tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post425479676414786884..comments2024-02-10T05:18:09.354-05:00Comments on The Libes Libation: Quarterly ReviewDon Libeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396665796257950441noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-49417167034702997972007-03-30T14:20:00.000-04:002007-03-30T14:20:00.000-04:00Don,Didn't know how to leave this info other than ...Don,<BR/><BR/>Didn't know how to leave this info other than posting a comment. The BTHSMDBD wire center that serves parts of Potomac and Bethesda is now lit for FIOS TV. We had our install on Tuesday. Install was painless (already had internet service). SD PQ is excellent - crystal clear (miles better than Comcast). HD is excellent (somewhat better). I got the base digital package without any premiums, 2 HD DVRs and 2 SD STB's. Cost including $5 discount for having internet service and $9.99 discount for one year commitment is $6 less per month than Comcast (and that was for Comcast's expanded basic package). So I get twice the programming, one more DVR, and better PQ for less money. Posters have complained about the guide and DVR functionality. The Comcast guide was a bit better but VZ is about to rollout a new one. DVR functionality is about the same. Mostly it's Tivo users that are complaining. Yes but with Tivo you have to buy the equipment and then pay a higher monthly subscription fee. <BR/><BR/>Thought you would be interested in some local first impressions.JJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07874286566322758008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-2540615803204228912007-02-14T14:27:00.000-05:002007-02-14T14:27:00.000-05:00Mr. Libes - Thank you for another good blog.Too ba...Mr. Libes - Thank you for another good blog.<BR/>Too bad I can't convince you to move to NJ. I'm certain that our problems with Comcast are greater than yours! But I must admit that since Verizon came on the scene, Comcast telephone operators are more polite. However, their responsiveness still leaves much to be desired...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-80163813080808238232007-02-13T08:41:00.000-05:002007-02-13T08:41:00.000-05:00I've been trying to get a pixelation problem resol...I've been trying to get a pixelation problem resolved now for about 6 weeks (no success after two trys and they blew of my last Saturday appointment). All my tvs with boxes suffer this problem, but whats really weird is if I watch a dvr'd show and it pops, I lose sound until I rewind, etc. On really bad pixelations, my internet connection also stops for a few seconds. These problems are more frequent on windy days. My next appt to try to resolve it is on Thursday, but I don't hold much hope because of the upcoming predicted icestorm. Either way it they can't resolve it this time, I'll be adding to the county complaint list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-71155531602879422122007-02-12T01:46:00.000-05:002007-02-12T01:46:00.000-05:00The tiling problem appears to be more than just ov...The tiling problem appears to be more than just overcompression. The CTC report wasn't that clear but what it seemed to say was that they do not see the problem at Comcast's headend but rather only at some customer homes.Don Libeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12396665796257950441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-37545755878320547042007-02-12T00:37:00.000-05:002007-02-12T00:37:00.000-05:00Not sure this went through. if it did, I apologiz...Not sure this went through. if it did, I apologize for the double post.<BR/><BR/>Regarding the pixelization issue on comcast:<BR/><BR/>Let me first say that y'all should take it with a very large grain of salt, but I think it sounds like Comcast is having bandwidth issues. Perhaps it's just from the pole to the home, perhaps it's system wide. My guess is the latter. I believe that the blocking you see is artifacts from overcompressed mpeg files. Because comcast is running out of bandwidth trying to keep up in the high speed internet game, they have to lower the quality of their broadcast signal. <BR/><BR/>I'd love to hear more from someone more knowledgeable on the subject, but my speculation is based on some basic research and knowledge of networking.<BR/><BR/>I should note that I have no blocking on Verizon FiOS utilizing the SAME in-house wiring leftover from my comcast installation. So, the blocking I got was either from the cable box (though both are motorola) or the comcast network between their office and the outside of my home. I'd be willing to bet that verizon and comcast get the same feed quality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com