Boston, MA - Comcast - Page 262

Latest HD Local Forecast update

The IntelliStar 2 is on a Headend to Headend basis according to twctoday.com and plans for the IS2 to be added on Comcast are halted due to the IS2 being "incompatible with Comcast's Network"

Out of curiosity, why are there two SD TruTV channels? One is on channel 27 and the other on 186...

I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time), but when I read "compatibility issues" I see "someone wouldn't pay someone else the amount of money they wanted, so they each went to their corners and pouted."
TWC-HD (everyone else's but Your Local on the 8's) is now permanently assigned to "afterthought category," except that it occupies a valuable HD slot. Too bad.

I recently downloaded the Xfinity TV app for my iPhone and am unable to get it to detect my DVR (a DCH3416 running Tivo software). I tried looking up "myDVR" on Comcast's website but couldn't find an actual place to configure it. I am sort of able to see my DVR at this link (http://www.fancast.com/mytv/tivo) but it says that "Remote Tune" is not available and doesn't give me any options beyond naming my DVR.

Do I need to get a new cable box for this to function? I'd want dual DVR functionality as well as HDMI output. It would need to be able to run their Tivo software. It would also need to be available in Medford.

The TiVo software is not compatible with the myDVR /app functionality. Only the A28 guide supports any of these features. If you want to get them you will have to ditch the TiVo software.

Has there been any news about when we might get SPEED HD (in Cambridge)? With the recent news that F1 races will be carried in HD, it's become (even) more of a priority...

Same here in Fall River i would love to see the F1 Races in HD

How does Comcast not have SPEED in HD? I think every other provider has it but Comcast.

As much as you (and I) think F1 in HD should be a priority, I don't think it's going to resonate with the powers-that-be. It's a cultural thing, I guess. Hey, I was surprised that Comcast gave us ESPN and ESPN2 in HD just before the World Cup in '06.

I'm not sure it's cultural, but just demand related. I'm as big a sports fan as there is, but I never watch that channel. I would take FSC and FSC+ long before SPEED, but that doesn't appear to be happening any time soon either. Hell, I'd take BBCA before SPEED and everyone else has their favorites too. Obviously, if any of 'em were a Comcast owned network we would have had them ages ago.

I'd love to see FSC in HD...any plans for when it is supposed to come out (and don't say the next world cup..)

I guess the major ones I can think of would be
Comedy central
cnbc
fbn
There's a fair amount of channels I just can't see that much demand for being in hd (religious ones, rerun based ones etc)

When will we see more HD south of Boston? Boston and some Norhtern Burbs have HDNet. Will Comcast drop the last 25 Channels of analog for more HD channel bandwidth? Since Project Cavarly has been well unerway I would think Comcast would want to keep happy the customers that pay $200 or so a month with HD and Triple play than those that pay $10 amonth for limited basic cable with no box of any kind.
Perhaps , a middle road would be to keep NBC,CBS, FOX, ABC and PBS in analog for awhile longer and put the rest of limited basic in digital only.

I have HDNet in Quincy... That is south of Boston..

BBC America is showing The Six Nations Rugby Championship if anyone is interested.

Schedule Here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugb...es/4776295.stm

Hey now, no blaming us cheapskates!-) Actually, broadcast basic costs $20/month ($19.50 plus your local taxes and fees) nowadays.

In fact Comcast are doing exactly as you say, for example WENH (PBS-11) and WMZY (MyTV-50) moved off analog in 2010 and now require digital TV tuner. Worse, they only transmit SD instead of the HD you get OTA, unless you rent a set-top box! They're making out like it's a bargain, $8.70/month but Basic subscribers can get it for $2.50/month, woowhee. But who wants a !@#$%ing STB when I have a perfectly good QAM tuner in my TV? It *seems* like intentional punishment for people who won't buy their HD tier: they could use less bandwidth putting broadcast in digital, and in HD -- once -- and instead rent standard analog converter boxes to any holdouts! But in *fact* they just want to sell more movies and VoD that they stand a chance of attracting from STB holders. (They could even *give* analog converters away instead of renting, if there's some franchise pricing agreement they must still uphold. And the rates for all basic subscribers would go up a few pennies on top of 2010's (already 18%!) price increase. But the issue really is attempting to garner additional profit from cheapskates by dangling premium content in front of them with the digital STBs.) Whatever, they're chasing the low-end away, too.

Anyway, end of rant and my actual point that got lost in there is: They do not even have the excuse you so-generously postulated for them.

In my Feb 8th bill:

IMPORTANT INFO: On 3/30/11, Movieplex ch 200 & Investigation
Discovery ch 252 will move from Digital Preferred to Digital
Starter. Current subscribers to MultiLatino Ultra or one of
the following pkgs which are not avail for new subscription:
Digital Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum, will no longer
receive Movieplex and/or Investigation Discovery as of 3/30.

Basically Comcast has done nothing since the November/December of 2009 upgrade. They recently dropped a bunch of HD channels a few months back and added more standard channels. Than half of the ones they added to the sports pack were not even on the ones listed on the bill. Still no CSN Chicago, FSN Prime, or Sun Sports Florida. People want new HD channels and Comcast is giving us more standard channels. Than the few HD channels they have added the past year are garbage that nobody watches. Instead of adding more HD they are too busy screwing around with other stuff. This is typical Comcast they upgrade everyone over a year ago now it will be another 5 years before they make another move yet they will be raising prices again next month go figure.

Too bad Comcast Cares about switching SD Channels from Tier to Tier than adding either Speed or BBCA in HD.

Same here....as most of the champions league matches are on FSC, I can't wait until this is added in HD. Not holding my breath though. Cox has it in hd and they don't even require purchasing an additional package to get it either like comcast does with sports and entertainment pack.

Sorry if this has been brought up before, did I search and couldn't find an answer

Has anyone had any luck getting a cable card with only basic cable? I figured for $3/mth it was worth it to just have cable than put an antenna on the roof, as long as I can get a guide for the local HD channels to use with my Tivo

Thanks!

Not sure if anyone has done it, but its not an issue to a cable card with basic. There are no service level requirements to a cable card beside having atleast basic cable. You still will need a tech to go out there to do the installation.

The cost for the cable card if its your 1st piece of equipment is $0.00.

Thanks!

I did one of those online chats and they were claiming that I needed at least the "digital" tier to get a cable card (but they were nice enough to offer me an HD box for a fee)

The bill inserts are intentionally convoluted to hide the screw, but near as I can tell:
1) You don't get any HD local channels with just Basic Service. That's whether you use CableCARD or STB. There's a "HD Technology Fee" @ $7.95/month even for their digital subscribers! I suppose HD might be sold add-on to Basic Service, since after all you can rent a HD STB w/ Basic Service ($2.25) versus just a regular STB w/Basic ($1.10), but I've never actually tried to buy it.
2) Actually *getting* a CableCARD from them is a problem too, isn't it? The reason the representative probably said you had to buy a digital tier service is that there are only two feature sets which explicitly say in the footnote text "... *includes* ... [STB or] a CableCARD on the primary outlet." Those services are Digital Economy and Digital Starter. (Also the "Additional Outlet (w/CableCARD) fee" supplies one, but it's an add-on to the aforementioned.)

Yes, Supreme's right that once you have one, the monthly fee for a CableCARD is $0.00, but I believe that getting it, and actually viewing any additional programming with it, are two separate, extra-cost, issues.

Ragnrok, please do report back here with what finally shakes out for you.

Comcast billing question.

So, been with Comcast/Mediaone/whatever for about 14 years. Historically, get a package deal, they try to raise your package rate when it expires - you call, complain/tell them you'll leave they fold and give you a new deal that matches or is better than what you have/had.

This week I see my bill went up $15 bucks $159 HD Extreme or whatever it's called was raised to $174 (apparently, I had a 24 month deal and it goes up after 12 months - they want $197 a month for this package along with 1 HD DVR and 1 digital box w/ internet and phone). I call, complain and tell them I'm going to Fios. I was basically told to screw. Figured I had a bad customer care person on the phone, so I emailed customer care to fix this issue. Back story, co-worker used my bill just 2 weeks ago to get my same deal as a new subscriber, but he also got a $250 Visa GC in addition. I get a massive response back from customer care in email - blah, blah, blah - basically confirming that they won't give me a new package with better pricing, or revert my pricing - just downgrade my service if I want to lower my bill. The best part, with the massive email response is obviously cut and pasted information which goes on to say my rate won't go up in 2008 - ah what, hello?

I'm now told I need to stay in good standing with the new higher rates for 6 months before I can get another good deal, or I go to my local Comcast office and ask them for a better deal (they want me to ask 3 times, in 3 different places to honor a package they are giving to other customers).

Anyone had similar experiences lately?

They'll need good offers for new customers if this is how they treat their existing base. A base that puts up with their 90's User interface, their HD channel offerings that are dwarfed by competitors and their less than reliable voice call quality.

Don't mess with low level people. Ask specifically to talk with a customer retention specialist.

Repeat after me.

HD FEEDS OF LOCAL BROADCAST CHANNELS ARE CONSIDERED PART OF LIMITED BASIC SERVICE.
Must carry channel;s in the Boston/Manchester market are:
11 (Although 11.1 is HD, Carriage of just 11.2,the SD feed satisfies the rule)
27 *
34 (There is no ch 60 anymore)
44.1
46
48
50 *
62
66 *
68.1 *

* starred channels are in HD. Must carry HD channels MUST BE CARRIED AND MUST BE CARRIED IN HD!

sfull,
If you have access to FiOS, I cannot imagine a compelling scenario for choosing Comcast. Switch to FiOS. Don't walk, run. You will not regret the decision.
-Jakes

Friday i went with my parents to the local comcast Fall River and i asked them about Sun Sports and FSN Prime Ticket (i even showed them the bill addition) and they said "those additions were typed in error"

seems that was the case with CSN Chicago in Attleboro

I'm guessing you are right about that, time to pull the plug. I hate to change, and the one time I considered the change I tried calling Verizon after 8 pm once the kids were in bed and their call center was closed.

I know plenty of people who have made the change and never looked back. Any feedback on how the Fios On Demand content compares to Comcast. Mainly concerned about premium channel, network and kids programming on demand.

Comcast in Boston actually has more HD locals than FiOS. I think 27 and 50 were recently added to FiOS, but I don't believe FiOS currently carries 11 or 66 in HD.