> I live in Mountain View and I've got a New Sony HD with cable card capability but NO cable card installed and NO set-top box.
>
I posted all the channels I can get from Fremont in another part of these forums - similar to you - more Showtime (HD) but I just lost Discovery HD ;-( It won't last for ever...

BTW - I assume that you can get KQED HD after 8pm with no problem?

peter

I'm hoping to break the piggy bank later this month and get my first HDTV. In the meantime, I have a newbie question: what's on the 70x channels (KRON-DT, KNTV-DT, etc.) during times when there is no HD show going on? Say, during newscasts or daytime shows? Do they go blank or present a 4:3 digital simulcast of the NTSC stream? If it's a simulcast, does is look better than the analog channels of the same origin?

Originally posted by mooneydriver
I'm hoping to break the piggy bank later this month and get my first HDTV. In the meantime, I have a newbie question: what's on the 70x channels (KRON-DT, KNTV-DT, etc.) during times when there is no HD show going on? Say, during newscasts or daytime shows? Do they go blank or present a 4:3 digital simulcast of the NTSC stream? If it's a simulcast, does is look better than the analog channels of the same origin?

They broadcast a simulcast of their NTSC signals. Depending on how you set your TV, you will get the "normal" black bands on the right and left sides of the picture.

I have a Sony TV with built-in QAM tuner and the locals all seem sharper to me on the digital signal. I have a good quality analog signal, but the digital signals are a little cleaner.

> I have a Sony TV with built-in QAM tuner and the locals all seem sharper to me on the digital signal.
>

Do you mind if I ask, does your QAM tuner work fine on KQED HD and KGO (ABC) after 8pm?

I am trying to figure out if it is a LG QAM tuner problem or a problem with Comcast's feed that I am having.

Thanks

Peter (in Fremont)

Thanks! Just the info I needed. Am looking forward to being another guinea pig on Comcast's HDTV experiment! ;)

Peter in Fremont,

KQED is a special case. During the day, they use their bandwidth to broadcast 3 extra SD channels (9.3, 9.4 & 9.5). The HD signal on 9.1 is a blue screen, with a text message that the HDTV programming starts at 8:00pm. Then at 8:00pm, the three extra channels go OTA and the HD channel (9.1) goes live. So if you tune to 9.1 during the day, you get the message screen, and at night, you get HD programming. But you should always see something on 9.1.

KGO digital is up all the time, (unless they have technical difficulties). As stated earlier, during the day, it sends a 4:3 SD simulcast of their network programming. At night, if the program is available in HD, then they send an HD signal. If not in HD, they send the SD version.

If you are not seeing the local broadcast digital channels all the time, then something is wrong. It may be that your receiver is not correctly mapping the logical channel number. Try looking for the channels at their physical channel (posted in earlier messages).

Originally posted by plumeria
>Do you mind if I ask, does your QAM tuner work fine on KQED HD and KGO (ABC) after 8pm?

Originally posted by cgould

I see KPIXD (705) in Foster City too! It's listed in the "HD category" now, too. I have show/guide data downloaded by now.)

Hopefully I have reprogrammed my series recordings for the last time. I was getting pretty good at changing the series fro 5 to 705, but it was still a pretty tedious endeavor.

Originally posted by kevini
I just confirmed with my wife that 705 is now KPIXD in Fremont.


Yep, we've got KPIXD 705 in San Jose too!

Dare I mention the last remaining channel naming issue for some of us
with Showtime (SHOw) not having the HD designation and not appearing in the HD menu? :confused:

Originally posted by mds54
Yep, we've got KPIXD 705 in San Jose too!

Dare I mention the last remaining channel naming issue for some of us
with Showtime (SHOw) not having the HD designation and not appearing in the HD menu? :confused:

At least you have SHO-HD, we don't get it anymore on 550MHz systems..:(

Can some kind soul please confirm for me that Comcast San Jose (San Jose rebuild) does *NOT* rebroadcast local HDTV stations over clear QAM? In other words, one *must* lease a STB from them, even if one already has a QAM-capable tuner?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if this is indeed the case, isn't Comcast obligated by federal law to carry these channels unencrypted, and w/o requiring use of STB, as mentioned in this thread?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5035090#post5035090

What's the proper authority to complain to about this, the FCC or the local franchise board?

In Foster City, and I believe in most of the Bay Area, you can receive the broadcast channels in HD without a cable box. I know that I can receive them on my Pioneer plasma. There have been lots of reports on this in the 276 pages/5500 posts in this thread.

I would be shocked if San Jose has a different policy than the rest of the area.

Originally posted by mikel51
In Foster City, and I believe in most of the Bay Area, you can receive the broadcast channels in HD without a cable box. I know that I can receive them on my Pioneer plasma. There have been lots of reports on this in the 276 pages/5500 posts in this thread.

I would be shocked if San Jose has a different policy than the rest of the area.

I have a QAM-capable tuner, but when I scan for stations, I do get lock on certain frequencies, but no serviceids and stationids/callsigns (i.e it doesn't "decode" the channel). I only subscribe to "basic" cable. I was under the impression under FCC rules that local HDTV stations must be retransmitted in the clear in the basic tier. Am I just confused, or do I need to subscribe to digital cable to get unencrypted QAM off the cable coax?

You should't need digital cable to get basic HD service. I posted elsewhere all the channels I get with just basic cable ($13) and a QAM tuner - LG LST-4200a in Fremont.

I do not get stations IDs nor can I input the mapped IDs directly - e.g. for CBS I need to input 79-7 and not 5-1.

What QA-tuner do you use? Do you have any problems receiving stations on channel 117 after 8pm (KGO and KQED)? For those of us who own the LG 4200a, we can't tune these channels after 8pm and I was wondering how other QAM tuners perform?

thanks

Peter

Originally posted by mechou
I have a QAM-capable tuner, but when I scan for stations, I do get lock on certain frequencies, but no serviceids and stationids/callsigns (i.e it doesn't "decode" the channel). I only subscribe to "basic" cable. I was under the impression under FCC rules that local HDTV stations must be retransmitted in the clear in the basic tier. Am I just confused, or do I need to subscribe to digital cable to get unencrypted QAM off the cable coax?

When they were messing around with channel assignments in Dec/Jan, it took them some time to get things stable. During that time, stations moved from channel to channel and the stations IDs and logical channel numbers were not being broadcast. That finally stablized after a few weeks.

Now, my Sony TV is receiving the station ID's for most HD signals. And it also maps them to their logical (i.e. 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, 11.1) channel number, not the physical channel. If I enter the logical channel my remote, it tunes the correct channel. I can also tune a station by entering it actual, physical channel, like 79.9 for KTVU-HD and 117.1 for KGO-HD and 117.2 for KQED-HD.

Since both KQED and KGO share the 117 channel, that may give a clue as to your losing those stations after 8:00pm when KQED HD goes On the Air.

With my Sony TV, it will lock onto encrypted signals, but it displays a "no signal" message.

Quick question: after I upgrade/change my premium channels how long does it take before the corresponding channels InDemand programs start to work?

Andy

some good news from INHD:

Thank you for your note.

I am not sure why you received Bars and Tones on Monday morning.

We currently have a program called "INHD Tune Up" which is a program designed to help calibrate your HDTV. This a fifteen minute show airs each Saturday morning at 7am Eastern.

Thanks for your interest in INHD!

-----------------------

so program those VRCs... er... DVRs... ;)

For us poor scmucks that don't get INHD, would it be possible to post this material somewhere?

Would this material be considered copyrighted?

Thanks,
Kevin

I thought Video Essentials had a DVHS tape that could be used to calibrate 1080i inputs. I couldn't find it doing a quick check of their web site but I also remember it being kind of expensive.

Well here's a real piece of nice work from Comcast for the 550 MHz systems, they just added 8 more digital channels to the line up ALL of which are subscrition services. The channels are 241 TFC, 242 ZTC, 244 CCTV, 245 TV-J, 246 ZeeTv, 247 TvAsi, 248 SBN and the ever popular channel 262 Jade. Thanks alot Comcast for the channels and wasting the little bandwidth that we HAD. This is a complete farce and proof to me that Comcast has lied about the bandwidth available to the 550 MHz and below systems and before you think these channels have always been there check out the web site or look at your latest Comcast channel lineup card, they didn't exist before ( in my area of SaraMilgatos ). I am so pi**ed right now I could spit. Has anyone else noticed the new unannounced channels that just showed up for our bandwidth starved system ???

Laters,
Mikef5

Thanks ldivinag for sharing the InHD Tuneup schedule.

Does anyone know whether or not InHD Tuneup display Geometry or Overscan pattern???

Prior to receiving HD program and using the Panny S97 output @1080i. I was able to calibrated the color decoder/geometry and overscan on my Mits RPTV using Avia + DVE + I2C to what I thought was to perfection. After getting the LG and watching some actual HD programs via OTA and Comcast over the month, out of boredom, I've check my previous cal against InHD2 and noticed the overscan is way, way off from where I had them initially set to. If InHD have overscan pattern, I definately would kick myself out of bed 4 o'clock in the am to verify which one should be the proper setup.

Originally posted by Mikef5
Well here's a real piece of nice work from Comcast for the 550 MHz systems, they just added 8 more digital channels to the line up ALL of which are subscrition services. The channels are 241 TFC, 242 ZTC, 244 CCTV, 245 TV-J, 246 ZeeTv, 247 TvAsi, 248 SBN and the ever popular channel 262 Jade. Thanks alot Comcast for the channels and wasting the little bandwidth that we HAD. This is a complete farce and proof to me that Comcast has lied about the bandwidth available to the 550 MHz and below systems and before you think these channels have always been there check out the web site or look at your latest Comcast channel lineup card, they didn't exist before ( in my area of SaraMilgatos ). I am so pi**ed right now I could spit. Has anyone else noticed the new unannounced channels that just showed up for our bandwidth starved system ???

Laters,
Mikef5

It's hard to say exactly, but all those channels take less than a single analog channel to carry, and if I remember correctly, they are a seperate tier, so unlike HD version of SD channels already out there, they get real money for these. Plus I think they get a lot of calls requesting them. SD is something like 12 SD channels per 6 Mhz of spectrum. Heavily compressed you can get even more.

They may have used some FM band bandwidth or shutdown an analog channel to carry them.

Your best bet for something as bandwidth intensive as HD is till displacing public access channels, but you've heard me say that before.

Thanks,
Mike

KNTV11 (NBC) west wing messed up in HD right now , called KNTV, they said is Comcast...

Originally posted by cgould
KNTV11 (NBC) west wing messed up in HD right now , called KNTV, they said is Comcast...

OK , fixed now, magically just as I got thru to real person :)

Originally posted by MikeSM
It's hard to say exactly, but all those channels take less than a single analog channel to carry, and if I remember correctly, they are a seperate tier, so unlike HD version of SD channels already out there, they get real money for these. Plus I think they get a lot of calls requesting them. SD is something like 12 SD channels per 6 Mhz of spectrum. Heavily compressed you can get even more.

They may have used some FM band bandwidth or shutdown an analog channel to carry them.

Your best bet for something as bandwidth intensive as HD is till displacing public access channels, but you've heard me say that before.

Thanks,
Mike

Well, we have one public access channel on my system that the city uses and a community channel for access to college courses, not alot to play with and if I remember right Comcast said there was no more bandwidth to be had that's why they had to drop SHO-HD and Kron-HD so we could get Fox-HD. So now it looks like they have plenty of extra bandwidth to add these useless channels ( useless to us but I'm sure a money maker for them).
I'm sure you've heard me say this before, Comcast needs to bite the bullet and upgrade ALL THE SYSTEMS to the same levels not pass the buck to someone else. Could you imagine what would happen if the satellite systems did the same thing, only allowed upgrades in certain areas and not others, they'd be tarred and feathered and run out of town. In the long run it really doesn't matter, when the good deal on my bill ends I'm dropping Comcast like a hot potato. I can't abide with a company that cares so little for their customers and it's easy to sit in a fully upgraded system and say what's the problem. My bill is $108 a month and I don't get half the channels that the upgraded systems get, is that fair or for that matter even right of Comcast to do. Yep, it is, in their opinion and I can always take my money and go else where but not before I let Comcast know what I think of their policy toward the non upgraded systems.

Laters,
Mikef5

You have a "good deal" and yet your monthly bill is $108?

Originally posted by wco81
You have a "good deal" and yet your monthly bill is $108?

Yep, and now with 2 dvr's it's going to go up even higher. I've checked with D* and E* and for that price I can get everything they have, including HD and mirroring fees for 4 receivers for that price. I wish Voom wasn't going out of business because that was my first choice. :(

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by Mikef5
. I wish Voom wasn't going out of business because that was my first choice. :(

Laters,
Mikef5

but Vooms got 9 lives and according to Charlie D. they ain't done yet...

boy would I like to be a fly on the wall over in the Cablevision Board room right now (and Charlie just added (or bought?) a bunch of new board members this afternoon to help him out))

There was an emergency missing children's report during Lost. Might be the cause of some of the problems? Oh well. I could preempt Lost for a while if it helps save a missing girl.

Originally posted by Mikef5
Has anyone else noticed the new unannounced channels that just showed up for our bandwidth starved system ???

Laters,
Mikef5

Not in Santa Rosa.

Originally posted by davisdog
but Vooms got 9 lives and according to Charlie D. they ain't done yet...

boy would I like to be a fly on the wall over in the Cablevision Board room right now (and Charlie just added (or bought?) a bunch of new board members this afternoon to help him out))

:D :D

Incredible huh?! Wonder if it will come down to a boxing match? :p

Or the old man will have a stroke...:eek:

Originally posted by neoufo51
There was an emergency missing children's report during Lost. Might be the cause of some of the problems? Oh well. I could preempt Lost for a while if it helps save a missing girl.

This alerts must be regional, didn't have one up here...

Originally posted by cgould
KNTV11 (NBC) west wing messed up in HD right now , called KNTV, they said is Comcast...

This is two weeks in row, I have no qualms about BT'ing a show when they screw up like this. Did it last week and got a version with no commercials..:)

Originally posted by neoufo51
There was an emergency missing children's report during Lost. Might be the cause of some of the problems? Oh well. I could preempt Lost for a while if it helps save a missing girl.

Strange, I got a KTEH membership drive for about 2 minutes in my Lost recording.. happened around 8:31pm

I had weirdness happen on my 6412 as well this evening. some time around 8pm (maybe a bit earlier), I was watching a previously-recorded program (Anaconda on Discovery HD from earlier in the day). Suddenly I got a screen with the KTEH (membership drive?), and a good portion of my buttons were locked out. I originally thought it was a glitch with my recording, but I couldn't even bring up the "My DVR" list of recorded programs, swap tuners, etc. But I was able to "power off" the DVR. Eventually I was able to regain control of the DVR, but for awhile there it was misbehaving in a way I'd never seen. Strange indeed...

Originally posted by neoufo51
There was an emergency missing children's report during Lost. Might be the cause of some of the problems? Oh well. I could preempt Lost for a while if it helps save a missing girl.

It was interesting how the DVR handled it. It stopped recording, showed the alert, and then resumed the recording. This caused the DVR to have two different segments in the Recordings list. Also, during the alert the DVR was totally non-functional...could not pause, RW, or FF. It was like the unit was turned off. But I agree...having the alerts take over the TV is a good way to get the message out.

Originally posted by neoufo51
There was an emergency missing children's report during Lost. Might be the cause of some of the problems? Oh well. I could preempt Lost for a while if it helps save a missing girl.

The thing is, do these EAS alerts work on TV?

They cited a car license numbers and description of the car. People were to call 911 if they saw this car. This was between 8-9 PM at night.

How many people watching TV at that time is going to be going out in a car? Makes sense for radio since people could be on the road as they hear the alert. But TV?

Anyways, the alert was cut off at the bottom (doesn't seem to work with HDTV) and when it was over, for a split second, it was showing KTEH (Channel 54), before it reverted to Lost.

This alert was suppose to be state-wide and the suspect was suppose to be heading towards Mexico, so it's surprising they didn't broadcast it during Alias or Wife Swap.

Originally posted by keenan
This alerts must be regional, didn't have one up here...

I got one in Rohnert Park. After it was over, we went directly back to Lost. I was watching channel 707.

Originally posted by wco81
The thing is, do these EAS alerts work on TV?

They cited a car license numbers and description of the car. People were to call 911 if they saw this car. This was between 8-9 PM at night.

How many people watching TV at that time is going to be going out in a car? Makes sense for radio since people could be on the road as they hear the alert. But TV?

Anyways, the alert was cut off at the bottom (doesn't seem to work with HDTV) and when it was over, for a split second, it was showing KTEH (Channel 54), before it reverted to Lost.

This alert was suppose to be state-wide and the suspect was suppose to be heading towards Mexico, so it's surprising they didn't broadcast it during Alias or Wife Swap.

First off, the EAS alerts aren't just Amber alerts, it's for severe weather, etc. It's all one system managed by CHP and OES, and they use the same transmission for all alerts.

Second, yes they work, very well. In the one last night, if it was from Sacramento, the suspect saw the alert and called police. I've worked several child abductions in my career, all with a happy ending fortunately.

My saga continues... from earlier in this thread... to get the HD DVR working.

Steps.

1. Comcast came and checked the line to the house said it was ok.
2. Blamed the inside cable used to connect to the DVR since eliminating one splitter using the B side cable from the street made the non-DVR box seemingly work. (a good use of the A-B cable :-)
3. Great customer service - rudely told me that changing the cable would cost me some $60. (premature rush to judgement)
4. I said if it was the problem I would pay (did not like it one bit - if they told me this after fixing the problem and conclusively proving it to be the cable, I would gladly pay)
5. Replaced the cable about 15ft in length.
6. No change in signals.
7. Blamed the cabling in the entire house as being old. (sigh)
8. Rolled in a separate cable direct from the drop to the house to the DVR to check if that works. Did not work.
9. Tech had a brilliant notion to check the signal strength on more than one channel. It appears that in step 1 the check was for an analog channel. Checking digital cable channels showed a drop off. When you get to the HDTV channels the drop off was greater in the signal strength.
10. Diagnosed it as a line problem said someone else looked at such problems and left.

Still waiting...

One more thing the 6412 on analog channels shows some lines on the top of the picture, is that expected. it looks like parts of the non picture fields are being displayed - perhaps it is an alternative if you can read CC data directly in binary.

Originally posted by bobby94928
I got one in Rohnert Park. After it was over, we went directly back to Lost. I was watching channel 707.

That's weird, must be the low bandwidth up here doesn't allow for even EAS messages to work..:rolleyes:

Originally posted by bobby94928
I got one in Rohnert Park. After it was over, we went directly back to Lost. I was watching channel 707.

Here in Healdsburg, we also were watching 707 (Lost), but after the EAS, we ended up on the TV Guide channel. I had to manually switch back to 707.

-Steve

Good to hear the EAS works. Yes the flood alerts are definitely useful, even on TV.

A little bit more info. At the suggestion of a KQED Engineer I scanned all channels with the cable connection disconnected (to clear out the memory potentially) and then rescanned with the cable attached - it made no difference. I still could not go to back to any of the 117 channels once I had left them.

However what I did find out is that after 8pm (when KQED HD comes online) every subchannel on 117 is now showing a medium strength signal. I manually entered bogus ones like 117-77 and 117-99 and I always get a signal, but a black screen and no sound. It is almost like the box is getting "flooded".

LG are now aware of the problem, so hopefully we can get resolution soon - it appears to be effecting just the LG LST-4200a HD tuner (4 people I know of so far in this area).

Peter

Originally posted by fender4645
It was interesting how the DVR handled it. It stopped recording, showed the alert, and then resumed the recording. This caused the DVR to have two different segments in the Recordings list. Also, during the alert the DVR was totally non-functional...could not pause, RW, or FF. It was like the unit was turned off. But I agree...having the alerts take over the TV is a good way to get the message out.

That seems to be designed in, and I guess it makes sense. My experience was exactly the same. What's weird, from previous Amber Alerts, is that you can't even skip over it if you're watching a recorded program. Two days from now, you'll still be forced to watch the Amber Alert...

I just want to tell you guys the 550 mhz systems . At the ced magazine web
site i read abount drilling for bandwith.
I just want to tell you guys want David Fellows executive vice president
and chief technology officer of comcast . Although an amplifier upgrade in
550mhz is a known path with known costs. it's not the only path. ''if we
haven't upgraded those [550 mhz] systems, there's probably a good reason-either it's to costly or there 's low [subscriber] penetration,'' says
David Fellows executive vice president and chief technology officer of comcast. He estimates that 1 or 2 percent of comcast's footprint falls into
the two-way, 550mhz category.

it suck to be on 550mhz systems

Anyone have an idea about how I can get a firewire-enabled STB for the HDTV service here in San Carlos? I've been trying to get this service for almost a year now, having made 4 appointments for installation. The first two were cancelled ahead of time by Comcast because after I was allowed to make the request online they determined that the HDTV service wasn't yet rolled out here. For the most recent two, the tech actually came out and, the first time, told me that the service still wasn't available at my address. Today, the tech came out and the service is available (as my FusionHDTV and MyHD cards can attest) but he said that they have no firewire-enabled STB for San Carlos. WTF is up with that?

usc10,

Where did you get that David Fellows quote???

Originally posted by bpearse
usc10,

Where did you get that David Fellows quote???

http://www.cedmagazine.com/ced/2005/0305/03a.htm
Communications Engineering&Design: March, 2005 - Drilling for bandwidth

This is something I have felt all along, too expensive to upgrade and not enough return in rev, low sub base. Along with being locked into a nearsighted franchise agreement.

Here's another quote that just adds to the fact that 550MHz systems will be in the dark ages for awhile,

“Eighty analog channels will be here for a while,” Palazzo says. “We believe to cut back on the analog offering is a negative from a marketing standpoint, and is something that does not play into cable’s strength.”

Originally posted by TPeterson
Anyone have an idea about how I can get a firewire-enabled STB for the HDTV service here in San Carlos? I've been trying to get this service for almost a year now, having made 4 appointments for installation. The first two were cancelled ahead of time by Comcast because after I was allowed to make the request online they determined that the HDTV service wasn't yet rolled out here. For the most recent two, the tech actually came out and, the first time, told me that the service still wasn't available at my address. Today, the tech came out and the service is available (as my FusionHDTV and MyHD cards can attest) but he said that they have no firewire-enabled STB for San Carlos. WTF is up with that?

Do they have a 6200 or 6412? Those units have firewire enabled.

The tech had brought a 6200, but he (and the warehouse guy) swore that its FW ports were not enabled.

Should I have ignored that "information"?!?

CED is a great magazine and has a lot of what industry leaders think of various technology issues. The website has a lot of articles on it that are very useful if you are trying to understand the cable industry.

As I said before, previously Comcast and AT&T believed that they had to take everything to at least 750 to insure future services would run on the plant, but in recent years people have come to the belief that technology will solve the bandwidth problem well enough avoid a rebuild of 550 areas. If your franchise did things to "make them special" during the late 90's to early 00's, then it's likely they missed the window for the straightforward path to higher bandwidth.

Thanks,
mike

Originally posted by TPeterson
The tech had brought a 6200, but he (and the warehouse guy) swore that its FW ports were not enabled.

Should I have ignored that "information"?!?

Yes. Try it, it should work.

Originally posted by MikeSM
As I said before, previously Comcast and AT&T believed that they had to take everything to at least 750 to insure future services would run on the plant, but in recent years people have come to the belief that technology will solve the bandwidth problem well enough avoid a rebuild of 550 areas. If your franchise did things to "make them special" during the late 90's to early 00's, then it's likely they missed the window for the straightforward path to higher bandwidth.

Thanks,
mike

True, but Fellow's statement seems much closer to the truth.

Although an amplifier upgrade in 550 MHz is a known path with known costs, it’s not the only path. “If we haven’t upgraded those [550 MHz] systems, there’s probably a good reason–either it’s too costly or there’s low [subscriber] penetration,” says David Fellows, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Comcast Corp. He estimates that 1 or 2 percent of Comcast’s footprint falls into the two-way, 550 MHz category.

Bottom line, they don't give a crap about that small 1 or 2 percent of their subscribers. If I owned the company I would probably do the same thing, especially with the subscriber growth looking flat for the near future while satco is taking off.

Originally posted by keenan
Yes. Try it, it should work. Can't. He didn't leave it here. :(

Originally posted by TPeterson
Can't. He didn't leave it here. :(

What subscription do you have? If it's just basic then you don't need the STB(meaning no FW), anything with a digital tier does though...

I have basic cable and "need" the FW to connect digital cable to my Sony KD34XBR2, which has iLink and 8VSB [OTA] tuner but no DVI or QAM tuner, and to record cable HDTV on my DVHS deck.

Originally posted by TPeterson
Can't. He didn't leave it here. :(

I have basic cable and "need" the FW to connect digital cable to my Sony KD34XBR2, which has iLink and 8VSB [OTA] tuner but no DVI or QAM tuner, and to record cable HDTV on my DVHS deck.

What specifically do you mean by "Firewire enabled"?
You mean to firewire display devices (TVs), and record to egDVHS/PC? Yes, that works.
(Edit, you replied before I posted- yes this is what you want.)
Review past posts, also in the 6412 thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=464986)... lot of people have this working, although sometimes flaky to various recording devices.)

They have to provide Firewire display, by FCC ruling I thought, awhile ago!
(DVI out should work also, even on 5100s?)

If you mean adding external HDD storage, no. Not working. Would love it soon...thread

Originally posted by cgould
What specifically do you mean by "Firewire enabled"?
You mean to firewire display devices (TVs), and DVHS? Yes, that works.
They have to provide that by FCC ruling I thought while ago!
(DVI out should work also, even on 5100s?)

If you mean adding external HDD storage, no. Not working. Would love it soon... The former. Too bad I didn't just tell the tech to leave the box anyway...but he was adamant that those ports were turned off.

The firewire output will work to an extent. You won't see the guide graphics as they are inserted after the firewire output stage in the box. You will need to make at least one of the component connections availble so that you can see the guide in HD mode. S-video will only show guide data when tuned to analog or SD channels.

Originally posted by TPeterson
I have basic cable and "need" the FW to connect digital cable to my Sony KD34XBR2, which has iLink and 8VSB [OTA] tuner but no DVI or QAM tuner, and to record cable HDTV on my DVHS deck.

Does the DVHS deck have a QAM tuner in it?

Originally posted by fitzwest
The firewire output will work to an extent. You won't see the guide graphics as they are inserted after the firewire output stage in the box. You will need to make at least one of the component connections availble so that you can see the guide in HD mode. S-video will only show guide data when tuned to analog or SD channels. Thank you. This limitation may explain why the tech and warehouseman were so sure that the FW ports were "disabled". Obviously, I could live with such "disability". ;)

Originally posted by keenan
Does the DVHS deck have a QAM tuner in it? No. AFAIK, none do. It's a Mitsubishi HS2000U and has only an NTSC tuner (and a heckuva smart controller for it that even figured out the local cable [analog :(] channel lineup).

Originally posted by TPeterson
No. AFAIK, none do. It's a Mitsubishi HS2000U and has only an NTSC tuner (and a heckuva smart controller for it that even figured out the local cable [analog :(] channel lineup).

I didn't think so, how were you going to record HD on the the DVHS deck? How would you tune the channel in? Unless I missed something...

Okay, I see, you were going to use the PC tuner cards....

Originally posted by keenan
I didn't think so, how were you going to record HD on the the DVHS deck? How would you tune the channel in? Unless I missed something...

Okay, I see, you were going to use the PC tuner cards.... Yes, I can use the PC tuner cards with or without making intermediate copies of the programs on the PC's HDD, but the point of the FW port on the STB is to enable it to drive the DVHS deck for HD recording.

Originally posted by TPeterson
Yes, I can use the PC tuner cards with or without making intermediate copies of the programs on the PC's HDD, but the point of the FW port on the STB is to enable it to drive the DVHS deck for HD recording.

Yes, you should be able to pick one up at the Comcast office..

Originally posted by keenan
Bottom line, they don't give a crap about that small 1 or 2 percent of their subscribers. If I owned the company I would probably do the same thing, especially with the subscriber growth looking flat for the near future while satco is taking off. I wouldn't, at least not for the bigger areas. Santa Rosa is a big city (5th biggest in the BA), and as we learned at the city council meeting, 80-90% are Comcast subscribers (the average cited was 66.7% cable-subscribers nationwide). Seems like an awfully profitable city to gamble with. There are a few other fairly-large cities on the list I would upgrade right away.

Yes but the 66,000 subs Santa Rosa has apparently falls within that 1-2% of total subs that Comcast has, with around 23 million total it means there is another 400,000 subs in the same boat we are. Granted, 66,000 is a large portion of the total 1-2% but there is nothing that will get Comcast off their ass to do anything about it unless they see sat dishes popping up more and more, as there is no OTA here. Comcast has a virtual monopoly here and as long as they adhere to the franchise agreement there is really nothing to be done, only pressure from the satcos will make them do anything.

By the time the franchise agreement gets tossed and turned to the point that everyone is happy with it, it will be another 2-3 yrs down the road, and by then the BW probably won't even matter.

It will still matter. Technology always craves more, even as it becomes more efficient.

You're right, I'm just disgusted with the whole mess, and to have Fellows lay it out like he did in that statement is just aggravating.

Yup, just waiting for DirecTV's HD locals at this point.

Whoever was interested in UPS (battery backups w/ AVR line conditioning),
CompUSA's having a rebate/sale again this week...
Belkin 900VA UPS w/ AVR (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=318494&pfp=srch1) , for $50... I think it's helped the stability/reliability of my Tivo, 6412, and my DVD recorders... (not to mention I can still record programs during blackouts! :-) )

Originally posted by keenan
You're right, I'm just disgusted with the whole mess, and to have Fellows lay it out like he did in that statement is just aggravating.

Kennan, I understand your frustration, but if a rebuild is unlikely because of past issues, could I get you and the folks who are unhappy in the 550 systems to say what exactly they want in terms of additional programming?

I understand the issues of 550 vs 750, but if we step away from the technology and focus on content, could you folks say exactly what channels or services you want that you don't have right now that the rest of the bay Area enjoys? If you can prioritize them, that would also be helpful.

I know some Comcast folks read this forum, and I think it may be possible to find ways of getting you most of what you want without a rebuild, but I don't think it's ever been directly stated here. If you guys all want the same set of channels maybe it can be worked by the SFBA management to find a way of providing that in the 550 systems in the Bay Area. You have nothing to lose...


Thanks,
Mike

Originally posted by MikeSM
Kennan, I understand your frustration, but if a rebuild is unlikely because of past issues, could I get you and the folks who are unhappy in the 550 systems to say what exactly they want in terms of additional programming?



MikeSM,

In terms of content the 550Mhz Networks are missing the following HD Channels

1) InHD1
2) InHD2
3) FSNBA-HD (shared w/InHD2)
4) Showtime-HD
5) Starz-HD
6) Cinemax-HD
7) KRON-HD
8) HD-Special Events (NBA, NFL HD etc..)
+ No bandwidth for any future HD Channels that are planned

+ we are missing VOD (which is much-hyped by Comcast)

We are also missing several SD channels, but I dont keep track of which ones (all are low viewership)

Priority 1 (at least to me) would be finding Bandwidth to carry the major HD Channels. Priority 2 would be VOD.

Thanks
Steve

Mike,

I think this was all laid out quite well in the SF Chronicle article published a month or so ago. Here is what 550MHz systems get vs 750/860 systems (all data provided by Comcast):

......................... 750.......... 550
VOD.................... yes.......... no
Digital Channels......67.............25 (not sure this is true, but according to comcast)
Premium channels...36..........24
HDTV channels.......15...........8



Here is a link to a copy of the article's data box: http://home.comcast.net/~bobpearse/article-data.jpg


For this greatly reduced service, we in Saratoga, at least, pay more than most other cities in the bay area.

What we want is the same service as others who are paying the same price. Pretty simple. Give us better service, or lower the price.

Hmmm, sounds like the main issue is HD channels you don't get that others do, by my count 7 now. That would require 6 analog channels to be converted to make room to carry this. 36 Mhz, and you'd have room for two more HD channels (3 HD 256QAM channels fit in the spectrum of 2 analog 6 Mhz channels).

Converting the public access channels would easily accomplish this. Or even taking 3 analog channels out of expanded basic and moving them into the digital tier.

VOD is obviously going to be a problem, unless the node size was really low - did you ever find out the node size for the Santa Rosa system BTW?

Thanks,
Mike

Originally posted by davisdog
MikeSM,

In terms of content the 550Mhz Networks are missing the following HD Channels

1) InHD1
2) InHD2
3) FSNBA-HD (shared w/InHD2)
4) Showtime-HD
5) Starz-HD
6) Cinemax-HD
7) KRON-HD
8) HD-Special Events (NBA, NFL HD etc..)
+ No bandwidth for any future HD Channels that are planned

+ we are missing VOD (which is much-hyped by Comcast)

We are also missing several SD channels, but I dont keep track of which ones (all are low viewership)

Priority 1 (at least to me) would be finding Bandwidth to carry the major HD Channels. Priority 2 would be VOD.

Thanks
Steve

This info varies by area, for example, in Santa Rosa we get Starz-HD and Cinemax-HD. Everything else looks the same, of course, I don't know what other systems get that we don't because I haven't viewed those systems.

I agree, that priority one would be the find BW to carry additinal HD channels.

The fact that SHO-HD was removed to add Fox-HD tells me that BW is maxed on our system. I was completely shocked that Comcast did not have bandwidth reserved to add Fox-HD. This means, if say the local UPN, WB are picked up by Comcast here, as they are in other parts of the country, we will never see them unless we lose some more channels. Nothing more can be added at this point, only a juggling of a finite amount of space. Meaning NO ADDED VALUE on these systems. This is not to mention ESPN2-HD, and Comcast is talking about adding TNT-HD as well, these channels we'll never see.

As I mentioned, priority one for me would be to add HD channels, although this does not appear to be a priority for Comcast, at least not as much as VOD, which is something else we will never see on 550MHz systems.

One can only think exactly what Mr. Fellows has said, that these systems are not worth the effort and expense to upgrade. What are we to think? Comcast is obviously aware of DirecTV's plans for later this year, yet they do not seem to be concerned, leading me to believe that the desertion of subs to DirecTV, from 550MHz systems, has been looked at from a financial standpoint and been determined to be, okay, as far as Comcast's big picture or bottom line. In other words, let them go, it's not worth it for us to keep them...

I can understand Comcast's position to a degree, they are not getting any additional revenue for adding HD channels, especially locals, and that is why they have been pushing the HSI in this area, that IS a revenue source.

I'm asking, calmly and from a practical viewpoint, tell me why I, along with my fellow 66,000 subs, should stay with Comcast given that from all outward appearances and statements, they don't seem to care whether I stay or go?

Originally posted by MikeSM


VOD is obviously going to be a problem, unless the node size was really low - did you ever find out the node size for the Santa Rosa system BTW?

Thanks,
Mike

No I haven't, I'll try calling the City Manager today, the thing is, I have pretty much conceded that nothing much is going to happen, certainly not before DirecTV has a far more compelling product to offer.

Originally posted by bpearse



For this greatly reduced service, we in Saratoga, at least, pay more than most other cities in the bay area.

What we want is the same service as others who are paying the same price. Pretty simple. Give us better service, or lower the price.

Agree 100%, at least give us a lower rate as compared to full bore systems, why on earth should we pay the same as someone who gets everything?

This would be one way for Comcast to show that they do care about their customers, they talk about caring, but actions speak far louder than words, but so far, there ain't been no action...

I had a strange problem today with my 6412, and was wondering if anyone else has seen this:

I turn on TV and cable box. No signal-- no audio and no video. I can get the on screen guide, but that's it. My other TV (std digital TV box) works fine. So, I try playing one of my recorded programs and that looks /sounds fine. Once I stop the recording, the 6412 works fine. Almost like I had to prime the pump... :)

Originally posted by John Mace
I had a strange problem today with my 6412, and was wondering if anyone else has seen this:

I turn on TV and cable box. No signal-- no audio and no video. I can get the on screen guide, but that's it. My other TV (std digital TV box) works fine. So, I try playing one of my recorded programs and that looks /sounds fine. Once I stop the recording, the 6412 works fine. Almost like I had to prime the pump... :)

Yup...I'm seeing the exact same thing. I'm not sure how long this has been happening as I just started to turn off the DVR in the bedroom at night (that sucker is loud). The next day when I turn it on, I get nothing. If I play a recorded show for 1 second, then everything works normal. I've turned the box off before in the past a few times and I'm almost positive this didn't happen.

Regarding the Firewire, how does that work if you connect it to a pc? Can you see all the files on the HD and copy them over?

Originally posted by fender4645
Yup...I'm seeing the exact same thing. I'm not sure how long this has been happening as I just started to turn off the DVR in the bedroom at night (that sucker is loud). The next day when I turn it on, I get nothing. If I play a recorded show for 1 second, then everything works normal. I've turned the box off before in the past a few times and I'm almost positive this didn't happen.

I will say this for Comcast, or more accurately Motorola, I have turned my DVR on and off everyday since I've had it and have never had a problem with it. I can think of only one time it did lose the guide data, but an unplug and plug-in resolved it...lucky I guess..

Originally posted by keenan
I will say this for Comcast, or more accurately Motorola, I have turned my DVR on and off everyday since I've had it and have never had a problem with it.

I thought the vastly overwhelming consensus was to leave the DVR on all the time, especially since
it stays powered on internally even when switched off by the user. Keenan: do you have a particular
reason for turning it off everyday?

No, I don't, when I programmed my Harmony remote it ended up that way and since I have yet to have any problems I just left it that way...the "don't fix it if it isn't broke" thing...:p

And you're right, the consensus is to just leave it on, although if you are using a video connection device like a scaler that has an auto-sensing input it might present a problem when accessing a different video source if the DVR was left on all the time..

Originally posted by walk
Regarding the Firewire, how does that work if you connect it to a pc? Can you see all the files on the HD and copy them over?

You can run the firewire from the 6412 to a pc, then if you install software on the PC as described in this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=403695), you can use it to capture whatever is being played to the TV (minus the 6412's overlay graphics) as an MPEG 2 "transport stream". You'd then be able to play back the stream using programs like mplayer or VLC, etc.

This will work fine for channels that aren't "encrypted" (the so-called 5c flags set to something other than "copy freely") ... those could only be transferred to a 5c-compliant device like a DVHS deck. PC's are not 5c-compliant, as you can re-copy the files ad infinitum. Different areas of the Comcast network have different settings for the 5c flags for different channels, but you should be able to at least transfer stuff from the OTA channels like fox, abc, cbs, nbc, kqed.

You won't be able to "see all the files on the HD and copy them over". You'd have to manually play each program you'd want to archive and set the PC to record each one individually.

You also won't be able to put the files back into the DVR, so you'd be using the PC (or another device) for playback.

I've got the above set up as an archiving solution if my DVR gets too full or there's something I want to keep. But that's because I did this with the 6200 before the DVR was available, and liked to tinker. Now I'd say it's more trouble than it's worth unless you're truly strapped for space in the DVR and like the tinker with the HTPC side.

(Or you might be able to just buy a DVHS deck and use that. But I've never tried that so can't vouch for its reliability or feasibility...)

Originally posted by fender4645
Yup...I'm seeing the exact same thing. I'm not sure how long this has been happening as I just started to turn off the DVR in the bedroom at night (that sucker is loud). The next day when I turn it on, I get nothing. If I play a recorded show for 1 second, then everything works normal. I've turned the box off before in the past a few times and I'm almost positive this didn't happen.

It happened again just now when I turned it on again. I'll leave it on, but I still don't like this. There is no reason for this to be happening, and I've turned my box off all the time since I got it.

Originally posted by MikeSM
I understand the issues of 550 vs 750, but if we step away from the technology and focus on content, could you folks say exactly what channels or services you want that you don't have right now that the rest of the bay Area enjoys? If you can prioritize them, that would also be helpful.


To start:

* All local channels in HD
* FSBA-HD
* HSI 4Mbit w/ performance on par with the rest of the Bay Area - I got the letter from Comcast saying that 3Mbps HSI was now available and that this proved their commitment to our market by meeting their promises. Hahaha!

The truth is that we should be getting the same service as everyone else in the bay if we are paying the same price for that service.

Kevin

Has anyone found a way to step through a recorded program faster than just using the FF key alone - i.e - in 10,20,30 min intervals? Thanks.

Ouch that sucks. So if the program is protected (I assume everything except maybe local news is?) there's basically no way to back up the HDD once it fills up? How big is it anyway, how many hours (or minutes??) of 1080i HD will it hold?

Originally posted by cityscapex5
Has anyone found a way to step through a recorded program faster than just using the FF key alone - i.e - in 10,20,30 min intervals? Thanks.

I believe some people who have the ability to set up macro's on their remote have set it up so they can do x number 30-second skips in a row. It's ugly but i guess it's better then nothing.

A call to COMCAST today resulting in the CSR telling me that they don't consider my problem, above, to be something they will try to fix. They recommend not turning off the box. The CSR seemed incredulous when I told her that I've been turning the box off every day since I got it (a few months ago) w/o incident until yesterday.

Originally posted by John Mace
A call to COMCAST today resulting in the CSR telling me that they don't consider my problem, above, to be something they will try to fix. They recommend not turning off the box. The CSR seemed incredulous when I told her that I've been turning the box off every day since I got it (a few months ago) w/o incident until yesterday.

I think I got that same CSR ( Comcast Script Reader ) . She told me that the South Bay wasn't going to get the dvr's when they first rolled out and that was right after I had talked to Mr. Johnson who had said just the opposite. I have found that dealing with CSR's is a no win situation, I would much rather deal directly with the techs, a much better group of helpful people IMHO... :)

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by fender4645
Yup...I'm seeing the exact same thing. I'm not sure how long this has been happening as I just started to turn off the DVR in the bedroom at night (that sucker is loud). The next day when I turn it on, I get nothing. If I play a recorded show for 1 second, then everything works normal. I've turned the box off before in the past a few times and I'm almost positive this didn't happen.

My friends in the call center are saying this is happening more and more. I take it that all of you have the updated firmware. I guess the question would be did this start happening AFTER the firmware was upgraded to v9.15? Then, it would be like Microsoft where the fix caused a totally different problem.

I recently ran into a problem with the DVR Mute fiasco (sorry, FEATURE). Normally, I don't turn off the DVR at night during scheduled recordings, but I wasn't home for a few days, and my roommate got a hold of the remote. Like a dog with a chew toy, you can imagine what happened. She turned the DVR off at night before a scheduled recording, got up and wanted to watch TV and turned the DVR on in the middle of an "Off" state scheduled recording. Needless to say, no audio. I told her to press the button I had programmed for the Mute code, and still no audio. Swap, no audio. Previously recorded program, no audio. VCR and DVR, yep, audio. Unplug DVR, wait..., no audio. Had her call in to have signals sent to the DVR, still no audio. Finally, in exhausted frustration, I had her do the Playstation like cheat code to totally reset the DVR (which means I lost everything). Finally, audio. So, if you have some input as to how I might have done things differently, please let me know. And don't say hide the remote. :D

Originally posted by tenzo
My friends in the call center are saying this is happening more and more. I take it that all of you have the updated firmware. I guess the question would be did this start happening AFTER the firmware was upgraded to v9.15? Then, it would be like Microsoft where the fix caused a totally different problem.

I got the new software when everyone else did (3-4 wks ago) and this problem only cropped up yesterday for me. If I had to choose between this problem and the "freeze"problem, I'd take this one anyday. Of course, some people might not want to have to choose between ANY problems... :)

please summarize the list of issues we are currently having (as i am not experiencing all of them).

i spoke to the danville city manager today who said that she would talk to the comcast government rep. she said usually they get responses very quickly when they involve him. i was asking her why we didn't have cable choices in danville.

anyway, if someone can write up one post with all the current issues, post firmware update to 9.15, i would be extremely grateful and hopefully i can put this in someone's hands who can light a fire under comcast's butt.

thanks.
Gareth

The Giants have posted their 2005 TV schedule and it includes over 70 games on FSN-HD.

In addition there are also a few Sunday night ESPN games as well.

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sf/schedule/broadcast.jsp

Will any of the games on KTVU be in HD?

Originally posted by twm30
The Giants have posted their 2005 TV schedule and it includes over 70 games on FSN-HD.

In addition there are also a few Sunday night ESPN games as well.

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sf/schedule/broadcast.jsp

Well, again the 550 MHz and below systems are SOL for most of the Giants games. Most of the games are on FSN-HD and very few are Channel 2 or ESPN. Well, no way Comcast will make this happen for us for this season but Mr. Wallack ( Chronicle reporter ) I'm sure would be interested if enough people emailed him about why this area is excluded from being upgraded so that we can see these games.
His email address is TWallack@sfchronicle.com

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by Mikef5
Well, again the 550 MHz and below systems are SOL for most of the Giants games. Most of the games are on FSN-HD and very few are Channel 2 or ESPN.

Perhaps we can get someone in a 750 MHz area to describe the HD games to us 550 MHz folks in a special thread on this message board. 'Wow, you can really see the stitching on the ball..." :)

Originally posted by Mikef5
Well, again the 550 MHz and below systems are SOL for most of the Giants games. Most of the games are on FSN-HD and very few are Channel 2 or ESPN. Well, no way Comcast will make this happen for us for this season but Mr. Wallack ( Chronicle reporter ) I'm sure would be interested if enough people emailed him about why this area is excluded from being upgraded so that we can see these games.
His email address is TWallack@sfchronicle.com

Laters,
Mikef5

I just don't understand how Comcast can justify that this situation is fair or better yet, acceptable. What really sucks, AFAIK, is that Comcast holds the FSN rights in the bay area, so we can't even get these games from any other provider. We have been locked out because it's too expensive or not enough subs to bother upgrading our areas. Really gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling about my cable TV provider.. :rolleyes:

Whoever buys advertising for these games should be made well aware that 16% of the bay area cable customers will never see those adds.

Originally posted by keenan
I just don't understand how Comcast can justify that this situation is fair or better yet, acceptable. What really sucks, AFAIK, is that Comcast holds the FSN rights in the bay area, so we can't even get these games from any other provider. We have been locked out because it's too expensive or not enough enough subs to bother upgrading our areas. Really gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling about my cable TV provider.. :rolleyes:

Whoever buys advertising for these games should be made well aware that 16% of the bay area cable customers will never see those adds.

So here might be an idea to pursue. Direct Tv is on an advertising frenzy, why not write to them and let them know that there are areas that don't get the FULL LINEUP that Comcast provides, unlike D* that makes the ENTIRE lineup available to ALL their customers. D* was real quick to jump on the advertising when Comcast blotched the dvr roll-out by advertising they had dvr's for everyone of their customers, just a thought but one thing a big company doesn't like is negative publicity. Of course this doesn't help with the FSN-HD but may help get Comcast off it's behind or at least explain in public why all areas are not at the same bandwidth and at the same level of programing.
Something to think about, you only get what you ask for, if you don't ask you don't get.

Laters,
Mikef5

Well, again the 550 MHz and below systems are SOL for most of the Giants games. Most of the games are on FSN-HD and very few are Channel 2 or ESPN. Well, no way Comcast will make this happen for us for this season but Mr. Wallack ( Chronicle reporter ) I'm sure would be interested if enough people emailed him about why this area is excluded from being upgraded so that we can see these games.

I know that being a reporter gives him a good voice in matters especially when things get published, but does he want to hear from us? You are not too clear if you have already heard back from him, and he is asking for feedback.

I'm asking because I wouldn't want to email this guy and say "yeah I'm pissed I don't get the games in HD!" Only for a reply that says " ummm yeah.. okay what do you want me to do about it?"

I'm not familiar with the Chronicle reporters, so please excuse my ignorance if this guy is a "Channel 7 on your side" guy :)

I'd be happy to shoot this guy an email, I just wanted to get my info straight. Plus it beats the hell out of emailing and complaining to Comcast. Someone should start one of those online petitions :)

Side note: Emailing Comcast on any programming info is a complete waste of time. I always seem to get the generic "I'm sorry we don't have any information on that at this time message."

I did ask them about the new on screen programming menu for HD'ers and they had no idea what the roll out date is. I called later and the woman had no idea what I was talking about, but she put me on hold and told me that tomorrow is the planned roll out date. Does anyone know if this is true? I heard a while back that it was supposed to be in March.

Mikef5 - that is also a very good idea. That make complete sense. That is also on my to-do list.

Originally posted by todd22
I know that being a reporter gives him a good voice in matters especially when things get published, but does he want to hear from us? You are not too clear if you have already heard back from him, and he is asking for feedback.

I'm asking because I wouldn't want to email this guy and say "yeah I'm pissed I don't get the games in HD!" Only for a reply that says " ummm yeah.. okay what do you want me to do about it?"

I'm not familiar with the Chronicle reporters, so please excuse my ignorance if this guy is a "Channel 7 on your side" guy :)

I'd be happy to shoot this guy an email, I just wanted to get my info straight. Plus it beats the hell out of emailing and complaining to Comcast. Someone should start one of those online petitions :)

Side note: Emailing Comcast on any programming info is a complete waste of time. I always seem to get the generic "I'm sorry we don't have any information on that at this time message."

I did ask them about the new on screen programming menu for HD'ers and they had no idea what the roll out date is. I called later and the woman had no idea what I was talking about, but she put me on hold and told me that tomorrow is the planned roll out date. Does anyone know if this is true? I heard a while back that it was supposed to be in March.

Todd,
I see you're a relatively new member. It would be easier to explain if you did a search on my name or Wallack. That way you could see where Mr. Wallack fits in this area, but all reporters love to hear from their subscribers or anyone else for that matter. They never know what may turn out to be a good story or what may fall out of the tree when they shake it. I have dealt with Mr. Wallack on the dvr fiasco and he was quite helpful on getting it the coverage so that I was personally contacted by Mr. Johnson ( VP of Communications for Comcast ) and the issue was resolved. I'm sure he'd love to hear that the situation hasn't changed very much since that time and with the baseball season getting ready to start and that a good number of fans will not be able to see their local teams in HD would probably make a good story.
I never thought of contacting Michael Finney of Channel Seven but that might be another avenue to travel, might even try some of the local stations like Kron-4, I'm sure they might like to get a shot at Comcast for dropping their HD channel.

Laters,
Mikef5

Thanks Mike,
Yeah I started my research after I posted, sorry:) I started looking up his name on the web but I really appreciate the info.. oh and what I meant about my last post was on the Direct TV idea.

Originally posted by todd22
Thanks Mike,
Yeah I started my research after I posted, sorry:) I started looking up his name on the web but I really appreciate the info.. oh and what I meant about my last post was on the Direct TV idea.

No problem, everyone was new at one time even Comcast :) and that's why we are here, to help. I'm sure Direct tv would love to take a jab at Comcast again just for the heck of it.. :p
I just want my Giants in HD, next the A's in HD, then the Raider's in HD ( 49'ers are already in HD ). Not much to want, Comcast should be happy I don't like hockey or basketball ( OK, I like to watch women's basketball because they play basketball not slam dunk ).

Laters,
Mikef5

Wow Todd Wallack has already responded to my email.

He let me know that he has already reported this issue and gave me the link at sfgate.

article (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/01/10/BUG94AMKVV1.DTL)

I just want my Giants in HD, next the A's in HD, then the Raider's in HD ( 49'ers are already in HD ). Not much to want, Comcast should be happy I don't like hockey or basketball ( OK, I like to watch women's basketball because they play basketball not slam dunk ).

I'm pretty much in the same boat. That would be my preference as well.

What the hell, I'm just going to keep pressing this issue till they get tired of me :D .. It gets a least one more angry voice out there. It may do some good, it may not.

I just received an email response from the Vice Mayor of Milpitas to my email to him about Comcasts non upgrade of our areas. I have directed him to this forum for him to determine for himself what the feeling of the affected areas are about Comcast and their treatment of the 550 MHz and below areas. He seemed interested enough to give me his cell phone number so I'll wait a couple of days to let him read this long forum before I call. I'll let you know what I find out.

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by MikeSM
could you folks say exactly what channels or services you want that you don't have right now that the rest of the bay Area enjoys? If you can prioritize them, that would also be helpful. I'm a bit late answering this, and I've said this bfore, but for me, it's all about FSNBA-HD right now. I want all the HD channels I can get, but I want that one more than any others by a long shot. If Comcast gave us FSN without taking away any other HD channels, I'd promise to not bitch for at least a week. ;)

Originally posted by JasonQG
I'm a bit late answering this, and I've said this bfore, but for me, it's all about FSNBA-HD right now. I want all the HD channels I can get, but I want that one more than any others by a long shot. If Comcast gave us FSN without taking away any other HD channels, I'd promise to not bitch for at least a week. ;)

If they would just upgrade our system to the same level as everyone else I would join you in that one week of silence, it would be hard but I'd give it my best shot :D

Laters,
Mikef5

The Giants FSN schedule, including HD games, is here:
http://www.fsnbayarea.com/giants/skeds/giantssked.php

As far as I know, KTVU doesn't do any HD production, so none of the games on KTVU will be in HD. ESPN may or may not do it in HD (depending on where their HD truck is that day ?)

Just to be clear, we (750mhz Petaluma system) do not get FSN in HD either. Just the analog/SD on channel 40. But when a game is on, and in HD, they switch one of the HD channels over to it. Usually INHD 1 or 2. I know those in 550mhz systems don't get INHD but I don't see why they couldn't use one of the other channels you do get - like maybe that useless KRON/HDNet channel. Wouldn't hurt to ask for this.

As far as going after advertisers - forget it, they don't care about HD.
Nobody produces ads in HD and the Neilson ratings don't even include HD numbers. HD does not exist as far as advertisers are concerned. Besides, they know you'll just watch the game on the analog channel anyway :p

Originally posted by walk


I know those in 550mhz systems don't get INHD but I don't see why they couldn't use one of the other channels you do get - like maybe that useless KRON/HDNet channel. Wouldn't hurt to ask for this.



:D :D

We don't even get KRON/HDNet anymore, they jerked that one when they switched out DiscoveryHD and KTVU-HD...

Do you get PBS? Because that's not even on the air until 8pm anyway. They could put day games there and not even interrupt anything, then preempt yet anoter Yanni concert for the night games? :)

Originally posted by Mikef5
If they would just upgrade our system to the same level as everyone else I would join you in that one week of silence, it would be hard but I'd give it my best shot :D For that, I'd quiet down for at least a month. I guess I'm easier to please.

Originally posted by walk
Do you get PBS? Because that's not even on the air until 8pm anyway. They could put day games there and not even interrupt anything, then preempt yet anoter Yanni concert for the night games? :)

Yes, we get KQED, but I think the BW is used for the digital simulcast channels KQED does during the day, I think there's about 4-5 of them...

We're pretty screwed, the only way to get anymore HD on these systems is to move some analog over to digital, and that presents all kinds of issues as far contract agreements and channel tier re-alignments, I just don't see it happening. Not before DirecTV solves the problem anyway...

Originally posted by JasonQG
For that, I'd quiet down for at least a month. I guess I'm easier to please.

No, it's just harder for me to shut up.... :p

Laters,
Mikef5

Oh, the irony.

I clicked the link to Todd Wallack's Jan 10th article about us 550MHz users getting less service than others. And what appears on the right side of the web page? A vertical banner ad for Comcast VOD. :eek:

Originally posted by walk
Just to be clear, we (750mhz Petaluma system) do not get FSN in HD either. Just the analog/SD on channel 40. But when a game is on, and in HD, they switch one of the HD channels over to it. Usually INHD 1 or 2.

And to be clearer - there is no dedicated FSN-HD channel. The HD games are always carried on InHD 1 or 2, or for some areas, the HD Special Events channel.

Originally posted by nightowl
And to be clearer - there is no dedicated FSN-HD channel. The HD games are always carried on InHD 1 or 2, or for some areas, the HD Special Events channel.

The HD Special Events channel is new to most areas (at least since the end of last season) so I wonder if they'll begin broadcasting the FSN HD games on that channel. I'm pretty sure all areas that receive INHD also have the HDSE channel.

Well here they've been putting NBA games on INHD1 and then moving INHD1 to that HDSE channel. Go fig.

---


Also, anyone else having problems with VOD tonite? Blocky picture breakups and sound breakups. Everything else seems to be fine (digital/HD channels) it's just VOD.

I checked the signal levels and they are all "good" except 1 is "fair" but that's just how they've always been, I think..

Originally posted by walk
Well here they've been putting NBA games on INHD1 and then moving INHD1 to that HDSE channel. Go fig.

Here in Sacramento, the Kings games on Comcast Sports Net HD are on the Special Events channel, however the NBA-TV national games are on InHD1. When the national games are on, the InHD programming moves to HDSE. I believe that is as a benefit for areas where the national game would be blacked out, but Comcast continues that programming as well for the non-sports HD fans.

I've still never seen anything on HDSE in over 2 months - did Comcast forget to "flip the switch" for me??

Comcast completes SR high-speed Internet access
City officials say more upgrades needed to put services on par with neighboring communities

Thursday, March 10, 2005

By KEVIN McCALLUM
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Cable TV provider Comcast has completed its rollout of high-speed Internet access to residences in Santa Rosa, the last city in Sonoma County to receive the service.

Comcast finished the three-month-long upgrade Wednesday, making the service available to the last 18,000 of the cable company's estimated 65,000 subscribers.

Comcast still is rolling out notifications to customers on how to sign up for the $45-a-month Internet option, which competes with broadband choices from satellite, wireless and telephone providers.

Comcast officials called the expansion a milestone that proves the company is true to its word and committed to providing Santa Rosa the same services offered to customers elsewhere.

City officials said the improvements are a step in the right direction, but other upgrades are required to bring Santa Rosa's network to the level that neighboring communities have had for years.

The development comes two weeks after the City Council chastised Comcast for failing to settle long-standing technical disputes over the city's network, which runs over Comcast's wires.

Council members voted to reopen negotiations of the company's 15-year franchise agreement with the city as a vehicle to resolve the disagreements.

During the meeting, Comcast officials promised to have broadband service available to the entire city by the end of March. The service offers speeds 50 times faster than traditional dial-up and provides an option to existing DSL services that offer similar speeds over phone lines.

"We said we were going to do it and we did it," Comcast spokesman Andrew Johnson said Wednesday.

Comcast exceeded its target because its employees worked hard and experienced few technical obstacles, Johnson said. A last-minute issue regarding how the upgrades would affect the operations of the city's Information Network, or I-Net, were resolved earlier this week, Johnson said.

Assistant City Manager Marc Richardson, the city's chief negotiator with Comcast, said he knew the company was working hard to complete the rollout.

"We would look at that as a feather in Comcast's cap," he said.

City Councilman Mike Martini, who last month was particularly critical of the company, said he was encouraged by the development. But Martini refused to praise the company for what he said was a "long overdue" upgrade. Doing so, he said, would be "like giving a student a star for attending class all the time, when that's what they are supposed to do."

Some services - such as high-definition TV, which is common in surrounding communities - still are unavailable in Santa Rosa, Martini noted.

"When you look at what other communities around the Bay Area get and what Santa Rosa citizens get, there are still some shortcomings," he said.

That's because the network has not been upgraded from the 550 megahertz capacity to 750 megahertz or higher, which would allow for smoother upgrades and less interference with the bandwidth the city's I-Net uses, Richardson said.

That's one of the key issues the city hopes to iron out during the reopened negotiations, which could involve the services of a mediator, Richardson said.

Comcast said the company intends to bring to Santa Rosa the same services that communities with higher-bandwidth networks have. Plans are in the works to convert several networks in the Bay Area, including Santa Rosa, to all-digital cable.

That upgrade would be significant because digital signals can be compressed using software that is constantly improving. It may well be that a 550 megahertz all-digital network would be sufficient to bring Santa Rosa residents all the services they desire, Johnson said.

When those services might become available, Johnson couldn't say, citing competitive concerns. He hoped, however, that the high-speed rollout will silence some of Comcast's critics.

"We certainly understand the skepticism of some folks, and hopefully they have now seen that when we say we'll get something done, we get something done," he said.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When those services might become available, Johnson couldn't say, citing competitive concerns. He hoped, however, that the high-speed rollout will silence some of Comcast's critics.

In your dreams...

Originally posted by keenan

When those services might become available, Johnson couldn't say, citing competitive concerns. He hoped, however, that the high-speed rollout will silence some of Comcast's critics.

In your dreams...

Do I detect a note of skepticism ???? and well you should...pie in the sky promises again.... ;)

The reason they don't give a time frame is if they did there would be mass desertion to the satellite providers and with a time frame if you miss that time frame you get blasted for that also. They could promise til the cows come home, I want to see some action or proof that it's going to happen and in the near future not years down the line.

Laters,
Mikef5

They used HDSE for the NFL Network Game of the Week during football season, not much else since.

Originally posted by Mikef5
Do I detect a note of skepticism ???? and well you should...pie in the sky promises again.... ;)


Laters,
Mikef5

From me?!?! No way..:p I could go through that whole article and pick it apart, things like going all-digital on 550MHz systems, but he can't say when, well of course he can't say when, it's going to need some re-write of the FCC rules and Congressional intervention to change the laws before any of that happens... the statements made by Comcast were just what I would expect them to be, patting themselves on the back while sidestepping the MAJOR problem, bandwidth...

At least the City Manager and members of the City Council are reading through the BS.. I'm proud of them for that...

Meanwhile...Spaceway 1 is ready to launch April 26th....:)

Originally posted by keenan
From me?!?! No way..:p I could go through that whole article and pick it apart, things like going all-digital on 550MHz systems, but he can't say when, well of course he can't say when, it's going to need some re-write of the FCC rules and Congressional intervention to change the laws before any of that happens... the statements made by Comcast were just what I would expect them to be, patting themselves on the back while sidestepping the MAJOR problem, bandwidth...

At least the City Manager and members of the City Council are reading through the BS.. I'm proud of them for that...

Meanwhile...Spaceway 1 is ready to launch April 26th....:)

Spaceway 1 is that the satillite for local HD from D* ???

Did you see Voom has risen from the dead... :p

Looks like Dolan Sr. is trying to get funding to keep it going and separate it from Cablevison. I really hope it works out, if they ever get a dvr I'll be history like yesterday and Comcast can kiss my.....

Laters,
Mikef5

It's hard to believe Dolan would sell Cablevision, which has millions of users, to keep Voom alive.

Maybe I can get him to trade whatever luxury car he has for my Pinto. :D

Originally posted by Mikef5
Spaceway 1 is that the satillite for local HD from D* ???
Laters,
Mikef5

Yes. http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Dancing-Chilli.gif


Did you see Voom has risen from the dead... :p

Looks like Dolan Sr. is trying to get funding to keep it going and separate it from Cablevison. I really hope it works out, if they ever get a dvr I'll be history like yesterday and Comcast can kiss my.....


I wouldn't touch Voom unless there was 100% money-back, in writing guarantee in case the old man keels over and Voom goes bye-bye... :p

Originally posted by wco81
It's hard to believe Dolan would sell Cablevision, which has millions of users, to keep Voom alive.

Maybe I can get him to trade whatever luxury car he has for my Pinto. :D

I think at his age it isn't the money, it's the idea and thrill of what he's trying to accomplish...you can't take it with you when you go..:D

I hope he succeeds.

Originally posted by keenan
Comcast completes SR high-speed Internet access
City officials say more upgrades needed to put services on par with neighboring communities

Thursday, March 10, 2005

By KEVIN McCALLUM
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
<snip>
"We said we were going to do it and we did it," Comcast spokesman Andrew Johnson said Wednesday.

Comcast exceeded its target because its employees worked hard and experienced few technical obstacles, Johnson said. A last-minute issue regarding how the upgrades would affect the operations of the city's Information Network, or I-Net, were resolved earlier this week, Johnson said.
<snip> I like how proud of themselves they are for being a few weeks early after they delayed it for years. This has really given me new faith in Comast. Maybe instead of them upgrading us never, they'll upgrade us 3 weeks before never.

http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/ROTFLMAO.gif

Originally posted by keenan
Yes. http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Dancing-Chilli.gif



I wouldn't touch Voom unless there was 100% money-back, in writing guarantee in case the old man keels over and Voom goes bye-bye... :p

It costs a dollar to install 3 stb's and you lease the boxes, just like Dish, not much upfront costs, I think I can afford a dollar :D

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by Mikef5
It costs a dollar to install 3 stb's and you lease the boxes, just like Dish, not much upfront costs, I think I can afford a dollar :D

Laters,
Mikef5

At that price I would do it, but I don't have line of sight to the satellite, far too low on the horizon..

Just an FYI I am also getting the issue with no picture or soud when I turn the Moto 6412 on. I am able to fix it by hitting the myDVR button playing something I have recorded but it is annoying and makes the all on/off button frustrating to use.

Originally posted by keenan
Yes. http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Dancing-Chilli.gif



I wouldn't touch Voom unless there was 100% money-back, in writing guarantee in case the old man keels over and Voom goes bye-bye... :p

I wouldn't worry about that. Plenty of cable companies are hoping he fails so they can buy up VOOM for pennies on the dollar. You will still have your voom, it will just be owned by someone else.

Originally posted by lloydus
Just an FYI I am also getting the issue with no picture or soud when I turn the Moto 6412 on. I am able to fix it by hitting the myDVR button playing something I have recorded but it is annoying and makes the all on/off button frustrating to use.

Did it just start happening recently, or has it always been a problem? Mine worked fine the first few months and then just started acting up this week. Strange....

I got a message on my box, Comcast is gonna start showing the KNTV-DT weather feed again on channel 186. Just in time for summer where we can watch the doplar feed and see nothing. Thanks Comcast! :p

Judging by the amount of pixelization/macroblocking on that, I'd guess it uses about as much bandwidth as the service menu screen....

For those in the unrebuilt areas how about putting FSN-HD on the Discovery-HD channel? It repeats programs all the time. Whatever the game preempts will be shown again.

Discovery-HD is now unencrypted in Santa Rosa. I hope it's not a mistake and that Comcast is actually fulfiling their "free" promise for the poor 550 MHz customers.

Looks like it's a mistake. Flipping around some more, I'm getting a ton of channels I'm not paying for. I guess the good thing about Comcast being so inept is that their mistakes occassionally work in our favor.

Comcast may be screwing around with our system, I have been getting a lot of break-ups and a couple of green screens on KPIX-HD-705 tonight, audio drop-outs as well. I checked the error counts and the correctable readings seemed really high, 14,000 to 20,000, I don't remember them ever being that high, in fact I don't remember really having any counts before...

Originally posted by keenan
Comcast may be screwing around with our system, I have been getting a lot of break-ups and a couple of green screens on KPIX-HD-705 tonight, audio drop-outs as well. I checked the error counts and the correctable readings seemed really high, 14,000 to 20,000, I don't remember them ever being that high, in fact I don't remember really having any counts before...

I've been getting some audio and video breakups on KPIX-HD 705 for several days now in Rohnert Park and we've got a 750 system. I'm not sure it has anything to do with the 550 system, more of a head end thing.

Originally posted by Doc Tonic
I wouldn't worry about that. Plenty of cable companies are hoping he fails so they can buy up VOOM for pennies on the dollar. You will still have your voom, it will just be owned by someone else.

The MSO's wouldn't want VOOM - it just competes with their terrestrial option. The guy who really wnats it is Charlie Ergen at Dish. He wants the satellite slot and the subs.

Thanks,
Mike

Originally posted by bobby94928
I've been getting some audio and video breakups on KPIX-HD 705 for several days now in Rohnert Park and we've got a 750 system. I'm not sure it has anything to do with the 550 system, more of a head end thing.

I wish they would fix it, it's starting to get annoying, another reason why I have DirecTV as a back-up, I switch the feed to there and everything is fine..

Anybody heard from SonomaSearcher? He's been gone for 3 weeks now...nice vacation..:)

Originally posted by John Mace
Did it just start happening recently, or has it always been a problem? Mine worked fine the first few months and then just started acting up this week. Strange....

Mine has been having this issue for several months. I think it happened before the new firmware but I cant be sure. I would just be happy if comcast acknowledged the bug, even if they didnt have a fix for it.

Extended Free Showtime ended this morning about 9am in Pleasanton...

Checked my list of Scheduled Recordings on my 6412 and wasn't surprised that I hadn't selected any Showtime movies for the next 2 weeks... I guess I won't miss it :-)...

My Showtime HD has disappeared on me, perhaps related to the free shutdown? I am a subscriber, so I should be getting it, and in fact my non-HD Showtime channels are working fine, but SHOW-HD gives me that "subscription channel, press info" message. I called Comcast, they couldn't do anything and are sending a guy out on Tuesday ... why do they do this, is someone in my house going to do anything other than look at my screen and then call the home office?

Originally posted by masoo
My Showtime HD has disappeared on me, perhaps related to the free shutdown? I am a subscriber, so I should be getting it, and in fact my non-HD Showtime channels are working fine, but SHOW-HD gives me that "subscription channel, press info" message. I called Comcast, they couldn't do anything and are sending a guy out on Tuesday ... why do they do this, is someone in my house going to do anything other than look at my screen and then call the home office?

I have exactly the same thing. I haven't called yet, but I think the box just needs a hit.

Originally posted by bobby94928
I have exactly the same thing. I haven't called yet, but I think the box just needs a hit.

i just called, they said it's a bay area issue, they are aware and working on it.

Thanks leftjab, that saves me a phone call.

Appreciate the heads-up, leftjab ... interesting that your phone call got the info about the area problem, while mine gone nothing more than "I'll have to schedule a tech visit."

it takes them awhile to detect a trend. for the first callers, it's considered an isolated problem. i actually had called 90 min. earlier, they said they'd hit my box and they never did; when i called back, the tech said he had just seen a local SHOW-HD notice, checked back and confirmed it. then i checked this thread.

it's still not working.

KPIX-DT is currently running at half power. I'm not receiving a usable signal in San Jose. Some outlying cable systems use OTA instead of a station-supplied feed.

I haven't had any problem with SHOWHD and KPIX-DT is playing fine now.

I'm in South SJ.

What channel is KPIX-DT? Showtime HD is fine and KPIXD (HD) is fine in Burlingame.

Latest 6412 issues?

Any idea what's up with the 6412 not displaying the picture/sound when turned on? I can get it to work when I play something recorded from the DVR. It's been a couple of weeks now. Has anyone got this fixed on their end after experiencing this? Some people replied that keeping the 6412 on all the time will fix that but it does not work for me.

Also, I notice that sometimes, lately at late night, that pressing the 'favorites' button on the remote does nothing. Only when I select the channel button up or down, then the 'favorites' button will work. Anyone experience this same thing? It has been random at times.

Steve

The transmitter power for a station that transmits from Sutro Tower will have no affect on your cable reception. They can be off the air and still be fine on cable. Comcast gets a direct feed for all the Sutro stations. They don't use the OTA signal.

Larry

that problem with the 6412, no picture/sound while turning unit on, is a bug in the receiver. we should bring it up to our respective area's offices, mine being Sacramento. Leaving the 6412 on all the time is NOT a good idea and it should not be practiced. I've been told that updates to the receiver for software occur during the receiver's downtime. If you leave the receiver on, you wouldn't get updates. I haven't had the favorites problem you've exsperienced tho. I'll look into it when i get a chance.

Originally posted by techdood
Leaving the 6412 on all the time is NOT a good idea and it should not be practiced. I've been told that updates to the receiver for software occur during the receiver's downtime. If you leave the receiver on, you wouldn't get updates.

Where did you hear that?

I'm not sure that's true. I leave mine on and get updates (such as to firmwire 9.15) just fine. I suspect we'd see alot of people complaining if that was the case. I agree the mute bug is a "bug" and should be fixed but I havent seen any problems with the workaround (which is just leaving the machine in the "on" status instead of "off" (which is really still on, but more of a standby)

-Steve

Did they start encrypting InHD and InHD2 today? I'm getting "NOT AUTHORIZED". I've been getting these for the past 2 months on 6200 without Digital Classic. ESPN-HD is ok but DISC-HD is off also.

Originally posted by hiker
Did they start encrypting InHD and InHD2 today? I'm getting "NOT AUTHORIZED". I've been getting these for the past 2 months on 6200 without Digital Classic. ESPN-HD is ok but DISC-HD is off also.

The "encryption" is done on a local basis...most headends have been encrypting it for a while. Its certainly possible that they just turned it on in your area.

I also lost INHD, INHD2, Discovery HD, and HDSE channel. I still have ESPNHD. I just have analog cable + HD.

Anyone else in SF get the same? I've been getting these for over a year now.

russ,
I just noticed that tonight also. No more inhd, inhd2, discovery-hd out here in Livermore. Also, the sho-hd preview ended last friday. Still get epsn-hd.

What's the minimum subscription to get inhd and inhd2 back? I currently have expanded analog, plus 2 HD boxes.

Best,
jeff

Originally posted by greeno
What's the minimum subscription to get inhd and inhd2 back? I currently have expanded analog, plus 2 HD boxes.


I think a lot of people say one thing or another, but there is no definitive rule. When I signed up for HD, I was told that I would get INHD, DiscorveryHD, etc... but of course we all know the customer service reps have no clue either. They say there is an extra charge for Premium channels, but they only list HBO, Starz, Showtime, and Cinemax as their Premium channels. INHD, ESPN, Disovery channels are called HD Network channels and then there are the Local channels. The HD Network channels have always been in limbo... if you read the boards here, they say you need Digital Classic Tier to receive them. On comcast's website, there is no indication of this.

Directly from their website:

"There was a time when you thought your old TV looked just fine. Then you saw HDTV. The clarity. The vivid color. The wide-screen format. And your only question was, how do I get it? If you have an "HD-capable" or an "HD-ready" TV set, a Comcast HD box is the only additional equipment you need (available for a small monthly fee, also an installation fee may apply and charges can vary). So there’s no need to buy a separate HD receiver, decoder or antenna.

A broad selection of HD content. Unlike satellite, with Comcast you can watch local broadcast channels (like ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS*) in HD without an antenna. So you can see the prime-time and sports programs that you wanted to watch when you bought an HDTV set. In addition to our HD programming, in many cities Comcast offers the enhanced viewing experience of FOX Widescreen.

Plus, you get great HD networks like ESPN HD which offers over 100 high definition games a year and selected ESPN original programming. Also, the INHD and INHD2 channels offer an exceptional variety of sports, movies, travel, and nature programming - all in high definition.

Finally, at no extra cost, premium subscribers can catch their favorite hit movies and many ground breaking original series from HBO HD and SHOWTIME HD. And for HD movie lovers, STARZ HD and CINEMAX HD are coming soon.

Comcast. The easy way to bring HDTV home. If you have an "HD-capable" or an "HD-ready" TV set, a Comcast HD box is the only additional equipment you need (available for a small monthly fee). So there’s no need to buy a separate HD receiver or antenna. And no long term contracts. "

After re-reading the bold section on that website:

Plus, you get great HD networks like ESPN HD which offers over 100 high definition games a year and selected ESPN original programming. Also, the INHD and INHD2 channels offer an exceptional variety of sports, movies, travel, and nature programming - all in high definition.

I really think this implies that if you pay the $5 HDTV additional cost you should get these HD Network channels as part of it! Anyone else think that's what this quote means? Cuz if so, we should all be calling and saying we lost our INHD, INHD2, HDSE, Discovery HD!

Originally posted by greeno
russ,
I just noticed that tonight also. No more inhd, inhd2, discovery-hd out here in Livermore. Also, the sho-hd preview ended last friday. Still get epsn-hd.

What's the minimum subscription to get inhd and inhd2 back? I currently have expanded analog, plus 2 HD boxes.

Best,
jeff

By Adding the Digital Classic "Tier"

It's $9.95/mth on top of Analog...Includes InHD1/2, DiscoveryHD, ESPN-HD (which will eventually be encrypted), HDSE, FSNBA-HD and about 20 SD channels.

Note, the Tier is different then the Digital Classic "Package"..The Package is a bundle which includes Analog (1-32), Extended Basic (32-80) and the Digital Classic Tier...If you do the math there is really no price break for getting the package (and you pay +$30 since you get all the Analog channels on the extended basic tier)

No matter what you try and read into the website...Analog + $5 for "HD" is only for the HD compatible box...they dont include InHD, Dsc-HD, ESPN HD etc as part of the $5 uplift for the box. (just be glad you had it for free for a while ;)

Arg! Another $9.95 to comcast....

jeff

Over the weekend, I started receiving quite a few digital channels "in the clear" on my PC HD tuner. In addition, Discovery-HD was also in the clear.

It seems like all of the stations are now being encrypted again, but I can still get Discovery-HD on my cable box. I am guessing that this is my consolation prize for being on a 550 MHz system.

Kevin

Originally posted by avekevin
Over the weekend, I started receiving quite a few digital channels "in the clear" on my PC HD tuner. In addition, Discovery-HD was also in the clear.

It seems like all of the stations are now being encrypted again, but I can still get Discovery-HD on my cable box. I am guessing that this is my consolation prize for being on a 550 MHz system.

Kevin

What package do you subscribe to?

Originally posted by keenan
What package do you subscribe to?

Analog basic + expanded

And you're getting DiscoveryHD? How long have you had that package?

So you have Standard(basic + expanded) for $43.99...

Yep. I noticed it for the first time on Friday, March 11. Channel 722.

Yep.

Kevin

Okay...so I understand...you've had the Standard for months and then last Friday DiscoveryHD showed up in the clear, on the cable box? Do you have the DVR?

Might as well ask all these questions at once..:p

Do you also get ESPN?
The four local nets plus KQED?

IOW, the only thing you don't get is the movie channels?

Talking HD here...

Originally posted by keenan
Okay...so I understand...you've had the Standard for months and then last Friday DiscoveryHD showed up in the clear, on the cable box? Do you have the DVR?

I have had Standard service since I moved into the house ~5 years ago. One Friday and over the weekend, I was able to tune 10-15 digital channels plus Discovery-HD on my PC-based HD tuner. The stations were in the clear.

Tonight, I could no longer tune any of the above on my PC tuner, and only Discovery-HD remained on my 6200.

I get and have always gotten ESPN-HD. I also get the locals in HD.

Kevin

Okay..thanks..:)

Originally posted by keenan
Okay..thanks..:)

I probably shouldn't have said anything...I bet the little birdies take away all my toys tomorrow. :(

You mean the DiscoveryHD?

Originally posted by keenan
You mean the DiscoveryHD?

Yeah, the only nugget I have since I can't get FSBA-HD.

Kevin

Has anyone found remote control codes for the Motorola 6200 box? I'd like to program the Sony remote that came with my TV to control the 6200, but I can't find any references about what code will enable it.

Thanks,
Kevin

I just wish I got the new I-Guide already...sheesh. Sucks having it on the black box and not my 6200.

Originally posted by neoufo51
I just wish I got the new I-Guide already...sheesh. Sucks having it on the black box and not my 6200.

I agree, I'm in the same boat. Any info on when the 6200's will get it?

As of Monday night, I was still getting InHD, Dicovery HD and ESPN HD.

But Shotime HD is no longer available (had been for about 2 months).

I only have basic with the HD box.

Comcast has been going back and forth.

TiVo - Comcast boxes coming...
Just heard on KRON that there is now an agreement. Hopefully these are going to be HD.

Yeah but how much are they going to charge for them? Especially on a monthly basis with the lease for the box and whatever for the Tivo service.

Guess the 6412 isn't up to snuff? Or Comcast thinks the Tivo name will help subscriber retention and acquisition?

This might have saved the company.

Ironic. Before the CES, it looked like you would be getting HD LIL from D* on Tivos. Now, it looks like you'll get HD LIL on something other than Tivos while you might have to go with Comcast to get HD on a Tivo PVR.

The old AT&T Broadband marketed Tivo for awhile but it wasn't that serious. I think they actually sold the box for $300 rather than lease it for a few bucks a month.

Originally posted by hiker
TiVo - Comcast boxes coming...
Just heard on KRON that there is now an agreement. Hopefully these are going to be HD.


Don't hold your breath....They will not be available for another 18 months (Mid-Late 2006) and will be Tivo Software running on Motorola STBs

Interesting development though....Tivo stock is up 50% on the news (almost hit a whopping $6/share)

one of the reasons is Comcast wants to use Tivo to push directed advertising to us :(

Here are the press release links if you want to read "details"

http://www.tivo.com/5.3.1.1.asp?article=246

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B6F54963A-1F24-4DCF-A87C-2CA6D32EC753%7D&siteid=google&dist=google

Originally posted by davisdog


one of the reasons is Comcast wants to use Tivo to push directed advertising to us :(

Exactly..whoopee..:rolleyes:

All of a sudden I'm getting lots of audio break-up. Sort of a choppy audio like someone is flicking an on/off switch every 1/2 second. This happens on multiple channels many times each day. Sometimes I can make it go away by switching channels and then returning. Seems like it just started a few days ago, but it's pretty rampant now.

Is anyone else seeing this? If so, any solutions? I haven't called Comcast yet.

I've seen remote setup code "0476" for motorola, but that's for a OFA remote. There are others, but they too are remote dependent, i.e. a setup code means something specific to a particular remote.

Maybe try asking in the remote section here. Or try www.hifi-remote.com in the "forums" section. Or try www.remotecentral.com in the forum section.

Best,
jeff

Originally posted by avekevin
Has anyone found remote control codes for the Motorola 6200 box? I'd like to program the Sony remote that came with my TV to control the 6200, but I can't find any references about what code will enable it.

Thanks,
Kevin

Originally posted by John Mace
All of a sudden I'm getting lots of audio break-up. Sort of a choppy audio like someone is flicking an on/off switch every 1/2 second. This happens on multiple channels many times each day. Sometimes I can make it go away by switching channels and then returning. Seems like it just started a few days ago, but it's pretty rampant now.

Is anyone else seeing this? If so, any solutions? I haven't called Comcast yet.

I have only seen this on 703 in Milpitas. I get it occasionally in the evenings, sounds like stuttering. It seems to only last 4 or 5 seconds. I haven't called Comcast because I don't get it too often.

Okay. I just got off the phone with Comcast. First CSR rep. failed the quiz. She didn't know that we get FOX-HD. Asked for a supervisor and got disconnected. Called back and got a CSR that actually knew something. He knew the difference between digital classic package and digital tier.

He also threw me a bone. I got my standard cable (basic+expanded) at a 3month promo price of $19.95 (instead of current $43.99). I added digital tier for $9.95. Thanks keenan for the tip. I'll have most of my channels back. The other shoe will drop when they encrypt ESPN-HD. I guess I'll have to deal with that come fall when football season starts back up. I'm really annoyed right now with this company....

Best,
jeff

Originally posted by ///MD
Here are the press release links if you want to read "details"

http://www.tivo.com/5.3.1.1.asp?article=246

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B6F54963A-1F24-4DCF-A87C-2CA6D32EC753%7D&siteid=google&dist=google

This is great news. The Tivo's have always been quite hackable, so hopefully content protection on Tivo on the DCT 6412 platform will be cracked like it was on the DirecTV platform. :-)

Thanks,
Mike

Originally posted by greeno
The other shoe will drop when they encrypt ESPN-HD. I guess I'll have to deal with that come fall when football season starts back up. I'm really annoyed right now with this company....

Best,
jeff

ESPN-HD is part of the Digital Classic Tier, so even if they encrypt it you should still get it (and not even notice unless you are using a built in QAM tuner)

Originally posted by wco81


But Shotime HD is no longer available (had been for about 2 months).

I only have basic with the HD box.

Comcast has been going back and forth.

They had been running a free preview (for ~2mths) where everybody got Showtime for free...It just ended, so know you have to pay for it if you want it

Well, the free ride is over! We've been getting InHD1, InHD2, Discovery-HD, FSN-HD, HDSE and ESPN-HD here in Healdsburg with expanded basic. For some reason, we lost Discovery HD during much of the free Showtime preview, but it returned last week. Now, as of Monday, we are only getting ESPN-HD and the local network affiliates in HD.

I'm now planning to go digital before baseball season starts, but I'm a bit confused about the difference between adding the Digital Classic Tier (discussed above) and switching to the Digital Classic Package. What's the difference? The price seems to be the same.

I know this has been answered before, but what is the minimum ($) digital package that keeps expanded basic and returns all of the non-premium HD channels?

-Steve

Originally posted by slb
Well, the free ride is over! We've been getting InHD1, InHD2, Discovery-HD, FSN-HD, HDSE and ESPN-HD here in Healdsburg with expanded basic. For some reason, we lost Discovery HD during much of the free Showtime preview, but it returned last week. Now, as of Monday, we are only getting ESPN-HD and the local network affiliates in HD.

I'm now planning to go digital before baseball season starts, but I'm a bit confused about the difference between adding the Digital Classic Tier (discussed above) and switching to the Digital Classic Package. What's the difference? The price seems to be the same.

I know this has been answered before, but what is the minimum ($) digital package that keeps expanded basic and returns all of the non-premium HD channels?

-Steve

Steve

The Digital Classic "Tier" is good if you just want to add the non-premium HD channels (InHD1/2, DSCHD, FSNHD, HDSE, ESPNHD) on top of JUST basic cable (ch1-32).

If you want all the Analog Channels (Basic + Expanded Basic) + HD non-Premiums thats called the Digital Classic "Package"....no price difference though compared to just getting Basic Cable + Expanded Basic + Digital Classic as Tiers.

To add to the confusion, Comcast sells something Called "Standard Cable" which is just Basic + Expanded Basic (ie Channels 1-80)...The Digital Classic "package" is sometimes refered to being "Standard Cable + the Digital Classic"

BTW, when you call to "upgrade" to the digital classic Package....make sure you ask for the lastest special for doing that....Right now I think they will discount it to $30 or $40 for the first 3 months...just like greeno did in an earlier post.


-Steve

Thanks Steve (davisdog),
Now I understand. The real bummer is that I just convinced my wife to let me upgrade to the DVR cable box. Now it's going to be another $10 just to watch the A's and Giants in HD. Oh well, we'll just have to cut back a bit on expanding our wine cellar;)

-Steve

P.S. I guess I shouldn't complain considering the lack of choices that the 2% club has.

:p

you can just send Keenan and I some of that wine since we are both 2%'ers...

kinda of sad that we know just how comcast packages work but we can't prove it ourselves because we dont get most of the channels :(

Originally posted by davisdog
you can just send Keenan and I some of that wine since we are both 2%'ers...

OR, maybe I could bribe our CSR with a couple of bottles and get the InHD channels back...

We really don't have a cellar, but our taste has migrated away from $8-$15 wines towards the $20-$40 wines. We may have to drink a bottle of two-buck chuck ever so often to offset the cable bill.:)

-Steve

This is the list of channels we get in Santa Rosa, a little hard to read, but it is readable, Of course this doesn't reflect the minus SHO-HD and KRON-HD, or the additions of Fox-HD and DiscoveryHD.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/keenanj/CableChannels.jpg

And this is the pricing,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/keenanj/CablePackages.jpg

Anybody else have a ton of audio dropouts during American Idol tonight (on Ch. 702 Burlingame)?

Originally posted by avekevin
Has anyone found remote control codes for the Motorola 6200 box? I'd like to program the Sony remote that came with my TV to control the 6200, but I can't find any references about what code will enable it.


Just in case anyone is trying to do the same thing, the Motorola boxes apparently respond to the same remote control codes as General Instrument boxes. I entered the G.I. code into my Sony remote, and I can now control the 6200 from my TV remote. Woo-hoo!

Kevin

Originally posted by dmlove51
Anybody else have a ton of audio dropouts during American Idol tonight (on Ch. 702 Burlingame)?

Yes. And for once, I was thankful. :)

Kevin

Re the dropouts on KTVU-HD (702) during American Idol, I checked both thru the DVR and with my QAM tuner in my Sharp LCD (channel labelled '2.1'), and found the dropouts both places. So at least it wasn't the DVR getting confused...

Due to the 12 contestants all performing (and no doubt concerns over the Mario news), the episode was actually filmed Monday night. My bet - the tape had some problems... The shows on both before and after American Idol on KTVU-HD had no drop-outs.

Didn't get a chance to test the Analog SD KTVU though...

Originally posted by slb
I know this has been answered before, but what is the minimum ($) digital package that keeps expanded basic and returns all of the non-premium HD channels?

You need digital classic pkg to get all the non premium hd channels. Going forward anyone who wants the DVR in the bay area needs standard cable along with digital classic in order to get a DVR.

Originally posted by edmc
Due to the 12 contestants all performing (and no doubt concerns over the Mario news), the episode was actually filmed Monday night. My bet - the tape had some problems...

I wonder if they DVRed it. :D

Kevin

Any of you Santa Rosa guys missing all the local HD feeds? No 702,703,705,707 and 709, all say channel will be available shortly..no 723 ESPN-HD either...WTF..?

Originally posted by keenan
Any of you Santa Rosa guys missing all the local HD feeds? No 702,703,705,707 and 709, all say channel will be available shortly..no 723 ESPN-HD either...WTF..?

Rohnert Park, the same way. The digital KQEDs are also gone along with 194, the KGO subchannel. Thye were up an hour or so ago, but gone now.

Re the dropouts on KTVU-HD (702) during American Idol, I checked both thru the DVR and with my QAM tuner in my Sharp LCD (channel labelled '2.1'), and found the dropouts both places. So at least it wasn't the DVR getting
confused...
Had 2 tv's on at one time. The Hd feed (channel 702) kept dropping; however, SD feed in kitchen would not drop. The droppe sound was pretty irritating.

Originally posted by bobby94928
Rohnert Park, the same way. The digital KQEDs are also gone along with 194, the KGO subchannel. Thye were up an hour or so ago, but gone now.

If you can, you need to call it in, the CSR I talked to said there were no other complaints yet and it takes at least two for them to start to investigate..:rolleyes: I really can't say here what I think about that policy...

Originally posted by keenan
If you can, you need to call it in, the CSR I talked to said there were no other complaints yet and it takes at least two for them to start to investigate..:rolleyes: I really can't say here what I think about that policy...

Rumor has it that they had turn off the HD Locals in order to provide HSI in Santa Rosa...

:D

Wouldn't surprise me one bit...

What doesn't make sense is, I always thought that the Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa head-ends were on different feeds from Sutro....and nobody else in these areas are not having this problem?

I called, they tell me that I'm not paying the $5 HD charge and that is why the channels went down. I asked why my non HD channels 189-194, the KQED and KGO subs went down as well. They told me that those channels were part of the HD package. Those channels also went off on my non-HD, but digital, receiver. I told them to add the damned $5, I knew it was supposed to be there anyway :-)..... They said about 20 minutes and they should be back up. We'll see.

WTF?!?! I have the full boat of crap that they offer, and now Comcast is going is going to tell me they want another $5 f'ing dollars to get HD? Something ain't right here...

you have the DVR don't you?

Originally posted by bobby94928
I called, they tell me that I'm not paying the $5 HD charge and that is why the channels went down. I asked why my non HD channels 189-194, the KQED and KGO subs went down as well. They told me that those channels were part of the HD package. Those channels also went off on my non-HD, but digital, receiver. I told them to add the damned $5, I knew it was supposed to be there anyway :-)..... They said about 20 minutes and they should be back up. We'll see.

Just tried here (RP), I have the same problem. Sounds like CSR BS to me. I'll call as well.

Well here is even more oddity. INHD, INHD2, Discovery HD is back up in SF unencrypted for now.... but HDSE channel is still showing up as Not Authorized.

What the hell is Comcast doing?

Anyone else who lost it, but got it back again?

Originally posted by bobby94928
I called, they tell me that I'm not paying the $5 HD charge and that is why the channels went down. I asked why my non HD channels 189-194, the KQED and KGO subs went down as well. They told me that those channels were part of the HD package. Those channels also went off on my non-HD, but digital, receiver. I told them to add the damned $5, I knew it was supposed to be there anyway :-)..... They said about 20 minutes and they should be back up. We'll see.


Next time ask them "What HD Package?"...because there is NO HD Package.

The $5 extra is strictly for the rental of the higher cost HD Compatible Cable Box.

If you have a built in QAM tuner in your HDTV then you dont need to pay $5 to get any of those channels

better yet just hang up and call back


By the way, What Cable box do you have (5100, 6200, 6412?)...The $5 is automatic if you rent one of those (HDTV or not)...

They tack on another $4.95 for the "DVR" license on the 6412...if you dont pay that they take it back and give you a 6200

Originally posted by keenan
WTF?!?! I have the full boat of crap that they offer, and now Comcast is going is going to tell me they want another $5 f'ing dollars to get HD? Something ain't right here...

you have the DVR don't you?

Yes, and I also have the full boat, about $112 with a $14 discount temporarily.

Originally posted by emiburke
Just tried here (RP), I have the same problem. Sounds like CSR BS to me. I'll call as well.

Always a fun experience talking to support. First tried to get me to troubleshoot my local system (cables, etc.) Told him doubtful, since others here are reporting same issue. Said OK, he will set up a service call, then said hold on a minute. He came back, saying he was logging a "ticket", and that yes they are now aware of a problem in this area. He said someone will be "working on it".

No mention of fees, etc.

Originally posted by russwong
Well here is even more oddity. INHD, INHD2, Discovery HD is back up in SF unencrypted for now.... but HDSE channel is still showing up as Not Authorized.

What the hell is Comcast doing?

Anyone else who lost it, but got it back again?

Yup! Got InHD1, InHD2 and Discovery-HD back, but now I've lost ESPN-HD, and all of the local (702 thru 707) HD feeds! I wish Comacst would get this settled one way or another!

-Steve

The missing channels are back on here.

Okay, I feel better now...sort of...at least it wasn't just up here..these CSRs are absolutely clueless, the second one I talked to said it takes 5 calls from an area before they consider an outage problem, otherwise they will come out in two days because they figure the problem is at the residence...told the rep, it's a good thing I have DirecTV, because that's where I'll be watching my HD tonight..:D

Back on here as well..but naturally, because they "hit" the box I've lost all my guide data..no recording until it's loaded..:rolleyes:

Back on here as well.

I did a little research on the $5 and it is an HD equipment rental. They charge that for each outlet. Luckily, I only have one HDTV. The 6412 charge is $9.95. So, although I might have saved $60 a year because they screwed up on my billing, I'm glad I made the call and they got it fixed.

Originally posted by bobby94928

I did a little research on the $5 and it is an HD equipment rental. They charge that for each outlet. Luckily, I only have one HDTV. The 6412 charge is $9.95. So, although I might have saved $60 a year because they screwed up on my billing, I'm glad I made the call and they got it fixed.

The "HD Equipment Rental Fee" for the 6412 is the same $5...They just take on an additional $4.95 for "DVR Service"

I continued to have intermittent (total) loss of signal during West Wing tonight on 703 for short periods of time. SD seemed to be fine.

Kevin

Incredible, this is the 3rd time in 4 weeks that I'm going to download The West Wing because either KNTV or Comcast has screwed it up...

just fyi...I just finished watching it off the 6412 and it (Westwing) was fine on 703 down here.

Must be something from your guys headend

Originally posted by davisdog
just fyi...I just finished watching it off the 6412 and it (Westwing) was fine on 703 down here.

Must be something from your guys headend

Okay, what does Kate tell C.J. when she gets back from the bar talking to the spook, the recording glitched at that point and went to a commercial...:confused:

It wasn't just KNTV. I had some blackouts during American Dreams at 8PM on KNTV and then once on KGO during Alias at 9PM. Maybe they are working on whatever the problem was for us North Bayites earlier in the day.

Seems like Comcast time is about 1 minute off on my STBs. Used to be I'd see all the shows start just as the clock ticked to the hour or half-hour. Now, I see almost all shows start a full minute "early". Correspondingly, I've been missing the first bit of recorded shows.

Anyone else notice this? I don't think this is networks offsetting the start times, alhtough that does happen on some shows. This is systematic on ALL the shows and just started a week or so ago.

Originally posted by John Mace
Seems like Comcast time is about 1 minute off on my STBs. Used to be I'd see all the shows start just as the clock ticked to the hour or half-hour. Now, I see almost all shows start a full minute "early". Correspondingly, I've been missing the first bit of recorded shows.

Anyone else notice this? I don't think this is networks offsetting the start times, alhtough that does happen on some shows. This is systematic on ALL the shows and just started a week or so ago.

This has happened before, and I can't remember what initiated getting it corrected....networks have been staggering their start times, but if the STB clock is off, then it needs to be fixed..

Originally posted by bobby94928
It wasn't just KNTV. I had some blackouts during American Dreams at 8PM on KNTV and then once on KGO during Alias at 9PM. Maybe they are working on whatever the problem was for us North Bayites earlier in the day.

I noticed that too, all of a sudden there would be a black screen as if they were going to a commercial and then the picture came back.

My 6412 finally did the blank screen and no audio thing when I turned it on today, did a hard boot and it's fine...what a bizarre piece of equipment...

Originally posted by keenan
This has happened before, and I can't remember what initiated getting it corrected....networks have been staggering their start times, but if the STB clock is off, then it needs to be fixed..

It's off. I checked it against the CNN and FOXNEWS clocks, and it's exactly 40 seconds slow. I'll call COMCAST tomorrow and see if I can get it fixed. I posted this here to see if I was the only one seeing it.

40 seconds might not seem like much, but if you're recording something, it can be very annoying.

RE: My 6412 finally did the blank screen and no audio thing when I turned it on today, did a hard boot and it's fine...what a bizarre piece of equipment...


How did you perform a hard boot? Will the recorded shows be lost?

Thanks,
Steve

I pull the power plug. You lose the guide data but it comes back pretty quick. You don't lose any recordings.

well it's official. We are buying a house in Antioch. My efforts in convincing my wife to look in Oakley and Brentwood failed. She didn't go for the whole excuse:
"But I'll be able to watch the Giants games in HD, I mean uh 'ahem'.. wow I really like the school district over there more, what's a few extra miles?" :(

I am now locked into 550 hell! ;)

I also have a quick question, and I'm pretty sure of the answer. IN Demand is not available to 550MHz areas right? cuz I'm pushing the button and following the instructions by going to channel 1 and nothing is happening.

thanks!

Todd,

"InDemand" is actually their pay per view channels...it is available (just a few worthless channels with a few repeating movies)

I think you are talking about "Video on Demand/VOD"...which is where you pull up a menu of 100's of shows to pick from that you can watch at any time....

Anyway... no, VOD is not available on the 550Mhz systems

welcome to HELL

Or, if you are talking about INHD 1 qnd INHD 2, then these also are not available in 550MHz areas.

davisdog- thanks.. yeah that's what I meant :)

bpearse - Or, if you are talking about INHD 1 qnd INHD 2, then these also are not available in 550MHz areas.

*sigh* I know.. honestly INHD 1 and 2 is all I want. I make a point to pester Comcast on a weekly basis about that even though it doesn't do any good.

Can anyone give me any insight into why some channels maybe encrypted one week and then not encrypted another week? I'm just trying to understand the logic. My INHD, INHD2, and Discovery HD are all back unencrypted and I'm getting with just the HD package and standard analog, which is what I've always expected and hoped for.

It's almost like a game, where I have to hope I still have these channels. Just wondering why it would go back and forth.

Not to complain when it's all unecrypted, but pulling on these HD heart strings is annoying!

Okay, it's been a month since SonomaSearcher last posted, has anyone heard from him?

Originally posted by keenan
Okay, it's been a month since SonomaSearcher last posted, has anyone heard from him?

Nope, but I've been wondering the same thing.
Since he's a moderator, maybe the AVS administrators would know something?