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Boston, MA - Comcast - Page 8

post #211 of 8474
2/26/07 at 6:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Motortree View Post

This would likely be based on bandwidth availability or should I say, the lack thereof. Not required to carry - no available bandwidth for the channel - program not carried.

Other than "not required to cary" how are the others a factor if I can receive without the cable card? (direct connection).
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post #212 of 8474
2/26/07 at 8:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeroredrum View Post

Hello Everyone,
I currently live in central Massachusetts and decided to make a switch from DTV to Comcast .
Ok well at first I was very happy with Direct tv, but after 400.00 worth of equip was purchased in early FEB 2006 ( I got my firsy HDTV) and had it installed from DTV the issues began. I found out that the 3 LMB dish and HD reciever they sold me was now obsoloete a month later as it was MPEG 2 and they now need MPEG 4. I called and asked why my locals were not in HD and they replied i needed to upgrade to 5LMB which was 129.00 for the install and the dish would cost extra, and the equiptment was 600-800 JUST TO LEASE IT for an HD DVR. Next I have had terrible service with the VERIZON DSL, at least 3 times a week i have to recycle the modem and re enter my modem info and I was paying for 3.0/386 only to realize after a tech test its only getting 1.5/355 so that made me very unhappy as well. The last part is that the Verizon phone bill has been higher and higher for some reason. So out of frustration of previous services (at first called about internet only) They sold me on a new HD DVR bundle which sounded awesome, for me anyway.
This is the deal i am getting


DSL 8mg/386 or 786 (forgot that one)
HD DVR with EVERY CHANNEL they offer, ALL premiums
Phones
all for 167.00 with a 1 year price guarantee NO contracts at all but guaranteed for 1 FULL year

Now here is where you guys that have it come in, maybe you have had DTV and could compare.
1. HOW IS THE COMCAST HDTV picture quality
2.The rep said the locals are all in HDTV all day long, yet I read some post that say its each channel so whats the answer.
3.Are the non HDTV channels pixleated? and does it look decent? or close to satellite and is it in 480p? I had direct tv and they have 480p channels and some are bad but overall it was decent.
4.Are the channels now 5.1? I had comcast a few years back before i swithed and they didnt offer 5.1
5.Does it support HDMI output? and if so does it make a better image that component?
Thats all i got for now and i apprieciate the help, you guys seem to know your stuff.

You will not regret your decision. I went from D* to Comast like yourself over 3 years ago and can tell you the HD PQ on Comcast is much better. As for SD channels, I would say that since Comcast went ADS, their about even. For HDMI, the Moto 3416 DVR has it and I think will give you the overall best PQ. The HD channels are broadcast in a Hi-Def resolution ( 1080i or 720p ) all the time but if the source material being shown isn't in HD then you will get just an upconvert of that particular program. 5.1 is available and that also depends on the source material as well but I believe all the Moto boxes come with a digital output now. I hope this helped answer some of your questions.
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post #213 of 8474
2/26/07 at 8:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeroredrum View Post

1. HOW IS THE COMCAST HDTV picture quality

Here in Metro North, it's better than satellite, and even better than OTA (because WFXT-HD is still low power.)

Quote:
Originally Posted by zeroredrum View Post

2.The rep said the locals are all in HDTV all day long, yet I read some post that say its each channel so whats the answer.

All the locals here are broadcast in HD all day long, but the programming may or may not be HD.

Quote:
Originally Posted by zeroredrum View Post

3.Are the non HDTV channels pixleated? and does it look decent? or close to satellite and is it in 480p?

All the HD channels are either 720p or 1080i and they all look great.

Quote:
Originally Posted by zeroredrum View Post

4.Are the channels now 5.1? I had comcast a few years back before i swithed and they didnt offer 5.1

I definitely get DD5.1, though again, some channels/programs may or may not present DD5.1.

Quote:
Originally Posted by zeroredrum View Post

5.Does it support HDMI output? and if so does it make a better image that component?

I alternatively use my HDMI connection and component video, and don't notice any appreciable difference.
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post #214 of 8474
2/26/07 at 10:24am
So it seems that its not a bad move for me afterall. Im glad to hear the quality is the same or better and everything I wanted is being met. Thank You all for your info its very much apprieciated and I will have it all instaled march 7th due to a 9 day wait in phone service swapping.
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post #215 of 8474
2/26/07 at 10:56am
Can anyone tell me what the latest Comcast stanelone HD box model number is, the non-dvr one. The local Comcast CSR said they dont lease they anymore is that true?

Thanks
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post #216 of 8474
2/26/07 at 11:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by roachxp View Post

Can anyone tell me what the latest Comcast stanelone HD box model number is, the non-dvr one. The local Comcast CSR said they dont lease they anymore is that true?

Thanks

Newest HD box is the 6200. Comcast, for the moment, is no longer giving out HD boxes unless someone returns one. FCC mandates that all future boxes have removable encryption (cable card). Because of this Motorola ceased making the current HD stb, causing a major shortage/cease in leasing HD boxes.

Look to be able to get a HD box until mid Summer. For what its worth, the new HD box will have a HDMI output. I believe the model is either a DCH3200 or DCH6200.
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post #217 of 8474
2/27/07 at 6:58am
I got an email from a friend who also lives in Andover saying that they were no longer getting the HD local stations on their QAM tuner. So, I checked mine & saw the same thing. Does anyone know if this was intentional by the cable provider, or do I have to rescan to find the channels at some new locations? Their website says that you need a STB to get the local channels, but it has always said that & I never needed it in the past.
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post #218 of 8474
2/27/07 at 8:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElihuRozen View Post

I got an email from a friend who also lives in Andover saying that they were no longer getting the HD local stations on their QAM tuner. So, I checked mine & saw the same thing. Does anyone know if this was intentional by the cable provider, or do I have to rescan to find the channels at some new locations? Their website says that you need a STB to get the local channels, but it has always said that & I never needed it in the past.

If your provider is Comcast, they pass thru all the local HD channels and you should be able to receive them on your QAM tuner. I would try a rescan like you said and see if they reappear.
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post #219 of 8474
2/27/07 at 9:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lodef View Post

If your provider is Comcast, they pass thru all the local HD channels and you should be able to receive them on your QAM tuner. I would try a rescan like you said and see if they reappear.

I was hoping to avoid a total rescan since I would have to relabel almost all the channels, reset my favorites & delete the ones that I am not interested in.

The optimist in me is expecting someone to post that WGBH is now at channel something, WHDH is at channel whatever, etc. That way I have to make only minimal changes for the stations that have actually moved.

The pessimist in me is expecting to find out that Comcast will no longer have these channels unscrambled without a box.

The realist in me will probably end up rescanning.
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post #220 of 8474
2/27/07 at 11:29am
As I understand the law, Comcast must offer the locals unscrambled. So that much probably won't be an issue.

But, that's not to say that they can't move them around every other week, forcing you to rescan, and otherwise being a total pain in the patoot with it if they want to.
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post #221 of 8474
2/27/07 at 1:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by toots View Post

As I understand the law, Comcast must offer the locals unscrambled.

However, the law requires them to offer the locals unscrambled via analog. The law does not require both provision of both the analog and digital signals in-the-clear. Comcast corporate policy, however, does indicate that they intend to provide that, even though they're not required to do so. Most, but not all, Comcast systems comply with that policy.
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post #222 of 8474
2/27/07 at 4:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElihuRozen View Post

The optimist in me is expecting someone to post that WGBH is now at channel something, WHDH is at channel whatever, etc. That way I have to make only minimal changes for the stations that have actually moved.

They moved the local digital channels to their actual frequency: WGBH-HD is at 2.2, WHDH-HD is at 7.1, etc.
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post #223 of 8474
2/27/07 at 5:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElihuRozen View Post

They moved the local digital channels to their actual frequency: WGBH-HD is at 2.2, WHDH-HD is at 7.1, etc.

Just found the same in Milford. I'm not sure if their done yet, WFXT HD has moved from 87-1 to 87 ? If it followed the logic of 38 and 56 it should have gone to 25-1.
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post #224 of 8474
2/27/07 at 5:39pm
I'm new to this thread though I've been using Comcast 6412 for a couple of years on the South Shore. I have a question about WSBK-38. I'm a big time soccer fan and was trying to understand what is required for 838 to broadcast NE Revolution games in HD. The games are shot in HD by Kraft Sports Productions so the initial signal is there. 838 is transmitting a full HD signal. What happens in between? Is it expensive, complex, inertia or something else that causes the signal degradation? Thanks for any insight.
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post #225 of 8474
2/27/07 at 6:38pm
Comcast didn't "move" anything. What they did was finally get PSIP working and your TV set now recognizes the PSIP data and renames the channel accordingly.

Mallego
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post #226 of 8474
2/27/07 at 9:11pm
I like the new PSIP. Makes finding channels on my Fusion much easier. But WFXT has the right name but still doesn't have correct number. Hope they add it soon.
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post #227 of 8474
2/27/07 at 9:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Contsi View Post

Other than "not required to cary" how are the others a factor if I can receive without the cable card? (direct connection).

I'm pretty certain that Easton is part of the Providence DMA. Your cable system might very well be served by a facility that services both Boston and Providence DMA's. If this is the case then you'd likely find services that are offered for the Boston DMA on your antenna. Looking at the channel lineup for Easton using the CC website and specifying the firehouse on Bay Rd as the location address, I find that TubeTV is not offered and therefore you wouldn't be able to receive it via settop or cablecard, but it apparently is on the antenna as you find it cable direct. Make sense?
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post #228 of 8474
2/28/07 at 5:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Motortree View Post

I'm pretty certain that Easton is part of the Providence DMA. Your cable system might very well be served by a facility that services both Boston and Providence DMA's. If this is the case then you'd likely find services that are offered for the Boston DMA on your antenna. Looking at the channel lineup for Easton using the CC website and specifying the firehouse on Bay Rd as the location address, I find that TubeTV is not offered and therefore you wouldn't be able to receive it via settop or cablecard, but it apparently is on the antenna as you find it cable direct. Make sense?

Just to be clear, I don't have an antenna, I'm using Comcast cable direct in. But what is the disadvantage for Comcast to offer this on the CC if it is coming in anyway? I acctually called yesterday and the CSR didn't even know that I could get HD without a box and some kind of special service; I had to eplain CC and channel mapping etc. I kept him on for a while and he finally said he will submit a form to add the channels; I won't hold my breath.
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post #229 of 8474
2/28/07 at 7:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Contsi View Post

Just to be clear, I don't have an antenna, I'm using Comcast cable direct in. But what is the disadvantage for Comcast to offer this on the CC if it is coming in anyway? I acctually called yesterday and the CSR didn't even know that I could get HD without a box and some kind of special service; I had to eplain CC and channel mapping etc. I kept him on for a while and he finally said he will submit a form to add the channels; I won't hold my breath.

Sorry, I make reference to antenna and CATV synonymously. Old world cable (community antenna tele-vision).
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post #230 of 8474
2/28/07 at 1:34pm
For the first time last night just for the hell of it while on WBZ-DT I pressed "Info" on my TV's remote and actually got progam info. Heh. and it was on an infomercial too.
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post #231 of 8474
2/28/07 at 4:19pm
I thought tonights Red Sox Spring training opener was supposed to be broadcast in HD. The guide says so. Very disappointed!
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post #232 of 8474
2/28/07 at 4:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by number9 View Post

Just found the same in Milford. I'm not sure if their done yet, WFXT HD has moved from 87-1 to 87 ? If it followed the logic of 38 and 56 it should have gone to 25-1.

I cannot seem to get WFXT-HD to save on my Panny using the QAM tuner. When I enter in "87", it switches to WBZ-HD.

I'm wondering if Comcast is trying to force all of using QAM to get STBs.

I did discover a new channel during my scan though. 110-10 is FOX REALITY.

The REALITY is that I'd rather have FOX-HD.
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post #233 of 8474
2/28/07 at 5:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by robostock View Post

I cannot seem to get WFXT-HD to save on my Panny using the QAM tuner. When I enter in "87", it switches to WBZ-HD.

I'm wondering if Comcast is trying to force all of using QAM to get STBs.

I did discover a new channel during my scan though. 110-10 is FOX REALITY.

The REALITY is that I'd rather have FOX-HD.

I've also got a Panny, and I've seen that problem. Here's what works for me ...

I did a auto scan yesterday before anyone had posted the new numbers. Then when I went in and manually turned off channels I didn't want to receive, I noticed WFXT-HD showing up before channel 1 ? Odd. After some trial and error I told the tuner to allow the channel to tune at that weird location and not tune at 87. This way it allows me to manually input 87 and get the channel.
Hope that helps.
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post #234 of 8474
2/28/07 at 5:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by number9 View Post

After some trial and error I told the tuner to allow the channel to tune at that weird location and not tune at 87. This way it allows me to manually input 87 and get the channel.
Hope that helps.

Does tham mean you said "No" to "87" and yes to "1" or "--" location on your manual scan selection?

and once you set this then you input "87"?

Thanks for the info, I'll give it a try.
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post #235 of 8474
2/28/07 at 6:27pm
My Samsung TV reacts the same way, and I can't program a channel manually, so in order to get WFXT-DT to show up I have to rescan all the channels all over again.

When someone gets WFXT-DT to show up on a channel scan please post and I'll redo a scan.
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post #236 of 8474
2/28/07 at 6:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by robostock View Post

Does tham mean you said "No" to "87" and yes to "1" or "--" location on your manual scan selection?

and once you set this then you input "87"?

Thanks for the info, I'll give it a try.

Yup, that's how it's working on my Panny. I have to manually enter 87, channel up or down doesn't find it.
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post #237 of 8474
2/28/07 at 8:47pm
The PSIP for WFXT shows 0.0 on my HDHomeRun GUI. Maybe that's why it's all messed up on QAM TVs?
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post #238 of 8474
2/28/07 at 9:32pm
Argh! I just cannot seem to receive WFXT-DT on my Samsung at all. I can get everything else just fine though.

Oh, and on a cool note, WBZ-DT is indeed sending out metadata info on their programming, so if your TV can do it, hit the "INFO" button and you should get program info. Letterman displays, "Late Show With David Letterman" right on the screen.

We really need to get the WFXT-DT problem fixed though. I'd call it into Comcast if I thought it would matter, but I know it wouldn't. Maybe they'll report it to an engineer or something?
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post #239 of 8474
2/28/07 at 11:13pm
My RCA finds 49 channels here in Nashua, but once finished, only gives me 0.0... trying to use the up and down buttons do nothing. Before the change, all channels were accessible, but now I can ONLY see WFXT-HD. The other channels can only be accessed by manually choosing them, and any attempt to save them to the TV results in a loss of video on both analog and digital, requiring a hard reset of the TV.

My Sylvania 6637lct does not have this issue, but for some reason I cannot get the digital equivalents of 9 or 11 at all. Prior to the change both were accessible on the RCA. I hate being forced to see only Boston news... can't get anything local now.
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post #240 of 8474
3/1/07 at 4:17pm
Has anyone been able to get a 3416 DVR recently? I have made a few tries at the Lowell office, but they only have the 3412 (which is what I have -- I would like the larger hard drive), with no knowledge of when they might get some more 3416's in. The rep I spoke to today said they haven't had 3416's for several months.

According to comcast.com, the only other office I can try is Wilmington -- has anyone had any luck there? I wish you could call these offices directly..
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