QAM suprise on Comcast Elizabethtown/Columbia

[dmendenjr]

Don't know if anyone else is in my Comcast market, but out of the blue tonight I started receiving 12.11 WHYY-HD out of Philadelphia. The crazy thing is, WHYY isn't offered in SD or HD in this system (only WITF). I hope it's not a fluke, I only get half the broadcast networks over QAM as it is (ABC WHTM 27.1/.2; NBC WGAL 8.1/.2; and CW WHLYH 15.1 - if the fates are smiling on me OCCASIONALLY FOX 43.1 - NO CBS or PBS - til now), so this is a pleasant surprise. WKYW 3.12 also showed up in my channel line up but wouldn't lock in. Anyone else experiencing anything like this?

[rnye1]

Yes, i'm on Hershey's system and after I rescanned the channels, WHYY showed up too. I had WKYW before this last scan but lost it, a shame because I get WPVI-6 but would rather prefer KYW-3. Seems like everytime I rescan different channels pop up !

[philhu]

How do you do this?

Take a cable wire and plug it into a DTV set? Then scan channels on it?

Why would they put stuff up on it in QAM when the full cable is there?

[dmendenjr]

How do you do this?

Take a cable wire and plug it into a DTV set? Then scan channels on it?

Why would they put stuff up on it in QAM when the full cable is there?

Yup, on an ATSC set with a QAM tuner when you autoscan it will (in most cable markets) pickup several things: duplicates of your local OTA stations in SD and some of the national channels; a few throw away channels (ie TWC's Weatherscan, PPV preview channel, in my area Fox Soccer Channel, etc); given the tv you are scanning from is an HD set - ALLEGEDLY, your locals in HD (although where I am, I don't get the Fox or CBS HD channel); the digital audio stations (music choice); and a block of channels that seem to carry the on demand streams for you local neighborhood. It's easy to assume the on-demand content is most likely not suppose to be there (as it can be anything from sprout on demand to porn); likewise with channels that are supposed to be in high end packages (ie Fox Soccer - only in the sports package).

It is fascinating how ignorant they are about QAM. They publish NOTHING about what is or is not supposed to be there and don't seem to care. For the longest while we would get spanish stations such as WAPA and CNN en Espanol; despite the fact that the system doesn't offer a spanish package or carry them anywhere on their digital line up. They have since disappeared. Who knows if they will ever do something about the ondemand thing; I guess if it lasted this long, it will probably last until the FCC will get involved from the decency stand point (since porn comes through in the clear when one of your neighbors gets in the mood). I fear that the Philly PBS feed might follow suit in a few weeks or months, but it fun to have while it's here.

[rcbridge]

Don't be suprised if they are gone some day soon, if that happens just re-scan.
Cable-co's on occasion move channels around!!

[Spames]

I'm from Etown too - just ordered a Samsung H260F - Are the Comcast QAM channels 16:9 HD?

From other things I've read, I'm going to need an anteanna to get everything I'd like.

Edit: Oh, and P.S. -- Any update on what channels you get through QAM?

[dmendenjr]

As far as HD in clear QAM: right now, all of the major local network channels (8.1, 21.1, 27.1, 43.1, 15.1, and 33.3) plus their sub-channels (8.2, 21.2, 27.2) as well as 12.3 WHYY-HD (despite the fact the SD version is not available on the cable system) are in the clear and mapped down to their channel number (Channel 8.1 is on 8.1 not channel 2 or channel 79.2 where it is actually housed). 21 and 43 were spotty up until last weekend, just finished watching CSI:NY without a hiccup.

In addition to that, you get the audio-only music choice stations and in SD you get CMT and Fox Soccer Channel (the prior is only otherwise avail with the cable box and the latter is only available in the Digital sports pack - don't know how long either will be in the clear). Finally, the on-demand streams are still not encrypted, so you will also see what your neighbors are watching onDemand (occasionally HD, but depends on what the people near you are watching).

[Spames]

Yes, that's what I get - was watching transformers in HD on Saturday morning. It's nice to not need an antenna, and the on-demand finds are nice, but a pain to figure out which channels they might be on.

It would be nice if I could integrate the tuners, and blend everything together rather than switching inputs for the HD tuner stuff.

Thanks