Albany, NY - HDTV - Page 51

Does anyone with DirecTV have any guide data showing up for 10-1 and 10-2. My boxes all just say "regular programming". Its a real pain when trying to record things with an HD-Tivo.

So what's up with TWC Ch. 1808 WXXA-DT (FOX) PQ?? Way over compressed....You can easily see the "Dancing Grass" effect during Football games from basicly not enough Bandwidth for the High Def Picture.

So is it WXXA's fault? Time Warner's? Fox's or a combination of all of them.

I really don't think it's Fox since if you watch the NFL Highlights on ESPN-HD the picture is so much better when they show the Highlights of the Fox Games. No "Dancing Grass" at all.

I wonder if WXXA or TWC is aware of the issue. I know WXXA is new to the technology...maybe they just don't know about the issue.

This needs to be fixed by the Super Bowl. I want to watch my Steelers in Good HD!

Is WXXA-DT OTA still on target for January?? Unfortunately we won't have much "dancing grass" to look at from the NFL at that point.

I have the same problem - Ive rebooted the bos from time to time with no change.

Is this a problem on Direct tv's end with the programming guide, or something with the way TEN is broadcasting?

Time Warner is smoking Crack!! I had it with them.....Enough already!!

I've pretty much made up my mind and switching to Satellite when I move early next year.


This is from the Times Union today....

Time Warner Cable to up rates for Basic with Standard service

From the Albany TU:

"The top-of-the-line DigiPic 4000 with Road Runner Internet service will cost $2 more, at $124.95 per month."

This is the service I have + an SA8300HD DVR for a grand total of $136/mo.

You gotta just love TW!!!

Here's a nice little quote from the article....

"That is a function of the increased costs this industry continues to incur," Taubkin said, citing programming and fuel as two examples. Taubkin could not, however, say how much of the increase would end up improving Time Warner's profits as opposed to simply defraying costs.

"There is no business that I'm aware of that doesn't try to operate to make a profit," he said."


Screw them!! Take your Billion Dollar profit and Shove it!!! I'm sick of getting Nickeled and Dimed to death!!

Sure... and once they add those stations to HD guess what TW will do with their rates? Is that an "oinking" sound I hear?

It appears to me that TW is trying to send all their business to Satellite. I've never heard of this business model before. I was reluctant to switch but they are trying their hardest to convince me I should and I'm going to be checking into it next week. TW: If your listening (and we know you are), way to go, you've got a strangle hold on the golden goose and all this time you thought you were just chokin' the .... um never mind.

Wordz

Not that I'm a big TW fan, but I will point out that my RR modem (4-5 years old) started to fail recently and was causing my connection to be flakey at best. Having no idea what the problem was, I called customer service and actually spoke to a knowledgeable, English speaking tech who helped diagnose the problem within minutes and arranged for a new modem to be delivered and installed the next evening, at my convience. All of course at no cost.
On the cable side, if I had purchased my first HD cable box ( I think it was the HD 8000), I would be more or less stuck with a first generation box instead of the 2 free upgrades I've had in the last 2 years to HD DVR.

In the business model where customer service is king, TWC is doing much better than most.

While I sometimes critical of TWC, I also have some praise for them.

TW3 (channel 0003 or 0585): This channel shows live local sports, such as high school football, Siena basketball, and most importantly: Syracuse University basketball and football.

TW9 (channel 0009 or 0509): Local news 24/7/365

WNOW (channel 0510): Local weather 24/7/365.

On-Demand and iControl channels & movies (channels 1000 to 1090): Viewers can get help, movies, channels 24/7/365.

That being said, I still think the $$$ they charge is outrageous. However, the local sports are important to me. I could pay over $100 for the ESPN Full Court NCAA basketball package in order to see all the SU basketball games, but TWC has put the SU games on TW3 for FREE the last three or four years (at least the ones not on ESPN, CBS, ABC, etc.). I'm a SU alum.

I have moved up from a 3100HD box to a 3250HD, to a 8000HD DVR, to a 8300HD DVR within the past 12 months. Granted, there were additional service charges for the DVR's, but if I bought the hardware for a satellite provider 12 months ago, I would be forced to buy new equipment when I wanted to upgrade.

I've only got one HDTV and it's in my family room. However, I have TV's in my bedroom, pool house, garage, kitchen, exercise room, and my daughter's play room. These other TV's are just cable-ready TV's. My point is that I would have to purchase satellite receivers for each of these locations if I went to satellite.

While I'll be the first to let TWC know that I don't feel that I'm getting my money's worth or complain about the lack of HD channels, I'm generally pleased with the service.

...at least until something better is offered.

I'll agree on some instances.

Personally I hate DTV, but that's me.

Right now I pay $100/month in total for TW AND RR. That's including TWO Digital boxes, one of which is their 8000HD DVR. I'm not sure which "digipic" package I have other than I get all the HBO and SHO channels plus "regular" digital/standard tiers.

The same thing on DTV would end up costing me about $70/month PLUS another $1,000 for their HD DVR (granted it would be a Tivo) and that's only for one TV. Oh, and no RR either.

Not to mention that I'd then have to use OTA to get the local HD channels (and WRGB OTA is questionable--so bad I've stopped watching it).

(note, I do not compare DISH or VOOM--just against DTV)

"Right now I pay $100/month in total for TW AND RR. That's including TWO Digital boxes, one of which is their 8000HD DVR. I'm not sure which "digipic" package I have other than I get all the HBO and SHO channels plus "regular" digital/standard tiers."

$100/month for all that? I'm paying TW $115 for Digital Cable w/ HD-DVR w/ HBO only, HD package ($4.95/mo) and Roadrunner.

On another note... I emailed WRGB asking when they were going to let TW broadcast their HD signal (like the other 3 networks). It's been over a week and no reply yet. Good thing the Superbowl is on FOX!

Let's just say that it's helpful to be "forceful" with customer service at TW. Like: gimme a better deal or I walk.

Exactly, I had to play hard-ball with TWCS twice when they rolled-out their SA8000HD DVR's and then the SA8300HD DVR. Both times when I knew they were distributing these STB's to a "select few," I was told none were available. Each time I was told no... I went to the Rotterdam office with STB in hand and the intention to downgrade my service to basic cable plus RR. On both occasions a new STB DVR was produced "on the spot;" with all services intact I went about my "merry" way! I guess TW "values" a customer who is willing to pay an outrageous price ($136/mo.) for TW's DigiPIC 4000 w/SA8300HD DVR & RR? Or at least the $$ being generated.

I live in North Greenbush (near Albany). What antenna will enable me to receive channel 6 HD OTA? I would like just a small antenna I can put in the living room.

Also, my TV has an HD tuner built in so will the TV find the channel automatically when it scans for digital channels? I am new to this so I really don't know how to do the OTA part.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Pete

Go to http://www.antennaweb.org and click "Choose an Antenna".

AlbanyHDTV,

It says I need a small multidirectional if I just put my zip code in but if I put my street address in it says I need a medium directional with pre amp.

What do you suggest?

Hello NY350Z,

Channel 6 OTA is broacast on the UHF frequency so look for an indoor antenna with UHF capability. A directional type antenna will work best and avoid the "rabbit ear" type antennas for digital broadcast. The Zenith "Silver Sensor" has alot of positive reviews and might be a good choice. Avoid the "look-alike" Terk brand and stick with the Zenith.


http://www.zenith.com/sub_prod/produ...?cat=49&id=131

I don't pretend to be an antenna expert and don't feel comfortable giving you advice as such. What I can tell you is that I purchased the type of antenna recommended for my location on Antennaweb.org and it has worked without any problems. MasterFX1 has recommended a great site for purchasing antennas.

I do want to ask if you have tried any antennas at all...such as an old set of "rabbit-ears" that you may have lying around. (Sorry Breakstuff) You may be able to pull in Channel 6 with these, unless the signal is blocked by the Corning Tower. You can find more information about the size and location of the DTV transmission tower at AlbanyHDTV.com.