OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:49:09 -0400, BAR wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:46:44 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

Is there a device or TV that keeps volume level or at least
constrained? My kid is trying to watch a movie on FX and the volume
fluxuation is so severe that we can't even let my kid watch it as we
are trying to have phone conversations with clients in the next room.
One second it needs to be at volume level 45, the next 18-20 is
plenty.. This is rediculous, can't even watch the TV we pay 100 bucks
a month for.. Crap...

Hey, one of my kids mentioned the same problem while watching History
Channel yesterday.
Besides the sound going up and down. it sometimes cuts out, and
sometimes both sound and picture freeze for a few seconds.
This is Comcast cable.
I blame it on digital. And Canada. Just like Tom.

Comcast is too blame for the cutting in and out of the sound and the
picture freezes and losses. It is the nature of digital information
transmission.

You heard it here first.

This digital TV deal is going to be a diaster.

It's only a matter of time.

OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:49:09 -0400, BAR wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:46:44 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

Is there a device or TV that keeps volume level or at least
constrained? My kid is trying to watch a movie on FX and the volume
fluxuation is so severe that we can't even let my kid watch it as we
are trying to have phone conversations with clients in the next room.
One second it needs to be at volume level 45, the next 18-20 is
plenty.. This is rediculous, can't even watch the TV we pay 100 bucks
a month for.. Crap...
Hey, one of my kids mentioned the same problem while watching History
Channel yesterday.
Besides the sound going up and down. it sometimes cuts out, and
sometimes both sound and picture freeze for a few seconds.
This is Comcast cable.
I blame it on digital. And Canada. Just like Tom.
Comcast is too blame for the cutting in and out of the sound and the
picture freezes and losses. It is the nature of digital information
transmission.

You heard it here first.

This digital TV deal is going to be a diaster.

It's only a matter of time.


We're all going back to 7" round screens in black and white.

It's Howdy Doody Time.

OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

Eisboch wrote:
"D.Duck" wrote in message
...

Here's a basic description of the process. Pretty much along the lines
you described.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/G3.HTM


That ShortWave guy isn't so dumb after all. Never knew that.

I have a new complaint. It seems like lately there are a bunch of different
commercials that include a cell phone ringing.
Half the time I have a TV on, sorta half listening to it, as I do other
stuff. When the stupid cell phone in the commercial rings, it catches my
attention .... at least for a moment. I don't know if it's coincidental or
if some marketing research group figured out how to get you to pay attention
to the commercials.

Eisboch



I hate the radio commercials that have a loud police or ambulance siren.

OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

On Mar 10, 9:36*pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"D.Duck" wrote in message

...



Here's a basic description of the process. *Pretty much along the lines
you described.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/G3.HTM

That ShortWave guy isn't so dumb after all. *Never knew that.

I have a new complaint. *It seems like lately there are a bunch of different
commercials that include a cell phone ringing.
Half the time I have a TV on, sorta half listening to it, as I do other
stuff. *When the stupid cell phone in the commercial rings, it catches my
attention .... at least for a moment. * I don't know if it's coincidental or
if some marketing research group figured out how to get you to pay attention
to the commercials.

Eisboch

Hah.. .see guys, I can start serious threads too... ;) Anyway, that
phone thing really got me till I found a ringer on mine, only heard on
the history channel;) It sounds like a real ringer from a regular old
phone, yes, a ringer, a bell. It was funny the first time my kid and
friends heard it, they are young... they said, "that's a weird
ring"... I told them if they though that was weird, I should show them
a record album.. ;)

OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

On Mar 10, 8:06*pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"Tim" wrote in message

...
On Mar 10, 6:46 pm, wrote:

Is there a device or TV that keeps volume level or at least
constrained? My kid is trying to watch a movie on FX and the volume
fluxuation is so severe that we can't even let my kid watch it as we
are trying to have phone conversations with clients in the next room.
One second it needs to be at volume level 45, the next 18-20 is
plenty.. This is rediculous, can't even watch the TV we pay 100 bucks
a month for.. Crap...

I've noticed that too. When I'm by muself and watching "something" on
TV I have the remote and I'm always flipping the volume between 18 and
23. sometimes the background music over rides the voices to the point
it'[s really frustrating, or a scene is in "wisper mode" for some
reason. Then comes the commercials *argh!*. I know it's been *trick to
brodcst the volume of a commercial louder than the programing to get
your attention. That gets old too!

--------------------------------

Look in the audio setup menu for the TV. *Some have an option for "auto
volume control" or similar feature.
Turn it on. * It won't completely eliminate the difference in volume between
show and commercial, but it helps.

Also, some of the "virtual" surround modes cause a weak dialog volume and
strong background because it's trying to "project" a phase delayed sound to
create the phony surround sound effect. * Try turning it off.

Eisboch

I was wodering after I made myfirst post if the digital udio wsn't
being set up for Surround Sound systems. I'll check into it Rich.

OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Mar 10, 6:46 pm, wrote:
Is there a device or TV that keeps volume level or at least
constrained? My kid is trying to watch a movie on FX and the volume
fluxuation is so severe that we can't even let my kid watch it as we
are trying to have phone conversations with clients in the next room.
One second it needs to be at volume level 45, the next 18-20 is
plenty.. This is rediculous, can't even watch the TV we pay 100 bucks
a month for.. Crap...

I've noticed that too. When I'm by muself and watching "something" on
TV I have the remote and I'm always flipping the volume between 18 and
23. sometimes the background music over rides the voices to the point
it'[s really frustrating, or a scene is in "wisper mode" for some
reason. Then comes the commercials *argh!*. I know it's been trick to
brodcst the volume of a commercial louder than the programing to get
your attention. That gets old too!

--------------------------------

Look in the audio setup menu for the TV. Some have an option for "auto
volume control" or similar feature.
Turn it on. It won't completely eliminate the difference in volume
between show and commercial, but it helps.

Also, some of the "virtual" surround modes cause a weak dialog volume and
strong background because it's trying to "project" a phase delayed sound
to create the phony surround sound effect. Try turning it off.


Eisboch


I use the 'mute' button all the time for commercials.
On a favourite program that I really want to hear well, I turn on the home
theater system. What a difference...... much easier to hear with superior
lows.

Yep, "Mute", the most valuable button of them all. While it might be
illegal to do it, ads SCREAM. I wish someone would put some TV exec in jail
for this. But the mute button saves my sanity.

OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

On Mar 10, 8:52*pm, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:
On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:36:25 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

"D.Duck" wrote in message
m...

Here's a basic description of the process. *Pretty much along the lines
you described.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/G3.HTM

That ShortWave guy isn't so dumb after all. *Never knew that.

OH gee - now you're embarrassing me.

Um...er...

HEY!!!

I have a new complaint. *It seems like lately there are a bunch of different
commercials that include a cell phone ringing.
Half the time I have a TV on, sorta half listening to it, as I do other
stuff. *When the stupid cell phone in the commercial rings, it catches my
attention .... at least for a moment. * I don't know if it's coincidental or
if some marketing research group figured out how to get you to pay attention
to the commercials.

Ah yes - the "hook". *If you watch commercials carefully, *you will
always find the "hook" - which is basically the thing that forces you
to pay attention. *Kind of like popups.

However, as long as we are on pet TV peeves, mine is the upcoming show
banners they put on.

They put these huge banners that cover the bottom left corner of the
screen and take out about 20% of the viewing surface and they last for
like ten seconds.

Annoys the crap out of me. *History Channel is the worst offender with
Discovery close behind - my two favorite channels. *I don't mind the
bug in the right hand corner, but those upcoming show banners really
**** me off. *Recently, History changed their bug from a unobstrusive
semi-transparent logo to this really ugly red and yellow huge freakin'
H. *Took a while to get used to it.

hmmm, does somebody have a
Banner blocker" for TV like "pop-up blockers" for computer?

OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

On Mar 10, 7:47*pm, wrote:

Yup, came and went very quickly. I always figured the developers
probably made it just to cash in on it as they probably did..

While on a rant, I can't confirm, nor deny...that the guy that
invented, produced and marketed the Telemarketing "Zapper"... the
device that would catch the telemarketer calls ans supposedly back
fire on them and take your phone number and various info out of their
system?

I have "heard" that the same guy that brings you the "Zapper" is the
same guy that devised, produced and marketed the computer op. systems
for the telemarketers anyhow.

So, He creates a problem, then creates a solution, and laughs his way
tot he bank both ways.

Ah! Never a problem, only oppertunity!

OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

On Mar 10, 9:52*pm, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:


Ah yes - the "hook". *If you watch commercials carefully, *you will
always find the "hook" - which is basically the thing that forces you
to pay attention. *Kind of like popups.


Yes, the hook.. I will not have Vonage in my home or business because
of "the hook". Seriously, Mrs. JW would like to try it, but they spent
to many nights scaring me out of sleep and waking everyone in the
house with that Doo, doo......doo, doo, doo, song (I know it's on the
net, please don't bother posting a link for me, please). Anyway, they
ruined a lot of late night movies for me, I will not use them, period.
Would never use the poor quality for business anyway, but I won't even
use it for personal long distance, not gonna' happen.
Anyway, it's called the "Madge". Remember Madge the manicurist.
Although not really annoying by most or our standards, it was indeed
intended to be annoying, this was the first commercial admittedly
designed to use an annoying personality as a hook.. But it worked, and
we do see the results.. Guess I am somewhat of a hypocrite, I use
Palmolive on in my kitchen.. ;)
However, as long as we are on pet TV peeves, mine is the upcoming show
banners they put on.

They put these huge banners that cover the bottom left corner of the
screen and take out about 20% of the viewing surface and they last for
like ten seconds.


The thing I hate about that is they won't put one up to tell you what
you are watching now! That ****es me off. but they got to get you to
go to the ad channel, oh, I mean, channel channel (listings channel)
to watch washed up American Idol has been's

Annoys the crap out of me. *History Channel is the worst offender with
Discovery close behind - my two favorite channels. *I don't mind the
bug in the right hand corner, but those upcoming show banners really
**** me off. *Recently, History changed their bug from a unobstrusive
semi-transparent logo to this really ugly red and yellow huge freakin'
H. *Took a while to get used to it.

grrrrrr.

OT Trying to watch a movie..
 

On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:13:18 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .


I figure the frequencies slow down and speed up because of clogs in
the fiber optics cable. Maybe fibers falling off and collecting into
fiberballs. Probably rodding out the cables would clear it up.
Tomorrow I'm going to look for a small rodder intended for that.

--Vic


Sorta like the guy with an old fashioned TV antenna on his roof. Now that
the weather is getting warmer and the antenna is thawing, he's starting to
watch shows that were broadcast last September, but got frozen in the
antenna.

Never heard that one. My favorite on that line was said by one of the
guys outdoing each other on how cold it was in the Klondike.

"Well, when you talked your words would freeze in mid-air.
Had to put them in the frying pan to hear what you were saying."

Don't know if you remember "Exit Laughing" - Field and Stream I
think. I miss that. Might have read it there.

--Vic