US Cable Support > Comcast Cable TV > New Guides for SA/Cisco Areas (Info from Ted Hodgins Blog)

reply to Russ

Re: New Guides for SA/Cisco Areas (Info from Ted Hodgins Blog)

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@Brandon, I wanted to provide an update on Houston. Due to some higher priority projects underway in Houston, the team is not going to be able to deliver On-Screen Guide 2.0 this month as I had originally posted. The launch date for Houston is currently TBD, but is expected to still be this year.

Ted Hodgins replied to comment from Brandon | August 15, 2012 5:50 PM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-54751

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The following posts are from Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Guide for Scientific Atlanta Cable Boxes" blog and Ted says the current plan is to upgrade existing Cisco RNG 200N STBs with the X1 Guide (aka On-Screen Guide 3.0) in 2013:

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Hi Ted,

Following up on your answer to Sean: Will Guide 3.0 be available to those of us who have (older) Cisco RNG 200N boxes -- boxes that were not eligible for the 2.0 upgrade -- without having to exchange boxes when 3.0 becomes available in our area?

Thanks,
Bob
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
33418

Bob | August 21, 2012 12:53 PM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-55322

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Hello Bob. Yes, that is the current plan. That won't likely happen until 2013 for your area.

Ted Hodgins replied to comment from Bob | August 21, 2012 3:02 PM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-55327

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reply to telcodad

My area is Cisco

reply to Russ
Accordinng to this, OSG 2.0 will NOT roll out to any Motorola area (this means most of Maryland, along with a large portion of Virginia that does not use SA/Cisco gear); instead, they will go from i-Guide to OSG 3.0.

Has Ted ever commented on why there are "chosen" areas for OSG 2.0?

Here in New Jersey, we have no AnyRoom DVR, not mobile apps, no ability to set a DVR recording remotely, and they're still giving out legacy SA equipment at local offices. I refused to accept an STB they were trying to foist upon me last year because it was so old it had dried food on it from the previous owner.

And believe me, we're not getting any discounts for our suffering. I wish there was some explanation as to why certain areas will be getting these features and some are not. Frankly, I'm paying the same amount of money for fewer services and I'm getting pretty sick and tired of it.

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. . .

The On-Screen Guide 2.0 also uses tru2way platform - more info here »www.tru2way.com/consumers

The plans are to also put this guide onto newly deployed RNG series of cable boxes in several markets this year. RNG cable boxes that are deployed after a certain date in certain SA/Cisco areas will receive On-Screen Guide 2.0. Each market needs to be certified as tru2way ready and On-Screen Guide 2.0 ready.

Ted Hodgins replied to comment from Evan | August 25, 2011 10:20 AM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-40180

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reply to RKB_t
Maybe it's like migrating a million user network from Windows NT 4 to Windows Server 2008 R2 domain. Not a trivial task.

The following excerpt is from Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Guide for Scientific Atlanta Cable Boxes" blog and says that SA/Cisco customers in parts of GA (near Canton) can expect to get the S26 Guide (the update to the current S25 Guide) this week.

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Parts of GA (near Canton) are scheduled this week and all of our locations are scheduled to get this update by the end of the year.

Ted Hodgins replied to comment from Ryan Grimes | August 27, 2012 10:36 PM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-56419

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The following post is from Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Guide for Scientific Atlanta Cable Boxes" blog and has schedule updates for some areas to get the S26 Guide (the update to the current S25 Guide).

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SCHEDULE UPDATE: Customers in the Forsyth County and N. Cherokee County areas of Georgia are scheduled to start getting the updates to their current on-screen guide this week, including the areas listed below. This update includes DVR Manager.

»info.xfinity.com/Portal/content/···dvr.aspx

GEORGIA: Alpharetta, Ball Ground, Canton, Dawsonville, Duluth, Gainesville, Holy Springs, Johns Creek, Lake Arrowhead, Lebanon, Milton, Suwanee, Waleska, and White

Ted Hodgins replied to comment from Ted Hodgins | August 27, 2012 10:55 PM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-56426

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reply to cypherstream

Well I'm in south Florida, a state that is supposedly one of the first to get the new guides for S/A Cisco boxes. We do have the new RNG 200N available. But in our area, as of 8/28/2012, we have no caller ID, no Guide 2.0, no Guide S26, no any room DVR, no controlling DVR remotely. And, of course, no one to talk to about this, no one locally that has a clue about what these are, let alone when they will be implemented. The only thing implemented recently was the elimination of analog channels so that the DTA boxes are now necessary. So costs go up, and service remains the same. Beyond frustrating. It amazes me that it takes years to do this implementation. Apple releases major software upgrades to millions of people using different models all at once. If Apple ever produces a TV, or even just a set top box that gets "cable" channels, we'll all be cheering. If cable companies like Comcast are included in the revenue stream, I think they'll be cheering as well. Imagine an interface designed for those who use it, not for those who write it!

Yes, Q, you read properly that this is available in Florida. But not here! My point is when you hear that it's available in a state or even a part of the state such as south Florida it's not really in all communities. Although parts of south Florida have had this for quite some time our area still does not. And I'm not in a remote area. I'm in heavily populated palm beach county which includes many very wealthy residents. (not me). I have the latest DVR the RNG200n and would even obtain a newer version of that box if it would help. But those services are STILL not available. I just have to wait, and wait, and wait. Grrr.

Have you asked on the comcast help forum or the referenced blog? someone there may be able to get you set up.

Thanks Q. As the president of my homeowners association, I do have access to the local Comcast rep, and occasionally a technical rep. The latest info I received indicated a change is coming this summer. But I'm skeptical because it has been promised multiple times before but not delivered. I answer not just to myself, but to many homeowners because we have an association contract with Comcast. Unfortunately, that contract doesn't guarantee specific updates at specific times.

The following posts are from Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Guide for Scientific Atlanta Cable Boxes" blog and Ted explains that when on an HD channel and with this guide, the guide overlays are now displayed in a 4:3 format instead of stretching to a 16:9 format:

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Canton, GA area. The cable guide has suddenly shrunk in width to what would normally be non-HD width. Same is true of any info screens I call up from the main menu. Ditto with OD menu. I tried the normal unplug and reboot - no help. Any ideas?

Jim Irvin | August 29, 2012 4:39 PM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-56767

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@Jim Irvin, for our customers with Cisco or Scientific-Atlanta branded HD cable boxes; there has been a slight change in the latest version of the guide (currently available in CT, MN, GA, and parts of LA and TX).

When on an HD channel and with this guide, the guide overlays are now displayed in a 4:3 format instead of stretching to a 16:9 format.

We heard from many customers that with the previous guide that having the guide auto-stretch to 16:9 on an HD channel made it very hard to read the text and made the fonts very "bitmappy" and overly accentuated the font aliasing especially on larger TV sets.

The 4:3 guide experience when on an HD channel is consistent with what the majority of our customers have had for some time.

Now, there is an observed issue with the new guide where in certain conditions (when the User settings are set to Stretch) the new guide introduces an unusual guide overlay and experience when in On Demand.

In order to get out of this state and to a better experience, you would need to modify the cable box user settings; this should be a one-time change.

1. To access user settings, turn OFF your set-top box; it will remain in standby mode.

2. Press GUIDE on your remote while the set-top box is in standby mode. OR press Channel Up + Channel Down simultaneously on the front panel of the set-top box.
3. From here you can set up your video settings and resolution output.
� Video Settings - Configure the settings to your TV type. 4:3 Letterbox, 4:3 PAN/SCAN or 16:9 wide-screen.
� Resolution Output - Configure the HDMI/YPbPr output to either 480p std, 480i std, Pass Thru, 1080i.
� 4:3 Override - Options are Off, 480p, 480i, Stretch. Changing the 4:3 Override to any option other than Stretch mode should solve the issue described above.

4. Use the arrow buttons near the center of your remote to select the appropriate settings

One thing you can check is in the user settings (steps outlined above) is to change the 4:3 override to 480p, that should have a full screen guide and info bar when on SD channels and the other experience when on HD channels.

Ted Hodgins replied to comment from Jim Irvin | August 29, 2012 6:31 PM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-56769

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The following posts are from Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Guide for Scientific Atlanta Cable Boxes" blog and Ted explains the current status of the new guides:

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Hi - can you tell me when the Northern Virginia (Prince William County) are Virginia will get the DVR update and Caller ID? Reps at local office seem to know nothing about it and /or any new boxes (for the new latest version of the Guide? When can we expect that as well? Many thanks for your response. Bob

Bob Jurgensen | August 29, 2012 4:59 PM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-56767

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@Bob Jurgensen, all of our areas where we use Scientific-Atlanta or Cisco branded cable boxes are currently scheduled to receive DVR Manager and the other included features (like Caller ID to the TV) by the end of the year.

We have already had successful upgrades in CT, MN, GA, and parts of LA and TX.

Additional locations are being scheduled for September and through the rest of the year.

Once I get an updated and confirmed schedule for the next areas I will be able to post that information here. You won't need a new cable box. Thanks for your patience.

Northern VA is not scheduled for On-Screen Guide 2.0.
On-Screen Guide 2.0 »www.xfinity.com/onscreenguide2

The following Comcast areas that use Cisco or Scientific-Atlanta branded cable boxes already have On-Screen Guide 2.0 available: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana and Minnesota.

New Mexico is also currently scheduled for this year. Available with a subscription to AnyRoom DVR on the Cisco RNG 200N and Cisco RNG 150N cable boxes.

On-Screen Guide 3.0 »xfinity.comcast.net/x1/

Currently available to new HD Triple Play customers in Augusta, Boston, Atlanta and Chattanooga. Additional locations are scheduled for 2012 and 2013. Those locations have not yet been publicly announced.

Ted Hodgins replied to comment from Bob Jurgensen | August 29, 2012 6:37 PM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-56770

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The following posts are from Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Guide for Scientific Atlanta Cable Boxes" blog and states that the Londonderry NH area is targetted to get the X1 guide by the end of September/early October:

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Good morning Ted,

I heard yesterday from a local manager out of Londonderry NH that this area would be getting x1 by the end of sept early oct. Can you confirm on a date? I live in 03051 but my feed is from 03053. Thank you

Nathan | August 30, 2012 9:06 AM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-56864

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That timeframe aligns with what I have seen for your area. Of course, schedules are subject to change.

You would need a new cable box and a professional installation once it is available in your area.

More info on On-Screen Guide 3.0 (X1) can be found here: »xfinity.comcast.net/x1/

Ted Hodgins replied to comment from Nathan | August 30, 2012 10:34 AM

»blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-gui···nt-56871

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