Pixelation in lower band channels only _ Comcast Atlanta

The problems I'm seeing here in the metro Atlanta area for Comcast is pixelation in the lower band channels only. In our case here, that would be 802-808 where all of the network channels reside.

I seldom see this in any of the upper band channels.

Comcast had been out a couple of months ago for the same issue with my previous 32XBR2.

As is always the case with any of their less than skilled technicians, no problem found. Signal strength was noted as "normal" whatever that might mean in Comcast speak.

Welcome to High Def Forum.

I do not understand why you would say lower band channels. You know for sure? Analog is fairly low down there. You checked diagnostics on your box? Comcast tech has never told me anything so technical. Did someone tell you? I would like to know more.

I sincerely wish that I could help you. Sounds like something only Comcast will fix. You may have to bug them about it. You pay monthly for cable, it is thier responsibility to make sure it works.

The problems I'm seeing here in the metro Atlanta area for Comcast is pixelation in the lower band channels only. In our case here, that would be 802-808 where all of the network channels reside.

I seldom see this in any of the upper band channels.

Comcast had been out a couple of months ago for the same issue with my previous 32XBR2.

As is always the case with any of their less than skilled technicians, no problem found. Signal strength was noted as "normal" whatever that might mean in Comcast speak.

Doesn't seem that COMCAST is capable of identifying or correcting this problem. Numerous phone conversations with them and two more trips by poorly trained technicians.

I've finally had enough and moving to DirecTV.

I still would like to know how you knew they were lower band channels. Please explain.

I still would like to know how you knew they were lower band channels. Please explain.

lower band as in channels 802-806 where the problem is much worse than upper band channels.

That is not an explanation. It is like defining a word by using the word. 802-806 is chosen by the cable company. It does not correspond to a specific frequency in mhz. You may not know if it is a lower band channel, only that it was problematic for you. The word bands commonly refers to a segment of the radio spectrum. In Europe they still have LW radio. Those are the lowest frequencies. Then AM radio is above that. World band and amateur SW is next. VHF 2-6 is considerably higher up. FM radio is in there. Then VHF 7-13. Higher up still is UHF 14-69. I double checked the Motorola web site to learn about my cable box. The DCH3416 tunes frequencies from 54 mhz to 864 mhz. That does not include On Demand. Unless you know the frequencies, you would not know if it is a lower band channel. It is a bummer you could not get your cable to work. Too bad that the so called "techs" were not more helpful to you. Does not sound to me like you were very tech savvy either. I hope I have helped explain something to you.

It may not have anything to do with Comcast or the box. It could be the networks themselves sending an over-compressed signal that will appear pixelated no matter what. NBC is notorious for that for sporting events (e.g. Summer Olympics). A bad picture can be caused anywhere the signal has to travel, from the camera capturing the video to your TV set and anywhere in between.

Does not sound to me like you were very tech savvy either. I hope I have helped explain something to you.

OK, so perhaps my choice of terms was incorrect for clarification. If this problem persists when a COMCAST tech is present, then why are they incapable of diagnosing the problem ?

Just to confirm the problem I have several programs now on my CVR showing the pixelation or "tiling" as they have called it.

I had DirecTV before I had HDTV. There were plenty of blocky pictures. Compression is everywhere. Obviously I am a bit behind the times on DirecTV. I bet you could find reasons to be unhappy with them too. The latest thing I hear is that thier DVR randomly deletes programs. What I would not want to do is to sign a 2 year contract. Good luck.

Sorry to hear about your issues. The previous poster was right. When it comes to digital and hd boxes you see a certain channel or channels not working. But a tech will see it as a frequency or a digital channel. Each frequency contains a number of channels on it that you'll see displayed as channel 6,38,345 etc.

The tech trouble shooting will need a frequency chart showing what is what for his system.And then he will have to have a meter that can read those frequencies and other readings pertaining to it. You are at the mercy of the competence of the tech and the tools he has on hand. And that is if he uses them.

Here is a good rule of thumb you can use. If a majority of the channels on your box pixelate or freeze up then it may be bad signal or ingress just to name a few. If you notice that one channel will work but the immediate channel next to freeze or say temp of air then that is a majority of the time a frequency issue. For example channel 5 on the box works fine but channel 6 freezes and skips Chances are every other channel on the frequency including 6 will not work.

Some of that you may not have wanted to hear. But it's just like working on cars. In the past anyone with a toolbox could work on it. Now you have to have the right tools and proper code reading tools to work on them. Cable has gone the same way.