Denver, CO - Comcast - Page 2

Yes!!! I just called Comcast and they will be out on Wednesday morning to do the install.

To confirm what SpaceSpiff said, it will be completely free until the end of the year, and then an additional $5 per month starting in January.

But, here's the really good news (I think?): They are using the Motorola 6200 box. In fact, the CSR told me that the Moto 5100 won't work at all. She also said that they would be rolling out the 6208 at some point in the future (that's the one with the hard drive).

BTW, I was Maria's first call about HDTV, so I don't think the word has gotten out much yet.

Tim

When you guys ordered it. Did they say anything about having to have Digital cable as well? I wouldn't mind getting HD from comcast if I don't have to subscibe to digital cable as well. This should hold me over untill the Dish 921 comes out and the bugs are worked out.

Oh, by the way. Did you know about this aspect of the 6200. I just might not go with the 921 if Comcast adds enough channels in the nest few months.


From Motorola "The DCT6200 offers a range of standard digital and analog interfaces, which facilitate consumer interaction in multiple DTV and IP interface configurations. The DCT6200 includes an MPEG encoder, making the set-top "PVR-capable" with the addition of an external 1394 hard disk drive. These enhancements provide an even more compelling, easy-to-use, HDTV and PVR experience for the cable customer."

This means you should be able to go out and by any size Fire Wire hard drive and hook it up to make an instant HDTV PVR. A 200gb hard drive would be great.

That's the line-up from what I've read. Why wouldn't CBS and ABC be in there already? Where's Showtime?

PS When are the Moto 6xxx series being released? My service choice will be based on the availability of an HD PVR. I assume the HD package will come with a set-top box.

Ordered mine this morning at 6:50 a.m. Got a Thursday pm installation. They had Wednesday pm available, but wouldn't work with my schedule.

The CSR had no clue what she was doing. Didn't even know HD was being offered. Then she quoted me $15.99/month. I explained the article in the Rocky this morning stated $15.99 install, free until end of year, then $5/month after that. She kept searching for that deal and said it was correct. Still not 100% sure thats what will be on my bill, but I'll worry about it when the bill comes. She also said I was her first HD call.

My HD install is scheduled for this AM (Tues.). I was told there is a one time $15.99 install charge which includes a "cable kit" containing a set of component cables. Comcast's digital service is required, with the least expensive package ("Classic") starting at $52.99. There will not be any extra charges for the HD channels until 2004. Comcast is currently offering a "Classic +" package for the same $52.99, which includes HBO (not HD).

FWIW, I was told that Comcast plans to have ABC in HD by next Monday night for the Broncos game. I was also told that Comcast plans to have 12 channels of HD (wouldn't specify which...) by year end.

MiD

Just an update, the service is installed. Just to confirm earlier posts, only the limited channel selection already discussed. No Discovery HD, no DCT6100. Installed the standard DCT5100 that others have talked about, didn't even get a new remote. INHD is about the only one broadcasting HD at the moment, does look good.

I didn't ask if you need to subscribe to digital cable (I already do), but the e-mail I got from them today says, "Basic service subscription is required to receive HDTV." I read that to mean that digital is not required, but I could be wrong. I know that I've read that in some places Comcast requires a digital plan, and in others they don't.

I did read the Moto 6200 document on their Web site and saw that about the hard drive add on. Still, I doubt that we can just connect a hard drive and suddenly have a PVR. I'm sure Comcast will want to charge for that.

Tim

That's a bummer about the 5100. My CSR said that box wouldn't even work with the system here and said I'd get the 6200. Oh well, I guess you can't believe everything a CSR says.

Did you ask if you could also keep your existing box? I'd like to keep my old digital box just to run my TiVo. I like the idea of TiVoing the analog and digital channels. The CSR said that would be up to the installer.

I'll post tomorrow with my experience.

Tim

Re: HDTV Installed

MOT 5100 was installed today. DVI port is disabled, which IMHO, is a major bummer. Optical out & DD 5.1 are working fine.

I'm getting PBS, NBC, HBO-HD, INHD, INHD2, ESPN-HD & FOX. The HD stuff all looks great, with the exception of FOX, which is so bad in comparison it's (almost) funny. It'll be nice when FOX goes "true" HD this winter...

I have no idea what level of compression Comcast is using, but I think the picture(s) are less artifact prone than what I've seen from Dish & D-TV. I'm very happy with the quality of the image as viewed on my 100" Firehawk from a Sharp Z10k.

MiD

Would you comment on how the locals look compared to Dish? Maybe you could watch some football this weekend. Sometime soon I will be getting a 50" TV. I can see plenty of compression artifacts from Dish on my 30" CRT.

Thanks,

The non HD locals are analog, even with Comcast's "digital" service; the digital service does nothing to improve the picture quality. I think the picture quality of these non HD channels is not quite as good as the Dish feed for the locals. However, the artifacts on the Dish feed can be so distracting (to me) at times, that I actually prefer a less sharp analog image to the artifact prone digital one. I guess it just depends on which problems bother you more.

The only Denver locals available now in HD are NBC, FOX & PBS. I have not seen NBC in HD from the sat providers, so I can't make a comparison. IMO, the PBS feed looks better than the sats, and FOX in HD looks too bad to bother with...

I watched the NY/Baltimore game on INHD last night and found the picture stunning! If this is indicative of the sports feeds we can expect on CBS & ABC, then I'd say that the cable HD feeds will surpass the sats. Rumor has it that Comcast may add ABC some time this week, in time for next weeks Monday Night Football!

MiD

I had my Comcast HD installed yesterday with quite an amount of work from 3 installers, but after all was said and done I would agree that the picture is at least equal if not better than what I had on satellite. The INHD channels are very nice and from what the installers told me yesterday ABC, CBS and Discovery are all very near to being turned on in HD. I agree that the non-hd channels are a bit lower in quality than sat but during the next storm of some sort I will be glad to have a little lower quality without the interruptions.

Just out of curiosity, why was your install difficult? I had one installer, and he was done in about 10 minutes, including his call to HQ for activation of the box.

MiD

[quote]Originally posted by mayest

"But, here's the really good news (I think?): They are using the Motorola 6200 box. In fact, the CSR told me that the Moto 5100 won't work at all. She also said that they would be rolling out the 6208 at some point in the future (that's the one with the hard drive).

BTW, I was Maria's first call about HDTV, so I don't think the word has gotten out much yet. "

Comment: Maria is alone on this. My CSR said "we were briefed on this yesterday... only Mot 5100 box will be used. I get install Thurs; we'll see.

My install was difficult because of system problems with the CSR that I had not knowing the correct procedures for HDTV.

I got the 5100 and the 3 installers that were at my install didn't think that the 6200 would be coming any time in the near future.

My primary goal is DVI-out on Comcast box. I understand 5100 my have this but it's not "enabled"? Can this get done? By installer? Any advice I can pass on to installers who are typically less informed than you avsforum contributors?

I had the Comcast installer out this morning. He installed the 5100 box, so my CSR was definitely wrong about the 6200.

The install was not a piece of cake because it was his first. Ultimately, I think his problem was simple impatience. Apparently, after getting the signals from Comcast to activate the box it still takes awhile to actually get the HD channels to show up. We tried everything at first: changing the component cables, changing the box, setting the user menu on the box, made several calls, and so on. After about 45 minutes or so the HD channels came on. He didn't know anything about the settings on the Moto 5100 so I had to print the first half of the manual for him after I did my magic. Fortunately, I have done a lot of reading on these forums about the box. He was very grateful that I knew what I was doing.

I have a Samsung HLN507W so I set the box to 720P output (the installer swore that it was impossible!!!) and the 4:3 overide to off. He also gave me an optical cable which I hooked up after he left.

The picture quality on the InHD channels is unreal. Literally like looking out a window. KRMA looked really good, but it was a cartoon so I don't know if it was HD or not. It was a 16:9 picture, so I guess it was. None of the other channels are showing HD material now, so I can't judge them. I also have only heard a slight bit of 5.1 sound during some thing on InHD. I wasn't watching at the time, but my receiver lit up like it does with 5.1 sound. A quick glance at the TV showed a frog (in HD!!!!) on the screen. It then went back to normal sound. I'll see what it sounds like tonight.

My analog channels over the component cable look the same as before, not worse as I have heard they might. I get pretty good analog pictures because I'm getting a strong signal (they had to turn up the amps about a month or so ago).

So, now I have the glorious HD picture, 5.1 sound, and good analog. I was able to keep my old Moto 2224 box so that I can get the digital channels for my TiVo. The only problem is that the 5100 and the 2224 use the same IR commands, so right now I have a newspaper blocking the 2224 (TiVo controls the 2224 through a serial cable, not IR Blaster).

Tim

DVI is not enabled on these boxes. I don't think Comcast does that anywhere. The HD channel lineup card they gave me says:

"Important: The Digital Video Interface (DVI) function on the rear panel of your digital converter is not enabled at this time. Please do not use this connector between the converter and your HDTV set. Component outpus should only be used."

I wish they would enable them because I hear DVI gives a much better picture.

Tim

I hope these installers learned something from you guys. As my name suggests, I'm new to this. Tim, is their any quick advise you can give me if my installer knows as little about about setting up the Moto 5100 as I do?

Also, my CSR said I would get HBO in HD for the "Classic +" fee of $52.95. Is this not the case?

I'll post experiences with the install Thursday. (If I'm not glued to the TV)

J. D.

J.D.

I have a pdf of the users guide for the 5100. I thought it was on Motorola's Web site, but I couldn't find it there. I turned up this link on a Google search:
http://gicout60.gic.gi.com/customer_...487412-001.pdf
That's exactly the version I have. I also found another one, elsewhere but I like this one better.

You can also try http://www.cjhengineering.com/5100faq.htm, but it wasn't coming up for me right now. I've read it before and it is very informative.

I don't know what the various plans cost. I have a digital package of some sort that includes the whole HBO complex, an add-on that includes Tech Tv and Bloomberg and a couple of other channels (that was $5.99 extra I think, but I really wanted those two channels). That package, along with my cable modem service, costs me a total of about $99 a month. That will go up to about $120 in a couple of months I think (I got a special a few months back when I finally got digital). BTW, even before I got digital I was paying a couple of dollars over $100. So, the digital stuff and HD is actually cheaper for now than my analog service was (with cable modem).

Just having multiple HBO's, instead of one, is worth the price of digital for me. I can't wait to see "The Sopranos" in HD.

Tim

The Colorado comcast HDTV site (colorado.comcast.com) shows ABC as being available (although per their reps, ABC is not yet offered).

Has anyone received further word as to when ABC hdtv will be offered? Like many others in the Denver area, I am unable to receive ABC's OTA signal.

Thanks,
N

I doubit it will do any good given how well ABC responded to people regarding OTA signals, but I sent the following to them on their website comment page...
------------
With Comcast now offering HDTV over cable I thought more people would be able to receive your HD signal. However, despite being listed on the Comcast website, your channel is not part of the intial rollout.

Why not?
Will it be by Monday so that I can watch MNF with the Bronco's in HD?

Please try and resolve whatever issues remain and get this done. Considering how poorly you have done so far getting your signal out to the Denver area this would go a long way to mending bridges.

Called today for service. Well don't bother if you're not yet upgraded for Cable Internet service (County Line & University).

Does Comcast Denver really have 80% of thier customers upgraded?

Well after waiting 4.5hrs for a tech to come out the HD install is done....in about 20 minutes. The picture looks great on the HD channels and true digital. I had the old Moto 2100 digital tuner before and I would say that the analog channels look better through the component feed with the 4:3 overide set to 480i. I was worried that the analogs would look worse from what I had heard but not true IMHO. I have a Z1 with 92" screen and at that size a bad picture can really look bad, but it is definetly watchable. Also I read that someone saw ABC advertised as available on the comcastcolorado.com website so I went there and nothing. Looked at the source code for the page and sure enough ABC is there, it is just commented out (code there but not shown.....yet). So my guess is that the web page designer was told to put ABC on there because it will be available shortly, like this Monday Night, but just comment it out for now. However he forgot to comment it out so some of you saw it for a while....woops. We are going to have to stay on top of Comcast about upgrading to the 6XXXX series boxes I was dissapointed they had their big rollout with equipment that is being fased out (5100 series).

here is the html code with ABC included but commented out

Comcast HDTV installed today in the capital hill "rebuilt" Copmcast area. No box but the 5100 available, period.

And although installer thought DVI output was possible, it wasn't. It's indeed not "enabled." My guess is that Comcast got bids for boxes and found that DVI-out would cost a few dollars more and decided it wouldn't be appreciated by enough customers to bother with it. Component hook-up HD looks great and my analog channels are fine.

Another shortcut by Comcast: the RF out on the back doesn't bypass the 5100 so it comes out as Ch. 3. The owners manual --not available from Comcast, see above in this thread for web site for .pdf version -- describes a RF bypass feature that could have been ordered by Comcast but wasn't. Thus a VCR downstream can't scroll through channels within the VCR tuner, the signal it gets is Ch. 3 only. A return to the dark ages of VCR hook-up. The box does have composite out V, A/R and A/L out so it's possible to get better than RF signals out, but the Ch. 3 RF is annoying. Splitter will solve this.

Also, my CSR had said the free-to-EOY HDTV offer would inc. both the the HD HBO and HD Showtime. Not so. These are "premium," just like w/analog serv. so only if you subscribe to either or both will you get access to the HDTV (East only) broadcasts.

On balance this was good experience with competent installer not intimidated by the HT hookup. He had done "a dozen" HDTV installs, mostly on TV sets, and I was his first to request DVI connection. All cables provided -- he had both optical and coax for dig. audio. -- and component cables he said were "probably cheap."

Raiders Monday? My installer said ABC was just a matter of negotiations on cost to carry it, consistent with above in thread discovery of ABC hidden in the web page.

i have an install tommorow morning. my tv is a toshiba 50H82. i was wondering, should i set the box to 720p or 1080i? thanks alot....

brett

OK, So I got my Comcast HD installed on Wednesday, but I have run into an issue. I have a Denon AVR-3200 receiver, and I am trying to use the coax or optical out on the Motorola 5100 cable box. On "analog" channels (those below 80) I get sound out of both the digital coax, and the optical line. If I tune in Digital,Premium, or HD channels, I lose sound and the error/overload light turns red on my Denon. I have tried every possible setting, and nothing works. I can take the coax and optical line off the cable box and connect it to my DVD player, and I get DD sound without changing a setting. Comcast brought a Basic Sony receiver and hooked it up, and the sound worked flawlessly on the Digital outputs. Does anyone have any ideas?? I have e-mailed Denon, but I am not expecting much from that. I was very impressed with Comcast's commitment to getting it to work, but they have concluded it is my receiver issue, so now I am stuck.


On the other hand the video is incredible, and the analog outputs work on all the channels, so I have analog sound and an incredible picture. I have noticed that sometimes the picture is "wrong" like last night the Tonight show was 16X9, and tonight it was 4:3 but still HD, and ER was 4X3, and I thought ER should be 16X9, but I can't be 100% sure since this is the first time it has been on since I got the box.. I could tune in PBS and the picture went back to 16X9, so it appears to be a comcast issue on NBC.

I you have a HDTV monitor and are trying to decide if it is worth it, all I can say is YES YES YES.

Thanx,
Benzyl

First off...
More! More! More! I may actually switch from Dish if Comcast can get ABC and CBS. That will give me HD whilst E* and D* get their PVR/DRV stuff together. (The Dish 6000 sucks).



Have you (or anyone) compared the way the locals look on big screen TVs on Comcast (with the 5100) versus Dish? I see compression artifacts on my 31" TV fairly easily with Dish. I'm going to get a 50" HDTV soon and there's a good chance I'll switch to Comcast. Has anyone switched?

Thanks,
PS Keep the stories coming!

Based on what I've read, you should set the box to the native resolution of the set, to minimize the conversion that goes on. I think this only applies to displays with discrete pixels like LCD or DLP, so I'm not sure if it matters what you do for CRT's. You may have to search some other threads for more info.