dominic58
join:2008-04-15
Madison Heights, MI | reply to imrf
Re: poor HD reception in madison heights
well i find these forums very valuable, so maybe someone else who may be experiencing the same or similar problem will benefit from my experience. |
|
Xee
join:2005-02-22
USA
| Glad your issue was resolved but WOW has been terrible in this regard to me. Due to a low signal (I have a big yard with the cable box all the way at the bottom) I was unable to get any HD channels on any of my TVs. When the tech came out he verified there was a large signal drop by the time the line entered my home and then installed an amplifier *after* the splitter right before the TV he was testing it on. While this allowed me get the HD channels on that TV, it did nothing to improve the situation of the other two TVs in my home. To add insult to injury, he billed me $20 for the amplifier. Yeah, try to figure that one out; I wasn't getting a good signal in the first place so they charged me to correct *their* problem.
To make matters worse, the amplifier sometimes isn't enough to boost the signal. While ABC, CBS and NBC are fairly reliable, I get pixelation almost daily on PBS, The CW, and WCIU HD (sometimes one or more just won't come in). I tried to live with it but inevitably called another tech out. He changed some cables but ultimately told me it was as good as was going to get unless I had an amplifier installed in the attic before the splitter (and yes, he said I would be charged for it).
Really, the only reason I put up with this is that it is still cheaper than Comcast. Still, there's no way I'd recommend WOW to anyone without letting them know of my problem with them. |
|
imrf
Premium
join:2002-06-06
Utica, MI
 ·WOW Internet and C..
| said by Xee  :To add insult to injury, he billed me $20 for the amplifier. Yeah, try to figure that one out; I wasn't getting a good signal in the first place so they charged me to correct *their* problem. No, it's to fix your problem. It's not WOW's problem that you have a big back yard. All cable companies say typical installation is 125 feet from house to their network, if it's over that, then problem can arise. Which is your case.
I'm sorry you have problems, but your situation is not common. |
|
Xee
join:2005-02-22
USA
| said by imrf :No, it's to fix your problem. It's not WOW's problem that you have a big back yard. All cable companies say typical installation is 125 feet from house to their network, if it's over that, then problem can arise. Which is your case. I'm sorry you have problems, but your situation is not common. Interesting. Not once during the installation or the two tech calls did anyone tell me about this. I guess I'm going to have to look into setting up an amplifier of my own. |
|
imrf
Premium
join:2002-06-06
Utica, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| said by Xee : I guess I'm going to have to look into setting up an amplifier of my own. I'll give you a heads up, you won't find an amp as good as the one WOW is going to provide for $20. Most amps that customers can buy are $50+ and they are garbage. |
|
Xee
join:2005-02-22
USA
edit:
June 28th, @06:41PM
| said by imrf :I'll give you a heads up, you won't find an amp as good as the one WOW is going to provide for $20. Most amps that customers can buy are $50+ and they are garbage. I know; I did some research and saw that it was top of the line. The thing is, I'm not sure if I moved it before the split it would be adequate for all three TVs. Here's what they gave me:
And here's the splitter:
 (The picture is outdated; the cheap cables were replaced) |
|
imrf
Premium
join:2002-06-06
Utica, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| said by Xee : The thing is, I'm not sure if I moved it before the split it would be adequate for all three TVs. All you can do it try and see if it does. |
|
Xee
join:2005-02-22
USA
| said by imrf :All you can do it try and see if it does. Well I called WOW to upgrade to Digital Value ($11 cheaper than basic analog) and asked him about the "125 foot" issue. He said that didn't matter and they'd do whatever it took to ensure I got a strong signal. I then told him specifically about the pixelation issues I get on HD channels and he said that's because the tuner in my TV is getting the local HD channels "over the air" and it's not something they guarantee. Now, I'm not sure how I can get anything OTA since I don't have an antenna hooked up to my TV but what do I know. He *did* say though that if I paid $6 a month extra I'd get an HD box with a "true" HD signal. Not sure what the difference is though. If I've got a weak signal now, what would good would a little box do unless it had an amplifier? Guess I'll talk to the tech when he comes out this Thursday. |
|
