Originally posted by davisdog
I've been seeing that also for the last week...not sure how often, but same symptoms...

we share the same headend, so probably nothing we can do (other than report the issue)

i've been seeing the same issue here in Fremont since at least Friday night.

Originally posted by robster73
i've been seeing the same issue here in Fremont since at least Friday night.

It's been happening in the Milpitas area also, it varies from every 20 to 40 minutes and loses signal for about 10 to 15 seconds. The channels affected ( at least for me ) are 704,705,707,709, 189, 190, 191,192, 194 the rest of the channels are unaffected. I've also noticed that channel 11 is showing channel 40 ( Fox sports net ). Channel 11 is suppose to be FSN+ and normally is off air. I'm hoping that this is being caused by system testing but as usually Comcast keeps us in the dark, just like mushrooms :)

Laters,
Mikef5

I have two HD Cable boxes right now and this is what I'm charged for on top of service:

10/19 - 11/18 HDTV Equip and Remote, $5.00
10/19 - 11/18 Digital Equip. Package $6.95

The first $5 was on the bill when I signed up for HD and it came with my very first HD cable box. I then wanted a second HD one for a 2nd TV in the house. That's when the $6.95 started showing up on my bill. If I replace one of my cable boxes with the new 6412, will they replace my $5.00 charge with $9.95 or my $6.95 charge with $9.95. OR will they replace my $6.95 charge with $4.95. Eitherway, the total price will be different in all 3 scenarios. Any ideas on which one I should expect, and when I run into a not so bright CSR who wants to just add $9.95 to my bill, I know what to tell them to do?

Are those individual charges associated to the SN# on the cable box? So if I return the 2nd box, they'll change the $6.95 charge?

I know if I can't easily figure out what's the best way to do this, I'm sure I'm going to have problems with the CSR....

Thanks,

Russ

Russ,

I believe in reality it maybe even worse.

3 fees

1) HDTV Equipment fee, $5/box (premium for DCT5100/62XX HD Box)
2) DVR Equipment fee, $4.95/box (premium for DVR functionallity)
3) Duplicate Programming fee, $6.95/additional Outlet (to turn on digital programming at additional outlets)

First outlet with 6412 is $9.95 beyond your normal programming fees
Second+ outlet with 6412 is additional $16.95
second+ outlet with 5100/6200 is additional $11.95

at least that's the way I've heard it (and DCT posted)...I dont have it myself. Best case, you arent getting charged $5 for the 2nd HD box right now.

-Steve

Any updates from anyone in San carlos? Havent been here in a hwile just wondering if they have started the rollout or what?

Re 6412,

Today another CSR told me November 15, in "upgraded areas." What "upgraded" means in the DVR context is open to speculation.

I have never heard November 30. I think we are definitely zeroing in on November 11 at the earliest and November 15 at the latest (in "upgraded" areas).

Perhaps the 6412's will be available for swap at local offices beginning November 11, but telephone orders won't be taken until November 15. Just a guess.

I was told Nov. 22 for SF at the Potrero Hill Comcast office.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
I have never heard November 30. I think we are definitely zeroing in on November 11 at the earliest and November 15 at the latest (in "upgraded" areas).

Yeah, we may want to throw the 11/30 date out the window. From the sound of Michelle Collins voicemail I got on Friday, it sounded like maybe they were initially thinking about the delaying the rollout until the new remotes arrived and then changed their minds. I'll hopefully hear back from her today to get a more definitive answer. As I said previously, she said she would have more information today.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Re 6412,

Today another CSR told me November 15, in "upgraded areas." What "upgraded" means in the DVR context is open to speculation.



That would seem to fit with the response I got from the service manager here in Santa Rosa, he indicated that as far as he knew it would be next year for the DVR here, hopefully he is wrong. In his defense he said that they were usually kept out of the loop until things were set in stone.

RE: DVR
"The only info I have on a DVR launch is that they will start testing them soon in other areas. I hear that there is a shortage on DVR's so that may postpone the actual launch."

RE: Bandwidth issues
"There are some talks going on about upgrading or even going all digital? But these are only talks."

RE: VOD
"VOD is launching soon in the Rohnert Park system and we are already testing it there. Eventually I know they are going to bring it into Santa Rosa but I don't have a set time schedule."

RE: HSI
"There are deals going on right now and the normal rate is 59.95 without cable with our cable modem, 56.95 w/o cable and with your own modem. 45.95 with cable and with our modem. 42.95 with cable and with your own modem. So you can basically save 17 dollars if you have our cable and your own modem. That is really the only deal for having cable. There are always promotions for internet like 25 dollars a month for 3 months. The best deal I have seen us have is 20 dollars a month for a year. Of course that's not including your normal cable rates."

So for us in Santa Rosa not really much to jump up and down about yet, hopefully this will change, but that "upgraded area" thing has certainly got me bugged.

Intreresting press release

Comcast, Microsoft to Deploy Video Recorder Set-Tops

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=581&e=1&u=/nm/20041108/tc_nm/tech_microsoft_comcast_dc

Here's another link about the above also,

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-08-2004/0002397426&EDATE=
Comcast and Microsoft Announce First U.S. Commercial Deployment of Microsoft TV Foundation Edition

Originally posted by keenan
Here's another link about the above also,
Comcast and Microsoft Announce First U.S. Commercial Deployment of Microsoft TV Foundation Edition

This was comunicated today - when asked if that's where all the remotes went, I was told that FE needs no special button to swap tuners.

DCT is correct. I've got an official thread on the HDTV Recorders Forum for those who wish to talk about more of the details on our FE 1.7 6412 stuff.

Originally posted by shannonv
I've got an official thread on the HDTV Recorders Forum for those who wish to talk about more of the details on our FE 1.7 6412 stuff.

Reading that thread would just make us sad, since we dont get on option of using FE down here

Still would be nice to see a demo of the 6412 with FE, especially after we get our 6412's with iGuide-- then we can compare.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Re 6412,

Today another CSR told me November 15, in "upgraded areas." What "upgraded" means in the DVR context is open to speculation.

I have never heard November 30. I think we are definitely zeroing in on November 11 at the earliest and November 15 at the latest (in "upgraded" areas).

Perhaps the 6412's will be available for swap at local offices beginning November 11, but telephone orders won't be taken until November 15. Just a guess.

Ok, so everyone in the "upgraded areas" will get the dvr's. According to Comcast ALL AREAS are UPGRADED already, even the 2% club. If this means that we will not get the recorders because we don't have the bandwidth I will scream my bloody head off. NO new HD channels, NO VDO, and now NO Dvr's. I will wait until the end of November to see what really happens before I contemplate going again to the media or other means ( Legal means ). This is total BS. :(

Originally posted by Mikef5
Ok, so everyone in the "upgraded areas" will get the dvr's. According to Comcast ALL AREAS are UPGRADED already, even the 2% club. If this means that we will not get the recorders because we don't have the bandwidth I will scream my bloody head off. NO new HD channels, NO VDO, and now NO Dvr's. I will wait until the end of November to see what really happens before I contemplate going again to the media or other means ( Legal means ). This is total BS. :(

I'm patiently waiting to see what happens as well, I'm hoping I will be pleasantly surprised but I'm certainly not holding my breath...

Originally posted by cgould

I'm not sure how to check my cable modem SNR or power... it's behind a router. I don't have a catv set-top box either so no diag menu there either.
The SNR and power levels were only worth mentioning because mine are measurably worse than before, but with no degradation in HSI connectivity. The analog cable picture quality might be down a slight bit.

Even though you're behind a router, you may still be able to connect to your modem's diagnostics page. Stick 192.168.100.1 into your web browser (AVSForum wouldn't let me link it...<5 posts)

You have no numbers to compare them against though, so...

other means ( Legal means ).
What do you mean by "legal means"? Are you claiming that Comcast is legally bound to provide you with a certain level of service?

Originally posted by Jerry Gardner
What do you mean by "legal means"? Are you claiming that Comcast is legally bound to provide you with a certain level of service?

Actually, that was said in a moment of pure frustration. Comcast owes me nothing and I expect nothing from them. They have shown to me that the customer does not matter only the bottom line is important to them. I have been a subscriber to cable since the days of TCI and through the pain of AT&T, now it's Comcast turn and in my opinion is doing a poor job ( at least for the 2% areas ). If you are satisfied with Comcast's offerings then stay with them. I, for one, am totally dissatisfied. I pay the same price that the rest of the Bay Area does and I get less channels, no VDO and now seems no DVR. Is that fair no, is that legal, yes it is. Anyway, enough rant, if by the end of the month if it becomes apparent that the 2% areas will not be getting the DVRs then I will drop Comcast and go with Dish or D*. Are they any better ??? Probably not but at least I will get more for my money than I am with Comcast.

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by keenan
I'm patiently waiting to see what happens as well, I'm hoping I will be pleasantly surprised but I'm certainly not holding my breath...

The only technical limit I know of is DVRs cannot deploy in NAS areas - those where the DCTs are controlled out of Denver on a national controller.

Most of BA is DAC controlled. San Jose (and surrounding Silicon Valley in my area) is DAC, a local controller. The DAC is certainly not the love of my life for reasons better left for another thread.

The only 'South Bay' non DAC system in Monterey/Santa Cruz. Yup, my home town gets no DVRs until the DAC infects that system.

It may be hot air, but I am told there is no controller profile for 6412s in the NAS controller.

Originally posted by tmaestas95
So I'm in Hercules, and got VOD today. It seems that along with this I also got firmware 7.15 (I was one of those who's 5100 seemed perpetually stuck in the stone-ages with 2.48). However, along with 703-709+723 being out for a bit this evening as mentioned prior, I am seeing some very strange audio behavior. Whenever I switch over to the analog channels, my receiver (connected to 5100 via optical connection) properly switches to stereo mode - fine no problem. However, when I switch back up to the digital or HD channels, which always broadcast a Dolby signal, it doesn't appear that the 5100 is sending it as Dolby. My receiver stays on whatever stereo mode I had it in - even on channels that say they are dolby 5.1. Powering off/on the 5100 does not seem to help. HOWEVER, when I go into the On Demand menu, the receiver switches over to Dolby and when I exit the menu, it continues to work normally (switching from dolby 2 channel to 5.1 as dictated by the content on the channel). But if I go back to an analog channel, I'm stuck in analog stereo again. I have to go back into the On Demand menu and out again to fix it. I know my receiver is not the problem, because it properly detects the bitstream from my DVD player - this seems like something really weird that happend either with VOD, or the firmware upgrade. Anyone else seeing this??

-Tim

This sounds like a reciever problem. Mine doesn't switch over sometimes (Onkyo 700) when going from an analog channel (PCM) to digital (DD), requires a power cycle of the reciever.

Of course you should also get the 5100 replaced with a 6200 (or 6212 if you want/can get DVR).

I also do not notice a large volume difference between PCM and DD as others have reported... What I do notice is a large difference between the digital output (either type of signal) and the analog outputs. The solution here is to choose "heavy compression" in the audio menu of the 6200. (Compression only applies to the analog outputs). I only use this setup on Sundays when watching 2 football games side by side (using TV tuner for one game and HD DCT for the other and then using the analog audio output from the TV) so it's an easy switch out for those times :)

DCT Dictator,

For those outside the South Bay, how might we go about finding out which systems are NAS ? (Other than contacting Bay Area Comcast engineering management.)

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
DCT Dictator,

For those outside the South Bay, how might we go about finding out which systems are NAS ? (Other than contacting Bay Area Comcast engineering management.)

My guess is if the STB can be 'hit" by the local office then it is a DAC system...

True, but how can you tell if your STB is being "hit" by a local controller or by the HITS controller in Denver (NAS)? I don't think a CSR on 1800 COMCAST is going to be able to tell you whether he/she just "hit" your box via a DAC controller or the NAS controller.

Originally posted by neoufo51
This just in. People on the East Coast are saying they now have Firmware Version 8.12 on their Moto 6200's.

Brand new to Comcast w/Moto 6200.....
How do you know if you've received a firmware update? Do you need
to keep checking the system info menu or are there other indicators?
When 8.12 hits our area, can someone out there let the rest of us know?
Thanks!

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
True, but how can you tell if your STB is being "hit" by a local controller or by the HITS controller in Denver (NAS)? I don't think a CSR on 1800 COMCAST is going to be able to tell you whether he/she just "hit" your box via a DAC controller or the NAS controller.

The billing system knows - there are equipment and location profiles that route the commands. A system on DAC will not listen to NAS commands and vice-a-versa.

If a CSR tells the billing system to hit abox, the billing system addresses the proper controller.

A NAS hit goes from the billing system, to the network, to Denver, to the satellite, to the headend, to the plant and finally to the DCT.

A DAC hit cuts out the Denver/Satellite stuff.

So, can a CSR tell me whether I am on a DAC or a NAS system? If so, where in their software would they look for that information?

Originally posted by DCTDictator
The only technical limit I know of is DVRs cannot deploy in NAS areas - those where the DCTs are controlled out of Denver on a national controller.

Most of BA is DAC controlled. San Jose (and surrounding Silicon Valley in my area) is DAC, a local controller. The DAC is certainly not the love of my life for reasons better left for another thread.

The only 'South Bay' non DAC system in Monterey/Santa Cruz. Yup, my home town gets no DVRs until the DAC infects that system.

It may be hot air, but I am told there is no controller profile for 6412s in the NAS controller.

So, if I live in the west valley area, but am not able to get the 6412 at my local office, can I drive up north and get one from an office in a city that does have them available? And can I hook it up to my cable, even in a 2% area, and still use it? It seems to me that the DVR capability would be independent from the tuner section in the box, so it shouldn't matter.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
So, can a CSR tell me whether I am on a DAC or a NAS system? If so, where in their software would they look for that information?

I called my previous contact with Comcast here in Santa Rosa and he indicated that Petaluma is a fully advanced system and that it was a DAC system. Santa Rosa is also a DAC system as of about 8 weeks ago apparently. I got the impression that this switch from national to local control is a fairly recent thing and is still ongoing in many areas, I didn't pursue with him about other areas. Sorry guys. I try to get as much as I can without taking too much of his time. DVR training has started today also in Rohnert Park as well...

Thanks, keenan.

Originally posted by mds54
Brand new to Comcast w/Moto 6200.....
How do you know if you've received a firmware update? Do you need
to keep checking the system info menu or are there other indicators?
When 8.12 hits our area, can someone out there let the rest of us know?
Thanks!

Well, easiest way is to just keep an eye out for obvious changes in the I-guide like I quoted in "whats new" or just check the system info like I said.

Don't worry, when it hits, somebody here will sound out when we have it in the Bay Area.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Thanks, keenan.

Hey, is there something wrong with the email post notification system? I'm not getting any email updates from AVS.

I don't know. I have mine turned off, so I couldn't tell you if it's working or not.

Thanks, maybe it's just me, but it hasn't been working for about 3 hrs now...

Well, Michelle finally got in touch with me and unfortunately she couldn't give me a date. She said it's tentative and she wouldn't feel right if that date changed (don't really blame her considering the kind of people we are :) ). All she could say is that it would be sometime this month and that she has a sticky note on her calender to send one to the Pleasant Hill office for me the day it becomes available and would call me that day as well (we'll see). She did confirm that a service call is not needed and that you will be able to walk into your local office to pick one up -- supply permitting.

Soooooo....looks like we're counting on DCTDictator to post the morning this becomes available. Unless anyone else has any insider information...

Originally posted by keenan
Thanks, maybe it's just me, but it hasn't been working for about 3 hrs now...

Mine stopped too.

Here's the latest from what I know:

Talked to a CSR five minutes ago. She told me the release date is November 30th and acknowledged that they had been telling people November 15th. She apologized for the misinformation (the 11/15 date as launch to general public) that had been circulating.

She said November 30th is the general release date and that November 15th is the launch date for "select Comcast employees" in "special test areas." The "special testing" is to make sure DVR is working correctly (and use of the product will help "employees answer customer questions"-- hahahaha).

So-- and this is my reasoning, not something the CSR said-- even the 11/30 date could slip if the employee testing does not go well.

The November 30 date sounds more and more correct now, since it is corroborated by and independent source which cannot be disclosed. (And it's the date fender got when stopping by the Pleasant Hill office.)

However, I will definitely be calling back on the 11th, 12th and 15th, and I will again be stopping by the local Comcast office on the 11th to see if I can finagle one of these boxes. Who knows...

How incredibly frustrating ... (had really hoped to get a 6412 by the 19th).

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
How incredibly frustrating ... (had really hoped to get a 6412 by the 19th).

No kidding. Maybe if we signed an agreement promising not to complain about potential problems for at least 60 days, they'll give us one on the 15th. :D

Why can't we be testers!! It'd be awesome if we could go to the office and offer to help them test out the DVR's :)

If you get channel 725 (HD Special Events), right now there is an old Elvis Presley movie on, "Love Me Tender." I looked it up and I believe it was his first.

It's clearly being fed from INHD, but not part of the INHD or INHD2 schedule at the moment. (NBA TV is on INHD right now, Honyktonk Man on INHD2.) It is scheduled for three showings later this week on INHD and INHD2.

So this is either a third INHD feed (probable) or Comcast is time shifting this movie locally from a previous INHD feed (less likely).

They have shown to me that the customer does not matter only the bottom line is important to them.
I understand your frustration.

In my opinion, the best way to handle this is to vote with your feet and move to DirecTV or Dish. I'm seriously considering a move to D* myself, if I can get adequate OTA reception of the HD locals.

The situation will be better next year: D* is launching new satellites that will give them the bandwidth needed to carry local HD channels.

Originally posted by Jerry Gardner
I understand your frustration.

In my opinion, the best way to handle this is to vote with your feet and move to DirecTV or Dish. I'm seriously considering a move to D* myself, if I can get adequate OTA reception of the HD locals.

The situation will be better next year: D* is launching new satellites that will give them the bandwidth needed to carry local HD channels.

I have been looking at going with Dish or D*. Dish is nice because there is no initial outlay of cash, lease program, and they have all the channels that Comcast has to offer which I can't get now for less than I'm paying now to Comcast. D* is good because they have a good line up of sports and HD and with the launch of the new satellites will have more room to grow. The only problem with D* is initial out lay of cash, anywhere from $200 -300, and the one year commitment ( not real big on commitments ) but maybe Comcast will be better in a year. I recently bought a LG 4200a and a Rat Shack indoor antenna and I'm shocked that I get all the digital channels rock solid, except for ABC, haven't figured that out yet, and that includes FoxHD :). That being said all I need now is a good outdoor antenna and I'm ready to drop Comcast. Like I said if they are not going to offer the DVRs to the 2% areas by the end of this month then I'm gone. They owe me nothing and have delivered on that point so I owe them no loyalty either. Time will tell.

Laters,
Mikef5

My friend has D*. On his set (brand new hit 65''), SD is unwatchable even via s-video. Believe me I've tweaked and tweaked it. Comcast SD on a 72'' mits HD-ready is very watchable without tweaking. There is just too much compression on D*. Maybe that will get better, but I'm just speaking to how it looks now. Of cource on smaller more forgiving displays, YMMV.

Best,
jeff

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Here's the latest from what I know:

The November 30 date sounds more and more correct now, since it is corroborated by and independent source which cannot be disclosed. (And it's the date fender got when stopping by the Pleasant Hill office.)

How incredibly frustrating ... (had really hoped to get a 6412 by the 19th).

Sorry to confirm - looks like no releases to the public this week.

More info as it happens.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
If you get channel 725 (HD Special Events), right now there is an old Elvis Presley movie on, "Love Me Tender." I looked it up and I believe it was his first.

It's clearly being fed from INHD, but not part of the INHD or INHD2 schedule at the moment. (NBA TV is on INHD right now, Honyktonk Man on INHD2.) It is scheduled for three showings later this week on INHD and INHD2.

So this is either a third INHD feed (probable) or Comcast is time shifting this movie locally from a previous INHD feed (less likely).

Maybe "filler" for InHD should that game be blacked out in your area, and Comcast is passing it along where it has the bandwidth? Just a thought...

Originally posted by nightowl
Maybe "filler" for InHD should that game be blacked out in your area, and Comcast is passing it along where it has the bandwidth? Just a thought... I think I figured it out. INHD must have three feeds: INHD, INHD2 and the third feed. The third feed was used last year when NBA TV games were blacked out before Comcast signed a deal with the NBA (and when local MLB games were blacked out); InDemand would insert it into INHD during the NBA or MLB programming block if the game was blacked out (sometimes the third feed programming even showed up on the guide instead of the blacked out sporting event).

My theory is that the third feed is not on 24/7 but only when needed. Whichever satellite(s) InDemand uses would have to have the bandwidth to send out a third feed when needed.

So the HDSE channel must have picked up the third feed last night during the NBA game. The Elvis movie ended/disappeared just around the time the NBA programming block ended at 9pm PT. (NBA game was not blacked out here since it was MN and another non-local team playing, so it showed up on INHD of course.)

In areas where the NBA game was blacked out, the third feed probably was inserted into the INHD channel for those viewers.

INHD probably programs the HDSE channel pursuant to a contract with Comcast, including sending out the NFL GOTW on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Sometimes immediately after/in between the NFL GOTW showings on the HDSE channel, there is random INHD programming.

Next time there is an NBA TV game on INHD that is not blacked out in your area, check out the HDSE channel (if you get it, sorry 2% club) and see if my theory holds water.

Last night, in Fremont, watching KNTV HD (channel 703 on the box). The colors were off. It appeared that there was a red "ghost" off to the right (as I was watching). This caused strange shimmering effects and off colors. (Note that this red ghost showed up on the NBC logo/screensaver-ish thing that shows when the commercial in-fill isn't being properly done.)

I don't think it was my TV or my cable box (5100): I rule out the TV because the on screen guide when changing channels didn't show this behaviour (the red TV guide box looked just fine :rolleyes: , and I'm ruling out the 5100 since no other channels displayed this problem that I could see.

Anyone else notic this? Fremont only or more widespread? I would tend to suspect the encoding or broadcast rather than the cable co, but what do I know.

Originally posted by nereus
Last night, in Fremont, watching KNTV HD (channel 703 on the box). The colors were off. It appeared that there was a red "ghost" off to the right (as I was watching). This caused strange shimmering effects and off colors. (Note that this red ghost showed up on the NBC logo/screensaver-ish thing that shows when the commercial in-fill isn't being properly done.)

I don't think it was my TV or my cable box (5100): I rule out the TV because the on screen guide when changing channels didn't show this behaviour (the red TV guide box looked just fine :rolleyes: , and I'm ruling out the 5100 since no other channels displayed this problem that I could see.

Anyone else notic this? Fremont only or more widespread? I would tend to suspect the encoding or broadcast rather than the cable co, but what do I know.

Sounds like it was a KNTV problem -- it also affected OTA broadcasts but other markets reported it being fine (LA, for example).

Talking about problems, my dolby surround went out on channel 707 during Monday Night Football--no sound at all coming from the surrounds. Did anyone else experience this? Seems like the same thing happened on Ch 707 last night. (Surrounds were fine on other channels.)

Originally posted by millerwill
Talking about problems, my dolby surround went out on channel 707 during Monday Night Football--no sound at all coming from the surrounds. Did anyone else experience this? Seems like the same thing happened on Ch 707 last night. (Surrounds were fine on other channels.)

Yeah, I noticed that too -- like a "crackling" on the rear channels. MNF is the only thing I watch on ABC so I'm not sure it the problem's still going on. This seemed to be pretty widespread -- many people saw the same thing and posted to the SFBay Yahoo group.

Originally posted by millerwill
Talking about problems, my dolby surround went out on channel 707 during Monday Night Football--no sound at all coming from the surrounds. Did anyone else experience this? Seems like the same thing happened on Ch 707 last night. (Surrounds were fine on other channels.)

I noticed that as well. Others mentioned it in the MNF thread here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=467557). Rory B over at Sacramento's ABC affiliate KXTV reported in this post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4627030#post4627030) that the problem was upstream. So I don't think it was a local Comcast issue.

On an unrelated note, there seems to be confusion about where the HD DVRs will be available when they become available soon. Some seem to think the 2% areas (e.g. my Sunnyvale area) will not be getting them, others seem to imply that "upgraded areas" in this context is not referring to "750 or greater MHz systems" but some other upgrade behind the scenes. Does anyone actually know? e.g. will us 2%ers get hosed again or not?

Fender,

Check your PM's when you get a chance. Thanks,

Sonoma

Re DVR's and "upgraded" areas,

Based on what has been posted in this thread and other public information, there is very strong evidence that "upgraded" does not mean "750 Mhz and above" in the context of DVR's. So, if you are in a 550 Mhz system, you are probably ok as far as DVR goes.

However, if you are on an A/B system and/or a 330 Mhz system, I would not be very optimistic.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Re DVR's and "upgraded" areas,

...
Wow, thanks for the fast reply! That's good news for us 550MHz / 2%-ers.

Another area I'm confused about is if the HD DVR will actually require a digital (non-HD) package, or if it'll be like the 5100/6200's where we can use it with "extended basic + HD". I sure hope so as there's nothing on the 550MHz digital classic/plus packages that appeals to me so I'd hate to have to pony up for stuff I don't watch. Anyone know about this? Thanks in advance!

The Comcast VP's in the Western Region insist that an upgraded area is anything 550Mhz or greater.

We all know better, but as far as DVR's that is a good thing for the 2% group

Originally posted by Poochie
Wow, thanks for the fast reply! That's good news for us 550MHz / 2%-ers.

Another area I'm confused about is if the HD DVR will actually require a digital (non-HD) package, or if it'll be like the 5100/6200's where we can use it with "extended basic + HD". I sure hope so as there's nothing on the 550MHz digital classic/plus packages that appeals to me so I'd hate to have to pony up for stuff I don't watch. Anyone know about this? Thanks in advance!

Search on my username and you'll see a reply from when I asked this question. I was told by a forum member that digital package subscription IS NOT required. I, like you, sure hope this is true.

Best,
jeff

Poochie: Thanks for cluing me onto these MNF threads. Arggggg!! More threads to have to keep up with!! (or more properly, with which to have to keep up!)

What one needs to find out is whether the system you're on(330-550-750-860) is a DAC system or a NAS system. DAC=Good NAS=Bad as far as the DVR goes. I don't know how you would determine that other than trying to talk to a service tech at Comcast. The front line CSRs would probably not know.

Is this thread quiet today, because everyone is out at their stores getting DVRs? Any word? I thought the 11th was the potential first day? Did anyone try? The silences is deafening.

More importantly, did anyone try in San Francisco?

Russ

2 questions...

any have the phone number for the san francisco comcast office on potrero?

is there anywhere in the menu for the 6200 to stretch the pic out for standard digital so the black bars are gone? or whats the best way to view non-HD channels?

Originally posted by youngbuc
2 questions...

any have the phone number for the san francisco comcast office on potrero?


If you try this number they might have it, this number shows for Sansome (415) 675-2300


is there anywhere in the menu for the 6200 to stretch the pic out for standard digital so the black bars are gone? or whats the best way to view non-HD channels?

The best way to do that is with the aspect controls on you display if it has them, my Mits has one that stretches the sides and leaves the middle close to normal, I don't think the 6200 has any controls for that...

Originally posted by russwong
Is this thread quiet today, because everyone is out at their stores getting DVRs? Any word? I thought the 11th was the potential first day? Did anyone try? The silences is deafening.

More importantly, did anyone try in San Francisco?

Russ

We've heard Bay Area DVR rollout is on hold :( (verifed by DCT Dicator and others)

Looks like 11/30 is the earliest potential release

I have no desire to search this thread to find this out but..... any word on when fox will be brought to the bay area? How frustrating it is to watch the 49ers every week on my hdtv in crappy tv mode...

Originally posted by cleoent
I have no desire to search this thread to find this out but..... any word on when fox will be brought to the bay area? How frustrating it is to watch the 49ers every week on my hdtv in crappy tv mode...

In short, try again next year.

doh :(

Anyone know the direct phone number of the Comcast storefront in Danville?

Originally posted by cleoent
I have no desire to search this thread to find this out but..... any word on when fox will be brought to the bay area? How frustrating it is to watch the 49ers every week on my hdtv in crappy tv mode...

While not a 9er fan (go Cowboys! - but not much to cheer about this year, kinda like your 9ers), I too am tired of watching NFC games in analog. I've decided this weekend to rig up an outdoor antenna to get Fox and anything else coming off the Sutro tower. I've got a Samsung 150 OTA tuner from my early days with HD that's been put away since I signed up with Comcast, so I'll be rolling it out again. I can get CBS with an indoor antenna atop my TV, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Fox with an outdoor unit. Just wished I would have done this earlier so I could have enjoyed the World Series in HD. Also looking forward to doing some A/B comparisons with the Motorola box via component and the Sammy via RGB. Anyone know if the 6412s have HDMI out? Also, will it be possible for me to record programming on the 6412 that I'm receiving via the Sammy OTA box?

Originally posted by platypus
Also, will it be possible for me to record programming on the 6412 that I'm receiving via the Sammy OTA box?

There is no way to record any non-cable material on the 6412. You are limited to just the offerings of Comcast.

However, with some of the OTA recorders available, you can record any unencrypted Comcast content, as well as all OTA content. Also, you may want to think about a D-VHS unit that can record via firewire from the 6412 and any OTA receiver with firewire outputs.

On a different note, I'm having a strange guide problem with my 6200. When I'm tuned into any of my HD channels, the on screen guide won't work. When I press the remote guide button the only thing that happens is it switches between the channel number and the current time on the front display of the 6200. When I'm watching an SD channel I can display the guide just fine. I haven't changed any of the settings on my 6200, it just started this out of the blue. Any thoughts?

Originally posted by Ace of Space
Any thoughts? The only time this occurs for me is when the TV input is set to S-video. If you are viewing through a non-HD input, such as S-video or coax, the guide will not come through on the HD channels.

I had this problem with the 5100 AND 6200. I use component video thru my Denon receiver, and I couldn't see any guides etc. on HD channels. I changed the setup on the box from 1080i to 480i for the 4:3 override, and now I can see. I have no idea if this is a good idea, of course ... I'm a complete bonehead about this stuff.

BTW, I have a Loewe 4:3 teevee that emulates 16:9, so I tell the box (and DVD player, for that matter) I have a 16:9 set.

I just remembered, my kids were playing Halo 2 this morning and when they were finished playing they changed the input on my TV to the channel 3 coax input. Their cartoons came back on and that's all they were concerned with. They should have chosen the HD input. As soon as I changed it to the "correct" input, my guide now works the way it should. Thanks for the replies. Carry on, all is well now.

Is there a thread in this forum dedicated to a city or region that already has the 6412 released? I checked a few, and couldn't find one. It would be interesting to follow the comments of those who have one-- how it works and what problems have been encountered.

Originally posted by John Mace
Is there a thread in this forum dedicated to a city or region that already has the 6412 released? I checked a few, and couldn't find one. It would be interesting to follow the comments of those who have one-- how it works and what problems have been encountered.

Try here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=464986

Hey guys, I'm curious. A comcast tech told me that the service in my area is not 100% digital yet, which is the reason why PQ isn't the greatest on SD or HD channels. Another fellow who claimed to be a Comcast tech in Georgia on another board told me online that his area would be digital in January 2005. Anybody know why the signal has not been upgraded here in the Bay Area?

I don't think it 100% digital anywhere yet, I don't think it can be, otherwise basic cable would not work with analog TVs. If it was we would have gobs of room for more channels and services.

Anyone see the Matrix trilogy tonite(Sat) on Cinemax? The first two movies looked great and sounded great, the third was pixelating so bad during actions scenes that is was difficult to see what was going on. The sound was different than the other two movies also, it didn't seem as dynamic as the first two. I wonder if it was Comcast, Cinemax or the source material itself. It was cool watching all three in a row in HD but the last one was really bad as far as PQ and sound.

Originally posted by keenan
Anyone see the Matrix trilogy tonite(Sat) on Cinemax? The first two movies looked great and sounded great, the third was pixelating so bad during actions scenes that is was difficult to see what was going on. The sound was different than the other two movies also, it didn't seem as dynamic as the first two. I wonder if it was Comcast, Cinemax or the source material itself. It was cool watching all three in a row in HD but the last one was really bad as far as PQ and sound.

Dude I dread watching movies like that because of the problem that Comcast HD has with fast motion scenes. I would have avoided seeing Revolutions entirely and just rent the DVD because in the case of action scenes, my trusty DVD player packs a punch compared to what Comcast HD has to offer. I just hope people are REALLY complaining to them about this so that they find a solution. Heck, at this point anybody with a new HDMI DVD player is getting a better picture than what Comcast HD has to offer when it comes to movies broadcast on HD>

John Mace;

I have the 6412 and it works well. The new iGuide is much better.

Two problems:

1. I still have the old remote. The new remote is coming out Tuesday and has the "swap" button to change between tuners. But I can record and watch something else at the same time.

2. My DVI doesn't work. It is connected, but I just get a black screen with DVI in red in the top left. Comcast is supposed to look at that on Tuesday as well.

Rich N.

Originally posted by neoufo51
Hey guys, I'm curious. A comcast tech told me that the service in my area is not 100% digital yet, which is the reason why PQ isn't the greatest on SD or HD channels. Another fellow who claimed to be a Comcast tech in Georgia on another board told me online that his area would be digital in January 2005. Anybody know why the signal has not been upgraded here in the Bay Area?


Neoufo...what is wrong with the PQ of your HD channels...they should be identical to the broadcast signal (they are digital and not compressed). The SD channels should be okay, but some maybe upconverted from Analog or compressed.

The Bay Area will not be all digital until "At least" late 2006 (despite what that guy told you...we've heard the late 2006 date from the local VP...and I believe even that is optimistic)..When its "all digital" channels 1-80 will be gone..currently they are analog and eat up enormous bandwidth (1 Analog = 2-3 HD = 8-10 SD)

Saw 'Master and Commander' on HBO last night (COMCAST, connected to hlp 6163 via DVI), and it looked spectacular, better than my DVD (on a Denon 2910). So good HD really is better than even a good up-converting DVD.

I was thinking of watching Master and Commander, but over on the programming section folks said it was cropped beyond recognition. Did you notice anything similar?

No, I didn,t. It filled the full screen and seemed just right so far as I remember.

Originally posted by davisdog
Neoufo...what is wrong with the PQ of your HD channels...they should be identical to the broadcast signal (they are digital and not compressed). The SD channels should be okay, but some maybe upconverted from Analog or compressed.

Well, Keenan is seeing what I'm seeing if you saw his post above. Fast motion scenes on HD channels have significant pixelation. I saw water polo the other night on HDNet and man was that messed up. All those people and that water rushing around did transfer well on the Comcast signal.

Originally posted by neoufo51
Well, Keenan is seeing what I'm seeing if you saw his post above. Fast motion scenes on HD channels have significant pixelation. I saw water polo the other night on HDNet and man was that messed up. All those people and that water rushing around did transfer well on the Comcast signal.


If you're watching HDNet then your source is NOT Comcast. Comcast does not carry HDNet. Either way, if you see pixelation issues then 99% of the time it's one of two things: the original source is messed up and it's going look that way regardless of who you're getting your content from (i.e. Comcast, D*, OTA, etc.) or there's a bandwidth problem in a specific geographical area (could be your house, your street, your city, or even the entire Bay Area). As it's been said many times before, Comcast does nothing to signal it receives -- it just passes it on without compressing it or anything.

Originally posted by neoufo51
Well, Keenan is seeing what I'm seeing if you saw his post above.


Not exactly, if you re-read my post I indicated that the first two movies were fine, it was the last one, Revolutions, that anytime there was significant action on the screen it was a pixelated mess, so bad that it was difficult to even see what was going on. I have to assume it was the source material as the first two movies looked fantastic. I don't normally have any complaints about the HD quality on Comcast, it's as good as what is provided to them, but last night Cinemax looked terrible on the last movie. Underworld came on after and it looked fine.

Originally posted by millerwill
No, I didn,t. It filled the full screen and seemed just right so far as I remember.

But it shouldn't have been, that movie is a 2:40 OAR image, you should have had bars above and below the image. That's a problem with HBO apparently, they 16x9 all the movies regardless of OAR. I didn't watch it but I have read that it was zoomed in to fill the 16x9 screen.

Originally posted by neoufo51
Heck, at this point anybody with a new HDMI DVD player is getting a better picture than what Comcast HD has to offer when it comes to movies broadcast on HD>

First, HDMI has nothing to do with the PQ, it's a connector, if you are talking about an upconverted image it still is not as good as a movie that has been transfered to HD and then broadcast. I have a Denon 5900 and have compared the two images and while the Denon looks spectacular it's not as good as a good HD transfer for broadcast.

If you are getting a lot of breakup then something must be wrong as fender4645 said, I would get a service call and have them check your signal.

Originally posted by millerwill
Saw 'Master and Commander' on HBO last night (COMCAST, connected to hlp 6163 via DVI), and it looked spectacular, better than my DVD (on a Denon 2910). So good HD really is better than even a good up-converting DVD.

I have the D-VHS tape of M&C. Far better than DVD too. What are the broadcsters using for source? I have taken to recording HD movies from TV as they are almost always superior to DVD, and I have not found any DVD upconverters that do much at all.

Bill

Originally posted by fender4645
If you're watching HDNet then your source is NOT Comcast. Comcast does not carry HDNet. Either way, if you see pixelation issues then 99% of the time it's one of two things: the original source is messed up and it's going look that way regardless of who you're getting your content from (i.e. Comcast, D*, OTA, etc.) or there's a bandwidth problem in a specific geographical area (could be your house, your street, your city, or even the entire Bay Area). As it's been said many times before, Comcast does nothing to signal it receives -- it just passes it on without compressing it or anything.

Well, that's sort of true and not. Kron4-HD, channel 704 shows HDnet lite, so it's not HDnet and then again it is. It's old programing that is used to show providers the quality of HD net, it's a waste of bandwidth for us in the 2% areas but then again that's another story for another day.....

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by Bill Ball
What are the broadcsters using for source? I have taken to recording HD movies from TV as they are almost always superior to DVD, and I have not found any DVD upconverters that do much at all.

Bill

I believe most are HD transfers from the original film prints. I agree about the up-converters, while the Denon does a good job of it, in most cases it is indistinguishable from a nice 480p image. The quality of the DVD transfer makes a much larger difference in the quality of the picture IMO. To really take advantage of up-converting I think you would go with an outboard scaler which would allow 1:1 pixel mapping if using a digital display to get the best picture you can. You're still talking about 480i source material though for DVD.

Jim

Originally posted by Mikef5
Well, that's sort of true and not. Kron4-HD, channel 704 shows HDnet lite, so it's not HDnet and then again it is.

Laters,
Mikef5

That's not even on anymore is it? I haven't looked in awhile...

Jim

Originally posted by keenan
But it shouldn't have been, that movie is a 2:40 OAR image, you should have had bars above and below the image. That's a problem with HBO apparently, they 16x9 all the movies regardless of OAR. I didn't watch it but I have read that it was zoomed in to fill the 16x9 screen.

Now that you remind me, I believe it did have narrow black bars at the top and bottom.

Originally posted by keenan
That's not even on anymore is it? I haven't looked in awhile...

Jim

I checked during half time of the 49er's game and it's still there. Sometimes it shows channel 4 programming and sometimes HDNet lite and then sometimes there's nothing, sort of like Comcast, you never know what is going to happen :)
Anyways, back to the game. I am so glad that I've found OTA HD, I can actually watch the 49er's in HD and not worry when and if Comcast will ever get it for cable and even then if the 2%er's would ever get it.

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by millerwill
Now that you remind me, I believe it did have narrow black bars at the top and bottom.

That would be unusual for HBO to do that, normally they run all the movies full screen. For a 2:40 movie the bars should have been quite noticeable. I'll have to check and see when they show it again.

This thread here talks about M&C on HBO,

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=469544
"Master and Commander" hideously cropped - AVS Forum

Originally posted by Mikef5
I am so glad that I've found OTA HD, I can actually watch the 49er's in HD and not worry when and if Comcast will ever get it for cable and even then if the 2%er's would ever get it.

Laters,
Mikef5

I wish I could get it OTA....

Originally posted by Mikef5
Well, that's sort of true and not. Kron4-HD, channel 704 shows HDnet lite, so it's not HDnet and then again it is. It's old programing that is used to show providers the quality of HD net, it's a waste of bandwidth for us in the 2% areas but then again that's another story for another day.....

Laters,
Mikef5 Yes, that is what I'm referring to. There was a water polo game on 704 last night and anytime the players would thrash about in the water, pixelation galore. You are correct, its mainly a showcase with features that include Mark Cuban himself.

I also found the picture breakup terrible on the last Matrix - in the northbay.

I've had comcast out before to "fix" my pixel breakup problem.

Any consensus as to cause.

jb

Originally posted by jb33
I also found the picture breakup terrible on the last Matrix - in the northbay.

I've had comcast out before to "fix" my pixel breakup problem.

Any consensus as to cause.

jb People are telling me this is called "tiling" by the Comcast techs and could be because of signal strength problems.

Originally posted by jb33
I also found the picture breakup terrible on the last Matrix - in the northbay.

I've had comcast out before to "fix" my pixel breakup problem.

Any consensus as to cause.

jb

I only noticed it during the last movie, thats why I don't think it's a Comcast problem. Do you get pixelation a lot in general or was it just on last night's movie?

Originally posted by keenan
I don't think it 100% digital anywhere yet, I don't think it can be, otherwise basic cable would not work with analog TVs. If it was we would have gobs of room for more channels and services.

Not far from reality.

I think about all the labor saving features - having the cable live with a 100% encrypted content eliminates the need for techs to visit each disconnect & reconnect. The physical plant has less wear & tear and will last longer with higher reliability - witness ancient distribution systems in bulk accounts (hotels, large apartments, schools) that have not been touched since being installed 20 years ago that look good as new and were still pushing signals beyond it's bandwidth capacity.

This also opens up instant self install of cable modems & VOIP. Traps for basic, and the manpower to install them - gone.

Only cost factor is more set top boxes :D Unlike addressable taps, in which the provider must buy and install a complete unit for each home passed in the system, only the customers buying the services need the capital outlay for CPE.

Yes, gain a lot of bandwidth with no rebuild. Annnd the PQ.

All digital is what it's called. Looking forward to it.

Originally posted by DCTDictator
Only cost factor is more set top boxes :D Unlike addressable taps, in which the provider must buy and install a complete unit for each home passed in the system, only the customers buying the services need the capital outlay for CPE.

And Comcast would have to stop charging rental fees for the box, right? Well, I guess they wouldn't have to charge...but that wouldn't bode to well for current customers who just want the basic cable channels. Then again, they could just hike up each package price by $5 to recover the costs. Yikes.

Originally posted by fender4645
And Comcast would have to stop charging rental fees for the box, right? Well, I guess they wouldn't have to charge...but that wouldn't bode to well for current customers who just want the basic cable channels. Then again, they could just hike up each package price by $5 to recover the costs. Yikes.

Under current FCC mandates the cablecos would have to get over the hurdle of the "no STB requirement for basic cable" issue before they can even think about using converter STBs for legacy analog TVs. This is something that Congress has been looking at but we all know how long it takes for them to look at something..:(

Originally posted by DCTDictator
Not far from reality.

All digital is what it's called. Looking forward to it.

So am I, but realistically I don't see it happening for at least 2-3 years...

Originally posted by Mikef5
Anyways, back to the game. I am so glad that I've found OTA HD, I can actually watch the 49er's in HD and not worry when and if Comcast will ever get it for cable and even then if the 2%er's would ever get it.

Laters,
Mikef5

Bled new life into my Samsung OTA receiver this weekend and rigged up a Channel Master 4221. I was kicking myself for not having done so sooner. It was great watching the Fox games in HD! Don't mean to rub it in... ;)

Although November 30 is the unofficial official date for release of the 6412 in the Bay Area, I was told today it conceivably could be earlier, so it makes senses to keep calling every couple of days and see what the CSR's are saying.

It would really be a bummer if release was accelerated before 11/30 and you call on 11/30 only to find out they are temporarily out of stock!

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher

It would really be a bummer if release was accelerated before 11/30 and you call on 11/30 only to find out they are temporarily out of stock!

In my book it would be a catastrophe of major proportions, considering others around the country are trading in their 6208s to get 6412s and we have yet to even have this animal called a DVR in our neighborhoods yet...:D

so Matrix Revolutions is on right now and in the last ten minutes since I turned it on the Pixelation has been really bad. Called Comcast an they figure its a signal problem. But they have already come out to fix that here. ANy other explanation?
jb

Originally posted by jb33
so Matrix Revolutions is on right now and in the last ten minutes since I turned it on the Pixelation has been really bad. Called Comcast an they figure its a signal problem. But they have already come out to fix that here. ANy other explanation?
jb

I really believe in this particular case that Cinemax is not providing adequate bandwidth for this movie, it seems to have much more complicated action and rapid movement than the other two, plus it's possible that this movie was transferred to HD using a higher bitrate which Cinemax is not providing for. I'm curious what others across the country are seeing from their providers.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Although November 30 is the unofficial official date for release of the 6412 in the Bay Area, I was told today it conceivably could be earlier, so it makes senses to keep calling every couple of days and see what the CSR's are saying.

Does anyone have the phone number to call the San Francisco Potrero location to see?

Only number is the 800 number and Sansome (415) 675-2300, is this the same location?

Thanks...

6412 is rolling out to the public in Sacramento on November 20th and Los Angeles on November 22nd.

No word on Fresno area.

I too was watching Matrix Revolutions last night. During the scheme when Neo get's his eyes burned by "Agent Smith" in the real world and there are flashing lights, the pixelation was HORRIFIC. I've never seen anything this bad. I've got good signal (SNR) and good AGC at my location, too. So CSR is wrong.

I agree with keenan. The fault is low bandwidth.

Best,
jeff

VOOM user reported the same problem. The problem must be originating at Cinemax (or its satellite feeds).

I guess no one from HBO (which owns cinemax) is watching what is getting delivered. If I was the content provider and this is the product that was delivered, I would be very upset.

Best,
jeff

Right on. That is exactly the scene I was watching in the 10 minutes before I wrote.

jb

Originally posted by greeno
I too was watching Matrix Revolutions last night. During the scheme when Neo get's his eyes burned by "Agent Smith" in the real world and there are flashing lights, the pixelation was HORRIFIC. I've never seen anything this bad. I've got good signal (SNR) and good AGC at my location, too. So CSR is wrong.

I agree with keenan. The fault is low bandwidth.

Best,
jeff

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
VOOM user reported the same problem. The problem must be originating at Cinemax (or its satellite feeds).

That confirms it then, which is good to know, at least we wont have to bother Comcast about.

Now, back to bothering them about the DVR..:D

So if we think it's cinemax, right now the rundown is on and looks terrible with pixel breakup - or just did during the fight scene in the club. How do we complain to cinemax?

jb

Originally posted by jb33
So if we think it's cinemax, right now the rundown is on and looks terrible with pixel breakup - or just did during the fight scene in the club. How do we complain to cinemax?

jb

Not that they will listen, but they are owned by HBO and they only provide this method to email them

http://www.hbo.com/apps/submitinfo/contactus/submit.do

I know people have looked at the bandwidth HBO passes (from the source) and they do throttle the bandwidth somewhat which results in pixelation at times during very fast mothion..(they probably do this to save $ on the bandwidth they lease to send distribute their signal to providers..and hope nobody pays attention..it only pixelates in some instances when the required bandwidth exceeds the pipe..nothing Comcast or others can do)..I assume Cinemax may do the same.

Still getting another freeview.

On another topic, anyone in the North Bay have VOD yet? I know some employees are testing it right now. So it's available at the head ends-- but it hasn't yet been turned on for our STB's to access it.

From Broadcasting & Cable,


Bernstein Praises Comcast Digital Plan

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/17/2004 10:52:00 AM

Bernstein Investment Research and Management came away from a Veteran's Day conversation with executives of Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable company, impressed by plans for so-called digital simultrans.

The strategy is to duplicate an analog cable lineup in digital.

The move could be a sort of de facto multicast must-carry, though Comcast would also arguably have the flexibility to slice and dice the digital channels into different packages or provide a la carte offerings.

Currently, most of Comcast's programming contracts for the analog versions require that they be part of a basic package, Bernstein points out.

Comcast told Bernstein that it has cleared the spectrum on all its systems, made new channel assignments "in every market," and is ready for rapid deployment of the digital version of its analog lineups over the next six months.

The benefits Bernstein sees:

* No more complaints about picture quality from HDTV owners watching analog signals blown up on their big screens.
* Digital boxes could be offered that did not also have to receive analog signals.
* Digital Simulcast tier takers would be able to employ Comcast's video-on-demand service.

Analysts are high on VOD as one of the new services that will help cable start to capitalize on those hefty capital outlays for upgrades over the past few years.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=homepage
Broadcasting & Cable: The Business of Television

It requires a free signup..

SonomaSearcher, this might be of interest to Comcast users at large but I'm not sure where to post it to best serve them, that's why you get the big bucks being a Moderator.. :D

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher

On another topic, anyone in the North Bay have VOD yet? I know some employees are testing it right now. So it's available at the head ends-- but it hasn't yet been turned on for our STB's to access it.

You asked about the north bay, but our here in the east bay sticks, we have vod. My wife thinks it looks interesting.

Best,
jeff

Originally posted by davisdog
Not that they will listen, but they are owned by HBO and they only provide this method to email them

http://www.hbo.com/apps/submitinfo/contactus/submit.do

I know people have looked at the bandwidth HBO passes (from the source) and they do throttle the bandwidth somewhat which results in pixelation at times during very fast mothion..(they probably do this to save $ on the bandwidth they lease to send distribute their signal to providers..and hope nobody pays attention..it only pixelates in some instances when the required bandwidth exceeds the pipe..nothing Comcast or others can do)..I assume Cinemax may do the same.

Called HBO. spoke to a consumer affairs Sup. who said he's going to pass the info onto the engineers. Kinda cool if they work it out.
jb

Originally posted by keenan
From Broadcasting & Cable,


Bernstein Praises Comcast Digital Plan

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/17/2004 10:52:00 AM

Bernstein Investment Research and Management...

That's very interesting. Although it sounds like they're not going to actually get rid of the analog spectrum right away. It sounds like you can have the option of either having channels 2 to ~80 as digital or analog and Comcast will just map the digital channel to the appropriate number. I'd be surprised if they moved their entire network to digital in the next 6 months...that's a lot of cable boxes that need to go out. This can either be great news or horrible news for the 2% club. Great news if they actually do away with the analog spectrum -- horrible news if they have the "analog" channels on both the digital and analog spectrum. That's just more bandwidth being taken away from potential HD channels.

If you do the math, assuming 8 digital SD channels for each analog, the bandwidth of 9 analog channels = 72 digital SD channels.

So if they can drop 9 analog channels from analog entirely, there will be no net loss of bandwidth. And when the 10th, 11th, etc. analog channels drop off, bandwidth is being freed up.

Looking at my system, take off the TV Guide channel, the "digital preview" channel, the four analog shopping channels and combine the 'California channel' (channel 78 here) with one of the three PEG channels, and that's 7 analog channels gone right there. (Of course, it would be too good to be true if the shopping channels were amongst the first to go.)

Comcast owns the Golf channel and OLN, so those could go off analog anytime it wants. Frankly, the Golf channel has no business being on analog-- should be part of the digital sports tier. OLN is the same but for its coverage of the Tour de France.

Originally posted by keenan
SonomaSearcher, this might be of interest to Comcast users at large but I'm not sure where to post it to best serve them, that's why you get the big bucks being a Moderator.. :D Here, I started a thread in the Hardware forum:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=471182

Originally posted by fender4645
This can either be great news or horrible news for the 2% club.

Taken at face value I think it is good news, the ability to get around the FCC requirement of the No-STB-Rule to provide customers who are only interested in digital signals is a good thing. The thing about this that seems to be a stretch though, is this bandwidth really available to do this?

Maybe this is why we don't have everything that seems to be available and why 550MHz systems are especially handicapped are far as additional channels currently. If this is true, then I would forgive Comcast, as long as this comes to reality soon.

As a 2%'er my BS alarm is going off...There is no way they have the bandwidth just sitting their ready to "digicast" 72 Analog channels on the 550Mhz networks. That is equivalent to the space needed for 18 HD Channels...so they are saying they have that already set aside...haha

and they've already told us that the demise of Analog isnt until at least late 2006 in the Bay Area.

Originally posted by davisdog
As a 2%'er my BS alarm is going off...There is no way they have the bandwidth just sitting their ready to "digicast" 72 Analog channels on the 550Mhz networks. That is equivalent to the space needed for 18 HD Channels...so they are saying they have that already set aside...haha

and they've already told us that the demise of Analog isnt until at least late 2006 in the Bay Area.

This is something that I suspect also, there probably is room on the higher bandwidth systems and this statement about dual carriage has once again, "Oh yeah, we forgot about you guys that we claim are up-graded, sorry, there is not enough room on your upgraded systems to allow this".

I hate to bring it up again, but the 6mos timeline is right in line with DirecTV's expected rollout of LiL-HD.

One could think that these cablecos and satcos are BS'ing each other and their customers to avoid churn and loss of subscribers.

So what was up with KPIXD last night? During the CSI:NY slot it kept saying "Channel will be available shortly" except it never did come back on. I believe it was still out at newstime.

Originally posted by Brian Conrad
So what was up with KPIXD last night? During the CSI:NY slot it kept saying "Channel will be available shortly" except it never did come back on. I believe it was still out at newstime.

See these postings starting here,

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=4675392#post4675392
San Francisco, CA - OTA - AVS Forum

Originally posted by Brian Conrad
So what was up with KPIXD last night? During the CSI:NY slot it kept saying "Channel will be available shortly" except it never did come back on. I believe it was still out at newstime.

I had the same experience. My cable (TV and internet) had been intermitently down quite a bit during the day yesterday. Not sure if those two events were related.

What is the minimum package required to get all the HDTV channels?
Meaning at least INHD1/2, HDSE, and ESPN.
Is it "Digital Classic" ?

walk,
Yes, I have DCT5100, Digital Classic and basic analog and costs a little over $30/mo.

It depends on your location what the minimum subscription is to get the channels you state. In the end, digital classic is what's required. But there are some locations in the bay area, where Those are obtained, using the 6200 box, with only basic analog or extended basic analog subscription. this is because the full encryption has not kicked in in all areas.

Note that the locals should always be unencrypted, so basic analog plus the box rental, or owner owned QAM tuner, will get you that.

Best,
jeff

Does anyone here split the line coming out of the cable jack in the wall between the STB and a cable modem? Would I risk signal degradation on my TV and/or slower internet speeds?

Originally posted by platypus
Does anyone here split the line coming out of the cable jack in the wall between the STB and a cable modem? Would I risk signal degradation on my TV and/or slower internet speeds? That was the way my cable modem was connected by the installer and it worked fine... YMMV. I no longer have the cable internet since it was too expensive and DSL works well where I am.

Is anyone else experiencing short outages on ESPN-HD?

Hi, I am located in Fairfield/Suisun area. Im right between SF and Sac. I have the Comcast HD package, and until now, we still do not get the local HD channels. Vallejo, which is just ten minutes away gets the local HD channels. I was just wondering if anyone in my area or anyone who might have any info as to when my area would get the locals in HD. It sucks cause I know Im paying the same amount as my friend in Vallejo but he gets the local channels in HD. Any info would be great. Thanks.

Neo57, you have a PM..

Re "Is anyone else experiencing short outages on ESPN-HD?"

It happened throughout the Virginia Tech - Maryland football game last night. Other hd channels seemed fine.

Originally posted by platypus
Does anyone here split the line coming out of the cable jack in the wall between the STB and a cable modem? Would I risk signal degradation on my TV and/or slower internet speeds? No, fine here, but make sure you use 1Ghz splitters.

Originally posted by hiker
walk,
Yes, I have DCT5100, Digital Classic and basic analog and costs a little over $30/mo.

Um, what? Are you sure?

I'm paying $42/month alone for "basic" cable...
Digital classic is $9.95 or $51.95, plus the $5 for HDTV equals $57.
How do you get that for $30?

Originally posted by walk
I'm paying $42/month alone for "basic" cable...
Digital classic is $9.95 or $51.95, plus the $5 for HDTV equals $57.
How do you get that for $30?

Walk,
I think you have "Standard" Cable not "Basic"

Standard is Channels 1-80
Basic is just 1-32 (no espn, FSN, MTV etc..)

Basic is ~$16..you add Classic for $10, HD Box for $5 and you are around $30 (+tax etc...)

I don't know about anyone else but I've had it with comcast. I'm tired of waiting, it's been 12 months since they ran the DVR is coming ad. I'm out of here. Project lightspeed can't come fast enough.

DCTDictator,

I have been very patient with comcast but I have had enough. Perhaps you can forward the level of frustration people are having with the pace of change in the Bay Area.

Ah yes, that is "expanded basic". But when I tried just "basic" they put a trap on my line and it KILLED my HSI speeds. Also I didn't get FSN which I NEEEEED for my SF Giants, in the summer anyway... :/

If you have digital do they still put the trap on? Would I get ESPN-HD even if I don't get the analog versions?

Originally posted by walk
If you have digital do they still put the trap on? Yes, I think so, but I didn't realize it caused any degradation in speed.Originally posted by walk
Would I get ESPN-HD even if I don't get the analog versions? Yes, I do.

BTW, I have D* also and at this point I have Comcast just for the HD networks and InHD/InHD2.

Originally posted by walk


If you have digital do they still put the trap on? Would I get ESPN-HD even if I don't get the analog versions?

Yes you do, but I remember that the trap caused the borderline channels to come in really bad, I think they were MTV or something in that area..

DCTDictator,

A quick question. Is VDO and it's software required for the DVR's to be used ??
From what I've been able to garner is that the two are dependent on each other and without the VDO system software you can't use the DVR's. Which brings me to the 2% club again ( you had to know I'd bring this up ) We do not have VDO and it looks like we won't for a couple of years so.........??? Are we getting them or not ???
I really hate to put you on the spot, you have been upfront with all you posts and are the only reason I've stayed as long as I have but it's getting really old seeing all the upgrades being run out to other areas and ours and other less than 2%er's getting nothing except promises of maybe sometime in the future you to can get all these things. Promises are just not cutting it any more.

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by Mikef5
DCTDictator,

A quick question. Is VDO and it's software required for the DVR's to be used ??
From what I've been able to garner is that the two are dependent on each other and without the VDO system software you can't use the DVR's. Which brings me to the 2% club again ( you had to know I'd bring this up ) We do not have VDO and it looks like we won't for a couple of years so.........??? Are we getting them or not ???
I really hate to put you on the spot, you have been upfront with all you posts and are the only reason I've stayed as long as I have but it's getting really old seeing all the upgrades being run out to other areas and ours and other less than 2%er's getting nothing except promises of maybe sometime in the future you to can get all these things. Promises are just not cutting it any more.

Laters,
Mikef5

Just an urban ledgend. The DVRs all load the new iGuide (check www.comcast.com/newguide for a preview) which is not the latest (A23??) version, but it functions. Even my 6208 in a NAS system that will not see VOD until Q1 '05 functions okily dokily.

VOD is currently operating on the old TVGuide.

IMHO, These two simular but different services should be launched about 4 or 5 months apart. VOD is a very important project, with tons more support structure built at the system than DVRs with nothing more than to DVRs than different set top to buy. The Company appears to not want the two services to confuse the customer or take away from each other.

I'm already hearing non technical employees calling the 6412 a 'VOD Box'.

Hang on, it will be good.

DCTDictator,

Thanks for the response and the ray of hope. Like I said you are the reason I've stayed this long, to bad there is not more like you in the Comcast system. So maybe we will get a present for my birthday yet. :)

Laters,
Mikef5

DCTDictator,

I want to make sure you are aware of a particular thread; it's the "Official Comcast 6412 / iGuide Thread". It's a valuable resource since users from all over the country are discussing the positives, negatives, problems, bugs, fixes, hacks, etc. of the 6412 with iGuide.

Remote hacks (not that you would approve :) ) have been a vibrant subject of recent discussion.

The overall impression I get from the thread is that 6412 w/ iGuide users are very pleased with the product although they are finding some bugs that will need to be fixed.

Here is a link to the thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=464986

I live in Moraga and would like to pick up two DVR's on the 30th. Do I need to call in advance or can I just bring in the two boxes I currently have and swap them. One last thing, what is the address for the local warehouse to swap them. I believe there is one in Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek.

Thanks,

Kris

Originally posted by KGD_007
I live in Moraga and would like to pick up two DVR's on the 30th. Do I need to call in advance or can I just bring in the two boxes I currently have and swap them. One last thing, what is the address for the local warehouse to swap them. I believe there is one in Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek.

Kris-

There's a local office on Contra Costa Blvd in Pleasant Hill. I'm not sure of the address but if you get off on Contra Costa Blvd and go North (past downtown Pleasant Hill) it's about 2 miles up on the right -- right where there's a sign for Outback and Chevy's. You should be able to swap your boxes there however there may be a limit of one per customer initially.

DCT, is there any word in your neck of the woods about limiting the number of boxes a customer can initially get?

Originally posted by fender4645
DCT, is there any word in your neck of the woods about limiting the number of boxes a customer can initially get?

No official word, but there have been locally imposed limits in the past during short supply periods.

To me, I look at it as revenue. $20 is $20 whether it's 2 dvrs at one customer or 1 each at two customers. Though you don't want to tick off customer #3 telling him/her that there are no more to sell, thereby breaking the camel's back and losing them to DBS.

DCT:

Will the 6412s be available in Livermore?

Thanks for the quick reply. Can't believe this might actually happen. It has been really tough living somewhere with absolutely no chance of OTA reception of HD. Now if only Comcast will get Fox before the superbowl. I am going to be really ticked if I have to start up with DirecTV again just to get this for my annual Superbowl party. My monthly bill to Comcast is over $150 per month without any PPV, so I hope they are listening that they need figure out a way to get the basic HD channels up and going.

Really looking forward to being able to watch network HD programming when I want to. I have seemed to miss most of the programs I want to watch and have been unwill to tape and watch them in SD.

DCT is has been great having some reliable insight into what is going on. I have a couple friends that work with Comcast in the Bay Area, but they always seem to be a couple days behind you.

Thanks,

Kris

Originally posted by KGD_007
Now if only Comcast will get Fox before the superbowl. I am going to be really ticked if I have to start up with DirecTV again just to get this for my annual Superbowl party.

Don't count on the Super Bowl being an incentive for Comcast and/or Cox to come to an agreement. We had the same issue with last year's Super Bowl and Comcast/Sinclair. Needless to say...there was no HD Super Bowl on Comcast Sacramento, nor is CBS up and running here yet.

Originally posted by nightowl
Don't count on the Super Bowl being an incentive for Comcast and/or Cox to come to an agreement. We had the same issue with last year's Super Bowl and Comcast/Sinclair. Needless to say...there was no HD Super Bowl on Comcast Sacramento, nor is CBS up and running here yet. Agreed. Comcast most likely won't have KTVU-DT (Fox HD) until after 10/1/2005. That is the date by which KTVU's owner (Cox) has to elect "retransmission consent" or "must carry" for KTVU's analog signal for the upcoming three-year contract/retransmission period (1/1/2006 to 12/31/2008). At that point, assuming Cox chooses "retransmission consent", negotiations will get serious because Comcast won't agree to deliver KTVU analog without also being able to deliver KTVU digital in HD (specifically, in 720p).

The same date and rules (per the FCC) apply to every channel out there.

If you really want Fox HD (for the Super Bowl or otherwise) but don't want to spend a lot, try a cheap OTA box (second hand, open box or some other deal) and if you can't get KTVU, point your antenna to Sacramento and try to get KTXL's digital signal.

That's what I do here. Can't get KTVU-DT over the air worth a damn, but KTXL-DT from Sacto comes in clear as a bell. And it's kind of satisfying, because I'm watching KTXL's advertisers (KTXL does have a deal with Comcast for Sacramento area systems) and not KTVU's advertisers when I'm watching Fox.

DirecTV probably will require a year's contract, plus you have to buy an HD box (unless you get someone to loan you an older one they're not using). As I understand it, Dish does not require a year contract and will lease equipment-- but doesn't have Fox HD.

Plus with DirecTV, you'll have to get a fake service address, outside of KTVU's territory (either in a white area or an O&O area). That, or pursue the waiver process-- which takes a while so you better start now if that's your plan. Also, the waiver process may not work-- what if KTVU sends someone to your house and he says he can get KTVU just fine with his testing equipment! (If that happens, you are responsible for the cost of the test; if the test goes your way, KTVU pays.)

And, for the slightly more adventurous, there is Canadian DBS. I don't know much about that in terms of contracts, equipment, etc. You do have to have a Canadian service address, but that's not too hard to get (kinda like the DirecTV service address).

Kris-

Regarding what Sonoma said about OTA, the odds of you getting it in Moraga are pretty much slim to none -- both Sutro and Sacto stations. Moraga is nothing but a series of small valleys in the East Bay hills however these hills are small enough to not allow line-of-sight to any of the transmitters, even if you live on top of a hill. The Skyline Ridge blocks all transmissions to Sutro and Mt. Diablo will block anything trying to get to Sacto. I guess there's a slim chance that you could point an antenna north-east (following the pattern of where Highway 4 goes) however I'd say there are very few homes that would even have a chance at that. I personally live in between two 100-150 ft. hills and I'm lucky if I can even get an FM radio signal. The upside, of course, is that my iPod's FM transmitter works quite well out here. :)

Don't want to take this thread off topic, but it was my understanding that DTV had an agreement with Fox for the Bay Area, and a waiver was not needed. I haven't followed the DTV threads for a while, might have the check them out again.

I still have two HD DTV boxes and the dish. I switched to Comcast about a year ago because that was the only way to get network HD. I think DTV now has CBS, NBC and Fox in the Bay Area. All I would have to do is call to have the account reactived as everything is still hooked up and ready to go. I might check into what type of service commitment I will need.

I am happy with the setup I have now with Comcast and don't want to switch back to DTV again. However, as they continue to get more local networks in HD, I may be temped. I guess the other option for the superbowl is to borrow a friends HD box for the day and just hook it up to my dish.

I really can't wait until all of the providers can broadcast all of the network HD feeds in the major markets, so we can have a few more options for providers.

I guess the final option would be to put up a 750' antenna, but I imagine I may need a special permit for that. The neighbors might not be up for that either.

Kris

Originally posted by KGD_007

I think DTV now has CBS, NBC and Fox in the Bay Area.


This is incorrect, DirecTV has CBS-LA/NY and NBC-LA/NY in HD and you do not need any waivers in the bay area to receive these although there are some customers who have had problems getting them turned on, particularly NBC because of the proximity of two non-O&O stations close by.

Fox-HD was turned on only for the MLB playoffs and the World Series and was only available to people in O&O markets, which SF is not, and to some lucky folks like myself who got confused CSRs. :D

I have no doubt that the Super Bowl will be on DirecTV as a special event channel like the baseball was, but again probably not in the SF market.

All in all, IMO, Comcast is still the best deal going for HD, the only thing they lack really is the Fox-HD signal which neither satco has currently either.

Originally posted by keenan
I have no doubt that the Super Bowl will be on DirecTV as a special event channel like the baseball was, but again probably not in the SF market.

All in all, IMO, Comcast is still the best deal going for HD, the only thing they lack really is the Fox-HD signal which neither satco has currently either.

Goddamn it. I might have to find a cheap OTA box and fast. No exception for that Special Events channel I take it. Sigh.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Agreed. Comcast most likely won't have KTVU-DT (Fox HD) until after 10/1/2005. That is the date by which KTVU's owner (Cox) has to elect "retransmission consent" or "must carry" for KTVU's analog signal for the upcoming three-year contract/retransmission period (1/1/2006 to 12/31/2008). At that point, assuming Cox chooses "retransmission consent", negotiations will get serious because Comcast won't agree to deliver KTVU analog without also being able to deliver KTVU digital in HD (specifically, in 720p).

The same date and rules (per the FCC) apply to every channel out there.



So the station must elect must-carry or re-transmission consent for both/all channels, which is unlike the current situation...

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
DCTDictator,

I want to make sure you are aware of a particular thread; it's the "Official Comcast 6412 / iGuide Thread". It's a valuable resource since users from all over the country are discussing the positives, negatives, problems, bugs, fixes, hacks, etc. of the 6412 with iGuide.

Remote hacks (not that you would approve :) ) have been a vibrant subject of recent discussion.

The overall impression I get from the thread is that 6412 w/ iGuide users are very pleased with the product although they are finding some bugs that will need to be fixed.

Here is a link to the thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=464986


Thanks - I noticed a couple of posts mentioning the box crashing when navigating the menus. I've seen that happen, no explaination. Reminded me of my first 6208 that would dump & reload when ever I hit 'MENU'.

I leaked the swap & skip instructions to some people - directors and trainers. Total respect for the geek time. The skip function works on my 6208, giving me even more respect at home.

Originally posted by keenan
So the station must elect must-carry or re-transmission consent for both/all channels, which is unlike the current situation... Actually not and sorry for the confusion. The station can elect must carry for only one signal-- analog or digital.

But Cox in all likelihood won't elect must carry for either signal (since must carry gives it zero compensation), but will elect retransmission consent, which would require Comcast and Cox to negotiate carriage of the analog signal. The theory is that Comcast would not agree to analog carriage without also getting the right to full digital carriage.

Of course, Cox could surprise everyone and elect must carry for the analog signal and then attempt to negotiate a deal for the digital signal.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Actually not and sorry for the confusion. The station can elect must carry for only one signal-- analog or digital.

Which would leave the other signal(HD) up for re-transmission consent negotiation, yes?


But Cox in all likelihood won't elect must carry for either signal (since must carry gives it zero compensation), but will elect retransmission consent, which would require Comcast and Cox to negotiate carriage of the analog signal.
The theory is that Comcast would not agree to analog carriage without also getting the right to full digital carriage.

Because Cox knows that Comcast must have KTVU in some manner to be competitive, having all four major networks, imagine cable without any Fox programming...?


Of course, Cox could surprise everyone and elect must carry for the analog signal and then attempt to negotiate a deal for the digital signal.

Which would be the current situation, waiting for contract renewal...

I'm just trying to follow the thinking here, not trying to be argumentative...:D

Comcast SFBA should do a deal with the Fox affliate in Sacramento and feed it's digital signal in this market. That would give them leverage to negotiate with KTVU - they can do that and feed it in from the old viacom master headend in Pleasanton, and screw KTVU in the process. If KTVU wants to be paid, and the Sacto station would love to get the extra eyeballs from the SFBA distribution, that would be the smart thing for Comcast to do.

Thanks,
Mike

The current analog contract with KTVU might prohibit the Sacto station from being carried here (analog or digital), but once the KTVU analog contract expires on 12/31/2005, that probably could be a solution. (As long as FCC rules and Comcast's contracts with Fox Networks/Fox O&O's don't preclude it.)

I know that they don't serve every city, but for those who can get service from RCN, they offer Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPNHD, and PBS. They're all included for the price of the converter.

Larry
SF

Three weeks later and it's still happening.....MNF was a disaster!
Anyone else? Could I have a bad receiver, or is this a known ongoing problem?

Originally posted by mds54
New installation.....San Jose 750Mhz rebuild, 6200 receiver:
cannot watch LOCAL digital/HD channels without an intermittent picture freeze and then black screen - no video/audio - for up to 30-45 seconds before reception returns. This seems to be happening about 1-3 times per hour. All other channels (including other HDs) don't seem to be affected by this problem. Any ideas/solutions? Thanks in advance!

Originally posted by mds54
Three weeks later and it's still happening.....MNF was a disaster!
Anyone else? Could I have a bad receiver, or is this a known ongoing problem?

I watched the first 3 quarters and didn't see anything like this, although I have to admit it was only getting about 75% of attention.

Originally posted by mds54
Three weeks later and it's still happening.....MNF was a disaster!
Anyone else? Could I have a bad receiver, or is this a known ongoing problem?

Sounds like a problem local to your area or your installation. I had no problems with MNF, KPIX OTOH was breaking up a lot, pixelation during Raymond...

Originally posted by keenan
Sounds like a problem local to your area or your installation. I had no problems with MNF, KPIX OTOH was breaking up a lot, pixelation during Raymond...

Actually, I had the same problem but I just switched to OTA, no problems there. As a matter of fact I now watch the OTA local HD more than the Comcast ones, just seem to be a better picture.

Laters,
Mikef5

New installation.....San Jose 750Mhz rebuild, 6200 receiver:
cannot watch LOCAL digital/HD channels without an intermittent picture freeze and then black screen - no video/audio - for up to 30-45 seconds before reception returns. This seems to be happening about 1-3 times per hour. All other channels (including other HDs) don't seem to be affected by this problem. Any ideas/solutions?

It could be interference from an outside signal leaking into your cable, like a pager transmitter. I had a similar problem, only some HD channels effected. The tech replaced a bunch of connectors and upgraded some patch cables and swapped the HD tuner box and things have been great ever since.

What does the diagnotics menu show? S/N? AGC? errors?

Originally posted by efball
It could be interference from an outside signal leaking into your cable, like a pager transmitter. I had a similar problem, only some HD channels effected. The tech replaced a bunch of connectors and upgraded some patch cables and swapped the HD tuner box and things have been great ever since.

What does the diagnotics menu show? S/N? AGC? errors?

I've had this problem before and it's Comcast doing something with the software that they are installing for the IGuide. I've had short freeze ups on 707 and 705 and I've checked the OTA channels and they are transmitting fine with no freeze ups or dropouts. The last time this happened it was much worse, lasting several minutes and affected alot more channels. I believe this is a local, 2%er area, problem since we are bandwidth challenged. The last time this happened I actually talked to the Supervisor for our head-end and he confirmed that there was a problem with the software, so I think it is happening again.

Laters,
Mikef5

Last night (and other times recently) I had at least 705 and 709 dropping out for 30 sec + (would goto "this channel available shortly)...seemed limited to just the HD channels...Was around 7-9pm when I noticed it

I recently had to trade in my 6200 unit for another one because of the DVI port not working..I couldnt get a 6205 but this unit is working well.

Right now I can see all the channels except pay per views. I can see HBO-W and SHOw in HD along with a slew of not-VIP SD channels..any reason for this? Comcast saying happy holidays?

Still no Discovery HD..

Originally posted by SpeedyHTPC
I recently had to trade in my 6200 unit for another one because of the DVI port not working..I couldnt get a 6205 but this unit is working well.

Right now I can see all the channels except pay per views. I can see HBO-W and SHOw in HD along with a slew of not-VIP SD channels..any reason for this? Comcast saying happy holidays?


If you didn't sign up for the digital deluxe top teir couch potato pak, the box is in temp-enable. Enjoy until it's refreshed, or call for an immediate hit if you do not want the programming in you home.

Originally posted by efball
What does the diagnotics menu show? S/N? AGC? errors?

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.....still not sure if this is on my end or a Comcast area problem.
Please excuse my newbie ignorance, but how do I invoke the diagnostics menu? What should I be looking for?

Originally posted by mds54
Thanks to everyone for the feedback.....still not sure if this is on my end or a Comcast area problem.
Please excuse my newbie ignorance, but how do I invoke the diagnostics menu? What should I be looking for?

With the STB on, press the power button on the remote to turn it off, then right away press the OK/Select button. A screen will come up that says Diagnostics. Down arrow using the remote to Inband Status and then hit OK/Select again. You will have a screen that shows the SNR and the AGC, one should have a db reading and the other a percent, both should say Good. If you watch the screen for a little while these numbers may change up and down. Mine currently reads SNR 34.9db and AGC 48%. Now, if I remember correctly, you don't want a high number for the AGC as that means the box is trying harder to get the signal which indicates there may be a problem. At the bottom of that screen there is some readings for error counts, ideally they should read 0000, if they do show some numbers the reading to worry about it is the un-correctable number, if you are getting a reading in there I think that indicates a problem also. You can't hurt anything in here by looking around either, it's all read-only. To back out of the menu screen just hit the power button once to get out and then again to turn the box back on.

So after 5 months of no new messages ( red light on the box ), I finally get a message from Comcast----- "COMCAST HIRING IN NEW JERSEY" -- The last I checked I don't live in New Jersey and isn't that like being sent to Siberia for Comcast workers :)
Well at least I know the message function works and that Comcast is trying to get the 2%ers to move to Siberia...

Laters,
Mikef5

yep...I got the same message this morning (the optimist in me thought it would be announcing the availability of DVRs :D

I'm sure they are going to get alot of responses from Silicon Valley subscribers wanting to move to New Jersey to climb poles in the winter (will we get combat pay?)

Mine currently reads SNR 34.9db and AGC 48%. Now, if I remember correctly, you don't want a high number for the AGC as that means the box is trying harder to get the signal which indicates there may be a problem. At the bottom of that screen there is some readings for error counts, ideally they should read 0000

An AGC (Automatic Gain Control) level around 50% is prefect. The tech said my signal levels were ideal and I'm getting around 55% readings. If you are seeing up around 90% your signal level is too weak, I had that problem before I ran new cable to replace the 30 year old corroded cable that was killing my signal.

S/N (Signal to Noise ratio): The higher the better. It should consistantly say good. If it is "poor" you will be seeing breakup, blocks, dropouts, etc.

A few correctable errors are OK. If you see a lot of them, or consitantly see them, then you are on the edge and the slightest problem will cause non-correctable errors which are visable on screen.

Originally posted by KGD_007
I live in Moraga and would like to pick up two DVR's on the 30th. Do I need to call in advance or can I just bring in the two boxes I currently have and swap them. One last thing, what is the address for the local warehouse to swap them. I believe there is one in Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek.

Thanks,

Kris

OK, I confess that I haven't kept up on all the posts, so sorry if this has been addressed . . . ,

Comcast keeps insisting that we won't be able to pick up the 6412, that we need to make a service appointment. Is this just a diversionary tactic?

They also tell me I'm on a "VIP list," since I called the morning of the 16th, and that it now looks like the boxes won't be available in SF until December.

Is the "VIP list" BS? Should I be going down to the local office on Tuesday?

What's the inside story?

Got an envelope in the mail today from Comcast with a letter and brochure about VOD and how to operate it. Still isn't active.

Deciding that I shouldn't let them slide stuff like VOD under my nose and then not deliver without causing a stink, I called the support number on the back and made a "I tried these steps and I'm not getting anything" call. The CSR told me we won't be getting VOD until January.

This is less than a week after the letter saying they interrupted service on the week of the 18th to install the VOD hardware and to enjoy a PPV on the house for the interruption. What's taking so long?

Just in case folks are keeping track of any of this ...

I'm in Berkeley. Tried email to find out what's up with DVR ... was told only that a technician would be required, and that I could make an appointment when the service became available. Tried the telephone to my local office ... was told only that DVR wasn't available yet, maybe by the end of the year.

No one said anything about a VIP list, no one said anything about November 30, even when I specifically mentioned it ... I got nothing, basically.

No surprise, just adding my name to the list.

Originally posted by Mikef5
So after 5 months of no new messages ( red light on the box ), I finally get a message from Comcast----- "COMCAST HIRING IN NEW JERSEY" -- The last I checked I don't live in New Jersey and isn't that like being sent to Siberia for Comcast workers :)
Well at least I know the message function works and that Comcast is trying to get the 2%ers to move to Siberia...

Laters,
Mikef5


Jersey hmm. I've always thought of Utah as the Siberia of Cable.

Originally posted by mds54

Please excuse my newbie ignorance, but how do I invoke the diagnostics menu? What should I be looking for?

Thanks to keenan & efball for the detailed diagnostics info!
I'll give it a try and see what I get.......

Another DVR report.
Went down to my local office (Livermore) yesterday to inquire about the DVR. Was told that they would begin placement "at the end of November-beginning of December", and that I would need an appointment for an install, "since it is completely new" technology. She said there was no list I could get on, and they wouldn't allow me to make an appointment since there was no code in the system for that. When I mentioned limited availability, she said the limitation was in the number of units you could order - one pre household for the time being. Another one of the agents chimed in and said that even the Comcast employees were being told they would have to wait up to six months for their units(?), and that only selected employees were being allowed to test them. The only suggestion was to keep calling. They wouldn't give out the phone number for the local office (How do you all get this?), so I would just have to give the normal service number a try. Left feeling pretty discouraged, and then I read this morning's paper about the rate hikes. Grrr...

Originally posted by mds54
Thanks to keenan & efball for the detailed diagnostics info!
I'll give it a try and see what I get.......

My current readouts are as follows:
SNR: 34.0 Good
AGC: 77% Fair
Error counts:
Uncorrectable: 0000
Correctable: (fluctuates between ~400-900)

Ok experts, what is this telling me? Would this account for
my intermittent dropouts? Do I need to have Comcast check out my system?

Comcast's cable rates to rise 5.7%

By James Temple and Ellen Lee
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Comcast selected the day before Thanksgiving to observe its own annual tradition, serving up a 5.7 percent increase in local cable rates that, during this season of gratitude, elicited little from consumers.

On Jan. 1, the Bay Area's average monthly rate for standard cable will increase to $44.77 per month from $42.36, a difference of around $28.92 per year, Comcast said. The Philadelphia-based cable giant, which provides service to around 1.6 million Bay Area customers, last raised rates in November 2003 by an average 5.9 percent.

The company will now charge Martinez customers $44.99, up from $42.62; San Ramon, Livermore and Pleasanton customers $43.99, up from $40.77; and Walnut Creek customers $39.99, up from $38.65. Cable rates in Pittsburgh, Antioch and Bay Point will remain unchanged at $43.95. Oakland's new rates, which were not available before press time, will not go into effect until Feb. 1.

Subscribers to digital packages, which feature premium services such as HBO, Showtime and Starz/Encore, will see an increase of between 3 cents to 9 cents a day or between $10.95 and $32.85 per year.

"Comcast's Bay Area prices reflect the value of the service, including availability of more programming choices, improvements in customer service and investments in technical upgrades that improve the reliability and quality of the company's cable television service," said Comcast spokesman Andrew Johnson in a prepared statement.

He noted that Comcast has invested more than $600 million into its cable infrastructure in Bay Area during the past two years, opened three new call centers and hired more than 1,100 local customer service professionals.

Mark Cooper, director of research with Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Federation of America, dismissed the argument that cable companies need to raise rates to cover increasing programming costs and technology improvements.

"It's not justified," he said. "This just goes to the bottom line."

According to a study Cooper released in February, the cable industry's collective operating cash flow, after costs, has jumped $140 per subscriber between 1995 and 2003.

Though what amounts to an 8-cent per day increase might seem minimal, he said, it adds up year after year. "It's the death of a thousand cuts here," Cooper said.

Cable customer William Harrison of Pleasanton also did not subscribe to Comcast's improved programming explanation.

"Every time I talk to Comcast they tell me what great service they provide, but I tell them I don't want to pay that much for it," he said. "I sweat blood thinking I pay someone money for them to infiltrate my house with advertising ... and give me garbage."

Harrison recently signed up for a three-month trial Comcast subscription mainly to watch the Olympics. The service ended this week and, even before Comcast announced the planned price increase, he intended to downgrade to the less expensive basic cable service.

Johnson characterized Comcast's rates as "truly a great value," noting that for what amounts to $1.44 a day customers gain access to around 1,920 hours of programming.

Others believe that ever swelling cable rates, which have grown around 34 percent in the Bay Area since 1999 or nearly three times the rate of inflation, will encourage more customers to make the leap to satellite service or eventually SBC, which plans to offer television service in the near future.

"It seems very ill advised for Comcast to be raising rates now," said Ken McEldowney, executive director of San Francisco-based Consumer Action. "You would think that what they'd want to do is lower rates to keep existing customers and attract new customers."

McEldowney added that the timing of Comcast's announcement suggests the company did not want consumers to notice the rate hike.

"They're hiding it inside a turkey so that it comes as a surprise to the customer," he said.

Originally posted by mds54
My current readouts are as follows:
SNR: 34.0 Good
AGC: 77% Fair
Error counts:
Uncorrectable: 0000
Correctable: (fluctuates between ~400-900)

Ok experts, what is this telling me? Would this account for
my intermittent dropouts? Do I need to have Comcast check out my system?

That AGC number is kind of high, it means the box is working harder to get a good signal, which seems to be reflected in the correctable error count number. If you haven't done so already, I would remove all splitters and joiners in the line and try plugging the cable to the STB directly from the feed that enters the house. If you still have bad numbers then call Comcast out to check the problem. If the numbers improve then you know it has something to do with your splitters, joiners and connections. If you are using splitters, use the ones that have at least 860MHz bandwidth, using the 2 gig ones used for sat connections will work good too.

So I live in the San Carlos area, and just got my hd box hooked up a couple of days ago. Its a motorola 5100, and the picture is great!

However, I am not getting DD5.1. When I first got it I tried hooking it to my Denon 3803 with both the optical and coax connections and neither of them could pick up a DD5.1 signal even when the show claimed it was in 5.1. So yesterday I went to my local office and just in case switched and got a new box. Last night I hooked it up and boom on discoverey HD both monster garage and american chopper were in beautiful 5.1.

So I am thinking great! Problem solved.

So today I turn back on the TV and I am seeing the same problem with nothing getting picked up in 5.1. When they showed American Chopper today it wouldn't pick up as in 5.1 even though the show claimed it was. I even ordered Cinemax, and MaxHD was playing Matrix Reloaded, and before the show it said "This is broadcast in HD and DD5.1"; however, no go. The signal being picked up by my Denon is PCM and not true digital.

So whats going on? I saw someone in another AVS forum claim its just sheer laziness on the broadcasters not truly turning it on, but is it really THAT prevelant?

Originally posted by Toth


So whats going on? I saw someone in another AVS forum claim its just sheer laziness on the broadcasters not truly turning it on, but is it really THAT prevelant?

Go to the 5100 menu page and select setup. Toggle down to audio and press enter.

Set "Set volume to optimal stereo" to Yes
Set "Audio output" to Advanced
Set "Compression" to None
Set "Stereo Output" to Matrix Stereo

That should do it.

OMG duh!

Seriously I didn't think about it when I saw matrix'd stereo. The words didn't click. Oh well thanks that did the trick! Although I have to ask what the hell is wrong with comcast... I'm not expert or anything but if this gave me a bit of a problem, how the hell is someone that is totally not tech-savy going to figure this out?

Figures... I mean there is no manual that comes with the box, and when I called tech support briefly they didn't know a damn thing. They didn't even suggest what you did at all.

Originally posted by Toth
OMG duh!

Although I have to ask what the hell is wrong with comcast... I'm not expert or anything but if this gave me a bit of a problem, how the hell is someone that is totally not tech-savy going to figure this out?

They didn't even suggest what you did at all.

That's one of the reasons AVS Forum exists, We have all the answers, well a few of them anyways...:D

Thanks keenan.
Strange....today's readings show an AGC of 79% (higher), but now it
says "Good" instead of "Fair". Does that make sense? Also, the Correctable
error counts are now at 0000. I do have a Comcast service call later today....

Originally posted by keenan
That AGC number is kind of high, it means the box is working harder to get a good signal, which seems to be reflected in the correctable error count number. If you haven't done so already, I would remove all splitters and joiners in the line and try plugging the cable to the STB directly from the feed that enters the house. If you still have bad numbers then call Comcast out to check the problem. If the numbers improve then you know it has something to do with your splitters, joiners and connections. If you are using splitters, use the ones that have at least 860MHz bandwidth, using the 2 gig ones used for sat connections will work good too.

Originally posted by mds54
Thanks keenan.
Strange....today's readings show an AGC of 79% (higher), but now it
says "Good" instead of "Fair". Does that make sense? Also, the Correctable
error counts are now at 0000. I do have a Comcast service call later today....

You got me, does seem counter to how I thought that reading worked, let us know how the service call turns out..

Sometimes I think Comcast believes their customers have money to burn or money trees in their back yard. Time to regulate the industry.

ah...but according to Andrew Johnson, this price increase is to pay for the infrastructure improvements and the improved call center support

seems I missed out on the benefit of those...of course my bill doesnt (up 6.9%).

Anyway, if you get a raise..just pretend it's out of my bill..that would make me feel better since you desire it.

ps...Dont talk to me about ovens...our 4 yr old jennair, that has never had an issue before...stopped working 2:30 hours into cooking a 25lb turkey...just started flashing error codes and wouldnt reset or cook...fortunately the neighbors were heading out and we finished it (and everything else) off in their kitchen...after all that it turned out perfect...nice and juicy :)

of course the oven repair bill will probably equal several months of comcast

Originally posted by DCTDictator
DVRs - not going out Tuesday. Pushed up a couple weeks, maybe sooner if luck holds out. They are in the hands of selected employees for testing. Stock still very limited. No hard decisions regarding self installs, it may be up to the areas to decide.

I just don't get it. How is it that people in the Midwest and East coast are trading in their 6208's for 6412's and we're still without a DVR??? I thought there were no "head-end dependencies" for the DVR which leads me to believe if it works for one area, it works for all areas.

Originally posted by fender4645
I just don't get it. How is it that people in the Midwest and East coast are trading in their 6208's for 6412's and we're still without a DVR???

Yep, that's what gives me a severe case of heartburn, why the hell is that? :mad:

Comcast have something against the west coast or something? :p

Originally posted by davisdog


ps...Dont talk to me about ovens...our 4 yr old jennair, that has never had an issue before...stopped working 2:30 hours into cooking a 25lb turkey...just started flashing error codes and wouldnt reset or cook...fortunately the neighbors were heading out and we finished it (and everything else) off in their kitchen...after all that it turned out perfect...nice and juicy :)

of course the oven repair bill will probably equal several months of comcast

Use a Weber, best turkey I have ever had, they do a great job cooking those birds..:)

Originally posted by DCTDictator
DVRs - not going out Tuesday. Pushed up a couple weeks, maybe sooner if luck holds out.

Just some further input, FWIW......
Svc tech at my house today said don't expect to even
see the first available units until the *end* of the year......

Originally posted by keenan
You got me, does seem counter to how I thought that reading worked, let us know how the service call turns out..

Follow-up from svc tech visit:
The cable from the street box (which he could not even find) to my home
is carrying a very weak signal, which should account for my problems.
The line is reading ~7; he said it should be at least ~13. New svc call has
been placed for Monday to have my box located and new cable installed.
Sound legit??? If anyone is interested, I'll keep ya posted.....

Originally posted by mds54

Sound legit??? If anyone is interested, I'll keep ya posted.....

Yes it does.

Anyone else having problems getting INHD and INHD2? I came home last night and INHD, INHD2, and the HDSE channel all show a blank screen, or a freeze frame of the prior channel viewed (like it's behaved when they blacked out baseball games).

-Tim

...nevermind...they're back....

Originally posted by tmaestas95
...nevermind...they're back....
Hi - INHD 1&2 are not back yet for Pleasanton - still freeze frames when you change to those channels.....

Originally posted by fender4645
I just don't get it. How is it that people in the Midwest and East coast are trading in their 6208's for 6412's and we're still without a DVR??? I thought there were no "head-end dependencies" for the DVR which leads me to believe if it works for one area, it works for all areas.

My local office (Mountain View) is just a couple of blocks from my house, so I stop by on occasion to check out the news on VOD and DVR. Their 'take' is that VOD will rollout before the DVRs and they went to training two weeks ago for VOD. Some of the San Jose employees are currently 'test driving' VOD, so my local office reps think that VOD will be available sometime in December, but they are very reluctant to talk about a date. The DVRs will probably not happen in my area until after December.

web

Originally posted by web
My local office (Mountain View) is just a couple of blocks from my house, so I stop by on occasion to check out the news on VOD and DVR. Their 'take' is that VOD will rollout before the DVRs and they went to training two weeks ago for VOD. Some of the San Jose employees are currently 'test driving' VOD, so my local office reps think that VOD will be available sometime in December, but they are very reluctant to talk about a date. The DVRs will probably not happen in my area until after December.

I believe most (if not all) Bay Area CS centers have received training on the DVR -- I know for a fact the Diablo Valley region has. I know Comcast is putting their marketing dollars toward VOD in our area however technically speaking, the DVR and VOD have no bearing on each other. Just because VOD is not available in a certain area doesn't mean that are can't deploy DVR's. We already know it's going to be a "soft" rollout so I really don't know what's stopping them from rolling it out.

What confuses the DVR/VOD issues even further is that the "average" Comcast employee does not know the difference between the two...

i called comcast tonight and the customer service rep said that the DVR would not be ready for my area, but he'd update my box when it became available in the next month. i asked would he deliver a new box and he said no, he'd just reprogram my box to be a DVR. i asked to speak to a supervisor and re-asked my questions. also asked him to explain to his guy that a DVR requires a hard drive.

anyway, they put me on the "VIP" list to notify. apparently San Francisco has the DVR. but Danville area does not and will not until late December or early January.

has anyone heard anything different about the DVR in this area? what capacity is it btw? and can we hack it like we have done with our Tivo's to increase capacity? (or just add external storage). is DVI active on the new DVR box? so many questions.... :)

thanks,
Gareth

Originally posted by gdebruyn
so many questions.... :)


...and such bad answers...

...as Keenan just commented..this is another example of many Comcast employees not having a clue about the difference between VOD and DVR..

SF does have VOD, but nobody in the bay area has a DVR...obviously you can't majically add a Harddrive to the box you have (and the VIP list is a joke to make you stop calling). DVR's are expected to be available in the Bay Area in December (barring anymore predeployment issues).


HD is 120Gb (rather small)
No you can't hack it...they might add external expansion in the future,but it is not currently available :(
yes, DVI is enabled (it should be enabled on all HD boxes now)

Originally posted by gdebruyn
has anyone heard anything different about the DVR in this area?

The time frame you were given is about right. I believe there are employees testing the boxes in the bay area now, basically ensuring that everything works correctly on each cable system. Assuming all goes well, they should be available by the end of the year.

is DVI active on the new DVR box?
As for technical specs, Firewire and DVI ports will be functional upon release.

and can we hack it like we have done with our Tivo's to increase capacity? (or just add external storage).
All Comcast areas are deploying the 6412, which is a dual tuner DVR with a 120GB hard drive. That will hold roughly 12 hours of HD, 120 hours of digital, and probably about 100 hours of analog programming. According to a post in another thread, you can't just add a hard drive or swap drives inside the box, as the box is programmed with the actual serial number of the included drive. It's possible that at some point we will be able to add a USB or firewire media drive, but for now, archiving to D-VHS is the only option.

Did anyone else in the Tri-Valley area last night have a problem with the Comcast signal during the ESPN Sunday night game between Oak / Den. (Ch 723) Sometime around 5pm I lost the ESPN channel and all I got was the "program to begin soon" sign. Then the game came back on for about an hour...and then lost the signal again just before halftime. Had no signal for the remainder of the 2nd half. I switched over to ch 703 (nbc) to watch Shrek in hd...and that channel also was out for most of the evening. Anyone else have a reception problem or was it just me.?

Yes, in Berkeley--same as you.

Maybe I've been scanning this section too fast but I just noticed last night that there is now an HDTV section in OnDemand. Nothing there at the moment I'm really interested in though maybe I'll try one of the IMAX movies just to see how it is.

Originally posted by millerwill
Yes, in Berkeley--same as you.

Same here in Santa Rosa, thank goodness for DirecTV, no problems there, what a game!!! Fantastic finish, snow, the Raiders arch-rivals and we won in the last seconds, for once something to cheer about....meanwhile, on the other side of the bay..:p

This is a letter to the editor published in yesterday's SF Chronicle:

Comcast lacking in HDTV choices

Editor -- Walnut Creek may be served by two cable companies, as Todd Wallack's article ("Comcast upgrade on track," Sept. 30) states, but when it comes to HDTV, it's like living in a Third World country.

Comcast offers no HDTV at all. Astound, which I have, offers only a few channels of HDTV, not including CBS, ABC, Fox or Fox Sports Channel: in other words, the channels that carry most of the sports in our area.


CHARLES AMUNDSON
Walnut Creek

The cable from the tap to my house was replaced this morning.
Svc call placed for Tuesday to test line readings, BUT the 6200
diagnostics are still the same as before.....AGC @ 79% (Fair)
and Correctable errors in the hundreds. Is this a true measure
of my system performance? Any other ideas???

Originally posted by mds54
Follow-up from svc tech visit:
The cable from the street box (which he could not even find) to my home
is carrying a very weak signal, which should account for my problems.
The line is reading ~7; he said it should be at least ~13. New svc call has
been placed for Monday to have my box located and new cable installed.
Sound legit??? If anyone is interested, I'll keep ya posted.....

The cable from the tap to my house was replaced this morning.
Svc call placed for Tuesday to test line readings, BUT the 6200
diagnostics are still the same as before.....AGC @ 79% (Fair)
and Correctable errors in the hundreds. Is this a true measure
of my system performance?

It's not the high AGC reading that I would worry about, but the high error count.
Consistant high error counts mean you are on the edge. Is the picture still breaking up?

A preamp where the cable enters the house will boost the level and allow you to use some splitters. Take out all your splitters as a test if you haven't already.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
This is a letter to the editor published in yesterday's SF Chronicle:

Read this article for the whole story on why there is no HDTV service in Walnut Creek. The city doesn't want to negotiate under reasonable terms with Comcast. So yet they let their residents suffer.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/contra_costa_county/cities_neighborhoods/walnut_creek/10270256.htm?1c

Originally posted by Brian Conrad
Maybe I've been scanning this section too fast but I just noticed last night that there is now an HDTV section in OnDemand. Nothing there at the moment I'm really interested in though maybe I'll try one of the IMAX movies just to see how it is.

Yup! And it's now populated with content. Here's what shows up as available:

Cosmic Voyage (IMAX)
Great American West (IMAX)
Lost Worlds: Life in the Balance (IMAX)
Passion of the Christ
Ski to the Max (IMAX)
Ultimate G's: Zach's Flying Dream (IMAX)
Zion Canyon: Treasure of the Gods (IMAX)

All offerings are $5.99. I find it kind of weird that out of all the movies out there, they would choose Passion of the Christ as the only real movie.

All offerings are $5.99. I find it kind of weird that out of all the movies out there, they would choose Passion of the Christ as the only real movie.

Some of the IMAX features are $3.99.

Thanks again for the advice!
Too soon to tell if the picture is still breaking up, but I'll have the svc tech take new readings Tuesday morning and check the splitters.
FWIW, Comcast has elevated this to their "Customer Advocate Team" for followup...at least it sounds good.....

Originally posted by efball
It's not the high AGC reading that I would worry about, but the high error count.
Consistant high error counts mean you are on the edge. Is the picture still breaking up?

A preamp where the cable enters the house will boost the level and allow you to use some splitters. Take out all your splitters as a test if you haven't already.

Originally posted by Brian Conrad
Maybe I've been scanning this section too fast but I just noticed last night that there is now an HDTV section in OnDemand. Nothing there at the moment I'm really interested in though maybe I'll try one of the IMAX movies just to see how it is.

Where is this? How do you access it on the 6200?
(Pressing the remote "OnDemand" button simply puts a "1"
at the top of the screen with no resulting action)

Originally posted by mds54
Where is this? How do you access it on the 6200?
(Pressing the remote "OnDemand" button simply puts a "1"
at the top of the screen with no resulting action)

OnDemand (ie VOD) is not available yet in the South Bay...within the next 1-2 months probably

Originally posted by Brian Conrad
Some of the IMAX features are $3.99.

You're right...my bad.

So it is finally Nov 30th, the date I have been waiting to come for the last year! I decided not to head down to the local Comcast office, old HD set top box in hand, to exchange for the DVR. Anyone have any new information on what date I might want to try this? I live in Moraga and I know there is at least Fender is in the same boat as I am.

I am going to be out of town next week and would love to be able to watch a few shows recorded in HD upon my return (which means I would need the box sitting next to my TV by Friday). Anyone want to wager on the probability of this happening?

Kris

Originally posted by KGD_007
I am going to be out of town next week and would love to be able to watch a few shows recorded in HD upon my return (which means I would need the box sitting next to my TV by Friday). Anyone want to wager on the probability of this happening?

Kris

This made me laugh, because the other day my wife reminded me of something. Last November (that's 2003) we went to Spain for a coupla weeks, and before we left we set up multiple VCRs to record various shows in our absence. We said "man, this is the last time we'll ever have to do this, because the DVR from Comcast will be released while we're gone and we'll get one when we return!"

We're still waiting ...

Originally posted by KGD_007
I am going to be out of town next week and would love to be able to watch a few shows recorded in HD upon my return (which means I would need the box sitting next to my TV by Friday). Anyone want to wager on the probability of this happening?

Kris
Same odds as the 49ers going to the playoffs this year.

Anyone think they will hold back the DVR? If the entire schedule were available OnDemand, it's something like a community DVR without fast forward and archiving capabilities - which would keep the advertisers happy.

I figured in advance that On Demand would be worthless. I was wrong ... in fact, we like it so much we wish it had more. But that's the problem. I'm with jb33, if the entire schedule was On Demand, it would solve a lot of problems. But it's not.

So some of the shows we watch are On Demand, but not in HD. And some of the shows we watch aren't On Demand at all. When it comes down to it, the only show we watch that is 1) On Demand and 2) not HD to begin with so who cares is The Wire. Until all of those other shows are available, On Demand is a nice thing to have around, but it doesn't come close to replacing a DVR.

Originally posted by davisdog
OnDemand (ie VOD) is not available yet in the South Bay...within the next 1-2 months probably

I had a senior svc tech out at my place today and asked him about VOD & DVRs.....
He said DVRs by the end of the year; VOD (in the South Bay) by next week.

Originally posted by mds54
Too soon to tell if the picture is still breaking up, but I'll have the svc tech take new readings Tuesday morning and check the splitters.

We found the problem......
It's their *amplifier* which feeds my tap. I'm getting less than half
of the signal that I should be getting, which would certainly account for
the breakups. Now they've got to have another team come out and
tweak/adjust all the neighborhood amplifiers including mine. Should
be done by the end of the week......

Originally posted by jb33
Anyone think they will hold back the DVR? If the entire schedule were available OnDemand, it's something like a community DVR without fast forward and archiving capabilities - which would keep the advertisers happy.

All I want for Christmas is a Dee-Vee-Arr...

I'm losing faith in this whole thing, and it's pretty frustrating. I poked around a little in the Seattle thread of this forum yesterday and the folks up there are posting how the DVRs are available and it's been so simple to pop into a Comcast office and swap out the old boxes for the 6412s. What's the big deal about this area? What has to be tested here that hasn't been tested in Seattle?

I guess we'll get them when we get them. But unless Comcast is going to have all my favorite HD shows in the OnDemand library, I'd rather have a DVR than OnDemand. I simply want to record my own stuff-- that's all.

Seattle has Microsoft's EPG instead of iGuide. However, about 80 percent of Comcast major systems have launched the 6412 with iGuide to some degree or another. Factor in that another 10 percent have the 6208 available to them and you see where that leaves us.

Also interestingly, Comcast launched DVR in the Vail, CO (Eagle County) area in October (but not in Denver). Must be where the corporate execs in Philly like to ski. :)

The only major Comcast areas which still have zero DVR options are: San Francisco Bay Area; Denver, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; Portland, OR; Sacramento, CA and Fresno, CA. Portland and Fresno are projected to launch this week, so we look to be at the far low end of the totem pole.

More DVR information-- reliability is questionable to very questionable.

CSR told me today that DVR had launched in parts of the North Bay but not in Petaluma, where it would launch December 9. This information she provided after consulting a supervisor. I think she was confusing DVR with VOD, which is not currently available here (December 9 sounds about right for VOD; I know employees have been testing it locally for a few weeks).

Second CSR told me the marketing department is starting today (November 30) to call those customers "on The List" to schedule installations of DVR(starting at some undefined date in the future). She told me to wait for the call from marketing (harharhar :p ) -- that customer service would not be making appointments or calling customers. Only customers on "The List" would get the call for DVR availability/installation, due to limited availability of DVR.

Take it for what it's worth, but you may want to get your name on "The List" just in case. I am not expecting a call, however.

Well, I just called and a tech by the name of Bob answered. He clearly knew what I was talking about, because I said Digital Video Recorder instead of DVR. He said they are holding off because of inventory. They basically don't have enough. They are working with Motorola to resolve that problem and they are shooting for next month. I asked him if there was away I can be informed about and he said sure: Let me put you on our VIP list.

So I said okay and he put me on the list.

So take it for what it's worth.

Russ

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
The only major Comcast areas which still have zero DVR options are: San Francisco Bay Area; Denver, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; Portland, OR; Sacramento, CA and Fresno, CA. Portland and Fresno are projected to launch this week, so we look to be at the far low end of the totem pole.

Sacramento will launch the DVR in December sometime...not sure of the date just yet...

Russ, I just got on the list about the same time you did, and I got the same comment: low inventory. She said even Comcast employees ain't getting them. Whatever.

Heck, I had a technician out at the house today. Comcast thinks I have a non-responding box. Guy came out, looked at my boxes, said they were fine, and left. But not before I asked him if he had the DVR in his van.

I just called too (didn't want to feel left out) and I got a bit different story. The lady said they were supposed to be released today but because of low inventory...blah, blah, blah. The interesting thing is that she did say the codes should be in their system tomorrow and they would be able to start scheduling appointments then.

As always, take it for what it's worth.

I gotta call right away and get on "the list"!

I'm on the list! I'm on the list!

Boy, do I feel better now...

BTW, the CSR I talked to said Q1 of '05, January at the very earliest. He seemed to have absolutely no idea what he was talking about and wasn't aware of the 6412 model number for the DVR box.

$10 to anybody who gets a DVR from being on the "VIP" list, before I just call and schedule an appointment on my own...1/2 the people here probably got on the "list" to notify them of HD availability and the only ones without HD now are the ones still waiting for that call (that never came, we all learned about it hear)

hmmm...low inventory..if that's true the bay area surely is the poor stepchild of comcast (and they should hear it loud and clear from us that we are pissed)...80% of the country has inventory and all of those people are happily swapping the 6208 they already had for a 6412. If they truely ran out before giving them to the area that had NO DVR solution then we should just speak with our wallet and dump them...

sorry...they've hit a nerve today!

Another thing to put in perspective:

Let's say Comcast had 30,000 available boxes in the Bay Area. At $9.95/month Comcast is throwing away $298,500 per month. If you look at this going all the way back to last year, that's $3,582,000 they've missed out on. Not smart.

Originally posted by davisdog
$10 to anybody who gets a DVR from being on the "VIP" list, before I just call and schedule an appointment on my own...1/2 the people here probably got on the "list" to notify them of HD availability and the only ones without HD now are the ones still waiting for that call (that never came, we all learned about it hear)

hmmm...low inventory..if that's true the bay area surely is the poor stepchild of comcast (and they should hear it loud and clear from us that we are pissed)...80% of the country has inventory and all of those people are happily swapping the 6208 they already had for a 6412. If they truely ran out before giving them to the area that had NO DVR solution then we should just speak with our wallet and dump them...

sorry...they've hit a nerve today!

Davisdog,
Comcast hit a nerve on me along time ago when they said the 2% area wasn't cost effective enough to upgrade past the 550 MHZ, this just adds insult to injury. I'm not Comcast's biggest fan right now.... :mad:

Laters,
Mikef5

I've said it all along, Comcast will not release the DVR until the VOD is rolled out. I'm sad to say my conjecture is still holding. I heard of one person calling customer retention to get a 6208 in Chicago.

You can go to DISH through SBC for a month (no contract), get a SD DVR (lease) and a HD receiver wait it out until the DVR is released, come back and get a $25 credit per month for 12 months.

There is one AVS member in Chicago with four (4) 6412's-- no limits on the number of 6412's per subscriber there, as is the case in most Comcast areas which have already launched the 6412. It is interesting to observe how there are areas where the 6208 has been available for 6 to 9 months and each subscriber can currently obtain an unlimited number of 6412's, but launch is delayed here apparently (emphasis on apparently) because of limited numbers of 6412's.

I am sure DCT Dictator would have a lot to say about how many 6412's (and DCT's generally) are shipped to each Comcast area and how that number is determined for each area, etc., but he is limited (no pun intended) in what he can say.