Magnavox 2160A & Comcast: Lost *ALL* My DTV Channels!!!

Hehe..seems like I caught all your MIA QAM channels.

I purchased a used Panny EZ47 off ebay (hoping to replace a faulty dvd drive in a EZ48), and it arrived today. Since the unit was functional, I decided to check it out before attempting a drive transplant. Setting it up, and after tuner scan, to my surprise, I discovered a wealth of clear QAM channels, both SD and HD. I went and checked my other 47, and direct tuned a new channel and it didn't work. So I did a rescan on that one, and viola, they were all there. And the previous location of a handful of QAM chs had also been relocated. I have no idea how long they may have been available (or will be..), but it seems periodic rescans may be necessary for the adventurous-not quite sure you want to take the chance and do a rescan only to have them disappear.

I'm also a Comcast basic subscriber...where every day is an adventure in channel tuning.

I have exactly the same problem: Mag2160 working just fine with all appropriate digital channels coming in on the DTV tuner. Then - bam - all but a few disappeared, and channels (eg 28.12 USA) that used to come in fine now show that 28.1 is Scrambled and I get nothing.
Tried the AON technique but got only some home shopping channels for my trouble. (In case it's relevant, this is for Comcast service in Eastern MA.)
What did Comcast do and is there any solution?

thanks for any guidance

If you've still got all digital channels "open" with an AON procedure, leave it that way for awhile and see if they're just moving channels to "enhance your viewing experience."

With all channels in CH+/- memory, you'll be able to see what's happening (if anything) in the future. Only surfing will be a "bitch."

Several auto-scans in a rwow are also sometimes needed to get all channels back after an "enhancement attack."

Thanks for advice; will give it a try. Not too concerned about surfing, just want my 2160 to get the right channels for me when I'm not home.

tnx again

Have tried the AON a few times along with multiple channel scans. Get the usual in the clear channels (ABC, NBC, Fox, etc.), but all the other digital channels that used to appear are gone. In their place numerous root channels show a screen that says "Scrambled Program".

Called COMCAST about this and they basically said, well, yeah, you need to pay us if you want to be able to record a tv show. Not watch a tv show (already paying for that), but if you want to record it too. They now consider that they own not only the signal, but the means by which it is recorded, which they are only too happy to rent to you, for $15/mo (which I figure means a payback time of about 6 months, considering they must buy them in bulk, pay wholesale, etc.) Outrageous.

Anyone else seeing this; anyone have a workaround?

In fading hope...

1. Buy a TiVo Premiere or a Moxi DVR.
2. Rent a cableCARD from Comcast (typically a few dollars a month.)
3. Insert card.
4. Profit.

That's the only way to record (or even see) those scrambled channels without renting a Comcast box or DVR if you want to stay with Comcast. To use the Magnavox, you'll need a cablebox. There's no other real way to use a cableCARD with it.

There is no "hack" or other workaround for encrypted channels.

All you need is one of their cable boxes and you can record from that with any type of recorder (including the Magnavox that you already have - that's what the recorder's "line inputs" are for).

Don't they give you at least one free cable box with your service? If not, ask for one - and preferably one of their regular, fuller-featured models, not a "DTA" if they give you the choice, because there's no way for one of those bare-bones tuners to change channels on it's own.

If they try to charge you for it, threaten to cancel.

any idea of what is the output resolution is for these full featured box's?

Comcast could care less whether you record or not. They are only concerned on getting their money for what come into your home. When they were broadcasting in analog, those people who purchased internet had to be unblocked past limited basic. Now with the digital broadcasting, comcast can now control each channel as to who gets what.

Analog tv's used to be able to tune up to a certain amount of cable channels. After the change to digital there was clear QAM that would also allow your tv to tune certain digital cable channels. Now the cable companies have been given the ok to block even these channels. That is why the Maggie will no longer tune them in if you have Comcast. While it is true the "companies" that provide the content do not want you to have a copy of their shows without paying them for it, comcast is only concerned about you paying for what comes through their lines. It is also true that the manufacturers of todays electronic are also being preassured to make sure the equipment will also not allow any "extra" recordings are being made also. this policing of content has put a damper on people who like to record now and watch later. That is why comcast wants you to pay for watching things on demand.

Comcast will let you have one "on-demand" settop box and 2 DTA's without a fee. You will have to rent any others. Neither of the choices have timers. The work around is to have a dedicated DTA and a Maggie where you keep the DTA on the same channel and just program the Maggie for that channel. Either do it that way or purchase an older style DVDR that has an IR blaster that can change the channels.

The Maggie will still do the 4-6 major Over-the-air digital channels + sub channels in your local area without cable.

720p/1080i, just like the raw cable.

Why do you think the cable companies offer internet? One day the TV will be a computer and everything will be through the internet. Cable will switch to the internet and the cable companies will once again loose their "hold" on providing cable. They will then up the internet "cost of usage". You will not be able to record any cable, but will have to purchase digital copies of shows you want to "keep/store" on hand.

Many thanks for the quick and informative answers above; saves me considerable time flailing about.

As for DTA/cablebox:
I already have two DTAs, will get one of their free cable boxes. The DTA of course will not permit channel switching (as another poster noted); I already have one of them sitting there pre-tuned to the one unavailable channel I really want, being recorded by an older analog dvr. Will the Magnavox be able to switch channels when downstream of the cable box, or does this have the same limitation?

TIA.

The Magnavox can't change the cablebox's channels (doesn't have an IR blaster to do so), and if it's downstream of the cablebox, it's only receiving one channel, not the full lineup of the raw cable feed.

If it's a full featured box with a guide, it should have the ability to set channel changes that the Magnavox can then record. You'll have to set timers on both the box and the Maggy, but with practice and some planning you should record what you want.

Older DVD recorders with IR blasters can change the channels on the cable box, but I haven't seen a new one in a long time.

We still can, but I know we're living on borrowed time. Maybe it will take longer here, since they're still trying to negotiate the purchase on NBC .... it wouldn't do to make a fuss.

As far as 'free' on demand set top box.... mine isn't free and it's my one and only. I was going to try to order another one, but ... they were out of stock and I declined the DTAs. Will have to call them to renegotiate, but was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

As for IR blaster, for awhile I used my panny EA38 with the IR blaster, but that needed an external signal (tuner or CECB) . Now that all signals are digital, even the old recorders with tuners wont be much help. There are external IR blasters that you can purchase, but I haven't heard that any can control the maggie -- they could control another device feeding the Maggie's line input, but that's a little too Rube Goldberg-ish a set up, even for me.

Just the Panasonic DMR-EA18 and EA38, which you can still find if you look around (I see the EA18 all the time online for $170., or sometimes even less). But they don't have hard drives (you might find some LG's which have them, too, but those are generally not recommended here).

The Comcast "On Demand" tuner should at least have a simple "reminder" feature which will change the channels. Probably not a full-fledged, adjustable timer, though (I'm lucky to have that on my Dish tuner).

Thanks for the reply....if I have a 720 TV then I don't need to rent a HD box....what model box should I ask for (understand box models vary by area)?

Oh, I thought you were talking about HD boxes. Yes, you'll need an HD box to get 720p/1080i. A standard def box is 480i/p.

You're probably limited to what your local cableco office has, but if they carry Cisco/Scientific Atlanta non-DVR HD box is probably the 4000 series, with the 4250HD maybe the highest box. But I doubt there's much, if any difference between them.

I don't know Motorola boxes well enough to toss out model numbers, but generally if you ask for an HD box you should get one.

Not sure if they're available any more, but I've been fairly happy with the Motorola DCH 3200. Only tiny problem is when recording HD programs on some stations using the svideo output to the 2160, I have an underscan on some stations. Haven't figured out a workaround, but I think that's largely avoidable by recording on the SD digital channel, vs the HD channel. When watching on tv (not recorder) I use the HD station, and when looping, I also use the HD channel on the 2160, it's just when I'm RECORDING, I sometimes have to check the output to be sure I'm not getting white lines at the top. (One of the reasons I prefer recording from the QAM direct feed)

It has a reminder function, which can be annoying because it pops up messages -- but at least you can set it for unattended channel changes -- and, more important, it doesn't seem to override anything I want to do, and has enough outputs and enough variety (HDMI, component, composite, svideo out) -- so, at least it's better than the dinky "free" boxes they were sending people. It may have been replaced by a higher model (I think there's a 3400, maybe something even more updated?) but sometimes they have older boxes and (sometimes) they can be better -- less intrusive. I also think they send different equipment depending on your region, what cable system was in place when comcast took over (if any). For me, the moto non-dvr stb should be okay since it plays nicely with the motorola recorder. I dont know if I can get another one, but I plan to ask for it -- if I have to break down and get another one.

White line at top can appear when using HDMI and sending 1080i/1080p (pic size shrinks). If you're doing that, try sending 480p and see if any diff.

We have a DCH3200 for family viewing as seen in the first photo. The more recent replacement for the DCH3200 is the DCX3200 as seen next to the bedroom's main stack in the second photo. The DCH3400 and DCX3400 models are hard drive DVRs.

And how exactly does a standard cable box change channels on its own?

The only way it happens with a TiVo is because the TiVo can emit the infra-red control flashes that simulate the cable box's remote control.

The Maggie 2160 doesn't have any "IR emitter" device.

How in the world would the cable box then change channels "on its own"?

The only way that happens is if you also get the DVR feature from the cable company, and have the cable box's DVR change channels to the show you want to record, start recording it on the cable box, but at the same time feed the audio and video into a 2160 that's been programmed to record the A/V feed at the very same time.

Without paying for the DVR feature from the cable company, there's no way I know of for a cable box to change channels on its own.

Please bring us up to speed on how you understand such magical changing to work, because the "reminder" feature does diddly-squat. All it does it put a message onscreen that you'd wanted to watch a certain show and need to change the channel.

My 2160 can't read onscreen messages and respond to them. I doubt anyone else's can either.

Probably depends on the model tuner you have. Maybe you missed it three three posts above yours, but artwire said he has a Motorola model from Comcast that does it.

They might have cut it out on some or all of the newest tuners.

Do you mean 720p? That's HD.

You would want to at least watch the locals in HD live then if at all possible, I would think. After all, why would you buy an HDTV, and not take advantage of the HD you're already paying for?

If they're sending them (and chances are they are), and the TV has a clear-QAM tuner, you could split the signal between the TV's RF input (and run a channel scan) and the cable box, and just switch to the TV input to watch the local HD channels live.

Thanks - RNG 110 is the HD box in our area....

since my wife uses her 2160 to record from local stations only (SOAPS), we run the cable to the 2160 and then to the STB

like others now reporting all the QAM expanded channels were recently scrambled....no joy with AON

Ok, I understand that the DTA's may be useless to most people. My "on-demand" STB does not have a timer-change-channel-for-recording feature either. You would have to have purchased something like that over 4 years ago. Yes you can either go with their DVDR, or you can use an older model DVDR or even a VCR that has an IF blaster that can change channels if you are stuck with the DTA's. I am just trying to throw out ideas for what someone may already have on hand or can easily get a hold of.

My cable box's reminder feature also changes the channel unless you tell it not to when the message pops up.

In our area Comcast has also been pushing the Pace RNG110, a model that doesn't have the RF output necessary for daisy-chaining Philips and Magnavox HDD/DVD recorders.

It took more than a little effort back in December 2009 to get a Motorola DCX3200 from Comcast.

The Motorola DCH and DCX converter boxes have a RF output.