Comcast keeps changing QAM list

[antialias]

I've noticed that the QAM channel mappings have changed on me 2 times now in the past 6 months. I'm on Comcast in Vancouver Washington. Has anyone else had this issue and is there an easy way to rescan without manually flipping through all the QAM list and typing in the corresponding QAM number for each station?

[soccerdad]

I had to rescan several times after the digital conversion, but now it has settled down. I am on TWC though. I look at silicondust and see where the current channels are, then I have edited the qam scan file (bda->atsc->qam) to only the base channels that have my stations (I only have 3) and then do a rescan. (very fast) It works great and I then just map to the limited group that the scan found. You can refer to the silicondust list to make it even faster. Sub added a silicondust helper that comes up after scanning, but it has not worked for me.

[nightwalker]

According to Comcast by the time they are done re-doing their system clear QAM will be limited to local channels, the ones required by law. As I understand it they will be doing it in stages so I see lots of re-scanning in the coming year or so.

[ceandra]

Twice in 6 months? You have a lazy Comcast. I have had times where I must re-scan weekly. Most of this fall has been ok, only a few re-scans. Last spring was canstant battle. New version has some helpful tools, it appears. Have not tried them yet, but will upgrade this week.

Chuck

[pcostanza]

Cox New Orleans is doing the same thing only not as frequently. Twice in the last 2 months but they have some changes taking place which is why I think they are doing this suddenly. Of course, when you ask questions about QAM, mums the word from anyone at Cox.

[possum]

I've had my channels changed on me a few times recently, and I hate to sound like an idiot, but what procedure do you guys use when rescanning? Don't be afraid to dumb it down. I've hit the rescan button in the Map Digital Channels thing but it doesn't seem to change anything. The only luck I've had so far is to delete my Scan-1.cache files and start from scratch. This is proving to be time consuming and I'm sure one of you guys could help me find a faster method. Also, how soon after a lineup change or whatnot does silicondust update?

Also: Is there a way to ignore encrypted QAM channels in the scan? This seems like it may reduce the time also.

[ceandra]

I have not successfully used teh new rescan tool in the new version, but my Comcast ahs settled down a bit.

What I do do is edit a QAM.ini file to only include the physical channels that I use (its about 10). Thus, I don't have to scan 140 channels, only 10 or so. Then if I have trouble getting multiple links (sometimes Comcast does not properly name the channels, and the auto names overlap), I open the cache file in Notepad, and I can cut and paste the tuning parameters into config.

I know Sub did a lot of new things with the rescam, but on my first try I was not successful, and was in a hurry to get a channel set up (was missing a game in progress).

Chuck

[possum]

It seems like all of my channels continue to use the same channel numbering, as in TNT i believe is always 79.35, but the tuning parameters change, so that old parameters will address a different channel. Put on TNT, you'll be watching the weather channel. Put on TBS, you'll be watching TNT. After I delete all the mappings and do a rescan and use the silicondust tool, all the channels will be correct but the numbering is identical. After, I have to deal with my wife telling me which channels are in spanish because some channels have two audio tracks and the silicondust tool i suppose randomly picks one. So then I have to look at the channel number, and find the same number without the (Ac3) attached to it, and then I'll be golden. Finding the same channel number can also be a chore because they're not really in order. If I want to verify which one I'm selecting, I have to choose from the column on the right which includes encrypted channels which I can't even view. It just seems like there HAS to be a better way to do this.

[weisguy]

@possum - same boat here. for me they seem to keep sending channels on the same frequencies but the parameters change. after 3 times, i finally edited a custom qam.ini that just scans the channels I need so it takes a few minutes instead of 45 to scan all frequencies (although last time they actually moved one channel so this isn't an always-and-everything solution either)