Multiple questions about ComCast HD channels.

OK everyone. I'm a total newb... so please be kind. I just recently moved, bought a Samsung TV with a QAM (is that right?) tuner and got the Comcast Double Play package. Well, told me the package had several HD channels, but what they *DIDN'T* tell me that the cable box they were sending me wouldn't do HD. I called them up and they said "Oh yeah, you need the HD cable box. That'll be an additional $20 / mth." So I said "Screw that."

So, I put a splitter on the wall jack and ran 1 cable into the cable box and another directly into the TV. So here's the first question... Every time I scan for channels, I get different results. Why is that? For example, sometimes channel 2-1 (NBC-HD) will be in the results and sometimes it won't.

My other question is this... Is there a list of HD channels for ComCast Houston somewhere that I can read so I don't have to search through thousands of blank channels after doing a full scan? For example, I've found 2-1 and 89-1. There are several other digital channels in the XX-X number format, but I quickly learned that digital doesn't = HD.

Thanks for taking the time to ejumahkate a total newb.

Max.

I hear that the channels move around a lot. Most of the time, I hear they disappear. Does not seem like they should change so quickly. At least you know how to solve the problem. Just scan again.

There is no list of the channels you get without a box. You just have to figure it out.

I live just outside of Seattle, Washington. I have Comcast. The first digital box is free with the package. Digital boxes cost $5. If the box is more expensive than $5, it is reduced from the cost of your first box. That is the theory, anyway. I checked my bill to see the price exactly. Seems like they are over charging me $5. An HD DVR is costing me $15.95. A high def box is costing me $11.60. Assuming you are paying $5 for your current box, it would cost $6.60 additional to upgrade to HD. I do not know what idiot told you an additional $20. That is not correct. Think about getting an HD box. It has an on screen TV guide. You will not have to search and memorize all the channels. Most likely you would get more HD channels than without a box. Just something to think about.

Welcome to High Def Forum, and have fun.

I hear that the channels move around a lot. Most of the time, I hear they disappear. Does not seem like they should change so quickly. At least you know how to solve the problem. Just scan again.


Well that certainly explains what I've been seeing. I have to wonder if they do that to force people like me into buying the HD box.


There is no list of the channels you get without a box. You just have to figure it out.

I live just outside of Seattle, Washington. I have Comcast. The first digital box is free with the package. Digital boxes cost $5. If the box is more expensive than $5, it is reduced from the cost of your first box. That is the theory, anyway. I checked my bill to see the price exactly. Seems like they are over charging me $5. An HD DVR is costing me $15.95. A high def box is costing me $11.60. Assuming you are paying $5 for your current box, it would cost $6.60 additional to upgrade to HD. I do not know what idiot told you an additional $20. That is not correct. Think about getting an HD box. It has an on screen TV guide. You will not have to search and memorize all the channels. Most likely you would get more HD channels than without a box. Just something to think about.

Welcome to High Def Forum, and have fun.

Well, if it's only $5 / mth that would be well worth it. I just didn't think the $20 / mth they quoted me was anywhere near worth it.

Thanks for sharing. Maybe I'll walk in to the local ComCast store and ask them in person.

Max.

$6.60 extra was what I figured, not $5.

Called Comcast, and they said I am getting $10 total removed from the cost of both my DVR. Did not ask about the HD box, if I am getting a discount.

So confusing, and expensive. I think you could get an HD box for $11.60. Check to make sure. It would not be an additional $20.

Well that certainly explains what I've been seeing. I have to wonder if they do that to force people like me into buying the HD box.They've probably got better things to do. Most likely, they're addressing technical considerations, balancing bit-rates, reacting to interference patterns, or something like that.

Well, if it's only $5 / mth that would be well worth it. I just didn't think the $20 / mth they quoted me was anywhere near worth it.$5 per month is a typical price for a converter box. $20 per month is a typical price for a DVR. You don't need a DVR to watch television -- just get the converter box.

Mac C,
Does your TV have cable card slot? First cable card is free from Houston market.

I think digital box in Houston is around $10 a month or more. I only use cable card before...refuse to pay extra to rent the digital box. Since early this year, I could not pick up most HD channels with the cable card...then I canceled digital cable. Now, I am using antenna to pick up local HD channels.

You should probably dump Crapcast and get FiOS. I think it's available in Houston.

You should probably dump Crapcast and get FiOS. I think it's available in Houston.
It is in some neighborhoods.

You should probably dump Crapcast and get FiOS. I think it's available in Houston.

What's a FiOS and where can I find out if it's available in my area?

Max.

FiOS is Verizon's cable television-like offering. Rest assured that if they offer you service, you'd already know about it. They're working hard to start up their business and get some market share, so for now they are offering their current customers pretty sweet deals. Unfortunately, like any company, they are cherry-picking which towns to offer service to, and within some towns, they are cherry-picking which homes to offer service to, focusing on offering service to those for whom they can get the most revenue for the least cost.

Unfortunately, like any company, they are cherry-picking which towns to offer service to, and within some towns, they are cherry-picking which homes to offer service to, focusing on offering service to those for whom they can get the most revenue for the least cost.

It's more politics. In most states, it's a town-by-town thing and each Board of Selectmen or what-have-you has to vote to give them a cable franchise.

Once they get this cable franchise they can offer service. Sometimes this involves "horse trading" between the town and the company, in that in order to obtain the 'certificate' they have to provide free internet to the school or library. At any rate, these negotiations can drag on for month after month (you know how government works) and it's us consumers who get screwed during that time.

I think you missed this part of my message:... within some towns, they are cherry-picking which homes to offer service to, focusing on offering service to those for whom they can get the most revenue for the least cost.They ran the fiber past my home in August 2006 and started offering service throughout the town a few months after that but still refuse to offer the twelve homes on my side of the block service because it would cost them more than their cost target per home hookup.

I think you missed this part of my message:They ran the fiber past my home in August 2006 and started offering service throughout the town a few months after that but still refuse to offer the twelve homes on my side of the block service because it would cost them more than their cost target per home hookup.

If that's true, I would complain to the town about it. I'm sure they're in violation of their agreement. I don't know even where to begin to read the actual agreement.

I don't know what you have up there in Burlington, but next time your Town Hall meets be there to raise this with those in charge.

I think you've already complained to Verizon and I'm guessing it fell on deaf ears?

Nope, they're not in violation of anything. They get to determine how quickly they offer service to individual homes. Check your franchise agreement closely; generally only if your town is very cable savvy will there by any requirement to serve every home, and even then there is typically a time-frame, like three years or five years.

It's not falling on deaf ears. The engineers are very sympathetic, but they can't mess around with budgets and stuff.

Nope, they're not in violation of anything. They get to determine how quickly they offer service to individual homes. Check your franchise agreement closely; generally only if your town is very cable savvy will there by any requirement to serve every home, and even then there is typically a time-frame, like three years or five years.

It's not falling on deaf ears. The engineers are very sympathetic, but they can't mess around with budgets and stuff.

I didn't know that... well, what do you know? How do you know all this?

A lot of research. I've been trying to get FiOS service for many years.

Contact your local franchising authority (typically your town or city) to review your local franchising agreement.