Minneapolis metro Comcast customers

[Rick Myers]

Have you been having bad digital dropouts over the past week? Picture and audio breakup...

Cable CLAIMS to be more reliable than sat TV, especially in bad weather. But Comcast is delivering a digital signal over cable and can't get it right!!!

Picture quality is poor to average, but the digitized freeze frames are very freguent. Audio usually locks during these breakups.

Grr!!!!! :grr:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I've noticed the same thing.

I wouldn't say it happens a lot, but it never used to happen at all. The sound sometimes quits, and occasionally the picture freezes. It doesn't last long, but it's annoying. Wonder what's going on?

[dflprincess]

2. I've been noticing it as well

Sometimes it helps to unplug the cable for a few seconds and then the box resets itself.

Prior to trying the unplug and reset trick, I called about the picture, but they got really pushy about trying to send someone out to check things out - as I've never had the cable company act so anxious to provide service I had the feeling this visit would probably cost me and declined. My friend informs me that they tried to get her to upgrade to a more expensive converter box, even though the one she has from them was what Comcast once claimed you needed for digital. Apparently, if you have this converter (which is the one I have) you aren't able to get all the stations you're paying for. And the newer converter will cost you more. Given that the rates went up again the first of the year, I am not impressed - and I'm not missing enough stations to make it worth paying those *** another dime.

[qb]

3. I'm still on the cheapest analog package...

The signal gets really shitty from time to time. I thought it was a deliberate attempt to get me to switch to digital but I guess they just don't know what the hell they're doing.

[myrna minx]

4. I'm still on analog too. At least twice a day, no matter what channel I'm watching,t

he image freezes. Every day. Its so frustrating.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

8. Still using analog, but no problems in Eagan

Then again, it usually is not on until after 8 at night, if then. But I haven't seen problems. Internet service (which is used much more at home) seems stable as well for us.

Eagan is considering Wi-Fi service citywide, similar to what Minneapolis is in the process of establishing right now. Not sure about true access speed for a community Wi-Fi system, but that would be a great option to have - the high speed Internet access is the only reason we have Comcast at all.

In my hometown (in Iowa), the municipally-owned utilities had a substantial surplus in the early '90s and used the money to create their own fiber-based cable/Internet system, although the community already had a cable/Internet provider. The city felt it was a good investment for the community (businesses as well as residents). Both the municipal utilities and the private provider provide services to businesses and homes in the city at lower rates than in the adjacent city that has twice the population and far more businesses with the same private provider (but no other competition). Seems to have worked out well for the city and residents.

[loveable liberal]

5. AND my high speed internet is slow....

Go figure. What I wouldnt give for a nice publicly owned isp.... like they have in Chanhassen.

[Rick Myers]

11. Yes, the high speed is getting dodgy

We've had frequent dropouts and some SLOW preformance on the Internets lately...

When the TV problem occurs, it's on the digitsl signal (in the living room) but NOT on tha analog signal (in our bedroom).

In fact, it just happened now, on MSNBC during Obama's speech, frozen for over 30 seconds!!!

[PleaseSayItAintSo]

6. Yup, lockups on video and audio ...

Slow internet, email problems ... But hey, their rates keep increasing. Wasn't their monopoly supposed to be a great thing? Didn't they promise better service and ever lower rates due to that magic thing called "the market"?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. This makes me glad that I dropped to the lowest level a few months ago

The only things I regret missing are the second series of Life on Mars on BBC America and the last half-season of the The Sopranos on HBO.

Otherwise, I find that I hardly watch anything but PBS three or four nights a week.

The non-broadcast stations are pretty worthless now unless you like true crime, DIY, or military matters.

[question everything]

9. Not recently, however both CNN and MSNBC (when I used to watch it)

would on occasion freeze for a few seconds.

[dodger501]

10. I must be in the minority

Internet speed is fine but not nearly as good as they tout it to be.
Digital phone service is fine.
Cable TV is fine. I have one small set upstairs with a cable going directly into it that has freeze-ups from time to time but the one downstairs with the HD box is fine.
MSNBC does not have an HD channel like CNN does. Neither does Fux, come to think of it.
I like the movies on AMC, TNT, etc., Sci-Fi channel and HD service has a live concert channel that is pretty cool. Got to see the Stones at Isle of Wigt concert. Amy Winehouse came onstage at the end. Weird, since Keith Richards called her a bitch recently.

[crweber]

12. My folks have been noticing the same.

[Rick Myers]

13. Janet called Comcast and we got a BIG reduction in our bill!

Between digital cable and internet we got a reduction of over $30 per month for 6 months! They KNOW their service is crappy. They are no more reliable than the sat services and they are 'throttling' their internet access.

We listed about 5 problems with technical detail and they caved in quickly. The woman taking the call was very nice and had to get the approval of a 'supervisor,' but it took about 8 minutes total...

Don't let Comcast rip you off!!! Right of way for cable doesn't mean they get to string up a wire and open a collection agency!!! They are a monopoly, but they are threatened by several technologies...

Comcast has NOT kept up with changes in the business model, and they know it. They can blame some of their failure in the Twin Cities on the fact that they bought or traded this market with Time-Warner, but they promised BIG changes and improvements. Their service is much worse than Time-Warner, and I've used both companies in several markets.

CALL COMCACT AND COMPLAIN!!! Every time!!!