Comcast subscribers, I need your help!

[DrWebster]

Long story short: If you have Comcast cable (doesn't matter what kind/level of service) and an HDTV with built-in HD tuner, could you hook your cable TV cable directly to the TV and try to tune in channels 2.1 and 2.2?

Tolstoy version: I just noticed that while I get KTCA-DT and KTCA-HD (channels 2.1 and 2.2) on my upstairs HDTV through my Comcast HD cable box, I can't tune them in on our downstairs HDTV. For various reasons, we don't have a cable box on the HDTV downstairs and instead just have the cable connected directly to it. I'm able to get all of the usual analog cable channels, and, like we were able to a few years ago when we lived in an apartment, the local broadcast channels in HD. Sometime recently though, it appears Comcast began encoding channels 2.1 and 2.2, KTCA-DT and KTCA-HD, so they're no longer ClearQAM and now require a Comcast set-top box to tune them in.

I'd like to figure out if it's just my neighborhood or a Twin Cities-wide issue before I call Comcast and start bitching, so I'd appreciate it if anyone can help. Basically, if you have Comcast cable service of any sort (even basic analog cable) and an HDTV with a built-in HD tuner, could you connect your cable directly to the TV (bypassing any set-top box you have) and try to tune in KTCA-DT and -HD (channels 2.1 and 2.2)?

Or, if you or someone you know happens to work for Comcast, could you find out WTF is going on? Thanks!

[dmention7]

Comes in just fine on my TV, basic level 2.

[Picklz]

Doh, no go here anymore. Haven't tried to tune that in lately so I can't tell you when it happened here, probably in the last 2-4 weeks. Not sure what 'service level' I have, I think it'd be classified as Basic II (no box). I'm in Ramsey, odd that they stopped providing just Channel 2, and it sounds like people in the old Time Warner area are unaffected at this time.

[JustROLLIN]

I switched over to a STB when I went for the DVR. But, prior to having the DVR I was able to tune all the locals incl. channel 2 directly from the wall. I remember watching "The War" in HD and that was a channel 2 special.

[DrWebster]

OK, so I got off the phone with Comcast. They couldn't really tell me anything, because they don't know shit. The conversation was like this:
Comcast: "You have to have an HD cable box to get HD channels."
Me: "But I can get other OTA HD channels without the box."
Comcast: "durrrrrrrrr"

Considering I can still get those channels with my HD cable box, my best guess is that Comcast simply started encrypting them. The argument of whether encrypting OTA channels (which anyone could get for free with an antenna) just to upsell service (i.e. make you pay more for an HD cable box) is probably best avoided right now, but I still want to know Comcast's official reason. Doesn't someone here work for Comcast?

[mOjO]

We watched a bunch of the Olympic Games in HD (11.1) on our Bedroom TV that's hooked up directly to the coax. NO box between.

[DrWebster]

We watched a bunch of the Olympic Games in HD (11.1) on our Bedroom TV that's hooked up directly to the coax. NO box between.

Yeah, so did I. The problem MrMatt and I have is that only channels 2.1 and 2.2 are gone. What I want to know is why 2.1 and 2.2 are gone, but 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 9.1, 11.1, 11.2, etc are still there.

[blueamcat]

maybe I'll have to get the TV package as well so I can test it out, I currently have the internet.