Why I'll be cancelling Comcast Digital Cable!

hidefman30 · 04-14-2005, 07:30 AM

Ok I recently switched to Comcast Digital Silver package with standard HD channels, This package gives me a supposed discount of $25 for 16 months. Although service was $102 for connection and the first month of programming! Then my bill will be roughly an expensive $75 per month (including discount) and around $100 after the initial months of discount for switching from satellite! This escalated cost might be acceptable to me if service was superior to satellite, but it is far from that. I get periodic spurts of the cable blinking out, or channels pixelizing into a digital mess temporarily, or even channels just freezing up and ceasing to play. Basically the same crap we got when a bad storm came through and knocked out the satellite. We thought we'd have less of this sort of thing with cable, and that was part of out reason for getting it. However with cable it just happens whenever, with satellite only during a storm, which I prefer! Picture quality is random from channel to channel and some channels are downright fuzzy! Satellite was way more uniform with every channel in crystal clarity. Digital cable has some comparable clear channels, but others are hazy and look like I am connected with rabbit ears instead of DVI. The HD channels are nice but I'd sacrifice them for a few reasons. One, half of them only show HD content at specific times, hence you'll mostly be watching a 4:3 sqaure screen most of the time with regular SD content. Second, the other half of the HD channels that show HD content 24-7, rotate the same stuff over and over. After a few weeks you've seen it all. Third, HD is really clear and all and but it doesn't blow me away so much that I just have to have it and pay the extra $15-20 for these channels! HD looks clear, but after regular viewing of component connected DVD, PS2, and Gamecube, it only looks a fraction clearer to me, not leaps and bounds! All in all I am going to lose the cable and go back to my $55 directv without HD.

RSawdey · 04-14-2005, 07:46 AM

Sounds like you have some bad cabling or connections... you should give service a chance to fix it...

If HDTV doesn't 'blow you away' compared to SDTV then you're probably setup incorrectly... what make & model TV do you have & how is it connected? What make & model STB do you have?

I've heard of some screwed up installs that limited viewing of HDTV as an SD downconvert... lets see if we can optimize you...

slowmo · 04-14-2005, 07:50 AM

I hear ya' on not wanting to pay $100 / month for the limited HD offering. I canceled my digital / HD / DVR Charter service a few months ago.

However, can you at least add OTA service? I'm running OTA HD along with analog cable thru tivo. While I miss HD DVR ability and keep hoping Tivo will finally build a standalone HD unit, I'm at least enjoying local HD content.

hidefman30 · 04-14-2005, 08:14 AM

Ok her goes my setup:
Sony KP57WS500 (57" Widescreen 16:9 HD ready)
Comcast motorolla silver HD/DVR box
Cable box connected via DVI out to DVI in on tv
settings on cable box are for 16:9 screen size, 1080i output, and 480p default

about half of my regular cable channels look clear like satellite, the other half a little grainy, HD channels do look great, but just look like really clear satellite tv. Don't get me wrong I can tell a difference, but just not enough to merit the kind of money they want for it.

ja2935 · 04-14-2005, 08:44 AM

I too was a dedicated Dtv subscriber and was generally happy with the service. However I had to switch to Comcast to get HD as trees obscured both the Dtv and Dish sats. It took a second installer to fix the initial poor signal strength and tiling/dropouts and I still get occasional interference. To me it is worth it to get the cheap DVR. I too have a 'Ditch the dish' deal which costs $70 per month and had to include one premium channel (I chose HBO). At the end of the discount period I will drop HBO as they trim all movies to 16:9 regardless of original aspect ratio. Price will however be about the same. Yes it is more expensive than Dtv but worth it to me for the HD and DVR.

Cygnus · 04-14-2005, 10:43 AM

Wow you guys are paying alot. I have Comcast HD, HBO, skinamax, dual tuner HD DVR. The only basic HD channel I do not receive is HDHome or something like that. I pay around $50 monthly. I threatened to leave Comcast and they made me this sweet deal

iserum · 04-14-2005, 11:16 AM

i moved to brighthouse networks (time warner) they gave me this package
$52 for HD DVR with video on demand+HBO and all digital channels including local HD FOX, NBC, ABC, PBS, TND HD and dsicovery HD, HD package include INHD, InHD2, HDnet, HDnet movies and ESPNHD, i admit the tha analog sucks ican't stand watching analog channels but the advantage, i get free analog in other rooms with smaller tv it is not a problem, cable company told me all the channels will be digital by end of 2005.
I have built in hd tuner in my tv but i could not get HDTV locals through antenna on regular basis too many drop out. and HD DVR Rocks.
Home theater magzine also mentioning in this month issue that lot of people are going for cable because HD content.

Darrylhifi · 04-14-2005, 09:00 PM

Hi Def Man, The Comcast DVI with HDCP is screwed up. Also a Samsung Tech who I respect told me Comcast's version of 720p does not match Samsung's version of 720p . I am undergoing this issue right now , but for the moment power off everything for awhile and switch back to component cables . The symptoms you are decribing are exactly what I am experiencing. Hi def looks good not great. I believe it is being downconverted.

04-14-2005, 07:30 AM	#1
hidefman30 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 737	Why I'll be cancelling Comcast Digital Cable! Ok I recently switched to Comcast Digital Silver package with standard HD channels, This package gives me a supposed discount of $25 for 16 months. Although service was $102 for connection and the first month of programming! Then my bill will be roughly an expensive $75 per month (including discount) and around $100 after the initial months of discount for switching from satellite! This escalated cost might be acceptable to me if service was superior to satellite, but it is far from that. I get periodic spurts of the cable blinking out, or channels pixelizing into a digital mess temporarily, or even channels just freezing up and ceasing to play. Basically the same crap we got when a bad storm came through and knocked out the satellite. We thought we'd have less of this sort of thing with cable, and that was part of out reason for getting it. However with cable it just happens whenever, with satellite only during a storm, which I prefer! Picture quality is random from channel to channel and some channels are downright fuzzy! Satellite was way more uniform with every channel in crystal clarity. Digital cable has some comparable clear channels, but others are hazy and look like I am connected with rabbit ears instead of DVI. The HD channels are nice but I'd sacrifice them for a few reasons. One, half of them only show HD content at specific times, hence you'll mostly be watching a 4:3 sqaure screen most of the time with regular SD content. Second, the other half of the HD channels that show HD content 24-7, rotate the same stuff over and over. After a few weeks you've seen it all. Third, HD is really clear and all and but it doesn't blow me away so much that I just have to have it and pay the extra $15-20 for these channels! HD looks clear, but after regular viewing of component connected DVD, PS2, and Gamecube, it only looks a fraction clearer to me, not leaps and bounds! All in all I am going to lose the cable and go back to my $55 directv without HD.

04-14-2005, 08:44 AM	#5
ja2935 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,035	Give Comcast a chance to fix the problems I too was a dedicated Dtv subscriber and was generally happy with the service. However I had to switch to Comcast to get HD as trees obscured both the Dtv and Dish sats. It took a second installer to fix the initial poor signal strength and tiling/dropouts and I still get occasional interference. To me it is worth it to get the cheap DVR. I too have a 'Ditch the dish' deal which costs $70 per month and had to include one premium channel (I chose HBO). At the end of the discount period I will drop HBO as they trim all movies to 16:9 regardless of original aspect ratio. Price will however be about the same. Yes it is more expensive than Dtv but worth it to me for the HD and DVR.

04-14-2005, 07:46 AM	#2
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 62 Posts: 5,981	Sounds like you have some bad cabling or connections... you should give service a chance to fix it... If HDTV doesn't 'blow you away' compared to SDTV then you're probably setup incorrectly... what make & model TV do you have & how is it connected? What make & model STB do you have? I've heard of some screwed up installs that limited viewing of HDTV as an SD downconvert... lets see if we can optimize you...

04-14-2005, 07:50 AM	#3
slowmo High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 759	I hear ya' on not wanting to pay $100 / month for the limited HD offering. I canceled my digital / HD / DVR Charter service a few months ago. However, can you at least add OTA service? I'm running OTA HD along with analog cable thru tivo. While I miss HD DVR ability and keep hoping Tivo will finally build a standalone HD unit, I'm at least enjoying local HD content.

04-14-2005, 08:14 AM	#4
hidefman30 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 737	Ok her goes my setup: Sony KP57WS500 (57" Widescreen 16:9 HD ready) Comcast motorolla silver HD/DVR box Cable box connected via DVI out to DVI in on tv settings on cable box are for 16:9 screen size, 1080i output, and 480p default about half of my regular cable channels look clear like satellite, the other half a little grainy, HD channels do look great, but just look like really clear satellite tv. Don't get me wrong I can tell a difference, but just not enough to merit the kind of money they want for it.

04-14-2005, 10:43 AM	#6
Cygnus The Bringer of Balance Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 7,899	Wow you guys are paying alot. I have Comcast HD, HBO, skinamax, dual tuner HD DVR. The only basic HD channel I do not receive is HDHome or something like that. I pay around $50 monthly. I threatened to leave Comcast and they made me this sweet deal

04-14-2005, 11:16 AM	#7
iserum High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,958	i moved to brighthouse networks (time warner) they gave me this package $52 for HD DVR with video on demand+HBO and all digital channels including local HD FOX, NBC, ABC, PBS, TND HD and dsicovery HD, HD package include INHD, InHD2, HDnet, HDnet movies and ESPNHD, i admit the tha analog sucks ican't stand watching analog channels but the advantage, i get free analog in other rooms with smaller tv it is not a problem, cable company told me all the channels will be digital by end of 2005. I have built in hd tuner in my tv but i could not get HDTV locals through antenna on regular basis too many drop out. and HD DVR Rocks. Home theater magzine also mentioning in this month issue that lot of people are going for cable because HD content.

04-14-2005, 09:00 PM	#8
Darrylhifi Sammy DLP Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North Arlington, New Jersey Age: 52 Posts: 305	Hi Def Man, The Comcast DVI with HDCP is screwed up. Also a Samsung Tech who I respect told me Comcast's version of 720p does not match Samsung's version of 720p . I am undergoing this issue right now , but for the moment power off everything for awhile and switch back to component cables . The symptoms you are decribing are exactly what I am experiencing. Hi def looks good not great. I believe it is being downconverted.