Honolulu, HI - HDTV [Text View] - Page 10

Satellite Guy HI

11-01-06, 08:26 PM

It is obvious you are clueless on the mpeg2 vs mpeg4 channels - even though others have tried to tell you time and time again.

AGAIN: The only Dish channel in mpeg4 in the Hawaii dish package is NFL-HD. the rest are all mpeg2 but Dish will not allow them all to be viewed on a 6000/811/921/924 to force you to upgrade to a vip receiver.

HD
AGAIN, Its seems from this press relese from almost a year ago, that I am not the only one clueless. Now it does make sense in a technical and economical sense what CharlesO is saying about the headers being in MPEG4. But there is nothing out there in print that states this, so again prove with a link or some other source that you are posting responsibly and not full of crap, and prove that Starz HD is the only MPEG4 broadcast out there. Heres the press release from Feb 2006. Or I guess I could just take your word for it....dont think so :D

'On Feb. 1, DISH Network will begin transmitting newly added HD channels in MPEG4, a signal compression standard developed by MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group). MPEG4 allows DISH Network to maximize the bandwidth available on its satellites and offer the most robust lineup of HD channels in the nation.

New DishHD channels available only in MPEG4 include:

VOOM Networks
ESPN2 HD ------------------
Universal HD Family Room HD
HD Locals Gameplay HD
Treasure HD
World Cinema HD
WorldSport HD

Heres another quote from Charlie from about 1.8 years ago which is in play presently.
Ergen stated the process will be handled in phases, with DISH Network HDTV customers expected to be first in line for equipment upgrades. During the transition period, DISH Network programming will be transmitted in both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 formats.

JimNastic

11-01-06, 11:26 PM

Do you get it HD over the air? Or is it all SD?

I think the CW is shown between 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm. The rest of the time. it mirrors KHON-DT-1. So far everything is shown in SD (haven't look at too many shows though).

I receive KHET-1 and KHET-2: -1 is PBS Hawaii and -2 is the Create channel (createtv.com).

HDTVFanAtic

11-02-06, 12:48 AM

HD
AGAIN, Its seems from this press relese from almost a year ago, that I am not the only one clueless. Now it does make sense in a technical and economical sense what CharlesO is saying about the headers being in MPEG4. But there is nothing out there in print that states this, so again prove with a link or some other source that you are posting responsibly and not full of crap, and prove that Starz HD is the only MPEG4 broadcast out there. Heres the press release from Feb 2006. Or I guess I could just take your word for it....dont think so :D

'On Feb. 1, DISH Network will begin transmitting newly added HD channels in MPEG4, a signal compression standard developed by MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group). MPEG4 allows DISH Network to maximize the bandwidth available on its satellites and offer the most robust lineup of HD channels in the nation.

New DishHD channels available only in MPEG4 include:

VOOM Networks
ESPN2 HD ------------------
Universal HD Family Room HD
HD Locals Gameplay HD
Treasure HD
World Cinema HD
WorldSport HD

Heres another quote from Charlie from about 1.8 years ago which is in play presently.
Ergen stated the process will be handled in phases, with DISH Network HDTV customers expected to be first in line for equipment upgrades. During the transition period, DISH Network programming will be transmitted in both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 formats.

Dude - you really are clueless on this. There are literally over ten thousand posts about it on AVS, dbstalk and satelliteguys.us.

If you call Dish Tech Support and try to question them about it they are told its in MPEG4 - only the people in the uplink centers are aware of it - and a few thousand people with units that can capture the stream and headers.

Try doing a little research as its literally everywhere.

HDTVFanAtic

11-02-06, 12:53 AM

Good news, but what's the point of the digital channel that isn't HD?

Takes less bandwidth than analog - you can fit up to 12 on one 256k QAM - and also a much cleaner picture than analog. Analog picks up noise at every amplifier. Digital doesn't.

SuperBob

11-02-06, 04:39 PM

Bob,
What are you getting for HD OTA out there? What antenna are you using?

I'm using one of those cheapo antennas, pointing toward Honolulu (from Kapolei) to get KGMB-DT. And that's good. Off its back lobe I pick up KHET-DT because its so strong (I can see the tower from my window!). It's true that KHNL-DT is also up the ridge, but because of their sharp pattern, I can't get them good pointing directly. In previous months I used a 10-element hi-gain yagi (former Engineer...) to pickup KITV-DT, but now that's not necessary since I see both KHNL & KITV over OTW. Obviously if you want to pick up DT, it still takes imagination and some playing around with both Cable and OTA. BTW my receiver is really a PC Fusion card, which in the right setup can be part of a great DVR. ;)

Gai

11-03-06, 11:23 PM

Good for Oceanic!

According to the Star-Bulletin article today http://starbulletin.com/2006/11/01/business/story02.html they are strong-arming KHON to work out a deal to have KHON on 3, Digital KHON on 83, CW on 90 and KHON HD in the 900's somewhere. They want to do it "all at once".

More power to them!

Eric

I can't wait!! :D

delar

11-05-06, 10:38 PM

I joined it in progress and found Sunday Night Football in SD on 938. What's up with that? Did they have to switch to SD because of problems with the HD feed or did KHNL forget to "flip the switch"?

hebsan

11-06-06, 02:01 AM

So much for KHON / OTW to hammer out an agreement for HD coverage by this weekend. It is now Sunday 9PM and no HD.

And we are not getting HD on 936 or 938.

Yawny

11-06-06, 01:04 PM

I joined it in progress and found Sunday Night Football in SD on 938. What's up with that? Did they have to switch to SD because of problems with the HD feed or did KHNL forget to "flip the switch"?I was looking forward to that game all week. I called Oceanic when the game started, and they said that was the way they were receiving the feed from the mainland, so there was nothing they could do about it. Hmmmmmmm...

I also asked them what was up with the sound sounding all scratchy, like the level was up WAY too high and it was clipping, and they said that was the mainland too. Problem was, it was that way on LOCAL commercials. C'mon Oceanic, stop lyin' to us and get your s**t together. Everyone should call and ask for refunds when this stuff happens. I've done the same when Road Runner has been down and have received credit for that amount of time. 643-2300. Call NOW!!!

BRADWhite

11-06-06, 04:19 PM

Wrote to the writer of the story on KNON

Hi Brad,

Thanks for reading the Honolulu Star-Bulletin!

I'm hopeful and confident, on behalf of CW fans, that there will be an announcement at some point.

As I'm not privy to the negotiations, I can't tell you anything beyond what you read in my story -- because I really don't know any more than what I reported.

I have made additional phone calls to KHON since I wrote what you read, but those calls continue to go unreturned. At least they know I'm interested -- and they will probably contact me once there is something to announce. I'm hopeful I can be the one to break the news.

-- Erika

EMOE3

11-07-06, 03:24 AM

Yeah, that was pretty lame! Was pretty disappointing watching in SD, and crappy SD at that!

I was looking forward to that game all week. I called Oceanic when the game started, and they said that was the way they were receiving the feed from the mainland, so there was nothing they could do about it. Hmmmmmmm...

I also asked them what was up with the sound sounding all scratchy, like the level was up WAY too high and it was clipping, and they said that was the mainland too. Problem was, it was that way on LOCAL commercials. C'mon Oceanic, stop lyin' to us and get your s**t together. Everyone should call and ask for refunds when this stuff happens. I've done the same when Road Runner has been down and have received credit for that amount of time. 643-2300. Call NOW!!!

dr0s

11-07-06, 03:32 AM

And we are not getting HD on 936 or 938.Try 83 (or 83.1 or 83.2 0r 83.3) instead of 938. As for 936, some have reported success at 114.2. (No such luck for us, plus our reception at 6 is horrible.) - DR

rossi46

11-07-06, 03:15 PM

DeathRay

11-07-06, 03:22 PM

WTF happened with Heroes last night on NBC? (ch. 938) About 20 minutes in the episode started over again. And it still ended at 9pm, which means I'm pretty sure there are scenes we didn't see.

This the night after both ABC and NBC messed up their HD broadcasts!

I was just about to post the same thing. That really sucks. It is re-run in SD on the SciFi channel on Fridays but I guess we're out of luck seeing the entire episode in HD. Weird.

hebsan

11-07-06, 03:27 PM

Was anyone else having problems with KITV-HD last night? It was totally unwatchable. Video / audio kept breaking up, image was distorted. This was happening up until about 8. After that it seemed to be fine.

Thought it may have been the box I got from OTW. However, I was getting the same if not worse on the QAM tuner.

Gai

11-07-06, 03:31 PM

I was just about to post the same thing. That really sucks. It is re-run in SD on the SciFi channel on Fridays but I guess we're out of luck seeing the entire episode in HD. Weird.

Yup...we misssed an act. DAmn them!!

BRADWhite

11-07-06, 11:21 PM

You can now watch those show at NBC or ABC on the net.... you don't have to miss them at least.

cdomaloan

11-08-06, 01:27 PM

Hey guys this is my first post in this section as I just got a 37" Westinghouse LCD and digital cable in Salt Lake area. This is my first time with an HDTV and even digital cable, so I'm totally lost at where to start. I've read about OTA antennas, but I also know I can order HD channels through Oceanic. Can I get HD channels OTA without subscribing to Oceanic's HD? Is one better than the other? Which one gets you more channels? Thanks for helping me out.

BRADWhite

11-08-06, 09:15 PM

dr0s

11-09-06, 12:42 AM

This is my first time with an HDTV and even digital cable, so I'm totally lost at where to start.

If you have cable service right now, and the Westy has a QAM tuner (I think it does), the way you should start is by hooking up the cable to your TV and then scanning for all channels, including digital channels (should be possible in your setup menu). Even if you only have basic cable service, you will likely find at least a few digital channels, of which one or two will be HD. - DR

Tigershark

11-09-06, 03:37 AM

Get Cable because you will get alot more choices of some great HD content. OTA you might pickup a few hours here and there. On cable there is 24/7 HD channels. Some great stuff, but of course I want more!!!

I would have to agree. Sure, Oceanic isn't the greatest, but for just a few bucks a month (really nothing compared to the price of the HDTV), you get a decent selection of HD channels, without the hassle of an antenna or only certain channels.

bueller555

11-09-06, 04:35 PM

dr0s

11-10-06, 12:12 AM

I know it was probably mentioned earlier, but I cound't find the response. What local HD channels are available via Oceanic without their HD pack? I don't see local channels listed under the HD pack so maybe it isn't required to view local channels? The official answer is "zero", though your line might carry either KHNL, KITV, or both in HD (and several more in non-HD digital). - DR

delar

11-10-06, 12:46 AM

bueller555, when I connect the cable directly to my TV and do a channel scan, I can view KITV and KHNL in HD. That's it.

bueller555

11-10-06, 02:06 AM

You're on analog or digital?

bueller555, when I connect the cable directly to my TV and do a channel scan, I can view KITV and KHNL in HD. That's it.

dr0s

11-10-06, 11:28 PM

bueller, the only way to know for sure what you will get is to plug in your TV and give it a try. I know people with the most basic ($10/month) service who get both KHNL and KITV in HD, and digital feeds of several other OTA stations. With the standard analogue service we get only KHNL in HD at our house , as well as one or two odd digital feeds (though we used to get many more). - DR

delar

11-11-06, 12:35 AM

You're on analog or digital?
Digital. I concur with dr0s as well.

Sony#1

11-11-06, 01:41 PM

Any news on when Oceanic will begin to broadcast Fox in HD?
I was hoping to see the NFL games in HD last week.
I had higher hopes for this week but nothing's happening.

HDTVFanAtic

11-11-06, 06:10 PM

HD
AGAIN, Its seems from this press relese from almost a year ago, that I am not the only one clueless. Now it does make sense in a technical and economical sense what CharlesO is saying about the headers being in MPEG4. But there is nothing out there in print that states this, so again prove with a link or some other source that you are posting responsibly and not full of crap, and prove that Starz HD is the only MPEG4 broadcast out there. Heres the press release from Feb 2006. Or I guess I could just take your word for it....dont think so :D

'On Feb. 1, DISH Network will begin transmitting newly added HD channels in MPEG4, a signal compression standard developed by MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group). MPEG4 allows DISH Network to maximize the bandwidth available on its satellites and offer the most robust lineup of HD channels in the nation.

New DishHD channels available only in MPEG4 include:

VOOM Networks
ESPN2 HD ------------------
Universal HD Family Room HD
HD Locals Gameplay HD
Treasure HD
World Cinema HD
WorldSport HD

Heres another quote from Charlie from about 1.8 years ago which is in play presently.
Ergen stated the process will be handled in phases, with DISH Network HDTV customers expected to be first in line for equipment upgrades. During the transition period, DISH Network programming will be transmitted in both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 formats.

It's really ashame that you are a retailer selling something under false pretense.

I would advise you for check with your attorney I see you promising stuff that is false and the subject of future lawsuits.

Do your own homework of what is really happening - I've already told you where to find it....TRY DOING A SIMPLE SEARCH.

Even Enron told their customers the lies. To bad some did not check out their BS.

On the other hand, if you want to hire me instead of an attorney to give you the facts, put a check in the mail.

Hiloboy

11-12-06, 04:14 AM

delar

11-12-06, 03:20 PM

KHON-DT has showed up on TitanTV as channel 933, but have yet to see it on the TV.

rossi46

11-12-06, 08:50 PM

I watched SNL yesterday on 938 and noticed no glitches, sorry.

GregLee

11-12-06, 11:28 PM

KHON-DT has showed up on TitanTV as channel 933, but have yet to see it on the TV.
Yes, I see it. That's useful for me because I like to see what I'm missing. I see 93 there, too, which I guess is the CW. No programming listed, though.

I wish Oceanic's IPG would say which shows on 936 and 938 are HD. It must be feasible, since TitanTV displays this information. But I don't see anything on this evening (Sunday) on 933 in HD.

egcarter

11-13-06, 04:59 AM

Yes, I see it. That's useful for me because I like to see what I'm missing. I see 93 there, too, which I guess is the CW. No programming listed, though.

I wish Oceanic's IPG would say which shows on 936 and 938 are HD. It must be feasible, since TitanTV displays this information. But I don't see anything on this evening (Sunday) on 933 in HD.

My 8300HD now shows which programs are in HD on the program guide. It has shiny new firmware directly downloaded from Scientific Atlanta a few days ago (big mistake). There are new features, too...like being able to watch a recording program from the beginning while it's still recording.

But, it's grim as well. HDMI's HDCP handshaking is getting MORE stringent and it's now rejecting my SIM2 projector. The SA engineer told me they are using longer encryption keys now.

Oh, well.

Eric

Hilo Hairy

11-13-06, 01:17 PM

Saturday Night Live is practically unwatchable for me on 938; I had to switch back to the SD version because of the constant video (bearable) and audio (unbearable) glitches. I notice this on the other KHNL shows I watch too, but tonight on SNL it seems worse. Is everyone seeing this or is just me?

I get this often from both live and recorded on my 8300HD using HDMI. If I switch to an SD program and then back it often goes away. Sometimes I have to do it twice. Sometimes I have to cycle the display device. Never happened when I used component connections. Not certain if this is the same as you have since on mine the picture gets unwatchable as well as the audio.

Sy-

11-13-06, 02:51 PM

I saw 933 KHON on TitanTV too... Yay! Good!
I didn't see 938 KHNL on TitanTV.... Uh-Oh!!!

I hope Oceanic isn't going to do anything stupid!

Hiloboy

11-13-06, 03:29 PM

I saw 933 KHON on TitanTV too... Yay! Good!
I didn't see 938 KHNL on TitanTV.... Uh-Oh!!!

I hope Oceanic isn't going to do anything stupid!

Oh no! This isn't good. Reminds of when we were getting KGMB-HD on Oceanic for a while and then they suddenly yanked it off their lineup, never to be seen again. It was great back then too, since it was the mainland feed we could watch prime time shows in the late afternoon.

hebsan

11-13-06, 05:18 PM

I don't think I've ever seen 938 on Titan TV.

I am wondering when we will get FOX on HD. It's been almost two weeks since the announcement was made.

egcarter

11-13-06, 05:25 PM

It remains to be seen whether or not Oceanic playing hardball with KHON works! Here's hoping...

Eric

GregLee

11-13-06, 08:38 PM

I don't think I've ever seen 938 on Titan TV.

TitanTV lets you add channels to your schedule. I have 938 because I added it.

BRADWhite

11-13-06, 11:01 PM

Live broadcasts from space this week, Wednesday, should be visually stunning and historic, NASA said from Houston, because they'll be broadcast in high definition.

The two live high definition television broadcasts will feature Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria on the International Space Station, NASA said in a news release. The broadcasts, scheduled for Nov. 15, will be carried by Discovery HD Theater and the Japanese broadcast network NHK.

The broadcasts are a joint effort by NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Discovery HD Theater and NHK, the space agency said.

NASA officials in Houston said they've flown HDTV cameras on previous missions but had to wait until the mission was over to retrieve and view the tapes, then share them with scientists, engineers, the media and the public.

"For the first time ever, this test lets us stream live HDTV from space so the public can experience what its like to be there," Rodney Grubbs, NASA principal investigator, said.

Gai

11-14-06, 06:42 PM

I watched SNL yesterday on 938 and noticed no glitches, sorry.

I had no problems that night either.

rossi46

11-14-06, 09:56 PM

I am wondering when we will get FOX on HD. It's been almost two weeks since the announcement was made.

Definitely waiting in anticipation here, too. Sooo want to watch Fox NFL action in HD.

I asked the Oceanic rep at the SONY expo last weekend about it, he was clueless, of course. :rolleyes:

BRADWhite

11-14-06, 10:28 PM

I spoke to station manager Joe McNamara and he thought things looked good. He was 80% positive that they were very close to completion. He said if no one else put their finger into the deal. By the way he has been very accessible answering his own phone most often.

Aloha ... brad

JimNastic

11-15-06, 02:13 PM

egcarter

11-15-06, 03:11 PM

Regarding the KHON-HD feud:
I wonder if it is what Erika Engle said in her article about HD: KHON wants to be compensated for broadcasting in HD and TWC doesn't want to have to pay for it. It's been 2-3 weeks since the announcement and still no CW, no KHON-DT, and no KHON-HD. Both companies are greedy and in the end the consumer always loses.

That's what it's been all along, with both KHON-DT and KGMB-DT. They want money. For one, it's not Oceanic that's the greedy one. After all, they'll just have to charge us more if they have to pay them for the signal. KITV was one of the first HD broadcasters in the country (1997). Oceanic never had to pay them for the HD signal. Those greedy broadcasters are shooting themselves in the foot. If nobody sees an HD signal, why bother? The people watching those signals literally number IN THE HUNDREDS at best.

Eric

Charles O

11-15-06, 03:54 PM

egcarter

11-15-06, 04:21 PM

A couple of years ago KITV almost was pulled off Oceanic in a retransmission dispute with Oceanic's parent Time-Warner. KITV is owned by Hearst-Argyle, who also control the Lifetime networks, part of KITV's retrans agreement with Oceanic is to carry Lifetime in Basic. Hearst-Argyle wanted to Oceanic to carry Lifetime Movie Network as part of the agreement and threatened Oceanic with pulling KITV from it's service if they didn't agree to carry LMN.
KGMB doesn't have that kind of power, so they have to resort to straight cash compensation and until KHON acquired the CW programming, went the same route.
So in a way, Oceanic is paying via Lifetime and LMN for KITV.

There are plenty of those trade sort of deals at the national level in this industry...but that KITV situation if it had happened (I doubt if it would) was for ALL KITV signals. This is just for the digital ones. And frankly, we all know that none of that Lifetime subscriber money would filter down to the local stations group at Heart-Argyle. They are not charging for the analog signals here, yes?

Eric

HDTVFanAtic

11-15-06, 06:35 PM

egcarter

11-15-06, 06:41 PM

First, don't count your Channel before its signed on the dotted line. Remember ESPN2HD and CinemaxHD were "really close" as well.

As for the other number in the article...Wow....this number is really LOW:

"The number of high-definition subscribers in Hawai'i is small but growing. About 25,000, or roughly 6 percent, of Oceanic Cable's 400,000 Hawai'i customers get HDTV services, the company said."

Most cable systems will end the year with 16+% of their customers subbing to atleast 1 HD Service in their house.

That PERCENTAGE is even lower than D* or E* - so that is really L O W.

Yes, but Oceanic has the highest market penetration of any major cable system in the country.

Eric

Konaguy

11-16-06, 01:15 AM

Link (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Nov/15/br/br1473805692.html)

Hawaiian Telcom also said yesterday that it won't start offering an Internet-based television service until the second half of next year. The company earlier had discussed offering the service by the end of December.

The company said the rollout is being delayed, in part to make sure it lines up the right features and functionality as technology evolves.

HDTVFanAtic

11-16-06, 09:19 PM

Yes, but Oceanic has the highest market penetration of any major cable system in the country.

Eric

It appears a number of 400,000 customers are commercial - which makes sense in Hawaii - as the basic subs are just over 259,000 and there are 419,000 Television Households in the state which is 61% penetration which is matched by many other systems.

http://www.ncta.com/ContentView.aspx?contentId=72

Thus the low number of people with HD from Oceanic is very low.

Most cable systems are running much higher with HD than that now - most are in double digits and some are upwards of 16%.

egcarter

11-16-06, 11:22 PM

Hawaii has highest cable penetration in U.S. blurb (http://starbulletin.com/2006/05/07/business/story01.html)

-Eric

JimNastic

11-17-06, 12:14 AM

HDTVFanAtic

11-17-06, 02:42 AM

Hawaii has highest cable penetration in U.S. blurb (http://starbulletin.com/2006/05/07/business/story01.html)

-Eric

As shown many times in this thread, don't take the local papers as gospel when it comes to HDTV or cable.

Cablevision, for example, has over 70% penetration in its home base in NY. Others have systems in the high 60s as well.

Oceanic is certainly not the highest penetration with 61% as the NATIONAL AVERAGE is 66.3% according to Nielsen - so Oceanic IS BELOW MARKET AVERAGE for penetration.

http://i.ncta.com/ncta_com/PDFs/NCTAAnnual%20Report4-06FINAL.pdf

egcarter

11-17-06, 05:10 AM

As shown many times in this thread, don't take the local papers as gospel when it comes to HDTV or cable.

Cablevision, for example, has over 70% penetration in its home base in NY. Others have systems in the high 60s as well.

Oceanic is certainly not the highest penetration with 61% as the NATIONAL AVERAGE is 66.3% according to Nielsen - so Oceanic IS BELOW MARKET AVERAGE for penetration.

http://i.ncta.com/ncta_com/PDFs/NCTAAnnual%20Report4-06FINAL.pdf

In that same NCTA website sites, Kagan says national cable penetration is 58.9% as of Sept. 2006...sounds like there's a lot of "wiggle room" in the numbers.

Eric

Charles O

11-17-06, 05:22 AM

There are plenty of those trade sort of deals at the national level in this industry...but that KITV situation if it had happened (I doubt if it would) was for ALL KITV signals. This is just for the digital ones. And frankly, we all know that none of that Lifetime subscriber money would filter down to the local stations group at Heart-Argyle. They are not charging for the analog signals here, yes?

Eric

KITV is on a barter trade deal with Oceanic, but part of that agreement is also carriage, placement and compensation for the Lifetime channels. Basically, Heast-Argyle uses it's local stations as the carrot to get what it wants for it's cable channels, they don't care as much about being compensated for either the analog or digital stations.
KGMB(and former KHON) owner Emmis does care. KHON wasn't on Dish for almost 2 years over compensation and Emmis expects compensation for digital as well.
I'm not sticking up for KGMB or KHON, but they are running both analog and digital stations and only have one revenue stream from them.
KHON got smart and added the CW to it's digital channel, they can sell advertising and info blocks and make money on the digital channel. The rub is to get placement on Oceanic. It wouldn't suprise me that the hang-up on FOX-HD and CW on Oceanic is that KHON wants CW available on analog.

Charles O

11-17-06, 05:27 AM

As shown many times in this thread, don't take the local papers as gospel when it comes to HDTV or cable.

Cablevision, for example, has over 70% penetration in its home base in NY. Others have systems in the high 60s as well.

Oceanic is certainly not the highest penetration with 61% as the NATIONAL AVERAGE is 66.3% according to Nielsen - so Oceanic IS BELOW MARKET AVERAGE for penetration.

http://i.ncta.com/ncta_com/PDFs/NCTAAnnual%20Report4-06FINAL.pdf

That NCTA number is based on local head-ends. On the analog side, each Island has it's own service. For Honolulu(Oahu) the number is 259,000 out of 285,000 households or 91%....highest in the nation. Portland, ME is second at 88%.

Charles O

11-17-06, 06:17 AM

Let me recap what we have on Oceanic TWC (not talking about OTA):

KHON (FOX-CW) has not digital channel (yet) and no HD channel (yet).
KITV (ABC) had no digital channel but has an HD channel.
KGMB (CBS) has a digital channel but no HD channel.
KHNL (NBC) has both a digital and HD channel.

How come KHON doesn't have a digital channel? Or KITV?
KGMB wants to be paid to give an HD feed but doesn't mind the digital channel?
Why do we have those digital channels anyway?
Will PBS get an HD channel too?
Who is the one holding everything back: local Oceanic people or mainland TWC people?
Why the need for Oceanic to duplicate channels on 780 to 793?
IIRC, Oceanic never wanted to get the Weather channel in Hawaii because it is only about mainland weather. Why then giving us NBC Weather Plus?

I can continue complaining but since there's only one cable provider here, my voice will not be heard.

Okay, here goes.... :D

The digital channels 82-89 are NOT the DT stations. They are the same feed as the analog channels, they are transmitted in digital by Oceanic. KBFD and KIKU are done this way since they are not available on analog on all the Neighbor Island cable systems. KHNL and KFVE originally the same reason, but have remained. KGMB was "added" after CBS stopped KGMB from airing primetime programming live on KGMB-DT, Oceanic swapped "DKGMB" ch.907 for "DKGMB" ch.87.
KHON and KITV have always been available on the other islands, so there was no need for the digital channels.

The duplicate channels 780-793 are a "family friendly" package that Oceanic offers called Family Choice. It doesn't take any additional bandwidth, same "feed" just different channel number to place all the channels "together".

Similar to how KITV was used to carry Lifetime, KHNL used itself to get Weather Plus added( it became part of KHNL's retransmission agreement). The Weather Channel doesn't have such clout thus Oceanic is under no obligation to carry it, so they don't.

HDTVFanAtic

11-17-06, 08:39 AM

That NCTA number is based on local head-ends. On the analog side, each Island has it's own service. For Honolulu(Oahu) the number is 259,000 out of 285,000 households or 91%....highest in the nation. Portland, ME is second at 88%.

Source?

Regardless, back to the original quote......"The number of high-definition subscribers in Hawai'i is small but growing. About 25,000, or roughly 6 percent, of Oceanic Cable's 400,000 Hawai'i customers get HDTV services, the company said."

When all of Hawaii is taken into account - and over the entire set of Islands the Household Penetration is below the National Average - and the percentage of HDTVs subs over the entire system are most likely the LOWEST IN THE NATION at 6%.

It was said the percentage is low because of the highest penetration in America - but now you are comparing apples with oranges - because it clearly states that 6 percent of Oceanic Cable's 400,000 Hawai'i customers get HDTV services - NOT OAHU CUSTOMERS.

JimNastic

11-17-06, 07:45 PM

Thanks Charles. Makes more sense now.

egcarter

11-17-06, 09:09 PM

...snip...

When all of Hawaii is taken into account - and over the entire set of Islands the Household Penetration is below the National Average - and the percentage of HDTVs subs over the entire system are most likely the LOWEST IN THE NATION at 6%.

...snip...

Your point being?

If we were to analyze these results, I'm pretty certain that one of the factors that dictates a very low HD penetration on Oceanic (they sure have had trouble keeping HD boxes in stock at times) is that cable has been in Hawaii for a LONG time. We had cable in Honolulu back in the mid-60's as I recall. Couldn't get anything without it. In most areas of the country, cable buildouts are relatively recent...in the last 10-15 years. Hawaii has a huge population of little old ladies with their analog service in the back of their TV set, happy as clams. It's a significant political issue for Oceanic; as much as they would love to get everyone onto the digital tier, they would have to charge more to cover the infrastructure expenses and that's tough to accomplish.

There are many areas of the country where only digital service was ever offered. Everyone always had a cable box. So it's easier for the cable system to get them into the HD thing. Many folks have HD-capable sets and don't have HD service. This is another situation of a big education gap.

There's also the fact that the local stations in Hawaii have really lagged most of the rest of the nation in going digital. Where's the incentive for the subscribers to upgrade to HD?

Eric

egcarter

11-17-06, 09:22 PM

Let me recap what we have on Oceanic TWC (not talking about OTA):

KHON (FOX-CW) has not digital channel (yet) and no HD channel (yet).
KITV (ABC) had no digital channel but has an HD channel.
KGMB (CBS) has a digital channel but no HD channel.
KHNL (NBC) has both a digital and HD channel.

How come KHON doesn't have a digital channel? Or KITV?
KGMB wants to be paid to give an HD feed but doesn't mind the digital channel?
Why do we have those digital channels anyway?
Will PBS get an HD channel too?
Who is the one holding everything back: local Oceanic people or mainland TWC people?
Why the need for Oceanic to duplicate channels on 780 to 793?
IIRC, Oceanic never wanted to get the Weather channel in Hawaii because it is only about mainland weather. Why then giving us NBC Weather Plus?

I can continue complaining but since there's only one cable provider here, my voice will not be heard.

KHET (PBS) has been feeding Oceanic four signals for several months now, including HD. I haven't checked lately, but they had been waiting to receive their FCC license for the new digital signals, but the station has been ready for almost 6 months now.

NBC Weather Plus actually does have local Hawaii weather as well as all of the mainland stuff. It's a co-venture between NBC and their affiliate stations. It operates as a digital subchannel in the various markets. So KHNL feeds in the local weather info from their Hawaii sources at various points in the broadcast, sells some local ad spots and gets the national feed in from NBC back east. It's an automated solution for the local stations and NBC has a talking head doing weather schtick like The Weather Channel does.

The only local digital channels we have on Oceanic right now are KITV (ABC), KHNL (NBC) and NBC Weather Plus. That's it.

Eric

Konaguy

11-18-06, 12:09 AM

The only local digital channels we have on Oceanic right now are KITV (ABC), KHNL (NBC) and NBC Weather Plus. That's it.

Actually these are the local digital channels we get (at least in Kona)

Digital KBFD
Digital KFVE
Digital KGMB
Digital KHNL
Digital KIKU

acromaniac

11-18-06, 12:57 AM

Aloha Guys,

Well you can add 1 more digital/HD subscriber to the base. The local (Kauai) Oceanic office was out of the DVR boxes when I signed up last week. I think there was a surge in TV purchases with the opening of Costco over here.

Lot of good info in this thread.

Jimbo

egcarter

11-18-06, 01:31 AM

Actually these are the local digital channels we get (at least in Kona)

Digital KBFD
Digital KFVE
Digital KGMB
Digital KHNL
Digital KIKU

Not really. We're talking about two different things. The important "digital-ness" of a channel is if it's over the air digital...like a KITV-DT. That's where we get the HD and various possible digital subchannels. We only get KITV-DT (936) and KHNL-DT (938) plus its digital subchannel NBC Weather Plus on channel 115.

Those channels you see like DKGMB (87) and DKHNL (88) are the analog stations KGMB (7) and KHNL (8), but remodulated to different cable channels than the standard signal and served only to those with a digital cable box, rather than just analog service.

There's nothing special about those channels and they are the same as the standard ones at 7 and 8.

Eric

dr0s

11-18-06, 03:23 AM

Those channels you see like DKGMB (87) and DKHNL (88) are the analog stations KGMB (7) and KHNL (8), but remodulated to different cable channels than the standard signal and served only to those with a digital cable box, rather than just analog service. There's nothing special about those channels and they are the same as the standard ones at 7 and 8. EricBack when we were getting 87 etc the picture quality was markedly better than that for Ch.7. Ditto for KIKU digital etc. - DR

HDTVFanAtic

11-18-06, 05:23 AM

Your point being?

If we were to analyze these results, I'm pretty certain that one of the factors that dictates a very low HD penetration on Oceanic (they sure have had trouble keeping HD boxes in stock at times) is that cable has been in Hawaii for a LONG time. We had cable in Honolulu back in the mid-60's as I recall. Couldn't get anything without it. In most areas of the country, cable buildouts are relatively recent...in the last 10-15 years. Hawaii has a huge population of little old ladies with their analog service in the back of their TV set, happy as clams. It's a significant political issue for Oceanic; as much as they would love to get everyone onto the digital tier, they would have to charge more to cover the infrastructure expenses and that's tough to accomplish.

There are many areas of the country where only digital service was ever offered. Everyone always had a cable box. So it's easier for the cable system to get them into the HD thing. Many folks have HD-capable sets and don't have HD service. This is another situation of a big education gap.

There's also the fact that the local stations in Hawaii have really lagged most of the rest of the nation in going digital. Where's the incentive for the subscribers to upgrade to HD?

Eric

The fact that the numbers are so low means that Oceanic will stay behind the curve on the HD Rollout. There have been HD STB shortages in virtually every market at times, so that is really not any excuse.

I do agree that the problems with the Military Monitoring stations in Alaska and Hawaii which kept HD off in both area longer than the rest of the USA obviously contributed to the slow numbers - but overall, the numbers speak for themselves.

HDTVFanAtic

11-18-06, 05:25 AM

Actually these are the local digital channels we get (at least in Kona)

Digital KBFD
Digital KFVE
Digital KGMB
Digital KHNL
Digital KIKU

Except for nights went the fog rolls in :(

egcarter

11-18-06, 02:42 PM

Back when we were getting 87 etc the picture quality was markedly better than that for Ch.7. Ditto for KIKU digital etc. - DR

That's why Oceanic did the "Digital" feeds of those analog stations. Significant numbers of subscribers on Oahu where experiencing reception quality issues. We still have them here on the Big Island, but they have usually been worse quality for me than the normal one. I just checked the reception and now they are about the same.

Eric

egcarter

11-18-06, 02:44 PM

The fact that the numbers are so low means that Oceanic will stay behind the curve on the HD Rollout. There have been HD STB shortages in virtually every market at times, so that is really not any excuse.

I do agree that the problems with the Military Monitoring stations in Alaska and Hawaii which kept HD off in both area longer than the rest of the USA obviously contributed to the slow numbers - but overall, the numbers speak for themselves.

Oceanic is really only "behind the curve" in terms of local HD...and that's largely a corporate issue back East. The others will come as well; particularly when the switched digital system is phased in (Real Soon Now) and the bandwidth issues vanish.

Eric

delar

11-19-06, 12:01 AM

Just watched an episode of the original Star Trek series in HD on KGMB tonight (Space Seed). At first I thought it was a very good upconvert, but then in a few scenes I saw the enhanced special effects that I had read about in these forums. Plus minimal station bug appearance to boot. Kudos to KGMB.

BRADWhite

11-19-06, 08:57 AM

How do you get KGMB in HD? That is CBS correct. Is that OTA?

delar

11-19-06, 02:16 PM

Correct, it was OTA.

Edit: On reflection, it's probable that they showed the SD version of the new HD transfer of the show. I don't think KGMB is capable of transmitting anything but live HD programming (i.e. football) at the moment. Still looked good though.

acromaniac

11-21-06, 07:59 PM

Oceanic is really only "behind the curve" in terms of local HD...and that's largely a corporate issue back East. The others will come as well; particularly when the switched digital system is phased in (Real Soon Now) and the bandwidth issues vanish.

Eric
Hi Eric,

Can you explain this a little more? Is Oceanic changing to a new system or something?

egcarter

11-21-06, 08:10 PM

Hi Eric,

Can you explain this a little more? Is Oceanic changing to a new system or something?

Yes, All of the Time Warner cable systems are eventually going to change to a "switched digital" fabric infrastructure. Essentially that means that your digital cable box will only be sent the signal of the channel that it is currently tuned to. Right now, EVERYTHING on the system is sent to every box. That gobbles up all of the available bandwidth. With switched digital, you effectively gain nearly unlimited bandwidth. So they can plop as many channels as they want (including high-bandwidth HD channels) onto the cable system without overwhelming it.

The Oceanic engineers have been working on the implementation for several months now and they are supposedly going to be ready to "switch over" to the new infrastructure in the foreseeable future.

Eric

Sy-

11-21-06, 08:46 PM

egcarter

11-21-06, 08:50 PM

To implement this "switched digital" system will that require the digital cable box to tell oceanic what channel the box is tuned to so that oceanic can stream the correct video? If so how will it work for those of us without digital cable boxes? I have 3 cable cards in my house, 2 of which are in my S3 Tivo. How will oceanic be able to know what channel my cable cards are tuned to so that it can send me the correct video?
~Sy

I do believe that this information is already available to them. The digital cable user equipment (box or card) is really just IP over RF. Every gizmo has an IP address, just like your computer. They also have MAC addresses as well. When I was recently going through a tech support incident with a Scientific Atlanta support engineer, he had to find my 8300HD box's IP address. I had to read him the MAC address off the back of the unit...he logged into the Oceanic server here on the Big Island and then was able to directly manipulate my box from Atlanta!

Eric

acromaniac

11-21-06, 09:57 PM

Thanks Eric,

That sounds great. How long do you think it will be till we have a majority of the content in HD?

It's hard to watch the SD channels after seeing the HD.

Jim

delar

11-21-06, 11:50 PM

Thanks for sharing that Eric. If it works as advertised, "switched digital" looks to be a godsend for us HD aficionados. No longer will we have to wait for Oceanic to drop it's analog channels in order to free up room for an additional HD channel. And Oceanic, if you're reading this, don't forget to drop the rate shaping as you won't need to do that anymore either. Anyone know if another TWC company has implimented this yet or will Oceanic be one of, if not the first?

acromaniac

11-22-06, 12:00 AM

This is all brand new to me - rate shaping?

dr0s

11-22-06, 12:02 AM

I do believe that this information is already available to them. The digital cable user equipment (box or card) is really just IP over RF Or a QAM tuner, which does not transmit a hardware address.

It sounds like one byproduct of this switch will be to guarantee that HD content from the local networks will only be available to those who sign up for digital cable service. Oh well, time to install that OTA antenna... - DR

HDTVFanAtic

11-22-06, 01:14 AM

The problem with switched digital is you loose all your HD QAM stations in the clear as they will move them around and only transmit them at a particular place when someone's 2 way HD box indicates that the signal is being watched.

delar

11-22-06, 03:13 AM

This is all brand new to me - rate shaping?
I'm not up on the technical aspects of it, but as I understand it, some cable systems (notably TWC systems) use software to bit starve selected HD channels in order to conserve bandwidth. Depending on the degree of "shaping", the results can vary from nearly unnoticable to downright ugly. For me, it's use is most apparent on HDNetMovies.

JimNastic

11-24-06, 10:25 PM

Titan TV is showing KITV-DT 4.2 as the CW channel. Mistake?

DeathRay

11-25-06, 11:41 PM

Wow i jut got a new HD LCD for the guest room and oceanic is charging me an extra $24.90 pr month for the HD pack and DVR for the second outlet. That's a bit steep. I dropped the Starz and encore packs out of protest and because I never really watch them but that's only about $12.

maybe if they threw us a bone and actually added an HD channel from time to time i wouldn't mind so much. and are we ever going to get the foxHD channel that they announced?

Steevan

11-26-06, 12:05 AM

DeathRay

11-26-06, 02:03 AM

If your LCD has a cable card slot u can use that or just opt out of the DVR and get a basic HD box.

yeah i thought about doing that. but i think it would be nice to have the second dvr (so in reality i guess it makes sense for them to charge that much since i am willing to pay it).

i'm just being a cheapskate. the $10 dvr fee is fair enough but i think they should match your core services on additional outlets for free or maybe $5 rather than $15.

bob-0

11-26-06, 04:20 AM

Just got an HDtv today. I was impressed by picture i got from the USC/Norte Dame game using an OTA antenna i got from radio shack. What's really irritating is that I can't get all of the broadcast channels that are in HD. The best i was able to get was KHON, KITV, KGMB. I was wondering if there is an easy and cheap way to also get KHNL and PBS. Or could you guys recommend some good antenna's i could buy. btw I live in the alewa heights area.

Charles O

11-26-06, 05:31 AM

KHNL and KHET transmit from Palehua Ridge above Makakilo. If you can see the lights from Makakilo you should be able to receive both. I live in Kakaako and can receive KHET but not KHNL, but since your higher up you should have better results.
As for an antenna, if you use an indoor one, the best is the Zenith Silver Sensor($25). It's a directional mini yagi type antenna, so you will have to move it around to catch the signal the "in-town" stations and those from Palehua. If you using an outdoor one, look for either a Winegard or Channel Master multi-directional antenna(you have to buy on-line).

delar

11-26-06, 02:55 PM

KGMB-DT is NOT showing the Ravens/Steelers game in HD OTA this morning even though it is available in HD. Very frustrating as others on the mainland are saying the PQ of the game is superb.

Edit: They fixed it. Thank you KGMB.

Gai

11-27-06, 03:07 PM

Yes, All of the Time Warner cable systems are eventually going to change to a "switched digital" fabric infrastructure. Essentially that means that your digital cable box will only be sent the signal of the channel that it is currently tuned to. Right now, EVERYTHING on the system is sent to every box. That gobbles up all of the available bandwidth. With switched digital, you effectively gain nearly unlimited bandwidth. So they can plop as many channels as they want (including high-bandwidth HD channels) onto the cable system without overwhelming it.

The Oceanic engineers have been working on the implementation for several months now and they are supposedly going to be ready to "switch over" to the new infrastructure in the foreseeable future.

Eric

That's terrific news. Thanks for keeping us informed. :)

BRADWhite

11-27-06, 10:45 PM

This article from Canada sums up what I think is happening in the USA as well...

No business model for HDTV, CBC tells CRTC

GRANT ROBERTSON

Globe and Mail Update

GATINEAU, QUE. — As television shifts towards high-definition channels and programs, broadcasters are finding no business model for HDTV and are instead being forced to foot the massive bill, the head of CBC warned Monday.

Speaking on the opening day of a two-week regulatory probe into the state of Canada's television sector, CBC president Robert Rabinovich said advertisers are not willing to pay more for commercials on high-definition channels or during HD programs.

That has left Canadian broadcasters struggling to figure out how the industry will pay for the massive shift towards high-definition, which requires new infrastructure and programming costs that are roughly 25 per cent higher.

“There's no evidence either in Canada or the United States that we have found for advertisers willing to pay a premium for a program that's in HD,” Mr. Rabinovich said. “So basically they're saying if you want to shoot in HD, that's your business, we're not going to pay you more.”

The regulatory hearings being held by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission are the first major review of the rules governing TV broadcasters since the late 90s.

CBC was the first of Canada's broadcasters to appear at the hearing, painting a dire financial picture for the industry during two hours of testimony. The CBC, which gets slightly more than half its revenue from commercials and the rest from government funding, said ad dollars are eroding from the industry as audiences migrate to other forms of entertainment such as the Internet, and advertisers follow the migration.

Faced with the transition of TV to high-definition, the broadcasters are proposing various plans that ask the regulator to drop some or all of their over-the-air signals. Those are the free broadcasts that are available without cable or satellite. The industry argues that between 80 and 90 per cent of Canadians are cable or satellite subscribers, so the conventional broadcasting method can soon be eliminated. That could save costs for the networks, who would otherwise have to spend millions updating the infrastructure.

While some networks want to drop those altogether, the CBC is proposing a hybrid model, where it would build more than 40 digital over-the-air transmitters, capable of carrying the HD signal, in urban markets. CBC executives say most of Canada's remaining over-the-air customers live in cities. The public broadcaster has already built eight of these in various cities.

The transition to HD has been likened to the shift from black and white to colour, or the move to stereo in the 80s. Mr. Rabinovich said the networks won't see any increase in their business despite the higher cost, so the CBC is arguing the regulator should allow the conventional broadcasters to start charging cable and satellite companies to carry their signal.

The feeds from conventional broadcasters, such as CBC, CTV, Global, City TV and others, are currently provided free. Specialty cable channels such as Showcase, HGTV and TSN are allowed to collect a fee as compensation for their lower placement on the dial and, arguably, the smaller ad revenue they attract because of their channel location.

All broadcasters are pushing for these fees to be introduced, which could increase a monthly cable bill by between $3 and $7 by some industry estimates, depending on what the rate is set at.

It is likely that the regulator would require the networks to pour more funding into Canadian content and productions if it did agree to the fee.

The CBC said Monday it supports that concept.

However, the industry has not come to a consensus on what the fee should be set at. CanWest has proposed a monthly rate of 50 cents per subscriber per network. Mr. Rabinovich said he did not know what the ideal rate should be, if the regulator decides the idea has merit.

“The conventional broadcasters agree on a fee, they don't agree on the reasons for the fee and they don't agree on the size,” he said. “We think that should be done on each [broadcaster's] individual theory.”

CRTC commissioners questioned CBC executives over whether the networks were using the fee concept as a way to get the regulator to “skate them back onside” in terms of profitability. Mr. Rabinovich said no, because costs are going up regardless due to HD content, while ad revenue is falling.

The first two days of hearings will see the broadcasters present, including Global and CTV Monday afternoon. Cable and satellite providers, who are opposed to the fee idea, are scheduled to speak Wednesday and Thursday in Gatineau.

delar

11-27-06, 11:41 PM

Hiloboy

11-28-06, 03:11 AM

There's a thread in the programming forum discussing the possibility of HD for Hawaii's games against Oregon State this Saturday and the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24, both on ESPN.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=757919

Having their final 2 games showcased on ESPN is great, but I find it a huge long shot that either of these games will be in HD. The cost and logistics of getting an HD truck here is probably too much for ESPN, and that's a shame. Has any UH game in past years been presented in HD? Also, will the game be shown on ESPN here even if it isn't a sellout?

According to Oceanic channel 911, the game will be in HD. I've never seen a Hawaii game in HD before. They do show the ESPN games here even if it's not a sellout-- they didn't use to but they apparently worked something out with ESPN the past few years that allows them to do it.

delar

11-29-06, 12:35 AM

Looks like Oceanic hit my 8300 with new software or something last night. Channel set to 001 when turned on tonight. TV says firewire connection from 8300 disconnected. Seems whatever they did broke my firewire ports, and I do use them to watch some programming......best PQ IMO. Checked diagnostic pages and found software to be ver. 1.87.23.1. Pretty sure that's the same version as before. Copy protection page shows 1394 connection "disabled". I believe before it said "unavailable" in red, but were working. Another thing I noticed. They've set the 5c flag for Universal HD to "once". It was set to "free" before.

Tigershark

11-29-06, 04:19 AM

egcarter

11-29-06, 04:53 AM

ardentsilent

11-29-06, 05:05 AM

How will this affect channel changing. I personally use the guide more than flipping, but my wife and many others are professional surfers... of cable channels. Will it take a few seconds to get a new stream in or will it be instantaneous?

Thanks,

ardent

Yes, All of the Time Warner cable systems are eventually going to change to a "switched digital" fabric infrastructure. Essentially that means that your digital cable box will only be sent the signal of the channel that it is currently tuned to. Right now, EVERYTHING on the system is sent to every box. That gobbles up all of the available bandwidth. With switched digital, you effectively gain nearly unlimited bandwidth. So they can plop as many channels as they want (including high-bandwidth HD channels) onto the cable system without overwhelming it.

The Oceanic engineers have been working on the implementation for several months now and they are supposedly going to be ready to "switch over" to the new infrastructure in the foreseeable future.

Eric

ardentsilent

11-29-06, 05:06 AM

Is there any hope of DirecTV offering cable card support in any near future? Their push towards their own DirecTV DVRs in HD scares me as I really loved Tivo.

EMOE3

11-29-06, 05:00 PM

How will this affect channel changing. I personally use the guide more than flipping, but my wife and many others are professional surfers... of cable channels. Will it take a few seconds to get a new stream in or will it be instantaneous?

Thanks,

ardent

I think it will vary on the implementation. In the IPTV world this is a critical design consideration. Microsoft has done some clever things with their design to optimize this. You can probably find out more with a google of MSIPTV.

-Ken

Lindakoy

11-29-06, 10:36 PM

Sy-

11-29-06, 11:00 PM

Just curious as to what you guys do with the firewire port. External Hard Drive? Network Adapter?

Hiloboy

11-29-06, 11:13 PM

Darn, I just traded in my 3250HD for the 8300HD on Saturday, and a firewire cable I bought just arrived yesterday. I thought that Cable Operators were required to have enabled firewire on their STBs now?

The firewire on my 8300HD is still working fine. I assume my box also got updated since it was on ch. 001 when I turned it on yesterday. Just curious, but does anyone know if firewire is on it's way out? I don't see any tv's with firewire ports anymore (except Mitsubishi), and DVHS is practically dead.

I use the firewire port to make HD recordings to my DVHS player.

delar

11-29-06, 11:51 PM

That's odd. The firewire is now working for me tonight. You should be good to go Linda. Must have been a glitch with the software update even though I had rebooted the DVR. I knew I should have waited a day or 2 before posting.

Sy, pretty much everyone who is utilizing the firewire port is using it to record to their DVHS. A few, like me, who happen to have a firewire input on their TV use it to watch programming instead of via component video. I find the PQ slightly better. I'd go HDMI, but my model Mits TV is notorious for poor PQ over HDMI (green push).

Hiloboy, it's hard to say where firewire is going. At the moment it's the only way to archive HD to a media with some permanance (not a hard drive). Ideally, I'd like to see the ability to copy a program once to a Blueray disk via firewire, with copy protection preventing further copies being made thereafter. I don't see this ever happening, however.

Yawny

11-30-06, 11:58 PM

Looks like Oceanic hit my 8300 with new software or something last night... Checked diagnostic pages and found software to be ver. 1.87.23.1.Can you please provide instructions on how to check the software version on my 8300HD. Mahalo!

delar

12-01-06, 03:02 AM

Can you please provide instructions on how to check the software version on my 8300HD. Mahalo!
Sure. Press and hold the Select button on the front of the unit until the Mail light starts to flash, then press the INFO button. Toggle through the screens by using the Page + and Page - keys on your remote. Leave diagnostics mode by pressing the Clear key (C) on remote. Software version is on one of those pages. I forget which. More information on your 8300 can be found at this page:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=471859

justin thyme

12-01-06, 05:52 PM

Darn, I just traded in my 3250HD for the 8300HD on Saturday, and a firewire cable I bought just arrived yesterday. I thought that Cable Operators were required to have enabled firewire on their STBs now?The FCC regulation of April 2004 stated that operators are required to provide a unit with a fully functional firewire interface if requested by the customer.

The definition of "Fully functional" is specified and provides for two way communication. This obviates the need for IR blasters since the device can be queried, told to turn on etc. So there is a clear datapath for DVRs PCs, and Video recorders to use for time shifting content off of HD channels that must be unencrypted (also by FCC regulation).

dr0s

12-01-06, 05:56 PM

Last night I was experimenting with a new antenna, and was delighted that I could finally get the two digital signals from KHET. However, despite the "KHET-HD" logo, Nightline was not in HD, and the sound was terrible (like someone tallking on a speakerphone). The sound was fine on regular (non-digital) OTA Channel 11. My question is, has anyone else here been watching KHET-HD over the air, and is what I saw a problem with my reception, or is it just the quality of what the station is putting out in their digital signal at this point? - DR

Yawny

12-01-06, 09:08 PM

redsandvb

12-01-06, 10:33 PM

I have a couple of questions for you guys w/ the 8300HD DVR:

Can you configure the audio going out thru HDMI separately from the coax/optical digital outs? In other words 2-ch thru HDMI and Dolby Digital thru the coax/optical outs? I think I remember it not being possible and causing all kinds of headaches before. The digital outs and HDMI would both have to be set to one or the other.

How many of you have/had HDCP problems w/ HDMI? With what kind of TV's?

Thanks! :cool:

Sy-

12-02-06, 02:42 AM

Quick question for those of you that are picking up HD OTA. What channels can you receive in HD? I'm thinking about putting up an external antenna just so I can get KGMB(CBS) and KHON(FOX) because if I hold my breath any longer waiting for Oceanic to send their HD signals QAM over cable I think I'm literally going to pass out. I Need Football in HD!!! I just want to make sure the signal is out there.

Also does KGMB's primetime lineup come in HD yet? I read a couple months back that they are only doing weekend live sports. Is this still the case? How about KHON? Is their primetime lineup (House, 24) in HD? Is KHET(PBS) in HD? Anything worth while there? I'd need another antenna to point at Makakilo but if KHET is all I'm gonna add I dunno if its worth it. Any other HD feeds out there that I'm missing that is not availabe clear QAM? CW Maybe?

dr0s

12-02-06, 04:15 AM

Quick question for those of you that are picking up HD OTA. What channels can you receive in HD? [snip]Any other HD feeds out there that I'm missing that is not availabe clear QAM? CW Maybe?In the last couple of days experimenting I've picked up all the networks in OTA digital, as well as a couple of oddities (like CW on a subchannel of Fox, and a whole buch of subchannels from KAARGH). Most of these sent nominally high-def signals to my TV (720p or 1080i), but few were actual HD content, at least when I was looking. - DR

Charles O

12-02-06, 04:48 AM

Currently KHON and KGMB are only passing through live HD programming, meaning mostly sports. Neither will offer primetime programming in HD until they are available on Oceanic.

Current Honolulu DTV channels:
KHON 2.1 Fox 720p
KHON 2.2 CW 480i
KITV 4.1 ABC 720p
KFVE 5.1 MyNetworkTV 720p
KGMB 9.1 CBS 1080i
KHET 11.1 PBS 1080i
KHET 11.2 Create TV 480i
KHNL 13.1 NBC 1080i
KHNL 13.2 WeatherPlus 480i
KWHE 14.1 Ind. 480i
KIKU 20.1 Japanese/Asian 480i
KAAH 26.1 TBN 480i
KBFD 32.1 Korean 480i
KPXO 66.1 "i" Hawaii 480i
KPXO 66.2 qubo(soon) 480i
KPXO 66.3 "i" East 480i
KPXO 66.4 Worship 480i

GregLee

12-02-06, 12:59 PM

Can you configure the audio going out thru HDMI separately from the coax/optical digital outs? In other words 2-ch thru HDMI and Dolby Digital thru the coax/optical outs?
Yes, that works now.

Hilo Hairy

12-02-06, 03:28 PM

Yes, that works now.

Works for me too except that if I switch off the TV with HDMI input (Vizio), the digital audio signal stops. Sometimes comes back, sometimes needs reboot.

No other HDMI audio problems with the STB but get some video problems having to do with weird aspect ratios and visible noise. Both require reboot. Neither happens with component but component doesn't look as good as when HDMI is working right.

dr0s

12-02-06, 03:50 PM

"KHNL 13.1 NBC 1080i
KHNL 13.2 WeatherPlus 480i
KWHE 14.1 Ind. 480i
KIKU 20.1 Japanese/Asian 480i
KAAH 26.1 TBN 480i"

FWIW, right now I'm getting KHNL and WeatherPlus at 35.4-5, not 13.1-2. KAARGH has 5 different channels, 26.1-5; this seems to be religious programming from the 1960s. (Davey: "I feel like a bit of Wensleydale, Goliath.")

Hiloboy

12-02-06, 08:21 PM

I was watching ESPN's college gameday this morning and it listed the Hawaii Bowl as being shown in HD! Unfortunately, tonights game will just be in SD.

rascalmarc

12-02-06, 09:16 PM

Hey Hiloboy,

How did you find out that the game will be in SD?

-rascalmarc

Hiloboy

12-02-06, 09:36 PM

Hey Hiloboy,

How did you find out that the game will be in SD?

-rascalmarc

When they talked about the game the graphic came out (Oregon State vs. Hawaii 12:00am etc etc) with just "on ESPN". When they showed the graphics for the other games during the day on espn, the graphic would show "on ESPN HD".

Charles O

12-03-06, 05:00 AM

EMOE3

12-03-06, 01:10 PM

Someone needs to flip the HD switch! Just turned on the Chargers/Bills and it's in SD...didn't they do this last week as well? :(

Charles O

12-03-06, 01:25 PM

Chargers/Bills is not being broadcast in HD by CBS.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=761981

bob-0

12-03-06, 03:00 PM

egcarter

12-03-06, 03:09 PM

I was wondering what the best option is for HD programming for Oahu. It seems that digital cable is okay, while Dish and Direct TV seem have more HD channels. Another thing I would like is a HD DVR, which only seems to be provided from the satellite providers. Also does anyone know if the local HD stations are availible on Satellite or will I still have to use an OTA antenna or could I get NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX HD over satellite from somewhere else.

I would stick with cable, at least for now. There is so much confusion around as to exactly what's available in Hawaii on sat in HD. There are people who make "special deals" with sat folk to get them to provision their setups with a myriad of channels, but those situations don't seem to be officially supported by the sat companies. I think Oceanic has as many HD channels (if not more) than the sats do right now for Hawaii (officially, anyway). Cable has HD DVR, too. Local HD is NOT available on satellite.

Are you going to lose those distant signals on satellite? I know DISH is in a dicey predicament with that.

Eric

EMOE3

12-03-06, 03:47 PM

Chargers/Bills is not being broadcast in HD by CBS.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=761981

ahhh...not exactly a close game anyway!

Thanks!

dr0s

12-03-06, 06:36 PM

I would stick with cable, at least for now. There is so much confusion around as to exactly what's available in Hawaii on sat in HD.If Oceanic doesn't start carrying more HD content soon, and not charging an arm and a leg for it, I'm going to drop them entirely, and just use OTA. We get more network HD that way, the savings can pay for as many DVD rentals or purchases as we have time to watch, and the few things that we watch that are not available OTA can usually be had in one form or another over the internet. $500+/year is a hefty toll for low-res, pan-scanned, ad-laden tripe. - DR

Charles O

12-03-06, 06:43 PM

I was wondering what the best option is for HD programming for Oahu. It seems that digital cable is okay, while Dish and Direct TV seem have more HD channels. Another thing I would like is a HD DVR, which only seems to be provided from the satellite providers. Also does anyone know if the local HD stations are availible on Satellite or will I still have to use an OTA antenna or could I get NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX HD over satellite from somewhere else.

Quite honestly, all three are pretty much equal in HD channels.
Oceanic has FSN-HD and InHD.
Dish and Directv have ESPN2HD and NFL Network HD.
Everything else is the same.

Oceanic is the easiest to upgrade to HD with, expecially if you already have Digital Cable.

With DBS you would receive the local digital channels via OTA. One of Dish's satellites at the 110w location can uplink local HD from Hawaii, but Dish currently is NOT using that capability.

As Eric mentions, Dish no longer can directly offer out-of-market network stations. You now need to use a secondary service, but you need to "pre-qualify" to get them. I lost my LA NBC and CBS and Denver CBS yesterday.

egcarter

12-03-06, 06:50 PM

If Oceanic doesn't start carrying more HD content soon, and not charging an arm and a leg for it, I'm going to drop them entirely, and just use OTA. We get more network HD that way, the savings can pay for as many DVD rentals or purchases as we have time to watch, and the few things that we watch that are not available OTA can usually be had in one form or another over the internet. $500+/year is a hefty toll for low-res, pan-scanned, ad-laden tripe. - DR

OTA HD is a nice alternative (I guess) to those for whom that is a possibility...

Eric

redsandvb

12-03-06, 10:07 PM

Yes, that works now.Works for me too except that if I switch off the TV with HDMI input (Vizio), the digital audio signal stops. Sometimes comes back, sometimes needs reboot.

No other HDMI audio problems with the STB but get some video problems having to do with weird aspect ratios and visible noise. Both require reboot. Neither happens with component but component doesn't look as good as when HDMI is working right.

Thanks, guys, for the response about the 8300hd.

Hilo Hairy, do you mean an actual reboot? Just turning the box off, then back on doesn't work? Not even for the audio glitch?

redsandvb

12-03-06, 10:24 PM

BTW, no one else has a their Encore and a bunch of HD stations (936, 940-948) screwed up right now?

egcarter

12-03-06, 11:00 PM

BTW, no one else has a their Encore and a bunch of HD stations (936, 940-948) screwed up right now?

Nope. Looks great here in the Hilo system.

Eric

redsandvb

12-03-06, 11:44 PM

Hrmmm...wonder what's going on. Been messed up since Friday...

dr0s

12-04-06, 02:50 AM

OTA HD is a nice alternative (I guess) to those for whom that is a possibility...Well, it is true that we have more options in Honolulu than you do on the neighbor islands...though I would think that population centers like Hilo should be within months of having the same options, given the FCC mandates. - DR

delar

12-04-06, 03:41 AM

dr0s, there are no mandates for HD.

redsandvb, no problem with those channels here either.

EMOE3, it really sucks that CBS only has 3 HD games nationwide while FOX has nearly all of theirs in HD. But it looks like CBS will have 4 or possibly more HD games a week next season. Hopefully by then they, along with FOX, will be on Oceanic.

Also, is there any word about what's going to replace INHD2 on Oceanic when it is merged with INHD1 in the next month or so?

BRADWhite

12-04-06, 07:18 PM

redsandvb

12-04-06, 08:47 PM

redsandvb, no problem with those channels here either.
My box must be going kaput...
When I have HDMI Digital Audio selected it defaults to stereo on the SPDIF because my TV does not have surround. If I select DIGITAL then I get the 5 channel on SPDIF and nothing the TV HDMI. TV canon proccess the 5 channel

So where are these new settings for them to be independent????
Interesting... You guys that got it working, how'd you do it?

GregLee

12-04-06, 09:13 PM

When I have HDMI Digital Audio selected it defaults to stereo on the SPDIF because my TV does not have surround. If I select DIGITAL then I get the 5 channel on SPDIF and nothing the TV HDMI. TV canon proccess the 5 channel

So where are these new settings for them to be independent????
Set the preferences item "Audio: Digital Out" to the setting "Dolby Digital". Then the TV should get 2 channel audio over HDMI and your receiver (or whatever) should get DD 5.1 over the optical digital audio connection.

dr0s

12-04-06, 10:28 PM

dr0s, there are no mandates for HD.No, but there are mandates for digital transmission, and if the Honolulu stations are already broadcasting at least some content in HD in Honolulu, there's no barrier to doing the same on the other islands, once they're broadcasting digital. - DR

delusive1

12-04-06, 11:25 PM

to much to read...I just want to know what provider is overall best bang for the buck here in the states?? I live in Honolulu...

thanks

BRADWhite

12-05-06, 12:11 AM

""Audio: Digital Out" to the setting "Dolby Digital"."

Nothing has changed for me... Dolby Digital produces no sound over HDMI, but 5.1 over spdif... same thing it has always done.

Maybe they have not yet updated all the boxes?

Sy-

12-05-06, 01:04 AM

to much to read...I just want to know what provider is overall best bang for the buck here in the states?? I live in Honolulu...

thanks

That would be OTA. 5 HD channels (sometimes) for $0.00/month.

GregLee

12-05-06, 11:05 AM

Nothing has changed for me... Dolby Digital produces no sound over HDMI, but 5.1 over spdif... same thing it has always done.
Now it doesn't work for me, either. Sorry, I should have double-checked. Now with 5.1 over optical, I get no sound over HDMI.

BRADWhite

12-06-06, 10:13 AM

Yawny

12-06-06, 04:31 PM

Sure. Press and hold the Select button on the front of the unit until the Mail light starts to flash, then press the INFO button. Toggle through the screens by using the Page + and Page - keys on your remote. Leave diagnostics mode by pressing the Clear key (C) on remote. Software version is on one of those pages. I forget which. More information on your 8300 can be found at this page:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=471859delar... thanks again for the reply and link. Lots of info there. Seems many on the mainland with Cablevision have had their software upgraded to 1.88.x.x. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my software version is 1.87.16.a109. Have you or anyone else heard when/if Oceanic is going to upgrade us to the most recent 1.88.x.x version of the software? According to the link in the above quote about half way down the page (New Features In Version 1.88.x.x), there are several features in the new software that would be welcomed. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks again.

egcarter

12-06-06, 04:51 PM

delar... thanks again for the reply and link. Lots of info there. Seems many on the mainland with Cablevision have had their software upgraded to 1.88.x.x. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my software version is 1.87.16.a109. Have you or anyone else heard when/if Oceanic is going to upgrade us to the most recent 1.88.x.x version of the software? According to the link in the above quote about half way down the page (New Features In Version 1.88.x.x), there are several features in the new software that would be welcomed. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks again.

I have 1.88.22.1, but it was downloaded directly into my box by a Scientific Atlanta support engineer. I do have all those new features, but it broke my HDMI. I don't like it. TWC is getting more stringent with the digital connections...they used to rely on Macrovision for copy protection, but now it's strictly HDCP. I don't know why my HDMI-HDCP "compliant" projector doesn't get along with the 8300HD now, but it doesn't. I don't think Oceanic is particularly anxious to get this new firmware pushed out, especially since they know about my problem. Who knows how many others will have issues?

Eric

dr0s

12-06-06, 07:39 PM

As far as I know the only two nightly HD programing is on 2 OTA channels NBC and ABC. What other channel is available daily with HD programing OTA???CBS also does some HD now, and at some point soon there should be HD content on KHET-HD. I've seen PBS programming in HD on the mainland, it is dazzling.

Depending on your building, you should be able to see more stations there in Waikiki than I can in Kaimuki.

The problem with HDNET is that for that content one pays roughly the per-capita annual income for India. For the same money, one can get the free networks (some in HD), an HD DVD player, memberships in both Blockbuster and Netflix online (to get your other HD content!), and still have a bit left over for your favorite charity. Heck, on the mainland you might even squeeze high-speed internet access into that total (under $15/month in most markets the size of Honolulu). - DR

Tigershark

12-06-06, 08:58 PM

Cable is the best way for HD in Honolulu... combined with 8300DVR

I have 12 HD channels. 10 of them are 24 hours of HD. Some of the concerts on HDNET are amazing. DiscoveryHD has incredible programs. The quality of video and sound on movies and shows on HBO is wow...

I live in Waikiki and I tried an antenna in our apartment and could not get anything. As far as I know the only two nightly HD programing is on 2 OTA channels NBC and ABC. What other channel is available daily with HD programing OTA???

For me, cable was the only option. I tried two different recommended antennas and caught nothing on two different HDTVs in different homes (1 in Mililani, 1 in Waialae Iki). I find myself watching Discovery HD more than the other HD channels, although sometimes inHD has some interesting movies (mostly older stuff).

BRADWhite

12-06-06, 10:34 PM

Same, we tried to catch some OTA but got nothing. We live across from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Probably because of the angle and structure of our building.. I guess. Where do they publish the OTA HD channels. I would love a HD-DVD player when they get better reviews and the prices drop a bit. I am angry that they coudn't agree on a standard... stupid.

delar

12-07-06, 03:38 AM

delar... thanks again for the reply and link. Lots of info there. Seems many on the mainland with Cablevision have had their software upgraded to 1.88.x.x. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my software version is 1.87.16.a109. Have you or anyone else heard when/if Oceanic is going to upgrade us to the most recent 1.88.x.x version of the software? According to the link in the above quote about half way down the page (New Features In Version 1.88.x.x), there are several features in the new software that would be welcomed. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks again.
There are several nice improvements in the latest software for sure, but they aren't worth it if it breaks other things as Eric is seeing. Remember that Oceanic broke the firewire on the 3250's with their software upgrade 10 months ago and it's still not fixed. The more stringent protections on digital connections is definitely not something to look forward to either.

Eric, did you volunteer to be a tester for the new software?

egcarter

12-07-06, 03:49 AM

A previous Oceanic S/W update had already broken the HDMI, so I was put in touch with the SA engineer to diagnose the problem. Oceanic folks are just upset that HDCP isn't a seamless thing between lots of components. They also feel that SA doesn't do enough testing with different equipment. SA says that their implementations are certified by CableLabs...so that's their metric on the whole thing. That sounds all fine and dandy, but CableLabs is not the "God" of HDCP... how do we know that their test suite is definitive?

Oh well.

Eric

dr0s

12-07-06, 04:09 AM

Where do they publish the OTA HD channels.antennaweb.org has info on what you should be able to get at your address, and titantv.com has programming information.

Our best reception results involved putting the fancy amplified antenna away and instead using a basic old-fashioned small unpowered UHF antenna (Radio Shack "double bowtie" antenna), which gets the best reception on the floor(!) of our (1st floor) lanai just through the sliding doors.

Sony#1

12-07-06, 11:31 AM

There is a message from Oceanic on Channel 911. It warns that one of the In-HD channels may be lost if an agreement cannot be reached. Other channels are at risk including HGTV.

delar

12-07-06, 01:08 PM

INHD2 is merging with INHD1 to form a single channel. As I understand it, INHD is owned by the cable companies themselves (TWC, Comcast, etc). That message on 911 is a bit misleading. In other markets across the country, customers are being told that INHD2 is being replaced with another HD channel. We are still waiting to see what Oceanic will offer.

Eric, given the whole Cablecard debacle, we can see that Cablelabs' testing is far from definitive.

DeathRay

12-07-06, 02:08 PM

i think the improvements of the new software outweigh any bugs. too bad we can't make the decision to download the update ourselves.

also, any word on when Fox HD and CW will be added to Oceanic. Seems like the announcement was quite a while ago.

Yawny

12-07-06, 03:29 PM

I have 1.88.22.1, but it was downloaded directly into my box by a Scientific Atlanta support engineer. I do have all those new features, but it broke my HDMI. I don't know why my HDMI-HDCP "compliant" projector doesn't get along with the 8300HD now, but it doesn't. I don't think Oceanic is particularly anxious to get this new firmware pushed out, especially since they know about my problem. Who knows how many others will have issues?

EricEric... You mentioned that you connect your 8300HD to your projector. Was HDMI broken altogether or just with your hardware? I'm connected by HDMI (Auto DVI-HDMI out to my Sony-A10) and am wondering if it was just a hardware specific problem on your end. What model projector BTW???

Konaguy

12-09-06, 03:09 AM

There is a message from Oceanic on Channel 911. It warns that one of the In-HD channels may be lost if an agreement cannot be reached. Other channels are at risk including HGTV.

I noticed on ch. 911 that, Encore (7 channels), TMC, Flix, Showtime, HGTV
and inDemand2 HD are at risk to be removed. As TWC and the content owners
have been unable to reach an carriage agreement extension.

I did some research and found this information. It looks like multiple content
owners are involved ?

Liberty Media Corp - Encore (7 Channels)
Scripps Networks - HGTV
CBS Corp - TMC, Showtime,Flix
In Demand Networks - Indemand2 HD

Sy-

12-09-06, 04:07 AM

If removing these channels frees up some bandwidth for more HD stations then I say lose 'em. Except for HGTV... I kinda like those "House Hunters"/"My house is worth what" type shows!

Konaguy

12-09-06, 09:18 PM

If removing these channels frees up some bandwidth for more HD stations then I say lose 'em. Except for HGTV... I kinda like those "House Hunters"/"My house is worth what" type shows!

I would be really bummed if we lost Flix and the Encore channels. As of all the
channels possibly lost, those are the ones I watch regularly.

egcarter

12-09-06, 09:27 PM

Eric... You mentioned that you connect your 8300HD to your projector. Was HDMI broken altogether or just with your hardware? I'm connected by HDMI (Auto DVI-HDMI out to my Sony-A10) and am wondering if it was just a hardware specific problem on your end. What model projector BTW???

The 8300HD is not getting along with my SIM2 projector. It worked fine for over a year...

Eric

egcarter

12-09-06, 09:55 PM

I don't wanna lose INHD or Showtime HD! HGTV, too.

Eric

HDTVFanAtic

12-09-06, 11:49 PM

inhd2 is going away January 1st regardless - not sure what agreement they are talking about - but it won't save inhd2.

As Oceanic is covered by TWC agreements (so I thought) why are the CBS stations at risk :confused:

And who's not at U2? :eek:

Konaguy

12-10-06, 01:15 PM

HDfanatic, I'm just going by what they posted on Ch. 911 (their cable information channel).

My best guess what is going on is, TWC must have individual carriage agreements
with CBS,allowing TWC to carry Showtime, TMC, Flix separate from any other agreements. It seems to be a perfect storm with all these agreements expiring at the same time too. I did forward the information I found to some newspaper reporters. Maybe they can find out more information about this.

For me personally, I would be really bummed if Encore and Flix are pulled :(

BRADWhite

12-10-06, 01:22 PM

I would be angry if Showtime HD went away. I hardly watch non HD channels anymore. Not for movies that is for sure. I am spoiled now.

egcarter

12-10-06, 03:35 PM

According to Erika Engle's THE BUZZ column in today's Star-Bulletin:

"The CW gets a channel on Oceanic Cable
THE CW, the upstart network featuring shows such as "The Gilmore Girls," "One Tree Hill" and "Smallville," will begin airing on Oceanic Cable Channel 93 by 3 p.m. tomorrow, according to Joe McNamara, president and general manager of KHON-TV.
The station is a Fox affiliate, but it won The CW affiliation for its digital tier, which has been airing the network to a handful of viewers since late October.

Most fans of The CW have missed most of the season, but efforts are under way to try and secure rebroadcast rights, McNamara said.

Any Oceanic subscriber with a digital cable box should be able to view the programming, according to Norman Santos, vice president of operations for Oceanic Time Warner Cable. Subscribers with analog boxes can swap them for digital boxes at no charge and should be able to view the programming without subscribing to Oceanic's digital service."

No word on KHON-DT, though. :-(

Eric

rossi46

12-11-06, 01:57 AM

No word on KHON-DT, though.

:mad:

RustyC

12-11-06, 03:39 AM

My first post. Not sure if these stations were already listed so I'm sorry if this is a repeat.

I found KHON-HD and CW-DT on Oceanic Cable just now.

85.3 KHON-HD
85.4 CW-DT

delar

12-11-06, 04:04 AM

Still no KHON-HD on digital cable channel 933. Guess it's only a matter of time.

Tigershark

12-11-06, 04:17 AM

Turned on the TV tonight and every channel has a severe green tint to it. Tried rebooting the cable box, but no luck. It's not my TV because my other inputs (DVD, etc.) are fine. Anyone else has this problem?

delar

12-11-06, 12:31 PM

KHON-HD is now up on 933. For me the picture is breaking up. Perhaps they still are working out some bugs.

RustyC

12-11-06, 01:07 PM

Here are QAM stations found on Oceanic Time Warner:

Digital OTW Station Name
117-3 3 KHON (FOX)
46-3 3 KHON HD (FOX)
116-5 4 KBFD
117-5 5 KFVE (My Network TV)
118-1 5 KFVE HD (My Network TV)
116-9 6 KITV HD (ABC)
117-6 6 KITV (ABC)
116-1 7 KGMB HD (CBS)
117-7 7 KGMB (CBS)
117-8 8 KHNL (NBC)
118-3 8 KHNL HD (NBC)
116-4 9 KIKU
117-10 10 KHET (PBS Hawaii)
118-12 10 KHET HD (PBS Hawaii)
122-14 11 KWHE
49-1 12 OC SPORTS HD
82-1 12 OC SPORTS
50-4 14 CNN
50-10 15 Fox News Channel
79-16 16 OC16
47-7 17 MTV
50-8 21 ESPN2
50-9 22 ESPN
122-25 25 KALO (IND)
122-26 26 KAAH (TBN)
116-27 27 KPXO (ION)
46-1 27 KPXO HD (ION)
50-11 29 USA Network
47-4 30 GOLF
50-1 32 Nickelodeon
117-221 33 Disney Channel
47-6 34 ABC Family
47-2 35 Cartoon Network
47-3 40 BRAVO
47-1 41 FX
50-2 43 Turner Network Television
50-3 45 TBS
122-49 49 FOCUS-OLELO
122-52 52 OAHU-'Olelo
122-53 53 NATV-'Olelo
122-54 54 VIEWS-'Olelo
46-55 55 TEC-55
46-56 56 TEACH-56
121-10 57 Home Shopping
47-10 58 TRAVEL
47-11 59 HGTV
50-7 60 Food Network
47-5 61 E! Entertainment TV
50-6 69 The Discovery Channel
47-9 72 HISTORY
50-5 76 Spike TV
121-6 - CSPAN3
122-8 - CSPAN2
46-4 - KHONDT2 (The CW)
78-28 - MUSIC
79-1 - PBS Kids (Sprout)

Here's a little easter egg: the subchannels of the network stations on channel 117 and the religious and olelo stations on channel 122 match OTW's basic lineup. These are only the standard definition versions of the network stations.

Auto-scan will sometimes pick up Switched Digital Video (SDV) channels. These stations are not always available and move around frequently even when they are available. I think it depends on what's being watched on the cable boxes in your area and the amount of time those boxes spend channel surfing. Ever see Bejeweled playing itself? That's your neighbor on GAME.

FWIW, here's a list of the SDV stations with some subchannels that I've come across:

Analog Station Name Subchannel(s)
2 QVC 353
19 VERSUS 3210
36 TV Land 3441
38 MSNBC HD 1107
42 American Movie Classics 3600
44 Turner Classic Movies 3602
51 Discovery Fit & Health 3314, 3550
62 Oxygen 3558
65 Style
66 We HD 1451
GEM (Jewelry TV) 2156
MILITARY 749
OCSURF (Blue Ocean) 1250
REELZ 546
This TV (KGMB2)
TRU TV 3119
GAME
The Weather Channel 1121

The physical channels for SDV stations vary between 93, 94, and 100 to 113. However, these stations seem to be on just one or two subchannels (3, 4 or 5 digits) which do seem to stay the same. Similar to the way channels 117 and 122 behave, it appears that there's some correlation between the SDV subchannel and OTW's virtual channel.

The physical channel is the number before the dash (or dot on some remotes) and the subchannel is the number after the dash. The virtual channel is the mapped or listed channel. This is the channel that OTW provides to TitanTV, Zap2it, TV Guide, etc. So the We: Women's Entertainment Network on Oceanic Digital 451 can sometimes be found on QAM 104-3451. Drop the first digit of the subchannel and you get virtual channel 451.

Also, 4-digit subchannels beginning with the number 1 are HD channels. So 100-1451 should be We-HD. Hopefully, once you know this you'll have an easier time figuring out what channel your tuner is picking up.

It appears that the only station with both a permanent physical channel and 3-digit subchannel is the Disney Channel on 117-221.

CSPAN3, CSPAN2, CW, PBS Kids, and many of the SDV stations are digital only.

I haven't yet come across QAM versions of these analog stations:

13 CNN Headline News
18 VH1
20 Fox Sports Net West
23 ESPN News
24 Program Guide
31 FSN PrimeTicket
37 Syfy
39 CNBC
63 Hallmark Channel
64 Lifetime Movie Network
67 OWN
68 Lifetime Television
70 Animal Planet
71 TLC: The Learning Channel
74 A&E Network
75 Comedy Central

Last updated 8/26/2011

egcarter

12-11-06, 02:31 PM

Sy-

12-11-06, 02:43 PM

Yes, Erika Engle informed me via email this morning to expect "another announcement in a day or two" regarding KHON-HD. She said they want to milk this for all the PR value they can, thus not announcing the HD agreement simultaneously with the CW deal.

Eric

I her KHON-HD article I hope she points out how we now have 3 of the 4 major networks now providing feeds to Oceanic, and that only those dildos at KGMB are holding out on us. It's too bad too because CBS has some of the best/most HD content.

dr0s

12-11-06, 05:19 PM

Even on their OTA feed, KGMB isn't offering a whole lot of shows in HD, even when CBS films the shows that way.

While I understand that there's this whole recording/time shifting issue, I wish that at least we could get the non-HD digital versions of the shows in widescreen. - DR

boneless6220

12-11-06, 08:15 PM

egcarter

12-11-06, 08:17 PM

ESPN will be doing the Cornerstone Bancard Hula Bowl in HD on Jan. 14, according to Pacific Business News.

The remaining ESPN bowl game not in HD also is in Honolulu, the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24. Network executives said the high number of football games around the date made it more difficult to get the equipment over to Hawaii then.

For the Hula Bowl, ESPN hired a company called Gearhouse Broadcast, which agreed to fly several crates of expensive HD equipment to Honolulu for the Jan. 14 game.

The plan has ESPN shipping eight HD cameras and lenses, eight replay machines, a complete audio console, a video switcher and several flat-screen monitors that will make up a makeshift monitor wall. Plus, it will send all the HD support equipment, such as tripods for cameras.

ESPN's extra effort to show the post-New Year's bowl game in HD is a nod to the popularity of HD broadcasts.

Results from an internal survey show that 13 percent of viewers watched a recent ESPN on ABC Saturday night college football game in HD. Of that 13 percent, 32 percent said the fact the game was in HD influenced their decision to watch it.

"Thirty-two percent, in my opinion, is a significant number," said Artie Bulgrin, ESPN's senior vice president of research and sales development. "As the base of HD grows, the audience impact will be more apparent."

Eric

egcarter

12-11-06, 08:23 PM

I'm looking into DirectTV because my inlaws like the vietnamese programming. Is there any benefit over Oceanic for HD channels and basic programming? I also want to know if the locals are covered or are they from different mainland cities. Thanks

Not really any advantage with DirecTV at this time. No HD locals, either. They have Honolulu locals in SD:

ABC KITV 4
FOX KHON 2
NBC KHNL 13
PBS KHET 11
MNT KFVE 5
Ind KIKU 20
CBS KGMB 9

Requires a 1.2m dish, I believe.

Eric

boneless6220

12-11-06, 08:34 PM

Not really any advantage with DirecTV at this time. No HD locals, either. They have Honolulu locals in SD:

ABC KITV 4
FOX KHON 2
NBC KHNL 13
PBS KHET 11
MNT KFVE 5
Ind KIKU 20
CBS KGMB 9

Requires a 1.2m dish, I believe.

Eric

Thanks Eric. I'm don't really care if there's advantage, as long as I'm not missing out on anything. I called DirecTV and they basically mentioned every HD channel available that Oceanic had. However, the international programming is key for my inlaws.

Tigershark

12-11-06, 09:31 PM

DeathRay

12-11-06, 09:44 PM

Anyone else with this problem, or is it just my 8300HD box?

My box is working fine. No green tint. This may be obvious advice, but if you are connected via component have you checked the connections? SOmetimes a loose one can cause weird tints.

Otherwise call Oceanic.

DeathRay

12-11-06, 10:05 PM

I'm very happy to see Fox HD added to Oceanic (can confirm that it's up and running although it was just Oprah in SD when I checked). I'm looking forward to more HD football and 24.

Also, hopefully we'll get MHD soon...it was reported in the main time warner thread that TW has reached an agreement with them.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9142428&&#post9142428

Konaguy

12-11-06, 10:50 PM

I've rebooted my box three times. Still no ch.93 in either the channel guide or
the actual channel. I called up Oceanic, the CSR was typically unhelpful. He said
that they are still working on it. While not addressing the fact it was available
on Oahu now.

I'm in Kailua-Kona by the way.

MegaByte

12-11-06, 11:24 PM

Konaguy

12-11-06, 11:39 PM

I'm located in Kihei Maui and no Hd ch.933 also.

Do you have Channel 93 (The CW) ?

MegaByte

12-11-06, 11:44 PM

Do you have Channel 93 (The CW) ?

Just checked. No ch.93 either.

RobertCEO

12-12-06, 12:10 AM

Anyone else with this problem, or is it just my 8300HD box?

my box has been working fine. it's been getting ch. 933 and 93, but "House" is not in HD

Charles O

12-12-06, 12:55 AM

my box has been working fine. it's been getting ch. 933 and 93, but "House" is not in HD

Does "House" have the standard "FOX" logo or in the lower right corner is there "KHON2"?

trdtac

12-12-06, 01:51 AM

I just checked mine and "House" (ch.933) has the standard "FOX" logo in the lower right hand corner. It also has black bars on each side (4:3)?

Yawny

12-12-06, 01:52 AM

I'm located in Kihei Maui and no Hd ch.933 also.Maui as well and nothing yet. Tried rebooting my box and also did a QAM rescan on my Sony A10 hoping it would pick it up... no luck. Used to get ESPN-HD but that was blocked months ago.

As long as they add KHON-HD by Sunday I'll be happy. It would be nice to finally watch some football in HD on Sunday morning, rather than just Sunday night (KHNL) and Monday night (ESPN). Unfortunately we can't get anything OTA over here...

Tigershark

12-12-06, 03:24 AM

My box is working fine. No green tint. This may be obvious advice, but if you are connected via component have you checked the connections? SOmetimes a loose one can cause weird tints.

Otherwise call Oceanic.

Weird. Checked all hook ups - fine. Tried the other component input, green tint again. Hooked it up via HDMI - picture is perfect. Guess it is the display - but why would both component inputs crap out at the same time? Still, doesn't seem to be the box - for once.

DeathRay

12-12-06, 03:31 AM

hmm, maybe the cables are bad. or the component out on the cable box.

does your DVD have component out? you could try the component cables from DVD to TV to see how that works.

egcarter

12-12-06, 05:34 AM

Charles O

12-12-06, 10:25 AM

From Erika Engle's Tuesday Buzz Column: http://starbulletin.com/2006/12/12/business/engle.html

KHON President and General Manager Joe McNamara said there is no agreement signed for carriage yet and that there is no official announcement, but that the channels are there for testing purposes.

Translation:Only live HD, no Primetime HD until we get our act together. :)

Yawny

12-12-06, 01:56 PM

The neighbor islands always get the new channels after the Oahu "Guinea Pigs". It's a separate procedure to add the new stuff in each system. Sometimes they even "forget" to add them in various locations until a subscriber calls and complains! Just call your local office and "bitch."

EricStill no 933 this morning here. No way to call my "local" office as the number is routed to Oahu and sometimes even the Big Island. I've called several times before with other issues and I usually get Oahu and they have no idea what's going on over here. Guess I'll give 'em a call anyway and see what happens. I don't care about primetime as long as there's Sunday FOOTBALL!!!

Sy-

12-12-06, 02:07 PM

Does "House" have the standard "FOX" logo or in the lower right corner is there "KHON2"?

I peeked in on House last night and it was only in SD with the black bars on the right and left. It had the standard FOX logo within the 4x3 video footage of the show AND it also had the KHON2 logo in the black bars. It looked kinda silly if you ask me. Hopefully when they go full HD they will pick one or the other.

Sy-

12-12-06, 02:14 PM

Yawny

12-12-06, 02:48 PM

KHON President and General Manager Joe McNamara said there is no agreement signed for carriage yet and that there is no official announcement, but that the channels are there for testing purposes.Just got off the phone with an Oceanic CSR (on Oahu of course) who was unaware that 933 was even available on Oahu yet. She put me on hold and came back to say that indeed, as above, 933 was in the lineup on Oahu for "testing", but again no official announcement has been made. I asked her to send 933 to me for Sunday football and I'll test it for them and let them know how it looks... :D

dr0s

12-12-06, 03:06 PM

egcarter

12-12-06, 03:06 PM

BTW what's on 911? I use cablecards and don't have the typical digital cable box so I can't see whats on channel 911? I hear people referring to it. Do they post that same info on their website somewhere?

"911" is for information, 'natch. Blurbs about the cable system and such.

Like the possibility of LOSING LOTSA CHANNELS! <g>

I'm sure all will work out in the end; it usually does where $$ are concerned.

Eric

Tigershark

12-12-06, 06:51 PM

Tigershark, as others have pointed out this sounds like one of the three component signals is not getting to the set, and is probably your cable. (Green tint can also happen if the blue and green leads are accidentally switched.) If you have another component cable (or even a three-lead composite cable) lying around you could try a swap to see. - DR

The leads were definitely not switched since I haven't touched my setup in months and this just started happening. To determine if it was the source or cables, I tried to run my DVD player through component (it was hooked up through HDMI) - it was also badly tinted. This is with a different source and different component cables. So I plugged it into the other component input - same thing. Therefore, it must be my display. Having both component inputs on my display fail seems strange, but I ran the 8300HD through HDMI just to be sure - it worked fine. So it looks like my display is going back to C* and I will be in the market for a new display. Luckily, I can watch cable through the HDMI until I can get a new display. To think, for once it wasn't the cable box!

hebsan

12-12-06, 08:11 PM

From Erika Engle's Tuesday Buzz Column: http://starbulletin.com/2006/12/12/business/engle.html

Translation:Only live HD, no Primetime HD until we get our act together. :)

As long as there's football esp. the BCS Championship Game.

Now if we can just get KGMB off their collective ___es and provide the HD signal to OTW.

Konaguy

12-12-06, 09:40 PM

Erika Engle had an article on the possible loss of Showtime, the addition of the CW,
and the situation with KHON-HD and FoxSports HD.

link to article (http://starbulletin.com/2006/12/12/business/engle.html)

Yawny

12-12-06, 11:00 PM

Just got off the phone with an Oceanic CSR (on Oahu of course) who was unaware that 933 was available yet. She put me on hold and came back to say that indeed 933 was in the lineup on Oahu for "testing", but again no official announcement has been made. I asked her to send 933 to me for Sunday football and I'll test it for them and let them know how it looks... :DJust got home and surprise, surprise... 93 and 933 are in the channel lineup here on Maui. Guess my phone call to CS paid off. :D The signal is breaking up all over the place but at least it's there. Hopefully they'll get it together by Sunday. Now if KGMB would stop being so greedy, we might get the playoffs in HD as well as an HD Super Bowl...

Once testing is done and Fox Sports HD begins service, Channel 951, or whichever channel it finally winds up on, will be dark at times because it doesn't have programming 24/7. However, "Whenever they have games on in HD, they'll put them on," said Alan Pollock, vice president of marketing for Oceanic.Wow! Another channel just for sports? Can't wait!!!

Sy-

12-12-06, 11:11 PM

Wow! a seperate channel just for sports? Can't wait!!!

You know 951 has been there for the past couple months. Most of the time it is just showing colorbars but durring the college football seson they would have something on most saturdays. They seemed to pick up a lot of pac 10 games like cal, stanford, usc and the oregons when they were not on one of the big networks.

It's been there since we recieved the phone call back in Early October about the USC Washington game. It was discussed here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8563534&&#post8563534).

Yawny

12-12-06, 11:20 PM

You know 951 has been there for the past couple months...Actually it hasn't been in our lineup over here. But now that you mentioned it, I just looked again and it's been added to our lineup too! Thanks for the info...

Charles O

12-12-06, 11:40 PM

Looks like the NFL has thrown TimeWarner a bone. Let's see if they bite.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/2020AP_FBN_NFL_Network_Free_View.html

Yawny

12-12-06, 11:47 PM

Looks like the NFL has thrown TimeWarner a bone. Let's see if they bite.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/2020AP_FBN_NFL_Network_Free_View.htmlIf the cable companies were to accept the NFL's terms, "the NFL Network would immediately vault to being the third or fourth most expensive channel on the dial. It could lead to a price increase of $1 or more per month for every cable consumer in America," said Craig Moffett, an analyst at the Wall Street firm Sanford C. Bernstein.It's a little late in the season but they've got my dollar...

delar

12-13-06, 01:08 AM

You know 951 has been there for the past couple months. Most of the time it is just showing colorbars but durring the college football seson they would have something on most saturdays. They seemed to pick up a lot of pac 10 games like cal, stanford, usc and the oregons when they were not on one of the big networks.

It's been there since we recieved the phone call back in Early October about the USC Washington game. It was discussed here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8563534&&#post8563534).
FSN-HD (951) just had a hockey game on this evening, Sharks vs Kings. This is the first time I've seen something on this channel other than a Saturday college football game, and judging from what I'm reading on FSN-HD's web page, were sure to see a lot more in the future, including hockey, basketball and baseball. Apparently on this channel we'll be seeing HD versions of SD games being broadcast on Fox Sports West 1 & 2. Not all the games, mind you. Just select games. Still, a welcome improvement.

Dodo Bird

12-13-06, 03:21 AM

Hi folks. I know this is off-topic for this thread, but can anyone recommend a local store which carries home theater seating. I've looked around and other than Lazy-Boy (which I didn't like) I couldn't find anything.

I know Costco had some at one point so I checked with them but they couldn't say when they would bring them in again.

HELP!

RobertCEO

12-13-06, 03:28 AM

boneless6220

12-13-06, 03:04 PM

Yawny

12-13-06, 05:40 PM

Just got home and surprise, surprise... 93 and 933 are in the Oceanic channel lineup here on Maui. Guess my phone call to CS paid off. :DFYI... 93 and 933 are also in the clear here on the Valley Isle after a channel scan this morning.

TJR

12-13-06, 08:31 PM

mindbender9

12-14-06, 02:32 AM

Has anyone noticed that HD-KHON is off the air tonight (12/13) on Oceanic? Nothing but a black screen.

I'm hoping that KHON didn't pull the plug, because they had a change of heart.

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Charles O

12-14-06, 03:18 AM

HDTVFanAtic

12-14-06, 03:48 AM

From Published Reports

Hawaii Keeps Heat on DIRECTV
The State of Hawaii continues to push for better satellite TV service to the state, recently asking the Federal Communications Commission to help foster small dish competition throughout the island chain and keep pressure on one DBS company in particular.

In comments filed at the Portals on multiplatform competition, state officials complained that DIRECTV isn't making its service readily accessible to Hawaii consumers through big chain stores or independent retailers. Hawaii officials also said the 1.2-meter dish size required for receiving DIRECTV in Hawaii is at times too big for typical consumers in the state, at least half of whom live in multi-family apartments, condos and townhomes.

"Residents in Hawaii will be unable to enjoy true competition in the market for multichannel video programming services until both major DBS licensees in the United States, particularly the largest DBS licensee, makes a concerted effort to provide comparable services to consumers in Hawaii, both in terms of the customer premises equipment used to receive the service and the availability of the service through major retail distribution channels," state officials said in their FCC filing.

DIRECTV did not want to comment on the Hawaii issues. However, in the past, the company told FCC officials it has DBS equipment for sale at big chain stores and among independent retailers in Hawaii. The company also told the agency it regularly promotes programming offerings to state residents.

BRADWhite

12-14-06, 01:08 PM

According to In-Stat, pay-TV services and Hollywood studios have assumed that the sheer size of HDTV files would be a natural impediment to delivering them via the Internet. By the end of 2007, some people will be asking their ISPs to give them 30Mbps connection, and then canceling their pay-TV service because they can download their shows and movies via the Internet.

Where it gets interesting is when In-Stat predicts that iTunes is likely to provide high-definition (HD) versions of Disney movies for “download-to-own,” as HDTV programming will be will be available via broadband Internet.

The report goes on to state that during 2007, it is likely that only the higher-end market will be interested in HDTV via broadband, but the ability of the high speed connections and quad-core PCs to deliver great looking video and surround sound audio will send a shiver through pay-TV industry and the Hollywood studios.

GregLee

12-14-06, 05:33 PM

The start-over feature is available on FXM, channel 673.

Edit: And this (Saturday) morning, also on G4TTV, channel 437. But now (early Saturday afternoon) it's not working on either of these two channels.

Yawny

12-15-06, 04:40 PM

FSN-HD (951) just had a hockey game on this evening, Sharks vs Kings. This is the first time I've seen something on this channel other than a Saturday college football game, and judging from what I'm reading on FSN-HD's web page, were sure to see a lot more in the future, including hockey, basketball and baseball. Apparently on this channel we'll be seeing HD versions of SD games being broadcast on Fox Sports West 1 & 2. Not all the games, mind you. Just select games. Still, a welcome improvement.Hey delar... 951 was removed from our channel lineup here on the Valley Isle. Very disappointing as I was looking forward to home Laker games in HD. Is 951 still in your lineup over there???

delar

12-15-06, 11:59 PM

It's still in the lineup here, but this evening there is only a test pattern showing. Like you, I'm anxious for more HD programming, but there are a couple things to remember. Channel 933 and 951 are still in the testing phase, so we'll continue to see some funky stuff on those channels until they get things squared away. Second, only select games being broadcast on FSN West will be simulcast on FSNHD (951). The following link (thx to Charles) shows what's scheduled to be on FSN-HD over the next month or so (check bottom of page). The next HD Lakers game is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 31.

http://msn.foxsports.com/name/HD

EDIT: I see that the Lakers game is in HD on ESPN-HD tonight.

Yawny

12-16-06, 11:40 PM

It's still in the lineup here, but this evening there is only a test pattern showing.Since the hockey game the other night, all I had was a test pattern too, but the channel was still listed. It was removed the other day and is still not listed. Wonder why you still have it over there??

EDIT: I see that the Lakers game is in HD on ESPN-HD tonight.I was initially disapointed they pulled FSN-HD over here, but then saw the same thing and watched it on ESPN-HD. Great game!!!

Like you, I'm anxious for more HD programming, but there are a couple things to remember. Channel 933 and 951 are still in the testing phase, so we'll continue to see some funky stuff on those channels until they get things squared away. Second, only select games being broadcast on FSN West will be simulcast on FSNHD (951). The following link (thx to Charles) shows what's scheduled to be on FSN-HD over the next month or so (check bottom of page). The next HD Lakers game is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 31.

http://msn.foxsports.com/name/HDThanks delar for the info and Charles for the link. I'll keep my eyes peeled. Maybe another call to Oceanic will bring it back... and hopefully Santa brings us an early Christmas present tomorrow morning and we get the game in HD on FOX-HD (933).

RobertCEO

12-17-06, 01:32 AM

On the Channel 2 news at 6pm tonight, the sportcaster John Veneri said tomorrows 2 NFL games will be in HD on channel 933 for the first time. I believe it's the first time I've ever heard newscasters on any of the channels talk about or even just acknowledge their stations HD programming.

Sy-

12-17-06, 01:50 PM

WOW... sitting here watching Saints and Redskins on KHON in HD... Very nice clean feed!!! If anyone from Oceanic or KHON is reading this, know that you have made my Christmas much more merrier!!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

For those of you at KGMB... I hope Santa leaves a lump of coal in your stockings!!!

-Sy

Dodo Bird

12-17-06, 01:56 PM

^^^^^ I agree!! :) :) :)

And thanks to everyone who recommended stores that carry HT chairs. I'm going to check them out today.

clark_kent

12-19-06, 12:19 AM

I've been trying to find a complete listing of Oceanic's QAM stations but haven't found one. This is what I have from auto-scan. Anyone else have anything different?

77.1 SportsChoice
79.4 Discovery Health
79.6 Discovery Spanish
79.7 Fit TV
81.8 DIY
83.1 BET
83.3 KHNL-HD (NBC)
85.5 KHON-HD (Fox)
85.4 CW
102.8 HMSA
102.9 Pentagon
102.10 Inspiration
104.3 America's Store
104.5 GSN
104.9 QVC
104.10 Coming Soon
104.11 HSN
106.1 KHNL-DT (NBC)
106.2 KFVE
106.3 KIKU
106.4 KGMB-DT (CBS)
106.5 KBFD
106.7 Jewelry TV
106.8 KBS
108.2 C-Span 2
108.5 C-Span 3
114.2 KITV-HD (ABC)

RustyC... I've been searching for something like your post...thanks! What did you use to find those QAM channels??? I just got a new HDTV with QAM tuner and I don't get all of what is on your list. I have just the Basic subscription. Thanks.

RustyC

12-19-06, 05:24 PM

I only have basic $12 per month cable from OTW. My Sony HD DVR has its autoscan functions listed under its "Preferences/CH +/- List" submenu. The Sony DVR can scan for either antenna or cable signals or both at the same time. It also has a cablecard slot which I hope to use when OTW offers more and better HD subscription stations. Too bad the old rabbit ears won't pick up anything in Kaneohe. It takes about a half hour to an hour to go through the NTSC/QAM scan.

OTW remaps their QAM stations as new channels get added and other channels that were in the clear get encrypted it seems. Both 83.1 (BET) and 85.4 (CW) are now black on my Sony. I'm not sure if those stations got remapped, encrypted or if OTW is not broadcasting content. I believe OTW will be required by FCC regs to broadcast CW in the clear once KHON's carriage agreement with OTW finally kicks in since CW is available OTA. Anyone know for sure?

I did find the "Canvas & Clay Network" at 77.3 by just punching in that subchannel directly from the remote. I noticed that autoscan picked it up on channel 0.

I'm able to tune to the analog and digital channels using the channel up/down arrows on my remote. But finding the station you want could be a pain especially with multiple copies of stations like KHNL on channels 8, 83.3 and 106.1. One of the reasons I got the Sony DVR was that it has the TV Guide system that acts like an EPG and TIVO. I remapped the listings to the digital and HD stations where I could and just use the guide instead of channel surfing. The guide gets its information from one of the analog stations so I'm hoping it still works after '09 when NTSC gets shut off. It sure beats having to remember what station a show is on AND what channel that station is on, not to mention whether or not the show is on an hour earlier or later due to daylight savings time on the mainland.

I'm really just happy to be able to get ABC, NBC and now FOX in HD. Now if KHON will just broadcast their primetime shows in HD. The Saint's game was sweet.

Where's CBS-HD?

Sy-

12-19-06, 05:41 PM

My Sony HD DVR has its autoscan functions listed under its "Preferences/CH +/- List" submenu.

What's the model number of Sony's High Def DVR? I'm interested in one!

egcarter

12-19-06, 05:44 PM

...snip...

Where's CBS-HD?

No CBS-HD until greedy Emmis Broadcasting sells KGMB or comes to their senses.
They are apparently in talks right now to close a deal to sell the station. They sold KHON last year.

Eric

ale

12-19-06, 08:07 PM

egcarter

12-19-06, 08:15 PM

RustyC :

I recently became an HD addict with the installation of my directv system. I am deperately in need of another fix. I also live in Kaneohe and wondered if you had any insight on receiving OTA HD local stations with an outdoor antenna?

--Al

Aloha Al,

I find it highly unlikely that you'll get any OTA in Kaneohe. All of the transmitters are on the other side of the Koolau range, I do believe. That's why Oceanic has the highest cable market penetration in the country. It's darn hard to get good OTA signals in many areas of the islands.

Eric

clark_kent

12-19-06, 08:38 PM

Hello all,

Regarding OTW and QAM digital channels...

I also only sub to the Basic OTC service.

I'm new to QAM but learning fast. I tried a Samsung SIR-T451. Did not work all that well but it did pick up some clearQAM channels. I next tried a Samsung DTB-H260F. The H260 works a lot better a picked up a lot more QAM channels, but not all (more on that in a minute).

We're looking at getting a new HDTV, so I brought home a Vizio P50HDTV10A. The P50 is a great set with lots of features, very nice PQ with a bargain price. The set has a QAM tuner, BUT does not tune as many channels as the H260.

From the little I know, QAM tuners are relatively new and still evolving. With FCC mandates at hand, I think QAM tuners will have to "grow-up" a lot more in the next year. As evident with my limited exposure, it is quite clear (pun intended) that not all QAM tuners are equal in features or capabilities.

The H260 did not (AUTO) tune all the clearQAM channels that RustyC listed as found by his unit. However, to the credit of the H260, I could manually add a channel that the auto function did not find and low and behold, the manually added channel signal is actually there and the PQ looks great.

I am also in the market for a DVR that:

1. Has a QAM tuner that can actually tune all the clearQAM channels;
2. Has some sort of friendly "TV-guide" function to be able to set recordings; and
3. Can record HD (at least 480p, but I'd like 720p)and of-course playback the recording over at least Component or HDMI.

I hear that the up-comming LG DVR units will have most (if not all) of what I'm looking for, but I don't know when they will be available. I'd appreciate any recommendations on DVR's.

Also... since we all know that OTW digital channel numbers are not "real" channel numbers but are actually "virtual" channel numbers, the question is:

Does anyone know what all the "real" digital broadcast channels are for the various stuff that OTW carries or puts on the cable?

Thank you.

RustyC

12-19-06, 11:16 PM

I have a Sony DHG-HDD250. I got it used from ebay missing the remote and cables. Then I got the original sony remote control from NextTronics. Seems to tune all the clear QAM channels from OTW.

I think it can record 30 hours of HD shows. The HDD500 is the same unit with an extra 250gb hard drive. So far the tuner's been great. I really like the TVGOS as it makes finding and recording shows really easy like a tivo without the monthly bill.

The DVR drive spins constantly, even when its off. It also needs a lot of clear space around it to keep it from overheating. There's a sticker on the DVR that says to unplug it at least 30 seconds before moving it to avoid damaging the drive. Hopefully the drive doesn't burn out.

There was about 3 HD and 2 SD tv shows still recorded on the DVR which were recorded OTA from CBS and NBC in Raleigh NC. The playback quality was much better than OTW's QAM signals. Tho I don't really care for CSI, even in HD.

I also have a USB fusionHDTV tuner on my laptop which gets the same QAM stations from autoscan. The fusion autoscans faster and also gets some digital music stations. OTW used to broadcast the station IDs so the fusion would list the station name next to the channel. But the stations IDs no longer show up when I do an autoscan. I haven't been able to tune any OTA channels in Kaneohe but I get all the OTA broadcast channels in Kalihi. I used to get the PPV UH games too.