Crappy quality pic, but it does show Rincon Valley coverage, covers quite a bit of SR actually.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/keenanj/ATTSR.jpg

Nope. My provider interpreted it to mean the Tivo Series 3 - 2 cards
They originally were charging $6.95 on all cards but the first but I got the service manager and he found a corporate bulletin from last october that impiied this. I am not saying anything more to upset the apple cart.

Besides the $6.95 typically is a fee that pays for the basic HW rental so I can see it since I am not depreciating any of their HW assets.

I just looked a my cable bill this month and I noticed they changed the wording for cable cards. It used to be Tivo 2card. This could could be read as 2 cards or it could be read as the 2nd card.

Now it says Dual C-card Digital Access. This seems more like a statement that the single $1.50 applies to the whole S3 tivo and that additional digital outlet does not apply.

Which is how they are charging me BTW.

How about the rest of you guys???

Yeah as long as you are within 1 mile of Sonoma Hwy...
What about farther out in Oakmont?
Or Bennett Valley / Summerfield? -- Actually, not bad coverage out there either, though I'm sure some of the outer areas won't be covered....

Sure it's better than nothing, especially since SR is a Comcast ghetto right now....

I started losing signal lock on my s3 tivo tonight, on channels whose frequency is in the upper 700Mhz range. My cable modem says the downstream SNR is 35-36, and the downstream power is -5.8-6.5dBmV. Are my power levels too low? They used to be -7dBmV.

Looks like the s3 tivo loses signal lock when the "signal strength" reported on the s3 drops below 65.

Ugh. The 'tips' have been turned on here (Larkfield area - unincorporated Sonoma County). Any bets on how long it will take before Comcast turns the tips off and ads on full time? Heck, some tip ARE ads! They could easily give us at least 3 more lines of guide info the space for the tips. Maybe more with a smaller font.

What are these people THINKING??!!! Instead of fixing the crappy software in the Mot boxes, they add these useless tips.

Do they WANT us to jump to satellite? Sometimes you just gotta wonder....

It's Comcastic! (or some other nameless adjective - this is a family show after all!).

-Dave

For those interested, someone posted an article in a different thread about a hands-on review of the coming Dell HTPC w/ CableCARD support. Very informative and in-depth article. With the setup working, it really does blow the Moto and S3 DVR out of the water (of course it's about 4 times as expensive too).

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2959&p=1

Quick tips....how can we fight this, this is infuriating. I already am paying $150 or something for cable+HSI, I deserve to be ad-free on my f***ing guide.

Anyone know what channels are included in the Family Tier in the SF Bay Area?

Is "Home and Garden TV" included?

Thanks.

I just looked a my cable bill this month and I noticed they changed the wording for cable cards. It used to be Tivo 2card. This could could be read as 2 cards or it could be read as the 2nd card.

Now it says Dual C-card Digital Access. This seems more like a statement that the single $1.50 applies to the whole S3 tivo and that additional digital outlet does not apply.

Which is how they are charging me BTW.

How about the rest of you guys???
Mine has the same change. The proof will be whether customer service has that interpretation. It may depend on who you talk to.

It is kind of funny, when you speak to customer service, they tell you that the $6.99 is for the converter box. When they try to take it off, they tell you the system is forcing them to include the $6.99 charge. When they escalate to the manager, they change their story and say $6.99 is not for equipment, rather it is for any equipment you have that receives digital (first one included "free" in package)

I can imagine some people don't have the charge while others get stuck in endless loop of phone calls. It certainly isn't straight forward and could depend on how they decide to code up your equipment in the billing system.

Quick tips....how can we fight this, this is infuriating. I already am paying $150 or something for cable+HSI, I deserve to be ad-free on my f***ing guide.
Read post #678. Since it seems no one is concerned about these help ads Comcast has no incentive to get rid of them. If you don't complain they are here to stay.

Laters,
Mikef5

New to forum. Have others in the Menlo Park / Palo Alto area lost TNTHD content for the last couple of days? Also, is there HBOHD content available in OnDemand? I have not been able to find any.
Thanks.

Read post #678. Since it seems no one is concerned about these help ads Comcast has no incentive to get rid of them. If you don't complain they are here to stay.


Read post #716. You can't complain if the CSR doesn't even know what you're talking about.... :rolleyes:

Read post #716. You can't complain if the CSR doesn't even know what you're talking about.... :rolleyes:
That's a problem with the CSR, if they are that clueless when you call ask to speak with a supervisor. The statement by the CSR about not watching tv is a rather flippant remark and I would've ask them why they are working for Comcast. I know it's not a requirement to work there but it is required that they have a basic understanding of the product they are selling.

Laters,
Mikef5

New to forum. Have others in the Menlo Park / Palo Alto area lost TNTHD content for the last couple of days? Also, is there HBOHD content available in OnDemand? I have not been able to find any.
Thanks.

bill, TNTHD and ESPN2HD have been down for me ... i'm in pa. i am gonna call them and tell them our headend is SCREWED UP. and i'm gonna complain about the ads. two birds, one CSR.

Anyone know what channels are included in the Family Tier in the SF Bay Area?

Is "Home and Garden TV" included?
Presumably, it could be different in different parts of the Bay Area, but where I live, it's:
Food Network
Nickelodeon
Disney Channel
CNN Headline News
The Weather Channel
Home & Garden TV (HGTV)
PBS Sprout
Discovery Kids
Toon Disney
DIY
Nick GAS
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Science Channel
National Geographic

You can find out for your own area at www.comcast.com - click on "Programming" near the top, then "Channel Lineup" on the dropdown menu that appears; after you enter your address, select "Family Tier" from the dropdown list next to where it says "Select a Package Type" (Family Tier is near the bottom of the list).

Speaking of tiers...does anybody know what the Starter / Preferred / Premium Video packages are supposed to be? (I know what's in them - what I want to know is, why they're there. The Starter Video package looks like it consists of the digital channels the ATSC tuner on my TV can decode from the cable plugged directly into the TV.)

-- Don

well i got a nice and pleasant CSR. he said other people have called about the problems palo alto is having, so it looks like it will be fixed soon. i also had him document my complaint about the ads and he said he's gotten a few complaints about them too. ok now it's your turn to bitch. everyone.

That's a problem with the CSR, if they are that clueless when you call ask to speak with a supervisor. The statement by the CSR about not watching tv is a rather flippant remark and I would've ask them why they are working for Comcast. I know it's not a requirement to work there but it is required that they have a basic understanding of the product they are selling.


Yeah, that wasn't aimed at you, Mikef5.....I know you're instrumental in helping us out here. This just reflects my frustration with the guide tips and CSRs. I did ask her why someone that doesn't watch TV is working for a cable TV company.....How is she supposed to relate to what I am describing? Anyway, I feel a lot like another poster here stated.....I'm currently paying Comcast $177/mo.....I should NOT be subjected to tips/ads that I have no use for. It's really a slap in the face by Comcast, IMO.

I did ask her why someone that doesn't watch TV is working for a cable TV company???

Well, I design chips but don't use/buy those chips.

Well, I design chips but don't use/buy those chips.
But you can answer basic questions on those chips if a customer wanted info on them, yes?? That's the point I was driving at, I don't care if the CSR doesn't watch tv but they are there as a representative of Comcast and should be able to answer basic questions and if not be able to access a supervisor to find out the answer for the customer and not give flippant answers.

Laters,
Mikef5

But you can answer basic questions on those chips if a customer wanted info on them, yes??

Yes, of course. If not, I would be out of a job. :)

Yeah, that wasn't aimed at you, Mikef5.....I know you're instrumental in helping us out here. This just reflects my frustration with the guide tips and CSRs. I did ask her why someone that doesn't watch TV is working for a cable TV company.....How is she supposed to relate to what I am describing? Anyway, I feel a lot like another poster here stated.....I'm currently paying Comcast $177/mo.....I should NOT be subjected to tips/ads that I have no use for. It's really a slap in the face by Comcast, IMO.
Didn't take it personal :) I just wanted people to realize if you put up with that stuff from the CSR's then it's not only bad for customers it's bad for Comcast and the way customers look at them. I'm just as frustrated with those help ads as you are and I'll bet dollars to dough nuts they'll be replaced with commercial ads in the future , not that I was told that but they tried the guides ads awhile back and the only way we got rid of them was by everyone complaining about them.

Laters,
Mikef5

Yes, of course. If not, I would be out of a job. :)
My point exactly. The CSR should've said, " I don't personally know but I'll ask my supervisor and find out for you. " A direct and simple answer that would've satisfied the customer and made it look like Comcast cared about your concerns. It seems that customer satisfaction has become a thing of the past but we have ourselves to blame for allowing it to continue. Ok, I'm off the soap box ..... for now ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

Well, I design chips but don't use/buy those chips.

Hmmm.......I design chips too (custom IC analog layout), but how
do you get around in this world without using them??? (Autos,
cell phones, PCs, audio/video, etc.)

Hmmm.......I design chips too (custom IC analog layout), but how
do you get around in this world without using them??? (Autos,
cell phones, PCs, audio/video, etc.)
Hmmm, I eat chips and there's no way I could get through a baseball game without them, especially the "Ruffles has Ridges " ones..... :p
But I almost choked on them while watching the Giants and A's not even score in their openers ... :rolleyes: Ok, the A's did score last night but they still lost... :( Maybe, I should change to Corn Chips.

Laters,
Mikef5

But you can answer basic questions on those chips if a customer wanted info on them, yes?? That's the point I was driving at, I don't care if the CSR doesn't watch tv but they are there as a representative of Comcast and should be able to answer basic questions and if not be able to access a supervisor to find out the answer for the customer and not give flippant answers.



Okay, I give up. I tried again to file a complaint with a CSR. After my last
experience, I asked this one if she knew what the iGuide was. Her response....
"high speed internet"? :(

Okay, I give up. I tried again to file a complaint with a CSR. After my last
experience, I asked this one if she knew what the iGuide was. Her response....
"high speed internet"? :(
Did you request to speak to a supervisor ???

Laters,
Mikef5

Did you request to speak to a supervisor ???



Nope.....I'm not gonna wait around on hold while I'm at work,
but supposedly she filed the complaint after I described the
situation.

BTW Mikef5, let me know if the corn chips work! :cool:

Nope.....I'm not gonna wait around on hold while I'm at work,
but supposedly she filed the complaint after I described the
situation.

BTW Mikef5, let me know if the corn chips work! :cool:
Already got them out and made my onion dip to chill in the refrigerator ( beers chilling too ), got the reminder set for the Giants game tonight..... I missed baseball.... there can never be to much baseball especially when shown in HD ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

Hmmm, I eat chips and there's no way I could get through a baseball game without them, especially the "Ruffles has Ridges " ones..... :p
But I almost choked on them while watching the Giants and A's not even score in their openers ... :rolleyes: Ok, the A's did score last night but they still lost... :( Maybe, I should change to Corn Chips.

Laters,
Mikef5
C'mon, this is California, you should be eating tortilla chips, with salsa! :D

Regarding CSRs, in most cases customer service is a drain on the bottom line, very little to no revenue gained by answering questions and trying to fix problems. I would guess that there is probably a threshold where CSR complaints from subs reaches the point where a company will actually do something about it. If they're only getting 5-10% complaints about CSR who are ill-informed and underpaid, then they will probably maintain the status quo. If complaints reach a much higher level, then maybe the company will spend more on salaries and education. It's a matter of internal company economics. In a perfect world it shouldn't be that way, but I'm not aware of any such place.

BTW, I believe in most all franchise agreements there are provisions for maintaining an acceptable level of service from the provider, in fact, financial penalties to the provider if they are not met. Might be worthwhile for those having issues to investigate that route.

As a side note, I can see the above method, contacting the franchise authority when you have problems, becoming less of an option as statewide franchising becomes a reality. I could also see the local offices disappearing as well as the provider consolidates on a state level.

C'mon, this is California, you should be eating tortilla chips, with salsa! :D

As a young man, well maybe a boy, in LA I got started on Fritos and guacamole. I'm still partial to that. ;)

I was never big on Fritos, too greasy from what I recall, do they still make them?

Oh yeah!!!

http://fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/products_fritos.htm

Sorry for starting a topic about "chips". :)

Anyone else in SF having issues with Fox Bay Area HD today? 720 doesn't seem to want to work (although I get program information).

Anyone else in SF having issues with Fox Bay Area HD today? 720 doesn't seem to want to work (although I get program information).

Having the same problem here. It's "freezing" when you tune to 720.

I got a frozen logo when I looked earlier also.

Same here. It's supposed to be Warriors, though they have Giants listed starting at 8pm (game starts at 7:15...)
EDIT: 7:05 now I'm getting the Giants game on 720.

Also is everyone else as pissed off as I am that the banner ads are back on the guide screen??

Quick tips....how can we fight this, this is infuriating. I already am paying $150 or something for cable+HSI, I deserve to be ad-free on my f***ing guide.
Ok I see that we are....

Well, the last time they did this, everyone complained so hard that they had to remove them. I suggest calling 1-800-COMCAST and letting them know how mad you are.....

:mad:

As per headline on ESPN, it looks like MLB Extra Innings is back on Cable. Not sure on the HD availability, as that remains to be seen.

http://x.go.com/cgi/x.pl?goto=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2826280&name=FPT-2826280-040422&srvc=sz

thought I'd pass on some good news for some.

I am new to Comcast in San Fran as I moved from a Comcast area in Dallas, TX.

See ya,

Blues96
Mountain View

What ads?

How do you see the ads?
If I'm watching a channel and press the "OK" button to see the channel list, I don't see any ad.

Oh I found out the ads, it's when you press the "Guide" (duh!) button. I never use that button. I only click the "OK" button and browse the channel list, 3 by 3.

As per headline on ESPN, it looks like MLB Extra Innings is back on Cable. Not sure on the HD availability, as that remains to be seen.

http://x.go.com/cgi/x.pl?goto=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2826280&name=FPT-2826280-040422&srvc=sz

thought I'd pass on some good news for some.

I am new to Comcast in San Fran as I moved from a Comcast area in Dallas, TX.

See ya,

Blues96
Mountain View

Interesting. The games have never been in HD and I haven't heard anything different this year that would lead to me to think otherwise.

So, I sit down, crack open a beer and start dipping my chips ( changed the dip to guacamole ) and Bonds hits a home run. It must be a sign from the baseball gods.... eat guacamole and they will win..... :p Now let's see if they can continue and win the game. Back to the game and the guacamole :)

Laters,
Mikef5

C'mon, this is California, you should be eating tortilla chips, with salsa! :D

Regarding CSRs, in most cases customer service is a drain on the bottom line, very little to no revenue gained by answering questions and trying to fix problems.
Keenan, don't worry, Comcast is listening to us. The customer service folks are now both eating tortilla chips and salsa and becoming less of a drain on the bottom line. The last several times I called into customer service, I reached the newly created Guadalajara, Mexico call center. Their method for reducing complaints is very effective, at least initially. They will agree with whatever you say and promise to fix it, but when you call back in a week because you find out nothing was done, the US reps say there was no record of any action being initiated. Then you lodge your complaint against the US rep you are speaking with, which of course just shows Comcast that US reps are performing worse than the new Mexico call center, thus they should shift even more reps over.

Did you rescan? Here in Santa Clara, lots of changes. NBC11 is now 11.1 a few days ago. I was still getting it on 116.1, but after a rescan today, it now shows at 11.1. Last week I had to do a rescan and now get the HD channels on: 2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1, and 11.1. IOW, they match the 'old' analog channels with the added .1 to them.

I believe Comcast did a remap of some channels. I went home to Cupertino and noticed the same too.

Here in Berkeley, I did a rescan and NBC finally shows up as 11.1. Moreover, I think the digital channel count went from 200ish to 400+ in Berkeley. That's exactly what I've been getting in Cupertino. Thanks for finally upgrading the poor@$$ East Bay.

Keenan, don't worry, Comcast is listening to us. The customer service folks are now both eating tortilla chips and salsa and becoming less of a drain on the bottom line. The last several times I called into customer service, I reached the newly created Guadalajara, Mexico call center. Their method for reducing complaints is very effective, at least initially. They will agree with whatever you say and promise to fix it, but when you call back in a week because you find out nothing was done, the US reps say there was no record of any action being initiated. Then you lodge your complaint against the US rep you are speaking with, which of course just shows Comcast that US reps are performing worse than the new Mexico call center, thus they should shift even more reps over.
Yes, this sort of crap is pervasive in the industry, I had made 3 calls to Dish customer service on the return of a DVR, each time reaching someone obviously somewhere in the Indian sub-continent. Three months later with still no resolution. I finally reached a US based CSR, and naturally, there was no record of my 3 previous calls.

It's simple really, until subs start dropping Comcast(or any company) due to bad CSR experiences, nothing will change, why put money into customer service if it's not losing you money in it's current configuration?

Does anyone know what clear QAM channels are available in Union City? The first post in this thread lists Discovery HD Theater as unencrypted. Is that available along with the locals in HD?

I think that Comcast in the Bay Area is now pretty uniformly encrypting all HD channels except for the OTA retransmitted ones. So DIS-HD, InHD, etc., are all off the clear QAM list (except for the odd "weekend preview", such as we had for HBO a few weeks ago).

OK, I'm getting 721 now (it's got the Golf Channel feed), but not the other 2 channels. Maybe later today...

OK, I'm getting 721 now (it's got the Golf Channel feed), but not the other 2 channels. Maybe later today...
John,
What area do you live in ?? If you're in the Milpitas area that's all you're going to get for the time being. Comcast added about 10 Hispanic channels so that took out the ability to add the other HD channels the rest of the SaraMilgatos area is getting.

So far I'm not impressed with this channel. Not doing HD at this time and is broadcasting the same thing that's on the SD channel 405 and after the Master's is over I don't see anything that would be broadcasted in HD. I would've rather had ESPN2-HD, at least that shows a variety of sports programing and alot of it is in HD. While, I like golf and play myself, this just isn't something I'd really watch or want but others might.

Laters,
Mikef5

So, I sit down, crack open a beer and start dipping my chips ( changed the dip to guacamole ) and Bonds hits a home run. It must be a sign from the baseball gods.... eat guacamole and they will win..... :p Now let's see if they can continue and win the game. Back to the game and the guacamole :)

Laters,
Mikef5
The baseball gods are so cruel..... :(

Laters,
Mikef5

I'm an RCN subscriber, but I wanted to ask Comcast subscribers if they were getting the Giants HD feed last night. Everything was great on opening day, but I tuned in to the HD channel last night and all I got was the off-air graphic, so I was wondering if there is some kind of partial exclusivity deal between Comcast and FSN.

I read a few complaints above about last night, but I want to know if this lasted throughout the game. Thanks.

Interesting. The games have never been in HD and I haven't heard anything different this year that would lead to me to think otherwise.

I did a fair bit of research about this last year as I was trying to figure out if I was going to spring for the $129/season package. There were a smattering of HD games on the DirecTV package, as I recall--or so it was reported on various web forums. I remember reading posts suggesting that the cable operators would have the ability to do this, but given the bandwidth constraints, I was always skeptical. It looks like DirecTV has a fairly large number of HD games in the Extra Inning package.

DirecTV Extra Innings Schedule (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIF.jsp?assetId=P1700157)

I can't imagine where/how Comcast would be able to put these games up in encrypted HD. Absent HD, I'll just watch any games I really need to see on their crappy MLB.TV webcast. (I subscribe to that package for when I am travelling and to get the audio/highlights packages on demand.)

The baseball gods are so cruel..... :(

Laters,
Mikef5

Admit it, Mike . . . you had stopped eating chips and guacamole and were done with the beer by the time Taschner came on in the eighth, right? You have to keep feeding the gods to bring home a victory . . . more beer and guac needed!

I'm an RCN subscriber, but I wanted to ask Comcast subscribers if they were getting the Giants HD feed last night. Everything was great on opening day, but I tuned in to the HD channel last night and all I got was the off-air graphic, so I was wondering if there is some kind of partial exclusivity deal between Comcast and FSN.

I read a few complaints above about last night, but I want to know if this lasted throughout the game. Thanks.
Yes, it was in HD on FSNBA-HD but it started late and for a while I thought they weren't going to show it in HD and after the Giant's lose maybe they shouldn't of ;)
I don't know about an exclusive deal but Comcast has made significant investments in FSNBA so it might be hard for the sat's to get FSN to do a deal with them but Directv was able to so maybe Dish will also.

Laters,
Mikef5

I'm an RCN subscriber, but I wanted to ask Comcast subscribers if they were getting the Giants HD feed last night.

Yes, FSN-BA-HD (720 on most of our Comcast systems) had the high def feed for the Wednesday night Padres game. In Marin County, anyways.

Admit it, Mike . . . you had stopped eating chips and guacamole and were done with the beer by the time Taschner came on in the eighth, right? You have to keep feeding the gods to bring home a victory . . . more beer and guac needed!
Finished the beer by the eight inning ??? I'm ex-Navy, if it took me that long I should be taken out back and shot :D
I think I'll try the salsa trick next game, as long as Barry keeps hitting home runs that'll take some of the sting out of the loss.

Laters,
Mikef5

John,
What area do you live in ?? If you're in the Milpitas area that's all you're going to get for the time being. Comcast added about 10 Hispanic channels so that took out the ability to add the other HD channels the rest of the SaraMilgatos area is getting.

So far I'm not impressed with this channel. Not doing HD at this time and is broadcasting the same thing that's on the SD channel 405 and after the Master's is over I don't see anything that would be broadcasted in HD. I would've rather had ESPN2-HD, at least that shows a variety of sports programing and alot of it is in HD. While, I like golf and play myself, this just isn't something I'd really watch or want but others might.

Laters,
Mikef5
LG/Saratoga. Most of the golf tournaments are on TGC on Thurs and Fri, so I expect we'll see them in HD on those days. I don't mind having the same programming as on 405-- most of the HD channels are always showing whatever is on the SD channel.

Plus, if they put the Versus feed on 721, maybe we'll get some more Sharks games in HD and/or the Tour de France in HD this summer. That would be great.

LG/Saratoga. Most of the golf tournaments are on TGC on Thurs and Fri, so I expect we'll see them in HD on those days. I don't mind having the same programming as on 405-- most of the HD channels are always showing whatever is on the SD channel.

Plus, if they put the Versus feed on 721, maybe we'll get some more Sharks games in HD and/or the Tour de France in HD this summer. That would be great.
Well, let's see, today is Thursday the first day of the Masters and no HD, even the in studio shots are not HD. Comes on again at 4 pm, I really doubt that it will be HD then either. Like I said it's wasting bandwidth by showing the same thing on 2 channels. What they should do is get rid of VS and Golf SD and just use VSGolf-HD and free up some bandwidth so Milpitas can at least get ESPN2-HD. I wish they'd finish those upgrades soon. Which reminds me, did you get the other 2 channels that were suppose to be added for your area ??

Laters,
Mikef5

Interesting article regarding Comcast on internet bandwidth usage. The article and the linked-to blog also are a commentary on CSR uselessness.

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

Comcast Cuts Off Bandwidth Hogs

04.04.07

By Chloe Albanesius

Man your PCs. The bandwidth hogs are revolting and Comcast is the recipient of their virtual torches and pitchforks.

Customers across the country have been contacted by the telecom giant with a warning to curb excessive bandwidth consumption or risk a one-year service termination. Comcast, however, is refusing to reveal how much bandwidth use is allowed, making it impossible for customers to know if they are in danger of violating Comcast's limit.

The move has driven customers to sign up with other service providers.

"Comcast and I are not on speaking terms," said Frank Carreiro, a West Jordan, Utah resident who had his Internet service terminated by Comcast in January.

Carreiro said he received a message from a Comcast Security Assurance representative in December, who warned him that he was hogging too much of the company's bandwidth and needed to cut down. When Carreiro contacted customer service about the call, they had no idea what he was talking about and suggested it was a prank phone call. Unconvinced, Carreiro contacted Comcast several more times, but was again told there was no problem.

A month later, he woke up to a dead Internet connection. Customer service directed him to the Security Assurance division, which Carreiro said informed him he would now be without service for one year.

Carreiro said he told Security Assurance that customer service had cleared him of any wrongdoing, but Security Assurance reportedly told him that customer service is not kept abreast of bandwidth issues for security purposes. Comcast also refused to tell Carreiro how much bandwidth he would have been allowed to use to avoid service termination.

"It was a very frustrating experience," he said.

Carreiro has since switched to DSL service from Qwest, which became available in his neighborhood in late February. Again connected to the Web, he has taken his fight to the blogosphere with an online journal (http://comcastissue.blogspot.com) detailing his troubles.

Admitted "Internet junkie" and Chattanooga resident Cameron Smith also had his service cut off in January for one year. "They said there wasn't a limit [for downloading] but that I was downloading too much, about 550 gigs. I backed off to about 450 gigs, but they still suspended us."

Smith has since switched to DSL service from BellSouth AT&T. "I don't like it," he said, but it is the only other high-speed option available in Chattanooga and he refuses to ever return to Comcast again.

Smith also pondered the possibility of a class-action lawsuit against Comcast, but has been delayed by funding issues. "If I could afford it, then I would do it in a heartbeat because it's a bait-and-switch with their customer service," he said.

As of press time, repeated calls to Comcast were not returned, nor were messages left for Comcast Security Assurance or e-mails sent to that department's manager, Jay Opperman.

[Update: Comcast sent a response since this story was published, which we've included at the end of this report.]

In a February statement regarding Carreiro's case, Comcast said that "customers who are notified of excessive usage typically consume more than 100 times the average national Comcast bandwidth usage" and apologized for "for any miscommunication that this customer may have received about this process." — next: What About the Others?

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2111373,00.asp
Comcast Cuts Off Bandwidth Hogs - News and Analysis by PC Magazine

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

"Comcast, however, is refusing to reveal how much bandwidth use is allowed, making it impossible for customers to know if they are in danger of violating Comcast's limit."

Huh??

These people were obviously riding the ********** wave. Either way, HSI is very close to being a commodity and eventually companies will have to lift any kind of restrictions. As the people who were "terminated" did...they just went to DSL. No skin off their backs. I too dabble in "large file" downloading but I'm guessing I don't do it enough to show up on Comcast's radar. I know some people who literally having it going 24/7. I know one person who has both Comcast HSI and DSL -- Comcast is used for nothing but downloading torrents and the DSL line is used for his day-to-day browsing.

Indeed, with the onset of video delivery over the internet Comcast et al better get used to huge bandwidth usage. Theoretically, if they're advertising say 6mbps DL speed, then it should be capable, or allowed, to be doing that 24/7.

Comcast Cuts Off Bandwidth Hogs

04.04.07

By Chloe AlbanesiusOld news, this has been going on at Comcast for at least 3-4 years.

"They said there wasn't a limit [for downloading] but that I was downloading too much, about 550 gigs. I backed off to about 450 gigs, but they still suspended us."If that's per month.. :eek: Good god man! The limit has been determined (using anecdotal evidence) to be around 100 gigs per month. So he was 5.5 times over the limit.. yeah I don't think "backing off" to "only" 4.5 times over the limit is going to help much.

If anyone is surprised by this.... well they shouldn't be. Yeah I think it sucks that they don't publish the limits, and what I really don't understand is how using your 6Mbits peaked out for 20 minutes a day vs 24 hours a day matters much to your neighbor.... If peaking out your 6Mb causes his interweb to slow down, then it causes it to slow down, no matter how many minutes/month it does... (It also means their network is poorly designed and/or their caps are too high)...

Theoretically, if they're advertising say 6mbps DL speed, then it should be capable, or allowed, to be doing that 24/7.That's what I think too, but don't try telling the folks over at broadbandreports.com Comcast forum.. you'll just be told to "shut up you stupid bandwidth hog!!" :rolleyes:

I assume that Comcast has to pay its Internet provider(s) based on the amount of data transferred. Therefore, high bandwidth users are costing Comcast too much money.

So does every DSL provider, yet you never hear about them having caps.

So does every DSL provider, yet you never hear about them having caps.

DSL has many different classes of service: 768K, 1.5M, 3M, 6M. The bandwidth is capped based on how much the user pays. I guess that's good enough for the DSL providers.

Just like what fender4645 said, I know one person who has both DSL and cable modem, and the cable modem service is used specifically for transferring large files.

I'm getting The Masters in HD on 705 (CBS-HD) right now. Awesome!!!

DSL has many different classes of service: 768K, 1.5M, 3M, 6M. The bandwidth is capped based on how much the user pays. I guess that's good enough for the DSL providers.

Just like what fender4645 said, I know one person who has both DSL and cable modem, and the cable modem service is used specifically for transferring large files.
I think what Walk was saying though, with DSL, running at 6mbps 24/7(if there's anyone who does such a thing, I'm sure there are) you don't hear of any DSL users being told to cut back. Run that rate, 6mbps/24/7 with Comcast and you'll lose your account due to "excessive" bandwidth usage.

If I were selling a product that advertised X-amount of bandwidth, I would certainly try and make sure that "X" could be accommodated. As it is, Comcast knows darn well that if everyone on the node decided to run at peaks rates for any extended length of time practically nothing would get transferred, it's one of the drawbacks to the cable HSI system. They're simply playing the odds that everyone does not peak out all the time.

I think what Walk was saying though, with DSL, running at 6mbps 24/7(if there anyone who does such a thing, I'm sure there are) you don't here of any DSL users being told to cut back. Run that rate, 6mbps/24/7 with Comcast and you'll lose your account due to "excessive" bandwidth usage.

If I were selling a product that advertised X-amount of bandwidth, I would certainly try and make sure that "X" could be accommodated. As it is, Comcast knows darn well that if everyone on the node decided to run at peaks rates for any extended length of time practically nothing would get transferred, it's one of the drawbacks to the cable HSI system. They're simply playing the odds that everyone does not peak out all the time.

I think that's exactly it. Because each DSL subscriber has a dedicated line to the switching station, the DSL/Phone company can accurately estimate the throughput since there are, for the most part, no other environmental factors. With cable HSI, everyone in a node shares the same pipe. So you're adding an "unknown" environmental variable -- i.e. the geeky kid down the street who's downloading the entire Beverly Hills 90210 series off the torrent network. So my guess is Comcast is only notifying the "geek kid" of the node in areas where people are complaining about speeds. I live in an area of Moraga where there happens to be a lot of elderly which is why I'm seeing VERY fast sustained speeds (upwards of 9Mb) and no one is complaining.

Well, after a glorious couple of months of the Sharks in HD on FSN-HD, I'm told tonight that this channel is not available in my area (Sunnyvale). The channel was, in fact, available as of last night (Giants game), and when I tuned in tonight for the Sharks game, my TV informed me (I have a cable card) that the channel was Not Authorized. Two calls and two hits to my cable card later, I called a third time, and after being put on hold on and off for 20 minutes, was told that this channel is not available in my area (despite the fact that it's been on comcast.net's TV Planner for some time now -- oh, and all the games I've watched as well...). I asked to be transferred to a higher tier tech or engineer, and was told that I was talking to one (if anyone from Comcast is reading this, and believes I've been provided incorrect information, I have their name and operator ID).

Can anyone else confirm?


Edit: Fourth call to Comcast, and I'm told I never should have gotten this channel to begin with. Upgrade is scheduled for sometime later this year (maybe), and I won't see FSN-HD until then. No explanation provided when I told them that my TV reports a tuning status of "Not Authorized" vs. "No Signal" (which is what I get when I manually enter a channel I know I don't get, like 719). I'm officially royally pissed off now. Comcastic.

Edit2: After logging in to comcast.com and selecting my Channel Lineup (http://www.comcast.com/customers/clu/ChannelLineup.ashx), 720 FSN-HD is, in fact, part of my lineup. This is the definition of run-around. I'm ever-so thrilled....

I've noticed that KTVU is showing more of its "field" news segments in HD (not just widescreen) -- at least the 10:00 news which is the only one I watch.

Well, after a glorious couple of months of the Sharks in HD on FSN-HD, I'm told tonight that this channel is not available in my area (Sunnyvale). The channel was, in fact, available as of last night (Giants game), and when I tuned in tonight for the Sharks game, my TV informed me (I have a cable card) that the channel was Not Authorized. Two calls and two hits to my cable card later, I called a third time, and after being put on hold on and off for 20 minutes, was told that this channel is not available in my area (despite the fact that it's been on comcast.net's TV Planner for some time now -- oh, and all the games I've watched as well...). I asked to be transferred to a higher tier tech or engineer, and was told that I was talking to one (if anyone from Comcast is reading this, and believes I've been provided incorrect information, I have their name and operator ID).

Can anyone else confirm?


Edit: Fourth call to Comcast, and I'm told I never should have gotten this channel to begin with. Upgrade is scheduled for sometime later this year (maybe), and I won't see FSN-HD until then. No explanation provided when I told them that my TV reports a tuning status of "Not Authorized" vs. "No Signal" (which is what I get when I manually enter a channel I know I don't get, like 719). I'm officially royally pissed off now. Comcastic.

Edit2: After logging in to comcast.com and selecting my Channel Lineup (http://www.comcast.com/customers/clu/ChannelLineup.ashx), 720 FSN-HD is, in fact, part of my lineup. This is the definition of run-around. I'm ever-so thrilled....

I'm in Sunnyvale, and while 720 shows up in the Comcast DVR guide as "Off Air", tuning to the channel does nothing (it just stays on the last channel I was viewing) and no longer shows the FSN HD logo like it usually does when there's no programming (at least I think so, since I don't really watch that channel).

Well, after a glorious couple of months of the Sharks in HD on FSN-HD, I'm told tonight that this channel is not available in my area (Sunnyvale). The channel was, in fact, available as of last night (Giants game), and when I tuned in tonight for the Sharks game, my TV informed me (I have a cable card) that the channel was Not Authorized. Two calls and two hits to my cable card later, I called a third time, and after being put on hold on and off for 20 minutes, was told that this channel is not available in my area (despite the fact that it's been on comcast.net's TV Planner for some time now -- oh, and all the games I've watched as well...). I asked to be transferred to a higher tier tech or engineer, and was told that I was talking to one (if anyone from Comcast is reading this, and believes I've been provided incorrect information, I have their name and operator ID).

Can anyone else confirm?


Edit: Fourth call to Comcast, and I'm told I never should have gotten this channel to begin with. Upgrade is scheduled for sometime later this year (maybe), and I won't see FSN-HD until then. No explanation provided when I told them that my TV reports a tuning status of "Not Authorized" vs. "No Signal" (which is what I get when I manually enter a channel I know I don't get, like 719). I'm officially royally pissed off now. Comcastic.

Edit2: After logging in to comcast.com and selecting my Channel Lineup (http://www.comcast.com/customers/clu/ChannelLineup.ashx), 720 FSN-HD is, in fact, part of my lineup. This is the definition of run-around. I'm ever-so thrilled....

I don't believe that the Sharks game last night was HD, so it wouldn't come on FSN-HD. Try looking at the channel tonight at 7PM. The Giant-Dodger game is in HD.

Well, after a glorious couple of months of the Sharks in HD on FSN-HD, I'm told tonight that this channel is not available in my area (Sunnyvale). The channel was, in fact, available as of last night (Giants game), and when I tuned in tonight for the Sharks game, my TV informed me (I have a cable card) that the channel was Not Authorized.
I'm in Sunnyvale, and while 720 shows up in the Comcast DVR guide as "Off Air", tuning to the channel does nothing (it just stays on the last channel I was viewing) and no longer shows the FSN HD logo like it usually does when there's no programming (at least I think so, since I don't really watch that channel).
I'm in the downtown Sunnyvale area. I was able to switch to channel 720 during the Sharks game with my Moto 6200 box, but I got a completely blank, black screen - no FSN logo, no "Not Authorized" message, nothing. I only checked it once last night. I'll check it again when I get home tonight and post if I have a different result.

I don't believe that the Sharks game last night was HD, so it wouldn't come on FSN-HD. Try looking at the channel tonight at 7PM. The Giant-Dodger game is in HD.

As far as I could tell, it was supposed to be -- the comcast.net TV Planner (useful for people like me with CableCARDs who don't have an interactive guide) indicated "NHL Hockey" at 7:30 on 720 in my area.

Interesting article from the Chicago Sun Times linked to from PaulGo's Comcast Technology thread. It looks like Comcast is changing it's tune on retaining some analog channels past the 2009 OTA deadline. Keep in mind, this is Chicago-specific, but it does seem to indicate a definite direction for Comcast in general.

************************************************************ **********

Beam me up! Comcast going all-digital soon
VP promises improved picture, sound

April 6, 2007
BY HOWARD WOLINSKY hwolinsky@suntimes.com
Ready or not, Comcast's Chicago customers on older analog services are going digital by July 1.

Eric Schaefer, Comcast vice president of sales and marketing in Schaumburg, said, "Analog TV is going away, and digital TV is coming. People are going to have clearer pictures and better sound. They will have interactive guides, and 40 free channels of Music Choice and a special universal remote control."

At the customer's choice, the cable giant will either send the customer a new Motorola digital cable box in the mail or the consumer can pick up a device at Comcast's offices.

The change doesn't affect the vast majority of Comcast's 2 million Chicago area customers because they already receive digital services.

Comcast is aiming to prepare its customers for the federally mandated migration from analog to high-definition/digital services by Feb. 17, 2009, Schaefer said.

Initially, Chicago customers with "standard" cable service, including local TV stations plus analog cable -- such as Comedy Central, MTV and ESPN -- will be migrated to the new service.

"We're doing the city first. Then, we'll do the suburbs," Schaefer said.

Consumers with basic cable, with just the local broadcasts, public education and government channels, also will be converted to digital boxes by 2009.

Schaefer said setting up the new cable boxes is simple, just switching three to six wires.

"It can be done in a couple minutes," he said. "They don't even have to set up the clock. The satellite will do that for them."

If consumers find this challenging, they can book a service call.

He said the new boxes will enable these consumers to add services, such as HBO or Showtime, with a phone call or placing an order on the Internet.

"Once these boxes are in the house, people won't have to wait for the cable guy," he said.

He said the new digital boxes also will make available huge amounts of extra bandwidth, enough to add 120 high-def channels, 400 digital channels and 10,000 streams of video on demand.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/330445,CST-FIN-cable06.article
Beam me up! Comcast going all-digital soon :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business

This is a funny discussion, because this was the stuff I was alluding to when we had our Cable vs DSL discussion a few weeks back and you were all caught up on your speeds... There's more to it then just speeds and even still, there are DSL speeds that are pretty damn fast. Comcast has never been friendly to the true internet user. Even in their policies, it says you can't run a server. Too many caveats with arbitrary rules and too much focus on just speeds. There's more to broadband internet then just download speeds.

So does every DSL provider, yet you never hear about them having caps.


I think that's exactly it. Because each DSL subscriber has a dedicated line to the switching station, the DSL/Phone company can accurately estimate the throughput since there are, for the most part, no other environmental factors. With cable HSI, everyone in a node shares the same pipe. So you're adding an "unknown" environmental variable -- i.e. the geeky kid down the street who's downloading the entire Beverly Hills 90210 series off the torrent network. So my guess is Comcast is only notifying the "geek kid" of the node in areas where people are complaining about speeds. I live in an area of Moraga where there happens to be a lot of elderly which is why I'm seeing VERY fast sustained speeds (upwards of 9Mb) and no one is complaining.

See that's the thing. Look at this scenario...

Bob and Hank are neighbors. Both use cable HSI. Bob likes to get on the interwebs at 8pm and download his porn and his Battlestar Galactica rips and his mp3s. Hank also likes to get on at 8pm but only to read his email and do a little web surfing, he saves the heavy downloading for late at night/overnight (say 12-8am).

Bob maxes out his connection starting at 8pm, to say 10pm. During this time Hank experiences very slow interweb and he calls Comcast to complain but they say only "Sorry speeds are not guaranteed you should read the fine print pal". Now since Bob only downloads for 2 hours a day and so only 78 GB/month (for ex.) he is spared a nasty TOS letter and threats to terminate his service EVEN THOUGH he is still maxing out his 6MB and hogging poor Hank's bandwidth during prime-time. Meanwhile Hank, being the good neighbor that he is, only does his heavy downloading during the wee hours, BUT since he does it for more like 8 hours a day, he goes over the mythical 100GB "cap" and has his service terminated.

I ask you, how the F does that make sense? (I don't expect an answer, just curious how people figure the GB/month caps help the "neighbor" guy while he's trying to read his email and pay his bills online etc... during prime-time... I mean if you are maxing out your connection and that causes problems for your neighbor, it causes problems, even if it's only for 20-30 minutes a day and not 18 hours...)

As far as I could tell, it was supposed to be -- the comcast.net TV Planner (useful for people like me with CableCARDs who don't have an interactive guide) indicated "NHL Hockey" at 7:30 on 720 in my area.
I watched it in HD on 720 last night. Good game!

You're right, it doesn't make sense, but that's a limitation of the shared bandwidth technology that is cable. As you mentioned, the 6 megs download isn't guaranteed, because the total bandwidth is shared by everyone and if everyone else is using it, then you're SOL. I had a friend who every night when he got home, his cable would slow to a crawl, even though he's supposed to get to 6 megs. For those in an area with old people like fender who don't have to share their cable that's a great thing too!

See that's the thing. Look at this scenario...

Bob and Hank are neighbors. Both use cable HSI. Bob likes to get on the interwebs at 8pm and download his porn and his Battlestar Galactica rips and his mp3s. Hank also likes to get on at 8pm but only to read his email and do a little web surfing, he saves the heavy downloading for late at night/overnight (say 12-8am).

Bob maxes out his connection starting at 8pm, to say 10pm. During this time Hank experiences very slow interweb and he calls Comcast to complain but they say only "Sorry speeds are not guaranteed you should read the fine print pal". Now since Bob only downloads for 2 hours a day and so only 78 GB/month (for ex.) he is spared a nasty TOS letter and threats to terminate his service EVEN THOUGH he is still maxing out his 6MB and hogging poor Hank's bandwidth during prime-time. Meanwhile Hank, being the good neighbor that he is, only does his heavy downloading during the wee hours, BUT since he does it for more like 8 hours a day, he goes over the mythical 100GB "cap" and has his service terminated.

I ask you, how the F does that make sense? (I don't expect an answer, just curious how people figure the GB/month caps help the "neighbor" guy while he's trying to read his email and pay his bills online etc... during prime-time... I mean if you are maxing out your connection and that causes problems for your neighbor, it causes problems, even if it's only for 20-30 minutes a day and not 18 hours...)

See that's the thing. Look at this scenario...

Bob and Hank are neighbors. Both use cable HSI. Bob likes to get on the interwebs at 8pm and download his porn and his Battlestar Galactica rips and his mp3s. Hank also likes to get on at 8pm but only to read his email and do a little web surfing, he saves the heavy downloading for late at night/overnight (say 12-8am).

Bob maxes out his connection starting at 8pm, to say 10pm. During this time Hank experiences very slow interweb and he calls Comcast to complain but they say only "Sorry speeds are not guaranteed you should read the fine print pal". Now since Bob only downloads for 2 hours a day and so only 78 GB/month (for ex.) he is spared a nasty TOS letter and threats to terminate his service EVEN THOUGH he is still maxing out his 6MB and hogging poor Hank's bandwidth during prime-time. Meanwhile Hank, being the good neighbor that he is, only does his heavy downloading during the wee hours, BUT since he does it for more like 8 hours a day, he goes over the mythical 100GB "cap" and has his service terminated.

I ask you, how the F does that make sense? (I don't expect an answer, just curious how people figure the GB/month caps help the "neighbor" guy while he's trying to read his email and pay his bills online etc... during prime-time... I mean if you are maxing out your connection and that causes problems for your neighbor, it causes problems, even if it's only for 20-30 minutes a day and not 18 hours...)
Not sure what you're trying to say, are you saying that the lack of a cap imposed by Comcast makes sense given the scenario you describe above?

To me that's not even the point, in my mind, if the service advertises X amount of speed it should be able to provide that amount 24/7 whether the subscriber uses it or not.

A conspiracy nut might also think that Comcast is imposing arbitrary caps in an effort to get you to use their own video sources. A company like Amazon or Apple can't be too happy with a cable internet provider preventing the subscriber from purchasing/downloading as much as they want. And there's a new kid on the block as well, Vuze by Azureus, and there are others.

http://www.vuze.com/app
Vuze by Azureus - High Definition Movies and Videos

I suspect that as Comcast goes digital more and more they will have to open up more bandwidth for internet use as the "share with your neighbors" problem is only going to get worse, can't imagine any scenario where it would get better in it's current configuration.

Yeah, the more I think about it there's only going to be more and more downloading going on. Even now, a 1 hour HD show is about 6g-10g. I don't see how you can set a cap at 100G a month, that's just impossible...

I suspect that as Comcast goes digital more and more they will have to open up more bandwidth for internet use as the "share with your neighbors" problem is only going to get worse, can't imagine any scenario where it would get better in it's current configuration.

Well if it's any consolation, their idea of "too much" is supposedly based on an "average" usage. So if the average overall usage goes up, then the "caps" should also go up.

The thing to remember too is that very very few people end up getting TOS letters, and those that do are just downloading absolutely ridiculous amounts of data, much more than even the most rabid downloader you can imagine would ever use.

Supposedly there's another free HBO weekend?

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=347305

Well, here it is April 6, and things don't appear to have turned out as described by Andrew Johnson. I am getting VS/Golf on 721 now, but I get the "One Moment Please" blue banner. Yesterday I got a picture on 721, but no more. But hey, it's only Masters week, which has the best HD golf coverage of the year. Hopefully Comcast won't screw up CBS-HD so I can watch it this weekend. I dont get TNT-HD or ESPN2-HD at all. Nothing on 724 or 726. Not on the guide either.
Additionally, my reception on INHD and ESPN-HD has gone to crap and they are unwatchable. So, tonight is is the Giants'Dodgers on good old SD FSN...
My guess is that this is related to squeezing more channels into our bandwidth starved network in Los Gatos.
Why am I not surprised? This is like that famous Chinese torture, where they say that the body part they are now cutting off is the last one they will cut off if you just tell the truth this time. Then they cut off one more, and one more, and....
Well, maybe not that bad, but I can't believe the incompetence of this company.
Is anyone is Saramilgatos doing better?
Mike


More HD to be added to SaraMilgatos area and no not an April Fools joke !!!!

I know this is going to be hard to believe but it's true.... the message as I received it.
____________________________________________________________ ________

We are working on ADDING HD channels in the South Bay, on April 5th!

Here is what we are planning

We will launch 3 additional HD channels in Los Gatos & Saratoga
Vs/Golf HD launches on Digital Classic HD channel 721 in Los Gatos and Saratoga.
ESPN 2 HD launches on Digital Classic HD channel 724 in Los Gatos and Saratoga.
TNT HD launches on Digital Classic HD channel 726 in Los Gatos and Saratoga.

In Milpitas:
Vs/Golf HD launches on Digital Classic HD channel 721
As you may recall we just launched in Milpitas a new Hispanic Tier of programming which includes ten channels along w/ GMA Pinoy.
That accounts for the difference in HD channel adds between Los Gatos/Saratoga and Milpitas.
____________________________________________________________ ________

So good news for the SaraMilgatos area with the addition of new HD and hopefully more to come when the upgrades are completed.
No new news on the other channels for the rest of the Bay Area but I would imagine they can't be to far away.

Laters,
Mikef5

wondering if anyone else has noticed this...

the last few evenings (wed night and tonight) watching the Giants in HD on 720, it seems to me that the picture is decidedly "yellow"... not the graphics, which have clean whites, but a bunch of the field cameras... in addition, as they switch between shots (HD shots, not the upconverted SD wide shots they use from the seats sometimes) you can see the white balance changes greatly... i don't remember this from last season, and haven't seen this on any of my other HD channels (Sony Bravia 50" RP-HD set that's been tweaked within a inch of its life)

anyone have any insight? hard to imagine they wouldn't see this in the production van, so i'm wondering what might be going on, or who i might contact (i can take some digital snaps and email them along)

could be comcast, i suppose, but it does look like something funky at the source...

many thanks!
robin

Supposedly there's another free HBO weekend?

Yes, and it's a very bad thing because HBO is making me watching more TV! :) I haven't finished watching the ones I recorded last time, and I have scheduled my TiVos to record more this weekend.

the last few evenings (wed night and tonight) watching the Giants in HD on 720, it seems to me that the picture is decidedly "yellow"...

I have had the exact same reaction. Hadn't noticed that the occasional SD camera feed was any better. I have written it off to something about the lights, perhaps worsened by the fog/haze from last night. It makes everything look kind of cream colored, and making the Giants cream-colored jerseys looke positively yellowed.

I have had the exact same reaction. Hadn't noticed that the occasional SD camera feed was any better. I have written it off to something about the lights, perhaps worsened by the fog/haze from last night. It makes everything look kind of cream colored, and making the Giants cream-colored jerseys looke positively yellowed.
I noticed the color was off during the A's/Mariners games, as if the sun was coming in through some cloud cover or smog.

Well, here it is April 6, and things don't appear to have turned out as described by Andrew Johnson. I am getting VS/Golf on 721 now, but I get the "One Moment Please" blue banner. Yesterday I got a picture on 721, but no more. But hey, it's only Masters week, which has the best HD golf coverage of the year. Hopefully Comcast won't screw up CBS-HD so I can watch it this weekend. I dont get TNT-HD or ESPN2-HD at all. Nothing on 724 or 726. Not on the guide either.
Additionally, my reception on INHD and ESPN-HD has gone to crap and they are unwatchable. So, tonight is is the Giants'Dodgers on good old SD FSN...
My guess is that this is related to squeezing more channels into our bandwidth starved network in Los Gatos.
Why am I not surprised? This is like that famous Chinese torture, where they say that the body part they are now cutting off is the last one they will cut off if you just tell the truth this time. Then they cut off one more, and one more, and....
Well, maybe not that bad, but I can't believe the incompetence of this company.
Is anyone is Saramilgatos doing better?
Mike

The Masters were not on the Versus/Golf channel during the week. They have been on both CBS and UHD at the same time.

how nice it is for us to have fox saturday baseball's first HD broadcast for the regular season. looks pretty good.

No signal in LG, and we're 10 min from the start of the Masters. Bad Comcast!!! :(

No signal in LG, and we're 10 min from the start of the Masters. Bad Comcast!!! :(
Was there some widespread problem? My box went berzerk when I first turned the TV on today around 1:30 and now I'm getting stuttering on just about every channel (trying to watch the Giants on FSN HD now).

Was there some widespread problem? My box went berzerk when I first turned the TV on today around 1:30 and now I'm getting stuttering on just about every channel (trying to watch the Giants on FSN HD now).
Here in the ghetto's the Giant's game is not on FSNBA-HD, like the schedule said it was suppose to be. :mad:

Laters,
Mikef5

It's on up here.

It's on up here.
On Comcast or Directv ??? Either way I'm pissed.....

Laters,
Mikef5

On Comcast or Directv ??? Either way I'm pissed.....

Laters,
Mikef5
Comcast, CH 720. You must have a problem down there.

Comcast, CH 720. You must have a problem down there.
Ok, before I make my big bitch to Comcast I'd like to know who all got the game in HD and who did not. So far it looks like Santa Rosa did, Milpitas did not. All I got was the floating 3D Logo and it's still on the logo. Not a happy camper :mad:

Laters,
Mikef5

I got it.

Rohnert park got it. Many stations seems to have a bit of stutter though.

Well, I wasn't home to check if the Giants were on FSN-HD, but I am finding that every evening lately, almost all the HD channels show some amount of annoying stuttering, with several being completely unwatchable. I couldn't even watch the new Sopranos episode on HBO-HD, or Planet Earth on DISC-HD. This is something new, since I have had no problem in the (recent) past with these channels.
Sounds like something that is pretty widespread.
Mike

Mikef5 -
This is my 3rd baseball season with Comcast & FSN HD in Vacaville. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for Comcast to "forget to flip the switch" on a scheduled FSN HD broadcast. Over this time (and after MANY phone calls), I've just learned that it is a simple head-end issue. To Comcast's credit, over this time, they've gotten a bit better ... But when a scheduled game does not come on, you just need to call Comcast & explain that someone at the head-end needs to "flip the switch" on the game. More often than not, the telephone rep won't know what you're talking about. But as long as you insist that this problem has happened before & that this is the solution, they'll contact the right people & the game will quickly come on ... usually while you're still on the phone.

Fot me though, the key is getting Comcast & FSN to understand that this is still unacceptable after all these years & that a long-term solution is needed. Again, they've gotten better, but they still occasionally "forget."

Well, I wasn't home to check if the Giants were on FSN-HD, but I am finding that every evening lately, almost all the HD channels show some amount of annoying stuttering, with several being completely unwatchable. I couldn't even watch the new Sopranos episode on HBO-HD, or Planet Earth on DISC-HD. This is something new, since I have had no problem in the (recent) past with these channels.
Sounds like something that is pretty widespread.
Mike

Usually I call up and have them 'boost' the signal, but, last time they said to 'unplug' (I'm also now running through a Monster Cable HTS2000 to get rid of the ground hum). I'm also have trouble with audio on recordings (6412) skipping back can help, but, both SD and HD are having trouble (maybe my drive is too full?)
Guess I need to break down and call. Hopefully getting a good CSR.

Speaking of trouble, is anyone else having trouble with their firewire out on their box (moto 6412)? I can't get my DVHS deck to recognize my cable box. Fine with the other stuff on the bus. Just get a flashing "I" number.

Was there some widespread problem? My box went berzerk when I first turned the TV on today around 1:30 and now I'm getting stuttering on just about every channel (trying to watch the Giants on FSN HD now).
I think the problem I had in the AM was localized to LG, and only a part of LG was affected. I got the signal back around noon, so I missed the first 1/2 hour of the tournament.

MikeAymar: I've been having a similar problem off and on for several weeks. Seems to skip around on the different HD channels. What's been driving me nuts lately, though, is the remote stutter problem-- seems to happen everytime I use the remote for the first time on a given channel. It's beyond ridiculous at this point that they can't make a remote work properly.

Mikef5 -
This is my 3rd baseball season with Comcast & FSN HD in Vacaville. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for Comcast to "forget to flip the switch" on a scheduled FSN HD broadcast. Over this time (and after MANY phone calls), I've just learned that it is a simple head-end issue. To Comcast's credit, over this time, they've gotten a bit better ... But when a scheduled game does not come on, you just need to call Comcast & explain that someone at the head-end needs to "flip the switch" on the game. More often than not, the telephone rep won't know what you're talking about. But as long as you insist that this problem has happened before & that this is the solution, they'll contact the right people & the game will quickly come on ... usually while you're still on the phone.

Fot me though, the key is getting Comcast & FSN to understand that this is still unacceptable after all these years & that a long-term solution is needed. Again, they've gotten better, but they still occasionally "forget."
Here's my problem with that. I pay to have certain packages available to me and I expect that to be available 24/7. I or anyone else should not have to call to tell Comcast how to do their job and if this is a recurring problem someone at Comcast needs to get off their lazy butts and get it fixed. FSNBA-HD should be on ALL THE TIME and not shut off at the head end so this kind of sh#t doesn't continue to happen. I do have access to the supervisor for my head end and I'll see if in deed that was the problem. The problem is that this happened on a holiday where there was probably a skeleton crew on and wasn't paying attention to their jobs.
Another thing is how was I able to get the FSNBA-HD 3D logo and not the frozen screen if it was shut off at the head end ?? If the signal was shut off at the head end you can't tune the channel in and you get the frozen screen. I will find out why this happened, I'm still an unhappy camper :mad:

Laters,
Mikef5

I agree with everything, Mikef5. In fact, Comcast's poor handling of FSN HD broadcasts has been my biggest complaint since I signed up with their HD service 2 1/2 years ago. I have no idea why they need to "turn the HD channel on & off" ... seems to me it would run much smoother if they could always leave it "on." Just as frustrating, though, is that trying to talk with someone at Comcast who really knows how this channel is supposed to work is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Like I said above, the key to me is a long-term fix ... but calling at 7:02 when a 7:00 broadcast hasn't come on yet will get them to "flip the switch" for you.

Does anyone know if Comcast will be carrying the MLB EI HD games? (Here's a link to the schedule of HD games: http://www.indemand.com/sports/mlb/schedule/mlbScheduleHD.pdf ).

The schedule says "Available in HD on GAMEHD" whatever that means...

I agree with everything, Mikef5. In fact, Comcast's poor handling of FSN HD broadcasts has been my biggest complaint since I signed up with their HD service 2 1/2 years ago. I have no idea why they need to "turn the HD channel on & off" ... seems to me it would run much smoother if they could always leave it "on." Just as frustrating, though, is that trying to talk with someone at Comcast who really knows how this channel is supposed to work is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Like I said above, the key to me is a long-term fix ... but calling at 7:02 when a 7:00 broadcast hasn't come on yet will get them to "flip the switch" for you.
Heyjjjaded,
My comments were not directed at you personally and I hope you didn't that it that way. My comments are directed at the Comcast people that I know monitor this forum. It's sometimes faster to post here than it is going the email route and it helps me get my ducks in a row before I do email certain people at Comcast. I just find it incredulous that this is a known problem and that nothing has been done about it and their excuse of " sometimes forgetting " to flip a switch just doesn't cut the mustard. I wonder how they would react if " sometimes I forget " to pay my Comcast bill ??

Anyway, I still need input from other people in the SaraMilgatos area that either did or did not get the game on channel 720. I need to narrow the loops involved in this problem.

Laters,
Mikef5

Not at all, Mike. You sound a lot like I did as I was going through all this for the first time a couple of years ago. Back then, each FSN HD game was 50-50 whether or not it would come on as scheduled. I've argued so hard with Comcast about this ... it's better now, but still a far cry from perfect.

Not at all, Mike. You sound a lot like I did as I was going through all this for the first time a couple of years ago. Back then, each FSN HD game was 50-50 whether or not it would come on as scheduled. I've argued so hard with Comcast about this ... it's better now, but still a far cry from perfect.
Just a little history for you so you know where I'm coming from :). I've been with cable since TCI days and the mess with AT&T and now with Comcast. My brother worked for TCI and AT&T, that's how I know most of the people that I do. Comcast by far has done wonders in it's time having this cable network but it still has along way to go as far as customer satisfaction. Little problems like forgetting to flip a switch does not endear Comcast to their customers and should be avoided if possible. An on going problem like this should have been addressed along time ago and hopefully will be if I have anything to do with it. I know it's only baseball and it's not life and death.... it's more important that that, at least the principle of it is. ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

Does anyone know if Comcast will be carrying the MLB EI HD games? (Here's a link to the schedule of HD games: http://www.indemand.com/sports/mlb/schedule/mlbScheduleHD.pdf ).

The schedule says "Available in HD on GAMEHD" whatever that means...

I think this is the DirecTV schedule (I believe GAMEHD is a DirecTV channel). I don't think Comcast is showing any of the EI games in HD (at least not initially). Also, you should put a 'PDF Warning' when linking directly to a PDF.

I'm just switching over from Directv and I don't see a way to switch your channel lineup online using the Comcast site. Does anyone know how to do this?

Directv's site had this feature and it was convenient given my aversion to CS reps. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

P.S. I'm really enjoying the Comcast HD service. No problems to date.

Little problems like forgetting to flip a switch does not endear Comcast to their customers and should be avoided if possible. An on going problem like this should have been addressed along time ago and hopefully will be if I have anything to do with it. I know it's only baseball and it's not life and death.... it's more important that that, at least the principle of it is. ;)
Right on.
One other thing you might mention is a related problem that occasionally occurs on the other end of FSN HD broadcasts: over the past couple of years, it has not been uncommon for channel 720 to abruptly cut away from a FSN HD broadcast before the end ... usually toward the end of a game that is running a bit long and always exactly at either the top or bottom of the hour. For example, a 7:00 broadcast could run long & you could still be watching the game at 10:29. But suddenly, at exactly 10:30, your screen will go blank right in the middle of an inning. This problem is more rare (I've seen plenty of games go past the 3 1/2 hour mark that were shown perfectly on FSN HD), but it has occurred occasionally in the past.
Anyway, I've argued with Comcast until I've been blue in the face ... maybe your connections will be more helpful.

Right on.
One other thing you might mention is a related problem that occasionally occurs on the other end of FSN HD broadcasts: over the past couple of years, it has not been uncommon for channel 720 to abruptly cut away from a FSN HD broadcast before the end ... usually toward the end of a game that is running a bit long and always exactly at either the top or bottom of the hour. For example, a 7:00 broadcast could run long & you could still be watching the game at 10:29. But suddenly, at exactly 10:30, your screen will go blank right in the middle of an inning. This problem is more rare (I've seen plenty of games go past the 3 1/2 hour mark that were shown perfectly on FSN HD), but it has occurred occasionally in the past.
Anyway, I've argued with Comcast until I've been blue in the face ... maybe your connections will be more helpful.
The problem with the cut off of games is a FSN problem and I've seen it happen before too but I had thought they had corrected that problem.... guess not. A good person to talk to there is a Chris Geer, he's the person in charge of public relations and seems to be a really good guy to talk to. It's been awhile since I contacted him but I believe he's still there. I'll try and find his email address see what he says.

Laters,
Mikef5

Too funny ... I have exchanged emails with Chris Geer & he was always very helpful. Like I said, the cut-offs at the end of games did occasionally happen, but it is very possible that it has been corrected. Sounds like you know more about this one.

Here in Sunnyvale I don't even get the HD FSN logo, I get no signal.

It just keeps getting better.... :rolleyes:

Anyone in the Milpitas, Saratoga, Los Gatos areas not getting channel 721 ( VsGlf ) ???
It just freezes on the last station picture and does not tune in 721. I need to be able to see what loops are affected before I bitch to Comcast and yes I called the CSR and no they have no clue to what's happening.

Laters,
Mikef5

Here in Sunnyvale I don't even get the HD FSN logo, I get no signal.
SVcabron,
It would help if you would put what area you are in to see if it's just your area or system wide.

EDIT

Just saw you said you are in Sunnyvale. Some areas in Sunnyvale are not upgraded but if you got FSNBA-HD in your guide then it's possible your head end is not sending the siganal through to your area. FSNBA-HD is not a 24/7 station so it will not have anything to see until they broadcast a program. Some times the head end forgets to flip the switch to allow you to see it. Next time it happens and you know that there is suppose to be a program on, call Comcast and tell the CSR to contact the headend for your area and have them flip the switch to send the program through

Laters,
Mikef5

So, where are ESPN-HD and TNT-HD for Los Gatos/Saratoga? Didn't the memo say 3 new stations would be available on Apr 5? I'm still only getting The Golf Channel/Versus.

So, where are ESPN-HD and TNT-HD for Los Gatos/Saratoga? Didn't the memo say 3 new stations would be available on Apr 5? I'm still only getting The Golf Channel/Versus.
Are you getting the Versus channel right now ???

If you are in Los Gatos or Saratoga you are suppose to get ESPN2-HD and TNT-HD if not call Comcast and find out why not. Let me know what they say and I'll pass it on to Mr. J.

Laters,
Mikef5

It just keeps getting better.... :rolleyes:

Anyone in the Milpitas, Saratoga, Los Gatos areas not getting channel 721 ( VsGlf ) ???
It just freezes on the last station picture and does not tune in 721. I need to be able to see what loops are affected before I bitch to Comcast and yes I called the CSR and no they have no clue to what's happening.

Laters,
Mikef5

I'm in San Jose, and I get the "Not Authorized" message when I try to tune in the VSGlf channel (721). I received a message on my box indicating that the channel was available, but still can not view the channel.

I believe I have the right package (Digital Gold w/HD and DVR), but when I contacted Comcast online they had me reset the box, and when that didn't work they said it was not available in my area. I also can not receive channels 727 (UHD) and 728 (MHD) (I get the "not authorized" banner).

Any help would be appreciated.

I'm in San Jose, and I get the "Not Authorized" message when I try to tune in the VSGlf channel (721). I received a message on my box indicating that the channel was available, but still can not view the channel.

I believe I have the right package (Digital Gold w/HD and DVR), but when I contacted Comcast online they had me reset the box, and when that didn't work they said it was not available in my area. I also can not receive channels 727 (UHD) and 728 (MHD) (I get the "not authorized" banner).

Any help would be appreciated.
Pablo,
The message I got from Mr. J. about those channels was for the Saratoga, Los Gatos and Milpitas areas no other areas were included.

Laters,
Mikef5

Pablo,
The message I got from Mr. J. about those channels was for the Saratoga, Los Gatos and Milpitas areas no other areas were included.

Laters,
Mikef5

Thanks for the response. I got on to the online support, and mentioned the plan and the "not authorized" message, and the CSR said I had an old package (from 1999) which inluded HBO, Starz, and Showtime for $102.99. The CSR said I would have to pick 2 channels and the monthly would go down to $98.45. The CSR was able to get the missing channels up and running. Since it only took 4 months (and 3 CSR's) to get it working (and I inquired about keeping Starz), the CSR gave me 6 months of free Starz (after that it's an additional $17.99/mo).

Not sure what the best procedure is to try to resolve issues. It seems like it's luck of the draw whether you get a experienced CSR or not. It also helps to have some experienced forum members.

Thanks for the response. I got on to the online support, and mentioned the plan and the "not authorized" message, and the CSR said I had an old package (from 1999) which inluded HBO, Starz, and Showtime for $102.99. The CSR said I would have to pick 2 channels and the monthly would go down to $98.45. The CSR was able to get the missing channels up and running. Since it only took 4 months (and 3 CSR's) to get it working (and I inquired about keeping Starz), the CSR gave me 6 months of free Starz (after that it's an additional $17.99/mo).

Not sure what the best procedure is to try to resolve issues. It seems like it's luck of the draw whether you get a experienced CSR or not. It also helps to have some experienced forum members.
This is a real big problem with Comcast. Different areas have different packages and requirements and different pricing. They really need to get all of their areas to be the same no matter where you are located at. Unfortunately this can't happen until all the areas are upgraded to the same levels and then they can get the packages and pricing to be the same no matter where you're at. Hopefully, this will get done by the end of the year. Glad you got your prolbem taken care of :) .

Laters,
Mikef5

Are you getting the Versus channel right now ???
Yes

If you are in Los Gatos or Saratoga you are suppose to get ESPN2-HD and TNT-HD if not call Comcast and find out why not. Let me know what they say and I'll pass it on to Mr. J.

Laters,
Mikef5
Can anyone else in the area verify that he or she is getting the other 2 channels?

Oh my God, there really is HD on the Versus channel. The Stanley Cup playoffs are on, Pittsburgh and Ottawa and it looks half way decent :)
Let's hope there's more than just hockey in HD. Oh, forgot the channel came back on a couple of minutes ago, nice timing.

Laters,
Mikef5

Thanks for the response. I got on to the online support, and mentioned the plan and the "not authorized" message, and the CSR said I had an old package (from 1999) which inluded HBO, Starz, and Showtime for $102.99. The CSR said I would have to pick 2 channels and the monthly would go down to $98.45. The CSR was able to get the missing channels up and running. Since it only took 4 months (and 3 CSR's) to get it working (and I inquired about keeping Starz), the CSR gave me 6 months of free Starz (after that it's an additional $17.99/mo).

Not sure what the best procedure is to try to resolve issues. It seems like it's luck of the draw whether you get a experienced CSR or not. It also helps to have some experienced forum members.

Looks like you fell victim to the "grandfathered package" syndrome. When Comcast purchased the business from AT&T, it was more of a PR move to let people keep their existing packages as Comcast had a separate package system (no surprise it Comcast's packages were more expensive). Over time they stopped adding new channels to the grandfathered packages and forced you to move to the Comcast-way if you wanted those new channels. Not a big deal at first but as Comcast slowly adds more HD channels, it becomes more of a problem. But either way, you're right, all CSR reps should know about this by now.

Yes


Can anyone else in the area verify that he or she is getting the other 2 channels?


I'm in Los Gatos and I get 721 (VSGOLF-HD) but not 724 (ESPN2-HD) nor 726 (TNT-HD).

I called Comcast and they reset my cablecards but that hasn't helped so far.

Anyone have any luck?

Sounds like folks, even here in the Los Gatos Comcast junkyard, are having better luck than me, .
VS/GOLF shows up on my guide, but not ESPN2HD or TNTHD.
Every evening for the past week or so, the quality of my HD and digital channels goes to crap. Right now the following are unwatchable - HBO HD, ESPN HD, DISC HD, INHD, FSN HD, VS/GOLF, NBC HD - they just breakup constantly, and the audio never gets a chance, or I get the "One Moment Please" blue screen. When I try 410 (FSN PLUS) I get the blue screen as well. Yesterday night, I got video on FSN PLUS but it also broke up so badly it was not watchable and the audio never got a chance there either. "Luckily" the Sharks game tonight is on 40, which is awful SD quality, but at least watchable!
On top of that, my internet speed also seems to go to crap at night. This evening I can't get a good enough connection to even start a speed test!
But wait, there's more, my wife is really fed up with her DVR (we have three of these worthless boxes, and only one works fairly reliably). BTW, the problems described above occur on all three boxes.
Anyone have any ideas on how to move forward? I dread starting with the normal CSR route - lots of wasted time rebooting/unplugging/etc, then a visit by a minimally trained technician, then ??? I probably don't have a choice.
Sorry to whine so constantly on this board, but I have never been in a situation like this, where a reputably major and successful corporation, has performed so badly so consistently.
Thanks
Mike

Sounds like folks, even here in the Los Gatos Comcast junkyard, are having better luck than me, .
VS/GOLF shows up on my guide, but not ESPN2HD or TNTHD.
Every evening for the past week or so, the quality of my HD and digital channels goes to crap. Right now the following are unwatchable - HBO HD, ESPN HD, DISC HD, INHD, FSN HD, VS/GOLF, NBC HD - they just breakup constantly, and the audio never gets a chance, or I get the "One Moment Please" blue screen. When I try 410 (FSN PLUS) I get the blue screen as well. Yesterday night, I got video on FSN PLUS but it also broke up so badly it was not watchable and the audio never got a chance there either. "Luckily" the Sharks game tonight is on 40, which is awful SD quality, but at least watchable!
On top of that, my internet speed also seems to go to crap at night. This evening I can't get a good enough connection to even start a speed test!
But wait, there's more, my wife is really fed up with her DVR (we have three of these worthless boxes, and only one works fairly reliably). BTW, the problems described above occur on all three boxes.
Anyone have any ideas on how to move forward? I dread starting with the normal CSR route - lots of wasted time rebooting/unplugging/etc, then a visit by a minimally trained technician, then ??? I probably don't have a choice.
Sorry to whine so constantly on this board, but I have never been in a situation like this, where a reputably major and successful corporation, has performed so badly so consistently.
Thanks
Mike
Mike: It sounds like you have a problem similar to mine-- signal strength quality. I'm just too far from the nearest node on my street. I had Comcast out and they redid the wiring. That helped a bit, but I still had problems. I finally gave up on using them as my ISP. You're also probably splitting the signal at least 4 ways (from your description), and that can't help. You can ask Comcast to install an amplifier at your house-- I know someone who did that and got real good results. Oddly, though, Comcast charged them for it... I think it was only $50, but it seems weird to have to pay extra in order to receive a usuable signal.

I haven't seen any evidence that anyone in LG is getting ESPN2 or TNT in HD. I bet Comcast isn't sending out signals for the channels yet.

Mike: It sounds like you have a problem similar to mine-- signal strength quality. I'm just too far from the nearest node on my street. I had Comcast out and they redid the wiring. That helped a bit, but I still had problems. I finally gave up on using them as my ISP. You're also probably splitting the signal at least 4 ways (from your description), and that can't help. You can ask Comcast to install an amplifier at your house-- I know someone who did that and got real good results. Oddly, though, Comcast charged them for it... I think it was only $50, but it seems weird to have to pay extra in order to receive a usuable signal.

I haven't seen any evidence that anyone in LG is getting ESPN2 or TNT in HD. I bet Comcast isn't sending out signals for the channels yet.
This morning I got the message on my Motorola box about these channels being added to the lineup for Milpitas, Los Gatos and Saratoga and it does make the same statement that Mr. J's email said about Los Gatos and Saratoga getting the 3 new channels and Milpitas only getting VersusHD. Call Comcast and ask to speak to a supervisor and let me know what they say. If you guys haven't gotten these channels by tomorrow I'll drop a note to Mr. J and see what he can do.

Laters,
Mikef5

This morning I got the message on my Motorola box about these channels being added to the lineup for Milpitas, Los Gatos and Saratoga and it does make the same statement that Mr. J's email said about Los Gatos and Saratoga getting the 3 new channels and Milpitas only getting VersusHD. Call Comcast and ask to speak to a supervisor and let me know what they say. If you guys haven't gotten these channels by tomorrow I'll drop a note to Mr. J and see what he can do.

Laters,
Mikef5
I got the same message, and I do see the 2 other channels now. Looks like there was exactly a one week delay between getting Golf and the other 2.

This morning I got the message on my Motorola box about these channels being added to the lineup for Milpitas, Los Gatos and Saratoga and it does make the same statement that Mr. J's email said about Los Gatos and Saratoga getting the 3 new channels and Milpitas only getting VersusHD. Call Comcast and ask to speak to a supervisor and let me know what they say. If you guys haven't gotten these channels by tomorrow I'll drop a note to Mr. J and see what he can do.

Laters,
Mikef5

721, 724, and 726 are all working this morning in Los Gatos for me.

I got the same message, and I do see the 2 other channels now. Looks like there was exactly a one week delay between getting Golf and the other 2.
I think that the problem was do to that fact that the channels are sent in groups on individual frequencys. If there is a problem with one of the channels in the group it affects the rest of the channels. That was the problem in my area with the Versus channel being affected by another channel in it's group. In your area I think the problem was trying to find the best grouping to send them in without degrading the other channels or affecting them badly. Basically juggling channels around. Hopefully, they have found the right combination. ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

Does anyone have a pointer to a mapping that shows how Comcast channel numbers (e.g. 700, 701, 702,...) map to channel numbers as seen by a built-in QAM tuner on a TV (e.g. 98.1, 98.2, 98.3, ...)

Here is a thread, which, unfortunately does not contain any of the South Bay cities:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21661

Comcast finally decided to block History, Animal Planet, Travel and Headline News for clear QAM in Cupertino, I was wondering how long that would take them.

CNN is still in clear QAM, and they haven't turned off the HBO free weekend yet, lol.

Does anyone have a pointer to a mapping that shows how Comcast channel numbers (e.g. 700, 701, 702,...) map to channel numbers as seen by a built-in QAM tuner on a TV (e.g. 98.1, 98.2, 98.3, ...)

Here is a thread, which, unfortunately does not contain any of the South Bay cities:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21661

Unfortunately this is a feeble request as Comcast is constantly changing the frequencies in which they broadcast the channels on. We've tried numerous times on this forum to come up with a comprehensive list but they end up becoming "outdated" very quickly.

Mike/John
Thanks for the inputs. I have indeed had signal strength problems in the past. I have an amplifier, supplied by Comcast, where the signal enters my home, and another amplifer at my distribution point in my home theater room. Yes, I have lots of splits, plus I merge in a couple of VHF channels for stuff inside my home, like a front door camera, and a channel for watching DVD's from my central carousel collection.
Nonetheless, things have been working just fine until the past week or so. So, something new is going on, either with my amps, or more likely in the signal strength coming into my house. I have been in touch with the person in charge of QA for Comcast in this area, and hopefully will have a resolution shortly. I am really impressed with Comcast's response, just as I was about to give up!
I also found that TNTHD and ESPN2HD showed up today. The pictures seem stable, at least during the daytime today.
I'll keep you guys posted on resolution, and I hope to be able to give a nice congratulation to the local Comcast team soon.
Trying to be positive.
Mike


This morning I got the message on my Motorola box about these channels being added to the lineup for Milpitas, Los Gatos and Saratoga and it does make the same statement that Mr. J's email said about Los Gatos and Saratoga getting the 3 new channels and Milpitas only getting VersusHD. Call Comcast and ask to speak to a supervisor and let me know what they say. If you guys haven't gotten these channels by tomorrow I'll drop a note to Mr. J and see what he can do.

Laters,
Mikef5

This is off-topic...but very scary. We all complain about how the CSR's don't know about what channels we should/shouldn't be getting. How about the Comcast CSR's that being tricked in to giving personal information via some pretty weak social engineering: http://consumerist.com/consumer/comcast/audio-comcast-easily-tricked-into-giving-your-personal-info-to-wiseass-teenagers-251608.php

Mike/John
Thanks for the inputs. I have indeed had signal strength problems in the past. I have an amplifier, supplied by Comcast, where the signal enters my home, and another amplifer at my distribution point in my home theater room. Yes, I have lots of splits, plus I merge in a couple of VHF channels for stuff inside my home, like a front door camera, and a channel for watching DVD's from my central carousel collection.
Nonetheless, things have been working just fine until the past week or so...
I found that signal strength varied a lot, and that it seemed to be roughly correlated with the outside temperature. I rarely had a problem during the winter, but as soon as spring came around, the problems would be pretty common. It seems like a grounding problem, and maybe there is a lose connection somewhere that gets aggravated by high temperatures. I finally just gave up, and switched my ISP and limited the splits to 2. I figure within the next year or so Comcast will either upgrade the whole system here in LG or I'll switch to satellite.

It's nice to see that TGC is actually in HD for today's coverage of the PGA tournament!

Anyone in the Dublin area with probs with HDFSBA? I havent gotten one game in baseball or Hocky in the past week. Plus the free HBO is still on

edit: free hbo is now off

i'm on l.g. and i'm getting 30 plus hd channels. i've also watched both the sharks and giants play on wednesday on fsnba. i'll have the giants, sharks and warriors tonight. i do not have any problems receiving these broadcasts. i'm also getting tnt hd and espn hd without problems.

reason being i'm a happy dish sub. you guys in saramilgtos may want to think about switching until after the upgrades are complete and comcast can demonstrate competency in their hd transmissions.

i'm probably paying less than you are a month.

by the way, no bugs with my 622 dvr, it's as good as a tivo, which it should be since dish stole tivo's patents - but i'm not complaining

mike i thought for sure you would switch by now.

i i'll have the giants, sharks and warriors tonight.
You won't be getting these games in HD on Dish.



BTW, do the Pirates have one of the ugliest uniforms in baseball or what??

I have been lurking around for quite some time and live in the Santa Cruz mountians and have not been able to find what I am looking for. I just ordered my HDHomerun and wanted to know if anyone else is on the Comcast Santa Cruz system that can confirm what channels I should get "in the clear" QAM.

Does anyone know if Comcast plans to add GAMEHD or GAME channels 11-14? Makes ordering MLBEI rather worthless if a third of the channels are unavailable...

I just received my April bill and all of a sudden, I'm being charge 2 - $5 charges now, when for the last 3 years I haven't been.

So this is how my bill is now:
High Definition TV - $5
HDTV Additional Service - $5
Limited Basic - $17.99
Digital Addl Outlet - $6.99

I have 2 cable boxes. Is this them just realizing they should have been charging me $5 per box and I've been lucky? Or a billing mistake?

Russ

russwong, that is what I am paying.

Yes that looks right, if you have 2 non-DVR boxes(?)

I have 1 DVR box which I pay $12.95 for.
Then $6.99 + $5 = $11.99 for the additional non-DVR HDTV box (6200).

So for $7.99 more you could turn one of them into a DVR... but otherwise, yeah that looks right. 2 HDTV boxes = 2x $5 HDTV fee.

_______________________________

(HSI) - Looks like Power Boost for UPLOADS is here in the S.F.
http://www.dslreports.com/im/28070887/9667.png (http://speedtest.dslreports.com)

Actually, I think I would have to go to Digital Classic from Limited Basic, which would be an additional $45 or so right? So really it's an increase of $50+ to my bill to get DVR right?

What was interesting is I talked to a service rep and I said how much is it to go to cablecard? And they said it's free. So I said, I could return 1 cable box at $12 a month for a free cablecard.

Then he went on to say I can only get local HDs with cablecard and not the other HD programming...

Russ

Yes that looks right, if you have 2 non-DVR boxes(?)

I have 1 DVR box which I pay $12.95 for.
Then $6.99 + $5 = $11.99 for the additional non-DVR HDTV box (6200).

So for $7.99 more you could turn one of them into a DVR... but otherwise, yeah that looks right. 2 HDTV boxes = 2x $5 HDTV fee.

_______________________________

(HSI) - Looks like Power Boost for UPLOADS is here in the S.F.
http://www.dslreports.com/im/28070887/9667.png (http://speedtest.dslreports.com)

I'm getting "Please call 800 Comcast to subscribe" when I try to watch the Sopranos On Demand. I've been subscribed to HBO HD from the beginning. I can get HBO SD programming no problem On Demand.

Anyone else having this problem?

I had the same issue earlier with the Tudors in HD on demand from Showtime. I called CS about the ESPN2 and TNT HD channels being down on the Palo Alto head end and they reset my set top boxes. After the set top boxes reloaded, I could get the Tudors in HD. Still no luck with the Sopranos.

By the way, ESPN2 and TNT came back online an hour after I called CS. Can the others on this headend confirm it started working for them as well?

Actually, I think I would have to go to Digital Classic from Limited Basic, which would be an additional $45 or so right? So really it's an increase of $50+ to my bill to get DVR right?

What was interesting is I talked to a service rep and I said how much is it to go to cablecard? And they said it's free. So I said, I could return 1 cable box at $12 a month for a free cablecard.

Then he went on to say I can only get local HDs with cablecard and not the other HD programming...

Russ
Oh.

Yeah you have to have Digital Cable to get the DVR, which over limited basic is + $30ish + $10..

You can get local HDs without Cablecard though, so yes you could return one of the STBs if you have a QAM tuner.

Actually, I don't know why you even have 2 STBs with just Limited Basic. You can tune all that with NTSC/clear-QAM tuners. Assuming your TV(s) have QAM tuners.

What was interesting is I talked to a service rep and I said how much is it to go to cablecard? And they said it's free. So I said, I could return 1 cable box at $12 a month for a free cablecard.

No, CableCard saves you $5, not $12. Digital outlet charge still applies.

I'm grandfathered in so I get ESPNHD, DiscoveryHD, INHD, etc... which the CSR said I wouldn't get with cablecard, but I think he just didn't know what he was talking about.


Oh.

Yeah you have to have Digital Cable to get the DVR, which over limited basic is + $30ish + $10..

You can get local HDs without Cablecard though, so yes you could return one of the STBs if you have a QAM tuner.

Actually, I don't know why you even have 2 STBs with just Limited Basic. You can tune all that with NTSC/clear-QAM tuners. Assuming your TV(s) have QAM tuners.

Well, after a glorious couple of months of the Sharks in HD on FSN-HD, I'm told tonight that this channel is not available in my area (Sunnyvale). The channel was, in fact, available as of last night (Giants game), and when I tuned in tonight for the Sharks game, my TV informed me (I have a cable card) that the channel was Not Authorized. Two calls and two hits to my cable card later, I called a third time, and after being put on hold on and off for 20 minutes, was told that this channel is not available in my area (despite the fact that it's been on comcast.net's TV Planner for some time now -- oh, and all the games I've watched as well...). I asked to be transferred to a higher tier tech or engineer, and was told that I was talking to one (if anyone from Comcast is reading this, and believes I've been provided incorrect information, I have their name and operator ID).

Can anyone else confirm?


Edit: Fourth call to Comcast, and I'm told I never should have gotten this channel to begin with. Upgrade is scheduled for sometime later this year (maybe), and I won't see FSN-HD until then. No explanation provided when I told them that my TV reports a tuning status of "Not Authorized" vs. "No Signal" (which is what I get when I manually enter a channel I know I don't get, like 719). I'm officially royally pissed off now. Comcastic.

Edit2: After logging in to comcast.com and selecting my Channel Lineup (http://www.comcast.com/customers/clu/ChannelLineup.ashx), 720 FSN-HD is, in fact, part of my lineup. This is the definition of run-around. I'm ever-so thrilled....


Just wanted to pass along that this issue did, in fact, get resolved. The next day (4/6) I got a call from a manager, who informed me that FSN-HD was in fact part of my lineup, and apologized for the fact that multiple CSRs had told me otherwise. The manager also gave me a number to call them directly if the issue persisted. The following day, FSN-HD was still showing "Not Authorized" at the start of the Sharks game. I gave the manager a call, and by the start of the second period of the game, I was able to receive the signal. Since then, I have not had any issues with FSN-HD.

I received a second call yesterday (from the same manager), wanting to confirm that I was without issue. The manager had been contacted by Mr. Johnson as a result of my original post about the issue.

While the whole thing should not have been an issue to begin with, I'm very pleased with the follow-through by multiple levels of management. It's good to know that folks at Comcast do read this forum, and are responsive to issues like these.

Comcast is only going to offer us 10 out of the 14 channels on MLBEI, but is charging full price. That plus no HD EI channel just pisses me off, because we should get all of this if we are paying full price. If they want to cut out 5/15 (4/14 plus no HD) channels, they should only charge 2/3 of the price. It's these kinds of issues that really make me mad, you know, full price for less than full service. Sound familiar?

Here is the link from Indemand saying cable co's need to authorize it, but the Comcast CSR claimed that Comcast was not getting permission from Indemand. Sounds like BS to me.

http://www.tsq.com/alerts/MLB%2007%20launch%20memo2.pdf

I agree with Brimorga. I paid full price for the games MLB EI is offering and I can't get the Dodgers-Padres tonight because it's on Game 14? I don't want 1/3 of my money back, I want the damn game!!!

Sweet!!! Another A's game, another A's game not in HD.

Yes that looks right, if you have 2 non-DVR boxes(?)

I have 1 DVR box which I pay $12.95 for.
Then $6.99 + $5 = $11.99 for the additional non-DVR HDTV box (6200).

So for $7.99 more you could turn one of them into a DVR... but otherwise, yeah that looks right. 2 HDTV boxes = 2x $5 HDTV fee.

_______________________________

(HSI) - Looks like Power Boost for UPLOADS is here in the S.F.
http://www.dslreports.com/im/28070887/9667.png (http://speedtest.dslreports.com)

Are you able to get your HDTV to work with the DVI/HDMI connector on the non-DVR 6200 box? I get snow-picture-snow every two/three seconds.

_______________________________

(HSI) - Looks like Power Boost for UPLOADS is here in the S.F.
http://www.dslreports.com/im/28070887/9667.png (http://speedtest.dslreports.com)

Yep, I thought I let that out, happened on the 10th.

Want any digital A/Os? There's some excellent discounts on DCT700s and Pace SD DVRs right now.

I'm getting "Please call 800 Comcast to subscribe" when I try to watch the Sopranos On Demand. I've been subscribed to HBO HD from the beginning. I can get HBO SD programming no problem On Demand.

Anyone else having this problem? I

I had it a couple weeks back on Showtime using one the shortcuts whereas channel 1 worked just fine. I posted here and someone from Comcast called me. They said they needed to send out some additional data to the box and then it worked. They also scolded me for not calling but late at night who wants to do that when going to channel 1 solved the problem? Besides I posted here as the "shortcuts" were new and probably prone to bugs so I suspected I was not the only one having the problem and it might give a heads up to the Comcast folks reading here to look at the situation overall.

Comcast is only going to offer us 10 out of the 14 channels on MLBEI, but is charging full price. That plus no HD EI channel just pisses me off, because we should get all of this if we are paying full price. If they want to cut out 5/15 (4/14 plus no HD) channels, they should only charge 2/3 of the price. It's these kinds of issues that really make me mad, you know, full price for less than full service. Sound familiar?

Here is the link from Indemand saying cable co's need to authorize it, but the Comcast CSR claimed that Comcast was not getting permission from Indemand. Sounds like BS to me.

http://www.tsq.com/alerts/MLB%2007%20launch%20memo2.pdf

Well, that made the decision a lot easier, MLB.tv premium it is. The Padres are never going to get selected for the HD game anyways, I'm sure, and as you mentioned they're on Game14 tonight, which I'd guess would be the case most of the time.

I have a new Tivo S3 and just moved to Comcast from DirecTV - largely to get A's game's in HD. I didn't get the Comcast FSN-HD broadcast for at least the first 30 minutes of the game. I gave up and moved to SD FSN so I don't know when I started to receive the channel. When I clicked back near the end of the game, the game was coming through on HD. (What a gorgeous picture) Anyone else have this problem today? I've read that it has happened in the past.

I have a new Tivo S3 and just moved to Comcast from DirecTV - largely to get A's game's in HD. I didn't get the Comcast FSN-HD broadcast for at least the first 30 minutes of the game. I gave up and moved to SD FSN so I don't know when I started to receive the channel. When I clicked back near the end of the game, the game was coming through on HD. (What a gorgeous picture) Anyone else have this problem today? I've read that it has happened in the past.

I turned the game on in the bottom of the 1st inning and it was in HD. I flipped back and forth throughout the game and never saw any breakups or anything. When you say you "didn't get the Comcast FSN-HD broadcast", what do you mean? Were you getting the FSN logo? A blank picture?

I turned the game on in the bottom of the 1st inning and it was in HD. I flipped back and forth throughout the game and never saw any breakups or anything. When you say you "didn't get the Comcast FSN-HD broadcast", what do you mean? Were you getting the FSN logo? A blank picture?

I got a blank grey screen. Something the Tivo delivers. Judging by some posts on the tivocommunity forum, the issue I saw may be specific to the S3. I wanted to check to see if others had seen this problem today due to some posts in this thread. Right now, I see the rotating FSNHD logo.

Mikef5: Do you know how Comcast suddenly found the bandwidth this month to deliver 3 more HD channels in LG/Saratoga? What changed? Was there any consideration to giving us OnDemand instead? (I'm not saying I'd want that instead, I'm just trying to understand how the decision making process works.)

Mikef5: Do you know how Comcast suddenly found the bandwidth this month to deliver 3 more HD channels in LG/Saratoga? What changed? Was there any consideration to giving us OnDemand instead? (I'm not saying I'd want that instead, I'm just trying to understand how the decision making process works.)
I really have no concrete info on how they found the extra bandwidth to do the recent HD additions but I do have a possible idea. I think that originally they were saving some of the bandwidth to do the ADS for the SaraMilgatos area without having to do the upgrades but since they have now decided to upgrade the areas to 1 GHz they don't need the saved up bandwidth to do the ADS and decided to use it now to add additional channels. Just my thoughts on the idea but it sounds like a reasonable one.

Laters,
Mikef5

Are you able to get your HDTV to work with the DVI/HDMI connector on the non-DVR 6200 box? I get snow-picture-snow every two/three seconds.
Yes I am, with a Toshiba 23" LCD. No problems at all.

Try a different cable?

I really have no concrete info on how they found the extra bandwidth to do the recent HD additions but I do have a possible idea. I think that originally they were saving some of the bandwidth to do the ADS for the SaraMilgatos area without having to do the upgrades but since they have now decided to upgrade the areas to 1 GHz they don't need the saved up bandwidth to do the ADS and decided to use it now to add additional channels. Just my thoughts on the idea but it sounds like a reasonable one.
In my 860 area they stuck VSGolf in the slot formerly occupied by analog channel 24. I don't remember what used to be there, if anything. They also gave it 24.1 PSIP virtual channel which it looks like Comcast is generating from scratch because there was no OTA PSIP info to convert or pass through. If they have the capability of generating the PSIP info, I think it would be much nicer for them to map the channels to the Comcast channel #s like 702-7xx because that would allow TiVo S3s on limited basic to work without a CableCARD. There is already precedent for the cable channel #s to not match the OTA channel #s (ie the analog channels) so it shouldn't be that big a deal to get rid of 5.1 and replace with 705.

You won't be getting these games in HD on Dish.



BTW, do the Pirates have one of the ugliest uniforms in baseball or what??


pirates uniforms are scary. yeah, i wish i had fsnba hd but i'm just happy they started carrrying the fox rsn when baseball began and now that the warriors are playing like a real nba team. i'll trade no fsnba hd for the 15-20 extra hd channels i'm getting on my package. when the upgrades are complete we will reconsider.
besides , sounds like not all that many games are hd. are sharks playoff games hd? what about warrior games?

Aren't the Giants/Rockies supposed to be on FSNBA-HD at 5:30pm today?

They are on FSN+ 410

I really have no concrete info on how they found the extra bandwidth to do the recent HD additions but I do have a possible idea. I think that originally they were saving some of the bandwidth to do the ADS for the SaraMilgatos area without having to do the upgrades but since they have now decided to upgrade the areas to 1 GHz they don't need the saved up bandwidth to do the ADS and decided to use it now to add additional channels. Just my thoughts on the idea but it sounds like a reasonable one.

Laters,
Mikef5
Thanks for the reply. ADS = Analog to Digital... Switch?

Aren't the Giants/Rockies supposed to be on FSNBA-HD at 5:30pm today?

that's what hdsportsguide says... but its not!!

The Giants/Rockies on 4/16 was originally scheduled as a FSN HD game, but it was recently pulled from the HD line-up on the FSN Bay Area website. That probably explains the incorrect listing on the guide. Don't know why the HD broadcast was scrapped (Sharks maybe?), but the next Giants FSN HD broadcast is scheduled for 4/17.

Once again, the game I want to watch isn't offered on Comcast. Shows on the guide as on, channel "Game12". Glad I paid $159 for the games they decide I get to see! CSR says it's blacked out, lol. Fargin corksoakers!!!

AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the reply. ADS = Analog to Digital... Switch?

All Digital Simulcast

Analog channels digitized for boxes/QAM TVs. But still there for sets without boxes.

Once again, the game I want to watch isn't offered on Comcast. Shows on the guide as on, channel "Game12". Glad I paid $159 for the games they decide I get to see! CSR says it's blacked out, lol. Fargin corksoakers!!!

AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!


I feel your pain. This is weak.

Once again, the game I want to watch isn't offered on Comcast. Shows on the guide as on, channel "Game12". Glad I paid $159 for the games they decide I get to see! CSR says it's blacked out, lol. Fargin corksoakers!!!

AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
If it was blacked out what did you want them to do ??? No provider be it Comcast, Directv or Dish would be able to show it to you if in fact it was blacked out for our area. I can see being upset with not getting all of the channels for MLBEI but with the screw ups and the last minute agreement with major league baseball I'm surprised that you are getting the ones that you are getting. If you're not getting what you paid for get a refund, that's what I'd do.

Laters,
Mikef5

If it was blacked out what did you want them to do ??? No provider be it Comcast, Directv or Dish would be able to show it to you if in fact it was blacked out for our area. I can see being upset with not getting all of the channels for MLBEI but with the screw ups and the last minute agreement with major league baseball I'm surprised that you are getting the ones that you are getting. If you're not getting what you paid for get a refund, that's what I'd do.

Laters,
Mikef5

Mike-

I wasn't being clear; the game was not blacked out locally (it was LA Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, no restrictions in Nor Cal). It was on channel 'Game12' and Comcast is only offering 'Game1' thru 'Game10' while other cable/sat systems have all 14 channels (Here is a post to another thread on this issue: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=834110). The CSRs are basically clueless about the fact that 4 out of 14 channels I paid for are not available to me. I know they're clueless but I call anyway to bitch so hopefully someone is registering the fact that I don't appreciate getting screwed!

PS Mike, keep up the good work, I appreciate all that you do on this thread.

All Digital Simulcast

Analog channels digitized for boxes/QAM TVs. But still there for sets without boxes.
OK. That makes more sense. Thanks.

did they show the Sharks game in Versus too? I just watched the FSN HD channel and didn't mind to check Versus HD. But they were announcing the game in Versus HD in the game that was on before the Sharks game.

did they show the Sharks game in Versus too? I just watched the FSN HD channel and didn't mind to check Versus HD. But they were announcing the game in Versus HD in the game that was on before the Sharks game.

Nope. Once the earlier game ended, Versus went black. I think tomorrow's game is on Versus though (and not on FSN).

Important update from Comcast
___________________________________

I am passing this message as I received it so there is no question about what was or wasn't said.
____________________________________________________________ ______

Please pass this along to the Forum. And I need to take this opportunity to apologize for some inaccurate information I provided the Forum recently. I simply misread the calendar on my blackberry and missed by one week the date when we would launch the new HD channels in Saratoga, Los Gatos, Milpitas. I should have said April 12 instead of April 5. I sincerely apologize for my mistake.

Copyright Protection Management System (CPMS) Activation

Starting April 18th, the Bay Area market will begin implementing a Copyright Protection system mandated by the FCC to protect our video suppliers from unauthorized duplication of programming content.

This new policy restricts customers from digitally recording a Premium service, Pay-Per-View (PPV) or On Demand program and subsequently making additional digital copies on an external device.

Customers with a Comcast issued DVRs or using a Personal Video Recording device with Cable Card(s) will be affected.

What Customers May Experience:

As the copy protection is turned on, the box will go to a black screen for a few seconds.

Some of the HD boxes may need to channel up and down to get the channel back.

A customer may receive a message when trying to record a program that states “Copy Once”, “Copy Never” or “Copy Always”.

Some customers with CableCARDs may lose service completely or may experience missing channels (TV screen stating "One Moment Please" or "Unauthorized").

· This may be due to missing Host ID and Data ID information associated with their CableCARD.

If a customer with a CableCARD does not have all of the necessary CableCARD information entered in our billing system, they will lose visibility to their premium channels. If a customer calls 1-800-Comcast, the appropriate troubleshooting steps will be followed.

Forum Users have been aware and have commented upon our extensive campaign last year to reach out to all the CableCARD customers asking for the Host ID and Data ID information especially those whose CableCARD data was not paired within our billing system.

Here is a chart outlining the protocols.

Copyright Protection System Setting

Copy Freely Copy Once Copy Never
Over the air broadcast channels Premium Services (Movie Channels) On Demand / PPV
All other Digital channels - for example National Geographic, Discovery, Food Network, TBN. Encore, HBO, Starz, Showtime, The Movie Channel, and Cinemax. On Demand, this will include Subscription On Demand for example, Bollywood, Howard Stern, and WWE.


Does this change mean that customers will not be able to record any programs to their VCR or other devices as they currently do?

At this time no. The copy protection only affects digital copies. If a customer uses the analog outputs on the cable box, they will still be able to copy to a VCR or other recording device. Only digital copies would be impacted by this change.

____________________________________________________________ ___

So, it looks like copy protection is here and probably here to stay. If this is a problem for you, you need to call Comcast and voice your concerns with them. That's the best advice I can give you, if enough people call and let them know your feelings on this the better the chance Comcast may review their policy on this issue.

Laters,
Mikef5

Well it's old news, copy protection has been here for years. I've never been able to record HBO or many other whole channels, and then some channels, it depends on the programming - some like KTVU turn on copy protection when they switch from local to network (FOX in this case) programming.

OnDemand/PPV has also never been recordable.

Mike-

I wasn't being clear; the game was not blacked out locally (it was LA Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, no restrictions in Nor Cal). It was on channel 'Game12' and Comcast is only offering 'Game1' thru 'Game10' while other cable/sat systems have all 14 channels (Here is a post to another thread on this issue: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=834110). The CSRs are basically clueless about the fact that 4 out of 14 channels I paid for are not available to me. I know they're clueless but I call anyway to bitch so hopefully someone is registering the fact that I don't appreciate getting screwed!

PS Mike, keep up the good work, I appreciate all that you do on this thread.
I read the thread and it's not really clear to me why Comcast is not doing all the channels if they are available to them. I can ask Mr. J. but I don't know if he'd be able to give an answer either. It might be the way the deal was brokered with MLB or it might be a bandwidth issue ( not likely but it might be ).

I understand your problem with the CSR's. Sometimes you get one that is really good and understands the problem right away but most of the time they are just script readers and they leave it at that. I've got a problem with the CSR's right now. Channel 721 ( VersusHD ) is not working for the 2nd day in a row and all he could do is write it down again. I did talk to a supervisor but he just said he would write up a trouble ticket and left it at that. Mean while the Stanley Cup continues and I'm not able to see it. OK, not fully true I can watch it in SD on channel 404 but that's not what I pay for and not what I expect from a service I pay for.

Laters,
Mikef5

Important update from Comcast
...So, for example, if I have HBO and a Comcast DVR, then some of my HBO programs might not be recordable? I'm not affected since I have TiVo S3 and don't have any premiums but my neighbor has the HBO DVR setup and they are going to be pissed if they can't record HBO stuff anymore.

Well it's old news, copy protection has been here for years. I've never been able to record HBO or many other whole channels, and then some channels, it depends on the programming - some like KTVU turn on copy protection when they switch from local to network (FOX in this case) programming.

OnDemand/PPV has also never been recordable.

In the past it seems it's varied from head end to head end...I wonder if it's going to be a system-wide thing now (i.e. no more people saying "I can record to my PC" while others can't).

Well it's old news, copy protection has been here for years. I've never been able to record HBO or many other whole channels, and then some channels, it depends on the programming - some like KTVU turn on copy protection when they switch from local to network (FOX in this case) programming.

OnDemand/PPV has also never been recordable.
Might be old news but now it's officially Comcast's policy to implement copy protection system wide. There was a way to get digital copies of recorded programs but this will effectively stop that. Personally, I only use the Motorola box to record ( time shifting ) and if this copy protection scheme screws that up I'll be pi**ed. It would be nice if they would allow connecting additional storage devices but I think that will happen when hell freezes over.

Laters,
Mikef5

Well it's old news, copy protection has been here for years. I've never been able to record HBO or many other whole channels, and then some channels, it depends on the programming - some like KTVU turn on copy protection when they switch from local to network (FOX in this case) programming.

OnDemand/PPV has also never been recordable.
You're talking about firewire output recording though right?

The above infers that actual Comcast and third party(TiVo S3) DVRs could/will experience anomalies when the CP is turned on. The above statement is a bit unclear.

Customers with a Comcast issued DVRs or using a Personal Video Recording device with Cable Card(s) will be affected. What Customers May Experience:

As the copy protection is turned on, the box will go to a black screen for a few seconds.

Some of the HD boxes may need to channel up and down to get the channel back.

A customer may receive a message when trying to record a program that states “Copy Once”, “Copy Never” or “Copy Always”.

Some customers with CableCARDs may lose service completely or may experience missing channels (TV screen stating "One Moment Please" or "Unauthorized").

It's going to be rather interesting to try and make unassisted timed recordings if some/all of the above is going on when the recording is scheduled to start. How do you teach a DVR to change the channel up or down when the screen goes black to make sure the DVR records the program?

And all these "some and may" qualifiers don't instill a lot of confidence, doesn't Comcast know how the equipment is going to respond? Sounds like a customer service nightmare.

You're talking about firewire output recording though right?

And all these "some and may" qualifiers don't instill a lot of confidence, doesn't Comcast know how the equipment is going to respond? Sounds like a customer service nightmare.
Yes, firewire but that might still be possible if set up properly and I'll let it at that.

The "some and may" qualifiers are typical statements to cover all your bases ( and rear end ) and doesn't surprise me at all, just legal talk ;)

My concern is it might screw up time shifting and like you said unassisted recordings if these messages do in fact pop up and require the customer to respond to. This paranoia of the movie studios and broadcasters is really getting out of hand and they need to be reined in.

Laters,
Mikef5

If it screws up DVR recording then that will be an issue. But so far it has not. That's not to say the DVR is 100% reliable, but I haven't had any problems recording copy-protected shows to the DVR. It's only when trying to dump it to Firewire. I guess the DVR recording doesn't count as a "copy" or something...

One other thing.
For those that wish to complain to Comcast about this policy be sure to complain to the FCC also, it's their policy that Comcast is complying with. It needs to be addressed to both parties to have any chance and being reviewed or removed. I believe this is still a good link to the FCC for complaints www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Laters,
Mikef5

Yeah, I'm expecting to continue to be using my Motorola's DVRs (I have 2) as usual. Where I can record any show from any channel I'm subscribed.

It's going to be rather interesting to try and make unassisted timed recordings if some/all of the above is going on when the recording is scheduled to start. How do you teach a DVR to change the channel up or down when the screen goes black to make sure the DVR records the program?

And all these "some and may" qualifiers don't instill a lot of confidence, doesn't Comcast know how the equipment is going to respond? Sounds like a customer service nightmare.
They are likely going to flip the switch sometime in the early morning when everyone is asleep. If you are affected, I think it would be a very good idea to verify everything is working tomorrow morning, especially channels that are copy protected like HBO.

I know there are some people with TiVo S3s who have the "Data" portion of the Host/Data changed from what Comcast has recorded, either due to TiVo "Clear and Delete Everything" or through HD upgrade with different image, or through swapping CableCARD #1/#2. Since the CPMS wasn't active before, they may have mistakenly thought that these activities (and resulting Data ID regeneration) don't affect their CableCARD setup, but they will find out it likely does come tomorrow when CPMS is turned on.

If it screws up DVR recording then that will be an issue. But so far it has not. That's not to say the DVR is 100% reliable, but I haven't had any problems recording copy-protected shows to the DVR. It's only when trying to dump it to Firewire. I guess the DVR recording doesn't count as a "copy" or something...
Yes the DVR does count as a recording device. If the program allows " copy once " then you can record it, if not you can't record it at all. So with a "copy once" you can record to the DVR but not to another device after that, like taking that DVR recording and passing it through the firewire connection.

Laters,
Mikef5

Yeah, it is an FCC rule. But who got the FCC to pass that rule? Hollywood!!! This is a typical trick that regressive industries use. They get the Government to pass a special rule that favors the industry, not consumers, then they say, "We have to do it, it is a government rule." Bah. Humbug. And a Pox on them all.

Greg


One other thing.
For those that wish to complain to Comcast about this policy be sure to complain to the FCC also, it's their policy that Comcast is complying with. It needs to be addressed to both parties to have any chance and being reviewed or removed. I believe this is still a good link to the FCC for complaints www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Laters,
Mikef5

On a side note, VersusHD is finally ( after 2 days of not working ) working for me.
About the VersusHD channel. I was wrong about the channel, there is a lot of HD on it besides the hockey and golf. Like bull riding and yes, even fishing in HD, now that's hard core HD viewing :p . Oh yeah, the Stanley Cup is there too.... :) I'm beginning to like hockey, especially the Sharks, but it'll never replace baseball in my heart ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

They are likely going to flip the switch sometime in the early morning when everyone is asleep. If you are affected, I think it would be a very good idea to verify everything is working tomorrow morning, especially channels that are copy protected like HBO.

I know there are some people with TiVo S3s who have the "Data" portion of the Host/Data changed from what Comcast has recorded, either due to TiVo "Clear and Delete Everything" or through HD upgrade with different image, or through swapping CableCARD #1/#2. Since the CPMS wasn't active before, they may have mistakenly thought that these activities (and resulting Data ID regeneration) don't affect their CableCARD setup, but they will find out it likely does come tomorrow when CPMS is turned on.
Okay, so all these "some/may" issues will only happen once, when they turn it on tomorrow? I got the sense these issues would crop up whenever a CP protected program was due to air, I guess I misread it.

One other thing.
For those that wish to complain to Comcast about this policy be sure to complain to the FCC also, it's their policy that Comcast is complying with. It needs to be addressed to both parties to have any chance and being reviewed or removed. I believe this is still a good link to the FCC for complaints www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html
BTW the previous round of forum discussions on this topic are here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8830711&&#post8830711

Personally I think it is just spin to imply that Comcast is just complying with FCC so blame the FCC. The real people to blame are the studios who lobbied to have this stuff included in the first place.

What really happened is the FCC wanted to go digital. The studios saw this as an opportunity to lobby to include content protection or they claimed their business would be seriously compromised by piracy. Thus copy protection got included in the rules.

At this point, I don't think the infrastructure will go away. The best you can probably do is lobby the station/content folks to allow specifying Copy Freely in the CCI flags.

Yeah, it is an FCC rule. But who got the FCC to pass that rule? Hollywood!!! This is a typical trick that regressive industries use. They get the Government to pass a special rule that favors the industry, not consumers, then they say, "We have to do it, it is a government rule." Bah. Humbug. And a Pox on them all.

Greg
Comcast does not equal Hollywood but you are right the industry is more concerned about profits and not the customer but Comcast has to follow the rules set by the FCC whether they like it or not. I think your bitch would be with Hollywood and the broadcasters that lobbied for this ruling and not Comcast.

Laters,
Mikef5

BTW the previous round of forum discussions on this topic are here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8830711&&#post8830711

Personally I think it is just spin to imply that Comcast is just complying with FCC so blame the FCC. The real people to blame are the studios who lobbied to have this stuff included in the first place.

What really happened is the FCC wanted to go digital. The studios saw this as an opportunity to lobby to include content protection or they claimed their business would be seriously compromised by piracy. Thus copy protection got included in the rules.

At this point, I don't think the infrastructure will go away. The best you can probably do is lobby the station/content folks to allow specifying Copy Freely in the CCI flags.
Sfhub,
Excellent points and I agree the industry is just too paranoid about piracy and forgetting about their customers altogether and in the end it will come back to bite them in the rear.

Laters,
Mikef5

Okay, so all these "some/may" issues will only happen once, when they turn it on tomorrow? I got the sense these issues would crop up whenever a CP protected program was due to air, I guess I misread it.
IMO the bulk of the some/may issues are expected to be one time issues when the system is turned on. Losing service for copy protected channels on CableCARD devices would be an issue until the updated Host/Data pair is conveyed to Comcast. The warning messages are implementation dependent and I don't know how all the various devices warn the users about recording content with various non-zero CCI flags. I doubt the messages will affect the actual recordings, if you are allowed to record based on the CCI flags, but it might suprise some people who have never seen the messages or popups before.

Comcast does not equal Hollywood but you are right the industry is more concerned about profits and not the customer but Comcast has to follow the rules set by the FCC whether they like it or not. I think your bitch would be with Hollywood and the broadcasters that lobbied for this ruling and not Comcast.

Laters,
Mikef5
eh...Comcast does equal Hollywood in the respect that they own a huge portion of the MGM library along with Sony...hmm.. is it MGM or Disney?...can't recall right now...in anycase, Comcast has a very vested interest in copy protection, don't think for a second that Comcast is an innocent bystander in all this.

Wasn't the rule supposed to apply only to PPVs and subscription services (like HBO)? I can only imagine what would happen if, for example, some advertiser goes to NBC and says, "I paid a fortune for my commercials to be on Heroes; you had better set it to 'copy never' so nobody can TiVo it and skip over the ads!", or perhaps, "NBC has My Name is Earl on 'copy never' - we'd better switch Ugly Betty to 'copy never' so people won't TiVO it so they can watch Earl and then forget to watch Betty." (And, of course, every program that wasn't "Copy Never" would be "Copy Once" - "let's see you put this on YouTube!")

Then again...if something is flagged "copy once", how does the recording device tell the difference between a TV and an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray recorder on the other end of the HDMI cable connected to it? ("This program is unable to be sent to this device because it was flagged as "copy once" and you are attempting to make a second digital copy. Now go wash those dirty little hands of yours.")

-- Don

eh...Comcast does equal Hollywood in the respect that they own a huge portion of the MGM library along with Sony...hmm.. is it MGM or Disney?...can't recall right now...in anycase, Comcast has a very vested interest in copy protection, don't think for a second that Comcast is an innocent bystander in all this.
Jim,
I'm not saying Comcast doesn't deserve some of the blame here but there are other players in this game that deserve the same if not more of the blame. The problem is the customer gets caught in the middle and in no way is served for the better with this paranoia that the industry has with piracy and copy protection. To single out one player is not fair, they ALL deserve to be chastised and held responsible.

Laters,
Mikef5

Then again...if something is flagged "copy once", how does the recording device tell the difference between a TV and an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray recorder on the other end of the HDMI cable connected to it? ("This program is unable to be sent to this device because it was flagged as "copy once" and you are attempting to make a second digital copy. Now go wash those dirty little hands of yours.")

-- Don
Because the device is polled by the system and has to be on an approved list of equipment otherwise it will not allow it to be viewed or recorded. Is there a way to circumvent this..... probably ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

> Wasn't the rule supposed to apply only to PPVs and subscription services (like HBO)?

How the Copy Protection bits are used will depend on the actual broadcaster/station policies and the content they are providing. Comcast is enabling the CPMS infrastructure in their Motorola head-ends. They aren't converting all stations to use non-zero CCI, which isn't really something that is for them to control (but they can somtimes change the bits by mistake)

The *infrastructure* that is being setup says the following (for simplicity, putting aside the analog protection and image constraint bits):
CCI/EMI bits
00 = Copying not restricted
01 = No further copying is permitted
10 = One generation copying is permitted
11 = Copying is prohibited

This is how TiVo S3 maps these bits:
http://customersupport.tivo.com/LaunchContent.aspx?CID=CA3A26CB-6823-4FC3-B67F-17DA8524ECC6
Copy Protection Policies for Series3 HD

The TiVo Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder is a compliant Digital Cable Receiver (DCR) device which uses CableCARD™ to receive high quality digital cable content in its native form. Since the Series3 HD is a DCR device, in addition to the Macrovision rules for analog content, it must also comply with the content protection policies for Digital Cable content. These copy protection rules vary by content type, and in general, premium and pay channels will have more restrictive rules. These digital copy protection rules include:

Copy Not Restricted – This content is not considered high value and can be recorded freely with no restrictions.
No further copying is permitted – This content can be recorded to a TiVo DVR, but cannot be copied or distributed any further.
One generation copy is permitted – This content can be recorded to a TiVo DVR and can be moved, but cannot be copied or distributed any further.
Copying is prohibited – These programs can be recorded to a TiVo DVR, but only for a 90 minute window, after which they can no longer be accessed or viewed.

> I can only imagine what would happen if, for example, some advertiser goes to NBC and says, "I paid a fortune for my commercials to be on Heroes; you had better set it to 'copy never' so nobody can TiVo it and skip over the ads!", or perhaps, "NBC has My Name is Earl on 'copy never' - we'd better switch Ugly Betty to 'copy never' so people won't TiVO it so they can watch Earl and then forget to watch Betty." (And, of course, every program that wasn't "Copy Never" would be "Copy Once" - "let's see you put this on YouTube!")

Well, an OTA broadcaster like NBC only has the BF at their disposal (ie they cannot directly set CCI to copy never) and
1) equipment today does not have to honor BF
2) even if it did honor BF, there is nothing in BF that inherently limits copying for personal use. Implementations would just need to prevent indiscriminate copying for distribution. One particular implementation DTCP/Firewire maps BF to EPN (encryption plus non-assertion) which basically says over the Firewire port, the data will be encrypted, but there are no limits on how many copies you can make. This limits you to using only DTCP approved Firewire devices to make copies, which could potentially affect your ability to copy through availability of hardware.

So I don't think you will need to worry about your NBC example with TiVo S3.

On the other hand, there is one example of BF being honored and mapped incorrectly to CCI=0x02 and that is the Motorola DVR. If this DVR encounters BF (ATSC Redistribution Descriptor) it internally maps (fabricates) CCI=0x02, which limits the copying to one generation. This is more restrictive than the EPN that is specified in the DTCP license.

> Then again...if something is flagged "copy once", how does the recording device tell the difference between a TV and an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray recorder on the other end of the HDMI cable connected to it?

Well, there is a reason you don't see any recording devices that use HDMI. The big reason is it isn't very efficient to copy uncompressed data, thus HDMI is seen mostly as a way to connect source and sink devices together rather than a way to copy. As such there wasn't need for the range of copy protection that is available with Firewire. Most digital recording devices will be using DTCP/Firewire (5c). In the 5c system, recording devices need to be licensed and follow the DTCP rules. That includes encryption of the data and also honoring the limits on copying.

BTW It is actually Copy One Generation not "copy once". Copy One Generation means you can make as many copies of the original as you want, but you can't make a copy of a copy.

They are not going to prevent TIVO because they get a lot of metrics from TIVO. That's basically what TIVO is - that's how they make money, by selling your viewing habits to advertisers.

FYI - Comcast promo price

I was checking the Comcast website, and they are running a promo price, at least in the SJ area, of $49.95 for Digital Silver w/HBO for 6 months. (reg price $85)

I called up and said I was thinking of switching to satellite due to Comcast's high price. (I currently pay around $128 for Dig Silver, HD-DVR, and TVJapan w/tax)

They gave me the new customer price for the 6 month promo AND reduced the DVR to $5/month for 6 months! Total savings of approx $42/month for 6 months. (Approx $250 total!)

You may wanna try it yourselves. Choose the "cancel service" option. I believe that will take you righ to their retention dept.

I just moved into SF, and I cannot stand the Comcast EPG menu, slowness, adverts, etc! Yes, I've already signed the petition to ask Comcast to remove the ads :)

I would like to use my QAM-enabled TV to browse cable broadcasts instead. However, I notice that my TV is not picking up any program information whatsoever, which makes it difficult to channel surf. I would like to be able to view the program info (e.g. channel, program, time, details). My TV is supposedly capable of displaying this info, but I don't think it's receiving it from Comcast.

I'm looking for help in this thread, and I think the problem is that Comcast does not broadcast PSIP (program and sys information protocol) info at all. My TV doesn't support TV Guide on Screen. So, I think I'm out of luck, unless I move to over-the-air signals via antenna (which carry PSIP, though it may be incorrect), or get an external tuner (e.g. TIVO) that is capable of fetching this information.

Can someone help me out by confirming my suspicions, or correcting them? Thanks!!!

i've used a cable card before and i've never received a single bit of programming info on my tv that also supports a guide.

I just moved into SF, and I cannot stand the Comcast EPG menu, slowness, adverts, etc! Yes, I've already signed the petition to ask Comcast to remove the ads :)

I would like to use my QAM-enabled TV to browse cable broadcasts instead. However, I notice that my TV is not picking up any program information whatsoever, which makes it difficult to channel surf. I would like to be able to view the program info (e.g. channel, program, time, details). My TV is supposedly capable of displaying this info, but I don't think it's receiving it from Comcast.

I'm looking for help in this thread, and I think the problem is that Comcast does not broadcast PSIP (program and sys information protocol) info at all. My TV doesn't support TV Guide on Screen. So, I think I'm out of luck, unless I move to over-the-air signals via antenna (which carry PSIP, though it may be incorrect), or get an external tuner (e.g. TIVO) that is capable of fetching this information.

Can someone help me out by confirming my suspicions, or correcting them? Thanks!!!
Your area might be different, but mine does rebroadcast OTA PSIP info.

I just turned on KQED and there are 2 elements of PSIP data
1) the channel has PSIP virtual channel mapping of 9.1
2) the channel has PSIP program information "America's Test Kitchen"

There was a long period of time when my area only had PSIP info for some channels, but they seem to have resolved that about a month ago.

I haven't checked my OTA ATSC tuner in a while, but years ago when I checked, many channels did not include any PSIP program info, just PSIP virtual channel mapping, so it is quite possible if you aren't seeing PSIP program info, then there wasn't any to start with. If you are seeing the PSIP virtual mapped channel # then Comcast is at least rebroadcasting some of the PSIP info.

Hi,

This topic may have been covered elsewhere, but after 3 hours of reading, I feel like I've earned the right just to pick the brains of the experts here. :D

I've seen many Comcast Moto 6412/16 units on ebay and was wondering if they can be used with Comcast in the Bay Area. If so, what has to be done to activate it? What will Comcast charge me (Burlingame) to use my own HD DVR and are there any downsides to this?

Thanks in advance.

Bill

Thanks a lot for the prompt replies sfhub and nikey! I'm still learning about all this stuff. Going back to the tube...

Looks like I have the virtual channel mapping available (for all channels).

KQED (channel 9.1) DOES indeed have the program name (without any station ID, time, or descriptive info). However, it's the only channel that's got it. So, as sfhub mentions, it's quite possible that most of these channels aren't broadcasting the info in the first place.

That's unfortunate. I thought I read on the ATSC website that PSIP broadcast is mandatory for OTA digital broadcasts. My ABC-HD (channel 7.1) doesn't list any such info, nor do the other network HD channels, and I believe they fall under that category. Sounds like I won't get any further with an antenna if they aren't broadcasting in the first place.

It would be awesome if stations started broadcasting this stuff in full, so that we can have inexpensive (or free) options for program guides, other than these substandard cable box EPGs!

Hi,

This topic may have been covered elsewhere, but after 3 hours of reading, I feel like I've earned the right just to pick the brains of the experts here. :D

I've seen many Comcast Moto 6412/16 units on ebay and was wondering if they can be used with Comcast in the Bay Area. If so, what has to be done to activate it? What will Comcast charge me (Burlingame) to use my own HD DVR and are there any downsides to this?

Thanks in advance.

Bill

It's been a while since I've seen a post about this on the AVS but from what I remember, no, you cannot. I believe there were some systems in Canada that allowed you to purchase the 64xx yourself, however most (if not all) Comcast systems in the US require you to get the box from Comcast (they can regulate this by "registering" your box on the network).

Well, here is an update on my problems. I have to give a big thanks to Comcast for getting everything resolved. They sent out a network expert who 'tuned' all my channels and let me know that they also had replaced a piece of internet gear that served my whole neighborhood. Great SNR on all channels now, with none of the hard, or even soft, errors I was experiencing before. Internet is working great and reliably.
For anyone having severe problems that don't quite get resolved through the normal CSR route, there is a QA hotline at 408-919-9430 that you can call. I ended up talking to the manager of the group - Greta Pulliam-Allen, and she had the network expert out right away.
Anyway, kudos to Comcast. The deserve good news when they deliver like this.
Mike

QUOTE=mikeaymar]Well, here it is April 6, and things don't appear to have turned out as described by Andrew Johnson. I am getting VS/Golf on 721 now, but I get the "One Moment Please" blue banner. Yesterday I got a picture on 721, but no more. But hey, it's only Masters week, which has the best HD golf coverage of the year. Hopefully Comcast won't screw up CBS-HD so I can watch it this weekend. I dont get TNT-HD or ESPN2-HD at all. Nothing on 724 or 726. Not on the guide either.
Additionally, my reception on INHD and ESPN-HD has gone to crap and they are unwatchable. So, tonight is is the Giants'Dodgers on good old SD FSN...
My guess is that this is related to squeezing more channels into our bandwidth starved network in Los Gatos.
Why am I not surprised? This is like that famous Chinese torture, where they say that the body part they are now cutting off is the last one they will cut off if you just tell the truth this time. Then they cut off one more, and one more, and....
Well, maybe not that bad, but I can't believe the incompetence of this company.
Is anyone is Saramilgatos doing better?
Mike[/QUOTE]

Anyway, kudos to Comcast. The deserve good news when they deliver like this.
I agree, the experts at Comcast are usually quite competent. The problem I usually have is getting from front-line to the experts. Thanks for the fallback # in case it is taking too long to go through front-line support.

Okay, so all these "some/may" issues will only happen once, when they turn it on tomorrow? I got the sense these issues would crop up whenever a CP protected program was due to air, I guess I misread it.
Here is more info on problem you may encounter:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5072937&&#post5072937
I lost my premium channels last night here in Saratoga. Comcast is trying to fix the problem but even at the supervisor level, they're confused about what to do. They indicate that their instructions for my situation don't work.

I've got settings as follows:

EnabledByCP: no
CA enable: unknown
Auth: unknown
Host Validation: unknown
Copy Protection Key: Disabled

Prior to today, the cards have been working for seven months.
I changed disk drives since they last collected data which is probably at least part of the problem.As a point of reference, this what my "working" CableCARDs in my S3 say:
These are what my CableCARDs say:
CableCARD 1
Encryption: DES
Connected:yes, EnabledByCP:yes
Auth: SUBSCRIBED
CA enable: possible
Host Validation: Valid 00
Copy Protection Key: Disabled

CableCARD 2
Encryption: DES
Connected:yes, EnabledByCP:yes
Auth: SUBSCRIBED
CA enable: possible
Host Validation: Valid 00
Copy Protection Key: Disabled

Here is more info on problem you may encounter:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5072937&&#post5072937
As a point of reference, this what my "working" CableCARDs in my S3 say:
Mine look identical, along with some other added info. Haven't tried to record anything, but everything looks okay.

BTW, article on the CableCARD/STB rollout in the Comcast Tech thread,

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10330789#post10330789
Comcast New Technology Test - AVS Forum

I've lost 719 (INHD), 720 (Discovery HD), and 730 (HBO HD) on my Series 3 Tivo. I called Comcast, they weren't interested in my CableCard ids but are sending someone this afternoon to look.


Important update from Comcast

Some customers with CableCARDs may lose service completely or may experience missing channels (TV screen stating "One Moment Please" or "Unauthorized").

· This may be due to missing Host ID and Data ID information associated with their CableCARD.

If a customer with a CableCARD does not have all of the necessary CableCARD information entered in our billing system, they will lose visibility to their premium channels. If a customer calls 1-800-Comcast, the appropriate troubleshooting steps will be followed.

I also lost channel 720 and 730 on my Series 3 TiVo. I had Comcast verify that my CableCard ID numbers matched what they had in their system. They reset the cards but I will not be able to check until I get home from work tonight.

Important update from Comcast
___________________________________

I am passing this message as I received it so there is no question about what was or wasn't said.
____________________________________________________________ ______

Please pass this along to the Forum. And I need to take this opportunity to apologize for some inaccurate information I provided the Forum recently. I simply misread the calendar on my blackberry and missed by one week the date when we would launch the new HD channels in Saratoga, Los Gatos, Milpitas. I should have said April 12 instead of April 5. I sincerely apologize for my mistake.

Copyright Protection Management System (CPMS) Activation

Starting April 18th, the Bay Area market will begin implementing a Copyright Protection system mandated by the FCC to protect our video suppliers from unauthorized duplication of programming content.

This new policy restricts customers from digitally recording a Premium service, Pay-Per-View (PPV) or On Demand program and subsequently making additional digital copies on an external device.

Customers with a Comcast issued DVRs or using a Personal Video Recording device with Cable Card(s) will be affected.

What Customers May Experience:

As the copy protection is turned on, the box will go to a black screen for a few seconds.

Some of the HD boxes may need to channel up and down to get the channel back.

A customer may receive a message when trying to record a program that states “Copy Once”, “Copy Never” or “Copy Always”.

Some customers with CableCARDs may lose service completely or may experience missing channels (TV screen stating "One Moment Please" or "Unauthorized").

· This may be due to missing Host ID and Data ID information associated with their CableCARD.

If a customer with a CableCARD does not have all of the necessary CableCARD information entered in our billing system, they will lose visibility to their premium channels. If a customer calls 1-800-Comcast, the appropriate troubleshooting steps will be followed.

Forum Users have been aware and have commented upon our extensive campaign last year to reach out to all the CableCARD customers asking for the Host ID and Data ID information especially those whose CableCARD data was not paired within our billing system.

Here is a chart outlining the protocols.

Copyright Protection System Setting

Copy Freely Copy Once Copy Never
Over the air broadcast channels Premium Services (Movie Channels) On Demand / PPV
All other Digital channels - for example National Geographic, Discovery, Food Network, TBN. Encore, HBO, Starz, Showtime, The Movie Channel, and Cinemax. On Demand, this will include Subscription On Demand for example, Bollywood, Howard Stern, and WWE.


Does this change mean that customers will not be able to record any programs to their VCR or other devices as they currently do?

At this time no. The copy protection only affects digital copies. If a customer uses the analog outputs on the cable box, they will still be able to copy to a VCR or other recording device. Only digital copies would be impacted by this change.

____________________________________________________________ ___

So, it looks like copy protection is here and probably here to stay. If this is a problem for you, you need to call Comcast and voice your concerns with them. That's the best advice I can give you, if enough people call and let them know your feelings on this the better the chance Comcast may review their policy on this issue.

Laters,
Mikef5

I don't much care about this, but what I do care about is them encrypting HIST and COURT TV and a couple other channels that were sent in the clear before. This happened sometime last week as near as I can tell, and now my 2 TV's with QAM tuners can no longer see these channels digitally.

Given how the industry has hosed Cablecard to the point that TV makers no longer put cablecard slots in a lot of the FP displays being made, and that Comcast is trying to gouge me for STB's that make it harder for my wife to use the FP TV's in the bedroom (the living room has a big TV and universal remote, 6412, etc..., but the other rooms in the have just have TV's plugged into the cable jack).

I don't understand why they are encrypting the digital version of analog programming out there. If I didn't have authorization for these SD channels, they would put a trap on my line so I couldn't get the analog versions.
So why bother encrypting the SD digital versions that look a lot better than the analog versions that I can get? Both FP TV's display the digital signal a LOT better than the analog versions.

If Comcast is going to make me put boxes in every room, then it's just like getting a DBS service that is cheaper and gives me HDNet and other channels I can't get on Comcast.

I know it was only 2 channels, but I really like HIST and my wife really likes Court TV, and in my system they ere sent in the clear along with CNN and other channels that we watched a lot.

After all the rate increases, and now this, I am getting more and more fed up with these guys.

Thanks,
Mike

I don't understand why they are encrypting the digital version of analog programming out there. If I didn't have authorization for these SD channels, they would put a trap on my line so I couldn't get the analog versions.
So why bother encrypting the SD digital versions that look a lot better than the analog versions that I can get? Both FP TV's display the digital signal a LOT better than the analog versions.
I think they are implementing their policies based on a customer who doesn't have expanded basic as opposed one who does. If they had put a trap on your line, that would stop you from getting the analog History channel, but wouldn't prevent you from getting the digital version. For digital channels they use encryption to control access.

I think they are implementing their policies based on a customer who doesn't have expanded basic as opposed one who does. If they had put a trap on your line, that would stop you from getting the analog History channel, but wouldn't prevent you from getting the digital version. For digital channels they use encryption to control access.

I think it would. It's a low pass filter, and the digital is all high up.

Thanks,
Mike

I think it would. It's a low pass filter, and the digital is all high up.
Then how could you have someone with limited basic and digital classic, viewing HD on their S3?

This is happening in Chicago right now, Expanded Basic subs now need a STB to receive those channels and it's upsetting a lot of folks.

I can understand why they are doing it, the encryption works in much the same fashion as an analog trap. Unless they can move all the digital Expanded Basic channels to a frequency block at which they could use an analog trap, there really is no other alternative.

Anyone not getting channels 719 and 720, especially in the SaraMilgatos area ???
Man, this is really getting old but at least the CSR was pleasant to talk to but was of no help at all.

Laters,
Mikef5

I don't think filters would work, the filters they use for "limited" basic only trap channels 36 thru 69-70 or so. Everything higher than that is clear.

I'm a long term user of ReplayTV/Comcast analog basic and a new HDTV user happily watching the HD broadcast channels via my Philips' QAM tuner. The performance of my ReplayTV just isn't cutting it on an HDTV, and now that TiVo has a $500 deal on a Series 3, I'm thinking seriously about switching. My problem is that I'm confused about all the service levels from Comcast. What would I need to order in terms of Comcast service to effectively use a Series 3? Can I just get Cablecards from Comcast and still use my analog basic or would I need to get Digital Classic? Is there such a thing as Digital Basic in our market (I'm in San Jose)? I really just want the the major broadcast networks in HD and to be able to time shift them (and at minimal expense) and I don't really want to spend $50+ per month for the cable service. ;)

If all you want is HD locals, you basically need limited basic service + $1.50 total for the 2 CableCARDs for your S3.

If you got a second S3 or you have an STB, add $6.99 for the Digital Additional Outlet fee (plus the already mentioned $1.50 for the S3 CableCARD)

If you want ESPN/Discovery/Universal/TNT/etc. you need digital classic in addition to limited basic.

Be sure to read up on SDV to see how much you think it will affect you. It can range from FUD to your S3 only has 6 months of life, depending on how paranoid you are.

Update on the loss of channels 719 and 720 in Milpitas.

The channels have returned and the problem was with the head end. I can't believe no one else saw that these channels were gone for two days. I must be the only person in Milpitas that watches tv. :rolleyes:
Thanks to Ms. Nichol for getting this situation fixed, Mr. J. don't ever get rid of her ... :p

Laters,
Mikef5

I haven't had 719 and 720 for weeks. I can't even get 704 with the box although I get the HD channel 4.2 using the QAM tuner. However since I don't pay for the digital package, I couldn't exactly complain about 719 or 720.

I haven't had 719 and 720 for weeks. I can't even get 704 with the box although I get the HD channel 4.2 using the QAM tuner. However since I don't pay for the digital package, I couldn't exactly complain about 719 or 720.
You need to have at least Digital Classic to get those channels and they are encrypted. I think in some areas channel 704 isn't available ( like my area ).

Laters,
Mikef5

You need to have at least Digital Classic to get those channels and they are encrypted. I think in some areas channel 704 isn't available ( like my area ).

Laters,
Mikef5Many people have said I am 'grandfathered' to get those channels since I got them many years ago as one of the first customers of Comcast HD. Even today I get ESPN, ESPN2, and Discovery HD. I actually get 719, 720, and 704, but there is a message "Available Soon" or something like that. Last year I saw many of the Giants games on FSN-HD.

Besides, how can I get HD 4.2 using QAM, but not 704 using the HD Box? It's the same thing.

Many people have said I am 'grandfathered' to get those channels since I got them many years ago as one of the first customers of Comcast HD. Even today I get ESPN, ESPN2, and Discovery HD. I actually get 719, 720, and 704, but there is a message "Available Soon" or something like that. Last year I saw many of the Giants games on FSN-HD.

Besides, how can I get HD 4.2 using QAM, but not 704 using the HD Box? It's the same thing.
Wow, the grandfather thing is a whole different story in it's self. I gave up mine along time ago.

The Motorola box is programed to show the channels that are available to you. What they've done in your case is the tell the box that channel 704 doesn't exist but the signal for it is still in your loop so your Qam tuner can tune to it. So 704 ( KRON4 HD ) does exist in your loop it's just that the Motorola box doesn't know it.

Laters,
Mikef5

Wow, the grandfather thing is a whole different story in it's self. I gave up mine along time ago.

The Motorola box is programed to show the channels that are available to you. What they've done in your case is the tell the box that channel 704 doesn't exist but the signal for it is still in your loop so your Qam tuner can tune to it. So 704 ( KRON4 HD ) does exist in your loop it's just that the Motorola box doesn't know it.

Laters,
Mikef5That's what I figured, but since I don't pay for ESPN and ESPN2 which I do like to watch, I'm not about to call Comcast to complain ;). I don't care for KRON4 HD anyway. I prefer to use QAM (I put in a splitter) for the clear channels because it looks better than from the HD box.

Well it's old news, copy protection has been here for years. I've never been able to record HBO or many other whole channels, and then some channels, it depends on the programming - some like KTVU turn on copy protection when they switch from local to network (FOX in this case) programming.

OnDemand/PPV has also never been recordable.
OK, this is confusing. Are we talking about recording shows on Comcast's DVR? I've always been able to record anything, including PPV.

Mikef5: Is this change going to affect what we can record on Comcast's DVR?

OK, this is confusing. Are we talking about recording shows on Comcast's DVR? I've always been able to record anything, including PPV.

Mikef5: Is this change going to affect what we can record on Comcast's DVR?
From my understanding of this copy protection thing is you shouldn't be able to copy ( even with the Motorola box ) PPV or On Demand, basically anything that you have to pay for outside of your digital package. You still should be able to do the movie channels and the rest of the channels that are included in your package as usual. If not I'll be pi**ed, I time shift most everything I watch. See if you can do the PPV or On Demand now that the copy protection thing is in place.

Laters,
Mikef5

From my understanding of this copy protection thing is you shouldn't be able to copy ( even with the Motorola box ) PPV or On Demand, basically anything that you have to pay for outside of your digital package. You still should be able to do the movie channels and the rest of the channels that are included in your package as usual. If not I'll be pi**ed, I time shift most everything I watch. See if you can do the PPV or On Demand now that the copy protection thing is in place.

Laters,
Mikef5
That can't be right, with the Dish 622 and the DirecTV HD-TiVo you can record PPV content and keep it as long as you want.

Now, trying to "copy" it off of the STB(as in firewire output) is a different story, that I'm sure is not allowed, but I think it's always been that way.

OK, this is confusing. Are we talking about recording shows on Comcast's DVR? I've always been able to record anything, including PPV.

Mikef5: Is this change going to affect what we can record on Comcast's DVR?
Ok, I reread the message and this is what it says,

This new policy restricts customers from digitally recording a Premium service, Pay-Per-View (PPV) or On Demand program and subsequently making additional digital copies on an external device.

The way it reads to me is that you can record as usual but you will be restricted to how you can make additional copies of that copy. In other words transferring that digital copy off the Motorola box. You can still copy an analog copy of that digital copy from the Motorola box but there will be restrictions copying another digital copy of the recording on the Motorola box. So if you are just recording on the box and not trying to move it off that box, nothing should change but then again that's just the way I read it the only way to be sure is to try it. ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

That can't be right, with the Dish 622 and the DirecTV HD-TiVo you can record PPV content and keep it as long as you want.

Now, trying to "copy" it off of the STB(as in firewire output) is a different story, that I'm sure is not allowed, but I think it's always been that way.
Yeah, after I wrote that first message I reread the email and I agree with you, it only affects you if you try to move that digital copy off the box.

Laters,
Mikef5

You can't record VOD/PPV on the Comcast DVR. It just doesn't let you.

If all you want is HD locals, you basically need limited basic service + $1.50 total for the 2 CableCARDs for your S3.

If you got a second S3 or you have an STB, add $6.99 for the Digital Additional Outlet fee (plus the already mentioned $1.50 for the S3 CableCARD)

If you want ESPN/Discovery/Universal/TNT/etc. you need digital classic in addition to limited basic.

Be sure to read up on SDV to see how much you think it will affect you. It can range from FUD to your S3 only has 6 months of life, depending on how paranoid you are.
I guess I don't want to risk >$500 on S3 on Comcast not implementing SDV. So can I just keep my analog basic and get a free Cablecard from Comcast to put into the slot in my Philips and I'll get the digital channels on more logical channel numbers than with the QAM tuner?

Sorry for being such a noob! :o

You can't record VOD/PPV on the Comcast DVR. It just doesn't let you.
Wow!! That sucks, why do they do that? I can understand VOD, but PPV??

For those that are interested, it looks like Extra Innings channels Game11 - Game14 are now available on channels 442 - 445, at least here in the Lamorinda area. No notice from Comcast, they just seemed to show up...

Wow!! That sucks, why do they do that? I can understand VOD, but PPV??

In today's wonderful world of digital cable, VOD and PPV are essentially the same. You just pay extra for the titles under the "PPV" heading.

That can't be right, with the Dish 622 and the DirecTV HD-TiVo you can record PPV content and keep it as long as you want.

Now, trying to "copy" it off of the STB(as in firewire output) is a different story, that I'm sure is not allowed, but I think it's always been that way.
This stuff is all controlled by the CCI/EMI flags. There is official policy. Then there is how that policy is mapped to the shows. Then there is whatever CCI flags are set by mistake.

If you have PPV with CCI set to 0x00 by mistake, then you'll be able to record and make copies. If you have FOX with CCI set to 0x02 then you will only be able to make as many 1 generation of copies over firewire as you'd like but the equipment doing the copying must be DTCP approved, which rules out CapDVHS on PCs.

I don't know the way Motorola maps the CCI flags, but I posted earlier how TiVo maps the CCI flags:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10323576&&#post10323576

If CCI is 0x03 which is what it is likely (currently or at some point in the future) going to be for PPV (based on the wording of Comcast notices), then TiVo will only allow you to timeshift a 90-min window, which basically means pause LiveTV will work but you can't keep the recording around for days.

CCI 0x00-0x02 can all be recorded by the PVRs. CCI=0x00 has no further restrictions. CCI=0x01 cannot be further copied. CCI=0x02 allows as many 1-gen copies as you'd like, but only to DTCP approved devices.

TiVo may end up mapping CCI=0x02 to different functionality (ie MRV) because it doesn't support firewire, but does support ethernet. However they seem to be stuck in the approval process right now.

In today's wonderful world of digital cable, VOD and PPV are essentially the same. You just pay extra for the titles under the "PPV" heading.
In the past, PPV was a static broadcast, while VOD was a dynamically generated broadcast (similar to SDV). Have they now switched PPV to dynamically generated? I don't follow PPV stuff very closely.

The distinction would become important if you have an STB in your house and a CableCARD device. If you call in to purchase the PPV on statically broadcast channel, I believe all your devices can see it by tuning to the channel. If you order the VOD from the STB, only the STB will be able to see it.