Comments on: TiVo SDV Oddity http://www.gizmolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/ TiVo, Slingbox, Android, Blu-ray Disc, and whatever other tech I feel like blogging about... Fri, 18 Sep 2020 20:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: MichaelMhttp://www.gizmolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/comment-page-1/#comment-22353 MichaelM Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:51:41 +0000 http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/#comment-22353 For what it's worth, I have a STB and a Tivo3 with Multistream Card connected to the same cable outlet. I use TWC in Austin, and I tried an experiment: tune in a channel I know is SDV on the cable box, and then, after a few minutes, try to tune that channel on the TiVo3.It didn't work for me. For what it’s worth, I have a STB and a Tivo3 with Multistream Card connected to the same cable outlet. I use TWC in Austin, and I tried an experiment: tune in a channel I know is SDV on the cable box, and then, after a few minutes, try to tune that channel on the TiVo3.

It didn’t work for me.

]]> By: Glennhttp://www.gizmolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/comment-page-1/#comment-22106 Glenn Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:03:45 +0000 http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/#comment-22106 Ditto Ben's comment. I would assume that SDV means "switched", meaning the binding between the channel name (Bravo HD say) and the actual frequency and program number used (FREQ=6MHz band, PN=number from one to N within the MPTS their QAMs put the channels within that band) for that channel is DYNAMIC. There would seem to be no guarantee that the same frequency and PN would be assigned to Bravo HD each time your neighbour tuned it in. Unless there is something DHCP like about the assignments, i.e. they tend to use the same one over and over again as long as its available... and he's just lucky the frequency/PN assigned early on is near the end of their search list... Ditto Ben’s comment. I would assume that SDV means “switched”, meaning the binding between the channel name (Bravo HD say) and the actual frequency and program number used (FREQ=6MHz band, PN=number from one to N within the MPTS their QAMs put the channels within that band) for that channel is DYNAMIC. There would seem to be no guarantee that the same frequency and PN would be assigned to Bravo HD each time your neighbour tuned it in. Unless there is something DHCP like about the assignments, i.e. they tend to use the same one over and over again as long as its available… and he’s just lucky the frequency/PN assigned early on is near the end of their search list…

]]> By: Cathyhttp://www.gizmolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/comment-page-1/#comment-22062 Cathy Mon, 31 Dec 2007 02:30:38 +0000 http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/#comment-22062 I believe TW has to update the cablecard with the mapping info that makes the channel tuneable. This is the explanation I received for not getting newly added HD channels from my TWC affiliate. They don't want to give Cablecard users access to anything that will become SDV later, because then they would have to take away something we had and we might ask for lower rates or rebates at that time. In the meantime, they feel o.k. about charging us the full fee even though we aren't getting the full service because they didn't raise the rates when they added the new channels and therefore we aren't paying more for less than we had before; we're just paying the same as our neighbors pay and getting less. (Yes, this is really what they said!!!)Anyway, these are linear channels and TWC must have updated his cablecards with the mapping info. Maybe some knowledgeable tech "fixed" a problem for another customer without realizing that his bosses had decided not to make these channels available to Cablecard users. I believe TW has to update the cablecard with the mapping info that makes the channel tuneable. This is the explanation I received for not getting newly added HD channels from my TWC affiliate. They don’t want to give Cablecard users access to anything that will become SDV later, because then they would have to take away something we had and we might ask for lower rates or rebates at that time. In the meantime, they feel o.k. about charging us the full fee even though we aren’t getting the full service because they didn’t raise the rates when they added the new channels and therefore we aren’t paying more for less than we had before; we’re just paying the same as our neighbors pay and getting less. (Yes, this is really what they said!!!)

Anyway, these are linear channels and TWC must have updated his cablecards with the mapping info. Maybe some knowledgeable tech “fixed” a problem for another customer without realizing that his bosses had decided not to make these channels available to Cablecard users.

]]> By: Davidhttp://www.gizmolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/comment-page-1/#comment-22029 David Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:44:15 +0000 http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/#comment-22029 I suspect theory #2. I'm on TWC in San Antonio and I've seen the same behavior with my S3. Several times I've seen channels that are initially advertised as not available to CableCard customers will later become tunable. Sometimes (but not always) these channels are dropped from the "Not Available" page on the twc-sa.com web site. Unfortunately their site is generally out of date so I don't really trust it. I suspect theory #2. I’m on TWC in San Antonio and I’ve seen the same behavior with my S3. Several times I’ve seen channels that are initially advertised as not available to CableCard customers will later become tunable. Sometimes (but not always) these channels are dropped from the “Not Available” page on the twc-sa.com web site. Unfortunately their site is generally out of date so I don’t really trust it.

]]> By: MegaZonehttp://www.gizmolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/comment-page-1/#comment-22021 MegaZone Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:46:11 +0000 http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/#comment-22021 It is probably one or two, the channels are linear for some reason. It is curious, I'd love to get some more data points. It is probably one or two, the channels are linear for some reason. It is curious, I’d love to get some more data points.

]]> By: Ben Drawbaughhttp://www.gizmolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/comment-page-1/#comment-22016 Ben Drawbaugh Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:05:12 +0000 http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/12/26/tivo-sdv-oddity/#comment-22016 I'd say it was #1 My understanding is that they can change a channel to or from SDV in a matter of minutes and actually on the fly to optimize the network. Mari has done a post on a demo she received where she was able to see how they monitor the network and make changes based on viewers usage in real time. I’d say it was #1
My understanding is that they can change a channel to or from SDV in a matter of minutes and actually on the fly to optimize the network. Mari has done a post on a demo she received where she was able to see how they monitor the network and make changes based on viewers usage in real time.

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