TWC TROUBLES

[John Polulach]

Hi Gang -

I've got TWC in Tosa and for the past week or so I've experienced A LOT of picture freezing, pixelization, and audio dropouts on HBO. Both on the HD channel and the SD digital channels.  Anybody else experiencing the same type of problem with TWC/HBO?

Thanks.

JP

[kjnorman]

I was watching Swordfish on HBO HD last night and yes there was was quite a bit of picture break up from time to time.  Every now and then also the screen would suddenly go black for about 1/2 second.  Not too often, but certaining enough for me to remark to my wife about the fact that there was quite a bit of picture breakup that evening.  My decoder is the SA 3100HD.

I also found that my other decoder (a standard def Pioneer model) that is dedicated just for the TiVo also freaked out.  I recorded the French F1 grand prix  and the World Rallye Championship on Speed channel and found that I had a line of "dead" static pixals horizontally across the picture.  These dead pixals where quite large and never updated while the rest of the picture was fine.  I found that by just changing the channels on that Pioneer box and then changing back to Speed Channel fixed the problem.  A weird problem.

I do find also (not that I tend to watch it) that the PBS demo real has very poor dolby digital sound that tends to break up a lot.  Not sure if that one is PBS or TWC.

I think the problem I had with Speed channel was just one of those freaky things that happens from time to time.  As for HBO, that could be hard to diagnose.  TWC claims they just relay was they receive and the cable should be fairly robust as a transmission route.  Picture breakup can often occur due to the HBO satelite feed (that TWC receives) passing through heavy rain or a storm.  Well I do not thing their were any storms in our area last night, but who knows at the HBO uplink site?

My biggest annoyance at the moment is that the Pioneer cable box often switches itself off - I think when TW does a software update.  This is bad at my TiVo does not know this and if we do not catch it, we end up recording a black picture.  Oh for the days when digital cable tuners are build into third part consumer goods just like analog ones are now....

Well, if it continues I would start complaining to TW.

Kerry

[This message has been edited by kjnorman (edited 07-22-2002).]

[John Polulach]

OK, the pixelization and picture freeze ups continued on HBO HD, so I scheduled a TWC service call.
The TWC Tech took measurements and discovered a big signal loss "from the pole" to the end of the cable in my house.  So a new cable was installed (it was simply laid on the ground along the side of the house instead of being tacked-up under the house siding like the previous cable #@&%&*%&*  JEEEZ!!!). Less signal loss with the new cable but still not good enough.  So the TWC Tech suggested I buy a $50 signal amplifier, but they're "not allowed" to carry them on the truck (!), so another service call two days later needed to be scheduled. So yesterday another Tech arrived with the signal amplifier, the signal strength in the house is good, and HBO is once again watchable!  I was at work during both service calls, so my wife asked the 2nd TWC Tech to tack up the new cable...he said leaving it on the ground was standard practice.  

I'm using TWC because it's convenient, only one cable box needed, I've had it for years, etc. But I'm now considering a dish once the dust settles after the merger.

JP

[borghe]

Personally, as long as you can afford the initial investment, now is as good a time as any to come on over to satellite. Getting a DirecTV receiver will allow you to receive satellite HD as well as OTA HD currently provided by 4, 10, and 58.

As for waiting on the merger, there is really very little point. In all of the documentation available from their websites, both companies have already stated that if an equipment change is necessary, it will be done with out cost to the consumer. Going with satellite now is a win/win situation.

As for cost, you can usually find deals on the web or at Flanners where you can get an HDTV receiver, oval dish, and installation for $500-$650. It's a little bit, but between cost savings on packages as well as not needing to pay extra for a single receiver you'll make that money back in a year or two. And enjoy a heck of a lot of local programming in the mean time.

[borghe]

Oh, I should add that the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (of which TWC is apart of) is fighting carriage of non-primary DTV signals. This potentially means unless you have a television with a built-in DTV tuner, satellite STBs are the only way in the near future you will be able to receive multi-cast signals OTA, as cable STB manufacturers have no intention of putting OTA tuners in for the near future.

[John Polulach]

Borghe -

Well, I do have TWC HD (when it works), last week I got a new Stewart Firehawk screen, a month ago a Samsung SIR T150 OTA tuner, so I've got to scale back new toys...at least for now.  But I do have enough  HD WOW to keep me happy for a while..I think.

I appreciate your comments.  A Dish will be next, maybe next spring.  

I was never convinced that TWC deserved all the bashing they receive...when I saw the newly "installed" cable lying on the ground, now I'm convinced.

JP

[gparris]

You know, they worry about "ugly dish" but nothing is more ugly than a cable on the ground. In addition, TWC does not even ask new customers about what kind of TV set you have or how you want it connected anymore, as I found out doing an install for a home entertainment center today. The "customer service advisor" at TWC did not inquire about the set or options to potentially boost revenue for her company ( digital box, setups, HD box etc.) so "my customer" got just a basic analog cable connection for his HDTV set. I guess I will try to switch his household over to DIRECTV soon as his condo association (new building) makes the by laws on dish setups in accordance with FCC guidelines...too bad for TWC which feels it cannot properly train its CSR's. I expected better from TWC-guess not.

[John Polulach]

...and while I'm on my TWC rant I just remembered this.  I got my TWC HD box in January.  It went kapoot after about a month so I called and was told I could pick up a new one at their Mayfair Rd office, so I went there, they didn't have an HD box, so I had to go back a few days later.

Then the second box went kapoot, then I was told I could no longer pick up a replacement, but needed to schedule a service visit.  I took off from work for a half day, the TWC Tech said, "yep, your box is bad", but, of course, there wasn't a replacement on the truck.  So another service call a few days later was required, which required taking off from work again.

So while TWC may be convenient in some respects, their service calls are very inconvenient, especially with an HD box.  

I'm gonna get a dish.

JP

[gparris]

Great! TWC does not need our money. I have had DIRECTV since 1996 and never went back. You still have the rental of the digital cable box,the remote, the "additional jack" not to mention the awful hookups which are never free. Standard Def locals are awful even with so-called "digital cable" unlike satellite. So why do cable at all? Rainfade? DIRECTV provides more sat power in places where weather is inclement: TWC take note. As for poor weather, where does TWC get ITS downlinks? Cable ? No-Satellite feeds from other networks! Cough up the cash now or get screwed as you pay for cable. I have answers for all of their lies and distortions.

[veyj]

Aren't you guys being a little too critical?  Doesn't TWC have "The count on us guarantee"?    I vaguely recall hearing that when I had 10 service calls in 3 months last winter.  They never did get it right.  At least I had them wire a different TV on every third visit.  Thanks for wiring the entire house.  The DirectTV installer appreciated it as well.  So much so that he reeled off 200 ft of RG6, cut it to various requested lengths and added connectors.  Came in handy when setting up OTA.

It's been almost a month and I don't miss them one bit.  I do get a chuckle every time I see the truck down the street.  It clues me on the neighbors I need to talk to.  

John

[drgingras]

OK, you guys asked for it:

{begin rant}
I made the switch from TWC to satellite (in 2000, after 20+ years with cable). Quality and customer service were big issues then, too. Not to mention my 1998 Mits that was an HDTV virgin.

But now we have "digital" cable  , HD programming   and a guarantee  !

Admittedly, TWC "warned" me not only about rain fade, but also that "with satellite you need to buy a box for each TV". And about the ugly dish thing, too.
Maybe all the neighbors that stayed with TWC know something I don't.

I have 2 dishes - definately not ornamental in nature. Friends and neighbors have asked about them.
Then again,Dish HD/Discovery channel does all the explaining  .

Well... 2 years, one instance of rain fade, 7 TV's (fed by 2 boxes and OTA), flawless customer support, Dishnetwork's many discounts, multiple HD channels...  

A telemarketer called - offered to buy my Dish equipment if I would go back to TWC. Hmmm,

Now - what you all are saying - if I chose to go back to TWC, I'd need 7 boxes and remotes, experience pixelization, get crappy service, have less HD content,no OTA digital, and have to rent everything ?

Those dishes are looking pretty good now. 2 years of lesser monthly bills have all but paid for my up-front installation costs. I've gained a new hobby (family members, read  bsession). I've enjoyed HDTV since the summer of 2000, despite TWC's devil-may-care attitude (do they own 6 & 12 ?).

Drive on, cable guy. I'm sure you'll find some that still need to rely on you...
for now...

{end rant}

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I kinda thought that might happen ...

[This message has been edited by drgingras (edited 07-29-2002).]