I'm having problems tuning in several channels with my COMCAST digital "adapter" going into analog TVs.
This appears to be a relatively new problem with specific channels (COMCAST SPORTSNET and VERSUS on channels 38 and 37) but I'm not sure when exactly it started, other than I know it has something to do with how COMCAST has changed their signal to digital from analog, although I don't know if this happened from day one they did that, or if this is something new.
I am only really getting bugged by it now because of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Sigh. Guess I should try to explain.
This has something to do with how COMCAST's "digital adapter boxes" do not seem to like having the slightest degradation in their input signal.
This was never a problem when the TV signal was all analog. I could run long coax cables or split the signal mutliple ways into different VCRs etc with no problems.
But I find that these digital adapters go nuts and don't work right unless they are plugged directly into the cable drop with a wire of only like 5 feet long, and if the cable is split prior to going INTO the digital adapter box then that screws them up.
Trying to run a long cable to them they do not even work at all - back when the cable signal was analog I used to run a long cable from my living room to a TV in the kitchen occasionally which worked fine but I've found that in order for that to work with the digital adapter the adapter has to be in the living room connected direct to the wall drop with a short cable, then the long cable can be run to the kitchen - meaning you can't change the channel without going back to the living room since of course the adapter box is the tuner and it is in a different room. But I can live with that annoyance.
What I am having a BIG problem with is my setup in my finished basement. This is where my PCs are, my main TV is, my stereo setup etc.
I have VERIZON FIOS as my internet/phone service. The FIOS connection comes into the house into the basement into the utility room in to some kind of FIOS box. To get that then over to where my PCs are in the next room in the basement, Verizon hooked their stuff up to the cable run for my house, which means that the cable drop in my finished basement near the TV is what is ALSO used for my PCs internet connection, by having that connection SPLIT into two cables coming out of the wall drop, one then going in to my network router near the PCs, and the other then used for my TV signal in this room.
This worked FINE back before COMCAST switched over to all digital.
But now the split cable has to go into the COMCAST digital adapter box instead of directly into my TV or VCRs. And it doesn't work right!!!!!!!!!!
2 of my channels are screwed up - COMCAST SPORTSNET (38) and VS (37) - channels I use to watch sports (the Flyers and the Phillies).
COMCAST SPORTSNET (channel 38) is especially difficult to watch. The signal constantly glitches out like every 10 seconds with visible digital artifacts and every 2 or 3 minutes or so it even drops out to a black screen with a message that says "One Moment Please. Your service has been temporarily interrupted. It should be restored momentarily".
The same thing happens with trying to watch Channel 37 (VS) although not as bad. And of course my team is in the Stanley Cup quarterfinals and I want to watch (AND TAPE) the games - without constant glitches and dropouts!
I found if I disconnect the splitter and hookup the adapter box DIRECT to the wall, the box works fine. It only screws up if the cable is SPLIT, which it NEEDS TO BE IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET THE INTERNET CONNECTION TO MY ROUTER/PCs. So I have to disconnect my internet connection in order to be able to watch channels 37 or 38 :-(
I've tried using old cable signal booster boxes with no luck. The COMCAST adapter boxes only work right if they are connected direct to the wall, no split inputs, no boosting going into them, etc.
Is there ANY WAY that I can split the signal properly and still have the effing adapter box work?? I need to have my internet connection working in this room AND be able to watch or record COMCAST SPORTSNET without it constantly glitching out. Is there such a thing as a splitter or booster made specifically to work with DIGITAL SIGNALS instead of analog ones, that will work with this goddam COMCAST digital adapter?
Sorry for the long winded note. There is actually a lot more to this as I've done quite a bit of tinkering/testing/debugging in order to figure out what I have thus far. Hope it makes some sense...thanks for any useful advice.
(And GO FLYERS!!)
This appears to be a relatively new problem with specific channels (COMCAST SPORTSNET and VERSUS on channels 38 and 37) but I'm not sure when exactly it started, other than I know it has something to do with how COMCAST has changed their signal to digital from analog, although I don't know if this happened from day one they did that, or if this is something new.
I am only really getting bugged by it now because of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Sigh. Guess I should try to explain.
This has something to do with how COMCAST's "digital adapter boxes" do not seem to like having the slightest degradation in their input signal.
This was never a problem when the TV signal was all analog. I could run long coax cables or split the signal mutliple ways into different VCRs etc with no problems.
But I find that these digital adapters go nuts and don't work right unless they are plugged directly into the cable drop with a wire of only like 5 feet long, and if the cable is split prior to going INTO the digital adapter box then that screws them up.
Trying to run a long cable to them they do not even work at all - back when the cable signal was analog I used to run a long cable from my living room to a TV in the kitchen occasionally which worked fine but I've found that in order for that to work with the digital adapter the adapter has to be in the living room connected direct to the wall drop with a short cable, then the long cable can be run to the kitchen - meaning you can't change the channel without going back to the living room since of course the adapter box is the tuner and it is in a different room. But I can live with that annoyance.
What I am having a BIG problem with is my setup in my finished basement. This is where my PCs are, my main TV is, my stereo setup etc.
I have VERIZON FIOS as my internet/phone service. The FIOS connection comes into the house into the basement into the utility room in to some kind of FIOS box. To get that then over to where my PCs are in the next room in the basement, Verizon hooked their stuff up to the cable run for my house, which means that the cable drop in my finished basement near the TV is what is ALSO used for my PCs internet connection, by having that connection SPLIT into two cables coming out of the wall drop, one then going in to my network router near the PCs, and the other then used for my TV signal in this room.
This worked FINE back before COMCAST switched over to all digital.
But now the split cable has to go into the COMCAST digital adapter box instead of directly into my TV or VCRs. And it doesn't work right!!!!!!!!!!
2 of my channels are screwed up - COMCAST SPORTSNET (38) and VS (37) - channels I use to watch sports (the Flyers and the Phillies).
COMCAST SPORTSNET (channel 38) is especially difficult to watch. The signal constantly glitches out like every 10 seconds with visible digital artifacts and every 2 or 3 minutes or so it even drops out to a black screen with a message that says "One Moment Please. Your service has been temporarily interrupted. It should be restored momentarily".
The same thing happens with trying to watch Channel 37 (VS) although not as bad. And of course my team is in the Stanley Cup quarterfinals and I want to watch (AND TAPE) the games - without constant glitches and dropouts!
I found if I disconnect the splitter and hookup the adapter box DIRECT to the wall, the box works fine. It only screws up if the cable is SPLIT, which it NEEDS TO BE IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET THE INTERNET CONNECTION TO MY ROUTER/PCs. So I have to disconnect my internet connection in order to be able to watch channels 37 or 38 :-(
I've tried using old cable signal booster boxes with no luck. The COMCAST adapter boxes only work right if they are connected direct to the wall, no split inputs, no boosting going into them, etc.
Is there ANY WAY that I can split the signal properly and still have the effing adapter box work?? I need to have my internet connection working in this room AND be able to watch or record COMCAST SPORTSNET without it constantly glitching out. Is there such a thing as a splitter or booster made specifically to work with DIGITAL SIGNALS instead of analog ones, that will work with this goddam COMCAST digital adapter?
Sorry for the long winded note. There is actually a lot more to this as I've done quite a bit of tinkering/testing/debugging in order to figure out what I have thus far. Hope it makes some sense...thanks for any useful advice.
(And GO FLYERS!!)