Digital Domain

By John

February 6, 2006 06:19 PM | Link to this

I had no problem at all. I went to Comcast, upgraded my service to HDTV, received my HDTV box and installed it in about 15 minutes. It’s not rocket science. The difference in the signal quality and picture quality on the 15 HDTV channels Comcast offers is unreal. I just wish all of the local stations would offer their programming in HDTV and that the networks would offer all of their sports programming in HDTV (golf and many basketball games are not HDTV at present).

By G Guy

February 7, 2006 07:13 AM | Link to this

Leave it to the AJC. They’ll get some negative comments from the fringe (hooking up HDTV is EASY with Comcast), trumpet their ‘problem’, write a series of articles basically inventing ‘news’ and go to their next invented ‘problem’ to solve. And they call this a ‘newspaper’? There are real problems and ral newsworthy events out there. Cover them; don’t invent stories from whole cloth.

By Mark

February 7, 2006 08:39 AM | Link to this

Comcast had two guys at my house for 4 hours to install HDTV and phone, they finally left and said the signal was weak at the pole. Now I have the worst TV reception ever, and phone modem keeps dropping out too. I’m having it all uninstalled and going back to regular TV.

By Mark

February 7, 2006 10:37 AM | Link to this

Adelphia does not offer ABC in HD, so I was screwed Sunday. HD - in general is awesome. Especially sports (footbal in particular).

But how can Adelphia NOT offer ABC in HD??? That’s ridiculous to me!

By Darrell

February 7, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this

A weak signal is easily solved by a trip to Radio Shack for an HD/Digital amplifier. I have two of these feeding one set in the basement and the other in the bedroom.

By ernieJohnston

February 7, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this

John, Your comment that you “went to Comcast” intrigues me. Everytime I have ever wanted them to do something, they have insisted, at least so I thought, that they had to send someone out, even when I just wanted to upgrade my HdTv service from plain Set-top to Dvr (DigitaL Video Recorder). You stated that you “received my HDTV box and installed it” implies that a Comcast technician was not needed or used. How were you able to get Comcast to let you do your owen install? On the last two (2) installs this year already, I’ve had to postpone the work near the scheduled date and because they wouldn’t let me do it myself, had to wait two (2) more weeks for another available time. These were weekday appointments. I understand weekends are worst. Obviously, Comcast has either too much demand, not enough technicians, or BOTH!

By Don

February 7, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this

I have Adelphia also and can not believe the rate increase, additional digital box rental, extra fee for HD channels and then no access to ABC. They are getting away with murder. I now have to check out dish options…..frustrated.

By AdelphiaSucks

February 7, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

I’m cancelling my Adelphia this week for Dish. This was the final straw for me. Adelphia has been run for years by idiots and thieves, and I’ll have no part of them.

By Jon

February 7, 2006 03:35 PM | Link to this

So far so good with Comcast, just pricey. They showed up when they said they would, and installed it all properly. They offer MOST of Atlanta’s local’s in HD. In order to get PBS and UPN (the 2 local channels Comcast does not offer) I had to spring for an antenna in the attic to pick them up over the air. I had a company connect a wire to my digital HD tuner from the attic. They also offer a number of other cable channels in HD like Discovery and something called “INHD”, whatever that is. The downside is that they sent me a flyer telling me that my rates are increasing starting later this winter.

By John

February 7, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this

I simply took my Comcast digital box to my local Comcast office in Rome, signed a couple of forms and received my HDTV box along with some cables and instructions. I took it home and followed the instructions. I thought this was the way you always did things with Comcast. The only times Comcast (or its predecessors) ever had to “install” anything in my house was for an additional outlet 10 years ago and when I received cable internet service three years ago. When I had trouble with my prior digital box, I simply went in and swapped it for another. I have never had a Comcast customer service problem.

By jp

February 7, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this

Well of course there are going to be problems with Comcast HDTV. Cable is crap!!! Satellite the only way togo, and many more HDTV channels

By Thomas Osteen

February 7, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this

I am a Direct TV subscriber in Florida. I have all of the high definition equipment installed and still could not get the Super Bowl in High Def. That is because my local networks on Direct TV do not broadcast on satellite in High Def. I am told that in order to get High Def network coverage that I need to get a special antenna mounted to the house like we used to have to do it to get any signal, and then I can get it “Direct” from the airwaves. Funny it seems like we went two steps forward and then three steps back.

By Jane Smith

February 7, 2006 08:21 PM | Link to this

I have Dish network and pay for several HD channels. I purchased a Phillips rabbit ears antenna optimized for HDTV from Walmart this weekend. The antenna was $29 and pulls the local HD channels in beautifully. Go to www.antennaweb.org and enter your address and zip code. It will give you the direction to point your antenna to pick up the HDTV signals. It is built for external antennas, but it works with your rabbit ears optimized for HDTV. Quick and simple. Your TV must have a built in tuner for HDTV for this to work.

By TRex

February 7, 2006 08:21 PM | Link to this

I bought a new 37” HDTV on Saturday, went to Cox & got a HDTV cable box on Sunday. Assembled TV, hooked up cable, turned it on 4 pm local. Both TV and cable needed startup programming. TV announced “no available channels.”

5PM -called “My Digital Friend” at COX for assistance. Took 10 minutes to get a live body WHO’s THICKLY ACCENTED ENGLISH WAS NEARLY INDICPHERABLE. Said he was going for help (I think). 5 minutes later phone disconnected. 6:10 pm, reconnect my old TV, watch superbowl with my $2000 37” LCD inactive. Post game, rehook LCD, pour over manuals while wife randomly presses remote buttons. Set comes on with game highlights in glorious High Def. - Damn.

At least I’m ready for the Olympics.

By Nicole

February 7, 2006 10:17 PM | Link to this

I called Charter last week to get an HDTV digital cable box and was told that there is a “shortage” in my area (Lawrenceville/Gwinnett) and they did not know when they will get more to the area. Once I learned how much a month it was going to be I didn’t want it, but if I did want it, who knows when I’d be able to get it!

By Jim

February 8, 2006 01:45 AM | Link to this

If you have a PC with Media Center 2005, you can record HDTV with an ATSC TV tuner pci card or 2 channels with 2 cards. ($80-100 each)

During most primetime nights, I have multiple HDTV shows recording at the same time. I currently have about 70 hours of ATSC content stored.

I’m 30 miles NE, and my $50 antenna is mounted in the attic, and I get nearly perfect signals. I would try a pair of powered rabbit ears, and move up from there.

Jim

By Rudy'sBack

February 8, 2006 06:11 AM | Link to this

I’m not at all surprised by all these cable complaints. I cut the cable 7 yrs. ago and it was the smartest thing I’ve done.Cable absolutely sucks. Dish network is just fabulous. Right now I get all Atl. locals in HD with a simple antenna in my attic. But within the next few months they will start retransmitting all Atl. locals in HD from the satellite. I can’t wait for this football season.Cable can’t compete with the Dish in price,picture&sound,or service.In 7 yrs. my bill has increased a whopping $4.00. No cable co. can touch that. Cut the inferior high priced cable and get Dish Network!!!

By Ron

February 8, 2006 08:05 AM | Link to this

I have had HD from Comcast for about a year now and love it…..when it works. I’ve had 4 technicians out and they can’t figure out why it freezes or as I call it pixilates/tiles during certain times. I thought the last guy who was out on Friday had fixed it but much to my disappointment, the changes he made did not fix the problem. As I type, I am waiting on Dish Network to show up for my installation. I love the High Definition and must have it!

By Jim D

February 8, 2006 08:13 AM | Link to this

Hooking up my HDTV was a no brainer… plug cable A into Port B. The pictures and sound are incredible! As good as being there with no beer spilled on you!

Why are you only looking for “nightmare” stories?