mike_atlas
@covad.net
| reply to ajburgh
Re: [CATV] Boston: I get 50% fewer HD channels but pay for all!
Yes. I suppose the same thing. The only reason I am pushing this is that earlier we were told that they WERE going to update equipment in Arlington/Somerville to add these interim channels and now the implication is that this will be part of the analog phaseout at some even later date.
Again, I agree, it would be much easier if RCN would just post what is going to happen and when rather than some vague "in the future" message.
said by ajburgh  :Most current cable companies are still sending out analog channels 1-99, plus a digital copy of it that your cable box is showing instead (the cable box just pretends they are on channels 1-99). These analog channels are what's shown when you hook up your TV directly to the cable. They take up a lot of space, about 6 SD digital channels or 1-2 HD channels per analog channel. If they stop airing the digital copy like they did in Chicago recently there will be a lot more capacity to add additional channels. However, it also means you can no longer just hook up a regular TV directly to the cable and watch TV like that. Big cable systems, like the one in Boston, are mostly made up of smaller cable systems that have been taken over in the past. Some of these parts may have a slightly smaller capacity than others. My guess is that Arlington/Somerville has a cable network with a slightly smaller capacity that does not allow them to add the additional HD channels right now. When they clear out all the analog channels there should be plenty of room to add those. Of course, the only official answer would have to be given by Jason. This is just my understanding of it. |
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boble88
join:2001-12-20
Somerville, MA
 ·RCN CABLE
| reply to ajburgh
Thanks for that info. Warner cable came into Somerville in the 70's Comcast now owns those lines. When Rcn arrived they ran all new lines in the city and I am assuming had to come in with new equipment to receive and distribute these channels. If 1 HD channel is the equivalent of 6 analog then why do we need channels 2 to 70 (or slightly higher) repeated again from 900 to 970+? Would that open up more space? |
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kshakir
join:2006-05-01
Somerville, MA
| said by boble88 :why do we need channels 2 to 70 (or slightly higher) repeated again from 900 to 970+? I'm pretty sure those are aliased or mapped channels, which only exist in the box software / program guide. When I plug the coax directly into my QAM tuner, the only duplicate channels are the when there's an analog, an SD, and possibly an HD signal.
I'm itching for more HD--even more than the 12 channels Somerville is missing! Here's to getting the new boxes out to Boston/Somerville soon so we can reuse the analog signals! |
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ajburgh
join:2007-08-10
Greenville, SC
1 edit | reply to boble88
said by boble88 :If 1 HD channel is the equivalent of 6 analog then why do we need channels 2 to 70 (or slightly higher) repeated again from 900 to 970+? Would that open up more space? I also don't think those are actually repeated. They are just remapped there by the cable boxes that can receive both analog and digital. The version you see from channels 2 to 70 on a cable box is actually the digital copy of the analog channel.
And 1 analog channel is the equivalent of 6 SD channels. Or 1 analog is the equivalent of 1-2 HD channels. |
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rcnman
Jason Nealis
Premium,VIP
join:2003-05-02
Herndon, VA
| reply to boble88
said by boble88 : Rcnman, when you say "reclaim analog space" how is this done? The reason I ask is this, if you eliminate the channels from 900 to 970 (does anyone know why these channels are needed) how many HD channels could take that space? I am not going to sit here and say I want more HD channels or I'm going to another cable company. In a previous life I had Time Warner when they 1st came to Somerville (Comcast now has the rights) so if someone can proove to me that Comcast or Verizon are any better then RCN I might switch. But and I mean but, the price had better be lower. I have read the "Comcast" and "Verizon" forums here on DSL reports and not everything is perfect over there. Back to the topic. I think the point some of us are trying to make is why are we paying 16 dollars a month for 15 channels (if the numbers are wrong sorry) and someone else is getting 30 channels for the same money. Is Market Basket in Somerville going to sell me a loaf of bread for 2 dollars and then sell two loaves to someone from Boston for the same price? Sorry Lil Hurricane if my analogy is not appreciated but I kept it clean. When we recover the spectrum taken up by 1 analog channel, it allows us to deploy 2-3 HD channels, or upwards of 10 Digital channels.
--
Jason Nealis,
Sr. Director, Video Product and Network Operations |
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rcnman
Jason Nealis
Premium,VIP
join:2003-05-02
Herndon, VA
| reply to ajburgh
said by ajburgh :Most current cable companies are still sending out analog channels 1-99, plus a digital copy of it that your cable box is showing instead (the cable box just pretends they are on channels 1-99). These analog channels are what's shown when you hook up your TV directly to the cable. They take up a lot of space, about 6 SD digital channels or 1-2 HD channels per analog channel. If they stop airing the digital copy like they did in Chicago recently there will be a lot more capacity to add additional channels. However, it also means you can no longer just hook up a regular TV directly to the cable and watch TV like that. Big cable systems, like the one in Boston, are mostly made up of smaller cable systems that have been taken over in the past. Some of these parts may have a slightly smaller capacity than others. My guess is that Arlington/Somerville has a cable network with a slightly smaller capacity that does not allow them to add the additional HD channels right now. When they clear out all the analog channels there should be plenty of room to add those. Of course, the only official answer would have to be given by Jason. This is just my understanding of it. I would agree with everything you said..
--
Jason Nealis,
Sr. Director, Video Product and Network Operations |
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Mike_Arl
@covad.net
| Thanks. I guess that's about as close to official as we are going to get.
-Mike "waiting for July"
said by rcnman :said by ajburgh :Most current cable companies are still sending out analog channels 1-99, plus a digital copy of it that your cable box is showing instead (the cable box just pretends they are on channels 1-99). These analog channels are what's shown when you hook up your TV directly to the cable. They take up a lot of space, about 6 SD digital channels or 1-2 HD channels per analog channel. If they stop airing the digital copy like they did in Chicago recently there will be a lot more capacity to add additional channels. However, it also means you can no longer just hook up a regular TV directly to the cable and watch TV like that. Big cable systems, like the one in Boston, are mostly made up of smaller cable systems that have been taken over in the past. Some of these parts may have a slightly smaller capacity than others. My guess is that Arlington/Somerville has a cable network with a slightly smaller capacity that does not allow them to add the additional HD channels right now. When they clear out all the analog channels there should be plenty of room to add those. Of course, the only official answer would have to be given by Jason. This is just my understanding of it. I would agree with everything you said.. |
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arlington
join:2008-03-03
| reply to moulder3
In Arlington the cable setup for the last 20 years or so was first something called Arlington something or other, taken over by cablevision, taken over by ATT&T, taken over by Comcast.
Never had cable when I lived in Somerville but I believe back in the eighties is was the same as Medford, Warner cable.
Now Arlington has RCN, Comcast, and FIOS, including me come Mon AM |
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formerly rcn
@verizon.net
| reply to moulder3
MDU's in boston area were built first and at the time 750mhz was the standard. then shortly after came 860mhz which was used for newer builds.
just as a reference most modern urban cable systems are 860mhz and most modern suburban systems are 750-860mhz. urban systems typically have more local channels requiring more space.
110 mhz difference = about shelf space for 40 hd channels.
i hope that answers your question.
said by moulder3 :Ok, I remember hearing that I was missing out on Science Channel HD and some other channel a few weeks ago, but I just checked the website, and found this (taken directly from rcn.com): The following HD channels are not available in Arlington, Somerville or Boston multiple dwelling units (MDUs): A&E HD Animal Planet HD Biography HD CNN HD Discovery Channel HD FX HD History Channel HD Lifetime Movie Network HD Science Channel HD The Learning Channel (TLC) HD Travel Channel HD So let me get this straight, I pay the EXACT SAME AMOUNT as everyone else in the Boston area, but am supposed to be ok with getting 50% LESS HD than everyone else? How is that fair? Can someone from RCN PLEASE COMMENT on when those of us who (are apparently unfortunate enough to) live in MDUs in Boston will receive these HD channels....that we are already paying for, but not receiving?!? |
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moulder3
join:2007-05-21
Boston, MA
| formerly rcn:
THANK YOU!! Two pages of comments, but no one answered my question before you!!!!
So now that I know I'm on a 750mhz network, what does this mean? Is it possible, and/or is RCN in the process of, upgrading the network to 860mhz? What does that entail?
I'm hoping that the comments by rcnman in other threads mentioning HD-VOD by July means they are currently upgrading our network? I don't care how I get it (QAM or switched video)...I just want the HD channels! 
From a marketing standpoint, I think if RCN upgraded us, the ability to advertise "the most HD in Boston" (over Comcast, Fios, DirecTV & Dish) would be a HUGE selling point. Most of my friends have gone to satellite, believing this to be the option with most HD. |
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