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Recognized Contributor
Posts: 138
Registered: ‎11-22-2008
Accepted Solution

Pixeling In DeKalb County Georgia

Since I went HD in September of 2008 and had to get a cable box from Comcast, I've been having pixeling problems.  It's been more apparent in the last 6 to 10 weeks. There was a tech person out last week and he removed a splitter from my line which got back 2 channels I was missing for 3 days, but the pixeling problem remains.  I've seen a different thread about pixeling on this board but I didn't see anyone having this problem in or close to my area.

 

From what I'm reading on this message board, this pixeling problem seems to be occurring for Comcast customers all over the country.  If this is the case, why doesn't Comcast own up to it's paying customers and acknowledge that they have been having this problem and what they are doing about it or what they're planning to do to correct this problem? The people that answer the phones when customers call and complain about problems such as this are totally clueless.  Most of the time when I call Comcast with a problem with my cable service, I get to speak to someone in Canada, eh.  Will it be someone in China or Singapore the next time I call with a problem?

Cable Expert
WarEagle57
Posts: 10,601
Registered: ‎12-31-2004

Re: Pixeling In DeKalb County Georgia

This is usually caused by a weak signal, and the fact that removing a splitter regained two channels would reinforce that idea.  Check the signal strength on a few bad channels.  If you have a Motorola box you can get to the diagnostics page by hitting the remote "Cable" and "Off" buttons and then within two seconds hit the "OK/Select" button (with the TV on, of course).  Scroll down and select page "d04  In-band Status" (that's the page for the DVR -- regular HD box may have a different set of pages).  Look at the "SNR" (signal-to-noise ratio) for the tuner(s).  The value should be in the mid-30s.  If it's too low, you should check for other unnecessary or bad splitters or loose connections.  You should also consider inserting a signal amplifier to boost the signal.
Recognized Contributor
Posts: 138
Registered: ‎11-22-2008

Re: Pixeling In DeKalb County Georgia

Hey, that's pretty good idvice WarEagle.  Since the cable guy is here right now, no BS, I'll have him read what you say and see if that fixes the problem
Recognized Contributor
Posts: 138
Registered: ‎11-22-2008

Re: Pixeling In DeKalb County Georgia

Well WarEagle, the cable guy said the signal was OK, so that isn't the problem.  He changed out the box so we're just going to wait and see if that solved the pixeling problem.  I doubt if it did, but I'll have to give it a chance.  There's no way in the world I'm about to click on the Solved button at this time because 15 minutes without pixeling doesn't tell me anything.  If I don't have any pixeling within the next 24 hours, I'll consider using the Solved button.
Cable Expert
WarEagle57
Posts: 10,601
Registered: ‎12-31-2004

Re: Pixeling In DeKalb County Georgia

Well, I wouldn't expect replacing the box to be the fix, but for your sake let's hope it is.
Recognized Contributor
Posts: 138
Registered: ‎11-22-2008

Re: Pixeling In DeKalb County Georgia

I wouldn't expect it to be the fix either.  I'm just jumping through all the hoops Comcast is throwing up here.  I wonder what they're going to suggest in a couple of days when I call them to let them know it's still pixeling.
Cable Expert
WarEagle57
Posts: 10,601
Registered: ‎12-31-2004

Re: Pixeling In DeKalb County Georgia

My guess -- an amplifier.
Recognized Contributor
Posts: 138
Registered: ‎11-22-2008

The Pixeling Problem Has Been Solved

Well, two techs have been to my house, the last one changed out the box, which didn't fix anything. A day or two after tech #2 was here, I saw several Comcast bucket trucks in my area while taking my son to work. All day long, my cable kept disconnecting, both television and High Speed internet. By 7 PM that day, after the last time my cable disconnected and reconnected, pixeling has become a thing of the past on my HDTV. I'm now getting the sharp, clear picture I should have been getting all along, since going HD. The picture I'm getting on all channels even looks better than what the picture looked like on the floor model where I bought my HS system.

 

If anyone who reads this thread is still having pixeling problems, that's where you see all these little square block areas on your screen and the sound stops and stutters like Barak Obama without a teleprompter, keep calling Comcast to tell them you'd like the problem fixed, that the problem does not originate within your home, and that you'd like each day taken off your bill until they get out and fix the problem on THEIR equipment bringing the signal to your home. Talk to your neighbors who are paying Comcast for cable service and if they're having the same problem, have them tell Comcast the same thing.  When you start taking money out of their pockets, Comcast will listen and act.

Recognized Contributor
Posts: 138
Registered: ‎11-22-2008

Re: The Pixeling Problem Has Been Solved

Dang, I clicked on the wrong post as the solution to my pixeling problem, but my problem has been solved.

Cable Expert
WarEagle57
Posts: 10,601
Registered: ‎12-31-2004

Re: The Pixeling Problem Has Been Solved

If you wish to change the Accepted Solution, you can remove the "solved" mark by clicking on the "edit" over to the right on that post and selecting Unmark as Accepted Solution.  You can then mark any post as the Accepted Solution.