I currently have Comcast Standard which includes the very limited basic and the expanded stuff.
If I'm not mistaken, people should be able to pick up HD local channels in clear QAM which makes my QAM tuner in my TV very useful as well as the one I have installed in my comp because I can enjoy my favorite primetime shows in HD.
However, with Comcast transitioning to digital for its expanded basic cable, it seems that the mapping for the new digital channels is now VERY very ugly. The QAM HD channels were at least decently mapped so that analog Fox = 2 and digital fox = 2.1. However, it's a PITA to find my CNN, CNBC, etc and my parents are going to have a field day on the TV.
Comcast offers free digital STBs but we all know that they're only offering the non HD boxes so they only have composite cables. You lose HD capabilities because they arenot HD capable boxes. What pisses me off is that I LOSE the ability to watch local HD channels that are sent in the clear because their STB does not have component/hdmi. The channel mapping is screwed up when you don't use their box and I know that I can still find channels w/o the box because many TVs now have QAM tuners, but what fun is it to surf through all their channels and write them down on a piece of paper as your own guide? I can deal with mapping the local HD channels and finding just a few, but if you want me to find 40+ channels then it's probably easier to go with the STB for a simple solution. Any solutions to losing your local HD channels?
I find this rather outrageous because if local HD channels are sent in clear QAM, Comcast is basically forcing me to LOSE that because of its digital STB. I find it more outrageous we have to pay a fee to get an HD box when we already these channels.
Edit: Sorry what I mean by losing your local HD channels is that the new box doesn't have HD capabilities like component/HDMI so you get screwed. In order to get HD, you need the HD-capable box which they charge you a monthly fee for. It's not so much the box but they claim you need to subscribe to their HD service but the fact is local channels are sent in clear qam.
Edit 3.0: Let's write this out in simpler terms.
1) Comcast's Standard (Basic + Expanded) gives you a good # of channels. You also get local HD channels BY LAW because those have to be sent in the clear.
2) With their digital transition, all expanded channels in our region are moving to digital. That's some 30 - 40 channels.
3) People with digital tuners can get the new channels, but as you may know or not know only hardware like HD HomeRun can actually process the mapping. Tuners like DVICO or Hauppenauge or whatever and all your TV tuners cannot process these digital mapping info that Comcast sends out.
4) Comcast offers STBs for FREE for everyone. These STBs are composite only so obviously meant for those who are stuck on CRT TVs... roughly half the world. However, the benefit of an STB is that it offers the channel mapping according to Comcast.
5) People who tell me to suck it up and use my TV, I don't think it's very fun for you or for anyone when most people know of say MTV as 743 and CNN as 755 (Comcast's digital channels are 7xx in this region), but instead you have to tune to 89.12. It's not fun having to surf 89.1, 89.2, 89.3, 89.4, 89.5 to find out each is. Then you jump through like 92.1, 92.2, 92.3.. I spent 10 minutes trying to find NBCHD yesterday to watch The Office using my DVICO tuner. It sucks.
6) My question is if Comcast is required BY LAW to transmit local HD in the clear, then why is it that they charge for Digital Basic subscription? It's supposedly $5 to watch these channels. Shouldn't they be giving out STBs with HDMI/component connections? What's the point of transmitting local HD channels in the clear if you're giving away equipment that can't transmit HD picture?
Outrageous? Shrug. I guess this is the wrong forum to ask =[
Edit 4.0
Finally. I talked to Comcast online and they totally understood. Said that yes local HD channels are free and that I should be able to get an HDMI box at the service center for no charge.
Made sure by telling him to put a note in my account because obviously the damn beezies at the service center won't understand. They told my mom something like that Comcast is not obligated to send local HD channels blah blah blah. Obviously they don't know what they're talking about. Thank goodness the online guy was like "Yes, that is the law, and we are sending the signal unencrypted."
Next step is to go to the service center =)
If I'm not mistaken, people should be able to pick up HD local channels in clear QAM which makes my QAM tuner in my TV very useful as well as the one I have installed in my comp because I can enjoy my favorite primetime shows in HD.
However, with Comcast transitioning to digital for its expanded basic cable, it seems that the mapping for the new digital channels is now VERY very ugly. The QAM HD channels were at least decently mapped so that analog Fox = 2 and digital fox = 2.1. However, it's a PITA to find my CNN, CNBC, etc and my parents are going to have a field day on the TV.
Comcast offers free digital STBs but we all know that they're only offering the non HD boxes so they only have composite cables. You lose HD capabilities because they arenot HD capable boxes. What pisses me off is that I LOSE the ability to watch local HD channels that are sent in the clear because their STB does not have component/hdmi. The channel mapping is screwed up when you don't use their box and I know that I can still find channels w/o the box because many TVs now have QAM tuners, but what fun is it to surf through all their channels and write them down on a piece of paper as your own guide? I can deal with mapping the local HD channels and finding just a few, but if you want me to find 40+ channels then it's probably easier to go with the STB for a simple solution. Any solutions to losing your local HD channels?
I find this rather outrageous because if local HD channels are sent in clear QAM, Comcast is basically forcing me to LOSE that because of its digital STB. I find it more outrageous we have to pay a fee to get an HD box when we already these channels.
Edit: Sorry what I mean by losing your local HD channels is that the new box doesn't have HD capabilities like component/HDMI so you get screwed. In order to get HD, you need the HD-capable box which they charge you a monthly fee for. It's not so much the box but they claim you need to subscribe to their HD service but the fact is local channels are sent in clear qam.
Edit 3.0: Let's write this out in simpler terms.
1) Comcast's Standard (Basic + Expanded) gives you a good # of channels. You also get local HD channels BY LAW because those have to be sent in the clear.
2) With their digital transition, all expanded channels in our region are moving to digital. That's some 30 - 40 channels.
3) People with digital tuners can get the new channels, but as you may know or not know only hardware like HD HomeRun can actually process the mapping. Tuners like DVICO or Hauppenauge or whatever and all your TV tuners cannot process these digital mapping info that Comcast sends out.
4) Comcast offers STBs for FREE for everyone. These STBs are composite only so obviously meant for those who are stuck on CRT TVs... roughly half the world. However, the benefit of an STB is that it offers the channel mapping according to Comcast.
5) People who tell me to suck it up and use my TV, I don't think it's very fun for you or for anyone when most people know of say MTV as 743 and CNN as 755 (Comcast's digital channels are 7xx in this region), but instead you have to tune to 89.12. It's not fun having to surf 89.1, 89.2, 89.3, 89.4, 89.5 to find out each is. Then you jump through like 92.1, 92.2, 92.3.. I spent 10 minutes trying to find NBCHD yesterday to watch The Office using my DVICO tuner. It sucks.
6) My question is if Comcast is required BY LAW to transmit local HD in the clear, then why is it that they charge for Digital Basic subscription? It's supposedly $5 to watch these channels. Shouldn't they be giving out STBs with HDMI/component connections? What's the point of transmitting local HD channels in the clear if you're giving away equipment that can't transmit HD picture?
Outrageous? Shrug. I guess this is the wrong forum to ask =[
Edit 4.0
Finally. I talked to Comcast online and they totally understood. Said that yes local HD channels are free and that I should be able to get an HDMI box at the service center for no charge.
Made sure by telling him to put a note in my account because obviously the damn beezies at the service center won't understand. They told my mom something like that Comcast is not obligated to send local HD channels blah blah blah. Obviously they don't know what they're talking about. Thank goodness the online guy was like "Yes, that is the law, and we are sending the signal unencrypted."
Next step is to go to the service center =)
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