I'm just north of Boston and my community under went the digital migration Oct/Nov. Since then my cable has been hooked up to a HD-DVR. This morning for the sake of curiosity I decided to try hooking the cable directly to my TV with a built in QAM tuner. As far as the local broadcast channels in HD I'm still able to pickup channels 2, 5, 7, 38, 56 and 68. I am no however no longer able to receive channels 4 or 25 in HD. I seem to be able to pickup the SD version of 25 but can't seem to be able to even pickup up the SD version of channel 4.
Regarding the channels under the expanded basic tier, I still able to receive all the channels, albeit in SD. Comcast seems to have moved the QAM channel assignment around. For example SYFY which used to be on channel 62 in now on 26.7 and AMC which used to be on 59 is now 26.8 amongst others. On thing I find strange is that in some cases 2 different stations share the same channel number. For example 2.1 is WGBH HD. However if I change the channel up it still shows 2.1 WGBH HD but now I get the local access channel.

Just moved to Natick, MA from Seattle WA. Natick has not been upgraded yet and it isnt listed on the migration list posted in this thread. does anyone know a timeframe for Natick? Also someone who has been migrated could you see if there is a HD version of channel 262 FCSA? It is part of the sports package.

This morning for the sake of curiosity I decided to try hooking the cable directly to my TV with a built in QAM tuner. As far as the local broadcast channels in HD I'm still able to pickup channels 2, 5, 7, 38, 56 and 68. I am no however no longer able to receive channels 4 or 25 in HD. I seem to be able to pickup the SD version of 25 but can't seem to be able to even pickup up the SD version of channel 4.


Did you try doing a re-scan? Frequencies have been changing quite frequency lately, especially for the HD channels on QAM. I lost just about all of them earlier this week, did a re-scan, and they were all back again.

38 new HD tomorrow in my town.

Just moved to Natick, MA from Seattle WA. Natick has not been upgraded yet and it isnt listed on the migration list posted in this thread. does anyone know a timeframe for Natick? Also someone who has been migrated could you see if there is a HD version of channel 262 FCSA? It is part of the sports package.

Looks like Natick is scheduled for March. There is no HD version of any of the Fox regional sports channels here in Marlboro.

Yes there was a deal made. All you need is Digital Preferred to get NFL Network.

Digital Classic is now called Digital Preferred.

So the rep. was misinformed? She said I need digital PREMIER but you are saying the same thing I thought-Digital Preferred(Classic/Preferred on website). I thought the point of the deal between Comcast and the NFL network was to make sure a large number of Comcast customers got NFL network. I doubt that many people are paying for Digital PREMIER.

Did you try doing a re-scan? Frequencies have been changing quite frequency lately, especially for the HD channels on QAM. I lost just about all of them earlier this week, did a re-scan, and they were all back again.
Yes, I did do a rescan right after I hooked the cable directly to the TV.

FYI

May 2010

Lakeville, Middleboro, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Wareham
Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Goffstown, Hooksett, Manchester

Braintree, Cohasset, Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Milton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Scituate, Weymouth

So does this mean no new HD stations and no comcast.net/mydvr service for these areas until this time?

We haven't had a new HD station in at least 6-9 months on the South Shore. In fact, I can't even remember the last one we received? And when we did - it's 1 new station - not 10 or more at a wack! We used to be one of the first to get new services - i.e. comcast tivo box before rolled out nationally, all digital channels broadcast with analog, higher speed internet before it was rolled out nationally, etc. Now we are one of the last for this conversion it seems....

We still have a RI PBS HD station listed that doesn't even work - what a waste of bandwidth.

I emailed Comcast earlier this evening to inquire about when my area, Dover, NH, would be migrating to all digital - and getting additional HD channels with the freed up bandwidth.

The reply I just received was amazingly idiotic... someone named Melvin explained the process of over the air digital conversion mandated by the FCC (which of course happened almost a year ago now). Do they just match keywords (Digital) and send boiler-plate replies to everything?

So, does anyone here know when Dover, NH is scheduled for migration? You guys seem to know a lot more than Comcast "support". I'd love to have some idea when we start getting more HD.

I dunno if this is the right thread to ask this, but I suppose its as good a place as any. I have an external hard drive. I've heard people talking about external hard drives where their Comcast DVRs. So is it... for example, possible to just plug my external HD into the DVRs USB port and use it as extra storage...?

We got round 2 of the HD channels here.....loving TWC HD and truTV HD

All new channels up and running in East Bridgewater.

Can someone list the HD channels that Boston is missing out on? I haven't paid much attention to the past few months of replies to this thread but from what I've gathered there seem to be some new channels that have hit the suburbs prior to Boston.

I thought I heard "truTV" and Comedy Central HD at minimum.

Thanks!

38 new HD tomorrow in my town.

your town of Mass?

don't be a tease.

I think we now have all the HD channels of any consequence. I wanted to switch to FIOS whenever they decide to come to my town but now I'm not so sure.

Now that Comcast has rolled out this 2nd wave of channels they are comparable to Fios with both having most of the same stations in HD. However Fios still shows both Boston and Providence locals in HD in Bristol County with exception of Fox 25. They also have WGN America which airs sitcoms and Cubs and White Sox games and YES Network that airs Yankees games which is good for baseball fans. I guess now its you go with who can get you the better deal since Comcast has finally got off their butts and finally added HD stations.

The only thing I would be curious about is whether FIOS actually has a better HD image than Comcast. Somehow I think any difference would be so minute that the average person could not tell the difference. I think the HD I am receiving from Comcast is excellent. If FIOS had 1080p PPV like Dish I might be interested.

I dunno if this is the right thread to ask this, but I suppose its as good a place as any. I have an external hard drive. I've heard people talking about external hard drives where their Comcast DVRs. So is it... for example, possible to just plug my external HD into the DVRs USB port and use it as extra storage...?

Last I heard, you could offload via Firewire, but not add a HD for live external storage.

But I admit I haven't looked into it for a while. I'm currently trying (unsuccessfully) to have Comcast configure a cable card in my newly purchased TivoHD so I can add an external drive to that. They're about 50 hours of tech time into it, and they still can't get the card to validate or authorize. It's not for lack of trying though - they keep coming back.

I emailed Comcast earlier this evening to inquire about when my area, Dover, NH, would be migrating to all digital - and getting additional HD channels with the freed up bandwidth.

The reply I just received was amazingly idiotic... someone named Melvin explained the process of over the air digital conversion mandated by the FCC (which of course happened almost a year ago now). Do they just match keywords (Digital) and send boiler-plate replies to everything?

So, does anyone here know when Dover, NH is scheduled for migration? You guys seem to know a lot more than Comcast "support". I'd love to have some idea when we start getting more HD.

usually when the new Conversion list comes out I'll update those maps for NH, hopefully Dover,NH is in the next batch.

Now that Comcast has rolled out this 2nd wave of channels they are comparable to Fios with both having most of the same stations in HD. However Fios still shows both Boston and Providence locals in HD in Bristol County with exception of Fox 25. They also have WGN America which airs sitcoms and Cubs and White Sox games and YES Network that airs Yankees games which is good for baseball fans. I guess now its you go with who can get you the better deal since Comcast has finally got off their butts and finally added HD stations.

Yankee games are blacked out on YES outside the NY DMA. They did let one game slip by though if my memory is correct from the main Fios thread. Even though Fios still has more HD channels, I will agree Comcast is now more comparable in those places that have had the digital migration.

I dunno if this is the right thread to ask this, but I suppose its as good a place as any. I have an external hard drive. I've heard people talking about external hard drives where their Comcast DVRs. So is it... for example, possible to just plug my external HD into the DVRs USB port and use it as extra storage...?

Nope.

The Yankee games are blacked out but you still get all the YES programming and can see the games on YES if you get MLB Extra Innings. As for WGN they are a Superstation in Chicago and dont black out Cubs or White Sox games they show half of each teams games.

Nope.
So how do I get external storage for the DVR? Or I misheard?

The only thing I would be curious about is whether FIOS actually has a better HD image than Comcast. Somehow I think any difference would be so minute that the average person could not tell the difference. After almost a month, I can confirm your suspicion. No big difference between the two in terms of PQ, despite all the billions and billions of claims to the contrary that I read before switching. Don't get me wrong: FiOS is not "worse". There are a few situations where it isn't as good (WBPX, for example -- where we get Ghost Whisperer Season 1-3 rebroadcasts), but generally we have seen no significant difference in our home between the two.

(In case anyone is wondering: We switched due to high-speed Internet. FiOS is better in that regard, especially for heavy uploaders, like me -- I upload a videocast of our church's minister's sermon every week.)

The station I miss most having Comcast is Turner Classic Movies on a regular cable package. The only way to get it is to subscribe to the Sports and Entertainment Package for an extra $7.95. Now that TCM HD is coming I will miss it even more:(

So how do I get external storage for the DVR? Or I misheard?

You misheard. At least for Comcast areas & most other American mso's. I think I read on one of these threads someone had done it with a new version of the firmware, although it may have been someone in Canada though.

I must have got 30 new HD channels in the last couple days, good job Comcast :D:D:D

The Yankee games are blacked out but you still get all the YES programming and can see the games on YES if you get MLB Extra Innings. As for WGN they are a Superstation in Chicago and dont black out Cubs or White Sox games they show half of each teams games.

You have to subscribe to MLB EI which you did not mention in your original post. I did not say anything about WGN and not being able to see those games. :confused:

After almost a month, I can confirm your suspicion. No big difference between the two in terms of PQ, despite all the billions and billions of claims to the contrary that I read before switching. Don't get me wrong: FiOS is not "worse". There are a few situations where it isn't as good (WBPX, for example -- where we get Ghost Whisperer Season 1-3 rebroadcasts), but generally we have seen no significant difference in our home between the two.

(In case anyone is wondering: We switched due to high-speed Internet. FiOS is better in that regard, especially for heavy uploaders, like me -- I upload a videocast of our church's minister's sermon every week.)

Sorry bick, I disagree. I had both for 6 months and did side by side comparisons and always felt Fios offered the better picture but not by as much as some had claimed. Still no regrets what so ever by switching!

Full disclosure: I have HBO and Cinemax with FiOS, and I didn't have those channels with Comcast. And given the time of year, this past month, with so little original programming being broadcast by the broadcast networks, we have been watching a lot of HBO and Cinemax. And the PQ sucks. Really bad. I haven't seen such rampant bit-starvation since Comcast started 3 muxing, before they rearranged the channel combinations to remediate the PQ loss from 3 muxing. However, what I'm told is that this is the way FiOS has always been, with regard to HBO and Cinemax, and so the great improvements we saw in PQ in the months after Comcast started 3 muxing are not forthcoming from FiOS -- the way it is (bleh) is the way it is going to be. I would love to take a look at how Comcast broadcasts these premium channels. FWIR, though, perhaps in this very thread, people have typically made a point of saying that HBO and other premiums look so much better than channels like Syfy, USA, TNT, etc., on Comcast. That is simply not the case, in our home, with FiOS, where Syfy, USA, TNT, etc., are just as good as on Comcast, and HBO and Cinemax are pretty poor. :shrug:

So how do I get external storage for the DVR? Or I misheard?

As mentioned, you may be able to transfer some content over firewire if it's not copy protected. Other than that, I don't think there is a way.

Full disclosure: I have HBO and Cinemax with FiOS, and I didn't have those channels with Comcast. And given the time of year, this past month, with so little original programming being broadcast by the broadcast networks, we have been watching a lot of HBO and Cinemax. And the PQ sucks. Really bad. I haven't seen such rampant bit-starvation since Comcast started 3 muxing, before they rearranged the channel combinations to remediate the PQ loss from 3 muxing. However, what I'm told is that this is the way FiOS has always been, with regard to HBO and Cinemax, and so the great improvements we saw in PQ in the months after Comcast started 3 muxing are not forthcoming from FiOS -- the way it is (bleh) is the way it is going to be. I would love to take a look at how Comcast broadcasts these premium channels. FWIR, though, perhaps in this very thread, people have typically made a point of saying that HBO and other premiums look so much better than channels like Syfy, USA, TNT, etc., on Comcast. That is simply not the case, in our home, with FiOS, where Syfy, USA, TNT, etc., are just as good as on Comcast, and HBO and Cinemax are pretty poor. :shrug:

I had the 45 HD movie channel package for my first 3 months and thought the PQ was pretty darn good!

Anyway, this is the Comcast thread and if you want to continue discussing this matter we should bring it over to the Fios thread.

Anyway, this is the Comcast thread and if you want to continue discussing this matter we should bring it over to the Fios thread.Except this bit:I would love to take a look at how Comcast broadcasts these premium channels. Does anyone have a good feel for how HBO looks on Comcast in our area -- PQ-wise -- especially in comparison to other providers?

:DDoes anyone have a good feel for how HBO looks on Comcast in our area -- PQ-wise -- especially in comparison to other providers?

Comcast does 3:1 on all channels except locals and comcast owned channels.

For picture quality,Fios's best channels iMHO are 569 and 746 with 895 a close third.

TCMHD magically appeared on one of my boxes last night on 903. I rebooted my other box this morning and 903 finally appeared on that box. My Fair Lady looked fantastic last night.

Actually I don't mind but welcome the comparison

hey everyone, to avoid confusion when the june list comes out could you please list the cities by nh and ma so I could update both states maps? thanks in advance

Comcast does 3:1 on all channels except locals and comcast owned channels.

Golf HD, E! HD, G4 HD, and Stlye HD are all 3:1 and are owned by Comcast. Versus is not 3:1 for regional blackout reasons. Other channels like ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, TBS, TNT, and a few other national HD stations are not 3:1 either.

TCMHD magically appeared on one of my boxes last night on 903. I rebooted my other box this morning and 903 finally appeared on that box. My Fair Lady looked fantastic last night.

Good News! I sure hope that Boston gets TCMHD soon. If anyone knows when Boston will get the other new channels that our neighbors in surrounding areas are receiving, please let us know.

did anyone else, in the Attleboro area, lose channel 264 FCSP? Also on the center ice NHL package I lost game 11 which is channel 631. just curious to see if this happened to anyone else. merry Christmas everyone!

Yes, I can comfirm here in Attleboro that 264 and 631 are not in the lineup.

Can't wait for the new migration list to come out i'm so anxious!

So... weirdest thing, all of a sudden here (Plymouth), I have Lifetime HD, Nickolodeon HD, and Spike TV HD. Just only noticed it now, not sure when they were added. As far as I can tell those are the ONLY ones I have new right now.

Weird.

So... weirdest thing, all of a sudden here (Plymouth), I have Lifetime HD, Nickolodeon HD, and Spike TV HD. Just only noticed it now, not sure when they were added. As far as I can tell those are the ONLY ones I have new right now.

Weird.

If you read back two or three pages you will see a lot of us got those three channels several weeks ago.

-Ken

If you read back two or three pages you will see a lot of us got those three channels several weeks ago.

-Ken
I try to follow the thread, but there's so many posts. :( So far I hadn't seen anyone in my area get ANYTHING new, notice or channel. So I wasn't sure.

<snipped>...

But I admit I haven't looked into it for a while. I'm currently trying (unsuccessfully) to have Comcast configure a cable card in my newly purchased TivoHD so I can add an external drive to that. They're about 50 hours of tech time into it, and they still can't get the card to validate or authorize. It's not for lack of trying though - they keep coming back.

Are you in an area that was formerly served by Adelphia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelphia_Communications_Corporation) by any chance?

I've heard that Adelphia's equipment was out of date compared to the rest of Comcast's head ends (from a tech trying to get cable cards to work in my home).

Are you in an area that was formerly served by Adelphia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelphia_Communications_Corporation) by any chance?

I've heard that Adelphia's equipment was out of date compared to the rest of Comcast's head ends (from a tech trying to get cable cards to work in my home).

The former Adelphia towns were not running "out of date" equipment. They are running completely different, incompatible hardware (Scientific Atlanta) than that being run in other towns (Motorola).

I'm hoping someone from the Lowell area can help, my 80+ mother-in-law just traded in her comcast box at the local Comcast B&M & got a smaller box (no display on the front) with an HDMI connection on the back, She would like to get a flat screen to replace her old tube, & I'm wondering since this box has a HDMI connection, will she be able to get HD channels with this box?

I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on this.

On 12/21 we just got our second round of 34 new Comcast HD channels here in North Bristol County (Mansfield, Attleboro, Easton). Unfortunately, the guide info in our standalone Series 3 TiVo has not been updated - we can receive the channels but the guide data only says "to be announced" on those channels).

I've sent emails to TiVo and Tribune Media but have not heard back yet. Last update in Nov, it only took about three days for the guide to be updated.

I'm hoping someone from the Lowell area can help, my 80+ mother-in-law just traded in her comcast box at the local Comcast B&M & got a smaller box (no display on the front) with an HDMI connection on the back, She would like to get a flat screen to replace her old tube, & I'm wondering since this box has a HDMI connection, will she be able to get HD channels with this box?

I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on this.

Carl,

Need to know the model number of the box.

-Ken

I'm hoping someone from the Lowell area can help, my 80+ mother-in-law just traded in her comcast box at the local Comcast B&M & got a smaller box (no display on the front) with an HDMI connection on the back, She would like to get a flat screen to replace her old tube, & I'm wondering since this box has a HDMI connection, will she be able to get HD channels with this box?

I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on this.

I take it she got this as a SD box (not HD)? If so I'm pretty sure that currently the only boxes that fit that description (having HDMI) would be the PaceRNG110 boxes. These are actually HD boxes but there are some being staged in the warehouse as SD only & try as you might you will not get any HD out of them. If this is the case there should be an orange sticker on the bottom of the box that says "SD". If this is the box she should've also gotten one of the darker gray/platinum remotes to go with it.

I finally got my DTA converter/adapters setup. The video resolution coming out of these reminds me of watching VHS. Not even close to what the video coming off the analog modulation looks like. Was curious what other opinions and experiences are with these "DigitalNow" demodulators.

I'm hoping someone from the Lowell area can help, my 80+ mother-in-law just traded in her comcast box at the local Comcast B&M & got a smaller box (no display on the front) with an HDMI connection on the back, She would like to get a flat screen to replace her old tube, & I'm wondering since this box has a HDMI connection, will she be able to get HD channels with this box?

I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on this.

Carl,
I think your mother-in-law got a new non-DVR HD box. If it has a label rng110 (on the right side of the front panel), she will get all HD channels she subscribes to.

Carl,

Need to know the model number of the box.

-Ken

Ken, thanks for replying. I don't know the model #, (I'm in Wilmington, DE, she's in Lowell). All I know is she HAD (for YEARS) a Moto box originally with display on front of either time or channel, non -dvr. This was replaced last week with a much smaller box with no display, which still allows her access to on demand which she takes advantage. The real caveat is this smaller box has a HDMI connection & she wants "one of those skinny TVs".

I take it she got this as a SD box (not HD)? If so I'm pretty sure that currently the only boxes that fit that description (having HDMI) would be the PaceRNG110 boxes. These are actually HD boxes but there are some being staged in the warehouse as SD only & try as you might you will not get any HD out of them. If this is the case there should be an orange sticker on the bottom of the box that says "SD". If this is the box she should've also gotten one of the darker gray/platinum remotes to go with it.

I don't know about the sticker, I could get her to check, but she WAS issued a new remote, darker in color.

Carl,
I think your mother-in-law got a new non-DVR HD box. If it has a label rng110 (on the right side of the front panel), she will get all HD channels she subscribes to.

THIS is what I'm hoping for!

Forgive me if this has been discussed before but has anyone used the MyDVR option? I just checked now and it said it's available in my area, Arlington, but I can't seem to activate it. Anybody used it or had any luck with it?

Forgive me if this has been discussed before but has anyone used the MyDVR option? I just checked now and it said it's available in my area, Arlington, but I can't seem to activate it. Anybody used it or had any luck with it?

Yeah thats a bogus message. It says it is avaiilable for Chelmsford but it doesnt activate here either. MyDVR functionality needs the iGuide to be upadted to A28 which hasn't happened yet in this area. From what I understand you will know when the guide updates because it has a different look.

see this page:

http://www.comcast.net/newguide/

Westfield, MA has it, as do some areas in Florida and Pennsylvania.

-Ken

I don't know about the sticker, I could get her to check, but she WAS issued a new remote, darker in color.

If she got the new remote she most likely got the rng110 box but if she's not paying for HD then my previous post holds true about the box most likely being staged as SD only.

Just to confirm: Those of you who have received TCM HD, also subscribe to the Sports and Entertainment package? I was lead to believe that is the only way to get TCM.

On a side note I just updated the size of my TIVO HD's hard drive to 1 TB. I have 157 hrs. of HD available. BRING ON THE THE NEW HD CHANNELS! (sorry for the shouting :D)

Just to confirm: Those of you who have received TCM HD, also subscribe to the Sports and Entertainment package? I was lead to believe that is the only way to get TCM.

On a side note I just updated the size of my TIVO HD's hard drive to 1 TB. I have 157 hrs. of HD available. BRING ON THE THE NEW HD CHANNELS! (sorry for the shouting :D)

You are correct--you can only get TCMHD if you subscribe to TCM (in Sports and Entertainment package). In Boston, we do not have TCMHD on our system yet--only TCM in SD. If anyone knows when TCMHD will be added to the Boston system, please let all of us know.

Just to confirm: Those of you who have received TCM HD, also subscribe to the Sports and Entertainment package? I was lead to believe that is the only way to get TCM.


Yes, I do have the Sports package and also get TCM. Didn't realize they were tied together, seems like an odd setup.

Yes, I do have the Sports package and also get TCM. Didn't realize they were tied together, seems like an odd setup.

It's the Sports Entertainment package, but it has more sports than non sport channels

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but here goes: I've been thinking about switching from Comcast to DirecTV. We just got the ability to get FIOS internet in my area, so we're thinking of switching to FIOS phone + Internet, and then dropping Comcast TV to get DirecTV. We would get FIOS TV if Comcast didn't have an exclusive agreement with my town (hence no TV).

My question is, does anyone have experience with DirecTV in central MA? We've had a so-so experience with Comcast, the main problem occuring with a tiling problem that lasted for ~1 year. If we're going to go down this route, I just want to make sure that DirecTV will be OK for my area. Thanks!

We would get FIOS TV if Comcast didn't have an exclusive agreement with my town (hence no TV).Who told you that? :)
The Communications Act authorizes local franchising authorities to grant one or more franchises within their jurisdiction. However, a local franchising authority may not grant an exclusive franchise, and may not unreasonably withhold its consent for new service.http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/csgen.html

Personally, I would push the issue with Verizon. I actually did push a similar issue with Verizon... it took almost two years, but eventually I got what I was aiming for. Good luck, either with your efforts in this regard, or with your original intention.

Like bicker pointed out there are no exclusive agreements, Verizon just doesn't like the idea that they have to get approval from every town individually. They wanted to just get blanket approval for the whole state (which last I heard didn't work out in their favor). Also last I heard that goes along those lines, is that they didn't want to contribute to local town programming costs like the cable co's do. So most Fios towns will most likely get TV eventually, some towns may take longer than others.

Thanks for the replies, I guess I was wrong about the exclusive franchise contract (which is good!). I have a feeling it may be a while before Verizon offers FIOS TV here, as I live in a really small town and it probably isn't on their list of high priorities. The only thing I have going for me is that the town over (Leominster) seems to already have FIOS TV, so maybe that will speed things up a little bit .

Just noticed these:

825 Nickelodeon
836 Lifetime
855 Spike

Anyone else seeing these? Wasn't expecting anything new until March.

Thank You.

Just wanted to thank the posters here for letting an interloper ask questions and for your replies. I wish you all a Happy New Year.

Just noticed these:

825 Nickelodeon
836 Lifetime
855 Spike

Anyone else seeing these? Wasn't expecting anything new until March.

Looking back at posts, it looks like a lot of other people have been seeing these in the last weeks. But I think it's just within the last couple of days that they've hit Watertown.

Looking back at posts, it looks like a lot of other people have been seeing these in the last weeks. But I think it's just within the last couple of days that they've hit Watertown.

But as you say, Watertown isn't scheduled for any new HD channels until March. Yet Somerville, for example, is scheduled for January, and it hasn't started getting these three HD channels. Confusing.

But as you say, Watertown isn't scheduled for any new HD channels until March. Yet Somerville, for example, is scheduled for January, and it hasn't started getting these three HD channels. Confusing.

I don't think these three are related to that process. It looks like they're just sticking them in wherever they have a bit of spare capacity. When the change-over happens, there will dozens of new channels within weeks.

The former Adelphia towns were not running "out of date" equipment. They are running completely different, incompatible hardware (Scientific Atlanta) than that being run in other towns (Motorola).

That's good to know; I guess. FWIW, My info came from a Comcast tech -- one of 3 different ones who visited my home trying to get the cable card tuner in my HTPC to work correctly. The same exact HTPC/tuner worked just fine in Nashua but after moving to a "former Adelphia town" can't seem to tune in half the HD stations I'm paying for.

In hind sight the tech might not have said "out of date". He might have said "crap". Maybe he was just making excuses for not being able to fix the problem.

In any event I'm priming my wife for dumping cable TV. For our viewing habits what we're paying for cable TV is simply not worth it. We could take better advantage of our Netflix subscription (including streaming) and possibly put up an aerial antenna for local stations and come out way ahead $$ wise.

That's good to know; I guess. FWIW, My info came from a Comcast tech -- one of 3 different ones who visited my home trying to get the cable card tuner in my HTPC to work correctly. The same exact HTPC/tuner worked just fine in Nashua but after moving to a "former Adelphia town" can't seem to tune in half the HD stations I'm paying for.
In hind sight the tech might not have said "out of date". He might have said "crap". Maybe he was just making excuses for not being able to fix the problem.

Nashua = Motorola CableCARD
Adelphia = Scientific Atlanta (now : Cisco) CableCARD

I'd check with your CableCARD tuner provider to see if they have compatibility issues with SA/Cisco gear. I suspect that they might.

To anyone here that is using a DTA box from Comcast, are you finding the remote a little stubborn? If I want to change the volume or turn the TV on (this doesn't seem to happen when I turn the TV off, though), pointing the remote at the DTA box doesn't work. I seem to need to aim the remote to the leftmost side of my TV, even though the DTA box is on the right side of the TV.

Nashua = Motorola CableCARD
Adelphia = Scientific Atlanta (now : Cisco) CableCARD

I'd check with your CableCARD tuner provider to see if they have compatibility issues with SA/Cisco gear. I suspect that they might.

Thanks.

Last I knew there was but one CableCard tuner for HTPCs: the ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner (http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonderdigital/index.html) (I think one or more other tuners are under development but have yet to hit the market).

Compatibility problems aren't unheard of (http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2007/04/cablecard-bug-bites-ati-digital-cable-tuner.ars) but I've yet to find anything recent that's specific to ATI & SA/Cisco.

I don't suppose you know if/when the Southern NH (former Adelphia) towns are going to move to SDV?

To anyone here that is using a DTA box from Comcast, are you finding the remote a little stubborn? If I want to change the volume or turn the TV on (this doesn't seem to happen when I turn the TV off, though), pointing the remote at the DTA box doesn't work. I seem to need to aim the remote to the leftmost side of my TV, even though the DTA box is on the right side of the TV.

If the remote is setup correctly, when you press the power button or volume button on the remote it is working the TV, therefore you should be pointing it at the TV to work those things. Although there definitely some quirky things about the remotes & some particular TV's.

I don't suppose you know if/when the Southern NH (former Adelphia) towns are going to move to SDV?

No idea. Hopefully, never. We just got 15-20 new HD channels this past week, for a total of around 70, so we're all pretty happy with the service we're getting right now. We're also up and running with DOCSIS 3.0, which is also nice for those who need the speed.

SDV would only serve to screw things up.

Any word on the iGuide A28 update in our area ? L Supreme, anything official ?

-Ken

Any word on the iGuide A28 update in our area ? L Supreme, anything official ?

-Ken

Nope nothing yet

Everyone is getting all 3 new HD channels like spike,nick,lifetime. but Fall River seems to not be getting those....?

They seem to be holding bandwidth or just not bothering to add anything until the 3 waves from march-may.

Anyone here have any experience with Greater Boston/Metro West Comcast and CableCards?

I have just built a Windows 7 HTPC and my ATI tuner card with CableCard slot is on the way... finally a monthly-fee free HD-DVR, with as much recording space as I want to give it. But apparently they don't allow self-installs on CableCards (foolishness) and it will require a tech visit to install it and probably a nice service charge for the visit.

I have the Triple Play package through Comcast Milford, with one HD Box (Motorola 3200) and one free digital convertor for the old tv which barely gets used.

My questions:

1) If you have a CableCard, are they charging you for it? From what I understand the first card is free with your account, any additional cards cost money each month. But I've read on various places on the net that it varies by market... in some places, because I already rent the HD Box, I've read that they WILL charge me a monthly fee for even the first cablecard, because I am in essence double dipping by already having the HD Box. That seems like crap to me, especially given the wording of the policy on their website, but I figured I'd throw it out and find out if anyone knows the policies around here. Getting rid of the HD Box is kind of out of the question because of On Demand, and the fact that I don't want the wife or kid messing with the HTPC when they just want to watch TV. That spells eventual disaster, or at very least many many phone calls to me during the day, asking how to use Media Center.

2) Anyone using a cablecard for an HTPC out there ? I assume they install them for HD-Tivos a lot, but I'm a little bit concerned that they may try and deny me because its a home-built HTPC and not some standard brand of equipment that they are used to installing them in/servicing.

3) What can I expect from the tech they send ? Will he have any clue what he's doing (i.e. they send ONE guy who happens to handle all the cablecard installs in this area), or will I be dealing with some tool that will see a Cablecard for the first time when its handed to them that morning to come and install? (and probably knows less about PCs than my elderly parents)

If you can add some insight, please do (and thanks!). I'd like to know a little going into this, before I even call to make the service appointment.

Also, one off-topic note... I live in a town that went all digital (or mostly digital) in Oct/Nov of last year. Did I read on here that eventually the Clear QAM streams of non-local channels will be shut off/encrypted? Right now I'm enjoying not having to pay for a box on the bedroom flatscreen... the locals in HD are enough, and me or my wife don't mind having only the non-HD on the cable channels in the bedroom... it's a "news before bed" tv for the most part anyway, but I'd still like to at least continue to have the option on the non-HD channels without adding one of those crappy digital convertor boxes, or having to pay for an actual HD box.

Everyone is getting all 3 new HD channels like spike,nick,lifetime. but Fall River seems to not be getting those....?

They seem to be holding bandwidth or just not bothering to add anything until the 3 waves from march-may.

Don't feel too bad, my parents live in Amesbury and have NOTHING new in the way of HD in over a year... same crappy line-up that most of us had from Comcast for HD two years ago. They're supposed to be changing the town over from the analog, but up til now they've added nothing in the way of new HD in a long time... like since TBS was added.

Anyone here have any experience with Greater Boston/Metro West Comcast and CableCards? I did for a couple of years, until recently.

I have the Triple Play package through Comcast Milford, with one HD Box (Motorola 3200) Okay, so you've used up the equipment "included with" portion of your package

1) If you have a CableCard, are they charging you for it?My TiVo S3 treats M-Cards as S-Cards, so I needed two CableCARDs to get it to work properly. The first was covered by the equipment "included with" portion of my package. The second was provided at a special "second CableCARD in same device" fee, that they have here in our area (but not necessarily all over the country).

From what I understand the first card is free with your account, any additional cards cost money each month.The first CableCARD can be your one digital device "included with" your digital package, but if you keep your HD Box, though, then you'll pay for your first CableCARD (as well as additional CableCARDs), and you'll pay much more for your first CableCARD (in addition to your HD box) than the token fee I was charged for my second CableCARD inside my TiVo S3.

I don't remember the exact amount... I think you'll be charged something like $7 per month.

But I've read on various places on the net that it varies by market...It does. I'm pretty sure you and I are in the same market.

in some places, because I already rent the HD Box, I've read that they WILL charge me a monthly fee for even the first cablecard, because I am in essence double dipping by already having the HD Box.Actually, I think what we're offered here (as I described above) is about the best deal in the country. I don't know of anywhere that Comcast offers both the HD box and a CableCARD "included with" a digital package.

That seems like crap to me, especially given the wording of the policy on their website, but I figured I'd throw it out and find out if anyone knows the policies around here.The website is easily misunderstood... except one part of the website, the part that says contact your local Comcast office for up-to-date and accurate information that applies to your area. Comcast has in our Comcast local office here in Wilmington all the price lists and terms and conditions in brochure racks on the wall. You can just walk in and pick one up, and it'll explain everything pretty clearly (though to be honest I have seen some folks seemingly misread the brochure, but that was them, not the brochure).

Getting rid of the HD Box is kind of out of the question because of On Demand, and the fact that I don't want the wife or kid messing with the HTPC when they just want to watch TV.Seems reasonable, and it seems that that means you'll get some pretty decent extra value from the CableCARD... that's why they're going to charge you extra for it.

2) Anyone using a cablecard for an HTPC out there ? I assume they install them for HD-Tivos a lot, but I'm a little bit concerned that they may try and deny me because its a home-built HTPC and not some standard brand of equipment that they are used to installing them in/servicing.You're using the ATI CableLabs-certified tuner card right? If so, they they "should" allow it, and they're "not allowed" to deny you.

3) What can I expect from the tech they send ?Not much more than how to get the pairing information (which you may need to know how to find for him) entered into Comcast's systems. Do not expect them to know anything about PCs, the ATI tuner card, the PC-based software you're using, etc.

Did I read on here that eventually the Clear QAM streams of non-local channels will be shut off/encrypted? That's the general belief by most of us industry watchers online.

My girlfriends house in Leominster is being switched to all digital starting 1/19/10 i believe.
She currently has expanded basic service with no cable box. All SD TV's in the house so HD isnt an issue yet.

The card i received here in Ashburnham from Comcast this week (from the map that is posted in this forum, it appears both Ashburnham and Leominster have the same change over date.), says all of the expanded basic channels "most of which are located on 24-69" will be transmitted exclusively in digital format. It also mentions there is no additional equipment charge for up to 2 TV's. With a note about existing digital customers with cable box or CableCard on their primary TV can obtain up to 2 digital adapters at no additional cost.

Looks like she would have to pay a rental fee for at least one box in order to get the 2 free digital adapters.

So i take it without a box or digital adapter, she will lose the ability for her cable ready TV's to tune channels 24-69 after the changeover occurs correct?

Would any other channels be affected by the switch if she doesnt have a box?

Is there a box or boxes that she could pay a one time fee for instead of renting a box from Comcast?

Could one box be used where the cable enters the house and then split to the rest of the house?

Sorry if this has been covered before, i did search this thread and wasnt able to come up with a clear answer.

Without a box or digital adapter,you will only be able to receive local broadcast channels, PEG channels, NECN, HSN, and QVC.

Expanded basic is going away and is replaced by a tier called digital starter.

Digital starter includes one full box (with program guide and such) and two adapters.

In the South Shore, rescanned my TV and I am getting these and more including Nick@Night, Discovery, AP, ComedyCentral ClearQAM on my Pansonic Plasma (Vierra). I have basic or digital starter that they force on you when you get internet through them - no cable box/adaptor.
Without a box or digital adapter,you will only be able to receive local broadcast channels, PEG channels, NECN, HSN, and QVC.

Expanded basic is going away and is replaced by a tier called digital starter.

Digital starter includes one full box (with program guide and such) and two adapters.

The first CableCARD can be your one digital device "included with" your digital package, but if you keep your HD Box, though, then you'll pay for your first CableCARD (as well as additional CableCARDs), and you'll pay much more for your first CableCARD (in addition to your HD box) than the token fee I was charged for my second CableCARD inside my TiVo S3.

I don't remember the exact amount... I think you'll be charged something like $7 per month.


Thanks for the response. I did expect a fee because I have the box already, but I hoped it'd be more reasonable, like the $ 2.05 they mention for getting a second card... not sure why the first is $7 and the second is $2... especially when $7 is right around the amount it'd cost me to rent another box. So a card costs as much as a box to rent... lame. Now I really have to rethink whether or not I'll be keeping the cable box too.

You're using the ATI CableLabs-certified tuner card right? If so, they they "should" allow it, and they're "not allowed" to deny you.

Yes, the only one on the market for now... unless the rumored/teased multi-tuner models eventually come out.

Not much more than how to get the pairing information (which you may need to know how to find for him) entered into Comcast's systems. Do not expect them to know anything about PCs, the ATI tuner card, the PC-based software you're using, etc.

I will make sure I have that info ready to go. Hopefully this can be a 15 minute visit and not 3 hours.

That's the general belief by most of us industry watchers online.

Hmmm, well I hope its later rather than sooner, because it looks like I may dump the cable box and opt for just the card, and let the wife and kid use the built-in tuner on the plasma to get the locals in HD and the non-HD cable channels. Might be worth it to save the $85 a year.

Thanks again.

not sure why the first is $7 and the second is $2...Compare the $7 to getting a second service, a second account (i.e., $60 per month). The $7 essentially allows you to have service in two places instead of just one, without having to pay as if it was a completely different account. Folks don't have to like it, but that's the way it is.

especially when $7 is right around the amount it'd cost me to rent another box.That's consistent. Remember, that one digital device "included with" your digital package can be a box or a CableCARD. Essentially, that $7 is not (just) for the card; it is associated with the service you're getting on that outlet, as I described above.

I will make sure I have that info ready to go. Hopefully this can be a 15 minute visit and not 3 hours.Plan on more like 30+ minutes. The data entry, itself, takes some time, because it is human-voice-to-human-voice communicating some massively long string of characters.

Hmmm, well I hope its later rather than soonerWell, keep in mind that your receipt of new HD channels may be tied to this, so you might want it sooner than later, on that basis.

Thanks again.Glad to help.

Compare the $7 to getting a second service, a second account (i.e., $60 per month). The $7 essentially allows you to have service in two places instead of just one, without having to pay as if it was a completely different account. Folks don't have to like it, but that's the way it is.
Right, but why would I ever need a second account under the same household? My point is, to add an HD box in another room in my house to give signal to another television would cost me in the $10 a month range... last time I checked it was around $8. I don't have HBO or any pay services, so I wouldn't be paying for them on a second box, thus adding about $8 a month to my account, not $60. Since there are no additional services, the $8 a month is for equipment rental, right ? So why when I have my own equipment, which only requires an authorization card from them, should it cost nearly the same amount to rent as the equipment? Especially when a second card costs only $2.05... why is the first $ 7?

Or am I wrong completely here ? Do you actually pay for the entire service on each and every cable box you install ? I've been a one-boxer my entire time with Comcast, maybe I'm just out of touch... but if that's the case, what a monumental rip-off.


That's consistent. Remember, that one digital device "included with" your digital package can be a box or a CableCARD. Essentially, that $7 is not (just) for the card; it is associated with the service you're getting on that outlet, as I described above.

Which makes the second and additional cards costing $ 2.05 even more confusing to me. If I'm not paying for the card, but rather the services associated with them, why if I decided to build a second HTPC and put it in another room would it cost me 75% less each month? Just seems like a scam to me, and against the entire spirit of cablecards, which were created as a tool so people didn't have to pay a monthly fee for equipment rental if they didn't choose to. Why then is the cablecard costing me almost as much as the equipment rental itseld? And, if my cablebox is already considered my one option included with my package, then adding a second option should be considered the same as adding a second card, and not $5 more than that.

I'll save my arguing for the Comcast operator, it may not save me the $7 a month, but I bet I can argue my way out of the installation fee. ;)

With 3D the talk at CES in Vegas. 3D Blu Ray players this summer and ESPN starting a HD network in 2010. Couple of predictions.
1) NESN will have 1080pHD of select Fenway games later this year at Movie Theaters that can do 3D. price -$10-$20 per ticket.
2) Comcast will have a new box by 2012 which will do SD,1080i/720p HD, and 1080pHD using MPEG4.
3) Phase 2 of Project Calvary to reclaim the rest of the analog spectrum in late 2011-2012. happen at once,no need to stagger like current Project Calvary in Mass. and NH.

Well I'm not sure about 1 & 3 but #2 is already here, they're called the Motorola DCX series and capable of doing all you asked for. When they'll actually start using MPEG4 or 1080p is another story though.

Right, but why would I ever need a second account under the same household? My point is, to add an HD box in another room in my house to give signal to another television would cost me in the $10 a month range... last time I checked it was around $8. I don't have HBO or any pay services, so I wouldn't be paying for them on a second box, thus adding about $8 a month to my account, not $60. Since there are no additional services, the $8 a month is for equipment rental, right ? So why when I have my own equipment, which only requires an authorization card from them, should it cost nearly the same amount to rent as the equipment? Especially when a second card costs only $2.05... why is the first $ 7?

Or am I wrong completely here ? Do you actually pay for the entire service on each and every cable box you install ? I've been a one-boxer my entire time with Comcast, maybe I'm just out of touch... but if that's the case, what a monumental rip-off.



Which makes the second and additional cards costing $ 2.05 even more confusing to me. If I'm not paying for the card, but rather the services associated with them, why if I decided to build a second HTPC and put it in another room would it cost me 75% less each month? Just seems like a scam to me, and against the entire spirit of cablecards, which were created as a tool so people didn't have to pay a monthly fee for equipment rental if they didn't choose to. Why then is the cablecard costing me almost as much as the equipment rental itseld? And, if my cablebox is already considered my one option included with my package, then adding a second option should be considered the same as adding a second card, and not $5 more than that.

I'll save my arguing for the Comcast operator, it may not save me the $7 a month, but I bet I can argue my way out of the installation fee. ;)

Wouldn't it be easier to just call and ask how much rather than depending on other customers who may or may not know tell you how much they think it is?

In other AVS posts today, Comcast is in talks with ESPN tp carry there new 3DHD channel

Has anyone gotten a new conversion letter yet for the june - july time frame?

Right, but why would I ever need a second account under the same household?If they limited you to only one expanded digital outlet per account, and you wanted a second one.

I think the critical thing to keep in mind is that the law and regulations set forth what the service providers must offer you. Beyond what the law and regulations say, everything else about the offers that service providers make to you are things that they have decided to include in the offer. It is totally up to them, as is the case with every other service offering in the universe.

A lot of people want their current package to include additional expanded digital outlets at no extra charge, but that isn't something that the service providers necessary have to (nor generally, in many cases, does) include in the offer.

I'm just out of touch... but if that's the case, what a monumental rip-off.The only relevant question is whether what they're charging is worth what they're offering for that charge. And everyone won't answer that question the same, but yet the service provider isn't allowed to arbitrarily charge neighbors different prices for the same thing. So they make the offer, including all the conditions, and then we decide whether what they're offering is worth it to us. No harm, no foul. If it is worth it to you, accept it; if it isn't worth it to you, decline the offer and do without the extra outlet.

Just seems like a scam to me, and against the entire spirit of cablecards, which were created as a tool so people didn't have to pay a monthly fee for equipment rental if they didn't choose to.First: There is no such thing as "spirit" in this context. CableCARDs are a reflection of a legal mandate. Everyone is an individual and will therefore perceive "spirit" in their own heart, as a reflection of their own personal beliefs and values. Imagine if people considered stop signs or traffic lights with the same personal purview. Anarchy. No, the law, as it is written down, is what CableCARD must satisfy, not the personal preferences and sensibilities of each and every one of us.

Second: The separable security mandate was not put in place to benefit consumers. It was put in place to benefit consumer electronics manufacturers who wanted to compete in the marketplace that was up to then dominated by a few suppliers (mostly Motorola and Scientific Atlanta, now Cisco). Any benefit to consumers is a bonus.

Why then is the cablecard costing me almost as much as the equipment rental itseld?Because the average price your service provider is providing for CableCARDs is "reasonable".

Well what do you know!! Comcast added another slew of HD channels and guess what has been added?! WHDH, WBZ, and WSBK is now available in HD in Bristol County!!!!

Wasn't today the day for Triple Play 4.0 or something? I looked on comcast.com and don't see much, if any, changes to the deals.

Well what do you know!! Comcast added another slew of HD channels and guess what has been added?! WHDH, WBZ, and WSBK is now available in HD in Bristol County!!!!

SHOCKED! in a good way. Where's Sonicdoom on this one?:)

SHOCKED! in a good way. Where's Sonicdoom on this one?:)

i got nothing on my end :(

But i checked Somerset's system and they did get them

SHOCKED! in a good way. Where's Sonicdoom on this one?:)I wonder if he'd actually post strongly positive comments about Comcast now, for having added them back in, now that the strong reasons I provided earlier for why they would have taken them away (lack of bandwidth) have been resolved in those areas. Is there balance?

I got WBZ HD on 804 and WHDH HD on 807 Yesterday. Was a pleasant surprise. Also , This TV from WHDH 7.2 now on Comcast Channel 297.
LSurpreme , quick question why does Comcast have so few channels between100-199 ?

LSurpreme , quick question why does Comcast have so few channels between100-199 ?What do you mean by "so few"? I think you might be thinking that there is actually 100 "places" for channels between 100 and 199. That is not the case. Those are virtual numbers. I think the highest "real" channel in cable systems is in the 130s or 150s or something like that... no higher. However, we subscribers have practically no visibility to the "real" channels. We are presented a list of virtual channels, in Comcast's case, here, from 2 to 999, but except for the analog channels, those are all just symbolic pointers.

Wasn't today the day for Triple Play 4.0 or something? I looked on comcast.com and don't see much, if any, changes to the deals.

It shows up on my page as TriplePlay XF
It looks like they bumped up the HSI on pkg's

No price change though

Got a notice from Comcast today that my digital transition is starting one month early !! 12 channel will convert to digital only on 2/11, followed by the rest on 3/10. Our original conversion month was March.

-Ken

Got a notice from Comcast today that my digital transition is starting one month early !! 12 channel will convert to digital only on 2/11, followed by the rest on 3/10. Our original conversion month was March.

-Ken

Ken,

Great news! How'd you receive the notice?

Alright, for my feedback:

I'm in San Antonio visiting my brother, who graduated from the Air Force, right now. So my friend sent me this in advance, and I am shocked! There was no announcement for it. I can't wait to check it out home and see the two magic numbers (804 and 807) on my cable box!

Also, no more having to listen to godawful Rhode Island news promos! No more needing to watch their fake HD channels! Ok, no WFXT yet...

Better yet, the magic Verizon trucks no longer need to save Bristol County! I can keep Comcast, get Boston HD, AND keep WFXT!

Celebrating aside, where was WSBK HD added? 814? Right now, I know 808 and 809 are empty (and I'm going to guess the former will be for NECN HD).

Got a notice from Comcast today that my digital transition is starting one month early !! 12 channel will convert to digital only on 2/11, followed by the rest on 3/10. Our original conversion month was March.

-Ken

Thats flipping awesome i hope my area gets changed to feb.

I got WBZ HD on 804 and WHDH HD on 807 Yesterday. Was a pleasant surprise. Also , This TV from WHDH 7.2 now on Comcast Channel 297.

Still not in Fall River. :(

Maybe the town has its own agreement with Comcast which allows Comcast NOT to provide those HD channels. :(

Still not in Fall River. :(

Maybe the town has its own agreement with Comcast which allows Comcast NOT to provide those HD channels. :(

This article might have something to do with our frustrations old_man

http://www.heraldnews.com/business/x2072234065/Comcast-city-reach-agreement-on-10-year-deal

And SonicdoomMario just told me this via IM

The HD signals from those Boston broadcasters will return in Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford and Dighton upon the completion of the digital network enhancement in those communities in April.

He found this on his statement.

June Conversion

Berwick, East Kingston, Eliot ME, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Greenland, Hampton Falls, Hampton, Kensington, Kittery ME, Lee, Madbury, Newcastle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Raymond, Rollinsford, Rye, Seabrook, Somersworth, South Berwick, Stratham, Brentwood

I'm curious as to why they didn't add WLVI-DT? I checked and it was indeed on the Significantly Viewed List so they have as much right as the other 3 to add it....

June Conversion

Berwick, East Kingston, Eliot ME, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Greenland, Hampton Falls, Hampton, Kensington, Kittery ME, Lee, Madbury, Newcastle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Raymond, Rollinsford, Rye, Seabrook, Somersworth, South Berwick, Stratham, Brentwood

Thanks L Supreme ill update both maps now.

Ken,

Great news! How'd you receive the notice?

I got a letter in the mail today from comcast with "IMPORTANT ACTION REQUIRED" on the envelope in red.

-Ken

This article might have something to do with our frustrations old_man

http://www.heraldnews.com/business/x2072234065/Comcast-city-reach-agreement-on-10-year-deal

And SonicdoomMario just told me this via IM

The HD signals from those Boston broadcasters will return in Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford and Dighton upon the completion of the digital network enhancement in those communities in April.

He found this on his statement.

Thanks for the info. :) Maybe Somerset and other towns already had agreements so they were moved above FR in the queue to get the "HD signals".

Has MoCa, been anywhere in Mass yet? or anywhere for that matter?

What model STB's are you running for Cc/TIVO?

Anyone been provided a SA/CISCO explr 4640/50 or 8650/8652?
thanks

I know this probably isn't realistic, but figured I would throw it out there after seeing what happened in Bristol county. It would be nice that if here in Plymouth county, they could give us the HD signals of WJAR, WPRI, and WNAC. I realize that they currently don't broadcast any news in HD, but I'd expect that someone will eventually. About a year ago, they took away WSBE from the analog lineup, and gave us that in HD. I think it would be great if they could do the same with the rest of the Providence channels, since I never watch these in analog anymore.

There are some towns like Whitman that currently do not get WPRI and WNAC, but instead get WLNE. Here in Hanson, we don't get WLNE according to the lineup, but it is there if you have a QAM tuner.

I know this probably isn't realistic, but figured I would throw it out there after seeing what happened in Bristol county. It would be nice that if here in Plymouth county, they could give us the HD signals of WJAR, WPRI, and WNAC. I realize that they currently don't broadcast any news in HD, but I'd expect that someone will eventually. About a year ago, they took away WSBE from the analog lineup, and gave us that in HD. I think it would be great if they could do the same with the rest of the Providence channels, since I never watch these in analog anymore.

There are some towns like Whitman that currently do not get WPRI and WNAC, but instead get WLNE. Here in Hanson, we don't get WLNE according to the lineup, but it is there if you have a QAM tuner.

I asked JAR,LNE,PRI if they would transition soon to HD news (in November) and i haven't gotten any reply

Thanks for the info. :) Maybe Somerset and other towns already had agreements so they were moved above FR in the queue to get the "HD signals".

Ya, it seems like Somerset/Swansea/Seekonk are considered the Taunton Area

And all those other cities like Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, and Dighton are in the New Bedford Area

Comcast Digital Conversions Boston Area: Updated list

June 2009: Newburyport, Newbury, West Newbury, Rowley and Ipswich.

September: Ashland, Bellingham, Blackstone, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Marlboro, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis & Plainville

October: Arlington, Belmont, Burlington, Cambridge, Lynnfield, MIT, Nahant, Revere, Peabody, Reading, Saugus, Stoneham, Wilmington, Winchester & Woburn

November: Andover, Attleboro, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Dighton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Georgetown, Groveland, Hanson, Haverhill, Holbrook, Lawrence, Mansfield, Methuen, North Andover, North Attleboro, North Reading, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Stoughton, Swansea, Taunton, West Bridgewater & Whitman

January 2010: Acton, Ashburnham, Ashby, Ayer, Baldwinville, Bedford, Bolton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelsea, Clinton, Concord, Devens (Ayer) East Templeton, Edgewater Hills, Edgewater Terrance, Everett, Fitchburg, Framingham, Gardner, Hanscomb Air force Base, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lunenburg, Lynn, Malden, Maynard, Medford, Melrose, Otter River, Phillipston, Salem, Shirley, Somerville, Southboro, Sterling, Stowe, Sudbury, Swampscott, Templeton, Townsend, Wakefield, West Templeton, Westford, Westminster, Winchendon & Winthrop

February:
Massachusetts:
Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Yarmouth

New Hampshire:
Allenstown, Antrim, Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Deering, Epsom, Henniker, Hillsboro, Hopkinton, Loudon, Pembroke, Weare

March:
Massachusetts:
Berkley, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dartmouth, Dedham, Dracut, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, Lowell, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Natick, Needham, New Bedford, Newton, Rochester, Sherborn, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Waltham, Wareham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston

New Hampshire:
Derry, Hampstead, Nashua, Plaistow, Salem, Sandown

May:
Massachusetts:
Braintree, Cohasset, Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Milton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Scituate, Weymouth

New Hampshire:
Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Goffstown, Hooksett, Manchester

June:
New Hampshire:
Brentwood, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Greenland, Hampton Falls, Hampton, Kensington, Lee, Madbury, Newcastle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Raymond, Rollinsford, Rye, Seabrook, Somersworth, Stratham

Maine:
Berwick, Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick

I think the Providence TV stations are on the "significantly viewed" list for Plymouth Counties, the Cape and the Islands, even though those are in Boston's DMA. If the demand is high enough like the whole Bristol County crisis was, then they may get added. But Bristol County is one of the hottest DMA controversy spots, it seems. :P

Comcast would've added WFXT HD no doubt if either A) The TV Freedom Act was passed or B) WFXT actually went for the significantly viewed list.

You know what I remember? "Sox on FOX 25", when the Red Sox were dominantly on WFXT, and then began slowly transitioning over to NESN. And that was when NESN wasn't included in a basic cable package and had to be subscribed to, much like NFL Network before Comcast sorted out their contract with them.

And I wonder what took so long for WNAC to enforce the blackout on WFXT in Bristol County.

What do you mean by "so few"? I think you might be thinking that there is actually 100 "places" for channels between 100 and 199. That is not the case. Those are virtual numbers. I think the highest "real" channel in cable systems is in the 130s or 150s or something like that... no higher. However, we subscribers have practically no visibility to the "real" channels. We are presented a list of virtual channels, in Comcast's case, here, from 2 to 999, but except for the analog channels, those are all just symbolic pointers.

I think all the original poster wanted to know was why doesn't Comcast utilize many "symbolic pointers" from 100-199. They seem to be as just as good as numbers 200-299, 800-899, etc.

I got WBZ HD on 804 and WHDH HD on 807 Yesterday. Was a pleasant surprise. Also , This TV from WHDH 7.2 now on Comcast Channel 297.
LSurpreme , quick question why does Comcast have so few channels between100-199 ?

Those numbers are used in other systems, why not here, I don't know that answer.

I think all the original poster wanted to know was why doesn't Comcast utilize many "symbolic pointers" from 100-199.Okay, perhaps; that just seems like a strange concern to me (as opposed to the concern about unused bandwidth).

Does the digital conversions of these communities equate to more HD channels? If so, for those that have been converted, how long afterward before more HD channels opened up?

Does the digital conversions of these communities equate to more HD channels? If so, for those that have been converted, how long afterward before more HD channels opened up?

It usually goes in a process say Attleboro for example They transitioned in november/december/january. and they usually get the channels on the dates specified on the bill provided by comcast either by regular mail or urgent mail like Ken from Chelmsford got.

sorry for the double post but NECN unveiled their new News and Weather graphics prepping for their HD launch next monday!

Here's a pic note Plymouth being blocked by Matt Noye's arm high temp of 32°

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/9329/newg1.jpg

I got a letter in the mail today from comcast with "IMPORTANT ACTION REQUIRED" on the envelope in red.

-Ken

I got one of those the other day too. I ordered my 2 free DTA's online, even though my conversion isn't scheduled until June. I'll need one more, but I bet if I ordered it now they'd be happy to charge me for it every month before it becomes usable. I'll pick up that one in June. :)

I got a letter in the mail today from comcast with "IMPORTANT ACTION REQUIRED" on the envelope in red.

-Ken

Thanks Ken. Got my letter this weekend, too. Good news about the early start! Have you gotten any DTAs yet? I'll probably go to Westford friday to snag 2.

Thanks Ken. Got my letter this weekend, too. Good news about the early start! Have you gotten any DTAs yet? I'll probably go to Westford friday to snag 2.

I got my DTA's several months ago, and I am already using one. I think the picture quality is improved over analog and you get a handful more channels.

-Ken

Are you using a digital cable box or a digital adapter?
Will the digital cable box pass HD?
Who makes these boxes
Can find no info on these boxes on Comcast web site

Are you using a digital cable box or a digital adapter?
Will the digital cable box pass HD?
Who makes these boxes
Can find no info on these boxes on Comcast web site

The free DTA boxes DO NOT pass any HD. You would need a HD cable box for HD. The OTA channels can be received in HD by your QAM tuner without the DTA.

Will use splitter with ab switch to go straight thu or thru box
FIOS is in town. Waiting for my road to light up

I'm back from vacation in San Antonio and noticed 804/807/814 fresh on my cable box for the first time since hearing the news!

One weird thing is that on 807, why does it read "DWHDH"? The news stations on the channel lineup read as "WBZHD" or "WCVBD" or "WJARD". Is that a typo on Comcast's part or does it read "DWHDH" for those with FIOS/Comcast subscribers in the Boston DMA?

I subscribe to Standard Cable + Digital Preferred and over the weekend I lost the following channels:
183 JEWELRY
218 SPROUT
219 G4
242 HIST INTL
243 BIO
246 BLOOMBERG
249 CSPAN3
And had the following restored to my lineup:
27 & 186 TRUTV
67 & 251 MSNBC
Has anyone else with Standard Cable + Preferred experienced these changes? I usually get notified on my statement about any expected channel movements, but I have gone back and looked over the last several months' bills and found nothing. In fact, the only notification about ANY channel changes in the last 5 months was from my October bill, when STYLE on ch 211 was to move to Digital Starter on December 16. I usually lose channels when they move to Digital Starter but did not in this case, so I wonder if it was ever implemented.

The OTA channels can be received in HD by your QAM tuner without the DTA.

Not by me...ClearQAM HD broadcast channels were removed from my service in October.

After a few fruitless calls to Comcast, I gave up last weekend and bought a $70 Antenna Direct ClearStream2 and set it up in my attic, pointing in the general direction antennaweb.org suggested. It works great...I wouldn't bother switching back to Clear QAM even if Comcast added it back.

Not by me...ClearQAM HD broadcast channels were removed from my service in October.

After a few fruitless calls to Comcast, I gave up last weekend and bought a $70 Antenna Direct ClearStream2 and set it up in my attic, pointing in the general direction antennaweb.org suggested. It works great...I wouldn't bother switching back to Clear QAM even if Comcast added it back.

Now that would give Fios a big advantage if that trend continues.

BTW what package do you subscribe too ?

Now that would give Fios a big advantage if that trend continues.

BTW what package do you subscribe too ?

It is not legal for Comcast to block local HD signals. What is happening is that with the move of channels around some are being blocked by existing filters. This is usually for lifeline basic customers.

-Ken

It is not legal for Comcast to block local HD signals. What is happening is that with the move of channels around some are being blocked by existing filters. This is usually for lifeline basic customers.

-Ken

That is all fine and good Ken, but he attempted to have the issue corrected to no avail. If he is a basic sub only and went out to buy an antenna, then no need to have Comcast service at all the way I look at it.

Now that would give Fios a big advantage if that trend continues.Which Verizon has plans to capitalize on, by significantly raising rates soon.

Which Verizon has plans to capitalize on, by significantly raising rates soon.

The OTA option is looking better and better. I just hooked up a Samsung HD tuner for a friend with a older HD TV and the picture and sound couldn't be better. Of course sports fanatics are out of luck with OTA.

-Ken

I just called Comcast because I stopped getting CH 4.1 wbz on the QAM tuners last night. I have 2 TV's, one with an HD box and one with a Qam tuner with cable directly from the wall. I also have a DVD recorder with a QAM tuner. CH 804 on the box is unaffected.
The first person I spoke to said it must be a problem with the signal from OTA because thats how a QAM tuner gets the signal. I told her thats not true so she connected me with a tech person and he told me that there is a problem with the signal that the QAM antenna is supposed to receive (I know its not an antenna), which resulted in a bit of debate. The end result being that there is nothing Comcast can do because the issue is the signal from station

I just called Comcast because I stopped getting CH 4.1 wbz on the QAM tuners last night. I have 2 TV's, one with an HD box and one with a Qam tuner with cable directly from the wall. I also have a DVD recorder with a QAM tuner. CH 804 on the box is unaffected.
The first person I spoke to said it must be a problem with the signal from OTA because thats how a QAM tuner gets the signal. I told her thats not true so she connected me with a tech person and he told me that there is a problem with the signal that the QAM antenna is supposed to receive (I know its not an antenna), which resulted in a bit of debate. The end result being that there is nothing Comcast can do because the issue is the signal from station

I'm getting WBZ-HD via Comcast connected QAM right now no problem.
But then again I am on a different head end system.

-Ken

OK thanks. My father lives a mile away in the same town and his is OK also.

Of course sports fanatics are out of luck with OTA.


Yep, they've got me there. :mad:

Here in Nashua, NH, I lost WBZ(4.1 on QAM) yesterday. It returned last night during the debate(1.0 on QAM). Now I lost it completely.

I just called Comcast because I stopped getting CH 4.1 wbz on the QAM tuners last night. I have 2 TV's, one with an HD box and one with a Qam tuner with cable directly from the wall. I also have a DVD recorder with a QAM tuner. CH 804 on the box is unaffected.
The first person I spoke to said it must be a problem with the signal from OTA because thats how a QAM tuner gets the signal. I told her thats not true so she connected me with a tech person and he told me that there is a problem with the signal that the QAM antenna is supposed to receive (I know its not an antenna), which resulted in a bit of debate. The end result being that there is nothing Comcast can do because the issue is the signal from station

Try rescanning. I've had to do this several times, and whatever channels were lost immediately show up again. I can't believe that Comcast techs aren't suggesting this!

Thanks N1ZZN. Rescanning did the trick.

Try rescanning. I've had to do this several times, and whatever channels were lost immediately show up again. I can't believe that Comcast techs aren't suggesting this!

Some people have tried that to no avail. Comcast may be sending out trial balloons to see what they get for feedback by doing this in some places.

I had rescanned twice before I called. The DVD tuner was blank on 4.1, but it (4.1) was still in the channel listing. Rescanning caused it to be eliminated from the list.

Some people have tried that to no avail. Comcast may be sending out trial balloons to see what they get for feedback by doing this in some places.

I think thats possible. I just checked and WBZ-HD is back on both TVs, so I rescanned the with the DVD and CH 4.1 is back in the line up.

Thanks Ken. Got my letter this weekend, too. Good news about the early start! Have you gotten any DTAs yet? I'll probably go to Westford friday to snag 2.

I got my letter in Lowell over the weekend. If someone wouldn't mind confirming for me, once the first set of 12 channels gets converted over to digital only in February, exactly how long till we start seeing the first new HD channels that others have received? Thanks.

I got my letter in Lowell over the weekend. If someone wouldn't mind confirming for me, once the first set of 12 channels gets converted over to digital only in February, exactly how long till we start seeing the first new HD channels that others have received? Thanks.

As mentioned only several posts ago, the channels appear on the day they are listed on the letter you received.

It was moved from 4.1 to 1.0 yesterday. Today it was gone completely until around 7PM.

Georgetown

Hi all-

I believe I saw in a post from earlier in the week that NECN is going to go HD next week. Since Comcast now owns 100% of NECN, I would expect that the towns that have already implemented Project Calvery will get NECN HD. A question- does anyone know if Comcast will transmit NECN HD in Clear QAM? I have a couple of TVs that I'm not willing to pay Comcast $8/month for a d*mn box (after all, I'm already paying them $ for the content!) but would like to get NECN... I highly doubt that it'll be in Clear QAM, but one can hope...

I've got six HDTVs with clearQAM tuners (no CableCARDs) connected directly to Comcast here in Westford. Sometime on Sunday, I lost high-def channel 4.1 (WBZ) on my LG TV, but 4.1 still works as expected on two Samsungs, one Sharp, and the two HDTV tuners inside my HDhomerun device. I'm baffled as to why five of six clearQAM tuners still receive 4.1 but the LG (less than a year old) says "no signal" on 4.1. BTW, the LG that can't receive 4.1, still receives 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, etc.

Any theories as to what's wrong? Should I request warranty service from LG?

I've got six HDTVs with clearQAM tuners (no CableCARDs) connected directly to Comcast here in Westford. Sometime on Sunday, I lost high-def channel 4.1 (WBZ) on my LG TV, but 4.1 still works as expected on two Samsungs, one Sharp, and the two HDTV tuners inside my HDhomerun device. I'm baffled as to why five of six clearQAM tuners still receive 4.1 but the LG (less than a year old) says "no signal" on 4.1. BTW, the LG that can't receive 4.1, still receives 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, etc.

Any theories as to what's wrong? Should I request warranty service from LG?

Some tuners are more sensitive than others. Some lock onto the signal better. Since Comcast has been toying with the QAMS, it could be your other tv's got the signal right back while the LG didn't. I would try a rescan before calling for repairs.

When I rescanned my Sony, 4.1 came back. My Samsung is still not able to get it back. In fact, when I rescanned the Samsung, I lost 5.1 and 7.1 as well. It took me 2 more scans to get 5.1 and 7.1 back but not 4.1. For some reason, my Samsung(4071F) always has a problem receiving the signal for 4.1.

I've got six HDTVs with clearQAM tuners (no CableCARDs) connected directly to Comcast here in Westford. Sometime on Sunday, I lost high-def channel 4.1 (WBZ) on my LG TV, but 4.1 still works as expected on two Samsungs, one Sharp, and the two HDTV tuners inside my HDhomerun device. I'm baffled as to why five of six clearQAM tuners still receive 4.1 but the LG (less than a year old) says "no signal" on 4.1. BTW, the LG that can't receive 4.1, still receives 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, etc.

Any theories as to what's wrong? Should I request warranty service from LG?

Sometime on Sunday a football team in Foxboro lost their ability to play football, maybe somehow the two catastrophic events are related.

Fall River just got the update this morning it's on Channel 809 with blank channel name and To Be Announced"


most likely going to say either "NECND" or "DNECN"

Fall River just got the update this morning it's on Channel 809 with blank channel name and To Be Announced"


most likely going to say either "NECND"

Oh No ! Gt1racer is becoming Chitchatjf and predicting channels :D

Oh No ! Gt1racer is becoming Chitchatjf and predicting channels :D

I'm waiting for channel 615 myself.

I know NECN is a popular channel on Fios.

FWIW--Saw my town (exeter) listed in this thread in the 6/12 list. Then got my letter, which says 5/12.

If anyone at Comcast is reading, Comcast should start calling "Expanded Basic" something different like "Digital Basic," if they want to reinforce the idea that the only thing (boxless) basic anymore will be non-digital "basic basic" 2-24. It might make the Channel Service Level Changes a little easier to understand, so no one thinks that the 7 channels moving to Expanded Basic will be viewable boxless (as I briefly did :confused: ).

Now to order me a pair of DTA's.

Anyone know if Mashpee is SA or Moto
or
how to determine what system a headend is?
TIA

809 appeared on my system in Attleboro too! Checked it out and it is NECN HD, although it's still blank in the TV guide.

I would've preferred for NECN HD to be 808, just because NECN SD is channel 8 on my system and Comcast could make many of the SD channel numbers correspond with their HD channel numbers (with the 8 in front of it, of course).

Right now, 808 and 820 are still unused, but hopefully those can be used for WLVI HD and WFXT HD when the time comes...

Mashpee is not a former-Adelphia town, so those are Moto boxes.

(Bourne, Falmouth, and Sandwich are the former Adelphia's, which have SA's.)

Mashpee is not a former-Adelphia town, so those are Moto boxes.

(Bourne, Falmouth, and Sandwich are the former Adelphia's, which have SA's.)

Thanks
I was told in Feb, Falmouth was switching over to Mashpee headend
what does that mean for everyone with SA hardware, have to switch over?

Today I noticed two more HD channels.

810-NECN
901- MSNBC

Mashpee is not a former-Adelphia town, so those are Moto boxes.

(Bourne, Falmouth, and Sandwich are the former Adelphia's, which have SA's.)
Plymouth as well. I like my SA. :( I wish it had more space!

I've got six HDTVs with clearQAM tuners (no CableCARDs) connected directly to Comcast here in Westford. Sometime on Sunday, I lost high-def channel 4.1 (WBZ) on my LG TV, but 4.1 still works as expected on two Samsungs, one Sharp, and the two HDTV tuners inside my HDhomerun device. I'm baffled as to why five of six clearQAM tuners still receive 4.1 but the LG (less than a year old) says "no signal" on 4.1. BTW, the LG that can't receive 4.1, still receives 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, etc.

Any theories as to what's wrong? Should I request warranty service from LG?

I have the same issue here in Barnstable, but I also lost FOX 25.1 inaddition to WBZHD on 4.1. This happened only on my LG LH4790 brand new LED LCD TV. I have 3 other TVs with clear QAM tuners and they all recieve both channels fine as normal.

(edit) just tried a rescan and both are back. Strange, as the channels showed up in the channel listing, yet TV showed "no signal".

Today I noticed two more HD channels.

810-NECN
901- MSNBC

your not the only one Sneff i got MSNBC HD too! on 901

I have the same issue here in Barnstable, but I also lost FOX 25.1 inaddition to WBZHD on 4.1. This happened only on my LG LH4790 brand new LED LCD TV. I have 3 other TVs with clear QAM tuners and they all recieve both channels fine as normal.

(edit) just tried a rescan and both are back. Strange, as the channels showed up in the channel listing, yet TV showed "no signal".

Yup. I did a rescan last night and 4.1 is good again on my LG HDTV, and 4.1 remains receivable on all my other clearQAM HDTVs that were not affected by the temporary 4.1 outage.

I appreciate the comments here. You guys convinced me it was a Comcast issue; not a problem with my LG HDTV.

your not the only one Sneff i got MSNBC HD too! on 901
Reporting these as well in Plymouth. 710 and 726 respectively.

Here's The Map before the June letter's update (Chelmsford changed from Sky Blue to Dark Pink)

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/6659/comcastmap1.png

Has anyone gotten any new letters regarding a June date in your areas?

Today I noticed two more HD channels.

810-NECN
901- MSNBC

These 2 appeared mapped to the same channels here in the Braintree, Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, Quincy, Scituate, Weymouth area of Massachusetts.

They are located on physical channel 19, but neither is clear QAM. I guess there will be no NECN HD for Basic Cable subscribers even though the SD version is part of that package.

Today I noticed two more HD channels.

810-NECN
901- MSNBC


In exeter, nh too. (810 still showed TBA in Guide as of 10pm, but HD prgramming was coming in. 901 had Guide listing)

Caught this article about the new mydvr setup comcast is releasing. I tried, once again, to activate mine but it said, again, that it couldn't. The link to the main article, which I would assume explain which areas are being activated, is dead. But nice to know that it's coming soon.

http://gizmodo.com/5449206/comcast-remote-dvr-scheduling-now-working-in-some-markets

Yup. I did a rescan last night and 4.1 is good again on my LG HDTV, and 4.1 remains receivable on all my other clearQAM HDTVs that were not affected by the temporary 4.1 outage.

I appreciate the comments here. You guys convinced me it was a Comcast issue; not a problem with my LG HDTV.

Is there are web site where we can get the comcast channel mapping?
I am subscribed to Digital economy package and don't have a cable box, I did a channel scan yesterday and the list of channels I got is attached.

It would be really helpful if I can look this information somewhere.

Does comcast change the channels or the channels I have will stay the same?

Is there are web site where we can get the comcast channel mapping?
I am subscribed to Digital economy package and don't have a cable box, I did a channel scan yesterday and the list of channels I got is attached.

It would be really helpful if I can look this information somewhere.

Does comcast change the channels or the channels I have will stay the same?

Silicondust does channel mapping

http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineup_web/US:01824#lineup_1217217

This morning I've noticed NECN HD on channel 810 like others have. However, when I press the info button on the Comcast remote, the HD icon does not appear. With my cable box set at native output resolution the info on my TV shows 1080i. I'm just wondering if NECN is really doing an upconversion rather than true HD?

Silicondust does channel mapping

http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineup_web/US:01824#lineup_1217217

Thanks. This is very useful.

I have one additional question. I did not get all the channels. Is it because they are encrypted?

Here is the lineup for 01863
http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineup_web/US:01863#lineup_1217217

What I got is attached in my earlier post.

The information on that website is subscriber maintained. If you see an error, you should help correct it.

Today I noticed two more HD channels.

810-NECN
901- MSNBC

We got these 2 in Boston too. Of course, we still don't have some of the new HD channels that our suburban neighbors have, such as Turner Classic Movies HD (TCMHD). If anyone knows when Boston will be getting the missing channels, please let us know.

Watertown has 810, but not 901. Is 901 only in converted areas?

Watertown has 810, but not 901. Is 901 only in converted areas?

its a yes/no answer because Fall River hasn't converted yet and is expected to start next month or march so no on my end.

its a yes/no answer because Fall River hasn't converted yet and is expected to start next month or march so no on my end.

I now have NECN on channel 810 but no msnbc. The town I live in (Clinton) gets it's first wave of Project Cavalry next week I think (Jan 19th). Perhaps we'll get msnbc then...

Hi, I wanted to add some information here that I had trouble finding all across the web. Nearly all my searches ended up here anyhow, so that was kind of amusing (read: frustrating).

Comcast Boston Clear QAM HD Digital Frequencies (in MHz) as of this writing (2010-01-16):
Ion (WBPX): 517.75
PBS (WGBH): 781.75
CW56 (WLVI): 781.75
PBS (WGBX): 787.75
TV38 (WSBK): 787.75
ABC (WCVB): 799.75
NBC (WHDH): 799.75
CBS (WBZ): 805.75 817.75
FOX (WFXT): 805.75 817.75

Hope this helps someone out there looking for this information. Especially CBS and FOX were not found automatically by my EyeTV Hybrid using EyeTV 3.3.

** The CBS and FOX frequencies were changed sometime before Friday, 16 Apr 2010 at 9:30 PM.

article on NECN going HD

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/01/16/necn_hopes_changes_hd_click_with_viewers/

article on NECN going HD

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/01/16/necn_hopes_changes_hd_click_with_viewers/

Does anyone know if Comcast will be sending this in clear QAM ?

The "forced" digital converters that I got from Comcast are garbage. The primary one does NOT even have SVIDIO or digital-audio or HDMI connector. The secondary (DTA) does have anything, not even yellow composite video :-(

I was expecting the primary to have SVIDIO and HDMI and the secondary to have at least SVIDIO + L/R audio out.

Am I expecting too much? May be I should call Comcast's bluff and have them downgrade my service to basic cable. That way at least I get to keep my on-air HD channels intact.

I really can't wait for FIOS to come to my neighborhood.

- Vikas

FiOS doesn't have any free DTAs. They require a STB on each outlet, and charge for each one. It was a major consideration in our switch to FiOS, but we figure we can afford the extra money for television (to allow us to get the better Internet service).

FiOS doesn't have any free DTAs. They require a STB on each outlet, and charge for each one. It was a major consideration in our switch to FiOS, but we figure we can afford the extra money for television (to allow us to get the better Internet service).

Not if you want to watch just the locals in HD.

...
Am I expecting too much? ...

- Vikas

Yes, you are!

The minimum equipment that one needed to view Comcast "Extended Basic" cable (chans 22-120) was a coax cable straight into the back of the TV.

Now with digital you need the coax cable to a "digital" box to a coax cable to the TV. And Comcast are providing the box and a short coax cable.

If you want more, such as S-video or HDMI, then you are going to have to pay more!

Yes, you are!

The minimum equipment that one needed to view Comcast "Extended Basic" cable (chans 22-120) was a coax cable straight into the back of the TV.

Now with digital you need the coax cable to a "digital" box to a coax cable to the TV. And Comcast are providing the box and a short coax cable.

If you want more, such as S-video or HDMI, then you are going to have to pay more!

I disagree, there is no reason to encrypt expanded basic. Most of the new TV's have QAM Tuners. There is no reason to force people to rent STB's.

I disagree, there is no reason to encrypt expanded basic. Most of the new TV's have QAM Tuners. There is no reason to force people to rent STB's.

How would you handle customers with less then Extended Basic such as Economy or Limited Basic?

Not if you want to watch just the locals in HD.Yes, FiOS and Comcast are the same in that regard.

I disagree, there is no reason to encrypt expanded basic. Most of the new TV's have QAM Tuners. There is no reason to force people to rent STB's.How would you handle customers with less then Extended Basic such as Economy or Limited Basic?Yes, this is a critical point. Practically no one wants to pay the costs that would be required to support all services serviced via clear QAM tuners.

How would you handle customers with less then Extended Basic such as Economy or Limited Basic?

> How would you handle customers with less then Extended Basic such as Economy or Limited Basic?

There should just be one box where the coax enters the customer's house- and from there into the home, everything that the customer is paying for should be Clear QAM (yes, I know the rules enforcing DRM prevent this.) There is no technical reason why we have to have a box on each TV- other than to provide more profit to all the companies. But if we have to, they (the boxes) should be offered at retail. With tru2way, it is very curious that not a single CE company has done so- smells fishy to me. I've wonder if Cable Labs won't license the tech out to regular CE companies?

I bet Comcast is financing their NBC-U purchase with our hardware rentals- I bet I've paid for my ~5 year old set top box 2-3 times over by now.

There should just be one box where the coax enters the customer's house- and from there into the home, everything that the customer is paying for should be Clear QAMThat is utterly unfair to folks with only one television. If everyone had to pay the same rate, for service on unlimited digital outlets, then people who only have one outlet would pay more, due to value average pricing. The old idea of getting service on all the outlets in your home for one price was some heavy user's dream, but ends up costing lighter users more, and that is indefensible.

But if we have to, they (the boxes) should be offered at retail. With tru2way, it is very curious that not a single CE company has done so- smells fishy to me.It shouldn't smell fishy to you at all. Cable companies charge such cheap monthly rental rates that there isn't enough profit to be made by CE companies offering the boxes retail.

I've wonder if Cable Labs won't license the tech out to regular CE companies?CableLabs certifies devices for compliance to a standard; they do not license technology. It would be illegal for CableLabs to discriminate on the basis of plans to distribute the devices retail. There are at least six companies I know of that have suitable boxes certified by CableLabs. They simply choose not to offer them retail.

My understanding is that it isn't the cost of development, sourcing components, manufacturing or distribution -- the problem is the cost of support.

A recent article that touches on some of the issues regarding STBs:

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=186763&site=cdn

In a nutshell, Motorola is trying to sell its division that makes the kind set-top boxes that pnkflyd51 was referring to. I believe they're the leading manufacturer, or at least close to it. What they found out is that the division isn't worth anywhere near what they thought it was worth. I believe that that is a clear reflection of how little it is worth to be a manufacturer of set-top boxes. There just isn't good money to be made there.

Exactly, how is cable company affected once it delivers the bits to my demarkation point? I think we need to go through "Ma Bell" break-up for the cable companies. I can still remember when the phone company used to charge me rental of $5.00 per phone and I could not purchase my own phone. Ma Bell was forced to allow people to buy their own phones. We need to push the cable company to get out of the equipment rental business. I have paid for my modem rental many times over since the Comcast cable came to my house.

Telling me that multiple TV's is "unfair" is complete baloney. Having multiple adapters at my house does NOT affect the headend in any way. The bandwidth and the bits coming to my house is not changed (at least as far as the expanded basic is concerned).

I am going to seriously look in to dropping expanded basic and staying with no-cable-box required service. The money I will save will pay for the current Satelite deal.

- Vikas

That is utterly unfair to folks with only one television. If everyone had to pay the same rate, for service on unlimited digital outlets, then people who only have one outlet would pay more, due to value average pricing. The old idea of getting service on all the outlets in your home for one price was some heavy user's dream, but ends up costing lighter users more, and that is indefensible
Some one please refresh my memory. IIRC years ago cable companies did, or at least try to charge for each outlet. However, most people got around that by simply purchasing a splitter or two at Radio Shack. I also remember this changed around the time the Telecom Act of 95? 96? was passed. Did the Cable Cos change to a one rate system because the Telecom act dictated it or did they just realize the couldn't (at that time) enforce the rate per outlet policy. If it is the former isn't Comcast violating the Telecom Act by forcing customers to rent a STB for each TV?
Also Bicker to answer your question, yes it could be considered to be unfair, but there are many examples of paying more do to value average pricing. For example I board an MBTA subway train and disembark at the next stop. I still pay the same fare as the person who boards the train at the same station and rides the train to the end of the line.

> How would you handle customers with less then Extended Basic such as Economy or Limited Basic?

There should just be one box where the coax enters the customer's house- and from there into the home, everything that the customer is paying for should be Clear QAM (yes, I know the rules enforcing DRM prevent this.)

There is such a box used for going from digital and breaking out the channel back to analog. It is being used in places such as hotels and hospitals to maintain a lineup of analog channels. These devices cost several thousand dollars and have the drawback of tying up alot of bandwidth for the analog channels. They work in hospital and hotels because the need for advanced services such as HSI, phone, VOD, or 80+ HD channels is not needed.

I don't know of any device in any widespread use that takes a digital signal, strips the encryption, then sends out a digital signal. For a box to do this it would have to tune each channel, decrypt it, then remux and send it out. That would add a great deal of cost over what multiple set tops would cost.

If it was up to cable company, I am sure they will change you for every computer hooked up to their cable modem. I suspect they will try to charge you for the bandwidth using the same "fair" baloney. If I recall one cable company tried that with disastrous results but that will not stop them from trying.

When you really think about it, having multiple computers at my house does affect the cable company lot more than having multiple TV's in my house. More computers can consume more bandwidth but more TV do not. I do understand that on-demand TV is different and having more on-demand adapters actually receiving simultenous on demand programs would entail sending more bits to my house; no much different from two computers downloading at the same time at my house (but they get choked by the modem).

At least if DTA had decent output, I could do A/B switch on the TV and could have got my OTA HD channels easily.

- Vikas

That is utterly unfair to folks with only one television. If everyone had to pay the same rate, for service on unlimited digital outlets, then people who only have one outlet would pay more, due to value average pricing. The old idea of getting service on all the outlets in your home for one price was some heavy user's dream, but ends up costing lighter users more, and that is indefensible.

Like all utilities, we pay by the household- the phone company doesn't charge for more phones hooked up, the gas company doesn't care how many people are taking advantage of the heat. A bogus argument to me. What if I'm one person with three TVs in my house- I only watch one of them at any one time, but would like to be able to access the content I'm paying for in three different rooms.

It shouldn't smell fishy to you at all. Cable companies charge such cheap monthly rental rates that there isn't enough profit to be made by CE companies offering the boxes retail.

$8/month is cheap? Bull! I'm only willing to rent one box, but if I rented four boxes to outfit all of my TVs, x 5 years is $1920. I've had my current box for five years. If these boxes were available at retail, they would cost far less than the $384 I've paid for mine over the last five years. I've read what you've written in the past about cable cards being worth what the cable companies charge for them- your argument that they're another "outlet" and they should charge as such doesn't hold water for me either. I highly doubt the content providers (the cable channels) receive any additional money from customers who have additional "outlets." We'll have to agree to disagree.


CableLabs certifies devices for compliance to a standard; they do not license technology. It would be illegal for CableLabs to discriminate on the basis of plans to distribute the devices retail. There are at least six companies I know of that have suitable boxes certified by CableLabs. They simply choose not to offer them retail.

I don't believe that for a moment. For there to not be a single cable box model at retail smacks of collusion at some level- especially with the cable card & tru2way technology. I like having more HD channels with the Project Cavalry project- but I've heard from several coworkers who have complained about the prices of boxes and losing all the analog channels and not being able to get their locals in HD through clear QAM when using a DTA (without a stupid switch.) One of these coworkers is a relatively non technical person. People are starting to "get it" about the insidious cost of renting these boxes and are getting angry. I bet the fact that FIOS needs boxes on every TV is holding FIOS penetration rates back. I've long heard the same complaint about the satallite services. If cable boxes were sold at retail- with a reasonable ($1/month) price for a cable card, millions would be sold. I don't know anyone who rents their cable modem anymore- everyone I know figured out that it is cheaper to purchase their own modem.

My understanding is that it isn't the cost of development, sourcing components, manufacturing or distribution -- the problem is the cost of support.

Fine, charge me $20 every time I need support for a retail purchased cable box- I'd happily accept that! I've needed zero support for the box that I've had for five years.

Are we talking about different boxes here?

My original answer to vgs86 was about the, upto, three (3) FREE digital boxes Comcast are supplying to customers with analog TVs. I thought that if you have a digital tuner/TV then you don't need these new DTAs and you just plug the coax straight into your TV.

I am getting confused as to why some of you think that you have to RENT these boxes.

I think we need to go through "Ma Bell" break-up for the cable companies. Except that the competitors, Dish Network, DirecTV, FiOS, RCN, U-Verse, etc., all charge for individual outlets. The "break-up" should just bring about the change you're complaining about quicker, since what you're complaining about it is the standard offering except for the company(ies) you're complaining about.

It is also important to keep in mind a fundamental difference between "Ma Bell" and cable -- and this is something I believe was utterly glossed over with the cable-ready regulations, and that oversight (deliberate perhaps) was the reason why such a misguided regulation ever got passed: With a telephone line, you can't have daughter Judy talking to her galpal, from a telephone set in her bedroom, at the same time Jane your wife is talking to her mother, from a telephone set in the living room. If you want that, you have to pay extra, for a second line, for example.

So the analog to cable television is clear: If you want to watch one channel, all over your house, perhaps you can make an argument for that. However, you cannot use "Ma Bell" as justification for being able to receive two different channels at the same time, in two different rooms in your home. Cable is already going beyond what the broken-up "Ma Bell" offers, as it is, supporting multi-tuner DVRs.

Telling me that multiple TV's is "unfair" is complete baloney.Telling us that it is complete baloney is complete balogney. If you understand value-based pricing, and then you understand the point about why charging one price for an unlimited number of outlets is unfair to folks who only want to pay for one outlet.

And if you ever find yourself advocating retail a la carte, be prepare to be labeled as hypocritical.

I am going to seriously look in to dropping expanded basic and staying with no-cable-box required service.This is a great approach for folks who don't like the deal as it is being offered. It is a reasonable, responsible consumer action.

... isn't Comcast violating the Telecom Act by forcing customers to rent a STB for each TV?What Comcast is doing is explicitly in compliance with the applicable regulations.

Also Bicker to answer your question, yes it could be considered to be unfair, but there are many examples of paying more do to value average pricing. For example I board an MBTA subway train and disembark at the next stop. I still pay the same fare as the person who boards the train at the same station and rides the train to the end of the line.Absolutely... that doesn't make it the best approach in all cases. Indeed, the fact that there are things that work each way means that it is a case-by-case thing.

Note that, with regard to your example, on the commuter rail, you pay more, depending how far down the line you go.

If it was up to cable company, I am sure they will change you for every computer hooked up to their cable modem.Before in-home routers were common, that was pretty-much the case.

I suspect they will try to charge you for the bandwidth using the same "fair" baloney.Your refusal to accept that argument as a reasonable argument that you simply object to blinds you to the reality that you're going to face in the marketplace. We don't have to agree, but dismissing an opposing perspective as "baloney" because you don't like it is counter-productive to all reasonable aims and intentions.

The reality is that the rendering immaterial, of the additional IP fee that many always-on ISPs used to be able to charge effectively in the past, is one of the major reasons why we may someday face metered service. There will always be light users, moderate users, and heavy users, for practically everything. In many cases, the regulations affecting this industry have been very very deliberate in carving out special considerations for less affluent people, ensuring that they have a level of service commensurate with a reasonable understanding of the minimum essential, for an "affordable" or "reasonable" price. The moderate user is the prototypical consumer, and in our society, that means someone who is maniacally focused on the price they pay, sometimes even to the exclusion of most qualitative characteristics. They will consistently reward a supplier that comes in a few percent lower in price than competitors, even if that supplier is providing a lesser service. Therefore, there will always be incentive for having a better-than-minimal level of service, at an economy price. The top level of service (in this case, unlimited bandwidth) is actually the level of service usually most in danger of being discontinued, because it generally gets no support from the social conscience of society (like the lowest level of service gets), and no support from the majority of consumers. It is a bonus whenever heavy users are even offered what they want. Note that this consumer behavior operates with regard to all characteristics, not just the ones that the heavy users would prefer that behavior operated with regard to.

If I recall one cable company tried that with disastrous results but that will not stop them from trying.This is a critical point, but I'm not sure you realized the point you were making. What the suppliers are doing are reflections of the reality of the industry and the marketplace. One force that can interrupt such a natural progression is media manipulation, in the form of bad PR. Bad PR can get a supplier to drop an effort to satisfy the natural progression, but that is always just a temporary situation. The change they tried to make was a reflection of the industry and the marketplace, and bad PR doesn't change those structural aspects. It just poisons one of the attempt to restore the natural balance, but that natural balance will be restored one way or another, eventually.

This came up this week in some of the Jay Leno Show thread. There are some folks who think that they've effectively stopped NBC from replacing three hours of scripted dramas with less expensive programming (which is essentially what the Jay Leno Show did). They're wrong (and I have had a very hard time getting any of them to admit it). Yes, the Jay Leno Show is gone, and NBC is resorting things around, but the underlying problem that NBC was trying to solve, with the Jay Leno Show, still exists, and shall be resolved, one way or another, eventually. They will cut their costs, to restore their financial performance to where it needs to be... if not this way than some other way.

And back to the point that you might not have realized that you made: The suppliers will just try something else. Maybe next time, opponents won't get lucky and be able to successfully use bad PR to thwart the natural progression. They will not stop trying things, equally objectionable (or perhaps worse) things, until one is accepted.

When you really think about it, having multiple computers at my house does affect the cable company lot more than having multiple TV's in my house.However, you continue to return to the irrelevant issue of how your usage "affects" the supplier, and ignore the important issue of how your usage affects you. If you derive more value from your usage, then you'll naturally be willing to pay more. That's Business 101, and that's all that matters in this scenario (unless what you're willing to pay happens to be less than cost of service -- in that case, the best option is to not even offer the service to you in the first place).

How would you handle customers with less then Extended Basic such as Economy or Limited Basic?

I have no intention of getting into a flaming match here and I saw all the discussion points after the posts. Trust me when I say that those things can be easily handled by using electronic filters.

The reason companies like comcast force people to use STB's because the monthly costs is a profit for them plain and simple.

Everywhere else in the world you have the ability to buy a basic STB for around $100. Most times your cable operator will give you one free if you sigh a one year agreement.

The STB's offered by Comcast are top end and expensive and I have no problem with Comcast charging monthly fees for them. The issue is that they are restricting alternatives to subscribers by not supporting standard STB's that are available everywhere.

Here is an example STB that is freely available for around $20 retail by cable operator my parents use in Mumbai.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/video/ps8611/ps8612/ps8644/7013332_A.pdf

Note: This is a older model, the newer model is made by a Humax and has better features. Also it must me noted that there is no HDTV in India yet, but I am sure when it becomes available it will follow same model and there will be a STB for around $100.

I want to repeat my point here, the STB problem is not a technical problem. There are affordable STB's available all over the world. The problem is that there is no requirement for companies like comcast and verizon to offer them in USA because of no regulatory mandate and no competition.

the phone company doesn't charge for more phones hooked upAs I mentioned in the message above this one, the phone company does charge for more phone lines hooked up, i.e., if you want to have two telephone calls ongoing on the same time, which is the analog to watching two television channels at the same time.

A bogus argument to me.As I said before, you need to understand that there is a difference between an argument that you don't like and one that is "bogus". It is not a "bogus" argument. It is a very valid argument, that you happen to disagree with.

$8/month is cheap? Bull!No, not bull. You may want to pay less, but the reality is that the availability of inexpensive host devices for rental from service providers is making it impossible to make enough profit from selling them to make doing so worthwhile. We see this with DVRs as well, though to a lesser extent. In the TiVo Community Forums, we have long drawn-out debates between people who feel that TiVo costs too much, as compared to what they would have to pay their cable company for an acknowledged inferior-quality rented DVR. TiVo has been trying for a decade to make money selling DVRs, and they've not been successful, because the price they can charge is held artificially low by the fact that most consumers prefer the inexpensive $18 (or so) per month that the cable companies charge to rent HD DVRs.

Again, I know you want to pay less. I'm not challenging that. What I'm saying is that what the cable companies are charging is inexpensive -- so inexpensive that the profit motive simply isn't there to sell these things retail.

If you really want to make inroads on this, why not pass regulations requiring cable companies to charge more for STBs and DVRs, instead of forcing them to charge less? :)

I've read what you've written in the past about cable cards being worth what the cable companies charge for them- your argument that they're another "outlet" and they should charge as such doesn't hold water for me either. Again, you're making a mistake. My argument "holds water". You just don't like the ramifications of it. Again, the point is that you derive more value. You do -- that's utterly true. And value translates to profit -- that's Business 101. I respect your right to wish business worked different.

And remember, you have the ultimate power: If you don't like the pricing, then do without the service. Nothing that is value-priced is essential.

I don't believe that for a moment.Then, with respect, you're choosing to operate from a point of ignorance. Do your own research, if you wish, instead of just simply deciding to believe what is best for your own personal interests.

For there to not be a single cable box model at retail smacks of collusion at some level- especially with the cable card & tru2way technology.That is an indefensibly irresponsible accusation. Believe it yourself, but making such accusations publicly require proof, or acceptance of a counter-accusation that you're blowing smoke, and effectively deceiving casual readers.

I thought that if you have a digital tuner/TV then you don't need these new DTAs and you just plug the coax straight into your TV.Having a digital tuner in your television has nothing to do with using DTAs. If you use a DTA, you don't need any tuner in your television, since the DTA, itself, is the tuner.

DTAs make available the expanded basic tier of programming, as analog SD video. I believe the other poster wants more value, i.e., HD, and/or Digital Classic tier, and/or premium channels.

Also note that DTAs are "free" (really, included) for an indefinite period of time. There is some bozo on some of the forums trying to claim that some service providers are promising such equipment would be "free" forever, but that's not the case. So it might be reasonable for another poster to object to considering them "free", since they might not be five or six years from now.

bicker1 Thanks for the explanation.

So if I have the minimum service (channels 2 - 22) and an analog TV I do need a DTA to receive these channels after my area has gone digital. And if I have minimum service (chs 2 - 22) and a digital TV I do not need a DTA as the tuner in my TV can still get these channels?

So if I have analog TVs anywhere in my house I must get DTAs just to view anything at all?

As of now (even after your area has gone through the digital migration) you will still be able to get channels 2-22 in analog form, this may very well change in a few years however. To view the channels that are being removed due to the current migration (channels 23-70) you will need a DTA, regardless of what type of tuner (analog, ATSC, QAM) your TV has. One thing bicker1 said that is slightly misleading is that your TV doesn't even need a tuner to use a DTA, this is untrue because it needs to tune to channel 3 or 4 to see what the DTA is outputting, because unfortunately there are no A/V (composite) jacks on the DTA's.

I know to each his own, but does anyone really watch NECN? And if so, do you have to have it in HD?

One thing bicker1 said that is slightly misleading is that your TV doesn't even need a tuner to use a DTA, this is untrue because it needs to tune to channel 3 or 4 to see what the DTA is outputting, because unfortunately there are no A/V (composite) jacks on the DTA's.Please recall the context of my reply: The PP was talking about having a digital tuner in his television: And as I said, having a digital tuner will indeed not help with regard to using DTAs. The DTAs put out, as you said, only Channel 3 or 4 -- analog, not digital.

I'm sorry, though, if my message was confusing, in that regard.

That is an indefensibly irresponsible accusation. Believe it yourself, but making such accusations publicly require proof, or acceptance of a counter-accusation that you're blowing smoke, and effectively deceiving casual readers.

Bicker:

Ok. Here are the facts
- A basic STB does not have to do much, all you need is a TV Tuner and some decryption circuit that the cable provider has the ability to control.

- STB's are very easy to make. It is evidenced by the fact that all over the world they are available for cheap except in USA.

- A STB by itself is useless without the decryption ability which also is not a challenging task except that the cable provider has to work with STB maker to customize a model.

- Why are they not available in retail here? For the simple reason that companies like Comcast and Verizon don't want to work with STB maker's to certify a model that works.

- Why Comcast/Verizon etc would not do this? The answer is not so difficult. Because they don't have to. Its more profitable for them to collect $8.95 a month from customers than to provide them with a retail alternative for around $100.

Please note that all this does not apply to premium content - VOD/PayPerView and Paid Channels. I agree wholeheartedly that controlling all that requires expensive STB's what should be rented. The problem with current systems is that the economy option listed above is not made available to subscribers simply because the cable provider does not have to.

I know to each his own, but does anyone really watch NECN? And if so, do you have to have it in HD?

On Fios it consistently is among the top 15 channels viewed (nopt now as an infomercial is on)

I do not see it happening tomorrrow but I do see channel 615 in our future.

I know to each his own, but does anyone really watch NECN? And if so, do you have to have it in HD?

Yup, people do watch. Yup, I do need it in HD.

Carry on.

Bicker:

Ok. Here are the facts
...
- Why are they not available in retail here? For the simple reason that companies like Comcast and Verizon don't want to work with STB maker's to certify a model that works.No, that is not a fact. It is your scurrilous assumption -- an irresponsible accusation without evidence. That was my point.

- Why Comcast/Verizon etc would not do this?Neither company makes STBs. Get a grip. :rolleyes:

No, that is not a fact. It is your scurrilous assumption -- an irresponsible accusation without evidence. That was my point.


Is that how it works for you Bicker? You launch personal attacks when you run out of facts.



Neither company makes STBs. Get a grip. :rolleyes:

Correct. They are available at cheap retail prices everywhere. All they need to do is pick a model and work with maker to make it available to customers - normal practice everywhere (Asia, Europe) except USA.

I am done with this discussion and made my point. Whatever facts I have stated are common knowledge very easy to verify if one wants to.

Is that how it works for you Bicker? You launch personal attacks when you run out of facts.I attacked the assumption and the accusation, not the person.

Ok. Here are the facts
- Why are they not available in retail here? For the simple reason that companies like Comcast and Verizon don't want to work with STB maker's to certify a model that works.


Please could you provide links to web pages that corroborate this statement about Comcast and Verizon.

here are two links showing Comcast working with a CE company..... what's taking so long, I couldn't tell you.

http://www.comcast.com/About/PressRelease/PressReleaseDetail.ashx?PRID=99

http://hd.engadget.com/2009/01/08/comcast-and-panasonic-collaborate-to-bring-hdmi-cec-to-set-top-b/

http://news.cnet.com/Comcast-introduces-open-cable-platform/2100-1041_3-6225159.html


You have to understand getting this to work is not simply plug & play.

Has anyone in Bristol County gotten a new notification letter regarding their area's date change from March to February?

I haven't seen it here in Fall River even though this quote says

In addition to the faster Internet speeds and explosion of HD choices, the digital network enhancement, provided Comcast the opportunity to relaunch WBZ HD and WHDH HD in the Bristol County communities of Attleboro, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea and Taunton today. The HD signals from those Boston broadcasters will return in Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford and Dighton upon the completion of the digital network enhancement in those communities in April. WCVB HD, WGBH HD and WSBK HD remained on the lineup in Bristol County communities. Comcast has always provided all of the Boston broadcasters in standard definition within Bristol County.


^^ In other words this says the rest of bristol county will be getting the 3rd wave of channels in April which also means most of bristol county should be converting in February?

Does anyone have a canonical list of what channels will be available in HD after this changeover is complete? Comcast's own website is worse than useless. I live in Salem, MA and have not yet seen any significant changes. I'm hopeful that they'll start coming in soon.

For the simple reason that companies like Comcast and Verizon don't want to work with STB maker's to certify a model that works.here are two links showing Comcast working with a CE company..... Thanks for those links. I think that I'm going to bookmark them for future reference.

Does anyone have a canonical list of what channels will be available in HD after this changeover is complete? Comcast's own website is worse than useless. I live in Salem, MA and have not yet seen any significant changes. I'm hopeful that they'll start coming in soon.I'm no longer a Comcast customer, and I still just received a full price list for next year, including a very comprehensive and clear delineation of which channels are available. Don't refer to the website -- it's not the best source of this information. Always instead refer to written materials available at your local Comcast office (ours has the brochures available right on the wall so you can take one without having to wait for an agent), or included with your bills each year.

Does anyone have a canonical list of what channels will be available in HD after this changeover is complete? Comcast's own website is worse than useless. I live in Salem, MA and have not yet seen any significant changes. I'm hopeful that they'll start coming in soon.

If you want to PM me your email, I'll send you a list of what we got here in Cambridge.

Does anyone have a canonical list of what channels will be available in HD after this changeover is complete? Comcast's own website is worse than useless. I live in Salem, MA and have not yet seen any significant changes. I'm hopeful that they'll start coming in soon.

This list (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1058081) has most of it, if you look at the "wide + limited" indicators. Not completely accurate, but pretty close.

Any feedback on the launch of NECN HD today?

Any feedback on the launch of NECN HD today?

To me, the graphics don't appear to be in HD. Compared to the crisp, clear graphics on 4, 5, 7, and 25, NECN's graphics don't appear very sharp, especially the scroll and temp on the bottom.

Also, what's the point of taking up the bottom portion of the screen with the blue effects? They should move the scroll/time/temp down to fill that space. I'm sure they have some reason for doing this though... maybe to catch people's attention?

Got the two freebies yesterday. Not too much of a hassle. And a few extra channels. And it got rid of the signal loss noise from too many splitters in the house.
I wish the little green light wasn't always on.

And, speaking of splitters....I'm assuming from the conversation here that it is not possible to put in a splitter after the DTA to run the "digital" signal to another (boxless) TV. (not used too much; not worth a (third) DTA at $1.99/mo., as only the first 2 were free. Is this assumption correct?

I'm assuming from the conversation here that it is not possible to put in a splitter after the DTA to run the "digital" signal to another (boxless) TV.You can do so, but you'll still have to tune in the channel you want on that DTA, wherever it may be, and of course, both televisions will see only that one channel.

You can do so, but you'll still have to tune in the channel you want on that DTA, wherever it may be, and of course, both televisions will see only that one channel.

d'oh. Now why didn't I think of that!?
Thanks.

784 Travel HD
788 Lifetime Movies HD
791 QVC HD
792 Disney XD HD
794 Bravo HD
795 CNBC HD
796 ESPN News HD
797 Biography HD
810 NECN HD (a few days ago)
815 Planet Green HD
834 E! HD
860 Cartoon Network HD
904 MGM HD

Last week my TiVo reported the three new channels others have received:
825 Nickelodeon
836 Lifetime
855 Spike

But they have been blank. Nothing on those channels. I also got NECNHD on 810, which is coming in fine.
Anyone else see this?
Also, my town (Tempelton) is listed on the map in this thread as Jan/2010. Does that mean at some point I should be seeing this jackpot of new channels others are reporting in other towns?

Last week my TiVo reported the three new channels others have received:
825 Nickelodeon
836 Lifetime
855 Spike

But they have been blank. Nothing on those channels. I also got NECNHD on 810, which is coming in fine.
Anyone else see this?
Also, my town (Tempelton) is listed on the map in this thread as Jan/2010. Does that mean at some point I should be seeing this jackpot of new channels others are reporting in other towns?

Yep sometime in February you should receive a notification giving a date on when your 2nd & final HD waves will take place.

So I'm in Concord and didn't get any new HD channels yesterday, was that the date we were supposed to?

The transition date is the date that they start taking away analog... it takes several weeks for all the new HD channels to become available.

Is that how it works for you Bicker? You launch personal attacks when you run out of facts.




Correct. They are available at cheap retail prices everywhere. All they need to do is pick a model and work with maker to make it available to customers - normal practice everywhere (Asia, Europe) except USA.

I am done with this discussion and made my point. Whatever facts I have stated are common knowledge very easy to verify if one wants to.

Just to chime in here for a bit....

I have no problem with the concept of needing a box...Ok fine. What I have a problem with is that there's no way to buy one. Even if the cable companies sold theirs for say $500 that would be fine.

Back in the 90's a box cost $3 to $5 a month where I am and I remember for most points and intentions it was only really needed to get ppv's and pay channels. Since most tvs had ntsc tuners this wasn't that big of a deal (although analog dies out in a few years)

Back then I remember companies and retailers that sold analog boxes so what makes the digital concept of this so much different?

Xm and Sirius sell subscriptions to their services but sell the boxes in question. The prices go down and no one rents to buy it.

there's only one digital cable box I know someone can buy but most won't activate it
http://*******.com/ycy5oro
Motorola DCP501 All-In-One Home Theater Receiver

Now I understand the logic as if the cable companies built their network they dictate as to what can be used with it...unfortuatly this is against net neutraility.

Where I am we still use motorola boxes but this beggs the question...within say 10 or so years everyone will be on HD with the same box...so why can't the shopper buy one again?!?

The cable companies have monopolies in most towns...with analog cable dying out it forces people to get the boxes so it artifically inflates the price of the service.

Well here's the solution...if a locality creates their own cable company and happens to use the same boxes as the cable companies. This organization allows for customers to buy them :D

The other things that would be interesting is to make and distribute ways as to how people legally don't have to pay for tv (ota hdtv, fta satellite etc) distribute it on cable access channels...

Just to chime in here for a bit....

I have no problem with the concept of needing a box...Ok fine. What I have a problem with is that there's no way to buy one. Even if the cable companies sold theirs for say $500 that would be fine.

Back in the 90's a box cost $3 to $5 a month where I am and I remember for most points and intentions it was only really needed to get ppv's and pay channels. Since most tvs had ntsc tuners this wasn't that big of a deal (although analog dies out in a few years)

Back then I remember companies and retailers that sold analog boxes so what makes the digital concept of this so much different?

Xm and Sirius sell subscriptions to their services but sell the boxes in question. The prices go down and no one rents to buy it.

there's only one digital cable box I know someone can buy but most won't activate it
http://*******.com/ycy5oro
Motorola DCP501 All-In-One Home Theater Receiver

Now I understand the logic as if the cable companies built their network they dictate as to what can be used with it...unfortuatly this is against net neutraility.

Where I am we still use motorola boxes but this beggs the question...within say 10 or so years everyone will be on HD with the same box...so why can't the shopper buy one again?!?

The cable companies have monopolies in most towns...with analog cable dying out it forces people to get the boxes so it artifically inflates the price of the service.

Well here's the solution...if a locality creates their own cable company and happens to use the same boxes as the cable companies. This organization allows for customers to buy them :D

The other things that would be interesting is to make and distribute ways as to how people legally don't have to pay for tv (ota hdtv, fta satellite etc) distribute it on cable access channels...

Well you are forgetting that you can use cablecard (i know most tv's dont have them) but you can buy your own tivo or moxy dvr and throw a cable card in it, and use it as a tuner. Also, the Boston area comcast systems are already Tru2way capable, so we just need Panny to start selling their tru2way tvs here and then you can also bypass the comcast box. The only problem with Tru2way on panny is that they have decided on a "set back box" which is added behind the tv. The reason is so they don't have to add $200 to the cost of the set, those who want can buy the set back box and have the full glory of tru2way.

-Ken

I have no problem with the concept of needing a box...Ok fine. What I have a problem with is that there's no way to buy one.That's a reflection of the fact that there isn't enough of a profit motive to sell them retail. There is nothing in the CableLabs certification process that would prevent a CE manufacturer from offering what you want. They clearly just don't want to. You can't make them. It's a free country.

...unfortuatly this is against net neutraility.Net Neutrality is a concept that people are trying to get adopted as a rule. It is not a rule. Nothing can be "against net neutrality" at this point, at least not in the manner you have implied.

The cable companies have monopolies in most towns...No they don't. This has been discussed dozens of times. You're just wrong. The US Court of Appeals even spanked the FCC, last year, for making the same error you're making, i.e., ignoring DBS as competition for cable.

Well here's the solution...if a locality creates their own cable company and happens to use the same boxes as the cable companies. This organization allows for customers to buy them :DWhat makes you think that the CE manufacturers would allow any service provider sell something that they provided for leasing service only? The CE manufacturers seem to have made a deliberate decision in this regard -- I doubt they'd make an exception even for a municipal cable company. And no, the city can't force them; and if the city insists on it as a condition of offering the contract, then the city may just find itself without any suppliers.

I have the DCX3400 DVR and the remote freezing is a pain in the butt, Is this a normal problem? Is there a fix?

S/W Ver. 75.59

Firmware 22.35

still nothing in my mailbox regarding a date change :(

I have the DCX3400 DVR and the remote freezing is a pain in the butt, Is this a normal problem? Is there a fix?

S/W Ver. 75.59

Firmware 22.35

I have the DCX3400 and my remote doesn't freeze at all.

I have the DCX3400 and my remote doesn't freeze at all.

What firmware do you have, I was just installed today and the firmware may be outdated

I have the DCX3400 and my remote doesn't freeze at all.

Installer said it was a problem with the new platinum remote but I programed my Harmony 880 and it has the same problems

I don't know if the on-screen guide varies from Motorola to SA, or if it varies by town or whatever.

But I'm in Plymouth, former Adelphia, so I have an SA.

Does anyone else have consistent problems with Tuesdays not being able to load the schedule? It just won't come up at all until often about 11PM on Monday night, if not 12:00 AM outright. It makes DVRing a bit of a nuisance for shows that are either on Tuesdays, or are on multiple nights per week. As I've often had it break the scheduling all together.

Just trying to figure out if this is a known glitch/common glitch, or if it's something I need to call them about.

Installer said it was a problem with the new platinum remote but I programed my Harmony 880 and it has the same problems

Your installer was misinformed (big surprise). The problem actually lies with the IR sensor on these things. They are very susceptible to outside interference. Some of the newer TVs with certain auto adjusting capabilities (Sharp Aquos is a known problem child) and the newer energy efficient light bulbs when first turned on cause problems with these boxes. The easiest fix (if you don't mind it visually) is to put a sticky or two over the sensor to filter out some interference. If you search in the DCX series thread, there are other suggestions on how to fix the problem.