Milwaukee HDTV User Group

Guys,

We had a major storm two days ago and a loss of power for six hours yesterday.  Caller ID, search and VOD are down on the cable box.  Along with show cover art.  Anyone else having this problem?  Trying to avoid calling in, because they might roll out a clown, who will want to swap the box and I don't want to do that.  It's a six-tuner DVR and Spectrum does not give them out anymore.

Spectrum said that there was maintenance last night on voice mail.

Jack

Hey Guys,

I am not a techy.  But have been following the TWC to Spectrum transition and it is now official.  I thought we could use this thread to share our experiances with the transition and provide information to help each other.  Perhaps this topic could be pinned if it gets enough useful information:

This is a General Consensus of What is Known at this time:

1.) You can continue to keep your legacy TWC account for as long as you believe you are getting a good deal on your services.

2.) If you choose to change your account in any way, you will have to take a Spectrum Plan.

3.) If you take a Spectrum Plan, you can't go back to a TWC Plan, because the company no longer exists, except for grandfather-claused services for legacy customers until they expire.

3.) Charter, (Which owns the Spectrum brand) is known for more straight-forward billing with smaller increases each year than TWC.

4.) However, Charter is less generous with discount rates and new promotions for existing customers.  This does not mean you will not get a break if you are polite and negotiate well, but the discount off will likely be smaller.

5.) Spectrum does not offer Whole House DVR (WHDVR)  You will lose that feature, if you have it and change to a Spectrum Package.  Nor six tuner boxes.  They do offer a deal on multiple DVR's  This is in the literature contained in the PDF file below. 

6.) Some divisions have been allowed to keep their six tuner boxes when switching to a Spectrum plan and some have not. Please let us know if the reps are allowing the six-tuner boxes to be kept in Wisconsin when moving to a Spectrum plan.

7.) DSL Reports has a PDF file of Spectrum Services and Ala-Carte Pricing here:

https://www.timewarnercable.com/content/dam/residential/pdfs/rate-cards/MW/MW_SPP_Milwaukee_WIS_1080578-CL.pdf

Jack

Guys,

Wanted to get this out there early enough.  Charter does not give out Whole House DVR's.  If your six-tuner box breaks and once TWC billing is gone, you will be forced to take a two-tuner box.  They are re-coding the six tuner boxes as two tuners.

Charter plans it's own World Box, which will reintroduce Whole House DVR, along with this box to be able to be used on multiple devices from TV's to computers, to tablets, to Smartphones.  The goal is to standardize the guide and lineup across all divisions so that "each device will be a TV."  Data will be stored in the cloud and Charter sees HD streaming technology and cloud-based storage, as the "New DVR."

This means, try to hold on to your six tuner boxes for as long as you can.  This is another reason why I hope the Spectrum billing transition is delayed.  Some divisions are allowing users to keep the six tuner boxes, when moving to a Spectrum Package, but a few are not at this time.

Satch

Tom and Crew,

This is really a forum that has withstood the test of time with ourcommunity involvement over the years.  It will be sad to see it go, but as you said Tom, it sits on an outdated network AFAIK.

Or are there plans to keep it running?  I enjoy being here and will miss this community immensely if the forum shuts down.

Jack

Guys,

Just got my second TWC/Charter letter that the Digital Conversion is set for June 21, 2016, and that a Digital Box or Converter will be required to view all channels.  The big Internet Speed boost, in many areas may happen on that day, or begin shortly thereafter.

Jack

Guys,

For the last week or so in the Milwaukee Wisconsin division, program searches for shows on both Laff TV and Cozi TV do not show up either online or on the cable box search system.  These are Channels 990 and 991 in the Milwaukee area.  Listings for these stations only appear in the Time Grid for both the guide and the box.  

Note that I have not yet rebooted the box as the box and TV is behind a cabinet and it is near impossible for me to get back there to do that. This issue affects BOTH the cable box and On Line listings.  No other box problems or  issues with the online, or cable box guides.  For reference, the box is the Arris-3510-M.

Jack

Greetings,

Wanted to give some feedback on the Advanced Search Keyboard System,

I can confirm that Live Boxing Shows are NOT being picked up by the Advanced Search keyboard although they show in the Time Grid. On occasion, when they do show up, they are gone the next day. Story below:

I have submitted feedback on this and even included this in a post called "Where the Advanced Keyboard Search Needs Improvement." The live boxing, almost never found on the advanced search keyboard is a prime example. I will even give updated detail to this feedback:

1.) I do a search for Boxing on the keyboard. And results show only one folder and some out of date fight not in the folder most of the time. If you go to this folder and open it, all you get are VOD old boxing matches no new live content.

2.) Twice this week and once last week there was a SECOND boxing folder in boxing search results. That folder contained matches for HBO, Showtime, and all the live boxing shows this week.

3.) Twenty-Four hours later, the second folder containing the live boxing shows is gone! Than what happens is a fight about two weeks out gets added to the system, but with no time or cover art. The other user, discusses a similar issue in the link below. I am sure has had a similar experience.

4.) The second folder that appears and disappears in step two, is vanishing every other day for no reason!

This means that users have to go on-line to program their boxing shows, where the data is there, or use the Time Grid to find all boxing shows. The new keyboard cannot be trusted to show live boxing data.

I hope this is fixed in the next update. Which brings the B button list all titles of a search back to the modern boxes. If live boxing shows are in the Time Grid, (and they are.) They should always be picked up by the keyboard and this is not happening.

I am in Metro-Milwaukee Wisconsin. I have an Arris box. But I had a Cisco box with the same thing described above. The older SA boxes were always able to find our boxing shows. Another customer reports the exact same thing with the keyboard data when searching for boxing shows with his Cisco box. Rebooting the box has no effect.

He and I ask the same question. Why are the shows in question picked up by the TWC TV application and other mobile devices, but not on the boxes? I believe that if the data is in the Time Grid, the keyboard should be able to find the information. We know that this is not an individual account or a box problem because his Cisco and my Arris models produce the same effect.

HOW TO TEST THIS BUG:

I would encourage TWC employees to test the search for "Boxing" shows in their homes, offices, and labs. Here are some steps to follow for specific testing of this issue.

Note the following:

1.) This bug applies only to the "Next Generation" boxes with the advanced search system. The SA model boxes therefore do not apply.

2.) When you run the test on any next generation box, do a "B" search for "Boxing." on the keyboard. select the "Boxing" Event option. If the cloud data is correct, testers should see two folders labeled "Boxing." Other boxing sub-folders may say things like "Solo Boxing" "Classic Boxing" or "Premier Boxing Champions." Employees should look at only the two folders that say "Boxing" when selecting Boxing-Event.

3.) If the cloud search is behaving correctly the TOP folder, of the two "Boxing" folders in the search, will list all the live boxing shows on broadcast, standard cable, and premium cable for the next 7-14 days. This is what users SHOULD see at all times. The folder on the bottom shows only boxing shows that are on VOD. Nothing live.

4.) If the cloud search is NOT behaving correctly, employees will see only ONE folder in searching for "Boxing" and selecting "Boxing Event," and maybe one old boxing match on the top, EMPLOYEES, IF YOU DON'T SEE TWO BOXING FOLDERS IN THE SEARCH FOR BOXING SHOWS, AND SELECTING "BOXING-EVENT,"THE ONE FOLDER SHOWN WILL ONLY SHOW VOD CONTENT WHEN SELECTED. No live content at all.

Testing of the cloud search needs to be sure that condition #3 holds each time. This should include box reboots and software updates.

If condition #4 happens, you can only search for live boxing shows through the Time Grid on the advanced set top boxes or go online to program the DVR that way.

I hope that these steps will assist in keyboard search reliability. Feel free to test.

UPDATE:

With regards to the above,

After holding for two days with the two folders selecting "Boxing Event" and the top folder correctly showing all live boxing shows, as of Today, July 28, 2015, we are back to the top folder gone again.

All that shows when selecting Boxing-Event instead of the top folder, showing live fights, is a fight that says, Andre Berto verses Soto Karass, a fight that happened about three weeks to a month ago.

The live boxing data is not holding in the cloud for more than three days at a time. Please forward accordingly, and consider this situation an on-going issue.

Jack

PS.  Have sent this nationally as a feedback/bug report to TWC.  The above, posted on this forum, is slightly modified  to our local areas in order to get more people aware of this issue.

How to improve the New Search Keyboard For Modern Boxes

1.) Live Sports-Especially boxing shows that are live on HBO, Showtime, Standard Cable Networks, and Broadcast Networks are often  missing from the keyboard.  The only boxing returned from the keyboard search is On Demand and PPV content.

2.) Tests should also be run to make sure than any live programing or event found in the Time Grid is in the keyboard system. The keyboard data is incomplete.

3.) Create within the system a Live Sports category, so we know when a sport is Live. The Passport Software ten years ago had a Live Sports category within Sports.

4.) Restore the B button to show all forthcoming instances of the title of a show being watched or viewed in the Time Grid like the old boxes still have!  As of now, customers and employees have to "re-key" their searches every time.

Yesterday I was able to press the B search button and see all the forthcoming LIVE Boxing shows on the different networks.  A second folder had been added to the Boxing Sports/Event catalog!  I was thinking "Yes!  Finally!"

Today, that second folder was gone! (Along with all the added sports data for boxing contained in that folder.)  Why would that happen? Back to only one Boxing foder showing only boxing VOD content.

Wisconsin still does not have the auto find all instances of a show title when B is pressed.

The keyboard search needs to improve to show:

1.) Reliable data- Live sports data is STILL hit and miss, mostly miss with the keyboard.  There is Time Grid data for many shows that the advanced search does not pick up at all.  (The live boxing  on HBO, Showtime, and live cable and broadcast networks will be in a search results folder one day and gone the next.
 

2.) Live or New Show Indicators- When a show is Live, especially a sporting event, this needs to be indicated in the search results at all times.  If it's in the Time Grid, the Keyboard should be able to find it.

Jack

Been waiting for this!

Auto HD is now on TWC, which means that you don't have to punch the 1 button first to get the HD station.  (Although the old method still works.)

Jack

While there are some nice things about the Advanced Search on the newer boxes, here are some things that need improvement:

1.) The Cloud Search Returns incomplete results-For example today I searched for the classic series, "The Odd Couple"  All the cloud returned was episodes from the below average CBS remake.  Furthermore, for the remake, listings were not given for HD.  It was either SD, VOD, or nothing.  I could not find ME-TV's showing of The Odd Couple episode descriptions in the cloud search.

2.) Sports Data is incomplete in Cloud Search-I am a boxing fan.  If I filter by Sports, or even select "All" with the keyboard, HBO and Showtime Premium Channel boxing shows are often nowhere to be found.  If Boxing IS selected as a Genre or Event, I just get a bunch of VOD and PPV listings!  There should be a Theme called Boxing, and live fights forthcoming as a part of that theme.  This is one area where Searching by THEME, where live sports were included in the classic search was better on the legacy boxes.

3.) The cloud data often  does not synchronize with the Time Grid data. I had to go to the Time Grid to find my boxing shows.

4.) Replace the word Genre with the word "Theme." - Make the ability to filter the keyboard by Theme in a future software update.  Even if filtered by Sports category, the cloud search does not return all sports information.  

5.) Bring back the legacy search B button functionality in a software update to modern boxes! Customers should be able to go to the Time Grid, hit "B." and see the listings of all the titles of a show in a search.

6.) Create a Live Sports category somewhere within the cloud-based search, so that customers can see what live sports are playing now.
 

The testing shows in particular that live sports in many cases are not being picked up by the cloud:

1.) Live Boxing was on HBO and Showtime. (A simultaneous rebroadcast of Mayweather-Pacquaio.) Also on CBS Sports. Very limited sports search information was available. I found one listing on the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight on Showtime. But this was only after going to the Boxing Sports Category, where Mayweather-Pacquiao was still listed as a PPV. Selecting that. Than I had to bi-pass all of the boxing VOD shows and select "More Air times." There was one live listing for Mayweather-Pacquaio on Showtime. None for HBO.

In addition, there was no live listings in the Cloud Search for the live fight on CBS Sports for Saturday, May 9th 2015 in the afternoon.

2.) A future software update must have ALL information from a Genre or Theme when the search is applied. Consider having live shows for sports returned first in the search, followed by non-live shows, if I search for ANYTHING having the keyboard advanced search set to "All" and type in any program in the search, the search needs to be able to find it.

3.) Right now, the only way that a customer can be sure of seeing instances of a show and make sure they are returned to him/her is to go through the Time Grid and select what he/she wants to watch.

4.) Movies and VOD are returned by the Advanced Search with the best results. Series results are average and often do not return HD airings, and sometimes multiple listings of the same show on different channels are not both returned. (See my example of The Odd Couple, earlier in this thread.) Live Sports results are the worst. For the new keyboard advanced search for modern set-tops, I would assign the following letter grades:

Advanced Search Set Top Box Keyboard Search ability for the following:

Movies on Demand: A-
Premium Movies and Non-Premium Movies: B
TV Shows and Series: B-
Sports on Demand: C+
High Definition Content: C+
Live Network and Live Premium Channel Sports: D-

This evaluation may help for future updates for enhancements of the set-top-box Advanced Search. Thank you.

Jack

Hey All,

Problems with the B button search today. In Metro Milwaukee Wisconsin the B button search is stuck on "Please Wait." It happens for Theme Categories. Also for High Definition Other categories seem to work OK. Cold reboot of the box does not solve this issue.

This just began today. A server/data issue? Box is an SA-8300HDC. Note that it is not a total box freeze. The C button cancels out as it should and other elements of the guide are fine.

Jack

Greetings Tom,

Wondering if you found another ISP/forum buyer, or if a shutdown date is still planned?  Thanks for all of your help!  Tom and everyone!

Jack

A pretty big deal for TWC as this premium movie channel package will be FREE for three months for ALL TWC SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE, STARTING MARCH 18TH!  I found more information about it at DSL Reports, which is another cable forum that I frequent:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r29083333-Free-Epix-Preview-Starting-March-18th

Channels 591-595 for TWC Wisconsin.

Additionally, Epix 1, 2, and 3 will be available in HD on the following stations:

Channels 1591-1594

Epix Drive-In will only be in SD on channel 595.

And this is Epix website:

http://www.epixhd.com/

Within that site, here is Epix's channel guide for movies and shows:

http://www.epixhd.com/channel/schedule/

The preview automatically ends June 18th, 2014.  It is believed that the cost of the Epix package will be $10.00 a month after the preview, and it will be a stand-alone package for TWC Digital Subscribers.

ENJOY!  I have also created this topic for any questions or updated information about Epix.

Jack

Hey Guys,

I sent feedback on this for our division, but here in Wisconsin, TWC has made Navigator channel 10001 the VOD Portal for the new boxes.  The thing is it shows on all the boxes and says, "To receive this channel, call customer service." (If you don't have the newer boxes.)  That's understandable.

The problem is that the legacy Title Search Keyboard has replaced all data on Channel 1000 (another VOD channel for all boxes regardless of model.) with Channel 1001, so in our division, anyone searching for all movies that used to be on channel 1000 are now showing in search results as channel 1001.

The workaround is when a movie shows up on channel 10001, you have to go to channel 1000 and tune in channel 1000 to see the movie that way.  My solution proposed was to put the keyboard search query data back to show movies on channel 1000 in search results.  Legacy search, should not be going to the new channel portal when the box does not qualify.

People are going to be calling customer service thinking their is something wrong with the VOD and the rep is going to say, "Oh you need a new box for that."  Problem is that our division has a policy of "no new boxes, unless you subscribe to Whole House DVR service."  Unsuspecting customers could get an upgrade and a $20 charge to their account each month, just because they thought their VOD isn't working!

Does anyone else with legacy boxes have this issue with the VOD portal channel?

Satch

PS. TWC has provided a link to the engineering development team, if this issue applies to your box.  If you are nice to them, they will examine all queries:

http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/residential-home/support/contact-us.html

Is anyone else having problems logging into "My Services?"  Now called, "My Account?" I tried cleaning my browsers' cache and running CC cleaner, but all I get after the log in process is a White Screen.  (Like when a site can't be found.)

Jack

I received a little pamphlet in the mail with my monthly statement that in the fine print tells the different package names.

To the best of my knowledge, this is what they contain:  Please add to the thread to amend it with any updated information:


Starter TV -Basic Commercial Networks like you would get with an antenna.  (Channels 2-25 here  in Wisconsin) and a few government and religious channels.  one on channel 77 and a few on 95-99.  The lowest level of any service.

Standard TV- (2-99)  Formerly Standard Cable.  All Channels 2-99 in most markets and their HD counterparts.

Digital Variety Pass: (100+  Almost all main Digital Channels.)  Included with Triple Play Packages.  Best overall channel selection value.

Digital Sports Pass- An optional package of about 15-20 sports channels and some sister channels of a few stations on Standard TV, such as additional ESPN networks not offered on the other levels of service.

Digital Movie Pass- A Premium Movie Channel with about seven Encore Channel Stations and a few additional movie channels.

Digital Variety Pass Plus: (Formerly Digital Choice.)- An optional package.  It appears that Digital Choice in Wisconsin has been dropped as an optional add with any level of Digital Service.  Instead, subs must take the Digital Variety Pass and Variety Plus appears to simply add about six channels to the existing Digital Variety Package.

I have always believed that Digital Choice, having another $5.00 charge for only six channels represents the LEAST value of the cable package levels.  Maybe now that it has been paired with Digital Variety Pass, there might be more appeal for this level of service.

I think that Digital Variety Pass represents TWC's best cable TV overall value.

Satch

Anybody else having problems with VOD service in Brookfield.  I get an Error 101, "Video on Demand" Network problem on all VOD services.  The rest of the channels work fine.  A cold reboot of the box did not help.  I don't want to call them because they are just going to want to replace the box, and I have recordings on it that I don't want to lose.

We had a tech here about two months ago who replaced the box and said signals were excellent. (Greenfield Heights Sub Division.)

Jack

Affects All Subscribed TV Vendors!

Solar interference has the potential to affect TV services twice a year during February/March and September/October. Solar interference causes the degradation or loss of satellite signals for short periods of time, up to 15 minutes each day, for 5-7 days.

The arc of the sun crosses the Earth's equator and traces a line that places it directly behind the satellites from which we download much of our video programming. This causes a phenomenon known as a solar transit fade, or sun outage. The exact date, time and duration of such disruptions depends on the location of the receiver, the satellite in question, the size of the receiving dish and other factors.

During the solar interference window, there may be brief interruptions on a number of TV channels due to the alignment of the sun and satellites. The effects may be seen on most channels and will occur during various times of the day. All satellite and cable television providers experience sun outages during the same period.

Jack

PS.  Dates should read October 1st-October 10th

Hey All,

Check to see if you get this channel when selected, or just a placeholder that says, "To receive this channel, call Customer Care."  This was added like a month ago, and I think I had a box reboot not too long ago and nothing changed.  I am not gonna call TWC for just one station!  No way!  But if the channel does come in for you, what content does it include?  Thanks!

Jack

Well,

As most of you know, TWC and CBS have reached a retransmission carriage agreement restoring CBS to affected markets, and Showtime, as well as sister stations owned by CBS to all markets.  The battke is over, but unless the 1992 law is changed to better protect customers, wars will continue over fees.  There is no agreement between TWC and Journal Broadcasting Company over a similar dispute as of this writing.

What needs to happen is a mandate that prohibits any station blackouts while both parties negotiate new agreements.  Customers need to be protected by insuring that they have the programing for which they pay.  Companies need to establish fair and reasonable fees based on the best interests of the customer and what he/she can afford in trying economic times.  The current law also fails to address the tremendous opportunities for on-line and mobile technologies. STOP MAKING CUSTOMERS PAWNS IN FEE DISPUTES BY WITHHOLDING PROGRAMING FROM THEM AND BLAMING THE OTHER SIDE FOR THESE OCCURRENCES!  All TV venders and their host companies have to find a way to keep channels on during the negotiation process, so that the blackouts like the one between CBS and TWC, and the still on-going spat with TWC and Journal Broadcasting Company, never happen again!

Satch