It's a chicken or egg problem. Networks don't produce a lot of HD becasue it costs more. And right now they have a tiny audience. On the other hand if they don't make enough great HD programs no one will invest in the equipment at home.

If the FCC had any balls (or weren't a pawn of the media industry) they would have mandated everything be HD by a certain date. Instead they've passed a lot of watered-down rules that let everyone off the hook. Unfortunately Clinton's appointee was just as much an industry patsy as Bush's and we've had ten years of idiocy to get where we are.

If you read the entire article, it also mentions that things are changing fast.
The number of HD sets bought in the past year has gone up dramatically and the cable and satellite companies are now aggressively looking to add to their HD lineup. Of course this is a general statement and does not necessarily apply to TWNYC.

Yeah and if Time Warner actually GAVE the customers a reason to go out and fork the cash over for HD sets (like PROVIDE MORE HD CHANNELS)... they would see a bigger profit.

Duh!

I just hope they do ESPN within the next few months.

Why they don't have ESPN, MSG, HDNet, etc is really a mystery. Don't believe what they say about bandwidth. It's an excuse. They just don't want to fork over the money to carry these networks. If they were smart they would carry everything and charge a flat "HD Package" fee. I would be glad to give them another $10/month for a decent lineup.

Originally posted by LawrenceB
Why they don't have ESPN, MSG, HDNet, etc is really a mystery. Don't believe what they say about bandwidth. It's an excuse. They just don't want to fork over the money to carry these networks. If they were smart they would carry everything and charge a flat "HD Package" fee. I would be glad to give them another $10/month for a decent lineup.

Have you been paying ANY attention to the past 100 pages? TWCNYC does not negotiate the contracts with ESPN. Time Warner Cable (the parent entity) has already "forked over the money" and reached an agreement with ESPN to carry ESPN-HD. Other TWC affiliates across the country have already put ESPNHD on the air. They also carry INHD, HDNet and TNTHD. They also charge for these stations on an HD Tier.

Wouldn't it be in TWCNYC's interest to add all of these stations so that they could charge us for them? Doesn't that make some business sense?

greetings,

it seems TWC has a severe case of HD apathy here in the #1 DMA in the USA. I
recently returned from visiting family & friends in NC & here's what TWC subs in
Raleigh-Durham enjoy NOW:

all HD locals-including UPN & WB
Disc. HD
TNT-HD
ESPN-HD(newly added)
HDnet & HDnet movies
InHD 1 & 2

here in NYC TWC hasn't even updated the website!!! no mention of adding TNT-
HD on 10/8!! they don't even list digital ch. 730(ABC news now)!! who's minding
the store?

jim

Originally posted by DjPiLL
Yeah and if Time Warner actually GAVE the customers a reason to go out and fork the cash over for HD sets (like PROVIDE MORE HD CHANNELS)... they would see a bigger profit.

Duh!


Please explain how TWCNYC would see a bigger profit if more customers bought HD sets. Last I heard, TWCNYC did not charge anything for HD. In fact, given the amount of incremental customer service costs associated with supporting the existing HD customer base (additional training of reps, techs, etc - however little) I'd say it's pretty safe to say that TWCNYC currently loses money on HD. Only recently with the introduction of the 8000HD have they begun to monetize HD customers in any way.

By the way guys, the other main roadblock to seeing more push from the industry (vs pull from consumers) is that last I heard neilsen/netrating did not track HD households. That may have changed recently (I haven't checked or kept close track of it) but until that happens, there are some fairly vested interests who'd rather we not watch HD.

TM

I don't know that someone would want us not to watch HD. I think the ratings just lump HD in w/SD. They just don't care if you watch a show on HD or SD.

Anyone know if TWC offer cable cards yet? They should cost much less than a cable box to rent.

Originally posted by jcc
Anyone know if TWC offer cable cards yet? They should cost much less than a cable box to rent.

This link should help. Be advised, all cable systems are having a difficult time deploying the CC, TWC-NYC included. I think I am the only one in Queens with a CC and it is a problem. For the full story, search this forum for author "SRFast."
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=419356&perpage=20&pagenumber=9

Hope this helps....JL

Originally posted by anthonymoody
Please explain how TWCNYC would see a bigger profit if more customers bought HD sets. Last I heard, TWCNYC did not charge anything for HD. In fact, given the amount of incremental customer service costs associated with supporting the existing HD customer base (additional training of reps, techs, etc - however little) I'd say it's pretty safe to say that TWCNYC currently loses money on HD. Only recently with the introduction of the 8000HD have they begun to monetize HD customers in any way.

By the way guys, the other main roadblock to seeing more push from the industry (vs pull from consumers) is that last I heard neilsen/netrating did not track HD households. That may have changed recently (I haven't checked or kept close track of it) but until that happens, there are some fairly vested interests who'd rather we not watch HD.

TM Anthony, you’ve answered, in part, your own question.

With the additional charge for the HD DVR the cash is now flowing inward directly as a result of HD subscribers. And with the inevitable surcharged ‘HD Tier Level’ -- more money will follow.

We’ve been through this discussion 50 pages ago.
The future is here now and it’s Digital.

As I said a few posts back, Time Warner should dump Analog. If you want TWC -- you have to go digital- period.

Subscribers to DTV are paying approximately 25% more than the analog customers. And the 25% number is extremely conservative. That’s not taking into consideration the subscribers to HBO HD and Showtime HD. Even more money attributed to HD.

We are all witnessing the booming interest in the HD craze. It is evident through this forum. I see it with friends and family. The fish are biting. As these consumers continue to make their HD purchases, (and they are buying), they will want their HD TV. More HD subscribers = more DTV subscribers = at least 25% more money per customer.

And forget about the lost revenue with the trashed Analog losers. That money will be recouped in no time with these new DTV customers.

And I hate to say it, but TWC is a bargain compared to other sources. We get a "free" HD set top box, compared to Comcast. They’re banging their subscribers with an additional fee for the HD STB. Also, most Satellite customers are encouraged to purchase their STB’s. TW makes an attractive incentive for these newbies to hook up their new HD TV’s to DTV.

The bottom line is, there is money to be made for TW, with the focus towards HD.



Larry

Originally posted by rgrossman
I don't know that someone would want us not to watch HD. I think the ratings just lump HD in w/SD. They just don't care if you watch a show on HD or SD.


NO. That's just the point, the ratings don't just "lump" in with the SD ratings b/c last I checked neilsen/netratings was *not* including any HD sets/households in their surveys (which determine ratings). Networks sell ad time based on audience ratings supplied by neilsen/netrating. Watching on HD means you're *not* getting counted in the ratings, which means the SD rating drops, which means the ad revenues drops, which means the networks are unhappy campers.

TM

Originally posted by LL3HD
Anthony, you’ve answered, in part, your own question.

With the additional charge for the HD DVR the cash is now flowing inward directly as a result of HD subscribers. And with the inevitable surcharged ‘HD Tier Level’ -- more money will follow.

We’ve been through this discussion 50 pages ago.
The future is here now and it’s Digital.

As I said a few posts back, Time Warner should dump Analog. If you want TWC -- you have to go digital- period.

Subscribers to DTV are paying approximately 25% more than the analog customers. And the 25% number is extremely conservative. That’s not taking into consideration the subscribers to HBO HD and Showtime HD. Even more money attributed to HD.

We are all witnessing the booming interest in the HD craze. It is evident through this forum. I see it with friends and family. The fish are biting. As these consumers continue to make their HD purchases, (and they are buying), they will want their HD TV. More HD subscribers = more DTV subscribers = at least 25% more money per customer.

And forget about the lost revenue with the trashed Analog losers. That money will be recouped in no time with these new DTV customers.

And I hate to say it, but TWC is a bargain compared to other sources. We get a "free" HD set top box, compared to Comcast. They’re banging their subscribers with an additional fee for the HD STB. Also, most Satellite customers are encouraged to purchase their STB’s. TW makes an attractive incentive for these newbies to hook up their new HD TV’s to DTV.

The bottom line is, there is money to be made for TW, with the focus towards HD.

Larry

LL,
A few things. First, while I agree that the HD DVR is creating cash inflow to TWCNYC, currently it's not even up to a rounding error. Yes more will come. yes they will add a pay HD tier when they add sufficient channels. But neither are here *now* which means that additional HD customers today do not add additional revenues (let alone profits) for TWC from HD itself. Yes, as you mention, HD customers spend more on average for total service packages than non-HD customers. But none of that is from HD specifically. Remember - that stat came out prior to the 8000HD.

Next, you may feel the 25% is conservative, but offer no proof of that. Further, subscribing to HBO HD costs no more than subscribing to HBO. I'd subscribe to it whether it were in HD or not as I believe most subs would.

Next, I never said that TWC was expensive or not a good value.

Finally, you needn't preach to me about going digital, bandwidth issues, etc. Just check who started this thread ;)

If you read the thread as carefully as you are quick to throw around terms like "we been through this discussion 50 pages ago" then you'd probably have learned that I'm one of the biggest boosters of TWC NYC around here, and also one of the most frustrated at the lack of (faster) progress on the HD programming front, if also one of the most sober and realistic about it.

TM

Anthony, only my first four lines were directed to you personally. I can fully understand how I caused you to misinterpret the direction of my rant. Sorry, for the unintended assault. I am very familiar with your views in your Thread. I should have been more clear from the pulpit. :D

:)

No harm no foul :)

Now. Where's the fricking HD tier with InHD1 and 2 and so on?!?

TM

Ah, 101 pages, and we are all still getting along. Anthony hasn't told anybody to move lately, I haven't pissed anybody off in a long time about foreign language channels, and the best thing we have to look forward to is TNT-HD :eek:

I sure wish we had INHD as the Yankees Red Sox games are scheduled to be broadcast this weekend (weather permitting of course...). I miss the old channel 708 when we would get a special broadcast once in a while, NBA etc.

I am hopeful that by the end of the year that all HD channels currently available to TWC nationally will be on our system. If a $9.95 a month HD-Pack is necesary to accomplish this, so be it. In the meantime, I am thankful we have the major locals (although I want UPN & the WB too!), and we can check out the new fall shows etc. The HD-PVR is far from perfect, but at least it didn't cost us a $1,000 out of pocket to find that out. Here's to a strong finish to 2004.

Goodbye TWC, RCN is up and running.

The guide sucks but ESPN, Max, Starz, etc in HD and an HD DVR make that an afterthought.

Originally posted by pciav


I sure wish we had INHD as the Yankees Red Sox games are scheduled to be broadcast this weekend (weather permitting of course...). I miss the old channel 708 when we would get a special broadcast once in a while, NBA etc.



Judging from the posts in the HDTV programming forum, the Sox-Yanks game would be blacked out on INHD in the NYC (and Boston) area.

Of course, it's moot since we don't have the station anyway...

And I've emailed Bob Watson twice about ESPN-HD and haven't heard back. How hard is it to return an email, even if just to say "I know about the agreement, but I cannot tell you for certain when we'll add the station." What's the point in ignoring your customers?

Originally posted by pciav
Ah, 101 pages, and we are all still getting along. Anthony hasn't told anybody to move lately, I haven't pissed anybody off in a long time about foreign language channels, and the best thing we have to look forward to is TNT-HD :eek:

And I've kept my mouth shut. :rolleyes:

OT - I'm going to the game tonight unless there's a monsoon out my window :)

TM

Originally posted by anthonymoody
OT - I'm going to the game tonight unless there's a monsoon out my window :)

TM

I thought you would be...

I didn't even think about the blackout rule that would affect us also. The game is on CBS, sure wish they would do the game in HD.

Let's Go Yankees...

I live on Staten Island and I went down to the TWC office on Richmod Avenue where they told me that the 8000HD is not yet available for Staten Island and it may be available at the end of the month. Does anyone on Staten Island have any more info?

P.S. for the people who do have the 800HD, does SD material through component look as good as it does on the 8000 using S-Video?

Originally posted by orbeyonde
I live on Staten Island and I went down to the TWC office on Richmod Avenue where they told me that the 8000HD is not yet available for Staten Island and it may be available at the end of the month. Does anyone on Staten Island have any more info?

P.S. for the people who do have the 800HD, does SD material through component look as good as it does on the 8000 using S-Video?
I called them last week and they told me the HD DVRs would be available in about a week. So much for that. Anyway I have the Pace 550 HD box which I love, and I'm worried about some the problems people are having with the 8000HD so I'm willing to wait to see if they get resolved.

Originally posted by orbeyonde
I live on Staten Island and I went down to the TWC office on Richmod Avenue where they told me that the 8000HD is not yet available for Staten Island and it may be available at the end of the month. Does anyone on Staten Island have any more info?

P.S. for the people who do have the 800HD, does SD material through component look as good as it does on the 8000 using S-Video?

When I first got my 8000HD I did not like the way 4:3 content looked over component compared to S-Video on my 8000SD. This was largely due to the fact that the side bars are gray on the 8000HD vs. black on the 8000SD, which really annoyed and distracted me. Also the 8000HD won't output 480i if it is in HD mode and you have 480p, 720p or 1080i selected as additional supported formats - which you def. will if you are watching HD. Instead it displays all 480i channels at 480p.

The first thing I did was to uncheck 480p as a supported format and leave the other 3 formats selected. Now 480i channels come in at 720p, which happen to look much better on my Samsung DLP (720p NR).

To eliminate the gray bars, I relied on the suggestion of others on this thread, and set the 8000HD to stretch all 4:3 material (set Aspect Ratio to "16:9 and Stetch 4:3" in the 8000HD's menus) and then have my Samsung DLP shrink it back down to normal (set picture size to "4:3" on my Samsung), which eliminates the gray bars and replaces them with black bars. Obviously, YMMV depending on how your TV handles picture sizes and sidebars.

I spent a little bit of time tweaking the picture settings on Component and have been quite pleased with the results. I was able to get the 8000HD's SD picture to look better than it did on the 8000SD over S-Video. I promptly returned my 8000SD.

Orb',
Not familiar with the 8000 but regarding the 8000 HD:
(and forgive me if I’m repeating myself in this post, consider this an updated review)

The component is the only functioning connection. The SD looks better through component than it did on my previous pioneer box through component.

However, on the pioneer, the SD looked superior through the S Video connection rather than through the component. And, through the S Video hook up, on my panny, I was able to utilize the tv’s own aspect ratio controls. This feature is the one that I miss the most. I know that others, as Eric has just said, have been able to work around this successfully but for me this is the weakest link. Mainly because my panny has a terrific "auto screen mode" that takes a 4x3 image and fits it into a 16x9 better than anything else I’ve seen. Using the 8000 HD’s aspect control just doesn’t cut it. The "zoom" accents the poor SD picture even more -looks grainy and you lose some of the picture. The "stretch" looks distorted. Therefore, I’m now stuck with gray bars . The SD picture, aside from the gray bars, looks fine. I’m getting used to it, along with the audio dropouts and the video glitches.

And it’s all because of the time shifting. I can no longer live without the recording capabilities. I am so hooked. It out weighs all of the negatives. I know most of you have played with these types of toys before with tivos and such but I’m new to this and it’s awesome.

By the way, I just noticed that the recorded shows will erase automatically after a period of time. You do have choices on how long to keep them, you just have to program it appropriately. I know this is probably a non point to most but I thought I’d mention it to the other time shifting novices before they lost their library.

Larry

If you think the 8000HD is an awesome recorder you should get your hands on a ReplayTV. It's SD, not HD but the control systems and menus are so much better than the 8000HD it really makes you wonder what kind of idiots program these things for SA. Didn't the engineers take a look at Tivo and Replay before designing it??? Where are the search functions? Where is the "keep one episode" function. Come on guys...!

I believe there is a "keep one episode" function. Click on LIST, then SERIES MANAGER, then chose a series set to be recorded and click on SERIES RECORDING OPTIONS. You can set it to save one or more episodes, on a series by series basis.

You're right, they did include that particular function.

Does anyone else have a problem pausing live TV. Mine will pause for about fifteen minutes then just start playing. After that happens I can no longer pause at all.

Also, if you are watching a recorded show and switch back to live, then back to the recording, it forgets where you left off and starts playing from the beginning of the show.

Lawrence,

Maybe it’s good that I’m ignorant to these units you’re describing. What I don’t know won’t make me more miserable.

The way I’m trying to look at it is to think positive and say- the glass is half full and is only going to get fuller.
:D


Larry

The first time you play with a DVR it's a huge Ah-Ha. They are awesome. My Replay has changed the way I watch TV. So I was thrilled to get an HD version. It's just frustrating when you get something new and cool and it lacks many of the great features already worked out by other companies.

Originally posted by LawrenceB
it lacks many of the great features already worked out by other companies.

And just possibly patented by them, too.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LawrenceB
...Also, if you are watching a recorded show and switch back to live, then back to the recording, it forgets where you left off and starts playing from the beginning of the show.

Lawrence,

What I’ve done to solve that problem is to use the pip and swap button. Works great. Pause the picture that you are watching, or recording, now you can hit the live button and go back via the pip. Swap them out. When you want to rejoin the other show where you left off, hit the pause button again.

I’m sure I’m not making this clear but play around with the pip, swap and pause buttons and it’ll make more sense.

Larry

You can't patent a search function!

Originally posted by LawrenceB
You can't patent a search function!

Tell that to Scientific Atlanta, which has been a defendant in massive patent infringement cases involving interactive program guide software used in its STBs. Example. (http://www.mofo.com/practice/ArticleDetail.cfm?MCatID=&concentrationID=&ID=749&Type=4)

So I can confirm that w/ v.151 of the Passport software on the HD DVR, if you attempt to watch a show that you are currently recording from the beginning it won't let you go back any further than the size of the buffer.

Started recording the Ryder cup around 11. Came home around 2 and wanted to watch from the beginning but it would only let me go back 30 mins - the size of the buffer.

Pretty annoying.

Why is 702 showing up as a SD channel? are the SEC football games going to be HD?

That is really bad about the buffer. I'm going to check my SA8000HD.

The most common thing I do with my Replay is start watching a show 30-60 minutes after it's started so I can skip the commercials. If I can't do it with the TWC DVR it's not worth keeping.

Thank you so much for the info on SD quality. I guess I will take the plunge and get an 8000HD as soon as it come to Staten Island.

Something weird happened with my 8000. I recorded "The Apprentice" on Thursday and when I tried to watch it later, I could not FF or RW. I could only watch it straight through. Weird thing is that 15 minute skip still worked though. This only happened to "The Apprentice" other shows I had taped that night and since then worked normally. Did anybody else experience this?

I dont want to be a conspiracy theorist, but if the cable company can disable FF and RW for certain programs, that will kind of defeat the whole purpose of the DVR and I will be heading back to my ReplayTV.

Originally posted by Nukenbar
Why is 702 showing up as a SD channel? are the SEC football games going to be HD?

The game was never supposed to be in HD. Tonight's game, however, will be in HD.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4372320#post4372320

The system on/off button on the remote turns my TV,cable box, and dvd player on and off. How do I stop it from turning my dvd player on and off?
The on/off on my dvd player uses a different code than my tv.

I also recorded the Apprentice and WAS able to FF/RW without any problems at all. What is the 15 minute skip feature? I'm not sure what that is? How do you make it happen.

Thanks

Drew

A couple things....

Regarding the buffer size, and this may have been covered earlier, can you just hit the LIST button and select the show recording in progress, then hit play to watch the program from the beginning? I do this on the SA8000 all the time.


Do most people watch SD in 4:3 mode on their 16:9 sets? Occasionally, I will do this, but I've found that my eyes quickly adjust to the stretch and I'm fine with the fact that peoples heads and body look a little wider (I know my wife likes it). ;-) Just curious. It seems that the biggest issue people have is with the stretch issue on SD channels....


Drew

I watch SD stretched all the time. I hate sidebars.

Does anyone know if you can receive HD channels through twc if you don't use a STB? I have only the direct connect plan for $12 so that I can get the local channels and was wondering if I order a tv with a hd tuner built in that I may be able to get the local (NBC,ABC,CBS,PBS) channels in HD? What number are the channels if I don't rent a STB?

Prior to getting the 8000HD, I was able to set a reminder for a future show using the Guide. Now, my only choice appears to be to record a future show. Is there any way that I can get a reminder from the guide, and set up a recording?

Originally posted by jcc
Does anyone know if you can receive HD channels through twc if you don't use a STB? I have only the direct connect plan for $12 so that I can get the local channels and was wondering if I order a tv with a hd tuner built in that I may be able to get the local (NBC,ABC,CBS,PBS) channels in HD? What number are the channels if I don't rent a STB?

I've had the same question too. LG makes either a DVR with a HD Tuner or an upconverting DVD player with an HD Tuner - both have QAM tuners.

I did see a setup in J&R with an LG QAM receiver directly hooked up to a flat panel. I did see CBSHD, ABCHD and PBSHD along with DiscoveryHD, but didn't check to see what else came up. I assume it was TWCNYC. Of course, no program guide, and the channel #'s were all different than TWCNYC. Anyone else have info on what is and isn't scrambled via QAM on TWCNYC?

OT: Of COURSE I go to the wrong frickin yankee game. Argh! At least they took 2 out of 3 :D

TM

Anyone watch Soundstage last night at 9 o’clock, Steve Winwood?

The picture was great. The audio was awful. There were dropouts occurring on each channel. The left channel had a pattern of major drop outs and the right channel had its own pattern. Never encountered such an audio horror. I bailed and recorded the 12 AM rebroadcast. Haven’t watched it yet but I’m not optimistic.

Also, anyone catch the Emmys? How ridiculous is it that the "premiere" award show for television excellence was not broadcast in HD???
How insane is this industry?

To accent their stupidity, they continuously showed the hi-tech looking video control room incorporated within the set, with huge 16x9 plasma screens hung on any available wall space.

Is it me? Was my TV the only one receiving a 4x3 image???


Larry

Originally posted by LL3HD
...Is it me? Was my TV the only one receiving a 4x3 image???

Larry

Yes Larry, it was just you. You were singled out by Bob Watson's new HD Bandwidth eater that targets people in this thread for complaining. Having experienced this myself, it sucks when it happens... ;)

But seriously, same problems on Soundstage, turned it off. It made the LAX premiere look not so bad for having no voices. Something is definitely going on because dropouts are all over the place. I feel like I have the SA3100HD again. Dropouts are now happening on SD channels as well and even analog audio hook up in my bedroom is experiencing dropouts.

I do not know what to do. I keep thinking it is going to get better, but when? I wish there was a viable alternative.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pciav
...Yes Larry, it was just you. You were singled out by Bob Watson's new HD Bandwidth eater that targets people in this thread for complaining...

Ha, hysterical….
What a character we’ve created… Bob Watson, in his dungeon, ala Grandpa Munster, turning dials, mixing potions —causing my friggin dropouts!! He should choke on Bat droppings!

Well…
not really.
Just get us some timely and accurate answers.


:D

jcc, the only way to get HD locals over cable is to get an HD cablebox, or get a HDTV with a QAM tuner. I don't know if there are any external QAM tuners available, but an HD Tuner will only pick up Over the Air HD broadcasts through an antenna.

Drew

Originally posted by drew138
jcc, the only way to get HD locals over cable is to get an HD cablebox, or get a HDTV with a QAM tuner. I don't know if there are any external QAM tuners available, but an HD Tuner will only pick up Over the Air HD broadcasts through an antenna.

Drew

Yes, I'm getting the Panny 42pd25up which has the QAM tuner but I didn't want to use an external antenna if possible. Are you sure that I can't just direct connect the TWC cable directly to my Panny tuner and get HD local channels? Even if I try the upper channels like 130?

It seems strange to me that TWC would scramble HD ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS when they're just local channels:confused:

I've read in another forum(direct view displays) HD channels are not scrambled yet, at least CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and even DISCOVERY HD.

Originally posted by jcc
Does anyone know if you can receive HD channels through twc if you don't use a STB? I have only the direct connect plan for $12 so that I can get the local channels and was wondering if I order a tv with a hd tuner built in that I may be able to get the local (NBC,ABC,CBS,PBS) channels in HD? What number are the channels if I don't rent a STB?

As an experiment, I connected my incoming TWC cable to my LG 3100A HD OTA receiver and was able to view many, many channels, including the ones you mention but also some Music Choice channels and HBO. I'm a TWC DTV subscriber. You're not, and, for you, such a stunt would probably come within the scope of Section 165.15(4) of the N.Y. Penal Law (theft of services).

Originally posted by Manatus
As an experiment, I connected my incoming TWC cable to my LG 3100A HD OTA receiver and was able to view many, many channels, including the ones you mention but also some Music Choice channels and HBO. I'm a TWC DTV subscriber. You're not, and, for you, such a stunt would probably come within the scope of Section 165.15(4) of the N.Y. Penal Law (theft of services).

Perhaps because you have DTV service and not just basic you can receive those channels. Right now, if I try to get any channels other than the locals on my cheapy tv I get scrambled junk. Are you telling me that a QAM tuner will descramble DTV? Not likely.

What channel are the HD local channels (NBC,ABC,CBS,PBS) through your QAM tuner on? Thanks!

Originally posted by jcc
What channel are the HD local channels (NBC,ABC,CBS,PBS) on? Thanks!

Sorry, but I didn't jot down that information.

Originally posted by Manatus
Sorry, but I didn't jot down that information.

Just a rough idea, was it in the 50's, 80's, 130's, etc....

Originally posted by jcc
Just a rough idea, was it in the 50's, 80's, 130's, etc....

The 80s and higher.

Originally posted by Manatus
The 80s and higher.

Cool, thanks!

Anyone else able to verify Manatus's experiment?

hi jcc,

if all you want are the HD locals i think you should be ok with a straight hook-up to a QAM tuner. i was in J & R last week & they had an LG 3100 hooked up to a Sharp HD monitor. WNET-DT was on-ch display read 125-2 or something like that so when your new tv is set up check the 100's. and i don't see how this is "theft of service"-if you sub to TWC & the channels are unscrambled you are entitled to get them.
BTW let us know if TNT-HD is scrambled or in the clear. TWC is supposed to add it 10/8. good luck with your new TV!!!

jim

Any word on when we might see some new HD channels?

Originally posted by Nukenbar
Any word on when we might see some new HD channels?


Just read the last 104 pages and you'll see ;)

Seriously, we hope later this year. We know nothing.

TM

Originally posted by oprig
I can confirm that the LG 3100A will receive the following UNSCRAMBLED HDTV channels on TWC:

103-2 FOX
104-1 NBC
104-2 ABC
105-1 CBS
105-2 PBS
129-35 Discovery-HD

hi again jcc

the above are the HD locals you should get with a QAM tuner. the ch. #'s may or may not be the same for the tuner in your new TV. BTW this is from page 74 of this thread where the ? of QAM tuners is discussed in more detail. hope this helps.

jim

Originally posted by anthonymoody
Just read the last 104 pages and you'll see ;)

Seriously, we hope later this year. We know nothing.

TM

What's the over-under on how long it will take until the customer service reps who answer the phones stop telling people that negotiations for ESPN-HD are still underway? It's been 10 days since an agreement was reached, yet they're still using that as their excuse for not carrying the channel. I don't blame them, I blame TWC for seeing it as a low enough priority that they won't even give the CSRs accurate information. It sends a very strong message as to how much TWC values us subscribers.
-JMP

Anybody having problems with their HD boxes tonight? I turned my Pioneer on to watch the football game, and it won't initialize-you know, only two blue dots on the boot screen, then channel 21-75 hell!!!
Nothing I can do about it, after half a dozen hard and soft boots, and tech support was no help either. No service rep until next Tues.
Just some more joys of TWC.

Originally posted by Nukenbar
Any word on when we might see some new HD channels?

TNT-HD starts on Oct. 8 on ch 710.

As I reported back in June TWCNYC planned to and has dropped analog channels 81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,92. That opens up 10 channels for use for channels to be launched on 10/8, more bandwith for future digital channels, more VOD, and HDTV. HDTV is a priority but keep in mind for every HDTV customer, there are 10 people that don't have HDTV. TNT-HD is owned by parent company TimeWarner. I figured you guys would figure that's why that will be launched before ESPN-HD. Just be patient, it's coming.

INHD?

Originally posted by twcnycinsider
...TNT-HD is owned by parent company TimeWarner. I figured you guys would figure that's why that will be launched before ESPN-HD. Just be patient, it's coming.

I think we have been very patient. With the giant step backwards lately with all the pixelated pictures and audio dropouts, my patience and a lot of others is running out.

TNT-HD, woohoo, certainly the programming everyone here is clamoring for. It will be great, we'll get a couple of meaningless early NBA games instead of playoff baseball and primetime NFL. What's next, delaying INHD or HDNET for Lifetime-HD (no lifetime is not available in HD, just ranting...)

The sad fact of the matter remains that TWC-NYC, not TWC, specifically TWC-NYC, is about the worst of the worst. Putting ESPN-HD on 10/8 instead of TNT-HD would go along way in showing that somebody at TWC-NYC has half a brain in their head.

I am using a Fusion QAM tuner card to get HD. I get all the channels mentioned in the above post except Discovery HD. Is Discovery HD encrypted? My QAM tuner only picks up un-encrypted stations.

Thanks --- Bill

Originally posted by tvuser1
I am using a Fusion QAM tuner card to get HD. I get all the channels mentioned in the above post except Discovery HD. Is Discovery HD encrypted? My QAM tuner only picks up un-encrypted stations.

Thanks --- Bill


Are you talking about my posts? What channels are you getting the local HD channels on? Have you tired every channel up to 200 to see where Discovery HD is on?

One poster above said that TNT will be on in the 700's, but that's on a STB. I wonder how closely that corresponds to a QAM tuner.

The post I'm refering to is the one by oprig and reposted above. I've tried all the QAM 256 channels, and can't get it. The Tuner only goes up to channel 125, but I'm told that there are subcahannels, so that you can recieve all the channels that are broadcast (in the 700's as per TWC), for instance. I will now try to scan the QAM 64 channels, but I was led to believe that HD was only on QAM 256. I was hoping that someone reading this thread was using a Fusion card also, so we could compare.

Thanks --- Bill

If you don't get HD Discovery is probably because they had encrypted it, also there is a possibility all the local HD will become encrypted in the future because they had to pay a separate licensing fee for the OTA digital stations in addition to the same analog stations. It's up to TWC :mad:, this is what is holding me in buying the Fusion card, OTA HD is nonexistent in my Manhattan apt.

TVUSER: do you get channel 12 OTA WB with the Fusion card ?

I did a rescan of the channels last night on my LG 3100A primarily to see if any new HD channels had been added in advance of being available via the TWCNYC STB.

I didn't see any new HD channels but I'm almost certain that DiscoveryHD was still available on 129-35. I'll check again when I get home tonight.

I just got off the phone with Ed Urbanowski, who is a Lead Coordinator in the Public Affairs Department at TWC-NYC. I had called him to express my frustration at the fact that the CSRs were still telling people that negotiations were still underway for ESPN-HD.

He told me that he spoke with the publicity department and was told that they are this afternoon rolling out the announcement that they have a target launch date of late October/Early November for ESPN-HD.

Obviously, I can only vouch for what he told me. Here's hoping it turns out to be accurate...
-JMP

Hey that's interesting news JMP. Combined with TWC insider's claim of more channels as of 10/8 we could have a merry HD XMAS.

TM

Originally posted by jmp_nyc
...they are this afternoon rolling out the announcement that they have a target launch date of late October/Early November for ESPN-HD.
-JMP Good news,

Rolling out ESPN HD? TW rolling out something? They roll with square wheels.

Keep in mind, there is "TW Time" and then there is "Everyone Else’s Time"
I’ll believe it when I pixilatedly see it.:rolleyes:

Larry

Originally posted by LL3HD
Good news,

Rolling out ESPN HD? TW rolling out something? They roll with square wheels.

Keep in mind, there is "TW Time" and then there is "Everyone Else’s Time"
I’ll believe it when I pixilatedly see it.:rolleyes:

Larry

Actually, he used the phrase "rolling out" to describe getting the information to the CSRs. The first test would be to call later this week and ask a front-line CSR about ESPN-HD. If they say that negotiations are still underway (which is what they were saying as of this morning), then we know how slow the rollout actually is.

Supposedly, according to the supervisor I'd spoken to this morning, TWC distributes a bulletin at least once a week with updates on frequent issues. I was told that the one released on Monday of this week said that negotiations were still underway. Either they're intentionally misleading the customer base, or they're completely inept at information management (or some of each). Either way, it doesn't give me great faith in them.

As much as I'd like to believe the information I reported, I'll actually believe it when I see SportsCenter in HD without breakups. (Now I'm being really demanding.)
-JMP

I still think that the arrival of ESPN HD will correspond, perversely, with the end of football season. Right now we get two HD football games per week, max: one on Fox, plus MNF. CBS broadcasts a limited number of HD games, and so far the Jets haven't been featured. The limited number of NFL games televised in NYC has always frustrated me... Growing up in Virginia we got four games every Sunday.

With the night game on Sunday I'd be pretty happy. But I'm pretty sure TW will blow it this season.

I will receive my new th42pd25up next week and I can't wait!:D

glad i could help jcc

i was asking the very same ? about a month ago & was playing with the idea of buying the LG 3100 to add to the HD offerings i get from D*. i have TWC only for RoadRunner, NY1 & MNN(hey to each his own). decided to wait for the combiner install at the Empire State Building & maybe that will improve what i can get OTA.
when you get your Panasonic just do a ch. scan & see what happens. and if TNT-HD is not scrambled let us know!!! good luck with it.

jim

Is 12 OTA WB the same as UPN? No, I don't get UPN OTA. All I get is sound, no picture. One of posts in the OTA NYC thread says that is not yet in HD. I also don't get WPIX in HD.

When I am watching a previously recorded show and the dvr starts to record something, It stops me from watching the show and switches over to the show it just started recording. This happens when I am watching both fully recorded shows and shows it is currently recording. Is there anyway to stop this from happening? The funny thing is that it doesn't always happen and I can't figure out the pattern of what causes it do it sometimes and not others.

P.S. - Some people have reported that if you watch a show that is currently recording, you cannot watch from the beginning if it has recorded more than an hour's worth. I don't seem to have this problem. I've been able to watch stuff recorded on HDHBO from the beginning when it has recorded over 1 1/2 hours worth.

Originally posted by timewaster
When I am watching a previously recorded show and the dvr starts to record something, It stops me from watching the show and switches over to the show it just started recording. This happens when I am watching both fully recorded shows and shows it is currently recording. Is there anyway to stop this from happening? The funny thing is that it doesn't always happen and I can't figure out the pattern of what causes it do it sometimes and not others.


TW,
Have one of the two tuners (pip and the swap) in the DVR tuned to the station that you are going to be recording. Seems to prevent the problem for me but this could be a coincidence.

Larry

Thanks Larry.
Didn't think of that.
I'll try it and see if it works.

This thing has so many quirks, I can't even remember all of them anymore.

Originally posted by HDntheCity
glad i could help jcc

i decided to wait for the combiner install at the Empire State Building & maybe that will improve what i can get OTA.
when you get your Panasonic just do a ch. scan & see what happens. and if TNT-HD is not scrambled let us know!!! good luck with it.

jim

what is this "combiner"? what does it do? i face west of the empire state bldg so i assume i can't get any ota channels comming from it.

Originally posted by shk718
what is this "combiner"? what does it do? i face west of the empire state bldg so i assume i can't get any ota channels comming from it.

This is the ESB Combiner:

http://tinypic.com/5y328

All the major NYC HD broadcasters had their antennas on the 1 WTC antenna mast. Only one major station, WCBS, still had a (backup) antenna on the ESB, to which it moved its HD broadcasts after 9/11. All the other stations have established temporary HD antennas elsewhere in Manhattan, in less than perfect locations. There is a seriously-delayed project for these stations to start sharing the WCBS antenna with the help of this contraption, which will "combine" their separate signals before delivering them to the antenna. Once that happens, OTA HD reception in the metro area should improve dramatically. Of course, this has nothing to do with TWCNYC.

That's some contraption. I bet it lights up like a Christmas Tree when lightning hits it!

i was playing around with my cable box today in the diag mode and i found something interesting.

i think we are on the verge of getting UPN HD, WB HD, HD PPV and a slew of onDemand channels. thats in addition to TNTHD and ESPNHD.

i was punching in channel numbers that arent in the guide and found test channels for the above mentioned along with Starz onDemand, and all the "non free" onDemand channels that other markets have gotten such as CNN onDemand, FoodTV onDemand, Cartoon Network onDemand, etc.

while we might not see any of these in the very near future, i think IMO we can look forward to most of these by the end of the year.

interesting stuff. :)

What 'channels' did you find, and was there any programming on them?

I too was playing with dialogue mode this weekend and the only thing I came across was channel 708, which I would think will be TNT HD.

How are you finding these? I've merely been using trial and error with the frequencies I know are active (ie: HBOHD is 693.000 and internal channel 002, though that's from memory so the numbers and terminology could be all wrong).

I have yet to stumble into anything worthwhile, certainly anything HD that's not currently offered. I have been denied access when using dialogue mode to try and access channel 728, or the equivalent 07728.

Sorry about the total lack of correct terminology - I'm new with the dialogue mode and don't have the TV in front of me right now.

For my location (midtown Manhattan), TitanTV.com has recently added TNT HD on the list of available HD stations (channel 710) for TWC, together with a listing of all the current shows. So I presume it will soon be activated, in this area at least.

I just tried the diagnostic mode, and all I found was WWOR on Channel 709. The image was completely broken up and unwatchable. Tonytapes, can you please post what other channel numbers you found?

Anyone notice that the breakups seem to be (mostly) gone? I was watching "Lost" on ABC and didn't notice a single audio or visual breakup during the entire hour.

Lost is the best looking and sounding show I've ever seen. Definite eye and ear candy. And the story wasn't bad either.

first, let me clarify that there was no picture on any of these channels. there was only a channel ID and logo.

708 - test
709 - UPN HD
710 - test
711 - WB HD
712 - INPPV (Guide Data listed as HD Special)
1035 - Starz OnDemand
1040 - 1050 (approx) - various onDemand channels

the test channels are the only ones that had picture, but it was only a mirror of wnjn. i'm guessing the test channels (708 and 710) are going to end up being TNT HD and ESPN HD.

at the very least, this is a sign that TWCNY plans to roll out these channels at some point in the future.

Originally posted by jergans
Anyone notice that the breakups seem to be (mostly) gone? I was watching "Lost" on ABC and didn't notice a single audio or visual breakup during the entire hour.

Alas, no, at least with 2 hours of Law & Order tonight on Ch. 704, throughout which the audio breakups were severe. Of course, it could be NBC; I do remember the Olympics.

Originally posted by tonytapes
first, let me clarify that there was no picture on any of these channels. there was only a channel ID and logo.

708 - test
709 - UPN HD
710 - test
711 - WB HD
712 - INPPV (Guide Data listed as HD Special)
1035 - Starz OnDemand
1040 - 1050 (approx) - various onDemand channels

the test channels are the only ones that had picture, but it was only a mirror of wnjn. i'm guessing the test channels (708 and 710) are going to end up being TNT HD and ESPN HD.

at the very least, this is a sign that TWCNY plans to roll out these channels at some point in the future.

It seems they are all gone now, as 709 is the only one I'm getting. I would have loved to have seen that.

Hey jergans is Lost the one with the hobbit in it? Somehow it made me sad that that's where he went "next" even if it does wind up being a great show.

TM

I'm still got lots of pixilation last night.
It seems to vary. A few nights ago, I noticed that the pixalation decreased, but now its back to normal again.

I get very little to no audio drops using the analog audio outs. My biggest problem with the DVR is pixilation and softer picture.

Lots of pixellation here too - on pretty much all HD channels.

CBS:
CSI Miami the other night was really bad (audio skips, not really dropouts as well). CSI New York seemed a little better last night.

NBC:
Las Vegas seemed decent. Haven't watched L&O or L&O SVU yet but I recorded them and it sounds like they were pretty bad.

Fox:
North Shore is unwatchable. Football this weekend was a lot better than last weekend - esp. the audio.

Still lots of bugs but on the whole I would say things are slightly better than they were a few weeks ago.

I few weeks back I read that some were saying that they had to press "select" after entering a channel number in order to get the box to change. This wasn't affecting me.

As of yesterday, I now have to press "select" after entering the channel number in order to change the box. Does anyone else have this problem? Did I receive some sort of software update?

Originally posted by randymac88
I few weeks back I read that some were saying that they had to press "select" after entering a channel number in order to get the box to change. This wasn't affecting me.

As of yesterday, I now have to press "select" after entering the channel number in order to change the box. Does anyone else have this problem? Did I receive some sort of software update?

I had the problem a few weeks back and it went away after a day or so. No software update AFAIK. I did unplug and replug the power cord though as I was re-arranging my gear.

Originally posted by randymac88
I few weeks back I read that some were saying that they had to press "select" after entering a channel number in order to get the box to change...


Depends on the Sun spots..

Actually, it occasionally still happens to me. Usually, when I "overload" it with commands. Whenever I get impatient and press too many buttons-- I get back into the "have to press select" situation. Try re-booting it, hold the on/off button on the STB for several seconds. This should clear it up. Although, it has corrected itself without me re-booting.


Larry

Anyone tried the DVI connection with the SA 8000 DVR lately?

Originally posted by Swedish Chef
Anyone tried the DVI connection with the SA 8000 DVR lately?

Yes, and, as expected, it's still dead. While on that subject, I think that we should be watching for the 8300HD DVR to appear in NYC -- it's now available in some other TWC cities, and there are scattered reports that it has a working HDMI port. There was a posting in a Yahoo forum yesterday from someone who claimed that TWCNYC told him that the 8300 DVR is now available here in limited supply, but I believe that he was referring to the SD model.

Originally posted by Manatus
While on that subject, I think that we should be watching for the 8300HD DVR to appear in NYC -- it's now available in some other TWC cities, and there are scattered reports that it has a working HDMI port. There was a posting in a Yahoo forum yesterday from someone who claimed that TWCNYC told him that the 8300 DVR is now available here in limited supply, but I believe that he was referring to the SD model. Two questions: What is the 8300 supposed to do that the 8000HD doesn't? Is your name derived from the restaurant on Bleeker (or vice versa)?

Anbody know what the hard drive capacity is for the 8300?
I find 20Hrs of HD to be very limiting.

According to SA its still 20 hours of HD with a 160GB hard drive.

http://www.sciatl.com/customers/Source/7004920.pdf

Originally posted by Sickman
Two questions: What is the 8300 supposed to do that the 8000HD doesn't?

(1) It allows the user to connect an external hard drive to increase storage capacity and (2) it includes a "multi-room" viewing feature.

Originally posted by Manatus
(1) It allows the user to connect an external hard drive to increase storage capacity and (2) it includes a "multi-room" viewing feature.

I'm sure both of these features will be enabled :)

I'd be very happy if HDMI worked and if the box was a little less quirky than the 8000.

Agreed! I'm still 2 months away from needing the box so I really hope you guys work out all the bugs in the meantime :)

TM

PS - there's a thread about the 8300HD in the HD recording forum...

I just called because my 8000HD was cutting off recordings at the end, or only recording a couple of seconds at the beginning of a recording. (And this is with space available.) After establishing that I need a service appointment to replace my unit, I asked about ESPN-HD.

The rep checked with her supervisor, who told her November 4, channel 725.

I'll believe it when I see it, but I'm ever so slightly more hopeful now that I was able to get them to give a specific date without much tooth pulling...
-JMP

I saw that others were having problems with their 8000HDs changing channels in the middle of a recording or a buffer and I'm having the same problem:

avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4408572#post4408572

(The site won't let me post a url yet, so I couldn't make that a hyperlink, sorry.)

When the box changes channels, it usually does it on the hour or half-hour but it doesn't change the channel to record a program, it just seems random. Changing the second tuner via the PIP doesn't help either. This is getting ridiculous and TWC NYC has been no help. Does anyone have a solution?

Thanks,
Jon

8000HD, Passport, TWC NYC

Noticed (yet another) quirk with my 8000HD. When I am watching a recorded program and I hit the Info button, the banner that comes up shows info for whatever live show happens to be on. Not a big deal but kind of annoying.

This thing is so buggy it's almost comical.

OK, my turn.
Found another quirk over the weekend.
While watching a previously recorded show and the DVR starts recording another show, it not only kicks me out of what I was watching but also switches me to SD mode. To go back to HD, I have to go to the settings menu to unselect then reselect back one of the output formats.

If it wasn't for this forum I would not have known that the box has 2 modes (HD,SD) and one day I would be wondering why my picture all of a sudden looks crappier than it used to.

Ok, now it's my turn. The composite output (VCR Archive) on my 8000HD only works in PIP mode and won't display a menu or program guide. Argghhh, I used to program my recordings on a tiny composite monitor in my equipment rack. now I have to start up my projector, dim the lights and wait a few minutes before I can schedule a recording. Who's brilliant design idea was this??!!

Oh Happy Days!
According to CBS Sportsline.com my beloved Jets are going to be in HD vs. Miami this week. This is my first NFL season with HDTV and it's been killing me to have to watch the Jets in SD while the Giants are in HD! :)

Hopefully this will be the first game of many this season.

If they continue to play the way they've been playing, CBS will probably keep them on HD. Next Sunday will be awesome. I will be watching HD all day long!

Hence...your handle. :)

Woo hoo for the Jets in HD, but why on earth isn't CBS's pregame show in HD this season? I seem to recall that it was last year.
-JMP

Originally posted by jmp_nyc
I asked about ESPN-HD.

The rep checked with her supervisor, who told her November 4, channel 725.

I'll believe it when I see it, but I'm ever so slightly more hopeful now that I was able to get them to give a specific date without much tooth pulling...
-JMP

Last night a rep told me they were hoping it will be available by the end of October ... no love for the MLB postseason without FOX or ESPN in HD

Originally posted by zEli173
Last night a rep told me they were hoping it will be available by the end of October ... no love for the MLB postseason without FOX or ESPN in HD

FOX is in HD on channel 705. They will broadcast all of the World Series in HD. Someone posted in the HD programming forum that the plan is for ALL MLB playoff games on FOX to be in HD, but that is not confirmed.

Any word on MSG-HD? Any hope to have it for this Knicks season? :)

Seems like MSG-HD is a long way off, if ever. I've called both companies five times and they say there are no plans at all. They each blame it on the other. I'm inclined to blame Cablevision since everything the Dolans do is wrong.

Originally posted by jergans
FOX is in HD on channel 705. They will broadcast all of the World Series in HD. Someone posted in the HD programming forum that the plan is for ALL MLB playoff games on FOX to be in HD, but that is not confirmed.

I've only been hooked up to TWC for a few days so it doesn't mean much that I haven't yet seen HD programming on Fox -- but if Fox is available in HD how come the TWC website says that in addition to the HD programming they also offer Fox in wide-screen format? It's been my assumption that channel 705 is currently only for widescreen SD and in the future there will be actual FOX HD. Is that assumption wrong?

(I'm not allowed to post the link yet)

Originally posted by zEli173
I've only been hooked up to TWC for a few days so it doesn't mean much that I haven't yet seen HD programming on Fox -- but if Fox is available in HD how come the TWC website says that in addition to the HD programming they also offer Fox in wide-screen format? It's been my assumption that channel 705 is currently only for widescreen SD and in the future there will be actual FOX HD. Is that assumption wrong?


It is. Fox has been broadcasting HD on Ch. 705 since early this month. TWCNYC.com is seldom updated and cannot be relied upon as a source for information.

Originally posted by Manatus
...TWCNYC.com is seldom updated and cannot be relied upon as a source for information.

The worst of the worst is the only way to describe TWC-NYC. Somehow, they have made even cablevision look good.

Does anyone else think sports on Fox HD don't look as good as CBS?

Originally posted by LawrenceB
Seems like MSG-HD is a long way off, if ever. I've called both companies five times and they say there are no plans at all. They each blame it on the other. I'm inclined to blame Cablevision since everything the Dolans do is wrong.

When TWC NYC can't even get ESPN-HD, it's hard to not assign them at least some of the blame for not providing MSG-HD.

Originally posted by LawrenceB
Does anyone else think sports on Fox HD don't look as good as CBS?

i don't know about CBS but i thought Packers/Colts on FOX wasn't quite as sharp as MNF on ABC. in both games i thought endzone shots looked a bit soft. i watched both games OTA. but at least FOX finally gets it about HD!

jim

Originally posted by LawrenceB
Does anyone else think sports on Fox HD don't look as good as CBS?
Moderator Ken H started a thread on this topic in the programming forum after Fox began 720p HD broadcasting. Consensus was, yes, CBS looks better. Since CBS is 1920X1080i and Fox is 1280X720p, depending on your display, CBS or other live 1080i should look better. But displays with native 720p resolution (1280X720p), or close to it, can't present all the added detail inherent in 1920X1080i programming. And while the level of resolvable detail (http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=2118466#post2118466) is heavily filtered in 1080i programs, it's still usually greater than that in 720p programs. -- John

If cablevision can do it, why can't TWC-NYC. 16 HD channels and counting, twice the amount available on TWC-NYC. &*!$%^*@

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040929/nyw109_1.html

Come on Phil, don't you know that Cablevision has much more bandwidth than TWC? ;)

Actually, thinking about it, I wonder whether Voom (with its aggressive pursuit of HD channels - for obvious reasons) is benefitting Cablevision. On the 1 hand you'd think there'd be a chinese wall separating the two, such that agreements with one (Voom) would not necessarily benefit the other (CV). That said, I'm not so sure that there's any need for such division (legally or theoretically) and thus I wonder if it's not the case?

TM

I'm sure Voom has something to do with it, but to what extent I do not know. Is cablevision afraid of losing customers to Voom? Is that the motivation? I don't know. Their offering of HD channels has nothing out of the ordinary, infact they do not have Discovery-HD, but they are offering twice the amount that TWC-NYC is.

I think I just like saying TWC-NYC s*cks! :D

Originally posted by pciav
I'm sure Voom has something to do with it, but to what extent I do not know. Is cablevision afraid of losing customers to Voom? Is that the motivation? I don't know. Their offering of HD channels has nothing out of the ordinary, infact they do not have Discovery-HD, but they are offering twice the amount that TWC-NYC is.

I think I just like saying TWC-NYC s*cks! :D

No, no - Voom is owned by Cablevision (until they spin it off real soon). Cablevision probably is making deals with these networks for Voom and Cablevision.

Originally posted by dkan24
No, no - Voom is owned by Cablevision (until they spin it off real soon). Cablevision probably is making deals with these networks for Voom and Cablevision.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I know Cablevision owns Voom. I am wondering if they have to have two deals to broadcast on both Voom and Cablevision. It's taken TWC over year to negotiate for ESPN and here in NY it is still not up. If Cablevision is negotiating for both Voom and their cable operation, then they are way ahead of TWC. They release news and you go home that night and the programming is on. TWC-NYC can't even get their stories straight let alone get programming on the air.

So, just to make me feel better... TWC-NYC still s*cks. :D

my friend had voom and it blows......sure you get a bunch of hd channels and thats cool, but theres never anything on them so you end up watching people loading trucks in africa.....oh yea and lets not forget fishbowl....but honestly who wants to watch that....all the companies need to offer way more channels.....yes yes i know this is nearly impossible but one can hope.

Who else thinks the SA 8000 HD DVR sucks?

The DVR interface is so unintuitive and it is soooo easy to delete a program after you hit the stop button. I accidentally deleted the Apprentice before I was able to watch it. ARGH!

Originally posted by pciav
If cablevision can do it, why can't TWC-NYC. 16 HD channels and counting, twice the amount available on TWC-NYC. &*!$%^*@

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040929/nyw109_1.html Yes—but can they time shift?? Noooooooooo.
But seriously, our situation is pathetic. Cablevision’s HD started way after us and now we’re a blur in their rear view mirror. I wonder if they will ever get the DVR. It appears that they are pushing all of the HD pay services. It might be more lucrative for them to continue this path-- more pay per view HD movies, rather than offer a DVR. Personally I’d rather have the DVR. AND MORE CHANNELS!!!!

Larry

Originally posted by Rock the Mullet
Who else thinks the SA 8000 HD DVR sucks?

The DVR interface is so unintuitive and it is soooo easy to delete a program after you hit the stop button. I accidentally deleted the Apprentice before I was able to watch it. ARGH!

It's far from ideal, but it does the job. If I didn't have the SA8000HD, I wouldn't have been able to see Lost in HD and DD5.1 last night. And while I enjoy the story, the spectacular picture and sound make the show much more enjoyable. Watching it in SD on Tivo wouldn't have been the same.

Back on Sept 22 tonytapes mentioned he was playing around in diagnostis mode and found test channels for UPN HD, WB-HD TNT-HD ESPN HD and various other PPV channels. Has anyone else had such an experience? If this is true and we're getting these stations as well as INHD INHD2 HDNet and HDNET Movies, we will be right up there with Cablevision and all the other systems with 16 HD stations. I hope it's true.

Anyone know if the debate will be in HD?

Thanks,



Larry

Never mind,
just found the links in the Programming section,
looks like the answer is no

Originally posted by LL3HD
Yes—but can they time shift?? Noooooooooo.
But seriously, our situation is pathetic. Cablevision’s HD started way after us and now we’re a blur in their rear view mirror. I wonder if they will ever get the DVR. It appears that they are pushing all of the HD pay services. It might be more lucrative for them to continue this path-- more pay per view HD movies, rather than offer a DVR. Personally I’d rather have the DVR. AND MORE CHANNELS!!!!

Larry

DVR is supposed to arrive in the 4th Quarter.

Originally posted by Rock the Mullet
I accidentally deleted the Apprentice before I was able to watch it.


You're fired.

TM

I'm not in NY but someone in NY asked if I would check on something. Do you guys have a "screensaver" when you pause a program....recorded or live.....after a few minutes we get a total grey screen and the paused picture, about 10" square, slowing moves from one place on the screen to another.

Thanks for the help.

Originally posted by HughScot
I'm not in NY but someone in NY asked if I would check on something. Do you guys have a "screensaver" when you pause a program....recorded or live.....after a few minutes we get a total grey screen and the paused picture, about 10" square, slowing moves from one place on the screen to another.

Thanks for the help.

That's what we have in NYC (Passport).

Originally posted by Manatus
That's what we have in NYC (Passport).

Ok, but do you have this so called "screensaver"?

Originally posted by HughScot
Ok, but do you have this so called "screensaver"?

Yes

Originally posted by HughScot
Ok, but do you have this so called "screensaver"?

Yes (again).

I take it this screen saver is in the settings menu?
If so, I've never noticed it.
How long does it take for it turn on?


Anyone check if they are getting TNT HD now?
I think someone posted that Oct 1 was the date?
I forgot to check this morning before I went to work.

No TNT on 710; screen saver takes a few minutes. Not sure exactly. I'm actually a big fan of the screen saver.

Drew

TNT-HD is scheduled for Oct. 8.

This just in...

After waiting these months, we finally are getting new HD channels, starting 11/1!!!! (there is a crawl on the weather channel in Manhattan ch. 72)... this is great, fantastic news, without a doubt. We are getting INHD 1 and 2, HD Net Movies, HD Net and ESPN HD all in the 720's. This starts 11/1. TWCNY is calling it a "free preview."

Starting 12/1 we have to pay 8.95. Arg! It's the classic good but bad news.

First the good news... we're getting 5 quality stations. I mean we can argue about whether we should be getting a Starz HD vs. HD Net Movies, but look we are gaining 5 bonna fide HD services including ESPN.

Now the bad... Kinda wish we were getting ESPN HD in time for the baseball playoffs, but at least we're getting it for football, then basketball... Oh yeah and I can't wait to see trey Wingo in HD (yikes)

The fact that we have to pay is a tad irksome... RCN has a pay tier but their prices for other serves are significantly lower. I have the choice to switch but am afraid to because I hear nightmares about their cable modem.

This is going to push people's bills up an additional 8.95 on top of 8.95 for the DVR and additional boxes. Not happy about the price increase one bit...

Anyway, this is my first post... I have been reading this particular board for several months now, waiting for something to say... You guys have always been informative and helpful to me, I hope in some small way I have returned the favor.

Jim

The scroll came back around and I want to correct one thing and update another...

Sorry, we're getting the 5 new channels on 11/4 not 11/1... still have to pay starting 12/1...

The channel lineup is:
721 INHD
722 INHD 2
723 HD Net Movies
724 HD Net
725 ESPN HD

The exact wording of the crawl...

"Effective 11/4, the new HDTV Teir Channels: INHD ch. 721, INHD 2 ch, 722, HD Net Movies ch. 723, HD Net ch. 724 and ESPN HD ch. 725, will be available to HD cable box customers as a free preview until 12/1/04, then at $8.95/mo"

Thanks for the weather channel news update, Jim. I've been planning to switch from my dual TWC/RCN HD all-premiums subscriptions to just TWC when their new HD lineup kicks in. All the extra RCN subscription would offer after 11/1 beyond TWC is Cinemax and Starz in HD, and RCN so far lacks the two INHDs (or TNT, coming Oct. 8 to TWC). Have to figure in whether Scientific Atlanta will iron out enough apparent bugs from its Sa8000HD before dropping RCN, though.

Meanwhile, got an e-mail from TWC offering phone service--a fairly complete package for ~$40/month--coupled with both video digital-cable/Road Runner. ($5 extra otherwise.) Haven't kept up with the pros/cons of TWC's phone service, although I'd read some with cable phone service were having problems dialing 800 numbers and other hassles (http://www.americasnetwork.com/americasnetwork/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=117970). -- John

Excellent news. I just wish they would've thought enough to give us ESPN-HD in time for MLB playoffs on Otcober 8 instead of TNT-HD.

Oh well, on to the next B*tchfest. When are we getting UPN, WB, Cinemax, Starz, and Bravo HD... :D

Originally posted by JimCobain


The channel lineup is:
721 INHD
722 INHD 2
723 HD Net Movies
724 HD Net
725 ESPN HD

I guess this is progress, but I just took a quick look at the programming on INHD and HD Net and it's pretty anemic. Basically, we're looking at $9/month for ESPN-HD and a bunch of crap?

This is great news. We'll have 13 HD stations and hopefully WPIX and WWOR soon after. I think we should also realize Bob Watson was spot on with his accurate prediction. He e-mailed me several months ago, as well as to Jergens saying: bandwidth improvement by the end of this year allowing for an HD tier just as advertised. Finally good work from TWC-HD!!

Bob Watson also said that we would see MSG games (Knicks and Rangers) on inHD instead of getting MSGHD. Hopefully this is still accurate.

I spoke with a CSR who also confirmed 11/4 as the date for these new channels. It is definately exciting to catch up to the rest of the country.

We could start begging for Cinemax, Starz and whatever else, but I think we should give that a few months. I also think we should send a letter to Bob Watson in November telling him how happy we all are and that we intend to buy the package. Of course that is assuming everything goes well!

Originally posted by dkan24
Bob Watson also said that we would see MSG games (Knicks and Rangers) on inHD instead of getting MSGHD. Hopefully this is still accurate.

I spoke with a CSR who also confirmed 11/4 as the date for these new channels. It is definately exciting to catch up to the rest of the country.

We could start begging for Cinemax, Starz and whatever else, but I think we should give that a few months. I also think we should send a letter to Bob Watson in November telling him how happy we all are and that we intend to buy the package. Of course that is assuming everything goes well!


I was wondering about sporting events and inHD... are their blackout restrictions? Like when the Yankees play on ESPN we in NY do not get the ESPN feed, we only get the YES or CBS feed... So would we be getting other competing games and/or home games on inHD? Thanks.

Also, I agree that we should all contact Bob Watson and thank him once all the channels are up and running... it's a large step forward...

Program guide icons

The program guide on my Pace DC-550 HD STB shows a headphone icon, Does anybody know what that indicates? I haven't been able to find an explanation anywhere.

Cynthia

Originally posted by pciav
Excellent news. I just wish they would've thought enough to give us ESPN-HD in time for MLB playoffs on Otcober 8 instead of TNT-HD.


i think the baseball playoffs and world series are on FOX, not ESPN. so, i assumed we will all see the playoffs in HD from our living rooms without the HD-tier.

Originally posted by jergans
It's far from ideal, but it does the job. If I didn't have the SA8000HD, I wouldn't have been able to see Lost in HD and DD5.1 last night. And while I enjoy the story, the spectacular picture and sound make the show much more enjoyable. Watching it in SD on Tivo wouldn't have been the same.

True, it is better than nuthin, but I think it has a looooong way to go. Aside, on SNL last night there were some serious audio drop outs too. Come on, SA/TWC!

On another note I also looked at some of the programming on our highly anticipated HD tier and the content definitely falls on the sucky part of the spectrum.

What the hell is going on with the Jets game? They ran a crawl saying it's in HD, but it's clearly not in HD.

This sucks. Why can't CBS get their act together with NFL coverage in HD?

Has anyone else experienced a problem where the box shuts off - and when rebooted - turns onto Channel 21 with a snowy picture?

Yea, what gives? The jets seem to be getting shafted on HD coverage, (ie: NONE). LAME!

Was looking forward to the HD picture as much as I was the game itself all week. Nice job to CBS for letting us Jet fans down 3 weeks in a row.

Originally posted by LisaM
Has anyone else experienced a problem where the box shuts off - and when rebooted - turns onto Channel 21 with a snowy picture?

That sounds like you've discovered the old Channel 21 parallel universe reboot glitch. It usually disappears after another reboot or two.

Any one know the CBS engineering # to complain? This is BS ..

Originally posted by Manatus
That sounds like you've discovered the old Channel 21 parallel universe reboot glitch. It usually disappears after another reboot or two.

Many thanks! I rebooted 4 times and it disappeared. You responded while I was sitting on endless hold with TWC. Much appreciated.

WAIT!, HD just kicked in! nice.....

Switched!!!!!! those CBS bones heads

Anyone experience major video and audio dropouts for the Jets broadcast? It's borderline unwatchable, if I wasn't a Jets fan.

All good on SI ... especially with DA INT return!

Good news about the channels. Now I can stop telling people to move :);):D
TM

Originally posted by cchervit
i think the baseball playoffs and world series are on FOX, not ESPN. so, i assumed we will all see the playoffs in HD from our living rooms without the HD-tier.
Some of the division series games are on ESPN and based upon the schedule that I just saw on Sportsline.com game 1 of the the Yankees-Twins series is on Fox but games 2 and 3 are on ESPN.

on the one hand it is great news about the HD channels...but on the other why does it have to cost us so much more? it just hit me that my TWC cable/internet bill will run about $140/month with the DVR. That's nearly $5/day. do they plan on charging more every time they add a couple new HD channels. they've got a great racket going now. there's no limit to the number of channels they can charge us for all over again as they convert them to HD. how long before the top package breaks $200/month???

I've been having the problem where my SA8000HD changes channels randomly. So TWC finally scheduled an appointment for a tech to come out and swap the box. Of course when the tech got there it was news to him that it was an HD box and he didn't have a replacement box (infuriating beyond belief given the number of confirmation calls I received and times I specifically asked them to confirm that they would bring a replacement for the SA8000HD). He said there is a known issue with the Passport software and that new software is coming this week to address this and other problems (unexpected paused during recorded playbacks, etc.). Can anyone else confirm that there is new software coming this week? The TWC customer services reps are no help whatsoever.

Thanks,
Jon

Originally posted by JN-NYC
I've been having the problem where my SA8000HD changes channels randomly. So TWC finally scheduled an appointment for a tech to come out and swap the box. Of course when the tech got there it was news to him that it was an HD box and he didn't have a replacement box (infuriating beyond belief given the number of confirmation calls I received and times I specifically asked them to confirm that they would bring a replacement for the SA8000HD). He said there is a known issue with the Passport software and that new software is coming this week to address this and other problems (unexpected paused during recorded playbacks, etc.). Can anyone else confirm that there is new software coming this week? The TWC customer services reps are no help whatsoever.

I had an appointment scheduled for last Tuesday to fix similar problems with my box (including not finishing recordings), but the CSR who scheduled it screwed up the scheduling and they missed the appointment. After speaking with Ed Urbanowski (his direct number is posted earlier in this thread), he told me that a swap of boxes won't fix anything, and that there should definitely be new software uploaded before the end of the week which should fix the problems. He told me I should definitely call him if I was still getting breakups by the end of last week. I'm going to call him in a couple of hours.

You should call him. Tell him that they needlessly scheduled an appointment. One of my major projects has been to convince him of the fact that there are often things that are well known to upper level people at TWC which no one ever tells the CSRs, which wastes time and money for both TWC and customers. Yours is an obvious case of this.
-JMP

Originally posted by broadwayblue
on the one hand it is great news about the HD channels...but on the other why does it have to cost us so much more? it just hit me that my TWC cable/internet bill will run about $140/month with the DVR. That's nearly $5/day. do they plan on charging more every time they add a couple new HD channels. they've got a great racket going now. there's no limit to the number of channels they can charge us for all over again as they convert them to HD. how long before the top package breaks $200/month???

I can understand, but you can't have your cake and eat it to in this case. They are not doing anything different than anywhere else in the country or what other providers are doing by charging for an HD Pack.

If the money charged helps to get more HD programming, it is a small price to pay. Nobody wants to pay more, but until there is a viable competitive alternative, I am just happy to have the programming.

Put the same programming together with any of the other providers and add back in the internet service and you will hard pressed to find anything cheaper.

Originally posted by pciav
I can understand, but you can't have your cake and eat it to in this case. They are not doing anything different than anywhere else in the country or what other providers are doing by charging for an HD Pack.

If the money charged helps to get more HD programming, it is a small price to pay. Nobody wants to pay more, but until there is a viable competitive alternative, I am just happy to have the programming.

Put the same programming together with any of the other providers and add back in the internet service and you will hard pressed to find anything cheaper.

There's also another way the HD pack could bring more HD programming. Lots of people in NYC have bought HDTVs, but don't have HD service from TWC. They might have even heard that TWC doesn't charge more for it, so they assume they have HD. (It's no one here, but we all know those people are out there in significant numbers.)

If TWC starts advertizing that you can pay a few dollars a month to get the HD pack, those people will start calling to get it, and will be told they need the new equipment installed. This'll give TWC a much more accurate idea of how many HD sets there are in their service area. Since the number will only be revised upwards, it can only be good for those of us who have suffered with a subpar HD offering...
-JMP

Those of you who watched the Jets games yesterday - did you get alot of stuttering and pixilation?
I was getting it the entire game.
Did this occur only for the DVR or did it happen for people with the regular HD box (Pio 3510, SA 3250)?


Also, it seems like the pixilation has decreased the past few days. Was there a software upgrade? Someone mentioned that they are releasing a new software ver this week. Really looking forward to this new ver.

Originally posted by timewaster
Those of you who watched the Jets games yesterday - did you get alot of stuttering and pixilation?
I was getting it the entire game.
Did this occur only for the DVR or did it happen for people with the regular HD box (Pio 3510, SA 3250)?


Also, it seems like the pixilation has decreased the past few days. Was there a software upgrade? Someone mentioned that they are releasing a new software ver this week. Really looking forward to this new ver.

I have the 8000HD and other than the usual hiccups (2-3 minor blips) the game looked awesome (after they finally turned on HD). No pixelation nor stuttering that I noticed.

I found remarkably few problems with my SA8000HD recording of the Jets game when I finally got a chance to watch it last night. (J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!) I also watched some of the Giants game, and I thought it was at least as sharp if not sharper than the Jets game even though Fox is 720P and CBS is 1080I. I have both an HD and SD 8000, and I have found that in the last few weeks, the SD 8000 has been terrible-freezes, pixelizations, all kinds of garbage-which were not there in the first few months that I had the box, and now seem to have magically disappeared in the last few days.
Hopefully TWC has gotten their act together.

Did anyone try to watch the Boxing fight on Showtime-HD on Saturday night?

Excellent picture... but TONS of pixelation and dropouts with my 8000HD. I think my 8000 needed a reboot though. I rebooted it yesterday morning so lets see how this week progresses.

I picked up the SA8000HD on Friday, it is finally available on Staten Island... Plugged it in, all seemed ok, recorded a show, worked fine, quality seemed good (Though I have my doubts about being as good as a regular STB).
Come Friday night, while watching whatever sitcom crap was on ABC, suddenly started getting lots of audio dropuots and pixalation. Went to diag mode, checked the power coming in, was about -4 dbmv/ checked my 8000 upstairs, was at 0dbmv. Checked the splitter and found upstairs was on a 3.5 db tap and HD on 7 db. So I switched them thinking the 8000HD was sensitive. No dice, still the same problems. There was NO WAY I was going to deal with this during a JET game.... Which BTW, was perfect on the PACE, no dropouts at all.

Went back to the TWC store, and returned it for my Pace box. I understand being an early adopter has its drawbacks, but the HD version is really bad. Is it a throughput issue? My regular 8000 has been fine for months. I Guess I'll keep an eye out here for better reports. Really dissapointed that I have to pass up on HD-DVR for now, but the experience was just too bad.

It could be your line. Maybe have a tech come check the cable run or something.

I have a 8000HD and other than the usual once in a while hiccup, everything looks ok to me. I spent all Sunday watching Giants and Jets (J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!) utterly destroy their opponents.

I made lots of use from the 8000HD. I missed a couple minutes of the 2nd half of the Jets game (I tend to phase out during halftime) and all of a sudden it was 17-9 when I left them at 10-9. So I press rewind and saw the SWEEEEET int for TD. Boy am I glad I got this baby.

Was also able to rewind and check out some of the racier commercials :)

Originally posted by pciav
I can understand, but you can't have your cake and eat it to in this case. They are not doing anything different than anywhere else in the country or what other providers are doing by charging for an HD Pack.

If the money charged helps to get more HD programming, it is a small price to pay. Nobody wants to pay more, but until there is a viable competitive alternative, I am just happy to have the programming.

Put the same programming together with any of the other providers and add back in the internet service and you will hard pressed to find anything cheaper.

Actually they are doing something different from teh other major NYC area cable co., Cablevision. ESPN-HD and INHD are free on the Cablevision system (no HD-NET or INHD2 on Cblevision). No DVR yet on Cablevision and the SD channels suck, but the HD lineup is definitely better.

Originally posted by jmp_nyc
I had an appointment scheduled for last Tuesday to fix similar problems with my box (including not finishing recordings), but the CSR who scheduled it screwed up the scheduling and they missed the appointment. After speaking with Ed Urbanowski (his direct number is posted earlier in this thread), he told me that a swap of boxes won't fix anything, and that there should definitely be new software uploaded before the end of the week which should fix the problems. He told me I should definitely call him if I was still getting breakups by the end of last week. I'm going to call him in a couple of hours.

You should call him. Tell him that they needlessly scheduled an appointment. One of my major projects has been to convince him of the fact that there are often things that are well known to upper level people at TWC which no one ever tells the CSRs, which wastes time and money for both TWC and customers. Yours is an obvious case of this.
-JMP

I had similar problems from Day 1 with my HD 8000 dvr (I wasn't home when the TWC rep came - TWC iinsisted on having a rep install since I did not previously have HD). A week of complaints later (and reminders that it's very likely a problem with the box), and the CSR who appears does not have a new box and informs me that the service techs are not given them; that only the installers have them. Having already taken the morning off, I went to the local office and swapped the box myself. It appears to be working better, with the exception of FOX HD (705 in Bklyn). Anyone else have trouble with this channel?

Thanks.

Originally posted by shiffy
It appears to be working better, with the exception of FOX HD (705 in Bklyn). Anyone else have trouble with this channel?


What seems to be the problem? Haven't had anything to watch on 705, but I'll check it out tonight.

Originally posted by broadwayblue
on the one hand it is great news about the HD channels...but on the other why does it have to cost us so much more? it just hit me that my TWC cable/internet bill will run about $140/month with the DVR. That's nearly $5/day. do they plan on charging more every time they add a couple new HD channels. they've got a great racket going now. there's no limit to the number of channels they can charge us for all over again as they convert them to HD. how long before the top package breaks $200/month???

___

Agree…

TWC should reconsider their roll out of new channels and new charges:

Utilize this newly found bandwidth with free HD channels first!-- before hitting us with a pay tier. We’ve been loyal and patient, we deserve that, at the least.

Fix all of the annoying audio and video problems with the Sa 8000 DVR HD before you start taking more money from us.

Stop nickel and dime-ing us to death with DVR charges, HD tier charges, road runner, DTV, HBO, SHO etc. -- Set up a new all inclusive package price that would have all of these at a discounted rate.

Or, why not offer an HD only package? I’d pay for that. Why do I need all of the countless channels when I don’t want them. Forget about DTV, basic, or all of the crappy packages that they throw at us- give us an HD only package as an option.

It just kills me to see us nearing the $200 per month number.


Larry

Originally posted by ADGrant
Actually they are doing something different from teh other major NYC area cable co., Cablevision. ESPN-HD and INHD are free on the Cablevision system (no HD-NET or INHD2 on Cblevision). No DVR yet on Cablevision and the SD channels suck, but the HD lineup is definitely better.

After all of this to get programming, I can not believe there is even an argument about paying $8.95 a month. Look at the total package and the total cost. For me, I have the It's all here package w/Roadrunner, One (1) HD-DVR, One (1) SD-DVR, and One (1) 3510HD box with the added $8.95 a for the HD Pack my monthly total is going to be in the area of about $165 give or take a buck or two. Are there any viable competitive alternatives without going to multiple systems? If there are, I do not know about them. Any other system available by itself or in combination will cost nearly as much, as much or more than what we are currently paying.

I would be the first one to dump TWC-NYC as I still contend they s*ck, but I can not. I will gladly pay the $8.95 just to get the programming. For me it is all about the programming. RE: Cablevision - They do not have Discovery-HD and that is arguably the best HD programming we have.

I do not expect that $8.95 to go up unless we get MSG-HD and FSNY-HD for obvious reasons.

After the currently announced channels are up and running I am expecting the next thing to get added are the remaining local networks, UPN & WB and some sort of HD PPV. After that as bandwidth becomes available; hopefully we get Bravo, Starz, Cinemax etc.

Question about the HD tier pricing - is the $8.95 for a single box or for your entire home? In other words, do you think there will be additional charge (like they do with the $2.00 DTV charge) for other HD boxes to get the programming?

I currently have an 8000HD as well as a 3250HD. Given that I already pay $8.97 for the "extra" 3250HD ($6.75 for the converter; $0.22 for the remote and $2.00 for the DTV), if I had to pay an additional amount I would be pretty unhappy. $9 a month to rent a box is pretty high as is.

As the 8000HD gets more stable and if and when DVI is enabled, I may choose to return the 3250HD anyway, but for the time being I plan to keep it.

I do agree though that $8.95 for an HD tier is reasonable and consistent with what most of TWC's competitors do. Think about it, $8.95 is the equivalent of taking a taxi like 30 blocks during rush hour :)

Originally posted by kilmar
What seems to be the problem? Haven't had anything to watch on 705, but I'll check it out tonight.

Thanks Kilma. I get nothing but a blank screen on 705 -- the show info comes on when I switch to 705, but the screen is totally blank. I'm back at work now, so I'll fool around with it more tonight. With the malfunctioning box I had, NBC HD and FOX HD had the most problems too.

I also think its messed up for people to bitch about the $8.95 charge. Before we had all these channel options... people left and right were saying "Give us an HD-Tier and i'll gladly pay for it".

Well now the tier is here. And they are giving it to us for free for a month. Enjoy it for 30 days at no charge... then evaluate whether you want to spend the lousy $9 buks for it.

If you want to bitch about it being too expensive... bitch that the REGULAR packages (DTV+RR) are expensive. But $9 buks for five extra channels is chump change IMO. If you have thousands of dollars to spend on an HDTV set... you can spare a little extra for some nice programming.

And i'll betcha anything that when we do get FSNY-HD and MSG-HD... they will probably just get added to the HD-tier and the price will remain at $9 buks (making the tier even more attractive).

Dj, who are you referring to?

The people that you say were willing to pay for an HD tier package are not the same people that are currently "bitching" about going into their pockets.

Yes we are all clamoring for more HD programming. I am grateful for any additional HD programming.

Sure, 9 bucks is chump change-- when you already climbed the mountain, what the heck is the last couple of feet. My point is the overall costs, the mountain is getting too high. It's all of the chump change – combined. As you also said, the "regular" cable package price is too high as the starting point.

As far as betting MSG HD and Fox HD being included in the tier, I hope so too but what can you base this bet, on what information, and when?

Anything else I ‘d say- is already posted in my last post, so I won’t be redundant.

I am just saying that people shouldn't complain about a $9 HD-Tier. If ya want to complain... complain about the price of their base packages.

Hell... if you complain enough... you may actually get somewhere. I know I have in the past with TWC. You just have to know the right things to say to the right people. :rolleyes:

When you start paying for HD you open up a slippery slope for the time when all content eventually is HD.

Do the cable companies stop charging extra at the point of standardization? Does anyone on this forum seriously doubt that greedy cable companys will voluntarily reduce their revenue?

Yeah but that doesn't work because what incentive does the cable company have to add additional hi-definition content without charging for it? No incentive whatsoever if you ask me.

If getting more HD content means charging an additional fee for the channels... show me where to sign.


And if you think TWC is expensive (which they are)... you should check out Cablevision's price structure. Unless you are a brand new customer and land one of their new subscriber programs... their cable rates are just as expensive (if not more) than TWC.

If and when cable is deregulated, and competition increases, you will see prices drop. Until than, we are unfortunately at their mercy.

The incentive to offer more HD content is simple. Federal legislation demanding it.

Originally posted by DJ Frustration
The incentive to offer more HD content is simple. Federal legislation demanding it.


From what I understood... Federal legislation just requres everyone to shut off their analog signals and go digital.

Isn't there a difference between plain digital programming and hi-definition programming?

The federal legislation concerns "digital" and "digital" only.

In the FCC's "widsom," stations have absolutely no mandate
to deliver "high definition" - only "digital."

Unfortunately, it will have to be market forces to get more "high definition"
signals.

I recently upgraded to TWC's high definition service in Manhattan. They gave me a Pioneer box (using Passport software) with no model number that I can find. Since I am splitting the signal, I wanted to check the signal strength to the Pioneer box to see if an amplifier is needed, but I cannot figure out how to get into the Pioneer's diagnostic mode. Does anyone know how to do this? Also, does signal strength impact on the pq of high definition programming? In other words, does a stronger signal = better picture, or is it an all or nothing deal? Thanks for any advice.

There's no way I'm paying another $9 for that tripe. Have you looked at that line-up? The programming on all the channels aside from ESPN - totally not worth it.

If I didn't have the DVR, maybe I'd consider it ... but it's either one or the other. At this point, cable is just too much money...


Will it be another $9 when they add all the other channels like UPN, WB? etc? Sheesh.

This is getting ridiculous. $8.95 a month works out to less than .30 cents a day.

DitectTV has a paid HD Pack, Dishnetwork has a paid HD Pack, TWC has HD Packs that they charge for in different parts of the country. We all would like to pay nothing. Whether they charge for it in a package or change their package tier pricing, some way some how we are going to pay.

Way back in this thread it was widely discussed that most were willing to pay $9.95 a month for an HD package that included these channels. I just do not get it.

Someone has just started a thread on the SA8000HD with Passport Software: HERE (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=453804).

Originally posted by pciav
This is getting ridiculous. $8.95 a month works out to less than .30 cents a day. My gripe, and maybe this is what bugs others, is that HDNet and INHD don't look like they offer that much. Maybe I'm wrong, I've never watched them, but I checked out their websites and their programming is pretty unimpressive. So now I feel like TWC is getting an extra $9/month out of me just for ESPN-HD. Now, you might say, "then don't pay it". But really, what am I gonna do, pass up ESPN-HD? Not likely. They have me (us) by the short and curlies and they know it, so they ding us for the extra $9/month. I'll end up paying it, but it leaves a bad taste. TWC already has a bit of a -- ahem -- customer satisfaction problem and this doesn't help.

I prefer not to pay the $8.95 a month either, but we can't have it both ways.

I do not know much about INHD and HDNET either, but I do know they show dedicated HD material shot in HD ala Discovery such as Music Concert Special, Sports including NBA, Baseball, & Hockey. Another really cool thing I saw on INHD while at a friends house with cablevison and INHD was a program dedicated to upcoming movies with hi-def trailers etc. Before you say they have nothing, give it a chance.

Go to HD Net now and you will notice that a show called "Bikini Destinations" is on Mondays - now if that's not good programming I don't know what is :)

http://hd.net/

I used to live in Charlotte, NC where we had INHD1, INHD2, HDNet and HDNet Movies. To be honest, they weren't anything to write home about.

Bottom line, we can argue all we want now, but that free month of the HD Tier better be good or else TWC NYC won't have many subscribers. This forum should be a good judge of whether TWC NYC passes the test.

I personally think that ESPN-HD should not be part of a paid tier, but think that HDNet and INHD's should. ESPN is already part of basic digital cable and last time I checked there are commercials (mostly in SD).

Bikini Destinations rocks btw - I've seen a DVHS tape of it. And I will happily pay the $9 per month for this package.

TM

Look - the point really is that if you are going to charge extra, it better work right and demonstrate value for cost.

As we've all read HD especially on the 8000HD is just not working on TWNYC with audio drops, pixels run amok, rebooting...and that was just last night.

Can TW guarantee that with an extra $9 we'll see service quality improve along with added programming? I think not - so, I will not pony up any more than the roughly $150+ I pay each month already....that's plenty, thank you.

This is just my opinion. :mad: I respect all of yours...but for $9 I want more than ESPN -- and looking at those other networks, there's not a heck of a lot on the loops they program. Maybe if it was $9 and you got all the HD we know is out there and not available to us...then, I could understand it.

Also - you can look at it as .30 / day for this package , yes - but whatw what about the .30 a day for the DVR (per TV), plus regular cable, plus premium channels? The real cost ends up around $5 a day...just for TV!

Originally posted by riptorn

....As we've all read HD especially on the 8000HD is just not working on TWNYC with audio drops, pixels run amok, rebooting...and that was just last night....



Ha! How true your words are..

So last night, about 7:30ish, I’m shuffling through my mail when, peripherally, I see something amiss. The red record light on the DVR is off. It should be on. It’s supposed to be recording the Wheel of Fortune. No, no, wait, I record it nightly to see the winning lotto numbers. Hey, I have to count on some additional income-- to offset these new cable expenses.

So, I turn on my system and the screen has a message that says something like, "Your hard drive is probably shot- pal! You’re screwed, please call this number and be prepared to wait a long time- while your dinner gets cold and you think about all of the hours of recordings that are now lost…" it was something like that, I don’t really recall the exact wording, my sight was bleary, I was seething.

Continuos re booting did not resolve the problem. What did fix the problem, was unplugging the box for a couple of minutes. I believe this is called a "hard boot" --something I’d like to give to TW in…

All of the planets in my universe were realigned once again. Everything was fine. No losses on the hard drive. Hope this will help the next person—it’s only a matter of time—it will happen.



Larry

I can't believe what I'm reading! For months we've been railing against TWC NYC for not providing an HD tier as they do in other TWC franchises. We now have it, with the same providers INHD INHD2 HDNET HDNET Movies and ESPN HD that all the othere systems have(Including direcTV which I get in the country) and everyone is moaning about the content. As a matter of fact many people on this board were saying they would pay ONLY for ESPN HD if TWC would just get off their butts and make the deal. As long as there are so few of us with HD there will be HD tiers. We will now have as many HD channels as all the other systems and this should be something we should celebrate. If we moan and not buy this tier we will only get LESS HD programming in the future not more. I for one will subscribe the day I can and hopefully TWC will continually add to the tier for the small percentage of us that really are serious about it.

Originally posted by BelB64
I can't believe what I'm reading! For months we've been railing against TWC NYC for not providing an HD tier as they do in other TWC franchises. We now have it, with the same providers INHD INHD2 HDNET HDNET Movies and ESPN HD that all the othere systems have(Including direcTV which I get in the country) and everyone is moaning about the content. As a matter of fact many people on this board were saying they would pay ONLY for ESPN HD if TWC would just get off their butts and make the deal. As long as there are so few of us with HD there will be HD tiers. We will now have as many HD channels as all the other systems and this should be something we should celebrate. If we moan and not buy this tier we will only get LESS HD programming in the future not more. I for one will subscribe the day I can and hopefully TWC will continually add to the tier for the small percentage of us that really are serious about it.

I agree. And the charge for the "HD Tier" should come as no surprise, as nearly every other TWC affiliate puts INHD, HDNet and ESPN-HD in the premium HD Tier.

As for the 8000HD, they certainly should get the kinks worked out. But if you're on this board, chances are you knew about those issues before you even picked one up. And there are other boxes available if the dropouts are just too much.

I don't even blame TWCNYC for rolling the box out before it's ready for prime time, as I LOVE being able to record HD stuff. I knew about all of the problems with it from posts in the HD Recorders forum, but I still wanted one. I have the choice to pay a few bucks each month for a somewhat balky HD-DVR. I'm glad they gave me the choice, rather than deciding on their own to hold off on making the HD-DVR available until someone at TWCNYC decided in his or her infinite wisdom that enough kinks had been worked out that it was ready to be released to the masses.

I blame SA/Pioneer for not getting the software right on this stuff. And it does seem to be a box/software issue, as nearly everyone experiences more dropouts with the 8000HD than with other boxes.

Originally posted by BelB64
As a matter of fact many people on this board were saying they would pay ONLY for ESPN HD if TWC would just get off their butts and make the deal. Well, whoever wrote that got their wish (Bikini Destinations, notwithstanding;))

Look, I'm not here to cause trouble, just voicing my clearly minority opinion.

I actually found this forum when I couldn't get the 8000HD to work and TWNYC didn't have a clue how to fix it!!! So, add that to my list of things that need to be fixed before hiking up rates, etc. And, given that little bit of history, perhaps you can understand my lack of faith in TWNYC's ability to fix things first before adding on more.

(BTW - thank you google and the first person who posted the 'fix' on how to switch between SD and HD. My box came set to SD.)

And, let me be clear - if the paid tier had more quality channels, and came with a guarantee that my box didn't re-boot more than once a month, only at 4 AM, and I didn't have audio issues on one channel or another - then, sure - I might consider it.

But, let's also talk about those other systems - say, our neighbors to the north and east with io HDTV. They get the following, at no additional charge (as long as you get the SD version of the same):

Hi-Def On Demand
INHD
CBS HDTV
NBC HDTV
ABC HD
FOX HDTV
Thirteen HD
MSG Network HDTV
FOX Sports Net NY HDTV
STARZ! HD
HBO HDTV
Showtime HD
Cinemax HDTV (Take that HDNet Bikinis! ;) )
The Movie Channel HD
ESPN HD
Bravo HD

See - that's the thing...you are already PAYING for those channels...but, like I said - if we were to get all these channels -- especially 3 to 5 full movie channels -- for another $9..well, you might have me. Although, I might miss discovery HD
:D

Originally posted by LL3HD
Ha! How true your words are..

So last night, about 7:30ish, I’m shuffling through my mail when, peripherally, I see something amiss. The red record light on the DVR is off. It should be on. It’s supposed to be recording the Wheel of Fortune. No, no, wait, I record it nightly to see the winning lotto numbers. Hey, I have to count on some additional income-- to offset these new cable expenses.

So, I turn on my system and the screen has a message that says something like, "Your hard drive is probably shot- pal! You’re screwed, please call this number and be prepared to wait a long time- while your dinner gets cold and you think about all of the hours of recordings that are now lost…" it was something like that, I don’t really recall the exact wording, my sight was bleary, I was seething.

Continuos re booting did not resolve the problem. What did fix the problem, was unplugging the box for a couple of minutes. I believe this is called a "hard boot" --something I’d like to give to TW in…

All of the planets in my universe were realigned once again. Everything was fine. No losses on the hard drive. Hope this will help the next person—it’s only a matter of time—it will happen.



Larry

Crazy! The same EXACT thing happened to me last night (except for the Wheel Of Fortune bit ;-) ). I come home, zip through something I'd taped in the afternoon (mostly in FF), tell it to erase, and then the thing starts freaking out, giving me the same "Your Hard Drive may be ****ed. Get ready to take this box back to the Time Warner Waiting Line on 23rd St for a new one" message you got. Rebooted 4-5 times (after I'd carefully made notes of all of my scheduled programs, just in case), and the only thing that saved me was a "Hard Boot" when I carefully pulled the plug, waited a few minutes, and then restarted.

Breathed a huge sigh of relief, and wiped a few beads of sweat off my forehead....

I had a similar experience about 3 weeks ago where I went through the same series of steps, but the 8000HD lost EVERYTHING I'd had on it -- 130 gigs of programs and lots and lots of scheduled recordings.

Originally posted by riptorn

Hi-Def On Demand
INHD
CBS HDTV
NBC HDTV
ABC HD
FOX HDTV
Thirteen HD
MSG Network HDTV
FOX Sports Net NY HDTV
STARZ! HD
HBO HDTV
Showtime HD
Cinemax HDTV (Take that HDNet Bikinis! ;) )
The Movie Channel HD
ESPN HD
Bravo HD


Price out cablevision including all those channels, plus optimum online, and let me know if you would be saving any money?? While you are at it, price out DirectTV, Voom (good luck dealing OTA here in NYC), & Dish Network. Don't forget to add Internet service to. How you doing now? One way or the other you are paying. Unfortunately, there is no way around it.

Bad DVR or not, Cablevision does not even offer one, SD nor HD. With the exception of Voom add the expense of purchasing your equipment and factor in upgrading when new boxes come out or the format is changed from mpeg 2 to mpeg 4. The list goes on.

Hi-Def OnDemand is a Pay Per View Service on Cablevision. A similar service will be added to TWC-NYC at some point, probably sooner than later because it is a pay service. Of the remaining channels that TWC does not have currently, the only two that I see being added that may incur additional cost are MSG-HD and Fox Sports because of there ties to Cablevision, but do not hold your breath waiting for them. Starz, Cinemax, & TMC will be added when the bandwidth is available. Same for Bravo.

TWC-NYC HD lineup between now and the end of the year:

CBS-HD
NBC-HD
Fox-HD
ABC-HD
PBS (Thirteen)-HD
Discovery-HD
ESPN-HD
HBO-HD
HDNET
HDNET-Movies
INHD1
INHD2
SHO-HD
TNT-HD

Perfect, no. Do we want more, hell yeah...UPN, WB, Starz, Cinemax, TMC, Bravo, Hi-Def OnDemand, MSG, Fox.... It's coming. If you do not want to pay the $8.95 a month, do not complain that there is a lack of programming. But look at the list above, compare to where we are right now, where we were last year pre-discovery-hd. I'll take it. It's a step in the right direction. Lets just hope it doesn't take another year to see major movement again.

:mad: Playoff baseball on ESPN right now, and we should be watching it not waiting until 11/4 when it will be over. I still want to know who made the bonehead decision at TWC-NYC to add TNT-HD on 10/8 in lieu of ESPN-HD. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by pciav
:mad: Playoff baseball on ESPN right now, and we should be watching it not waiting until 11/4 when it will be over. I still want to know who made the bonehead decision at TWC-NYC to add TNT-HD on 10/8 in lieu of ESPN-HD. :rolleyes:

None of the ESPN games were scheduled to be in HD. We're still missing half the Sunday Night NFL games in HD though.

I think the TNT addition was planned before they reached the agreement with ESPN-HD

Anyone else try to record the Yankee game tonight on Fox and have it not record? I scheduled the recording yesterday, just came upstairs after the kids went to bed to start watching, and to my horror, the red light wasn't on. The guide shows a black bar throughout the "to be announced" descriptions along with an indicator saying I can't record.

Also, the game doesn't look that great. In particular the centerfield shot looks grainy.

Adam

Originally posted by almazza
Anyone else try to record the Yankee game tonight on Fox and have it not record? I scheduled the recording yesterday, just came upstairs after the kids went to bed to start watching, and to my horror, the red light wasn't on. The guide shows a black bar throughout the "to be announced" descriptions along with an indicator saying I can't record.

Also, the game doesn't look that great. In particular the centerfield shot looks grainy.

Adam

My recording is going fine-but since the game is only in Fox Widescreen and not HD, (thus the crappy picture) as much as I love baseball, I think I'll just skip it!

new here, been lurking for a bit, learning about what I could expect HD-wise from TWC-NYC. took the plunge, and based on comments read here requested an SA3250HD box. I was told that they didn't have that model, I told them I knew otherwise, and please request it on the order. The said they'd make a note. Later, I learned about the FCC rule requiring cable companies to provide IEEE-1394 capable equipment to customers who request it. I called back to see about an SA3250HD with that output active. I was told they'd make a note.

I wasn't actually REALLY expecting them to get this right, as I'm well aware of the customer service horror TWCNYC is. But I tried, and when the tech showed up, of course he didn't have an 3250, he had a 3100 (with a shrug he says, "it's what they gave me").

Now, I'd like to know, does anyone out there actually have a 3250 with the firewire port? if so, what did you have to do to get one? would a trip to the 23rd street office do any good? thanks for any advice...

-JS

Originally posted by bigd86
My recording is going fine-but since the game is only in Fox Widescreen and not HD, (thus the crappy picture) as much as I love baseball, I think I'll just skip it!
Glad I'm not the only one who noticed the poor PQ. I figured Fox wasn't showing true HD but I couldn't confirm that. Unfortunately my SA box won't pass-thru so I have to have it set to send 1080i to the TV all the time.

Is there any other way to know when Fox is showing WS instead of HD?
Besides the crappy PQ :)

I turned to 705 and the picture quality promptly gave me a headache. Wasn't even worth watching nor recording. Turned on the radio and listened to it while perusing the boards here.

Boooooo FOX!

to the jedi masters on this site, keep the knowledge flowing...you are all saviors to us neophyte across the nyc area...

i got an 8000hd dvr box over a month ago and can't figure out from twc or this thread when the DVI port will become active.

anyone have any idea about this? what are most of you doing in the meantime?

All I got on 705 was a blank screen -- had to watch the game on 5. Fox-HD simply doesn't work on my box, a SA8000HD. I called TWC and the rep said it was a known issue with the SA8000HD that the software is causing lots of problems. While they've known about the freeze-ups etc. for a while, they now know that the software also sometimes causes blank screens on certain channels. He had no fix to offer, but said that SA was working on new code and that they could not predict how long it would take, but that it would hopefully be resolved within a week. Not very satisfying, but at least more honest and informative than the last bunch of clueless reps that I spoke with.

Originally posted by almazza
Anyone else try to record the Yankee game tonight on Fox and have it not record? I scheduled the recording yesterday, just came upstairs after the kids went to bed to start watching, and to my horror, the red light wasn't on. The guide shows a black bar throughout the "to be announced" descriptions along with an indicator saying I can't record.

Also, the game doesn't look that great. In particular the centerfield shot looks grainy.

Adam

Yes, I had problems too with recording the Yankees. I started the recording at 8:40 PM.

The recording froze up at about 10:51 PM. I was watching something else at that time and when I hit the PIP to see what was going on with the game, I kept getting the same three second image that would end in a freeze. To add to the frustration, the image was a long, just foul, almost homer to left. When I switched to the station (on the recording tuner), it was like a loop It would freeze up just before I could see if it was fair or foul.

Also, I could not get the recorded game to go back to the beginning. It would continue to loop the same three seconds of video.

The recording was lost. I had to stop the recording, erase it and change the channel for it to get back to normal. Bummer, I was all psyched up to stay up a few more hours and watch the game, delayed. Big deal, I got to see the last inning live. First time in my life I missed a post season Yankees game.


Larry

Looking forward to the HD Tier. I love the fact that they finally killed all of those metrochoice customers/channels and are charging $$$ for the spectrum.

For the record, my bill will likely now exceed 200 or cetrainly come very close to it with the new HD Tier.

Has anyone else been contacted about DigitalPhone? I checked the website and entered my zipcode (west village) and there wasn't service available till 2005.

Drew

Originally posted by drew138
Has anyone else been contacted about DigitalPhone? I checked the website and entered my zipcode (west village) and there wasn't service available till 2005.

Drew

I received an email and tried to call the number listed and got no response - twice. I guess they are really anxious for us to add this :)

They really need to update their website as well.

sorry for the repeat... but just wondering if someone might answer my questions re SA3250HD. here goes post again:

new here, been lurking for a bit, learning about what I could expect HD-wise from TWC-NYC. took the plunge, and based on comments read here requested an SA3250HD box. I was told that they didn't have that model, I told them I knew otherwise, and please request it on the order. The said they'd make a note. Later, I learned about the FCC rule requiring cable companies to provide IEEE-1394 capable equipment to customers who request it. I called back to see about an SA3250HD with that output active. I was told they'd make a note.

I wasn't actually REALLY expecting them to get this right, as I'm well aware of the customer service horror TWCNYC is. But I tried, and when the tech showed up, of course he didn't have an 3250, he had a 3100 (with a shrug he says, "it's what they gave me").

Now, I'd like to know, does anyone out there actually have a 3250 with the firewire port? if so, what did you have to do to get one? would a trip to the 23rd street office do any good? thanks for any advice...

js212 - you have a PM.

Originally posted by js212
Now, I'd like to know, does anyone out there actually have a 3250 with the firewire port? if so, what did you have to do to get one?

I have one. You have to order it through Bob Watson's office (212) 598-7363.

By the way it has been reconfirmed to me by Bob Watson that when the new Cablevision deal is completed we will be getting some FSNY-HD and MSG-HD feeds on INHD1&2. Hopefully it will be done in time for the Knicks this year. Has anyone heard where the Mets will end up? Their own network or back to MSG and FSNY?

thanks to both vic and eric for your help!

another question - I called about the box, and found out a new piece of info - the firewire version of the box is incapable of displaying the analog channels (as opposed to the regular 3250 w/o firewire, which does show them). what's up with that? Vic or Eric, can you confirm this? if so, which channels are getting dropped?

cheers,
John

I've never used the firewire version of the 3250. I can confirm that the non-firewire version displays analog channels fine.

Has anyone else had a problem with wide side bars using the SA3250 in SD mode? It appears that a portion of the picture gets cut off when viewing in 4:3 format (and not using either the t.v. or the box's "stretch" feature). As the TWC reps are useless, I was wondering if anyone trolling this board had a similar problem and possible remedy.

Thanks.

ot:
Has anybody else noticed that their Roadrunner has slowed down to a crawl? I feel like I'm back with dial-up.

Originally posted by js212
another question - I called about the box, and found out a new piece of info - the firewire version of the box is incapable of displaying the analog channels (as opposed to the regular 3250 w/o firewire, which does show them). what's up with that? Vic or Eric, can you confirm this? if so, which channels are getting dropped?


Not for me. I can view all channels via firewire, including the lower tier. From channel 1 through 730, they're all viewable for me.

If anyone's talking to Bob Watson, ask him this question:

Will we be getting ESPN2-HD when it launches in January? I assume the answer is yes, as it was part of the ESPN/TWC negotiations that resulted in TWC's affiliates finally getting ESPNHD.

Originally posted by vruiz
Not for me. I can view all channels via firewire, including the lower tier. From channel 1 through 730, they're all viewable for me.

that's good to know. I was just thinking that perhaps the person I spoke with may have meant that only the digital channels are output via firewire, which would make some sense.

Noticed a short streamer on the weather channel today saying another new channel (715?) is slated for early November--related to channel 13, I believe. Recall an announcement about delivery of PBS HD features last spring, but not sure if this is it, or even if it's HD. -- John

John, if you had the SA8000HD DVR you could have just hit the rewind button and re-read the crawl ;-)

It seems the 700 series of channels is not sacred to HD anymore; I think the new channel may not have been HD related.

Does anyone know why TWC uses The Weather Channel Crawl to convey key programing information? I'm thinking about setting up a recording for an hour each day so that I can scan it for announcements. Maybe they should turn the weather channel on in the call centers so that the CSR's have a direct link to this information.

Drew

Any idea if we can only order HDTV channels and forget the rest. I never watch anything else anyway

This morning, WNBC (Ch. 4) is airing a story about a DVR "freezing" problem being experienced by TWCNYC's customers. It's not clear to me, at least, whether or to what extent that problem relates to the SA8000HD woes that have been discussed in this thread. This is the complete text of the story (as found at wnbc.com):

Digital video recorders -- DVRs -- are like TiVo in that they allow you to pause and replay live television. They let you watch one show while recording another, but they're not supposed to freeze, which has been a frequent problem.

"When you're watching the actual program, it'll pause for probably 3 to 4 seconds, then come back to the actual programming, and the audio has to catch back up with the video," said Patrick Menton, a Time Warner cable customer with their DVR service. "It can happen maybe eight to 10 times during a program and it's very aggravating."

Manhattanites like Menton say they've had Time Warner's DVR service since May, and when the freezing problem began a few weeks ago, the phone call complaints began to have a technician check the problematic boxes.

"He came and he walked in, fiddled around with some wires and said that everything was OK -- that there was no problem and we just needed to not record as much, which is ridiculous because that's why we have the DVR, to record as much as we want," said John Maybee, another Time Warner customer.

There have been many complaints across the city about the freezing problem with Time Warner service.

NewsChannel 4 called Time Warner Cable to see what the company had to say. A spokesperson acknowledged they have a problem, and in a statement, the company says the issue "...Originated from a recent software update… We're working around the clock with our technology partners… to correct this new software 'side effect'."

The statement goes on to say "...The nature of the brief, intermittent video pause or screen 'freeze' varies from customer to customer based on location and usage patterns."

Time Warner Cable has about 75,000 DVR customers in Manhattan, and it's unclear how widespread the problem is. According to Time Warner, the issues should be resolved in perhaps a couple of weeks.

Originally posted by drew138
Does anyone know why TWC uses The Weather Channel Crawl to convey key programing information? I'm thinking about setting up a recording for an hour each day so that I can scan it for announcements. Maybe they should turn the weather channel on in the call centers so that the CSR's have a direct link to this information.

Drew

TWC probably uses The weather Channel because it is the only channel that most of their subscribers view at some point during the day/week. Everyone wants to know what the weather forecast is at some point. It is also a nationwide accessible channel that TWC has some control over.

Regards....JL

Originally posted by Manatus
NewsChannel 4 called Time Warner Cable to see what the company had to say. A spokesperson acknowledged they have a problem, and in a statement, the company says the issue "...Originated from a recent software update… We're working around the clock with our technology partners… to correct this new software 'side effect'."

The statement goes on to say "...The nature of the brief, intermittent video pause or screen 'freeze' varies from customer to customer based on location and usage patterns."

Time Warner Cable has about 75,000 DVR customers in Manhattan, and it's unclear how widespread the problem is. According to Time Warner, the issues should be resolved in perhaps a couple of weeks.[/I][/B] [/B]

ok - so TW officially announced that they have a problem - although the audio dropouts you get with the High Def wasn't specifically addressed.

Who here thinks that time warner owes us a refund for the crappy service? I'm paying a premium to get the DVR service and am getting a very low quality product. TW virtually has a monopoly in Manhattan (I have no other choices in my building) and i think we should make them accountable for their product. If enough people complain they will have to do something.

Originally posted by drew138
Maybe they should turn the weather channel on in the call centers so that the CSR's have a direct link to this information.


LOL :D

They should also made reading and staying current with this thread part of their ongoing CSR training...

TM

I saw that report on NBC, and it's frankly darn good they ran the report and got a response from TWC. TWC can't like the bad press on their new "baby", the DVR.

I've had the SA8000 for about a year, and already had to replace it once a couple of months ago due to a hard drive failure. And a couple of weeks ago, I started getting the intermittent freezes, stuttering and lock-ups that were the subject of the report. Figured it was just another hard drive problem with the new unit, but also figured it could be a software problem. It appears TWC is claiming it is a software problem, which is fine since I don't really have time to change another box. But they better fix it quick.

Of course, this is separate from the issues we've all been facing with the SA8000HD, like the audio drop-outs. I had people over to watch the Giants/Browns game on CBS HD two weeks ago and had to change it to channel 2 because the dropouts were so bad on ch 702. Fortunately, Fox HD has been virtually perfect for the bulk of the Giants games. We'll see what happens. I am debating pushing for a discount/rebate on my whopping monthly bill though until they fix all this stuff.