Time Warner Cable HDTV [Text View] - Page 14

TexRob

01-12-08, 02:50 PM

Yup, this is exactly why I dropped D* for TWC.

It's so funny, because back in the day, we all used to whine and moan about lease fees for cable boxes. Well, back then, they were cheap, dumb boxes with very little going on inside. Leasing an 8300HD DVR for $7 a month is a steal IMHO. $168 over 2 years (comparing to a DirecTV contract) and you can get the latest box when it comes out with TWC, at any time. With DirecTV after 2 years you have paid more to lease it, AND you paid 100-300 up front just for the privilege to lease it. It sucks, because I really had no idea about this until I almost switched to DirecTV. I am not happy with TWC, but the alternative is not cheaper by any means, especially if you bundle services with TWC. On top of the cost, I HATE being in a contract. You never know when you might lose a job, have to move, etc. I lost my job in November, and dropped my cable, dropped my RR to RR Lite, and kept our VOIP but lowered it to the non unlimited LD. TWC was glad to do it (which was honestly a surprise, and really impressed me, to the point where I told them and that it would go a long way towards me coming back when I did get a job again).

TWC is slow, not the greatest, but I feel like they are moving in the right direction, and DirecTV is moving in the wrong direction (as far as how they run their business and treat their customers). I don't care about the HD sports regionals. If TWC can get a few more, like sci-fi, cartoon, comedy, and then the rest of the HD movie channels, I think they will be very competitive in the HD market. I think within the next 6-12 months time will tell if I am right.

pen15nv

01-12-08, 03:43 PM

It's so funny, because back in the day, we all used to whine and moan about lease fees for cable boxes. Well, back then, they were cheap, dumb boxes with very little going on inside. Leasing an 8300HD DVR for $7 a month is a steal IMHO. $168 over 2 years (comparing to a DirecTV contract) and you can get the latest box when it comes out with TWC, at any time. With DirecTV after 2 years you have paid more to lease it, AND you paid 100-300 up front just for the privilege to lease it.

Yeah, but the difference with DirecTV is (I just switched to them from TWC) I have a brand new box that just was released this fall, compared to the 4 year old box that TWC leases. 4 times the capacity with the internal hard drive, 4 times the HD channels, plus expanding the DVR capacity with SATA doesn't cripple the live TV pause/rewind features like the TWC box does. All this and I'm paying less money per month.

GregLee

01-12-08, 04:07 PM

Yeah, but the difference with DirecTV is (I just switched to them from TWC) I have a brand new box that just was released this fall, compared to the 4 year old box that TWC leases. 4 times the capacity with the internal hard drive, 4 times the HD channels, plus expanding the DVR capacity with SATA doesn't cripple the live TV pause/rewind features like the TWC box does. All this and I'm paying less money per month.
My eSATA drive added to the SA8300HD did not cause a problem with pause/rewind -- as I recall that's a bug with Passport, but I had SARA. And DirecTV has it's own problem with eSATA drives: they replace the internal drive instead of just adding capacity. Overall, though, I like the DirecTV HD DVR much better than the 8300 (I also recently switched to D*).

stuart628

01-12-08, 05:00 PM

Gary J

01-12-08, 05:53 PM

"4 year old box" is completely false too. I have 30-some full bandwidth TWC HD channels now. To me anything thing D* offers beyond that are fringe channels.

xnappo

01-12-08, 06:26 PM

"4 year old box" is completely false too. I have 30-some full bandwidth TWC HD channels now. To me anything thing D* offers beyond that are fringe channels.

I don't consider Sci-fi, FX, USA and Discovery fringe channels. TWC needs to get those like... NOW!

xnappo

nickdawg

01-12-08, 06:35 PM

If TWC can get a few more, like sci-fi, cartoon, comedy, and then the rest of the HD movie channels, I think they will be very competitive in the HD market. I think within the next 6-12 months time will tell if I am right.

I'd be happy if Time Warner was on the same level as Cablevision with around 45 HD channels or Comcast who also has many of the new HD channels. 85 HD channels sounds nice, but many are not even HD yet plus D* has it's downside with the DVR costs and fees and that contract :eek:.

For now, I'm sticking it out with TWC. Except for any major changes, like if my area gets Navigator, then I may consider alternatives. But come on, at least give us something! :p

GregLee

01-12-08, 08:53 PM

not to turn this into a D* vs TWC but pen, the things you listed as why Directvs DVR is better then TIme warner are all wrong (except the internal drive part)

HD channels has to do with capacity, and while yes D* has a leg up now Time warner will be there soon, google SDV.
No, mustn't fight. But still, D*'s DVR is much, much better. You can omit whatever channels you wish from the IPG. The IPG is widescreen. Recorded programs you've watched part of are shaded in the listing, and where you were is always remembered, so you can resume watching from that point. Recordings of series episodes are collected into folders. The IPG goes out 2 weeks. Marking a program to record takes one key stroke. The search functions work and are useful. I could go on and on.

TWC may, someday, get to where D* is now, but that doesn't mean it's going to catch D*. Google D11 launch.

tex1080

01-12-08, 09:26 PM

I would love to switch to D** but as of right now I have 3 HDTV's and one SDTV I also use On Demand almost on a daily bases as well as two DVR's. I am also purchasing Internet and Phone from TW. The costs for me to switch are just not worth it. By football season next year if TW has not reached an agreement with the NFL network and the HD channel availability is not up to par then I will definetly be making a switch. It is very depressing right now to continue to check forums, TW website, and HD channels on a daily basis to see absolutely nothing added. I beleive on my system their are more spanish channels than HD...

tighr

01-12-08, 09:34 PM

I'm in an apartment right now, and planning on buying a house in a few months. At that point, I'm dropping Brighthouse Networks and going for a few months without cable/satellite (why bother, everyone is on strike anyway, and I get the majors in HD OTA. Football season is over, I don't need ESPN anymore).

I think when I settle in, I'll order up either D* or E*, depending on which one is cheapest. As for internet, I'll have to figure something out. But there is no way I'm going to continue paying what I'm paying now for service.

kevinivey

01-12-08, 09:58 PM

If all these cats are so in love with D*, why even post in this thread?

tighr

01-12-08, 10:15 PM

I'm not in love with D*, I just am tired of hearing BHN tell me I'll get new HD channels, but not tell me what or when. My bill several months ago said "We just added TBS-HD, look out for more HD channels by the end of the year". I got National Geographic. Meanwhile, I hear about all these new channels that everyone else is getting on other services.

I'd gladly stay with BHN if they were more competitive, but sadly its the only cableco I can get in this apartment, and I don't want to sign up for satellite until I move.

davehancock

01-12-08, 10:26 PM

So someone correct me if I am wrong, or off-base here, But isn't this thread about more HD on TIME WARNER. Not about Brighthouse, DirecTV, or Dish.

Gary J

01-12-08, 10:35 PM

They are all former TWC subs still trying to justify. ;)

tighr

01-12-08, 10:35 PM

Brighthouse is Time Warner.

So unless I am off-base here, its accepted that I report on new channels and line-ups as they pertain to Brighthouse, because it is relevant to the TWC subscribers in the nation.

kevinivey

01-12-08, 10:44 PM

Bright House Networks is a cable television company owned by Advance/Newhouse, headquartered in Syracuse, New York. The company provides service to cities including Indianapolis, Central Florida (Orlando area), Daytona Beach area, Tampa Bay area, Birmingham-Hoover area, west suburban Detroit and Bakersfield. Most of its business is concentrated in Central Florida, where Bright House is the dominant cable system in the Tampa and Orlando TV markets.

These systems were all owned by the Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership but, under a deal struck in 2003, Advance/Newhouse took direct management and operational responsibility for portion of the partnership cable systems roughly equal to their equity. Ostensibly, this was due to A/N's dissatisfaction with Time Warner Cable's strategic direction. Time Warner still owns a stake in Bright House Networks even though Advance/Newhouse runs the day to day operation of the company.

Brighthouse Networks currently offers TV Service (analog, digital and HD), high speed internet, wireless home networking, digital phone and Pivot cell phone service in most areas.

TexRob

01-12-08, 10:55 PM

I don't consider Sci-fi, FX, USA and Discovery fringe channels. TWC needs to get those like... NOW!

xnappo

Agreed. I think if they added those and just a handful of others, we'd have the core, important (to the mass market), HD channels. I fully except that D* smokes TWC for regional HD sports, in which case D* is the CLEAR winner. But if TWC can just get about 5-10 more HD channels, the right ones, and the rest of the premium HD versions, I would not consider D* again.

TexRob

01-12-08, 10:57 PM

TexRob

01-12-08, 11:00 PM

So someone correct me if I am wrong, or off-base here, But isn't this thread about more HD on TIME WARNER. Not about Brighthouse, DirecTV, or Dish.

I said the same thing a page or two back, but then got told that since TWC is so slow to add stuff, that nobody fought the idle chatter in the thread because it helped keep the thread from dissapearing. So, when the D* shill started ranting, I decided to stoke the fire a little ;)

bennyt

01-12-08, 11:15 PM

I've been with twc for over a year now, I have 2 8300's, and the quality of the hd chaneels I have are great, atleast on my system, they just gave us foodhd, nghd and hgtvhd last week

pwrmetal

01-13-08, 11:28 AM

I actually thought 2007 was a great year for HD on TWC. Here in Greensboro we finally got:

Our 2 local Sinclair affiliates (including ABC) in HD
ESPN2-HD (this was, by far the worst omission for me)
Versus/Golf HD (I really wish this would be split or switched to just Versus. As is I never watch it)
A&E HD (almost completely useless)
Food HD (well, my wife loves it)
HGTV HD (I am shocked how much I watch this)
TBS HD (shockingly lacking in HD programming, but it's still a channel I watch frequently)
CNNHD
HistoryHD (not bad at all)
Nat Geo HD (not bad at all)

At the beginning of last year, I would have said that TWC's HD offerings were completely unacceptable. Now, I think they are very close to fully satisfying me. All I really want now are FX, Sci-Fi, USA, Fox Sports Net, and BBC America (when its HD channel launches) and I will be more than happy with the HD lineup. If 2008 is as good as 2007 for them adding channels, then I would expect to get nearly all of them. Of course, who knows if it will be that good a year....

TexRob

01-13-08, 11:44 AM

gparris

01-13-08, 06:27 PM

Happy times, Greensboro, NC-TWC subscribers, but many other TWC locations are still waiting for the many, if not most of the HD channels that you have and several other TWC locations around the country are still missing.:(

National HD channels such as FXHD, Sci-FiHD and USAHD would be excellent additions to TWC's national channel carriage; however, the only way our Wisconsin subscribers (among other TWC locations) will get what you have now, including those other mentioned HD channels, is to switch to DirectHD !

Yes...TWC Wisconsin is THAT backward.:mad:

So as for someone from TWC reading this (or even caring to), I don't honestly think they care about HD channel additions, even with the competition having so many of them.:p

-But please, keep "dreaming"!

AndyHDTV

01-14-08, 03:04 AM

It seems as if TWC of San Antonio will Launch Animal Planet-HD on 01/31/2008.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/sanantonio/programming/updates.html

Lizardgi

01-14-08, 07:38 AM

TivoSavedTV

01-14-08, 11:09 AM

Animal Planet HD? Wow, I'm gussing it'll be 2010 here in NE Wisconsin before we see that one. Here's our exciting addtions (subtractions actually) for January 2008! Great way to start out the new year! (I never watched these channels, but I think it's funny they just keep taking away services and continue to put off HD)

In addition, from time to time we make certain changes in the services that we offer in order to better serve our customers. The following changes are planned:

Effective January 30, 2008, Answers on Demand, channel 1999, and Answers on Demand en Espanol, channel 1998, will no longer be on our lineup. Effective February 2, 2008, VH Uno, channel 577 on our Nuestra Tele channel package, will no longer be available.

We are receiving the same "quality" service as you, except that they cannot even get the moving of channels right. They have been changing the dates for months as to when AZN will move to the digital tier (started in October, I believe). When they started announcing this move, I figured that it was a good sign - making room for more HD channels, but at this point, they are just playing with us.

In addition, from time to time we make certain changes in the services that we offer in order to better serve our customers. The following changes are planned:

Jewelry TV (Ch. 69) will be moved to the Digital Variety tier on or after February 6th, 2008. VHUno will be terminating operations on or about February 2nd, 2008, and will be taken off air. Columbus, Circleville, Mt. Vernon, Delaware, Marysville, Lancaster, and Pataskala customers only: AZN Television (Ch. 11) will be moved to the Digital Variety tier on or after February 6th, 2008.

They have until the end of February to get their act together, or I am taking my measly $2,400/year and spending it elsewhere. They raised our prices this month, and have done nothing to justify it - oh, excuse me, we did get ESPN2 (about time) and TBSHD (they can have it back) and The Big Ten Network - oh wait a minute, we did NOT get BTN, why would I think that we should be able to watch Ohio State sports in Columbus, Ohio. :mad:

eric53110

01-14-08, 12:49 PM

So I got news that I need to take my Sat dish down from my condo board member. GRRR. Nothing like being lied to by my realtor.

Any how, I am going back to TWC in Milwaukee, WI. I'm going to get their junky HD service and DVR. Something is better than nothing right!?

My question is, should I ask for a specific DVR receiver? Is one better than the other? I had one once before I got my dish that had that new Voyager guide on it. The only thing I liked about it was it told you how much space you had remaining on it. I also noticed that they put in 2 cable cards on it. It seemed buggy though. I had to hard boot it twice in a week before I got rid of it.

So any help would greatly be appreciated....unless they just give me what they give me and I have no choice.

Thanks in advance.

larrude

01-14-08, 04:17 PM

So I got news that I need to take my Sat dish down from my condo board member. GRRR. Nothing like being lied to by my realtor.
Thanks in advance.

I don't remember the details, but it seems to me that there was a regulation passed about 10 years ago that condo's and home owner associations (HOA) could no longer restrict sat dishes. It is printed in our HOA bylaws, but hasn't been enforced as long as I have lived there (over 9 years).

I can't post links (less than 3 posts total), but if you Google satellite dish and condo associations, it will lead you to the fcc.gov.mb/facts/otard.html

davehancock

01-14-08, 05:20 PM

I don't remember the details, but it seems to me that there was a regulation passed about 10 years ago that condo's and home owner associations (HOA) could no longer restrict sat dishes. It is printed in our HOA bylaws, but hasn't been enforced as long as I have lived there (over 9 years).

I can't post links (less than 3 posts total), but if you Google satellite dish and condo associations, it will lead you to the fcc.gov.mb/facts/otard.html
Here is the link: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

But please note: there are several exceptions. For example:
The rule does not apply to common areas that are owned by a landlord, a community association, or jointly by condominium or cooperative owners where the antenna user does not have an exclusive use area. Such common areas may include the roof or exterior wall of a multiple dwelling unit. Therefore, restrictions on antennas installed in or on such common areas are enforceable.

BigDawgQC

01-14-08, 08:12 PM

Amazing, we are 50 minutes from Greensboro (in Raleigh) and TWC here does not have History Channel HD

twelvepbrs

01-14-08, 08:19 PM

Here is the link: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

But please note: there are several exceptions. For example:
Basically the only way to keep a dish in a condo complex run by a-holes is if it's tripod mounted on your balcony so that it doesn't even stick out over the railing (if there is one). Since balconies are typically considered "exclusive use." If you are too cheap for a tripod you could try a 4x4, a bag of quickrete, a 5-gallon bucket and some lag screws. Just don't forget it's out there when/if it gets windy

RudyG

01-15-08, 05:33 AM

CANNON-FODDER

01-15-08, 09:34 AM

John Mason

01-15-08, 09:37 AM

A question came up in the Los Angeles local TWC thread that I thought I'd post here. What are the chances of SDV channels being also broadcast in the clear QAM? There are some parts of the country that already have SDV, so if you could let us know if the SDV channels are available in clear QAM that would be great.
It seems like a complete impossibility, but then again I know little to nothing about this, so thought I'd ask.

Believe you've reached the right conclusion. Putting SDV channels also on unencrypted QAM would defeat the purpose of switched digital video--leaving less frequently watched channels off the cable spectrum (boosting available bandwidth) until they're requested by one or more subscribers. As these articles point out, figuring which channels are suitable for SDV must be done carefully:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6454447.html
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6463724.html
--John

rick490

01-15-08, 11:27 AM

I find it a little troubling that the current trend with the cable companies is to encrypt everything except locals. In the past a huge advantage of cable was that it didn't require a box on each television, unless to receive premiums, etc.

I fully understand the necessity to conserve bandwidth, thus sdv should be used. I would, however, like to see a blend of sdv, unencrypted, and encrypted channels so that assuming we have digital tuners in our televisions, that we could receive say forty channels on any tv without any box.

Gary J

01-15-08, 11:38 AM

What free channels can you get from providers other than cable?

Riverside_Guy

01-15-08, 01:19 PM

I find it a little troubling that the current trend with the cable companies is to encrypt everything except locals. In the past a huge advantage of cable was that it didn't require a box on each television, unless to receive premiums, etc.

It may be a trend to you, but we have been scrambled for 20 some odd years.

While I seem to be a well know TWC hater, it is not in this area. 20 years ago, I'd guess a good 60%+ of all cable TV customers never sent any monthly checks for that service. A good part of the issue was that the cable guys strung wire all over the place with not one thought to securing it in any way (i.e. they totally cheaped out, so it kinda was their fault to start with). In a large urban area, that made it real easy to steal. Get this, for the premiums they used to put a trap (small inch long mini "box" inline with the cable before it entered your apartment) on the line. Everyone knew all you had to do was replace that with a dual female connector and bingo, you got the premiums.

So it sure DOES make sense that they'd protect their revenue stream by scrambling. STILL, one CAN get a good assortment of channels around here that are not scrambled... AND a lot of wire is far better protected than before.

rick490

01-15-08, 01:31 PM

Right. It's one advantage cable can have, since they can't keep up with satellite in total bandwidth.

RudyG

01-15-08, 03:48 PM

If a cablecard is required to send the request, I am not sure why it would matter if a channel on SDV was on clear QAM. But if I recall correctly, someone (xnappo?) from Austin (in either the 8300 SARA (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=471859) or eSATA (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=516559) threads) reported viewing the SDV channels (similar to watching your neighbors On-Demand) which might indicate that they are not encrypted in at least one location.

I guess maybe if you had a CC STB tuned in the living room, you might find the SDV channel on a bedroom TV with QAM, but would you not have to re-scan to find the newly assigned channel every time? Or call your neighbor to tune the channel so it does not go away?

v/r,
C-F
Hey C-F you kinda lost me on your points above. Cable card or STB are not required for clear QAM. That's kinda the whole point of QAM. That it is basically makes your TV cable ready but for digital channels. Many people like the technology because it saves them as much as $20 per month of renting the Cable company equipment and service charges for them. Especially since that equipment is proprietary and has been since its birth.
Believe you've reached the right conclusion. Putting SDV channels also on unencrypted QAM would defeat the purpose of switched digital video--leaving less frequently watched channels off the cable spectrum (boosting available bandwidth) until they're requested by one or more subscribers. As these articles point out, figuring which channels are suitable for SDV must be done carefully:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6454447.html
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6463724.html
--John
Thank you John. I'll post the links for the articles in the LA thread. Some interesting points in there.

Rudy

CANNON-FODDER

01-16-08, 12:16 AM

Hey C-F you kinda lost me on your points above. Cable card or STB are not required for clear QAM. That's kinda the whole point of QAM. That it is basically makes your TV cable ready but for digital channels. Many people like the technology because it saves them as much as $20 per month of renting the Cable company equipment and service charges for them. Especially since that equipment is proprietary and has been since its birth.But, as I understand it, a cablecard or STB is required to initiate the [instantiation] of a particular SDV channel -- which was my point.

I am not an expert, nor visited Holiday Inn last night, YMMV, et. al. -- but the whole point of SDV is that if no one (that is able to talk back to the system) is watching, the channel will not be broadcast. [Someone] on your local [node] must have a two-way device asking to view the particular channel you wish to view. Once a request is made, the channel is usually assigned to a rotating pool of [QAM carriers] which the CC or STB then map to the displayed number.

If you simply have a QAM tuner, maybe you could see them (based upon memory of the earlier posts), but to guarantee the channel you want to watch is broadcast, you must have a device to request the channel (i.e. CC or STB). Otherwise, you are at the mercy of whatever the other people on your local [node] desire to watch, and you may have to re-scan to find them.

I just believe that is a lot to ask, uncertainty of channel availability, combined with the potential for numerous channel scans to find the channel you want.

v/r,
C-F

davehancock

01-16-08, 09:39 AM

But, as I understand it, a cablecard or STB is required to initiate the [instantiation] of a particular SDV channel -- which was my point.The CableCARD does not (and never has) initiate a request for a channel. The CableCARD is only a security device. The request process requires 2-way communication, which can only come from the device housing the CableCARD.

This is a all too frequent misunderstanding. All CableCARDs have always been compatible with the 2-way process. It's just been that there were (till now) any two way consumer owned devices. The only devices capable of 2-way have been cable boxes till now.

xnappo

01-16-08, 09:45 AM

If you simply have a QAM tuner, maybe you could see them (based upon memory of the earlier posts), but to guarantee the channel you want to watch is broadcast, you must have a device to request the channel (i.e. CC or STB). Otherwise, you are at the mercy of whatever the other people on your local [node] desire to watch, and you may have to re-scan to find them.

v/r,
C-F

Guys,

I think there is some confusion here. There are a two points which are very different that I think are worth discussing:

1. For NON-SDV channels (which are usually the most popular channels) why not petition the FCC to mandate non-premium channels be in the clear like the 'old' cable system. (http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/14/hey-fcc-force-big-cable-to-clear-our-qam/)

2. The next question is once someone in your neighborhood tunes an SDV channel, is it available 'in the clear'. I do remember someone reporting this to be the case, but it was not me. I do not use QAM (but might if #1 were to happen). This is interesting - but not very useful.

xnappo

Riverside_Guy

01-16-08, 03:49 PM

Guys,

I think there is some confusion here. There are a two points which are very different that I think are worth discussing:

1. For NON-SDV channels (which are usually the most popular channels) why not petition the FCC to mandate non-premium channels be in the clear like the 'old' cable system. (http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/14/hey-fcc-force-big-cable-to-clear-our-qam/)

IMO, this is not worth a fight. Reason being that especially in urban environments, this makes it very easy to steal the service. Much as I detest TWC, I can't advocate making them do something that will result in substantially more theft of services for them (then again, I also feel they are stealing FROM us by making sure folks in Manhattan pay MPRE for LESS).

OTOH, once DCAS becomes a reality (hope I got the acronym correct) it becomes kind of moot.

2. The next question is once someone in your neighborhood tunes an SDV channel, is it available 'in the clear'. I do remember someone reporting this to be the case, but it was not me. I do not use QAM (but might if #1 were to happen). This is interesting - but not very useful.

xnappo

I've heard this as well... I thought it was very much like when you swap a box for one with a possible new service, you may find some period of time where you get more than you pay for... my favorite was going from a 8000 to a 8000 DVR, I got 2 full weeks of EVERYTHING (and I mean everything, all PPV movies I could get without paying). Although when I went from the 8000 DVR top the 8300HD DVR, I got the 5 HDXtra HD channels (but NOT DiscHD). 3 days later it sorted itself pout and I got exactly what I paid for and not a drip more.

CANNON-FODDER

01-17-08, 09:08 AM

The CableCARD does not (and never has) initiate a request for a channel. The CableCARD is only a security device. The request process requires 2-way communication, which can only come from the device housing the CableCARD.

This is a all too frequent misunderstanding. All CableCARDs have always been compatible with the 2-way process. It's just been that there were (till now) any two way consumer owned devices. The only devices capable of 2-way have been cable boxes till now.Understand the concept part of security role and 2-way capability of the card vice STB/device (got it, a needs improvement for technical accuracy).

However, that lack of detail is not really pertinent unless there are non-cable provided devices that can request a SDV channel without a CableCARD. The unencrypted QAM tuner still needs a cable-box or some CE-device with a CableCARD to request the channel, and then a scan to find which channel it is on ...
2. The next question is once someone in your neighborhood tunes an SDV channel, is it available 'in the clear'. I do remember someone reporting this to be the case, but it was not me. I do not use QAM (but might if #1 were to happen). This is interesting - but not very useful.

xnappoI agree, which is the only reason I entered the fray. I did try QAM and got some channels, but it was a pain to map them, the cable company could change the QAM at any time. What I thought he was proposing was catching SDV like OnDemand, where the prospect of finding a neighbor who likes to watch what you do, when you do, FF/RW like you do, and pay like you do not is problematic for me, even absent the constant re-scans to find the channels (although potential to map all the available pool of channels exists) . A cable card was an extra $5 on a $118 bill, but I would be much happier if I could get the guide with it, and have debated returning the card as it really only adds HD for MOJO, HDNet, UHD (I do not watch sports) vice OTA...

1. For NON-SDV channels (which are usually the most popular channels) why not petition the FCC to mandate non-premium channels be in the clear like the 'old' cable system. (http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/14/hey-fcc-force-big-cable-to-clear-our-qam/)IMO, this is not worth a fight. Reason being that especially in urban environments, this makes it very easy to steal the service. Much as I detest TWC, I can't advocate making them do something that will result in substantially more theft of services for them (then again, I also feel they are stealing FROM us by making sure folks in Manhattan pay MPRE for LESS).

OTOH, once DCAS becomes a reality (hope I got the acronym correct) it becomes kind of moot.Other than what I mentioned above, I can't argue the point or counter-point. I know there are folks here that are happy with the clear QAM HD and do not subscribe to Digital Cable. Others, like me either have a DVR (with digital cable) or find the mapping and potentially whimsical re-mapping too much trouble.

Eventually, this balance between not encrypting QAM for consumer attraction and compatibility/simplicity, but lost revenue (not subscribing to Digital) from the attracted folks and the presumable analog maintenance/translation requirement: since this may mean boxes for almost everybody [who does not have one already] --- could a cable company walk the line and put the encryption device into a meterbox (only in the suburbs Riverside_Guy?) and just pump out everything authorized inside the house in the clear? Some standard message to request an SDV channel from those CE devices who wish to have that functionality? Probably does not fit the up-sale model. You want the combo with that?

v/r,
C-F

xnappo

01-17-08, 09:33 AM

davehancock

01-17-08, 11:24 AM

For me I can see myself using clear QAM for my 3rd, 4th, 5th TV.... But maybe by the time I replace my 3rd, 4th, 5th TV they will all be OCAP or networked to my DVR somehow.

xnappoThat's exactly what I do for our 2nd (Kitchen) & 3rd (BR) HDTV. Only have a STB/DVR on the "main" TV.

xnappo

01-17-08, 11:52 AM

That's exactly what I do for our 2nd (Kitchen) & 3rd (BR) HDTV. Only have a STB/DVR on the "main" TV.

Yeah - so it would be nice if clear QAM channels == clear analog channels. But I am not holding my breath.

xnappo

Gary J

01-17-08, 12:05 PM

So basically you are asking for the basic cable package for free?

xnappo

01-17-08, 12:18 PM

So basically you are asking for the basic cable package for free?

No, they could use traps on QAM frequencies just like they do now with analog channels. In fact I think the same traps they are using now for people subscribing to just the locals would work. I am asking for clear QAM == clear analog.

Why do you think it is okay for all TVs to require a box or cable card or OCAP cost to get the basic 80 channels in 2015 vs. getting them by just connecting the TV in 2005?

xnappo

Riverside_Guy

01-17-08, 12:34 PM

Eventually, this balance between not encrypting QAM for consumer attraction and compatibility/simplicity, but lost revenue (not subscribing to Digital) from the attracted folks and the presumable analog maintenance/translation requirement: since this may mean boxes for almost everybody [who does not have one already] --- could a cable company walk the line and put the encryption device into a meterbox (only in the suburbs Riverside_Guy?) and just pump out everything authorized inside the house in the clear? Some standard message to request an SDV channel from those CE devices who wish to have that functionality? Probably does not fit the up-sale model. You want the combo with that?

v/r,
C-F

I think that some shifting technology is at play here. While I have TONS to be angry at TWC about (latest example... Apple announces the start of a HD download service, TWC immediately says it is having a trial to charge a lot more for IP connectivity based on usage, thus potentially stalling any chance HD movie downloads may have as being a viable business), I DO think they have a right to not get ripped off (although it sure is tempting to think of ripped them off if one really thinks WE have been ripped off, and paying more money for less content sure seems to indicate we in Manhattan ARE getting ripped off).

From what I've read so far, things may be looked at very differently when DCAS is a reality (as I understand it, DCAS accomplishes the whole security thing essentially from the head end, so cable cards and STBs can go away (in a manner of speaking).

AustinSTI

01-17-08, 01:20 PM

Here in Austin on 1/31 we are getting:

National Geographic HD
The Movie Channel HD
Versus/Golf HD
Fox Business News HD
History Channel HD
Lifetime Movie Network HD
Weather Channel HD

Source: http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/?SecID=1 Right side below the weather.

AlbanyHDTV

01-17-08, 04:43 PM

The Albany Division of TWC sent out an email yesterday claiming they have "FREE HD".

http://albanyhdtv.homestead.com/files/freehd_twc_vert.jpg http://albanyhdtv.homestead.com/files/freehd.jpg

Time Warner Cable added four more high-definition channels last Friday, and more are planned to be added soon. Just before Christmas, we launched eight new HD channels. Our newest dozen additions are:

* The Weather Channel HD (ch. 1823)
* History Channel HD (ch. 1839)
* HGTV HD (ch. 1841)
* Food Network HD (ch. 1842)
* CNN HD (ch. 1846)
* Fox Business HD (ch. 1851)
* Lifetime Movies HD (ch. 1864)
* Versus/Golf HD (ch. 1873)
* Outdoor Channel HD (ch. 1874)
* National Geographic HD (ch. 1876)
* Starz East HD (ch. 1890)
* Starz West HD (ch. 1891)

Next on the way -- Cinemax West and HBO West!

Time Warner Cable is the only provider delivering the local broadcast channels (WRGB, WTEN, WNYT, WMHT, CW) in HD, and we're the only ones to offer FREE HD. So, if you want to see the Super Bowl in HD, Time Warner Cable delivers it; no one else can.

Time Warner has a "FREE HD" webpage on their site:
http://www.timewarnercable.com/Albany/Products/hdtv/hdcompetitive.html

With Digital Cable, you get local channels, favorite cable and sports networks in HD at no extra cost! So, unlike satellite, you won’t pay twice for the same programming.

• Get access to new-release movies in HD with HD Movies On Demand.

• There’s no equipment to buy.

• Subscribe to a premium movie channel such as HBO or Showtime and receive its primary HD channel and On Demand service at no additional cost.

• In the future, your HD choices will keep on multiplying over our advanced fiber network.

• Maximize TV viewing with an optional HD DVR. Record your favorite HD programs and watch them on your schedule.

How can they claim FREE HD when you have to pay $8 a month to rent a set top box so you can receive digital cable?

Receiving HD via an over-the-air (OTA) antenna is "FREE HD".

Also, how can they claim... if you want to see the Super Bowl in HD, Time Warner Cable delivers it; no one else can.
No one else can??? How about DirecTV? How about OTA? This last paragraph is simply a bunch of blatant lies!

Gary J

01-17-08, 04:51 PM

Sorta like DirectTV claiming better PQ.

pwrmetal

01-17-08, 05:53 PM

The reason Time Warner calls it "Free HD", is because if you were already a digital subscriber and then buy an HD TV, it doesn't cost you a penny more to swap your cable box for an HD Box and receive the free HD channels (ie. the stuff not on the HD Tier/Pack). On Direct TV your monthly fee goes up if you want HD channels. It is definitely misleading advertising since analog cable subscribers who aren't leasing one or more set top boxes either have to start paying more for the HD boxes or rely on QAM (if their TV supports it) which as has been detailed on this thread TWC is very spotty about providing.

I don't think it's any more misleading than Direct TV's ads which talk about their great HD offerings (true) and say there's no equipment to buy (doesn't seem true to me when I look into switching) and that "packages start at $29.99/month" (no HD channels come at that price). So when it comes to false advertising, they are all pretty guilty.

davehancock

01-17-08, 06:44 PM

From what I've read so far, things may be looked at very differently when DCAS is a reality (as I understand it, DCAS accomplishes the whole security thing essentially from the head end, so cable cards and STBs can go away (in a manner of speaking).DCAS won't quite work that way. The receiver (be it a TV set, TiVo, or STB) will need to have a unique chip inside that was designed and built for this application. Then the head end can download security keys as you envision. Also, if you move to another city your set would only need a new download from your new cable system.

The first prototype chips (from Beyond Broadband Technology and STMicroelectronics are just now going into fab and are expected in 6 weeks for prototype boxes. In short, it will likely be a year before we can purchase products incorporating this technology (CES 2009?).

GregLee

01-17-08, 07:30 PM

... misleading than Direct TV's ads ... say there's no equipment to buy (doesn't seem true to me when I look into switching)
There's no equipment to buy in a certain literal sense. You have to pay for equipment, but you don't wind up owning it, so you haven't "bought" it. This is, however, obviously very misleading.

lSunNYl

01-17-08, 08:07 PM

why is the national geographic HD channel " not available " ?

stuart628

01-18-08, 12:17 AM

on the equipment thing, I just plug my cable line into my tv and I get all my locals in HD, I dont rent equipment from time warner and pay 12 a month for lifeline basic...that is free to me.

shibez

01-18-08, 12:19 AM

Anyone have any news about USAHD in rochester. ny??? WWE RAW is going to be broadcast in HD this Monday! i want to see it so bad in HD!!

Prey521

01-18-08, 12:35 AM

Anyone have any news about USAHD in rochester. ny??? WWE RAW is going to be broadcast in HD this Monday! i want to see it so bad in HD!!

Not any time soon, I'll tell you that.

D-Nice

01-18-08, 12:40 AM

why is the national geographic HD channel " not available " ?Welcome to SDV

AlbanyHDTV

01-18-08, 06:48 AM

why is the national geographic HD channel " not available " ?Working fine at 6:45AM.

Gary J

01-18-08, 07:55 AM

on the equipment thing, I just plug my cable line into my tv and I get all my locals in HD, I dont rent equipment from time warner and pay 12 a month for lifeline basic...that is free to me.

I always thought 0 a month = free.

lSunNYl

01-18-08, 01:16 PM

Working fine at 6:45AM.

Mines is still unavailable.

scsiraid

01-18-08, 01:17 PM

Mines is still unavailable.

You might try a reboot.....

davehancock

01-18-08, 01:29 PM

Mines is still unavailable.If this is a SDV channel, one problem (and a common one I am afraid) is that the return signal to the cable node may be too low. This often results from someone installing an amp or splitter with poor (or no) return path. The question is: does "On Demand" work (or "Start-Over" if they have it there. If they don't work, then that is the problem. Call cable.

As I said, with the roll-out of SDV, we will be seeing a lot of this.

stuart628

01-18-08, 01:43 PM

I always thought 0 a month = free.

Right, 12.whatever for lifline (analog 2-I think 14) Hd=0 or free. Also When they say Free HD, if you have digital cable, you get HD for free, its marketing ploy to combat Directv, its just like Dish network saying they have 76 HD National Channels,all marketing, no reason to get upset...and to be honest Time warner is actually very accurate in saying they have free HD, as if I do sign up for digital cable with them, I would pay for Digital cable, and get my locals and ESPN's for free.

Riverside_Guy

01-18-08, 01:53 PM

DCAS won't quite work that way. The receiver (be it a TV set, TiVo, or STB) will need to have a unique chip inside that was designed and built for this application. Then the head end can download security keys as you envision. Also, if you move to another city your set would only need a new download from your new cable system.

The first prototype chips (from Beyond Broadband Technology and STMicroelectronics are just now going into fab and are expected in 6 weeks for prototype boxes. In short, it will likely be a year before we can purchase products incorporating this technology (CES 2009?).

Ah... I had speculated the cable company needed to add a small "box" somewhere at the tap (that could be secured) that would allow them to address YOU. Better still would be having that in the actual equipment.

Of course, one would assume that SDV and OCAP along with 2 way are all fully supported.

lSunNYl

01-18-08, 05:34 PM

You might try a reboot.....

Rebooted it .. still the same

If this is a SDV channel, one problem (and a common one I am afraid) is that the return signal to the cable node may be too low. This often results from someone installing an amp or splitter with poor (or no) return path. The question is: does "On Demand" work (or "Start-Over" if they have it there. If they don't work, then that is the problem. Call cable.

As I said, with the roll-out of SDV, we will be seeing a lot of this.

my on demand and start over work .. the channel been off for like a day. And this channel was released last month , so why is it not available now?

AlbanyHDTV

01-18-08, 05:51 PM

Rebooted it .. still the same

my on demand and start over work .. the channel been off for like a day. And this channel was released last month , so why is it not available now?

National Geographic HD still working for me...5:50PM

davehancock

01-18-08, 07:17 PM

Rebooted it .. still the same

my on demand and start over work .. the channel been off for like a day. And this channel was released last month , so why is it not available now?Could be an issue with the hardware with the node that serves your neighborhood. I would call TW about it.

Doctor

01-21-08, 11:33 AM

SuperAmmo

01-21-08, 06:31 PM

petey1287

01-21-08, 08:10 PM

Although it's only a start, TWC SoCal (at least in my area) now has two movies available On Demand in HD. This is the first sighting of HD in any kind on VoD. I've never heard of the two movies (Mr. Woodcock and Outlaw). Here is to more HD on Demand for TWC.
Im a TWC SoCal in the Carson area and I have a few HD movies on OnDemand. I also have HD Showcase[free HD contents] and Music Choice's HD Showcase on OnDemand.

holl_ands

01-21-08, 08:25 PM

Although it's only a start, TWC SoCal (at least in my area) now has two movies available On Demand in HD. This is the first sighting of HD in any kind on VoD. I've never heard of the two movies (Mr. Woodcock and Outlaw). Here is to more HD on Demand for TWC.
TWC-San Diego has slowly grown VOD to 44 HD-VOD at $5 and 2 UFC-HD events at $50.

Unfortunately HD line-up is essentially same as yours....
We're still impatiently waiting for SciFi-HD, Speed-HD, NGC-HD, HGTV-HD, Food-HD,
NFL-HD, the "Science" HD group, add'l HD channels in HBO/SHO/STARZ/CMAX groups,
ad nauseum.....

BRADWhite

01-21-08, 11:10 PM

Hawaii is supposed to get these additional channels soon...

The following HD channels will be coming soon, but exact release dates
have not yet been set.

1600 American Movie Classics
1329 Animal Planet
1560 Bravo
1333 Discovery
1337 Discovery Science
1599 Fuse
? International Film Channel
1557 Sci Fi Channel
1331 The Learning Channel
1451 Women's Entertainment

AndyHDTV

01-22-08, 01:05 AM

AndyHDTV

01-22-08, 01:13 AM

Negotiations In Progress With TWC

NFL Network-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Big Ten Network-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
USA-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
CNBC-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Chiller-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)
MSNBC-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)
Hallmark-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2008)

Negotiations Unknown With TWC

VOOM Channels Available Now
Rave-HD
Equator-HD
Gallery-HD
Animania-HD
Rush-HD
Ultra-HD
Monsters-HD
HD News
Film Fest-HD
Kung Fu-HD
WorldSport-HD
World Cinema-HD
Gameplay-HD
Family Room-HD
Treasure-HD

The Rest

Sho Too-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Smithsonian-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
MGM-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Cartoon Network-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Speed-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
FX-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Fuel-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Nickelodeon East-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
County Music Channel-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
MTV-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
VH1-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Spike-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Biography Channel-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
WGN-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
The Tennis Channel-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
CSTV-HD --- (Channel Available Now)
Travel Channel-HD --- (Channel Available Now)

TBN-HD --- (Channel Launching January 2008)
2 Unknown Discovery Channels --- (Channels Launching January 2008)
Toon Disney-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2008)
MavTV-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2008)
ION TV-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2008)
QVC-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2008)
HBO Comedy-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q2 2008)
HBO Zone-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q2 2008)
ActionMAX-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q2 2008)
ThrillerMAX-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q2 2008)
WMAX-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q2 2008)
@MAX-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q2 2008)
5StarMAX-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q2 2008)
OuterMAX-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q2 2008)
ESPNU-HD --- (Channel Launching in August 2008)
SI TV-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)
Fox News-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)
BBC America-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)
OWN-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2009)
Al Jazeera-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
Soundtrack Channel-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
HBO2-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
HBO Family-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
HBO Latino-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
HBO Signature-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
MoreMax-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
Comedy Central-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)

Known Deals Done With TWC

HBO-HD
Cinemax-HD
Showtime-HD
The Movie Channel-HD
Starz-HD
ESPN-HD
ESPN2-HD
HDNet
HDNet Movies
MOJO
Universal-HD
TNT-HD
DHD
MHD
A&E-HD
Golf/Versus-HD
TBS-HD
Food Network-HD
HGTV-HD
History Channel-HD
National Geographic-HD
Lifetime Movie Network-HD
NHL Network-HD
CNN-HD
Fox Business Network-HD
The Weather Channel-HD
The Outdoor Channel-HD
Animal Planet-HD
Game-HD (NHL Center Ice in HD)
Team-HD (NBA League Pass in HD)
WealthTV-HD --- (Currently TWC has a deal only for HD-VOD content & only in San Antonio)
The Science Channel-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
Discovery Channel-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
TLC-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
IFC-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
AMC-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
WE-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
FUSE-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
Sci-Fi-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
Bravo-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
Starz Comedy-HD --- (Was going to be added in TWC of San Antonio)
Starz Edge-HD --- (Was going to be added in TWC of San Antonio)
Starz Kids & Family-HD --- (Was going to be added in TWC of San Antonio)
RFD-HD --- (Channel Launching on December 1, TWC has Verbal Agreement to Carry, Launch on TWC TBD)
Sleuth-HD --- (Has the rights to, Channel Launching in 2008)
ESPN News-HD --- (Has the rights to, Channel Launching in Q1 2008)
Disney Channel-HD --- (Has the rights to, Channel Launching in Q1 2008)
ABC Family-HD --- (Has the rights to, Channel Launching in Q1 2008)

SDV Commercially Deployed for TWC
AS OF November 2007

Time Warner Cable Albany, N.Y.*
Time Warner Cable Syracuse, N.Y.*
Time Warner Cable Rochester, N.Y.*
Time Warner Cable Binghamton, N.Y.*
Time Warner Cable Austin, Texas*
Time Warner Cable San Antonio, Texas*
Time Warner Cable Oceanic Hawaii*
Time Warner Cable Portland, Maine*
Time Warner Cable Raleigh/Durham, N.C.*
Time Warner Cable Charlotte, N.C.*
Time Warner Cable Wilmington, N.C.*
Time Warner Cable Greensboro, N.C.*
Time Warner Cable Columbia, S.C.*
Time Warner Cable Green Bay, Wis.*
Time Warner Cable Milwaukee, Wis.*
Time Warner Cable San Diego, Calif.*
Time Warner Cable Kansas City, Mo.*
Time Warner Cable Ohio Systems*

Unknown SDV Deployment for TWC

Time Warner Cable Alabama
Time Warner Cable Barstow
Time Warner Cable Buffalo/Niagara
Time Warner Cable Clarksburg
Time Warner Cable Desert Cities
Time Warner Cable Erie
Time Warner Cable Fort Benning
Time Warner Cable Hudson Valley
Time Warner Cable Jackson, MS/Monroe, LA
Time Warner Cable Los Angeles
Time Warner Cable Myrtle Beach
Time Warner Cable National (non-clustered systems)
Time Warner Cable Nebraska (Lincoln)
Time Warner Cable New York and New Jersey
Time Warner Cable North Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth) (formerly Comcast)
Time Warner Cable Southern California
Time Warner Cable Southern Tier New York
Time Warner Cable Southwest (El Paso, Wichita Falls, Corpus Christi, Laredo, Border Corridor, Golden Triangle, Kerrville, Rio Grande Valley, and South Central)
Time Warner Cable Southwest Florida
Time Warner Cable St. John
Time Warner Cable Terre Haute

OCAP Deployment for TWC

Time Warner has deployed OpenCable-based set-tops in 13 divisions:

New York City and Northern New Jersey
Parts of Los Angeles (including Garden Grove, Chatsworth)
San Diego
Eastern North Carolina (Wilmington)
Raleigh, N.C.
Charlotte, N.C.
Lincoln, Neb.
Kansas City, Mo.
Milwaukee
Northeast Ohio
Cincinnati
Dayton, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio

RudyG

01-22-08, 02:14 AM

wow, i'm moving those channel to the "deals done for TWC " section
Sorry, but I think that's a mistake. The "Coming Soon" at least for us in Los Angeles has meant a couple of years, on average. and No I am not exaggerating. To be fare, this has been true before TWC take over as well, but regardless, I'd wait till they were actually done, before they get moved into done. :) You know?

BTW thanks for the effort, it really is appreciated.

Rudy

P.S. And oh BTW Melinda Witmer doesn't answer her emails. Just an FYI.

AndyHDTV

01-22-08, 02:38 AM

Sorry, but I think that's a mistake. The "Coming Soon" at least for us in Los Angeles has meant a couple of years, on average. and No I am not exaggerating.

info that comes out of hawaii is pretty much on point, from past posts from the hawaii thread.

and they already have channel #'s asigned

prophecyc2

01-22-08, 11:55 AM

Where the hell are all these channels in my area? I'm so lost.

AndyHDTV

01-22-08, 01:47 PM

Where the hell are all these channels in my area? I'm so lost.

I'm lost as well, I don't even know what area you're in?

not many twc systems has all these channels, only a handfull at the moment.

Mr. Good Cat

01-22-08, 02:06 PM

dylan24

01-22-08, 04:40 PM

Thanks for the update Andy.

I'm in the same boat as RudyG. Here in SoCal we only get 14 of the channels in your "Known Deals" list, with no word on when we will get any others. Seeing your entire list makes me laugh and sad at the same time.

Kaiahua

01-22-08, 06:13 PM

the info on the channels coming to hawaii came from an e-mail from the Oceanic Time Warner tech department said we shoul dhave it by the end of february. they even anounced it on our news stations. so i wouldn't be surprised if everyone else in teh different areas start getting these channels. i would have rather seen USA-HD but at least we get the Discovery Tier

Run4two

01-22-08, 09:04 PM

I am so done with TWC. I've only been with them a year, but EVERYONE else seems to get more! If FIOS doesn't arrive soon, I will go back to the dark side! D* Am I being screwed because of the takeover from Adelphia? We have Moto 6416 boxes out here.

holl_ands

01-22-08, 09:24 PM

Where the hell are all these channels in my area? I'm so lost.
Go to the top of this page and click on USERCP and then USER PROFILE.
Fill in the info and then we'll ALL know where in TWC Hell you are.....

TexRob

01-22-08, 11:53 PM

Anyone else have a problem with HistoryHD on TWC. I have Albany, NY TWC and wanted to see "Life after People" last night in HD but it kept pixelating and the audio constantly stutted. Unwatchable. Had to watch it in SD.

Here in Raleigh the 3 new HDs they added are all bit starved because they are all sharing the same channel. This leads me to believe that TWC is totally disjointed when it comes to SDV implementation. We've all seen the articles about what they learned in Austin for how to maximize SDV, and if you haven't, look it up, it's a good read. It's like our local affiliates didn't bother to learn how to best maximize SDV.

John Mason

01-23-08, 09:04 AM

Here in Raleigh the 3 new HDs they added are all bit starved because they are all sharing the same channel. This leads me to believe that TWC is totally disjointed when it comes to SDV implementation. We've all seen the articles about what they learned in Austin for how to maximize SDV, and if you haven't, look it up, it's a good read. It's like our local affiliates didn't bother to learn how to best maximize SDV.
Thanks for the info. TWC's SDV (or conventional) additions and bit rates per frequency slot seems worth monitoring. Three HD channels per ~39-Mbps slot, or 13 Mbps/channel at a constant bit rate seems too low, although knowing the maximum bit rate from the source would be useful.

Guess there's some flexibility using statistical multiplexing--shifting spectrum allocation depending on split-second action changes in scenes--and allowing for minimal or maximum bit rate needs. Thought I'd read HBO might be delivering only ~12 Mbps. If so, that may be a combination of using repeat-field MPEG flags instead of transmitting all 2-3-pulldown duplicated TV fields for 24p, plus 24P's greater compressibility from more duplicated information compared to 1080/60i interlaced video from TV cameras, (no 2-3 pulldown field duplication).

For NYC's TWC, member Berk32 mapped all the channels to frequencies on an Excel spreadsheet (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=96603&d=1197609415) (zip file). They've put HDNet--supposedly, from other reports, 17 Mbps--and two movie channels within 597 MHz. And a 720p network (ABC), 1080i network (NBC), plus various 480i subchannels for these networks, all at 675 MHz:

Freq Program # Digital # Channel #

597 1 798 798 HDNet
597 2 797 797 HDNetMovies
597 3 777 777 Starz HD

675 1 704 704 WNBC HD
675 2 707 707 WABC HD
675 3 161 161 NBC Weather+
675 4 162 162 NBC4.4
675 15 163 163 WABCNow
675 16 164 164 WABC+

bfdtv posted some bit rate measurements for various FIOS channels (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12689065&postcount=16), a delivery source claiming it doesn't further compress program bit rates. Three typical movie channels at ~12 Mbps (peak ~14 Mbps) could be handled by a ~39-Mbps 256-QAM cable slot, perhaps with statmuxing at peaks, although program sources such as HDNet M (17.2 Mbps) and 18.7 Mbps peak would not fit. -- John

EDIT: Just noticed that NYC's TWC HDNet/HDNetM (both ~17 Mbps from the FIOS table linked above) leave only 5 Mbps for the StarZ channel (39 -- 34 Mbps). Hmm. Don't think so.

Marcus Carr

01-23-08, 11:25 AM

I called Time Warner Cable last week and was informed they will be picking up USA HD at the end of February.

http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2008/articles/1201018986.php

zealot9802

01-24-08, 12:33 PM

I need NGC and History. Im a sad, sad man.

jacksonian

01-24-08, 12:47 PM

I need NGC and History. Im a sad, sad man.

Sad because you don't have them or sad because you need them? We just got them not long ago here in Greensboro, NC and I love them both. I'm actually surprised at how much HistoryHD I've watched.

eddy_winds

01-24-08, 01:12 PM

Sea Ray

01-24-08, 03:10 PM

Any word on Fox sports net deals with TWC?

I've seen for about a year now that TWC has a deal for CNN-HD. Anyone have it yet?

Gary J

01-24-08, 03:14 PM

We have CNN-HD here among 30-some HD channels.

Berk32

01-24-08, 03:16 PM

Any word on Fox sports net deals with TWC?

I've seen for about a year now that TWC has a deal for CNN-HD. Anyone have it yet?

-All FSN's are regional deals - TWC won't have anything to do with that on a national level (most areas already have their respective existing HD channels)

- Yes - some people definitely have CNNHD (Staten Island is one spot in NYC, along with part of Queens... but not the rest of TWC-NYC)

abcward

01-24-08, 04:06 PM

We have CNN-HD here among 30-some HD channels.

No offense, but you are in one of TWC's test markets. So of course you're going to have the majority of their HD channels.

The previous poster's question should have been: Does anyone NOT in a test market have CNN-HD?

:)

Gary J

01-24-08, 04:10 PM

No offense, but you are in one of TWC's test markets. So of course you're going to have the majority of their HD channels.

The previous poster's question should have been: Does anyone NOT in a test market have CNN-HD?

:)

No offense, but I was just answering his question, not what you thought his question should have been.

:)

Berk32

01-24-08, 04:40 PM

No offense, but you are in one of TWC's test markets. So of course you're going to have the majority of their HD channels.

The previous poster's question should have been: Does anyone NOT in a test market have CNN-HD?

:)

As I just said... Staten Island and parts of Queens have it (thanks to FiOS competition)

pwrmetal

01-24-08, 05:05 PM

Greensboro also has CNN HD.

I also crave the FSN in HD. I hope they add it before next year's college football season.

danki6x

01-24-08, 06:42 PM

Greensboro also has CNN HD.

I also crave the FSN in HD. I hope they add it before next year's college football season.

Hey, something we have in SoCal that you do not! Watched Anaheim Ducks last night. Also get some Kings (hockey), Angels (baseball), and Lakers/Clippers (basketball) too. Local college sports usually on "regular" channels in HD. Not full-time but regular when team is on FSN and in HD.

Dan

pwrmetal

01-24-08, 08:18 PM

Greensboro's (TWC) HD fortunes changed dramatically last year. Not only did we not have a good selection of HD channels compared to other TWC markets in the country, we were always way behind in the state! I am sure our better than average HD lineup (for TWC) today is due to us being one of the early SDV markets.

dgmayor

01-24-08, 09:24 PM

Greensboro also has CNN HD.

I also crave the FSN in HD. I hope they add it before next year's college football season.

Not sure if they do it in Greesnboro, but all/most of the college football, basketball and (for us) the Hurricanes games that are on FSN HD are shown on Mojo and regardless of whether we pay extra for Mojo or not, they flip it on for the games. Yes, I'd prefer a dedicated station, but it's better than nothing I suppose.

mjbanks

01-24-08, 11:15 PM

lSunNYl

01-24-08, 11:42 PM

More HD channels added in Capital Region, NY.

I just hit the guide and noticed HBO West, Cinemax, and Cinemax West were all added in HD tonight.

There's also a channel called RETRO on 1897 that's not in HD

i dont see them added here

Active Speaker

01-25-08, 01:01 AM

Why is North Texas so far behind everyone else?

Mr. Good Cat

01-25-08, 01:32 AM

chnky18

01-25-08, 02:25 AM

Im a noob but I have a question about the HD Channels. The beginning of this thread mentions all the known done deals channels and there are 48, some not yet available. I am in Lewisville(dallas, tx area). I only get the following channels in HD with time warner:
HBO-HD
Cinemax-HD
Showtime-HD
Starz-HD
ESPN-HD
ESPN2-HD
HDNet
HDNet Movies
MOJO
Universal-HD
TNT-HD

Why dont I get the following as well?:
The Movie Channel-HD
DHD
MHD
A&E-HD
Golf/Versus-HD
TBS-HD
Food Network-HD
HGTV-HD
History Channel-HD
National Geographic-HD
Lifetime Movie Network-HD
NHL Network-HD
CNN-HD
Fox Business Network-HD
The Weather Channel-HD
The Outdoor Channel-HD
Animal Planet-HD
The Science Channel-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
Discovery Channel-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
TLC-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
IFC-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
AMC-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
WE-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
FUSE-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
Sci-Fi-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)
Bravo-HD --- (Coming soon to Hawaii)

optivity

01-25-08, 07:10 AM

Albany Time Warner has been adding HD channels like mad recently:

1800 HD on Demand
1801 HD Showcase on Demand
1805 TBSHD
1806 CBSHD
1808 FOXHD
1810 ABCHD
1811 PBSHD
1813 NBCHD
1815 CWHD
1823 TWCHD
1827 TNTHD
1837 DSCHD
1838 AEHD
1839 HISHD
1840 MTVHD
1841 HGTVHD
1842 FOODHD
1846 CNNHD
1847 MSGHD
1851 FBNHD
1855 MOJHD
1857 HDnet
1858 HDNM
1860 UNIHD
1864 LMNHD
1866 SNYHD
1867 YESHD
1869 ESNHD
1870 ESP2HD
1873 GOLFHD
1874 OUTHD
1875 NHLHD
1876 NGCHD
1880 HBOHD
1882 HBOWHD
1883 MAXHD
1884 MAXWHD
1885 SHOHD
1890 STZHD
1891 SZWHD

Gary J

01-25-08, 08:05 AM

I notice the whining quotient decreasing considerably. :)

VisionOn

01-25-08, 08:30 AM

VisionOn

01-25-08, 08:33 AM

I notice the whining quotient decreasing considerably. :)

Since I posted the news report about TWC NC plans there's not much to wonder about here. Nothing else is going to happen until Summer so there's no point in wondering where all those Albany channels are. They won't arrive any faster!

pwrmetal

01-25-08, 09:51 AM

Not sure if they do it in Greesnboro, but all/most of the college football, basketball and (for us) the Hurricanes games that are on FSN HD are shown on Mojo and regardless of whether we pay extra for Mojo or not, they flip it on for the games. Yes, I'd prefer a dedicated station, but it's better than nothing I suppose.

I dropped the HD Tier/Pack once ESPNHD left it, but back when I did have it Mojo (or INHD as it was known then) didn't air FSN events in HD. The only thing I remember them airing was some of the Braves games in HD that would have been on TBS HD had it existed (outside of the broadcast version). If I were to find out they do that or are going to do that next year, I would be inclined to pick up the HD pack again for CFB season.

TexRob

01-25-08, 11:43 AM

AustinSTI

01-25-08, 12:36 PM

That is a very respectable lineup. I hope we are there within the next few months here in the Raleigh area.

I hope we get there here in austin this year. we've got 5 more coming 1/31 and I'm told by TWC here that they plan to add 'a lot' of HD channels this year. Since we have SDV it's likely they are telling the truth.

VisionOn

01-25-08, 12:48 PM

I hope we get there here in austin this year. we've got 5 more coming 1/31 and I'm told by TWC here that they plan to add 'a lot' of HD channels this year. Since we have SDV it's likely they are telling the truth.

Well I wouldn't say "likely." There's a multitude of factors that can screw it up.

And what's "a lot" to TWC? 5? 10? Or the 70 channel lineup that DirecTV already has?

TexRob

01-25-08, 01:59 PM

I hope we get there here in austin this year. we've got 5 more coming 1/31 and I'm told by TWC here that they plan to add 'a lot' of HD channels this year. Since we have SDV it's likely they are telling the truth.

Well, since I left Austin for Raleigh this year, it's only fitting that you all will get one hojillion new HD channels ;)

AustinSTI

01-25-08, 02:18 PM

Well I wouldn't say "likely." There's a multitude of factors that can screw it up.

And what's "a lot" to TWC? 5? 10? Or the 70 channel lineup that DirecTV already has?

Here's the current lineup here:

1501 KTBC- HD
1511 KVUE-HD
1521 KXAN 36/4 -HD
1531 KEYE HD
1541 KLRU HD
1542 KLRU-DT
1611 HGTV HD
1612 Food Network HD
1617 Discovery HD Theater
1630 CNN HD
1635 ESPN-HD
1636 ESPN2 High Definition
1639 Fox Sports - HD
1648 Game HD
1649 Team HD
1650 HD PPV Sports Events
1654 TNT HD
1656 Universal HD
1660 A&E HD
1664 MHD
1670 HBO East High Definition
1675 Cinemax HD
1678 Showtime High Definition
1684 Starz HD
1687 MOJO
1692 HD Net
1693 HD Net Movies
1698 HD Showcase
1699 HD VOD
1701 HD 1
1702 HD 2
1703 HD 3
1704 HD 4
1705 HD 5
1706 HD 6
1707 HD 7
1708 HD 8
1709 HD 9
1710 HD 10

The ones in Bold cost extra.

The following will be added here Jan 31:

National Geographic HD
The Movie Channel HD
Versus/Golf HD
Fox Business News HD
History Channel HD
Lifetime Movie Network HD
Weather Channel HD

Adding 7 channels in one shot isn't too shabby; another batch of 7 I'd consider a lot for cable...

optivity

01-25-08, 02:26 PM

I notice the whining quotient decreasing considerably. :)Don't get me started on the CableCARD thing. ;)

Verizon FiOS TV should be available in Upstate NY sometime during 2008 & all options remain on the table.

abcward

01-25-08, 02:47 PM

1648 Game HD
1649 Team HD

The ones in Bold cost extra.

As an annual subscriber to the MLB and NHL Premium packages, these are 2 channels that I covet. Explain what you mean by these costing extra. Are they in the tier that HDNet, Mojo, etc is? Or on a different HD Tier?

I hope your answer is not that these games in PPV.

Thanks.

dc10forlife

01-25-08, 06:48 PM

I dropped the HD Tier/Pack once ESPNHD left it, but back when I did have it Mojo (or INHD as it was known then) didn't air FSN events in HD. The only thing I remember them airing was some of the Braves games in HD that would have been on TBS HD had it existed (outside of the broadcast version). If I were to find out they do that or are going to do that next year, I would be inclined to pick up the HD pack again for CFB season.

ESPNHD is still on the HD Tier here -- at least I still get it with my limited (aka lifeline) + HD tier service. All the other new channels are SDV, and with my cablecard, I absolutely refuse to pay for stuff I don't get.

pen15nv

01-25-08, 11:46 PM

runcoman

01-26-08, 08:29 AM

patnshan

01-26-08, 08:31 AM

This is a E-mail that I sent to TWC Greensboro this morning.

Thank you for taking the time to read my request. I would like to receive a custom response, not just a prewritten auto reply. I've been a customer for several years now. I subscribe to Road Runner, Digital Phone and Digital cable, including HDTV with most premium channels. I pay you nearly $200.00 a month. Here's my concern: TWC Greensboro has deployed SDV digital switching. Therefore, you should be on the cutting edge with HDTV channel deployment. However, sadly this does not appear to be the case. Corporately, Time Warner has negotiated deals in place with many channels that you have not deployed, including Cinemax, which Time Warner owns. Why have you not added these channels? Have you looked at the TWC Greensboro thread on AVS Forum? Many subscribers like myself are considering switching to Direct TV due to lack of channels. Most of us are higher end subscribers that pay you a lot of money each month, not your typical $30.00 per month basic cable subscriber. I have no desire to make the jump to satellite, but if you’re not going to provide them, you will leave me no choice. Here are the channels currently offered by other TW cable networks that I would like to see added ASAP.
Cinemax HD
Starz HD
Fox Business HD
Weather Channel HD
Disney HD
ESPN News HD
Science Channel HD
The Movie Channel HD
Again, thanks for reading this and I look forward to your reply.

Good luck, I've sent similar to Milwaukee and got a canned response.

Pat

gparris

01-26-08, 09:39 AM

I send TWC an email several times a month (TWC-Wisconsin/Milwaukee) asking where our 10+ HD channel additions are, since the telemarketer calls of October.
-Guess the TWC telemarketer was calling from TX, NC, SC or NY state, huh?:rolleyes:
TWC Wisconsin management laughs at us HD subs like we're crazy or something when we ask for more HD channels
- like many of you lucky HD subscribers have - or will soon have.
As far as I can research, here in Wisconsin, we never had an increase in the amount of HD channels added like these locations reporting in have received.
(By this I mean more than 2 at a time).

We got 2 HD channels all last year !
(3 if you count worthless TBSHD) outside of a couple locals due to that Sinclair agreement...that was it!

Many of my disgrunted HD setup clients are now calling me back for reconfiguring the setups to factor in DirectvHD as they cancel TWC service altogether.:p
Most of the time its to swap out a cable, reconfig the remote and input "label" on the AVR, but it gets my notice, but obviously it ends there.
(TWC could care less in Wisconsin, love 'em or leave 'em).

Since TWC Wisconsin never seems to add more HD channels locally here
-nor even be kind enough to inform us what is truthfullly coming (if it ever is), I am not surprised anymore.
Doesn't TWC Wisconsin realize that once the sub leaves you, sets up their DirectvHD service in their home (or business), its probably gone for good?

Sea Ray

01-26-08, 12:27 PM

ESPNHD is still on the HD Tier here -- at least I still get it with my limited (aka lifeline) + HD tier service. All the other new channels are SDV, and with my cablecard, I absolutely refuse to pay for stuff I don't get.

Here in Cincinnati they never exactly "told" me that I no longer had to pay $6.95/mo to receive ESPN-HD. As it is I only receive 4 channels for the $7/mo, MOJO, HD-NET etc. It was only due to this forum that I realized this and then I promptly cancelled those four worthless channels.

So ESPH-HD is on the HD tier but it's the standard tier, the one you get with your digital cable package. The HD tier III is the one that they charge extra for.

optivity

01-27-08, 08:41 AM

My elderly father in-law who is confined to a wheelchair & cannot navigate the step(s) down into his FR wants a bigger TV for the kitchen.

I go out to Sam's Club the other night and pick up a "cheap" Magnavox 19MF337B 19" 720p LCD TV with ATSC/QAM tuner for ~$300.

Hook it up to the "standard" Time Warner Cable feed in Amsterdam NY using the TV's antenna input connection & scan the channels...

Holy Sh!+ Batman... the guy is getting 70 analog & ~8 HD channels... not too shabby. :)

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzequg9f/Magnavox-19MF337B.JPG

rts1

01-27-08, 09:17 AM

This is a E-mail that I sent to TWC Greensboro this morning.

Thank you for taking the time to read my request. I would like to receive a custom response, not just a prewritten auto reply. I've been a customer for several years now. I subscribe to Road Runner, Digital Phone and Digital cable, including HDTV with most premium channels. I pay you nearly $200.00 a month. Here's my concern: TWC Greensboro has deployed SDV digital switching. Therefore, you should be on the cutting edge with HDTV channel deployment. However, sadly this does not appear to be the case. Corporately, Time Warner has negotiated deals in place with many channels that you have not deployed, including Cinemax, which Time Warner owns. Why have you not added these channels? Have you looked at the TWC Greensboro thread on AVS Forum? Many subscribers like myself are considering switching to Direct TV due to lack of channels. Most of us are higher end subscribers that pay you a lot of money each month, not your typical $30.00 per month basic cable subscriber. I have no desire to make the jump to satellite, but if you’re not going to provide them, you will leave me no choice. Here are the channels currently offered by other TW cable networks that I would like to see added ASAP.
Cinemax HD
Starz HD
Fox Business HD
Weather Channel HD
Disney HD
ESPN News HD
Science Channel HD
The Movie Channel HD
Again, thanks for reading this and I look forward to your reply.

You have a better chance of getting a un-canned response by sending an email directly to: Buck Yarborough
Director, Government & Public Affairs
Time Warner Cable
Greensboro Division

optivity

01-27-08, 09:55 AM

This is a E-mail that I sent to TWC Greensboro this morning.

Thank you for taking the time to read my request. I would like to receive a custom response, not just a prewritten auto reply. I've been a customer for several years now. I subscribe to Road Runner, Digital Phone and Digital cable, including HDTV with most premium channels. I pay you nearly $200.00 a month. Here's my concern: TWC Greensboro has deployed SDV digital switching. Therefore, you should be on the cutting edge with HDTV channel deployment. However, sadly this does not appear to be the case. Corporately, Time Warner has negotiated deals in place with many channels that you have not deployed, including Cinemax, which Time Warner owns. Why have you not added these channels? Have you looked at the TWC Greensboro thread on AVS Forum? Many subscribers like myself are considering switching to Direct TV due to lack of channels. Most of us are higher end subscribers that pay you a lot of money each month, not your typical $30.00 per month basic cable subscriber. I have no desire to make the jump to satellite, but if you’re not going to provide them, you will leave me no choice. Here are the channels currently offered by other TW cable networks that I would like to see added ASAP.
Cinemax HD
Starz HD
Fox Business HD
Weather Channel HD
Disney HD
ESPN News HD
Science Channel HD
The Movie Channel HD
Again, thanks for reading this and I look forward to your reply.

I am subscribed to Albany Time Warner Cable TV (only) to the tune of ~$135.00 per month :eek: for this I receive:

All of the not-so-premium movie channels (HBO, Cinemax, etc.), the entire HD digital tier, which consists of ~40 HD channels along with an SA8300HDC, SA4250HDC & Sci-Atl CableCARD.

I also subscribe to Verizon FiOS for Internet/phone service @ $69.99 per month (for 2 years) :)

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzequg9f/speakeasy-speed-test.JPG

with FiOS TV service coming to Upstate NY in the not-too-far-distant future.

For this cable subscriber... competition & lot's of HD channels from ATW, is a good thing. :)

Doctor

01-27-08, 01:08 PM

I guess they were only testing HD On Demand in my area. The two movies that were available for $4.99 have now disappeared and I'm back to having way too much SD for my needs.

pen15nv

01-27-08, 03:00 PM

This is a E-mail that I sent to TWC Greensboro this morning.

Thank you for taking the time to read my request. I would like to receive a custom response, not just a prewritten auto reply. I've been a customer for several years now. I subscribe to Road Runner, Digital Phone and Digital cable, including HDTV with most premium channels. I pay you nearly $200.00 a month. Here's my concern: TWC Greensboro has deployed SDV digital switching. Therefore, you should be on the cutting edge with HDTV channel deployment. However, sadly this does not appear to be the case. Corporately, Time Warner has negotiated deals in place with many channels that you have not deployed, including Cinemax, which Time Warner owns. Why have you not added these channels? Have you looked at the TWC Greensboro thread on AVS Forum? Many subscribers like myself are considering switching to Direct TV due to lack of channels. Most of us are higher end subscribers that pay you a lot of money each month, not your typical $30.00 per month basic cable subscriber. I have no desire to make the jump to satellite, but if you’re not going to provide them, you will leave me no choice. Here are the channels currently offered by other TW cable networks that I would like to see added ASAP.
Cinemax HD
Starz HD
Fox Business HD
Weather Channel HD
Disney HD
ESPN News HD
Science Channel HD
The Movie Channel HD
Again, thanks for reading this and I look forward to your reply.

Just to point out, Disney HD hasn't launched yet, and ESPNews HD doesn't launch until March.

dc10forlife

01-27-08, 03:05 PM

Here in Cincinnati they never exactly "told" me that I no longer had to pay $6.95/mo to receive ESPN-HD. As it is I only receive 4 channels for the $7/mo, MOJO, HD-NET etc. It was only due to this forum that I realized this and then I promptly cancelled those four worthless channels.

So ESPH-HD is on the HD tier but it's the standard tier, the one you get with your digital cable package. The HD tier III is the one that they charge extra for.

In order to get the HD standard tier (ESPNHD, ESPN2HD, DiscoveryHD, TNTHD, FoodHD, HGTVHD and AEHD), I am required to sign up for expanded basic service. Again, I just have limited service. While ESPNHD might be on the standard HD tier, I get it by virtue of signing up for the HD "premium" tier in addition to my "limited" service.

My point was, I don't need to sign up for expanded basic to get ESPNHD. I refuse to pay $45 more to get some analog channels that look terrible plus some HD channels (Food, HGTV, ESPN2HD and AEHD) which aren't available on cablecard.

Prey521

01-29-08, 03:50 AM

I'm seriously getting pissed about the lack of HD content from TWC, and since I'm a college student at the mercy of the condo association, I can't get a dish.

RAW is in HD tonight and I won't be able to see it.

Condo association canNOT stop you from getting a dish...it's Federal Law. Bastards in my association tried the same thing and they lost.

humdinger70

01-29-08, 12:03 PM

TWC San Diego just added National Geographic HD to its lineup today (channel 718).

broadwayblue

01-29-08, 12:22 PM

Condo association canNOT stop you from getting a dish...it's Federal Law. Bastards in my association tried the same thing and they lost.

That depends. They can't stop you if you have an area under your exclusive control (private patio or balcony for example.) They can stop you if you want to put the dish on the facade or roof of the building.

Riverside_Guy

01-29-08, 02:49 PM

Condo association canNOT stop you from getting a dish...it's Federal Law. Bastards in my association tried the same thing and they lost.

You need to actually read the regulation (BTW, it's not a LAW). The regulation says essentially that one can mount a dish in their "private" area, but NOT on any common areas. In many cases, that means the walls outside your windows.

It would seem to have a big effect on suburban area home associations, who tend to have all sorts of rules about what you can do INSIDE your house. Multi-unit co-ops and condos have little benefit from the regulation.

beazster

01-29-08, 06:27 PM

I came across this news article. The pig Time Warner is testing internet billing based on usage instead of a flat monthly fee. They hate a la carte cable but I have a feeling they are going to love a la carte internet. I would much rather pay for the channels I actually watch just as much as Time Warner would rather have me pay for the internet I actually use. What to you all think?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080117/media_nm/timewarner_internet_dc

TexRob

01-29-08, 10:28 PM

lSunNYl

01-31-08, 01:59 AM

looks like there having the same problems wit NatGeo HD again ..

danothemanoisgoo

01-31-08, 09:08 PM

So when are the good HD channels coming to the North Texas area?

Run4two

01-31-08, 10:45 PM

So when are the good HD channels coming to the North Texas area?

Hopefully sooner than coming to SoCal. I find it interesting that so many people in our largest population centers aren't receiving more programming from TWC.

Run4two

01-31-08, 10:56 PM

I would really love to see a spreadsheet with all of TWC's areas ranked on the amount of HD progamming provided, not a cost analysis or value chart. I just want to see what's available where, and how I rank in comparison. My initial instincts are that I'm very very low on the chart being a newly acquired Adelphia area with Moto boxes, but I'm really not 100% sure.

wcaughey

01-31-08, 10:56 PM

I'm in the North Texas area too, north of dallas - twc sucks a big one as far as their HD offereing. Will be jumping on dish network's 40 HD only channel package when it becomes available tomorrow.

ebaker

01-31-08, 11:17 PM

TWC San Diego just added National Geographic HD to its lineup today (channel 718).

That's curious. I'm in TWC San Diego, and do not have anything on Ch 718. In fact, nothing between Ch 713 (NBA HD) and 721 (HD NET)....???

Edit: I just checked the TWC SD HD lineup, and it says "National Geographic HD (Coming Feb.13)" on Ch 718!

Lizardgi

01-31-08, 11:53 PM

The nationwide chart is a great idea! Anyone can go to timewarnercable.com and put a zipcode in from anywhere in the country to see what kind of channels you get in the lineup. It would take a long time, but a single person could take this project on if they had the motivation. Little too much work for me though.

tex1080

01-31-08, 11:53 PM

xnappo

02-01-08, 08:04 AM

As far as i can remember (someone correct me if I am wrong) Since August here in North Texas (Frisco) we have had one channel added HDNET MOVIES. I would also like to see what their total HD channel layout is per market compared to that markets population and household mean income.

You guys need to keep in mind that TWC only recently bought the cable system in North Texas. The old cable company there hadn't done any upgrades in YEARS. In Austin on the other hand, TWC has been building up the network since the late 90s when they bought the system.

I think there are two variables driving HD channel availability:
- How long TWC has owned the system
- Whether the system was Passport or SARA based

Now sure, there may be some level of local incompetence too, but I think the two factors above are important. TWC DOES know that the HD Satellite threat is real.

xnappo

nmcnair

02-01-08, 11:07 AM

Austin just got a TON of new channels yesteday.

GolfHD (its not called Golf HD, but thats seems to be what they show on it)
History HD
National Geographic HD
Weather Channel HD (really... really?)
Fox Business HD (I would rather have MSNBC, or CNNfn)
Lifetime Movie Network

Pretty happy with the bump up. I wont watch some of those channels, but History, Golf and National Geo are big wins for me.

Riverside_Guy

02-01-08, 11:18 AM

As far as i can remember (someone correct me if I am wrong) Since August here in North Texas (Frisco) we have had one channel added HDNET MOVIES. I would also like to see what their total HD channel layout is per market compared to that markets population and household mean income.

"Per market" may be very difficult to assess. In my "market" (NYC) we have some addresses within the city having as much as 50% MORE HD channels than other addresses. I happen to be in Manhattan and get all of 18 HD channels (as part of the package). Some others part of the city (Staten Island, Woodside) get up to 27 HD channels.

What I do NOT know is if this goes on in any other market?

humdinger70

02-01-08, 11:55 AM

That's curious. I'm in TWC San Diego, and do not have anything on Ch 718. In fact, nothing between Ch 713 (NBA HD) and 721 (HD NET)....???

Edit: I just checked the TWC SD HD lineup, and it says "National Geographic HD (Coming Feb.13)" on Ch 718!

I should have qualified the posting to mention that only the TWC North County San Diego (formerly Adelphia) area had it. Only as of February 13 will it go county-wide. FYI, it wasn't listed initially that way on the local San Diego HDTV discussion board.

rmanderson26

02-01-08, 02:35 PM

RudyG

02-01-08, 03:23 PM

I should have qualified the posting to mention that only the TWC North County San Diego (formerly Adelphia) area had it. Only as of February 13 will it go county-wide. FYI, it wasn't listed initially that way on the local San Diego HDTV discussion board.
Countrywide? Are you sure? This would be great if that were not typo. I can't imagine us in Los Angeles getting more HD channels, especially that early. I mean we are so far the Carolinas. :eek::D:)
No seriously do you have some info that the channel will become available countrywide?

Thanks.
Rudy

nicholc2

02-01-08, 03:24 PM

Has anyone heard if MidOhio will be getting any new ones soon? I just check the website and nothing of course. With everyone around us getting new channels I'm quite jealous!

rmanderson26

02-01-08, 04:00 PM

Has anyone heard if MidOhio will be getting any new ones soon? I just check the website and nothing of course. With everyone around us getting new channels I'm quite jealous!

I wouldn't be too jealous, Mid-Ohio gets FSN HD, Sports Time Ohio HD, Versus/Golf Channel HD and the CW HD, NEO doesn't.

nicholc2

02-01-08, 04:07 PM

I wouldn't be too jealous, Mid-Ohio gets FSN HD, Sports Time Ohio HD, Versus/Golf Channel HD and the CW HD, NEO doesn't.

True, and also false. STO is only on when there is an Indians game on. FSN NEVER has anything on (no that's not an exaggeration). So really that's only two we have you don't when you look at it realistically. Compared to everyone else, we're both seriously lacking HD from TW.

holl_ands

02-01-08, 04:28 PM

Countrywide? Are you sure? This would be great if that were not typo. I can't imagine us in Los Angeles getting more HD channels, especially that early. I mean we are so far the Carolinas. :eek::D:)
No seriously do you have some info that the channel will become available countrywide?

Thanks.
Rudy
You misread it....by one small letter "r"....one of the pit-falls of "speed reading"....
He didn't say "countrywide", he said "countywide"...all of TWC in San Diego County.

FromTheBalcony

02-01-08, 04:49 PM

True, and also false. STO is only on when there is an Indians game on. FSN NEVER has anything on (no that's not an exaggeration). So really that's only two we have you don't when you look at it realistically. Compared to everyone else, we're both seriously lacking HD from TW.

True that. TWC Mid-Ohio is flat-out pathetic right now and from what I can tell there are ZERO plans to add anything in the near future. I'm most likely moving out of my apartment in May and it will take a major bump in HD channels for them to keep me. Otherwise, I'm leaving with a big, evil smile on my face.

RudyG

02-01-08, 08:12 PM

You misread it....by one small letter "r"....one of the pit-falls of "speed reading"....
He didn't say "countrywide", he said "countywide"...all of TWC in San Diego County.
Ahhhh that darn speed reading. :) Now that makes much more sense. Oh well.

I think we need to have a competition in this thread for who has the least HD channels. :eek: Although I'm not sure what the people in that area would win. :)

Rudy

Lizardgi

02-01-08, 11:45 PM

I fell for the country/county wide thing as well. I was quite happy for a good hour until I went back and read it again. Oh well... keep dreaming I guess.

Riverside_Guy

02-02-08, 09:11 AM

Ahhhh that darn speed reading. :) Now that makes much more sense. Oh well.

I think we need to have a competition in this thread for who has the least HD channels. :eek: Although I'm not sure what the people in that area would win. :)

Rudy

Sympathy from everyone else?

Biggest issue is exactly how one measures HD channels. I tend to think of those that come with a regular package subscription and those that cost additional/extra. Then again, I've read of certain areas that have a extra cost HD package consisting of channels most of us may get as part of basic subscriptions. Then, how are HD VOD channels measured? Or PPV channels (in my market, we have one lone PPV channel that has about 2 or 3 HD broadcasts in a years's time, seems silly to count that as a HD channel)?

My suggestion is a three column deal. Part of the normal package, pay extra, and VOD (each VOD as one channel).

perrycom

02-02-08, 01:31 PM

True that. TWC Mid-Ohio is flat-out pathetic right now and from what I can tell there are ZERO plans to add anything in the near future. I'm most likely moving out of my apartment in May and it will take a major bump in HD channels for them to keep me. Otherwise, I'm leaving with a big, evil smile on my face.

Same here in Northeast Ohio. Compared to areas like Albany, our line-up is severely lacking, and I don't expect it to change anytime soon - SDV isn't even on the horizon here. Wish I could cut down all my southern-exposure trees and go with D*.:(

holl_ands

02-02-08, 04:58 PM

HD-VOD should be measured by number of simultaneously available HD Programs (not previews).

On TWC-San Diego, HD OnDemand (HD-PPV) offers 55 movies at either $4.99 each
or a few bucks less for 1st and 2nd installments of Bourne/RushHour trilogies
and a lot more for five HD Special Events (mostly Wresting, Boxing).

nickdawg

02-02-08, 09:55 PM

On, or around, March 4th, we will begin reorganizing our channel line-up to serve you better. The channel positions for Digital programming currently carried on channels 100 and above will change.

The following changes will also take place at that time in the former Adelphia service areas:
The following channels will be added to Digital Basic –CNN International, Inspiration Network, Reelz Channel, and ShopNBC; added to the new Digital Choice Tier – Boomerang, Ovation, and PBS Sprout; added to the Spanish Language Tier – Boomerang en Espanol, Canal Sur, Galavision, La Familia, Mun2, and MTV en Espanol; added as new foreign language premium services – DW TV, and Zee TV; added to FREE HD – A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD and History HD; move from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic – Hallmark, Turner Classic Movies, TV One, MTV2 and VH-1 Classic; added to premium channel multiplexes – @MAX, 5StarMAX, OuterMAX, WMAX, Showtime Family, Showtime Next, and Showtime Women; move from Digital Plus to Digital Basic – BET on Jazz, Biography, CNBC World, and History Channel International; move from Expanded Basic to the Digital Tier – Country Music Television, and Village TV; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Choice Tier – DIY, Family Land, and Nick Too; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Sports Tier – Fox Sports en Espanol; move to position 76 on Expanded Basic – SportsTime Ohio; will be dropped from the line-up – AZN, Canal 52 MX, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH-1 Country, VH-1 Soul, and the West Coast feeds of Showtime, TMC, FLIX, and Encore Themes.

The following changes will also take place at that time in the former Comcast service areas: The following channels will be added to Digital Basic – CNN International, Inspiration Network, American Life, CCTV9, and Reelz Channel; added to the new Digital Choice Tier – Boomerang, Family Land and PBS Sprout; added to the new Spanish Language Tier – Boomerang en Espanol, Canal Sur, Galavision, La Familia, Mun2, CineLatino, CNN en Espanol, Discovery en Espanol, ESPN Deportes, History en Espanol, Toon Disney en Espanol, and MTV en Espanol; added as new foreign language premium services – DW TV, ART, Filipino TV, RAI International, TV Asia, TV Japan, TV Russia, TV5 France, and Zee TV; added to FREE HD – A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD and History HD; move from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic – Hallmark, TV One,VH-1 Classic, and MTV2; added to premium channel multiplexes –Showtime Family, Showtime Next, and Showtime Women; move from Digital Plus or Premier to Digital Basic – BET on Jazz, Biography, Bloomberg, Current, Discovery Home, Investigation Discovery, FIT TV, Fox Movie Channel, Fuse, Great American Country, Lifetime Movie Network, Military Channel, and History Channel International; move from Expanded Basic to the Digital Tier – Country Music Television; added to the Digital Sports Tier – Fox Sports en Espanol; move to position 76 on Expanded Basic – SportsTime Ohio; move from the Sports Tier to Digital Basic – Fox Soccer, and TV Games, move from Digital Basic to the new Movie Tier – FLIX; will be dropped from the line-up – AZN, GOL TV, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH-1 Country, VH-1 Soul, and the West Coast feeds of Showtime, TMC, Starz!, FLIX, Sundance, and Encore Themes.
* Changes will vary by service area. Not all services available in all areas.

The following changes will also take place at that time in original Time Warner Cable service areas:
The following channels will be added to Digital Basic - CCTV9, Reelz Channel, ShopNBC, and TBN; added to the new Digital Choice Tier – Boomerang, Daystar, Family Land, Nick Too, Ovation, PBS Sprout and Inspirational Life; added to the Spanish Language Tier – Boomerang en Espanol, Fox Sports en Espanol, History en Espanol and Toon Disney en Espanol; added to the Movie Tier – FLIX and IFC; added as new foreign language premium services – Filipino Channel, TV Japan, TV Russia, and TV5 France; added to FREE HD – A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD and History HD; move from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic – MTV2, Science Channel, TV One, and VH-1 Classic; added to premium channel multiplexes – HBO Latino, STARZ! Comedy, and STARZ! HD; move from Expanded Basic to the Digital Tier – Discovery Health, FIT TV, Great American Country, and Inspiration Network; move from Digital Basic to the new Digital Choice Tier – DIY and Fine Living; will be dropped from the line-up – Disney West, Showtime West and TMC West feeds, Puma, and Sorpresa.

*4 HD channels are being added: FOOD, HGTV, HISTORY and A&E. No word on whether or not the local CW WBNX-DT will be added.

*Because of TW's acquisition of Adelphia and some Comcast, NE Ohio has been on differnet line ups. The line ups are going to be standardized between all areas. Channels that are not in some areas are being added.

*The line ups are going to be arranged to group channels by genre. (IE: Nickelodeon and Disney will be in close proximity to each other.)

*No word on whether or not Mystro Navigator will be deployed in NE Ohio.

WilliamR

02-04-08, 08:38 AM

Time Warner is Adding 4 HD channels to Northeast Ohio (Cleveland/Akron) on March 4th. They are A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD and History HD. Here's the link

http://www.timewarnercable.com/NortheastOhio/programming/Legal_notices2.html

About freaking time. I am so sick of their HD line up I debate, nearly daily, switching to someone else.

Gooddog

02-07-08, 09:38 AM

pwrmetal

02-07-08, 12:40 PM

From swanni

http://www.tvpredictions.com/twhd020708.htm

That's certainly promising (albeit vague) news. Thanks for posting it!

stuart628

02-07-08, 02:48 PM

glad to see they are working hard this year, I expect this will be a very good year for them!

perrycom

02-07-08, 02:54 PM

About freaking time. I am so sick of their HD line up I debate, nearly daily, switching to someone else.
I do as well, but have very limited options. I'm thankful for the new (promised) HD channels - especially Giada in HD :D - but still no Versus/Golf that they have an agreement with? Tough being a hockey fan around here...

VisionOn

02-07-08, 03:09 PM

From swanni

http://www.tvpredictions.com/twhd020708.htm

"TWC COO Landel Hobbs told the analysts that the cable service now has carriage agreements with 53 high-def channels -- and deals with an additional 20 channels "pending."

Only 53 deals done in three years of HD progression. DirecTV didn't seem to have problems making deals to get 70 channels to air in less time. :rolleyes:

Thombil

02-07-08, 03:24 PM

It's the same story we heard last year. Wait till we have switched video. It will be better by the end of the year. Or is it the end of next year or the next or some year.

chuckie59

02-07-08, 06:54 PM

Does anyone out there know how many channels are available on the HD tier in Ontario? I receive 8 now with just the basic cable going into my set. I called TWC to find out how many more would I get with a cable box and the HD tier for an additional $14.00 a month, and could not get a straight answer. It sounded like I would get maybe 4 more channels, which I am not sure if it would be worth it. The only 2 I don't get that would be good would be Discovery and ESPN. But I don't know if I want to pay just for those.

petey1287

02-07-08, 11:12 PM

I do as well, but have very limited options. I'm thankful for the new (promised) HD channels - especially Giada in HD :D - but still no Versus/Golf that they have an agreement with? Tough being a hockey fan around here...
I would love to see Giada in HD. I want Food Network HD now!!

kevin120

02-08-08, 09:19 AM

twc dallas
just added
pbs kids spout 549mhz
ovation tv 657mhz
galavision 549mhz digital simulcast

no sign of new hd channels
but we are the second twc system to launch pbs kids sprout

also leased access is moving to digital

Weaselboy

02-08-08, 10:25 AM

I would love to see Giada in HD. I want Food Network HD now!!

+1 :D

abcward

02-08-08, 10:43 AM

+1 :D

We have had HGTV-HD for a month or so now. And I'm here to tell you....Giada in HD does NOT suck....at all.

;)

pwrmetal

02-08-08, 02:56 PM

We have had HGTV-HD for a month or so now. And I'm here to tell you....Giada in HD does NOT suck....at all.

;)

She definitely sucks on HGTV HD, since she isn't on that channel! ;)

LL3HD

02-08-08, 03:11 PM

She definitely sucks on HGTV HD, since she isn't on that channel! ;) hmmmmm....Giada in a tool belt with a spatula in hand.... just that ..:cool:... oh yeah- and in HD ;)

abcward

02-08-08, 03:17 PM

She definitely sucks on HGTV HD, since she isn't on that channel! ;)

lol, my bad....i meant Food Network-HD, of course

reidtheweed01

02-09-08, 12:31 PM

True, and also false. STO is only on when there is an Indians game on. FSN NEVER has anything on (no that's not an exaggeration). So really that's only two we have you don't when you look at it realistically. Compared to everyone else, we're both seriously lacking HD from TW.

It actually does show stuff on the weekends, its just the guide only shows HD Promo, you just have either look at FSN website to see what games are in HD, or just get lucky and turn it on.

thestaton

02-11-08, 09:23 AM

2008 is the year I switch to satellite. TWC is a joke.

Gary J

02-11-08, 09:41 AM

Well then go find a satellite thread.

Prey521

02-11-08, 11:54 AM

2008 is the year I switch to satellite. TWC is a joke.

Preach on brotha man....preach on!

VisionOn

02-11-08, 12:58 PM

2008 is the year I switch to satellite. TWC is a joke.

What are you waiting for? It's probably not going to get better in the next month.

archiguy

02-11-08, 01:45 PM

hmmmmm....Giada in a tool belt with a spatula in hand.... just that ..:cool:... oh yeah- and in HD ;)

You certainly said a handful there, Larry. Or mouthful, I guess; we are talking about the Food Network, after all. And any more would be, you know, a waste. :p

holl_ands

02-11-08, 03:42 PM

From swanni

http://www.tvpredictions.com/twhd020708.htm

"TWC COO Landel Hobbs told the analysts that the cable service now has carriage agreements with 53 high-def channels -- and deals with an additional 20 channels "pending."

Hobbs said some Time Warner systems, such as Albany and San Antonio, are now offering more than 40 HD channels. But more HD channels are expected to be added soon throughout the company's footprint.

The cable operator is rolling out a new technology called Switched Digital Video (SDV) that will enable it to expand its high-def capacity.

"Switching works and it will allow us to launch relative HD content as it comes available and as we conclude deals with our programmers," Hobbs said, adding that SDV will be installed in every division that "needs it" by year's end."
Another report re. the same 4Q2007 Investor's brief:
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=145293&site=cdn

At the end of 2007, START OVER was "introduced" in 7 out of 23 total
TWC divisions, with remainder by end of 2008.
[START OVER requires SDV, currently in 9 divisions, with 9 more installions in process.]

FREE HD Showcase (HD On-Demand) will carry an additional 80 FREE HD "titles".

HD-PPV currently offers about 50 movies (I last counted 55 + SpecEvents on TWC-SD).

Swanni reported increase to about 200 HD movies On-Demand (80 Free + 120 PPV?).

TexRob

02-11-08, 03:56 PM

I will give it to TWC, that Start Over thing is a huge feature, and an obvious case of a boardroom meeting where they asked "What can we do with cable that satellite can not?"

danki6x

02-11-08, 04:21 PM

I do as well, but have very limited options. I'm thankful for the new (promised) HD channels - especially Giada in HD :D - but still no Versus/Golf that they have an agreement with? Tough being a hockey fan around here...And the Versus/Golf agreement is nearly a year old now... Dan

danki6x

02-11-08, 04:24 PM

Only 53 deals done in three years of HD progression. DirecTV didn't seem to have problems making deals to get 70 channels to air in less time. :rolleyes:Why would they make an agreement (pay money) if they won't be sending the station to the customer. They could quickly get 100 agreements and still most of So Cal would have less than 25% of the stations they have CURRENT agreements for. Dan

optivity

02-13-08, 07:49 AM

scott_bernstein

02-13-08, 02:58 PM

davehancock

02-13-08, 03:57 PM

Has anyone noticed a drop in signal strength since Time Warner began packing more HD channels on their wire w/SDV?

My PRO-150FD w/CableCARD is reporting a 10% decline with its digital signal meter and nothing has changed from my end.

1) They are not "packing more HD channels on their wire w/SDV" - SDV only sends those signals over the wire when requested by the customer.

2) Each QAM channel is independent of the others. So the use of more QAM channels (or a different use of them) wouldn't impact the other QAM channel signal strength.

Donniewb420

02-13-08, 07:06 PM

Signal strength should be unrelated to the # of channels packed onto their wire.

1) They are not "packing more HD channels on their wire w/SDV" - SDV only sends those signals over the wire when requested by the customer.

2) Each QAM channel is independent of the others. So the use of more QAM channels (or a different use of them) wouldn't impact the other QAM channel signal strength.

Maybe I have no idea how this stuff works, all I know is Id hope in SDV deployed areas such as mine, they would send their full ability in terms of signal and quality since they are only sending one signal via sdv

substance12

02-13-08, 07:20 PM

davehancock

02-13-08, 08:00 PM

would it be accurate to say that with SDV, that every channel will be uncompressed because you would only be getting 1 (or a few) channels at a time? or would the provider still need to compress the signal?When you say "uncompressed" I assume that you mean "additional compression" as virtually ALL HD material (even Blu-ray) is compressed - this stuff wouldn't work unless it was.

From what I understand, the additional compression on SDV channels will vary. Ideally, there are 2 HD channels per QAM. The QAM has a capability of 38Mbs, and most broadcast HD is half that. But, as SDV is "on demand" (well,sort of), and there are a "pool" of available QAM channels in a node (a neighborhood of around 500 homes), it is possible that there will at times be the need to put 3 HD channels on a QAM (or some combination of SD & HD channels). When that happens some additional compression will have to be applied. When that happens, statistical methods are used on the fly to determine where the additional compression is applied.

RudyG

02-13-08, 11:08 PM

would it be accurate to say that with SDV, that every channel will be uncompressed because you would only be getting 1 (or a few) channels at a time? or would the provider still need to compress the signal?
In a SDV environment, not every channel will be placed on SDV. Only the least popular ones, that people rarely watch. So the bandwidth crunch will still be there even if a bit less dramatic.
I'm afraid a bandwidth crunch is just a reality we will be forced to accept. Even with OTA, the stations insist on multicasting, and there are precious few stations actually transmitting their HD channel anywhere near the ~19Mb capacity. I have a local PBS affiliate here in Los Angeles that transmits their 1080i feed at below 9Mb :(
Anyway, returning to cable. Here is a link to an article posted earlier inthis thread that discusses the SDV a little:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6454447.html

Rudy

AndyHDTV

02-14-08, 01:52 AM

1st post updated, TWC of San Antonio has added:

The Science Channel-HD
Discovery Channel-HD
TLC-HD
Animal Planet-HD

lSunNYl

02-14-08, 02:04 AM

1st post updated, TWC of San Antonio has added:

The Science Channel-HD
Discovery Channel-HD
TLC-HD
Animal Planet-HD

wow i hope we get those

Riverside_Guy

02-14-08, 12:17 PM

2) Each QAM channel is independent of the others. So the use of more QAM channels (or a different use of them) wouldn't impact the other QAM channel signal strength.

Aren't there a finite number of QAM channels? And isn't there a finite amount of bandwidth each channel can carry? And if they load the maximum bandwidth to each QAM, would not establishing a new one mean that rate shaping needs to take place (actually, I'd guess there no issue with "new" ones, if the existing ones are maxxed, something has to give, right?)?

sheldonison

02-14-08, 04:23 PM

Aren't there a finite number of QAM channels? And isn't there a finite amount of bandwidth each channel can carry? And if they load the maximum bandwidth to each QAM, would not establishing a new one mean that rate shaping needs to take place (actually, I'd guess there no issue with "new" ones, if the existing ones are maxxed, something has to give, right?)?
TWC-Austin here. We want the four new TWC-San Antonio channels too!

Cable television uses 115 six MHz slots between 57MHz and 747Mhz. QAM works from 150MHz to 750Mz, though with upgraded equipment, they've gone as high as 1GMhz. Each 6MHz slot can either be used for one old fashioned SDTV analog channel, or one 38.4mbps QAM slot. The HDTV broadcast spec is 19.2mbps, but HBO and showtime are around 14-15mbps. SDTV digital is around 3.2 mbps.

In Austin, the lowest QAM frequency being used is 219MHz with old fashioned analog SDTV using most of the 6Mhz slots below 219MHz for channels 2 through 22.

Between 219MHz and 747MHz there are 89 available 6MHz slots. 53 of those slots are used for SDTV analog channels 24 through 77. TWC Austin eliminated analog channels #23 and #51.

That leaves 36 6MHz QAM slots which is sufficient for 72 full broadcast quality HDTV channels, or 72 HBO/Showtime quality HDTV channels plus 108 SDTV digital channels, or 432 SDTV digital channels. Many of these channels are SDV, and getting switched in and out as needed.

When 36 QAM slots becomes insufficient for the total switched HD content they can:
o cannibalize more of the analog channels between #23 and #77.
o put fewer homes on each switched distribution trunk (equipment upgrades)
o use frequencies 753MHz and higher (equipment upgrades)
o compress channels further using MPEG-4 (equipment upgrades)

Since equipment upgrades costs money, I figure the less popular analog expanded basic channels will get slowly trimmed out as needed, but basic cable analog channels 2 through 22 will probably last forever. With SDV, I don't think they're going to run out of mbps anytime too soon.

davehancock

02-14-08, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by davehancock View Post
2) Each QAM channel is independent of the others. So the use of more QAM channels (or a different use of them) wouldn't impact the other QAM channel signal strength.Aren't there a finite number of QAM channels? And isn't there a finite amount of bandwidth each channel can carry? And if they load the maximum bandwidth to each QAM, would not establishing a new one mean that rate shaping needs to take place (actually, I'd guess there no issue with "new" ones, if the existing ones are maxxed, something has to give, right?)?The post you quoted was talking about signal strength - not about compression. They are not related.

davehancock

02-14-08, 08:36 PM

TWC-Austin here. We want the four new TWC-San Antonio channels too!

Cable television uses 115 six MHz slots between 57MHz and 747Mhz. QAM works from 150MHz to 750Mz, though with upgraded equipment, they've gone as high as 1GMhz. Each 6MHz slot can either be used for one old fashioned SDTV analog channel, or one 38.4mbps QAM slot. The HDTV broadcast spec is 19.2mbps, but HBO and showtime are around 14-15mbps. SDTV digital is around 3.2 mbps.

In Austin, the lowest QAM frequency being used is 219MHz with old fashioned analog SDTV using most of the 6Mhz slots below 219MHz for channels 2 through 22.

Between 219MHz and 747MHz there are 89 available 6MHz slots. 53 of those slots are used for SDTV analog channels 24 through 77. TWC Austin eliminated analog channels #23 and #51.

That leaves 36 6MHz QAM slots which is sufficient for 72 full broadcast quality HDTV channels, or 72 HBO/Showtime quality HDTV channels plus 108 SDTV digital channels, or 432 SDTV digital channels. Many of these channels are SDV, and getting switched in and out as needed.

When 36 QAM slots becomes insufficient for the total switched HD content they can:
o cannibalize more of the analog channels between #23 and #77.
o put fewer homes on each switched distribution trunk (equipment upgrades)
o use frequencies 753MHz and higher (equipment upgrades)
o compress channels further using MPEG-4 (equipment upgrades)

Since equipment upgrades costs money, I figure the less popular analog expanded basic channels will get slowly trimmed out as needed, but basic cable analog channels 2 through 22 will probably last forever. With SDV, I don't think they're going to run out of mbps anytime too soon.Your description is correct. But a thing that lots of folks don't understand is that the cable system that uses SDV has the cable system broken down into neighborhood "nodes" of about 500 homes. The "sharing" of the QAMs devoted to SDV is ONLY WITHIN THE NODE (only within the neighborhood - which may even be on an apartment building level).

AstroTravellin

02-15-08, 08:21 AM

TWC-Austin here. We want the four new TWC-San Antonio channels too!

Just found out that they will be added on Tuesday, 2/19. Yay!

xnappo

02-15-08, 09:56 AM

Just found out that they will be added on Tuesday, 2/19. Yay!

Pluto is not very useful!

Did you mean in San Antonio or Austin?

xnappo
[EDIT]

I see that it is indeed Austin:
http://www.timewarnercable.com/centraltx/programming/legal_notices2.html

cool.

AlbanyHDTV

02-15-08, 03:58 PM

danki6x

02-15-08, 04:25 PM

Just found out that they will be added on Tuesday, 2/19. Yay!
So, even Pluto is getting more channels before Los Angeles area of So Cal.....

CoryW

02-15-08, 04:50 PM

Pluto is not very useful!

Did you mean in San Antonio or Austin?

xnappo
[EDIT]

I see that it is indeed Austin:
http://www.timewarnercable.com/centraltx/programming/legal_notices2.html

cool.
This is awesome! Why are they adding Discovery HD if we already have it? I also thought we already had KVUE 2?

kevinivey

02-15-08, 05:03 PM

discovery HD is different than discovery hd theatre.

BrewCrew8

02-15-08, 08:44 PM

Does anyone know if there is any progress on getting SPEED HD on TWC?

Run4two

02-15-08, 10:08 PM

It doesn't matter to me. Here in SoCal they aren't going to add anything until hell freezes over. There are major infrastructure changes that need to happen before they can start adding additional channels (HD or SD). By then D* and FIOS might have a good foothold into their monopoly.

nickdawg

02-16-08, 12:46 AM

Dear (CUSTOMER),

Have you ever thought of changing the way you view digital cable? With over 200 channels to choose from, making viewing decisions can sometimes be a challenge.

Luckily at Time Warner Cable, we think like you think and have listened to your feedback. That is why we have decided to arrange your Digital Cable channel lineup to make finding what you want to watch easier than ever. Look for these changes in the coming weeks.

We are arranging the channels above position 100 so that channels with similar programming will be grouped together by categories such as News, Sports and Kids. This setup not only gives you a single destination for your most desired shows, but also helps keep you aware of other similar programming that you might have missed.

You may notice that some fo the digital channels may be offeredon tiers which have different names than ou remember. You also may notice some great new channels in your area.

We are excited about these changes and invite you to learn more about them online or on your television. Details are available at http://www.twcguide.com or on channel position 399 once your lineup has changed.

Prior to the lineup changes, you'll receive another quick reminder letter that will include a printed copy of your new Digital Cable channel lineup. You should also find a copy of the new channel information in your billing statement, and your digital on-screen guide will reflect the changes as soon as your area is realigned.

At the time of these changes, you may need to reprogram all of your settings. These settings include Parental Control, Blocked Channel, Favorite Channel, Reminder Timer and most scheduled DVR recordings. You might also lose stored content on your DVR.

If you need more information on programming your settings, there are options for help:
*Consult the booklets that came with your digital cable box.

OR

*Visit http://www.twcguide.com for printable copies of guides for the various types of cable boxes we carry.

OR

*Go online to http://www.twcneo.com and look for Answers On Demand under Quick Links.

We apologize if this may cause soem confusion, but we are confident you will appreciate the benefits of this new lineup layout in the future.

Knowing you have options when it comes to purchasing the products that Time Warner Cable provies, we most sincerely appreciate your busines and look forward to serving you for many years to come.

Sincerely,
Steohen R Fry
President, Time Warner Cable
NE Ohio and Western PA Division
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also note that PASSPORT menus/DVR screens are still being advertised. These links are on the webpage with the new lineup info:

http://www.twcguide.com/media/inst-DVR.pdf

http://www.twcguide.com/media/inst-settings.pdf

http://www.twcguide.com/media/inst-pcontrol.pdf

bernie33

02-16-08, 01:28 AM

Dear (CUSTOMER),

. . . You might also lose stored content on your DVR.

That ought to lose friends and make enemies. Especially when you don't know exactly when it is going to happen and how much lead time you're going to have.

Dr Serenity

02-17-08, 01:25 AM

AustinSTI

02-18-08, 06:13 PM

AustinSTI

02-18-08, 06:21 PM

We here in the Dallas/North Texas region feel your pain...:mad:

I envy you guys in Austin and San Antonio...

You guys have FIOS in Plano I hear...I envy that!!

funkmonkey

02-18-08, 06:34 PM

So, even Pluto is getting more channels before Los Angeles area of So Cal.....

Yeah, why is TWC dragging their feet so much in LA, their HD channel offering is really minimal. Right now their $5/ month HD package adds like 4 channels that I have no interest in, and at least half of the programing on Discovery, Science channel, and History Channel, among others is originally in HD but TWC chokes it into SD. Because of this, I would go dish or direct TV in a heartbeat if the apartment that I live in would allow it.

TexRob

02-18-08, 08:46 PM

4 more added in Austin as of tomorrow:

Add Discovery HD to Channel 1618
Add TLC HD to Channel 1615
Add Animal Planet HD to Channel 1622
Add Science HD to Channel 1624

Total in Austin is now 38 channels including the new ones and 9 added since new years.

The Discovery HD is a simulcast of the Discovery Channel. Discovery HD theater is a seperate channel and will remain a seperate channel (source: http://www.news8austin.com)

It's so comical how true "The grass is always greener" is. Less than a year since moving from Austin, they finally get their act together. You guys have an awesome lineup now. I just hope Raleigh is not far behind you all.

scsiraid

02-18-08, 08:53 PM

It's so comical how true "The grass is always greener" is. Less than a year since moving from Austin, they finally get their act together. You guys have an awesome lineup now. I just hope Raleigh is not far behind you all.

With TWC clearing analog channels 75 and 76 perhaps we arent far from getting some new stuff. 2 QAM's gives room for 4 HD's... hmmmmmmm.... Could it be?

Dr Serenity

02-18-08, 09:47 PM

You guys have FIOS in Plano I hear...I envy that!!

True enough, but FIOS is only in limited areas in North Texas (NOT in Dallas proper yet), and it ain't around where I live. :p

Daryl L

02-19-08, 12:50 PM

With TWC clearing analog channels 75 and 76 perhaps we arent far from getting some new stuff. 2 QAM's gives room for 4 HD's... hmmmmmmm.... Could it be?
I don't think it cleared 2 QAM's did it? They just moved channels 75 and 76 to 43 and 44.

scsiraid

02-19-08, 02:37 PM

I don't think it cleared 2 QAM's did it? They just moved channels 75 and 76 to 43 and 44.

They moved two analog channels down lower in the range. Each of those vacated analog channels can be used as a 6Mhz QAM channel which is good for 4 HD's.

Daryl L

02-19-08, 03:07 PM

They moved two analog channels down lower in the range. Each of those vacated analog channels can be used as a 6Mhz QAM channel which is good for 4 HD's.
But isn't channel 43 and 44 QAM channels just like 75 and 76? According to the cable box system summary page 43 and 44 is QAM 256.

scsiraid

02-19-08, 06:01 PM

But isn't channel 43 and 44 QAM channels just like 75 and 76? According to the cable box system summary page 43 and 44 is QAM 256.

Remember that with a cablebox you are viewing the digital simulcast which is a digital copy of the analog NTSC channel. For those viewing 75 and 76 via a plain TV or a TiVo we are tuned to the actual NTSC channel and not the Digital Simulcast channel. Freeing up those two NTSC channels will make room for 4 HD's. Aint it amazing how wasteful NTSC is of bandwidth.....

nickdawg

02-19-08, 06:24 PM

Remember that with a cablebox you are viewing the digital simulcast which is a digital copy of the analog NTSC channel. For those viewing 75 and 76 via a plain TV or a TiVo we are tuned to the actual NTSC channel and not the Digital Simulcast channel. Freeing up those two NTSC channels will make room for 4 HD's. Aint it amazing how wasteful NTSC is of bandwidth.....

NE Ohio dumped four analog channels(CSPAN2, ESPM Classic and two preview channels) In March we are getting four HD channels. SO really, we have room for rour more HD channels:cool: Can't wait to see if more will be added.

NTSC is a waste!! There is so much garbage on the analog tier that needs to be dropped(Inspiration, Hallmark, FitTV just to name a few). That woukd be SIX more HD channels. I still want FX, USA, National Geographic, CNN, Discovery Simulcast and AMC or MHD.

Daryl L

02-19-08, 07:00 PM

scsiraid

02-19-08, 07:26 PM

scsiraid, Please forgive my lack of understanding but I just don't see were bandwidth space is being saved by these two channels being moved. I understand NTSC (analog) is a bandwidth hog. An analog tv can receive analog cable tv up to channel 125.

Now, with a cable box MSNBC and FNC was digital simulcast on 75 and 76. With an analog tv the analog version of MSNBC and FNC was on 75 and 76. (Two digital simulcast stations for a cable box and still two analog stations for analog tv's.)

Today, with a cable box MSNBC and FNC is digital simulcast on 43 and 44. With an analog tv the analog version of MSNBC and FNC is on 43 and 44. (Still two digital simulcast stations for a cable box and still two analog stations for analog tv's.)

If they had removed any channels I could see that bandwidth is being freed up but they didn't remove any. They only relocated them to another channel number. There was nothing on channels 43 and 44 before these channel moves.

I see where you are coming from. The situation was a bit different in Cary/Apex...

C-SPAN Standard Cable Ch. 59 Basic to Cable Ch. 5
ShopNBC Standard Cable Ch. 64 Basic to Cable Ch. 19
HGTV Standard Cable Ch. 76 to Standard Cable Ch. 59
Cartoon Network Standard Cable Ch. 75 to Standard Cable Ch. 64

75 an 76 were moved to occupied channels. however what was on those occupied channels were moved down into channel 5 and 19. 5 and 19 are crappy locations.... interference from broadcast channel 5... channel 19 has issues but I dont remember their source. So they moved 'weak' content down into crappy channel space and freed up the top two analog channel slots. So in absolute terms... you are right... they didnt free up anything. However, they are now in a position to reduce their NTSC footprint and move those top two channels into the QAM footprint.