Any recent CableCard install stoires from Minneapolis/SW Suburbs?

[Mobocracy]

I recently took the plunge for an HD Tivo and have my Comcast CableCard install scheduled for Tuesday of next week.

The good news is that the CSR knew exactly what I was after and said they will send 2 cards, both S-cards. I asked if they could give me 2 and the CSR said they send 2 and I can keep them both, but I don't know if its to satisfy my desire for 2 or SOP in case one doesn't work.

My biggest concern is SDV and HD channel availability. I'd be thrilled if all the HD channels I get with my existing ancient SA HD STB and package (basically the network stations, HBO and a couple of other channels I seldom watch) show up long enough for the SDV dongle/fix to be available.

Any HD Tivo owners in Minneapolis or the Southwest Suburbs served by basically the same Comcast setup have any good news/horror stories? I live in Minneapolis proper and while I know that the SW Suburbs (Richfield, Edina, etc) and Minneapolis originally shared the same basic cable setup (originally Rogers, then Time Warner and now Comcast) perhaps these setups have diverged enough for there to be not much comparison.

[For the OCD who insist on every Comcast CableCard post going on the unwieldy and long Comcast Cablecard thread, I did search that thread and found little information relative to my specific area -- I thought a standalone post was in order rather than yet another post on a 120+ page thread.]

[ewilts]

I recently took the plunge for an HD Tivo and have my Comcast CableCard install scheduled for Tuesday of next week.

The good news is that the CSR knew exactly what I was after and said they will send 2 cards, both S-cards. I asked if they could give me 2 and the CSR said they send 2 and I can keep them both, but I don't know if its to satisfy my desire for 2 or SOP in case one doesn't work.

You actually need 2 - 1 for each tuner. You could get by with 1 M-card in the THD but you need to 2 S-cards if you can't get the M-cards. I've had my S3 for about 15 months and am not having any Comcast issues. You can thank me for working through some of the early local billing issues :-)

My biggest concern is SDV and HD channel availability. I'd be thrilled if all the HD channels I get with my existing ancient SA HD STB and package (basically the network stations, HBO and a couple of other channels I seldom watch) show up long enough for the SDV dongle/fix to be available.

I don't think that there's any SDV in Minneapolis yet. I'm in the north suburbs and for sure there isn't any here. You can double-check with a posting to hdtvtwincities.com but I haven't seen any reports of it yet in the south suburbs.

.../Ed

[Mobocracy]

You actually need 2 - 1 for each tuner. You could get by with 1 M-card in the THD but you need to 2 S-cards if you can't get the M-cards. I've had my S3 for about 15 months and am not having any Comcast issues. You can thank me for working through some of the early local billing issues :-)


I know I need 2 S cards for dual-tuner functionality -- what are the billing issues? I've read bits about misbilling or billing issues, but what I should I expect to challenge successfully? I'm kind of resigned to paying for two S cards, are there other upcharges they try to sneak in?

I don't think that there's any SDV in Minneapolis yet. I'm in the north suburbs and for sure there isn't any here. You can double-check with a posting to hdtvtwincities.com but I haven't seen any reports of it yet in the south suburbs.

I don't check in there often enough, but I think the last time I did someone in the know claimed it was something due sooner than later, but that may just be the general direction of cable everywhere as the infrastructure sees more demand for more stations in HD (and cable companies expend more bandwidth for on-demand and other revenue-generators).

Either way, no SDV is good news.

[joyriderama]

I am in Minneapolis proper, too, (Loring Park area), and recently had Comcast install two S-cards in my TivoHD.

I'm not sure if I got lucky with the tech that showed up, or if his knowledge was indicative of the Minneapolis techs as a whole, but he knew what he was doing and had everything up and running within a half hour. If anything, the CSRs that take the call are the ones that don't know what is going on--I had to call back, because immediately after the tech ended the call, my internet went out, and I was unable to run Guided Set-up again. A few calls later, and it was settled, though.

I only have Digital Basic(I think), the HD channels, and the Sports Tier, so your mileage may very if you have a large number of premium channels.

I've had no problems in regards to SDV, and from what I've read, we should be safe until that silly dongle comes out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Mobocracy]

I am in Minneapolis proper, too, (Loring Park area), and recently had Comcast install two S-cards in my TivoHD.

I'm not sure if I got lucky with the tech that showed up, or if his knowledge was indicative of the Minneapolis techs as a whole, but he knew what he was doing and had everything up and running within a half hour. If anything, the CSRs that take the call are the ones that don't know what is going on--I had to call back, because immediately after the tech ended the call, my internet went out, and I was unable to run Guided Set-up again. A few calls later, and it was settled, though.

I only have Digital Basic(I think), the HD channels, and the Sports Tier, so your mileage may very if you have a large number of premium channels.

I've had no problems in regards to SDV, and from what I've read, we should be safe until that silly dongle comes out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

That's good news. I only have HBO as a premium channel, so it shouldn't be all that complicated.

[ewilts]

I know I need 2 S cards for dual-tuner functionality -- what are the billing issues? I've read bits about misbilling or billing issues, but what I should I expect to challenge successfully? I'm kind of resigned to paying for two S cards, are there other upcharges they try to sneak in?
The common billing mistake is to charge for an "Additional Digital Outlet" or charging too much for the CableCards.

For my single TV with a Series 3, I do not pay the ADO fee nor do I pay anything for the 2 CableCARDs. It's included as part of the Digital Starter package and Digital Starter is only $1.99 per month more than Basic 2 Cable. The published rate card (for my area) says that the first CableCARD is no charge and that the 2nd CableCARD in the same device is $1.50 per month so if you get charged that, you won't have too much ground to argue on.

.../Ed

[Sennat]

I live in Minnetonka and recently had Comcast convert me from analog to digital, and add two cablecards to my Tivo Series 3. I had no set top box, and get no premium channels (HBO, etc). I have their "digital preferred" service, with the HD package. The tech had done "40-50" Tivo cablecard installs, and in fact had everything working in half an hour. However, one card failed after a day, and another tech had to come out and replace it. I tried but failed to get them to let me do it myself.

The second tech was also competent, and the replacement took even less time. He had disparaging comments as to the reliability of the S cards, noting that the M cards were better. The S cards had build dates of 2001. Everything is working now, though, and the pictures look great.

Edit: I haven't seen a billing yet. They said they wouldn't charge for the second card. $20 for the first visit, no charge for the bad card replacement.

[analog4]

I am getting a TiVo HD later this evening, Charter is set to install 2 CableCard's (or maybe 1 Multi - not sure what they are bringing) Tuesday. I do not have an HDTV yet - that comes Tuesday evening.

EDIT: The guy came (my dad met him at the house) but did not have the CableCard's. He left to go and get them, came back and went to set them up - but we did not have the TiVo yet (I bought it yesterday evening). We were told that they did not need it (though I thought that was weird). He did leave the card's though.

I got home with the TiVo HD, and put it into my rack, wired it up. Turned it on, put in the CableCard's - but it said it couldn't connect. I let it update a few times, etc. Then it had gotten a signal on both of the tuners.

I went to the web support on Charter to "activate" them (but noticed they had a signal but thought I'd do it anyway). They said they need to schedule an installation of the CableCard's. Well I had a signal so I thought I'd wait and see what happened.

Turned out the guy who did the install (of the HD DVR upstairs) called me back and asked for the Host and Data ID's. I have to call him back to give him the Host and Data ID's.

That's it so far ...

Oh, located in Apple Valley, MN.

[Mobocracy]

My install happened last night. Very smooth -- the guy was here for maybe 15 minutes. Brought 1 M-card which he said would do multi-tuner recording and he seemed to be proven right. After I re-ran guided setup and re-setup some season passes, I had two things recording and once and both had content.

The tech said M cards work much better and the process is almost always quick.

Not sure why they require a tech on site, though. Perhaps it makes activation with the home office easier.