Comcast contractors clueless

[miricle]

Well, just had my Tivo service installed on my Comcast DCT3416 box, and it appears to be working, but the contractor that they sent out was clueless. The initial installation of the software failed after it downloaded, and he called in to the installer's support center. The person in their advanced tech support basically got him to admit that he had no training in the software installation, and he left about being here for about 1.5 hours trying to get everything working. The advanced tech sent out a signal which eventually got everything working, but this wasn't until after the contractor left, telling me he would be back in about an hour. About 5 hours later, he appeared back, with me already having the Tivo software up and running.

Not sure that there is a question in there as much as frustration in Comcast sending out clueless people (shocking, I know).

This is in the Waltham, MA area.

[BlackBetty]

Well, just had my Tivo service installed on my Comcast DCT3416 box, and it appears to be working, but the contractor that they sent out was clueless. The initial installation of the software failed after it downloaded, and he called in to the installer's support center. The person in their advanced tech support basically got him to admit that he had no training in the software installation, and he left about being here for about 1.5 hours trying to get everything working. The advanced tech sent out a signal which eventually got everything working, but this wasn't until after the contractor left, telling me he would be back in about an hour. About 5 hours later, he appeared back, with me already having the Tivo software up and running.

Not sure that there is a question in there as much as frustration in Comcast sending out clueless people (shocking, I know).

This is in the Waltham, MA area.

I'm glad to hear its working for you. What do you think of it so far?

[miricle]

I'm glad to hear its working for you. What do you think of it so far?

So far, its looking pretty nice. I don't seem to be seeing the delays that some people are mentioning in the menu system (certainly nothing slower than the box running the iGuide software had as well).

I have the DCT model box, so I seem to be getting 5.1 from the co-ax digital out to my receiver. I don't seem to have the Tivo sounds, which I have set to enabled, but I don't miss them (I just left them on for experimentation -- I have them turned off on my other stand-alone S2 Tivos).

I certainly find it great to have Wishlist functionality! I like that the Tivo shortcuts from Tivo Central work (Tivo 2 brings todo, Tivo 1 brings season pass manager, etc).

My Tivo Recordings are not grouped, even though grouping is enabled, but from what I have heard, this happens on preserved recordings from pre-Tivo software. I have yet to record anything, let alone multiple episodes of a show in the 5 hours that I've had the box running :).

I'd love to see the older-style Tivo guide rather than the grid-style guide, as thats what I always liked and used back to my original series 1 Tivo, as well as see the Tivo menu/guide use the full resolution rather than being SD resolution.

Overall, I'd say that my initial impressions are pretty good. Probably good enough for me to keep on using this software until Tivo comes out with a new generation ("Series 4") which will support VOD, switched digital, etc. I miss the ability to transfer recordings from my series 2 boxes and stream MP3, etc, so am still keeping my series 2 attached and doing quiet a few duplicate recordings -- I'm only using the Comcast Tivo for HD given how small its hard drive is (160GB is pretty lame for a HD box).

[Bruce24]

I have the DCT model box, so I seem to be getting 5.1 from the co-ax digital out to my receiver. I don't seem to have the Tivo sounds, which I have set to enabled, but I don't miss them (I just left them on for experimentation -- I have them turned off on my other stand-alone S2 Tivos).


I have a DCH box which can't get Dolby Digital, but I do get the Tivo sounds. In the Audio setup when you go to enable Dolby Digital, it says something about not getting the Tivo sounds effects with Dolby Digital.

-Bruce

[miricle]

I have a DCH box which can't get Dolby Digital, but I do get the Tivo sounds. In the Audio setup when you go to enable Dolby Digital, it says something about not getting the Tivo sounds effects with Dolby Digital.

-Bruce

I am not quite sure about the meaning of the menu description. It seems to indicate that the sounds may not work when watching a DD program. First off, to me, this means I should get them when navigating the menu, especially if a non-HD channel is being displayed. I also don't know if it means not getting the sounds on the DD feed? I have the DVR hooked up to my stereo (via digital coax) as well as my TV via HDMI. If I'm not watching something with lots of sound effects, etc (if, just watching a typical sitcom, etc), I just listen on the TV's speakers. Does this count as DD, as its via HDMI? I don't know.

[Bruce24]

I am not quite sure about the meaning of the menu description. It seems to indicate that the sounds may not work when watching a DD program. First off, to me, this means I should get them when navigating the menu, especially if a non-HD channel is being displayed. I also don't know if it means not getting the sounds on the DD feed? I have the DVR hooked up to my stereo (via digital coax) as well as my TV via HDMI. If I'm not watching something with lots of sound effects, etc (if, just watching a typical sitcom, etc), I just listen on the TV's speakers. Does this count as DD, as its via HDMI? I don't know.

I didn't remember what the message said when watching DD programs. The easiest thing to try is turning off the option in the audio setup menu to see if you get the tivo sounds.

The cable box is sending out Dolby Digital (where possible), it doesn't know which speakers you are listening to .

[miricle]

I didn't remember what the message said when watching DD programs. The easiest thing to try is turning off the option in the audio setup menu to see if you get the tivo sounds.

The cable box is sending out Dolby Digital (where possible), it doesn't know which speakers you are listening to .

I don't think that if I were to listen to a connection that was connected via the L/R RCA cables that it would be possible ... You can't pump 5.1 channels through 2.0 cables :). I am guessing that the HDMI is DD, though.

[Bill Ball]

I am not quite sure about the meaning of the menu description. It seems to indicate that the sounds may not work when watching a DD program. First off, to me, this means I should get them when navigating the menu, especially if a non-HD channel is being displayed. I also don't know if it means not getting the sounds on the DD feed? Yes, I think that indicates that with DD there will be no TiVo sound effects. To add sound effects to a DD stream would require the stream be decoded to analog, the effects mixed in, then re-encoded to DD. That's not going to happen.

[Bruce24]

I don't think that if I were to listen to a connection that was connected via the L/R RCA cables that it would be possible ... You can't pump 5.1 channels through 2.0 cables :). I am guessing that the HDMI is DD, though.

To get Dolby Digital, you need a cable that will send a digital stream, which could be HDMI, Coax or Optical.

[ssetta]

Well, just had my Tivo service installed on my Comcast DCT3416 box, and it appears to be working, but the contractor that they sent out was clueless. The initial installation of the software failed after it downloaded, and he called in to the installer's support center. The person in their advanced tech support basically got him to admit that he had no training in the software installation, and he left about being here for about 1.5 hours trying to get everything working. The advanced tech sent out a signal which eventually got everything working, but this wasn't until after the contractor left, telling me he would be back in about an hour. About 5 hours later, he appeared back, with me already having the Tivo software up and running.

Not sure that there is a question in there as much as frustration in Comcast sending out clueless people (shocking, I know).

This is in the Waltham, MA area.

I know that feeling. I live in Natick, which is close by Waltham. I am getting TiVo installed on the 2nd, and I've actually feared of the same thing. But you DIDN'T lose all your recordings you had on there before TiVo was installed?

[miricle]

I know that feeling. I live in Natick, which is close by Waltham. I am getting TiVo installed on the 2nd, and I've actually feared of the same thing. But you DIDN'T lose all your recordings you had on there before TiVo was installed?

No, all recordings were preserved. Season Passes (or whatever they call them on the iGuide software) were NOT, though. Not sure if this is because of the "hard reset" that the advanced tech performed, because of the problems that the installer had, or the upgrade in general.

One item of note is that grouping for pre-existing content is NOT enabled, and show descriptions, etc are also gone.

I am also still waiting for my Tivo remote. I need to call up Comcast because their tech support (very helpful, actually) person told me that the installer should bring one (and that they would send someone out with one after the installer didn't have one), the (clueless) installer insisted that they don't have them and that they would be mailed.

[Eric90gt]

I am also still waiting for my Tivo remote. I need to call up Comcast because their tech support (very helpful, actually) person told me that the installer should bring one (and that they would send someone out with one after the installer didn't have one), the (clueless) installer insisted that they don't have them and that they would be mailed.


if you are around lowell or lawrence, let me know and i can get one to you

[miricle]

if you are around lowell or lawrence, let me know and i can get one to you

I actually called up Comcast sales and they managed to find one in the Waltham office that I picked up. I wouldn't complain about a second one, though :) ... I'm up near Methuen quite often...