Hello,

Some of you may already be familiar with me as the Director of Marketing for Video Services in the South Carolina Division of Time Warner Cable. As of November 1, 2006 I will transition to a new responsibility as Director of Video Product Management in the corporate office in Stamford, CT. In this new role I will be concentrating on our new interactive programming guide (Mystro Digital Navigator), SDV, Digital Simulcast, HD and other associated video product developments.

I am starting a new thread with the specific thought to receive customer input on what consumers would like to see TWC provide through the video product. I will be posting questions and looking for input that can help us shape our video product development.

Here are a couple of topics I will not respond to:

* specific questions concerning programming launches

* specific questions as to why one Division of TWC may have a channel that another Division may not

* specific requests for service assistance

* postings which have the sole purpose of denigrating TWC


Please also know that while I'm inviting your opinion, I am offering ZERO promises that something you suggest may ever end up on our video offerings.

I look forward to a productive partnership!

Question 1 - Interactive Program Guide -

What do you like about guides you have experienced? What do you hate? Describe aspects or functionality that would be part of your perfect IPG?

Question 2 - HD - NOT PROGRAMMING

Any ideas of how you want to consume your HD from a cable operator?

Question 1 - Interactive Program Guide -

What do you like about guides you have experienced? What do you hate? Describe aspects or functionality that would be part of your perfect IPG?


first, thank you for this.
It really shows that TWC cares, also congrats on the new position.

1. One thing that I find annoying about my guide is the fact that the aspect ratio is tailored for a 4x3 TV.
My very old Pioneer box used to stretch the guide on a 16x9 TV and the newer SA boxes just displays the guide in 4x3 on a 16x9 TV.

2. Another thing that bothers me is when guide info disappears.
When I let the info in the guide load for the week it seems to sometimes disappear if I go back into the guide at a later time.

3. I wish the guide went further than 7 days.

thanks

Question 2 - HD - NOT PROGRAMMING

Any ideas of how you want to consume your HD from a cable operator?
I would love to see TWC expand the VoD offerings to include HD repeats of network and premium programming.

However, the most important thing to me is that the HD be full resolution and full bandwidth. Last year, the HD from TWC LA was pristine. As they employed rate shaping, the PQ dropped. There are instances now, where certain channels briefly break up into an MPEG artifacting mess. I'm hoping that Switched Digital Video will put an end to the lowered PQ caused by rate shaping.

Does SDV eliminate the need for rate shaping? Or is rate shaping still utilized alongside SDV?

TiVo's IPG allows you to see what's on a channel for the next 8 hours or so without scrolling. The current TWC guide only gives you about 3 hours before having to scroll.

TiVo's IPG allows you to see what's on a channel for the next 8 hours or so without scrolling. The current TWC guide only gives you about 3 hours before having to scroll.

I get about 5 channels by 90ish minutes. (iGuide) BUT, I'm used to MOXI and ANY grid is better than none!

I figure when whatever comes and supports HD more screen real estate will mean more grid.

Great to have corporate support in these forums, MoxiGuy was our hero over there until he left as Digeo started to shrink.

Important! Do not kill the ability to at least hack a 30 second jump, better yet officially add it! The TW remote supposedly will control a DVD player, HOW without chapter skip buttons? That's where skip and replay should have been assigned, but no buttons.

I'm from Adelphia West Los Angeles, now TWC.

While I think the IPG on the 8300HD DVR is pretty good, I'd really like for it to download at least 14 days worth of advance programming. It should always have 14 days in memory so the "to do" list would show everything to be recorded in the next 14 days. When traveling, it's nice to be able to delete certain shows from the to-do list so that you don't exceed capacity and lose shows before you return.

Also, the ability to have a Tivo-like favorites list that will automatically record shows when they appear on the guide would be great. I try to catch a lot of the premieres of new shows in the Fall, and right now, the only option I have to record them is to remember to find it within 7 days of the premier. If you could just have a favorite list that would allow you to record anything with the name "Studio 60" in the title, it would be much appreciated.

Finally, I'd like to see the ability to have the DVR remember what episodes were recorded in the last 30 days, so if a show repeated, and you have the "season pass" set to record repeats, it wouldn't record the same show twice in a 30-day period.

Thanks for soliciting our feedback!

first, thank you for this.
It really shows that TWC cares, also congrats on the new position.

1. One thing that I find annoying about my guide is the fact that the aspect ratio is tailored for a 4x3 TV.
My very old Pioneer box used to stretch the guide on a 16x9 TV and the newer SA boxes just displays the guide in 4x3 on a 16x9 TV.

2. Another thing that bothers me is when guide info disappears.
When I let the info in the guide load for the week it seems to sometimes disappear if I go back into the guide at a later time.

3. I wish the guide went further than 7 days.

thanks

1. Good stuff - thanks

2. Not quite sure I'm following you on when it disappears - sounds more buggy than actual program with your reference to "sometimes disappears"

3. I'll have to arm wrestle the engineering types for that - the more it goes out the more memory required in the unit, the more it can impact latency of other applications. But, I agree - the more time the more customer friendly and that's what I'm after here.

I would love to see TWC expand the VoD offerings to include HD repeats of network and premium programming.

However, the most important thing to me is that the HD be full resolution and full bandwidth. Last year, the HD from TWC LA was pristine. As they employed rate shaping, the PQ dropped. There are instances now, where certain channels briefly break up into an MPEG artifacting mess. I'm hoping that Switched Digital Video will put an end to the lowered PQ caused by rate shaping.

Does SDV eliminate the need for rate shaping? Or is rate shaping still utilized alongside SDV?

1. I'm pretty darn sure that's part of our standard programming negotiation now

2. very true - if you don't have bandwidth, you have to make a hard choice between more channels not all entirely full resolution or add the programming by sacrificing some quality. As far as I know SDV should eliminate rate shaping, but I'll confirm with engineers before I carve it in stone.

TiVo's IPG allows you to see what's on a channel for the next 8 hours or so without scrolling. The current TWC guide only gives you about 3 hours before having to scroll.

Interesting - one of the first things I plan to do is get more familiar with other guides out there. In my current role I frequently hear people speak of the Tivo guide benefits, but honestly I've never really gotten to play with it...

Maybe they'll let me expense one ;)

I get about 5 channels by 90ish minutes. (iGuide) BUT, I'm used to MOXI and ANY grid is better than none!

I figure when whatever comes and supports HD more screen real estate will mean more grid.

Great to have corporate support in these forums, MoxiGuy was our hero over there until he left as Digeo started to shrink.

Important! Do not kill the ability to at least hack a 30 second jump, better yet officially add it! The TW remote supposedly will control a DVD player, HOW without chapter skip buttons? That's where skip and replay should have been assigned, but no buttons.

I'm from Adelphia West Los Angeles, now TWC.

I've spent one afternoon playing with iGuide with our Adelphia acquisition in Hilton Head - there was some interesting aspects to it.

Interesting point on the HD screen size in relations to grid timeframe...

30 second jump decision was handed down from Time Warner Inc based upon our the persausive argument of our cousins at Turner Networks. - BUT, I will raise your point on chapter skip and see what I can find out. The new guide has a new remote, but I've only been on one very short call about it so I really don't have a good grasp of all the features built in.

Interesting - one of the first things I plan to do is get more familiar with other guides out there. In my current role I frequently hear people speak of the Tivo guide benefits, but honestly I've never really gotten to play with it...

Maybe they'll let me expense one ;)

TiVos have gotten quite inexpensive (save the Series 3) Many are free with the subscription. I'm a ReplayTV user and that interface is also quite good and not as intrusive as TiVo. Emulating (with out violating) either would be a great improvement. Just stay away from Moxi. ;)

Diana,
I know a lot of folks get tired of hearing about TiVo, but it really is the iPod of DVR's when it comes to ease of use and being intuitive. I just gave back my SA8300 and paid $800 for a TiVo S3. That's how much that interface means to me and a lot of other people. I'd be glad to give that money to TWC if they could come up with something comparable.

While I think the IPG on the 8300HD DVR is pretty good, I'd really like for it to download at least 14 days worth of advance programming. It should always have 14 days in memory so the "to do" list would show everything to be recorded in the next 14 days. When traveling, it's nice to be able to delete certain shows from the to-do list so that you don't exceed capacity and lose shows before you return.

Also, the ability to have a Tivo-like favorites list that will automatically record shows when they appear on the guide would be great. I try to catch a lot of the premieres of new shows in the Fall, and right now, the only option I have to record them is to remember to find it within 7 days of the premier. If you could just have a favorite list that would allow you to record anything with the name "Studio 60" in the title, it would be much appreciated.

Finally, I'd like to see the ability to have the DVR remember what episodes were recorded in the last 30 days, so if a show repeated, and you have the "season pass" set to record repeats, it wouldn't record the same show twice in a 30-day period.

Thanks for soliciting our feedback!


DVR upgrade 1.2 is out there and it includes first run on this channel in this time flag. I couldn't begin to guess why your area hasn't downloaded yet, but I know some MSO's have not.


And you might as well know now - I went to Illinois and I hate Kansas.

TiVos have gotten quite inexpensive (save the Series 3) Many are free with the subscription. I'm a ReplayTV user and that interface is also quite good and not as intrusive as TiVo. Emulating (with out violating) either would be a great improvement. Just stay away from Moxi. ;)


Looks like I need to hang out in a CE store for a couple of days. Thanks,

Diana,
I know a lot of folks get tired of hearing about TiVo, but it really is the iPod of DVR's when it comes to ease of use and being intuitive. I just gave back my SA8300 and paid $800 for a TiVo S3. That's how much that interface means to me and a lot of other people. I'd be glad to give that money to TWC if they could come up with something comparable.

Happily we are working on it and since your part of Eastern Carolina Division, you should see Digital Navigator sooner than SARA divisions out there.

FYI - I'm headed on a three-day vacation (was to be the entire week, but with the upcoming move... that got cut back).

Please keep 'em coming, but know that I will not be looking at the internet until late Tuesday at the earliest.

Thanks!

30 second jump decision was handed down from Time Warner Inc based upon our the persausive argument of our cousins at Turner Networks.

If that argument was to eliminate 30 second skip, I'd argue it could be a VERY motivating factor in finding an alternative service that supports it. Be careful what is decided by execs motivated by false reasoning, you might wind up losing more than you gain. It's amazing what motivated customers do. Remember, the sheep won't leave, they don't know, most everyone here does know. That's your elite base. They don't like being inconvienienced and are capable of alternate decisions. :D

FYI - I'm headed on a three-day vacation (was to be the entire week, but with the upcoming move... that got cut back).

Please keep 'em coming, but know that I will not be looking at the internet until late Tuesday at the earliest.

Thanks!

Have a happy vacation and thanks for being here!

Thanks for asking Diana, I'd have 2 suggestions:

1. Please take a hard look at the analog tier and see what channels you can move to the digital tier to free more space for High Definition programming. It would be nice to move some of those multiple home shopping channels into the digital tier for example.

2. Here in Houston we have 3 1080i HD channels sharing 621mhz, HD-Net, HD-Net Movies and TNT-HD. They are choked for bandwidth and the macroblocking is awful. Please give the HD channels the bandwidth they need to look good.

When you consider that subscribers are paying extra for the HD-Plus tier that HD-Net is a part, they should look much better than they do.

Question 2 - HD - NOT PROGRAMMING

Any ideas of how you want to consume your HD from a cable operator?


I also dislike the fact that their is rate shapping, but I rather have it then lose HD channels.

I know your not settled in yet at your new post but if you did know and was allowed to, could you give an ETA for when SDV would arrive at TWC's various divisions?
like NYC???

I have used the Comcast Moto 6412 with iGuide and the Dish ViP 622 and now am stuck with the SA 8300HD with SARA from Time Warner.

The SA/SARA combo is by far the worst of the three and I am really looking forward to the new software. The things I'd like to see are (I know some of them are out of your control):

1. Full HD

2. All my local channels in HD (currently there are no deals for Fox or CBS here in Hawaii)

3. A 30-second skip button (please!)

4. The ability to see future airings of an episode when you hit "info" (this is great when you come to a show halfway through and want to record a future episode)

5. Better channel groupings in the guide. The way our channel listing is set up now is awful since you have to skip over dozens of channels that you either don't get or don't want while scrolling through the guide (main network at one end, good cable nets somewhere in the middle, and HD channels at the end, all intermixed with random PPV, VOD, foreign, and radio channels)

6. The ability to setup a favorites list so you can scroll through a guide of only the channels you want to see

7. Free HBO on-demand for people who subscribe to HBO (having to pay extra is ridiculous)

8. Ability to stop a DVR recording and come back to it later at the same point where you stopped

9. The ability to access the DVR from a second TV

10. More recording space

11. A QUICK RELEASE NATIONWIDE (or at least let me beta test one here in Hawaii)

Thanks or seeking our input!

7. Free HBO on-demand for people who subscribe to HBO (having to pay extra is ridiculous)


Given at this point I have free HBO OD with HBO and the same for Sho, why is it different for you? Starz is the only channel wanting extra for their VOD, F them. If I subscribed to a channel that wants more for their VOD, I'd write a nice but firm note to the powers that be. Regional mgr, HBO marketing, TWC President etc telling them exactly why you were canceling that service. Vote with your $$$. Is it a Hawaii thing, are you folks out there being taken for a ride? :confused:

DVR upgrade 1.2 is out there and it includes first run on this channel in this time flag. I couldn't begin to guess why your area hasn't downloaded yet, but I know some MSO's have not.

i think what he was referring to is a little different. on my ReplayTV i can input via remote any term, say "Diana Smith", and should there be a program at any time in the future with that in the title or description it will record it for me.

another feature that i miss is "find all episodes." sometimes you want to know if something will be repeated in the next week and this comes in handy if you have a scheduling conflict.

Interesting - one of the first things I plan to do is get more familiar with other guides out there. In my current role I frequently hear people speak of the Tivo guide benefits, but honestly I've never really gotten to play with it...

Maybe they'll let me expense one ;)

Go to TitanTV.com (free registration required) and look around. It is vastly superior to the guide that TWC uses. There are far too many programs on TWC's cable guide listed as "30 minutes" or "60 minutes" or some generic description that is used repeatedly for the program (e.g. so and so searches for food) that tells absolutely nothing about the particular episode. TitanTV, in most cases, also identifies a show as being a new episode or rerun and allows you to find a rebroadcast of a show that you may have missed for one reason or another...including when the cable does not work or the 8300HD fails to record a program or the signal is unviewable...which happen all too often, but that is another subject.

The guide most definitely needs to provide information further iinto the future for programming when you may be away. Internet access to the DVR would be highly useful as well.

Slightly off topic, but getting arid of Scientific Atlanta would be a good start for a DVR that works better. These things are just way too buggy.

Edit: This touches on hardware that affects the guide as much as anything, but second generation cable card specs supposedly provide for bi-directional communication which, I am told, is necessary for the guides to operate. I have to believe that TWC has enough economic "clout" to get these things manufactured if they want to do so. Consumers want them even if VOD capability is lost...yes, I know that TWC does not like the prospect of losing VOD, but people actually want to be able to use cable cards for SageTV or even MS MediaCenter boxes which they would purchase on their own which would not be restricted to the two channel limitation of the SA 8000/8300 boxes. TWC has several conflicting interests as both content provider and cable operator, but it should be clear by now that customers want more and better capabilities than are currently offered with the SA boxes and (first generation) current cable cards.

This comment is not intended to "bash" TWC, but the image quality of SD transmissions is sufficiently inconsistent as to make many people wonder whether it is worth the effort to even try HD TV on the cable. I hope that there are people placing emphasis on improving this situation.

Thanks for taking the time to create and follow this thread!

Given at this point I have free HBO OD with HBO and the same for Sho, why is it different for you? Starz is the only channel wanting extra for their VOD, F them. If I subscribed to a channel that wants more for their VOD, I'd write a nice but firm note to the powers that be. Regional mgr, HBO marketing, TWC President etc telling them exactly why you were canceling that service. Vote with your $$$. Is it a Hawaii thing, are you folks out there being taken for a ride? :confused:

Actually I think it is the other way around. Starz wants TW to let people have their OD for free i they subscribe to the channe but TW wants to charge extra for it. I'm not sure if it is a Hawaii thing or nationwide but here you have t pay extra for the OD for the premium channels -- but if you pay the fee for HBO OD you also get SHO OD included if you subscribe to SHO.

Stupid.

Actually I think it is the other way around. Starz wants TW to let people have their OD for free i they subscribe to the channe but TW wants to charge extra for it. I'm not sure if it is a Hawaii thing or nationwide but here you have t pay extra for the OD for the premium channels -- but if you pay the fee for HBO OD you also get SHO OD included if you subscribe to SHO.

Stupid.

Wow, maybe I get them because I'm coming from Adelphia? but we had NFL too, that didn't last. :confused:

Western Ohio here. I don't know if this would be something you could be helpful with or not but I know here, at least, we seem to be kept in the dark on if any new services are coming to the area. For example, digital simulcast, start over enabled programming, and the new navigator. I understand some if not all of this is still in the test phases.and we may not recieve them for quite awhile but for the amount of money we pay for services we should be kept more in the light of when stuff is going on instead of just being sent a letter a week after an upgrade. Thanks for reading.

The guide most definitely needs to provide information further iinto the future for programming when you may be away. Internet access to the DVR would be highly useful as well.

Slightly off topic, but gettin arid of Scientific Atlanta would be a good start for a DVR that works better. These things are just way too buggy.

THANK YOU!! I knew I was forgetting something. Internet access would be a savior. I can't tell you how many times I've been at work and wanted to record something that would be on before I got home. This is a huge feature!

Regarding non-SA DVR's, do you have any examples? I'm only familiar with the first couple of Tivo models, and then the SA models through TWC. What do other carriers use, and more importantly, what's better about them???

Thanks!

DVR upgrade 1.2 is out there and it includes first run on this channel in this time flag. I couldn't begin to guess why your area hasn't downloaded yet, but I know some MSO's have not.


And you might as well know now - I went to Illinois and I hate Kansas.


If you come through with some of these enhancements, I'll change my name to IlliniOwnJayhawks!

Congratulations.

Q1. Guide (assume DVR/recording options go hand-in-hand?) Agree that the guide should take advantage of 16:9 HD. However, if the aspect controls do not function correctly, please ensure there is a separate option to adjust back to 480i for those who set things completely backwards to the actual equipment - for whatever reason. (The aspect ratio controls did not work or were labeled backwards for PASSPORT TWC-KC over three different (model) STB, and a couple of firmware revisions. I think it was a head-end setting, and that has resurfaced recently this summer as a topic in the PASSPORT thread.) I would gather that either that [480i] option or a text size option should be included for the less eagle-eyed subscribers with 16:9 HD sets, or their parents. I second the [future airings] idea. You [must] keep some sort of smart conflict resolution that retains what is and is not being recorded. Hopefully it allows me some simple options for deviation in specific instances. Something like the PASSPORT priority lists and grey/black guide fills (albeit the deviation was deleting specific recording instances - so if the other show bumps there is no fallback), or whatever TIVO folks fawn about. In a perfect world, your guide would have [future airings] and [smart conflict resolution] and would find and schedule a future airing of the same episode (for those shows that routinely repeat first-runs). If you allow eSATA, please tie the encryption to the account, so if a box breaks, I could exchange it without losing everything. Sure, some folks will archive a bunch of stuff, but I just want room enough to get a couple of shows tucked in among my wife's "Must See TV™"

Q2. HD Delivery I agree with more HD VOD, but for normal broadcast stuff (ABC-HD or Sci-Fi) I think that I should be able to have the option to view it like normal VOD or [b]let the STB/DVR save/download it locally off the head-end to save VOD latency - responsiveness would be like any other recording. Along with the previous, if I could pull down what would fit locally from head-end storage I would not need eSATA capabilities. If you wanted to figure out how to cut in new commercials in those downloaded four-month-old season-three-first-eight "LOST" HD-VOD downloads, I'm game. Although I skip through them, I LIKE commercials and watch most at least once.

Disclosure Statement: Some of this may be influenced by DVR withdrawal from me travelling around and living in an camping trailer from this past May until December or next March.

v/r,
C-F

Ha, there was a short discussion in another thread where I stated that TWC had thousands of employees and somewhere there were some who actually cared about providing what their customers wanted... and hopefully some might be in executive positions, where they would have at least a voice.

On the highest level, outside the detail of features, I think the biggest thing the user community is lacking is basic information. There this huge hole with no information as to what's up and why, so as nature abhors a vacuum, way too much wild-ass speculation comes into play. And yes, I am completely aware of the tightrope you must play with information release, but I think you'll find folks a lot more reasonable and less rabid here than some other forums.

Certainly in my market, and undoubtedly in most others, the biggest single desire seems to be "more HD programming." In my market, I'm paying for the Starz premium service, yet I don't get the HD channel. Yet, I'm paying full price for it. Makes me disgruntled. Anyway, it seems clear that TWC's position is that it needs a technology called SDV to be able to deliver more HD content. So while there are secondary concerns (SDV via cable cards) the primary one is deployment schedule. Now, while I know there's the old "corporate reluctance" to say anything, keeping paying customers in the dark is worse. For me at least (and I suspect most) I would be much more "forgiving" if you let us know a schedule that it turned out you couldn't keep to the letter than being kept in the total dark. Makes me feel like an educated customer as opposed to a moron who has to be kept in the dark... which way would you like to treat me?

With that as background, instead of going into a ton of minutia, the number one priority for me is a fully supported method of increasing my storage ability (external hard drive) and much more transparent ability to manage it in the IPG. I'd like to be able to see how much space each recorded program takes up, along with cumulative statistics. And on this same point, looping back to the information thing, we know that you deploy SARA software that allows one to "pause and start from that point" but with the Passport software, that does not work, negating one of the primary selling points of a DVR service. Yet we have NO idea if this bug is going to be addressed or is the intention to leave it that way until the Mystro Digital Navigator is deployed (is that really the name, and is it what we have been thinking about as the OCAP based IPG?)

6. The ability to setup a favorites list so you can scroll through a guide of only the channels you want to see


I second this one. I would like to set up favorites and be able to scroll through them in the guide without seeing the channels I don't subscribe to. This is especially true when kids are scrolling through the guide and have to see all the adult listings.

8. Ability to stop a DVR recording and come back to it later at the same point where you stopped


that already happens.


I don't care about commenting on an IPG that I haven't seen yet, purely what channels are on it so there's no help here.

If the guide changes the only thing I still want it to keep is the PIP in the guide view.

With the variety of DVR's deployed throughout Comcast/TWC/Adelphia, I think it would be very helpful if posters would indicate what DVR they are complaining about or suggesting improvements for. As an example, many user-interface Guide problems with the SA8300 are non-existent in the Motorola 64xx boxes which works exactly as requested by the SA8300 users.

First, I have a 6412 and would like the limited real estate of the iGuide (or whatever supersedes it in the near future) to be used for program grid information... instead of 20% of it used for advertising, at the expense of at least 1 of the 5 possible rows allocated vertically for channels. The explanation that the ad comes from TV Guide who provides the service and that TWC has no control over this is unacceptable to me. Four rows per "page" is very skimpy.

Second, I would like the FAV button on the remote to cause a "favorites only" Guide grid to appear on the screen. Today, you can only get to the "favorites only" Guide grid by multiple clicks off of the main menu: press Menu button twice to get the main menu, navigate to the FAVORITES item if it is not already the last-selected item, press OK/Select to get the "favorites only" Guide. This is silly. These multiple clicks should be accomplished instantly by a single-click of the FAV button on the remote.

In contrast, the FAV button as programmed today performs what I feel to be a totally worthless function. It navigates sequentially to the next "favorite" channel, which is totally ridiculous because you have no idea what this next channel is going to be (unless you've memorized the total list of channels you've assigned as a "favorite"). It can't go backwards, and its potential value (to me, anyway) is ABSOLUTE ZERO!

I don't want to change to the next "favorite" channel with FAV... I want to see a Guide of my "favorites" so that I can use the usual page/line up/down or left/right navigation keys through that "favorites-only" Guide subset. And that's what FAV should present.

I noticed as my new 6416 was populating its info, that the grid had 6 channels listed. Then the ads started to appear and now there are 5 (set to the smaller size).
Why can't the ad size be reduced, it would still be there but at least one more channel could display!? :confused:

I am in the Greensboro NC market on sara.Any idea when sara users might see Navigator turning up on there boxes?Also will navigator have the manual recording option?Could you at least list the recording options that will be available.Thanking you for your concern over TWC customers.(It's a refreashing change)

Diana,

It's nice to see you active on a national scale again. You have always added needed insight to various cable issues in the past.

I'd like to respond to your questions in a productive matter: First, this needs to be viewed from "my prospective" (and that is just as true for others responding). I've never had TiVo, so I do not "miss" TiVo features. I do have 4 S-VHS recorders in the house and used them to record my programming until I got a SA8000HD, and later a SA8300HD (to which I added an external drive). PQ has always been important to me and TiVo/Replay/Ultimate never delivered acceptable PQ on SD.

So what I would like to see:
1) MOST IMPORTANT TO ME: Retain external Hard Drive capability!
2) Ability to set up recording priorities that allow multiple (more than 2) recording requests to be handled (some sort of user notification that a "decision" had been made and "xxx" will not be recorded at "yyy" time/date.
3) Better choices of recording all programs: SARA 1.88.17.a100 only offers:
..a) On this channel any day in this time slot
..b) First Run only on this channel
..c) On this channel at any time
I suggest that the following be added (they may be there on other versions of SARA or on Passport):
..d) On this channel on this day of the week in this time slot
4) Remember where you left off viewing a program - so you can come back to it later. I would think that limiting this ability to 4 or 8 programs would be acceptable (though more is always better).
5) Of course: glitch-free performance :)

Regarding Delivering of HD:
1) I feel that it is CRITICAL that maximum Picture Quality be maintained! Here in Rochester, NY it is. They only put 2 HD channels on one QAM channel. But I am afraid that with the push for more channels they will start putting three there! TVs are getting better all the time and many people can see the artifacts that result from even normal HD broadcasts. The two HD DVD formats will soon be setting high level of expectations for HD quality. Satellite isn't delivering that quality today, but you must remember that FiOS can. So I'd urge TW to maintain their current 18Mbps HD QAM bit rate.
2) It seems that SDV is a reasonable solution to the capacity issue (I have a separate post on this subject). We have UniversalHD here on SDV, though I don't watch that often (which is likely why it is on SDV), but it appears to be a satisfactory approach (unless one has a CableCard).
3) I am skeptical about the remote DVR concept based on my current experience with OD. In order for it to replace "on premises" DVRs, it needs to have all the FF & RW functionality and have much lower command latency (time delay between when you issue a command and it responds). A real concern is that the pressure to avoid FF past commercials will limit functionality in other ways (for example: the ability to quickly scan Leno to see if any of his guests are of interest).

I hope that my comments are constructive, and that your new venture is successful.

However, the most important thing to me is that the HD be full resolution and full bandwidth. Last year, the HD from TWC LA was pristine. As they employed rate shaping, the PQ dropped. There are instances now, where certain channels briefly break up into an MPEG artifacting mess. I'm hoping that Switched Digital Video will put an end to the lowered PQ caused by rate shaping.

Does SDV eliminate the need for rate shaping? Or is rate shaping still utilized alongside SDV?

Mark, while I agree with you regarding the need to keep things at full resolution I wonder if TW in your area has really resorted to rate shaping (beyond what they normally receive). Lots of stations have been adding subchannels & I suspect that if TW is receiving these stations OTA that what you are seeing is the reduction in PQ taking place there. One key is how many channels are they putting on a single QAM channel. If they are putting 2 (plus a couple of SD channels) they are not doing anything to limit bit rate. If they have put 3 HD channels there (or a lot more SD channels) then they are.

SDV is pretty independent of rate shaping (grooming). Hopefully, the use of SDV will minimize the need for grooming - but they certainly could use grooming AND SDV.

will TWC increase the bandwidth in my area. Every time a football game or season premier like "Lost" i get massive drop outs and pixelation. New York City. Manhattan East 89th street

Thanks for listening to our suggestions. Really appreciate it.

The one MAJOR thing for me, that I would love to see changed, is an option in the settings to change the 4:3 sidebars from grey to black.

It may seem inconsequential, but watching 4:3 content on a 16:9 screen with grey bars on the sides is really distracting. Having an option to change the sidebars to black would be great.

The reason they originally set the sidebars to grey was to avoid burn-in issues on Plasmas and Rear-Projection screens, but as someone with an LCD tv I'd really like to be able to set the sidebars to black.

Would also like to echo the desire to get the guide to display in 16:9. That'd help too.

Thanks.

Just like to add to trtjj's comment. I'm also in Manhattan, and the signal dropouts are very severe. Fox is unwatchable in HD to everyone in the city right now ... perfect timing for the Giants game.

We get dropouts on all HD channels with regularity. Many of us have returned boxes, had techs out to measure the signals (they're all fine) ... it's obvious that it's a bandwidth issue in NYC. Would be great if the HD channels could get a bandwidth boost.

I third the HD bandwidth boost. I was waiting all week for the Giants/Skins game and only got to watch a few minutes of it before my 8300HD hung up, and rebooted. Now the channel is off the air. :(

My biggest issue is one I have never received a satisfactory answer to despite speaking to many CSR and tech support people at TWC. In NYC the Rangers games broadcast by MSG-HD are aired on channel 712. Unfortunately, I am usually not able to set this channel to record in advance, as when I try an error message appears that says "unrecordable channel." Once the game starts (usually 7pm) the program can be manually recorded...but it totally defeats the purpose of paying for a DVR if you have to be home when the program is on so that you can record it. This issue has been ongoing for more than a year now and nobody can explain it. As a die hard Rangers fan this is beyond frustrating.

Thinking some more about my comments on the FAV button, and remembering what I'd read about how the new software will provide multiple sets of "favorites", I think I'd like to revise my suggestion as to how I'd like FAV to work. But again, it still eliminates the use of FAV to simply cycle sequentially up through (i.e. tune to) some list of favorite channels. I still don't want it to be a tuning button of some sort. I want it to present a "favorites" Guide grid.

With my Hughes E45 receiver (for D*, SD only) and Hughes E86 receiver (for D*, SD and HD), they had a nice feature that provided four unique user-defined lists of "favorites", whose names could also be user-defined (except for one of them which was hard-coded as "FAMILY" and the name could not be changed although the list of channels in that list could be changed). And there was a fifth "list" that was called "ALL CHANNELS" that you couldn't customize either by name or by content, as it in fact contained ALL CHANNELS!

And the FAV button on the remote for both of these receivers changed the "favorites mode" used to decide what channels to present onscreen in the Guide grid. Pressing the FAV button repeatedly cycled sequentially through all five list names, thus establishing the "favorites mode" which in turn determined which of the five Guide grids got shown onscreen when you pushed the GUIDE button on the remote.

Having four user-defined and user-named lists of "favorite channels" (e.g. calling them something like SPORTS, MOVIES, PAYPERVIEW, FAVORITES, etc.), along with a fifth "ALL CHANNELS" state, it seems clear that using the FAV button to cycle through these five lists is the right use for that button... just as Hughes decided many years ago for its own FAV button.

I agree a On this day in this time on this channel option would elimimate the need for most manual recordings.I would love this option.Make sure it does not record repeats on other days lke the current time channel option does.

Actually I think it is the other way around. Starz wants TW to let people have their OD for free i they subscribe to the channe but TW wants to charge extra for it. I'm not sure if it is a Hawaii thing or nationwide but here you have t pay extra for the OD for the premium channels -- but if you pay the fee for HBO OD you also get SHO OD included if you subscribe to SHO.

Stupid.


Yeah, HBO-OD and SHO-OD used to be included with the HBO and SHO subscriptions here in Hawaii. They re-shuffled things last year and made them optional services. Weird for the TWC company (Oceanic) that pioneered the VOD services!

Eric

Aloha Diana,

Congrats on the new position at TWC! Stamford (and the rest of Fairfield County, CT) is a very nice place to live.

The fact that I believe everyone would like full HD resolution and bandwidth goes without saying. I have great hopes for the forthcoming SDV infrastructure. Here in Oceanic Time Warner-land (Hawaii)...we have issues with the dreadful firmware in the 8300HD boxes (we're way behind what some other systems are using...my HDMI stopped working 2 weeks ago...firewire to my D-VHS recorder NEVER worked, etc.)

The firewire from the 3250HD box stopped working after a year of yeoman-like service. Things seem to be regressing, rather than the other way around.

The UI of the SA boxes is lousy. Terrible software. We need some real human interface people involved in the development, rather than just geeks.

HD locals being available goes without saying (we only have ABC and NBC here now, even though several others are available OTA). Enough with the bickering lawyers for payola! We'll pay!

Mahalo,

Eric

From Dayton Ohio:
A guide that goes out two weeks and stores that data would be nice.

Why do we need 78 analog channels? What percentage of subscribers have a digital box on their main TV? 50 analog for a bedroom or kitchen is pretty sufficient. Please work to cut down the analog and increase the HD.

This is more of an equipment issue: why are we limited to 2 recordings at the same time? For sports fans with season packages that stinks. While its rare, the ability to record more than two programs at a time would be something I would pay for. Also multiroom DVR, which SA has already developed, needs to be implemented.

Why does TWC have one level of STB's? By that I mean Joe Doesn'tCare gets the same box as all of us on this board. Couldn't you make more money by providing a premium STB with more features?

I agree a On this day in this time on this channel option would elimimate the need for most manual recordings.I would love this option.Make sure it does not record repeats on other days lke the current time channel option does.A "manual" timer event (a la VCR), say Sunday night at 10PM on channel 7 for 1 hour, has the downside of not following the show in that time slot/channel in the Guide data "by name". So it will not catch unexpected events, like is very common on ABC where shows often start or end 1-2 minutes early or late but not consistently.

Also, if the show is unexpectedly shifted to another day (e.g. CBS moving a Thursday night show to Wednesday night during March Madness) your manual recording will get the wrong content, unless you're on top of everything every week and every day. Hence why improving the "by name" technology is probably more beneficial to us.

As far as not wanting to record repeats on other days, well it's really the fault of the TV Guide data not providing what the DVR is programmed to look for in the descriptions... although it's getting much better, compared to how bad it was a year or two ago. Looking for "(new)" is reliable, as long as later encore showings of that same episode don't also show "(new)" in which case there's really no way to distinguish... unless some other agreed-upon method of marking "(first run)" and "(encore)" can be invented and thus programmed for to distinguish true new episode and the first-run ever vs. same new episode but a repeat later in the week. It's not the DVR's fault, it's the Guide data that drives it (which was probably specified, or mis-specified, by the DVR programmers/designers which is why we have this problem at all).

1. Good stuff - thanks

2. Not quite sure I'm following you on when it disappears - sounds more buggy than actual program with your reference to "sometimes disappears"

3. I'll have to arm wrestle the engineering types for that - the more it goes out the more memory required in the unit, the more it can impact latency of other applications. But, I agree - the more time the more customer friendly and that's what I'm after here.
Diana,

I have a comment/suggestion in regards to #3. It appears that the amount of RAM to store more Guide Data is an issue. One of the other suggestions (and I've heard it before) is to customize the guide to show only favorite channels. Doing that ought to limit RAM demands and thus make room for more data (more days).

Question 1 - Interactive Program Guide -

What do you like about guides you have experienced? What do you hate? Describe aspects or functionality that would be part of your perfect IPG?
My perfect IPG would be 16:9, HD, and just like the guide at TitanTV.com, which puts a lot of information on screen. If you have a chance to experiment with TitanTV's guide, check out the Personal Preference settings and the Customization feature.

I don't think you were asking about DVR related functions of the IPG, so I'm not talking about those. I've been using the IPG on a SA8300HD, SARA, here in Hawaii. I don't hate it, but it could be so much nicer in HD with better colors. The PIP and Info boxes seemed cool at first, but I think they take up too much screen real estate. I'm hoping to try the new Digital Navigator soon.

Welcome to this especially friendly corner of the Web and thanks for keeping us informed about TWC plans.

From Dayton Ohio:


Why does TWC have one level of STB's? By that I mean Joe Doesn'tCare gets the same box as all of us on this board. Couldn't you make more money by providing a premium STB with more features?

TiVo does...

nyc I see time warner keeps adding indemand channels Doesn't some of those channel take up some bandwith .they upgraded manhattan 10 years ago didn't they thought when they upgrade that hd channel would take up room wasn't time warner prepared for these channels that where coming up. I thought the main lines that ran underneath the street where fiber optic

Diana - Huge congrats on your move!!!

I echo the requests for a 16:9 hi-def guide.

A crucial feature for me (that I make use of a lot in my passport guide here in Charlotte) is the keyword search which I use more than the title search. I'm often looking to record any shows that might be coming on in the future with the subject being about, for example "London". Keyword search allows me to set this up to automatically record any future shows that have the word "london' anywhere in the title or description without having to know what the title of the program is.

In reading information about the upcoming Mystro Digital Navigator I have seen no mention of a keyword search (only a title search) and if this is true this would indeed be a step back from my current guide.

Best wishes to you,

Gareth

that already happens.




not on my TW SA SARA box.

Diana,

Congratulations on your appointment.

Skimmed some of the threads regarding switched digital video (SDV) in the S. Carolina forum. National news reports seem vague about general TWC introduction of SDV, so my question is what changes have developed as a result of S. Carolina's early SDV additions? Also, could you outline what head-end and other local equipment changes are needed for TWC's SDV technology? Perhaps a national TWC site, or this post, could track scheduling and completion of SDV installations.

While potential added spectrum for added programming would vary from one system to another, and varies with negotiations, etc., perhaps more information could be provided, not specific launches, about programming introductions as a result of SDV (or analog channel reductions). Not surprisingly, I'd want TWC to add as much HD programming as possible, equaling Verizon's or other listings.

In addition, some method of informing subscribers that their delivered digital signals match those received from all program sources would be useful. Interactive access to head end data, for example, might enable subscribers to compare incoming bit rates, null zero removal taking place, etc., and a look at outgoing bit rates/program. Some of this is already feasible with overly complex computer monitoring of programs and DVR data. -- John

Diana,


About #3

Given the RAM restrictions maybe those users with DVRs can have a couple extra weeks of Guide data cached in the hard drive. I can live with slight performance hit (latency) when I search the guide beyond the 7 days already in RAM.


Is it possible to get a little bit more data and function under INFO?

1> Display the next time the "same" program/episode will be aired with an option to record it. This way there is no need to navigate or search the guide to find and record those program/episodes that will be repeated. This allows users to record in the future those programs/episodes that were already in progress and also help avoid "some" conflicts when one wants to record two programs and view a third one.

2> A little flag for those programs that are being simulcasted in HD with an option to select the HD channel.

3> Display the resolution and sound format in which the program is being broadcasted for those of us that want to fine tune our equipment. I know that the cable box displays some of this info, but I have to get my big fat a$$ off the sofa to see it.

You might also want to look into giving the end users an option to customize the colors of the guide. Some people can not see/distinguish all the colors. Of course, with a option to switch back to the "default" colors.

nyc I see time warner keeps adding indemand channels Doesn't some of those channel take up some bandwith .they upgraded manhattan 10 years ago didn't they thought when they upgrade that hd channel would take up room wasn't time warner prepared for these channels that where coming up. I thought the main lines that ran underneath the street where fiber optic
The On Demand channels really don't take much space. On Demand and Switched Digital Video use related technology. For OD, there is a hard drive in each calbe neighborhood (sort of a "mini head end"). When a viewer requests a program (by selecting it in the guide) that program is downloaded (via fiber optics) to the hard drive in the neighborhood. The system selects an available channel, signals your STB the channel number, and starts to play that program over the available channel. SDV, works in a similar manner, except that there is no hard drive involved. The signal is not transmitted in your neighborhood, unless someone wants to see it.

What happens then, is that the fiber connections have lots of capacity, the local neighborhood connections do not. At any moment, there is lots of unused (unwatched) capacity in a neighborhood and the use of these technologies selectively use that unused capacity.

The biggest feature I missed in going from E* to TW as far as the program guide was the ability to customize the channels in my grid. There are channels that I have never watched and never will watch, and I wish I could exclude them when looking at the guide. Also being able to customize the organization of the channels would be nice. I understand that TW can't always group the channels in a logical fashion, because it would irritate those who have memorized the channel numbers or they belong in different tiers, but it would be nice to allow the users to customize their display of the grids.

The biggest feature I missed in going from E* to TW as far as the program guide was the ability to customize the channels in my grid. There are channels that I have never watched and never will watch, and I wish I could exclude them when looking at the guide. Also being able to customize the organization of the channels would be nice. I understand that TW can't always group the channels in a logical fashion, because it would irritate those who have memorized the channel numbers or they belong in different tiers, but it would be nice to allow the users to customize their display of the grids.

Here in LA TWC is getting set to regroup all the channels into their perception of logical. I have some issues but overall it's better than the randomness we have now. Maybe if it works here it will roll out more?? I thought we were catching up with the rest of TWC?? :confused:

not on my TW SA SARA box.

ah yes, sorry, I just noticed. This is one of the problems with the current TWC software. Too many versions, too many differences between those versions. It needs to be one version everywhere. The fact it still isn't after all this time gives me little optimism or enthusiasm for whatever new products are announced by TWC. Will I see them? Will I see them a year after someone else? Will I ever see them? Same applies to programming.

Passport goes back to wherever you left off.

3) Eliminate all of the pay channel multicasts. "On Demand" more or less makes them obsolete.

or convert those channels to separate MOD servers so that I don't keep receiving timeout messages while in the middle of watching a paid movie on a busy Saturday night, because of "over demand" on the servers.

Even better, offer a widescreen MOD channel (or two) with 16:9 versions (at least) of all the movies on demand instead of just 3 or 4. If I'm going to pay the price of a DVD rental I should at least get the full picture.

or convert those channels to separate MOD servers so that I don't keep receiving timeout messages while in the middle of watching a paid movie on a busy Saturday night, because of "over demand" on the servers.

Even better, offer a widescreen MOD channel (or two) with 16:9 versions (at least) of all the movies on demand instead of just 3 or 4. If I'm going to pay the price of a DVD rental I should at least get the full picture.

Yes, but make the widescreen on demand channels carry anamorphic widescreen. If I'm viewing a widescreen movie through a cablebox that handles widescreen video on my widescreen tv, I shouldn't have to fiddle with the tv's zoom settings in order to have it fill the tv screen.
-JMP

Actually, there is is one feature that I'd really like --

I have particular favorite channels, and when I am paging through the guide, I'd like to quickly just scan future programming on my favorite channel. Say I'm on HBO (ch. 701), highlighting a particular program and time slot, I'd like to be able to press the "B" or "C" button and have the view switch to a full screen listing starting at this particular date and time where I can arrow up and down though all of the programs (of ALL dates and times) that the guide knows about.

Something like this:

Ch. 701 - HBO-HD:
Tuesday October 9th:
11AM - The Sopranos
12PM - Entourage
1PM - The Wire
2PM - Rome
3PM - Lucky Louie
4PM - Big Love
.... etc.

Wednesday October 10th:
11AM --

... etc.

And then I'd be able to arrow up or down and click on any show that I want to record (or cancel a future recording of).

The problem now is that it takes too much scrolling through pages and pages to look at the shows on my favorite channels.

Also, I'd REALLY like to be able to hide some channels from the guide that I never watch!


Then I'd be able to click on any of the programs that I want to record.

Question 1 - Interactive Program Guide -

What do you like about guides you have experienced? What do you hate? Describe aspects or functionality that would be part of your perfect IPG?

Let me add to the chorus of wanting a more Tivo-like guide experience. I want to be able to select a show in the guide and see a list of all upcoming episodes of that show.

I want the DVR to know that if I'm recording 2 other shows on Sunday night, that the HBO show that it isn't recording is the same episode that'll be rerun on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, so there are ample opportunities to get it. (Tivo does this automatically, while my SA8300 has to be told that the repeat airings are encores rather than reruns.)

I want sports events in the guide to tell me the teams. During the baseball season, if I go to the Extra Innings package channels in the guide, every channel simply says MLB Baseball. Perhaps something a bit more descriptive would be helpful. And if I could set parental controls such that my child can't watch any game that uses a designated hitter, that would be a bonus. I don't want him exposed to such subversive concepts. (I'm kidding on that last point.)
-JMP

Question 2 - HD - NOT PROGRAMMING

Any ideas of how you want to consume your HD from a cable operator?

A DVR that functions as smoothly as a Tivo would be a big improvement. I feel like I'm always waiting around for the SA8300HD. Especially if I try to pause or backup while watching something live, the DVR gives me a grey screen for a half second while it figures out what to do. If I'm watching something live on my Tivo and hit pause, it just pauses. Even when watching recorded content, there's a notable lag between when I ask it to do something and when it does it. I probably wouldn't mind it quite so much if I hadn't gotten used to the Tivo first, but since I did, I know that it isn't impossible to build a DVR with more instant responsiveness.

eSATA support is also a real must if TWC is going to choose the capacity on our DVRs, but the use of an external drive shouldn't eliminate the ability to buffer live shows, as currently happens with the SA8300HD.

Another feature that would be useful, especially given the failure rate of the 8300, would be a way to export one's subscription lists and move them to a new DVR. I've had my SA8300HD replaced 4 times, and every single time it happens, I need to write down the list of shows then recreate all of my series subscriptions. There's got to be a better way. (Perhaps allowing the DVR to dump the data to a memory key via the USB port it has? We're not really talking about a huge amount of data, it's just annoying with the interface, especially if you're trying to recreate a subscription to a show that's on hiatus.)

What I'd really love, although it might be impractical, would be for TWC's cablecard support to improve so that those of us who are willing to pay for such a device could just get a Tivo series 3. I would go out and get one today, but I fear that it'll stop working for the channels I really want as soon as SDV comes to my area...
-JMP

Diane,

1) I would like the option of adjusting the gray side bars on 4:3 SD content on the SA8300 several steps from lite gray to black.

2) Dump Music Choice for XM or Sirius.

5) An "HD-only" service option.

Congrats on your move.

Diana, I like 1, 2 & 5 of his ideas. Just to go deeper into it:

I also dislike gray sidebars and many radio stations across the country have transitioned to Digital Radio and it would be nice if these signals could be routed to the STB in addition to Music Choice. Most of us already have our STB hooked up to a receiver.

I know TWC is all about innovation, now that's innovation.

Question 1 - Interactive Program Guide -

What do you like about guides you have experienced? What do you hate? Describe aspects or functionality that would be part of your perfect IPG?

Thanks for asking. My perfect ipg would take yours, add color coded shows. Add the ability to choose a custom channel list in the guide. At least add a fuction to only see the channels that you subscribe to. The rest would just be polishing the looks.

I was one of the early ones given the new navigator. I'll tell you that it is functionally solid. My wife will tell you that it looks like a joke. She doesn't care about function and it is clearly less pleasing to look at than the OSD on the SA8300hd which is our other converter. Polish the lines and borders , polish the font, maybe give us a choice of colors- and you'll have something to work with. The new way to find HD programming is a nice add on. You should really think of expanding your HD linup though. I don't think any new stations (free ones) have been added in a couple of years now.

Anyway thanks again for inviting us to comment.

P.S.

I did post my comments on your website, and I actually recieve a phone call asking more about my comments. Very cool that you guys care. :)

Mark, while I agree with you regarding the need to keep things at full resolution I wonder if TW in your area has really resorted to rate shaping (beyond what they normally receive). Lots of stations have been adding subchannels & I suspect that if TW is receiving these stations OTA that what you are seeing is the reduction in PQ taking place there. One key is how many channels are they putting on a single QAM channel. If they are putting 2 (plus a couple of SD channels) they are not doing anything to limit bit rate. If they have put 3 HD channels there (or a lot more SD channels) then they are.

SDV is pretty independent of rate shaping (grooming). Hopefully, the use of SDV will minimize the need for grooming - but they certainly could use grooming AND SDV.
Dave, thx for trying to help. I get my HD via TWC, OTA, and E*. I'm fully aware of the implications of OTA multicasting, DSS recompression, and rate shaping (I also used to be an ISF calibrator...like you). I've tracked TWC's rate shaping (their latest breakdown seems to be 3 1080i per QAM256 or 2 720p + 4 480i per QAM256 here). I just want confirmation that SDV means the end of rate shaping (in theory, both could be employed simultaneously).

Cable Rate Shaping (QAM256) (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=618881)

Here in LA TWC is getting set to regroup all the channels into their perception of logical. I have some issues but overall it's better than the randomness we have now. Maybe if it works here it will roll out more?? I thought we were catching up with the rest of TWC?? :confused:
After the upgrades coming up, TWC LA will be ahead of most all other areas. One of the reasons the channel guide is changing is because of the comcast and adelphia acquisitions. The Motorola STBs don't support 4 digit channel numbers like the SAs do

Hi Diana, thanks for posting here! I'll respond to your questions then pass along my comments.

Question 1: Programming Guide. This is a very open question so I'll narrow it to the 2 issues I have with the current one:
a) Page+ on the Remote is below Page-, yet the top button (-) pages down and the bottom button up... confusing.

b) If you use the remote's arrows (in SD, not HD) to pass over channels every 5th press puts you over an ad - show me ads if you must (though I'd like that gone frankly), but please don't put them in my way when I'm trying to move to a channel, that's enough to get me to stop using the Guide altogether. For the time being I've done just that - tv.yahoo.com/grid on my cell phone does a much better job for me. I use the Favorite Channels feature so I only have the 30 or so channels I actually watch listed.

c) That Favorite Channels functionality would be a good idea.

d) Speed of the Guide would help - if the box were smart enough to download and cache the page or 2 above and below the page you're on so they appear instantly, it would make the guide more useful. Speedy scrolling from channel 2 to say 80 would help too - I leave implementing that well to you, though if you'd like comments that specific just ask, I'm a UI Developer by trade.

Question 2: HD implementation (not programming):
Put it all in the clear - nothing scrambled. I've recently learned that when my service switches over from Adelphia channels to TWC, I'll lose Discovery HD so I can no longer pick it up "in the clear" on my QAM tuner on my PC. That's really disappointing. If I'm paying for it, I want it in the clear.

And now my comments:
I'll leave the long list of stories of confusion by TWC employees aside for now, but I must say, you've got to improve the knowledge of TWC employees there - it's making a real mess. I recommend putting together a short 5 or 10 question quiz and passing it on to a few people from each group in the company - some of the cable installers, some of the Customer Service Reps, some of the people at the Office of the President... . Ask things like:
"Is Analog Cable available via TWC?"
"List actions the customer may take to disconnect their cable:"
"List all HD channels on TWC:"
"What TWC phone number can a customer with a cell phone whose area code is outside Southern California call with questions or problems with service?"

Note to them this one will be graded to understand how well information has spread in TWC (answer: poorly), not to evaluate them. Then try to better inform everyone in the problem areas you identify, and possibly quiz again to see how it went.

As a clue to why I picked those questions, I was erroneously informed that Analog isn't available via TWC (it is) and that disconnecting my cable box ends my service. It doesn't, of course. I wanted to suggest to this high-ranking employee that a power outtage or cable box crash would inadvertently disconnect cable service for that customer if that were true - but chose to quietly let them believe whatever they wanted. You however should not let them do that ;o)

As for the phone number problem, I've received 10 answers to this question. All of them are incorrect and get me hung up on by a recording, except one which redirects me erroneously to Charter Cable. I wonder how many potential customers are being sent away because of this.

Crashdumy you have Navigator.What recording options are on it compared to sara and passport.Is manual recording still available?Looks aside how would you compare it to sara & passport.Are there any new features on Navigator that sara lacks?Thanks for any imput. :)

Yes, but make the widescreen on demand channels carry anamorphic widescreen. If I'm viewing a widescreen movie through a cablebox that handles widescreen video on my widescreen tv, I shouldn't have to fiddle with the tv's zoom settings in order to have it fill the tv screen.
-JMP

that would be a perfect world, but ...

I'd see it as an improvement if 100% of movies were offered in widescreen not whatever TW feels like showing that week. It's totally inconsistent.

Does the new Mystro Navigator have both title and keyword search?I noticed on the Nebraska TWC site it states it has keyboard serch if you know the title.Does it also let you enter keywords.For example if i enter John Wayne will it show me all John Wayne movies available.If i enter London will it show me all shows that are about London.Both passprt and Tivo have this feature.To be equal to them Navigator must also have it.But does it?

Question 1 - Interactive Program Guide -

What do you like about guides you have experienced? What do you hate? Describe aspects or functionality that would be part of your perfect IPG?

1) Id like the ability to determine what channels appear in the guide so I can remove stuff Im not interested in seeing ever.

2) Id also like a 'favorites' guide to be able to directly see whats on my favorite channels.

3) Id like an 'HD' indicator on the program in the guide to indicate HD programming.

Crashdumy you have Navigator.What recording options are on it compared to sara and passport.Is manual recording still available?Looks aside how would you compare it to sara & passport.Are there any new features on Navigator that sara lacks?Thanks for any imput. :)

They didn't update my DVR box yet. They told me maybe a month, could be a year for all I know. So I can't offer better or worse for the DVR functions.

Overall I say its a small step down from passport. A huge step down in appearance (which hopefully is being worked on). A small side step forward in menu access. It depends on how much you liked the old menus. If you weren't partial to them then you'll probably like the new layout. It seem to me that they are making the menus more similar to the on demand menus. If you used the theme in the IPG then you might like this better because they make it easier to find SPORTS, HDTV, NEWS and WEATHER. Easier to find ON Demand programming. They give you easy options for FREE, PREMIUM, and MOVIES on demand.

I can tell you that it has an alphabetical list of programs under "find" (not search anymore) and a keyboard input for title. I'll try keyword and let you know if it works beyond titles (when I get home tonight).

As I'm beginnig to understand that I was one of not so many who were given the Navigator, I don't mind answering questions. Its kind of hard to describe it perfectly but I'll try. Threads like this one should offer us a lot of encouragement that our concerns will be taken seriously. I have a new respect for Time Warner lately.

I have two issues:

1) I wish that the guide data updated more frequently, especiall in regards to sporting events. Some games are postponed and rescheduled for the next day and it is difficult to schedule a recording because a 4 hour block may involve 6+ shows that are being pre-empted, and if do you schedule to record all 6+ shows, then the guide maybe updated only a few minutes before gametime and the scheduled recording is then lost.

1b) It would be great if there was a better connect between when a sporting event actually ended and what is shown on the guide data. In a perfect world you would not have to record an extra hour just in case a game goes to overtime. Also, ESPN on college football staturdays does not have programming that begins and ends exactly on time. It's programming is bumped depending on if a previously broadcasted game ends early or late. So for example, if I want to record "College Gameday Final" then I also have to record the episode of Sportscenter before and the episode of Sportscenter after.

2) Audio. I wish that TW could fix the problem with the difference in volume between digital/analog channels and the HD channels. Everyone who watches TV at my house has commented on this. Furthermore, I wish all audio on the HD channels was 5.1 sound, or was upconverted (for lack of a better term) to 5.1 sound. I have a digital audio receiver that makes a "click" noise everytime the audio output changes so I am keenly aware of how different HD channels vary in their audio output, both during their programs and commercials.

USCsuperfan, I agree with you on suggestion 1 but disagree on 2. 2 is a case of solving a problem in the wrong place - you need to fix your speaker system. Consider getting a Harmony remote (~$50) and setting up a macro that mutes and unmutes the sound when changing channels. It's better for protecting your speaker system anyway. Or - get a better receiver that does this automatically.

I prefer the input to be distinct so that my system can react to the different kind of input - you can have your speakers act differently for stereo or genuine 5.1 that way. And for anyone with a DVR, faking all stereo to 5.1 sound would cause recorded stereo programs to take up a lot of unnecessary space.

USCsuperfan, I agree with you on suggestion 1 but disagree on 2. 2 is a case of solving a problem in the wrong place - you need to fix your speaker system. Consider getting a Harmony remote (~$50) and setting up a macro that mutes and unmutes the sound when changing channels. It's better for protecting your speaker system anyway. Or - get a better receiver that does this automatically.

I prefer the input to be distinct so that my system can react to the different kind of input - you can have your speakers act differently for stereo or genuine 5.1 that way. And for anyone with a DVR, faking all stereo to 5.1 sound would cause recorded stereo programs to take up a lot of unnecessary space.
If I didn't have a receiver the problem would still be there for the TV speakers. So everyone who wants HD should have to buy an expenisve remote then? IMO, the volume of the audio output should not have to be an end-user problem to fix.

Furthermore, while DVR space is at a premium, I would still like all HD programming in 5.1 sound.

Question 1 - Interactive Program Guide -

What do you like about guides you have experienced? What do you hate? Describe aspects or functionality that would be part of your perfect IPG?

I would like to see every time that show is coming on again in the future.

Question 2 - HD - NOT PROGRAMMING

Any ideas of how you want to consume your HD from a cable operator?

As much as possible, and make sure they do not compress the bandwidth.

If I didn't have a receiver the problem would still be there for the TV speakers. So everyone who wants HD should have to buy an expenisve remote then? IMO, the volume of the audio output should not have to be an end-user problem to fix.No, you would have to buy a receiver that doesn't click when you change from 5.1 to stereo. My speakers for example do not click when changing channels (regardless of 5.1 or stereo). The problem is with your receiver, not the signal, so you're trying to solve this problem in the wrong place. You specifically can avoid replacing your receiver (expensive) by using a remote (cheap). Or, you can buy a better receiver (can be expensive).

Furthermore, while DVR space is at a premium, I would still like all HD programming in 5.1 sound.Me too - if the original programming was recorded in 5.1. If it's not, upconverting it adds no value, it simply reduces your options for playing it, and wastes hard drive space recording it. It's important to understand that upconverting from stereo to 5.1 simply fakes the back channels and center channel - you don't get things that happened behind the camera playing on the back speakers. "Upconverting to 5.1" is a little misleading; "Faking 5.1" is a more accurate term.

I know the "click" was mentioned, but I believe the main request was that audio "volume" levels be closer across the board, like it is with analog channels. I can go from FOX (low) to CBS (high) and get blown out of the room, especially if I have my volume set pretty high for FOX in the first place, just ask the neighbors. Conversely, if I go from CBS to FOX, I have to reach for the remote to turn the volume up. The station can also go from SD commercials to HD programming and the volume levels vary a lot more than on the analog channel.

This has been a complaint since almost day one and I've seen technical reasons behind it, but no solution. At least one station here (NBC) is using a piece of equipment to smooth out the commercial differences, but that doesn't help from one channel to the next.

I can tell you that it has an alphabetical list of programs under "find" (not search anymore) and a keyboard input for title. I'll try keyword and let you know if it works beyond titles (when I get home tonight).


crazywoody -
Sorry, I tried for ya. Unfortunately my "find" is working. Maybe I found my first bug in the Navigator. When you go to find, it loads a list of everything in the program guide and displays it alphabetically. This takes 10-15 seconds. Then there are 3 options on the horizontal selector along the bottom - title, category, rating. The best I can tell you is that those are there. When I tried tonight it would not load a list. With no programs in the list I could not search for anything not even title. Maybe I can update soon.

Who searches for a program by rating anyway?

... The problem is with your receiver, ...
Using the SA8300HD with an AVR, I don't any problem with clicking or volume disparities. On the other hand, if these problems that some people have can be fixed by having the cable box provide DD 5.1 output for all channels, as an option, that would obviously be a useful feature.


Me too - if the original programming was recorded in 5.1. If it's not, upconverting it adds no value, it simply reduces your options for playing it, and wastes hard drive space recording it. It's important to understand that upconverting from stereo to 5.1 simply fakes the back channels and center channel - you don't get things that happened behind the camera playing on the back speakers. "Upconverting to 5.1" is a little misleading; "Faking 5.1" is a more accurate term.
If upconverting fixes the clicking, it does add value. If it's made an option, it does not reduce options. I don't see any reason for recording an upconverted signal on the hard drive, so there is no need to waste hard drive space. And Dolby stereo does record information about which sounds are to come from the center and side surrounds.

Good point Greg and that's a good solution. The original question was about how the HD signal should come down the pipe - and that's not how the 5.1/stereo issue should be solved. But solving it as an option on the box is a good option to have, if Time Warner can control that.

Some great ideas being put forward here.

I'm out in SoCal and like Joe, transitioning from Adelphia. TW seems to be handling the whole transition thing pretty well, but I'm frankly confused as to the TV side of things:

1) Transition website (twcusoon.com) states that I can retain my current Adelphia selection and pricing package. Literature received in the mail today (which incidentally, was dated September 17 with a return address about 15 miles from here!) states that "The following packages will no longer be offered" and goes on to list the various Adelphia packages like bronze, silver etc., the inference being that I have to switch to a TW package. Which is correct?

2) Channel lineup online shows either Adelphia tier structure or TW tier structure, depending on whether I choose when I first got cable service as before or after September 18, 2006. Literature received today (see above) only shows the channels listed by their Adelphia "tiers". Again, what's the story?

3) Why no info on DVR equipment rental costs anywhere? All it says is "equipment extra". I don't have any DVRs at the moment, but would possibly be interested in 2 if I had the facts on costs to hand.

4) Do "transitionees" (if that isnt a word, it ought to be!) qualify for any TW new customer discounts? Reports on some forums indicate that this is the case.

5) Questions and Requests for info submitted via the twcusoon site get an auto-acknowledge and generally nothing else.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a shot at TW. I've been impressed by the efforts they're going to to make this work smoothly. And it IS a massive task. However, there's no excuse for lack of or conflicting information.

Question 2: HD implementation (not programming):
Put it all in the clear - nothing scrambled. I've recently learned that when my service switches over from Adelphia channels to TWC, I'll lose Discovery HD so I can no longer pick it up "in the clear" on my QAM tuner on my PC. That's really disappointing. If I'm paying for it, I want it in the clear.

And now my comments:
I'll leave the long list of stories of confusion by TWC employees aside for now, but I must say, you've got to improve the knowledge of TWC employees there - it's making a real mess. I recommend putting together a short 5 or 10 question quiz and passing it on to a few people from each group in the company - some of the cable installers, some of the Customer Service Reps, some of the people at the Office of the President... . Ask things like:
"Is Analog Cable available via TWC?"
"List actions the customer may take to disconnect their cable:"
"List all HD channels on TWC:"
"What TWC phone number can a customer with a cell phone whose area code is outside Southern California call with questions or problems with service?"

Note to them this one will be graded to understand how well information has spread in TWC (answer: poorly), not to evaluate them. Then try to better inform everyone in the problem areas you identify, and possibly quiz again to see how it went.

As a clue to why I picked those questions, I was erroneously informed that Analog isn't available via TWC (it is) and that disconnecting my cable box ends my service. It doesn't, of course. I wanted to suggest to this high-ranking employee that a power outtage or cable box crash would inadvertently disconnect cable service for that customer if that were true - but chose to quietly let them believe whatever they wanted. You however should not let them do that ;o)

As for the phone number problem, I've received 10 answers to this question. All of them are incorrect and get me hung up on by a recording, except one which redirects me erroneously to Charter Cable. I wonder how many potential customers are being sent away because of this.


Diana,
Thanks so much for creating this thread. The TWC email response "form letters" really are a waste of time for useful communication.

1. More HD Channels with full Bandwidth. Here in the Raleigh NC area the infrastructure is fiber so I would hope bandwidth issues would not be a huge issue. Other providers now have almost 30 HD channels. TWC is far behind.

2. Agree on more technical training and or experience for support staff. They need to understand HDMI, IEEE1394, SATA etc. so that they can adequately address issues with these interfaces, the TWC STB and the Display/TV. Establish some/better testing of these interfaces with Displays/TVs. Build a database of common problems and fixes, that could be accessed via the Web by your customer base.

3. Clairfy your billing. Most people have no chance of ever clearly understanding it, especially when they make equipment or service changes. Support does a better job, but at times it takes them a while to understand how to resolve billing issues.

4. Improve the Guide. Make it faster designed for 16:9. Improve the search. Add menu driven options instead of a text based only search. Example, Menu ==> Search ==> Category ==> Sports ==> Football ==> Results returned. Filters that could limit by Date, Team etc would also be great.

Thanks again for taking the time to solicit our input!

3. Clairfy your billing. Most people have no chance of ever clearly understanding it, especially when they make equipment or service changes. Support does a better job, but at times it takes them a while to understand how to resolve billing issues.

I agree 100%. I have been accused on multiple occasions as being a TWC apologist, which perhaps I am, but the billing is atrocious. I have had problems getting overbilled, getting conflicting information, and just trying to understand the billing is a nightmare. There always seems to be an undisclosed charge whenever services are changed and added. And it's obvious that level one customer support doesn't understand it.

Example: Getting charged for "Premium On Demand" when Digipic 2000 is subscribed to. The billing system shouldn't even allow it, or a least force the CSR to override a warning.

Hi Diana, thanks for being here! I'm in the Dallas area and a recent Comcast convert. Sorry in advance for the long post!

1) The biggest issue I've had is a bug with my Moto 6412 III DVR which causes latency in response to commands entered via the remote control. For example, I'll tune into a football game and pause it for 30mins so I can skip commercials. When I'm ready to begin watching, I press the fast forward button twice on the remote to fast forward to the kickoff. The remote 'command received' light illuminates on the STB, and the program starts fast forwarding at the first ff speed, but the fast forward graphic either doesn't get painted on the screen, or only partially paints. I see the teams prepare for kickoff, and press a thrid command: play. But the STB hasn't finished executing the first ff command yet, and the program continues to fast forward. This can go on for seconds or as long as three minutes. Finally, the first command completes, the first ff graphic is painted, and the second two commands are executed in rapid succession. The game is now half way through the first quarter. I now hit the rewind button twice to get back to the kickoff, and the whole process repeats itself in reverse. This happens constantly, and is enormously frustrating. I have my remote programmed to operate my TV, and it works flawlessly... so the issue is specific to the STB. Calls to TWC customer service have not been productive. I've seen this behavior referenced in other threads and boards.

2) If I'm recording a program and attempt to change the channel, I get a prompt to either stop the recording and change the channel, or cancel the command. In order to keep recording, I instead have to manually switch to the second tuner, then change the channel. Shouldn't the DVR be smart enough to realize it has another tuner, and switch to it automatically? I just moved here in March from NY/Cablevision, and their SA8300HD box did this.

3) The Dallas channel lineup changed recently. Two things I don't understand...
a) In the new lineup, we now get a digital SD feed of the major networks (in addition to analog SD). I don't think Comcast did this. I know there are digital subscribers with SD televisions who would be interested in the digital SD feed, but is this really necessary? Since the changes, there's been a marked increase in motion artifacting, video, and audio dropouts on the HD channels.
b) The network HD channels are not mapped with the premium HD channels in the lineup. So I can easily search through premium HD programming in the guide, but to see network HD I have to wander through all the various network feeds (SD digital, SD analog, HD, subchannels, etc) for each network. Why not map the HD networks with the rest of the HD tier?

4) In the guide, the only description of each channel number is the local station call letters. Is it possible to include the network name (CBS, etc...), or a network icon? It would make it much easier to navigate the huge number of network feeds I mentioned above.

4) As has been stated by other posters, I'm very anxious for an expanded HD lineup and full bandwidth HD channels.

Again, thanks for being here!

Andy

whenever TWC decides to get new STB's I hope they get one's with the latest technology in them.

Like the use of VC1 and MPEG-4 compression.

As well as an HDMI inputs. HD set's have a limited amount of hdmi inputs, it would be good if the box could have 1 or 2 hdmi inputs & the ability to select which input would be displayed at any given time.

A third tuner to allow for up two 3 simultaneous recordings.

Multi-room capability sound interesting as well.

So it's been a week since Diana first posted... still there Diana? It would be funny if she lost this thread and never came back... .

So it's been a week since Diana first posted... still there Diana? It would be funny if she lost this thread and never came back... .I believe that she indicated that she would be busy moving to the new job.

Suggested improvement to Moto 64xx DVR interface...

Today, if you are watching live TV or a recording and want to see how far along you are in the program/recording (e.g. 36 minutes into a 1 hour show), you must push the PLAY button (which on the silver remote is way up near the top of the remote, in a location that requires you actually look at the remote and lift your hand or fingers in order to press it... pretty inconvenient and non-ergonomic location). This is the only way the "fuel gauge" is presented, and no other information is displayed.

In contrast, if you push the perfectly and conveniently located INFO button (which you can always find even in the dark without looking, because of its particular location on the remote) you see lots of information about the program/recording... but you do NOT see the "fuel gauge" showing how far along you are in the program/recording.

I would like to suggest that the information presented when INFO is pushed also include the "fuel gauge" showing how far along you are in the program/recording. It may need to be relocated a bit from its standard placement when PLAY is pushed, or perhaps miniaturized or something, but it sure would be nice if the "progress" information conveyed by the "fuel gauge" were shown in addition to the other information displayed by INFO.

One thing that drives me nuts is when I tune to TNT-HD and the video is not HD, but Stretched upconverted video.
Every single program on the guide is labeled as "HDTV",when in fact it isn't.
I don't know if this is a nationwide problem with all MSO's, other TWC division, or just my NYC division.

Awesome Diana, just checking - transitioning to new shoes can have a lot of surprise challenges, hope it all works out OK!

One thing that drives me nuts is when I tune to TNT-HD and the video is not HD, but Stretched upconverted video.
Every single program on the guide is labeled as "HDTV",when in fact it isn't.
I don't know if this is a nationwide problem with all MSO's, other TWC division, or just my NYC division.

I think it is system-wide (all MSO's). Actually, quite a bit of their programming really is HD - and darn good HD at that (example, "The Closer" and "Saved"). I don't watch a lot of the reruns (Law & Order, etc., but I thought that more of them were being shown in HD as well.

I think the issue is that TNT-HD management had decided that EVERYTHING should be full-screen, even if the original was 4:3 SD. Thus, if the program is not true HD, they upconvert it & stretch it. This is true of even the commercials! Like the programs, some of them really are HD, though many are not.

Thanks for asking Diana, I'd have 2 suggestions:

1. Please take a hard look at the analog tier and see what channels you can move to the digital tier to free more space for High Definition programming. It would be nice to move some of those multiple home shopping channels into the digital tier for example.

2. Here in Houston we have 3 1080i HD channels sharing 621mhz, HD-Net, HD-Net Movies and TNT-HD. They are choked for bandwidth and the macroblocking is awful. Please give the HD channels the bandwidth they need to look good.

When you consider that subscribers are paying extra for the HD-Plus tier that HD-Net is a part, they should look much better than they do.

I don't know that the solution is eliminating Analog channels at this point. You would be surprised to know how passionate viewers are of each individual shopping channel and it is their very most favorite channel. Always remember every channel you hate and see no reason to have on the line up is another paying customers very most favorite channel.

That said - HD should not be encumbered and SDV should resolve those issues for you. Not as fast as you would like, but not so very far in the future.

Please also note Houston is no longer TWC, so I'm making an assumption that Comcast will address your issue on the same sort of timetable as TWC.

I also dislike the fact that their is rate shapping, but I rather have it then lose HD channels.

See the rock and hard place we are in....

I know your not settled in yet at your new post but if you did know and was allowed to, could you give an ETA for when SDV would arrive at TWC's various divisions?
like NYC???

At this point I do not have that knowledge. I know its an idea repeated a couple of times through the posts and I understand all the reasons for wanting it. I also know that there are some customers who would scream bloody murder if we put up a projected date and missed it, so it would be tricky.

This is not a no, this is a promise to explore the possibility (its not something I can sign off on by myself) and to provide you a full explanation as to why or why not once that decision is made.

5. Better channel groupings in the guide. The way our channel listing is set up now is awful since you have to skip over dozens of channels that you either don't get or don't want while scrolling through the guide (main network at one end, good cable nets somewhere in the middle, and HD channels at the end, all intermixed with random PPV, VOD, foreign, and radio channels)

7. Free HBO on-demand for people who subscribe to HBO (having to pay extra is ridiculous)


9. The ability to access the DVR from a second TV



5. I don't know the lineup in your area but many systems employ Network Neighborhooding. Within TWC, channel lineup falls under individual system/division responsibility

7. "Embedded SVOD" is in the works throughout the TWC footprint. I cannot provide a timeline for the completion throughout the country.

9. We tested Multiroom DVRs in South Carolina - in fact I still have a beta in my living room for 2 more weeks (then I have to give it up). That said there were still too many issues to launch. We provided SA a laundry list of things to address before we would consider launching in SC. To date, these issues have not been addressed. (And I really don't want to give up mine because of recordings I have not MR functionality)

Edit: This touches on hardware that affects the guide as much as anything, but second generation cable card specs supposedly provide for bi-directional communication which, I am told, is necessary for the guides to operate. I have to believe that TWC has enough economic "clout" to get these things manufactured if they want to do so. Consumers want them even if VOD capability is lost...yes, I know that TWC does not like the prospect of losing VOD, but people actually want to be able to use cable cards for SageTV or even MS MediaCenter boxes which they would purchase on their own which would not be restricted to the two channel limitation of the SA 8000/8300 boxes. TWC has several conflicting interests as both content provider and cable operator, but it should be clear by now that customers want more and better capabilities than are currently offered with the SA boxes and (first generation) current cable cards.


M Cards are in production at SA, TWC Divisions should begin to receive a quantity after the first of the year - BUT, the 2 way M cards don't automatically upgrade existing 1 way devices... the vast majority on the market today (and what people have purchased for the past 3(?) years)) is still 1 way and will continue to be so going forward.

In my opinion, the 2 way card with a device is great - the existing one way devices are antiquated already and with SDV they will lose programming. This is not TWCs way to force people to spend more for equipment, its TWCs way to continue to offer programming and advanced technology customers demand.

By the way - I don't intend to spend any additional time posting about one-way cable cards or any perceived devious plan by cable companys to thwart this technology. I'll be a very happy camper when the 2 way technology is available for both cards and equipment.

If you come through with some of these enhancements, I'll change my name to IlliniOwnJayhawks!

deal

I Also will navigator have the manual recording option?Could you at least list the recording options that will be available.Thanking you for your concern over TWC customers.(It's a refreashing change)

I don't know yet - my first couple of weeks will be boot camp then I can answer more specifics.

will TWC increase the bandwidth in my area. Every time a football game or season premier like "Lost" i get massive drop outs and pixelation. New York City. Manhattan East 89th street

SDV will be rolled out in all TWC Divisions in the foreseeable future. This will increase your bandwidth.

(But, no, I don't know when....)

I don't know that the solution is eliminating Analog channels at this point. You would be surprised to know how passionate viewers are of each individual shopping channel and it is their very most favorite channel. Always remember every channel you hate and see no reason to have on the line up is another paying customers very most favorite channel.

That said - HD should not be encumbered and SDV should resolve those issues for you. Not as fast as you would like, but not so very far in the future.

Please also note Houston is no longer TWC, so I'm making an assumption that Comcast will address your issue on the same sort of timetable as TWC.Houston is still TWC at least until sometime in the first quarter of 2007.

Houston, TX -

Time Warner Cable/Comcast Official Statement

The Houston Division of Time Warner Cable is jointly owned by a 50-50 venture between Time Warner Cable and Comcast. During the period of joint ownership, Time Warner Cable assumed management for the Houston Division. Other divisions included in this partnership are Southwest Texas and Kansas City.

Both companies have been involved in the purchase of Adelphia cable systems across the country and are in a series of trades and swaps for control of various cable markets.

Despite Time Warner Cable’s strong presence in Texas and the appeal of continuing to operate Houston as part of its Texas cluster, the Company has selected the Kansas City-Southwest Texas pool. Both of the pools contain very attractive, well-managed cable properties. The decision to select the systems in Kansas City, Southwest Texas and New Mexico was driven by economic considerations stemming from the fact that the entire $2 billion debt from the partnership had been placed on the Houston properties. This decision is consistent with our strategy of expansion through acquisition of systems that are attractively valued.

Time Warner Cable’s presence in Texas expanded from 2.1 million to 2.7 million subscribers after the recent Adelphia transaction concluded. It is expected that once the dissolution of the partnership is concluded, Time Warner Cable will still manage 1.9 million customers in Texas and remain the primary cable provider in the State.

Comcast is the country’s largest cable provider and has a strong reputation for providing the very best in products and services to its customers.

The dissolution of the partnership is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory and franchise review and approvals. The transaction is not expected to close before the first quarter of 2007.

Our 2,000-plus TWC employees will continue to strive to provide our customers the excellent products and services that they are accustomed to. Our desire to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction will not waver.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/InvestorRelations/PressReleases/TWCPressReleaseDivDetail.ashx?PRID=1223&MarketID=19

My biggest issue is one I have never received a satisfactory answer to despite speaking to many CSR and tech support people at TWC. In NYC the Rangers games broadcast by MSG-HD are aired on channel 712. Unfortunately, I am usually not able to set this channel to record in advance, as when I try an error message appears that says "unrecordable channel." Once the game starts (usually 7pm) the program can be manually recorded...but it totally defeats the purpose of paying for a DVR if you have to be home when the program is on so that you can record it. This issue has been ongoing for more than a year now and nobody can explain it. As a die hard Rangers fan this is beyond frustrating.

Ok - I'm going to go out on a limb and make a guess. I 'think' this is very similar to the situation in SC where the Braves games are on a HD Bonus channel. Since this is not a regularly programmed channel, someone (in SC, me) would have to manually get each game added on a daily basis. Personally I could never fit it into my day on a consistent basis - much to the ire of some Columbia DMA posters who took me to task for 'lack' of action.

Again, I don't know for sure about the Ranger games from MSG - but I'm guess the manual nature of it was the actual barrier.

Why do we need 78 analog channels? What percentage of subscribers have a digital box on their main TV?

Because around 1/2 of all customers have no digital equipment at all and they are paying for the full lineup. HD Bandwidth can be gained via SDV without taking channels from other customers.

This is more of an equipment issue: why are we limited to 2 recordings at the same time ?

Because there are only two tuners in the current DVRs

Why does TWC have one level of STB's? By that I mean Joe Doesn'tCare gets the same box as all of us on this board. Couldn't you make more money by providing a premium STB with more features?

There is already a plan in the works - no ETA.

nyc I see time warner keeps adding indemand channels Doesn't some of those channel take up some bandwith .they upgraded manhattan 10 years ago didn't they thought when they upgrade that hd channel would take up room wasn't time warner prepared for these channels that where coming up. I thought the main lines that ran underneath the street where fiber optic


I know someone else already responded to you, but I wanted to confirm you are talking about On Demand channels - which take up 0 bandwidth because they are a stream.

The old near VOD channels named "in demand" are actually shrinking in quantity.

so my question is what changes have developed as a result of S. Carolina's early SDV additions? Also, could you outline what head-end and other local equipment changes are needed for TWC's SDV technology?

I don't really understand the first question as to changes?

I can't outline headend equipment changes because that's way over my head

No local equiment changes are required for SDV, works on existing digital converters.

. Maybe if it works here it will roll out more?? I thought we were catching up with the rest of TWC?? :

Again network neighborhoods are available in systems / divisions around the country based on local management decisions. Personally I've had a neighborhood lineup since 1994 back in Champaign, IL.

I want sports events in the guide to tell me the teams. During the baseball season, if I go to the Extra Innings package channels in the guide, every channel simply says MLB Baseball. Perhaps something a bit more descriptive would be helpful. And if I could set parental controls such that my child can't watch any game that uses a designated hitter, that would be a bonus. I don't want him exposed to such subversive concepts. (I'm kidding on that last point.)
-JMP

my MLB provides team names as you go through the guide???

I guess we have ruled out you being a Yankee fan...

Another feature that would be useful, especially given the failure rate of the 8300, would be a way to export one's subscription lists and move them to a new DVR.

Very cool idea!


What I'd really love, although it might be impractical, would be for TWC's cablecard support to improve so that those of us who are willing to pay for such a device could just get a Tivo series 3. I would go out and get one today, but I fear that it'll stop working for the channels I really want as soon as SDV comes to my area...
-JMP

Tivo 3 is one way... so it will not provide SDV channels.

Its the device!!! not TWC's cablecard support!!!

many radio stations across the country have transitioned to Digital Radio and it would be nice if these signals could be routed to the STB in addition to Music Choice. Most of us already have our STB hooked up to a receiver.



Has to be XM though - XM has Big Ten!

I was one of the early ones given the new navigator.

There are 3 beta sites - which city are you in if you don't mind sharing?

not whatever TW feels like showing that week. It's totally inconsistent.

TWC provides what is sent from the programmer. If there is inconsistency I suggest you send some of the complaints towards the programmer as well.

Some great ideas being put forward here.

I'm out in SoCal and like Joe, transitioning from Adelphia. TW seems to be handling the whole transition thing pretty well, but I'm frankly confused as to the TV side of things:

1) Transition website (twcusoon.com) states that I can retain my current Adelphia selection and pricing package. Literature received in the mail today (which incidentally, was dated September 17 with a return address about 15 miles from here!) states that "The following packages will no longer be offered" and goes on to list the various Adelphia packages like bronze, silver etc., the inference being that I have to switch to a TW package. Which is correct?

2) Channel lineup online shows either Adelphia tier structure or TW tier structure, depending on whether I choose when I first got cable service as before or after September 18, 2006. Literature received today (see above) only shows the channels listed by their Adelphia "tiers". Again, what's the story?

3) Why no info on DVR equipment rental costs anywhere? All it says is "equipment extra". I don't have any DVRs at the moment, but would possibly be interested in 2 if I had the facts on costs to hand.

4) Do "transitionees" (if that isnt a word, it ought to be!) qualify for any TW new customer discounts? Reports on some forums indicate that this is the case.

5) Questions and Requests for info submitted via the twcusoon site get an auto-acknowledge and generally nothing else.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a shot at TW. I've been impressed by the efforts they're going to to make this work smoothly. And it IS a massive task. However, there's no excuse for lack of or conflicting information.

twcUsoon was pretty much a national site that local systems/divisions could edit to a degree. "I Think" you need to follow the direction in the letters because they were sent by the local system at a point in time after the acquisition when details for transition to TWC packaging and pricing could be finalized.

call or email your local office with questions.

Are there any additional sources for information about TWC Digital Navigator other than the Time Warner Cable Navigator Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8434087&&#post8434087) and the TWC Nebraska site that it links to? Is there a User's Guide?

Hi Diana, thanks for being here! I'm in the Dallas area and a recent Comcast convert. Sorry in advance for the long post!

1) The biggest issue I've had is a bug with my Moto 6412 III DVR which causes latency in response to commands entered via the remote control. For example, I'll tune into a football game and pause it for 30mins so I can skip commercials. When I'm ready to begin watching, I press the fast forward button twice on the remote to fast forward to the kickoff. The remote 'command received' light illuminates on the STB, and the program starts fast forwarding at the first ff speed, but the fast forward graphic either doesn't get painted on the screen, or only partially paints. I see the teams prepare for kickoff, and press a thrid command: play. But the STB hasn't finished executing the first ff command yet, and the program continues to fast forward. This can go on for seconds or as long as three minutes. Finally, the first command completes, the first ff graphic is painted, and the second two commands are executed in rapid succession. The game is now half way through the first quarter. I now hit the rewind button twice to get back to the kickoff, and the whole process repeats itself in reverse. This happens constantly, and is enormously frustrating. I have my remote programmed to operate my TV, and it works flawlessly... so the issue is specific to the STB. Calls to TWC customer service have not been productive. I've seen this behavior referenced in other threads and boards.

2) If I'm recording a program and attempt to change the channel, I get a prompt to either stop the recording and change the channel, or cancel the command. In order to keep recording, I instead have to manually switch to the second tuner, then change the channel. Shouldn't the DVR be smart enough to realize it has another tuner, and switch to it automatically? I just moved here in March from NY/Cablevision, and their SA8300HD box did this.

3) The Dallas channel lineup changed recently. Two things I don't understand...
a) In the new lineup, we now get a digital SD feed of the major networks (in addition to analog SD). I don't think Comcast did this. I know there are digital subscribers with SD televisions who would be interested in the digital SD feed, but is this really necessary? Since the changes, there's been a marked increase in motion artifacting, video, and audio dropouts on the HD channels.
b) The network HD channels are not mapped with the premium HD channels in the lineup. So I can easily search through premium HD programming in the guide, but to see network HD I have to wander through all the various network feeds (SD digital, SD analog, HD, subchannels, etc) for each network. Why not map the HD networks with the rest of the HD tier?

4) In the guide, the only description of each channel number is the local station call letters. Is it possible to include the network name (CBS, etc...), or a network icon? It would make it much easier to navigate the huge number of network feeds I mentioned above.

4) As has been stated by other posters, I'm very anxious for an expanded HD lineup and full bandwidth HD channels.

Again, thanks for being here!

Andy


Thanks for the input. Unfortunately I have zero experience with MOTOs to date, so I can't address your specific bugs. Nor can I explain why the decisions were made on your local lineup as they were. I was not privy to the decisions.

As far as the guide. The local system can put the affiliation in the short description on the left hand side of the guide. I suggest you call them or send an email with your request.

I think it is system-wide (all MSO's). Actually, quite a bit of their programming really is HD - and darn good HD at that (example, "The Closer" and "Saved"). I don't watch a lot of the reruns (Law & Order, etc., but I thought that more of them were being shown in HD as well.

I think the issue is that TNT-HD management had decided that EVERYTHING should be full-screen, even if the original was 4:3 SD. Thus, if the program is not true HD, they upconvert it & stretch it. This is true of even the commercials! Like the programs, some of them really are HD, though many are not.

absolutely correct Dave

Way to go Diana! :D That's a lot of catching up in a hurry! Don't over stress! It's "only" television! ;) Enjoy the new job!

Houston is still TWC at least until sometime in the first quarter of 2007.



http://www.timewarnercable.com/InvestorRelations/PressReleases/TWCPressReleaseDivDetail.ashx?PRID=1223&MarketID=19

Your absolutely correct - my statement was not entirely accurate. I wanted to provide you additional information for your future use and instead I pretty much look like a bozo.

thanks again for taking our thoughts into consideration.
When you get to Conn. try and get a hold of FIOS TV. See what's good about it and steal it!

Are there any additional sources for information about TWC Digital Navigator other than the Time Warner Cable Navigator Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8434087&&#post8434087) and the TWC Nebraska site that it links to? Is there a User's Guide?

I don't have enough information yet - in fact I didn't even know the Navigator Forum was there. I'll have to do some more reading...

Ok - here are the big winners on the first 10 pages -

Guide -

11% Favorites Guide
8% 16:9 guide
6% info at least 2 weeks out

HD -
12% - Full HD resolution / no rate shaping
all else just one mention per

DVR -
6% - Keyword function search
3% - Multiroom & SATA tied to account/more hard drive
2% - Bookmark / intuitive conflict resolution / internet access / priority recordings

Other -

5% - Give us INFO!

so my question is what changes have developed as a result of S. Carolina's early SDV additions?

I don't really understand the first question as to changes?

Thanks for the reply. Just wondered, with the early bandwidth-saving SDV installation, what benefits and changes are subscribers seeing? Spotted a few posts from locals indicating they haven't seen more HDTV channels. -- John

Hi Diana. I'm currently in S.C., and recently made the switch from Direct.
Overall, I'm pretty satisfied (but I'd sure like to see improvements in the guide; it looks downright amateurish compared to Direct's).
Anyway, I'm building a new house in Florida; specifically at Rainbow Springs in Dunnellon. The house should be ready in about 7 months.
The cable company there is Adelphia. I'll be using them for internet service, but I was disappointed to see that they currently offer no HD programming.
Any idea as to when/if that will change?
I really don't want to go back to sat. if I can help it.
Thanks!

Jack

Hi Diana. I'm currently in S.C., and recently made the switch from Direct.
Overall, I'm pretty satisfied (but I'd sure like to see improvements in the guide; it looks downright amateurish compared to Direct's).
Anyway, I'm building a new house in Florida; specifically at Rainbow Springs in Dunnellon. The house should be ready in about 7 months.
The cable company there is Adelphia. I'll be using them for internet service, but I was disappointed to see that they currently offer no HD programming.
Any idea as to when/if that will change?
I really don't want to go back to sat. if I can help it.
Thanks!

Jack

Would I be correct in assuming the Adelphia in Fla will wind up being Comcast, if it hasn't already?

Would I be correct in assuming the Adelphia in Fla will wind up being Comcast, if it hasn't already?

Don't know. When I was reading the Adelphia web site this morning and clicked a link to read press releases, I got a pop up telling me that I was going to a site not controlled by Time Warner, etc.

Jack

Will SDV have any affect on internet bandwidth?

Will SDV have any affect on internet bandwidth?
That's a good question that I had never thought of.

Will SDV have any affect on internet bandwidth?

I don't think so, from what I understand internet service takes the place of a 6mhz analog slot. so your TWC division might need to drop a analog channel to double the speed. I think SDV or SBV deals only with video.

Will the new "Mystro" Digital Navigator fully support external SATA hard drives? Or is that issue more about the core OS parts (from reading, it seems there are far more serious bugs in Passport than SARA)?

Can we assume "Mystro" is a code name?

Am I correct in thinking that any issues of rate shaping go away with SDV?

Excellent summary a few posts above, however they only add up to 53%? I'd bet ya that close to 100% of the user base (uh, gotta restrict that to HD display owners) would prefer SDV over guide enhancements. Curious if you guys "know" the percentage of HD users on your system?

Thanks for the reply. Just wondered, with the early bandwidth-saving SDV installation, what benefits and changes are subscribers seeing? Spotted a few posts from locals indicating they haven't seen more HDTV channels. -- John

I see, so far the benefit has been in the capability to Digital Simulcast 62 cable channels on the lineup. Additional HD channel launches are more dependent on programming deals than this technology.

Hi Diana. I'm currently in S.C., and recently made the switch from Direct.
Overall, I'm pretty satisfied (but I'd sure like to see improvements in the guide; it looks downright amateurish compared to Direct's).
Anyway, I'm building a new house in Florida; specifically at Rainbow Springs in Dunnellon. The house should be ready in about 7 months.
The cable company there is Adelphia. I'll be using them for internet service, but I was disappointed to see that they currently offer no HD programming.
Any idea as to when/if that will change?
I really don't want to go back to sat. if I can help it.
Thanks!

Jack


Well, there is no TWC in Florida anymore - its all Bright House, who are partners with us in many things... can't clarify MDN just yet though.

More importantly, there is no more Adelphia? TWC/Comcast purchased on august 1? So, I think this might be going to Comcast..... ?????

Will SDV have any affect on internet bandwidth?


not that I have ever heard. don't know why it would (at least for a decade or so....)

Will the new "Mystro" Digital Navigator fully support external SATA hard drives? Or is that issue more about the core OS parts (from reading, it seems there are far more serious bugs in Passport than SARA)?

Can we assume "Mystro" is a code name?

Am I correct in thinking that any issues of rate shaping go away with SDV?

Excellent summary a few posts above, however they only add up to 53%? I'd bet ya that close to 100% of the user base (uh, gotta restrict that to HD display owners) would prefer SDV over guide enhancements. Curious if you guys "know" the percentage of HD users on your system?

1. SATA - I would think so

2. Mystro is an internal name, I'm sure it will launch with something 'slicker'

3. Yes - in the sense that you are speaking - I'll post next

4. I didn't include all the oneses into the %, just the biggies. Yes, TWC knows exactly the percentage of HD and HD DVR and SD DVR and even Analog units people have sitting in their closets they forgot about but are still paying for each month.

First of all - I haven't started the new job yet, so I don't have solid answers. Sorry most of my answers right now are "I don't know" or "I think so". I do hope to have a fast learning curve so that a couple of months from now I will be able to give good answers.

SDV and Rate Shaping. In the sense that some companies 'rate shape' in order to gain additional bandwidth on the lineup to add new channels - yes SDV will fix that. I want to give you the entire truth though because you will hear engineers say no to this question - I made them explain it to me and this is my very simplistic version of what goes on.
In order to do SDV you have to have a 'clamping license'
A clamping license requires that you know how the quantity of mps that will be required for the signal
So if an HD regularly passes a channel at 15 mbs rather than 19.8 mbs, we will put the clamping license on at that rate. If they increase the mbs and don't tell us, then we will be rate shaping, but only until that point in time in which we find out what happened and increase the rate on the clamping license. (This actually happened to us in SC just last week which was a valuable way for me to learn about it).

So, technically SDV doesn't eliminate rate shaping, but in the practical sense of limiting a current signal to a lesser rate than the programmer is intending the viewer see the program, yes it does.

make sense?

Yes, TWC knows exactly the percentage of HD and HD DVR and SD DVR and even Analog units people have sitting in their closets they forgot about but are still paying for each month.
Diana, I MUST take exception to this statement. No cable company has any idea of the number of customers that watch in HD! First, the FCC requires cable companies to carry local HD channels "in the clear". Most of today's HDTVs have built-in QAM tuners that receive these "in the clear" signals. I am sure that you have many HD customers that are receiving their HD signals this way - and cable can't count them, as they never rented a HD STB.

About a year ago SA published a study that said that a high percentage of HD set owners were not watching in HD. This was a seriously flawed study as it totally neglected those customers directly connecting to cable.

Generally speaking, TW (and the other cable companies as well) have been generally unaware that lots of their customers can receive local HD without spending any extra money. I believe that the rules also require that those local HD channels be included in even the "basic" ("lifeline", or whatever the lowest cost service is called) service. But, if you stop and think about it, that makes sense - because as of Feb 17, 2009 the only stations will be digital.

Diana, I MUST take exception to this statement. No cable company has any idea of the number of customers that watch in HD! First, the FCC requires cable companies to carry local HD channels "in the clear". Most of today's HDTVs have built-in QAM tuners that receive these "in the clear" signals. I am sure that you have many HD customers that are receiving their HD signals this way - and cable can't count them, as they never rented a HD STB.

About a year ago SA published a study that said that a high percentage of HD set owners were not watching in HD. This was a seriously flawed study as it totally neglected those customers directly connecting to cable.

Generally speaking, TW (and the other cable companies as well) have been generally unaware that lots of their customers can receive local HD without spending any extra money. I believe that the rules also require that those local HD channels be included in even the "basic" ("lifeline", or whatever the lowest cost service is called) service. But, if you stop and think about it, that makes sense - because as of Feb 17, 2009 the only stations will be digital.

I have a friend in NJ under Comcast. He bought an RCA HDTV with QAM and was unable to find ANY local channels. He did find a couple of general cable channels and Music Choice. We were stumped and since he had to travel didn't have time to trouble shoot and returned the set. So DO cable companies really have to transmit local channels in the clear? :confused:

Needless to say his experience wasn't exactly "Comcastic!" ;)

Will the new Navigator have Keyword search in addition to title search?As a former TIVO customer i can say it is a function any modern DVR should have.TIVO,PASSPORT.REPLAY have this function sara users do not.It is one function i sorely miss.I am in the Greensboro NC market with sara 187.27 ( not upgraded to 1.88 here)Do you have any general idea(nothing we will hold you to)when sara users might get Navigator.We are stuck between Charlotte and Raleigh that have Passport a much superior guide.Now it seems they will get Navigator before us.Just any general idea or educated guess would help,

Diana, I MUST take exception to this statement. No cable company has any idea of the number of customers that watch in HD! First, the FCC requires cable companies to carry local HD channels "in the clear". Most of today's HDTVs have built-in QAM tuners that receive these "in the clear" signals. I am sure that you have many HD customers that are receiving their HD signals this way - and cable can't count them, as they never rented a HD STB.

About a year ago SA published a study that said that a high percentage of HD set owners were not watching in HD. This was a seriously flawed study as it totally neglected those customers directly connecting to cable.

Generally speaking, TW (and the other cable companies as well) have been generally unaware that lots of their customers can receive local HD without spending any extra money. I believe that the rules also require that those local HD channels be included in even the "basic" ("lifeline", or whatever the lowest cost service is called) service. But, if you stop and think about it, that makes sense - because as of Feb 17, 2009 the only stations will be digital.Dave,

Diana didn't state that she knows the number of customers that watch HD. She stated that TWC knows the percentage of customers that have certain kinds of Set-top boxes.

Dave,

Diana didn't state that she knows the number of customers that watch HD. She stated that TWC knows the percentage of customers that have certain kinds of Set-top boxes.Yes, but she was answering this question from Riverside Guy:
Curious if you guys "know" the percentage of HD users on your system?
So I took her response as an answer to his question (She said "Yes,"). I do see that she says that TW does know the percentage of boxes out there that are HD - but I see that she does not mention CableCards in that.

I assure you, that any additional HD TVs that I buy will have QAM and I will connect direct to cable without a STB or CableCard. My "main" TV is HD and I am a long time HD DVR user (8300HD right now with external hard drive).

First of all - I haven't started the new job yet, so I don't have solid answers. Sorry most of my answers right now are "I don't know" or "I think so". I do hope to have a fast learning curve so that a couple of months from now I will be able to give good answers.

SDV and Rate Shaping. In the sense that some companies 'rate shape' in order to gain additional bandwidth on the lineup to add new channels - yes SDV will fix that. I want to give you the entire truth though because you will hear engineers say no to this question - I made them explain it to me and this is my very simplistic version of what goes on.
In order to do SDV you have to have a 'clamping license'
A clamping license requires that you know how the quantity of mps that will be required for the signal
So if an HD regularly passes a channel at 15 mbs rather than 19.8 mbs, we will put the clamping license on at that rate. If they increase the mbs and don't tell us, then we will be rate shaping, but only until that point in time in which we find out what happened and increase the rate on the clamping license. (This actually happened to us in SC just last week which was a valuable way for me to learn about it).

So, technically SDV doesn't eliminate rate shaping, but in the practical sense of limiting a current signal to a lesser rate than the programmer is intending the viewer see the program, yes it does.

make sense?
Exactly what I was looking for...Thanks much!

I attended the Digital Life convention in NYC at the Jacob Javits Center this weekend and saw Verizon Fios displaying their Fios-Tv. I was hoping TWC was their but was disappointed. Why not have a booth at such shows across the country?

thanks, Andy

Diana, I MUST take exception to this statement. No cable company has any idea of the number of customers that watch in HD! First, the FCC requires cable companies to carry local HD channels "in the clear". Most of today's HDTVs have built-in QAM tuners that receive these "in the clear" signals. I am sure that you have many HD customers that are receiving their HD signals this way - and cable can't count them, as they never rented a HD STB.

About a year ago SA published a study that said that a high percentage of HD set owners were not watching in HD. This was a seriously flawed study as it totally neglected those customers directly connecting to cable.

Generally speaking, TW (and the other cable companies as well) have been generally unaware that lots of their customers can receive local HD without spending any extra money. I believe that the rules also require that those local HD channels be included in even the "basic" ("lifeline", or whatever the lowest cost service is called) service. But, if you stop and think about it, that makes sense - because as of Feb 17, 2009 the only stations will be digital.

You are correct I cannot count customers using QAM to tune unscrambed HD programming.

Here is what TWC can count - Number of Digital and HD subs by type / Quantity of Digital and HD converters in the system / Viewership of HD programming on digital equipment.

Your thoughts on the 09 transition seem sound, but personally I'm steering clear of quoting rules on this topic because I feel there will be a lot of changes before we get there.

I have a friend in NJ under Comcast. He bought an RCA HDTV with QAM and was unable to find ANY local channels. He did find a couple of general cable channels and Music Choice. We were stumped and since he had to travel didn't have time to trouble shoot and returned the set. So DO cable companies really have to transmit local channels in the clear? :confused:

Needless to say his experience wasn't exactly "Comcastic!" ;)

It is my understanding at this point in time Cable Companies do not have to transmit local channels in the clear. It is generally simpler to do so however, so most do. I will tell you I do not know this as an absolute fact, but I've been around a lot of discussions on launching HD Broadcast and Bonus channels and the "WE HAVE TO BECAUSE ITS THE LAW" has never been brought up. If its the law, typically our lawyers are very good at making sure we know and follow that rule.

One thing cable companies are not responsible for is supporting this functionality, i.e. HD channels received via a QAM. We support HD via equipment we provide. and we move QAMs around as needed without customer notification.

Will the new Navigator have Keyword search in addition to title search?As a former TIVO customer i can say it is a function any modern DVR should have.TIVO,PASSPORT.REPLAY have this function sara users do not.It is one function i sorely miss.I am in the Greensboro NC market with sara 187.27 ( not upgraded to 1.88 here)Do you have any general idea(nothing we will hold you to)when sara users might get Navigator.We are stuck between Charlotte and Raleigh that have Passport a much superior guide.Now it seems they will get Navigator before us.Just any general idea or educated guess would help,


A. I really don't have specifics to share at this time

B. I will let you know when I can or cannot provide schedule (as previously posted)

C. SC is SARA and while Passport may have a couple of more functionality niceties on the guide, I wouldn't trade to Passport for all the tea in China. No Passport Divisions can get CID on TV, Enhanced TV, SDV, Start Over, Quick Clips, Sports Trackers, etc until they get MDN. As a result, Passport Divisions will get the MDN prior to SARA, so that they can become as technically capable as your system is now.

she does not mention CableCards in that.



We know CableCARDs

I attended the Digital Life convention in NYC at the Jacob Javits Center this weekend and saw Verizon Fios displaying their Fios-Tv. I was hoping TWC was their but was disappointed. Why not have a booth at such shows across the country?

thanks, Andy

Don't have a clue.

Diana,

A few dumb and not so dumb ideas.

My old Pace HD box did not have grey side bars, my SA8300HD DVR does. Would like to have ability to choose between black side bars and several steps of grey. Hell, throw in some color options as well. Maybe even some soft patterns. Holiday specials like candycanes for Christmas, etc. Customizable even.

Also, an interum stretch mode between 4:3 and 16:9, like perhaps 14:9, would be nice.

Need to be able to delete undesired channels from program grid. Need to be able to choose "All Channels", "Subscribed Channels", "Sports", "Movies", "Favorite Channels 1", "Favorite Channels 2", etc.

Channel Scan, with a variable duration setting.

Backlit Programmable Remote.

Streaming Wi-fi audio output.

XM radio instead of Music Choice, or as a subsription option.

IThe TW remote supposedly will control a DVD player, HOW without chapter skip buttons? That's where skip and replay should have been assigned, but no buttons.



there is another button on our remotes with the functionality. Engineer I spoke to uses it at home and he thinks the button is the FF key (he has set it up so long he does it by memory, so it may be one of these memory blanks) Bottom line, chapter skip works.

(I know you still want :30 skip - I'm not discounting that, just wanted to make sure the other was covered)

Now that Navigator is being deployed to test areas a couple of questions.Is the Navigator being deployed the final product or will other features be added?Some comments i have seen is that the look is not that great.Just wonder if it is a work in progress or a finished product.

I would like to see a status bar showing how full the hard drive is.

More color options in the 8300 HD DVR on screen guide.

16:9 guide

HD movies on Demand shold be with the rest of the On Demand channels, I dont see why we should pay for the ability to access this channel and then have to pay to watch the movie.

I wrote:

2) Channel lineup online shows either Adelphia tier structure or TW tier structure, depending on whether I choose when I first got cable service as before or after September 18, 2006. Literature received today (see above) only shows the channels listed by their Adelphia "tiers". Again, what's the story?

Well..looks like someone's listening. The channel lineup site has been amended to clarify the whole "September 18" thing. Apparently, If you're keeping your Adelphia package, you're before September 18. If you're on, or planning to change to a TWC "package" you're after September 18. Thanks Diana!!!

Today is lineup change day for Moorpark - I believe we're the first in SoCal to get it, makes sense to try a small market first (34000 people) and iron out the issues there. I don't expect any problems, but I'l check tonight and report back.

http://www.cedmagazine.com/article/CA6375650.html

http://www.cedmagazine.com/article/CA6375650.html

Excellent! :)

Now that Navigator is being deployed to test areas a couple of questions.Is the Navigator being deployed the final product or will other features be added?Some comments i have seen is that the look is not that great.Just wonder if it is a work in progress or a finished product.

WIP

I dont see why we should pay for the ability to access this channel and then have to pay to watch the movie.


????? Not familiar?????

Well..looks like someone's listening. The channel lineup site has been amended to clarify the whole "September 18" thing. Apparently, If you're keeping your Adelphia package, you're before September 18. If you're on, or planning to change to a TWC "package" you're after September 18. Thanks Diana!!!


I didn't do a dad-gum thing - local system is on top of their business on their own.

????? Not familiar?????
Unfortunately in the raleigh/durham area we have a package called "HD Suite" and it has several additional HD channels, one of them being HD Movies on demand. So not only do you have to pay for the HD suite but then you have to pay to watch the HD movies on demand. I would just like the ability to have access to this channel without having to pay for a package. It should be accessible like the regular movies on demand are.

Unfortunately in the raleigh/durham area we have a package called "HD Suite" and it has several additional HD channels, one of them being HD Movies on demand. So not only do you have to pay for the HD suite but then you have to pay to watch the HD movies on demand. I would just like the ability to have access to this channel without having to pay for a package. It should be accessible like the regular movies on demand are.

That is a bit of a double-whammy, no? It should be de-tiered ASAP. What a rip!

Well, lineup change has gone without a hitch - bizarrely, we're now back to an Adelphia logo on the guide!

Well, lineup change has gone without a hitch - bizarrely, we're now back to an Adelphia logo on the guide!

It was all a big ruse, Time Warner is actually changing their name to Adelphia! :eek:

Can I take it that the "clamping license" is much like a "limiter" that limits bandwidth on a channel?

I think you implied that SDV will only be possible once "Mystro" is deployed, can you confirm?

Hi Diana, NYC here :)

I would like to echo some previous calls for having XM music on the Music channels in lieu of musicchoice, mainly because I as well as many of my friends are XM subscribers and it would negate the need for paying for another additional sub to have XM in the home (I have it in my car currently).

Additionally, will it ever be possible to use the DVR more like a VCR in regards to timing a recording? This has really become an issue for me as of late - I've been trying to record episodes of the newly enhanced & remastered Star Trek episodes (shown here on NBC at an ungldly time of the moning on Mondays) and for whatever reason the show starts at a different time than is tagged in the prgram guide - as a result I either miss the beginning or end of it, sometimes by half an hour! I have changed recording options to extend the recording by half an hour but I can only extend the start time by ten minutes. It would really be helpful if I could just schedule the DVR to record a block of time, say from 2AM to 4AM or something, this whay I'd get the whole episode and FF through whatever else it records.

Lastly, I'd love to see MR-DVR happen soon. Right now I have three boxes (8300HD in the living room, a pace box in the den & a pace box in a second bedroom) and fighting for the Living room TV to watch recorded programming is common in my house. Being able to watch on any box would really be beneficial - I know it's still being tested but I hope there's a big push for it.

Thanks for reading & giving the members of this forum attention that almost never happens in today's corporate environment!

my MLB provides team names as you go through the guide???

The guide shows which teams are in each game as I hilight the individual entries in the guide, but if I look at the Extra Innings channels, it just looks as though there are a half dozen channels each showing "MLB Baseball." The only two ways to know which games are on which channels are to go through the channels individually in the guide, or to view each of the channels.

On a similar note, as bandwidth issues are addressed, can I log a vote for Extra Innings in HD?
-JMP

Tivo 3 is one way... so it will not provide SDV channels.

Its the device!!! not TWC's cablecard support!!!

I understand that Tivo Series 3 currently only supports one way cablecard. (I've heard rumors that it may or may not be firmware upgradable to handle 2 way.) However, TWC can do a lot to make the process of getting a cablecard simpler.

Right now, if you call TWC and ask about cablecard, there's about a 95% chance you'll get a representative who knows next to nothing about cablecards. I'd give even odds on whether or not the representative would actually work on getting correct answers vs. making things up/giving misinformation.

It used to be this bad with HD in general, and I can only hope that the education of customer service reps improves. (For example, last summer, I had a rep on the phone try to tell me that if I had an HD box, I should receive every single channel in HD, and they wanted to schedule a service appointment to fix the "problem." The rep's supervisor backed up the story.)

I want to stay away from gripes about phone reps, but would it be possible as part of a phone rep's training to create a culture and set of procedures that encourage and enable getting customers to reps who understand these newer products rather than giving misinformation?
-JMP

Can I take it that the "clamping license" is much like a "limiter" that limits bandwidth on a channel?

I think you implied that SDV will only be possible once "Mystro" is deployed, can you confirm?


Yes

Yes for Passport systems, not SARA systems.

I would like to echo some previous calls for having XM music on the Music channels in lieu of musicchoice, mainly because I as well as many of my friends are XM subscribers and it would negate the need for paying for another additional sub to have XM in the home (I have it in my car currently).

I was with directv when they switched from music choice to xm radio. I was excited at first, but afterwards I realized I liked the music choice selection better. Now I'm with TWC for other reasons, but I'm glad they have Music Choice.

Thank you for asking my opinion.

I would like to see:

1. A status bar indicating how full my DVR disk is
2. The ability to remove channels from the program guide (i.e. channels I never watch, pay channels I don't subscribe to)

Ok - here are the big winners on the first 10 pages -

Guide -

11% Favorites Guide
8% 16:9 guide
6% info at least 2 weeks out

HD -
12% - Full HD resolution / no rate shaping
all else just one mention per

DVR -
6% - Keyword function search
3% - Multiroom & SATA tied to account/more hard drive
2% - Bookmark / intuitive conflict resolution / internet access / priority recordings

Other -

5% - Give us INFO!
I'd like to reiterate an earlier post I made:

Guide -
The guide data needs to be updated frequently, especially in regards to Sporting Events that have time changes or are rescheduled. Also, if possible, the guide should be able to account for a program or sporting event ending later than scheduled, without having to record any unnecessary time. During many weekends with multiple sporting events on, the guide data is so out of whack with reality that it is not very useful. You have to guess what to record and when to record it, and even if you guess right and record the whole game, you may still end up wasting DVR space with an extra hour or two hours recorded because you are worried the game might go into overtime or extra innings.

DVR -
Motorola DVR users have real annoying audio problems where the HD channels, SD channels, and commercials have large volume differences. It really takes away from enjoyment when you are constantly having to raise or lower the volume.

Ok - here are the big winners on the first 10 pages -

Guide -

11% Favorites Guide
8% 16:9 guide
6% info at least 2 weeks out

...
16:9 and HD. I think at least as many people mentioned HD as mentioned 16:9.

I said previously that I'd like the guide to be just like TitanTV's guide. Though I didn't mention a Favorites feature explicitly, the TitanTV guide does let you suppress any channels from the listing (and you can add channels, too). I think Favorites is a very important feature to have.

It was all a big ruse, Time Warner is actually changing their name to Adelphia! :eek:

Must have heard you Joe, back to TW tonight.

The title of this thread should be changed to include SA8300 in it, as nothing posted so far (except for my comments and suggestions) seems to relate to the Moto boxes and their users. Complaints against the SA8300 do not apply to the Moto 64xx boxes.

So unless the new software and suggestions for it are applicable to BOTH the Moto and SA boxes (all of which are present in the LA area, because of the Comcast/TWC/Adelphia merge into TWC), I think this thread should describe itself as being for SA boxes only.

The title of this thread should be changed to include SA8300 in it, as nothing posted so far (except for my comments and suggestions) seems to relate to the Moto boxes and their users. Complaints against the SA8300 do not apply to the Moto 64xx boxes.

So unless the new software and suggestions for it are applicable to BOTH the Moto and SA boxes (all of which are present in the LA area, because of the Comcast/TWC/Adelphia merge into TWC), I think this thread should describe itself as being for SA boxes only.


No worries - MDN will provide the same functionality on all equipment types.

I asked 'futuristic' questions about wants and some people started their descriptions from where they are now - which was not unanticipated. All input may not be 'immediately' actionable or technically applicable to the current situation, but it all allows us to gain a greater understanding on how to provide a product that will engage the largest possible audience.

Yes for Passport systems, not SARA systems.

Wow, thanks, that's some solid info. SARA can have SDV right away, but us Passport folks need to get the new IPG (Mystro) first. Bummer!

Of course, that makes me wonder about the percentage of TWC cusatomers for each application...

Please make the firewire ports on the SA8300 and SA3250 work properly. There really isn't much excuse for this as the Motorola products have no such drawbacks, as others have mentioned. It's software (Passport) related, which means it can be fixed. I have a D-VHS deck that I paid a whole pile of money for that's basically now a paperweight because of this.

Also, please fix the software so that the eSATA ports work properly with trick-play on external drives. That's probably as simple is just having it create permanent buffers when it first formats a new external hard drive. (SARA users don't have this problem.) This would be a very easy fix.

Diana - do you have any information about whether these technical problems will be addressed? Other than that, the 8300 DVR is a superb machine and I count myself lucky to get it for "free" from the friendly folks at TWC.

Oh and one more thing: please impliment Switched Digital Video here in the Charlotte market ASAP so that we can finally get some new HD channels (it's been almost 3 years since we got a new one!)

Hi Diana, thanks for your time and efforts.

Any chance that the size of the internal Hard Drives on these boxes (I have the 8300) will be increased? This would eliminate the need for the external hook ups and their various idiosyncrasies.

And as also mentioned here, the Multi Room function- is this going to happen? This would be a great feature.

TIA

The last 3 posts are really getting beyond anything I can provide input on at this time.

I welcome you to continue to provide your feedback, but I really am not going to be able to address each question on equipment, etc.

Now, I'm headed home to pack and get on a plane early in the morning. 2 Days with the family before the last week in SC and then the move, so I won't be around until late Sunday (at the earliest).

The last 3 posts are really getting beyond anything... :eek: Geeze, I feel like a buzzkill, :cool: like I killed the party, like a Moderator :D

but seriously, any information you provide is appreciated. Thanks again.

Is it possible for every TWC division to have a specific number to call for HD Issues?
As you know, the number of HD subscribers are growing and most CSR's knowledge of HD is non existent. If there was a HD only number to call, with CSR's that were trained specifically to answer HD questions, I think that would be beneficial to TWC and it's subscribers.

thanks Andy

Another idea that might be useful is a moderated Q&A forum (or FAQ section) on each division's website where accepted questions/answers are posted, kind of how Click & Clack deal with the myriad of car-related questions out there. They can't possibly answer all questions, but they pick those that have broad appeal and post them on their website. Many questions in these forums are asked/answered multiple times, oftentimes with answers unique to a specific division. Having these posted as FAQs on the company website might just cut down on the frustration of having to research these forums and might also cut down on incorrect information. Then too, the company websites might actually be useful for something besides prices and channel lineups that only appeal to potential new customers.

thanks

Is it possible for every TWC division to have a specific number to call for HD Issues?
As you know, the number of HD subscribers are growing and most CSR's knowledge of HD is non existent. If there was a HD only number to call, with CSR's that were trained specifically to answer HD questions, I think that would be beneficial to TWC and it's subscribers.

thanks Andy

Same statement could be made for cablecards....

Diana - Thanks again for hearing our suggestions, below are my thoughts for a new IPG (in no particular order or importance).

1. Progress bar telling how much space is left on DVR (passport does not provide it without going to the diag screen)

2. Better conflict resolution. Being able to find the same show playing at a later date and recording it then.

3. "Folder" based organization of shows. So if I have 4 episodes of Nip/Tuck recorded they go into a Nip/Tuck folder. Helps prevent cluster on the list.

4. As with everybody else, 16:9 HD guide plus 14 days of programming.

5. Definitely need to support SATA drive, and tie the encryption to the account not the box. (Hopefully with the fix to the live tv buffer issue on current passports).

6. I think I read that Navigator is already using a log to show what was and wasn't recorded and why, props on that.

That's all I can think of for now...

Thanks again!

Oh one more thing I will agree with everybody, it would be great to have some sort of email list or site we can go to to see what you guys are working on.

Numerous AVS posts discuss PQ for individual channels: whether it's a source or cable problem, who's seeing breakups, is the source missing system wide, etc...

Suggest the guides provide an option to determine the quality of incoming signals to head ends. A simple form of the incoming- PQ guide might show just a meter readout such as zero signal, poor, good. A more techie readout could show numerical values for various parameters similar to what's currently available in diagnostics mode, although my diagnostics seems to show MPEG data errors for all channels within a frequency band, not on a per-channel basis. -- John

I don't remember if this has been posted here or not. A very annoying trait of the 6416/iGuide is:
I'm watching a show live that is also recording. During the show a second recording is about to begin. A warning pops up that I need to let it change the channel or cancel a recording. That is infuriating with a device that has two tuners. The MOXI never did this, the second show just recorded in the background. Why do I need to make any choice? It should absolutely know what to do and leave me alone.

Score one for MOXI. MoxiGuy must be rolling right now! :D ;)

I don't remember if this has been posted here or not. A very annoying trait of the 6416/iGuide is:
I'm watching a show live that is also recording. During the show a second recording is about to begin. A warning pops up that I need to let it change the channel or cancel a recording. That is infuriating with a device that has two tuners. The MOXI never did this, the second show just recorded in the background. Why do I need to make any choice? It should absolutely know what to do and leave me alone.

Score one for MOXI. MoxiGuy must be rolling right now! :D ;)

A related (I think) issue I have is when two shows are recording and I want to change the channel to someting live. I get a warning that I need to choose between recording and stopping recording to change the channel. But, it doesn't ask me WHICH recording i'd like to stop. It musts choose based on priority or something. Again, the Moxi would give you the chopice of which I would like to cancel recording on.

The programming on this DVR has got to be the WORST and most ill-concieved I've ever encountered and I've used PVR's for years including Tivo, ReplayTV, 2 Dish Network PVRs and the Moxi.

"What do you like about guides you have experienced? What do you hate? Describe aspects or functionality that would be part of your perfect Interactive Program Guide(IPG)?"

Tivo is the best. Personalization of the channel line up. Ability to choose which channels appear in my lineup. Search keywords. Season Pass. Customization.

Open up the VOD user interface with improved graphics and searching capabilities. Netfilx website is fantastic.

I love using links on the internet and would hope they will be available with cable tv. Give me the ability to start at the top, all episodes and drill down to a specific segment or appearance. But don’t force me to navigate multiple levels Recently I read Steve Jobs insists content be attainable at the iTunes store within 3 clicks.

Don’t crowd the IPG with ads. Move towards more multimedia content for ads that subscribers can select for more information. Don’t push content. Let subscribers choose. If I pause VOD I don’t wish to be bombarded with “now showing” in screaming loud audio after a few moments.

I don't remember if this has been posted here or not. A very annoying trait of the 6416/iGuide is:
I'm watching a show live that is also recording. During the show a second recording is about to begin. A warning pops up that I need to let it change the channel or cancel a recording. That is infuriating with a device that has two tuners. The MOXI never did this, the second show just recorded in the background. Why do I need to make any choice? It should absolutely know what to do and leave me alone.

Score one for MOXI. MoxiGuy must be rolling right now! :D ;)Well first, the two tuners in the 64xx boxes ARE independent of each other, but there are only two and not three.

So if two recordings are scheduled to occur at the same time and you happen to be watching a third channel there's no question the conflict must be resolved somehow, and you are in charge. It wants to start your recordings and therefore must change the tuner you're currently using in order to record one of the pre-programmed shows. The other tuner will automatically get the second pre-programmed show.

But if two recordings are scheduled for the same time you can't be watching a third live show. Sorry. And this has nothing to do with Moxi vs. 64xx. You can record two live shows at the same time, while you're watching a third recorded show (from MyDVR list), but you can't watch/record three live shows at once.


Second, if you didn't have two shows scheduled to record at this one moment when you got the popup message, I suspect you don't yet have both tuners actually "active" yet, so that the one and only active tuner wanted to change its focus to go into record mode... and thus asked you that question.

But had both tuners actually been activated, and there was only one program scheduled for recording while you were watching something else, the second tuner would have automatically been assigned by the box to handle that recording and you would never have been bothered with that question. The tuner you were currently using to watch something would have remained dedicated to that show, and the "background" tuner would have moved into record mode.

So... have you "activated" the second tuner since acquiring your 6416? All you have to do is push the SWAP button and that swaps to the other tuner. If it's the first time you've done this then the channel tuned to by that second tuner will be the same as you were just watching on the first tuner. If it's other than the first time you've done this then the channel tuned to by the second tuner will be whatever it last was used for (recording or watching).

Once you've done this SWAP once, you now truly do have two totally independent tuners, both active and live, and you will never get the popup "tuner conflict resolution" message you got unless you genuinely have two programs scheduled to record at the same time and you are genuinely watching a third channel at that moment.

You can record two live shows at the same time, while you're watching a third recorded show (from MyDVR list), but you can't watch/record three live shows at once.

How does that work? Since the two tuners and two read-write drive heads would be in use, this implies there's a third read-only drive head. Spotted a few posts from those saying they've done this, but then a Scientific Atlanta site (for 8300HD use) implies it's not possible.

I've tuned three live shows at once, using SWAP to switch between the inset and main channels, then tuning a 3rd analog-only unscrambled channel with a NTSC tuner. (A 4th monitored channel is accessible with one LAST (channel) key press. My display doesn't have PIP, but perhaps sets that do could display three at once(?)

Guess, to link all this to the thread topic, this should be all spelled out better in any guide.
-- John

How does that work? Since the two tuners and two read-write drive heads would be in use, this implies there's a third read-only drive head. Spotted a few posts from those saying they've done this, but then a Scientific Atlanta site (for 8300HD use) implies it's not possible.We're talking about the Moto DCT6412/6416... not the SA8300HD.

The 64xx boxes actually do have three functional tuners, two for recording/watching live content, and a third for playback-only from the DVR recordings if both recording/watching tuners are currently in use recording something.

If both live/recording tuners are in use for recordings (so that REC appears on the display panel for both tuners, as observed when you push the SWAP button on the remote) all you have to do is push the MyDVR button on the remote (while actually watching what is being recorded by either tuner) and select some pre-recorded program from the DVR list (with the selected tuner's content still being shown, in the in-screen live-action window in the upper right corner) and OK/Select to begin playing that recorded content.

The display panel will then change from REC to PLAY, but the live/recording tuner previously in use will continue to record whatever was being recorded. The other tuner, of course, is completely unaffected and will continue to record whatever it was recording.

So you now really have three tuners cooking... two recording (both in the background, I guess you could say), and one playback for your viewing (in the foreground, actually putting out display to your HDTV).

Again... this is the 64xx we're talking about here.

How does that work?

I guess an oversimplified answer to your question is "Buffering".

Anybody know if Diana is still reading this thread? I'm really interested in finding out if she has any knew information on Navigator, eg release schedule.

John,

I don't know what SA site you are talking about. I routinely watch a recorded program while recording 2 others with my 8300HD, just like DSperber has been saying for the 64xx. The only difference is there has never been a need to "activate" either tuner, etc. Neither unit has anything more than a standard hard drive with a set of read/write heads. These drives/heads can keep up with writing 2 blocks of data while reading another block to give you the capability being discussed. It's not magic, it's just a function of the amount of data written/read as a single block to keep everything in sync. It's the same way your PC with a single drive keeps up with multiple programs all reading/writing to/from the drive.

Anybody know if Diana is still reading this thread? I'm really interested in finding out if she has any knew information on Navigator, eg release schedule.

Yes - but its my last week at my current job and I am preparing for the move, so I am not going to be able to get back with any information for a week or so. I don't mean to get your hopes up, but I have to get a few things done before I can enjoy the luxury of my new career.

Well first, the two tuners in the 64xx boxes ARE independent of each other, but there are only two and not three.

So if two recordings are scheduled to occur at the same time and you happen to be watching a third channel there's no question the conflict must be resolved somehow, and you are in charge. It wants to start your recordings and therefore must change the tuner you're currently using in order to record one of the pre-programmed shows. The other tuner will automatically get the second pre-programmed show.

But if two recordings are scheduled for the same time you can't be watching a third live show. Sorry. And this has nothing to do with Moxi vs. 64xx. You can record two live shows at the same time, while you're watching a third recorded show (from MyDVR list), but you can't watch/record three live shows at once.


Second, if you didn't have two shows scheduled to record at this one moment when you got the popup message, I suspect you don't yet have both tuners actually "active" yet, so that the one and only active tuner wanted to change its focus to go into record mode... and thus asked you that question.

But had both tuners actually been activated, and there was only one program scheduled for recording while you were watching something else, the second tuner would have automatically been assigned by the box to handle that recording and you would never have been bothered with that question. The tuner you were currently using to watch something would have remained dedicated to that show, and the "background" tuner would have moved into record mode.

So... have you "activated" the second tuner since acquiring your 6416? All you have to do is push the SWAP button and that swaps to the other tuner. If it's the first time you've done this then the channel tuned to by that second tuner will be the same as you were just watching on the first tuner. If it's other than the first time you've done this then the channel tuned to by the second tuner will be whatever it last was used for (recording or watching).

Once you've done this SWAP once, you now truly do have two totally independent tuners, both active and live, and you will never get the popup "tuner conflict resolution" message you got unless you genuinely have two programs scheduled to record at the same time and you are genuinely watching a third channel at that moment.

Sorry, Can You Read?? I was watching a show that was recording! That's the same tuner!

"I'm watching a show live that is also recording. During the show a second recording is about to begin. A warning pops up that I need to let it change the channel or cancel a recording. That is infuriating with a device that has two tuners. The MOXI never did this, the second show just recorded in the background. Why do I need to make any choice? It should absolutely know what to do and leave me alone."

Yes - but its my last week at my current job and I am preparing for the move, so I am not going to be able to get back with any information for a week or so. I don't mean to get your hopes up, but I have to get a few things done before I can enjoy the luxury of my new career.


Cool - good luck with the move.

I have a complaint. Why when I go to my recorded list, I can see the "vague" details about the show or episode I am about to select to watch. However, once I start the recorded show playing, then when I hit info, I get a generic "recorded programming" or something message. The actual program info is not available again unless I stop the program then hit info from the recorded list menu, then start it back playing again.

Its a pain.


Also, of course, I wanna know when ESPN 2 HD is coming and ESPN U, but I saw where I'm not supposed to ask Diana that. Is it ok to put up the question for anyone else to comment on?

If not, I'll edit this post and remove the question.

John,

I don't know what SA site you are talking about. I routinely watch a recorded program while recording 2 others with my 8300HD, just like DSperber has been saying for the 64xx. The only difference is there has never been a need to "activate" either tuner, etc. Neither unit has anything more than a standard hard drive with a set of read/write heads. These drives/heads can keep up with writing 2 blocks of data while reading another block to give you the capability being discussed. It's not magic, it's just a function of the amount of data written/read as a single block to keep everything in sync. It's the same way your PC with a single drive keeps up with multiple programs all reading/writing to/from the drive.
Okay, thanks. Googled with some terms, forgotten now, and got a pdf manual that looked like the 8300HD (from the remote diagram). An intro sentence suggested 3 sources wasn't possible. From the earlier 'buffering' post, yours, and others I see what's going on now. The data rates for 3 simultaneous MPEG channels and one drive head, if that's all there is, just seemed pretty high for one head. -- John

Sorry, Can You Read?? I was watching a show that was recording! That's the same tuner!You know, you have a certain attitude in your posts that's a bit off-putting. Do you know how to respond with a "neutral" tone, even if it is to disagree or point something out that might have been missed?

Yes, I did see your description... I can read. And I can say that your symptom has NEVER happened to me in the two years I've had my 6412, unless the circumstances I described were in place: namely that I was watching one channel and two recordings set to fire required two different channels, hence the need for three "live" tuners or my agreement to sacrifice what I was watching or to sacrifice one of the recordings.

Or... way back when, in the first few days of my 6412, before I realized that the second tuner didn't magically auto-activate itself until I actually pressed SWAP on the remote to kick it into life, so that only one of the two tuners was really running and it actually wanted to steal the first tuner (which was currently recording something) when the second timer event program required a different channel (hence the need for the second tuner).

These are exactly the circumstances I described in my polite reply to your original post. Since you are a relative newcomer to the Moto DVR it is possible you have not ever used the SWAP button yet, hence my comments.

Again... this has never since happened to me again, but if you want to continue to belittle the 6416 and tout the Moxi, and scowl at others who respond to your comments, be my guest.

Guys,

Why don't you take your squabbles and posturing over certain box pros & cons to the appropriate DVR AVS Forum sites. Diana is trying to find out the features for new navigation software (which I assume is pretty much box neutral).

Guys,

Why don't you take your squabbles and posturing over certain box pros & cons to the appropriate DVR AVS Forum sites. Diana is trying to find out the features for new navigation software (which I assume is pretty much box neutral).

Actually, if a piece of hardware supplied by TWC isn't doing something correctly with software supplied by TWC, I would think that is appropriate to this discussion.
Then again, I could be wrong :confused:

You know, you have a certain attitude in your posts that's a bit off-putting. Do you know how to respond with a "neutral" tone, even if it is to disagree or point something out that might have been missed?

Yes, I did see your description... I can read. And I can say that your symptom has NEVER happened to me in the two years I've had my 6412, unless the circumstances I described were in place: namely that I was watching one channel and two recordings set to fire required two different channels, hence the need for three "live" tuners or my agreement to sacrifice what I was watching or to sacrifice one of the recordings.

Or... way back when, in the first few days of my 6412, before I realized that the second tuner didn't magically auto-activate itself until I actually pressed SWAP on the remote to kick it into life, so that only one of the two tuners was really running and it actually wanted to steal the first tuner (which was currently recording something) when the second timer event program required a different channel (hence the need for the second tuner).

These are exactly the circumstances I described in my polite reply to your original post. Since you are a relative newcomer to the Moto DVR it is possible you have not ever used the SWAP button yet, hence my comments.

Again... this has never since happened to me again, but if you want to continue to belittle the 6416 and tout the Moxi, and scowl at others who respond to your comments, be my guest.

I think one should look at the attitude one projects before criticizing the attitude of someone else. Then again, I could be wrong :confused:

Actually, if a piece of hardware supplied by TWC isn't doing something correctly with software supplied by TWC, I would think that is appropriate to this discussion.
Then again, I could be wrong :confused:

Indeed, coming from the prospective of someone who has managed a lot of software development, I am appalled at the poor quality of the software... obviously I can only directly talk about Passport, but from comments I can see that SARA isn't any bed of roses. This stuff is rife with bugs and very much alpha quality at best (and I'm talking the real definition of alpha). And believe me, I've been taken to task from guys whose opinions I respect about my "unreasonable expectations."

Nevertheless, I think we need to understand Diana's place in the tree... as director of marketing for video services. My guess is that underneath that is a 100% focus on the "Mystro" platform. Implication is that eventually, "Mystro" will replace both Passport and SARA. "Mystro" is TWCs OCAP platform... what that means is it gives them a platform to sell us more stuff, some of which might actually be of interest! While she seems very polite about passing off issues with the current platforms, I have little hope that any of the nasty issues will really get solved. And it does piss me off that I'm going to have to live with some of this stuff for maybe another year, but that's life. Like said earlier, SOMEONE at TWC must want to really listen to users and here we have a executive who is doing that through this forum... and undoubtedly because there seems to be a lot less angry miscreant type posts like we find elsewhere.

Not aiming at any one person, but my implication is we all need to keep it polite. I dare say the more polite we are, the more she listens!

I would be happy if the TW DVR's matched the functionality of my 1999 ReplayTV. I'm serious.

Dana,

Thank you. Thank you for taking the time and the effort to talk to us all.

That said, are there other people at TWC willing to come here and listen to us? Specifically, someone from the Southern California area? Other than the 800 numbers listed on TWCs website for customer service, whom could I talk to about my TWC service and Moto boxes?

Thanks again for your time.

-Drew

That's true Diana. You know how busy we kept you in SC. Now that you've gone "national" on AVS, you might want to try to recruit some regional help from other people in TWC, or you'll get over run by requests.

Diana has been our contact for TWC through AVS for about 2 years or so in South Carolina, and she was awesome for getting things done.

Thanks Diana,
Mark

Yes that is an EXCELLENT thought. Diana was national on AVS for awhile, but was overwhelmed by requests from outside the region that was paying her. She gracefully withdrew to supporting only her local region.

TW here in Rochester is very insular. It is extremely difficult to have any sort of intelligent communication with them.

So true, national coverage of a major service by one person is difficult beyond belief. It would almost be a full time job just answering questions on a forum this large. I'm sure Diana will morf into a team for coverage here. At least I hope! ;)

From the early reports from Nebraska the MDN interface is unattractive and clunky.Any hopes or a redue before general release?

Hmmm, not much activity lately...

Diana, the other thing that needs enhancement is PIP. Either allow users to move the PIP window anywhere on the screen or have the PIP window closer to the edges (corners) of the screen. This is a bit anoying on 16:9 screens while watching non-HD programs, but appears to get a lot worse when viewing HD programs.

Here in LA, we don't even have the PiP enabled. :(

I'd like to see a split screen option for PIP.

From the early reports from Nebraska the MDN interface is unattractive and clunky.Any hopes or a redue before general release?

I don't envision the product to ever be static. Certainly the first Rev is not the close to what we hope it will ultimately be. We are already working on Rev 2 and beyond enhancements.

Ok - I have relocated, but I am traveling around the country multiple times a week while trying to house hunt, so again I thank you for your patience and understanding that I'm not spending a great deal of time on here discussing each point.

So - next question

Thoughts on Voom. (1) programming? (2) value?

Ok - I have relocated, but I am traveling around the country multiple times a week while trying to house hunt, so again I thank you for your patience and understanding that I'm not spending a great deal of time on here discussing each point.

So - next question

Thoughts on Voom. (1) programming? (2) value?

I never had Voom, but thought it an interesting but flawed concept. I wasn't surprised at its failing, but having lots of HD to choose from is nice. Sort of like having both IN=HDs and HDNets. Just MORE.
Is TWC thinking of licensing some channels from E*?

Seems like a smart sell for people who are fed up with their other TV providers offering too little HD. But, personally, HD isn't something I'll go out of my way to pay for, it's something I'll try to get if available, but only if the extra cost is 0. Then again, I'll never buy a sportscar.

Thoughts on Voom. (1) programming? (2) value? I thought that Voom had it's place a few years ago when people were starved for HD content. But now there is much more HD content available (if the various cable companies would only put it on) like StarzHD, CinemaxHD, etc. as well as the standard network HD broadcasts. The merging of InHD1 and InHD2 reflects the changing landscape and the need for mainstream programming to be HD.

Just look ahead 2 1/2 years when ALL broadcast TV will be digital (and mostly HD) - what value will VOOM play then?

Ok - I have relocated, but I am traveling around the country multiple times a week while trying to house hunt, so again I thank you for your patience and understanding that I'm not spending a great deal of time on here discussing each point.

So - next question

Thoughts on Voom. (1) programming? (2) value?

Voom has a boat load of interesting programming.
of course TWC should wait till every single division has the capacity to offer these 15 HD channels.
I also feel that TWC should sign contracts for the HD channels that are currently available before adding voom.
I can get by with INHD & HDNet.

check it out
http://www.voom.tv/

I'm not certain but I recall their HD programming on each channel being repeated every time block. If that is the case then 15 dedicated of repeats can be trimmed down to 5 with the same programming.

I thought that Voom had it's place a few years ago when people were starved for HD content. But now there is much more HD content available (if the various cable companies would only put it on) like StarzHD, CinemaxHD, etc. as well as the standard network HD broadcasts. The merging of InHD1 and InHD2 reflects the changing landscape and the need for mainstream programming to be HD.

Just look ahead 2 1/2 years when ALL broadcast TV will be digital (and mostly HD) - what value will VOOM play then?

Exactly, like, what need will there be for a Discovery HDT when all the main Discovery Networks channels will be HD in a bit.

Somehow or other, mentioning Voom strikes me as "oh, you've got a HD display, well for $xxx.xx more, we can give you some specialized HD programming." Which TWC kinda does right now with an extra pay tier called HDXtra. Indeed, I pay for HDXtra, but I dropped a premium channel so my monthly bill stayed roughly the same. So in terms of value (which too many customers ignore) I got a tad more HD stuff for the same price.

At this point, what I want to see is HD versions of some of the channels I like, e.g. OLN (Versus?), IFC, Sundance, TCM, SciFi, National Geo. The programming I like to see in HD, not paying extra for some hand picked stuff.

Frankly, I'm almost embarrassed to say what I pay to TWC each month. Sorry TWC, I'm really at my limit and WILL resist ways you may come up with the get more out of me.

Thoughts on Voom. (1) programming? (2) value?
Exceptional interest, for a long time, in VOOM's programming; especially, the foreign-film channel. Getting the "It's All Here" package, so suggest those getting these higher-end packages should be given some consideration (reduced cost) if VOOM is added and charges increased. Also, if VOOM is added, suggest requesting (and delivering) 1920X1080 VOOM channels (maybe a separate VOOM-to-TWC fiber feed), not 1440X1080 or lower. -- John

Ok - I have relocated, but I am traveling around the country multiple times a week while trying to house hunt, so again I thank you for your patience and understanding that I'm not spending a great deal of time on here discussing each point.

So - next question

Thoughts on Voom. (1) programming? (2) value?

TWC should carry VOOM only to shut Charlie Ergen up. That in and of itself is sufficient reason.

But two serious points. First, you do need to offer everything your competitor does and more, if it has ANY value at all. That prevents ignorant customers from being seduced by the "dark side". Second, if VOOM had distribution, while currently it's an egg, it could hatch into a chicken. :)

So real estate a little pricier in CT than SC? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

TWC should carry VOOM only to shut Charlie Ergen up. That in and of itself is sufficient reason.

But two serious points. First, you do need to offer everything your competitor does and more, if it has ANY value at all. That prevents ignorant customers from being seduced by the "dark side". Second, if VOOM had distribution, while currently it's an egg, it could hatch into a chicken. :)

So real estate a little pricier in CT than SC? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Then again, it COULD be a turkey! ;) :p

Diana (or anybody),

Your thoughts on BroadLogic's TeraPIX as a bandwidth recovery alternative to SDV. Look's pretty exciting from a technology perspective, but deployment could be daunting.

Diana (or anybody),

Your thoughts on BroadLogic's TeraPIX as a bandwidth recovery alternative to SDV. Look's pretty exciting from a technology perspective, but deployment could be daunting.
The approach makes sense. It all boils down to dollars and cents. They will really need to get the (installed) gateway costs down to under $100 to make this fly. The nice thing though, is with today's node based systems, it can be done gradually and the switch-over can be transparent to the customer. Many cable systems today (our TW system in Rochester is one) are now simulcasting most of their SD channels (sending out both digital and analog). I wonder if this is their "Grand Plan"?
Note from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Time Warner is part of the investment consortium that pumped about $30 million into supporting BroadLogic and its staff of 30. Other investors include Cisco Systems, Intel Corp. and the venture firm Walden International.

Diana (or anybody),

Your thoughts on BroadLogic's TeraPIX as a bandwidth recovery alternative to SDV. Look's pretty exciting from a technology perspective, but deployment could be daunting.

My guess is that they are so far down the SDV path (i.e. have already invested many dollars) that it might not make sense to switch in midstream. Then again, it is an alternative that might make sense in certain situations... maybe.

My guess is that they are so far down the SDV path (i.e. have already invested many dollars) that it might not make sense to switch in midstream. Then again, it is an alternative that might make sense in certain situations... maybe.Actually, there are not many dollars that get invested in the SDV path as the infrastructure is in place to provide on demand services. SDV is really a simplification of on demand (just no local storage).

The nice thing though, is with today's node based systems, it can be done gradually and the switch-over can be transparent to the customer.I actually had some second thoughts about this. TerraPix frees up space by eliminating the analog band (57 - 550MHz) and allowing most of that to be used for new digital services. Then, at the premises a TerraPix equipped gateway converts the digital channels back to analog, taking up the 57-550MHz band. The question I have at the moment is: what happens to all those digital channels that were in the 57-550MHz band? Does the premises not get them? Or is a 2nd wiring system required in the premises? Or are the digital channels in that band converted to the 1GHz - 1.5GHz band, requiring replacement of amps and splitters in the premises? Also, how will this work in apartment buildings (I'm sure that is one of interest to Riverside_Guy)?

It's still a good (and interesting) concept. I'm just interested in how they will work around the deployment issues.

I actually had some second thoughts about this. TerraPix frees up space by eliminating the analog band (57 - 550MHz) and allowing most of that to be used for new digital services. Then, at the premises a TerraPix equipped gateway converts the digital channels back to analog, taking up the 57-550MHz band. The question I have at the moment is: what happens to all those digital channels that were in the 57-550MHz band? Does the premises not get them? Or is a 2nd wiring system required in the premises? Or are the digital channels in that band converted to the 1GHz - 1.5GHz band, requiring replacement of amps and splitters in the premises? Also, how will this work in apartment buildings (I'm sure that is one of interest to Riverside_Guy)?

It's still a good (and interesting) concept. I'm just interested in how they will work around the deployment issues.

My guess is this. You only need to replicate the analog 54-550 channels for "dumb" outlets, in other words, TV locations with conventional analog tuners. So the digital channels that reside in that (54-550) bandwidth are dumped in favor of the unzipped analog channels. In fact, no digital channels need to be passed through the TeraPIX chip, it only supports analog only locations.

Any outlet that has a digital set-top or QAM tuner simply by-passes the TeraPIX chip, so that the digital signals in the 54-550 range are not deleted.

Let me simplify the above explanation. All home-run drops are collected in a box on the outside of the house. The cable signal from the street is split into two paths. One paths goes through a splitter to service digital capable outlets. The other path goes through the TeraPIX chip which outputs analog channels 2-78, which goes through another splitter to service analog outlets. Modem connections are obviously on a "bypass" leg.

Let me simplify the above explanation. All home-run drops are collected in a box on the outside of the house. The cable signal from the street is split into two paths. One paths goes through a splitter to service digital capable outlets. The other path goes through the TeraPIX chip which outputs analog channels 2-78, which goes through another splitter to service analog outlets. Modem connections are obviously on a "bypass" leg.In other words, this:Or is a 2nd wiring system required in the premises? is what happens? Do you know that for a fact? Or is that your guess.

Dave, remember that the FCC regulates what runs over the wires to your home - not what runs through the wires in your home. Once it hits that TeraPix box at your house they no longer need to work within the FCC's bandwidth boundaries - they can move those other digital channels to any frequency they like. Sky's the limit.

My concerns over SDV are:
1) PC tuner cards will probably not work with it. It's one more opportunity for the cable company to limit how you use the cable you're paying for.

2) Requesting a channel is probably going to be even slower. Analog was instant. Digital's a little slower. This one's gonna have to go out, request the feed, and wait for it to buffer. Sounds like a lot of fun... .

It's cool how progress sets us back, but we keep buying it.

Dave, remember that the FCC regulates what runs over the wires to your home - not what runs through the wires in your home. Once it hits that TeraPix box at your house they no longer need to work within the FCC's bandwidth boundaries - they can move those other digital channels to any frequency they like. Sky's the limit.

My concerns over SDV are:
1) PC tuner cards will probably not work with it. It's one more opportunity for the cable company to limit how you use the cable you're paying for.

2) Requesting a channel is probably going to be even slower. Analog was instant. Digital's a little slower. This one's gonna have to go out, request the feed, and wait for it to buffer. Sounds like a lot of fun... .

It's cool how progress sets us back, but we keep buying it.
I never said anything regarding the TeraPix and the FCC. There are no FCC mandated bandwidth issues with cable. The bandwidth issues are strictly the electrical limitations of the cable network - usually 750MHz, though there is some !GHz out there.

Re concern #2 - we have SDV on UniversalHD here, it tunes just as fast as any other HD channel. There is no buffer with SDV - you just are "connected up" to the live bitstream.

Hmmm I thought the reason the cable operators kept Analog the way it's been has been because of FCC rules?

That's interesting Dave on #2, it sounded like SDV was about saving bandwidth by sending only what you ask for. If all the channels are live all the time... where's the savings?

Hmmm I thought the reason the cable operators kept Analog the way it's been has been because of FCC rules?Well it is to a small degree. Till the analog shut-off (at least) cable systems need to keep carrying the local OTA stations (if the stations exert their "must carry" rights) in analog and not encrypted. The FCC does not mandate any additional "cable" channels (CNN, QVC, HBO, etc.) So, even at most the cable company must carry 100MHz worth of analog.

That's interesting Dave on #2, it sounded like SDV was about saving bandwidth by sending only what you ask for. If all the channels are live all the time... where's the savings?The "key" here is that video is distributed to "nodes" (your neighborhood) via fiber - and fiber has much greater capacity. So, in our case "UniversalHD" is distributed to nodes all around Rochester live. When someone in a neighborhood node tunes to "UniversalHD" an available QAM channel is allocated to it and sent out. It's the same hardware as used for on-demand, except the local buffer is not used.

And, it is virtually impossible (if not impossible) for enough channels to be requested from the node at the same time to overload the cable capacity from the node to homes served by that node. This means they can fill the fiber to capacity, whatever that capacity is, with more HD/digital channel offerings as opposed to being limited by the capacity of the street level cable. Correct?

Voom looks good to me. Anything that gets more HD content sounds good to me. :)

I use TWC in San Antonio and the service overall is great. We were originally Paragon cable which was great too. I use a digipic package that has HDcable, road runner internet, and digital phone along with the Scientific Atlantic 8300HD DVR box. The guide overall works for my Wife and I. Much better than the one in Houston that my Wife's parents use.

The only thing I would add to the guide/DVR recordings is the ability to remember the shows I want for over a week. What happens now is we set a recording to record all occurences of the shows we want on that station at any time. It searches and adds them all. As long as that shows comes on again anytime in the next week, it will add it. If it does not see that show reoccuring within a week of the last scheduled show, it removes it from scheduled recordings. We then have to search over again for the show and add it again when it does come on.

In general we are for anything that gets us more HD content, excluding the movie channels. From time to time through various packages and deals, I've had the HBO and Showtime/TMC lineups. To us they are worthless. We might watch 2 or 3 movies on all channels within a month. So instead of paying that and hasseling with trying to find a decent movie in all those channels, we go to Movies on Demand and pay for that. So more HD movies on demand would mean more money for TWC. If there is a charge for Voom, we would certainly try it. :)

The "key" here is that video is distributed to "nodes" (your neighborhood) via fiber - and fiber has much greater capacity. So, in our case "UniversalHD" is distributed to nodes all around Rochester live. When someone in a neighborhood node tunes to "UniversalHD" an available QAM channel is allocated to it and sent out. It's the same hardware as used for on-demand, except the local buffer is not used.

In urban areas that means within a half block or so of your building (my fiber node is 1/2 block away). I have seen it said that TWCs guideline is 500 customers to a node.

I am curious about your QAM assertion. I don't THINK my STB has a QAM tuner, so my assumption is QAM isn't "needed" for SDV. I associate QAM with a tuning device built into some displays that can "tune" unencrypted channels, both SD and HD by connecting directly to the cable without any form of STB in the path.

The curious thing is that we've been so primed that SDV is the ONLY way... but TWC-NYC just added 2 complete new HD channels and made a part timed one full time with seeming no degradation in PQ on existing HD channels. Losing InHD2 (which is on a pay tier) means they could go with ESPN2 HD as that tier already carries ESPN HD, assuming the business issues don't impede it. At that point, I don't think there are that many "missing" HD channels (i.e. not as widely desired). NOW, I am looking to Mystro more for proper external HD support than ability to use SDV.

And, it is virtually impossible (if not impossible) for enough channels to be requested from the node at the same time to overload the cable capacity from the node to homes served by that node. This means they can fill the fiber to capacity, whatever that capacity is, with more HD/digital channel offerings as opposed to being limited by the capacity of the street level cable. Correct?
I would say so - except I don't know when the capacity of street level cable may be reached.

Diana? (We know you are dealing with relocation issues, but wonder what your take on these developments is?)

I just heard from a Timewarner employee that after the first of the year in my service area(Raleigh/Durham) we will be getting the "Start Over" feature and the ability to access the cable from a phone and schedule recordings. Is any of that correct? Will the start over feature only be on a few channels or all of them?

I just heard from a Timewarner employee that after the first of the year in my service area(Raleigh/Durham) we will be getting the "Start Over" feature and the ability to access the cable from a phone and schedule recordings. Is any of that correct? Will the start over feature only be on a few channels or all of them?Start-Over is just starting up here in Rochester. We are supposed to be the 2nd market to get it. It is supposed to be available in my neighboorhood sometime today - but I just tried and it is apparently not enabled yet. As I understand it, it will just be available for all programs (TW needs agreement from the program suppliers) and/or stations. There are also specific limitations (must tune in while program is still on, can't FF past commercials [but can pause and RW]). I don't (yet) know if they are doing HD.

No doubt Diana has access to details about TWC's switched-broadcasting system (or switched digital video, SDV). But, regarding switched channel capacity, Fig. 11 (http://www.bigbandnet.com/documents/BigBand_Networks_-_The_Statistics_of_SWB.pdf) in this pdf paper on the statistics of SB charts offered channels versus peak use. Here's the caption to the Fig. 11:
Note that despite fairly conservative parameter estimates, considerable channel savings can be obtained by putting a large number of services on the switched broadcast tier. A 500-channel system is calculated to require 187 active streams, or 19 256QAMs. A 1000-channel system is calculated to require 276 active streams, or 28 256QAMs. And a 1500-channel system is calculated to require 352 streams, or 36 256QAMs. This yields a remarkable ratio of 1500/36 = 41 programs/256QAM, easily three times the efficiency achievable by even the best closed-loop encoders on the market today.

Also, Fig. 2 (http://www.cedmagazine.com/article/CA6375650.html) of this CED Magazine article is a basic diagram of SB operation, showing how a channel request from a subscriber's STB activates a edge-QAM source, delivering the channel with the current QAM (modulation) method. That selected channel is accessible by everyone and is 'broken down' (shut off) by the SB system when all subscribers stop accessing that channel.
--John

So that channel that's "broken down" is no longer sent at that point to the edge-QAM or to the client boxes? If it's the edge-QAM that means the next person to "first" ask for that channel again does have to wait. Not a huge problem but an important caveat.

So that channel that's "broken down" is no longer sent at that point to the edge-QAM or to the client boxes? If it's the edge-QAM that means the next person to "first" ask for that channel again does have to wait. Not a huge problem but an important caveat.We have SDV in Rochester on UniversalHD. It takes no longer (less than 2 sec) to get that channel than any other (non-SDV) HD one.

But - what about being the "first" person to request a channel, as opposed to a channel already being fed to the edge-QAM? If the delay without this wait time is just less than 2 seconds, waiting for a new feed to reach your local QAM would probably take more than 2 seconds.

But - what about being the "first" person to request a channel, as opposed to a channel already being fed to the edge-QAM? If the delay without this wait time is just less than 2 seconds, waiting for a new feed to reach your local QAM would probably take more than 2 seconds.
Believe me, "UniversalHD" is so unwatched around here, that I am sure that I was the "first" person this afternoon to tune it. I just did that when I posted earlier (how many people in a 1 mile radius would watch that in the middle of a Friday afternoon?). I've tuned to it several times in the past and didn't notice any delay. I think that a lot of us associate delay with various "on demand" services, but there data has to be spooled from the head end to the local server. A more realistic test of local system response (latency) is watching something on "on demand" then hit RW. How long does it take to start to back up? I just tried and it was less than a second.

Well hitting rewind could just back up through the video buffer sitting on your client box - I imagine you're just testing the performance characteristics of your box there.

I'm not asking about local system response though, but rather the time for the following actions to occur:
Client box asks for channel
Local QAM checks for channel, doesn't have it
Local QAM asks for channel from cable's servers
Channel feed begins to QAM
Buffers
Feed begins to your client box
Buffers
You see the channel

Which is why I'm skeptical of whether you were the first. The timeout on these channels could be 10 minutes, an hour, 24 hours, a week... .