Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem
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anon @ 3rd Nov 11:32AM:
Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

Hello,

Any help would be appreciated.

I just installed two Comcast DTA boxes and I'm having problems using closed captions.

When I turn on closed captions (via original TV remotes) on each of my TVs, the captioned words are spelled incorrectly due to multiple letters appearing on screen.

For example, the word "Effective" is spelled, EFEFFEFECTCTIVIVE. The word "Tank" is spelled TATANKNKS.

This happens on both TVs. One is an Olivea 532H LCD HDTV and the other TV is a small Toshiba 12" TV. I turned on CC on each remote and tried the different CC settings on each remote, but the problems still happen.

I called up Comcast and the techs had no answers for me.

Does anybody have any ideas on what's going on? Thanks.

billyjack @ 3rd Nov 04:55PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

Additional info: The brand of the DTA is Thomson.
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jll544 @ 3rd Nov 05:11PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

I also just installed two of the Thomson DCI1011 DTA's, and my closed captions show exactly the same problem. Closed captions work fine on my DCT2000 STB, so probably this is a bug in the Thomson DTA firmware (mine shows version 1.3.48).

When you called Comcast, did they offer to swap out for a different brand DTA? I wonder if CC works properly on the Pace DTA.
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billyjack @ 3rd Nov 05:36PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

said by jll544 :

I also just installed two of the Thomson DCI1011 DTA's, and my closed captions show exactly the same problem. Closed captions work fine on my DCT2000 STB, so probably this is a bug in the Thomson DTA firmware (mine shows version 1.3.48).

When you called Comcast, did they offer to swap out for a different brand DTA? I wonder if CC works properly on the Pace DTA.

I (OP-Duke) just had conversation with a Comcast rep. I informed him about the problems with closed captions on the Thomson box and requested that Comcast send me a Pace DTA. I should receive two Pace DTAs by this Friday.

Thanks for the idea, jll544
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cypherstream @ 3rd Nov 05:44PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

If it works or not, please post for others with the similar problem. Yes it could be a firmware bug.
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Sefirato @ 8th Nov 06:56PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

Same issue here with my grandma's two DTA for both TV's (the one in the living room with the regular cable box works just fine). I am deaf, and occasionally I am forced to watch TV in the basement, captioning is a required component to an enjoyable experience with the TV for me.

EDIT:

Apparently, I didn't know this: my grandma also needs closed captioning now because of old age. I guess I will have to go back to the analog programming for the meantime as I get the Thomsons replaced with Pace, hopefully that will fix the problem.
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wanger @ 8th Nov 07:49PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

There is an issue with the Thomson DTAs out there with the Close Captions causing the above issue. The only way to get around it is by using one of the Pace DTAs. May want contact your local office to see if they have Pace boxes available to swap out.
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Sefirato @ 8th Nov 08:10PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

said by wanger :

There is an issue with the Thomson DTAs out there with the Close Captions causing the above issue. The only way to get around it is by using one of the Pace DTAs. May want contact your local office to see if they have Pace boxes available to swap out.

Yeah, plan to do exactly just that.

Another issue, my grandma also has a VCR hooked up to the TV in her bedroom where I also installed the DTA. Not only the captions are borked, but I also learned about the complicated way to set up VCR recordings with the DTA. I believe she records a couple of soap shows on different channels a day. I will be looking into a DVR to replace the obsolete VCR, even if Comcast nickel & dimes her, or buy one outright such as TiVO. So much for simplicity for an old lady.

This will be a PITA to deal with all of that crap. I'm amazed at the digital transition, it seems to make people pay more, not less, and it's a lot more work to deal with the new equipments.
--
"Farewell, O twice beloved! A Túrin Turambar turun ambartanen: master of doom by doom mastered! O happy to be dead!" - Nienor Níniel

Then she cast herself off Cabed-en-Aras and was lost forever.
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bicker @ 9th Nov 05:32AM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

The digital transition wasn't supposed to make people pay less. Where did you get the idea that it was? :confused:

It was primarily intended to make better use of the national resource (spectrum), and to incentivize innovation.
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jll544 @ 9th Nov 02:34PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

Just as confirmation... I exchanged my Thomson DTAs for Pace at the local Comcast depot (who thought I was crazy when I called and told them there was more than one model of DTA). Closed captions work fine after switching to the Pace DC50X.
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billyjack @ 9th Nov 05:15PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

Update: I called Comcast today and informed the rep that I haven't received the two Pace DTAs that Comcast promised to send. I was supposed to receive them last Friday.

The rep put me on hold and told me that there was a mix-up and that the boxes weren't sent. He wanted to send out a tech to my house to install two new DTAs.

I explained to the rep that the original CC problem was possibly due to the brand of the box (Thomson) and that I wanted two Pace branded DTAs sent to my home. I asked him if the service tech will arrive with two Pace boxes instead of two Thomson boxes. The rep told me that he will request the Pace boxes in his notes. I'm not too confident that Comcast will follow through with the Pace boxes, but I'm going to give it a shot.

The tech should arrive next Monday. The Comcast rep stated that they were going to waive the $16.49 install fee due to their mistake of not sending out the DTAs as promised.
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billyjack @ 10th Nov 01:18PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

Update 2: I decided to visit the local Comcast depot and exchange my two Thomson DTAs for two Pace DTAs.

I hooked up the Pace DC50X DTAs and Closed Captions worked fine.

jll544,

The rep that helped me at the depot had no clue about the different manufacturers of DTAs. When I asked for two Pace DTAs to replace the bad Thomson DTAs, the rep told me that each Pace box would cost me an additional $5.00 per month (She may have been referring to the larger digital boxes).

When I tried to explain that Comcast uses Motorola, Pace, and Thomson to manufacture the DTAs, the rep stared at me blankly and repeated that the Pace boxes would cost me extra.

I kept my composure and asked the rep to exchange my two defective boxes for two new boxes. Wouldn't you know, the two DTAs that I received from the rep were manufactured by Pace. I thanked the rep and left. No use trying to explain.
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cypherstream @ 10th Nov 10:13PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

Good findings. Thanks for the follow up posts. They may help other customers and techs who encounter this problem. Hopefully someone higher up can notify Thompson and get the issue resolved in a firmware update.
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bicker @ 14th Nov 06:28AM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem - probably bad PSIP

Interesting information regarding this problem:

»www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost···count=13
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anon @ 19th Nov 08:40PM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

Comcast says fix on the way, for those who haven't swapped boxes:
"We recently began deploying Thomson DTAs and are aware of this issue that some customers may be experiencing. We have been working with Thomson and have a software fix that we'll be rolling out to correct this."

»www.multichannel.com/article/389···uble.php
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jay2031 @ 20th Nov 12:11AM:
Re: Comcast DTA-Closed Caption Problem

My 2 Thomson DTA's received the new 1.6.12 firmware on Nov 19, and it has fixed the CC issues. I would expect all Thomson DTA's to receive the firmware upgrade shortly.

Old version was 1.3.48
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