Diana,

What's going on with our HDTV? Tonight's FOX broadcast of "House" was so bad, I had to quit watching it on HD, and go into the kitchen and watch it in SD. The pixelization and audio skipping was terrible. The same thing happened to me last night on INHD2. I was watching the Roy Orbisson concert film, and the audio dropped out all through the show. We are paying 215.00 a month, and are not receiving quality broadcasting.

Mark

Here here, Marky_Mark. I've been posting about the same issues on Fox-HD's American Idol for months now, and have had all of them ignored. My guess is TWC doesn't know the cause, so these types of comments are ignored until they do.

Btw, I recorded "The Office" on NBC-HD last night and haven't watched it yet, but as I was passing through the room a few times, I noticed HORRIBLE pixelization on the screen. If the recording is that bad, it's going to be unwatchable. Anybody else notice the same?

Yes, "The Office" was very pixelated last night.

Today at lunch ABCHD (ch 815 on TWC) was very pixelated as well.

It seems there are several channels that are having issues lately.

I have also been experiencing the frequent audio drop-out with American Idol although it didn't happen last night. I don't watch "House" or "The Office" so I can't feedback anything on those two shows.

One thing I can feedback on is the INHD and special events channels (Braves HD) have been having pixelation problems for me as well. Also I was at work last Sunday and recorded the Nascar race on ch. 820 and it was SD not HD when the race started and about 70 laps into the race (maybe an hour and a half into the recording the picture went away and then my cable box crashed. Everytime I got to that point the cablebox would freeze and then reboot. I had to skip to the end just to see who won and how it happened. Did anyone else have any issues with their TWC this past Sunday?

What is going on with HD in Columbia? Have all the local stations given up?

WIS is not broadcasting Revelations in HD.

WLTX is sending nothing but buzz for audio.

AI is not in HD on WACH.

WOLO is dropping out like crazy.



It's a good night to watch a DVD, i guess.

TWC is definitely falling down. I could buy a car for what I spend each month for TWC and roadrunner, and this is not currently worth my money.
Currently watching AI in non-HD, and audio dropouts all over the place.

Mark

Same problems in the Florence DMA and Charleston DMA.

Originally posted by blizz

WOLO is dropping out like crazy.

yea, we know.. I'm in Vegas and the software won't allow me to re-boot the re-mux via VPN, so we'll have to have a human fix it Friday. guess you'll have to watch the back-up analog feed...:mad:

Bob,

Could you also get them to set the PSIP clock to DST, it's back 1 hour?

Originally posted by blizz
What is going on with HD in Columbia? Have all the local stations given up? <snip>
Question is... in regard to all the recent glitches (besides WOLO's) are they all TWC's, some the stations/networks or what? A mix? What are the OTA folks seeing/hearing? (I am out of town myself)

As some have already mentioned, American Idol wasn't even in HD last night. The program guide didn't show the little "HDTV" code at the end of the show description, so maybe it wasn't broadcast in HD by Fox?

That would be odd.

Finally watched that "Office" recording, and man, was it ever terrible. Everything was fine until about a 1/3 of the way through, then the pixelization started. There was also a strange "buzzer" sound that would accompany the audio in a few spots. I thought it was part of the show at first, but apparently it was not.

The recording of Sunday night's "Revelations" on NBC-HD was nearly flawless though. Haven't watched the one that was recorded from this week though, I see above that it had problems.

Ok - as Bob confirms this is a variety of issues. But, whatever is on our end we want to fix, so my Engineers want to look at converters.

I know I have probably already gotten this from you in the past, but I don't have it saved (sorry). So, if you have had issues and want to pursue, please email me your home phone number so I can look up your MAC address and send to the Engineers. twcscnews@twcable.com

Please note, I'm leaving this afternoon for Charlotte at 3pm and will not be back in the office to work on this until around 3:30 tomorrow afternoon. I'll do as much as I can before leaving, if you guys are around to respond this morning.....

Originally posted by TechMan
Bob,

Could you also get them to set the PSIP clock to DST, it's back 1 hour?

No, I'll have to fix that manually, it's a software bug the mfg has yet to fix..
the PSIP generator's time is correct..

But I'll look at it on Friday when I'm back..

WLTX-HD has been repaired.Should be ok for now

Jim

Hello there Jim! :)

Hi There,

I want to be very careful here. I recognize that my participation on this Forum is contingent upon my not inundating you with a whole bunch of sales talk.

With that in mind, for any VOOM customer’s out there about to lose their signal, we have created a special promotion just for you. Please go to www.twcsc.com for more info.

If I have crossed a line I would appreciate hearing from you so that I don’t make the same mistake in the future.

Diana,
How about getting some of the VOOM programing? Is that possible? How about any other new HD channels, are there any in the pipeline so to speak?

Thanks

I have 2 8300HD stb, and I noticed that if you channel down from ex: TNTHD 840 to channels 811 or 810 that do not show up. You must change channels down past these channels and then change channels back up. The 3100HD had a similiar problem with channel 815 back a couple of years ago.


Audio drops were bad on the Fox HD race on Sunday via TWC.

Originally posted by Nucleartiger
Diana,
How about getting some of the VOOM programing?
Thanks

One Word - "CABLEVISION"


Sorry, I know that's not really funny. I guess its possible that our Corporate Programming group could negotiate for carriage of some of those channels, although I haven't heard anything yet.

While I cannot tell you when or if these will happen - these are the National Cable Channels that I know they are currently negotiating for...

ESPN2HD
Universal HD
STARZ HD

Originally posted by kevinivey
I have 2 8300HD stb, and I noticed that if you channel down from ex: TNTHD 840 to channels 811 or 810 that do not show up. You must change channels down past these channels and then change channels back up. The 3100HD had a similiar problem with channel 815 back a couple of years ago.


Audio drops were bad on the Fox HD race on Sunday via TWC.

I haven't noticed that at home, although I tend to select channels though the guide for the most part - I'll call the headend and have them check that this morning.

I talked to Dan Stalnaker at WLTX this afternoon and asked about DD5.1 and Closed Captioning. Unfortunately the station has not yet purchased the two main hardware items needed for DD5.1. I did find out however they are able to provide CC now when sent by CBS. Analog captioning, CEA-608* standard, is standard with their analog signal. They send out CC in the CEA-708* format on their digital signal when it is available from the network. And when they do not have 708 CC their hardware translates and inserts the 608 data into the digital stream as CEA-708 data. (*http://www.atsc.org/faq/faq_closed.html)

So, Columbia OTA viewers who have relatively new ATSC receivers that can receive CC in the CEA-708 digital format should be able to see CBS's Closed Captioning. Those of us with older receivers (most of us) will not.

In regard to TWC HD viewers... well... Dan was not sure what the status is with TWC. The information is being provided in the data stream to TWC via fiber. TWC may then be feeding the 708 data into their stream. However it is possible that the CC is is being stripped off due to hardware limitations. Dan said he would check tonight during NCIS and talk to TWC engineers if CC is not present. Having said that, do note that this afternoon I was able to see the 608 data on Ch 810 (SD program) so it appears the translation part is working with TWC. Just not sure if the native 708 data is coming through.

I don't watch a lot of primetime programming so I cant comment on a lot of the issues other members have been complaining about. But last night I was trying to watch some sitcoms on TWC chan 815, WOLO-HD, and it was breaking up and pixelating so bad it was unwatchable. I had to suffer through the crappy analog PQ to watch a few shows. If the primetime shows on TWC have been as bad as what I saw last night I agree something needs to be fixed.

I dont watch anything on Fox in their primetime lineup, but I did watch Fox-HD for 6 hours on sunday (Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back) and didnt have any kind of breakups or audio drop outs, so I guess their problems must be just during American Idol.

D,
You'll need to put in a service call to TWC to have your drop checked.. I looked at WOLO-DT last night and it was fine OTA, and seems to be fine
now..

Hello - I know it seems I'm saying this a lot lately, but ...

Leaving this morning for a meeting in Charleston, will be back late Friday and will not have access to the forum until then. If you have an urgent issue, please call Customer Service at 866.892.7201.

D - I invite you to go ahead and call as Bob suggests or let me know if you want me to set something up upon my return.

Take Care,

Wolo-DT no HD for "Lost" 04/27 , and tons of audio drops from TWC. Audio drops are not observed ota.


I hope that a solution to the audio drops is forthcoming.

Same here Kevin. NBC's digital audio is terrible as well.

Mark

Audio dropouts during AI. Audio dropouts continuing on FOX on Pamela Anderson's "Stacked".

Mark

Lost wasn't supposed to be HD last night..

My program guide showed Lost as being in HDTV. Program Guide error?

TNTHD on TWC (ch 840) showed some significant pixellation last night. A couple of times the screen froze up completely for a few seconds.

The closed captioning does display on 19-1 even while in HD mode OTA. If it is not showing up on TWC, let me know. I will look at Y&R today to see if I can see it on TWC. Thanks

Kevin, are your audio drops only happening on digital audio? I have noticed that the analog outputs from my box don't drop out even when on the same channel. Of course you can't get true surround sound from the analog outputs, but at least it sounds better.

Mark

I doubt it's the DVR. I would imagine its the lack of quality signal we are getting to the DVR.

Then why doesn't TWC fix it.? To me the audio is just as important as the HD picture.

I don't know, maybe it's not TWC completely. Although OTA is good. Beats me, but I'm sure they're on it.

Mark

Originally posted by DianaTWCSC
One Word - "CABLEVISION"

While I cannot tell you when or if these will happen - these are the National Cable Channels that I know they are currently negotiating for...

ESPN2HD
Universal HD
STARZ HD

ESPN2-HD..

w00t !!

-- Cain

Closed Captioning: Am now seeing CBS's closed captioning on WLTX/TWC Ch810. Thanks Dan! FWIW, my Samsung SIR-T150 OTA STB can also see captions on both WIS and WLTX but the Sammy tends to lockup while doing so (not 100% sure it is the captions). Cannot speak to ABC OTA(need to double check it). Don't believe I have seen CC on PBS HD either (whether OTA or TWC). Suspect the end is soon near for the Sammy since I understand that the Broadcast Flag renders that model useless.


SA8300HD DVR availability in Sumter: stopped by the Sumter office today to inquire and no, they did not have any in stock.

update: I have verified CC on ABC, CBS, and NBC channels (both TWC and OTA).

WOLO-DT CC looks fine leaving here.!!

If not, please let me know!

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
WOLO-DT CC looks fine leaving here.!!

If not, please let me know!

Bob, I concur .... all is well here regarding WOLO-DT. I just checked my DVR and I noted I have Grey's Anatomy recorded in HD from last night and all is well there caption wise.

I just checked my Monday recordings from our local CBS station. Poor audio once again. :( This could very well be a TWCSC problem, but this seems to usually come from our local station. This is not the clipping we usually have, but rather a continuous crackle in the background audio.

You are hearing the new Patent Pending audio format created by WLTX and Gannett the "HD Leader". It's called Vinyl Vision, "The picture of tomorrow with the sound of yesterday". Gannett and WLTX created this instead of paying for the Dolby Decoder and Network Receiver they need so desperately.

Sorry, Just so tired of this problem I felt like venting.

Different night; different TWCSC node, different cable box, etc... but I recorded and then watched CBS/NCIS last night with the digital audio on and all was well here.

AI is pixelating and audio dropping (digital audio) like crazy. Pixelization is not terrible, but is happening. Diana, have you made it back from Charleston? Have the engineers decided anything yet?

Mark

Audio on ABC is popping and cutting out as well.

Mark

The local news on ABC is pixelating and freezing as well. It is fine on the analog broadcast on channel 5.

Mark

Originally posted by Marky_Mark896
AI is pixelating and audio dropping (digital audio) like crazy. Pixelization is not terrible, but is happening. <snip>
Mark,
Having seen your post I tuned in and watched the last ten minutes or so of AI and did not see a problem here. This was on Ch820 here and digital audio using a SA8000HD DVR). ? (cannot speak to ABC, I did not watch it tonight).

addendum: WOLO Ch 815 news is coming here fine (~8:11 to 8:16pm).

Diana said last week that the engineers had seen bad levels on my DVR, but she was having them check the rest of the neighborhood before deciding how to fix it. I am just waiting to see what she says.

Mark

Given my experience here tonight is fine it does indeed sound like your neighborhood node is having problems. Hope they can get it fixed for you i soon. Good luck!

We watched DVRed episodes of AI last night (from Tuesday and Wednesday) and the video was flawless for the first time that I can ever remember. We've given up on the digital audio though, so I can't speak to that. It sounded fine on analog audio, FWIW.

Lost seemed to be as good (both video and digital audio) as I can ever remember too. Thumbs up!

I agree IrmoGamecoq. Audio from the analog outputs always sounds good. I watched Mystic River last night on my DVR, and the digial audio was dropping out on that as well. Good movie though.

Mark

Hey Y'all,

Anyone ever see this box before?
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/consumers_new/CableBoxes/8300HDMR.htm

Diana, will we ever have this available to us?

Mark

Hello everyone.

Sorry I've been away, but I had something between a head cold and black plague this past week and spent most of it in bed.

I will get with the engineers first thing tomorrow to see where they are with the 'neighborhood's' they were checking.

As far as the Multi Room. We actually tested about 100 in Columbia last year. Kevin Ivey was so very kind as to be one of my beta's. Upon completion of the test, we opted to delay the launch due to capital constraints and installation issues. Each and every one of these converters requires a truck roll because an internal network has to be set up at (I believe) 860 MHZ with a CIS and amp (Combination Internal Splitter) and all other splitters have to be out of your lines for it to work well. So, it does work and we will launch at some point, but because the converters cost so much more (and we really don't charge more for them) and the intensive truck rolls required for each installation - while we are launching Digital Phone and as you guys already know, beta testing Start Over.... the multi room just got put on the back burner.

Oh yeah, one other thing that was Kevin's pet peeve - the 3250 doesn't work as a client yet.

Anyway, when Multi Room and Side Cars are available, you guys will be my first marketing channel (as always).

Sorry again to be out of the loop for so long. I did get a message from the engineers saying they think they got the FOX issues fixed middle of last week, so if you guys can confirm this I would be grateful.

Good to hear from you again Diana. Thought you may have run off after your charleston conference...

Thanks,
Mark

Watched the entire race(Fox HD) via TWC last evening, and had no audio drops at all.

I still use the 8300HD MRDVR, but do not have a client box.

Originally posted by Marky_Mark896
Good to hear from you again Diana. Thought you may have run off after your charleston conference...

Thanks,
Mark

Just went into hibernation.


Well, the engineers looked at your neighborhood and the only converter with issues seems to be yours. Probably an amp or splitter or something in your set up having adverse effects. They suggest a service call to get to the bottom of it. Please let me know when you get it set up and I'll speak with the Tech Ops Manager in your area to make sure we get the appropriate rep out to your house to resolve.

Diana,

As far as I know, there are no amps or splitters in my lines anymore. I had issues with these in the past, and the last time I had the guys out, they ran dedicated lines for my computers, and for my theater. Should I call and set up an appointment to have someone out and then let you know what time the appointment is?

Thanks,
Mark

Mark,
No amp? hmmmmm How many drops are in your house?

The line from the street pedestal to my house is RG-11. There it is split first for Cable modem service and the TV. Then the TV side is amplified (TWC supplied unit) for the house network which consists of 5 separate drops; each with it own (homerun) cable. Generally all works fine here.... (well; we do have a bad SA 8000DVR (SD version) right now... TWC cable guy coming this afternoon). (note: done; box swapped)

I have 2 RG-11's coming in from the street. One is for the cable modem, and one is for the TV cable. At least that is what I was told. There is a splitter block in the box on the outside, but it is not amplified any longer.
We do have quite a few drops in the house though. There are 5 TV Cable drops and just one for the computer.

Mark

Let me know a good time for you to be home (forum or pm) and I'll see if I can't set it up for you with the Sumter Tech Ops Manager.

Diana, I can be home at pretty much anytime. Mornings are better though.

Thanks,
Mark

Tech Ops Manager promises his best guy will be at your house first thing in the morning.

Great! Thanks Diana.

Mark

Diana,

When will TWCSC update the HD DVR to the lastest software?

Forgot to ask - I have a meeting with the head honchos this afternoon and I'll see if there is a timeline established.

Thanks, most of the video issues are addressed with the lastest update.

What's the version of the upgrade again?

Diana,

TWC's tech showed up this morning. He is a good one, I've had him here before. He checked everything, and didn't see any bad levels. He's going to talk to some people about the digital audio dropouts, and see what they are saying about it. I am recording AI and House tonight to see if I have the same problems with them as usual. My neighbor is going to record them as well so we can see if he is having the same problems. The tech said he would call me in the morning and see how the shows were tonight.

Mark

Great - glad it went well, but sorry it didn't resolve things yet.

Thanks for your assistance and please let me know what evolves.

Originally posted by DianaTWCSC
What's the version of the upgrade again?

1.87.16.1


I think that TWCSC is currently using 1.85.19.1. This software was released 11/04.

1.87 addresses the audio, and recorded video artifacts.

Originally posted by kevinivey
1.87.16.1

1.87 addresses the audio, and recorded video artifacts.
Kevin/Anyone...
You reckon that release affects/fixes problems primarily in the 8300HD DVR or will it do something for the 8000HD model too?

I was told there was a software update coming soon for the 8000HD's. My tech that was here today told me.

Mark

Well, so far so good even with an electrical storm. American Idol came off without any audio dropouts. There was one small "cloud" of pixelization, but nothing to really complain about. It sounded great. Will update you after I watch House and Law & Order:SVU.

Mark

There's also newer a SARA for the 3250HD, not sure what fixes or enhancements are included in it.

Ok, I fell asleep before my update last night. House was near flawless, just one small audio drop, and a little pixelation. Nothing big. After that, I watched PBS's Frontline on PBSHD, and it was pretty bad. Audio breakups and some pixelizing. Haven't watched Law&Order:SVU yet.

Mark

Originally posted by Marky_Mark896
Well, so far so good even with an electrical storm. American Idol came off without any audio dropouts. There was one small "cloud" of pixelization, but nothing to really complain about. It sounded great. Will update you after I watch House and Law & Order:SVU.

Mark

Ditto.

Having given up on digital audio for AI, I decided to give it one more shot this week...glad I did. No audio dropouts at all. Sounded great.

Video-wise, as MM posted above, there was one "little" cloud of pixelization at one point, but that was minor.

Good work, TWC-SC!

Now, let's see how "Lost" looks tonight...

This may have been asked before but will try anyway lol. I am building an official HTPC box this weekend and have been reading about being able to run the cable from the cable box via fire wire to the PC and having it process through there. Are our boxes at the level to pass through the signal to an HTPC or is that still in the future? not that i absolutely have to have it but we do love our toys don't we.
I presently have the HD-DVR with the HDMI output.

New box will be
Asus A8V-E deluxe K8T890
Amd 3800 Revision E
Slverstone LC10B
Powercolor X800XL dual DVI PCI-E
XP MCE 2005 w remote
1 gig Corsair PC3200XLPT
Waiting on a tuner card to match Time Warner

There are extensive threads on that elsewhere here on AVS. I'd do a bit of research.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jverhey
[B]This may have been asked before but will try anyway lol. I am building an official HTPC box this weekend and have been reading about being able to run the cable from the cable box via fire wire to the PC and having it process through there. Are our boxes at the level to pass through the signal to an HTPC or is that still in the future? not that i absolutely have to have it but we do love our toys don't we.
I presently have the HD-DVR with the HDMI output.

No, there are no pc connection possible other than composite or s-video with analog audio. There is no firewire box available from TWCSC for a pc connection. There are no plans that I have heard that would ever allow a digital connection .

All Right - software upgrades - all converters.

TWC South Carolina has the latest and greatest "CORPORATE ENGINEERING GROUP APPROVED" software on all converters.

As the good old days when you guys were waiting for the 1.1 upgrade last summer - no one in the South Carolina Division Engineering group can predict when any of the versions you are interested in will get approved.

However, as soon as they know, they will tell me and I will tell you - Promise.

Ok, a late night update... Got home from dinner late, so have been watching DVR deep into the night. American Idol was beautiful tonight. No audio drops/no pixelization. Lost was outstanding as well, no audio drops no pixelization. Keep it up TWC! Thanks Diana.

Mark

Wish my news was as good...AI had some pixelization and bad audio drops again, we ended up just using the analog audio feed like we've done before.

Lost was fine though.

Which makes me wonder, given MM's post above, if this is a local issue with me only, why does it affect only some channels (Fox-HD)?

Originally posted by IrmoGamecoq
Wish my news was as good...AI had some pixelization and bad audio drops again, we ended up just using the analog audio feed like we've done before.

Lost was fine though.

Which makes me wonder, given MM's post above, if this is a local issue with me only, why does it affect only some channels (Fox-HD)?

send me your home phone number and let me check you.

IrmoGamecoq, I have the same problems as you have. Most of the local HD recordings have some issue or another. I've seen it on two different 8300s, and I have plenty of signal strength to my box. Ota is usually flawless for the local HD channels. Pixellation and audio drops didn't happen for me until the January software update.

Note: My local HD recordings have issues. Watching "live" the errors are much less.

Well; I was able to swap out my 8000HD for a 8300 today. I hope I don't regret it since my 8000HD was working pretty darn good. :) I will be on the lookout for glitches and will try and watch a few HD programs live so I can check the OTA signal for comparison.

Looks like our local CBS station has deciided to join the others, and offer yet another duplicate channel. Limited bandwidth HD now available on all the HD locals.

Any word on any new HD channels from TWC ?????

-- Cain

Diana, here's an update. I finally got around to watching CSI:Crime Scene Investigation recorded 5/12 at 9:00pm. There are pixellating clouds, and digital audio dropouts. I don't know if your engineers can look that far back at data, but if they can, you may want them to see what my levels were at that time. This was recorded 2 days after the service tech was out here, and saw good levels while he was here. This show, CSI was on CBSHD at 9pm on 5/12/05. If you need anything else let me know. I won't delete the show until I hear from you.

Mark

Originally posted by kevinivey
Looks like our local CBS station has deciided to join the others, and offer yet another duplicate channel. Limited bandwidth HD now available on all the HD locals.

Has the requirement been dropped that there must be an ATSC simulcast of the NTSC channel? Comparing 19's digital SD to NTSC, the analog broadcast looks better. Now that I've got a 16x9 set I'll be more apt to watch 810 on a regular basis, HD or upconverted pogramming.

Diana,

I am currently watching the "100 Greatest Discoveries" on Discovery HD, and the audio is terrible. It is dropping out constantly, almost unwatchable. So it seems my problems are not gone.

Mark

The SD channels are not intended for those of you with HDTv's..they are intended for those digital cable subs (which exceed HD subs) with SDTV's who find the analog (channels below 100) performance sub-par relative to the digital channels.
We have received multiple requests from cableco's to provide the SD feeds.

And FWIW, WOLO-DT hasn't changed the rate on the DT to add this channel.

Basic cable seems to be what they are promoting as of late.

Originally posted by kevinivey
Looks like our local CBS station has deciided to join the others, and offer yet another duplicate channel. Limited bandwidth HD now available on all the HD locals.

I was watching one of the CSI's last night and noticed that during any movement the screen became pixelated. WLTX used to be the best looking HD in Columbia. I guess they lowered their standards, now they are just as crappy as the rest of the local affiliates. There's no sense in having an HD channel if they arent going to provide the bandwidth necessary to provide a high quality picture. Who wants to see macroblocking during any movement on the screen? How can you have a television show with no movement? HD that looks good on still pictures is worthless.

With only the weather channel running last year, WLTX barely had enough bandwidth for good PQ during football games, now with the additional subchannel running I suppose we can kiss that goodbye now too.

Originally posted by D-rock0030
I was watching one of the CSI's last night and noticed that during any movement the screen became pixelated. ..... [snip]

I just checked my recording of CSI Miami from last night to check out the PQ. Pixelization was very evident on many of the opening scenes as well as some relatively static scenes a bit later in the program. Overall, IMO, the HD PQ was not acceptable. I then turned into this morning's fare just to see what Ch812 was like and compared it to TWC Ch 9. Hah; the Ch812 Andy Griffith whow (in B&W even) showed evidence of bit starvation too.

While I understand Bob Davis's position in theory and agree that 720p can handle multicasting better than 1080i, I know that on my 1080i CRT based display I have never seen a 720p image that came anywhere close to that of a good 1080i presentation. Guess we have lost the battle for quality 1080i presentations in our area.

Originally posted by bdenman
Guess we have lost the battle for quality 1080i presentations in our area.
Is it the pipeline, or what's being pumped?

I don't usually care much about glitches, but lately it's been really obvious to the point of annoying me a lot.

Not like I have anywhere to go, unless I cut down some trees I don't own...

720p is 30% or so more bandwidth efficient that 1080i. And unless your set
does native 720p, 1080i usually does look better.On my Mits 62725, they look about the same.

Originally posted by mikepaul
Is it the pipeline, or what's being pumped?

I don't usually care much about glitches, but lately it's been really obvious to the point of annoying me a lot.

Not like I have anywhere to go, unless I cut down some trees I don't own...

As I understand it, the digital pipeline is approximately 19.34mb/s wide. When you limit your 1080i HD channel to about 12 or 13mb/s, you get pixel blocking on items that move (nature of MPEG2 encoding). It appears that WLTX may be using from 2 to 3 mb/s per SD channel which results in the low bandwidth available for HD. WIS also limits their HD bandwidth in a similar manner having 2 SD services as well.

WOLO and FOX both 720p which uses far fewer bits/sec to begin as compared to 1080i. The end result is a somewhat softer HD image that also has less motion artificacts. They can get by with using that same 12 or 13 mb/s bandwidth without inducing motion artifacts. This subject is fairly complex and how this is all perceived by the viewer is also in part determined by the type of display they have (1080i is usually preferred by CRT viewers, DLP, LCD, and Plasma may well perceive 720p as better).


The glitches you have been observing I would guess stem from another problem.

Originally posted by bdenman
They can get by with using that same 12 or 13 mb/s bandwidth without inducing motion artifacts.

To be exact, 14 mb on WOLO-DT. IMHO, Less that 16mb/s is too little for
1080i..Here, WBTV runs 12mb, and it looks like pooo...:(

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
To be exact, 14 mb on WOLO-DT. IMHO, Less that 16mb/s is too little for
1080i..Here, WBTV runs 12mb, and it looks like pooo...:(

I believe WLTX's norm was around 16mb/s for HD. They took down the weather multicast during the Super Bowl and used the entire 19.34 mb/s bandwidth (less overhead like PSIP) for the game. Very nice! Whether the new level is 14 or 12 or ??, it comes down to it is just not enough for quality (1080i) HD.

Originally posted by bdenman
Whether the new level is 14 or 12 or ??, it comes down to it is just not enough for quality (1080i) HD.

How very TRUE!!!! :mad:

And the engineers there I'm sure know that but apparently some one there at the station higher up doesnt give a sh*t about PQ (or DD 5.1 audio either for that matter).

Their analog station pay the bills. Just wait till the subchannel becomes the "real" channel. The HD channel will be even further reduced.

As of 10pm this evening, WOLO-DT is not on the air (Blind Justice). No TWC Ch815; no OTA Ch 25/8. Analog signal on TWC appears fine.

edit: observed they were back up at 10:47; not sure when that occured however.

I am personally down and out... My bulb died on my DLP. Only 3 months old, 1800 of 6000 hours used... 400 dollars, and out of warranty... I am currently looking for good suggestions for a big HD set to use for HTPC display/ HDTV viewing. Anyone got any suggestions. Currently looking at the JVC DILA 70". Don't know how good they are for PC display though.

Thanks,
Mark

I've said before and I still believe that we've lived through a "golden age" of off-the-air HDTV reception. When the government allowed for digital TV bandwidth to be allocated to multiple channels, it became very unlikely that a commercial broadcaster was going to opt for great-looking HDTV instead of multiple mediocre-looking channels.

I think for big-time sporting events and pay-cable content on we'll have a chance to see great pictures but the rest of the time it'll be as much low-bandwidth stuff as the broadcast affiliates can fit into their 19mbps.

Marky_Mark896,

If they only thing wrong with your DLP is needing a $400 bulb that's a ton cheaper than a new display. Projector bulbs are a total crapshoot (which is why you don't see many long warrantees on them) and the next one might last another 1600 hours (which is actually a lot of TV-watching time for a projector) or it might just as easily last 3200 hours. You could spend thousands on a DILA and still end up buying a buld eighteen months later. Then again, the DILA projectors look awfully nice if you're just looking to move up...

Well, Brent, I am actually itching to move up, but I am also tired of buying bulbs. I leave my DLP on probably about 16-18 hrs a day, because I use it for my computer monitor, and I don't like waiting for it to power up and down. I was thinking maybe a plasma would be good for me, since I could power it up and down quickly when I wasn't using it. That should eliminate the chance of burnin shouldn't it? I just hate a bulb that costs 400 dollars only lasting 3 months, and being out of warranty by 13 days, and only having been used less than one third of the mtbf stated.

Mark

Originally posted by Marky_Mark896
I just hate a bulb that costs 400 dollars only lasting 3 months, and being out of warranty by 13 days, and only having been used less than one third of the mtbf stated.
Check with the manufacturer. Maybe they had a bad batch, or can be talked into a prorated replacement. And see if they want it off for 16 hours per day to maintain life, at which point you might need to reevaluate a DLP for your needs...

Originally posted by Marky_Mark896
[snip' I was thinking maybe a plasma would be good for me, since I could power it up and down quickly when I wasn't using it. That should eliminate the chance of burnin shouldn't it? I just hate a bulb that costs 400 dollars only lasting 3 months, and being out of warranty by 13 days, and only having been used less than one third of the mtbf stated.
Mark
Plasma displays are poor choices for HTPC display since they are phosphor based and static images will soon cause uneven phosphor wear (i.e. burn-in). In no time you would have "Winders" (or simiilar) burned into your nice HT display. Go with a LCD or DLP/DILA based display if your going to use it exensively for computer work.

I have a friend who was having the same problem as you are. His DLP bulbs were burning out at an extraordinary rate. He talked to someone who suggested buying one of those power regulators. I'm not sure if thats the technical name. But they are like a fancy battery backup that supplies a steady 110V/60hz to the tv. They eliminate any "noise" and surges that occur. He said that since he did that he's at least doubled the life of his bulbs.

D-rock:I've had mine on a UPS for the entire life of it, but it is a good idea.

Bruce, I've been told that there won't be burn in on plasmas unless it's left static for extended periods. I would turn it off if I wasn't using it, and would use a screensaver or change inputs to tv if I wanted to leave it on.

Mark

There is a cumulative effect on plasma burn in. Using it for a computer monitor will all but guarantee burn in.

I have been trying to watch Alias on WOLO-DT and its breaking up really bad, pretty much constantly. Is anyone else experiencing this? Even their weather radar channel is breaking up really bad. Every other HD channel is coming in crystal clear with great audio. This leads me to believe that has to be a WOLO-DT or TWC problem not just a problem at my place.

Looks fine OTA here at the moment..

Yes, terrible here. Seemingly enough to locked up my 8300HD. Guess I'll be hunting down the episode elsewhere...

Bob says its fine OTA, how does TWC receive the signal from WOLO, is it a direct fiber connection or does TWC just have a big antenna in the air to receive the signal? Because I just find it weird that WOLO's two channels are the only channels that are messing up. I checked every other channel last night and everything is coming in crystal clear. So I seriously doubt its a signal strength issue, and its the same on both of my cable boxes, an 8000HD and a 3250HD. Did anyone else in here try and watch Alias last night via TWC?? I know courier and myself couldnt have been the only two.

TWC pickup is OTA.

Ok guys, I'm back in business. I got a Toshiba 55" plasma. I am loving it.

Mark

The beginning of Lost last night was horrible. Audio drops, severe video drops skipping sections of of the show...

Then, about 15 minutes in, it all went away and was flawless. Anybody else notice this?

I didnt watch Lost last night, but during Alias it was horrible, the video and audio were breaking up really bad like it was a weak signal. For as bad as it was and where we are all located (Columbia, Irmo, Lexington) it had to have been an issue down at TWC. Since they pick the signal up OTA maybe their antenna got moved a little bit or something like that. I dont have an OTA tuner so I had nothing to compare it to.

Diana hasnt been here in over a week, otherwise she could ask the engineers if they know of any problems.

We didn't listen to the digital feed, but AI seemed to be pretty good both for video and the analog audio...last night and the DVRed Tuesday episode.

I watched AI last night, and the digital audio was very good. The HD was good too. I have had quite a few pixelizations lately and digital audio problems, but they have mostly been on channels other than fox.

Mark

Watched "Lost" and "AI" via my 8300, and noticed no problems with the video or audio.


Looks like Wltx-DT SD subchannel has been taken off the air. Maybe there is hope for the "CSI" finale tonight.

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
TWC pickup is OTA.

Why?

because TWC doesn't seem to want to take the feed via fiber, neither Charlotte nor Columbia..besides, unlike analog there will be no improvement in quality.

TWC advanced services off in the 29209 zip code (SE Columbia). Anybody else with problems? No guide and no digital channels

WOLO-DT looks fine here..

CBSHD's "Without A Trace" was pretty bad. Digital Audio dropouts constantly, and quite a bit of pixelization clouds. I haven't had a chance to watch ER yet. Will update on it later.

Mark

Originally posted by Marky_Mark896
CBSHD's "Without A Trace" was pretty bad. Digital Audio dropouts constantly, and quite a bit of pixelization clouds. I haven't had a chance to watch ER yet. Will update on it later.

Mark

Looked fine here.

Both CBS (CSI) from 8 to 10 and NBC (ER) from 10 to 11 were fine here.

I had CSI set to record on my 8300HD from 8 to 10. I *double checked* before I went to bed early to make sure it was set on WCSCD 810 HD.

Imagine my horror when I woke up this morning and had a whopping ONE MINUTE of it recorded.

This is complete crap, and it's not the first time it's happened. Fox HD, CBS, etc. Most of the HD channels perform horribly (in my experience) in Myrtle Beach with the 8300.

To say that I am *livid* right now would be an understatement. Episode of the year, directed by Tarrantino, and my DVR recorded one minute of it.

I am HALF A STEP AWAY from cancelling my Time Warner completely. I am just STOMPING mad right now. I'm calling Time Warner today to express my outrage over the performance of this device. It's the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I can overlook occasional glitches...but to check, and re-check and verify that it's set to record, then wake up the next morning and see the results I saw this morning...well...that's it. That's all I can take.

Same thing happened here in Charlotte I understand..

Well, I just got off the phone with Time Warner.

We're having a "meeting" this afternoon here at the house, me and the wife. I'm seriously considering just dropping all of my Time Warner services. This is uncalled for that I'm paying over a THOUSAND DOLLARS a year for services that won't work, and I'm done with it. FoxHD in Myrtle Beach that records an hour show and turns it into 7 "pieces" of show because of broadcast flag issues (that STILL haven't been fixed, even after numerous complaints), Shows that *SAY* they're recording and then don't, causing me to miss shows that I would've gladly simply stayed up late and watched, just to not miss them. You name it. I'm paying over a thousand dollars a year for it and it simply does not work to my satisfaction. I don't know what else to do, but I'm calling DishNetwork and some others and investigating Tivo subscriptions this weekend. I've had enough.

Jeff
venting...you just can't *imagine* how upset I am this morning...

I can Jeff, I almost had the same experience last night. ER came on and I just happened to flip over to NBC, and it wasn't set to record. What happened to our boxes last night? I haven't missed an episode of ER in months, and now the season finale, and it decides not to record. I did miss CSI. I noticed it was half way through the show and wasn't recording. I wasn't happy. On the upside, ER looked and sounded perfect in HD here.

Mark

See, that's the issue with me too. When it *works* the picture is good, the sound quality (usually) is good...but it's the service with the HD DVR that's the most frustrating. Dropping shows, recording in bits and pieces...and I KNOW I'm not the only one who experiences it. I've talked to people at work and people in the neighborhood, and friends, and they all experience the exact same issues, particularly with FoxHD programming here.

I'm just frustrated mainly about the service (or lack of), and about how long issues go without being unresolved. I call. I complain. I note for the record when things don't work, and it always seems like the resulting "troubleshooting" boils down to the same thing:

"Has a technician been out to your house to check the signal?"
"Yes, several times, and each time he says there's nothing wrong with my signal and notes that I'm right *next* to my drop"
"Well, we can replace the box"
"sigh...okay...sure, why not?"

I've been thru probably three 8300s in the last year alone and prior to that I couldn't tell you how many 8000s I had to replace. So they just offer again to replace the box, and once again I lose all the shows I saved, only to get a box with the exact same "issues".

No effort is really made beyond that to ever *rectify* the problem.

You know, the thing that really upsets me is that I'm simply buying into their marketing. Their marketing says, "set it to record and forget it". That's what they're saying to me. They're telling me that I can do this, but the reality of it is that I can't. I can't even set it to record, and double check it. It will still *not* record. So my main beef is, "don't tell me I can do something...when experience after experience is that I *can't* do it." And what's more, if it's important enough to tell me that this is the main thrust of your service, then when it doesn't *DO* what it's advertised as being able to do...fix it...immediately. I read the forums here. I see what people are saying, and generally, I can overlook occasionaly glitches, like I said. But when you COUNT on something, and you CHECK TO MAKE SURE and then it STILL doesn't work, what else are you to do?

I hate to sound like I'm just bitching and whining, and really, I've spent a lot of time here saying *good* things about my service and about Time Warner, but honestly...when it gets this bad, and gets this frustrating, and it's been over a year and it's STILL this bad...how much longer can I simply look the other way?

P.S. Please don't think I'm just whining and complaining. I'm honestly trying to vent as eloquently as I can. I'm just trying to put down, for once, into words, what I'm experiencing this morning. It's just a level of frustration that I'm honestly not used to, and I don't really know what else to do. So don't hate on me for venting, and I apologize in advance if it rubs some of you the wrong way. I know how that can be sometimes to see people just parade thru here and complain, but I've just tried and tried and tried, and really...last night was just exactly what I said it was, the straw that broke this particular camel's back.

Originally posted by JeffSmall
I've been thru probably three 8300s in the last year alone and prior to that I couldn't tell you how many 8000s I had to replace. The problem is not the box in this area, it is the SA software. Two Fox engineers on this forum have consistently maintained the software's inability to handle the broadcast flag is the reason network shows record in multiple segments. You will notice non-network programming on Fox does not have the problem. Why TWC's expensive answer to this and other problems is just to keep replacing the box, I don't know.

Jeff,
I understand your frustrated. I do hope that TWC can come out and check your installation to see if thaere is something amiss there.

FWIW, my experience last night with my 8300....
I have CSI and ER both set to record automatically in their normal time slots (new episodes only). I watched both live last night and blinked off the CSI recording afterwards. I still have ER recorded and I just checked and it appears fine. As I recall, I did setup CSI to record manually since it started in an ealier time slot than usual. Whether or not this relates to your situation I do not know.

Reliability of 8000s/8300s...
Last week I turned my original 8000HD that I got in January 2004; I swapped it out for an 8300 (just because...). A few days before that TWC did swap out our SD 8000DVR due to a failing hard drive. It had been put into service on Oct 31 2002 and used daily (wife uses it extensively in the MBR while I use the HD one in the Den). With both versions; there were lots of early problems with the software. Over time things have gotten better. It has and still misses recordings at times. So yeah; it cannot be considered as reliable as one would expect it to be. So far though our 8300 seems to be working fine here.

I have never seen Fox-HD recorded in more than one segment. This has not been a issue in the Columbia area.I agree that the software needs to be updated. TWC seems to have lagged behind what most SARA systems are doing nationwide with the software updates.

Has anyone tried to contact Diana? She seems not to be around anymore.

Originally posted by Gary J
The problem is not the box in this area, it is the SA software. Two Fox engineers on this forum have consistently maintained the software's inability to handle the broadcast flag is the reason network shows record in multiple segments. You will notice non-network programming on Fox does not have the problem. Why TWC's expensive answer to this and other problems is just to keep replacing the box, I don't know.
I remember discussion on this but not the details. We did have problems at one time in the Cola market with occasional segmentation of recordings (station?) but that is long past. I don't know if it is something the station did to fix or TWC. Given that the BF is supposedly defunct I would think this would be a moot issue. Generally the SA software, while a bit limited in function, does a decent job. When it misses a recording, I wonder if there was not bad guide data being accessed that in turn caused the failure.

Espn-HD had the problem.

Originally posted by Gary J
The problem is not the box in this area, it is the SA software. Two Fox engineers on this forum have consistently maintained the software's inability to handle the broadcast flag is the reason network shows record in multiple segments. You will notice non-network programming on Fox does not have the problem. Why TWC's expensive answer to this and other problems is just to keep replacing the box, I don't know.

And that's almost precisely where my frustration comes from. If it's so well known, and so well documented, why is it, including this morning when I called, the first step in "troubleshooting" to offer to send a technician out to replace my box? And if it's a problem with the software, and such a widespread, and widely complained about problem at that, why isn't it a huge top priority of both TW and SA to get it fixed? I mean, we're not talking about a minor glitch, or a frustrating little bug. We're talking about a major error in the inherent way the device works! It'd be like my cellphone dropping calls because Motorola released a phone that just didn't work exactly right with Altel's phone network. My reaction would be identical: "Why is Motorola releasing a phone that doesn't work, and why is Altel offering them to subscribers?"

Why is SA releasing a device that doesn't work, and why is Time Warner offering them to their customers? And more importantly, when it's discovered almost immediately *that it doesn't work* and *why*...why isn't someone immediately trying to rectify the situation?

It's the whole process that's bugging me. I don't mind being an "early adopter" and I don't mind occasional "blips". But when they occur, over and over and over, and seemingly no effort is being made beyond finger pointing, what else can you do? It's not like we could "wait" until the situation is working, because it just never seems to get addressed beyond the "whining" stage. I call, I complain, and I do it because I want to *help* with the situation and I want them to *know* about what my experiences are because I want them to know what they have to fix. I want them to know what problems are out there. I program for a living, so I know what it's like to not know about a problem. You can't fix what you don't know about. So once you tell me a problem with something, I'll try to work on it to get it fixed. If I don't know about it, I can't fix it. I keep hoping that the same thing is going on behind the scenes at TW and SA, but more and more it just looks like complaints get filed away under, "yeah, we know about that...we're looking into it" and then it just dissolves away...only to be brought up again later, with the exact same results.

I mean, if you take them individually, it's not that bad. But when you add them all up, and see a trend...what are you supposed to do as a customer?

Are you also seeing a trend to just "replace the box" on your end as well? Or am I the only one experiencing this?

Originally posted by kevinivey
I have never seen Fox-HD recorded in more than one segment. This has not been a issue in the Columbia area.I agree that the software needs to be updated. TWC seems to have lagged behind what most SARA systems are doing nationwide with the software updates.

Has anyone tried to contact Diana? She seems not to be around anymore.

Okay, I have to ask...and maybe someone can explain it to me...if it's NOT happening in Columbia...but it's happening in Myrtle Beach...

*HOW* can that be the SA software? How can that possibly be the software on my machine, if we have the same software? I mean, not to point fingers, but doesn't that just *scream* that it's an issue with the local Fox affiliate and NOT the software?

I have had some success defragmenting the harddrive, but the glitches usually come back in a couple of weeks afterwards.

RoadRunner on the other hand is one of the most reliable services that I have ever had. Go figure.

Originally posted by kevinivey
I have had some success defragmenting the harddrive, but the glitches usually come back in a couple of weeks afterwards.

Can you point me in the direction of instructions on how to do this?

I would almost certainly do it on a regular basis. I'm all about preventative maintenance...

I only experienced the fragmenting of shows once or twice and it was on a few concerts that I tried to record on INHD. But the biggest gripe I have with the DVR is the "record all episodes" feature. I've never been able to get that feature to work. I've tried and tried to get it to work and the only thing it did was to record the very first episode then in the following weeks it didnt record anything. I've tried that with The Shield, Law & Order, L&O SVU, NYPD Blue, etc. So now every night when I get home from work if there are any shows on that night that I want recorded I go through and manually set them to record. Its just a habit now, walk in the door go to the DVR set the recordings manually then go about my business. BTW, I have an 8000HD and not the 8300HD. I've tried the different settings too such as "First run episodes only" "All episodes" etc. I think this is one area that the TWC DVRs are really lagging behind the Tivos in functionality. But I suppose for $5/month they still are pretty handy and work pretty well.

I did notice WOLO-DT looked great last night, none of the terrible breakups from the previous night. Must be they made an adjustment at TWC.

Originally posted by JeffSmall
(snip) Are you also seeing a trend to just "replace the box" on your end as well? Or am I the only one experiencing this?
No. I have at times experienced some of the problems you have; just not currently. TWC (out of Sumter) has been out to check my signal levels and 3 years ago they did replace my wiring. I have not gone though "box replacement" woes. In the four years of HD service with TWC, I have used every HD box/DVR they have offered here (SA2000HD; SA3100HD; SA3250HD, SA8000HD, SA8300MR, SA8300HD). I usually reboot my box when problems arise and generally things work fine afterwards.

Originally posted by JeffSmall
*HOW* can that be the SA software? How can that possibly be the software on my machine, if we have the same software? I mean, not to point fingers, but doesn't that just *scream* that it's an issue with the local Fox affiliate and NOT the software?
Maybe. As I understand it, probems can arise from different affiliates (a F/MB one may do some things differently from the Cola one). Also, each market area's network may be configured differently. Then again, your neighborhood node may be operating erratically, your house's wiring may have problems affecting signal levels, or you may have a flacky box.

Originally posted by kevinivey
RoadRunner on the other hand is one of the most reliable services that I have ever had. Go figure. Ha! Well, my experience with RR is a bit different. Lots of "pauses" (while surfing and connecting to e-mail); frequent "slow" connections. RR support says my 2800 to 3200kb/s is normal for 5000kb/s service. I test with dslreports (west coast server); they test with a server in Charlotte. The lag is what seems the most annoying. Regardless, my expectations are apparently unwarranted.

ps: I have never defragged any DVR ever.

Originally posted by kevinivey
RoadRunner on the other hand is one of the most reliable services that I have ever had. Go figure.

I agree, I cant recall ever having any problems with my RR service (knock on wood).

Originally posted by bdenman
RR support says my 2800 to 3200kb/s is normal for 5000kb/s service.

ps: I have never defragged any DVR ever.

It was my understanding (I could be wrong) that the RR speed was only 1.5Mbps originally then they recently doubled it to 3.0Mbps. So if you are seeing 2.8-3.2 Mbps downstream then thats right in the correct range. A dedicated T-1 line is only 1.5Mbps, granted you get that speed both up and downstream with T-1 while the upstream speed with RR is a lot less (mostly around 384kbps). I used to use my RR quite often to play games online with my X-box and/or PC and I would get dropped from the game server at least once an hour, the ping times with RR are pretty high compared to DSL because of the nature of cable vs DSL. With DSL you have a dedicated line to the local ISP's server, with cable everyone on your neighborhood node shares the same line so lag times are greatly increased. But with just surfing the web or downloading files RR is very good and the service never seems to be down.

I have never defragged my DVR's harddrive either. Actually I wasnt aware that it was possible to do it. Is there some sort of option in one of the menus?

Edit: PS. There is a website www.analogx.com that has a very good network speed monitoring program. I think its called NetStat Live. It monitors your up and down loading rates in real time. There are also utilities on there that let you configure your windows settings to maximize your speed based on whether you have cable, dsl, or dial up.

You have to completely reformat the harddrive and all your recordings are lost. I have done it to two different 8300s and I had to call TWC to reauthorize one of them after the procedure was done. I will pm directions if you which, but remember that all of your recordings will be lost and you may have to call TWC to authorize your box. I should had really said reformatted instead of defragment. Sorry

Originally posted by D-rock0030
It was my understanding (I could be wrong) that the RR speed was only 1.5Mbps originally then they recently doubled it to 3.0Mbps. (snip) But with just surfing the web or downloading files RR is very good and the service never seems to be down.

Afraid we are off on a tangent here. Sorry. To conclude this item let me say that recent test results from my RR connection at dslreports (zip code 29154) have ranged from 2447/31 kbps (down/up) to 4169/349 kbps (down/up). Typical results are generally around 2860/331 kbps and vary by time of day and server used. Standard RR service bandwidth is stated by TWC sales personnel (and RR CSR) to be 5000kb/s down and 384kb/s up. Premium RR costs $25/mo more and gives you 8000kb/s down and 512kb/s up. Realistically they measure speed between your house and Charlotte and thus YMMV.

Surfing the web is not usually a problem unless the thing goes into its pause (lag) condition (some pages take 30 sec or more to start loading). I know there are lots of factors at work here; which is why for now I am still with RR. I also know that bandwidth itself does not equate to speed; throughput is also tempered by latency and RR CSR (Tier 3, local) says that 300ms latency per hop is acceptable. In working this issue recently I even swapped cable modems with no improvement noted. It might well be my computer is part of the problem and that my expectations are too high.

Well, I just found out that they're going to do some fancy schmancy engineering thing to my box this afternoon to see if they can activate my HDMI port to work on my 8300HD. My brother in law works for TW and he's been trying to get my HDMI port on my 8300 to work now for a few months with no luck, and he called to let me know an engineer was gonna send a signal to my box to see if it will activate that port after a reboot.

If that works, and I get HDMI out of the box to my TV, then I guess I'll stick with TW for a little while longer...cooler heads may prevail.

I'm still taking them up on my offer to waive my digital services charge for the month, though...heh heh...

*sigh*

I don't see how that is going to resolve any recording issues. And many people report the PQ not as good for HDMI as component.

Yeah, I know it won't resolve any recording issues...but it frees up a component input that I desperately want to throw my Xbox on.

I look at it as a little give n take, hahaha....

I'm willing to overlook a completely hosed up recording of CSI (this time) for the ability to play my Splinter Cell in HD...I guess I'm "easy". Plus, they're gonna take a look at my box and they're gonna credit me for the month...so they're *kinda* doing something...

And it gave me an idea too, btw. My wife and I talked, and *every time* something goes awry with our DVR, we're calling and complaining. Perhaps if they go back and realize that we haven't paid for it in several months because they keep having to credit us for its use, they might get the message.

;-)

Originally posted by Gary J
PQ not as good for HDMI as component.

HDMI wasn't designed for good picture, it was designed for access control!

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
HDMI wasn't designed for good picture, it was designed for access control!

What's that mean? You mean like, child-proofing content?

Is it really *that* much worse?

Originally posted by JeffSmall
What's that mean? You mean like, child-proofing content?

Is it really *that* much worse?

Bingo. I can't tell a huge difference, but I'm sure that could vary with source

Guess we'll never see an STB or recorder with SDI for home use...

WOLO-DT's Sick, we'll have to get a part tomorrow to repair it.. You'll have to watch the backup feed on Channel 25..

Well, I had planned on watching game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals in HD yesterday at 3 PM on ABC (TWC ch 815). Needless to say I was more than a little annoyed when I switched on the TV to see that I had absolutely no signal on this station. One day I'm going to turn on the TV and have every station pixelation-free, audio dropout-free, and be able to enjoy myself. Maybe I shouldn't hold my breath though.

Later in the evening my wife and I wanted to record Desperate Housewives on this same channel. We figured we'd start watching it 15 mins. in so we could skip through the commercials. ABC HD was still showing a blank screen at this point, so I started to record the analog channel (ch 5 on TWC). We sat down to start playing it and about 10 mins. into playback the screen goes blank. We try to FF and REW and nothing seems to work to get the picture back. When tuning to another channel they all come in fine. My best guess is that the analog station had some issues of its own and showed a blank screen for a while. Once the DVR caught up to it in the recording it stopped the recording. We tried to start the show over at the beginning, but the DVR wouldn't respond to our commands for this show. I then tried to simply tune to ch 5 to at least catch the end of the show but only got a blank screen. Our TV downstairs had no problem tuning to this channel though. Of course, my wife got pretty mad and started in about how we pay so much for a service that never seems to work 100% correctly.

If it's not one thing then it's another.

If it's not one thing then it's another.
All this "Oops, well the transmiter that really matters is still working so watch that" stuff really grates on me too.

Will the HD equipment ever be considered more than a novelty? Will SD be the one they MAINTAIN spare parts for when analog is gone? Stay tuned (if possible...)

Thanks, Bob for telling us BEFORE hand that there were issues with your digital station.

Has anyone tried to contact Diana? She seems not to be around anymore.

Sorry - very, very, very, very busy with ITV launches - as are the Engineers. Can't really share more today, but will have things for you (Columbia DMA and Summerville) to look at next week. I'm supposed to be at focus groups this evening but I can't even get out of here.....

Will try to do better. promise.

But if you really need me FAST, the twcscnews@twcable.com is faster way to get me.... as my days get busy the first thing that gets whacked (I'm sorry to say) is monitoring what's going on here... but the customer email inbox gets checked at LEAST every morning and every EVENING...

I'm not doing too well with this new Forum format!

Same here Diana, I think the new format stinks.. :(

Ok, so before you all begin throwing knives, WOLO-DT will probably not be able to stay on air. We have had a failure of both of the microwave modems that feed the
digital signal to the transmitter. Both failing at once is rare, however we think there may be a design flaw in the units that is responsible for the failures, as we have lost one of the two on WCCB-DT as well.Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not have any spares currently available, If we can repair the units locally we will dependent upon parts availability. :mad:

WOLO-DT will probably not be able to stay on air.

For how long? 1 week, 6 months, forever???? :eek:

At this point, we're projecting until October 3rd, 2105 at 8:07pm... :o

Awaiting parts they say will be here early next week.

Wow!! What happened to AVS ?? It looks goofy for me...

-- Cain

PS Any word on ESPN2-HD??

PPS Why are folks from other towns bitching about TWC in a Columbia thread, to a Columbia customer service rep ??

Cut her some slack, please...

:D

Diana,

Help Me. I am coming up on the third day without the ability to record TV on my 8300HD. I'm looking for some info about the problem,can you help?

:confused: Wow!! What happened to AVS ?? It looks goofy for me...

-- Cain

PS Any word on ESPN2-HD??

PPS Why are folks from other towns bitching about TWC in a Columbia thread, to a Columbia customer service rep ??

Cut her some slack, please...

:D


I hope you are just kidding about Diana. She is the Division Marketing Director for TWCSC. Columbia, Sumter, Summerville, Lake City, Myrtle Beach, etc.

At this point, we're projecting until October 3rd, 2105 at 8:07pm... :o

Great! Just in time to see the Cubbies win their next world series :D

PS Any word on ESPN2-HD??

Probably about the same time frame that Bob will have WOLO-DT back up and running (October 3rd, 2105 at 8:07pm... ) LOL :)

WOLO-DT Should be ok now, we managed to correct one of the units yesterday, but won't have full backup until later next week.

Diana,

Help Me. I am coming up on the third day without the ability to record TV on my 8300HD. I'm looking for some info about the problem,can you help?

TechMan,

I'll be happy to help. Please email me with your home telephone number so I can access the account twcscnews@twcable.com and see what needs to be done.


PS - I am starting a new system to keep track of all your customer information so that I don't always have to ask for home phone number, etc again. Wish me luck!

When was Wolo-DT actually down?



I would bet that UHD is more likely to get added to the HD tier. Do we really need ESPNHD 2? Espn-HD hardly shows HD.

I wonder why CinemaxHD is not on TWC?

My 8300HD is better and recording now after a little help from a very friendly CSR at TWC :)

When was Wolo-DT actually down?



I would bet that UHD is more likely to get added to the HD tier. Do we really need ESPNHD 2? Espn-HD hardly shows HD.

I wonder why CinemaxHD is not on TWC?

ESPN has begun mirgrating many of its prime baseball telecasts to the Deuce - Yanks/Sox opening weekend game was one example. I'd imagine they will do the same with college football. Just a hunch.

ESPN has begun mirgrating many of its prime baseball telecasts to the Deuce - Yanks/Sox opening weekend game was one example. I'd imagine they will do the same with college football. Just a hunch.

Yeah and they did the same with college basketball. Most of the scheduled HD games for ESPN-HD they moved over to ESPN2-HD so like 100 people got to see them. Most of the College World Series games are on ESPN2, it really doesnt switch over to ESPN until it gets near the last few games. It would be great to have ESPN-U also, they are covering most of the baseball Regionals this weekend and they'll have coverage of the Super Regionals next weekend. I wish Time Warner didnt seem to be so set against adding these channels that Disney owns.

A quick "Off Topic" favor please -

Press The A Button on your remote (Yellow Triangle) and let me know if you DO NOT receive "The Access Menu". twcscnews@twcable.com. Also if you do receive it and have questions, please direct them to the email address as well. This is our ITV launch - does anyone know the appropriate thread? I'll be looking for it as well.

Thanks,

if you find an appropriate thread please announce it here--in the meantime, it worked for me but after about 10 minutes my 8000HD crashed and rebooted. :(

That's going to be cool Diana. I especially like the instant news feature. I entered the stocks that I'm interested into the ticker, and that's all they show. As well as local and US news. I am looking forward to see what all you will be able to do with this. BTW, any word on the RR Premium Speed of Light Package?

Thanks,
Mark

if you find an appropriate thread please announce it here--in the meantime, it worked for me but after about 10 minutes my 8000HD crashed and rebooted. :(


Would it be too much trouble to ask you to try again and especially let me know if it reboots again - pretty please.

I know, I know off-topic!!!! I have an email into the administrators to get this to its rightful home!

Patience is appreciated!

BTW, any word on the RR Premium Speed of Light Package?

Thanks,
Mark

Just sent another email asking about the progress.

I know, I know off-topic!!!! I have an email into the administrators to get this to its rightful home!

Patience is appreciated!
If it wasn't posted here, I wouldn't have known the option existed. All I noticed this morning was that the box had reset overnight.

If there's another thread for issues like this, please post a link so I can add that to the ones I look at. I'm down to this one and 8300HD Tips and Tricks....

RE: TWC's Access popup menu... I have the "A" option here but the contents appear static w/o a way to customize it like Mark did. When I bring up the news window it immediately closes.. glitch maybe? The other options do seem to work.

Would it be too much trouble to ask you to try again and especially let me know if it reboots again - pretty please.

I know, I know off-topic!!!! I have an email into the administrators to get this to its rightful home!

Patience is appreciated!

after it rebooted this morning all the settings i had made were gone. i went through and reset them but all i got was "no data found". i left it for a few hours and just went back and after trying to alter some of the settings the 8000HD rebooted again. once again after it came back up all content and view preferences were gone.

btw, offtopic stuff in this thread doesn't bother me in the least, but if this becomes too intrusive to others i will be glad to take it to email.

btw, offtopic stuff in this thread doesn't bother me in the least, but if this becomes too intrusive to others i will be glad to take it to email.

FWIW, in as much as it relates to the functionality of TWC's HD STBs I would think it would be of general interest to the readers of the thread.

Ok, I have a question about the new feature. Is it only available on HD boxes? I have tried my SA8000 SD non DVR boxes, and they don't have the functions.

Mark

Has anyone ever encountered a distorted display when feeding your display with HDMI, or in my case HDMI -> DVI-D? I've enabled 480p std, 480p Wide, 720p and 1080i, and the STB set for Auto HDMI/DVI. The issue only occurs when changing from a 480p/1080i signal to a channel in 720p. Pressing the settings button twiceand then hitting exit or toggleing up or down a channel usually resolves it. If I leave the STB set to 720p I don't encounter the issue, but for my eyes I get a better picture letting my LCD scale in the input.

Any thoughts?

Has anyone ever encountered a distorted display when feeding your display with HDMI, or in my case HDMI -> DVI-D? I've enabled 480p std, 480p Wide, 720p and 1080i, and the STB set for Auto HDMI/DVI. The issue only occurs when changing from a 480p/1080i signal to a channel in 720p. Pressing the settings button twiceand then hitting exit or toggleing up or down a channel usually resolves it. If I leave the STB set to 720p I don't encounter the issue, but for my eyes I get a better picture letting my LCD scale in the input.

Any thoughts?
I am using the same HDMI-DVI cable running from the SA8300 to my Sony LCD. Occasionally, there is distortion [picture begins cutting in and out] which can be rectified simply by switching from an HD channel to a SD channel. Probably has something to do with changing the channels too quickly, as the converter may not have time to do the automatic up-convert. Perhaps the engineers out there can provide a more technical response.

TA DA - my first thread!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=544996

marky_mark - I sent a PM on Premium RR package

courier72 & irish4hd - I'll send to my engineers and see if they have any ideas.

Anyone know anything about this?

Time Warner's Getting Switched Up
By Matt Stump Multichannel.com 5/30/05

Time Warner Cable said it plans to roll out switched-broadcast-video technology in several markets this year, and the MSO is eyeing a potential 2006 national rollout that would allow it to reclaim up to one-half of its digital-channel capacity between hub locations and consumer homes using switched technology.

The MSO believes it could place half its digital channel lineup — plus video-on-demand streaming — on switched broadcast video (SBV), saving gobs of bandwidth to expand its video-on-demand, HDTV programming and other new services.

At the same time, the MSO is committed to rolling out digital simulcast to half its digital subscriber base this year.

By definition, digital simulcast increases the amount of spectrum Time Warner Cable needs to set aside for video, but switched broadcast video allows it to reclaim all of that bandwidth, and more, for future applications.

“The history of cable has been chapter after chapter of system upgrades,” Leddy, who’s been researching switched broadcast video for years, said. “That’s not the right approach any more. We ought to get to a model where we can offer any new channel or service that requires bandwidth within the 750 MHz [systems] that we’ve built across the country. We need to get to a switched environment.”’

SBV will follow on the heels of Time Warner Cable’s digital simulcast rollout. The company plans to have half its digital subscribers seeing all-digital pictures by year’s end.

If I told you, I'd have to kill you.

Seriously - as always we are faily high on the rollout for both these new engineering innovations - because our Engineers ROCK - but no timeline set up I can share with you at this time.

This is going to be great if you guys can make channel changing/surfing seamless. It also can make way for more HDTV channel bandwidth :D

More bandwidth is half the equation but you also have to sign them up. Like ESPN2HD.

Yeah, but it should waive TWSC from doing "HD-Lite" like satellite providers.

Yeah, but it should waive TWSC from doing "HD-Lite" like satellite providers.
I am not so sure about that. This white paper (http://www.bigbandnet.com/technology/tech_whitepaper_alldigit.php) seems to a good overview of the switched video tecnnology's pros and cons. I suspect the technology will fall short in the near term (it is similar to the technology I believe used by DirecTV when they went to 3 HD streams in one channel). Time will tell.

Bruce

Heck, I would settle for a glitch free HD dvr, or at least the newest firmware. ;)

Ok, I'm watching "Without a Trace" on CBS. It just started, and the audio is dropping like crazy. Diana, if you can have the engineers look, it is Thursday on CBSHD at 10-11pm.
Last night I watched the Eagle's Live concert on NBC, and it was beautiful, and had excellent audio throughout the entire 2 hrs. HBO HD was dropping out lastnight however.

Very confused,
Mark

After reading Mark's post I switched over to CBS and watched for about 5-7 minutes and ... did not note any problems during that period with either the analog or digital audio. hmmm

Bruce

Espn-HD has been a mess all day. Severe pixellation, and glitches.

Bruce, I got your call today, and forgot to call you back after the girls woke up. I'll call you tomorrow.

Diana, I finished watching the show on CBS, and the breakups continued as well as pixellation. Afterwards, I switched over to SHO2-HD and watched some of the Bobby Jones movie, and it was beautiful and no pixelization or audio glitches. What's up with the random assult on my HD???

Thanks,
Mark

Just spoke with the Engineers on the Random Assault issue.

In this type of situation, in which pixelization and audio glitches are isolated to one home (which I have also seen because I live in the same subdivision as the Tech Ops Director - we both have HD - and sometimes I see issues he doesn't and vice versa) it is a problem with levels going to the individual converter. This requires some real detective work - as you guys all know sometimes we can send people out again and again and again before we find the solution. Unfortunately we can't go back in time and see an issue, so the guys can't go to last night and CBS 10 to 11 on your converter.... Its easiest to uncover the issue if we can be right there when it happens - and that's virtually impossible. My Headend Director has seen a variety of things cause level fluctuations - hot water heater, neighbor with a HAM radio or illegal CB set up.....

Were not giving up, just wanted you to know its not an obvious solution......

Thanks Diana,

I'm noticing something else since the latest reboot for the interactive stuff. My box seems to be reacting slow compared normal when entering and exiting the "List" of recorded shows. Anyone else noticing this? I will force a reboot and see if that helps.

Mark

Latency for DVR List button is a known error - I have complete story on the ITV thread.

I am not so sure about that. This white paper (http://www.bigbandnet.com/technology/tech_whitepaper_alldigit.php) seems to a good overview of the switched video tecnnology's pros and cons. I suspect the technology will fall short in the near term (it is similar to the technology I believe used by DirecTV when they went to 3 HD streams in one channel). Time will tell.

Bruce

I haven't had Dtv in a long time but I think what you mean is that they put 3 HD channels on the bandwidth provided by one satellite transponder (33.3 Mbps) so each HD channel had to be softened and have the resolution cutdown (from 1920x1080 to 1280 x 1080) because there was only 11 Mbps available to each HD channel.

After reading about the Switched Broadcast technology in the link provided by Bruce, I think somewhere someone will turn to a channel and it wont be available. Here is an excerpt:

"While final analysis is not complete, the statistical indicators are that among the few hundred programs typically digitally broadcast, some subset of the most popular programs, perhaps approximately 100, could be conventionally broadcast and the rest could be most economically provided by including them in a switched broadcast pool, and based on knowledge of subscriber viewing behavior, this programming can most likely be provided at a bandwidth capacity reduction on the order of 50% with virtually no blocking of programs."

"Virtually no blocking of programs".... sounds fishy. What I take from that is that the approx 100 channels (could be more or less depending on TW) are conventionally broadcast across their whole cable network. Then from all the other channels available they will take and make like a "favorites group" based on the viewing habits of you and everyone else on your cable node and those will be sent to your node. So hypothetically out of 300 digital channels available there are 100 broadcast conventionally systemwide and 50 more are in the "favorites group" or broadcast pool for your cable node, that means that they only have to send 150 channels instead of the full 300 to your cable node, means a reduction of 50% in the used bandwidth. So if you turn to a channel that is not in the 100 systemwide channels or the broadcast pool for your node then that channel is blocked and you cant watch it. I'm sure that TW would monitor "viewing behavior" and once enough requests for that channel were logged it would be added to the broadcast pool and channels that werent watched as often would be dropped from the pool. That sounds great and all until the time where some obscure channel actually has something worth watching for the first time that year and you cant watch it because its not in your broadcast pool. I dont know the average number of viewers on a cable node, but what if you happened to live in a very low income part of town and you were the only one there that watched HDTV, then its possible that the HD channels would not be in your broadcast pool and certainly wouldnt be in the 100 conventionally broadcast channels due to the low number of HDTV subscribers. Then everytime you tuned to an HD channel it was blocked. That is unacceptable really. If I'm paying $150/month for cable then I better be able to tune to any channel I want at any time day or night and have it be available to me right then. They would have to change their whole fee schedule and charge less because at any given time there would be less channels available to you at that instant. If I am charged for a cable tier then every one of those channels should be available 24-7. But I didnt read anything in there that said less bandwidth would be available for each channel. Just that to any given cable node there are only 50% of the channels available and any given instant so that only half the total bandwidth is required.

Out of the hundreds of channels I receive I only watch maybe 30 on a consistent basis and thats what this switched broadcast tech. is based on. But every blue moon I want to watch something on sundance channel or independent film channel or the war channel, I want those to be there when I want also.

I have not read the report but if that is what you are deducing from that paragraph, I don't know how. What I get is that about 100 channels will be in the popular pool and the rest in the switched pool. Only if capacity becomes exhausted in the switched pool will there be programming blocked. Even that depends on how much you reduce bandwidth per channel and will provide for more total channels than currently being broadcast.

Wasn't the plan for HDTV to be The Standard for television, and 1920x1080 for each channel across the board, over the hundreds of channels cable was already considering?

Is the current level of cable leaving the head-end fat enough to carry everything, and the wires running across town are fine too, but at my end I need to wait for a new round of upgrades to deliver it all ("Fiber To The Home", or whatever)? Or is it always going to involve lists of things I could get if only my cable company swapped out something else to free up the available bandwidth?

Just wondering...

I have not read the report but if that is what you are deducing from that paragraph, I don't know how. What I get is that about 100 channels will be in the popular pool and the rest in the switched pool. Only if capacity becomes exhausted in the switched pool will there be programming blocked. Even that depends on how much you reduce bandwidth per channel and will provide for more total channels than currently being broadcast.

Gary your very close.

D-Rock - your off base.

Customers select channel - although now were talking about streaming video, not actual bandwidth - you get the same stream that is going to every other home that has selected the channel in your service area. One in a bijillion time you will select a channel/stream that no one else in the entire area is watching, at the same time that EVERY SINGLE customer is watching as many different channel/streams as possible THEN, you wouldn't be able to see the channel/stream you selected, but only until another customer let go of another obscure channel/stream...

Were talking lottery odds.

FYI - I'm not an expert, this is just how its been explained to me. I'm not capable of going much further on explanations. Besides it is still so far out that many things will have been refined by the time you experience it.

Wasn't the plan for HDTV to be The Standard for television, and 1920x1080 for each channel across the board, over the hundreds of channels cable was already considering?

Is the current level of cable leaving the head-end fat enough to carry everything, and the wires running across town are fine too, but at my end I need to wait for a new round of upgrades to deliver it all ("Fiber To The Home", or whatever)? Or is it always going to involve lists of things I could get if only my cable company swapped out something else to free up the available bandwidth?

Just wondering...

bandwidth is finite, so no, for everything, every HD channel, etc coming down the pike 750 is not fat enough, and at some point, neither isl 860 or 1 MG...

So you adapt the way you use bandwidth and static channels are a thing of the past....

Digital Simulcast still uses bandwidth

Switched Digital uses streaming video

So you adapt the way you use bandwidth and static channels are a thing of the past....
My big problem will probably be the 'dynamic' channels not being able to deliver what I want.

I'd like some big TWC data center in (say) Kansas to start collecting terabytes and terabytes of stuff, so when Internet 2 is made available for public use and downloads are measured in gigabytes per second, I can watch whatever stuff I want. Or, actually, whatever stuff the local busybodies who tell cable companies what they can carry will let my cable company deliver to me...

I don't think you will be disappointed as long as you remember its an evolution, not an event.

Looks like Wach-DT bitrate will be reduced. http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/tvstations/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000894518

It also looks like CBS is promoting a subchannel called "the Promo channel".

NBC is also adding a Weather plus digital subchannel.

The network HD will be alot different at years end. :eek:

That bites. I hope when we get to the switched channels or whatever it's called, we regain enough bandwidth to allow us full HD again. Otherwise, I just bought a huge computer monitor...

Mark

That bites. I hope when we get to the switched channels or whatever it's called, we regain enough bandwidth to allow us full HD again. Otherwise, I just bought a huge computer monitor...

Mark

I guess that would depend on whether WACH could/would provide a full bitrate feed to TWC. In other words, perhaps a better quality picture than what you'd be getting over the air. I'm tending to think that would be heighly optimistic though.

I guess that would depend on whether WACH could/would provide a full bitrate feed to TWC. In other words, perhaps a better quality picture than what you'd be getting over the air. I'm tending to think that would be heighly optimistic though.


That not how it works. TWC gets it over the air. Frankly, ota has always looked better than what TWC has provided, and most likely always will.

Bruce,

This new tv has an ATSC tuner in the media box. I was thinking about an antenna. Do you think I could go with one in the attic from our location? If so, do you think the radio shack bow tie would work? Would I need a rotator to change/fine tune directionally?

Mark

Bruce,

This new tv has an ATSC tuner in the media box. I was thinking about an antenna. Do you think I could go with one in the attic from our location? If so, do you think the radio shack bow tie would work? Would I need a rotator to change/fine tune directionally?
Mark,

Maybe, Maybe, Probably not. Attic mounted models don't always work; depends on variables like height and roof type. Some roofs/shingles have a metallic barrier that causes problems and roofs and obstacles like neighbor's houses can block/attenuate the signals. Trees in your area may be problematic with multipath (reflected signalsO. Won't hurt to try an indoor bowtie and go from there. (I can bring my Radio Shack Double Bowtie over for tests). A rotator might add some finesse but I don't think one would be be mandatory for Columbia stations.

Bruce

Bruce,

Do you have an antenna that we could test without you having to tear down your system. I don't want you to have to tear anything down to test it. I could just get one at radioshack and test it, and if it works keep it, if not take it back. I don't know how much I'd use OTA, but I thought since it wouldn't cost me much, I may as well compare it to TWC's feed.

Thanks,
Mark

Bruce,

Do you have an antenna that we could test without you having to tear down your system. I don't want you to have to tear anything down to test it. I could just get one at radioshack and test it, and if it works keep it, if not take it back. I don't know how much I'd use OTA, but I thought since it wouldn't cost me much, I may as well compare it to TWC's feed.

Mark,
My Double Bowtie sits atop the set; no problem to disengage it for a test at your place. I have a larger Channel Master 3016 outdoor four-bay Bowtie (mast mounted) that I could bring over too for a test. Last I heard, the Radio Shack DBT was a special order and not in stores ($15 plus shipping). They have others too that might work.
Bruce

Looks like Wach-DT bitrate will be reduced.


I can receive the tube here at home via satellite. It looks like royal $*** to start with. Tho they do have some pretty good music at times..if you can stomach the
overcompression.. :rolleyes:

I can receive the tube here at home via satellite. It looks like royal $*** to start with. Tho they do have some pretty good music at times..if you can stomach the
overcompression.. :rolleyes:


Now that there's a generation coming along that's been used to seeing bad video online, why not on TV too. :-( It's a damn shame that there likely going to be video quality that's lower than a well received/broadcast NTSC analog signal.

Diana,

Hey, I just finished watching CBS-HD "Without A Trace". I time shifted it by about 12 minutes. There was pixelation, and digital audio dropouts. I missed quite a few sentences of the show due to the audio dropouts. I also noticed a problem with the DVR that I hadn't had in a long time. The show was being recorded as I was watching it. I was 12 minutes behind the live feed, and when the show ended, and the recording stopped, the DVR kicked me out of the program, and I had to start it over on the DVR channel 498 and fast forward to the point that I was at when it kicked me out, so I could watch the last 12 minutes of the show. Is this a new issue as well as the latency in the list screen with the new software update? This show was on at 9-10 CBS-HD, if the engineers can look back at it.

Thanks,
Mark

BTW, anyone else noticing that the number of pages in this thread keep changing? Sometimes it shows the 224 pages, and sometimes it shows 149 pages. The number of posts remains the same, but the pages change... That's weird...must be a bug with the new AVS software... Everything I touch is buggy evidently...lol

Diana,

I also noticed a problem with the DVR that I hadn't had in a long time. The show was being recorded as I was watching it. I was 12 minutes behind the live feed, and when the show ended, and the recording stopped, the DVR kicked me out of the program, and I had to start it over on the DVR channel 498 and fast forward to the point that I was at when it kicked me out, so I could watch the last 12 minutes of the show. Is this a new issue as well as the latency in the list screen with the new software update? This show was on at 9-10 CBS-HD, if the engineers can look back at it.

Thanks,
Mark




That particular pet peave of the DVR functionality is unchanged since launch. As far as I know SA still plans to address in a future upgrade.


I'll forward info on the pixelation to the Engineers.


So was I correct on the phone modem power backup - or dreaming?

Diana,

I haven't called yet. I figured Saturday night probably wasn't a good time to get someone knowledgable. I'll call Monday morning.

Thanks,

Mark

Diana,

I've got a question about VOD. My wife just asked me why the PBS kids has been taken off of the menu for Kids on Demand Channel 851. I hadn't noticed it, but she said it has been gone for a few days. She uses it every once in a while to appease hostile natives. Any info on this?

Thanks,
Mark

Diana,

I haven't called yet. I figured Saturday night probably wasn't a good time to get someone knowledgable. I'll call Monday morning.

Thanks,

Mark

40 person inbound sales team provides full staffing for all call center hours not just M-F. They will be there this afternoon after 1pm.

Diana,

I've got a question about VOD. My wife just asked me why the PBS kids has been taken off of the menu for Kids on Demand Channel 851. I hadn't noticed it, but she said it has been gone for a few days. She uses it every once in a while to appease hostile natives. Any info on this?

Thanks,
Mark

PBS stopped supporting the product. Sorry I didn't pay attention as to why they made that choice when it was first announced.... so much stuff, limited brain cells.

Diana, I'm posting this here because I can't seem to get help elsewhere.

I purchased a plasma TV May 21 from the BB on Harbison. On Monday, the 23rd I called to initiate service with TWC. I told the CSR I'd need one HD-DVR box and two additional lines run. (I live in an 80-year-old house in the Elmwood Park area downtown Columbia). She told me the first appointment open was nine days later on June 1. She asked what window I'd prefer. I said 5-8 p.m.

June 1st arrives. I'm home from 5-8. Get a call at 7:40 from the "guy" saying he's behind. He says he won't make it tonight. Asks me to name a time for Thursday and he'd be there. I say 5:15. Cool.

Thursday, 4:30 p.m: Man calls saying he's behind, he'll now be there at 6. I said fine, I'll be home. 6 arrives; no sign of him. His supervisor calls. Says he'll be there at 7 now. I said fine. Clock turns 7,8,8:30. No sign of him. I call the # back that was on my phone. I told the guy no one has shown up. He says he'd call me back.
And he did.......at 10:46 p.m. I think he wanted to come install the cable then. I said no thanks. He said name a time tomorrow then. I said 5:15. Cool.

It's 6 p.m. Friday and no sign of him. I call the last # back on my phone. No answer.

For the next 1 1/2 hours I was on the phone with rep after rep trying to get someone out to the house. They were saying that the job had been transferred and it would be next Saturday before the install (19 days after the initial call). I said no thanks....I want someone out here tomorrow.

It actually took a call from my wife to get a supervisor that could at least say they'd try to get someone out. They said he'd call us shortly. He did. Said he was contacting his team to see who could do the job. He got back to us. Said one of his guys would call us Saturday.

He did. But after getting my address he noticed I was downtown. He then realized my cable was suspended high up on a pole.......... and he didn't have a ladder. So he has to call around to find one. Says he'll be there after the ladder guy comes. Ladder guy shows up and turns it on. I call the guy back and tell him it's on. Says he's got two more jobs, then he'll be there.

3 p.m. Saturday. Guy shows up. Has only the regular HD box. Not the 8300 I requested. Takes a seat on the couch in front of the plasma and asks for a beverage. Takes a few calls while he's writing up the paperwork and manages to catch a little of the Memorial Golf Tournament.

We go around to the side of the house to look at the crawlspace entrance. He checks it out and then wants to know where the other lines are going. We go back in the house and I show him. He asks if there is another entrance to underneath the house. I said yes...in the backyard. We go back there and take a look. He says it's too small to get in, and he has bad knees. Says he'll have to send someone else out on Monday. He's also in business-casual attire. (He didn't want to get dirty). He then asks what we have in our shed (which is also in the back). I told him there was nothing cable-related in there. Weird.

We walk back inside and he asks to use the bathroom. He comes out, I sign the sheet and he does us a "favor" by charging $20 less than it's supposed to be for all of our troubles. Says he'll call me Monday and try to have a guy out that can run the wires

Question: Why did I have to pay when the entire job wasn't completed?

Today: Get a message on my cell phone asking to set up an appointment for Wednesday or Thursday. I'm supposed to call back and confirm.

What are my options? Or do I just sit and wait on them to jerk me around some more? Is $20 off the best incentive that can be offered? I'm not at all pleased with how things have gone, but I'm a reasonable guy. Just looking for fair compensation.

Thanks in advance.

Owwwch...

IbleedGarnet

PM me your home number - I'll credit the $20 and report unacceptable behavior. I can't promise you anything as far as time, etc until I get your address.

I am truly sorry

Kevin, I don't know what happened to your post, I read your reply on the e-mail (new feature of AVS which is nice) but they charge for running new drops like IBleedGarnet wanted. Although, with the nightmare he went through, I doubt they should charge him if they want him as a customer... Man, Diana, keep those guys away from my house... I like my techs.

Mark

Is ESPN-HD out for everybody or is it just me (Irmo/Ballentine/White Rock area)?

It's on here in Sumter

No problems with ESPN-HD at this time.

Great. My analog channels are snowy/fuzzy as well, but my cable modem works great (more important in this household :D). Wonder if the weather has caused me some problems then.

You can always attribute problems to rain. Especially problems with State gov. WAN circuitsbut I digress... :D TV's been fine here in White Knoll since I got home about 6PM.

Diana,

I watched "House" on Fox tonight between 9-10. No time shifting. I was watching it in real time. There were multiple audio drops and some pixelation clouding. Any word from the engineers on our next course of action?

Thanks,
Mark

I'm also in Irmo and for the past 2 days have had snowy analog channels, dropouts on digital channels, and today my internet connection is going in and out and my digital chanels are gone completely. Hope they fix it soon, I just picked up an HD-DVR on Monday and have not been able to enjoy it yet!

With all the storms the past couple of days, there could be a cut in your line (someone near your home) that needs to be (and I'm not making up this technical term) "sucked out" I hate to say it but with the line of storms coming through over last week and this - any damaged plant it going to take a beating and its going to be very hard to replace - especially replace permanently because the soil is going to have to dry out a lot before we can start to bury the new drops out there.

Keep me posted.

Mine's out completely now. Cable modem is fine, but my digital channels, including HDTV were all off earlier, and my analogs were even fuzzier than they were last night.

I rebooted (read: unplugged for 30 seconds or so" my 8000HD, and now all I get is a black screen. It won't work at all. It looks like it's hanging on some screen about (paraphrasing here since I don't remember exactly) "Accessing the icontrol Service."

hook the cable directly from the wall into your tv and see what the signals look like on analog. (pretty please)

Very grainy/snowy.

Service Call is going to be required- something amiss with the plant in or around your home - I'm not the professional in this arena, but I'm guessing water into casing from cut that either needs suck out or replacement. It can turn your picture around very fast - virtually overnight. I had it happen once and it only really impacted HSD - another time impact on video...

Ok..thanks. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what's up.

I have the same problem with snowy picture on analogs here in Lexington (for about a week). The signal levels on the diag screens of all three of my DVRs are very bad as well when tuning in digital channels. No noticable effect with my RR service. I placed a customer service call on Monday (6/6). The earliest visit I could get for a tech was 6/21!!! I suggest you call ASAP to get in the queue.

I know it's a little off-topic for this thread.

Well I rebooted my boxes, which I hate doing because it takes so long, and my channels are back, and analog looks better too for now, but today is the first day I am testing my HD DVR in my theater room that finished only days ago. And now I have a horizontal hum bar (faint) that goes from bottom to top. It's coming from the cable box, because DVD and XBOX create a crystal clear picture. There is no ground loop, as all devices including my LT150 projector is connected to a Monster Power line conditioner. I'm going to see if it goes away in a few days and recheck all my connections (I know they are secure) to see if I can get it to go away. Otherwise, could it be a bad box? I had an HD box in Orlando through TW and it had a cleaner picture.

Shahram, I have a HD-DVR as well and have never had the problem you are describing. It may in fact be something to do with the box. Or it might just be something from the bad weather we've been having and will clear up after some work down the line is done. I haven't had any problems as of yet with my TW services over the past couple of weeks from the weather... although I keep expecting it to drop out at any minute.

Well again today my cable is completely out including my roadrunner services. It just came back on, that's why I can post here, but digital is all choppy and analog is fuzzy again. This reminds me of the eightys era of cable TV. This is really expensive for me with the Road Runner, and two HD boxes including one DVR and I expect it to work with clean picture quality. I'm not even going to call TW about the hum bar problem I am experiencing until after they get the service up to par (it'll just confuse the techs). I would feel better if I knew if there was a current issue in the Irmo area being worked on. There must be, for things to be changing by the hour at my house. I'm tired of calling TW, called them already twice over the last 2 days. And I use the computer to work from my home office, including a vonage telephone line(not recommended for faxing), so I am really cut off when it happens.

why not call and schedule a service appt? after several months of good service i started having some problems with digital/HD channels and started experiencing cable modem outages on a daily basis. the service guy came out today and replaced the drop to my house and so far (knock on wood) i haven't had an outage all day. i'm guardedly optimistic that it might be fixed.

i wouldn't take it for granted that there is something being worked on somewhere else that might make your service all better anytime soon.

I am thinking there is for right now, because I lost everything again today, and now it is all back with clean analog as well. That stuff doesn't spontaneously occur. That coupled with the other Irmo reports that are recent here. Also the drop to my house was recently replaced so it should be good. I've called them both Tuesday and Wednesday, so I'm giving it a rest today and am going to see what happens.

Mine started working again last night. Analogs are back to normal and I can get all the digital channels and HDTV as well.

IT'S THE NBA FINALS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!!!

Can't our local ABC station keep the NBA FINALS in HD?!?!?!?

Just ridiculous!