comcast encrypts everything

[Fuzzy]

Not enough to matter. remember, the move to all digital is GOOD for nearly all of their customers. It's only those lunatics using PC's that have a problem.. ;-)

[samgreco]

I completely dumped it and now just watch locals and online stuff. I came to the realization that I was paying them $80/mo for 4 shows. 2 of which I can get online.

So I kept the internet service (business class, for my business ) and still get a few channels on analog cable and the locals via digital and OTA. I expect the analogs will go away shortly. They killed a batch of them recently.

If we all dumped them, maybe we could get some reasonable packages from them.

[hufnagel]

I just lost everything north of 36 essentially!!! basically everything I watch, including my local news channel. GOD I HATE COMCAST!

* merged *

[wrems]

yep, me too. Trying to decide what to do.

[blade]

Most of us never had anything more than the local channels to begin with. As much as it annoys me that I can't get the channels I pay for in the clear I will say it's not just Comcast that encrypts them, but most of the cable companies. At least that's what I've been told. I am surprised that you're locals are encrypted though.

[hufnagel]

at this point I'm calling to cancel the "expanded" service (or as they call it now "standard") and just go with Limited Basic, since that's all my HDHR's can pick up now.

then I'm going to email all the channels I just lost and explain why they just lost viewership. IF Sage gets support for the ceton card I *MIGHT* opt back in for the standard package, assuming I haven't found alternative sources for a signal. Think it's time to investigate OTA seriously. Anyone know of a resource that can tell me what channels I can pick up OTA in my area? (Union County, NJ)

Hey at least I'll get to save $47/month for a while. I can spend that on some nice eating out!

[PiX64]

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by hufnagel

then I'm going to email all the channels I just lost and explain why they just lost viewership.

Technically, the Clear QAM channels could have been received without a subscription, so as far as they're concerned, they might actually see an increase in viewership...

As most Canadians who never had access to a single Clear QAM channel (not even "locals") in the first place, I do find those type of reactions funny...

[hufnagel]

Originally Posted by PiX64

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

Thanks! According to that site I'm basically screwed. Probably will go grab a DTV antenna from someplace I can take it back and run some tests just to see what the truth is.

Originally Posted by Fonceur

Technically, the Clear QAM channels could have been received without a subscription, so as far as they're concerned, they might actually see an increase in viewership...

As most Canadians who never had access to a single Clear QAM channel (not even "locals") in the first place, I do find those type of reactions funny...

I'm mostly pissed off because they've changed things several times in the past couple months. No joke I've had to rescan my HDHRs at least once sometimes twice a month now since I got them. AND they keep raising their rates! Thinking at this point I'm going to spend time really looking into things like PlayOn and whatnot. I don't even have an HDTV as of yet (and don't really want one!)

[sic0048]

I realize change is hard, but you have always been on borrowed time. Comcast has every right to encrypt the channels they send out. They are smart for doing it too. They will make more money from the people that have to rent STB and DVRs now who in the past may not have been required too.

Sure, they will loose a few customer over this, but we are the clear minority here.

[hufnagel]

it's too bad we can't be a larger minority that does effect them enough for them to care.

oh and it's not just hard but potentially EXPENSIVE.
I now have 2 HDHRs that are essentially useless (assuming OTA really isn't a possiblity for me) so that's about $300 gone. And if the Ceton card does wind up working that's $400 I'd have to spend... and how long until THAT gets blocked? and will it actually WORK? will they do something to the signal that prevents me from recording or even watching with it?

Seriously thinking this hamster is about to take his wheel and go home.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by hufnagel

I don't even have an HDTV as of yet (and don't really want one!)

Then you probably wouldn't have seen much difference using some Hauppauge PVR-500 all along, for either the analog feed or through the s-video of a cable box...

[hufnagel]

Originally Posted by Fonceur

Then you probably wouldn't have seen much difference using some Hauppauge PVR-500 all along, for either the analog feed or through the s-video of a cable box...

right but I'm really not interested in setting up that kind of hassle (i have a pair of PVR-250's that I "retired" for the HDHRs) plus they only supplies you with 2 DTAs (DC50X) and a single DCT700 for "no cost". I love the HDHRs because it makes the hardware setup nice and clean and hope the Ceton will do the same eventually.

The wife and I are going to go over what it is we like to watch, when it comes on (honestly, we don't even know! we timeshift everything pretty much) and make a decision what to do. I think bottom line though is we're at least dropping down our service level, and if I can get OTA to work maybe get rid of them totally.

I wonder if I can get the SpeedTV internet feeds to pipe into Sage...

[hufnagel]

wondering... has anyone started emailing the actual content providers? just for the fun of it I'm shipping off emails to Speed, History, Discovery, USA, A&E, and any other I can remember. I know the chances of something coming of it is about the same as ET dropping by and saying hi, but what the hey.

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by hufnagel

Anyone know of a resource that can tell me what channels I can pick up OTA in my area? (Union County, NJ)

I just looked, and you are almost on top of the transmitters! My dad is ~50 miles from any tower, and gets OTA HDTV fine from them!!!!

[hufnagel]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

I just looked, and you are almost on top of the transmitters! My dad is ~50 miles from any tower, and gets OTA HDTV fine from them!!!!

where did they say the towers were at.
technically I'm in union county but I'm RIGHT on the border with Somerset. Kid you not I change counties 3 times and towns 5 times just going to my kid's daycare 5 miles away.

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by hufnagel

where did they say the towers were at.
technically I'm in union county but I'm RIGHT on the border with Somerset. Kid you not I change counties 3 times and towns 5 times just going to my kid's daycare 5 miles away.

Oops, I should not have written it that way. Since I don't have your real address to put in, it uses the center of the city. You need to visit the site and put in your full address. Still, unless that city is the biggest on the planet, I can't believe you are farther than my dad at around 50 miles.

[hufnagel]

yea when I moved the house to my actual location I wind up with 5 channels. I got this big mountain range just to the north of me that rt 78 runs along. that always messes things up.

[Fuzzy]

Also, that site is VERY conservative. If I put in my actual address, it says I can't get pretty much anything, but if I use two houses down, I get pretty much everything in the market. It puts a LOT of bias towards mountain/hill obstruction (which is what I'm shooting through), and considers it a complete blockage in that direction. I put up a medium directional antenna pointed just around the hilltop, and I get everything that is broadcast in the market. The nice thing is, You can get an antenna to test it out for pretty cheap, and if it DOES work, the quality you'll get is far better than anything else available (well, except some big-dish stuff).

[BrianDC]

Think you are out of luck with OTA where you are. As others have said, you were on borrowed time. Those of us in this community are a VERY small minority compared to the typical subscriber base.

Options are
1) Streaming from Hulu / Playon / etc
2) Rent the STB's and use your PVR cards and IRblaster or exeMultituner to control the STB's.
3) Don't watch as much TV

Ok, so #3 really isn't an option

Hell, I NEVER got anything but locals in the clear.