That's odd. I had 3 different Replay units for about 3 years (the 45xx and 50xx series) and never had the kind of lag I see on the Moto box. If anything, the STB would completely ignore the commands that were being sent to it via the IR blaster -- it never "cached" them like the Moto box does and then executes them 30 seconds later. Oh well.
There are 2 situations I'm aware of where it happens. If you are watching Live TV the menus become sluggish. Watching live means it is recording HQ and playing back HQ simultaneously. If you simply pause Live TV, the menus return to acceptable performance. There are networking bugs that cause the network to be inaccessible. When that happens and you try to access a remote unit, the guide just hangs for like 10-15 seconds.

Don't want to get too much off topic, but the 6412 lags described here seem to be much worse than anything on Replay. I just thought it was funny people used to complain about Replay (not just the channel change lag due to IR blaster and mpg encoding delays)

There are 2 situations I'm aware of where it happens. If you are watching Live TV the menus become sluggish. Watching live means it is recording HQ and playing back HQ simultaneously. If you simply pause Live TV, the menus return to acceptable performance. There are networking bugs that cause the network to be inaccessible. When that happens and you try to access a remote unit, the guide just hangs for like 10-15 seconds.

Don't want to get too much off topic, but the 6412 lags described here seem to be much worse than anything on Replay. I just thought it was funny people used to complain about Replay (not just the channel change lag due to IR blaster and mpg encoding delays)

Ahhh...now I understand the lags you're talking about. Yup, I had the same ones.

So, I set up a series recording for Threshold* last week. That show was moved from Fridays to Tuesdays (10PM). But apparently Crminal Minds is in that timeslot now, and I currently have a series recording for Criminal Minds instead. And, I can't delete it! I go thru the menu to delete the series recording, but it's still there. Anyone know what happened here?

*yeah, I'm embarrassed to say I watch this show. :)

For those wondering when Tivo will be available on Comcast boxes, the Chron has article that says by the middle of '06. http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/30/BUGC3FVRUF1.DTL

It's a pretty funny read -- the main topic of the article is how Tivo is trying boost revenue and appease the Network gods by offering "Commercials OnDemand".
Those longer commercials mentioned in the article, some of them are available with the DirecTV HD-TiVo box. There's a menu selection that rotates through a bunch of ads, usually car ads. It's unobtrusive and you have to actively select the menu entry to view them.

So, I set up a series recording for Threshold* last week. That show was moved from Fridays to Tuesdays (10PM). But apparently Crminal Minds is in that timeslot now, and I currently have a series recording for Criminal Minds instead. And, I can't delete it! I go thru the menu to delete the series recording, but it's still there. Anyone know what happened here?

*yeah, I'm embarrassed to say I watch this show. :)
Are you trying to delete it from the guide menu or through the DVR menu?

Can anyone answer my previous question? Does the Series III improve upon this?

I upgraded to the Phase III unit (and now have two of them) and the remote delay "feature" doesn't seem nearly as bad with the new Phase III boxes. I haven't noticed any exceptional delays as before...

Are you trying to delete it from the guide menu or through the DVR menu?
The guide menu. I select the show, then go to the record option, then select series, then select "do not record this series".

But I'm also wondering how this show got on my series list in the first place. I wonder if Threshold got cancelled and Criminal Minds now has whatever code was used by Threshold to identify itself to the DVR.

The guide menu. I select the show, then go to the record option, then select series, then select "do not record this series".

But I'm also wondering how this show got on my series list in the first place. I wonder if Threshold got cancelled and Criminal Minds now has whatever code was used by Threshold to identify itself to the DVR.
Try going into the main menu and then DVR menu and select Series Priority List and see if it deletes that way.

You could be right about the ID, there is something buggy about that time period for me. When I checked last night it showed CM being set to record at 10PM. When I tried to set up L&O it said there was a conflict with CM. When I deleted the record on CM, I could then set up the record for L&O. Then it allowed my to set up a record for CM. I have had this problem in the past with Boston Legal and whatever else I want to record during the same time period. I have had to go through these setup, delete and setup again gyrations just to get 2 programs to record at that time period. It doesn't happen on any other night.

I plugged in my new Sony LCD to plain ol Comcast cable and ran the channel search. It came back with quite a bit more than the 70 or so channels Comcast publishes on their availability list. Many of the channels tick the HD hardware in the TV, and I get great reception. The other night, CH 4 had a travelogue on Arizona, and the long shots of the desert made the TV worthwhile.

Since I don't subscribe to Comcast's digital cable, I don't see the channels as 701, 702, etc. I see them as 4.1, 9.1, etc. Does anyone know of a comprehensive list of channels like this?

[...]
But I'm also wondering how this show got on my series list in the first place. I wonder if Threshold got cancelled and Criminal Minds now has whatever code was used by Threshold to identify itself to the DVR.

I don't know about the codes but Threshold did get cancelled:
article (http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|98800|1|,00.html)

Since I don't subscribe to Comcast's digital cable, I don't see the channels as 701, 702, etc. I see them as 4.1, 9.1, etc. Does anyone know of a comprehensive list of channels like this?
If you're seeing numbers like 4.1 and 9.1, then you're getting the ota psip info. Look here for a list (only look at the sutro stations):
http://www.choisser.com/sfonair.html

jeff

You folks with the 6412 PIII DVRs, has firmware 12.22 been downloaded yet?

You folks with the 6412 PIII DVRs, has firmware 12.22 been downloaded yet?Still on 12.18 in Rohnert Park.

Still on 12.18 in Rohnert Park.
Be nice if they get around to it someday, but until then I'll stick with the PII.

Be nice if they get around to it someday, but until then I'll stick with the PII.

What's 12.22 supposed to give you?

It's a pretty funny read -- the main topic of the article is how Tivo is trying boost revenue and appease the Network gods by offering "Commercials OnDemand".
If this works for Comcast, here is a great business idea: Colonoscopies OnDemand.

Still on 12.18 in Rohnert Park.

I happened to pick up a phase III in the RP office last week. I notice it is at 12.13 and I even told it to re-initiate the download a few times (picked this tip up in another thread).

I wonder what is going on? I also lost access to channels such as inhd, espn-hd and discovery-hd, plus on-demand. I called comcast and we haven't come up with much yet other than a tech visit on friday.

My phase II box had been working fine for quite awhile so I don't see that it could be signal strength related, etc. I checked the levels on the phase III box and they are "good". The only strange thing I noticed in the diag screen (when set on one of the above stations) it says I am not authorized... The CSR said my account says I am authorized (digital classic).

And I thought all systems in the same area would have the same firmware version?

What's 12.22 supposed to give you?
It's supposed to fix the DD 5.1 audio problem. When hooked up HDMI to HDMI in on the display, the 5.1 output is disabled, feeding 2.0 through the Toslink/SPDIF output to a rec/proc instead. Can't remember exactly, but I think the problem shows up upon playback of recorded material...or it may be on just the second tuner...I just remember that 12.22 was supposed to fix the problem.

I've been having the "key queueing" issue with my box (second 6412 non-phase III box). I thought the maintenance update issues in september fixed this. I get it about once every 2 weeks or so. it usually requires a box unplug to remedy it.

Anyone?

jeff

So, I set up a series recording for Threshold* last week. That show was moved from Fridays to Tuesdays (10PM). But apparently Crminal Minds is in that timeslot now, and I currently have a series recording for Criminal Minds instead. And, I can't delete it! I go thru the menu to delete the series recording, but it's still there. Anyone know what happened here?

*yeah, I'm embarrassed to say I watch this show. :)


Tuesday night I went through to confirm all my recordings and to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I found it was set to record Criminal Minds too, and wondered what was going on.


Another problem I found was Meet the Press on 703 (Sunday 8AM, Monday 3AM). It always looks fine on Saturday, but afterwards when I check, the name of the show has changed to "To Be Announced" or something and nothing's been recorded. I tried switching the series recording to channel 3 instead, so hopefully that will work.

Oh don't worry, those cable guys are sly. They will find a way to make the a-la-carte cost more than the bundled before they offer it. Then they will point to FCC as the reason your bill is going up.

The same thing happened when they forced MSO to break down your bill into itemized sections. They increased the per outlet fee and broke it down per section. I don't think I've ever seen my cable bill go down unless I drop stuff.


I thoght the whole thing was about the indecency debate, people not wanting certain channels coming into their households (even though they can already block certain channels and program-ratings), with even televangelists fighting it as well (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-indecency29nov29,0,2685885.story?coll=la-home-business).

I haven't been following this thread. Is there any news about new upcoming HD channels? I'm in the San Jose/Santa Clara area on Comcast, enjoying my HD-DVR.

My DVR dropped the ball and did not record Invasion last night, even after confirming everything was set up the way it should be. There is something buggy with the scheduling with this box but I have no idea what is causing it. A guess would be the program changes/IDs and the extended lengths of programs like Lost which ran until 10:04 last night. I also noticed that Criminal Minds did not start on time either, the Christmas show prior was running until 9:03 PM according to every clock I have. That's what may have dumped Invasion.

As a contrast, I never have these problems with the TiVo powered HD-DVR from DirecTV, hopefully Comcast will deploy the TiVo software sooner than later.

I haven't been following this thread. Is there any news about new upcoming HD channels? I'm in the San Jose/Santa Clara area on Comcast, enjoying my HD-DVR.
Zero, as far as I know. In Santa Rosa we haven't had any HD channel additions in 2 years since I've had the service. We lost 2 and added 2, but that's been it.

My DVR dropped the ball and did not record Invasion last night, even after confirming everything was set up the way it should be. There is something buggy with the scheduling with this box but I have no idea what is causing it. A guess would be the program changes/IDs and the extended lengths of programs like Lost which ran until 10:04 last night. I also noticed that Criminal Minds did not start on time either, the Christmas show prior was running until 9:03 PM according to every clock I have. That's what may have dumped Invasion.

As a contrast, I never have these problems with the TiVo powered HD-DVR from DirecTV, hopefully Comcast will deploy the TiVo software sooner than later.


I had mine set for Lost, which said 9-10:04, and it recorded Invasion correctly, 10:04-11

I had mine set for Lost, which said 9-10:04, and it recorded Invasion correctly, 10:04-11
Yeah, I don't know what happened with mine, I have to assume it was something I did, but I have no idea what. The HD-TiVo sure makes for a nice backup though. :)

The SF Comcast system still carries FM service, and has for decades. I have used it with various tuners for years. It has been removed on other systems , but not SF. Here is a list of channels:
KQED 89.1
KPOO 89.9
KSFB 90.5
CityCollege 90.9
KCSM 92.6
KRZZ 93.7
KPFA 94.1
KYLD 95.3
KOIT 96.9
KLLC 97.3
KISQ 97.7
KEMR 99.3
KFRC 100.1
KSFS 100.7
KIOI 101.7
KDFC 102.5
KBLX 102.9
KALW 103.3
KFOG 104.1
KITS 104.9
KMEL 105.7
KKSF 107.3
I'm trying to find some of the newer FM stations that are "analog piggybacked" over Comcast's cable (in SF, anyway); specifically, trying to find stations 95.7 MaxFM, 91.1 KCSM, and 92.7 Energy ... wondering if anyone knows on which frequencies one could find these?

Engadget had an interesting take on the "a-la-carte" cable viewing.

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000760070613/

I know this is old news on this thread, but I just wanted to use the quote.

Major Cable Companies Raising Rates

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051202/ap_on_bi_ge/cable_tv_rates

Cable operators say that they are facing rising costs and have to continually invest in
new products and services. Moreover, they say they already offer enhanced value for what
consumers pay, such as free movies through video on demand.


So what if I don't want the new "free" services that enhance value? Are they really free? They are raising my rates to pay for them.

In the extreme example, what if they raise my rates by $10/month and offer me "free" HBO? Is it really free? What if I don't want it?

Engadget had an interesting take on the "a-la-carte" cable viewing.

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000760070613/
Basically, nothing the FCC has ever done has lowered my cable bill, even though everything they do is claimed to be for that reason. Maybe they are well intentioned, but the cable companies are more saavy. I do think it is true they are handcuffed in certain cases with the packaging.

I know this is old news on this thread, but I just wanted to use the quote.

Major Cable Companies Raising Rates

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051202/ap_on_bi_ge/cable_tv_rates

Cable operators say that they are facing rising costs and have to continually invest in
new products and services. Moreover, they say they already offer enhanced value for what
consumers pay, such as free movies through video on demand.


So what if I don't want the new "free" services that enhance value? Are they really free? They are raising my rates to pay for them.

In the extreme example, what if they raise my rates by $10/month and offer me "free" HBO? Is it really free? What if I don't want it?

I agree. What about those of us in the 550 MHz areas (Milpitas) that can't get all the new "FREE" features? Do we have to pay for them anyway?

Does anyone know if the ABC College football games scheduled for tomorrow will be in Hi Def on Comcast 707? The KGO website shows that the games will be broadcast (in Hi Def, I assume) on their OTA channel 7.1, but does this mean that same Hi Def feed will be shown on Comcast 707?? Thanks.

All 3 games are being broadcast in HD, which is only the second time college games have been in HD on ABC this season. There is a website called hdsportsguide (I can't post url's yet) that is pretty acurate with what sporting events are being broadcast in HD.

http://www.hdsportsguide.com/

I agree. What about those of us in the 550 MHz areas (Milpitas) that can't get all the new "FREE" features? Do we have to pay for them anyway?
Yes, that's one of the reasons why I am so aggravated with Comcast, why the hell should we be paying the same as everyone else that gets the full boat of services/channels made available to them? So they have enough money to mail out all the flyers about crap we can't get here anyway? I got 4 of these things in the last month, all basically for services I can't get here even if I offered to pay them $1000 to get.

What really gets my goat, is with now 2 years of rate increases, NOTHING has changed as far as HD channel availability in the 2 yrs I have had Comcast. They added 2 and took away 2.

Regarding a-la-carte, I would like to see the DVR made a separate rental/purchase that is not tied to a certain subscription package. I recently chopped my cable bill in half by dumping the CC and getting rid if the premium channels, but I still had to subscribe to Standard Cable and Digital Classic just to have the privilege of using their DVR. Cost is $71 a month for the 7 HD channels I watch. I can't even remember the last time I tuned into a channel below 700.

Give me just the HD and the DVR and I would be more than willing to pay $40-50 a month. But $71 is ridiculous, and to have to pay for 70 analog and about 10 digital channels just to have the DVR is just BS. I cannot wait until the day that 3rd party DVR solutions are available and Comcast can shove their tier requirements where the sun doesn't shine. Fact is, when DirecTV has their MPEG4 HD-DVR available I'll be gone anyway, over twice the storage space, far more HD channels, and the overall price will be cheaper.

Fact is, when DirecTV has their MPEG4 HD-DVR available I'll be gone anyway, over twice the storage space, far more HD channels, and the overall price will be cheaper.

Have a great deal of sympathy for your remarks. But a question re DirecTV: as I remember, if you want to have it for 2 or 3 different tv's in your house, they all have to be watching the same channel at the same time; is that still correct? That would be a deal breaker for me (unfortunately).

Yes, that's one of the reasons why I am so aggravated with Comcast, why the hell should we be paying the same as everyone else that gets the full boat of services/channels made available to them? So they have enough money to mail out all the flyers about crap we can't get here anyway? I got 4 of these things in the last month, all basically for services I can't get here even if I offered to pay them $1000 to get.
Yeah, you guys definitely getting even more of a raw deal. At least for my 6% premium (come January) I'm getting the "FREE" VOD, you guys are getting the same premium w/o the "FREE" VOD.

All I want is the 0-3% increase that would probably be possible if Comcast wasn't funding their "FREE" VOD initiative. I want to a-la-carte the "FREE" VOD out of the picture to lower my cable bill.

Have a great deal of sympathy for your remarks. But a question re DirecTV: as I remember, if you want to have it for 2 or 3 different tv's in your house, they all have to be watching the same channel at the same time; is that still correct? That would be a deal breaker for me (unfortunately).
With current setups you can have independent STBs working in each room. You do need STBs though, whereas with analog cable you don't, but Comcast has plans underway so you will soon need STBs to get your basic cable channels so they can free up some bandwidth by getting rid of analog channels.

With current setups you can have independent STBs working in each room. You do need STBs though, whereas with analog cable you don't, but Comcast has plans underway so you will soon need STBs to get your basic cable channels so they can free up some bandwidth by getting rid of analog channels.

I understand this for CABLE, which I now have. My question is whether SATELLITE, e.g., DirecTV, has the possibility of viewing different channels on different tv's simultaneously.

Have a great deal of sympathy for your remarks. But a question re DirecTV: as I remember, if you want to have it for 2 or 3 different tv's in your house, they all have to be watching the same channel at the same time; is that still correct? That would be a deal breaker for me (unfortunately).
Not sure, I haven't played close attention to the functions of the first MPEG4 STB as it's not a DVR, but it may be possible. I know in the near future DirecTV will have a home networking solution to hook up multiple TVs. From what I've seen/heard about Comcast this HM solution will come from DirecTV way before Comcast gets around to it.

Dish Network already has an HD DVR(942) that allows for 2 displays to be hooked up to it and operate independently without an additional box on the second display so I it can be done and I'm sure DirecTV will follow suit.


One last remark for my monthly Comcast rant.. :D

Why is it that in some Comcast areas around the country that you can get a DVR and/or Digital Classic without having to sub to Expanded basic as well? A bit of cable customer/regional profiling..?

And why does Comcast provide SA STBs in other areas that supports external drive storage through the SATA port yet recent info indicates that Comcast is not going to support any external storage devices with Motorola equipment? And BTW, some of these Comcast areas that have the SA equipment are also the areas that do not require a crapload of channels/tiers just to be able to get a DVR.

Yeah, you guys definitely getting even more of a raw deal. At least for my 6% premium (come January) I'm getting the "FREE" VOD, you guys are getting the same premium w/o the "FREE" VOD.

All I want is the 0-3% increase that would probably be possible if Comcast wasn't funding their "FREE" VOD initiative. I want to a-la-carte the "FREE" VOD out of the picture to lower my cable bill.
Yes, in my area, Santa Rosa, we are are really getting taken to the cleaners. Also, it is now Dec and we still have the same QAM64 channels we had months ago, nothing has changed on that front.

The ONLY thing Comcast has done in Santa Rosa in over 2 years is they have expanded HSI to the full city from the small area that always had it from the beginning, BFD.

I can only dream of having an overbuilder come into this area...

I understand this for CABLE, which I now have. My question is whether SATELLITE, e.g., DirecTV, has the possibility of viewing different channels on different tv's simultaneously.
The first part of my answer was regarding D*TV. They basically have 3 dishes oriented at each of the satellites and you use a "multi-switch" which selects which one to send your STB based on voltage and some other indicator.

Regarding a-la-carte, I would like to see the DVR made a separate rental/purchase that is not tied to a certain subscription package. I recently chopped my cable bill in half by dumping the CC and getting rid if the premium channels, but I still had to subscribe to Standard Cable and Digital Classic just to have the privilege of using their DVR. Cost is $71 a month for the 7 HD channels I watch. I can't even remember the last time I tuned into a channel below 700.

Give me just the HD and the DVR and I would be more than willing to pay $40-50 a month. But $71 is ridiculous, and to have to pay for 70 analog and about 10 digital channels just to have the DVR is just BS. I cannot wait until the day that 3rd party DVR solutions are available and Comcast can shove their tier requirements where the sun doesn't shine. Fact is, when DirecTV has their MPEG4 HD-DVR available I'll be gone anyway, over twice the storage space, far more HD channels, and the overall price will be cheaper.

My guess is that Comcast will never change this -- or if they do, the cost of the DVR/month will be much more then it is now. If you look at the DVR "fee" as a service fee then we're essentially getting the hardware for free. Comcast has to recoup these costs by making more money off the digital subscription. So while we don't have to pay any upfront cost for the DVR hardware, we still pay up the keester in the long run. I've always said, once a hardware manufacturer comes out with a box that's a) usable, b)cable-card ready, c) upgradable, and d) dual tuner HD-ready, I will be more then happy to shell out the extra money to buy my own. While it's nice not having to pay a large upfront fee (like the D* customers had to when the HD Tivo first came out), I hate being constrained by what Comcast wants to give us.

The first part of my answer was regarding D*TV. They basically have 3 dishes oriented at each of the satellites and you use a "multi-switch" which selects which one to send your STB based on voltage and some other indicator.
This currently requires a STB at each display, just like cable (if you want anything other than analog). I think what millerwill is asking is whether there is a sat solution that doesn't require a box at each display and the answer is maybe. DirecTV currently to my knowledge does not, but, Dish Network has a STB that does allow for that scenario so I would imagine DirecTV is not to far behind in implementing something similar.

My guess is that Comcast will never change this -- or if they do, the cost of the DVR/month will be much more then it is now. If you look at the DVR "fee" as a service fee then we're essentially getting the hardware for free. Comcast has to recoup these costs by making more money off the digital subscription. So while we don't have to pay any upfront cost for the DVR hardware, we still pay up the keester in the long run. I've always said, once a hardware manufacturer comes out with a box that's a) usable, b)cable-card ready, c) upgradable, and d) dual tuner HD-ready, I will be more then happy to shell out the extra money to buy my own. While it's nice not having to pay a large upfront fee (like the D* customers had to when the HD Tivo first came out), I hate being constrained by what Comcast wants to give us.
I hate it too. Comcast more than recovers the cost of those DVRs, (probably even the cost of swapping them out as well as I doubt they do anything with a bad one other than send it to Motorola) by the subscription and DVR "service" requirements. Part of the reason they do this, IMO, is that there is no commitment beyond month to month, in fact, you can stop the service any day of the month and it's pro-rated.

I would not mind at all if Comcast offered the ability to sub to a minimal cost basic tier, add the HD channels and a DVR for a commitment on my part to continue the service for a specified amount of time and I'm talking a reasonable price. I'm not looking for a $25 cable bill, something in the $35-50 range sounds reasonable. What is not reasonable is paying $127(add a bit less than 7% more this coming year) a month for the 15-20% of the service that I actually use. I dumped the CableCARD because at $6.95 a month(P.S. in other areas of the country Comcast offers CC for $1.95, why the hell is that?? a little more of "what the market will bear/profiling"..?) they are out of their minds, allow me to buy the CableCARD at the $50-70 they actually cost and I'd be happy.

Once a MPEG4 HD-DVR is offered from DirecTV Comcast is going to have some serious competition in the bay area. Nothing that Comcast offers me now channel-wise I cannot get with DirecTV other than Cinemax and Starz, and HDNet Movies more than compensates for that.

The first part of '06 should be a good time for consumers(Dish Network should have ESPN2-HD and HD network feeds(including UPN and WB in the first quarter as well).

I'm waiting, listening and watching, Comcast...what are you going to do for me? And I'm not interested in HSI or telephony...I want TV(HD) channels from my cable TV company.

From Multichannel News,

Comcast Sees 6% Rate Hikes
By Mike Farrell 12/2/2005 4:36:00 PM

Comcast Corp. expects to raise rates for expanded-basic video services by about 6% next year, although customers who buy bundles of service are likely to see smaller increases.

The rate hike for expanded basic is about the same as the MSO’s 5.9% hike in 2005, Comcast spokeswoman Jenni Moyer said. There will be no rate increases for high-speed-Internet service or digital-voice service in 2006, she added.

Freezing those rates will lessen the blow for customers who take multiple services, which now number about 60% of Comcast’s total subscriber base. Moyer said customers who take more than one service from Comcast will see their bills rise 2.6%-4.3% in 2006.

The increases are necessary in part due to increased programming costs and rising investment in new services like telephony and expanded HDTV and video-on-demand offerings, the MSO said.

Comcast began rolling out voice service across its footprint this year, and the company expects it to be available to 15 million homes by year-end.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So in other words, stick it to the folks who only get TV service to pay for the expansion of HSI and telephony, what a bunch of crap.

I know everyone's focusing on other issues right now, but wrt the key queueing problems or the "sluggish" 6412 response (it's actually a short term lock up where the box receives the remote commands, queues them and then executes them when it gets good and ready) to remote commands.

CSR is aware of the problem in the 6412's. I've re-downloaded the current firmware (not sure of the version). I've not had any fits since last nights download, but had had no issues until last week (for many months) and then I've had two-three episodes within a week. They suggest hitting a transport key (not clear which one they want me to hit - I'll test it when I get the next fit). the claim is that this will break it lose. I will spend some time testing this when it happens next.

It is interesting that most people don't have seem to have this issue. i was one of them until just recently. It doesn't seem to correlate with anything in particular that I'm doing. Last time it happend, the box wasn't recording.

Anyway, just a bit of info.
jeff

From Multichannel News,

Comcast Sees 6% Rate Hikes
--snip --
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So in other words, stick it to the folks who only get TV service to pay for the expansion of HSI and telephony, what a bunch of crap.

Keenan - get limited basic like I do - only about $12-$13 per month plus a Netflix subscription (commercial free movies of course) for between $10 and $17 / month.

The only reason I haven't abandoned Comcast all together and used my antenna is that I like watching analog Discovery Channel (15-0), fast-forwarding commercials of course with DVD Recorder [edited from DVR] ;-)

peter

I think what millerwill is asking is whether there is a sat solution that doesn't require a box at each display and the answer is maybe. DirecTV currently to my knowledge does not, but, Dish Network has a STB that does allow for that scenario so I would imagine DirecTV is not to far behind in implementing something similar.
I don't think that is what he meant, but I could have read the question wrong. It seemed like he was talking about the previous generation setups having a single LNB and no ability to change between even/odd transponders using the voltage change that is now prevalent in the dual-LNB and triple-LNB setups.

So basically in the old setup, if one STB in the house was tuned to a channel on the even transponder, all STBs in the house could only tune to channels on the even transponder.

I was reading a review of the new Showtime series "Sleeper Cell" in the LA Times that the article mentioned that it was a free preview weekend. Is it also for San Francisco?

If it is a free preview weekend, then should cable scrambling be off and we can use our QAM tuner cards (MyHD-130) to record Showtime this weekend?

- Phil Klein

I would not mind at all if Comcast offered the ability to sub to a minimal cost basic tier, add the HD channels and a DVR for a commitment on my part to continue the service for a specified amount of time and I'm talking a reasonable price. I'm not looking for a $25 cable bill, something in the $35-50 range sounds reasonable. What is not reasonable is paying $127(add a bit less than 7% more this coming year) a month for the 15-20% of the service that I actually use. I dumped the CableCARD because at $6.95 a month(P.S. in other areas of the country Comcast offers CC for $1.95, why the hell is that?? a little more of "what the market will bear/profiling"..?) they are out of their minds, allow me to buy the CableCARD at the $50-70 they actually cost and I'd be happy.
Keenan, stop it, you are starting to sound just like me :)

Keenan, stop it, you are starting to sound just like me :)
Ah, great minds... :p :D

I know everyone's focusing on other issues right now, but wrt the key queueing problems or the "sluggish" 6412 response (it's actually a short term lock up where the box receives the remote commands, queues them and then executes them when it gets good and ready) to remote commands.

CSR is aware of the problem in the 6412's. I've re-downloaded the current firmware (not sure of the version). I've not had any fits since last nights download, but had had no issues until last week (for many months) and then I've had two-three episodes within a week. They suggest hitting a transport key (not clear which one they want me to hit - I'll test it when I get the next fit). the claim is that this will break it lose. I will spend some time testing this when it happens next.

It is interesting that most people don't have seem to have this issue. i was one of them until just recently. It doesn't seem to correlate with anything in particular that I'm doing. Last time it happend, the box wasn't recording.

Anyway, just a bit of info.
jeff

I have noticed this problem lately, seems to happen more often than in the past, but I sort of expect it. Imagine if this box were sold on the open market, facing competition from other CE manufacturers, I doubt it would even get any shelf space next to the LG, Pioneer, JVC, etc offerings.

Keenan - get limited basic like I do - only about $12-$13 per month plus a Netflix subscription (commercial free movies of course) for between $10 and $17 / month.

The only reason I haven't abandoned Comcast all together and used my antenna is that I like watching analog Discovery Channel (15-0), fast-forwarding commercials of course with DVR ;-)

peter
This is what I wanted to do, but in order to have the DVR, I have to subscribe to both Expanded Basic and Digital Classic, which plus tax and fees comes to $71 a month.

Are you saying you have the DVR with just Limited Basic?

Crap! Just found starting from today INHD1/2 and discoveryHD are 5Ced! that's so bad!

i'm in Milpitas

bxz,
What about epsnhd, also 5c'd?

jeff

U r right, ESPN also got 5C, it really pis me off!
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:


bxz,
What about epsnhd, also 5c'd?

jeff

Crap! Just found starting from today INHD1/2 and discoveryHD are 5Ced! that's so bad!
Just remember, next month you will be paying 6% more for this "improvement" :(

Crap! Just found starting from today INHD1/2 and discoveryHD are 5Ced! that's so bad!

i'm in Milpitas

How do you know this? Did you go to the diag menu or are you trying to dump to PC? I went to the diag menu -> d11 INTERFACE STATUS and the '5C IMPLEMENTATION' value for INHD, INHD 2, and ESPNHD all had '0' for the value (which means not enabled).

I'm in Moraga.

This is what I wanted to do, but in order to have the DVR, I have to subscribe to both Expanded Basic and Digital Classic, which plus tax and fees comes to $71 a month.

Are you saying you have the DVR with just Limited Basic?
Oops - sorry for the confusion - I have a DVD Recorder which will not record in HD however, but it serves my purposes.

peter

i did both, guess u are still lucky to have that at 0.



How do you know this? Did you go to the diag menu or are you trying to dump to PC? I went to the diag menu -> d11 INTERFACE STATUS and the '5C IMPLEMENTATION' value for INHD, INHD 2, and ESPNHD all had '0' for the value (which means not enabled).

I'm in Moraga.

The other way to tell is tune into these channels which you presumably have received in the past. You will not get a black screen with a message that the programming is not available.

We all knew this was coming from previous posts (modulo some folks getting grandfathered in). Only the networks will stay in the clear, hopefully forever. If you want them back, then it'll cost another $10/month for the digital tier.

This leads nicely to the cost increase posts ;-(

jeff

i remember reading somewhere before that DirecTV and Dish HD are not 5Ced and will not be 5Ced, can someone comfirm?

I just find it hard to believe that Comcast would copy protect channels when they don't have to. Congress struck down the FCC rulling (at least temporarily) and Comcast gets nothing out it. So why do it????

i remember reading somewhere before that DirecTV and Dish HD are not 5Ced and will not be 5Ced, can someone comfirm?

If the cable co's eventually have to add copy protection, then believe me, so will Satellite providers (or any other digital broadcaster).

i remember reading somewhere before that DirecTV and Dish HD are not 5Ced and will not be 5Ced, can someone comfirm?
The satcos already use their own flavor of encryption. You can get content from a sat STB but it needs to be hacked and you need to have some additional hardware and software...and it's not cheap.

http://www.nextcomwireless.com/r5000/products.htm
R5000-HD High-Definition PVR

I just find it hard to believe that Comcast would copy protect channels when they don't have to. Congress struck down the FCC rulling (at least temporarily) and Comcast gets nothing out it. So why do it????
I remember reading some MSO turned on the 5C flag even though the original HD local station did not have it. The operation folks just turned it on across the board and no amount of arguing could get to the right people to address the issue. I think this was Time Warner cable, but I forget which thread I read it in. It might have been the thread about Panny Plasma outputing 2-channel PCM instead of DD5.1 when 5C flag is detected.

BTW I thought 5C flag was different from encryption, in that it is a "flag" which can be on/off regardless of whether something is encrypted. Thus it can work with OTA ATSC transmissions which have no encryption standard.

I remember reading some MSO turned on the 5C flag even though the original HD local station did not have it. The operation folks just turned it on across the board and no amount of arguing could get to the right people to address the issue. I think this was Time Warner cable, but I forget which thread I read it in. It might have been the thread about Panny Plasma outputing 2-channel PCM instead of DD5.1 when 5C flag is detected.

BTW I thought 5C flag was different from encryption, in that it is a "flag" which can be on/off regardless of whether something is encrypted. Thus it can work with OTA ATSC transmissions which have no encryption standard.
It is, 5C is a different animal than an encryption scheme. Encryption turns the data to useless mush and 5C dictates how data can be recorded(Never-once-many times..etc).

You're right about Time-Warner, I think it was AVS member "optivity" that was relaying is travails with his "favorite" cable company.

Mikef5, the next time you converse with Mr. J ask him why we get the shaft here in the bay area when in other Comcast areas they can get exactly what I want. The below quote is from the a-la-carte thread. Is it because Comcast feels they can bleed us for more money out here? I can't see how it could be any other reason.

In Boston comcast lets you get digital classic withOUT having to get extended basic.
My cable bill is around $35 a month INCLUDING the DVR. and i get TNTHD,ESPNHD,(but not their analog versions) :) Discovery HD Theatre, & the RSNs in HD Oh yeah INHD1 ,2 and ALL THE LOCALS in HD!

I wouldn't even care about TNT, INHD(s) or the RSNs if I could get just Limited Basic, Digital Classic and the DVR. Why the hell should I have to pay an additional $25 for analog channels I never, never, never watch, when other Comcast customers in other areas don't have to. It's BS!!

While you are asking, could you ask the same for the CableCARD pricing? Why are other areas getting CableCARD for free with one time install charge (I think it was $15) while we are paying $6.95 per incremental CableCARD. Also why is it necessary to get "Digital Classic" to get CableCARD? If you have expanded basic and HDTV package, and thus have INHD1/2/DISCHD/ESPNHD authorization, why can't you get a CableCARD so your TV can receive them w/o cable box. The reps seem to say the only way you can get CableCARD is if you have at a minimum Digital Classic.

Anyone else out there not getting a HD picture? Not only is my HD letterboxed but the sound is intermittant. Watching the Steeler and Niner game.

The Steeler game on 705 was HD 1080i.
The Niner game on 702 looks to be SD widescreen and the picture is having intermittent breakups.

The Niner game is not one of the HD games for today.

Severe breakup during the first half of the niners game. Halftime and now start of the 3rd quarter, it appears that the breakup has been fixed. So far clean for about six minutes.
Breakup was so bad the first half that I didn't even notice it wasn't HD.
Reporting from far north Santa Rosa, on the Healdsberg feed.

I recorded both the Steelers-Bengals and 49ers-Cardinals games, and the last half of the steelers game and first half of the 49ers game were both breaking up. (by my schedule, it is halftime in the 49ers game - glad to hear that the second half picture is better). Wondered if it was my DVR or Comcast. Also glad to know that the 49ers game is SD set to widescreen; it doesn't look like HD. Is this common? I don't recall seeing fullscreen SD.

Are these problems with what Comcast is sending, or would a third generation box fix the problem? Recent sluggishness with my box and its unwillingness to allow swaps when only one channel is being recording is pushing me to call to see if I can get the newer version.

Also glad to know that the 49ers game is SD set to widescreen; it doesn't look like HD. Is this common? I don't recall seeing fullscreen SD.

.
FOX network has been doing this lately with their non-HD games.

If anyone caught the Army/Navy game yesterday on CBS, that was one of the finest examples of HD I've seen.

Also glad to know that the 49ers game is SD set to widescreen; it doesn't look like HD. Is this common? I don't recall seeing fullscreen SD.
For those of us who've been around HD for a while, it used to be very common for FOX, as they didn't adopt HD until much later than the rest of the majors. Instead they opted for "FOX Enhanced Widescreen" which was basically 16:9 480p. It was only recently (maybe in the last year or two), FOX went to 720p. This is different from the local affiliate KTVU, which has always (or at least as long as I can remember) broadcast 720p. Their feed from FOX used to give them 16:9 480p, now for most primetime they get real 720p from FOX (except I guess in this case)

I am having a strange audio problem with my Phase II 6412.
While watching KGO/ABC-DT, I lose parts of the audio during commercials, when I am watching an network HD feed (in this case, Greys Anatomy). It appears that KGO/ABC continues to transmit the audio for SD content, like commercials, in Dolby Digital 5.1, and somehow either they aren't encoding it properly, or my receiver isn't decoding it properly. During the HD/DD5.1 material everything works properly and I get all audio channels, but during the SD programming (like commercials) I lose parts of the audio, sometimes the voices, sometimes the background music. My receiver continues to indicate that the audio is 5.1 during both the HD and SD portions of the transmission. Also, the 6412 INFO box shows DD5.1 for both the HD and SD portions. This does seem to be something 'embedded' in the network programming, because in the first 'local' commercial following Greys Anatomy, just before the local news, the audio on KGO/ABC switched back to two channel and worked fine.
When I watch KPIX/CBS-HD this doesn't happen. CBS, however, switches the audio during commercials to two channel Dolby digital, and my receiver works properly, picking up the 5.1 content during the HD programming, and the 2 channel content during the SD programming. also, the 6412 INFO box shows the sudio switching from DD5.1 for the HD portion, and 2 channel for the SD portion.
Can anyone shed any insight on this behavior?
Also, on another note, I talked to a Comcast CSR yesterday, who acknowledged the DD5.1 problem with the Phase III boxes when using the HDMI output. He said that a firmware update is scheduled to be downloaded prior to the end of this month.
Thanks
Mike

Anyone in San Jose know if Comcast is going to be phasing out analog here as well. Right now I just have expanded basic analog cable but 2.1 and 5.1 are not scrambled so Im getting hd on those via cable. I pick up abc and nbc HD with my antennae so I have the 4 main networks covered. It doesnt seem worth it for me to upgrade to digital cable (although I would like to get more HD channels).

Anyone in San Jose know if Comcast is going to be phasing out analog here as well. Right now I just have expanded basic analog cable but 2.1 and 5.1 are not scrambled so Im getting hd on those via cable. I pick up abc and nbc HD with my antennae so I have the 4 main networks covered. It doesnt seem worth it for me to upgrade to digital cable (although I would like to get more HD channels).
Eventually Comcast will phase out analog cable everywhere but that it still several years away, so relax and enjoy. You should be able to get all 4 main broadcast networks plus all the KQED digital channels (9.1 is the one in HD) via cable, not just the two you mention.

peter

But via OTA, you also get UPN and WP. But via OTA you miss out on ESPNHD. This is the reason I don't comcast and go back to OTA. Oh and for the DVR ;-) I admit it, I'm hooked.

jeff

Eventually Comcast will phase out analog cable everywhere but that it still several years away, so relax and enjoy. You should be able to get all 4 main broadcast networks plus all the KQED digital channels (9.1 is the one in HD) via cable, not just the two you mention.

peter

Not sure why but the other network hd stations on my cable (like 9.1 and 7.1) tune in and give me the channel ID but read as no signal (dont get any picture).

I think someone was complaining about a Toshiba TV QAM tuner not picking up all the unencrypted channels a few pages back. Maybe a similar issue?

Has anyone in the SF market been able to pick up the FM radio stations that Comcast has supposedly started digitally broadcasting. I'd heard they were available on channel 960 and up, but I've not had any luck.

Does anyone here not use a CableCard or STB? Do you use a direct cable feed to both the analog and digital channels? I have that settup according to my Sharp manual, I can split the cable signal and connect to both the analog and digital tuners. That is how I get both the analog and in-the-clear digital channels.

However, I experience frequent lock ups. The customer rep at 1800besharp said I am not supposed to do that. The only way to get digital channels is through either CC or STB. But I was like your manual clear shows I can do that.

Has anyone in the SF market been able to pick up the FM radio stations that Comcast has supposedly started digitally broadcasting. I'd heard they were available on channel 960 and up, but I've not had any luck.

Do they show up in your channel guide?

Has anyone in the SF market been able to pick up the FM radio stations that Comcast has supposedly started digitally broadcasting. I'd heard they were available on channel 960 and up, but I've not had any luck.
Yes, I receive them using Sharp Aquos LCD display. As the earlier poster alluded to, if they don't show up in the STB guide, it is possible your area doesn't have them yet. BTW I thought either SF or Marin actually had real analog FM sent out over the coax (maybe in addition to, or in lieu of, the digital FM)

Does anyone here not use a CableCard or STB? Do you use a direct cable feed to both the analog and digital channels? I have that settup according to my Sharp manual, I can split the cable signal and connect to both the analog and digital tuners. That is how I get both the analog and in-the-clear digital channels.

However, I experience frequent lock ups. The customer rep at 1800besharp said I am not supposed to do that. The only way to get digital channels is through either CC or STB. But I was like your manual clear shows I can do that.
I'm using Sharp Aquos LCD display and never notice any lockups. KTVU FOX had some breakups for the 49er game, but that was a problem area-wide.

Has anyone in the SF market been able to pick up the FM radio stations that Comcast has supposedly started digitally broadcasting. I'd heard they were available on channel 960 and up, but I've not had any luck.

I'm getting them with the comcast 6412 out here in Livermore.

Has anyone in the SF market been able to pick up the FM radio stations that Comcast has supposedly started digitally broadcasting. I'd heard they were available on channel 960 and up, but I've not had any luck.

I'm in SF and my television picks them up fine when directly connected to cable from the coax wall outlet -- even after Comcast began encrypting some HD signals back in mid-October. But I cannot get these radio stations via the CableCard that I recently had Comcast install in my television.

I called Comcast about this and the CSR said that I needed to have a set-top box with remote ("there's a button on the remote ...") in order to receive the FM radio stations. Not that I buy this explanation, but why wouldn't a CC -- even the current generation of one-way CCs -- allow me to receive these radio stations?

And for the record, I currently subscribe to the Digitial Silver package.

And you've looked for stations in the 900's (I forget where the radio stations start and end)? you receive the other stations you're supposed to get in the digital silver package? I'm not familiar with the CC, but do you get a guide also? What does the guide show for stations in the 900's?

jeff

And you've looked for stations in the 900's (I forget where the radio stations start and end)? you receive the other stations you're supposed to get in the digital silver package? I'm not familiar with the CC, but do you get a guide also? What does the guide show for stations in the 900's?

jeff

jeff,

Yes, when I surf through the low 900s my TV successfully tunes in to all of the digital music channels, but from about 960 (KQED-FM) and beyond, I get nothing.

With the CC, I do not get any guide. But from my limited understanding, this is the way it is supposed to be since CCs are currently only one-way capable and an interactive guide requires a two-way capability.

For the same reason, with the CC I do not get PPV and VOD interactive services. But I believe that I get everything else that I'm supposed to get in the digital silver package.

I'm using Sharp Aquos LCD display and never notice any lockups. KTVU FOX had some breakups for the 49er game, but that was a problem area-wide.

Thanks sfhub, but what is your setup? Did you use a STB, CC, or spliter to both analog and digital input? I think my LC26D6U's tuner is bad.

The FM stations are carried in the clear on the Cupertino headend as physical channels 95.1 - 95.30 (93Mhz). I can tune them directly from my Sony TV without a STB or CC. 95.1 is KQED. 95.30 is "the bone".

Greg


Has anyone in the SF market been able to pick up the FM radio stations that Comcast has supposedly started digitally broadcasting. I'd heard they were available on channel 960 and up, but I've not had any luck.

Thanks sfhub, but what is your setup? Did you use a STB, CC, or spliter to both analog and digital input? I think my LC26D6U's tuner is bad.
I'm using Sharp internal QAM tuner feeding it coax from the wall. Coax goes into Ant A, and Ant B. Ant out of Sharp goes to Digital antenna in.

Anyone hear any word about Comcast adding some more HDTV channels? They haven't added any new ones in awhile. They still have to add the UPN and WB channels.

Not to mention ESPN2 and TNT-HD. Or Universal HD. The sports channels will become necessary with the World Cup and the NBA Playoffs in the summer and spring.

Any word on when the Tivo DVR solution might be rolled out? I think a lot of Bay Area viewers will have a decision to make when D* rolls out their MPEG4 DVRs so it would be nice if Comcast increases the number of channels as well as offer better STBs including DVRs.

Any word on when the Tivo DVR solution might be rolled out? I think a lot of Bay Area viewers will have a decision to make when D* rolls out their MPEG4 DVRs so it would be nice if Comcast increases the number of channels as well as offer better STBs including DVRs.

That Tivo thing has taken on a life of it's own......

If you dig up the original PR, you'll find that Comcast is licensing certain portions of the Tivo interface. I think anyone expecting this to be a copy and paste of what they see on their existing Tivos is in for a wake-up call.

Tivo drivers are embedded in the current Phase III chipset. I haven't looked, but if you can dig up an app note on the Broadcom BCM7038 you might find some clues as to what features those will be.

Unfortunately Comcast is preoccupied with rolling out VOIP and major video rollouts like next gen STBs and HMCs are taking a back seat at this time. I don't expect they'll feel too much pressure until D* actually delivers on that new DVR and that probably will not happen before mid year at the earliest. Even then it's a major question mark as to what you'll get from D*. Might be a step backward in UI and customer satisfaction. Almost certainly so for the diehard Tivo fans.

I'm using Sharp internal QAM tuner feeding it coax from the wall. Coax goes into Ant A, and Ant B. Ant out of Sharp goes to Digital antenna in.

Thanks sfhub, sounds like we have the same set up. When you say Coax from wall into Ant A and Ant B, you mean Coax from wall to spliter then Coax from spliter to Ant A and Ant B.

What do you mean by "Ant out of Sharp goes to Digital antenna"?

Might be a step backward in UI and customer satisfaction. Almost certainly so for the diehard Tivo fans.
Well, one thing going for the DirecTV solution will be storage space, it will undoubtedly have more than the pathetic 120Gb storage that the Moto that Comcast seems perfectly content sticking with has. Even the newer 3412, the all-digital DVR only has 120Gb.(not to mention the 3412 is probably 3 times as buggy as the 6412-what is the problem with Moto/Comcast anyway? is it that hard to design a well functioning/stable DVR? TiVo seems to have been designing and licensing quality DVRs for years now.) Comcast just doesn't appear to be that interested in a quality, high-storage DVR solution. The DVR was a stop-gap-reaction to the Sat DVRs and probably nothing more. I think their focus has been, and still is, VOD when it comes to video. And even if there was actually much HD VOD available, it's not going to stay free as much of the standard offerings are now.

I agree about the Comcast/TiVo speculation, I think it will have certain TiVo functions, but it will probably not be a knock-off of the current TiVo DVRs.

Anyone hear any word about Comcast adding some more HDTV channels? They haven't added any new ones in awhile. They still have to add the UPN and WB channels.


Comcast hasn't added any HD channels up here in Santa Rosa in the 2-odd years I've had the service.

(Oh yeah, but they've raised the rates, 6%, 6% and 7% this coming year-I gotta buy me a cable company..)

Well, one thing going for the DirecTV solution will be storage space, it will undoubtedly have more than the pathetic 120Gb storage that the Moto that Comcast seems perfectly content sticking with has.
I definitely agree. I'm really amazed that anyone can live with 120GB/12hr HD DVRs. I have 5 tuners and 200hrs per tuner (1000hrs total) and I'm usually sitting at 80% full. Of course I'd prefer to watch the HD version, but if it is a matter of watching it at all vs having it record and get overwritten, I'll choose my SD recording because I can watch it when I want to watch it, in the order I want to watch it, and where I want to watch it, which for me is the main reason I have the DVRs.

Thanks sfhub, sounds like we have the same set up. When you say Coax from wall into Ant A and Ant B, you mean Coax from wall to spliter then Coax from spliter to Ant A and Ant B.

What do you mean by "Ant out of Sharp goes to Digital antenna"?
I split the coax and send one split to Ant A and the other split to Ant B. I do this because the analog inputs are most sensitive to low signal strength (you'll see artifacts quicker).

My Sharp TV has an Ant Out coax which is a dup of Ant A. I feed the Ant Out to the Dig Ant. (I don't remember how it is labelled)

My Sharp might be different than yours as I have "twin picture" side-by-side picture mode so the TV has 2 NTSC tuners builtin (thus Ant A/B) I know some other Sharps have dropped this feature and instead offer 1 NTSC tuner and 2 digital antennae inputs, one for QAM and one for ATSC.

I am new to this board and am not sure , if this question belongs here. But here it is -
I recently got the phase III box( Motorola DCT6412) in Fremont, CA and I noticed that the
closed captioning on all HBO on Demand programs is garbled. That is, about 40% of the letters are missing. This happens only for HBO on Demand. CLosed captioning for every other On Demand( for example, Starzs On Demand is fine) and Live channels is fine. I talked to Comcast Tech Support, and they walked me through the TV settings - basically they did not have a clue - I replaced the box and still have the same issue.
I think the solution is to go back to the older box ( as I read in dslreports forum ) - but was wondering - if anyone else has faced this issue here.
Thanks,
SR

I am new to this board and am not sure , if this question belongs here. But here it is -
I recently got the phase III box( Motorola DCT6412) in Fremont, CA and I noticed that the
closed captioning on all HBO on Demand programs is garbled. That is, about 40% of the letters are missing. This happens only for HBO on Demand. CLosed captioning for every other On Demand( for example, Starzs On Demand is fine) and Live channels is fine. I talked to Comcast Tech Support, and they walked me through the TV settings - basically they did not have a clue - I replaced the box and still have the same issue.
I think the solution is to go back to the older box ( as I read in dslreports forum ) - but was wondering - if anyone else has faced this issue here.
Thanks,
SR
It worked on the older box? Then definitely have them swap it out for an older one, and make sure, insist in fact, that they credit you for any days where the STB has not been functioning correctly.

Well, one thing going for the DirecTV solution will be storage space, it will undoubtedly have more than the pathetic 120Gb storage that the Moto that Comcast seems perfectly content sticking with has. Even the newer 3412, the all-digital DVR only has 120Gb.(not to mention the 3412 is probably 3 times as buggy as the 6412-what is the problem with Moto/Comcast anyway? is it that hard to design a well functioning/stable DVR? TiVo seems to have been designing and licensing quality DVRs for years now.) Comcast just doesn't appear to be that interested in a quality, high-storage DVR solution. The DVR was a stop-gap-reaction to the Sat DVRs and probably nothing more. I think their focus has been, and still is, VOD when it comes to video. And even if there was actually much HD VOD available, it's not going to stay free as much of the standard offerings are now.

I agree about the Comcast/TiVo speculation, I think it will have certain TiVo functions, but it will probably not be a knock-off of the current TiVo DVRs.

You're preaching to the choir since I'm not a Motorola fan and that extends well beyond STBs. Don't forget who's fronting the D* HMC effort? :p

Tivo had and still has it's issues. It's just that most end users are so enamored with the slick features they like that they are willing to overlook the flaws.

I deal with the limited disk space myself. But honestly, if I haven't watched it by the time it scrolls off the end of the list, I probably won't be able to find the time. Too many other things beyond TV to deal with. It's not meant as an archive device, at least not for me.

Tivo is nice but most of the enhancements (like Tivo2Go) they're adding are not available to Direct Tivo.

I'm not too enamored of the slow menus, the slowness of adding Season Passes or lack of things like PIP, all of which other DVR designs supposedly rectify.

Haven't tried these other DVRs yet. But I will if the service is right.

That said, I hear the new D* SD DVR is missing some things we took for granted. I think it was something like it could record on dual-tuners but you couldn't watch a prerecorded program at the same time as you can on the DTivos? There was some functionality missing.

But if it has better performance in other areas, it could be an okay swap.

What keeps me subscribing to Comcast with the HDTV box is local channels (specifically Fox which I can't get on D* yet unless I try their MPEG4 LIL) and the InHD/FSBA channels. Specifically the Warriors HD games, even though the picture isn't the best.

Yes, I receive them using Sharp Aquos LCD display. As the earlier poster alluded to, if they don't show up in the STB guide, it is possible your area doesn't have them yet. BTW I thought either SF or Marin actually had real analog FM sent out over the coax (maybe in addition to, or in lieu of, the digital FM)
No, it doesn't show up in the channel guide; and SF does have the FM analog stations piggybacked over cable, but not all of the local FM stations (especially the new ones) are carried :(

You're preaching to the choir since I'm not a Motorola fan and that extends well beyond STBs. Don't forget who's fronting the D* HMC effort? :p


It wasn't directed at you specifically, I was just soap-boxing about DVRs, Comcast/Motos in particular. :D

All the providers have issues, it's just that I pick on Comcast because they're the only one who has raised my rates, 6+6+7% in the last 3 years and haven't improved my Comcast experience one bit for it. Dish and DirecTV have raised rates maybe half that amount and have actually provided an improvement in service over the same time period.

The FM stations are carried in the clear on the Cupertino headend as physical channels 95.1 - 95.30 (93Mhz). I can tune them directly from my Sony TV without a STB or CC. 95.1 is KQED. 95.30 is "the bone".

Greg
Are you talking about tuning in to these stations with an FM tuner? Not sure how one could tune in 95.1, 95.3, etc on a TV??

Short answer, you cannot tune them with an FM tuner. You must use the Comcast STB, or your QAM TV tuner.

Long answer: Comcast used to carry the FM stations at their correct frequencies (86 - 108 MHz) on the cable. You could plug the cable into an FM tuner and tune any of the local FM stations. But this uses up a lot of bandwidth. At some point they decided they needed that bandwidth and stopped carrying the FM stations. I think they dropped the FM stations on the Cupertino system a couple of years ago. But recently they dropped FM in Marin, and this raised a ruckus. In response, Comcast has now started carrying some of the major local FM radio stations, but digitally encoded, just like they carry their own music channels. You have to use either a Comcast STB, or a QAM capable tuner to get these stations. If you use a STB, then the stations are at the channels in the Comcast channel guide. If you use a QAM tuner, then they are at the frequencies I posted, at least in Cupertino.

Net result is you must listen to your FM radio through your "TV". (I know, it can be routed to your receiver, but you are still tuning it with the TV or STB).

Greg


Are you talking about tuning in to these stations with an FM tuner? Not sure how one could tune in 95.1, 95.3, etc on a TV??

Short answer, you cannot tune them with an FM tuner. You must use the Comcast STB, or your QAM TV tuner.

Long answer: Comcast used to carry the FM stations at their correct frequencies (86 - 108 MHz) on the cable. You could plug the cable into an FM tuner and tune any of the local FM stations. But this uses up a lot of bandwidth. At some point they decided they needed that bandwidth and stopped carrying the FM stations. I think they dropped the FM stations on the Cupertino system a couple of years ago. But recently they dropped FM in Marin, and this raised a ruckus. In response, Comcast has now started carrying some of the major local FM radio stations, but digitally encoded, just like they carry their own music channels. You have to use either a Comcast STB, or a QAM capable tuner to get these stations. If you use a STB, then the stations are at the channels in the Comcast channel guide. If you use a QAM tuner, then they are at the frequencies I posted, at least in Cupertino.

Net result is you must listen to your FM radio through your "TV". (I know, it can be routed to your receiver, but you are still tuning it with the TV or STB).

Greg
OIC ... you're tuning in to the stations you'd posted via a QAM tuner, ok. In SF, Comcast is still carrying the analog channels (although they're not on the OTA frequencies, they appear to be offset, for some reason) so that one can plug an FM tuner into the incoming cable signal and receive FM channels (though not all of them, as I'd previously posted). I understand that the 960+ digitally broadcast FM stations require a STB, but I've not been able to tune in anything in this range on the STB in question ... and so was wondering if anyone else in SF-proper had had any luck in picking up these "digitally-broadcast" FM stations?

I have a feeling that Comcast is not simulcasting the digital feeds that they already support with analog. The analog already takes up enough bandwidth. Perhaps, in the future, they will shut off the analog like they did everywhere else and support digital only. There will be an uproar, I'm sure.

I have a feeling that Comcast is not simulcasting the digital feeds that they already support with analog. The analog already takes up enough bandwidth. Perhaps, in the future, they will shut off the analog like they did everywhere else and support digital only. There will be an uproar, I'm sure.
Umm, then why would it be called "Simulcasting"?

I didn't know they shut off analog in a lot of places. Could you point me at some posts so I can read about it?

I don't know where it is posted, but it was in the papers/news when they cut-off Marin. I think you may find references to it in this thread. I think that happened 6-12 months ago. They stopped carrying the FM stations in Cupertino, quietly, some time before that. I had the cable hooked to my FM tuner, and one day noticed that my signal was gone. Had to string a folded dipole to get FM back. Didn't think much about it until I read somewhere (maybe here) about dropping FM to recover bandwidth.

Greg


Umm, then why would it be called "Simulcasting"?

I didn't know they shut off analog in a lot of places. Could you point me at some posts so I can read about it?

CraigSharrow reported the lost of FM in Marin in this thread on 2/16/05.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5189977&&#post5189977

Greg

I have a feeling that Comcast is not simulcasting the digital feeds that they already support with analog. The analog already takes up enough bandwidth. Perhaps, in the future, they will shut off the analog like they did everywhere else and support digital only. There will be an uproar, I'm sure.

All the analog channels will be digitally simulcasted in the first quarter of 2006. Then at some point expanded basic analog channels will be removed and only available on digital service I believe.

Umm, then why would it be called "Simulcasting"?

I didn't know they shut off analog in a lot of places. Could you point me at some posts so I can read about it?
Sorry guys, reading too many threads, I lost my context and thought this was regarding analog TV channels.

I now realize the context was analog FM channels.

All the analog channels will be digitally simulcasted in the first quarter of 2006. Then at some point expanded basic analog channels will be removed and only available on digital service I believe.
I don't imagine that is going to happen up here in Santa Rosa, 550 system, no room. In fact they still haven't done the 64>256 QAM conversion up here. After checking a couple of weeks back, the same channels that have always been 256 QAM are the only ones we have that are not 64 QAM.


Regarding analog FM stations, I believe we still have those up here, I think it was written into the franchise agreement. I don't use it so I can't swear to it.

Sorry guys, reading too many threads, I lost my context and thought this was regarding analog TV channels.

I now realize the context was analog FM channels.

Partly my bad, sfhub. I should have quoted the post I was responding to, but it was the one right above my post. In Rohnert Park, Storer Cable (precursor of ATT and Comcast) took off the analog FM stations about 8 years ago. If you wanted radio you had to rent the DMX box, not all bad, it was commercial free.

I split the coax and send one split to Ant A and the other split to Ant B. I do this because the analog inputs are most sensitive to low signal strength (you'll see artifacts quicker).

My Sharp TV has an Ant Out coax which is a dup of Ant A. I feed the Ant Out to the Dig Ant. (I don't remember how it is labelled)

My Sharp might be different than yours as I have "twin picture" side-by-side picture mode so the TV has 2 NTSC tuners builtin (thus Ant A/B) I know some other Sharps have dropped this feature and instead offer 1 NTSC tuner and 2 digital antennae inputs, one for QAM and one for ATSC.

Thanks sfhub, I understand your set up now. It's interesting you go in the analog tuner than feed it back in the digital tuner.

I don't imagine that is going to happen up here in Santa Rosa, 550 system, no room. In fact they still haven't done the 64>256 QAM conversion up here. After checking a couple of weeks back, the same channels that have always been 256 QAM are the only ones we have that are not 64 QAM.

That's a bit surprising considering 256 QAM yields higher compression, hence more room on the "pipe". You'd think Santa Rosa would have been the first to be converted...

That's a bit surprising considering 256 QAM yields higher compression, hence more room on the "pipe". You'd think Santa Rosa would have been the first to be converted...
You would certainly think so...but irregardless of what Mr.J has relayed to Mikef5 and then to me about Santa Rosa, I am still convinced there is something different with this system, whether it's not included "on the list" for bay area "upgrades", or even being classified as the bay area, or even if the franchise agreement is problematic and Comcast and Santa Rosa are having a pissing contest, something isn't right because nothing has happened up here. The only changes that have occurred up here in the 2+ years I have had the service is the expansion of HSI to the full city and the swapping out of 2 HD channels for 2 others.

I am going to check the 64-256QAM situation again later today but I'm 99.9% certain that the same 64 QAM channels that we have always had are still there.

You'd think with roughly 66,000 subs we might get just a little respect and/or attention. OTOH, if those 66,000 subs continue to fill Comcast's wallet every month and are apparently happy with the service, as a businessman I would probably do nothing as well.

...and the flyers...I got 4 of them in the last 3 weeks, only one of them for a service that is actually offered here, HSI.

Anyone have any feedback on this issue? Could it just be my current DVR box? Easy enough to swap it out at Comcast.
Thanks
Mike

I am having a strange audio problem with my Phase II 6412.
While watching KGO/ABC-DT, I lose parts of the audio during commercials, when I am watching an network HD feed (in this case, Greys Anatomy). It appears that KGO/ABC continues to transmit the audio for SD content, like commercials, in Dolby Digital 5.1, and somehow either they aren't encoding it properly, or my receiver isn't decoding it properly. During the HD/DD5.1 material everything works properly and I get all audio channels, but during the SD programming (like commercials) I lose parts of the audio, sometimes the voices, sometimes the background music. My receiver continues to indicate that the audio is 5.1 during both the HD and SD portions of the transmission. Also, the 6412 INFO box shows DD5.1 for both the HD and SD portions. This does seem to be something 'embedded' in the network programming, because in the first 'local' commercial following Greys Anatomy, just before the local news, the audio on KGO/ABC switched back to two channel and worked fine.
When I watch KPIX/CBS-HD this doesn't happen. CBS, however, switches the audio during commercials to two channel Dolby digital, and my receiver works properly, picking up the 5.1 content during the HD programming, and the 2 channel content during the SD programming. also, the 6412 INFO box shows the sudio switching from DD5.1 for the HD portion, and 2 channel for the SD portion.
Can anyone shed any insight on this behavior?
Also, on another note, I talked to a Comcast CSR yesterday, who acknowledged the DD5.1 problem with the Phase III boxes when using the HDMI output. He said that a firmware update is scheduled to be downloaded prior to the end of this month.
Thanks
Mike

You'd think with roughly 66,000 subs we might get just a little respect and/or attention. OTOH, if those 66,000 subs continue to fill Comcast's wallet every month and are apparently happy with the service, as a businessman I would probably do nothing as well.
As a businessman I would probably raise the rates 6% a year until I started losing subscribers :)

Anyone have any feedback on this issue? Could it just be my current DVR box? Easy enough to swap it out at Comcast.
Thanks
Mike
Have you tried both the optical and the coax audio outputs?

I think KGO does leave the DD 5.1 feed on during commercials within HD programming and one of the results of that is commercials are very low volume(which is a major plus in my view- :p ) but I don't get actual dropouts during commercials.

This switching or non-switching of audio streams was discussed in another thread in the main forum and from what I remember, stations that are doing what KGO is doing are not doing things properly, which again, to me is a plus as SD commercials/programming can often be much louder than HD programming and I hope they continue to do whatever it is they are doing, right or wrong.

Having the box swapped out is always an easy way to try and fix the problem, or at least narrow down where the problem is.

As a businessman I would probably raise the rates 6% a year until I started losing subscribers :)
Yes, of course, good point...must be my liberal/social bent that let me completely overlook that option... :p :D

I am going to check the 64-256QAM situation again later today but I'm 99.9% certain that the same 64 QAM channels that we have always had are still there.

I just checked my system here in Rohnert Park. They still haven't completed Ph 4 or 5 here. Ph 4 was supposed to complete in July. Rohnert Park has the bandwidth to complete the entire simulcast if they got things going. Something has to be going on. I'm wondering what.....

I just checked my system here in Rohnert Park. They still haven't completed Ph 4 or 5 here. Ph 4 was supposed to complete in July. Rohnert Park has the bandwidth to complete the entire simulcast if they got things going. Something has to be going on. I'm wondering what.....
Maybe Comcast is upgrading equipment to go 1Ghz. :) Of course that would probably be everywhere but here... :p :D

Seriously though, with DirecTV offering local HD now, Comcast has some competition.

Last night on ABC News, they said that on tonight's news broadcast they were going to have a segment on buying only the channels that you were interested in buying. It is a topic that interests me and may be of interest to others. It is my understanding that sports programming is some of the most expensive material cable systems purchase ... is this true? If so, buying individual channels would be great for those of us with no interest in sports programming.

Last night on ABC News, they said that on tonight's news broadcast they were going to have a segment on buying only the channels that you were interested in buying. It is a topic that interests me and may be of interest to others. It is my understanding that sports programming is some of the most expensive material cable systems purchase ... is this true? If so, buying individual channels would be great for those of us with no interest in sports programming.
This subject is being discussed in depth in the following threads,

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=611488
A La Carte (Cable/Satellite): Yes or No? - AVS Forum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=610066
A cable nightmare - a la carte pricing - is back - AVS Forum

As a businessman I would probably raise the rates 6% a year until I started losing subscribers :)
Why stop at 6%? As a true capitalist, go as far as you can without losing subscriibers... but when the competition comes, then watch-out 'cos people will jump ship as fast as they can get off that sinking vessel.

peter
p.s. Bay bridge tolls (excl. Golden Gate) went up in not that many years
$1>-$2 = 100% increase
$2->$3 = 50% increase
soon $3->$4 = 33% increase
Charge what the market can bear ;-(

Anyone hear any word about Comcast adding some more HDTV channels? They haven't added any new ones in awhile. They still have to add the UPN and WB channels.


According to JWhip, ESPN2, Universal-HD and the new MTV-HD are on the near horizon....for areas that have the bandwidth available...the Bay Area still does not even have TNT-HD...

According to JWhip, ESPN2, Universal-HD and the new MTV-HD are on the near horizon....for areas that have the bandwidth available...the Bay Area still does not even have TNT-HD...

They better add them then.

Or else it will be InHD/FSBA HD versus ESPN2, Universal HD, TNT HD and possibly MTV HD.

Oh yeah, apparently a marriage of Comcast and HDNet is about as likely to happen as a quick resolution to the problems in the Middle East...

Sorry to dig up this post from 8 months ago but I live in Antioch so I'm very interested in this.

I just made the move to HD (6412 III) and get the following in HD: KTVU, KNTV, KPIX, KGO, KQED, DISCOVERY*, ESPN* & HBO* (*additional fee/premium service). Do I understand this right that I won't ever get new HD channels or additional ones already in HD (FSNBA, WB, etc.) until Comcast does a complete overhaul/upgrade in my area?

Thanks for any info.


The 16% list, these cities are 550Mhz

Antioch
Bay Point
Benicia
Castro Valley
Hayward
Los Gatos
Milpitas
Monte Sereno
Pittsburg
San Leandro
San Lorenzo
Santa Rosa
Saratoga
Vallejo

Portions of the below listed cities are also 550MHz,


Sunnyvale

There may be other communities next to these cities that operate from the same plant but I'm not sure what they are, for instance I think Cupertino would be one of them.

Sorry to dig up this post from 8 months ago but I live in Antioch so I'm very interested in this.

I just made the move to HD (6412 III) and get the following in HD: KTVU, KNTV, KPIX, KGO, KQED, DISCOVERY*, ESPN* & HBO* (*additional fee/premium service). Do I understand this right that I won't ever get new HD channels or additional ones already in HD (FSNBA, WB, etc.) until Comcast does a complete overhaul/upgrade in my area?

Thanks for any info.

Unfortunately I think so (insert Keenan's rant here :D ). If you don't see INHD, ShowtimeHD, CinemaxHD, StarzHD, and HDSE in your guide then most likely you're in a 550MHz area. Chances are Comcast will move your area to "all digital" before you see physical upgrades, however I know there are some parts of Antioch/Pittsburgh which already have been upgraded so maybe there's a chance...but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Thanks for the info fender. I signed up for the digital silver package which gets me one premium HD channel. I went with HBO. Other options were CinemaxHD or StarzHD and I see them in my Guide but of course can't access them. I don't see INHD or HDSE in my Guide.

Thanks for the info fender. I signed up for the digital silver package which gets me one premium HD channel. I went with HBO. Other options were CinemaxHD or StarzHD and I see them in my Guide but of course can't access them. I don't see INHD or HDSE in my Guide.
Yup, the channels you mentioned earlier and the ones you mention in this post are the sum total of HD channels on the Santa Rosa 550Mhz system as well.

Thanks keenan. My major gripe is no access to As-Giants-Warriors on FSN-HD. I (naively) thought I would get that with my package.

Do you have any input on how to get information on what is going on in my area? I assume if I call the Comcast 800 number and talk to a CSR I won't get much real information.

Yup, the channels you mentioned earlier and the ones you mention in this post are the sum total of HD channels on the Santa Rosa 550Mhz system as well.

Thanks keenan. My major gripe is no access to As-Giants-Warriors on FSN-HD. I (naively) thought I would get that with my package.

Do you have any input on how to get information on what is going on in my area? I assume if I call the Comcast 800 number and talk to a CSR I won't get much real information.
Yes, not having access to FSNBA-HD(INHD) has been one of my major aggravations, especially because FSNBA-HD is a cable company owned and they are keeping it off satellite. By contrast I have seen over 10 times as many Yankee games in HD from DirecTV than I have A's and Giants games combined. 550Mhz system areas are unfairly and unconscionably locked out of seeing our home teams in HD because Comcast is dragging it's ass about fixing the problem.

But of course, rest assured that since we pay the same price as those who do get INHD they are forever indebted to us for helping support their opportunity to watch the local teams in HD. It give me a warm feeling inside every time I pay my cable bill. :rolleyes: :p :D

As far as info on Comcast, right here in this thread is probably the place to get info and find out what is coming up.

Mike, I was having the same problem a couple of weeks ago. Turns out that some how my Front speakers had been turned off (Check your AB Switches). When some stations went to commercial they stopped sending signal to the center channel and everything went quiet. Simple solution to frustrating problem.

Do you have any input on how to get information on what is going on in my area? I assume if I call the Comcast 800 number and talk to a CSR I won't get much real information.

I'm not going to devulge sources due to employment, but rumor has it that in my area, Bay Point, that the system isn't scheduled for upgrades from 550mhz until late 2006 or mid 2007.

Hopefully it will be sped up, but I'm not holding my breath. Direct TV, here I come.

fitprod

I emailed the person whose contact information on the city of Antioch website is 'Comcast Cable Franchise Administrator' asking if he knew anything about when an upgrade might occur. Here is his response:

Jim:

Comcast has been very tight lipped about a possible upgrade. At times, they have hinted they will upgrade and at times, they have remained silent. I believe they did an upgrade in Lincoln, CA that was not entirely successful and am reevaluating the methods for our upgrade. Most of this is supposition on my part but I would like to believe the upgrade will happen during the next calendar year.



Bill Gegg

Director of Information Systems

(925) 779-7041 Voice

(925) 779-7003 Fax

hey jim1234d it sucks 550mz pittsburg, baypoint, antioch. on the same headend.
we get same channel lineup.

hey kennan are you getting direct tv local hd channels. because i am getting tiered of comcast
how they tret 550mz. we pay the same and get less channels. no ondemand or inhd 1-2
i pay 95 dollars a month to much for lass channels. i am thinking of leaving comcast for
direct tv hd i am wanting for the dvr to come out.

hey kennan are you getting direct tv local hd channels. because i am getting tiered of comcast
how they tret 550mz. we pay the same and get less channels. no ondemand or inhd 1-2
i pay 95 dollars a month to much for lass channels. i am thinking of leaving comcast for
direct tv hd i am wanting for the dvr to come out.
No, not yet, I'm waiting for the HD-DVR to become available. I already get the 4 nets with HD DNS feeds and use the HD-TiVo to record them. I really don't even need Comcast anymore, I'm really just sticking around hoping things will get better, but by Jan if nothing has changed I think it will be lights out. It is nice to be able to record 4 network programs at the same time but at $71 a month it's a bit much.

The "news, rumor, speculation", about the Pittsburg area mentioned earlier also puts another nail in the coffin because if that's what is happening there, it's likely to be what's happening here as well.

i am waiting for hd-dvr from driect tv. do you how much going to cost. so for i been on
3 dvr from comcast. hope fully the new direct tv hd-dvr dont have bugs.
in santa rosa you guys used to have cableone. which one would like cableone or comcast

i am waiting for hd-dvr from driect tv. do you how much going to cost. so for i been on
3 dvr from comcast. hope fully the new direct tv hd-dvr dont have bugs.
in santa rosa you guys used to have cableone. which one would like cableone or comcast

A "bug-less" DVR would be a first, regardless of who's name is on the front of the box. That's the nature of the beast. It's less likely you would ever get a DVR without issues from a cable co or satellite company because neither of them make their own. They contract to companies like Motorola, Humax or NDS. The better quality units are more likely to come from stand alone companies. ReplayTV comes to mind.

A "bug-less" DVR would be a first, regardless of who's name is on the front of the box. That's the nature of the beast. It's less likely you would ever get a DVR without issues from a cable co or satellite company because neither of them make their own. They contract to companies like Motorola, Humax or NDS. The better quality units are more likely to come from stand alone companies. ReplayTV comes to mind.
As you note, as long as these DVRs are provided by the carrier, I have my doubts we'll ever see a "bug-less" one. It makes you wonder where the problem is, is it because of money not spent to do it right? That would be my first guess as I find it hard to believe that companies like Motorola, LG and the like are so inept that they couldn't put out a quality unit given the resources and money. If there was a competitive open market for DVRs I have no doubt there would be more than a few companies that could put out a product that would blow away the current carrier specific offerings.

And I have to say, I'm really getting tired of paying roughly $45 a month for the use of Comcast's DVR...

As you note, as long as these DVRs are provided by the carrier, I have my doubts we'll ever see a "bug-less" one. It makes you wonder where the problem is, is it because of money not spent to do it right? That would be my first guess as I find it hard to believe that companies like Motorola, LG and the like are so inept that they couldn't put out a quality unit given the resources and money. If there was a competitive open market for DVRs I have no doubt there would be more than a few companies that could put out a product that would blow away the current carrier specific offerings.

And I have to say, I'm really getting tired of paying roughly $45 a month for the use of Comcast's DVR...

You have a captive audience within the cable cos or DBS. If the consumer is unhappy, where they gonna go? You can go crazy asking why these companies with all of these resources put out the junk they do. How about Microsoft not patching security holes they have known about for months and even years in some cases. Only when the hackers focus on them and create a news bit do they give it any serious attention.

Personally I would love to see a company like LG get in the game because I think these days they try harder, but it probably won't happen.

You can always pay the $45 to D*. While the fees are called something different, the end result is the same. ;)

If you want a competitive market for DVRs, you better take a stand and insist on CableCARDs being provided for free and accelerated push for CC 2.0. If you don't you only have yourself to blame for not having competitive 3rd-party DVRs.

Also there must be a near-term cutoff date for MSO equipment to switch to CableCARD. It can't be pushed back forever like the current FCC mandate which got pushed back with successful lobbying.

Does anyone know what the deal is with "Good Morning America" on Comcast HD channel 707? Some days it's in HD, and other days not; it even varies within a single show, as it can start off in HD, the revert to SD in the middle! Is this a GMA, ABC, or Comcast problem?

Hi,

I'm trying to use the TVGOS on my sharp D5U, i followed the guide and put 2 cable to cable analog and cable digital, but after a night there's still nothing in the guide. Does anyone know if comcast is sending the TVGOS info in the analog signal?

also i have a RCA 2160 AV/HDD connected to sharp, the sharp TVGOS guide only has setup for VCRs for recording, what should i do with this HDD recorder, on the manual it mentioned the TV guide recording with HDD, but not sure where to set it up, i can manually record any program using the HDD though.

thx

How's this for a bug? Turned on the ole tube right now and it seems the DVR starting recording Without A Trace last night at 10PM.....and continued recording the channel until it filled up the HDD 100%....it shows 1058 mins for Without A Trace.

Ah yes, a fine piece of equipment indeed.... :p :D

Keenan, the Rodney Dangerfield of the Comcast world :p

Yup. :D

Oh yeah, it was still recording while I was watching the show so I could delete it from HDD. I think it was at 1112 mins when I actually deleted it. I tried to FWD to the end but the marker just positioned itself at the edge of screen. Curious behavior. :D

Keenan/dhowitt
Thanks for the suggestions on my audio anomaly. I haven't had the chance to pull out my rack to try the coax digital audio output (I am currently using the optical output), and I know my speakers are setup correctly. So, I'll give the coax output a try, and then punt to a new box. I wanted to get the phase III box anyway for improved SD, and supposedly Comcast will download the HDMI/DD5.1 fixed firmware this month.
Mike

Keenan/dhowitt
Thanks for the suggestions on my audio anomaly. I haven't had the chance to pull out my rack to try the coax digital audio output (I am currently using the optical output), and I know my speakers are setup correctly. So, I'll give the coax output a try, and then punt to a new box. I wanted to get the phase III box anyway for improved SD, and supposedly Comcast will download the HDMI/DD5.1 fixed firmware this month.
Mike
Where did you hear that Comcast would be downloading the HDMI/5.1 fix this month?

Looks like something in the 5C world changed in San Jose during the past one or two weeks. Previously, I could record HD content from (for example) inHD to my JVC DVHS vcr via Firewire (it's a 5C compliant device) but that is no longer the case. Now, when I try that, either the Motorola DVR (ver III) or the 4K JVC downconverts that Firewire feed to 480i (and letterboxes it!).

Bummer, since the key bonus for me of being on cable instead of satellite is the ease of archiving content to DVHS. May be I'll be changing that.

Hi,

I have a Sharp LCD and I'm having problem with my cablecard service, comcast just installed motorola cablecard and it doesn't seem to be working, the guy came in and called comcast to hit the card, he said it will just work, but accroding to Sharp manual i need to tell comcast a bunch of info such as HostID, Cablecard ID, Data, but the service guy just tells a CC number to comcast. It looks like they are missing something here, anyone has the experience?

thx a bunch.
BXZ

IME, they program the card before they bring it out. Mine was done that way and worked pretty much from the get go when they installed, properly authorized for the same channels I have on a 6412 DVR.

I think the Sharp manual assumes worst case.

thx, they are working now, still trying t figure out how the TVGOS work, i followed the manual split the cable and after 24 hours, still nothing, wondering if comcast is sending the TVGOS signal out?

bxz


IME, they program the card before they bring it out. Mine was done that way and worked pretty much from the get go when they installed, properly authorized for the same channels I have on a 6412 DVR.

I think the Sharp manual assumes worst case.

Where did you hear that Comcast would be downloading the HDMI/5.1 fix this month?

Well, I know we all are leery of what CSR's say, but when talking to one on the phone early this month, I asked when the HDMI/Surround sound fix would be implemented and the CSR acted like they knew exactly what I was talking about (I didn't get into firmware version numbers, however), and said it would be downloaded before the end of the month.
So, we'll see....

Looks like something in the 5C world changed in San Jose during the past one or two weeks. Previously, I could record HD content from (for example) inHD to my JVC DVHS vcr via Firewire (it's a 5C compliant device) but that is no longer the case. Now, when I try that, either the Motorola DVR (ver III) or the 4K JVC downconverts that Firewire feed to 480i (and letterboxes it!).

Bummer, since the key bonus for me of being on cable instead of satellite is the ease of archiving content to DVHS. May be I'll be changing that.

AFAIK, 5c won't "downconvert" protected content...it just records a blank screen. If your recording HD content and it's ending up on tape as 480i then I would check your settings. Or better yet, go to the Moto's diagnostics and check to see if 5c really is enabled on the channel you're trying to record.

AFAIK, 5c won't "downconvert" protected content...it just records a blank screen. If your recording HD content and it's ending up on tape as 480i then I would check your settings. Or better yet, go to the Moto's diagnostics and check to see if 5c really is enabled on the channel you're trying to record.
5C most certainly can cause downconversion of recorded content. It's called the "Image Constraint Token", and it's a bit in the DTCP_descriptor sent in the stream to control the 1394 output.

The stream itself is not downconverted. It's still sent on 1394 and stored on tape as 1080i or 720p. However, when the tape is played, the analog outputs on the player are downconverted.

Most likely this is not intentional. The bit itself uses negative logic (0 means "on" and 1 means "off") which tends to confuse people. Either this confusion exists in new firmware for the cable box or in the setting of the DTCP_descriptor at the head-end.

Of course, trying to explain this to the cable company will be difficult. If you're willing to try, you'll need to speak with someone that has a clue.

Ron

Can someone in milpitas area confirm that discoveryHD INHD and ESPNHD are 5Ced?

thx

5C most certainly can cause downconversion of recorded content. It's called the "Image Constraint Token", and it's a bit in the DTCP_descriptor sent in the stream to control the 1394 output.

The stream itself is not downconverted. It's still sent on 1394 and stored on tape as 1080i or 720p. However, when the tape is played, the analog outputs on the player are downconverted.

Most likely this is not intentional. The bit itself uses negative logic (0 means "on" and 1 means "off") which tends to confuse people. Either this confusion exists in new firmware for the cable box or in the setting of the DTCP_descriptor at the head-end.

Of course, trying to explain this to the cable company will be difficult. If you're willing to try, you'll need to speak with someone that has a clue.

Ron

I stand corrected -- thanks for the explanation, Ron. I'm guessing the playback device (in his case the DVHS player) must be able to handle this "Image Constraint Token"? What if the playback source is something that either didn't know how to handle or ignored this flag? For example, a software or PC-based app?

Since friday my HDTV shows "Poor Quality Signal" for ABC HD, KQED HD as well as for ABC digital SD and other KQED digital channels. I have basic cable and I used to get these channels until Friday. I live in North Saj Nose (Montegue / 880 / Zanker area). I verified the cable connections etc are ok. Has anyone seen this?

thanks
Raghu.

Several months ago I was getting great signal strength for digital channels directly to my Sony QAM tuner. Then one Friday, the signal strength dropped and I started getting breakups. I called Comcast, and they said "Your not getting HDTV". Rather than mess around, I just installed an amplifier I had laying around and that took care of my problem. No idea why the drop in signal strength.

Greg

Since friday my HDTV shows "Poor Quality Signal" for ABC HD, KQED HD as well as for ABC digital SD and other KQED digital channels. I have basic cable and I used to get these channels until Friday. I live in North Saj Nose (Montegue / 880 / Zanker area). I verified the cable connections etc are ok. Has anyone seen this?

thanks
Raghu.

6+ hours of NFL on CBS in the Bay Area today and none of it in HD. I sure hope CBS broadcasts more then 3 games/week in HD in 2006.

6+ hours of NFL on CBS in the Bay Area today and none of it in HD. I sure hope CBS broadcasts more then 3 games/week in HD in 2006.

I agree that this was pretty lame. The Fox game was the only one in HD, but it was the 49'ers--harding bearable to watch.

mikeaymar,

I've been having the same 5.1 playback issues with the III. The 3 or 4 CSRs I've talked to had no idea what I was talking about and eventually decided to send a tech in... but I'm gonna make a trip to the cable offices first to see if I can find one with v. 12.22. Should I just save myself the trip? It sounds like they haven't fixed this issue on the IIIs here...

mikeaymar,

I've been having the same 5.1 playback issues with the III. The 3 or 4 CSRs I've talked to had no idea what I was talking about and eventually decided to send a tech in... but I'm gonna make a trip to the cable offices first to see if I can find one with v. 12.22. Should I just save myself the trip? It sounds like they haven't fixed this issue on the IIIs here...

The CSRs aren't really up to date on these kind of little bugs but that is by all means a known issue. It's been fixed in 12.22 supposedly but you can't just "get a box with 12.22" they have to upgrade us all in the area to it. For whatever reason, comcast seems to take their sweet time giving us the latest updates. In other words, it doesn't matter which box you have. They regulate which firmware you have in each area however they like pretty much. Hopefully 12.22 also includes some fixes for the random freezes and such. My phase III box dominates my phase II box but those are quite annoying. I could care less about 5.1 sound(I don't have it) but the firmware obviously needs a little work anyway.

Well well, we may be getting a big boost to accelerate digital conversion of a bunch of analog channels thanks to the arguements over indecency.

Here's an interesting tidbit from Washington DC today:

"Each cable operator would be making individual decisions as to what would be offered on the family tier, said Kyle McSlarrow, head of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, who was speaking at a Senate Commerce
Committee forum. Mr. McSlarrow noted that complications would arise from the existing programming contracts aswell as antitrust issues if the industry tried to act in unison. But he said the tiers are expected to be digital offerings that consumers can purchase beyond basic government-mandated offerings -- which have broadcast channels and PEG (public, educational, and government) channels -- and instead of "enhanced basic" tiers, which contain much of the most popular programming, but cost a good deal more than basic. In essence, consumers wanting more than basic, would be presented with a "fork in the road," he said.
Mr. McSlarrow said that he had not discussed pricing with the cable operators, but he expected the new family tiers to be the most competitively priced packages beyond basic programming tiers. He did not offer further details, but said
he believed individual companies would make announcements in coming weeks, with the expectation that the actual offerings would start early next year.

The number and selection of channels to be included by individual operators in the family tier will also be important, and present something of a dilemma for industry and government. The "thinner" the tier, the less disruptive it will be to existing industry arrangements, in our view, but the more channels that are included in the tier, the greater the potential for concern that parents will still be forced to buy channels they do not want in order to obtain those that they do want (though in part that will depend on the rates) and the greater the potential that some "family" programming could be deemed objectionable by parents."

Note that the family friendly tier will be a digital tier. To prevent a home from recieving things like MTV that would be in the analog tier would require either MTV and such channels being converted to digital, and thereby freeing up analog capacity, or installing filters on homes wanting the family friendly tiers that cut out everything above basic but below digital - highly expensive and unlikely.

The only way I see this happening is accelerated conversion to digital with tens of analog channels dissappearing. A problem for those of us who have a bunch of analog TV's being fed without STB's, but very good news for 550 Mhz systems.

Thanks,
Mike

Good point, but OTOH, by bringing out a Family Tier themselves, without government mandate forcing them to do it, there really isn't any set timetable as to when they have to implement it. It's a bit of an end-around to warding off govt mandate.

I hope it speeds up conversion, but I don't think this is going to do it any faster than Comcast has already planned to do it. In fact, the lack of DS being implemented is an excuse the cablco can use to delay the Family Tier rollout.

As with anything Comcast, I'm not holding my breath. :p

I don't think installing filters is all that expensive. In fact, I believe anyone with Basic Cable already has a filter installed to turn of Expanded Basic. And that filter has to pass the higher frequencies for Digital. My Limited Basic cable is filtered to remove channels ~35-70. But I still get the HD locals with my built-in QAM tuner.

Greg



......
Note that the family friendly tier will be a digital tier. To prevent a home from recieving things like MTV that would be in the analog tier would require either MTV and such channels being converted to digital, and thereby freeing up analog capacity, or installing filters on homes wanting the family friendly tiers that cut out everything above basic but below digital - highly expensive and unlikely.

I don't think installing filters is all that expensive. In fact, I believe anyone with Basic Cable already has a filter installed to turn of Expanded Basic. And that filter has to pass the higher frequencies for Digital. My Limited Basic cable is filtered to remove channels ~35-70. But I still get the HD locals with my built-in QAM tuner.

Greg


Anytime they have to send a local tech to your house to do something its expensive!

Probably 25x (or more) what it costs them to have a csr enter a few commands

I don't think installing filters is all that expensive. In fact, I believe anyone with Basic Cable already has a filter installed to turn of Expanded Basic. And that filter has to pass the higher frequencies for Digital. My Limited Basic cable is filtered to remove channels ~35-70. But I still get the HD locals with my built-in QAM tuner.

Greg
It would be impractical to put filters for every channel that needed to be removed in order to create a "family tier". The only way to do that with the analog system would be to move all the family channels into one contiguous set of RF frequencies and that's never going to happen. The filters themselves are rarely brickwall type anyway and would cause issues with adjacent channels.

If you have a QAM digital tuner in your TV or have a digital QAM tuner box then you can get all the broadcast channels in HD with limited basic - you don't need a HD box in this case and you don't need to spend more money.

Which HD materials do you wish to view - the 4 main broadcast networks plus KQED or more stuff such as INHD1, INHD2, DISC-HD, ESPN-HD etc? My understanding is that for these you need the Digital Classic tier. There is some debate even here if you can get these special HD channels by adding Digital Classic to limited basic or you have to add it to the expanded basic service. According to my phone call with Comcast I would need to add it to expanded basic (pushing the price way up)

So bottom line is - it all depends on your TV set (QAM tuner or not) and which HD stations you wish to watch.

peter
Hi!
I noticed a thread that you responded to ninerfactor a few weeks back regarding local HD reception using the QAM tuner. Would you be able to tell me what channels I should be expecting to find FOX, NBC, KRON, CBS, ABC, and KQED?

Thanks!

Hi,

I currently have the expanded basic, with analog channels in the 70's and I use my own QAM tuner for the network HDTVs. I'm thinking of downgrade my cable subscription to limited basic, with analog channels up to 30(?). Before I actually do that, I'm concerned about whether I will be still able to get ALL of the network HDTVs from comcast. As I understand it, KPIX and KTVU HD are on 555MHz, which is below Channel 30, but KNTV HD is on 747MHz and KGO and KQED HD are on 753MHz, which are above Channel 30.

Is this a valid concern? Do I have to have at least the expaned basic to get all the network HD stations from Comcast?

Thanks.

Hi!
I noticed a thread that you responded to ninerfactor a few weeks back regarding local HD reception using the QAM tuner. Would you be able to tell me what channels I should be expecting to find FOX, NBC, KRON, CBS, ABC, and KQED?

Thanks!
as of last week when I was last looking via Comcast, and not OTA :- all of the above plus several bonus channels - VH1Classic, loads of music channels, radio stations etc.

peter
p.s. this is for where I live

Hi,
--snip--

Is this a valid concern? Do I have to have at least the expaned basic to get all the network HD stations from Comcast?

Thanks.
As I just wrote in my earlier message, with basic cable, where I live, with myy QAM tuner (LG 4200A) I can get all broadcast networks plus KQED's many digital channels and a few bonus channels.

peter

If you drop back to Limited Basic, they will install a filter that cuts out expanded basic channels ~30-70. All of the digital channels (HDTV) are at higher frequencies than those channels. Remember that the frequencies on cable are not the same as OTA.

I have limited basic and get all of the local HDTV channels with my QAM tuner, without a Cable Card. I don't get InHD/InHD2/ESPNHD, etc. as they are now encrypted. But the HD signals for channels Fox (2.1), NBC (11.1), CBS (5.1), ABC (7.1) and PBS (9.1/5) are all there, unencrypted. What channel your tuner reports them on depends on if your tuner recognizes the PSIP or not. On my Sony TV, they are tuned at their logical channel. But your may report them on their actual frequency (such as 79.1, 116.1, etc).

Greg


Hi,

I currently have the expanded basic, with analog channels in the 70's and I use my own QAM tuner for the network HDTVs. I'm thinking of downgrade my cable subscription to limited basic, with analog channels up to 30(?). Before I actually do that, I'm concerned about whether I will be still able to get ALL of the network HDTVs from comcast. As I understand it, KPIX and KTVU HD are on 555MHz, which is below Channel 30, but KNTV HD is on 747MHz and KGO and KQED HD are on 753MHz, which are above Channel 30.

Is this a valid concern? Do I have to have at least the expaned basic to get all the network HD stations from Comcast?

Thanks.

wondering if someone here is using Sharp and cablecard, comcast installed cablecard for me last Saturday, they didn't figure it out and left, then after a while i was able to watch all subscribed channel, but last night, all channels are gone and Sharp gave me an E202 error, i have to unplug the cablecard in order to get all channels, of course, i can't view the DiscoverHD, INHD since they r supposed to be decrypted by CC. And i found the following:

1) in sharp cablecard menu, cablecard status "wait to be started" (it's always like that even last saturday)

2) If i tune to a encyped channel, then plug in CC, i'm able to watch that channel, but soon as i flip the channel, all channels are gone and sharp error E202, on the right corner cable channel show 513.

it's a motorola CC and comcast is sending someone this Saturday again, i really doubt if they can do something, all they know is call and hit the card, and still the status is "wait to be started", anyone saw the same problem?

thx
Bxz :mad:

I had a cable card installed (SF-bay area) into my Hitachi about 2 weeks ago. I already have (and still do) have a STB. I initially had the exact same problem. My TV kept saying..."wait...acquiring data" indefinitely. The comcast rep left, saying call me when it's done!

Of course, it never was done. So, later that day, the 'big gun' came with him, and within seconds he had solved the problem. So, hopefully this is the same as you're issue.

Problem: It was at the Comcast setup. Apparently, if you have more than one device at a household, the 'dumbest' device has to be entered at the top of the list in their setup. In my case, the CC was set to the 2nd device in my setup and STB to the first, and that did not work.

Once they did that at the home base, it took a couple of seconds for everything to work.

Of course, the cable guys couldn't figure out why I wanted a STB & CC...the answer is quite simple, if you want PIP while viewing you're HD encrypted channels, you need it...and for me it was only a $17 one time charge. No monthly fees for CC. Really though...I just wanted...to say I had it!

...and for me it was only a $17 one time charge. No monthly fees for CC.
Is that the way it works for all areas, no monthly fee for CC? Where are you located?
I thought CC had the same fee as for STB, $6.95/mo., I think?

5C most certainly can cause downconversion of recorded content. It's called the "Image Constraint Token", and it's a bit in the DTCP_descriptor sent in the stream to control the 1394 output.

The stream itself is not downconverted. It's still sent on 1394 and stored on tape as 1080i or 720p. However, when the tape is played, the analog outputs on the player are downconverted.

Most likely this is not intentional. The bit itself uses negative logic (0 means "on" and 1 means "off") which tends to confuse people. Either this confusion exists in new firmware for the cable box or in the setting of the DTCP_descriptor at the head-end.

Of course, trying to explain this to the cable company will be difficult. If you're willing to try, you'll need to speak with someone that has a clue.

Ron

Yes, this sounds like exactly what is happening on my feed in San Jose now. Now to try to communicate this to Comcast...

I just stumbled upon this site. There's a wealth of information in this thread, not to mention all the other forums, and it's quite overwhelming for me. I've looked through the last ten pages of threads, and I'm still a bit lost about Comcast HD cable. I would appreciate it if you can give me a few pointers.

I live in Berkeley, and subscribe to Comcast's limited basic cable service which costs around $15/month. There is a filter on the line so I cannot receive any channels higher than 36 (analog cable). I am thinking about getting a OTA HDTV tuner that can decode unencrypted QAM signals. Can I simplying hook up such a tuner to my cable box and enjoy the unencrypted Comcast HD channels as listed in the first post?

Thanks for your help. My apologies if these questions were already asked; I did not want to search through the 282+ pages of posts.

Mgholami,

this is very valuable info, i need to call comcast and tell them, u r right, i hve the STB in other room. Hope it's the problem, not sure those rep will understand my explanation.

thx
Bxz

I had a cable card installed (SF-bay area) into my Hitachi about 2 weeks ago. I already have (and still do) have a STB. I initially had the exact same problem. My TV kept saying..."wait...acquiring data" indefinitely. The comcast rep left, saying call me when it's done!

Of course, it never was done. So, later that day, the 'big gun' came with him, and within seconds he had solved the problem. So, hopefully this is the same as you're issue.

Problem: It was at the Comcast setup. Apparently, if you have more than one device at a household, the 'dumbest' device has to be entered at the top of the list in their setup. In my case, the CC was set to the 2nd device in my setup and STB to the first, and that did not work.

Once they did that at the home base, it took a couple of seconds for everything to work.

Of course, the cable guys couldn't figure out why I wanted a STB & CC...the answer is quite simple, if you want PIP while viewing you're HD encrypted channels, you need it...and for me it was only a $17 one time charge. No monthly fees for CC. Really though...I just wanted...to say I had it!

Is that the way it works for all areas, no monthly fee for CC? Where are you located?
I thought CC had the same fee as for STB, $6.95/mo., I think?
That's what they have told me everytime I called for our area. You get one $6.95 outlet fee included with your digital cable subscription which you can choose to be STB or CC. Each additional STB or CC incurs the digital "outlet fee" of $6.95/mo.

If they have changed this policy in the Bay Area to match what they have done in other areas (ie CC free of monthly charges, one time install fee) then that would be a significant change and I would applaud Comcast for honoring the intent and spirit of the CC initiative.

I just stumbled upon this site.
--snip--
Can I simplying hook up such a tuner to my cable box and enjoy the unencrypted Comcast HD channels as listed in the first post?

Thanks for your help. My apologies if these questions were already asked; I did not want to search through the 282+ pages of posts.

Welcome on board ;-)

The answer is yes but hook up to your TV (assuming it has a QAM tuner on board),. The channel numbers you get might be very strange - e.g. KQED HD is on 117-2 for me, but different in other areas. Do a scan to find out what your QAM tuner picks up and then either use a universal remote with an LCD screen (so you can program a button for each channel, which is what I do) or write them down.

peter

No monthly fees for CC. Really though...I just wanted...to say I had it!
I'd be very surprised if you didn't have a $6.95 "Additional Digital Outlet" fee on your next bill.

That's what they have told me everytime I called for our area. You get one $6.95 outlet fee included with your digital cable subscription which you can choose to be STB or CC. Each additional STB or CC incurs the digital "outlet fee" of $6.95/mo.

If they have changed this policy in the Bay Area to match what they have done in other areas (ie CC free of monthly charges, one time install fee) then that would be a significant change and I would applaud Comcast for honoring the intent and spirit of the CC initiative.
I would even go so far as to let them have a $50-70(actual card cost) "deposit" or non-refundable lease fee instead of the ridiculous $6.95 a month for the card. IOW, just take my $70 and keep it, just don't charge me $6.95 a month until the cows come home....of course, that will never happen...

Hi,

I'm in the SF-Bay Area (Alameda to be specific).

Just to followup (and of course, next bill will tell all!). When I called the 1-800-COMCAST number, they told me that I would incur an additional outlet charge, additional fee for HD feed, etc. They explained that the CC was just like having another STB in the house. I told them, thanks, but no thanks.

But, I wanted to switch my Motorola 6412 in for a Phase III box. Went to local comcast service center, while doing my exchange, asked them about the cablecard just to make sure (I had heard different things in my internet research as well). They told me, one time charge of $16.95, no monthly fee! So, I said, sign me up.

The guy installing the CC, at the time was confused as well as to whether there was a monthly fee or not. He calls on his Nextel to someone, they verified that there's a one-time fee, no monthly charge. I saw the invoice (as stated) and signed it that way as well.

Now...when I get next months bill, the definitive answer will follow!

Good luck (mostly to me!)

Peter,
You mentioned that you get KQED on 117-2 in Fremont using your QAM. Where are the other stations located at?

Thanks!

wondering if someone here is using Sharp and cablecard, comcast installed cablecard for me last Saturday, they didn't figure it out and left, then after a while i was able to watch all subscribed channel, but last night, all channels are gone and Sharp gave me an E202 error, i have to unplug the cablecard in order to get all channels, of course, i can't view the DiscoverHD, INHD since they r supposed to be decrypted by CC. And i found the following:

1) in sharp cablecard menu, cablecard status "wait to be started" (it's always like that even last saturday)

2) If i tune to a encyped channel, then plug in CC, i'm able to watch that channel, but soon as i flip the channel, all channels are gone and sharp error E202, on the right corner cable channel show 513.

it's a motorola CC and comcast is sending someone this Saturday again, i really doubt if they can do something, all they know is call and hit the card, and still the status is "wait to be started", anyone saw the same problem?

thx
Bxz :mad:
I have a Sharp and cable card. What is different is that there is a separate cable connection for HD. So they split the cable so you will have one for analog and one for HD. Then of course you have to go to menu to specify a cablecard connection. I also had error problems because of problem in the line that were not evident on analog.

Peter,
You mentioned that you get KQED on 117-2 in Fremont using your QAM. Where are the other stations located at?

Thanks!
Try these

79.7 CBS
79.9 FOX
98.8 HDNet
116.1 NBC
117.1 ABC
117.2 KQED HD (after 8pm)
117.3 KQED Encore
117.4 KQED World (before 8pm)
117.5 KQED Life (before 8pm)
117.6 KQED Kids (before 8pm)
117.7 ABC News

There are other stations in between such as 101.7 VH1 Classic.

Peter

98.8 HDNet

BTW this is actually KRON-HD which runs a couple of year old HDNet loop. It isn't real HDNet.

There's an article in today's Chronicle about the "family tier" offerings by Comcast.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/14/BUGF0G7H8H1.DTL

Who would have thunk conservative groups and consumer advocates would come together like this...

BTW this is actually KRON-HD which runs a couple of year old HDNet loop. It isn't real HDNet.
Just wondering, does KROM-HD run anything but old HDNets programs such as the rhythmic gymnastics with the horrible sound? Why is this channel even broadcasting?

peter

There's an article in today's Chronicle about the "family tier" offerings by Comcast.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/14/BUGF0G7H8H1.DTL

Who would have thunk conservative groups and consumer advocates would come together like this...
"Family Tier" remember is very different from "a la carte"... If you just want to pay for say INHD1 or DISC-HD, then you're still out of luck. To quote from the article :-

"But the bottom line is that Comcast and Time Warner will still be the ones to decide what's offered, rather than allowing customers to make their own decisions."

peter

Just wondering, does KROM-HD run anything but old HDNets programs such as the rhythmic gymnastics with the horrible sound? Why is this channel even broadcasting?
After a week are two you pretty much exhaust everything they got. Sometimes they run some KRON shows on the KRON-HD feed. These are HD shows that look decent.

I guess after KRON lost their NBC affiliation they don't really have a whole lot of content. They seem to have struck a deal with HDNET to run their old loops since KRON has the HD bandwidth and equipment being underutilized.

There's an article in today's Chronicle about the "family tier" offerings by Comcast.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/14/BUGF0G7H8H1.DTL

Who would have thunk conservative groups and consumer advocates would come together like this...
Kenney pointed out that music players like the iPod essentially allow consumers to unbundle albums and buy only the songs they want.

"The whole trend in media is very selective consumer choice, and then marketing to you based on the choice you've made," she said. "Cable is the dinosaur in this regard."
"There aren't a lot of businesses that would want to rewrite their entire economic model just to see if it would work," Rodriguez said.

Apple's Steve Jobs might have a thing or two to say about that, as would numerous others in Silicon Valley.
Indeed.

The only reason cable is even contemplating Family Tiers is to fend off possible government regulation regarding a-la-carte and avoid regulation of indecency issues on cable TV.

After a week are two you pretty much exhaust everything they got. Sometimes they run some KRON shows on the KRON-HD feed. These are HD shows that look decent.

I guess after KRON lost their NBC affiliation they don't really have a whole lot of content. They seem to have struck a deal with HDNET to run their old loops since KRON has the HD bandwidth and equipment being underutilized.
I don't even think that deal is still active. I think that programming has been bought and paid for and that's it. They are not getting anything new from HDNet. I seem to recall Mark Cuban saying something to that effect on this board awhile back during a discussion about HDNet and Comcast.

I was watching a bit of the Warriors - Rockets on ESPNHD tonight. It has the black bars on the side with the highlighted HD that ESPN uses but what resolution is this really? Is it just SD? It certainly does not have the crystal clear look of HD to me.

I bought the Sony Bravia LCD with a built-in HD tuner. When I brought it home and hooked it up, it did the auto scan for channels and returned quite a bit more that I'm used to seeing. I have Comcast analog cable in Rohnert Park, but I can pick up several digital channels, including all the music channels.

I checked the channel list at choisser's website, but I didn't see the following channels:

87.3 - some kinda movie channel
101.5 - a comedy channel
101.6 - an animated feature
101.7 - SoundChoice (?)
101.9 - a kid movie
101.10 - a movie channel
101.11 - Sex & the City
102.7 - a movie channel
104.4 - a movie channel
104.5 - Music choice
104.7 - a movie channel
114.6 - ESPN Radio
115.3 - OnDemand preview

Last night, I watched one of the movie channels to the end of the movie, to try to see a channel identifier. When the credits for the movie ended, so did my reception. And, some of the channels would not always come in.

All of these are digital channels, because the TV was reporting 480i and D5.1. Does anyone know about these channels?

I bought the Sony Bravia LCD with a built-in HD tuner. When I brought it home and hooked it up, it did the auto scan for channels and returned quite a bit more that I'm used to seeing. I have Comcast analog cable in Rohnert Park, but I can pick up several digital channels, including all the music channels.

I checked the channel list at choisser's website, but I didn't see the following channels:

87.3 - some kinda movie channel
101.5 - a comedy channel
101.6 - an animated feature
101.7 - SoundChoice (?)
101.9 - a kid movie
101.10 - a movie channel
101.11 - Sex & the City
102.7 - a movie channel
104.4 - a movie channel
104.5 - Music choice
104.7 - a movie channel
114.6 - ESPN Radio
115.3 - OnDemand preview

Last night, I watched one of the movie channels to the end of the movie, to try to see a channel identifier. When the credits for the movie ended, so did my reception. And, some of the channels would not always come in.

All of these are digital channels, because the TV was reporting 480i and D5.1. Does anyone know about these channels?
I believe these are digital pay per view channels that perhaps your neighbor ordered and since you have a QAM tuner, you happen to tune into them. This happens to me sometimes too and that is what I've deduced. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

yeah i believe that's it too. 101-104 i think are on demand viewing maybe. when i tune into them sometimes i see them being fast-forwarded & paused etc. also when the program ends it cuts off, as you mentioned.

I was watching a bit of the Warriors - Rockets on ESPNHD tonight. It has the black bars on the side with the highlighted HD that ESPN uses but what resolution is this really? Is it just SD? It certainly does not have the crystal clear look of HD to me.
That was a SD broadcast on an HD channel. When there are no pillar boxes(black bars) it should be a true HD broadcast (with a few exceptions, like FOX occasionally).

That was a SD broadcast on an HD channel. When there are no pillar boxes(black bars) it should be a true HD broadcast (with a few exceptions, like FOX occasionally).

Thanks keenan. It's kind of funny that they have HD highlighted on the black bars. Maybe they should put the international "not" sign through it. :)

:D

After reading this trade, I plugged my cable into Sony HDTV with built in tuner. It can decode QAM so I got around 100 channels more!. I have limitted basic service. Many of those channels are music and just have static image. They came in such as 100.3, 101.2, and etc. The problem is that I don't know which is which and the sony did not report the channel. Is there a directory from comcast that list all those channels ?

Thanks
Nick

After reading this trade, I plugged my cable into Sony HDTV with built in tuner. It can decode QAM so I got around 100 channels more!. I have limitted basic service. Many of those channels are music and just have static image. They came in such as 100.3, 101.2, and etc. The problem is that I don't know which is which and the sony did not report the channel. Is there a directory from comcast that list all those channels ?
There is no directory from RF frequencies to Comcast channels that is publicly available. Nobody I know maintains one because it changes frequently and is different for every area. The 101-104 channels are probably onDemand channels and you can't really rely on them to show anything.

The past couple days our Oakland 6412 does not display the correct time until you send the box any kind of command (info, channel change, guide etc.) At that point the clock will update and stay "frozen" on that time until you send the box another command.

Any ideas as to what is happening?

BTW, The s l o w command response time seems to have improved greatly in the past couple weeks.

Thanks.

...mike

Just curious if anyone in the saratoga/campbell/los gatos area knows if they have upgraded our system to include more bandwidth....can I buy show,starz or max HD yet?? And, where is my WB in HD?? I wanna see Lana of smallville in HD...

I'm in SF and my television picks them up fine when directly connected to cable from the coax wall outlet -- even after Comcast began encrypting some HD signals back in mid-October. But I cannot get these radio stations via the CableCard that I recently had Comcast install in my television.

I called Comcast about this and the CSR said that I needed to have a set-top box with remote ("there's a button on the remote ...") in order to receive the FM radio stations. Not that I buy this explanation, but why wouldn't a CC -- even the current generation of one-way CCs -- allow me to receive these radio stations?

And for the record, I currently subscribe to the Digitial Silver package.

This minor topic seems to have died, but I just reconfirmed that I can get FM radio here in San Francisco when the cable signal is sent straight from the wall to my HDTV tuner (e.g., KQED-FM is at 130.1), but I cannot get FM radio when the signal is sent through my CableCard (e.g., KQED-FM is supposed to be at 960).

I have no problem getting the music channels via either route.

Is there some technical reason why my CableCard cannot provide such one-way FM radio programming or is this simply a Comcast marketing tactic to force more customers to use a STB instead of a CC if they wish to receive FM radio?

Has anyone with a PIII had FW 12.22 DL'ed yet? I am seeing posts in the 6412 thread that indicate the user programmable SKIP feature is disabled.

IOW, cannot be programmed back into the remote, the DVR ignores the command.

what the heck, if 12.22 is d/led, i get my HDMI/5.1 issue fixed
on the other hand, i can't use my skip button any more...

it is the impossible choice (and its not a choice). its comcastic.

Has anyone with a PIII had FW 12.22 DL'ed yet? I am seeing posts in the 6412 thread that indicate the user programmable SKIP feature is disabled.

IOW, cannot be programmed back into the remote, the DVR ignores the command.
I was following the same thread and those posts (ie, delete 30 sec skip) were from users on Insight cable systems. I thought there was a Comcast customer from the east coast that confirmed that 30 sec skip was still working on 12.22.

I would rate the 30 sec skip funtion as the top function on the DVR and if they delete it, it will seriously weaken the offering ... actually their whole package (DVR, HD, etc). I have been generally a Comcast supporter, living with the high cost of their services and limitations (small hard drive, HDMI 5.1 audio problems, etc.). But, killing the 30 sec skip will be the end for me ... I watch TV while working out in my gym and fiddling with a FF is not a option.

I was following the same thread and those posts (ie, delete 30 sec skip) were from users on Insight cable systems. I thought there was a Comcast customer from the east coast that confirmed that 30 sec skip was still working on 12.22.
Could be, that's why I was asking, I was curious if anyone noticed it here.

I would rate the 30 sec skip funtion as the top function on the DVR and if they delete it, it will seriously weaken the offering ... actually their whole package (DVR, HD, etc). I have been generally a Comcast supporter, living with the high cost of their services and limitations (small hard drive, HDMI 5.1 audio problems, etc.). But, killing the 30 sec skip will be the end for me ... I watch TV while working out in my gym and fiddling with a FF is not a option.
I agree, the value of the DVR would automatically becomes less than half what it is to me know. I realize that the ad-supported content providers have serious reservations about FFD through commercials, but if it is eliminated it becomes a much less desirable device. I treasure the ability to sit down at 8:45 in the evening and finish up at 11:00, seeing 3 hour long shows in 2:15 hrs.

And there are some shows that I will absolutely not even watch if I have to sit through the commercials, Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy come immediately to mind, Lost may even end up being watched when the DVD release comes out instead of on ABC.

Commercials are one of the reasons I stopped watching TV years ago, and this was when there was about 10-12 mins per hour, now that they are approaching 16-20 mins per hour, whoa..no way...

u can ask comcast for a cablecard, then all ur channel mapping will be correct, and i think it's free if u have the $5 HD package.


After reading this trade, I plugged my cable into Sony HDTV with built in tuner. It can decode QAM so I got around 100 channels more!. I have limitted basic service. Many of those channels are music and just have static image. They came in such as 100.3, 101.2, and etc. The problem is that I don't know which is which and the sony did not report the channel. Is there a directory from comcast that list all those channels ?

Thanks
Nick

why not go get an RCA DVR if ur HDset has 1394 port, that way u can skip any commercial u want, and there's no monthly fee either. It's a 160G HDD and works great with my Sharp.

There's a thread in HD recorder and player being discussed.



Could be, that's why I was asking, I was curious if anyone noticed it here.


I agree, the value of the DVR would automatically becomes less than half what it is to me know. I realize that the ad-supported content providers have serious reservations about FFD through commercials, but if it is eliminated it becomes a much less desirable device. I treasure the ability to sit down at 8:45 in the evening and finish up at 11:00, seeing 3 hour long shows in 2:15 hrs.

And there are some shows that I will absolutely not even watch if I have to sit through the commercials, Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy come immediately to mind, Lost may even end up being watched when the DVD release comes out instead of on ABC.

Commercials are one of the reasons I stopped watching TV years ago, and this was when there was about 10-12 mins per hour, now that they are approaching 16-20 mins per hour, whoa..no way...

why not go get an RCA DVR if ur HDset has 1394 port, that way u can skip any commercial u want, and there's no monthly fee either. It's a 160G HDD and works great with my Sharp.

There's a thread in HD recorder and player being discussed.
Is this the device you're talking about?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=602499&page=5&pp=30
Indigita AVHD IEEE 1394 Hard Disc Drive - AVS Forum

My display is on the approved list posted by another member, but going quickly through the thread it seems as if it's a bit kludgy. Is the operation fairly straight-forward?

This maybe...

http://hdtoystore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=226&zenid=8c71e8652954da63c9863839f176d4c4
RCA DVR2160 High Definition Digital Video Recorder - 160 GB [DVR2160] - $99.99 : HDToystore.com, The only place for all your Home Electronics needs!

yes, that's it. If ur TV has TVGOS, then u just have the same functionality as the motorola DVR and u don't pay any fee to comcast.


Is this the device you're talking about?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=602499&page=5&pp=30
Indigita AVHD IEEE 1394 Hard Disc Drive - AVS Forum

My display is on the approved list posted by another member, but going quickly through the thread it seems as if it's a bit kludgy. Is the operation fairly straight-forward?

This maybe...

http://hdtoystore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=226&zenid=8c71e8652954da63c9863839f176d4c4
RCA DVR2160 High Definition Digital Video Recorder - 160 GB [DVR2160] - $99.99 : HDToystore.com, The only place for all your Home Electronics needs!

yes, that's it. If ur TV has TVGOS, then u just have the same functionality as the motorola DVR and u don't pay any fee to comcast.
No, the Mits I have uses something called ChannelGuide, pretty much next to useless.

So without TVGOS, or another decent guide, there is no way to schedule a recording, I'm guessing..?

This maybe...

http://hdtoystore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=226&zenid=8c71e8652954da63c9863839f176d4c4
RCA DVR2160 High Definition Digital Video Recorder - 160 GB [DVR2160] - $99.99 : HDToystore.com, The only place for all your Home Electronics needs!

This seems very reasonable as long as your TV already has a QAM-enabled tuner. I like the '3 hour Buffer' feature...much better then the current 15-minute buffer we get with the Moto box.

This maybe...

http://hdtoystore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=226&zenid=8c71e8652954da63c9863839f176d4c4
RCA DVR2160 High Definition Digital Video Recorder - 160 GB [DVR2160] - $99.99 : HDToystore.com, The only place for all your Home Electronics needs!
This has to be the cheapest way I have ever seen to expand your HD storage over what is available on the 6412 ... does anyone own one of these?

I think the Channelguide should work similar as the TVGOS, My sharp TVGOS is working excellent now after about one week's fine tuning(But still it doesn't show INHD2 info, hopefully it'll popup later, but i edit some unuse channel to INHD2). On my sharp, u can even manually define when and which channel to record without referring the TV guide. (it's amazing that even on the RCA manual it doesn't mention TV guide recording is feasible)

No, the Mits I have uses something called ChannelGuide, pretty much next to useless.

So without TVGOS, or another decent guide, there is no way to schedule a recording, I'm guessing..?

Actually the 3h buffer only works for RCA HDset, u won't see such menu on other HDset (at least not on my Sharp), but what's even better is that u can push the record botton on ur TV remote and it turns the DVR to a 160G buffer Tivo as u can watch what's just being recorded :D :D :D :D , isn't it wonderful?

This seems very reasonable as long as your TV already has a QAM-enabled tuner. I like the '3 hour Buffer' feature...much better then the current 15-minute buffer we get with the Moto box.

Oh yes, i have 3 of them daily chained and beats the motorola how many times? :rolleyes: And no monthly fee needed :D


This has to be the cheapest way I have ever seen to expand your HD storage over what is available on the 6412 ... does anyone own one of these?

Just curious if anyone in the saratoga/campbell/los gatos area knows if they have upgraded our system to include more bandwidth....can I buy show,starz or max HD yet?? And, where is my WB in HD?? I wanna see Lana of smallville in HD...


Saramilgatos is still 550Mhz :(

but they did convert most of the existing SD Channels to use 256QAM (instead of 64QAM) that allowed them to squeeze in InHD1, InHD2 and FSNBA-HD (nice to see the Sharks in HD)

but none of the channels you are looking for are on our system yet

Oh yes, i have 3 of them daily chained and beats the motorola how many times? :rolleyes: And no monthly fee needed :D

ok, i haven't been following this thread that carefully, but this gets my interest...how does one use this box in conjunction with the vanilla Motorola HD box one gets from Comcast. since i don't see a firewire port on my Comcast box, how does this work or does it?...thanks.

ok, i haven't been following this thread that carefully, but this gets my interest...how does one use this box in conjunction with the vanilla Motorola HD box one gets from Comcast. since i don't see a firewire port on my Comcast box, how does this work or does it?...thanks.
They aren't talking about expanding the Motorola per se, rather they are talking about increasing the HD storage capacity by taking advantage of the TVGOS capability of recording on schedule to firewire storage. Newer Sharps with TVGOS and firewire ports have this capability. Older Sharps can only do manual record over firewire. Other displays with TVGOS have similar capabilities.

Oh yes, i have 3 of them daily chained and beats the motorola how many times? :rolleyes: And no monthly fee needed :D
What are they connected to and do they pick up the on-screen TV schedule information? Can they be driven by either a Motorola 6412 or Samsung HLR5668W?

They have to connected thru 1394 firewire port either from ur HDTV set or STB, they can only be controlled by ur HDTV set, ur samsung has firewire connector?

What are they connected to and do they pick up the on-screen TV schedule information? Can they be driven by either a Motorola 6412 or Samsung HLR5668W?

What are they connected to and do they pick up the on-screen TV schedule information? Can they be driven by either a Motorola 6412 or Samsung HLR5668W?
Basically if your TV has TVGOS, it has a basic digital VCR but doesn't have the disk. If you add the disk using the TVs firewire port, you can record. Some TVs have the disk builtin, but majority do not.

Comcast carries Fox Sports Bay Area in HD when they have an HD event to show. They do show lots of A's, Giants, Warrior's, Sharks.
Now that D* has announced they will add HD LIL (actually now have a few local channels in HD) - would this be added? They (and DISH) already carry FSN SD.
Would DISH add it if/when they do HD LIL here?

...mike

Has nothing to do with HD LiL. Whether they carry ir because of increased capacity is another question.

Not likely, Comcast is the one footing the bill for FSN Bay Area HD and is still bitter over Direct TV's NFL Sunday Ticket package.

fitprod

Does anyone here not use a CableCard or STB? Do you use a direct cable feed to both the analog and digital channels? I have that settup according to my Sharp manual, I can split the cable signal and connect to both the analog and digital tuners. That is how I get both the analog and in-the-clear digital channels.

However, I experience frequent lock ups. The customer rep at 1800besharp said I am not supposed to do that. The only way to get digital channels is through either CC or STB. But I was like your manual clear shows I can do that.

Talez, I am doing the same exact thing with my LC-26D6U, 5 days old at this point. I split the coax from the wall 2 ways and feed one into the Analog Cable input on the TV and one into the Digital cable input on the TV.

I experience frequent lockups, meaning the TV continues to show the program showing, but all the buttons on both the TV and the remote, are unresponsive. Even the power button. The only way to correct the problem is to unplug the TV.

I live in SF. I've heard of this happening to you, as well as a few others in the "Display Devices - LCD and Plasma Flat Panels" forum. I don't know what the issue is, but I'm getting pretty frustrated. All these LC26-D6Us can't possibly be bad; it must be some combination of the firmware and comcast's PSIP info in the SF area?

I don't know....

Thanks. My Toshiba can pretty much tune into other digital channels that my other QAM tuner sees, including 104-1/2 and many music channels that are in the clear. As for 117 and 79, Toshiba couldn't see any sub-channels in these two.

There doesn't seem to be anything on 98-8 in San Mateo (both tuners). I am still waiting for Toshiba's reply on getting a firmware update.

Wesley5:

I have the exact same problem as you do in San Francisco with a Toshiba 32HL95. With the Toshiba's QAM tuner, I can NOT receive any KQED channel (9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, or 9.5) nor can I get Fox/CBS.

However, my other QAM tuners CAN get the channels (both Sharp and Panasonic). When I called about a firmware update from Toshiba a month ago, I was informed by Toshiba that the TV is too new to have a firmware update .... let's keep each other posted; I bet we have the same problem.

Has nothing to do with HD LiL. Whether they carry ir because of increased capacity is another question.

I just wondered if they could carry it or if Comcast might have some kind of exclusive - like D* has an exclusive on NFL ST. Since it is called Rupert (err Fox) Sports, I would assume the Rupert owned company, D*, would carry it. This would be more important than adding WB or UPN locals here.

...mike

I just wondered if they could carry it or if Comcast might have some kind of exclusive - like D* has an exclusive on NFL ST. Since it is called Rupert (err Fox) Sports, I would assume the Rupert owned company, D*, would carry it. This would be more important than adding WB or UPN locals here.

...mike
FSNBA is a Rainbow Media(Cablevision) property and is not one of the News Corp owned sports nets. DirecTV has no contract to carry the HD broadcasts of FSNBA. It's also mixed up with the no INHD problem on satellite.

Which means, anyone without INHD, like most all 550 Mhz systems, do not get to see their local teams in HD from anywhere, at any price. Now that's what I call Comcastic. :rolleyes:

Not likely, Comcast is the one footing the bill for FSN Bay Area HD and is still bitter over Direct TV's NFL Sunday Ticket package.

fitprod

They aren't bitter anymore. DirecTV's contract is up for renewal, and the NFL has told everyone they will be making it available to all, not just DirecTV. No more exclusive. I would imagine to see it show up as a subscription package on Comcast next year. I don't think it'll be HD, except i n maybe 860 Mhz systems where they have the bandwidth, until they recover a bunch of analog spectrum.

Thanks,
Mike

DirecTV extended their exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket through 2010.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/aboutus/headline.jsp?newsId=11_08_2004B

They aren't bitter anymore. DirecTV's contract is up for renewal, and the NFL has told everyone they will be making it available to all, not just DirecTV. No more exclusive. I would imagine to see it show up as a subscription package on Comcast next year. I don't think it'll be HD, except i n maybe 860 Mhz systems where they have the bandwidth, until they recover a bunch of analog spectrum.

Thanks,
Mike
Nope, as jabbathespud noted, while the Sunday Ticket contract was open for bid to anyone, including Comcast, DirecTV has retained the exclusive until 2010. For the next 5 years ST will only be on DirecTV and one of the Canadian satcos.

Wesley5:

I have the exact same problem as you do in San Francisco with a Toshiba 32HL95. With the Toshiba's QAM tuner, I can NOT receive any KQED channel (9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, or 9.5) nor can I get Fox/CBS.

However, my other QAM tuners CAN get the channels (both Sharp and Panasonic). When I called about a firmware update from Toshiba a month ago, I was informed by Toshiba that the TV is too new to have a firmware update .... let's keep each other posted; I bet we have the same problem.
Toshiba, Sharp, Panny QAM tuners, dude, what are you a professional HDTV beta tester or something? :)

So I am hearing (rather, reading) that it is possible to view non-encrypted HD content by merely plugging the cable from the wall into the HDTV, and allowing the internal tuner to pull in the HD channels (e.g. 2.1, 5.1, etc). Do I have to be a digital cable subscriber to do this, or will my analog service allow me to do this?

So I am hearing (rather, reading) that it is possible to view non-encrypted HD content by merely plugging the cable from the wall into the HDTV, and allowing the internal tuner to pull in the HD channels (e.g. 2.1, 5.1, etc). Do I have to be a digital cable subscriber to do this, or will my analog service allow me to do this?
Any analog cable package should allow you to do this. Sometime in the future, this may not be possible anymore. But from the stories I've heard going around, that future date will not be anytime soon.

CSonntag,

Short answer, Yes. Just plug in the cable to your TVs digital QAM tuner and let it search for the digital channels. You do not have to subscribe to Digital Cable. Limited Basic is enough. But your TV has to have a QAM compatable tuner. If it has a cable card slot, it should be QAM compatible. Depending on your TV, you may see the channels at the 2.1, 5.1, etc. Or you may see them at the actual channels that Comcast uses (like 79.1, 116.1, etc). Scan for the digital channels and see what you can see. You should get Fox (2.1), CBS (5.1), ABC (7.1-2), PBS/KQED (9.1-5), and NBC (11.1).

Greg

So I am hearing (rather, reading) that it is possible to view non-encrypted HD content by merely plugging the cable from the wall into the HDTV, and allowing the internal tuner to pull in the HD channels (e.g. 2.1, 5.1, etc). Do I have to be a digital cable subscriber to do this, or will my analog service allow me to do this?