Rocket Science

Photo Credit: @woodleywonderworks/flickr

LOUD Commercials While on Hold

…are also “louder” as are the ones I get through cable…why?

I really don’t need to be blasted with commercials (for Comcast services) while on interminable hold.

Thank you.

<tugs ear>

Do you have TivoHD? Do you have a Samsung UN46B8000? Want to know how to use the Picture-In-Picture feature?

Here’s how I did it…

So, I have Comcast Cable (I’ve written about some of the issues) connected to my TivoHD. And the TivoHD is connected to my TV via HDMI–which really is the best way to do it to get a super high quality picture.

But the TV comes with a Picture-in-Picture feature. I’ve been wondering how I might use that feature. Wouldn’t it be great to be watching a DVD/Blu-Ray but be able to check on the incoming blizzard? (Well, ok we’d have to have a blizzard first…knock-on-wood.) Or play a console game, and keep an eye on the news or a sports event? Yep, sure it would. But wait, for some reason the PIP only works using the cable/antenna input. Say what? Grr…

It’s a nice to have feature–but until I get HD quality video directly from the cable without extra processing (HD Tuner or Cable Card), or until I get cable that works on a digital tuner without a cable adapter…it’s, well, useless. I really can’t use the feature without spending more money.

But wait! I’ve figured out a way around it–all thanks to the digital transition. Comcast sent out a “free” “Digital Transport Adapter” to enable my old-fashioned analog TVs to continue to receive the cable channels after Comcast fully switches to digital transmissions in my area. Hrm, I wonder if I can connect that up to the TV’s antenna/cable input and get PIP.

You guessed it, yes I can. So, lo and behold, I can now use the PIP feature, without having to pay extra. The picture quality isn’t great, but the PIP window is pretty small and I don’t notice the *much* lower quality, so it all works out.

Yay!

Update: It two minutes or so to solve via email after getting contacted by National Customer Care, and 28+ minutes in a chat. See below for the gory details.

Two Three Four great examples of Comcast’s brilliance…in one screenshot.

EcoBill is a great feature — if you can’t get your bill to download, you can’t print it out. A clear win for the “green” movement. (Of course you also don’t get a copy of your bill, even electronically.)

A chat window that requires you to scroll the text area to view the chat. Resize the window, nope doesn’t help.

A customer service rep that wants me to “go to my local office” (involving driving) to get a copy of the EcoBill I’m supposed to be able to download electronically.

And an email option that doesn’t work to get a copy of the transcript.

You really should read on…
Read more…

This post on Comcast’s DNS hijacking at Slashdot came out while I was out of the country. Make sure you opt out!

Update:

Comcast Domain Helper Opt-Out System
subject: Work Completed: Comcast Domain Helper Opt-Out Successful

We have completed the work to opt you out of the Comcast Domain Helper service.
This change will take effect automatically when your cable modem renews its DHCP lease (generally within 5 days or less). …