Comcast interface?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Hello,

I have been trying the Comcast HDTV for the last month on my 36" Sony XBR
HDTV ready TV. AT only $5/mo. in the Bay Area (San Francisco) I thought I
would try it.

But, I am ready to return it because I can't stand the Comcast interface
that you have to use. I don't know if I am missing something but what I hate
is:

1. Menus on each channel change and waiting 2-3 seconds between channel
changes.
2. Loss of all my interface options built into my TV (PIP, Favorites, Zoom,
etc.)
3. Having to press three digits to get up to the 700's in order to see HDTV.
You can't just jump around easily because the HDTV channels are separate and
far away from the regular channels.
4. Have to point the remote directly at the box - not a wide range of
operation.
5. Sometime the HDTV channels are in HDTV and sometimes not.
6. While the HDTV has superior picture quality, it is not so dramatic on my
particular TV except for outdoor events such as football.

Am I missing something or is this other peoples experience? Is there another
option to avoid these issues (like an antenna)?

Thanks a lot,

Bob

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Ergobob" <ergobob@sonic[REMOVE].net> wrote in message
news:ep2nd.5825$_3.79434@typhoon.sonic.net...
> Hello,
>
> I have been trying the Comcast HDTV for the last month on my 36" Sony XBR
> HDTV ready TV. AT only $5/mo. in the Bay Area (San Francisco) I thought I
> would try it.
>
> But, I am ready to return it because I can't stand the Comcast interface
> that you have to use. I don't know if I am missing something but what I
> hate is:
>
> 1. Menus on each channel change and waiting 2-3 seconds between channel
> changes.
> 2. Loss of all my interface options built into my TV (PIP, Favorites,
> Zoom, etc.)
> 3. Having to press three digits to get up to the 700's in order to see
> HDTV. You can't just jump around easily because the HDTV channels are
> separate and far away from the regular channels.
> 4. Have to point the remote directly at the box - not a wide range of
> operation.
> 5. Sometime the HDTV channels are in HDTV and sometimes not.
> 6. While the HDTV has superior picture quality, it is not so dramatic on
> my particular TV except for outdoor events such as football.
>
> Am I missing something or is this other peoples experience? Is there
> another option to avoid these issues (like an antenna)?
>
> Thanks a lot,
>
> Bob
My experience is relative to the STB provided by Comcast. You didn't
mention your box but where I am it is all SA. I upgraded from the old
3100HD to the newer SA3250HD and pleasantly suprised by:

1. Surfing was faster
2. Depending on your set up, my STB has favorites, I have mutliple inputs
so I can use PIP, and my STB has a pass-thru function so I can let the TV
control the Zoom functions and the TV receives the HD Signal in is sent
format.
3. FAVs make HDTV jumping easier (also some Comcast locations are getting a
new guide)
4. Agreed the remote range could be better
5. Don't blame Comcast, is the network not all content is in HD
6. Are you sure about that, my wife makes a point of taking over the TV to
watch her favorite shows in HD vs analog cable.

I don't know about your TV, but my Sony has a Cablecard Option ( no
VOD/On-Demand, or interactive guide), a NTSC Tuner to get OTA HD signals
(the ones I can get), and is cable ready for QAM so I receive the HD that
isn't premium without having an STB.

 

[RR]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 14:33:46 GMT, "Ergobob" <ergobob@sonic[REMOVE].net> wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I have been trying the Comcast HDTV for the last month on my 36" Sony XBR
>HDTV ready TV. AT only $5/mo. in the Bay Area (San Francisco) I thought I
>would try it.
>
>But, I am ready to return it because I can't stand the Comcast interface
>that you have to use. I don't know if I am missing something but what I hate
>is:
>
>1. Menus on each channel change and waiting 2-3 seconds between channel
>changes.

You can change this timeout value in the Menu Setup page.

>2. Loss of all my interface options built into my TV (PIP, Favorites, Zoom,
>etc.)

I haven't tried it by my Comcast has Favorites. The other problems
are your TV's fault, not Comcast's.

>3. Having to press three digits to get up to the 700's in order to see HDTV.
>You can't just jump around easily because the HDTV channels are separate and
>far away from the regular channels.

Poor baby! At least it's easy to tell where the HD channels are.

>4. Have to point the remote directly at the box - not a wide range of
>operation.

Poor baby!

>5. Sometime the HDTV channels are in HDTV and sometimes not.

....and sometimes movies are in B&W and sometimes they are in color.

>6. While the HDTV has superior picture quality, it is not so dramatic on my
>particular TV except for outdoor events such as football.

Personally, I think movies and the INHD specials are also much nicer
in HD. I agree widescreen on all the channels would be nice, but
that's the fault of the stations, not Comcast.

>Am I missing something or is this other peoples experience? Is there another
>option to avoid these issues (like an antenna)?

I think you are missing something.

>Thanks a lot,
>
>Bob

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Ergobob" <ergobob@sonic[REMOVE].net> wrote in message
news:ep2nd.5825$_3.79434@typhoon.sonic.net...
> Hello,
>
> I have been trying the Comcast HDTV for the last month on my 36" Sony XBR
> HDTV ready TV. AT only $5/mo. in the Bay Area (San Francisco) I thought I
> would try it.
>
> But, I am ready to return it because I can't stand the Comcast interface
> that you have to use. I don't know if I am missing something but what I
> hate is:
>
> 1. Menus on each channel change and waiting 2-3 seconds between channel
> changes.

This is true of any compressed HD stream... including OTA. It just takes a
while to get an I-frame and catch up to the compression structure.

> 2. Loss of all my interface options built into my TV (PIP, Favorites,
> Zoom, etc.)

This is your TV taking away these functions, not the Comcast box.
All of my Comcast HD boxes have had a favorites list with one button access.
Ask Comcast if they have a SA3250HD or better yet a SA8000HD STB... these
have Comcast supplied PIP and Zoom.
And the 8000 has an HD DVR... whoa

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Gomer Jones" <Iamnot@liberty.com> wrote in message
news:rq3nd.8539$Po6.8378@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com...
>
> "Ergobob" <ergobob@sonic[REMOVE].net> wrote in message
> news:ep2nd.5825$_3.79434@typhoon.sonic.net...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have been trying the Comcast HDTV for the last month on my 36" Sony XBR
>> HDTV ready TV. AT only $5/mo. in the Bay Area (San Francisco) I thought I
>> would try it.
>>
>> But, I am ready to return it because I can't stand the Comcast interface
>> that you have to use. I don't know if I am missing something but what I
>> hate is:
>>
>> 1. Menus on each channel change and waiting 2-3 seconds between channel
>> changes.
>> 2. Loss of all my interface options built into my TV (PIP, Favorites,
>> Zoom, etc.)
>> 3. Having to press three digits to get up to the 700's in order to see
>> HDTV. You can't just jump around easily because the HDTV channels are
>> separate and far away from the regular channels.
>> 4. Have to point the remote directly at the box - not a wide range of
>> operation.
>> 5. Sometime the HDTV channels are in HDTV and sometimes not.
>> 6. While the HDTV has superior picture quality, it is not so dramatic on
>> my particular TV except for outdoor events such as football.
>>
>> Am I missing something or is this other peoples experience? Is there
>> another option to avoid these issues (like an antenna)?
>>
>> Thanks a lot,
>>
>> Bob
> My experience is relative to the STB provided by Comcast. You didn't
> mention your box but where I am it is all SA. I upgraded from the old
> 3100HD to the newer SA3250HD and pleasantly suprised by:
>
> 1. Surfing was faster
> 2. Depending on your set up, my STB has favorites, I have mutliple inputs
> so I can use PIP, and my STB has a pass-thru function so I can let the TV
> control the Zoom functions and the TV receives the HD Signal in is sent
> format.
> 3. FAVs make HDTV jumping easier (also some Comcast locations are getting
> a new guide)
> 4. Agreed the remote range could be better
> 5. Don't blame Comcast, is the network not all content is in HD
> 6. Are you sure about that, my wife makes a point of taking over the TV
> to watch her favorite shows in HD vs analog cable.
>
> I don't know about your TV, but my Sony has a Cablecard Option ( no
> VOD/On-Demand, or interactive guide), a NTSC Tuner to get OTA HD signals
> (the ones I can get), and is cable ready for QAM so I receive the HD that
> isn't premium without having an STB.


Hello Gomer,

I am not sure of my cable box model number - there is no number on the box.
It is a brand new Motorola but does not have the DVD option.

My Sony is the KV-36XBR450 and seems to have a lot of options. I am not sure
if I have a Cablecard Option and I get all channels through the box. I
wonder if there might be another setup for this TV that would permit use of
the TV Remote and some of the TV options that I don't have with the Comcast
remote?

I am not sure how to check to see if I have a pass through function for
channels that are not scrambled. Is there a way for me to check this out?

Thanks a lot,

Bob

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Ergobob" <ergobob@sonic[REMOVE].net> wrote in message
news:dAbnd.6091$_3.80159@typhoon.sonic.net...
>
> "Gomer Jones" <Iamnot@liberty.com> wrote in message
> news:rq3nd.8539$Po6.8378@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com...
>>
>> "Ergobob" <ergobob@sonic[REMOVE].net> wrote in message
>> news:ep2nd.5825$_3.79434@typhoon.sonic.net...
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I have been trying the Comcast HDTV for the last month on my 36" Sony
>>> XBR HDTV ready TV. AT only $5/mo. in the Bay Area (San Francisco) I
>>> thought I would try it.
>>>
>>> But, I am ready to return it because I can't stand the Comcast interface
>>> that you have to use. I don't know if I am missing something but what I
>>> hate is:
>>>
>>> 1. Menus on each channel change and waiting 2-3 seconds between channel
>>> changes.
>>> 2. Loss of all my interface options built into my TV (PIP, Favorites,
>>> Zoom, etc.)
>>> 3. Having to press three digits to get up to the 700's in order to see
>>> HDTV. You can't just jump around easily because the HDTV channels are
>>> separate and far away from the regular channels.
>>> 4. Have to point the remote directly at the box - not a wide range of
>>> operation.
>>> 5. Sometime the HDTV channels are in HDTV and sometimes not.
>>> 6. While the HDTV has superior picture quality, it is not so dramatic on
>>> my particular TV except for outdoor events such as football.
>>>
>>> Am I missing something or is this other peoples experience? Is there
>>> another option to avoid these issues (like an antenna)?
>>>
>>> Thanks a lot,
>>>
>>> Bob
>> My experience is relative to the STB provided by Comcast. You didn't
>> mention your box but where I am it is all SA. I upgraded from the old
>> 3100HD to the newer SA3250HD and pleasantly suprised by:
>>
>> 1. Surfing was faster
>> 2. Depending on your set up, my STB has favorites, I have mutliple
>> inputs so I can use PIP, and my STB has a pass-thru function so I can let
>> the TV control the Zoom functions and the TV receives the HD Signal in is
>> sent format.
>> 3. FAVs make HDTV jumping easier (also some Comcast locations are
>> getting a new guide)
>> 4. Agreed the remote range could be better
>> 5. Don't blame Comcast, is the network not all content is in HD
>> 6. Are you sure about that, my wife makes a point of taking over the TV
>> to watch her favorite shows in HD vs analog cable.
>>
>> I don't know about your TV, but my Sony has a Cablecard Option ( no
>> VOD/On-Demand, or interactive guide), a NTSC Tuner to get OTA HD signals
>> (the ones I can get), and is cable ready for QAM so I receive the HD
>> that isn't premium without having an STB.
>
>
> Hello Gomer,
>
> I am not sure of my cable box model number - there is no number on the
> box. It is a brand new Motorola but does not have the DVD option.
>
> My Sony is the KV-36XBR450 and seems to have a lot of options. I am not
> sure if I have a Cablecard Option and I get all channels through the box.
> I wonder if there might be another setup for this TV that would permit use
> of the TV Remote and some of the TV options that I don't have with the
> Comcast remote?
>
> I am not sure how to check to see if I have a pass through function for
> channels that are not scrambled. Is there a way for me to check this out?
>
> Thanks a lot,
>
> Bob
Bob,

I am not familiar with the Motobox. There are a couple of places that
discuss STB, notably avsforum in their HDTV Hardware forum. You can
probably find someone there with a similar config. I would start there.