Cox Cable Cards

[Rolow]

I had 2 recording of the tour de france fail again this morning but tonight every thing recorded fine.
I did have more trouble tonight watching recoded shows. It seams strange I don't know how the two problems could be related. When I FF or use the 8second skip the recording will freeze up like it used to right before I would loose channels. A combination FF pause or 8sec. skip would fix the problem.

[jebbbz]

Well, I believe we were told new HD channels would be sdv and sdv was supposed to be rolled out a week ago. I believe something associated with that aborted roll-out has caused the latest fading in/out channels issue. Hopefully the turkeys at Cox are spending most of their time fixing what they broke on July 1. New channels can wait.

The three new HD channels, USA-HD, Lifetime HD, and CNBC-HD, were not on the list of SDV channels Cox mailed out. They were originally scheduled to start up on July 9 and the SDV channels were all standard definition, as I recall. My guess is they don't want any more problems than they have now. The Olympics start in a month and I would guess they don't want things screwed up when the games begin.

[aztivo]

my story (update)
Yesterday 7/8/08 I had 3 cox techs. 2 being supervisors at my house for nearly 4 hours. They replaced all the lines. all the cable cards (some were replaced 3 times) I have a S3 and an HD the S3 has had stuttering problems since Jan. they changed the single streem cards to multi streem. The HD has had multistreem cards swapped out about every month and three yesterday. The first thing they did is take a reading of signal strength at all tv and cable points of entry into the house. Then the cable and internet was spit to two different lines. the readings for the cable were -8 and this is within tollarance. one of the sups. decided to put a amplifier on the cable line, this gave it a positive reading I dont know what the number is. the S3 is working like a champ again. The HD after 3 cards keept getting the 161-38 error. after they left they told me to give it a few hours and by last night no problems, no errors. I dont know how long this will last but this is the first time in two weeks and months that both tivos are working like they should.

[Shawn95GT]

FWIW mine is amped too.

I got notification of some new HD channels in the Tivo lineup this morning. Lifetime HD on 724 (lol), USA HD on 728, and I think it was CNBCHD on 762.

Of course none of these are working at the moment. Hopefully it's just a case of the guide updating before the channels went live, again.

724 (LIFEHD) is showing Universal HD (UHD was on 724 before)
725 (UHD) says I may need cablecards to view this channel - lol
728 (USAHD) says I may need cablecards to view this channel
761 (HSTRYHD) says I may need cablecards to view this channel
762 (CNBCHD) is showing HistoryHD (HSTRYHD was on 762 before)

I can't find any info on the Cox Phoenix site about when these channels are supposed to go live. Anyone know?

[craigo]

I can't find any info on the Cox Phoenix site about when these channels are supposed to go live. Anyone know?

A few posts up, somebody stated these new channels won't go live until July 21st.

[scrappler]

Unfortunately I just moved and switched to Cox (Phoenix) from Mediacom (uses Motorola cards). While Mediacom didn't have much of an HD lineup the service was rock solid using the moto cards.
I've called Cox about 5 times in the first two days of having the cards just so i could watch tv. I now am getting partial recordings on half of my scheduled content, and copyright flags on things that were never flagged a month ago with Mediacom. I need to go back and read this thread since it sounds like there are many others out there.
This sucks! :mad:

[AZrob]

my story (update)
Yesterday 7/8/08 I had 3 cox techs. 2 being supervisors at my house for nearly 4 hours. They replaced all the lines. all the cable cards (some were replaced 3 times) I have a S3 and an HD the S3 has had stuttering problems since Jan. they changed the single streem cards to multi streem. The HD has had multistreem cards swapped out about every month and three yesterday. The first thing they did is take a reading of signal strength at all tv and cable points of entry into the house. Then the cable and internet was spit to two different lines. the readings for the cable were -8 and this is within tollarance. one of the sups. decided to put a amplifier on the cable line, this gave it a positive reading I dont know what the number is. the S3 is working like a champ again. The HD after 3 cards keept getting the 161-38 error. after they left they told me to give it a few hours and by last night no problems, no errors. I dont know how long this will last but this is the first time in two weeks and months that both tivos are working like they should.

Sounds like you had multiple issues, AZtivo that got resolved. Now you are back to "normal", which means you will be getting the "partial recording" problem on your HD until Tivo fixes the bug that got downloaded with the so-called firmware upgrade recently. Ain't progress grand?

BTW, can anyone say whether this bug is hitting S3's as well as HD's? More specifically, is it hitting only those Tivo's that are using M-cards, which would limit it to HD's only? It's not clear to me if it's only HD's with M-cards (the original problem combination that the firmware upgrade was supposed to fix) or if now a larger group is being affected.

Thanks,

Rob

[BrianAZ]

Unfortunately I just moved and switched to Cox (Phoenix) from Mediacom (uses Motorola cards). While Mediacom didn't have much of an HD lineup the service was rock solid using the moto cards.
I've called Cox about 5 times in the first two days of having the cards just so i could watch tv. I now am getting partial recordings on half of my scheduled content, and copyright flags on things that were never flagged a month ago with Mediacom. I need to go back and read this thread since it sounds like there are many others out there.
This sucks! :mad:

The partial recordings are a problem here in Phoenix because your cards keep needing to be reset by the Tivo to receive channels due to some issue between SA/Cisco, Cox & Tivo. When this happens, your recordings stop until the next time period change. This has been going on in Phoenix for many months and was due to be fixed along with another similar issue with a recent firmware update (aka "301") but the update only fixed the other issue and made the channel loss issue worse (used to happen once a week and now is 4-7 times a day). Tivo has advised Cox and Cisco that they have a major issue in Phoenix and I've been told that it's being worked on.

You can't do much about the copyright flags unless they're restricting your locals. The cable co has the right to restrict the others as they see fit. You might have some luck if you contact the particular channel itself and see if they'll convince Cox to remove the copyright flag.

[Roderigo]

which means you will be getting the "partial recording" problem on your HD until Tivo fixes the bug that got downloaded with the so-called firmware upgrade recently.

A bit of a mis-statement here. Tivo didn't download anything recently. Cox sent out an SA cablecard firmware upgrade. The updated code is coming from the cable company (who got it from SA - their cablecard vendor). I don't think tivo's been much involved in any code changes here.

[craigo]

BTW, can anyone say whether this bug is hitting S3's as well as HD's? More specifically, is it hitting only those Tivo's that are using M-cards, which would limit it to HD's only? It's not clear to me if it's only HD's with M-cards (the original problem combination that the firmware upgrade was supposed to fix) or if now a larger group is being affected.

I have an S3 with S-cards and I'm not having any issues, here in Phoenix. I used to have M-cards, but switched back after losing channels every week. My father has a TivoHD with S-cards and he's not losing any channels, but certain channels will freeze. Cox came out to his house on Monday and the installer didn't have any S-cards. He also said he didn't want to put the M-cards in my father's TivoHD because of all the issues. He did say S-cards should be available in the next week or so.

Reading all the other posts, it sounds like an M-card issue.

[scrappler]

Thanks BrianAZ! I am actually in Chandler, but I'm assumming this problem covers Phoenix and the surrounding area?

The partial recordings are a problem here in Phoenix because your cards keep needing to be reset by the Tivo to receive channels due to some issue between SA/Cisco, Cox & Tivo. When this happens, your recordings stop until the next time period change. This has been going on in Phoenix for many months and was due to be fixed along with another similar issue with a recent firmware update (aka "301") but the update only fixed the other issue and made the channel loss issue worse (used to happen once a week and now is 4-7 times a day). Tivo has advised Cox and Cisco that they have a major issue in Phoenix and I've been told that it's being worked on.

You can't do much about the copyright flags unless they're restricting your locals. The cable co has the right to restrict the others as they see fit. You might have some luck if you contact the particular channel itself and see if they'll convince Cox to remove the copyright flag.

[BrianAZ]

Thanks BrianAZ! I am actually in Chandler, but I'm assumming this problem covers Phoenix and the surrounding area?

Yes. I'm not sure exactly how far it extends but it is certainly impacting a large section of Cox's Phoenix market.

[AZrob]

A bit of a mis-statement here. Tivo didn't download anything recently. Cox sent out an SA cablecard firmware upgrade. The updated code is coming from the cable company (who got it from SA - their cablecard vendor). I don't think tivo's been much involved in any code changes here.

Yes, you are right, thanks for the clarification. I think of this as "Tivo's" upgrade because

a) Tivo had been working with SA and Cox to make this fix and
b) TivoJerry announced that it was coming a week or so ago (see above).

But it will certainly have to be solved by Tivo,SA and Cox working together. SOMEONE should certainly have tested this in the field since it's odd that such an obvious flaw was missed.

[aztivo]

update 2
so my HD is back to the whold drop chanels and freeze thing but the S3 is going strong /cross fingers/ for the moment

[BrianAZ]

Yes, you are right, thanks for the clarification. I think of this as "Tivo's" upgrade because

a) Tivo had been working with SA and Cox to make this fix and
b) TivoJerry announced that it was coming a week or so ago (see above).

But it will certainly have to be solved by Tivo,SA and Cox working together. SOMEONE should certainly have tested this in the field since it's odd that such an obvious flaw was missed.

I can't say for certain, but based on various comments I've seen attributed to Tivo/Cox folks, it was assumed that the channel loss issue we are facing in Phoenix was identical to what was being experienced in Las Vegas. Certainly the SubExpireTime issue may have been, but the more frequent channel loss issue is not.

Tivo/Cox set up test boxes in Vegas and it seems the firmware upgrade was developed soley based on info gleaned from these boxes.

It makes me wonder if Tivo has or may benefit from deploying a group of boxes (S2, S3, TivoHD, etc) in each major market at all times. Perhaps in the local office of the Cable Co or in customer's houses via something similar to a beta program (except it is neverending). It seems that this would provide them with ample test boxes to gather data and test fixes without having to do the Q&A thing as much on these boards or via CS.

[BrianAZ]

FWIW mine is amped too.

I got notification of some new HD channels in the Tivo lineup this morning. Lifetime HD on 724 (lol), USA HD on 728, and I think it was CNBCHD on 762.

Of course none of these are working at the moment. Hopefully it's just a case of the guide updating before the channels went live, again.

724 (LIFEHD) is showing Universal HD (UHD was on 724 before)
725 (UHD) says I may need cablecards to view this channel - lol
728 (USAHD) says I may need cablecards to view this channel
761 (HSTRYHD) says I may need cablecards to view this channel
762 (CNBCHD) is showing HistoryHD (HSTRYHD was on 762 before)

I can't find any info on the Cox Phoenix site about when these channels are supposed to go live. Anyone know?


Looks like 7/21 now based on this post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6458087#post6458087). Of course, this won't mean jack to me unless they get the lost channels/partial recordings fixed before the Olympics! My wife is going to flip out if she can't reliably record the events she is interested in.:mad:

[saibari]

[QUOTE=AZrob;6461086]...BTW, can anyone say whether this bug is hitting S3's as well as HD's? More specifically, is it hitting only those Tivo's that are using M-cards, which would limit it to HD's only? It's not clear to me if it's only HD's with M-cards (the original problem combination that the firmware upgrade was supposed to fix) or if now a larger group is being affected./QUOTE]

Oy--I'm confused! What's the difference between S-3's and HD's? :confused: I apologize because someone did explain this to me a couple months back, but now I don't recall the explanation. Both receive/record/display HD programming correct? I purchased the less expensive box that holds fewer hours of programming. My TiVo account lists mine as an S3, but contrary to AZrob's post quoted above, it can use either 2 S-cards or one M-card. I currently have one M-card. I started out with S-cards but experienced such bad audio-video synch problems that many shows were unwatchable. So I'm loathe to switch back...

[saibari]

Unfortunately I just moved and switched to Cox (Phoenix) from Mediacom (uses Motorola cards). While Mediacom didn't have much of an HD lineup the service was rock solid using the moto cards.
I've called Cox about 5 times in the first two days of having the cards just so i could watch tv. I now am getting partial recordings on half of my scheduled content, and copyright flags on things that were never flagged a month ago with Mediacom. I need to go back and read this thread since it sounds like there are many others out there.
This sucks! :mad:

Welcome to our world! :( Regarding the copyright flags. I too had this problem when I first hooked my new TiVo up. I initially thought it was the program or network's settings, but when I complained to them they had no idea what I was talking about. This is a problem with a Cox setting. They can fix it. I'm sorry, I don't recall precisely what they did to fix it, but they can fix it...

[saibari]

...I did have more trouble tonight watching recoded shows. It seams strange I don't know how the two problems could be related. When I FF or use the 8second skip the recording will freeze up like it used to right before I would loose channels. A combination FF pause or 8sec. skip would fix the problem.

For what it's worth, I too experienced this problem a couple of times, a week or so ago. The recorded program would freeze when I tried to FF. Pause didn't work for me and I didn't try the 8sec skip. Only thing that worked was stopping the program and re-starting it. Only happened those two times though and hasn't occurred since...

[BrianAZ]

Welcome to our world! :( Regarding the copyright flags. I too had this problem when I first hooked my new TiVo up. I initially thought it was the program or network's settings, but when I complained to them they had no idea what I was talking about. This is a problem with a Cox setting. They can fix it. I'm sorry, I don't recall precisely what they did to fix it, but they can fix it...

They can, but I would be very suprised if they do as they are not required to unless it's a local station of the channel makes a request for Cox to change the CCI flag.

[Rolow]

Yesterday I had my tivo set to record 2 programs and both where recorded with out a problem. So far today It has 1 partial of the 2 recordings but the 1 partial was only 1 minute short so that's not so bad.

I haven't had any more problems with play back.

What are you guys recording that your getting the broadcast flag/copyright flag?
I've never had it here in Peoria and I record on HBO quite often.

[Shawn95GT]

Thanks for the info on the 7/21 date. My lineup changed again to un-do the changes to the 7xx channels but I noticed a bunch of other channels re-arranged too.

I get the copyright flag on pretty much anything from the Universal HD or Discovery HD.

[saibari]

They can, but I would be very suprised if they do as they are not required to unless it's a local station of the channel makes a request for Cox to change the CCI flag.

Perhaps we're talking about two different things? My problem was that copyright flags were appearing on programs that shouldn't have had them, and the program would delete itself within an hour or so after having been recorded. -- very aggravating! Some of the affected programs, for example, were a few cooking shows on Food Network. There was some kind of error in a setting of some sort. When I called Cox, they fixed it and I haven't had that particular problem since then (a few months). ...

[scrappler]

They can, but I would be very suprised if they do as they are not required to unless it's a local station of the channel makes a request for Cox to change the CCI flag.


The copyright flag I am getting is on shows that a week before (with another cable company) had no issues. I'll call cox and see if they can fix it.

The flag basically gives me an hour after the show records to watch it. When i click to watch it, the tivo says I don't have enough time to watch it before the deadline and it deletes it. Some shows automatically delete before I ever realize they were recorded.

[saibari]

The copyright flag I am getting is on shows that a week before (with another cable company) had no issues. I'll call cox and see if they can fix it.

The flag basically gives me an hour after the show records to watch it. When i click to watch it, the tivo says I don't have enough time to watch it before the deadline and it deletes it. Some shows automatically delete before I ever realize they were recorded.

Yep, that's exactly what I experienced. Cox fixed it for me, so I don't know why they wouldn't be able to fix it for you...

[qunewsguy]

For all you AZ folks, beware. Cox in Connecticut placed an ad in this afternoon's newspaper saying they're adding two Olympics-only HD channels on 8/8/08 (in addition to the standard NBC/Uni HD channels). If you get these too, something tells me you'll be having a lot more issues with your HD Tivo's just as soon as you get your current issues taken care of!

[BrianAZ]

The copyright flag I am getting is on shows that a week before (with another cable company) had no issues. I'll call cox and see if they can fix it.

The flag basically gives me an hour after the show records to watch it. When i click to watch it, the tivo says I don't have enough time to watch it before the deadline and it deletes it. Some shows automatically delete before I ever realize they were recorded.

What channels are you seeing this behavior on? If I recall, this means the CCI is set to 3 and is usually only used on PPV. Most channels on Cox are CCI = 2 which will let you record one copy of it ( to your Tivo ) but prevent you from making another copy (to your computer or copying to another Tivo in your house).

I'm in Chandler and have only encountered the CCI=2 scenario.

[saibari]

Since Wed morning (2 whole days now) I've not experienced any problems--no freezing, no channel dropping, no partial recordings! :) However, I wonder if this will last. I actually have Cox scheduled to install a Cox HD-DVR on Sat morning. I requested this (at no charge) when they told me there was no expected date for a solution to my problem. But now that my TiVo appears to be fine, I'm thinking I might cancel. ... I'm just worried that no sooner do I cancel that I'll start having problems again!

[jebbbz]

Hard to say. I almost posted the same thing yesterday as I had gone more than 24 hours with no problems. Then I had, I think, a loss of channels right before I was going to post. I have had six or seven good recordings, no partials. Now it has been another day with no apparent problems. Things seem much better but with no news from Cox or TiVo, even informally, it may be we are going through a lucky spell.

[BrianAZ]

Since Wed morning (2 whole days now) I've not experienced any problems--no freezing, no channel dropping, no partial recordings! :) However, I wonder if this will last. I actually have Cox scheduled to install a Cox HD-DVR on Sat morning. I requested this (at no charge) when they told me there was no expected date for a solution to my problem. But now that my TiVo appears to be fine, I'm thinking I might cancel. ... I'm just worried that no sooner do I cancel that I'll start having problems again!

If you got an HD DVR indefinitely for no cost, I say you keep it as long as you can. I would warn you though, I was also given a "free" HD DVR to watch the Hockey sports package since they wouldn't allow cablecard users to tune it. Every single month I had to call in and get charges reversed :mad:. And it wasn't limited to just the HD DVR itself, it was all the extra fees that come with it (I forget all the items offhand). I was even working through the AZ Cox President's office! Each month I would call normal support when I saw that the charges were on there again.. they'd claim they didn't have anything indicating it was free even though each month the person who eventually credited my account (either a sup. or someone in the Pres. office) would tell me they're noting it in my account. Was a HUGE hassle, but at least I could watch my Hockey. I turned it back in the day after the last game.


Hard to say. I almost posted the same thing yesterday as I had gone more than 24 hours with no problems. Then I had, I think, a loss of channels right before I was going to post. I have had six or seven good recordings, no partials. Now it has been another day with no apparent problems. Things seem much better but with no news from Cox or TiVo, even informally, it may be we are going through a lucky spell.

My money's on luck. TivoJerry's been pretty vocal about this issue here and other boards. He certainly would have posted here if something had changed.

[jebbbz]

Well, I had another brief channel loss this afternoon so things are better but not fixed. Also, back on July 2 TiVoJerry mentioned he would be out of the office for a few days. It is possible he is not back yet.

[moyekj]

Well, I had another brief channel loss this afternoon so things are better but not fixed. Also, back on July 2 TiVoJerry mentioned he would be out of the office for a few days. It is possible he is not back yet. He's around. Here's a post by him just this afternoon in the Freeze thread:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6469924#post6469924

[BrianAZ]

Had a couple partial recordings today. My wife is pretty irritated about them. Luckily I am able to find them online in various places to tide her over until this is fixed.

[saibari]

Ugh! I hate that you guys have had issues today. That means I've probably just been lucky for the past couple of days. Still... I'd hate to go to the bother of installing a Cox HD-DVR, learning how to use it, and likely fighting with them each month to credit any charges that will probably appear on my bill despite the agent telling me I would just pay the $2 cablecard fee as I've been doing. :confused:

On the other hand, the soonest I could get the install scheduled was 5 days out so if I have problems, I'll be stuck for several days until they install the DVR. Why can't they all just get their act together once and for all?! :mad: Is trouble-free service really too much to ask?

[ace689]

New Phoenix Tivo owner with an HD & Mcard installed. I have experienced the firmware upgrade loop, channel loss, 161-38 error message and almost daily partial recordings.

I’m in my first 30 days of tivo service and I have the option to cancel - which I am considering at least until the bugs are worked out in the Phoenix area.

My question to you veteran tivo users is this. If I discontinue service will my season pass programs still record? If not, if I set up a manual record of these programs will this work?
Also, without the service will I still have access to all channels?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[aztivo]

New Phoenix Tivo owner with an HD & Mcard installed. I have experienced the firmware upgrade loop, channel loss, 161-38 error message and almost daily partial recordings.

I’m in my first 30 days of tivo service and I have the option to cancel - which I am considering at least until the bugs are worked out in the Phoenix area.

My question to you veteran tivo users is this. If I discontinue service will my season pass programs still record? If not, if I set up a manual record of these programs will this work?
Also, without the service will I still have access to all channels?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

for lack of a better term if you cancel your service you will have a door stop

[saibari]

New Phoenix Tivo owner with an HD & Mcard installed. I have experienced the firmware upgrade loop, channel loss, 161-38 error message and almost daily partial recordings.

I’m in my first 30 days of tivo service and I have the option to cancel - which I am considering at least until the bugs are worked out in the Phoenix area.

My question to you veteran tivo users is this. If I discontinue service will my season pass programs still record? If not, if I set up a manual record of these programs will this work?
Also, without the service will I still have access to all channels?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

If you're within 30 days of initiating service and within 30 days of buying the TiVo box, I'd stop service and return the unit! As much as I've loved my TiVO when it works, the poor service has been pretty ridiculous. I've never tried anything else, so I can't say whether or not TiVo is so much better than the alternatives, that it makes it worth putting up with the problems--but I tend to doubt that. :(

If you cancel your service, you won't have any recording abilities and I wouldn't think you'd be able to watch live TV either. You'd have to replace the TiVo with another DVR. If you want to stick with Cox, you'd need their HD-DVR. I'm assuming it's been trouble-free, though I can't say for sure... Certainly it can't be as trouble-prone as TiVo has been...

[jebbbz]

You can't assume the Cox DVR will be problem-free. Over in the AVS Forums there are quite a few complaints of their DVRs simply failing to record shows, losing schedules, and otherwise having problems, even if there are no system-wide problems as appears to be the case so far in July. The interface, guide, and operation of the SA8300 Cox offers are not comparable to TiVo's. You may luck out or find it satisfactory but I don't know of anyone who truly prefers the Cox DVR to TiVo.

Give yourself as much time as you can before making your decision unless you really can't stand your TiVo problems. My problems have gotten better as mysteriously as they got bad. You mention the upgrade loop -- I assume you got out of it or you couldn't be having problems with loss of channels and partial recordings (same problem, actually). I haven't seen a 161-38 warning in days and haqve a channel loss about once every day and a half so I can live with my problems.

[ajwees41]

You can't assume the Cox DVR will be problem-free. Over in the AVS Forums there are quite a few complaints of their DVRs simply failing to record shows, losing schedules, and otherwise having problems, even if there are no system-wide problems as appears to be the case so far in July. The interface, guide, and operation of the SA8300 Cox offers are not comparable to TiVo's. You may luck out or find it satisfactory but I don't know of anyone who truly prefers the Cox DVR to TiVo.

Give yourself as much time as you can before making your decision unless you really can't stand your TiVo problems. My problems have gotten better as mysteriously as they got bad. You mention the upgrade loop -- I assume you got out of it or you couldn't be having problems with loss of channels and partial recordings (same problem, actually). I haven't seen a 161-38 warning in days and haqve a channel loss about once every day and a half so I can live with my problems.


about the only things going for the motorola cox dvr is renting the dvr vs buying the tivo and ondemand.

[saibari]

You can't assume the Cox DVR will be problem-free. Over in the AVS Forums there are quite a few complaints of their DVRs simply failing to record shows, losing schedules, and otherwise having problems, even if there are no system-wide problems as appears to be the case so far in July. The interface, guide, and operation of the SA8300 Cox offers are not comparable to TiVo's. You may luck out or find it satisfactory but I don't know of anyone who truly prefers the Cox DVR to TiVo.

Give yourself as much time as you can before making your decision unless you really can't stand your TiVo problems. My problems have gotten better as mysteriously as they got bad. You mention the upgrade loop -- I assume you got out of it or you couldn't be having problems with loss of channels and partial recordings (same problem, actually). I haven't seen a 161-38 warning in days and haqve a channel loss about once every day and a half so I can live with my problems.

That's the thing, there isn't enough time to make the decision. You just have that 30-day window and then you're stuck. I'm assuming that TiVo and Cox will work out solutions to the problems we've been having, but when? So, if I could, I'd return the box and stop the service and give the Cox DVR a try. You can always go back to TiVo if you prefer it enough to put up with the headaches. And yes, I've heard that TiVo is head-and-shoulders above any other DVR, but having never tried anything other than TiVo, I can't personally speak to that. ... and I hear the Cox on-demand feature is pretty cool...

You might also consider this SDV mess which will prevent TiVo users from receiving 77 channels. Granted, the affected channels aren't ones that I usually watch (thank goodness!), but still...

That said, now that I've had 3 trouble-free days I've been seduced back into the "I love my TiVo" mode. I was mistaken earlier when I said Cox was going to come out tomorrow to install the DVR, the appointment is for Sunday. So, we'll see how it goes. If I'm trouble-free tomorrow, I'll definitely cancel the Cox appointment...

[Dbax5]

Well I've had my Cox DVR for over a week now. Works great. I agree the user interface is not as cool as TivoHD, but at least it works. And I also have On Demand which is pretty cool. And I am also not paying $12.95 a month for something that does not work. And the channels also change quicker. Finally some peace of mind. Oh, and Cox did credit my account for the 6 days Tivo was getting the firmware update!:)

[saibari]

well i just got off the phone with tivo. it seems if you push hard enough and get a supervisor on the phone they will submit your case for "review" i'm supposed to hear back by Friday. I told them i wanted to return in and i wanted my money back. they sold me a piece of equipment that is incompatible with the technology required to use it! when i told the guy that it was not compatible with the SA card, he asked me if i tried a Motorola card! like it's a menu item and you can get whatever brand you want from the cable company. heh...wouldn't that be nice?!?!?

ken

Hey Ken, have you heard back from TiVo?

[scrappler]

I have Cox coming out tomorrow (Sunday) to look at the problems I am having. I told the tech on the phone I doubt the service call will help anything. I am mostly concerned with fixing my issues with the copyright flag. It gives me 2.5 hours to watch anything from HBO/SCI/DISC and more. Does anyone else get 210 minutes to watch something??
Is there anything the tech will be able to do tomorrow for any of the issues (partial recordings/channel loss/copyright problems)?
If I didn't have lifetime service I'd probably seriously consider switching out the box until the issues were fixed.

[ajwees41]

I have Cox coming out tomorrow (Sunday) to look at the problems I am having. I told the tech on the phone I doubt the service call will help anything. I am mostly concerned with fixing my issues with the copyright flag. It gives me 2.5 hours to watch anything from HBO/SCI/DISC and more. Does anyone else get 210 minutes to watch something??
Is there anything the tech will be able to do tomorrow for any of the issues (partial recordings/channel loss/copyright problems)?
If I didn't have lifetime service I'd probably seriously consider switching out the box until the issues were fixed.

the copyright problems would be with HBO,SCI,DISC not cox.

[saibari]

I have Cox coming out tomorrow (Sunday) to look at the problems I am having. I told the tech on the phone I doubt the service call will help anything. I am mostly concerned with fixing my issues with the copyright flag. It gives me 2.5 hours to watch anything from HBO/SCI/DISC and more. Does anyone else get 210 minutes to watch something??
Is there anything the tech will be able to do tomorrow for any of the issues (partial recordings/channel loss/copyright problems)?
If I didn't have lifetime service I'd probably seriously consider switching out the box until the issues were fixed.

Do you have two single-stream cards or one multi-stream card? I just looked back at the thread in which I first posted about my copyright problems and it seems that switching from the single stream cards to the mult-stream card solved the problem.... However, for some reason I recall that Cox changed a setting too. But I'm sorry I don't recall exactly what they did. I don't think the problem is with the stations themselves...

[AZrob]

Well, just to keep it clear that nothing's been fixed, I watched a movie on an Encore channel tonight while it was being recorded, and it stopped recording THREE TIMES during the 2 hour broadcast. If I hadn't been watching I wouldn't have been able to restart the recording right away and would have lost it. This is ridiculous!

[Rolow]

I'm still getting partial recordings to. Only one today and one yesterday but I got the 161-38 three times yesterday. It just happened to be the second two times I was not recording anything.

I have a single M-card in a tivo HD and have never seen the copyright flag. I recorded First Knight on HDB this morning with no problem and it's still there this evening. I also recorded the Fight mid day and watch it tonight with out any problem. I hope you get the copyright flag fixed. That's the last think any of us need is another problem.

[scrappler]

Do you have two single-stream cards or one multi-stream card? I just looked back at the thread in which I first posted about my copyright problems and it seems that switching from the single stream cards to the mult-stream card solved the problem.... However, for some reason I recall that Cox changed a setting too. But I'm sorry I don't recall exactly what they did. I don't think the problem is with the stations themselves...

I have 2 single cards in an S3. I wonder if two Multi's in the S3 would solve my copyright problem?

The copyright has to be from Cox. I was just using the tivo with another provider 2 weeks ago before I moved and had never seen the flag in two years on those exact channels. Everyone at cox has no idea what I'm talking about and will not help with it.

[BrianAZ]

I have 2 single cards in an S3. I wonder if two Multi's in the S3 would solve my copyright problem?

The copyright has to be from Cox. I was just using the tivo with another provider 2 weeks ago before I moved and had never seen the flag in two years on those exact channels. Everyone at cox has no idea what I'm talking about and will not help with it.

I would suggest you write the GM/Vice President.

These are two people I wrote to in November and received a response from the Executive Relations Dept (in ~ 7 days). They seemed to have much more power in terms of getting things done.

steve.rizley@cox.com <steve.rizley@cox.com> - General Manager/ Cox Arizona

ivan.johnson@cox.com <ivan.johnson@cox.com> - Vice President Public Affairs/Cox Arizona

[saibari]

I have 2 single cards in an S3. I wonder if two Multi's in the S3 would solve my copyright problem?

The copyright has to be from Cox. I was just using the tivo with another provider 2 weeks ago before I moved and had never seen the flag in two years on those exact channels. Everyone at cox has no idea what I'm talking about and will not help with it.

I agree with Brian. Cox has to be able to fix it. I would use the contacts he lists (thanks, Brian--I plan to hold on to those for future reference!) to get to the bottom of this. I would also contact, TiVo though. I would think someone over there has to know about this problem and at least be able to tell you what you should ask your cable provider to do about it. Plus, they should be made aware of this issue, even if the problem is not on their end....

As I said, I had the very same problem and it was solved. So there is a solution out there...

[saibari]

I'm still getting partial recordings to. Only one today and one yesterday but I got the 161-38 three times yesterday. It just happened to be the second two times I was not recording anything.

I have a single M-card in a tivo HD and have never seen the copyright flag. I recorded First Knight on HDB this morning with no problem and it's still there this evening. I also recorded the Fight mid day and watch it tonight with out any problem. I hope you get the copyright flag fixed. That's the last think any of us need is another problem.

Oh no! I missed your and AZRob's posts until just now. <SIGH> So it appears I've been having trouble-free service for the past 5 days simply because the TiVo fairies have been smiling upon me? Oy! Let's hope I remain in their good graces indefinitely... I really don't want to resort to a Cox HD-DVR ...

[BrianAZ]

Oh no! I missed your and AZRob's posts until just now. <SIGH> So it appears I've been having trouble-free service for the past 5 days simply because the TiVo fairies have been smiling upon me? Oy! Let's hope I remain in their good graces indefinitely... I really don't want to resort to a Cox HD-DVR ...

It's really difficult to say. Likely you're having the channel loss problem but just happen to not have anything scheduled at the time so you don't see any partial recordings.

I wish Tivo would allow us to view our own logs so we can see how frequently the cards are being reset. This would truly tell you if you're having problems or not.

[aztivo]

I have been one week now with my S3 working perfectly I have 2 Mcards in it but my HD with 1 Mcard is freaking out every day all day. I dont know if it has something to do with the softwear differences or what but this is what I have been noticing

[jebbbz]

It's really difficult to say. Likely you're having the channel loss problem but just happen to not have anything scheduled at the time so you don't see any partial recordings...

You can also check to see if both tuners are set to the same channel when you turn on your TV. When the channel loss takes place the two tuners are both set to the channel that the TiVo was sending to the TV at the time the problem arose.

[saibari]

It's really difficult to say. Likely you're having the channel loss problem but just happen to not have anything scheduled at the time so you don't see any partial recordings.

Well, I checked all my TiVo suggestions as well--and there were lots of them--and all of those were fine. However, tonight as I watched live TV the channel went out for a few seconds. :( AND, earlier this evening I had none of the non-HD network channels (15, 12, 5), although they're back now. I had checked them because I was getting a lot of pixelation on the HD channels--possibly because of the storm that was rolling through? No problems now...

I just hope the channel dropping does get any more frequent...

[saibari]

I have been one week now with my S3 working perfectly I have 2 Mcards in it but my HD with 1 Mcard is freaking out every day all day. I dont know if it has something to do with the softwear differences or what but this is what I have been noticing

Ok... I gotta ask again--what's the difference between S3 and HD TiVo's? Mine is listed as an S3 on my TiVo account info and I did not buy the most expensive box...

Also, why do you have 2 M-cards? You only need one, correct?

[Shawn95GT]

Ok... I gotta ask again--what's the difference between S3 and HD TiVo's? Mine is listed as an S3 on my TiVo account info and I did not buy the most expensive box...

Also, why do you have 2 M-cards? You only need one, correct?
S3 has a cool OLED front display that shows the name of whatever it's recording (except suggestions).
S3 is THX certified
S3 comes with the GLO remote
S3 comes with a bigger hard drive
S3 has the cablecard slots in the back.

and since the S3 came first is has some quirks - like it won't run on a single MCard for both tuners.

This is WAY over simplified.. but those are some of the big points.

THD:
https://www3.tivo.com/assets/images/buytivo/products/boxes/180%20hr%20TiVo%20HD%20DVR/full_180hrtivohd.jpg

S3:
https://www3.tivo.com/assets/images/buytivo/products/boxes/300%20hr%20TiVo%20Series3%20HD%20Digital%20Media%20Recorder/series3HDDVR-large1.jpg

[saibari]

S3 has a cool OLED front display that shows the name of whatever it's recording (except suggestions).
S3 is THX certified
S3 comes with the GLO remote
S3 comes with a bigger hard drive
S3 has the cablecard slots in the back.

and since the S3 came first is has some quirks - like it won't run on a single MCard for both tuners.

This is WAY over simplified.. but those are some of the big points.

THD:
https://www3.tivo.com/assets/images/buytivo/products/boxes/180%20hr%20TiVo%20HD%20DVR/full_180hrtivohd.jpg

S3:
https://www3.tivo.com/assets/images/buytivo/products/boxes/300%20hr%20TiVo%20Series3%20HD%20Digital%20Media%20Recorder/series3HDDVR-large1.jpg

Thank you! So I have a TiVo-HD. I wonder why it says Series 3 on my account info? :confused:

[scrappler]

Had cox over yesterday. Replaced out two of my cards. I'm not having any channel drops so far; still getting some SD channel stuttering. Thankfully the new cable cards have also fixed the copyright issue I had (so far). That was the most annoying issue for me, so at least that is taken care of. The Technician wanted to hook up the cox dvr to show me the problem was with Tivo. I told him not to bother and I knew the Cox DVR would probably work fine...but that I was still not switching to it.
I told him it wasn't my Tivo box because the Moto cards I had in it worked fine for 18 months before switching to cox. He told me to get a Moto card and see if Cox would activate for me. :D hahaha...if only...

[TheLongshot]

Thank you! So I have a TiVo-HD. I wonder why it says Series 3 on my account info? :confused:

Because the TivoHD is technically a Series 3 machine.

Jason

[BrianAZ]

You can also check to see if both tuners are set to the same channel when you turn on your TV. When the channel loss takes place the two tuners are both set to the channel that the TiVo was sending to the TV at the time the problem arose.

I considered this, but if you have a fair amount of recordings, it's likely that the tuners will change to start new recordings by the time you check.

[jebbbz]

I considered this, but if you have a fair amount of recordings, it's likely that the tuners will change to start new recordings by the time you check.

I see your point. July is sort of the off season so I don't have as much set to record and that possibility slipped my mind.

[nicemann]

Just FYI I emailed Cox and asked for a current list of channels that are or are going to SDV. Below is the response I got. I called Cox to ask if the new HHD Channels were going to SDV and they could not answer that.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

SDV is a new technology that allows Cox to maximize it?s video bandwidth, by only sending that channel signal a customer has tuned to as opposed to the entire line-up. In order for customers to be able to receive and view switched video channels, customers must have a device cable of two-way communication.

Currently only digital and advanced set top receivers are two-way capable. This means that beginning July 1, CableCARD customers will lose access to the switched channels.

Cox has 77 switched channels throughout our entire footprint. The following channels are currently switch digital.

109 * Cox Real Estate 2/Phx Only GoScout HOMES 110 * Daystar
112 * Inspiration
113 * EWTN
114 * BYU TV
125 * CSPAN 2
126 * CSPAN 3
133 * DIY - Do It Yourself
144 * Fox Reality Channel (REAL)
155 * BET on Jazz
156 * Great American Country (GAC)
157 * FUSE
158 * G4
159 * Logo
163 * Fit TV
170 * Fox College Sports Atlantic
172 * Fox College Sports Pacific
173 * Fuel
405 *
TV Chile

410 *
de Pelicula

411 *
de Pelicula Classico

412 * CineLatino
413 * VeneMovies
417 * History en Espaqol
418 * Discovery en Espaqol
422 * Discovery Familia
423 * Toon Disney en Espaqol
424 * Boomerang en Espaqol
425 * Sorpresa
430 * MTV Tr3s
432 * Bandamax
433 * VideoRola
434 * mun2
438 * ESPN Deportes
439 * Fox Sports en Espaqol
440 * GoITV
444 * CNN en Espaqol
445 * Canal Sur
449 * EWTN Espaqol

601* to 607 * which includes:
ESPN GamePlan and ESPN GamePlan/ESPN Full Court

650 * to 659* which includes:
NBA League Pass Preview
NBA League Pass
NBA League Pass PPV/MLS Direct Kick 650 * to 659* NHL Center Ice MLB Extra Innings NHL Center Ice / MLB Extra Innings 670 * to 680 *

[thewebgal]

Just FYI I emailed Cox and asked for a current list of channels that are or are going to SDV. Below is the response I got. I called Cox to ask if the new HHD Channels were going to SDV and they could not answer that.
*

Not to be mean, but your UserID does not show Location, so I'm wondering WHICH cox your info relates to - COX Fairfax, VA - where I live, Arizona, or maybe one of the other COX systems somewhere in the US?

[BrianAZ]

Not to be mean, but your UserID does not show Location, so I'm wondering WHICH cox your info relates to - COX Fairfax, VA - where I live, Arizona, or maybe one of the other COX systems somewhere in the US?

That looks like the Arizona list & date if I recall.

[nicemann]

So sorry thought I had it in my userid.....it is for Phoenix,

[BrianAZ]

Hi Everyone,

Since this thread has gotten so huge and covers a wide range of topics, I've started a thread specific to the channel loss issue in Phoenix. You can find it here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6486494#post6486494). I'm hoping that by giving the issue it's own thread, it'll be easier for us all to discuss and receive any updates.

Thanks,
Brian

[jcaudle]

Its kind of funny, that Fairfax has over one million people and it seems that the only people that ever contribute to this thread are from the Phoenix area. It would be nice to hear from Cox Fairfax customers once in a while. Where are the Tuning Resolvers/Adapters?

[djwilso]

Its kind of funny, that Fairfax has over one million people and it seems that the only people that ever contribute to this thread are from the Phoenix area. It would be nice to hear from Cox Fairfax customers once in a while. Where are the Tuning Resolvers/Adapters?Well, people usually only come to Internet forums if they're experiencing problems with their service.

Also, this thread is not really about SDV but about CableCards.

- Dennis

[jcaudle]

SDV is about cable cards inability to communicate 2 way....I know there are a lot of people around here that get upset if a comment doesn't fit their limited definiton of what a thread is about, but since I started it 2 years ago, I figure I know whats its about.

[jebbbz]

Except that SDV is not about cable cards but rather is about the box (TV or TiVo) you plug the CC into. Cable cards handle authorization and decryption, not communications, neither one-way nor two-way.

[tagpats]

I'm in Northern Virginia, but have apparently avoided the recent cluster of problems because i have 2 S Cards instead of the one M Card I used to use.

Since the menu options are different with S Cards installed than with M Cards, I have absolutely no idea what version I'm running, but can only assume that my cards did not receive any firmware update as nothing changed on my end.

I still deal with the occasional frozen channel and choppy audio at times, but no missed recordings. About once a month I have to reboot to resolve an issue, but I'm now 5 weeks from my last reboot and still going.

I don't have any confidence my luck will last, but for the time being, I'm pretty content.

I'll be giving FIOS TV a try if I get back to the point where a Cox DVR is the only way to get programming.

[jenp]

Had cox over yesterday. Replaced out two of my cards. I'm not having any channel drops so far; still getting some SD channel stuttering. Thankfully the new cable cards have also fixed the copyright issue I had (so far). That was the most annoying issue for me, so at least that is taken care of. The Technician wanted to hook up the cox dvr to show me the problem was with Tivo. I told him not to bother and I knew the Cox DVR would probably work fine...but that I was still not switching to it.
I told him it wasn't my Tivo box because the Moto cards I had in it worked fine for 18 months before switching to cox. He told me to get a Moto card and see if Cox would activate for me. :D hahaha...if only...
What's a motocard?

[jebbbz]

Motorola card. Won't work in a cable system that uses Cisco/Scientific Atlanta distribution equipment. Techs should know that.

[RogueScot]

Cox OKC told me that it would be a flat $1.99 per card/mo and I could pick them up at any location when it was convenient for a self install.

That's interesting. Cox OKC told me you couldn't self-install. You had to have a tech do it. My multi-stream card went out completely. When they came out, the "tivo expert" on the phone told the tech that since my Tivo HD had the new software update I had to have two single stream cards instead of the multi-stream. $15 installation charge. Waived. Only one card worked and they had to come back out two days later with several more single stream cards to find one that worked. The bill came a few days ago with a $15 installation charge. Unbelievable. But, no hang ups or loss of channels since the install.

[jebbbz]

On the off chance people are still checking this thread for news on the upgrade loop and channel loss problems, I posted this over on the special Phoenix/Tucson thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=399534):

"My update: Channel loss has hit me only a couple of times a week for the last two weeks. Thursday night was the last time I noticed it. This thread technically only covers such channel loss but I thought I would pass on something else. At the time the firmware upgrade took place many people noted that their TiVos were stuck in an upgrade loop. For me, there were certain problem channels (TCM on 199, for example). Tuning to them would trigger a false upgrade cycle that would repeat until I could tune away from the problem channel just as the "upgrade" finished. I checked just now and my upgrade loop problem seems fixed. Cisco/SA have not sent me any new firmware (I have the 0301) nor have I received the 9.4 update from TiVo. I guess that leaves Cox as having changed something in their local system that fixed the problem. Given the coincidence of the upgrade loop problem and the channel loss problem I have some hope that the latter problem will soon be history, too."

[JayBird]

My sister in Phoenix just upgraded to HD with a new Pioneer plasma display and a TiVo HD. Cox came out yesterday to do her cable card installation. As usual, she didn't get an actual Cox technician, but just some subcontractor.

The first thing he does is spend a great deal of time in the box on the side of the house, apparently messing around with the signal amplifier, and then putting a wall wart power supply for the amplifier in the house and tying it into the cable. The weird thing about this, is that she already has one of those wall warts tied into the cable in another room, so it's not clear what was up with that. I wasn't there, and my sister didn't stand out in the heat and watch what he was doing, so it's not clear what was going on other than the tech spent a great deal of time doing whatever he was doing.

The second issue was that in addition to putting a cable card into the TiVo HD (which, surprisingly, actually went relatively smoothly), the tech was also supposed to install one into her new TV. However, all he had was M-cards, and both of the 2 remaining cable cards that he had on hand after installing the first one in the TiVo came up with an error message when put into the TV. The tech concluded (in error) that the TV wouldn't work with an M-card and needed an S-card. Of course, for those of us in the know, M-cards are backwards compatible, and should work fine in the place of an S-card in a single tuner device such as her TV. Luckily, I had previously told my sister that they were backwards compatible, so she didn't accept the tech's misinformation, and made him go find another tech in the area to get some more cable cards to try. When he ultimately came back, he got one to work, but had my sister not known to push him on the issue, she would have bought the story that the m-cards won't work in the TV. It stinks that Cox has techs out in the field who don't have a clue what they are talking about, spreading misinformation.

But here's the real killer. After the install was complete, and everything seemed to be working, and my sister had run through guided setup again, she discovers that the HD channels of the premium channels that she subscribes to come up blank - on both the TiVo and the TV. Again, knowing that's not right, she calls up Cox tech support to get it resolved, figuring that they just forgot to add those channels to the list of channels that should get authorized by her cable cards. Of course, the misinformed Cox rep who took her call was very rude to her, and said that she can't get those channels without having Cox's box. Ultimately, my sister insisted to talk to a manager after being insulted by the rep several times. In contrast, the manager was very polite and nice, and, in fact, discovered that indeed the problem was that they just forgot to authorize those channels, and it took only a minute or so to resolve the problem. Bottom line - if the first line tech support doesn't give you the answer you want to hear, it's most likely that they are grossly misinformed and you simply need to escalate the issue to a manager who has a clue.

But... the story isn't over yet... After finally getting all that sorted out, she comes to find that the cable box in the other room (which is connected to one of her Series 2 TiVos) stopped working. Sure enough, as much as my sister made herself abundantly clear when she called Cox to order the new service, and having repeated herself multiple times to the rep, including summarizing exactly what she wanted at the end of the call just to be sure they didn't screw it up, what happenned? They screwed it up and disabled her cable box. So she had to contact Cox again to get it reauthorized and working correctly.

On the plus side, now that everything is working, my sister is loving her new TiVo HD and HDTV. But the story won't be over until she gets the next Cox bill in the mail, which, if her experience is like mine, the bill will be all screwed up and she will once again have to call Cox to get it sorted all out.

The gross incompetence is overwhelming. The CSR that takes the original order screws things up on the order. The tech doesn't understand that M-cards are backwards compatible for single tuner devices. And the CSR that takes her call when her HD premium channels don't work doesn't have a clue that she really is supposed to get those channels. Not exactly a positive customer experience...

Of course, to add insult to injury, now she still has to deal with the cable card 161-38 error issue in the Phoenix area (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=399534) that causes temporary loss of channels and partial if not completely lost recordings, which again is a Cox issue (an incompatibility problem between the local Cox infrastructure and the firmware on the SA cable cards).

Add to all that the issue of SDV which is right around the corner, which will start causing my sister to lose channels. It was supposed to be first deployed in the Phoenix area earlier this month, but due to some sort of technical problems at Cox (surprise, surprise), has been delayed. And you have to believe that when the tuning adapters first hit the street they will have their share of "issues" that will need to get resolved.

This shouldn't be this hard or complicated. For the technically unsavvy, who don't know how to wade through the misinformation or have any tolerance for all the ouststanding issues, this is a nightmare. If I wasn't already a die-hard TiVo fan, and the TiVo HD was my first TiVo purchase and I experienced all of the above, I would be returning it to TiVo and demanding my money back, like so many other people are doing. My wife's tolerance of the issues with our own TiVo HD (same issues as my sister, as we are also in the Phoenix area) are reaching the breaking point. I have to keep telling my wife that "they are working on it", but her patience is wearing thin. She's not happy that we spent all this money to "upgrade" to the TiVo HD, only to "downgrade" our service. This is a terrible black eye for TiVo, and the reputation of TiVo in general. Yes, a lot of it isn't TiVo's fault (at least not directly), but TiVo is taking the brunt of the blame that their product doesn't work with the established cable system. Until this gets all sorted out, and the installation of a new HD TiVo (be it this series or the next) is as smooth and simply as it was for Series 1 and Series 2 TiVos and it all simply just works right (again, like it was for the Series 1 and Series 1 TiVos), I doubt I'll be recommending TiVo to anybody unless they are really prepared to deal with all of the above issues.

[saibari]

My sister in Phoenix just upgraded to HD with a new Pioneer plasma display and a TiVo HD. Cox came out yesterday to do her cable card installation. ... The gross incompetence is overwhelming. The CSR that takes the original order screws things up on the order. The tech doesn't understand that M-cards are backwards compatible for single tuner devices. And the CSR that takes her call when her HD premium channels don't work doesn't have a clue that she really is supposed to get those channels. Not exactly a positive customer experience...

I certainly hope that your sister is reporting this to upper-level management. There's no excuse for it!

Of course, to add insult to injury, now she still has to deal with the cable card 161-38 error issue in the Phoenix area (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=399534) that causes temporary loss of channels and partial if not completely lost recordings, which again is a Cox issue (an incompatibility problem between the local Cox infrastructure and the firmware on the SA cable cards).

Add to all that the issue of SDV which is right around the corner, which will start causing my sister to lose channels. It was supposed to be first deployed in the Phoenix area earlier this month, but due to some sort of technical problems at Cox (surprise, surprise), has been delayed. And you have to believe that when the tuning adapters first hit the street they will have their share of "issues" that will need to get resolved.

So I have to ask... why on earth did your sister go with a TiVo HD?!! Despite my being a big fan (after several years of great service with a Series 2), had I known about these issues, I would've waited to get a TiVo HD until the issues are resolved... or at least minimized...

This shouldn't be this hard or complicated. For the technically unsavvy, who don't know how to wade through the misinformation or have any tolerance for all the ouststanding issues, this is a nightmare.

Well, I have just enough technical knowledge to realize how much I don't understand regarding how all this works. But the technically savvy are still dealing with the same horrible service and I would think if you have a complete understanding of what's going on you might be even more frustrated since you realize just how incompetent some of the Cox reps and techs are!

If I wasn't already a die-hard TiVo fan, and the TiVo HD was my first TiVo purchase and I experienced all of the above, I would be returning it to TiVo and demanding my money back, like so many other people are doing. ... I have to keep telling my wife that "they are working on it", but her patience is wearing thin. She's not happy that we spent all this money to "upgrade" to the TiVo HD, only to "downgrade" our service.

I'm with your wife on this one!!

This is a terrible black eye for TiVo, and the reputation of TiVo in general.

As well it should be!

Yes, a lot of it isn't TiVo's fault (at least not directly), but TiVo is taking the brunt of the blame that their product doesn't work with the established cable system. Until this gets all sorted out, and the installation of a new HD TiVo (be it this series or the next) is as smooth and simply as it was for Series 1 and Series 2 TiVos and it all simply just works right (again, like it was for the Series 1 and Series 1 TiVos), I doubt I'll be recommending TiVo to anybody unless they are really prepared to deal with all of the above issues.

And this is the crux of the issue, with respect to TiVo and the way they're handling this mess. No matter how wonderful TiVo is when it works, you would not in good conscience recommend that anyone enter into this frustrating morass of unreliable service. Yet TiVo is still selling its HD units in the Phoenix/Tucson area, without so much as a word of caution, knowing full well the headaches that await the hapless consumer. ... Yes, there's a 30-day trial period, but I didn't worry about the few problems (some A/V synch issues) I experienced during that period, fully expecting that the issue would be promptly solved. And, not only is TiVo selling the units, but they're selling yearly and even lifetime service to the unwitting consumer!

And, don't worry, I feel Cox is also just as remiss in hooking customers up, again without warning them of these issues. But then, most of their reps and techs are so clueless that they're not even aware of the issues! So Cox's role in all this is even more reprehensible in that they're handling it so incompetently... :mad:

[ChrisMc73]

I have had my S3 box for probably over a year now, and once I finally got the cable cards installed, I've experienced every kind of issue that is mentioned on this site...signal drop, change to a channel that doesn't appear on screen and turns black, change to a channel that takes a minute or two to come up, skips when the channel is tuned, audio skips as well, just over all poor performance with the cable cards.

I'm not sure what kind I have or how to find out, anyone know?

If I'm an OKC Cox customer, with an S3, what should I have as the newest and greatest cable cards, so I know what to ask for when I call and ask to be upgraded?

[saibari]

...If I'm an OKC Cox customer, with an S3, what should I have as the newest and greatest cable cards, so I know what to ask for when I call and ask to be upgraded?

Sorry Chris, I can't answer your question but hey--thanks a bunch for the belly laugh! Using "greatest" in the same sentence as "cable card" is quite a riot! :D (I do believe that's the first "big grin" I've used in a TiVo/cable card-related thread!)

[ChrisMc73]

I found the CableCard Menu and see that the SA CableCARD Diag Screen shows me an OS Build from 2005, thats quite old... how can I get new cards or update the OS builds?

[JayBird]

So I have to ask... why on earth did your sister go with a TiVo HD?

She got a smoking deal on a new 50" Pioneer KURO Plasma HDTV (PDP-5010FD) on a closeout for almost 50% off MSRP (it has recently been replaced by the PDP-5020FD, which doesn't have a cable card slot). Being a long time TiVo fan (TiVo is big in my family), once she had the new TV on its way, she wanted a new TiVo that did HD. I explained to her all the outstanding issues and all the potential things that Cox could screw up, with the theory of having her prepared for a worst case scenario, and she still wanted to take the plunge to get a TiVo HD, accepting that things may not go smoothly, and that there may be issues that will need to get resolved. My sister and I are both early adopters of technology, so we know what comes with the territory, and what issues we might have to endure, so she was prepared for all that happenned. That being said, I would have advised most other people not to do it until things are more stable.

My point of writing the prior post is that regardless of my sister's tolerance of these sort of issues as an early adopter of technology, this is still a totally unacceptable customer experience that is giving both TiVo and Cox a really bad reputation.

[saibari]

She got a smoking deal on a new 50" Pioneer KURO Plasma HDTV (PDP-5010FD) on a closeout for almost 50% off MSRP ...

My point of writing the prior post is that regardless of my sister's tolerance of these sort of issues as an early adopter of technology, this is still a totally unacceptable customer experience that is giving both TiVo and Cox a really bad reputation.

Wow, a Kuro--that's supposed to be one of the best HD plasmas out there--kudos to your sister! Her situation is very different from most Phoenix/Tucson area TiVo HD consumers. She made an informed decision (thanks to you, not TiVo or Cox)--the rest of us were bamboozled! :mad: ...

If you agree to be a beta tester, you accept that working out the kinks comes with the territory. And, correct me if I'm wrong, beta testers usually don't pay for the privilege. I'm sure Phoenix/Tucson area TiVo HD/Cox customers never dreamed we'd be paying big bucks to be unwitting beta testers!! :mad: So yes, I agree with you completely--this is totally unacceptable!

[ChrisMc73]

For the S3 using Cox SA Cards what kind works the best? S-Cards or M-Cards?

[saibari]

For the S3 using Cox SA Cards what kind works the best? S-Cards or M-Cards?

I have a TiVo-HD, so I don't know if the situation might be different for Series 3 TiVo's. My experience was that when using 2 s-cards (as I initially did) caused moderate to severe audio/video synch problems, making some shows virtually unwatchable. The M-card has caused intermittent signal drops resulting in partial recordings. At its worst, this signal-drop problem (for me) is a different yet equally aggravating evil as the A/V synch problem. However, a lot of the time the signal-drop isn't as bad as the A/V synch problem. So that's why I've decided not to go back to two S-cards. ... PLUS, some have reported the same signal-drop problems with the S-cards, though it appears to be much less common...

[moyekj]

For the S3 using Cox SA Cards what kind works the best? S-Cards or M-Cards? From various accounts I have heard you are better of with S-Cards if you can get hold of them since they are more mature (hardware & firmware), and you need 2 regardless of the type for an S3. Also keep in mind when S3s were first released there were not even M-Cards available to test with at the time, so most/all testing was done using S-Cards.
Problem is SA/Cisco & Motorola have stopped producing S-Cards so they are getting harder to find as any new stock ordered by cable company are all M-Cards.

[ChrisMc73]

I have a TiVo-HD, so I don't know if the situation might be different for Series 3 TiVo's. My experience was that the using 2 s-cards (as I initially did) caused moderate to severe audio/video synch problems, making some shows virtually unwatchable. The M-card has caused intermittent signal drops resulting in partial recordings. At its worst, this signal-drop problem (for me) is a different yet equally aggravating evil as the A/V synch problem. However, a lot of the time the signal-drop isn't as bad as the A/V synch problem. So that's why I've decided not to go back to two S-cards. ... PLUS, some have reported the same signal-drop problems with the S-cards, though it appears to be much less common...

What version of the SA S-Cards are they? Meaning I'm wondering if I have some old out of date cards? How can I see all this information and what models are new etc...I have two S-Cards I guess, as I've never requested M-Cards. I did see the OS on the cards was from 2005...so I'm assuming I have old hardware.

[ChrisMc73]

From various accounts I have heard you are better of with S-Cards if you can get hold of them since they are more mature (hardware & firmware), and you need 2 regardless of the type for an S3. Also keep in mind when S3s were first released there were not even M-Cards available to test with at the time, so most/all testing was done using S-Cards.
Problem is SA/Cisco & Motorola have stopped producing S-Cards so they are getting harder to find as any new stock ordered by cable company are all M-Cards.

Funny you'd think the newer cards would be better?
So the current S-Cards I have are probably better? Even with firmware or OS that is old?

[saibari]

Funny you'd think the newer cards would be better?
So the current S-Cards I have are probably better? Even with firmware or OS that is old?

I'd say that if you're experiencing significant problems with your current cards, you should swap them out for new ones. My experience has been that this solves the problems... temporarily.

When the problem gets bad again (lots of partial recordings), I swap the card out again. Right now, after my last swap (last Friday) my signal-drop problem is minor (knock wood!)... hopefully it won't get worse, but prior to the swap I had no reception on some channels and the channels I did receive were severely tiled.

If, however, your current level of difficulties are tolerable (that is, they don't greatly affect your television viewing or recording), then I'd stick with what you've got...

[ChrisMc73]

Looking into ATT Uverse...

[moyekj]

Looking into ATT Uverse... Doesn't work with your S3 so look no more if you still want to use your S3.

[ChrisMc73]

Doesn't work with your S3 so look no more if you still want to use your S3.

I know this, I'm looking into it and would sell the S3. The menus are very smooth and very fast and very cool looking, I will have to play with the DVR features and compare. I'm growing tired of changing channels and waiting for a few seconds only to get black screens, and when I do tune in a channel usually the sound skips for a few seconds or so.

I haven't witnessed these issues on Uverse. Just weighing my options.

[ChrisMc73]

I've been a big Tivo fan, but it seems I've just had too many issues with the CableCARDs and thats obvious with the amount of threads on them! So I'm going to look into going with what was made to work...

[moyekj]

I've been a big Tivo fan, but it seems I've just had too many issues with the CableCARDs and thats obvious with the amount of threads on them! So I'm going to look into going with what was made to work... If you go by this forum alone then you have a distorted picture of reality as people having problems will post but others with no issues seldom post to say so. Both my S3s have been nearly flawless so far. Granted a lot of it depends on your local cable headend. Some headends seem to have a lot more problems than others.
Nothing wrong with looking at alternatives and covering all your bases though. (Personally I wouldn't touch UVerse because of bandwidth restrictions, mpeg4 re-encoding and other issues that have been covered in this and other forums).

[saibari]

If you go by this forum alone then you have a distorted picture of reality as people having problems will post but others with no issues seldom post to say so. Both my S3s have been nearly flawless so far. Granted a lot of it depends on your local cable headend. Some headends seem to have a lot more problems than others. ...

Well, the problems are widespread in the Phoenix/Tucson area such that we even have a dedicated thread for our area! However, I understand that not all areas of the country are experiencing these issues, which seem to be prevalent with Scientific Atlanta cards. I don't know how widespread the problems are in Oklahoma...

[delgadobb]

I think I got this firmware update a while back (5/20) and my Tivo has been working perfectly since. No missing channels, no reboots to get new sub exp date. SA M-Card, Cox Las Vegas.

Question for those in Las Vegas ...

I'm moving to Vegas from Chicago in early-mid October. I called Cox in advance to ask about packages/cable options/Tivo HD/etc. The rep told me analog is & will continue to be available for my existing TIVOs (3 series 2, 2 Toshibas). I asked about HD service since I want to purchase a TIVO HD with Lifetime service when I move; she said they only have S-Cards & they cost $1.99/mo (maybe it was $1.95, in my head 'two bucks' registered).

Here's the rub, though. She said I'd have to pay a 'digital gateway fee' of $4.95/mo for each outlet receiving digital channels that isn't using their cable box. Isn't this what the Cablecard issue & legislation was supposed to eliminate? I told her that was excessive & would limit my spending with Cox. Her response was that it was still cheaper than getting their cable box for $10.95/mo. Well, no it's not. I don't know about their regular cable boxes, but their DVR definitely has dual tuners. She confirmed I'd have to pay for two cable cards & two digital gateway fees to take full advantage of the two tuners in the TIVO HD (or Series 3). That's $4.95 times two plus $1.99 times two, or roughly $14.00 per month to use a TIVO HD. Hah. And I want to get two of them ...

I noticed doormat mentioned having a M-Card, do others in Las Vegas have this? My concern is whether the rep really knew her stuff. I'd like to set up my install in advance & have it set up as soon as I get there. My gut tells me M-Cards have to be available. Plus, am I really gonna get stuck with paying 5 bucks per tuner for access to digital channels? What about HD?

My fear is that Cox Las Vegas won't be much better than RCN or Comcast here in Chicago, which have both sunset analog service so I can't use my TIVOs. (Well, not without getting their cable boxes, using the TIVO redirector/adapter & paying exorbitant fees. No thanks, I'll wait.) The rep quoted a bunch of fees that might hit me (service/install/add'l outlets/etc) - really, in my case it shouldn't be much, as the house I'm buying has a smart box with all the cable centralized to that box, along with network wiring. In theory, my hookup ought to be fairly simple ...

The way things are going, I have a feeling I'm only going to be signing up for analog & just keep my existing TIVOs. Cox has a statement on their web site about keeping analog active for three years beyond Feb. 2009, so maybe I'll have to be patient about digital cable and/or HD channels. Analog will satisfy most of my needs just fine, but I'd like to get a new TV & get access to HD channels without feeling like I'm being kitchen-sinked with fees.

Any advice and/or responses appreciated. Thanks.

[murraymh]

Just my experience with Cox here in SD:

I've used a Tivo series 2 for more than 3 years now & loved it. But with my new big beautiful 50" plasma it was time for hi-def. That meant getting this new hi-def Tivo, & I was somewhat worried because of all the cablecard issues that some people have been having.
Well things went off just about perfect...the Cox cable guy came when they said they would, he installed the single multi-stream card, went thru some setup procedures, then called the office for them to do their authorization thing...and nothing - just a black screen. Called again spoke to somebody else - they did something & bang every thing was there in BEAUTIFUL HD. The whole thing took about 1 hour
So to sum up: 1) HD is super...it's such a bother to watch standard def now,,,and
2) Tivo is still the best DVR out there. It's features, convenience & ease of use put it at the top of it's class.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

[murraymh]

Just my experience with Cox here in SD:

I've used a Tivo series 2 for more than 3 years now & loved it. But with my new big beautiful 50" plasma it was time for hi-def. That meant getting this new hi-def Tivo, & I was somewhat worried because of all the cablecard issues that some people have been having.
Well things went off just about perfect...the Cox cable guy came when they said they would, he installed the single multi-stream card, went thru some setup procedures, then called the office for them to do their authorization thing...and nothing - just a black screen. Called again spoke to somebody else - they did something & bang every thing was there in BEAUTIFUL HD. The whole thing took about 1 hour
So to sum up: 1) HD is super...it's such a bother to watch standard def now,,,and
2) Tivo is still the best DVR out there. It's features, convenience & ease of use put it at the top of it's class.

this 4 days ago & all is well

[delgadobb]

One more question - how much are TIVO HD and/or Series 3 users everywhere paying for your cable cards? What additional fees are you seeing, if any? (Like the $4.95/tuner digital gateway fee I mentioned above - $10 extra for two tuners on top of programming fees & upgrades is a bit much IMHO.)

What about HD? Is that included in your upgraded/digital/premium package? Or are you paying extra for those channels?

Thanks for any & all replies ...

[ehardman]

One more question - how much are TIVO HD and/or Series 3 users everywhere paying for your cable cards? What additional fees are you seeing, if any? (Like the $4.95/tuner digital gateway fee I mentioned above - $10 extra for two tuners on top of programming fees & upgrades is a bit much IMHO.)

What about HD? Is that included in your upgraded/digital/premium package? Or are you paying extra for those channels?

Thanks for any & all replies ...

You should only have to pay one gateway fee.

[JayBird]

I'm with Cox in the Phoenix area. I installed 2 cable cards, on M-card in my TiVo HD, and one S-card in my Pioneer Plasma.

Installation was a truck roll fee of $30 (or was it $35?) plus $15 per cable card.

Cost for the cable cards is $2/mo.

Cost for "digital gateway service" went up from the original $5 when I just had a digital cable box to $7. The extra $2 was because I had an "additional outlet" hooked up for digital service. Trying to argue that both the TiVo and the TV were connected to the same outlet (i.e. the same jack) not separate outlets got me nowhere. It's apparently more of a "per device" than "per outlet" charge. It is my understanding that if you have two cable cards in a single device, such as an original Series 3 TiVo, or the case of 2 S-cards in a TiVo HD, they don't charge the additional outlet fee.

Fees in other markets vary widely, even with the same cable company.

[Shawn95GT]

don't worry - your bill will vary greatly for a few months.. then it stabilizes

I don't think my bill was the same/predictable for about 6 months. I argued about the 2 gateway fees and it eventually went away.

[cagnew]

Does anyone know where I can access the SA firmware version info? I cannot locate this.

Thanks!

[JayBird]

Does anyone know where I can access the SA firmware version info? I cannot locate this.

Thanks!

From another thread...

You read correct (though it's "304, rather than 3.04"). To see what version you have, do the following:

Tivo Button
Messages & Settings
Account & System Information
CableCARD Decoders
Configure CableCARD 1 (MultiStream) - This is assuming you have a single MCard
CableCARD Menu
SA CableCARD Diag Screen
OS Ver: PKEY1.1.12_F.p.0301


I'm sure there's a more direct route, but this is how I check it.

Those of us in AZ with M-cards currently have the version 301 firmware, which is what's causing all the partial recording issues here for everyone with a TiVo HD. Those outside of AZ may have a different firmware version.

[RumDrinker]

If you have had a recent CableCard install within Fairfax, VA area...

Can you please post whether Cox is using S or M cards, and what manufacturer they are? How was the experience? I'm getting a Tivo HD DVR and hoping that M-cards are used as I'll then only need one of those for both digital tuners within the tivo (multi-stream). I'm hearing conflicting stories between the techs and sales regarding how many cards are required - and of course I can't help them if they don't know what card type they're using. :)

Thanks.

[jdos]

I got my new Tivo HD last week and set it up on Saturday. Today I called Cox to order the cable card(s). The nice lady that answered the phone told me that I wouldn't be able to receive HD channels with a Tivo HD with a cable card! I only want to receive the "Expanded" HD channels. Has anyone else tried to order cable cards in the Ocala/Gainesville, FL area?

Also, I did a channel scan with the Tivo HD and it found the 6 "Limited Basic" HD channels. But the Tivo shows no schedules for those channels. Is that because they need to be "mapped" to the standard Cox channel numbers?

[shabby46]

If you have had a recent CableCard install within Fairfax, VA area...

Can you please post whether Cox is using S or M cards, and what manufacturer they are? How was the experience? I'm getting a Tivo HD DVR and hoping that M-cards are used as I'll then only need one of those for both digital tuners within the tivo (multi-stream). I'm hearing conflicting stories between the techs and sales regarding how many cards are required - and of course I can't help them if they don't know what card type they're using. :)

Thanks.

I had mine installed back in july and the technician said that the M cards are limited so they rarely have any. I got two S cards instead and have not had any problems with them. The sales woman told me that it looked like I only needed one card when I was on the phone with her, so I assumed that they used M's but when the guy showed up he had two with him. He asked how many I wanted before the install though. It took about 30 min to an hour, but a lot of that was letting the 9.4 update install since I actually had the tech over right around when it was released.

I want to say the cards are motorola, but I do not know why I think that. It could be wrong.

A quick heads up though in case you were unaware, the tech told me that "a few" of the HD channels were SDV so I would miss out on them. What he actually meant was that 22 of the 40 are SDV so I would miss out on over half of them, along with any of the non-hd channels which are now SDV. Ive managed to survive on hopes that the tuning adapter would be here soon, but its getting rough.

This is all in Falls Chuch by the way

[HarryG]

I got my new Tivo HD last week and set it up on Saturday. Today I called Cox to order the cable card(s). The nice lady that answered the phone told me that I wouldn't be able to receive HD channels with a Tivo HD with a cable card! I only want to receive the "Expanded" HD channels. Has anyone else tried to order cable cards in the Ocala/Gainesville, FL area?

Also, I did a channel scan with the Tivo HD and it found the 6 "Limited Basic" HD channels. But the Tivo shows no schedules for those channels. Is that because they need to be "mapped" to the standard Cox channel numbers?

I live in Gainesville, and have service with Cox. I have two TIVO HD DVR's, both with a single M card. I continue to receive all Cox SD and HD channels except VOD (Channel 1 and Channel 700.)

[jdos]

I live in Gainesville, and have service with Cox. I have two TIVO HD DVR's, both with a single M card. I continue to receive all Cox SD and HD channels except VOD (Channel 1 and Channel 700.)

Thanks for the reply. I will call them again. Did you have any problems when you called to order the cablecards?

Do you mind if I ask what you are paying per month for each M card?

[ellinj]

I seem to recall that there were a few other Cox Rhode Island users here. Anyone having difficulty with AMCHD on channel 750. It is the only channel I am not receiving. Everything else is good. Cox wants to send a service tech but I know that is going to be fruitless.

[murraymh]

I'm here in San Diego

When I called Cox for the install om my tivo hd I asked for an M card, which is what the installer bought - just 1 of them...but the install went just about perfect, and it's still the case some 3 weeks + later

no SDV issues (so far) here with Cox in San Diego

[shabby46]

Are there any other Cox Fairfax users out there? I keep reading about all of the changes that SDV is causing on other systems (TWC, Cablevision, even cox in different locations) and I have yet to see anyone as screwed as myself. I assume that there is nothing wrong with my box and that Cox up here has just gone crazy with the SDV, but I want to make sure.

Right now, among all of the SDV channels, I am missing out on approx. 22 of 40. Not to mention any SD channels like sundance. Over half of the HD is gone now! I admit I do not care about lifetime HD for example, but it seems that everyone else is missing out on one or two and maybe some SD channels like MTV musica or whatever.

I really find this to be quite unacceptable and I am not sure what I am going to do about it, but I just want some input as to if anyone else is in the same situation.

p.s. I am not the biggest NFL fan, but to put NFLHD on SDV as the season is about to start is just wrong. especially when they start broadcasting some of the games.

[will592]

Just thought I'd post a comment here about a positive experience with cox (in phoenix) and the cable card situation. We have never been able to order Pay-Per-View with our cable card. When the cable company would send the 'hit' to unlock the ppv channel, it would crash the cable card and the tivo would die, needing a reboot. Well, some combination of tivo and multi-stream firmware update has fixed the problem. I ordered ESPN gameplan today and it worked flawlessly. I was so scared that it would kill my tivo that I set up a computer in my living room and had a video stream from yahoo going as a backup (we had company coming over to watch football). Well, it was unnecessary and it worked like a champ. I know this isn't 'earth shattering' news but it means that things are getting better. Just thought I'd throw out some positive experience here for people wondering.

Chris

[BrianAZ]

Just thought I'd post a comment here about a positive experience with cox (in phoenix) and the cable card situation. We have never been able to order Pay-Per-View with our cable card. When the cable company would send the 'hit' to unlock the ppv channel, it would crash the cable card and the tivo would die, needing a reboot. Well, some combination of tivo and multi-stream firmware update has fixed the problem. I ordered ESPN gameplan today and it worked flawlessly. I was so scared that it would kill my tivo that I set up a computer in my living room and had a video stream from yahoo going as a backup (we had company coming over to watch football). Well, it was unnecessary and it worked like a champ. I know this isn't 'earth shattering' news but it means that things are getting better. Just thought I'd throw out some positive experience here for people wondering.

Chris

They're not offering a free preview are they? When I tried to get the hockey package last season, the order went through just fine but the day the free preview ended, I could no longer view it via the Tivo and after much argument, Cox gave me a "free" DVR to watch hockey on. I have free in quotes because I had to call them each month and get them to remove charges that should never have been there since it was "free". Each month they said they fixed it, but each month the charges were there again. Returned it the day playoffs moved to regular channels.

[whafro]

Are there any other Cox Fairfax users out there? I keep reading about all of the changes that SDV is causing on other systems (TWC, Cablevision, even cox in different locations) and I have yet to see anyone as screwed as myself. I assume that there is nothing wrong with my box and that Cox up here has just gone crazy with the SDV, but I want to make sure.

You're not alone (I'm in Falls Church on the Fairfax system), but it's not all SDV, apparently.

According to some previous posts, which I think are in this thread, the Fairfax office just doesn't turn on most of those channels for CableCard subscribers. They're apparently not actually SDV channels. I've been playing phone tag for two months now with Cox's VP of Community Relations trying to get an answer (and a "why").

But yeah, I get 703-720 (except a couple in there, like CNNHD), but nothing above that.

My building seems to be the last one in Falls Church City that hasn't been hooked up for fios, but when it is, I see no reason why I'd be sticking with Cox. Maybe that'll change with the tuning resolver, or with someone at the Fairfax office getting a clue, but it seems unlikely.

[ksalwitz]

They're not offering a free preview are they? When I tried to get the hockey package last season, the order went through just fine but the day the free preview ended, I could no longer view it via the Tivo and after much argument, Cox gave me a "free" DVR to watch hockey on. I have free in quotes because I had to call them each month and get them to remove charges that should never have been there since it was "free". Each month they said they fixed it, but each month the charges were there again. Returned it the day playoffs moved to regular channels.

Hey Brian,
I had the hockey package last season. no problem. not sure why you had issues. I got the "half season package" because we missed the discounted full season package. one service guy that seems to be the area expert tech on tivo/cable cards and the supervisor for the techs in our area (jesse?) told me it should work fine and it did. I'm originally from Philly and it's the only way i get to see my Flyers :D. i received all of the games on all the appropriate channels.

BTW i got my firmware upgrade like everyone else and have had zero problems since. I checked it the morning everyone reported the upgrade and it was there. We've tried recording a whole bunch o' stuff, two programs at the same time etc. Not one problem or error. When they originally came out to install the first card back in January, they did a lot of work boosting the signal. They worked at the box on the corner outside, the box on the side of my house and went through the attic and re-routed some of the lines. This was the senior tech again that told be i'd be able to get the hockey. He improved the signal strength considerably. This may be why i'm not getting any of the grey/green screen issues that some folks are.

Ken

[BrianAZ]

Hey Brian,
I had the hockey package last season. no problem. not sure why you had issues. I got the "half season package" because we missed the discounted full season package. one service guy that seems to be the area expert tech on tivo/cable cards and the supervisor for the techs in our area (jesse?) told me it should work fine and it did. I'm originally from Philly and it's the only way i get to see my Flyers :D. i received all of the games on all the appropriate channels.

BTW i got my firmware upgrade like everyone else and have had zero problems since. I checked it the morning everyone reported the upgrade and it was there. We've tried recording a whole bunch o' stuff, two programs at the same time etc. Not one problem or error. When they originally came out to install the first card back in January, they did a lot of work boosting the signal. They worked at the box on the corner outside, the box on the side of my house and went through the attic and re-routed some of the lines. This was the senior tech again that told be i'd be able to get the hockey. He improved the signal strength considerably. This may be why i'm not getting any of the grey/green screen issues that some folks are.

Ken

I can't stand how everyone gets different answers from them. If they implement SDV though as they say they're going to, I don't imagine it will work this season?

[phnxhrt]

Looking to setup my S3 on Cox with cable cards but was holding off after reading this thread on the troubles in Phx, but looks like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel? Remember the guy that came out to your house as I am in QC right next to Gilbert.

thx,

~Phnxhrt

[ChrisMc73]

From another thread...



Those of us in AZ with M-cards currently have the version 301 firmware, which is what's causing all the partial recording issues here for everyone with a TiVo HD. Those outside of AZ may have a different firmware version.

How can you tell if you have the newest firmware for your cable cards?

[lofar]

Getting two Tivo units from the woot deal hooked up this Saturday. Cox in my area (Santa Barbara/Southern Cal) charges $59.00 for the truck roll for up to two cable cards, and an additional $10 for each cable card after that. Kind of $$ IMO for something a chimpanzee can do. Cards are also $1.99/mo each and they won't give me the first one free.

Here's to hoping the guy does a good job on saturday with two Tivo HDs.

[murraymh]

Getting two Tivo units from the woot deal hooked up this Saturday. Cox in my area (Santa Barbara/Southern Cal) charges $59.00 for the truck roll for up to two cable cards, and an additional $10 for each cable card after that. Kind of $$ IMO for something a chimpanzee can do. Cards are also $1.99/mo each and they won't give me the first one free.

Here's to hoping the guy does a good job on saturday with two Tivo HDs.

ask (insist) cox for the m card...you only need 1 card for each tivo, so you'll save a few bucks on installation & monthly fees

that's how I went in San Diego a month ago & all is well

[lofar]

ask (insist) cox for the m card...you only need 1 card for each tivo, so you'll save a few bucks on installation & monthly fees

that's how I went in San Diego a month ago & all is well

I wish, they don't have M cards here. I've asked several times and even this time when I called to setup the appointment the guy just assumed I needed two, i had to correct him and tell him 4. Which is kind of wierd, because I know that we're now tied in with the San Diego site somehow. Last year or so they moved all their customer service and support and even a lot of equipment down to San Diego, their site up here is little more than a shell these days.

[lofar]

Just an update on my install with Cox. Tech showed up and ended up installing M cards, apparently there is a pretty large disconnect from the customer service phone jockies and the field techs. The tech spent all of about 15 minutes installing the cards on both of my Tivo's with no problems at all.

I did have a bunch of channels disappear on me, but it was apparently because one of the idiots along the way decided I no longer wanted any of my digital services and removed them from the account.. That was resolved quickly over the phone, i now get all cox channel tiers including all HD channels.

I am very, very happy with my Tivo. Should have done this months ago. :)

[jfranklin]

Just an update on my install with Cox. Tech showed up and ended up installing M cards, apparently there is a pretty large disconnect from the customer service phone jockies and the field techs. The tech spent all of about 15 minutes installing the cards on both of my Tivo's with no problems at all.

I spent my first three years with Cox as a field tech and these last two as a "phone jocky" and if it's run on your side of the country like it is here then I can tell you that you don't know the half of it. If you think that's bad it's the disconnect between sales and technical that should really scare you.

Though I have a feeling it's like that with any company that does this kind of thing. Each department is trained differently by different people with different end goals in mind. That kind of thing is hard to change.

Glad to hear it went well in the end. Sure it's not my market or "my people" but it is my conpany for better or worse, and I hear far too much of the bad. So any story about it going right makes me happy.

[BuggyBoyVT]

Is anyone having any problems in the OKC market (particularly Yukon)?

A tech (very good one) and I have probably spent about 10 hours now in 2 day going between M cards and S cards in two of my TiVo HD's and keep having issues.

The M cards would show as authorized (CP Auth Received), but could not decrypt any encrypted channels (3 or 4 different M cards tried).

The S cards (we've been through about 6 so far) show as authorized (CP Auth Received), but some channels (HD channels mostly) STILL will only show a black screen.. while other encrypted channels will appear.

I've had tech support send all the repairing and hits they can.. Nothing changed. I am beyond frustrated and about to give up my TiVos to just go to Cox HD DVRs.. Something I REALLY do not want to do because I HATE Scientific Atlanta boxes, and I will loose all the add'l TiVo features. Not to mention a lot of money i've already spent into the TiVo's.. but I am getting to my end point on this.

My signal levels are fine, all the right info is on my COX account (according to many dispatchers and tech support people), and NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK!

Any response would be greatly appreciated!!

[Roderigo]

The M cards would show as authorized (CP Auth Received), but could not decrypt any encrypted channels (3 or 4 different M cards tried).

"CP Auth Received" is not the same as "authorized." "CP Auth Received" means the cards are properly paired, so if appropriately authorized (a separate step), you'd be able to see copy protected (non-0 CCI) content.

On the cards, you need to check the CA screens, which say whether the card is authorized for the currently tuned channel(s).

Check these two tivo articles. They may provide you some help:

http://www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/technicalsupport/hdandcablecards/Troubleshooting_CableCARD_Activation_and_Channel_Issues.html

http://www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/technicalsupport/hdandcablecards/How_to_troubleshoot_using_CableCARD_MMI_screens.html

[BuggyBoyVT]

"CP Auth Received" is not the same as "authorized." "CP Auth Received" means the cards are properly paired, so if appropriately authorized (a separate step), you'd be able to see copy protected (non-0 CCI) content.

On the cards, you need to check the CA screens, which say whether the card is authorized for the currently tuned channel(s).

Check these two tivo articles. They may provide you some help:

http://www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/technicalsupport/hdandcablecards/Troubleshooting_CableCARD_Activation_and_Channel_Issues.html

http://www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/technicalsupport/hdandcablecards/How_to_troubleshoot_using_CableCARD_MMI_screens.html

The M cards would pair, but would not show Ready where thwy should have.

The S cards hide these diagnostics screens, but other encrypted channels DO appear.

Its almost like COX is running SDV on its HD channels but no one is aware of it!

Its very much like how my TiVos would acrt when I had Cablevision and VOOM channels were moved to SDV. Except with Cablevision, their M cards worked!

[DrAV123]

In most cases the first CableCARD is included in the plan as long as you forego the cable box. So really it's only an extra $8.95. Although that is still pretty high. Maybe what you should do is wait a few months until your cable company starts getting multi-stream CableCARDs. The TiVo only requires one of those, so you'd be able to get dual tuners without any extra charge.

Dan

Had Cox Cable come out last night and install a multistream card in my HD TiVo. Had problems with receiving HD channels higher than 718. I thought it was something back at the office but the cable guy boosted my signal (still not working) and then replaced the card with another. Success! However he related that it wasn't switching the cards it WAS the office, they forgot to check a box on the Computer that would allow access to channels higher than 718. I still think that they will charge me to for two cards. The multistream card is to save physical space and reduce inventory costs. Cox will still end up charging for 2 digital streams. The whole cox chinese menu of pricing is designed to confuse customers and makes it impossible to figure out how to get what you want at the lowest cost. :eek: But that is why they design it that way... just like the wireless phone companies design their plans.

[will592]

I just got a letter in the mail today from Cox. They told me that they missed their SDV rollout on July 1 and that they were going to go live on Oct 11. They specifically offered Tivo HD and Tivo Series 3 owners with Cable cards a HD DVR at the same $2 per month price for 6 months. They said that the usb dongle will be available sometime this year and they will be made available free of charge to cable card customers. I'm not sure how I feel about this...but I thought I'd post here about it.

Chris

[lament]

I just got a letter in the mail today from Cox. They told me that they missed their SDV rollout on July 1 and that they were going to go live on Oct 11. They specifically offered Tivo HD and Tivo Series 3 owners with Cable cards a HD DVR at the same $2 per month price for 6 months. They said that the usb dongle will be available sometime this year and they will be made available free of charge to cable card customers. I'm not sure how I feel about this...but I thought I'd post here about it.

Chris
If you don't fill out your profile and you don't mention it in your post, we don't know where you live (which might help others)..

[ElPuerco]

BuggyBoyVT - I live in Norman, and gave up on CableCard early this year. I keep checking in here to see if it's been fixed, but I'm guessing not. I got fed up with the "disappearing channels" issue, and switched to the Cox DVR. BIG MISTAKE. It's not even in the same league as TiVo, in my opinion.

We got rid of the Cox DVR and have our TiVoHD set up with basic, analog cable (no cablecards) and an HD antenna. TiVo neatly blends the two inputs into one channel grid. That's working well for us, and we're satisfied to stick with that until we see this whole CableCard fiasco has been resolved for at least several months.

[menos]

I'm in Moore, OK. I had to have my CC's replace a few months back. It took about 12 mcards before I finally got one that worked great. So far no problems at all with this one. The disappearing channels problem has been fixed with the newest mcard firmware, we get all the channels (no SDV here).

We finally figured out the problem I was having with the cards not working. According one of the managers or senior techs in the NOC, when the local MSO receives their cable cards they 'check them into' their system into one of two modes. One mode is for their cable boxes(two way mode) and one way is for other devices (one way mode, tivos,tvs, etc). Once the card is in one mode it can't be switched. If it can, no one at the local office knows how or is willing to make the switch. Unfortunately when the techs grab cards, they don't know what mode they were checked in as.

[Tel Janin]

I just got my new TiVo HD XL, and now I get the joy of going through cablecard fun with Cox/Fairfax. Here's hoping!

[TheLongshot]

I just got my new TiVo HD XL, and now I get the joy of going through cablecard fun with Cox/Fairfax. Here's hoping!

The good thing is the techs in Fairfax seem to be knowledgeable and seem to have a lot of experience installing CableCards.

Do let me know, tho, if they can get an M-Card to work, because they were never able to at my place. I'm still running on two S-Cards and now that my free credit has run out (due to scheduling snafus), I'd like to eliminate the extra fees.

Jason

[Tel Janin]

The good thing is the techs in Fairfax seem to be knowledgeable and seem to have a lot of experience installing CableCards.

Do let me know, tho, if they can get an M-Card to work, because they were never able to at my place. I'm still running on two S-Cards and now that my free credit has run out (due to scheduling snafus), I'd like to eliminate the extra fees.

Well, my install is scheduled for tomorrow morning, so I'll let you know.

When I spoke with the CSR, he insisted that they don't use / support / sell / anything M-Cards. Only S-Cards. I told him I was fairly certain that they had M-cards, so he offered to check - but came back to the phone 5 minutes later saying only S-Cards still. *shrug* When the tech is out tomorrow, I'll ask him about it.

On the plus side, they didn't give me any grief at all on the CableCARD order. I spent 30 seconds in the IVR, 3 minutes on hold for a rep, and my conversation went something like this:

Me> I'd like to add a CableCARD to my account
Him> Sure thing!

No upsell to their DVR service or anything, for which I am grateful.

[ChrisMc73]

I'm in Oklahoma City (NW), and I've had my Tivo and cable cards for maybe a year and one half now, but I'm not really happy with it. I have issues all the time...poor performance when just switching channels seems to be my main issue. Who knows how old my cable cards are and what version of firmware etc...I had issues in the beginning with the installers getting them working and finally got these working and have been afraid to touch them or do anything with them since they basically work. The firmware I think is from 2005!

I like the Tivo interface and all, but its not that big a deal to me to overshadow performance and such, I've wanted to look into ATT UVerse, but its not available to my address yet, and the COX DVR isn't that great as all know...

[nemein]

I just got my new TiVo HD XL, and now I get the joy of going through cablecard fun with Cox/Fairfax. Here's hoping!

Good luck... personally I just dropped Cox and picked up FIOS since about 1/2 the HD channels were unavailable due to the SDV issue (which FIOS doesn't use AFAIK).




When I spoke with the CSR, he insisted that they don't use / support / sell / anything M-Cards. Only S-Cards. I told him I was fairly certain that they had M-cards, so he offered to check - but came back to the phone 5 minutes later saying only S-Cards still. *shrug* When the tech is out tomorrow, I'll ask him about it.
Regarding the cards themselves, I know for a fact they at least had M cards since the first two times they came to my house to hook up the Tivo is was w/ M cards and it didn't work... at all. From reading here I finally called them back and asked for the S cards and those "worked" (again w/ about 1/2 the channels inaccessible).

[Tel Janin]

Good luck... personally I just dropped Cox and picked up FIOS since about 1/2 the HD channels were unavailable due to the SDV issue (which FIOS doesn't use AFAIK).
Oh, I'd order FiOS in a heartbeat. They've got fiber down on three sides of my townhome community, and from what I hear from the maintenance guys, some of the townhouses have FiOS already. I'm still showing up as not available. It's very frustrating - but what can you do?

[TheLongshot]

When I spoke with the CSR, he insisted that they don't use / support / sell / anything M-Cards. Only S-Cards. I told him I was fairly certain that they had M-cards, so he offered to check - but came back to the phone 5 minutes later saying only S-Cards still. *shrug* When the tech is out tomorrow, I'll ask him about it.

The CSR is wrong. I know because the techs were in my house for a couple of hours trying to get a couple of M-Cards working before they finally gave up and put in a couple of S-Cards.

Jason

[wierdo]

I like the Tivo interface and all, but its not that big a deal to me to overshadow performance and such, I've wanted to look into ATT UVerse, but its not available to my address yet, and the COX DVR isn't that great as all know...
The UVerse DVR seems to have many of the same problems the Cox DVR does, according to my friend. She doesn't care much..I'd be driven nuts by it not recording shows, recording repeats, etc. At least it's not so slow.

[gplm2008]

Cox in Hampton Roads has multistream cards. My two HD Tivos have one each and they work fine. $3.50 mo. ea.:confused:

[shabby46]

The CSR is wrong. I know because the techs were in my house for a couple of hours trying to get a couple of M-Cards working before they finally gave up and put in a couple of S-Cards.

Jason

when i had the install done back in august (falls church) the Cox guy said that they do have M-cards, but only a limited number, so unless somebody cancels and returns one, you are going to be stuck with the S-cards.

[Follow Who?]

Cox in Hampton Roads has multistream cards. My two HD Tivos have one each and they work fine. $3.50 mo. ea.:confused:

I'm in Hampton Roads as well. Do the cards works well, or are you having problems. I think I'm about to grab an XL, so I'm very interested. Thanks!

[Tel Janin]

When I spoke with the CSR, he insisted that they don't use / support / sell / anything M-Cards. Only S-Cards. I told him I was fairly certain that they had M-cards, so he offered to check - but came back to the phone 5 minutes later saying only S-Cards still. *shrug* When the tech is out tomorrow, I'll ask him about it.

On the plus side, they didn't give me any grief at all on the CableCARD order.

So the tech was out this morning with a single S card. It was his first CableCARD install, and he was a bit nervous. When I greeted him, he asked me if I was sure I didn't want their DVR instead... which I declined, of course. He came upstairs, I showed him the TiVo... and he said 'I need two cards, you've got two slots.' I explained that if he had an M-card, we only need one slot. He wasn't sure what kind of card he had. He went out to his truck and returned a few minutes later with a second card.

He slotted the first card, it came up, and he called in to activate it. Apparently they activate the cards by the serial number on the card, and not the card ID from the CableCard ID screen. Go figure. After they got the hostID for the first card, he slotted the second card and had them activate it as well. It took a few minutes for the 'hit' to come through, and then I was able to tune correctly. We checked several channels on the both cards, and things were good. Tech leaves.

So I get in and I'm tuning different channels, seeing everything it could do. The first card is working great, I can see the HD channels that aren't SDV. I go switch tuners, and start flipping through the channels... and the second card is only showing the clearQAM channels (the big four + PBS & CW). I go in and take a look - both cards show as authorized, but I look at the CableCARD info, and my first card has a newer firmware (???.3 from 2006 - at work at the moment) than the second card (???s2 2005). Additionally the second card doesn't agree on some of the detail values (0xffffff, which looks like a default). I gave support a call and asked them to check that both cards were entitled with services, and they told me they could rehit the cards. Then they said 'Wait, this was just activated less than an hour ago, we can't do anything, call back later.' **sigh** So I'll call them when I get home from work tonight and see whats up. The second card does appear to be getting the channel map, and can tune to the clear channels, just... isn't decrypting anything. Ahh, well.

[Tel Janin]

I am writing to report SUCCESS! I followed up with Cox this morning re: my issues with my second S-Card in the previous post. They set up a same day dispatch, and the same tech who was out earlier this week came out again today. Today he was armed with the ever-elusive M-Card. We deslotted both S-Cards and slotted the M-Card. He went through activation with dispatch, and everything came up cleanly. I've now got a single M-Card, and can tune all the digital channels that aren't SDV. Now all we need is Cox to release the tuning adapter, and everything will be perfect.

[hokiethang]

I just had a tech out today to fix a cable card channel tuning issue (long story) and they said the Tuning Resolvers were in Employee Alpha, which means, if the stars align we may see them within 6 months. Wooo!

[ziggy1122]

Just had the installer finish installing the M-Card in my Tivo HD. Install was maybe 20 minutes tops. Install was in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area.

Recap on what I did to have a speedy install.


Upon receipt of my TiVo HD box I plugged it in and forced a connection to TiVo multiple times, until I got the latest software version. (probably took 4-5 connections and reboots as needed)
Ran through setup and chose a Cable Only install.
When asked if I had cablecards I answered (I'll get them later)
Contacted Cox and scheduled the install (they roll a truck)
Installer arrived and inserted the M-Card, went to Settings>Cablecard>cablecard decoder>Configure Cablecard 1>cablecard Menu>CableCard Status.
Installer used his laptop to pair the card and send the hits.
Continually refreshed this status page watching the information download
Did recieve and error, but installer did something to resolve it on his end
backed out of this menu all the way until the main menu, received a message that the cable input was configured
tested both tuners with premium channels (HBO, Showtime)
SUCCESS!

[carysb7478]

Gainesville, FL
Got M-stream installed about 3 weeks ago, tech said they've probably done less than half a dozen of them in the whole area. $1.99/mo for the card, $29.99 for the install.

I find the install fee a complete rip off since anyone who can setup a tivo themselves should have the brain to put a card in a slot, and was really pissed at the fact that it was "slipped" into my bill. I called Cox once before I got my tivo to make sure they had cable cards in my area and to find out the cost, and again to setup the appointment. Neither time anyone mentioned the install fee, much less the tech. It's not so much the amount, just the fact that no one ever mentioned it before hand.

[DonnoC]

Is anyone in the know about when the USB SDV Tuner will be avialable in the Fairfax area?

[shabby46]

Is anyone in the know about when the USB SDV Tuner will be avialable in the Fairfax area?

I spoke to the cox guy on the phone last wednesday when I was having trouble viewing a few HD channels I was supposed to get and he said that he had no idea and they only find out a couple of days before the public.

Its a shame though as us in the Fairfax area seem to be missing out on a lot more channels than most due to the SDV deployment up here. hopefully that means we will be some of the first to see the device though.

[hokiethang]

I just had a tech out today to fix a cable card channel tuning issue (long story) and they said the Tuning Resolvers were in Employee Alpha, which means, if the stars align we may see them within 6 months. Wooo!

They're on the network here, it's just a matter of time now.

[shabby46]

I just called Cox and the woman had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. If I wind up missing out on one of these I will be quite angry.

[phetish]

just a head's up...

Cox in Tulsa, OK changed their channel lineup and moved all premium HD channels up to the 800 range.

Need to do a channel list update to get Tivo to correct the channel #'s/

[menos]

Same thing here in the OKC market. I ended up calling Cox because 790 (HBOHD) wasn't showing up. All he could suggest was as truck roll. Later that evening I thought to check and see if the channel had changed and sure enough 800 was listed in the channel list page, but with no guide data. Later on I got the message about the update and everything's fine now.
Ticked me off that the CSR had no idea that they had just moved their premium channels.

[Guanton]

I am with cox in San Diego. I have a Tivo HD with a multistream card installed that started having issues after 4 weeks. Tivo is sending a replacement unit. When I get
the replacement will I have to get a cox tech to come out to "install" the cable card in the replacement Tivo? It seems to me the only thing the tech did the first time that I couldn't do was physically bring me the card. Since I already have a card I would like to avoid having a tech come out especially if it will result in another installation fee. Can I get the card paired with the new Tivo over the phone?

[phetish]

Ticked me off that the CSR had no idea that they had just moved their premium channels.

On Wednesday, the tech who was correcting a botched cablecard install didn't even know that it had been moved. We were both looking for my HBO HD on 790 and trying to figure out why it wasn't working. Luckily I had my Cox DVR still connected due to the botched CableCard install and we figured out that it had been moved.

<sarcasm>The level of communication at Cox is amazing. </sarcasm>

However, Tivo DID already have the lineup change but hadn't pushed it out to everyone yet.

[phetish]

I am with cox in San Diego. I have a Tivo HD with a multistream card installed that started having issues after 4 weeks. Tivo is sending a replacement unit. When I get
the replacement will I have to get a cox tech to come out to "install" the cable card in the replacement Tivo? It seems to me the only thing the tech did the first time that I couldn't do was physically bring me the card. Since I already have a card I would like to avoid having a tech come out especially if it will result in another installation fee. Can I get the card paired with the new Tivo over the phone?

It's possible, but the likelihood of a CSR knowing how to do it is pretty low - about on par with the sun going supernova in the next year :)

Generally, the techs have access to better trained/more knowledgeable folks back at the call center who can do the pairing, activation, and validation.

[laxbluntz@gmail.]

just got a tivo hd, had cox come and install cablecards, worked great until i repeated guided setup and then channels like usaHD, TNTHD all disappeared, so i called cox and they sent a pulse which once again fixed problem for a fex minutes. at that point had cox send out a tech. he arrived and proceeded to tell me some very interesting things:
1. cable cards a going to be gone within the year......apparently cox sued fcc and won, so they are going bye bye
2. cox and tivo are going to give birth to a coxtivo dvr box in the next 2 yrs...
3. apparently cox can send encryption directly to tivohd...only issue is that technically the tivohd is cox's property until when you move or change service you have to bring tivo into cox to have encryption removed...
4. Cox tech have absolutely no idea how to work with cable card.


Christian
Tivo HD
SA 8300HD
Cox Fairfax

[ajwees41]

just got a tivo hd, had cox come and install cablecards, worked great until i repeated guided setup and then channels like usaHD, TNTHD all disappeared, so i called cox and they sent a pulse which once again fixed problem for a fex minutes. at that point had cox send out a tech. he arrived and proceeded to tell me some very interesting things:
1. cable cards a going to be gone within the year......apparently cox sued fcc and won, so they are going bye bye
2. cox and tivo are going to give birth to a coxtivo dvr box in the next 2 yrs...
3. apparently cox can send encryption directly to tivohd...only issue is that technically the tivohd is cox's property until when you move or change service you have to bring tivo into cox to have encryption removed...
4. Cox tech have absolutely no idea how to work with cable card.


Christian
Tivo HD
SA 8300HD
Cox Fairfax

I would say the tech has no idea what they were talking about. If Cox did infact sue the FCC and won wouldn't you think cox would have made an anoucement? The only cox property is the cable card.

[BuggyBoyVT]

just got a tivo hd, had cox come and install cablecards, worked great until i repeated guided setup and then channels like usaHD, TNTHD all disappeared, so i called cox and they sent a pulse which once again fixed problem for a fex minutes. at that point had cox send out a tech. he arrived and proceeded to tell me some very interesting things:
1. cable cards a going to be gone within the year......apparently cox sued fcc and won, so they are going bye bye
2. cox and tivo are going to give birth to a coxtivo dvr box in the next 2 yrs...
3. apparently cox can send encryption directly to tivohd...only issue is that technically the tivohd is cox's property until when you move or change service you have to bring tivo into cox to have encryption removed...
4. Cox tech have absolutely no idea how to work with cable card.


Christian
Tivo HD
SA 8300HD
Cox Fairfax

That tech was completely and utterly full of BS.

1) CableCard is not going anywhere (it was developed by CableLABS - a consortium put together by the MSOs), if COX even attempted to stop using CableCards on their own they would be sued by customers and the FCC so fast their heads would spin.

2) There has been no formal annoucement of any TiVo/COX relationship. I am pretty sure COX would issue a press release to this effect before telling an installer!

3) COX has no rights to your personal property. EVER!
They only have the ability to send decryption information to THEIR CableCards, which the TiVo passes via their Coax RF to the CableCards. They have no ability to control the TiVo in any way, shape, or form.

4) In general, yes.. COX is very disorganized in the CableCard department!

[shabby46]

just got a tivo hd, had cox come and install cablecards, worked great until i repeated guided setup and then channels like usaHD, TNTHD all disappeared, so i called cox and they sent a pulse which once again fixed problem for a fex minutes. at that point had cox send out a tech. he arrived and proceeded to tell me some very interesting things:
1. cable cards a going to be gone within the year......apparently cox sued fcc and won, so they are going bye bye
2. cox and tivo are going to give birth to a coxtivo dvr box in the next 2 yrs...
3. apparently cox can send encryption directly to tivohd...only issue is that technically the tivohd is cox's property until when you move or change service you have to bring tivo into cox to have encryption removed...
4. Cox tech have absolutely no idea how to work with cable card.


Christian
Tivo HD
SA 8300HD
Cox Fairfax

most of the HD channels above 721 are now all SDV (about 20 of them) including for example USAHD, so no matter what they do you will not receive them until the tuning adapter arrives.

Be sure to let me know if you do somehow start gettting a few of those though...

[deaddeeds]

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2008/DA-08-2299A1.html

Announced this week, Cox has to support Cable Card users and provide full content or else provide compensation to those Cable Card Users for content not received.

Expert from a recent fine to Cox.

39. Thus, we order Cox, within ninety (90) days of this NAL and Order, to
issue refunds to CableCARD customers affected by the October 16, 2007
implementation of SDV in its Fairfax County, Virginia cable system.
Specifically, Cox must provide refunds as follows:

a. For former CableCARD customers that began to lease any set-top boxes
from Cox following notice of a possible SDV deployment, Cox must
refund the difference in cost (if any) between the charges for the Cox
set-top boxes and the CableCARDs previously leased by such customers;
and

b. For CableCARD customers that kept their CableCARDs even after notice
of the SDV deployment, Cox must refund the customers' subscriber fees
based on the diminished value of their service following the movement
of linear programming to an SDV platform and reduce their rates on a
going-forward basis accordingly.

[Follow Who?]

I just a had a successful TiVo HD install in Hampton Roads, Virginia. I asked for M-Cards on the phone with the CSR, and they did not think they had any. The tech showed up on time with 4 M-Cards in his hand. He was very nice and knew his stuff. He had done several TiVo installs. The first 2 M-Cards were bad - they would not pull any channels, but the 3rd one worked great. He knew enough from previous installs that if a card did not work at first, he just moved on the the next one without wasting time troubleshooting. He was there for about an hour total. I'm thriled to have TiVo back in my life!

I get all of the HD channels except for the 3 junky ones we have in the 800's here (Green Channel, Hallmark movies, and some other "Things No Male Human Being Could Ever Watch" network.) They are adding 5 new HD's next week, all in the 700's, so it will be intersting to see if they show up.

[nemein]

39. Thus, we order Cox, within ninety (90) days of this NAL and Order, to
issue refunds to CableCARD customers affected by the October 16, 2007
implementation of SDV in its Fairfax County, Virginia cable system.
Specifically, Cox must provide refunds as follows:


I already jumped ship but I wonder if I'll get a partial refund ;) This was the specific reason I gave them as to why I was bailing...

[lofar]

Not sure if anyone here would be able to answer this, but I don't exactly trust cox CSR's to give straight answers so I figured i'd try here first.

I have two TivoHD's with cable cards, working just peachy. I was looking through cox services offered on their sight and looking at my cox bill and became interested in this $7 a month "Digital Service" charge. When I looked up what digital service is on their site they claim it to be On Screen Interactive Program Guide, PPV Access, and Digital Music Channels. When I looked further however, on their HD offering it says HD requires digital service. I'm just wondering what might happen and what I might lose if I drop the digital service since its made up of two functions I cannot use with Tivo and the digital music is worthless to me since I have XM.

By chance does anyone have experiences with this? Are they ripping me off on this $7 digital service now that I have tivo with CCs? This is cox santa barbara if anyone knows specifics in that area.

[jfranklin]

Not sure if anyone here would be able to answer this, but I don't exactly trust cox CSR's to give straight answers so I figured i'd try here first.

...

By chance does anyone have experiences with this? Are they ripping me off on this $7 digital service now that I have tivo with CCs? This is cox santa barbara if anyone knows specifics in that area.

Well I am a Cox CSR in Virginia, but I'm pretty sure that this is standard across all markets. There is an option to have limited digital services without paying the digital access fees. It's refered to as 'Buy Through' and it is required by the FCC so that customers, in markets where premium services and PPV are digital only can, order these services without paying for things they do not want. I'm fairly certain that CableCARD falls under this, but HD premiums, and HD expanded channels are not included in that.

Without knowing what channels you currently have I don't know how that would affect you, but seeing that you have the cards in the TiVo I'll assume that you would likely lose a fair number of the channels that you got the HD TiVo for.

[milo99]

Well I am a Cox CSR in Virginia, but I'm pretty sure that this is standard across all markets. There is an option to have limited digital services without paying the digital access fees. It's refered to as 'Buy Through' and it is required by the FCC so that customers, in markets where premium services and PPV are digital only can, order these services without paying for things they do not want. I'm fairly certain that CableCARD falls under this, but HD premiums, and HD expanded channels are not included in that.

Without knowing what channels you currently have I don't know how that would affect you, but seeing that you have the cards in the TiVo I'll assume that you would likely lose a fair number of the channels that you got the HD TiVo for.

Jody, any news on the tuning adapter? dunno if you saw the other thread where i posted my email thread w/ Cox csrs, but there's a lot of nothing in their knowledge base in regards to the TA...

[jfranklin]

Jody, any news on the tuning adapter? dunno if you saw the other thread where i posted my email thread w/ Cox csrs, but there's a lot of nothing in their knowledge base in regards to the TA...

Nope, and nope. This is the only thread I'm still following here. As for the adapters since the sighting of them back in June/July I haven't heard peep one. I asked one of the two supervisors in my department that know anything about them at all, last week, and he just shrugged with his 'f*ck if I know' shrug.

This is by no means official, and is totally my observation, but it seems as though the company is trying to hold out until Tru2Way stuff comes out and just skim over first gen CableCARD all together. I don't think the FCC will let them, and I hope I'm wrong. It's just the feeling I'm getting with how little information is out there, and the run around I get any time I try to get answers from anyone outside of my department.

I'd love to get a S3, but I'm not going to until I'm sure everything is going to work, and right now I can't say that; and my market hasn't even launched SDV yet.

[moyekj]

This is by no means official, and is totally my observation, but it seems as though the company is trying to hold out until Tru2Way stuff comes out and just skim over first gen CableCARD all together. I don't think so since at least in my market (Cox, Orange County, CA) they have been deploying Motorola DCH series set top boxes with CableCARD. On the other hand similar to Cox VA market, trying to get any information on status of Tuning Adapters seems impossible. As a matter of fact just trying to get more information on SDV which was supposed to have been deployed here months ago (a letter sent to customers and certain channels kept out of CableCard lineup) is also going nowhere. As far as I can tell the SDV deployment here seems to have hit a snag and been delayed.

[jcaudle]

Well Folks, Cox has done it again. I got a letter today from them today concerning programming changes according to the envelope. I was hoping it was information concerning the tuning adapter. Well that was at the bottom of the letter....that it would be issued later this year. However with no date for issuing the adapter, the letter went on to say that they are transferring over 50 channels in the 200-400 series (non HD Channels) to SDV. They offered deals on digital or HD set top boxes so that you could get these channels...big freaking deal since the tivos can't record any of them, Military, Sundance, Science Channel, BBC America are some of them. They take them away before the *&(*(*(** tuning adapter is here. Jerks. I want FiOS.

[jcaudle]

Well Folks, Cox has done it again. I got a letter today from them today concerning programming changes according to the envelope. I was hoping it was information concerning the tuning adapter. Well that was at the bottom of the letter....that it would be issued later this year. However with no date for issuing the adapter, the letter went on to say that they are transferring over 50 channels in the 200-400 series (non HD Channels) to SDV. They offered deals on digital or HD set top boxes so that you could get these channels...big freaking deal since the tivos can't record any of them, Military, Sundance, Science Channel, BBC America are some of them. They take them away before the *&(*(*(** tuning adapter is here. Jerks. I want FiOS.

[TiVoJerry]

Well Folks, Cox has done it again. I got a letter today from them today concerning programming changes according to the envelope. I was hoping it was information concerning the tuning adapter. Well that was at the bottom of the letter....that it would be issued later this year. However with no date for issuing the adapter, the letter went on to say that they are transferring over 50 channels in the 200-400 series (non HD Channels) to SDV. They offered deals on digital or HD set top boxes so that you could get these channels...big freaking deal since the tivos can't record any of them, Military, Sundance, Science Channel, BBC America are some of them. They take them away before the *&(*(*(** tuning adapter is here. Jerks. I want FiOS.

If you could send me a PM, I'd love to get a copy of that letter to pass along to a few interested parties over here.

[fishnose]

I got the same letter from Cox.

As it seems to be making the same "offer" (replace your cable card with a HD box from Cox with short term (6 mos) special pricing or a standard digital receiver with short term (1 yr) special pricing) that seems to have failed to impress the FCC the last time (when the FCC decided that pricing needed to be adjusted for the cable card users with reduced services), I wonder what if anything is going to ever bring Cox around.

For the FCC order:
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2008/DA-08-2299A1.html (HTML)
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-2299A1.pdf (PDF)

[milo99]

If you could send me a PM, I'd love to get a copy of that letter to pass along to a few interested parties over here.

i have it posted and linked in this thread
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=408897

[milo99]

I got the same letter from Cox.

As it seems to be making the same "offer" (replace your cable card with a HD box from Cox with short term (6 mos) special pricing or a standard digital receiver with short term (1 yr) special pricing) that seems to have failed to impress the FCC the last time (when the FCC decided that pricing needed to be adjusted for the cable card users with reduced services), I wonder what if anything is going to ever bring Cox around.

For the FCC order:
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2008/DA-08-2299A1.html (HTML)
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-2299A1.pdf (PDF)

oh yea.. i already submitted a complaint to the FCC online, referencing that order. We'll see

[jfranklin]

I don't think so since at least in my market (Cox, Orange County, CA) they have been deploying Motorola DCH series set top boxes with CableCARD. On the other hand similar to Cox VA market, trying to get any information on status of Tuning Adapters seems impossible. As a matter of fact just trying to get more information on SDV which was supposed to have been deployed here months ago (a letter sent to customers and certain channels kept out of CableCard lineup) is also going nowhere. As far as I can tell the SDV deployment here seems to have hit a snag and been delayed.

Cox is deploying the DCH series converters in every Motorola market, just as they are deploying the SA equivalents (8300C,8240C,4250C, and 4240C) in all of their SA markets. They have to, FCC said that unless special dispensation was granted due to technological hardship or financial hardship (which was only really for small companies) all cable companies had to deploy converters with separable security (ie: CableCARD). Once Tru2Way hardware is available to consumers I see the already non-existent support for current CableCARD devices from all cable companies become even less so, if that's actually possible.

As I understand it the whole point of the ruling from the FCC was to try and force providers to work more cooperatively with CableCARD and as such give the end user an experience more on par with that of end users that opted for the set top that the provider was offering. That would in theory create a viable third part set top market place. Until two way communications is possible that will not happen. And since the set tops that Motorola and SA came up with look just like the old ones to the headends, nothing changed.

Unless a converter makes it out of the warehouse without having the card paired to the converter then there's no difference what so ever in how the provider deals with that converter, and if that should happen (at least with Cox in VA) the standard procedure is to reclaim that converter, get a properly paired one in the customer's home, then correct the pairing problem on the back end. In the call center I work in I am one of only a handful of people on the phones that know how to pair a card, and most of that handful I taught how to do it.

There is no parity, and there won't be with this level of the technology if the industry can help it. The providers want out of the CPE business, of that you can be sure, it's a money looser; but they don't want out until Tru2Way (OCAP) hardware is out there, because they don't want to lose the interface control, the branding, and the revenue from PPV/OD ordering.

As for SDV deployment in your area being delayed I don't know why. I know in the Hampton Roads market in VA it's waiting for plant upgrades to be finished. It'll be in my market soon, though. The channel mapping data already has hints to channels that will get it first. Then as has been stated NoVA is getting it in force.

Nice to see that letter, though. It hasn't even been circulated around the call center here, and we're the ones that will be fielding the calls about it, because technical seems to be the catchall of every question the customer has.

[TheLongshot]

Nice to see that letter, though. It hasn't even been circulated around the call center here, and we're the ones that will be fielding the calls about it, because technical seems to be the catchall of every question the customer has.

You know, after dealing with Cox for years, I'm really convinced that they are being run by a bunch of idiots. No offense to you, but I feel like every time I deal with customer service lately that I get the keystone cops.

Course, the last time I had to deal with them I ended up getting a couple months free because they screwed things up so badly (they missed appointments twice and took 2-3 hours screwing with an M-Card before installing two S-Cards.)

With this letter, I'm getting to the end of my rope with Cox. Verizon might be getting a call from me soon.

Jason

[milo99]

In the call center I work in I am one of only a handful of people on the phones that know how to pair a card, and most of that handful I taught how to do it.

....

Nice to see that letter, though. It hasn't even been circulated around the call center here, and we're the ones that will be fielding the calls about it, because technical seems to be the catchall of every question the customer has.

It's funny you mention that. I don't doubt it for a minute. i've had the same issue w/ my cablecard lineup both when i first got service and after i added showtime. Only 1 of the cards had the full service. i had to call tech support multiple times to get it resolved.

This time (the showtime addon), the first tech really had no clue what cable cards were about, and i wasted a good 45 minutes on the phone going through reboots. She wanted to have a truck roll. I held off, and called back a week later. This time, i got a guy that knew his stuff. He instantly saw that only 1 of the cards had the full programming, so in 5 minutes he was able to resolve the problem, with no reboot.

While i had him on the phone, i asked him if he knew anything about SDV and the TA. He knew about SDV but not the TA. and then he said something interesting-

that Cust Service or sales knows about new stuff well before tech support, even though most people would think talking to tech support we'd get answers to these questions. And he expressed the same concern you did- that people call tech support and you guys aren't given any info to help people out.

must be frustrating for you guys who actually try to stay on top of things

[jcaudle]

We are surrounded by Comcast in most of the DC Metro area. To bad they aren't in Fairfax, given the idiocy of Cox.

[deaddeeds]

Well both Cox and Comcast are horrible with customer service. They don’t have to please their customers because they sign these exclusive contracts with the localities. I used to live in Prince William County so I have dealt with both and the grass is not greener on the other side. Competition with Verizon will hopefully make Cox realize that customer service does really matter. I for one will leave Cox for Verizon as soon as FIOS comes to my neighborhood.

[jcaudle]

Well both Cox and Comcast are horrible with customer service. They don’t have to please their customers because they sign these exclusive contracts with the localities. I used to live in Prince William County so I have dealt with both and the grass is not greener on the other side. Competition with Verizon will hopefully make Cox realize that customer service does really matter. I for one will leave Cox for Verizon as soon as FIOS comes to my neighborhood.

Well at least if you had direct competition....anyway I see Verizon trucks doing installation a little over a mile from my house, and yet they aren't due in Lorton for another 2 years.

[lofar]

Well both Cox and Comcast are horrible with customer service. They don’t have to please their customers because they sign these exclusive contracts with the localities. I used to live in Prince William County so I have dealt with both and the grass is not greener on the other side. Competition with Verizon will hopefully make Cox realize that customer service does really matter. I for one will leave Cox for Verizon as soon as FIOS comes to my neighborhood.


I'm with you there. They have a monopoly in my area too, which means bad service and high prices. I love comparing their prices in my area to their prices in their other areas, i pay about $10-$15 a month more than many of their other areas. And they treat me like crap. I'm just glad that i've been able to cut down their monthly bill from about $150/mo to less than $70 a month by switching to verizon for phone and DSL and getting tivo for DVR service. Bundle your services to save money my ass. Cox is NOT my friend in the digital age.

[jfranklin]

With this letter, I'm getting to the end of my rope with Cox. Verizon might be getting a call from me soon.

While I obviously would hate to lose you, or anyone as a customer. You all pay my bills. I understand your need to do what is best for you, and if any company you're dealing with can't provide you with the level of service you expect I don't know anyone that would fault you for find another company that did.

As a whole the customer service (technical anyway, I can't speak for the other departments as I'm not in them, though I was a field tech for three years and I like to still think of myself as 'one of them' too) we offer is rather good. Unfortunately when going beyond the 'every day' problems the training just isn't there. I do try. I ran one HSI/Phone training class about a month ago, and assisted another. I've done some video refresher classes, and helped produce the current video troubleshooting document (for Motorola hardware) which is slowing being distributed to the floor. I had my hands tied when it came to CableCARD, though. I was explicitly told that the only information I could provide in the document was what would apply to our own converters because they don't actually want us dealing with the cards. I don't know why.

It's funny you mention that. I don't doubt it for a minute. i've had the same issue w/ my cablecard lineup both when i first got service and after i added showtime. Only 1 of the cards had the full service. i had to call tech support multiple times to get it resolved.

...

that Cust Service or sales knows about new stuff well before tech support, even though most people would think talking to tech support we'd get answers to these questions. And he expressed the same concern you did- that people call tech support and you guys aren't given any info to help people out.

must be frustrating for you guys who actually try to stay on top of things

Improper balancing is one of the most common problems we deal with outside of tiling for video. So many different departments deal with order entry, and the training doesn't seem to be on pair across all departments. I know that is changing, and it will be equal eventually, but until it is stuff like that does fall through the cracks. The changes that have been made to the order entry system has helped reduce some of those problems, though. I do appreciate your patience with the issue, even if it was frustrated patience.

And yes, he was partly right. It does seem that sales knows about changes before technical does. I follow a thread on another board for Cox customers in my area only, and we have a regular poster who works in on of the service centers. I get most of my information from him. As in he posts it to the forum sometimes days to a week before it gets circulated to the technical call center. I also get a fair amount of information from the field operations website which I still have access to. Sometimes things show up there a month or more before 'we' get them.

I get that we're probably fed the information when the powers that be think we need it. Problem is that somewhere along the line the timing is getting messed up. :(

[Follow Who?]

I've got a TiVo HD in the Cox Hampton Roads market. This past weekend they added several new HD channels, all of which showd up on my CableCard Equipped TiVo. Not only that, but all of the HD cannels they were previously holding back showed up as well! So I now have the full compliment of HD channels on my TiVo! It was only 3 junky channels they were holding back anyway, but it nice to see them show up.

[milo99]

I've got a TiVo HD in the Cox Hampton Roads market. This past weekend they added several new HD channels, all of which showd up on my CableCard Equipped TiVo. Not only that, but all of the HD cannels they were previously holding back showed up as well! So I now have the full compliment of HD channels on my TiVo! It was only 3 junky channels they were holding back anyway, but it nice to see them show up.

well now that's interesting. i know they were doing this in a couple other markets, but didn't know it was spreading to VA.

[jfranklin]

well now that's interesting. i know they were doing this in a couple other markets, but didn't know it was spreading to VA.

Remember Hampton Roads has not yet deployed SDV, so the only thing preventing certain channels from coming through is if there are still pending upgrades in the given city. Such as in my city (Chesapeake) which only parts of are upgraded, so even though my neighborhood was done almost 10 months ago I still can't get but about half of the HD channels that are available in my market. *shrug*

Of course I'm still on a series 2, so my recorded HD doesn't look much different from my SD. Seeing that I'm not home most of the time to watch live, I don't much care. Hoping to get a series 3 by mid next year, though.

[Sandi]

I have Cox. Omaha. and will be calling today to get cable card (s). Any hints to help things go smoothly very much appreciated.

Thanks

Sandi

[Follow Who?]

I have Cox. Omaha. and will be calling today to get cable card (s). Any hints to help things go smoothly very much appreciated.

Thanks

Sandi

Sandi,

My installer had done quite a few TiVo's. He came in with 4 M-Cards in his hand. He sat down and put the first card in and called to activate. When it did not work right away, he immeadiatly pulled it out and went on to the second card. The third was the winner. The short version is that he figured out with his experience if it does not work right away, it's not gonna work. He did not waste time trying to troubleshoot for 30 minutes on each card.

By the way - by not working I mean that the first card showed no channels. The second card had some channels, only about half of them. The third card, everything showed up right away, including my premium movie channels.

[kurt711]

Cox techs have been trying to install cablecards in my TivoHD for past week without success. First tech had 3 M-cards, each one did firmware upgrade, get authorized and showed all channels I'm supposed to receive but no picture on any of them. Second tech came few days later and this time I had asked to bring couple S-cards as well. Tech tried 2 m-cards with same results as before. Both checked signal levels(all close to 100%) and ran line from street just to make sure but nothing worked.
The S-cards are in my tivo right now, both authorized but no picture. Another odd thing with s-card is that i get clear QAM channels on s-card1 but no picture on s-card2. I got Tivo involved but they can't see whats wrong either.
This tivo worked fine for almost year and half on comcast motorola m-card so don't think its the slots or tivo but never know.
Anyone else seen anything like this or have any ideas to fix this? Appreciate any help. Thanks.

[GerryFR]

I can tell you what I did to get my cable cards working: Once the cards were installed, I went through the Tivo setup again. I have found that Tivo seems to need to reconfigure the Tivo unit for the new cards and this requires going through setup and then rebooting. I also have found that if my cable provider has made a major channel change, that I sometimes have to restart the unit to be able to access the channels.

I also found that in the past my cable company (Cox) had trouble with several HD channels. The service man would always try out my receivers on those channels to be sure I could receive them. He also found that one of my cable inputs had a filter on it that would wipe out some of my digital channels. There was no record of this filter with Cox. Some of channels continued to be intermittent until some recent service updates (and more HD channels) were added. I found having a cable company DVR helped me to know were the problem was (cable or Tivo). I found both units (Cox & Tivo) had problems with the same channels. I also found that both units were very affected by the type of cable being used. I bough some good quality RG6 cable for use with these units and found that the center conductor on the cable was so sturdy that it did not bend easily and I could wipe out a number of channels by just flexing the cable. I always connect the Tivo directly to the cable input when troubleshooting problems because I have found very uneven results when hooking it up to the output of a bidirectional amplifier. I get it working right out of the wall and then add splitters or amplifiers to see what happens.


Jerry

[AZrob]

Hi all,

I am considering getting a 2nd Tivo here in Phoenix. The current amount I pay for the Cox service is $5.00 for the Digital Gateway service and $2.00 for the M-card in my one Tivo HD. Can anyone confirm what I suspect is the case, that a 2nd Tivo with an M-card will only cost me $2.00 more per month?

Thanks,

Rob from AZ

[Sandi]

I know this is probably a silly question, in fact I have two.

After reading all the horror stories about cable cards becoming unpaired I'm leery of doing anything that might cause problems.

I would like to replace a long coax cable with a shorter one but I don't want to mess up what appears to be working fine. Should I have a problem if I switch cables?

2nd question I think I know the answer to but I thought I would ask anyway.

Our main TV will be replaced soon with an HDTV and my husband will insist on PIP as he can't watch TV without it. With a dual tuner TIVO will we still need something else with another tuner for his 2nd picture? In other words it doesn't appear that we could view the 2 TIVO tuners on two different TV inputs.

Suggestions appreciated.

Thank you

Sandi

Omaha Cox
New HD TIVO owner

[Shawn95GT]

Hi all,

I am considering getting a 2nd Tivo here in Phoenix. The current amount I pay for the Cox service is $5.00 for the Digital Gateway service and $2.00 for the M-card in my one Tivo HD. Can anyone confirm what I suspect is the case, that a 2nd Tivo with an M-card will only cost me $2.00 more per month?

Thanks,

Rob from AZ
I'm 99% certain you'll have to pay the digital gateway fee as well. For the longest time they were charging me the DGF for each card :eek:.

[AZrob]

I'm 99% certain you'll have to pay the digital gateway fee as well. For the longest time they were charging me the DGF for each card :eek:.

You mean, I will go from paying $7.00 a month to $14.00? I didn't think you had to pay the Gateway fee more than once per home....

Rob

[Shawn95GT]

You mean, I will go from paying $7.00 a month to $14.00? I didn't think you had to pay the Gateway fee more than once per home....

Rob
You'd pay it per cable box if that helps. It was a fight in the beginning to get them to call 2 S-card in a single Tivo 1 DGF.

[AZrob]

You'd pay it per cable box if that helps. It was a fight in the beginning to get them to call 2 S-card in a single Tivo 1 DGF.

Okay, I found a CSR who seemed to know the score. I will be paying $4.00 more per month.

That's:

$2 for the Digital Gateway for the 2nd Tivo
$2 for the cable card in the Tivo

All in all, it could have been worse. They don't charge the $5 again for the Digital Gateway for the second device in the home...just $2.

Thanks for replying...

Rob

[lasergecko]

Okay, I found a CSR who seemed to know the score. I will be paying $4.00 more per month.

That's:

$2 for the Digital Gateway for the 2nd Tivo
$2 for the cable card in the Tivo

All in all, it could have been worse. They don't charge the $5 again for the Digital Gateway for the second device in the home...just $2.

Thanks for replying...

Rob

Freaking stupid ass Cox Cable. Give me the name of that CSR so I can get the same deal.

In Las Vegas, I'm paying TWO full gateway fees; one for each of the cards in my Series 3. The Las Vegas CSRs are bunch of jackasses. If I have to hear ONE MORE TIME about how I'm "saving money" by paying twice what other people do, I'm going to shoot someone.

[AZrob]

Freaking stupid ass Cox Cable. Give me the name of that CSR so I can get the same deal.

In Las Vegas, I'm paying TWO full gateway fees; one for each of the cards in my Series 3. The Las Vegas CSRs are bunch of jackasses. If I have to hear ONE MORE TIME about how I'm "saving money" by paying twice what other people do, I'm going to shoot someone.

Wow...good luck. Let's hope they don't say that you pay more than Phoenix Cox users because Las Vegas is....different. That's a favorite comeback....

Rob

[deaddeeds]

I posted this in another thread but wanted to pass along my success.

Well I called Cox three times this morning. On the third try I got somebody who spoke english and knew what a TiVo was and they have corrected my account!!!

[jay_winter]

I know this is probably a silly question, in fact I have two.

[1] I would like to replace a long coax cable with a shorter one ...
Should I have a problem if I switch cables?

[2] With a dual tuner TIVO will we still need something else with another tuner for his 2nd [P-I-P] picture? In other words it doesn't appear that we could view the 2 TIVO tuners on two different TV inputs.

Sandi


Hi Sandi,

[1] That should most definitely NOT be a problem.
[2] You are correct. For PIP you'd need to use one tuner in the TV and the other from the TiVo or a (dare I say it?) VCR!

[Sandi]

Thanks, Jay.

Appreciate the answers.

Sandi

[Plasticman]

Hi all,

I am considering getting a 2nd Tivo here in Phoenix. The current amount I pay for the Cox service is $5.00 for the Digital Gateway service and $2.00 for the M-card in my one Tivo HD. Can anyone confirm what I suspect is the case, that a 2nd Tivo with an M-card will only cost me $2.00 more per month?

Thanks,

Rob from AZ

I have Cox in the New Orleans area one card in the TV and two cards in the Tivo series 3 HD. Cox charges me $5.97 for the cards and $17.97 for Digital service and 3 Digital gateways.

[brosenkrantz]

Has COX in Phoenix provided any tuning adaptors for TIVO with cable cards so we can get the channels that moved to switched video?

[Rolow]

no they will be but they haven't started yet. I think the last letter I got said end of the year but it dose not look like that's going to happen.

[jcaudle]

no they will be but they haven't started yet. I think the last letter I got said end of the year but it dose not look like that's going to happen.

Cox in Northern Virginia just started giving out the adapters this week, after finishing beta testing...They work great. We use the Cisco/Scientific Atlanta Equipment here. Hopefully you guys will get them soon....We have been with out new Hd channels for a year now since they started SDV in Sept 2007.

[delgadobb]

Freaking stupid ass Cox Cable. Give me the name of that CSR so I can get the same deal.

In Las Vegas, I'm paying TWO full gateway fees; one for each of the cards in my Series 3. The Las Vegas CSRs are bunch of jackasses. If I have to hear ONE MORE TIME about how I'm "saving money" by paying twice what other people do, I'm going to shoot someone.
I'm in Vegas, too, only on regular cable (expanded basic) for now. I'm going to be getting my TIVO HD & I'm in no rush to deal with the nightmare to come. I may just use the HD as a dual-tuner TIVO for a while.

The Las Vegas CSRs have told me that I'll have to pay a 'digital gateway fee' for each outlet, as well as $2 ($1.99, I think) per cable card. I mentioned I'll have a TIVO HD & want M cards, they insist they don't exist. (Despite the fact I know other Las Vegas Cox customers have them.) When I say 'per outlet', I mean they're telling me I'll get charged TWO digital gateway fees per TIVO HD (one for each tuner).

So, when all is said & done, it will cost me about $5 for digital gateway fee ($4.95?) per tuner & $2 ($1.99?) per cable card (S card, since the M's "don't exist"). $5 times two tuners & $2 per tuner for cable cards = $14 (roughly) per TIVO. The CSR's quote "You're saving money compared to the cable box." ????

What seems sensible is to charge me one digital gateway fee (I don't pay extra for additional analog lines, once I pay for digital why should I pay for it again at each outlet?) Then, charge me $2 for each M-card - that's $9 a month instead of $28 - quite a significant difference. Keep in mind I don't agree with paying ONE digital gateway fee once I'm already paying for digital, but I'm assuming that's going to be hard to get.

Sooo, I'm in no rush to get my two TIVO HDs with lifetime service (that's about $1200 spent with TIVO), since they'll (in theory) cost me another $28/month through Cox. I'd think stuff like this would be an issue to TIVO, since in theory it's costing them revenue. In my case, it's not just costing them money in theory - it's costing them money in tangible terms.

[Rolow]

Cox in Northern Virginia just started giving out the adapters this week, after finishing beta testing...They work great. We use the Cisco/Scientific Atlanta Equipment here. Hopefully you guys will get them soon....We have been with out new Hd channels for a year now since they started SDV in Sept 2007.

Its nice to here there working. Where lucky most of our sdv channels are Spanish language and the odd ball stuff.

[Bodie]

It's nice to hear they're working. We're lucky most of our SDV channels are Spanish language and the oddball stuff.

;)

[djwilso]

It's nice to hear they're working. We're lucky most of our SDV channels are Spanish language and the oddball stuff. ;)Thanks for converting that into readable English for us.

Dennis

[Free]

I got a tech this morning (who came out to troubleshoot my signal strength issue) who said that Cox was moving away from cable cards all together. He said they are very close to not allowing any new CC's going in, and saving the limited inventory of CC's they have for existing customer maintainance.

[ajwees41]

I got a tech this morning (who came out to troubleshoot my signal strength issue) who said that Cox was moving away from cable cards all together. He said they are very close to not allowing any new CC's going in, and saving the limited inventory of CC's they have for existing customer maintainance.

I'll believe it when I see it. FCC fines are comming.

[Kershek]

I got a tech this morning (who came out to troubleshoot my signal strength issue) who said that Cox was moving away from cable cards all together. He said they are very close to not allowing any new CC's going in, and saving the limited inventory of CC's they have for existing customer maintainance.

Lovely. Chalk one up for less consumer options! It's not like we have another choice that uses cablecards.

[Supermurph]

I got a tech this morning (who came out to troubleshoot my signal strength issue) who said that Cox was moving away from cable cards all together. He said they are very close to not allowing any new CC's going in, and saving the limited inventory of CC's they have for existing customer maintainance.

The guy didn't know what he was talking about. It's not up to Cox. Moving away from CableCard would be illegal.

[badfish]

I got a tech this morning (who came out to troubleshoot my signal strength issue) who said that Cox was moving away from cable cards all together. He said they are very close to not allowing any new CC's going in, and saving the limited inventory of CC's they have for existing customer maintainance.


I had a cable card installed last week and the tech told me the same thing. He said that the tech are not carrying them with them. Thats why he sat in front of my house for two hours waiting for a tech to bring him a card and excuse him.

He also said that we would be stuck with the HD channels that are available now. We would not receive any new channels when they come available.

I had to call support that night because i wasn't receiving any HD channels that were not network based. The tech that i talked to on the phone said that it wasn't true. That we would be able to call up and have are card reconfigured.

[Free]

Cox doesn't seem to care what is "legal" or not. Perhaps they have done some cost calculations and feel that paying fines (if one was actually ever levied against them) would be cheaper than dealing with all the CC issues.

I have had several techs out over the past few weeks, due to a signal problem. None of them came with cable cards, they have indicated that they are hard to come by, especially the S cards the Series 3 needs, and that Cox is trying to discourage installs.

[westcoastexport]

I bought a TiVo HD DVR for my in-laws in Fairfax Station for Christmas. They have Cox and this is my story of the installation.

Called Cox on 12/26 to request installation of M-Card and Tuner Adaptor (TA) and they offered to come out on 12/27. Rescheduled fror 12/29.

They arrived in their scheduled time and brought an M-card and TA. Unfortunately, my in laws had no wireless adaptor nor had I run set-up for TiVo so we rescheduled for 12/31. I took the unit home and ran set-up using my wireless adaptor.

They again showed up again on time but this time, they didn't bring the TA even though I had begged the first installer to leave it behind. This person was able to install the M-Card and promised to return on 1/2. He came back as scheduled on 1/2 with the TA, however, the TA wasn't recognized because the software was 8.1 and required 9.4 to work. After more than 2.5 hours, he had to go. I spent 75 minutes on the line with TiVo getting them to "force" a connection. It still didn't work - same 8.1 software. My father in law got on the phone with them after I left and they were successful getting software version 11.0 to load. When it did, the TA worked (it didn't have to be "set-up" as the Cox tech person thought). My in laws now have all channels available through Cox and are happy to get away from the Cox DVR that they weren't comfortable with.

Lessons learned:

- You need to ask the right questions when scheduling the installation - Thx to everyone here.
- You need to make sure you have a wireless adaptor at the time on installation
- You need minimum software of 9.4 with 11.0 or recent version optimal
- You need to complete set-up in advance, and that still doesn't mean you won't have to do it again
- TiVo service staff are really good and stay with you and are very helpful
- Cox too was very accomodating and reasonably knowledgeable.

Thanks again to everyone for their insight and experience in helping others to minimize the pain.

[badfish]

I dont under stand why you needed the wire less adapter for the installation of the cable card? I used my phone line and it worked just fine.

[badfish]

Is there any way to get PPV UFC fights on HD cable card Tivo?

[ajwees41]

I dont under stand why you needed the wire less adapter for the installation of the cable card? I used my phone line and it worked just fine.

maybe phoneline not close enough.

[frogger22]

Is there any way to get PPV UFC fights on HD cable card Tivo?
No you can't. The CableCard (even with a TA) does not permit you to purchase any PPV content.

[ajwees41]

No you can't. The CableCard (even with a TA) does not permit you to purchase any PPV content.

that is wrong. It should work if you can call in and order the PPV.

[Timber]

that is wrong. It should work if you can call in and order the PPV.

http://www.clipartof.com/images/emoticons/xsmall2/1974_eating_popcorn.gif

-=Tim=-

[wierdo]

I finally got CCs for my THD in Tulsa over the weekend. (I've had them in my S3 for almost 2 years now)

It took far more time than it should have because of issues getting them to pair. The interesting thing is that unlike the first time, they had no problem getting them to take the authorization hits, so I could receive all the channels that weren't copy protected, but getting the person at the headend to get the pairing information right took several hours.

And it still takes 5 cards to find 2 that will work. My installer brought 3, and ended up having to go get a couple from another installer.

I have to say, though, that my installer was a real trooper. He arrived before 2PM on Saturday and didn't leave until around 8:30 (he had to run a new line to the pole and clean up some wiring), when it was working.

One very nice thing about using cablecards is that Cox won't send out contractors with them, so you always get an employee.

[alansh]

For what it's worth, my experience with Cox in Phoenix has been pretty good. I waited to order until after the firmware update fiasco was resolved.

The order taker at Cox had goofed up the order, so the tech had to make a second visit with the cable cards. He had two M-cards, but since this is an HD, we only used one. There was a long delay while the card updated its firmware to 401. Once that was complete, and the tech called in the host ID, everything has been fine. I haven't had any reboots or dropped recording.

Every so often I do see some pixelation, but that may be the broadcast itself. The only other hangup is the SDV channels, but at least so far there's not much on them I'm interested in. The new HD channels introduced at the end of the year came in fine.

[ksalwitz]

Has anyone received a TA from Cox in the Phoenix area? I've got the hockey package and i have to watch the games in the bedroom...not the best place to have beer and popcorn :). BTW i've had my updated M-card in my hd tivo for several months (since the patch was sent out) and have had no problems related to the firmware fiasco.

[djwilso]

Has anyone received a TA from Cox in the Phoenix area? I've got the hockey package and i have to watch the games in the bedroom...not the best place to have beer and popcorn :). BTW i've had my updated M-card in my hd tivo for several months (since the patch was sent out) and have had no problems related to the firmware fiasco.Nothing that I have heard of yet. I guess that whole 'before the end of the year' stuff was just wishful thinking.

Luckily, none of the HD channels that I watch are SDV currently, so it is not a big issue for me yet.

Dennis

[amyflick]

Has anyone received a TA from Cox in the Phoenix area? I've got the hockey package and i have to watch the games in the bedroom...not the best place to have beer and popcorn :). BTW i've had my updated M-card in my hd tivo for several months (since the patch was sent out) and have had no problems related to the firmware fiasco.

I'm not in Phoenix, but I have the center ice package. I can't watch any of those channels with the tuning adapter. According to Cox, this is the result of a bug in the TA and should be fixed with a patch that will be pushed to the TA sometime around mid Jan. We'll see, I have my doubts.

[Supermurph]

Has anyone received a TA from Cox in the Phoenix area? I've got the hockey package and i have to watch the games in the bedroom...not the best place to have beer and popcorn :). BTW i've had my updated M-card in my hd tivo for several months (since the patch was sent out) and have had no problems related to the firmware fiasco.

I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure the TA has no impact on interactive features such as PPV and OnDemand. It just allows you to receive SDV channels. I think I read that on the Tivo page that describes the TA. I can try to find that if it matters.

[ajwees41]

I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure the TA has no impact on interactive features such as PPV and OnDemand. It just allows you to receive SDV channels. I think I read that on the Tivo page that describes the TA. I can try to find that if it matters.

it will only do SDV

[Tel Janin]

Howdy,
I stopped off at the Cox office in Herndon this morning and picked up a tuning adapter. Was in and out in under five minutes. Can't wait to hook it up tonight. Will report how it goes.
-Tel

[rorien_chan]

I have been silently following this thread for a while and finally decided to contribute. I have been struggling with Cox since February 08 to get the service I am paying for on my Tivo. In addition to Cable Card issues everyone else seems to be having they have over billed me many times since I updated to HD service. After months of trying to make something work, and losing channels due to the SDV rollout, I finally filed an FCC complaint. In October 08 I contacted the Cox Resolutions Department through the BBB. The reply I received said Cox had already filed a purchase order for quantities of the tuning adapters. In November 08 I received a letter that was the response to my FCC complaint. In addition to false information about my account (that I was not being charged for a High Def Receiver, which I don't have in the first place), the letter said I would be invited to beta test the tuning adapter "in the coming weeks". I have spoken with about 20 different tech support reps since October and no one has any idea what a tuning adapter is. I tried contacting the resolutions department again and it seems like I am being ignored. Al I have experienced is Cox's lack of knowledge or them trying to misdirect me. The only way I can get any answers from them is by being angry and threatening them with the FCC. I have no other choice for cable service in the North Phoenix area. If one became available I would jump at the chance. I see others in Phoenix have TAs, what do I need to say to them to get one?

[Tel Janin]

I stopped off at the Cox office in Herndon this morning and picked up a tuning adapter. Was in and out in under five minutes. Can't wait to hook it up tonight. Will report how it goes.

Hooked the device up following the instructions, called in to Cox, got it activated automatically via the IVR, and it's working great. TiVo picked it right up once I connected it via USB, and I'm able to receive all of the SDV channels.

If one became available I would jump at the chance. I see others in Phoenix have TAs, what do I need to say to them to get one?

I can't speak for Phoenix, but I called my local Cox franchise (NoVA/Fairfax; numbers on their site and on the bill) and ended up talking to someone about a service change. After identifying myself, and they asked what they could do for me today, I indicated that I had heard that they had Tuning Adapters finally, and what would I have to do to get my hands on one? There was a pause, and the response was to go to the local office and pick one up. I asked for clarification - this could be self installed, as the CableCARDS had to be installed by Cox? They responded, yes, it can be self installed. I asked if the office nearest me, mentioned by address, had them, and they confirmed that yes, indeed, that office had them. I then grabbed my coat and my keys, and drove to said office. I pressed the button for 'technical assistance', was called almost immediately, and asked for a Tuning Adapter. They verified my account info, verified I had a single CableCARD, and went and grabbed a Tuning Adapter, noted some info in the computer, and handed it over. In and out of the office in less than 5 minutes. There was a Cox-produced glossy inside the box on how to self-install the Tuning Adapter, the manufacturer-issed install instructions, and a copy of a print out involving basic troubleshooting steps that had been identified during the beta program (or the laser printer was running low on toner, one of the two).

Anyways, far more information than you wanted, I'm sure, but my experience. Good luck, sir or madam, on acquiring your tuning adapter.

[JimjimH]

I have cable cards in 2 of my HD units. Haven't installed any in my third as yet. The techs had so many problems installing them I'm afraid I'll have problems with the third unit because its at the end of a longer cable run. Signal strength and other factors are so critical with digital.
I'm also still waiting for Cox Phoenix to start issuing tuning adapters!

[komadori]

I'm new to TiVo and thinking about buying a refurbished TiVo HD. I'm using a Cox HD DVR right now and trying to figure out if if it's worth switching to TiVo. Can anyone in the Oklahoma City area help me make a right decision? First, is there anyone who is using a TiVo HD successfully with Cox SA CableCards in the Oklahoma City area? I was told by customer service that they only have S-Cards, so I have to use 2 cards for my TiVo HD. Is this true? Second, what would be the costs of renting and installing CableCards, and any other one-time and/or monthly fees associated with using TiVo HD in the Oklahoma City area? I think if I can have a TiVo HD with similar or less monthly costs to the costs of having Cox HD DVR (I'm paying $5.25 for renting HD/DVR receiver and $11.99 for DVR service), it's worth it. Thanks a bunch in advance.

[Dubrau]

I have been silently following this thread for a while and finally decided to contribute. I have been struggling with Cox since February 08 to get the service I am paying for on my Tivo. In addition to Cable Card issues everyone else seems to be having they have over billed me many times since I updated to HD service. After months of trying to make something work, and losing channels due to the SDV rollout, I finally filed an FCC complaint. In October 08 I contacted the Cox Resolutions Department through the BBB. The reply I received said Cox had already filed a purchase order for quantities of the tuning adapters. In November 08 I received a letter that was the response to my FCC complaint. In addition to false information about my account (that I was not being charged for a High Def Receiver, which I don't have in the first place), the letter said I would be invited to beta test the tuning adapter "in the coming weeks". I have spoken with about 20 different tech support reps since October and no one has any idea what a tuning adapter is. I tried contacting the resolutions department again and it seems like I am being ignored. Al I have experienced is Cox's lack of knowledge or them trying to misdirect me. The only way I can get any answers from them is by being angry and threatening them with the FCC. I have no other choice for cable service in the North Phoenix area. If one became available I would jump at the chance. I see others in Phoenix have TAs, what do I need to say to them to get one?
I just read your comments with great interest. We waited until Nov 08 to purchase our hd tivo recorder because of the problems with the cablecards last summer. Our multistream card works fine but we were not getting the new hd channels being offered. I finally called yesterday to fin out why and needless to say, the tech staff gave me several contradicting reasons. I finally asked for a tech staff to visit. He said that they were getting away from cablecards and that those of us with cablecards would not be getting the new hd channels. I asked him about the TA and he had never heard of it. He called and asked his top guy about the TA. That guy never heard of it either but claimed that a "two way" cable card would be available down the road...they just don't know when. Sounds like "vapor ware" to me. I just heard that Direct TV is negotiating a deal with Tivo. We are in Surprise, AZ (NW side of Phoenix).

[DrDatabase]

Going Crazy in Orange County!! I'm losing HD channels on my m-stream card that has worked without any problems for the last year. Channels 714, 750, 754, 755, 761 went away today. Calls into to CS and no solution yet. I wonder if this is some switched video side effect going on here. Anybody know when the tuning adapter is rolling out in Orange County?

[jcaudle]

I just read your comments with great interest. We waited until Nov 08 to purchase our hd tivo recorder because of the problems with the cablecards last summer. Our multistream card works fine but we were not getting the new hd channels being offered. I finally called yesterday to fin out why and needless to say, the tech staff gave me several contradicting reasons. I finally asked for a tech staff to visit. He said that they were getting away from cablecards and that those of us with cablecards would not be getting the new hd channels. I asked him about the TA and he had never heard of it. He called and asked his top guy about the TA. That guy never heard of it either but claimed that a "two way" cable card would be available down the road...they just don't know when. Sounds like "vapor ware" to me. I just heard that Direct TV is negotiating a deal with Tivo. We are in Surprise, AZ (NW side of Phoenix).

Cox issued tuning adapters here in N. Virginia starting on Dec 11th. They were going to take more digital channels to switch them to SDV originally on Dec 2nd. A lot of us contacted Fairfax County and they (Cox) agreed to delay the loss of more channels until the adapter was out. Not sure why you guys haven't been issued them yet. The county was very helpful as was Cox's local VP for Governmental Relations. You might contact your local regulator...before they office of consumer protection got involved we weren't able to find out anything from Cox. Good Luck.

[moyekj]

Going Crazy in Orange County!! I'm losing HD channels on my m-stream card that has worked without any problems for the last year. Channels 714, 750, 754, 755, 761 went away today. Calls into to CS and no solution yet. I wonder if this is some switched video side effect going on here. Anybody know when the tuning adapter is rolling out in Orange County? It's more channels than that (at least for me). I called in today as well and got some information, but no resolution. See the local AVS forum thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15612266#post15612266

If you get any more info on this please post here or there. All those channels still don't tune for me and if one believes the CSR they are not supposed to be SDV (yet).

[gcw07]

I'm new to TiVo and thinking about buying a refurbished TiVo HD. I'm using a Cox HD DVR right now and trying to figure out if if it's worth switching to TiVo. Can anyone in the Oklahoma City area help me make a right decision? First, is there anyone who is using a TiVo HD successfully with Cox SA CableCards in the Oklahoma City area? I was told by customer service that they only have S-Cards, so I have to use 2 cards for my TiVo HD. Is this true? Second, what would be the costs of renting and installing CableCards, and any other one-time and/or monthly fees associated with using TiVo HD in the Oklahoma City area? I think if I can have a TiVo HD with similar or less monthly costs to the costs of having Cox HD DVR (I'm paying $5.25 for renting HD/DVR receiver and $11.99 for DVR service), it's worth it. Thanks a bunch in advance.I just got a Tivo HD for Christmas and while it took a while to install the cablecards (around 4 hours), it has been worth it. I was upgrading from a series 2. They do have M-Cards. The customer service guy on the phone said the same thing to me that they only had S-Cards, but when the installation guy showed up, he had M-Cards and said the customer service person didn't know what they were talking about. Now, the installation tech had 2 M-Cards and 4 S-Cards. He tried for around 2 -3 hours to get the 2 M-Cards working and was never able to. He got the first S-Card working in a couple minutes and then we had a bad S-Card in the 2nd slot, so we tried another S-Card and it worked great. So I ended up with 2 S-Cards instead of a single M-Card, but it was working so I didn't really care :)

After I got mine working, I have been loving it so much that I convinced my mother to upgrade her series 2 to a Tivo HD. That installation went a little worse then mine. Took around 3 hours on the first day and they could not get the 2 different M-Cards to work that night. They came back the next day and it took around 5 hours, but they were eventually able to get it working. Again the M-Cards were not working and again they ended up installing 2 S-Cards. It seems that they don't have nearly as much problems with the S-Cards as they do with the SA M-Cards. However, after all the hassle it is worth it even if they end up installing 2 S-Cards.

As for the prices of installation and monthly fees. The installation fee was $40. The monthly fee is $1.99 per card so for 2 of them if they do end up installing S-Cards, it will be $3.98. Now you will still have the digital service/digital gateway fee ($5.50). If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me or post a reply here. It is worth it and I'm already considering switching out another of my Tivo boxes for another Tivo HD's.

[moyekj]

Going Crazy in Orange County!! I'm losing HD channels on my m-stream card that has worked without any problems for the last year. Channels 714, 750, 754, 755, 761 went away today. Calls into to CS and no solution yet. I wonder if this is some switched video side effect going on here. Anybody know when the tuning adapter is rolling out in Orange County?
Problem is now fixed, so obviously there was something messed up on headend side. I can tune all the following now:
706, 714, 725, 730, 731, 733, 741, 755, 761, 782, 790

NOTE: These have never been made available to CableCard devices for whatever reason and that is still the case: 732, 753, 772

Anyhow, glad I don't have to worry about this anymore.

[wierdo]

I just got a Tivo HD for Christmas and while it took a while to install the cablecards (around 4 hours), it has been worth it. I was upgrading from a series 2. They do have M-Cards. The customer service guy on the phone said the same thing to me that they only had S-Cards, but when the installation guy showed up, he had M-Cards and said the customer service person didn't know what they were talking about. Now, the installation tech had 2 M-Cards and 4 S-Cards. He tried for around 2 -3 hours to get the 2 M-Cards working and was never able to. He got the first S-Card working in a couple minutes and then we had a bad S-Card in the 2nd slot, so we tried another S-Card and it worked great. So I ended up with 2 S-Cards instead of a single M-Card, but it was working so I didn't really care :)

After I got mine working, I have been loving it so much that I convinced my mother to upgrade her series 2 to a Tivo HD. That installation went a little worse then mine. Took around 3 hours on the first day and they could not get the 2 different M-Cards to work that night. They came back the next day and it took around 5 hours, but they were eventually able to get it working. Again the M-Cards were not working and again they ended up installing 2 S-Cards. It seems that they don't have nearly as much problems with the S-Cards as they do with the SA M-Cards. However, after all the hassle it is worth it even if they end up installing 2 S-Cards.

As for the prices of installation and monthly fees. The installation fee was $40. The monthly fee is $1.99 per card so for 2 of them if they do end up installing S-Cards, it will be $3.98. Now you will still have the digital service/digital gateway fee ($5.50). If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me or post a reply here. It is worth it and I'm already considering switching out another of my Tivo boxes for another Tivo HD's.
They don't have M-Cards in Tulsa, FWIW. I was told this both on the phone and by multiple techs.

It's still a less expensive than the Cox DVR, especially after the upcoming rate increase. (In my case, it's a whole lot less expensive, since I have one box on lifetime so the other is only $6.95/mo for TiVo service)

[gcw07]

They don't have M-Cards in Tulsa, FWIW. I was told this both on the phone and by multiple techs.

It's still a less expensive than the Cox DVR, especially after the upcoming rate increase. (In my case, it's a whole lot less expensive, since I have one box on lifetime so the other is only $6.95/mo for TiVo service)Yeah, I was talking about the OKC area, Norman specifically which do have M-Cards, but they seem really buggy at best. But yeah, like you said, even with 2 S-Cards, it is cheaper then using their boxes with their crappy interfaces.

[techman36]

I just spoke to a rep here in Phoenix and she told me that they will be either shipping out or notifying users with Cable Cards on their accounts in February. She said they haven't not worked out the method yet, but it should be happening sometime next month. Apparently they do have them, but they are working out how to get them out and users should be notified shortly.

Hope this helps.

[rorien_chan]

Just spoke with an extremely helpful Tivo Rep and 3way called Cox. Cox rep said no TAs as of yet and they don't know when they will be available. :( Cox Rep said to call billing about refunding me for unreceived channels. I did that 2 months ago and they said they couldn't. No one over at Cox has the same info.

[Goofball]

Cox television just made my crap that is not worth what I pay list of services I can be saving money on every month. I'll be calling and e/snail-mailing them to voice my displeasure with what looks like every channel above ~20 being set as CCI=0x02 on my CableCards. I'm giving them until the end of February to restore CCI to 0x00 and my ability to use MRV and TTG on non-premium content channels before I cancel my service and use an alternative.

Thankfully this also supposedly stops people with Cox leased set tops from copying to their PCs via FireWire or I'd be so mad right now I'd be driving down to the nearest Cox store to throw my CableCards and other equipment through their windows.

I suggest that everyone else who has a TiVo with CableCards on Cox as a provider contact them via every possible method and strongly express your displeasure with this change in copy protection policy, even if it hasn't been done in your area yet. Knowing Cox you'll all be in the same boat as myself and others shortly.

I can't stand being treated like a criminal when all I want to do is move shows around my house or copy them to a portable device or my laptop to watch when I am out of town.

[Kershek]

An alternative? Oh, you mean Cable America, the only alternative that they bought out?

It's a good thing monopolies are illegal here. Oh, wait.

[Goofball]

An alternative? Oh, you mean Cable America, the only alternative that they bought out?

It's a good thing monopolies are illegal here. Oh, wait.

The only alternative I really "need" at this point is PBS for my daughter so I can just go with OTA and be ok. Part of my alternative plan should I need it is to put some of the savings towards a NetFlix sub and switch over to watching movies where I was watching TV before.

That's where I doubt that Cox gets it. TV for most people is a luxury item. It's nice but I sure as hell don't need it and I am not going to pay them every month to get treated like a criminal.

[nightdesigns]

I just spoke to a rep here in Phoenix and she told me that they will be either shipping out or notifying users with Cable Cards on their accounts in February. She said they haven't not worked out the method yet, but it should be happening sometime next month. Apparently they do have them, but they are working out how to get them out and users should be notified shortly.

Hope this helps.

I spoke with them yesterday and I was told that it's now an unknown release date. Atlanta still hasn't given the okay to start shipping them to the customers.

All of the newer HD channels are SDV. I'm missing about 10 channels that I would get with the resolver.

[tivocrazy]

Seems like you guys in Arizona are having the same problem I had in Hampton Roads, Virginia last spring with not being able to transfer content from one Tivo to another due to the copyright protection flag. When Cox had me switch from a single multi-stream card to two single stream cards that fixed the problem. Are you using Motorola cards out there in Arizona?

[Rolow]

No where on SA