How does the PPV / VOD stuff work via QAM? The other night I was clearly seeing some VOD programming that someone else had "purchased." How far does the circle go in terms of which neighbor was watching? And tonight I did a test by authorizing a VOD program on the DVR upstairs. I wasn't able to find that program on any of the QAM channels that had been carrying the VOD stuff the night before.

In order for your test to work, you would have to order a VOD program, have it playing, then go to your QAM TV and do a complete QAM re-scan of all channels. Then you would probably see it.

Let's say the cable company designates QAM channels 101 through 105 for VOD, and each of those has 12 subchannels. Your VOD program could be assigned to any of 60 subchannels (5 x 12 = 60)

Sure wish the Cavs/Fox SportsNet Ohio would step up like the Indians and show most of their games in HD. It is terrible watching them in sd - almost not even worth watching it. They seem like the a progressive franchise, so you think they would be a leader in offering HD games.

Sure wish the Cavs/Fox SportsNet Ohio would step up like the Indians and show most of their games in HD. It is terrible watching them in sd - almost not even worth watching it. They seem like the a progressive franchise, so you think they would be a leader in offering HD games.

Yeah, I remember when Dan Gilbert bought the team there was some talk of the Cavs going all HD, but that never happened. Fox Sports Net is supposed to be near completion on a new network center in Houston that can handle all the HD feeds to/from all the FSN regions. We shall see.

Sure wish the Cavs/Fox SportsNet Ohio would step up like the Indians and show most of their games in HD. It is terrible watching them in sd - almost not even worth watching it. They seem like the a progressive franchise, so you think they would be a leader in offering HD games.

I have to be honest here and I know this will probably get some of you guys p.o.'d because I know how dedicated you are to your Cleveland teams. Before I say this I will say you guys are very dedicated fans, better then the ones I've seen when I lived in L.A.

But as you are aware the Lakers have had some pretty good dynasties over the past 30 years. Now they are not at that level at this time but they are a true "big city" team. "Big city" teams get better programming then a city like Cleveland.

Take a look here (http://www.nba.com/lakers/schedule/index.html). Notice that most of the the televised games arn't even on cable, they are on the local channel 9 station KCAL. Also notice that all these games are televised in HD.

I said a few years ago that LeBron would not stay that long in Cleveland. I don't know if he will go to the Knicks just because they are in New York but he certainly can make a heck of a lot more money in New York or L.A. And if the Lakers ever decide they want him and he's available, he will leave. There is no way that the Cavs can pay him what the Lakers can. If he leaves you will be stuck with a really sub par team. LeBron is really the team. You put him on a team with a couple of other Superstars and he will really take off.

And at that point do you really think you will get more Cavalier games in HD? I don't.

OK commence the rock throwing now but hey, I'm not the one wearing a Yankee hat and selling shoes in NY.:)

And at that point do you really think you will get more Cavalier games in HD? I don't.

It sounds more like an FSN deal than anything, as far as HD upgrades. This isn't like CBS and the AFC, where the Browns haven't gotten much HD until they played better...

It sounds more like an FSN deal than anything, as far as HD upgrades. This isn't like CBS and the AFC, where the Browns haven't gotten much HD until they played better...

I think you missed my point, my good friend. The point is that in the big city they don't really deal that much with Fox Sports. Local channels cover them and they provide the HD.

The Browns don't play every other day so they are restricted to Network wishes. Still you may be right. FSN may show more HD games but I'll bet it won't compare to that schedule I gave in my previous post.

Several months ago, I posted that my HR20 would not receive OTA 3-1 (digital channel 2). A couple others confirmed that they had the same issue. I advised D* technical of the problem. Luckily, I did have D*'s MPEG4 local for channel 3; but still like the option of OTA in case we're having rain fade issues.

Received updated firmware for the HR20 Thursday night. Checked today and I can now get 3-1.

When I lived in N. Kentucky, Cincinnati area and I had D* rain fade was rarely an issue and I'll bet we got a heck of a lot more rain then what we get here. At least it seemed that way to me.

Point is I never can recall in my 7 years with D* ever having a recording that had a rain fade issue. I saw it live from time to time but that was only briefly, like when a spring storm was really getting ready or was hitting hard.

IMHO rain fade is a highly over rated problem that cable companies like to use. If anyone is thinking about a dish vs cable and that's an issue, don't let it be.

YMMV:)

When I lived in N. Kentucky, Cincinnati area and I had D* rain fade was rarely an issue and I'll bet we got a heck of a lot more rain then what we get here. At least it seemed that way to me.

Point is I never can recall in my 7 years with D* ever having a recording that had a rain fade issue. I saw it live from time to time but that was only briefly, like when a spring storm was really getting ready or was hitting hard.

IMHO rain fade is a highly over rated problem that cable companies like to use. If anyone is thinking about a dish vs cable and that's an issue, don't let it be.

YMMV:)

I causes me problems maybe 3-4 times per year for maybe an average of 15 minutes each time. However, I've read that the MPEG4 channels (almost all of the HD channels-definitely the HD locals) are a little more prone to the problems than the older MPEG2 channels.

However, like hookbill, I don't consider it a significant issue in the decision of cable vs satellite.

In fact, I'm happier each month with D*. The firmware upgrades to the HR20 have been significant. We now have video on demand (via internet) and external scheduling via your wireless phone if you are away from home. They just implemented a choice for 30 second skip (it's always had just the 30 second slip option). Plus, I have a 750 gig e-sata drive attached that gives lots of "cheap" memory. It's networked with my PC and I can download pictures, music, etc. The HR20 started out as weak; but has turned into an excellent DVR. Not to mention, the new MPEG4 HD stations (somewhere between 80-100) look as good as my OTA stations.

A year ago, I was analyzing my options for leaving D*. I'm now happy that I stayed.

I think you missed my point, my good friend. The point is that in the big city they don't really deal that much with Fox Sports. Local channels cover them and they provide the HD.

Yeah, I guess I was derailed by this line, after you talked about LeBron and his presumed exit from the Cavaliers down the road...


And at that point do you really think you will get more Cavalier games in HD? I don't.


The problem is indeed not how the team fares with or without LeBron, or how good the Lakers are, it's that the Cavaliers have an exclusive FSN contract - and the five games or so that show up OTA (WUAB/43) aren't in HD, and probably won't be.

I'm wondering if the KCAL over-air contract was a driving force in pushing FSN to do all its games in HD.

My prediction, though, is that FSN will do all games in HD nationwide in the next 2-3 years or so, after they complete that upgrade and HD production trucks become more common.

A year ago, I was analyzing my options for leaving D*. I'm now happy that I stayed.

As much as I love TiVo S3 if I could have got D* I would have. I loved D* and at that time I had to get it from Pegasus. I think the pq of just a 480i show is much better on D* then any digital show on cable, excluding HD of course.

One thing I will say though is since I got the S3 the pq of the analog channels is amazingly better. As a matter of fact I think it probably is as good as the digital channels, maybe better.

As much as I love TiVo S3 if I could have got D* I would have. I loved D* and at that time I had to get it from Pegasus. I think the pq of just a 480i show is much better on D* then any digital show on cable, excluding HD of course.

One thing I will say though is since I got the S3 the pq of the analog channels is amazingly better. As a matter of fact I think it probably is as good as the digital channels, maybe better.

I recently found my answer for the 480i channels (we watch quite a bit of Fox News and my wife watches SD programs on HGTV and Food Channel that aren't yet on their HD channel). I bought an Integra 9.8 AVP for processing HDMI audio containing the new lossless codecs found on Blu Ray and HD DVD. It has a Reon video processing chip which improves the D* SD channels to almost DVD quality.

Thanks WEWS for not showing the ABC movie Pretty Woman in HD tonight. Thanks for putting this "Evening of Stars" garbage on instead. Think I'll be watching WEWS tonight? All signs point to NO!

This is why I hate WEWS. No other station interrupts network programming as much as they do. Now if it was a reality show or a re-run, maybe I'd understand. But preempt a movie of the week in HD is unforgivable. At least WOIO's paid programming was in place of repeats.

Thanks WEWS for not showing the ABC movie Pretty Woman in HD tonight. Thanks for putting this "Evening of Stars" garbage on instead. Think I'll be watching WEWS tonight? All signs point to NO!

This is why I hate WEWS. No other station interrupts network programming as much as they do. Now if it was a reality show or a re-run, maybe I'd understand. But preempt a movie of the week in HD is unforgivable. At least WOIO's paid programming was in place of repeats.

See, this is something I don't understand. If you are a network affiliate arn't you suppose to show network shows? Isn't advertising dollars attatched?

I kind of wondered about the same thing with WKYC. Not that I would complain about it because I would much rather watch baseball then somebody skating around on ice or beach volleyball but how do these network stations get around this?

Maybe they are only required to show so many hours of network programming. I know that in some areas if they feel a show is too controversial for the area they may not show it.

This is a good question for TV Chief. He probably would have the answer.

I kind of wondered about the same thing with WKYC. Not that I would complain about it because I would much rather watch baseball then somebody skating around on ice or beach volleyball but how do these network stations get around this?


I hope to see more Indians on NBC this season. With a lack of new programming and an abundance of reality crap, I don't think there will be any objections.

The only time I was angry at WKYC was when they preempted or joined-in-progress Action Sports in the summer. They would always preempt either Saturday or Sunday so I'd miss part of it. Then I was annoyed to see some mountain biking/climbing crap shown in entirety the next week. It was called something like "World of Adventure Sports?".

It's hard to believe brcause the Action Sports tour was in Cleveland and they even did a big report about it.

Maybe they are only required to show so many hours of network programming. I know that in some areas if they feel a show is too controversial for the area they may not show it.

There are rules by network that say how many hours of network programming can be preempted. Some take advantage of it more than others. WJW rarely preempts programming while WEWS does it all the time. I think they also get a "pass" if the show is a rerun. WEWS has interrupted ABC reruns and remember WOIO's Paid Programming in primetime:eek:.

Controversial programming is also an issue. WEWS made the news a few years back when they refused to show an ABC movie because of language. It was a war movie and several other stations didn't show it out of fear of fines. Also, the episodes of Nightline when they were reading all the names of soldiers killed in Iraq were preempted by stations owned by a conservative owner.

Where is the TVChef?

I
There are rules by network that say how many hours of network programming can be preempted. Some take advantage of it more than others. WJW rarely preempts programming while WEWS does it all the time. I think they also get a "pass" if the show is a rerun. WEWS has interrupted ABC reruns and remember WOIO's Paid Programming in primetime:eek:.



Since WJW was a FOX owned station of course you would see less preempts. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future. I have a feeling however that you won't see a great deal of change. I think FOX made sure these new owners are going to play ball their way.

Rupert Murdock may be an *ss but he isn't stupid.

i live in the akron area and just recently purchased a hdtv and then added a hd dvr from twc. well the problem is that my abc fox and cw dont come in but the hd abc and the hd fox do come in but abchd sometimes go in and out. its crazy cause all the other channels come in but not the basic ones. anyone have any ideas.

i live in the akron area and just recently purchased a hdtv and then added a hd dvr from twc. well the problem is that my abc fox and cw dont come in but the hd abc and the hd fox do come in but abchd sometimes go in and out. its crazy cause all the other channels come in but not the basic ones. anyone have any ideas.

No offense dand243 but I don't think I've ever read a post more confusing. But let's start with some basics.

First, TW does not offer the CW in HD. So that's the end of that one. Next you say and I quote you from above "well the problem is that my abc fox and cw dont come in but the hd abc and the hd fox do come in but abchd sometimes go in and out." This statement makes no sense. First you say FOX and ABC don't come in, then you say they do come in sometimes but go in and out?

Here's what I think you mean: Sometimes FOX and ABC are in HD and other times they are not. That's true about all network shows. Not every network show is broadcast in HD.

Now if this isn't what you meant then the other answer is that you have a cable company DVR and they are basically a pos. See my signature below.

Now if I didn't pick up on what you put down, and believe me what you put down was difficult to understand, then try it again and take a look at what you wrote before hitting the "submit reply" button.

i live in the akron area and just recently purchased a hdtv and then added a hd dvr from twc. well the problem is that my abc fox and cw dont come in but the hd abc and the hd fox do come in but abchd sometimes go in and out. its crazy cause all the other channels come in but not the basic ones. anyone have any ideas.

As much as I love my 8300HD w/Passport. I second what Hook said. If you recently got a HD DVR (8300HDC), it is a POS. That may explain why your HD channels go out. The 8300HDC has had MANY problems for users.

However, if you are talking about HD "going out" because everything is not HD/widescreen, nothing can be done about that. Not all network programming is HD and Time Warner has a VERY pathetic HD line up.

The black or grey area you see to the left and right of your screen are NORMAL. It's unused space because the 4:3 picture is displayed on a 16:9 screen.

sorry about the confusion here is what i was trying to say. my regular cw, fox, and abc dont come in at all. all i get is a black screen. if i switch over to the hd channel of fox and abc it comes in but not watchable. i basically want to know why the standard fox abc and cw dont come in at all? and i have the 8240hdc

Yeah, I remember when Dan Gilbert bought the team there was some talk of the Cavs going all HD, but that never happened. Fox Sports Net is supposed to be near completion on a new network center in Houston that can handle all the HD feeds to/from all the FSN regions. We shall see.

If I'm not mistaken FSN Ohio/FSN Ohio HD still come out of the Rainbow Media "Rainbow Network Communications" Center in New York. This was even after the Cablevision sale they were still doing master control in New York. Now I haven't done an FSN Ohio game in a long time, so I may not be completely accurate, but New York only had one HD path, so they were limited even more than FSN's Houston master control center. http://www.rainbow-media.com/tech/index.html

Regardless there needs to be a push for more HD Cavs, they owe it to fans, viewers, advertisers and the town. Much like the Indians (and Dolan taking the initiative), the only person Fox will listen to is Dan Gilbert. In any sports franchise from Cuban's Mavericks, to Steinbrenner's YES Networ, STO and NESN the push for all-HD has all come from the owner themselves.

Make sure that your tv is configured in it's menue to receive cable and not an over-the-air signal.

sorry about the confusion here is what i was trying to say. my regular cw, fox, and abc dont come in at all. all i get is a black screen. if i switch over to the hd channel of fox and abc it comes in but not watchable. i basically want to know why the standard fox abc and cw dont come in at all? and i have the 8240hdc

I don't get it. Didn't they check this befoe they left after install, or did you just pick up the box yourself?

If you can't figure it out call TW and they will do a truck roll and fix it for you. Sounds to me like you got some signal problems, perhaps you need an amp. They will provide that free of charge. Have them check all your connections on all sets and splitters to make sure your receiving the proper signal.

It could also be that you don't have your DVR configured correctly. I don't remember how to do that anymore, I haven't used the cable company DVR in over a year now.

8240HDC? Isn't that a new cable box that uses cable cards in its "guts"? That might well be the entire problem right there.

I'm guessing he'll have to call TWC on this, and make sure those cards are provisioned correctly inside the box.

8240HDC? Isn't that a new cable box that uses cable cards in its "guts"? That might well be the entire problem right there.

I'm guessing he'll have to call TWC on this, and make sure those cards are provisioned correctly inside the box.

8240HDC is a new, OCAP box, probably running Navigator. If you do have a service person come out, see if you can get a non-"C" box. The new OCAP boxes are trouble.

8240HDC is a new, OCAP box, probably running Navigator. If you do have a service person come out, see if you can get a non-"C" box. The new OCAP boxes are trouble.

Nickdawg, that's not going to happen. You can't "request" a no cable card box since the law says that all new boxes have to have cable cards.

Now when the law first went into affect they still continued to distribute those boxes, but only until inventory ran out. Now as those boxes are returned the new boxes go out. The purpose of this law is to make a fair playing field for other manufacturers of DVR's. Like TiVo.

As Inundated pointed out the type of problem that dand243 is having could simply be that his cable cards arn't "married" properly. That is if he is even using two cable cards. That model he has may only need one card which is the "M" card. It does the work of two S cards. But not on the TiVo S3. Only on the TiVo HD. And of course the Navigator box.

I suppose we can speculate this forever but the bottom line is he needs a truck roll and no, he will not be able to get the old type of SA 8300 boxes.

I suggest of course that he look into getting the TiVo HD. It's interface will blow away any SA box and they are much more reliable then the current SA box.

I must commend WOIO and CBS for their part in covering the Buick Invitational Golf Tournament over the weekend. I got the chance to watch a bit on Sunday and was blown away by the picture quality. CBS has always done a great job with golf and yesterday was no exception. (Watching HD through D*)

Oh yeah, congrats to Tiger Woods in tying Arnold Palmer with his 62nd professional tournament win!

I'm getting a good deal of sound drop offs tonight on Fox8 news via TW. OTA, D* people.....anybody watching can you report?

Don't know how much help this is, Hook, but I was watching the SD feed through Armstrong for most of the 6-7 hour. No dropouts for me.

Don't know how much help this is, Hook, but I was watching the SD feed through Armstrong for most of the 6-7 hour. No dropouts for me.

Thanks, I was watching the HD feed. I've noticed since it went off the sound has been fine.

thanks for all the advice everybody. i went ahead and made the call, but no surprise they cant come out untill next week. so in the meantime i tried some things and disconnected all my connections and reconnected them and some how all my channels came in perfectly but that only lasted for one day, so i dont know what that means. and also i was wondering since the cable company boxes arent that good where could i get a better one, and how would that work with my cable already. i dont understand how that works. thanks for all the help...

Nickdawg, that's not going to happen. You can't "request" a no cable card box since the law says that all new boxes have to have cable cards.

Now when the law first went into affect they still continued to distribute those boxes, but only until inventory ran out. Now as those boxes are returned the new boxes go out. The purpose of this law is to make a fair playing field for other manufacturers of DVR's. Like TiVo.


This topic came up over on the Navigator forum as well. Technically the cableco can still issue non-OCAP boxes, as long as they were originally manufactured and issued before 7/1/07. They are not allowed to issue any new non-OCAP boxes.

I bring this up because I was lucky enough to get a non-C box after 7/1/07. It really depends on what is in stock at your local TW. I also got a used, dud 8000HD back in AUGUST.

I really wish you luck with your cable, especially with OCAP. OCAP has to be the worst government ruling to hit cable TV ever. Thanks FCC, now we're stuck with defective boxes. The HDC line have had problems across the board on all software applications(SARA, Navigator). Honestly, I think they should have left the cable boxes alone. it's absurd to require cable companies to use M-cards in their boxes.

I really wish you luck with your cable, especially with OCAP. OCAP has to be the worst government ruling to hit cable TV ever. Thanks FCC, now we're stuck with defective boxes. The HDC line have had problems across the board on all software applications(SARA, Navigator). Honestly, I think they should have left the cable boxes alone. it's absurd to require cable companies to use M-cards in their boxes.

nickdawg, you know I have to take issue with this. First, as you yourself have acknowledge SARA was terrible software. And as everyone on this board is aware my SA8300 was notoriously unreliable, I had at least 3 partial recordings each week. I went through 3 different boxes, all with the same results. I had techs come out and scratch their heads. I don't think most of them believed me.

But it wasn't just me. Many others in the area had the same experience and as usual I will acknowledge for whatever reason some did not have this experience. Inundated never had a problem like this though he admits as well that the SA 8300 is a piece of crap compared to a TiVo. He also never got an SA 8300, he stayed with the SA 8000. Oh, I had one of those as well but since they decided not to activate their DVI because of the SA 8300 I went with the latter. I probably should have stayed with the SA 8000.

I know you think passport was fine and I don't know how you got your data but in our area we could not even program the SA 8300 to record "first run, no repeats." Now it was capable of that but the company that provides the data in our area did not provide that info.

Now you want to blame the FCC? I think you should either look at Ciscoe or TW. They knew this was coming up for a couple of years and this problem with their OCAP boxes is nobodys fault but theirs. If they hired some decent engineers to design a good DVR maybe they wouldn't be having these problems.

One other question, nickdawg. Just how long do you think they are going to let you keep that current DVR before they do a switch out?

I can read your mind, "when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.":D

I just can't see TW having 3 different platforms out there and you know as well as I do that it ain't passport that's going to be kept in the end.

The good news however is that, like SDV is probably a long way off for our area.

Other companies should be able to present DVR's to compete with the cable company. That's only fair. Also there is the Media Center computers as well. They need cable cards too.

So if you want to be angry with someone point your anger at TW or Ciscoe systems. They are the one's who implemented that pos.

thanks for all the advice everybody. i went ahead and made the call, but no surprise they cant come out untill next week. so in the meantime i tried some things and disconnected all my connections and reconnected them and some how all my channels came in perfectly but that only lasted for one day, so i dont know what that means. and also i was wondering since the cable company boxes arent that good where could i get a better one, and how would that work with my cable already. i dont understand how that works. thanks for all the help...

Like hook said, you probably have a low signal level coming into the house. These 40 degree thawing conditions can cause problems with condensation in the "taps" at the pole. At least that's the way the Wide Open West cable tech explained it to me when he came out last year to look at my setup. It was spring time, very wet outside, everything thawing out. At the time I was getting some of the HD/digital channels but not all of them, and it would change day to day depending on the weather.

It's been a while since I've seen this discussed on here. Does anyone know of a good (*cough* cheap *cough*) ISF tech in the Cleveland area? I'm sure I can search around for a list or two, but referrals make the world go 'round.

On a related note, anybody have any experience with Geek Squad or Firedog doing calibration on a plasma set? Do these guys get any special training or equipment, or do they just show up and turn down the brightness / contrast?

It's been a while since I've seen this discussed on here. Does anyone know of a good (*cough* cheap *cough*) ISF tech in the Cleveland area? I'm sure I can search around for a list or two, but referrals make the world go 'round.

On a related note, anybody have any experience with Geek Squad or Firedog doing calibration on a plasma set? Do these guys get any special training or equipment, or do they just show up and turn down the brightness / contrast?


I personally wouldn't let Geek Squad or Firedog touch my display.

Following guy was great on my SXRD around 2 years ago. He isn't necessarily cheap, as I remember around $400; but pretty much standard for the good ISF guys. He has been pretty active on AVS and travels around the country. He's based near Dayton; but travels frequently to the Cleveland area.

http://www.hdtvbychadb.com/

It's been a while since I've seen this discussed on here. Does anyone know of a good (*cough* cheap *cough*) ISF tech in the Cleveland area? I'm sure I can search around for a list or two, but referrals make the world go 'round.

On a related note, anybody have any experience with Geek Squad or Firedog doing calibration on a plasma set? Do these guys get any special training or equipment, or do they just show up and turn down the brightness / contrast?

www.ClevelandPlasma.com

Chris is the owner, great guy, does custom installs, more than just plasmas. I hired him to wall mount the NEC plasma I purchased from him and he wound up wall mounting my second plasma, a Panny (not purchased from him) cuz he's just a nice guy.

I'm not certain he does calibration (though I'd bet he does), but I can assure you he would know the better ISF people in NEO.

Seriously, what's the problem here? Everyday I read about another cable system somewhere getting more HD channels. Every time I go to my parents house in Lakewood I get irked that have more channels than I do, albeit only a few more. I've been looking into getting D*, but I'm slowly coming to grips with the fact that the tall trees behind my house are causing line of sight issues. I'm just pissed off at TWC. Raising my rates an I don't get anything added for it. And to top it all off, I can't even look at ATT because we've got lame Windstream.

The bottom line is that I'd ditch TWC in a HEARTBEAT if I could. Their service is horribly overpriced, their product is terrible, and they couldn't care less about my issues. It's too bad the cable co's were allowed a legal monoply in the first place. I guess I'll have to wait for a wireless world to have the benefit of choice.

Either that or cut down my trees. :(

Seriously, what's the problem here? Everyday I read about another cable system somewhere getting more HD channels. Every time I go to my parents house in Lakewood I get irked that have more channels than I do, albeit only a few more. I've been looking into getting D*, but I'm slowly coming to grips with the fact that the tall trees behind my house are causing line of sight issues. I'm just pissed off at TWC. Raising my rates an I don't get anything added for it. And to top it all off, I can't even look at ATT because we've got lame Windstream.

The bottom line is that I'd ditch TWC in a HEARTBEAT if I could. Their service is horribly overpriced, their product is terrible, and they couldn't care less about my issues. It's too bad the cable co's were allowed a legal monoply in the first place. I guess I'll have to wait for a wireless world to have the benefit of choice.

Either that or cut down my trees. :(

To understand the whole nature of the TW HD issue would require you to go back to page 1 and read everything written on this thread.

But being as that is something most of us has not done you shouldn't be expected to either. So let me sum it up.

First, Adelphia took over a bunch of small cable companies and never really made them 1 large cable company. That's why there are different line ups everywhere. That is also why you get better service in some areas then you do in others.

Time Warner and Comcast made the deal to purchase Adelphia. Time Warner also had to now deal with former Comcast customers, who had a different line up and used different equipment as well.

The answer to more HD is simple. SDV, or Switched Digital Video. TW is doing it all across the country and in theory should make it every bit as competitive as any satellites service.

However here in N.E. Ohio we have the issues stated above. You've got a bunch of small companies who even though they were once Adelphia, had their own way of doing things and their own attitudes. Some were very good. Others were not so good. Then you have all these different cable line ups. There should be one line up for all of TW NEO. That was suppose to be accomplished by last June, 2007.

And last there is the equipment. As it stands now there is a Moto DVR for the comcast people, the SA 8300 for Adelphia and TW people. The SA 8300 for Adelphia and old TW people run on two different softwares. SARA and Passport. Then there is the FCC saying that all new DVR's have to have cable cards, and from what we know about those the agreement seems that they are designed piece of garbage.

Now because of all the reasons stated above, TW cannot offer much more HD then they already have. Oh, they can probably add a couple of channels but they really need to fix many of these issues before SDV can be implemented.

Now in other areas of the country like in Los Angeles and such where these same type of acquisitions have occurred TW has indeed made progress. But you see, this is Cleveland. And they have bigger fish to fry.

So if you're really unhappy, by all means switch. I would recommend D*. But keep in mind that even though D* offers all those HD channels they really don't have all that much HD programming on them. Is it better then TW? Oh, hell yes.

Unfortunately I am stuck with TW. I don't see U-Verse coming out here as this is a Windstream area, although you would think that law they passed should make it possible. But even if they did I wouldn't get U-Verse until they can figure out how to send more then one HD channel at a time.

Oh, I have the tree problem too that's why I'm stuck with TW. But at least I have the TiVo S3.

So that's your run down. Plain and simple. So pick one, and be happy.
Or move to another city.:)

Seriously, what's the problem here? Everyday I read about another cable system somewhere getting more HD channels. Every time I go to my parents house in Lakewood I get irked that have more channels than I do, albeit only a few more. I've been looking into getting D*, but I'm slowly coming to grips with the fact that the tall trees behind my house are causing line of sight issues. I'm just pissed off at TWC. Raising my rates an I don't get anything added for it. And to top it all off, I can't even look at ATT because we've got lame Windstream.

The bottom line is that I'd ditch TWC in a HEARTBEAT if I could. Their service is horribly overpriced, their product is terrible, and they couldn't care less about my issues. It's too bad the cable co's were allowed a legal monoply in the first place. I guess I'll have to wait for a wireless world to have the benefit of choice.

Either that or cut down my trees. :(

I don't think much will happen until more people start speaking out with their wallet. I finally said enough was enough and went to lifeline basic, because $40-$50 a month for channels of which over 95% of them I don't watch was not worth it anymore. I'd rather rent the shows on DVD a few months later that I am missing or download them off the internet. This is not to mention the horrible service I've gotten from Time Warner since they took over too. I've had at least 5 trips from the cable guy trying to figure out how to install a cable card and try to figure out why my internet connection would go in and out.

I just ordered a VuDu that has TV shows and movies to rent/purchase and I already have ReplayTV which allows me to download shows from cable channels I don't get off the internet for free. I haven't missed those channels I gave up since I canceled them 5 months ago and the few hundred dollars I saved is well worth it.

I don't think much will happen until more people start speaking out with their wallet.


You would think that would be a driving factor, but as I pointed out in my reply this is NE Ohio and TW has more important things to do. They will take care of it but don't hold your breath.

Seriously, what's the problem here? Everyday I read about another cable system somewhere getting more HD channels. Every time I go to my parents house in Lakewood I get irked that have more channels than I do, albeit only a few more. I've been looking into getting D*, but I'm slowly coming to grips with the fact that the tall trees behind my house are causing line of sight issues. I'm just pissed off at TWC. Raising my rates an I don't get anything added for it. And to top it all off, I can't even look at ATT because we've got lame Windstream.

The bottom line is that I'd ditch TWC in a HEARTBEAT if I could. Their service is horribly overpriced, their product is terrible, and they couldn't care less about my issues. It's too bad the cable co's were allowed a legal monoply in the first place. I guess I'll have to wait for a wireless world to have the benefit of choice.

Either that or cut down my trees. :(
I live near Lakewood Park and Over-The-Air signal has always been bad! At least below channel 25. Between the Gold Coast high rises and the tall Detroit Ave. building causing ghosts and the ridges & hills. We got cable decades ago just to watch the locals.

I'm with you nosey. It's getting ridiculous now. I know cable companies are usually hated in general but TW is rock bottom.
The Cleveland-Akron-Canton market is in the 17th largest market in the country!
TW can do better, much better...

I'm on old adelphia east via TW QAM. I've been noticing quite a bit of macroblocking on WKYC the last few days. (First noticed with the state of the union and still last night through the Law and Orders.) Anybody else? I wanna see if its a TW thing or a tuner thing.

WKYC reception issues (weather it be from cable or OTA) are due to their low frequency (rf ch 2). Once WDLI-TV signs off rf ch 17 WKYC-DT will be rid of the curse of low band VHF.

FOX8 on my Wide Open West in North Royalton has been gone for a couple days. Anyone know what's going on?

Robert

Seriously, what's the problem here? Everyday I read about another cable system somewhere getting more HD channels. Every time I go to my parents house in Lakewood I get irked that have more channels than I do, albeit only a few more. I've been looking into getting D*, but I'm slowly coming to grips with the fact that the tall trees behind my house are causing line of sight issues. I'm just pissed off at TWC. Raising my rates an I don't get anything added for it. And to top it all off, I can't even look at ATT because we've got lame Windstream.

The bottom line is that I'd ditch TWC in a HEARTBEAT if I could. Their service is horribly overpriced, their product is terrible, and they couldn't care less about my issues. It's too bad the cable co's were allowed a legal monoply in the first place. I guess I'll have to wait for a wireless world to have the benefit of choice.

Either that or cut down my trees. :(One of the reasons cable in Lakewood has a better HD line-up may be due to the fact that they have COX instead of TW.

BTW: You still have "Lakewood" as your location. Did you just move out of your parents house? If you have Windstream you are nowhere near Lakewood. Let me guess, North Ridgeville?

Hookbill, thanks for the rundown. It makes sense now. Michael, thanks for the heads up on my location. I guess I never realized to change it. I actually live in Sagamore Hills with my wife. Thanks for thinking I was younger though! :) I do still see my parents often however, and I do watch their Cox and am jealous of the Foodnetwork HD. I have seen the posts on SDV on this forum. Would LOVE to have that tech here, but alas we live too far out in the "sticks" fir it to be a reality soon.

FOX8 on my Wide Open West in North Royalton has been gone for a couple days. Anyone know what's going on?

Robert
Are you talking about QAM? Looks like they're moving channels around again. Try rescanning. WJW is now at 88-202, and WOIO is now at 82-201, both of which were previously occupied by analog premium channels.

See this link for more info:
http://www1.wowway.com/cable/cable.aspx?ConIdent=2009&RCView=Nothing

Are you talking about QAM? Looks like they're moving channels around again. Try rescanning. WJW is now at 88-202, and WOIO is now at 82-201, both of which were previously occupied by analog premium channels.

See this link for more info:
http://www1.wowway.com/cable/cable.aspx?ConIdent=2009&RCView=Nothing

Ah. Thanks!

Robert

looks like 4 new HD channels will be added here soon (march 4th)

http://www.timewarnercable.com/NortheastOhio/programming/Legal_notices2.html

A&EHD, History HD, Food HD, and HGTVHD, seems like with these changes they are very close to maybe getting alll cable systems on the same path, looks that way, lets hope we start to see some changes huh?

Here's a heartwarming story for you TWC lovers out there ... :D

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=7803899

Tornado victim billed $2,000 for damaged cable equipment

Associated Press - January 31, 2008 3:25 PM ET

WHEATLAND, Wis. (AP) - Ann Beam was upset when a tornado demolished her Wheatland home. But when she got her cable bill a few weeks later, she was floored.

The Time Warner Cable bill was $2,000 including charges for five cable boxes and five remote controls destroyed by the January 7th twister.

Beam says she called the cable company but was told to give the bill to her insurance company. She says the equipment was nine years and her insurance company would only pay a depreciated amount that wouldn't cover the bill.

Time Warner Cable spokeswoman Celeste Flynn says many customers got charged for unreturned equipment because they canceled or transferred their service without mentioning the tornado. She says that if they call the company the charges will be taken off their accounts.

looks like 4 new HD channels will be added here soon (march 4th)

http://www.timewarnercable.com/NortheastOhio/programming/Legal_notices2.html

A&EHD, History HD, Food HD, and HGTVHD, seems like with these changes they are very close to maybe getting alll cable systems on the same path, looks that way, lets hope we start to see some changes huh?

Good news, and new (better) channels will be added to the expanded basic lineup with the removal of some (crappy) old channels to the digital basic.

TW is getting warmer, but still not hot in my opinion...

looks like 4 new HD channels will be added here soon (march 4th)

http://www.timewarnercable.com/NortheastOhio/programming/Legal_notices2.html

A&EHD, History HD, Food HD, and HGTVHD, seems like with these changes they are very close to maybe getting alll cable systems on the same path, looks that way, lets hope we start to see some changes huh?


OK....I'm kind of tired and maybe I'm not quite getting it but here's what's important to me:

The following changes will also take place at that time in the former Adelphia service areas:
The following channels will be added to Digital Basic –CNN International, Inspiration Network, Reelz Channel, and ShopNBC; added to the new Digital Choice Tier – Boomerang, Ovation, and PBS Sprout; added to the Spanish Language Tier – Boomerang en Espanol, Canal Sur, Galavision, La Familia, Mun2, and MTV en Espanol; added as new foreign language premium services – DW TV, and Zee TV; added to FREE HD – A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD and History HD; move from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic – Hallmark, Turner Classic Movies, TV One, MTV2 and VH-1 Classic; added to premium channel multiplexes – @MAX, 5StarMAX, OuterMAX, WMAX, Showtime Family, Showtime Next, and Showtime Women; move from Digital Plus to Digital Basic – BET on Jazz, Biography, CNBC World, and History Channel International; move from Expanded Basic to the Digital Tier – Country Music Television, and Village TV; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Choice Tier – DIY, Family Land, and Nick Too; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Sports Tier – Fox Sports en Espanol; move to position 76 on Expanded Basic – SportsTime Ohio; will be dropped from the line-up – AZN, Canal 52 MX, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH-1 Country, VH-1 Soul, and the West Coast feeds of Showtime, TMC, FLIX, and Encore Themes.

As we have discussed History HD doesn't have that much HD, how can it? (Remember that nice little discussion I had with that TW Exec?) A&E IMHO may be a bit of a plus. I know you Food channel people are happy.

I want FX, USA, and SCI FI. I don't see any of those.:(

Also, what is up with the bolded part. SportsTime Ohio will be dropped? I assume that means that they will only keep the analog channel, though why they would do that is a mystery to me. You save bandwith by removing analog. And no, I don't have any sympathy for those people who only get basic analog cable.

OK....I'm kind of tired and maybe I'm not quite getting it but here's what's important to me:

The following changes will also take place at that time in the former Adelphia service areas:
The following channels will be added to Digital Basic –CNN International, Inspiration Network, Reelz Channel, and ShopNBC; added to the new Digital Choice Tier – Boomerang, Ovation, and PBS Sprout; added to the Spanish Language Tier – Boomerang en Espanol, Canal Sur, Galavision, La Familia, Mun2, and MTV en Espanol; added as new foreign language premium services – DW TV, and Zee TV; added to FREE HD – A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD and History HD; move from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic – Hallmark, Turner Classic Movies, TV One, MTV2 and VH-1 Classic; added to premium channel multiplexes – @MAX, 5StarMAX, OuterMAX, WMAX, Showtime Family, Showtime Next, and Showtime Women; move from Digital Plus to Digital Basic – BET on Jazz, Biography, CNBC World, and History Channel International; move from Expanded Basic to the Digital Tier – Country Music Television, and Village TV; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Choice Tier – DIY, Family Land, and Nick Too; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Sports Tier – Fox Sports en Espanol; move to position 76 on Expanded Basic – SportsTime Ohio; will be dropped from the line-up – AZN, Canal 52 MX, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH-1 Country, VH-1 Soul, and the West Coast feeds of Showtime, TMC, FLIX, and Encore Themes.

As we have discussed History HD doesn't have that much HD, how can it? (Remember that nice little discussion I had with that TW Exec?) A&E IMHO may be a bit of a plus. I know you Food channel people are happy.

I want FX, USA, and SCI FI. I don't see any of those.:(

Also, what is up with the bolded part. SportsTime Ohio will be dropped? I assume that means that they will only keep the analog channel, though why they would do that is a mystery to me. You save bandwith by removing analog. And no, I don't have any sympathy for those people who only get basic analog cable.

Hook I don't think that is what is going on. If you look between the semi-colons, "will be dropped from the line-up – AZN, Canal 52 MX, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH-1 Country, VH-1 Soul, and the West Coast feeds of Showtime, TMC, FLIX, and Encore Themes" those will be the channels that will be removed. I believe they are saying that STO will be moved to channel 76 (it already is in the original TW zones). STO will move to 76 for the former Comcast and Adelphia folks where it may not be.

I may be wrong though...

I think you have it right, thats why I said I believe we are seeing the late stages of all one time warner network here in ohio, STO is on 76 here in akron, and it should be there as well

Get some sleep hook and read it again :)

OK, it makes sense to me now. A little sleep, two cups of coffee and a different day.

Still, I think they way they presented it was poor. It could have been spelled out simpler then having the dashes, semi colons, etc.

Just my opinion again.

Oh, I wanted to comment on this post by paule123:

Here's a heartwarming story for you TWC lovers out there ...

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=7803899

Tornado victim billed $2,000 for damaged cable equipment

Associated Press - January 31, 2008 3:25 PM ET

WHEATLAND, Wis. (AP) - Ann Beam was upset when a tornado demolished her Wheatland home. But when she got her cable bill a few weeks later, she was floored.

The Time Warner Cable bill was $2,000 including charges for five cable boxes and five remote controls destroyed by the January 7th twister.

Beam says she called the cable company but was told to give the bill to her insurance company. She says the equipment was nine years and her insurance company would only pay a depreciated amount that wouldn't cover the bill.

Time Warner Cable spokeswoman Celeste Flynn says many customers got charged for unreturned equipment because they canceled or transferred their service without mentioning the tornado. She says that if they call the company the charges will be taken off their accounts

Yeah, it sure is a stupid thing to do but you know we see this kind of stuff happen all the time.

I want to state for the record that I am not a fan of any cable company. I've never met a cable company I've liked. That includes TW. And I know how you Comcast converted people feel. My opinion of TW has changed a bit but only for two reasons. The first is I really like the "we will call you" thing they offer when you do need to talk to customer service instead of being on eternal hold. Now that was a TW initiated thing. So thumbs up on that. Also it seems to me that overall the training for their CSR's has gone up a bit, specially concerning cable cards and TiVo.

But the main thing that I like is I have a personal source at head end when I have problems that I can go to and when I call her be it billing issues or technical issues, she makes things happen. Without her I would probably just as pissed off about TW as I was about Adelphia. And I truly believe that Adelphia was the worst cable company I ever came across.

wait, it would be 5 HD channels, Starz HD is coming too!! maybe SDV is here and we dont know it?

I have Time Warner Cleveland suburbs, and it looks like they moved the HD Fox 8 QAM channel - it was 8-1, but I get no signal now.

Anyone know where they moved it to?

I have Time Warner Cleveland suburbs, and it looks like they moved the HD Fox 8 QAM channel - it was 8-1, but I get no signal now.

Anyone know where they moved it to?

Boy, you gotta wonder what they're smoking over at TWC. "Hey Joe, let's move Fox 8 the day before the Super Bowl just to confuse our customers and get loads of pissed off people calling up on Sunday afternoon!" They probably figure nobody uses that "QAM thing" :rolleyes:

I have Time Warner Cleveland suburbs, and it looks like they moved the HD Fox 8 QAM channel - it was 8-1, but I get no signal now.

Anyone know where they moved it to?
Same problem here. I called them and they said I should rescan my QAM channels. I did that and it still isn't a 8-1. I'm going to call back in a few minutes and see whats going on.

Just called Time Warner. I used the call back feature. The wait time is over 2 hours! My first wait was 1 and half hours.

On, or around, March 4th, we will begin reorganizing our channel line-up to serve you better. The channel positions for Digital programming currently carried on channels 100 and above will change.

The following changes will also take place at that time in the former Adelphia service areas:
The following channels will be added to Digital Basic –CNN International, Inspiration Network, Reelz Channel, and ShopNBC; added to the new Digital Choice Tier – Boomerang, Ovation, and PBS Sprout; added to the Spanish Language Tier – Boomerang en Espanol, Canal Sur, Galavision, La Familia, Mun2, and MTV en Espanol; added as new foreign language premium services – DW TV, and Zee TV; added to FREE HD – A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD and History HD; move from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic – Hallmark, Turner Classic Movies, TV One, MTV2 and VH-1 Classic; added to premium channel multiplexes – @MAX, 5StarMAX, OuterMAX, WMAX, Showtime Family, Showtime Next, and Showtime Women; move from Digital Plus to Digital Basic – BET on Jazz, Biography, CNBC World, and History Channel International; move from Expanded Basic to the Digital Tier – Country Music Television, and Village TV; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Choice Tier – DIY, Family Land, and Nick Too; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Sports Tier – Fox Sports en Espanol; move to position 76 on Expanded Basic – SportsTime Ohio; will be dropped from the line-up – AZN, Canal 52 MX, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH-1 Country, VH-1 Soul, and the West Coast feeds of Showtime, TMC, FLIX, and Encore Themes.

The following changes will also take place at that time in the former Comcast service areas: The following channels will be added to Digital Basic – CNN International, Inspiration Network, American Life, CCTV9, and Reelz Channel; added to the new Digital Choice Tier – Boomerang, Family Land and PBS Sprout; added to the new Spanish Language Tier – Boomerang en Espanol, Canal Sur, Galavision, La Familia, Mun2, CineLatino, CNN en Espanol, Discovery en Espanol, ESPN Deportes, History en Espanol, Toon Disney en Espanol, and MTV en Espanol; added as new foreign language premium services – DW TV, ART, Filipino TV, RAI International, TV Asia, TV Japan, TV Russia, TV5 France, and Zee TV; added to FREE HD – A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD and History HD; move from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic – Hallmark, TV One,VH-1 Classic, and MTV2; added to premium channel multiplexes –Showtime Family, Showtime Next, and Showtime Women; move from Digital Plus or Premier to Digital Basic – BET on Jazz, Biography, Bloomberg, Current, Discovery Home, Investigation Discovery, FIT TV, Fox Movie Channel, Fuse, Great American Country, Lifetime Movie Network, Military Channel, and History Channel International; move from Expanded Basic to the Digital Tier – Country Music Television; added to the Digital Sports Tier – Fox Sports en Espanol; move to position 76 on Expanded Basic – SportsTime Ohio; move from the Sports Tier to Digital Basic – Fox Soccer, and TV Games, move from Digital Basic to the new Movie Tier – FLIX; will be dropped from the line-up – AZN, GOL TV, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH-1 Country, VH-1 Soul, and the West Coast feeds of Showtime, TMC, Starz!, FLIX, Sundance, and Encore Themes.
* Changes will vary by service area. Not all services available in all areas.

The following changes will also take place at that time in original Time Warner Cable service areas:
The following channels will be added to Digital Basic - CCTV9, Reelz Channel, ShopNBC, and TBN; added to the new Digital Choice Tier – Boomerang, Daystar, Family Land, Nick Too, Ovation, PBS Sprout and Inspirational Life; added to the Spanish Language Tier – Boomerang en Espanol, Fox Sports en Espanol, History en Espanol and Toon Disney en Espanol; added to the Movie Tier – FLIX and IFC; added as new foreign language premium services – Filipino Channel, TV Japan, TV Russia, and TV5 France; added to FREE HD – A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD and History HD; move from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic – MTV2, Science Channel, TV One, and VH-1 Classic; added to premium channel multiplexes – HBO Latino, STARZ! Comedy, and STARZ! HD; move from Expanded Basic to the Digital Tier – Discovery Health, FIT TV, Great American Country, and Inspiration Network; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Choice Tier – DIY and Fine Living; will be dropped from the line-up – Disney West, Showtime West and TMC West feeds, Puma, and Sorpresa.

*4 HD channels are being added: FOOD, HGTV, HISTORY and A&E. 1 Premium HD channel, STARZ HD is also being added. No word on whether or not the local CW WBNX-DT will be added.

*Because of TW's acquisition of Adelphia and some Comcast, NE Ohio has been on differnet line ups. The line ups are going to be standardized between all areas. Channels that are not in some areas are being added.

*The line ups are going to be arranged to group channels by genre. (IE: Nickelodeon and Disney will be in close proximity to each other.)

*No word on whether or not Mystro Navigator will be deployed in NE Ohio.

I didnt think TWCNEO had starz hd? if that is the case, it is 5 HD channels being added

they are adding starz HD, its in that paragraph you quoted and the link I gave

they are adding starz HD, its in that paragraph you quoted and the link I gave

Thanks for that! In all that info I must've missed it. I still think it is s---ty they are adding that before WBNX.

no problem, I understand your frustration, but at least this is a step in the right direction, I gotta be honest here, i am a Huge satellite guy...but Cable is going to be VERY hard to beat when they get SDV up and running for tv, just think, on Demand, Good HD channels, now if Time warner would get Big ten and NFL network, they would have tons of customers! But we will see, I am glad they are taking baby steps in the right direction!

no problem, I understand your frustration, but at least this is a step in the right direction, I gotta be honest here, i am a Huge satellite guy...but Cable is going to be VERY hard to beat when they get SDV up and running for tv, just think, on Demand, Good HD channels, now if Time warner would get Big ten and NFL network, they would have tons of customers! But we will see, I am glad they are taking baby steps in the right direction!

First, they already have an on demand HD Channel. I have attempted to use it twice and found it so frustrating that I never attempted to use it again B10 and NFL will not happen unless those networks agree to be put on TW's "Sports Tier". I don't know what the overalll plan is for that but unless they moved STO to that tier I won't buy it. That's me, personally.

I don't think STO would go there because TW and STO worked together to start that up so that may not happen for a couple of years. I hope.

I've never seen SDV in action but if it works anything like On Demand then you better start your channel about 5 minutes early and pray for a real connection. On Demand takes forever to load it seems. I can't imagine setting my DVR to record something on an SDV channel and then having it sying "please wait, connecting" 5 or times. Heck, you'd miss the first 5 minutes of the show.

I still the SDV is at lest another year away, in the meantime TW will lose more and more subscribers to those who purchase HD televisions.

I saw this last night before I went to bed. I also saw it just a few minutes ago on the front page of the L.A. Times.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22968561/

LOS ANGELES - A breakthrough in contract talks has been reached between Hollywood studios and striking writers and could lead to a tentative deal as early as next week, a person close to the ongoing negotiations said Saturday.

The two sides breached the gap Friday on the thorniest issues, those concerning compensation for projects distributed via the Internet, said the person, who requested anonymity because he were not authorized to speak publicly.

A second person familiar with the talks, also speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment publicly, said that significant progress had been made and a deal might be announced within a week.

The people did not provide specific details on the possible agreement. Major points of contention include how much and when writers are paid for projects delivered online after they've been broadcast on TV.

The studios have been insisting that programs be streamed online for a certain period, deemed promotional, during which writers would forgo residuals. When payment kicked in, the companies sought to limit it to a flat $1,200 fee, while the guild wanted a percentage of a distributor's revenue.

The Writers Guild of America did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the trade group representing the studios, declined comment, citing a news blackout agreed to by both sides during the talks.

Guild leaders have said they are fighting for a piece of the future, reflecting the widespread belief that Internet-delivered entertainment fare would inevitably claim an increasing and perhaps even dominant market share.

Although work remains to be done on elements of the agreement, prospects for a deal appeared solid, said those close to the situation. The tentative agreement would have to be approved by a majority of guild members.

Let's keep our fingers crossed. With Jack Bauer out of the drunk tank maybe there will be hope for another season of 24.:D

I've never seen SDV in action but if it works anything like On Demand then you better start your channel about 5 minutes early and pray for a real connection. On Demand takes forever to load it seems. I can't imagine setting my DVR to record something on an SDV channel and then having it sying "please wait, connecting" 5 or times. Heck, you'd miss the first 5 minutes of the show.

I still the SDV is at lest another year away, in the meantime TW will lose more and more subscribers to those who purchase HD televisions.

I know very little about SDV, but I do know of a person in NYC who uses Cablevision (one of the earliest adopters of SDV) and the switching is instaneous. Of course, this is dependent on having all of the correct and updated hardware & software across the entire distribution network.

SDV was described to me as follows: "..With a computer you have access to every single site, page, document, store, library, etc.... on the internet. Your computer is *selecting* what it wants sent to your computer, displays it, and does so very quickly. Conversely, if the entire contents of the internet were sent to your computer, your computer would display nothing (i.e. CRASH)..."

Obviously it's an over simplified "dummies guide to SDV" explanation, but it sure made sense to me. :)

Anyone else still have problems with FoxHD using QAM tuner? Still don't have it at 8-1, did it move somewhere else?

I just rescanned here in North Olmsted and it's still not showing up....:mad:

I just rescanned here in North Olmsted and it's still not showing up....:mad:


I'm in Bainbridge and I'm getting FOX 8 with not problem. Of course I'm using the TiVo S3 and upstairs my HD converter box.:p

Sorry guys, I think I accidentally took one of my wife's wise ass pills this morning.;)

Just checked and FOX 8.1 is working at my house. I live in Northfield, previously an Adelphia customer.

Anyone else still have problems with FoxHD using QAM tuner? Still don't have it at 8-1, did it move somewhere else?
If you haven't already, try using the channel up/down on your remote to see what your most recent scan has picked up, including areas where you haven't found QAM stations before.

Depending upon your tuner, and if the cable company has not yet remapped the channel to the "8-1" format, it could be buried amongst other analog stations, or have a different number.

For example, on my system (WOW), WJW-HD used to be 202 and WOIO-HD was at 201, but now WJW is 88-202, and WOIO is 82-201 as they have been moved, but not yet been remapped. Previously, all of the QAM stations were on channels 101 and higher, so I thought that WJW was gone, until I looked at the lower numbered channels, which were previously analog-only. However, WEWS-HD and WKYC-HD are still remapped to 200 and 203 respectively.

Hope this helps.

I know very little about SDV, but I do know of a person in NYC who uses Cablevision (one of the earliest adopters of SDV) and the switching is instaneous. Of course, this is dependent on having all of the correct and updated hardware & software across the entire distribution network.

SDV was described to me as follows: "..With a computer you have access to every single site, page, document, store, library, etc.... on the internet. Your computer is *selecting* what it wants sent to your computer, displays it, and does so very quickly. Conversely, if the entire contents of the internet were sent to your computer, your computer would display nothing (i.e. CRASH)..."

Obviously it's an over simplified "dummies guide to SDV" explanation, but it sure made sense to me. :)


I don't quite get the analogy in the middle paragraph but I'm happy to hear that you've heard good reports about how channel changing occurres with SDV.

What worries me however is the part about having "correct and updated software." I really don't know what software I have in my HD Converter box, I'll have to take a look. I've heard that they don't give out HD converter boxes anymore, they just give you a DVR. And that would mean Navigator.:eek:

I don't quite get the analogy in the middle paragraph but I'm happy to hear that you've heard good reports about how channel changing occurres with SDV.

What worries me however is the part about having "correct and updated software." I really don't know what software I have in my HD Converter box, I'll have to take a look. I've heard that they don't give out HD converter boxes anymore, they just give you a DVR. And that would mean Navigator.:eek:

The analogy is that, essentially, at this time your cable box is being sent EVERY channel on the system. Your cable box is filtering what you have not subscribed to / paid for. This is a tremendous waste of bandwidth. With SDV your cable box will only get what specific channel you are requesting, instantaneously (if the infrastructure is properly implemented).

I think most cable STB's can be re-programmed (FW Update) to accomplish this. One of the great selling points to the cable industry is NOT having to replace the millions of STB's currently in use.

I think much of your "wait" for VOD-PPV is that your box is *verifying* who you are and *authorizing* your purchase. I use WOW cable and it has numerous VOD services, both pay & free. I've never done a PPV in my life, but the free WOW VOD takes maybe 2 seconds to load & start playing. And I highly doubt WOW is currently using an SDV system for all channels (i.e. system wide), but I'm only guessing. :)

I've noticed major WKYC-HD lip sync issues this weekend, can anyone confirm if it's limited to my Cox cable, or are people seeing it OTA (if anyone can get it :) ) and on other cable providers?

I've noticed major WKYC-HD lip sync issues this weekend, can anyone confirm if it's limited to my Cox cable, or are people seeing it OTA (if anyone can get it :) ) and on other cable providers?

WKYC OTA seems fine here.

If you haven't already, try using the channel up/down on your remote to see what your most recent scan has picked up, including areas where you haven't found QAM stations before.

Depending upon your tuner, and if the cable company has not yet remapped the channel to the "8-1" format, it could be buried amongst other analog stations, or have a different number.

For example, on my system (WOW), WJW-HD used to be 202 and WOIO-HD was at 201, but now WJW is 88-202, and WOIO is 82-201 as they have been moved, but not yet been remapped. Previously, all of the QAM stations were on channels 101 and higher, so I thought that WJW was gone, until I looked at the lower numbered channels, which were previously analog-only. However, WEWS-HD and WKYC-HD are still remapped to 200 and 203 respectively.

Hope this helps.
Just went through all the channels. No luck. I even took the channels i deleted (encrypted ones i think) and whent throuhg those. I've called time warner 3 times and they have no idea what QAM tuner is.

...I've called time warner 3 times and they have no idea what QAM tuner is.

That explains a LOT!!! :D

My tuner on my Phillips lcd in my living room has a funky glitch in it's tuner's mapping. When ever I do a scan, one of the channels is put on channel 0... yes zero. So, food for thought there...

I've called time warner 3 times and they have no idea what QAM tuner is.

Sorry, I gotta laugh at that one too.:) Look, I don't really know what a QAM tuner is and I'm a member of this forum. So if I don't know what it is why in the world would you expect a TW rep to know what it is?:D

OK, I kind of do know what a QAM tuner is I just don't know much about them. My point just in case you missed it is most of us - no make it ALL of us are more knowledgeable then a TW rep.

Keep looking, you'll find it. And if you don't you can go watch the game at Smarty-Pants's house. I'd invite you over to mine but I only have 2 recliners in my living room and even the wife watches the Super Bowl. The rest of the room has 5 large bird cages in it and I don't think you'd be comfortable sitting on a perch. Then again if you try to sit on one of their perches you probably would get bit. That would require stitches and you'd have to watch it in a hospital room on standard definition. That wouldn't be any fun. So go to Smarty-Pants's house.:D

I went on about that one way too long, didn't I?

Sorry, I gotta laugh at that one too.:) Look, I don't really know what a QAM tuner is and I'm a member of this forum. So if I don't know what it is why in the world would you expect a TW rep to know what it is?:D

OK, I kind of do know what a QAM tuner is I just don't know much about them. My point just in case you missed it is most of us - no make it ALL of us are more knowledgeable then a TW rep.

Keep looking, you'll find it. And if you don't you can go watch the game at Smarty-Pants's house. I'd invite you over to mine but I only have 2 recliners in my living room and even the wife watches the Super Bowl. The rest of the room has 5 large bird cages in it and I don't think you'd be comfortable sitting on a perch. Then again if you try to sit on one of their perches you probably would get bit. That would require stitches and you'd have to watch it in a hospital room on standard definition. That wouldn't be any fun. So go to Smarty-Pants's house.:D

I went on about that one way too long, didn't I?
Just a bit but thats alright. Yeah I guess I don't expect the reps know what it is but I wish they would ask someone. The first guy I talked to called the Cleveland "somethign" center to see if they were having issues sending signals out. He came back and said "well you have QAM tuner right?" yeah, "well everythign is fine on our end you shoudl be able to see.

So there is Someone within Time Warner that knows about this stuff. All would like is to talk with someone that can be like well were still sending it and you might be able to find it here. Little too much to ask I guess.

I got a new Panasonic set on Friday night. Unhooked the old Panasonic after my wife went to bed and hooked up the new one. Before I unhooked the old one we had been watching WOIO's HD feed on 19.1. After the new set was hooked up I ran the scan of digital channels and it did not tune in WOIO (actually the old set also tuned in a PBS HD signal on 25.1 I believe; the only channels I was able to get on this one were WEWS, WKYC, WJW, and WUAB). I've run the scan two or three times since then, but still no luck. My old set went to my folks who live in Ashtabula County; I was unable to tune in WOIO on my old set at their house as well.

I have cable through TWC, not using an antenna as I don't have one, but I was previously able to get these couple channels and I'm not now. I'm in South Euclid.

Help please?

I often wondered in the recent years with 'everyone' reaching into the pocketbooks on a monthly basis for cable if the manufactures are putting in degraded tuners simply because they are seldom used...ie: my 1984 Zenith tuner is far superior to the one in the 2006 Philips.

Holy Toledo....

About 6 months back my unit's antenna was struck by lightning, thus blowing out the tuner in the VCR completly (I think, havent put it on the bench yet) (3rd VCR lost in last 2 years to lightning & power surges, & these were on surge protectors) . Seemed it only affected the VHF portion of the antenna though. Upon experimenting, I pulled out my old 1978 RCA 12" b/w, with a Mechanical tuner, low & behold ... no 3 5 & 8, but a very nice picture on 13 (???) first thought something was off on the tuning knob, as at times I can pick up 8 without an antenna.... this time I was only pulling in 13 Toledo just using the coax wiring as an antenna, not even a heartbeat on the other VHF channels.

Now, I'm wondering how well these new ATSC Converters will work, since I'm in the low lying fringes of Lake County.... meaning I'll likely get freezing & blocking.

Are these using a RF converson over to Channel 3 or 4, or using the AV inputs on the existing sets?

I've noticed major WKYC-HD lip sync issues this weekend, can anyone confirm if it's limited to my Cox cable, or are people seeing it OTA (if anyone can get it :) ) and on other cable providers?

I noticed lip sync problems on Jay Leno the other night on HD. Then they dropped the signal (carrier) for a second after that the sync was OK. But I'm on Cox also.

There appears to be a synch problem on Time Warner too...

Fox HD used to be 8-1 here in fairlawn (north side of Akron) too. And today its is no longer available. I've done 2 rescans and its just gone. I'd call Timewarner. But, after all the wait I know I'll have to endure, there's not much chance anyone I talk to will understand the issue, let alone be able to explain what's going wrong, or provide any compensation.

Directv is running an MPEG-4 broadcast of the "big game" on Channel 701. Watching it, it seems like Channel 8's local audio is not as loud out of the rear speakers. I'm going back and forth and the national feed on Directv is MUCH louder.

If you haven't already, try using the channel up/down on your remote to see what your most recent scan has picked up, including areas where you haven't found QAM stations before.

Depending upon your tuner, and if the cable company has not yet remapped the channel to the "8-1" format, it could be buried amongst other analog stations, or have a different number.

For example, on my system (WOW), WJW-HD used to be 202 and WOIO-HD was at 201, but now WJW is 88-202, and WOIO is 82-201 as they have been moved, but not yet been remapped. Previously, all of the QAM stations were on channels 101 and higher, so I thought that WJW was gone, until I looked at the lower numbered channels, which were previously analog-only. However, WEWS-HD and WKYC-HD are still remapped to 200 and 203 respectively.

Hope this helps.

Thank you SO much, I was wondering WTF was up with Fox HD moving. I was so bummed about watching the Super Bowl in SD. Now I can watch the second half in HD. I wish they would stop the shell games with the QAM assignments!

Thank you SO much, I was wondering WTF was up with Fox HD moving. I was so bummed about watching the Super Bowl in SD. Now I can watch the second half in HD. I wish they would stop the shell games with the QAM assignments!

Care to share which channel you found Fox HD at?

Care to share which channel you found Fox HD at?
Is that guy serious, he posts that and doesnt even say what channel he found it on. That is unbelievable. Thanks bud.

Care to share which channel you found Fox HD at?

88-202 just like in the message I quoted.

88-202 just like in the message I quoted.
Thanks for the reply. I don't get 88-202 on my TV (Samsung 4061), not sure why.

88-202 just like in the message I quoted.

It seems we must have different cable systems. For me, 88-202 isn't available.

Yeah, I'm Time Warner in Mayfield Heights and no 202 for me. Great time for them to make changes. Part of me wishes the encrypted and thus broke the law but I doubt that.

Thank you SO much, I was wondering WTF was up with Fox HD moving. I was so bummed about watching the Super Bowl in SD. Now I can watch the second half in HD. I wish they would stop the shell games with the QAM assignments!
You're very welcome. Glad I could help. BTW, moving channels is typically a good sign, meaning that they're looking to free up space for new channels. The last time WOW did this, several other HD channels (HDNet, HDNet Movies, NFL-HD, TNT-HD, HGTV-HD) were in the clear for a couple of weeks. Then, about a month or so later, several new HD channels were added and ESPN-HD and TNT-HD were moved to the basic HD tier.

Thanks to the people at Channel 27 in Youngstown who opened up Channel 27-3 (FOX-HD) OTA over the weekend and carried the Super Bowl in HD for those of us with antennas. FOX 8-Cleveland is sometimes sporadic down here in North Canton with a rabbit ears, but 27-3 came in solid all night. Don't know if the station plans to keep 27-3 on or go back and make 27-1 CBS-HD again. It reverted to SD over the weekend. I guess you can't broadcast 2 HD signals from the same frequency.

I was also a TWC customer that had to watch the Super Bowl in SD because they moved FOX8 from 8-1 that day! Still cannot find FOX8 in HD after 3 re-scans. I'm on TWC Macedonia. If anyone finds FOX8 HD please post here where you have found it. Also, it would be great if someone could post a listing of all the QAM (digital?) channels they have for comparison sake. Thanks for your help!

I was also a TWC customer that had to watch the Super Bowl in SD because they moved FOX8 from 8-1 that day! Still cannot find FOX8 in HD after 3 re-scans. I'm on TWC Macedonia. If anyone finds FOX8 HD please post here where you have found it. Also, it would be great if someone could post a listing of all the QAM (digital?) channels they have for comparison sake. Thanks for your help!

You might better entice others to take the time to post their QAM channels once you take the time to post yours. ;)

I'm wondering if Cox here in Parma's doing QAM? I was always curious about that. Of course, it's just much easier using their Scientific Atlanta via HDMI or Component for high-def anyway, but even so, since I'm using both my JVC 32" LCD, as well as a Hauppauge HVR-1800 on my PC, I just felt that QAM would do far better on a computer, even tho Vista Media Center doesn't support it... I know that WinTV 6 does, but I didn't notice that it picked up that much, unfortunately.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and I'm curious what would happen if I hooked in my SA STB (Scientific Atlanta Set-top Box) into the digital tuner on my Hauppauge...would that pick up the high-def channels (the 7xx ones)? If not, then I'll definitely anticipate that new HD tuner card that Hauppauge has coming out with that component input, then I'll definitely pick up high-def with that. Hopefully Vista MC will support that one.

Well That storm about a week ago took out my satellite stuff (Blew the dish out of alignment-not off the roof, just out of alignment) and then when the power went out it shorted my switch. My install is a very custom job, and only one person will work on it, if you want I can post pictures. But anyways I have had some tv, but have to keep switching ports on the switch as only 2 of the 4 work. The alignment isnt a big deal as I think maybe someone will do it (again I was laughed at by most techs who told me to just go to cable) anyways I say all that to say this, my switch they want 120 bucks for...I have read and know that the dp44 switch is expensive, so I went down to time warner and got Two boxes Both 8240 HDC, I will have both dish network and Time warner for a Time and then I will fully make the switch to Time warner. I miss their on Demand and dont want to get custom jobs to do satellite anymore as we have alot of trees to our south...But I am debating on getting a TIVOHD, not a series three, I am just waiting to see how the dongle goes, SO hook if you can give me on of your contacts and work out a little discount that would be great ;) I kid I kid...its a sad day but I am at wits end (6months) for trying to make this satellite work at our new house, time to give in and know that it is not and its time for Cable.

Edit: By the way I would ALways suggest people go with Dish or Directv if you can, but I am now one of the many that cant :(

Well, take that back, just hooked in a standard basic cable up to my TV, and went with the digital tuner, and it seems like it does pick up all the HD local channels, and a few digital cable channels, but only about a dozen or so, most of those under the 0-998 channel. The local channels are still what you would traditionally think, like 3-1, 3-2, 5-1, 8-1, 19-1, 19-2, 43-1, 43-2, 25-1, 25-2, 55-1, 61-1, etc... Digital cable through QAM reception has WGN, WBNX, NHL Center Ice, WEAO/NEO, etc...

Thanks to the people at Channel 27 in Youngstown who opened up Channel 27-3 (FOX-HD) OTA over the weekend and carried the Super Bowl in HD for those of us with antennas. FOX 8-Cleveland is sometimes sporadic down here in North Canton with a rabbit ears, but 27-3 came in solid all night. Don't know if the station plans to keep 27-3 on or go back and make 27-1 CBS-HD again. It reverted to SD over the weekend. I guess you can't broadcast 2 HD signals from the same frequency.Thanks for the heads-up about 27-3! Unfortunately the last wind storm knocked my rooftop antenna that I had aimed at Youngstown way out of alignment (I used to get WKBN-DT 24/7 with that antenna).

How did you find out about 27-3?

Thomas Zocolo, WKBN's chief engineer, posted it in the Youngstown forum.

I should have put a post on this thread too. I know that a lot of you can pick us up and can sometimes get our DT better than some of the Cleveland stations.

I often wondered in the recent years with 'everyone' reaching into the pocketbooks on a monthly basis for cable if the manufactures are putting in degraded tuners simply because they are seldom used...ie: my 1984 Zenith tuner is far superior to the one in the 2006 Philips.

Holy Toledo....

About 6 months back my unit's antenna was struck by lightning, thus blowing out the tuner in the VCR completly (I think, havent put it on the bench yet) (3rd VCR lost in last 2 years to lightning & power surges, & these were on surge protectors) . Seemed it only affected the VHF portion of the antenna though. Upon experimenting, I pulled out my old 1978 RCA 12" b/w, with a Mechanical tuner, low & behold ... no 3 5 & 8, but a very nice picture on 13 (???) first thought something was off on the tuning knob, as at times I can pick up 8 without an antenna.... this time I was only pulling in 13 Toledo just using the coax wiring as an antenna, not even a heartbeat on the other VHF channels.


I wound up finding WOIO on 113-2, but now like many others here I'm unable to pull in Fox HD. Fortunately yesterday I was watching the game at a house with DirecTV. Wouldn't mind watching all our Brownies (up to 6 now) in the Pro Bowl in HD next Sunday though.

I should have put a post on this thread too. I know that a lot of you can pick us up and can sometimes get our DT better than some of the Cleveland stations.

Well, I don't think that Cox would have that channel, anyway. Me being here in Parma, just SW of Cleveland, I'm lucky to get the selection I do, let alone something as far east as Youngstown.

Now, I'm wondering how well these new ATSC Converters will work, since I'm in the low lying fringes of Lake County.... meaning I'll likely get freezing & blocking.

Are these using a RF converson over to Channel 3 or 4, or using the AV inputs on the existing sets?

I see the Samsung DTB-H260F available at BestBuy.com - first instance of an ATSC receiver I've seen at the mass-market places...

Doesn't appear to have RF out. It does have composite, component, S-video, and HDMI output, along with two-channel analog audio. I suspect this will be close to what becomes standard for this type of box.

Time to dig up an old RF modulator - my in-laws will be calling on me to DTV-ize their old set... :)

mike

Doesn't appear to have RF out. It does have composite, component, S-video, and HDMI output, along with two-channel analog audio.

Just downloaded the manual for this box. It does have an RF out, but due to lack of a "3/4 switch" and what the manual says, it seems this is just a pass-through from the RF input.

Also present is an optical Dolby Digital Out audio jack. There is a switch on the back to select output format - 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i.

Well, take that back, just hooked in a standard basic cable up to my TV, and went with the digital tuner, and it seems like it does pick up all the HD local channels, and a few digital cable channels, but only about a dozen or so, most of those under the 0-998 channel. The local channels are still what you would traditionally think, like 3-1, 3-2, 5-1, 8-1, 19-1, 19-2, 43-1, 43-2, 25-1, 25-2, 55-1, 61-1, etc... Digital cable through QAM reception has WGN, WBNX, NHL Center Ice, WEAO/NEO, etc...
Who is your provider? I have Time Warner and was wondering if yours is the same. Thanks in advance.

.But I am debating on getting a TIVOHD, not a series three, I am just waiting to see how the dongle goes, SO hook if you can give me on of your contacts and work out a little discount that would be great ;) I kid I kid...its a sad day but I am at wits end (6months) for trying to make this satellite work at our new house, time to give in and know that it is not and its time for Cable.

Edit: By the way I would ALways suggest people go with Dish or Directv if you can, but I am now one of the many that cant :(


Yes, D* is great. I don't like Dish but thats me.

Now in regards to the dongle, first it's not even available yet and second they don't use SDV on TW here in TW NEO. I would strongly recommend you get the TiVo HD mimimally. However keep in mind that with the TiVo HD you can only use the authorized eSATA's by TiVo and the max on those are 500gb. The S3 you can use any eSATA.

On the other hand I use a 500gb eSATA and that works fine for me. If necessary I would move programs to my computer hard drive but I really haven't had to do that.

The dongle is suppose to be available "second quarter" of this year and you would get it from the cable company. Obviously if TW doesn't use SDV in our area there would be no dongle.

I know the dongle isnt available, thats why I am waiting on the tivo, I LOVE on Demand programming and I couldnt just give it up, so I will put up with navagaitor and its headaches till they can get the whole cable card thing done...and this is all dependent on Time warner playing nicely I have an appointment to hook my boxes up tommorow, but I had to fight to get that she said feb 25th would be the first one open....that is crazy!

I was also a TWC customer that had to watch the Super Bowl in SD because they moved FOX8 from 8-1 that day! Still cannot find FOX8 in HD after 3 re-scans. I'm on TWC Macedonia. If anyone finds FOX8 HD please post here where you have found it. Also, it would be great if someone could post a listing of all the QAM (digital?) channels they have for comparison sake. Thanks for your help!
Here are the QAM "in the clear" channels that I have defined in my HTPC. There are many others, but these are the ones that I keep in my favorites list (in other words, this is most of the HD channels). This is on Time Warner in the Chagrin Falls area. The name, physical channel, and subchannel are the only things that matter in this list:

;MyHD Channel Data File
;Macro Image Technology

;****************************
[INPUT1]
count = 10


[INPUT1 No. 1]
Name = Weather+
PhyCH = 103
VirCH = 715
MinCh = -1
SubCh = 10
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 10
Sourceid = 1184

[INPUT1 No. 2]
Name = T/W Bonus HD
PhyCH = 106
VirCH = 780
MinCh = -1
SubCh = 1
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 1
Sourceid = 1368

[INPUT1 No. 3]
Name = WKYC-HD
PhyCH = 104
VirCH = 3
MinCh = 1
SubCh = 3
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 3
Sourceid = 47

[INPUT1 No. 4]
Name = WEWS HD
PhyCH = 105
VirCH = 5
MinCh = 1
SubCh = 1
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 5
Sourceid = 30

[INPUT1 No. 5]
Name = WJW HD
PhyCH = 105
VirCH = 8
MinCh = 1
SubCh = 2
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 8
Sourceid = 31

[INPUT1 No. 6]
Name = WOIO-HD
PhyCH = 113
VirCH = 19
MinCh = 1
SubCh = 2
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 2
Sourceid = 32

[INPUT1 No. 7]
Name = WVIZ-HD
PhyCH = 113
VirCH = 25
MinCh = 1
SubCh = 1
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 1
Sourceid = 34

[INPUT1 No. 8]
Name = WUAB-DT
PhyCH = 104
VirCH = 43
MinCh = 1
SubCh = 4
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 6
Sourceid = 44

[INPUT1 No. 9]
Name = DSCHD
PhyCH = 86
VirCH = 776
MinCh = -1
SubCh = 2
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 3
Sourceid = 1776

[INPUT1 No. 10]
Name = TNTHD
PhyCH = 88
VirCH = 779
MinCh = -1
SubCh = 2
TunerInputType = CABLE
SignalType = ATSC_256QAM
Programnumber = 3
Sourceid = 1779

Well, I don't think that Cox would have that channel, anyway. Me being here in Parma, just SW of Cleveland, I'm lucky to get the selection I do, let alone something as far east as Youngstown.

WKBN-DT hits Parma with a strong signal! All you need is a directional outdoor UHF antenna aimed a little bit south of due East.
(I thought I had posted this yesterday but it either disappeared or got deleted somehow)

WKBN-DT hits Parma with a strong signal! All you need is a directional outdoor UHF antenna aimed a little bit south of due East.
(I thought I had posted this yesterday but it either disappeared or got deleted somehow)

Many of yesterdays posts were lost to a server problem. :eek:

I see the Samsung DTB-H260F available at BestBuy.com - first instance of an ATSC receiver I've seen at the mass-market places...

Doesn't appear to have RF out. It does have composite, component, S-video, and HDMI output, along with two-channel analog audio. I suspect this will be close to what becomes standard for this type of box.

Time to dig up an old RF modulator - my in-laws will be calling on me to DTV-ize their old set... :)

mike

That ($179) tuner has been out for a while - I have one. It's not the one intended for the DTV transition government coupons, though. The FCC is VERY specific about which models you can use the coupons for. Unfortunately those tuners are stripped bare and crippled in about every way possible, and expected to be priced around $40 - $60.

Edit: Here is the Insignia brand coupon-eligible tuner at Best Buy ($59). It has an RF out, so no need for a modulator.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8624081&st=hdtv+tuner&lp=5&type=product&cp=1&id=1199495190393

BTW, that looks exactly like the Zenith DTT900 box. Probably just rebranded for Best Buy.

Many of yesterdays posts were lost to a server problem. :eek:
Thanks, for a moment I thought a mod deleted my post for being too specific about my location.

I should have put a post on this thread too. I know that a lot of you can pick us up and can sometimes get our DT better than some of the Cleveland stations.

According to Antenna Web, I'm within the range of WKBN, yet no heartbeat from any of the Y town stations analog or digital.... an occasional faint picture on 21, & this is using a larger antenna & amp.

That ($179) tuner has been out for a while - I have one. It's not the one intended for the DTV transition government coupons, though. The FCC is VERY specific about which models you can use the coupons for. Unfortunately those tuners are stripped bare and crippled in about every way possible, and expected to be priced around $40 - $60.

Edit: Here is the Insignia brand coupon-eligible tuner at Best Buy ($59). It has an RF out, so no need for a modulator.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8624081&st=hdtv+tuner&lp=5&type=product&cp=1&id=1199495190393

BTW, that looks exactly like the Zenith DTT900 box. Probably just rebranded for Best Buy.


I'll have to do a look see, TY... & what do you mean by crippled? Crippled in features, performance, or both?

From what I understand, Insignia is made by a dozen different manufactures, & rebranded for BB.. & Zenith is now owned by Funi??? The boxes they have been showing on Fox8 this past week are about as big as a VCR, & have a channel display, much like a cable box

Guess it might be time to can the vintage sets, though the Zenith still has a great picture.

Many of yesterdays posts were lost to a server problem. :eek:

I finally crawl back out of the woodwork after 6 months & most of my posts get deleted.:rolleyes:

BTW, that looks exactly like the Zenith DTT900 box. Probably just rebranded for Best Buy.

Actually by doing a search, it's made by LG, who owns Zenith, my bad.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,140751-page,2-c,ces/article.html

Thanks for the heads-up about 27-3! Unfortunately the last wind storm knocked my rooftop antenna that I had aimed at Youngstown way out of alignment (I used to get WKBN-DT 24/7 with that antenna).

How did you find out about 27-3?

It showed up on my EPG that displays on screen with my Sylvania ATSC tuner. I did not even need to re-scan to find it. Regardless, it is gone now as WKBN has reverted to CBS-HD on 27-1 and FOX-SD on 27-2.

Well right before the superbowl I tried to pull in 8-1. I was always able to get it until right then. Fox must have hid it some how since today I did a rescan it comes in fine. I was able to watch it with my timewarner box but sometimes the hd comes in screwy through it. So I rather watch football in hd w/o the box.

Like I said I am able to get Fox on 8-1 today.

Edit: Here is the Insignia brand coupon-eligible tuner at Best Buy ($59). It has an RF out, so no need for a modulator.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8624081&st=hdtv+tuner&lp=5&type=product&cp=1&id=1199495190393

BTW, that looks exactly like the Zenith DTT900 box. Probably just rebranded for Best Buy.

I called a local BB. They know about it but have no idea when they are getting them.

I belong to the NATAS Lower Great Lakes chapter, and I thought this luncheon would be of interest to all who read this forum. Note that one of the speakers is Bill Jasso...

To mark the one year countdown until the digital switch, the NATAS Lower Great Lakes chapter is hosting a luncheon on Tuesday, February 19, 2008. The luncheon events will take place simultaneously in Cleveland, Toledo and Indianapolis, and are open to the public.

In Cleveland, it'll be held at the downtown Hilton Garden Inn, and will feature NAB speakers Steve Hyvonen, Berry Pinney and Time Warner Cable's Bill Jasso. Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Tom Feran will moderate.

Complete information is available at the chapter website: nataslgl.org

Well right before the superbowl I tried to pull in 8-1. I was always able to get it until right then. Fox must have hid it some how since today I did a rescan it comes in fine. I was able to watch it with my timewarner box but sometimes the hd comes in screwy through it. So I rather watch football in hd w/o the box.

Like I said I am able to get Fox on 8-1 today.

Well, Cox Communications didn't have any trouble pulling that in for me over QAM lines. As a matter of fact, it seems as tho I'm getting far more local stations that I can ever get OTA over antenna. I think of my RCA Terrestrial HD antenna as being a nice, strong, stable antenna, but QAM is indeed the superior way to go. I only wish that Media Center PCs would support QAM, which I don't think M$ ever will with their stupid DRM campaign.

Well, Cox Communications didn't have any trouble pulling that in for me over QAM lines. As a matter of fact, it seems as tho I'm getting far more local stations that I can ever get OTA over antenna. I think of my RCA Terrestrial HD antenna as being a nice, strong, stable antenna, but QAM is indeed the superior way to go. I only wish that Media Center PCs would support QAM, which I don't think M$ ever will with their stupid DRM campaign.

It might be your location as I get OTA HD locals without issue (except PBS obviously). Also, be careful of the "HD" branded antennas as the antenna specs for old UHF/VHF are no different than a now branded "HD" antenna. My dad gets beautiful HD OTA with a simple, no name, 1958 era, chimney mount antenna.

According to Antenna Web, I'm within the range of WKBN, yet no heartbeat from any of the Y town stations analog or digital.... an occasional faint picture on 21, & this is using a larger antenna & amp.
First of all scrap the amp. I get WKBN-DT 24/7 with an unamplified Radio Shack cat 15-1260. The trick is to aim it a hair south of due east (this is from SE Parma). It has to be outside, not in an attic (actually I never tried in my attic).

I get more than a "faint" picture on 21 analog but digital 21 requires a little assistance from the atmosphere.

I'd like to someday put up a 40' tower to see if that brings in 21 digital (WFMJ-DT). What I'd really like to shoot for is 33 WYTV, the weakest of the Youngstown stations. All their transmitters are in the same general location.

I'm against using amplifiers because they overload with all the local transmitters being ~1 mile from here I had one when I lived in Seven Hills on a Radio Shack omnidirectional saucer antenna - I ended up unplugging the power adder due to the overload.

First of all scrap the amp. I get WKBN-DT 24/7 with an unamplified Radio Shack cat 15-1260. The trick is to aim it a hair south of due east (this is from SE Parma). It has to be outside, not in an attic (actually I never tried in my attic).

I get more than a "faint" picture on 21 analog but digital 21 requires a little assistance from the atmosphere.

I'd like to someday put up a 40' tower to see if that brings in 21 digital (WFMJ-DT). What I'd really like to shoot for is 33 WYTV, the weakest of the Youngstown stations. All their transmitters are in the same general location.

I'm against using amplifiers because they overload with all the local transmitters being ~1 mile from here I had one when I lived in Seven Hills on a Radio Shack omnidirectional saucer antenna - I ended up unplugging the power adder due to the overload.

Being in the low lying fringes of Lake County shadowed by the "ridge" I always rely on the amp (especially for UHF) made a big difference for 25, where even the local "repeaters" are inaccessable to me..... you are fotunate to live so close to the transmitters, that would even be a better reason to fight the resistance of getting cable! ;) ... I'm likely getting less than half of the OTA that you are. :(

What is strange though is I always got a good picture here on UHF untill Cable arrived in the early 80's, since then the signal has been degraded, I was even able to pick up faintly the time/temperature on Channel 7 from the cable without having cable.

Believe in conspiracy theories? :D

I called a local BB. They know about it but have no idea when they are getting them.

in order to use the coupon it has to be an in store purchase, only seem to be a few manufactures actually making these boxes, I'll likely have to wait for the reviews, or do a side by side, I would think there's a difference in sensitivity in these tuners.

What's this I'm reading about a built in program guide in them?

What's this I'm reading about a built in program guide in them?

Part of the MPEG spec includes tables that can hold EPG information. Since the converters have to drill into the stream to get at the video, it doesn't take much more in terms of additional CPU horsepower or memory to extract the program listings also.

On Fox news tonight they had someone on from TW and they were talking about the digital signal change. Now I thought for sure TW would take advantage of this and make people either purchase boxes or at the very least offer them for a low price for 1 year.

Much to my surprise they are going to down convert the signal from their side to analog so people who don't have boxes won't have to get one.

Of course my next thought was "what a waste of bandwith.":)

Well Hook, that's TW again... ignorantly and batently stupid, yet they continue to rake in the millions. :rolleyes:

Well Hook, that's TW again... ignorantly and batently stupid, yet they continue to rake in the millions. :rolleyes:

I'm pretty sure that downconvert to analog thing is an FCC requirement for the cable systems.

The only way that TWC can get around it is to dump all analog feeds, which isn't happening soon. As long as they offer analog, they'll have to downconvert the OTA stations for those who have it.

I'm pretty sure that downconvert to analog thing is an FCC requirement for the cable systems.

The only way that TWC can get around it is to dump all analog feeds, which isn't happening soon. As long as they offer analog, they'll have to downconvert the OTA stations for those who have it.

So they will have to downconvert OTA stations? What about other cable channels? Will those be included or is it just the OTA channels?

in order to use the coupon it has to be an in store purchase, only seem to be a few manufactures actually making these boxes, I'll likely have to wait for the reviews, or do a side by side, I would think there's a difference in sensitivity in these tuners.

What's this I'm reading about a built in program guide in them?

OTA digital includes video, Dolby Digital audio (5.1 & 2.0) and data (program info, channel lineup, channel guide, etc..) much like you can get from cab/sat systems.

So they will have to downconvert OTA stations? What about other cable channels? Will those be included or is it just the OTA channels?

It's likely that they're already converting a digital signal to an analog one for the cable channels. Nothing is changing with traditional cable channels, they're just losing the analog source for local broadcasts.

I'm pretty sure that downconvert to analog thing is an FCC requirement for the cable systems.

The only way that TWC can get around it is to dump all analog feeds, which isn't happening soon. As long as they offer analog, they'll have to downconvert the OTA stations for those who have it.

The FCC is requiring cable/satellite to provide an analog and digital signal for 3 years after the transition (Feb 2009). At that point, the FCC will reconsider extending or not.

I should have put a post on this thread too. I know that a lot of you can pick us up and can sometimes get our DT better than some of the Cleveland stations.


An engineer had to be scrambled to the local receive site for Youngstown DirecTV Sunday morning to change the channel on the WKBN receiver. That receiver feeds the WKBN signal via fiber to the uplink.

Part of the MPEG spec includes tables that can hold EPG information. Since the converters have to drill into the stream to get at the video, it doesn't take much more in terms of additional CPU horsepower or memory to extract the program listings also.

& no monthly monetary exchange is involved in this? :confused:

Part of the MPEG spec includes tables that can hold EPG information. Since the converters have to drill into the stream to get at the video, it doesn't take much more in terms of additional CPU horsepower or memory to extract the program listings also.

OTA digital includes video, Dolby Digital audio (5.1 & 2.0) and data (program info, channel lineup, channel guide, etc..) much like you can get from cab/sat systems.

So the extraction of this data is a menu function of the D/A converter box?

& again from what I read this is a bonus feature of these new boxes? :)

So the extraction of this data is a menu function of the D/A converter box?

& again from what I read this is a bonus feature of these new boxes? :)

The digital video, digital audio, digital data are all present in the signal. Whether particular converter boxes will allow you access to the DD and/or data is a function of the converter box. Being that these are the most simplistic and basic type of box available I'd bet there is no DD output and probably just converts all audio to standard 2 ch. But I'd guess access to the data portion is probably mandated.

All purely speculation on my part. I've been all HD for two years so I have not followed the d/a converter box issue. ;)

OT: Regarding iPod auxiliary connection in my car....

Since the "Portable Audio/Video" threads of AVS don't get a lot of reads, I wanted to ask the question the same question to my local friends here.

Hopefully someone can shed some light....

From this: original post. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=990819)


I just got a new '08 Ford Explorer and was excited to find out that it had an auxiliary input for an MP3 player. I figured this would provide a more "direct" connection than the typical FM transmitter that I was using through the cigarette lighter socket in my previous car. Well, upon connecting my iPod Nano to the auxiliary input using a 3.5mm male stereo plug to 3.5mm male stereo plug, all I was able to receive was mono sound! The sound only came through on the front driver's side speaker! Does anyone have a reason why this is happening, or a possible solution to achieve sound on all 4 speakers?

Thank God my new Ford came with Sirius, or else I would go nuts listening to my mono iPod!

The FCC is requiring cable/satellite to provide an analog and digital signal for 3 years after the transition (Feb 2009). At that point, the FCC will reconsider extending or not.

how can satellite provide analog? they are a all digital system....unless I am missing what you are getting at.

how can satellite provide analog? they are a all digital system....unless I am missing what you are getting at.

I think he just meant cable. Satellite never carried analog, as you pointed out.

OT: Regarding iPod auxiliary connection in my car....

Since the "Portable Audio/Video" threads of AVS don't get a lot of reads, I wanted to ask the question the same question to my local friends here.

Hopefully someone can shed some light....

From this: original post. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=990819)

I think it is probably your cable. Look at the ends, if there is just one ring, its a mono patch cable, 2 rings mean stereo. I think that's it anyway. Hope this helps.

I just got a new '08 Ford Explorer and was excited to find out that it had an auxiliary input for an MP3 player. I figured this would provide a more "direct" connection than the typical FM transmitter that I was using through the cigarette lighter socket in my previous car. Well, upon connecting my iPod Nano to the auxiliary input using a 3.5mm male stereo plug to 3.5mm male stereo plug, all I was able to receive was mono sound! The sound only came through on the front driver's side speaker! Does anyone have a reason why this is happening, or a possible solution to achieve sound on all 4 speakers?

Thank God my new Ford came with Sirius, or else I would go nuts listening to my mono iPod!

The exact same thing happened to me. I can almost 100% guarantee that it is the cable. I just went up to Radio Shack and got a short stereo-to-stereo cable for a few bucks and it works like a charm.

& no monthly monetary exchange is involved in this? :confused:

The broadcasters insert their program listings into the digital guide at their own cost. The information is sent in the clear so any manufacturer of set top boxes is free to decode it and display it on the screen if they choose. I saw at least one unit that included an OSD feature, and it's a trivial matter to buffer that data and pump it through the OSD interface.

This is what all of the cable companies have agreed to do, at least for a period of time....

Yes, apparently others were aware of that as well since there have been comments on it already. I was simply surprised at how they are doing it. I knew of course that digital would be converted to analog....I just didnt' think they would do it at the headend.

As it works now those of us with digital receivers can receive either the digital or analog signal. Since they are receiving two signals I understand how they do it. But when they go to one digital signal it seems to me that it would be easier to have the signal converted to analog with a STB then to do it at headend.

I'm not an engineer so maybe I'm dead wrong. I'm just using common sense. And the other thing I don't understand is this would be a way for TW to pick up some more money. OK, they give the boxes out free for a few years if that's the agreement, then they could start charging people 3 years down the road.

And I wonder how they seperate the signal as it goes out? If someone has a box in one room and has other tv's just hooked up to regular cable from the wall, like I do, how the heck can headend know what to send?

As it works now those of us with digital receivers can receive either the digital or analog signal. Since they are receiving two signals I understand how they do it. But when they go to one digital signal it seems to me that it would be easier to have the signal converted to analog with a STB then to do it at headend.

?

It makes sense. Instead of wasting bandwidth on digital AND analog signals, it would make more sense to send out a DIGITAL ONLY signal from the head end and force everyone to have a cable STB. It's about damn time cable starts weaning the cheap a$$ people who don't have STBs off the "analog teat". It would be an absolute CRIME if cable were to keep all the current analog offering available after 2/17/09. Once again it's cable pandering to cheap a$$ Joe Six Pack who doesn't want a cable box. DEAL WITH IT!! Is there really that much resistance to getting a STB? Other services(satellite, AT&T) require STBs. So should cable. Get with it cable. If you want to be takes seriously in the Digital/HDTV Age, DROP THE F****** ANALOG CRAP!!!!

I don't think anyone cares about having a STB, it's the fact that TW charges an outrageous fee every month to use the boxes that are sometimes outdated even, and most of the time problematic... and heaven forbid if something should happen to it, then they charge the customer 300% what the box is worth brand new. :rolleyes:
I'd turn into a tickled-fancy-pants-boy if I could get basic digital cable with all the locals in HD with a STB for $20 a month. We all know THAT will NEVER happen.

Nickdawg is with me on the STB thing, but that's not what TW says they are going to do. And Smarty-Pants has a good point about the STB box.

But that doesn't answer the question. How does a signal go out and get changed at headend to downgrade it to an analog signal if the home has both STB's DVR's or maybe just a direct cable plugged into the tv?

In my home we have 2 HDTV's, one has a STB and of corse the other has my TiVo S3. But I have one more television in another room that is hooked up directly from the cable out of the wall. So some how headend needs to be able to send me both an analog signal and a digital signal. Now we all understand how that works now because they are still broadcasting in analog and digital. But how do they send out a downgraded digital signal and a regular digital signal at the same time to the same house? I mean I'm sure there must be a way to do it but it just seems very complicated to do.

Maybe the answer to this question simply lies in what they are doing now. They would send out a downgraded digital channel on lets say channel 803 for WKYC and the regular digital channel on channel 3 for WKYC. When it hits your box or TV it uses the proper signal.

And while we are talking about this is anyone else getting as annoyed as I am about WJW trying to explain this to people? Sure what we are talking about in the paragraphs above is a bit complicated but they make it sound like the vast majority of people out there are complete morons when it comes to digital and analog signals. Also they fail to mention that digital does not mean HD.

Then again maybe they are right. I'm so use to talking to you guys about it that I just think everyone understands it.

I sent WJW an email telling them that they make it sound more confusing then necessary. Of course it is sweeps month so they want to drag this huge "issue" out for as long as possible.

How does a signal go out and get changed at headend to downgrade it to an analog signal if the home has both STB's DVR's or maybe just a direct cable plugged into the tv?


And what about the viewers w/o HDTVs? The "Big 6" networks all broadcast 16:9 on their digital feeds. Not all TV will be 16:9. That means some aspect ratio switching will be necessary. If the signal is downconverted at the head end, viewers will have to take whatever is being put out(either letterbox or center cut). Center cut would work with 4:3 content, but it would have to be switched to LB for 16:9, since I doubt anyhting on a HD channel will be 4:3 safe after the cutoff.

That's why it makes more sense to give every customer a STB and let them choose the aspect. Some may like hideous, overscanned center cropped picture because of a dislike of letterbox bars. Others want to see the whole picture. I only have one HDTV and I would love MORE letterboxed material on my SDTVs. Wish CBS, ABC and FOX did like NBC. Maybe I'm just weird because I like letterboxing.;):D

I don't think anyone cares about having a STB, it's the fact that TW charges an outrageous fee every month to use the boxes that are sometimes outdated even, and most of the time problematic... and heaven forbid if something should happen to it, then they charge the customer 300% what the box is worth brand new. :rolleyes:
I'd turn into a tickled-fancy-pants-boy if I could get basic digital cable with all the locals in HD with a STB for $20 a month. We all know THAT will NEVER happen.

It would seem to us with logic that selling more boxes each month would mean lowering the cost. We all know how good Time Warner is in the logic department:rolleyes::rolleyes: .

TW has a few 100K+ customers in NE Ohio alone. Each customer would have at least one box, that's alot of money already. The numbers show now that most people have more than one TV. I have two STBs and would voluntarily add two more if they were less a month(I'd even like a HD STB for my little kitchen TV) just because the picture is better and you get the IPG with a STB.

As far as charging people, I don't feel bad for them. I've always had Time Warner equipment and never lost or damaged anything. The one tech that came to my house was talking about someone that had to pay $800 for a DVR(seems reasonable, since even the TIVO was about that much) because this customer poured water into the box and shorted it out. I talked to another customer in the parking lot of my local office who said one of his customers left a TW box in a rental and didn't return it. He asked if he should take it back. Once again, we all get the shaft from stupid people.

Question for Adelphia Viewers:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Go into your program guide and find the "Answers on Demand" channel. Tune to that channel and see if there are still any videos available explaining the menu systems. On PASSPORT in the Akron area, my AOD channel has a message on screen "Tune to Local On Demand Channel 1111 for troubleshooting information". Around the beginning of the month, all the PASSPORT videos disappeared.

Just curious if this is a sign of something to come.

Thank you

And what about the viewers w/o HDTVs? The "Big 6" networks all broadcast 16:9 on their digital feeds. Not all TV will be 16:9. That means some aspect ratio switching will be necessary. If the signal is downconverted at the head end, viewers will have to take whatever is being put out(either letterbox or center cut). Center cut would work with 4:3 content, but it would have to be switched to LB for 16:9, since I doubt anyhting on a HD channel will be 4:3 safe after the cutoff.


Well, being broadcast in digital and HD are not the same thing. For example you can watch channel 3 on TW and it is a digital broadcast, it just isn't the 1080i signal. It's only 480i digitally. Now if you go to the HD channel for 3 then you see the 1080i signal which may only be showing a 480i program. Hence you have the bars on the side of the set.

Well, being broadcast in digital and HD are not the same thing. For example you can watch channel 3 on TW and it is a digital broadcast, it just isn't the 1080i signal. It's only 480i digitally. Now if you go to the HD channel for 3 then you see the 1080i signal which may only be showing a 480i program. Hence you have the bars on the side of the set.

Right now, that digital broadcast of 3 and all local channels is a digitized version of the analog channel. On 2/17/09, analog will be shut off. Unless the stations continue to send out a DIGITAL, SD feed, the only thing coming out will be 16:9(on WOIO,WEW,WJW,WKYC,WBNX,WUAB,WNEO). Currently none of the big 6 have digital SD simulcasts(except WNEO).

Being in the low lying fringes of Lake County shadowed by the "ridge" I always rely on the amp (especially for UHF) made a big difference for 25, where even the local "repeaters" are inaccessable to me..... you are fotunate to live so close to the transmitters, that would even be a better reason to fight the resistance of getting cable! ;) ... I'm likely getting less than half of the OTA that you are. :(

What is strange though is I always got a good picture here on UHF untill Cable arrived in the early 80's, since then the signal has been degraded, I was even able to pick up faintly the time/temperature on Channel 7 from the cable without having cable.

Believe in conspiracy theories? :D
The problem with amps is that it's garbage in - garbage out. If you are behind a ridge you are receiving multipath which distorts the signal. Amplifiers cannot correct the problem they only amplify the problem. In analog that distortion may be only a faint ghost, but in digital that same distortion means you may not get a lock 24/7. Sure, you may get a pristine picture every now and then, but it's not a reliable signal. Atmospheric changes add to the problem (especially for you in Lake County with WOIO) which brings in distant signals on the same frequency which may mean you get nothing at all, or a pixelated mess.

BTW: If you have the ability I'd suggest putting up a tower to get OTA. If you could raise your antenna above the ridge, you would find that WKBN-DT is as strong as the Cleveland stations:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT603946.html
Notice that their signal goes out into Lake Erie along the Lake County shore line! It's only the ridge that is blocking the signal.

Re: Cable channel 7 leakage - The condition that allowed you to see a cable channel without being connected is a big no-no on the cable system's part. Since cable uses bandwidth that is not assigned to TV broadcast OTA (i.e. the mid band and super band) the cable system has to eliminate leakage so that the OTA services in those frequencies (aircraft etc.) are not compromised.

Let me guess - this ch 7, was it by any chance was Continental Cablevision the cable company? They were notorious for poor wiring.

I called TW earlier in the week inquiring about another HD box for my house, the rep said that I can get another box added free of charge to my account. He said the EARLIEST that they could get someone out to my house would be at least 3 weeks. I told him I did not even want to do that anyway, and that I will go to a TW store to get the box and install it myself. So I went to the Akron (corner of West Ave. and Brittan Rd.) local store and add another HD box (non DVR) to my account. The rep I got looked frustrated and she really did not give a damn about anything. I told her about the free box that the telephone rep told me about and she was like "No way, you cant get one." I didn't want to argue so I told her to just add a box and I will pay for it. "HD DVR box is $15 addional dollars a month." She said. I said I don't want an HD DVR box, she then told me that HD DVR's are all they have, and they would get more non-DVR's in AT LEAST 4 WEEKS. I was ever so pissed! You would think they would have the proper hardware in stock at all times.

Bottom line: I think TW underestimated the HD surge very greatly. And their store support reps are asses to you.

TW unprepared, overpriced, poor service, mean to their customers... yep, sounds about right. (Sorry about your misfortunate experience :()

Right now, that digital broadcast of 3 and all local channels is a digitized version of the analog channel. On 2/17/09, analog will be shut off. Unless the stations continue to send out a DIGITAL, SD feed, the only thing coming out will be 16:9(on WOIO,WEW,WJW,WKYC,WBNX,WUAB,WNEO). Currently none of the big 6 have digital SD simulcasts(except WNEO).

They will continue to send out a digital signal that is not HD. Their subchannels, just as they do now will do the HD broadcast. Until they change their actual channels.

In any case there will still be a 480i digitized signal.

I called TW earlier in the week inquiring about another HD box for my house, the rep said that I can get another box added free of charge to my account. He said the EARLIEST that they could get someone out to my house would be at least 3 weeks. I told him I did not even want to do that anyway, and that I will go to a TW store to get the box and install it myself. So I went to the Akron (corner of West Ave. and Brittan Rd.) local store and add another HD box (non DVR) to my account. The rep I got looked frustrated and she really did not give a damn about anything. I told her about the free box that the telephone rep told me about and she was like "No way, you cant get one." I didn't want to argue so I told her to just add a box and I will pay for it. "HD DVR box is $15 addional dollars a month." She said. I said I don't want an HD DVR box, she then told me that HD DVR's are all they have, and they would get more non-DVR's in AT LEAST 4 WEEKS. I was ever so pissed! You would think they would have the proper hardware in stock at all times.

Bottom line: I think TW underestimated the HD surge very greatly. And their store support reps are asses to you.

Ok, first don't listen to that person. Call TW customer service again and tell them what the first CSR told you and demand that you not be charged. If your told that the rep at the office is correct ask for your account to be turned over to a customer support specialist so they can review your billing. Mine was and I saved all kinds of money.

Now about the non HD DVR box thing. I'd probably say that is correct, they probably will only have HD DVR's available. Still you shouldn't get charged for any additional HD service.

You didn't go to the store in Twinsburg by any chance, did you?

Oh and if that doesn't work send an email to steve.fry@twcable.com. He's in charge of the Akron area, he'd love to hear from you.

This is almost too much. I've thought that when I ran speed tests that my speed was slower then I was with Adelphia's Highest speed internet. I've been paying for Road Runner Turbo for months now.

So what comes in the mail today? Why a letter from TW saying they have "noticed my cable modem needs to be replaced in order to use RR Turbo. They will send it to me UPS.

And to compensate for my lack of complete service they say they will credit me the difference between RR regular and Turbo for the time I've been paying for the more expensive service.

For the record I have a Scientific Atlanta model DPX110. So for all of you ex Adelphia people who paid for their fastest internet and have this modem be prepared for an exchange....or ask for one.

And here's the real good part. You notice in the post above I gave an email address to contact Steve Fry. It's signed by him.:D

I called TW earlier in the week inquiring about another HD box for my house, the rep said that I can get another box added free of charge to my account. He said the EARLIEST that they could get someone out to my house would be at least 3 weeks. I told him I did not even want to do that anyway, and that I will go to a TW store to get the box and install it myself. So I went to the Akron (corner of West Ave. and Brittan Rd.) local store and add another HD box (non DVR) to my account. The rep I got looked frustrated and she really did not give a damn about anything. I told her about the free box that the telephone rep told me about and she was like "No way, you cant get one." I didn't want to argue so I told her to just add a box and I will pay for it. "HD DVR box is $15 addional dollars a month." She said. I said I don't want an HD DVR box, she then told me that HD DVR's are all they have, and they would get more non-DVR's in AT LEAST 4 WEEKS. I was ever so pissed! You would think they would have the proper hardware in stock at all times.

Bottom line: I think TW underestimated the HD surge very greatly. And their store support reps are asses to you.

About 9 months ago i went to my local TW and ask for a HD box, they told didn't have any and that they were phasing them out and I could only get HD DVR. I ask about a cable card and they said I would have to call and get a serviceman to install it. So that is what I did.

So if you have 3 tvs in your house, then you have to pay $45 per month + tax just for the boxes??? YIKES!

I called TW earlier in the week inquiring about another HD box for my house, the rep said that I can get another box added free of charge to my account. He said the EARLIEST that they could get someone out to my house would be at least 3 weeks. I told him I did not even want to do that anyway, and that I will go to a TW store to get the box and install it myself. So I went to the Akron (corner of West Ave. and Brittan Rd.) local store and add another HD box (non DVR) to my account. The rep I got looked frustrated and she really did not give a damn about anything. I told her about the free box that the telephone rep told me about and she was like "No way, you cant get one." I didn't want to argue so I told her to just add a box and I will pay for it. "HD DVR box is $15 addional dollars a month." She said. I said I don't want an HD DVR box, she then told me that HD DVR's are all they have, and they would get more non-DVR's in AT LEAST 4 WEEKS. I was ever so pissed! You would think they would have the proper hardware in stock at all times.

Bottom line: I think TW underestimated the HD surge very greatly. And their store support reps are asses to you.

Did you get her name or what she looks like? I've had trouble with them before too. The one woman is a real bitch. She slammed and threw equipment. I would definately report this employee's actions to the email address posted by hookbill: steve.fry@twcable.com

Was her name Stacy? by any chance? I heard the same BS when I tried to get a HD-DVR. She said they wouldn't have any new boxes for 8 weeks. I ended up getting an old 8000HD that didn't work. As fir non-DVRs, they had plenty of those, except the old ones were crap.(SA3100 or Pioneer BD-V3510) The newer models may be better(SA4250).

I just had my wife take a look at the TW bill. Sure enough they credited me every months since they switched it back to Road Runner. My cable bill this month is around 23 bucks. I ought to frame that sucker.

Of course I still don't have the new modem yet. Hopefully it will arrive on Monday.

So if you have 3 tvs in your house, then you have to pay $45 per month + tax just for the boxes??? YIKES!

No that womans nuts. He'll get it straightened out.

For the record I have a Scientific Atlanta model DPX110.

I suspect that the DPX110, being an older modem, might not be DOCSIS 2.0 compatible. The 2.0 spec enables denser modulation formats for more throughput but it requires specific hardware to enable it. If they're switching you to a 2.0 modem that's a good thing.

There's a DOCSIS 3.0 spec out there but I don't think it's been implemented anywhere yet. The 3.0 spec enables channel bonding for additional throughput, but it can be pricey for operators to implement as it could require significant upgrades in their headends.

Did you get her name or what she looks like? I've had trouble with them before too. The one woman is a real bitch. She slammed and threw equipment. I would definately report this employee's actions to the email address posted by hookbill: steve.fry@twcable.com

Was her name Stacy? by any chance? I heard the same BS when I tried to get a HD-DVR. She said they wouldn't have any new boxes for 8 weeks. I ended up getting an old 8000HD that didn't work. As fir non-DVRs, they had plenty of those, except the old ones were crap.(SA3100 or Pioneer BD-V3510) The newer models may be better(SA4250).

I couldn't recall her name. She looked like a pretty average woman, maybe in her mid-late 40's. There were two people working. She looked pissed when I walked up to the counter but I played nice with her, she wasn't so nice with me. I felt like canceling and walking out then, but unfortunately TW has me, like most customers, "by the balls" (if you know what I mean) because of the amount of TV's that we have in the house (7) and I don't want to deal with a dish to accommodate that number.

This was the store in Tallmadge/Akron in the Midway plaza off Brittan and West Ave. One of the only ones open on Saturdays (which is like the only time I can get to these damn stores).

Hook,
I have emailed Steve Fry in the past inquiring about the lack of HD channels, and I did not receive a reply.

And it looks like I am going to pay TW more money, as I am considering RR (I am dropping our way overpriced AT&T landline phone service for Vonage, and the DSL, which has treated me great, is bundled with the landline service). Oh, the joys of being a consumer...

I couldn't recall her name. She looked like a pretty average woman, maybe in her mid-late 40's. There were two people working. She looked pissed when I walked up to the counter but I played nice with her, she wasn't so nice with me. I felt like canceling and walking out then, but unfortunately TW has me, like most customers, "by the balls" (if you know what I mean) because of the amount of TV's that we have in the house (7) and I don't want to deal with a dish to accommodate that number.

This was the store in Tallmadge/Akron in the Midway plaza off Brittan and West Ave. One of the only ones open on Saturdays (which is like the only time I can get to these damn stores).

If she had dark hair, that's probably her. Unfortunately that's the closest and only store I know of(right up Tallmadge Ave. from Akron). As far as 7 TVs, WOW:eek:, that would suck on satellite. You'd need 7 boxes and more than one dish. Plus, on top of that, dish is just trouble period. Until anyhting comes out of U-verse, TW is the only real option here. They do have us "by the balls".



Hook,
I have emailed Steve Fry in the past inquiring about the lack of HD channels, and I did not receive a reply.

And it looks like I am going to pay TW more money, as I am considering RR (I am dropping our way overpriced AT&T landline phone service for Vonage, and the DSL, which has treated me great, is bundled with the landline service). Oh, the joys of being a consumer...

I remember an article in the Beacon awhile back about Mr. Fry that was basically an advertisement for Time Warner. One part of the article talked about how Mr Fry "cares about customer service". What a load!!

Even if they don't listen, flood them with complaints. Eventually someone will have to say or do something about it.

Hook,
I have emailed Steve Fry in the past inquiring about the lack of HD channels, and I did not receive a reply.




I didn't get a direct response from him either. However I did get a response from this dude (don.jensen@twcable.com). Don Jensen.

In any case they are wrong and you shouldn't let them charge you for the box. Call customer service, explain what happened. This should be taken care of. Unfortunately this woman may continue to be an idiot that works in a place whre she doesn't understand what the fees are.

I still want to know how and why they said you can get a box added for free. I have an extra SD box and it costs $7.95 a month. :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

I still want to know how and why they said you can get a box added for free. I have an extra SD box and it costs $7.95 a month. :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a friggin price list on the website. But hey, that would just make too much damn sense now wouldn't it.

I think the other reason they don't post a price list is because prices vary from area to area. So if someone in Texas sees he's paying more then someone in New Mexico, well you can imagine the crap that would go down.

Then again, they charge different prices for gasoline depending on what area you live in.

You know I hate to get political but first it just seems to me that I have never lived in a more crooked state then Ohio. As a matter of fact the more I read about how bills get passed, how laws to finance campaigns are worked around and how the government waste our money so bad it just seems like the average joe just doesn't have a shot in this country anymore. Politicians go on saying about how they care for us while big business feeds their campaigns. Barac Obama had to return some checks that he got in the neighborhood of around 5 grand because they found out they were written by a 2 year old and a 4 year old. Clinton had to return 850g because somebody had found a way to "group" the funding so it didn't appear to come from one source. Then you've got these big shots who can only contribute so much due to campaign money restriction laws so they simply give the money to someone who works for them as a "bonus" and they donate the cash.

Anyway I know that really doesn't have much to do with HD, but since the FCC has their hands in the pot you can bet that cable is working some polititician somewhere.

If anyones interested all that stuff I mentioned is in this months Readers Digest in the "That's Outrageous" area.

I don't believe they charge me for my HD STB. They charge for my cable cards in my HD TiVo. At least I think that's the way it works. I'll have to look at the bill again.

I suspect that the DPX110, being an older modem, might not be DOCSIS 2.0 compatible. The 2.0 spec enables denser modulation formats for more throughput but it requires specific hardware to enable it. If they're switching you to a 2.0 modem that's a good thing.

There's a DOCSIS 3.0 spec out there but I don't think it's been implemented anywhere yet. The 3.0 spec enables channel bonding for additional throughput, but it can be pricey for operators to implement as it could require significant upgrades in their headends.

You know I'm beginning to wonder if I need the turbo now that I havn't been getting it anyway. I have Vonage,that works fine. Still I do some other things and I probably should have a fast download for those.

Anyway I justl love that small bill coming in. I can't believe they are keeping their word and doing what they said they will do.

They do have some line ups and prices at http://www.twcguide.com, the website where there is info about the new channel realignment. Although the prices there look different than my bill. It seems they can just charge whatever the hell they want.

My wife and I have been in our house for about a year. I just realized yesterday that the two cable outlet areas in my living room each have two coaxial outputs. I'm not sure if the previous owner had cable or satellite, but wouldn't the dual outputs mean satellite of some sort? The house is only ten years old, but I don't think this would have been a standard installation back then. How long has their been a need for two cables for two tuners on a DVR? What do you think?

The line of sight issue may not be as bad as I first thought. But, the other concern for getting D* is the necessary installation. If my suspicion is correct, the previous owner may have had satellite, making for an easier install.

nosey313, my guess would be maybe he had satellite that did not offer local channels, so he had one line for the satellite and one for over the air antenna to get his locals.

So if I got D*, do you think both lines would work for the dual tuner DVR?

nosey,

If you could connect both lines to the dish, yes it would work for dual tuner DVR.

FYI, DirecTV just released the single-wire-multiswitch to retail, the model number is SWM8 - I've seen it priced from about $189 up to a ripoff price of $399 at Weaknees. This allows you to use a single coax run in your house for the dual tuner DVRs. Only the newer HR20, HR21, H20, H21 are compatible with the SWM, though.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a friggin price list on the website. But hey, that would just make too much damn sense now wouldn't it.

This is one reason I always liked Wide Open West. They were the first (perhaps still the only) provider to have a simple calculator on their website to figure out ala-carte and bundled pricing without any bullshit. And (gasp) you can actually order service ONLINE, schedule an appointment ONLINE, and have the guy show up ON TIME to install it, and NEVER talk to a brain dead CSR in a call center somewhere. (gasp!)

Adelphia/TWC and Comcast are both completely worthless in that department. Their websites are pathetic when it comes to pricing and ordering service.
I always thought the old Adelphia postcards in the mail should have raised a red flag with the FTC because they always showed promo pricing, but never what the service would actually cost after the trial period was over. But apparently the government doesn't give a **** when it comes to false advertising by the cable companies.

I still want to know how and why they said you can get a box added for free. I have an extra SD box and it costs $7.95 a month. :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

I know. I was expecting the rep to say around another 6 dollar charge for another box. Then after talking to his manager, he said I could get one for free. I of course did not argue with that statement :).

I hope nobody thinks I ended up getting the HD DVR box for $15/mo. I indirectly told her hell no and walked out empty handed, but not with an empty attitude.

there is pricing online, go to Products, Digital cable, then pricing and packaging, then fill in what community you are from, then go to rate card, it is all there, and I agree 7.65 per box is CRAZY...I will be glad when Tivo comes out with the USB, it will be 3.10 for cable cards, then 12 for dvr service, but it will be WELL worth it.

I think it is probably your cable. Look at the ends, if there is just one ring, its a mono patch cable, 2 rings mean stereo. I think that's it anyway. Hope this helps.

The exact same thing happened to me. I can almost 100% guarantee that it is the cable. I just went up to Radio Shack and got a short stereo-to-stereo cable for a few bucks and it works like a charm.

Thanks guys. Indeed the issue was with the cable. I was using the "one ringed" mono cable.

So if you have 3 tvs in your house, then you have to pay $45 per month + tax just for the boxes??? YIKES!


Hmmm no telling who would fall for such a seductive pitch.....

Pulls out bottomless wallet ...fllip flip flip ....

The problem with amps is that it's garbage in - garbage out. If you are behind a ridge you are receiving multipath which distorts the signal. Amplifiers cannot correct the problem they only amplify the problem. In analog that distortion may be only a faint ghost, but in digital that same distortion means you may not get a lock 24/7. Sure, you may get a pristine picture every now and then, but it's not a reliable signal. Atmospheric changes add to the problem (especially for you in Lake County with WOIO) which brings in distant signals on the same frequency which may mean you get nothing at all, or a pixelated mess.
From the house I was in some years back, the amp generally worked fine, but I know what you mean by amplifying garbage.


BTW: If you have the ability I'd suggest putting up a tower to get OTA. If you could raise your antenna above the ridge, you would find that WKBN-DT is as strong as the Cleveland stations:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT603946.html
Notice that their signal goes out into Lake Erie along the Lake County shore line! It's only the ridge that is blocking the signal.

Noted WKBN's coverage earlier, though I had to opt for a condo upon returning to the area, so the tower is out of the question... I have a rooftop along with an attic for the upstairs & backup running an amp.... the condo Management & board always addresses the problems over to the cable operator, since only a small handful of us are still using the antennas, & luckily a few are still keeping on the upkeep of the antennas that are on a fixed income. Don't know how much of a lift I'd really need, could be a only a few feet though. Likely the ridge is whats hiding the WKBN Signal, though I was surveying Antennaweb, & seems WKBN doesnt appear until well south into Geauga County.


Let me guess - this ch 7, was it by any chance was Continental Cablevision the cable company? They were notorious for poor wiring.

Correct & correct! :).. this was in the mid/Late 80's though around when the serious degradtion of my OTA signal (especially the UHF) occoured, as I said before always got a great picture, no problems on all channels, with a smaller antenna until Contenintal/Cable entered the area, thereafter I had to go to a larger antenna & amp/.

If she had dark hair, that's probably her. Unfortunately that's the closest and only store I know of(right up Tallmadge Ave. from Akron). As far as 7 TVs, WOW:eek:, that would suck on satellite. You'd need 7 boxes and more than one dish. Plus, on top of that, dish is just trouble period. Until anyhting comes out of U-verse, TW is the only real option here. They do have us "by the balls".

Don't be too intimidated by the 7 TV's. All but one are old tubes, when we get a new TV, we find a new place for the old one. They all still work fine (including an old set from the early 80s), and I don't want to replace them if they ain't broken. :p

there is pricing online, go to Products, Digital cable, then pricing and packaging, then fill in what community you are from, then go to rate card, it is all there, and I agree 7.65 per box is CRAZY...I will be glad when Tivo comes out with the USB, it will be 3.10 for cable cards, then 12 for dvr service, but it will be WELL worth it.

I don't know where you came up with the $3.10 for cable cards. Currently I pay 2 bucks per card but on the price list they sent me a while back it said 2.99 for the first card and 5.25 for the second. And no, that wasn't the price of the two together.

I don't know why I only pay 2 bucks per card but when I had that customer specialist go through my account that's when the cable card price came down. At that time is was 1.99 for the first card and 3.99 for the second.

From the house I was in some years back, the amp generally worked fine, but I know what you mean by amplifying garbage.

One of the tricky things about amplifiers is that they can be driven into nonlinear operation on strong channels, causing distortion that can wipe out a digital channel. Those distortions can easily splatter across other frequencies, taking out more than the strong channels that caused the clipping in the first place.

Be especially wary of amps with crummy, intermittent gain pots. I've struggled with many amps from RS that would go absolutely banannas from just touching the gain pot. Getting the pot adjusted to the correct gain was an exercise in futility, and I usually wound up having to settle for a setting that was almost good enough. :rolleyes:

copied from time warners website for green area rates



Green Area
Prices
CONTACT US:
Toll-Free: 1-877-772-2253
E-Mail: twcable@neo.rr.com
Website: www.twcneo.com
Send Correspondence To:
5520 Whipple Ave. NW
North Canton, OH 44720
Residential Service & Installation Charges
Monthly Service
Community Lifeline Service Standard
Service
Clinton $12.55 $56.99
Coventry Twp. $12.55 $56.99
Franklin Twp. $14.82 $56.99
Green $12.55 $56.99
New Franklin $12.55 $56.99
Installation Charges & Other Fees
New Installation ............................................$44.95
Reconnection of Service ..............................$29.95
Additional Outlet (Same trip) ........................$19.95
Additional Outlet (Extra trip) ..........................$29.95
Upgrade/Downgrade ......................................$2.00
High-Speed Internet Installation ....................$99.00
Road Runner Wireless ..................................$29.95
Late Fee .........................................................$4. 95
Hourly Service Charge ............................$29.95/hr.
Equipment
Digital or HDTV Terminal .....................$7.65/month
Standard Converter or Home Terminal ...$.30/month
Dual Tuner ...........................................$7.65/month
Cable Card ..........................................$3.10/month
Remote Control .....................................$.31/month
NOTE: ALL APPLICABLE RATES ARE
SUBJECT TO FRANCHISE FEES.
Sales tax is charged on all equipment. All rates are subject to
change. Not all services are available in all areas.
Green Area

Here's what I got for my area:

DIGITAL
CABLE
ADVANCED
SERVICES
HIGH-SPEED
ONLINE
Residential Service & Installation Charges
Monthly Service
Broadcast Basic.................................................. $9.00
Expanded Basic................................................. $41.50
Classic Cable (Broadcast Basic and Expanded Basic)........ $50.50
Broadcast/Classic Cable Additional Outlet....No Charge
Digital Plus (available only with Digital Basic)................... $10.00
Installation Charges
Installation of Unwired Homes...........................$44.95
Installation of Unwired Homes
(underground)......................... Hourly charge plus materials
Installation of Pre-wired Homes.........................$29.95
Installation of additional outlet (at time of initial install).$19.95
Installation of additional outlet (separate trip)...........$29.95
Additional Digital Outlet Service Charge..............$3.00
Downgrade to Broadcast...................................$25.00
Relocate Service for inside outlet......................$29.95
Transfer Service................................................$29.9 5
Transfer Service (unwired).....................................$39.95
Non-pay Reconnect...........................................$29.95
Standard Service Call..................................No Charge
Trip Charge...................................................... ..$25.00
Equipment
Digital Equipment.................................................$7 .95
HDTV Converter.................................................$7 .95
Digital Video Recorder Converter........................$7.95
Suburban Cleveland 3
Valuepaks
Bronzepak (Digital Basic)...................................$61.50
Silverpak (Digital Basic and 1 Multi-Channel
Premium Service)...............................................$71.5 0
Goldpak (Digital Basic, Digital Plus and 2
Multi-Channel Premium Services).......................$81.50
Ultimatepak (Digital Basic, Digital Plus and 4
Multi-Channel Premium Services).......................$96.50
Advantagepaks
Classic Advantagepak (Classic Cable and High-Speed
Internet Service).................................................$93 .45
Bronze Advantagepak (Digital Basic and
High-Speed Internet Service)..............................$94.45
Silver Advantagepak (Digital Basic,
1 Multi-Channel Premium Service and
High-Speed Internet Service)............................$104.45
Gold Advantagepak (Digital Basic, Digital Plus,
2 Multi-Channel Premium Services and
High-Speed Internet Service)............................$114.45
Ultimate Advantagepak (Digital Basic, Digital Plus,
4 Multi-Channel Premium Services and
High-Speed Internet Service)............................$124.00
Add Road Runner Turbo to any Advantagepak......$9.95
Road Runner High Speed Online
Technician Installation of High-Speed Internet
Service..................................................... ........... $99.00
Overnight Charge, High-Speed Internet Service
Self Installation Kit............................................... $10.00
Modem Lease Fee................................................ $3.00
Road Runner High Speed On Line Standard
with leased Cable Modem.................................... $45.95
Road Runner High Speed On Line Standard
with Customer-owned approved
Cable Modem...................................................... $42.95
Road Runner Turbo (additional).............................. $9.95
Road Runner High Speed On Line (Formerly Basic HSI)
with leased Cable Modem................................... $27.95
Road Runner High Speed On Line (Formerly Basic HSI)
with Customer-owned approved
Cable Modem...................................................... $24.95
PREMIUM SERVICES
...........................................................$ 15.95
.........................................$15.95
............................................................ $15.95
............................................................ $15.95
Playboy TV.........................................................$ 19.95
Premium On Demand (May not be available in all
areas and requires premium subscription)..............Free
iN DEMAND Pay-Per-View
iN DEMAND Movies (per movie).................. variable
iN DEMAND Events (per event)................... variable
Seasonal Sports Packages........................... variable
Adult PPV..................................................... variable
International Channels
TV Russia...................................................... $15.00
CCTV4....................................................... ... $10.00
TV Asia........................................................ . $10.00
TV Japan....................................................... $25.00
TV5MONDE (French).................................... $10.00
The Filipino Channel...................................... $10.00
RAI International (Italian)................................ $10.00
ART American (Arabic) ................................. $10.00
Spanish Package
TV Español..................................................... . $8.00
Advanced Video Services
HD Plus........................................................ ... $5.00
DVR Digital Video Receiver/
Recorder Services........................................... $4.95
Other Charges
Returned Check Fee......................................$25.00
Late Payment Fee............................................$3.00
Expanded Basic service is only available with
subscription to Broadcast Basic service.
Equipment required for Digital and High-Speed Internet
services. Equipment costs are not included above.
Applicable taxes and fees not included. Not all services
are available in all areas. Prices subject to change.
TM and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s07)

Notice no price for cable card. But I do stand corrected, there is some sort of a price list.:)

PLEASE email the WOIO engineer and tell them to stop forcing the Grammys into SD for school closings. bmaupin@woio.com <bmaupin@woio.com>

PLEASE email the WOIO engineer and tell them to stop forcing the Grammys into SD for school closings. bmaupin@woio.com <bmaupin@woio.com>

Might as well spit in the wind my friend. As annoying as it is they are not going to change the way they do that.

WEWS is just so cool at this. Hopefully others will pick up on how to do it. But in the meantime, your stuck.

And as history has shown when it comes to "change" WOIO is the last one to do that.

Still I'll send him an email.:)

they need to make a price standard, but I am not complaining as I come out cheaper then you in most areas :)

PLEASE email the WOIO engineer and tell them to stop forcing the Grammys into SD for school closings. bmaupin@woio.com <bmaupin@woio.com>

Email sent. WOIO pretty much destroyed the Grammys with that crap. I'd say it was what, at least 15 minutes of SD during the 9:00 hour, and another 15 minutes during the 10:00 hour?

CBS lost me to HDNet - they have the Foo Fighters in glorious HD over there.

I also sent an email. No response, but they did temporarily go back to HD. They are so dumb. WOIO forces to SD during performances and shows HD when people are talking. What an ass backwards channel! :D
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-WKYC had a SD "Most Outrageous Moments" with a HD graphic on the bottom.
-WEWS has that godawful show "Brothers and Sisters" in HD with a HD graphic.
-WJW has that HD graphic on crack with text and two crawls.
-WOIO/WUAB force SD, even on their own newscast. Still stuck in 1985!

CBS lost me to HDNet - they have the Foo Fighters in glorious HD over there.

Wow food fighting in HD! I wish I would have known I'll bet that was cool. Real pies, veggies, and stuff. I'm surprised it wasn't on the Food Channel HD.

Oh...you said Foo Fighters....the rock band.

Nevermind:D

Actually I haven't heard any of their stuff in years because I kind of stopped listening to new music but I know who they are and I remember they were a pretty good band. But I wouldn't recognize anything they have done if it was after 1999.

I guess they are kind of an "old" band now. Specially since I know who they are.

Any of you geezers out there want to hear something really interesting? Jack Bruce and Robin Trower have a new CD out called Seven Moons. If you liked Creem from the 60's you gotta check this out. Yeah, Trower still has that Hendrix style but it mixes real well in this album.

Off topic, I know but since regular radio doesn't play this music somehow you gotta spread the word.

People actually watched the Grammy's last night???

HDNet Movies had me engaged for 4 hours last night for the premier HD showing of Laurence of Arabia! :eek:

BTW, After reading the last 2 pages of complaints about TW and cable, I am so happy to be fortunate enough in having the option to go with Satellite. I really couldn't be happier with D* at this point....

My wife and I have been in our house for about a year. I just realized yesterday that the two cable outlet areas in my living room each have two coaxial outputs. I'm not sure if the previous owner had cable or satellite, but wouldn't the dual outputs mean satellite of some sort? The house is only ten years old, but I don't think this would have been a standard installation back then. How long has their been a need for two cables for two tuners on a DVR? What do you think?

The line of sight issue may not be as bad as I first thought. But, the other concern for getting D* is the necessary installation. If my suspicion is correct, the previous owner may have had satellite, making for an easier install.

A good way to find out is to check your roof of any evidence of a satellite being mounted in the past. Typically, once a satellite is removed, a mounting bracket is usually left behind on the roof. A few installers told me that it isn't recommended to remove this bracket after a satellite is taken down because the bracket is wedged below the roof shingles in the original install and removing it could result in water getting below the shingles and described it as a how a "new wound would be opened".

I have an old mounting bracket still on the roof from E* when I was a sub a while ago. When I canceled and went with D*, they chose to use a new location and their own mounting bracket.

Also, I wouldn't resist attempting a satellite install based on whether you think your house is already setup for satellite or not. It's not a difficult task to run a new or separate cable to any desired room, especially on the first floor and especially if you have a crawl space or basement. Besides, the installers job is to give you access to whichever rooms you wish to hook up. Leave the creativeness to the experts. Every D* tech that has been to my house has done an excellent job install job..

My wife and I have been in our house for about a year. I just realized yesterday that the two cable outlet areas in my living room each have two coaxial outputs. I'm not sure if the previous owner had cable or satellite, but wouldn't the dual outputs mean satellite of some sort? The house is only ten years old, but I don't think this would have been a standard installation back then. How long has their been a need for two cables for two tuners on a DVR? What do you think?

The line of sight issue may not be as bad as I first thought. But, the other concern for getting D* is the necessary installation. If my suspicion is correct, the previous owner may have had satellite, making for an easier install.

I know exactly what this was. Primestar. Anybody remember?

They got bought out by D* and their dish, which was pretty big compared to D*'s had two inputs from the dish to the box.

I know exactly what this was. Primestar. Anybody remember?

They got bought out by D* and their dish, which was pretty big compared to D*'s had two inputs from the dish to the box.

Not necessarily. Both D* and E* have dual tuner DVR's as well. Both require 2 cable lines.

Not necessarily. Both D* and E* have dual tuner DVR's as well. Both require 2 cable lines.

True, but didn't you have to run a splitter from the outside of your house to support those lines? PrimeStar required no splitter. Of course PrimeStar didn't have a DVR either.:)

Hook:
I didn't see anyone respond as to how cable sends analog and digital down the same cable. For Time Warner, our CH 21 signal gets fibered analog video/audio to a hub where it gets converted to digital on one of the QAM channels. That channel is downconverted back to channel 3 NTSC. On A TWC STB when you dial up Channel 3 it remaps to the SD QAM channel. If you plug the cable directly into an analog NTSC only TV it uses the channel 3 RF signal.
I don't know why they don't keep it analog for channel 3, I'm sure it has to do with their headend layout, but it creates an interesting scenario for me at work. I watch 21 off an antenna in my office. In the lobby area outside my office is an analog TV direct connected to TWC. The up/down conversion creates such a delay I can watch something at my desk, get up and walk out to the lobby TV and see it again.

Speaking of school closings ...

<old fart rant>
It's a bright, sunny day today with a dusting of snow. Did we close all the schools today because it's 10 degrees outside? :rolleyes: Seems to me most of the kids today take a heated school bus, or get driven to school in their parents (or their own) cars.
</old fart rant>

Speaking of school closings ...

<old fart rant>
It's a bright, sunny day today with a dusting of snow. Did we close all the schools today because it's 10 degrees outside? :rolleyes: Seems to me most of the kids today take a heated school bus, or get driven to school in their parents (or their own) cars.
</old fart rant>

Yup, too cold for "school". And where are all the kids? Outside SLEDDING in the metroparks! :D

When I used to walk to school 10 miles uphill - both ways - I got frostbite and lost 2 fingers. AND I LIKED IT!!!

:D :D :D

Well, it was pretty nasty this morning on the roads and I was quite frankly happy that I didn't have to deal with school buses, crossing guards, etc.


Speaking of school closings ...

<old fart rant>
It's a bright, sunny day today with a dusting of snow. Did we close all the schools today because it's 10 degrees outside? :rolleyes: Seems to me most of the kids today take a heated school bus, or get driven to school in their parents (or their own) cars.
</old fart rant>

Well, it was pretty nasty this morning on the roads and I was quite frankly happy that I didn't have to deal with school buses, crossing guards, etc.

I agree. The East Side (snow belt) definitely got it worse than the rest as usual. Driving into work this morning on 271S it was like night and day once I got South of the Harvard Exit. Up until Harvard everyone was going 20mph on the snow covered highway. After Harvard, there was barely a dusting on the roads. What was the excuse for the rest of NE Ohio? Cold? pft.... :rolleyes:

Well, it was pretty nasty this morning on the roads and I was quite frankly happy that I didn't have to deal with school buses, crossing guards, etc.

Don't get me started on what a lousy job ODOT does with I-271 over here. The slightest bit of snow and it turns into a skating rink. There's no excuse for it. My rule now is if I see snow falling outside, NEVER take 271. The side streets always get me home quicker and more safely.

Small children can not withstand the cold temperatures when exposed to them at the bus stop or even for those that have to walk to school.
There are plenty of us who live in nice neighborhoods where the stay-at-home mommy drives all the kids to school everyday in the minivan or SUV, but we easily forget about those kids less fortunate that have to walk to school. Plenty of school systems now have the stupid-ass rule of if you live within a mile radius of the school, then you have to walk or get a ride... no bus. So, believe it or not, there are kids that have to walk about a mile to school everyday.
Temps this morning basically fluctuating between -5% to +7% depending on the area in NE Ohio, and that does not include windchill. I wouldn't want my child exposed to those conditions.
I agree that education should be first prioity for our children, but not at the sacrifice of their health.

Small children can not withstand the cold temperatures when exposed to them at the bus stop or even for those that have to walk to school.
There are plenty of us who live in nice neighborhoods where the stay-at-home mommy drives all the kids to school everyday in the minivan or SUV, but we easily forget about those kids less fortunate that have to walk to school. Plenty of school systems now have the stupid-ass rule of if you live within a mile radius of the school, then you have to walk or get a ride... no bus. So, believe it or not, there are kids that have to walk about a mile to school everyday.
Temps this morning basically fluctuating between -5% to +7% depending on the area in NE Ohio, and that does not include windchill. I wouldn't want my child exposed to those conditions.
I agree that education should be first prioity for our children, but not at the sacrifice of their health.

When I was in school I walked to school every day. Nobody drove me. When I had a bike I rode it. I never got out of school because of silly reasons like "oh, it's too cold" or "oh we've got two inches of snow on the ground."

I grew up in Los Angeles California.:D

When I was in school I walked to school every day. Nobody drove me. When I had a bike I rode it. I never got out of school because of silly reasons like "oh, it's too cold" or "oh we've got two inches of snow on the ground."

I grew up in Los Angeles California.:D

LOL :D:D:D

Good one Hook! :p:p:p

Hook:
I didn't see anyone respond as to how cable sends analog and digital down the same cable. For Time Warner, our CH 21 signal gets fibered analog video/audio to a hub where it gets converted to digital on one of the QAM channels. That channel is downconverted back to channel 3 NTSC. On A TWC STB when you dial up Channel 3 it remaps to the SD QAM channel. If you plug the cable directly into an analog NTSC only TV it uses the channel 3 RF signal.
I don't know why they don't keep it analog for channel 3, I'm sure it has to do with their headend layout, but it creates an interesting scenario for me at work. I watch 21 off an antenna in my office. In the lobby area outside my office is an analog TV direct connected to TWC. The up/down conversion creates such a delay I can watch something at my desk, get up and walk out to the lobby TV and see it again.


OK. So you send out an analog signal along a fiber cable to a hub. Then this signal is converted to a digital signal for STB's and stays analog for direct wall connected televisions. All of this makes perfect sense to even a non engineering person like me. Also we who have STB's can probably see your analog channel as well (that's the way it works with the Cleveland stations). And I know about the delay between the digital and the analog signal. I've heard that in my house as well.

Easy to understand. Now what happens when you stop your analog broadcast over the air? Will you continue to do it as you are doing it now? I mean this would seem like the logical answer. And it would explain how everything would continue to work as it does now.

I always had the idea that cable stations got their feed OTA. I didn't realize local channels pumped the signal in via fiber optic cable. It does explain why the "digital" picture isn't quite what I would expect it to be since in fact it is upgraded analog.

Anyway thanks for the explanation.

One other question. How does the cable company receive the HD signal?

When I was in school I walked to school every day. Nobody drove me. When I had a bike I rode it. I never got out of school because of silly reasons like "oh, it's too cold" or "oh we've got two inches of snow on the ground."

I grew up in Los Angeles California.:D

Oh wait, don't tell me you're one of those guys that actually tries to surf on Lake Erie are you?!?! :D:D:D

Oh wait, don't tell me you're one of those guys that actually tries to surf on Lake Erie are you?!?! :D:D:D

When I was a kid we heard about that. We thought that it was insane, but since I've been out here I've seen the waves and they are rideable. I haven't tried it but then again I don't go anywhere in public with my shirt off anymore.;)

And actually to be more specific, I grew up in Hawthorne, California. The home of The Beach Boys. I went to the same high school but they were much older then I was so I never knew them.

When I was a kid we heard about that. We thought that it was insane, but since I've been out here I've seen the waves and they are rideable. I haven't tried it but then again I don't go anywhere in public with my shirt off anymore.;)

And actually to be more specific, I grew up in Hawthorne, California. The home of The Beach Boys. I went to the same high school but they were much older then I was so I never knew them.

And I grew up in Geauga County, where school was RARELY cancelled due to snow/cold and we had to shovel our roofs!

Of course, regardless of living in *snow central* of NEO, pops was too cheap to buy a snow thrower/blower. His response: "Sounds like -YOU- need a snow blower, I have three kids and three shovels". :eek:

If the station is sending its SD feed directly to cable by fiber, then why not send a true digital feed instead of analog? Why does cable do that hideous "digitized" channel thing instead of using a real digital feed? Many of the "digitized" channels, especially the local SD, look horrible. WBNX has ghosting and lines through the picture.

If the station is sending its SD feed directly to cable by fiber, then why not send a true digital feed instead of analog? Why does cable do that hideous "digitized" channel thing instead of using a real digital feed? Many of the "digitized" channels, especially the local SD, look horrible. WBNX has ghosting and lines through the picture.

Because those people you like so much, you know, the ones who don't have an STB wouldn't be able to get a signal. I'm sure that answer makes you real happy.:D

Because those people you like so much, you know, the ones who don't have an STB wouldn't be able to get a signal. I'm sure that answer makes you real happy.:D

No, I meant have a digital feed straight from the network. Show that true digital feed for us who have STBs. Downcovnert the DIGITAL feed to ANALOG instead for those non-STB @$$es. In the "digital age" it doesn't make sense to upconvert analog signals.

OK. So you send out an analog signal along a fiber cable to a hub. Then this signal is converted to a digital signal for STB's and stays analog for direct wall connected televisions. All of this makes perfect sense to even a non engineering person like me. Also we who have STB's can probably see your analog channel as well (that's the way it works with the Cleveland stations). And I know about the delay between the digital and the analog signal. I've heard that in my house as well.

Easy to understand. Now what happens when you stop your analog broadcast over the air? Will you continue to do it as you are doing it now? I mean this would seem like the logical answer. And it would explain how everything would continue to work as it does now.

I always had the idea that cable stations got their feed OTA. I didn't realize local channels pumped the signal in via fiber optic cable. It does explain why the "digital" picture isn't quite what I would expect it to be since in fact it is upgraded analog.

Anyway thanks for the explanation.

One other question. How does the cable company receive the HD signal?

Cable cos can get broadcasters signals either OTA or fiber and sometimes microwave. The fiber/microwave can be digital and is usually HD and SD signals combined together in a ASI bitstream. The cable companies then pull out the individual channels and remodulate to QAM at the digital level. WKBN feeds Armstrong Cable and TWC with 4 channels. WKBN-HD, WKBN-SD, FOX-HD, and FOX-SD.
So after the analog shutoff WKBN viewers will still get an SD feed. The other ways for cable companies to get 4x3 SD if the station doesn't provide it is to center cut and downconvert (cuts off some of the bugs and graphics on the edges - a plus for some) or they can just "postage stamp" the 16x9 video to 4x3. WKBN is very fortunate with their location. It sits on a corner where Armstrong and TWC meet. There's a splice inside the building tying the 2 cable companies together. Of course all of these scenarios vary by station & cable company. How WFMJ is going to handle analog shutoff is a high priority for me this year, but at least TWC in our market will have an analog SD feed when we shut that transmitter off.

No, I meant have a digital feed straight from the network. Show that true digital feed for us who have STBs. Downcovnert the DIGITAL feed to ANALOG instead for those non-STB @$$es. In the "digital age" it doesn't make sense to upconvert analog signals.

I understood exactly what you meant. And I told you the reason why. Yes, you are right preferably that would make more sense for you and I. But I have no idea how many customers TW has that don't have an STB. And as TV21CHIEF explains it that is how they will continue to deliver an analog signal to those who don't have an STB.

I'm in total agreement with you and as I said before I see this as a missed opportunity for TW. They could give out the STB's and deliver the digital stations for a few years and then start charging for them.

But now that I see how the signal is delivered I understand why they won't force them to by a box. And yes, you and I will suffer with an inferior picture on our local digital channels.

So watch the HD channel and put up with the bars on the side. That's the only cable solution.

So after the analog shutoff WKBN viewers will still get an SD feed. The other ways for cable companies to get 4x3 SD if the station doesn't provide it is to center cut and downconvert (cuts off some of the bugs and graphics on the edges - a plus for some) or they can just "postage stamp" the 16x9 video to 4x3.


Wow, that sounds like it would look like complete garbage.

Wow, that sounds like it would look like complete garbage.

It should and I hope it does. MY HD bandwidth should NOT be robbed to keep a 4:3 simulcast. Get a converter box and either letterbox or center cut yourself. I hope Cleveland stations do not plan on doing this. Currently no one has a SD digital subchannel showing the main network feed.

That channel is downconverted back to channel 3 NTSC. On A TWC STB when you dial up Channel 3 it remaps to the SD QAM channel. If you plug the cable directly into an analog NTSC only TV it uses the channel 3 RF signal.
I don't know why they don't keep it analog for channel 3

I'm guessing this is to provide a more consistent (better) PQ for people who have STB's. When TWC started this practice, I noticed that the PQ of the digitized locals through my box was a bit sharper than the analog equivalent on the same set. Recent unscientific tests have shown the same...

Digital Transition Luncheon:

I am a member of the local NATAS chapter, and we are having a luncheon next Tuesday, February 19 at the Downtown Hilton Garden Inn about the transition to digital and what it means for broadcasters and cable systems.

The event is open to the public, and you can even attend even if you don't want lunch. The luncheon events will take place simultaneously in Cleveland, Toledo and Indianapolis, and are open to the public.

In Cleveland, it'll be held at the downtown Hilton Garden Inn, and will feature speakers Steve Hyvonen, Berry Pinney and Time Warner Cable's Bill Jasso. Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Tom Feran will moderate.

Complete information is available at the chapter website: nataslgl.org

Digital Transition Luncheon:

I am a member of the local NATAS chapter, and we are having a luncheon next Tuesday, February 19 at the Downtown Hilton Garden Inn about the transition to digital and what it means for broadcasters and cable systems.

The event is open to the public, and you can even attend even if you don't want lunch. The luncheon events will take place simultaneously in Cleveland, Toledo and Indianapolis, and are open to the public.

In Cleveland, it'll be held at the downtown Hilton Garden Inn, and will feature speakers Steve Hyvonen, Berry Pinney and Time Warner Cable's Bill Jasso. Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Tom Feran will moderate.

Complete information is available at the chapter website: nataslgl.org

Thank you. We saw the first message. I have no doubt that you are just reminding us since it appears to be a non profit organization but duplicate posting in this forum may be considered spamming.

Just an fyi.:)

As far as 7 TVs, WOW, that would suck on satellite. You'd need 7 boxes and more than one dish.
Not necessarily, Dish Network has dual tuner boxes (including several HD boxes) that allows for viewing 2 different channels from one box at the same time. Additionally they employ special splitters so these dual tuner boxes only need one coax run to the dish per box. Finally they use 4-output multiswitches so that 4 dual tuner boxes can be fed from one dish. That means you can have up to 8 TV's connected to one dish.

It should and I hope it does. MY HD bandwidth should NOT be robbed to keep a 4:3 simulcast. Get a converter box and either letterbox or center cut yourself. I hope Cleveland stations do not plan on doing this. Currently no one has a SD digital subchannel showing the main network feed.

Reread TV21Chief's post. They are using fiber optic lines to feed the cable systems the SD (as well as HD feeds). That is a closed-circuit! The OTA signal does not contain the SD version of the channel (at least not here in the Cleveland or Youngstown markets). O.K. PBS does send an SD subchannel, but that's because PBS HD is a totally separate programming schedule.

Several stations do use subchannels, but they contain different programming, not just the SD version of the main HD program stream.

http://www.twcguide.com/media/change-flyer.pdf

Above is the new lineup for channels 100+ on TW. It includes the additions of the new HD channels that we already know about. All HD channels will now be in the 400 channel range rather than 500.

http://www.twcguide.com/media/change-flyer.pdf

Above is the new lineup for channels 100+ on TW. It includes the additions of the new HD channels that we already know about. All HD channels will now be in the 400 channel range rather than 500.


That's for your area. That's not for everyone.

Also why are they still broadcasting (in my area) 2 HD channels of TBS?

Someone in another thread has stated, wether old news or new news I don't know, that Sony has purchased or owns 75% of Time Warner.
Is this true????

That's for your area. That's not for everyone.

Also why are they still broadcasting (in my area) 2 HD channels of TBS?

That's for EVERYONE'S area. They are standardizing our line ups. Currently my HD is in the 500s and yours is 700s. According to that list, HD will be in the 400s. This should be interesting...
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Check out the navigaton on the left side of http://www.twcguide.com. Notice the answers on demand links. They link to PDFs showing the PASSPORT menu system and DVR screens. I thought they were phasing out PASSPORT, but they are now advertising it on their NEW line up site. Hmmm.

Waht's going on with "American Idol" right now?? Color bars for three minutes followed by freezing/pixelation.

Waht's going on with "American Idol" right now?? Color bars for three minutes followed by freezing/pixelation.

CRAP! Totally forgot it was on. Thanks for reminding me ;). Turned it on and looks great here in Canton via QAM on TW.

Looks great on analog from TW in Akron. ;)

looks good so far, now if only we can get mapdown options that would be terrific!!! that way I dont have to turn to channel whatever for FoxHD, I can just turn to channel 8 and it comes in!

I'm having a D* problem tonight, but things seem to be coming back slowly.

Digital Transition Luncheon:

The event is open to the public, and you can even attend even if you don't want lunch.

Can you attend for free if you're not having lunch? Clarification please! :)

Yes, you can attend without having the lunch. Those tickets are $10 each. Complete info is on the chapter website at: nataslgl.org

Thank you. We saw the first message. I have no doubt that you are just reminding us since it appears to be a non profit organization but duplicate posting in this forum may be considered spamming.

Just an fyi.:)
Sorry about that. I thought my first post was lost, as someone posted that the server went down. I just thought that this would be of interest to those on this board. Especailly with Bill Jasso speaking at the event and taking questions. Plus Chief Engineer from WEWS, Berry Pinney will be there as well. Might be a good chance to finally get some real answers to all the questions I see on here about digital, cable and broadcasting. I meant no harm...and yes we are a non-profit.

http://www.twcguide.com/media/change-flyer.pdf

Above is the new lineup for channels 100+ on TW. It includes the additions of the new HD channels that we already know about. All HD channels will now be in the 400 channel range rather than 500.

So from this list, I count 4 new TW HD additions from my List: A&E- HD, HGTV- HD, Food- HD and HBO- West HD. Are the "live" dates still TBD, or are these new HD channels now officially up and running for NE Ohio TW customers?

And one more thing, what the hell is "Cavaliers HD"??? I assume they mean they just broadcast the HD Cav's games on a dedicated channel instead of carrying FSN-OH HD full time, similar to D*. I just had to laugh as TW almost makes it seem like they carry some exclusive channel that doesn't really exist....

Someone in another thread has stated, whether old news or new news I don't know, that Sony has purchased or owns 75% of Time Warner.
Is this true????

I think you're confused with this story: story. (http://money.cnn.com/2004/09/13/news/fortune500/twx_mgm/?cnn=yes)

From that article: "It appears Sony has reportedly reached an agreement to purchase MGM after Time Warner withdrew their bid to purchase MGM."

^Edit. This is an old story from 2004! I haven't heard of any other significant links between Sony and TW , except for Warner's recent announcement to support Blu-Ray in the HDM format war...

I think you're confused with this story: story. (http://money.cnn.com/2004/09/13/news/fortune500/twx_mgm/?cnn=yes)

From that article: "It appears Sony has reportedly reached an agreement to purchase MGM after Time Warner withdrew their bid to purchase MGM."

^Edit. This is an old story from 2004! I haven't heard of any other significant links between Sony and TW , except for Warner's recent announcement to support Blu-Ray in the HDM format war...

Your edit was added just as I was getting ready to post. I know for a fact that Sony purchased MGM over 10 years ago. When I last lived in California I lived in Culver City which is where MGM is located. After Sony purchased it they took down the huge MGM sign and put up SONY STUDIOS. I also can set the time frame a bit further back because they had huge posters of TV shows that they made there and I distinctly remember seeing a poster for "Mad About You" and that was still a hit so it's probably even more years then that.

I've got some fond memories of MGM when I was a child. We would ride our bikes from Hawthorne, which was about 10 miles away and we found a way to sneak into the area where the Hogans Hero's set was (the prison camp yard). The trap door in the yard could be opened but of course there was nothing but solid ground under it. It was just kind of cool to sneak in there.:)

I just received a call from time warner yesterday about the regular HD box i was getting this saturday. Well they are out of those but did offer me the HD-DVR box @ $7 a month with the first month free. They said it would be at least 4 weeks before I would get a regular box.

On another note

I don't think anyone cares about having a STB, it's the fact that TW charges an outrageous fee every month to use the boxes that are sometimes outdated even, and most of the time problematic... and heaven forbid if something should happen to it, then they charge the customer 300% what the box is worth brand new. :rolleyes:
I'd turn into a tickled-fancy-pants-boy if I could get basic digital cable with all the locals in HD with a STB for $20 a month. We all know THAT will NEVER happen.

Actually if you were just setup for analog broadcast, like my mom was, you are being charged more than that of a person with digital cable and the STB. I called and had them switch her to digital cable and the box and she now has more channels and a cheaper bill by $10.

I just received a call from time warner yesterday about the regular HD box i was getting this saturday. Well they are out of those but did offer me the HD-DVR box @ $7 a month with the first month free. They said it would be at least 4 weeks before I would get a regular box.

On another note



Actually if you were just setup for analog broadcast, like my mom was, you are being charged more than that of a person with digital cable and the STB. I called and had them switch her to digital cable and the box and she now has more channels and a cheaper bill by $10.

I pay less than $13/month... no box.

I pay less than $13/month... no box.

You're one of THOSE people! :mad::mad::eek::eek:

You're one of THOSE people! :mad::mad::eek::eek:

I get all the locals and then some in analog. I get all the locals in HD and several other channels in digital via QAM. When the HD ever breaks up, I just switch over to analog.

My "must watch" list is very short. Only about 3-4 tv shows that I schedule for watching. The kids watch a lot of children's programming on PBS.
Lifeline Basic gives me everything I need right now. I enjoy watching my dvds in my theater much more than most of the CRAP on tv right now.

If I had 100 more channels, then I'm sure I'd find a few more things to watch, but I don't mind missing out since it would cost me $50-$90+ more every month to get that.
If they'd stop ripping everyone off and just give expanded digital cable for about $30/month then I'd go for it. However, with the circumstances the way they are, there's no way in hell I'm gonna upgrade just to make you happy and just to make TWs pockets deeper than what they already are.
If you don't like it, you can stick it up your arse and stop it with a cork. :rolleyes::p;):)

I'm having a D* problem tonight, but things seem to be coming back slowly.

It was probably the ice. My D* signal went flaky then out completely about the same time last night. I went outside with my 10 foot stick and tapped the dish to knock the ice off and the signal came right back.

I've seen some spray sold on the internet that coats the dish (with silicone I guess) supposedly keeps the ice from sticking. I also vaguely remember seeing dish heaters somewhere. I think I've also seen a fabric cover type deal to keep the dish clean.

watch taping on the dish, with the KA signal, it just takes a slight adjustment and your Alignment could go out of wack! the KA(99, and 103 satellites) signal is ALOT more touchy then the old KU (101, 110, and 119)