machpost
join:2002-01-11
Washington, DC | reply to jmirabella
Re: [CATV] HD on Demand....when ?
Have the servers in D.C. been updated yet? About a month ago, I came across a pair of 30-minute test HD files buried deep under one of the VOD sections. They looked great. |
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billymac
@rcn.com
| reply to jmirabella
said by jmirabella  :nothing on your end will be different. After the servers get cut to the new platform, we can then sign deals for more content / HD content / etc.. I am just doing the server work, no idea on what deals, what content, HD, etc will be done. Well, it appears some things are different. The HD channels that were previously clearQAM are now encrypted. So personally my service has been degraded. This is in the Boston area. |
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jmirabella
Joe Mirabella
Premium,VIP
join:2003-10-20
Lanham, MD
clubs:
1 edit | VOD Servers and HD Channel Encryption are separate systems.. my changes on the VOD system would not affect anything but VOD.. |
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rcbrcb
Premium
join:2007-02-21
Chicago, IL
 ·DIRECTV
 ·RCN CABLE
 ·T-Mobile VoIP
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·T-Mobile US
| reply to dawk2008
Billymac....The "Analog Crush" that has happened in Chicago already with the switch to full Digital is next slated to start in Boston. The encrypting of the HD QAM channels was RCN's first step in that conversion in Chicago, so I would assume that is why you lost them in Boston. You will not get them back, we tried our best here in Chicago, but RCN refuses...... |
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nycityny
Premium
join:2005-08-09
New York, NY
·PHONE POWER
·VoicePulse
·RCN CABLE
·ViaTalk
| reply to billymac
said by billymac :
Well, it appears some things are different. The HD channels that were previously clearQAM are now encrypted. So personally my service has been degraded. This is in the Boston area.
Have your analog channels been encrypted as well (i.e., do you need a cable box for channels 2-99)? |
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clock
join:2007-05-02
Roslindale, MA
1 edit | No, the analog channels are still fine. |
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rcnman
Jason Nealis
Premium,VIP
join:2003-05-02
Herndon, VA
| reply to rcbrcb
said by rcbrcb :Billymac....The "Analog Crush" that has happened in Chicago already with the switch to full Digital is next slated to start in Boston. The encrypting of the HD QAM channels was RCN's first step in that conversion in Chicago, so I would assume that is why you lost them in Boston. You will not get them back, we tried our best here in Chicago, but RCN refuses...... I know this isn't a popular topic, But again I believe in being upfront and indeed rcbrcb is correct as this is the first step in prepping for crush. |
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clock
join:2007-05-02
Roslindale, MA | Jason, is RCN planning to leave any of the locals (either SD or HD) in the clear? It'll be nice to know what's going to be left, if anything at all, unencrypted. |
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BillyMac
@sscountry-auto.com
| I like RCN. It would be nice if they left extended basic ( < 100) and local HD in the clear after the crush. But it seams that at least for Chicago, everything was encrypted during the crush. I likely will not remain a customer if I have to rent cable boxes for all my TV's and recorders. That would easily double my cable bill. I do hope that they don't do it the same as Chicago. |
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BillyMac
@sscountry-auto.com
| reply to jmirabella
said by jmirabella :VOD Servers and HD Channel Encryption are separate systems.. my changes on the VOD system would not affect anything but VOD.. sorry for blaming you for it then. |
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rcnman
Jason Nealis
Premium,VIP
join:2003-05-02
Herndon, VA
| reply to clock
said by clock :Jason, is RCN planning to leave any of the locals (either SD or HD) in the clear? It'll be nice to know what's going to be left, if anything at all, unencrypted. Broadcast Locals at this time are remaining in the clear.. |
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rcbrcb
Premium
join:2007-02-21
Chicago, IL | reply to dawk2008
Billymac....After RCN completes the "Analog Crush" in Boston you will have to have a reciver on each TV, just like we do in Chicago, the conversion is a complete elimination of analong channels..... |
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tubby17
join:2007-09-15
Easton, PA
3 edits | So I currently have an HDTV with QAM and ATSC tuners and no STB. I can get digital and analog versions of the extended basic (1-100) channels and a few HD channels (networks and others such as ESPN2, HGTV, TBS, and TNT). If I still don't have a STB after the analog crush, will I still be able to get the SD digital channels? HD network channels? |
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rcbrcb
Premium
join:2007-02-21
Chicago, IL
1 edit | reply to dawk2008
After the Analog Crush all you will be able to get are the SD versions of your local channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc). using a QAM tuner only. You will not be able to get ESPN, ESPN2, etc without a STB. |
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tubby17
join:2007-09-15
Easton, PA
| Sorry if this is getting too far off-topic for HD on-demand, but this Analog Crush has gotten me curious. Just a few questions:
1) Is this "Analog Crush" the same thing that is being mandated by the feds for sometime in 2012? That is, after analog OTA signals stop in 2009, I thought that the cable analog signal would stop 3 years later. I fully acknowledge that this may be a total misunderstanding on my part.
2) As I mentioned in the previous post, I have an HDTV with a QAM and ATSC tuner and it is plugged directly into the coax cable (no STB). The channels I get currently include:
Comedy Central (analog): Channel 79
Comedy Central (digital): Channel 18.79
NBC (HD): Channel 104.2
TNT (HD): Channel 109.300
Which of these will I no longer be able to get after the analog crush?
3) If I ever start a rock band, I will call it "Analog Crush". |
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rcnman
Jason Nealis
Premium,VIP
join:2003-05-02
Herndon, VA
| said by tubby17 :Sorry if this is getting too far off-topic for HD on-demand, but this Analog Crush has gotten me curious. Just a few questions: 1) Is this "Analog Crush" the same thing that is being mandated by the feds for sometime in 2012? That is, after analog OTA signals stop in 2009, I thought that the cable analog signal would stop 3 years later. I fully acknowledge that this may be a total misunderstanding on my part. 2) As I mentioned in the previous post, I have an HDTV with a QAM and ATSC tuner and it is plugged directly into the coax cable (no STB). The channels I get currently include: Comedy Central (analog): Channel 79 Comedy Central (digital): Channel 18.79 NBC (HD): Channel 104.2 TNT (HD): Channel 109.300 Which of these will I no longer be able to get after the analog crush? 3) If I ever start a rock band, I will call it "Analog Crush". 1) Not really related, but yet somewhat related. We are going to a fully addressable system which would mean you would need a Set-Top box to view more then the broadcast channels at this time.
2) The only channel you wil get is the analog version of comedy central if that. Most likely you won't get any of those. I'm not 100% sure, but I know you won't get any of the HD's.
3) What genre music will it be? 80's Hair Bands? Thrash Metal? Judas Priest tribute band? Or maybe even Reggae? |
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alanisrox69
join:2005-03-29
LHV, PA
·RCN CABLE
1 edit | reply to BillyMac
said by BillyMac :
I like RCN. It would be nice if they left extended basic ( < 100) and local HD in the clear after the crush. But it seams that at least for Chicago, everything was encrypted during the crush. I likely will not remain a customer if I have to rent cable boxes for all my TV's and recorders. That would easily double my cable bill. I do hope that they don't do it the same as Chicago.
Say what?
They have to give you ONE digital converter box for free per month. Additional converters are $3.95. Assuming you pay $75/month for service, that means in order to 'double' your cable bill, you would have to add almost 19 more converters :O
For HD, depending where you are, an OTA box may suffice for Local HD.
-Derek-
--
CHECK YOUR FSLC TAXES!!! |
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nycityny
Premium
join:2005-08-09
New York, NY
·PHONE POWER
·VoicePulse
·RCN CABLE
·ViaTalk
| said by alanisrox69 : Assuming you pay $75/month for service $75/month?!?! For someone getting just the basic channels without a box? RCN doesn't charge that much. In my building we have a special rate of around $32/month for basic cable (channels 2-99) from RCN. Other places certainly are not more than double that amount. |
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alanisrox69
join:2005-03-29
LHV, PA
·RCN CABLE
| said by nycityny :said by alanisrox69 : Assuming you pay $75/month for service $75/month?!?! For someone getting just the basic channels without a box? RCN doesn't charge that much. In my building we have a special rate of around $32/month for basic cable (channels 2-99) from RCN. Other places certainly are not more than double that amount. I guess I was assuming they had a digital package.
good point though, if you are paying for Basic 2-99, why would you expect the HD channels?
-Derek-
--
CHECK YOUR FSLC TAXES!!! |
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billymac
join:2008-05-16
01802
| HD locals in clear QAM are part of just about every basic cable TV package out there now.
Also, RCN has carried many of the HD channels in the clear for the past few years. So it's service that we have had for some time with the $35 package. |
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