What are reasonable expectations for cable HDTV

[Rich]

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

I've been working with Comcast (Detroit area) to fix intermittant
pixellation issues on my HD channels. We've gone from periodic
pixellation every 15 seconds (unwatchable) to (when it occurs)
pixellation perhaps 3 or 4 minutes between episodes. Frankly, the sound
interruption is more annoying than the freeze in the picture.

What is a reasonable expectation? I think it should NEVER happen. Am I
being unreasonable in light of what other people are getting?

(I've called them six times in the last month, and had four visits from
techs, who usually replace splitters or cables or such. I'm awaiting a
call from the "escalation team" on Monday.

Rich

 

[Guest]

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

X-No-archive: yes

"Rich" <nospam@saddam.net> wrote in message
news:mOKdnWwAN_ihOebcRVn-ow@comcast.com...
> I've been working with Comcast (Detroit area) to fix intermittant
> pixellation issues on my HD channels. We've gone from periodic
> pixellation every 15 seconds (unwatchable) to (when it occurs) pixellation
> perhaps 3 or 4 minutes between episodes. Frankly, the sound interruption
> is more annoying than the freeze in the picture.
>
> What is a reasonable expectation? I think it should NEVER happen. Am I
> being unreasonable in light of what other people are getting?

==========================
Reasonable fo cable is that it NEVER happen.
For OTA, maybe once a week for less than 5 seconds.
=========================
>
> (I've called them six times in the last month, and had four visits from
> techs, who usually replace splitters or cables or such. I'm awaiting a
> call from the "escalation team" on Monday.
>
> Rich
>

 

[Guest]

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

I have been fortunate enough to rarely see any pixilation since my box was
installed in January and after a service call a few weeks later that
repaired to wires at the pole ... squirrels. The last time I recall
pixilation was brief a 1 sec breakup maybe twice in a movie on StarzHD a
couple of weeks ago. That was likely source (Starz) versus a Comcast issue.
I'd recommend to keep after the cableco. Unless your are in a really old
build area or construction has uprooted their lines (i.e. moisture in
lines/connections), you shouldn't see these problems unless you have too
many splitters on your line. How "pure" is your run from the pole to your
cable box?

--
"Sleep is a poor substitute for coffee."
- Anon

YMMV

"Rich" <nospam@saddam.net> wrote in message
news:mOKdnWwAN_ihOebcRVn-ow@comcast.com...
> I've been working with Comcast (Detroit area) to fix intermittant
> pixellation issues on my HD channels. We've gone from periodic
> pixellation every 15 seconds (unwatchable) to (when it occurs) pixellation
> perhaps 3 or 4 minutes between episodes. Frankly, the sound interruption
> is more annoying than the freeze in the picture.
>
> What is a reasonable expectation? I think it should NEVER happen. Am I
> being unreasonable in light of what other people are getting?
>
> (I've called them six times in the last month, and had four visits from
> techs, who usually replace splitters or cables or such. I'm awaiting a
> call from the "escalation team" on Monday.
>
> Rich
>

 

[Rich]

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

Subdivision is 25 yrs old. Underground cable to post... 25 ft run
underground to house. Just inside house is first split... one half to
HD box, then to another split for analog tv and cable modem.

I didn't THINK that what I was experiencing was "normal"... but I'm
interested in calibrating against other people's experience for cable HDTV.

Rich


MrMike6by9 wrote:
> I have been fortunate enough to rarely see any pixilation since my box was
> installed in January and after a service call a few weeks later that
> repaired to wires at the pole ... squirrels. The last time I recall
> pixilation was brief a 1 sec breakup maybe twice in a movie on StarzHD a
> couple of weeks ago. That was likely source (Starz) versus a Comcast issue.
> I'd recommend to keep after the cableco. Unless your are in a really old
> build area or construction has uprooted their lines (i.e. moisture in
> lines/connections), you shouldn't see these problems unless you have too
> many splitters on your line. How "pure" is your run from the pole to your
> cable box?
>

 

[Guest]

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

X-No-archive: yes

"Rich" <nospam@saddam.net> wrote in message
news:94idnYVqG99fSubcRVn-ug@comcast.com...
> Subdivision is 25 yrs old. Underground cable to post... 25 ft run
> underground to house. Just inside house is first split... one half to HD
> box, then to another split for analog tv and cable modem.

========================================
The run to your house must be RG6 (prefferably QS).
If it is RG59, that would be a likely cause of your ptoblem.
=====================================
>
> I didn't THINK that what I was experiencing was "normal"... but I'm
> interested in calibrating against other people's experience for cable
> HDTV.
>
> Rich
>
>
> MrMike6by9 wrote:
>> I have been fortunate enough to rarely see any pixilation since my box
>> was installed in January and after a service call a few weeks later that
>> repaired to wires at the pole ... squirrels. The last time I recall
>> pixilation was brief a 1 sec breakup maybe twice in a movie on StarzHD a
>> couple of weeks ago. That was likely source (Starz) versus a Comcast
>> issue. I'd recommend to keep after the cableco. Unless your are in a
>> really old build area or construction has uprooted their lines (i.e.
>> moisture in lines/connections), you shouldn't see these problems unless
>> you have too many splitters on your line. How "pure" is your run from the
>> pole to your cable box?
>>
>

 

[Guest]

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

"Rich" <nospam@saddam.net> wrote in message
news:mOKdnWwAN_ihOebcRVn-ow@comcast.com...
> I've been working with Comcast (Detroit area) to fix intermittant
> pixellation issues on my HD channels. We've gone from periodic
> pixellation every 15 seconds (unwatchable) to (when it occurs) pixellation
> perhaps 3 or 4 minutes between episodes. Frankly, the sound interruption
> is more annoying than the freeze in the picture.
>
> What is a reasonable expectation? I think it should NEVER happen. Am I
> being unreasonable in light of what other people are getting?
>
> (I've called them six times in the last month, and had four visits from
> techs, who usually replace splitters or cables or such. I'm awaiting a
> call from the "escalation team" on Monday.
>
> Rich

You should expect near perfect reception with drop outs per day, not
dropouts per minute.

Have they added an amplifier?

And naturally, you aren't paying for this until they get it working are you?

 

[Guest]

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

"Rich" <nospam@saddam.net> wrote in message
news:mOKdnWwAN_ihOebcRVn-ow@comcast.com...
I've been working with Comcast (Detroit area) to fix intermittant
pixellation issues on my HD channels. We've gone from periodic
pixellation every 15 seconds (unwatchable) to (when it occurs)
pixellation perhaps 3 or 4 minutes between episodes. Frankly, the sound
interruption is more annoying than the freeze in the picture.

What is a reasonable expectation? I think it should NEVER happen. Am I
being unreasonable in light of what other people are getting?

(I've called them six times in the last month, and had four visits from
techs, who usually replace splitters or cables or such. I'm awaiting a
call from the "escalation team" on Monday.

Rich
-------------------------------------
I've noticed a lot of pixelation on Fox World Series/playoff coverage,
but none on CBS and ESPNHD football coverage. I suspect it's Fox or the
local Fox station, not my cable company(Adelphia), causing the problem.

Bill

 

[THUMPer]

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

On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 10:11:49 -0700, "Richard C."
<post-age@spamcop.net> wrote:

>X-No-archive: yes
>
>"Rich" <nospam@saddam.net> wrote in message
>news:mOKdnWwAN_ihOebcRVn-ow@comcast.com...
>> I've been working with Comcast (Detroit area) to fix intermittant
>> pixellation issues on my HD channels. We've gone from periodic
>> pixellation every 15 seconds (unwatchable) to (when it occurs) pixellation
>> perhaps 3 or 4 minutes between episodes. Frankly, the sound interruption
>> is more annoying than the freeze in the picture.
>>
>> What is a reasonable expectation? I think it should NEVER happen. Am I
>> being unreasonable in light of what other people are getting?
>
>==========================
>Reasonable fo cable is that it NEVER happen.
>For OTA, maybe once a week for less than 5 seconds.
>=========================
>>
My cable does it rarely for a very brief time.
Thumper
>> (I've called them six times in the last month, and had four visits from
>> techs, who usually replace splitters or cables or such. I'm awaiting a
>> call from the "escalation team" on Monday.
>>
>> Rich
>>
>

To reply drop XYZ in address

 

[Rich]

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

Thumper,
I'd be interested in your suggestions of how to escalate this at Comcast.

I'm up to seven calls, so far. Ten days ago I spoke to a supervisor who
was going to refer it to an "escalation team". No one ever called me.
I finally tracked down the supervisor last Friday... he'd been out for
personal reasons... someone would call me Monday (10/25). No one
called. Monday afternoon I called customer service and got an agent who
spoke to that supervisor who would "call me back in ten minutes"... he
never called.

I'm trying to be patient and "work the system", but it's frustrating. I
really would prefer to stay with Comcast, if this can be resolved,
rather than go to WOW or DirecTV.

Rich

Thumper wrote:

>>
>>==========================
>>Reasonable fo cable is that it NEVER happen.
>>For OTA, maybe once a week for less than 5 seconds.
>>=========================
>>
> My cable does it rarely for a very brief time.
> Thumper
>
>>>(I've called them six times in the last month, and had four visits from
>>>techs, who usually replace splitters or cables or such. I'm awaiting a
>>>call from the "escalation team" on Monday.
>>>
>>>Rich
>>>
>>
>
> To reply drop XYZ in address

 

[Guest]

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

"Rich" <nospam@saddam.net> wrote in message
news:nPydnU1iAedk3uPcRVn-pw@comcast.com...
> Thumper,
> I'd be interested in your suggestions of how to escalate this at Comcast.
>
> I'm up to seven calls, so far. Ten days ago I spoke to a supervisor who
> was going to refer it to an "escalation team". No one ever called me. I
> finally tracked down the supervisor last Friday... he'd been out for
> personal reasons... someone would call me Monday (10/25). No one called.
> Monday afternoon I called customer service and got an agent who spoke to
> that supervisor who would "call me back in ten minutes"... he never
> called.
>
> I'm trying to be patient and "work the system", but it's frustrating. I
> really would prefer to stay with Comcast, if this can be resolved, rather
> than go to WOW or DirecTV.
>
> Rich

and there you go... tell them they either fix it or come get it for you have
paid your last cent to them

 

[jp]

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

>
> What is a reasonable expectation? I think it should NEVER happen. Am I
> being unreasonable in light of what other people are getting?

As much as I wish it were not the case, HDTV is still an imperfect and
emerging technology. I accept some glitches in my SD DVR with
dropouts once or twice an hour in the picutre. I use dolby pro logic
instead of DD due to audio drop outs.

At this point, no dropouts in unreasonable. Once per hour is OK with
me. Once every 5 minutes - something is really wrong get out here and
fix it.

Just one opionion.


JCPZero

 

[Guest]

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

X-No-archive: yes

"JP" <jcpzero@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6f915d52.0410281031.6bad5267@posting.google.com...
>>

> At this point, no dropouts in unreasonable. Once per hour is OK with
> me. Once every 5 minutes - something is really wrong get out here and
> fix it.
>
========================
I think zero dropouts is reasonable.
It is actually the current state for Seattle OTA about 95% of the time.