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Raleigh, NC - HDTV - Page 293

post #8761 of 15081
1/2/08 at 7:17pm
Probably only the broadcasters locally.
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post #8762 of 15081
1/2/08 at 8:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by charliereece View Post

I'm getting black screens when tuned to HGTV-HD, Food Network HD and National Geographic HD. The guide info is there but nothing else. Anyone else having trouble with these?

Thanks,
Charlie

That happened once a day after those channels launched, where National Geographic HD became a blank black screen, and Food HD and HGTV HD noticeably improved in quality during that problem. Apparently, there is something wrong with the statistical multiplexor TWC is using to try to mix three channels onto the same QAM channel, when 2 channels normally are mixed onto the same QAM channel. Mixing three or more HD channels onto the same QAM channel somewhat degrades the picture quality on all of the channels.
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post #8763 of 15081
1/3/08 at 4:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pgs31 View Post

I'm curious. I'm new to HDTV and am wondering which, if any HDTV channels I should be able to access over Basic TWC in the Raleigh area. I have a Sony KDL-40W3000 and a cable connection with no box of any type.

If you search backwards in the thread far enough, you should find a complete answer. The summary is that you'll get just the Raleigh/Durham market over-the-air channels, which is exactly what you'll get with an antenna. The one advantage is that you'll get WUNC-HD 24 hours per day, and not just between 8pm and 11pm.

Drew
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post #8764 of 15081
1/3/08 at 6:43am
Hmmm.... Nat Geo is coming in like complete garbage since last night for me. It's unwatchable with stutters and drop outs. I was going to call TWC today to complain about it. I thought it might be my 8300HDC (p.o.s. if you ask me) and was going to swap it out.

-Andrew
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post #8765 of 15081
1/3/08 at 6:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernJet View Post

Raleigh TWC just informed that in January 2008, anyone who has a Premium channel (HBO, Showtime etc), will be getting the On-Demand channel of that Premium for free. So Digital tier plus HBO will also net you HBO On-Demand now also..

has anyone gotten the free HBO On Demand yet?? Mine hasnt kicked in yet, i still see $6.95 to subscribe message when i go that chanell...
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post #8766 of 15081
1/3/08 at 6:57am
TWC told me that it should be active starting today.
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post #8767 of 15081
1/3/08 at 12:51pm
Hi guys, I currently have an SA 3250HD and an SA 8300HD from our buddies at Time Warner. I called them yesterday to see if they had a more recent HD (non-DVR) box with an HDMI output on it, and they told me that they are no longer giving out SA boxes at all, they are switching to an OCAP box made by Samsung, but of course they do not actually have any of these boxes to give out.

He also mentioned there will be only one box, it is a DVR, and if you do not wish to pay for the DVR service then you would just use the box without the DVR functions. And the kicker, it has an HDMI output but it is not currently "active" (whatever that means)...

Anybody know if this is the straight scoop? If it is true, any ideas when the new boxes would be available?
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post #8768 of 15081
1/3/08 at 1:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GatorNC View Post

Hi guys, I currently have an SA 3250HD and an SA 8300HD from our buddies at Time Warner. I called them yesterday to see if they had a more recent HD (non-DVR) box with an HDMI output on it, and they told me that they are no longer giving out SA boxes at all, they are switching to an OCAP box made by Samsung, but of course they do not actually have any of these boxes to give out.

He also mentioned there will be only one box, it is a DVR, and if you do not wish to pay for the DVR service then you would just use the box without the DVR functions. And the kicker, it has an HDMI output but it is not currently "active" (whatever that means)...

Anybody know if this is the straight scoop? If it is true, any ideas when the new boxes would be available?


that makes no sense. Buying and distributing hard drive enabled boxes for even the most basic users would be a massive waste of money. Sounds like he's confusing hardware with software. All boxes will eventually all use the same version of the Navigator IPG, the DVR portion of which will only become active on DVR boxes.

Still you're lucky you got through. Their phone numbers have been giving me busy signals for 2 days.
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post #8769 of 15081
1/3/08 at 8:03pm
Picked up my non-OCAP box last week. They have both in Southern Pines.
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post #8770 of 15081
1/3/08 at 8:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by charliereece View Post

I'm getting black screens when tuned to HGTV-HD, Food Network HD and National Geographic HD. The guide info is there but nothing else. Anyone else having trouble with these?

Thanks,
Charlie

I had this issue last week when I brought home my new 8300, but if I bypassed my splitter it was fine. They sent a guy out and he said my signal was strong and the splitter shouldn't be the issue. He mentioned something about the setup at the source and by the afternoon of the next day it was working. May be worth the hassle of a service call.
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post #8771 of 15081
1/4/08 at 6:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by spraguenc View Post

has anyone gotten the free HBO On Demand yet?? Mine hasnt kicked in yet, i still see $6.95 to subscribe message when i go that chanell...

TWC told me that it should be active starting today.

Well my HBO isnt getting HBO ONDemand free yet?????
Has anyone else had it kick in yet???
Sprague said yesterday they said it would be done by 1/3,,and it wasnt...
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post #8772 of 15081
1/4/08 at 11:06am
No HBO OnDemand here either...
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post #8773 of 15081
1/4/08 at 12:05pm
Earlier today I checked and it wasn't working yet.

I emailed TWC and they told me to try unplugging for 3 minutes and then letting it reboot.

Now I have it.
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post #8774 of 15081
1/5/08 at 6:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by spraguenc View Post

Earlier today I checked and it wasn't working yet.

I emailed TWC and they told me to try unplugging for 3 minutes and then letting it reboot.

Now I have it.

My experience different. I didnt have and when I called they said for the % of customers who have kept the package they have since before Digipix 1500, 2000 etc you have to call TWC. Appranetently the software only carried over Digipix customers and couldnt handle you if you were not listed as a Digipix customer. I have HBO/Digital etc (which is DigiPix 1500) but its not listed as such in thier system cause I have had for years before the Digipix creation and I never changed since then...So if you have a premium but still no OnDemand for free, then odds are you are a older cable customer and when you call they will change your settings to the Digipx you in reality have. When they did it for me I had the OnDemand in 2 minutes without even rebooting..
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post #8775 of 15081
1/5/08 at 12:32pm
The problem as I believe it to be is that I don't get the OTA as i believe I should. A friend told me that since I have digital cable for internet, I should be getting the OTA stations that are broadcast in HD over TWC system. My digital reception is as follows:

Always get:
UNCDH - 4.2
UNCKD - 4.3
UNCED - 4.4
UNCNC - 4.5
WRAL DT - 5.1
WRAL NE - 5.2
WRAL SD - 5.3
MyRDC - 28.1

I occasionally to seldomly get (with an unreliable signal):
NBC17HD - 17.1
NBC17SD - 17.2
NBC17WX - 17.3
WLFL - 22.1

I cannot seem to recieve (or find) digital transmission channels for the following stations:
ABC 11 (WTVD)
Fox (WRAX)

and I would like to get the NBC reliably.

Any further suggestions? If I understand my friend correctly, TWC should be required to transmit on the lifeline service the digital signals if they are available OTA.
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post #8776 of 15081
1/5/08 at 2:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pgs31 View Post

Any further suggestions?

Try tuning to the channels in this list: Unencrypted Digital TV Channels in Durham, NC
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post #8777 of 15081
1/6/08 at 8:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pgs31 View Post

The problem as I believe it to be is that I don't get the OTA as i believe I should. A friend told me that since I have digital cable for internet, I should be getting the OTA stations that are broadcast in HD over TWC system. My digital reception is as follows:

Always get:
UNCDH - 4.2
UNCKD - 4.3
UNCED - 4.4
UNCNC - 4.5
WRAL DT - 5.1
WRAL NE - 5.2
WRAL SD - 5.3
MyRDC - 28.1

I occasionally to seldomly get (with an unreliable signal):
NBC17HD - 17.1
NBC17SD - 17.2
NBC17WX - 17.3
WLFL - 22.1

I cannot seem to recieve (or find) digital transmission channels for the following stations:
ABC 11 (WTVD)
Fox (WRAX)

and I would like to get the NBC reliably.

Any further suggestions? If I understand my friend correctly, TWC should be required to transmit on the lifeline service the digital signals if they are available OTA.

Usually, if you subscribe to lifeline service only, cable companies generally install a filter on your line that wipes out high frequency channels, which usually includes the digital channels. You need at least standard cable to try that reliably. Also, the local Fox station is WRAZ.
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post #8778 of 15081
1/6/08 at 9:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernJet View Post

My experience different. I didnt have and when I called they said for the % of customers who have kept the package they have since before Digipix 1500, 2000 etc you have to call TWC. Appranetently the software only carried over Digipix customers and couldnt handle you if you were not listed as a Digipix customer. I have HBO/Digital etc (which is DigiPix 1500) but its not listed as such in thier system cause I have had for years before the Digipix creation and I never changed since then...So if you have a premium but still no OnDemand for free, then odds are you are a older cable customer and when you call they will change your settings to the Digipx you in reality have. When they did it for me I had the OnDemand in 2 minutes without even rebooting..


I also did as you suggested and now have the OnDemand equivalents of my premium packages.

thanks for the head's-up on this!
LT
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post #8779 of 15081
1/6/08 at 2:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jnv11 View Post

Usually, if you subscribe to lifeline service only, cable companies generally install a filter on your line that wipes out high frequency channels, which usually includes the digital channels. You need at least standard cable to try that reliably. Also, the local Fox station is WRAZ.

Basic cable is enough to get all the local channels via QAM. That gets me everything the locals do OTA plus 24-hour UNC-HD instead of their limited OTA schedule.
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post #8780 of 15081
1/6/08 at 3:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by larc919 View Post

Basic cable is enough to get all the local channels via QAM. That gets me everything the locals do OTA plus 24-hour UNC-HD instead of their limited OTA schedule.

True, but the OP was asking about lifeline cable, which is different than basic cable.
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post #8781 of 15081
1/6/08 at 3:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pkscout View Post

True, but the OP was asking about lifeline cable, which is different than basic cable.

I have lifeline cable through Time Warner here in Cary (~$11/month). When I switched from Basic to lifeline, they installed a filter that blocks the basic channels such as CNN, ESPN. However, I still get all the QAM channels I had previously. (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, PBS)
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post #8782 of 15081
1/6/08 at 6:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pkscout View Post

True, but the OP was asking about lifeline cable, which is different than basic cable.

They are the same thing. The lowest tier that TWC offers is Basic service.

Maybe you are thinking of Standard service.
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post #8783 of 15081
1/7/08 at 4:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erik Garci View Post

They are the same thing. The lowest tier that TWC offers is Basic service.

I don't think they are the same. "Lifeline" is the service that basically is going to give you channels 2-13. That's it. All the locals are within this group. It is not an advertised package. I think it is mandated by the FCC.
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post #8784 of 15081
1/7/08 at 7:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CCsoftball7 View Post

I don't think they are the same. "Lifeline" is the service that basically is going to give you channels 2-13. That's it. All the locals are within this group. It is not an advertised package. I think it is mandated by the FCC.

2-13 does not include all the locals. Namely, it does not include Telefutura and WRPX ION.

The FCC mandates a basic tier, which must include all locals that TWC carries, and I think that "lifeline" is just another name for it.

TWC's Basic service includes 2-24, 0/98, 100, 102, and 200-257.
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post #8785 of 15081
1/7/08 at 3:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CCsoftball7 View Post

I don't think they are the same. "Lifeline" is the service that basically is going to give you channels 2-13.

Kevad in Cary stated that he pays ~$11 per month for "Lifeline." Basic in Raleigh is $11.90 per month before they add all those mysterious fees. So I think Basic is probably what he was talking about. But I'd certainly be interested in knowing about a local TWC tier that costs less than $11.90 a month.
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post #8786 of 15081
1/7/08 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erik Garci View Post

2-13 does not include all the locals. Namely, it does not include Telefutura and WRPX ION.

The FCC mandates a basic tier, which must include all locals that TWC carries, and I think that "lifeline" is just another name for it.

TWC's Basic service includes 2-24, 0/98, 100, 102, and 200-257.

I'm guessing they are the same, since I specifically asked for the very cheapest plan they had, and these are the channels that I get. Just pulled out my bill, and it's $10.25 for what they call "Basic" service, plus $0.71 for NC Tax and $0.32 for FCC Tax. (I've got Road Runner as well, so the taxes might be lower if you only have the TV package)
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post #8787 of 15081
1/7/08 at 10:05pm
I just upgraded to digital Time Warner this week because after looking at their packaging, (and because they raised prices), switching to digital was actually cheaper than keeping the standard cable + internet I had through them, at least for the next year.

They gave me an SA4240HDC, and I'm trying to get it to play nice firewire wise. My machine seems to detect it, but can't get anything off it. I'd have thought if the ports were completely turned off, it wouldn't even detect.

Anyone know anything about using one of these with firewire to MythTV, or know if I should be able to go back and demand another box? I don't really know what I'm talking about in this particular area, and I don't want to pay for a DVR box I don't need to use. I'm just concerned if I go back in there someone who ALSO probably doesn't know what they are talking about will just tell me it does work but it must just be my fault, and I'll have no way of contradicting that.

Anyone have suggestions?

Ry
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post #8788 of 15081
1/8/08 at 7:39am
Hello all. I'm new here...looking into getting my first hdtv. I am in Raleigh and have basic service only (02-25: I get USA at the moment whether I am supposed to or not). I want to make sure that if I get an hdtv that I will get the local broadcast channels in HD (WRAL, WUNC, etc). From what I have read so far, as long as I buy a tv with a QAM tuner then I will be able to get these in HD while still on the basic plan?
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post #8789 of 15081
1/8/08 at 7:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RBSteffes View Post

I just upgraded to digital Time Warner this week because after looking at their packaging, (and because they raised prices), switching to digital was actually cheaper than keeping the standard cable + internet I had through them, at least for the next year.

They gave me an SA4240HDC, and I'm trying to get it to play nice firewire wise. My machine seems to detect it, but can't get anything off it. I'd have thought if the ports were completely turned off, it wouldn't even detect.

Anyone know anything about using one of these with firewire to MythTV, or know if I should be able to go back and demand another box? I don't really know what I'm talking about in this particular area, and I don't want to pay for a DVR box I don't need to use. I'm just concerned if I go back in there someone who ALSO probably doesn't know what they are talking about will just tell me it does work but it must just be my fault, and I'll have no way of contradicting that.

Anyone have suggestions?

Ry

Search the PC or Mac or Linux forum as appropriate for you.

I can tell you that the 8300HD did NOT stream live broadcast via 1394.. you had to record it 1st.. which "consumed" the "Copy Once" flag such that you could not get that material to your computer (which is a truly wank, but not unexpected, move by TWC). dunno how their other 1394 boxes will behave.

Mike
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post #8790 of 15081
1/8/08 at 8:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by texas_nightowl View Post

From what I have read so far, as long as I buy a tv with a QAM tuner then I will be able to get these in HD while still on the basic plan?

You will.

One issue that you might encounter is that the trap interferes with physical channel 77, which carries the HD channels for WLFL and WRDC. If that happens, you could try asking TWC to remove the trap. (The trap is something that TWC installs to filter out channels 25 through 76.)
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