TWC HD reception

[Onanboy]

I know it seems funny to talk about reception when talking about cable but I want to find out about the quality of the HD signal others are experiencing with TWC's HD channels.

I definitely have some big issues.  Every night when I sit down to watch some HD I have to put up with lots (up to twenty instances an hour) of video pixilation, freezing, and audio dropouts.  I have had TWC out before and they seem to have fixed it  but it has never completely gone away.  Last night during ER it was as bad as ever.

I do have the cable signal split as soon as it enters the house so that I can feed my other non-HD TVs but the HD signal only experiences that one split before getting to the HD-DVR.  The cable, connectors, and the splitter are all TWC issued equipment now.

Is this as good as it gets and should I just settle for what I have or should I keep calling TWC back until the issue is rectified?

[aaron31182]

I had a problem close to what you describe that eventually got to the point that it was unwatchable. TWC came out and installed an amplifer and new splitter. All is well now. Good luck.

[jerbear]

After 4 boxes and a amplifer and new cable and splitters I got a good picture with no breaking up. Keep after them. The customer service is so bad at TWC that you have keep complaining. Even my bill is screw up half the time.
Jerbear

[gparris]

It all comes down to connections.
:eek:

When my main pole was used from my temporary line-on-the-ground connection last year due to new construction, I had the same problems with my service. I have RR, 2 HD sets with DVRs and one analogue set. Anything more than 3-4 of anything connected seems to need an amplifier and after that, it was much much better.

Looks like your TWC repairman (you got) needed some training.

aaron31182: You are right!

Get an amplifier installed and check the connections!
The only time I get any pixelation, now,  is when I am watching an HD show and recording one at the same time.

[mhz40]

Originally posted by Onanboy
Is this as good as it gets and should I just settle for what I have or should I keep calling TWC back until the issue is rectified?

No.  "As good as it gets" is "perfect".  Do not settle for less.  When channel 504 messes up, check channel 506 & see if you have the same problems...

[aaron31182]

I should have added to my post that the TWC technician measured my main line signal strength before the amplifer install and it was "acceptable". Keep hounding them to install the amplifer if your HD signal doesn't improve, even if your cable line is within spec.

[summerfun]

Many times I will have a show have a lot of pixilation, but everything is fine on all other channels.

The next night, that channel will be fine and maybe another channel is having the problem. I don't think this is my cable or I would have the same problems on all channels.

CBS was terrible with audio breaking last winter, but seems to be fine now. It seems that I have more audio dropout with NBC these days.

I don't know if OTA has these same issues or not. Sometimes, all channels are perfect.

[Onanboy]

Thanks everyone for the great advice.  I had one TWC tech come out and he replaced yet another run of cable but advised against the amplifier.  The next night the freezing and pixelation were back.

My situation seems to be alot like Summerfun's.  The channel that has the most problems seems to change and a lot of the time the other channels have much less of a problem.

I called TWC again and said that I want a tech to come out and install an amp, even if there are potential problems.  The only problem that I can see is that an amp boosts everything, noise included.  

Are there other downsides to using the signal amplifier?

Thanks,
Paul

[jerbear]

Don't let them BS you, make them put in a amplifier.
Jerbear

[mhz40]

Originally posted by jerbear
Don't let them BS you, make them put in a amplifier.
Jerbear

Negative.  An amp is just another point of failure, distortion and noise.  The problem needs to be identified and fixed at it's source.  An amp is worse than useless if you levels are already good.

[aaron31182]

Originally posted by mhz40
Negative.  An amp is just another point of failure, distortion and noise.  The problem needs to be identified and fixed at it's source.  An amp is worse than useless if you levels are already good.

I'd disagree. I had "good levels" at the main line in my basement, as well as at the wall outlet that feeds my Pioneer HD box. I still had a pixalation problem with HD, and cable on demand wouldn't work. After the amp install, both problems were fixed. I'm not saying it's the ideal fix, but it may be the best you can get out of TWC. The HD image is great after the amp install.

[Joel S]

I've had many problems with my TWC signal in the past (now I'm good).  Random black screens, heavy picture break up, etc...  The first thing they did to fix it was install an Amp and it did NOTHING.  There is a lot more to it I think than just installing an Amp.

An Amp may be the answer is some cases but it's a little naive to think it's the cure of all problems.  My problem had everything to do with problems outside the house as oppossed to inside the house (and not right outside the house).

I think Mhz40 knows what he's talking about;)

[jerbear]

I had 4 boxes new line inside and out new splitters and still did not fix problem. put in amp and fixed problem. Just have them put in amp and see what happens. TWC could have save a lot of time by trying that right away. If it don't work take it out, what is the problem. Flanner told them to do that right away because signal as okay but not as high as it should be. When you buy a $4000 HDTV you want the best picture you can get. You should not be getting any pixels when watching HD channels.
Jerbear

[mhz40]

Originally posted by aaron31182
I'd disagree. I had "good levels" at the main line in my basement, as well as at the wall outlet that feeds my Pioneer HD box. I still had a pixalation problem with HD, and cable on demand wouldn't work. After the amp install, both problems were fixed. I'm not saying it's the ideal fix, but it may be the best you can get out of TWC. The HD image is great after the amp install.

Then you got bad info from the tech, or a wrong diagnosis.   Higher RF levels do not directly equate to better pictures.  In fact, too high of a signal can cause distortions within an RF tuner.  If you have 4 set tops, you most likely needed an amp.  The 4-way splitter losses equate to nearly a 75% reduction of the original signal level.  If you also have roadrunner or a direct-connect TV, you may even have an 8-way split.   An 8-way loses nearly 90% of the original signal level... again necessitating the need for an amp.
Your proposed method of throwing in an amp every time one experiences poor digital stability is simply the wrong approach to take... akin to telling someone to put a new battery in their car if it won't start simply because you had the same problem a year ago and a new battery was the fix.

[jerbear]

Yes I have RR and the digital phone from TWC.
Yes the signal can be to high.
The signal is check right at the set after going thru the splitters and TWC said it was okay. Good think Flanner check it and told them to add splitter or cancel cable.
No all problems are not corrected with a amp but they should try that before making 8 trips out to the house.
It is easier to add amp then to replace all cables inside and out and put in 4 boxes, and say its your $4000 TV.
Jerbear