Nervous New Purchaser

[msurtees]

Ok...I've taken the dive and purchased a Series3 from Amazon.

I guess I now have to work with Comcast to get two cable cards and get everything up and running.

I'm a little nervous that I've taken a step towards issues with Comcast, problems with cable cards, and so on. I've seen alot of horror stories written about on the web.

I know that we often don't read the good news and only bad news gets posted. I'm just wondering if, overall, setting up and getting a new Series3 going will be a good experience or am I in for some near term headaches?

Looking forward to seeing those wonderful menus on my HD and saying "bye bye" to that stupid Comcast box.

Michael

[rdrrepair]

I can't speak for Comcast, but I'll tell you my S3 install went without a hitch and I am taking delivery today from Weaknees on another S3 using this trick (http://www.wkblog.com/2007/04/lifetime_tranfer_lives_on.html). YMMV

I should warn you that, in your case, you should have waited a couple of more days. On May 27th they will be issuing a $200.00 rebate so you may want to hold off on activating your S3 or accepting delivery now.
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=352577

[bilbo]

i would cancel your order if you still can.

there is supposed to be a $200 rebate starting on sunday (may 27th).

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/32121/118/

[HomeUser]

There is a step by step Cable Card installation sheet in the TiVo box. Give that to the Cable Guy as soon as he gets in the door if you or the CG follow the sheet there should be no problems.

[MScottC]

Don't be nervous. I purchased the box on day 2 of it being released. The box has performed perfectly since I received it.

Comcast seems to have the technical side down pat. While my first installation wasn't perfect, they did get it completely right the second time around. Part of the problem was that I wasn't around during either installation so I wasn't able to check their work.

Now as far as billing goes, that's where I've had my major issues. Seems every local office of Comcast is in a world unto itself. They had no idea of the $1.91 charge for ONLY the second cablecard. They wanted to charge me an extra $7.95/month for a second outlet. After 8 months, I think I finally have this resolved. Read the following Comcast Cablecard Charges FAQ (http://www.comcast.com/customers/faq/FaqDetails.ashx?ID=2651), and stick to your guns with your billing office about this.

[dig_duggler]

Don't be nervous. I purchased the box on day 2 of it being released. The box has performed perfectly since I received it.

Comcast seems to have the technical side down pat. While my first installation wasn't perfect, they did get it completely right the second time around. Part of the problem was that I wasn't around during either installation so I wasn't able to check their work.

Now as far as billing goes, that's where I've had my major issues. Seems every local office of Comcast is in a world unto itself. They had no idea of the $1.91 charge for ONLY the second cablecard. They wanted to charge me an extra $7.95/month for a second outlet. After 8 months, I think I finally have this resolved. Read the following Comcast Cablecard Charges FAQ (http://www.comcast.com/customers/faq/FaqDetails.ashx?ID=2651), and stick to your guns with your billing office about this.

It will depend on where you are. Search the Comcast thread for your area. I have a friend in Charlotesville , VA who it took over a month to get all his channels working (initially analog + hd worked - no digitial or pay channels) and this was only a few months ago. Head end just had no idea what it was doing. It took some very determined s3 users banding together to get things rollling. However, now that it is he could not be happier with the s3.

So depends on your area.

Read about his exploits from here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=340628) to here (http://avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10552720#post10552720). I think his ESPN issue was eventually resolved as well.

[ooryl2]

The only problem I had with Comcast in my area (Lansing, MI) was the office trying to charge me $6.50 for the second cablecard as a "second outlet". Apparently there hasn't been much exposure to the S3's here. Neither the office, nor the cable guys knew that the box takes 2 cards. The CG knew from the work order that I was getting 2 cards, but was shocked when I told him that they were going in the same box.

I had to email Comcast's CS department to make sure they had the billing correct ($1.50 for the second card as it says on their website). Even when calling the CS (before emailing them) they told me it would be $6.50 for the second card.

The installation itself went smoothly with the guide from the box. No problems with the service yet.

[Darthnice]

I had numerous CableCARD related issues (pixellation and endless-reboot-cycle) when I bought mine. HOWEVER, it was all fixed months ago in one of the service updates.

CableCARDs can be a pain to install, seemingly because the techs who come out to do the install don't like them. Just commiserate with them and it will be fine.

[AbMagFab]

I bought my box as soon as it was released, and it's been flawless from the beginning. They weren't totally sure how to activate the cards, but they seem to be learning, so I wouldn't worry.

Just make sure they do one CC at a time, as the most common problem is messing up the serial number/card number, and they don't seem to know how to correct it once they do that.

[JimPa]

Michael,

I'm one of October 2006 buyers that had a fair amount of trouble getting my S3 to work right. Came very close to returning mine for a refund. Some have absolutely no trouble at all.

About the only thing you can do is give it a try and if it doesn't work out, return it. That simple. I do think its mentally healthy to go into it with the forethought that you may have to have a couple of service calls from your cable provider and ultimately return the S3 to Tivo.

Best of luck and hope you have a very dull, uneventful install. :)

[MScottC]

It will depend on where you are. ...So depends on your area.

Read about his exploits from here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=340628) to here (http://avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10552720#post10552720). I think his ESPN issue was eventually resolved as well.


I have to agree with you completely. From my readings here, it amazes how a national company can have local offices with such disparate policies in each local office. Remember, these are not individually owned franchises like McDonalds, it is still ONE company. Yet each office seems to set its own policy and standards. The only exception seems to be the universal lack of HDNet on all comcast systems (other than ones they've just aquired)

[JimPa]

Chances are that a company as large as Comcast has a hodgepodge of equipment around the country. IF they had identical equipment everywhere, it would be a lot easer to get everyone humming the same tune.

[nhaigh]

I bought my S3 the first week it was out. I have Comcast and they installed two cable cards in it and it worked first time, and has continued to work since.

[cokyq]

I purchased my S3 in January. TWC would not let me pick the cards at a store. They send a technician with the cards and the first time, one of the cards was defective. The tech did not have any extra ones, so it took another week for them to come back with another card. After about 2 hours of the technician talking to someone at TWC headquarters, they finally got it right (there was trouble getting all the HD channels working.

Now, I am out of work for 4 months, so I will be cancelling my TWC service until a new job comes up.

Good luck with your install... cokyq

[msurtees]

Thanks everyone!

[msurtees]

Well...Comcast came out with instructions to install ONE card and an extra DVR. HUH!?!

I told him what he could do with the extra DVR :-) Fortunately he had an extra cable card in his truck.

The tech had never seen a Tivo and had never seen/installed cable cards.

2.5 hours later I was all set.

Fortunately only one visit was needed.

I'm back in Tivo happyland again. I love the S3!

[GoHokies!]

Good news!

2.5 hours is a bit long, but at least it's done!

[CiVOL Engineer]

Hearing all these stories makes me feel really lucky. I dropped by my local Comcast and picked up two cards the day before my S3 arrived. The next night, the self-install went off without a hitch.