djdanska
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Glen Ellyn, IL
clubs:
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·T-Mobile US
 ·A + Net
 ·Mediacom
·RCN CABLE
| reply to Eddie K
Re: [CATV] RCN Chicago - QAM channels gone
I was going to switch to comcast because of this. Even placed the order. The only reason i stayed was because of a few things. i called up rcn. They did not know qam from hsn. She asked what i wanted in order to stay. i told her 20 meg internet that was close to what comcast offered me with their 16 meg plan. (was like $130 for digital cable and 16 meg internet. I think it was for 3 months. or 6). She gave me rcn's 20 meg for $5 more per month. That and all the new channels made me stay. I may not get my hdtv via qam anymore but i can always get a hd copy of the stuff i need on the net with the 20 meg connection. I love it already. Got my first bill and she did give me it for $5 more a month. Did anybody else actually leave because of this? I have a hd capable box but use my computers hd tuner. I cant hookup the box with any type of hd connection. im stuck with either s-video or rf channel 4. The hd channels still look pretty sweet via channel 4. i know, not the same.
***Typed on a Mobile Device*** |
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rcbrcb
Premium
join:2007-02-21
Chicago, IL | reply to Eddie K
I have filled out the FCC Complaint form, but have not heard from anyone...... |
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alanisrox69
join:2005-03-29
LHV, PA | reply to Eddie K
Have you guys been filling out the FCC complaint form?
If so, have they called you back?
--
CHECK YOUR FSLC TAXES!!! |
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jhlmsln
join:2005-05-01
Washington, DC | reply to goodbye_rcn
I thought you were with COMCAST now.
What is your motivation with continuing
posting on RCN forum.
jhl |
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goodbye_rcn
@level3.net | reply to inseattle
Yes, Comcast has all local HD channels in clear-QAM.
All of them, in full-HD, viewable by any HDTV with a QAM tuner, no box required.
RCN does not. |
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lilhurricane
Crunchin' For Cures
Premium,Mod
join:2003-01-11
Purple Zone
clubs:
·Comcast
Host:
TV over IP
Software
RCN
Inside Insight
Team Discovery
| reply to inseattle
said by inseattle  :Does anyone know if the Comcast basic cable has HDTV locals over QAM ? That question might be better suited to the Comcast Forum
»Comcast Cable TV |
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inseattle
join:2006-10-05
Chicago, IL | reply to Eddie K
I am not sure if I should rent another box from RCN or go the QAM route with Comcast. Does anyone know if the Comcast basic cable has HDTV locals over QAM ? |
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rcbrcb
Premium
join:2007-02-21
Chicago, IL | reply to Eddie K
Yep...My Node has not yet been converted over to the Full Digital Upgrade and I have slowly lost HD QAM Channels over the last few weeks with the final batch going away over this past weekend....TOTAL BS |
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goodbye_rcn
@level3.net
1 edit | reply to Eddie K
So, I get back from my vacation on Friday, and I find ALL of the HD QAM channels gone.
By Saturday, I have restored my clear-QAM HD channels via Comcast. Yes, it was that quick.
Good day! |
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XYZ
@rcn.com | reply to cdr1000
Thanks for the links, they were pretty helpful. I was wondering myself about HDTV antennas vs regular antennas and which antennas out there are the best.
Thanks again. |
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cdr1000
join:2004-02-18
10100
·RCN CABLE
| reply to XYZ
Step 1:
Go to AntennaWeb.org
Type your zip code
See a list of OTA channels
Step 2:
Go to
»www.hdtvantennalabs.com/index.php
»antennasystems.com
and select a good antenna
Or read more at
»www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-···nna.html |
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mjr
Premium
join:2003-09-18
Bethlehem, PA
| reply to XYZ
Yeah, I still have a high-gain UHF antenna in my attic pointed towards philly. (Imported from europe... at the time higher gain than anything available in the US) At the time I installed it, very few cable companies carried any HD. My TV didn't have a tuner, and some years later, when my off-air tuner box died, I decided to rent RCN's HD box instead of shelling out $400+ for another OTA tuner. OTA is still the highest quality HD you can get. When you get it, it's great, but reception of OTA signals is pretty highly dependent on where you live, and can get complicated with multipath, adjacent interference, and stations located in different directions...
Anyway, I believe RCN is in the wrong with the encryption of the local HD's. I suspect (hopefully shortly), their legal team, working with the FCC will realize, and put the locals back in the clear. Certainly you can expect all the other HD stuff to stay encrypted, though.
- Mike |
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XYZ
@rcn.com
| reply to mjr
Thanks for the help.
I got an HD antenna to get all the OTA channels. I had no Idea the channels look so perfect. My wife thought we got the HD channels back from RCN but it was just OTA. The only annoyance was to find that spot on my apartment where I would pick up all the channels.
--- angry rant below about RCN, feel free to not read below this point --
I think it what RCN is doing is ridiculous by blocking the free chanels. Now my Antena channels look better than my crappy cable. I mostly watch local channels and I think that a special Tier for digital channels are just armed robbery. I'm already paying for the channels so I should be able to get them in the best format possible. RCN wants the average user to believe that they need the converter box because their TV are incapable of processing Digital/HD channels, when in reality RCN is just blocking the channels (EVEN the free OTA ones!) so you rent the digital box.I will be cancelling my cable on Monday. |
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cdr1000
join:2004-02-18
10100 | reply to XYZ
They use to charge $1.50 per month per card and $14.95 for the installation.
Assuming that there will be no installation issues, you should be able to watch all channels that you are paying for in "digital" and HDTV formats. |
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mjr
Premium
join:2003-09-18
Bethlehem, PA
| reply to XYZ
A cable card should allow you to see everything you've subscribed to. It should definitely give you the expanded cable channels. I would think it would give you the basic hd ones too, but only if they're included with your expanded basic cable package.. |
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XYZ
@rcn.com
| reply to Eddie K
Since QAM channels are gone here in Chicago I was wondering about Cable Cards (CC).
Basically, I only have expanded cable(No HD/Digital). If I get a CC for my TV's CC slot would I be able to see the non premium Digital and HD channels, without having to upgrade to another tier?
Thanks in advance |
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JimF
join:2003-06-15
Allentown, PA | reply to cdr1000
You then have to buy the whole PC to get the tuner. You might as well just lease RCN's set top box. The cure is worse than the disease. |
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cdr1000
join:2004-02-18
10100
·RCN CABLE
| reply to djdanska
ATI TV Wonder™ Digital Cable Tuner
»ati.amd.com/products/tvwonderdig···dex.html
Dell XPS 410 with ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner
»www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2102514,00.asp
Sony sells VAIO® Digital TV Tuner
»www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/sto···65246461 |
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retired25
@covad.net
| reply to rcbrcb
So today all the channels are gone except a few local QAM channels  I can imagine paying for boxes for my two tivos, and tv's located in guest bedrooms. I am glad the antenna on the roof is working great. Good Luck RCN! |
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rcbrcb
Premium
join:2007-02-21
Chicago, IL | reply to Eddie K
JimF,
They are only providing the SD Version of locals in the clear...The HD Versions remain encrypted...Total BS as far as I am concerned....... |
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