How much are you paying for each CableCARD?

[sbiller]

I'm curious what each of you are paying for your CableCARDS. Brighthouse in Tampa is charging $3.95 per card. This seems like a lot considering a dual-tuner HD box is $6.95.

[jrm01]

Most Comcast customers are getting the first card free, and are paying $1.50 to $2.75 for the second. How do you expect them to cast their vote here? Average cost?

[oldnacl]

Comcast in Boca, FL was ripping me off for $17.90 for 2 cards, up from $5.50 when they took over from Adelphia. I returned the Series 3 and took their SA8300 HD for $11.95. But that's their marketing plan, isn't it?

[aaronwt]

Comcast is giving me my 6 cablecards free. I don't know if they are supposed to or not but I have no charge for them on my bill. And the bill has been consistent for several months now. That's why I'm not trying to get CC for my TiVoHD. I don't want to muck up my billing.

[msgreenf]

In Louisville on Insight communications I get Cablecards for $1.99 each...no free one or anything

[TXTivoUser]

FIOS in Denton @ 2.99 each

[fritolayguy]

Mediacom in Springfield, MO: $1.99 for each card.

[moyekj]

Make sure to report full cost of each cablecard including "additional outlet" charges. For me it breaks down per cablecard as:
$1.99 for CC rental + $1.49 for "additional outlet" charge.
The "additional outlet" charge applies to 3 out 4 cablecards.

[yunlin12]

San Jose CA Comcast, $1.79 for dual cable card charge,$7 for HDTV service, total $8.79 for 2 cards.

[windracer]

Brighthouse Networks in St. Pete, FL: $3.95/card plus $0.95 additional outlet fee.

They used to be $2.95 but they raised it a dollar back in January. :mad:

[Saturn]

$2.50 each, Time Warner Cable in SE Wisconsin.

[CharlesH]

San Jose CA Comcast, $1.79 for dual cable card charge,$7 for HDTV service, total $8.79 for 2 cards.I am in the next town over (Milpitas), and I got them to drop the $7 charge, which is listed in the price list they sent me as an equipment charge for their HD set-top box (which I don't have), not a charge for HD programming.

[Dogen]

I have one M-Card and it's free. I believe if I had another Tivo HD and another M-Card on my other TV it would be $1.50.

[jbernardis]

Patriot Media in New Jersey is $1/card.

[jrm01]

Comcast in Boca, FL was ripping me off for $17.90 for 2 cards, up from $5.50 when they took over from Adelphia. I returned the Series 3 and took their SA8300 HD for $11.95. But that's their marketing plan, isn't it?
From Comcast web site concerning Tivo:

Comcast's pricing policy provides your first CableCARD for free. This applies to TVs and the TiVo Series 3 HD set-top box. Any additional CableCARDs that are required on the same outlet will be subject to a nominal charge. No additional cards are required for the TV so there is not a charge.

http://www.comcast.com/customers/faq/FaqDetails.ashx?ID=4156

[ScottE22]

Card 1 is free.
Card 2 is $1.50.

[sbiller]

Brighthouse Networks in St. Pete, FL: $3.95/card plus $0.95 additional outlet fee.

They used to be $2.95 but they raised it a dollar back in January. :mad:

I'm not being charged the 0.95 additional outlet fee at Brighthouse Networks in Tampa.

Digital Combo Monthly Savings Of Over $11 On Cable And HSD! An Annual Savings Over $137! Digital Cable, Digital Music, On-Screen Guide, Access To On Demand Services And 10mbps Road Runner. 78.00
CableCARD 3.95
CableCARD 3.95

[sbiller]

Thanks for the responses. Clearly Comcast is the provider with the most reasonable expenses for CableCARDS. My guess is that they are cooperating due to their positive relationship with TiVo.

[windracer]

I'm not being charged the 0.95 additional outlet fee at Brighthouse Networks in Tampa
Interesting. I called to complain a while back and they told me the first digital "outlet" is free (I guess that's the first CableCARD) but every additional "outlet" is $0.95. Seems like a scam to me.

[oldnacl]

From Comcast web site concerning Tivo:



http://www.comcast.com/customers/faq/FaqDetails.ashx?ID=4156
Unfortunately, quoting the web information cuts nothing at the local office. They charge whatever suits them at the moment.
I fought for over this for more than a month and finally gave up.

(This is right off the bill)
CableCard HD 1 Way 2.00
CableCard HD 1 Way 2.00
HD TV Service 13.90
Total Comcast Cable Television $17.90

This is on top of a digital package for which I pay $19.95 additional.
I had no Comcast eqipment other than the two CCs in the TiVo.

Now I have their SA8300HD recorder for $11.95 monthly. They do not charge the HD TV Service 13.90
any more. I get the same channels.
The ba$t@rds.

[TerryTT]

I love their nickel and dime tactics... along with hugely variance in pricing between states. Cable is expensive, it annoys me that the guy down the road is paying less because he haggled better or the CSD was having a good day.

1st card free
2nd card 2.75

although i don't think i should have to pay for a second just because they cant provide an M card... but I'm cheap like that.

[schwaggy]

Comcast Seattle:

TiVo Series 3 - cable card $1.79
Digital Additional: Outlet Service: $5.10

I'll be calling them to inquire why the discrepancy with the info on THEIR Website.

[CharlesH]

It seems that the two top scam charges are:

1) "Second digital outlet" charge for the second cable card in the TiVo. The "digital outlet" charge is supposed to be a rental charge for a set-top box. This is distinct from a $1.75 or so charge for the second cable card, which I think is reasonable.

2) "HD" charge, even though HD channels are included in the programming packages. Like the "digital outlet fee", this is supposed to be a fee for renting the HD set-top box.

I really don't think that the cable companies deliberately set out to obfuscate cable card related charges. Just not bothering to get it sorted out serves their financial interests just fine. :down:

[AJRitz]

I'm not paying it yet, but I've been informed by Time-Warner Cable Kansas City that CableCards will be $3/each for single-stream cards, if I dump their SA8300 DVR for TiVoHD.

[tgmii]

$1.25 each (x2)

$46 install (got it waived, since the rocket scientist at customer service said I could go pick them up!)

Tom

[Leo_N]

$1.50 each, no additional outlet fees. Charter in SE Wisconsin.

[alansplace]

$1.75 each from Time Warner Southern California.
--
Alan :D

[Goines]

Comcast Seattle

First card free. $1.50 each additional (I have 1+3 for 2 HD Tivos)

[Hexerott]

I do not have cable yet but here locally (Fort Collins, Colorado) Comcast gives the 1st card free and the second is $1.50. I just called and confirmed that.

[MichaelK]

Make sure to report full cost of each cablecard including "additional outlet" charges. For me it breaks down per cablecard as:
$1.99 for CC rental + $1.49 for "additional outlet" charge.
The "additional outlet" charge applies to 3 out 4 cablecards.


is that what the OP was asking? Wasn't clear.

there's different fee's and we should all be very specific as to what we are talking about.

I pay a card fee (a buck), an additional outlet fee (I think 2 bucks), and a programming fee for each card (I think 4.95 but would have to look the last 2 up).

if we want to be specific we should also post what a cable company HD box would cost. Do they also get charged the addtional outlet fee and the programming fee or not? In my providers case the addtional outlet fee and programming fee would apply to a cable rental (ONCE per cable DVR)

[hammer32]

For Cox Cable in Omaha:

TOTAL EXPANDED BASIC 25.50
COX DIGITAL CABLE 5.00
DIGITAL SV,DG DISCVRY
2 x Cox CableCARD 3.98
Total Monthly Cable Service $34.48

(We also have telephone and internet with them which may lower the total price a bit.)

[moyekj]

is that what the OP was asking? Wasn't clear.

there's different fee's and we should all be very specific as to what we are talking about.

I pay a card fee (a buck), an additional outlet fee (I think 2 bucks), and a programming fee for each card (I think 4.95 but would have to look the last 2 up).

if we want to be specific we should also post what a cable company HD box would cost. Do they also get charged the addtional outlet fee and the programming fee or not? In my providers case the addtional outlet fee and programming fee would apply to a cable rental (ONCE per cable DVR) Well just the CC fee alone to me is worthless information - you have to consider all the "baggage fees" that come with it on your bill and as you say how it compares to renting a cable box. I get the impression from comments and poll results most people here are just reporting the raw CC rental charge without including other disguised fees.

[MichaelK]

Well just the CC fee alone to me is worthless information - you have to consider all the "baggage fees" that come with it on your bill and as you say how it compares to renting a cable box. I get the impression from comments and poll results most people here are just reporting the raw CC rental charge without including other disguised fees.


I think the key is "compared to renting a cable box"-

I guess the real measure is what does it cost to have a cablecard tivo compared to what does it cost to have a cable company DVR.

Sometimes people get bent that adding a tivo to their account costs them cablecard rental, additional outlet, and programming fees- but the reality if you ADDED a cable company DVR you would pay mush of that too.

I know at least in my case the cable company would charge for the additional outlet and the additional programming fee for their own rented DVR- but I get walloped because my S3's still can't use M-cards so that means I have to rent two and so in the end I pay an EXTRA additional outlet fee and hdtv programming fee that their box wouldn't cost me with it's pre installed M-card.

[secondclaw]

My cards themselves are free, but I pay for HD on each card, and DO on the second one.