Portland, OR - Comcast - Page 13

Comcast is trying to switch to digital, and no doubt eventually dump analog, because digital uses less bandwidth. Thus freeing space for all the other things they'd like to sell you. Which is also the same reason satellite is digital. It's sure not for the picture quality, no matter what their marketing people would like you to believe.

I just talked to a Comcast contact, they are in Denver right now but said they would get me a number of Portland Comcast HDTV users tomorrow. They said there were 600,000+ nationwide but didn't remember the local number.

I can't remember the exact channels, but they are in the 80-100 range.

But you should get them, I tested it with a fusion QAM card with normal cable and it worked.

without a cable card they won't be 703,704,708,710 they are funky numbers. Also the QAM tuner should be able to pick up other peoples on demand programming.

At least that's what my 51s715 and fusion HDTV 3 QAM-T card got.

mrock12-

The cable HD channels are very slow to lock and probably won't show up on a scan. Punch in 91-2 and wait, then 91-7 and wait, and 90-60 and wait.
There are a couple others but I can't remember them at the monent.

Good luck

Lew

Since it is Oct 15th today do we have any news on FOX HDTV via Comcast cable yet?

I checked this morning before I went to work to see if I had those channels but I didnt. Maybe I will by the time I get home tonight? But, probably not though.

Reposted from the OTA thread:

"Update to KPTV the Fox Pregame show started at 5:00pm, in SD But then at 5:01, the splicer went online and I am now watching 16:9 again on Fox! Unfortunately, it's looking like an upconvert right now check the edge of the guy's suit on the studio; while I don't see line twitter, I definately see visible scan lines looks like they may be doing either a bob-deinterlace, or it may be shot in 480p I'm leaning toward the latter. Also, it is rather noticably overcompressed. Not as bad as some of the basketball I saw from ABC last June, but still for a 480p upconverted to 720p source, I would expect a little better compression levels. Well, we'll see how the game goes.

EDIT: Well, that was rather uneventful. Called on account of rain-fade but the more I watched, especially with fast motion, but more I came to realize it was definately an interlaced source, but I'm not so sure about 480i it just looked too high-res for 480i, MAYBE it was 1080i to 720p, or maybe it was just a really good upconvert. I dunno, I haven't been following the Fox-HD sports threads, maybe this is already known."

So, at least we know the splicer's online, despite a lack of content but I wouldn't necessarily expect it to be on Comcast the exact moment that they get it OTA. They could've been carrying their ATSC feed all along if they wanted, I mean we've had Fox Widescreen for the last 3-4 years, why didn't Comcast carry them then? And KPDX went HD on Wednesday, but they're still not on Comcast, are they?

A little patience is in order here even if the deal is already signed, there are still technical requirements involved in getting the signal from the affiliate to the cable headends (usually by fiber around here, I suppose they could get it OTA, but it wouldn't be as reliable), then the headends need their own equipment installed (remodulation and what-not) for each new feed, nothing is instantaneous. Hopefully this will light a fire under their collective feet, if it hasn't already.

As my name implies I love football, but HDTV has spoiled it. I couldn't watch cbs or fox today but enjoyed ESPN HD and will enjoy tomorrow on ABC.It's a shame that cbs doesn't realize that HDTV users will watch mainly networks who show HDTV. What's funny is that I got a lot of projects done around the house that wouldn't have got done if Football had been in HDTV. My wife hopes cbs never changes!!

I just turned on the set (1:55PM) , and Fox channel 712 is on the air. Don't know yet how hi-def the playoffs will be. But the channel is now online. 713 is not there yet.

Yep, the playoffs on Fox are on right now in HD. Yay!

Great that Fox HDTV is a reality. I had some audio problems but most the time, true 5.1 sound. I had serious sound problems with ABC when they went to commercials. Could hardly hear them. Maybe that's not all bad!! Curious if others had audio glitches? Thanks.

I had some issues with the signal cutting out occasionally with FOXHD, and some audio dropouts with ABC, but it was an otherwise fantastic sports night last night!

Anyone know if there's an HD programming list for FOX floating around the web somewhere?

anybody know if we get UPN HD too?
Or when we are suppose to get it?

I am currently in e-mail tag with Comcast to find out, My question was elevated so I expect I will get some sort of real answer (I was extra nice and professional in my request ), though probably still vague. I will post here if I get a decent reply.

The folks at the stations have implied it will happen, and that Comcast has shown interest.

dev*

Has anyone located the QAM channel number for the new FOX HD channel yet?

Never mind. I think I found it on 76-3.

I also had a few audio 'hiccups' with FOX, but otherwise it was a fine.


HDTV galaxy's weekly schedule (hdtvgalaxy.com/broad.html) has added FOX's HDTV programming to it's daily lineup.

No news on KPDX, but included in my second reply from Comcast was an annoying little list of reasons they can't divulge much about new channel release times, which included this item:

"-the negotiation and contract process required to obtain the rights to
carry a specific high definition broadcast, such as TNT-HD and HD-Net."

Perhaps a hint of other things to come? Perhaps, not, but I just thought the point made of those two offerings was interesting.

Somehow I got the impression that to get HD from Comcast, you only needed to subscribe to a digital service and rent the HD converter from them. Their web site says any HD will cost me an extra $38.99 a month in additiion to whatever service I'll subscribe to.

Is this right? Could it really cost me nearly $40 a month to get four HD channels I don't get OTA?

I have no idea what you are reading. If you get a digital cable package, HD costs you $5 per month, which is just a surplus for the box. If you have a non-digital service, it costs about the same (seems to depend on area/who you talk to), but you only get the OTA local stations.

If you look at the Comcast website, they list HDTV service as $38-and-change where it used to say $5.00. I added Digital Classic and the HDTV upgrade to my cart and it was almost $100! But when I called a private Comcast sales rep, he quoted me $5.00.

Must just be an error on the site, or for some sort of non-cable service, but it isn't very clear (not like clarity is expected from Comcast).

Oh, I see. That better be a mix up. If they start charging me $39 a month for hdtv, they can kiss my service goodbye, sheesh.

I guess Comcast intends to scare new HDTV folks away from cable! $39 for HD anything seemed outrageous!

Wha???

I am unable to get it. If I push 712 nothing happens, same if I try to scroll to it...goes straight from 710 to 734. It's also not in the menus either.

Is everyone else able to get 712?

It's on for me
West Linn

I actually have Limited Basic Cable for $8/mo. and I also am renting an HD box from them for an additional $6.45/mo. This is all you need in order to get the HD networks. You will also get all the free On Demand programming as well.

I originally found out about this because I called to find out if Comcast was getting the linear Anime Network channel because I couldn't get the On Demand channel. The agent was excited to let me know that Comcast now allows any subscriber to rent a Digital Cable box so they can get just the HD channels and free On Demand content.

I saved on installation fees as well by picking up the Digital Cable box from their Customer Service Center on Nimbus in Beaverton.

--Chris ^_^

Hi all,
I just upgraded my service from expanded basic to Digital Classic + HD. Absolutely amazing picture from the projector on my 106" screen. I could not be happier (unless CBS was available!).

I got different service costs from the website vs. when I called vs. a friend who recently called the Beaverton office. If I just added the HD service to current analog cable it would have been $15 increase per month. If I signed up for Digital cable ($10 extra) then HD is $5 more on top of that. Either way, $15 more per month and that's what I'm doing. I got $10 off for 5 months.

Well I ordered the $40 "HDTV Upgrade" off their site. I guess I should probably call them and ask them what I'm really getting and what I'm really going to be charged!

Does Comcast allow people to install the cable box themselves?

I think you can install yourself. My installation was free. Call them to get it for free.

getting it today finally...playoffs are on now...awesome