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Cable tv via spectrum change (Read 12861 times)

macsak

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #20 on: May 04, 2018, 03:20:36 PM »
Quote from: macsak on May 04, 2018, 03:19:34 PM
you can go into the spectrum offices and pick them up

one of my patients who retired before the changeover says that lots of the other foremen are quitting spectrum
he said one was even in his forties and he left the company
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haumana

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #21 on: May 04, 2018, 03:43:34 PM »
Quote from: macsak on May 04, 2018, 03:19:34 PM
you can go into the spectrum offices and pick them up

yah, lines are long, and usually a bunch of people who are coughing and sneezing. it's almost like waiting in a doctors office.

i wrongfully thought that "Orders are typically delivered in 3-5 business days." actually meant that. clearly i had it wrong.
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macsak

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #22 on: May 04, 2018, 03:45:50 PM »
Quote from: haumana on May 04, 2018, 03:43:34 PM
yah, lines are long, and usually a bunch of people who are coughing and sneezing. it's almost like waiting in a doctors office.

i wrongfully thought that "Orders are typically delivered in 3-5 business days." actually meant that. clearly i had it wrong.

lol, yeah
3-5 should mean less than a week

the ward office is open til late in the evening
i went to the hawaii kai one even though the letter said order or go to ward
went at the end right before closing and i was the only person there
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Lihikai

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #23 on: May 04, 2018, 03:46:18 PM »
If you can get on Hickam AFB, Spectrum has an office by the Exchange - usually the lines are very short.
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Flapp_Jackson

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #24 on: May 04, 2018, 04:07:42 PM »
Quote
What is Switched Digital Video?

Switched Digital Video (“SDV”) is an exciting bandwidth-management breakthrough that will bring you many additional services,
including new HD channels and HD versions of popular existing channels. Channels delivered using Switched Digital Video (“SDV”)
are only transmitted over your cable system on an as-needed basis. As a result, SDV uses system capacity more efficiently than the
traditional, always-on method. This frees up bandwidth and allows us to offer our customers additional digital channels and HD digital
channels.

So, if I read the other FAQs right, some channels will be switched, and some won't.  You can still watch the unswitched channels without the external tuner box, but the switched channels require one.

https://www.spectrum.net/support/tv/switched-digital-video-sdv-overview/
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The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
-- George Bernard Shaw

PeaShooter

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #25 on: May 07, 2018, 03:22:52 PM »
Quote
If the newer TVs can tune the digital stations that are coming directly through the coax cable, why do I need a "set top box"? I already get the HD off the digital stations 48.1, 48.9, etc.
From May 1st when the change went into effect, the greedy bastards at Spectrum turned off all those digital HD channels. There are a very few left that are mostly advertisements or garbage. The rest were moved to the scrambled channels, requiring the set top box.

If this were really about freeing up bandwidth as the cable companies like to claim there's no reason they couldn't leave us with a decent selection of non-scrambled digital HD channels. Those could have at least been left in temporarily for old folks to have something to watch while waiting for the set top boxes to arrive. We need our daily dose of news so the government can brainwash us.

Does anyone know why my set top boxes have trouble changing the channel? It doesn't work over half the time. The remote works and the channel information always changes, but the actual displayed channel image does not update.
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Heavies

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #26 on: May 07, 2018, 04:10:54 PM »
Quote from: PeaShooter on May 07, 2018, 03:22:52 PM
From May 1st when the change went into effect, the greedy bastards at Spectrum turned off all those digital HD channels. There are a very few left that are mostly advertisements or garbage. The rest were moved to the scrambled channels, requiring the set top box.

If this were really about freeing up bandwidth as the cable companies like to claim there's no reason they couldn't leave us with a decent selection of non-scrambled digital HD channels. Those could have at least been left in temporarily for old folks to have something to watch while waiting for the set top boxes to arrive. We need our daily dose of news so the government can brainwash us.

Does anyone know why my set top boxes have trouble changing the channel? It doesn't work over half the time. The remote works and the channel information always changes, but the actual displayed channel image does not update.
You are right.  It's gotdamn garbage. And a money grab.  No reason for them to change except for $.

Even the fcc requirement for digital OTA.

analog was fine and dandy.   Further range, and at least some picture.   Digital is way too sensitive. 

Why do you think HAM radio is choice for preppers..... 
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oldfart

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #27 on: May 07, 2018, 05:05:13 PM »
Quote from: haumana on May 04, 2018, 03:02:07 PM
It's been over 6-weeks and I'm still waiting on my "free" Spectrum boxes.  :-\

Umm ... If the newer TVs can tune the digital stations that are coming directly through the coax cable, why do I need a "set top box"? I already get the HD off the digital stations (i.e. 48.1, 48.9, etc.), or am I getting this totally wrong? I feel like this is just a way for them to scoop more money from me on the rental of the box and remote (after the 2-years).

Also, does anyone know - If I can cancel TV service, but keep my RR, will the Spectrum app work on my Roku? or would they cut me off, because I've opt to ditch them for TV service? I can see why there are lots of Direct TV and Dish Network antennas mounted to houses now days.
...
As I interpret their letter, the qam channels (48.1, 49.1, etc) would stop.
If they do stop, I wonder if they will refund my money?
Time to reconnect the antenna.

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What, Me Worry?

oldfart

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #28 on: May 08, 2018, 08:44:53 PM »
Just checked out the cable.....
It's all messed up.
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What, Me Worry?

Flapp_Jackson

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #29 on: May 16, 2018, 03:36:22 PM »
I just ordered an AirTV box this week. It shipped yesterday, and is scheduled to arrive via UPS tomorrow.

My hope is it will improve reception on all TVs in my house. Right now, I have one upstairs in the bedroom that works great with a signal booster attached, a second upstairs using its own antenna that does well, but not as good as the first.  Downstairs, the living room TV is spliced into the same antenna as the first but gets the worst signal of the three.

Reception quality could very well be a caused by the TV's tuner.  My signal quality seems to go from best to worst in order of newest to oldest TV.

By adding this AirTV, all TVs will be using that box's tuners and antenna.  Programming will be controlled via a FireTV or SlingTV app.  Since it has 2 built-in tuners, I can have my TVs viewing up to 2 OTA channels at one time.  Since the signal to each TV is controlled at the AirTV tuner, it'll be interesting to see if changing the channel on one also changes it on another TV watching that same program/tuner.

The broadcast will be sent from the AirTV to my ethernet or WiFi network, then to each TV wanting to use it. My FireTV Sticks all use WiFi.  That works fine for SlingTV, so it should be fine for AirTV.

Cost was $119.99 w/free UPS 2nd Day Air.  It should also have a $25 coupon for new or existing SlingTV subscribers, so $94.99 total after that.

I'll do a follow-up once I've had time to evaluate the device functionality and TV program quality.  From the few YouTube videos I've watched, it should be pretty simple to install and setup.

https://www.airtv.net/products/airtv/
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The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
-- George Bernard Shaw

Flapp_Jackson

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #30 on: May 17, 2018, 11:52:49 PM »
Okay. AirTV is a go!

Only 3 things to attach to the AirTV device: the included power plug, the coaxial cable to the antenna, and the ethernet patch cable from the box to my home network.  Alternatively, you can use WiFi, but I already have ether-connected WiFi access points upstairs and downstairs. Hardwire connections should help data stream quality.

Once the box booted, I launched the SlingTV app on my Android phone.  It located my AirTV, updated its firmware over the Internet, and walked me through scanning for OTA channels. After 3 attempts to scan all the channels (2.x channels are always the trickiest to tune to), I have 28 channels available. When I go into my TV's SlingTV app (installed on my the FireTV stick), I can switch the program grid to filter on OTA channels. Scrolling and selecting from that GUI is just like looking for programs on SlingTV itself.

Sampling shows on the main stations I watch, the quality is very good. Once I mount the antenna outside, it should improve even more. Channel 2.1 (FOX) gets a little choppy (before this box as well as now), mostly at night. the rest have good picture and sound.

Not only can I watch OTA channels on my TVs, but also on my phone or any iOS/Android mobile devices.  If you set up the AirTV with the SlingTV app, you have to use that app to view the channels.  If you used the AirTV app, you have to use that on your devices instead.  No requirement that you have SlingTV, but it makes the program guide very nice.

Now, I'm about to go to SlingTV and use the $25 discount code that came with the device for a credit. 

Bottom line -- I can now use one antenna and one dual tuner to stream OTA channels to any device I want to watch TV on.  I can even watch my OTA channels while on the go.  No need to only watch at home.

For less than $100 after the SlingTV promo, it's definitely worth the money to me.   :thumbsup:
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The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
-- George Bernard Shaw

Mr. Farknocker

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #31 on: May 18, 2018, 09:24:42 AM »
Quote from: Inspector on April 27, 2018, 05:47:01 PM
Actually, she likes to watch the local news broadcast in the morning on KGMB. I watch it before I go to work mostly for the traffic reports and to a lesser extent some of what Howard reports on. Then she sits and watches it for another hour or so after I leave. There are a few programs she records throughout the day on the local CBS, NBC and ABC channels.

Dave, if you have a Roku and you have an android device that can stream videos, you can download the KGMB/KHNL app or just go to the website on your android device and stream live news to your TV. I have an older 2010 Philips TV and used to attach a dongle to the HDMI port and stream video content on my Note 4 phone to my TV in HD. Newer TVs already have this hardware built in.  I had Oceanic internet only but  was able to catch the cable TV channels before the Spetrum take over. When my cable tv services were terminated in May,  I ran out and bought a Roku Ultimate. The Roku device came with the hardware built in to connect android devices to the TV thereby eliminating the need for the dongle.  I now stream KGMB/KHNL live from either my phone or my Android Tablet A.
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haumana

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #32 on: May 18, 2018, 10:25:17 AM »
yup. lost cable to tv service on the 15th. The only thing I could "catch" was channel 2, which is a static page saying that they went digital and you need a set top box.

good thing I am never in a rush to watch TV, and Roku's were on sale. Bought a bunch, loaded up the Spectrum app and now most of the TVs are good to go. I still have the "free" (for 2-years) cable boxes sitting in the boxes. Stupid thing is - using the Roku, gives me more channels thru the Spectrum app than I got when it was a straight cable to tv ... and now that my TVs are streaming, it's just going to eat up more bandwidth.

they really needed to figure out a way to push the digital signal out and let the non-premium subscribers like myself, use the built-in tuners that come with TVs.

Spectrum = cash grab
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oldfart

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #33 on: May 18, 2018, 10:55:01 AM »
A few minutes ago I got a call from a spectrum solicitor asking if I got my adapter box.
The funny thing is that when I answered the phone she said she was from United health care, then quickly corrected herself.

I hooked up a terk bowtie antenna and I can catch everybody off air except the Hawaiinewsnow stations.
I asked the chief engineer there about that and he had no answer for me.
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What, Me Worry?

Flapp_Jackson

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #34 on: May 18, 2018, 11:36:38 AM »
Quote from: oldfart on May 18, 2018, 10:55:01 AM
A few minutes ago I got a call from a spectrum solicitor asking if I got my adapter box.
The funny thing is that when I answered the phone she said she was from United health care, then quickly corrected herself.

I hooked up a terk bowtie antenna and I can catch everybody off air except the Hawaiinewsnow stations.
I asked the chief engineer there about that and he had no answer for me.

I have to rotate the antenna about an inch at a time until all stations scan.  Now that I've done it so many times, I can get the full scan of all channels in 1-3 tries.

Also, the newer the tuner, the better luck I have.
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The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
-- George Bernard Shaw

PeaShooter

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #35 on: May 18, 2018, 04:59:32 PM »
Quote from: haumana on May 18, 2018, 10:25:17 AM
yup. lost cable to tv service on the 15th... and now that my TVs are streaming, it's just going to eat up more bandwidth. they really needed to figure out a way to push the digital signal out and let the non-premium subscribers like myself, use the built-in tuners that come with TVs. Spectrum = cash grab
They already can leave the digital channels unscrambled if they choose to, that's how it was before they turned everything off. They deliberately want to scramble everything now out of greed. As you said, the changeover is stupid and pretentious because some people will just stream and waste more bandwidth this way. Also using the set top boxes, there are three versions of most channels, SD version and HD version, and usually another redundant HD version. What is the point of that? It's wasting 3 times the bandwidth doing nothing but being annoying.

We canceled one of our family's Spectrum subscriptions and only have one left for now. I wonder if everyone boycotted Spectrum successfully, what would happen?
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Flapp_Jackson

Re: Cable tv via spectrum change
« Reply #36 on: May 18, 2018, 05:16:43 PM »
Quote from: PeaShooter on May 18, 2018, 04:59:32 PM
They already can leave the digital channels unscrambled if they choose to, that's how it was before they turned everything off. They deliberately want to scramble everything now out of greed. As you said, the changeover is stupid and pretentious because some people will just stream and waste more bandwidth this way. Also using the set top boxes, there are three versions of most channels, SD version and HD version, and usually another redundant HD version. What is the point of that? It's wasting 3 times the bandwidth doing nothing but being annoying.

We canceled one of our family's Spectrum subscriptions and only have one left for now. I wonder if everyone boycotted Spectrum successfully, what would happen?

I've been a cable TV non-subscriber for about 6 years. Saving over $1,800/year. I pay about $70/month for the 300MBPS RoadRunner service, and $26/month for SlingTV.  I was paying about $250/month for all the DVR rentals, HD programming, no premium channels, and lowest RoadRunner speed Internet.

With the $1,800 I save, I don't mind paying for a new AirTV box, a few FireTV sticks or an Amazon video rental now and then.
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The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
-- George Bernard Shaw
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