i don't think many readers of this forum would be too happy either. :p

Comcast does not re-compress, they just retransmit the original HD signal as they get it.

So, complain to the original channel(s). However I'm thinking, telling them to lower the bit rate so that you can burn their TV shows on DVD will probably not go over very well :)

Nope, no way to get just Expanded Basic and Digital Classic, you have to get Basic before you can get anything else.

Dirty rotten scoundrels those Comcast people are..

I got limited basic + HD right now but my 35-74 channels have been stripped.

So for $5 I get all the "free" HD channels. I guess Comcast value the channels 35-74 more than HD.

i don't think many readers of this forum would be too happy either. :pI've got a rope with the noose already tied....

Dirty rotten scoundrels those Comcast people are..

I got limited basic + HD right now but my 35-74 channels have been stripped.

So for $5 I get all the "free" HD channels. I guess Comcast value the channels 35-74 more than HD.
Not that it will help much, but on either side of the blocked channels you might actually get 2-3 channels of Expanded Basic. I do up here.

When I asked the Mountain View office, I was told no. When I called Comcast, they had no problem adding digital classic to just limited basic. This was a few months ago, so I don't know if their policy has changed.
Same here, Basic plus Digital Classic. You just can't get their DVR and get those 2, you have to get Expanded Basic as well.

Dirty rotten scoundrels those Comcast people are..

I got limited basic + HD right now but my 35-74 channels have been stripped.

So for $5 I get all the "free" HD channels. I guess Comcast value the channels 35-74 more than HD.

Why should Comcast give you the channels you're not paying for?

Not that it will help much, but on either side of the blocked channels you might actually get 2-3 channels of Expanded Basic. I do up here.

I wish it did. I still get channel 35 but thats the Food channel. I was hoping I'd get 36 at least. Dirt is a good show!

Why should Comcast give you the channels you're not paying for?

Well, I'm not paying for the encrypted HD channels but I still get it.

to follow-up. i checked some of my files generated via my QAM tuner on my Mac:

FOX: 1 hour (Prison Break or 24): 6.4 GB (14.6 Mbits/s)
NBC: 1 hour (Heroes or Studio 60): 7.1 GB (16.1 Mbit/s)

(actually my Mbit/s may be a bit low depending on how you define Mbit with 1024, etc...)

I don't think he was going to drop Digital Classic, just the last 3 fee charges. If he drops the last 3 he should still get everything he wants, at least that's the way it works up here. I think the CSRs are confused on how to actually bill him since he's not using one of their boxes.

Just to follow up: 36 hours later, I'm still getting the HDTV channels (702-723) that I was getting before I dropped the 3 extraneous charges.

So now, I only have Limited Basic + Digital Classic. I get the following HD stations (in Sunnyvale):

FOX
NBC
CBS
ABC
PBS
FSN-HD
DISC-HD
ESPN-HD

Dirty rotten scoundrels those Comcast people are..

I got limited basic + HD right now but my 35-74 channels have been stripped.

So for $5 I get all the "free" HD channels. I guess Comcast value the channels 35-74 more than HD.

i thought that was the point of limited basic. only 2-35. consider the HD channels as a bonus.

Dirty rotten scoundrels those Comcast people are..

I got limited basic + HD right now but my 35-74 channels have been stripped.

So for $5 I get all the "free" HD channels. I guess Comcast value the channels 35-74 more than HD.
Actually, they do. Comcast pays and/or receives much more money for those Expanded Basic channels than the few free HD channels, which at this point, produce practically no income for anyone, broadcaster or cable company.

yes I know to you both.

I've not gotten channels for which I'm not paying for any period of time longer than about 36 hours IIRC.

(OK, secretly posting something relatively on topic to assure that I can easily find and respond to the thread since the new version was created -- I at least waited until it was near the top of recently-commented-upon-threads).

Huh? How can cable modem degrade HD service?
Well, that's not really the answer I was looking for. Unless what you're saying, C3, is that the broadband is totally separate from the HD signal, and the coax has enough capacity to carry both, and there will be no interaction between the signals.

I'm a civil engineer, not an electrical engineer, but I recall how harmonics can affect two signals if they share the same conductor. Am I wrong here?

What I'm asking for is if there are other members who have both HD and broadband, and if they've noticed anything.

thanks for your help.

Since you are aware of harmonics.. :) ALL digital channels, including HD and basic channels are are _ALWAYS_ transmitted whether you pay for HD or not.

Broadband uses its own frequency range and is not affected by other channels.

ps: I 'have' HD and Comcast broadband.
ps2: In other words, quality of your X-ray does not depend on amount of light in the X-ray room.

Well, that's not really the answer I was looking for. Unless what you're saying, C3, is that the broadband is totally separate from the HD signal, and the coax has enough capacity to carry both, and there will be no interaction between the signals.

I'm a civil engineer, not an electrical engineer, but I recall how harmonics can affect two signals if they share the same conductor. Am I wrong here?

What I'm asking for is if there are other members who have both HD and broadband, and if they've noticed anything.

thanks for your help.

Harmonics shouldn't be a factor here, at least in regards to the digital channels (which all HD channels are). As far as the spectrum is concerned it's all 1's and 0's -- regardless if it's video being sent or computer data packets. I guess it could be possible for there to be interference with the analog channels being sent however as raghu1111 said, I've never seen anything like this. If you're going to have a problem, it will most likely be lack of bandwidth (either coming into your house or at the outlet itself). See my post on the previous page for suggestions on that.

Well, that's not really the answer I was looking for. Unless what you're saying, C3, is that the broadband is totally separate from the HD signal, and the coax has enough capacity to carry both, and there will be no interaction between the signals.

In the 800MHz+ cable systems, there are more than 100 RF channels on the coax. Within each RF channel, there could be multiple logical digital channels (123-1, 123-2, etc.). Cable modem service just uses one or more of those RF channels. Whether you subscribe to those channels or not, you always receive all of them (encrypted or not), including your neighbors' cable modem traffic.

(Sorry if this has been answered. I did a search for "tivo" in both this and the previous SF Comcast forums, but it came back with no results.)

Any word, rumors, etc on when C* will be releasing its Tivo software for the Moto DVR's? Any word about pricing, as well?

Does anybody know if they have 3416's at the Milpitas or Santa Clara offices. With my wife DVRing two episodes of Idol per week, plus the usual House, Studio 60, 30 Rock, and Office, all in HD, (not to mention various Japanese programs in SD) the HDD gets eaten up pretty quickly. I could use the extra 40G.

Actually, I wish the damn USB worked so I could just add a 250G MyBook or something.

I thought you can format a blank HD as a linux drive and pop that in the Tivo. My brother in law did this.

HSI uses something in the 70mhz region I believe.

HDTV is more up around the 500-750mhz range. So no chance of interference.

I have both and it's not a problem. In fact I get 27 megabits download with the new "speed boost" service (for the first 10-15 MB of any file, then it drops to the normal 6 megabits).

Does anybody know if they have 3416's at the Milpitas or Santa Clara offices. I got a 3416 from the Santa Clara office a few months ago.

Does anybody know if they have 3416's at the Milpitas or Santa Clara offices. With my wife DVRing two episodes of Idol per week, plus the usual House, Studio 60, 30 Rock, and Office, all in HD, (not to mention various Japanese programs in SD) the HDD gets eaten up pretty quickly. I could use the extra 40G.

Actually, I wish the damn USB worked so I could just add a 250G MyBook or something.
No 3416's in Milpitas until the upgrades are over, we are still 550 MHz and are not doing Digital Simulcasting so you still need a 6412 in that area ( for now ).

As far as external storage, have you heard the saying when Heck freezes over ?? Content providers will never allow it, we are all thieves in their minds and can't be trusted with their precious content. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Laters,
Mikef5

I thought you can format a blank HD as a linux drive and pop that in the Tivo. My brother in law did this.

garypen has a Comcast DVR, not a TiVo.

(Sorry if this has been answered. I did a search for "tivo" in both this and the previous SF Comcast forums, but it came back with no results.)

Any word, rumors, etc on when C* will be releasing its Tivo software for the Moto DVR's? Any word about pricing, as well?

No date or price yet...supposedly by this summer. There's a good thread here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=682350) that has some info.

In fact I get 27 megabits download with the new "speed boost" service (for the first 10-15 MB of any file, then it drops to the normal 6 megabits).
I've been wondering about this. I have only limited basic with a HD receiver.
My Comcast cable download speeds max out at around 4.2 MB. Could this be because I only have limited basic or should I call and complain about not getting the 6MB? I'm on the newer Healdsburg Comcast line in far north Santa Rosa.

Yes, the trap can limit HSI speeds.

It can also be something else, signal strength (too many splits, poor quality splitters/cables/connectors) or your own equipment.

Though, they don't guarantee any speed at all, if you read your fine print. 8)

What are you using to test it?

I did a quick search for "Sunnyvale" in this thread...but didn't get any meaningful hits.

Can someone in the San Jose/Sunnyvale area recommend a good indoor antenna I can use to receive the HDTV digital broadcasts from Mount Sutro? The Silver Sensor and the Philips MANT510 did not work all that well for me...though the Silver Sensor did pick up more...but it would always freeze on me.

I did a quick search for "Sunnyvale" in this thread...but didn't get any meaningful hits.

Can someone in the San Jose/Sunnyvale area recommend a good indoor antenna I can use to receive the HDTV digital broadcasts from Mount Sutro? The Silver Sensor and the Philips MANT510 did not work all that well for me...though the Silver Sensor did pick up more...but it would always freeze on me.

This is probably the thread you should post this on: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=369015

Thanks...That would help being in the actual right thread...My bad...

Hi, I'm trying to figure out how to get the HD channels on my tv. It has a built-in HD tuner.

I get 2.1, 5.1. But how do I get SPN in HD. It doesn't have 723 because I don't have a STB or cable card. It's not on 38 either. And there's no 38.1.

I'm in the Oakland Hills using Comcast.

Thanks!

Right now I'm getting "One Moment Please" on all channels in Mtn. View. They tried to hit my box and couldn't. Anyone else in the area having trouble? I powercycled the box like they said and of course now I don't have DVR either (which at least had some stuff I could watch on it). I only have one TV in the house so I can't easily check if it's the box - hopefully I'm just at the leading edge of reporting a problem farther up that will be fixed soon...

Hi, I'm trying to figure out how to get the HD channels on my tv. It has a built-in HD tuner.

I get 2.1, 5.1. But how do I get SPN in HD. It doesn't have 723 because I don't have a STB or cable card. It's not on 38 either. And there's no 38.1.

I'm in the Oakland Hills using Comcast.

Thanks!
If you're asking about ESPN, it's probably encrypted and that's why it's not coming in on your QAM tuner. You'll need a CableCARD equipped device or a Comcast STB to view that channel.

Right now I'm getting "One Moment Please" on all channels in Mtn. View.

The issue appears to have resolved itself. So much for it being my fault as the Comcast droid suggested.

seems KGO news is finally broadcasting in HD! 5pm broadcast is HD, not sure if there were earlier broadcasts in HD since I don't watch KGO news much. but i was skipping through the channels and noticed the 'HD' next to the logo.

Hi,
Am I the only one who's getting channels 705 (KPIXDT) and 722 (DHD) encrypted?
I'm unable to record those through firewire from my mythtv setup... I'm located in Mountain View.
Thanks...

seems KGO news is finally broadcasting in HD! 5pm broadcast is HD, not sure if there were earlier broadcasts in HD since I don't watch KGO news much. but i was skipping through the channels and noticed the 'HD' next to the logo.

They just started a soft start with the 5PM news.

Anybody else getting video dropouts and pixelation from HBO HD. The audio works fine but not the video. BTW I'm in Sunnyvale.

Does anyone have a current list of QAM channels in the clear (and where they are) for the Sunnyvale/Mountain View area? I'm having trouble finding a few stragglers...

They just started a soft start with the 5PM news.
I watched all the news Saturday on ABC and the in studio stuff was good but the stuff outside was soft as heck, you can really tell they're not using HD cameras outside in most of their shots. Compared to KTVU-HD, ABC-HD has a long way to go. They're suppose to go full time HD for the news and The View from the Bay on Monday so we'll have to see if things improve or not. I'm sure that KGO would appreciate everyone's input as to what you like or dislike about their new HD news. I've already given them my input... ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

Hi,
Am I the only one who's getting channels 705 (KPIXDT) and 722 (DHD) encrypted?
I'm unable to record those through firewire from my mythtv setup... I'm located in Mountain View.
Thanks...

It's most likely not encryption but rather the 5c flag is enabled during the programs you're trying to record. You can check by going to the diagnostics menu (turn the STB off and press 'OK/SELECT' within 2 minutes) and go to 'd11 Interface Status'. There should be a line called '5c Implementation' -- if it's set to anything other than 0 then that's your problem.

I see major out of sync on KQEDH (Comcast ch 709). The picture is gorgeous, but watching operatic performances is really distracting because there is about 1/2 second of out of sync between the picture and voices.

This is as observed through a Motorola DCT6200/2005 box yesterday and today (just got the box yesterday), but I saw the same on OTA Friday night before I got the box Saturday morning.

I am not seeing sync problems on any other channel.

Anybody else getting video dropouts and pixelation from HBO HD. The audio works fine but not the video. BTW I'm in Sunnyvale.
Saturday night during 'King Kong' (remake no match to original classic) HBO 730 (am on Comcast Santa Cruz with CC) picture constantly froze (similar to a DVD freezing), so quit watching---------- but okay next day. I didn't bother calling CSR becsue could probably due nothing with CC.

S. lannes

Saturday night during 'King Kong' (remake no match to original classic) HBO 730 (am on Comcast Santa Cruz with CC) picture constantly froze (similar to a DVD freezing), so quit watching---------- but okay next day. I didn't bother calling CSR becsue could probably due nothing with CC.

S. lannes
I didn't bother calling CSR because could probably do nothing with CC.

I'll be moving to heart of downtown San Jose (E. San Fernando Street), zip code 95112 in about a month. Titantv.com indicates that zip code has Rebuild Premium channels available. Does that mean the rebuild is is only available in certain parts of 95112? Is the rebuild complete in the heart of the city?

Thanks for any information you may have.

I think all of San Jose is 750 MHZ at least. So no problem with missing channels.

Saturday night during 'King Kong' (remake no match to original classic) HBO 730 (am on Comcast Santa Cruz with CC) picture constantly froze (similar to a DVD freezing), so quit watching---------- but okay next day. I didn't bother calling CSR becsue could probably due nothing with CC.

S. lannes

I have often noted that with HBO especially if it is the first showing of the film. It is like they purposely put glitches in the stream so anyone recording it does not get a good copy. Later showings will not have the glitch. Grow up HBO! Stop giving us glitched and sometimes cropped movies. And give us a little more programming for our money or I'll drop you after the Sopranos.

It's most likely not encryption but rather the 5c flag is enabled during the programs you're trying to record. You can check by going to the diagnostics menu (turn the STB off and press 'OK/SELECT' within 2 minutes) and go to 'd11 Interface Status'. There should be a line called '5c Implementation' -- if it's set to anything other than 0 then that's your problem.

I've tried that before, but for absolutely every channel I've tried it says "No" (and it says "copy free" for "Copy Control"). Is "No" a problem, or am I doing something wrong? (on a similar subject, I can never see the ieee1394 output as "active", since the off+ok thing stops it).
Thanks...

I've tried that before, but for absolutely every channel I've tried it says "No" (and it says "copy free" for "Copy Control"). Is "No" a problem, or am I doing something wrong? (on a similar subject, I can never see the ieee1394 output as "active", since the off+ok thing stops it).
Thanks...

It's been a while since I've tried using the FireWire output to record to PC so maybe someone else can chime in. IIRC some networks enable it on a "per program" basis so you might want to check the diags during a program that's been giving you problems.

After viewing many posts here, I am still confused on some basic issues.

My 6412 DVR in Marin is full and I want to expand the recording capability.

1. Is the ESATA port on the 34xx series enabled by Comcast in the Bay Area?
2. Is there truly SD degradation through the HDMI port?
3. Will we be allowed to purhcase our own boxes later this year?

After viewing many posts here, I am still confused on some basic issues.

My 6412 DVR in Marin is full and I want to expand the recording capability.

1. Is the ESATA port on the 34xx series enabled by Comcast in the Bay Area?
2. Is there truly SD degradation through the HDMI port?
3. Will we be allowed to purhcase our own boxes later this year?

1. No
2. Not that I've seen
3. No (not the Comcast boxes)

I didn't bother calling CSR because could probably do nothing with CC.
I also have a cable card.

Yes, the trap can limit HSI speeds.

It can also be something else, signal strength (too many splits, poor quality splitters/cables/connectors) or your own equipment.

Though, they don't guarantee any speed at all, if you read your fine print. 8)

What are you using to test it?
Only one split and all connectors and cables are new and of good quality.
I'm using Net.Medic to test the speed. It is a program I picked up a long time ago and isn't available anymore as far as I can tell.
As far as guaranteeing speed, they constantly quote download speeds of 6000 KB in their advertising.

Anybody else getting video dropouts and pixelation from HBO HD. The audio works fine but not the video. BTW I'm in Sunnyvale.

Has been happening for some time on almost all my channels (Mainly CBS/FOX carrid on the same QAM channel, and in higher frequencies) the past month. Not sure if they are upgrading something or what is up, everything works perfect during the day, and later at night (when more people are on) I get many glitches and drops. My internet slows down tremendously also.

Any ideas ?

Has been happening for some time on almost all my channels (Mainly CBS/FOX carrid on the same QAM channel, and in higher frequencies) the past month. Not sure if they are upgrading something or what is up, everything works perfect during the day, and later at night (when more people are on) I get many glitches and drops. My internet slows down tremendously also.

Any ideas ?

Sounds like a cold temperature problem. I had that problem in December, and it had to be fixed by the network people, not the regular technicians. You may want to monitor the signal quality level, channel, time, and outdoor temperature to see if that is really the issue.

Sounds like a cold temperature problem. I had that problem in December, and it had to be fixed by the network people, not the regular technicians. You may want to monitor the signal quality level, channel, time, and outdoor temperature to see if that is really the issue.I had a problem like that, it seems to kick in when the temp goes below 39F. It was happening intermittantly in January, they had a line tech out to adjust the outside amp. It happened again, when the temp dropped again, and i couldn't persuade them they needed to look at the outside amp again.

They're completely clueless if you have an intermittant cold problem like that. That's how I got completely pissed off at the cable company years ago (TCI back then).

I got a 3416 from the Santa Clara office a few months ago.Cool!

Hmm. Does the 3416 use different sw than the 3412? I wonder if it's possible to swap internal drives in these things?

After viewing many posts here, I am still confused on some basic issues.

My 6412 DVR in Marin is full and I want to expand the recording capability.

1. Is the ESATA port on the 34xx series enabled by Comcast in the Bay Area?
2. Is there truly SD degradation through the HDMI port?
3. Will we be allowed to purchase our own boxes later this year?

1. No, not yet, if ever.

2. I have two 34xx boxes and see degraded SD via HDMI on both (compared to the 6412 boxes they replaced).

3. You can buy your own box right now (Tivo S3). Oh, you mean the Comcrap boxes? Why would you want to do that?

What is meant by degraded SD? I use HDMI and get excellent SD quality on my Panasonic LCD TV. It's important to set the 4:3 over-ride to 480i, so that your TV will handle the upconversion, not the cable box.

What is meant by degraded SD?
Digital artifacts that aren't visible on the component outputs. Harsh, edgy video with lots of ringing.

I have the box set to output SD as 480i.

Digital artifacts that aren't visible on the component outputs. Harsh, edgy video with lots of ringing.Are you sure the sharpness control on that input doesn't need tweeking?

Digital artifacts that aren't visible on the component outputs. Harsh, edgy video with lots of ringing.

I have the box set to output SD as 480i.I don't have that issue with my 3412, or my 6412 before that.

I thought you can format a blank HD as a linux drive and pop that in the Tivo. My brother in law did this.

No, it's not that simple. You need to run special tools to copy the existing OS over to a new drive and expand the (non-standard-OS) partitions for the Tivo.

That is, it's easy for a geek, but it's not just "format it and plop it in". It's "format it with special tools and an existing Tivo drive/image and plop it in".

I may be missing something incredibly obvious, but is there a digital KQED channel that simply shows the same thing that is on regular/analog KQED?

Remember, I'm trying to do some (relatively rare) manual recordings on my series 3 Tivo with no cable cards. (yeah, I'll probably get them sometime, and/or figure out a way to get an OTA signal in my room)

But for example, if I see a show on KQED that I'd like to record digitally, can I just use a different channel? It doesn't seem to be 9-1, or any other 9-channel that I can see.

A few weeks ago, I checked the KQED HD online listings, and was able to record something manually that way. But it'd be great just to be able to view the normal listings in my Tivo, and do a manual recording once in a while of a music show.

Digital artifacts that aren't visible on the component outputs. Harsh, edgy video with lots of ringing.

I have the box set to output SD as 480i.

I had the same problem, until I set the box to 720p. I think the Mot box is doing some weird signal processing - it's as if it creates a high-def signal from the SD channel, then down converts for the 480i setting.

Even then, the colors and contrast are still off - but it looks better.

-Dave

I'll try 720p and see if that helps.

And no, I haven't changed the sharpness control since I swapped the 6412 for the 3416.

I may be missing something incredibly obvious, but is there a digital KQED channel that simply shows the same thing that is on regular/analog KQED?

If your area has ADS, you have to find the KQED ADS channel. There is no HD equivalent, although some programs can also be found on KQED-HD.

I had a problem like that, it seems to kick in when the temp goes below 39F. It was happening intermittantly in January, they had a line tech out to adjust the outside amp. It happened again, when the temp dropped again, and i couldn't persuade them they needed to look at the outside amp again.

They're completely clueless if you have an intermittant cold problem like that. That's how I got completely pissed off at the cable company years ago (TCI back then).


I understand the cold temperatures around Dec/Jan but now it shouldn't be the case. Its 2am and its 50F at this time in Sunnyvale, don't see how it could have been colder around 7pm too. I had 2 techs come out and tell me everything was fine, that is because it was fine, they came during the day. I'm not sure if I will be able to magically set up an appointment for when this problem is occurring so that the techs can detect it, or hope and get lucky with a tech that knows what he's doing. Any suggestions to how to get comcast to look into their outside wiring? (Other than just look at their box at the apartments and tell me everything is fine). It's kind of ridiculous having this problem for 2+ months now.

Thanks!

I understand the cold temperatures around Dec/Jan but now it shouldn't be the case.

Cold temperature problem doesn't mean it has to drop below X degrees. It's just cold enough to cause problems bad enough for you to notice them.

Do you have a DVR? I set up my TiVo to record 5 minutes every hour so I could collect more data and have something to show the Comcast guy.

Cold temperature problem doesn't mean it has to drop below X degrees. It's just cold enough to cause problems bad enough for you to notice them.

Do you have a DVR? I set up my TiVo to record 5 minutes every hour so I could collect more data and have something to show the Comcast guy.

No DVR but I can record a sample with my QAM tuner.

I may be missing something incredibly obvious, but is there a digital KQED channel that simply shows the same thing that is on regular/analog KQED?

In my area (Mountain View, CA) Comcast broadcast the KQED in the channels just below 199 (on the cable box). I don't know what real RF channels they are at, but I can see them on my FusionHDTV qam pc card.

In my area (Mountain View, CA) Comcast broadcast the KQED in the channels just below 199 (on the cable box).

Those are the additional KQED digital channels, not the same as channel 9.

Just received the 8.1 winter update for the S3, takes about 20-30 mins, be sure you do it before you're scheduled to record anything, if I'd waited until 8:30 to fire up the S3 I would have missed some recordings.

I presume you mean manually restart. I did it this morning while I was getting ready to go to work (I was checking the status since I am recording at 2AM when it would otherwise automatically restart). Check Tivocommunity's Series 3 section, there are some known bugs.

If your area has ADS, you have to find the KQED ADS channel. There is no HD equivalent, although some programs can also be found on KQED-HD.

Yeah, in the past, I had manually found a few programs on KQED-HD.

How do I know if I have "ADS"? I'm in Sunnyvale on Comcast. Remember, I have no cable box nor cablecards. (I probably should call up Comcast before I take another semi-regular vacation day, so I can schedule an installation of cable cards.. if it truly will only be $1.50 total/month for me that'll probably be enough of an improvement to pay for it..)

I may be missing something incredibly obvious, but is there a digital KQED channel that simply shows the same thing that is on regular/analog KQED?

I have a digital mirror version of KQED on channel 96.

Is anyone else having problems with the menu to get to your recorded shows?

Is anyone else having problems with the menu to get to your recorded shows?

I did yesterday. I I pressed the 'My DVR' button, I got some weird error code. However if I went to Menu->DVR, it worked fine. It seems to be cleared up today...the My DVR button works fine.

I presume you mean manually restart. I did it this morning while I was getting ready to go to work (I was checking the status since I am recording at 2AM when it would otherwise automatically restart). Check Tivocommunity's Series 3 section, there are some known bugs.
Yes, that's what I had to do. I haven't noticed any bugs yet.

Me to My DVR gives no usable screen, you can get to it through other menu options though. I have restarted and it did fix it but it has reappeared.

MB

Only one split and all connectors and cables are new and of good quality.
I'm using Net.Medic to test the speed. It is a program I picked up a long time ago and isn't available anymore as far as I can tell.
As far as guaranteeing speed, they constantly quote download speeds of 6000 KB in their advertising.
Try the speed test here http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

They advertise "up to" xyz, but if you look in the fine print it says "not guaranteed".

Me to My DVR gives no usable screen, you can get to it through other menu options though. I have restarted and it did fix it but it has reappeared.

MB
I had the same thing yesterday/day before. The usual pull-the-plug method of regular weekly maintenence these boxes require seemed to fix it. :p

I had the same thing yesterday/day before. The usual pull-the-plug method of regular weekly maintenence these boxes require seemed to fix it. :p

I wish I had reset mine, I had the text corruption but all seemed fine. Then last night it started recording American Idol on its own, I don't have a series recording for it so I thought it was strange. When I checked my recordings all were gone. :eek: And all my series recordings too!! It upchucked all its settings. FIrst time ever.

I wanted to watch some of those shows. Oh well it is just TV ;)

Got a letter from comcast.

In the next two to three months you're going to see some exciting changes as we
upgrade and improve the cable system in your neighborhood. This will allow us
to provide more reliability with our service, and it will enable us to offer the advanced products and services costomers have been asking for, such as
On Demand with Digital Cable and Comcast Dight Phone.

Comcast Standard Cable will include more of the most-requested channel. Plus,
all your local channels are included at no Additional cost. Comcast Digital Cable will
be improved with dozens more channels, including lots of movies and sports, and
the convenience of a fuller varity of Pay-Per-View channels you can order at the
touch of a botton from your remote control.

You will also still be able to enjoy Comcast High-Speed Internet. It's cable poweredso it's faster than dial-up which means you can stop waiting and start surfing! You will be able to download pictures, movies and msic files in just secconds, instead of minutes or even hours.

Before these changes can occur, we need to uprade the cable systems that serves your neighood. This involves both overheadand underground construction in you area. As work proceeds there may be:

An increase in the number of untility trucks from Comcast and our contractors
as we replace or upgrade electronic equipment.

The placement of clored ground markers to identify untility lines prior to underground construction.

Brief cable Tv and Comcast High-speed Internet Service interruptions.

Brief cable Tv interruptions.

Throughout this process our experienced technical crew will extra care to minimize any inconvenience, and we will make every effort to complete all work prior to 5:00pm. We hope you'll bear with us as we make these improvements, so that
we can bring you the communications products we know are important to you.
Please look for information from us in the next few months as these new services
become available in your neighborhood.

usc10

I hope we get one of those letters here in Santa Rosa.

I hope we get one of those letters here in Santa Rosa.

I hope so as well....

I'd love to see a sh*t eatin' grin on your face. :D

I currently pick up the local HD channels (ABC, CBS...PBS) using the QAM tuner in my plasma TV without any additional equipment. If I have a Cablecard installed do I have to pay Comcast the $5 HD fee to continue to receive these channels in HD?

I currently pick up the local HD channels (ABC, CBS...PBS) using the QAM tuner in my plasma TV without any additional equipment. If I have a Cablecard installed do I have to pay Comcast the $5 HD fee to continue to receive these channels in HD?

No, but you don't gain anything other than being able to use channel 707 instead of 123.45.

I'm happy to report that as of a few days ago Antioch (at least my neighborhood) was upgraded. Newly added HD channels:

KRON
INHD
FSNHD
VSGLF
ESPN2
TNT
UHD
MHD
NFLNET
and
ON DEMAND

Plus what we already had: FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC PBS, DISCOVERY, ESPN

I did yesterday. I I pressed the 'My DVR' button, I got some weird error code. However if I went to Menu->DVR, it worked fine. It seems to be cleared up today...the My DVR button works fine.


I thought it was just me....exact same symptoms here. I did a full power-down reboot, and the menu has returned. HOWEVER, my pre-selected scheduled recordings for yesterday did NOT record...the DVR did not even turn on :mad:

No, but you don't gain anything other than being able to use channel 707 instead of 123.45.
I think what he's considering is returning the HD STB equipment and saving the $5 fee.

Has anybody noticed TiVo S3 guide data for KRON-HD is no longer correct? They seem to have switched it to use KRONDT2 data instead of KRONDT however 704 is broadcasting KRONDT content.

Also I don't know when but they seem to have added KFTY-DT at some point with PSIP data mapping to 24.1. Comcast channel is 199. I haven't checked in a while so it could have happened a long time ago.

Has anybody noticed TiVo S3 guide data for KRON-HD is no longer correct? They seem to have switched it to use KRONDT2 data instead of KRONDT however 704 is broadcasting KRONDT content.

Also I don't know when but they seem to have added KFTY-DT at some point with PSIP data mapping to 24.1. Comcast channel is 199. I haven't checked in a while so it could have happened a long time ago.

Tivo (and titantv for that matter) guide data for KRON has *never* been that accurate, but it's not totally wrong... maybe 25-50% :)

Yes, they added KFTY-DT at least a few weeks ago? I only noticed it when Tivo sound some extra Star Trek: TOS episodes. Nicer digital quality than TVLand 72 w/ the channel bug at bottom...

Anyone with TiVo S3 seeing guide entry for chan 721 VSGLF ?
I have guide entry on DCT-6200 but not S3 even though I sent TiVo a channel lineup problem inquiry some time ago when 721 first appeared. I can tune ok to 721 on S3 using the number keys. 721 does not show up on http://zap2it.com/ .

A little more research shows that 721 appears in the zap2it listing for San Francisco and San Rafael but not for Novato. I submitted another channel lineup problem form to TiVo, but not sure on how to submit the same to zap2it which I believe is the source TiVo uses and therefore the problem.

Tivo (and titantv for that matter) guide data for KRON has *never* been that accurate, but it's not totally wrong... maybe 25-50% :)
The problem here isn't guide data accuracy as far as I can tell.

It just looks like the guide data is for a totally separate subchannel that has a different schedule of programs.

The programming on 704 matches exactly what KRON (the analog channel) is broadcasting. My friend who has an older guide compilation on his S3 has 704 mapped to KRONDT vs my mapping which has KRONDT2. His guide data for KRONDT matches up with KRON guide data and thus matches up with the actual broadcast.

As a result, the guide data for 704 (KRONDT2) is pretty much totally wrong, because it appears to be guide data for a different sub-channel.

Maybe there is some transition going on at KRON for their HD channel and the guide data is correct but the broadcast schedule hasn't matched up yet.

Bottom line is I'm not really complaining about a few inaccuracies in the guide. I'm asking about guide data that is for, what appears to be, the wrong sub-channel.

I just got a TiVo S3, and I'll have to wait until next Friday for the CableCard installation. In the meantime, I'm having to hunt for the local HD channels in the QAM muck. I noticed others asking for QAM mappings as well. Here's what I found so far. I'l appreciate if anyone has possible QAM channel info for KPIX (705) and KTVU (702).

These are for Palo Alto and current as of today, Feb 24.

703 KNTV 116.1
707 KGO 117.1
709 KQED 117.2

EDIT: I found the Palo Alto channel numbers for KPIX and KTVU:

702 KTVU: 122.2
705 KPIX: 122.1

I'l appreciate if anyone has possible QAM channel info for KPIX (705) and KTVU (702).

Those two channels have PSIP data in many areas and show up as 5-1 and 2-1. If not, try 79-1 and 79-2 (Mountain View).

So does anyone wonder what the hold up is with Dish getting FSNBA-HD ??? Checkout this Dsl Reports article http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/81855 , This might be a reason why ;) .

I'm so glad my area is finally going to be upgraded so I don't have to make a decision on whether or not to switch and lose FSNBA-HD . I wonder how this is going to affect Directv if this really goes through ???

Laters,
Mikef5

I currently pick up the local HD channels (ABC, CBS...PBS) using the QAM tuner in my plasma TV without any additional equipment. If I have a Cablecard installed do I have to pay Comcast the $5 HD fee to continue to receive these channels in HD?
No... you will have to pay $9.95/mo (at least).

The $5 fee is for the Hi-Def cable box, and requires a Digital Cable package.

The first CableCard is free, but you do need Digital Cable (the cheapest is "Classic" at $9.95/mo).

The upside of course is that you will get many many more digital cable channels, including some Hi-Def (INHD, ESPN, Discovery, FSN, UHD, MHD) and have the channels mapped to correct numbers.

So does anyone wonder what the hold up is with Dish getting FSNBA-HD ??? Checkout this Dsl Reports article http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/81855 , This might be a reason why ;) .

I'm so glad my area is finally going to be upgraded so I don't have to make a decision on whether or not to switch and lose FSNBA-HD . I wonder how this is going to affect Directv if this really goes through ???

Laters,
Mikef5
Interesting as it's been reported that Liberty Media has also been looking to buy the Rainbow Media RSN assets. Liberty Media being Malone being DirecTV.

The $5 fee is for the Hi-Def cable box, and requires a Digital Cable package.

The first CableCard is free, but you do need Digital Cable (the cheapest is "Classic" at $9.95/mo).

Neither the HD box nor the CableCard requires any digital package if you just want local HD channels.

Interesting as it's been reported that Liberty Media has also been looking to buy the Rainbow Media RSN assets. Liberty Media being Malone being DirecTV.
From the article it seems it only includes FSNBA and FSN New England, I don't know if the entire RainBow Media is part of the deal or just those two areas. I really don't see an advantage for Directv if it's just those two markets ( abet two major markets ) other than to put the screws to Comcast in these areas ;) . From what I've read about Mr. Malone he's pretty shrewed in his business projects and doesn't do things that don't directly benefit his plans. Glad to see Liberty ( Manlone ) finally get control of Directv, maybe things will start to happen for them now that he's in the drivers seat.

Laters,
Mikef5

Neither the HD box nor the CableCard requires any digital package if you just want local HD channels.Yes, if you have a QAM tuner (clear-QAM) in the TV.

But he's asking how much would it cost to get a CableCard. At least I think that's what he's asking....

It costs $(a digital package) + $0 for the first card, then I think $6.95 for each card after that.

Or are you saying you can get a CableCard free with just "basic" cable? I don't think you can.

Same with the HD box. You can't just get a HD box (6200) for $5/mo. That's the UPGRADE fee from the non-HD box, assuming you have a digital package. If you don't have a digital package you don't get any type of box at all, that's why it's so cheap.

Or are you saying you can get a CableCard free with just "basic" cable? I don't think you can.

I have limited basic for ~$15 and two CableCards for $1.50. Nothing else.

Huh, news to me.

They told me I had to have digital cable to get a Cablecard. Must have changed the policy.

Huh, news to me.

They told me I had to have digital cable to get a Cablecard. Must have changed the policy.
Nope, unless it's different in Petaluma, I have Limited Basic and 2 CCs, that's it.

Huh, news to me.

They told me I had to have digital cable to get a Cablecard. Must have changed the policy.It depends on who at Comcast you talk to and maybe the locality. I started out with Limited Basic and HD STB and no digital pkg because box is needed for network locals in HD. I have now added Digital Classic and cablecards (ordered over the phone). After the cablecards were installed I had to talk to lady at my local Comcast office about a billing issue and she told be that digital pkg wasn't even allowed unless you had Standard Cable (Expanded + Limited). :rolleyes:

The first CableCard is free, but you do need Digital Cable (the cheapest is "Classic" at $9.95/mo).
BTW Digital Classic, according to the most recent rate schedule is $11.95.

I thought the technical aspects of tonights "Academy Awards Show" on ABC were great. Great looking picture and good 5.1 sound... probably one of the best network HD shows I've seen.

Also, did you notice the local HD commercials and promos from KGO? All of those Mercedes HD commercials were local and they had the ABC7HD promo in HD too. It all looked really good.

Larry
SF

Yes, they added KFTY-DT at least a few weeks ago? I only noticed it when Tivo sound some extra Star Trek: TOS episodes. Nicer digital quality than TVLand 72 w/ the channel bug at bottom...

In case you weren't aware, those on KFTY and KBHK are worth watching if you are a Trek fan because they've enhanced the SFX with CGI. For example, the original "Doomsday Device" episode had a long shot of the Constellation ramming the planet killer. In the enhanced version, you actually see the Constellaton on an erratic course and actually tumbling in as it breaches the opening.

I heard the CGI was done in hi-def, so curses to Comcast for delivering us analog-converted KBHK!!!

I have had some Comcast locations myself deny CCs or deny that they hand them out. Why is that?

I have had some Comcast locations myself deny CCs or deny that they hand them out. Why is that?

Cannot 'Self Install' a cable card.

Cannot 'Self Install' a cable card.
Barovelli:

I presume this is the official local Comcast policy. May I ask why not? According to the TivoCommunity forum on the TiVo Series 3, at least Comcast in the Seattle area allows self-installs of CableCards. Furthermore, self install is fairly simple (assuming one is able to read numbers off the card and the screen and communicate them correctly to a Comcast tech over the phone). Finally, Bay Area people (especially those who know about the existence of CableCards) ought to be rather tech-savvy.

It's been a while since I've tried using the FireWire output to record to PC so maybe someone else can chime in. IIRC some networks enable it on a "per program" basis so you might want to check the diags during a program that's been giving you problems.
well in my case I can't get CBS/KPIX channel off Firewire from a Motorola 6412 (I'm in Los Gatos). I can get Fox, NBC, ABC, KQED etc., but CBS just won't come through. Not even local programming. I read somewhere that CBS uses the broadcast flag and that the Moto reads that. weenies. it doesn't appear to be 5C, because that isn't set according to d11 diags.

thankfully my HDHomeRun works OK. :)

edit: on fruther checking it's the CCI=0x02 copy-once issue, which I believe instructs the DVR not to pass on the stream to any other box.

In case you weren't aware, those on KFTY and KBHK are worth watching if you are a Trek fan because they've enhanced the SFX with CGI. For example, the original "Doomsday Device" episode had a long shot of the Constellation ramming the planet killer. In the enhanced version, you actually see the Constellaton on an erratic course and actually tumbling in as it breaches the opening.

I heard the CGI was done in hi-def, so curses to Comcast for delivering us analog-converted KBHK!!!

errrr does KBHK even broadcast star trek in HD? we're talking about our local CW right? only the primetime stuff is in HD. i know. i use an antenna. so even if "evil" comcast passed digital KBHK to us, your favorite show still wouldn't be in HD. anyway forget trek, the best scifi show ever is battlestar galactica. and that i can see on UHD :D

errrr does KBHK even broadcast star trek in HD? we're talking about our local CW right? only the primetime stuff is in HD. i know. i use an antenna. so even if "evil" comcast passed digital KBHK to us, your favorite show still wouldn't be in HD. anyway forget trek, the best scifi show ever is battlestar galactica. and that i can see on UHD :D

There was some confusion whether CBS would bother to send HD TOS to any stations, so I don't think it's KBHK's fault. I'm pretty sure it's not Comcast's fault.
http://trekmovie.com/tos-in-hd/#faq

Anyone notice the lower bandwidth and picture quality on Prison Break and 24 tonight. i just flipped the channels and thought it didn't look that clean and when i looked at my computer (using Miglia HD tuner), i saw that both shows used up 5gb rather than the usual 6.4gb each this evening...

There was some confusion whether CBS would bother to send HD TOS to any stations, so I don't think it's KBHK's fault. I'm pretty sure it's not Comcast's fault.
http://trekmovie.com/tos-in-hd/#faq

Ah, thanks cgould and nikeykid for the clarification. After a move I no longer get KBHK OTA, so I didn't know it was in std-def.

So still curses to Comcast for not giving us KBHK in hi-def, but not because of Trek :D

So still curses to Comcast for not giving us KBHK in hi-def, but not because of Trek :D

It would be very hard for Comcast, or the satellite providers, to give you KBHK in high definition. KBHK doesn't exist. It became KBCW on July 1, 2006. BTW, none of the providers have KBCW in high definition at this time.

It would be very hard for Comcast, or the satellite providers, to give you KBHK in high definition. KBHK doesn't exist. It became KBCW on July 1, 2006. BTW, none of the providers have KBCW in high definition at this time.

i don't mind this so much since CW doesn't have much HD programming, but the limited ones that they do are worth checking out sometimes. i do have an antenna but I hate having to switch my video feed from HDMI to antenna and back and switch my receiver input. that's what? 3 extra buttons I have to push. i also can't stand how the motos can't accept OTA and record OTA. but being able to switch over to CW without all the extra button pushing, not being able to record CW is not enough for me to invest in a s3.

Anyone else have their DVR go bonkers last night? (6412)
Mine said it was full and I needed to erase recordings....In reality, I had one recording saved and space was at 7%! Then it failed to record a scheduled listing. Some future scheduled recordings (especially 8pm KPIX) have no description and there are no menu icons to cancel or reset. Full reboots have not resolved this. Worse of all.....it ATE my 2-year old recording of the Lingerie Bowl! POS!!!

Anyone else have their DVR go bonkers last night? (6412)
Mine said it was full and I needed to erase recordings....In reality, I had one recording saved and space was at 7%! Then it failed to record a scheduled listing. Some future scheduled recordings (especially 8pm KPIX) have no description and there are no menu icons to cancel or reset. Full reboots have not resolved this. Worse of all.....it ATE my 2-year old recording of the Lingerie Bowl! POS!!!
I have had similar phantom "disk full" errors with my 3412. (The list of recordings says 100% used, but after I delete a recording, it "resets" to the correct value, usually 9 or 10%.) I was never able to figure out exactly what caused it, but I think it had something to do with a combination of both tuners being on HD channels and a number of future recordings with "keep until I delete". I switched all of my scheduled recordings to "Keep until space needed", and the problem has not occured since then.

-- Don

Is anybody else picking up FSN-NE on 720? I was flipping through the channels and noticed there's a Celtics game on. As long as I can still see all the local HD stuff on FSN, I'd be pretty stoked to get a regional HD feed the rest of the time. I'm sure it's just a fluke and won't last long.

Yes, in Santa Rosa, a national game maybe?

Is anybody else picking up FSN-NE on 720? I was flipping through the channels and noticed there's a Celtics game on. As long as I can still see all the local HD stuff on FSN, I'd be pretty stoked to get a regional HD feed the rest of the time. I'm sure it's just a fluke and won't last long.

you are stoked to get a celtics game?? i would rather watch the warriors. :\

you are stoked to get a celtics game?? i would rather watch the warriors. :\

I'm sure they'll play somebody good soon ;)

anyway forget trek, the best scifi show ever is battlestar galactica. and that i can see on UHD :DWrong. That title belongs to Babylon 5.

Hi all. I have been reading up the thread and would just like to share my experience with comcast. I used to have the digital classic package with the moto6412 tuner, but I recently put together a mythtv backend w/ 2 qam tuners, and it was receving the unencrypted local HD channels fine. So I dropped my service to "expanded basic cable" (~$35 i think), mythtv still getting the local channels fine, so i decided to drop one more level, to "limited basic" (~$15). And guess what, now I can't get the local HD channels any more.

So i called comcast, and they told me i, due to the filter that was put on at my end (apt building i guess), the local hd channel signals are blocked out. if i wanted to get the local HD channels, i'd have to pay an extra $5 and get the STB that can receive the signal. to this i ask, but the filter is still in place? "yes it would be"...

My question is this then, if the they don't remove the filter, which they claim is blocking out the local hd signals, how can their little box get the signal? by magic?? or is it because of the filter somehow the signal is weakened so that my qam tuner (fusionhdtv 5 lite) can't tune to the channels?

oh yea, i'm located in san jose, 95112.

Hi all. I have been reading up the thread and would just like to share my experience with comcast. I used to have the digital classic package with the moto6412 tuner, but I recently put together a mythtv backend w/ 2 qam tuners, and it was receving the unencrypted local HD channels fine. So I dropped my service to "expanded basic cable" (~$35 i think), mythtv still getting the local channels fine, so i decided to drop one more level, to "limited basic" (~$15). And guess what, now I can't get the local HD channels any more.

So i called comcast, and they told me i, due to the filter that was put on at my end (apt building i guess), the local hd channel signals are blocked out. if i wanted to get the local HD channels, i'd have to pay an extra $5 and get the STB that can receive the signal. to this i ask, but the filter is still in place? "yes it would be"...

My question is this then, if the they don't remove the filter, which they claim is blocking out the local hd signals, how can their little box get the signal? by magic?? or is it because of the filter somehow the signal is weakened so that my qam tuner (fusionhdtv 5 lite) can't tune to the channels?

oh yea, i'm located in san jose, 95112.

If you rent their stb, they will probably take the filter off. They can control what you get in the box itself. So, for $5 a month you can rent their box, put a splitter on the coax before the box and probably get the expanded basic cable as well as the local HD channels..... :)

So i called comcast, and they told me i, due to the filter that was put on at my end (apt building i guess), the local hd channel signals are blocked out. if i wanted to get the local HD channels, i'd have to pay an extra $5 and get the STB that can receive the signal. to this i ask, but the filter is still in place? "yes it would be"... Hmmm...makes sense. Guess I will keep my $5/month HD box so I can continue to use my QAM tuners on my other TV. I think you might want to pay the $5 because you get ESPN-HD, Discovery-HD, and maybe a few more HD channels. I get to watch the Sharks in HD (like last night). For $5/month, I think it's a good deal.

So i called comcast, and they told me i, due to the filter that was put on at my end (apt building i guess), the local hd channel signals are blocked out. if i wanted to get the local HD channels, i'd have to pay an extra $5 and get the STB that can receive the signal. to this i ask, but the filter is still in place? "yes it would be"...

If the TV tuner card can't see the channel because of the filter, I don't see how a box would be able to.

Might have the wrong filter (or one that was dropped from a pole). I'd make a service call and just say "not getting all my channels", never mind the details, save them for the tech.

Yes, that's what I had to do. I haven't noticed any bugs yet.
That's good.

I have had similar phantom "disk full" errors with my 3412. (The list of recordings says 100% used, but after I delete a recording, it "resets" to the correct value, usually 9 or 10%.) I was never able to figure out exactly what caused it, but I think it had something to do with a combination of both tuners being on HD channels and a number of future recordings with "keep until I delete". I switched all of my scheduled recordings to "Keep until space needed", and the problem has not occured since then.

-- Don
I had this happen once last month. I rebooted, and it went away. This box is such a P.O.S.... Mine has had remote stutter like a mo fo lately. I wonder if this is caused by the box downloading something and putting that at higher priority.

On another note... I hear that the PPV UFC shows are supposed to be in HD now. How does that work? Can comcast broadcast HD on one of the PPV channels? If they do, what about us in the 550MHz slums?

On another note... I hear that the PPV UFC shows are supposed to be in HD now. How does that work? Can comcast broadcast HD on one of the PPV channels? If they do, what about us in the 550MHz slums?It's more likely that, rather than Comcast broadcasting HD on a PPV channel, they would broadcast PPV on an existing HD channel (isn't 719 the "HD PPV" channel when they need one?).

Changing an existing channel to PPV temporarily is nothing new. Anybody out there who had Viacom remember when MTV was replaced for three hours by (a scrambled) WrestleMania VI back in 1990? (The last time I remember them doing something like this was for the 1992 Olympic TripleCast.)

-- Don

I have just noticed that Mountain View has been switched to ADS, my HD box has lost access to the FoodTV channel at 35 (I only have basic) and I have to use my tv on analog to get it.

Is the whole bay area switched to ads ?

I have just noticed that Mountain View has been switched to ADS, my HD box has lost access to the FoodTV channel at 35 (I only have basic) and I have to use my tv on analog to get it.

Is the whole bay area switched to ads ?I think it's only those areas above 550MHz that have ADS.

I have just noticed that Mountain View has been switched to ADS, my HD box has lost access to the FoodTV channel at 35 (I only have basic) and I have to use my tv on analog to get it.

Is the whole bay area switched to ads ?

FoodTV is an expanded basic channel. If you only have basic, you're not supposed to get it. ADS has nothing to do with it. ADS simulcasts both analog and digital. If you got it before, Comcast has probably placed a filter on your line.

I have just noticed that Mountain View has been switched to ADS, my HD box has lost access to the FoodTV channel at 35 (I only have basic) and I have to use my tv on analog to get it.

Is the whole bay area switched to ads ?
I think you are extrapolating too much.

Mountain View has had ADS for almost a year. They are slowly migrating profiles to ADS.

Most likely you have been switched to ADS (digital expanded basic is encrypted), but to conclude the city has been switched to ADS is a little aggressive. I confirmed there are folks in MtView using both STB and CC who are still profiled to get analog 2-99

FoodTV is an expanded basic channel. If you only have basic, you're not supposed to get it. ADS has nothing to do with it. ADS simulcasts both analog and digital. If you got it before, Comcast has probably placed a filter on your line.
Probably missed the second half of the sentence where he said analog on his TV still gets it, so it shouldn't be filter related.

Probably missed the second half of the sentence where he said analog on his TV still gets it, so it shouldn't be filter related.

Ah yes, you're right. His box isn't getting it, but he can get it if he goes direct to the TV. No filter indeed.......

Anyone else have their DVR go bonkers last night? (6412)
Mine said it was full and I needed to erase recordings....In reality, I had one recording saved and space was at 7%! Then it failed to record a scheduled listing. Some future scheduled recordings (especially 8pm KPIX) have no description and there are no menu icons to cancel or reset. Full reboots have not resolved this. Worse of all.....it ATE my 2-year old recording of the Lingerie Bowl! POS!!!

Get a Tivo?

(ok, just had to say it!)

Hi all. I have been reading up the thread and would just like to share my experience with comcast. I used to have the digital classic package with the moto6412 tuner, but I recently put together a mythtv backend w/ 2 qam tuners, and it was receving the unencrypted local HD channels fine. So I dropped my service to "expanded basic cable" (~$35 i think), mythtv still getting the local channels fine, so i decided to drop one more level, to "limited basic" (~$15). And guess what, now I can't get the local HD channels any more.

So i called comcast, and they told me i, due to the filter that was put on at my end (apt building i guess), the local hd channel signals are blocked out. if i wanted to get the local HD channels, i'd have to pay an extra $5 and get the STB that can receive the signal. to this i ask, but the filter is still in place? "yes it would be"...

Isn't there an FCC mandate that HD channels be carried on cable when analog channels are carried? That is, not exactly the same as "must carry", but similar in concept?
I guess I'll have to dig out the discussions from I believe the tivocommunity.com series 3 discussion.. (I remember asking for clarification a while ago, and someone DID post FCC regulations quotes that sounded relevant..)

Those two channels have PSIP data in many areas and show up as 5-1 and 2-1. If not, try 79-1 and 79-2 (Mountain View).

Ok, so on my S3 tivo with no cablecards, I *do* get these channels as 5-1 and 2-1.
So that means that I am getting PSIP data? I had thought from some of the S3 Tivo discussions that there was some indication on the Tivo that I was seeing PSIP data.
In other words, I wouldn't be getting the guide data, but I thought it would tell me it was KTVU or KPIX in these cases.

but it doesn't.

I'm mostly just curious, since unfortunately I probably will shell out the $1.50/month for cablecards (even though I ONLY want it for this mapping ability).

Yes, some would call it nuts, I realize.. I'll spend a ton on a Tivo S3 (because of the lifetime transfer ability), but don't want to pay more per month..

I still never found digital KQED BTW. I have looked online and found the listings for some of the various subchannels and set up a very few manual recordings for musical shows where I wanted to try to get the digital broadcasts.. (and I've done a few 'er' episodes as manual recordings, then dub to my Toshiba XS32).

Several months back a number of us went through the rigamarole where Comcast's service company calls for information regarding various Cablecard id information that Comcast never bothered to record before. (The caller identifies himself as calling "for Comcast", but that's carefully parsed language--it's a service company, not Comcast. Don't know why that bugs me, but it does.) The need for the info is because of some kind of encryption program that they are going to roll out. If they don't have your info, you will lose premium channels (which no doubt includes all HD other than the locals.)

In any event, they seem to be going through another round of ph*******s. When they last went through this from me, either the new configuration or the remote reset toasted my existing Cablecard, resulting in a need for a service visit. (Since Comcast thinks we are all too incompetent to push the equivalent of a PC Card into a slot by ourselves.) I thought the second call to me might have been because the tech had not recorded the info from new cablecard from the service visit. But the caller said there was additional information that they needed. When I mentioned the card toasting from the last round, the phone rep said "not to worry--we know that the process kills some cards, but since the change that causes the toasting is already in your setup now, today's reset won't hurt anything." Happily, he was right--they had me read off the various ID numbers, they reset their system (but not my card, which reset was not required), and everything is the same as normal.

Unrelated question. On my other TV, with the 6412, I noticed for the first time in months that the tuner seemed to be dropping frames on the HD channels. From the service information screen (POWER ON/Select) I could tell that only one tuner was dropping frames--they showed up as "correctable errors". I had no uncorrectable errors; the SNR was listed as fair. The other tuner read fine; SNR was good. The "bad" tuner was at 650 Mhz (or some such thing). The "good" tuner was at 747 Mhz. I turned the box back on, swapped tuners, and the problem went away. When I went back to the info screen, the second tuner was now operating at 747 MHz also and was no longer indicating any correctable errors. Random glitch or some kind of other problem?

I guess that the forum software bowdlerized my last post in order to prevent me from running the phrase "phone calls" together and thereby using the name of a well-known internet AV retailer. Gave me a chuckle.

Unrelated question. On my other TV, with the 6412, I noticed for the first time in months that the tuner seemed to be dropping frames on the HD channels. From the service information screen (POWER ON/Select) I could tell that only one tuner was dropping frames--they showed up as "correctable errors". I had no uncorrectable errors; the SNR was listed as fair. The other tuner read fine; SNR was good. The "bad" tuner was at 650 Mhz (or some such thing). The "good" tuner was at 747 Mhz. I turned the box back on, swapped tuners, and the problem went away. When I went back to the info screen, the second tuner was now operating at 747 MHz also and was no longer indicating any correctable errors. Random glitch or some kind of other problem?
You realize of course that the errors might be related to the signal rather than the tuner? 650MHz could have a problematic signal while 747MHz could be fine. If both tuners were on the same channel (not sure if the device would let you do that) and one tuner had errors while the other did not, then that would point more to the tuner.

I had a problem a while back where KTVU-HD and KPIX-HD had huge amounts of correctable and uncorrectable errors while every other channel was fine.

I guess that the forum software bowdlerized my last post in order to prevent me from running the phrase "phone calls" together and thereby using the name of a well-known internet AV retailer. Gave me a chuckle.
Potty mouth!

What is their beef with that company anyway? I've bought from them several times and found their prices fantastic and their service excellent. Last time, they called me personally to make sure the item arrived ok and that I was happy with it.

I guess they are biased towards their own sponsers, but geez that's a bit much.

I have had similar phantom "disk full" errors with my 3412. (The list of recordings says 100% used, but after I delete a recording, it "resets" to the correct value, usually 9 or 10%.) I was never able to figure out exactly what caused it, but I think it had something to do with a combination of both tuners being on HD channels and a number of future recordings with "keep until I delete". I switched all of my scheduled recordings to "Keep until space needed", and the problem has not occured since then.

-- Don

OK, so I've had this happen three times now. I rebooted and my DVR erroneously shows 0% full now. Nevertheless, one of my scheduled shows didn't tape tonight because it said I was 100% full. When I deleted one small show, it again said 0%.

POS POS POS POS POS (this is my 6th MOTO DVR in the last 2 years).

You probabaly need to wipe everything and do a full reformat. Check the wiki it tells you how to do that.

Mine locked up last night while recording some stuff too... no clue why. Normally it only locks up when I'm actually using it...

Wiki states that the 100% full error is a bug in the latest firmware, 16.20 (delivered nearly 4 months ago).

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Firmware_and_Software#Version_16.20

So how will a reformat solve the problem if it results in the same firmware?

I've read that much of the bugginess with Moto DVRs comes from a layered sequence of events. IOW, if A, B and C are present, and you do D, then you'll have a problem. Those A, B, C and D could be anything from program ID info, start/stop time, one tuner or both, a whole assortment of things. That's been the knock on Moto firmware for quite some time, they don't fix the underlying code problem, instead they attempt to code around it and when the sometimes rare situation happens when everything is right(or wrong), the device goes haywire.

You could do a re-format and the DVR make work perfect for a long time, or depending on a given situation, it could go bad again, hard to tell with this device.

Having use PVRs for 8yrs now, I'm shocked what types of lingering bugs I read about for the 6412.

If this type of bug was pervasive for a real PVR company like TiVo or ReplayTV (real in the sense that their business is to sell PVRs) their user communities would be in an uproar.

I would be quite annoyed if the entire season of 24 that I recorded to watch later on got blown away by a bogus disk full message.

BTW was a fix needed for the 6412 regarding the new DST starting period on March 11? Does the guide data show the correct times for "The Apprentice: LA" on Sunday March 11? It should be 10pm.

That is the latest PVR hot topic.

My guide shows all the correct times.

You realize of course that the errors might be related to the signal rather than the tuner? 650MHz could have a problematic signal while 747MHz could be fine. If both tuners were on the same channel (not sure if the device would let you do that) and one tuner had errors while the other did not, then that would point more to the tuner.

I had a problem a while back where KTVU-HD and KPIX-HD had huge amounts of correctable and uncorrectable errors while every other channel was fine.

Yeah, that occurred to me. I seemed to be getting the jerky motions/dropped frames on a number of different channels on one of the two tuners. I guess the MHz that you see when you go to the service menu is just the channel of the last channel tuned, which might not tell you much. I'll keep my eye on it, I guess, and be more scientific about investigating the problem if it recurs. Thanks for the thoughts.

Anyone else having problems watching the warriors game on FSNHD?

Aside from the fact the guide shows a start time of 5pm when the game started at 4:30, when I tune to the channel I get a frozen picture.. ??

BTW, I'm in 550 sunnyvale

Anyone else having problems watching the warriors game on FSNHD?

Aside from the fact the guide shows a start time of 5pm when the game started at 4:30, when I tune to the channel I get a frozen picture.. ??

BTW, I'm in 550 sunnyvaleI've been having all kinds of problems lately with FSNHD and INHD for 2 or 3 weeks now. I'll get all kinds of pixelation or no picture at all. Previously, I got good reception for the past 2 years on these stations here in Santa Clara.

Anyone else having problems watching the warriors game on FSNHD?


Just checked. Same problem here on FSNHD. Totally frozen. It is coming in okay on FSN 40.

Redwood City

I was getting just a grey screen when I checked an hour ago.

Just checked. Same problem here on FSNHD. Totally frozen. It is coming in okay on FSN 40.

Redwood City
Same problem down here in Milpitas, freezes the last channel picture. Seems like it is not being shown or it's blacked out, and I'm not going to watch it in analog SD.... :rolleyes:

Laters,
Mikef5

We don't even get accurate guide info up here, never have, the next thing listed is a NCAA BB game, I think a couple of days from now, we have to check the channel occasionally to see if anything is even on it.

We don't even get accurate guide info up here, never have, the next thing listed is a NCAA BB game, I think a couple of days from now, we have to check the channel occasionally to see if anything is even on it.
Jim,

I've figured out how to get the info on what's going to be on FSNBA-HD by looking at the guide info for the SD channel for FSN, channel 40 down here. In the info part of the guide it will show HD in the write up and 9 times out of 10 that's what's going to be shown on FSNBA-HD. ;) But it would be nice to have an accurate guide for FSNBA-HD.

Laters,
Mikef5

My Comcast STB has the correct guide data for FSNHD but none of my tribune-based systems do for FSBAHDS (ReplayTV, TiVo, zap2it.com)

Jim,

I've figured out how to get the info on what's going to be on FSNBA-HD by looking at the guide info for the SD channel for FSN, channel 40 down here. In the info part of the guide it will show HD in the write up and 9 times out of 10 that's what's going to be shown on FSNBA-HD. ;) But it would be nice to have an accurate guide for FSNBA-HD.

Laters,
Mikef5
It's 33 up here, also, how is the channel marked in most areas, I just noticed today that it's called "FSBAP" up here and I don't think it was labeled that in the past?

It's 33 up here, also, how is the channel marked in most areas, I just noticed today that it's called "FSBAP" up here and I don't think it was labeled that in the past?
40 in South Bay, listed as FSBA (no trailing "P"/Pacific) on Tribune-based systems (TiVo, ReplayTV, zap2it.com) and FSN on Comcast guide.

40 in South Bay, listed as FSBA (no trailing "P"/Pacific) on Tribune-based systems (TiVo, ReplayTV, zap2it.com) and FSN on Comcast guide.
The way it's listed in the guide in Milpitas is, channel 40 is FSN ( no A or P ), channel 720 is listed as FSNHD. The guide for FSNHD is rarely right or up to date, that's why I look at the listing on FSN to see if it's got the HD in the write up. Hopefully, when this area gets upgraded all of the areas will be the same and maybe FSN will give out a correct guide for their HD channel :rolleyes: .

Laters,
Mikef5

I wonder why Santa Rosa is labeled different...I can't swear that we still even get it as I haven't watched it in at least 2 weeks.

It's FSN and FSNHD here in Pothole-uma, and no the Warriors game was not on (HD) last night.

QAM Tuner help please! I have just purchase a Sharp 62u has a ATSC and QAM built in. I have basic cable haven't upgrade yet. Does anyone know how the QAM tuner works if you have basic cable? it only pickup a few a few HD OTA (KQEDHD, KRON,KTVU, ABC) that's all. I live in the Hayward CA area and my friend has a Vizio also has basic cable and he lives in SF his seem to pickup alot more. Is my QAM not working at all? only my ATSC pick those OTA HD?

QAM Tuner help please! I have just purchase a Sharp 62u has a ATSC and QAM built in. I have basic cable haven't upgrade yet. Does anyone know how the QAM tuner works if you have basic cable? it only pickup a few a few HD OTA (KQEDHD, KRON,KTVU, ABC) that's all. I live in the Hayward CA area and my friend has a Vizio also has basic cable and he lives in SF his seem to pickup alot more. Is my QAM not working at all? only my ATSC pick those OTA HD?

Are you saying your QAM tuner is picking up the HD stations or your OTA tuner is picking up those stations? If it's your QAM tuner then, yes, you should only get the broadcast stations (NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, and KQED). If you're friend is receiving more and only has basic cable then he must be in an area that's still sending some channels unencrypted. It has nothing to do with the tuner. He should consider himself lucky as he's getting stuff he's not paying for. You are getting what you pay for.

QAM Tuner help please! I have just purchase a Sharp 62u has a ATSC and QAM built in. I have basic cable haven't upgrade yet. Does anyone know how the QAM tuner works if you have basic cable? it only pickup a few a few HD OTA (KQEDHD, KRON,KTVU, ABC) that's all. I live in the Hayward CA area and my friend has a Vizio also has basic cable and he lives in SF his seem to pickup alot more. Is my QAM not working at all? only my ATSC pick those OTA HD?I too am a little confused. Are you plugging the cable into your TV? You probably don't need OTA with Comcast.

I too am a little confused. Are you plugging the cable into your TV? You probably don't need OTA with Comcast.

Yes I plug the cable to the TV hoping QAM tuner would pickup something from comcast but apprarently it doesn't pickup anything.

Are you saying your QAM tuner is picking up the HD stations or your OTA tuner is picking up those stations? If it's your QAM tuner then, yes, you should only get the broadcast stations (NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, and KQED). If you're friend is receiving more and only has basic cable then he must be in an area that's still sending some channels unencrypted. It has nothing to do with the tuner. He should consider himself lucky as he's getting stuff he's not paying for. You are getting what you pay for.

I am confused here. so what doest ATSC do? and what doest QAM do?

I don't pay attention to ATSC anymore. I only care about QAM which allows you to pull in the digital channels straight from the cable. That way you don't need a cable box. However, you can only get channels that are NOT encoded. Here in Santa Clara, I get all the major stations like ABC, NBC, CBS, BOX, and PBS. The beauty is the High Definitions channels that are only digital.

If I remember correctly, some sharps have 2 RF inputs - one for OTA and the other for CABLE. My TV's only have 1 RF input that will pick up OTA or CABLE, but I have to configure my TV for which one.

I am confused here. so what doest ATSC do? and what doest QAM do?

ATSC and QAM are 2 different transmission formats. Cable uses QAM and direct OTA broadcasts use ATSC. Wiki both terms to learn more.

I have a 6412 P1 that functions acceptably (with all the known bugs), and I
am limited to component connections due to my TV. I am not interested in the
improved analog converter in the other models as I watch digital only.

Until I make the move to HDMI, is there any other reason to "upgrade" to a 3412/16
(other than the 40g increase in disk space)? Will I be encountering a whole new set of bugs/issues?
Are we (SF Bay Area) all set to go with ADS now?

I have a 6412 P1 that functions acceptably (with all the known bugs), and I
am limited to component connections due to my TV. I am not interested in the
improved analog converter in the other models as I watch digital only.

Until I make the move to HDMI, is there any other reason to "upgrade" to a 3412/16
(other than the 40g increase in disk space)? Will I be encountering a whole new set of bugs/issues?
Are we (SF Bay Area) all set to go with ADS now?

The 34xx is not really an upgrade to the 64xx. The only difference between the 2 is that 34xx has a smaller form-factor and it lacks an analog tuner completely -- i.e. it's only for ADS areas. As for ADS, some areas have it, some don't. Not sure about San Jose. If you walk into a Comcast store and they give you a 34xx, chances are you have it.

fender4645: Thanks for the feedback!
I found the Wiki reference on how to check for ADS, which I will do tonight.

FYI update: South San Jose is ADS enabled.

ATSC and QAM are 2 different transmission formats. Cable uses QAM and direct OTA broadcasts use ATSC. Wiki both terms to learn more.


That's what I thought so that's why I said my Sharp ATSC pickup thought OTA HD but don't think QAM doesn't pickup anything.

That's what I thought so that's why I said my Sharp ATSC pickup thought OTA HD but don't think QAM doesn't pickup anything.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong (I don't have a built-in QAM tuner) but you should, with basic cable, get the 4 network broadcast stations plus KQED in HD. Whatever you get via OTA is completely separate from what you get with Comcast (I think that's what was confusing people).

QAM Tuner help please! I have just purchase a Sharp 62u has a ATSC and QAM built in. I have basic cable haven't upgrade yet. Does anyone know how the QAM tuner works if you have basic cable? it only pickup a few a few HD OTA (KQEDHD, KRON,KTVU, ABC) that's all. I live in the Hayward CA area and my friend has a Vizio also has basic cable and he lives in SF his seem to pickup alot more. Is my QAM not working at all? only my ATSC pick those OTA HD?

You are in a 550Mhz area and unfortunately those are the only Clear QAM stations in Hayward. SF is 850Mhz and has ADS so it has a lot of extra channels that show up.

You will have to wait until hayward is upgraded or get a Set top box.

Kevin

You are in a 550Mhz area and unfortunately those are the only Clear QAM stations in Hayward. SF is 850Mhz and has ADS so it has a lot of extra channels that show up.

You will have to wait until hayward is upgraded or get a Set top box.

Kevin

Whether or not a channel is encrypted has nothing to do with the network size. Theoretically all channels (with the exception of the network channels and KQED) should be encrypted...on ALL systems. There are holes on some headends where some channels are being sent in the clear, however Comcast has been plugging these up and I wouldn't expect them to be around forever.

I think the point is, if you're on an ADS system, your QAM tuner will find many more digital channels (Standard-def channels, 2-82 basically, at least whatever is not encrypted).

You are in a 550Mhz area and unfortunately those are the only Clear QAM stations in Hayward. SF is 850Mhz and has ADS so it has a lot of extra channels that show up.

You will have to wait until hayward is upgraded or get a Set top box.

Kevin


Thanks Kevin for clearifying that but how can I find out that Hayward is in a 550Mhz and SF is 850Mhz? and what are those mean?

Thanks Kevin for clearifying that but how can I find out that Hayward is in a 550Mhz and SF is 850Mhz? and what are those mean?

It is the amount of bandwidth on the cable system. It restricts the number of channels you can get, especially the HD channels. They are upgrading the whole bay area to be at least 750Mhz. Hayward will be upgraded in the next 18 months.

If you have a Motorola HD STB the easiest way to tell is whether you have HD channels 725-728.

Kevin

Now that both main satellite providers (dish&directv) have NGC HD, and comcast announced it a while back, any new ETA for this channel showing up locally?

TIA

Now that both main satellite providers (dish&directv) have NGC HD, and comcast announced it a while back, any new ETA for this channel showing up locally?

TIA
DirecTV doesn't have NGC yet, only a pre-recorded/packaged preview. Doubt they will have the channel fulltime until after the first of their 2 birds goes up this year.

Locally on Comcast? Who knows...

DirecTV doesn't have NGC yet, only a pre-recorded/packaged preview.Over here:http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=859142&postcount=351 there are folks claiming to be watching it. Yes I know that it's not full time. Part time is probably a good compromise for this channel as it's not like it comes out with many hours of HD per week.
Locally on Comcast? Who knows...Hopefully someone, which is why I asked. I know that it's been up in some other comcast regions for months now. Seems reasonable to ask since comcast did announce it after all. Plus given that all their major competition now has it, the pressure should be on.

Over here:http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=859142&postcount=351 there are folks claiming to be watching it. Yes I know that it's not full time. Part time is probably a good compromise for this channel as it's not like it comes out with many hours of HD per week.

Yes, I've seen that, but it's only 2 parts of one program and it's only on in the middle of the night for a few hours, it's like a preview, they take the bandwidth from one of the PPV channels when they air it.

Is NGC on Comcast somewhere in the country already? If so, maybe within this next year we'll see it here.

Yes, I've seen that, but it's only 2 parts of one program and it's only on in the middle of the night for a few hours, it's like a preview, they take the bandwidth from one of the PPV channels when they air it.So it's still just starting up then. But they did announce more air time than that.Is NGC on Comcast somewhere in the country already? Yes; in areas with lower DMA rankings than SF, in fact (not that higher DMAs get priority, but they are more significant).If so, maybe within this next year we'll see it here.Still hoping someone has some actual information to share.

Still hoping someone has some actual information to share.

Me too!
But keenan pretty much nailed it......based upon past history, the Bay Area
is about 6 months to 1 year behind the first adopters of newly added HD channels :(

The Giants and As HD schedules are up:

http://fsnbayarea.com/HD_Giants.jsp

http://fsnbayarea.com/HD_Athletics.jsp

Looks like about the same number of games as last year. The Giants have 54 games (including 3 listed on the As schedule). The As have 42 (including 2 listed on the Giants schedule). If I counted correctly.

I don't pay attention to ATSC anymore. I only care about QAM which allows you to pull in the digital channels straight from the cable. That way you don't need a cable box. However, you can only get channels that are NOT encoded. Here in Santa Clara, I get all the major stations like ABC, NBC, CBS, BOX, and PBS. The beauty is the High Definitions channels that are only digital.

If I remember correctly, some sharps have 2 RF inputs - one for OTA and the other for CABLE. My TV's only have 1 RF input that will pick up OTA or CABLE, but I have to configure my TV for which one.
I use a remote A-B box (from Radio Shack) with a universal remote control and its Macros to easily switch between the two. I don't have to rescan either.

peter

I'm in the north bay (Rohnert Park Comcast), and here's my issue, I'm hoping someone has some info...

I was without my 720p projector for the last month, it was getting replaced under warranty. Anyhow, I've got it back now and my cable looks like crap!

Has Comcast changed their broadcast quality?? I'm talking about the HD channels of coarse. And what I'm seeing is like pixelation distorting around the edges of details such as text, this could be what people call image artifacts. Also, most channels look grainy.

The way I had it set up before was the output setting on my silver DVR HD cablebox set to 720p, perfect match for the projector. And now 720p looks so horrible. I changed it to 1080i and it's a little better, but not perfect as it was a month ago. I don't get why feeding 1080i to my projector looks better, the projector has to turn around and downgrade it back to 720p to display, which shouldn't be near as good as quality. Plus, isn't Comcast's broadcast in 720p to begin with? Why would they even offer the upconvert to 1080i output option? Who in their right mind would choose an interlaced image over a progressive? Especially when it's just an upconverted image, and not a true source of 1080.

Anyhow, I'm using component cables, and I've already tested other video devices on the same component inputs to rule out the projector as the problem. Upconverted DVDs and XBOX360 look perfect.

Even 480i DVDs through S-Video input (letting the projector do the upconvert to 720p) looks way better than my actual HD channels through Comcast!
Thanks for listening to me vent! lol
Any info would be greatly appreciated...

I'm also in Rohnert Park. My HD channels look just fine. Comcast pushes out their signal at whatever the TV station provides. For instance, KTVU is 720P and KPIX is 1080I. Your DVR will send the signal to the projector at whatever you set it for, 720P or 1080I. It sounds as if your projector picture setting is a bit hot. To much contrast and too much sharpness. Try toning those down a bit and see what you can get.

I hope I am posting in the right thread. If I am in the wrong place, please accept my apology.

I currently have Comcast Expanded Service at Pleasanton. And I have an HDTV Motorola box from Comcast, I was chargered $5/mo for HDTV service which I assumed covers the rental of the box.

And I have just ordered a Panasonic 42PX600U and since this TV have a Cablecard slot built-in, so I called up Comcast to inquire about the avaliability and cost for a Cablecard. My conversation with the CSR went like this:

Me: I'm getting a new HDTV with Cablecard slot and would like to check for the cost for getting one from you for HDTV.

CSR: The cablecard is free of charge

Me: Great, so this will not cost me any extra?

CSR: How many HDTV will it be in your household?

Me: 2

CSR: That will be $11.99/mo extra

Me: What??!!!

CSR: There is a $5 HDTV service fee and a $6.99 HDTV box rental fee

Me: Huh??

CSR: Since the law does not allow us to charge you for the first HDTV box, but now you are getting a 2nd HDTV service, you'll be charged for the box rental.

Me: Huh?? Can you explain it again? (It went on for a couple more iterations until I figured out that it was really the LAW which saved me $6.99/mo for the box rental)
Now, I am reading on the first page of this thread that the $5/mo fee is supposed to cover the box rental already. So am I just being misinformed by this CSR???

Any feedback?

Thanks,
Louis

I hope I am posting in the right thread. If I am in the wrong place, please accept my apology.

I currently have Comcast Expanded Service at Pleasanton. And I have an HDTV Motorola box from Comcast, I was chargered $5/mo for HDTV service which I assumed covers the rental of the box.

And I have just ordered a Panasonic 42PX600U and since this TV have a Cablecard slot built-in, so I called up Comcast to inquire about the avaliability and cost for a Cablecard. My conversation with the CSR went like this:

Me: I'm getting a new HDTV with Cablecard slot and would like to check for the cost for getting one from you for HDTV.

CSR: The cablecard is free of charge

Me: Great, so this will not cost me any extra?

CSR: How many HDTV will it be in your household?

Me: 2

CSR: That will be $11.99/mo extra

Me: What??!!!

CSR: There is a $5 HDTV service fee and a $6.99 HDTV box rental fee

Me: Huh??

CSR: Since the law does not allow us to charge you for the first HDTV box, but now you are getting a 2nd HDTV service, you'll be charged for the box rental.

Me: Huh?? Can you explain it again? (It went on for a couple more iterations until I figured out that it was really the LAW which saved me $6.99/mo for the box rental)
Now, I am reading on the first page of this thread that the $5/mo fee is supposed to cover the box rental already. So am I just being misinformed by this CSR???

Any feedback?

Thanks,
Louis

Try another CSR. Not quite right. As usual.

You would get charged $6.99 "addnl digital outlet fee", for the 2nd TV, but shouldn't get charged $5. (That *equipment charge* is supposed to subsidize the more expensive HD STB, but you have NO box, just the cablecard, and there is no such thing as HD cablecard.)

If you have some Digital tier of service, the first "digital outlet" cost is absorbed into the Digital cost, so you don't pay for the first one (but you WOULD pay $5 if you had an HD STB.)
That's not about the law, but just their pricing.
The law says they can't charge more than a "nominal amount" for ANY cablecard (less than $5 ish), and indeed cablecards are free (or $1.50 for 2x in TIvos), but law doesn't address what they can charge for *service* on those cards.

Some cable providers charge extra for HD *service* (not equipment), so maybe comcast is trying to copy that, but so far such charges are usually CSR mistakes. :)

Try again w/ another CSR, and be glad you don't have Time Warner etc which charges for SERVICE PER CARD not equip which totally screws TIvo owners..

I'm also in Rohnert Park. My HD channels look just fine. Comcast pushes out their signal at whatever the TV station provides. For instance, KTVU is 720P and KPIX is 1080I. Your DVR will send the signal to the projector at whatever you set it for, 720P or 1080I. It sounds as if your projector picture setting is a bit hot. To much contrast and too much sharpness. Try toning those down a bit and see what you can get. How do I find out what each channel is broudcast in resolution? Maybe just my favorite channels changed? For example, when the cable box is set to 720p FOX (American Idol looked like crap!), ESPN HD looks like crap too, there is pixelation around the scores and any other text or detail shots on all sports. But Discovery HD still looks perfect...

This is leading me to believe that some channels have begun broadcasting in 1080 when they used to be 720. My HD cable box must have a really crappy converter, so when I set it to output 720p it has to downconvert the 1080 channels and it looks like crap.

When I set it to output 1080i and then let my projector do the downconverting to 720p is looks soooo much better (but still no where near as nice as before). Maybe I need to replace the cable box? I've had to replace it before because it was flickering between aspect ratios nonstop, horrible.

Thank you for the suggestion for lowering the sharpness, I'll give that a try tonight and see what happens. But still I find it kind upsetting that my SD DVDs through S-Video look better than my HD cable! :(

No that sounds right.

Digital cable package = $X/mo
+ Includes one (SD) box -or- one CableCard for free (but not both).
+ Upgrade to HD box = $5.

Add't Outlet = $6.95 (SD box) -> upgrade to HD box = $5.

For example I have Digital Classic, one DVR, and one 6200 (non-DVR HDTV box).
I pay $X for Digital (it went up, think it's $12 now).
Then $12.95 for the DVR box.
Then $6.95 + $5 = $11.95 for the 2nd HD box.

Well, the Comcast box is really horrible at 1080i to -> 720p conversion in my experience. Best thing to do is set the box to 1080i and let your display downscale it to 720p if needed.

How do I find out what each channel is broudcast in resolution?I don't think this has changed in ....uh, ever.

FOX/KTVU 702 = 720p
NBC 703 = 1080i
KRON 704 = 1080i
CBS 705 = 1080i
ABC 707 = 720p
PBS 709 = 1080i
INHD 719 = 1080i
FSN 720 = 1080i
DiscoveryHD 722 = 1080i
ESPN & ESPN2 723/724 = 720p
725 when on air (NFL-TV) = 1080i
TNTHD 726 = 1080i
UHD 727 = 1080i
MHD 728 = 1080i
HBO 730 = 1080i, as are all the premium-pay channels.

Well, the Comcast box is really horrible at 1080i to -> 720p conversion in my experience. Best thing to do is set the box to 1080i and let your display downscale it to 720p if needed.

I don't think this has changed in ....uh, ever.

FOX/KTVU 702 = 720p
NBC 703 = 1080i
KRON 704 = ? 1080i I *think*
CBS 705 = 1080i
ABC 707 = 720p
PBS 709 = 1080i I think
INHD 719 = 1080i
FSN 720 = 1080i
ESPN & ESPN2 723/724 = 720p
725 when on air = ? 1080i I think, ie for NFL-TV.
TNTHD 727 = 1080i
UHD 728 = 1080i

HBO is 1080i, as is all the premium-pay channels. Thank you for all the info! :)

What about Discovery HD?

Thank you for all the info! :)

What about Discovery HD?
1080i

For the national channels, check the first post in the below linked thread.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=164671
The Official AVS HDTV Programming Synopsis – Winter 2006! - AVS Forum

I don't pay attention to ATSC anymore. I only care about QAM which allows you to pull in the digital channels straight from the cable. That way you don't need a cable box. However, you can only get channels that are NOT encoded. Here in Santa Clara, I get all the major stations like ABC, NBC, CBS, BOX, and PBS. The beauty is the High Definitions channels that are only digital.

Was hoping you guys can help clarify some questions I have about comcast here.

I am in San Jose, CA 95132 (SJ/Milpitas border). I currently only have the cable internet package with Comcast, their highest one in the area at 8megs down/756 up. Current cost right now is $70 a month.

I want to keep the same internet package but also want to add the most basic cable package available so that I can tune into the HD local channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX). I am planning on getting the HDHomerun PC tuner that supports QAM and ATSC so I can record the comcast QAM HD local channels (primarily FOX, CBS, and NBC).

So my question to you guys is:

For my area (95132), what HD channels are broadcasted in the "clear" that a QAM tuner can tune to via Comcast?

As I am only interested in the basic local HD networks, what is the lowest cost cable package must I add to my package so I can get FOX, CBX, and NBC in HD via my QAM tuner? Do I need the digital package or can I get away with just the basic?

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

I called Comcast again today and asked to set up an appointment for the CableCARD installation. And I also asked repeatedly if there will be any increase in my monthly bill, and this time the answer is no and only a one time $15.99 installation fee.

I'll hold my breath until I get my next bill. (Or saving my breath to get ready for a long conversation w/ CSR if things does not pan out.) :)

No that sounds right.

Digital cable package = $X/mo
+ Includes one (SD) box -or- one CableCard for free (but not both).
+ Upgrade to HD box = $5.

Add't Outlet = $6.95 (SD box) -> upgrade to HD box = $5.

For example I have Digital Classic, one DVR, and one 6200 (non-DVR HDTV box).
I pay $X for Digital (it went up, think it's $12 now).
Then $12.95 for the DVR box.
Then $6.95 + $5 = $11.95 for the 2nd HD box.

Was hoping you guys can help clarify some questions I have about comcast here.

I am in San Jose, CA 95132 (SJ/Milpitas border). I currently only have the cable internet package with Comcast, their highest one in the area at 8megs down/756 up. Current cost right now is $70 a month.

I want to keep the same internet package but also want to add the most basic cable package available so that I can tune into the HD local channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX). I am planning on getting the HDHomerun PC tuner that supports QAM and ATSC so I can record the comcast QAM HD local channels (primarily FOX, CBS, and NBC).

So my question to you guys is:

For my area (95132), what HD channels are broadcasted in the "clear" that a QAM tuner can tune to via Comcast?

As I am only interested in the basic local HD networks, what is the lowest cost cable package must I add to my package so I can get FOX, CBX, and NBC in HD via my QAM tuner? Do I need the digital package or can I get away with just the basic?

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!I'm close to you in Santa Clara, but not totally sure if San Jose has the same package. Anyway, I pay for the very basic analog package. It's only around $13/month (then add taxes and other charges). I get FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS, and PBS all in HD. I have 2 TV's with QAM and 1 PC with a QAM HD tuner that I can record. So far, works great.

I always thought your internet package would be $10 cheaper if you had cable TV as well. If that is still the case, you might get the TV package really cheap :). I had switched to DSL almost two years ago so I don't know if the bundling discount still applies.

Thanks karlw2000. I called Comcast yesterday and they quoted me $100 total to get both the same internet speed right now and a cable package. I'll give them a call again and see what I can work out if all I need is the basic analog package. I think the csr may have quoted me for the digital package since I told him I wanted HD.

Since it sounds like the basic analog package will let me get to the hd qam channels. It sounds like I found my comcast plan to subscribe to. ;)

Surprisingly enough, they also quoted me $110 if I do the cable, phone, and internet package. I'm going to need to take a look at my current phone bill and see if it will be worth the switch. I didn't ask but I'm guessing that $110 is for committing to 1 year with them.

All my boxes made the spring forward.

I really should not be surprised, but . . . .

OK,

So I'm now on my 5th DVR in a couple of years. The good news is that Comcast gave me a brand new 3416, so I now have 40gig extra storage.

Still the same POS Moto box, though.

But I'm having deja vu with Comcast, as things are not set up right, and need advice before I take several hours off work to wait for bozo the clown to come out to my house and pretend to know what he or she's doing.

An hour after having them set up the box, I checked the interactive status and the ip address was all zeros, and the state was "unconfig." I called again and they reset the box, but after a couple hours same story (although now I don't get an error with VOD, just a stand by message).

What are the magic words I need for the CSR to avoid having a service call? The last time I had my DVR swapped was a long painful series of events (waiting in line at the service center, having two house calls, being double charged, etc). It involved a blank ip address, and somebody that the guy called while he was at the house did something to fix the problem, but it seems like I should be able to do the same without a house call.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Jim
[sorry for the double post, but I need advice asap]

All my boxes made the spring forward.

I really should not be surprised, but . . . .
Mine updated too as well as my Ubuntu Linux box. My web host however blew it as the site and email were not available this morning.

All my boxes made the spring forward.

I really should not be surprised, but . . . .
I was surprised, since I still remember the first year the DVR boxes came out it took over a week for the clock to reset after DST kicked in. I'm generally surprised when Comcast gets anything right.

And note that the the AVS Forum does not yet have its clock changed for DST!

And note that the the AVS Forum does not yet have its clock changed for DST!If you go to the User CP, it magically remembers its supposed to change the TZ offest for DST. Not quite the automatic changeover promised by the setting though.

If you go to the User CP, it magically remembers its supposed to change the TZ offest for DST. Not quite the automatic changeover promised by the setting though.

Amazing! Thanks (and how did you discover this?)

Are you able to get a picture with the DVI connection on your 6200 non_DVR box. For the past four months all I have been getting is snow/picture/snow using DVI. I am forced to use the component video to watch HD and SD TV.


No that sounds right.

Digital cable package = $X/mo
+ Includes one (SD) box -or- one CableCard for free (but not both).
+ Upgrade to HD box = $5.

Add't Outlet = $6.95 (SD box) -> upgrade to HD box = $5.

For example I have Digital Classic, one DVR, and one 6200 (non-DVR HDTV box).
I pay $X for Digital (it went up, think it's $12 now).
Then $12.95 for the DVR box.
Then $6.95 + $5 = $11.95 for the 2nd HD box.

Amazing! Thanks (and how did you discover this?)People over at TiVoCommunity did, same BB software.

Before I call Comcast CSR I'm wondering if any posters using Cable Cards (CC) have also experienced no roll forward for DST. My STB did on other TV but not on CC TV --- a Hitachi : 42HDS52A . Moreover, although I could set time zone on TV and unchecked auto DST I can't set time and minutes. Must be blocked by CC manual states CCA will set time automatically and DST. I have had no other problems with CC so don't want to have resolving time issue result in new problems. I resolved by changed PST (I live in Santa Cruz, CA) to MST and unchecked set DST. But, still wonder is I am alone with this problem.

Thank you,

slannes

Before I call Comcast CSR I'm wondering if any posters using Cable Cards (CC) have also experienced no roll forward for DST. My STB did on other TV but not on CC TV --- a Hitachi : 42HDS52A . Moreover, although I could set time zone on TV and unchecked auto DST I can't set HOUR and minutes. Must be blocked by CC although manual states CC will set time automatically and DST. I have had no other problems with CC so don't want to have resolving time issue result in new problems. I resolved by changed PST (I live in Santa Cruz, CA) to MST and unchecked set DST. But, still wonder is I am alone with this problem.

Thank you,

slannes

I was surprised, since I still remember the first year the DVR boxes came out it took over a week for the clock to reset after DST kicked in. I'm generally surprised when Comcast gets anything right.

But it's been a couple years, probably went from having some on call person watching the mother clock and making sure it changed, to a trust of the the hardware to do what it's supposed to do.

Now, the big question is what happens 3 weeks from now -

Before I call Comcast CSR I'm wondering if any posters using Cable Cards (CC) have also experienced no roll forward for DST. My STB did on other TV but not on CC TV --- a Hitachi : 42HDS52A . Moreover, although I could set time zone on TV and unchecked auto DST I can't set HOUR and minutes. Must be blocked by CC although manual states CC will set time automatically and DST. I have had no other problems with CC so don't want to have resolving time issue result in new problems. I resolved by changed PST (I live in Santa Cruz, CA) to MST and unchecked set DST. But, still wonder is I am alone with this problem.

Thank you,

slannes

If things are the way they used to be, automatic clock settings on TVs were controlled by the PBS signal. You had to tune to that channel to get the clock to set. So, try tuning channel 9 and see what happens.

Cable card problem with DST
Quote:
Originally Posted by slannes
Before I call Comcast CSR I'm wondering if any posters using Cable Cards (CC) have also experienced no roll forward for DST. My STB did on other TV but not on CC TV --- a Hitachi : 42HDS52A . Moreover, although I could set time zone on TV and unchecked auto DST I can't set HOUR and minutes. Must be blocked by CC although manual states CC will set time automatically and DST. I have had no other problems with CC so don't want to have resolving time issue result in new problems. I resolved by changed PST (I live in Santa Cruz, CA) to MST and unchecked set DST. But, still wonder is I am alone with this problem.

Thank you,

slannes


I have the same problem on my 55HDS52 (Cablevision CSR) with cablecard.
I also have a 42HDT79 with cablecard and DST was set correctly.

I removed the Cablecard from the 55HDS52 and manually set the time and also unchecked the "auto DIST" field. DST time held correctly. Reinserted the Cablecard after a few minutes, and time reverted back to "non DIST" time. Looks like the cablecard may be using the TV software to determine the dates for start and end of DST. I think the 42HDT79 has the new software for the the DST start and end dates.

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Old Today, 10:38 AM #1556 (Print)
slannes
Member

Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 140

Thank you for your reply. Bought my set in March 2006 and thus can only speculate Hitachi was aware DST law was singed into law in 2005 but since did not become effective until this year they programmed in old DST change dates on units sold prior to 2006 DST or would have been inaccurate for old DST change last year. Possibly a firmware will correct but I doubt it. So unless firmware to update pre 07 DST sets --------- moving clock time zone from PST to MST only solution other than STB but then bad SD on Comcast.

Thanks again,

slannes

Stephen,

Thank you for visiting the Hitachi website and for your inquiry.



Yes, we now have a upgrade and I've arranged to have it sent to you. However, I don't think it is going to fix the time in your TV. The time is actually set by the signal from your cable service, and if their clock is wrong, then yours is too.



If you have any further questions about any Hitachi product, please call our technical assistance number at 1-800-HITACHI. Please reference your e-mail address when you call in as a customer service file has been created based upon your e-mail contact.



Again, thank you for your interest in Hitachi.





Keith, Hitachi Home Electronics
--Original Message--

Is there a new firmware for 42HDS52A SERIAL NO. V6B011793 to replace firmware V0100.0003. Daylight savings Time (DST) did not roll forward and with Cable Card (on Comcast) can't readjust clock hour. Since I can only uncheck auto DST but I can't readust clock hour or minutes it appears to me this model is programmed for old DST.

Thank you,

Stephen Lannes

I'm going to repeat this again. Try tuning to channel 9. They have the clock setting signal. I just went to one of my TVs that is directly off the cable and is analog. The time said 10:38 PM. I tuned to channel 9 and the time went to 1:58PM, the correct time.

Thanks again --------I tried again to no avail. I'll call Comcast to see what gives. I don' t think they can feed correct time into cable card. Tried both PBS 9 and 10.

Slannes

Called Comcast -who sent signal through which did nothing; then had me pull cable card turn TV off reinsert etc which still did nothing. So Comcast coming Thursday. Should be interesting!
Also ----- interesting---- I'm the only one who has had this problem so far that they've heard from.

slannes

Just an update in case someone is searching through for the same issue. I spoke to 4 folks from Comcast who gave me 4 separate answers; not only did they contradict each other but they contradicted themselves.

Anyway, after having them send several signals, and reloading the firmware, I was still showing an "unconfig" state and blank ip address, so I returned the box. First they tried to give me a 3412 and I said I was returning a 3416 and didn't want to lose the extra storage. Of course she said there's no difference, but went back and found a 3416.

The new box was able to acquire the ip address.

From what they tell me, the warehouse was supposed to test this before sending it out to the service center and didn't, but who knows. One of the CSRs I spoke with said that this was a 50/50 problem.

What a pain, as usual.

OK,

So I'm now on my 5th DVR in a couple of years. The good news is that Comcast gave me a brand new 3416, so I now have 40gig extra storage.

Still the same POS Moto box, though.

But I'm having deja vu with Comcast, as things are not set up right, and need advice before I take several hours off work to wait for bozo the clown to come out to my house and pretend to know what he or she's doing.

An hour after having them set up the box, I checked the interactive status and the ip address was all zeros, and the state was "unconfig." I called again and they reset the box, but after a couple hours same story (although now I don't get an error with VOD, just a stand by message).

What are the magic words I need for the CSR to avoid having a service call? The last time I had my DVR swapped was a long painful series of events (waiting in line at the service center, having two house calls, being double charged, etc). It involved a blank ip address, and somebody that the guy called while he was at the house did something to fix the problem, but it seems like I should be able to do the same without a house call.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Jim
[sorry for the double post, but I need advice asap]

Whats up with 704 / KRON? It seems they are showing mostly upconverts of their SD channel these days. Also I think they are doing 720p not 1080i.

Anyone else getting picture breakups periodically on some chans like UHD? Maybe my S3 TiVo is the problem, or could it be Comcast?

Whats up with 704 / KRON? It seems they are showing mostly upconverts of their SD channel these days. Also I think they are doing 720p not 1080i.

my network tv, which is their network affiliation, has dropped their telenoleva format and now is going half reality, half scripted, and some movies. This obviously makes them not 100% HD now. MNTV is garbage, always was, always is and always will be. and KRON unfortunately is being taken down with it.

just my opinion.

my network tv, which is their network affiliation, has dropped their telenoleva format and now is going half reality, half scripted, and some movies. This obviously makes them not 100% HD now. MNTV is garbage, always was, always is and always will be. and KRON unfortunately is being taken down with it.

just my opinion.
Totally agree but KRON is doing it to themselves. They were recently bought out and since that time management has made major cuts in their operations and their staff and have curtailed their HD programing and now simulcasts their SD programing on their digital channel. Their programing consists of traffic, weather and Rob Black. They now have become a total waste of bandwidth and I really see no future for them as they exist now.

Laters,
Mikef5

Totally agree but KRON is doing it to themselves. They were recently bought out and since that time management has made major cuts in their operations and their staff and have curtailed their HD programing and now simulcasts their SD programing on their digital channel. Their programing consists of traffic, weather and Rob Black. They now have become a total waste of bandwidth and I really see no future for them as they exist now.

Laters,
Mikef5
KRON's downhill slide started when NBC refused to pay the price they wanted to become a NBC/Uni O&O, NBC bought Granite's KNTV instead, and the rest is history. At one time KRON was valued at around 800 million plus, I doubt it's worth 60% of that now.

Are you able to get a picture with the DVI connection on your 6200 non_DVR box. For the past four months all I have been getting is snow/picture/snow using DVI. I am forced to use the component video to watch HD and SD TV.
Yes. It used to be hooked up DVI-DVI to my big-screen RPTV but now it's in the bedroom hooked up to a 23" LCD with a DVI-HDMI cable. Both work well.

I would try a new/different cable. If that doesn't work, exchange the box.

Though honestly, there isn't much difference between DVI/HDMI and component (other than the thinner cable, maybe important if you have your flat-panel hanging on the wall...)

Anyone know what KPIX is doing regarding the NCAA tournament starting tomorrow? Are they going to run the same game on both analog and digital? Didn't they have different games at times last year?

Anyone know what KPIX is doing regarding the NCAA tournament starting tomorrow? Are they going to run the same game on both analog and digital? Didn't they have different games at times last year?
Jim,
What's really important is next month the real sports start BASEBALL :D
I can't wait to see the Giants and the A's playing again.
I actually watched the exhibition game last night on ARGH !!! ANALOG, that's how bad I miss the game :p

Laters,
Mikef5

Jim,
What's really important is next month the real sports start BASEBALL :D
I can't wait to see the Giants and the A's playing again.
I actually watched the exhibition game last night on ARGH !!! ANALOG, that's how bad I miss the game :p

Laters,
Mikef5
Yes, it will be nice to FINALLY see my local teams in HD!!

RE: NCAA, apparently this year CBS is insisting that both the analog and digital channels carry the same game. I guess they've got some subscription content to protect at CBS.com.

In case anyone wasn't aware, regarding baseball, MLBEI is an exclusive on DirecTV now, no more MLBEI on Comcast.

Yes, it will be nice to FINALLY see my local teams in HD!!

RE: NCAA, apparently this year CBS is insisting that both the analog and digital channels carry the same game. I guess they've got some subscription content to protect at CBS.com.
I tried watching that b-ball thing but I just couldn't get into it, just get the ball and slam it into the hoop :rolleyes: , not my cup of tea. Now, womens b-ball is great to watch. They actually pass, dribble and shoot the ball ( to short to slam ) and are much nicer to look at :)

Laters,
Mikef5

I tried watching that b-ball thing but I just couldn't get into it, just get the ball and slam it into the hoop :rolleyes: , not my cup of tea. Now, womens b-ball is great to watch. They actually pass, dribble and shoot the ball ( to short to slam ) and are much nicer to look at :)

Laters,
Mikef5
The college game is much, much better than the pros. They actually play a "team" game and they can be incredibly exciting to watch. I only watch the NCAA tourney and the playoffs with the pros, the regular season stuff just doesn't grab me.


Note on NCAA starting tomorrow, according the the master thread, if the game being carried by KPIX is not being done in HD, the SD version will be upconverted for broadcast on the HD channel...which kinda sucks...

The college game is much, much better than the pros. They actually play a "team" game and they can be incredibly exciting to watch. I only watch the NCAA tourney and the playoffs with the pros, the regular season stuff just doesn't grab me.


Note on NCAA starting tomorrow, according the the master thread, if the game being carried by KPIX is not being done in HD, the SD version will be upconverted for broadcast on the HD channel...which kinda sucks...
To be honest, I actually watch UCLA, USC and Stanford's games but only in HD, it's the pro games that I can't stand to watch.
I agree on the KPIX upconverting the game, that just blows. They had better not do that to any baseball games this year. But then again they don't do the Giants or the A's so if they do upconvert it won't hurt not to watch it. I've just become to jaded watching stuff in HD I guess ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

To be honest, I actually watch UCLA, USC and Stanford's games but only in HD, it's the pro games that I can't stand to watch.
I agree on the KPIX upconverting the game, that just blows. They had better not do that to any baseball games this year. But then again they don't do the Giants or the A's so if they do upconvert it won't hurt not to watch it. I've just become to jaded watching stuff in HD I guess ;)

Laters,
Mikef5
The upconverting thing really only applies to the NCAA games and hopefully we'll get HD feeds for all the games KPIX carries.

The upconverting thing really only applies to the NCAA games and hopefully we'll get HD feeds for all the games KPIX carries.
For the most part KPIX does a good job with their HD programs. My only real beef with them is once in a while the picture freezes, stutters and then goes on and this happens on OTA also so it's the station and not Comcast. KGO on the other hand is a real pain to watch, it's constantly going in an out of focus and makes it irritating to watch. I really wish they'd fix that problem but they seem to ignore the problem.
KNTV and KTVU are getting better all the time and for HD news KTVU still does it best and if KTVU does the Giants games the way they have recently ( since they upgraded their facility ) it'll be great watching the Giants in HD again. FSN-HD is of course good but needs to add more games in HD, of course :)

Laters,
Mikef5

The same game all channels thing for this tourney has nothing to do with KPIX, it's CBS corporate that's demanding it, I have no complaints with KPIX, they are still the ultimate in PQ for the bay area IMO.

The same game all channels thing for this tourney has nothing to do with KPIX, it's CBS corporate that's demanding it, I have no complaints with KPIX, they are still the ultimate in PQ for the bay area IMO.

I believe CBS is showing every game online for free as well. Blackout rules do apply (I'm guessing you have to register with a zip code).

I believe CBS is showing every game online for free as well. Blackout rules do apply (I'm guessing you have to register with a zip code).
That's what I gather, along with ads no doubt, but BB just isn't compelling enough to me to bother watching on a little 3"x3" window on a computer. :D

Well, 3 of 4 in HD on the first day is not too bad.

9 AM -- Stanford v. Louisville (9:40 AM Tip-off)
11:40 AM (Approx.) -- Washington State v. Oral Roberts (in HD)
4 PM -- UCLA v. Weber State (in HD) (4:25 PM Tip-Off)
6:40 PM -- Indiana v. Gonzaga (in HD) (6:40 PM Tip-Off)

BB just isn't compelling enough to me to bother watching on a little 3"x3" window on a computer. :D

If only my network connection at work was faster...I'd be sitting here watching on a 3" X 3" screen right now.

Last year I watched some of the games on my computer and the picture quality was surprisingly good. Even when I maximized the window.

I haven't seen anything about the channel change of ABC-HD and KQED-HD. One of my TV's favorites lost ABC and KQED. After a rescan, I was able to get ABC in 7 (SD analog), 7.1 (HD digital), and 7.2 (SD digital). KQED is 9 (SD analog) and 9.1 (HD digital).

Strangely, my other QAM TV's keep the old channels like 117.1 for ABC-HD, but after rescanning and fiddling around, it eventually did change to 7.1 as well.

I really dont want to spend an hour trying to get an answer out of Comcast and their website is not very helpful.

I have the full Comcast Digital Cable package (everything you could ever want and more). I recently bought a new TV for the bed room. I was using RF cable to get basic cable in my bedroom. In my HT I have the same RF cable running to a cable box with HD and whatnot.

How much does Comcast charge for an additional cable box for HDTV? Is it just the box lease cost each month or does the monthly bill increase?

Thanks.

Is it just the box lease cost each month or does the monthly bill increase?

I don't see the difference between the two. Should be about $7 for the additional outlet + $5 for the HD set top box.

C3, Raghu1111, Fender4645:

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm happy to say that I've had the broadband up for nearly a month, and I haven't noticed any change in the HD service. And, the broadband is light years better than the DSL I had before.

That's correct. It's $11.95 for an additional HD box (non-DVR, 6200).
($6.95 add'l outlet + $5 HD fee)

6200 has DVI (not HDMI) by the way, so make sure you have the correct cable(s).