Possible to get HD channels w/ Comcast Limited Cable & Cablecard?

Advertisements

Comcast tech showed up on time to put a filter on my cable line. I re-did the channel line up on my S3 and I'm getting all of the Limited Cable channels including the local HD network broadcasts. Guide data is also showing up for all of the channels:

Code:

2		Northwest Cable News		News & Info		
3		ION				
4		KOMO (ABC)				
5		KING (NBC)				
6		KONG				
7		KIRO (CBS)				
8		Discovery Channel		Children & Family		
9		KCTS (PBS)				
10		KMYQ (MYNETWORKTV)				
11		KSTW (CW)				
12		KBTC (PBS) (Most Areas)				
12		KVOS (Marysville/Arlington)				
13		KCPQ (FOX)				
14		KBCB				
15		KHCV				
16		QVC		Lifestyle		
17		HSN / Leased Access		Lifestyle		
18		KWDK				
19		Hallmark Channel		Movies		
20		KTBW		Lifestyle		
21		Government Access (Most Areas)		News & Info		
21		Seattle Channel (Seattle)		News & Info		
22		Government Access (Most Areas)		News & Info		
22		King County Civic TV (King County)		News & Info		
23		TVW		News & Info		
24		C-SPAN		News & Info		
25		C-SPAN2		News & Info		
26		Educational Access (Most Areas)		News & Info		
27		Educational Access (Marysville/Arlington)		News & Info		
27		UWTV (Most Areas)		News & Info		
28		Educational Access		News & Info		
29		KUNS (UNIVISION)		Multicultural		
75		Government Access (Kirkland)		News & Info		
75		KCTS Plus (Most Areas)				
76		Educational Access (Marysville/Arlington)		News & Info		
76		UW2.TV (Most Areas)		News & Info		
77		Public Access		News & Info		
78		The Weather Channel		News & Info		
99		CBUT		News & Info		
104		KOMO (ABC) in Hi-Def*		High-Definition TV		
105		KING (NBC) in Hi-Def*		High-Definition TV		
106		KONG in Hi-Def*		High-Definition TV		
107		KIRO (CBS) in Hi-Def*		High-Definition TV		
108		KCTS (PBS) in Hi-Def*		High-Definition TV		
109		KCTS (PBS) Digital^				
110		KMYQ (MYNETWORKTV) in Hi-Def*		High-Definition TV		
111		KSTW (CW) in Hi-Def*		High-Definition TV		
112		KCTS Create^				
113		KCPQ (FOX) in Hi-Def*		High-Definition TV		
115		KING-5 Weather Plus^		News & Info		
116		The Tube^		Music

 

1. However, if you go the OTA route, are you still able to record two (2) channels at once (vs. just one) on the Series 3 and watch another program OR does that require two cable cards and limited basic? - I read that the OTA in the Series 3 "supports three streams" - that might be it.

2. I also have a novel situation (live in the Bay Area) - I downgraded to limited basic - have yet to get my flatpanel HDTV, but will soon - and still receive the entire expanded lineup (analog thru 90 - CNN, ESPN etc.) - Comcast didn't turn it off. If I get the cable cards as a limited basic subsciber, will the Comcast installers turn off the expanded basic.

3. Just curious - if you have the entry level digital package from Comcast, do non-HD channels like Lifetime and AMC come thru as widescreen SD or simply standard SD w/high black bars on the side? Why are so many channels like FX, AMC, etc. not in HD?

 

Advertisements

I don't believe Comcast will give you cable cards as a limited basic subscriber. You got to get a digital package and then downgrade.

 

I think you are wrong. Comcast lists the local HD channels as part of its limited basic package. subscribers. It right there on its website if you filter for limited basic.

HDTV - Limited Basic
702 KTVU-2 (FOX) HD
703 KNTV-HDTV
704 KRON-HD
705 KPIX-(CBS)
707 KGO-HDTV
709 KQED-HDTV


How is Comcast supposed to provide its subscribers with those channels w/out a cable card? Doesn't Federal law mandate this.

 

Perhaps they are going to provide you a digital STB for tuning those channels? I dunno. Weird.

My HDTV has a QAM tuner built-in. I would be able to get those local HD channels w/o a cablecard using just it, but not on the channels advertised.

Doesn't hurt to call and ask, but I think (am I wrong?) our collective experience has been no cablecards w/o a digital package.

 

There are a ton of messages in this forum suggesting otherwise. I may just try OTA anyway. If I don''t need Comcast, why bother with the hassle. OTA has more channels, ie multiple PBS channels here in the Bay Area, and better PQ. With CC, perhaps I could get TNT and FOX sports w/the cable card. I will post my results. Until CC adds more HD expanded basic HD channels, its not worth getting digital cable.

 

I had no problem getting CableCards with Comcast limited basic. Didn't have to go through the upgrade/downgrade path.

 

They're not encrypted, so you're free to use any QAM tuner to watch those channels, or you can rent a HD STB for around $7/month.

 

I don't believe that you can make any blanket statement on what Comcast can (or will) do for any situation. It appears that they have different policies for various sytems across the country, and even more practices for each office. It's possible to be quoted different rules just by calling back and getting a different CSR.

 

Yes you can, all the tivo hd features work with OTA

 

I finally stopped by my local Comcast to see what they would say. I was told no problem to get local HD with my limited basic service. They told be it would be a one time charge on 24.99 to install the cable cards and that my monthly bill would not change. They are coming out late next week to install the cards. I will be very surprised if I am not charged a fee to rent the cable cards, though.

 

This is all very interesting; my girlfriend wanted just the basic Comcast HD-DVR with her basic digital service, and they specifically would not do it without having the expanded digital subscription (and their web site confirms that this is the case).

Perhaps this is a better path (though somewhat more expensive...).

 

Live in Cambridge, MA
Have Comcast Basic ($8.55/mon incl taxes)
Just got TiVo HD (in addition to my S2)
Disappointed in no guide data
QAM mapping seems even simpler here since OTA by antenna are same channels as rebroadcast (eg 2-2 is 2-2 whether by basic cable or OTA), but no go

I just called Comcast's 800 number and expected more argument but am set to get 2 cablecards (1st free, 2nd $1.91/mon). They even allow self-install here, so I'm going to only have to pay 1.99 to pick them up from a service center.
Comcast exceeded my expectations, BUT I still wish the cards weren't necessary. If TiVo can figure out the program data for OTA, why can't they (or their channel listing provider) for clear QAM?

 

Brian,

What was the result on Monday? Do you have it working with basic cable?

 

Well, now I have a report of my own. Brian's situation sounded similar to mine, and I was following along to see what I should do. I have Comcast in Houston, and I don't want to pay for anything more than basic cable ($16.42/mo here, and the next package up is $44.99, $55.99 for the entry level digital package, plus all the extra fees for equipment, etc.). Based on some of the resposes here, it seemed like the cablecards should work with basic analog cable. I already had basic cable installed, and I could tune the unencrypted digital channels, but the TiVo had no guide data for them.

I called Comcast to ask if I can have CCs, but my calls were unproductive; the CSRs just didn't know how to respond to my request and just transferred me around. Two days ago I went into the Comcast storefront near me and just told them that I want cablecards. The lady told me I can't use them with basic cable, and said, "We'll have to upgrade your package." She started to upgrade, but I stopped her and told her that the CSR on the phone said I could have them (you do what you have to, I guess ). She insisted they only have single-stream cards, and then handed me two cards that were clearly marked, "M-Card." I took them both in case I had trouble with one.

When I got home, I put one of the cards in, following the instructions that came with the TiVo, plus Comcast's instruction sheet. I called in the information, and I must comment here on the technician that took my call. He was open and friendly, and best of all, KNOWLEDGEABLE - and he didn't express any disapproval of my having a TiVo, which is how all the rest of them had acted. He took my info and told me that the channels would be active after 24 hours (I don't know why). He said the guy who codes them will do it the next day at 3:00 pm. Ok, so no live TV for a day. After work the next day, I came home and turned on the TV. All the unencrypted QAM channels were there, with guide data, et. al. Inexpensive HD in all its glory!

Problem solved, as far as I'm concerned. There are multiple threads in this forum full of people trying to untangle the mysteries of QAM mapping on the TiVo. As far as I can tell the cablecard is the answer, even with non-digital cable packages. I will take the extra M-Card back because the first worked without a hitch, and there will be no extra charge because the first one is free. I didn't even have to pay for a truck roll.

I hope this helps anyone else who was wondering.

 

Glad you got it working.

The people on the QAM mapping thread would be overjoyed to get free CableCARDs, self-install, and no trouble getting CableCARDs on limited basic. They might even drop the request for QAM mapping

Unfortunately not everyone has your experience, some have multiple units, at which point they (correctly or incorrectly) get exposed to digital gateway fees, additional outlet fees, HD service fees, calls to upgrade to digital packages, etc. etc.

 

Congrats BsyGrl, that's a great success story. If all our cases were like yours, I'd wholeheartedly agree with you that CableCARD is the answer for everyone. Unfortunately, your situation is extremely rare, and the more common scenario is that CableCARDs require truck rolls ($60 minimum for me), monthly rental fees (up to $4.50/mo in some markets, double that for TiVo S3, and the cost seems to be trending higher), and perhaps difficulty getting CableCARDs for non-digital subscriptions. I wish all our situations were as "clean" as yours... Until it is, I think TiVo needs to provide a non-CableCARD solution "for the rest of us".