Confused!

[Pinster56]

I just came across this thread and it is making me nervous. So what does this all mean, really? I have a Comcast DVR (and of course I hate it) and I just bought a TiVo HD yesterday to replace it. Does this mean I made a BIG MISTAKE and spent 300 bucks for nothing? Or is it just a facade and will this TiVo-in-a Comcast-Box work just as crappy as my Comcast DVR? Yikes....

[bossmancometh]

You likely will be just fine. Most of the problems relate to the installation of Tivo, not the actual DVR experience once it gets going. After lurking on this site for months and reading all the scary posts about the installation I finally took the plunge and bought a Tivo HD fully expecting a disaster. But with trees blocking my DirecTV HD satellite I either go Comcast or never get HD. Luckily, I learned enough here to ask the right questions but it still wasn't easy. The patience of Jobe would help.
When I first called Comcast, I did as folks here say and I asked them to send me an experienced installer who had worked with Tivos before. I also asked for the installer to bring an M card, not two S cards, because folks here seem to think that's better.
Well, Comcast responded by sending out a sub-contractor tech on Monday who had never seen a Tivo in his life and basically wanted no part of this installation. He put in the M card, called in the codes, and it didn't work even though he said the "ping" had been done correctly. He then made an excuse about having other appointments and bolted.
From these forums, I knew to call Tivo, which then patienty went over some things with me on the screen that showed the card was working fine. The Tivo rep than called Comcast and we tried to get the card going in a three-way conversation with the cable company's repair folks. Two different Comcast technicians tried to get the card working and didn't. The last one concluded that that M card was bad and I needed to go to my local Comcast office and get another one (which others in these forums have done successfully). Well, I tried that, only to be told that the Comcast office in Rockville, Md. does not hand out M cards anymore and they would have to send out a rep. I again asked them to send out a Comcast person, not a subcontractor, who had experience with Tivos and M cards.
On Wednesday, Comcast sent me the real deal. In about five minutes he realized that one of the codes on the M card had been typed in incorrectly (I'm kicking myself because many folks here emphasize the need to double and triple check the codes that are called in by the technician to the main office. If even one of about 30 numbers or letters is wrong, it won't work). Anyway, the right numbers go in and boom, the Tivo comes up beautifully. All my channels, HBO too. No problems. And Tivo remains by far the best DVR on the planet.
I read a post here a while back that proved prophetic: the process is a bit of a roll of the dice. It depends on whether you get a technician who knows what he's doing. My first one did not, my second one did.
One other piece of advice on these forums that I should have followed: Set up the Tivo a couple days before the technician comes so you aren't doing the guided installation with a cable guy looking over your shoulder. Also, the Tivo will have time to download all the software upgrades. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Bruce24]

If you bought the Tivo HD because you simply hated the interface, then maybe the Comcast DVR with Tivo software would have satisfied your needs. If you want to be able to add storage, use Tivo2Go and do Multi Room Viewing then the real Tivo box is the only way you can get those features today.

[Pinster56]

If you bought the Tivo HD because you simply hated the interface, then maybe the Comcast DVR with Tivo software would have satisfied your needs. If you want to be able to add storage, use Tivo2Go and do Multi Room Viewing then the real Tivo box is the only way you can get those features today.
Its not just the interface, per se that I hate. I hate the way the Comcast DVR is so slow to react to the wireless remote (and the beam is so directional you would swear it's a laser). Also when you fast forward, it doesn't rewind 30 seconds when you stop. I HATE that, and I am sure adding the TiVo interface won't fix that.

[Bruce24]

Its not just the interface, per se that I hate. I hate the way the Comcast DVR is so slow to react to the wireless remote (and the beam is so directional you would swear it's a laser). Also when you fast forward, it doesn't rewind 30 seconds when you stop. I HATE that, and I am sure adding the TiVo interface won't fix that.

I had a DCT-3412 and had the problem where it was slow to react, but buffered all the buttons I pressed on the remote, so when it did start to respond it did a bunch of things. When I replaced my original box with the DCH-3416, that problem went away.

As far as the rewind after a fast forward, with the Tivo software on the Motorola box, it does the same thing as any other Tivo.

[nrc]

I just came across this thread and it is making me nervous. So what does this all mean, really? I have a Comcast DVR (and of course I hate it) and I just bought a TiVo HD yesterday to replace it. Does this mean I made a BIG MISTAKE and spent 300 bucks for nothing? Or is it just a facade and will this TiVo-in-a Comcast-Box work just as crappy as my Comcast DVR? Yikes....

If you just bought it within 30 days you should have the option of returning the TiVo box and getting a refund.

Honestly, unless PPV and/or On Demand are important to you, or you the cost of the service is an issue you'll be happy with your TiVo HD.