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Chicago, IL - WOW - Page 12

post #331 of 894
10/17/07 at 7:34am
I don't have the bundle, can't comment on that.

So far, the cable cards have been working fine, and I have not the horror stories of others (knock on wood!), but setting them up was painful (mostly for the installer, but he was patient and very nice)

-H
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post #332 of 894
10/17/07 at 9:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by geodon005 View Post

I was thinking about making the change from Comcast to WOW in a week or so, and I was just curious about what people's experiences have been in such a move. I am going from the Comcast Triple Play bundle (with the "everything including the kitchen sink cable TV package" to WOW's similar bundle (and everything they have cable TV-wise). The only downside for me seems to be losing ESPN2HD, but I can live with that, since WOW's bundle price is well over a $100 less per month than Comcast's.

I also have a TiVo Series 3, and other than the usual caveats for the installer (make sure it's a company tech, not a contractor; bring LOTS of cablecards; and follow EXACTLY TiVo's instructions for installation), is thee anything else I should be aware of prior to ordering? Thanks for your input.

Sounds like you have it covered. I have a Series 3 with the HDPak and have been very satisfied, especially with their responsiveness. One note on the HDPak, though. Unless they have renegotiated with the NFL Network, the live games on both the SD and HD feeds beginning with Thanksgiving night may be blacked out. See this on the dslreports forum. I have e-mailed a supervisor who said that they are in negotiations and that she will e-mail me when she knows more. Apparently, they weren't willing to pay the increased per-subscriber cost with the addition of the games. I will be really annoyed if I don't get the Dallas/Green Bay game the second week.
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post #333 of 894
10/17/07 at 2:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by foamy909 View Post

Sounds like you have it covered. I have a Series 3 with the HDPak and have been very satisfied, especially with their responsiveness. One note on the HDPak, though. Unless they have renegotiated with the NFL Network, the live games on both the SD and HD feeds beginning with Thanksgiving night may be blacked out. See this on the dslreports forum. I have e-mailed a supervisor who said that they are in negotiations and that she will e-mail me when she knows more. Apparently, they weren't willing to pay the increased per-subscriber cost with the addition of the games. I will be really annoyed if I don't get the Dallas/Green Bay game the second week.

Give us an update if she e-mails you back because this is something that really pissed me off last year and I want to know if we will get the games this year on NFL Network. Otherwise, its pointless to having this channel. I never seen anything broadcasted in HD on NFL Network other than re-play games.
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post #334 of 894
10/26/07 at 3:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevin1020 View Post

My fox HD pixelates a bit every few minutes or so and is a bit irritating. All the other HD channels are fine and look great. I don't dare call the cable company and complain since I'm not sure if I should be getting this and don't want to loose it!


Hi, I originally posted this a couple months ago and then we lost everything for a while. Now that things are back to normal, just wondering if anyone else is getting the pixelation on fox. It's frustrating watching this with this pixelation. All other HD channels are great with no problems at all. It's just fox. I don't have a cable box or anything, just coax straight from the wall to my TV.

Thanks,
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post #335 of 894
10/27/07 at 11:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevin1020 View Post

Hi, I originally posted this a couple months ago and then we lost everything for a while. Now that things are back to normal, just wondering if anyone else is getting the pixelation on fox. It's frustrating watching this with this pixelation. All other HD channels are great with no problems at all. It's just fox. I don't have a cable box or anything, just coax straight from the wall to my TV.

Thanks,

Same here. Its annoying as hell. I have had this forever and a tech was supposed to come out last Friday and it was a no show. We never got around to calling WOW back, but this is seriously starting to get on my nerves considering that I watch a lot of shows on FOX. And like you said. all other HD channels are coming in fine, except for FOX. The pixel issue must stop.
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post #336 of 894
10/28/07 at 7:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ Matt View Post

Same here. Its annoying as hell. I have had this forever and a tech was supposed to come out last Friday and it was a no show. We never got around to calling WOW back, but this is seriously starting to get on my nerves considering that I watch a lot of shows on FOX. And like you said. all other HD channels are coming in fine, except for FOX. The pixel issue must stop.


Maybe it's those pesky sunspots again I guess I'll call too. I just hope the tech that comes out doesn't start off by saying that I need to subscribe to a digital package, have the cable box, etc., etc. I really hope Gary (the WOW engineer that was posting to this thread) has got the customer service folks straighted out. I don't want to go through that again!

If you do get a WOW tech person out, please post back and let us know what they say.
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post #337 of 894
10/28/07 at 2:07pm
We have it too in SE Naperville. Everything else is very good.
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post #338 of 894
10/28/07 at 2:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevin1020 View Post

Maybe it's those pesky sunspots again I guess I'll call too. I just hope the tech that comes out doesn't start off by saying that I need to subscribe to a digital package, have the cable box, etc., etc. I really hope Gary (the WOW engineer that was posting to this thread) has got the customer service folks straighted out. I don't want to go through that again!

If you do get a WOW tech person out, please post back and let us know what they say.

This has been going on for me ever since I had HD service dating back to last December. If many people are having this issue then its clearly either the signal WOW is sending out or some technical error of some sorts.
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post #339 of 894
10/29/07 at 9:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevin1020 View Post

Hi, I originally posted this a couple months ago and then we lost everything for a while. Now that things are back to normal, just wondering if anyone else is getting the pixelation on fox. It's frustrating watching this with this pixelation. All other HD channels are great with no problems at all. It's just fox. I don't have a cable box or anything, just coax straight from the wall to my TV.

Thanks,

I'm still waiting on a fix for this too. I have posted about this previously and am not really getting anywhere with WOW. I contacted WOW Naperville last week and received a call back from the second level tech's manager. He was looking into the issue and never contacted me back. I called this morning and I am waiting to hear back. Looks like WOW has no clue on this issue.
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post #340 of 894
10/29/07 at 9:43am
Here's another chiming in on the Fox issue. The majority of Bears game this season are on Fox and I've taken just to watching them on standard-def because the pixelation ruins the game. Posts concerning this issue have been made way back towards the beginning of this thread though so I don't expect a swift solution to this problem any time soon.
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post #341 of 894
10/29/07 at 10:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xee View Post

Here's another chiming in on the Fox issue. The majority of Bears game this season are on Fox and I've taken just to watching them on standard-def because the pixelation ruins the game. Posts concerning this issue have been made way back towards the beginning of this thread though so I don't expect a swift solution to this problem any time soon.

The Bears have pretty much ruined watching the game. The pixelation only serves to piss us off more. ; )
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post #342 of 894
10/29/07 at 11:00am
FWIW, I have not noticed any pixelation on Fox. I get it as clear QAM over basic cable (i.e. no cable box).


Mitch
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post #343 of 894
10/29/07 at 11:51am
I also have no pixelation on Fox, either through WOW's HD feed or via antenna.
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post #344 of 894
10/29/07 at 12:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by geodon005 View Post

I also have no pixelation on Fox, either through WOW's HD feed or via antenna.

It was not as evident with the WOW HD DVR. I now have a Tivo HD and it is pretty bad. I have not tried with the antenna.
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post #345 of 894
10/29/07 at 12:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by szatkoff View Post

It was not as evident with the WOW HD DVR. I now have a Tivo HD and it is pretty bad. I have not tried with the antenna.

I have a TiVo Series 3 - again, no problems.
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post #346 of 894
10/29/07 at 12:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by geodon005 View Post

I have a TiVo Series 3 - again, no problems.

I guess you are lucky! What city are you in?
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post #347 of 894
10/29/07 at 1:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by szatkoff View Post

It was not as evident with the WOW HD DVR. I now have a Tivo HD and it is pretty bad. I have not tried with the antenna.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but sometimes the devil's in the details, so I'm going to ask some stupid questions - just in case.

1) How do you have the Tivo connected to the TV? Is it at least component or hdmi?

2) I'm not familiar with the Tivo, but does it have a setting for output resolution and if so, it is set to 720p or 1080i/p or "pass-through?"

Although these things would affect every channel, maybe Fox just exacerbates them in some way.


Mitch
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post #348 of 894
10/29/07 at 2:13pm
Mitch - I appreciate any help I can get to resolve this. Thanks!

Answers to your questions:

1 - Component.
2 - It's set to output at either 480p (upconvert 480i broadcast) or 1080i (upconvert 720p or native 1080i)

The tech direct connected both the WOW box and my Tivo to the connection on the phone pole. They both had the pixelation.
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post #349 of 894
10/29/07 at 4:25pm
It looks like a lot of people are having issues with FOX in the Naperville area. How about this. If you are experiencing problems with FOX, post the town (or area) you live in and how you are receiving the channels (SA HD-DVR 8300, Basic cable without a box, etc).

For me, I have the SA HD-DVR cable box with HDMI to the TV and I live in Naperville (as it says under my user name).
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post #350 of 894
10/30/07 at 2:08am
I use the QAM tuner in a Panasonic for HD. We have analog service only and live in SE Naperville. Everything but FOX is great since we had our drop line replaced. This makes be believe this is not a signal strength issue.
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post #351 of 894
10/30/07 at 8:32am
North Naperville.

OTA HD Fox - No Problem
QAM Unecrypted via TV - Pixelation On/Off (25%)
Tivo HD with or w/o cable card - Pixelation / Blocks, etc happen often (30-40%)

I don't care much about Fox, so I have not pursued this, but it does happen.
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post #352 of 894
10/30/07 at 12:24pm
SouthWest Naperville, coax directly from wall to TV (no box, Tivo, etc.), fox pixleates every 1 - 2 minutes or so.
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post #353 of 894
10/30/07 at 12:57pm
Chicago - City, South Side -
No pixelation problems with Fox on Tivo Series 3 with cablecards.
Don't watch enough clear QAM on TV to comment

On a separate note, no further word on games on NFL Network. I will e-mail my contact again and post any updates.
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post #354 of 894
10/30/07 at 4:21pm
Schaumburg

The coax comes from the wall, through an amplifier, to an OnAir GT USB tuner.
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post #355 of 894
10/30/07 at 5:02pm
I think whoever is having problems with FOX should call WOW. The more people who call them about this issue the better chance we have to getting it resolved.

Quote:
Originally Posted by houman View Post

North Naperville.

OTA HD Fox - No Problem
QAM Unecrypted via TV - Pixelation On/Off (25%)
Tivo HD with or w/o cable card - Pixelation / Blocks, etc happen often (30-40%)

I don't care much about Fox, so I have not pursued this, but it does happen.

What are you using for OTA? What kind of antenna? I think I am going to get one.

Quote:
Originally Posted by foamy909 View Post

Chicago - City, South Side -
No pixelation problems with Fox on Tivo Series 3 with cablecards.
Don't watch enough clear QAM on TV to comment

On a separate note, no further word on games on NFL Network. I will e-mail my contact again and post any updates.

Thanks! They should know because the first game is coming up in about a month.
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post #356 of 894
10/31/07 at 7:29am
Fox HD Pixelation Issues.

Des Plaines.

Tivo HD w/ cable cards - Pixelation happens often.
SA HD DVR - Returned box. Pixelation happened. Not as often as with Tivo.
OTA - ? Haven't checked.

As noted, I have contacted WOW.
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post #357 of 894
10/31/07 at 10:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ Matt View Post

What are you using for OTA? What kind of antenna? I think I am going to get one.

I use a Philips Mant950 I picked up @ Menards. Be warned, it's good only for UHF, and does not get WBBM VHF.

A CBS tech told me:
"You will need an outdoor antenna to get our signal. You must have a
VHF antenna section with elements of 8-10'in length. Anything less will
not receive our signal."

If you want a good antenna, check this website:
http://www.winegard.com/

Also check:
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

If CBS is not important, then the Mant950 should do, go to Menards on Aurora Ave in Naperville, they should have them, and if it does not work out, you can always return it.

-H
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post #358 of 894
10/31/07 at 2:01pm
^ Yeah, that sounds good enough. CBS actually comes in really nice for me with the feed WOW is sending. That is actually the best local channel in HD in my opinion. I just want an antenna to pick up FOX basically.

If anyone calls WOW, please mention what they said if anything.
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post #359 of 894
11/1/07 at 10:03am
You know, I never thought about it. I had a season pass for House on WFLD, and decided to watch it... it was pretty bad with all the pixelation/macroblocking...
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post #360 of 894
11/2/07 at 8:02am
Fox HD is pixelating so bad now that I can't watch.

Still no response from WOW.

Edit: Spoke with Service manager and scheduled an appt for him to come on site. Also sending him the forum link.
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