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Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
1 edit | [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response After seeing so many issues with the cable TV service here in Des Moines for some time now, I contacted Customer Service through email to list the issues, and ask for some information.
The following is the issues I noted:
1) WGN (cable Channel 21) would often display a "Poor Signal" message for sometimes hours at a time. - This appears to have finally been resolved after weeks of seeing this issue.
2) Intermittent video/audio sync issues that have not been isolated to any one channel, and often displayed on multiple channels - though never all of them.
3) There's been a lot of video picture issues that are
associated with digital issues - freezing, skipping, digital artifacts, etc. Early this morning, a batch of channels (including CNN) were doing this so badly the programming was nearly impossible to watch - though it didn't last very long.
4) KCWI, KDMI and KDSM would go offline atleast by 1:30AM and remain off-air for hours at a time. They shown programming available, and normally do have, programming available.
All these issues have been, at one time or another, intermittently going on for sometimes hours per day, for multiple days. Some of those have lasted for several weeks at a time.
Please note that I have the expanded-basic TV subscription, which is analog. I made this clear when I contacted Mediacom's customer service. I do not have any digital equipment as I don't subscribe to any digital packages from Mediacom.
I even spoke with a local technician in the area one day, and asked about some of these issues. He informed me that he was aware of these issues from the field, but didn't have a lot of information to provide.
The response I received from Mediacom's customer service was that I need to schedule a service call to have these issues fixed.
It appears to me there was either no effort made, and that was the "knee-jerk" response, or someone is not experienced enough to understand the system? How does scheduling a service visit fix these issues? I'm not using any digital service, which is often associated with these types of issues that could be customer related. Again, I subscribe to analog-only service.
Is this normal response from Mediacom? Only reason I contacted the Customer Service was after I did see a fairly educated, with effort, of a response given when someone inquired about digital channel releases. I figured the department would produce some effort. | |
|  
Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response They do that sometimes. I don't know if it's the lack of experience or just trying to cut down the time of call. If a tech gets out he will check your wiring and note what channels are having issues. | |
| | Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
3 edits | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response Anonymous, wouldn't any tech with basic knowledge know that the issues I described above ( picture freezing, digital artifacts, video/audio sync issues, locals going off air (KDSM,KDMI,KCWI) ) on an analog-only package (such as myself) are not going to be anything within the customer's side? There is no digital equipment here. Signal levels would not cause any of those issues on my list.
That list is a cumulative list from the past several months. I'vee never seen so many issues on the TV side in all the years as a customer, as I have in the past several months. And I'm not watching TV any more than I was in the past.
As well, those issues largely occur during late night.
I would think if it actually gets to the stage of a schedule technician visit, the technician would cancel the ticket on the spot knowing not one of those issues would be anything remotely on the customer's side - analog only speaking.
I guess I view this largely the same as when Mediacom (and probably any other ISP) schedules technician visits (during the day) for reports that concern performance when the NOC probably knows very well that there has a utilization issue. I understand that it's probably standard practice, but it's a waste of Mediacom's and the customer's time. Especially in this case. As this is an analog only system that I subscribe to, not one of those issues listed can be resolved with a technician visit because not one of them is on the customer's side.
I guess I was expecting a little effort and time from the Customer Service side to check to see what types of reports are in about the Des Moines headend, and provide some "comfort". Instead, this approach is similar to denying the issues even exist.
These types of issues I listed has to be affecting a lot of customers in the Des Moines area. I'm guessing not many are reporting them, and because they are infrequent, and commutative, perhaps they're going under the radar. | |
| | | 
burner50
Pinlifter
Premium,VIP
join:2002-06-05
EN22wm
 ·Mediacom
 ·FrontierNet Intern..
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response said by Turbocpe  :wouldn't any tech with basic knowledge know that the issues I described above ( picture freezing, digital artifacts, video/audio sync issues, locals going off air (KDSM,KDMI,KCWI) ) on an analog-only package (such as myself) are not going to be anything within the customer's side? hence mediacom's biggest problem... call center techs don't know how to do anything but schedule a service call for the most inconvenient time available when techs probably are not working anyway...
--
--Semi Trailers belong on Rail cars
--If my post offended you, then I have done my Job | |
| 
drr
@grm.net
| Sir,
in an effort to see if anyone else had internet issues in WDM, i saw your post on the tv cable. I have had those similar problems since June. I have the digital cable box, but I have other TVs which are not hooked up to the box. Here's what I can tell you..
1) my digital cable box and tv's without the cable box behave the same, although it is more exagerrated on my tv with the cable box
2) for about 8 days about 2 weeks ago, sunspots effect channels 2-78. couldn't tell you why, but they do, and it happens every year. (of course, my problem has been since June, so its not the sunspots).
3) channels 2-78 are now digital, even for you. What that means is they come into mediacom as digital. For instance, i can now see pixellation on tv's that are not hooked into the cable box. It is analog going into your tv. But digital going into mediacom's infrastructure. hence, the problem is on their side, not the wiring in your house.
4) Mediacom has little to zero communication between the call center and their actual offices in DM. I learned that b/c techs coming to my house had a clue, whereas techs in the call center repeatedly told me that they are not told what new hardware is getting put in (for example, a new node getting put in on the west side. I finally learned its not, which is hilarious b/c they are overloaded, which various techs have admitted).
Quite honestly, most people do not report these types of problems, because when you think about, with a minimum hold time of 25 minutes just to get thru to the call center who will do nothing but send a tech to your house, is not worth the hassle.
If you want results, or if you want to be sure they know, walk right into their office on Ingersoll, and demand to see a tech supervisor, and inform them of the problem. Trust me, they will let you do this, though they may give you a hard time.
I hope this helps and lets you know you aren't alone. Also, be sure to DEMAND credit. And fight them every step of the way if you have to. But really, the call center handling credits is much easier to work with.
good luck | |
| | wardfan
join:2007-08-14
Moline, IL
·Mediacom
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response said by drr :
2) for about 8 days about 2 weeks ago, sunspots effect channels 2-78. couldn't tell you why, but they do, and it happens every year. (of course, my problem has been since June, so its not the sunspots). FYI it's not sunspots, it's actually the angle of the sun, it shines directly on the satellites and "blinds" the dishes. There's no way it could be sunspots BTW, they are even more unpredictable then Mediacom's phone service. | |
| | |
burner50
Pinlifter
Premium,VIP
join:2002-06-05
EN22wm
·Mediacom
·FrontierNet Intern..
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response said by wardfan :said by drr :
2) for about 8 days about 2 weeks ago, sunspots effect channels 2-78. couldn't tell you why, but they do, and it happens every year. (of course, my problem has been since June, so its not the sunspots). FYI it's not sunspots, it's actually the angle of the sun, it shines directly on the satellites and "blinds" the dishes. There's no way it could be sunspots BTW, they are even more unpredictable then Mediacom's phone service. Sun outages happen on random "blocks" of channels but only 2x per year and usually gets fuzzy then goes completley out then get fuzzy and is normal.
the sun lines up behind the orbital satellite and the radiation oerpowers the RF radiation from the satellite so the terrestrial sat cannot recieve anything but the un radiation...
not sunspots... »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_outage | |
| | | | wardfan
join:2007-08-14
Moline, IL | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response Funny, that's exactly what I said. | |
| | | | |
burner50
Pinlifter
Premium,VIP
join:2002-06-05
EN22wm | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response yep... kinda..
but my explanation decribes the symptoms and gives a probable occurence count | |
| 
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO | Systematic cable tv issues really need to go to the local franchise authority listed on your bill. | |
|
drr
@drake.edu
| my cable franchise authority seems to be completely clueless that they have any authority with mediacom. In fact, I don't even think they know that they can put pressure on mediacom. Makes it silly.
Last time I called them, they said "call the FCC." (which, its not an fcc matter, its a franchise authority matter.) So then I call the FCC for kicks, "call your local franchise authority." Great. Bureaucracy at its finest, and mediacom fits right in. | |
| |
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response Is your LFA a city, county, or other entity? | |
| | | 
tsduke
Premium
join:2006-03-04
Waterloo, IA | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response Frachise authorities are a joke. Call the number for Waterloo and they don't enven know who to direct you to. | |
| | | |
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response LFAs are what the government and people make them to be.
If the LFA is a county, it is going to be tough to get much done because it is hard to get a county board to listen.
If the LFA is a city, pressure the council. Just show up and tell them about your issue and how the administrative staff was unable to solve it.
You can actually get some help by contacting a city with a competent LFA (Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, North Liberty, Muscatine, Cedar Falls, Ames) and perhaps asking them to right you something very brief about how they would handle the situation.
I don't know why WDM and DM are so incompetent, but sadly they are. I think they forget sometimes that they are city governments who need to deal with city issues and not just extensions of the state government.
Just remember that your worst case scenario is that the city council appoints you to do something. The Mediacom government reps are actually pretty good guys and seem to be just as annoyed with incompetent LFAs as the citizens are; they would much rather people lodge 1000s of resolved complaints than 1000s of people simply cancel their account because Mediacom drops the ball and then the city drops it too.
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| | Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
1 edit | said by drr :
my cable franchise authority seems to be completely clueless that they have any authority with mediacom. In fact, I don't even think they know that they can put pressure on mediacom. Makes it silly.
Last time I called them, they said "call the FCC." (which, its not an fcc matter, its a franchise authority matter.) So then I call the FCC for kicks, "call your local franchise authority." Great. Bureaucracy at its finest, and mediacom fits right in.
These issues aren't getting better. This morning a chunk of channels continuously kept freezing up, then going totally off-air. One occurrence had all the following channels off-air for nearly 2 hours, in one occurrence.
DRR, can you state what franchise authority is listed on your bill? I thought Des Moines and West Des Moines were actually different.
This morning (10/25), the following channels repeatedly kept going out:
02
23
24
28
29
30
31
32
33
35
36
37
40
42
44
45
47
78
49
50
52
54
55
57
67
70
72
40
41
44
45
47
48
49
50
52
53
54
55
It started around 4:39AM, then again at 4:49AM, again after 5:00AM, again around 5:18AM. Then, around 5:29AM those channels went off-air and remained off-air until 7:06AM. That's nearly 2 hours that the above channels were totally off-line.
Just before they would go off-air, they start breaking up, freezing, then go totally off-air. It has been occurring to the following channels for a few minutes at a time.
That looks like a lot, and is, but interesting it's not the entire 2-78 channel lineup. All channels between 3 and 16 are OK, and the entire block in the 60s is OK, as well as a few channels in between the ones listed above (like channel 51 - TV Land is not affected).
During the time that the above channels were off-line, the following channels were working normally:
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
15
16
18
19
20
21
22
34
39
43
45
47
48
51
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
68
70
73
74
75
76
78 | |
|
drr
@grm.net
| Ok,
glad I decided to check this thread again today. I am in WDM, and WDM is my listed franchise on the bills. I can't say that when my cable has been particularly bad that I have gone around just all of the channels. I just know that I haven't actually had issues with any channels other than the ones in the 2-78 block. Channels like AMC, all ESPNs, cartoon network, comedy central, even the major networks. I haven't had any problems with my hbo or starz channels, or even HD versions of the major networks. (Well, one time HBO glitched on me on a nonHD channel, but "one time" I consider a fluke).
I don't get a lot of TV watching in right now, mostly just football saturdays and a little each night. I watched, family guy at 1030 last night on cartoon network. The picture quality was crap, but it never fully glitched out.
To update on my internet issues. They said they'd change signal levels and call me Monday. It's now Thursday, and getting ahold of my contact here in DM has proven impossible again. Looks like I'm heading back downtown to the offices. I bet they love me.
good luck to all, and I will check back here frequently.
ps, despite the name, i'm a mediacom customer, grm is my work isp. | |
| | Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
1 edit | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response Drr, I was able to check all the channels because the channels in the 1st list was completely off-air for nearly 2 hours Thursday morning (5:29AM-7:6AM). That gave me plenty of time to check all the other channels and note that the channels in the 2nd list were OK.
An interesting thing, is that customer service informed me that not all channels on the analog package (which is all I have) is not digital, only some of the channels are. This makes me wonder if the channels in the 1st list are the digital channels on the analog package, while the channels listed in the 2nd list are still sent in analog on the analog package. I'm not up to speed on how it all works. I just know some basics, and apparently, a bit more than some that supposed to be able to answer these questions at Mediacom.
And come to think of it, I've only noticed the freezing, video/audio sync and other digital issues associated with digital signals have been occurring on the channels in the 1st list. I do not recall any of the channels in the 2nd list experiencing those issues - albeit - in my opinion, they aren't exactly the top tier/quality channels so I don't watch them as much as the other set. | |
| | |
East Sider
@mchsi.com
| I've been seeing performance issues in my neighborhood as far as what appears to be bandwidth/headend issues. Certain HD channels freeze up momentarily, especially during prime time. I had neighbors with the same problem and now several months worth of complaints later and a couple of them switching to satellite, it's not happening quite as much, but it's still annoying. I think the fact that they freed up a bit of bandwidth is what's making it better. We've tried new cable boxes and wiring, we have a good S/N ratio. I just don't think their system can handle the demand being placed on it.
As far as the outages you are experiencing early in the morning, I will check mine out and let you know if I experience the same issue.
Has anyone seen certain channels in the 2-78 range that only have the left or only have the right audio channel? I have channels that randomly have this problem - Comedy Central, CourtTV, along with a few others. | |
| Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
2 edits | This early morning (Friday), while there wasn't any extended outages on half of the analog channels like there was on Thursday morning for nearly 2 hours, around 5AM there was several periods of time where those first batch of channels listed in my prior post, was skipping, freezing, and a few times went completely offair for a few seconds or minutes at a time. So it wasn't nearly as bad as Thursday. Honestly, Thursday was the first time I've seen half of the analog channels offline for that amount of time (nearly 2 hours). I don't think that is a frequent issue. But it was another thing to add to the growing list of issues with the TV side.
However, the skipping, freezing, audio/video sync and other digital artifacts on those analog channels have been common for months now.
As far as left or right channel (stereo), I can't say I've noticed. I have noticed, that for the past day now, a few of the channels (Nick, TWC) appear to be "muted", requiring the need to turn up the volume notably to hear the audio. Then, if you switch to another channel, like CNN, it's "blasting" loud. This wasn't an issue until just recently.
I really do wonder what's going on at the headend. I know it's an arm-chair view, but it's like either the budget was slashed at the headend, or experienced crew left the building. Multiple, long-term, issues for the past several months now. | |
| | JasonU
join:2006-01-06
Memphis, TN
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response I don't have much to add other than I've been experiencing exactly the same issues, and I'm also a WDM resident on the analog expanded basic package. Like Turbocpe, I'm often up early in the morning, and that's when I notice the worst issues, particularly freezing and/or channels going out for periods of time. The audio/video sync issue is a constant nuisance.
It's unfortunate that Mediacom can't ever seem to get their act together. :-/ | |
| | | | | Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response The volume thing is just another example to the list of the numerous issues that the headend appears to be having. I'd rather have that, than have nearly half of the analog channels be offair for 2 hours, or freezing/skipping so badly you can't watch them.
I've been informed that someone is looking into these issues. However, if that doesn't work out, I'm currently working on a plan to get some of the neighbors aware, and involved, who are also customers. It's pretty easy to look at a tap and see the tags to indicate a subscriber or not. I'd think the more people involved, the more attention to these matters will bring. Based on these, and other known or past issues, my confidence with Mediacom isn't that high. I think that's pretty reasonable. This not meant to be offensive to any of the technicians or tier support here. It's obviously out of your control. And I'll admit, I see effort being made by some Mediacom employees. | |
| | | |
Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response Turbo Mediacom is aware of the issue(s). Have been for months. | |
| | | | | 
drslash
Goya Asma
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Marion, IA | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response That's astonishing. Mediacom's flagship service is this bad and they can't solve the problems?
--
Save water...drink beer! | |
| Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
| Last night, actually early this morning (Saturday 1:30AM-) KDSM cable channel 6 was once again cutting in and out. After about 2:30AM, it went completely offline and stayed offline.
Odd thing is that usually KDMI and KCWI also have some sort of issue at the same time. Initially, KCWI was offair, but they had a prior announcement about tower maintenance. However, once they came back online and returned to normal, KDSM was still having issues for hours later.
Here's the picture quality for KDSM during all of this:
The rest of the channels looked normal so it defiantly wasn't a signal level issue on my end.
This KDSM, KDMI and KCWI may not be Mediacom's issue (not sure yet), but the rest of the issues do appear to be related to Mediacom's side. | |
|
drr
@mchsi.com
| ok, let's see if i catch all the comments. I was not aware that only some of the 2-78 channels were digital while others were analog. I would say that perhaps there is something to that.
You mentioned that you only have 'digital' effects problems with channels, which would suggest those channels are the digital ones. Since I primarily only watch the tv that is hooked up to my cable box, it's hard for me to determine.
Yes, I have noticed channels with only one side of audio. And yes, comedy central is certainly one of those channels. I believe that one only has the right side, but i haven't paid attention.
Mediacom has apparently completely forgotten about me. It will comeback to haunt them, I can guarantee that. I will remain active on this thread until then with any updates of anything they've done for me.
They did give me a credit today. So that's worth something.
DRR of wdm. | |
|
drr
@mchsi.com
| Mediacom can be aware of as much as they want, but they don't actually do anything about it.
With a earnings report coming soon, and rumors of financial instability (large debt as compared to income), I have serious doubts about Mediacom.
Turbo, I am with you. I promise you I will be making a big splash on this soon. I have a major test (required for my career) in Iowa City on Saturday which has delayed my plans to next week.
Financial issues, tonight while perusing the onscreen guide, noticed two of my hbo's knocked out. Checked my bill, sure enough, it wasn't lowered, but did state that mediacom had dropped those channels.
drr of wdm
~it is my dream to get rid of mediacom in this state | |
| |
burner50
Pinlifter
Premium,VIP
join:2002-06-05
EN22wm
·Mediacom
·FrontierNet Intern..
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response said by drr :
~it is my dream to get rid of mediacom in this state
Good luck... Nobody else wants iowa... its a money hole that is difficult to turn a profit. Subscriber density is too low in much of mediacom's iowa systems.
Sweeping the lines means somebody is going thru them with a fine toothed comb, checking levels at every amp and verifying signal loss is what it should be, also checking the proper modules and pads in the amps and veriying the proper tap plates are in the proper places.
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--Giving you un-biased opinions about Mediacom, BBR, and life in general | |
| | |
Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response said by burner50 :said by drr :
~it is my dream to get rid of mediacom in this state
Good luck... Nobody else wants iowa... its a money hole that is difficult to turn a profit. Subscriber density is too low in much of mediacom's iowa systems. ... BINGO!
People fail to realize this. For example Des Moines is the biggest metro area served by Mediacom. Their 'crown jewel' as they like to call it. Yet Comcast and other big players probably don't know it exists.
The whole idea of providing advanced services (Phone, HSD) to rural areas is flawed. Less potential customers (low population spread over huge areas), more equipment to maintain (higher costs) and once you increase the price to cover the expenses what people do? They switch to satellite and if available DSL.
The only 'good' thing about this idea is low or no competition. | |
|
drr
@grm.net
| Well, just to keep things up to date.
Mediacom called me two days ago. Asked me if there work from two WEEKS ago had fixed my internet.
I told the guy, "NO, I HAD 15% LOSS THE OTHER NIGHT DUDE!"
There was a little more to that conversation, but I'm not sure he cared what my opinion of the problem was. He's supposed to send out, yes its true, another line tech. Because since the first line tech didn't fix it, I'm sure the second one will. Granted, this second one will be 'sweeping the lines.'
If anyone knows what 'sweeping' the lines means, please let me know.
And turbo, my splash plans are being pushed off now that mediacom has remembered me. I mean, they didn't ignore me for a month right?? I'm supposed to be happy with this right??
drr of wdm | |
| | Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
1 edit | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response drr, just to clarify, your issues with your internet connection aren't related to this topic. So Mediacom sweeping the lines to fix your internet connection won't fix the issues that are known with analog channels 2-78. Your internet connection is a digital service that does rely on proper signal levels in order to operate correctly. This is different from analog TV channels 2-78.
drr, it sounds like whoever is working with you may not understand how your analog channels work, if they imply that doing this work (sweeping lines in your area) will fix analog channels 2-78 issues.
Since this thread, I've been getting some private contacts from others in the Des Moines area who can confirm that Mediacom's analog channels 2-78 are experiencing a lot of issues over the past several months in the form of audio/video sync issues, outages, and picture quality issues (tiling). | |
|
drr
@grm.net
| ok, well, at least the last tech out said that proper signal levels were needed for the modem, as well as for the cable box. This guy approached it as though they may be caused by the same thing. (I only focus on internet in my discussions b/c that has effected me more than the tv cable recently). In fact, the guy said "the signal level to your modem is too high, and the signal level going to your cable box is too low." I thought this was a bit odd since they were on the same line, but hey, whatever.
So if the channels 2-78 is a more widespread issue, do you know if mediacom is doing anything about this? Or if Mediacom even acknowledges it? B/c if Mediacom acknowledges it and is working on it, I'll quit bugging them about it and just get my credits every month until its fixed.
drr of wdm | |
| | Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
1 edit | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response said by drr :
So if the channels 2-78 is a more widespread issue, do you know if mediacom is doing anything about this? Or if Mediacom even acknowledges it? B/c if Mediacom acknowledges it and is working on it, I'll quit bugging them about it and just get my credits every month until its fixed.
drr of wdm
Yes, the channels 2-78 is a widespread issue. I've heard from many people, through this topic, with similar issues with their analog service.
I'm told Mediacom is aware of it, but that has been for the past several months. As you can see, it hasn't be resolved.
I wouldn't exactly suggest to "quit bugging them" about it, as obviously the issues are still not resolved. From the appearance of it, people have not done enough to make Mediacom get it resolved sooner. That might be changing.
By the way, do you think you could register here on BBR? Registration is free, and you don't get spammed at the email address you provide. I ask because I'd like to send you a PM about this, but PM can only be sent between registered users. PM = Private Messages. | |
| garn91
join:2005-01-15
Ankeny, IA | tell them to fix whatever is wrong or you're going to cancel and go to satellite. I doubt that Mediacom will care, but this is ridiculous with all the unresolved and widespread problems you guys are having. | |
| |
noone
@mchsi.com
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response It is amazing how accurate turbo is with the various channels that went off the other morning. There have been many issues with the new digital equipment. Sorry.
As far as direct feeds from the TV stations in DSM the only ones that do not have this is KDSM, and KCWI,KDMI( by the way this is the same station) and ION. They do go off the air quite a bit, whether or not TV Guide says so. | |
| | | Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
2 edits | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response said by noone :
It is amazing how accurate turbo is with the various channels that went off the other morning. There have been many issues with the new digital equipment. Sorry.
As far as direct feeds from the TV stations in DSM the only ones that do not have this is KDSM, and KCWI,KDMI( by the way this is the same station) and ION. They do go off the air quite a bit, whether or not TV Guide says so.
I do stand by the issues stated being on Mediacom's end and not the customer's, but the only one I do question is the KDSM, KCWI and KDMI channels. They seem to be in sync, meaning if one has problems the other two do as well. It's basically either all 3 go offline at the same time, or KCWI and KDMI will be offline and KDSM will show poor picture quality, and frequently go in and out.
However, they are going offline when there should be programming. For instance, speaking of KDSM, at 1:30AM Seinfeld is always on M-F as is Frasier on at 2:00AM. However, many times those programs will be interrupted by poor picture, or no picture at all. So, there should be programming on, and normally is, when they go offline. I'm just not certain if it's Mediacom's end or on the end off KDSM, KCWI and KDMI.
Those 3 channels are still regularly going out, or showing poor picture. The last few times I had planned to swap to rabbit ears to see if the programming was available over the air, but last few times this happened, I could not locate any old rabbit ears to test this. | |
| Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
2 edits | Just an update, I contacted KDSM to ask where the problem was with their frequent offair issue over the past several weeks-months. They informed me that WOI (local 5) burned up their transmission line, and because they share a tower, they (KDSM) are being required to power down to allow repair work. They said it should be finished, soon.
So that issue (KDSM frequently going offair) was not with Mediacom.
However, I have good word that the others issues I've listed in this thread, are indeed issues on Mediacom's headend and that their "brass" has known about it for quite some time now. And based on what I'm seeing, there still is no fix.
And on that note, after 4:30AM this morning, "blocks" (lots) of those same channels, yet again, started to "tiling" and went offair for a short period of time. Also early this morning, there was a weird issue, where a few seconds had shown some announcement, with a warning tone, for some "video alignment" message with a local phone number listed on those blocks/lots of channels. Oops! | |
| DRRofWDM
join:2007-11-01
West Des Moines, IA
| local phone number?
Are you suggesting the phone number was not meant to be seen by you or anyone else who saw it?
I still get the tiling. Saturdays on espn seems to be the worst, but if I haven't mentioned it before, I haven't gotten just a ton of tv watching in for awhile, so saturdays is the largest block of time each week I watch TV.
keep us posted Turbo
drr | |
| |
Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom
1 edit | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response said by DRRofWDM :... I still get the tiling. Saturdays on espn seems to be the worst, but if I haven't mentioned it before, I haven't gotten just a ton of tv watching in for awhile, so saturdays is the largest block of time each week I watch TV. keep us posted Turbo drr Do you get tiling on analog? Or is it digital? | |
| DRRofWDM
join:2007-11-01
West Des Moines, IA
| Well, I'm not actually sure.
The tiling occurs almost exlusively on channels 2-78. (other channels its so rare as to not bother me, say, maybe once a month for one second). Its my understanding that some of those channels are digital and some are analog. Turbo could answer that question for you better than I could.
Channels since last June that have had the problem include espn 1 and 2, amc, cartoon network, and fox news. That's all i can remember, though I believe like tnt or fx does it too.
Also, what I do know that furthers the digital v analog theory is that TV's I have that ARE NOT hooked up to the cable box also experience the tiling issues.
drr
~since mid june | |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom
| Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response If you have a DCT/cable card that TV gets digital service. What channels are tiling on that TV?
This can be local wiring, line issue etc (signal). A tech can fix it or turn it over to the line dept if it's a line issue.
Tiling on TVs that have no DCTs connected and get only 2-78 is a headend issue. Not a local issue. | |
| Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
1 edit | I agree with Anonymous. It's easy to confuse the issues.
If you see such issues on TV that has a "DCT", or is a digital TV, and you subscribe to the digital services, those issues can be the result of signal issues, which could be in your local area or home.
However, if you are seeing these issues on TV channels 2-78 without any "DCT", it is due to the headend issues that Mediacom is aware of. It affects all analog customers from the headend. | |
| Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
| Amazingly, 2 months after I have created this thread, the issues are still present. 
I haven't watched TV much (never do - but even less lately), and I hadn't seen the issue for the past week or so. I thought maybe Mediacom was getting this resolved. Wrong.
Today, around 3PM those channels listed above started "tiling" off and on, audio was choppy of and on, then there was a brief few seconds where the channels went offline-black. As before, it effects about half of the channels on the analog expanded-basic. | |
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burner50
Pinlifter
Premium,VIP
join:2002-06-05
EN22wm | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response thats actually surprising, usually headend issues get fixed rather qickly ASSUMING the people that the issue is being reported to actually believe it and arent just blowing it off as customer know-it-alls | |
| | | Turbocpe
Premium
join:2001-12-22
IA
2 edits | Re: [Cable TV] Des Moines - Headend issues & Mediacom's Response said by burner50 :thats actually surprising, usually headend issues get fixed rather qickly ASSUMING the people that the issue is being reported to actually believe it and arent just blowing it off as customer know-it-alls I'm told by sources that the "brass" are aware of this issue, and have been, for some time now. So Mediacom is indeed aware that this is a headend issue affecting analog (and digital) customers, and not just isolated to select customers or some false/inaccurate reports by customers.
And since I created this thread, I've gotten a lot of feedback from other Mediacom customers expressing the same issue with their analog service. A few have expressed the same with their digital service, but with the digital service, such issues reported here could be a local signal issue, or it could be related to this issue. I'm told that this issue does affect digital customers as well. | |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom
| said by burner50 :thats actually surprising, usually headend issues get fixed rather qickly ASSUMING the people that the issue is being reported to actually believe it and arent just blowing it off as customer know-it-alls No, not this one. It's been months now. | |
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