am curious as to how you did it. I plan on doing it too as I'd rather use my own access point. Do you have to use their router too? I'm guessing it has the modem built in, no?

I benchmarked my Comcast internet connection on Speakeasy.net before I switched over to the FIOS connection. I got around 8mbs down and a sucky sucky 227kbs upstream.

Well, ehem, the fios connection...

http://bull3964.googlepages.com/fios.png

Yeah. That's fast.

Excellent! I wondered if there would be any noticeable difference and I guess that proves there will be! My Comcast speed was always around 4-5 Mbs Down and 200 up.

Thanks for the informative post bull.

Thank God!!!! I only used the Comcast DVR becuase it was free for a year which the Fios DVR is too. Glad to hear it won't be quite as frustrating as the Comcast DVR. I'm used to TiVo so nothing is going to compare no matter what.


Basically, while the comcast DVR allowed you to include the qualifier for a DVR recording of "only this channel" for a series recording, the FIOS software allows you to add "only this time" as well. This makes a world of difference for things like "The Daily Show" which is rerun on comedy central about 8 times a day all with the "new" programming flag. I can tell it to only record new and ONLY at 11pm so I don't get all the reruns.



That's funny, I was watching that last night too. Plenty of macroblocking on the Comcast broadcast. Every fast action sequence looked like a mosaic in motion.

After I wrote that, i watched the beginning of Casino Royale on TMC HD and it was jaw dropping. You know how with Comcast HD, the grain kinda gets smeared a bit to the point where it almost looks like DNR artifacts? Yeah, none of that here. Pristine and perfect. Demo material.




My original bundle included the 20/5 internet and the new one does too. I think the 10/2 was $5 less per month IIRC with the new and the old bundles.

You cannot get the Extreme HD package with only the 10/2 internet, or so I was told. My original package I put together online really didn't have a bundle associated with it, so between what I ordered and what they bundled together and gave me, I saved like $10-$15 /month (I haven't really sat down and figured it out.)



How did you do that? I've found some ways to do it but am curious as to how you did it. I plan on doing it too as I'd rather use my own access point. Do you have to use their router too? I'm guessing it has the modem built in, no?

It's pretty simple. You just log into the router and go to the wireless settings and you can disable the wireless radio. The router comes preset with WEP (blech, I don't know why they would do that when it supports WPA, probably for compatibility.) The router is setup to prompt you for a new password the first time you hit it with a web browser. I also limited the scope of the DHCP lease range it gave out so that I would have a block of static IP addresses on the same subnet that I could assign and not have a potential IP conflict if the DHCP server decided to use one of them.

On my end, it varies by what your router is and what it can do. I just disabled the WAN port (which disables routing) and assigned the router a static IP address (from the block I carved out earlier) for management. I then plugged in a connection to the FIOS router to one of the LAN ports. It basically acts as a 4 port switch then with wireless.

The FIOS router is actually pretty damn feature full. It's really an enterprise class device. The only con I've heard about it is that the NAT table is too small which can cause issues with apps that use a ton of connections to different peers like **********.

The FIOS router is used as a gateway for the STBs to get guide data and everything else. It's pretty much necessary for the FIOS router to exist on the network in some form or another if you have the TV service. Additionally, they have some tweaks in the QoS of those routers to prioritize VOD traffic from the STBs so that you can't have internet interfere with VOD viewing. There are several tutorials out there on how to bypass the router for the internet connection and just have it sit on the network to serve as a bridge for the STBs. It requires that the ethernet port on the ONT is enabled though which you can get done with some hassle. I'm not really going to bother for now unless it starts causing me problems. I may have even used it for my wireless if my network topology was a little different, but I'm very happy with my setup right now.



Excellent! I wondered if there would be any noticeable difference and I guess that proves there will be! My Comcast speed was always around 4-5 Mbs Down and 200 up.

What's also significant is I seem to be getting the same results EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. There is no variance in connection speed. It's rock solid.

Thanks for the informative post bull.

No problem. I'm sure some other quirks of the system will pop up. No system is perfect. The VOD menus seem to be a bit more laggy than comcasts and certain aspects of the box operation seem kinda buggy (I have it set to show the clock all the time, which it does, but after doing some operations with the remote the channel got stuck on the box display until I did something else.)

We are one version behind in pittsburgh. We are still running IMG1.5 and the latest is IMG1.6 which resolves some issues and may introduce a few more. They are supposed to be releasing a IMG1.61 version in November to address the new issues they introduced with the 6000series HD-DVR boxes (sometimes soft image on SD channels) so maybe they are waiting until that's ready to roll out in Pittsburgh.

Oh, and I did get a 6000 series box instead of the newer 7000 series. They look physically the same, but the 7k series has a bit more hardware grunt behind it. The box I got was new though, came right out of the shipping packaging.

Does anyone know if PC tuners like HDHomerun work with FIOS connections?

I don't have a QAM tuner to know for sure, but I think there are a limited set of unencrypted channels on FIOS. As to how many there are and if they are sure to stay unencrypted, i'm not sure.

OK boys and girls, I think I'm done derailing this thread for now. I may update with whatever comic relief I get from the CSRs when I call up to cancel my cable tonight, but any more questions about my FIOS experience so far ask away in the FIOS thread.

For all you guys in the North Hills who are stuck on Comcast for some reason or another, my heart goes out for you and I hope you won't see too many more rate increases before you are caught up with HD stations. Good luck and keep your fingers crossed. For everyone else in the North Hills still on Comcast or really anyone in a FIOS area who's still on Comcast anywhere in western PA. Bite the bullet, take the plunge, the grass really IS greener over here.

I received a letter in the mail from Comcast today. It tells me all the new SD and HD channels I'll be getting "on or after November 12th". I be sure to tell them that they can hold off on that order since I'll have them through my new Fios service on the 8th.

Good luck to the rest of my fellow North Hills residents on getting those channels. Hopefully Comcast will pull through this third or fourth try (by my count but I might have lost track along the way somewhere).

Stop abandoning us! We're so lonely now.

Stop abandoning us! We're so lonely now.

Well, we'll see how this Fios thing goes. Who knows, I may be back in a year! ;)

I would have stuck with Comcast had they not imposed limits on my internet service. Now they tell me they are switching to some new bandwidth management system for peak hours. Basically this will limit speeds for those who download a lot in an effort to keep everyone at an even speed during those hours they determine to be "peak hours". Pffft...

Well, after two phone calls and a tip down to Corliss my hands are finally clean of Comcast.

First time I called (9:30pm), I was told I wasn't allowed to cancel because I called outside the hours of the "customer loyalty" dept and they were the only ones allowed to close accounts. That didn't stop the guy on the phone from grilling me as to why i was canceling and going so far as to ask about the deal I was getting with FIOS. I was annoyed by that point and told him it was none of his business and it didn't matter anyways because no deal offered by Comcast could retain me as a customer.

I called back the next day during the day and actually didn't get that much of a grilling from the person in the loyalty department. She asked me why i was canceling and I flat out told her that I was tired of being in an area that never got HD channel updates even though we were promised them twice already. I got a simple apology and was then asked if I would be returning the equipment or if I wanted someone to come out and get it. Not wanting to waste a 4 hour window waiting around for someone, I told her I would take it down on Sat.

Sat I drove down to Corliss and dropped off my box and paid my final bill. There were actually quite a few other people down there returning equipment due to cancellation. *snicker*

No problems to report thus far with FIOS except that the audio for comedy central is all funky. It's muffled and overblown for some reason. I haven't bothered to call and report it yet though because it's not a huge deal and I haven't had the time.

Bull3964,

NBC has the worst production of sports imaginable. The smearing, artifacts, micro blocking and general lack of clarity could be a poster for not getting HD. If you watched Pitt this weekend you can answer this comparative question.

I do not believe this calamity is Comcast's fault, for if it were, all sports would be disasters also.

Can you confirm this same HD sham to be present on FIOS?

No, I do believe Comcast does at least pass on the local stations unmolested. It's the other channels (besides ESPN at least) that they tamper with.

NBC looks terrible because they have too many channels muxed in their frequency band:

WXPI HD
WPXI-DTV
RTN
WeatherPlus

As I've said before, WPXI HD really suffers because of this. The only HD broadcasts worth viewing on that channel is their in-studio newscast.

Bull3964,

NBC has the worst production of sports imaginable. The smearing, artifacts, micro blocking and general lack of clarity could be a poster for not getting HD. If you watched Pitt this weekend you can answer this comparative question.

I do not believe this calamity is Comcast's fault, for if it were, all sports would be disasters also.

Can you confirm this same HD sham to be present on FIOS?

I did not watch NBC this weekend. I'm not really much of a sports fan (aside from some hockey viewing.)

I have mentioned in the OTA thread while I still had Comcast about the artifacting apparent during Chuck and Heroes. Those two shows are all I watch on NBC and they are preempted this week so I probably won't get a chance to make a comparison.

Comcast SAYS they don't recompress the local stations, but the process involved actually isn't recompression in a technical sense so they may be splitting hairs on semantics (it's more of a bit shaping technology that doesn't recompress the stream, it just removes data when the bitrate rises.) The only way to tell really would be to capture the transport streams and compare OTA and Comcast, but I don't have the ability to do that.

I would be inclined to agree though at this point that NBC nastiness is a fault downstream of Comcast though. The real question is, is it the fault of WPXI and their multiple subchannels or just NBC in general.

As I've said before, WPXI HD really suffers because of this. The only HD broadcasts worth viewing on that channel is their in-studio newscast.

Surely you jest. If their local news were in 3840x2160, uncompressed with 7.1 Master Audio sound it would still stink. Their sports casts are a joke.

Anyone having problems in north hills receiving :

196 history hd
224 animal planet hd
225 discovery home theatre hd

By the way, these 3 HD channels are ALL on the same QAM, 639 Mhz. No wonder, i have been seeing the sporadic artifacts.

all 3 went out at 12:15am monday morning, i just called comcast and they hit my box and want to send a service guy, but, i am about to take a biz. trip.

Also, i am getting some QAMs on (analog channel equiv. of) 101 and 102. I don't recall these were there before. Anyone else ?

I've all but confirmed this with some people I know. It actually could be even longer (like well into 2009.)

Any resources that were going to be used to help with our transition are being diverted to get service back up and running in Houston and Galveston (oddly enough, Pittsburgh is the main call center for the Texas area.) I will honestly be surprised if anything changes even 6 months down the line in Ross.

The only thing Comcast is going to understand at this point is massive subscriber loss. Don't sit around and be complacent with "good enough" from them, there are tons of options out there (especially in Ross area where FIOS is widely available.) Honestly, unless you were in my old situation where Comcast was the only choice, I can't see why ANYONE in Ross should be a subscriber anymore.

maybe because there is still many places in ross that dont have fios?

even if i could get it, i wouldnt, my friend has fios, and i have to say i dont like it, the on screen guide sucks, there is nothing on their on demand, etc

the only thing that i like about it, is their guide is somewhat organized (like having all of the hd stations together, having all of the encore stations together, etc)

even if i could get it, i wouldnt, my friend has fios, and i have to say i dont like it, the on screen guide sucks, there is nothing on their on demand, etc


To each his own. I don't know how you could possibly like Comcast's guide over FIOS (what with it showing you all of like 5 programs at a time and a big fat ad on the bottom.)

OnDemand content is something that's constantly changing. For example, there's no ABC shows on Comcast's OnDemand but FIOS managed to snag those for its On Demand. The library is growing constantly.

To me, programming is what really matters. Watching the programs that I want to watch in the highest possible quality and thats something that Comcast cannot deliver on, not in the North Hills, not anywhere in western PA.

Surely you jest. If their local news were in 3840x2160, uncompressed with 7.1 Master Audio sound it would still stink. Their sports casts are a joke.
Surely you don't think I watch local news for... *gasp* content? Getting your news from television is probably the worst thing you can do.

It's only worth watching for the eye candy.

To each his own. I don't know how you could possibly like Comcast's guide over FIOS (what with it showing you all of like 5 programs at a time and a big fat ad on the bottom.)

OnDemand content is something that's constantly changing. For example, there's no ABC shows on Comcast's OnDemand but FIOS managed to snag those for its On Demand. The library is growing constantly.

To me, programming is what really matters. Watching the programs that I want to watch in the highest possible quality and thats something that Comcast cannot deliver on, not in the North Hills, not anywhere in western PA.

i dunno i just dont like the guide, i dont like the way it is setup, im not a fan of having whats on/the description pop up in the middle of the screen like it does

i also noticed that it takes forever to get the on demand stuff after you want to watch it, rather than the ~5 second delay with comcast.

i also noticed that the HD on demand stuff didnt look good at all, not to mention it was constantly blocking up

the regular hd looks amazing though.. and dont get me wrong, im not a comcast fanboy, i have had my fair share of problems with them, and i really hate what they are doing to the people in the north hills like myself, but its not nearly enough to make me change services

i also noticed that it takes forever to get the on demand stuff after you want to watch it, rather than the ~5 second delay with comcast.

i also noticed that the HD on demand stuff didnt look good at all, not to mention it was constantly blocking up



I think your friend has a bum install. On demand for me is about twice as fast as anything I ever experienced from comcast and there is zero macroblocking in the HD on demand content. For me, the quality of HD on demand content is much greater than comcast. I barely placed Comcat's HD on demand content higher than upscaled DVD (in fact most of the time I would have preferred to watch DVD due to all the artifacts that it had), but the HD VOD I'm seeing from Verizon is free of those defects. It's not as good as broadcast stations, but it's very pleasing to the eye.

At the end of the day though; I'm getting much more service, higher quality service, and I'm paying less for that service. It's really not just a North Hills issue anymore. Can Comcast really even give a timeline when they are going to have all the Starz, HBO, Showtimes, and Cinemax's in HD? What about adding things like HDNet, HDNet Movies, MGM Movies HD, TMC HD (and all the other TMCs in HD as well?) They are rapidly falling behind all the carrier options and are really showing no sign that they are trying to catch up other than running FUD ads funded by 4% annual rate increases.

I think back to when Comcast took over AT&T Broadband back in 2002. To get the same level of channel selection now as I got then, it costs around $20/month more. That represents an over 50% rate increase over the course of 6 years (from a combined rate increase on the base level of service and the moving of channels to upper tiers that require a higher level of service.) Granted, they've added the OnDemand during that timeframe, but doesn't anyone else remember the constant ads telling us that OnDemand was added "for no extra charge"?

I'm not just talking about FIOS either. In fact both direcTV and Dish carry more HD than FIOS. It just baffles me that comcast can basically sit on their ass and not innovate at all, continually raise the cost of service while giving nothing in return, yet people will still continue to use them because they don't want to bother with change (not singling you out, just the general "it's good enough" mindset.)

What they charge for what they deliver is borderline criminal. In fact, the FCC has recently said they are going to start looking into these perpetual cable rate hikes because even they say that cable is consistently delivering less and less for what they charge.

I'm not just talking about FIOS either. In fact both direcTV and Dish carry more HD than FIOS. It just baffles me that comcast can basically sit on their ass and not innovate at all, continually raise the cost of service while giving nothing in return, yet people will still continue to use them because they don't want to bother with change (not singling you out, just the general "it's good enough" mindset.)

What they charge for what they deliver is borderline criminal. In fact, the FCC has recently said they are going to start looking into these perpetual cable rate hikes because even they say that cable is consistently delivering less and less for what they charge.

i understand where you are coming from, but i dont think i will ever be able to get FIOS where i live due to everything being underground in my neighborhood. FIOS is available about 20 feet away from my house, but not here.

I looked into getting it, but i have had terrible experience with verizon broadband before, it makes me shudder even thinking about it, i cried the day i got rid of it.

i think their tv lineup is awesome, they get every single channel comcast people do (other than encore) and many any more

i guess from what i saw at my friends place, it just scared me to even think of dropping comcast.. and my neighborhood doesnt allow dish's in the front of the houses, and guess where they have to be to get reception.. you guessed it.. in the front

.. and my neighborhood doesnt allow dish's in the front of the houses, and guess where they have to be to get reception.. you guessed it.. in the front

If you are unable to get reception in the rear of the house, then your neighborhood's restrictions are unlawful and cannot be enforced. Check this out:

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

If you are unable to get reception in the rear of the house, then your neighborhood's restrictions are unlawful and cannot be enforced. Check this out:

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

well, there is a heavily wooded area back there and the trees basically cover the sky behind my house.

doesnt effect the people across the street though

well, there is a heavily wooded area back there and the trees basically cover the sky behind my house.

doesnt effect the people across the street though

I would suggest that you print ut the FCC Regs and send a copy to the HO Association telling them you are putting a dish on the front of your house. I live in a TH Complex that had similar rules that were overturned.

Anyone else have problems with FSN HD Comcast with the Pens game last night. Mine was unwatchable, freezing every 30 seconds and jumping forward. Never had that before. I had to switch to SD channel to watch it.:(:(

Anyone else have problems with FSN HD Comcast with the Pens game last night. Mine was unwatchable, freezing every 30 seconds and jumping forward. Never had that before. I had to switch to SD channel to watch it.:(:(

Exact same thing happened to me. I seemed like comcast gave up on the HD feed all together in the 3rd period since the MOJO channel was back on.

So?

Did Comcast follow through with the HD additions in the North Hills or does "on or after" really really mean "after."

The "on or after date" is Nov 12 (tomorrow).

My TiVo had a message this morning that a lineup change had occurred for "Comcast - Pittsburgh Suburbs - Ross" with the following:

Added:
72 - Big10
106 - FBN
108 - FOXREAL
125 - QUBO
136 - IONLIFE
192 - BIG10HD
214 - WPMYDT
229 - DISNHD
230 - FAMHD
232 - SCIHD
250 - BIG10HD
256 - AETVHD
257 - FOODHD
258 - HGTV
261 - NFLHD
273 - NBATV
276 NHLNET
701 thru 706 ESPN PPV
750 thru 759 NBA PPV
771 thru 784 NHL/MLB PPV

deleted:
56 - WPPX

Moved:

30 to 36 CNBC
36 to 52 TNT
60 to 30 VS
72 to 56 BET
106 to 178 BLOOM

So my TiVo Guide is now messed up since the changes didn't actually happen.

It does look like they are doing something.

p.s. Conspicuously absent from this list are:

193 DSC HD
194 SCIFIHD
197 CNNHD
198 TBSHD

It does look like they are doing something.

Whoops, for some reason I was thinking it was the 11th.

Didn't your Tivo report changes last time for Ross that never happened and you had to call in to get changed? Also noticed that you didn't say any HD channels were added to the list. Still early though. I'll be interested to see if they follow though. Not that it would have changed anything for me, even after the additions comcast has less than 50% of what Verizon has on the HD side.

Yes, the last time that the rest of Pgh-Suburbs got all the changes and NH did not, I had major problems for a week. I spoke with Comcast and with Tribune Media Services (who provide the guide data) and they agreed to create a new listing option for Comcast: Pittsburgh Suburbs - Ross. Now the NH has their own grouping.

No HD channels were mentioned, but I'm assuming (and hoping) that this is just step 1. I met a Comcast Retention Specialist (the guy you speak to when you try to cancel) at Best Buy on Sunday night and he said that they now have a bunch of new Moto boxes, so he felt the upgrade would happen "soon".

I just updated my original post on the NH lineup change. I was initially looking at the message on my TiVo without cablecards. When I checked the one with cablecards the other channels were mentioned.

The change still hasn't happened (channels not there), but the lineup notice was posted.

Does any one know what comcast will add when they drop mojo?

Well here it is 11-12-2008 and we got the upgrade in the NH. Well, at least most of it. The only thing that is missing for me this morning is:

106 - FBN
198 - TBSHD
256 - AETV
258 - HGTV

Well here it is 11-12-2008 and we got the upgrade in the NH. Well, at least most of it. The only thing that is missing for me this morning is:

106 - FBN
198 - TBSHD
256 - AETV
258 - HGTV

just checked, im in the north hills area and these are the channels i dont get:

750 - NBA pc (may be a mistake?)
258 - HGTV
198 - TBSHD


some of the channels just gave me the "one moment please, this channel will be available shortly" message but im not sure if that is on my end, or their end

it may have been the fox channel

also, i have been having problems with some of my HD channels.. it seems history and a few others will just pause every few minutes and stay that way for 10 or so seconds, then start back up, and im missing half of the programs because of this

im getting TBS hd now

but i noticed that discovery hd doesnt look good at all

its only a tad bit better than the normal disc channel

Yeah, now I am getting:

198 - TBSHD
256 - AETV
258 - HGTV

Only thing missing now is 106 FBN


Alot of DISC HD material is upconverted SD and not that great. However, Mythbusters looks pretty good right now.

DISC HD is also pretty low bitrate I've found out. You get a fair bit of macroblocking on FIOS even and they pass the streams without touching them.

It's interesting to see the high variations in content quality now. Starz, HBO, HDNet. All incredible quality. DSC, WPXI. Blech.

HBO HD still looks bad.

Yeah, now I am getting:

198 - TBSHD
256 - AETV
258 - HGTV

Only thing missing now is 106 FBN


Alot of DISC HD material is upconverted SD and not that great. However, Mythbusters looks pretty good right now.

you thought so?

i was watching the same one, and i thought it looked crummy

edit* i have been getting those pauses in the hd channels for a while and it is rather annoying, it has been going on for a week now.. does this happen to anyone else?

HBO HD still looks bad.

Not on FIOS it doesn't.

Was anybody else's NFLHD bleeping the Star Spangled Banner? And having sound clicking in & out?

Not on FIOS it doesn't.
I'm talking about Comcast. Whatever upgrades they made hasn't made a significant improvement in picture quality.

I'm sure HBO HD looks a lot better on FiOS.

The comcast upgrade for the north hills area is confusing me. First, I have standard cable, and I can see the new channels that were switch, ie versus, cnn, etc. Also I'm getting the big ten network now on 72. I got a flyer in the mail stating "the following channels will be added to the line up on or after nov 12th" and several are listed. A few I noticed say the new service level is standard cable. Big ten and big ten DT are listed for standard cable, and below that table is another for HD networks. A few of those listed for the new standard cable service lineup are CNN HD, discovery HD, big ten HD, disney, tbs HD etc. My questions is, to receive these I need a digital converter box? ( i have an HD tv) And are these channels actually part of my standard cable I'm paying for? So I shouldn't have to pay for another service level to get these?

The comcast upgrade for the north hills area is confusing me. First, I have standard cable, and I can see the new channels that were switch, ie versus, cnn, etc. Also I'm getting the big ten network now on 72. I got a flyer in the mail stating "the following channels will be added to the line up on or after nov 12th" and several are listed. A few I noticed say the new service level is standard cable. Big ten and big ten DT are listed for standard cable, and below that table is another for HD networks. A few of those listed for the new standard cable service lineup are CNN HD, discovery HD, big ten HD, disney, tbs HD etc. My questions is, to receive these I need a digital converter box? ( i have an HD tv) And are these channels actually part of my standard cable I'm paying for? So I shouldn't have to pay for another service level to get these?

Read the fine print at the bottom. It says that you need a digital converter to get the digital channels (above 99). You would need to subscribe to Digital Starter which includes Standard Cable plus Digital Converter. To avoid confusion the Service Level for them should have said Digital Starter.

Was anybody else's NFLHD bleeping the Star Spangled Banner? And having sound clicking in & out?

Oh yeah. Audio was inconsistant for the whole telecast. In and out during the anthem. Then volume was low with blaring commercials (which I barely noticed (thanks TiVo), then increased volume for awhile, then back to low volume. Had to keep my hand on the remote all night.

Not on FIOS it doesn't.

Sorry bull3964, but you are now in the wrong area and are off topic. Enjoy that FIOS, but to just post comments about it in this area is not appreciated.

Sorry bull3964, but you are now in the wrong area and are off topic. Enjoy that FIOS, but to just post comments about it in this area is not appreciated.

I was just trying to let people know what stations are crap from the source (because a great deal are) and what stations are crap because of the provider. In HBO's case, it may not even be a bandwidth thing on comcast's end. HBO distributes via MPEG4 now and it may not be that Comcast is scaling back the bandwidth, the equipment they use to do the MPEG4 to MPEG2 transcode may be a bit iffy.

Read the fine print at the bottom. It says that you need a digital converter to get the digital channels (above 99). You would need to subscribe to Digital Starter which includes Standard Cable plus Digital Converter. To avoid confusion the Service Level for them should have said Digital Starter.

OK thanks. I knew I would need to pick up a digital converter, just didn't think I would have to upgrade to digital starter, since it said the HD channels were included with standard cable. I guess they wrote it that way on purpose. What about when I lookup the channel list on their website. Why do they say the HD channels are included with standard cable. Shouldnt they give those customers with Standard level a converter and still keep the Standard level rate?

Anyone having problems in north hills receiving :

196 history hd
224 animal planet hd
225 discovery home theatre hd

By the way, these 3 HD channels are ALL on the same QAM, 639 Mhz. No wonder, i have been seeing the sporadic artifacts.

all 3 went out at 12:15am monday morning, i just called comcast and they hit my box and want to send a service guy, but, i am about to take a biz. trip.

Also, i am getting some QAMs on (analog channel equiv. of) 101 and 102. I don't recall these were there before. Anyone else ?

im having problems with 196, and 225, i dont watch animal planet, so im not sure about that one.. but every few minutes (seems to be random) the screen will pause for about 10 seconds, then start again and i will miss what happened.

is anyone else experiencing this? i talked to comcast and they had me reset the bx, and they "sent a signal" to it but im still getting it, they want to send a tech out, but i dont think that will do anything

I just noticed that 106 FBN is available now, so that completes the scheduled changes that were advertised.

Now, for the first time I can watch the Big10 Network, and PSU football is on it now. However, the HD channel (192) is not showing it in HD. It is just a stretched SD version. My TiVo guide shows it as HD-480i. Never saw that before. It actually looks better on 72 (SD).

The one thing that I was hoping would be made available after the upgrade is NCAA College Game Day (out of market football). Although Comcast has it in many parts of the country, they don't have it here. They always told me it was a capacity problem, therefore I had hoped for it after the upgrade. I have e-mailed Comcast asking about it. No answer yet.

639.25mhz is UHF channel 42. That happens to be the broadcast frequency of WPMY-DT who's antenna is in the north hills.

Sounds a lot like the problems I has having with comcast, ingress. Check out CSPAN on channel 2, do you have bleed through from KDKA?

My problem manifested itself more as the temperature dropped probably due to tropo conditions and the shrinkage of insulation around the coaxial cable as it got colder and colder.

Check out this list of frequencies and their corresponding UHF channel.
http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/catvfreq.html and cross reference that to the digital channel assignment list in the area that you can get off of sites like antennaweb.

Then take a look at the QAM channels that correspond to frequencies that are used by UHF channels. I bet you'll find quite a few that line up that are giving you trouble.



Now, for the first time I can watch the Big10 Network, and PSU football is on it now. However, the HD channel (192) is not showing it in HD. It is just a stretched SD version. My TiVo guide shows it as HD-480i. Never saw that before. It actually looks better on 72 (SD).

At the risk of drawing the ire of others, I will state that it does look like it's in HD here. There are a lot of artifacts in the picture (especially in the grass) but when they cut to a field level cam and focus on people, there is no mistake that its HD. The aspect ratio seems to be correct too, no stretching.

Edit: Confirmed, flipping back and forth between the SD and HD channels shows more picture info on the sides. I would call comcast, they don't seem to be passing the HD feed.

im having problems with 196, and 225, i dont watch animal planet, so im not sure about that one.. but every few minutes (seems to be random) the screen will pause for about 10 seconds, then start again and i will miss what happened.

is anyone else experiencing this? i talked to comcast and they had me reset the bx, and they "sent a signal" to it but im still getting it, they want to send a tech out, but i dont think that will do anything

I just checked out both of them. I had 225 on for 10 minutes and saw it twice (both times during commercials). I had 196 on for 15 minutes and also saw it twice.

Now, for the first time I can watch the Big10 Network, and PSU football is on it now. However, the HD channel (192) is not showing it in HD. It is just a stretched SD version. My TiVo guide shows it as HD-480i. Never saw that before. It actually looks better on 72 (SD).



Forget this. I just realized that we now have 3 flavors of the Big10:

72 - SD Analog
192 - SD Digital
250 - HD

I was comparing the first 2. Channel 250 is in wide screen HD.

639.25mhz is UHF channel 42. That happens to be the broadcast frequency of WPMY-DT who's antenna is in the north hills.



Actually I am showing that I am receiving WPMY-HD OTA on frequency 641.0 mHz.

Actually I am showing that I am receiving WPMY-HD OTA on frequency 641.0 mHz.

Channels are a 6mhz band. Channel 42 is really a range from 638-644. 639.25 is where the video carrier in that channel lies (obviously, that's with NTSC).

I assume with ATSC, the whole 6mhz range is used for all the stations on a given channel. 641mhz just splits the difference which probably why that's what you see on your tuner.

For those interested, here are the 39 HD channels that are now available in the Comcast North Hills area:

Chan Name Freq (mHz)

193 DSC HD 63
194 SCIFI HD 615
195 USA HD 63
196 HSTRY HD 639
197 CNN HD 603
198 TBS HD 633
209 PLD HD 747 Music Channel formerly MH HD
210 WTAE HD 579
211 WPXI HD 531
212 KDKA HD 531
213 WPGH HD 537
214 WPMY HD 537
215 UHD HD 615
216 WPCY HD 141
222 TLC HD 543
220 WQED HD 579
224 APL HD 639 Animal Planet
225 H DT 639 Discovery HD Theater
226 MOJO HD 585 Also FSN HD
227 AMC HD 603
228 HBO HD 543 Also mapped to channel 300
229 DISN HD 693
230 ABCFAM HD 693
232 SCI HD 693
233 MAX HD 543 Also mapped to channel 319
238 SHO HD 747 Also mapped to channel 339
248 STARZ HD 621 Also mapped to channel 369
249 TNT HD 633
250 BIG10 HD 609
252 ESPN HD 627
253 ESPN2 HD 627
254 NGC HD 63
255 CSNDC HD 609 Also Golf & VS HD
256 AETV HD 621
257 FOOD HD 615
258 HGTV HD 621
261 NFLHD 585

I just checked out both of them. I had 225 on for 10 minutes and saw it twice (both times during commercials). I had 196 on for 15 minutes and also saw it twice.

thanks a lot... not i know its not my problem

i cant believe they would want to send a tech out, they should have at least known that everyone is having this problem.. im sure many people have called and complained

So why is it that the Comcast HD stations always had a delay, like 5-10 seconds depending on the show, whereas I don't see that on Fios. I can have 2 or more non DVR boxes tuned to SD and/or HD channels, the same channels on all, and the sound and video match perfectly.

Did Comcast delay their HD feeds or was this something isolated to my house? I had Comcast's HD service since 2003 when it was first available here and it has always been like that and I therefore assumed it was normal. It also affected the QAM stations.

I just checked out both of them. I had 225 on for 10 minutes and saw it twice (both times during commercials). I had 196 on for 15 minutes and also saw it twice.

This happened constantly today as I was watching History HD. The picture would freeze every so often. It definitely sounds like a problem on their end.

So why is it that the Comcast HD stations always had a delay, like 5-10 seconds depending on the show, whereas I don't see that on Fios. I can have 2 or more non DVR boxes tuned to SD and/or HD channels, the same channels on all, and the sound and video match perfectly.

Did Comcast delay their HD feeds or was this something isolated to my house? I had Comcast's HD service since 2003 when it was first available here and it has always been like that and I therefore assumed it was normal. It also affected the QAM stations.

My first thought was that the delay may have been between analog and digital signals, and since FIOS is all digital there is no delay. However, Direct-TV is all digital and the delay is there for them when watching SD vs. HD.

It depends on the channel, even on FIOS.

I had scifi-hd on in the living room and scifi SD on in the bedroom this afternoon while I was doing a few things around the house. They were not in sync. I eventually ended up putting Scifi on SD in the living room as well so the sound would be in sync.

I actually couldn't even have that happen with comcast due to the analog thing. The DVR actually had to buffer the SD analog stations so the audio on the other tv that was just on the cable would be out of sync. Since everything is digital now, there's no need to have an encode buffer, the transport stream just gets written directly to disk as is without re-encoding.

Am I the only one who sees the garbage that Comcast dishes out to us:

Fox HD - Especially with football, constantly switches from high quality HD to fuzzy. You can tell when it switches because when it goes to the low quality, the picture is 3-4 seconds ahead.

CBS HD - The score ticker & scoreboard goes in & out of focus constantly (may just be a CBS thing)

NBC HD - Their football looks so bad. 1080i it must be. It looks like crap.

im having problems with 196, and 225, i dont watch animal planet, so im not sure about that one.. but every few minutes (seems to be random) the screen will pause for about 10 seconds, then start again and i will miss what happened.

is anyone else experiencing this? i talked to comcast and they had me reset the bx, and they "sent a signal" to it but im still getting it, they want to send a tech out, but i dont think that will do anything

Well, I'm not sure if i am still having problems. I am in Charlotte now, on my way back from germany, but, it looks like i am in for a nice surprise, ... finally ! BTW, i doubt it is ingress causing problems, but i did just catch an article about the headend device lowering the power when more qam's are output from a single headend device to keep the total output power from the device the same. This would explain issues on higher channels.

639.25mhz is UHF channel 42. That happens to be the broadcast frequency of WPMY-DT who's antenna is in the north hills.

Sounds a lot like the problems I has having with comcast, ingress. Check out CSPAN on channel 2, do you have bleed through from KDKA?

My problem manifested itself more as the temperature dropped probably due to tropo conditions and the shrinkage of insulation around the coaxial cable as it got colder and colder.

Check out this list of frequencies and their corresponding UHF channel.
http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/catvfreq.html and cross reference that to the digital channel assignment list in the area that you can get off of sites like antennaweb.

Then take a look at the QAM channels that correspond to frequencies that are used by UHF channels. I bet you'll find quite a few that line up that are giving you trouble.



At the risk of drawing the ire of others, I will state that it does look like it's in HD here. There are a lot of artifacts in the picture (especially in the grass) but when they cut to a field level cam and focus on people, there is no mistake that its HD. The aspect ratio seems to be correct too, no stretching.

Edit: Confirmed, flipping back and forth between the SD and HD channels shows more picture info on the sides. I would call comcast, they don't seem to be passing the HD feed.

If you have a settop box, you definitely should have no issues on channel numbers with local broadcast channels, 2,4,11,13,etc. If so it is a FCC violation, for signal egress also, particularly in the aeronuatical aviation band ! Where there is ingress there is also egress.

For those interested, here are the 39 HD channels that are now available in the Comcast North Hills area:

Chan Name Freq (mHz)



Wow ! they increased to atleast 747Mhz !

thanks a lot... not i know its not my problem

i cant believe they would want to send a tech out, they should have at least known that everyone is having this problem.. im sure many people have called and complained

Mine says "channel available shortly", so I think mine is/was most likely a signal level issue.

Am I the only one who sees the garbage that Comcast dishes out to us:

Fox HD - Especially with football, constantly switches from high quality HD to fuzzy. You can tell when it switches because when it goes to the low quality, the picture is 3-4 seconds ahead.

CBS HD - The score ticker & scoreboard goes in & out of focus constantly (may just be a CBS thing)

NBC HD - Their football looks so bad. 1080i it must be. It looks like crap.

We all see the Comcrap, but some of us have no other provider choice.

Am I the only one who sees the garbage that Comcast dishes out to us:

Fox HD - Especially with football, constantly switches from high quality HD to fuzzy. You can tell when it switches because when it goes to the low quality, the picture is 3-4 seconds ahead.

CBS HD - The score ticker & scoreboard goes in & out of focus constantly (may just be a CBS thing)

NBC HD - Their football looks so bad. 1080i it must be. It looks like crap.

Fox HD is broadcast in 480p in studio and during highlight reels it seems. It's probably shot in 720p, but somewhere in the chain it falls to 480p. You can see the nasty aliasing very easily. During games it occasionally goes in and out of 720p.

CBS HD looks blurry occasionally because of the slow skew rate of their encoders.

NBC HD looks bad because they've multiplexed way too many channels for broadcast: WPXI HD, WPXI DTV, RTN, WeatherPlus. There are not enough bits to go around.

If you have a settop box, you definitely should have no issues on channel numbers with local broadcast channels, 2,4,11,13,etc. If so it is a FCC violation, for signal egress also, particularly in the aeronuatical aviation band ! Where there is ingress there is also egress.

They didn't seem to particularly care in my case even though I got a tech to recreate it by bringing in a portable TV and plugging it directly into the tap in the basement to eliminate the wiring to my apt. They did a sweep outside with an antenna to check for egress then they scheduled a service guy to check the lines and the tap. Since they didn't schedule an appointment with me, they weren't able to get into the building (they told me this over the phone.) It didn't stop them from marking on their service report that they were able to check out everything from the pole to the tap and everything was a-ok. From that point on they refused to do anything until they replaced the line from the tap to my apt even though they shot the line with great signal and no interference and the ingress issue was demonstrated at the tap.

EVERY single HD channel I had issues with had an OTA counterpart broadcasting on the frequency of the QAM channel (and many fuzzy channels I had on analog also had an OTA counterpart, CSPAN was unwatchable, I might as well have been watching KDKA). The only way I was to eventually solve it (for the digital channels) was to put a signal amp right off the tap (it wouldn't work if I put it right before the TV).

My first thought was that the delay may have been between analog and digital signals, and since FIOS is all digital there is no delay. However, Direct-TV is all digital and the delay is there for them when watching SD vs. HD.

Of course after I gave that a week we had 60 Minutes on after the Steeler game tonight, which was in synch on all non-DVR TVs SD and HD, and it was out of synch. The HD channel was about 2 seconds behind the SD channel.

So it's not just Comcast I guess. Although their delay was much worse than what I've experienced in my week with Fios. It's only annoying if you have TVs that are near each other and you can hear both from multiple rooms.

This happened constantly today as I was watching History HD. The picture would freeze every so often. It definitely sounds like a problem on their end.

It's been happening to me as well in the North Hills area, for the past week or so.

I had the same issue this spring (same channels) and went through several boxes in a couple months thinking that was the issue.

It definetly is pretty annoying,

Ron

It's been happening to me as well in the North Hills area, for the past week or so.

I had the same issue this spring (same channels) and went through several boxes in a couple months thinking that was the issue.

It definetly is pretty annoying,

Ron

maybe we should start calling comcast and complaining

i know all they will do is send a tech to my house, replace the box, and tell me that it must be the wiring in my house, and try and charge me to run new coax

I don't get NFL Network. The Thursday game against Cincy this week will be shown on Pittsburgh CW, WPCY (Comcast channel 216), but will it be in HD? Not shown as HD in the titantv listings.

I don't get NFL Network. The Thursday game against Cincy this week will be shown on Pittsburgh CW, WPCY (Comcast channel 216), but will it be in HD? Not shown as HD in the titantv listings.

Not shown as HD on ZAP either. Since it is the NFL Network feed, they will keep the HD exclusively for themselves (IMHO). :(

We'll just have to see when the time comes. When KDKA carried the game last year, they had the HD feed for a while. IIRC, it went in and out of HD.

maybe we should start calling comcast and complaining

i know all they will do is send a tech to my house, replace the box, and tell me that it must be the wiring in my house, and try and charge me to run new coax

I phoned, said my neighbors were having the same problem. they hit box, said power cycle it, i will phone tomorrow and schedule service call, if it still doesn't work, and waste their money on a truck roll. Sooner or later they will learn, ... maybe.

I phoned, said my neighbors were having the same problem. they hit box, said power cycle it, i will phone tomorrow and schedule service call, if it still doesn't work, and waste their money on a truck roll. Sooner or later they will learn, ... maybe.

you would think they would realize the problem is on their end by now.. its been like this for weeks

Do any Comcast customers in Western PA have the ability to get ESPN GamePlan (College Football for out of market games)?

I know that Comcast offers it in other parts of the country, but anytime I try to get it here (North Hills) I'm told it's not available due to capacity restrictions. I would have thought that it would be available now that we've been upgraded, but it isn't.

In the Post-Gazette today and also in Rob Owen's online column, the following channel change is revealed. I guess this means the official end of MOJO.

Rob: According to Comcast, FSN-P HD will launch on Dec. 1 on Channel 226 in traditional Comcast and Channel 774 in new Comcast areas.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08326/929572-238.stm

In the Post-Gazette today and also in Rob Owen's online column, the following channel change is revealed. I guess this means the official end of MOJO.

Rob: According to Comcast, FSN-P HD will launch on Dec. 1 on Channel 226 in traditional Comcast and Channel 774 in new Comcast areas.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08326/929572-238.stm

Yeah I read that. Why?? They tried that before and realized it was a waste, hence it was replaced with BigTen HD. Why can't they put one of the other HD channels they have on there hat other markets are getting now like FX or Speed. Lame.

For me that is great news that they will have a dedicated channels for FSN-HD. Hopefully it will be done right so all FSN programming is shown on it (not just the HD). That will provide better quality SD programs.

Most importantly for me it will mean (hopefully) proper guide data for the HD telecasts so that they can be programmed for recording on my TiVo with Season Passes rather than always having to check the HD schedule every day to manually program 226 for the Pens and Pirate games.

I am sure that they will pull the dedicated FSN Channel as soon as VS and Golf HD get their own HD feeds. At least we won't have to rely on Comcast switching the feed for the Penguins games anymore. More ofter than not they wait until the game is already started to switch over from MOJO to FSN...

So I guess tomorrow MOJO will become FSN-HD full time. Since we rarely get notice from Comcast about HD additions, here's hoping they slip in FX, Speed, or another HD channel while they are at it. Wishful thinking.

Well, you got half of your wish. MOJO is gone, but it is replaced with a Test Pattern.

Well, you got half of your wish. MOJO is gone, but it is replaced with a Test Pattern.

Yeah I saw that this morning before I left for work. It still said "mojo" for the channel. Honestly, why are they adding FSN-HD 24/7? I wouldn't be mad if it showed more than 6 hours of HD a week. Just seems like a waste of bandwidth. I love watching the Pens and Pirates in HD as much as anyone else. Map those games on Disney HD when they are on. Put another network channel on Mojo. Just my 2cents.

Yeah I saw that this morning before I left for work. It still said "mojo" for the channel. Honestly, why are they adding FSN-HD 24/7? I wouldn't be mad if it showed more than 6 hours of HD a week. Just seems like a waste of bandwidth. I love watching the Pens and Pirates in HD as much as anyone else. Map those games on Disney HD when they are on. Put another network channel on Mojo. Just my 2cents.

I agree it is a waste of bandwidth.

Why can't they just simulcast Fox Sports Pittsburgh regular SD programming on that channel? Why do we just get color bars on FSP when no HD content is being broadcast? Does anyone know of any other channel that does this? Why does this only occur on FSP? Why is that so hard for them to do?

We need this feed to be 24/7 because if we depend on Comcast to "flip the switch" when FSP is broadcasting HD content, then the problems begin.

Many times Comcast forgets to "flip the switch" and we the customer must painstakingly call them (good luck with that) to remind them that FSP has HD content on.

Often times, the first part of the ballgame or hockey game is missed because someone at Comcrap is sleeping at the switch.

That's why it is IMPERATIVE we have a 24/7 FSP feed.

No, I do believe Comcast does at least pass on the local stations unmolested. It's the other channels (besides ESPN at least) that they tamper with.

NBC looks terrible because they have too many channels muxed in their frequency band:

WXPI HD
WPXI-DTV
RTN
WeatherPlus

As I've said before, WPXI HD really suffers because of this. The only HD broadcasts worth viewing on that channel is their in-studio newscast.

Good news! While reading an article about Krista Villarreal leaving her weather post, it was revealed that WPXI's weather substation will go dark this month and not be replaced. Let's hope that the new bandwidth does not to to RTN.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08337/932001-67.stm

All are showing on the channel lineup at Comcast.com

181 - MLB Channel

199 - FX HD
202 - Fox News HD
219 - Speed Channel HD
226 - FSN Pittsburgh HD (This was live on Monday)
251 - Versus HD
255 - Golf HD



Would have like to have them added Spike or HDNet but can't really complain.

All are showing on the channel lineup at Comcast.com

181 - MLB Channel

199 - FX HD
202 - Fox News HD
219 - Speed Channel HD
226 - FSN Pittsburgh HD (This was live on Monday)
251 - Versus HD
255 - Golf HD



Would have like to have them added Spike or HDNet but can't really complain.

OPEN LETTER TO COMCAST CUSTOMERS

I added 199, 202, and 219 to my "Favorites" list with a great deal of unhappiness.

(Beginning of Rant)

D* with its insulting HD Lite reputation has probably surpassed Comcast for quality. I do not care about quantity for there are less than 10 real HD stations in the menu.

Today's additions are more of the same. As I tried to read the graphics on the Speed HD program, they were analog quality. Fox News had sharp grapics on their split screen, but lost my admiration with a lack luster "people portion" of the screen. FX was showing a movie that rivaled AMC's quality control.

So why bother? This is not HD programming; this is enhanced wide screen programming being mislabeled. And no, I do not want to hear how good FIOS is because it is not available in Canonsburg until after I die. I want real HD stations and sadly I know in my heart that it is not going to get better.

Thank goodness for my new Blu ray and Netflix.

(end of rant)

Bill

OPEN LETTER TO COMCAST CUSTOMERS

I added 199, 202, and 219 to my "Favorites" list with a great deal of unhappiness.

(Beginning of Rant)

D* with its insulting HD Lite reputation has probably surpassed Comcast for quality. I do not care about quantity for there are less than 10 real HD stations in the menu.

Today's additions are more of the same. As I tried to read the graphics on the Speed HD program, they were analog quality. Fox News had sharp grapics on their split screen, but lost my admiration with a lack luster "people portion" of the screen. FX was showing a movie that rivaled AMC's quality control.

So why bother? This is not HD programming; this is enhanced wide screen programming being mislabeled. And no, I do not want to hear how good FIOS is because it is not available in Canonsburg until after I die. I want real HD stations and sadly I know in my heart that it is not going to get better.

Thank goodness for my new Blu ray and Netflix.

(end of rant)

Bill

Unfortunately, until they can get rid of their analog channels for good---and free up bandwidth, we will not see large amounts of HD programming forthcoming.

They should supply at least 2 basic, cheap digital boxes to all their customers and charge $ 3.99 for each additional box.

Then they can get rid of the analogs.

But---I don't see that happening.

Comcrap won't spend the money---albeit they could actually be greatly improving their service.

No foresight there at all !!!

As of 12-2-2008, 40 HD channels (On-Demand excluded) exist.
Here is the new Comcrap HD lineup.

193 Discovery Channel HD
194 SciFi HD
195 USA HD
196 History Channel HD
197 CNN HD
198 TBS HD
199 FX HD
202 FOX News Channel HD
209 Palladia HD
210 WTAE HD (ABC)
211 WPXI HD (NBC)
212 KDKA HD (CBS)
213 WPGH HD (FOX)
214 WPMY HD (MyTV)
215 Universal HD
216 WPCW HD (The CW)
219 Speed Channel HD
220 WQED HD (PBS)
222 TLC HD
224 Animal Planet HD
225 Discovery HD Theater
226 Fox Sports Pittsburgh HD (occasional)
227 AMC HD
228 HBO HD
229 Disney HD
230 ABC Family HD
232 Science Channel HD
233 Cinemax HD
238 Showtime HD
248 Starz HD
249 TNT HD
250 Big 10 HD
252 ESPN HD
253 ESPN2 HD
254 National Geographic HD
255 Versus/Golf Channel HD
256 A&E HD
257 Food Network HD
258 HGTV HD
261 NFL Network HD

You are right. 251 isn't VS yet. Called Comcast and they said it should be on by 12/8. Not sure why the delay.

speed, fox news and FX (all HD) are now live in the north hills

we're still missing the following channels:

Weather channel hd
espn news
fox business
740 NICKELODEON HD 1
742 CARTOONNETWORK HD 1

744 TOON DISNEY HD 1

746 CNBC HD 1
768 LIFETIME MOVIE NETWORK HD 1
769 LIFETIME HD 1
770 E! HD 1
775 BIO HD 1
776 PLANET GREEN HD 1
777 STYLE HD 1
778 TV ONE HD
779 BROVO HD 1
780 WE HD 1
781 IFC HD 1
782 MGM HD 1
HDNET
HDNET MOVIES
ESPNU HD (Hopefully soon)
NHL NETWORK HD

What are the chances comcast will get rid of some more of the analog channels like:
mtv,bet,history,a&e, tlc, disney, espn, espn2, fox sports,lifetime,cnn,golf, hgtv, pcnc, cnbc, comedy, turner classic moves, tvland,speed and discovery?

That would free up alot of room for hd,sd digital channel additions. If comcast wants to compete with directv and fios they need to add more hd sooner rather than later.

they have room for more HDTV channels, they just added about 200 mhz. of bandwidth from the plant upgrade. At 3 HD channels per 6 Mhz. thats room for over 99 HD channels.

BTW, apparently ROSS had to wait for them to upgrade the area that was served by the former etna headend because me and other people saw them swapping out equipment in that area. But no one saw anything in ross area. And it doesn't look like they swapped out the amp. here in apt. laundry room. Ross area system has black coax, the older shaler/etna system was not upgraded at the same time as Ross and still has silver/aluminum coax.

did they upgrade the plant in weirton,wv or steubenville,oh? Cause that is where I live.

did they upgrade the plant in weirton,wv or steubenville,oh? Cause that is where I live.

Sorry, i have no idea

Did anyone notice, the north hills is almost entirely digital simulcast of ch's 2-99 ?
There are a few exceptions, such as: 11-fyi, 13-PSA, 14-wbgn, 16-weather, and 18-tv guide. I guess they aren't done yet. This explains why my friend who doesnt have exp. basic, had the exp. basic channels locked out of his settop box. Also, wqed has popped up on ch. 97, the same as whats on 9 and 202. Local OTA channels are not encrypted, as well as a few exp. basic channels.

I wish we would get the new Comcast Central program guide, this is hot !!!!! Heres some links :

http://www.comcast.com/seattlenewguide/
http://community.comcast.net/comcastportal/blog/article?message.uid=2801965
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6434896.html

Edit: following is bad/incorrect info.
And they are offering the 100Mbit internet service in the Moon twp. area.

will they expand the 100mbit internet besides moon township?

Does this mean even more channels and possibly features?

Does anyone have the caller id on tv or pc yet in pittsburgh area?

will they expand the 100mbit internet besides moon township?

Does this mean even more channels and possibly features?

Does anyone have the caller id on tv or pc yet in pittsburgh area?

Yes
Yes
Not me

ok which areas besides moon will have 100mbps and when?

what channels will be added next, where(which areas) and when?

ok which areas besides moon will have 100mbps and when?

what channels will be added next, where(which areas) and when?

LOL, sorry if I implied that I have those details. All I know is comcast has to do something to compete with FIOS's 100 HDTV channels, features and internet bandwidth.

As far as I know, as long as North Pittsburgh Telephone Company's building doesn't get blown up, we may never see phone service from someone other than them.

LOL, sorry if I implied that I have those details. All I know is comcast has to do something to compete with FIOS's 100 HDTV channels, features and internet bandwidth.

If they could do that and keep their analog channels throgh the line, meaning I can get channels with no box unlike having to have one on every TV as with Fios, I'd switch back to Comcast. That's my one big beef with Fios so far mainly because of the way I have to reconfigure my TiVo boxes, meaning I have to buy TiVo HD boxes just to use it the way I used to be able to use it with Comcast.

we're still missing the following channels:



There are a few more than that. There are at least 3 more Starz HD channels, 7 more Showtime HD Channels, TMC HD and TCM Xtra HD (along with the two West versions of the channels), 11 more HBO HD channels, 11 more Cinemax channels. There's also Encore HD (though Comcast does have Encore HD on-demand).

Granted, I am counting the west coast feeds of those channels in those totals as well. I never realized before I switched that west coast feeds were carried by other carriers. It's not technically more programming, but it gives you a bit more flexibility on when you want to watch or record something.

Did anyone notice, the north hills is almost entirely digital simulcast of ch's 2-99 ?
There are a few exceptions, such as: 11-fyi, 13-PSA, 14-wbgn, 16-weather, and 18-tv guide. I guess they aren't done yet. This explains why my friend who doesnt have exp. basic, had the exp. basic channels locked out of his settop box. Also, wqed has popped up on ch. 97, the same as whats on 9 and 202. Local OTA channels are not encrypted, as well as a few exp. basic channels.



Hey, you're right. I hadn't noticed that before. Comcast even mapped the digital version to my cablecards (which they don't always do) so my TiVos are getting the digital versions.

Local OTA never were encrypted, but what other ones have you found (other than music, home shopping, Comcast VOD previews and your neighbor's VOD viewing)?

Edit: deleted post

I posted this in another section but since i live 30 minutes east of Pittsburgh I thought maybe someone else would be having this problem. Is it just Comcast and they won't own up to it.

My hd channels have been tiling or dropping out completely for hours or days, and then all of a sudden they will be fine-sd will get fuzzier than normal but nothing like HD channels. Of course when Comcast comes the channels are fine so i can't show him- he checks outside and the signal was fine along with the connections outside. He says to call if happens again but i'm afraid the same thing is going to happen by the time they come out. I'm guessing it's inside and I'm responsible for it anyway($) according to comcast, so Im asking for any advice...
Set Up
1 line into house, split into 2 lines (only 2 rooms get cable)
Both lead to an indidual SA 8300 hd box ( 1 upstairs, 1 main floor)
they are not hooked up to anything but the SA box
one is component and one is hdmi.
BOTH televisions are having the same problem i.e. they sent signals to my boxes, we rebooted etc.(while i was telling them if both tvs are doing it what are the chances both boxes are on the fritz at the same time)
So there it is. sorry it's long and I'm new to the board. Any help would be appreciated. Could the splitter in the basement be the problem? does it need upgraded? I didn't look at what type it was, but it looks like the same old generic splitters i've seen for years from cable. thanks!

Comcast has split up the VS/Golf HD channel into two dedicated channels. So the new lineup is:


193 Discovery Channel HD
194 SciFi HD
195 USA HD
196 History Channel HD
197 CNN HD
198 TBS HD
199 FX HD
202 FOX News Channel HD
209 Palladia HD
210 WTAE HD (ABC)
211 WPXI HD (NBC)
212 KDKA HD (CBS)
213 WPGH HD (FOX)
214 WPMY HD (MyTV)
215 Universal HD
216 WPCW HD (The CW)
219 Speed Channel HD
220 WQED HD (PBS)
222 TLC HD
224 Animal Planet HD
225 Discovery HD Theater
226 Fox Sports Pittsburgh HD (occasional)
227 AMC HD
228 HBO HD
229 Disney HD
230 ABC Family HD
232 Science Channel HD
233 Cinemax HD
238 Showtime HD
248 Starz HD
249 TNT HD
250 Big 10 HD
251 Versus HD
252 ESPN HD
253 ESPN2 HD
254 National Geographic HD
255 Golf Channel HD
256 A&E HD
257 Food Network HD
258 HGTV HD
261 NFL Network HD

My hd channels have been tiling or dropping out completely for hours or days, and then all of a sudden they will be fine-sd will get fuzzier than normal but nothing like HD channels. Of course when Comcast comes the channels are fine so i can't show him- he checks outside and the signal was fine along with the connections outside. He says to call if happens again but i'm afraid the same thing is going to happen by the time they come out. I'm guessing it's inside and I'm responsible for it anyway($) according to comcast, so Im asking for any advice...


If you only have one splitter and are experiencing this on both TVs I would say the problem is with the signal strength being received to the house. When it happens again check the signal strength for each box.

Via remote, press and hold the pause button until the mail icon flashes on the box! Then press page up, you should be in the box diagnostic screen then.

It could be a bad splitter, or bad cabling in the house (you should check both and replace the splitter if it looks bad), but chances are it is a problem with the signal received.

benji,

From your post it now looks like all the Comcast customers in this area now have the same lineup as that is the same one for North Hills.

Looks like the North Hills upgrade (from a 650 mhz system to 1000 mhz) is being used for the new HD channels, ADS (analog-digital simulcast) and possible expansion of the 1000 mbs internet. However, it seems like they should still have room for more HD channels.

The move to the ADS systems sets them up for an easy transition to an all digital system in the North Hills. Comcast has already done this in Chicago (only a handfull of analog left) and Portland. Next in line is Philly, SF and Seattle. Their goal is to have 20% all-digital by early next year and 60% by the end of next year.

For those current analog-only customers they have ordered 6 million crappy Pace Micro DTA boxes that only have coax outputs. Chicago and Portland got the Motorola DCT700 boxes which are a little better.

Story here:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6573422.html

They should stick to 2 HD CHANNELS per 6 MHz spectrum.

Is the Speed Channel HD now a seperate subscription channel?

I now get the "black screen" with "Not Authorized" when I go to it.

Is the Speed Channel HD now a seperate subscription channel?

I now get the "black screen" with "Not Authorized" when I go to it.

Same here. I guess this channel falls into the same tier as the SciFi HD which I do not qualify to receive. There is no way to justify me paying extra for a tier I never watch unless they add HDNet to it. Since that contract was signed months ago, that would be a nice Christmas gift.

Same here. I guess this channel falls into the same tier as the SciFi HD which I do not qualify to receive. There is no way to justify me paying extra for a tier I never watch unless they add HDNet to it. Since that contract was signed months ago, that would be a nice Christmas gift.

I get SciFi with no problems.

Called Comcrap this morning and was informed that the Speed Channel HD is part of the Sports & Entertainment Package and unless you subscribe to that, you won't get it.

I informed her that I was getting it before and she told me I was probably just getting "bleed-through" until it was adjusted properly. Translation---unless you pay for it-don't expect to get it free (or as part of your HD package).

Where did you see 100Mbps was available in Moon? I just talked to COmcast and they deny that claim. Or was this justa joke and a poek at the lack of HD COmcast offers...and why in the hell didn't Verizon finish Moon Twp?

haha, it looks like comcast finally caught on, im not getting free speed channel anymore.. im a bit disappointed though

anyone have more info on the 100mbit internet?

It had to be a joke, I spoke to three different techs they were all laughing..they said they are testing it in some MEtro areas but Pittsburgh definitely wasn't and that they JUST SWITCHED to Docsis 3.0 and are working it out. ALl three techs all laughing, now I do admit they advertise 6 on my bundle and I get around 14 so its definitely worth my money (the lack of HD sucks though)..but likely there was a missing decimal point 10.0Mbps might be the mid range now, I was told 16 is the highest I could get....what would make anyone thign Moon Twp woudl be 1st for anything? Hell, Verizon went to my property and just plain stopped...go figue, 15108 needs to go digital, cause Cory aint anything like Moon, but COry has FiOS
15108.1 Cory, 15108.2, Crscent, 15108.3, Moon Twp., 15108.4 FIndlay, 15108.5 you get the idea,...f it make it all Pittsburgh!!

Where did you see 100Mbps was available in Moon? I just talked to COmcast and they deny that claim. Or was this justa joke and a poek at the lack of HD COmcast offers...and why in the hell didn't Verizon finish Moon Twp?

I talked to my coworker, and now he says there is no 100mbit in moon, maybe he was thinking fios ? Sorry, guys, that was bad info.

Poor old KDKA television.

We really should feel sorry for those engineers over there at the Pittsburgh CBS O&O facility.

They can't afford new HD equiptment to compete with the other TV outlets in Pittsburgh.

They can't afford to put out an HD local newcast.

They can't afford the equiptment to run syndicated HD programming.

They can't even afford the equiptment to stay in HD during the Steelers game when they have to scroll the PA Lottery winning numbers. They are forced to switch over to standard definition to run their bottom scrolls.

We really have to feel sorry for "our" CBS outlet.

Boohoo. I wanted to watch the Steelers in HD. I am missing 2 HD channels since about Thanksgiving. Channels 211 and 212, which are HD versions of CBS and NBC. It says the channel should be available shortly for both, but leaving it on the station does nothing. Comcast CS sent hits to the box, but that did nothing. I rebooted the DVR too. It's weird that it's only 2 stations. All other analog and HD stations are fine. Any ideas?

JazzyVR

Boohoo. I wanted to watch the Steelers in HD. I am missing 2 HD channels since about Thanksgiving. Channels 211 and 212, which are HD versions of CBS and NBC. It says the channel should be available shortly for both, but leaving it on the station does nothing. Comcast CS sent hits to the box, but that did nothing. I rebooted the DVR too. It's weird that it's only 2 stations. All other analog and HD stations are fine. Any ideas?

JazzyVR

when you get that message it means the signal is too weak, check the cable that plugs into the box.. if your has old cables, you may even have to replace them

i had the same problem, and went through a bunch of boxes and comcast sending signals to them until i found out the cable inside of my house was actually the problem

Poor old KDKA television.

We really should feel sorry for those engineers over there at the Pittsburgh CBS O&O facility.

They can't afford new HD equiptment to compete with the other TV outlets in Pittsburgh.

They can't afford to put out an HD local newcast.

They can't afford the equiptment to run syndicated HD programming.

They can't even afford the equiptment to stay in HD during the Steelers game when they have to scroll the PA Lottery winning numbers. They are forced to switch over to standard definition to run their bottom scrolls.

We really have to feel sorry for "our" CBS outlet.


Ha ha, see my post over on the Pittsburgh OTA forum, WJAC spent 250K this year on a new HD set, where's KDKA's money? Johnstown news in HD before Pittsburgh, ha whose the budget genius over there?

http://www.tvpredictions.com/swannitwo121508.htm

News Feature
Swanni Predicts: NBC's Ratings Keep Falling Due to HD
The network's CEO is alienating the high-def audience.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (December 15, 2008) -- Editor's note: Over the next few weeks, Swanni will make several predictions for HDTV in 2009. Here is his second prediction.

On some nights, if you're a NBC viewer, you might think that this High-Definition thing is a figment of someone's imagination. The network's primetime lineup is often stuffed with non-HD, reality shows such as The Biggest Loser, Deal or No Deal, Momma's Boys and Dateline. Even first-run showings of theatrical films are often broadcast in standard-def.

No other broadcast network schedules fewer shows in high-def than NBC.

This is not a coincidence. NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker has publicly dissed HDTV in the past, suggesting that high-def owners don't really care if a show is in HD; if they like the show, they'll probably watch whether it's in HD or SD, Zucker has said.

"It's hard to say if viewers will be less interested in unscripted programming that's not in HD when the rest of the programming is in HD," Zucker said in 2006. "I think it's a fair question, but I'm not overly concerned about it at this point."

Consequently, Zucker, the Cheapest Man in Television, he has kept network spending down by loading up the schedule with non-scripted, non-HD reality shows. And there are reports that more are coming in 2009 as the network seeks to save money during the recession.

And that's just fine with Zuck; this guy has never met a budget cut he didn't like.

Of course, the funny thing (one of the few funny things left at NBC after the glory days of Must-See TV) is that the strategy has not been successful. NBC's ratings often place it in third or fourth place every week among the four major networks.

Oddly, General Electric, which owns NBC, doesn't seem too bothered. Zucker has apparently done an effective job of persuading his bosses that he has things under control. He's more nimble than his fictional counterpart, Jack Donaghy, from NBC's 30 Rock.

But wait until next year.

According to Nielsen, one-fourth of U.S. households now watch high-def regularly; that's twice as much as a year ago and the number is rising steadily.

And Nielsen and other research firms have found that high-def owners want to watch high-def programming, not standard-def shows done on the cheap.

By alienating 25 percent of the audience -- an audience that could hit one-third before the end of 2009 -- Zucker is guaranteeing that NBC's audience will shrink even further. When NBC airs Deal or No Deal, Biggest Loser or Dateline, many high-def viewers will switch the channel to something -- anything -- that happens to be in HD.

So, I predict that NBC's ratings will fall even more dramatically next year -- and I will expand that prediction to say that Jeff Zucker will be the industry's Biggest Loser.

Interesting article about what it really entails to broadcast a local HD newscast.

I guess we need to give kudo's to Mr. Morrison and Mr. Kasparek for their efforts.

What about you folks over at KD? Need a fundraiser? Hmmmm...such a shame for a station with so much heritage!!!

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/30...n-hd-newscast/

anyone notice that there is no advertisements on the guide?

anyone notice that there is no advertisements on the guide?

My adv.'s occaisonally disappear, but, they are still there

Boohoo. I wanted to watch the Steelers in HD. I am missing 2 HD channels since about Thanksgiving. Channels 211 and 212, which are HD versions of CBS and NBC. It says the channel should be available shortly for both, but leaving it on the station does nothing. Comcast CS sent hits to the box, but that did nothing. I rebooted the DVR too. It's weird that it's only 2 stations. All other analog and HD stations are fine. Any ideas?

Just an update. The tech came out today (postponed due to icy weather) and the problem seemed to be the splitter. He replaced that and all the end connectors at the splitter and at the DVR, and I'm back in business. Luckily it wasn't my inside cables or something I had to pay for, although when I asked if I had to sign for this he said he was putting down that it was an "outside" problem and wished me Happy Holidays! So I don't know if there was supposed to be a cost or not.

JazzyVR

Just an update. The tech came out today (postponed due to icy weather) and the problem seemed to be the splitter. He replaced that and all the end connectors at the splitter and at the DVR, and I'm back in business. Luckily it wasn't my inside cables or something I had to pay for, although when I asked if I had to sign for this he said he was putting down that it was an "outside" problem and wished me Happy Holidays! So I don't know if there was supposed to be a cost or not.

JazzyVR

I had intermittent problems with HD channels for years and usually them coming out and replacing the wire ends and splitters solved the problem. The last one was a much larger issue and let to them replacing the wire from the pole to my house. It took a few days for them to get someone out there to do it so they put a booster on the line and it worked very well.

I have a feeling it was the outside line all along because no one bothered to check it. They took readings on all of the inside lines every time and they were always just barely above acceptable. When the last tech took the reading at the outside box it was obvious the old wire (been in the house for 7 years but the wire out there was there when we moved in) was very bad. I'm not saying your problem might be the outside wire but, if they didn't check it already, don't be surprised if you continue to have problems again in the future. I doubt it's an uncommon problem given how long coax has been around.

You have to love the fact that KDKA-TV (a CBS owned & operated station) doesn't air the CBS Evening News (which is broadcast in HD on the network) in its native HD format. It airs it in SD. And a really bad standard definition at that!

Also, The Insider HD (it even airs the HD logo) is broadcast by KD in standard definition.

Hey, what's going on over there at KD? Here's a reminder to you CBS2 folks that 2009 is only 8 days away. Maybe you should take down the 2006 calendar.

does anyone know if they are doing that fireplace thing for christmas day that they did last year?

IIRC it was on the wpxi retro channel, but my guide just says paid programming and then leave it to beaver

does anyone know if they are doing that fireplace thing for christmas day that they did last year?

IIRC it was on the wpxi retro channel, but my guide just says paid programming and then leave it to beaver

It is on WGN (19) this morning at 9:30 a.m.

Merry Christmas.

So now that NBC Weather channel is gone, that leaves open a channel on the digital side. Anyone think Comcast will fill it with an HD channel?

I hope they do...
I would love to have Spike HD.

I hope they do...
I would love to have Spike HD.

Do not forget that a contract has been signed with HDNET! That should be the bomb. :D

Anybody have any idea what channels I can get in Westmoreland Comcast if I scan using a QAM turner from my new HDTV?

Anybody have any idea what channels I can get in Westmoreland Comcast if I scan using a QAM turner from my new HDTV?

KDKA 2.1
WTAE 4.1, 4.2 weather
WPXI 11.1, 11.2 retro
WPGH 53.1
WQED 13.1, 13.2

You can always type in your zipcode

http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels

Its fairly accurate

KDKA 2.1
WTAE 4.1, 4.2 weather
WPXI 11.1, 11.2 retro
WPGH 53.1
WQED 13.1, 13.2

You can always type in your zipcode

http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels

Its fairly accurate

Great, thanks, comcast told me 11.00 for a HD box, i'll try the turner first. Any idea if I will be able to get the steeler game in HD with this tuner or do i need to just get the box?

Great, thanks, comcast told me 11.00 for a HD box, i'll try the turner first. Any idea if I will be able to get the steeler game in HD with this tuner or do i need to just get the box?

Steelers games will always be available, because they are always shown on a local channel.

Steelers games will always be available, because they are always shown on a local channel.

i just used my new 67A750 to scan the cable and i getting someones PPV or something. i say this because someone keeps FF the show to the next sex part, these channels are listed as 111.2/111.3/112.3 and about 5 others. any one else getting them?

Yeah that happens frequently if someone in your neighborhood is watching something on demand. PPV doesn't come in though. That is encrypted.

I know the answer to this question, but I'll ask anyway. Anyone find a channel in Comcast lineup that will be telecasting tonight's Pitt basketball game which is on ESPNU?

Really frustrating. I have the total Comcast package, including the sports package and still can't get this channel.

jrm comcast doesn't care. Espn doesn't want comcast to put it in the sports package and comcast doesn't want it in the expanded basic or lower digital tiers. So unless they can come to an agreement like comcast and big ten did don't expect espnu anytime soon unless you have fios, dish or directv.

Oh I know the battle, however this is one of the times that I agree with Comcast. Sports Networks like Big10 and ESPNU, who want to charge high prices for carry-priviledges should be put into the Sports Package. Then, those who want it can pay for it, and those on lower digital packages don't have to pay part of the cost. It doesn't affect me either way since I pay for the Sports Package. So I lay the blame here on ESPNU, not Comcast.

Loss of WBGN on cable ch. 14

Anyone that watches the "its alive show", is probably now watching the wbgn campaign against the loss of re-transmission on comcast systems, due to exorbitant re-transmission fees. Its a great show, kinda like the old chiller theatre, if anyone remembers that from ch. 11.
You can sign a petition to keep wbgn at:

http://theitsaliveshow.com/
or
http://www.**************.com/wbgn2009/petition.html

<edit> the asteriks above replaced the link to "petition online", without the space.

Please sign it, they state that the ch. will not be replaced by another, further screwing the non-digital customers !

Is there a digital version of that channel? I know my aunt and uncle watch that show every Saturday night.

Is there a digital version of that channel? I know my aunt and uncle watch that show every Saturday night.

comcast went digital simulcast, so there is an analog and digital version of WBGN depending upon whether you have a cable settop box. Both versions of the channel are going to be removed from the line up.

Any word of some new HD channels coming soon?

I agree that some HD looks great on Comcast, some leaves a lot to be desired, but should there priority be adding more mediocre HD, or adding more bandwidth to SD channels that don't have an HD counterpart.?
I live on the side of Mt Washington in the Southside Slopes and Gol TV and Fox Soccer Channel look horrendous on a widescreen LCD, gol tv especially. Does anyone else who has the sports entertainment pack have similar issues with these two channels???

And on the subject of ESPN, why isn't Around the Horn and PTI produced in HD, what the hell....

all of my boxes reset this morning around 6:50am

anyone know why, did comcast add something?

all of my boxes reset this morning around 6:50am

anyone know why, did comcast add something?

my boxes reset about 4 or 5 times last week and I haven't noticed anything different.

And on the subject of ESPN, why isn't Around the Horn and PTI produced in HD, what the hell....

Apparently studio shows outside of ESPN's Bristol residence are never produced in HD.

I'd love to have both shows in HD. They show off a lot of sports clips to make it worth it. Plus I'll take anything in HD anyway.

all of my boxes reset this morning around 6:50am

anyone know why, did comcast add something?

my boxes reset about 4 or 5 times last week and I haven't noticed anything different.

Comcast did a site wide Motorola FW upgrade, don't know if it was for additonal channels, but at these prices i'm due a bout 2 dozen more HD's

Comcast did a site wide Motorola FW upgrade, don't know if it was for additonal channels, but at these prices i'm due a bout 2 dozen more HD'sWhat is the new FW version number? I'm waiting for 16.57 which supposedly will fix the Firewire recording from DVR recordings problem they injected with the last firmware "upgrade." Thread on that in HDTV recorders subforum.

EDIT: I just checked my firmware version; it's still 16.53 (Greensburg, PA system).

An interesting article

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=171808&site=cdn

It looked like the FSN broadcast of the Duquesne-Xavier game on Saturday was an original ESPNU feed. That's the first that I saw something like that and is what I was hoping would happen more often.

An interesting article

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=171808&site=cdn

Not mentioned is the fact that the DTA that they are using (Pace) only has RF (coax) output.

I use TiVo and cablecards with my HD TV, so have no experience with the Comcast cablebox. A friend of mine is having problems with his connection with the cablebox (he didn't tell me the exact nature) and when Comcast came out yesterday to fix the problem they told him his TV was broken and wouldn't accept any HD signal on either hdmi or component cables. Their fix was to use composite cables, so now he has all channels, but all in SD. Great solution!

I told him I would come over tomorrow and take a look at it, but need a little guidance (which is probably somewhere in the previous 2000 posts - but, hey). How do you get into the service menu of the box, and is there something specifically I should be looking for?). I'm not sure which box he is using, but I think it is the Moto DVR.

If it's a motorola, press menu on the remote or box with the box turned off and the TV on. This will bring up a menu allowing you to set resolution, 4:3 stretch options and what not.

It looked like the FSN broadcast of the Duquesne-Xavier game on Saturday was an original ESPNU feed. That's the first that I saw something like that and is what I was hoping would happen more often.

Actually, that broadcast was produced not by ESPNU but by CBS College Sports, a channel which is available on Comcast.

However, this particular game wasn't identified with CBS College Sports logos because it wasn't actually carried on that national cable channel. Instead, it was an Atlantic 10 Network broadcast, syndicated to only three local markets in the Atlantic 10 Conference area: Fox Sports Ohio (Xavier), Fox Sports Pittsburgh (Duquesne), and one other station.

Boy, I would sure like to watch the Pens game in HD tonight. Oh, I can't because when I turn to the channel nothing happens, or it's black. The operators must be exhausted from showing those color bars the past 3 days. How ever will I enjoy the other 4 hours of weekly HD content they show if it's not fixed??

Boy, I would sure like to watch the Pens game in HD tonight. Oh, I can't because when I turn to the channel nothing happens, or it's black. The operators must be exhausted from showing those color bars the past 3 days. How ever will I enjoy the other 4 hours of weekly HD content they show if it's not fixed??
Yep. I'm sure they messed it up. The analog channel is coming through fine which means it's not a black out.

Yep. I'm sure they messed it up. The analog channel is coming through fine which means it's not a black out.

Well, the analog channel was working fine until the Pens went on a power play late in the second period and then that was blacked out (with a test pattern). So I figured that was someone who just woke up and threw some switches and I switched to the HD channel, and sure enough it was on HD then.

FSN = Fail to Switch Network.

If it's a motorola, press menu on the remote or box with the box turned off and the TV on. This will bring up a menu allowing you to set resolution, 4:3 stretch options and what not.

Thanks for the info. A Comcast tech had spent two hours the day before trying to fix his "HD problem", switched to Composite and told him that his TV was broken.

I connected his HDMI back up and switched his TV input and all was fine. They never switched the TV input the day before. He wanted his SD channels in stretch mode (ugh), so I used the menu that you mentioned and made it stretch mode. All is fine now.

Total time = three minutes. Total charge = 3 beers.

Actually, that broadcast was produced not by ESPNU but by CBS College Sports, a channel which is available on Comcast.

However, this particular game wasn't identified with CBS College Sports logos because it wasn't actually carried on that national cable channel. Instead, it was an Atlantic 10 Network broadcast, syndicated to only three local markets in the Atlantic 10 Conference area: Fox Sports Ohio (Xavier), Fox Sports Pittsburgh (Duquesne), and one other station.

Thanks for the info. I could have sworn that they mentioned ESPNU during the broadcast and was hoping that there was now a mechanism for local stations to pick up the ESPNU telecasts until ESPNU and Comcast resolve their differences. Oh well.

Was told yesterday by a technician trying to switch me over to DirectTV that if you have Comcast HD the best signal they can provide you is 720i (which I never heard of). He said the only exceptions to this is if you live close to a headend (Corliss), then maybe you'll get full 1080i. Any comments?

Was told yesterday by a technician trying to switch me over to DirectTV that if you have Comcast HD the best signal they can provide you is 720i (which I never heard of). He said the only exceptions to this is if you live close to a headend (Corliss), then maybe you'll get full 1080i. Any comments?

thats BS, everyone gets the same signal. My TV indicates 1080, and the box doesn't upscale it. Apparently, Comcast AND Directv lie to their customers.

thats BS, everyone gets the same signal. My TV indicates 1080, and the box doesn't upscale it. Apparently, Comcast AND Directv lie to their customers.

just because the tv says it is 1080 doesnt mean thats what the program you are watching is in.

i have seen sd programming when my tv said it was 1080p

1080i is the highest setting for the Comcast boxes. And, whatever you have it set at, 720p, 1080i, whatever, the box scales the output to that to your tv. So yes, if you don't have the 4:3 override turned on even the SD channels will show on the tv as 720p or 1080i depending on what your box is set at.

just because the tv says it is 1080 doesnt mean thats what the program you are watching is in.

i have seen sd programming when my tv said it was 1080p

Sure, but my TV tuner card displays the resolution of the channel coming in, which is 1080 on the hi-def channels. Obviously, comcast could rescale them to 720 and transmit them on a 1080 signal, but the picture would not fill the window.

:eek: Why am I defending them ? :eek:

Sure, but my TV tuner card displays the resolution of the channel coming in, which is 1080 on the hi-def channels. Obviously, comcast could rescale them to 720 and transmit them on a 1080 signal, but the picture would not fill the window.

:eek: Why am I defending them ? :eek:

I think 720p has the same aspect ratio (full screen in this case) as 1080i.

If we could just get Spike in HD I'd be set for a while...
I'm definitely switching to fios soon if we don't get any new channels in the near future.

FSN strikes again! First two minutes of Pens HD telecast was women's basketball on SunSports. Then we were treated to 10 minutes of Pens in SD before someone finally woke up.

Calling tech about channel problems is usually very frustrating. A typical comment is "Gee, no one else has that problem!" It really is true that they are the very last to know.


Problem One
With that preface, I ask you, my local users who actually would know. For quite a while now, KDKA has had a glitch, a stammer in its audio. It is quite evident in the evening dramas that I so often watch. I do not hear it while watching a live newscast. My theory is that the local engineers have caused the problem while they install all of the new HD equipment in preparation to joining the 21st century. Do you too hear this problem?

Problem Two
Just this past week on WTAE I have started seeing a video error that is very subtle. Those of you with LCD's will recognize my description immediately. It is an unevenness, a quick jerking in the video. Seems to happen the most in the evening, and not on other stations. Like when the movement of the action is too fast for the replication of it. I'm not watching football, this is drama! Do you see this problem?

Bill

...

Problem One
With that preface, I ask you, my local users who actually would know. For quite a while now, KDKA has had a glitch, a stammer in its audio. It is quite evident in the evening dramas that I so often watch. I do not hear it while watching a live newscast. My theory is that the local engineers have caused the problem while they install all of the new HD equipment in preparation to joining the 21st century. Do you too hear this problem?

Problem Two
Just this past week on WTAE I have started seeing a video error that is very subtle. Those of you with LCD's will recognize my description immediately. It is an unevenness, a quick jerking in the video. Seems to happen the most in the evening, and not on other stations. Like when the movement of the action is too fast for the replication of it. I'm not watching football, this is drama! Do you see this problem?
Bill, can't say that I've noticed Problem One, but I don't really watch much on CBS regularly of late. However, YES, YES, YES, I have indeed noticed Problem Two. Or at least I think it's what you're describing. It's like a very subtle, very quick "jump" in the video, like some frames are skipped or something. I've seen it randomly, maybe 6 or 7 times in the past week or so, during LOST and other shows.

Also, I watched part of the Academy Awards last night, and there were several video glitches. Freezing/Blocking, with lost sound momentarily. A co-worker who only lives a few miles away says he didn't see it at all though, so I'm not sure if it was WTAE, Comcast, or just me. There were no problems on other channels.

Dont forget about nat geo. and/or history HD channels still freezing and blocking.

Problem Two
Just this past week on WTAE I have started seeing a video error that is very subtle. Those of you with LCD's will recognize my description immediately. It is an unevenness, a quick jerking in the video. Seems to happen the most in the evening, and not on other stations. Like when the movement of the action is too fast for the replication of it. I'm not watching football, this is drama! Do you see this problem?

Bill

FWIW I've noticed this with FIOS too. It's not very frequent or annoying to me but it does happen from time to time leading me to believe it might just be the WTAE feed and not Comcast. I've only really noticed it during Lost and only on ABC. It's noticeable on all of our new LCDs and our 6 year old RP.

Well, I guess I won't be in this topic much anymore. I ordered FIOS last night, they are coming to install Wednesday. I can't wait to be completely Comcast free...

Was it Comcast or was it FSN? Pens game blacked out for a half hour in the first period today. Both the SD channel (29) and HD (226).

Edit; OK it's back and FSN (Futile Sports Network) admitted it was them.

Wes Goldstein, chief engineer, should be fired at FSN. How many times this year have Pens games gone off the air?

Noticed these HD channels available in other Comcast markets.

What aren't any of these available here? Bandwidth issues? If so, then why doesn't Comcast get rid of their analogs? Are they too cheap to provide customers with STB's?

Anyway, the list:

Team HD

Game HD

Fuse HD

G4 HD

QVC HD

Hallmark Movie Channel HD

ESPN News HD

NHL Network HD

Nickelodeon HD

Cartoon Network HD

Toon Disney HD

CNBC HD

The Weather Channel HD

Fox Business News Channel HD

Spike HD

Travel Channel HD

Lifetime Movie Network HD

Lifetime HD

E! HD

Biography Channel HD

Planet Green HD

Style HD

TVOne HD

Bravo HD

WE HD

IFC HD

MGM HD

Encore HD

iND Events HD

And these are ONLY the channels that Comcast offers in other markets.

Wes Goldstein, chief engineer, should be fired at FSN. How many times this year have Pens games gone off the air?

I've been informed by a reliable source you are off base in your assumption. FSN was at fault, but not in any local capacity.

I've been informed by a reliable source you are off base in your assumption. FSN was at fault, but not in any local capacity.
So it has been echoed in my inbox...

To have been personally informed, someone must be really touchy about my overstatement.

My apologies.

So it has been echoed in my inbox...

To have been personally informed, someone must be really touchy about my overstatement.

My apologies.

Don't apologize about this Chuck.

This is a recurring problem. There HAS to be an explanation for this. It seems like it happens every game. Why?

Just because someone is overly "touchy" about this doesn't make it acceptable!!!

If Mr. Goldstein is the person responsible for sending you a personal message, then maybe Mr. Goldstein should take time to remedy the situation so it NEVER happens again---instead of taking time to personally respond to criticism.

Don't apologize about this Chuck.

This is a recurring problem. There HAS to be an explanation for this. It seems like it happens every game. Why?

Just because someone is overly "touchy" about this doesn't make it acceptable!!!

If Mr. Goldstein is the person responsible for sending you a personal message, then maybe Mr. Goldstein should take time to remedy the situation so it NEVER happens again---instead of taking time to personally respond to criticism.
Hard to be more off base.

First, FSN Pittsburgh signal does not go through Pittsburgh studios in any way. It's uplinked to Denver, then to provider (Comcast, D*, E*, etc.).

Second, Wes Goldstein hasn't worked for FSN in Pittsburgh in over a year.

Third, no one is particularly touchy, just tired of inaccurate comments and assumptions, like this one:

If Mr. Goldstein is the person responsible for sending you a personal message....

Really? I just saw an FSN advertisement featuring him!

Hard to be more off base.

First, FSN Pittsburgh signal does not go through Pittsburgh studios in any way. It's uplinked to Denver, then to provider (Comcast, D*, E*, etc.).

Second, Wes Goldstein hasn't worked for FSN in Pittsburgh in over a year.

Third, no one is particularly touchy, just tired of inaccurate comments and assumptions, like this one:

You seem to be very knowledgeable "Ken H" about the technical aspects of FSN Pittsburgh.

Given that, who in Denver is responsible for the "sleeping at the switch" practically during every FSN Pitt HD broadcast?

How about some names and numbers?

You seem to be very knowledgeable "Ken H" about the technical aspects of FSN Pittsburgh.Yes, I have sources at many levels and places in the TV industry.

Given that, who in Denver is responsible for the "sleeping at the switch" practically during every FSN Pitt HD broadcast?

How about some names and numbers?Why? They will be contacted. It serves no purpose to expose them to the type of comments found here.

Yes, I have sources at many levels and places in the TV industry.

Why? They will be contacted. It serves no purpose to expose them to the type of comments found here.

What do you mean? Asking them to do their jobs? Asking them to be good at what they get paid to do? C'mon, Ken. These guys need their feet held to the fire. This forum does just that.

Someone has reported that comcast has upgraded to DOCSIS 3 in the pittsburgh
(Shadyside) area.

http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200901/msg00073.html

http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200901/msg00077.html

Here in the north hills, ch. 890, has not had any call letters and indicated "available in one moment" for some time now, but, now we have a ch. 952-Cam1. The program guide indicates that the "security camera" program is on now, but it indicates "available in one moment". WTF, Future home security monitoring ?

Also, why is WQED duplicated on ch. 97 ?

Here in the north hills, ch. 890, has not had any call letters and indicated "available in one moment" for some time now, but, now we have a ch. 952-Cam1. The program guide indicates that the "security camera" program is on now, but it indicates "available in one moment". WTF, Future home security monitoring ?

Also, why is WQED duplicated on ch. 97 ?

It's an analog simulcast of WQED channel 13 (PBS) for specially designed receivers/vcr's/dvd recorders, etc. that use the local PBS channel for synching their internal clocks and tv guide data, when available.