Mediacom & Auto-Programming Channels - help?

[khardbored]

Hi guys,

CF seems to always be a source of good info, so I'll give this a try.

I had Mediacom in the Des Moines area for internet only until recently (which came with the very basic channels, including 22). Yesterday I upgraded to a package that includes "Family TV" so I can get ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox Sports Midwest, etc.

I had a technician come out yesterday and he was a contractor who seemed to have no idea what he was doing. Frankly, I'm not even sure he needed to come out.

When I auto-program my TV, it skips all the "good" channels I'm supposed to be getting (ESPN, etc.). I've called twice and they swear up and down that the new package is in place and my TV "should" be picking them up.

I have a digital ready TV, no cable box needed. For reference, I've had this same TV working in the past with a different package.

Any advice?

 

[3TrueFans]

Is it not picking up Digital channels at all? 8-1, 13-1, 55-5, etc?

 

[khardbored]

Is it not picking up Digital channels at all? 8-1, 13-1, 55-5, etc?

I do get the digital equivalent of network channels (13-1, 8-1, etc, and their digital conterparts in the 70's.) I am missing the channels in the 50's (including all the sports channels, cyclones tv, etc.)

 

[MeowingCows]

DTV and it's variants depend greatly on the specific TV that you have. Some TV's have full-range DTV tuners, some only do certain kinds of DTV broadcasts, etc. This issue probably isn't Mediacom's fault, especially if the same channels work on different TV's in the house. It's probably that particular TV.

 

[khardbored]

DTV and it's variants depend greatly on the specific TV that you have. Some TV's have full-range DTV tuners, some only do certain kinds of DTV broadcasts, etc. This issue probably isn't Mediacom's fault, especially if the same channels work on different TV's in the house. It's probably that particular TV.

I've had the same channels before a year or two ago, on this exact same TV, in the exact same Mediacom market, I just moved to a different house.

I just wondered if Mediacom had "changed" something in their delivery system in the past two years?

 

[capitalcityguy]

Use their customer service forums.

https://forums.mediacomcable.com/index.php?

I've had a ton of luck going this route getting technical questions answered in the past and because it is public, they obviously have an incentive to answer quickly and accurately.

 

[ricochet]

Your TV's tuner will only work with unencrypted channels. If those channels are encrypted you will need a box of some kind in order to get them. If those channels really are clear QAM then maybe you have a notch filter somewhere between the cable box outside and your TV that is blocking certain frequencies.

 

[NickTheGreat]

Your TV's tuner will only work with unencrypted channels. If those channels are encrypted you will need a box of some kind in order to get them. If those channels really are clear QAM then maybe you have a notch filter somewhere between the cable box outside and your TV that is blocking certain frequencies.

All the standard (non-premium) Mediacom channels in DSM are clear QAM. For now . . .

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Use their customer service forums.

https://forums.mediacomcable.com/index.php?

I've had a ton of luck going this route getting technical questions answered in the past and because it is public, they obviously have an incentive to answer quickly and accurately.

We always start with the Mediacom Support Twitter account when we have problems. They are great. Quick, truly want to help, admit when they can't. @MediacomSupport

Drawback is if you're not on Twitter.

 

[khardbored]

Your TV's tuner will only work with unencrypted channels. If those channels are encrypted you will need a box of some kind in order to get them. If those channels really are clear QAM then maybe you have a notch filter somewhere between the cable box outside and your TV that is blocking certain frequencies.

I think this was it.

Problem solved.

Want to know how it was solved?

So the 23 year-old technician (who was a contractor from Kentucky . . . nice guy, but don't think he knew what he was doing) left the road-side cable box open and just laying there when he left. So, I basically got some pliers, unscrewed some thing that looks like a small cylinder between the hookup and the cable, and screwed it back in. Gently put the box back in place. Works fine now, get all the correct channels.

Thanks to those who posted.