So much for expecting Rogers to correct whatever is going on re. the Buffalo channels. Tonight (Sunday) watching 60 Minutes on 528 (CBS HD channel) I counted 7 video glitches. Not major epics but annoying.
At 8.50pm I switched over to ABCHD to see how that channel was behaving prior to Desperate Housewives starting. I kept note of times glitches happened (!). 8.51pm some video breakup. 8.51.30pm major breakup and the audio screwed up too. More at 8.53pm. Then at 8.54pm after the commercial break there was no HD - show was now in SD. More breakups 8.55, 8.57 (audio too again), 8.58 and again at 9.00pm just as DH was starting. More at 9.02 and then at 9.04 really severe breakup and audio dropping out.
I gave up and switched over to CTVHD for the remainder of the show. I noticed that CTV ended around 9.58, but ABC usually runs till 10.01 before the next show starts, so I switched over. Interesting to see what CTV cut out! In the promo for next week, CTV was very brief. On ABC it was about twice the length.

I switched over to Mayday to see what that was all about but at 10.06pm the picture froze. I gave up. I'm writing to Rogers yet again.....

I have Videotron and we got shafted along with you guys with the inferior Buffalo feeds. I sent a complain through the CRTC website, since it is they who have the moronic rules.

I have Videotron and we got shafted along with you guys with the inferior Buffalo feeds.Hang on ... that doesn't make sense ...

Rogers was forced to move to the Buffalo HD feeds because they were carrying SD feeds from Buffalo and Seattle ... and weren't really allowed a third US Big 4 (Big 5?) feed.

Videotron in Montreal carries Plattsburgh/Burlington and Seattle SD feeds, right? How does changing the HD feed from Detroit to Buffalo resolve any issues there ... surely you guys should be switching to HD from Plattsburgh/Burlington? (which surely would be the CRTC's response?).

Nick

I got a dumb response from Rogers telling me to remove splitters etc. and that perhaps a technician should come round to check my signal strength. I noticed it was from their hi-speed internet support, not the digitaltv support which I'd originally written to. I wrote back suggesting my email be sent to supervisor of engineering.
This got me a reply which was exactly the same, word for word, that I was sent last week after the previous Sunday mess on D.Housewives. At least it came from digitaltv support and not the internet......lol.

I'm wondering what Expressvu is like. Do they have PVR's ? How good is E'vu's HD service? I didn't pay $4k for an HD TV and $2k for a 5.1 surround receiver just to watch crappy breaking up HD programming!

Anyone else trying to watch Monday Night Football in HD on ABC Buffalo tonight?
It switched to SD - and poor quality SD at that. Buffalo HD is a joke.

ABC Buffalo is by far the worst of the Buffalo HD channels. The others are not too bad now, although there are small breakups now and then on some of the others. If they switched ABC back to Detroit, I wouldn't have much to complain about now.

OK, here is an interesting development. CRTC got back to me. Here is their response:
=========================================
Thank you for taking the time to contact the CRTC.
In point of fact, Rogers must apply to the CRTC for changes in its U.S. "feed". That being said, however, the CRTC does NOT dictate from where Rogers must get that feed. That type of decision is up to the cable company and not to the CRTC.
All I can suggest is that you contact Rogers again and let them know of your concerns. In our experience, cable companies are ultimately responsible to the audiences they serve and are generally receptive to comments they receive from subscribers.

I hope this proves helpful.

XXXXXXXXXXXX (Name omitted by me)
CRTC Client Services

1-877-249-2782 /info@crtc.gc.ca/ télécopieur/facsimile (819) 994-0218
Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes / Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission / Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
----------------------------------------------
I live in the Greater Toronto area. I got a notice from Rogers that the US networks will be fed from Buffalo instead of Detroit. We were told that this was by CRTC order. I like to stress that I am extremely unhappy with the switch. Buffalo stations have a lot worse picture quality, they have audio dropouts, occasionally they transmit HD content in SD and their audio is 2 channels instead of 5.1. Moreover, their NFL coverage in HD is worse.
You are saying that those stations are comparable, but they definitely not. Will we get a reduction in our monthly rates? Because definitely we are getting less quality at this point. People allover in high definition forums complain about this
I don't think it is fair that CRTC should force us to watch something inferior. You are supposed to protect the public. But now, you are hurting the comsumer. Please allow us to get Detroit HDTV feeds
======================================================


Upon receiving that I called the 1-800 number and talked to a (different) agent. She does not know of any such regulation I was on the phone for 30 minutes, she could not find anything. She says get Rogers precisely identify the regulation they are talking about. She also says it is common practise within cable companies to make changes and say it is because of CRTC. She also said both stations (Buffalo and Detroit) are within their approved list and cable companies are free to offer any stations within that list. Something fishy is going on here. I wonder whether it is cheaper to broadcast Buffalo stations and they went that route (It probable is, as they are being picked up OTA). Does not look like they are being very truthfull here.
Any ideas what to do now? Does not look like any common clerk at Rogers can handle that...

Any ideas what to do now? Does not look like any common clerk at Rogers can handle that...I'm not sure what the issue here is. AIUI; for any given network ... say NBC; Rogers can show either Buffalo or Detroit (or presumably Rochester, etc.) but not both. Isn't that what the CRTC was just saying to you?

Rogers in the GTA was showing both Detroit AND Buffalo. They either had to switch the SD to Detroit (an incur the wrath of a million or so viewers who have been watching Buffalo channels since the 1950's). Or the HD to Buffalo ... and bother very few people. Sure, CRTC is telling you that Rogers could have kept the HD on Detroit ... but the catch is, they'd have to move the SD to Detroit too. And then, we'd never know that there were fires in North Tonawanda!

Am I missing something here ... it seems pretty simple to me.

Nick

CRTC is not saying that Rogers cannot carry both Buffalo and Detroit (Actually we did not evevn discuss that). Neither is Rogers, as you can get US channels from the West and East at the same time, in SD or HDTV, if you pay them a few bucks for it (Timeshifting). Plus we are not asking both Buffalo and Detroit, we are asking Detroit in HDTV only. Furhermore, she is not aware of any regulations which says SD and HDTV has to be fed from the same source. (That is what the note we get says)

I think it's great that you got that info from the CRTC. I'm currently having a running battle with Rogers over ABCHD Buffalo (see previous postings) and they're sending a technician over on Sat. to 'fix' my system. I've told them it's a waste of time, but they have to satisfy themselves that my setup isn't the cause of the problems. That the station switches to SD in the middle of an HD program seems to escape them - it sure ain't MY TV doing that!

Anyway, the more documentation I can find about the poor quality of Buffalo signals the better. I'm waiting until after the visit on Sat. and then see what happens THIS time to Desperate Housewives. BTW an interesting Doyle column in the Globe today re. CTV screwing up the last 15 minutes or so of the SD version. Seems they played back one section twice (a friend was watching it OTA SD and wondered if he'd had too much to drink!). I watched the HD CTV version which was shorter than the ABC one but I don't recall seeing any scenes twice. I hadn't recorded it so couldn't go back to check.
Yet another argument for ending sim-subbing.

Furhermore, she is not aware of any regulations which says SD and HDTV has to be fed from the same source. (That is what the note we get says)Of course you won't find a regulation that says that ...

... you'll find a regulation that says that cable systems are allowed two sets of 4+1 ... or whatever they call them these days in the regs. No discussion of HD.

Two sets... Rogers had 3 sets. Go download the regs and read them .... that part is pretty simple.

Yeah, I'm aware about the western feed ... I was trying to simplify the discussion, as that part was irrelevent.

I just don't understand what people are getting upset about. CRTC has only ever allowed 2 sets of signals for GTA. Everyone knew that sooner or later we'd be on Buffalo. We just switched ... there are still some teething problems with this new technology. Give it a few months ... be happy the signal doesn't get fuzzy anymore every time there is a thunderstom. If your still wound up about it have a shot of whisky ... :-)

I'm thrilled we have the Buffalo stations now in HD! Burn, Buffalo, burn ... :-)

Nick

If this is because of a limitation on the 4+1 US Networks.. Then I'm anxious to see what changes they make in New Brunswick to fix things.. Because for example.. with Rogers New Brunswick..

Channel / Location
02 / WHDH NBC East - BOSTON
07 / WXYZ ABC East - DETROIT
12 / WMED / Maine PBS
15 / WBZ CBS - BOSTON
17 / WUHF FOX - Rochester

161 / WMED - Maine PBS
164 / KCTS - Seattle PBS
165 / KSPSDT - Spokane PBS

522 / KOMODT - ABC HD West -Seattle / Spokane
523 / KIRODT - CBS HD West - Seattle / Spokane
524 / KINGDT - NBC HD West - Seattle / Spokane
526 / KCPQDT - FOX HD West - Seattle / Spokane

527 / WXYZDT - ABC HD - Detroit
528 / WWJDDT - CBS HD - Detroit
529 / WDIVDT - NBC HD - Detroit
531 / WJBKDT - FOX HD - Detroit

We have eastern feed duplicates for everything except ABC. In total We have in total 3 CBS/3 NBC /3 FOX and 3 PBS...2 east and 1 west.. but only 2 ABC .. 1 east and 1 west.

CRTC regs should apply in New Brunswick as well.. so if that's true.. we should be losing some eastern feeds to bring us into line.. somethings gotta go.. either Boston, Rochester or Detroit.

Well after sending Rogers a very detailed email concerning the poor quality of Buffalo feeds, and quoting some of the comments made here to show it's not just me experiencing crappy video etc. I got the following reply:

"We apologize for the current reception problems you are encountering
with your service. As it is somewhat difficult to troubleshoot a
technical issue such as yours via an e-mail, we kindly ask that you
contact our 24-hour Technical Service Department at 1-888-764-3771.
While troubleshooting, we are often required to ask a number of
questions in order to determine the problem and offer the best solution.
This is why we strongly recommend a 2-way conversation via the telephone
for this type of issue. Our technical repair department will perform
some diagnostics and if necessary, schedule a service call at a suitable
time."

Just what is it they don't understand? I couldn't have been more specific but it seems they want to bury their heads in the sand and pretend there isn't a problem with the Buffalo feeds.
I guess I'll find out after Sat. when their technician comes to call and manages to fix ABCHD.......yeah right! lol

They just gave you their "canned" response without actually reading what you sent. When I get those, I reply and say, "please re-read my original e-mail. Your response did not address the issues I discussed. Please forward to second level for an appropriate response or action."

I did reply back and made some sarcastic comments! Everything I originally wrote was appended so perhaps someone else might just read through the whole thing.

We have eastern feed duplicates for everything except ABC. In total We have in total 3 CBS/3 NBC /3 FOX and 3 PBS...2 east and 1 west.. but only 2 ABC .. 1 east and 1 west.Rules for PBS are different ... they are allowed an extra one ... presumably because at the time they made the rule Montreal had 2 local PBS stations (33 and 57) as did Toronto (WNED and WNEQ) and a few other places.

But for Fox, CBS, and NBC, I would think that when it is technically feasible, they will have to rationalise, so they get the SD and HD from the same station ... though this is short term really, isn't it ... sooner or later, there will only be the HD stations, as they turn the analogue stations off ...

... and then there is this digital CBS2 talk ... which would presumably lead to an NBC2, ABC2, FOX2, etc ... and CRTC would really have to think about that, because if it is OTA, then they would be hard-pressed to not let it be carried ...

They just gave you their "canned" response without actually reading what you sent. When I get those, I reply and say, "please re-read my original e-mail...Yeah, I did that two the other day, when they suggested that if I rebooted my terminal, I wouldn't have problems recording NCIS (HD) when they keep changing the name of the program ... no response ...


Nick

Rules for PBS are different ... they are allowed an extra one ... presumably because at the time they made the rule Montreal had 2 local PBS stations (33 and 57) as did Toronto (WNED and WNEQ) and a few other places.

But for Fox, CBS, and NBC, I would think that when it is technically feasible, they will have to rationalise, so they get the SD and HD from the same station ... though this is short term really, isn't it ... sooner or later, there will only be the HD stations, as they turn the analogue stations off ...

Nick


Short term? I dunno.. depends on what you call short term I guess. 2 years?

It is technically feasible right now for all the eastern feeds to be Detroit.. But for some reason they've chosen not to do that in this part of the country.

Sure is going to be interesting to see what they do.

Nick, you are saying download the regs and look. It is anything but simple, there have tons of docs there. Can you post a link?

I did reply back and made some sarcastic comments!In that case don't be surprised if they just close the case and ignore you. Keep your case numbers and keep track of your correspondence. At best, it's an exercise in frustration.

In that case don't be surprised if they just close the case and ignore you. Keep your case numbers and keep track of your correspondence. At best, it's an exercise in frustration.


I have all my correspondence saved in Outlook Express along with all their case numbers. I'll be writing them again (I'm sure! lol) after the technician's visit. Somehow I think Desperate Housewives on Sunday will be screwed up again. Even CTV isn't really an option after THEY messed up their playback last Sunday and ran the same segment twice towards the end - they're re-running it on Saturday.