RUN RUN RUN away from Comcast!

[Jason.b123]

I have had an awful experience with Comcast Tivo. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE TiVo! I was first to sign up when it was released and no one was more excited about getting rid of the awful comcast DVR software than I was!

But now, after having to return three boxes, dealing with a strange Double input issue, onDemand working only occasionally, and that 8888 issue, I'm left dreaming of the old software!

I can only hope that the promised fix actually fixes something as opposed to breaking a bunch of new things. But for me, I think I'm going to have to get a new Box and skip the TiVo install until I read enough positive comments on these boards to make me think they've actually fixed something.

in the meantime, I'm hopping FIOS becomes available soon as nothing in this world with give me greater pleasure than finally being able to tell the comcast rep to cancel my account. I've never had the misfortune of having to deal with such an irritating, incompetent anti consumer company.

I'd like to hear other people's opinion.. or if anyone knows of a fix for these issues... something that the HS drop out I spoke to on the phone wasn't able to think of.

in the meantime I'll be sitting back and thinking happy thoughts of FIOS :)

[AbMagFab]

I have had an awful experience with Comcast Tivo. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE TiVo! I was first to sign up when it was released and no one was more excited about getting rid of the awful comcast DVR software than I was!

But now, after having to return three boxes, dealing with a strange Double input issue, onDemand working only occasionally, and that 8888 issue, I'm left dreaming of the old software!

I can only hope that the promised fix actually fixes something as opposed to breaking a bunch of new things. But for me, I think I'm going to have to get a new Box and skip the TiVo install until I read enough positive comments on these boards to make me think they've actually fixed something.

in the meantime, I'm hopping FIOS becomes available soon as nothing in this world with give me greater pleasure than finally being able to tell the comcast rep to cancel my account. I've never had the misfortune of having to deal with such an irritating, incompetent anti consumer company.

I'd like to hear other people's opinion.. or if anyone knows of a fix for these issues... something that the HS drop out I spoke to on the phone wasn't able to think of.

in the meantime I'll be sitting back and thinking happy thoughts of FIOS :)

Why not just get a TivoHD and be done with it? You can use for Comcast now, and then FiOS whenever you can get it.

[aadam101]

I have had an awful experience with Comcast Tivo. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE TiVo! I was first to sign up when it was released and no one was more excited about getting rid of the awful comcast DVR software than I was!

But now, after having to return three boxes, dealing with a strange Double input issue, onDemand working only occasionally, and that 8888 issue, I'm left dreaming of the old software!

I can only hope that the promised fix actually fixes something as opposed to breaking a bunch of new things. But for me, I think I'm going to have to get a new Box and skip the TiVo install until I read enough positive comments on these boards to make me think they've actually fixed something.

in the meantime, I'm hopping FIOS becomes available soon as nothing in this world with give me greater pleasure than finally being able to tell the comcast rep to cancel my account. I've never had the misfortune of having to deal with such an irritating, incompetent anti consumer company.

I'd like to hear other people's opinion.. or if anyone knows of a fix for these issues... something that the HS drop out I spoke to on the phone wasn't able to think of.

in the meantime I'll be sitting back and thinking happy thoughts of FIOS :)

I agree. I am surprised Comcast would unleash such a monster that is clearly not ready to be in your living room yet.

[pomerlp]

I agree. I am surprised Comcast would unleash such a monster that is clearly not ready to be in your living room yet.

I suspect the idea to first try it in New England was some Yankee fan. Who else would do something so evil!

[Muzz718]

For the past month I'd been having the "Subscription required"message problem, which was tolerable. However, this past Tuesday my box entered the dreaded 8888 reset loop.

So, I'm dumping my box (Motorola DCH3416) and buying a new HD TiVo box. Comcast has us paying way too much for this service to act as nothing more than guinea pigs.

[VivaLasVegas]

So, I'm dumping my box (Motorola DCH3416) and buying a new HD TiVo box. Comcast has us paying way too much for this service to act as nothing more than guinea pigs.

I couldn't agree more. And I've been extremely happy with my TiVoHD since I made the switch.

Oh, and welcome to the Forum!

[stewc]

Same here: I gave the Comcast Tivo box a 30+day try, but it's really a clunker. The 8888 reboot bug was the final straw. Took it back today.

I don't harbor quite the same ill will towards Comcast -- heck, they tried to talk me out of it. And last winter, after a random C'caster stopped to help me change a tire, I promised I'd say nice things!

No, I think the problem is in a ported-software-to-alien-hardware match that just won't solve easily. As the magic 8-ball sez, "all signs point to No."

Next, the HD Tivo with M-card.

[snickerrrrs]

Then why don't they send them out as a beta program. I mean leave the Comcast dvr and bring in a Comcast Tivo as a second choice. Hook them both up to the same tv but don't charge the customer for the Tivo. Why screw the customer? If your dvr isn't ready why is that my problem? There ought to be a Cable/Satellite viewers bill of rights. Directv or Comcast sucks so I cancel my service but they can still charge me a early termination fee for poor service? Doesn't make sense does it. :confused:

[jwdawso]

I sat down last Thursday night to watch the Lakers-Celtics game, and found my Comcast DVR w/TiVo in the 8888/endless reboot mode. I have had this unit since the first availability, and it had worked "well" until Thursday. A call to Comcast support had me unplug it and then plug back in, but that did not help. Today (2 days later), Comcast came by and replaced it with another of the same ilk. The cable guy tried to talk me out of the TiVo software, but I wanted to try again. This box is so far working as "well" as the original, so hopefully the SW upgrade that actually works will come before the 8888 syndrome does again.

This is the last chance I'm giving - next I will replace it with a TiVo HD. I have a TiVo HD for my wife's workout TV in the basement, and so far (1 month) it has performed beautifully (just like my Series 2 had). I am hoping to wait for a Series 4 before I buy another TiVo, so I'm crossing my fingers.

[Snappa77]

SEVEN. SEVEN BOXES i have gone thru in my living room.

I am done.

[gtalvola]

I have another crazy eights on one of my boxes. I've lost track of how many boxes I've had, but it must be at least 6. And it's what, like 3 months after the Comcast rep promised a fix would be rolled out? They obviously don't give a ****.

I give up. I'm switching to Tivo HD.

[mneedle473]

Finally cancelled my Tivo service through Comcast. I was told last night the update has been pushed back to July now so I told them to cancel my service and demanded a full refund on all the Tivo costs.

Can't wait for Verizon to roll out my way.

[tivogurl]

I'd love to go with FIOS, but the gentlemen's agreement between Verizon and Comcast means we will never get FIOS.

[jones07]

What gentlemen's agreement? Please fill me in. :)

[tivogurl]

What gentlemen's agreement? Please fill me in. :)
Basically, they won't expand into each other's markets unless they already have a presence in those markets, hence you can't and won't get FIOS in Miami/Fort Lauderdale or Silicon Valley.

[jamesbobo]

Basically, they won't expand into each other's markets unless they already have a presence in those markets, hence you can't and won't get FIOS in Miami/Fort Lauderdale or Silicon Valley.

Urban legend?
FIOS has been installed in many NJ towns with Comcast, including mine. Not available on my street yet, unfortunately.

[NCARalph]

Many cities and towns in MA have both and many people have switched from Comcast to FIOS.

[AbMagFab]

Basically, they won't expand into each other's markets unless they already have a presence in those markets, hence you can't and won't get FIOS in Miami/Fort Lauderdale or Silicon Valley.

What?

I can get Comcast and FiOS, as can pretty much everyone else around here (DC/MD/VA). They are all serving the exact same houses at the exact same time.

[brookotter]

Hi -

In our household, we went through no less than 5 different Comcast "TiVo" (aka bootleg TiVo's on Motorola hardware) in less than two months.

The tech's hate the boxes, Comcast wasn't prepared for the rollout, and the technology flat out doesn't work.

IMHO, it looks like the hardware simply isn't up to the task it's being presented with by the hardware.

After rolling back to the standard Motorola DVR, and getting fed up with its sluggish response and limited flexiblilty, I'm getting a TiVo HD.

In short, stay away.

Brookotter

[Naugahide]

Hi -

In our household, we went through no less than 5 different Comcast "TiVo" (aka bootleg TiVo's on Motorola hardware) in less than two months.

The tech's hate the boxes, Comcast wasn't prepared for the rollout, and the technology flat out doesn't work.

IMHO, it looks like the hardware simply isn't up to the task it's being presented with by the hardware.

After rolling back to the standard Motorola DVR, and getting fed up with its sluggish response and limited flexiblilty, I'm getting a TiVo HD.

In short, stay away.

Brookotter

I'm a bit afraid to switch. It seems from what I can gather, the Tivo HD box and the Comcast DVR box are using the same chips and the same amounts of memory. So how do you know the Tivo box won't be just as sluggish?

And, for the record, I am on my 3rd Comcast DVR box and know the download sequence better than the techs do.

[gtalvola]

I'm a bit afraid to switch. It seems from what I can gather, the Tivo HD box and the Comcast DVR box are using the same chips and the same amounts of memory. So how do you know the Tivo box won't be just as sluggish?

And, for the record, I am on my 3rd Comcast DVR box and know the download sequence better than the techs do.

I switched from the extremely sluggish, buggy, and unreliable Comcast "Tivo" DVR to a real Tivo HD, and the Tivo HD is much, much faster. Actions such as setting up recordings or season passes aren't instant, but they generally only take a few seconds. There's really no comparison -- the Tivo HD is just a much better product.

Just to give one example, on the Tivo HD, suggestions actually work properly -- it automatically records stuff you might be interested in based on your thumbs up and thumbs down (and does a pretty good job of determining what to record), but I've never seen it break into my live TV watching to do it. I think it detects when I haven't used a particular tuner in a while and attempts to be as unobtrusive as possible. Exactly the way it should work.

With the Comcast "Tivo" it was constantly pestering me on the tuner I was watching, asking me if it could change channels to record random stuff I had no interest in -- until one day when suggestions simply stopped working entirely.