my new HD TV on Oceanic cable

Got rained out at tennis. Wound up at IchiBen with Lori, Cathy, Bob. Somehow I mentioned getting a new TV and we wound at Wal-Mart and I walked out of there with a Sony EX4/40 TV. I was going to get it at Costco, but it was $20 cheaper at Wal-Mart. It was the last one and had a hole in the lower side of the box, but I chanced it.

Bob hooked up the stand but had trouble with the last screw. Turned out the screw was stripped. But it seems to be sturdy enough. Lori put the batteries in the remote. Dunno what Cathy did. I was feeding Kimo.

I wanted the Sony brand because I knew that Sony could catch HD channels on Oceanic without needing a cable box (because I had set Sony's up for BettyN and the Fongs). I know some other brands could too, but I knew of other (Non-Sony) flat screen TVs that could only tune in the analog channels (because I tried them). (Probably because they were older models, but maybe not).

Anyway, cross fingers and auto-tune. It found 26 digital channels, 7 of them in HD (KHON, KITV, KFVE, KGMB, KHNL, KHET, and oddly MSNBC). One good thing about this Sony is it tells you what kind of signal it's picking up. NTSC (analog), digital SD (480i), and hi-def. I was surprised to see it picked up both 720p and 1024i signals.

Here's the digital channels it found after scanning (and what I believe are Oceanic's corresponding digital channels), plus the resolution of the hi-def channels. The non-HD channels are all in 480i.


46.3 KHON HD (1003) 720p
46.4 The CW Network (93)
77.3 NewsChoice (112)
79.1 PBS Kids Hawaii (443)
79.10 Event Prevues (?)
83.3 KHNL HD (1008) 1080i
94.101 Prevues (?) (I briefly got the picture then it blanked out)
94.102 Games? (433?) (there was a game in progress, but later it blanked)
103.250 SURF (250)
103.1107 MSNBC HD (1107) 1080i
112.353 blank?
113.698 New Tang Dynasty (698)
114.2 KITV HD (1006) 720p
116.1 KGMB HD (1007) 1080i
116.4 Digital KIKU (89)
116.5 Digital KBFD (82)
117.3 Digital KHON (none)
117.5 Digital KFVE (85)
117.6 Digital KITV (86)
117.7 Digital KGMB (87)
117.8 Digital KHNL (88)
117.10 Digital KHET (90)
118.1 KFVE HD (1005) 1080i
120.12 KHET HD (1010) 1080i
121.10 Digital HSN (152)
0 SportsChoice (200)

The next day, MSNBC disappears and so does New Tang Dynasty. And the Games and SURF too. On the other hand TEC appears (actually it disappeared later, then reappeared again).

[8/24am] Scan again. REELZ appears. And SURF and the Game channel reappears. Then comes the morning and REELZ and Games disappear, though SURF is still there so far.

Wondering why my so-called anamorphic DVDs don't fill the screen with black bars all around both horizontally and vertically. Light bulb. Set DVD player setting to 16:9 from 4:3. Yeah, much better!

[9/3/10] Ah, here's the official digital lineup from Oceanic. My KHNL HD 83.3 disappeared. I noticed the signal has been spotty in the past and now it's just plain gone. Well, hopefully it'll come back.

[11/11] My latest scan now shows the following channels:

46.3 KHON-HD
118.1 KFVE-HD
116.9 KITV-HD
116.1 KGMB-HD
118.3 KHNL-HD
118.12 KHET-HD
46.1 KPXO-HD
46.4 CW-SD
49.1 OC12-HD
122.11 1420 AM (radio)

***

[9/1/10] Decided to trade in my DVR for a hi-def DVR (Cisco Explorer 8300HD). Was considering cancelling my digital variety pack. But when the lady checked, she said I'm getting a special deal and my cost would actually go up! Well, that's what she said. So I'm keeping it. Got a new remote, though she said the old one would work. But I told her it was kind of worn out. (Some of the buttons, like the pause didn't work well.) So I got a new one. And they gave me an HDMI cable too.

Hooked it up via HDMI. Looks pretty sharp. My eyes still get a little sore, but they used to get sore at my old TV with the color turned up too much (come to think of it). They did get sore watching the 27" flat screen Sony I found on the side of the road. It was a little blue. Maybe it's Sony.

Now considering trading LCD for Plasma. But I dunno. The pros for plasma: viewing angle, motion handling. Pros for LCD: does better in daylight. And I see now that this Sony is "only" 60 Hz.

But every time I think of returning it, I see a nice super-clear, super-sharp, hi-def picture (the Sony does have an awesome hi-def picture) and think wow, how can I give this up? I'm not so impressed with the sharpness of the plasmas I see at the store. But they probably look fine if I'm not too close.

Anyway, couldn't find the code for the remote (which looks like the Atlas OCAP 5) to control the Sony. The code at urcsupport didn't work. So I did a code search and it worked at about the fifth or sixth try. Checking the code, it turns out to be 1-1-0-0.

And, ah, here's how to turn on closed caption when using HDMI (on this box anyway). It's just one of the settings you can access by pressing the settings button on the remote control (couldn't get the on when mute option working though).

[9/3/10] Panic. I was going to compare the HDMI picture with the composite picture on my DVD recorder. But couldn't get a picture on the composite despite some mad swapping of cables, even trying it with my Apex analog TV. I thought the DVD-recorder might have busted. But then I remembered I had set the setting to progressive. I hooked up the HDMI again and turned off the progressive. OK, it works now!

My eyes seem to ache with the HDMI hookups. Maybe it's just too sharp. I'm trying to turn down the backlight and sharpness. Maybe a little better. I dunno.

[9/5/10] I'm not getting a couple of HD channels I'm supposed to get, most of the time. The picture is blank when I tune them in. Specifically it's HTRAV (1325) AND HHIST (1327). The problem is the signal is marginal. The cable box is hooked up to a two-way splitter with one cable going to my mom's bedroom and the other cable going to the cable box. (And in fact it's split earlier with a three-way splitter with one end going to my bedroom and another going to the patio.) If I bypass the splitter and put the cable directly to the cable box it works. And in fact if I unscrew the other cable on the splitter, that works too.

Funny though that HHIST works if I use the Start Over function and watch from the beginning. HTRAV doesn't have the option.

So I guess I'll have to unscrew the cable when I want to watch those channels. Another option is to get a signal booster. Or maybe a low-loss splitter might work?

***

[9/12/10] Well I decided to return the Sony TV to the WalMart on Keeaumoku. It just so happened that Chelsea was there and took my return. So no problem.

Not sure what I going to buy to replacement. Either a Panasonic plasma. Or maybe the Vizio 37".

Anyway, reprogrammed the Oceanic remote back to the old TV. Followed the instructions on the back of the remote

1) turn device on
2) press device key (TV, DVD, etc.)
3) press and hold SETUP (LED blinks twice)
4) Press 9-9-1 (LED blinks twice)
5) Press POWER key
6) Press CH+ repeatedly until device turns off
7) Press SETUP when device turns off

(For more support, go to www.urcsupport.com, actually the instructions are here)

The Apex turned off pretty quickly, like on the fourth or fifth try. The Panasonic turned off quickly at first but then didn't work. Had to try again and it took like 90 tries before it worked.

Checking the code (page 14 of the instructions), it's 0650 for the Panasonic TV.

***

[9/16/10] Went down with Donna to Costco and picked up the Panasonic 42" Plasma TV (model TC-42PX24). It barely fit in her car. Good thing I didn't try to pick it up in my car. The other thing it's quite a bit heavier than the LCD. The box says 30 KG which is 66 pounds.

Hooked it up and didn't really like the hue. I guess it was too warm. I set it to cool and it looked better. However I think the "cool" setting is more harsh on my eyes.

My eyes seem better but still seem a little fatigued. I do think SD looks better on the plasma. There's not quite as many functions on the remote but I guess it's OK. And when I auto-scanned, I caught more channels than on the Sony. Like the Science Channel for example. We'll see how long they stay on. KHNL-HD (83.3) didnt catch at first. Then had a weak signal. It finally came in when I disconnected the cable going to mom's room.

Next to hook up the cable box and DVD player.

[9/17/10] Hooked up the cable box and watched Knocked Up (the rest of it) on DVR. It was in HD but was blurry. It's my eyes that were blurry. My eyes got sore. So that was discouraging. I think it could be the TV color, but maybe it was because I was straining my eyes trying to focus on the HD picture. I can hope.

I'm looking at the TV in the daytime now and the picture is awfully dim. Switched to standard picture and it has a lot more contrast and looks pretty good. Actually really good when I went to hi-def. But we'll see how the picture looks at these settings in the evening. My eyes don't seem too bad in the daytime. Again we'll see this evening.

And now in addition to HKHNL, HTRAV, HHIST not working (most of the time), HNGEO not working either :(

[9/18/10] put on the Planet Earth DVD and it looked pretty good on the big screen. Maybe I'll keep it.

It's now morning. The picture in the early morning still looked pretty good but as the morning went on the picture went downhill and I switched from "custom" back to "standard" (which has the C.A.T.S setting on) and it looked better. So apparently I'll have to use "standard" during the daylight hours and "custom" during the evenings, nights, and early mornings.

The HD channels that were blank last night are working this morning. We'll see how long that lasts.

Was watching some Dude Where's My Car on FX HD and the picture looked too green to me. Adjusting the tint didn't do much. Now I'm having second thoughts about keeping the TV.

I do like the plasma though as I think SD looks better on it and I don't notice the picture washing out when viewing at an angle. I think I may take a second look at the 37" Panasonic plasma that I saw at K-Mart. It did look quite good with the hidef signal when I saw it. Especially compared to the 42" Panasonic on display which looked pretty crappy with an SD feed from a DVD player.

Don't see any listing for the Panasonic 37" at kmart.com. I did find this favorable review (for the picture) of the Panasonic TH-37PD25UP. But this looks like an older review considering the TV had only one HDMI input and the Sharp LCD (to which the Panasonic was being compared) had a DVI input. Plus the street price was $2600 for the Panasonic and $4000 (!) for the Sharp.

Amazon has a listing for the Panasonic TH-37PX60U which gets 4.5 stars. But the reviews are dated 2006.

Looking at the Panasonic site, I don't see any listing for a 37" plasma. I did find my current TV, model TC-42PX24. (Now I'm wondering if the TV was actually a 37" plasma at KMart. I'm pretty sure I did.)

[9/18/10] After voting, I went down to KMart to take a look. No wonder I couldn't find it on the internet, it was actually a LCD TV, no plasma. Model number TC-L37C22. Rates 3.5 stars at Amazon (3 reviews: 1 5-star, 1 4-star, 1 1-star [bad support]). What sounded impressive to me was that it boasts of a 178 degree viewing angle!

Well, since it's not plasma, I guess I'll keep the 42". [For now.] Truth to tell, when I came home and looked at the football game in HD, it looked pretty good. Maybe it helped that I changed the setting back to cool? [For now.] I think if I saw this picture at the store, I'd actually be kind of impressed.

[9/21/10] More messing around with the TV. Finding the "cinema" mode (with the color tweaked down a bit) gives a pretty nice picture during the day. But it depends on the channel and show. Now watching the TB-NYY games on MLB in the afternoon. I'd have to say it's close to a perfect picture (for my eyes anyway).

[9/21/10] Here's an interesting article on how to adjust your picture (linked from Misconception #5 of Nine Common Misconceptions About Plasma TVs). All this time I didn't know that contrast is actually the white level.

[9/22/10] more messing with the TV settings. There are four main picture settings: vivid, cinema, standard, custom. And they are all different (duh). By that I mean even when I set the contrast, brightness, color, sharpness to the same setting, the picture looks different. The problem is even after I have the settings to where it suits me, the picture becomes different at a different time of day and on a different channel. Well, I like to play with the TV anyway...

[10/2/10] Trying out Donna's Toshiba 40" TV on hi-def. I like the color better. Doesn't seem too harsh like the Sony. Or too greenish like the Panasonic plasma. But my eyes still get sore. Maybe the TV needs more adjustment. But more likely it's me since this is the third TV that makes my eyes tired/sore. (And I remember my eyes tend to get sore when looking at big LCD computer monitors -- I'm still using old CRT monitors.) It doesn't seem as bad when watching standard definition. Maybe the hidef is forcing my eyes to focus. Lowering the contrast and color (like my CRT) seems to help. But too much and the picture don't look too great. Now considering returning the Panasonic. And considering the 37" Panasonic LCD. Or maybe an edge-lit 120 Hz Vizio.

Hmmm. Maybe my eyes don't like the CCFL? If so, maybe LED is better?

*** [4/11/12]

Unplugged the cable box last night and did a new scan for channels. Some of the free HD channels have changed. Here's some of the new lineup:

48-1 KGMB-HD
48-4 DKIKU
48-5 DKBFD
48-9 KITVHD
49-1 KFVE-H
49-3 KHNL-HD
49-12 KHET-HD
51-1 OC SPORTS
78-21 KBS-WORLD

The following remain the same
46-1 KPXO-HD (Ion)
46-3 KHON-HD
46-4 CW-SD

Ah, I see the channel changes reflected on the website. Apparently they changed them Monday.

***

Plugged back in the cable box so I could watch the Knicks-Bucks on ESPN-HD. And, hey, TNT-HD, TRAV-HD, HIST-HD are back. I had lost the signal a couple of weeks ago and was going to call Oceanic about it. But I guess maybe I just needed to unplug the cable box.

*** [5/5/12]

Last night I noticed I lost ESPN-HD in addition to TNT-HD and a bunch of other channels (like USA-HD, etc.).  Tried unplugging and replugging in the cable box.  Tried having them resend the signal.  Nope.  And noticed that some of the lower channels were fuzzy (like channels 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or most of them).  So it's probably a weak signal.  Called Oceanic and they were busy.  Finally managed to get a callback from (I think) the mainland and I could barely hear her.  She suggested I swap the cable box.  Then I told her about the weak signal on the TV not on the cable box.  She resent the signal.  Nope.  Finally she decided to schedule a visit from a tech.  Channel 12 isn't working either, let along 1012.  At least ESPN-HD is working again for now.

[Maybe I will swap the cable box, but I want to watch the shows that's on my DVR.  Specifially Hachi.  But I haven't watched it all this time.  So maybe I should just get the DVD.  I also have Avatar but I'm sure it's going to be on cable again.  And the other one is the Dallas-Knicks game with Jeremy Lin.  I've seen it, but I want to record it.  Well, we'll see if the signal gets better in the next few days.  There was a guy installing cable at Amy Pang's house a couple of days ago so I wonder if it's related?]

OK, early in the a.m.  most of the channels are now working.  It's down to TNT-HD, TRAV-HD, HIST-HD.  And oddly OC-12, even though OC-12 HD (1012) is working.  I'll probably try another reset to see if it takes this time..

[5/6/12] unplugged the cable box this morning and plugged the cable directly into the TV.  Then about 1:00 PM plugged back the cable box.  Hey, it's working!  We'll see how long it lasts this time.

[5/14/12] TNT-HD is spotty, but TRAV-HD and HIST-HD seems to be working most of the time now.  The TBS-HD signal doesn't seem to be that strong since the picture has been breaking up once in a while.