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DTV Transition Mostly Smooth, Windows Media Center Problems

Posted by Soulskill on from the muh-tv-dun-broke dept.

dritan writes "While most of the transition to digital seems to have gone smoothly, those who use Windows Media Center saw their screens go dark. Users are complaining that Media Center did not pick up changes to channel assignments that took place on Friday. Someone forgot to update the static channel lists distributed with the program guide. Users either have to wait for Microsoft to fix the problem, or manually edit the configuration files." Reports indicate that the FCC received upwards of 300,000 calls on Friday from consumers seeking late help with the transition, but they were prepared, with over 4,000 operators available to handle problems. The FCC's DTV website also had over 3 million hits on Friday. Both phone and Internet traffic have now tapered off, and supplies of converter boxes appear to have held out just fine.

9 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. Wow manually edit configuration files. by yourassOA · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is more complicated than the kernel update I did last night.
    Almost as bad as updating alsa to 1.0.20. (stupid jaunty jackassalope shipped with 1.0.18)
    At least windows is starting to be a real OS with the typing and such.

  2. Progress by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now everyone will experience beautiful, high resolution broadcast video of quality programming.

    Ha, ha! Just kidding, I made that second part up.

    1. Re:Progress by bertoelcon · · Score: 2, Funny

      I live in middle of -no-where Texas and I used the DTV box for several months before the switch, and now my channels have dropped to near no signal since everyone else is using the signal. Last week my average signal was in the high 80%s, now its around 40% if at all. I guess its good I only watch one show and usually watch it later online anyway.

      --
      Anything can be found funny, from a certain point of view.
  3. Re:I was pleasantly surprised... by Penguin · · Score: 5, Funny

    I got eight new channels on Friday -- the MHz and ION networks went digital in my area, so now I can watch Bollywood movies, English-language Russian TV, NHK Today, and some Chinese thing, among others.

    These actually can be quite interesting to browse -- the Russian take on the Iranian election was kind of interesting.

    Caveat: These reports origin from foreign dubious sources and haven't been processed by the US News un-bias-o-matic.

    --
    - Peter Brodersen; professional nerd
  4. Re:It Worked by ionix5891 · · Score: 2, Funny

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq

  5. Re:I was pleasantly surprised... by bertoelcon · · Score: 2, Funny

    US News un-bias-o-matic

    Its more of a US News uber-bias-o-matic

    --
    Anything can be found funny, from a certain point of view.
  6. Re:Seriously, why should we care? by evilviper · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm fairly young and therefore am automatically assumed to lack experience. Yet somehow I am continually amazed at the sheer ignorance that many people I meet display about absolutely everything.

    What's this, now? An angsty teenager who thinks he knows everything?!?!

    I'm SHOCKED! Shocked I say!

    --
    Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
  7. Never heard of it by Turmoyl · · Score: 4, Funny

    There's a Windows Media Center? Who knew?!

  8. Re:Why can't windows media player scan of channels by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Who's responsible for the guide data? Microsoft?

    I dunno. Presumably.

    Are Tivo or Sage users having similar problems?

    I dunno, I use Media Center.

    This goes triple for a product that you're paying for.

    Except Media Center is a free add-on to Windows, so you're not really paying for it. No more than you are for, say, Windows Movie Maker or Paint.

    --
    Comment of the year