davcamp4
@qwest.net | reply to marigolds
Re: HDTV Cable Boxes
any word on the KCRG HD or any other HD Channels. If they keep wanting to raise prices they should at least be able to keep up with technology. I think even bravo is in HD now. |
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Kevdogia
@mchsi.com |  reply to marigolds
What HDTV channels are available in Iowa City, IA? Also, do the cable boxes include an HDTV decoder, or do I need to buy a decoder box for my HDTV-ready TV in order to view high def with mediacom's cable box? |
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hindsite
@mchsi.com
| reply to BAINCH
I'm in central IL (Monticello) and just got a Mediacom HD box. I was delivered a 5100, not a 6200. Had to provide my own cables - the box was delivered with only the power cord! Also, even though I get HBO & SHO on the regular box, only HBO is showing in HD. When I called customer care, they said SHO will come on sometime in Feb?!?! |
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marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| reply to Pdawg
Well, if you had asked two days ago, I could have asked last night  I will try to get an answer to that first chance I can get.
In the meantime, the channels above 800 on the TV Guide listing are the HDTV channels. Mediacom is upgrading the HDTV DCTs as they were not satisfied with the previous ones. More details on that soon hopefully as well.
--
ISCABBS - the oldest and largest BBS on the Internet
telnet://whip.isca.uiowa.edu
Member: American Association of Geographers, American Geophysical Union, American Water Resources Association |
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daveddd
@qwest.net | reply to marigolds
Re: Note: Iowa City Only
Do you know when mediacom will add KCRG to its HDTV programming? |
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XtremeXP
join:2003-10-07
Albany, GA | reply to Alan Gordon
Re: HDTV Cable Boxes
Sorry for the late reply Alan. Unfortunately cable isn't available in that area. |
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marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| reply to Pdawg
Note: Iowa City Only
HDTV channels are available in Iowa City, but corrections need to be made with TV Guide to make them accessible.
Mediacom is also purchasing "next generation" HDTV converter boxes. If people have some specific questions, I can try to get more details on Monday about that.
Negotiations are ongoing for more HDTV channels.
VOD will be available soon and while TVs with built in HDTV tuners (available this month) should function, they will not be able to access pay per view and VOD.
If people can give me some specific (and hopefully Iowa City related to some extent) HDTV questions, I can ask those at the meeting on Monday.
--
ISCABBS - the oldest and largest BBS on the Internet
telnet://whip.isca.uiowa.edu
Member: American Association of Geographers, American Geophysical Union, American Water Resources Association |
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Rich S
@207.109.x.x
| reply to Pdawg
Re: HDTV Cable Boxes
I recently set up a home theater room in my newly finished basement and had Mediacom install a HDTV cable box. The installation guy mentioned that unofficially Mediacom is planning to roll out with additional HDTV channels that could arrive sometime in January. He advised me to keep an eye on the Mediacom website specific to my area for an announcement that might be appearing this month (I'm in Urbandale, IA). I hope such an announcement gets made (can anyone confirm what I heard?), although I think the extra $6/mo is worth it already for the 5 HDTV channels (2 HBO, 2 Showtime, 1 local CBS) I get now plus the digital audio output that allows me to get 5.1 digital audio with several movies.
Can anyone provide a better estimate of when DVI output will be enabled beyond simply saying 2004? I have a HDTV with DVI input, but I have no A/V components with DVI output enabled. I've seen from looking around at AVS Forums that DVI allows for a big improvement in picture quality beyond component video. |
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fernanra
join:2003-09-15
Leesburg, GA | reply to TazMainiac
According to the article Mediacom wasn't among the companies who signed the agreement. |
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TazMainiac
join:2003-05-22
Marion, IA
| reply to IronDragon
said by IronDragon  :
Most of the broadcast stations are only offering a part time HDTV broadcast. Take that and couple it with the fact that in order to carry an analog channel for a local station and a part time HDTV broadcast for that same station would use up 2 channels in the available spectrum for the same programming and you can start to understand why every channel that has even a part time HDTV signal isn't carried by every carrier.
Umm, didn't the FCC essentially give each broadcast station a 2nd channel to do precisely this? Once the switchover to digital is done (2010 and beyond) the original analog channel is given back to the FCC.
From what I understand, we have a chicken and egg problem. Little content and prices were too high, so no one bought HDTVs, so no one produced HDTV content, so no one bought HDTVs, and so on. Things are slowly getting better, but it's taking time.
I believe that HDTV over cable television is a different beast from HDTV over the air. CATV systems needed different/modified standards for some reason. This just got resolved at the end of last year .
Pete |
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marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| reply to Pdawg
Because that is the way that ESPN and Disney play?
Currently they are pushing many cable companies to carry ESPN on their basic cable tier before they get the other channels as well as carrying the full range of ABC/Disney/ESPN channels in expanded basic.
That would of course create somewhere about a $1.50 cost increase for basic cable and a $2 or so cost increase for expanded basic (cost, not price; I am sure the price increase would be higher).
Cox is threatening to remove ESPN from the expanded basic tier, which has ESPN/Disney telling their viewers to cancel any Cox subscriptions.
--
ISCABBS - the oldest and largest BBS on the Internet
telnet://whip.isca.uiowa.edu
Member: American Association of Geographers, American Geophysical Union, American Water Resources Association |
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Thrawn2
Grand Admiral Thrawn
Premium
join:2001-04-09
Davenport, IA | reply to Pdawg
Why are they not giving mediacom HDTV and why would they do that to mediacom. |
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BAINCH
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2003-04-02
Middletown, NY | reply to Thrawn2
Would probably need someone from Disney to respond to that. |
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Thrawn2
Grand Admiral Thrawn
Premium
join:2001-04-09
Davenport, IA | reply to Pdawg
When will mediacom get like ESPN HD and ABC HD the sport stuff? |
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JBark
join:2003-06-26
Spring Valley, MN
| reply to poolShark
Feel free to add SE Minnesota as one of your test markets. Especially Spring Valley
I'm currently in the process of building a home theatre in my basement, and I would love to not have to get a dish or an antenna to get HDTV. |
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poolShark
join:2002-11-21
Marshall, IL | reply to BAINCH
Sounds good. Hope my market is one of the initial DVR launch markets. I'll be signing up for one of those as soon as I hear it's available. |
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BAINCH
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2003-04-02
Middletown, NY
| reply to poolShark
1. At this time we are using the first model in the DCT 6200 series which is the HD-only settop box. Mediacom will be using the DCT 6208 DVR/HD box in our DVR launch markets. Initial launches (TBD) will begin in late Q1 2004.
2. The rental fee for the 6200 is $11.00 ($6 more than the standard digital box). HBO HD and Showtime HD are passed-through to HBO and Showtime subscribers at no additional cost. We will also pass-through HD broadcasters as they come online.
3. There are no restrictions to renting a DCT 6200. |
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poolShark
join:2002-11-21
Marshall, IL
| reply to BAINCH
Hey, Bainch
Can I ask a couple of questions.
said by BAINCH :
Mediacom is offering limited HDTV service in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids,IA, the Quad Cities, Charleston, IL and some suburbs of Minneapolis.
Mediacom has since upgraded to the DCT 6200.
1. By upgrading to the 6200, do you mean the 6200 series or Mediacom is using the one without the integrated hard drive? I have been wanting to get a Tivo, but would much rather have an integrated unit such as the DTC6208. If just using the model without the hard drive, when will Mediacom be offering integrated DVR STBs for HD and non-HD?
2. Is the rent fee for the 6200 the same as the standard digital STB and if not, do you know what it is? Also, is the HD feed of HBO and Showtime part of their respective packages or do you incur an extra subscription fee? I'm in the Marshall area, just south-east of Charleston, if that affects your answer.
3. I still have a standard TV, but planning on upgrading soon. Would Mediacom allow me to upgrade to the 6200 before I had my HDTV? At least that way I could benefit from the faster box and S-Video out. My current DTC2000 is so slow and no S-Video. |
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BAINCH
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2003-04-02
Middletown, NY
| reply to Pdawg
Mediacom is working to bring HDTV service to many of our service areas. Mediacom is offering limited HDTV service in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids,IA, the Quad Cities, Charleston, IL and some suburbs of Minneapolis. By the beginning of next year areas of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, central IL, and NE Indiana will be HDTV active.
HDTV content availability is a challenge. We are negotiating with cable networks and broadcasters for the rights to carry their HDTV feeds.
Mediacom initially launched HDTV service using Motorola's DCT 5100 advanced settop box. Mediacom has since upgraded to the DCT 6200. The current output configuration is component (YpbPr), but the DCT 6200 is fitted with
DVI and 1394 outputs that be enabled later next year. |
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IronDragon
Premium
join:2003-06-25
Des Moines, IA
| reply to UHF
Most of the broadcast stations are only offering a part time HDTV broadcast. Take that and couple it with the fact that in order to carry an analog channel for a local station and a part time HDTV broadcast for that same station would use up 2 channels in the available spectrum for the same programming and you can start to understand why every channel that has even a part time HDTV signal isn't carried by every carrier.
My guess is that once the majority of the programming is broadcast in HDTV quality you will start to see more offerings of HDTV channels with most of the cable companies.
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Once a Geek always a Geek |
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