Chicago, IL - Comcast - Page 353

I got bored and did a check of all the frequencies used by Comcast here in Schaumburg after noticing a few changes in some ClearQAM channels. There was quite a bit of rearrangement. In the past, they often moved a block of channels to a new frequency. This time, they were shuffled around and repackaged, most for the SD's. I also noticed that they have cleared out 7 channels beyond the 8 currently used for modem downstream, potentially allowing them to add more HSI bandwidth.

Currently open RF's: 2-6, 14-17, 20-28, 31, 32, 34, 35, 70, 96-99, 108-114.

If you want documentation on the channels and stuff, you can find it here: http://home.comcast.net/~andyross/Schaumburg_Cable_Channels.zip

Another new bill, no mention of any new HD, just the following:

Recently WOCK-TV made programming changes to several of
its channels. WeatherNation TV is now available on Limited
Basic channels 392/690 (replacing AAN) and Veria Living is now
available on Limited Basic channels 389/596 (replacing LATV).
WeatherNation TV provides local, regional and national weather
and Veria Living is a health and wellness channel which offers
programming for a healthy lifestyle.
NOTE: beginning 4/16/2013, WeatherNation TV will only be
available on channel 392 and Veria Living will only be available
on channel 389.

Effective February 26, 2013, we are modifying our battery
policy.
For existing XFINITY Voice customers, Comcast will continue to
monitor your current battery at no charge. However,
replacement batteries and their monitoring will only be available
for purchase. Please call 1-888-972-1261 for pricing and details.
In the event of an electrical power outage, you will not be able to
use your service, including emergency 911 calling, without a
backup battery.
For more information, please visit www.xfinity.com/voicebattery.

Also, XFINITY will soon be increasing Internet speeds on its most
popular residential plan and doubling two of its fastest.
Since XFINITY already delivers speeds up to 4X faster
than U-verse, XFINITY makes the smarter, faster choice.
More information coming soon.

There is not much more that they can add for HD, and besides, it takes away from them increasing the Internet Speeds. "You Giveth, you Taketh away", is Comcast's new motto.

The speed increase kicked in today. I just reset my modem and saw my speeds jump from 33/5 to 55/11.

The problem with Comcast, is that they use algorithms to create the impression that people are getting faster speeds, but in turn, they really are not

There are quite a few HD channels that could be added. The Center Ice/MLB EI channels, the RSN's in the S&E pack, and the
premiums that they took away to name a few.
Edited by Spiderman865 - 3/6/13 at 4:40pm

The problem with that, then they would have to take away from the Internet side. Comcast has grown out of space, and in order to make up for it on the Internet side, they are taking away or compressing channels to give more speeds.

I assure you that CC has LOTS of space, at least on the system here. ALL of the analog has been removed & there are MANY (totally) dead QAMs - that have NOTHING to do with the (higher speed) internet - just sitting out there empty.
This is actually the same situation on most of the CC systems; nobody can figure out WHY CC keeps sitting on all this bandwidth..

It depends on where you are. Some areas of Chicago are older 650 or 750MHz areas without all the space the newer 860MHz areas have. As I posted earlier, here in Schaumburg, there are 34 channels available, although some may not be usable due to interference issues. There are 7 clear ones just past where the current 8 HSI downstream channels are.

Also, D3 modems should have 1GHz tuners, so they could also put some channels up higher if needed, although some of that area is also used for MoCa (AnyRoom), so signals above 860MHz could be filtered anyways.

My point is - you KNOW there is NO way that CC is utilizing all those QAMs that previously had (limited basic) analog channels. And while I do understand the difference between using them for an analog vs digital carrier, the # of those QAMs unusable for a digital carrier, would be the rare exception; particularly in an area such as ours, that don't have as much "OTA garbage" as in City of Chicago. Nor are they going to be using all those for their "speed upgrades".
And, all of the previous Insight systems in Central IL (Springfield/Decatur/Lincoln, etc) are 860 systems, so the "bandwidth excuse" doesn't wash down here!
Sorry, but there is simply NO (valid) technological reason why CC is holding off on adding more HD on SO many systems, now that ALL of the analog has been removed - & there is no way I'll be convinced otherwise...it just doesn't compute...
Edited by dishrich - 3/6/13 at 4:30pm

So are you saying that the space available for HD channels and internet is different? Could you add more HD channels without taking space for internet speed expansion?

Yea - again, CC (still) has lots of empty space they are NOT utilizing for the speed increases - at least on OUR systems down here for SURE... (hint: that was the whole idea with eliminating ALL the rest of the analog channels over a year ago... )

Actually you have to take space from the HD QAM's to make room for the Internet channels. Also as Andy stated, there are gaps, due to overlap and noise, so that it makes speeds better, but also you are talking that there is Digital Phone going down the same lines. So what you have in the systems is Internet, VoIP, and TV, and there is a limit to how much can be pushed down the pipe, no matter what people think that catv systems have an infinite capability. They are really no different than IPTV systems like UVerse. Even Verizon is find out with their FiOS system, that they have also gotten to the point that their system has ran out of growth, and in order to build their system up for more expansion, they would have to open more fiber channels and change out the ONT's at the Premises.

People complain about ATT's system, but ATT still has tons of room for expansion and created their system with Future Proof in mind. Only way that systems like Comcast could open more up to their customers, is bringing in another drop just for Internet, and either have Digital phone on that system, or leave it on the tv side.

Here is Cisco's Wiki on Cable Access Technologies. It is dated, but gives the gist http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/Cable_Access_Technologies This article is from Oct. 2012 regarding Docsis 3.1 http://www.lightreading.com/docsis/docsis-31-targets-10gig-downstream/240135193
Edited by gregzoll - 3/6/13 at 5:19pm

Another thing to remember is that, even with analogs removed, they may not be able to simply start using them for digital. The old modulators (or whatever the fancy cable name is) may not be clean enough for use with digital. That means spending $$$ for new ones, plus maybe other upgrades for controlling and monitoring them, etc...

We all know what that means. Prices go up, shareholders want a better return for their investment, so the company has to take out risks with purchasing bonds, or borrowing to pay for the new gear, until their earnings are enough to pay it off from the return investment.

What is worst, is that some areas, they will never put the money into updating those old systems, or under performing, especially the ones that were A/B systems. Then they wonder why they have a high Churn with customers going elsewhere.

Got my latest bill, and a few notes in it, at least for Schaumburg and nearby areas:
WOCK channel changes as mentioned earlier.
VH1 and TLC moving from Limited Basic to Expanded, and no longer in Economy, Family, MultiLatino Plus, MultiLatino Extra.
CrossingsTV (crossingstv.com) being added on 691 as of 4/4.
Extreme 50 HSI no longer available.
Extreme 105 HSI now $114.95 ($99.95 bundled w/ video or phone).

HELLO just a note no programming information about the show you are watching on all channels.

There was a nationwide issue with the Guide data, causing all descriptions to disappear. They have fixed it as of Friday afternoon, so it should start filling back in.

According to this article in the Trib,To Xfinity, and beyond: A critique of television providers. The X1 DVR is supposed to start being available to Chicago Triple Play subscribers in 2-weeks. I guess we'll see if that comes true.

But the device only records two shows at once, a big drawback. And if you want to watch something from the On Demand menu, then it can only record one show. The new X1 DVR will have similar functionality, Comcast said.

The channels seem to have been assigned numbers cumulatively, over the years, just adding in the next one as it came along. This will not change when X1 arrives, the company said. I presume the thinking is that while it may be a clunky, illogical list, it's the clunky, illogical list viewers have come to know.

2 of the issues with Comcast and I hope that (X1 is better at defaulting to high-def, Comcast says.) works for CLTV SD / CSN + SD going to CSN + HD.

Now the other big thing with X1 is no multi room and not being able to use all tuners.

WARNING: The link above requires registration, and maybe payment, to Tribune's Digital Plus, before you can read it.

Sorry about that. Forgot about the Trib's registration policy.

There's a free registration level that allows reading five articles per month, if I understood correctly.

Hello just a note crossingstv.com channel 691 supposed to be up and running on 4-4-13 so far no new channel yet.

Saw this on my latest bill:

Hello Today the digital adapters pick up lot of 600 channels and also the 701-746 music choice channels
I wished that they pick up channel 220 own and channel 386 mctv and channel 593 xflt. because it is listed
as limited basic and expanded basic.

Here in Schaumburg, I do get 220/OWN. 593 is not a normal channel but something like the OnDemand preview channel. It is ClearQAM by me, though.

In addition to the MC and Spanish language channels (probably for MultiLatino), there are also some Preferred channels I'm getting: Disney XD, Hub, nuvo, Science, NatGeo, to name a few. I don't know if they moved to Starter, or if I get them because I have Preferred. It's not all Preferred channels, as there are many others not on the DTA. If I go to one of the Spanish language channels, I get the message that it is not part of my subscription.

I also noticed that CSPAN2 is no longer ClearQAM.

Just a note for Comcast Internet users. If you have the common Performance Internet service, they have increased speeds to 25/5. Before, it was 15/2, but PowerBoosted to 24/4. The 25/5 is continuous, with no PowerBoost. I haven't received the mail from Comcast, but it seems to be enabled across the Chicago area. All you need to do is reboot your modem. If you have an eMTA (phone/modem), you need to also remove the battery or hit the reset switch, which is often a tiny hole in the back.

I noticed that Music Choice-Metal (715) does not work on the DTA. There is no audio, and the video keeps blinking on and off. Sometimes, the DTA's LED will blink. The channel is fine on the full box. All of the other MC channels appear to be fine on the DTA.

I received the e-mail from Comcast. In the past I was getting 25Mbps. After doing the reset I am getting 27Mbps. Not a big increase. I have Performance. You would think I would at least get 30Mbps after the speed increase.