RCN switched to all-digital TV last night

[avacon.livejournal.com]

For those who have RCN cable TV, they appear to have made the switch to all-digital
last night in Somerville. As part of this, they also rearranged all of their channel numbers.
As a result, anyone without a DTV tuner or cable box can no longer receive any channels.

If you have a TiVo, you may want to check it as you may need to tell it to "repeat guided setup"
for it to learn the new lineup and properly record on the correct channels
(hit "enter" in the channel list under the "settings -> channels" menu).
It seems like simply picking up program guide updates isn't good enough.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Any idea why they flipped ths switch now instead of waiting until February 17 like they're supposed to?

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

The cutover is for over-the-air broadcasters only; cable providers can do whatever they please in this regard. For that matter, the February cutover is *not* a time until which broadcasters must wait - it *is* a time after which all broadcasters *must* have cut over.

[ron_newman]

Even so, isn't there some rule that they have to give N days notice before turning off the analog signal (if done before 2/17) ?

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

Perhaps. Though currently, N resolves to something like 2*365, and that's just for the relevant law. The planning of this whole shebang has been in the works since the late Nineties.

Again, any rule of that sort would apply only to broadcasters using those chunks of wireless spectrum. RCN could conceivably even stay all analog if they cared to (though the argument that the Long Tail of analog television owners represent sufficient profit to merit doing so strikes me as fundamentally flawed.)

[sapphira-altair.livejournal.com]

No, as far as I know. Coupons for digital converter boxes have been available since 1 January 2008; any sign in any store I've seen encourages people to get the converter boxes ASAP. When I've asked the appropriate people "Why ASAP?" they say because (1) the stations can conceivably convert at whatever point they want to and (2) the coupons will eventually run out.

Most cable companies have issued some sort of warning to its customers before they've switched, or at least tried to.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

I really don't think so. Cable companies are generally unregulated by the feds. If you don't like what RCN is doing in Somerville, complain to your aldermen... or cancel your RCN service and get something else. (Dish Network is about half the cost...)

They did in fact send notice to me, at least. I got a postcard from them about two weeks ago to warn me about the change and try to convince me to pay them for a cable box.

OTOH, before I left for work today, I checked and my (old, totally analog) TV still seemed to have an image. So, either they didn't switch my neighborhood, or my Tivo is doing something fancy with the signal. I'll look at it more when I get home and see if I can figure out what's going on.

I was planning to call RCN and cancel my service as soon as they've gone all digital. They're charging too much already, I'm not willing to pay them even more for a box.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

See now I feel like they are cheap compared to Comcast. I already have an HD box though...with the upgrade we get even more HD channels plus more channels overall.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

In compared to comcast, for equivalent offerings to the service I had been receiving, RCN was cheap. However, I've been paying about $65/month for my cable service, and equivalent service from Dish Network is about $35/month. I've stayed with cable because I didn't want to go through the hassle of having a box and getting the dish installed, but if I have to have a box anyway, I see no reason to stick with cable.

I actually watch a very limited set of shows. I'm going to try for a month taking the money I was spending on cable and going for legal downloads of the shows I like, and also using Hulu.com and Joost.com . If, after a month of that, I'm not happy, I will call a satellite installer.

[bryant]

They sent me paper info about the transition a few weeks ago, and emailed me about it way back when (without a specific date).

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

They did. I got a letter and pamphlet from them about 2 weeks ago advising me of the date it would be changing and all the new channel numbers/new HD channels/new channels overall.

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

weird, they weren't supposed to do that until February

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Cable providers can do it whenever is most convenient; it's the broadcast stations who aren't supposed to convert before February.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

Cable companies are not required to have either digital or analog signal, they can do as they please, when they please. (They could stay all analog if they wanted to but it's beneficial to them to switch to digital.)

It's *broadcasters* who are supposed to switch in February, but I believe they're permitted to do so earlier. (For example, WGBH converted to all digital in their studio years ago, but they broadcast both digital and analog signals. They will merely shut off their analog transmitter when the switch occurs.)

[skexy.livejournal.com]

I had recieved an announcement in the mail well over a month ago, and with it an offer to go pick up a converter box from RCN, so they are providong the converters.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

I have RCN, and a nondigital TV and no converter box. Nothing seems to have changed for me. I get all the channels. (It's possible some channels are in different places, but I get a fine reception.)

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Could you be on a different part of the network than the other posters?

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

Maybe. But after reading below, I'm wondering if I have a QAM tuner in the TV. The cable screws directly into the TV. There is no cable box.

I guess I'll find out tomorrow during Day 2 of the Great Somerville switchover.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

No picture today. Rats!

Update on RCN from City of Somerville Communications Dept.

[somerville311.livejournal.com]

Please note that RCN is switching Somerville over a two-day period and that some analog subscribers won't see changes until tomorrow.

The February FCC deadline in no way impedes cable providers from switching over earlier if they so choose.

In fact, some analog-only Comcast subscribers may already have noticed that MSNBC was recently moved to Comcast's digital tier. Comcast will continue to "migrate" individual channels in the run-up to the digital conversion.

Switching over to all-digital service allows cable providers to make far more efficient use of their existing networks: traditional analog signals consume much more bandwidth than digital signals, a limiting factor in how much programming (especially in HD) a cable service can provide.

RCN says that they have reached out directly to all of their cable subscribers through repeated mailings that provided ample notice of the impending change.

RCN's stated position is that they are taking a competitive action that allows them to provide a larger channel lineup with better technical quality as well as adding more premium channels, more HD channels and a larger selection of on-demand entertainment. they hope that all of these changes will allow them to protect market share from Verizon's FIOS service (which may eventually come to Somerville and Cambridge, but not any tome soon), and to take market share from Comcast.

Re: Update on RCN from City of Somerville Communications Dept.

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the update.. I was trying to figure out why I hadn't seen the changes.

Re: Update on RCN from City of Somerville Communications Dept.

[laryu.livejournal.com]

You know... I actually DID notice that MSNBC became snow on the tv I have without a Comcast box. It happened at least a month ago, I think, perhaps before the election even. I've been too lazy to rescan channels but I guess I ought to. Thanks for clearing that up!

[beantownclown.livejournal.com]

I have RCN and already have an HD digital box, but I was concerned about the change in channel lineup and how it would screw up my DVR programmming so I called them. Per the rep I talked to, the only channels being updated were exisiting channels #30-70. All other channels remain the same. I have not been home to look at my box yet, but I am assuming I need to update my series recording for any shows on channels moved to new #'s or the shows will no longer record properly. Check your DVR's RCN folks!

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Thats not true.

All the HD channels are moving way higher up in number. Right now they are in the 160s and if I remember the brochure right they are all moving towards the 600s.

This is the most up to date channel line-up actually: http://www.rcn.com/boston/digital-cable-tv/services-and-pricing/channel-lineups

[ron_newman]

Isn't some sort of automatic redirection supposed to happen, so that when you ask for channel 2, you get whatever the HD equivalent is?

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Nope, they are completely separate.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

You might be thinking of what's happening with broadcast TV, where all the stations are still going by their old analog assignments, and the box switches to the digital channels.

[ron_newman]

Also, that says it's the Boston lineup. Where is the Somerville lineup?

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

It isnt by city, its the Boston market.

[jabad.livejournal.com]

Is anyone getting their hd channels in the 600s then?
I went through the hoops to retrain my tivo and then noticed that the channels were right about where they were before...

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

My HD channels start at 602 as of today.

[beantownclown.livejournal.com]

So an RCN customer service rep was misinformed and unhelpful.....Shocking! Oh well, looks like I'll be spending some quality time with my DVR.

[rxrfrx.livejournal.com]

...unless you have an old TiVo, in which case you're forced to kludge together a digital cable box and the TiVo.

encryption unnecessary

[artguychris.livejournal.com]

It irks me that they're using this as an excuse to encrypt all their content to force every subscriber to get and pay for a converter box. Anyone with a QAM tuner is capable of receiving digital and HD content without a box, as I had been doing for quite a while until they started encrypting everything. They should leave the basic service unencrypted. I'm looking into satellite now.

Re: encryption unnecessary

[somerville311.livejournal.com]

If you have a TV with a built-in QAM tuner, everything but premium content should be in the clear -- even without a cable box. Have you tested to see if it isn't?

Also, the first basic cable box for each household is supposed to be free. If you are being charged, please send details to the Somerville Communications Department at:

communications@somervillema.gov

Re: encryption unnecessary

[artguychris.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I miskpoke a bit. They encrypted all *HD* content, even the local network stations. Most of the basic tier came in OK on my QAM TV, but there were a few channels I could not get without the box.

They also made life difficult by rearranging the QAM channel #'s of stations frequently and not publishing them. It's a pretty tedious process to go through the entire lineup every month or 2 and reprogram the TV.

I am indeed being charged $10/month for an HD box. Is it extra because it's HD? That's on top of $50 for the service, which is why I'm looking to Dish.

Re: encryption unnecessary

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

I posted here (http://warlord-mit.livejournal.com/13759.html) that RCN was encrypting all its QAM, including the local (non-premium) HD channels, as of May/June. In other words, by UNPLUGGING RCN and plugging in a pair of rabbit ears into my HDTV, I get /more/ HD than just plugging in the RCN cable itself.

Re: encryption unnecessary

[ron_newman]

RCN posted signs today in my building lobby saying that all of their customers need to get a cable box as of 12/15, and directing people to pick them up at the Dilboy VFW. This suggests that they are not providing clear QAM. Should the city do something about this?

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

RCN actually said Somerville wouldn't be switched until next year.
I had no news of this until I woke to no channels.
The FCC made it sound as if cable companies wouldn't be able to pull what RCN is doing. I think it's a bad move and am switching cable companies. A dish might be an option too.
Someone told me that a customer service rep at RCN tried to say this was ordered by the FCC. Obviously we know that isn't true into service was giving. I've heard some pretty backwards things that RCN is telling their customers. Just all the more reason for me to switch.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

There's been quite a lot of talk about the upcoming "Analog Crunch" on forums like dslreports.com. It doesn't have anything to do with the FCC transition in February. It's to free up bandwidth, and likely much more will be available for cable modems.

[pzykotic.livejournal.com]

I understand not knowing could be frustrating, but why would it make you leave the service? It still works, and I knew ahead of time and got my roommates and I boxes at the nearby Arlington office a few weeks ago. Haven't had any problems, everything just switched over this morning (although I have to call about not getting 1 or 2 channels I pay for).

Also, I read this elsewhere:

Somerville residents: If you visit the VFW post at 371 Summer Street (near Davis Sq) Dec. 15-18, 12pm to 8pm, you will get ONE FREE motorola DCT700 box (non-hd) even if you already have one free!

When I visited the Arlington office I got 2 DCT700 boxes for free since I am on a 2-year contract.

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

They must have changed their boxes because when I had digital I had a HUGE box.
I can't speak for others but a few reasons it's bringing me to switch is because, I don't have the room for another clutter box, only the first box is free, they're most likely going to hike up their prices faster and a lot higher considering analog was always cheaper then digital. Many say what they're doing is illegal. I also don't like the lies their customer service reps are feeding to some customers as I breifly mentioned above. I can go on.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I dont their customer service reps are lying...I am more inclined to think it is lack of communication within the RCN corporate environment. I am sure they did not inform all the reps as to what was going on and why...so the rumors are going around and that's what the reps say.

I say this from experience within my own company, we dont always inform everyone properly (totally wrong IMO) and bad info gets around. It isnt the low man on the totem poles fault though.

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

So my RCN is just snow now. Anyone know if I need a proprietary box from RCN or just one of those 'with the coupon' boxes? (have basic cable with no set top box). The RCN site is fairly useless on this and I have spent too much time on RCN hold in the recent past.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

The "coupon" boxes probably won't help, because those are for broadcast digital TV, which uses a different format, and different frequencies, than the way they do digital TV on cable.

I do have a box like that that is cable-ready and HDTV (not just digital)-ready, but it was pre-coupon and because of those features might not have been eligible for the coupon anyway.

If your TV ( or Tivo, DVD recorder, etc) is digital cable-ready, you can just use that.

Except like some of the above posters said, the high-def channels are encrypted so if you want those, you'll have to rent a box or an access card that works with some TVs.

[mwsound.livejournal.com]

My Television now just says "Temporarily Off Air." I called technical support and they said they did everything they could from there end and that a technician will have to come out. The next appointment is next Tuesday! Awesome! Thanks RCN! Anyone else having this issue?

[pzykotic.livejournal.com]

This happened to one of my roommate's SD boxes, and the others were fine. I called and they sent a signal that was supposed to fix it after 10 minutes. The box rebooted and that error was still on the screen, so they sent some SUPER-POWERFUL AWESOMESIGNAL that somehow required me to turn off my TV (I didn't) and after about 20 minutes all the channels came in just fine. I don't understand how they can have 3 tiers of box resetting (first being the automated option on the phone, second being the 10 minute, and third being "up to an hour"), but the third tier worked for us.

[panda681.livejournal.com]

My box is also saying that for some channels but not all. Like I have TBS but not BRAVO. I tried unplugging it to reset it but that doesn't seem to do anything. I guess the box is just supposed to receive some signal from them to switch to all the new channels but its malfunctioning?