Status of HDTivo in Raleigh, NC

[wjlyerly]

I'm initiating a switchover from a DirecTV high def Tivo to a HDTivo on TWC in Raleigh. I've just read about the issues with SDV and cablecards, but its not clear what the current state of affairs is. I've scheduled an appointment for next week. Will the installer actually give me some cablecards? If he does, what portion of the channel lineup will I be able to receive? Is switching from a working DirecTV box foolish at this point? Should I cut my losses and go back?

Thanks,
jay

[spaced]

To my knowledge (I am in Durham) there are currently no SDV channels in our area. Greensboro is the closest city undergoing SDV tests. I receive TWC's entire lineup except those channels which require 2-way communication, including Extra Innings which is a bummer, but I am not into VOD nor PPV.

I too switched from D* when I moved from Raleigh to Durham. My Series 3 install went perfectly smooth. The installer showed up with 3 CableCards ("just in case") and knew exactly what he was doing. He did say they do not currently have M-cards, only S-cards. This was about a month ago and it has been working great. As a TiVo customer many years ago, most recently I was coming from D*'s in-house DVR and it is so nice to come back to TiVo.

[TiVolunteer]

I'm initiating a switchover from a DirecTV high def Tivo to a HDTivo on TWC in Raleigh. I've just read about the issues with SDV and cablecards, but its not clear what the current state of affairs is. I've scheduled an appointment for next week. Will the installer actually give me some cablecards? If he does, what portion of the channel lineup will I be able to receive? Is switching from a working DirecTV box foolish at this point? Should I cut my losses and go back?

Thanks,
jay


A few months ago, Time Warner notified us via a snail-mail card that they would begin switching over to SDV and that as of Nov 16th we would lose access to a number of HD channels (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5611281#post5611281). However, that date came and went. Right now we still have all those channels as well as a couple of others they added.

I'm hoping that they delayed roll out until the "tuning resolver/adapter" is out. However we are officially on notice that we could lose them at any time.

[ncbagwell]

I'm not sure if he is still there, but there is a TWC techniciain named Anthony that was very helpful with my cable card installs.

While we have Raleigh-area people in this thread - does anyone have any insight into the Copy Protection situation with TWC in Raleigh? It seems like they were setting any channel in the digital tier (100+) as 0x02 except for the HD Networks. But over the weekend I noticed that two different shows recorded off of the Cartoon Network (channel 64) had two different settings.

I am hesitant to get a second Series 3/HD Tivo until they loosen that up a little bit.

[DrWho453]

A few months ago, Time Warner notified us via a snail-mail card that they would begin switching over to SDV and that as of Nov 16th we would lose access to a number of HD channels (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5611281#post5611281). However, that date came and went. Right now we still have all those channels as well as a couple of others they added.

I'm hoping that they delayed roll out until the "tuning resolver/adapter" is out. However we are officially on notice that we could lose them at any time.

I think TBS HD and A&EHD started out in SDV mode because when they first came out I could not pick them up. But since the beginning of this year I have been able to get all the channels other than PPV, VOD and the premium channels (HBO, Showtime, etc only because I haven't had any reason to pay extra for these channels)

The installer that came to install my cards last year was very knowledgeable. Not only did he know how to install them but he knew who to contact at the office to pair the cards. We had to wait 1 hour since he got here a little early and the guy at the office hadn't arrived yet.

[DrWho453]

I'm not sure if he is still there, but there is a TWC techniciain named Anthony that was very helpful with my cable card installs.

While we have Raleigh-area people in this thread - does anyone have any insight into the Copy Protection situation with TWC in Raleigh? It seems like they were setting any channel in the digital tier (100+) as 0x02 except for the HD Networks. But over the weekend I noticed that two different shows recorded off of the Cartoon Network (channel 64) had two different settings.

I am hesitant to get a second Series 3/HD Tivo until they loosen that up a little bit.

I haven't tested all the channels yet. I know that I have yet to have any problems copying files recorded from the networks (which is good since some cable companies have tried to either accidentally or on purpose set those to copy protection which the FCC strictly forbids doing this.) but a couple of months back when I tried copying Saving grace or The closer from TNT HD, I could not do it.

[TiVolunteer]

I'm not sure if he is still there, but there is a TWC techniciain named Anthony that was very helpful with my cable card installs.

Last time I called in, Anthony was still there. Seems to be one of the few people there who understands this stuff and is willing to go to bat for the customer. He even put 2 and 2 together and asked SCSIRAID if he and I were working together to resolve our problems with TWC. I was so impressed with his help to me that I sent a note of thanks to him and his management chain (making a not-so-subtle point that my positive interactions with him was unusual in my experience with other folks at TWC)


While we have Raleigh-area people in this thread - does anyone have any insight into the Copy Protection situation with TWC in Raleigh? It seems like they were setting any channel in the digital tier (100+) as 0x02 except for the HD Networks. But over the weekend I noticed that two different shows recorded off of the Cartoon Network (channel 64) had two different settings.

I am hesitant to get a second Series 3/HD Tivo until they loosen that up a little bit.

I noticed a BIG change a few weeks ago. Most everything had 0x02 above 100 except for the local rebroadcast channels. (previous post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6009565#post6009565)). However, it looks like you are correct. They now have enabled Cable Card customers to get the digital version of channels 1-99. GREAT NEWS -- we've been asking for that for 18 months. But, you are right, the BAD NEWS is that everything is marked as 0x02. Every channel I checked had 0x02 (of course, except the local rebroadcast channels). So much for MRV unless it is off one of the broadcast networks.

[BigBearf]

I have been patiently waiting for the M-Cards to be available in the Raleigh and Wrightsville Beach area. Anyone know how the Tivo HDs are doing in Wrightsville?

I have the 8300s not the 8300c version and do not want to switch until installation issues are somewhat resolved. Anybody know who to contact at TWC-Eastern Carolina to get things moving?

Not trying to hijack the thread but would like to know.

Thanks,
BigBearf

[mercurial]

I noticed a BIG change a few weeks ago. Most everything had 0x02 above 100 except for the local rebroadcast channels. (previous post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6009565#post6009565)). However, it looks like you are correct. They now have enabled Cable Card customers to get the digital version of channels 1-99. GREAT NEWS -- we've been asking for that for 18 months. But, you are right, the BAD NEWS is that everything is marked as 0x02. Every channel I checked had 0x02 (of course, except the local rebroadcast channels). So much for MRV unless it is off one of the broadcast networks.


Grrrr... At least for now, most of what we want to MRV is off local broadcast channels or is recorded on the S2DT in the playroom (aka the kids shows). But this annoying. Anyone have a link to file the FCC complaint?

[wjlyerly]

For the sake of completeness....

I had the installation done today. It wasn't too painful. Cable dude showed up and had things up and running about as fast as anyone could expect -- about an hour from ringing the doorbell to driving off. He install a single multi-stream card (scientific atlanta). No real issues with anything. He said he was handling most of the cable card / tivo installs and had a pretty good track record. He seemed pretty knowledgeable. His name is Scott K. and his tech ID is 15679, in case anyone wants to request him.

It does look like about everything except the locals is tagged as 'do not copy', so no MRV, TTG, etc. I checked a handful of stations, including the low channels (0-99), a couple in the digital tier and a couple HD. Since something in the low band (channel 20-something) was marked 'do not copy', does that mean I'm getting the digital version of those?

[mattack]

Since something in the low band (channel 20-something) was marked 'do not copy', does that mean I'm getting the digital version of those?

I think so, but you can also confirm by trying to record something off of one of those channels. If you get a choice for video recording quality, it's analog. The digital channels just record the raw stream.

[Ed_Roch]

I'm going to be moving to the Wilmington area from the Western NY area. Would I likely be seeing the same issues there as the rest of you up in Raleigh as that's all part of Eastenr Carolina TWC?? Up until about 6 months ago had DirctTV with TIVO's and loved them. Then bought an HDTV and didn't want to pay DTV $300 for their HD DVR so went back to cable. (Ironically now DTV will sell it to me for $100; if they had done that 6 months ago, never would have left them) There were some other programming advantages gained in switching so was worth it, but the TWC DVR's were terrible compared to the TIVO units. So now moving down south and thinking of staying with TWC, but buying two TIVO boxes.

I'm not up on all the latest stuff so some questions I have:

This "do not copy" thing. Does that mean I can still record to TIVO unit, just can't upload to computer, slingbox, etc??

What exactly does/will the SDV setup mean to me? What I think it means is right now TWC East Car not using SDV, so all HD stations will be fine. When/If they switch I may no longer be able to record/view in HD? Can still record anything in SD correct? Eventually by summer some new gadget is coming out to fix this issue? What exactly does this new thing do? Will that also allow me to get PPV stuff?

Did I read something about the ability to download movies and stuff somehow through Amazon? How do the prices for their downloads compare to TWC?

When the guy from TWC shows up, how likely will he be able to hook up cable cards and get hem working, since I'm not going to be able to help him too much as I'm not ery knowledgeable myself about the whole setup?

Do I need a phone line connected, or will a network connection surfice? Not sure I'm even going to get a landline so will that matter??

I definetely would like to go with TIVO, but am kind of nervious of spending the money for the units only to end up not being able to get them to work properly. Or a month after I get it all the HD channels will go to this SDV thing and won't be able to view any. Do I need to worry??

[ncbagwell]

Ed_Roch - I think you'll get a lot of the same set up as the Raleigh area so I will try to answer your questions.

1) You won't have a problem recording things on your Tivo HD but you won't be able to transfer (to PC or another Tivo) anything that isn't on the networks. You won't have any issue with your Slingbox because there isn't any transfer off the box that takes place with that.

2) As of today (knock on wood) we are not missing any channels in Raleigh due to SDV although we did for a while. If they switch before the tuning resolver is available, you won't be able to record or view whatever channels move to SDV. That won't likely be all HD but we'll just have to see. Although they could move SD channels to SDV, it seems unlikely. You will NOT get PPV with the tuning resolver at this point.

3) Yes, you can download movies through Amazon Unbox. I don't know how the prices compare to TWC as I have never bought movies from TWC but it's usually around $4 for a rental and $15 to purchase.

4) Just read these forums for all of the set up information you need to relay to your TW guy. The "Official Time Warner Cable Thread" is a good place to start.

5) No phone line needed. Just a network connection.