burner50
Pinlifter
Premium,VIP
join:2002-06-05
EN22wm
 ·Mediacom
 ·FrontierNet Intern..
| reply to Turbocpe
Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response
said by Turbocpe  :it's like either the budget was slashed at the headend, or experienced crew left the building. a little from coulmn A and a little from coulmn B....
The audio level problem sounds like something major and the FCC regualtes this, but you have no way of proving this sooo SOL there...
mediacom recieves (almost) all of their channels digitally depending on your location and rebroadcasts them in all analog for basic cable subscribers. |
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Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
| The volume thing is just another example to the list of the numerous issues that the headend appears to be having. I'd rather have that, than have nearly half of the analog channels be offair for 2 hours, or freezing/skipping so badly you can't watch them.
I've been informed that someone is looking into these issues. However, if that doesn't work out, I'm currently working on a plan to get some of the neighbors aware, and involved, who are also customers. It's pretty easy to look at a tap and see the tags to indicate a subscriber or not. I'd think the more people involved, the more attention to these matters will bring. Based on these, and other known or past issues, my confidence with Mediacom isn't that high. I think that's pretty reasonable. This not meant to be offensive to any of the technicians or tier support here. It's obviously out of your control. And I'll admit, I see effort being made by some Mediacom employees. |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA | Turbo Mediacom is aware of the issue(s). Have been for months. |
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drslash
Goya Asma
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Marion, IA | That's astonishing. Mediacom's flagship service is this bad and they can't solve the problems?
--
Save water...drink beer! |
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drr
@mchsi.com
| reply to Turbocpe
Mediacom can be aware of as much as they want, but they don't actually do anything about it.
With a earnings report coming soon, and rumors of financial instability (large debt as compared to income), I have serious doubts about Mediacom.
Turbo, I am with you. I promise you I will be making a big splash on this soon. I have a major test (required for my career) in Iowa City on Saturday which has delayed my plans to next week.
Financial issues, tonight while perusing the onscreen guide, noticed two of my hbo's knocked out. Checked my bill, sure enough, it wasn't lowered, but did state that mediacom had dropped those channels.
drr of wdm
~it is my dream to get rid of mediacom in this state |
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drr
@grm.net
| reply to Turbocpe
Well, just to keep things up to date.
Mediacom called me two days ago. Asked me if there work from two WEEKS ago had fixed my internet.
I told the guy, "NO, I HAD 15% LOSS THE OTHER NIGHT DUDE!"
There was a little more to that conversation, but I'm not sure he cared what my opinion of the problem was. He's supposed to send out, yes its true, another line tech. Because since the first line tech didn't fix it, I'm sure the second one will. Granted, this second one will be 'sweeping the lines.'
If anyone knows what 'sweeping' the lines means, please let me know.
And turbo, my splash plans are being pushed off now that mediacom has remembered me. I mean, they didn't ignore me for a month right?? I'm supposed to be happy with this right??
drr of wdm |
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Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
1 edit | drr, just to clarify, your issues with your internet connection aren't related to this topic. So Mediacom sweeping the lines to fix your internet connection won't fix the issues that are known with analog channels 2-78. Your internet connection is a digital service that does rely on proper signal levels in order to operate correctly. This is different from analog TV channels 2-78.
drr, it sounds like whoever is working with you may not understand how your analog channels work, if they imply that doing this work (sweeping lines in your area) will fix analog channels 2-78 issues.
Since this thread, I've been getting some private contacts from others in the Des Moines area who can confirm that Mediacom's analog channels 2-78 are experiencing a lot of issues over the past several months in the form of audio/video sync issues, outages, and picture quality issues (tiling). |
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drr
@grm.net
| reply to Turbocpe
ok, well, at least the last tech out said that proper signal levels were needed for the modem, as well as for the cable box. This guy approached it as though they may be caused by the same thing. (I only focus on internet in my discussions b/c that has effected me more than the tv cable recently). In fact, the guy said "the signal level to your modem is too high, and the signal level going to your cable box is too low." I thought this was a bit odd since they were on the same line, but hey, whatever.
So if the channels 2-78 is a more widespread issue, do you know if mediacom is doing anything about this? Or if Mediacom even acknowledges it? B/c if Mediacom acknowledges it and is working on it, I'll quit bugging them about it and just get my credits every month until its fixed.
drr of wdm |
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Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
1 edit | said by drr :
So if the channels 2-78 is a more widespread issue, do you know if mediacom is doing anything about this? Or if Mediacom even acknowledges it? B/c if Mediacom acknowledges it and is working on it, I'll quit bugging them about it and just get my credits every month until its fixed.
drr of wdm
Yes, the channels 2-78 is a widespread issue. I've heard from many people, through this topic, with similar issues with their analog service.
I'm told Mediacom is aware of it, but that has been for the past several months. As you can see, it hasn't be resolved.
I wouldn't exactly suggest to "quit bugging them" about it, as obviously the issues are still not resolved. From the appearance of it, people have not done enough to make Mediacom get it resolved sooner. That might be changing.
By the way, do you think you could register here on BBR? Registration is free, and you don't get spammed at the email address you provide. I ask because I'd like to send you a PM about this, but PM can only be sent between registered users. PM = Private Messages. |
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garn91
join:2005-01-15
Ankeny, IA | reply to Turbocpe
tell them to fix whatever is wrong or you're going to cancel and go to satellite. I doubt that Mediacom will care, but this is ridiculous with all the unresolved and widespread problems you guys are having. |
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noone
@mchsi.com
| It is amazing how accurate turbo is with the various channels that went off the other morning. There have been many issues with the new digital equipment. Sorry.
As far as direct feeds from the TV stations in DSM the only ones that do not have this is KDSM, and KCWI,KDMI( by the way this is the same station) and ION. They do go off the air quite a bit, whether or not TV Guide says so. |
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Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
2 edits | said by noone :
It is amazing how accurate turbo is with the various channels that went off the other morning. There have been many issues with the new digital equipment. Sorry.
As far as direct feeds from the TV stations in DSM the only ones that do not have this is KDSM, and KCWI,KDMI( by the way this is the same station) and ION. They do go off the air quite a bit, whether or not TV Guide says so.
I do stand by the issues stated being on Mediacom's end and not the customer's, but the only one I do question is the KDSM, KCWI and KDMI channels. They seem to be in sync, meaning if one has problems the other two do as well. It's basically either all 3 go offline at the same time, or KCWI and KDMI will be offline and KDSM will show poor picture quality, and frequently go in and out.
However, they are going offline when there should be programming. For instance, speaking of KDSM, at 1:30AM Seinfeld is always on M-F as is Frasier on at 2:00AM. However, many times those programs will be interrupted by poor picture, or no picture at all. So, there should be programming on, and normally is, when they go offline. I'm just not certain if it's Mediacom's end or on the end off KDSM, KCWI and KDMI.
Those 3 channels are still regularly going out, or showing poor picture. The last few times I had planned to swap to rabbit ears to see if the programming was available over the air, but last few times this happened, I could not locate any old rabbit ears to test this. |
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burner50
Pinlifter
Premium,VIP
join:2002-06-05
EN22wm
·Mediacom
·FrontierNet Intern..
| reply to drr
said by drr :
~it is my dream to get rid of mediacom in this state
Good luck... Nobody else wants iowa... its a money hole that is difficult to turn a profit. Subscriber density is too low in much of mediacom's iowa systems.
Sweeping the lines means somebody is going thru them with a fine toothed comb, checking levels at every amp and verifying signal loss is what it should be, also checking the proper modules and pads in the amps and veriying the proper tap plates are in the proper places.
--
--Semi Trailers belong on Rail cars
--Giving you un-biased opinions about Mediacom, BBR, and life in general |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom
| said by burner50 :said by drr :
~it is my dream to get rid of mediacom in this state
Good luck... Nobody else wants iowa... its a money hole that is difficult to turn a profit. Subscriber density is too low in much of mediacom's iowa systems. ... BINGO!
People fail to realize this. For example Des Moines is the biggest metro area served by Mediacom. Their 'crown jewel' as they like to call it. Yet Comcast and other big players probably don't know it exists.
The whole idea of providing advanced services (Phone, HSD) to rural areas is flawed. Less potential customers (low population spread over huge areas), more equipment to maintain (higher costs) and once you increase the price to cover the expenses what people do? They switch to satellite and if available DSL.
The only 'good' thing about this idea is low or no competition. |
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Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
2 edits | reply to Turbocpe
Just an update, I contacted KDSM to ask where the problem was with their frequent offair issue over the past several weeks-months. They informed me that WOI (local 5) burned up their transmission line, and because they share a tower, they (KDSM) are being required to power down to allow repair work. They said it should be finished, soon.
So that issue (KDSM frequently going offair) was not with Mediacom.
However, I have good word that the others issues I've listed in this thread, are indeed issues on Mediacom's headend and that their "brass" has known about it for quite some time now. And based on what I'm seeing, there still is no fix.
And on that note, after 4:30AM this morning, "blocks" (lots) of those same channels, yet again, started to "tiling" and went offair for a short period of time. Also early this morning, there was a weird issue, where a few seconds had shown some announcement, with a warning tone, for some "video alignment" message with a local phone number listed on those blocks/lots of channels. Oops! |
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DRRofWDM
join:2007-11-01
West Des Moines, IA
| reply to Turbocpe
local phone number?
Are you suggesting the phone number was not meant to be seen by you or anyone else who saw it?
I still get the tiling. Saturdays on espn seems to be the worst, but if I haven't mentioned it before, I haven't gotten just a ton of tv watching in for awhile, so saturdays is the largest block of time each week I watch TV.
keep us posted Turbo
drr |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom
1 edit | said by DRRofWDM :... I still get the tiling. Saturdays on espn seems to be the worst, but if I haven't mentioned it before, I haven't gotten just a ton of tv watching in for awhile, so saturdays is the largest block of time each week I watch TV. keep us posted Turbo drr Do you get tiling on analog? Or is it digital? |
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DRRofWDM
join:2007-11-01
West Des Moines, IA
| reply to Turbocpe
Well, I'm not actually sure.
The tiling occurs almost exlusively on channels 2-78. (other channels its so rare as to not bother me, say, maybe once a month for one second). Its my understanding that some of those channels are digital and some are analog. Turbo could answer that question for you better than I could.
Channels since last June that have had the problem include espn 1 and 2, amc, cartoon network, and fox news. That's all i can remember, though I believe like tnt or fx does it too.
Also, what I do know that furthers the digital v analog theory is that TV's I have that ARE NOT hooked up to the cable box also experience the tiling issues.
drr
~since mid june |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom
| If you have a DCT/cable card that TV gets digital service. What channels are tiling on that TV?
This can be local wiring, line issue etc (signal). A tech can fix it or turn it over to the line dept if it's a line issue.
Tiling on TVs that have no DCTs connected and get only 2-78 is a headend issue. Not a local issue. |
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Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
1 edit | reply to Turbocpe
I agree with Anonymous. It's easy to confuse the issues.
If you see such issues on TV that has a "DCT", or is a digital TV, and you subscribe to the digital services, those issues can be the result of signal issues, which could be in your local area or home.
However, if you are seeing these issues on TV channels 2-78 without any "DCT", it is due to the headend issues that Mediacom is aware of. It affects all analog customers from the headend. |
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