Comcast EAS interruption

[villages07]

Is this happening to you? Any way to get around it?

I have Comcast for TV and have an HD box. Lately, when there is a severe weather warning anywhere in the Central FL area, the TV switches to WGN channel, broadcasts the weather alert and then shows the alert as a text crawler (which appears to be repeated 3 times). During this alert, you can't change the channel... I.e. the remote is frozen. Once the crawler completes, perhaps 3-4 minutes later, the TV switches back to the channel I was watching.

Don't get me wrong, the EAS warning is important, but seems to me you should be able to switch off of it when you got the info.

[pooh]

Seems there is no getting around the new warning system. When it goes to the Chicago station, at least I get to see what's going on around my kids....😉

[Indydealmaker]

Is this happening to you? Any way to get around it?

I have Comcast for TV and have an HD box. Lately, when there is a severe weather warning anywhere in the Central FL area, the TV switches to WGN channel, broadcasts the weather alert and then shows the alert as a text crawler (which appears to be repeated 3 times). During this alert, you can't change the channel... I.e. the remote is frozen. Once the crawler completes, perhaps 3-4 minutes later, the TV switches back to the channel I was watching.

Don't get me wrong, the EAS warning is important, but seems to me you should be able to switch off of it when you got the info.
I have not noticed ours do that at all.

[skyguy79]

Is this happening to you? Any way to get around it?

I have Comcast for TV and have an HD box. Lately, when there is a severe weather warning anywhere in the Central FL area, the TV switches to WGN channel, broadcasts the weather alert and then shows the alert as a text crawler (which appears to be repeated 3 times). During this alert, you can't change the channel... I.e. the remote is frozen. Once the crawler completes, perhaps 3-4 minutes later, the TV switches back to the channel I was watching.

Don't get me wrong, the EAS warning is important, but seems to me you should be able to switch off of it when you got the info.I totally agree with you 110%. Every time they hijack the station your watching, I nearly have steam coming out of my ears! They freeze everything so you're in lock-down until they decide to let you go! I had Time-Warner back north and although the signal is grating, at least they don't force you to watch another channel until their done with their alert!

:cus: :rant-rave::swear:

[BostonCelt]

Is this happening to you? Any way to get around it?

I have Comcast for TV and have an HD box. Lately, when there is a severe weather warning anywhere in the Central FL area, the TV switches to WGN channel, broadcasts the weather alert and then shows the alert as a text crawler (which appears to be repeated 3 times). During this alert, you can't change the channel... I.e. the remote is frozen. Once the crawler completes, perhaps 3-4 minutes later, the TV switches back to the channel I was watching.

Don't get me wrong, the EAS warning is important, but seems to me you should be able to switch off of it when you got the info.

Yup, got the same thing....just happened again (9:35P). It happens to the TV with the bigger Comcast box; no problem on the TV with the smaller box.

Any techies have any input? Personally, I don't know a wire from a rope so if you can help, speak slowly......

[ajbrown]

I totally agree with you 110%. Every time they hijack the station your watching, I nearly have steam coming out of my ears! They freeze everything so you're in lock-down until they decide to let you go! I had Time-Warner back north and although the signal is grating, at least they don't force you to watch another channel until their done with their alert!

:cus: :rant-rave::swear:

We were watching shows recorded on Comcast DVR and EAS takes you out of the DVR show, locks everything up until they are done and does not return you to DVR. You have to go back into DVR, select show and resume watching.... maybe a beta program and they will work out some kinks?

[RichieLion]

The worst part is for the time the EAS alert is broadcasting you lose that time on any program you're recording.

I was recording Person Of Interest and Grey's Anatomy and it breaks each recording into 2 separate recordings with the time of the EAS alerts lost.

[Endless Summer]

Yep, happened to us as well. Tried to call Comcast and the lines were busy - outages in Orlando the recording said. Will call tomorrow and nicely let them know that we didn't appreciate the interruption and if it continues to happen we will consider other options.

[Mallory]

Go Cubs, go. Let's get some runs!!

[Golfer in Sanibel]

Another reason to avoid Comcast. :cus:

[getdul981]

We've had the same problem. The only thing you can do is complain to Comcast and hopefully, they might run the EAS notices along the bottom of the screen like the local stations do. In a day or two, you can go to the on demand feature of the HD box and watch the programs that were interrupted.

[k2at]

Not only does it happen to me, but when it returns me to regular channeling, it puts me on the wrong channel.

[jblum315]

One reason I dumped Comcast

[rubicon]

I am alson on Comcast and have experienced the same frustration. Like Richielion I had Person of Interest DVR also split it in two. I am going to complain to Comcast and suggest they alert people that should they want information to turn to channel-----

[ceec&cyn]

The FCC requires cable systems to have an EAS system to broadcast alerts for weather, an amber alert or a national emergency. When a broadcaster sends an alert the system "locks" on a certain channel until the alert is over. Comcast must use WGN.. our cable system uses the weather channel.

[uujudy]

The weather channel would be a good alternative. At least it's quiet.
I've been awakened so many times by the EAS warnings. I leave the TV on while I'm sleeping (yes, I know Dr. Oz says this is bad! lol) and my channel will change to South Park or some loud, bouncy-music program in the middle of the night. Or even worse... I'm still awake and EAS will interrupt just as Jessica is revealing who the murderer is, and by the time they switch back the show's over!

The big question is... Will we ever find out what we missed on Person of Interest? ;)

[Bobcuse]

The FCC requires cable systems to have an EAS system to broadcast alerts for weather, an amber alert or a national emergency. When a broadcaster sends an alert the system "locks" on a certain channel until the alert is over. Comcast must use WGN.. our cable system uses the weather channel.

I called Comcast last night after the 3rd interruption. After waiting 15 min to speak to a rep, she said the FCC/FEMA requirement went into effect Mar 1, 2012 to switch the channel and lock it until the alert is completed. This is required for all providers including satellite and FIOS as well as cable. They are being bombarded with calls (good). I explained that the alert is okay but it lasts approx 4-6 minutes as it keeps repeating itself rather than showing for 2-3 times AND NONE OF THE ALERTS were for my county (Sumter). She said the county problem was being worked on by the engineers. What was wrong with the alerts across the screen during the program we are watching rather than this major switching channels, etc? Some gov't beauracrat thought this was a great idea so they imposed it on everyone. Sound familiar?

[asianthree]

Just wait next month there will be an increase on our bills for this new idea of comcast highjacking. :cus:

[delima2000]

I hate that too. Why do they broadcast the alerts that are for all of central Florida. In Michigan the alerts for the surrounding counties were scrolled at the bottom of the program that you were watching. They did not freeze the remote or switch the program that you,we're watching. I'm not happy with Comcast.barf. I hope here in the lady lake side of the villages we will be able to get bright house someday.

[raynan]

Happened to us also. Very aggravating when it is a show which was the final episode of the season and the alert was not even for our area.