[PLUG-TALK] Comcast TV - Going Digital

[Richard C. Steffens]

Anyone else following up on this? Any hands-on experience?

The Oregonian ran an item on the upcoming switch to digital by Comcast:

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/01/comcast_switching_to_digital_s.html

Comcast has been telling us for months that, when the change to digital 
comes, it won't affect Comcast users. Technically, that is true; the 
national switch from analog broadcast TV to digital won't affect Comcast 
users. But, there is a switch to digital by Comcast that will affect all 
its users, except those with simple basic service. As near as I can 
tell, Comcast will still send channels 2 through 31 as analog signals, 
with the rest being digital. The timing is supposed to be sometime this 
spring, for the greater Portland market.

Knowing that something would be different, I stopped in at the Oak Grove 
Comcast office to see what I could learn. (I tried their web site, and I 
tried their Internet chat. Neither provided satisfactory information.) I 
learned a little more, but still don't have the complete picture. I'm 
not sure any of the Comcast folk I've interacted with have the complete 
picture, either. They do try to be helpful, though.

During my chat with a Comcast tech I asked if I'd still be able to 
record one program and watch another. He said yes. Something I read on 
the Comcast web site (sorry, I didn't copy that URL) said I'd be able to 
record two programs while watching a third.

During my discussion with the customer service rep at the Oak Grove 
office I mentioned that I might understand better if I could hold the 
box in my hands and see the connections. She brought out one of each. 
She beat around the bush a bit, but eventually I could tell that she was 
hoping I'd ask to take them home with me. She expects that, come April, 
there will be many people lining up for their boxes, and that if they 
can distribute some of them early, it will help. So, if you have Comcast 
TV, visit your closest Comcast office and see if you can get yours 
early, too. I have mine, and have started testing.

I went in with a sketch of my installation and asked what would change 
with the switch to digital.

                                ------ Upstairs VCR ----- Upstairs Analog TV
                                |
                                |
                                |
--- RF from street ------- Cable Modem
                                |
                                |
                                |
                                ------ Downstairs VCR ----- Downstairs 
Analog TV

She told me that I would still be able to record the program I was 
watching, but not watch one and record another. That seems like a 
degradation of service. She then launched into her explanation.

There are two different boxes that Comcast will give folks. One is 
called a Set Top Box. The other is called a Digital Transport Adapter. 
Neither of them allow the current arrangement where one can record a 
program no the VCR while watching a different program on the TV. It 
appears that, if I want the current capability with my current TVs and 
VCRs, I'll need four devices.

I started testing with the Set Top Box. I connected it between the wall 
and the TV, temporarily leaving the VCR out. I programmed the remote 
with the code for my TV. It appears to work correctly. I am able to turn 
the TV on and off, turn the Set Top Box on and off, and channel surf 
through the box. I think I'm getting the current Comcast Digital 
service. It also looks like I'm getting a bunch of premium channels, 
including HD ones, although I only hear the sound on HD channels -- 
stands to reason since my TV is analog. There are some channels that 
talk about a separate service, but I didn't expect to see the collection 
of HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc., channels that I can receive today. I 
won't be surprised if they go away once the switch to digital happens in 
April.

I do have a couple of gripes. For some reason, I can't get the Weather 
channel. There is a little box on the screen that says the program 
should be available shortly (or words to that effect). But, even after 
waiting for two or three minutes, it never shows up. My other gripe just 
takes getting used to. When I push the channel up button, it takes at 
least a full second for the channel to advance. That kind of slows down 
the surfing process. And with so many more channels to surf through...!

As I read more about it I realized that there may be at least one more 
version of a Set Top Box, with a DVR inside it. The remote control that 
comes with this box has a button marked "My DVR" along with the usual 
sort of start/stop/pause/etc. controls. Googling Comcast "My DVR" brings 
up some comments from 2007 where people have varying experiences with 
the product. Pushing the button on my remote does nothing, so I'm 
guessing the same remote is used for my box and for a box with a 
built-in DVR. This must be what the chat tech was thinking about when I 
asked about recording and watching different things at the same time.

After getting a feel for what could be done with the Set Top Box, I took 
it out and put in the Digital Transport Adapter. It only gives me a 
message on the screen, "We've detected an interruption in your service. 
Please call ..." . There is something in the documentation that comes 
with it about collecting a bunch of numbers from the equipment and from 
my Comcast bill to have on hand when I talk with the customer service 
rep on the phone. So, I'll take that one to the basement and try it 
later on.

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else is going through this 
experience.

-- 
Regards,

Dick Steffens
www.dicksteffens.com