Sunday, October 26, 2008

Comcast revisted

Ok, I wrote an entry (previous one to this one) about Comcast and their new software package. And while I got some good responses from the company, noted on the previous post, it hasn't changed the problem, which is two fold with an old one.

One, the new software screwed up the HDMI color signal when changing from a HD channel to a regular digital channel. Turning the TV off and on clears problems as does unplugging and plugging in the HDMI connector on the back of the cable box. And running through the different other non-HD(MI) signals doesn't change the HDMI signal.

Since everything worked fine before the software upgrade, meaning the cable box wasn't a problem and tests have isolated it to the output signal from the cable box, it's clearly caused by the new software. It worked reasonably well Saturday but today (Sunday) it's never failed to fail the color switch.

And on top of that, the older problem of the bandwidth showed up in the middle of the first half of the Seattle-San Francisco game. Good timing. The HD signal began pixelating and then vanished altother, and was intermittent the rest of the game. This included losing channels 110, 111, 113, 505 and 537 for periods all afternoon. Right now, 113 (game) it's in and out.

Add to that the really old problem of the SPDIF audio signal problem, and you wonderful service to customers who like to use the full features of Comcast's advertised service, HD video and Dolby 5.1 audio.

Gee, thanks Comcast. Since there is little if any difference in price between the satellite companies and Comcast, it really makes you wonder if and where there is any real competition. Maybe the FCC should remove the monoply power of the cable companies. Surely a competitor couldn't be worse than Comcast? No? Well, maybe we should give it a try?

So, Comcast, do you really want my money and service? You have all the information to solve this problem along with my help (offered). How about some assurances you really did fully test your software (or your contractor)?

And the alternative now? I have to go through their 800 number to get a technician to replace a cable box with no assurance anything will be fixed, just like past times when nothing was fixed. And yes, I'm venting here over small problems. The lost channels was fixed, or so I thought, but obviously not. And the color switching is new.

And that's the story to date. I'll keep you posted here, with comments, or a new post, if anything significantly changes.

2 comments:

ComcastCares1 said...

I apologize.

Please contact us at the email provided below. We will be happy to escalate this for resolution.

Mark Casem
Comcast Corp.
We_Can_Help@cable.comcast.com

WSR Photography said...

I got the e-mails, thank you. And I got one to use the chat to schedule an appointment. However, after trying to explain the problems (HDMI signal and channel losses), and referencing this post, the chat was suddenly closed by the Comcast representative.

So, if I have to schedule an appointment to prove the case it's not the cable box or my TV, so be it, but why close the session to do this?