I get CBS-HD on 87.2 and KWGN on 0-656 which is probably a weirdness of my TV.

I just bought a Samsung DTB-H260F and can't get KCNC-HD or KWGN HD or KTVD HD. I tried 87-2, 89-2 and all the 87-x channels that the STB picked up. I also tried punching in 654 without any luck. I checked all the other channels that the STB picked up and didn't auto-label. When I hooked up the antenna and scanned OTA, I can get KCNC-HD and KWGN HD, but no KTVD HD. Why can't I get these channels with the STB QAM tuner, but can with Comcast's HD-PVR Motorola?

The QAM card in my htpc still finds KCNCDT (CBS) at 89-2 and KWGNDT (CW) at either 116-1 or 116-2, I can't remember which. But the QAM tuners in my LG and Samsung TVs do not find either of them, either through scanning or manual entry. I'm in Boulder.

Comcast is obviously experimenting with with how they provide PSIP info. In some cases, like the remapping of KRMADT to 6-1 and ABC, NBC and FOX to the 0-65x range, my TVs can pick them up, while in these other two cases they can't. MYNetwork at 117-1 is the only one that doesn't get remapped.

The QAM tuners in TVs these days are all different, such that some are able to pick up KCNCDT and KWGNDT and some aren't. As far as I can tell there's nothing to be done but wait for Comcast to change the way they map these channels, though I suppose they could just as easily go the other way and screw all of them up.

Comcast sucks. They have no incentive to fix this, and with football season upon us I'm sure they're looking forward to QAM users breaking down and renting boxes from them.

Derek

In reality, Comcast is under no obligation to provide the HD versions of the locals. They are only required to provide the digital channels, and you will probably find digital versions of the SD channels somewhere else on your QAM tuner. Of course, when the analog switch happens, will the locals be providing two different channels - one 4:3 SD and one 16:9 HD, or will it only be the latter?

When the transmitter on Lookout Mountain is finished, this should not be an issue. At that point most people along the Front Range will be able to receive local HD OTA.

Concerning cable and the analog-digital divide, today there was an article in the Spotlight section of the Rocky Mountain News addressing the issue. Apparently the FCC is compelling cable companies to continue offering analog cable service to analog-only customers until Feb 2012. It doesn't quite address what you were discussing, but I found it interesting nonetheless. This should really screw with Comcast's introduction of new HD channels. They must continue to provide broadcast channels in SD in some fashion for the next five years.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/movies/article/0,2792,DRMN_23_5700589,00.html


In reality, Comcast is under no obligation to provide the HD versions of the locals. They are only required to provide the digital channels, and you will probably find digital versions of the SD channels somewhere else on your QAM tuner. Of course, when the analog switch happens, will the locals be providing two different channels - one 4:3 SD and one 16:9 HD, or will it only be the latter?

Comcast could choose to provide boxes for free to the analog only customers.

When the transmitter on Lookout Mountain is finished, this should not be an issue. At that point most people along the Front Range will be able to receive local HD OTA.


Not everyone is lucky/unlucky enough to have direct LOS to Lookout Mountain and its plethora of towers. Some people will always have to rely on Comcast or another service in order to receive HD in the Denver metro area.

When the tower is finished and the stations are broadcasting at full power, LOS should not be necessary in a lot of cases. I have a friend in Evergreen (Brook Forest) who currently gets KTFD DT(channel 14.1). I think they're broadcasting from Mt. Morrison, and he does not have line of sight. I am sure there will be people unable to receive OTA even with full power and the new tower, so this may still be an issue.

The question is whether the locals (and all other cable channels) will continue to broadcast two different versions of each channel (SD and HD) or will they consolidate? For the locals (this discussion is currently taking place in the Denver OTA thread), will they broadcast HD and SD versions as different sub-channels, taking even more bandwidth away from the HD version? For the cable channels, what will Comcast (and others) do if ESPN, for example, only has one version and it's in HD? How would they charge extra for it?

I was addressing the person who was trying to tune in the local HD channels via QAM. One would think if he/she tried to tune in via cable, he/she could also tune in OTA. If not, it's a very odd television set.

Not everyone is lucky/unlucky enough to have direct LOS to Lookout Mountain and its plethora of towers. Some people will always have to rely on Comcast or another service in order to receive HD in the Denver metro area.

That could prove very expensive for Comcast, especially when everybody else starts to complain about having to pay for their cable box while these people don't.

I'd actually love to see them take the cable-boxes-for-all option. Then we could finally get true digital SD (and, perhaps, HD) for many more channels. I'm tired of the faux stereo sound on FX, for example. They rechanneled mono to stereo about ten years ago, when it was Jones Intercable, and have not fixed it since. The last time I spoke to a tech supervisor, he said it was a matter of bandwidth, and they were waiting for the full digital conversion. Still waiting.


Comcast could choose to provide boxes for free to the analog only customers.

As of Feb 2009, they must fully convert to digital. As you likely know, analog TV will go away literally over night. This will free up the VHF band presently used by channels 2 - 13 for local emergency and military use, and is one of the principle reasons the government gave for making the change.

If broadcasters choose to provide both a digital SD and digital HD signal, the bandwidth must come from somewhere. It is also my understanding that the SD ATSC TVs will provide a letterboxed digital picture regardless of whether or not the signal is HD, so this may not be an issue. If anybody knows for sure, I'd appreciate your insight.

Regarding the blackout spots along the Front Range, many of them are there with the analog towers. Whether it is a digital or analog signal, VHF and UHF are line-of-sight frequency bands. If you can't see the transmitter with your receiver's antenna, you won't receive the signal. I'm sure we all agree, however, that overall OTA reception will be better than it is now from the current Republic Plaza Tower location downtown. Blackout spots will likely be addressed with repeaters, as they are now (if they are now).

What bothers me is how rich this conversion is making China at America's expense, with the exception of Vizo televisions (which are made in America). I'm especially concerned about how screwed the poor are with this conversion. Their TVs will become pretty expensive door stops if Congress and the electronics vendors don't come through with those fabled $50 analog-to-digital converter boxes.


When the tower is finished and the stations are broadcasting at full power, LOS should not be necessary in a lot of cases. I have a friend in Evergreen (Brook Forest) who currently gets KTFD DT(channel 14.1). I think they're broadcasting from Mt. Morrison, and he does not have line of sight. I am sure there will be people unable to receive OTA even with full power and the new tower, so this may still be an issue.

The question is whether the locals (and all other cable channels) will continue to broadcast two different versions of each channel (SD and HD) or will they consolidate? For the locals (this discussion is currently taking place in the Denver OTA thread), will they broadcast HD and SD versions as different sub-channels, taking even more bandwidth away from the HD version? For the cable channels, what will Comcast (and others) do if ESPN, for example, only has one version and it's in HD? How would they charge extra for it?

I was addressing the person who was trying to tune in the local HD channels via QAM. One would think if he/she tried to tune in via cable, he/she could also tune in OTA. If not, it's a very odd television set.

Well, I was at least one of the people trying to get HD locals via QAM. I'm in Ft. Collins, so I don't know if the Lookout Mountain transmitter will reach me or not. Also, my TV has only one coax input, and that's currently being used by my analog Comcast cable.

I don't have an antenna, and to be honest, have little interest in buying one, installing it, and figuring out how to get a wire from it down to my TV. Unless there's some other solution to get OTA signals, or to not use my coax input for cable, I guess I'm out of luck if Comcast doesn't want to provide local HD channels without digital service.

Seems like my best option is to buy the digital service, but I've been waiting for their DVR boxes to include TiVo software.

I've been scanning through the 90+ pages of this thread to see what folks have discovered regarding the QAM unscrambled HD channels available on Comcast cable. I live in Highlands Ranch. It appears that the channel numbers have changed frequently over the past year. I can currently find only 5 HD channels: 0.652 ABC, 0.653 NBC, 0.655 Fox, 6.1 PBS, and 117.1 My20. Has anyone out there been able to find the other HD network channels like CBS or CW? I have tried all kinds of channel numbers like 87.2, 89.2, 116.1, etc., but no luck.

Interesting that I get CBS at 89.2 but you do not, and we're in the same area. As I posted above, my TV doesn't "do" the 0.### channels. Are you getting PSIP information on those channels?

My HD channels are at 6-1, 89-1 (ABC), 89-2 (CBS), 90-1 (Fox), 90-2 (NBC), and 117-1. I do not get CW, but I wrote a note to KWGN and Don Rooney, director of engineering, wrote back to say he'd look into it. Not that he can fix whatever Comcast is doing, but he may be able to find out what they are doing.

Earlier this year I was able to receive 89.1 ABC, 89.2 CBS, 90.1 Fox, 90.2 NBC, 116.1 CW, 116.2 PBS, and 117.1 My20. But now ABC has moved 0.652, NBC to 0.653, Fox to 0.655, PBS to 6.1, and CBS and CW seem to have disappeared completely. What has me scratching my head is whether this is due to some change in the Comcast infrastructure in Highlands Ranch or whether it's due differences in QAM tuners amongst the various manufacturers.

Regarding your question as to whether I get PSIP information on the 0.XXX channels, do I look to my cable box for that or is that from my TV? If I select "Info" from my TV on a 0.XXX channel I see the station identifier, MPAA rating, SAP and closed caption availability, program title, etc. Is that PSIP information?

Yes, I believe it is (at least that's what I was looking for). On the 89-, 90-, and 117- channels, I don't get that information. I do get it on 6-1, and I also get it on all of the channels I receive OTA.

Earlier this year I was able to receive 89.1 ABC, 89.2 CBS, 90.1 Fox, 90.2 NBC, 116.1 CW, 116.2 PBS, and 117.1 My20. But now ABC has moved 0.652, NBC to 0.653, Fox to 0.655, PBS to 6.1, and CBS and CW seem to have disappeared completely. What has me scratching my head is whether this is due to some change in the Comcast infrastructure in Highlands Ranch or whether it's due differences in QAM tuners amongst the various manufacturers.

I believe Comcast has moved the local HD channels to 0.65x for digital cable as that is where they show up on my digital cable box. However, while my cable box shows 654 for KCNC DT, my Samsung DTB-H26F STB QAM tuner is unable to find KCNC DT. Like you, I've tried 89.2, 89.x, 87.x without success. I also can't find SpeedTV on my STB. It doesn't find any 77.x channels and punching in 77 doesn't work either. Anybody able to get SpeedTV?

I believe Comcast has moved the local HD channels to 0.65x for digital cable as that is where they show up on my digital cable box. However, while my cable box shows 654 for KCNC DT, my Samsung DTB-H26F STB QAM tuner is unable to find KCNC DT. Like you, I've tried 89.2, 89.x, 87.x without success. I also can't find SpeedTV on my STB. It doesn't find any 77.x channels and punching in 77 doesn't work either. Anybody able to get SpeedTV?

Try 104.9 for Speed.

89-1 is gone and has been replaced with 7-1 for ABC on my QAM tuner. Can't find CBS anymore, and the Broncos are on today. :(

89-1 is gone and has been replaced with 7-1 for ABC on my QAM tuner. Can't find CBS anymore, and the Broncos are on today. :(

Same here. Interesting that when KRMA (116-1) moved to 6-1, KWGN (116-2) disappeared. Now that 89-1 went to 7-1, 89-2 has disappeared. At least I get the PSIP info for ABC now (not that it really matters, but it's occasionally useful).

I think my note to KWGN may get copied over to KCNC. Comcast isn't going to provide any information with respect to digital tuner information; in fact most of their CSR's don't know (or don't admit to knowing) what QAM means. I spent about 20 minutes online with a CSR last week who was totally clueless until I mentioned the "must carry" rule, and then that person became very knowledgeable about digital tuners. Pushing on the broadcasters may be the only way to get something going here.

Same here. Interesting that when KRMA (116-1) moved to 6-1, KWGN (116-2) disappeared. Now that 89-1 went to 7-1, 89-2 has disappeared. At least I get the PSIP info for ABC now (not that it really matters, but it's occasionally useful).

I think my note to KWGN may get copied over to KCNC. Comcast isn't going to provide any information with respect to digital tuner information; in fact most of their CSR's don't know (or don't admit to knowing) what QAM means. I spent about 20 minutes online with a CSR last week who was totally clueless until I mentioned the "must carry" rule, and then that person became very knowledgeable about digital tuners. Pushing on the broadcasters may be the only way to get something going here.

According to my cable box Channel 654 is still on analog channel 89. I connected the cable to the (Sony) TV directly, punched in 89.2 and KCNC-DT came up.

Not down here in my neck of the southern 'burbs. I tried punching it in directly, but no luck. Did a channel scan and got no change. Cable is already connected directly to the TV.

How do you determine that it's on analog 89? Maybe I can perform the same check and see if I get useful information (I have a box connected to another TV).

ABC (KMGHDT) and NBC (KUSADT) have moved to 7-1 and 9-1, respectively. Others seeing this?

FOX (KDVRDT) still at 0-655, My20 still at 117-1, PBS (KRMADT) still at 6-1, still no CBS or CW.

Derek (Boulder)

ABC (KMGHDT) and NBC (KUSADT) have moved to 7-1 and 9-1, respectively. Others seeing this?

FOX (KDVRDT) still at 0-655, My20 still at 117-1, PBS (KRMADT) still at 6-1, still no CBS or CW.

Derek (Boulder)

NBC is at 90-2 and FOX is 90-1 for me in SE Aurora
6-1, 7-1, 117-1 are the same as yours.

Not down here in my neck of the southern 'burbs. I tried punching it in directly, but no luck. Did a channel scan and got no change. Cable is already connected directly to the TV.

How do you determine that it's on analog 89? Maybe I can perform the same check and see if I get useful information (I have a box connected to another TV).

Turn off the box, then press the 'OK' button (or select, I forget, its the one in the middle of the 4 arrow keys). Scroll down to current channel status and you get the frequency. I think it said 612 MHz, or maybe 615 MHz. (EDIT: it says 615 MHz)

Then you can go to a site such as: http://www.jneuhaus.com/fccindex/cablech.html and find the closest match. The number from the cable box does not match the chart exactly because it is some carrier frequency within the 6 MHz channel allocation, but you get close.

ABC (KMGHDT) and NBC (KUSADT) have moved to 7-1 and 9-1, respectively. Others seeing this?

Same thing happened in Greeley. I thought I lost a bunch of channels; then I found them. I still can't find CBS though.

I saw the same change here (SE Jefferson County).

Current channel locations:
KMGH (ABC) - 89.1 physical, 7.1 virtual
KCNC (CBS) - 89.2 physical
KDVR (FOX) - 90.1 physical, 0.655 virtual
KUSA (NBC) - 90.2 physical, 9.1 virtual
KWGN (CW) - 116.1 physical
KRMA (PBS) - 116.2 physical, 6.1 virtual
KTVD (MyTV) - 117.2 physical

KMGH News - 105.1 physical, 0.247 virtual
KUSA Weather - 112.12 physical
KWGN Music - 100.2 physical
KRMA Spanish - 116.3 physical

(Physical refers to actual location in the cable signal, while virtual refers to the channel number "remapping," that is, the channel number TV's will use as a substitute for the physical number.)

I saw the same change here (SE Jefferson County).

Current channel locations:
KMGH (ABC) - 89.1 physical, 7.1 virtual
KCNC (CBS) - 89.2 physical
KDVR (FOX) - 90.1 physical, 0.655 virtual
KUSA (NBC) - 90.2 physical, 9.1 virtual
KWGN (CW) - 116.1 physical
KRMA (PBS) - 116.2 physical, 6.1 virtual
KTVD (MyTV) - 117.2 physical

KMGH News - 105.1 physical, 0.247 virtual
KUSA Weather - 112.12 physical
KWGN Music - 100.2 physical
KRMA Spanish - 116.3 physical

(Physical refers to actual location in the cable signal, while virtual refers to the channel number "remapping," that is, the channel number TV's will use as a substitute for the physical number.)

I'm seeing these channels at the same "virtual" channel locations that you list. But how are you able to determine the "physical" channel number? Do you get that from one of the cable box diagnostic pages?

I'm seeing these channels at the same "virtual" channel locations that you list. But how are you able to determine the "physical" channel number? Do you get that from one of the cable box diagnostic pages?

I have a cable box and can see the tuner frequency for each channel. Also, my TV accepts physical channel numbers (e.g. 90.1) if typed directly on the remote. Sometimes the physical number flashes in the upper-right corner of the TV display when tuning to a channel, even when using the virtual number.

Is there and central contact we could send messages to or call about QAM on Comcast here in colorado?

Thanks dvdmth - I was able to get the frequency information from the cable box, but still can't find KWGN or KCNC on my TV without the cable box. I even tried rescanning (in STD, HRC, and IRC modes), but nothing changed (except I get no digital channels in HRC mode). I might put a call in to Samsung to see if they have any ideas.
I wonder if there's any consistency with the type of TV? What brand of TV do you have?

Is there and central contact we could send messages to or call about QAM on Comcast here in colorado?
Nope. See my note in post 2769, above.

I wonder if there's any consistency with the type of TV? What brand of TV do you have?

Sharp (46-inch LCD). And yes, I suspect different TV models are the reason for people having different results. However, this does not mean it's the TV's fault. It is likely IMO that Comcast has some data messed up regarding these channel remappings and that different TV's handle malformed data in different ways.

Up until recently, I used to receive 3 PBS channels: KRMA SD, KBDI SD and KBDI HD. I noticed my HDHomerun is not longer able to pick up KBDI HD. Anyone else notice this change?
I'm have HDHomerun _and_ a Comcast 6412. Lately, KRMA HD has been off the air during the day for both devices.

It was always nice being able to switch to 89-2 if my OTA digital wasn't coming in so hot. But it's been gone the last few weeks...I've searched and searched and haven't been able to locate it. If anyone comes across it please post.

Thanks...

Thouger in Denver

It was always nice being able to switch to 89-2 if my OTA digital wasn't coming in so hot. But it's been gone the last few weeks...I've searched and searched and haven't been able to locate it. If anyone comes across it please post.

Thanks...

Thouger in Denver

This isn't going to help you find it, but what brand of TV do you have? If you read back a little you'll find that you're not alone. Apparently, KCNC is still at 89-2, but many of us aren't able to get it any more.

So no Rockies in HD tonight? I'm pissed what about you all? Was reading the main Comcast thread in the programming section and like 10 more cities just got it today or w/in the last week. Spoke to a reliable source at Comcast over the weekend and inquired about the new channels that a lot of markets have and we don't. We have bandwidth issues and don't expect anything soon was the answer. They're working on it but it doesn't seem like it's a priority. He even admited to me that he doesn't pay attention to the bandwidth reports and he is high up in the financial side of Comcast. Frustrated and I even started looking at D* deals! gasp.

Sent an email to CBS to ask why comcast is trying to get everyone to pay 60 dollars a month to get channel 4 when it used to be free and I got this email back. Everyone should contact Comcast and let them know where you are and that you can't get the channel for free over QAM anymore like you could a few months back. Sound like comcast is doing something fishy. This guy says he had 4 people email him about the same thing. Lets show him that it is actually more like a thousand.


Subject: Comcast HD
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 19:53:57 -0700
From: #%#%#$%#

Comcast cable for a reason unknown to us has our HD channel in a different grouping of channels than the other Denver stations.

With an HD cable box our channel shows up on 654 through a process known as channel mapping.

However on an HDTV with a built in QAM / ATSC tuner, the number is in a different location 89-2.

There are some TV set’s that do not tune or recognize that channel.

KUSA, and KMGH however are actually on 653 and 652 both on an HD cable box, and tuned directly on HD TV set tuners.



I am going to forward your original Email to an Engineering manager at Comcast, and have him contact you directly.

You are one of about 4 other viewers that are having this problem. Hopefully they can resolve it quickly.

I will also be talking to him directly as well as have our manager of engineering here at CBS 4 contact him

So no Rockies in HD tonight? I'm pissed what about you all? Was reading the main Comcast thread in the programming section and like 10 more cities just got it today or w/in the last week. Spoke to a reliable source at Comcast over the weekend and inquired about the new channels that a lot of markets have and we don't. We have bandwidth issues and don't expect anything soon was the answer. They're working on it but it doesn't seem like it's a priority. He even admited to me that he doesn't pay attention to the bandwidth reports and he is high up in the financial side of Comcast. Frustrated and I even started looking at D* deals! gasp.

I'm not at all surprised they were late in adding yet another HD channel to the lineup, but if Comcast overall had the rights it would have been a great hometown gesture to at least pick up the game and stick it on 664. I saw an article on-line yesterday how Comcast in the Boston area was going out of their way to add TBSHD for the baseball fans there. Sure, the RedSox were playoff bound for a long time and they had time, but at least working contingency plans would have been very nice.

I'm dissappointed in general with MLB too because the entire NLCS will be on TBS and for me, in only in SD.

Comcast in Chicago is also adding TBSHD in time for the Cubs game Wednesday:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-071002comcasthd,1,5066034.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

While Comcast sucks generally, it is Denver Comcast that truly sucks.

Derek

My email to KCNC, FWIW.

Up until a few weeks ago, I was able to receive KCNC-DT (HD) via the QAM tuner on my Samsung LCD (on channel 89-2). At that time, Comcast apparently changed something such that the adjacent channel, 89-1 (KMGH), now remaps to 7-1, and my TV will now no longer tune in 89-2 (and I have tried rescanning, resetting the TV, etc). Unfortunately, receiving KCNC OTA is a little iffy for me, as I do not have an external antenna and reception using the indoor antenna is erratic. Interestingly, a similar situation occurred a few months ago when KWGN (116-2) disappeared after KRMA (116-1) was modified to remap to 6-1. Although it could certainly be an issue with my TV tuner, I know of others in this area with similar issues.
Any help you can offer here would be appreciated. I sent a similar email to an engineer at KWGN a while ago; he was going to get in touch with Comcast but still hadn't heard back from them as of last week.

Earlier today, I sent a letter to the editor of the Rocky Mountain News about Comcast's slight of its Denver market. Philadelphia, the location of its corporate headquarters, has TBS-HD coverage of baseball's postseason games, but we don't.

I call on all fellow AVSers to write the Rocky and ask them to look into this slight. Maybe then we will get some action.

Sent an email to CBS to ask why comcast is trying to get everyone to pay 60 dollars a month to get channel 4 when it used to be free and I got this email back. Everyone should contact this guy and let them know where you are and that you can't get the channel for free over QAM anymore like you could a few months back. Sound like comcast is doing something fishy. This guy says he had 4 people email him about the same thing. Lets show him that it is actually more like a thousand.


Subject: Comcast HD
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 19:53:57 -0700
From: GRacz@cbs.com

Comcast cable for a reason unknown to us has our HD channel in a different grouping of channels than the other Denver stations.

With an HD cable box our channel shows up on 654 through a process known as channel mapping.

However on an HDTV with a built in QAM / ATSC tuner, the number is in a different location 89-2.

There are some TV set’s that do not tune or recognize that channel.

KUSA, and KMGH however are actually on 653 and 652 both on an HD cable box, and tuned directly on HD TV set tuners.



I am going to forward your original Email to an Engineering manager at Comcast, and have him contact you directly.

You are one of about 4 other viewers that are having this problem. Hopefully they can resolve it quickly.

I will also be talking to him directly as well as have our manager of engineering here at CBS 4 contact him
The "Guy at CBS" is also a member of the AVS forum, a fellow HDTV owner/ viewer, and is genuinely and aggressively trying to help the viewers that are having this problem get it resolved through Comcast.
However posting my email address and asking everyone to fill my email box is not going to get the problem repaired any sooner.
I would however suggest all of the subscribers that are having this issue, call Comcast, and insist on speaking to a supervisor.
Keep in mind that this is also an issue that appears to only be effecting certain brands or models. Because of this not every viewer is effected, not to mention none of the subscribers that use a Comcast HD box are effected which to Comcast does not make this a extreme priority.
This is why if this is really effecting "1000's" of HD viewers, you must make it a priority for them by having all effected subscribers calling and insisting on talking to a customer service supervisor.
We are pushing the issue from this end as hard as we can.

The "Guy at CBS" is also a member of the AVS forum, a fellow HDTV owner/ viewer, and is genuinely and aggressively trying to help the viewers that are having this problem get it resolved through Comcast.
However posting my email address and asking everyone to fill my email box is not going to get the problem repaired any sooner.
I would however suggest all of the subscribers that are having this issue, call Comcast, and insist on speaking to a supervisor.
Keep in mind that this is also an issue that appears to only be effecting certain brands or models. Because of this not every viewer is effected, not to mention none of the subscribers that use a Comcast HD box are effected which to Comcast does not make this a extreme priority.
This is why if this is really effecting "1000's" of HD viewers, you must make it a priority for them by having all effected subscribers calling and insisting on talking to a customer service supervisor.
We are pushing the issue from this end as hard as we can.

Wow so some guy at CBS is actually reading this. Hey you work for CBS in there customer relations department I'm guessing because you replied to my complaint to Channel 4 CBS. I figured it was ok to post the email. I can edit it out if you would like me too. Doesn't bother me. You sounded like you could do something about it in the email so I thought this would help.

Comcast is a really bad company that has no customer service at all. So I have done my share of complaining to them. I argued with 4 people from Comcast for at least 30 min trying to tell them I used to get that channel in HD and it was over the basic like and they act like they didn't believe me. Said I had to get there Digital package with the HD option to get any HD content for 60 dollars a month. I was like for channel 4????? I used to get it free?????? Thats all I'm missing. I just hate how they blamed it on CBS for it not being free anymore because they said you wanted it part of a "Package deal". Here is the real kicker though. I bought a OTA antenna and I still can NOT get kcnc HD channel. I get everyone else at 97 percent signal and I don't even pick up channel 4. What the heck is wrong with Channel 4 HD out here?

I have tried it with 3 tuners at my house and can't get it at all. I lost it when they remapped the channels a few months back and never got it back. Its Comcast doing something shady. Like when they installed a Digital phone line at my house and cut my regular phone line when I never called them at all for it. I made them rip it off of my house.

Earlier today, I sent a letter to the editor of the Rocky Mountain News about Comcast's slight of its Denver market. Philadelphia, the location of its corporate headquarters, has TBS-HD coverage of baseball's postseason games, but we don't.

I call on all fellow AVSers to write the Rocky and ask them to look into this slight. Maybe then we will get some action.
Don't bother. Check channel 678. It only says TBS, not TBS-HD, but I'm hopeful. It's hard to know for sure when "Saved By The Bell" is on.

Welll that's good news. Rocks are on at 1 but there are games at 430 & 8. So hopefully we're good to go. Surprised we got this right away but still waiting on Food & HGTV. So does this mean they have the bandwidth or are they waiting for some odd reason to add channels? They added TBS quite quickly.

Comcast is a really bad company that has no customer service at all.

I'm kind of surprised that no one here has noted that NFL network has suddenly disappeared off the tier of service it was on. Apparently they would like more money from me than the $220 we sent them last month (internet, phone, HD Silver package w/DVRs,) for the privelege of watching it for a third of the year.

...so Qwest and Dish will likely be getting a call from me. I guess Concast would just as soon lose me as a customer every other year as their "deals" expire.

I am with you Herbert......I am so frustrated with Comcast's HD lineup. The only thing keeping me right now is the MOJO deal with altitude for the AVs Nugs and Rox in HD.

TBS would be a nice surprise getting home tonight.

TBS would be a nice surprise getting home tonight.


When I checked the new TBS channel this morning (678), it was not broadcasting in "stretch-o-vision" - meaning that this wasn't the HD channel. I'm hoping that Comcast put this in as a placeholder and was still working on inserting the HD signal. I won't be home until later tonight, so I won't be able to check before game time (the game might actually be over by the time I get home ;)). If anyone can post updates, I'd appreciate the information. Thanks.

Keep in mind that this is also an issue that appears to only be effecting certain brands or models. Because of this not every viewer is effected, not to mention none of the subscribers that use a Comcast HD box are effected which to Comcast does not make this a extreme priority.
This is why if this is really effecting "1000's" of HD viewers, you must make it a priority for them by having all effected subscribers calling and insisting on talking to a customer service supervisor.
We are pushing the issue from this end as hard as we can.

It certainly appears that this issue may only be affecting certain brands, but I'm not really sure. Do you have additional information than what's posted here? I only recently lost KCNC, long after others did, so there have to be some area-specific effects as well (maybe driven by the local head end?). You're right that Comcast has little to no incentive to fix this - they're under no obligation to provide us the HD channels for free. That's why we're trying to push on the stations, since Comcast never listens to us (we assume you have more power than we do).

If you, or anyone else, ever comes up with an explanation for any of this (why did the channels disappear? why do some TV's tune the channels as the Comcast number (652) while others tune it as the analog equivalent (7-1)? ), I'd appreciate hearing it (not that I would understand it). Thanks.

I'm kind of surprised that no one here has noted that NFL network has suddenly disappeared off the tier of service it was on. Apparently they would like more money from me than the $220 we sent them last month (internet, phone, HD Silver package w/DVRs,) for the privelege of watching it for a third of the year.

...so Qwest and Dish will likely be getting a call from me. I guess Concast would just as soon lose me as a customer every other year as their "deals" expire.

They gave it to me free for 6 months. You can ask for it. There was a deal going around but you have to ask a csr for it. Some people got a year free.

TBS is indeed in HD and looking good.

I'm now getting the Rockies game in HD on channel 678! I wonder if they added that channel for Denver after the win over the Padres on Monday.

I'm also seeing TBS-HD on 84-2 unscrambled so far in Fort Collins. The (C) notation is there however so it may be tuner-dependent.

Great news. After my call to Comcast yesterday and my email to the Rocky Mountain News, we now have TBS-HD. It's at channel 678 on the DVR box.

Amazingly, somebody from Comcast called this morning to tell me they turned it on.

Now why do we have to go to the freaking PRESS to get action from Comcast Denver? Why was TBS-HD available since Monday throughout the East Coast, Chicago, and Detroit? Maybe the problem is with the management in Denver? All I know is, in addition to the HD channels we now have and hoping TBS-HD is a permanent addition, CNN-HD and Food-HD are also available on the East Coast. How about us, Comcast? How about killing the duplicate analog channels, like TLC and CSPAN-1 (they are on two channels each on the west side of town) and giving us CNN-HD and Food-HD? How about getting rid of the 10 or so shopping channels? Do people really watch these more than CNN or the Food Network? I doubt it.

Wake up, Denver! We deserve better, and we should stop sitting around hoping for new HD channels. We must demand them! Brian Roberts promised us verbally we would have 100 HD channels by the end of the year, darn it! This laziness and the bandwidth excuses are ridiculous and unacceptable.

(Snaggle dismounts his soapbox with a growl.)

Great news. After my call to Comcast yesterday and my email to the Rocky Mountain News, we now have TBS-HD. It's at channel 678 on the DVR box.

Amazingly, somebody from Comcast called this morning to tell me they turned it on.

Now why do we have to go to the freaking PRESS to get action from Comcast Denver? Why was TBS-HD available since Monday throughout the East Coast, Chicago, and Detroit? Maybe the problem is with the management in Denver? All I know is, in addition to the HD channels we now have and hoping TBS-HD is a permanent addition, CNN-HD and Food-HD are also available on the East Coast. How about us, Comcast? How about killing the duplicate analog channels, like TLC and CSPAN-1 (they are on two channels each on the west side of town) and giving us CNN-HD and Food-HD? How about getting rid of the 10 or so shopping channels? Do people really watch these more than CNN or the Food Network? I doubt it.

Wake up, Denver! We deserve better, and we should stop sitting around hoping for new HD channels. We must demand them! Brian Roberts promised us verbally we would have 100 HD channels by the end of the year, darn it! This laziness and the bandwidth excuses are ridiculous and unacceptable.

(Snaggle dismounts his soapbox with a growl.)

Kind of pretentious to assume it was just your phone call that did it, isn't it? I didn't see anything in this morning's Rocky, either. ;) But I wonder if lmarlow is right and Comcast only added this channel because of the Rockies.

We all hate they shopping channels, but I think they actually pay Comcast to include them. They're not going away anytime soon.

A couple of years ago Comcast made a big deal about how it was rebuilding all of its infrastructure to support future improvements. I do not believe that there is a bandwidth issue here - it's a convenient excuse for the CSR's to use. Brian Roberts may have promised 100 HD channels, but you apparently missed his subsequent explanation that 1 HD program available through On Demand = 1 HD channel. This statement has garnered many sarcastic responses from media critics, so hopefully he'll back down.

I checked for TBS HD at 84-2, but didn't find it. I'll have to check the frequency to see where it is in my area.

TBS-HD available via QAM on 60-2 in Highlands Ranch. This probably won't last.

Someone should tell Comcast to change the name of the channel from "TBS" to "TBSHD." There is a problem with I-Guide that causes DVR's to get confused if an SD channel and an HD channel share the same name. If you try to record something in HD, the box will record the SD channel by mistake. As long as the channels have different names, this won't happen.

Kind of pretentious to assume it was just your phone call that did it, isn't it? I didn't see anything in this morning's Rocky, either. ;) But I wonder if lmarlow is right and Comcast only added this channel because of the Rockies.


Well gakon, all I know is the CSR told me the night before that there were no plans to add TBS-HD for the foreseeable future. She actually sounded bummed out about it. I told her I was going to the press and did. And lookie what happened the next morning! It was not only turned on, but they actually called ME to tell me it was on.

There may be no correlation, but I'm waiting for another explanation.

My point is we have to stop acting like victims and start getting aggressive with them, just like the pro-OTA tower folks did with Lookout Mountain. Contacting the press was my first step. In the future when they have any public forums, I will be there insisting that they roll out HD as quickly as D*.

I won't bother posting in both locations, snagg, but here's my explanation:

When I called, I also was told that they had no plans to add it either. But he took my suggestion, and as we were finishing up, said that one of his execs was walking by his desk right then and he'd bring it up. It's as plausible a theory as yours, but I'm not taking credit.

Also, there was no mention of you in the Rocky today:
Comcast acted quickly to carry TBS in high-definition, in time for Wednesday's opening playoff game between the Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies.
All games, including today's, will be in high-def.
"We were planning to do it in the next month or two anyway," said Scott Binder, head of Comcast in Colorado. He said Comcast accelerated the plan when the Rockies reached the playoffs.
Comcast already had the necessary carriage agreement but had to make some modifications in equipment and bandwidth.

For all either of us know, that exec walking by the CSR's desk yesterday was the same one quoted in the paper.

As was mentioned on the other thread, why did you stop with just this one channel? D* added a bunch last week - why didn't you ask for those, too? ;)

All that said, please don't let my (or anyone else's) sarcasm discourage you. I've been calling Comcast regularly to complain when we don't get a new channel for months, and it doesn't hurt if everyone else does, either. You may also want to contact your local franchise office (it's a local government board, contact info should be on your Comcast bill), and say that you're tired of having to pay increases for no new channels (or something like that).

are you guys getting TBS HD unencrypted? i had it last night on 90.2 but it's gone now, as i'm watching the rockies kick some butt =)

whomever or whatever made it happen, it was nice while it lasted.

TBS-HD went live on Comcast in many cities yesterday because of the MLB playoffs. I doubt anyone on this board is responsible for this. But don't let this stop you or anyone else from continuing to bug these guys, it's a worthwhile effort.

It was on 60-2 for me yesterday, but I'm not home so I can't check. I was pretty sure it wouldn't last, though.

TBS-HD is on 60-2 here as well.(thanks gakon) The games looked great!

As of this morning it's still working.

I tried in Loveland and no luck on either 60.2 or 90.2 even went through my whole list and still no luck...oh well

New QAM re-mappings (SE Jefferson County):

* KCNC-DT (CBS) is now at 4.1 (!)
* KMGH-DT (ABC) has gone back to 0.652
* TBS HD is at 60.2 (may vary from location to location, since channel 60 is in the range of channels that aren't the same throughout the area)

Comcast has advertised during the Rockies game on radio that "most people" who have cable can get TBS HD. This can be interpreted in different ways, but my personal take is that this means Comcast will not require any service beyond the basic tier to get the channel, which would mean the channel should stay in the clear. Time will tell if my inference is right.

I tried in Loveland and no luck on either 60.2 or 90.2 even went through my whole list and still no luck...oh wellDo you have an HD cable box or know someone who does? Go to TBS HD (TV must be on) and then turn the box off. Within 2 seconds, press the select button, then use the up/down arrows (right side) to scroll to "d06". Select that page and look for the channel frequency, in the middle of the right side of the page. Then go to http://www.jneuhaus.com/fccindex/cablech.html and find what channel you need to go. It doesn't tell you which sub channel to go to, but you can just try all of the subs from there. There might be a different way to determine the subs, but I don't know it.

New QAM re-mappings (SE Jefferson County):

* KCNC-DT (CBS) is now at 4.1 (!)
* KMGH-DT (ABC) has gone back to 0.652

On my TV in HR, KMGH is back at 89-1, and KCNC is back at 89-2. No PSIP info for either one. KWGN is still not available, but should be at 116-2. It sure appears to me that the application of the PSIP information (which results in the remapping of channels) causes any adjacent channels to disappear from most of our sets. I haven't seen any pattern as to which brands are or are not affected.

60-2, eh? I'll have to check it out for Erie..

Cheers,

They didn't mention me by name, but what do you know! The next day the Rocky had a brief article in which they interviewed a Comcast official about the very same issue. And the official confirmed they had plans of turning on HD in one or two months but not for the games.

Now THAT is an amazing coincidence!

My question is, why do the people think they are so powerless against Comcast? Is that how people learn to deal with problems, to give up? I got the same flack on another AVS forum. They not only give up, but they seem to take pleasure in criticizing anybody who fights back and seems to be effective. It sounds like something right out of Orwell or Dan Deetz's critical theory of corporate decisionmaking.

I've been an activist and politician for a long, long time. I've learned how to get things done from time to time by contacting the right person/people. It doesn't always work, but it does sometimes. The bottom line is nothing happens unless we act. When we act, our voices become an active part of the decisionmaking process. The more of us who act, and who take the right action, the less they can ignore our concerns. Their decisionmaking becomes less of a top-down process. The silly b&@tards don't realize it when we're complaining, but we're actually trying to help them put out a better service. The better their service, the fewer customers they lose to other services.

Don't give up! Fight! But don't fight me; fight Comcast.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...714079,00.html

I won't bother posting in both locations, snagg, but here's my explanation:

When I called, I also was told that they had no plans to add it either. But he took my suggestion, and as we were finishing up, said that one of his execs was walking by his desk right then and he'd bring it up. It's as plausible a theory as yours, but I'm not taking credit.

Also, there was no mention of you in the Rocky today:


For all either of us know, that exec walking by the CSR's desk yesterday was the same one quoted in the paper.

As was mentioned on the other thread, why did you stop with just this one channel? D* added a bunch last week - why didn't you ask for those, too? ;)

All that said, please don't let my (or anyone else's) sarcasm discourage you. I've been calling Comcast regularly to complain when we don't get a new channel for months, and it doesn't hurt if everyone else does, either. You may also want to contact your local franchise office (it's a local government board, contact info should be on your Comcast bill), and say that you're tired of having to pay increases for no new channels (or something like that).

They didn't mention me by name, but what do you know! The next day the Rocky had a brief article in which they interviewed a Comcast official about the very same issue. And the official confirmed they had plans of turning on HD in one or two months but not for the games.

Now THAT is an amazing coincidence!

I've been an activist and politician for a long, long time.

Wow. A politician taking credit for something he may have influenced only marginally. What a surprise! :D

Wow. A politician taking credit for something he may have influenced only marginally. What a surprise! :D
LMAO

Wow, we got KCNCDT (CBS HD) back in Boulder on QAM at 4-1. KMGHDT (ABC) moved back from 7-1 to 0-652. Still no KWGNDT (CW HD). But I have to say this is pretty encouraging.

No TBS HD on QAM for me.

Derek

Edit: I rescanned this morning and am getting TBS HD at 60-2 in Boulder. Looks like playoffs in HD!

Funny, gak. My point wasn't to take credit. My point was to call people to action rather than victimage. As I explained on the other thread, I was hoping my letter to the editor, who knows my name by sight btw, would prompt him to assign a reporter to call Comcast and ask them what was up. Comcast admitted in the article they had not planned on rolling out TBS-HD for several months. Suddenly the Rocky calls and, what do you know, the next day it's on our system.

The logical disconnect in your funny statement is that someone with experience at getting things done may not have learned better skills for effecting change than someone without that experience. If so, we can close down all the universities cause them pro-fess-ers and all they heur-is-tic learning don't be knowin' nothin'.

Act, get feeback, and adjust. It's called the double interaction cycle, gak. Do that for twenty years, and you might learn a thing or two about motivating people to act.



Wow. A politician taking credit for something he may have influenced only marginally. What a surprise! :D

Scanning now for TBSHD in greality.

Edit: found it on 113-2

My point was to call people to action rather than victimage.

This is 100% correct. The people that make these decisions reside in our commnities. If we dont let them know how we feel or what we want it will go unnoticed.

This goes from your HOA to city council to state and federal and yes even comcast. It makes a world of difference to make your voice be heard vs complaining on a forum.

People just dont realize that small groups of people are making decisions for everyone and usually nobody shows up when it comes time to make those decisions.

Still no KWGNDT (CW HD)

KWGNDT(or at least it's placemark) just turned up were tube music network used to be- 100-13

TBS showed up at 90.2 in Loveland for the Rockies last night.

KWGNDT(or at least it's placemark) just turned up were tube music network used to be- 100-13Not seeing that in HR. Just a plate that says TUBE has ceased operations. TUBE was a subchannel to KWGN, so that's why it says KWGN at the bottom. But your thought is a good one - there's obviously a frequency for Comcast to use for KWGN so that any interference with the KRMA remapping wouldn't affect it.

Wow, we got KCNCDT (CBS HD) back in Boulder on QAM at 4-1. KMGHDT (ABC) moved back from 7-1 to 0-652. Still no KWGNDT (CW HD). But I have to say this is pretty encouraging.

No TBS HD on QAM for me.

Derek

Edit: I rescanned this morning and am getting TBS HD at 60-2 in Boulder. Looks like playoffs in HD!

I have KCNC now finally on 4-1, first time in over 3 months. I will have to say it was me who got it back on for everyone :) Since I wrote Channel 4 and complained. :)

Sweet. TBS HD on 60-2 in Broomfield.

"They have no incentive to fix this, and with football season upon us I'm sure they're looking forward to QAM users breaking down and renting boxes from them."

this is a quote from an earlier post. I called comcast tonight after setting up my panny plasma and asked about getting an HD cable box and he said comcast was out and he's not sure when they'll have anymore. I was dumbfounded. I told him that if this was true, he just made my Dish/Qwest decision a lot easier.

Has anyone else run into this? Has anyone tried to get an HD cable box from Comcast - Denver lately?

QAM is convenient for analog, but I miss the channels we had running through the standard def box. And my wife (and I) miss the guide.

"They have no incentive to fix this, and with football season upon us I'm sure they're looking forward to QAM users breaking down and renting boxes from them."

this is a quote from an earlier post. I called comcast tonight after setting up my panny plasma and asked about getting an HD cable box and he said comcast was out and he's not sure when they'll have anymore. I was dumbfounded. I told him that if this was true, he just made my Dish/Qwest decision a lot easier.

Has anyone else run into this? Has anyone tried to get an HD cable box from Comcast - Denver lately?

QAM is convenient for analog, but I miss the channels we had running through the standard def box. And my wife (and I) miss the guide.
It used to be you could pick them up from a Comcast office. I don't know how to call them directly but it is worth a look. A second option would be to use a cable-card device if you have one. Or an HD-Tivo would work with that also. You wouldn't get the same guide but you would at least get the channels.

moytoy12, that's unusual. I remember back in 2003 (when they first went HD) that they had a shortage of HD DVRs, but that is the last that I've of heard of that happening. I'm sure that they will have more soon.

<Dream>
We can hope (!) that this might mean that the Panasonic or Samsung boxes that were talked about a couple of years ago are about to arrive and they've cut their inventory of Motos. Or, maybe the boxes with the TiVo software are on the way?
</Dream>

It used to be you could pick them up from a Comcast office. I don't know how to call them directly but it is worth a look. A second option would be to use a cable-card device if you have one. Or an HD-Tivo would work with that also. You wouldn't get the same guide but you would at least get the channels.

This is speculation on my part, but I think because they will need new boxes for the upcoming change to MPEG4 and switched digital video, we have seen the last of the Moto boxes (I hope!). What I don't understand is why they continue to advertise digital cable prior to getting the new technology in place if they don't have enough digital DVRs to go around.

This article (http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=135458&site=cdn&f_src=lightreading_gnews)a) was posted to another AVS forum the other day. It talks about the upcoming mass migration to SDV and MPEG4 and actually has me optimistic for the first time since Comcast talked about the Panasonic/Samsung boxes at the 2006 CES.

Hey Derek,

What Comcast service do you have? Could you post all the HD channels that yo get? If you know what QAM encryption it is (256, 128, 64) and the type of channel lineup (regular, HRC, IRC), that would be even better.

I have a MythTV box (with a pcHDTV 5500 card) and a Comcast digital starter package and I can only tune channel 60-2 TBS HD. I know all the OTA HD channels should be available through Comcast for free. I called them a couple of times and they BS'ed me with "HD channels are only available if you have the Premium package" which turns out is $40 more. I thought that by law they have to provide the local HD channels (ABC, PBS, etc) for free.

Any input will be highly appreciated,
-D

Wow, we got KCNCDT (CBS HD) back in Boulder on QAM at 4-1. KMGHDT (ABC) moved back from 7-1 to 0-652. Still no KWGNDT (CW HD). But I have to say this is pretty encouraging.

No TBS HD on QAM for me.

Derek

Edit: I rescanned this morning and am getting TBS HD at 60-2 in Boulder. Looks like playoffs in HD!

The shortage of HD DVR's is no surprise to me. As of July 1, cable companies are no longer allowed to deploy cable boxes with integrated security (although used boxes may be redeployed). This is why Comcast had a special offer back in May/June to get as many cable boxes in the wild as possible, so they wouldn't have to throw away too many boxes.

Motorola's DCT series cable boxes do not comply with the FCC mandate, so unless a DCT box has a previous user, Comcast can no longer deploy it. The new Motorola DCH series boxes, however, do comply with the mandate since they feature CableCard slots for separable security. As of now, this line of boxes is still fairly new, so it wouldn't surprise me if they're short on boxes (particularly the high-end ones like the 3416 and 6416) at this time.

Panasonic's new HD DVR's are also in compliance with the FCC mandate, but last I heard Comcast hasn't gotten any boxes yet (they're on order though). I personally would love to have one if it proves to be reliable (at least more so than the Moto boxes which have been giving me fits of late), given the larger HDD size and (supposedly) three QAM tuners.

I don't think SDV has any impact on availability of any cable boxes, since the ones currently deployed should already be able to handle it. Not sure about MPEG4 though.

KWGN-DT (CW) is now being remapped to 2.1 here in SE Jeffco.

Great. I won't be back in town until Thursday at the earliest to check, but that would mean the guide info is being populated. Not that it's necessary, but it's nice to have. Is CBS still at 89-2 or is it remapping to 4-1?

The shortage of HD DVR's is no surprise to me. As of July 1, cable companies are no longer allowed to deploy cable boxes with integrated security (although used boxes may be redeployed). This is why Comcast had a special offer back in May/June to get as many cable boxes in the wild as possible, so they wouldn't have to throw away too many boxes.
Ah, I forgot about that. You are almost certainly correct.

Hey Derek,

What Comcast service do you have? Could you post all the HD channels that yo get? If you know what QAM encryption it is (256, 128, 64) and the type of channel lineup (regular, HRC, IRC), that would be even better.

I have a MythTV box (with a pcHDTV 5500 card) and a Comcast digital starter package and I can only tune channel 60-2 TBS HD. I know all the OTA HD channels should be available through Comcast for free. I called them a couple of times and they BS'ed me with "HD channels are only available if you have the Premium package" which turns out is $40 more. I thought that by law they have to provide the local HD channels (ABC, PBS, etc) for free.

Any input will be highly appreciated,
-D

dragoster,

I'm out of town this week, I'll try to get you the info you're looking for. I do know they are all QAM 256 but I don't know what you mean by HRC, IRC etc.

Is CBS still at 89-2 or is it remapping to 4-1?

Still at 89-2 for me. No 2-1 here.

CBS is mapped to 4-1 in Centennial

dragoster,

I'm out of town this week, I'll try to get you the info you're looking for. I do know they are all QAM 256 but I don't know what you mean by HRC, IRC etc.

HRC = harmonically related carriers
IRC = incrementally related carriers

There are three different ways a cable company can assign the exact frequencies for each channel - standard, HRC, and IRC. Here's a cable frequencies chart that shows all three:

http://www.jneuhaus.com/fccindex/cablech.html

My HDTV won't let me tune to channel 1, so I'm guessing Comcast is using the "standard" frequencies, at least where I am (SE Jeffco), since there is no channel 1 in that setup (both HRC and IRC support channel 1).

Thanks dvdmth. I guess my real question is: "Are there any QAM unencrypted hd channels in the Comcast starter package?" Theoretically they should have the hd channels that are available free OTA, i.e. ABC, NBC, etc.

Here are two clear indications that there should be some unencrypted QAM channels:

http://russblack.net/qamwiki/en/Denver_County
http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineupui?Cmd=LocationProgramsWeb&Country=US&Postcode=80301

Are you guys getting the local hd channels just using your QAM tuner on your TV, or do you have the TV connected to a Comcast HD box? If you don't use the HD box it's good news for me as it tells me that I am having a problem with my QAM scan and there is hope that I will get it to work. I remind you that I do get channel 60-2, TBS HD with very strong and clear signal.

Cheers,
-D

I can get quite a few channels (including HD locals) via QAM. Unfortunately, the channels have lately been moving around, so I've been having to rescan frequently of late.

As of right this second, here in SE Jefferson County, the mappings are as follows:

KMGH-DT (ABC) - 51.1 (the remapping to 0.652 is gone)
KCNC-DT (CBS) - 51.2 (the remapping to 4.1 is gone)
KDVR-DT (FOX) - 90.1, remapped to 0.655
KUSA-DT (NBC) - 90.2, remapped to 9.1
KDVR-DT (PBS) - 116.1, remapped to 6.1
KWGN-DT (CW) - 116.3, remapped to 2.1
KTVD-DT (MyTV) - 117.5, no remapping

And I'm sure by this time next week, things will have changed again. I don't know what Comcast is doing, but it's driving me nuts.

89-2 is gone and a quick scan didn't come up with a 4-1 in it's place. Tried scanning in the 50's and nothing there either. 89-1 is gone now too (ABC) and no 7-1. This is getting frustrating.

I can get quite a few channels (including HD locals) via QAM. Unfortunately, the channels have lately been moving around, so I've been having to rescan frequently of late.

As of right this second, here in SE Jefferson County, the mappings are as follows:

KMGH-DT (ABC) - 51.1 (the remapping to 0.652 is gone)
KCNC-DT (CBS) - 51.2 (the remapping to 4.1 is gone)


Whew! What a relief to find them again. What a pain it's going to be to remap these two back to MCE again. I hope it stays put for a while:)

Looks like comcast is finally starting to roll out the Tivo software. Starting with NE
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071011/ap_on_hi_te/tivo_comcast;_ylt=AvQ9gnBKfB2VDLrdyQ8ECZVj24cA

Who knows when it will get to Denver

I lost CW and PBS during a re-scan about a year ago and can't seem to get them back. I tried manually entering 6.1, 2.1, 116.1, 116.2 with the remote but got nothing. Anyone know what could be the problem?

I have a Sony KD-30XS955 and live in Aurora.

Have you rescanned recently? Those two channels showed up for me at 6-1 and 2-1, respectively, but we're in different areas, so who knows?

I have TBS HD right now. It is 1:09 on friday. The channel is 60-2 for me in Henderson. Everything else is all messed up. They keep changing them around. Why on earth they do it is beyond me. My channel 4 is like 50-1 or something. Why not leave it the way it was and should be.

2-1 for 2 hd
4-1 for 4 hd
6-1 for 6 hd
7-1 for 7 hd

you get the picture. I finally went out and got an antenna and a HVR-1600 for my computer and watch all that on my mediacenter pc. At least all the channels stay the same!

Not really a Comcast problem, but PBS-HD has not been on for days. They're showing Create-TV 24/7 instead. If anyone has information about why, I'd appreciate you passing on the info. Thanks!

I had TBS HD on 104.6 QAM in Parker previously but it's not in HD now. Anyone else having problems with the game signal?

Did another channel scan. It's now at 60.2. :D

Re-scanned and this is what came up-

51-1 ABC
51-2 CBS
90-1 FOX
90-2 NBC
2-1 KWGN
6-1 KRMA
60-2 TBS
117-1 KTVD(My20)

This is for a Samsung 2342. I just got a Samsung 4053 for the living room and the QAM tuner on it is coming up with different channel locations.

Samsung? You mean they have them at long last? Did you happen to notice whether or not they had the Panasonic DVRs?

Maybe this is why they said they had no more of the Moto boxes the other day?

Re-scanned and this is what came up-

51-1 ABC
51-2 CBS
90-1 FOX
90-2 NBC
2-1 KWGN
6-1 KRMA
60-2 TBS
117-1 KTVD(My20)

This is for a Samsung 2342. I just got a Samsung 4053 for the living room and the QAM tuner on it is coming up with different channel locations.

Samsung? You mean they have them at long last? Did you happen to notice whether or not they had the Panasonic DVRs?
I'm pretty sure he was talking about a Samsung LCD TV, not the cable box.

Haven't heard anything about new cable boxes recently, though I did read that the TiVo software was being rolled out somewhere.

Re-scanned and this is what came up-

51-1 ABC
51-2 CBS
90-1 FOX
90-2 NBC
2-1 KWGN
6-1 KRMA
60-2 TBS
117-1 KTVD(My20)


I just wanted to say thanks (to everyone really), you guys save me tons of time. Everytime Comcast changes the HD channels around (from 0-6XX to 4-1 to 51-2 to etc etc) I just check AVS forum and usually someone has already done a re-scan :)

Samsung? You mean they have them at long last? Did you happen to notice whether or not they had the Panasonic DVRs?

Maybe this is why they said they had no more of the Moto boxes the other day?

I was using the QAM tuners that came with the tv's. I went and picked up a couple of Moto DCH-3200's yesterday so I'm done channel chasing. I'm on the waiting list for the DVR's.

OK dragoster, here's what I get as of today in Boulder. But they seem to be changing on almost a daily basis these days.

All QAM256, All STD (NO IRC OR HRC).

51-1 KMGHDT (ABC) no remapping
51-2 KCNCDT (CBS) no remapping
60-2 TBSHD no remapping
90-1 KDVRDT (FOX) remapped to 0-655
90-2 KUSADT (NBC) remapped to 9-1
116-1 KRMADT (PBS) remapped to 6-1
116-2 KWGNDT (CW) remapped to 2-1
117-1 KTDVDT (My20) no remapping

I now receive all of these on my htpc (Hauppauge HVR-1600 cards w/ QAM) as well as my LG and Samsung TVs via QAM. I pay only for analog cable from Comcast.

Good luck,
Derek

Hey Derek,

What Comcast service do you have? Could you post all the HD channels that yo get? If you know what QAM encryption it is (256, 128, 64) and the type of channel lineup (regular, HRC, IRC), that would be even better.

I have a MythTV box (with a pcHDTV 5500 card) and a Comcast digital starter package and I can only tune channel 60-2 TBS HD. I know all the OTA HD channels should be available through Comcast for free. I called them a couple of times and they BS'ed me with "HD channels are only available if you have the Premium package" which turns out is $40 more. I thought that by law they have to provide the local HD channels (ABC, PBS, etc) for free.

Any input will be highly appreciated,
-D

I called Comcast the other day asking if they were getting new DVR's soon since the record time for HD content has to be one of the worse out there.
The Rep told me they have a new box coming after the first of the year. With 3 tuners and a bigger hard drive.

Anyone else heard this or was she just blowing smoke up my &*%

I am really thinking about going to Dish but if this is true I might stick around.

I think that is the Panasonic box, but this is the first I've heard of it actually being deployed soon. That's good news, if true.

As for switching to Dish (E*), why do that? Somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind I'm vaguely considering a switch to DirecTV (D*). The amount of HD that D* now has blows away all of the other competitors, and the quality of the new channels is excellent based on what I've read on AVSForum.

Edit: Check out the Dumping Comcast for D* (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=922426) thread.

I really don't want to go away from Comcast, but all I ever watch any more is HD channels and Comcast just isn't ramping up very fast with HD.

Plus the the E* DVR is very cool, 55 hours of HD record time plus you can hook up an external drive up to 750GB.

The one thing with (E*) I am not very happy about is the control 2 tv's with one box. I like having the ability to watch and record two different programs on the same tv. And (E*) will only give you one of the vip722 DVR's if you want another one you have to buy it.
Comcast will give you as many DVR's as you want.


And thanks for the link to that thread!

All,

I've been thinking about switching back from DirecTV to Comcast and was wondering what HD channels are currently available and more importantly, what new HD channels are coming. DTV currently has way more HD channels but I'm not too interested in their 2 year contracts these days...

Also, it looks like pretty much all the local HD channels are available so I wouldn't need my attic antenna any more - is this accurate ?

Thanks.

All,

I've been thinking about switching back from DirecTV to Comcast and was wondering what HD channels are currently available and more importantly, what new HD channels are coming. DTV currently has way more HD channels but I'm not too interested in their 2 year contracts these days...

Also, it looks like pretty much all the local HD channels are available so I wouldn't need my attic antenna any more - is this accurate ?

Thanks.

The current HD lineup is:
Premium: Showtime, HBO, Cinemax, Starz
Broadcast: KMGH, KUSA, KCNC, KDVR, KWGN, KTVD, and KRMA (DT Versions)
National: Discover HD, Mojo, TNT, ESPN, ESPN2, MHD, Versa/Golf, UHD, Nat. Geo, A&E, TBS
OnDemand: Free and PPV movies

I'm not expecting a whole lot more any time soon; no where near the D* offering at any rate.

The current HD lineup is:
Premium: Showtime, HBO, Cinemax, Starz
Broadcast: KMGH, KUSA, KCNC, KDVR, KWGN, KTVD, and KRMA (DT Versions)
National: Discover HD, Mojo, TNT, ESPN, ESPN2, MHD, Versa/Golf, UHD, Nat. Geo, A&E, TBS
OnDemand: Free and PPV movies

I'm not expecting a whole lot more any time soon; no where near the D* offering at any rate.

Thanks for the info. I guess I need out figure out how much I really dislike that 2 year contract!

Thanks for the info. I guess I need out figure out how much I really dislike that 2 year contract!
A couple of questions since it appears that you have looked into this:

1) Do you have any idea of the cost to break that contract? If it isn't too bad (a couple of hundred bucks), then I'd be more willing to give D* a shot.

2) Any idea of what the real cost is of D* service with all of the HD that they offer (including HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax)? I've looked at their site and it is so cluttered with temporary discounts that I can't figure it out. Maybe I just haven't tried hard enough.

3) I have Comcast HSI and get the $10 a month savings for having TV and Internet. Can I still get the $10 savings if I downgrade to the lifeline cable service?

3) I have Comcast HSI and get the $10 a month savings for having TV and Internet. Can I still get the $10 savings if I downgrade to the lifeline cable service?

You can definitely do this and still get the savings. I know someone at work who does this.

I've been toying with the idea of switching to D* myself, but the loss of the local channels that aren't one of the big four is a sticking point (I'm not sure why, matter of principal I guess). I guess at some point D* would carry those too but I'm not holding my breath.

A couple of questions since it appears that you have looked into this:

1) Do you have any idea of the cost to break that contract? If it isn't too bad (a couple of hundred bucks), then I'd be more willing to give D* a shot.

2) Any idea of what the real cost is of D* service with all of the HD that they offer (including HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax)? I've looked at their site and it is so cluttered with temporary discounts that I can't figure it out. Maybe I just haven't tried hard enough.

3) I have Comcast HSI and get the $10 a month savings for having TV and Internet. Can I still get the $10 savings if I downgrade to the lifeline cable service?

1) It depends on where you are in your contract. In may case it ends next month which is why I was considering the switching. I believe the penanlty starts at $300 (2 year contract for DVR) for early termination and is pro-rated on a monthly basis.

2) Depending on the package you pick you cost will vary. In my case with 2 HD DVRs + 1 other HD box, plus all movie channels + HD channels I think it's about $120/month without discounts. Your milage may vary...

3) I have comcast HSI and basic cable. The cost for HSI + basic cable was only $2/month more than just HSI which was worth it for me.

Hope this info helps.

On a side note, my neighbor mentioned to me yesterday that he received a flier from Comcast saying that they were going to be adding 28 (I think ?) HD channels soon. I will try and get more info from him to make sure this wasn't a pipe dream and not confused with DTV adding more channels.

On a side note, my neighbor mentioned to me yesterday that he received a flier from Comcast saying that they were going to be adding 28 (I think ?) HD channels soon. I will try and get more info from him to make sure this wasn't a pipe dream and not confused with DTV adding more channels.

I wonder if this means they're going to take away some more analog stations...

OK dragoster, here's what I get as of today in Boulder. But they seem to be changing on almost a daily basis these days.

All QAM256, All STD (NO IRC OR HRC).

51-1 KMGHDT (ABC) no remapping
51-2 KCNCDT (CBS) no remapping
60-2 TBSHD no remapping
90-1 KDVRDT (FOX) remapped to 0-655
90-2 KUSADT (NBC) remapped to 9-1
116-1 KRMADT (PBS) remapped to 6-1
116-2 KWGNDT (CW) remapped to 2-1
117-1 KTDVDT (My20) no remapping

I'm also now getting ESPN2HD (60-1) out of no where. Anyone else?

@ jpenneck

Thanks, that doesn't sound too bad. I'll have to take another look at D*.

BTW, Comcast better start adding some new HD channels or they will lose some of us. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the 28 new channels are On Demand HD "choices" instead of actual channels. That doesn't do it for me. I have a hard time finding anything in that mess, so I don't bother with it.

I'm also now getting ESPN2HD (60-1) out of no where. Anyone else?

Just rescanned, and also getting A&E HD.

Got a quick question. I'm not totally sure about the difference between QAM and ATSC. I'm asking because I got a TV tuner card that receives ATSC, but not QAM, which another version does. I believe that QAM is just the 9-1 channel assignment vs 77 which is where it falls on the ATSC side per the tuner. It seems that I can receive all the digital channels on Comcast through the tuner, they just don't correspond to the 9-1, 0-655, etc. So what really is QAM, and how does it differ from ATSC?
Thanks guys, this forum has been a great source of info over the past few weeks.
Also, I too am getting ESPN2 at 60-1 in Wheatridge

Got a quick question. I'm not totally sure about the difference between QAM and ATSC. I'm asking because I got a TV tuner card that receives ATSC, but not QAM, which another version does. I believe that QAM is just the 9-1 channel assignment vs 77 which is where it falls on the ATSC side per the tuner. It seems that I can receive all the digital channels on Comcast through the tuner, they just don't correspond to the 9-1, 0-655, etc. So what really is QAM, and how does it differ from ATSC?
Thanks guys, this forum has been a great source of info over the past few weeks.
Also, I too am getting ESPN2 at 60-1 in Wheatridge

(Digital) QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) is the transmission standard used by cable TV systems for digital televistion. ATSC (Advanced Television Standards Commitee) defined the transmission standard used by broadcast stations for over-the-air digital televistion. The technology specified by ATSC is actually called 8VSB (8-level Vestigial SideBand modulation). They do similar things but in very different ways.

The short asnwer is an ATSC-only TV will not pick up the digital signals on the cable system (without a cable box).

Just rescanned, and also getting A&E HD.What channel #?

What channel #?

50-2

50-2

On my set, 50-2 was TBSHD one day and then A&EHD the next and then back again, so I don't know if they are just time sharing that channel slot or what?!?!

I'm also now getting ESPN2HD (60-1) out of no where. Anyone else?

Yes, along with A&E! Here's the new and improved Boulder QAM HD lineup:

All QAM256, All STD (No IRC OR HRC).

50-1 AETVHD (A&E) no remapping
51-1 KMGHDT (ABC) no remapping
51-2 KCNCDT (CBS) no remapping
60-1 ESPN2HD no remapping
60-2 TBSHD no remapping
90-1 KDVRDT (FOX) remapped to 0-655
90-2 KUSADT (NBC) remapped to 9-1
116-1 KRMADT (PBS) remapped to 6-1
116-2 KWGNDT (CW) remapped to 2-1
117-1 KTDVDT (My20) no remapping

I could not be more surprised.

Is there an easy way to check signal level on the QAM channels. It seems one receiver I have can lock onto the signals all the time(sony DVR) yet my Mits TV doesn't on the same channels even.

It seems that if I don't have a Comcast-supplied STB or a CableCard-based receiver of some sort, but just have a QAM tuner, then the price I pay is that I have to manually keep up when Comcast moves the stations around. True?

I have a MediaCenter PC, with the HDHomerun tuner, and in an upcoming move am thinking of going with the basic "Starter" cable offering, and not paying extra for an HD-DVR STB from Comcast, and instead try to rely on just the Media Center PC for time-shifting. It seems painful to keep up with Comcast's channel swapping, though.

Yes, along with A&E! Here's the new and improved Boulder QAM HD lineup:

All QAM256, All STD (No IRC OR HRC).

50-1 AETVHD (A&E) no remapping
51-1 KMGHDT (ABC) no remapping
51-2 KCNCDT (CBS) no remapping
60-1 ESPN2HD no remapping
60-2 TBSHD no remapping
90-1 KDVRDT (FOX) remapped to 0-655
90-2 KUSADT (NBC) remapped to 9-1
116-1 KRMADT (PBS) remapped to 6-1
116-2 KWGNDT (CW) remapped to 2-1
117-1 KTDVDT (My20) no remapping

I could not be more surprised.

*Crosses fingers for ESPNHD and SCIFIHD*

*Crosses fingers for ESPNHD and SCIFIHD*

I have ESPN2HD and A&E HD and still have TBSHD also.

ESPN2HD is 60-1
A&EHD is 50-2
TBSHD is 60-2

Everything else the same.

It seems that if I don't have a Comcast-supplied STB or a CableCard-based receiver of some sort, but just have a QAM tuner, then the price I pay is that I have to manually keep up when Comcast moves the stations around. True?

True. What you get with paying extra is not having to deal with channels moving around and you get more HD channels. I believe we're only supposed to be getting the locals (nbc, cbs, etc) in HD. We're pretty lucky I think getting ESPN2, TBS and A&E.....let's see how long it lasts.

I for one can't justify paying the extra mula (from $14/month to over $50/month) just for a few extra HD channels. If they let me pick and choose a la carte then I'd be all over it.

I have ESPN2HD and A&E HD and still have TBSHD also.

ESPN2HD is 60-1
A&EHD is 50-2
TBSHD is 60-2

Everything else the same.

Same here, except A&E HD is 50.1 instead of 50.2 (not that it matters, as it's the only channel on that frequency).

ESPN2 HD and A&E HD are not supposed to be in the clear, but don't tell Comcast that - let them figure that out on their own. Also, don't tell Comcast they left the NFL network in the clear after announcing back in June that it was moving to the digital sports tier (it's at 104.1 in SE Jeffco). If they're dumb enough to send out certain channels unencrypted, it's their problem.

I begin to wonder if Comcast doesn't monitor this AVS group and use our comments to close off access to the non-local HD channels.

It seems every time we bring up a new one, it's gone within a few days.

Just a thought.

True. What you get with paying extra is not having to deal with channels moving around and you get more HD channels. I believe we're only supposed to be getting the locals (nbc, cbs, etc) in HD. We're pretty lucky I think getting ESPN2, TBS and A&E.....let's see how long it lasts.

I for one can't justify paying the extra mula (from $14/month to over $50/month) just for a few extra HD channels. If they let me pick and choose a la carte then I'd be all over it.

I for one can't justify paying the extra mula (from $14/month to over $50/month) just for a few extra HD channels. If they let me pick and choose a la carte then I'd be all over it.

I'd take it a step further - Pick and choose a la carte and have the programs that you choose (HBO HD, ESPNHD for example) be sent unencrypted to my cable line so I can record them with my HDHomeRun, that would be sweet!:)

Now I know I have a better chance of becoming the King of England than this happening but it's still fun to dream:D

For those who like PBS Masterpiece Theater and Mystery, I noticed on the Guide they're now being shown on KRMA-HD on Sunday nights. The program is actually on earlier in the night than on the SD channel (7pm as opposed to 9pm). The downside is it still looks like KRMA-HD switches manually from Create-TV to PBS-HD at about 6pm, if the technical crew are not asleep or at dinner.

I'm a nube to this forum. I'm frustrated with having to search for missing HD channels. I have a Pioneer PDP5080 and only subscribe to basic analog cable from Comcast. Cable is connected straight to the TV. When we first got our TV just over a year ago, we were quite suprised to find all the additional channels we were getting. But now, we've grown used to seeing network TV in HD and it's hard to go back. For the past 3-4 weeks we have been unable to get KMGHDT (ABC) and KCNCDT (CBS). They used to be at 7.1 and 4.1. But despite rescanning no luck. The other HD channels I get are:
90.1 KDVRDT (FOX)
9.1 KUSADT (NBC)
6.1 KRMADT (PBS)
2.1 KWGNDT (CW)
117.1 KTDVDT (My20)
I was never able to get TBSHD. We had NFL network in HD for a while but that disappeared months ago. And I live in Lakewood near Morrison, since that apparently seems to make a difference from reading other posts. It's seems so odd that people get different channel numbers on different TVs and in different areas. You would think it would be consistent. But glad to hear that I'm not the only one with this issue.

Did you check 51-1 and 51-2, as mentioned at the top of the page?

Yup, I tried manually entering 51.1, 51.2 as well as rescanning. No luck.

Man am I disliking Comcast now, I just finished setting up my parents new HD set and their DirecTV HD box. They have what seems like double the HD channels. Things like TLC, Speed, NFL Netword, H&G TV, History, and many more. Makes me sad, I would switch in a second if I could put a dish on my house (damn HOA).

You do know federal law trumps the HOA - http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html .

I was never able to get TBSHD. We had NFL network in HD for a while but that disappeared months ago.

Here in Wheatridge NFL went encrypted just before the season started. Thanks to this forum, I was able to get TBSHD for the playoffs.

You do know federal law trumps the HOA - http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html .


Yea but I am renting, so I am choosing to not get into it.......lol.

Does anybody know where MSNBC is? On normal digital cable it is channel 65. I am unable to find the channel on the QAM tuner however I can get the TV Guide channel which also moved to be only on digital cable a few months ago. Chris Hanson is my hero.
Thanks.
P.S. ESPN2HD also just recently showed up in Aurora on 60-1

Does anybody know where MSNBC is? On normal digital cable it is channel 65. I am unable to find the channel on the QAM tuner however I can get the TV Guide channel which also moved to be only on digital cable a few months ago. Chris Hanson is my hero.
Thanks.
P.S. ESPN2HD also just recently showed up in Aurora on 60-1

MSNBC is scrambled on QAM, as it always has been (even when it was available in analog).

Does anybody know where MSNBC is? On normal digital cable it is channel 65. I am unable to find the channel on the QAM tuner however I can get the TV Guide channel which also moved to be only on digital cable a few months ago. Chris Hanson is my hero.
Thanks.
P.S. ESPN2HD also just recently showed up in Aurora on 60-1

I don't think MSNBC is an option for QAM. I live in Thornton and I did a complete scan yesterday and it wasn't one of the channels that I got.

I have a question. How many people actually use the 40+ music channels? I must confess that I only use the "Sounds of the Season" channel during the holidays, and that may only be for a few hours. The rest of the year, I ignore them almost entirely.

It seems to me there are 40+ channels just waiting to be culled for digital bandwidth. How much bandwidth do they take up? How much of a difference do they make to your subscription? Can they be delivered instead via OnDemand?

I have a question. How many people actually use the 40+ music channels? I must confess that I only use the "Sounds of the Season" channel during the holidays, and that may only be for a few hours. The rest of the year, I ignore them almost entirely.

It seems to me there are 40+ channels just waiting to be culled for digital bandwidth. How much bandwidth do they take up? How much of a difference do they make to your subscription? Can they be delivered instead via OnDemand?
1) I never use them
2) They are transmitted digitally; there is a fairly large number (maybe 30 as a WAG) per 6MHz of analog bandwidth. At most they consume two full analog channels, although they are spread out such they are on more than two analog channels, presumably with other digital stuff on the others.
3) I am sure technically they could be distributed via on demand. But typically on demand is time bounded (length of move, for example) whereas people who do use music channels may want them on for an indefinite period of time.

I was never able to get TBSHD. We had NFL network in HD for a while but that disappeared months ago. And I live in Lakewood near Morrison, since that apparently seems to make a difference from reading other posts. It's seems so odd that people get different channel numbers on different TVs and in different areas. You would think it would be consistent. But glad to hear that I'm not the only one with this issue.

I live in Morrison and was able to get TBSHD when it was first mentioned here. I'm currently getting A&EHD, ESPN2HD and TBSHD.

In July most of the music was available, but now (Nov 2) I can't find even one channel of music. If anybody has found it, please post them or send a private message.

Hmm. I noticed that recently as well. I didn't know if it was due to a firmware of the HDHomerun or if there was a change by Comcast. What tuner are you using?

All the music channels also disappeared for me. Not that I really care...but something else that I can't get.

In July most of the music was available, but now (Nov 2) I can't find even one channel of music. If anybody has found it, please post them or send a private message.


For once I would like to see a post that says something along the lines of - "Hey guys looks like somebody at Comcast accidentally turned off the encrypt switch and is unlikely to notice that it is off anytime soon":D

What I can't seem to understand is that I have an Sony DVR with QAM which seems to pickup the HD channels just fine but my Mits loses them all the time and currently cannot not get them at all. Is there a distibution amp that would help this and not screwup my cable modem?

I'm afraid the more that we chat about which channels are unencrypted, the more channels they will encrypt. I've seen too many channels written about here one week that were suddenly encrypted a few weeks later.

I wish they would unencrypt MSNBC. Sometimes we record two programs from 6-7pm, and can't watch Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World" to see how he digs into Bill O' that night. :p

For once I would like to see a post that says something along the lines of - "Hey guys looks like somebody at Comcast accidentally turned off the encrypt switch and is unlikely to notice that it is off anytime soon":D

Yes, along with A&E! Here's the new and improved Boulder QAM HD lineup:

All QAM256, All STD (No IRC OR HRC).

50-1 AETVHD (A&E) no remapping
51-1 KMGHDT (ABC) no remapping
51-2 KCNCDT (CBS) no remapping
60-1 ESPN2HD no remapping
60-2 TBSHD no remapping
90-1 KDVRDT (FOX) remapped to 0-655
90-2 KUSADT (NBC) remapped to 9-1
116-1 KRMADT (PBS) remapped to 6-1
116-2 KWGNDT (CW) remapped to 2-1
117-1 KTDVDT (My20) no remapping

I could not be more surprised.

Some of these are matching (90.1, 90.2, 116.1, 116.2) but some are not. I can't find CBSHD anywhere. I'm in the Boulder/Longmont area. Anyone having luck?

FM and AM come in poorly, so music channels without ads are quite nice. Alternative is sat radio.

I'm afraid the more that we chat about which channels are unencrypted, the more channels they will encrypt. ...:p
Yes - we need to encrypt our chat...

Some of these are matching (90.1, 90.2, 116.1, 116.2) but some are not. I can't find CBSHD anywhere. I'm in the Boulder/Longmont area. Anyone having luck?

i'm in Longmont, and i get KCNCHD on 4.1 or 68.2 (the latter remaps to 4.1)

I'm afraid the more that we chat about which channels are unencrypted, the more channels they will encrypt. I've seen too many channels written about here one week that were suddenly encrypted a few weeks later.

I wish they would unencrypt MSNBC. Sometimes we record two programs from 6-7pm, and can't watch Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World" to see how he digs into Bill O' that night. :p

you don't actually believe this, right?? if comcast had the resources to spend time monitoring forums and encrypt channels that we talk about, don't you think they'd be smart enough not to make them available unencrypted to begin with?

btw, in longmont MSNBC QAM is not encrypted. should i worry now that i have disclosed that info? ;)

FM and AM come in poorly, so music channels without ads are quite nice. Alternative is sat radio.

Another nice alternative is <gasp> Radio@AOL available via Media Center. Hundreds of audio channels...some direct from XM...and all totally free. I can't remember if there are ads or not. If there were, I don't remember hearing any last time I listened.

The smiley face with tongue hanging out means I was being facetious. However, yes. People from Comcast have replied here in the past. It turns out their employees are just as interested in video as we are. Go figure! :rolleyes:

you don't actually believe this, right?? if comcast had the resources to spend time monitoring forums and encrypt channels that we talk about, don't you think they'd be smart enough not to make them available unencrypted to begin with?

btw, in longmont MSNBC QAM is not encrypted. should i worry now that i have disclosed that info? ;)

The smiley face with tongue hanging out means I was being facetious. However, yes. People from Comcast have replied here in the past. It turns out their employees are just as interested in video as we are. Go figure! :rolleyes:

I was not obvious from your original post that the smiley face applied to both items. It certainly did not appear that way to me, since you covered two very different topics in that post:

I'm afraid the more that we chat about which channels are unencrypted, the more channels they will encrypt. I've seen too many channels written about here one week that were suddenly encrypted a few weeks later.

I wish they would unencrypt MSNBC. Sometimes we record two programs from 6-7pm, and can't watch Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World" to see how he digs into Bill O' that night. :p

I'm curious about your second sentence. Which HD channels has Denver Comcast encrypted that were not originally encrypted? Recently, I think it's been the opposite: we've seen the addition of 3 unencrypted (clear QAM) channels (A&E, ESPN2, and TBS). Maybe when Comcast originally started adding HD channels everything was clear QAM (I don't know if they were or not) but I would not have expected every HD channel to remain clear forever. Of course, maybe you were talking about SD channels...

Loosen up the sphincter, friend. Life is but a dream... shaboom! :p

I have some very good Comcast news, but am not yet prepared to report it. Maybe this weekend. Stay tuned!



I was not obvious from your original post that the smiley face applied to both items. It certainly did not appear that way to me, since you covered two very different topics in that post:



I'm curious about your second sentence. Which HD channels has Denver Comcast encrypted that were not originally encrypted? Recently, I think it's been the opposite: we've seen the addition of 3 unencrypted (clear QAM) channels (A&E, ESPN2, and TBS). Maybe when Comcast originally started adding HD channels everything was clear QAM (I don't know if they were or not) but I would not have expected every HD channel to remain clear forever. Of course, maybe you were talking about SD channels...

Has anybody noticed whole ranges of channels are gone from the analog dial before 8:00 AM each morning? Yesterday it was some channels in the lower 40s and 70s. Today it was the higher 40s, including MSNBC and WTC.

What's up with that? Are they getting ready to convert those to solely digital? Are they going to have enough cable boxes to deal with the demand when people discover they can't watch TV or record to VCRs/DVD-Rs without one?

Has anybody noticed whole ranges of channels are gone from the analog dial before 8:00 AM each morning? Yesterday it was some channels in the lower 40s and 70s. Today it was the higher 40s, including MSNBC and WTC.

What's up with that? Are they getting ready to convert those to solely digital? Are they going to have enough cable boxes to deal with the demand when people discover they can't watch TV or record to VCRs/DVD-Rs without one?

Back in August (or so), we had a similar problem here in SE Jefferson County. A large number of analog stations (primarily in the 20's, 30's, and 40's) would go black for a period of time, usually just a couple of minutes or less, but occasionally for longer periods (one time the outage occurred during a Rockies game and lasted over an hour). The channels didn't go static - there was still a good signal. It was just a black screen with no audio. Affected channels included FSN, ESPN, ESPN2, Fox News, TWC, and CNBC (all of which get watched in this household). Only analog channels affected - no digital, including the digital versions of the affected channels. These outages happened quite regularly over a span of some weeks, although the time of day varied.

It's been a good while now since the last time I noticed an outage. Although we subscribe to digital cable, we do not have a digital box/tuner for every TV, so we do rely on analog stations in certain rooms in the house. Thus, we were really annoyed by these outages, especially the one that coincided with the Rockies game.

I have no idea what caused the outages. I'm just thankful we haven't had to deal with them lately

ESPN2HD not showing up anymore. Did a scan and 60-1 now showing up as encrypted:(

Outages. Channels disappearing. KCNC missing at times. Channels being encrypted.

It's Comcastic. :D

ESPN2HD not showing up anymore. Did a scan and 60-1 now showing up as encrypted:(

A&EHD is now encrypted as well:(

Or a Com-spiracy! :p

I'd be looking for the black helicopters. But if they were made by Comcast-Motorola, they'd likely never get off the ground. :D

Outages. Channels disappearing. KCNC missing at times. Channels being encrypted.

It's Comcastic. :D

Or a Com-spiracy! :p

I'd be looking for the black helicopters. But if they were made by Comcast-Motorola, they'd likely never get off the ground. :D

Those helicopters will get off the ground, but they'll have to stay hovering in place for a few hours for everything to get populated throughout the system, and the pilot will have to exercise patience when the helicopter doesn't turn immediately when he tells it to. And there's not a very good chance he'll make it all the way without being forced to land and reboot the whole system, wasting precious hours along the way.

Loosen up the sphincter, friend. Life is but a dream... shaboom! :p

I have some very good Comcast news, but am not yet prepared to report it. Maybe this weekend. Stay tuned!

Why not share the news now? I could certainly use the good news:o

My news is that your local Comcast office has a new model of Motorola DVR in stock. It is the 3416, has 160 gigs of memory, runs more quietly, and, hopefully, operates better than the 64xx paperweights.

What it doesn't do is fast forward, though commercial skip still works. You must go slowly with commercial skip, however, so the hard disk reader doesn't lock up.

So far, so good. But it's still no substitute for the ill-fated, long-ago promised Panasonic 3-tuner DVR.


Why not share the news now? I could certainly use the good news:o

My news is that your local Comcast office has a new model of Motorola DVR in stock. It is the 3416, has 160 gigs of memory, runs more quietly, and, hopefully, operates better than the 64xx paperweights.

What it doesn't do is fast forward, though commercial skip still works. You must go slowly with commercial skip, however, so the hard disk reader doesn't lock up.

So far, so good. But it's still no substitute for the ill-fated, long-ago promised Panasonic 3-tuner DVR.

The 3416 is by no means new. It's just an all-digital version of the 6416. It runs cooler, but otherwise is more of the same Motorola quality (or lack thereof). And yes, I have one and have had it for around 1 year now.

The Panasonic is coming. As I understand, it was delayed by the July 1 FCC mandate for separable security. Supposedly, it will be available in some areas of the country early next year (although I wouldn't bet on it, seeing as we're dealing with Comcast here).

What it doesn't do is fast forward, though commercial skip still works. You must go slowly with commercial skip, however, so the hard disk reader doesn't lock up.
Absolutely worthless, IMHO. A DVR without the ability to fast-forward barely qualifies as a DVR, even if the commercial skip function works. I'll switch to D* or E* before I rent one of those.

There are two models of 3416, the DCT and new DCH. According to Endgadget, the DCH has been around since February. However, my local office (Pierce and Ken Caryl) didn't have it until the last few weeks (according to them).

Anyway, if you have the DCT model and it's giving you fits, you may want to try the DCH model. Here's a write-up on it: http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/02/motorolas-dch3416-m-card-enabled-hd-dvr/

I'm glad to hear your news about the Panasonic.

For those interested, BusinessWeek has an excellent story on I-TV and the delay in implementing it. This is yet another reason the government needs to break up the cable and phone companies. I also think the "economies of scale" that comes with mega operations like Comcast prevents innovation and the implementation of technology solutions because it's really expensive for one company to change out millions of cable boxes.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_47/b4059401.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_top+story


The 3416 is by no means new. It's just an all-digital version of the 6416. It runs cooler, but otherwise is more of the same Motorola quality (or lack thereof). And yes, I have one and have had it for around 1 year now.

The Panasonic is coming. As I understand, it was delayed by the July 1 FCC mandate for separable security. Supposedly, it will be available in some areas of the country early next year (although I wouldn't bet on it, seeing as we're dealing with Comcast here).

I have Comcast cable in Central NJ. I have two SA Explorer boxes, a 2100 and a 8300HD DVR. I would like to exchange the 2100 for an HD box (4250HD??) and also get a third box. But I cannot find out what boxes Comcast has available and what the monthly rate for each would be. I want to do my homework so I know what to ask for.

Any suggestions as to how to find out what boxes are currently available and the rates for each??

Here's a tricky question (I think).
I recently got the Comcast Triple Play with "Starter" cable package - no DVR, no HD, just a basic SD STB. I also hooked up a 1080P TV with built-in tuner, and an HDHomerun QAM tuner (and an HTPC to that), knowing that both would probably tune the in-the-clear HD channels, and sure enough, they do.
However, Fox31 HD and Channel 9 HD have weak signals, such that I get stuttering and skipping with the HDHomerun tuner + Media Center on the HTPC. (Yes, I'm splitting the cable 5 ways, but I'm doing so with a powered distribution amp.)
The question is, given that Comcast indicated all I get with the Starter package is analog SD, are they going to come out and fix my signal if I complain about problems with the HD channels? Are they possibly even trying to filter out those channels to keep me from getting them?

Here's a tricky question (I think).
I recently got the Comcast Triple Play with "Starter" cable package - no DVR, no HD, just a basic SD STB. I also hooked up a 1080P TV with built-in tuner, and an HDHomerun QAM tuner (and an HTPC to that), knowing that both would probably tune the in-the-clear HD channels, and sure enough, they do.
However, Fox31 HD and Channel 9 HD have weak signals, such that I get stuttering and skipping with the HDHomerun tuner + Media Center on the HTPC. (Yes, I'm splitting the cable 5 ways, but I'm doing so with a powered distribution amp.)
The question is, given that Comcast indicated all I get with the Starter package is analog SD, are they going to come out and fix my signal if I complain about problems with the HD channels? Are they possibly even trying to filter out those channels to keep me from getting them?

I was having trouble receiving a couple channels on one of my HDHomeRun tuners but not the other. I thought it was defective. I removed the splitters and everything worked great. (I did have issues when using the splitters and amplifier.) I moved the HDHomerun down to be next to the amplifier and now no more issues, even with 6 feeds.

Since I've gotten so much value from previous posts of where Comcast moves our HD channels to, I thought I would share the love.:)

Latest scan as of 10PM 11/15/07:

2.1 CW
6.1 PBS
9.1 NBC
51.1 ABC
51.2 CBS
60.1 TBS
90.2 FOX
117.5 Not sure what this one is, but maybe KTVD (My20)?

Looks like ESPN2 is now encrypted.

Thanks for all the good info.!

After getting the DCH 3416 on Friday and setting it up, I updated my package from Comcast and the rep told me we are getting NFL HD on Monday Nov 19th......wheew, thought I was going to be without or have to pony up $200 to get DT*. I called like ten times and no one would budge on their HD DVR price up front.

I called Comcast again tonight to confirm twice and both reps said yes on the NFL HD.

Also FYI on the Tivo Box/Partnership, apparently they have hit a snag and are still in negotiation, at least that is what the rep said. Very good CSR

I was having trouble receiving a couple channels on one of my HDHomeRun tuners but not the other. I thought it was defective. I removed the splitters and everything worked great. (I did have issues when using the splitters and amplifier.) I moved the HDHomerun down to be next to the amplifier and now no more issues, even with 6 feeds.
FWIW, I fixed my problem by removing the 2-way splitter the cable guy put in. Now, the feed the house goes through a 15dB amplifier which feeds an 8-way splitter. 5 of the outputs are used, and I terminated the remaining 3. All is fine. My problem with bad signal on KDVRHD was really too much amplification - a 4-way amplified splitter (turned up too high) following a 2-way splitter following an amp.

After getting the DCH 3416 on Friday and setting it up, I updated my package from Comcast and the rep told me we are getting NFL HD on Monday Nov 19th......wheew, thought I was going to be without or have to pony up $200 to get DT*. I called like ten times and no one would budge on their HD DVR price up front.

I called Comcast again tonight to confirm twice and both reps said yes on the NFL HD.

Indeed, NFL HD was added today (channel 676). I assume the network is only available if you subscribe to the digital sports tier (I already have that package, so I can't test this). Comcast would be stupid if they put NFL SD in the sports tier and not NFL HD.

(Incidentally, they finally got around to encrypting NFL SD in my area.)

Indeed, NFL HD was added today (channel 676). I assume the network is only available if you subscribe to the digital sports tier (I already have that package, so I can't test this). Comcast would be stupid if they put NFL SD in the sports tier and not NFL HD.

(Incidentally, they finally got around to encrypting NFL SD in my area.)

It shows up for me as "NOT AUTHORIZED".

NFLHD came on Saturday night up here in Summit county.

Still hopeing for the Denver locals one day!

Does anyone know how much that sports pgk. costs here in Denver? If its cheap, id probably add it on, especially now that NCAA Bball has started back up. Are there any plans to add and other HD channels with this package other then NFLHD??

It is 4.99 monthly, but if you have all 3 services from Comcast...phone, internet, and cable they give it free for a year if you ask for it or mention the triple play add

NFLHD came on Saturday night up here in Summit county.

Still hopeing for the Denver locals one day!

DG... take a look on your bill to see who regulates Comcast in Summit. Ask them. Then ask them how you can protest the renewal of Comcast's franchise for your area. Then organize against Comcast and demand a new provider. I think that might convince them.

Then there's always DirectTV. Their HD DVR was going for $299 last week at Best Buy, and D* gives free installation, including up to four SD boxes, and a $100 rebate on the HD box.

I'm concerned that, come Feb 2009, Comcast is toast if it doesn't figure out how to put more digital bits and HD channels into its cable. This holiday season is likely to add many more HD sets to the system, and I question their ability to keep up.

Looks like they moved a couple more when I checked last night. Anybody rescan today?

116.2: CW (analog #2)
117.5: My network TV (analog #3)
51.2: CBS (analog #4)
___ : PBS (analog #6):eek:
51.1: ABC (analog #7)
9.1: NBC (analog #9)
90.2: FOX (analog #13)
60.1: TBS (analog #49)

By the way, checkout Comcast's new digital TV planner that lets you set "favorites" for the channels you have/like, and then just show the listings for those stations. Poor-man's substitute for not having Comcast's digital tuner box.

Since I have a cable modem is there any distribution amp that works correctly for upstream data?

there is a motorola one on Amazon for about $40.00 . Seems to be about the best.

About a year ago (in wheat ridge) when I scanned, I got alot of music channels along with HD programming. Granted, since then, the hd channels have been all over the place, but, now I get zero music channels. has this been anybody elses experience?

116.2: CW (analog #2)
117.5: My network TV (analog #3)
51.2: CBS (analog #4)
___ : PBS (analog #6):eek:
51.1: ABC (analog #7)
9.1: NBC (analog #9)
90.2: FOX (analog #13)
60.1: TBS (analog #49)

Same for me but my Fox is now 0-655 as opposed to 90-2 like it was a few days ago. Go figger.

About a year ago (in wheat ridge) when I scanned, I got alot of music channels along with HD programming. Granted, since then, the hd channels have been all over the place, but, now I get zero music channels. has this been anybody elses experience?

Same here, no more music channels for me :(

Hey guys, with the planned analog to digital switch in 2009, does anyone know if comcast will be offering the expanded basic cable tier in clear QAM? I've accepted the fact that when the switch happens my analog tuner cards will be useless but it would really suck if I can't watch my basic cable lineup without a digital STB, much less record them.

It looks like PBS-HD hasn't been transmitted from KRMA since Monday. I'm calling KRMA today to find out what's up.

Any news from them? The local PBS is not even close to as good as PBS-HD!

Hey guys, with the planned analog to digital switch in 2009, does anyone know if comcast will be offering the expanded basic cable tier in clear QAM? I've accepted the fact that when the switch happens my analog tuner cards will be useless but it would really suck if I can't watch my basic cable lineup without a digital STB, much less record them.
RJVR23,
My understanding is the new digital rules only effect over-the-air transmission, the 2009 date should not change anything on Comcast. If Comcast wanted to remove all (NON-NATIONAL) analog channels and make them digital tomorrow they could (much to the screaming of the no cable box types). All cable providers are required by law to transmit the local broadcast stations (ABC,NBC,CBS,FOX,PBS...) in the "primary signal" currently this is analog. In theory when the digital switch happens the cable companies could say we will only carry the digital signal, but the outcry would be huge. I expect that any channels that broadcast in HD AND <- are in the basic cable level will be available as QAM, and all major local channels will be available in analog for quite awhile but I do not know how Comcast might redefine basic cable in the future. Once they have every analog channel (allowed) moved to digital, it would be easy for them to define smaller and smaller groups of channels as different tiers. Analog is hard to segment compared to digital, so in the future the definition of basic cable may be different then now, and that would impact the QAM channels.

Benzyl

RJVR23,
My understanding is the new digital rules only effect over-the-air transmission, the 2009 date should not change anything on Comcast.

....

cable may be different then now, and that would impact the QAM channels.

Benzyl

All true. Actually, I only watch the digital channels now. I'm just annoyed that Comcast keeps moving the QAM HD channels around. And really annoyed to have lost PBS-HD (which isn't Comcast's fault).

Don't forget that, in theory, by the 2009 date the HD tower up on the mountain should be in service and many of us will be able to get our HD signals over the air.

In July most of the music was available, but now (Nov 2) I can't find even one channel of music. If anybody has found it, please post them or send a private message.

Hey, Did you ever find them? I'm looking also.

RJVR23,
My understanding is the new digital rules only effect over-the-air transmission, the 2009 date should not change anything on Comcast. If Comcast wanted to remove all (NON-NATIONAL) analog channels and make them digital tomorrow they could (much to the screaming of the no cable box types). All cable providers are required by law to transmit the local broadcast stations (ABC,NBC,CBS,FOX,PBS...) in the "primary signal" currently this is analog. In theory when the digital switch happens the cable companies could say we will only carry the digital signal, but the outcry would be huge. I expect that any channels that broadcast in HD AND <- are in the basic cable level will be available as QAM, and all major local channels will be available in analog for quite awhile but I do not know how Comcast might redefine basic cable in the future. Once they have every analog channel (allowed) moved to digital, it would be easy for them to define smaller and smaller groups of channels as different tiers. Analog is hard to segment compared to digital, so in the future the definition of basic cable may be different then now, and that would impact the QAM channels.

Benzyl

Hope you're right :)

Hey, Did you ever find them? I'm looking also.I keep meaning to check the frequencies to see where Comcast has these channels (and to see if they're encrypted now). But I can't do it while the DVR is recording, so I'll try later this evening.

On a different topic - "A Christmas Story" in HD. That's what I'm thankful for...

The music channels appear to be gone (or encrypted, I guess) so I'll be surprised if you find them.

I sampled a few (7) of the music channels, including some I recall were available a few months ago. All 7 now show that they are encrypted. That would explain why we're not receiving them, since they have not changed channel locations. Oh, well.

I'm not sure if it's my TV starting to fritz out, or if it's the signal I'm receiving from Comcast, but I've started having periodic jumbled audio and video that causes blocky images, pauses in audio, and generally difficult to watch quality.:( When it happens, it is across all HD channels, but no apparent problem with analog channels, internet, or Digital phone (all from Comcast).

Anybody else have that? I'm not sure how to troubleshoot whether it's my signal or my TV, since I only have 1 digital TV in the house.

Thanks for any validation (or not) of problems with the signal.

I've seen the same thing at my house in HR, and I've seen a few other postings as well. Comcast came out this summer when a few of my HD channels would not even show up on my DVR ("this channel will be available shortly"), and said that an amplifier was probably starting to fail and causing a loss of signal. They also put caps on the open ports on the amp, to avoid signal leakage. Although I haven't had loss of channels in a while, the breakups still occur, and I know some of my neighbors are affected as well. I have another TV (no cable box, just QAM) that bypasses the amp, and it is also affected (so I don't believe the amplifier story). But unless you live in the same area as me (SW HR), I wouldn't think our problems have the same cause.
You can always schedule a service call. Just make sure you have a minimum number of splitters on the path to your TV. The trouble is, unless the breakups occur while the techs are there, you probably won't get them to do much.

The problems of jumbled audio and block images are typically caused by less than adequate signal strength. There can be many causes for this, including upstream amplification problems, signal loss due to too many splitters, long runs of older cable that attenuate higher frequencies, and poor connections (and there are probably more). If you are a digital subscriber, it is easy to schedule a service call. If not, you might not have much luck getting things fixed until you demonstrate a problem on something you subscribe to. When I lived in Boulder, it was in a multi-unit building from the 1980s that was internally wired with RG58 (I think) rather than RG6 or RG11. This attenuated high frequencies. I also had a splitter in the wall of my unit that did not extend to 1 GHz, so that was replaced. First time the tech removed a splitter from the line in the buliding box and put me on a dedicated run to the street. Even though it was tagged, some contract installer put it back on a splitter, which caused it to go out again. Finally Comcast installed an in-line amplifier in my unit in order to improve signal strength, which resolved my issues up until I moved.

What a great informative thread, though I will admit to not reading through all 99 pages...

Anyway, I am new to the HD arena and just got a new HDTV this past weekend. I connected my cable directly yo the TV and was very happy to see the lineup of HD channels I got without needing the comcast box. What surprised me even more was to find some PPV programming on it, unencrypted, though only in SDTV format (Waitress on 101.3, Live Free or Die Hard on 113.1, etc).

I'll be happy to post a link to my full table of channels once I hit the 3 post minimum. :P

Welcome, blasney.

As you may have seen from some of the earlier posts, the HD channels via QAM move around, so posting a full lineup could take up some time. I had done that several months ago, and there are a lot of digital channels on the lineup, but only a few HD. It does help everyone to post changes in HD channel locations if you see them before anyone else.

The PPV's are amusing. You'll find them in the 101-102 and 113-114 ranges (someone posted that there was a 5th PPV channel, but I haven't found it). You will occasionally find an HD movie on these . If you find a movie you like, you can watch along, but you're at the mercy of whoever paid for that movie - if they stop, or decide to FF or RW, you're just along for the ride. My TV often jumps around within a channel if a new PPV channel starts up or an existing one ends. I'd love to know where those people are - i.e., if it's someone in the neighborhood or somewhere much farther away.

As you may have seen from some of the earlier posts, the HD channels via QAM move around

I have noticed this already (like when they moved Fox to 0.655 -- this is what got me on the channel mapping quest in the first place, to find the HD Fox feed (though I'm not sure why, since it is after all, just Fox).

Thanks for the info on the PPV, I figured it was someone in my neighborhood or apartment complex renting it, but it was still funny to find it in the first place.

Quick question though, I noticed that my TV shows Fox as being something like 90.6 and when i jump to it via a favorite button it then auto-forwards to 0.655. Is this normal? I know its probably something with my set as a friend said his shows it as 0.655. Reason I ask is that it makes surfing a bit of a pita, channel-up to that 90.6 and it sends you around-the-horn skipping a lot of channels.

That depends on your TV. Mine doesn't handle 0- channels, so it doesn't remap to those. It does remap to the "normal" channel number (e.g., from 51-1 to 4-1 for KCNC when Comcast puts the PSIP data in), but that hasn't happened for a while.

Dang, I was really hoping to find NFLHD on unencrypted QAM. No such luck. Oh well, I'll continue watching it on DirecTV.

Anyone know if with a firewire connection to an STB you can get more channels than on QAM?

The problems of jumbled audio and block images are typically caused by less than adequate signal strength....

Thanks for the info. on what might cause this. What's curious is that I live in a house, and it's been working problem free since February. So, nothing has changed in my setup, however it's possible that my neighbors may have subscribed to a service and caused a tech to split it more ways on the pole.

Does anybody know if putting a "cap" on open coax connections in the house will help? I've got a couple that aren't used. When the tech hooked up my system in Feb. he wanted to unscrew the connections in the "box" but since everything was working great at the time, he agreed to leave it as is. He did say that it would decrease signal strength. If my scrambling continues to be a problem, this would be the first place I would want to try to improve signal strength.

This is a great thread...thanks for all the advice.

I'm not sure if it's my TV starting to fritz out, or if it's the signal I'm receiving from Comcast, but I've started having periodic jumbled audio and video that causes blocky images, pauses in audio, and generally difficult to watch quality...

Everything looks fine tonight. No problems with signal strength or jumbling.:)

Anybody find the HD-PBS? Even though we have 2 PBS (6 and 12) available on analog, the HD-PBS has different content that seems to be more interesting. I guess this is a national PBS vs. the two locals?

Everything looks fine tonight. No problems with signal strength or jumbling.:)

Anybody find the HD-PBS? Even though we have 2 PBS (6 and 12) available on analog, the HD-PBS has different content that seems to be more interesting. I guess this is a national PBS vs. the two locals?

At last scan, my TV showed PBS HD at 116.3, but the channel in only active part-time (not sure why).

You can go to TitanTV.com and set up a free account for Denver Comcast service. That will provide a fairly reliable scedule for Rocky Mountain PBS' HD scedule. It's not always accurate but mostly is.

I get the main HD programming on 116.2. You probably got signal on 116.3 when they were multicasting and not feeding HD on 116.2. I'm surprised your scan didn't pick up 116.2 as well.

I recently purchased another HDTV, which I will be adding in my living room.

The TV will be wall-mounted, with all it's wires going through the wall. Because I do not want to go in the walls more than once, I want to be sure that I get the correct cabling. Logic would tell me to run all the cable through the wall that is possible, but if that proves too difficult I would like a few questions answered.

I am in Boulder, and will be renting an additional HD box for this new TV, probably no DVR on this one. What output options will I have? Component only? DVI? HDMI? Knowing the answers to these questions would make my install much easier, and I trust you guys alot more than Comcast customer service.

Thanks in advance.....

I get the main HD programming on 116.2. You probably got signal on 116.3 when they were multicasting and not feeding HD on 116.2. I'm surprised your scan didn't pick up 116.2 as well.

Unfortunately, 116.2 used to be PBS-HD, and very interesting. Now it's Rocky Mountain PBS and pretty dull. 116.3 is something else yet again for me.

PBS-HD is lost for now, sadly.

According to a post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12359152#post12359152) on the OTA thread, KRMA (PBS) had a problem with their HD transmitter and is waiting for a part. That's probably why you're seeing a rebroadcast of the regular PBS. Supposed to be fixed next week.

Wow - top of page 100. I feel so special.

According to a post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12359152#post12359152) on the OTA thread, KRMA (PBS) had a problem with their HD transmitter and is waiting for a part. That's probably why you're seeing a rebroadcast of the regular PBS. Supposed to be fixed next week.

Wow - top of page 100. I feel so special.

Well, it would be great if they come back to comcast once they get that part!

Thanks for finding that note... I was wondering what had happened.

Just an FYI to all you Denver residents who are Comcast subscribers that Switched Digital Video is being tested in Denver and as such in the future your channels may not be on the channels you expect dependent upon the tier they are within. This is to reclaim unused bandwidth for infrequently viewed channels so effectively the channels are not switched onto the HFC network until a STB requests that channel. Thus HGTV may be on Channel 20 for sake of discussion on your STB display but until someone switches to channel 20 the programming is not activated and will be assigned any open channel on the network which your STB may display as channel 20 but may be pumped out on channel 40. As more and more HD channels are made available SDV becomes an attractive option for adding more channels and only pumping out the channels being watched to particular service groups.

Therefore the moral of the story is that your channel line ups without a STB will continue to change. Not sure whether there will be a change in the CE world for all the Cablecard sets to somehow make them 2 way enabled or whether it will only be sets manufactured in mid 2008 on that will be SDV capable!!

Therefore the moral of the story is that your channel line ups without a STB will continue to change. Not sure whether there will be a change in the CE world for all the Cablecard sets to somehow make them 2 way enabled or whether it will only be sets manufactured in mid 2008 on that will be SDV capable!!
The cable companies and TiVo have announced a USB adapter will be available 2nd quarter of 2008 to allow the CableCard TiVos to work with SDV: http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=240705

Not sure if a similar workaround is in the works for sets with built-in CableCard slots.

The cable companies and TiVo have announced a USB adapter will be available 2nd quarter of 2008 to allow the CableCard TiVos to work with SDV: http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=240705

Not sure if a similar workaround is in the works for sets with built-in CableCard slots.

Unfortunately thats just Tivo. All those Cablecard sets purchased recently are reception only devices and have no way of interacting with the Cable Co carousel controller to request a channel once SDV is activated on the system. Its going to be a pain for Media Center PC's as well as any device that is reception only capable, Cablecard or not!

I finally brought a LCD TV for the lounge after watching and recording HD in the basement home theater on the 4 year old Sanyo Z2. I want to keep the HD DVR in the basement theater and get another one for the lounge but Colorado Comcast are quoting $19.50/mth for the 2nd unit.

Is that right for a second unit as I would have thought it would have been cheaper than the first unit on hire instead of around double the cost?

Hey Everyone. Anyone have an idea when we will see CNN-HD and Scifi-HD?

I would love for Comcast to kick TBS-HD and TNN-HD off there network to make room for CNN-HD and SciFi-HD.

I finally brought a LCD TV for the lounge after watching and recording HD in the basement home theater on the 4 year old Sanyo Z2. I want to keep the HD DVR in the basement theater and get another one for the lounge but Colorado Comcast are quoting $19.50/mth for the 2nd unit.

Is that right for a second unit as I would have thought it would have been cheaper than the first unit on hire instead of around double the cost?
That is correct, because they charge a 2nd digital outlet fee of somewhere around $7.00, which in effect, is additional rental fees on the box. It sucks, but that is what they do. I ended up just getting a non-DVR box, which is still outrageous but they had a promotion for the box being free for a year early last summer. So at some point that will run out and I will be annoyed again. DirecTV might start looking pretty good then.

Hey Everyone. Anyone have an idea when we will see CNN-HD and Scifi-HD?

I would love for Comcast to kick TBS-HD and TNN-HD off there network to make room for CNN-HD and SciFi-HD.

Don't know, but if it's true that they're going to turn on Switched Digital Video (SDV) in this area, that should allow them to expand their channel lineup without concerns of bandwidth. In other words, if all goes well we should see more channels (especially HD) fairly soon.

TBS-HD in the clear is no more.

I hadn't seen anything in HD on that channel since the playoffs.

Wasn't the nuggets game on TBSHD? I went to watch it and its gone, but I agree that the only thing they had that was HD was the playoffs.

Yes, I noticed that while the signal was in Hi-Def, the actual content was always a stretched SD image (kind of annoying actually, since I prefer to preserve the original aspect ratio, even though it has the "black-bars on the side"). However, it was a nice clean digital signal that will be missed.:(

O.k guys, living here in Highlands Ranch, channel 9 is suppose to be avalible on 9.1 and 90.2. Using these two channels, I can get channel 9 NBC, but it keeps breaking up and is mostly useless. It comes in better over the air. I can get CBS on 51.2 and ABC on 51.1, and they come in great. Is this a Comcast problem or am I missing something. I'm using a QAM capable Sony XBR4. I just signed up with Comcast December 5th using their standard cable.

Looks like KRMA got their part!

So are we getting any new channels or what? I've been scanning the main Comcast thread over in Programming and seems like every market is getting all the latest channels. Heck even salt lake got the new ones. Anyone heard anything?

Heck, even Colorado Springs got new ones! I called Comcast yesterday and got the standard "I know nothing...NOTHING!" So they'll probably show up tomorrow or something. Actually, it seemed like a number of new additions were going to appear on a few systems on January 8 - that might be our best bet. It's interesting that a lot of other markets get advance warning of new channels, but we rarely see anything until a couple of days later.

When you guys are talking about other markets getting more HD channels from Comcast, are you referring to basic (free :)) HD channels in the clear, or encrypted ones that require their cable box?

I totally forgot about the Springs getting 4 new channels!! That's what irked me the most.

I'm assuming the new channels will be STB only but I really have no clue as my dlp does not have a tuner.

There was talk in one market that the new channels were in the clear. A subsequent poster noted that the situation would not last - just like our situation here with TBS. So, if they start out in the clear (whenever they are actually added here) I would not expect them to remain that way.

Do we know what the new channels are?

Go here and look at the first post to see what we don't get.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=424081

That post will get updated as things change; the current list of new channels in other (but not all) Comcast markets includes:

Sci-Fi HD
Animal Planet HD
Discovery HD (not HD Theater, which we have in Denver)
The Learning Channel HD
NHL Network HD
USA Network HD
The History Channel HD
CNN HD
Food Network HD
HGTV HD

Go here and look at the first post to see what we don't get.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=424081

That post will get updated as things change; the current list of new channels in other (but not all) Comcast markets includes:

Sci-Fi HD
Animal Planet HD
Discovery HD (not HD Theater, which we have in Denver)
The Learning Channel HD
NHL Network HD
USA Network HD
The History Channel HD
CNN HD
Food Network HD
HGTV HD

Ah Sci-Fi HD , Discovery HD and USA Network HD. Along with HDnet and HDnet movies these are the channels that I want the most:o

Any of the new HD channels will only be good if they don't strech the 4:3 stuff. If it's stretched, it's not worth watching.

" I say down with stretch-O-vision and any channel to use it! "

I'm in Castle Rock and I do not see Discovery HD? I see HD Theater... what channel is Discovery HD on?

I'm in Castle Rock and I do not see Discovery HD? I see HD Theater... what channel is Discovery HD on?

I think you misread the previous post on the topic. It so those were available in other markets, but they are not availabe in the Denver market.

Hi all,

Please humor the newbie question.

For Christmas we go a Philips 32" HDTV (32PFL5332D/37). We also have the standard analog Comcast cable (not digital, I get channels 2-99 without a cable box). I did the initial cable digital and analog scan and found something like 315 digital channels and 99 analog channels! I looked throught the channels and many of the digital ones are either blank or scrambled. However many channels were available that I've never seen before (the Mountain Sports network, Create Channel are examples) and were burried in a number like 119.16. Does anyone have a full list of what these channels are? Also, the HD Fox channel (normally Channel 31.1 on my OTA HD tuner hooked up to my projector downstairs) came in as something like channel 0.652? I'm glad I have it since I was freaking out not seeing it as 31.1. The HD ABC, NBC and CBS I found right away but the other local ones seem to be hidden somewhere unusal as well. Any help directing me to a channel list whould be helpful. Thanks!!

Daflobber,

It would be helpful if you said what part of what town you are in. The channel numbers seem to vary based on location, and are remapped differently depending on the tuner in your TV. Unfortunately, for the QAM-only crowd, they also seem to move around a fair bit.

Mayest,
I live in Park Hill which is 5 miles east of downtown, between the zoo and Stapleton. Does that help?

Different TV's handle the QAM channels differently. You're probably getting FOX on 0.655 - that's the same channel as on the Comcast cable box. The other locals are at 652 (ABC), 653 (NBC), 654 (CBS), 656 (CW), 657 (My20), and 658 (KRMA). If you don't find them here, try ABC at 51-1, CBS at 51-2, FOX at 90-1, NBC at 90-2, CW at 116-1, KRMA at 116-2 and 116-3, and My20 at 117-1. For a while, a few of the channels were re-mapping to their OTA equivalents (4-1, 6-1, 7-1, etc) but there appeared to be some problems, and that went away a while ago. So we no longer get the PSIP data. I hope this helps. If you find some channels in different locations, please let us know.

You might see some OnDemand movies in the 101, 102, 113, and 114 sub-channels, and a few of these might be in HD, but these are random.