TWC SDV channels messed up again (Sat, June 26)

[Brendan]

I thought about adding this to the "Time Warner Problem Count Thread" but I wanted to let others know through the thread title the specific problem and time. Basically, it's the familiar pixelization and stuttering affecting the same HD channels that it usually happens to: most of the 1100 and up HD channels excluding the "bigger" channels like TBS, TNT, ESPN, Discovery, FX, etc. (seems like they keep those channels separate because they're probably more popular).
I just called TWC and they even have a recorded message that plays before the automated options, saying they're experiencing technical problems and they're working on it, so I didn't bother to talk to (or rather, wait forever to talk to) a service rep. I did also reboot my box once even though I knew it wouldn't help.
I feel like we should start demanding our service be prorated for these outages. If I pay for digital channels that I can't use, I should get some of that money back. Even if it isn't much money, if everyone demanded it, it might hurt them enough to take notice.

[duncantuna]

Glad to see it wasn't just me.

 I will say .. I can't remember the last time the channels were hosed up like that, so I'm not too sad about last night.

[Jack 1000]

Generally when people have pixiation problems like this, it can mean one of several things:

1.) Head-End System Updates.

2.) Box/Software Update Preparations.

3.) Head-end system maintenance/ repairs.

4.) SDV adjustments (Possible prep for more channels.)

We had a problem with pixiation a few days ago because of all the storms, but it only lasted for about 20 minutes, so TWC must have gotten on the case quick.  Subs note that automated dispatching is activated for any subscriber's head-end if at least 6 people call in the same area.  That will usually get things up and running faster.

The thing to do is if you have cable problems, and they have not gone away after 30 minutes, try a box reboot, if they come back after that, call.  The more people that call about issues, the more they know about what's going on, and the sooner things will get fixed.

I haven't been watching TV today, but I am aware of these issues that crop up from time to time.

Jack

[gparris]

People forget that when storms go through the Milwaukee, area, it is still the satellites that feed the cable's systems that are still affected, that is where, as I understand it, TWC gets it signals to put through the cable "pipe" to begin with.
Pixelation and drop outs can occur with bad storms at the source, so much for cable being the sound and perfect option during storm fronts as portrayed in commercials.
I had pixelation, dropouts and all, but my location had none of what Milwaukee was going through weatherwise, so much for TWC's misleading commercials.:bang:
Satellite subs may get some problems with storm in the signal source area (south) or directly overhead, but that is based on their specific location and when the storm goes east of them from their specific location, they return to normal quickly, quite unlike the cable sub who may depend on the the cable company's source sat location feeds, at least that is how I understand it.

[kevbeck122]

TWC's dishes are big c-band dishes though, so storms shouldn't affect them as much.  You can see one of their dish farms east of Goerke's corners on 94 in Brookfield (at least I think it's TWC).  There's an antenna tower also, probably for the local channels.  

I usually lose HD channels for probably a max of 10 minutes with DIRECTV when there's a bad storm, but I've never lost SD channels.

[gparris]

TWC's dishes are big c-band dishes though, so storms shouldn't affect them as much.  You can see one of their dish farms east of Goerke's corners on 94 in Brookfield (at least I think it's TWC).  There's an antenna tower also, probably for the local channels.  

I usually lose HD channels for probably a max of 10 minutes with DIRECTV when there's a bad storm, but I've never lost SD channels.

Those "dish farms" apply to where ever they have a cable service hooking up into it, the Kenosha TWC location feeds its own, but you didn't know that, which is okay, C-band isn't perfect, either.
Point is, I did see storm-related interferance during those horrific storms on my cable service even though I had no storms in my local area, it wasn't SDV related (back to thread).

It (SDV) has got aggravating once again, making me think that satellite service is actually better, even in stormy weather, afterall.
-Lately, everytime I turn the DVR "on", I get "channel not available", then I wait a few seconds and it is on again, or it goes into a pause pattern if the family wants to play some BD's for awhile and we switch the AVR to the cable input...crazy again. :huh?: