srinivos
join:2001-03-31
Dallas, TX
| reply to randylsu
Re: [COMCAST] HDTV in Dallas MetroPlex
Kcharg:
I was wondering if you have any knowledge about problems with the Mot 5100 box. I had an installer at home yesterday to install the HD box which i need only for locals(can't pick up with antenna). The installer had very little information about the box and whether it support simultaneous output(on dvi & component). Anyways, he said that comcast office would be resetting the box via the cable line. After 2 calls to comcast & resetting the box, i still don't have any picture on either of the local channels(650-651). Infact, i only see a no-signal message on the DVI/component inputs.
Anyone here having a similar experience ? Can i connect the box with both outputs to my samsung dlp ? Is there any additional setup ? I am a basic cable (11$) customer so i don't subscribe to hbo or showtime. All i need the box for is the local channels.
Thanks
Nivas |
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stewlevine
join:2002-05-28
Dallas, TX | 650 and 651 are Showtime and HBO so you won't pick up either of them, you should have pictures on 652, 654, and 655 for ABC, Fox, and NBC |
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bigdmaxxer
join:2003-12-18
Garland, TX
| reply to kcharg
Hey guys, I will be having HD installed tomorrow between 11 and 1, and was hoping you folks could help me out with a few questions.
1. At present what are HD channels in Garland/Dallas TX
area?
2. What do I need to check to make sure everything is up
and running correctly before the tech heads out the
door?
3. Is there anyway to get PIP without resorting to having
to rent two cable boxes? (My 57 inch Hitachi has two
antenna inputs)
I'm new to all of this but even without HD I swear commercial on my big screen look sharper than the programs
do. Thanks for all your help. Will report back tomorrow to let you all know how it when. |
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kcharg
Kcharg
Premium,VIP
join:2000-10-28
Forney, TX | reply to randylsu
It won't happen in Dallas as a whole in years, just put it that way. Sorry for the bad news.
kcharg
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kcharghttp://home.attbi.com/~kcharg/ |
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kcharg
Kcharg
Premium,VIP
join:2000-10-28
Forney, TX | reply to srinivos
The component output on the box is enabled, but the DVI output is not. From what I have been told the DVI output on the box should be turned on by June of next year??
kcharg
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kcharghttp://home.attbi.com/~kcharg/ |
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kcharg
Kcharg
Premium,VIP
join:2000-10-28
Forney, TX
| reply to bigdmaxxer
Answers:
1. Currently we offer 6 channels:
650-SHO HD
651-HBO HD
652-ABC (Channel 8) HD
653-NBC 5 HD
655-FOX 4 (ED which is 480i)
668-ESPN HD
But to able to get SHO and HBO you will have to subscribe to a Digital Package to receive those channels.
2. When I go out and do an HD install all I have to prove is picture on all the channels that the Customer subscribes to. I will usually hook up the component cables and make sure the TV in on the Component input and tune the box to channels 650-668 and make sure the correct channels are coming in.
3. Yes there is a way to have PIP but not with an HD signal on your TV unless someone out there can prove me wrong? Now with regular cable you can split the signal with a 2-way splitter and run one into your cable box and then one into your TV and go from there. That's the way I have my PIP hooked up.
Good Luck,
kcharg
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kcharghttp://home.attbi.com/~kcharg/ |
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bigdmaxxer
join:2003-12-18
Garland, TX
| Thanks for the quick reply Kcharg. I was hoping I'd get your input. Qeustion about HD signal vs. Basic cable. Don't both signal come for the same line? If so cann't I splitter the signal from the wall and get the lower channel on my b side or 2nd ant input? Any chance I could have you as my installER tomorrow?  |
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stewlevine
join:2002-05-28
Dallas, TX
| said by bigdmaxxer  :
Qeustion about HD signal vs. Basic cable. Don't both signal come for the same line? If so cann't I splitter the signal from the wall and get the lower channel on my b side or 2nd ant input?
Two wires come into your 5100; HD outputs come out of the component video cables - you can also feed via coax and composite or S-video for true 480i analog (which looks better on my TV by using the TV's stretch modes); if you want PIP, you will need to do it on two analog lines (e.g., I feed A-side into my Ant-A, and the cable coax out into Ant-B) to get PIP/2 picture on my MITS 55909 with unscrambled A-side on A and cable box output on B. |
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srinivos
join:2001-03-31
Dallas, TX
| reply to kcharg
Kcharg,
The installer told me that they were having specials on HBO & SHO for 4.99 or so. I told him specifically that i had only analog basic cable and whether i could get the deal & he was very sure. Can you confirm that ? What about ESPNHD ?
I already have HD package and the regular 100 channels from DirecTV so i really don't want another 'digital cable' package. But if i can get ESPN & say HBO in HD from Comcast, i might sell my Samsung Directv HD tuner & just live with DirecTivo for next few months 
Thanks
Nivas |
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kcharg
Kcharg
Premium,VIP
join:2000-10-28
Forney, TX | reply to bigdmaxxer
Yes they do come down the same line. And as far as that is concerned about the install I am off Friday and Saturday and I don't work in Garland I just live there...LOL!!
kcharg
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kcharghttp://home.attbi.com/~kcharg/ |
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kcharg
Kcharg
Premium,VIP
join:2000-10-28
Forney, TX
| reply to srinivos
From what I understand you must have a Digital Package to be able to receive any HD lineup. I have done only a select few HD installs but the few that I have done all of them had Digital Cable. You could get the Digital Classic package that would run about 45-50 bucks and be able to get 4 HD Channels right now. I heard some talks about Discovery HD being the next HD Channel to be opened but I did not hear a time frame for that.
kcharg
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kcharghttp://home.attbi.com/~kcharg/ |
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StormyQ
join:2002-10-24
Mckinney, TX
| I have read elsewhere that you are NOT required to subscribe to a digital package to get HD. Others have said that this is a prevalent misunderstanding right now, such that many reps at 1-800-COMCAST give conflicting answers.
From the Comcast webssite:
Basic service subscription is required to receive HDTV and premium HDTV channel requires subscription to underlying premium channel. |
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hugenstein
@airband.net
| If you get the regular channel, you get the HD channel, its that simple.
Basic will get ABC, FOX and NBC HD.
Expanded Basic(or whatever they call it) will get ESPN-HD
Digital - gets nothing more than expanded
HBO subscriber gets HBO-HD - even if you don't have digital
SHO subscriber gets SHO-HD - even if you don't have digital
(obviously digital has more value to and HBO or SHO subscriber as you get 6 or 7 of each channel instead of 1. |
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srinivos
join:2001-03-31
Dallas, TX
| Comcast reps are really clueless about this whole HD package. Yesterday, i spent 15 mins with a rep (i'll call him Mr.Dumb) who insisted that because i took the HD box, i would get all the HD channels listed (5 according to him incl. HBO & SHO). After much persuasion he enquired & called back confirming that he was wrong. He came back with a deal which he said would give me "150 channels or so including HBO/SHO/ESPN HD/nonHD" for just $18. In addition, he said he would knock off $20 off my cable internet. All this for next 6 months. After confirming multiple times, i took the deal.
I came home only to find the local channels in HD + the additional junk cable(which i never watch) but NO HBO/SHO/ESPN. I called this morning only to hear from another rep that a) I had only Digital Classic w/o any premium channels and b) it cost $51, which really pissed me off. So, Mr. Dumb calls me back now and says the $18 was the 'additional' cost compared to my current monthly cable bill ! He still kept saying my box should be enabled for HBO. I ended up cancelling the whole package & added only HBO for 5.99 now. |
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StormyQ
join:2002-10-24
Mckinney, TX
| reply to kcharg
Comcast & Viacom (CBS) Announce Deal!
I posted this on the front page also, but here ya go! Great news for Comcast HD subscribers in CBS owned/operated markets!
»biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031219/nyf025_1.html
"The retransmission consent will make it possible for Comcast subscribers in CBS owned-and-operated markets to receive CBS's industry leading lineup of high definition television programming, including CBS's broadcast of Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004."
"The agreements, which are effective immediately, include both extensions of existing carriage deals as well as renewal of expiring affiliate contracts. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed."
"Comcast President and CEO Brian L. Roberts said, 'This agreement is terrific for our customers because it contains rights for exciting HDTV and video on demand programming that we're delivering at no additional charge. Comcast is at the forefront of delivering advanced entertainment services, and this contract provides Viacom's compelling programming to further their appeal. I'd like to thank Mel and Sumner for Viacom's leadership and their partnership with Comcast, and I'm pleased to have successfully concluded another major programming agreement this year.'" |
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hugenstein
@airband.net | I hope they have CBS all ready to go and just have to "flip the switch." Chiefs vs. Vikings is on Saturday in HD. |
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stewlevine
join:2002-05-28
Dallas, TX | FYI... over on AVSforum, Comcast customers are reporting that Detroit is getting CBS today; Boston and Philly have notices on their local Comcast web sites or in the channel guides.
Hopefully we'll see something soon. |
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SysCoder
@comcast.net
| reply to kcharg
Re: [COMCAST] HDTV in Dallas MetroPlex
Hello Kcharg I guess you don't check your mail on comcast so I am posting on here.
I am wondering if you are the same guy that came to my house a while back about the modem connection problem and you put in a new plug?
The reason why I am asking this is becase the you and the cable guy that came to the house have a lot of things in common.
1. Both from Garland
2. Both work for Comcast
3. Both have HDTV
4. Both had a OTA HDTV mess up on them
5. Both are young
6. Both showed the same site for the OTA receiver |
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kcharg
Kcharg
Premium,VIP
join:2000-10-28
Forney, TX
| SysCoder,
I am sorry if I didn't catch your email (Shoot it at me again: kcharg@comcast.net). If you live in Dallas and had an Internet problem then it was probably me who came and fixed it. I do fall into all those characteristics.
kcharg
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kcharghttp://home.attbi.com/~kcharg/ |
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bigdmaxxer
join:2003-12-18
Garland, TX
| Does anyone know where the HDTV support group is meeting? Install Friday went fairly smooth. Tech was on time, and what a great guy to chat with. He when beyond what he was required to do by hooking me up with a splitter, wiring my pip, and made me up a 10 foot cable so I could pull the wide-screen away from the wall when I had friends over. (We all know it on here, but remind friends that it doesn't hurt to show interest in the tech and offer him something to drink while he's there. ) I had the outlet box relocated or shall I say rewired. Tech used and existing box which was wired previously to an outside ant. Apparently he plugged the active line direct to the previous ant wiring. The active line must have been connected to a splitter, so only one of two outlets works leaving no cable in bedroom now. No biggy, called, said they could come back out on Mon.
1st impression of HD. Well the first time I say HDTV was at the Texas state fair. They where showing analog and HD on 32 inch monitors. I thought to myself I really cann't see that big a difference. Now after watching a 57 inch wide-screen the last two weeks without HD, I'm blow away by HDTV. For the first time the Tonight Show had intense color and I could actually see the background set behind Jay with crisp clear lines. I have found that not all program even on ShowHd are in 16:9 format. Another odd thing is I have found that the video and audio can get out of sync. I'm watching "inside the NFL on HBOHD now. It seem to be in HDTV but not in true 16:9 format (have black bar on either side). 16:9 zoom looks good but on this setting heads are chopped. I'm still getting use to HD flipping on an off between commercials. One would think that the major companies and movie production companies would record their ads and trials in HD. Cann't wait until 2006 when everything is suppose to be in HD! |
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