http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/ The Latest in Retail, Entertainment, and Development in Raleigh Mon, 24 Aug 2015 02:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67602 JohnP Sat, 29 Jun 2013 20:26:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67602 This little box sucks. I connected one today and the output is of lower quality than what the HD TV tuner pulls in. Even when using an hdmi connection. Time Warner has managed to do more stupid things with their service to drive users away. I'm going back to straight cble on the TV I tried this box on until finding another vendor to go with. I will try AT&T Uverse next.
This little box sucks. I connected one today and the output is of lower quality than what the HD TV tuner pulls in. Even when using an hdmi connection. Time Warner has managed to do more stupid things with their service to drive users away. I’m going back to straight cble on the TV I tried this box on until finding another vendor to go with. I will try AT&T Uverse next.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67412 Guest Mon, 13 May 2013 12:48:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67412 A follow up on the "another fwiw"... As time has gone by, more HD channels have become available via the digital converter box. Besides the various local channels and side-channels in the 1100-1199 range, there are now 18 HD channels. TWC finally added their own news channel 1414 to the mix, and ESPN2 has joined ESPN.
A follow up on the “another fwiw”… As time has gone by, more HD channels have become available via the digital converter box. Besides the various local channels and side-channels in the 1100-1199 range, there are now 18 HD channels. TWC finally added their own news channel 1414 to the mix, and ESPN2 has joined ESPN.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67411 Nick Sun, 12 May 2013 20:07:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67411 In NYC we are allowed 4 boxes. Yesterday I received my 4 Cisco DTA 170HDs. Analog drop-dead date on Staten Island is 6/25/2013. Free through the end of 2014, 99 cents/month after that. http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/residential-home/support/topics/tv/digital-adapters.html http://www.timewarnercable.com/content/dam/residential/pdfs/support/tv/DCI/dci_nyc_schedule.pdf
In NYC we are allowed 4 boxes. Yesterday I received my 4 Cisco DTA 170HDs. Analog drop-dead date on Staten Island is 6/25/2013. Free through the end of 2014, 99 cents/month after that.
http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/residential-home/support/topics/tv/digital-adapters.html
http://www.timewarnercable.com/content/dam/residential/pdfs/support/tv/DCI/dci_nyc_schedule.pdf
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67126 Dana Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:27:39 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67126 Thanks for the clarification, Matt. I think I put my system together in '09, and it's hard to remember the details of changes along the way. Though Microsoft has disassembled the Media Center team, I'm approaching it from the angle of this being an appliance that was produced in '09 that they can't take away from me. If I have to stay on Windows 7, at least it all works... which leads me to my rant about Windows 8.. Of course the Metro layer will have its own apps for vendors, such as a Netflix app, a Hulu app, a Watch ESPN app... etc. So obviously MS wants users to live in that space. Why not break out Media Center's essential modules (Guide, Live TV, Recorded TV/Movies) to their own apps? That way MS would have a product that serves every aspect of the TV ecosystem during this transition away from linear TV. The answer I've gotten is that it would require too much investment. That's absurd though. I've already fixed the deep link problem (see http://www.blog.danamccall.com/?p=389 ), all MS would have to do is put in a UI switch to convert the remote's Green Button to a Windows Start button. They would also need to change the behavior of the "Back" button in a few places. It just kind of breaks my heart that Microsoft not only wrote the best DVR software ever written, it is probably my favorite piece of technology ever created...then abandoned it for a model that is many, many years away from being as serviceable to the end user. Like I said, ultimately these providers will merely be ISPs, especially if Net Neutrality can stay like it is.
Thanks for the clarification, Matt. I think I put my system together in ’09, and it’s hard to remember the details of changes along the way.
Though Microsoft has disassembled the Media Center team, I’m approaching it from the angle of this being an appliance that was produced in ’09 that they can’t take away from me. If I have to stay on Windows 7, at least it all works… which leads me to my rant about Windows 8..
Of course the Metro layer will have its own apps for vendors, such as a Netflix app, a Hulu app, a Watch ESPN app… etc. So obviously MS wants users to live in that space. Why not break out Media Center’s essential modules (Guide, Live TV, Recorded TV/Movies) to their own apps? That way MS would have a product that serves every aspect of the TV ecosystem during this transition away from linear TV. The answer I’ve gotten is that it would require too much investment. That’s absurd though. I’ve already fixed the deep link problem (see http://www.blog.danamccall.com/?p=389 ), all MS would have to do is put in a UI switch to convert the remote’s Green Button to a Windows Start button. They would also need to change the behavior of the “Back” button in a few places.
It just kind of breaks my heart that Microsoft not only wrote the best DVR software ever written, it is probably my favorite piece of technology ever created…then abandoned it for a model that is many, many years away from being as serviceable to the end user.
Like I said, ultimately these providers will merely be ISPs, especially if Net Neutrality can stay like it is.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67121 Matt Mon, 21 Jan 2013 01:06:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67121 I have a HDHomeRun Prime and the cablecard does not require a truck roll, and only requires one tuning adapter (giant cisco box). I just had to pick up mine at the tw office along with the TA and make a call. I use a few hacks for windows media center to give me more rows in the guide and icons, and I use comskip for the non copy-once channels and recordings from my OTA tuners. It works out pretty nicely. The HDHomeRun Prime is doing some interesting stuff with DLNA/DTCP-IP which will allow it to stream protected content to devices (ex PS3) other then windows media center. WMC is great and all, but it is the _only_ thing that can currently do the protected content and it has pretty much been abandoned by microsoft.
I have a HDHomeRun Prime and the cablecard does not require a truck roll, and only requires one tuning adapter (giant cisco box). I just had to pick up mine at the tw office along with the TA and make a call.
I use a few hacks for windows media center to give me more rows in the guide and icons, and I use comskip for the non copy-once channels and recordings from my OTA tuners. It works out pretty nicely.
The HDHomeRun Prime is doing some interesting stuff with DLNA/DTCP-IP which will allow it to stream protected content to devices (ex PS3) other then windows media center. WMC is great and all, but it is the _only_ thing that can currently do the protected content and it has pretty much been abandoned by microsoft.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67119 dennis Sun, 20 Jan 2013 11:38:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67119 You are wrong about one thing. UVERSE has an all around wireless reciever now and you can run multiple TV's off of it. I would never pay for TWC again. their service is disgusting.
You are wrong about one thing. UVERSE has an all around wireless reciever now and you can run multiple TV’s off of it. I would never pay for TWC again. their service is disgusting.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67116 Anonymous Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:26:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67116 You are correct - the DA box can connect to the TV using coax or HDMI (maybe a 3rd method - I don't have it in front of me any more). If coax, you can select either channel 3 or 4. I use the HDMI connection, fwiw. Since the remote they included will handle my TV, the TV's remote is now stored away. Another FWIW - figure on TWC moving other channels from analog to digital, so if a TWC customer does not get one of these boxes (or the normal digital box) for their TV, they will lose access to more and more channels over time.
You are correct – the DA box can connect to the TV using coax or HDMI (maybe a 3rd method – I don’t have it in front of me any more). If coax, you can select either channel 3 or 4. I use the HDMI connection, fwiw. Since the remote they included will handle my TV, the TV’s remote is now stored away.
Another FWIW – figure on TWC moving other channels from analog to digital, so if a TWC customer does not get one of these boxes (or the normal digital box) for their TV, they will lose access to more and more channels over time.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67115 Anonymous Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:13:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67115 That's really interesting. It sounds like this is the box I heard about a couple of years ago that cable companies would probably have to give away. From its instructions it sounds like it connects to a static input on your TV (HDMI or channel 3/4), and the box does the heavy lifting (tuning), which requires using its remote and not the TV's natural remote. Sounds like the intent here is to sustain the life of the old TV in a bedroom or kitchen, really, however the offering of some extra HDs is fascinating, and makes an HDTV a little better than just getting 0-99 and the HD locals. One thing is for sure...the days of plugging a TV directly into the wall are definitely ending. Thanks so much for posting about this!
That’s really interesting. It sounds like this is the box I heard about a couple of years ago that cable companies would probably have to give away. From its instructions it sounds like it connects to a static input on your TV (HDMI or channel 3/4), and the box does the heavy lifting (tuning), which requires using its remote and not the TV’s natural remote. Sounds like the intent here is to sustain the life of the old TV in a bedroom or kitchen, really, however the offering of some extra HDs is fascinating, and makes an HDTV a little better than just getting 0-99 and the HD locals.
One thing is for sure…the days of plugging a TV directly into the wall are definitely ending.
Thanks so much for posting about this!
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67113 Anonymous Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:01:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67113 The DA box I was given is the CISCO DTA 170HD. It is about 3.5"x4.5"x1" in size.
The DA box I was given is the CISCO DTA 170HD. It is about 3.5″x4.5″x1″ in size.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67114 Anonymous Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:01:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67114 The DA box I was given is the CISCO DTA 170HD. It is about 3.5"x4.5"x1" in size.
The DA box I was given is the CISCO DTA 170HD. It is about 3.5″x4.5″x1″ in size.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67111 Drr2 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:15:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67111 TWC is one of the companies, along with BofA, thats needs to go the way of the dinosaurs. Hopefully Apple TV starts driving the spikes in the coffin.
TWC is one of the companies, along with BofA, thats needs to go the way of the dinosaurs. Hopefully Apple TV starts driving the spikes in the coffin.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67110 Anonymous Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:07:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67110 The HDHomeRun is great, and you will salivate when you go to Media Center. I had the first gen HDHR, but it only picked up the locals (no CableCARD), not analog or digital cable channels. I have a Ceton internal tuner, so I'm not as familiar with the newer HDHR (I assume you got the one that has 3 tuners in it? -they just announced a 4-tuner one). You'll need to get one or two SDV Tuning Adapters from TWC. (can't remember if the HDHR limits you to only two tuners per SDV adapter or if it is four. I believe it is four). When you order your CableCARD (which required a truck roll two years ago - not sure if they do now or not), be sure to ask for these SDV adapters (several channels are offered via SDV. If you have problems with pairing the CableCARD, try calling TWC's national CableCARD line at (866) 532-2598 (don't deal with local people on this, and BTW, the installer, if you have to have one, will be utterly clueless on this equipment. He'll be a spectator). You'll get all of the channels on my alphabetical guide that do NOT contain "On Demand" http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2011/04/15/gogos-twc-channel-guide-shows-you-where-the-damned-channel-is/ For me this is everything I need. I got a free TWC box with my subscription, so I switch over to it if we want to do an On-Demand movie in the den. You'll then want to get some XBox360s or Ceton Echos to go in each room http://cetoncorp.com/products/echo/ Media Center is great. We run our den TV as the monitor for the server. This affords full net streaming and Netflix viewing in that room. It's plenty powerful to run 4 extenders that we have in other rooms. The only drawback is that Media Center does go through flaky periods now and again. Sometimes it is slow to zero in on tuning a channel, and we get artificial recording failure messages, but the benefit of being able to hold 2TB of recorded TV, offload any non-protected items to other devices, and live in that UI is absolutely worth it.
The HDHomeRun is great, and you will salivate when you go to Media Center. I had the first gen HDHR, but it only picked up the locals (no CableCARD), not analog or digital cable channels. I have a Ceton internal tuner, so I’m not as familiar with the newer HDHR (I assume you got the one that has 3 tuners in it? -they just announced a 4-tuner one). You’ll need to get one or two SDV Tuning Adapters from TWC. (can’t remember if the HDHR limits you to only two tuners per SDV adapter or if it is four. I believe it is four). When you order your CableCARD (which required a truck roll two years ago – not sure if they do now or not), be sure to ask for these SDV adapters (several channels are offered via SDV. If you have problems with pairing the CableCARD, try calling TWC’s national CableCARD line at (866) 532-2598 (don’t deal with local people on this, and BTW, the installer, if you have to have one, will be utterly clueless on this equipment. He’ll be a spectator).
You’ll get all of the channels on my alphabetical guide that do NOT contain “On Demand”
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2011/04/15/gogos-twc-channel-guide-shows-you-where-the-damned-channel-is/
For me this is everything I need. I got a free TWC box with my subscription, so I switch over to it if we want to do an On-Demand movie in the den.
You’ll then want to get some XBox360s or Ceton Echos to go in each room
http://cetoncorp.com/products/echo/
Media Center is great. We run our den TV as the monitor for the server. This affords full net streaming and Netflix viewing in that room. It’s plenty powerful to run 4 extenders that we have in other rooms. The only drawback is that Media Center does go through flaky periods now and again. Sometimes it is slow to zero in on tuning a channel, and we get artificial recording failure messages, but the benefit of being able to hold 2TB of recorded TV, offload any non-protected items to other devices, and live in that UI is absolutely worth it.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67108 Burgeoningfoodie Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:52:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67108 So I have a SiliconDust Homerun and was thinking of getting rid of TWC set top box and getting a cable card. What channels sans tuner would I be able to get? I was going to pair this up with Media Center server and front end.
So I have a SiliconDust Homerun and was thinking of getting rid of TWC set top box and getting a cable card. What channels sans tuner would I be able to get? I was going to pair this up with Media Center server and front end.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67107 Anonymous Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:11:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67107 I do not remember the brand/model offhand - I'll try to remember to post the info when I get home. FWIW - it came with the standard TWC remote, which I was able to program to work with my TV... only one remote to worry about. In addition, it included an HDMI cable and remote sensor - if you want to hide the little DA box you can use attach the sensor to the side of the TV.
I do not remember the brand/model offhand – I’ll try to remember to post the info when I get home.
FWIW – it came with the standard TWC remote, which I was able to program to work with my TV… only one remote to worry about. In addition, it included an HDMI cable and remote sensor – if you want to hide the little DA box you can use attach the sensor to the side of the TV.
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67106 Anonymous Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:52:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67106 Tim, This is great information! Can you be more specific about the DA box you were given? What brand and model number is it?
Tim,
This is great information! Can you be more specific about the DA box you were given? What brand and model number is it?
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-67105 Anonymous Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:09:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2013/01/16/whats-the-deal-with-this-twc-letter/#comment-67105 Some additional information for anybody who received this letter: - TWC allows you have up to 3 of the little Digital Adapter (DA) boxes for free through the end of 2014 (at least that was what I was told a couple of weeks ago when I got mine). You can call the number on the letter to get them - they'll FedEx them to you - or go to a TWC site like the one on Atlantic to pick them up. - The TWC Rep I spoke to suggested I get all three now, as she could not guarantee that the "free through 2014" deal would be available later - if I got one now then asked for 2 later, I might be charged for the latter two prior to 2015. - The DA boxes do allow for HD local channels, plus a few others - just not at the 5.1, 17.1, etc. locations we've been getting them on. I was pleasantly surprised to find I could get 1105, 1111, 1117, 1122, 1128 and other related channels using the DA box. In addition, 1300 (USA) and 1301 (TNT) were available, along with ESPN (1500). However, other HD channels like ESPN2 (1501) and TBS (1302) were not. - If you are looking for HD news stations, you are SOL. (Fox is available in HD, but I noted NEWS, not propaganda) - Many stations are available in the 300-900 range - I actually get more channels with the DA box than I did when the coax cable was plugged directly into my HD TV. - The DA boxes MUST be activated by calling the number on the letter enclosed with the box. It was a bit frustrating trying to figure out what channels are available, but that frustration is lessening as I get used to the DA box. Now, do I believe that TWC will leave these boxes at $0.99/month starting in 2015? Not a chance - my guess is that the price will jump to $1.69 or something like that in 2016 (just like TWC has, "to better serve me", started charging $3.99/month for my cable modem).
Some additional information for anybody who received this letter:
– TWC allows you have up to 3 of the little Digital Adapter (DA) boxes for free through the end of 2014 (at least that was what I was told a couple of weeks ago when I got mine). You can call the number on the letter to get them – they’ll FedEx them to you – or go to a TWC site like the one on Atlantic to pick them up.
– The TWC Rep I spoke to suggested I get all three now, as she could not guarantee that the “free through 2014” deal would be available later – if I got one now then asked for 2 later, I might be charged for the latter two prior to 2015.
– The DA boxes do allow for HD local channels, plus a few others – just not at the 5.1, 17.1, etc. locations we’ve been getting them on. I was pleasantly surprised to find I could get 1105, 1111, 1117, 1122, 1128 and other related channels using the DA box. In addition, 1300 (USA) and 1301 (TNT) were available, along with ESPN (1500). However, other HD channels like ESPN2 (1501) and TBS (1302) were not.
– If you are looking for HD news stations, you are SOL. (Fox is available in HD, but I noted NEWS, not propaganda)
– Many stations are available in the 300-900 range – I actually get more channels with the DA box than I did when the coax cable was plugged directly into my HD TV.
– The DA boxes MUST be activated by calling the number on the letter enclosed with the box.
It was a bit frustrating trying to figure out what channels are available, but that frustration is lessening as I get used to the DA box.
Now, do I believe that TWC will leave these boxes at $0.99/month starting in 2015? Not a chance – my guess is that the price will jump to $1.69 or something like that in 2016 (just like TWC has, “to better serve me”, started charging $3.99/month for my cable modem).