Video On Demand

[MrMax]

Whenever we play kids shows on demand for our son the audio fluctuates from loud to very quiet constantly during the program. The contrast of the fluctuation is increased any time there is music or singing. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is an example of one of the shows that we constantly experience this problem with.

We have a DCT2224 STB connected to an old Sony Trinitron tube TV, and a DCH3416 DVR connected to a Sony HD LCD TV. Both TVs have any dynamic sound processing disabled (including simulated surround). In the audio setup menu for both boxes the settings are as follows:

Default Audio Track: Channel default

Descriptive Video Service: Off

Audio Output: TV Speakers

Optimal Stereo: Select to optimize

If I highlight and select the "Select to optimize" item above I am presented with a volume slider that I can adjust from low to high that seems to affect the overall audio output of the box. However there is not position on the scale that affects the problem.

Given the various boxes and TVs involved I am inclined to suspect this is a problem with the service provision.

When I watch TV with my son it sounds as if someone is randomly covering both of my ears for periods and the letting go, over and over. I can only imagine how this sounds to my toddler son.

I've seen other complaints of this problem but no solutions. Can anyone help?

[KLAbe81]

I have the same problem with On Demand. I guess everyone does. It's even more annoying at night when I'm watching something and the kids are asleep. I turn it quite low and the sound almost disappears completely, I turn it up to compensate and without warning the sound comes in really loud.
I hate to say it but Comcast have let us down in a number of instances. Mainly with not showing On Demand TV series episodes in order. Or making us wait forever to see episode ONE of shows like Walking Dead even though it's been on TV for 3 weeks already.

Oh well. I can't complain really. And that's because Comcast is the ONLY TV service out apartment complex will let us have. They scratch their backs and they scratch theirs. I just scratch my forehead. Everyone's a winner, right? 

[Danbr]

Same here - it's annoying beyond words. When I am paying over $200 a month for this service it darn well ought to be flawless. Oh and don't you love the in between advertisements that come on like you are in the front row of an AC/DC concert? Pathetic.  

[Cristina13]

Everytime I try to watch something OnDemand the volume is constantly going up and down. It's horrible. 

That's when it even works. Every couple days it just stops working or says I have to unplug the box for a minute and plug it in again. 

Or it gives an error code and says call a number,...but then a couple hours later it will work again, without calling. 

This is the worst most expensive service I've ever payed for and I'm getting ready to completely cancel my account. I can't believe I pay for this. 

Almost everytime I actually sit down to watch cable,....it doesn't work. 

So what am I paying for?

Searching around this volume going up and down thing seems to be a problem that's been going on for quite a while. I guess they're not doing anything to fix it? I found comments from over a year ago of people complaining about the same exact thing. 

Horrible, horrible, horrible service!!