Configuring WMC to tune to HD channel when SD selected

[rhconcepts]

Any way to make WMC tune to the HD channels when you type in the non HD channel number? I know I can go into details and click show other showings but I want it to tune automatically.

[barnabas1969]

You could disable the SD channels entirely so that they don't show up in the guide. Additionally, you could re-number the HD channels so that they use the channel number of the disabled SD channels. You could probably even disable the SD channels and then manually add a "new" channel, using the same guide number as the old SD channel... but really tuning to the HD channel.

[werds]

You could disable the SD channels entirely so that they don't show up in the guide. Additionally, you could re-number the HD channels so that they use the channel number of the disabled SD channels. You could probably even disable the SD channels and then manually add a "new" channel, using the same guide number as the old SD channel... but really tuning to the HD channel.

Yep, like he said. I went through and consolidated all the HD channels together and then swapped them with their SD channel numbers. Then I went through and disabled all the SD channels that were now using the 400, 800 series numbers and pretty much only have HD channels displayed and they all pull up in the guide using the old SD channel numbers (like foxHD is channel 5 etc etc) pretty fast to do if you use something like Guidetool, or you can do it manually as well.

[richard1980]

barnabas nailed it. And if you don't want to go through the trouble of renumbering the channels, you could just learn to use the HD channel numbers.

[barnabas1969]

barnabas nailed it. And if you don't want to go through the trouble of renumbering the channels, you could just learn to use the HD channel numbers.

Funny... when my cable provider first started providing HD channels, I never looked back to the SD channels. Back in 2002-2003, there were only a few HD channels... but the list grew over the years. Today, I never watch SD channels... there is no need. All of my HD channels are in the 1000-1999 range. My local channels are all in the 1000-1099 range. For example, local channel 2 is 1020, local channel 6 is 1060, local channel 9 is 1090, local channel 35 is 1035... and so-on. It was easy to learn the new channel numbers.

From there, Brighthouse grouped channels together in a way that (mostly) makes sense. The kids' channels are 1100-1110. Family channels are 1111-1125. National sports are 1126-1199. News/politics/government is 1200-1230. Music channels (if you can call MTV a "music" channel) are 1231-1235. Cable channels like TBS, TNT, USA, History, Smithsonian, Cooking, HGTV, DIY, Military, Food, Discovery, Nat Geo, OWN, GSN, TV Land, Cartoon Network, FX, Spike, etc. are 1236-1299. More music channels like Palladia are 1300-1320. Shopping channels are 1321-1330. More movies from 1331-1399. Premium channels (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, TMC) are 1400-1499. Local sports 1800-1899. Non-English language channels 1900-1999.

It's pretty simple. I rarely venture outside the 1000-1999 range, except the occasional Music Choice programming (400-499).

[pittsoccer33]

My girlfriend's parents refuse to learn the HD channel numbers.

They watch everything on the SD channels, and even worse, have the screen streched to fill in the pillarbox bars. Its even worse on 16x9 programs letterboxed for 4:3!

I don't know channels numbers for anything. I placed my guide in alphabetical order. So if I'm on ESPN, and I want History, I know I need to go down.

[mike_ekim]

Similar issues at my place, the kids watch SD channels at other people's houses and then end up watching SD at home even though we have HD channels, just because they are used to the numbers. I guess it's not a big deal, if they don't mind watching SD then I'm not going to try to change what they are doing.

[PlainEric]

Argh.... This reminds me of one of my pet peeves.... people with a shiny new 60 inch HDTV but using an SD cable box because that's what the cable company gives out "free"... Or renting from Redbox the dvd instead of the bluray cause its 30 cents cheaper... even though they have a bluray player and a 60 inch HDTV.... I understand if its a cost thing... but its the same people that spend $4-$10 on starbucks daily....

[rhconcepts]

Well thanks for the input but I was thinking of something like what the cable company's has. If ch 11 is in HD it ask you if you want to watch it in HD and you just click ok and it moves you.

If I remap the ch's do I have to do it for each tuner?

[barnabas1969]

If you use Guide Tool (http://1geek1tool.com/guidetool/), and all you want to do is disable channel 11, and renumber the HD channel so that it says "11" in the guide, then you won't need to do it for each tuner. Let's say for example that your HD channel is 1011. All you need to do is open Guide Tool, un-check channel 11, and right-click chanel 1011. Choose "renumber", and type 11. Do this for each channel that you want to re-map. It's that simple.

If you want to keep both channel 11 and 1011, and make both of them HD... then you need to un-check channel 11 and add a new channel 11 which actually tunes 1011. This isn't a difficult process in Guide Tool either, but I don't know the steps off the top of my head. I'd have to go try it and list the steps for you. Let me know if that's what you want to do.