TWC Milwaukee-Germantown - NO HD!!

[Martyus]

Is anyone else having a problem with TWC HD channels in the Milwaukee area?

Most HD channels are not available at all and the couple that are coming in are all pixelated and unwatchable.

This was verified with both the DVR box and QAM to the TV.

Just got off the phone with TWC support (after spent 30+ minutes on hold due to to "high call volume") where the tech told me it _might_ be the cold weather "expanding the cable and causing the outage". However, since I am the first person to call from southeastern Wisconsin, they can't consider it an outage.

If I am the first to call, then what's up with the long hold time and "high call volume"?

They told me all they can do is schedule a tech to stop by at the first available time, which is Tuesday!!

Looks like I may need to quickly setup an antenna if I want to watch the Packer game in HD tomorrow!! Yikes! Thanks TWC :bang:

[mhz40]

Sounds like a good plan, considering your current situation.
It's a long shot, but if this is simply RF level related, you could try removing all splitters in the house if there are any.  Run the coax feed right to the one set top box you would like to watch the game on.  Still, the antenna is likely the better solution with such a short time to figure it out...
A 3rd option is to grab a 12-pack and try to hook up with another forum member at their place.  {cheers}

[LoadStar]

Is anyone else having a problem with TWC HD channels in the Milwaukee area?

Most HD channels are not available at all and the couple that are coming in are all pixelated and unwatchable.

This was verified with both the DVR box and QAM to the TV.

Just got off the phone with TWC support (after spent 30+ minutes on hold due to to "high call volume") where the tech told me it _might_ be the cold weather "expanding the cable and causing the outage". However, since I am the first person to call from southeastern Wisconsin, they can't consider it an outage.

If I am the first to call, then what's up with the long hold time and "high call volume"?

They told me all they can do is schedule a tech to stop by at the first available time, which is Tuesday!!

Looks like I may need to quickly setup an antenna if I want to watch the Packer game in HD tomorrow!! Yikes! Thanks TWC :bang:

The cold actually contracts the cable... it pulls the cable out of the ends on the cable, causing the signal to short out. It's what they refer to as "suck out." It's almost unavoidable, particularly when it gets this cold.

It is an extremely common problem in the cold, which means that lots of individual subscribers are likely calling to report issues like that... but it's not an outage, because it's lots of single problems, not one big problem that affects multiple people.

[mhz40]

If the connector is constructed properly, problems like this are generally avoidable nowadays.  The longer the time-frame between between cold snaps like this, the more time there is for problem fittings to get constructed.  They don't get 'shook out' until a cold snap like this hits.
I was in the business for many years & had many friends who worked these issues.  I heard the resulting stories surrounding nights like this.  Fittings can not be fully assembled with gloves on and the cable is unbelievably stiff & hard to work with.  It can take several cycles of frozen hands and resulting thawing trips back to the warmth of a truck to replace a single connector in temperatures like this.  I give technicians kudos for working in conditions like this.  
:rock:

[Rence]

Impossible - TWC has no weather related outages.  Their commercials tell me that all the time.  

By the way HD on DirecTV in Germantown is working just fine today.

[Martyus]

I have been thinking more about DirecTV lately

Although, I am looking for a VMC based solution, see this thread:
http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7566

I did purchase a small indoor antenna and after a little tinkering am able to get CBS HD and FOX HD, so at least the day has been saved!

I was hoping to wait until I got an attic antenna installed, but what can you do... This weekend has been an experience of wasted time and money, on the phone with TWC, messing with the TWC DVR, buying a temporary antenna, getting it adjusted, etc.

[Mags]

I am lucky enough to have D* so I don't have to worry about TWC's problems - I control my universe, so to speak as far as TV goes....

BUT I do have (and rely heavily on) TWC internet (Roadrunner).  I've been out since 7am on Saturday morning.  I got through at 9:00 am Saturday - and the 1st appt they could give me is 10 days away!

UNREAL!  I work out of my home as a consultant, so this is huge.  10 days!  I tried to explain that TWC is trying to take away my livelihood.  Their response "Internet is a convenience, entertainment option and is not a necessity".  I told them BS - it is just as important as telephone and heat to those of us who work and live at home.

Now I'll be forced to upgrade to Business Class (which I probably should do anyway) and pay $100 a month to be guaranteed 24 hour turnaround for outages.  All to ensure they keep providing the service they were supposed to be providing to begin with?  What a crock.

Now I certainly sympethize with the guys out there trying to make the fixes - but still - this is WI - it's not like they couldn't predict subzero temps - it happens every year.  

But to tell me I'm out of business for 10 days - potentially losing clients which could cost me tens of thousands of dollars a year - because "it's just an entertainment option"?

This is EXACTLY why I'm a D* customer - and why TWC will be a second rate company who will continually lose market share to D* and any other provider that comes along.