New York, NY - Cablevision - Page 232

I guess Cablevision is going to force us to change all our sets to HD:
Since they started offering HD on the regular channels, closed captioning through the 4200HD stb stretches off the screen. I was perfectly happy before with a 4200HD box matched to my 4:3 crt because I could get the cc through the box (as opposed to the tv) thus not having the cc interfere with the info bar or guide provided by Calevision. Not anymore! the regular SA4200
has no cc capability, so I'm screwed. Anybody have a work-around?

what are the latest cable boxes that CV uses?

i have 2x 4200HD, and wanted to know if there is anything better?

BTW....can anyone recommend a good company that can calibrate my Panny Plasma in the NYC/Bronx Area?

Thanks!

Non DVR box is 4250HD (smaller and faster then 4200HD and has HDMI)
DVR box is 8300HD

As they move to down-loadable security new boxes from LG will be deployed eventually.

Thanks!

hopefully they'll switch it at their office.

Hi Remy,

Also find the 4250 box has a better tuner than the 4200 we once had (we just got a second HD set and the 4250 for it). When we replaced the 4200 with the 8300 DVR-HD four years ago we immediately noticed a more vibrant picture via HDMI.

I agree. I have both the 4200HD and the 4250HD, and the latter is in my opinion better. I haven't changed out the 4200 since I don't watch the TV in my other room so much, and plus I would have to get an HDMI-HDMI cable. Right now I have a DVI-HDMI connected, which is fine for now.

Well no more analog. But, has anyone tried to scan with their QAM tuner? I have. I saw more VOD than ever before. LOL. In any case, clear QAM is still active... for now.

EDIT: Might be all in my head, but I swear some channels look better.

The ClearQAM shutoff won't be until March 2 at the earliest. That is the deadline for getting a cable box.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/c...media-to-your/

Cablevision's new 'PC to TV Media Relay' slings PC media to your cable box, fuzzy on the details
By Paul Miller posted Feb 24th 2010 4:17PM
It's been done before, and in many ways, but Cablevision's new plan for slinging what's on your PC to your TV might be one of the most interesting tries yet. Dubbed "PC to TV Media Relay," the new service will let subscribers that get their broadband internet and cable TV from Cablevision load up a bit of software on their Windows PC (a Mac version is forthcoming) that pushes whatever is on the computer through to a dedicated channel on the cable box. The real win here is the absolute lack of new hardware that's required (as far as we can tell), though we're guessing Cablevision is doing something fancy on the back end to route the video locally instead of streaming it over the entire internet. The service will start trials in June, and is a pretty overt move to keep users from dropping their cable TV service altogether as internet video continues to gain steam and Intel Wireless Display makes something like this into default functionality. In all, it's hard not to see this as just a stopgap, but it's certainly an intriguing one.

Cablevision To Roll Out RS-DVR In April
Will Stop Buying New DVR Boxes By Year-End
Mike Farrell -- Multichannel News, 2/25/2010 11:24:18 AM
Cablevision Systems said it will begin rolling out its controversial Remote Server-Digital Video Recorder in April, and plans to have the service available throughout its 3-million subscriber footprint by year-end.
Speaking on a conference call to discuss fourth-quarter results, chief operating officer Tom Rutledge said that the roll-out of the RS-DVR would begin in three phases: the ability to pause live TV, which is currently in employee homes. In April, a limited function DVR will be available.
"By year-end we intend to cease buying physical DVRs as we begin deploying our network-based DVR solution throughout our footprint," Rutledge said.
Cablevision was the first MSO to attempt to rollout a remote DVR, which most cable operators believe is a more efficient technology than physical DVR set-top boxes. The company attempted to trial the service in 2006, but was blocked by programmers who claimed the service constituted copyright infringement.

The programmers initially won the first round, when U.S. District Court Judge Denny Chin ruled the RS-DVR did infringe on copyrights. But that was overturned in appeals court in 2008. Since then, Cablevision has kept quiet on the service, opting to confine trials of the service to its Long Island corporate campus and select employee homes.
Rutledge also said that the company is investigating offering a wireless telephone service, and has begun testing a phone that would switch between Wi-Fi networks and cellular telephone networks.
"The testing is so far proving to be good and consistent with our view of what is possible and gives us some hope that we will be able to launch additional products using the Wi-Fi network that will look like what some people think of as cellular telephone," Rutledge said.
On the financial front, Cablevision Systems outpaced analysts' estimates for the fourth quarter, reporting revenue of $2.2 billion (up 5%) and adjusted operating cash flow of $682.8 million, an increase of 13.5%.
The Bethpage, N.Y-based MSO lost about 2,800 basic customers in the period, but grew digital subscribers (up 4,800); high-speed data customers (45,700) and telephony subscribers (51,400).

Does anyone have a list of what frequency CV of Woodbury has its channels on? I am experiencing problems on Digital channel 61 but not Analog 61. I was hoping to check other channels on the same frequency to determine if its a frequency or channel issue.

if the dvr #8300 box will be no longer needed how do you record programs to a VHS/DVD tape or disk?

I've asked myself the same question. Either CV has to issue new boxes that also have out to VCR functions or then we're back to the pre-DVR days when one could only watch the program being dubbed and not accidentally turn the box off.

I'm keeping my 8300 as is for I am apprehensive about dependability and would rather take my chances with an individual hard drive than one dependent upon networking (especially for those with SDV).

Will the Clear-QAM shutoff apply to Long Island customers as well? I hope not, I record lots of shows on the Clear-QAM frequencies.

Right now no, they only petitioned the FCC for NYC. However they could seek a waiver for other systems at some point, but that could be years away.

cable theft is rampant in brooklyn and the bronx so what CV wants to do is understandable. in some parts of brooklyn that TWC serves, they installed addressable taps to combat theft.

I though digital cable is very difficult to steal. What are they stealing? The ClearQAM broadcast HD channels? Wouldn't it be easier to just buy an OTA antenna?

Also, what is an addressable tab?

I have a Panasonic DVR with TVGuide On Screen capability. This feature (TVGOS) downloads a program listing used to program recordings.

This feature was working in Brooklyn with the SA4200 converter box prior to the switch to all digital on Feb 24th.

Prior to the change, the TVGOS data was provided on one of the following: CBS (2), WNET (13), Cablevision Guide (80). The DVR detected a host channel on 14 (RF of the Cablevision Guide).

Since the switch to all digital, the host channel cannot be found.

Is anyone else in Brooklyn or the Bronx having trouble receiving updates on their TVGOS device?

The audio "stuttering" has re-appeared on TCM, severely ruining Ben Mankewitz's introduction of "The Greatest Show on Earth". Wanted to re-dub it onto DVD but keeping my older DVD-R instead since the audio is clear on that one.

Wanted to replace recording made a few years back because at the time I didn't realize the 8300's S-Video output could also be used in conjuction with the out-to-vcr function in lieu of the RCA jack. CV didn't indicate this as an option in the instruction booklet and this oversight is a big dis-service to DVR subscribers because S-video generates such better picture quality for DVD recording and those with HD would never have need of the S-video jack for any other purpose.

CV plans to encrypt ALL services, including Bradcast Basic / Clear QAM HD feeds of Bradcast Basic.

If you already have a means to receive OTA TV, why would you want to go buy an antenna?

There are MANY people who live in NYC who just plug their set into the wall to see what's available. It's difficult to terminate EVERY single drop.

Cheers!
-Doug

Terminating a non-paying customer is CV's problem and rightly so. If they can't police their own network, shame on them. Adding encryption to broadcast channels takes the issue and makes it the paying customer's problem. Encryption will negatively effect a lot of legitimate users and the equipment they use.

Phil

There is no reason why Cablevision can't upgrade their infrastructure to support remotely addressable cable TV traps. They just don't want to pay for the upgrade, so instead they ran to the FCC and demanded the right to encrypt Broadcast Basic.

CV's pettition to the FCC to be granted a waiver was based on:
1. The amount of subscribers who subscribe to broadcast basic only is small when compared to total subsribers. The change would not affect many paying customers.
2. CV has promised free equipment (for some period of time, multiple years, IIRC) for broadcast basic subscribers to use.
3. CV stated that truck rolls will no longer be required for changes in level of service, thereby saving the environment from greenhouse gas emissions (I can't make this one up.) All changes in service can be done from the Central Office.


I can see why CV wanted to do it. There are many places that are just plain inacessible, or even too accessible. Anyone with a crow-bar can gain access to a telco closet and hook up 'free broadcast basic' service.

In a suburban environment, with detached homes, CV can better control their drops because they are in the street, on the poles. Most areas in NYC, this type of access is N/A.

Cheers!
-Doug

And the cable would lead right to the perpetrator's home. If terminating the illegitimate users is too difficult or potentially messy for CV then they don't belong in the business. IMHO their enforcement problems do not justify this FCC waiver.

But the perp can always deny deny deny, provided that the tel-closet is not in the perps home / direct control. The perp can always deny entry to CV to search the home.

Theft of service is a theft, no matter how benign it may appear. Their proposed solution is the most cost-effective. The only losers are those who are stealing cable.

Cheers!
-Doug

And the legit subscribers who want to use ClearQAM equipment.

Good assessment from a business perspective.

BINGO! Give that man a cigar lol
I can't see how any consumer could support/defend a decision like this. BTW, their "free" cable box(s) waste a lot of power (even when switched off) so even if you take the deal it's costing you about 30 watts 24/7 per box in electricity. Do the math =$$$

Phil

the energy consumption argument?
that's usually what cable companies use to knock FIOS

i guess you unplug all your appliances, computer equip, tvs and etc.... before you go to bed at night?

Here we go again, this time WABC-DT threatens to pull signal:

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf...ll_signal.html

WABC threatens to pull signal over Cablevision dispute, blocking the Oscars in parts of N.J.
By Venuri Siriwardane/The Star-Ledger
March 01, 2010, 9:33PM
WABC-TV could soon go dark for Cablevision customers in New Jersey.

The member of Disney-ABC Television Group — Channel 7 in New York — said it may pull its programming over an impasse in retransmission fee negotiations with Cablevision Systems.

ABC7 currently offers its programming for free. It said it will give the Bethpage, N.Y. cable operator until March 7 — the same day as its Academy Awards telecast — to start paying for its signal.

If Cablevision fails to meet the deadline, subscribers “may no longer have access to the station,” the network affiliate said in a news release.

ABC said it will begin running on-air messages to alert the 3 million Cablevision customers in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

“Cablevision’s position is that ABC7 is worth little to nothing to its business and its proposed offers have been consistently unreasonable and unrealistic,” Rebecca Campbell, president and general manager of WABC-TV, said in an open letter.

Cablevision countered by saying ABC's demands would amount to $40 million in new fees that would be passed on to subscribers. It urged the network “not to pull the plug” and to work toward a fair agreement.

“It is not fair for ABC-Disney to hold Cablevision customers hostage by forcing them to pay what amounts to a new TV tax,” Charles Schueler, an executive vice president, said in an e-mailed statement.

The dispute follows a recent battle between Cablevision and Scripps Networks Interactive over fees for Food Network and HGTV.

Popular ABC programming includes Lost, Oprah, Grey’s Anatomy, Dancing With the Stars and Good Morning America.

The network affiliate encouraged Cablevision customers to visit saveABC7.com or to call (877) 990-ABC7 for more information.