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JBinDC · 03-23-2009, 10:19 PM

I am a Comcast subscriber in DC and I just purchased my first HDTV-- a Samsung LN26a450. I turned in my regular digital box for a HD box and when I got home the volume and mute button would not work and a (hearing impaired!) tech was sent out to fix the problem. He brought in two different boxes, and a new remote, and left after 2 1/2 hours. He had locked my tv remote volume control on my remote so I called for direction on how to unlock each individual component so I can use the volume control for my tv with its remote, and also the volume control for the HD box with the Comcast remote.

So here's the problem: when I choose the cable function on the Comcast remote, I can use the guide, change/choose channels, and use the mute button. But when I try to use the volume button, the Comcast volume bar appears at the top of the screen and I can roll the volume all the way up, and all the way down, and the volume of the sound coming out of the TV never changes. If I choose the TV option, the volume button on the Comcast remote makes the volume bar of the television appear (same as if I use the TV remote) and the volume can be changed, tho is isn't nuanced. The clicks are huge differentials of volume. But in TV mode, I cannot look at the Guide or choose a channel--I have to choose the Cable button to do this.

The Comcast phone support people could not tell me if this box has a volume option, though we agreed that if using the cable option the Mute button works, and the Comcast volume bar appears on the screen and is functional, it seems like this SHOULD be a feature of the box. But all they could do is tell me how to globally unlock all the components from the Comcast remote, or add the TV volume to the Comcast remote. But when I add the TV volume control to the Comcast remote, I still have to click the TV button to actually control the volume. I looked online and the Motorola guide to this box suggests one should set the volume to 1/2-3/4 of the available volume and then use the television or other component's remote to fine tune the volume. So the box SHOULD have a volume control. But I have NO volume control as it stands now.

I guess my questions are: Does the DCH3416 have volume function or am I understanding the guide incorrectly? If so, how do I activate the volume control? If not, is there a way to add lock the TV volume control to the Comcast remote that does NOT require my pushing the TV button to adjust the volume. (I might as well use two remotes--one in each hand--if this is the case!)

And secondly, I want to have the ability to use both the box volume and the tv volume to make the most out of the tv speaker and the sound available to me. Currently, I feel like something is wrong because on the TV volume bar, I watch TV with the volume bar set about about 8, which is about 1/10 of the volume bar's capability. Anything above 10 (which is still SUPER low on the length of the volume bar) is like being in a club. This makes me feel that there is some setting that isn't right. (I have the audio compression on the box set to light--Heavy really blew me out at level 9!)

I'm lost. Sorry for this uber-long message, but I am SICK of Comcast's inability to help, and this switch to HD that I was so looking forward to has been nothing but a frustration and a nuisance. Any suggestions are appreciated. I am a hair's breadth from calling Direct TV.

Oh, and my box is connected to the tv with an HDMI cable, and I have no other components attached. It's just wall-hd box-tv. Simple.

03-23-2009, 10:19 PM	#1
JBinDC What is HD? Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4	Comcast DCH3416 Volume Problem I am a Comcast subscriber in DC and I just purchased my first HDTV-- a Samsung LN26a450. I turned in my regular digital box for a HD box and when I got home the volume and mute button would not work and a (hearing impaired!) tech was sent out to fix the problem. He brought in two different boxes, and a new remote, and left after 2 1/2 hours. He had locked my tv remote volume control on my remote so I called for direction on how to unlock each individual component so I can use the volume control for my tv with its remote, and also the volume control for the HD box with the Comcast remote. So here's the problem: when I choose the cable function on the Comcast remote, I can use the guide, change/choose channels, and use the mute button. But when I try to use the volume button, the Comcast volume bar appears at the top of the screen and I can roll the volume all the way up, and all the way down, and the volume of the sound coming out of the TV never changes. If I choose the TV option, the volume button on the Comcast remote makes the volume bar of the television appear (same as if I use the TV remote) and the volume can be changed, tho is isn't nuanced. The clicks are huge differentials of volume. But in TV mode, I cannot look at the Guide or choose a channel--I have to choose the Cable button to do this. The Comcast phone support people could not tell me if this box has a volume option, though we agreed that if using the cable option the Mute button works, and the Comcast volume bar appears on the screen and is functional, it seems like this SHOULD be a feature of the box. But all they could do is tell me how to globally unlock all the components from the Comcast remote, or add the TV volume to the Comcast remote. But when I add the TV volume control to the Comcast remote, I still have to click the TV button to actually control the volume. I looked online and the Motorola guide to this box suggests one should set the volume to 1/2-3/4 of the available volume and then use the television or other component's remote to fine tune the volume. So the box SHOULD have a volume control. But I have NO volume control as it stands now. I guess my questions are: Does the DCH3416 have volume function or am I understanding the guide incorrectly? If so, how do I activate the volume control? If not, is there a way to add lock the TV volume control to the Comcast remote that does NOT require my pushing the TV button to adjust the volume. (I might as well use two remotes--one in each hand--if this is the case!) And secondly, I want to have the ability to use both the box volume and the tv volume to make the most out of the tv speaker and the sound available to me. Currently, I feel like something is wrong because on the TV volume bar, I watch TV with the volume bar set about about 8, which is about 1/10 of the volume bar's capability. Anything above 10 (which is still SUPER low on the length of the volume bar) is like being in a club. This makes me feel that there is some setting that isn't right. (I have the audio compression on the box set to light--Heavy really blew me out at level 9!) I'm lost. Sorry for this uber-long message, but I am SICK of Comcast's inability to help, and this switch to HD that I was so looking forward to has been nothing but a frustration and a nuisance. Any suggestions are appreciated. I am a hair's breadth from calling Direct TV. Oh, and my box is connected to the tv with an HDMI cable, and I have no other components attached. It's just wall-hd box-tv. Simple.