View Full Version : Sony KDF-55WF655 and cable cards
jeadams
11-18-2004, 08:57 PM
Has anyone gotton a cable card to work with a Sony KDF-55WF655 TV? I had a Bright House tech come out last week with a Scientific Atlanta card but he was unable to activate it. The TV screen showed "no host ID" The cable tech blamed the TV and stated it was not their fault. Any cable card info would be appreciated. Thanks
I'm not sure if you've read, but there have been a lot of issues with CableCard not working. Sound and Vision had an article on it, but I read recently of someone who got it to work...
Do a search for cablecard.
ctsooner
11-19-2004, 11:45 AM
Has anyone gotton a cable card to work with a Sony KDF-55WF655 TV? I had a Bright House tech come out last week with a Scientific Atlanta card but he was unable to activate it. The TV screen showed "no host ID" The cable tech blamed the TV and stated it was not their fault. Any cable card info would be appreciated. Thanks
SA Cablecards work fine. I have a WE655 with a Cablecard and Comcast. Your tech was mistaken, and or lazy. It does take a while to find someone who knows how to activate the card. Call and ask for a tech that has done more than 1 install or just been trained. I called and waited for the "guy" in my area. He was able to walk their tech support through the process and got it working.
The tech did comment that he thought the cablecard picture (SD and HD) was better than that of the SA3250HD STB I was using. I think I will still keep both because my wife likes the OnDemand Function (Friday night movies and PBS kids shows in a pinch) and Interactive Guide, which the Cablecard currently lacks.
tvornottv
11-23-2004, 05:52 PM
I have a KDF-55WF655 and a SA cablecard. Comcast has upgraded the firmware but still can't get the encrypted HD channels. Sony won't touch the question; CC doesn't have a clue. Where are you located and what's the phone # of your Comcast quy?
gren25
11-23-2004, 11:00 PM
had mine installed today, I have a sony xbr960, have TW and SA card most every thing works except some of my hd channels like hd net and espnhd,and some of my higher dig. channels. Ithink that they don't have it programmed right. tech will be back tomorrow,as I am the FIRST to have it in my county. hope we get it all worked out
If some of the higher channels (typically also mapped to higher frequencies) are not coming in, it could likely be a signal strength issue. Have them check that.
gren25
11-24-2004, 10:41 AM
tech called and said they don't have it programmed in right on their end, the girl that does it is on vacation, their working on it though. I thought it was just a programming issue. update later. P.S. the picture even on analog cable is outstanding
ctsooner
11-24-2004, 11:46 AM
I have a KDF-55WF655 and a SA cablecard. Comcast has upgraded the firmware but still can't get the encrypted HD channels. Sony won't touch the question; CC doesn't have a clue. Where are you located and what's the phone # of your Comcast quy?
Connecticut .... This is what worked for me, I went to the local office, asked the person at the front desk about the Cablecards, and whether they were installing many -- she said the local stores where promoting the fact that Comcast had them and she had seen a bunch go recently. I then proceeded to ask about the the install, she said she didn't know much but that Kim was very knowledgeable on the subject and had done most if not all the installs. I asked to speak with Kim, said he was out on an install -- said great write up a work order for Kim to come install mine -- said oh but so and so is available I said naw I will wait for Kim. Pays to visit your local office, rather than call the toll free number.
jeadams
11-27-2004, 03:34 PM
I am happy to finally report success with Bright House and an SA cable card with a Sony KDF-55WF655 TV. The CC was a version 2.3.148S2 OS with a build date of Tue Oct 19 2004. Now here’s the kicker……...it took 40 minutes after the CC was inserted until the MAC address and host ID showed. The tech stated that a Sharp took 5 minutes and a couple of Mitsubishi’s that he had done were in the 10 minute range. Just glad to have it working!
There was an update in December's Sound & vision. The fellow has some channels working on his Cablecard and Comcast is still working on the issues. Not very good press for CableCard or Comcast... Apparently two months and counting...
scottfdesign
03-07-2005, 08:37 PM
I just had Brighthouse Central Florida install a SA CableCard in my Sony WE655 last week. The tech was at my house over an hour. First, he had to run a new line from the distro box to my house because the low-band signal was bad. Then, the had to send like 3 hits to the card to get it programmed correctly. Lucily, the tech was good and persistant, and kept calling support untill they got it right. (I was laughing because even the techs get the annoying music and ads on hold :hah33: ) Now, everything comes in great, except for the analog channels, but that's just the limit of analog NTSC I guess. BTW, I also traded out my cable box for an HD box and hooked it up via component; the built in tuner over cable card look so much better then the cråppy scaler in the HD box. Can't wait for Brighthouse to go all digital.
Nascar18-8
03-08-2005, 03:15 AM
I have a Sony KDF-55WF655 and my cable co. Installed the cable card (motorola)
and I recieve all my channels including HD just fine,My cable co. name is Insight.
Hi Def J
03-09-2005, 12:45 AM
Is anybody using both the cable card and the cable box?
Ratman
03-09-2005, 08:24 AM
Why would someone do that?
There are apparently some people who've done it just as a test. Those that did, mentioned that the picture quality is slightly better through the CableCard - I guess the direct connection is better than with cables/inputs, etc.
Of course, the difference could also be the "calibration" or lack thereof of the various inputs as mentioned in the FAQ on DVI/HDMI Information.
Also, the CableCard cannot offer some of the services available through a STB like - DVR, VOD, IPG, etc.
Ratman
03-09-2005, 11:18 AM
I would choose to rent one or the other based on it's merits and personal requirements.
Putting the lack of services with cablecard aside... they both essentially perform the same function.
Hi Def J
03-09-2005, 11:23 PM
Ratman,
Isn't that one way to get PIP with dual tuners?
tonelocdog
03-10-2005, 01:15 AM
There are apparently some people who've done it just as a test. Those that did, mentioned that the picture quality is slightly better through the CableCard - I guess the direct connection is better than with cables/inputs, etc.
Of course, the difference could also be the "calibration" or lack thereof of the various inputs as mentioned in the FAQ on DVI/HDMI Information.
Also, the CableCard cannot offer some of the services available through a STB like - DVR, VOD, IPG, etc.
So, if u have a tv with a cable card slot, and put one of those cards inside a tv, it produces a better picture on sd, and hd stations? Is it because its inside the tv working internally, instead having a cable box, working externally from the tv, being connected withe rg 6, and other sorts of cables. Is that true? Can anybody back up this theory? Can a cable card, produce a better image than a cable box would?
stirling33
03-10-2005, 11:11 AM
I am just getting my KDF-60XS955 all set up and I have Comcast coming on Monday to install a cable card. I am reading that alot of people are having issues, if I decide just to go with a cable box instead.
Do I still need to get Comcast's HD box seeing my tv has a built in tuner?
See the FAQ on "Can I get HD cable with my internal tuner".
