Dean, well like I said, I think it would be better to include the original remote charge in the rental fee for the receiver.

But I think you're overlooking the fact that cable STBs are rented, not sold. As a result, it doesn't make much sense to sell a replacement remote to the customer, particularly if the STB isn't likely to be around for several years....Yeah, but I lease (rent) my 2nd HR10-250 STB. It came bundled with the remote (the D* branded TIVO peanut). There's no extra charge for it, no monthly fees. If I break it or lose it, I can purchase another one, or not. That makes perfect sense to me.

Dean, well like I said, I think it would be better to include the original remote charge in the rental fee for the receiver.

But I think you're overlooking the fact that cable STBs are rented, not sold. As a result, it doesn't make much sense to sell a replacement remote to the customer, particularly if the STB isn't likely to be around for several years. And that likely explains why Charter breaks out the fee for the remote to begin with.

But you make an interesting point about customers with universal remotes. I wonder if Charter would allow you to return the remote and have the fee knocked off your bill. In that case, the Charter approach to breaking out the remote would actually have some benefit for the customer that doesn't need it.

And you could take that a step further and use that fee as way to help cost-justify the purchase of a universal.

Well the remote charge is only 11 cents/month. The charge for "Interactive Integrated Service" is $2.99/month. This is the charge I would like to opt-out if I knew exactly what it was.

BTW...I don't have the price list that Charter sends every year for all the charges but I bet there is a fee to replace the remote if it is lost.

I don't watch a lot of KSDK, but lately it seems they've stopped inserting local commercials into the HD feed, leaving the flying peacock graphics sent from the network. I can't say for sure, it seems like this should minimize the switching problems.

In addition, the KSDK NewsChannel 5 aircraft-carrier-size channel bug also appears to be gone. Maybe this is related to the new NBC logo, which is actually pretty slick, though still a bit on the large size. But at least there's only one.

I don't watch a lot of KSDK, but lately it seems they've stopped inserting local commercials into the HD feed, leaving the flying peacock graphics sent from the network. I can't say for sure, it seems like this should minimize the switching problems.

In addition, the KSDK NewsChannel 5 aircraft-carrier-size channel bug also appears to be gone. Maybe this is related to the new NBC logo, which is actually pretty slick, though still a bit on the large size. But at least there's only one.
Credit where....
The switching has greatly improved. I'd like to think we had something to do with that....but alas.
JMO, of those to choose from, I like the new NBC logo bug. I think it's done well, was well thought through, and nice how its colorization fades to black and white.

KTVI has the People 50 worst all sewn up.

I don't know. When I first heard about this service, the biggest criticism was that it would not have HD initially. I do not know whether that is still true.


My understanding is that Uverse will be capable of HD. The bitrate and PQ remains to be seen. As someone who has had to deal with charters "customer service" frequently as of late, I am quite happy to be see that Charter will have some additional competition. I have read some reviews from other cities (in Texas I believe). The bottom line (as could be expected from any new tech) is many hiccups but AT&T seems to be bending over backwards in terms of trying to get things fixed. Will be interesting...

I have posted excerpts from a number of articles here about the AT&T service over the past few months. Here's a couple that may be relevant:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8720950&&#post8720950

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8630567&&#post8630567

Here's a couple more links that may be of interest:

http://www.uverseusers.com

This seems to be reasonably fair (plenty of positive and negative feedback)

A couple of other regional points of interest (Collinsville *may* be getting it in the next six months):
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/metroeast/story/D76A45828CA297028625722A00204839?OpenDocument

An editorial:

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061117/OPINIONS01/611170331/1006/OPINIONS

And Creve Coeur signs on:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/technology/story/E52DF1B65FC7BB1386257229000CA946?OpenDocument

My understanding is that Uverse will be capable of HD. The bitrate and PQ remains to be seen. As someone who has had to deal with charters "customer service" frequently as of late, I am quite happy to be see that Charter will have some additional competition. I have read some reviews from other cities (in Texas I believe). The bottom line (as could be expected from any new tech) is many hiccups but AT&T seems to be bending over backwards in terms of trying to get things fixed. Will be interesting...

I wish Charter would get some of this type of competition around here. In my area we are stuck with CenturyTel. AT&T is about a mile away!! A small telco like CenturyTel should be out front and innovative.

No, I was not one of the crazy ones waiting in line for a PS3. And from what I have heard, most of the games are disappointing. It would be nice to own one just to be able to play BluRay, but again I have heard that the PS3 runs very hot.

I think it will be best to use a stand alone player for movies.

I can go either way regarding BluRay vs HD-DVD. For the price, I will probably choose HD-DVD. I am waiting for the second gen Toshiba HD-DVD players to come out (supposedly now mid-decemeber). If it gets good reviews, that's what I will probably get.

Doug, congrats on your ISF Forum. I also have enjoyed your many posts here over the years. Don't be a stranger.

I just preordered the A2 with the 1/ 2 price discount that showed up on the HD-DVD forum. I was going to get the 360 add on drive, but for $90 more I get HDMI. Since I will likely have a 720 Projector for the next 3 years (Current LCD AE700, next possibly a 720 DLP) the HDMI1.2a won't bother me. Now I have to find an inexpensive HDMI receiver t hold me over till next gen processing receivers are out and in 2nd gen (probably fall of 2008)

Dave

I spent all day complaining about poor picture quality on my projector. So I decide to go to bed. I go to turn the HR10 250 on 480i so I can watch in the bedroom, and that is when I realize it's been on 480i all day. No wonder every game looked like crap. Go Chargers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spent all day complaining about poor picture quality on my projector. So I decide to go to bed. I go to turn the HR10 250 on 480i so I can watch in the bedroom, and that is when I realize it's been on 480i all day. No wonder every game looked like crap. Go Chargers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Scott, I do the same thing about every two weeks..... :rolleyes:

Well, other than rooting for the Chargers, that is.... :D

Here's a couple more links that may be of interest:

http://www.uverseusers.com

This seems to be reasonably fair (plenty of positive and negative feedback)

A couple of other regional points of interest (Collinsville *may* be getting it in the next six months):
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/metroeast/story/D76A45828CA297028625722A00204839?OpenDocument

An editorial:

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061117/OPINIONS01/611170331/1006/OPINIONS

And Creve Coeur signs on:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/technology/story/E52DF1B65FC7BB1386257229000CA946?OpenDocument

According to the Collinsville article, AT&T does not want to guarantee the service will be available to everyone. This is discrimination. I doubt that will fly.

Cox Steering Customers To Sacrifice Public Access for HD?

Apart from the suggestion that this may indicate manipulative customer polling, this is another sign that some cable companies are clearly feeling the bandwidth pinch when it comes to adding HD channels.

Story excerpt is from today's TV Predictions newsletter.
____________________________________________________________ _____

Cox Communications has been calling customers asking them if they would support fewer public access channels in return for more High-Definition TV channels.

This has generated protests that Cox is purposely using language in the phone conversations that would steer the customers to say they prefer HDTV. Some critics have compared the calls to 'Push-Polling," a method frequently used in political campaigns to influence public opinion.

The calls were reported in today's Arizona Daily Star.

The newspaper writes that Cox has been calling High-Definition TV owners during the past few weeks, asking for their opinions on a series of seven options. (It's unknown if Cox has conducted the survey outside of the Arizona area.)
____________________________________________________________ _____

Click here (http://www.tvpredictions.com/coxpush112006.htm) to read the entire TV Predictions article.

Analog TV Shutdown the Next "Katrina"?

Good grief -- here we go again.

The following excerpt is from today's TV Predictions newsletter:
____________________________________________________

The day is February 17, 2009. Millions of analog television sets suddenly can't display a picture because, by law, every TV station is now broadcasting in digital.

Livid that they can't watch their favorite shows, the analog set owners begin calling their local TV stations who tell them that they are simply obeying federal law. So the outraged viewers start calling their congressmen and promising they will never vote for them again. Many participate in staged protests in front of government buildings and some are so upset that they resort to violence and begin stealing digital sets from neighborhood stores.

Farfetched? Perhaps not. In fact, some Democratic lawmakers are fearful that the federal government is not properly preparing for the big switch.

Could the digital transition lead to violence and more?

Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, last week charged that the current plan for the 2009 switch from analog to digital is "highly flawed" -- and the federal government is not doing enough to educate consumers on the upcoming change.
____________________________________________________

To read the full story/commentary from TV Predictions, click here. (http://www.tvpredictions.com/digitalkatrina111906.htm)

[QUOTE=Scott Tucker]10/25 11/24 TOTAL CHOICE PREMIER Monthly 96.99

10/25 11/24 HD Package Monthly 9.99

05/13 03/12 NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan 2006 Special Free Offer 0.00

08/26 09/25 NFL Sunday Ticket 2006 Season Early Bird in 5 Payments 0.00

10/25 11/24 Network: FOX HD Monthly 0.00

10/25 11/24 Network: CBS from NYC/LA Monthly 2.25

10/25 11/24 Network: NBC from NYC/LA Monthly 2.25

10/25 11/24 Network: ABC from NYC/LA Monthly 2.25

10/25 11/24 Network: FOX from NYC/LA Monthly 2.25

How do you get the network feeds ? I am interested in getting the NBC feed from LA. Appreciate any info.

I don't watch a lot of KSDK, but lately it seems they've stopped inserting local commercials into the HD feed, leaving the flying peacock graphics sent from the network. I can't say for sure, it seems like this should minimize the switching problems.

In addition, the KSDK NewsChannel 5 aircraft-carrier-size channel bug also appears to be gone. Maybe this is related to the new NBC logo, which is actually pretty slick, though still a bit on the large size. But at least there's only one.


I have noticed that they don't switch as often, which is NICE!!! And also the
big honking bug is not present as much. KTVI seems to have lost the 3 bugs
that they had on the digital transmission.

How do you get the network feeds ? I am interested in getting the NBC feed from LA. Appreciate any info.

Forget about it.. He is just lucky. You would never get it.

Hey Scott, I do the same thing about every two weeks..... :rolleyes:

Well, other than rooting for the Chargers, that is.... :D

Yeah, I spend every week bitchin' and moanin' because my Chargers are never in HD, and when they're on the big stage I forget to watch in 720p. Oh well, at least it was an awesome game.

who do you root for Bob? The Lambs? :D

For whoever maintains that link, avsforum seems to have re-organized so that the
avsforum.com/avs-vb/ is no longer needed.

edit, never mind, now it works

Forget about it.. He is just lucky. You would never get it.
They're being turned off, on DISH on Dec 1st. (Distant Networks) Thanks to some court in TX I have to redo a bunch of timers, but some local TX lawyer's are set for life, so there is some good to come from it. :rolleyes:

[QUOTE=Scott Tucker]10/25 11/24 TOTAL CHOICE PREMIER Monthly 96.99

10/25 11/24 HD Package Monthly 9.99

05/13 03/12 NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan 2006 Special Free Offer 0.00

08/26 09/25 NFL Sunday Ticket 2006 Season Early Bird in 5 Payments 0.00

10/25 11/24 Network: FOX HD Monthly 0.00

10/25 11/24 Network: CBS from NYC/LA Monthly 2.25

10/25 11/24 Network: NBC from NYC/LA Monthly 2.25

10/25 11/24 Network: ABC from NYC/LA Monthly 2.25

10/25 11/24 Network: FOX from NYC/LA Monthly 2.25

How do you get the network feeds ? I am interested in getting the NBC feed from LA. Appreciate any info.

I believe I am grandfathered in since I've had them since living in Farmington in '94. At one time they did turn them off when I changed a package or something. I called and a very cool guy turned them back on. Later, they turned them off again. The girl said she had to. I told her I was grandfathered in. She checked with a supervsor, and then came back on the line telling me she turned them back on again. Or, maybe I'm just lucky. :)

Yeah, I spend every week bitchin' and moanin' because my Chargers are never in HD, and when they're on the big stage I forget to watch in 720p. Oh well, at least it was an awesome game.

who do you root for Bob? The Lambs? :D

Yup, just a masochist, I guess..... but I've done the forgetting to switch the Tivo off of 480i more times than I care to admit.

After being presented in HD by ksdk last year, it seems we can look forward to kmov's broadcast of the Thanksgiving Day Parade to be presented with beautiful grey pillar bars.

Tonight's MNF on ESPN has about the worst sound I've ever heard. Constant audio drop outs. I can put up with a lot, but this is rediculous. I am watching on D* 73. Anyone else having the issues?

Scott

After being presented in HD by ksdk last year, it seems we can look forward to kmov's broadcast of the Thanksgiving Day Parade to be presented with beautiful grey pillar bars.

If that's the case, I'll be tuning to a channel showing it in HD. Are you speaking of the Macy's Parade? When are the stations going to get a clue. I will watch flowers grow if it's in HD.

Scott

If that's the case, I'll be tuning to a channel showing it in HD. Are you speaking of the Macy's Parade? When are the stations going to get a clue. I will watch flowers grow if it's in HD.

Scott

Hmmm, I thought it was the St.Louis Parade but I guess it isn't. Is there no St.Louis Parade this year ?

Yeah, I spend every week bitchin' and moanin' because my Chargers are never in HD, and when they're on the big stage I forget to watch in 720p. Oh well, at least it was an awesome game.

who do you root for Bob? The Lambs? :D


Nice to know there is another San Diego fan in the area.

Tonight's MNF on ESPN has about the worst sound I've ever heard. Constant audio drop outs. I can put up with a lot, but this is rediculous. I am watching on D* 73. Anyone else having the issues?

Scott

Well, as soon as I post this they go and fix the sound. I haven't heard any drop outs in a while. Now I can enjoy the game.

Scott

Hmmm, I thought it was the St.Louis Parade but I guess it isn't. Is there no St.Louis Parade this year ?

Not sure? There are only two parades I'll watch. One is the Rose Parade, and the other is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Scott

Nice to know there is another San Diego fan in the area.

Diehard San Diego fan here. I really think this years Charger team is the best and most well rounded in Chargers history. I am having a blast watching them this season. If they don't win the Superbowl this year, It may never happen. :)

Scott

Kudo's to Murdoch and FOX :)

Kudo's to Murdoch and FOX :)


hmm.. sorry but tomatoes for murdoch and fox for even thinking about this deal. BTW, they may have already paid him (both sides are mum on that part of it)

Tonight's MNF on ESPN has about the worst sound I've ever heard. Constant audio drop outs. I can put up with a lot, but this is rediculous. I am watching on D* 73. Anyone else having the issues?

Scott

Watched most of the game on Charter -- no audio drop outs. I watched until the beginning of the 4th quarter.

Credit where....
The switching has greatly improved. I'd like to think we had something to do with that....but alas.

Guess I spoke to soon...first time that's ever happened :rolleyes:
Leno tonight :mad:

It's eerie...sometimes I think there's some mole at KSDK who monitors this tread.

hmm.. sorry but tomatoes for murdoch and fox for even thinking about this deal. BTW, they may have already paid him (both sides are mum on that part of it)
I agree, but if nothing else, at least they stopped short of one of the greatest atrocities in broadcasting history.

Tonight's MNF on ESPN has about the worst sound I've ever heard. Constant audio drop outs. I can put up with a lot, but this is rediculous. I am watching on D* 73. Anyone else having the issues?Is this via an HD TiVo with the 6.3a firmware? If so, that's probably your explanation. I've found that when this happens with ESPN, the solution is to switch channels and it clears up (but may return).

I've also experienced brief audio dropouts when watching PBS, so I'm thinking that this isn't just a FOX network thing, but rather a 720p-triggered issue. I have not had this happen ever on a 1080i station.

FWIW, when this problem happens on my TiVo on Fox I get a gap of about 20-30 seconds with no audio and then the problem is gone for a while. When it happens on ESPN, the audio goes in and out every 5 or 10 seconds. Only had the one problem with PBS, and it was more like the FOX behavior.

DirecTV Confirms It Will Carry NFL Network in HD

The following excerpt is from today's TV Predictions newsletter:
__________________________________________

DIRECTV confirmedit will carry the NFL Network's 2006 regular season games in High-Definition TV, beginning with the Thanksgiving night broadcast between Denver and Kansas City.

You will not need a subscription to DIRECTV's NFL Sunday Ticket to watch the games in high-def.

Based on two sources close to the situation, TVPredictions.com reported last month that DIRECTV would broadcast the games in HD. However, the satcaster had not publicly confirmed that until now.

For the first time, the NFL Network has the rights to broadcast eight regular season games. The channel will air seven more games after Thanksgiving night -- four on Thursday nights and three on Saturday nights.
__________________________________________

For the full story, click here. (http://www.tvpredictions.com/dtvnfl112006.htm)

Is this via an HD TiVo with the 6.3a firmware? If so, that's probably your explanation. I've found that when this happens with ESPN, the solution is to switch channels and it clears up (but may return).

I've also experienced brief audio dropouts when watching PBS, so I'm thinking that this isn't just a FOX network thing, but rather a 720p-triggered issue. I have not had this happen ever on a 1080i station.

FWIW, when this problem happens on my TiVo on Fox I get a gap of about 20-30 seconds with no audio and then the problem is gone for a while. When it happens on ESPN, the audio goes in and out every 5 or 10 seconds. Only had the one problem with PBS, and it was more like the FOX behavior.

Yeah Doug, out of curiosity I switched to 206. 206 had perfect sound, so I flipped the Tivo with the 6.3a update back to 73 and everything was fine after that. I thought it was coincidence, but I guess not. I have noticed the audio dropouts are getting less and less it seems, so maybe D* is really trying hard to fix the issues.

Scott

Yeah Doug, out of curiosity I switched to 206. 206 had perfect sound, so I flipped the Tivo with the 6.3a update back to 73 and everything was fine after that. I thought it was coincidence, but I guess not. I have noticed the audio dropouts are getting less and less it seems, so maybe D* is really trying hard to fix the issues.
Scott
I think I may have posted about this....CRS

When the DISH 622 was released, there were some of the same audio issues, and it was mostly noted to be with FOX stations nationwide. It took 2-3 months to resolve, but then it got fixed.

I'm sure D* has this as a high-priority, and it too will be gone soon :)

Question is, will *D's NFL Network in HD be MPEG-2 or MPEG-4? I'm assuming MPEG-2 since there was no mention of having to upgrade to the newest equipment to receive it.

Robert,

Good question -- I wondered the same thing.

If I were betting, I'd bet on MPEG-2, as DirecTV seems highly focused on leveraging everything it can out of its pricey relationship with the NFL.

Question is, will *D's NFL Network in HD be MPEG-2 or MPEG-4? I'm assuming MPEG-2 since there was no mention of having to upgrade to the newest equipment to receive it.
It will be on D* channel 95. That's MPEG-2. No way they'd put in on an MPEG-4 channel yet. There are simply too many HD subscribers who do not yet have MPEG-4 receiving equipment.

Woot.com has the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick HDTV USB tuner for $84.99 +$5 shipping. For all you who may not know about woot, they sell one item per day (sometimes more) for awesome prices. I have bought from them before and wanted to pass along today's deal!

Rich

Study Finds Consumers Still in the Dark about HDTV

Not sure what to make of this study. Results show lack of satisfaction with HD programming choices, but also indicate that viewers can't find HD programming that is available.

I find it hard to believe that someone who just dropped a couple of grand on an HDTV can't be bothered to find out how to get HD programming and where to find it. Is it REALLY an insurmontable challenge that HD channels are sometimes slotted in the 600, 700 and 800 tiers?

I guess that might explain why so many "American" jobs are being exported to India... :rolleyes:

The following story is from today's TV Predictions newsletter:
____________________________________________________

High-Definition TVs are now in roughly 25 million U.S. homes, but they are often a source of confusion rather than contentment.That's the conclusion of a study by Frank N. Magid Associates, as reported in today's USA Today.

Magid says 47 percent of people buying a high-def set in the past year said they looked forward to watching shows in HD, down from 63 percent two years ago.

One reason: Many cable and satellite operators offer fewer than 20 high-def channels. Consequently, high-def owners are using their expensive sets for other purposes.

"Some people are content to watch DVDs, and we saw a decent number of new HD owners who are also focused on video console gaming," said Maryann Baldwin, director of Magid Media Futures.

Baldwin added that HD viewers are "not tremendously satisfied" with high-def programming lineups -- so they are less likely to spread positive word of mouth about the technology.

In Magid's September survey of 1,200 adults, a majority of HDTV owners rated their satisfaction with high-def programming at seven on a scale of 1 to 10.

"That's pretty mediocre," Baldwin told USA Today. "Part of it is because they have to work to find the channels. They're being placed ... in the 600, 700 or 800 channel numbers. Not only did they have to work to buy the set, and work to make the programming arrangements, they have to work to actually tune in to those channels."

Magid found that 30 percent of high-def owners haven't signed up for HDTV service from their cable or satellite providers.

The technology also confuses many consumers, many of whom believe all Digital TV channels are broadcast in high-def, Magid said.

Perhaps worse, the study found, Americans are clueless when it comes to connecting or installing their new high-def sets.

"It's tough for some people to go the extra mile to get all the hardware to mount a (flat-screen) set on the wall and then say, 'Where am I going to mount a set-top box?'" Baldwin said.
____________________________________________________

Magid found that 30 percent of high-def owners haven't signed up for HDTV service from their cable or satellite providers.

The technology also confuses many consumers, many of whom believe all Digital TV channels are broadcast in high-def, Magid said.

Perhaps worse, the study found, Americans are clueless when it comes to connecting or installing their new high-def sets.


What's amazing is that these people don't have a relative, friend, neighbor, co-worker, etc... that DOES know what they're doing with high-def and can steer them in the right direction, or even hook it up for them. You know, people like us.

Just in my culde-sac alone this week, I've helped hook up 4 new HDTV's for my neighbors. Of course, my friends and family know who to call when they have a question about this stuff too. You'd think that there would be enough of us "in the know" that would prevent people from buying new HDTV's and then allowing them to connect analog cable into the RF jack of their new TV. Or connection a VCR with composite cables. :D

What's amazing is that these people don't have a relative, friend, neighbor, co-worker, etc... that DOES know what they're doing with high-def and can steer them in the right direction, or even hook it up for them. You know, people like us.

Just in my culde-sac alone this week, I've helped hook up 4 new HDTV's for my neighbors. Of course, my friends and family know who to call when they have a question about this stuff too. You'd think that there would be enough of us "in the know" that would prevent people from buying new HDTV's and then allowing them to connect analog cable into the RF jack of their new TV. Or connection a VCR with composite cables. :DJon, I do believe that this sort of person exists, but I find it very difficult to believe that this group is so large that they can skew the overall results of this type of survey.

Or maybe this has something to do with the way the USA Today reporter slanted the survey results. USA Today hasn't done a very good job reporting on HDTV from the very beginning, and I sometimes have wondered if the paper has an overall bias about it. But the quotes from the survey company seem to have the same overall flavor.

Anyway, if your cul-de-sac neighbors have Internet access, I'd love for you to point them in the direction of my HDTV Viewer survey, as I suspect that group will be somewhat under-represented.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=770152748968

My neighbors fall into this category although they are in their mid-60's and while not Luddites they are far from being informed. They have a very poor picture on their Hitachi LCD, do have HD via cable and most of the time forget to even tune it to the HD channel. They don't know which channels are broadcast in HD and what games or shows are in HD. They find it very confusing. They also find all the remotes and cable box confusing, I have offered to help set up their remotes to just one, but they said that now they know how to work the "durn" thing they want to keep it the same. As far as PQ goes, they saw my calibrated set and were amazed. Actually they were blown away. When Doug was here, we went across the street and briefly discussed their PQ. They listened politely and said they were happy enough with it rather than spend the money for calibration. I have offered to help with very basic adjustments but they are just stuck and used to the crappy PQ quality. It looks like it's in torch mode and if I were to turn the brightness down they would probably complain it was too dark.

What's amazing is that these people don't have a relative, friend, neighbor, co-worker, etc... that DOES know what they're doing with high-def and can steer them in the right direction, or even hook it up for them. You know, people like us.

Just in my culde-sac alone this week, I've helped hook up 4 new HDTV's for my neighbors. Of course, my friends and family know who to call when they have a question about this stuff too. You'd think that there would be enough of us "in the know" that would prevent people from buying new HDTV's and then allowing them to connect analog cable into the RF jack of their new TV. Or connection a VCR with composite cables. :D

Jon, not every person is like you. Believe me, when you used to come see me at Ultimate Electronics, you were the exception to the rule. An extreme exception at that.
People are clueless. I'm sure there are people with HDTV's that have been watching SDTV for the last 5 years, and don't even know it.

Scott

I'm sure there are people with HDTV's that have been watching SDTV for the last 5 years, and don't even know it.

Yea, like my Dad who insists he "can't remember which channel is the HD channel" and "can't tell the difference anyway". Now, the fact that he's watching a 37" Dell LCD from about 20 feet away probably doesn't help.

Jon, not every person is like you. Believe me, when you used to come see me at Ultimate Electronics, you were the exception to the rule. An extreme exception at that.
People are clueless. I'm sure there are people with HDTV's that have been watching SDTV for the last 5 years, and don't even know it.
Scott
Technology is light-years...no MEGA light-years beyond the main-stream consumer.
200 of the 300 million living in the USA own cell phones. It's estimated less than 15% use only the OOB default settings, and use no other functions/features other than making phone calls.

I spent over an hour the other night trying to figure out how to change my desktop icon text label font color...finally gave up, and had to ask Joe Clark how to do it. Yes, he knew.

We are not the same, and therefore really cannot relate.

I find it hard to believe that someone who just dropped a couple of grand on an HDTV can't be bothered to find out how to get HD programming and where to find it. Is it REALLY an insurmontable challenge that HD channels are sometimes slotted in the 600, 700 and 800 tiers?

I guess that might explain why so many "American" jobs are being exported to India... :rolleyes:

____________________________________________________

I have two co-workers who bought HD sets in 2003 and had Charter. Both ordered the HD service from Charter. I would make comments to them about the great HD quality on certain shows. They said they did not see it since they were watching channels 2 or 4 or 5 instead of the 700 tier!!!! They both switched to E* this year and DID NOT order any HD service. These are 30 something folks with young children who work in the high tech banking industry (MasterCard). I was astounded!!! They commented that they did not care that much.....then why buy the TV!!!

We do have jobs going to India... :cool:

Woot.com has the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick HDTV USB tuner for $84.99 +$5 shipping. For all you who may not know about woot, they sell one item per day (sometimes more) for awesome prices. I have bought from them before and wanted to pass along today's deal!

Rich

Rich, this product is really interesting, thanks for pointing it out.

I have a couple of questions:

Would an HD signal look different/better on a typical laptop monitor than an SD signal?

I have a Samsung S3251D HDTV, and am wondering how I would transfer the HD video from my laptop to the TV. What sort of cord would I use? I assume that a typical VGA cable would not carry an HD signal? The TV has a VGA input.

Any knowledge about this would be very helpful.

Thanks!

DISH does not help the matter. When a sub receives the DT locals over SAT on DISH, their programming retains the Analog channel. In the receiver's menu, the user selects which channels, Analog or Digital, they want mapped down in their program guide. In order for DISH to maintain the difference between Analog and Digital in their program guides, they add "(HD)" to the program description of all programming on the Digital channel. Thus, referring to the channels as "HD Locals," rather than what they really are, "DT Locals."

Case in point. My daughter, having recently changed from Charter to DISH, was surprised to see all of the local digital content is in HD over DISH. I said, no...at best, maybe 1/2 of the prime-time network shows are in HD. She replied, no...it says in the program guide "HD" for everything.

Rich, this product is really interesting, thanks for pointing it out.

I have a couple of questions:

Would an HD signal look different/better on a typical laptop monitor than an SD signal?

I have a Samsung S3251D HDTV, and am wondering how I would transfer the HD video from my laptop to the TV. What sort of cord would I use? I assume that a typical VGA cable would not carry an HD signal? The TV has a VGA input.

Any knowledge about this would be very helpful.

Thanks!

HDTV's with VGA connections can deliver a beautiful HD image, but be careful of the Pinnacle USB tuner. That's the one I talked about recently, and I had trouble with it. It wouldn't work on my 2 year old HP laptop at all. Even on my desktop, I had trouble with the software, despite the fact that the system had plenty of horsepower for HD capture.

...
We do have jobs going to India... :cool:OMG, don't get me started on that. I just had to deal with my POS Dell laptop and calling to try and get a bad video board replaced. Nothing makes my blood boil that that experience...

OMG, don't get me started on that. I just had to deal with my POS Dell laptop and calling to try and get a bad video board replaced. Nothing makes my blood boil that that experience...
Dean,
We have a number into Dell's TS in TX. I'll get it from our IT guy, and send it to you in a PM for your next journey.

Dean,
We have a number into Dell's TS in TX. I'll get it from our IT guy, and send it to you in a PM for your next journey.Thanks. Appreciate it. I'm sure I'll have more repairs before I finally dump it.

Thanks. Appreciate it. I'm sure I'll have more repairs before I finally dump it.
I'm convinced they're all the same. It's the luck-of-the-draw. We have 2 identical Dell desktops here, identically configured, purchased at the same time. Their SN's are 11 digits apart. Both perform identical tasks. Had them 4 years. One's never had a problem, the other's always, just been a problem.

I'm convinced they're all the same. It's the luck-of-the-draw. We have 2 identical Dell desktops here, identically configured, purchased at the same time. Their SN's are 11 digits apart. Both perform identical tasks. Had them 4 years. One's never had a problem, the other's always, just been a problem.I have nothing but problems with my Dell. I have an XPS M170 that Dell sent me as a replacement for a 1st gen XPS laptop that had chronic over-heating problems. Within a month of receiving the M170 the LCD panel went bad and had to be replaced. The battery also failed. Now the video board and cooling fans this past week. I also bought Dell's next day/night/weekends at home service. I have yet to get that service. Dell has been servicing me more like 4-5 days after I call. I have a complaint form for the MO Attorney General about this. I just have to take the time to gather all my documentation and submit it.

Next year I'm getting a MacBook Pro. If it has problems, then at least I'll have an OS that doesn't annoy me every time I use it.

Dell is evil. I rue the day I gave them my business. I've had nothing but bad experience ever since they sent their support offshore.

OMG, don't get me started on that. I just had to deal with my POS Dell laptop and calling to try and get a bad video board replaced. Nothing makes my blood boil that that experience...

I know how you feel. I did 15 Home Equity loan applications yesterday. Now all of these loans will be processed mainly in India. Of those 15 applications maybe 4 or 5 will actually close. A big reason for the low booking percentage is the level of service people get from overseas. I realize that the best way to save money is to cut labor costs. However, these big companies don't figure into the equation how much business and repeat business they lose due to overseas staffing. My company will pay for 15 appraisals on those applications, but only use 4 or 5 of them. Hopefully someone will figure it all out someday.

Good luck with your Dell. I just bought a HP laptop. Hope I don't need any service.

Scott

I took a loan application today from a nice guy living in IL. I asked him where he worked, and he said "Charter," but then began to laugh. I said, "why are you laughing?" He responded by saying he hated telling people where he worked because he was embarrassed. We had quite an interesting conversation today. What does it say about a company who's employees are ashamed to admit they work there? This is no entry level guy either. He is earning $120k per year.

Scott

I took a loan application today from a nice guy living in IL. I asked him where he worked, and he said "Charter," but then began to laugh. I said, "why are you laughing?" He responded by saying he hated telling people where he worked because he was embarrassed. We had quite an interesting conversation today. What does it say about a company who's employees are ashamed to admit they work there? This is no entry level guy either. He is earning $120k per year.
Scott
Our best ever was asking an applicant for his employment information. He said he was unemployed, he didn't want a job, just a loan to buy a house.

Being down here (Farmington), hanging up the phone and laughing hysterically is almost a daily occurrence.

But, you're right Scott. All of our business has been built up over the years by personal service...realtor to realtor, buyer to buyer.

Of all our machines, currently we have a Toshiba, Sony, Gateway Laptop, a Gateway and 3 Dell Desktops, Dell is by far, the worst to deal with. The bank recently sent us a Dell laser printer. This thing is 5 stories high. It was DOA. It turned on, but just printed garbage. I checked this, checked that, and figured out the drum was bad. I called Dell. Spent 45 minutes on the phone with some L2 tech in TX. He has me run all these diagnostics, like 10 in all. That stuff you need to hold power, tap enter, and click your heals 3 times to access the menus. I think he was just showing off. Finally he asks me to hold while he speaks with his supervisor. Comes back on the phone, and says, "we think it's the drum...how about we send you another one, and see how that works out.

OK, this is WAY OT....so, anyone watch the Medonna special tonight?

Of all our machines, currently we have a Toshiba, Sony, Gateway Laptop, a Gateway and 3 Dell Desktops, Dell is by far, the worst to deal with....And you know their so-called award winning service. You now how they get those ratings? Whenever I deal with Dell the support person will ask if I will fill out a customer satisfaction survey from a link he'll email me. Then he asks if he took care of the problem to my satisfaction and if I say no, guess what...I never get a an email for the survey. If I say yes, I always get the email for the survey. They prescreen the survey respondents.

And you know their so-called award winning service. You now how they get those ratings? Whenever I deal with Dell the support person will ask if I will fill out a customer satisfaction survey from a link he'll email me. Then he asks if he took care of the problem to my satisfaction and if I say no, guess what...I never get a an email for the survey. If I say yes, I always get the email for the survey. They prescreen the survey respondents.
One would think that, the times you've said "no," the conversation would continue. A bit too starry-eyed perhaps?

And you know their so-called award winning service. You now how they get those ratings? Whenever I deal with Dell the support person will ask if I will fill out a customer satisfaction survey from a link he'll email me. Then he asks if he took care of the problem to my satisfaction and if I say no, guess what...I never get a an email for the survey. If I say yes, I always get the email for the survey. They prescreen the survey respondents.

Reminds me of the two hours I spent on the phone with Symantec tech support. I was bounced around to six different phone numbers (to some numbers multiple times - many with Indian operators), while I was trying to resolve an issue. After I finally became irate at the run-around, I was promised a free copy of the software I was trying to get my activation number for (legally purchased). Of course, I never got it. All the while, I was hearing about Symantec's award winning service along with the musak.

I took all Symantec products off my computer and haven't installed the company's products since. I've found better alternatives. No matter how you slice and dice something like this, it can't be good for Symantec's business. How long it will take them to figure it out is anyone's guess.

Here's a Thanksgiving gift for anyone tired of Symantec:

http://free.grisoft.com

Download AVG AntiVirus Free Edition and/or AVG AntiSpyware.

You're welcome. :D

Here's a Thanksgiving gift for anyone tired of Symantec:

http://free.grisoft.com

Download AVG AntiVirus Free Edition and/or AVG AntiSpyware.

You're welcome. :D

That's the anti-virus I found, Bob. AVG Free is a much better alternative to Norton Anti-virus and it's not a resource hog, either.

Of all our machines, currently we have a Toshiba, Sony, Gateway Laptop, a Gateway and 3 Dell Desktops, Dell is by far, the worst to deal with.
We have somewhere between 500 and 1000 Dells installed at the College. Perhaps 200 of them are in student labs where they can be used 13 hours a day. I can recall no unusual failures. The floppy disk drives tend to be flaky, but that is also true on the HPs and Gateways we have -- they have become a popular place for vendors to cut corners.

That's the anti-virus I found, Bob. AVG Free is a much better alternative to Norton Anti-virus and it's not a resource hog, either.

Interesting timing. I just installed Norton Antivirus on my new laptop 10 minutes ago. I'm curious why I'd be better off with the previously mentioned AVG Free? :)

Interesting timing. I just installed Norton Antivirus on my new laptop 10 minutes ago. I'm curious why I'd be better off with the previously mentioned AVG Free? :)I also use AVG. It's free and works great.

I had Norton Antivirus years ago. It is itself a virus, IMHO! It's a huge memory and resource pig, and installs all kinds of CPU robbing services. When I last had it, it installed an HTTP proxy service to handle all web traffic, for some reason. The problem was that the service would crash on a regular basis and I would be unable to use a browser (or anything relying on the HTTP protocol) until I restarted the service (which meant rebooting until I figured out what was going on). I finally just removed all Symantec products. After that my computer ran much, much better: faster, more responsive, more stable. It felt like I had upgraded hardware.

Interesting timing. I just installed Norton Antivirus on my new laptop 10 minutes ago. I'm curious why I'd be better off with the previously mentioned AVG Free? :)

AVG Free AntiVirus is a lot less of a resource hog than Norton, automatically downloads updates almost daily, and is 100% free. It admittedly doesn't have built-in spyware protection but AVG AntiSpyware is available as a separate download.

AVG AntiSpyware includes some features which deactivate if you don't pay for it in 30 days, but can still be used as a freeware program without those extra features from that point on... which is what I'm doing.

About a year ago, a friend of mine had a Windows crash which required reinstalling Windows from scratch, which we did without formatting first since he wanted to keep as much of his data as possible. I installed AVG Free on it since he had lost his Systemworks install disc. AVG Free found 7 viruses on his drive that Norton had been missing for Lord only knows how long!

We use McAfee. Not many do. I too, detest Norton. Norton acts like it wants to push you away from the keyboard and monitor, and take full control.

McAfee has been squeaky clean for us. We use it across the system, it's quiet, transparent, and never interferes with other tasks. CIP, it waits for connection idle to download an update, and then suspends the update if the connection becomes active again.

My personal preference, I like it.

You must have a 500ghz laptop to be able to run Norton in it, Scott!

We use McAfee. Not many do. I too, detest Norton. Norton acts like it wants to push you away from the keyboard and monitor, and take full control.

McAfee has been squeaky clean for us. We use it across the system, it's quiet, transparent, and never interferes with other tasks. CIP, it waits for connection idle to download an update, and then suspends the update if the connection becomes active again.

My personal preference, I like it.

You must have a 500ghz laptop to be able to run Norton in it, Scott!

Way off topic, so I guess I should say I may put a "HDTV" tuner in this laptop.

Here is what I got:

AMD dual-core technology enables you to work or play with multiple programs without impacting performance; AMD64 technology provides simultaneous support for 32-bit and 64-bit computing; 256KB + 256KB L2 cache memory for efficient processing




17" WXGA+ high-definition widescreen display with BrightView technology and 1440 x 900 resolution




100GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm)




NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 graphics with up to 128MB shared video memory; S-video TV-out




QuickPlay music and DVD buttons; HP mobile remote and ear bud headphones included




5-in-1 digital media reader supports Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and xD-Picture Card




IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interface and 4 high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast digital video, audio and data transfer




Built-in, high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g); 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN with RJ-45 connector; 56 Kbps high-speed modem; Expansion Port 3 connector




Weighs 7.8 lbs. and measures 1.6" thin for portable power; lithium-ion battery and AC adapter




Long-lasting HP Imprint high-gloss finish with inlaid wave design; backlit media control panel




Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system preinstalled; software package included with Sonic DigitalMedia Plus, HP Photosmart Premier, muvee autoProducer DVD Edition with Burning and more




Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Ready

Got it at Bestbuy for $899.

Scott

We have somewhere between 500 and 1000 Dells installed at the College. Perhaps 200 of them are in student labs where they can be used 13 hours a day. I can recall no unusual failures. The floppy disk drives tend to be flaky, but that is also true on the HPs and Gateways we have -- they have become a popular place for vendors to cut corners.

Which college do you work with, Dan?

I've been recommending AVG for some time to famiy and friends. I also got tired of having to fix Norton's virus definition update on everyone's PC. The free AVG version email scanner does add a little tag line that it was scanned by AVG. Just an FYI.

I have the corp. edition version of Symantec AV. The CE version is less a resource hog than the consumer version of Norton's. Much more configurable and less intrusive.

Interesting timing. I just installed Norton Antivirus on my new laptop 10 minutes ago. I'm curious why I'd be better off with the previously mentioned AVG Free? :)

Scott, get rid of it. Especially so if it's the time limited version that came with your laptop. It will nag you to death to buy it when it runs out. It's less of a mess to remove it now. (You don't want to know how many registry entries there are on your new laptop). Another vote for AVG. Also, get rid of all the crud vendors install. I had a Sony Vaio that was loaded with stuff that even dialed home with info. while on the surface appeared innocuous . Not good. My best friend got a Dell desktop and I had to remove all that crud too. I realize most people don't build their own desktops and can't build laptops to avoid all the crud but the first thing I do is remove all the junk, reboot and then defrag.

...The free AVG version email scanner does add a little tag line that it was scanned by AVG...That's optional and can be tuned off. AVG Free Edition 7.5 has that setting configurable for both incoming and outgoing email. I have it turned off and never see AVG tags in my emails.

AVG does not annoy, just as good software should be.

That's optional and can be tuned off. AVG Free Edition 7.5 has that setting configurable for both incoming and outgoing email. I have it turned off and never see AVG tags in my emails.

AVG does not annoy, just as good software should be.

Ah, good to know it's an option now.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!!!!!!!

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/7733/thanksgivingsr6.jpg

Ah, good to know it's an option now.I think it always was, at least since AVG 7.1, because I'm looking at my old email and none of it (incoming nor outgoing) is tagged. I won't use anything that adds to or deletes content from my email messages.

I had a Sony Vaio that was loaded with stuff that even dialed home with info. while on the surface appeared innocuous . Not good.
It took me "forever" to get rid of all the Vaio this and Vaio that junk on my Sony notebook. I still get an occasional error message that Sony framework is having a problem. I don't use it often enough to bother going in and telling the machine, that the problem is, it's no longer in there. I don't just know how, they way you would Mo. I have to sit and figure it out, and it doesn't cause any problems. :o

If Scott already ran that laptop with Norton installed, it probably needs a reg cleaner. Norton is a registry cancer, it attaches itself to everything.

...My best friend got a Dell desktop and I had to remove all that crud too. I realize most people don't build their own desktops and can't build laptops to avoid all the crud but the first thing I do is remove all the junk, reboot and then defrag.The first thing I do is insert the Windows installer and delete the partition(s), reformat, and start from scratch. It's the only effective way to deal with all the crap that gets preloaded. What you have to understand is these companies (like Dell) aren't shipping you a system that's good for you to start with. They are shipping you a system that third parties have paid them to configure and preload with their trial crap that turns into begware. It's got nothing to do with what should work well for the consumer. It has everything to do with generating additional revenue.

Sometime in 2007, I'm getting a 17" MacBook Pro. I wonder if it's the same issue? Does Apple load a lot of unnecessary and trial crap, or do they do a pretty good job shipping a good starting setup. I'll bet it's nowhere near as bad as what Dell and its ilk ships.

The first thing I do is insert the Windows installer and delete the partition(s), reformat, and start from scratch. It's the only effective way to deal with all the crap that gets preloaded. What you have to understand is these companies (like Dell) aren't shipping you a system that's good for you to start with. They are shipping you a system that third parties have paid them to configure and preload with their trial crap that turns into begware. It's got nothing to do with what should work well for the consumer. It has everything to do with generating additional revenue.

Sometime in 2007, I'm getting a 17" MacBook Pro. I wonder if it's the same issue? Does Apple load a lot of unnecessary and trial crap, or do they do a pretty good job shipping a good starting setup. I'll bet it's nowhere near as bad as what Dell and its ilk ships.

I did that with my Vaio (reformat) but most users don't go that far or want to, but I agree. At least the crud can be more easily removed.

I did that with my Vaio (reformat) but most users don't go that far or want to, but I agree. At least the crud can be more easily removed.Problem is, I'm still always left with that one big virus I can never seem to get rid of: MS Windows :D

It took me "forever" to get rid of all the Vaio this and Vaio that junk on my Sony notebook. I still get an occasional error message that Sony framework is having a problem. I don't use it often enough to bother going in and telling the machine, that the problem is, it's no longer in there. I don't just know how, they way you would Mo. I have to sit and figure it out, and it doesn't cause any problems. :o

If Scott already ran that laptop with Norton installed, it probably needs a reg cleaner. Norton is a registry cancer, it attaches itself to everything.

I use RegScrubXP. It's also free.

Since the current discussion is on computer security, here are a couple forums at the BBR website that may interest everyone...

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/security

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/svendors

I have learned a lot from these folks for the last few years and have always gotten answers to questions easily, as well to stay on top of new products.

Scott, get rid of it. Especially so if it's the time limited version that came with your laptop. It will nag you to death to buy it when it runs out. It's less of a mess to remove it now. (You don't want to know how many registry entries there are on your new laptop). Another vote for AVG. Also, get rid of all the crud vendors install. I had a Sony Vaio that was loaded with stuff that even dialed home with info. while on the surface appeared innocuous . Not good. My best friend got a Dell desktop and I had to remove all that crud too. I realize most people don't build their own desktops and can't build laptops to avoid all the crud but the first thing I do is remove all the junk, reboot and then defrag.

Thanks Mo. I just removed the free version of norton that came with the laptop because it did start reminding me everday that the free time would end. I already had a copy of Norton Antivirus '06 for my desktop, so I just installed it on the new laptop since I already had it. I have never had any issures with Norton. When it comes time to renew next year, I'll check into AVG like ya'll.

Hope You are all having a good Thanksgiving Day. What a beautiful day. I don't think I've ever washed and waxed a car on in late November before, but today was perfect for it. :D Now get to watch the football in glorious HDTV.

Scott

Since the current discussion is on computer security, here are a couple forums at the BBR website that may interest everyone...

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/security

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/svendors

I have learned a lot from these folks for the last few years and have always gotten answers to questions easily, as well to stay on top of new products.

I love DSL (Broadband) Reports. I've been a member there since late 2002. Great site and forum topics on about everything.

I am getting a new 5lnb and HR 20 on saturday from Premier. Any hints/things I should watch for?

Anyone watching the Chiefs/Broncos game on NFL HD tonight?
The DISH broadcast is an artifact nightmare. All the colors. The reds on the Chief's uniforms look like they're on fire. Twisting, turning and bleeding. The slow motion replays aren't even watchable.

DISH has NFL HD listed as MPEG4, though, depending on who you talk to, it may, or may not be. I don't think anyone really knows. Either way, it's horrendous.

It reminds me of that time Cindy Preszler wore a red business suit, early on, when KSDK went to HD news.

Anyone watching the Chiefs/Broncos game on NFL HD tonight?
The DISH broadcast is an artifact nightmare. All the colors. The reds on the Chief's uniforms look like they're on fire. Twisting, turning and bleeding. The slow motion replays aren't even watchable.

DISH has NFL HD listed as MPEG4, though, depending on who you talk to, it may, or may not be. I don't think anyone really knows. Either way, it's horrendous.

It reminds me of that time Cindy Preszler wore a red business suit, early on, when KSDK went to HD news.

Horrible, indeed. I just tuned in and recorded a few minutes of it. It's not MPEG4; it's MPEG2, 1440x1080i (one of Dish's HDLite modes), 15.4 Mbps (which is high enough not to be the mess it is).

Hey, at least KC's on top at halftime.

Anyone watching the Chiefs/Broncos game on NFL HD tonight?
The DISH broadcast is an artifact nightmare. All the colors. The reds on the Chief's uniforms look like they're on fire. Twisting, turning and bleeding. The slow motion replays aren't even watchable.

DISH has NFL HD listed as MPEG4, though, depending on who you talk to, it may, or may not be. I don't think anyone really knows. Either way, it's horrendous.

It reminds me of that time Cindy Preszler wore a red business suit, early on, when KSDK went to HD news.


I would have to agree with you. This production does not come close to the CBS broadcast. The reds are particularly disturbing.

I've watched several other HD productions on NFL HD this year, also on DISH. My impression was, up until tonight, it was one of the better PQ's. Perhaps it's related to the equipment being used at this particular game? Or, is that not a factor...I'm asking...I don't know. Is it as bad on Direct and Charter? :confused:

Of the 3 games today, FOX OTA was the best for me.

I've watched several other HD productions on NFL HD this year, also on DISH. My impression was, up until tonight, it was one of the better PQ's. Perhaps it's related to the equipment being used at this particular game? Or, is that not a factor...I'm asking...I don't know. Is it as bad on Direct and Charter? :confused:

Of the 3 games today, FOX OTA was the best for me.

I don't know for sure, either, Ken, but I'd guess it's not the equipment. It looks like an encoding problem, although it's apparently not bitrate. There's plenty of that, especially for 1440x1080i. Something in the chain isn't right.

Anyone know if AVG will work with a dinosaur Millenium Edition computer? (if I ever get it to recognize the network card again)

Anyone know if AVG will work with a dinosaur Millenium Edition computer? (if I ever get it to recognize the network card again)
Their specs says yes. AVG IS 7.5
98/ME/NT4/2000/XP
486+/32RAM/30HDD

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5469/lng/us/tpl/v5

You sure the card hasn't fried? All my older laptops have. One of the first things to go. They're very susceptible to lightning, even with SP's. I just added a PCMCIA card in the slot, and disabled the OEM.

Is it as bad on Direct and Charter? :confused:

Of the 3 games today, FOX OTA was the best for me.

I have Charter and my picture quailty for the Chiefs/Broncos game was artifact-free. And nothing was wrong with the colors either. But perhaps that is because Charter doesn't carry NFL Network and I was just staring at a blank screen dreaming about all those NFL games I'll miss this year... :D

I have Charter and my picture quailty for the Chiefs/Broncos game was artifact-free. And nothing was wrong with the colors either. But perhaps that is because Charter doesn't carry NFL Network and I was just staring at a blank screen dreaming about all those NFL games I'll miss this year... :D
Don't laugh....You probably had a better picture. You "missed" nothing tonight!

Anyone know if AVG will work with a dinosaur Millenium Edition computer? (if I ever get it to recognize the network card again)

AVG runs quite happily on my parents' 733mHz Windows 98 machine.

I've watched several other HD productions on NFL HD this year, also on DISH. My impression was, up until tonight, it was one of the better PQ's. Perhaps it's related to the equipment being used at this particular game? Or, is that not a factor...I'm asking...I don't know. Is it as bad on Direct and Charter? :confused:

Of the 3 games today, FOX OTA was the best for me.

I wasn't in the room most of the time, but the people that were watching via D* had no complaints other than the lipsync being off in the very beginning. It fixed itself pretty quickly. While I was in there, I didn't see any problems.....

Which college do you work with, Dan?
FloValley, or more formally "Saint Louis Community College at Florissant Valley."

Went to my Sister in law's for Turkey Day. She has a deceant system in the basement, and another upstairs. Fisrt thing I noticed was the Denon receiver showed Pro Logic and not Dolby Digital. Turned out the D* H20 was not set up properly. This was a quick fix thankfully. This goes back to what we were talking about earlier in regards to the general public being clueless. She spent over $30k on this system and has not even been listening in Surround.
Also, this was my first time viewing the locals via D* in HD. I must say the Chiefs game was not very good picture quality. Mega pixelation especially in fast moving scenes. I hope it was just this broadcast and her picture doesn't always look that bad.

Scott

Went to my Sister in law's for Turkey Day. She has a deceant system in the basement, and another upstairs. Fisrt thing I noticed was the Denon receiver showed Pro Logic and not Dolby Digital. Turned out the D* H20 was not set up properly. This was a quick fix thankfully. This goes back to what we were talking about earlier in regards to the general public being clueless. She spent over $30k on this system and has not even been listening in Surround.
Also, this was my first time viewing the locals via D* in HD. I must say the Chiefs game was not very good picture quality. Mega pixelation especially in fast moving scenes. I hope it was just this broadcast and her picture doesn't always look that bad.

Scott

E* had the same problems with the Chief's game, Scott.

I don't watch much football, but I checked in a few times last night on the Chiefs-Broncos game on DirecTV channel 95 and it seemed OK to me. I was particularly focused on checking out the reds in the Chiefs' uniforms and they didn't seem to be a problem for me. Ken mentioned the problem he was seeing was similar to what KSDK had last winter (referred to at the time as "crawling red lava"). But I didn't see anything like that..

I didn't watch for more than a few minutes on two or three different surfing rounds. So I can't really comment on possible problems with fast-motion pixellation.

I don't watch much football, but I checked in a few times last night on the Chiefs-Broncos game on DirecTV channel 95 and it seemed OK to me. I was particularly focused on checking out the reds in the Chiefs' uniforms and they didn't seem to be a problem for me. Ken mentioned the problem he was seeing was similar to what KSDK had last winter (referred to at the time as "crawling red lava"). But I didn't see anything like that..

I didn't watch for more than a few minutes on two or three different surfing rounds. So I can't really comment on possible problems with fast-motion pixellation.

The reds were nuclear on Dish, and the pixellation was severe. It must have been an encoder problem on Dish's end.

The reds were nucular on Dish...Corrected. ;)

Doug,
Do you remember seeing that red dress worn by a female guest on Leno earlier this season? I think maybe Pam Anderson. It was that awful.

Corrected. ;)

Thanks, Dean, but I always use the Democratic spelling. :D

I am getting a new 5lnb and HR 20 on saturday from Premier. Any hints/things I should watch for?

Welcome to the forum.

I have the 3 LNB and HR10 installed so I can only refer you to some good info. You may want to spend some time reading at DBS Talk in the HR20 Order/Installation (http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=113) thread so you know what to expect. There is also a nice PDF file there titled "HR-20 Installation and Initial Setup Tips". (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=67769) The PDF file is at the bottom of the post. As suggested in the tips file, call Premiere (800-210-0355) to verify what's on the work order, check that you are scheduled and watch them like a hawk. Make sure everything works. There is a list of things to check in the PDF along with a few very helpful links.

I just got off the phone with KMOV Master Control Room (whatever it is called)..

The LSU/Arkansas game for today will not be in HD because CBS has the game on
a new transponder that KMOV does not pick up!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEAH...!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go to both KMOV and CBS.

Well, I guess I'll go back to watching the Texas/Texas A&M game on KDNL and ABC.

SEE KMOV........HD DOES MATTER!

BTW, the number I used was 314-444-6333 and then I asked for the Control Room.

Doug,
Do you remember seeing that red dress worn by a female guest on Leno earlier this season? I think maybe Pam Anderson. It was that awful.I do remember that -- and there was an even more telling example, as they had some Carol-singing choral group dressed in red robes, so the entire screen was one big lava flow.

I do remember that -- and there was an even more telling example, as they had some Carol-singing choral group dressed in red robes, so the entire screen was one big lava flow.
Yep, they were back-up singers for Fantasia.

Mo,
I downloaded and ran RegScrubXP....worked great....thank you :)

I just got off the phone with KMOV Master Control Room (whatever it is called)..

The LSU/Arkansas game for today will not be in HD because CBS has the game on
a new transponder that KMOV does not pick up!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEAH...!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go to both KMOV and CBS.

Well, I guess I'll go back to watching the Texas/Texas A&M game on KDNL and ABC.

SEE KMOV........HD DOES MATTER!

BTW, the number I used was 314-444-6333 and then I asked for the Control Room.


I just called and the news room said they had no way to contact the control room. They just gave me a network number to call. :mad:

Luckily I didn't leave for work before the first drive of the LSU/Arkie game on KMOV and saw they hadn't switched to the HD feed. I stopped my recording and switched it to tape the end of the Nebraska game and the Colorado game that was coming on next. I sure hope if the story about the new transponder is true (I find it hard to believe). But they better get it fixed by next Saturday for the SEC Championship game. KMOV usually is able to fix the switching error when I call, but today I did not have time and had to get in to work. Kinda sucks not being able to trust them to always have HD when the event is carried nationally in HD. I hope they do a better job this College Basketball season as I look forward to the CBS feeds in HD. HD does matter and if it isn't my team the GATORS I always look for another game in HD to switch to.

Here's a Thanksgiving gift for anyone tired of Symantec:

http://free.grisoft.com

Download AVG AntiVirus Free Edition and/or AVG AntiSpyware.

You're welcome. :D

I have Norton and it runs out in like 5 days so I need something very soon. I recently got AT&T Highspeed and I believe it has a free security download how does that compare to the AVG?

I am getting a new 5lnb and HR 20 on saturday from Premier. Any hints/things I should watch for?

Any help guys?

Any help guys?Did you overlook Mo's note to you?

I have Norton and it runs out in like 5 days so I need something very soon. I recently got AT&T Highspeed and I believe it has a free security download how does that compare to the AVG?
You really have to read the details to know what you are getting. "Security" is anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-adware, anti-phishing, .......

AVG has both anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. The former is great, the latter is mediocre. I've seen no reports about the effectiveness of whatever AT&T provides, but it is hard to believe it could be updated as quickly as the Grisoft product.

More here (you may have to create a free account to read it):

http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archive/results?display=summary

Question, do you have to pay to have access to the HD channels on charter, or would it just be better to get an antenna and do it that route?

(btw I'm a newbie don't even have my hd yet, I will next week though :P

I got it for the xbox 360 but might as well get as much as I can out of it right!

Any help guys?

Go back a page. I gave you a couple of good links and some info.

Mo

Question, do you have to pay to have access to the HD channels on charter, or would it just be better to get an antenna and do it that route?

(btw I'm a newbie don't even have my hd yet, I will next week though :P

I got it for the xbox 360 but might as well get as much as I can out of it right!
Hi Bud,
I can't imagine there isn't some additional fee for the HD channels on Charter.
Are you referring to the 4 locals? If so, Charter does not charge any additional charge for the digital signals. You would need to have an off-air antenna to receive KDNL/ABC, as Charter has no carriage agreement with Sinclair Broadcasting at the present time.

Enjoy your HD....your life changes next week :)

The LSU/Arkansas game for today will not be in HD because CBS has the game on a new transponder that KMOV does not pick up!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this the same reason why CBS hasn't had an HD football game on the last 2 Sundays?

I have Norton and it runs out in like 5 days so I need something very soon. I recently got AT&T Highspeed and I believe it has a free security download how does that compare to the AVG?

If I recall correctly, SBC/ATT used to provide anti-virus software from Computer
associates. I had it for a year or so. It seemed like it wasn't updated very
frequently....or at least the software didn't tell you it was being updated.

I tried out AVG 6 months ago and after a month I de-installed CA Anti-virus
software. It seems that AVG is updated with new virus signatures more frequently
than the CA software SBC/ATT provided.

Hope that helps.

Mo,
When I cleaned the reg, it found 352 errors...all related to dead keys. This machine is 4 yrs old, and never been cleaned. Normal?? It's a well used machine, keystrokes are 1.5m/year.
tia

Go back a page. I gave you a couple of good links and some info.

Mo

Thanks, he is installing tomorrow (Saturday) from 1-5, so i don't know if I can verify the workorder unless they are open on Saturday.

Has anyone on here had Premier do their installs in St. Louis? Does anyone know what dish they are installing? I would rather have a slimline than an at-9. Anyone in St. Louis have the HR20, are most of the bugs worked out with the software updates for you?

Is this the same reason why CBS hasn't had an HD football game on the last 2 Sundays?
CBS only does three games in HD each week. Perhaps KMOV just has not carried any of those games. However, wasn't the Indy/Dallas games on KMOV this last Sunday (late game)? It was an HD game. I watched it on the D* Sunday Ticket HD channel so I don't know if KMOV had it in HD or not.

Is this Sunday's Rams game in HD?

Is this Sunday's Rams game in HD?

According to the TitanTV listings it is.

Thanks, he is installing tomorrow (Saturday) from 1-5, so i don't know if I can verify the workorder unless they are open on Saturday.

Has anyone on here had Premier do their installs in St. Louis? Does anyone know what dish they are installing? I would rather have a slimline than an at-9. Anyone in St. Louis have the HR20, are most of the bugs worked out with the software updates for you?I seem to recall someone here recently detailing problems they had with a Premier install.

You can use the Search this Thread feature at the top of each page to find that and any other postings about Premier.

CBS only does three games in HD each week. Perhaps KMOV just has not carried any of those games. However, wasn't the Indy/Dallas games on KMOV this last Sunday (late game)? It was an HD game. I watched it on the D* Sunday Ticket HD channel so I don't know if KMOV had it in HD or not.

I watched it on KMOV, and it was in HD.

what surge protector and UPS do you guys recommend? Any good deals around the area?

Can anyone point me in the direction of where to find a external Digital Tuner?
My in-laws have a HD-READY set, and im looking at getting them one. BB has ONE, I think there has to be other options.
Thanks

First of all, I want to again thank everyone who has taken the time to complete the St. Louis HDTV Viewer Survey -- the response continues to be encouraging. I actually received a couple dozen additional replies last weekend after posting the reminder last Saturday and it looks like there are a handful of new participants here this week, so I thought it would be worthwhile posting another reminder.

The survey closes at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 1, and I'll start posting summaries of the results here, by section, next weekend.

So, for anyone who hasn't filled out the survey, here's the link where it can be found:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=770152748968

Also, a few weeks back I put together an eMail template for forwarding a survey invitation to any of your friends, family or colleagues who might be interested in participating. That invitation template can be found here at AVS via the link below:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/show...2&&#post8878312

Thanks again for tolerating these reminders...

Can anyone point me in the direction of where to find a external Digital Tuner?
My in-laws have a HD-READY set, and im looking at getting them one. BB has ONE, I think there has to be other options.Fastmans, if you're not looking for immediate gratification, eBay is a good way to go. Note that in addition to OTA-only tuners, you can also make use of used DirecTV HD set-top box as an OTA receiver, without any subscription commitment.

FWIW, if you consider the DirecTV option, I'd recommend steering clear of the Hughes E86 (early units were prone to overheating and this often resulted in the OTA tuner behaving erratically). Also, I believe that there were some issues with the first-generation Samsung OTA tuners not playing nice with certain station encoders.

In any event, it's probably a good idea to cross-check any possibilities, new or used, that you find by doing a search in the HDTV Reception Hardware section or elsewhere on the web.

Good luck.

Thanks, he is installing tomorrow (Saturday) from 1-5, so i don't know if I can verify the workorder unless they are open on Saturday.

Has anyone on here had Premier do their installs in St. Louis? Does anyone know what dish they are installing? I would rather have a slimline than an at-9. Anyone in St. Louis have the HR20, are most of the bugs worked out with the software updates for you?

They dispatch installers on Saturday, so they are open. Did you *try* calling the number? Most everyone in STL not doing their own installs had Premiere do them as they are the local contractors for D*. They can and do screw-up.

The links I gave you detail each and every software update the HR20 has had. There is an entire thread on updates at DBS Talk.

If you don't know what dish they are installing then you really need to start reading now. The AT9's are very large and heavy. The slimline's are not available/out yet.

The number I gave you was the local Premiere office. You call, have them look you up and read the work order to you over the phone to make sure everything needed is on the work order or they may not have for example a multi-switch, etc. You will only know if their work order includes everything by spending some time reading over at DBD Talk under the Installation/Order thread.

what surge protector and UPS do you guys recommend? Any good deals around the area?

Steer clear of Tripp Lite. APC (American Power Conversion) and Belkin are good choices and Google is your friend. There may be threads here at AVS as well if you do a search.

For deals, either visit CC, BB, CompUSA sites or Fat Wallet or you local paper.

Thanks, he is installing tomorrow (Saturday) from 1-5, so i don't know if I can verify the workorder unless they are open on Saturday.

Has anyone on here had Premier do their installs in St. Louis? Does anyone know what dish they are installing? I would rather have a slimline than an at-9. Anyone in St. Louis have the HR20, are most of the bugs worked out with the software updates for you?

Premier is a crap shoot. Kind of like trying to find a good mechanic.

My experience with 3 of them was 33% success, only after I directed them to
the solution after they gave up.

They won't try to get 103 and 99, so don't even ask if they peaked it out. Cuz
they won't.

Can anyone point me in the direction of where to find a external Digital Tuner?
My in-laws have a HD-READY set, and im looking at getting them one. BB has ONE, I think there has to be other options.
Thanks

I have a Zenith HD-SAT520 I'm not using at the moment. This has a very good tuner in it. It is in very good condition complete with box, remote, and manual. I will let it go for $100.

Scott

Mo,
When I cleaned the reg, it found 352 errors...all related to dead keys. This machine is 4 yrs old, and never been cleaned. Normal?? It's a well used machine, keystrokes are 1.5m/year.
tia

YIKES! By never cleaned, does that include no clean install in 4 years? Everything I have read suggests a re-format and clean install once a year on a Windoze PC. That may seem extreme for a lot of folks, but you get the idea. I do a clean install every 6 months months as I like to run fast. A large registry has to load everything and will really slow down a machine as it drags along other crud along with it. New drivers, especially video drivers, can help things run better and faster.

If and when you do a clean install, you may get more mileage by creating separate partitions for the OS and other stuff. Once you get it exactly how you want it, back up the image and start saving files and documents that change on another drive or CD/DVD.

FWIW, whenever I do a clean install I run RegScrubXP afterward and it always finds almost 100 keys to remove. I never choose Typical install. I always choose Custom and that leaves behind a lot. Most software IMO is not well written and it leaves way too much behind in the registry. There are many reasons the registry can gunk up like adding/removing software.

I use CCleaner's (http://www.ccleaner.com/) reg cleaner as neither app gets them all. I've had nothing break from running either. I'm not afraid of manually cleaning my registry as the search function works well and I learned the hard way years ago to never use a wildcard when going on a registry rampage. :D

YIKES! By never cleaned, does that include no clean install in 4 years? Everything I have read suggests a re-format and clean install once a year on a Windoze PC. That may seem extreme for a lot of folks, but you get the idea. I do a clean install every 6 months months as I like to run fast. A large registry has to load everything and will really slow down a machine as it drags along other crud along with it. New drivers, especially video drivers, can help things run better and faster.

If and when you do a clean install, you may get more mileage by creating separate partitions for the OS and other stuff. Once you get it exactly how you want it, back up the image and start saving files and documents that change on another drive or CD/DVD.

FWIW, whenever I do a clean install I run RegScrubXP afterward and it always finds almost 100 keys to remove. I never choose Typical install. I always choose Custom and that leaves behind a lot. Most software IMO is not well written and it leaves way too much behind in the registry. There are many reasons the registry can gunk up like adding/removing software.

I use CCleaner's (http://www.ccleaner.com/) reg cleaner as neither app gets them all. I've had nothing break from running either. I'm not afraid of manually cleaning my registry as the search function works well and I learned the hard way years ago to never use a wildcard when going on a registry rampage. :D

Do you let RegScrubXP automatically clean up all the problems it finds, or do you go through each manually? I have no doubt you're a lot more technically astute at registry issues than I am.

Do you let RegScrubXP automatically clean up all the problems it finds, or do you go through each manually? I have no doubt you're a lot more technically astute at registry issues than I am.

I do. At first I was a little leery trusting it not to break something. There is an option to restore your original registry in RegScrubXP and CCleaner. I follow with a manual removal of anything nasty like Nero or anything Norton that a reg cleaner may leave.

Take a look at the Misc tab in RegScrub for some nice tweaks like setting the clock everyday instead of every week. :)

Another good program is RegCleaner. I use what MO has plus this one. RegCleaner will allow you to do single line deletes a lot easier, and also has a restore feature.

And now, for something completely different...

I'm fed up with E*!!! My bill has never been correct since I've had service. Charges are credited, then added back in the next month, equipment problems, and the list just goes on and on. I'm on my 5th VIP622 receiver. I hate to say this, but I had less problems with Charter. I have a Toshiba Symbio for my Toshiba plasma, and it works pretty well, and with the cable card option for my TV, I might be changing soon. I know the service with Charter is not the best either, but as far as I'm concerned nobody's CS seems to care about their customers once you sign on with them. I think I'll see what happens by the end of the year and make my decision by then. I may use Charter for a while and then wait to see what happens with Uverse, and with D* after the launch of their new sats next year.

I was to get my install from Premier today from 1-5. They never showed up. I called them and they said their installer doesn't have his cell phone on and it shows he hasn't completed his last 2 jobs. They said when they call his cell phone it says it has been disconnected. They said they have NO IDEA where he is. Are you kidding me?? Even if that is true, he should tell a customer that and reveal their utter ineptitude.

How can a company like this stay in business. I have been waiting here for 5 hours and this is what they tell me. WTF!!!!!!!!!!

Some of my sentences may not make sense, but I cannot help it. I cannot remember the last time I was this angry.

Oh, it only gets better. I called DTV, with me on the line DTV calls Premier, which is the ONLY DTV installer that they have in St. Louis, the lady talks to us, says that they will transfer us to the right person. They then hangup on us.

I got a SWEET deal from retention, but I am thinking of cancelling it, because I want nothing to do with such a ridiculous company.

Have you ever heard of such a horror story?

I was to get my install from Premier today from 1-5. They never showed up. I called them and they said their installer doesn't have his cell phone on and it shows he hasn't completed his last 2 jobs. They said when they call his cell phone it says it has been disconnected. They said they have NO IDEA where he is. Are you kidding me?? Even if that is true, he should tell a customer that and reveal their utter ineptitude.

How can a company like this stay in business. I have been waiting here for 5 hours and this is what they tell me. WTF!!!!!!!!!!

Some of my sentences may not make sense, but I cannot help it. I cannot remember the last time I was this angry.

It is truly amazing how some companies stay in business. Dude, I do feel for you. LOL, I can't believe they told you all that stuff about the cell phone. Just remeber, this is the install company, so try not to be too mad at the satellite company. It will all be worth it in the long run. Oh, and yes, we have all heard many, many horror stories. You are unfortunately the norm.

Scott

It is truly amazing how some companies stay in business. Dude, I do feel for you. LOL, I can't believe they told you all that stuff about the cell phone. Just remeber, this is the install company, so try not to be too mad at the satellite company. It will all be worth it in the long run. Oh, and yes, we have all heard many, many horror stories. You are unfortunately the norm.

Scott

Does Premier then sub out to other people?? How could his cell phone get disconnected? If he shows up, I don't know if I want to let him in my house. He is probably a complete low life, he doesn't pay his cell phone bill which he needs to do business??? What is going on?

Does Premier then sub out to other people?? How could his cell phone get disconnected? If he shows up, I don't know if I want to let him in my house. He is probably a complete low life, he doesn't pay his cell phone bill which he needs to do business??? What is going on?


No, I believe D* subs to Premier. If he doesn't show, I would consider maybe having a local Brick and mortar strore do the install.

Scott

No, I believe D* subs to Premier. If he doesn't show, I would consider maybe having a local Brick and mortar strore do the install.

Scott

Can you recommend anyone?? I want nothing to do with premier. After sitting on the phone for 40 minutes, they hangup on me for the freaking second time. DTV needs to pull their head out of their you know what for dealing with premier, the people on the phone were unprofessional kids.

The whole thing is a comedy of unprofessionalism. Is Dish this bad too?

Can you recommend anyone?? I want nothing to do with premier. After sitting on the phone for 40 minutes, they hangup on me for the freaking second time. DTV needs to pull their head out of their you know what for dealing with premier, the people on the phone were unprofessional kids.

The whole thing is a comedy of unprofessionalism. Is Dish this bad too?

I would check with Ultimate Electronics. Although, since now everthing has gone to leases, I'm not sure they still install satellite. Also, if premier was doing it free, that would not be the case with a local B&M.

Scott

update/recap

As some of you may know I just bought an LCD bigscreen. DTV was to come by between 1-5 and install. No on ever showed up. They called me at 4:30 and asked if the tech was there. I told him no, but I would like to know what is going on. Then it gets really good, premier, the company that DTV outsources its installs in St. Louis too states, "When we call the tech, his cell phone states that it is disconnected, the computer shows that he hasn't completed his last two jobs before yours and we have no idea where he is." Are you f'in kidding me??? These people obviously have no idea about professionalism, even if this was true, which it obviously was, would you tell a customer the information to let them know that you are a joke and your company has no idea how to perform its prime business function?

Then I call directv, along with DTV we call Premier, talk to 3 people, they try to call the team lead, no answer, they try to call the senior team lead no answer then they inadvertently hang up on us. DTV and I call back nothing happens, they say that they don't know what to tell us and they cannot get ahold of anyone, then while getting transferred, they hangup on us again.

A lady calls from Premier then, she says she doesn't know where the tech is and is worried about him. Pardon me, but I don't need to hear that and frankly don't give a ****. I pay a fee for a service and their job is to execute not tell me all this BS as to why they cannot execute or further show their ineptitude by informing me of their operational breakdowns. I told her to go to hell and I was going to try to escalate this as far as I could with DTV. Well, that is useless, DTV is a fragmented joke of a company that is equally inept.

F these illiterate proletariat useless people.

What a great Saturday I had sitting on my ass and then getting hungup on for 2 hours on the phone.

Has anyone else had this **** happen to them with DTV? Can you believe this ****?

I called Retention, they gave me $150 credit for my trouble and I begrudingly rescheduled my install for december 9.

Is Dish this bad too?...Has anyone else had this **** happen to them with DTV? Can you believe this ****?...
It doesn't matter which service, be it Direct, Charter, or Dish.
Sad though true. What Scott said, poor installs are more the norm than the rule, among this group.

KIM, you're reading in forums where people take the time to express and exchange stories and events. Relative to the small percentage of, a specific forum of members, in relation to the general public having pay TV installs at any given time, most installs are probably smooth and easy.

Granted this does nothing to ease the nightmare you had today. Unfortunately the reality is, this is just another example of unacceptable service both the industry and consumer have come to live within. It occurs all too often with all the providers in every city and state across the country.

The best we can do, is research and educate ourselves with a high enough working knowledge of what to expect, to insure the job gets done correctly.

There's nothing you can do about an installer just not showing up. Once he/she does, we can gain an edge knowing what to expect.

F these illiterate proletariat useless people.Proleteriat?

This is a TV install, not a class war... :)

Proleteriat?

This is a TV install, not a class war... :)

Well the CEOs and execs are doing real well. :D

Keep the cost of the installs and service down and collect the bonus...outsource the installs to the lowest bidder and send the service calls to India......American capitalism in the 21st century.

....

If you don't know what dish they are installing then you really need to start reading now. The AT9's are very large and heavy. The slimline's are not available/out yet.

....

Mo,
I got the Slimline a couple of weeks ago.

TheFork,
I had the similar problems with premiere. The only person in the whole company that didn't screw me was the installer. He stayed until 8 on a Friday night to get it installed. If you search on my username in this thread, you should find the whole story.
You got a much better deal from retention than I did. All they gave me was $5 credit for six months towards the HD package and 3 months of Starz...It adds up to about $60.

Supposedly, D* is going to drop Premiere, but it hasn't happened yet, and it can't happen soon enough.
dug

I keep hearing that D* is going to be the HD leader when they launch new satellites in 2007. Does anybody know when in 2007 this will happen?

Funny how things have changed over the years in regard to service. When D* came out in '94, we would sell the single LNB dish system for $699. For an additional $250 we would come to your home, install the system, and show you how to use it. If you had any questions later, we would help over the telephone, or go to your home that day.

Fast forward to today, and everything has changed. Today, the equipment is basically free. Hell, for that matter so is the install. That's the way it is now. We want it all, but don't want to pay for it. It's just the way things are now. When is the last time you pulled into a gas station, and were asked if you wanted a fill up? I can remember pulling into the gas station, and the serviceman would fill the tank, wash the windows, check the oil, and air pressure in the tires. That is what you got for your .65 cents per gallon. Today, I pump my own gas, check my own air, clean my own windows, check my own oil, and pay 4 times as much.

Sad, but it's our own fault as consumers. We want it all and don't want to pay for it. The stores are all cutting corners to compete for our business, and offer us the lowest price because after all, the lowest price is the best deal right? Hopefully it all comes around full circle. It has to because where else can it go? I know, maybe D* will have to give us the equipment, and pay us to install it ourselves by giving us the first year of programing free. Of course you'll have to sign up for a 10 year commitment. Bottom line, you get what you pay for.
I shop for all my groceries at Dierburgs. Not because they have the lowest price, or because it's closest to my house. I shop there because when it's raining outside the stand at the door, hand you an umbrella, tell you to go get your car and pull up to the curb while they load your groceries for you. Maybe Dierbergs should sell satellites...

Back in the mid-late 80's, the American business model-to-success was directed towards service. American companies believed the way to win over market-share was by providing exceptional customer service. The companies with the very best service, would out-pace the rest of the pack.

The rapid blind-siding effect of e-commerce on American business is responsible, though not fully, but mostly, for the now fierce "capture-market-share-at-any-expense" philosophy. I think e-commerce and Mr. Walton account for 95% of the effect.

I agree with you Scott. As much as I would like to see the philosophy of the American business model go "full circle," I really believe we are more likely headed further and further away. Your analogy of "the companies paying us to do the install," sums it up well.

In less than 20 years, we went from a national retail economy to a global retail economy. Retail is still trying to figure out how to deal with all of this, mostly learning by trial and error.

The one thing they do know is, the more that sign on the dotted line, the more likely their chances of survival.

It's kinda like being down 3 games to 0, and saying "we have to win 3 games."
If you don't win 1, there is no #2 and #3.

As past Premier Employee. I feel for both you the customer and the installer!
Premier expects their Tech's to work 7 day's a week. And they give them on average 5 call's a day. Saturdays is one of the days that a Tech will get 4 installs and one service call. Now if you can imagine depending on how many receivers the install is. . .Say like a 4 room install would take about 2-4 hours' depending on if the house is pre-wired, the type of install Basic receivers, HD receivers, and then the type of dish that they have to tune.
As you can imagine the Tech won't know until he shows up on each job so a day with four install could sometimes take 16 hours of work for the tech to complete. . . Man I can remember working till 10 at night sometimes then getting home late only to getup a 6:30 to do it all over again. St. luis Don't have the most friendly install houses either expecally in the City where a 40ft ladder is required on allot of job's. This required another guy to deliver and meet the tech at the job site, since the ladder is a fiberglass ladder it would require both of them to set the heavy mother up! As A tech I would do all the inside wiring first and then do the outside wiring when the 40ft ladder would show up. ALSO THE MOST IMPORTANT thing I would do is call all my customer's the night before to find out what i was getting into for the next day. . . .Not all tech's would do this but i would, that is if i didn't get home at 10 at night like i did some times. . . Anyway this is how life is on the Tech's side of Premier. I did it but I decided that it wasn't for me. I also worked For Dish Network for awhile and it's exatclly the same for there installers too.

Mo,
I got the Slimline a couple of weeks ago.


Man, I am really slacking aren't I? :)

This is good news. I've been looking at pictures of it for months. Did you purchase it yourself, request it or did they just show up with it?

I'll eventually have to move from my HR10 once things go to MPEG4. By then the OTA will be on and the software bugs (hopefully) ironed out. Heck, there may be another unit rolled out by the time they flip the switch.

As past Premier Employee. I feel for both you the customer and the installer!
Premier expects their Tech's to work 7 day's a week. And they give them on average 5 call's a day. Saturdays is one of the days that a Tech will get 4 installs and one service call. Now if you can imagine depending on how many receivers the install is. . .Say like a 4 room install would take about 2-4 hours' depending on if the house is pre-wired, the type of install Basic receivers, HD receivers, and then the type of dish that they have to tune.
As you can imagine the Tech won't know until he shows up on each job so a day with four install could sometimes take 16 hours of work for the tech to complete. . . Man I can remember working till 10 at night sometimes then getting home late only to getup a 6:30 to do it all over again. St. luis Don't have the most friendly install houses either expecally in the City where a 40ft ladder is required on allot of job's. This required another guy to deliver and meet the tech at the job site, since the ladder is a fiberglass ladder it would require both of them to set the heavy mother up! As A tech I would do all the inside wiring first and then do the outside wiring when the 40ft ladder would show up. ALSO THE MOST IMPORTANT thing I would do is call all my customer's the night before to find out what i was getting into for the next day. . . .Not all tech's would do this but i would, that is if i didn't get home at 10 at night like i did some times. . . Anyway this is how life is on the Tech's side of Premier. I did it but I decided that it wasn't for me. I also worked For Dish Network for awhile and it's exatclly the same for there installers too.

Thanks for giving us an insight to the typical installers day. That is exactly how I figured it was. I remember 10 years ago telling the manager of Farmington's cable company it would end up like this. His answer, "we are not worried. Satellite TV is a fad that will not catch on." I would think for Premier to be effective they should schedule no more than 2 installs and maybe 1 service call per installer per day. Anything more than that is insane. Nobody wins in the current business model. Especially not the consumer. Just ask the fork.

Scott

I consider myself an informed consumer and I have common sense. I learned the hard way when I was 21, threw out common sense and decided to buy a used MG Midget. :)

I check with BBB online, ask for referrals and research products, warranties and companies online. I narrow down my choices and get bids or shop for sales. I ask for and keep track of contact names and telephone numbers. If the company hasn't called to verify their appointment I call them. I try to be the first delivery or install of the day.

In the year I have lived here I have made some large purchases like a new furnace, new circuit box, can/electrical work, new TV, flooring, new dryer, new AC and more. Of the above, I have had things go horribly arwy. A minor example is CC delivered the wrong set. Next delivery the set was DOA. It took 3 deliveries and days to get the right set. I have had numerous follow-up calls to replace, fix or adjust things. It takes a lot of time, effort and energy having to learn about furnaces, flooring, sat installs, moving companies, LCD vs. DLP vs. plasma, etc. but I do it so I am comfortable with the product or service I paid for.

I have learned for the most part that going on a tirade doesn't help matters. For instance, I don't want to piss off the guy installing a new furnace. I choose my battles now more than before. I was patient with CC even though it was annoying and they offered me a $50 gift card for my trouble without my asking. It was a big inconvenience but the delivery truck was always here on time. ;)

Mo, Broyhill Furniture finally got it right the the other day when they delivered a dining room table for the 5th time. Yes, I was patient the whole time. Even when the delivery guys told me evertime they brought a defective table there was nothing wrong with it. Your experience with CC is not the norm, but it does happen frequently. At Ultimate Electronics we would have brought you the correct TV that day if it were in stock. If the delivery guys were too busy, a salesperson would likely do it his or herself. That is the difference between shopping at a place where the staff is commissioned (UE), and shopping where they are not (CC).

Mo, Broyhill Furniture finally got it right the the other day when they delivered a dining room table for the 5th time. Yes, I was patient the whole time. Even when the delivery guys told me evertime they brought a defective table there was nothing wrong with it. Your experience with CC is not the norm, but it does happen frequently. At Ultimate Electronics we would have brought you the correct TV that day if it were in stock. If the delivery guys were too busy, a salesperson would likely do it his or herself. That is the difference between shopping at a place where the staff is commissioned (UE), and shopping where they are not (CC).

Don't get me going as I have a long list. I only mentioned a few things.

I bought my Mits and first DVR at Ultimate in Phoenix. It was a great experience. My Mits was a floor model. I know better now (thanks to feedback from this forum ) but I got a great deal. They delivered someone else's new Mits to me. The driver called and he was very apologetic. I said I could appreciate that but I spent most of the afternoon wiring up all of my components and speakers. (They offered to cable and wire everything but I wanted to learn and to take my time. They included a very nice diagram they produced and I had the manuaIs). I suggested he call his manager. The manager called and before I could say anything he said their mistake and to keep the new set. This year I went back to UE because of their past service. You are right. The sales guy installed my new dish I had also bought that night. We worked by flashlight. If I paid a bit more it was worth my piece of mind. When my Mits pretty much died and out of extended warranty I drove all the way out to the St. Peter store twice and as it turned out they were out of stock, had 27 people on the waiting list and no firm ETA. The sales guy felt bad as I waited over a half hour for him to finish with another customer and wrote down a very low figure on the back of his business card and called CC to confirm they had them in stock and to price match his lowered price. CC then price matched it by 10% more off so it worked out. The savings allowed me to have Doug calibrate my set.

Edit: I would never base a purchase shopping at a big box store. My Samsung was in a small viewing area and a Sony LCD at the opposite end which was also a contender making it easier to choose. The room was appropriately lit. I used the coffee table as a bench so I was at eye level. I brought my tape measure and moved the table to what my viewing distance would be. No way could I have done that at a big box store. I went directly across the parking lot to CC and felt like I walked into a circus.

I'm sorry to ask a stupid newbie question but here goes. I just got my first plasma this weekend it is the panny TH-42PX60U. My question is how should I send in the signal? I have Dish and thought I should send it in in 480 and the TV will upconvert to HD automatically. Am I correct? Also I am having probelms in changing the aspect ratio in SD to full. It will not allow me to. it just keeps going back to 4:3 and the zoom is grayed out as an option. I saw someone else have this problem in this forum but he was sending in the signal in 1080. Any help is appreciated.

Man, I am really slacking aren't I? :)

This is good news. I've been looking at pictures of it for months. Did you purchase it yourself, request it or did they just show up with it?

I'll eventually have to move from my HR10 once things go to MPEG4. By then the OTA will be on and the software bugs (hopefully) ironed out. Heck, there may be another unit rolled out by the time they flip the switch.


I am in the same boat, MO. I was holding out for the Slimline and OTA on the HR20. However, I got a great deal last week at Newegg on the Olevia 237 37" LCD TV for $699 to install in the bedroom, so I now I need to add a receiver. Also will need a new multi-switch to provide over 4 feeds. I added my name to the wait list for the HR20 last week, so now I need to get the best deal out of retention when they call me that it is available. I own an HD Tivo and an old Zenith 1080. I want to keep the HD Tivo, add the HR20, and replace the Zenith with an H10. The last deal they offered was $99 to upgrade to the HR20 and provide the new dish and installation. From the DBSTALK forum, I know better deals can be made.

TheFork, I heard the retention number had changed. What number did you use?

Thanks,

Mike

The latest Consumer Reports survey rated local independent electronics stores as the best place to buy among brick-and-mortar stores..

If the best price is all you care about they recommend shopping on-line..

It would be nice if the locals could survive.

It would be nice if the locals could survive.I agree. I like to support independent local businesses when I can. I get all my audio/video gear, for example, at Music For Pleasure. But I'm getting ready to purchase a digital SLR camera, and I want it with a lens that's difficult to get. The problem is all the local B&Ms just say they can only backorder the camera with no ETA, while several reputable online stores (buydig.com) say they have it in stock and ready to ship. Since the camera is not discounted anywhere, I would be happier just buying it at Shiller's, but they say they can't get it.

I'm sorry to ask a stupid newbie question but here goes. I just got my first plasma this weekend it is the panny TH-42PX60U. My question is how should I send in the signal? I have Dish and thought I should send it in in 480 and the TV will upconvert to HD automatically. Am I correct? Also I am having probelms in changing the aspect ratio in SD to full. It will not allow me to. it just keeps going back to 4:3 and the zoom is grayed out as an option. I saw someone else have this problem in this forum but he was sending in the signal in 1080. Any help is appreciated.

If that is the TV I think it is, It is not an HDTV. Is that the one Ultimate sold for $849 lately? If so, it is an EDTV (enhanced definition), and it will downconvert anything above 480p. It is a very good display, but not HD.

Edit:

My bad, it is HDTV. Forget everything I just said. I would hook it up with either HDMI or component video cables.

Scott

I'm sorry to ask a stupid newbie question but here goes. I just got my first plasma this weekend it is the panny TH-42PX60U. My question is how should I send in the signal? I have Dish and thought I should send it in in 480 and the TV will upconvert to HD automatically. Am I correct? Also I am having probelms in changing the aspect ratio in SD to full. It will not allow me to. it just keeps going back to 4:3 and the zoom is grayed out as an option. I saw someone else have this problem in this forum but he was sending in the signal in 1080. Any help is appreciated.
Holdernam,
Which DISH receiver is connected to your Panny?
If you have either a Dish 211 or 622, the display properties output is set to 1080i/16:9. It's Menu >6 >8 - Menu >System Settings >HDTV Setup. If input settings is available on your Panny, set it to the same. As Scott noted, you must be connected using either Component or HDMI cables.
The Dish receiver will disable your TV's aspect ratio control, and you use the aspect control in your Dish receiver.
If you have a 211, you use the page-up/page-down remote buttons to toggle through aspects.
If you have a 622, you use the * remote button to toggle through aspects.

Tip: On every Dish menu screen there is a "help" option, which displays the corresponding text from the OM for the particular function/feature you are looking at.

I agree. I like to support independent local businesses when I can. I get all my audio/video gear, for example, at Music For Pleasure. But I'm getting ready to purchase a digital SLR camera, and I want it with a lens that's difficult to get. The problem is all the local B&Ms just say they can only backorder the camera with no ETA, while several reputable online stores (buydig.com) say they have it in stock and ready to ship. Since the camera is not discounted anywhere, I would be happier just buying it at Shiller's, but they say they can't get it.

If you can afford to shop at Music For Pleasure cost is obviously not a factor for you because the cheapest amp there is probably $1000. What system did you get there? I am thinking of getting some Martin Logans along with a Krell processor from them.

Do any of you guys use line conditioners? I just bought what I think is the best surge protector made today with the brick wall surge protector, but I am in the market for a line conditioner.

If you can afford to shop at Music For Pleasure cost is obviously not a factor for you because the cheapest amp there is probably $1000. What system did you get there? I am thinking of getting some Martin Logans along with a Krell processor from them.

Do any of you guys use line conditioners? I just bought what I think is the best surge protector made today with the brick wall surge protector, but I am in the market for a line conditioner.

I use Monster for line conditioning. I think it can improve picture quality, however, you will find more people than not on this forum not recommend them. I could be mistaken, but I seem to remember seeing Martin Logan at Bestbuy's Magnolia Home Theater section. Krell makes some very good amps BTW.

Scott

If you can afford to shop at Music For Pleasure cost is obviously not a factor for you because the cheapest amp there is probably $1000. What system did you get there? I am thinking of getting some Martin Logans along with a Krell processor from them....Can't go wrong with Krell/ML. I have an Arcam AVR300 (DD-PLIIx/DTS-ES) receiver used as a pre/pro with 3 Arcam Alpha 10/9 amps (3+2+2 channels) powering 7 Dynaudio Audience speakers and a Dynaudio Sub500 subwoofer.

I never go to the theater anymore mostly because the awful sound quality (systems overdriven into distortion) grates on my nerves.

Music for Pleasure is king of customer service. They rock.

fork, I didn't read if you are in the St. Louis area, but if you are, try out a company called Signal Seekers. They installed my OTA and did a great job (I have neither the time nor the handiness to do this myself!). I don't know if they will be able to sell you the dish and tuner, but if you pick them up at a local store, I'm sure he can do a great job installing. He has done a couple of my friends' and neighbors' installs too, and they have all been very happy.

fork, I didn't read if you are in the St. Louis area, but if you are, try out a company called Signal Seekers. They installed my OTA and did a great job (I have neither the time nor the handiness to do this myself!). I don't know if they will be able to sell you the dish and tuner, but if you pick them up at a local store, I'm sure he can do a great job installing. He has done a couple of my friends' and neighbors' installs too, and they have all been very happy.

DTV is giving me the HR20, 5lnb, (hopefully slimline) and another dvr with install for free. They said they wouldn't give it to me for free unless they installed so I capitulated and agreed to another install on 12/9 after getting an additional $150 credit for my trouble.

If I wasn't set on Martin Logans for the look, I would get the dynaaudios, dyna's are probably the best speaker made in my opinion. I currently have Aragon 8008 amps with a Denon DVD/CD and an Adcom processor with B&W speakers

DTV is giving me the HR20, 5lnb, (hopefully slimline) and another dvr with install for free. They said they wouldn't give it to me for free unless they installed so I capitulated and agreed to another install on 12/9 after getting an additional $150 credit for my trouble.

If I wasn't set on Martin Logans for the look, I would get the dynaaudios, dyna's are probably the best speaker made in my opinion. I currently have Aragon 8008 amps with a Denon DVD/CD and an Adcom processor with B&W speakers

I had a similar problem with DTV install three years ago when I moved into a new house...they said they would come between 1-5, and they never showed up. I cancelled the install, and just paid for the new equipment myself--it was worth it because I got to control the installation. I haven't really looked into this issue too carefully, but can you even buy the new dish at a brick and mortar store?

Oh, and does the HR10-250 work with the new dish also?

If I wasn't set on Martin Logans for the look, I would get the dynaaudios, dyna's are probably the best speaker made in my opinion. I currently have Aragon 8008 amps with a Denon DVD/CD and an Adcom processor with B&W speakersYes, the ML's look great, but I couldn't use them because I find the high end to be a bit too harse, and I'm in a room with hardwood floors and plaster walls. The neutral and warm sound of Dynaudio suits me much better. If I had spent more I would still have gone with Dynaudio, but gotten the Contours. Those are absolute amazing speakers, and the new ones look every bit as good as the MLs (although not as esoteric in style).

Yes, the ML's look great, but I couldn't use them because I find the high end to be a bit too harse, and I'm in a room with hardwood floors and plaster walls. The neutral and warm sound of Dynaudio suits me much better. If I had spent more I would still have gone with Dynaudio, but gotten the Contours. Those are absolute amazing speakers, and the new ones look every bit as good as the MLs (although not as esoteric in style).

My dad just got Martin Logan Summits, which I find to be spectacular for classical music. The electrostatic sound is not ideally suited for rock. I auditioned the Dynaudio Focus 220s from Music for Pleasure, and really loved them...but I found a demo pair of Focal Cobalts, which were almost as good and less than half the price, so I went with those. Do you have the Audience 82s?

My dad just got Martin Logan Summits, which I find to be spectacular for classical music. The electrostatic sound is not ideally suited for rock. ...Do you have the Audience 82s?With all due respect, I don't believe in the "this one is good for classical...this other one is good for rock" evaluation. If a system sounds good for one thing and not another, it is flawed and something is just plain wrong with the system (speakers, amp, pre/pro, source, interconnects, etc). I think my system sounds great, regardless of the kind of music or movie soundtrack played.

I have:
Audience 72 (front)
Audience 122C (center)
Audience 52SE (side)
Audience 62 (rear)
Sub500 (subwoofer)

Arcam Alpha 10P (160 WPC) powers the fronts, an Alpha 10/3P powers center/sides, and an Alpha 9P (130 WPC) powers the rears. I also use Transparent Audio for interconnects, power cords, and speaker cable.

With all due respect, I don't believe in the "this one is good for classical...this other one is good for rock" evaluation. If a system sounds good for one thing and not another, it is flawed and something is just plain wrong with the system (speakers, amp, pre/pro, source, interconnects, etc). I think my system sounds great, regardless of the kind of music or movie soundtrack played.

I have:
Audience 72 (front)
Audience 122C (center)
Audience 52SE (side)
Audience 62 (rear)
Sub500 (subwoofer)

Arcam Alpha 10P (160 WPC) powers the fronts, an Alpha 10/3P powers center/sides, and an Alpha 9P (130 WPC) powers the rears. I also use Transparent Audio for interconnects, power cords, and speaker cable.

That's some nice stuff Dean. However, the thing most people forget is the room the stuff goes into. You could put your nice stuff in the wrong room and it will sound alright. Conversely, you could put a crappy Bose system in a room treated for sound, and it would blow your set up away. Everybody wants to buy the best setups, but then they don't treat the room acoustically. I too am guilty of this as I have no room treatments in my theater.

Scott

That's some nice stuff Dean. However, the thing most people forget is the room the stuff goes into. You could put your nice stuff in the wrong room and it will sound alright. Conversely, you could put a crappy Bose system in a room treated for sound, and it would blow your set up away. Everybody wants to buy the best setups, but then they don't treat the room acoustically. I too am guilty of this as I have no room treatments in my theater.

ScottI agree. I don't have room treatments either, because it's all in my living room. The best I've been able to do is add a large area rug to reduce reflection and experiment somewhat with speaker placement. Beyond that I've used a SPL to help adjust speaker balance and tonal level, followed by some fine tuning by ear using music and movie audio.

Oh, and does the HR10-250 work with the new dish also?

It does. Only when the HD stations are moved to the new MPEG4 birds will it lose functionality.

Mike

My Moxi has started to reboot -- seemingly every time i turn off my TV .... like when I turn the TV back on, I find the Moxi is rebooting. Naturally the power to the moxi is always on, its not like I"m turning off a surge protector of something. Anyone else with Charter seeing this behavior?

thx

Is anybody familiar with Avast Antivirus ( good or bad ).

Is anybody familiar with Avast Antivirus ( good or bad ).

Sounds like its made by pirates, ye matey!

Is anybody familiar with Avast Antivirus ( good or bad ).
I heard good things about it and installed it on a friends computer. He hasn't had any problems, but I don't like the UI. Just my preference. I use AVG at home....


Mo,
They sent out the standard dish for the install. The tech had to go back to the office to get the 5lnb dish. The only AT-9 they had was broken, so he brought back the slimline. It doesn't look too bad, but it is quite a bit larger than the old 3lnb(obviously).

I still don't have the H20. I bought an HD-Tivo off craigslist for $100. When it is obsolete, I can hack it and use it for OTA only, but either way, $100 is better than the $299 they want to lease the H20.

Dug

I heard good things about it and installed it on a friends computer. He hasn't had any problems, but I don't like the UI.

I use Avast myself, with no complaints. Just turn off the skin, or better yet, unselect the skin while installing, in order to make it not look like some sort of poorly-written dvd player. I have no idea what they were thinking when they designed that skin, but without any skins installed, it reverts back to a regular window.

Is anybody familiar with Avast Antivirus ( good or bad ).
Another Avast user here for the last two years. Not a problem so far except for the occasional false positive like all the rest have.

I just wanted to echo the suggestion about Signal Seekers. I haven't actually hired them myself, but several of my customers have used them and they were very happy with the completed work. SS isn't cheap, but these guys do good work and reportedly are very reliable.

In addition, SS does antenna work, so you can actually kill two birds with one stone. Maybe Premier does antenna work as well, but it sounds like they are stretched to the breaking point just getting DirecTVinstalled, which probably doesn't bode well for the quality of thier antenna work.

What all does Signal Seekers do? Do they have a website? I can't find it. I am still trying to find the best person to install a 622 and 1000+ for me.

What all does Signal Seekers do? Do they have a website? I can't find it. I am still trying to find the best person to install a 622 and 1000+ for me.
You can reach Signal Seekers at (314) 9180921 or (314) 7040921. I had him to locate the best spot for my OTA antenna and install a db2. He does home theater systems and commercial tvs for resturants etc. His prices are reasonable and the work is excellent.

Are they (SS) an E* dealer or not? I need a competent one that can jump through a couple hoops for me.

Does anyone know if D* will still sell you a HR10-250?

Im not interested in the HR20 as you can't get OTA and "modify" them.

Any help would be appreciated.

In general, can you get a better Satellite deal through a local place, or just going through the companies main site online, or by calling them?

Really I'm only looking at Dish since Direct is out of their HD DVR's.

In general, can you get a better Satellite deal through a local place, or just going through the companies main site online, or by calling them?

Really I'm only looking at Dish since Direct is out of their HD DVR's.
Absolutely, by going direct through the provider. Retailers have add-ons, additional mark-ups, etc.
Either place the order via their main website online, or call them.
Everything (standard receiver(s)/Dish/cabling/standard installation) should be free, with the exception of adding HD or DVR capabilities.

Absolutely, by going direct through the provider. Retailers have add-ons, additional mark-ups, etc.
Either place the order via their main website online, or call them.
Everything (standard receiver(s)/Dish/cabling/standard installation) should be free, with the exception of adding HD or DVR capabilities.


That's what I figured, thanks.

deuces,

I don't know whether Signal Seekers is a DISH dealer, but if you can get the equipment direct from DISH, I'm sure that SS can get it installed for you.

Call SS at +1 (314) 704-0921 -- ask for John McMillian and tell him that Doug suggested you call.

Does anyone know if D* will still sell you a HR10-250?

Im not interested in the HR20 as you can't get OTA and "modify" them.

Any help would be appreciated.

No, DirecTV will not sell them. You can find them on Ebay.

The HR20 will have OTA soon, and once they are more readily available, I will
have a couple of HR10-250's laying around.

HDTV's with VGA connections can deliver a beautiful HD image, but be careful of the Pinnacle USB tuner. That's the one I talked about recently, and I had trouble with it. It wouldn't work on my 2 year old HP laptop at all. Even on my desktop, I had trouble with the software, despite the fact that the system had plenty of horsepower for HD capture.

First time poster . . . woot! . . . :D

I bought that Pinnacle USB HDTV tuner a few weeks ago. While I agree the included software makes it virtually impossible to use even on a monster PC, it plays magnificently with Windows Media Center Edition. A separate MCE integration download is available from Pinnacle (actually may also be included on the included CD), very simple setup within MCE. Couldn't be happier with it, beautiful live and recorded HDTV on my 24" widescreen PC monitor. Play recorded programs via the XBox360 on my Mits 57" as well . . . nirvana. :)

Dan in Ellisville
disclaimer: AT&T (SBC) employee and loving it!

disclaimer: AT&T (SBC) employee and loving it!
Welcome Dan....now Duck! :D

j/k...I personally have been a AT&T customer for 7+, and have never had any issues.

Nice to hear of your success with that Pinnacle. Joe had nothing but problems with his, but if it was software related, it may be worth a second look.

Joe, Did you ever try it with any of your other HD software's?

just got off the phone with KMOV Master Control Room (whatever it is called)..

The LSU/Arkansas game for today will not be in HD because CBS has the game on
a new transponder that KMOV does not pick up!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anybody have any definitive word on what the problem at CBS has been over the Thanksgiving weekend at least with College Football in HD. I REALLY want to know if the SEC Championship this coming Sat will be in HD on KMOV. I sent an email to the engineer link on KMOV's site and haven't gotten a response. I know some of the local engineers frequent the site, but cant remember if one of those was channel 4. Hope so and that it is a fixable problem. Hard to believe a national feed would change and local station would not be able to access it.

I'm confused about Charter HDTV in the St. Louis area.... I have an LCD HDTV with an NTSC tuner and Charter Expanded Analog right now...

If I had an ATSC tuner would it pickup any digital channels off charter? or are the channels encrypted and require a rented box? (I'm not fooling with an antenna)

I'm confused about Charter HDTV in the St. Louis area.... I have an LCD HDTV with an NTSC tuner and Charter Expanded Analog right now...

If I had an ATSC tuner would it pickup any digital channels off charter? or are the channels encrypted and require a rented box? (I'm not fooling with an antenna)An ATSC tuner will only receive high definition channels broadcast over the air (OTA). Cable channels are not broadcast OTA at all -- they require a cable connection and compatible cable tuner.

We Interrupt Your Normal AVS Programming...

...for the following St. Louis housekeeping break:

In the past, we used to begin each month of the St. Louis discussion with an entirely new thread and usually that started with a cut/paste of basic resource information that is now buried back on the very first page of this discussion thread.

Because of its location, a lot of that general, introductory information about HDTV and OTA reception is now easily overlooked, especially with the discussion here stretching back more than 3 years and approaching 600 pages.

So, in order to this introductory information more accessible, I post an advisory/reminder note similar to this every couple of weeks. The idea is to make this general resource information more visible and easier to find for more readers.

With HDTV sales increasing every month, we're getting more and more newcomers here, which is a great thing to see. But like most of us when we took home our first HDTV, there's a huge amount to learn beyond where to point the remote and which buttons to push.

Hopefully, you'll find this information of some use...

Tower Maps, Your Satellite/Antenna Rights & Local Station Feedback (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=2995679&&#post2995679)

Using An Antenna to Receive Local HD Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=2995718&&#post2995718)

Common Questions about HDTV (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=2995791&&#post2995791)

HD Programming Available in St. Louis (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8523674&&#post8523674)

Why Isn't KDNL-DT (ABC) Available via Charter? (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8072643&&#post8072643)

New! St. Louis Blues in HD Schedule (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8678636&&#post8678636)

New! St. Louis HDTV Viewer Survey (Open Until Dec 1) (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=770152748968)

Finally, I want to remind everyone that you can access the St. Louis HDTV discussion here at AVS directly by using the shortcut URL that has been arranged.

The short-form URL also makes it very easy to remember and give the address to anyone you know who's just getting into HDTV.

The shortcut URL is: www.stlhdtv.info

dopexile,

I think Dean's reply pretty much sums things up for you.

I also posted just above this note a list of Forum resources that may also be useful for you, particularly the HD channels available in the St. Louis area via each Pay TV service (Charter, DISH, DirecTV). There's also a number of items related to receiving HD via an antenna, and while you've said that you don't want to go that route, it's not as bad as it might seem (and it's free once you pay for the receiver and antenna). Perhaps an indoor antenna would work for you, which would make it pretty straightforward.

This Forum resource item gets reposted here every couple of weeks, and today was the day for the latest update -- good timing for you... ;)

I'm also including a link here that addresses the cost of upgrading to Charter HD services from expanded basic cable. But please be AWARE that this information is more than 2 years old now, so it should only be used as a starting point for getting an idea of the upgrade cost -- no doubt prices have changed since this note was prepared. In particular, the cost of the MOXI service has gone up quite a lot IIRC:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5757498&&#post5757498

Just a reminder -- tonight's Blues game appears on the HD schedule. I don't follow the Blues, so, I'm not sure if this is a FOX or KPLR broadcast, or if it is a FOX presentation whether it will be limited to Charter subscribers or also available via DirecTV or DISH.

I'm confused about Charter HDTV in the St. Louis area.... I have an LCD HDTV with an NTSC tuner and Charter Expanded Analog right now...

If I had an ATSC tuner would it pickup any digital channels off charter? or are the channels encrypted and require a rented box? (I'm not fooling with an antenna)

I don't believe you can get their HD channels without their box.

I'm confused about Charter HDTV in the St. Louis area.... I have an LCD HDTV with an NTSC tuner and Charter Expanded Analog right now...

If I had an ATSC tuner would it pickup any digital channels off charter? or are the channels encrypted and require a rented box? (I'm not fooling with an antenna)

An ATSC tuner (either built-in, or external) is good for one thing: pulling in OTA signals with an antenna.

To get Charter HDTV, you need a Charter HDTV cable box as all of the HD stations are in the digital tier.

If you had D*, you'd need a mpeg4 HD receiver from them in order to pull in the major four networks via the dish.

The only way to get all available local digital's, is with the antenna. Even with Charter's HD box, you're missing ABC-HD. With D*, you get the big 4 but miss out on PBS, KPLR, etc...

No, DirecTV will not sell them. You can find them on Ebay.

The HR20 will have OTA soon, and once they are more readily available, I will
have a couple of HR10-250's laying around.


Thanks for the info.

I'll check on ebay.

Just a reminder -- tonight's Blues game appears on the HD schedule. I don't follow the Blues, so, I'm not sure if this is a FOX or KPLR broadcast, or if it is a FOX presentation whether it will be limited to Charter subscribers or also available via DirecTV or DISH.

It's marked as FSN-MW on the schedule. Most the KPLR games are Saturday night games.

It's marked as FSN-MW on the schedule. Most the KPLR games are Saturday night games.


Also per an email I received from KPLR they have no intentions of airing any Blues games in HD this season. So anything HD should be FSMW

-Phatty

To get Charter HDTV, you need a Charter HDTV cable box as all of the HD stations are in the digital tier.


You can also use a cable card if your TV has this feature.

Doug,

Thank you for John's number at Signal Seekers. Thank you also van105 for letting me know he is not a Dish dealer. I am waiting on a call back from John, he seemed very courteous and helpful. Although he isn't a Dish dealer he has friends who are and I think he can help me out. It finally feels good to be talking to someone I have some confidence in about what is going with my system.

Also Doug, I am sorry it has taken me so long, but we have been out of town and busy so not much TV being watched. Our plasma looks great and I can noticeably tell there is less burn-in on the bright red HD on ESPN as I mentioned to you. We are very happy with the set now, thank you.

Jared

Jared,

Glad to hear that John is looking after you. We've never actually met face to face, but he seems like a really good guy and like I said, all the customer feedback I've heard is very positive.

Thanks also for the feedback on the calibration of your NEC plasma. It's always good to hear.

just got off the phone with KMOV Master Control Room (whatever it is called)..

The LSU/Arkansas game for today will not be in HD because CBS has the game on
a new transponder that KMOV does not pick up!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anybody have any definitive word on what the problem at CBS has been over the Thanksgiving weekend at least with College Football in HD. I REALLY want to know if the SEC Championship this coming Sat will be in HD on KMOV. I sent an email to the engineer link on KMOV's site and haven't gotten a response. I know some of the local engineers frequent the site, but cant remember if one of those was channel 4. Hope so and that it is a fixable problem. Hard to believe a national feed would change and local station would not be able to access it.

I think you were trying to quote my previous post about this. The Friday SEC
game was not in HD due to CBS carrying the game on a new transponder that
KMOV wasn't able to receive.

There was no Saturday SEC HDTV game, so you didn't miss anything.

Based upon Sunday's NFL HDTV game, I would imagine that we will get the SEC
Conference championship game Saturday because that would air normally like
Saturday's in the past.

I know I am making a big assumption, but I think last Friday's game was just a
one time thing.

Also per an email I received from KPLR they have no intentions of airing any Blues games in HD this season. So anything HD should be FSMW

-Phatty

The game isn't showing up on my HD-Tivo on Channel 95. I haven't looked at the HR20 yet.

Just thought I would let those who helped out on the new security I chose AVG. Thanks.

Just thought I would let those who helped out on the new security I chose AVG. Thanks.

I'm also giving it a shot. Norton expired a few weeks ago so I was freeballing it for a few weeks. Added AVG last week and removed Norton totally over the weekend. System is running real good.

On a related note my CD/DVD burner crapped out. So I ordered a replacement one from newegg and it should be here today.

What should I do first, go to the CONTROL PANEL and Add/Remove Hardware option? Then power the box down. Or should I just power the box down, physically swap the drives, power it back up and just wait for XP to recognize the new drive?

You should just turn it off and swap the drives, then turn it back on.

What should I do first, go to the CONTROL PANEL and Add/Remove Hardware option? Then power the box down. Or should I just power the box down, physically swap the drives, power it back up and just wait for XP to recognize the new drive?I would not want to leave old drivers for removed hardware around. Others may vary on opinion, but I generally remove the drivers using Add/Remove control panel. Then I boot into safe mode, and use the Device Manager console to really make sure there is no driver attached. I especially do this with video drivers, but would probably do it if I were swapping a burner too.

Can never be too clean. Give the thing an enema before proceeding to fill it with more crap. ;)

For those interested in Charter costs...recently received a letter from Charter that monthly prices for the "Family & Information Tier" (includes all specialty Discovery Channels, BBC America, Biography Channel, Nickelodeon Channels and other similar channels) and the "Movie Tier" (Showtime channels, including Showtime HD) are increasing $5 per month for each tier effective 12/27/06. The note on the price increase letter states that if these are "part of a bundled package, then your total package price will adjust by the corresponding amount set forth above."

I also have 3Mbps high speed internet. The current "retail" price is $42.99 and will increase to $43.99 per month. The same bundling adjustment applies.

The letter notes that "this change is due to increased business and programming costs..." :eek:

The letter notes that "this change is due to increased business and programming costs..."
Translated:
Additional debt servicing costs

Translated:
Additional debt servicing costs

Yes, shipping phone customer service jobs to Bangalore costs a lot of money.

I would not want to leave old drivers for removed hardware around. Others may vary on opinion, but I generally remove the drivers using Add/Remove control panel. Then I boot into safe mode, and use the Device Manager console to really make sure there is no driver attached. I especially do this with video drivers, but would probably do it if I were swapping a burner too.

Can never be too clean. Give the thing an enema before proceeding to fill it with more crap. ;)

DVD/CDROM Drivers are pretty generic. Video Drivers are a totally different thing.
I typically reload my O/S when doing a Video Card upgrade.

You didn't tell us much about your system but the risk you run by removing drivers
is the re ID'ing of drive letters. If you only have a C and a D drive, that is one
thing, but if you have multiple drives, then you could lose your D to something else
and that could ruin a .INI file that is pointing to that drive.

Don't forget to do the Slave/Master thing also if you have more than one drive on
this interface.

I still stand by the just turn it off/swap/turn it on.

I still stand by the just turn it off/swap/turn it on.
Seconded.

You didn't tell us much about your system but the risk you run by removing drivers
is the re ID'ing of drive letters. If you only have a C and a D drive, that is one
thing, but if you have multiple drives, then you could lose your D to something else
and that could ruin a .INI file that is pointing to that drive.
.That is easy to fix. The Disk Management console allows you to change drive letters, so you can always restore what you had. I've done this many times when migrating from an old computer to a new one.

DVD/CDROM Drivers are pretty generic. Video Drivers are a totally different thing.
I typically reload my O/S when doing a Video Card upgrade.That seems a bit extreme (or at least a lot of unnecessary work. try using Driver Cleaner Pro next time. It doea a great job purging your system of old video drivers. It even has a utility for rebuilding your driver cab file.

In regards to just off, swap, on for DVD drives I mostly agree. Except that my Plextor drive has firmware loaded as do most other drives. So I'd do an Add/Remove, then proceed.

Just my .02 worth.

That seems a bit extreme (or at least a lot of unnecessary work. try using Driver Cleaner Pro next time. It doea a great job purging your system of old video drivers. It even has a utility for rebuilding your driver cab file.


ATI has a way of leaving crap behind no matter what you do. I just find it easier.
I build my own PCs and don't mind reloading every so often anyway.

Except that my Plextor drive has firmware loaded as do most other drives. So I'd do an Add/Remove, then proceed.
The "read" function of the drives is probably generic enough. You are correct that the "write" function often requires manufacturer-specific drivers.

ATI has a way of leaving crap behind no matter what you do. I just find it easier.
I build my own PCs and don't mind reloading every so often anyway.As does NVidia, and is exactly what Driver Cleaner Pro is for. It takes care of registry entries too.

Just the fact that people feel they need to reload the OS is evidence enough to demonstrate what a steaming pile of fecal matter Windows really is. I don't expect things to improve with Vista. Hell, I won't be at all surprised if it's worse. I never use it on any machine I have control of. I ran Solaris x86 on a PC for 2 years without even a reboot, with no problems. I've never even thought about having to reload Linux. I can't wait to replace my Dell POS and get back to a real OS next year.

I've never owned a TiVo, and therefore know little about how they function. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

Today, TiVo announced their Advertising Placement feature to their DVR's. I first caught bits of the story listening to CNN, then found and read this link:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6138949.html
It allows TiVo to place the commercials at the end of the recording, adding the option to view them (selectively) when the save/delete menu pops up. It is not specific if the event also includes recording the regular between program commercials, though I'm guessing they're there also.

On the surface, to me, it appears as just one added pop-up chance to get the viewer to watch the advertisements. Pretty soon, it will be like the adware uninstalls..."You have not viewed the commercials...are you sure you want to not view the commercials?....if you want to un-not view the commercials, click OK, otherwise, click CANCEL to view the unviewed commercials."

It's coming! Essentially, TiVo is downloading additional commercial content to our DVR's, and allowing us to choose whether we want to watch them. All-the-while, I'm sure, being paid by the advertisers for this service.

When an event is scheduled on TiVo to record, does it not record the program along with the commercials, and the user manually skip through the commercials using the remote?

Why would anyone take the time to manually skip through the commercials, and then opt to view them after the program is over?

Apparently Disney, Ford, and MasterCard, who have signed on to the service, think differently.

Giving the ability for the advertisers to instantly monitor our viewing habits and preferences, is an issue all in itself.

:confused:

I've never owned a TiVo, and therefore know little about how they function. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

Today, TiVo announced their Advertising Placement feature to their DVR's. I first caught bits of the story listening to CNN, then found and read this link:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6138949.html
It allows TiVo to place the commercials at the end of the recording, adding the option to view them (selectively) when the save/delete menu pops up. It is not specific if the event also includes recording the regular between program commercials, though I'm guessing they're there also.

On the surface, to me, it appears as just one added pop-up chance to get the viewer to watch the advertisements. Pretty soon, it will be like the adware uninstalls..."You have not viewed the commercials...are you sure you want to not view the commercials?....if you want to un-not view the commercials, click OK, otherwise, click CANCEL to view the unviewed commercials."

It's coming! Essentially, TiVo is downloading additional commercial content to our DVR's, and allowing us to choose whether we want to watch them. All-the-while, I'm sure, being paid by the advertisers for this service.

When an event is scheduled on TiVo to record, does it not record the program along with the commercials, and the user manually skip through the commercials using the remote?

Why would anyone take the time to manually skip through the commercials, and then opt to view them after the program is over?

Apparently Disney, Ford, and MasterCard, who have signed on to the service, think differently.

Giving the ability for the advertisers to instantly monitor our viewing habits and preferences, is an issue all in itself.

:confused:


Mine records all the commercials, and then I fast forward through them. Well, most of them, except for the occasional Victoria's Secret ad, and then I may use the pause button. :eek:

Scott

For those interested in Charter costs...recently received a letter from Charter that monthly prices for the "Family & Information Tier" (includes all specialty Discovery Channels, BBC America, Biography Channel, Nickelodeon Channels and other similar channels) and the "Movie Tier" (Showtime channels, including Showtime HD) are increasing $5 per month for each tier effective 12/27/06. The note on the price increase letter states that if these are "part of a bundled package, then your total package price will adjust by the corresponding amount set forth above."

I also have 3Mbps high speed internet. The current "retail" price is $42.99 and will increase to $43.99 per month. The same bundling adjustment applies.

The letter notes that "this change is due to increased business and programming costs..." :eek:

I too got this letter from Charter. Which raises the question-is it time to consider DISH or Direct TV. I seem to be (one of the few) who has had relatively little problem with Charter HD service for the past 2 1/2 years of the 3 years I have had HD, so am reluctant to change unless I am getting a lot more than Charter HD now offers so far as channels. I want Cardinals in HD on Fox Midwest more than football or hockey.

I wonder, those who have DISH, how many of the former VOOM channels now on DISH do you really watch? Or are they just "filler" to make it seem like you are getting a larger HD lineup?

I wonder, those who have DISH, how many of the former VOOM channels now on DISH do you really watch? Or are they just "filler" to make it seem like you are getting a larger HD lineup?
I posted something about this a few days back, but cannot find it now...may have had a spelling error and got deleted. :rolleyes:

Anyway, there's a reason why Voom failed, and it was not because of high consumer demand for the Voom content. Some of them are good, but most are very specific (GameP; KungFu; Rush), and appeal to a very limited market. Of the Vooms, we record a lot of content from Equator, IMO the best Voom has to offer, but that's about it.

OTOH, Dish does have a lot of other HD content. Discovery, HDNet, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL, Universal, NtGeo, Home/Garden, Food, TNT along with the premium movie channels in HD, Show, Starz, and HBO. And, of course, KDNL-DT. :)

I don't think DISH would lose any subs if they nixed Voom.

KIM, you won't see FSNMWHD on DISH any time soon.

For those charter customers considering a switch, I saw an ad on KDNL saying that you
can subscribe to DirecTV and get a $100 rebate if you mention KDNL.

Okay, edit as posting. Here is a linky (http://www.abcstlouis.com/kdnl/mediacom/mediacom.shtml) for you to look at.

Sorry for the OT post.

Everyone be careful with this storm, I am a weather nut, so I have been keeping tabs on the upcoming winter storm for several days...The latest forecast discussion from the National Weather Service states we could see up to a foot of snow just north of I-44, with some areas receiving thunder-snow. This could push some totals higher. I remember the early 80's when we had a storm like this and some areas received up to 2 feet of snow...Time to fire up the wood stove and camp in front of the TV! :)

Sorry for the OT post.

Everyone be careful with this storm, I am a weather nut, so I have been keeping tabs on the upcoming winter storm for several days...The latest forecast discussion from the National Weather Service states we could see up to a foot of snow just north of I-44, with some areas receiving thunder-snow. This could push some totals higher. I remember the early 80's when we had a storm like this and some areas received up to 2 feet of snow...Time to fire up the wood stove and camp in front of the TV! :)


Weathermen are such a tease... every single time i get excited to get some snow it ends up being jack shiat....... If only a foot of snow could happen i'd be so happy long time....

-Phatty

Weathermen are such a tease... every single time i get excited to get some snow it ends up being jack shiat....... If only a foot of snow could happen i'd be so happy long time....

-PhattyNo snow for me thanks. I need to drive into work tomorrow, and my car is not really very snow friendly.

For those charter customers considering a switch, I saw an ad on KDNL saying that you
can subscribe to DirecTV and get a $100 rebate if you mention KDNL.

Okay, edit as posting. Here is a linky (http://www.abcstlouis.com/kdnl/mediacom/mediacom.shtml) for you to look at.
I believe this only applies to Mediacom subs who are losing KDNL on 12/01.

If I had Charter, :eek: I'd be willing to pay Directv the hundred bucks.

I believe this only applies to Mediacom subs who are losing KDNL on 12/01.

If I had Charter, :eek: I'd be willing to pay Directv the hundred bucks.


I'd bet that a Charter Sub could still get it, or something like it.

Moving, Charter, Dishes ......

So I'm moving and setup an install date for my Charter for 12/06. Now of course my Moxi decided to take a dump this week, it won't reboot. I'm waiting for the tech now :o

Anyhow this got me thinking about other options, so I did some shopping.

1 - I used to be a Dish customer and called them. I think with the HD packages etc. my monthly cost would remain about the same FOR TV only -- meaning I'd be paying the same for TV only what I pay Charter now for TV and internet. Plus, while the installs are free, there is a $199 "lease fee" for the HD DVR and an "activation" fee, both of which seem silly to me. Suddenly your free install isnt very free.

2 - DirectTV -- their site says they are out of HD DVR's so I called them. The nice lady told me, quite honestly, that they will give me an HD Receiver, but I could expect "at least a month" wait for an HD DVR.

3 - Either of these options means I'd have to get a landline + DSL for my internet -- or just pay Charter for internet, which isnt cost effective on its own. Either option increases my monthly bill overall.

4 - I've followed the concerns about "HDLite" via Sat and bandwidth etc. I love FoxSMW in HD for hockey. I've had no problems with my Charter service until now, so I'm entering the abyss. What's irking me right now is that, really, none of the options are without their problems, and I wish there was just a simple, great service ... where is ATT? hehe. I should just watch OTA TV :D

5 - I'm hoping Charter will either fix or replace my Moxi today, although I've heard they are in short supply. Of course the (person from India) on the phone assured me that since I already have a Moxi, they have to fix or replace it for me. Heh. If it gets resolved without incident, I'll keep my install date and see how THAT goes. I rely pretty heavily on a DVR now, so not having one isnt an optiion. And I can't afford a $700 Tivo3.

I'll post the progress of this move since many of us are interested in customer service issues, etc.

I sent an eMail to Geoff at FSN-MW yesterday to see if the Blues in HD was going be available on either DirecTV or DISH. Unfortunately I had a late afternoon appointment and wasn't in a position to pass on his reply (as it turns out he couldn't get a definitive answer, but indications were that it was going to be a Charter-only event).

But in his note to me he said that they had recently received a few calls from Charter HD subs who said recent HD events on Fox Sports Midwest on 792 looked fne but that there was no audio. He wanted to know if I'd seen any reports like that.

I don't recall seeing any discussion like that here recently, but then I don't pay a lot of attention to hockey or football, so I could have missed it.

So, has anyone recently had audio problems with FSN-MW HD on Charter?

I sent an eMail to Geoff at FSN-MW yesterday to see if the Blues in HD was going be available on either DirecTV or DISH. Unfortunately I had a late afternoon appointment and wasn't in a position to pass on his reply (as it turns out he couldn't get a definitive answer, but indications were that it was going to be a Charter-only event).

But in his note to me he said that they had recently received a few calls from Charter HD subs who said recent HD events on Fox Sports Midwest on 792 looked fne but that there was no audio. He wanted to know if I'd seen any reports like that.

I don't recall seeing any discussion like that here recently, but then I don't pay a lot of attention to hockey or football, so I could have missed it.

So, has anyone recently had audio problems with FSN-MW HD on Charter?

There was no audio on the Oregon vs. Oklahoma football game way back in September, and here's a post with someone else having the same issue on a Blues game: link (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8805336&&#post8805336)

Looks like I need to call Charter, my 792 is just colored bars? :confused:

Looks like I need to call Charter, my 792 is just colored bars? :confused:


It always is, unless there is a game / event being broadcast in HD.

Note that 792 is currently only active when FSN broadcasts a live sports event (e.g., select Blues, Cardinals, or recently, one national FSN Saturday college football game). Up until game time, all that will be seen is the color bars.

Now that you mention 792, I find it odd that Charter (in Eureka) squeezes two rarely active HD channels - Pay per View HD and FSNHD between KETC-HD and TNTHD.

Update #1:

Automated call that tech would be here by 2pm (I had a 1-5 window.) He showed up at 1:15pm, looked at my Moxi, said "yep that's dead, let me swap it out."

New Moxi up and running. And its brand new, still had the sticky coverings all over it.

+1 for Charter today.

I sent an eMail to Geoff at FSN-MW yesterday to see if the Blues in HD was going be available on either DirecTV or DISH. Unfortunately I had a late afternoon appointment and wasn't in a position to pass on his reply (as it turns out he couldn't get a definitive answer, but indications were that it was going to be a Charter-only event).

But in his note to me he said that they had recently received a few calls from Charter HD subs who said recent HD events on Fox Sports Midwest on 792 looked fne but that there was no audio. He wanted to know if I'd seen any reports like that.

I don't recall seeing any discussion like that here recently, but then I don't pay a lot of attention to hockey or football, so I could have missed it.

So, has anyone recently had audio problems with FSN-MW HD on Charter?


I didn't have audio on one of my moxi's. Didn't bother to check the others since all the receivers are different.

Update #1:

Automated call that tech would be here by 2pm (I had a 1-5 window.) He showed up at 1:15pm, looked at my Moxi, said "yep that's dead, let me swap it out."

New Moxi up and running. And its brand new, still had the sticky coverings all over it.

+1 for Charter today.


Forgot to add, I asked the tech if they replace many Moxi's ... he said mine lasted a year, that was pretty good, and he laughed. He also said they are about to start phasing them out .... but he wouldn't confirm or deny if they are going to use a newer Moxi or another brand, like SA.

black_macleod,

As long as MOXI/Digeo is owned by Paul Allen, I think that MOXI will continue to be the primary DVR offered by Charter. If Charter were to throw MOXI overboard, they'd effectively be torpedoing the millions that Allen has invested in the company, which seems unlikely.

Maybe there's a change planned on the hardware side as current product used Motorola.

Apart from a too-small hard drive, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with MOXI -- it's a good product that will ideally continue to evolve.

Glendale,

Thanks for the feedback on the FSN. I pointed Geoff to your post, so hopefully he'll see that and subsequent comments.