millerwill,

The optical audio connections often have little filler plugs that you have to remove to open up the connection. This may be your problem.

Does anyone know why last night's Giants game on FSN-HD wasn't in HD?

Will tonight's game will be in HD?

The one thing I did notice is that my TV is indicating that the incoming signal on the HD channels (722, 196, 195, HBO, etc.) are showing at 720p. However, the display was showing the signal at 1080i two days ago. I have noticed a degradation in the HD picture quality since yesterday that coincided with the Giants game being in SD. Any one else having this problem or issue?

Frontrow,
Did you check the output settings on the STB?
For example, I have the 5100 and I can change the output resolution by pressing the menu button on the front while the 5100 is powered off.

I was excited to hear news about San Carlos, w/ workers actually on the streets, and someone mentioning a scheduled HD install...

This morning, I saw workers in Foster City!
Bunch of guys in orange Can-Am Communications overalls, laying cable under the streets. (We don't have poles.) They put some bigger device boxes on the ground several months ago too.
Didn't get a chance to ask them re timing, but: if San Carlos is an indication , could be a few weeks or less.... hopefully before Aug13!!(Olympics)

I did try calling to schedule an install just a few days ago, and had talked to the local office, and they were still giving the "don't know" party line of "anywhere from this month to fall/winter (end of year)"...
will have to ping them again now that workers are actually laying cable.
crossing fingers...

My HD install is currently happening...unfortunately, had to have my wife take care of it, as work was inescapable. As Emerald Hills now has HD, San Carlos shouldn't be too far behind.

Unfortunately, my wife called to tell me that the requested box (6200) wasn;t available in our area. Don't see how that is possible, since by law, they have to provide it. Annoying...will need to make at least one more call to customer support.

cgould, when one of teh can-am folks comes down from a pole, stop and talk to him about what they are installing? 750 or 860? Timeframe etc... These guys are good folks and usually very happy to tell you about what they are installing. Buy him a coke for his trouble!

Bfisch, don't ask for a 6200, ask them for a box that has firewire output. The folks on the phone know what that is.

Thanks,
Mike

Hiker,

Thanks for the input. I'll check on that. I tried the DVI out on the STB yesterday connected to the HDMI on the TV. Wondering if that changed any of the settings.

Hello all - FYI that my 6200 was upgraded to v. 7.15 yesterday (I live in the SF Marina District). Note that it <does> fix the DVI problem I (and I believe others) was experiencing The problem: turning a display off connected via DVI without first turning off the cable box resulted in no handshake (and thus no picture) when you turned the display back on. I have tested this w/7.15 (I used to have 7.07), and I can now turn the display off and then on, without powering off the 6200.

Is the upgrade to 7.15 done automatically? Ilive in Alamo (Contra Costa County)

dcci,

My problem with the DVI handshake is when I switch from my DVI connection to any other connection ( leaving the box on ) and then switch back to the DVI connection it shows nothing, I have to unplug the dvi cable and plug it back in, then it works. So my question is, have you left the box on and switched from dvi to component and back again and does it work. The reason this is important to me is that on my component connections SD looks better and I have more control or color etc. but HD looks much better with DVI, so I switch between the two connections.

Thanks

kade,

Yes, download occurs 'automatically', usually in the middle of the night/wee hours of the morning.

I don't know if leaving your STB powered on helps-- but mine was powered on when it received the download last night.

Mikef5: before the upgrade to 7.15, if I left the box on, and switched from the DVI input to anything else, and then back to the DVI input, I had no picture. Now, it works fine.

More questions from a 1st time HD'er:

Picked up a Moto 6200 and wanted to connect it to the TV via DVI (actually DVI from the STB to HDMI of the Sammy HLP with a DVI-HDMI cable). Comcast was unable to activate it and said that DVI is not supported and not activated. Is this true (am in Berkeley)? Should I just proceed with component connections with Comcast and then try DVI after they leave? Also, is it OK to leave BOTH the component and DVI connections connected at the same time?

DVI is activated if you have firmware 7.07 or higher on your 6200. Your firmware should be no lower than 7.07; if it is lower, complain about it and see if they have some kind of explanation.

dcci,

Thanks for the info, now I just have to wait until good old Milpitas area gets their upgrades pushed out to us.

The DVI now works correctly however the PQ seems to be the same as using component video. Shouln't DVI provide superior PQ Thanks kade

kade--

Yes...iff your video signal path up to and including your display device has a wider bandwidth than the component-signal "pipe". Otherwise, no. :D

YES! This time my C'cast online order for HDTV service installation wasn't kicked out at the "account executive" review, so maybe it'll actually happen...?

Originally posted by bfisch
My HD install is currently happening...unfortunately, had to have my wife take care of it, as work was inescapable. As Emerald Hills now has HD, San Carlos shouldn't be too far behind.

Unfortunately, my wife called to tell me that the requested box (6200) wasn;t available in our area. Don't see how that is possible, since by law, they have to provide it. Annoying...will need to make at least one more call to customer support.

Is HD launched in your area yet?

The 1394 rule relates only to HD customers, right?

Giants back in HD. Plus I don't have to wait for the A's game to end on this channel.

My 5100 in SF still shows:

S/W Ver: 50.00-1078
Firmware: 08
in the TVG menus.

The moto menus for code modules shows:

Bootloader: 2.16
Firmware: 2.48

Object:51TG_ Ver 01.34

I think my box might be "stuck" with old firmware.

Please help me either get the update (which would enable DVI output) or get a 6200!

Thanks.
-shan

shan,

I can almost hear DCTDictator riding to the rescue ...

Originally posted by spoonman27
Giants back in HD. Plus I don't have to wait for the A's game to end on this channel.

Hank Greenwald (former Giants PBP man, now with A's) mentions at beginning of 10th inning of A's - Yankees game that Giants - Reds is available "right now" on Comcast channel 196, and screen graphic states game is available now on FSN Bay Area HD.

Great plug for FSN Bay Area HD, Comcast HD and HD in general!!! (Think of all those Giants fans who don't have Comcast HD, waiting patiently or not so patiently ...)

How about all us Giants fans that do have Comcast and don't get channel 196 :(

Originally posted by Mikef5
How about all us Giants fans that do have Comcast and don't get channel 196 :(

My sentiments exactly...

Jim
Comcast 2% Club

Seeing your post, I made one more attempt at signup, we'll see if I finally can get hdtv in belmont (foster city and san carlos are nearby, so I'm (foolishly?) hoping it will work for me too...)

Originally posted by TPeterson
YES! This time my C'cast online order for HDTV service installation wasn't kicked out at the "account executive" review, so maybe it'll actually happen...?

I just picked up a DCT-6200 this afternoon from my local Comcast store and it doesn't seem to work.

I've got the cable plugged into Cable In and the composite video plugged into my TV (the HD set doesn't arrive until next week). I have nothing plugged into the S-video or component outputs. I get no video output at all, just a gray screen. I talked to a Comcast tech over the phone, who tried to activate the box without much success.

When I plug the box in, the display first reads "E609", then "FR 1" and "Hunt" alternate a few times, and then it displays "d1" with a line segment rotating to the left of the d1.

Anyone know what's going on here? I'm in San Ramon and have had digital cable (non-HD) for several years with a DCT-2000 without any problems. Is my new 6200 hosed?

Also, the sheet I received listing the instructions for activating the box over the phone seems to list options that don't exist when I call the number (800-945-2288). I'm supposed to press "1" for "video box", enter my ZIP code, then press "1" for "automated features". The first prompt I hear is "do you currently have service with Comcast?" What the heck?

I am seeing the Giants game in HD on Sacramento Comcast, InHD 192. Can anyone tell me other than baseball, will there be any other live sports shows on FSNBA in HD?

For those truly anal, like myself: have you noticed that the picture from the camera in the Giants dugout has a "dead pixel" in the lower right hand corner. It shows up as a bright white dot. Very noticeable when they're zooming in on a player in the dugout.

Originally posted by Jerry Gardner
When I plug the box in, the display first reads "E609", then "FR 1" and "Hunt" alternate a few times, and then it displays "d1" with a line segment rotating to the left of the d1.

Sounds normal. Give it some time - up to 90 minutes.

E609 = Eb09, called "Sanity Check Failure" (I'm not making this up, it's in the Moto Manual) Occurs when a reset happens during a software download.

It's going through the discovery process - it looks (hunts) for the data stream on several frequencies (FR1, FR2, etc). When it finds the right one, it downloads (d1 = dl) the EPG and such.

Whenever a firmware update happens, a DCT may be preloaded with the old firmware - may be the Eb09 code when it's powered up and does not find the same data it got when it was last powered up. Instead of getting a picture and a EPG that says "To Be Announced" everywhere, the box stops and downloads the new firmware, then the EPG. Then you get a picture.

When you get the red 'Message' light, your download is done and the DCT should function.

The long wait only happens when there has been a firmware update - like last night. This drives techs crazy. They like to plug it in and see pics in a minute or less.

FSN-HD [a.k.a. InHD2] is, apparently, not encrypted (while InHD2 has been since July 1), as my Sasem box is currently able to receive the Reds/Giants game (on D105.2). Interestingly, InHD1 (D105.1) is still encrypted and I only have Audio.

Great picture, but the Audio is messed up. I only seem to have Right Channel Audio (other HD stations have Stereo, so I know it's FSN-HD).

Sounds normal. Give it some time - up to 90 minutes.

Good things do indeed come to those who wait. I went out to dinner and when I came back the "d1" was gone and a "2" was in its place. I turned on the TV and lo and behold: pictures.

Thanks. Now I have to endure a few more agonizing days until my Plasma HD panel shows up on my door step.

Originally posted by mazman49
For those truly anal, like myself: have you noticed that the picture from the camera in the Giants dugout has a "dead pixel" in the lower right hand corner. It shows up as a bright white dot. Very noticeable when they're zooming in on a player in the dugout.
Yes! I noticed it also. At first, I thought it was a bunch of dead pixels on my plasma. Had to change channels to check it out.

I can't watch baseball (or any other sports) in SD anymore. HELP!:cool:

Does anyone know how to perform the setup on the STB (Moto 6200) to set output signal? Or is this even possible? Watching NBC which should be in 1080i only shows up on the TV as 720p. Is the STB somehow limiting the signal going to the TV? The setup button on the remote apparently does not function.

Turn off the box, then press the MENU button.

This will let you set aspect ratio, output resolution, and the override, which tells the box what to do with non-HD signals (480i, 480p, or override - no 480i for DVI, 480p if you want non-HD channels full-screen stretched, or override to go with your original resolution with the screen pillarboxed in the middle)

Well, I got the email saying that it isn't yet available in my area :-(

There is progress though, there is now a link to a form which claims to let me know when it will be available... I guess it will avoid having me fill the order form every week.... (why can't the order website know about which area has HDTV or not is still beyond me though...)

Originally posted by _dl_
Seeing your post, I made one more attempt at signup, we'll see if I finally can get hdtv in belmont (foster city and san carlos are nearby, so I'm (foolishly?) hoping it will work for me too...)

Originally posted by cyberbri
Turn off the box, then press the MENU button.

This will let you set aspect ratio, output resolution, and the override, which tells the box what to do with non-HD signals (480i, 480p, or override - no 480i for DVI, 480p if you want non-HD channels full-screen stretched, or override to go with your original resolution with the screen pillarboxed in the middle)

Thanks for the information and guidance. It worked out and the picture looks much clearer now.

Originally posted by shannonv
Firmware: 2.48


I also have this firmware on my 5100 ... in Berkeley.

Now that my 6200 is working, I have two questions.

First, when tuned to one of the HD channels, the program guide doesn't seem to work. Nothing happens when I press the guide button.

Second, when on an HD channel, entering another channel number on the numeric keypad doesn't work. The display on the 6200 shows the new number as I enter it, but after I finish entering the 3rd digit, it reverts back to displaying the current channel. The only way to move to a different channel is by using the channel up and channel down buttons, or the "last" button.

I currently don't have an HD set (it's coming next week), so all of the above is with the 6200 connected to an SD set via composite. The 6200 firmware is 7.15.

When watching HD channels the guide is not shown on the analog outputs, ie s-video ,composite and co-ax. To get round this, change the default output to 480i.

To do this

Power off
Menu
Move down to 720p or 1080i and change it to 480i.

When your plasma turns up put to back to 1080i or 720p.

Originally posted by masoo
I also have this firmware on my 5100 ... in Berkeley.

Same on my 5100 in Livermore

Originally posted by _dl_
Seeing your post, I made one more attempt at signup, we'll see if I finally can get hdtv in belmont (foster city and san carlos are nearby, so I'm (foolishly?) hoping it will work for me too...)

I live in Redwood Shores and am moving to san carlos which according to the CSR are on the same system. I have called for the past 4 months every week and I called yesterday and she said no HDTV available still. WOW. :confused: :confused:

I just got Comcast HD (in Berkeley) for a new Sammy hlp 6163: got the Moto 6200 box, and it is running 7.15 firmware. Connection of the STB to TV via DVI works fine!

Had HD installed yesterday (Emerald Hills). Received a 6200, as requested, despite the fact that the tech told my wife that the box that I'd requested wasn't available. The tech also told my wife that he'd never been trained on HD.

Unfortunately, although it worked initially, all the box is showing now is static on every channel. The only change was that I initialized my HSI service. The box was working before, but not after. The cable feed is live since HSI works and the analog tuner in the TV works. I power cycled the box several times and asked them to hit the box. It never appeared to receive the signal, since it never reset itself. So now I'm waiting for a tech to come out.

Any suggestions as to ways to make this work?

Thanks,

B

Originally posted by bfisch
I power cycled the box several times and asked them to hit the box.

Did you do the "automatic" box authorization -- meaning, did you go through touch-tone prompts without speaking to a rep? If so, I would call a live rep and have them hit the box while you're on the phone with them. If I remember correctly, the automatic box reauthorization is based on the phone number you're calling from and what phone number they have on file (did you notice they didn't ask for any information before they supposedly hit your box?). If these phone numbers do not match up or you have Caller ID Block on your phone, chances are the "hit" was never attempted.

Of course if you talked to a live rep and they said they couldn't send a hit to your box, ignore all of the above.

I talked to a live rep not once or twice, but three times. The first rep told me that a cable box would not work unless my tv was on channel 3. Decided she wouldn't be much help. The second guy was not much better but did have me power cycle and attempted to hit the box. He did ask my phone no, so presumably did have my account number.

The third person took a long time with me, had me power cycle the box and attempted to hit it 2 or 3 times without success. She also had my account info.

The only change between the box functioning and not functioning was me initiating the HSI.

for what it's worth: Upon first getting HD, the rep didn't update the account with the extra $5 for the new box (I did a self-install). When I brought it home, I called to have them authorize the box, which happened. However, from them on, not everything worked. HBO/Showtime would disappear -- call up, it came back but HSI failed. Call up, it came back, but other cable box wouldn't work. Call up, its back but showtime gone.

Eventually, it turned out that the internal accounting system "recognized" that there weren't enough billing thingies there, and would randomly terminate the least-recently-mucked-with service. When the $5 billing was added, everything was fine.

So you might want to check that the account is properly authorzied...

Yeah, if you have just one cable box, the $5 is an upgrade from the Digital box that comes with the digital service. However if you have one HD box and one Digital box, you get one box with the digital service, upgraded to HD with the $5, and you have to pay another $7.95 (or $6.95) for the second box.

I went through some confusion on this as well, because the way the bill is worded, or rather the way the HD $5 description is worded (HD equipment and remote, no "upgrade" word), it looks like you are paying for 3 boxes instead of 2.

or you have Caller ID Block on your phone,

Not to worry. You can't block your caller ID when dialing a toll-free number.

When I brought it home, I called to have them authorize the box, which happened. However, from them on, not everything worked. HBO/Showtime would disappear -- call up, it came back but HSI failed. Call up, it came back, but other cable box wouldn't work. Call up, its back but showtime gone.

Interesting. Before I swapped my DCT-2000 for a DCT-6200, I didn't have HBO and Showtime. Now I do. Go figure...

The boxes aren't reset when they are taken in. So if you get a new/different box that had say HBO and Showtime and Starz enabled (at the last place it was being used), if you don't call and "activate" your box, you will have those three sets of premium channels (until you do).

I did call in and activate the box. In fact, the tech had to "hit" the box 3 times before it worked.

I'll just enjoy HBO and Showtime while it lasts.

Had an interesting experience the other day.

Called to set up installation, and in addition to the $5/mo for the HD STB, i got charged another $6.95 for a second cable box. I had interpreted the charges as 1st Digital cable box included, +$5 for the additional HD box.

Instead, it seems the $5 is to upgrade the 1st box to the HD box, +$6.95 for the 2nd box.

Is that the norm?

rb

Appears so. Look at this page, my post, #1550.

I guess I should scroll up every now and then...

thanks
rb

The way I've read all the Comcast promotional materials is that the "upgrade" from "basic cable" (i.e., analog, no STB at all) to HDTV is "$5/mo". That's the way it has been represented in all the printed and online stuff I've seen--including the order confirmation for my installation on Monday. We'll see if there's any attempt at bait-and-switch....

To avoid paying the extra box charge (I needed to keep the old box for Tivo as the 5100 doesn't have a serial port and I don't like IR blasters), is it possible to buy one from Comcast? How about the ones on eBay I see floating around. Will I be able to connect this?

Thanks.

Originally posted by takeshi
To avoid paying the extra box charge (I needed to keep the old box for Tivo as the 5100 doesn't have a serial port and I don't like IR blasters), is it possible to buy one from Comcast? How about the ones on eBay I see floating around. Will I be able to connect this?

Thanks.

No way to buy a DCT yet. The boxes on eBay are mostly non-return leased equipment. Boxes from different areas cannot be added to the database and therefore cannot be activated.

The only customer owned solution is a CableCard equipped set, there is no monthly equipment fee for a cablecard.

You wouldn't want to buy a DCT 6200 anyway - it's a an expensive box. Paying $10 a month is a lot cheaper that buying one even at the MSO's price. Stolen boxes are another story, but even if your morals were low enough to get one, the MSO's have ways of making sure they don't work as DCTDictator has stated.

Thanks,
Mike

San Jose, 95126 - noticed the 7.15 update yesterday. Finally...

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
7.15 downloaded overnight to my 6200 here also.

Software version is new also, says 51.88. S/W was 51.42 for a long time. I don't notice any obvious differences based on a quick look.

I just checked and here in San Francisco, I have 7.15 and 51.88 also. I noticed that there is On Demand now after I started catching up on forums after being absent for 2 months. Entering channel 1 isn't being taken by the box for On-Demand for some reason so only the menus work.

Originally posted by Almighty1
I just checked and here in San Francisco, I have 7.15 and 51.88 also. I noticed that there is On Demand now after I started catching up on forums after being absent for 2 months. Entering channel 1 isn't being taken by the box for On-Demand for some reason so only the menus work.

Does channel 1 show up on the guide yet? They may not have mapped the channel to the VOD menu yet. So cool...it looks like San Fran has VOD now. Any other areas?

Originally posted by cyberbri
Question about billing -- I've gotten 3 different answers/responses from 3 different CSRs at Comcast.

Is the $5 HD equipment/remote rental fee just for the box? Is it for the channels? Is it an upgrade from a digital cable box?

Here's the situation:
I have digital cable and HD, with an HD box in the living room and a digital cable box in the bedroom. My first bill had digital cable, which includes equipment/remote, another $5 for the HD equipment/remote, plus $6.95 for an additional digital cable box.

I called and had the additional $6.95 taken off, because that would mean I'm renting 3 boxes instead of 2. The next bill that came had it on there again. So when I was exchanging my HD box at the Comcast office, I had the CSR take it off again. But as soon as she did, we lost digital cable on the box in the bedroom. When I called and talked to a technician, he said that the $5 fee for HD equipment/remote is actually an upgrade from the first digital cable box, despite the confusing wording on the bill. He put back the $6.95 for the additional digital box and turned the cable back on there. Then I called again a day or two later to ask about this again, because technically the bill says I'm renting 3 boxes (and with TV Japan at $26 a month, we're paying about $93 total a month as it is). That person said that the $5 HD equipment/remote fee is technically only for the HD channels, not equipment. The additional $6.95 is the second box, with one being with the digital cable package and the second being that (1 is HD and other is regular digital).

It seemed to work fine getting rid of the $6.95 the very first month, without losing a signal there. And it feels like I'm getting charged for 3 boxes when 3 CSRs are under different impressions about the HD billing.

Can anyone, especially Comcast insiders, shed some light on this issue?

I have a similar problem as yours. I have Standard Cable + Digital Plus + Jade Channel + Premiere pack and the Digital Plus package includes a box. On December 9, 2003 when I originally upgraded to HD - they allowed me to keep the DCT2024 as well as the DCT5100 for HD so I was only paying $5 on top of what it was before. At the end of April 2004, I had a free swapout of the DCT5100 for a DCT6200. Then I guess on the July 2004 Bill, they started charging for the DCT2024 beginning from June 1 at $6.95/month. I did exactly what you did and everytime they took the $6.95 off, the DCT2024 shuts off. So finally, I asked them and they said the DCT5100 is treated as a upgrade box and that for customers with Digital Cable, the box is really $11.95 as the $6.95 is covered from the Digital Package while people who just get Analog cable only + HD would only pay $5.00. I asked them what if I wanted to swap the DCT2024 for a DCT6200, they told me that I will have to pay $11.95 instead of the $6.95.

Originally posted by cyberbri
Yeah, if you have just one cable box, the $5 is an upgrade from the Digital box that comes with the digital service. However if you have one HD box and one Digital box, you get one box with the digital service, upgraded to HD with the $5, and you have to pay another $7.95 (or $6.95) for the second box.

I went through some confusion on this as well, because the way the bill is worded, or rather the way the HD $5 description is worded (HD equipment and remote, no "upgrade" word), it looks like you are paying for 3 boxes instead of 2.

What's weird about this is that the people who have a digital package have to really pay $11.95 for the box as the $6.95 comes from the included box in the digital package while the people who just want HD only have to pay only $5.00.

Actually, the way the bill is worded is on mines:

Digital Plus Package (Digital Plus, Encore, Encore Plex, Music Choice, Digital Converter And Remote) - $14.95
HDTV Equipment And Remote - $5.00
Digital Equipt. Package - $6.95

The problem is that in the Digital Package, the Digital Converter And Remote is supposed to be in our favor but it isn't.

Originally posted by fender4645
Does channel 1 show up on the guide yet? They may not have mapped the channel to the VOD menu yet. So cool...it looks like San Fran has VOD now. Any other areas?

Good point. There is no Channel 1 on the guide yet. I was only trying channel 1 because of reading on this forum many months ago and also I got this letter from Comcast West Bay saying to access it using channel 1. I haven't really checked the menus on my box for over a week as I only checked because of the firmware 7.15 update.

Channel 1 for VOD in SF - read some time a few weeks ago that is was not up yet and to use the menu for now.

Ads in the EPG. The ads in my menus and guide are gone. Not totally gone leaving more space for guide, just a "highlight this are and pres OK for more info" where they should be. I click there and get a blurb about the feature being ready soon - like 'to be announced'. Might be a local thing, the 5100 and 6208 in my home NAS system have 7.15 and both do the same. These set tops are both not released to customers here yet, there's no HD.

Have I just not been paying attention? Have the ads been gone for anyone else? I always hated them.

UPDATE - The ads are fine on the 2500 in the office.

I actually did not have ads for the first 5 months of HD, and then I just started getting them about a month ago..

Firmware still at 7.10 on 6200(Santa Clara)

Comcast rep. just called to cancel my app't today for HDTV installation because, "HDTV is not available yet in San Carlos...it should be available by next month." <sigh>

Once VOD comes, will it require updated firmware? I'm in Berkeley, and my firmware remains 2.48.

Masoo,

I wonder if your old firmware (very old) means you have an NRB (non responding box)-- in other words, the outbound data is not making it out from your box for some reason. If you have an NRB, VOD will not work.

Could be a filter is blocking the outbound frequency (or the inbound frequency where the new firmware is supposed to download). Or a splitter, amp or attenuator. Do you have any amplifiers or powered splitters on the cable in your house?

TPeterson,

I had this same problem, but what the rep said wasn't true. HD was available and I needed to argue a bit. Has your channel lineup been updated?

If yes, and you currently have a digital box, try tuning to 193 (ESPN-HD). If you get sound and no picture, HD is available. If the box won't tune to the channel at all, you'll need to wait a bit longer.

B

Originally posted by bfisch
I had this same problem, but what the rep said wasn't true. HD was available and I needed to argue a bit. Has your channel lineup been updated?I tend to think that he was actually right (and that the original "OK" on the app't was based on an earlier optimistic schedule for my area). I have only basic cable--will any of that lineup change when the rebuild is effected?If yes, and you currently have a digital box, try tuning to 193 (ESPN-HD). If you get sound and no picture, HD is available. If the box won't tune to the channel at all, you'll need to wait a bit longer.I have no STB but my Fusion III QAM tuner card still finds only 6 or 8 64QAM channels and no 256 QAM at all. However, I'm not sure that my current in-house cabling properly supports the higher bandwidth of 750 or 860 MHz, which was why I was willing to go ahead with the installation app't if Comcast thought they were ready.

I'll give 'em 'til next month unless the Fusion card starts showing something new is on the cable.

TPeterson, I would try once more. I live in the unincorporated area just adjacent to San Carlos (just a hundred yards from Clifford School) and was finally able to get HD installed last week.

Sonoma, as always, your contributions are much appreciated ... you're the first person I look for in these threads.

And you seem to have hit this one right on the head! I'll preface by noting that I'm a techie novice who barely understands the stuff I read here.

Last month, Comcast contacted me and set up a tech visit because they were having trouble communicating with my HD box. The next day, the techie comes out and checks everything. He finds some minor problems with various splitters (one I had installed indoors, the others just remnants of previous cable setups that had been left untouched by earlier installers). But what puzzled him, and the person in the home office to which he spoke on several occasions, is that no matter what he did, the home office couldn't get the proper info from my HD box. "Everything" seems to work fine on my end ... I get all the channels I pay for, they look and sound fine ... but the home office wasn't receiving whatever info they need.

The techie, who didn't seem particularly clueless, finally threw up his hands and admitted he didn't know why the office wasn't getting info from my box, but since everything was working OK, he (and I) shouldn't worry about it. And he left.

Now I'm guessing that what Sonoma says is correct, which I have to fix, if for no other reason than to get VOD when it comes to Berkeley. Maybe I should finally break down and go get a new box (I still have a 5100).

Thanks, Sonoma!

All of the HD channels in my area are 256QAM (and their intermixed all over the bandwidth spectrum)


ps...FW is still 7.10 in Saratoga also

Originally posted by masoo
The techie, who didn't seem particularly clueless, finally threw up his hands and admitted he didn't know why the office wasn't getting info from my box, but since everything was working OK, he (and I) shouldn't worry about it. And he left.

Now I'm guessing that what Sonoma says is correct, which I have to fix, if for no other reason than to get VOD when it comes to Berkeley. Maybe I should finally break down and go get a new box (I still have a 5100).



Sooner or later you'll want to get that resolved...It could be something they missed in your line or they could have it misconfigured in the computer (too bad you arent down in the south bay where DCT could double check that).

I'd schedule another appt at your convenience (when you have some time to hang around the house..it may take a while)...They may just want to start from scratch and repull the line into your house...The easiest thing is swapping the box to see if that fixes it, but even that can run amok (particularily if the connectivity is afoul). Anyway, even a good tech can miss something so maybe somebody else coming in can find something they overlooked.

cgarvin, thanks for the info but my guess is that you're a beneficiary of the recently finished Emerald Hills/San Mateo County rebuild. I'll give it a rest unless the Fusion card indicates some shift in cable content (which it's not done so far).

So is there any new news regarding the 6208/6412 in the Bay Area? I haven't see this discussed in a while and was just wondering if we are just the ugly red-headed step child of comcast.... Between this and Los Gatos not getting all the HD channels I am so close to going back to directv. I feel like I have no choice. I also think as soon as I switch, the PVR will become available :(

I wish comcast would just let us know.

Eric

Eric,

The 6208 will not be deployed by Comcast in the Bay Area.

The 6412 (and/or 6416) will be deployed, but no earlier than mid to late November (and that would be a very optimistic projection). So don't count on having a 6412 to record fall shows or fall football. If we're lucky, you may have one in time for college bowl games and/or NFL playoffs.

My projection is based on where Motorola is with providing Comcast with boxes and where Comcast is with getting its software onto the boxes-- plus the customary time frame for employee beta testing, etc. All stuff that can be ascertained through Avsforum and industry articles and web-based information.

There are those with better knowledge who are welcome to correct me if I am way off base with my projection.

My 6200 STB has been acting strange, and I thought maybe someone else might know what's going on / what I should do...

Background: I'm in Sunnyvale, and my 6200 has been running firmware 7.10 for awhile now. When it initially was installed it came with 7.07. It's connected via component to my hs20 pj, optical to my receiver, and firewire to my HTPC (WinXP). The STB has worked fine in this configuration for quite some time.

Over the last week, it has been acting strange. For instance, it sometimes would not respond to the remote or front-panel buttons, and I'd have to physically power-cycle it to get it working again. I'd also notice that it wasn't always warm to the touch - it historically was, and it historically would always be sending out a 1080i signal over component, even if it was "off".

Today I arrive home, and I can't turn it on via the remote or the front panel. I also notice it's cool to the touch, so figure it shut itself completely off. So I turn off the electricity to it (pull cord, wait 5 seconds, reinsert cord), and it comes up with all panel LEDs on (four 8's, four dots). No response to the remote or front panel buttons. So after staring at that a few minutes, I do the power-cord power cycle again. This time it comes up with Eb07 (not Eb09 as someone else saw before). It's been sitting on that for about an hour, and also not responsive to remote/front-panel input. Not surprisingly, the HTPC doesn't see it either. At this point I'm going to leave for a few hours and see if it just self-repairs like the Eb09 case.

So... has anyone seen this, and if so have they resolved this? or should I just let it sit in hopes that the STB eventually gets back to normal as was the case for the person who had the Eb09 code? or does this sound like flaky hardware that I should just call Comcast and get it swapped out for a new one? thanks in advance!

Here for your enjoyment is a list of the boot error codes. Format is CODE DESCRIPTION, WHEN IT DISPLAYS, WHAT TO DO.

In Poochie's case, looks like a failed or currupted download. A 3 finger reset and new initializaition should work. The reset is totally destructive to all data in the box's memory. Customer service should NEVER tell anyone about the reset, but they often will send another INT if you ask.

The codes. (from a '5100 install manual)

Eb 01 Object failed validation After the LED displays dl, indicating validation check failed, Contact headend operator

Eb 02 Download time-out After cycling twice through the OOB frequencies, None

Eb 03 Flash erase failed After software object download complete and EF is displayed, Replace DCT5100

Eb 04 Flash programming failed, After software object download complete and FP is displayed, Contact headend operator

Eb 05 Invalid DLC frequency, After the LED displays dl indicating validation check failed, Contact headend operator

Eb 06 Hardware initialization failed, After plugging the DCT5100 into an electrical outlet to begin the boot cycle, Replace DCT5100

Eb 07 Object failed validation After software object download complete and FP is displayed, After a successful software object download and DCT5100 is reset, Contact headend operator

OR No action required because DCT5100 repeats software object download process

A few added from the DVi5000

Eb 08 Corrupt NVM Detected, After pluggin in the DCT into an electrical outlet to begin the boot cycle, Replace

Eb 09 Sanity Check Failure, Reset witin two minutes of a complete software object download, no action becaus the DCT repeats the download process

On Demand is here in San Francisco!
This is going to be fun...

Is that true the KNTV will not broadcast Olympics in HD? From NBC11.com schedule there is no HD program at all.

Originally posted by DCTDictator
...
In Poochie's case, looks like a failed or currupted download. A 3 finger reset and new initializaition should work. The reset is totally destructive to all data in the box's memory. Customer service should NEVER tell anyone about the reset, but they often will send another INT if you ask.
...


DCTDictator,
Thanks for all the info. I had also located the 5100 manual, but since I wasn't sure if it applied exactly to the 6200, I decided to ask first rather than quote a possibly-wrong manual.
From the description (and the fact that the 6200 is still showing Eb07 after 5 hours), it sounds like I need to do something to get it unstuck. Since I don't want to do the wrong thing and makes things worse / unrecoverable, I thought I'd ask which of these plans would be best

Plan A: do a "3-finger reset" (by the way I don't know specifically how to perform that. If I should in fact be doing that, please let me know which 3 buttons to press, and when/how - by PM if it's something that shouldn't be generally known), hope everything fixes itself after that.

Plan B: get Customer Service on the line, get them queued up to send an INT (which I take to mean 'new initialization') after I do the above-mentioned 3-finger-reset. This sounds like what you're recommending - if it is, do you have any advice what to say to Customer Service / tech support to let them know what I'm trying to do / what they should do?

Plan C: Call customer service and have them attempt to send an INT without doing any reset, or just ask them what to do as if I never heard of firmware updates / failed software object downloads / etc and see what they recommend?

Plan D: something else entirely...

I'd like to get the STB back on its feet. Thanks in advance for any advice / pointers!

Originally posted by lmsyl
Is that true the KNTV will not broadcast Olympics in HD? From NBC11.com schedule there is no HD program at all.

From what I heard, KNTV will be broadcasting the HD coverage on their digital channel (and also on Comcast).

Be advised that the NBC HD Olympic coverage is limited to 6hrs per day that will be looped (ie repeating continually) and it will be tape delayed ~24hrs throughout the US. It is also a separate production from the regular Olympic coverage...

sadly I understand the main reason for this is advertiser/ratings driven...HD viewers are not included in the nielson ratings (which drive advertiser fees etc...) so its offset to not degrade (draw viewers away) from the analog broadcast that the ratings are derived from.

I'm getting ready to buy a HD-compatible plasma with integrated NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners and a CableCard slot. I live in Palo Alto and I'm a current Comcast analog only subscriber (no premium channels).

Since the Comcast web site has practically no technical information on this topic, I'll appreciate answers to the following questions:

1. Once I plug the existing cable line into the TV, am I going to receive the HD versions of the local broadcast channels (without having to upgrade my service)?

2. Is the TV going to receive and decode the digital channels (without a service upgrade) since it has a built-in QAM tuner? I'm mostly interested in receiving Discovery HD and INHD1/2 and none of the encrypted channels. Or will I need to pay up another $11 or so for the digital service (and get a digital STB that I don't need)?

3. In this scenario, will I need a CableCard at all? I understand it's only useful if I need to receive an encrypted channel such as HBO.

4. I'm not interested in VOD and I can live without the channel guide. So, CableCard + QAM tuner will give me anything I need without the headaches associated with the STB (I've been reading this thread for quite a while ;) )

Thanks much!

Originally posted by mooneydriver
1. Once I plug the existing cable line into the TV, am I going to receive the HD versions of the local broadcast channels (without having to upgrade my service)?

2. Is the TV going to receive and decode the digital channels (without a service upgrade) since it has a built-in QAM tuner? I'm mostly interested in receiving Discovery HD and INHD1/2 and none of the encrypted channels. Or will I need to pay up another $11 or so for the digital service (and get a digital STB that I don't need)?

3. In this scenario, will I need a CableCard at all? I understand it's only useful if I need to receive an encrypted channel such as HBO.

4. I'm not interested in VOD and I can live without the channel guide. So, CableCard + QAM tuner will give me anything I need without the headaches associated with the STB (I've been reading this thread for quite a while ;) )

Thanks much! 1. Yes. You will have to have your QAM 256 tuner do a scan for channels.

2. Most digital channels, including Discovery HD and InHD, are encrypted. However, some are not. So, if I were you, I would get everything hooked up and see what comes through unencrypted. If you like what you get unencrypted, great, but remember that what is unencrypted could soon become encrypted without notice (except for the local HD channels).

If there are any non-premium but encrypted HD channels which you really want, then you will need to pay extra (Digital Classic tier at $9.95 per month) but Cable Card rental is free, so no extra charge for an STB.

3. You need a Cable Card for ALL encrypted channels. Premiums are almost always encrypted nowadays (although some areas may still be slipping through the cracks) as well as almost all digital channels. Music channels aren't encrypted.

Which channels are unencrypted varies from area to area, so someone else in Palo Alto could tell you which channels are unencrypted in your area.

4. You also won't be able to order PPV without an STB, I think. Or maybe you can order PPV, but only through a call to the CSR's at 1800COMCAST.

Thank you SonomaSearcher -- very useful information! I'll post what I find out once I get everything hooked up ...

DCTDictator,

I have a question maybe you could shed some light on. I recently sent a letter to the Santa Rosa City Managers office regarding the status of the 550MHz that is currently in place. The question was what was the outlook as far as upgrading to 750-860MHz to enable us to receive additional content available to 98% of the rest of Comcast's customers.

There are other issues involved here in Santa Rosa having to do with previous franchise agreements that are being resolved but , finally, getting to my question, the response I got makes reference to "Comcast has related to us that the evolution of new technology will enable them(Comcast) to use the 550MHz more efficiently by adding backroom equipment to deliver products requiring higher bandwidth"

Do you have any idea what "backroom" technology they are referring to? Are we expected to wait until something like MPEG4 comes around before getting any more content provided to us?

Thanks in advance for your input,

Jim
Comcast 2% Club

Originally posted by keenan
Do you have any idea what "backroom" technology they are referring to? That's where a Comcast representative takes you in the backroom to take the screwing to the next level. ;)

Keenan,

Just a quick question. Is Santa Rosa part of the Saratoga, Los Gatos, Milpitas headend ??? If that is the case then what's happening to your area will happen in our area also. I really hope that is not what is happening, I really would be forced to take this to an outside source, like tv or local newspapers, a situation that doesn't sit well with me. :(

Davisdog,

Do you have any ideas as to this really being true ?? I know that you have been trying to get things going in our area. Maybe DCTDictator could shed some light on this dark situation.

Another member of the Comcast 2% Club

Originally posted by keenan
"Comcast has related to us that the evolution of new technology will enable them(Comcast) to use the 550MHz more efficiently by adding backroom equipment to deliver products requiring higher bandwidth"

Jim
Comcast 2% Club

The simple solution is a buzzword that has been used in trade news and mentioned a month ago here. It's called 'All Digital'. Either everything beyond lowest basic is compressed or everything is compressed and remapped to a DCT on every TV. All the same pain as satellite. This could be done immediately.

The new stuff is a set top box with all bells & whistles that streams content to other cheap boxes on all the other sets. Every outlet can enjoy the benifits of a $500 box for $50 per set.

All digital - a box on every set - my kingdom comes of age :)

Originally posted by Mikef5
Keenan,

Just a quick question. Is Santa Rosa part of the Saratoga, Los Gatos, Milpitas headend ??? If that is the case then what's happening to your area will happen in our area also. I really hope that is not what is happening, I really would be forced to take this to an outside source, like tv or local newspapers, a situation that doesn't sit well with me. :(

Davisdog,

Do you have any ideas as to this really being true ?? I know that you have been trying to get things going in our area. Maybe DCTDictator could shed some light on this dark situation.

Another member of the Comcast 2% Club

It is not the same headend, but I think we are in similar situations. I think the major focus for Comast now is HSI and Telco service and we of the 2% club have been backburnered. There is more in the letter, I'll post it but keep in mind this is specific for Santa Rosa and the author of the letter is a City employee, not with Comcast

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

Hi James-

The franchise requirement for a 550 MHZ cable system is a minimum requirement and improvements Comcast is making and proposing to make to the system may allow it to function at a higher level. Comcast has related to us that the evolution of new technology will enable them to use the 550 MHz. more efficiently by adding "backroom" equipment to deliver products requiring higher bandwidth. Their focus with us has been on switching from analogue to digital formats and then to expand their capacity to provide HDTV, high speed internet and, to a much lesser extent, future telephone service. Comcast is also deploying more fiber in certain areas of their system to decrease the number of homes served from each node.

The discussions the City is having with Comcast now are focusing on having these improvements completed within the next 12 months and assurances to the City that they will indeed be made (performance bonds, economic penalties, etc.). There may be a future recourse on rates if the improvements we ultimately agree to have not been made and Comcast has collected rate increases to pay for the capital improvements. (In the mid '90s, all Santa Rosa cable subscribers were given a one-time $8 rate reduction as well as an ongoing rate decrease of $0.43 per month because similar issues with CableOne.) Under our current franchise, Comcast is meeting the franchise requirements. We have rather conservatively estimated, however, that Comcast will loose approximately $50 million dollars over the remaining life of the franchise by not offering high speed internet in Santa Rosa. The lost revenue opportunity for HDTV would be in addition to this estimate. Clearly, it would seem in Comcast's economic interest to offer these services to our community.

There is nothing in our franchise that prevents Comcast from upgrading the system and offering these services now. Comcast prefers not to upgrade the cable plant to something beyond 550 MHz and instead utilize the less costly "backroom" technology improvement approach. To achieve this goal, Comcast has requested "take backs" from services they are currently obligated to provide the City so the services the City is utilizing will no interfere with the "backroom" technology they want to deploy. The City is willing to do this and our negotiators have agreed on the technical aspects of the franchise changes that are needed. The City, however, wants assurances in the form of performance bonds and penalties added to the franchise so it can feel confident Comcast will do what they say they are going to do. The City is waiting for Comcast's response to our proposal and hoping to receive it any day. As soon as we get their agreement, the franchise changes will be taken to the City Council for approval and Comcast can move forward with implementation.

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

Originally posted by DCTDictator
The simple solution is a buzzword that has been used in trade news and mentioned a month ago here. It's called 'All Digital'. Either everything beyond lowest basic is compressed or everything is compressed and remapped to a DCT on every TV. All the same pain as satellite. This could be done immediately.

The new stuff is a set top box with all bells & whistles that streams content to other cheap boxes on all the other sets. Every outlet can enjoy the benifits of a $500 box for $50 per set.

All digital - a box on every set - my kingdom comes of age :)

Are you speaking in real terms here or is this still vaporware, and if it is reality what are the roadblocks to getting it implemented?

It gives me heartburn when I think about the fact that even though Comcast does not "charge" for HD per se, we pay the same rate as a customer who has more HD available to them. You can bet your ass that somewhere along the line the cost of providing HD overall has been built into the rate structure.

DCTDictator,

I am not mad at you, I am just venting in general because it appears that for the foreseeable future, what I have is all I'm getting and it sucks.

Jim
Comcast 2% Club

Originally posted by keenan
[B

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

Hi James-

As soon as we get their agreement, the franchise changes will be taken to the City Council for approval and Comcast can move forward with implementation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [/B]

I do plan on another interchange with the City concerning the above statement from the original letter and I will post what I find out. Probably will do it in about a week.

Jim

Jim-

First off, kudos to you for taking the time to do something that may ultimately help out a number of people. Hopefully your persistence and dedication will pay off in the end (sooner rather then later).

On that note, I hate to admit it but I think the city of Santa Rosa has made a good point. While 550MHz obviously isn't optimal, it does allow for Comcast to give 90%+ of it's customers what it wants: digital cable and broadband Internet. While things have really progressed for HD -- especially over the last 12 months -- we still have to remember that it's still in its "adoption" phase. And I think you hit the nail on the head when you talked about MPEG4, or better compression. We all know how much bandwidth will be freed up when Comcast starts to pull the analog channels. Couple that with much better compression technology and we're talking about a 550MHz system that acts more like an 860MHz system in 2 years. And yes, it is two years away, however I personally wouldn't want to be the guy at Comcast who authorizes $20 million for upgrades of a 550MHz system and 2 years from now has to explain why they did it when they would have only lost about $10,000 in revenue because of people switching providers.

I sincerely hope you folks in Santa Rosa find a resolution to the issue at hand because I know 3 or 4 years from now, us people in the 750MHz systems could be in the same boat.

Originally posted by keenan
Are you speaking in real terms here or is this still vaporware, and if it is reality what are the roadblocks to getting it implemented?


It's maybe 3 years down the road for widespread adaptation. If push came to shove - there are many DCT1800s unloved and ready to be deployed. I believe it's all real - the next upgrade will not involve millions of dollars being spent on line gear and fiber - like OTA TV phasing out analog, so will cable.

internetnews.com, 9/8/03
Comcast President Forsees All-Digital Network (http://boston.internet.com/news/article.php/3074021)

Multichannel News 2/9/04
Sony Passes Comcast Test (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA380333?display=Top+Stories)

USAToday, 7/1/04
Comcast won't force all customers to subscribe to digital and get one for at least five years — taking Comcast all-digital (http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2004-06-30-comcast_x.htm)

That comes from googling Comcast All Digital

The boxes? Google "DCT 700"

Motorola unveiled a new inexpensive all-digital box that carries the DCT-700 moniker (http://www.cedmagazine.com/cedailydirect/0603/cedaily030610.htm)

Jim,

Sounds like you also have a long road ahead of you...If their "backroom" approach is converting from analog to digital, that will clear up significant bandwidth but I dont see that happening anytime soon (you'll go crazy before than).

I'm sure you've figured out there is a reason comcast is upgrading other areas to 750/860Mhz...550Mhz is not enough now or in the future (you'll be in the 2% club forever...along with us).

You might want to find out how many public access etc (ie Analog) channels the city is willing to let them take off now...that's your best bet immediately...every analog channel that goes away is at least 2Hd Channels.

-Steve

Originally posted by fender4645
Jim-

First off, kudos to you for taking the time to do something that may ultimately help out a number of people. Hopefully your persistence and dedication will pay off in the end (sooner rather then later).

On that note, I hate to admit it but I think the city of Santa Rosa has made a good point. While 550MHz obviously isn't optimal, it does allow for Comcast to give 90%+ of it's customers what it wants: digital cable and broadband Internet. While things have really progressed for HD -- especially over the last 12 months -- we still have to remember that it's still in its "adoption" phase. And I think you hit the nail on the head when you talked about MPEG4, or better compression. We all know how much bandwidth will be freed up when Comcast starts to pull the analog channels. Couple that with much better compression technology and we're talking about a 550MHz system that acts more like an 860MHz system in 2 years. And yes, it is two years away, however I personally wouldn't want to be the guy at Comcast who authorizes $20 million for upgrades of a 550MHz system and 2 years from now has to explain why they did it when they would have only lost about $10,000 in revenue because of people switching providers.

I sincerely hope you folks in Santa Rosa find a resolution to the issue at hand because I know 3 or 4 years from now, us people in the 750MHz systems could be in the same boat.

I agree with what you've said and thanks, I plan on pursuing this further. But you're right, the reality is we have to look at the glass being 98% full as opposed to be 2% empty. If I was on a 330Mhz system and the outlook was as bleak as it is for Santa Rosa upgrading you can bet I would get the placards and hire Rent-A-Mob and go visit the folks at City Hall and at Comcast!!:D :D

Jim

Originally posted by davisdog
Jim,

You might want to find out how many public access etc (ie Analog) channels the city is willing to let them take off now...that's your best bet immediately...every analog channel that goes away is at least 2Hd Channels.

-Steve

I intend to do just that, in fact I think that was alluded to in the letter I received where the gives and takes were discussed.

In fact, and DCTDictator thanks for the links and maybe you could shed some light on my next question, when DiscoveryHD was first being brought out by Comcast, my contact within Comcast indicated that there was a plan to include it on 550MHz systems and that many folks "inside" were all for it but it got shot down by corporate. The fact that they were considering it tells me that theoretically is is possible to send out DiscoveryHD on 550MHz systems.

Can you share with us any info on and why the decision was made to not carry it on 550MHz?

Thanks,

Jim

Originally posted by keenan
The fact that they were considering it tells me that theoretically is is possible to send out DiscoveryHD on 550MHz systems.

Jim,

It's easy to send..you just need to allocate the bandwidth...On the 550Mhz systems (at least on saramilgatos) most of the HD channels are snuck into bandwidth that was found by removing Analog channels from the lineup.

For instance we dont have channel 33 anymore (whatever that was) and that space is now occupied by 2 of the HD Local Channels.

If you look at the frequency's of your existing HD channels using the front panel of your DCT box then you can see where they sit...you'll probably find them stuck in unused Analog channels.

tune to a channel on the DCT, power it off, then hit select and scroll down to d06 and hit select to see the Freq.

Compare that freq to this chart to see what channel it is using

http://www.cabl.com/restaurant/freq0.html

-Steve

Jim,

May I also suggest you play the Petaluma/Rohnert Park card? Santa Rosa is the county seat, the largest city in Sonoma County, yet the little brothers to the south both have 750 Mhz of bandwidth. Sebastopol and Sonoma and some unincorporated areas also have 750.

If these areas have 750 Mhz, why not Santa Rosa? Especially if the "backroom" technology eventually makes it our way as well, then there still will be a bandwidth "gap" between Santa Rosa and the rest of Sonoma County. Ergo, we will still receive more HD and advanced services, regardless of the "backroom" because there will still be that 200 Mhz gap.

Really, Santa Rosa city officials should be insisting that Comcast take the City to 1 GHz (even though it may take longer than a 750 rebuild), as that will be the gold standard going forward. At a minimum, 860 Mhz (which is what San Mateo County areas have just been rebuilt to).

Which brings up a good question-- why are they rebuilding to 860 Mhz in San Mateo County (and other areas of the Bay Area) but not in Santa Rosa? Same question could be asked by Saramilgatos residents. Get the City Manager to ask that question of Comcast and find out the response.

We were considering moving to Santa Rosa this summer, and might have with the right property, but the lack of HSI and limited HD was always in the back of my mind.

When does the current franchise agreement expire? And is Comcast seeking an extension? The City may have a lot of leverage which it could be using, but instead it sounds like it is giving in to Comcast's negotiating position way too easily.

Perhaps a citizens' advisory committee is in order, to help the City Manager's office do their job.

This is my new favorite thread... I have DirecTV/Tivo now, and I thought that I would need to get some expensive digital cable package from Comcast in order to get some HD Locals. Then I read that I could just get basic cable + an HD box - so thanks. :)

I just called Comcast to set up the installation. I'm still waiting for my new TV to be delivered, but I was worried there might be a wait for Comcast to actually come out and do the install. Turns out, they're coming tomorrow. Does anyone know if it's a problem that I don't actually have an HDTV yet? All they'll have to do is turn on the service and give me a box, right? Then when my actual HDTV arrives I'll get things set up on my own.

If they need me to actually have the new HDTV when they do the install, I just want to make sure I postpone the installation so I don't waste the guy's time.

Thanks,
Rick

Originally posted by rtwaters
This is my new favorite thread... I have DirecTV/Tivo now, and I thought that I would need to get some expensive digital cable package from Comcast in order to get some HD Locals. Then I read that I could just get basic cable + an HD box - so thanks. :)

I just called Comcast to set up the installation. I'm still waiting for my new TV to be delivered, but I was worried there might be a wait for Comcast to actually come out and do the install. Turns out, they're coming tomorrow. Does anyone know if it's a problem that I don't actually have an HDTV yet? All they'll have to do is turn on the service and give me a box, right? Then when my actual HDTV arrives I'll get things set up on my own.

If they need me to actually have the new HDTV when they do the install, I just want to make sure I postpone the installation so I don't waste the guy's time.

Thanks,
Rick

Welcome to the thread, Rick! You should be ok. If you can go pick up the STB's at the Comcast offices witout proving you have an HD-ready TV then the installer should be able to just leave one with you. One thing to note: if your new TV has a built-in QAM tuner and all you want are local channels then you may be able to get them without having a box at all. I personally don't have a built-in tuner but I believe some people on this thread do and are using quite well the Comcast locals.

Rick--

Since there seems to be so little delay in scheduling installations, I'd cancel and reschedule when the TV is actually there. Aside from any consideration re. "wasting" time, I'd be concerned about getting whatever assistance the installer can provide to make sure that the reception is AOK.

fender4645> One thing to note: if your new TV has a built-in QAM tuner and all you want are local channels then you may be able to get them without having a box at all.

And if your new TV has a CableCard slot, you can also get the encrypted channels without a box as well :-)

i have directv/tivo box and just got comcast HD installed also. i have been comparing the 2, and the comcast looks pretty bad. very grainy compared to the directv. i posted this somewhere else but am curious if anybody has compared directv hd and comcast hd. which better and what are the pros and cons for each service. im curious to see which is better in quality and price. any suggestion and comments would be greatly appreciated. maybe its the tv? toshiba 46hx83.

TIA

I have seen some really early posts on this subject, but I was wondering if anyone in the Sunnyvale area (94086) has any updates on when new HD channels will be added. I really wish I could watch inHD and DiscoveryHD.

Thanks,
Steve

I have another question for the Sunnyvale (94086) users. I have the 5100 stb. Does anyone have the 6200 or newer boxes? Any advantages besides firewire in getting the newer boxes? How about cable card? Does anyone have it? What are the pros/cons with cable card?

thanks,
Steve

For those in Saratoga/Milpitas/Los Gatos, I have learned that after over 2 months, the city of Saratoga has still not been able to get any sort of formal response from Comcast on our situation. Comcast appears to be stonewalling them. That ususally means bad news. As I wrote earlier, the office of Brian Roberts (CEO of Comcast) confirmed to me that Saramilgatos has no plans whatsoever for any upgrades to its current 550MHz system. It will remain at 550MHz indefinitely (however long that is!?!).

Still hoping our Saratoga City folks will give them a hard time and perhaps get SOME timeline out of Comcast.

Originally posted by hd-salee
I have seen some really early posts on this subject, but I was wondering if anyone in the Sunnyvale area (94086) has any updates on when new HD channels will be added. I really wish I could watch inHD and DiscoveryHD.

Thanks,
Steve

Steve,

You're on the older 550Mhz system in Sunnyvale and comcast has given no indication that they are working to upgrade it...For now you are stuck (with no timeline on when they might be able to free up additional bandwidth or upgrade the system).

I'm sure it will be posted here if anybody hears any good news.

-Steve

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Jim,

May I also suggest you play the Petaluma/Rohnert Park card? Santa Rosa is the county seat, the largest city in Sonoma County, yet the little brothers to the south both have 750 Mhz of bandwidth. Sebastopol and Sonoma and some unincorporated areas also have 750.

We were considering moving to Santa Rosa this summer, and might have with the right property, but the lack of HSI and limited HD was always in the back of my mind.

When does the current franchise agreement expire? And is Comcast seeking an extension?



I do intend to play that card in my next correspondence with the city.

One of the reasons we don't have extended HD offerings here is because the focus is on expanding HSI in the area, in fact it is their primary focus according to my contact. Personally, I could care less about cable HSI, DSL is fast enough for what I do, but I'm sure for others it is important.

Not sure when the agreement expires, I'm trying to locate the details and not sure where to look. Maybe the City Manager can provide them. These franchise agreements are a matter of public record aren't they?

Jim
Comcast 2% Club

Originally posted by hd-salee
I have another question for the Sunnyvale (94086) users. I have the 5100 stb. Does anyone have the 6200 or newer boxes? Any advantages besides firewire in getting the newer boxes? How about cable card? Does anyone have it? What are the pros/cons with cable card?

thanks,
Steve

The 6200 is available in S'Vale but the only real advantage is Firewire...It is slightly faster in channel changes because it has a slightly faster CPU but the speed difference it not very noticeable)

Cable Cards are available also...It does require a new TV with a cablecard slot.

Pro...

No big External STB/Tuner
No Charge for Card (they dont charge $5/mth like they do for the 5100/6200

Con...
Currently 1-way only so I dont think VOD or other services work..

There are a couple cable card users on this forum (or DCT..the cablecard King) can elaborate more.

Originally posted by bpearse
For those in Saratoga/Milpitas/Los Gatos, I have learned that after over 2 months, the city of Saratoga has still not been able to get any sort of formal response from Comcast on our situation. Comcast appears to be stonewalling them. That ususally means bad news. As I wrote earlier, the office of Brian Roberts (CEO of Comcast) confirmed to me that Saramilgatos has no plans whatsoever for any upgrades to its current 550MHz system. It will remain at 550MHz indefinitely (however long that is!?!).

Still hoping our Saratoga City folks will give them a hard time and perhaps get SOME timeline out of Comcast.

I think what's happening up here in Santa Rosa is exactly what is happening to you folks down there, no plans to upgrade, instead wait for new compression techniques, switching current analog to digital, and focus on HSI and telco offerings, after all, we are already on the Comcast hook, time to bait other potential revenue streams.

Jim
Comcast 2% Club

Originally posted by keenan
I think what's happening up here in Santa Rosa is exactly what is happening to you folks down there, no plans to upgrade, instead wait for new compression techniques, switching current analog to digital, and focus on HSI and telco offerings, after all, we are already on the Comcast hook, time to bait other potential revenue streams.

Jim
Comcast 2% Club

yep...although we've had HSI for 5+years on our system (it's a big moneymaker for them so I see given the choice of HSI or HD they'd focus on HSI...)...VOIP maybe more of a focus (which really doesnt need more Bandwidth) as opposed to traditional telco offerings that they tried and gave up on as TCI (although they may be trying again)

I'm not sure compression will help them since then they would need a new box with the power to decompress mpeg4 or WM9 etc...I havent looked at their encoding schemes enough to figure out if they can get some back switching the SD to QAM256 etc...Maybe I should go down to the headend on garrett street and look at the 'backroom' ;)

..but like you said...I think they are just waiting here :(

Re Comcast 550 Mhz systems with no upgrade plans, I think the bottom line is the "squeaky wheel gets the grease." The more you complain and the more you get City officials (staff and council members) on your side, the more likely you will get what you want.

Do any of the City Manager's staff and/or the City Council members have HDTV's? Maybe they haven't been introduced to the magic of HD. Or maybe some have HDTV's, and Comcast, but they don't realize that there are more HD channels out there which Comcast is not carrying because the system is still 550 Mhz (and that it will be that way for a long time if pressure isn't brought to bear).

Educate them by inviting them over to see your Comcast HD. Even better, maybe they can then go to a location on a 750 Mhz or greater system and see what they are missing (InHD, InHD2, Discovery HD, A's and Giants game in HD, Warriors and Sharks in HD in the fall).

Sharks in HD should be a big draw in the South Bay, and the only way to get it is on Comcast InHD2. Any Sharks fans on the city councils in Saramilgatos?

Originally posted by hd-salee
I have seen some really early posts on this subject, but I was wondering if anyone in the Sunnyvale area (94086) has any updates on when new HD channels will be added. I really wish I could watch inHD and DiscoveryHD.

Thanks,
Steve

I actually just asked this morning about DiscoveryHD availability in Sunnyvale/94086 when I was at the Santa Clara office (I went to swap out a broken 6200 STB). Unfortunately they informed me that there was no date in the foreseeable future for it - they only knew that San Jose was getting upgraded.

I have also been looking forward to DiscoveryHD and the InHD channels, and had somehow gotten the impression that Sunnyvale was in the midst of an upgrade too. I guess I was under the wrong impression. :(

Jim,

Is there anything the rest of us in Santa Rosa can do to help put the pressure on?

Originally posted by JasonQG
Jim,

Is there anything the rest of us in Santa Rosa can do to help put the pressure on?

Yes, for starters, you can email or send a letter to the City Managers office detailing your views and concerns about the situation, obviously I wouldn't rant and rave, the more people that contact them about it the better. Below is the email address I used when I sent my original letter. They were very quick to respond by the way, about 2 days.

Maybe we can spoof about 20,000 email addresses, I bet that would get there attention!:D :D

http://www.ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/default.aspx?PageId=89
City of Santa Rosa

It's about halfway down the page..

Jim

Up here in podunk Cloverdale, we're upgraded and running. We've got ABCHD, CBSHD, PBSHD, NBCHD, DiscoveryHD, INHD 1 & 2, HBOHD, MAXHD, SHOHD, StarzHD, ESPN HD and Giants and A's in HD. We also have about 75 more digital channels than Santa Rosa.

Tell that to the City of SR. Do theywant to be outdone by little 'ol Cloverdale? :)

JT

Originally posted by dvdguyjt
Up here in podunk Cloverdale, we're upgraded and running. We've got ABCHD, CBSHD, PBSHD, NBCHD, DiscoveryHD, INHD 1 & 2, HBOHD, MAXHD, SHOHD, StarzHD, ESPN HD and Giants and A's in HD. We also have about 75 more digital channels than Santa Rosa.

Tell that to the City of SR. Do theywant to be outdone by little 'ol Cloverdale? :)

JT

Jeeez, nothing like rubbing it in:D

Yeah, Santa Rosa is definately taking a back seat, you can imagine how I felt when my contact at Comcast told me in Healdsburg where he lives, they have an 860MHz system and there are all kinds of toys available to him, so many that he has not even watched all the HD, or played with VOD and so on....


Jim

Originally posted by keenan

http://www.ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/default.aspx?PageId=89
City of Santa Rosa

It's about halfway down the page.. Thanks, I'll send one right away. I hope we can get a lot of people to help.

Ok, I just got back from visiting my brother in Stockton. Man he has every channel that Comcast offers. There is about 8 different HBO's , 6 SHO's , etc. etc. etc. They have VDO, Inhd1 and 2, DiscoveryHD..... I am so p.o'd I could just spit. What real sucks is that the firmware version on his box is 7.58, tha't right I looked twice, but what was strange was his box is a DCT 2000, I thought they got rid of those long ago. Anyway, I'm going to go sit in a corner and watch my 2% Comcast offerings and sob. I think it's time for Michael Finney ( channel 7's, 7 on your side) to get an e-mail and the more he gets the more Comcast will have to answer to. I don't think we should have to wait 2 to 3 years for upgrades to our system. If it weren't so hot in Stockton I'd move in a heart beat.

End of rant, thank you I feel a little better now ;)
Back to my sobbing......

DCT2000 Firmware #'s (7.58 for example) does not correlate with the Firmware #'s for the HD Boxes (The DCT2000 will not do HD).

They need better offerings in Stockton anyway...it's too hot to go outside...

I'll keep my 550Mhz if it means moving from Saratoga to Stockton ;)

davisdog,

Thanks for the input. I kind of figured that the numbers were to weird to be the same for the boxes but I thought that the 2000's were out of the system by now. Anyways, I did a check on the Stockton website and they do have the 5100s and the 6200s available so he's going to turn the box in tomorrow and get a newer one. If the info on the non-upgrade for our area is true, I'm not waiting 3 years for any upgrades, so I'll cut Comcast down to bare minimum and go with Direct tv or Voom, it's really sad because I've had really no problems with Comcast at all, for the most part I've been really pleased with them but their shunning of us in the 2% areas is just a little much to abide with. It's a little much to pay the same prices for this service that all the Bay Area is and not get the same channels that the rest do.

Back to my corner....

Mike,
I'm not sure on what there plans are..but the lack of saying anything leads us to believe they are doing little or nothing...I only wish they would tell us the plans so we could decide (ps Voom sounds interesting but the financial and subscriber numbers they released the other day looked pretty bleak...and I know the day I spend a $1K on a D* HD Tivo is the day Comcast launches the Moxi box for no cost and adds the other channels :)



too add insult to injury...they just ran an add for Discovery HD on the TV...call your cable operator to get it

and then the adds for A's/Giants games in HD...

and then I still get a weekly email from InHD with their schedule for the week

arrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh

-Steve

Davisdog,
I'm sure you are probably right about the timing of switching, Murphy's Law is with you. The $1,000 D* HD Tivo is the only thing that is a stopper right now with the D* system, but I sure like the Tivo interface... :)
My sister has the Tivo and it really let's you know what you are missing with what we have now, God I feel the tears coming again.....

back to the corner.

We'll Comcast/Saramilgatos (and presumably the rest of the Bay Area) is about to get a new HD Channel

KRON-HD (ie Ch 4) will be added 8/18 on channel 704.

The question I have is what the heck does channel 4 have in HD? I never watched them after they lost the NBC affliation.

Their Prime Time Lineup seems to consist of "Dr Phil", "News" and "Inside Edition" almost every night...not exactly compelling HD (at least when you are on a system that is lacking several good HD channels...)...I'm guessing some sort of carriage agreement they had which compelled them to reserve bandwidth for the digital channel. Hopefully they have (or will have) some good HD.

-Steve

KRON carries a modified version of HDNET. Before you get excited, just watch it over the air, if you have an OTA receiver, and you will not be that excited. Some good eye candy, but 90% is 1-2 year old showings of women's college basketball.

Will 49ers-Raiders in HD?

Originally posted by davisdog
We'll Comcast/Saramilgatos (and presumably the rest of the Bay Area) is about to get a new HD Channel

KRON-HD (ie Ch 4) will be added 8/18 on channel 704.

The question I have is what the heck does channel 4 have in HD? I never watched them after they lost the NBC affliation.

Their Prime Time Lineup seems to consist of "Dr Phil", "News" and "Inside Edition" almost every night...not exactly compelling HD (at least when you are on a system that is lacking several good HD channels...)...I'm guessing some sort of carriage agreement they had which compelled them to reserve bandwidth for the digital channel. Hopefully they have (or will have) some good HD.

-Steve

Are you kidding me? I better not see this show up on my 2% system after they have been feeding me the story about bandwidth restrictions for DiscHD and FSN. Where did you learn this? If it is a carriage agreement and the BW has been reserved, they had better have reserved BW for FOX-KTVU when it/if becomes available. This has got to be some sort of bad nightmare.

Jim :(

Comcast 2% Club

I wonder if this agreement was made when KRON was still the NBC affiliate before NBC bought KNTV. The management of KRON have been real stick-in-the-muds concerning KNTV request to move to a tower on San Bruno Mt to increase their OTA coverage to a more central location in the Bay Area. From what I have read it has been one BS objection after the other. I think KNTV finally got FCC approval though.

Jim

Howdy Folks,

I just delved into the world of HD as I bought myself an HDTV last week (Panasonic PT50LC14)!

This past week I called Comcast and scheduled an appointment for an installer to come out and set up an HD receiver. My question to you guys is, is it going to make a difference for me whether I get the 5100 or the 6200 box seeing as how I live in Santa Rosa? (I'm not liking what I'm seeing about the 2% club thing :P)

I'm hoping I'll have access to the Giants/A's games in HD (please say it's so!)

Thanks ahead of time for any responses!

PEM,

Unless you are going to try to setup your own HD Recording system (ie buy a D-VHS or attach your PC to it) then whether you get a 5100/6200 is pretty mute (6200 is required if you need a firewire output).

If you are on the edges of Santa Rosa there's a slim chance you may be on an adjacent cable system but odds are on the old Santa Rosa system and are hosed as far as FSN-HD etc...

If you already have a digital (non-HD) cable box, check to see what happens if you punch in Channel 196...If it tunes in but gives you no picture than you are okay (and you'll see the picture when they swap in the HD box)...if it doesnt let you input that channel at all than you are in the 2% club.

-Steve

Pem,

What part of Santa Rosa? If you don't get 196 the you're probably on the same plant as me like Steve says. In that case you will get,

184 NBC
185 ABC
186 CBS
188 PBS
193 ESPN
197 HBO
198 SHO
199 Cinemax
200 Starz

Those are the ones that are available depending on what package you order. Of course those channel numbers are all moving into 700's the first of September, but I doubt there will be any additional content when that happens.

Jim

davisdog,

As far as DVHS, isn't the copy never flag still on the premium channels(HBO,SHO,etc). It got turned on I think with FW 7.10 but I don't know about 7.15.

Jim

re: KRON-HD
I'm in the 2% club with a lot of the rest of you and would also prefer getting DiscoveryHD, HDNet, TNT-HD, or WB-HD before KRON. I only watch KRON on the weekends in the morning, they have a pretty good AM show. Otherwise, nothing really interests me. What's the best way to make our displeasure know to Comcast?

Originally posted by keenan
Pem,

What part of Santa Rosa? If you don't get 196 the you're probably on the same plant as me like Steve says. In that case you will get,

184 NBC
185 ABC
186 CBS
188 PBS
193 ESPN
197 HBO
198 SHO
199 Cinemax
200 Starz

Those are the ones that are available depending on what package you order. Of course those channel numbers are all moving into 700's the first of September, but I doubt there will be any additional content when that happens.

Jim

My place is a little north of Stony Point and Hearn, and unfortunately, my TV won't let me tune to 196, so the 2% club has 1 extra member now. :P

Ah well, here's hoping for some positive changes.

Originally posted by rshaw
re: KRON-HD
I'm in the 2% club with a lot of the rest of you and would also prefer getting DiscoveryHD, HDNet, TNT-HD, or WB-HD before KRON.

The morning show isn't broadcast on KRON-DT. I'm sure the signal they will be putting up is the "modified" HD-Net programming that is cleared for local broadcast.

Does Comcast carry TNT-HD anywhere yet?

I would much rather have that KRON :rolleyes:

Jim

A question for the people of Saramilgatos and the other members of the 2% club. Has anyone lately gotten the red message light on your boxes, in other words, Comcast sending you a message through the box ???
I for one have not seen a message sent from Comcast announcing anything at all. No advertizing, no upcoming events, no system status, no messages at all. It would be interesting to see if we are forgotten in this area also.

Oh, and if I had my choice of a new HD station it would be Fox Sports HD, gotta love those Giants.

I got one a couple of months ago, I think it was to advertise some wrestling match or something,

Jim

Originally posted by youngbuc
i have directv/tivo box and just got comcast HD installed also. i have been comparing the 2, and the comcast looks pretty bad. very grainy compared to the directv. i posted this somewhere else but am curious if anybody has compared directv hd and comcast hd. which better and what are the pros and cons for each service. im curious to see which is better in quality and price. any suggestion and comments would be greatly appreciated. maybe its the tv? toshiba 46hx83.

TIA

Whle I can't offer an A/B comparison between the two, I can say that I have not noticed Comcast HD looking 'pretty bad' or 'grainy'. Quite the opposite, it looks excellent, assuming the source material is in fact well-produced HD. For reference, I'm using Comcast's moto 6200 box via component to a HS20 on a 100" diagonal screen, using either 1080i or 720p output.

However, since nobody else seemed to have responded, you might try to provide the following information :

- which HD STB did Comcast give you? How is it connected to the toshiba (component or DVI)? What signal type is the box configured to output (1080i/720p/480p or -gasp- 480i) ?

- what channel(s) and shows are you using for comparison?

- is there any more detail you can provide about the "graininess" ? e.g. is it a "soft" (not sharp) image? Or macro-blocking? Or something else?

- have you looked at the diagnostic menu to see what the signal strength, correctable/uncorrectable errors etc. are for the channel? I don't recall exactly how to do this right now (I'm not in front of my STB), but other threads/posts in the forum probably describe how to do this.

So my suggestion in terms of the "quality" comparison is to make sure the Comcast HD you're auditioning is actually as it should be. I'd also suggest you compare quantity (available channels that you want - this varies by city for Comcast) and availability of a DVR, as well as price in the final analysis. Hope this helps!

Originally posted by keenan
Does Comcast carry TNT-HD anywhere yet?

Jim

Nope...and no hints that they will...from what I've heard TNT-HD is still pretty limited on actual HD content (most is just upconverted)...then again some is better than none...

"compared directv hd and comcast hd"

I dont have D* but from everything I've read, Comcast HD picture is generally the same or slightly better than the D* HD equivalent.

This would be because D* does some compression while Comcast send the full signal. I believe D* has cut back on the compress some because of complaints.

For non-HD...D* is better than comcast Analog, and both SD are similar quality

Originally posted by keenan
davisdog,

As far as DVHS, isn't the copy never flag still on the premium channels(HBO,SHO,etc). It got turned on I think with FW 7.10 but I don't know about 7.15.

Jim

You may be right, I havent checked lately...I played a little with FW to my G4 laptop but it was really too much of a hassle.

I just left the bay area to move to Nevada and hooked up to Charter, No INHD but we will be getting Fox in mid/late Aug. DiscHD appears a way off. Install tech appeared to have his S*** together. Inet is blazing and we have a 860/1g system.

Originally posted by davisdog
"compared directv hd and comcast hd"

I dont have D* but from everything I've read, Comcast HD picture is generally the same or slightly better than the D* HD equivalent.

This would be because D* does some compression while Comcast send the full signal. I believe D* has cut back on the compress some because of complaints.

For non-HD...D* is better than comcast Analog, and both SD are similar quality

I have both and concur with the above, but when it comes to content Comcast wins.

Jim

btw...Channel 187 will be used for KGO Weather and added 8/18 (I think its just a weather radar picture that KGO-7 recently started broadcasting on one of their OTA Digital Subchannels)

davisdog,

If it's not a trade secret ( ;) ), where did you get the info. re the new channels?

If Comcast is going to add KRON-DT, it really needs to add KBWB-DT also, given that KBWB will have 9.5 hours of HD per week + DD 5.1 this fall + Lord of the Rings in HD in November. Its programming (except for LOTR!) is usually not my cup of tea but the number of hours and the 5.1 sound deserves carriage (especially since KTVU-DT is highly unlikely).



FYI for everyone, the interactive guide (at least my version) now has an "Olympics" category on the main menu screen. It takes up the place where PPV by Title used to be. Includes the Spanish channel coverage (Telemundo) for the soccer fans out there.

Right now, 185 (HD Olympics) has exactly the same listings as 3 (analog), which we know is not correct. Hopefully TV Guide will fix that although I would be surprised if they do.

SonomaSearcher,

I know I'm not davisdog, but there was a message sent out from comcast to the DCT announcing the channel additions. No trade secret involved. :)

- Yuri

YuriLuzr,
That's why I was asking if anyone in the Comcast 2% club had received a message on their boxes. I haven't had any messages in a couple of months, so it makes you wonder if we really are the red headed orphans. :|

yep...just a global message from the Santa Clara headend that showed up on the DCT message log (first time they've actually sent a worthwhile message...usually they are just about some stupid advertisement for a PPV wrestling match).

MikeF5..I saw your PM yesterday about not getting any messages...I'm in the 2% club...surprised you didnt get this message since it should have been system wide (and were on the same system)...does make me wonder, since you havent seen any messages...they are infrequent but do come every couple weeks or so. You might go into the menu/messages just to check if you have any in there (maybe your red light is burnt out which is the only indictator of a new one?)..otherwise maybe you are in the .02%?

Davisdog,
I have 2 boxes, 5100 and 6200, no messages on either, and I went into the message area just to be sure..... no messages. Like I said, a couple of months ago I got messages almost weekly about promotions or upcoming events, now nada. The only thing that has changed is when the installer came with the 6200 box he changed out one of the splitters but that shouldn't stop a message from coming into the box, so I'm at a loss.

I'm in Santa Clara and we haven't had a message for two months.

DCTDictator,

Anyway you con confirm if the message system from the HE to some of the areas is screwed up...

Looks like santa clara and milpitas havent been getting messages for a couple months...At least in areas of Saratoga and SJ seem to still be getting them.

Thx
Steve

Well, we did not get the message up here either on a 750 Mhz system (so I assume nobody off the Rohnert Park head end received it). (Unless my better half deleted it without telling me which I doubt extremely-- but I'll ask her to make sure.)

It's screwy how the messages sometimes show up and sometimes don't, and there is no consistency about which areas don't get them and when. Seems very disorganized.

However, I think Comcast pays TV Guide for each message sent, the amount depending on the number of subscribers receiviing it. So maybe that explains why nobody gets all the messages all the time.

Perhaps the "great message sender in the sky" (in Denver) decides which head ends he'll send the messages to based on the type of morning he's having.

Anyway, just to get a message announcing a new but unexpected HD channel is out of the ordinary and a good thing, regardless of the fact that most of us did not receive it.

Maybe they figured they'd send it to one head end only and the Avsforum members there would quickly spread the news and they'd save some greenbacks. ;)

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Maybe they figured they'd send it to one head end only and the Avsforum members there would quickly spread the news and they'd save some greenbacks. ;)

haha...I thought that too...although they saved even more money than that...it went to just a couple nodes..not even an entire headend.

but hey...I wish they would use those 750/860 networks for being the messaging systems...us 2%'ers need all of spare bytes we can get.

:D

Originally posted by davisdog
haha...I thought that too...although they saved even more money than that...it went to just a couple nodes..not even an entire headend.

but hey...I wish they would use those 750/860 networks for being the messaging systems...us 2%'ers need all of spare bytes we can get.

:D

Really, if KRON-HD shows up where I'm at I'll be more than just a little annoyed..

Jim :rolleyes:

Originally posted by keenan
Really, if KRON-HD shows up where I'm at I'll be more than just a little annoyed..

Jim :rolleyes:


agreed, maybe they'll give us the choice of kron-hd or fsba-hd? (i wish, tongue firmly in cheek!!!)

Just received my 46" Sammy and hooked up to my DCT5100 using DVI. It didn't seem to go through the software download sequence the instructions mentioned, but it seems to work fine. I get NBCHD, CBSHD, ABCHD, PBSHD and ESPNHD. Didn't have much time to check out anything else, had to get back to work. I'll have to do more setup/testing tonight. How do I check the software version number?

Originally posted by davisdog


KRON-HD (ie Ch 4) will be added 8/18 on channel 704.

The question I have is what the heck does channel 4 have in HD? I never watched them after they lost the NBC affliation.

-Steve

Where did this info come from? Is there a reason or a contract agreement as to why Comcast is adding this channel? Did I miss the explanation somewhere here?

Jim :confused:

Jim,

It came in a broadcast message from the Santa Clara Headend so I'm sure its accurate.

On the brightside, for those of us in the 2% Market, this will be the 1st channel with 24/7 HD so at least we have something to show our friends whenever they come over (even if it is HDNet reruns). All the other channels just have occassional HD on them.

I feel your pain though I would much rather have INHD or DSCHD given a choice...(but at least for those on 750Mhz+ networks this is a nice bonus)

i got the message about the new hd channel, i'm in sunnyvale on the 550mhz network, one of the 2% club...

Originally posted by davisdog
Jim,

It came in a broadcast message from the Santa Clara Headend so I'm sure its accurate.

On the brightside, for those of us in the 2% Market, this will be the 1st channel with 24/7 HD so at least we have something to show our friends whenever they come over (even if it is HDNet reruns). All the other channels just have occassional HD on them.

I feel your pain though I would much rather have INHD or DSCHD given a choice...(but at least for those on 750Mhz+ networks this is a nice bonus)

Weird, I would love to see what the particulars are of why Comcast is carrying this channel. The only explanation I would accept is that they contractually obligated for some reason or another. Not to attack anyones viewing habits, but why waste the bandwidth on something that might be mildly interesting for a week or so, after that who cares, more important, if advertising drives the broadcast industry, you'd think they would put on something that people will watch.

I think I got it figured out, after the HDNet loop, we'll have the first Hi-Def paid programming channel, get your credit cards out and be sure to get that glorious looking bar-b-que you always wanted but never looked very good until you saw it in HD:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Wow,

Jim;)

Why is everyone complaining about KRON-DT??

Isn't everyone excited about seeing Gary Radnich in High Def! What a joy!

Much better than getting KTVU-Fox in High Def in time for football season.

Yes, I know that Cox is supposedly putting the screws to Comcast, but let's face it - if Comcast really WANTS to make it happen, it can make it happen in time for football season. Unfortunately, we HDTVers are too small a group at this time to make a difference.

re: Olympics
I got to watch the Olympics in HD last night. My set arrived yesterday and I self-installed the STB. Once the Olympics finally got stared it was great, long but great. I mostly stuck with it, jumping to the AFI Music show from time to time when they kept rerunning the Sony Hi-Def ad. I had some people over last night and they literally said "Wow" when they saw the picture. The pictures of Greece were spectacular.

I'm looking forward to the 49er game tonight

Can someone recommend which HD provider is the best choice in SF? DirectTV, Comcast, or Voom? I currently have DirectTV but the DTV HD offering is somewhat limited compared to the others. I am also a little worried about the OTA reception given that i am in Noe Valley and sorta in the "shadow" of twin peaks.

please let me know if there is a better place to ask this question...

thanks
mitch

Originally posted by mitchgrasso
Can someone recommend which HD provider is the best choice in SF? DirectTV, Comcast, or Voom? I currently have DirectTV but the DTV HD offering is somewhat limited compared to the others. I am also a little worried about the OTA reception given that i am in Noe Valley and sorta in the "shadow" of twin peaks.

please let me know if there is a better place to ask this question...

thanks
mitch

As far as content Comcast is hard to beat. If you are in an up-graded area, the only thing Directv has over Comcast is HDNet and they lack many other channels Comcast carries. I don't know about Voom anymore, I stopped paying attention when their technical problems seemed to go on forever, but I do think they have BravoHD and TNT-HD among others, but from what I understand sighting the dish for reception is an issue since the bird is in the sky above Brazil or somewhere down there. I've heard of installations where the dish is actually aimed below the horizon which could be a problem for you. Plus entry price for Comcast is much cheaper than the satcos.

Jim

I currently have both Comcast and VOOM. I live in the east bay, I would say over all comcast is probably your best bet. The only thing your missing out on voom is TNTHD, BRAVOHD, and their special channels. Realistically the content on these channels aren't that great, it is nice to have though. ONly reason why I stlill have voom is for DISCHD as it it not available yet in my area, but once they are I'll cancel voom. If you can get OTA then you'll have a lot of good channels with comcast. Also Voom has raised its prices from when I first got it, so I'd say comcast is more worth it.

Originally posted by dailowai
I currently have both Comcast and VOOM. I live in the east bay, I would say over all comcast is probably your best bet. The only thing your missing out on voom is TNTHD, BRAVOHD, and their special channels. Realistically the content on these channels aren't that great, it is nice to have though. ONly reason why I stlill have voom is for DISCHD as it it not available yet in my area, but once they are I'll cancel voom. If you can get OTA then you'll have a lot of good channels with comcast. Also Voom has raised its prices from when I first got it, so I'd say comcast is more worth it.

Is it possible to get TNT-HD and Bravo-HD with a cheap package with Voom? And how low is the dish pointed? I'm up in Santa Rosa, plus I have redwoods all over the property, found a small hole for D* though.

Jim

Originally posted by keenan
Is it possible to get TNT-HD and Bravo-HD with a cheap package with Voom? And how low is the dish pointed? I'm up in Santa Rosa, plus I have redwoods all over the property, found a small hole for D* though.

Jim

Cheap is relative...you will not be able to get it cheaper than $60/month ($50 for minimum package and $10 STB rental) + $200 install fee


http://www.voom.com/get_it/offers.jsp


The satellite is much further east of D*'s(61.5 deg) so your look angle will be really low to the south east

There's a utility here to figure out the look angle...

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=54432&postcount=193

There setup may be worth is if you can get OTA...but you really have to question how long they will be in business...Only 25K+ subscribers and bleeding Red in the hundreds of Millions (although I wish them well, competition is good). They were a much better deal a month ago before the raised prices and dropped the free install.

-Steve

Originally posted by davisdog

There setup may be worth is if you can get OTA...but you really have to question how long they will be in business...Only 25K+ subscribers and bleeding Red in the hundreds of Millions (although I wish them well, competition is good). They were a much better deal a month ago before the raised prices and dropped the free install.

-Steve

Yeah, I followed Voom on Yahoo for awhile and that's pretty much my feeling about them also. Great idea but terrible implementation. Maybe in a year or so, if they are still around, but by then I should be on a 1Ghz with Comcast:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Jim

I would only recommend Voom if you really need to watch those exclusive chanenls they have, I don't really ahve any problems with it but the price is pretty hefty. Lucky for me I'm still on the old pricing, but once I have to start paying the higher price I'm canceling the service. If you can get OTA and Comcast, I recommend that setup.

What's with the re-run loops. Are we going to get 200 hours of HD Olympic coverage of the opening ceremonies / parade of nations repeated 50 times?

Saturday night (it's currently 10:30pm) is a repeat of last night's opening ceremonies. It sure looks like NBC had dropped the HD ball. I'm sure lots of folks went out and bought big-screen HDTVs to see the Olympics in HD, not to see the same 4 hours repeated endlessly, particularly the "tour of Athens" which was looped 2-3 consecutive times tonight.

On the plus side, Olympic coverage sure does look better in 16:9 HD; let's hope NBC shoots another 2 or 3 hours of new HD coverage before the closing ceremonies!!!!!


My apologies to NBC; I just logged onto the NBC site and they're only repeating the opening ceremonies 10 times Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then they'll repeat Gymnastics/Swimming/Diving 3 times on Sunday, and quite possibly the same loops on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Can't tell for sure, because NBC offers no details)

SEE: http://nbcolympics.zap2it.com/tv/grid.jsp?state=1&from=1092542400000&stations=11705_16300_10139_11207_10057_10239_20459_&station_id=20459&zone=-5_1&genre=

There's numerous threads on the HD coverage in the programming section...

Its a separate production from the regular show and is delayed one day behind the actual events. Usually 6-8 unique hours per day showing some of the better known events from the previous day, repeated 2-4x.

The reason sadly is advertiser ratings...Nielson doesnt count HD viewers in their ratings so NBC is delaying the HD shows so they don't pull viewers away from the regular shows in order to preserve high ratings (and advertiser $)


There is a schedule here

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HDTV-in-SFbay/files/

Sammy Remote Codes
Has anyone gotten the Samsung remote to control their Comcast STB? I have a Samsung 4663 and a Motorola DCT5100. In the Sammy instruction booklet they don't list any codes for Motorola. My coffee table if filling up with remotes again and I would like to combine some functions, if possible,

Perhaps it's my setup (Sasem OnAir USB2 QAM Tuner Box), but I'm not getting 5.1DD on the Olympics broadcast on KNTV-HD (D116.1). I did notice that NBC-HD claimed the broadcast was in 5.1 but perhaps Comcast isn't sending that along to folks in the Pleasanton/EastBay Area?

Can anyone confirm 5.1 Audio on the Olympics broadcasts?

Personally, I haven't been too impressed with the HD content. Not only is the SD broadcast delayed, but the HD content is delayed even further (and much more limited).

I do have to thank NBC for this "experiment". I do, however, feel bad for folks who accellerated their HD purchases (or stressed over not being able to like me) to be in time for these Olympics. And certainly the Opening Ceremonies were quite impressive.

And then there's that Sony HD commercial :-)

Any word on when the HD-DVRs are coming to the saratoga area?

Originally posted by edmc
Perhaps it's my setup (Sasem OnAir USB2 QAM Tuner Box), but I'm not getting 5.1DD on the Olympics broadcast on KNTV-HD (D116.1). I did notice that NBC-HD claimed the broadcast was in 5.1 but perhaps Comcast isn't sending that along to folks in the Pleasanton/EastBay Area?

Can anyone confirm 5.1 Audio on the Olympics broadcasts?

Personally, I haven't been too impressed with the HD content. Not only is the SD broadcast delayed, but the HD content is delayed even further (and much more limited).

I do have to thank NBC for this "experiment". I do, however, feel bad for folks who accellerated their HD purchases (or stressed over not being able to like me) to be in time for these Olympics. And certainly the Opening Ceremonies were quite impressive.

And then there's that Sony HD commercial :-)

It is 5.1 in Fremont

Originally posted by rshaw
Sammy Remote Codes
Has anyone gotten the Samsung remote to control their Comcast STB? I have a Samsung 4663 and a Motorola DCT5100. In the Sammy instruction booklet they don't list any codes for Motorola. My coffee table if filling up with remotes again and I would like to combine some functions, if possible,

Check to see if General Instrument is listed - it was that before Moto bought them.

The olympics are in 5.1. Make sure your box is set to output matrix rather than just stereo.

Anyone know why there is no Discovery-HD in San Mateo County yet?
I have all the other HD channels that Comcast is offering at the moment.

B

Hi,

I have a related quesiton to the Dolby 5.1 output from 6200 STB.

I just got a 6200 over the weekend and set it up. Everything seems to be working except that for pograms that are shown as DD5.1 (on the on screen infomation bar), my amplifier does not seem to be able to recognize it.

I have the STB connected to my amplifier (a SONY one) using optical cable. When I use the same settings with a DVD player, the amplifier will light up a "Discrete" indicator light to indicate the signal is Dolby 5.1. It does NOT happen with any channels/programs from the 6200 STB.

Is there anything else I need to set on the 6200 to make it out Dolby 5.1?

Make sure your box is set to output matrix rather than just stereo.

How to do this? Is the "box" refering to the 6200? Thanks

It works for me on my amp. I'm using the TOSLink connector, but I can't image it would be different with coax. My reciever is set to auto mode, so it flips to whatever audio type is available.

Bfisch, yes, no Discovery HD yet in the county system. Someone maybe forgot, since there is plenty of bandwidth available to carry it. With the olympics on a 24 hr delay and looping I could something else to watch.

Maybe it'll all get turned on when KRON is added.

Thanks,
Mike

dys,

I had the same problem when I first hooked up my 6200. Here's how to fix it:

Hit menu and choose set-up.

Go to the audio submenu and toggle to get into the advanced set-up. It will then let you pick output type. I believe the choices are matrix stereo, stereo, and mono. To get 5.1 sent, select matrix. That should do it.

B

Format question
I 'm new to watching HD and last night watched CSI (probably a repeat) on CBS. I was watching the HD channel but the picture was 4:3. I though all HD was 16:9. It was a very clear picture; do some of the HD programs broadcast in 4:3?

I also watched Seabiscuit later on HBOHD and it was spectacular.

Love my new Sammy!

rshaw,

Welcome to the wonderful world of HD and yes CSI last night was a rerun and it was not shown in HD. Sometimes CBS ( and others ) forgets to switch to HD. Also, I noticed you're from Milpitas, so welcome to the Comcast 2% club, I'm sure someone will explain that one to you. I'm also in Milpitas and part of the 2% club. Also, tune to channel 185 for the NBC HD coverage of the Olympics, it's yesterdays events but nice eye candy.

Originally posted by bfisch
dys,

I had the same problem when I first hooked up my 6200. Here's how to fix it:

Hit menu and choose set-up.

Go to the audio submenu and toggle to get into the advanced set-up. It will then let you pick output type. I believe the choices are matrix stereo, stereo, and mono. To get 5.1 sent, select matrix. That should do it.

B

Thanks. Will give it a try tonight.

Just an update: It works! Thanks a lot.

Mikef5
Thanks Mike, I've been reading the posts for a while and have learned about the 2% club. Do you have a contat at City Hall that's the person to talk to about Comcast. We need more channels and I don't mind being a squeaky wheel.

rshaw,
If you look on the bottom of your Comcast bill there is the name, phone number and address of the Franchise Authority for our city. That is where you need to start and make your complaints known. If that doesn't get you satisfaction then the City Counsel would be your next step. Milpitas does have a city web site and the e-mail addresses are posted there. I believe bpearse is trying to work with the city council in Saratoga but I don't think much has come of it as of yet. I am sure that if enough people complained about paying the same price for the Comcast packages but not getting the same channels that might get someone to look into the reasons for the inequities for the different areas.

Has anyone had any problems with their ESPNHD. For the past few days, everytime I go to that channel, it says that the channel will be available shortly. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt. All my other HD channels work fine. Sorry if this has been posted already. Thanks.

I think Comcast looks at it differently, they figure they are not charging people for HD, so they can supply different channels and such to their subscribers. The $5 a month you pay is not for HD but for the upgraded box you use that allows you to see the HD channels. All digital boxes can tune to the HD channels, they just can't output the signal. Don't get me wrong, I'm not on Comcasts side on this, just thinking about the issue a bit differently.

I wouldn't mind paying an HD subscription fee if I could get all the HD channels there were to be had.

- Yuri

any update on San Carlos? Im moving there at the end of the month. The stupid Comcast people on the phone are clueless as ALWAYS.

Originally posted by v10king
any update on San Carlos?...It's not soup yet. (Nothing on my cable but 64QAM so far)

Originally posted by YuriLuzr
I think Comcast looks at it differently, they figure they are not charging people for HD, so they can supply different channels and such to their subscribers. The $5 a month you pay is not for HD but for the upgraded box you use that allows you to see the HD channels. All digital boxes can tune to the HD channels, they just can't output the signal. Don't get me wrong, I'm not on Comcasts side on this, just thinking about the issue a bit differently.

I wouldn't mind paying an HD subscription fee if I could get all the HD channels there were to be had.

- Yuri

True, they do not charge for HD just the box to decode it.

I would be careful about suggesting an HD subscription fee, it could set a dangerous precedent for further down the road.

Jim :)

Originally posted by keenan
True, they do not charge for HD just the box to decode it.

I would be careful about suggesting an HD subscription fee, it could set a dangerous precedent for further down the road.

Jim :)

Well I think that if there was a HD tier, then Comcast would have to deliver all channels uniformly to all subscribers. That would give the 2% club a more solid footing for arguing their discrimination on Comcasts part.

Originally posted by YuriLuzr
Well I think that if there was a HD tier, then Comcast would have to deliver all channels uniformly to all subscribers. That would give the 2% club a more solid footing for arguing their discrimination on Comcasts part.

True, but that is a concession I am not prepared to make. Remember, in a negotiation, never give up something before it's even been asked for.

Jim :)

Jim--

Of course Comcast will charge (more than $5/mo) for HD service sometime in the future. The only questions are, "when?" and "how much?" Right now, their game is all about market conditioning (as in, "The first one's free, kid.") because there's no point in charging for something that "nobody" (i.e., the few percent of their customers who have HDTV gear today) can buy anyway. :D

Originally posted by TPeterson
Jim--

Of course Comcast will charge (more than $5/mo) for HD service sometime in the future. The only questions are, "when?" and "how much?" Right now, their game is all about market conditioning (as in, "The first one's free, kid.") because there's no point in charging for something that "nobody" (i.e., the few percent of their customers who have HDTV gear today) can buy anyway. :D

I'm not so sure about that. At some point (hopefully sooner rather then later) most programming will be in high definition. What are they going to do...charge extra for 90% of their channels? While we may eventually see a rise in cable prices to compensate for this, I don't think we'll see an actual "HD Package" like Dish and D* does. When the satellite guys first came out with these packages, they saw it as a revenue stream. Comcast seems to think that by not doing it is a way to keep customers. The main reason why we've yet to see some pretty obvious channels (KTVU primarily) is because Comcast refuses (and rightfully so) to pay extra for a digital channel. If they did, the extra cost would undoubtedly trickle down to the customers. And while Comcast may not always make the brightest decisions in our minds, I would think they are smart enough to realize the potential fallout of charging customers extra for something they've had for free for over a year.

fender4645,

I agree, of course Comcast will always charge for the premium channels(HBO and so forth) but even there getting the HD is free as long as you have the equipment. I don't know what the rules are regarding cable HD carriage of the equivalent OTA channels like the local network affiliates but I don't see how they could charge more for those either. Rest assured though, if they can do it they will!!

Jim :)

Originally posted by fender4645
I'm not so sure about that. At some point (hopefully sooner rather then later) most programming will be in high definition.

Eventually, all programming will be in digital not necessarily in HD. That's a distinction that concerns me. I could be mistaken as I don't have the exact info in front of me, but the FCC has mandated that by a certain date that all broadcasting will be done in a digital format and that HD is a benefit of digital, not a requirement.

Jim :(

P.S. Just re-read your post and you did say "most", just slap me upside the head...

So is FSN-BA on the Comcast HD tip yet? (August 17th 2004)

They keep hyping HD on the Giants broadcasts, but don't mention nothin' about WHAT SERVICE it's on or how you get it. I mean it's sure not OTA ...

Does KTVU do the Fox or Giants games in HD?

Originally posted by walk
So is FSN-BA on the Comcast HD tip yet? (August 17th 2004)

They keep hyping HD on the Giants broadcasts, but don't mention nothin' about WHAT SERVICE it's on or how you get it. I mean it's sure not OTA ...

Does KTVU do the Fox or Giants games in HD?

Walk,

What city are you in. FSN-HD games are broadcast on InHD2 (ch 196) when they are on. So any system that has InHD2 (part of Digital Classic) will get the FSN-HD games...problem is cable systems in some cites don't have enough bandwidth for this channel.

also..no KTVU isnt showing games in HD

Petaluma, to be exact.

I was told Comcast does carry "Fox" in HD. What programs that is exactly, I do not know. I'm having it installed this Fri., so I guess I'll find out then.

Originally posted by walk
Petaluma, to be exact.

I was told Comcast does carry "Fox" in HD. What programs that is exactly, I do not know. I'm having it installed this Fri., so I guess I'll find out then.

Fox Sports Net (FSN) is not the same as the Fox TV Channel (opened by two separate companies actually.

They do not carry "Fox", ie KTVU Channel 2 in HD yet...Long story...Ch2 is owned by "COX" which is refusing to let comcast carry any of their TV channels.

Separately, Comcast did add FSN-HD which has Giants and A's Games in HD when (and where) available...

I'm not sure if Petaluma has InHD yet...maybe somebody else here is in Petaluma.

By the way, Inhd, espnhd, fsn-hd, Discovery HD are all part of the "Digital Classic" Package...so you'll need to subscibe to at least that (it's $10 by itself but depending on what you signed up for it may include that already)

I signed up for "Digital Silver" with HBO. $70/mo ! I probably won't keep all that, depending on how I like it, etc... But for the first month or 2, what the hell eh?

Originally posted by keenan
Eventually, all programming will be in digital not necessarily in HD. That's a distinction that concerns me. I could be mistaken as I don't have the exact info in front of me, but the FCC has mandated that by a certain date that all broadcasting will be done in a digital format and that HD is a benefit of digital, not a requirement.

Jim :(

P.S. Just re-read your post and you did say "most", just slap me upside the head...

You do bring up a good point, though -- the FCC mandates that all channels must be "digital" which does not necessarily mean "High Definition". In regards to the FCC guidelines, they seem to change quite often. Initially it was going to be by the end of 2006 but that went down the tubes pretty quickly. Now they're saying when 80% of the US market can obtain a digital signal is when analog will need to be retired. I too haven't been keeping up on this but if I remember correctly the FCC regulations only apply to network broadcast stations. Of course it's really in the best interest of all content providers to head down the digital path for pure bandwidth reasons. Also (and this is something I remember reading many years ago so I could be wrong) the network stations are being allocated 2 channels of bandwidth for the price of 1 until the official switchover happens -- one for the analog signal and one for the digital signal. This was done to help the switchover happen more smoothly and efficiently as the networks usually pay tens of millions of dollars for spectrum allocation. As I said though, the last time I heard about this was back in 2000 or 2001 so I'm not sure if it's still the case.

Originally posted by walk
I signed up for "Digital Silver" with HBO. $70/mo ! I probably won't keep all that, depending on how I like it, etc... But for the first month or 2, what the hell eh?

yup that includes those HD channels (assuming the petaluma system has enough bandwidth)...also will get HBO-HD.

Hopefully you saw that you can get Digital Silver for $30/mth for the 1st 3 Months (then it goes to $70)...That's a special they have, if they didnt give you that then call them and ask that they change you to that...

Walk,

davisdog is right-- you should be able to get digital silver for quite a bit less than $70 a month for the first three months-- after three months, the price goes back up to the regular price.

Petaluma is 750 Mhz, so all the HD channels that Comcast offers in the Bay Area are in fact available in Petaluma.

FSN Bay Area HD consists of individual A's and Giants games (and once October rolls around, individual Warriors and Sharks [maybe] games) inserted onto InHD2 (channel 196). The regular InHD2 programming is "preempted." After the game ends, Comcast switches the channel back to regular InHD2 programming.

The listings for InHD2 show the games, so if you browse the listings, you will see the baseball games offered by FSN HD.

Today there is a Giants doubleheader at Pac Bell (yes, I refuse to call it anything but Pac Bell !!!) versus Montreal, and both games are being done in HD by FSN. 12:30 to 3:30 and 4:00 to 7:00 are the scheduled time slots.

KRON HD is showing up on channel 704 this morning. I haven't had a chance to watch any of it, but will this evening and it will be interesting to see what everyone thinks of the PQ and programming.

Maybe, since KRON is not a network affiliate and its HD version is totally separate from the analog version, the contract with Comcast allows Comcast to pre-empt KRON HD for FSN Bay Area HD games. Just speculation on my part-- I am probably wrong but wouldn't it be nice for Santa Rosa and Saramilgatos if it turns out to be true.

SonomaSearcher,
I live in the Saramilgatos area, I just checked the cable lineup and lo and behold a new channel is added. Kron 4 HD , NO, FSN-HD, NO, it's a 24 hour doppler radar channel, just like the 24 hour weather channel that we already get. So on the limited bandwidth that we are to suffer with, they can add these worthless channels but not the HD channels that we really want. This is no longer funny and it's getting a little old. Anyway, for those in the Saramilgatos area check out channel 187, maybe we can pick up the Giants games on Doppler radar :(

Is it common for Comcast to give the so called "Premium" channels for free during the first a few days of getting the HD?

I had the extended cabel (analog) and went to Livermore office to pick up a 6200 earlier. At the office, the person asked me if I want to keep my current subscription level or upgrade to digital. I said I just want the basic ($5 for the box rental only).

Went back home to hook it up and there were all the digital channels including HBO, Showtime packages etc, as well as INHD1/2, DisoveryHD. I was worried that they will hit me with a giant bill next month so I called Comcast again and asked "Can you confirm my current subscription level is extended cable?". The person said "yes".

So I am waiting for the day that Comcast turn off everything except the local network affiliate HD channels.

Anyone experienced similar situation?

Originally posted by Mikef5
SonomaSearcher,
I live in the Saramilgatos area, I just checked the cable lineup and lo and behold a new channel is added. Kron 4 HD , NO, FSN-HD, NO, it's a 24 hour doppler radar channel, just like the 24 hour weather channel that we already get. So on the limited bandwidth that we are to suffer with, they can add these worthless channels but not the HD channels that we really want. This is no longer funny and it's getting a little old. Anyway, for those in the Saramilgatos area check out channel 187, maybe we can pick up the Giants games on Doppler radar :(

Well, up here in Santa Rosa, a 2% club area, we finally have it, channel 187, a KGO Doppler radar weather map, of California, in the middle of summer. I think we have finally reached the pinnacle of HD viewing, I can't believe I've been able to go this long without this. It's perfect, now when that insidious Sony commercial comes on 185 I can just switch to 187 and stare at a map of California.

Thank You, Comcast, thank you, thank you.

WTF!!

Jim
Comcast 2% Club

Jim,

Are you also getting the 704 KPIX-HD channel? The KGO feed is just one of the digital channel feeds. Is it showing in HD? Now the KPIX feed is supposed to be HD, if your getting that channel and not DISC-HD that would be a real pisser.

- Yuri

Originally posted by YuriLuzr
Jim,

Are you also getting the 704 KPIX-HD channel? The KGO feed is just one of the digital channel feeds. Is it showing in HD? Now the KPIX feed is supposed to be HD, if your getting that channel and not DISC-HD that would be a real pisser.

- Yuri

No, we haven't switched to the 700's yet, Sept 1 is when it is supposed to happen. The weather map is in 480i SD. Why it is positioned where the rest of the HD currently is I have no idea. Why it is even available is an even larger mystery to me...

Jim :rolleyes:

Someone just posted in the HD recorders thread that comast western division is not expecting to release a DVR until 2005!!!!!!. I think our time would be better spent pushing comcast to release a DVR sooner. It's easier to provison new boxes than it is to climb lots of poles and upgrade amps etc to give people 750Mhz systems. I'm sure we could all benefit from timeshifting HD.

Originally posted by dys
Is it common for Comcast to give the so called "Premium" channels for free during the first a few days of getting the HD?

I

Typically, boxes are issued with a default lineup. It should downgrade soon. If you want, you can call and speed up the hit that shuts off the freebies.

8/17, KGO DT Weather Channel will be available on channel 184 in all High Definition areas. KGO-DT Weather Channel features a 24-hour Doppler radar weather screen focusing on the Bay Area. This channel is not in high-definition and does not require an HD converter.

8/17 KRON HD. KRON will be picking up the HDNet feed, HDNet produces and televises more hours of original HDTV sports, entertainment and news programming each week than any other network

Originally posted by DCTDictator
8/17, KGO DT Weather Channel will be available on channel 184 in all High Definition areas. KGO-DT Weather Channel features a 24-hour Doppler radar weather screen focusing on the Bay Area. This channel is not in high-definition and does not require an HD converter.

8/17 KRON HD. KRON will be picking up the HDNet feed, HDNet produces and televises more hours of original HDTV sports, entertainment and news programming each week than any other network

Thanks DCT for the memo ...

I suspect 187 (KGO Weather) takes miniscule bandwidth...the OTA signal that KGO uses for that (a digital sub-channel) uses minimal bandwidth (at least compared to an HD or Analog Channel

The KRON info they are publishing is a little misleading...It should read "KRON-HD provides replays of previous years HDNET programming."...Good eye candy I guess...but like the others I'd much rather see InHD or DSCHD on our bandwidth limited systems...It's bad enough watching yesterday's olympics...seeing last years basketball games on KRON HD will drive me nuts (especially since we arent getting today's Giants Doubleheader in HD like the other areas are on FSNHD

DCTDictator,

I know that your are just the messanger, so it is not my intent to shoot you, but what the heck is Comcast doing ?? We of the Comcast 2% are supposedly on limited bandwidth, yet they continue to load the system with useless channels. I don't need a 24 hour doppler map, I don't need a 24 hour weather channel, what I need is FSN-HD, Discovery HD, or even Kron4 HD. Who the heck do I talk to, to get them to listen to their customers ??? You have been a good source of information and really do seem to care about Comcast customers, which is more than I can say for the CSR's, but this lack of support for the customers in the Saramilgatos area is extremely distressing and any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Originally posted by fitzwest
Someone just posted in the HD recorders thread that comast western division is not expecting to release a DVR until 2005!!!!!!. I think our time would be better spent pushing comcast to release a DVR sooner. It's easier to provison new boxes than it is to climb lots of poles and upgrade amps etc to give people 750Mhz systems. I'm sure we could all benefit from timeshifting HD.

i presume you're on a 750mhz system?

Originally posted by fitzwest
Someone just posted in the HD recorders thread that comast western division is not expecting to release a DVR until 2005!!!!!!. I think our time would be better spent pushing comcast to release a DVR sooner. It's easier to provison new boxes than it is to climb lots of poles and upgrade amps etc to give people 750Mhz systems. I'm sure we could all benefit from timeshifting HD.

While 2005 is not completely out of the question, I would take that post with a grain of salt. Their source was from a Comcast CSR who knows as much about the DVR as my grandmother does. I think a lot of us who have been on this forum for the past year have quietly conceded that they will come when they come. Also, any Comcast DVR that's going out today will be the 6208 which seems to be a very buggy release (there are numerous threads about this). While it would be nice to have the DVR for a few shows/movies, I think I'd rather wait for the upgraded and better tested 6412 with dual tuners and larger hard drive.

Originally posted by DCTDictator
8/17, KGO DT Weather Channel will be available on channel 184 in all High Definition areas. KGO-DT Weather Channel features a 24-hour Doppler radar weather screen focusing on the Bay Area. This channel is not in high-definition and does not require an HD converter.

8/17 KRON HD. KRON will be picking up the HDNet feed, HDNet produces and televises more hours of original HDTV sports, entertainment and news programming each week than any other network

Why, why, why, day after day it gets worse and worse, I think I will just scratch my eyeballs out.

Yup, this is what I need, a radar picture of sunny California and "news" that's probably a year old. Unbelievable.

DVR? Get real, Comcast has more important things to give us, see above...

DCTDictator, I'm not yelling at you, you been a great source of info, but make no mistake I'm certainly YELLING AT COMCAST!!!


Jim
Disgusted Comcast 2% Club

DCTDictator,

Here's an after thought I just had. How about getting someone from Comcast, someone that knows about deployments and system upgrades, to monitor this forum. This would have to be a person of supervisory level, this way he would get an idea of what is happening and what is not happening to the differnet areas in the Bay Area. Just a thought, but if Comcast gives a rat's behind about their coustomers, this is a no brainer. Your input on this idea would be appreciated.

Originally posted by Mikef5
DCTDictator,

Here's an after thought I just had. How about getting someone from Comcast, someone that knows about deployments and system upgrades, to monitor this forum. This would have to be a person of supervisory level, this way he would get an idea of what is happening and what is not happening to the differnet areas in the Bay Area. Just a thought, but if Comcast gives a rat's behind about their coustomers, this is a no brainer. Your input on this idea would be appreciated.

an excellent idea, i just think that the 2% club, of which i'm a member, will have to agree not to attack him and stop him coming here...

mossym,
I promise no attacking, for now.... :)
I just checked the channel lineup again and yes, Kron4-Hd is there, on channel 704. It is showing college football in HD, can't tell is it's old or new but maybe just maybe they could preempt it for local Hd LIKE THE GIANT's GAMES. One can only hope. So people of Saramilgatos check out channel 704, it is really there.

Folks,

Please calm down about the radar channel from KGO. Here's why:

A) It takes up very little bandwidth relative to a 1080i HD channel.

B) Comcast's contract with ABC/KGO probably requires it to carry the radar channel in order to carry the ABC HD channel. So without the radar channel, we have no ABC HD.

Is it a waste? Yes, because we already have The Weather Channel on analog and Weatherscan channel (digital 178 here), plus all the local newscast weather reports. It's more important back east and in the midwest, where hurricanes and tornados appear, but the ABC-Comcast contract is a national contract applying to all ABC-owned stations.

Plus, what if every local channel required Comcast to carry a weather radar channel? Seven or eight duplicative radar channels? LOL!

However, if we want ABC HD, we have to take the KGO minimalist 480i weather radar also. That's life for now until ABC (KGO is owned by ABC) and Comcast agree differently.

Originally posted by Mikef5
mossym,
I promise no attacking, for now.... :)
.


We'll see;)


Originally posted by Mikef5

I just checked the channel lineup again and yes, Kron4-Hd is there, on channel 704. It is showing college football in HD, can't tell is it's old or new but maybe just maybe they could preempt it for local Hd LIKE THE GIANT's GAMES. One can only hope.


or the sharks games...wouldn't that be nice!!!! i think we've got little hope though!!

Re HD DVR's,

The best information I have now is sometime between mid-November and mid-January for deployment.

Back east, they are apparently beta testing some right now (the dual tuner 6412's).

The predominant software for the 6412 (TV Guide's iGuide) is not due for release until October, and I am sure that is optimistic.

Yes, we could get Microsoft Foundation, but who knows if that will be ready for October beta testing/November deployment (assuming it is going to be used in the Bay Area)? (shannonv probably knows but cannot say for obvious reasons).

So, yes, it could be 2005 if things don't go as planned. But I will start looking for 6412's in November for early, non-publicized release, being the optimistic realist that I am. If we get some in November, then my current expectations will be exceeded, however, I will not be surprised.

If we don't get any until December or January, that will also not be surprising but will fit with what we currently know, although it will add to the frustration that already exists from the 6208's not being released in December 2003 or January 2004 (as originally planned and communicated by Comcast to its customers).

Originally posted by mossym
an excellent idea, i just think that the 2% club, of which i'm a member, will have to agree not to attack him and stop him coming here...

No problem, being the who coined the phrase and decided to make myself president of the club I'll definitely go along with that.:p

BTW,I still haven't got any orders from you guys on those "Comcast 2% Club" leather jackets I mentioned many, many posts ago. :D

Jim:)

[Size=1]2% Club[Size]
I contacted Milpitas City Hall yesterday and spoke with the Telecommunications Commission Public Information Specialist. He said that I was the first person to contact him about high definition TV. He also said that the City and Comcast are currently negotiating a new franchise agreement. According to him, Milpitas has about 11,000 cable subscribers and he doesn't know how many of those are HD customers, probably not many yet. He said that in the future more digital channels will be added to the system, but didn't know how of those would be HD. Although the conversation was informative, and he was supportive, I didn't come away thinking that the city would/could do much to improve the current situation. There is a Telecommunications Commission meeting once a month and I'm going to try to attend next months meeting.

I dunno about other comcasters on the forum - I'll bet there are already several lurkers about.

Upgrade info is system level, you'd need a rep from all 5 areas willing to put themselves on the line.

Maybe I'm crazy for passing info along in print. Anyone from The Company will recognize me in a second. There are sources of info that I'm privvy to but they are in no way to be passed on to the public. I draw the line at a message center that is a kind if FAQ for phone reps - if someone called and asked about the KRON HD, they would get purty much the blurb I wrote, as long as the phone rep reads the same page every day.

I see the forum as a great sampling of the customers, the happy ones the mad ones, the indifferent ones.


Found out that I am in the Comcast 8% club. 92% of customers can have HD.

rshaw,
Did you contact the Franchise Authority for Milpitas or City Hall. I called the Franchise Authority at the phone number at the bottom of the Comcast bill and yes they seemed to be supportive but very clueless about the Comcast system in general. I was given the " We'll look into it " line. So let me know who you contacted and I'll be glad to call them and give them my 2 cents worth. :)

SonomaSearcher,
I do understand that digital channels don't take up much bandwidth, but if they keep adding more and more little bandwidth stations it adds up in the long run. One here, one there and the little bandwidth we have is gone and all we have to show for it is nice weather channels and doppler maps. I understand the must carry rule that ABC seems to be enforcing now. So, it's seems to be the trend than all the stations will want their weather channel or doppler radar to be carried also. If Comcast was going to upgrade our area, this would be a mute point, but they aren't and won't for at the best in the next 2 to 3 years and that's a big maybe. So, yes, I get concerned when these useless channels get added, taking away bandwidth as minuscule as it may seem. All Comcast has to do is upgrade our area and I'll be happy not to get so overly concerned about these useless stations but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Originally posted by Mikef5
SonomaSearcher,
I do understand that digital channels don't take up much bandwidth, but if they keep adding more and more little bandwidth stations it adds up in the long run. One here, one there and the little bandwidth we have is gone and all we have to show for it is nice weather channels and doppler maps. I understand the must carry rule that ABC seems to be enforcing now. So, it's seems to be the trend than all the stations will want their weather channel or doppler radar to be carried also. If Comcast was going to upgrade our area, this would be a mute point, but they aren't and won't for at the best in the next 2 to 3 years and that's a big maybe. So, yes, I get concerned when these useless channels get added, taking away bandwidth as minuscule as it may seem. All Comcast has to do is upgrade our area and I'll be happy not to get so overly concerned about these useless stations but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Amen.

Jim

keenan,
Are you the same keenan in the yahoo group for HDTV ??? Nice group with alot of good info. Seems the station manager for the local NBC affilliate is a memeber there. I feel sorry for the guy with all the flac he is taking for the Olympic programming. I like the HD coverage but I don't like the 24 hr delay, that's like watching the 49er's game the next day or for that matter any sporting event.
Well, back to the Giants game, hope they do better in the 2nd game. :)
Wonder what it's like to watch them in HD ??? :)

Originally posted by Mikef5
keenan,
Are you the same keenan in the yahoo group for HDTV ??? Nice group with alot of good info. Seems the station manager for the local NBC affilliate is a memeber there. I feel sorry for the guy with all the flac he is taking for the Olympic programming. I like the HD coverage but I don't like the 24 hr delay, that's like watching the 49er's game the next day or for that matter any sporting event.
Well, back to the Giants game, hope they do better in the 2nd game. :)
Wonder what it's like to watch them in HD ??? :)

i'm on there as well, that guy is taking a lot of flak alright..

I'm waiting for the 2% Club official baseball cap, it's too warm for a leather jacket!!;)

Originally posted by Mikef5

Well, back to the Giants game, hope they do better in the 2nd game. :)
Wonder what it's like to watch them in HD ??? :)

Well if HDnet was carrying it, you'll get a chance to see it next year on KRON-HD :)

and yes, I also feel sorry for Richard (KNTV VP) over there...the flak on that is even worse then the stuff us 2%'s do....I hope he doesnt get discouraged and disappear from the group (like having DCT around here, it's great to a KNTV active in that group...a VP at that...maybe DCT needs a promotion ;)

Sadly, NBC would get less flak if they didnt do any HD at all...Since I'm missing so much of the real Olympics broadcast I enjoy being able to catch up the next day...and the HD is a bonus, even with all the pixelation on the action.

So HDNET on Kron is the current HDNET broadcast, or just stuff that kron borrowed from HDnet?? I wouldn't mind if its current stuff, but its old stuff then I rather have DSCHD over KRON!!

Originally posted by dailowai
So HDNET on Kron is the current HDNET broadcast, or just stuff that kron borrowed from HDnet?? I wouldn't mind if its current stuff, but its old stuff then I rather have DSCHD over KRON!!

They are showing College football now (Idaho St vs Utah State)...I'll let you figure out if that's live or not ;)


hint... college football season doesnt start for a while

Originally posted by Mikef5
keenan,
Are you the same keenan in the yahoo group for HDTV ???

Yup, although there is a Joe Keenan also, my parents named me James :)

Well, gotta go check on the weather :rolleyes:

Jim

Mikef5> Wonder what it's like to watch them in HD ???

I can tell you the 1080i image is a heck of a lot better than the FSN-SD signal on Ch. 40 on Analog Comcast in Pleasanton. And don't even get me started on the low quality of the PQ on Ch. 2 when games are on FOX itself :-(...



But I do want to comment about a very deceptive ad FSN-HD is showing w.r.t. HD. At least one time per game K&K will show you a small 16:9 window showing some play (e.g. a Barry Bond Home Run) and then crop that same image to 4:3 claiming that you see more and much more clearly.

This would be fantastic if the camera folks actually took advantage of HD. I find (by switching back & forth btwn. SD & HD) that the left & right edges frame about the same. All you really get is actually MORE picture above and below in the 4:3/SD picture.

What I'm hoping is that - someday - these guys will figure out that they don't need to zoom in so close anymore. We don't need to show off our HD displays by showing every nook & cranny of a player's skin. What I am dying to see is a shot which shows me the Pitcher, Batter, and Runner-on-1st at the same time - just like I can see if I'm at the game.

For comparison, consider the end-zone shot in a football game. In SD, it's absolutely the worst camera angle to watch from: whether the ball/players are coming towards you or away from you. In HD, it's a whole 'nother story! It's actually the very best angle.

Imagine being able to see the field from the vantage point of the Punt Returner or the QB? This is something completely impractical on a 4:3 screen and at the low NTSC 480i-ish resolution. Pop up to 16:9 at either 1080i or 720p - and now we're talking.

So, I would dearly love it if FSN-HD actually did show more useful info in the 16:9 HD image. THIS would truly show the benefits of HD (and widescreen) imho.

Booooo, ban KRON!! Although I guess KRONHD better then nothin, but sure wish they would make DSCHD a priority over KRON. DISCHD is the only reason why I have both voom and comcast :(

Mikef5
I spoke to the Public Information Specialist of the Telecommunication Commission in Milpitas City Hall. His name is Eliren Pasion @ 408-586-2730. He was very knowledgeable about the cable system and it's hardware. He knew it had recently been upgraded to 750 Mhz and that is why we have any HD at all. Good guy to talk to, I'm not sure much will happen though. Maybe if City Hall gets enough calls they will start to ask questions of Comcast.

Originally posted by rshaw
Mikef5
He knew it had recently been upgraded to 750 Mhz and that is why we have any HD at all.

Shouldn't you guys be getting all the available HD if you're on a 750Mhz system anyway?

Jim

rshaw,

If you are 750Mhz then you should have no issues (and you should have Inhd etc....)

Saramilgatos is a 550Mhz System (hence not enough bandwidth for all of the channels)

You might have Eliren verify that is correct (I'm doubting it..).

There's not any easy way for you to tell unless you want to go looking around the DCT Menu for a channel that is actually running on <550Mhz (or check your cable modem downlink channel)

-Steve

Originally posted by davisdog
rshaw,

If you are 750Mhz then you should have no issues (and you should have Inhd etc....)

Saramilgatos is a 550Mhz System (hence not enough bandwidth for all of the HD channels)

You might have Eliren verify that is correct (I'm not sure he's right...but hope he is for your sake)

There's not any easy way for you to tell unless you want to go looking around the DCT Menu for a channel that is actually running on <550Mhz (or check your cable modem downlink channel)

-Steve

Originally posted by edmc
I find (by switching back & forth btwn. SD & HD) that the left & right edges frame about the same. All you really get is actually MORE picture above and below in the 4:3/SD picture.

That's not true. I'm switching back and forth right now between the SD and HD channels and you can clearly see more on the left and right frames. For example, in the normal center field camera shot of the pitcher/batter, the Radio Shack ads on right are cut off at the 'R' on the SD channel. On the HD channel you can see 'Radio Sh'. And I don't know what you mean when you say "more picture above and below" in 4:3 mode -- it's identical to the HD feed.

Re DVR's again:

It's being reported in the Seattle thread that the 6412's with Microsoft Foundation are already being beta tested there and that Comcast will deploy 60,000 6412's there in October or November.

We already knew this would happen as Comcast and Microsoft specifically mentioned Seattle as being the first market (test market?) that would get Microsoft Foundation in some form. But now we know that employee beta testing on 6412's has started there.

shannon,

Now that we know the Seattle beta testing has started, anything more you can tell us about the possibility of Microsoft Foundation on 6412's in the Bay Area? Or at least let us know how soon you think you can tell us more (1 week, 2 weeks, etc.), if anything? Any Comcast employee beta testing on the horizon? Any press releases/announcements coming up sometime soon ....?

Thanks.

Originally posted by keenan
No, we haven't switched to the 700's yet, Sept 1 is when it is supposed to happen Look again. KRON-HD is there on channel 704 for me. I'm so incredibly pissed off. I want Giants games, damnit. You mean to tell me that people would rather watch college basketball reruns than live Giants games?