Originally posted by Mikef5
Ok, I broke down and actually called the CSR's and they reset the box and guess what ??? It worked and the guide is correct also, so if you are still on standard time, call and have them reset the box.
Now, back to the A's game... :)

Laters,
Mikef5

I did this as well, so now my clock is correct but all my series recordings are now an hour behind. I can't seem to delete them as well. Anyone figure out a fix yet? I just tried pulling the plug to see if the series recordings will repopulate correctly, but can't tell if that's going to work yet. At least after complaining to the CSR about this she gave me a credit for this month's DVR fee. So if you're having problems with the DVR, call in to get your money back at least. :)

Originally posted by keenan
Thanks, nice post, pretty much what I figured.

SCI-FI is a digital channel in Santa Rosa, I'm guessing that's a small indicator of how really cramped our system is..:D

I don't really expect any improvement in the 550 systems for quite some time, and from a business perspective I understand it completely, the thing that Comcast can do, and in my mind should do, in fact they could do it today, is lower the price for 550 systems...it would seem only fair...but then again, when it comes to business, fair is usually not a deciding factor...:)

What will become even more aggravating is when the larger systems migrate to digital/digital simulcast, and end up with even more content/services than they have now, while 550 is still sitting with pretty much what we have now until a full conversion can be done.

IOW, the worst is still ahead of us for 550MHz systems...we'll stay the same while everyone else is getting even better...:(

Just for reference, SciFi channel is also digital in Rohnert Park and we have the 750 system. Of course we didn't always have the expanded system and they put SciFi there before it expanded.

Originally posted by Mikef5
What a bummer, it's from the 3rd through the 5th and today is the 4th. One day to prepare and arrange everything and to get time off to even make it there. I wish I had known sooner, I might have been able to meet Mr. Johnson face to face :p What a thought.... oh well, back to the old way. Mike, thanks for the link though .

Laters,
Mikef5

Well, turns out there was a protest there yesterday, and it was well covered. Here's a story from the Chronicle: SFGate link (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/04/04/BUGJ9C20VQ1.DTL&type=tech)

And here is a link to an article from the organization doing the protesting: Media Alliance (http://www.media-alliance.org/article.php?story=2005040312023942) And here are some pictures from the protest: Protest Pics (http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/04/1731058.php) I especially liked the sign that said "Restore our FM service!"

I think I made some offhand remark in the forum about protesting at NCTA a month ago - I hope I didn't give these boneheads this idea...

Well, I guess Comcast will have to defer more HD coverage to increase the number of public access channels. Sigh... No wonder the management considers this a bad market to offer advanced products in.

Thanks,
Mike

Originally posted by MikeSM
Sigh... No wonder the management considers this a bad market to offer advanced products in.

Thanks,
Mike

Why, because we're not sheep like in other markets? Comcast would be well served to possibly pay more attention to the 5th largest economy in the world.

My selfish want for HD aside, I couldn't agree more with the below statement, in fact it's disgusting that Comcast's corporate headquarters, Philadelphia, has no public access channels.

"Peter Franck of Media Action Marin noted "Comcast unilaterally cut FM service in Marin County, is refusing to fund public access, and in fact is trying to kill local public, government and educational channels on the cable system. Comcast is earning record profits and has enough money to try and buy the whole Disney company, yet claims it cannot afford to support a community media center. It's shameful," he said."

You know, when one sees things like this protest you really have to think that there are a whole lot more people upset than just these protesters, I mean really, who goes out and protests about their cable company and in numbers like this unless there really is a problem?

Originally posted by keenan
Why, because we're not sheep like in other markets? Comcast would be well served to possibly pay more attention to the 5th largest economy in the world.

My selfish want for HD aside, I couldn't agree more with the below statement, in fact it's disgusting that Comcast's corporate headquarters, Philadelphia, has no public access channels.

"Peter Franck of Media Action Marin noted "Comcast unilaterally cut FM service in Marin County, is refusing to fund public access, and in fact is trying to kill local public, government and educational channels on the cable system. Comcast is earning record profits and has enough money to try and buy the whole Disney company, yet claims it cannot afford to support a community media center. It's shameful," he said."

You know, when one sees things like this protest you really have to think that there are a whole lot more people upset than just these protesters, I mean really, who goes out and protests about their cable company and in numbers like this unless there really is a problem?

Keenan, come on, these public access channels are a scam, and produce unoiversally worthless programming. What public access program, have you viewed lately?

There are lots of reasons to be upset/unhappy with comcast but them not wasting more spectrum on public access channels isn't one of them!

Thanks,
Mike

Originally posted by Mikef5
You know, if my memory serves me correctly ( and sometimes it doesn't ), I believe that they had a recall on those DCT 2000's. If DCTDicator was still here I'm sure he could verify that.

256 QAM - 2000s should all be good to go. It's 1000 & 1200 boxes that need to be scrapped. A glitch in the billing system may have had people returning 2000s, but they were checked out and returned to the system.

I passed up a free 3 day pass to the show. Various reasons, mostly too busy. I hear it's a real hoot.

Anyone still waiting for more HD in Surf City? The wait's about to end . . .

Originally posted by MikeSM
Keenan, come on, these public access channels are a scam, and produce unoiversally worthless programming. What public access program, have you viewed lately?

There are lots of reasons to be upset/unhappy with comcast but them not wasting more spectrum on public access channels isn't one of them!

Thanks,
Mike

The one that shows my city council meeting with Comcast, watched myself on TV..:D

I agree, to a point, I don't know that they are completely worthless, and we do live in a society where the needs of the whole are more important than the needs of the few(us HD cravers).

It's the seeming heavy-handedness and "we are not going to do this or that" attitude from Comcast that upsets people, especially from a monopoly like the cable company. Maybe Comcast should spend a little more time with community relations, in fact this is one of the things they touted when they came onto the scene here in the bay area. Maybe it's easier to attack Comcast because they're are a bigger target, I don't know, all I know is the aloof and blunt attitude I've personally seen(Johnnie Giles for instance) doesn't set well with people.

SonomaSearcher -- Your costs have left a lot of charges out.

I just checked the Comcast web site for my area: South San Jose (Santa Clara County). The costs including a Receiver, Remote & PPV access are (does not include taxes and other incidental fees):

Standard (analog) = $44.95/mo.
Digital Classic = $54.17/mo.
Digital Plus = $59.17/mo.
Digital Silver = $73.17/mo. (includes 1 Premium Channel)
Digital Gold = $86.20/mo. (includes 2 Premium Channels)
Digital Platinum = $98.17/mo. (includes 5 Premium Channels)
Fee for HD Digital = $17.98/mo.

HDTV Receiver = $5.00/mo.
Digital DVR = Not Available in my area

My current D* subscription is equivalent to the Digital Plus package. I have two receivers (one is a HDTV receiver) and haven't gotten their HD package yet. My total cost is $50.98 including all taxes and government fees. In addition, I get all 7 of the local OTA HDTV channels (6 with 5.1 channel sound) plus CBSW-HD (on the “A” satellite).

My monthly cost is $8/month less than Comcast ($13/mo less with the second receiver). Getting an HD receiver will cost another $5 for a total of $18/mo ($216/yr).

Comcast finally put in fiber optic cable in our area 2 months ago. Up until then, all I could get was their old (circa 1976) analog cable, which was absolutely horrible compared to D*. The only extra cost I’ve had was the tax on the initial setup (2 receivers + dish were free) plus my purchase of the HD receiver, which is now paid for with the savings from not getting Comcast.

If I get the HD package, that would add $10.98 + tax to the monthly cost for a total cost of $62.87/mo compared to $72.17/mo for Comcast (including the extra $18/mo HD digital fee). In addition, I’ve had one 10% price increase in 4 years, compared to Comcast’s 6 or 7 price increases of 3% to 5% each. It would cost me an extra $350 + tax for a second HD receiver + 3 LNB dish. To add HDTV service to Comcast, they want an extra $18/mo subscription fee, so the net difference stays the same, and the purchase (providing that I can’t get a deal from D*) would be paid for in less than 2 years.

The bottom line is that, in my area, D* (or E* or VOOM) is still cheaper than Comcast. If I were to go to Comcast, I would, also, lose 2 or 3 channels that we like to watch on a regular basis. Therefore, there is no incentive for me to change, unless Rupert decides to shaft existing users while providing perks to new users only (which D* has been known to do in the past – Comcast doesn’t have any better reputation here either).

BTW, do you think we will get Al Gore's new network, Current, on Comcast? :p

Oh..I forgot..no room...:D :D :p

Originally posted by Barovelli
Anyone still waiting for more HD in Surf City? The wait's about to end . . .

Yeah Baby! I got the on-screen message on 4/1. Supposed to go live on 5/2. Looks like the standard:

FOX
CBS
NBC
KQED
Discovery
ESPN
HBO


About time...

Just a head's up - the Giants game is scheduled on KTVU (2 and 702) on Thursday night, and the iGuide has NOT picked up on the fact that The OC is being bumped to channel 6 (it isn't just that my scheduled recordings didn't pick it up, the guide does not show it on Channel 6, although my TiVo guide does).

Originally posted by keenan
BTW, do you think we will get Al Gore's new network, Current, on Comcast? :p

Oh..I forgot..no room...:D :D :p

Thank God for small favors.. :D :D

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by Barovelli
256 QAM - 2000s should all be good to go. It's 1000 & 1200 boxes that need to be scrapped. A glitch in the billing system may have had people returning 2000s, but they were checked out and returned to the system.

I passed up a free 3 day pass to the show. Various reasons, mostly too busy. I hear it's a real hoot.

Anyone still waiting for more HD in Surf City? The wait's about to end . . .

Now it comes back to me, I got one of those notices. Boy, does the memory go fast the older you get ...:p

Good to see Surf City is being upgraded to the level of the non upgraded 550 MHz systems, they have waited long enough.

Thanks, Barovelli, for the memory jog.

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by Barovelli
[B

Anyone still waiting for more HD in Surf City? The wait's about to end . . . [/B]

Is this for all of Santa Cruz? I have a friend down there who has been waiting for HD before he signed up.

I've been following this thread off and on for the past year or so, and thank everybody for the wealth of information. Those were some interesting links to the protest at the cable show, highlighting some issues I was unaware of.

Though the thought of going over there and protesting the lack of HD A's and Giants in my area does make me crack up quite a bit:p

But in the interest of expressing my voice, I did fire off a message to FSN Bay Area, which I've copied below:

Hello,

As another baseball season begins, I would like to voice my extreme disappointment and dismay that your FSN HD channel continues to remain unavailable to many households here in the Bay Area.

I've had an HDTV for nearly three years now, and have been a customer of both DirecTV and Comcast for much of that time, but have yet been able to view a single local A's game in high definition.

As you might know, Comcast does not offer the FSN HD channel to many of it's Bay Area customers. I live in San Leandro, and when Comcast started advertising A's and Giants games in HD through FSN last summer, I immediately signed up for their service.

Needless to say, I quickly found that the FSN HD channel is not available through Comcast in the San Leandro area, or many other parts of the Bay Area where Comcast has yet to upgrade their cable infrastructure above 550 Mhz, despite blanket advertising and marketing that mentions no such restrictions.

I was told that the necessary system upgrades would be implemented before the end of the year, and that FSN HD would be available soon. Well, here it is almost a year later and the situation has not changed.

There is really no excuse for Comcast not to offer the A's and Giants games in HD for ALL of your customers. Given that the true HD productions of the games themselves only amount to about 3 or 4 hrs of programming a day, it should be possible for Comcast to reallocate bandwith or channel lineups temporarily for a short time in order to show the HD broadcast, even on those systems with less than 550 Mhz bandwith. It makes no business sense to me that Comcast would not make more of an effort to offer such premium programming to ALL of their customers, because in my mind there is no better way to promote HDTV and gain customers than to offer the local teams' games in full HD.

What is even more frustrating is that the FSN HD regional feeds are still unavailable on DirecTV. I would drop Comcast in a second if I could watch the A's and Giants in HD through some other provider. Will FSN HD become available through the satellite services, given the misleading job Comcast has done in promoting your product?

My experience regarding this issue over the last year has led me to reconsider my purchase of cable and satellite service altogether. I recently dropped DirecTV due to their short-term lack of HD programming, and will likely drop Comcast by the end of the month if some way is not found to offer the A's and Giants games in HD to ALL customers.

I've concluded that most of the current HD programming I want to watch is available free over the air, and will not pay through the nose to watch overly compressed, blurry standard definition productions of the local teams' ball games, when I know they are produced in High Definition and being distributed to other customers paying the exact same amount as me. I also plan on contacting the A's and Giants directly to see if they are aware of this issue, as the end result is I spend less time watching their product on TV.

I believe FSN should take this issue more seriously, as Comcast is doing a great disservice to many in the Bay Area regarding your HD programming.


Given the recent posts here, I've just about given up hope for any progress with the 550 Mhz areas.

And withpout HD baseball, I really do intend to cancel Comcast soon - although I'll probably hold out until the current Deadwood season is over on HBO.

I cancelled DirecTV right after football season and miss my Tivo greatly. The software on the Comcast DVR is a friggin' joke - even my 15 year old analog VCR can change the time automatically for DST. And I've also found D to be cheaper overall for my needs, so I'll probably be back just in time for football season and MPEG 4.

Hey Dick that was a very well written post to FSN. Much better than what I came up with while making the same points :)

Mikef5 got a better response then I did... even the second time Mr. Geer told me that FSN doesn't/can't do anything about what customers get to see their HD programming. Well that may me true but like I stated before, that is just not how you talk to customers. I guess he is not too worried about losing my viewership simply because "We are clearly one of the strongest Regional Sports Networks in the country and we receive tremendously positive feedback on our telecasts."

Let us know how it goes.

Just to give us 550 folks something else to be depressed about, check out this channel lineup for Aldelphia in Cleveland, the ones with the arrows are the ones we get, plus there are systems out there that get all the below plus TNT-HD. Comcast 550 in the bay area is pathetic in comparison.

703 WKYC HD-NBC <<<
704 WOIO HD-CBS <<<
705 WEWS HD-ABC <<<
708 WJW HD-FOX <<<
710 WVIZ HD-PBS <<<
750 HD HBO <<<
751 HD SHOWTIME
752 HD STARZ <<<
753 HD CINEMAX <<<
770 HD NET
771 HDN MOVIES
772 ESPN HD <<<
773 ESPN2 HD
774 INHD1
775 INHD2
776 DISC HD <<<
778 NFL HD
799 HD PPV

Originally posted by Dick Diablo
What is even more frustrating is that the FSN HD regional feeds are still unavailable on DirecTV.

Hopefully this will change with the new birds going up, but I have no idea what sort of contract FSNBA has with Comcast. If Comcast has the upper hand you can bet it will not be on DirecTV any time soon.

Nice letter by the way. :)

Got new 50" HD plasma Thurs. Sat., contract installer for Comcast came about 1 PM in the 12-4 PM install window.
We were his last appt. Didn't spend anytime demonstrating the equipment. Just said he would call it in and everything should be up and running in a couple hours.
The user's manual is almost useless. No explanation of the display options, altho you could figure out that it was downloading, playing, recording etc.
No explanation of all the features like "On Demand" etc. Have to figure this out myself, which I can pretty much do. Not sure that the average "Joe" could deal with all this and probably wouldn't discover many of the features.
Is there an online source for operating info for this unit?
Having the ability to record HD programs and movies is already addictive. I can see why users compalin about the small hard disk in the unit.
Problem is that Comcast has few HD offerings. They don't have all the networks (nor WB or UPN) altho all i miss is ST on UPN, no HD PPV etc.
We have had BEV (the Canadian system) for 3 years and in the past year have nearly as much HD as VOOM. They have E&W HD networks, WB via WGN HD, UPN programs by way of a Canadian station in HD, 3 or 4 HD PPV, and, finally a 24 hr. premium HD movie channel - similar to a cross between HBO and Showtime. Only VOOM would have more (but w.o. networks). Problem is, neither has a DVR.
If VOOM had an HD DVR, i'd switch right now. If BEV finally releases a DVR, (the DISH 942 - they contract to use DISH equipment but decided not to use the problem plagued 921) - I'll stick w. them.

Of course I had the Comcast problem the day after install of not correcting for DST. It wasn't corrrected til sometime on Monday. The couple of programs i had programmed to record were off by an hour - but i cought and changed that. All seems to be working.
The Comcast guy didn't even leave a channel guide!

...mike
I would make use of On Demand - but nothing seems to be in HD.

Originally posted by snidely
Is there an online source for operating info for this unit?


Try these,

http://cjhengineering.com/DCTHDFAQ.htm
CJH engineering

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=464986
Official Comcast 6412 w/ iGuide Discussion - AVS Forum

http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/support/default.asp?supportSection=HomeEntertainment
Support and Downloads

How about preempting Discovery HD for the FSN HD telecasts for the 550mhz areas? Discovery repeats their programing anyway.

Originally posted by keenan
Is this for all of Santa Cruz? I have a friend down there who has been waiting for HD before he signed up.

As long as it's Comcast, yes. Can't speak for Capitola or Watsonville (Charter)


They have had KCBA HD since the sooper bowl, but that is all they have had.

Originally posted by Barovelli
As long as it's Comcast, yes. Can't speak for Capitola or Watsonville (Charter)


They have had KCBA HD since the sooper bowl, but that is all they have had.

Thanks, I'll let him know.

Originally posted by snidely
Is there an online source for operating info for this unit?

While keenan gives some excellent links, it is truly a shame that such a question is not allowed to have the best answer possible provided here due to the draconian moderators' attempts to erase references to alternative forums...

There are plenty of counter-precedents. My favorite is SageTV's dedicated forum that, although there are threads in the HTPC forum on SageTV, AVS has no problem with links to SageTV's dedicated forum which in a very organized way makes it very easy to find the answers to many questions - i.e. much easier to search than a single/huge thread on AVS.

Meanwhile, there is just such a targeted forum specifically for the Motorola 6412. For some reason, the AVS moderators have singled that forum out for not being mentionable here on AVS. I can only guess it must be personal, alas.

Not to worry - assuming this post doesn't similarly get "moderated", just do a search (e.g. via google) for the two separate words 'dvr' and 'chatter' and you will be led to a well-organized forum which should help the novice and experienced 6412-user alike.

Thanks for the kudos on the letter, guys, it felt good getting that off my chest.

No response as of yet from FSN, but I really doubt if anything will change this season for the 550 Mhz systems.

Does anyone know if Comcast will be carrying the Masters tomorrow on 705? I did a search, but found nothing. I sent an email to programming at KPIX but have not heard anything back.

I thought the CBS affiliates were supposed to broadcast the regularly scheduled programming on the SD channel and the Masters Coverage on the HD channels.

I set up a manual recording from 1 to 4pm tomorrow on 705 just in case, but thought I would look for confirmation here.

Thanks,

Kris

The Masters in NTSC
Thursday, Friday - USA
Saturday, Sunday - CBS

The Masters in HDTV
Thursday, Friday - USA/Universal HD, CBS
Saturday, Sunday - CBS

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5314530#post5314530
The 2005 Masters in HDTV on CBS & 1st & 2nd rounds on Universal HD! - AVS Forum

I hope the local station is up to speed on this. I really don't care to watch the Guiding Light, People's Court and Judge Judy!

Thanks for the link. I had read through that link, but don't have alot of faith that someone will actually throw the right switch at the local station. I will wait and hope.

Kris

KPIX is usually pretty good with this sort of thing, the other stations...well they are not quite as good with it.

BTW, did anyone lose KGO-HD-707 about 10:20 or so?

OK, it's Thursday morning, and my 6412 still thinks we're in PST or something. The time displayed is an hour earlier. But other than that, things seem to work fine (the schedule all magically lines up so that the "10o'clock news" is on at 9pm PST, my scheduled recordings are doing fine, etc). I'm in Sunnyvale if that matters...

Anyone know if this will actually ever "fix" itself? Or should I do something like pull the plug for a bit to make the box restart? I'm soon going on a week-long trip and would like to make sure things don't get mis-recorded if Comcast sends down a time update or whatever to the box. I didn't see anything definitive in the earlier posts on what to do (or not do) to fix the clock. TIA.

Poochie: Sunnyvale is indeed The Land That Time Forgot. By all indications, if your DVR's clock is still wrong at this point, it's not going to fix itself. Power-cycling the box will not fix the clock. You will need to call Comcast for a clock-set signal (which does not reboot the box).

Then you will need to either (a) wait for your scheduled recordings to fix themselves over the course of a couple of days or (b) grit your teeth and update all your scheduled recordings manually. I did (b), but I've heard that (a) will happen if you're patient enough.

Anyone know if this will actually ever "fix" itself?

Yes, it will fix itself.

By fall at the latest. :D

Originally posted by Dick Diablo
Thanks for the kudos on the letter, guys, it felt good getting that off my chest.

No response as of yet from FSN, but I really doubt if anything will change this season for the 550 Mhz systems.

It does feel good doesn't it? Hey maybe we are not the only ones giving this guy crap. You never know he may be taking a lot of heat.

Heck if I were you I would be sending off that letter to anyone that remotely has anything to do with the matter.

Like you said I doubt anything will change anytime in the near future, but I honestly don't think the only complaints are coming from a handful of guys on a select forum.

Think I'll shoot another one to Comcast at lunchtime today ;)
Todd

Originally posted by KGD_007
I hope the local station is up to speed on this. I really don't care to watch the Guiding Light, People's Court and Judge Judy!

Thanks for the link. I had read through that link, but don't have alot of faith that someone will actually throw the right switch at the local station. I will wait and hope.

Kris

It worked fine last year, but I guess we'll know in about 5 minutes. :)

If you've never seen the Masters in HD, you're in for a treat!!

Originally posted by todd22


Heck if I were you I would be sending off that letter to anyone that remotely has anything to do with the matter.


Todd

I would send it to Burke and Johnson with Comcast, and to Todd Wollack with the Chronicle. I think Mikef5 has all the email addresses. Send it to that guy on KGO as well, the consumer advocate, Finney I think is his name.

We should keep the pressure on until Comcast has to give us an answer.

The fact that we pay the same as those who do get it, and there is no other outlet for this signal is just plain BS.

does anyone know why i get abc and pbs on hd (both on 117, LG 4200a) int he daytime but nothing shows up at night?

What's up with ESPN HD? I get nothing-- just picture freeze from whatever channel I was on before. Tyring to watch the A's game....

Originally posted by John Mace
What's up with ESPN HD? I get nothing-- just picture freeze from whatever channel I was on before. Tyring to watch the A's game....

Strange. In Seattle it's in SD on ESPN-HD, but in HD on INHD. Just another data point for you.

Originally posted by wareagle
Strange. In Seattle it's in SD on ESPN-HD, but in HD on INHD. Just another data point for you.

Interesting. Of course, I'm in the 550MHz club, so I don't get INHD...

Originally posted by John Mace
Interesting. Of course, I'm in the 550MHz club, so I don't get INHD...

Sorry about that -- but I just meant you probably aren't missing anything you'd see if ESPN-HD weren't down.

Originally posted by John Mace
Interesting. Of course, I'm in the 550MHz club, so I don't get INHD...

It's a bunch of crap is what it is. Because the game in on FSNBA, our ESPN-HD feed, for a nationally televised game, is blacked-out.

This is so completely unacceptable. Comcast should at least be able to turn ESPN-HD on for 550MHz systems when this happens, they don't seem to have any trouble flipping the switch on the INHD channel.

But they won't, because they don't give a crap....

DirecTV, please hurry up, cause I can't wait to tell Comcast to shove it...:p

While I hope the D* will eventually pick up FSN HD from the Bay Area, I'm sort of in a mode where I wont hold my breath.

From what I've heard, FSN HD recently acquired a new truck, and guess which (insert words here) paid for it.

Yeah, that's right Comcast.

fitprod

What channel(s) are the Giants' HD games on? If it's FSN HD, it should be 702, right? Or is it somewhere else??

I looked in the guide the other day and found nothing, when I knew the LA-SF game was SUPPOSED to be on ESPN-HD - was it blacked out locally for an NBA game??

Originally posted by AVWH
What channel(s) are the Giants' HD games on? If it's FSN HD, it should be 702, right? Or is it somewhere else??

I looked in the guide the other day and found nothing, when I knew the LA-SF game was SUPPOSED to be on ESPN-HD - was it blacked out locally for an NBA game??

Hey AVWH - It should be INHD2 channel 720ish ;) ... not sure because I don't have the INHD channels.

702 is just plain FOX. If the game is on channel 2 then it would be on 702, but not necessarily in true HD. A few threads back it was stated that fox (ktvu) will air about 10 HD games.

Thought you guys might like to see an excerpt from the Bank America securities report from NCTA:

The Network Continues to Evolve
It can quickly devolve into a soup of acronyms and jargon, but behind the scenes there is
considerable effort underway to determine ways to enhance the capability of the network.
Although not necessarily new ideas, those on display or discussed at the show included:
The network DVR idea
could prove a blessing
or a curse to content
companies.
Regarding the Bells’
franchising efforts, not
surprisingly there was
skepticism that either
SBC’s or Verizon’s
approaches would
succeed.
Banc of America Securities
Douglas S. Shapiro (212) 847-5676 7
♦ DOCSIS 3.0, a hardware enhancement to the DOCSIS standard (meaning it would
require a new modem) that could tune into multiple QAM channels, also called
channel bonding or wideband, making it possible to deliver hundreds of Mbps to a
single DOCSIS device.
♦ Switched broadcast, which enables cable operators to switch low-rated channels so
that they only use bandwidth within a given node when they are being watched.
According to BigBand, which sells a switched broadcast solution, tests it has
conducted with Cox show that switching the channels that are not among the 100
most popular can reduce the bandwidth used by these channels by 2/3.
♦ Tapping out-of-band frequencies, such as the frequency range on the coax above 1
GHz, could also substantially boost capacity. Although this would require new
amplifiers and CPE, Xtend, a division of Vyyo, was showing an approach that it says
enables operators to use up to 3 GHz on the network. (Essentially the idea is similar
to the way that DSL works on twisted pair; it utilizes the frequency range above
where traffic currently travels.) This would theoretically free up multiple Gbps of
additional throughput on a node.
♦ Next-generation modulation schemes, such as 1064 QAM, would further boost
capacity. To put it in perspective, there is a law in telecommunications called
Shannon’s Law that dictates the peak theoretical throughput on a medium (as a
function of how noisy it is). Although DSL approaches this theoretical limit today,
the cable industry has not been as aggressive, because it hasn’t had to. Although it
too would require new CPE, in a technical seminar a company called Broadband
Physics indicated that it has a technique for essentially delivering 4096 QAM, or
roughly doubling the throughput capable from 256 QAM, to 70 Mbps on a 6MHz
channel.
♦ There were also several next-generation CMTS on display, which could give
operators the ability to allocate bandwidth on demand, whether required of video or
data services, also increasingly network flexibility and freeing up excess bandwidth.
So what? We think there are two very important implications: 1) The ability to
dramatically expand the capabilities of the existing network shows why another capex
shock, the “next upgrade,” is so unlikely. 2) Although often ignored in the discussions
about alternative broadband facilities, such as WiMax and broadband power line (BPL),
the continued evolution of the network shows why competing facilities are facing a
moving target and may face a tougher time than perceived.
Bottom Line: It’s Not Such a Bad Time to be a Cable Guy
In general, we think the primarily takeaway from the show is that right now a lot is going
right for cable:
♦ VoIP is starting to get traction.
♦ The Bells’ on-net video plans seem unlikely to impact the market anytime soon.
♦ As legacy problems start to dissipate, they are gaining more flexibility to enhance
their video services and better compete with DBS.
♦ And there appears to be substantial flexibility in the network to continue to add
capacity and, by implication, new services, possibly without ever having to engage in
the “next upgrade” as it is commonly conceived.



As I mentioned before, the MSO's are unlikely to do traditional upgrades with all the new technology options out that that prevent "capex shock"...

Thanks,
Mike

Originally posted by keenan
It's a bunch of crap is what it is. Because the game in on FSNBA, our ESPN-HD feed, for a nationally televised game, is blacked-out.

This is so completely unacceptable. Comcast should at least be able to turn ESPN-HD on for 550MHz systems when this happens, they don't seem to have any trouble flipping the switch on the INHD channel.

But they won't, because they don't give a crap....

DirecTV, please hurry up, cause I can't wait to tell Comcast to shove it...:p

Thanks for the details. This is, indeed, crap. I'm starting to feel about COMCAST the way I feel about Microsoft, and that ain't a good feeling. The sooner a reasonable alternative is available, the better.

Regarding the Giants on FOX. Last night's game was on 702, but it wasn't HD.

Originally posted by MikeSM
Thought you guys might like to see an excerpt from the Bank America securities report from NCTA:


Thanks,
Mike

Thanks Mike, I've read about some of this stuff, particularly the switched broadcast stuff. The problem with any of this stuff is that I don't see it happening on 550 systems anytime soon, it seems as if any new tech is being applied to the larger BW systems first. In fact it seems as if Comcast made a business decision when they bought these ATT 550 systems that they were fine the way they were and no expenditures were to be made on them. My view of Comcast 550 is to maybe check it out in another year or so and see how much it's improved.

BTW, any info from your friend about the future of 550 systems? With TNT-HD being added soon, that will be just another channel we will not get...:(

Originally posted by John Mace
What's up with ESPN HD? I get nothing-- just picture freeze from whatever channel I was on before. Tyring to watch the A's game....

As a 4 day old Comcast HD subscriber - I was bummed about this as well. Why didn't Fox BA simply pick up the ESPN HD feed and pass it on under their own logo? They do this w. other HD feeds that are going to the other team's market.

...mike

Yeah that was a brilliant move there last nite. The A's game was on FSN so they blacked out the ESPN-HD feed (the SD feed had the Baltimore game on I believe) BUT they forgot to flip the switch or something (anyone know what happened??) so it wasn't on 720 either...

I'm a Giants fan, but still! :)

At least KTVU is digital now... not quite HD but looks a HELLUVA lot better than the analog cable...

Originally posted by walk
Yeah that was a brilliant move there last nite. The A's game was on FSN so they blacked out the ESPN-HD feed (the SD feed had the Baltimore game on I believe) BUT they forgot to flip the switch or something (anyone know what happened??) so it wasn't on 720 either...

"What is this '720' of which you speak...?" :)

Originally posted by John Mace
"What is this '720' of which you speak...?" :)

walk is referring to InHD2 on 720. When FSN carries certain games, they send an HD feed to Comcast which preempts InHD2 and instead broadcasts FSN-HD on 720.

Originally posted by edmc
walk is referring to InHD2 on 720. When FSN carries certain games, they send an HD feed to Comcast which preempts InHD2 and instead broadcasts FSN-HD on 720.

It was a joke. Those of us in the 550 areas don't get 720.

Originally posted by John Mace
It was a joke. Those of us in the 550 areas don't get 720.

So, is it finally time to split this thread into two sub-categories???
1) San Francisco, Ca - Comcast - 750/860Mhz Systems
2) San Francisco, Ca - Comcast - 550Mhz Systems

I'm kinda being sarcastic but also somewhat serious here as this thread really has
seemed to turn into the "Santa Rosa(& City Council)-Milpitas-Los Gatos-550Mhz
-Comcast sucks-we don't get those channels," etc. thread lately. NOT that I don't
feel your pain. I've been there too. And I agree, it does seem to be unfair. But at
least the threads would be more user-specific this way......

Originally posted by mds54
So, is it finally time to split this thread into two sub-categories???
1) San Francisco, Ca - Comcast - 750/860Mhz Systems
2) San Francisco, Ca - Comcast - 550Mhz Systems

Might as well, we're already on the back of the bus as it is. No reason for us 550 types to be nosing into the business of our betters. :)

We record several HD shows on our 6412 including Desperate Housewives, Lost, CSI, 24 and Alias. The ABC shows (DH, Lost and Alias) all regularly exhibit some form of audio dropout, with DH and Lost the worst offenders.

Does anybody else get this? It bugs my wife to no end (and me as well) and it's the main reason that we still TiVO all those same shows, on the off chance that the audio disappears for minutes at a time....as it has in the past. We just don't trust the Comcast DVR yet.

For example, in this week's Lost, the "previously" scenes only had the sound effects and music track...the dialog was completely missing. You could see their lips moving, but no dialog at all. About 20 or 30 seconds into the show, the dialog kind of crackled, and then came on.

In Desperate Housewives (from a few weeks ago...we're not caught up yet) there was a scene where Mike went out to talk to the kids who were hiding from their Mom. As he exited the door, the entire soundtrack disappeared, and stayed gone until the kids were back in the kitchen with their mom. It must have been 45 seconds...and a lot of dialog can happen in 45 seconds.

I know people talk about occasional dropouts, but nobody seems to be really irritated by it. Do any of you see "regular" audio dropouts...as in every other DH or Lost that you watch?

Is it an ABC network feed problem? A local KGO problem? A Comcast problem? A problem with my box?

I called Comcast to complain about it, and the CSR wanted to solve the problem by 'hitting the box'. Sigh. The solution to all ills.

Originally posted by rjcrum


Is it an ABC network feed problem? A local KGO problem? A Comcast problem? A problem with my box?



In most cases, this is a local KGO problem. Whenever it happens I switch to the DirecTV feed from LA and the audio is fine, so it's not a network problem.

Also, when it does happen, you'll notice the popping and stuttering sometimes as they try and get the audio back in synch with the video.

Originally posted by keenan
In most cases, this is a local KGO problem. Whenever it happens I switch to the DirecTV feed from LA and the audio is fine, so it's not a network problem.

Also, when it does happen, you'll notice the popping and stuttering sometimes as they try and get the audio back in synch with the video. I haven't watched very much over cable yet, but I know that this problem doesn't happen regularly in my OTA viewing and recording of KGO-DT. I also haven't noticed it on the cable in my so-far limited sample...rj, do you see the same problem in live viewing? If not, I'd say that it's pretty clearly the DVR's "fault".

Definitely not the DVRs fault. It is KGOs fault...... I watched it live and it has the same problem.

Bobby, OK, not the DVR's fault if you saw it live. But it could also be Comcast's handling unless somebody's seen it OTA, which I haven't so far.

My audio problem with the DVR is that sometimes when turn on the TV while the DVR is recording I'll get no sound at all. The only way to get sound is to turn the Cable box off which means I have to stop recording and lose the program or go to another room to watch tv until the recording stops.

rj, do you see the same problem in live viewing?

What is "live TV"?

;)

Sorry...couldn't resist. I don't know the last time I watched live TV, so I can't really answer, though Bobby seems to think it does.

FWIW, I sent a message to KGO asking about the problem.

Originally posted by rjcrum
What is "live TV"?

;)

Sorry...couldn't resist. I don't know the last time I watched live TV, so I can't really answer, though Bobby seems to think it does.

FWIW, I sent a message to KGO asking about the problem. Pretty much the same here, but you need to take the DVR out of the loop to eliminate it as the trouble source, and watching a show while it's being recorded is a good way to do that.

I wasn't using Comcast equipment, just my own QAM tuner through comcast cable, and still had the missing voices in the opening of Lost. I immediatedly switched to my TV's ATSC tuner and the voices were ok. So KGO's HD signal OTA was ok, it's a Comcast problem.

Originally posted by TPeterson
I haven't watched very much over cable yet, but I know that this problem doesn't happen regularly in my OTA viewing and recording of KGO-DT. I also haven't noticed it on the cable in my so-far limited sample...rj, do you see the same problem in live viewing? If not, I'd say that it's pretty clearly the DVR's "fault".

Occasionally it's the network feed that is screwed up, but more often than not it's a problem at KGO. Larry Kenney ex-KGO has even explained to us in the past what the problem was, I think it's something to do with the DD encoder/decoder at KGO.

I'm not saying it's never a Comcast problem, but so far it does not seem to be the case as far as I can tell. Comcast really dosen't do much to the signal they get from KGO other than converted to QAM 256 for transport, which from what I understand, it's pretty hard to screw anything up. A total loss of signal is usually what I see from Comcast, and that doesn't happen very often at all.

Originally posted by AndyN
My audio problem with the DVR is that sometimes when turn on the TV while the DVR is recording I'll get no sound at all. The only way to get sound is to turn the Cable box off which means I have to stop recording and lose the program or go to another room to watch tv until the recording stops.

This is an easy one to fix.:)

You need to program one of the buttons on the remote to un-mute the STB in this situation.

Here is the exact procedure to program a swap, mute, or 30 second skip to the remote.

1) Press the "Cable" button at the top of the remote to put it into Cable Box control mode.
2) Press and hold the "Setup" button until the "Cable" button blinks twice.
3) Type in the code 994. The "Cable" button will blink twice
4) Press (do not hold) the "Setup" button
5) Type in the code 00173 (for 30 second Skip), 00141 (for Mute) or 00236 (for Swap).
6) Press whatever button you want to map the skip or swap function to.


While we're talking about the remote, here's the procedure for programming multiple commercial skips,

30, 60, 90, 120 (and more) Second Skip

Create a 30 second skip using the following directions:

1) Press the "Cable" button at the top of the remote to put it into Cable Box control mode.
2) Press and hold the "Setup" button until the "Cable" button blinks twice.
3) Type in the code 994. The "Cable" button will blink twice
4) Press (do not hold) the "Setup" button
5) Type in the code 00173 for 30 second Skip.
6) Press whatever button you want to map the skip to.

Next, you create a macro using your new 30 second skip:

1) Press and hold down the "Setup" button until the light blinks twice.
2) Press 995.
3) Press the key you want to assign the X second skip to.
4) Press the button that you have used for the 30 second skip x times. (2 times for 60 seconds, 3 times for 90 seconds, and so on.)
5) Press and hold the "Setup" button until the light blinks twice to exit programming.

X = 30, 60, 90, 180, etc.

Originally posted by thatdude90210
I wasn't using Comcast equipment, just my own QAM tuner through comcast cable, and still had the missing voices in the opening of Lost. I immediatedly switched to my TV's ATSC tuner and the voices were ok. So KGO's HD signal OTA was ok, it's a Comcast problem.

While the OTA signal may be fine, it still could be a KGO problem as the signal fed to Comcast is direct from KGO broadcast center, a completely different feed from OTA.

keenan...you da man.

Thanks for the info.

Andy

Originally posted by keenan
While the OTA signal may be fine, it still could be a KGO problem as the signal fed to Comcast is direct from KGO broadcast center, a completely different feed from OTA.

I'm a fairly new customer of Comcast HD, about 2 months. Prior to this I was a DishNetwork customer. I have been watching KGO-HD via my antenna and a Samsung T151 for a few years. I seem to remember that I had the same symptoms, no middle track, on the Sammy as well, only at the beginning of some programming. I'll try to remember to establish both for future KGO HD programs and see if I can further pinpoint this problem.

Just a slight techincal note... When you're having these audio dropouts on shows like Lost and CSI (Every opening sequence...), you're not only losing the center channel, but the left and right rear channels as well.

It seems that these shows are notorious for not having the 5.1 switch flipped, or whatever their doing wrong. This was especially annoying for me, since I used to do quality control on DVD's in LA, and actually experienced this type of error from an audio encode that was put on a DVD.

Someone was creating the AC-3 file from a DA-88 master and was monitoring the audio encode on a 2.0 system and didn't realize anything was wrong. Maybe this is a similar situation...

fitprod

A couple of data points,

"The official word actually went out in the Comcast regional centers yesterday that TNT-HD is to be added by the end of April, provided that individual systems can locate the bandwidth. The addition of TNT-HD asap is a priority for Comcast. The target date for my particular system is 4/24."

(the italics are mine for emphasis)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5456599#post5456599
The Magic 8 Ball speaks out on TNT-HD on Comcast! - AVS Forum



And,

"SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Comcast Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Brian Roberts stands to receive around $22 million in total compensation for 2004, while his father Ralph Roberts, the company's founder and chairman of two board committees, will garner another $33.6 million, according to a report filed on Friday."

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=industryNews&storyID=2005-04-09T005439Z_01_N08618748_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-MEDIA-COMCAST-PROXY-DC.XML
Entertainment: Industry Article | Reuters.com

Just wondering if others are getting it, but I am right now. Is this a free preview weekend?

Originally posted by keenan
It's a bunch of crap is what it is. Because the game in on FSNBA, our ESPN-HD feed, for a nationally televised game, is blacked-out.

This is so completely unacceptable. Comcast should at least be able to turn ESPN-HD on for 550MHz systems when this happens, they don't seem to have any trouble flipping the switch on the INHD channel. Legally, they can't. HD has no bearing on this stuff.

Originally posted by russwong
Just wondering if others are getting it, but I am right now. Is this a free preview weekend? I'm getting it too. But I don't think having it in HD is enough to get me to watch Dumb and Dumberer...

Originally posted by JasonQG
Legally, they can't. HD has no bearing on this stuff.

Yes, because the local RSN has the rights, we don't get the ESPN feed for a game that is being played on the other side of the country.

I wonder if we could borrow a million or so dollars from Roberts so we can upgrade this system....:D :p

Has anyone heard anything about Universal HD, formerly Bravo HD? They're going to be showing Battlestar Galactica in HD and given what it looked like when NBC showed the miniseries in HD I'd love to see the TV show that way as well.

Originally posted by JakiChan
Has anyone heard anything about Universal HD, formerly Bravo HD? They're going to be showing Battlestar Galactica in HD and given what it looked like when NBC showed the miniseries in HD I'd love to see the TV show that way as well.

From what I've seen, it doesnt look like Comcast has any near term plans to add Universal HD.

On another note...for those in the 750Mhz+ Networks, you should have TNT-HD around the end of the month (maybe in time for the NBA Playoffs which start 4/24)

> does anyone know why i get abc and pbs on hd (both on 117, LG 4200a) int he > daytime but nothing shows up at night?
>
It is a serious bug with the LG 4200a box which currently only seems to be affecting those in the SF Bay are, though previously it was an issue in Seattle. This bug does not affect other QAM Tuners not the other LG boxes with HDTV tuners such as the 3510.

See the Hardware section (subject "LG 4200a issue...") on these forums for more discussions. I have called and emailed LG on many occasions but they are refusing to respond to my emails and have no information when I call. Robert of ********************* (from where I bought the box) said he would contact them also but I have heard nothing back.

There are about 8 local people I know of who have this identical problem. You need to tune to 117-x before 8pm and not change to any other channel, otherwise you won't be able to get back! Horrible, I know...

Good luck

Peter
p.s Please try contacting LG support - maybe you'll have better luck than me

Web support site :
http://www.lge.com/support/online_cust_serv.jsp

Email address :
customerservice@lge.com

Customer service phone :
1-800-243-0000

Originally posted by plumeria
> does anyone know why i get abc and pbs on hd (both on 117, LG 4200a) int he > daytime but nothing shows up at night?
>
It is a serious bug with the LG 4200a box which currently only seems to be affecting those in the SF Bay are, though previously it was an issue in Seattle. This bug does not affect other QAM Tuners not the other LG boxes with HDTV tuners such as the 3510.

See the Hardware section (subject "LG 4200a issue...") on these forums for more discussions. I have called and emailed LG on many occasions but they are refusing to respond to my emails and have no information when I call. Robert of ********************* (from where I bought the box) said he would contact them also but I have heard nothing back.

There are about 8 local people I know of who have this identical problem. You need to tune to 117-x before 8pm and not change to any other channel, otherwise you won't be able to get back! Horrible, I know...

Good luck

Peter
p.s Please try contacting LG support - maybe you'll have better luck than me

Web support site :
http://www.lge.com/support/online_cust_serv.jsp

Email address :
customerservice@lge.com

Customer service phone :
1-800-243-0000

Ok, here is my take on the problem. I also have the problem when KQED switches from the SD feeds to the single digital feed. I think what is happening is that KQED sends a single that says the sub channels are OFF and then switches to the single HD feed. Channel 7 HD rides the same frequency channel and when KQED sends the signal to turn OFF the sub channels the LG box turns off channel 7 which it thinks is a sub channel of KQED. This only happens on my LG box, my Sony tv has no problem with this switch. The only way to prove if this is indeed the problem is to have Comcast have channel 7 share the frequency with another channel other than KQED and let KQED have it's own frequency band. Good luck in having Comcast do this and in my area were the bandwidth is sorely lacking it would be almost impossible but give it a shot, can't hurt.. :)

Laters,
Mikef5

Giants game on FSN-HD today?? (SUnday).
I'm not getting it.. what ch. is it supposed to be on? 719.. 720??
Only getting it on ch 40/SD

according to the CSR at Comcast who, believe it or not, was actually aware of the problem.

Well that's just great. They are showing the PIT/SD game on instead!

Did someone push the wrong switch?? Some flunky looked a the screen and went"yep its baseball" then went back to sleep??

Anybody out there notice that there is a Starz FREE PREVIEW going on right now? Anybody confirm this or know when it starts/ends?

EDIT: Looks like it started on the 7th and ends tonight.

Originally posted by neoufo51
Anybody out there notice that there is a Starz FREE PREVIEW going on right now? Anybody confirm this or know when it starts/ends?

EDIT: Looks like it started on the 7th and ends tonight. Where did you eventually find the info about the preview?

I recorded the Contender on the HD channel but when I went to play it it was not in HD. I would really have thought this is recorded and transmitted in hd.


Anyone care to comment?

Motorola 6412 box, Comcast cable in Los Altos are, near downtown.

On another topic....
I am coming to the end of my first 3 months of cable (Comcast Digital Silver Package with Moto 6412 dual tuner HD and DVR) and not looking forward to a $100plus per month cable TV bill. I just can't justify it to myself. My problem is I love the HD channels - I won't watch anything else practically. Does anyone have any suggestions about downgrading and a much cheaper alternative?

My other issue is I get cable internet which is 4mbs (nothing compared to Korea and Japan though) . If I kill cable tv this cost will go up to about $55/month I think.

Any suggestions?

No tightwad comments please ;)

Perhaps HD cameras are not used for reality shows like The Contender because they are either bulkier, less durable or more expensive then standard mobile cameras. I don't think the field shots for The Amazing Race or The Apprentice are in done in HD either.

Originally posted by TPeterson
Where did you eventually find the info about the preview?
I googled "Starz free preview" and found out the info on another forum.

Originally posted by lloydus
On another topic....
I am coming to the end of my first 3 months of cable (Comcast Digital Silver Package with Moto 6412 dual tuner HD and DVR) and not looking forward to a $100plus per month cable TV bill. I just can't justify it to myself. My problem is I love the HD channels - I won't watch anything else practically. Does anyone have any suggestions about downgrading and a much cheaper alternative?

My other issue is I get cable internet which is 4mbs (nothing compared to Korea and Japan though) . If I kill cable tv this cost will go up to about $55/month I think.

Any suggestions?

No tightwad comments please ;)

I don't know what HD channels are in your area, but for around $23 month you can get KPIX, KNTV, KTVU, KGO and KQED all in HD. To get DiscoveryHD, ESPN-HD I think you have to get Digital Classic or something similar, comes to roughly $50 plus about $10 for the DVR. Some areas also offer the INHDs as well.

As far as internet, SBC offers 3Mb/s for $30 month, in fact I think for new subs it's only $20.

So tonite 4/11 A's game is on FSN-HD... anyone taking bets on whether it will *really* be on? ;)

Also saw that ESPN2 is HD now, and the Weds? night Giants game (vs LA) is on "ESPN2-HD" - any word on if/when Comcast will start carrying this?

Of course they need to start actually SHOWING the ones they SAY they already carrry but...

Originally posted by walk
Also saw that ESPN2 is HD now, and the Weds? night Giants game (vs LA) is on "ESPN2-HD" - any word on if/when Comcast will start carrying this? It would be blacked out in the bay area anyways, so it doesn't really matter in this case.

Originally posted by walk


Also saw that ESPN2 is HD now, and the Weds? night Giants game (vs LA) is on "ESPN2-HD" - any word on if/when Comcast will start carrying this?



ESPNHD2 is sort of a sick joke right now....ESPN doesnt have enough HD content to fill 1 channel yet, but they went ahead and added a 2nd (and split the shows).

ESPNHD2 is currently available only on a few Aldephia cable systems Only, so basically nobody is able to watch the HD games they put on 2. Havent heard of any plans from Comcast to add it anytime soon.

Originally posted by davisdog
ESPNHD2 is sort of a sick joke right now....ESPN doesnt have enough HD content to fill 1 channel yet, but they went ahead and added a 2nd (and split the shows).

ESPNHD2 is currently available only on a few Aldephia cable systems Only, so basically nobody is able to watch the HD games they put on 2. Havent heard of any plans from Comcast to add it anytime soon.

Certainly not on our systems...:p

DirecTV is already paying for the channel but won't be lighting it up until the new sats go up.

Is the A's game being shown in HD right now?

Ooops you're right, if the game is on FSN it will be blacked out on ESPN*

Heh, gotta love it.


Originally posted by gtree10
Is the A's game being shown in HD right now?

It is!
But my box keeps turning itself off every 2 minutes !!

It's never done this before... anyone else in Petaluma having this problem? :confused:

Damn it, not in Sacramento!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by neoufo51
Anybody out there notice that there is a Starz FREE PREVIEW going on right now? Anybody confirm this or know when it starts/ends?

EDIT: Looks like it started on the 7th and ends tonight.
The starz free preview is still on. Too bad it's playing Jersey Girl right now... Gigli is next. Lol, that's supposed to get us to subscribe?

I am having a problem with my DVR going into mute, and the well covered fix doesn't seem to work.

When watching a show on DVR, and I hit the replay button (the one that backs up 30 seconds or so), when the video resumes there is no sound. I try the 00141 mute command and the word MUTE shows up on the screen, and when I send it again the MUTE disappears, but the sound doesn't come back. This command does work for other programming. I know I am muting the DVR, and not my audio processor. I also know the segments with missing sound under this scenario have sound when played normally.

I only have the digital output of the DVR hooked up to my audio processor and amp subsystem, but that works for all other channels and modes just fine.

Any ideas on what this is? Could it be unique to the single DVR recording I have, or have others seen this? I'd hate to try to pass this by your average Comcast CSR.....unless, the answer is to replace my box.

Thanks.
Mike

Looks like the Starz free preview has ended.

They sent me a special offer letter for 1/2 price for 6 mos. Not many details in the letter on pricing, but ends May 14. I called and talked to CSR who didn't seem to be familiar with the offer and at first was insistent that it was for only 3 mos. After putting me on hold a couple of times, he said that I would get Starz and Digital Plus tier for only about $5 more per mo. I currently have Limited Basic and Digital Classic tier.

Does this sound right? Does Digital Plus tier also include Digital Classic tier channels? My price list shows Digital Classic and Digital Plus separately at $9.95 and $14.95 respectively.

edit update:
I called back and fortunately got a CSR who, I think, knows about the offer. It's for Digital Silver, which includes the Digital Classic and Digital Plus channels in addition to Starz.

With Digital Plus, you get all of the Digital Classic and the Plus channels. You get the Encore and Multiplexes channels with Plus as well. I do not see that you get Starz with that. You get one premium channel with the Digital Silver package but that is $28.95.

The $5 you were quoted is the difference between the Classic and Plus packages.

It's for Digital Silver which includes Classic and Plus in addition to 1 premium like Starz. ½ $28.95 = $14.48, so for 6 mos. I will be paying only about $5 more than the Classic price of $9.95. Looks good to me. :)

1. Is Comcast running any specials now?
2. What package(s) would give the most HD? I know I would need to order SHO & HBO to get their HD version. I am at the point where i'll either watch an HD movie or no movie.
3. Can Starz (which has an HD channel) be ordered w.o. having to pay for the Encore channels?

What is the minimum I can order to still have what networks Comcast does carry in HD, plus HBO, plus SHO? I gather ESPN HD is included along w. the networks. Starz rarely has anything I want. INdTV 1&2 seem to be included in some basic package - but can't figure it out.

I am disappointed in the lack of HD offerings. (Only DISH with its paltry 6 or so HD channels has less.) I'll probably upgrade our old D* to HD if they increase offerings by year end. Too bad about VOOM.
I have had the 6412 w. Comcast now for 10 days. LOVE the DVR features made even more useful by learning on this forum how to program in the 30 second skip feature.

I thought I had read somewhere that Starz is dropping HD. Is that true?

...mike

Anyone know what it means if your box flashes 88:88 a few times, then stuff like "hunt" and "ep09" then just sits there saying "di" and won't turn on or do anything?

Been doing that since I got home tonite.. had some problems yesterday too.. dead box?

I've plugged and unplugged it several times but that's all it does...

Sounds like a dead box, although I've never experienced one so I can't be sure. It definitely seems like abnormal behavior though.

Originally posted by walk
Anyone know what it means if your box flashes 88:88 a few times, then stuff like "hunt" and "ep09" then just sits there saying "di" and won't turn on or do anything?

Been doing that since I got home tonite.. had some problems yesterday too.. dead box?

I've plugged and unplugged it several times but that's all it does...

Sounds like a bad box. Is it in a place with good ventilation, and all it's vent holes unblocked? Heat build up can cause all sorts of problems.

Thanks,
Mike

Comcast Internet Outage...

FYI..for those of us that also use Comcast Cable Internet Service...Here's some info on the problems that pretty much shutdown the service at times this evening (and also last week) when their DNS servers went wacko.


http://www.betanews.com/article/New_Outage_Plagues_Comcast_Subscribers/1113367699

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/62444



Of course Keenan could get online since he bailed on them ages ago and uses SBC DSL
:(

Yes. I called Comcast about the box, the lady said "dl" means it's downloading and to wait 30-40 mins. I did, it didn't work, I called back and the 2nd lady tried to send "all signals" to the box but no dice.

I unplugged it and let it do the dl thing several times, but the best I got is to have it turn on to ch "0" with no guide-type menu at all. The service menu and setup menu are there (though even those didn't work for a while) but no trace of the guide programming at all, and no picture/sound from any channel - can't even tune channels! Seems like the software is totally pranged. Oh well, service call sheduled for tomorrow, let them fix it or give me a new box..

They also said there was a nation-wide internet outage..

Originally posted by davisdog
Comcast Internet Outage...

FYI..for those of us that also use Comcast Cable Internet Service...Here's some info on the problems that pretty much shutdown the service at times this evening (and also last week) when their DNS servers went wacko.


A little tip on how to get around this if it ever happens again: if your work provides a secure VPN tunnel for remote access, chances are they are handling the DNS tables while you are connected. So if Comcast has another DNS problem, just connect to your company's VPN and you should have full DNS capabilities. Of course if your company blocks Internet access while connected to the VPN, you're pretty much out of luck.

Originally posted by MikeSM
Sounds like a bad box. Is it in a place with good ventilation, and all it's vent holes unblocked? Heat build up can cause all sorts of problems.

Thanks,
Mike

The fact that it was shutting down every couple of minutes might be an indicator that it's getting too hot.

Walk, you can check the HDD temperature through the diagnostic menu which would give you a good measure of how hot the box is getting. For comparison, my box is at 115 degrees.

Edit: just read your last post and it sounds like it a doorstep already...

Originally posted by davisdog

Of course Keenan could get online since he bailed on them ages ago and uses SBC DSL
:(

That's riiiiight....:D :p

I've had 2 outages that I can remember in the last 5 years...:)

Originally posted by davisdog
Comcast Internet Outage...

FYI..for those of us that also use Comcast Cable Internet Service...Here's some info on the problems that pretty much shutdown the service at times this evening (and also last week) when their DNS servers went wacko.
:(
When it happened last week, I just dialed in using dialup account I have (I have sbc dsl at work so I get a dialup with it), check dslreports & found that message on changing dns server to "4.2.2.1, 4.2.2.2, and 4.2.2.3, etc." and used those on my router. I'm still using those dns servers so I didn't experience the outage tonight.

I've had the box in the same location since Sept. and it's been fine since. It does run VERY hot but nothing I can do about that.. It's well ventilated, it sits on top of an open rack.

I left it unplugged all night and this morning when I plugged it in, it won't do anything but display "88:88".. that's it. It's dead jim.

Originally posted by davisdog
Comcast Internet Outage...

FYI..for those of us that also use Comcast Cable Internet Service...Here's some info on the problems that pretty much shutdown the service at times this evening (and also last week) when their DNS servers went wacko.


http://www.betanews.com/article/New_Outage_Plagues_Comcast_Subscribers/1113367699

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/62444



Of course Keenan could get online since he bailed on them ages ago and uses SBC DSL
:(

Funny, I run a DNS caching only nameserver on my firewall and never noticed an outage. :-)

Seriously, the former telco types in Comcast love centralizing servers - but this means you really have to understand the scalability of the code you are using and load balancing. Also, centralizing them makes them easy targets for DDOS attacks. Way back in the @Home days, they ran servers in every market, and while that was in theory harder to manage, DNS uptime rarely was a problem, and you never had these embarassing national outages.

Maybe they could find some of the old engineers who used to do this job and hire them - it doesn't have to be this hard.

Fortunately, it's pretty easy to bypass their servers for DNS. SBC also had more than its share of DNS server problems too, though it looks like they have fixed most of those. And they aren't centralized either.

Thanks,
Mike

Originally posted by MikeSM
Funny, I run a DNS caching only nameserver on my firewall and never noticed an outage. :-)

Seriously, the former telco types in Comcast love centralizing servers - but this means you really have to understand the scalability of the code you are using and load balancing. Also, centralizing them makes them easy targets for DDOS attacks. Way back in the @Home days, they ran servers in every market, and while that was in theory harder to manage, DNS uptime rarely was a problem, and you never had these embarassing national outages.

Maybe they could find some of the old engineers who used to do this job and hire them - it doesn't have to be this hard.

Fortunately, it's pretty easy to bypass their servers for DNS. SBC also had more than its share of DNS server problems too, though it looks like they have fixed most of those. And they aren't centralized either.

Thanks,
Mike

agree..the move they made to centralize the DNS servers wasnt smart (imho)..especially since dns slaves can be run on almost anything and are easy to maintain.

I just switched over to one of my companies public DNS servers (a venerable old Sparc5 that has been serving to 1000's of machines for years) and was off an running.

The funniest part is some of the Comcast CSRs caught on that people were using Verizon's public DNS servers and they advised callers to switch to that temporarily..thank you verizon for saving Comcasts rear end

What are those Verizone DNS servers?

Addresses?

Anyone using a non-Comcast STB that will do cable HD and SD digital unscrambled channels plus D*? I'm looking into getting another D* receiver and it looks like the Hughes HTL-HD, LG LSS-3200A, Zenith HD-SAT520 or Sony SAT-HD300 will do the job. But the cable part is unclear so thought I'd asked here since cable systems in other areas might be different.

Also which SD or HD digital channels are unscrambled?

You can't use a non Comcast STB. *Sorry this post got cut off...

I meant to say you can't because there aren't any for sale in the US *that I know of*. Most of the tuner STBs are designed for OTA - broadcast HDTV (different digital format). But I haven't looked at them in about a year, maybe there are new models... anyway,

You *can* use a tv with built-in cable/QAM tuner *with CableCard*. (I think they all have CableCard..)

With the cablecard you can get authorized to view all the encyrpted channels, that's what it's for. You don't need it, but you take your chances on whatever channel(s) they decide not to encrypt.. that week. :)

Originally posted by walk
You can't use a non Comcast STB. I thought I read elsewhere in AVS forum that any STB with QAM tuner will work for unscrambled cable channels. Also Value Electronics dealer said that the Zenith HD-SAT520 should work but hasn't tested.

Originally posted by hiker
I thought I read elsewhere in AVS forum that any STB with QAM tuner will work for unscrambled cable channels. Also Value Electronics dealer said that the Zenith HD-SAT520 should work but hasn't tested.

You can, as long as it has a QAM tuner. Don't know about the Zenith, but some of the LG models works, same company really so it should...

Originally posted by hiker
I thought I read elsewhere in AVS forum that any STB with QAM tuner will work for unscrambled cable channels. Also Value Electronics dealer said that the Zenith HD-SAT520 should work but hasn't tested.

True...if your box has 64/256 QAM tuner built in it could pick up the non-scrambled channels

For HD, that should only be the locals (although their are exceptions in some areas but that is just temporary).

I'd imagine most of the SD channels would be scrambled.

What you need is a box that supports a cablecard, but I dont know if such an animal exists with the other features you want

I can successfully receive lots of the Comcast HD channels directly using the tuner on my Sony 55WF655. I think I get all the ones that aren't part of a premium package (HBO,...), but I don't use this mode much so I'm not sure of the exact set.

Originally posted by davisdog
True...if your box has 64/256 QAM tuner built in it could pick up the non-scrambled channels

For HD, that should only be the locals (although their are exceptions in some areas but that is just temporary).

I'd imagine most of the SD channels would be scrambled.

What you need is a box that supports a cablecard, but I dont know if such an animal exists with the other features you want

If the box has an analog cable tuner in it as well, he should get the 70-100 channels of standard cable package, plus the HD locals.

It's not something I personally would invest a lot of money in at this stage of the game though...if cable wins it's fight against theft by using encryption for everything then those boxes will probably not work anymore...

Originally posted by hiker
Anyone using a non-Comcast STB that will do cable HD and SD digital unscrambled channels plus D*? I'm looking into getting another D* receiver and it looks like the Hughes HTL-HD, LG LSS-3200A, Zenith HD-SAT520 or Sony SAT-HD300 will do the job. But the cable part is unclear so thought I'd asked here since cable systems in other areas might be different.

Also which SD or HD digital channels are unscrambled?

Can not help you with the D* part.

I am in San Jose (95112) on limited basic.

My tuner is Samsung SIR-T451.

I get the fellowing HD channel

KPIX(CBS) (78.1)
KTVU(Fox) (78.2)
Very bad PQ and sound, YMMV.

INHD1 (105.2)
InHDSE (105.3) Never any programing when I tune in.
INHD2 (105.4)

some unlabeled sports channel in 112.1

DiscoveryHD(115.3)
EspnHD(116.1)
KNTV(NBC)(116.2)
KGO(ABC) (117.1)
KQED(PBS) (117.5)

For those who are tracking. This tuner also have problem with the 8pm switchover of KQED. To get KGO HD, I need to tune in 117.1 before 8 pm, and stay there. Once I change channel, I can not go back til the next day.

For SD channel, I didn't keep track. But mostly 2nd tier channels. I can only remember BBC America at 85.2 and SciFi at 86.16. I also remember seeing TVland, ESPN classic, TCM, Noggin, EWTN, GSN, etc. I am sure they will change those lineup or encrypt them anytime they choose.

Personally, as long as I can get good quality on local HDTV channels plus InHDs, I am content.

Originally posted by keenan
If the box has an analog cable tuner in it as well, he should get the 70-100 channels of standard cable package, plus the HD locals.

It's not something I personally would invest a lot of money in at this stage of the game though...if cable wins it's fight against theft by using encryption for everything then those boxes will probably not work anymore...

Well, then if Comcast starts encrypting all of it's channels then that sort of defeats the requirement that all new TV's have a digital tuner installed, doesn't it ???
The tuner would be useless except for OTA and since the cable cards are one way that rules them out, no guide, no VOD, no PPV.... Hey, just like the 550 MHz and below systems... :p
I think they had better think that one over real hard.

Laters,
Mikef5

Well, just picked up my DCT-6412 from the San Jose Comcast office, and upgraded to the $39.99/3-mo. Digital Silver package + HD ... will get it set up this evening. I was pleasantly surprised that the lady at the desk (a) knew what HD was, (b) knew what a DVR was, (c) knew exactly what I meant when I mentioned that I wanted the 6412, and (d) was honest enough to tell me that she didn't know if the firewire outputs were enabled or not, but that I should ask someone "more technical" when I called in to activate the set :). All in all, a pleasant experience so far, except for a little mild rebuke from her to the effect that the promotional offer was only for new customers (I was already on Digital bronze SD-only), and in future I shouldn't count on being able to get such offers, but she'd make an exception this time ... yadda yadda yadda.

On another note, I think this thread provides greater community service than some of the community channels I have perused, and maybe we should arrange for the transcripts from here to appear on one of the community channels some of the denizens here don't evince a high regard for: maybe that would elevate their (the channels') status :D ...

Originally posted by Mikef5
Well, then if Comcast starts encrypting all of it's channels then that sort of defeats the requirement that all new TV's have a digital tuner installed, doesn't it ???
The tuner would be useless except for OTA and since the cable cards are one way that rules them out, no guide, no VOD, no PPV.... Hey, just like the 550 MHz and below systems... :p
I think they had better think that one over real hard.

Laters,
Mikef5

I think that only applies to ATSC tuners in sets. I don't think there is any requirement that the set has a QAM capable tuner...many do, but I'm not sure it's mandated...I could be wrong...

Originally posted by keenan
I think that only applies to ATSC tuners in sets. I don't think there is any requirement that the set has a QAM capable tuner...many do, but I'm not sure it's mandated...I could be wrong...

Well, most cable companies use QAM for their systems so if they are required to have the local stations unencrypted then the digital tuner would have to be able to recieve the QAM signal. Just about every tv that I've looked at that has a digital tuner is also QAM compatible. What they need to do is make the cable cards 2 way so they could use the guides and the VOD stuff but I haven't seen or heard of when that's going to happen. D* is looking better all the time .. :)
Let's see the launch date is 26 April for their next satellite.. ???

Laters,
Mikef5

From the discussions that I've seen (in the QAM tuner threads in the home theater pc forum), I think it means Comcast can't encrypt all the channels that are in the free and clear, like KGO/abc, KPIX/cbs, etc... but they can encrypt DiscoverHD, Inhd, espnhd like they are already doing in other markets.

btw...Comcast's DNS Servers for their internet service crashed again tonight... 3rd outage in 10 days...

went down about 5pm and still down (thank goodness for the service I get from Work)

Use 4.2.2.2 for dns...

Guides and VOD are purely software stuff... You can't get that kind of interactivity with Cablecard/QAM tuners, at least not until there's a standard for the software.. (maybe Microsoft will save us and make their system universal and built-in to TVs.. or maybe it will be Sun/Java instead.. :) Anyway until then, if you want the guide and interactive stuff, get a box. They are only freekin $5 a month =) $12.95 for one with a DVR, and when the new one comes out with a bigger HDD or whatever you can just trade it in.

Originally posted by Mikef5
What they need to do is make the cable cards 2 way so they could use the guides and the VOD stuff but I haven't seen or heard of when that's going to happen.

Laters,
Mikef5

They are, but it won't be for awhile, in the meantime there are sets for sale that have CableCard(version 1?). I'm looking at a new display right now and it has a CC slot which sucks because it replaces another input and the slot will be obsolete in the near future.

Originally posted by thatdude90210
From the discussions that I've seen (in the QAM tuner threads in the home theater pc forum), I think it means Comcast can't encrypt all the channels that are in the free and clear, like KGO/abc, KPIX/cbs, etc... but they can encrypt DiscoverHD, Inhd, espnhd like they are already doing in other markets.

For now, but the cablcos are petitioning Congress and the FCC heavily to be allowed to encrypt everything as a theft deterrent.

Not HD-related, but for the second time in a row, FSN+ isn't working in Santa Rosa. Add that to the list of channels we're paying for but not getting. At least it gives me an excuse to rack up their 800-number bill.

Originally posted by JasonQG
Not HD-related, but for the second time in a row, FSN+ isn't working in Santa Rosa. Add that to the list of channels we're paying for but not getting. At least it gives me an excuse to rack up their 800-number bill. Last night I could get FSN+ on 77 with DCT-6200 but with TiVo could not get it even though it's analog. Don't know why, maybe 77 was scrambled? I have Limited Basic.

I haven't seen any feedback on this problem. Is there a better forum where I can address this, like HDTV Hardware?
Thanks.
Mike

Originally posted by mikeaymar
I am having a problem with my DVR going into mute, and the well covered fix doesn't seem to work.

When watching a show on DVR, and I hit the replay button (the one that backs up 30 seconds or so), when the video resumes there is no sound. I try the 00141 mute command and the word MUTE shows up on the screen, and when I send it again the MUTE disappears, but the sound doesn't come back. This command does work for other programming. I know I am muting the DVR, and not my audio processor. I also know the segments with missing sound under this scenario have sound when played normally.

I only have the digital output of the DVR hooked up to my audio processor and amp subsystem, but that works for all other channels and modes just fine.

Any ideas on what this is? Could it be unique to the single DVR recording I have, or have others seen this? I'd hate to try to pass this by your average Comcast CSR.....unless, the answer is to replace my box.

Thanks.
Mike

We experienced this on Tuesday night. We were watching a show while it was still recording. After the 30 sec skip, the audio volume would drop way down. I f we went live the audio came back. We could then return to the recorded version and the sound level was restored to normal.
Did anyone else have one of their tuners stop recording. Our second tuner stopped recording yesterday. It wasn't even buffering as we watched a show in realtime. A full power reset fixed it. Anyone else see this before?

Originally posted by JasonQG
Not HD-related, but for the second time in a row, FSN+ isn't working in Santa Rosa. Add that to the list of channels we're paying for but not getting. At least it gives me an excuse to rack up their 800-number bill.

What is FSN+? I get FSN on 33...

Originally posted by keenan
What is FSN+? I get FSN on 33... It's a special BA FSN that is available when 2 games are on at the same time. Available on Comcast, E* and D*. On Comcast apparently the chan number varies with location, I get on 77. D* has it on chan 655. When FSN+ is on, there is a FSN on-screen message that comes on periodically showing the chan number list. SD only.

Thanks.

What is the cheapest way to get all (or most) of the HD offerings by Comcast? IOW, what should I be paying. The price to get everything Comcast offers seems to be about $125.
The silver pkg. (whatever that is) incl. HBO was quoted at $49. I think the HD DVR is then $10. To add each of the premium packages (SHO, Starz, Cmax, etc. is $17 EACH!!! I told the rep this is much haigher than sat.. and at these prices may as well upgrade our sat. (which we were thinking of quitting after many years to HD.) D*'s pricing is MUCH cheaper. As I recall, the premium pkgs. start at $12 and you get a discount for each one you add.
Amazinly, the rep suggested I call the "cancellation dept." and see what they can/will offer! Before I do - would like some input here as to what to expect.
Just went to the D* site. You can get everything they offer for abot $95. It isn't clear whether you have to pay $10 more to get HD channels HDNET, ESPNHD and a couple others. (Universal HD?) Comcast only carries ESPN.
How can Comcast compete w. D*. D* seems to offer more HD and more channels altogether for 30% less!

...mike

snidely,
Some of us have both Comcast and D*. You can get Comcast Limited Basic + HD STB for $20-$25/mo.
Depending on location, Comcast has:
1) InHD, InHD2, Discovery-HD, ESPN-HD
2) Showtime-HD, HBO-HD, Starz-HD and Cinemax-HD
3) KRON-HD, PBS-HD, ABC-HD, FOX-HD, NBC-HD, CBS-HD.

Group 3 is part of Limited Basic, group 2 is premium, and group 1 normally requires a digital tier but is viewable currently without in most areas of the BA.

D* has NYC and LA networks but getting them in the BA can be a problem - CBS, NBC, ABC (LA) can probably be had with the SD locals pkg but probably not FOX. Others are SHO-HD, HBO-HD, ESPN-HD, UNIVERSAL-HD, HDNET, HDNET Movies, Discovery-HD (last 5 are part of the HD pkg for $10.99/mo. free for 1st 6 mos). Unless you can get a free 1st time subscriber promo, the HD STB will cost $200-$300.

Yankees/RedSox on InHD now. :)

Originally posted by hiker
Yankees/RedSox on InHD now. :)

Weird, it's on ESPN-HD as well...

Originally posted by keenan
Weird, it's on ESPN-HD as well...
And a diff. feed - either the NYY or BOS local announcers. I think, not sure, the TV feed itself was diff., didn't seem to be showing the same shots at the same time.

...mike

Originally posted by Mikef5
He's actually a very nice guy and did sympathize with me about not getting the HD feed, not a lot that he can do about it but I did ask him to talk to Mr. Johnson when he saw him again. I think we'd have a better shot at having Comcast dropping the analog broadcast of FSN and rebroadcasting it as a digital channel, that would free up enough bandwidth to add channel 720 and maybe even TNT-HD and maybe enough bandwidth to fix the clock :p .

Laters,
Mikef5

MikeF5,

With the recent posts about FSN+ (which I'd forgotten about), i realized that it looks like its sitting all by itself on Analog Channel 11 (198-204Mhz) and 99% its showing a test pattern because they only use it when they have two FSNBA games to show that conflict (which is rare).

It might be a good compromise if they moved FSN+ to digital (leaving FSN where it is) and that would free up bandwidth for them to carry FSN-HD along with INHD1 and INHD2 (and FSN+ on digital) on our 550 system...I think they would get alot more bang for their buck if they had FSNHD available (and just moved FSN+ to digital).

If your upto it, how about sending a note to Mr's Geer and Johnson since you have their ear?

-Steve

Originally posted by davisdog
MikeF5,

With the recent posts about FSN+ (which I'd forgotten about), i realized that it looks like its sitting all by itself on Analog Channel 11 (198-204Mhz) and 99% its showing a test pattern because they only use it when they have two FSNBA games to show that conflict (which is rare).

It might be a good compromise if they moved FSN+ to digital (leaving FSN where it is) and that would free up bandwidth for them to carry FSN-HD along with INHD1 and INHD2 (and FSN+ on digital) on our 550 system...I think they would get alot more bang for their buck if they had FSNHD available (and just moved FSN+ to digital).

If your upto it, how about sending a note to Mr's Geer and Johnson since you have their ear?

-Steve

You know you're right, Channel 11 just sits there most of the time showing nothing until both local area teams are on at the same time. They did that just the other day with the Warriors and one of the baseball teams. If they did away with that analog channel that would free up enough bandwidth to get at least one HD channel and a couple of digital channels. I think it's time to see what Mr. Johnson has to say about it, I'll let you know if he is still talking to me.. :p

Laters,
Mikef5

Ch 11 is the TV guide channel in Santa Rosa.

Although JasonQC mentioned the other day that FSN+ wasn't working up here, I don't know what channel it was or is...

It's channel 6 here, which is normally one of the public access channels or something. It only switches to FSN+ when necessary. I think that's how it works in most cities, sharing space with some useless channel. BTW, it was working again on Friday night.

when they first brougt it online it preempted another channel down here (I cant remember which)...but I guess since we have so much unused bandwidth down here <not> they moved it to an unused analog slot so we could see the a 6 color test pattern all day (and it looks great in a 6mhz slot)

I see this come up every week or so, guess it's my turn. Is anyone else having trouble getting 5.1? I'm in Berkeley, and most 5.1 shows are coming through as PLII. A few shows still work properly. I have my receiver set for auto, and it hasn't had problems in the past figuring out what was coming through, so I assume it's the box. Anyone?

masoo,

We need to know which shows & which channels. Not everything is broadcast in 5.1.

fitprod

This is off the top of my head ... I've been away a week, and I didn't take notes in the past ... suffice to say it includes shows that have been in 5.1 in the past ... I understand not every show is 5.1. Desperate Housewives and Lost come to mind ... the subtle surround stuff in DH is pretty good, and it's missing lately.

[ETA: Just watched L Word, same thing, PLII.]

[ETA: Deadwood was fine last night.]

ABC has had problems all night through Desperate Housewives and Gray's Anatomy. Anyone else having these problems? Audio drop outs, commercials had sound problems, even during Desperate Housewives there was a part where the picture was mis-aligned, where the right half of the screen was on the left side of the screen and the left side on the right side.

Originally posted by russwong
ABC has had problems all night through Desperate Housewives and Gray's Anatomy. Anyone else having these problems? Audio drop outs, commercials had sound problems, even during Desperate Housewives there was a part where the picture was mis-aligned, where the right half of the screen was on the left side of the screen and the left side on the right side.

Good, I guess, to hear it wasn't just my DVR... Didn't watch Gray's Anatomy, but my recording of Desperate Housewives had the right/left swap on from about 25 minutes to 35 minutes in.

me too...at one point it was really bad with the left/right thing so i switched to sd...then when i came back it was alright, but dropouts continued through all of dh and grey's. grrr

Apparently the problems were present in the OTA signal as well. KABC in LA had a few dropouts but nothing like the Comcast feed, that split screen was bizarre, never seen that before.

Any further word about when COMCAST will have TNT-HD in operation?

Yep, I had the same problems with Desperate HWs. too. I talked to a friend this moring who has Dish (not sure which one) and he had no problems.

I taped Grey's Anatomy, but didn't watch it yet. I guess I'm in for a few surpises...

I believe they use channel 77 for FSN "Plus" games. 77 is normally the "free preview" channel.

As far as 5.1 audio, make sure the box is set to "matrix stereo" output, under Audio options. Otherwise it will only put out 2-ch audio. It also likes to reset back to the default sometimes..

Originally posted by millerwill
Any further word about when COMCAST will have TNT-HD in operation?

They are lacking in some key channels and I too am wondering when they will add the following:

TNT-HD
Universal-HD
HDNET
HDNET Movies

UPN44
WB20


And do:

Drop all the analogue channels.

Nothing definitive yet.

Many of us are all hoping for TNT-HD before the playoffs. But it is only 5 days away.

UniversalHD is certainly possible, although it may be a part of overall negotiations with NBC. I don't know when that will be.

ESPN2HD seems to be stuck in negotiations or somewhere. Perhaps Comcast is waiting until there are more HD programs. One rumor I saw had ESPN requiring ESPNU as part of ESPN2HD agreements.

HDNET is really frustrating. Probably the second-best HD Network (IMHO) next to DiscoveryHD (the other way around?) and I've heard no rumors about it. This may take a while until D* forces Comcast's hand by providing LIL service and Comcast becomes less competitive.

Dropping the analog channels will require Comcast providing an STB (digital to analog conversion) for those who now have analog service and don't use one. That could be expensive since there are a lot of analog only with no premium channel customers. Years, I'd think.

Rich N.

I wonder if they are going to require that you have Expanded Basic (what they call Standard Basic) to get TNT-HD? That would make it a pretty expensive channel especially if you don't watch any of the analog channels in the Expanded Basic tier.

Originally posted by Brian Conrad
I wonder if they are going to require that you have Expanded Basic (what they call Standard Basic) to get TNT-HD? That would make it a pretty expensive channel especially if you don't watch any of the analog channels in the Expanded Basic tier.


I would expected TNT-HD to be added to the existing Digital Classic package...

..that seems the most logical place but....who know until it shows up

How many people are really analog only ????

So it seems that a lot of people think that there are a lot of subscribers to Comcast that are analog only and have no boxes. So let's take a survey and see just how many people are analog only and have no box. I don't think it's as many as most people think, but I could be wrong, but I am sure that Comcast would also like to know also.

Laters,
Mikef5

MikeF5,

Taking a survey in the HD forum would skew the numbers (99% have box)...

But if you look at the general population, I believe >50% are still analog only (sad but true)

The analogue only numbers are also skewed...

Many people have standard basic just so they can get their HSI access discounted...even if it is only a couple of dollars.

Comcast does this to 'pad' their subscriber numbers.

Originally posted by Mikef5
How many people are really analog only ????

So it seems that a lot of people think that there are a lot of subscribers to Comcast that are analog only and have no boxes. So let's take a survey and see just how many people are analog only and have no box. I don't think it's as many as most people think, but I could be wrong, but I am sure that Comcast would also like to know also.

Laters,
Mikef5

Most everybody. Of 23 mil Comcast subs, roughly only 30% are digital cable subscribers. And Comcast knows exactly how many of them there are because these customers don't have an STB.

4Q numbers were,

Total subs 21,500,000
of that digital 8,600,000

Of the top 4 cablecos, out of 44M subs, there were 17M who were digital.

DTV pentration is still very low, last number I saw was around 10% that had QAM capable sets, not sure of that number, but it was around there somewhere.

Originally posted by keenan
Most everybody. Of 23 mil Comcast subs, roughly only 30% are digital cable subscribers. And Comcast knows exactly how many of them there are because these customers don't have an STB.

4Q numbers were,

Total subs 21,500,000
of that digital 8,600,000

Of the top 4 cablecos, out of 44M subs, there were 17M who were digital.

DTV pentration is still very low, last number I saw was around 10% that had QAM capable sets, not sure of that number, but it was around there somewhere.

Those numbers are really depressing. To think that over 27M subscribers are analog only... :(
It seems strange, because almost all the people I know ( that are cable ) none do not have the box. We'll never see the change to all digital at this rate. Well, at least the D* satellite is on schedule for launch on the 26th so it may be a mute point after all.

Laters,
Mikef5

It gets worse. Per B of A Securities analysts, Comcast is expected to add less than than 700,000 digital subs by the end of 2005. This is on a total sub number of roughly 23 mil.

Meanwhile, as cablecos in general are expected to lose market share to less than 70% by 2010, DBS will have risen to over 35%. This is a decline for cable from 95% in 1996.

Originally posted by keenan
It gets worse. Per B of A Securities analysts, Comcast is expected to add less than than 700,000 digital subs by the end of 2005. This is on a total sub number of roughly 23 mil.

Meanwhile, as cablecos in general are expected to lose market share to less than 70% by 2010, DBS will have risen to over 35%. This is a decline for cable from 95% in 1996.

This should not be a surprise to anyone. No programmer wants to be in the digital tier because of these numbers. They push the MSO's to promise analog carriage in their programming agreements. This means that most people don't think they are missing out on anything by not being digital, hence the problem with dropping analog programming.

This is why I think the move by Sen. Stevens from Alaska may be the best hope for accelerating all digital conversion. By forcing Comcast and others offer a expanded basic tier without MTV, etc... on decency issues will force MTV etc... into the digital tier, and then all their fans will want boxes to keep access to that programming. This could boost digital penetration faster than any other single factor. Strange but I think true.


Thanks,
Mike

Comcast TV outage in San Jose areas. Custumer Service most helpless until they more than my report. Internet service not down per neighbor, just TV. I use SBC DSL which works fine here.

But digital cable isn't necessarily that great a deal for the consumer. You have to have a set top box at each TV, pay more, have less time-shifting flexiblity, etc.

Originally posted by MikeSM
This should not be a surprise to anyone. No programmer wants to be in the digital tier because of these numbers. They push the MSO's to promise analog carriage in their programming agreements. This means that most people don't think they are missing out on anything by not being digital, hence the problem with dropping analog programming.

This is why I think the move by Sen. Stevens from Alaska may be the best hope for accelerating all digital conversion. By forcing Comcast and others offer a expanded basic tier without MTV, etc... on decency issues will force MTV etc... into the digital tier, and then all their fans will want boxes to keep access to that programming. This could boost digital penetration faster than any other single factor. Strange but I think true.


Thanks,
Mike

I agree, analog will be king of the hill for quite some time, until something like you have mentioned with Sen Stevens and the digital hookup/box/cost issues are overcome.

I'd like to know if there is any real reason I should switch to Comcast (South San Jose, CA)? They've be pushing real hard here, after they finished laying fiber in our neighborhood (the first upgrade since 1976) two months ago.

I went to the Comcast web site and their descriptions were clear as mud. They said that there was a hardware charge (rental) for the HD receivers (need 2), but I could not find it anywhere. I think someone posted $9.95 per receiver. They also were very vague about what HD programing was actually available in my area.

TVgeek5 -- What HD channels do you get?

According to Comcast's channel list, the only one (yes 1, and they want $5/mo for it) I can get is FOX-HD. According to my accounting, I finished paying for my 1st D* HD receiver 6 months ago. In another 16 months, I can pay for the upgrade to an HD dish antenna and a second HD receiver, with what I'm saving in subscription costs. I'm comparing costs for roughly the same service (Total Choice Plus vs. Digital Plus).

Claus,

The rebuild they did in your area is pretty good.

You can get the following HD Channels if you subscribe to the Digital Classic Package (~$55 for the programming)

Fox (2)
NBC (11)
CBS (5)
ABC (7)
Channel 4 (independent)
ESPN
Discovery
InHD
InHD2
FSN-Bay Area (A's, Giants, Warriors, Sharks)
HD-Special Events
+TNT will be added in about a month
~and it includes about 100 regular and Digital Channels

You can also get the HD versions of Showtime, HBO, Cinemax and Starz if you subscribe to them

The first box will be $5 for just the HD Versoin or $9.95 if you want HD+DVR box.

The 2nd box will be the same + $6.95 for a 2nd outlet fee. If you dont want HD you can have a 2nd Outlet + for $0 (ie you dont need a box for the analog cable channels (1-80)

Although I'd ignore the web pricing since they've been offering some really good deals to get people to convert from Dish...Call them up and tell them you are thinking about switching and want to know what specials they offer as part of the "Dish Win Back" program..I've heard they've been offering some good deals (like 1/3-1/2 off for a year). Almost makes me want to switch and then come back ;)

I'm not sure exactly what the costs and channel lineup is for San Jose, but you should be able to get KPIX, KGO, KNTV, KTVU, KQED all in HD with just a basic subscription and the HD STB. Price should be around $20-25 a month, including the STB. There may be more channels like KRON-HD as well, but someone in that area will need to confirm exactly what is offered.

(edit) and someone did..:)

OTA I get KTVU, KRON, KPIX(marginal at half pwer-I work there), KQED, KNTV(ch 12 & 48-2). KMTP, KICU, KCNS, KCSM, KBHK, KTLN, KSFS. KTEH, KDTV and KKPX. I haven't seen KGO very often since December. If I turn the RS 2160 under 90 degrees east I get KXTV, KOVR and KMAX very well.

Comcast service still down around here in San Jose. Family now watching DVDs after nothing for them on OTA HD.

Thanks for the replys.

TVgeek5 -- I get the OTA channels too. I have a vintage 1976 big Jerrold rooftop antenna, 90 mile range, and I can get all of the HD broadcast channels without even turning the antenna (I'm close enough to get KNTV on a back side lobe (it's at 180 deg. from me and the SF towers are about 300 deg.). The antenna is pointed at about 280 degrees. On my D* dish, I also get CBSW, NBCW, ABCW and FOXW (all LA) HD feeds if I had an oval dish + a 3 LNB pickup. CBSW is the only one I get on the "A" satellite.

davisdog -- That could be, but with the digital classic I loose a bunch of stations that I regularly watch, so I would want the Digital Plus for $4 more. What I was interested in was getting more HDTV channels than I can get from D* at higher quality. Apparently, that's not in the cards. Also, Comcast says the the HD-DVR is not available in my area, "at the present time".

Originally posted by CT_Wiebe
Also, Comcast says the the HD-DVR is not available in my area, "at the present time".

That doesn't sound right...

Originally posted by keenan
That doesn't sound right...

I was about to say the same thing...

The HD-DVR is available in all the rebuilt areas already

The best way to found out what's available is to go the office that serves the area, forget using the phone....

I have I said that before...? :p :D

Originally posted by davisdog
I was about to say the same thing...

The HD-DVR is available in all the rebuilt areas already

I'm not sure if that's true: I live in the SF Marina District, which has definitely been rebuilt - but, according to Comcast's site, the DVR is not yet available. Or is this just a case of needing to physically visit Comcast, vs.paying attention to their often-incorrect website?

Originally posted by wco81
But digital cable isn't necessarily that great a deal for the consumer. You have to have a set top box at each TV, pay more, have less time-shifting flexiblity, etc.

This summarizes the issue behind digital conversion. People don't want it, at least not unless something they really care about is on digital. I first got digital because of discovery wings. Programming drives this more than anything else. If you took MTV or ESPN and made it digital only, those digital numbers would skyrocket, but so would people leaving for DBS.

When a consumer has to make a decision about that, particularly driven because something has been taken away from them, they have a much higher propensity to dump cable completely and move to DBS. Unless they have a cable modem of course...

So you see why the MSO's don't want to push this either.

Thanks,
Mike

With DBS you also need a STB for each TV, so I'm not so sure that anyone would go over to DBS just because of the cable STB requirement. There is a monthly charge for the DBS extra boxes as well, same argument.

Yup, I moved to D* because they wanted to force me to Digital Cable to get HBO. Well you can't timeshift off those boxes and they were going to cost more than my getting a couple of Direct Tivos.

Comcast really goofed.

Only reason I'm on Comcast now is HDTV. If D* executes the HD-LIL right, I will dump Comcast. I do get cable modem service but since September, my download is only about 1 Mbps. I've called them numerous times and they claim there's no problem, even though a second-level tech handwrote a note saying they were working on it. Well I'm supposedly upgraded to 4 Mbps and still stuck at 1 Mbps. And since the upgrade a couple of weeks ago, there's been more outages.

I'm sorry, but I'm one of the 23 million or whatever number it is. I only use a cable box, because I have to. I have 2 tivos and a Media Center PC, both I use direct analog recording. I only use the cable box to get HD channels and honestly, the OTA channels are cripser then the cable HD channels.

I'm a technophile, but I still find cable boxes annoying. I really hope cablecard is the answer, but I just prefer an integrated solution as much as possible.

Also, all the channels I need are between 1 - 82 and the cost to get more is just too much....

Russ

Originally posted by Mikef5
How many people are really analog only ????

So it seems that a lot of people think that there are a lot of subscribers to Comcast that are analog only and have no boxes. So let's take a survey and see just how many people are analog only and have no box. I don't think it's as many as most people think, but I could be wrong, but I am sure that Comcast would also like to know also.

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by russwong
I'm sorry, but I'm one of the 23 million or whatever number it is. I only use a cable box, because I have to. I have 2 tivos and a Media Center PC, both I use direct analog recording. I only use the cable box to get HD channels and honestly, the OTA channels are cripser then the cable HD channels.

I'm a technophile, but I still find cable boxes annoying. I really hope cablecard is the answer, but I just prefer an integrated solution as much as possible.

Also, all the channels I need are between 1 - 82 and the cost to get more is just too much....

Russ

Russ,

I dont think the point is whether you want a cablebox or not (we'd all like an integrated solution)....but whether you watch/subscribe to Digital Channels.

Unless you want to give up HD (both OTA and Cable)...You are a Digital User.

HD is merely reusing the space that was assigned to the legacy Analog channels...The benefit of HD is better quality using less bandwidth (when compared to Analog)...same with SD. So the push should be to convert to digital for everything.

I think you contradicted yourself when you said everything you want to watch is on channels 1-82 (which are all Analog/NTSC Channels)...

Originally posted by russwong
I really hope cablecard is the answer, but I just prefer an integrated solution as much as possible.

Russ

I wouldn't count on CableCARD being the Holy Grail. The link below has an article about CableCARD and OpenCable and how the cable industry is dragging it's feet on CC. CableCARD looks to be dead in the water...


http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000343040219/
The Clicker: CableCARD and OpenCable - Engadget - www.engadget.com /

Originally posted by dcci
. Or is this just a case of needing to physically visit Comcast,

That's what I would do.

Originally posted by dcci
I'm not sure if that's true: I live in the SF Marina District, which has definitely been rebuilt - but, according to Comcast's site, the DVR is not yet available. Or is this just a case of needing to physically visit Comcast, vs.paying attention to their often-incorrect website?


I'd trust a CSR more than their website (and that's saying alot)

Have you tried to call and schedule a DVR install?...try that or visit the local office to swap out

Originally posted by bobby94928
With DBS you also need a STB for each TV, so I'm not so sure that anyone would go over to DBS just because of the cable STB requirement. There is a monthly charge for the DBS extra boxes as well, same argument.

Having Analog cable is definetly a marketing advantage for comcast (sadly)

if they lose that advantage they fear they will lose customers since the Sat Companies have other advantages

Originally posted by keenan
The best way to found out what's available is to go the office that serves the area, forget using the phone....

I have I said that before...? :p :D

Keenan...how quickly you forget :D

the best way to find out the real answer is to not ask Comcast at all...just find out here

Originally posted by davisdog
Having Analog cable is definetly a marketing advantage for comcast (sadly)

if they lose that advantage they fear they will lose customers since the Sat Companies have other advantages

Right, once a person drinks the digital Kool-Aid there are many more options than just cable.

Originally posted by davisdog
Keenan...how quickly you forget :D

the best way to find out the real answer is to not ask Comcast at all...just find out here

Yup..:D

Must be an age thing, looking at half a century come this Sunday...:eek: :p

Originally posted by keenan
Yup..:D

Must be an age thing, looking at half a century come this Sunday...:eek: :p

HALF A CENTURY ????
Do you remember ..... do you remember.... do you remember.... what was I talking about ???
Must be the old age... :D :p
Happy early Birthday Keenan, hope you see another 50, you might even be around when Comcast finally upgrades Santa Rosa.. :)

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by keenan
Yup..:D

Must be an age thing, looking at half a century come this Sunday...:eek: :p

Whippersnapper!!! I got there 11 years ago a couple of Sundays back. :(

Originally posted by bobby94928
Whippersnapper!!! I got there 11 years ago a couple of Sundays back. :(

....and I got there last September.
Happy 50th Keenan! Welcome to the club ;)

yes...Happy Pre-Birthday....


I think there is about a 50/50 chance Comcast will upgrade Santa Rosa and Saratoga by the time I turn 50 (11 years to go so they had better get on it!!!!!!)

Thanks everyone.:) :D

I certainly don't feel 50, whatever that's supposed to feel like, so it's really just another day for me.

Another day, I have a crappy cable system..:D

Originally posted by keenan
Thanks everyone.:) :D
I certainly don't feel 50, whatever that's supposed to feel like, so it's really just another day for me.


That's a good way of looking at it.
I figure I'm doing okay at 50 since I don't need to rely on those "little blue pills" yet ;)
And as my grandma used to say: "Growing old is a priviledge denied to many".
Have a good one!

Originally posted by mds54

I figure I'm doing okay at 50 since I don't need to rely on those "little blue pills" yet ;)


Me neither..:p In fact, when I tell people my age they're a bit shocked, they say I look at least 10 yrs younger, must be all the hard living in the 70's and 80's.. :D

Originally posted by davisdog
Russ,

I dont think the point is whether you want a cablebox or not (we'd all like an integrated solution)....but whether you watch/subscribe to Digital Channels.

Unless you want to give up HD (both OTA and Cable)...You are a Digital User.

HD is merely reusing the space that was assigned to the legacy Analog channels...The benefit of HD is better quality using less bandwidth (when compared to Analog)...same with SD. So the push should be to convert to digital for everything.

I think you contradicted yourself when you said everything you want to watch is on channels 1-82 (which are all Analog/NTSC Channels)...

Thanks for the clarification. I do watch digital via OTA and if I have to via the cable box. I was under the impression that it meant I had to have a cable box in order to be digital.

Originally posted by keenan
Ch 11 is the TV guide channel in Santa Rosa.

Although JasonQC mentioned the other day that FSN+ wasn't working up here, I don't know what channel it was or is...

The complete list of Bay Area channels that FSN+ is on is located on this page:

fsnbayarea.com/plus/

Thanks, and welcome to the forum. :)

bmark, any news on TNT-HD?

The web site says DVR isn't available in my area yet either, but the tech who fixed my (non dvr) box last week said it is, he just installed one that morning... Don't trust the web page.

When you plug in our zip code on the web site it says:
HD DVR not available. (94618)
KTVU is not on their list of HD channels.

Called up 3 weeks ago and ordered the 6412 DVR. Installed a few days later. Of course KTVU has been on since the SB.

Their web site has been useless "forever". I tried to find info about their phone service - nada. Had to call. They charge a lot more than PacBell/SBC!
They don't give pricing in any useable fashion for various packages. They could take a lesson from D* (and probably DISH).

======
Another topic - got a "follow up" CS call today asking how everything is going. Asked my opinion as to service (very good), promptness (very good), and pricing, (way more expensive than DBS).
At the end she asked how likely was it that i would switch to another provider. I said very likely. She asked what would cause me to switch.
I said pricing, but the lack of much in the way of HD would be the primary reason. I am keeping BEV (Canadian DBS) for now in the hopes they will have an HD DVR by fall. BEV has over 20 HD channels - which includes 3 or 4 PPV HD. Comcast doesn't have any, D* only one HD PPV - for recent movies.

...mike

Originally posted by keenan
bmark, any news on TNT-HD?
I second that request. :D

TNT-HD

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5515311#post5515311
The Magic 8 Ball speaks out on TNT-HD on Comcast! - AVS Forum

Different parts of the 'town' are on differnet system with different badwidths....is there a list or chart that shows which area is what?

I'm curious as i'm in San Jose (willow glen / 95125) and was wondering what system I was on.

Originally posted by Paradox-SJ
Different parts of the 'town' are on differnet system with different badwidths....is there a list or chart that shows which area is what?

I'm curious as i'm in San Jose (willow glen / 95125) and was wondering what system I was on.

Comcast doesnt publish that info to the public :(

If you were switched over from a Dual "A/B" Cable (330Mhz) system within the last year you are probably 860Mhz...Otherwise likely @ 750Mhz

There is no easy way to tell (the 550Mhz folks just know from the lack of channels and going poking through the system menu on the 6412 to see what freq's each channel is on)

I guess I dont understand the reasoning that analog is the cash cow unless you refering to packaging not spectrum.

Comcast has said that an all digital (digital only) STB would cost less than the digital/analog box of today.

So the upgrade cost 'requiring' everyone to have a STB regardless of their package shouldnt be THAT steep. Besided they could and more than likely would just pass on the expense to the end use.

What, do they think if they do this all the analog customer will jump ship to satellite? C'mon for most people they are and always will be the only game in town.

The problem is that probably 90-95% of the displays in use today are still analog. That combined with the fact that Comcast's subscriber base is 65-75% basic or expanded basic customers means that until an inexpensive digital to analog solution can be provided, analog will be here for awhile. Additionally, people hate STBs and the FCC has mandated that the cablecos cannot require them for basic analog subs.

Looks like TNT-HD is popping up around the country,

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5518715#post5518715
The Magic 8 Ball speaks out on TNT-HD on Comcast! - AVS Forum


Mikef5, maybe time to converse with Johnson and company to see what's up with us 550 folks?...:)

Originally posted by keenan
Looks like TNT-HD is popping up around the country,

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5518715#post5518715
The Magic 8 Ball speaks out on TNT-HD on Comcast! - AVS Forum


Mikef5, maybe time to converse with Johnson and company to see what's up with us 550 folks?...:)

Sorry, I've been lacks in my duties. :) I just bought a Sony PSP and I'm infatuated with it, I love this thing :p

Guess it's time to put it down and get back to work, I'll get an email off tonight and see if they still remember us small folks in the 550MHz and below systems.
I'll let you know what I find out. Nice to see the Giants winning again.. :)

Laters,
Mikef5

Originally posted by Mikef5
Sorry, I've been lacks in my duties. :) I just bought a Sony PSP and I'm infatuated with it, I love this thing :p

Guess it's time to put it down and get back to work, I'll get an email off tonight and see if they still remember us small folks in the 550MHz and below systems.
I'll let you know what I find out. Nice to see the Giants winning again.. :)

Laters,
Mikef5

Heck if I bought one of those toys I wouldnt get any work done either...

btw...dont forget to query them on moving FSN-Plus upto digital in order to add INHD/INHD2/FSNHD to the mix (and while he's at it move something else for TNTHD etc...)

:)

Originally posted by keenan
Looks like TNT-HD is popping up around the country......


Anyone in the Bay Area yet?
(If so, please post channel number, etc)
Thanks!

From The Contra Costa Times. Requires free reg.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/contra_costa_county/11460547.htm
ContraCostaTimes.com | 04/22/2005 | Comcast, city urged to strike cable deal

This part is funny, this is directed at Comcast...


"Is it really the case," (Judge)Alsup asked, "that Congress has said you're like the czar and you can go around telling Walnut Creek you want to put in upgrades and you can just go out there with your buzz saws . . . ?"

Originally posted by Mikef5
Sorry, I've been lacks in my duties. :) I just bought a Sony PSP and I'm infatuated with it, I love this thing :p

Me too. I xfer videos to it to play at the desk. Most anti-productive thing at work since VOD.

Hey All!
Total 256QAM is coming. Get rid of your DCT1000s.

Not that anyone in a HD forum would be using one still, but it may be in a bedroom or something. But what is interesting is what happens after that.

I wonder . . .

Originally posted by Barovelli
But what is interesting is what happens after that.

I wonder . . .

Oh Barovelli...teasing us and not providing any meat could result in us chopping off your fingers and sticking them in theChili

get rid of that PSP and get back to work on the conversion...remember, we know where you work :D

Originally posted by Barovelli
Hey All!
Total 256QAM is coming. Get rid of your DCT1000s.



So is some famous dude from the middle east, been over 2000 yrs in fact...just kidding....this sounds very good, hope it's soon....:) :D

I get TNT-HD. Channel 9420. Too bad I'm going to lose it after the Eastern Conference Finals. I cannot find any other reason to keep dishnetwork. I hope it comes in on Comcast, especially for those of you in the Bay. I got friends there that keep up on their fantasy leagues and visit them from time to time.

Had too much break-up of signal watching Third Watch last night on KNTV ch 703 on my comcast box. Was I alone or did others here have the same problem?
I gave up finally and switched to SD ch 3 to watch.

So apparently Bay Area isn't getting TNT-HD before the NBA Playoffs today?

Originally posted by wco81
So apparently Bay Area isn't getting TNT-HD before the NBA Playoffs today?

Not sure about the Bay Area, but in Sacramento, I'm not really expecting to see it until June or so at the earliest. With VOD being slowly rolled out across the region here, they seem to have their hands full. Last email from the Regional VP I got said "this summer sometime".

Originally posted by Grandude
Had too much break-up of signal watching Third Watch last night on KNTV ch 703 on my comcast box. Was I alone or did others here have the same problem?
I gave up finally and switched to SD ch 3 to watch.

same thing down here in the south bay..I recorded it and saw bad breakups every few minutes (glad to hear its not my DVR)

Originally posted by Grandude
Had too much break-up of signal watching Third Watch last night on KNTV ch 703 on my comcast box. Was I alone or did others here have the same problem?
I gave up finally and switched to SD ch 3 to watch.

Yes, it was terrible but I'm not sure it was a KNTV problem. When I checked the DirecTV feed from LA it wasn't even being broadcast, just a blue screen citing technical difficulties.

Did you at least see and hear the crash between the cop car and the mini-van in 5.1? WOW...fantastic, startled the crap out of me...that scene is an easy shoo-in for a HDTV DD 5.1 demo...outstanding.

You are right. Not KNTV but more likely the digital cable feed.

That crash was spectacular...........

Originally posted by wco81
So apparently Bay Area isn't getting TNT-HD before the NBA Playoffs today? Hey Comcast, this stinks. Give us a good reason why or turn the damned thing on. We've got the capacity in San Francisco, so flip the switch.

I seem to have completely lost 5.1 audio in the last few weeks. Seems like no matter which HD channel I'm watching at which time, I never get the 5.1 signal. I've tried different audio settings on the cable box, but nothing seems to work. Anyone else noticing this? Just wonderin if this is perhaps a broadcast problem and not a STB problem.

My 5.1 is working fine on those programs that are using DD 5.1. It might be your STB.

Originally posted by John Mace
I seem to have completely lost 5.1 audio in the last few weeks. Seems like no matter which HD channel I'm watching at which time, I never get the 5.1 signal. I've tried different audio settings on the cable box, but nothing seems to work. Anyone else noticing this? Just wonderin if this is perhaps a broadcast problem and not a STB problem.

I had the same problem a few weeks ago. It's fixed now, although I did nothing ... it just started working again for no apparent reason, just as it quit working for no apparent reason.

Where the hell is our TNT-HD???
The 24th has passed and I see several parts of the country that
already have it. Once again, the SF Bay Area has been left behind.......?

They're getting back at us for causing so much bad press for them in the past...:p :D

Were the playoff games on ABC not broadcast in HD? They looked like total crap. The picture on ESPN-HD was great for the later games. The video clips from ESPN Sports Center looked like the ABC games were also done in HD. Did channel 7 just forget to flip the switch for both games?

Where is TNT-HD!!

Kris

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5531646#post5531646
TNT-HD on Comcast! - AVS Forum

Looks like it's time to get Andy Johnson on the phone, eh?

Originally posted by keenan
The problem is that probably 90-95% of the displays in use today are still analog. That combined with the fact that Comcast's subscriber base is 65-75% basic or expanded basic customers means that until an inexpensive digital to analog solution can be provided, analog will be here for awhile. Additionally, people hate STBs and the FCC has mandated that the cablecos cannot require them for basic analog subs.

But they don't tell them exactly what their "basic analog" service has to be.

Everyone keeps saying that analog/basic subs are their cash cow, but has anyone really looked at all the channels? There's about a dozen foreign-language stations, at least 5-6 home shopping channels, Food channel.. Golf channel.. Animal Planet??

I mean they could easily cut the down the number of analog channels in HALF, keeping most of the locals & big national networks (ESPN, MTV, CNN, USA, TBS, etc..) and 99% of the "basic" customers wouldn't even notice! (The rest would have to upgrade to a digital package)

Originally posted by keenan
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5531646#post5531646
TNT-HD on Comcast! - AVS Forum

Looks like it's time to get Andy Johnson on the phone, eh?

Do any cities on the west coast have TNT-HD yet? Maybe comcast does not want to "confuse" us with an East feed. I believe there is no west feed on TNT-HD yet.

Originally posted by walk
But they don't tell them exactly what their "basic analog" service has to be.

Everyone keeps saying that analog/basic subs are their cash cow, but has anyone really looked at all the channels? There's about a dozen foreign-language stations, at least 5-6 home shopping channels, Food channel.. Golf channel.. Animal Planet??

I mean they could easily cut the down the number of analog channels in HALF, keeping most of the locals & big national networks (ESPN, MTV, CNN, USA, TBS, etc..) and 99% of the "basic" customers wouldn't even notice! (The rest would have to upgrade to a digital package)

I'd love it if it was that easy, but there is certainly reasons why all those channels are there beyond the ones the FCC has mandated have to be there. Whether it's by customers wanting those channels or by Comcast having to carry them there as a requirement for carriage of other channels, or a combination of both, somebody has determined within the Comcast mind trust that this lineup is the best return for their money at this point in time.

Originally posted by kevini
Do any cities on the west coast have TNT-HD yet? Maybe comcast does not want to "confuse" us with an East feed. I believe there is no west feed on TNT-HD yet.

I would have to check the TNT-HD thread but I think it's in the northwest, Seattle and it might even be in Sacramento...not sure about the Sac, if so it would be the only one in California that I recall...

Originally posted by keenan
I would have to check the TNT-HD thread but I think it's in the northwest, Seattle and it might even be in Sacramento...not sure about the Sac, if so it would be the only one in California that I recall...

It's not in Sacramento yet (and from what Nightowl mentioned, it may not be there for a while)

...btw, did somebody post that it was in Seattle? I dont remember seeing that...at least they are in the same comcast region if that's true (I always love how Los Angeles is in Comcast's East Region ;)

You may be right, the last poster in that thread was from Seattle and it was a negative..

Originally posted by keenan
bmark, any news on TNT-HD?

I haven't heard anything about TNT-HD. I'll check with my contacts and find out if anything is on the horizon.

Thanks.

How does one tell if their area is on 750Mhz or 850Mhz? Is there a list
somewhere? Are there surefire clues from what channels or services
are available? Will one notice any difference between 750Mhz and 850Mhz
systems today or in the near future.

Apologize if this has been covered before. This thread gets kind of
unwieldy.

Originally posted by sfhub
How does one tell if their area is on 750Mhz or 850Mhz? Is there a list
somewhere? Are there surefire clues from what channels or services
are available? Will one notice any difference between 750Mhz and 850Mhz
systems today or in the near future.

Apologize if this has been covered before. This thread gets kind of
unwieldy.

The only real surfire way to tell is to check the frequency of a channel in the service menu of the cable box. Turn off the box with remote, and immediately press "OK". Scroll down to "Channel Status" or similar. Look at the frequency.

If you have Inhd 1/2, KRON4-DT, and Showtime HD you are likely 750 or above. If you don't have those channels, you are a part of the 550 Mhz club.

Thanks for the reply.

I was more interested in 750Mhz vs 860Mhz
(as opposed to 750/860 vs 550)

I'm pretty sure my area is at least 750Mhz. I retrieved the frequency
for KQED-DT and it was listed at 754Mhz (or 753, I forget)

My real question is the difference between 860Mhz infrastructure
using 750Mhz vs an area that was 750Mhz.

I imagine the 860Mhz area would have more room for future expansion,
but is there any difference today. Will the 860Mhz area have channels
at different frequencies, more channels, faster broadband, etc. or for
all intents and purposes will 860Mhz act just like 750Mhz with some
unused bandwidth.

Then the next question would be in the near future are there any
planned changes that would start to differentiate 860Mhz and 750Mhz
systems. For example, would UPN-HD or WB-HD show up on 860Mhz
systems first?

Now, if 860Mhz and 750Mhz basically behave the same, how can I
really tell if I'm 860Mhz (the frequencies of the channels would presumably
be the same) and should I even care.

EDIT: 850->860

SfHub,

There is no real difference today, and there's some question as to how much of a difference it will make in the future (the shift to all digital will eventually free up lots of bandwidth)....although historically they always find a way to use the bandworth...

At this point, you should really care (as long as you are 750+) since you get everything they offer and there's nothing you can do to make them upgrade anyway.

btw...its 860Mhz (not 850)

Thanks for the explanation.

I'm playing with QAM tuner right now and notice some obscure analog
channels are simulcast in digital. Are there plans to simulcast all the
analog channels in digital as an intermediate step to wean people off
analog slowly, or is the plan to selectively move channels to digital
to free up bandwidth, or is it more a cold turkey plan where they seed
the market with digital boxes, and one day just flip the switch and poof,
the analogs are all gone and lots of bandwidth opens up?

It would be nice if 860Mhz systems got digital simulcast of all the analog
channels and filled out the missing HD offerings like UPN, WB, TNT, etc.

72a 86.9 TVLANDP TV Land Pacific
81a 86.10 OLN OLN Outdoor Life Network
82a 85.8 GOLF GOLF The Golf Channel

wow, conan's in high def. really nice. hope all the skits are in high def too. anyone watch the "I married a king cobra" skit? hilarious.