Any other TWC folks planning to go S3?

[jacksonian]

I can't stand my TWC SA8300! It drives me INSANE! I'm so sick of it that at this point I'm pretty sure I'm willing to just pray that TWC doesn't stick my HD channels on SDV. The local TWC technical guy (who may not know crap) said they were definitely planning to do SDV and that "all the channels" would eventually be switched, but he didn't have a time frame. He also said they were going to track S3 folks, but wasn't sure what that meant, (ie would they be able to do something for us?).

I even thought briefly of going Dish network, but now with the TiVo lawsuits and such, doesn't look like we'll see anything comparable to TiVo from them, huh?

So, knowing this is probably coming in one form or another, who's sick and tired enough of the TWC SA8300 [with SARA software] to just bite the bullet and get the S3 and pray for:
1) some exception from TWC for us S3 people
2) some way for the S3 to work with SDV
3) TWC to be incompetent enough for it to be years before they get SDV in place

Or am I just nuts? :eek:

[HiDefGator]

I think there is ZERO chance of #1, #2, or #3 being true. I don't know you well enough to speciulate on the last option yet.

[jacksonian]

Oh no! Well if 1-2-3 have no chance of being true, would you consider me nuts for buying an S3?

I know you said there's zero chance of #1, but wouldn't that be an easy solution for TWC? Couldn't they just NOT do SDV on my node or something? Or maybe have a couple of different SDV "packages" that they could swap around to avoid us S3 folks?

What does everyone else have that they aren't worried about SDV as much?

[skweaz]

Yes. I will be getting an S3 regardless. Worst case, they transfer everything to SDV, but OTA should still work (I'm not certain about this).
I don't have much faith in TW do anything quickly. They told me 5 years ago that I would be losing my analog HBO channel "next month". Still hasn't happened.
Also, Grande Communications is being implemented here [slowly] so maybe that might be an option in the future.

[HiDefGator]

I wouldn't think you were nuts for buying one. Many others are so determined to get an S3 that they are blindly hoping SDV won't affect them in the near future. Who knows when it will affect you? The people that can't wait to blow $800 to have Tivo do what their cable dvr will do for $10 a month don't worry about the future.

[bkdtv]

What does everyone else have that they aren't worried about SDV as much?
Other providers have been migrating their lineups to digital, while TWC has lagged in doing so. Plus, TWC hasn't been as vigilant in upgrading their cable systems as some other providers have.

On newer systems, Comcast is mirroring their analog lineup in digital while they slowly migrate customers to that digital service. In other markets, Comcast is moving analog cable channels to the digital tier. Cox is doing much the same.

Of course, Verizon FiOS has virtually unlimited bandwidth and has no plans to use SDV.

Using SDV is one of several approaches to creating more capacity. Thus far, most other cable providers are focusing on the alternatives. Using SDV alienates customers that would prefer to use CableCard, be it in their TV, PC, or standalone DVR. I've talked to several cable executives who think TWC is making a major strategic blunder by adopting SDV at this point in time. Inexpensive CableCard tuners are going to become very popular with Windows Vista (and perhaps OSX 10.5) users, and TWC customers aren't going to be happy about the inability to tune or record channels on their computers.

[jacksonian]

I guess I'll have at least a few folks in the boat with me. I guess worst case scenario would be TWC really screwing me up with SDV and me having to sell my S3 for a loss and going with something else. I'm willing to take that chance.

[miller890]

I was all set to purchase a S3 and transfer a lifetime from my S2, but if TWC could possibly convert channels I watch to SDV, I need a backup plan to justify the S3.

At the moment, I think my alternative solution will be OTA HD and use the analog channels included with broadband feed (that is if TWC keeps the essential analog channels). I would loose some digital channels along with the HBOs. The other option is if Verizon adds FIOS-TV to FIOS which has already hit my area, I would consider ditching TWC all together!

Hypothetically speaking... Could SDV be part of TiVo's master plan? The cable company screws us with SDV, TiVo saves the day by offering content service (hmm...videocast). They could work a few deals with the networks and provide cable content over the Internet to TiVo subscribers, then all we would need is our local OTA channels and an ISP to download everything on demand. :cool:

[AJRitz]

I'm in a Time-Warner territory and am salivating over the S3 -- but I'll probably dump Time-Warner for a smaller competitor when I make the jump. Everest cable is smaller local provider here, and they have both ESPN2-HD and NFL Network HD and the pricing is almost identical to Time-Warners. So I'll probably jump to them when I make the switch to S3 TiVo (though I'll probably wait until after football season so as not to waste my investment in NFL Sunday Ticket before cancelling DirecTV as well).

[George Cifranci]

I plan on getting an S3. I also am currently using the SA 8300HD with TWC in Columbus Ohio. I needed a HD DVR because of my getting a Sony SXRD HDTV last year. It has been a looong wait for an HD Tivo.

[mnc042]

Not personally a TWC subscriber.. however.. I have to say that this talk of SDV makes me nervous, as I'm not sure of the market momentum behind it.

Is SDV something that is a growing trend, something that all cable providers will most likely do someday, and TWC happens to be out in front? Or is it simply a choice for maximizing bandwidth that other cable companies have shied away from, choosing other techniques?

I know this is mostly speculation... but being an Adelphia customer that is waiting for the Comcast acquisition to close, I am wondering if purchasing an S3 TiVo would be a mistake if the industry is headed towards SDV en masse.

I have searched around the 'net and haven't found any iron-clad commitments from any of the cable companies, except TWC which states pretty clearly that SDV is the way ahead. Comcast, Adelphia, etc, no clear answers.

Just looking for a push in the right direction. :-)

\marc

[infinitespecter]

I am a new TWC customer (formerly of Comcast) and I plan on going S3 by the end of the year. I, fortunately, opted to use my Sony DVR with cablecard over the crap DVR they offered. I haven't missed On Demand one bit since everything is SD and inconsequential to me anyway.

[theone]

I am a TWC customer in Houston and have been painfully waiting for the S3 to record my HD local channels. I have just the basic cable pkg which includes many HD channels and do not want to pay TWC for digital cable just to get their pvr.

My current S2 has been fantastic for many years now. The whole value of the S3 (to me) is to provide channel mapping and guide data for all the channels (HD included) plus recording obviously.

To complicate things Comcast is taking over the Houston market 1st qtr of '07 and who knows what will change then. Seems like a big $800 gamble until more technical facts are known about how this will work. $399 or $499 seems a more reasonable price to me.

[JKay]

I am a new TWC customer (formerly of Comcast) and I plan on going S3 by the end of the year. I, fortunately, opted to use my Sony DVR with cablecard over the crap DVR they offered. I haven't missed On Demand one bit since everything is SD and inconsequential to me anyway.

I am in the same boat; Comcast turning into TWC. My cable service has changed hands 4 times in the last 12 years. All the previous transitions were seamless, but the Comcast to TWC is turning into a nightmare.

I was vacillating on moving up to a Series 3 and had just about decided do so when the issue of SDV raised its ugly head. TWC seems to be the most arrogant of the cable companies.

[Spiff]

I'm a TWC customer. I currently pay for Roadrunner, Digital service, Enhanced HD tier, HBO, 2 cable boxes, and one SA8000.

I am getting a Series3 regardless.

If they go SDV on the HD channels I will cancel the HD package and HBO and go OTA. If they go SDV on the SD channels, I will cancel Digital cable, HBO, and return both boxes. If I really get upset I'll go to DSL for cheap for one year.

I will be the first in line to jump to FIOS or any other competitor if one becomes available in my area, if SDV is used without a way to decode it from my Series3. (I won't go satellite, though, unless I can get a supported HD TiVo box with full HMO/MRV/Online Scheduling, etc.)

[Gene S]

I'm in one of TWC SDV markets and still plan on getting an S3 right when it comes out. Right now there is only one channel that I'm slightly interested in (UniHD) that I can not get with cablecard because of SDV. And any new channels I could care less about. We already have all the locals except CW. I think the latest channels people in my area are begging for is ESPN2 and ESPNU something or other. Its been years since I sat down and watched reg ESPN, so I doubt I would fret over their additional channels.

[pac1999]

I am a new TWC customer having just moved to san diego. I am going to go for the S3 and just hope for the best. I agree with Spiff, if they start doing switched digital then I will just look for other opportunities to use my S3 and cancel cable if it came down to it.

As it is I am getting more local HD channels over the air than TWC offers so I will be using a combo of cable and ota when I get my S3

[mfogarty5]

I can't stand my TWC SA8300! It drives me INSANE! I'm so sick of it that at this point I'm pretty sure I'm willing to just pray that TWC doesn't stick my HD channels on SDV. The local TWC technical guy (who may not know crap) said they were definitely planning to do SDV and that "all the channels" would eventually be switched, but he didn't have a time frame. He also said they were going to track S3 folks, but wasn't sure what that meant, (ie would they be able to do something for us?).

I even thought briefly of going Dish network, but now with the TiVo lawsuits and such, doesn't look like we'll see anything comparable to TiVo from them, huh?

So, knowing this is probably coming in one form or another, who's sick and tired enough of the TWC SA8300 [with SARA software] to just bite the bullet and get the S3 and pray for:
1) some exception from TWC for us S3 people
2) some way for the S3 to work with SDV
3) TWC to be incompetent enough for it to be years before they get SDV in place

Or am I just nuts? :eek:


Where are you in NC? Raleigh has already gone to SDV, but I spoke to an engineer here in Charlotte who says our system cannot go to SDV without being upgraded.

I feel your pain. I loathed the SA 8300 as well and just switched to Directv and am loving my HR10-250. I feel bad that TiVo will only get $1 instead of the $13 I gave them before, but I couldn't take TWC anymore.

[jacksonian]

I'm in Greensboro. If you're in Charlotte, you even had it better than we do. TWC Charlotte is using the SA8300 with Passport software which, believe it or not, is light years better than the SARA software we have. An old VHS VCR is easier to use than our DVR.

I'm going to call again tomorrow to try to find someone who knows the scoop better at TWC Greensboro.

How does the HR10-250 compare to TiVo?

[mfogarty5]

I'm in Greensboro. If you're in Charlotte, you even had it better than we do. TWC Charlotte is using the SA8300 with Passport software which, believe it or not, is light years better than the SARA software we have. An old VHS VCR is easier to use than our DVR.

I'm going to call again tomorrow to try to find someone who knows the scoop better at TWC Greensboro.

How does the HR10-250 compare to TiVo?

My parents live in Greensboro.

The HR10-250 is a TiVo HD DVR for directv. The new HR20 is the non-tivo version.

[jacksonian]

The HR10-250 is a TiVo HD DVR for directv.
I was wondering how the D* DVR compared to TiVo as far as features and interface.

[HiDefGator]

Check out www.dbstalk.com

There is an endless discussion comparing the two.

[Mikos]

I am a TWC prisoner...err...customer in NYC with their DVR as well as a Series 2. I'm pretty happy with the DVR for the HD ability, but of course love the Tivo interface. My main issue with the Series 3 is cost.

TWC charges about $10 a month for their DVR, so that's 80 months of service for the price of the S3 box. Then lump in the $12.95 service fee for Tivo for 80 months and we are up to over $1800, which works out to over 15 YEARS of DVR service from TWC.

In fifteen years, HD signals might just be sent directly into your brain stem and we'll all be driving around Jetson cars. :D