DonInBuffalo Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 I've had Time Warner digital cable for about 3 years now, when I bought my HD TV. The cable box they gave me when they installed it back then was a Scientific Atlanta model 8200. I also have a pair of "rabbit ears", and pick up the local OTA channels most of the time. I compared on several occasions, and couldn't tell any difference between the cable feed and the OTA signal. Last week, my cable box started making some noises, then displayed some messages indicating it was trying to reboot, and eventually simply shut itself off and wouldn't turn back on again. I called tech support, and they sent someone out the next day to repair/replace my box. The tech told me the box needed to be replaced, and installed a Scientific Atlanta model 8300 box. When she was setting it up, I noticed that the HD signal had bars on all four sides before she finished setting it up. Yesterday, I watched the afternoon football games OTA. I started watching SNF on channel 2 OTA, but the signal got choppy so I switched to the cable feed. There is an obvious difference in quality compared to the OTA feed. (and my old box) I'm noticing the same quality difference watching MNF tonight. The logos in the endzone are noticeably blurred, for example. So apparently when people's boxes break, (or maybe they're just systematically "breaking" them) they are changing the feed people receive to be significantly more compressed, to save themselves bandwidth. One other obvious difference is now when 4:3 commercials play during an HD broadcast, there aren't any bars on the left/right. Instead, the picture is blown up so portions on the top and bottom are cut off. Cheap bastards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 (edited) I am hardly one to stick up for Time Warner, but I got my new HD box almost exactly a year ago...it is a Scientific Atlantic Explorer 4240HDC...it looks awesome! I don't have the issues with the 4:3 commercials either...is it possible your tv isn't set correctly? Edited September 21, 2010 by Buftex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonInBuffalo Posted September 21, 2010 Author Share Posted September 21, 2010 I am hardly one to stick up for Time Warner, but I got my new HD box almost exactly a year ago...it is a Scientific Atlantic Explorer 4240HDC...it looks awesome! I don't have the issues with the 4:3 commercials either...is it possible your tv isn't set correctly? No, there's nothing wrong with my TV. It was obvious to me what was going on once I saw the tech setting things up. The picture is the proper aspect ratio and fills the whole screen, but is obviously inferior quality to the box I had previously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cåblelady Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 So apparently when people's boxes break, (or maybe they're just systematically "breaking" them) they are changing the feed people receive to be significantly more compressed, to save themselves bandwidth. One other obvious difference is now when 4:3 commercials play during an HD broadcast, there aren't any bars on the left/right. Instead, the picture is blown up so portions on the top and bottom are cut off. Cheap bastards. You have got to be freaking kidding me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullim4 Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 You do realize that if you're not getting bars on SD broadcasts that it is highly likely that the new box is in zoom mode? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b stein 22 Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 When you have Direct Tv you have to wait a week before they come and fix your box. those !@#$s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kegtapr Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 When you have Direct Tv you have to wait a week before they come and fix your box. those !@#$s That's what she said </Michael Scott> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drinkTHEkoolaid Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 fios. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayFinkle Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 No, there's nothing wrong with my TV. It was obvious to me what was going on once I saw the tech setting things up. The picture is the proper aspect ratio and fills the whole screen, but is obviously inferior quality to the box I had previously. I wrap my head in two layers of tin foil before I turn on my timewarner box...you never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonInBuffalo Posted September 22, 2010 Author Share Posted September 22, 2010 You do realize that if you're not getting bars on SD broadcasts that it is highly likely that the new box is in zoom mode? Actually, I noticed the quality difference in HD mode before I noticed the zoomed/no bars in SD mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 Actually, I noticed the quality difference in HD mode before I noticed the zoomed/no bars in SD mode. This is hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dib Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 When you have Direct Tv you have to wait a week before they come and fix your box. those !@#$s They came to my house in 3 days and gave me a brand new HD Dish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b stein 22 Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 They came to my house in 3 days and gave me a brand new HD Dish. Free Dib Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 They came to my house in 3 days and gave me a brand new HD Dish. They sent me a new DVR via 2 day FedEx shipment when I replaced my ancient HD DirecTiVo.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dib Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 They sent me a new DVR via 2 day FedEx shipment when I replaced my ancient HD DirecTiVo.... Love the DVR thanks b stein 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 Love the DVR thanks b stein 22 It's ok. I liked the TiVo one better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonInBuffalo Posted September 23, 2010 Author Share Posted September 23, 2010 This is hilarious. One of us isn't laughing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 (edited) They came to my house in 3 days and gave me a brand new HD Dish. They sent me a new DVR via 2 day FedEx shipment when I replaced my ancient HD DirecTiVo.... I can go to my local TW office and get a new HD box, no need to wait for one to be shipped to me. Edited September 23, 2010 by Just Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 (edited) One of us isn't laughing. You will be once you figure out your problems are due to not understanding how to use your cable box. Edited September 23, 2010 by BlueFire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonInBuffalo Posted September 24, 2010 Author Share Posted September 24, 2010 You will be once you figure out your problems are due to not understanding how to use your cable box. I doubt it. The tech who installed the new box setup the HD channels so they were the proper aspect ratio and filled the screen. I can press the # key to change the aspect ratio, but the only changes I can make either gets a picture that overflows the screen, or doesn't fill it properly. The bottom line is the feed itself is grainy. When I called Time Warner to ask them about this, the person answering the phone didn't even know what OTA meant, and tried to tell me that the cable feed isn't supposed to look "exactly" like what the networks provide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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