Time Warner HD Cable - a bit of a rant (long)

adam2434

Anyone with the Time Warner Pace HD cable box - did you notice the issue/change below?

Last night I noticed a few differences in HD resolution set-up. I believe these are changes from Time Warner, not a problem with my equipment. I'll inquire with them, but their customer service generally sucks and their front line people are usually technically ignorant/untrained, in my experience.

The 1st thing I noticed is that the HDMI output was fixed at 1080i. I noticed this watching the Bengals vs. Packers on ESPN HD last night. ESPN HD's native res is 720p, but my projector was getting 1080i through the HDMI. Originally, I had the cable box set to "pass" to allow native res pass-through, and this worked on HDMI and component in the past.

The 2nd thing I noticed while trying to troubleshoot is that I could no longer set resolution with the buttons/menu on the box. Now, for some reason, resolution settings are in the Time Warner settings menus. When using the HDMI output, I could only highlight 1080i, although it appeared that the other resolutions were available. When using the component output, I could select all res options (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i), which allows the channel's native res to be displayed. After doing this, the game came through component as it should have - in 720p.

Net is that HDMI now appears to be fixed at 1080i, but component still allows pass-through of native res.

The last thing I noticed is that I could no longer switch between HDMI and component to compare picture quality. Only one worked when both were connected.

I plan to join and post this on the AVS forum too.

What the hell is up with Time Warner. I honestly think they have no clue. Different story - on 3 separate occasions with people I know (including my own service) Time Warner did not even set up the cable box to output high def when folks upgraded to HD cable. My service guy left my house saying "that looks pretty good for a projector" although I showed him that the projector was not getting a HD signal. I asked him if there was a way to set resolution. He said "no", and that the problem must be my projector.

I researched the web and found that resolution and aspect ratio need to be set on the box. My box was set to the default 4:3 at 480i! I made the proper changes on my box (and for the other 2 people) and Ta-Da...instant beautiful HD picture. I wonder how many people are paying for Time Warner HD and getting a SD picture because their goon installer didn't even know how or care to set the box to display HD. Inexcusable!

Rant over.

miner

The tech for TW in Katy, TX also set up my HD DVR (Scientific American 8300HD) in SD format (TV is Mitsu WS55907)!!!! These guys need to be properly trained.

DollarDave

I'm in Katy, too. I used their cable for awhile - it sucked. Went back to DirecTV.

PolkThug

adam2434 wrote:

The last thing I noticed is that I could no longer switch between HDMI and component to compare picture quality. Only one worked when both were connected.

They do this so you can't run two hdtv's from one box. I discovered this when trying to setup my kitchen hdtv. I went DVI to the theater room and component to the kitchen, and the box sensed what I was doing and shut itself off. I had to call Time Warner so they could remotely reset my box.

reeltrouble1

Sheesh.........all this signal blocking is really getting to be a peave with me, I have been with the untrained tech from Adelphia cable, which led me to DirecTv whose folks are really not that much better, I am getting really tired of paying big bucks to watch TV and then paying extra to have a nice picture on my set. I would love to wean off of HD, but like most I really enjoy it especially with sports.

RT1

faster100

Yes, i got an HD tv this year so i switched my dvr to the HD dvr.. so now its a fee for the dvr box with HD, the fee for dvr, the hd package, it's ran the bill up pretty well, and we also have TW in the tampa bay area..

PhantomOG

HD with TW here as well. Although I use the really old non-DVR Scientific Atlanta box. It only has a component output and there are no settings for resolution/aspect ratio. I assume its putting out 1080i and since I have a Sony CRT HD set, that's fine with me.

When the hell are they going to get National Geographic HD??? Its been out for months now.

unc2701

At some point I'm going to type up my TW rant, but I'm still at the point when I might have to set someone on fire. Let's just say that the tech took 4 HOURS to TRY to set up one TV. One standard def TV. And all the cables were run. I ended up telling him to just **** get out of my house and leave the boxes. twenty minutes later I was in business... on all the TV's in my house... in high deff on two of them.

As an aside, thanks to some gear from Zach, I'm now down to two cable boxes pushing everything... I would go to one, but occasionally the wife & I will be watching different things in different rooms.

PhantomOG

Aren't most of the installers indepedent contractors or something? I just assumed TW/Dish/Etc. would all have about the same quality of installers.

Anyways, when I moved into my house back in February, the TW installer was pretty quick and efficient. He even showed me how to use the OnQ system in the house which was nice since I wasn't familiar with it. I can't wait to get a new TV with cablecard and get rid of the box completely.

unc2701

PhantomOG wrote:

Aren't most of the installers indepedent contractors or something?

Yep, they are... I've had one come out who actually knew what he was doing- the rest were completely incompetent.

PhantomOG wrote:

I can't wait to get a new TV with cablecard and get rid of the box completely.

Just so you know, TWC charges $42 to install a cablecard. And they won't let you do it- they have to come out. Oh and they're talking about going to a ned system where cable cards won't work at all (gimme awhile and I'll find out where they're testing it).

landry_p2000

I ran into this same problem this weekend when I set up a buddy's Sony HDTV. In his Pace box, I set the signals to 720p and 480p to "on" and interlace set to off. We were getting blue images through the hdmi input at first when the 1080i was on. We got a beautiful image once we changed the settings.

Heck, they just gave him the box and component cables at the Time Warner office and sent him on his way. Now that is great customer service for you....:rolleyes: Here in Memphis, Time Warner was brought out by Comcast.

adam2434

PolkThug wrote:

They do this so you can't run two hdtv's from one box. I discovered this when trying to setup my kitchen hdtv. I went DVI to the theater room and component to the kitchen, and the box sensed what I was doing and shut itself off. I had to call Time Warner so they could remotely reset my box.

Yeah, this must be a fairly recent change. I know that less than a year ago, I was able to switch back and forth between HDMI and component on the fly. The good news is that I could never see a difference between HDMI and component. I just settled on component with cable and HDMI with DVD (until I hooked up the HDMI to cable a couple days ago for kicks and discovered the changes in my original post).

adam2434

PhantomOG wrote:

HD with TW here as well. Although I use the really old non-DVR Scientific Atlanta box. It only has a component output and there are no settings for resolution/aspect ratio. I assume its putting out 1080i and since I have a Sony CRT HD set, that's fine with me.

When the hell are they going to get National Geographic HD??? Its been out for months now.

You may want check to see if the aspect ratio and res settings are now available through the TW settings menus. Hit "settings", then "other settings" on the cable box remote and look for aspect ratio and output resolution. These options were not available when I first set mine up last summer.

Yeah, I'm not surprised that TW is dragging their feet with National Geographic HD. Adding a channel would actually be increasing service/value for the customer - TW doesn't do that.

adam2434

landry_p2000 wrote:

I ran into this same problem this weekend when I set up a buddy's Sony HDTV. In his Pace box, I set the signals to 720p and 480p to "on" and interlace set to off. We were getting blue images through the hdmi input at first when the 1080i was on. We got a beautiful image once we changed the settings.

Were you able to set HDMI output res through the TW settings menus (using the cable box remote) or through the actual cable box menus (using buttons on the cable box)? I used to be able to hit the "display" button on the box and set aspect ratio and output res. Now, that doesn't work and the settings are now in the TW menus, using the TW remote. However, I can only select 1080i using the TW menus, when using HDMI.

faster100

that's because they only support componet.. they have both outputs available but i was told when i got the box.. they only support componet and supplied the cables as such..

adam2434

faster100 wrote:

that's because they only support componet.. they have both outputs available but i was told when i got the box.. they only support componet and supplied the cables as such..

Not sure I follow. HDMI (actually DVI converted to HDMI) and component both work on my Pace box, just not simultaneously like they originally did.

I have read that some of the HD cable DVRs don't have functioning HDMI/DVI outputs.

I-SIG

A soccer teammate of mine is an experienced Comcast field tech. We spent more time watching HDTV when he did my install than actually working. He really loved my plasma. He usualy doesn't do installs any more. He has moved on to fiber repairs, maintence, etc. I don know the Comcast installers/field techs around here in Tucson actually do work for Comcast.

Wes

unc2701

adam2434 wrote:

Not sure I follow. HDMI (actually DVI converted to HDMI) and component both work on my Pace box, just not simultaneously like they originally did.

I have read that some of the HD cable DVRs don't have functioning HDMI/DVI outputs.

Around here, the Scientific Atl 8000HD dvr's didn't do HDMI at all... but the 8300's do. I think what faster was trying to say is that if you can get HDMI to work on your own, good for you, but they're not going to giveyou cables or help you out. I also found that you couldn't do simulteneous output HDMI/Component on the Pace, but I never tried the 8300 Dvr.

The also updated the software here so that on the Pace the 480/720/1080/WS/FS setup is in the TWC menu, not on the front of the box.

landry_p2000

adam2434 wrote:

Were you able to set HDMI output res through the TW settings menus (using the cable box remote) or through the actual cable box menus (using buttons on the cable box)? I used to be able to hit the "display" button on the box and set aspect ratio and output res. Now, that doesn't work and the settings are now in the TW menus, using the TW remote. However, I can only select 1080i using the TW menus, when using HDMI.

We used the Pace cable box menu. I tried from the remote, but it only gave me the cable settings, and not the box settings itself. We completely removed the component cables after doing a comparison of the two.

landry_p2000

unc2701 wrote:

Around here, the Scientific Atl 8000HD dvr's didn't do HDMI at all... but the 8300's do. I think what faster was trying to say is that if you can get HDMI to work on your own, good for you, but they're not going to giveyou cables or help you out. I also found that you couldn't do simulteneous output HDMI/Component on the Pace, but I never tried the 8300 Dvr.

The also updated the software here so that on the Pace the 480/720/1080/WS/FS setup is in the TWC menu, not on the front of the box.

I think I have the 8300 DVR, and I plan on gettting an HDMI cable this weekend. I will let you guys know if you can do both on my box or not.

On Gary's Pace box, after setting all progressive to "on" and interlace to "off", we got a good signal throught both HDMI and Component. Of course the HDMI blew the component out of the water.

adam2434

landry_p2000 wrote:

On Gary's Pace box, after setting all progressive to "on" and interlace to "off", we got a good signal throught both HDMI and Component. Of course the HDMI blew the component out of the water.

Interesting. I don't have access to my Pace box menus any longer. They used to be available when I hit the "display" button on the box. I used to be able to select 480i/480p/720p/1080i or "pass". I had it set to "pass" to allow native resolution pass-through, which worked on DVI/HDMI and component. Maybe your buddy has a different Pace box, or maybe the service is different.

Also interesting that HDMI was so much better. When I used to be able to switch back and forth, I could not tell a difference - both looked excellent with good HD content.

unc2701

landry_p2000 wrote:

Of course the HDMI blew the component out of the water.

That makes me think some of your settings must have been off. HDMI really shouldn't be that different from component.

landry_p2000

unc2701 wrote:

That makes me think some of your settings must have been off. HDMI really shouldn't be that different from component.

Up close it did not make a big difference, but seated, it did. As far as settings go, there is no right or wrong, its all about what looks good to you IMO. We really did not play with the settings until after we hooked up the cable anyway. We both saw a difference in PQ from component to hdmi, at his house and mine. Images were more vivid.