Comcast Guy
join:2008-01-16
Harrisburg, PA
| reply to cypherstream
Re: Central PA HD additions 2/14/08
Cypher - I think they had some bad things happen in other systems that caused them to be very cautious here in CPA. I am far from an engineer, but maneuvering the Analog channels to the digital was a part of it. Apparently a few channels will have two channels to see it. For example, if they moved channel 74 and put it on 174, it will now be on both, but both will require a box (my exact list of this is in my car right now). I think the shuffling took some time, and I am positive that the SA markets (well, all except York) held it up as well.
Chad: This is not a delay per se. Not at all. They have to move the analog over to digital, make sure it is all working properly and stable, and then dump in the HD. The ads in the paper did say "starting on Feb 14...". |
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heatsker151
join:2007-10-14
Lebanon, PA
1 edit | said by Comcast Guy  :The ads in the paper did say "starting on Feb 14...". Good call for pointing that out. Editing topic title to reflect that subtle, yet meaningful phrase...
Er. Too far back to do that... |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to Comcast Guy
Ok well they have been given a date so they know what they need to accomplish between now and then. I’m thinking there is plenty of time to get the proper reception equipment installed, get the IRD’s authorized and dish signals peaked, and then prewire everything that is necessary for the switchover over at the main headend.
Now the individual hub sites are where the complication steps in. Because there are so many different systems with different local analog channel lineups and frequency allocations, all systems must find room on some common frequencies where the main headend is to send the new channels out on. Since the channels that are moving to digital already are at each hub site as digital (thanks to simulcasting), two things need to occur. The digital simulcast QAM’s may need to be moved around a bit, again a necessity to find that common frequency, and also a new channel map has to be made at each hub which points to any relocated QAM’s and also duplicates the moved analog channels to the upper assignments in the higher 100’s. I take it that they are duplicating the removed analogs for simplicity, so for example people used to accessing CMT on Ch 55 in Reading can continue to do so as long as they have a box. But it’s duplicated on Ch 146, so eventually over time it may be migrated solely to Ch 146. For the analog changeovers I think there is still plenty of time to prewire and label new cables, and come up with a step by step checklist of what to connect to where and when the early morning hours of the 14th.
I think it can be done. At least a lot of it can be pre-wired and labeled so that come midnight on 2/14 they just need to move equipment to the new locations on the racks and plug in everything they have previously labeled according to their checklist. If they are smart, they will try to get 80% of the job done ahead of time. Sure it all has to be tested at each hub site before pushing down the new channel map, but hopefully when all of these systems are more aligned HD channel additions in the future won’t be as big of a project.
This coincides with my thread suggesting a national channel lineup from expanded basic onward. If all of these systems had identical lineups from Ch 28 and up per say, the local sites would be much better aligned for when the regional headend wants to insert more national channels (either SD or HD). Sure the local channels would be different, but that’s the nature of the beast (Fios is in the same boat). It’s far more cost effective to have all of the hub sites using the same frequency band plan for national channels, that way no extra (and confusing) frequency block conversion hardware would need to be used to say convert 714 MHz from the master headend to say 459 MHz on one hub site and 432 MHz on another hub site for example.
To summarize what can be done now:
-Regional Master headend and backup master headend should have the proper reception equipment (Either using existing dishes, new dishes installed, or trunked in via Comcast’s fiber CRAN network).
- The IRD’s should be installed in the racks, signals peaked and authorized.
- All cables should be pre-ran up to the very last connection point at the master headend (the combiner network)
- Each local hub site needs to come up with a step by step process, new digital simulcast qam chart if moving stuff around, and all associated cables should be ran. If new racks need to be installed to temporarily hold new hardware, they should be constructed and proper power and HVAC requirements met.
- Local set top channel map files can be created, new channels added to appropriate tiers, but do not push out these configurations until early morning 2/14.
- Marketing materials and employee communication about the change can continue to be distributed (as it has been).
-Third shift engineering team comes in on 2/13, prepares for what’s ahead, and then once the clock strikes midnight start finishing the last few connections, test the new channel map in house then publish it and force a system wide push to customer set tops.
Done. |
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greeby
Premium
join:1999-07-18
New Freedom, PA | reply to heatsker151
I'm in New Freedom and I'm serviced out of Gettysburg.
I know this is an area previously serviced by Adelphia (still no VOD or phone service here).
Would the new channels becoming to New Freedom / Shrewsbury as well? |
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trader869
join:2005-06-03
York New Salem, PA
| said by greeby :I'm in New Freedom and I'm serviced out of Gettysburg. I know this is an area previously serviced by Adelphia (still no VOD or phone service here). Would the new channels becoming to New Freedom / Shrewsbury as well? Im in York New Salem. I just ordered the digital preferred, and the gentlemen told me those channels and phone service would be added next month. I dont know if im on the old adelphia or not, I just moved here. |
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heatsker151
join:2007-10-14
Lebanon, PA
| In regards to the Adams/York ex-adelphia situation, only MHD and Mojo are being added next month.
I gave something of an explanation as to the state of things over here:
»Comcast upgrade in former Adelphia area (Colonial Hgts, Va)
The important thing to know is that you ARE getting VoD, CDV, and more HD channels. I don't even want to speculate on how long its going to take to finish, but I could get a surprise any day I go into work and get a message saying VOD is now available in corp 1711. (the system you're in)
Anyway... Hope this gives you some insight. |
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MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19
 ·Comcast
| reply to ExitWound
Re: Central PA HD additions very soon
said by ExitWound :What cities/regions does "central PA" encompass? I ask because I'm 90% sure I'm dropping Comcast for DirecTV within the month. You will be included in this. I was actually going to post this closer to the date that Williamsport/Lock Haven/State College was launched in case something pushed it back. However, it looks as though everything is on schedule.
There will be some analog channel shifts, some to digital and some to other locations, to make way for these channels.
I have the copy of the mailer for my area that they are sending out. If I find it, I'll post it for those that reside here.
I know Apollo729 will be drooling over the Sci-Fi HD channel!  |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| Hey MadMANN, does the former Suscom building still use that Simulsat dish for reception, or do they get all of the channels from a Comcast provided fiber now?
I found some cool simulsat pictures here as well:
»www.simulsat.com/simulsatprojects.php |
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MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19
·Comcast
| I believe that everything except for the locals are now being fed from the CRAN. The dish is still there, though.
To be honest, I get to speak to a headend tech about once a month now that our office is located separately from the headend, as opposed to everyday when we were in the same building. Therefore, I am not as up to date as I was before. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
1 edit | That's what I thought. Perhaps they tied your area, along with all the other acquisition area's into the same central PA master headend. Maybe that's what the holdup was, for the last few month's HD channel dry spell?
Well once everything is connected and lined up, hopefully it will make things easier next time when it comes to adding new HD channels. It's interesting, I put 17701 zip code into Zap2it.com's web site, and the old Suscom system has an identical lineup to ours over 100. |
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Piratefan98
join:2008-02-05
Gettysburg, PA
| reply to heatsker151
Re: Central PA HD additions 2/14/08
Hi Heatsker,
I really appreciate the time you (and ComcastGuy) take to answer questions, and wanted to say that before asking my question. I imagine it can get frustrating having to deal with so many customers on so many questions.
I am in the Adams County, PA/ex-Adelphia area, so our HD rollouts have been slow, as you know. I see we have 2 more coming soon, MHD and MOJO, so that's a start I suppose, but my question is .... and I ask this realizing that specific dates are difficult (and perilous) to predict .... but for our particular system to have more HD offerings, OnDemand, etc., do you see that as a short-term (weeks to months), medium term (many months), or longer term (a year or more) proposition?
As you probably know, we're pretty HD starved on our system, and if breaking the starvation is a couple month proposition vs a couple year thing ... it makes a great difference in terms of my interest in looking at satellite options, at least until the build-out is completed. Any insight you can share would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again,
Jeff |
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Comcast Guy
join:2008-01-16
Harrisburg, PA
| Jeff,
As far as what was planned, you were supposed to at least have OnDemand by now. While I do not know specifics, I do know you guys (and Gettysburg, New Oxford, Hanover, etc) are far behind. part of the issue is that Adelphia took care of pretty much one area in PA - State College. Comcast is working on updating your system as fast as possible, but it does take time.
If I had to make a guess, I would say for OnDemand and CDV, you're looking medium term. For more HD? Someone may have a better answer than me.
Speaking of HD, the Central PA plan of 60+ channels by year end is still rolling along as planned. That's good news. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| said by Comcast Guy :Speaking of HD, the Central PA plan of 60+ channels by year end is still rolling along as planned. That's good news. 60 HD's thats good.
End of year, that's a bit of a wait though.
Service Electric Cablevision out of Birdsboro (Along the edge of the Reading Comcast system) is planning for 70 HD channels by the end of MAY.
How is it this little tiny operator can sidestep corporate giant Comcast? |
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heatsker151
join:2007-10-14
Lebanon, PA | I'm not surprised SECTV can move quicker with certain projects, they have a much smaller footprint, fewer headends, fewer nodes, and aren't one of many divisions (regions) of a larger company vying for attention (money to upgrade). |
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Apollo729
join:2006-08-28
Avis, PA
| reply to MadMANN
Re: Central PA HD additions very soon
I know Apollo729 See Profile will be drooling over the Sci-Fi HD channel! I haven't watched SCI-FI since they killed Stargate SG1, History HD and Discovery HD are good though, we need CNN HD and since no one watches it they could remove the Fox Finance channel. 
BTW, what brought me into this? 
--
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759 |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
1 edit | reply to heatsker151
Re: Central PA HD additions 2/14/08
Ok message on the STB today says ... (drum roll please)...
8 New High Definition Channels
Get an HD converter & enjoy these new HD channels starting the week of 2/17: A&E(211), HGTV(213), Food Network(216), TBS(220), USA(222), Discovery Channel(224), TLC(225), & Sci-Fi Channel (226).
Starting the week of 2/17? You got to be kidding me. That contradicts the printed paper ad. What's taking so long?
Hmm... let me then tell my fiancée that we'll celebrate Valentines Day starting the week of 2/17 (whenever I get around to it). Think that would go over well? No way, not in this house! |
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JeepMatt
Delaware Fios
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Wilmington, DE
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Cypher,
Well, Heatseeker did warn you it could be "after". 
At least your message was worthwhile. I had yet again another "Comcast is hiring Sales Reps" message this morning.
The silence in the Philly Metro system is deafening.
--
"ONE team - ONE city - ONE dream!!" |
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pennstatejim
join:2007-10-10
Reading, PA | reply to cypherstream
Cypher,
We've waited this long, what's 4 more days! LOL |
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JamesDax
join:2001-02-24
Philadelphia, PA
·Comcast
| reply to JeepMatt
said by JeepMatt :Cypher, Well, Heatseeker did warn you it could be "after". At least your message was worthwhile. I had yet again another "Comcast is hiring Sales Reps" message this morning. The silence in the Philly Metro system is deafening. I know that's right. What the heck is going on here in Philly anyway?? New season of BSG is on the horizon. I want my sci-fi hd. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to pennstatejim
said by pennstatejim :Cypher, We've waited this long, what's 4 more days! LOL I know, I know, but don't let Comcast think that!
4 days go by and they'll say, "Oh wait, next week the HD's will come out!", then it's next week and they'll say the same thing.
Kind of like if you keep hitting the snooze button in the AM. When does it stop? |
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