[mythtv-users] Nasty shock with Comcast Chicago

[Greg Furstenwerth]

If you get the DCT-2200 or whatever it is and run S-Video into your PVR 
its pretty nice and you can control the cablebox with RS232

That box works great I love it. Check the Contrib Directory of MythTV 
source at mythtv.org it should give  you a idea of what to do. I can 
change to any channel I please going all the way up over 800 without 
issue. I think you will find it most enjoyable. BTW one test you can do 
to find out how really cool it is. Turn off the cablebox and then run a 
channel change and the box will turn on. Its really cool cause it wont 
miss a recording. I cannot vouch for the Firewire myself but I am 
thinking of doing it soon but then again I am getting a HD card so why 
go through the hassle of paying more for a HD Box.

Enjoy


Chad wrote:

>On 2/12/06, Dewey Smolka <dsmolka at gmail.com> wrote:
>  
>
>>Non-digital not really non-digital
>>
>>I don't know if anyone else has seen this, but it came as a nasty
>>surprise to me.
>>
>>I signed up for Basic Extended service from Comcast Chicago (Zone NW
>>2&3). I told them on the phone several times while ordering that I was
>>only interested in analog service, not digital, and that I had my own
>>tuning devices and wouldn't need a converter.
>>
>>The tech came out to activate the line and the Comcast default channel
>>(4) came up just fine going straight into my television. I didn't
>>imagine there would be any problem since the analog channels would be
>>open and I'd be able to tune them with my PVR-250 and/or television
>>with integrated tuner.
>>
>>Only that didn't happen. Turns out it's a new thing with Comcast
>>Chicago that only the Really Basic Channels are actually analog. The
>>'extended' channels (including all the ad-supported networks you
>>watch) are actually digital, and you can't get them with your PVR
>>cards without a converter box.
>>
>>The first call to Comcast after the installation got me a call-back
>>from the tech, who explained that the extended channels were, in fact,
>>digital even though I had asked for analog service. I wouldn't be able
>>to get the channels without their converter. The one he left behind is
>>the size of a briefcase and hums in B flat.
>>
>>The sticky part is that the 'extended' channels are not under the
>>digital plans, and the work order the tech left behind called for a
>>'non-digital install'. I had asked for and been sold an analog package
>>that was in fact digital. All the channels in question were 2 through
>>around 90 or so. Analog bands.
>>
>>After maybe four calls to Comcast support, during three of which I
>>made vague threats of calling the FCC and the Chicago Cable
>>Commission, I finally got to speak to some actual managers. They
>>couldn't give me a good answer why non-digital channels were actually
>>digital other than that "the whole world's going digital".
>>
>>I complained that the whole reason why I had bought analog cable was
>>so I could use my equipment to change the channels. Their converter
>>box gave me no way other than the remote to set channels, etc. I
>>
>>They did, however, agree to give me one of their Motorola HD boxes
>>with a serial port, firewire port and component outs for six months
>>free (after it's $5/mo. I've got an HD set but no HD card; I do have a
>>firewire card that I've never tried). They also agreed to refund the
>>$50 they had charged for lighting the cable line, only there would be
>>another install charge of $15 for the HD box.
>>
>>Not the best deal I know, but the Olympic Hockey starts on Wednesday
>>and my wife will be extremely disapointed if I don't record all of
>>Slovakia's games.
>>
>>Does anyone know if Comcast is actually allowed to do this? Can they
>>sell a 'non-digital' service that is in fact digital, or to move the
>>lower bands to digital at all? I know those broadcast bands are being
>>squeezed out but broadcast isn't cable.
>>
>>The new box should get here Tuesday morning. How does one go about
>>controlling through serial or firewire? I imagine I'll need the box
>>model number but where would I find a driver or script that could set
>>the channel?
>>
>>If I'm using firewire to send commands, can I also use it capture HD
>>signals (assuming some are coming through) at the same time? How (in
>>general terms)?
>>
>>I'm very curious if anyone else has seen this with his or her cable
>>company. Is the usefulness of the analog tuner at an end?
>>
>>Just thought I'd share.
>>_______________________________________________
>>    
>>
>
>I feel quite lucky over here in good ol SLC, Utah.  I get 'extended
>basic' all over an analog wire, split as much as I want, to as many
>feeds as I want around my castle.  I am quite the cheapo though, and
>moreso, I get all the channels I like on my limited basic service, so
>I dropped the extended and the 20 bucks that came with it, and am now
>down to 12 bucks a month.  All my HD is OTA, so I'm super stoked ;)
>
>Oh yeah, I also get Cable Internet from Comcast, it too is through this wire.
>
>Woohoo!!!
>
>Chad
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>