Comcast Digital TV/HDTV clarification

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Before I begin, I'll address what equipment I have:

- Small comcast digital cable STB probably the size of my cable modem
- Sony Bravia XBR3 w/ QAM tuner

One year ago my mom talked to Comcast who said we could get an upgrade to digital TV for 1 year (Digital Silver) and get a price that was $1 below what we were paying for standard. We said sure and we went to the Comcast office to pick up the STB. I know my friends had the big Moto STB that had component hookup and stuff. Well they told me to pick the small one and it was the same. Something told me that wasn't right because I thought the big STB had a DVR inside.

So apparently the small box doesn't let me watch HD stuff? I hook up my coaxial cable through the small STB and then into my TV.

Using the Comcast remote I can't tune to 700s+ but for channels like ESPN HD and what not it marks green. I assume it means I can see it. If I try to tune to it it gives me a black screen. I understand that channels you are not allowed to watch will usually give you a message saying Restricted or Forbidden or something similar. I get nothing for channels like ABC, CBS, blah blah.

Well I got this about a year ago so I threw the box out and I decided to rely on the QAM tuner because my mom doesn't really care about ESPN or anything, so getting the local channels is enough.

Anyways, I found out the USC vs. ASU game is on ESPN today so I decided to give the box one more try. No luck.

Questions:

- Will changing to the big Moto STB change anything?
- Why the hell is Comcast so freaking moronic? Why can't we start getting QAM channels for these HD channels so we don't need an STB? Is it because they can't control theprivileges as easily?

 

[SpunkyJones]

Are you connected to the tv with HDMI or component? If not, you might just have a digital box, you'll need to get a HD STB, and connect it properly. Asking about the "big Moto" doesn't help us, you need to find out if that is their HD STB.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones
Are you connected to the tv with HDMI or component? If not, you might just have a digital box, you'll need to get a HD STB, and connect it properly. Asking about the "big Moto" doesn't help us, you need to find out if that is their HD STB.

Yeah it's just a digital box I guess....... It hooks in coaxial and there's COMPOSITE out, but that's obviously stupid so I hook the coax out into my TV....

I guess my question is whether teh big rectangular Moto STB that everyone has is an HD STB or not... I guess it is?

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Digital TV is not HDTV through Comcast

If you want HD you need to order the HD package.

 

[Horus]

A motorola box the size of a modem? it's probably a DCT700. It can't display HD channels even if programmed for them. You need a larger box with component/HDMI/DVI outputs.

 

[altonb1]

My cable box is about the size of a small VCR and is an HD box. However, the other box I have is just a digital box and it is also about that size. Just take your box back to your local office and tell them you need the HD box with HDMI ports. (If you don't specify, you may end up with component/DVI connections only.)

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Digital TV is not HDTV through Comcast

If you want HD you need to order the HD package.

I don't care if the stupid digital box doesn't give me extra HD channels like ESPN, but I at least want to be able to keep getting my QAM channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, etc.

Essentially, it's like I have to choose between the box which gives me a few bonus digital channels or no box and retain my QAM channels. I think the choice is clear. I want HD. Just like the policy that you don't have to pay extra for local channels in HD, the box shouldn't screw things up.

Comcast GAVE me the option of the bigger HD box. They said it was EXACTLY THE SAME and told me to pick the small one because it's smaller. Hooray for retarded techs and for me not doing research before listening to Comcast people.

The plan I should have is Digital Silver. I BELIEVE it should give me ESPNHD and all that, but of course I do need the proper STB.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Digital TV is not HDTV through Comcast

If you want HD you need to order the HD package.

its suprising how many even on ATOT that think Digital TV = HD tv.

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Digital TV is not HDTV through Comcast

If you want HD you need to order the HD package.

its suprising how many even on ATOT that think Digital TV = HD tv.

Actually, based on some of the posts here...no, it's NOT surprising at all.

 

[jordanz]

Originally posted by: altonb1
My cable box is about the size of a small VCR and is an HD box. However, the other box I have is just a digital box and it is also about that size. Just take your box back to your local office and tell them you need the HD box with HDMI ports. (If you don't specify, you may end up with component/DVI connections only.)

And with the new HD boxes, only the brand new models we have have HDMI ports. Seemingly enough, CSR's aren't too savvy on the brand new boxes yet. So they may confuse that with a DVR, which one of the older model DVRs (phase III) do have HDMI and may attempt to give you a DVR.

To tell the difference, quickly: there will be ventilation cuts on the older boxes, and the brand new HD/DVR models have small dot-like ventilation holes.

As you may tell, I work for Comcast, so if you have any questions, let me know.

Edit: And no, I'm not a CSR.

 

[DaveSimmons]

You might want to pay the extra for the HD DVR instead of just HD tuner, since it records in HD and has 2 tuners so you can watch one program while you record another.