Cable TV Question

So after a couple online chat sessions and then three follow up phone calls to Comcast, I’m borderline cardiac arrest. Being that I cannot get a straight answer via those venues, I though I’d ask the never ending fountain of info here. Are the HD channels broadcast with the normal channels regardless, and you just need the box to view? Reason I asked is that our bill is once again up there (nothing new there, seems to always happen) and I own the HD digital box. If I down grade from the digital starter package to the digital economy package, will I still get the HD channels being that I have the box? I few more deep breaths and I’ll be fine, really need to get out of the house more lately…

from what I understand the box is what gets teh “HD” channels at least that is the way with Direct TV. so to switch to regular again I have to pay fo rthat crap talk about BS there. makes me crabby. but from what I think (quiet peanut gallery) it is the receiver and not the “feed” but I am probably wrong just ask my wife.

I run the most basic cable package Comcast offers, not the digital box, or even something they advertise on their site, you have to ask for it. Basically local channels and CNN, TBS and WGN. I get all the local HD channels.

Heck, you can pull them over the air with an antennae in the TC as long as your TV has a built in digital tuner.

I’ll second what Dfresh said. We have Comcasts Basic Cable plan and are able to get the local HD channels without any cable box. I’m in the process of canceling our service with Comcast. Their last increase was the final straw.

If you have the same comcast as I do, go up to the 400 series of numbers, they will list HD there, not sure about all HD channels, but many of them there are different than the same channel in the non HD section.

Al

I don’t know if there is confusion here or not but “Digital” is not “HD”. I haven’t been a Comcast subscriber for a half year now but “HD” was an additional service above and beyond “Digital”. Every channel I got in HD I also got in normal format. Channels 4,5,9,11 (the network channels) I got as those channels and they also had those in HD in the hundred numbers somewhere.

If you are mad at Comcast for rate hikes, good Lord switch to DirecTV. I wouldn’t give in for a long time but finally did. I cut my cable TV bill in half and kept Comcast for my internet. I basically told Comcast to give me the best deal they could on internet as I left them for my TV and would be leaving them for my internet.

I’ve been really happy with Direct TV!

I was able to get local HD channels on Comcast on channels 4-1, 5-1, 9-1, 11-1, etc (without using a cable box).

My problem with Comcast pricing wasn’t with their cable TV (I cancelled their Basic TV plan – still got it though). I was paying 42.00 for their internet and 16.00 for their VOIP phone service. Once my intro phone offer ran out, they raised the phone service to over 50.00 per month (plus 42 internet = over 100.00 per month). If I was to cancel my phone service, they would jack my internet rate up to over 60.00 per month (not bundled anymore).

I’ve always had Directv that I’m able to use at home and the cabin. I wouldn’t claim that is cheap either (once the intro rate runs out). The only way you will keep cheap service from any of the options is being willing to say enough and switch.

I will personally tell you that Directv will work with you and give you multi months worth of credits , if you are having a problem paying your bill. You can get $10 credits or what ever to keep your costs down.. no way that comcast or especially CHARTER does the same..

All of the cable companies are the same, they give you a discount rate for a year and then jack the price way up. They treat new customers better than a loyal customer that has been with them for years. Charter ticks me off to no end doing this, every year you have to have them give you a new plan. Now they started a deal where they lock you in for 2 years and if you cut back or stop service you have to pay a penalty. They can kiss my

Love the service and all except for their new Flash based Email, it sucks. I can buy a car for what they charge a month for TV, Internet and Phone.

Almost 2 years ago I really got fed up with Mediacom so I put up a great antenna ran ground and coax into the house checked for the correct aiming of the antenna for best coverage, run 4 tv’s off a signal booster, monthly cost $0.00

We also have netflex, $9.99 and Roku $7.99 mo. have been very happy, our Mediacom bill used to be over $70.00 a month. Years ago I was a cable tv tech in tx, ca, screw cable

I have charter bundled, digital HD, internet, phone.
Each year when the rates try to go up
My wife goes to the charter office and complains
and before she leaves, they give her the latest, greatest price available. They won’t give this to her over the phone, she has to go in person.

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They won’t give this to her over the phone, she has to go in person.

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eyekatcher,
What does your wife look like? Bet they wouldn’t give the same deal to me if I went in person.

I am sorry but that last post reminds me of a story from the 1970’s.. I belonged to a major fishing club in Milwaukee. and one of the guys’ wives” stopped at a MAJOR fishing manufacturor located at that time In Minnesota..

for what ever reason , she brought him back BOXES of tackle. for free.. and I don’t mean like, shoe boxes either. I mean BOXES..

He must have been okay with it.. since he told the whole club during the meeting..

I am not sure what my neighbor is paying for my cable.

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I am not sure what my neighbor is paying for my cable.

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Funny pug, mine came on one day after I helped the neighborhood kid with his truck? He needed the truck to get to work at comcast….

Now with the digital crap is a different story. I wonder if I just down grade and see what’s viewable.