Comcast $400 Million Chicago UpgradePotential for 120HD channels, says excited Tribune... ( old news - 05:32PM Friday Apr 06 2007) tags: Video · HDTVComcast is almost finished with a $400 million upgrade in the Chicago area, notes the Chicago Tribune, and will end analog broadcasts in the region by July. After the city is upgraded, suburban work will begin, which is set to be finished by the end of 2008. The freed spectrum means more room for content. Comcast will offer two additional high-definition channels in the coming months, says an exec, with the potential for 120 HD channels down the road. DirecTV, meanwhile, says they'll be offering 100 new high-def channels this year -- but their HD marketing has been annoying some cable providers.
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 brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Miami, FL | WOW There goes tons of money : - 0 | |
|  | wstwrdho
join:2007-03-15
Riverton, UT | Re: WOW LOL, Chicago's been doing 400 million $ upgrades 800 billion $'s ago. | |
| | | brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Miami, FL | Re: WOW So, the money we pay for our cable goes into a dark void? | |
| | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
1 edit | Re: WOW The money YOU pay for cable comes back through your television. Your statements that you've made, though small, are pretty intense towards the fact that you have any say where your money goes in the first place.
You don't own the cable you pay for.
You don't have say how they spend THEIR profits.
You don't have share or stake or even vote in the company.
You pay a bill and get your service each month and that is where your relationship with the company ends.
But, along the lines of is THEIR money going down a "dark void" as you say.. again, I ask, are you serious? Any idea how much it costs to upgrade systems that have 750 thousand active customers? DVRs are cheap, ADS conversions aren't cheap, phone builds & conversions aren't cheap. Hell, do you have ANY idea how much one single mailing campaign cost to send out just to sell that service?
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown | |
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Fatal Vector
join:2005-11-26
| Re: WOW
Interesting how it says in the article that comcast is dropping analog signals because the new law requires "all broadcasters" (which comcast is NOT) to use a digital platform by 2009.
And then, they claim they wont raise prices on thise who now have to get digital boxes. I'm sure comcast will give up their $3 a month ripoff for box rental.
Never mind that now you HAVE TO USE their equipment, which nullifies fcc rulings about standard channel plans and customers being able to use their TV's to recieve cable.
Ahhhh...The good old cable monopoly days are back, let the ripoff profits roll... | |
| | | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
1 edit | Re: WOW Do you not understand there is an issue with down-converting of the digital signals that will happen when the broadcast signals are cut from OTA transmission? This DOES affect cable. They will either have to get waivers or negotiate that ability from the local broadcasters.. it's not an easy argument.. but I'm glad you come here like you know it all.
What happens this July with boxes? Look it up..
Satellite charges $5 per month per box and the consumer usually owns them.. you want to talk about a rip off? ..take off your blinders. So please file your $3 rip-off argument for someone who cares.
People wanting to keep analog is like someone crying for their windows 95... really.
Ahhhhh.. The good old cable rants are still going.
My post was valid.. I used to post here and not have problem joining in until attacked. Now, I can agree with half or agree with the other and it doesn't matter.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown | |
| | | | | | | RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
 ·AT&T Midwest
1 edit | Re: WOW When Comcast hands out free cable boxes (no install fees either) to allow all of the analog-only sets hooked up to basic cable to continue to receive, then I'll believe you.
Ending analog is entirely to the benefit of Comcast with no benefit to their customer base. It's a pure money grab. If it weren't they'd make this a zero-expense changeover for all customers.
Nice flames, by the way. Bad week at work?
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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Steve Mehs
Go Sabres
join:2005-07-16
| Re: WOW quote:
Ending analog is entirely to the benefit of Comcast with no benefit to their customer base. It's a pure money grab. If it weren't they'd make this a zero-expense changeover for all customers.
No benefit? What the hell are you on? Better picture quality, more spectrum for not only for future use but to relieve current digital compression. I honestly can't wait for the day when Time Warner tells analog cable subscribers to say pay up or leave. Analog only customers are leaches, using the precious bandwidth that could be used for crystal clear HD or improve SD. Satellite is 100% digital, they change extra for additional receivers, why can't the so called 'cable monopoly' do this? Every cable customer should be FORCED to have a digital set top terminal. It's called progress, in 2007 analog cable should not exist.
I have Digital Cable with every movie channel, the Sports Tier, the HD Tier, just ordered MLB Extra Innings, not one but two HD DVRs, Premium broadband service and would have phone service if I could get it, but yet Time Warner would rather cater to the wants of grannys and the poor who pay a measly $40 or whatever, then a high end subscriber like myself. ANALOG CABLE MUST GO!!! Kudos to Comcast for have the balls to do this, the backlash will be great for sure, but screw ‘em.
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Time Warner Cable Subscriber
Digital Cable & Road Runner Premium
252 Channels, HD DVR & 15/1 Broadband | |
| | | | | | | | | RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: WOW said by Steve Mehs  :No {snip} screw ‘em. You're certainly entitled to that opinion. The insults, however, blow your argument. The majority of cable customers just want to watch TV, not be a "high end subscriber" sending $150 or more each month to the cable company. If they weren't making money hand over fist (remember those obscene profit numbers from a couple months back?) from those low-cost analog customers they'd have pulled the plug years ago.
If they really want everyone off analog, cough up the box for free. It'll cost them less than the daily "triple play" flier I get in the mail, and they can write the whole thing off of their tax on that obscene profit, maybe even get a tax credit for keeping granny in touch with All My Children.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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Steve Mehs
Go Sabres
join:2005-07-16
| Re: WOW What argument? I'm just staing my opinion. I’ve seen many of your posts which can be summed up with the words 'Cable Sucks'. I’m not playing your game.
Why should Comcast provide a box for free? They don’t get the boxes for free from Motorola or Scientific Atlanta. Comcast is a company, they are supposed to make money, they’re not a charity. When I left cable in 1998 for Dish Network, it cost us over $700 for a two room set up, with the most basic receivers around. Should I’ve gotten that for free? No. Hardware costs money, the installers have to get paid, 1998 was still relatively early on in the satellite TV world so prices were higher. In 2004, when I left Dish Network for DirecTV, I believe we paid $200 for hardware and installation. Should I’ve gotten that for free? No. Both satellite providers FORCE you to buy hardware or now lease it and you pay extra for each additional receiver beyond the first. I don’t see why cable should be different.
For Triple Play Subscribers, Time Warner doesn’t charge extra for the first digital terminal.
BTW - There is no such thing as an 'obscene profit'. Captialism is a beautiful thing, and there is not one CEO in this country who doesn't deserve what they make.
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Time Warner Cable Subscriber
Digital Cable & Road Runner Premium
252 Channels, HD DVR & 15/1 Broadband | |
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Fatal Vector
join:2005-11-26
|
Actually, since there are supposed to be converter boxes subsidized by the government for people with analog TV's so they can continue to use them to recieve DTV (apparently, such conversion "on the fly" is not all that difficult), why cany comcast allow their use on their system? Or, allow the use of TV's that have the appropriate tuners?
This is the same problem that prompted the FCC to mandate a standard channel scheme (which comcast, here at least, STILL evades by using "HRC" for their channels) and that tuners in TV's/VCRs all be capable of receiving. This was done to prevent the cablecos requiring people to rent boxes unless they wanted HBO, etc.
Comcast is the ultimate money comb. They will do anything for a dollar and they want everyone on digital so you have to rent a box. It is easy to see the profit: if you have 100,00 subscribers paying $3 a month, that is $300,00 in profit every single month before any costs for programming. Why do you think they have ALLWAYS rented the boxes as opposed to selling them?
There is no benefit to consumers unless they are forced to allow customer provided equipment like they are now with analog. Better picture quality my foot. The channels are digital now, as shown by how they freeze from time to time and koose sound or pixellate.
The only difference is that they have to be converted to analog. And any freed up spectrum will only benefit the cable company, not customers. For every channel they add, their price goes up eventually.
"I have Digital Cable with every movie channel, the Sports Tier, the HD Tier, just ordered MLB Extra Innings, not one but two HD DVRs, Premium broadband service and would have phone service if I could get it, but yet Time Warner would rather cater to the wants of grannys and the poor who pay a measly $40 or whatever, then a high end subscriber like myself. ANALOG CABLE MUST GO!!! Kudos to Comcast for have the balls to do this, the backlash will be great for sure, but screw ‘em."
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It's nice to know that you have more money, apparently, than sense. However, people like you who spend all this money are in the distinct minority and they DO care about such things as a box rental. | |
| | | | | | | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
1 edit | Re: WOW FV.. wait a second... $3 per month per box for 100,000 is $300,000 in profit? Really?? Damn! I need to take your business school so I can turn my own business around then! 
I'm assuming you forget to factor in the cost of that box to purchase? Then, did you factor in the labor, insurance, vehicle and gas, telephone operator time, warehouse, and all the other related expenses in with that? How about the cost to maintain the boxes in the field , valid truck roll or courtesy.. ? For the record, an installation fee of $29.99 or "free" for that matter with no guarantee the customer will retain, HARDLY covers much of that cost.
It's amazing how much that so-called profit disappears so quickly.
Let's see now if another certain user comes back and tells me how I'm wrong now.
Also, you mentioned about consumers being able to have their own equipment... already in the pipe.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown | |
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Fatal Vector
join:2005-11-26
| Re: WOW
Cost of the box to purchase? Most boxes they give out here are not new. They have just checked them and reset them. Labor, insurance, vehicles, gas, operator time, warehousing (such as it is) are all ongoing costs that are written off before they state their profits. They dont maintain boxes in the field. They just replace the defective one with another used unit. An "installation fee" is nothing but another ripoff. Really, how hard or complicated is it to "install" a cable box? Even the most stupid customer can do it nowadays.
"I's amazing how much that so-called profit disappears so quickly."
Since Comcast is VERY profitable, I hardly think they are suffering much at all. | |
| | | | | | | | | | RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: WOW Ironically, they could easily give out older-technology boxes for "free" which don't support their latest, greatest gimmick features instead of sending them to a landfill.
I liked the profit comment too. Seems to be enough there to support this one-time expense, especially since it allows them to recycle a lot of bandwidth to unregulated "do you want fries with that?" add-on, high-profit product.
The only part of cable even marginally regulated these days is basic service. Comcast is trying to wiggle out of even that, and on the backs of those who can least afford it too.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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Steve Mehs
Go Sabres
join:2005-07-16
| quote:
They will do anything for a dollar
Show me any business that doesn’t, and I’ll show you a bankruptcy case waiting to happen. It's called business.
quote:
There is no benefit to consumers unless they are forced to allow customer provided equipment like they are now with analog. Better picture quality my foot. The channels are digital now, as shown by how they freeze from time to time and koose sound or pixellate.
If signal levels get low, you’ll get a brief pause or moment of heavy pixilation, similar to a rain fade experience with satellite. But I’d rather put up with a 2 or 3 second pause a couple times a year, then fuzzy, grainy, noisy analog cable forever. If digital simulcast didn’t happen it my area I would have never went back to cable. Analog cable is garbage. I used to have a recoding of The Shield on my DVR from when FX was analog and when it went digital. If someone said the analog recording was better, I’d laugh and then give you a phone book to look up an optometrist. For normal compression artifacts it’s simple, remove analog channels, free up spectrum and there’s more bandwidth.
quote:
The only difference is that they have to be converted to analog. And any freed up spectrum will only benefit the cable company, not customers. For every channel they add, their price goes up eventually.
What does having a bunch of bandwidth unused do for anyone? Consumers will benefit with more HD content. And of course price goes up. Next year when Disney Channel launches their HD service, do you think it will cost Disney nothing to go HD, do you think they will eat the costs? Not going to happen. Do you think Disney will provide the channel to cable companies for free?
quote:
It's nice to know that you have more money, apparently, than sense. However, people like you who spend all this money are in the distinct minority and they DO care about such things as a box rental.
No I don’t have much money, I wish I did, I just happen to chose to spend my money on home theater, home entrainment and computer related items. Instead of spending over $200 a month at bars and strip clubs or on cigarettes, I chose to have a higher cable bill. I know people who drink and smoke and could triple my cable bill, I never touch the stuff. After my promo is up, and provided I can get Digital phone, approx $214 a month, not including Sports Season Packages.
quote:
Why do you think they have ALLWAYS rented the boxes as opposed to selling them?
I prefer renting in this case. Last year when I got my HDTV, the HD DirecTiVo from DirecTV would have cost me $800 upfront and I would have had to extend my contract. From TW the HD DVR has no up front costs, no contracts, and costs $12.95 a month extra including both the box rental and DVR Fee. Not to mention if it dies, I don’t have an $800 paperweight. I unhook the box, take a drive to the cable office and exchange it. In under an hour I’m as good as new. I fial to see any negatives here.
Again, why is okay for Dish Network and DirecTV to be digital, require additional hardware and purchases and all that, and yet for cable you guys don't like it?
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Time Warner Cable Subscriber
Digital Cable & Road Runner Premium
252 Channels, HD DVR & 15/1 Broadband | |
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Fatal Vector
join:2005-11-26
1 edit | Re: WOW "Show me any business that doesn’t, and I’ll show you a bankruptcy case waiting to happen. It's called business"
I dont mind a corporation making a decent profit. What I DO mind is being nickle and dimed to death with fees that serve no other purpose than to enrich the corporation at my expense. "It's called business" is not a blanket justification for predatory practices in business.
"If signal levels get low, you’ll get a brief pause or moment of heavy pixilation, similar to a rain fade experience with satellite. But I’d rather put up with a 2 or 3 second pause a couple times a year, then fuzzy, grainy, noisy analog cable forever"
Funny...I'm on analog cable and I get pauses and sound dropouts at least twice a hour on many channels, as well as pixellation, yet the signal strength doesn't get worse. The picture just freezes, sometimes for hours. So, obviously they are sending the signal digitally and then converting it to analog on the fly somewhere. I dont have snowy, fuzzy pictures either.
"Consumers will benefit with more HD content. And of course price goes up. Next year when Disney Channel launches their HD service, do you think it will cost Disney nothing to go HD, do you think they will eat the costs? Not going to happen. Do you think Disney will provide the channel to cable companies for free?"
They have plenty of crap shannels now that only survive because they are assured payments from cable companies. Otherwise, left to compete, they would die. That is ALSO business.
Disney is one of the most rapacious corporations around, right on a par with time warner. Besides which, you keep talking about HD like it's normal and everyone has it or, the money for it. It's not and most people dont have it or the money to splurge on it.
"Again, why is okay for Dish Network and DirecTV to be digital, require additional hardware and purchases and all that, and yet for cable you guys don't like it?"
The point that escapes you is that digital is the nature of the beast for satellite and it is a PROPRIETARY system. On the other hand, cable is not, nor has it ever been. Analog cable in it's basic form was nothing more than recieving the channel, either local or satellite, converting it to another channel, if required, amplifying it, then sending it to customers and they should be forced to pass on the digital signals in their original, standard format, like they do analog now so people can use their own equipment to receive it like they do now, without having to pay comcase for a box. | |
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Steve Mehs
Go Sabres
join:2005-07-16
| Re: WOW quote:
I dont mind a corporation making a decent profit. What I DO mind is being nickle and dimed to death with fees that serve no other purpose than to enrich the corporation at my expense. "It's called business" is not a blanket justification for predatory practices in business.
Paying a modest rental fee for an extra piece of hardware that allows you to gain many additional channels, On Demand content, program information, an EPG and everything else is not nickel and diming you. If you buy a new car and it has a navigation system are you ‘nickeled and dimed’ because it is an extra cost?
quote:
Disney is one of the most rapacious corporations around, right on a par with time warner. Besides which, you keep talking about HD like it's normal and everyone has it or, the money for it. It's not and most people dont have it or the money to splurge on it.
Umm HD is the future and the future is now, it will be the norm so get used to it. I don't even think you can find a TV larger then 36" now that is not HD, and when current TVs die people will replace them with HDTVs. Besides HDTVs aren’t that much anymore.
I don't care about new standard def channels, I don’t want anymore, SD is useless. I want Versus HD so I can see my Sabres in the playoffs, I want ESPN 2 HD for more MLB action. The *evil* (  ) Disney will provide the *evil* ( ) Time Warner with ESPNEWS HD when it launches which will be great for sports fans. So take your anti-corporate BS somewhere else, because I don’t want to hear about it. And I want the removal of analog to ensure the most bandwidth be allot to HD. I DVR about 20 shows a week plus all my sports action, South Park, Family Guy and The Shield are the only two shows I watch on a regular basis that aren’t in HD and it is quite painful to watch, not as painful as seeing the #1 team in the NHL in SD though. That plain sucks.
Like it or not HD is the future and it’s here, I know many people who have gotten HD in the past year, it not just *evil* rich people anymore, I mean this is Buffalo, NY not exactly the best economical market in the county.
quote:
The point that escapes you is that digital is the nature of the beast for satellite and it is a PROPRIETARY system. On the other hand, cable is not, nor has it ever been. Analog cable in it's basic form was nothing more than recieving the channel, either local or satellite, converting it to another channel, if required, amplifying it, then sending it to customers and they should be forced to pass on the digital signals in their original, standard format, like they do analog now so people can use their own equipment to receive it like they do now, without having to pay comcase for a box.
And times have changed. Cable is no longer about providing basic content in simple form. I don’t think most people have a problem with additional hardware, I mean there’s 28 million satellite TV customers now, add on the millions of Digital Cable customers and you’ll find every few people using their TVs cable ready tuner, now QAM that may be a different story. I know of no one that is an analog cable subscriber. I don’t know the Buffalo system, but for Time Warner Rochester digital cable is only $3 more than basic cable, plus the cost of the box and you get probably over double the channels and due to digital simulcast, almost every channel is digital.
As I said before, like or not, your side will eventually in time lose and mine will win. It may not be next month, or next year or even 2009, but in the not too distant future analog cable will be a thing of the past, maybe not completely, but to get anything more the locals and a CSPAN you'll be required to have digital, and that will be a beautiful day. I’m really glad more people like you aren’t around, maybe 12” black and white bubble TVs with 3 channels would still be the norm. Or what about the internet. Yeah 28K dial up is fast enough for every one. Always demand more, and never to satisfied with what you got. I have 17 channels in HD and 15Mb internet, not enough and too slow. I want 25 HD channels and 20Mb internet.
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Time Warner Cable Subscriber
Digital Cable & Road Runner Premium
252 Channels, HD DVR & 15/1 Broadband | |
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Fatal Vector
join:2005-11-26
1 edit | Re: WOW "Paying a modest rental fee for an extra piece of hardware that allows you to gain many additional channels, On Demand content, program information, an EPG and everything else is not nickel and diming you. If you buy a new car and it has a navigation system are you ‘nickeled and dimed’ because it is an extra cost?"
Many additional repeat channels and useless crap. I dont need "on demand" either. Program info which is just a continuing advertisment. Why should I pay them for that? It is nickle and diming you, that's why they add these so called "features" that are, generally, as worthless as tits on a boar. A navigation system (ever hear of maps?) is a option that you decide to pay for, not something included in your bill that you cant refuse.
The point is that currently, HD is NOT the norm and it wont be for years yet. You may not care about standard def, but other people do. If you dont like what I say, go somewhere else. No one says you have to respond or try to argue with me, do they? Yours is not the only possible viewpoint, my friend. My viewpoint is not any less valid simply because YOU dont agree with it.
And, as I said: Just because you have the money to spend doesn't mean everyone does. Nor is everyone a freek for HD either. 28 million satellite customers and maybe 20 million digital cable out of 300 million people...Yet, it is estimated that the "average" US household has 2-3 TV sets.
As you can see, analog still rules, with cable ready being the norm. Especially since it is easy to split the signals to multiple TV's. If the digital signals were simply passed on, people could get their own boxes and not have to pay comcast endlessly. That's the thing about renting: It never ends. At some point, regardless of when, it becomes profit, especially if you keep recycling the box with $29.95 "Installation" fees.
None of this alters the fact that cable is a different animal than satellite. People that want satellite know that they need a box. People on analog cable know they dont need a box unless they want HBO, etc. | |
| | | | | | | | | | RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| said by Steve Mehs :If you buy a new car and it has a navigation system are you ‘nickeled and dimed’ because it is an extra cost? Bad example. Nobody forces you to buy a new car, and especially one with a navigation system you don't want. To continue with your analogy, this is the manufacturer making you pay more to continue driving the car you already have.
This is a de facto price increase, and a hefty one at that, as I detailed elsewhere. Address that.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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phattieg
join:2001-04-29
Winter Park, FL
 ·Verizon Wireless B..
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| said by RadioDoc :When Comcast hands out free cable boxes (no install fees either) to allow all of the analog-only sets hooked up to basic cable to continue to receive, then I'll believe you. Ending analog is entirely to the benefit of Comcast with no benefit to their customer base. It's a pure money grab. If it weren't they'd make this a zero-expense changeover for all customers. Nice flames, by the way. Bad week at work? {A$$HOLE ON}
Well, just thank your local FCC office. I'm sure if enough people take their bill to them and complain, they will do something about it eventually.
{A$$HOLE OFF}
On a more realistic note, this is definately a decision that was made to "test out" how well this launch will benefit, and to find out the "quirks" involved. But the FCC's decision to force everyone to move to the new HD channel map for OTA (Over The Air) signals IS to blame for this "change of plans". Quite frankly, you will need a damn box for your "analog tv" even if it isn't from Comcast, and very likely the first few "basic cable" channels will come in with this HD downconverter. The downconverter is a Digital to Analog converter of course, and is the same converter the FCC is handing out $20 or $40 vouchers (I forget the exact amoung) for. So even if the cable company doesn't "screw you" for a cable box, the government will if you want that analog TV to keep on workin. It's bull, but you have other options, for which you'd still be paying a box fee/programming fee for each TV. I myself can see charging install fee's though, because it cost gas and labor to do, and that stuff isn't cheap. Those techs in the field get a company truck, gas, and good pay, so to spend 15 minutes at your house to hook up a box you can pick up at any payment center, really takes close to 45 minutes all together. 15 minutes to get to you, 15 to hook it up, 15 to politely explain how to use it, and have you sign his work order, call the dispatcher to close the order, and then move on. Thats 45 minutes that could be spent on fixing a real problem with service, so someone could be canceling service because you didn't want to pick it up. Oh well, I understand where you're coming from though. 
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SIPPhone/Gizmo # 17476200648 / PIMPNET Chatline / Ran by Asterisk & Slackware 10.1. | |
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TraumaJunkie
Premium
join:2004-03-05
Knoxville, TN
| said by RadioDoc :When Comcast hands out free cable boxes (no install fees either) to allow all of the analog-only sets hooked up to basic cable to continue to receive, then I'll believe you. Ending analog is entirely to the benefit of Comcast with no benefit to their customer base. It's a pure money grab. If it weren't they'd make this a zero-expense changeover for all customers. Nice flames, by the way. Bad week at work? They are doing it in my area now after going to an all digital broadcast a few months ago.
So......now what do you want to complain about?
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I'm not really sure what I am doing, but I'm doing it anyway! | |
| | | | | | | | tlcbob
join:2001-07-11
Harrisburg, PA
| Actually, the people benefiting from the death of analog is everyone. Opening that spectrum to new digital devices will greatly boost our technology options.
In fact, guess who is footing the bill for converting many of the analog TV stations to digital - not Comcast or Verizon (go fios!). It's Nextel. Apparently they are getting prime space in the new spectrum for doing these conversions. | |
| | | | | | | | | RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: WOW Nextel is subsidizing some displacement expenses for stations in the affected channel range to speed up their relocation to below 700 MHz. That's entirely up to them (and the stations) but doesn't get either any sort of special treatment. This is to help resolve some longstanding interference issues.
The great majority of people don't care about "technology options". All they see are cell phones which barely work to make calls and all sorts of other things which amount to little more than ego bling. I'm all for technological progress but don't kid yourself.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
| | | | | | | | | | tlcbob
join:2001-07-11
Harrisburg, PA | Re: WOW They are actually paying contractors to do the tranmitter swaps - My friend is one of the contractors. They will benefit by getting the spectrum they have already requested. | |
| | | | | | | bogey780
join:2004-03-19
Here
| Downconvert? What are you talking about? The 2009 cut-off doesn't end 480 resolution transmission. As far as muxing a 1080i/720p signal and dropping it down to 480i on the fly, it's not that hard. It's not like you'd need to do it for every customer.
And satellite charges 5$ per extra box. The initial one is part of the service charge.
Many people have good TVs with great responsive tuners and they don't want to deal with a slow digital box that doesn't work well with their universal remote control. | |
| | | | | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: WOW Bogey.. now you just lost ANY credibility.. .
Down-convert... do you have ANY idea what that means? At this time, there is arguments going back and forth, because of yet ANOTHER fabulously written law where questions remain. Can a cable or video operator take a "digital signal" and "down-convert" it to an "analog" signal. If they do this, will they have to pay the broadcaster for the right to do this..? And, will this raise the customer's bill even more?
I said satellite charges $5 per extra box.. what's your point? Comcast includes 1 box per account on digital... so your point is.. what? The TOPIC was that cable is going to rip off customers with a $3 box fee per extra tv *to rent* something they don't have to box when SATELLITE has been doing this for YEARS since they started on equipment that the consumer PURCHASED! I believe they called this a MIRRORING FEE. I Know, because I was a satellite early adopter when MANY here were still in grade school.
The slow boxes are being phased out.. the 2500, 700 and other advanced boxes are in play now. The others are going... Motorola has one remote code and has for years. If the universal remotes don't operate a Motorola box I HARDLY find that the fault of Motorola. In YOUR logic, Motorola and all things cable should work with the makers of accessories.. maybe the accessories and TV makers should also try to work in return. Besides, you're just plain being wrong here. MANY universals work with Motorola and S/A! If you want some education here, far more satellite receivers don't work with universals than the two largest cable box makers in the country do. Next time, do your homework.
As for slow tuners... let me clue you into something else... you know those televisions that have built in digital cable tuners in them? Have YOU ever tried to channel surf with one? You'd be surprised at how slow some of those change channels. I've seen some TV's that make the DCT 2000 look like a dream come true. And how about the RCA 310 satellite boxes that you could buy for $200 a piece. There are plenty of slow tuning boxes out there. The fact is that digital signals are still rather slow to tune. It's nice that you want to spin things to blame an industry when you don't have your facts straight.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown | |
| | | | | | | | | bogey780
join:2004-03-19
Here
| Re: WOW "Downconvert" is where hyou take a signal and induce bitloss intentionally either by resizing the frame or changing the compression to a higher level. What you're talking about is a straight DAC. Did cable companies find a way to not already pay local broadcasters to rebradcast their signal?
I can buy several licensed boxes for DirecTv straight from retailers. If I should break the box then I'm out of whatever I paid and don't have to pay a bill that I don't get to negotiate. Ownership trumps rental every time because of that.
I was a satellite adopter back when you had a huge dish and it was free for the wildfeeds. I was a DTV adopter when the euipment was 800$ with a self-install in a single location.
Nothing changes the fact that this move is not consumer friendly in that it forces a higher bill upon them forfeatures they don't want. | |
| | | | | | | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20 | Re: WOW Down-convert has more than one meaning.. | |
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Toguro
join:2003-10-23
Ottawa, IL | You are going to give your self a stroke if you keep getting so angry over every little post you don't like. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Miami, FL | Re: WOW Well, I think Comcast has nothing better to do with their money. So, they waste it away for tax write offs. | |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| said by fiberguy :..are you just being looney? or are you really being serious...? (serious question) The money YOU pay for cable comes back through your television. Your statements that you've made, though small, are pretty intense towards the fact that you have any say where your money goes in the first place. You don't own the cable you pay for. You don't have say how they spend THEIR profits. You don't have share or stake or even vote in the company. You pay a bill and get your service each month and that is where your relationship with the company ends. But, along the lines of is THEIR money going down a "dark void" as you say.. again, I ask, are you serious? Any idea how much it costs to upgrade systems that have 750 thousand active customers? DVRs are cheap, ADS conversions aren't cheap, phone builds & conversions aren't cheap. Hell, do you have ANY idea how much one single mailing campaign cost to send out just to sell that service? Dood, you're talking to someone who probably would come here asking for help because they can't get their laptop working behind their Linksys router.
You REALLY expect them to understand the upgrade of 750k+ people?
You need to lower your expectations of the average user of this site man.
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Use the OS tool for the job. | |
| | | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: WOW "You need to lower your expectations of the average user of this site man."
I understand that ... but this is also the same group that comes here and tells people that actually KNOW what they are talking about that they are wrong.
I actually know what I'm talking about on many of the subjects I post on.. and I get followed up by people who think they know and I'm told to shut it all the time.
I think one can only take it for so long.
--
"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown | |
| | | | | 
stella
@comcast.net
1 edit | wow Fiberguy just shutup already, Everyone knows Comcrap is trash. ok $400 mil upgrade and all they get is a crappy upload powerboost. Well they definitely earned the name COMCRAP
my COMCRAP speeds ATM
 | |
| | | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: WOW I'll take my TRASH line ANY-DAY! .... and I won't shut up.. well, maybe if you register for an account here, make it a premium one, I will. | |
| | Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL
| What will the hotels that have cable tv do?
switch over to that 13 channel + $7+ movies with out on damned control of the movies crap?
There are hotels that don't put in lodge net or on command even then it is really over priced.
Apartments that have site wide basic cable tv as part of the rent? | |
| devnuller
join:2006-06-10
Hollis, NH
1 edit | "DirecTV meanwhile says they'll be offering 100 new high-def In Chicago or spot beam a few / market? How many repeated ABCs are in that 100? | |
| |
See 13 replies to this post | |
morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | wow! potential for 120 HD channels, but we get 2 now! thank you, oh comcast overlords. i for one welcome your impressive future capacity but low initial realization. | |
| | | | | 
Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | Re: wow! I only counted 16 channels. That is about 2 less then Insight has for their lineup.
--
I threw out the map a long time ago. Now I follow my own direction! | |
| | | | rahvin112
join:2002-05-24
Sandy, UT
| Re: wow! That's because it's only the current offering. That list also doesn't include the two dozen sporting events they carry in HD every weekend. Once the two remaining satellites are launched and functional (both go up before July) they have the capability to add every HD channel in existence, plus carry every single sporting event in HD. DirecTV also carries all the regional sporting channels, international and a far more diverse channel lineup than any cable company.
Once the two satellites are up (both are being delivered to pad or being prepared for launch) the HD package should exceed 30 channels overnight as that many channels already exist (some are premium movie channels). But many popular channels announced plans to launch HD broadcasts this summer such as SciFi HD and many other of the "popular cable channels". I should also note that these announcements came AFTER DirecTV announced it's plans, although it can't be proved to be causal, I'm sure it is.
The problem with HD has been the chicken-egg problem for a while. Few of the broadcasters were willing to pay the $$$ to move to HD without a single carrier that could carry the channels and few people that had TV's. Consumer adoption of HD TV's is accelerating so that solves one rung. DirecTV's ability to deliver the channels nationwide will solve the second rung, thus eliminating the prime barriers on the broadcasters. DirecTV's move will no doubt accelerate the deployment of HD by broadcasters not only for DirecTV but for everyone as the cable co.'s will no doubt open up more capacity for HD, just as this news article indicates. | |
| | | | |
Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL
 ·Comcast
1 edit | Re: wow! DirecTV & HD is a contradictive turn, due to who wants HDLite. As for every sporting event in HD, most is rebroadcast, and most of the HD bandwith that Direct is accounting for, will be for duplication in markets that are not being serviced with HD. This is more FUD, then anything, due to there is only so much that can be pushed by Satellite, with out the higher cost to the cosumer.
And as for Consumer Acceleration for HD, those that cannot afford the HD sets are getting SD & ED, which means that still most HD programming will not be watched. We have a friend with a 61" DLP set and they do not watch half the programming that is available in HD, due to it is not available with Dish. Most of the programming that they watch in HD is Final four and Football, and that is pretty much it.
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I threw out the map a long time ago. Now I follow my own direction! | |
| 
reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL | No more analog? Please don't end analog broadcasts! | |
| |
See 13 replies to this post | |
dynodb
Premium,VIP
join:2004-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
| Only on BBR... Only on BBR would commenters suggest that a $400 million dollar upgrade to digital and an expanded HD lineup be somehow considered a bad thing, even when they're not charging extra for it.
Given that most people already rent a cable box, the suggestion that this is done to get a few dollars a month from those relative few who don't is beyond stupid. | |
| | 
BillRoland
Premium
join:2001-01-21
Ocala, FL
clubs:
·Cox HSI
|  Re: Only on BBR...
said by dynodb :Only on BBR would commenters suggest that a $400 million dollar upgrade to digital and an expanded HD lineup be somehow considered a bad thing, even when they're not charging extra for it. Given that most people already rent a cable box, the suggestion that this is done to get a few dollars a month from those relative few who don't is beyond stupid. Well said.
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"Don't steal. The government hates competition." | |
| | 
Cabal
Premium
join:2007-01-21
Boston, MA | I don't rent a cable box. Neither does anyone I know. | |
| | bogey780
join:2004-03-19
Here | Because people lose out on analog service and have to rent a cable box. It's not favorable to a lot of people. | |
| |
reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL
| said by dynodb :Only on BBR would commenters suggest that a $400 million dollar upgrade to digital and an expanded HD lineup be somehow considered a bad thing, even when they're not charging extra for it. Given that most people already rent a cable box, the suggestion that this is done to get a few dollars a month from those relative few who don't is beyond stupid. Why would I want an ad ridden box when analog cable works fine as it is. In my mind digital cable is defective by design.
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My pbase gallery | |
| 
cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| Why does it cost so much to remove analog? Why is it costing 400 million to remove analog gear which is already in place? Yeah I said remove... they should be making money off of this by selling the analog modulators to other companies. They don't need to replace all of this equipment with QAM's and receivers for 120 possible hd stations right now because 120 HD feeds do not even exist. Even if they did, Comcast would have a tough time implementing it because they can't seem to agree with some of the contracts. HDNet's, Food, HGTV, Wealth HD, Rainbow media networks, etc... come to mind. | |
| 
digiblur
Got Sipura?
Premium
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana
| Riding the 2009 wave I figured the Cable Co's were going to start blaming their 100% digital plans on the FCC. When people start complaining they just say the FCC did it. When the 2009 analog cut off has nothing to do with cable services. LOL!
--
FWD#64466(6PM-11PM GMT-5)
»[Sipura] Make your Sipura Speak! - GetSipura Guide
And now for the PAP2-NA and unlocked PAP2's. | |
| |
Toguro
join:2003-10-23
Ottawa, IL | Re: Riding the 2009 wave Yeah I thought of that to when someone calls in to complain they can simply say FCC made us do it. | |
| | 
Ebolla
join:2005-09-28
Dracut, MA
| They could also say "the FCC is having all OTA channels go 100% digital, we in turn will keep those broadcasts exactly as they are sent out" I agree 100% that it will be a pain to go 100% digital only with no analog signal due to how many people have CR sets and dont want any box. But I can also see the point of bandwidth consumption of converting digital to analog. | |
| | | gower2352
join:2005-06-08
Weston, WV | Re: Riding the 2009 wave MEANS MORE WORK FOR OUR CALL CENTER!!! | |
| abward
join:2004-07-14
Cary, NC | Capacity or reality? Am I missing something, or is DirectTV and others saying they have the capacity for a ton of HD channels, or are they (very differently) actually saying they will have that many channels? | |
| | 
PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Re: Capacity or reality? said by abward :Am I missing something, or is DirectTV and others saying they have the capacity for a ton of HD channels, or are they (very differently) actually saying they will have that many channels? Excellent question. IMHO, methinks it's capacity. I don't *think* that many HD channels exist... yet. But, one certainly can't blame a provider for planning for the future. With the two birds launched last year and the two new birds set to launch this year, DirecTV will have PLENTY of room for current and future HD channels.
--
A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exceptions of handguns and Tequilla. -- Mitch Ratcliffe | |
| tango65536
join:2001-12-26
Catonsville, MD
clubs:
| Cables boxes and such I have a theory. One of the main reasons the cable companies are dropping analog service is to stop cable theft. You know, moving into a new apartment/house and plugging the cable line and having "free" service. Never paying a bill to the cable company.
When all the systems are digital only this will stop. Unless they find a way to hack a digital box. | |
| | fizzle0
join:2007-04-07
Southampton, PA
|  Re: Cables boxes and such
Customers that purchase newer Tv's or a Tivo series 3 box may have the option of using a cable card. This allows encrypted content to remain protected, but customers cant access anything that requires two way communication. Such as On Demand, Pay Per View, Guide info, ect.
A newer technology called OCAP or Cable Card II will allow customers to receive two way communication. Customers still need a card, but this will allow customers to go to any retail store and purchase their own box or new TV and not have to use a cable box.
Most cable companies require a professional Install Because their are different standards and cards that are available for different products. Cable companies also usualy charge a rental fee for the card, but it is usualy a lot less expensive than the tradional box.
People that don't want to pay any rental fees for equipment in order to watch two way digital cable will have to wait a year or two. Cable Labs is currently working on a new standard called DCAS. This will allow customers to purchase a box or a new TV and the customer will connect and authorize their new equipment to connect to their cable service. (similar to a cable internet install)
If you want more info on the OCAP and DCAS, check out....
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downloadab···s_System | |
| | | 
ArgMeMatey
join:2001-08-09
Milwaukee, WI
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Cables boxes and such said by fizzle0 :People that don't want to pay any rental fees for equipment in order to watch two way digital cable will have to wait a year or two. Cable Labs is currently working on a new standard called DCAS. This will allow customers to purchase a box or a new TV and the customer will connect and authorize their new equipment to connect to their cable service. That's good news if it gets implemented across the board, i.e. if the cable industry figures out how they can make more money with it than without it.
Otherwise ... Carterfone started the ball rolling toward everything we take for granted with POTS interconnection today. How about a little Carterfone for our coaxial buddies?
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone
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USNG:16TDN2870 Find your Lat-Long: Geocoder | |
| | Al Smith
join:2005-06-09
| said by tango65536 :I have a theory. One of the main reasons the cable companies are dropping analog service is to stop cable theft. You know, moving into a new apartment/house and plugging the cable line and having "free" service. Never paying a bill to the cable company. When all the systems are digital only this will stop. Unless they find a way to hack a digital box. Ding!! We have a winner. Also, why is it bad that cable companies want to go to all digital when all of their competition is already all digital including FIOS and "BLEWVerse"? | |
| | Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL
| said by tango65536 :I have a theory. One of the main reasons the cable companies are dropping analog service is to stop cable theft. You know, moving into a new apartment/house and plugging the cable line and having "free" service. Never paying a bill to the cable company. When all the systems are digital only this will stop. Unless they find a way to hack a digital box. some apartment come with free cable as part of the rent. | |
| 
odreian615
join:2006-01-18
Chicago, IL | I hope its free But I do like the idea Comcast have bringing it to the city first then the burbs while Att is busy cherry picking . | |
|
PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Compare it to phone service Here is how i look at charging monthly for additional cable boxes, assuming analog (sans box) is NOT an option.
(I actually created this analogy for someone complaining about having to pay $5/extra box for DirecTV.)
Say you have one phone line. You can plug as many phones into that phone line as you want (for free), but you can still only make one phone call at a time. If you want to make more than one phone call at a time, you must pay for another phone line.
THUS if you want to hook all of your TVs up to one digital box, you certainly may, and for free, too. However, all of your TVs will have to be on the same channel. If you want to watch different channels on different TVs, you must pay extra for each TV.
And consider this: the $3~5 box rental fee is MUCH less than an additional phone line.
--
A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exceptions of handguns and Tequilla. -- Mitch Ratcliffe | |
| | Raven313
join:2001-12-17
Crofton, MD | Re: Compare it to phone service With all this talk about capacity, what is the HD capacity for FIOS? | |
| |
reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL | Not a very good analogy in my mind. | |
| wmyers4u
join:2007-04-20
Knoxville, TN
| What about service???? You are all bitching about service peanuts. I subscribe to Comcast Internet access and In the last 2 years I have never received over 3.12 MB/s download speed. Keep in mind that they advertise 6 mb/s speed in my service area.
I called Comcast to complain and ask why I should not switch to DSL since At&T offers a faster DSL for less than the $65 a month Comcast charges customers who do not want their TV service. The Comcast Rep tried to compare Comcast's download speed with DSL upload speed. WTF I am not a fool, I will not fall for that crap. I called her out for trying to deceive me and she lowered my monthly bill in half.
Also, Here in Knoxville, TN you cannot make your payment online. I have to drive to the post office for stamps or drive to the Comcast office to pay the bill. Personally, I find this to be more of a pain in the neck than a $3 fee for a box.
Now maybe I should talk about how crappy their digital cable is. Comcast digital cable in Knoxville is comparable to a low quality DIVX formatted movie on CD or satellite on a rainy day. | |
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