OT - Comcast degraded picture quality in Metro Detroit/nationally
Just a heads up for people out there who are Comcast subscribers; (granted, some of this may sound like gibberish, so I'll use a picture to start to this off) -
https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r31554919-
2nd source - http://www.avsforum.com/forum/25-hdtv-technical/2623961-why-comcast-hd-quality-horrible.html
Comcast has massively degraded picture quality in many markets nationally, and is about to do the same in Metro Detroit (they've already performed this in the city proper). Why you ask? Because they can, they think most people won't notice, and are shifting spectrum/bandwidth for more internet speed.
Here's a highly detailed explanation of what they've done - https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r31539495-
Some of you may have alternatives via at&t, Direct TV, Wide Open West, Dish, or one of the over the top (PS Vue, Sling TV, YouTube TV, etc.) TV service.
Comcast also recently instituted a 1024GB/month internet service usage cap.
I have no dog in this fight - I switched my folks over to WideOpenWest (no bandwidth caps, they still use MPEG-2 video and give the channels a good bitrate), and use a Slingbox to tune into a TV in the basement they no longer use.
Let me know if you have any additional questions - I am a huge nerd, and love talking about this stuff.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
Dave Brandon has recently been hired by Comcast.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:29 PM ^
A match made in heaven
September 6th, 2017 at 5:35 PM ^
It's only going to get worse. Net Neutrality is going out the window with this administration b/c god forbid we have internet companies that don't fuck over customers.
September 6th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
"Let's constantly fuck our customers in the name of Dollars, forever and ever, amen"
Comcast may be the only company in the world that Dave Brandon can't fuck up.
September 7th, 2017 at 11:46 AM ^
Get a kilobyte free. :)
September 6th, 2017 at 4:13 PM ^
Comcast image quality already is shit. Any time there's fast action or a transition, the compression artifacts are awful. I'm way happier with YoutubeTV's quality, and PS Vue's last year compared to them.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:32 PM ^
I use a cat5 cable between my router and streaming box. My HD is beautiful and never any artifacts
.. metro Detroit.
September 6th, 2017 at 6:03 PM ^
Hopefully I'm not the only one who doesn't know...
September 6th, 2017 at 6:45 PM ^
Ethernet cable. The primary one one buys these days.
September 6th, 2017 at 8:25 PM ^
If you have gigabit, Cat 6 is better.
Has nothing to do with what the OP stated, though. Problem is on Comcast's side.
September 6th, 2017 at 10:04 PM ^
I built a house in 2015. I have cat6 running through the walls in just about every room of the house.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^
say? I can't see you so good.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^
Internet usage cap? As in, if you go over, they just shut your internet service off?
September 6th, 2017 at 4:22 PM ^
then they charge you an extra $10 for every 50GB you go over.
September 6th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
How many PoonHub movies does that equal?
Asking for a friend, of course...
September 6th, 2017 at 5:44 PM ^
Not nearly enough.
September 6th, 2017 at 5:51 PM ^
As the friend this makes me a sad panda.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^
They charge you extra for overages, but cap the total amount extra they'll charge you. No shutoff. 1 TB is a lot though. Still sucks to have to think about it. I called Comcast to threaten to cancel so they'd lower me back to the normal/promotional rate like usual. They didn't even try to keep me, just processed the cancellation, so weird. Turned PS Vue on Thursday.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:37 PM ^
I find the 1st try never works. Usually I will call once and threaten. Then call back and say X available service is offering my Y. I then will say if you can match I will am even willing to add a paid service like HBO or Showtime on a trial.
This works almost everytime. You just have to remember to cancel the trial before you have to pay for the paid service.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:53 PM ^
This is precisely what I did, actually. Had to follow through on the cancellation threat. Didn't have TV all summer and it was actually kind of nice.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:53 PM ^
and disconnect service on the day before your bill hits. Then sign up for new promo service with the same agent. They like it because they get compped for new accounts.
September 6th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
I live in the trial market for the cap and it was 300GB before the 1TB limits. I didn't cut the cord because I knew I could kill that easily. There's some petitions in with the FCC that you can sign if you don't like the cap.
September 6th, 2017 at 8:40 PM ^
The same FCC that is actively trying to kill Title II Net Neutrality protections, faked a DDOS attack and willfully ignores the millions of fake bot-produced comments supporting its plan? Good luck getting good them to care. Pai is doing everything in his power to climb under the desk of every ISP and show them this thing he does with his tongue and doesn't give two fucks what the rest of us think.
September 6th, 2017 at 7:10 PM ^
Who are you using for your wifi? When i moved to Miami last June i got hit with that cap and didn't know it. I had wi-fi only and had a $550 bill. I hate Comcast with the passion but they still seem to be the best option for internet service.
September 6th, 2017 at 7:10 PM ^
Who are you using for your wifi? When i moved to Miami last June i got hit with that cap and didn't know it. I had wi-fi only and had a $550 bill. I hate Comcast with the passion but they still seem to be the best option for internet service.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:20 PM ^
It sux!
September 6th, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^
wiring coming to your house, wiring in your house, your modem/wifi router.
Come on over to https://www.dslreports.com/forum/wow and we'll try to help you out (it's mostly subscribers helping other subscribers with a few WoW employees chiming in every now and then).
September 6th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^
... can you change their entire menu format too? My wife won't change because of her email address. And she's a Michigan Grad. Douh!
September 6th, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^
World of Warcraft has sucked since the Cata xpac. /rimshot
September 6th, 2017 at 8:09 PM ^
was the last good expansion. IMO the game got better and better (WotLK > BC > vanilla). They changed the game so much with Cata that I stopped playing.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:33 PM ^
I have WOW, it's not so bad. Just internet though, no cable
September 6th, 2017 at 5:13 PM ^
WOW's been great for me, with YouTubeTV or Vue I get what I need.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^
Well then, thank God I have that bad ass new company Xfinity for my TV AND Internet!!!!
September 6th, 2017 at 8:14 PM ^
$50 month for 75 Mbps with all local and HBO (all streaming, no TV) with HBO On Demand. Add PSVue, Hulu, and Netflix and I get every channel, show, movie I'll ever want to watch. Live and on demand.
I also was able to watch literally every game last weekend. Watched Cal v UNC on ACC network. This, along with the shit like OP was saying, is why cable blows nads.
September 6th, 2017 at 8:56 PM ^
Only one tv or how many?
September 6th, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^
Time to switch to DirecTv? I've got a referal code if anyone needs one...
September 6th, 2017 at 4:34 PM ^
Not if you need internet as well. AT&T if available in your area is pretty crappy when compared to any of the cable wired companies. For TV alone they are as good or better.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:48 PM ^
AT&T is awful for internet. Their speeds are 5 years behind everyone else. I had to beg and plead for them to get the cabling to get up to 40Mbps down in Birmingham. First chance I had I bolted to Comcast and was immediately at 180Mbps down with 25Mbps up. Comcast has shitty picture quality but I'm only using it for live sports. Beyond that everything is downloaded on Usenet or streamed.
September 6th, 2017 at 11:02 PM ^
I have AT&T internet because it's the only game in town except for satellite. Speed is fine, I'm over 25mbs on a regular basis. What totally sucks is that they haven't invested in infrastructure in our area meaning that they are running right at 100% of their bandwidth capacity. Can you say rolling blackouts?
September 6th, 2017 at 4:49 PM ^
I use DirecTV and Comcast for internet only. The best available video and internet in my area. More expensive than a service bundle, but it's better than the compromises that can come with bundling. Also another A/V nerd familiar with those websites.
September 6th, 2017 at 5:56 PM ^
Is the worst. I haven't had a correct bill from them since I had the service (over a year) just waiting to dump them. THEY SUCK and aren't helpful at all when called
September 7th, 2017 at 10:40 AM ^
Their customer service used to be spectacular. And then AT&T bought them.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:26 PM ^
On another topic, I think the most shocking thing I learned from all this is that there are MULTIPLE message boards devoted to this stuff???
September 6th, 2017 at 4:28 PM ^
I tried to get AT&T internet, planning to stream via Roku, but the fastest speed they provide in my area is 10 mbps download/1 mbps upload which is ludicrous. I couldn't use more than a single device at a time, and even that was sometimes spotty.
Thus, I am stuck with Comcast, much to my dismay. They're the devil's cable company. I have no doubt the 1TB monthly cap is aimed at preventing streaming to try to retain customers. Comcast seriously needs some quality competition, because they can do whatever they want most of the time and you just have to suck it up.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:34 PM ^
I'm in Ann Arbor, just a few blocks from Downtown, and the best I can get through AT&T is 3 Mbps down. Maybe I should just get dial-up...
September 6th, 2017 at 4:31 PM ^
Sorry, I don't post on here often, but I do work in the cable/advertising industry. My understanding is this is all part of their "migration" process. They will eventually move over the majority of their bandwidth to wifi/streaming as they view their products as migrating there as well. With OTT devices becoming more and more deployed. Even down to smart TVs running the xfinity app, broadband will overtake the hardwired usage and need more room to grow.
Again not trying to defend Comcast, but they do view this as an upgrade/change for the future.
September 6th, 2017 at 5:43 PM ^
Just... please stop. That whole industry suffers from a lack of competition, lack of innovation, and loads of customer abuse. It's ridiculous all the lies, snake oil, and mouse milk they've sold us.
September 6th, 2017 at 9:05 PM ^
I love it.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
Good thing I pitched Comcast TV two weeks ago in favor of YouTube TV.
Ironically, since I still have internet through Comcast, this move actually benefits me and helps ensure I get maximum TV. Comcast amazes me by consistently showing what a downright garbage company they are. It was really tempting to switch to AT&T for internet too just out of principal, but I founf it ulatimately impossible to turn down an extra 25 Mbps at the same price and with no need for new equipment or installation since I already had Comcast and own my own moden.
Maybe next year when they jack my rate up again.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:59 PM ^
Curious, where are you that Comcast internet-only is the same price as AT&T internet? For me, AT&T, while slower, was much cheaper.