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Clean CD player that doesn't play all CDs or get a new one

Clean CD player that doesn't play all CDs or get a new one

Question: A friend has a very old CD player. Some CDs play on his player, and some don't. I tell him it is some type of compatibility issue and the best remedy is just to buy a new CD player. He thinks there is another solution and you may know of it.

TREVA CAREY

Answer: He can try cleaning the lens with a CD laser lens cleaner, and if the CDs are scratched buffing the scratches out may fix the problem. Given his player's age I like your idea best, though. Getting a new player is the surest and most hassle-free path to success.

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Comcast closure

There has been some confusion among readers who missed previous columns discussing the A/B switch and its purpose. The A/B switch cannot be used to eliminate the cable box (and rental fees) if you subscribe to a digital tier of service. The A/B switch is used by basic cable subscribers to watch local HDTV stations, which are not supported by a basic cable converter box.

The switch allows viewers to select either the TV tuner or the converter box. The TV's built-in QAM tuner is used to watch local HDTV stations. The basic cable converter box is used to watch everything else. If you have digital service but do not rent a box for every TV in the home you still may find an A/B switch useful, as it will allow you to watch local HDTV channels on the televisions without a premium-priced box.

I had a discussion with Comcast's Robert Grove about the situation and am satisfied with his response and explanation of the ongoing customer service issues. He informed me that most of Comcast's subscribers subscribe to digital or HDTV service, so they do not need the box at all, and that the number of customers who can actually benefit from the box is a small percentage. This made sense to me, knowing the television viewing habits of most Americans.

He then apologized for the issues encountered by customers who contacted me, explaining that Comcast has thousands of reps and not all of them may be aware of the A/B switch program, and that they are working on getting the word out. He pledged to make sure that anyone who asks for an A/B switch will get one, and I told him I will continue to contact him when I hear from readers who are unable to get one through normal Comcast customer service channels.

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In closing I would like to add that I am starting to receive "thank you" e-mails from readers who got the switch the first time they contacted Comcast customer service, so things do seem to be getting better.

One thing I suggested during our conversation is contracting out a basic cable converter box with a bypass button on the remote, similar to the TV/VCR button on a VCR remote. If the box could pass through the signal from the wall at the touch of a button there would be no need for an A/B switch at all. It would be easier to install and easier for customers to operate, as well. Since the FCC requires cable companies to transmit the digital signals over basic cable, perhaps we will see such a box sometime in the future.

First Published: September 5, 2010, 4:00 a.m.

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