PBS channel coder/decoder won’t work with Charter Cable

pedln · 08-29-2010, 08:50 PM

I subscribe to Charter Cable and had had no problem until they did a big regional (Southern Missouri) switcheroo in June/2010. Since then, the closed captions on the PBS channel (WSIU, Channel 8) are frequently scrambled, undecipherable. The other channels are okay, but I watch a lot of PBS. Channel 8 says they’re fine on their end, that the problem is Charter – their coder, decoder. Anybody else subscribe to Charter and have this problem? Channel 8 has been great with communicating by email. Charter not so great.

Anij · 08-30-2010, 09:07 PM

Not sure if this might be helpful info or not but ...

When we upgraded to a new "HD capable box" we had REALLY horribly scrambled CC ... maybe 10% correct.

In the end the "Fix" was getting the GOOD quality (gold tipped) cables and plugging the TV, Box and anything that had to do with the TV into a good quality "electronics surge protecting power bar".
The "power bar" also had connectors that allows you to route the coax (cable from outside ie the satellite dish etc) through the power bar.

Their are 2 really important reasons to use this:

1) It protect the electronics (TV etc) from power surges

2) I reduces or eliminates "line noise" which can interfere with some electronics ... and CC is especially sensitive to interference!

Since we got the better cables (connecting the Cable/Sat. box to the TV) and got the better Power bar with surge protection the Closed Captions have been MUCH better.

pedln · 09-03-2010, 10:38 PM

Thanks for the tip, Anij. I am currently not using a cable box, only the TV, with the cables the cable company installed, but if I upgrade and need a box, I'll remember the "gold tips." I think Charter finally did solve the problem (I hope, after two months). This week I called the local engineer at home and he saw what I was talking about on his own TV. Said he would fix it and since then things have been okay.

darkage · 09-15-2010, 10:31 PM

PBS is non-profit business. They earned $$$ from donate.

08-29-2010, 08:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
pedln Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	PBS channel coder/decoder won’t work with Charter Cable I subscribe to Charter Cable and had had no problem until they did a big regional (Southern Missouri) switcheroo in June/2010. Since then, the closed captions on the PBS channel (WSIU, Channel 8) are frequently scrambled, undecipherable. The other channels are okay, but I watch a lot of PBS. Channel 8 says they’re fine on their end, that the problem is Charter – their coder, decoder. Anybody else subscribe to Charter and have this problem? Channel 8 has been great with communicating by email. Charter not so great.

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08-30-2010, 09:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Anij Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,087	Not sure if this might be helpful info or not but ... When we upgraded to a new "HD capable box" we had REALLY horribly scrambled CC ... maybe 10% correct. In the end the "Fix" was getting the GOOD quality (gold tipped) cables and plugging the TV, Box and anything that had to do with the TV into a good quality "electronics surge protecting power bar". The "power bar" also had connectors that allows you to route the coax (cable from outside ie the satellite dish etc) through the power bar. Their are 2 really important reasons to use this: 1) It protect the electronics (TV etc) from power surges 2) I reduces or eliminates "line noise" which can interfere with some electronics ... and CC is especially sensitive to interference! Since we got the better cables (connecting the Cable/Sat. box to the TV) and got the better Power bar with surge protection the Closed Captions have been MUCH better.

09-03-2010, 10:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
pedln Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	Thanks for the tip, Anij. I am currently not using a cable box, only the TV, with the cables the cable company installed, but if I upgrade and need a box, I'll remember the "gold tips." I think Charter finally did solve the problem (I hope, after two months). This week I called the local engineer at home and he saw what I was talking about on his own TV. Said he would fix it and since then things have been okay.

09-15-2010, 10:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
darkage Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,717	PBS is non-profit business. They earned $$$ from donate.