i need some advice....please!

[michael valentine]

Hello everyone,
My technical knowledge of HDTV is really bad, so perhaps someone out there can help me..I recently purchased a wide screen high definition television. I then contacted Time Warner to install a high definition cable box..they finally got it up and running after about (no lie) five or six house calls..the reception i recieve on premium stations and high def stations is fantastic..but, now when i watch regular cable stations in the lower numbers (4 thru about 22) its like i'm viewing them thru a snow globe...really bad reception!  Time Warner has been out here another four or five times and no one can really give me an answer...It sometimes helps to reboot the cable box, but only sometimes...is anyone out there that has had a similiar problem or maybe know of a solution...i'd really appreciate it...thanks in advance...mike

[This message has been edited by michael valentine (edited 12-22-2002).]

[This message has been edited by michael valentine (edited 12-22-2002).]

[AndrewP]

It is supposed to be this way with TW analog channels (range 2-99) for HDTV sets.
That is why I moved to Dish from TW.
Andrew

[sp44again]

Why are you watching channels 4-22? Some of the locals are in HD and I don't see any other good channels in that range. What channels specifically?

[Mike Sura]

I had the same problem. Time warner was out several times over the years to try and improve the lower analog channels. They were never able to improve the quality to my satisfaction. That all changed when I ordered roadrunner. The signal was too weak to connect. A roadrunner tech came out with his meter (none of the other techs used a meter that I know of) and replaced my splitter and the cable to the cable modem. I don't know if anything was done outside or not. With the new splitters I could finally watch channel 4 without ghosts or snow. So, you may want to check your wiring, splitters, connectors etc.

[brewtownska]

I had a similar problem with lots of ghosting and snow on the locals (4, 6, 12).  Time Warner came out and put new connectors on all my cable splices (including the one off the pole outsite...that is where they think the problem was), and that fixed it quite well.  I still get a little ghosting on Fox 6, but it's very watchable).  All I had to do to get it fixed was call customer service and complain about ghosting and snow, and they sent someone over a few days later.  I'm in Waukesha, in case that matters.

[Gregg Lengling]

Gee and I thought the big advantage to cable versus over the air...was that you didn't have ghosting or weak signals.....gee and you guys pay for that .....

Just a little joke boyos....
 

[JoeK]

Michael,

You didn't mention if you have split the cable coming into the house.  This definitely effects the signal strength.  I have needed to add a signal booster in order to lock on to a digital signal.  This has cleaned up the analog signal also.  I split the cable two ways. One goes to the Road Runner modem and the other to the booster.  The cable from the booster is split about six ways.  TWC will provide a booster or you can get one from Radio Shack or Home Depot for about $25.  I was very pleased and surprised at what a difference this made.

[michael valentine]

thanks for all the advice...time warner checked all the spliters, etc...someone once had a meter, that also checked out...i'm really at a loss as to what to do...and to the person that wanted to know what i watch on those stations, its mostly 5 (CBS) for letterman because at least ABC and NBC have high def stations on time warner...any further suggestions are appreciated...thanks again

[Kevin Arnold]

If rebooting the box can sometimes improve the picture that suggests that the cabling up to the point of the box is intact and working. Did they try swapping out the HD box you were using with a new one to see if the problem persisted. Sounds like an internal poor connection or bad board. Perhaps another way of testing would be to hook the cable directly to the antenna input on the tv and see if the analog channels come in satifactory. That would isolate the box as the problem. If they already tried this....never mind.

kjarnold
moderator
kja123@wi.rr.com

[Mike H]

Garbage in - garbage out...  welcome to the world of larger widescreen TVs

The fault is poor signal into and through TWC's system. It isn't nearly as noticeable on a small screen and obviously deemed acceptable by the heads at TWC. To make matters worse your TV might be doing some artificial edge enhancement of the noise. Edge enhancement works with a good signal but really makes a bad one look terrible.

Minimizing splitters can help as can an amplifier but both are really bandaids. TWC has amps all over the place and signal should be decent to your house yet the service guys can do little to improve things.

I'm afraid this is TWC's ballgame until better HD OTA and Satellite programming are available.

I should note that I'm really dumbfounded on TWC's move into lower quality bandwidth hogging I-control rather than improving quality of digital channels. With widescreen TV's gaining ground daily who will stand the current I-control picture quality in a year or two?  

Somebody at TWC really has to weigh the quality vs quantity thing again with pressures DTV on the horizon.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who would rather watch so-so content in amazing HD glory than dozens of crappy snowy programs.

[ReesR]

 

Originally posted by Mike H:
I'm afraid this is TWC's ballgame until better HD OTA and Satellite programming are available.

Both over the air as well as Satellite programming IS available.  Over 100 hours per week worth.  ABC,NBC and CBS (if you can get ch 58) all over the air.  HBO, Showtime and HD Net all available via Directv satellite.


------------------
Rees Roberts
Racine, WI
reesr@wi.net

HDTV Receiver:  Sony KD-34XBR2 16X9
Bi-directional AntennaCraft VHF Yagi Model #2260P
+
2 Winegard PR9022 UHF yagi's pointing N & S
Antennas at about 30 feet
Samsung SIR-TS160 HD Directv receiver

[Mike H]

I'm sorry it came across like that... but yes I know what is currently available. It will have to get better before I can justify OTA tuner and STB.  

TWC has a chance now....  but if they keep lousy PQ and but few HD choices (the huge amount of crappy programming and adding Icontrol surely ain't helping) they'll find themselves in the dark.