Chicago, IL - Comcast

pgartung · 10-01-09, 09:07 PM

I scanned through the analogs on my LCD TV and a few of the old ones are static and a few more show the message about "your TV is not ready ...". I checked the channels on my TivoHD and the new ones are in the list. I can't flip to them at the moment since I am recording two shows.

PS I did not lose any of the clear QAM HD locals. Of course my cable install is less than a year old and no filters were installed on the line.

sebenste · 10-01-09, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stankia

So why can't they just send them in ClearQAM like they do with the local channels? I so don't want to have cable boxes laying around my house and I like my remotes too...

You don't have much of a choice, unfortunately. Cable box mandatory. They encrypt them so the enticement to steal them from thieves is next to zero.

GumboChief · 10-01-09, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stankia

So why can't they just send them in ClearQAM like they do with the local channels? I so don't want to have cable boxes laying around my house and I like my remotes too...

Sorry to break it to you this way, but no amount of complaining will change the new reality-
Unless you only watch network TV, you will have to get a box.

pgartung · 10-01-09, 09:21 PM

At least Comcast sends broadcast channels in clear QAM. I had Wide Open West cable at the townhouse I lived in a few years ago and none of their HD content was sent clearQAM. The most I got was their music channels.

Stankia · 10-01-09, 09:32 PM

My god, all my TV's (5) are hanged on the wall and the cables are already in the walls. Now I will have to rip all my walls open again, Thanks Comcast

Phil Tomaskovic · 10-01-09, 09:39 PM

Has anyone convinced Comcast to give them a real box vs that cheap DTA with RF only?
I already have a HD-DVR and Tivo with cable card in the family room. I'd like something that works in the bedroom. If I hook up the DTA, I'll lose the QAM local HD channels. Also my Panasonic dvd-recorder won't work with the DTA.

GumboChief · 10-01-09, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stankia

My god, all my TV's (5) are hanged on the wall and the cables are already in the walls. Now I will have to rip all my walls open again, Thanks Comcast

Do they support cablecard?
If so, you can "fix" this without breaking the drywall.

GumboChief · 10-01-09, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Tomaskovic

Has anyone convinced Comcast to give them a real box vs that cheap DTA with RF only?
I already have a HD-DVR and Tivo with cable card in the family room. I'd like something that works in the bedroom. If I hook up the DTA, I'll lose the QAM local HD channels. Also my Panasonic dvd-recorder won't work with the DTA.

Just today, my friend picked up one moto DCX dvr box, and two HD non-dvr boxes. As long as you are willing to pay, they will provide them, pending availability.
He lives in Lombard.

FSugino · 10-01-09, 11:42 PM

Comcast is finally starting to roll out the system upgrades, and with that comes a bunch of new HD channels for the various area headends. I've updated the list of Comcast HD channels with the usual warning that certain areas may not have all the channels listed (some channels go live at the end of October).

I've incorporated new channel info from Chicago, Plano and Joliet into the list (they seem to be most complete), but I'm sure there are errors in here, too. Please send me any corrections and I'll put them in for the next release (probably in a week). I'd also appreciate if people with the new channels can send me the channel designators info so I can complete the table.

Thanks.

radioinsomnia · 10-02-09, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GumboChief

As long as you are willing to pay, they will provide them, pending availability.

Yep, that's the thing: money.

DTAs are free, but a "real" box means you get dinged for an additional digital outlet. I would rather lose a tuner on my TiVo S2DT than give Comcast another $5.99/month. (It's not my only TiVo, or else it would be a different story.)

Rammitinski · 10-02-09, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stankia

What the hell happened, I'm missing like half of my channels! CBS 2 HD is gone and several other Analog channels. I'm using QAM without any cable boxes on my TV's. What is going on? Will the channels get back or do I need some stupid cable box? BTW on one of my channels I got a message that says something along the lines of "your TV isn't prepared for comcast digital network enhancement"... It's a $2000 TV for christ sakes...

If it's just the local digitals you want, then try a re-scan. They occasionally move them around. They should at least still be leaving all of those in the clear.

Rammitinski · 10-02-09, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Tomaskovic

Has anyone convinced Comcast to give them a real box vs that cheap DTA with RF only?
I already have a HD-DVR and Tivo with cable card in the family room. I'd like something that works in the bedroom. If I hook up the DTA, I'll lose the QAM local HD channels. Also my Panasonic dvd-recorder won't work with the DTA.

You need to split the signal, with one feed going to the DTA, and the other going to your QAM tuners.

At least that way you'll still get the local HD's on the TV, and be able to record from the digital locals (different channels) through the Panny's tuner.

Otherwise, for recording from all the other channels with the recorder, if you want to be able to record from more than one channel unattended, you'd have to have one of their tuners which has a timer feature so that it can change channels on it's own.

SteelCity66 · 10-02-09, 11:16 AM

Anyone else getting a ton of breakup on the local HD channels this morning? All the olympic coverage has been horrible for me, audio drops, picture drops, massive pixelation.

Sullen · 10-02-09, 11:16 AM

I noticed that you have G4 as being in the digital starter package, but currently I'm not authorized to get that channel. I'm located in the city in the 60641 zip. Am I suppose to be receiving that channel?

dattier · 10-02-09, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b_scott

so most people are seeing VH1, MTV, Comedy Central, and Travel in HD?

Quote:

Originally Posted by retromzc

Yup! In Plano all of the new promised hd channels are up.

Not here in Chicago Area 2. The new HD channels in the 290's are not coming in, and 294 still has G4 in SD.

andyross63 · 10-02-09, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rammitinski

You need to split the signal, with one feed going to the DTA, and the other going to your QAM tuners.

At least that way you'll still get the local HD's on the TV, and be able to record from the digital locals (different channels) through the Panny's tuner.

Otherwise, for recording from all the other channels with the recorder, if you want to be able to record from more than one channel unattended, you'd have to have one of their tuners which has a timer feature so that it can change channels on it's own.

One of the problems with the DTA is that they are RF only output. If you want to use the same TV to watch clearQAM HD and any scrambled through the DTA (assuming they start scrambling), then you will need an RF switch.

Otherwise, you could use an SD box, which at least has composite output.

GumboChief · 10-02-09, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dattier

Not here in Chicago Area 2.* The new HD channels in the 290's are not coming in, and 294 still has G4 in SD.

Live in Chicago Lakeview neighborhood. Is that area 2? I never know

Nothing new here, either. Here's hoping I get Comedy Central before SouthPark comes back next week.

Me wants Cartman in HD

Rammitinski · 10-02-09, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyross63

One of the problems with the DTA is that they are RF only output. If you want to use the same TV to watch clearQAM HD and any scrambled through the DTA (assuming they start scrambling), then you will need an RF switch.

That's right - I forgot about that. You could use an old VCR to convert it to composite, also.

aparch · 10-02-09, 09:28 PM

Still getting the Clear-QAM channels in the upper level channel numbers, but lost their analog equivalent on the lower level.

Landlord hasn't said anything himself about the loss of channels, not sure if he's even noticed since he just watches the locals.

I was half hoping for the NHL Freeview channels to be in Clear-QAM when I went through and re-scanned to eliminate the now non-existant channels, but I couldn't get that lucky.

b_scott · 10-03-09, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioinsomnia

I have the new HD channels here in Naperville. and my TiVo caught the new lineup after a forced service connection. Here's what I have now that I didn't before:

293 Travel Channel HD
294 Comedy Central HD
296 MTV HD
297 VH1 HD

yeah these 4 should have been added to mine, yet have not. I live in the city.

b_scott · 10-03-09, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GumboChief

Live in Chicago Lakeview neighborhood. Is that area 2? I never know

Nothing new here, either. Here's hoping I get Comedy Central before SouthPark comes back next week.

Me wants Cartman in HD

same here!

ours is Area 1,4,5.

b_scott · 10-03-09, 10:46 AM

still none here. trying to get a comcast rep in chat.

b_scott · 10-03-09, 11:04 AM

They are not available yet in 1,4,5 per a comcast rep (Jomarie)

No word on when they will be.

dattier · 10-03-09, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GumboChief

Live in Chicago Lakeview neighborhood. Is that area 2? I never know

No, it's area 1. I'm not sure of the exact boundaries, but there basically are five sectors spreading out from downtown, numbered counterclockwise from north to west to southeast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by b_scott

They are not available yet in 1,4,5 per a comcast rep (Jomarie)

No word on when they will be.

The rep I got, whose name was unintelligible when she picked up the line and again when I asked her to repeat it, told me the same: nothing listed in upcoming changes as far as she could see, and we'd have to settle for viewing those channels in SD.

This time the burbs got some HD channels before the city.

FSugino: please update your table to indicate that 293-298 are available in "some suburbs" and not "Chicago and some suburbs."

retromzc · 10-03-09, 09:19 PM

MORE CHANGES COMING IN PLANO AREA

According to the letter I received in the mail today from Comcast, the following changes are coming at the end of October.

Effective October 27, 2009 the remaining Expanded Basic channels (29-75) will be transmitted in digital format only. Looks like all of them to me.

Effective October 28, 2009 the following HD channels will be added to Digital Starter:
Ch. 295 BET HD Ch. 292 In Demand HD ppv Ch. 320 truTV HD
Ch. 460 Game ppv HD Ch. 319 Turner Classic Movies HD Ch. 270 Weather Channel HD
Ch. 318 Hdline News HDCh. 450 Team ppv HD

Effective October 28, 2009 The following channel will be added to Digital Classic:
Ch. 298 CMT HD

Effective October 28, 2009 The following premium channels will be added:
Ch. 316 5StarMax HD Ch. 302 HBO Family HD Ch. 306 More Max HD
Ch. 307 Action Max HD Ch. 305 HBO Latino HD Ch. 310 Showtime Extreme HD
Ch. 300 HBO 2 HD Ch. 303 HBO Signature HD Ch. 309 Showtime Showcase HD
Ch. 301 HBO Comedy HD Ch. 304 HBO Zone HD Ch. 308 Showtime Too Hd
Ch. 314 Movie Channel HDCh. 315 Movie Channel Xtra HD

Effective October 28, 2009 the following channels will be added to Sports Package:
Ch. 232 CBS College HD Ch. 236 Tennis Channel HD

Also on October 28, 2009 a whole slew of South Asian and Hispanic channels (too numerous to post here)

As I mentioned this was in a letter from Comcast affecting the Plano (I believe Aurora) headend.

labnpei · 10-05-09, 07:50 AM

anyone else losing the digital signal for fox during the bears games? the last 2 games while watching i have lost the signal and the tv switches to channel 5-after a few minutes i am able to get it back. it also seems odd it goes to channel 5 each time-any thoughts? my tv is hooked up to cable from the wall, no box.

keithj · 10-05-09, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retromzc

MORE CHANGES COMING IN PLANO AREA

According to the letter I received in the mail today from Comcast, the following changes are coming at the end of October.

Effective October 27, 2009 the remaining Expanded Basic channels (29-75) will be transmitted in digital format only. Looks like all of them to me.

Effective October 28, 2009 the following HD channels will be added to Digital Starter:
Ch. 295 BET HD Ch. 292 In Demand HD ppv Ch. 320 truTV HD
Ch. 460 Game ppv HD Ch. 319 Turner Classic Movies HD Ch. 270 Weather Channel HD
Ch. 318 Hdline News HDCh. 450 Team ppv HD

Effective October 28, 2009 The following channel will be added to Digital Classic:
Ch. 298 CMT HD

Effective October 28, 2009 The following premium channels will be added:
Ch. 316 5StarMax HD Ch. 302 HBO Family HD Ch. 306 More Max HD
Ch. 307 Action Max HD Ch. 305 HBO Latino HD Ch. 310 Showtime Extreme HD
Ch. 300 HBO 2 HD Ch. 303 HBO Signature HD Ch. 309 Showtime Showcase HD
Ch. 301 HBO Comedy HD Ch. 304 HBO Zone HD Ch. 308 Showtime Too Hd
Ch. 314 Movie Channel HDCh. 315 Movie Channel Xtra HD

Effective October 28, 2009 the following channels will be added to Sports Package:
Ch. 232 CBS College HD Ch. 236 Tennis Channel HD

Also on October 28, 2009 a whole slew of South Asian and Hispanic channels (too numerous to post here)

As I mentioned this was in a letter from Comcast affecting the Plano (I believe Aurora) headend.

Hopefully this effects Oswego as well?

Any other areas having outages with Comcast over the past couple of days. In Oswego we lost Internet Saturday night and then last night we lost Internet and Cable a little after 10pm.

b_scott · 10-05-09, 11:01 AM

this sucks. I was really looking forward to South Park in HD.

Maverick0984 · 10-05-09, 11:09 AM

When I do a scan with my tuner card in my HTPC I'm only really getting ION, and PBS. No locals.

Anyone have any idea why?

I've tried Arcsoft Total Media 3.5.256 that came bundled with my card as well as Windows Media Center on Win 7 x86. I'm also not entirely sure what "area" I am, where can I get this info? I'm zipcode 60612 around UIC.

GumboChief · 10-05-09, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick0984

When I do a scan with my tuner card in my HTPC I'm only really getting ION, and PBS. No locals.

Anyone have any idea why?

I've tried Arcsoft Total Media 3.5.256 that came bundled with my card as well as Windows Media Center on Win 7 x86. I'm also not entirely sure what "area" I am, where can I get this info? I'm zipcode 60612 around UIC.

Do you have a TV you can test with? Some tuners are more sensitive than others.

10-01-09, 09:07 PM	#8551 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
pgartung Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol IL Posts: 28	I scanned through the analogs on my LCD TV and a few of the old ones are static and a few more show the message about "your TV is not ready ...". I checked the channels on my TivoHD and the new ones are in the list. I can't flip to them at the moment since I am recording two shows. PS I did not lose any of the clear QAM HD locals. Of course my cable install is less than a year old and no filters were installed on the line.

10-01-09, 09:32 PM	#8555 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
Stankia Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 36	My god, all my TV's (5) are hanged on the wall and the cables are already in the walls. Now I will have to rip all my walls open again, Thanks Comcast

10-01-09, 09:39 PM	#8556 \| Link
Phil Tomaskovic Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Warrenville, Il Posts: 954	Has anyone convinced Comcast to give them a real box vs that cheap DTA with RF only? I already have a HD-DVR and Tivo with cable card in the family room. I'd like something that works in the bedroom. If I hook up the DTA, I'll lose the QAM local HD channels. Also my Panasonic dvd-recorder won't work with the DTA. __________________ Phil Tomaskovic

10-01-09, 11:42 PM	#8559 \| Link
FSugino He said "member" Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Schaumburg, IL Posts: 1,338	Comcast Chicago HD Stations - Updated 10/01/09 Comcast is finally starting to roll out the system upgrades, and with that comes a bunch of new HD channels for the various area headends. I've updated the list of Comcast HD channels with the usual warning that certain areas may not have all the channels listed (some channels go live at the end of October). I've incorporated new channel info from Chicago, Plano and Joliet into the list (they seem to be most complete), but I'm sure there are errors in here, too. Please send me any corrections and I'll put them in for the next release (probably in a week). I'd also appreciate if people with the new channels can send me the channel designators info so I can complete the table. Thanks. __________________ Flicks? Here's my collection.

10-03-09, 10:46 AM	#8572 \| Link
b_scott Gamer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,801	still none here. trying to get a comcast rep in chat. __________________ My Movie Collection

10-01-09, 09:21 PM	#8554 \| Link
pgartung Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol IL Posts: 28	At least Comcast sends broadcast channels in clear QAM. I had Wide Open West cable at the townhouse I lived in a few years ago and none of their HD content was sent clearQAM. The most I got was their music channels.

10-02-09, 11:16 AM	#8563 \| Link
SteelCity66 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 27	Anyone else getting a ton of breakup on the local HD channels this morning? All the olympic coverage has been horrible for me, audio drops, picture drops, massive pixelation.

10-02-09, 11:16 AM	#8564 \| Link
Sullen New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3	I noticed that you have G4 as being in the digital starter package, but currently I'm not authorized to get that channel. I'm located in the city in the 60641 zip. Am I suppose to be receiving that channel?

10-02-09, 09:28 PM	#8569 \| Link
aparch New Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2	Still getting the Clear-QAM channels in the upper level channel numbers, but lost their analog equivalent on the lower level. Landlord hasn't said anything himself about the loss of channels, not sure if he's even noticed since he just watches the locals. I was half hoping for the NHL Freeview channels to be in Clear-QAM when I went through and re-scanned to eliminate the now non-existant channels, but I couldn't get that lucky.

10-03-09, 11:04 AM	#8573 \| Link
b_scott Gamer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,801	They are not available yet in 1,4,5 per a comcast rep (Jomarie) No word on when they will be. __________________ My Movie Collection

10-03-09, 09:19 PM	#8575 \| Link
retromzc Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Plano, Illinois Posts: 505	MORE CHANGES COMING IN PLANO AREA According to the letter I received in the mail today from Comcast, the following changes are coming at the end of October. Effective October 27, 2009 the remaining Expanded Basic channels (29-75) will be transmitted in digital format only. Looks like all of them to me. Effective October 28, 2009 the following HD channels will be added to Digital Starter: Ch. 295 BET HD Ch. 292 In Demand HD ppv Ch. 320 truTV HD Ch. 460 Game ppv HD Ch. 319 Turner Classic Movies HD Ch. 270 Weather Channel HD Ch. 318 Hdline News HDCh. 450 Team ppv HD Effective October 28, 2009 The following channel will be added to Digital Classic: Ch. 298 CMT HD Effective October 28, 2009 The following premium channels will be added: Ch. 316 5StarMax HD Ch. 302 HBO Family HD Ch. 306 More Max HD Ch. 307 Action Max HD Ch. 305 HBO Latino HD Ch. 310 Showtime Extreme HD Ch. 300 HBO 2 HD Ch. 303 HBO Signature HD Ch. 309 Showtime Showcase HD Ch. 301 HBO Comedy HD Ch. 304 HBO Zone HD Ch. 308 Showtime Too Hd Ch. 314 Movie Channel HDCh. 315 Movie Channel Xtra HD Effective October 28, 2009 the following channels will be added to Sports Package: Ch. 232 CBS College HD Ch. 236 Tennis Channel HD Also on October 28, 2009 a whole slew of South Asian and Hispanic channels (too numerous to post here) As I mentioned this was in a letter from Comcast affecting the Plano (I believe Aurora) headend. __________________ Rex B.

10-05-09, 07:50 AM	#8576 \| Link
labnpei Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 87	anyone else losing the digital signal for fox during the bears games? the last 2 games while watching i have lost the signal and the tv switches to channel 5-after a few minutes i am able to get it back. it also seems odd it goes to channel 5 each time-any thoughts? my tv is hooked up to cable from the wall, no box.

10-05-09, 11:01 AM	#8578 \| Link
b_scott Gamer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,801	this sucks. I was really looking forward to South Park in HD. __________________ My Movie Collection

10-05-09, 11:09 AM	#8579 \| Link
Maverick0984 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 18	When I do a scan with my tuner card in my HTPC I'm only really getting ION, and PBS. No locals. Anyone have any idea why? I've tried Arcsoft Total Media 3.5.256 that came bundled with my card as well as Windows Media Center on Win 7 x86. I'm also not entirely sure what "area" I am, where can I get this info? I'm zipcode 60612 around UIC.