Really want Tivo HD but scared of CC. [Text View]

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aarong50

11-02-2007, 03:00 AM

bicker

11-02-2007, 05:22 AM

I don't think it is a matter of "having it figured out" -- CableCard isn't very robust technology, and it seems to some of us here that TiVo's implementation of CableCard also lacks a certain amount of robustness, so there will be problems. It's rare though. I myself had 1 TiVo S3 that we could never get the CableCards to work in and 1 TiVo S3 where they worked on the first try. Delaying will likely not make much of a difference. You just have to be in the 95%+ that get lucky.

jrm01

11-02-2007, 05:55 AM

My guess is that 75% are lucky and everything works well. Another 15% do their homework, learn the process and guide the installer through it. Another 5% just persevere until they get it right.

jtseltmann

11-02-2007, 06:19 AM

I did my homework and worked with the installed to get all 6 CC's done for my 3 THD's in about 2 hours...that was with one bad card we couldn't get to work. It was not bad at all. I have seen no true problems either since...very happy so far!

demon

11-02-2007, 09:15 AM

I've not had any card-specific issues with my provider, other than in the getting of cards; since then, everything's been fine, other than the occasional outage - which had *nothing* to do with the cards. Of course, most times when I do call in with an issue, the cards are the first thing blamed - that's just because CableCARD is the new cable industry whipping-boy, but that has to do with mentality in the cable companies more than the tech behind them.

acvthree

11-02-2007, 10:45 AM

My cable card installation was one of the smoothest installations I've ever experience. I'm sure others have been just as smooth.

Rememeber, you are seeing a tiny cross sections of the installed base here.

Al

Robs67

11-02-2007, 10:52 AM

I was on the fence for a while because of this issue. However, I finally decided to chance it, figuring I could return the TiVoHD if it didn't work out. It went very well and I am extremely happy with my TiVo HD. Much better than the Comcast DVR.
I'm glad I did it.
:up:

atltom331

11-02-2007, 10:53 AM

Rememeber, you are seeing a tiny cross sections of the installed base here.

Not to mention that nobody comes here and starts a "Hey my install went great!" thread.

After I ordered my S3 I started reading here and got worried. I thought I had made a mistake and this was going to be a horrible, expensive experience. But other than my cable company being idiots about if I could pick up the cards myself or not, it went pretty smoothly and I really haven't had any big problems...yet. :: knock on wood ::

Robs67

11-02-2007, 10:57 AM

Not to mention that nobody comes here and starts a "Hey my install went great!" thread.

Exactly. I posted my positive experience in the Comcast CC thread, but I am sure it got lost in enormity of that thread.

teasip

11-02-2007, 11:08 AM

I called Verizon yesterday to inquire about getting CC's in lieu of the IMG with the FiOS DVR and "grandma" (she stated herself that she was an older woman) didn't even know what CC's were. The fact that they couldn't get to me for 2 weeks led me to delay my TiVo purchase.

Mars Rocket

11-02-2007, 11:17 AM

My CC install took three hours, but that was primarily because the person at the cable office didn't know what they were doing and because the install tech and the office person kept mis-communicating the host and data IDs. Once they figured out to read back the long number they just heard, everything started working better.

Other than it taking a long time there were no real problems.

hkancyr

11-02-2007, 04:08 PM

No problems here. I too was scared after reading all the bad news here. I think people are getting better at it.

Graymalkin

11-02-2007, 04:22 PM

Don't be afraid. My installs went fairly smoothly, even though the installers weren't the brightest bulbs in the marquee.

aarong50

11-02-2007, 09:42 PM

I appreciate all of the responses and I think I am deffinately gonna go HD and with cable cards. Thanks everyone.

Speed RacerX

11-02-2007, 09:52 PM

I have Comcast, and they gave me an M-Card. Both HD tuners work, and it was a sinch getting it set up with their capable phone support. Yeah, kind of lucky I guess, but it's worth doing. TiVo in HD is THE BOMB!!!

atltom331

11-02-2007, 10:29 PM

Don't be afraid. My installs went fairly smoothly, even though the installers weren't the brightest bulbs in the marquee.

It kind of amazes me. I don't know a whole lot about cable, and especially cable cards. I read this forum for a couple hours and did a little googling before getting my S3 and I felt like I knew more about cable cards than the sales people (not that that's that big of a surprise) and even the installation tech. The people on the front lines seem to be fairly clueless...at least the ones I dealt with

gweempose

11-02-2007, 10:51 PM

It's always best to approach the CC installation from the standpoint that the person they send out won't know squat. Hopefully, this won't be the case, but it's best to be prepared just in case. I highly recommend that you print out this guide (http://tivosupport2.instancy.com/LaunchContent.aspx?cid=07e4e622-2e6a-49c7-9885-68fcba4b991a&anchor=undefined), and have it handy when your installer arrives. Even if it's the tech's first time with a Tivo, this will pretty much walk them through it. :)

aarong50

11-03-2007, 12:32 AM

Another question I have. Will I have to pay extra for the HD programming or is that included in the monthly cable card fee?

bkdtv

11-03-2007, 12:43 AM

Another question I have. Will I have to pay extra for the HD programming or is that included in the monthly cable card fee?CableCards just authorize the programming you pay for.

If only subscribe to limited basic, then you will just get HD locals. If you pay for a digital cable package with 25 HD channels, then you will get that with the CableCard.

aarong50

11-03-2007, 04:15 AM

Cool. I have a digital cable package now so I should get the 25 channels.

bicker

11-03-2007, 05:42 AM

Will I have to pay extra for the HD programming or is that included in the monthly cable card fee?It depends on the cable system packages applicable in your area.

csgraber

11-03-2007, 06:16 AM

A couple things I did that helped

1) I couldn't (Cleveland) get a cable card. They would schedule an appt. and then say "forgot it". Finally I called the ADMIN office, (headquarters) and told my story

2) Ask for, talk to supervisors, and get a guy who has done it before. Make sure they send someone who knows an M card from a S

dianebrat

11-03-2007, 09:09 AM

Comcast Malden, MA here,
Last years install in my S3 was painless, quick, and the longest time was spent with the tech on the phone getting the head end to hit the cards. In the year since, I have had zero problems.

I am about to try and get my TivoHD set up with a single M-Card in the next few weeks, and will respond if that situation is any different.

I pay nothing extra for 'HD" I get any HD channel that's attached to a service level I already have. i.e. I would get HBO-HD if I had HBO

Diane

Bob723

11-03-2007, 10:15 AM

srcohen

11-03-2007, 12:37 PM

My installation took 4 months. But I think TIVO is the greatest thing since sliced bread (I am verry easy). The problems are on the Comcast (my carrier) end. Took 4 months to get a tech who was willing to spend the time - and get the right supervisor - to get everything to work perfectly. And this is not a complaint against Comcast, either. You have to willing to be patient if things do not go perfectly at first. My only complaint -- when I am recording 2 different shows I cannot watch a third (and if I had 3 tuners, my compliant would be - recording 3 shows and watch a 4th!!). Go for it!!!

Oh! And I agree with comments about billing. Took 4 calls to Comcast to get my bill correct. So watch it carefully.

doormat

11-03-2007, 09:48 PM

My original S-Card installation was a gigantic pain in the ass. The M-Card replacement was, by comparison, a walk in the park. Plugged it in and the guy was done and gone in less than 10 minutes.

larceny

11-07-2007, 04:11 PM

CableCards just authorize the programming you pay for.

If only subscribe to limited basic, then you will just get HD locals. If you pay for a digital cable package with 25 HD channels, then you will get that with the CableCard.

Do you need a CableCard if you only subscribe to limited basic with only the locals in HD?

bkdtv

11-07-2007, 04:19 PM

Do you need a CableCard if you only subscribe to limited basic with only the locals in HD?You will get the locals without a CableCard, but you won't get program information for them. The CableCard tells your TiVo what channels are what (ex: that QAM 94-1 corresponds to channel 200 in the cable lineup) so it can provide the correct program information.

With Comcast, a number of customers have been able to order a CableCard for ~$1.75/mo without digital service. If the rep refuses to allow that, order digital cable service with a CableCard and then cancel digital cable after the cards are installed. You should continue to be billed the monthly fee for the CableCards (i.e. $1.75/mo).

Note if you have a TivoHD, you only need one MCARD to support both tuners. If you have a Series3, you will need two.

rainwater

11-07-2007, 04:43 PM

You may want to ask what the new cable bill will look like after you get the HD and cable cards. I have Charter. The install was sort of painful - 2 visits of about 2 hours each - but now the cards work great. About a week later I got the new cable bill and the price had skyrocketed. Turns out Charter does not offer any packages/promotions with cable cards and I had to pay full price for everything. They were cooperative and worked with me to get the price down. The best option was to again get a cable box which is now on another TV. I think I'm now basically paying $3.00 more than I paid before because I have the 2 cable cards.

I have Charter too. However, my bill didn't go up that much. I think it depends on what you started out with. I only had extended basic, so I wasn't charged for digital when I got the cards. I only got charged for the HD tier (I don't care about most of the "digital" channels). So my bill only went up $15 from extended basic. I am contemplating getting the sports tier if they ever add NFL Network but i the meantime I am quite satisfied.

murryamorris

11-07-2007, 04:59 PM

Ever since I moved and have been using a series 2 tivo instead of my directivo (which I loved) I have wanted the features of 2 digital recordings at once etc. I really want to upgrade to a Tivo HD with cable cards from Time Warner Cable. I am just afraid from all of the horror stories about getting these cable cards to be installed and then work properly. Should I wait till the spring or later before I upgrade and maybe they will have this all figured out? Btw I live about 25 minutes south of Columbus OH if anyone around here has had a series 3 or tivo hd installed.

Waiting may not help a lot. I had the same problems last December as I had this September with Comcast. However, at least now they know what a Tivo is. It took about 1 week on both my S3 last year and my HD this year but it's worth working on. Time Warner may be better than Comcast. With the Tivo HD and an M-card that finally got installed, it was MUCH easier for the tech to get it working. It's just a matter of getting someone who knows cablecards.

I purchased both of these units from Costco just in case I couldn't get them working. I had 3 months in order to return them if they wouldn't work. I did swap out my first HD for another unit at Costco so all it cost me was the time to return the first unit.