Toledo, OH - HDTV - Page 42

It was news to me, and I'm sure others. Makes me feel even better about my choice to go to D*.

Just received my new DVR box. When using the GUIDE to scroll thru the channel line ups, is there a way to delete or not display the channels I don't gte, such as Showtime, HBO, etc.?

Also, is there a way to not display the ad at the bottom of the screen?

thanks.

Short answer, no. The program guide sucks IMHO.

BUT, you can make a favorites list (push menu, select the heart symbol) so you only scroll through the channels you want. There's no way to get rid of the ad as far as I know.

...........

Anybody have insight into updates for the program guide? Just seems like it hasn't changed in years.

Yea, I hate that ad, you know for the money I spend on cable -- I would think I wouldn't be subject to more ads from my own company which I have service from. If buckeye is reading this -- please make use of the limited area with something else.

Some i-Guide news....but does this apply to Buckeye?

GuideWorks i-Guide Version A28 to Include Support for SDV and 'Start Over' Features

Buckeye upgrades VOD with SeaChange software, servers

By Traci Patterson, CedMagazine.com

Buckeye CableSystem – which serves about 150,000 subscribers in Toledo and Sandusky, Ohio, and the surrounding areas of the cities – has upgraded its SeaChange video-on-demand (VOD) platform by adding new software and flash memory servers from the vendor.

The new additions will allow Buckeye to expand its VOD offering – which is available to about 90,000 of the operator’s digital subscribers in Ohio and Michigan – to include high-definition (HD) content.

Since the launch of Buckeye VOD in 2004, the 21st-largest U.S. cable operator said that requests for the service have increased, based on monthly calculations, by about 3,000 percent.

The most popular content for Buckeye VOD is stored using SeaChange MediaServer FMS 200 flash memory-based servers, while long-tail material is stored on HDS 601 hybrid disk-based servers, according to SeaChange. The new servers add more than 7,000 streams to Buckeye’s VOD capacity, which is managed by a newly deployed version of Axiom On Demand software, SeaChange’s open content delivery platform.

“The combination of SeaChange flash servers to stream our hottest content, coupled with the hybrid disk servers operating in a centralized capacity, forms an ideal storage and streaming architecture,” said Jim Brown, director of engineering at Buckeye. “Upgrading the intelligence of the Axiom On Demand software has enabled us to build an incredibly robust platform on which to rollout our HD VOD offering and ensures that our customers enjoy a quality viewing experience every time.”

SeaChange’s MediaServer Flash Memory Streamer is a non-volatile flash memory streaming solution, with no spinning disks, and it utilizes the vendor’s MediaCluster server architecture.

MediaCluster stripes content files across flash modules in a server, and across servers, in an InfiniBand connected cluster, ensuring service fault resilience and scalability, since only one copy of a video is ever required at a server location, SeaChange said. According to the vendor, flash memory runs on one-tenth of the power that disks require, which provides cost savings for cable operators.

SeaChange’s Axiom On Demand platform automates the behind-the-scenes VOD processes, from content propagation, to subscriber and stream management, to performance reporting and monitoring. It also provides the foundation for adding SeaChange’s content navigation, gaming, DVD and ad-targeting applications.


http://www.cedmagazine.com/Buckeye-V...e-servers.aspx

In regards to the previous post about Buckeye VOD HD.

There are now some items in the VOD marked "VOD in HD". The current material looks good, but it is just still pictures with stereo sound music. Looking forward to some real material.

Check it out, and let me know what you think so far...

That stuff has been available for months, if not for at least a year.

Well, I guess you can tell how much I use the VOD service!

Perhaps when they get some real HD stuff up there I will use it more...

Guys FYI... Released today...

Beginning Friday, October 31st, BCS will be adding ABC Family HD (Channel 623), ESPNews HD (Channel 639), ESPNU HD (Channel 642) and Disney Channel HD (Channel 667). More to come...

VidEditor

More good HD news! Thanks videditor.

Hey guys, my family is currently with Time Warner, but thinking of switching to Buckeye in the near future. I also happen to be getting an HDTV in the very near future. From an HD perspective, it seems that Buckeye offers far more channels for sports, but far fewer options for hockey packages. Any hockey fanatics that might offer some advice in such regards? I know Time Warner is in negotiations to get the NHL Network (they already offer it elsewhere), and already offers NHL Center Ice, but our service from them has been less than satisfactory. Unfortunately, Buckeye doesn't seem to offer Center Ice from what I can tell.

Buckeye offers InDemand networks, so that includes Center Ice.

A call to Buckeye can confirm, but this website indicates that it is available:

http://www.indemand.com/sports/nhl/

Welcome to the Forum!

Thanks for the welcome!

Strange. I emailed Buckeye and received this as the opening to the response.


InDemand shows otherwise, though. I wonder if perhaps their data is from past seasons. I wouldn't have thought the NHL Network had anything to do with Center Ice *because* it was run through InDemand. Looks like I'll have to give a call and see if the answer is consistent.

Here is the deal with Center Ice & the NBA pkg. as it's been told to me. It's a combined effort of InDemand Networks & either the NHL or NBA. Buckeye is NOT OFFERING these packages this year (at this point). Reason...The NHL & NBA are also requiring cable systems to aquire each ones program network, which are not strong & cost extra money to all subs.
So basically the stand is... well that's not Pay Per View. PPV is suppose to be I buy a program on a channel, end story. The professional sports leagues are basically trying to cram their networks in the PPV package.
I more I learn about profeesional sports and their control on the TV folks, the less I want to buy a ticket!!! Good thing I work behind the scenes in sports to get my fix.
VidEditor

Has anybody notice any artifacts on DisneyHD?

Ah, thanks for the verification. Well, I guess I could switch to Buckeye and hope for the best with NHL for next season. It wouldn't be so bad if I was a Wings or Jackets fan, but it's tough to get the Leafs outside of Hockey Night in Canada.

Just got the Buckeye DVR package and noticed changing channels is pretty sluggish. Any TIPS or ideas on how to fix this?

Thanks

myboat245x, DVR's are inherently slow. At least all of them I've ever used are. I usually use the channel guide (or hit the select button to bring up the smaller "guide") and select a chennel using it instead of surfing through all the channels.

I heard that Buckeye is getting the MLB Network as of January 1st, 2009 and the HD counterpart will reside on channel 653.

Yellow all,
Maybe someone could clarify something for me. I have buckeye-cable. I
recently made the plunge and got their dvr with the high def package. Pretty happy with it so far. My question is I have a tv in the BR that the channels only goes up to 99 or something. Its an older tv 10-12 years. To be able to watch nfl network on this set, (channel 193),I would have to rent another set top box from buckeye for $6.95 a month extra. Is this correct? Could I purchase a digital converter box myself to get these extra channels or do I have to go through buckeye? Thanks for any input!

I know you can purchase a box and you wouldn't have to pay for the box rental. However, if your box would ever break, you would have to buy another one. I'm not sure if there are other charges besides the box rental, so I would just call them to confirm.

Rowdy- Perhaps their is a third option. Check out Directv Satellite service, they have more HD then either cable provider and may allow you to get both your sports and hockey fix. I've had Directv over a year and have been happy with it.

Cheers

Although Buckeye will activate a box you own, either a Motorola or Pace brand, they have no authorized retailers selling them, and haven't had any for years. That would leave you with the prospect of buying a box from an unknown source, like off eBay. Buckeye requires checking the box for compatibility and 'other issues', which is checking to see if the box is stolen from another cableco. Since there are very, very, very few cableco's in the US that will activate a customer owned box, almost 100% of the boxes you can buy would be stolen. As a matter of fact, I know of no retailers in the US that sell cable boxes anymore.

(The only exception to this is a box you buy in Canada. There is at least one large Canadian cableco, Shaw, that allows customers to buy their own cable boxes, and they do have authorized retailers. I don't know if Buckeye would activate a box bought in Canada, they said you would have to bring it in to them and they will let you know if it will works.)

Once you own the box, if anything goes wrong, you are completely out of luck. Buckeye will not repair it, even for a price. There are no facilities that repair these units for consumers.

The fee for activating a customer owned box is $3.50 per month. My strong advice is to simply rent another STB from Buckeye for the second location.

Satellite isn't an option until I move out in early 2010, as the parents would prefer a cable/internet deal through TWC or Buckeye. I'd consider DirecTV otherwise. I think we're gonna go with the switch to Buckeye. Our internet connection was out for a good 12 hours *again* a couple of days ago through TWC.

Thanks for the info!

Buckeye updated the firmware on the Pace 778 DVR's in the last day or so. Added a nifty diagnostic dashboard to the service menu.

Now we just need an update to the i-Guide....and SDV...and DOCIS 3.0...and HD VOD....and more channels...ok, I'm getting carried away...that's enough.

I agree. I wish Buckeye would upgrade i-Guide, wish is really a poor effort using technology.

Anyone know if that 30 second commercial skip trick (programing the remote) works with the pace 778 I got from buckeye?

Works just fine on my 778X
VidEditor