Curious about new digital TV signals

[gsdx]

Why do the programmes freeze so often? The scramble and then stop completely, sometimes for hours at a time.

I've never had so many cable interruptions as I've had since June 12 when TV signals switched from analogue to digital.

Could someone explain this, please? (And does the more expensive digital television suffer the same quirks?)

 

[gsdx]

periods of hours are unnaceptable, and you mention cable... If you have cable television you should not have been effected by the digital changeover and should call your provider if you are experiencing channel losses for such lenghts of time.

Thanks.

When I made this post, HGTV had scrambled slightly (those big, square 'pixels') and froze. It was off for about 15 to 20 minutes, but I've seen them go off for much longer.

 

[gsdx]

Is it only to particular channels? or the whole service?

Pretty-much on all the stations I watch, which isn't all that many:

CHEX (local for Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, & People's Court)
E!Ont
Fox29 (People's Court & Judge Judy)
PBS
CBC Newsworld
TLC (very rarely)
A&E (very occasionally)
HGTV (regularly)
Discovery (regularly)
Space

That's about it, but they all scramble and freeze at some time or other.

 

[Yooper]

I had digital cable installed last August. Brand new drop from the pole and everything.

Within 3 weeks it was unwatchable with all the pixellation and freezing.

After much trying to blame my TV, wiring in the house, spiders, etc., the cable box was replaced and all was well for two more months.

Another service call, another new cable box.

All told, I'm on the fifth cable box in just under a year.

 

[gsdx]

Have you tried power cycling the cable box when they go out?

I don't have a cable box. This isn't digital TV. It's just regular cable receiving the new digital signal the governments made all the companies use for broadcasting.

I wasn't really looking for a solution. All I really wanted was an explanation, and you gave me that.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

if they are messing up through your cable service, it's your cable service's responsibility to fix it (assuming it's not the broadcast station, which if it was i think you'd have heard about it in the newspapers or on the news). so i would still call the cable company. they should also be told you want the days worth of time you've not been able to watch your tv taken off your bill. but call them asap because if you wait too long they will say it's your fault for not calling them earlier and may be not refund you.

 

[sonny10305]

How long have your had your cable box?
When I started having freezing problems I spoke with my cable provider and he explained the changes that had been made and how some of the hard drives on the older model boxes were causing some problems. Even if you have a recent model box you my still be having hard drive problems. I got a new cable box and the problem improved dramatically. The freezing still occurs but not very often at all and when it does it is momentary
Get a new cable box, there should not be a charge, what do you have to lose its worth a shot. Good luck

 

[gsdx]

How long have your had your cable box?

I don't have a cable box. I have regular cable, not digital. Only the cable signal is digital because of the new broadcasting regulations which went into effect on June 12.

I'll contact my cable company through their website. Calling them is a nightmare of "Please press '1' now."

 

[sonny10305]

I don't have a cable box. I have regular cable, not digital. Only the cable signal is digital because of the new broadcasting regulations which went into effect on June 12.

I'll contact my cable company through their website. Calling them is a nightmare of "Please press '1' now."

I would suggest that you upgrade to a new cable box with a DVR. It should only cost about another ten bucks a month or so and a DVR is awesome, I would never wanna be without one. It will probably solve all your problem and give you all the extras that come with it. Check out the website or if there is an ofFice near where you live you maybe BE able as I did to make the switch yourself. As to the "please push one" I usually just keep screaming "AGENT" into the phone until they say "you want to speak to an agent, is that right?" to which I reply "YES!