A-B Switching network problems

[hypergoat]

I would like to begin by extending a massive thank-you to everyone that has made GBPVR possible; I've used it for over a year, and it's a fantastic program. I recently moved to Roxbury, MA and discovered that after bypassing the cable box, that any channels above 20 no longer work. I contacted Comcast about this issue, and it appears that it is because of the aging cable transmission system uses what they described as a 'A-B Switching Network'. Does anyone here know of any solutions, be they hardware or software, of allowing my capture card to correctly view all my channels and still have the ability to change them (essentially bypassing the cable box). I've looked around the internet trying to find some information, but I don't really know enough about cable systems and transmission standards to know what to look for.
Thank you in advance for any advice.

[sub]

If you're absolutely sure they're transmitting these channels using analog not digital cable, then I'm surprised the PVR500 doesnt see them.

The A-B switching thing, like that used on old General Instruments or Jerrold cable boxes, is really just a channel selection mechanism for cable boxes designed primarily for 99 or 64 channels. The actual channels themselves are all transmitted the same way on the cable.

If they were digital channels, or scrambled, then this could account for the problem.

If you run the Tuning Assistant, do you see all your channels?

[hypergoat]

When I run the tuning assistent I only see the channels 2-20. I have received the same results just plugging the cable directly into the tv. Could you please clarify what you described as a 'PVR500'? Is that a capture card, or the decoding component?
Thanks,

[sub]

When I run the tuning assistent I only see the channels 2-20. I have received the same results just plugging the cable directly into the tv.

Sounds to me like that is the only channels Comcast is transmitting as regular analog NTSC in your area, particularly since the TV shows the same channels. The A-B stuff wont effect this.

Could you please clarify what you described as a 'PVR500'

Sorry, forget I mentioned it. For some reason I thought I read you have a PVR500, but rereading it, you didnt say that.

[hypergoat]

I actually just got off the phone with Comcast again, and provided me with a much more reasonable explanation of why this is happening. Turns out it has absolutly nothing to due with A-B switching, and much much more with other people stealing cable. Turns out because of a high rate cable theft, any channels about basic are scrambled. For the moment, short of moving it seems I'm out of luck, but thank you very much for all your help. I've enjoyed learning about various cable transmission standards and switching mechnisms.

[jksmurf]

hypergoat,

Apart from your being very polite, which is always a great thing, I think you have abolutely the BEST login name ... it had me in fits of laughter (giggling fits in fact) this morning, as it nicely sums up how I feel about my presence in "hyperspace" sometimes (no offence intended). It might be you have an altogether other reason for the "handle" but to me this morning, it is priceless.

cheers,

k.