Comcast HDTV install... Comcast came and the new Motorola DTC-5100 box that allows for HDTV over cable was installed yesterday. The process was interesting.
My appointment was scheduled for 11-2 PM. In typical cable company fashion they showed up right 'on time' at 3 PM. Comcast did at least call and say they were running late. The tech was a super nice guy. He said from the start that this was his first HDTV upgrade.
The 'cable kit' they supplied was complete for any install and included svideo, composite, component, digital coax and toslink cables. But, all the cable were pretty low grade stuff so I used my own cables. After seeing the back of my equipment rack, the tech wisely suggested that 'if I was comfortable doing it' that I should hookup the box to my projector and receiver.
We fired up the box and the analog and digital channels were there, but only Showtime HD popped up, all other channels gave a 'please wait' message. The tech called in and confirmed that the signal was heading out to the box to make sure it was not a programming thing. It wasn't so that left the signal. He started replacing my cables from the box back to an amp, then from the amp to my low voltage box inside, then from the inside box to the side of the house, no dice.
After an hour of that, I printed out the troubleshooting notes on the AVS Forum thread that greggz posted from his install. He took the box to the curb and connected it to the truck TV and all the signals were there. Then he measured the signal at the side of the house and it was really low. So he ran a new cable from the curb to the side of the house. Bingo all channels!
I have been watching HD using an antenna with OTA signal for a while so I didn't freak out when I saw the HD picture, but the tech did which I thought was cool. I will agree with most that the picture and sound from Showtime and HBO is really great. The picture from the networks is really good too and I love not having to use the antenna now. The exception that the cable company is rebroadcasting a stretched 4:3 image from FOX which drives me nuts. I would rather watch analog than that for 4:3 stuff. The Widescreen FOX programs should be good though.
My favorite parts about the new service are that the box is super fast changing channels, the box upconverts the analog and digital signals to 480p, and the signal has improved dramaticly on all of my other sets from getting a good strong signal now. I'm pleased that Comcast got this done before the Masters. Now if they get ESPN-HD I'll never leave the basement!
My appointment was scheduled for 11-2 PM. In typical cable company fashion they showed up right 'on time' at 3 PM. Comcast did at least call and say they were running late. The tech was a super nice guy. He said from the start that this was his first HDTV upgrade.
The 'cable kit' they supplied was complete for any install and included svideo, composite, component, digital coax and toslink cables. But, all the cable were pretty low grade stuff so I used my own cables. After seeing the back of my equipment rack, the tech wisely suggested that 'if I was comfortable doing it' that I should hookup the box to my projector and receiver.
We fired up the box and the analog and digital channels were there, but only Showtime HD popped up, all other channels gave a 'please wait' message. The tech called in and confirmed that the signal was heading out to the box to make sure it was not a programming thing. It wasn't so that left the signal. He started replacing my cables from the box back to an amp, then from the amp to my low voltage box inside, then from the inside box to the side of the house, no dice.
After an hour of that, I printed out the troubleshooting notes on the AVS Forum thread that greggz posted from his install. He took the box to the curb and connected it to the truck TV and all the signals were there. Then he measured the signal at the side of the house and it was really low. So he ran a new cable from the curb to the side of the house. Bingo all channels!
I have been watching HD using an antenna with OTA signal for a while so I didn't freak out when I saw the HD picture, but the tech did which I thought was cool. I will agree with most that the picture and sound from Showtime and HBO is really great. The picture from the networks is really good too and I love not having to use the antenna now. The exception that the cable company is rebroadcasting a stretched 4:3 image from FOX which drives me nuts. I would rather watch analog than that for 4:3 stuff. The Widescreen FOX programs should be good though.
My favorite parts about the new service are that the box is super fast changing channels, the box upconverts the analog and digital signals to 480p, and the signal has improved dramaticly on all of my other sets from getting a good strong signal now. I'm pleased that Comcast got this done before the Masters. Now if they get ESPN-HD I'll never leave the basement!
posted by Steve at 2:08 PM
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