Not so good with Comcast Cable

[kevin]

I just activate comcast cable with HDTV. The picture in non-HTDV channel is bad, even worse than RCN. The picture in HDTV channel is not what I expected; it' just a little better than regular RCN. I believe HDTV should be better than DVD picture.

It's just me or everybody here experience the same.

[nyartguy]

Kevin;

I am a Comcast customer and it is the worst service I've ever had. Installation was a hack job and had to be redone; HDTV isn't as sharp as I had it when I was a Time Warner Cable customer.

[MrKlister]

Most HDTV's do not show standard def signals very good. The quality of the HDTV channels are limited by the source material.

I find the true HDTV channels to be quite good.

How are you connecting your TV to the box? You should be connected by component video at least if not the DVI connection to make full use of the better quality feeds.

[yankees400]

I have Comcast in JC also and I have had a ton of reception problems. I don't have an HDTV, but many channels have lines in the picutre and static in the sound. I have called Comcast numerous times and they really don't do anything about it. The interference problems on the local channels (2, 4, 5, 7, etc.) is caused by the over-air signal leaking into the cable wiring due to our very close proximity to NYC. According to both Comcast and Radio Shack there is nothing that can be done about it.

[kevin]

Hi, :mad:

I tried to connect with component viedo, no difference. Compare to DVD picture which supposedly has lower quality than true HDTV signal, the picture in true HDTV channels (e.g. HBO-HD) is not even as sharp as DVD picture.

Again the non-HDTV channel is worse than analog RCN. How is that possible? :confused:

[MrKlister]

Kevin,

Have you set the box to output a 720p or 1080i to your set? That may be the difference. With your TV ON but the box OFF hit the menu button. One of the settings will allow you to send a 480i, 480p, 720p or 1080i out from the DVI or component connections. This has to be set to 720p or 1080i(depending on your TV) to get an HDTV signal to you TV in HD.

[kevin]

Interesting suggestion. I will try it later and let you know the follow up. Thanks a lot.

[PHXguy]

Interesting suggestion. I will try it later and let you know the follow up. Thanks a lot.
Well, how is it? Did it make any change in the quality of the picture?

[kevin]

No. I tried it. No difference. My TV accepts 1080i, as transmitted by cable box.

[Scott]

Most HDTV's do not show standard def signals very good. The quality of the HDTV channels are limited by the source material.

What happens when you blown up a picture of 720*486 to 1920*1080? The picture will look blurry. Then what happens when you look at it on a bigger display (not your regular 20-30 inchs)? It looks even worst!

[Sonia]

Your issues were raised with Comcast today, and I hope to have more information for you soon. In the meantime, you may direct your inquiries, complaints etc... to 1-800-Comcast, which is the customer service number.

[Jay3]

Oh man..dont tell me that....I dont have HDTV...and I just signed up for the Digital Cable service, they are coming out next week. Now youre telling me its worst than RCN....great......maybe Ill cancel...

[neetzer]

Give it a try before you cancel. I have the Digital Cable (no HDTV) and I am very happy with Comcast thus far. Better channel selection than RCN.

[Mary Baker]

The letter we received from RCN said they will not longer be carrying the Independent Film Channel, which is the reason I stayed with RCN and didn't switch over to Comcast. But now after reading about all the complaints about Comcast, since they don't offer IFC either, I may as well stick with RCN. I wonder why neither of them are offering IFC, which is one of the best cable channels around. Anyone have any ideas?

[jeyjeybee]

I agree that. I miss IFC in my RCN.

Is anyone know ?
COMCAST channels include; AZNTV, WE, SUND,

Please tell me how much for Basic and digital package( after 6 months).

[Stinky]

jeyjeybee,
The price list dated Jan 2005 has:

Basic Service: $32.95
Basic+value pac: $44.75
Digital classic (requires basic service and digital converter): $14.95
Digital converter+remote: $4.50

[Lenin]

Mary,

I, too, am miserable about the expected loss of IFC on Monday. RCN seems to be slowly dismantling this system, in fact, I THINK that the microwave branch (ours) was sold off last year but I can't re-find my source.

For a good reason I have to stick with RCN for the time being and also don't relish Comcast stringing ugly wiring all over my walls.
Well, we still have SUNDANCE for however long that lasts.

I suppose we COULD say to Comcast, "just connect the service and give me a box, I'll do the wiring" and then run a tiny jumper (6 inches distance in my closet) into the RCN wall wiring. At least it would be invisible if not as good a picture...though to my eye the RCN wiring is pretty heavy duty.

[tjmax]

For some strange reason I continue to receive RCN even though I switched to Comcast months back. RCN regular channels have better quality than Comcast digital, but I love the Comcast HD - its much much better and is as good as my DVD player. I use component outputs. I have a Samsung HDTV with built-in tuner. Wonder if that makes a difference compared to a HD-ready TV.

[Gaga]

For some strange reason I continue to receive RCN even though I switched to Comcast months back. RCN regular channels have better quality than Comcast digital, but I love the Comcast HD - its much much better and is as good as my DVD player. I use component outputs. I have a Samsung HDTV with built-in tuner. Wonder if that makes a difference compared to a HD-ready TV.


built in hdtv tuner is only useful if you don't have a cable box and want to receive free hdtv channels(abc, fox etc) on public broadcast "over the air". In other words it's a complete waste of ~$400 if you are already paying for a hdtv box from the cable provider (comcast). HD-ready is all you need.

Good (monster) component cables do help a lot with quality, and there are new cables now that are supposely even better called hdmi or something. havent done much research into it...

gaga

[nabby]

Again the non-HDTV channel is worse than analog RCN. How is that possible? :confused:

that's because not only are most channels not HDTV, but a lot of them are actually analog. a "DTV" cable box actually has both digital and analog tuners. if a channel does not have a digital carrier signal, it defaults to the analog signal. i don't have an accurate tally but i'd say at least 2/3rds of the channels on our "DTV" service are actually analog. Time Warner is the same in NYC, tho analog is being phased out.

that said, my HDTV is pretty good - depends on the particular broadcast, but looks comparable to my Time Warner HD last year. i think you may be having a specific setup problem, or perhaps the tech did not even set your HDTV cable box to output HD (it could be outputting 480i instead of 1080i). maybe check in Menu -> Setup -> Configuration.

p.s. did comcast use your existing apartment wiring, or did they lay down new wires tacked to the walls?

[kevin]

The picture in HDTV channel now looks good, better or at least as good as DVD picture.

I think the reason is Comcast gradually improve the signal in Newport area. Now I can finally forget RCN. And I am considering to buy a 42" Plasma HDTV. Wonderfing what would be look like with true HDTV signal.

[nabby]

The picture in HDTV channel now looks good, better or at least as good as DVD picture.

I think the reason is Comcast gradually improve the signal in Newport area.

hm, not sure how that is possible. the HD signal you get in Newport is going to be the same as everywhere else. because it's digital, either you get it or you don't. if the signal is too weak, you would not get any picture at all. if it's strong enough, you get the full HD broadcast, unless the HDTV/MPEG transmission standard has some loss compensation i'm not aware of. were you experiencing dropouts before?


And I am considering to buy a 42" Plasma HDTV. Wonderfing what would be look like with true HDTV signal.

i do not think most Plasmas deliver a true HD signal... usually they have some fixed non-HD resolution and interpolate. there may be some very high-end plasmas that are true HD, but they are the > $10k ones. even my friend's $15k 50" pioneer elite is not true HD. plasma is actually more for packaging than picture quality... in terms of quality, the best CRTs are still superior (e.g. high-end CRT projectors). plasmas also have a much shorter lifespan than CRTs, by design they burn out quickly. but plasmas have definitely gotten very, very good in the last few years, much better than the first and second generation ones.

[atlantic]

I still have retained my non-hd directv signal and have comcast HD. I have a plasma tv and there is quite a difference between the digitial non-hd and comcast hd - for instance, i can easily change between showtime and showtime hd with my setup. The plasma gives an incredible HD picture and I highly recommend the plasma.

Now that comcast seems to have balanced the signal strength, there is no longer any pixelation - or droppage of signal. The only problem is comcast still is broadcasting the local channels (non-hidef) as analog so the picture is very washed out or pale in comparision to the digital directv signal. However watching local channels in HD is in picture box unless the show is a high def broadcast.

LCD's still have a great picture and are cheaper, but be aware of the angles of your room...those sitting not directly in front of the tv will not be able to see the screen properly.

[nabby]

other issues with LCD are black level and motion artifacts. they are much improved in these areas lately, but it is still visible in varying amounts, depending on how fussy you are. i think given a choice between a good plasma and a good LCD, i would probably take the plasma. a good plasma is very expensive tho - most of the < $4k stuff is junk IMHO. OTOH, buying a pricey plasma is not a good value proposition either, given how quickly the technology evolves and the relatively short lifespans of plasma sets. i guess pick your poison.