Detroit, MI - HDTV - Page 359

around this time last year, there was quite of bit of addition to the sports pack via additional rsn's and "the mountain", not much since that time...does it look to be static for a while or might more RSN's continue to pop in?

Would I be correct in assuming that when WPXD powers up on ch. 50 they'll be vacating ch.31?

Yes. They also plan to try and sell W48AV out in St. Clair Shores at Ford Cove (RF 48) since they will no longer need it to provide coverage in areas where their signal presently can't reach (the contour basically points towards Warren, and the new signal will have a much wider reach and cover all of the areas W48AV currently do in Warren and eastern part of downtown).

I would love to see someone take W48AV and try to make a-go with it, but I doubt it will happen because WMNT-CA in Toledo is also on RF 48 (although there is a question if WMNT may go dark and not transition to digital, which would then free up the frequency for someone). Maybe a candidate for W33BY considering the issues they are having with their transmitter?

Haven't heard about any more about RSN's. The one that are available now are all pretty much related to Comcast, in some respect, and I don't think there are a lot more like those out there. I'd guess we see the HD versions at some point before others in SD.

you are correct sir about comcast RSN's (and the comcast owned Mtn network), that's why I was so shocked when they added NON comcast RSN's like Sun Sports and FSN Prime Ticket.

that being said there are still a few comcast RSN's they haven't added
(california/mid-atlantic/Northwest/Philadelphia)..

hopefully they will add more/upgrade to HD soon...

Bill

Just switched to WOW from UVerse (actually still have both hooked up). Initial impressions:

- Install went well - didn't take too long and tech ran new lines to ensure no issues with the old ones
- PQ is superior to UVerse, but I knew to expect that
- Menu system is just OK - UVerse is better for searching, etc., though the WOW remote is more responsive
- PVR Box in the basement works for a bit, then shuts off randomly. Took a 20 minute phone call to get an appointment to replace it on Monday. Really... how long would it take someone to stop by and drop off a new box???
- SEVERE LIMITATION: can only record two shows at once. I assumed this would be better on straight cable v. IPTV... you know what you get when you assume. Should have asked.
- Internet speeds are great (15 MB package testing up to 16)

Don't know if I can live with only recording two shows at once - especially with the menu system not being friendly to resolve recording conflicts. 60 day money back guarantee, so I'll see if we can make it work.

Price is definitely better than any other option, so I may be willing to live with the limitation.

You can get multiple DVRs, which will each give you two tuners, or get a Tivo Premiere Elite which gives you four tuners. Tivo's not that great, but it's better than the POS WOW DVR.

WOW is also supposed to be coming out with a whole home DVR solution they're calling "Ultra TV". Not much information has been given out, but it's rumored to be the Arris Moxi Gateway - http://www.arrisi.com/product_catalo...PF_14NOV11.pdf, and it's supposed to be available in the first quarter of next year.

I'm using an HTPC with Windows 7 Media Center and the HDHomeRun (prime and basic) in place of the WOW DVR which gives me 3 tuners for encrypted channels and another 2 for the basic and HD OTA channels.

You could also go the HTPC w/CableCARD route; they now have 4 tuners also. The downside is no VOD.

The coming Comcast updates may not be going smoothly. This morning the SDTV feeds for 2 & 7 are color bars on the SEMI system. Wife is upset she can't see GMA in the kitchen.

Update: Stations are back after 8AM - GMA fills the kitchen.

SDV? I wasn't aware Comcast used SDV anywhere.

They don't. They were testing it in a few areas awhile back, never in Michigan.

Must mean QAM.

Sorry, I dropped a letter from SDTV. The outage affected both QAM and analog channels: 2 & 202-1; 7 & 207-1.

New HD channels arrived here in Westland

Oxygen HD 980

Bloomberg HD 988

Sprout HD 993

notice how the channels are spaced out, this area where most new HD channels will land? Will comcast ever go into the 4 digit world of channels?

Neither of those options really appeal to me... two DVRs sound like a pain, and Tivo Premiere Elite is a bit spendy. May look into HTPC options...

May be taking WOW up on their 60 day money back guarantee...

Same on SEMI. Non-HD, but mildly interesting is that they also added the SD version of WKBD on Ch. 9 (it's also on Ch. 10) on SEMI.

Right on time.




Yes. From my post in the HDTV Programming Forum Comcast topic last year:

Comcast has developed a Master Channel Lineup (MCLU) that will be deployed across the country over the next year or so. All channels will be grouped by genre.

- 99 and Below: Will remain the same with channel numbers decided by the local market. All channels in this range will be replicated in higher channel numbers.

- 100's: News, Local, and Public Service, Educational, Government.

- 200's: General Entertainment and Lifestyle cable channels (FX, TNT, Discovery, etc)

- 300's: General Entertainment and Lifestyle cable channels (Lifetime, A&E, TLC, shopping channels etc)

- 400's: Music Channels

- 500's: Kids and Religious channels

- 600's and 700's: Sports

- 800's: Movies and PPV

- 900's: Premium channels

- HD channels will move to the 1000's with the same channel number as the SD version + 1000.

- International Channels will be in the 2000's.

TVO(32) OTA is showing at least two days of guide info tonight!

Let's hope they can keep it going.

Where is SEMI?

just like UVerse does......

Southest Michigan system, specifically the communities listed at the top of this lineup card: http://www.comcast.com/MediaLibrary/...EMI_Lineup.pdf

Thanks...Parents are over in Grosse Pointe, will have to check it out over the holidays..

To be balanced, Jeremy might not like his TiVo but I've had a Series3 for several years and I wouldn't consider anything else. Never missed a recording EVER - wishlist function is gold and it's very easy to use. The Elite is spendy though...

Oh no. Last time Comcast did a line up change it took my TiVo a week to catch up. I hope it goes better this time.

It doesn't seem like this wholesale channel change is imminent. I would think (hope?) that Comcast would start warning us months before they pulled the lever on this kind of shakeup.

Anyone here have a Sony DHG-HDD 250 or 500 which can comment on whether their TVGuide works or not, either OTA or Comcast?

DHG500 for about 6 years. For the last 2 months or so tvgos is good here. Frequently the Sat and Sun lineups are not provided on all channels until Monday or so.

Reception is another matter.
4.* will be good for awhile then frequent breakups for awhile then back to good.
56.* was almost useless from May to Late October but better since.
Never watch 20.*. Or 62.* (does anyone?) so don't know.
9.1 great picture with frequent brief drops of sound.

That's interesting. Last time I heard WWJ stopped passing TVGOS. Can the Sony tell you what station you are getting TVGOS from?


You should be getting much better reception in your location. Do you have an outdoor antenna?

I am in SE Farmington Hills with what was called a near-fringe VHF/UHF/FM antenna that is 25+ years old. It is 25 ft above ground level.

In the winter the tower at 11 & Inkster can be seen from the ground. However, there are substantial trees between my antenna and anywhere. In the days of analog broadcasts I got better images for some channels by aiming the antenna at what was then the American Motors building at 11 & Franklin. I have no idea if this is relevant to digital.

I have excellent reception of 7.x except for the very worst weather.

Looks like WHNE-LP (RF 26) is doing some testing, or may be back on the air full time. I am currently getting them with a really strong signal here in Holly, so I suspect they are they are broadcasting from that tower at S. Holly Rd and I-75 (exit 98). Currently strong enough to grab at my location with a portable LCD TV and whip antenna. Looks like YouTube quality SDTV. Think they are testing as I currently see

26.1 - ID as Retro TV with programming matching the ID
26.2 - ID as Jewlery but testing with Retro TV and no audio
26.3 - ID as America but testing with Retro TV and audio
26.4 - ID as Tuff TV and broadcasting the same
26.5 - ID as Classic but broadcasting RTV and no audio

I'll have to take a look at the tower when I buzz down I-75 tomorrow to some X-Mas festivities to the south. Interesting thing about this tower, it was used by Meridith Corporation back in the 60's to send NBC programming via microwave up to WNEM in Bay City amongst other uses. If you look closely, you can still see a couple of yagi antennas mounted to it. One about 100 ft up or so appears to be a VHF-lo yagi pointed SE towards (I would think) WDIV. Much higher up on the tower is a group of four log periodic antennas in a diamond pattern pointed in the same direction that appear to be VHF-Hi or possibly lower band UHF. Could never figure out what those were for.