I know how bad verizon is as a company. I think we're all so disgusted with TWC at this point that we'll take any kind of alternative, and the hope that this will in turn force TWC to later rates at some point.
This is exactly how I feel.


BTW,
Does anyone know how long TWC NYC been using the 'not enough bandwidth' excuse for not providing additional HiDef channels in a timely manner?

This is exactly how I feel.


BTW,
Does anyone know how long TWC NYC been using the 'not enough bandwidth' excuse for not providing additional HiDef channels in a timely manner?

I've been hearing that for just about year now.

keep in mind they most likely made some space available but filled it with SNY-HD, WB-HD & UHD.

So now we're back to having no space and no knowledge of when more space will be freed up. (specially for HD)

My Email:

"Hello Mr. Kessler I have heard that Cinemax-HD launched on TWC in Texas. Can you tell me when this channel will be available nation wide on TWC, especially NYC?

thanks, Andy"

Response:

"Hello Andy,
Thank you for your interest in Cinemax HD. We value your subscription to Cinemax.
As I am sure you know, cable system channel line-ups vary. Different cable systems have different bandwidth capacities and different programming options in different markets. Decisions are often made locally.

Again, thanks for your interest in Cinemax HD."

Matthew Kasman
Senior Vice President & GM, Affiliate Sales
Home Box Office Services, Inc.

Verizon and Actiontec bring 100Mbps FiOS to homes

http://www.tvover.net/PermaLink,guid,a347dbc0-ef6e-4665-a04b-1cff7c3fce2c.aspx

That's what it's all about. :cool:


So true. And so sad :( :D This world we live in - we hope for another evil so that we may choose the lesser of the two...

TM

Cool. Thanks for the response. So it sounds like the 8300's aspect ratio settings don't mess w/ the Slingbox's picture. What happens when you try to watch a widescreen HD channel via the slingbox? Do you get a widescreen picture? Not even sure how the composite outputs handle this.

I haven't tried looking at a HD channel via the Slingbox...will try it later today and let you know.

UPDATE: An HD channel has grey "letterbox" bars at the top and bottom of the picture.

Verizon and Actiontec bring 100Mbps FiOS to homes

Just because the router is "capable" I doubt we see such connection speed.

The best service that I know of seems to be Sweden with 24M/8M service for less than what I pay for my 5/384k (my cable service).

Verizon has tiered their "broadband" service with a 768k down for 18 bucks and a 3M down for about 35 (last I checked). With FIOS, my guess is their 35 tier might be 5M down, or maybe 6 or 7 so they can tout it as better than cable.

I watched the Robert Plant "Soundstage" episode that was on last night, and was amazed by how poor the picture quality was.

Admittedly, I haven't watched much PBS-HD lately, but I was wondering if the horrible PQ was due to the programming itself, or if it was something more symptomatic of either the local PBS-HD broadcast (and its numerous subchannels stealing bandwidth), or some bit-squeezing by TWC providing less bandwidth to PBS-HD?

Any PBS-HD devotees out there with any ideas?

Scott

I haven't tried looking at a HD channel via the Slingbox...will try it later today and let you know.

UPDATE: An HD channel has grey "letterbox" bars at the top and bottom of the picture.

Thanks. Actually got my slingbox yesterday and hooked it up without too much trouble (I'm going wireless from the sling to the router which made is somewhat more complicated). Noticed the gray bars on HD but the PQ on HD channels doesn't appear to be any better than SD channels so no point in watching the HD versions - better off watching SD and filling the screen.

I watched the Robert Plant "Soundstage" episode that was on last night, and was amazed by how poor the picture quality was.

Admittedly, I haven't watched much PBS-HD lately, but I was wondering if the horrible PQ was due to the programming itself, or if it was something more symptomatic of either the local PBS-HD broadcast (and its numerous subchannels stealing bandwidth), or some bit-squeezing by TWC providing less bandwidth to PBS-HD?

Any PBS-HD devotees out there with any ideas?

Scott
I didn’t catch that show in the guide until about 45 minutes into it. I was watching that thing on the History channel regarding the history of Pizza. :)
The food show was in 16 X 9 with side bars so I had the STB zoomed in. When I put Sound Stage on I forgot to “de-zoom” but it didn’t look bad, to me.

I went back to the History Channel and realized what I did and went back to Sound Stage to see the picture with out the zoom mode on and was pleased with the picture. I only had it on for a few seconds but those close ups on Robert Plant, :eek: man, he is definitely past his HD time. :D
I recorded the 1 AM showing. :cool:

To all you Staten Island, TWC guys.....

Is it possible we can get locals HD channels by plugging the cable directly into our HDTVs or does TWC block that..

Just got the Slingbox and hooked it up to my 8300. The sling is connected wirelessly to my G router. Everything works great when viewing on either my wireless laptop or wired desktop - I have streaming bitrates north of 1,000 Kbps. However when I tried viewing in my office the bitrate was only 300-350 Kbps. I'm guessing this is b/c the upload speed on roadrunner is limited (correct me if I'm wrong, but the upload speed only matters when I am outside of my home network?). I went to speakeasy and ran the speed test via both my laptop (wireless) and desktop (wired) and in both cases, download speed was about 3,000 Kbps (about what I expected) but upload speed is about 350 Kbps (very similar to the speed I am seeing in my office).

So I guess my question is, assuming that it is the upload speed that's slowing me down here, is there anything I can do to increase this? Can I call Time Warner and ask them to increase my upload speed? Can I pay a little extra to get faster upload and download (IIRC, RCN had something like that where you could pay a slightly higher rate per month to get 5 Mbps download instead of 3)?

Any thoughts?

Well it looks like Road Runner offers a "Premium" service which increases your download and upload speeds to 8 Mbps and 512 Kbps (from 5 Mbps and 384 Kbps). Looks like it costs $25 or so extra per month although it's not entirely clear ($69 per month if you get cable vs. $44 per month for regular road runner if you get cable) - don't have my bill in front of me. I have to say that really sucks. If you go to Optimum Online they have a feature called "Online Boost" which costs $10 or $15 extra per month (with or without Voip) but increases your download and upload speeds to 30 Mbps and 2 Mbps - now that is a meaningful improvement and it's cheaper than TW.

Yet another example of TW taking advantage (by the way I don't appear to even be getting the speeds I'm supposed to today - at least not on the download). Wondering who I can complain to about this.

I don't even care about increasing my download speed - it would be nice but not essential. So to pay that much to get a slight improvement on upload speed doesn't seem worth it. What I really want is to pay to have a meaningful increase in upload speed (say to 1 Mbps or greater).

Well it looks like Road Runner offers a "Premium" service which increases your download and upload speeds to 8 Mbps and 512 Kbps (from 5 Mbps and 384 Kbps). Looks like it costs $25 or so extra per month although it's not entirely clear ($69 per month if you get cable vs. $44 per month for regular road runner if you get cable) - don't have my bill in front of me. I have to say that really sucks. If you go to Optimum Online they have a feature called "Online Boost" which costs $10 or $15 extra per month (with or without Voip) but increases your download and upload speeds to 30 Mbps and 2 Mbps - now that is a meaningful improvement and it's cheaper than TW.

Yet another example of TW taking advantage. Wondering who I can complain to about this.

I don't even care about increasing my download speed - it would be nice but not essential. So to pay that much to get a slight improvement on upload speed doesn't seem worth it. What I really want is to pay to have a meaningful increase in upload speed (say to 1 Mbps or greater).
Yes the upload speed with RR is pretty low. This is where FIOS has a big advantage. With FIOS i get 10 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up for $34.95. They also have 2 other levels, one of which is 30 Mbps down and I believe 5 Mbps up for $54.95.

To all you Staten Island, TWC guys.....

Is it possible we can get locals HD channels by plugging the cable directly into our HDTVs or does TWC block that..You're better off with an antenna. I tried, and it seemed like the locals were SD only.

Does anyone know if the HDMI issue with the 8300HD and AV Receivers has been resolved yet? Last I heard the problem was with the 8300 not playing nicely...and it would need to be addressed with a software update. Anyone passing HDMI through successfully?

FWIW, I tried HDMI to TV, TV does passive pass-though to an optical out port, then from that port to my AVR. After setting the audio output on the 8300 to HDMI, I did get audio passed through. BUT no DD5.1! Went back to using the optical out from the 8300 to the AVR, that functions properly.

As for broadband, way back in the day, asymmetric connection (plenty down, little up) were essentially an excuse for the broadband providers to offer much cheaper pricing than they would for "business" accounts. There's no "technical reason" for it, they don't "save money/reduce expense" by capping upload speed. In those days, the $ difference was huge... example, 5MBs down/384kbs up for $45, 5Mbs down and up $350.

If you pinned anyone of them down today, they'll mention that these accounts are "not meant to provide for serving." And they kinda do have a bit of a point. I'd probably run some service pout of my house if I had a 5Mbs up connection. Like your example wanting to running streaming video from your house to you outside of your house.

The ting that really gets my goat is that we are so way, way behind the rest of the world in this matter, it isn't even funny. Do you realize that for something like $30-35 a month, in Sweden one get 24Mbs up, 8Mbs down?

As for plugging the cable into the TV's tuner, yes you can do that. BUT, you get NO HD channels. You only get 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and (oddly enough) TNT on 3, C-Span on 6. Everything else is scrambled. Long time ago, this wasn't the case. But, as cable proliferated, they were very sloppy about running cable, this stuff was all very much exposed. VERY, very easy to hook into it. Then they thought they'd get clever and install line traps; again, just remove it and you're in business. THEN they got smart and started scrambling most everything from the head end.

I watched the Robert Plant "Soundstage" episode that was on last night, and was amazed by how poor the picture quality was.

Admittedly, I haven't watched much PBS-HD lately, but I was wondering if the horrible PQ was due to the programming itself, or if it was something more symptomatic of either the local PBS-HD broadcast (and its numerous subchannels stealing bandwidth), or some bit-squeezing by TWC providing less bandwidth to PBS-HD?

Any PBS-HD devotees out there with any ideas?

Didn't catch this program. But with many PBS sources in the area, and such variations from each channel, sometimes it seems detailed investigations are needed to pin down PQ variations. I've been fooled a few times by station-upconverted wide-screen PBS programming; it looks great, but the lack of 1080i detail requires looking closely for fine details. See complaints from OTA PBS viewers about stations delivering a few (or even 5) 480i multicast channels, which greatly reduces 1080i resolution; (no 1080i with 5 subchannels). Yet for the main TWC PBS HD channel, can't say I've noticed any significant drop in resolution once multicasting started, suggesting we're getting a head-end fiber feed independent of OTA delivery. -- John

So I did some more research and I've concluded that Time Warner / Road Runner is a total ripoff.

Optimum (Cablevision) has a default speed that is dramatically faster than ours. I was at someone's house on LI yesterday and ran a speed test and he was getting 5Mbps down and 1.6Mbps up. And if that's not good enough you can pay $15 extra per month to upgrade to 30Mbps down and 2 Mbps up. I actually called TW to inquire about increasing my upload speed told them about Optimum and the guy said what I read on the Internet must be incorrect b/c their technology is the same as ours and it is not possible to achieve these speeds (this was before I had personal evidence of the 1.6 Mbps upload).

Since we can't get Optimum in NYC, I went to RCN's site to check out what they offer. Their basic package is 5Mbps down and 384Kbps up (just like TW). But their upgraded package costs $16 per month extra for 10Mpbs down and 800Kbps up.

This compares to Time Warner's absurd option "Road Runner Premium" which costs $20 extra per month and only increases your speed to 8 Mbps down and 512 Kbps up. So they are charging more and offering less - sounds about right for Time Warner.

I am extremely frustrated and am trying to figure out how I can escalate this and who I can complain to - any suggestions?

So I did some more research and I've concluded that Time Warner / Road Runner is a total ripoff.

Optimum (Cablevision) has a default speed that is dramatically faster than ours. I was at someone's house on LI yesterday and ran a speed test and he was getting 5Mbps down and 1.6Mbps up. And if that's not good enough you can pay $15 extra per month to upgrade to 30Mbps down and 2 Mbps up. I actually called TW to inquire about increasing my upload speed told them about Optimum and the guy said what I read on the Internet must be incorrect b/c their technology is the same as ours and it is not possible to achieve these speeds (this was before I had personal evidence of the 1.6 Mbps upload).

Since we can't get Optimum in NYC, I went to RCN's site to check out what they offer. Their basic package is 5Mbps down and 384Kbps up (just like TW). But their upgraded package costs $16 per month extra for 10Mpbs down and 800Kbps up.

This compares to Time Warner's absurd option "Road Runner Premium" which costs $20 extra per month and only increases your speed to 8 Mbps down and 512 Kbps up. So they are charging more and offering less - sounds about right for Time Warner.

I am extremely frustrated and am trying to figure out how I can escalate this and who I can complain to - any suggestions?


Be very careful, I want higher speeds as well but supposedly it would take away from our already at max bandwidth. I want more HD channels first and higher Internet speeds second.

Be very careful, I want higher speeds as well but supposedly it would take away from our already at max bandwidth. I want more HD channels first and higher Internet speeds second.

I agree. HD is a priority over cable modem speeds. I highly doubt anything is going to come of this and what I'm really hoping for is that if I make a big stink that they can somehow manually increase the speed of my connection. Not sure that's even possible but worth a shot.

espn2 hd, how do we not have this yet, come on TWC

espn2 hd, how do we not have this yet, come on TWC

it's totally absurd...ISN'T it?? i coulda swore i read months ago that we =would= have it by the beginning of the baseball season. what a load of BULL. :mad:

On the one hand we don't know how much ESPN is asking per sub, do we? TWC may think the price is just too high. On the other hand it does seem rediculous we still don't have it. I mean TWC carries literally dozens of totally unnecessary channels that almost nobody watches. Granted, I'm biased because other than 1 or 2 exceptions I only watch programming in the 700's. I'd gladly give them back 100+ channels to have them add 3 or 4 new HD channels and keep my bill at the same price.

it's totally absurd...ISN'T it?? i coulda swore i read months ago that we =would= have it by the beginning of the baseball season. what a load of BULL. :mad:What's absurd is that we have to pay extra for ESPN HD, even though we already pay for the SD version.

So I did some more research and I've concluded that Time Warner / Road Runner is a total ripoff.

Optimum (Cablevision) has a default speed that is dramatically faster than ours. I was at someone's house on LI yesterday and ran a speed test and he was getting 5Mbps down and 1.6Mbps up. And if that's not good enough you can pay $15 extra per month to upgrade to 30Mbps down and 2 Mbps up. I actually called TW to inquire about increasing my upload speed told them about Optimum and the guy said what I read on the Internet must be incorrect b/c their technology is the same as ours and it is not possible to achieve these speeds (this was before I had personal evidence of the 1.6 Mbps upload).

Since we can't get Optimum in NYC, I went to RCN's site to check out what they offer. Their basic package is 5Mbps down and 384Kbps up (just like TW). But their upgraded package costs $16 per month extra for 10Mpbs down and 800Kbps up.

This compares to Time Warner's absurd option "Road Runner Premium" which costs $20 extra per month and only increases your speed to 8 Mbps down and 512 Kbps up. So they are charging more and offering less - sounds about right for Time Warner.

I am extremely frustrated and am trying to figure out how I can escalate this and who I can complain to - any suggestions?

This is the same frustration at DSLreports.com. There have been reports of increase in speed in other TW markets, but it hasn't hit NYC yet due to "upgrades". However so far it has been upgrades to download speed (7 mbps), and upload remains the same.

As for the bandwidth issue, I was under the impression that internet and voice takes up a very small portion of the bandwidth. (?)

I guess we need to add Food Network HD to our TWC wishlist...looks like the channel just launched 2 days ago.

I guess we need to add Food Network HD to our TWC wishlist...looks like the channel just launched 2 days ago.

That is a completely useless HD CH right there. I wouldn't waste my time watching a food ch even if it were in HD! Boring programming! :rolleyes:

What's absurd is that we have to pay extra for ESPN HD, even though we already pay for the SD version.

wow, I actually never thought about that.
They make me pay extra for ESPN-HD and I'm still paying for ESPN-SD?
I obviously don't watch that channel on any of my TV's in my apartment.

wow, I actually never thought about that.
They make me pay extra for ESPN-HD and I'm still paying for ESPN-SD?
I obviously don't watch that channel on any of my TV's in my apartment.I had to watch the Yankee game in SD tonight because I can't afford to shell out an extra $7/month for the HD version of a channel I already receive. I only watch ESPN when there are Yankee games on.

Be very careful, I want higher speeds as well but supposedly it would take away from our already at max bandwidth. I want more HD channels first and higher Internet speeds second.

Totally agree. If one believes what they are telling us, once they convert to switched video, bandwidth should increase.

However, I also think this is a very technical issue that engineers may not always be totally in agreement on. Which makes it far more difficult to judge when one doesn't have the knowledge they do!

As for paying and not getting, we know this is the case. Starz subscribers do NOT get the OnDemand channel that IS part of the package and they don't get the HD channel. Cinemax subscribers also don't get the HD channel part of the package. As for ESPN HD, I guess you could say the same thing except I've never actually seen a Yankees game on ESPN anyway. I "think" all the games are already "spoken for" between FOX, channel 9 and YES. But it's also true that last night I couldn't seem to find yesterday's second Mets/Yankees game (after the rain delay when they were back playing).

OTOH, broadwayblue has a point... we are not really privy to the internal negotiations between TWC and the various channels. I DO know there's a lot of "dirty fighting" going on.

ESPN HD is only 6 bucks if you already have DVR service. BUT it is part of a tier that includes 2 InHD and 2 HDNet channels. Those 4 channels really dramatically increase the HD viewing possibilities. I dropped Cinemax in favor of the HDXtra package and am very happy about it... my bill actually went down by a buck!

Loads of info, read the links

“Time Warner Cable has stated it will roll OCAP applications out in New York City; Milwaukee; Green Bay, Wis.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Waco, Texas, while Comcast Corp. has pledged to do so in Philadelphia, Denver and Northern New Jersey.
Joan Gillman, vice president of interactive TV and advanced advertising at Time Warner Cable, said work is under way to meet the October target date for rolling out OCAP in Time Warner’s initial markets.”

http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleid=CA6344725

1. “Today, we have over 5 million customers, speeds as high as 10 Mbps, and there are hundreds of millions of websites. But we still only use one 6 MHz channel.”
2. “LaJoie: Telephone is just another application and, frankly, it's one that doesn't even represent 3% of the traffic on our high-speed data platform.”

http://www.cableworld.com/cgi/cw/show_mag.cgi?pub=cw&mon=062606&file=meetthemsotime.htm

1. “Today, we have over 5 million customers, speeds as high as 10 Mbps, and there are hundreds of millions of websites. But we still only use one 6 MHz channel.”
2. “LaJoie: Telephone is just another application and, frankly, it's one that doesn't even represent 3% of the traffic on our high-speed data platform.”

http://www.cableworld.com/cgi/cw/show_mag.cgi?pub=cw&mon=062606&file=meetthemsotime.htm

So I guess this validates that data isn't taking up much bandwidth. What I really hope is that if/when they go over to switched digital that they can up our data speeds. Now I just need to figure out whether it's worth keeping the slingbox.

Thanks for the info.

http://business.itbusinessnet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=47951

So I guess this validates that data isn't taking up much bandwidth. What I really hope is that if/when they go over to switched digital that they can up our data speeds.

If what this guy Lajoie said is true then Watson told me a lie.

Also more importantly if the new application is set for October them I assume SDV will be ready here in NYC by then also. I will try and investigate that some more because once we have SDV they will have no excuse in the world from keeping HD channels from us.

Also more importantly if the new application is set for October them I assume SDV will be ready here in NYC by then also. I will try and investigate that some more because once we have SDV they will have no excuse in the world from keeping HD channels from us.

Not so sure I see such a connection between OCAP and SDV (I assume you mean switched video)... I read the links and there was no mention at all about the necessity of additional bandwidth for OCAP.

Also, there could very well be business issues delivering additional HD channels... TWC-NY has LONG had the technical ability to deliver Starz On Demand, it's customers were essentially paying for it, but we have never gotten it.

ESPN HD is only 6 bucks if you already have DVR service. BUT it is part of a tier that includes 2 InHD and 2 HDNet channels. Those 4 channels really dramatically increase the HD viewing possibilities. I dropped Cinemax in favor of the HDXtra package and am very happy about it.. my bill actually went down by a buck!

Agree, I've done the same thing I dropped Cinemax and told them I would go back when they have it on HiDef. BTW HDxtra is very special this month with the Shuttle Launch (HDNET), WCup and "2001 Space Odyssey" THE MOST AMAZING MOVIE I EVER SEEN ON HIDEF.

I picked up a 2nd SA8300 HD DVR box for my mom & her HDTV that I just got her, but dropped the Showtime HD Ch. Didn't like any of the programming on it, Showtime is a waste.

So as of right now I have the HDxtra Package & HBO-HD. I hope TWC NYC comes through soon with more HD CHs that are worthy!

I watched the Robert Plant "Soundstage" episode that was on last night, and was amazed by how poor the picture quality was.

Admittedly, I haven't watched much PBS-HD lately, but I was wondering if the horrible PQ was due to the programming itself, or if it was something more symptomatic of either the local PBS-HD broadcast (and its numerous subchannels stealing bandwidth), or some bit-squeezing by TWC providing less bandwidth to PBS-HD?

Any PBS-HD devotees out there with any ideas?

Scott

I have noticed that all WNET's HD broadcasts (both over TWC and OTA) are showing severe smearing on movement. It seems to be a fairly recent phenomenon, and makes the programs almost unwatchable. They haven't increased the number of subchannels, so why this sudden decrease in picture quality?

As for ESPN HD, I guess you could say the same thing except I've never actually seen a Yankees game on ESPN anyway. I "think" all the games are already "spoken for" between FOX, channel 9 and YES. But it's also true that last night I couldn't seem to find yesterday's second Mets/Yankees game (after the rain delay when they were back playing).

You would "think" wrong. Channel 9 and YES have the local broadcast rights for all Yankee games. FOX has exclusive national broadcast rights for all of the Saturday day games once they begin their Game of the Week broadcasts in June (with Yankees Old Timers day being an odd exception to that). Teams can play day games on those Saturdays if they haven't been selected for the GOTW, but by doing so they give up the right to have those games broadcast.

Just as Fox has exclusive rights to Saturday day games, ESPN has exclusive rights to Sunday night games. Recall that a week or two ago the Yankees played a day-night doubleheader on Sunday to make up a rainout, and the ngihtcap was carried on ESPN-SD, while HD carried the regularly scheduled Sunday ngiht game. Sunday night's Yankees-Mets game was picked up on ESPN-HD as soon as it resumed.

OTOH, broadwayblue has a point... we are not really privy to the internal negotiations between TWC and the various channels. I DO know there's a lot of "dirty fighting" going on.

But TWC doesn't fight dirty in return. When Cablevision refused to let TWC subscribers watch Cablevision owned channels, Cablevision subscribers were still able to watch TW owned channels.
-JMP

Did anyone else find it odd that NBC ran news stories about how the fireworks were done differently this year to take advantage of being broadcast in HD, then NBC's broadcast of the fireworks wasn't in HD?
-JMP

Did anyone else find it odd that NBC ran news stories about how the fireworks were done differently this year to take advantage of being broadcast in HD, then NBC's broadcast of the fireworks wasn't in HD?
-JMP

LOL! No, i didn't pick up on that, but i never thought for a =minute= that NBC would do the show in HD (hell, they didn't do Wimbledon, *either*!..and the rest of the world saw *THAT* in HD)...that's why i went over to the Brooklyn side of the river and watched the fireworks in person. :p

I have noticed that all WNET's HD broadcasts (both over TWC and OTA) are showing severe smearing on movement. It seems to be a fairly recent phenomenon, and makes the programs almost unwatchable. They haven't increased the number of subchannels, so why this sudden decrease in picture quality?

"Fairly recent"?? I beg to differ. I've had my Pioneer plasma for over two YEARS now, and PBS/WNET HD has had that very disturbing smearing effect going on, particularly in closeups on an actor's face, since Day One. And it doesn't seem to matter if the show is old or new. I saw Keillor's Independence Day radio show thing on Great Performances, the other nite...same story with the smearing :eek: , and that was taped just a few DAYS ago!

I have noticed that all WNET's HD broadcasts (both over TWC and OTA) are showing severe smearing on movement. It seems to be a fairly recent phenomenon, and makes the programs almost unwatchable. They haven't increased the number of subchannels, so why this sudden decrease in picture quality?
Hadn't noticed this here (S. Manhattan head end). Just fired up a 8300HD DVR of Prairie Home Companion, and while it wasn't as crisp as some PBS 1080i, didn't notice any blurring with motion. Not much motion, of course, with the on-stage performances I used.[EDIT: Recall later, though, that PHC had a bad audio delay, rare here, prompting me to reboot the 8300HD, which didn't help.] The lighting used wasn't very intense, which usually boosts contrast and resolution, so Companion sure didn't have the crispness of NBC's Tonight Show or similar programs. I'm viewing with a 1080i CRT RPTV, where possible 'resolution pumping' (blurring) from motion versus no-motion deinterlacing for some fixed-pixel displays isn't a factor.

Can't pick up PBS HD over the air, so haven't compared OTA to TWC PBS HD delivery. Thought NYC TWC might have escaped the problems of OTA multicasting because of the station-TWC fiber links. Theory was, based on posts elsewhere, that because of the way PBS distributes its programming nationwide (@ about 19 Mbps), programs could be fiber linked to head ends without the big bit rate reductions from multicasting that cut resolution and cause MPEG motion artifacts.

Spotted some complaints about similar multicast PQ problems from some watching NBC's OTA 1080i. But haven't seen any such NBC PQ reductions via TWC, which also has a fiber link to NBC. Supposedly, without an extra encoder just for cable head ends, cable subscribers see the same video as OTA viewers. Earlier posts, including a station engineer (foxeng) stated that stations couldn't be expected to provide a special encoder since, foxeng wrote, they cost ~$40k. Maybe it'll take some bit rate comparisons, and still more data, to pin down what's going on.

Already, with NYC TWC's apparent rate shaping requantization (http://broadcastengineering.com/aps/acquisition/broadcasting_dtv_digital_cable/index.html) to maximize bandwidth, perhaps in combination with STB video output limitations, resolution seems limited. The last time I measured 1080i resolution from my 8300HD it was only 1290 lines (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5175424#post5175424) maximum. A local ISFer measured and posted a 1280 line result.

BTW, back in the days of TWC's overheating 2000HD converter I often saw bad MPEG motion artifacts that I felt certain were inadequate bit rates from programmers or TWC reductions. The next converter model, with a upgraded power supply, completely eliminated all the motion artifacts. Inadequate 2000HD ventilation aggravated motion artifacts. -- John

i never thought for a =minute= that NBC would do the show in HD

Last year's fireworks show was broadcast in HD.

I was pretty disappointed that last nights fireworks were not in HD. This would have been a first for me seeing it in HD. I wound up turning it off a minute into the display since the SD feed looked too poor and bland in terms of color and richness to keep my interest.

Did anyone else find it odd that NBC ran news stories about how the fireworks were done differently this year to take advantage of being broadcast in HD, then NBC's broadcast of the fireworks wasn't in HD?
-JMP
NBC was relentlessly promoting the Macys Fireworks display throughout the past four days as being in glorious HD. :mad: :confused: :mad:
Every newscast had their silly banter between the anchors and the weather nit wits. “Ooooh it’s going to look great this year with HD!”

Very disappointed but not surprised by the lack of HD.

NBC’s fireworks coverage was abominable as usual. Thankfully, there were other options for Independence Day celebration coverage in HD to view.

Last year's fireworks show was broadcast in HD.

It's always a crap shoot with NBC. I only vaguely recall last year's show being in HD. Things like fireworks, the Thanksgiving Day Parade...you just never know =what= they're going to do, until it's too late. :confused:

What's absurd is that we have to pay extra for ESPN HD, even though we already pay for the SD version.

True!! other cariers don't charge extra for ESPN though they might for discovery HD instead, though I watch more ESPN than sunrise earth

Indeed, I did see the promotion about NBC doing HD for the fourth, and was way bummed it wasn't. But there's something that is confusing... I compared the HD channel with the SD channel. The HD channel image did seem better. But not what I'd call real HD, but definitely better. I watch their news generally, both national and local. Those seem to be real HD, but always in 4:3. I'm curious what's going on... I find it kinda hard to believe they make 4:3 HD cameras. Could they be simply matting them? WTF for? Logic tells me that they can easily use 16:9 with a viewfinder matte for 4:3 (I read Kubrick shot in 4:3 but had a matte in the camera so he could see how each looked) and simply crop the image for broadcast on SD channels. OR maybe they are doing some heavy video processing to make it appear sharper than SD... I'd love to know exactly what is going on.

I did catch the "Greatest Fireworks of the Word" on UnHD (I think). Now that is the freaking way to carry fireworks! Their images put NBC totally to shame. The Las Vegas and Shanghai ones sure seem to have NYC beat all to hell anyway!

jmp, didn't know that ESPN could do a Sunday night... I thought all broadcasts were locked to the others; now I know they do have a small piece.

I caught the "first time in HD" thing and thought them smart of do 2001 followed by 2010. For now, I'm semi-impressed what they are doing; I'm seeing a LOT of live concerts since I got the HDXtra package.

I know it's unhip to be a fan, but they are running an interesting Dido concert. Sound is great, the director doesn't get too much into those 1-2 seconds MTV style shots (I HATE that sh*t), but he does use a very soft focus, so don't expect a typical HD image.

I have noticed that all WNET's HD broadcasts (both over TWC and OTA) are showing severe smearing on movement. It seems to be a fairly recent phenomenon, and makes the programs almost unwatchable. They haven't increased the number of subchannels, so why this sudden decrease in picture quality?
Agreed, this is exactly what I've been noticing, and I'm glad others have been noticing it as well.

The picture quality has gone down TREMENDOUSLY on the PBS-HD channel, on all programming (not just Soundstage). Ever since I noticed it on Soundstage, I've started tuning in to examine the picture quality at various times, and it is affecting everything broadcast on the PBS-HD channel.

It is exactly as noted -- there is TERRIBLE smearing on any movement, which makes anything that moves blurry for a short time and then it comes back into focus. It is at its worst when looking closely at faces -- when a face is semi-zoomed in, some parts of their face will move while others don't, which is quite eerie when you're actually watching it!

Even programming which was previously spectacular looking (Chihooly Over Venice, for example), has been degraded to a smudge-fest.

What do you guys think we should do?

The standard routes would be either to come at it by going to WNET first and complaining (where we might actually get in touch with someone who cares and could help us), or going to TWC and complaining (where, unless we had a specific engineering contact, would be as useful as banging your head against the wall).

Surely if a few of us contact WNET about their HD picture quality, they might be spurred into examining what's going on with their signal...or they might be spurred to contact TWC on a corporate engineering level to figure out what is happening?

Scott

I compared the HD channel with the SD channel. The HD channel image did seem better. But not what I'd call real HD, but definitely better. I watch their news generally, both national and local. Those seem to be real HD, but always in 4:3. I'm curious what's going on....

With the exception of some video from WABC's HD-capable helicopter camera, no local NYC news broadcasts are in HD. Channels 702, 704 and 707 look better than their analog counterparts because broadcasters have much better upconversion equipment than HD cable boxes or TVs do.

"Fairly recent"?? I beg to differ. I've had my Pioneer plasma for over two YEARS now, and PBS/WNET HD has had that very disturbing smearing effect going on, particularly in closeups on an actor's face, since Day One. And it doesn't seem to matter if the show is old or new. I saw Keillor's Independence Day radio show thing on Great Performances, the other nite...same story with the smearing :eek: , and that was taped just a few DAYS ago!
I beg to differ on this point -- I have been watching PBS-HD for about 14 months now, and while there was always a little bit of seeming bandwidth-starvation, in the last month or so it has gotten really really bad.

I checked in on the Garrison Keillor's Great Performances and due to the nature of the programming (very few close-ups and no fast motion whatsoever) it was not noticeable. But watch something where there is some fast motion (not sure what exactly that might be on PBS), where they do talking-head interviews, or a musical performance where they zoom in on a singer and you'll notice what I am talking about.

I hadn't watched anything on PBS-HD for a while, and now that Soundstage is back, and the "Legends Of Jazz With Ramesy Lewis" (the smearing on this very-recently-produced show is about the worst I've seen -- if anyone doesn't believe me, check it out -- it's on twice daily, nearly every day, and the facial smearing during the interviews is discomforting) is having some interesting performers on, I've been checking in more regularly, and it is really really bad.

Scott

....I hadn't watched anything on PBS-HD for a while, and now that Soundstage is back, and the "Legends Of Jazz With Ramesy Lewis" (the smearing on this very-recently-produced show is about the worst I've seen -- if anyone doesn't believe me, check it out -- it's on twice daily, nearly every day, and the facial smearing during the interviews is discomforting) is having some interesting performers on, I've been checking in more regularly, and it is really really bad. Scott
I’ll have to check out the smearing thing on that Jazz show, very curious.

I have noticed PBS PQ to be less than what it was, specifically on the Visions of Italy program. This was one of those programs that used to be on the PBS “loop“ a few years ago. I’ve seen it a billion times. They ran it again recently and it’s definitely not as crisp or artifact free as it used to be.

With the exception of some video from WABC's HD-capable helicopter camera, no local NYC news broadcasts are in HD. Channels 702, 704 and 707 look better than their analog counterparts because broadcasters have much better upconversion equipment than HD cable boxes or TVs do.

You bring up a good point mentioning the "HD-capable helicopter" thing on WABC. I mean, what a joke! FOX 5 has the same thing going in the mornings, with it's stupid, gimmicky-sounding, so-called "SKYFOX HD" traffic reports. I mean, how STUPID do they think we are!...to CALL it HD, when they don't even broadcast THE SHOW in HD, and nobody SEES the helicopter reports in HD! :mad:

I’ll have to check out the smearing thing on that Jazz show, very curious.

I have noticed PBS PQ to be less than what it was, specifically on the Visions of Italy program. This was one of those programs that used to be on the PBS “loop“ a few years ago. I’ve seen it a billion times. They ran it again recently and it’s definitely not as crisp or artifact free as it used to be.

Hey, maybe my Pioneer plasma set is just better than what you guys have, :D , but i've noticed the smearing effect on PBS HD for over two years now. It was horrible =then=, and it's horrible (or MORE horrible, if you will) NOW.

I compared the HD channel with the SD channel. The HD channel image did seem better. But not what I'd call real HD, but definitely better. I watch their news generally, both national and local. Those seem to be real HD, but always in 4:3. I'm curious what's going on...
704, the HD channel, has about 19 Mbps available for its images. Channel 4, the SD channel, has about 39/8-10 Mbps available, depending on how many SDs are being crammed into one 6-MHz-wide 256-QAM slot. Most important, 704 has been upconverted from 480i to 1080i with a pro upconverter, which does a better job than the circuits in a home STB. So, your final estimate about heavy video processing is on target. True 1080i has to be originally sampled with a 1080i HD camera (or a 1080/24p telecine). -- John

Agreed, this is exactly what I've been noticing, and I'm glad others have been noticing it as well.

The picture quality has gone down TREMENDOUSLY on the PBS-HD channel, on all programming (not just Soundstage). Ever since I noticed it on Soundstage, I've started tuning in to examine the picture quality at various times, and it is affecting everything broadcast on the PBS-HD channel.

It is exactly as noted -- there is TERRIBLE smearing on any movement, which makes anything that moves blurry for a short time and then it comes back into focus. It is at its worst when looking closely at faces -- when a face is semi-zoomed in, some parts of their face will move while others don't, which is quite eerie when you're actually watching it!

Even programming which was previously spectacular looking (Chihooly Over Venice, for example), has been degraded to a smudge-fest.

What do you guys think we should do?

The standard routes would be either to come at it by going to WNET first and complaining (where we might actually get in touch with someone who cares and could help us), or going to TWC and complaining (where, unless we had a specific engineering contact, would be as useful as banging your head against the wall).

Surely if a few of us contact WNET about their HD picture quality, they might be spurred into examining what's going on with their signal...or they might be spurred to contact TWC on a corporate engineering level to figure out what is happening?

Scott
When I first noticed this on my TWC feed I checked the OTA broadcast and found the same smearing problem. So it looks as though WNET is to blame, not TWC.

As you say, the effect is very disconcerting, especially on facial close-ups, where a part of the face moves while the rest remains stationary.

What started out as spectacular programs have become almost unwatchable.

... what a joke! FOX 5 has the same thing going in the mornings, with it's stupid, gimmicky-sounding, so-called "SKYFOX HD" traffic reports. I mean, how STUPID do they think we are!...to CALL it HD, when they don't even broadcast THE SHOW in HD, and nobody SEES the helicopter reports in HD! :mad:
I am not sure, since I don’t have “over the air” capabilities with my set up but perhaps they really are broadcasting in HD and TW isn’t?

When I first noticed this on my TWC feed I checked the OTA broadcast and found the same smearing problem. So it looks as though WNET is to blame, not TWC.

As you say, the effect is very disconcerting, especially on facial close-ups, where a part of the face moves while the rest remains stationary.

What started out as spectacular programs have become almost unwatchable.
Well, that *is* good news (in a way) that the same smearing is occurring in the OTA WNET-HD broadcasts, which means the problem lies completely with WNET. I think it might be worth a phone call to the station to see if we can get someone in their engineering department.

I am a paying support of WNET....maybe I will try calling and get in touch with someone helpful in their engineering department?

Hi,

I was also disappointed that the fireworks was not in HD, especially after they made a comment on the news on how the fireworks would be tailored to HD.

Beside the Prairie Home Companion mentioned earlier, tried several other true-1080i shows this PM looking for smearing or artifacts with motion. Caught the Desert Speaks, Piano Guy, and Smart Gardening, none having these problems. No sports-type motion, but there were a few zoom shots, none with motion artifacts or any smearing. (Desert Speaks had an audio delay, which my first viewing of PHC also had during live viewing but not the DVR I'd made.)

In fact, the viewing confirmed what I'd noticed from tuning in 713 randomly earlier: images seemed as sharp as the wow-effect PBS 1080i seen since the early 2000s here. Presume those with the problem(s) aren't seeing it with other channels. Bad 'resolution pumping' of deinterlacers, presenting crisp static scenes but blurring with most/any motion, might be a cause on all channels. If WNET-HD has it OTA and everyone sees it, that suggests the cable fiber feed to the S. Manhattan head end is still good, as well as the mid-town cable node I'm on. Good luck solving the mystery. -- John

Beside the Prairie Home Companion mentioned earlier, tried several other true-1080i shows this PM looking for smearing or artifacts with motion. Caught the Desert Speaks, Piano Guy, and Smart Gardening, none having these problems.
Please take a look at the Legends Of Jazz program the next time you havea chance....Pay particular attention to the faces during the interview segments.

What I'm seeing is a very clear picture in general, but when there's any motion at all, the thing that's in motion goes out of focus and then locks back in once it stops moving. This includes camera pans, faces and facial expressions, peoples' hair, etc. I am not seeing this on any other HD channel whatsoever.

I'm passing the 1080i resolution through the cable box via HDMI directly to the TV. Southern Manhattan head-end.

Thanks,
Scott

I am not sure, since I don’t have “over the air” capabilities with my set up but perhaps they really are broadcasting in HD and TW isn’t?

Hmmmmmmmm....that might be worth a phone call over to FOX 5 in the morning, to check that out. But they never =ever= mention the show as being available in HD, except for that helicopter traffic mention, so i seriously doubt the show is on somewhere -else- in HD.

Hmmmmmmmm....that might be worth a phone call over to FOX 5 in the morning, to check that out. But they never =ever= mention the show as being available in HD, except for that helicopter traffic mention, so i seriously doubt the show is on somewhere -else- in HD.

As a matter of fact, i don't think there =is= a local news program in all of NYC that's being shown in HD. :(

Its 1:58AM and there is nothing coming through here in Harlem. Checked other boxes and its the same story. Anyone else experiencing this blackout of service? Only thing that is working is the internet.

Its 1:58AM and there is nothing coming through here in Harlem. Checked other boxes and its the same story. Anyone else experiencing this blackout of service? Only thing that is working is the internet.

Same here in Brooklyn.

Many channels in SI are out too.

It appears that there was a fire in some TWC facility. Though I cannot confirm that right now.

Please take a look at the Legends Of Jazz program the next time you havea chance....Pay particular attention to the faces during the interview segments.

What I'm seeing is a very clear picture in general, but when there's any motion at all, the thing that's in motion goes out of focus and then locks back in once it stops moving. This includes camera pans, faces and facial expressions, peoples' hair, etc. I am not seeing this on any other HD channel whatsoever.

I'm passing the 1080i resolution through the cable box via HDMI directly to the TV. Southern Manhattan head-end.

Recorded the jazz program Wednesday, too, skipping through it, and didn't observe gross artifacts such as this. -- John

Its 1:58AM and there is nothing coming through here in Harlem. Checked other boxes and its the same story. Anyone else experiencing this blackout of service? Only thing that is working is the internet.

Same thing here on the UWS. Clock going backward :confused: Gray screen

I'm in Forest HIlls, ESPNHD has no sound, picture is fine, but no sound?

Anyone else?

I'm in Forest HIlls, ESPNHD has no sound, picture is fine, but no sound?

Anyone else?

Yes, same situation here. And no INHD, 1 or 2 at all...just a blank grey screen. I called TWC and was told they're aware of the problem and are working on it. :(

Yes, same situation here. And no INHD, 1 or 2 at all...just a blank grey screen. I called TWC and was told they're aware of the problem and are working on it. :(

Thanks Mike,

I'm just glad i'm not alone , that's the worst when u don't know if its just your stuff or the programming.

Not getting ESPN HD audio either. INHD 1 and 2 is working fine though.

I'm watching right now the band "Garbage" on PBS-HD and the PQ deserves the name of this group. Smearing festival!!

Hmm, I have yet to see noticeable motion blur/smearing, so thanks for the tip about that Soundstage, I set it to record it the next time it runs on PBS HD.

Hmm, I have yet to see noticeable motion blur/smearing, so thanks for the tip about that Soundstage, I set it to record it the next time it runs on PBS HD.
Hmmm.....I wonder if the smearing issue is an Upper Manhattan vs. Lower Manhattan head-end thing.

I see a smear-fest every time I tune into PBS HD, in lower manhattan (West Village). How about the rest of you?

Hmmm.....I wonder if the smearing issue is an Upper Manhattan vs. Lower Manhattan head-end thing.

I see a smear-fest every time I tune into PBS HD, in lower manhattan (West Village). How about the rest of you?

It's always an issue for me, here in Queens. :(

Newbie here sorry if im posting in the wrong forum. Cant seem to find the answer through the search engine. I have a new SA 8300 with tmc in manhattan. I cant get any pic/sound through the hdmi out to my mits dlp. I recall with my other tv that I had to somehow turn on or activate the hdmi portion of the sa box itself before i can get hdmi to run. Can anyone answer this question or refer me to a prior post. component works fine

PS- I know that TMC does not offically support hdmi and says you cant run it from a SA 8300 but i already do it in another room on another tv. So did they change the software or disable the hdmi output on the nyc boxes.

thanks

Newbie here sorry if im posting in the wrong forum. Cant seem to find the answer through the search engine. I have a new SA 8300 with tmc in manhattan. I cant get any pic/sound through the hdmi out to my mits dlp. I recall with my other tv that I had to somehow turn on or activate the hdmi portion of the sa box itself before i can get hdmi to run. Can anyone answer this question or refer me to a prior post. component works fine

PS- I know that TMC does not offically support hdmi and says you cant run it from a SA 8300 but i already do it in another room on another tv. So did they change the software or disable the hdmi output on the nyc boxes.

thanks

Go into the settings ----> advanced settings and change the audio from Dolby Out to HDMI and this will activate the audio portion using HDMI cable to the HDTV.

As for receiving picture through the HDMI port, this I am unsure of since the port has always been on for me using two SA 8300 DVR boxes. It is possible you might have a bad HDMI port.

... I have a new SA 8300 with tmc in manhattan. I cant get any pic/sound through the hdmi out to my mits dlp. I recall with my other tv that I had to somehow turn on or activate the hdmi portion of the sa box itself before i can get hdmi to run. Can anyone answer this question or refer me to a prior post. component works fine

PS- I know that TMC does not offically support hdmi and says you cant run it from a SA 8300 but i already do it in another room on another tv. So did they change the software or disable the hdmi output on the nyc boxes.

thanks

Try box on first, then TV. If that won't work try the reverse. Many posters report reverting to component because HDMI is seriously broken, especially when passed through receivers and scalers. It just doesn't work on every HDMI TV. Another factor is that Manhattan is on ancient SA8300 software. An anticipated update could improve the situation for HDMI, but there's no telling when that could happen.

Mike

Anyone notice that SNY HD is no longer in Dolby Digital.

http://www.cabledatacomnews.com/weekly_analysis/07062006_02.html

Well, that ancient OS those of us in Manhattan have seems to not have some of the issues I see those with newer revs have! But that IS to be expected, we are talking about software here.

As for HDMI connections, I would strongly suggest you switch the input source in the TV back and forth. There is a negotiation that needs to go on; and it can be that this critical step needs some "coaxing." Yesterday I had occasion to try a cable swap with another set-up trying to run down an issue. When I bright the cable back to my place, I saw that the TV and the STB were not talking to each other (the TV telling me "no signal"). I switched the TV to component, then back to HDMI and all was well.

As for audio, my experience in general is that there is a repeatable "way" that I do not lose audio, but I do lose DD 5.1. Freaked me out the first time I saw it happen. I found that just by going into the 8300's service menu, not to change anything but just to look, I would "lose" DD 5.1. I'd still get audio, but no 5.1. I then found a 100% "cure." Same as above, but on the STB. I go into the settings on the 8300, change audio output to HDMI, then back to "Dolby Digital" (my audio is optical out from the 8300 to my AVR) and bingo, where there IS 5.1, I get it.

Andy, I love your sig! But, I think WWOR and WPIX merged to form something called "CW." Then again, I haven't read about what each of the local channels are going to do... i.e. which one will be CW and what will the other be? And didn't we see a PPV-HD channel listed that never, ever seemed to carry any programming? Assuming we are being fed a total fabrication about HD channels and bandwidth (I think there is a legitimate issue) I'm actually happy they didn't start caring content... that might have meant dropping some other HD channel. What TWC needs to do is have all the ID channels with recent films in HD. I suspect they do make money from those, but I can't imagine anyone with a HD set spending 4 bucks to watch a movie in SD.

One little nugget I'd LOVE to know... what percentage of TWC-NYC customers are HD equipped? Up until about 5-6 months ago, TWC had a good system to "know"; they made one show a receipt to get the HD DVR box. When I went to get mine 3 months ago, they just handed it to me. A friend who has NO HD and isn't buying anytime soon went and got one... because the 8300HD had double the size hard drive. However, I wonder if they have the capability now to look from the head end and tell; but that means they can see "through" the cable box to the TV. Anyone know?

Hmmm.....I wonder if the smearing issue is an Upper Manhattan vs. Lower Manhattan head-end thing.

I see a smear-fest every time I tune into PBS HD, in lower manhattan (West Village). How about the rest of you?
It is also OTA. Does not seem to be a cable issue.

Anyone else having problems with FOX HD? I just get a blank screen in Forest Hills.

Anyone else having problems with FOX HD? I just get a blank screen in Forest Hills.
There's a picture in So. Manhattan, but man that's an ugly one, it shouldn't be called HD.

It is also OTA. Does not seem to be a cable issue.
I can confirm, I recorded the same show in the 8300HD and my OTA HTPC and the smearing is in both.
e-mail to programming@thirteen.org

Anyone else having problems with FOX HD? I just get a blank screen in Forest Hills.

It's looking (720p) and sounding (DD) fine, here in Jackson Hts, Queens, from the first pitch.

It's looking (720p) and sounding (DD) fine, here in Jackson Hts, Queens, from the first pitch.


It was definitely not HD.

It was Fox's famous Widescreen-SD production. They never do HD for baseball during the regular season (other than all star game).

Shame on FOX & their deception of HD MLB!

I have been very underwhelmed by many of these broadcasters & their showcasing or lackthereof HD content.

I finally watched this show... indeed, there were some spots that I can see the "smearing" that some have spoken of (personally, I found the quick cutting far more annoying, but that's me). However, a few things to keep in mind. This was a "MTV style" rock n roll show shot on video... thus no camera shot lasted more than 2 seconds. Add in those pattern wheels spinning in front of the lighting. Plus it seemed the lighting was more aimed at the live audience than the broadcast one. Plus they used s smoke machine through most all of the concert.

I think this show was a prime example of why film is a much better medium to record shows like this. Especially the way it was produced. Ditch the smoke, light for video and I'd bet you there would be no "smearing" issues. Understand that this is an "artistic" decision, so I'm not saying they "should not" do it, just that I think they very much intended it to look this way. Honestly, I don't think of this as any "failing" of the technology.

I look at things like DISC-HD; video mostly, all well and evenly lit. I do not see any motion blur or smearing there. It's certainly possible that sets with slower pixel response time may show it; it's hard for me to really judge that as the 2 LCD HD sets I watched for good amounts of time both have a 8ms specification.

Shame on FOX & their deception of HD MLB!

I have been very underwhelmed by many of these broadcasters & their showcasing or lackthereof HD content.

Boy, ain't that the truth. Add in TNT (having distorted SD video on their HD channel) and NBC (touting something as HD when it's SD with a ton of video processing).

Seems UnHD, the 2 InHDs and the 2 HDNets are the only ones who seem to 100% "do the right thing."

Tell me the ABC is not broadcasting the World Cup Final in HD???!!!!

I think they forgot to flip the switch!!!
Anyone have WABC phone number?

Tell me the ABC is not broadcasting the World Cup Final in HD???!!!!

all the games i've watched so far and they decide to f*** the most important one up.

I think they forgot to flip the switch!!!
Anyone have WABC phone number?


212.456.1000 is the main station number.

The problem is with WABC-DT in NYC, not ABC itself. Other parts of the country are getting it in HD.

Argh!

At this rate I'll just watch it on Univision. :mad:

Woohooo!!!!!!!!!! It's back on in HD!!!!

Let's go France!!! :D

Some one woke up!!!! HD Now!

thanks !! WABC

And just in time too! First goal by France!! Woohoo!!

Is it just me, or does the cable signal fade during late nights in Forest Hills? I have a Dvico FusionHDTV tuner and it works fine during the daytime (mid 90's) but during late nights the signal drops to the low 80's, causing picture loss. I was trying to record Classic SNL at 3am and the signal crapped out during Weekend Update. Is it Time Warner's problem? Do they slack off during late nights? Does anyone experience signal degradation during nighttime?

Anyone notice that SNY HD is no longer in Dolby Digital.

Yes. It's been a few days now.

I think this show was a prime example of why film is a much better medium to record shows like this. Especially the way it was produced. Ditch the smoke, light for video and I'd bet you there would be no "smearing" issues. Understand that this is an "artistic" decision, so I'm not saying they "should not" do it, just that I think they very much intended it to look this way. Honestly, I don't think of this as any "failing" of the technology.
While I 100% agree with you that they should ditch the smoke, flashing lights, etc. in the production of this show, I can confirm from my own watching that they had all of the same effects on the previous season of Soundstage, and there was no smearing then. Also, this smearing occurs just as much on programs that have no smoke, blinking lights, etc....(As I've pointed out, in particular, the Legends Of Jazz With Ramsey Lewis is a perfect example with no "flashy" production).

All relating to PBS, eh? I'll try and catch more of their stuff

But once I got the HDXtra package I find I'm watching lots of music stuff there...

Reminds me... very, very infrequently, I'll schedule a recording and when I go to play it, I see the start and stop times are the same, usually 59 after the hour before it's supposed to start. I think that's happened to me twice in 3-4 months. Anyone have an idea why this happens? The last one was the Roy Orbison Black & White Nights...

http://www.nytvchoice.com/

Regarding FIOS, some of you may remember that I posted about Verizon calling me a few weeks ago regarding access to run fiber in several buildings I manage in the East Village. When I asked them about their plans to get to the whole city wired they said they wanted to get it done now. Well they called me again this morning...and now they want access to survey a property I manage on East 63rd Street. So it looks like they are serious and going all out to get the city wired as quickly as possible. I didn't get to speak to the rep who called as she left me a voicemail...but I'll post an update once I get more information. The thing I did notice when I called her back was that her voicemail didn't mention Verizon, but rather some technology company...I guess Verizon is subbing out some of the work. In any event FIOS seems to be moving forward full speed!

Regarding FIOS, some of you may remember that I posted about Verizon calling me a few weeks ago regarding access to run fiber in several buildings I manage in the East Village. When I asked them about their plans to get to the whole city wired they said they wanted to get it done now. Well they called me again this morning...and now they want access to survey a property I manage on East 63rd Street. So it looks like they are serious and going all out to get the city wired as quickly as possible. I didn't get to speak to the rep who called as she left me a voicemail...but I'll post an update once I get more information. The thing I did notice when I called her back was that her voicemail didn't mention Verizon, but rather some technology company...I guess Verizon is subbing out some of the work. In any event FIOS seems to be moving forward full speed!

the faster the better, guess that 2 years quote i got is looking a lot less now.

Regarding FIOS, some of you may remember that I posted about Verizon calling me a few weeks ago regarding access to run fiber in several buildings I manage in the East Village. When I asked them about their plans to get to the whole city wired they said they wanted to get it done now. Well they called me again this morning...and now they want access to survey a property I manage on East 63rd Street. So it looks like they are serious and going all out to get the city wired as quickly as possible. I didn't get to speak to the rep who called as she left me a voicemail...but I'll post an update once I get more information. The thing I did notice when I called her back was that her voicemail didn't mention Verizon, but rather some technology company...I guess Verizon is subbing out some of the work. In any event FIOS seems to be moving forward full speed!

Sweet. Tell them to check out 200 E. 71st St. :)

Does anyone know someone who actually has FIOS installed for TV? Do they require a converter box, and if so, who makes it? Do they offer cable card? On the FIOS site, I see that they offer a DVR, but no mention is made of an HD DVR. Do they have one? Who makes it? Do they offer CableCards?

If history is any guide, FIOS rollout will take 2+ years AFTER the first customers are actually getting it. I still think there could be issues based on getting fiber into a building and the fact that in just about all cases, they'd have to go to cooper before they get into a apartment (and I'm thinking apartment buildings, I do know there are individual houses in the outer boroughs).

Like I said before, competition is a good thing for us.

I looked back over the last month of postings on this thread but didn't see anything covering this point, so I figured I'd ask it now:

What hd equipment does TWC offer in manhattan? I just moved and had some guys hook me up for hd in the new apartment and they gave me a pioneer 3250 box (claimed it was the best). Is that the best available option, or should I be pushing for something else (e.g. a SA HD box)?

Also, what's the latest and greatest HD DVR that TWC provides? Is the software for that still clunky?

Does anyone know someone who actually has FIOS installed for TV? Do they require a converter box, and if so, who makes it? Do they offer cable card? On the FIOS site, I see that they offer a DVR, but no mention is made of an HD DVR. Do they have one? Who makes it? Do they offer CableCards?

You definitely need a converter box. Pretty sure they use Motorolas. And I think they have an HD DVR - the Moto 6400 series. No idea what software they are using on it though. And no idea about cable cards.

I looked back over the last month of postings on this thread but didn't see anything covering this point, so I figured I'd ask it now:

What hd equipment does TWC offer in manhattan? I just moved and had some guys hook me up for hd in the new apartment and they gave me a pioneer 3250 box (claimed it was the best). Is that the best available option, or should I be pushing for something else (e.g. a SA HD box)?

Also, what's the latest and greatest HD DVR that TWC provides? Is the software for that still clunky?

You sure it's not a Pioneer 3510? If it's a 3250 then it's probably a scientific atlanta box. Haven't used a regular HD box in a while but at various points in time over the past two years TWC has been giving out either the 3510 or the 3250 - both are comparable with working DVI outputs.

The latest and greatest HD DVR is the SA 8300HD. It's been out for a while now and has a "working" HDMI output (in " " b/c people seem to have HDMI issues all the time). Software is not too clunky at all. It's not Tivo but it's very usable and being able to record two HD shows at the same time makes it very practical.

Hmm, for some reason I thought TWC-NYC only did SA boxes. I've "had" the 8000SD and the 8300HD. 2 people I know who were late to the DVR table had SA boxes, although not HD ones.

I think the 8300HD is pretty neat, dual tuners, the ability to record 2 things while "playing back" a third. Indeed not TiVo, but damn close for a LOT less $$. BUT, while it may not be "clunky" it sure as hell is flaky. AND the "flaks" change from time to time... the current one bugging me (and others) is the audio stopping for 3-4 seconds (generally with a video freeze). I can live with the video freeze, but sometimes crucial dialog is missed.

Hmm, for some reason I thought TWC-NYC only did SA boxes. .
SA is used for DVRs. Non DVR boxes and other Boroughs might have a different brand STB.

) is the audio stopping for 3-4 seconds (generally with a video freeze). I can live with the video freeze, but sometimes crucial dialog is missed.
That is annoying; fortunately it doesn’t happen too often for me. A great workaround is to rewind and switch on the closed captioning feature to catch the lost dialog, assuming that the show you’re watching offers that feature. It saved the plot lines for me a few times. ;)

-- I have been watching PBS-HD for about 14 months now, and while there was always a little bit of seeming bandwidth-starvation, in the last month or so it has gotten really really bad.
Scott
I finally got a chance (remembered :o ) to check PBS.
Definitely concur that the HD PQ is less than what it once was.

I tried watching that Springsteen thing last night on PBS and it looked awful- “blurred” close ups, as you described what you saw in that Jazz show.

I finally got a chance (remembered :o ) to check PBS.
Definitely concur that the HD PQ is less than what it once was.

I tried watching that Springsteen thing last night on PBS and it looked awful- “blurred” close ups, as you described what you saw in that Jazz show.

Oh yeah-tremendous amount of blurred movement-and for BRUCE of all people!! I know this has been a problem with PBS, but since this was recorded in England, possibly by the BBC, I wonder how much of the responsibility goes to them.
Although, by the way, I watched the SD version last week-and it didn't seem to have those problems.

I finally got a chance (remembered :o ) to check PBS.
Definitely concur that the HD PQ is less than what it once was.

I tried watching that Springsteen thing last night on PBS and it looked awful- “blurred” close ups, as you described what you saw in that Jazz show.

Indeed; I noticed this on the Woody Guthrie American Masters documentary. Blurs on talking heads... holy smoke. The other thing I noticed on the Springsteen show is best described as loss of all texture. On a real HD picture you should almost be able to discern pores in skin. In a number of shots, I saw folks faces that were looking almost painted on... not unlike cell animation style.

Which leads me to question whether this is being caused by taking a low resolution image and doing very heavy video processing.

Oh yeah-tremendous amount of blurred movement-and for BRUCE of all people!! I know this has been a problem with PBS, but since this was recorded in England, possibly by the BBC, I wonder how much of the responsibility goes to them.
NONE of the blame goes to the BBC. It is a local broadcast issue with the WNET HD channel.

Now that nearly everyone concurs, can we organize a call-in effort to complain? I've already tried calling once to WNET, getting transferred to a voicemail in their engineering department, leaving a message, but not getting to speak to anyone, nor getting a return call.


From their webpage, their contact number is:
212-560-1313

Or:
973-643-3315


Please call and report back on the results. I feel like this is 100% an issue with our local broadcaster and something they should be responsive about if enough complaints come in! The local PBS station is not some huge corporate bureaucracy, nor is it a non-caring giant like Time Warner....

It is a shame to have an HD channel which used to be (generally) near-reference on some programming be reduced to a blurry mess!

Now that nearly everyone concurs, can we organize a call-in effort to complain? I've already tried calling once to WNET, getting transferred to a voicemail in their engineering department, leaving a message, but not getting to speak to anyone, nor getting a return call.


From their webpage, their contact number is:
212-560-1313

Or:
973-643-3315


Please call and report back on the results. I feel like this is 100% an issue with our local broadcaster and something they should be responsive about if enough complaints come in! The local PBS station is not some huge corporate bureaucracy, nor is it a non-caring giant like Time Warner....

It is a shame to have an HD channel which used to be (generally) near-reference on some programming be reduced to a blurry mess!
Just called the 212 number posted. Spoke to a fellow that had no idea that there were any PQ issues. In fact he said he received a call from a viewer the other day claiming that the HD is spectacular.

I told him that the PQ has declined over the past few years and he argued with me about the length of time the HD signal has been broadcast. He claims the transmission is only 2 years old. I had to steer us back to the poor PQ issue. I told him, regardless of when they started to broadcast HD, (apparently longer than this fellow has been working there), the quality has gotten worse. He said that he’d pass it along. As Scott said- start calling and expressing your dissatisfaction with the PQ now!

Just called the 212 number posted. Spoke to a fellow that had no idea that there were any PQ issues. In fact he said he received a call from a viewer the other day claiming that the HD is spectacular.

I told him that the PQ has declined over the past few years and he argued with me about the length of time the HD signal has been broadcast. He claims the transmission is only 2 years old. I had to steer us back to the poor PQ issue. I told him, regardless of when they started to broadcast HD, (apparently longer than this fellow has been working there), the quality has gotten worse. He said that he’d pass it along. As Scott said- start calling and expressing your dissatisfaction with the PQ now!
I think that the picture quality has not exactly gone steadily down -- it has taken one great leap downward about 2-3 months ago, in my estimation.

I'm going to try to give another call.

Thanks!

Scott

Just called the 212 number posted. Spoke to a fellow that had no idea that there were any PQ issues. In fact he said he received a call from a viewer the other day claiming that the HD is spectacular.

I told him that the PQ has declined over the past few years and he argued with me about the length of time the HD signal has been broadcast. He claims the transmission is only 2 years old. I had to steer us back to the poor PQ issue. I told him, regardless of when they started to broadcast HD, (apparently longer than this fellow has been working there), the quality has gotten worse. He said that he’d pass it along. As Scott said- start calling and expressing your dissatisfaction with the PQ now!
OK, I just spoke to a very nice fellow there (this time in viewer relations), explaining the problem very specifically (smearing picture, and a very eerie look on peoples' faces when parts of their face move and others don't; and that I'm seeing it over Time Warner Cable, but others are reporting it in their OTA reception) and he said that this is the first he's heard of the problem and that he will report it to the broadcast engineering department.

(The first time I called in and asked to speak to them about their high definition broadcast, they transferred me to an intern working in their hi-def editing suite....who couldn't help me at all!)

Let's keep calling, people, so we can get the HD PBS broadcast we deserve!

Just called the 212 number posted. Spoke to a fellow that had no idea that there were any PQ issues. In fact he said he received a call from a viewer the other day claiming that the HD is spectacular.

I told him that the PQ has declined over the past few years and he argued with me about the length of time the HD signal has been broadcast. He claims the transmission is only 2 years old. I had to steer us back to the poor PQ issue. I told him, regardless of when they started to broadcast HD, (apparently longer than this fellow has been working there), the quality has gotten worse. He said that he’d pass it along. As Scott said- start calling and expressing your dissatisfaction with the PQ now!

Why would anyone call to tell them that the pq was spectacular?

Why would anyone call to tell them that the pq was spectacular?
:rolleyes: It must have been someone who was going from their hand-me-down Quasar Console TV :eek: to a first time HD experience.
Anything looks better. :D

I've asked before, and searched around with no luck, so I'll ask again,

has anyone had any success HDMI switching with the 8300 stb? I'm looking at a receiver that does hdmi switching, I think its pass through switching, but I want to know if anyone has any success in anyway switching hdmi feeds with one being the twc's 8300 stb.

thanks

I've asked before, and searched around with no luck, so I'll ask again,

has anyone had any success HDMI switching with the 8300 stb? I'm looking at a receiver that does hdmi switching, I think its pass through switching, but I want to know if anyone has any success in anyway switching hdmi feeds with one being the twc's 8300 stb.

thanks
Hopefully someone here can give you an answer. I can't but you could also try and ask that question at the 8300 thread here..
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453804&page=137&pp=30

I've asked before, and searched around with no luck, so I'll ask again,

has anyone had any success HDMI switching with the 8300 stb? I'm looking at a receiver that does hdmi switching, I think its pass through switching, but I want to know if anyone has any success in anyway switching hdmi feeds with one being the twc's 8300 stb.

thanks

I'm pretty sure this is still a no go with most current generation AV receivers. :(

Anyone else experience the HORRIBLE HD quality of fox today?

Anyone else experience the HORRIBLE HD quality of fox today? not HD it is widescreen SD, or ED. always has been on saturday

not HD it is widescreen SD, or ED. always has been on saturday


Shoot.. I didn't know. Thanks!

Obviously, there is good HD equipment at Yankee Stadium, YES broadcasts from there are superb. I kinda thought that networks share this stuff; obviously not as it seems Fux brought their own equipment in. Shame.

awful, buddy in New Jersey, just told me "i looked on my cable today and espn2hd was on there, never even heard i was getting it"

What cable serves Jersey? He's right in jersey city, awful we don't have this yet.

Better get it for college football and hoops

awful, buddy in New Jersey, just told me "i looked on my cable today and espn2hd was on there, never even heard i was getting it"

What cable serves Jersey? He's right in jersey city, awful we don't have this yet.

Better get it for college football and hoops

has to be Comcast.
TWC & Cablevision are too retarded to understand that people want that channel.

Obviously, there is good HD equipment at Yankee Stadium, YES broadcasts from there are superb. I kinda thought that networks share this stuff; obviously not as it seems Fux brought their own equipment in. Shame.


I thought this were the case too until I talked to a friend of mine that stated they (FOX) has to bring their own HD camera for Regional games.

Thing is, the NYC HD fan is screwed since we do not have the option to go to YES for the Yankees game due to exclusivity rights FOX has on Saturday baseball.

Obviously, there is good HD equipment at Yankee Stadium, YES broadcasts from there are superb. I kinda thought that networks share this stuff; obviously not as it seems Fux brought their own equipment in. Shame.

Fox uses 720P and YES uses 1080i. They are not compatible, so they would need their own cameras.

I thought this were the case too until I talked to a friend of mine that stated they (FOX) has to bring their own HD camera for Regional games.

Thing is, the NYC HD fan is screwed since we do not have the option to go to YES for the Yankees game due to exclusivity rights FOX has on Saturday baseball.

We're no more screwed than any of the other cities that FOX covers regularly with their regional games that would have HD broadcasts if not for FOX's exclusivity. It's HD baseball fans in general who are screwed. At least the NFL put HD into the broadcast contract as a requirement. Does anyone know if the new 7 year contract that FOX signed with MLB stipulates anything about HD?
-JMP

... Does anyone know if the new 7 year contract that FOX signed with MLB stipulates anything about HD?
-JMP
That’s a good question but I doubt it. They don't carry them in HD now.

Fox uses 720P and YES uses 1080i. They are not compatible, so they would need their own cameras.
That might be an excuse but it’s not the reason. YES does the MY 9 production, why is that not shown in HD (OTA at least)??

That’s a good question but I doubt it. They don't carry them in HD now.

Right, but my point is that MLB might specify that by the 2008 season, all nationally televised games have to be carried in HD. By agreeing to the contract, FOX would be agreeing that their production costs would go up, not just agreeing to pay more money.
-JMP

Right, but my point is that MLB might specify that by the 2008 season, all nationally televised games have to be carried in HD. By agreeing to the contract, FOX would be agreeing that their production costs would go up, not just agreeing to pay more money.
-JMP
Gotcha, if anyone knows the answer please post it.

By the way, here's some more talk on the same topic if anyone is interested, it starts at post 1090...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8020307#post8020307

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/8315/rick1yv8.th.jpg (http://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rick1yv8.jpg)
http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/2721/rick2oh2.th.jpg (http://img285.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rick2oh2.jpg)

These are captures from PBSHD OTA, Rick Steves Europe. The first cap shows the wall in shadows behind him as just a blur, check also the edge ghosting (vertical lines) as he walks and the camera pans. Look at where the two different stone wall meet you can see the edge multiply.
The problem gets worst when panning in dark areas and when the hd production is upconverted, basically the dark areas of the picture freezes and lags behind leaving a smearing trail.
My guess is WNET hd encoder is faulty or someone played with their settings lately.

The second picture I post is just for reference, the camera at this point is not panning but still zooming out.
I recorded the same program OTA and TWCNYC, same result.

Latest FIOS update. Verizon is subbing out the work to various firms...one of them is Shifflette & Associates. I spoke with a couple people from their office today regarding the FIOS rollout as they had left a package with a FAQ, color photos of the installation, and a License Agreement at one of my properties.

Basically the voice and data services are now live throughout Manhattan. The cable service, however, is still on hold pending the franchise agreement. They are optimistic that this will happen quickly...potentially by the end of the year, if not sooner. The feeling is that Verizon is already an encumbent local provider and it is unlikely that they will be prevented from branching out to cable. Verizon has already agreed to mach the current franchise agreements of the cableco's and has agreed to pay an additional 5% extra to the city. Verizon is teamed up with AT&T in this endeavor, and the two have a combined revenue of over 160 billion to lobby against the cable companies 40 billion. There is also a strong belief that the national telecom bill (of which I know relatively little about) will also pass into law shortly, which will further speed up the process.

They are continuing to move forward full speed upgrading every property they can to fiber. Whenever they get the franchise agreement in place they plan to be in as many buildings as possible.

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/8315/rick1yv8.th.jpg (http://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rick1yv8.jpg)
http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/2721/rick2oh2.th.jpg (http://img285.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rick2oh2.jpg)

These are captures from PBSHD OTA, Rick Steves Europe. The first cap shows the wall in shadows behind him as just a blur, check also the edge ghosting (vertical lines) as he walks and the camera pans. Look at where the two different stone wall meet you can see the edge multiply.
The problem gets worst when panning in dark areas and when the hd production is upconverted, basically the dark areas of the picture freezes and lags behind leaving a smearing trail.
My guess is WNET hd encoder is faulty or someone played with their settings lately.

The second picture I post is just for reference, the camera at this point is not panning but still zooming out.
I recorded the same program OTA and TWCNYC, same result.
Thank you thank you thank you, for the proof of what I've been seeing.

PLEASE call (212-560-1313) and see if you can get in touch with someone specific in the engineering department (not just "Joe Customer Service" making a note of your complaint) and ask if you can email them the proof!

Scott

...Basically the voice and data services are now live throughout Manhattan. The cable service, however, is still on hold pending the franchise agreement...

Do you understand the term "cable service" to mean internet and TV?

Do you understand the term "cable service" to mean internet and TV?

From my conversation today I understand "cable service" to mean TV. The "voice" and "data" are telephone and high speed internet respectively. Basically they are all set to provide everything but television service now...the franchise agreement is required before they can offer TV.

question: do I need to sign up for TWC's roadrunner wireless, or can I not just hook a wireless router to the cable modem they provide, or can I buy a wireless cable modem?

Thanks

question: do I need to sign up for TWC's roadrunner wireless, or can I not just hook a wireless router to the cable modem they provide, or can I buy a wireless cable modem?

Thanks

You can hook up your own wireless router to the TWC cable modem. At one point, TWC prohibited the use of customer-owned wireless cable modems; I don't know if it still does. I do know that I bought my own cable modem a few years ago (a better unit, I hoped, than the one supplied by TWC) and went through weeks of Hell trying to get TWC to "authorize" it (despite my legal right to supply my own modem). I finally gave up.

On HBO series such as "Deadwood" (as well as on Showtime series), I usually get flawless audio while watching almost the entire episode on the HD channel, but then get audio dropouts every few seconds during the music playing over the closing credits. Any ideas about what's causing this?

Watched an Austin City Limits (just half ,only interested in one of the artists) and while I didn't notice to much motion blur/smearing, I did notice what I could describe as pasty face syndrome. Like the skin had no texture and was painted on. A real shame as it was well lit and not "too hyper MTV Style."

On HBO series such as "Deadwood" (as well as on Showtime series), I usually get flawless audio while watching almost the entire episode on the HD channel, but then get audio dropouts every few seconds during the music playing over the closing credits. Any ideas about what's causing this?
No idea, but I have been seeing the same exact thing for the past few months -- dropouts during the credits only. I cannot explain what could be causing it.

Watched an Austin City Limits (just half ,only interested in one of the artists) and while I didn't notice to much motion blur/smearing, I did notice what I could describe as pasty face syndrome. Like the skin had no texture and was painted on. A real shame as it was well lit and not "too hyper MTV Style."
Yes, this is similar, and probably related to the other issues that I've been posting about....And it was not an issue even as recently as a few months ago.

Call and register a complaint! I sent an email from their website yesterday....

No idea, but I have been seeing the same exact thing for the past few months -- dropouts during the credits only. I cannot explain what could be causing it.
That happened for me on Showtime’s “Weeds” several months ago. Every time the show would begin with that cute little theme ditty - wham-o! The sun spots were popping. I think it took the whole season to here the song in its entirety.

You can hook up your own wireless router to the TWC cable modem. At one point, TWC prohibited the use of customer-owned wireless cable modems; I don't know if it still does. I do know that I bought my own cable modem a few years ago (a better unit, I hoped, than the one supplied by TWC) and went through weeks of Hell trying to get TWC to "authorize" it (despite my legal right to supply my own modem). I finally gave up.

Thats what I thought thanks, I was on the phone with a rep yesterday that was saying no way, the only way is for them to come and set me up and charge an instalation fee and a monthly charge, sounded like BS, I thought why couldn't I just hook a router up to the existing modem, looks like I can.
Thanks

You can hook up your own router but TWC won't "support" it. What they mean by that is that if you want any service or repair you must take the router out of your system--the modem must feed your computer directly.

AAARRRGH....

Anyone else having a problem with YESHD tonight. Channel is in standard lcokdown mode for me... I'm pretty sure its just me though...

I just spent 20 minutes on the hold, then had some woman tell me to reboot a few times... then say she couldn't help, and would send someone over next week to check out my box...

AAARRRGH....

Anyone else having a problem with YESHD tonight. Channel is in standard lcokdown mode for me... I'm pretty sure its just me though...

I just spent 20 minutes on the hold, then had some woman tell me to reboot a few times... then say she couldn't help, and would send someone over next week to check out my box...
Working fine in Brooklyn.

Not working for me on Upper West Side. All I get is the gray box regarding calling for subscriptions.

Not working for me on Upper West Side. All I get is the gray box regarding calling for subscriptions.


OOO- so its an upper west side problem! (i'm uws as well)

*******s should've caught that....

Not working for me on Upper West Side. All I get is the gray box regarding calling for subscriptions.

Me too. UWS. So for my $150 a month I can subscribe to a service I already pay for--wow, thanks TWC.

Me too. UWS. So for my $150 a month I can subscribe to a service I already pay for--wow, thanks TWC.


I spoke with them again... and at least they were aware that it was a local problem... hopefully they get their **** figured out by tomorrow...

You know what I've noticed, up to a couple of months ago both Universal and Discovery HD were part of the basic service package, now they changed it and put the YES channel as part of basic service along with the HD Specials channel they play on, this also goes for sports played on the HD Specials channel which belong to MSG.

Last night I called TWC about the Yankee's HD game. They kept calling it a service outage... but implied that it originated with YES. The CSR I got at least did seem to have a clue, I asked whether there was a contract issue and she knew exactly what I was talking about. All she knew was it was NOT supposed to happen, that it did not mean no more HD YES, and the exact technical thing she didn't know.

So was it on TWC in Brooklyn?

Don't think so cap. I have seen UnHD and DiscHD with subscription notices, but ONLY when I first got my 8300. I also had the HDXtra tier fully enabled. 4-5 days later, I lost HDXtra and got UnHD and DiscHD back.

Every time I have made a major change I have seen the service offerings I wasn't paying fore enabled for a time. Back when I got my first "digital" cable box (SA 8000) when I hooked it up, I got everything... and I mean everything, including the PPV movies! All 6 premiums, the sleaze channels as well (discovered those porn channels you pay a LOT to get were totally soft-core, i.e. no more "racy" than stuff that was shown in the middle of the night on SHO, Cinemax). That "benefit" lasted for about 2 weeks, then one day all I'm seeing is what I'm paying for. I kinda thought this was be design and as soon as it got cut off I'd get a marketing call asking which of their other services I might want.

Every time I have made a major change I have seen the service offerings I wasn't paying fore enabled for a time. Back when I got my first "digital" cable box (SA 8000) when I hooked it up, I got everything... and I mean everything, including the PPV movies! All 6 premiums, the sleaze channels as well (discovered those porn channels you pay a LOT to get were totally soft-core, i.e. no more "racy" than stuff that was shown in the middle of the night on SHO, Cinemax). That "benefit" lasted for about 2 weeks, then one day all I'm seeing is what I'm paying for. I kinda thought this was be design and as soon as it got cut off I'd get a marketing call asking which of their other services I might want.
Nope....this is a common side effect of getting a new box.

Every newly installed box somehow only refreshes itself with the head end on a periodic basis (some number of days) after installing it. So it will initially have some random selection of channels enabled/disabled until the time when it is refreshed (if you call and complain about certain channels not being available, they will send a signal to your box to "REFRESH NOW" which will cause it to be updated immediately with your correct channel selection)...

Scott

Ah, indeed, I quickly finished that post off and forgot to say that I thought it was a technical thing and not a design... while I also thought that it was/would be a great marketing thing. Like every time you get a new box, you get 2 weeks of everything being open, you get a call at the end of the two weeks trying to get you to buy into more services. TWC looses exactly nothing and undoubtedly will sell some additional services.

I did find it interesting that I got the "everything enabled" back when I first got 8000SD, but far more limited stuff when I got the 8300HD (I got HDXtra open, BUT DiscHD and UnHD shut off). I guess they don't see the marketing possibilities!

I did find it interesting that I got the "everything enabled" back when I first got 8000SD, but far more limited stuff when I got the 8300HD (I got HDXtra open, BUT DiscHD and UnHD shut off). I guess they don't see the marketing possibilities!
Yeah, the channels that are enabled/disabled on a box when you get it do seem to be somewhat random....sometimes "free" channels are blocked while restricted channels (even PPV) are wide open....

I was wondering if TWC in Manhattan has unencypted digital/HD local channels. I'm moving into my first small appartment (medical student) and I would like to get a LCD or Plasma for space. I doubt I can afford anything more than basic cable, so I was hoping a tv with an ATSC tuner/QAM could pick up the network HD broadcasts. Otherwise I'll have to try an indoor OTA antenna in my walk up apt.

Sorry if this question was answered already. Many thanks in advance!

Don't think TWC has any HD channels unscrambled. Without a cable box, we get ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, C-Span, UPN, PBS, WB, and TNT.

I have been reading everybodys rants and raves ever since I logged on. basically everyone hates the cable company but noone seems to know what to do about the situation. why can't you all use an off air antenna for HDTV. I get 21 at last count coming from baltimore and DC. as for HBO and the rest why not get a C band antenna, they will let you buy programming on an ala carte basis r viele.

I have been reading everybodys rants and raves ever since I logged on. basically everyone hates the cable company but noone seems to know what to do about the situation. why can't you all use an off air antenna for HDTV. I get 21 at last count coming from baltimore and DC. as for HBO and the rest why not get a C band antenna, they will let you buy programming on an ala carte basis r viele.
Not all of the members in this thread have a display with an over the air tuner capability. Also, not everyone has a living situation where they can erect a C band antenna or even a regular OTA antenna.

I have been reading everybodys rants and raves ever since I logged on. basically everyone hates the cable company but noone seems to know what to do about the situation. why can't you all use an off air antenna for HDTV. I get 21 at last count coming from baltimore and DC. as for HBO and the rest why not get a C band antenna, they will let you buy programming on an ala carte basis r viele.

Because when you live in an apartment building, and have many many tall buildings surrounding you, its not easy getting a clear signal (and nowhere to place an outdoor antenna outside)

(plus i bought my commercial panny knowing this was the case)

anyone else not getting SNY HD tonight

anyone else not getting SNY HD tonight

I got it, I'm not getting WB11-HD

I got it, I'm not getting WB11-HD



I meant WB 11 , got 11, not 711

I meant WB 11 , got 11, not 711

nope still not getting it,
Maybe Lightning struck the empire state building where they have their antenna?

We can probably do this to our HD Boxes, Instructions for attaching a fan via a USB connector. Might work for those having overheating boxes, freezing & rebooting.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=696510

Don't think TWC has any HD channels unscrambled. Without a cable box, we get ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, C-Span, UPN, PBS, WB, and TNT.

Does anyone know if you can get these network/local channels in HD with basic cable using a built in ATSC/Qam tuner? In most places the local HD's are not encypted and picked up readily via a QAM tuner. I really hope this is the case with TWC in NYC.

We can probably do this to our HD Boxes, Instructions for attaching a fan via a USB connector. Might work for those having overheating boxes, freezing & rebooting.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=696510

Funny you should mention that... once my Passport gets with the SATA thing, I'll be adding a drive, so I am thinking about forced air cooling. Perhaps rig up a whisper fan at the back of the shelf... and if I do that for the drive, might as well rig another one up for the 8300 (and for that matter, the AVR as well).

Now getting DC power from the USB port is interesting... FW ports also can have DC on them. Do the 8300 distributed by TWC-NY have power available?

Funny you should mention that... once my Passport gets with the SATA thing, I'll be adding a drive, so I am thinking about forced air cooling. Perhaps rig up a whisper fan at the back of the shelf... and if I do that for the drive, might as well rig another one up for the 8300 (and for that matter, the AVR as well).

Now getting DC power from the USB port is interesting... FW ports also can have DC on them. Do the 8300 distributed by TWC-NY have power available?
I tried the mod last night using the usb cable from an old webcam and a spare pc case fan I had, and it worked. So I can confirm that the usb port on the 8300 is powered. The fan doesn't seem to spin very fast but it does push a little bit of air. I'm going away for a few days but when I come back I'm going to see if I can place the fan in a position to help the air flow in the small entertainment unit that houses an 8300, dvd player and a receiver (because it does get very warm in there.)

I thought I'd post and see if anyone has any suggestions or if anyone else is having the same trouble I am.

I have had an HDTV for 2 months now and at first I didn't really notice any problems because I was so blown away. Now I'm realizing that 709 Universal HD has the call to subscribe screen. I've called several times and some of them have told me that the passport version isn't the most recent and that is the problem, others have told me it is a signal problem. I've called four times now and got nothing except the you need to reboot advice. Now, my 705 Fox and 711 WPIX are just gray screens with nothing on them, no audio, no picture, so I'm inclined to think it may have to do with my signal, but that doesn't explain why they can't turn UnivHD on for me. I'm in Brooklyn and have the 8300HD.

I set up an appt for a tech to come out--Yay, I can't wait, or maybe I'll have to wait, but the guy on the phone today was saying that the next HD channels they'll add will be cinemax and Starz, I asked about ESPN2 and he said I know a lot of people want that but ....then he rambled about it being later this year or early next year. I don't think he knew what he was talking about. The best thing about the channels has been YES in HD. That is some of the most impressive HD programming TWC has on the air right now.

I thought I'd post and see if anyone has any suggestions or if anyone else is having the same trouble I am.

I have had an HDTV for 2 months now and at first I didn't really notice any problems because I was so blown away. Now I'm realizing that 709 Universal HD has the call to subscribe screen. I've called several times and some of them have told me that the passport version isn't the most recent and that is the problem, others have told me it is a signal problem. I've called four times now and got nothing except the you need to reboot advice. Now, my 705 Fox and 711 WPIX are just gray screens with nothing on them, no audio, no picture, so I'm inclined to think it may have to do with my signal, but that doesn't explain why they can't turn UnivHD on for me. I'm in Brooklyn and have the 8300HD.



The Passport version in use is biblical but there is something else going on in your case. A hard reset involves pulling the plug for a minute or so and then restarting. They can also reset the box by sending a signal from their side. If both were tried and failed it's either a problem that others are having in your area or the billing codes are screwed up on your account--which they should check out, or it's time for a new box.

Mike

Email I received from TWC yesterday:

"It has come to my attention that you have contacted several people at Time Warner Cable asking highly technical questions. I am concerned because the answers to many of those questions are considered proprietary to Time Warner Cable. Please contact me regarding this issue."

Tom Allen
Vice President Security
Time Warner Cable of NY/NJ
-
-
-
I Might have to take a break from my investigating, I'm stepping on some toes.

Boy Andy, that is VERY interesting.

I guess it could be that they want "evidence" from you to bring actions against some of their own people... but do I recall correctly that you typically list who gave you the information that you've publicly posted?

Or should we be talking about the AndyHDTV Defense Fund? Who would you like to head the big benefit concert, and please don't say Ashlee Simpson!

anyone else having internet issues? I'm in rego park/forest hills, going slow..as..balls!

anyone else having internet issues? I'm in rego park/forest hills, going slow..as..balls!

me too, I have Aol Broadband/Cable

Good to hear its not me, not sure why that makes me feel better ,but it does!

BLeeping cable

Good to hear its not me, not sure why that makes me feel better ,but it does!

BLeeping cable

It's been going HORRENDOUSLY slow here, too, in Jackson Hts...not only all DAY, but even NOW, at 2 in the fn'g AM! :mad:

The slowdown is affecting the entire city. On DSLreports.com forums someone says the datacenter in Queen's is down. Not sure what the heck happen, but I won't be surprised with all the power problems in Queen's, Con "The American People" Ed clipped some wires they shouldn't have.

Andy is in the clear, there is no violation in asking questions, even highly technical ones, nothing against being an educated consumer, any wrongdoing would be on the part of a TWC employee who has probably signed some sort of non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement. even then it depends on whether the info received is truly confidential, (sticky question, might need a judge to determine) or if someone is just ticked off that the internet has broken down many walls of secrecy to allow the public to be better educated on the going ons of the cable monopolies.
ANDYHDTV please continue to keep in conact with and ask questions of TWC employees, as should we all. If anything this should be a cue for more of us to start contacting bob watson and fred dressler in hopes to see some action in our favor.
Plus not sure what kind of jurisdiction the vice president of security has over information, and especialy over paying customers questions, smells like intimidation techniques.
Thanks

Motorola to Introduce Its Own CableCARD

Called the "M-Card"

CableLabs announced this month that it awarded Motorola a qualification to produce CableCARD products. Motorola announced the M-Card, which is a multi-stream CableCARD that is compatible with both multi-stream CableCARD tuners and single-stream tuners. The M-Card is intended to give major digital cable operators a secure system to deploy high-definition services. From the press release:

It is expected that M-Cards will be available from major MSOs within the next few months. In addition to developing the specification for the M-Card interface, CableLabs has worked jointly with Digital Keystone, Inc. of Mountain View, California, to create a test tool for testing the M-Card interface on host devices. This host test tool, known as the HPNx PRO™, facilitates the work needed by a CE manufacturer to develop and test the multi-stream interface.

In recent CableCARD news, TiVo's Series3 dual CableCARD tuner is reported to be in final testing stages. While TiVo announced the Series3 earlier in the year, it also mentioned that availability would commence during Q2 of 2006, but unfortunately, that did not occur. Despite customer concerns, TiVo said that it's already sampling out Series3 boxes to major cable service providers.

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3465

I hope TWC will use this. I have a feeling it might onnly be for Comcast customers?

I was wondering if TWC in Manhattan has unencypted digital/HD local channels. I'm moving into my first small appartment (medical student) and I would like to get a LCD or Plasma for space. I doubt I can afford anything more than basic cable, so I was hoping a tv with an ATSC tuner/QAM could pick up the network HD broadcasts. Otherwise I'll have to try an indoor OTA antenna in my walk up apt.

Sorry if this question was answered already. Many thanks in advance!


You can get ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, WB, FOX WITHOUT a cablebox. They are NOT scrambled. It's too bad because up until April or so we were also able to get Discover HD too...there are a few other digital channels that you can also get but I don't really watch those (weather, etc..)

I pay only $13 a month for TWC and I get those HD channels....directly through my ATSC tuner.

Thanks for the response. After posting my question I ended up finding the "search this thread" function and found a few others talking about receiving unencypted network HD over TWC. This forum has a wealth of information and with its great search capabilities, I won't have to ask a previouly answered question again! Thanks jcc.

You can get ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, WB, FOX WITHOUT a cablebox. They are NOT scrambled. It's too bad because up until April or so we were also able to get Discover HD too...there are a few other digital channels that you can also get but I don't really watch those (weather, etc..)

I pay only $13 a month for TWC and I get those HD channels....directly through my ATSC tuner.

thank you for the email, I try to ask questions that would help all of TWC's HD subscribers. Don't be worried if my questions worry you as you and others obviously can refuse to answer them. As I said I only ask questions to help myself and others know what's going on with additional HD channels. As for the technical info, I get them from online articles that executives participate in. So it's really not Top Secret info I'm inquiring about.
I hope I'm not stepping on any toes, even though It might appear that I am.
Would you rather me contact you by phone about this matter?
Thank you, Andy

The slowdown is affecting the entire city. On DSLreports.com forums someone says the datacenter in Queen's is down. Not sure what the heck happen, but I won't be surprised with all the power problems in Queen's, Con "The American People" Ed clipped some wires they shouldn't have.

Seriously, i think the slowdown was because My Space was down, the fact that everyone was trying to get on myspace at once, and the site being down and slowing down eveyrone at the same time, killed everyones ISP.

Definitely not a good sign for future service, just too much reliance on myspace

I pay only $13 a month for TWC and I get those HD channels....directly through my ATSC tuner.

Not to be rude, but I would suggest you get the SD versions, not the HD ones.

thank you for the email, I try to ask questions that would help all of TWC's HD subscribers. Don't be worried if my questions worry you as you and others obviously can refuse to answer them. As I said I only ask questions to help myself and others know what's going on with additional HD channels. As for the technical info, I get them from online articles that executives participate in. So it's really not Top Secret info I'm inquiring about.
I hope I'm not stepping on any toes, even though It might appear that I am.
Would you rather me contact you by phone about this matter?
Thank you, Andy


Good response

Not to be rude, but I would suggest you get the SD versions, not the HD ones.


I don't get it??? Why would I want to do that when I can get the HD?

I pay only $13 a month for TWC and I get those HD channels....directly through my ATSC tuner.

$13? I thought the very basic cable package costs ~$25...

$13? I thought the very basic cable package costs ~$25...
I believe that 13 bucks is just for a cable coming into the residence- no remote, no set top box, just an active line that hooks into a display with a cable ready tuner, in this case, an HD tuner.

I don't get it??? Why would I want to do that when I can get the HD?

Because TWC-NYC scrambles all channels except the local broadcast ones (and 2 "cable" channels). Meaning channels 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13. My TV has a ATSC tuner, but it does not "tune" to the HD channels (702, 704, etc.) with the cable as a source. Because you can not tune any HD channels with a "standard" cable box, you have to swap it for the HD model.

Because TWC-NYC scrambles all channels except the local broadcast ones (and 2 "cable" channels). Meaning channels 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13. My TV has a ATSC tuner, but it does not "tune" to the HD channels (702, 704, etc.) with the cable as a source. Because you can not tune any HD channels with a "standard" cable box, you have to swap it for the HD model.
However, if your set was equipped with a QAM tuner you would receive the “basic” HD channels without any STB.

Is the Met game on in HD on channel 741 this afternoon ? I am not getting it in HD. It is a 12:00 game and no HD ? Can someone verify if they are getting on their system in HD ?

Is the Met game on in HD on channel 741 this afternoon ? I am not getting it in HD. It is a 12:00 game and no HD ? Can someone verify if they are getting on their system in HD ?

I'm watching it in HD on 741 as i type this up during the bottom of the 5th.

Today my 8300HD on Staten Island was updated to Passport version 2.5.066. It had been 2.5.051 since May 9. I don't see any differences so far. Unfortunately the overstretching in Stretch mode is still there.

Cynthia

My email:
"Can you tell me if the Programming on MY9 at the 09/05 launch date will be available in High Definition and if so will Time Warner Cable in NYC carry it?
thank you"

Response:
"Hello,
Thank you for your e-mail. Currently, you can receive WWOR, MY9 in HD over the air, but we are not in HD via Time Warner Cable, as of yet. You will need to contact Time Warner Cable directly and request that you would like see WWOR, MY 9 in HD.

Again, thanks for you e-mail.

Please continue to watch WWOR, MY 9 and make sure to watch the premiere of MyNetworkTV’s DESIRE and FASHION HOUSE (starring Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild) on Tuesday, September 5!"

Dan Carlin
VP, Programming & Research
WWOR, MY 9

However, if your set was equipped with a QAM tuner you would receive the “basic” HD channels without any STB.

Ahhhh, I didn't know that! I did know there was such an item, but thought it was limited to OTA (should have thought of that, obviously it's my ATSC tuner that gets those SD channels on the cable just like an antenna).

So there's "regular analog HD" that one tunes with a ATSC tuner, and a "digital HD" signal "in the air" that one can only get with a QAM tuner?

Now I'm curious how many sets have ATSC/QAM tuners... I did do some research on LCDs back 3-4 months ago and never saw any mention of such a tuner.

Today my 8300HD on Staten Island was updated to Passport version 2.5.066. It had been 2.5.051 since May 9. I don't see any differences so far. Unfortunately the overstretching in Stretch mode is still there.

Cynthia

Thanks so much for keeping us informed of what going on there; I'm in Manhatan and on 1.8.112 and am anxiously awaiting getting to the rev where I can add a hard drive for additional recording space as your rev can. I've seen posts about the ...066 deployment elsewhere in the country.

But I am curious about the "overstretching Stretch Mode." That mode (Stretch) is called differently by different manufacturers, although it does the same thing. On my TV, is happens when I set 16:9 on a SD channels whose signal is 4:3. The result is an elongated image that does fill the screen, but which is visibly distorted by the horizontal elongation. Kinda like what TNT does on a lot of old TV shows, they distort them to full the screen so some people are fooled into thinking it's HD.

I've noticed that the past 2 games did not seem to have HD broadcasts, only SD ones on 30 (having watched more games than I normally would, the SD picture is kind of a let down!). Anyone have an real information what's going on (speculation on my part is there aren't facilities to do HD in Texas). Only asking if anyone knows of any nefarious reason... or is my speculation actually true.

I've noticed that the past 2 games did not seem to have HD broadcasts, only SD ones on 30 (having watched more games than I normally would, the SD picture is kind of a let down!). Anyone have an real information what's going on (speculation on my part is there aren't facilities to do HD in Texas). Only asking if anyone knows of any nefarious reason... or is my speculation actually true.

Nothing too nefarious. The last two games were road games. YES only broadcasts select road games in HD.
-JMP

Ahhhh, I didn't know that! I did know there was such an item, but thought it was limited to OTA (should have thought of that, obviously it's my ATSC tuner that gets those SD channels on the cable just like an antenna).

So there's "regular analog HD" that one tunes with a ATSC tuner, and a "digital HD" signal "in the air" that one can only get with a QAM tuner?
.
What I do know for sure is that my HD display only has an analog NTSC tuner in it, therefore, the only way for me to receive an HD signal is with an external HD tuner- my STB.

The ATSC that you have in your display allows reception of over-the-air HD digital signals. The QAM tuner is used for cable digital signals. But I’m going to defer to more astute members on this topic. I certainly don’t want to risk spreading misinformation.

My email:
"Can you tell me if the Programming on MY9 at the 09/05 launch date will be available in High Definition and if so will Time Warner Cable in NYC carry it?
thank you"

Response:
"Hello,
Thank you for your e-mail. Currently, you can receive WWOR, MY9 in HD over the air, but we are not in HD via Time Warner Cable, as of yet. You will need to contact Time Warner Cable directly and request that you would like see WWOR, MY 9 in HD.

Again, thanks for you e-mail.

Please continue to watch WWOR, MY 9 and make sure to watch the premiere of MyNetworkTV’s DESIRE and FASHION HOUSE (starring Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild) on Tuesday, September 5!"



Dan Carlin
VP, Programming & Research
WWOR, MY 9

Ahhhhhhh, THANKS for getting that info, Andy! As one who suffers thru those awful broadcast of Yankee games on My9 via TWC, i was wondering the same thing! Hmmmmmmm....does this mean that a station like FOX5NY, that offers the absurdly named "SkyfoxHD" 'copter for it's traffic reports on the morning news, even tho TWC doesn't show the program in HD, may in actuality BE broadcasting in HD? Could *be*. :confused: And i wonder who the lucky folks =are=, that get to see My9 and FOX5 in HD...it's certainly not us subscribers!

Ahhhhhhh, THANKS for getting that info, Andy! As one who suffers thru those awful broadcast of Yankee games on My9 via TWC, i was wondering the same thing! Hmmmmmmm....does this mean that a station like FOX5NY, that offers the absurdly named "SkyfoxHD" 'copter for it's traffic reports on the morning news, even tho TWC doesn't show the program in HD, may in actuality BE broadcasting in HD? Could *be*. :confused: And i wonder who the lucky folks =are=, that get to see My9 and FOX5 in HD...it's certainly not us subscribers!


I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say. But I'll just point out some facts.

First, Fox5's Traffic Copter pictures do show up in HD during the evening/nightly news... (there's no TWC issues here.) - I haven't checked it out in the morning though, but I don't know why it would be any different.

Second, nobody gets the yankee games on WWOR-9 in HD (not just TWC customers) becuase it is not broadcasted in HD. This is why TWC finally added WPIX-HD only this year... since Mets games were finally going to show up in HD on there starting with this season.

What I do know for sure is that my HD display only has an analog NTSC tuner in it, therefore, the only way for me to receive an HD signal is with an external HD tuner- my STB.
This is the difference between an "HD-Ready" TV and a true HDTV, in terms of marketing. The "HD Ready" sets do not have an HD tuner in them, so they cannot recieve OTA HD or HD signals directly from the cable.

HTDVs that have the full tuning ability are just called HDTVs and are not labeled "HD Ready" monitors. It generally costs a bit more for a monitor with an HD tuner in it. Mine doesn't have one.....

But I am curious about the "overstretching Stretch Mode." That mode (Stretch) is called differently by different manufacturers,
I think the poster is referring to the stretch mode that the 8300HD provides. Pressing the "#" key will cycle through the 3 different modes -- normal, stretch, and zoom.

And i wonder who the lucky folks =are=, that get to see My9 and FOX5 in HD...it's certainly not us subscribers!
All of us get FOX5 in HD, on the HD channel 705. Any programming that is broadcast in HD on Fox is provided to us in HD, as I can personally attest.

And I'm not sure how many of you realize this or not, but even some programming that is not in HD comes in true Dolby Digital 5.1 on 705 (I've seen this, in particular, on MAD TV -- the ones shown at 11pm on Saturday night). This is the first time I've seen this on any broadcast network -- true DD5.1 on a SD program....

Scott

Thanks so much for keeping us informed of what going on there; I'm in Manhatan and on 1.8.112 and am anxiously awaiting getting to the rev where I can add a hard drive for additional recording space as your rev can. I've seen posts about the ...066 deployment elsewhere in the country.
I'm with you 100% on this one.....We haven't had an update here in Manhattan in ages!

Second, nobody gets the yankee games on WWOR-9 in HD (not just TWC customers) becuase it is not broadcasted in HD. This is why TWC finally added WPIX-HD only this year... since Mets games were finally going to show up in HD on there starting with this season.

The Mets broadcasts on WPIX were certainly in HD in 2004 and 2005, and I want to say that they were in 2003 as well, and perhaps even earlier.

In 2004, I got into an argument with a TWC phone rep about it. I was watching a Mets game on a Sunday afternoon, and at the beginning of the broadcast they announced "this and all Mets home games on WPIX are being broadcast in high definition. If you aren't getting WPIX-HD, call your cable company and demand it." So I decided to call and once again lodge a request for the channel. The rep insisted that if I had an HD box I should be getting WPIX in HD on channel 11. I tried to explain to her how HD works, but she was so insistent that she wanted to schedule a tech to come out to get WPIX working in HD.

Sadly, her supervisor also insisted that TWC carried WPIX-HD, and that all of the channels one could get on an HD cable box were in HD. That Monday I sent a letter suggesting that they should train their phone reps better, not that it made a damn bit of difference.
-JMP

The Mets broadcasts on WPIX were certainly in HD in 2004 and 2005, and I want to say that they were in 2003 as well, and perhaps even earlier.

In 2004, I got into an argument with a TWC phone rep about it. I was watching a Mets game on a Sunday afternoon, and at the beginning of the broadcast they announced "this and all Mets home games on WPIX are being broadcast in high definition. If you aren't getting WPIX-HD, call your cable company and demand it." So I decided to call and once again lodge a request for the channel. The rep insisted that if I had an HD box I should be getting WPIX in HD on channel 11. I tried to explain to her how HD works, but she was so insistent that she wanted to schedule a tech to come out to get WPIX working in HD.

Sadly, her supervisor also insisted that TWC carried WPIX-HD, and that all of the channels one could get on an HD cable box were in HD. That Monday I sent a letter suggesting that they should train their phone reps better, not that it made a damn bit of difference.
-JMP


I probably should've also mentioned that 11-HD finally being added had "something" to do with SNY starting up as well.. since I'm pretty sure the WPIX games are produced by SNY, and TWC partially owns SNY...

I don't know if it was officially announced but I got this from someone who works at WNBC Channel 4 and told me the local news start airing in HD in September.
NBC network news is falling behind, maybe next year.

All i know, is i want espn2 hd for college sports season, its been WAY too long, no excuse for not having it

All of us get FOX5 in HD, on the HD channel 705. Any programming that is broadcast in HD on Fox is provided to us in HD, as I can personally attest.



Scott

We =do??=. Since *when*?? If that is the case, why are there bars on both sides of my screen during the morning as WELL AS evening news shows on Fox 5 ch 705?? That's not true HD....that's the upconverted nonsense at best.

We =do??=. Since *when*?? If that is the case, why are there bars on both sides of my screen during the morning as WELL AS evening news shows on Fox 5 ch 705?? That's not true HD....that's the upconverted nonsense at best.

Read what he said again:
All of us get FOX5 in HD, on the HD channel 705. Any programming that is broadcast in HD on Fox is provided to us in HD, as I can personally attest.

He said that any programming that is broadcast in HD on Fox is provided to us in HD.

Fox5 doesn't broadcast their news shows in HD, so we don't receive them in HD. Time Warner merely passes along the signal from Fox5 HD, which carries upconverted signal when the channel is broadcasting a show that doesn't originate in HD.

The problem is that they engage in some misleading advertising about their helicopter, calling it SkyFoxHD, and saying that they've got the only HD helicopter images in the area. I don't doubt that the signal at the camera on the helicopter is an HD signal, but since their news broadcast isn't in HD, somewhere along the line it gets downconverted to SD, which is what we all see.

For all of the things that are Time Warner's fault, getting SD on FoxHD (or any of the other local news broadcasts, for that matter) isn't one of them. We get the HD signal that Fox sends out to consumers, which much of the time is upconverted...
-JMP

Read what he said again:


He said that any programming that is broadcast in HD on Fox is provided to us in HD.

Fox5 doesn't broadcast their news shows in HD, so we don't receive them in HD. Time Warner merely passes along the signal from Fox5 HD, which carries upconverted signal when the channel is broadcasting a show that doesn't originate in HD.

The problem is that they engage in some misleading advertising about their helicopter, calling it SkyFoxHD, and saying that they've got the only HD helicopter images in the area. I don't doubt that the signal at the camera on the helicopter is an HD signal, but since their news broadcast isn't in HD, somewhere along the line it gets downconverted to SD, which is what we all see.

For all of the things that are Time Warner's fault, getting SD on FoxHD (or any of the other local news broadcasts, for that matter) isn't one of them. We get the HD signal that Fox sends out to consumers, which much of the time is upconverted...
-JMP


Thanks for clarifying, JMP...it's much as i figured. I think WABC =also= does a Skycopter HD thing which is totally bogus/misleading in terms of us being actually able to SEE it in HD.

the idea behind the HD helicopter cams is that they're supposed to switch to HD when they cut to the cam. the problem is the person responsible for switching seems to forget. i've seen a couple great HD copter shots from time to time, but usually, they do forget. i always find it a bit funny that they have a little HD bug in the corner, even though there's no HD to be seen.

i personally, can't wait for all news to be shot in HD. HD in the news room should be easy, but i understand expensive. on location HD should be getting easier, with cheaper, smaller HD cams becoming available. i'd even think the very cheap consumer HD cams would give a better image than the old equipment.

as to the expense of converting to HD. i'd think there'd be a race to be the first network to be able to announce complete HD broadcasts. i'd definitely watch whichever channel broadcast in HD. while HD viewers are a small number, it is growing. if one network could grab all the HD viewers, i'd think it'd definitely be worth the expense.

Thanks for clarifying, JMP...it's much as i figured. I think WABC =also= does a Skycopter HD thing which is totally bogus/misleading in terms of us being actually able to SEE it in HD.

About "HD" copter cams: I don't watch it regularly at all, but ABC's daily GMA is broadcast in HD (unlike the other morning and evening network "news" programs), and, from time to time, I know that I have seen true HD from WABC's copter during the couple of hours that GMA is on he air. Whether scarce HD resources should be devoted to showing suburban traffic jams and smoky fires in Jersey is another issue.

We =do??=. Since *when*?? If that is the case, why are there bars on both sides of my screen during the morning as WELL AS evening news shows on Fox 5 ch 705?? That's not true HD....that's the upconverted nonsense at best.
Fox 5, Ch. 705 is in HD when the network programming is in HD. So, if you watch any primetime shows on FOX (The OC, American Idol, ??? not sure what else is on FOX these days), they are absolutely in 100% full 720p hi-def.

No networks show their news in HD yet, FOX included. None of the "local" stuff on FOX is in hi-def, just the network fed programming.

Scott

From the Entertainment thread (courtesy of Fredfa):

Sports On TV
NFL pushes NFL Network on cable operators
By Michael McCarthy USA Today July 28, 2006

The NFL is preparing to launch a $100 million attack ad campaign over the next six months in an attempt to force cable TV operators to carry its NFL Network channel, which will begin airing regular-season games in November.

If the cable providers don't sign up, the NFL will urge consumers to switch to satellite TV operators that carry the channel, NFL Network spokesman Seth Palansky says.

The 2½-year-old channel also has basic cable and/or digital distribution deals with at least 75 cable operators, including Comcast, the nation's top cable provider, and reaches 41 million homes. With the NFL Network airing regular-season games beginning Thanksgiving night, the league thinks it has the leverage to force its way into 25 million more homes this season. The TV, radio, print and magazine ads, which will target cable operators by name, could begin as early as next week, Palansky says.

"We think it's asinine that Time Warner (the nation's No. 2 cable provider) carries 12 shopping channels and 50 other channels you don't want — but can't find room for one dedicated to the most popular sport in this country," Palansky says. "We're replacing the kid gloves with bare knuckles."

One ad aimed at Time Warner says, "Don't let Time Warner ruin your football season. You'll miss NFL games if you don't call and demand NFL Network now." Another targeting Cablevision, a provider in metro New York, warns, "Don't let Cablevision shut you out." The ad lists the channel's games and a toll-free number for NFL Network.

Time Warner Cable spokesman Mark Harrad says it "is still having discussions with the NFL Network." Cablevision's Marie Stenberg declined to comment.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2006-07-27-nfl-network_x.htm

I love it when an arrogant monopoly throws its weight against another arrogant monopoly with WWE-like tactics. Go NFL Network! :D

And I'm not sure how many of you realize this or not, but even some programming that is not in HD comes in true Dolby Digital 5.1 on 705 (I've seen this, in particular, on MAD TV -- the ones shown at 11pm on Saturday night). This is the first time I've seen this on any broadcast network -- true DD5.1 on a SD program....
Scott

Oh, I tumbled on this 4-5 years ago! About the time I did the DTV thing. I had been pipping my audio through my AVR and noticed when switching to a HBO movie, my AVR switched into DD 5.1! It was kinda hit or miss, always on the main channel, sometimes on sometimes not on secondary channels. I also saw it on SHO and Starz.

The HD channels are generally more consistent about DD 5.1, BUT having been in the 5.1 "game" for a while, I find a HUGE variety of "design" in that it's really rare that I feel it's being used properly. A "bad" example is the Dido concert from London, everything seems mixed into the center channel. Contrast that with the Roy Orbison B&W Nights. THAT one is one of THE best examples of really good multi-channel sound design.

I'm with you 100% on this one.....We haven't had an update here in Manhattan in ages!

Well, on the bright side, I have none, zero, nada problems/issues that I see posted about with higher rev versions. I find it interesting that Staten Island has gone through at least 2 that I know of (...061 and ...066 I think). Maybe by the time we get the SATA ability, it will be a more solid release... maybe?

Well, on the bright side, I have none, zero, nada problems/issues that I see posted about with higher rev versions. I find it interesting that Staten Island has gone through at least 2 that I know of (...061 and ...066 I think). Maybe by the time we get the SATA ability, it will be a more solid release... maybe?
Hmm....I am personally finding slightly more "skipping" and slightly more often unintentional rebooting of the box with the release that we are running in Manhattan than the previous release that we had. But just very slightly, and more importantly, I love the audio output selection feature in the advanced menu, which is the biggest thing that they gave us in the release we're currently running. I will admit that it is quite stable, though.

It's astounding to me that they still have yet to fix the yearly daylight savings time bug that has been around since the beginning (i.e. that whenever the clocks get moved back or forward, that you have to recreate your series recordings that are pegged to a specific time slot). As a software developer myself, I just cannot believe that they can be so ignorant as to not see this bug crop up year after year.....(While this is obviously not a bug that affects us much on a daily basis, it is a MAJOR pain twice a year!)

Scott

Oh, I tumbled on this 4-5 years ago! About the time I did the DTV thing. I had been pipping my audio through my AVR and noticed when switching to a HBO movie, my AVR switched into DD 5.1! It was kinda hit or miss, always on the main channel, sometimes on sometimes not on secondary channels. I also saw it on SHO and Starz.

The HD channels are generally more consistent about DD 5.1, BUT having been in the 5.1 "game" for a while, I find a HUGE variety of "design" in that it's really rare that I feel it's being used properly. A "bad" example is the Dido concert from London, everything seems mixed into the center channel. Contrast that with the Roy Orbison B&W Nights. THAT one is one of THE best examples of really good multi-channel sound design.
Yes, this is all correct. Interstingly enough, it's not as hit-and-miss as you might think as to which (non-HD) channels/programs might be broadcasting DD5.1 -- the guide clearly lists which programs are in DD5.1 on the SD HBO/Sho/Starz/TCM/Max multiplex channels in the program descriptions -- even the Mad TV episode that I saw upconverted on Fox-HD was listed as being in Dolby Digital.

Note that there is one channel that I've noted on our system (Sundance or IFC, I forget) that often gets programs listed as DD5.1 in the guide but they never have the 5.1 feed. I suspect that Time Warner is doing something wrong in the way that they're feeding us the channel.

But, this surprised me as the first instance I'm aware of of a network broadcasting non-HD programming with a DD5.1 soundtrack.

Not only that, but I would REALLY like to see Sundance AND IFC (and SciFi) go HD!

Back in the day (4 months ago!) when I was SD only, the hit or miss was a movie originally shown on the main channel in DD 5.1 would get PCM audio when it played on a secondary channel. Then again it might get not on the secondary channel the first time, but not the second. (I was checking to see if I could suss out a pattern).

Ahhhh, I didn't know that! I did know there was such an item, but thought it was limited to OTA (should have thought of that, obviously it's my ATSC tuner that gets those SD channels on the cable just like an antenna).

So there's "regular analog HD" that one tunes with a ATSC tuner, and a "digital HD" signal "in the air" that one can only get with a QAM tuner?

Now I'm curious how many sets have ATSC/QAM tuners... I did do some research on LCDs back 3-4 months ago and never saw any mention of such a tuner.
Your terms aren't quite right---QAM is always on cable and hence is never "in the air".

First of all, the "Tin Can Tuner" is the essentially the same whether it is OTA NTSC, OTA ATSC, CABLE NTSC or CABLE QAM....the differences in capability come with whether the demodulator chips support NTSC, ATSC and/or QAM data demodulation and whether there is a CableCARD slot for decrypting digital cable QAM signals. Hence when people say a set has a QAM Tuner, what they really mean is that the set has an NTSC Tuner that just happens to also have a QAM Demodulator--which is almost always embedded within an ATSC Demodulator chip.


a. "CABLE READY DTVs" are small screen (usually non-HD) sets that only have Analog (NTSC) Tuner(s) for connection to OTA antenna and/or Basic/Extended Cable and can only accept digital signals via Component Video and/or DVI/HDMI interfaces. But these are being phased out by the Federal ATSC Tuner Mandate. [A couple years ago, most full size "HDTVs" fell into this category.]

b. "HD MONITORs" are frequently called "HD READY". Many times they are erroneously called "HD READY HDTVs", but this is an oxymoron, since they don't have ANY tuners and must be connected to an external STB/DVR/Receiver(s).

c. "HD BUILT-IN HDTVs" have a Tuner for NTSC and ATSC OTA and perhaps a second NTSC Tuner (a second ATSC Tuner is very rare) for either OTA PIP or Basic/Extended (Analog only ) Cable. Some of these (check the specs) have an Unencrypted QAM Demodulator built into the ATSC Demodulator chip, so that they can view local HD channels on cable if you decide against an OTA antenna.

d. "DIGITAL CABLE READY HDTVs" (aka "DCR HDTV" or "Plug-N-Play HDTV") are equipped with a CableCARD slot for decrypting cable channels via the NTSC/QAM Cable Tuner and (almost always?) a second OTA ATSC Tuner. Even WITHOUT the CableCARD, the built-in Cable Tuner will receive both Basic/Extended Cable (Analog NTSC) and Unencrypted QAM local HD channels.

==================================================
Careful reading of the specs and manual is needed if you want a set that will work simultaneously on Digital Cable and OTA ATSC...some of them only have a single tuner that must be rescanned each time you switch from one to the other.

Also, few (if any) of the latest HDTVs support PIP for two ATSC channels....or PIP for two Digital Cable channels....

The CEA puts out a 34 page HDTV Guide listing features for nearly every HDTV on the market:
http://www.ce.org/Press/CEA_Pubs/821.asp
Note that they use the term "INTEGRATED HDTV" to include any set with an OTA ATSC Tuner capability (i.e. includes both c. and d. above.)
Keep checking---the Summer update should be out soon....

anybody see the "IN the Know" section of latest cable bill.
It mentions:
"Sept 7: WPXN on Cable Ready TV Ch.31."

what does this mean?

Email:
"thanks for the response, Just for added information for my official request to TWC, besides "DESIRE and FASHION HOUSE" will any other programming be available in HD, like Yankees games, movies or the news?"

Response:
"Hi Andy,
At this time, Yankees games on WWOR on not in HD. However, if cable systems picked up our HD channel, every effort would be made to get Yankees in HD.
Dan"

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I guess it too late for that this season, we can only hope that they pick this up and then maybe we'll see the yankees in HD on MY9 next year.

Isn't the WB11 and UPN9 combining in September for the CW? If this is so then I think the Yankees won't be on UPN9 anymore however the Mets will be on, at least that's what I heard from the Met announcers the other day while broadcasting on WB11.

Isn't the WB11 and UPN9 combining in September for the CW? If this is so then I think the Yankees won't be on UPN9 anymore however the Mets will be on, at least that's what I heard from the Met announcers the other day while broadcasting on WB11.UPN 9 is becoming My 9. The deal with the Yankees shouldn't be affected.

Isn't the WB11 and UPN9 combining in September for the CW? If this is so then I think the Yankees won't be on UPN9 anymore however the Mets will be on, at least that's what I heard from the Met announcers the other day while broadcasting on WB11.

UPN and WB are merging to become the CW, and WPIX 11 will be the local affiliate.

WWOR will be the local affiliate for the new My Network TV.

This does not affect the local tv deals the Yankees and Mets have with WWOR and WPIX, respectively, as these deals are with the local stations, not the networks they are affiliated with.

My Network is a News Corp. "sister" to Fux Network. Network programming is to run 8 PM to 10 PM (concentrating on what sound like soaps), leaving a big question what they'll run for the other 22 hours.

Maybe Ann Coulter, all the time?

My Network is a News Corp. "sister" to Fux Network. Network programming is to run 8 PM to 10 PM (concentrating on what sound like soaps), leaving a big question what they'll run for the other 22 hours.

Maybe Ann Coulter, all the time?


Umm.... Channel 9 only had UPN programming for 2 hours a day...

WWOR will have local news, syndicated shows, and movies just like always....

The only question right now is if My 9 will someday support HD programming for Yankees games? Otherwise I hope the contract will expire soon so the programming can be picked up by another network that is HD ready.

Hi,
First time poster here. I have a question about movies broadcast in widescreen format like on IFC or Sundance Channel. I have a widescreen 32" TV. Why do I have to suffer from letterboxes on the top AND the sides? I thought the whole idea of getting a widescreen TV was to avoid most of the letterboxing and now, I'm getting hit on both sides. I tried watching Pulp Fiction on Friday, but the image was tiny. I know that you stretch or zoom the picture to fill up the TV, but it looks horrible. Any ideas? Am I doing something wrong?

Not only that, but I would REALLY like to see Sundance AND IFC (and SciFi) go HD!
Agreed on the Sundance and IFC in HD. Before I was an HD person (now a solid 18 months ago), Sundance and IFC were my most frequently watched movie channels....

Now I don't tune to them at all.

Hi,
First time poster here. I have a question about movies broadcast in widescreen format like on IFC or Sundance Channel. I have a widescreen 32" TV. Why do I have to suffer from letterboxes on the top AND the sides? I thought the whole idea of getting a widescreen TV was to avoid most of the letterboxing and now, I'm getting hit on both sides. I tried watching Pulp Fiction on Friday, but the image was tiny. I know that you stretch or zoom the picture to fill up the TV, but it looks horrible. Any ideas? Am I doing something wrong?
Nope, you are doing nothing wrong. If you are watching programming on an HDTV and it is not being broadcast in HD, but is shown in the widescreen format, you will see letterboxing on the top and bottom, and windowboxing on the left and right -- i.e. framed on all 4 sides. This is when you should use the ZOOM feature on the TV or cable box.

Yes, it does generally look pretty bad on most standard def. channels shown over Time Warner's DTV, since they are horribly compressed to fit more channels into less space in our lineup.

This is why most of us refuse to watch films that are not shown in HD on our system one we've gone HD. So you're basically stuck waiting for movies to come onto HBO, Showtime, HDNet Movies, INHD/2, UHD (Or the occasional true HD movie shown on TNT-HD or one of the network HD channels), until TWC graces us with some more HD channel options (The Movie Channel, Cinemax, and Starz!, in particular offer HD versions of their channels which Time Warner has yet to offer to us).

[Admittedly, despite the few choices of HD movie channels, there still seems to be plenty of quality HD movie content on each month that I am interested in watching -- it is rare that I will ever have extra free space on my 8300HD! This is mostly thanks to the quality and variety of stuff on HBO, Sho, and especially HDNet Movies which always has interesting and quality stuff in rotation.]

18 months.... and here I'm just past 2 months!

While we're at it, how about a TCM HD? I remember delaying getting my 8300HD in order to work my way through a 6 movie Hitchcock arc from TCM.

The notable "zoom mode" I do is for FX's Rescue Me. I don't find it that bad, probably because it's a grtty drame to begin with (useless factoid, this season there have been 3, I mean THREE Oscar WINNING actresses working on the show).

Channel 729 ABC News Now - News and Weather

like we really needed another low PQ SD channel.

Channel 729 ABC News Now - News and Weather

like we really needed another low PQ SD channel.
...which is different in what way from the stupid NBC Weather channel?

Hi,
First time poster here. I have a question about movies broadcast in widescreen format like on IFC or Sundance Channel. I have a widescreen 32" TV. Why do I have to suffer from letterboxes on the top AND the sides? I thought the whole idea of getting a widescreen TV was to avoid most of the letterboxing and now, I'm getting hit on both sides. I tried watching Pulp Fiction on Friday, but the image was tiny. I know that you stretch or zoom the picture to fill up the TV, but it looks horrible. Any ideas? Am I doing something wrong?
Welcome to the forums. I generally welcome movies etc. with both top/bottom bars (letterbox format) and side panels with my 16X9 display and SA8300HD cable STB. That's because the STB zoom mode (pressing the remote's # key) then fills the screen just about right--without the geometric image distortion that's visible without letterboxing/side panels. Images don't look horrible, but fill the screen properly. On my 64" screen, varying with the source PQ, there's sometimes a slight increase in visible noise, part of typical zooming, stretching, etc. Also, this doesn't work sometimes if captions are put too low on the bottom of the screen. -- John

Hi guys,

I recently bought a Samsung HD ready TV and I am not sure if I need to get a receiver with QAM or OTA is enough. Is anybody in Norther NJ TWC area? What unencrypted HD channels do you get when you use QAM.

If TWC does not provide any unencrypted HD channels, I guess I dont have to spend extra for a QAM enabled receiver.

Suggestions please.

Thanks