3-week wait...

[Desade]

I ordered a Tivo HD DVR a few days ago, and it is due to be delivered at my house today... I'm very excited. Unfortunately, my cable company (Comcast in Chicago) is unable/unwilling to come out to install my M-stream CableCARD until September 6th - over 3 weeks away. My Tivo warranty will be just about over by that time!

After doing some research, I see that I need a CableCARD from Comcast so it will match the head-end of the cable, so buying it elsewhere is a no-go. But installation seems to be as simple as sticking the card in the slot on the Tivo... I think I can handle this myself.

Does anyone have any suggestions on magic phrases to say to Comcast to get them to let me self-install, ship me the Card, etc... something that will let me slide that card in sometime in the next 3-4 days instead of 3-4 weeks?

[lewisml06]

We have Comcast in Houston and they have "stores" in various locations throughout the area. I simply went to the store and informed them I wanted an M-card for my Tivo unit. She provided me the card with some instructions once the card is added. It was quick and simple. I would see if you can get a representative on the phone and see if they could direct you to one of their local cusomer service centers. I can't say that you would have the situation as I, but I went in there thinking I would have to put up a fight just to get a card and install it myself - but it was easy in the end. Used the Tivo instructions provided - then called ComCast to activate the card.

[RonDawg]

Just to be clear...your TiVo warranty is longer than 30 days. Not by much (90 days labor, 1 year parts), but it is longer.

The subscription refund policy is only 30 days however, so even if Comcast won't be there for a while, you need to set up the TiVo to receive analog cable. That way you'll know if you want to keep it, and also to make sure your unit is working properly (some have been known to be defective out of the box). And even if Comcast is coming next week, you still need to set up the unit ahead of time as the installer is not going to sit around and watch you complete Guided Setup.

[nirisahn]

Depending on where you live, Comcast may or may not let you install the card yourself. They don't in the Denver area :). I had to have an installer come out even though the process was simple enough for me to do it myself. In fact, I think those of us that read this forum regularly probably know more about the process than some of the installers from Comcast, since Comcast can't seem to be bothered to train their people properly. The only way to find out is to ask if you can do it yourself. The worst that will happen is they'll say no.

In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, set up your Tivo without the cards and get all your updates. It will make the install process go faster when the time comes.

[jrm01]

There are reports that the Chicago, North Ave location for Comcast has cards in stock and will allow you to pick them up and self-install.

Also, if all else fails, call Comcast Executive Care at 800-630-2140.

[Desade]

Thanks for the replies.

I called 1-800-COMCAST a few times, hoping I could get a CSR that would help me out, and I got the same story each time. When I got home and found the Tivo sitting on my porch, I hooked everything up and connected it to broadband so it could do software updates and whatnot. Everything seemed to go very smoothly, although without any CableCards I clearly couldn't actually test live TV reception. What I did NOT do was plug the cable into the coax on the back - my reasoning was that there was no point in doing this until I had a CableCard decoder anyway, and getting at the cable would have been about 30 minutes of disassembly to the home theater.

The setup guide indicated it would be a good idea to let the Tivo sit around for a day or two to do software updates before bringing the cable guy out, anyway, so I figure I did no harm, and probably did some good. Also, I played around with the menus and remote enough to know that if there are no massive gotchas, I'll be happy with the service for the 12-month commitment; so that's no problem, either.

I may try the North Ave Comcast office, thanks, JRM. What is the Executive Care number, and what are the ramifications of calling it?

Finally, here's my current biggest worry that maybe someone can help me feel better about: During my broadband-connected-but-cable-disconnected Guided Setup, the Tivo downloaded the channel lineup for Comcast. Channels ranged from 1-86. I have the HD Digital Preferred package, meaning that I have ESPNHD, WMAQHD (local NBC HD), etc etc all on channels in the 150+ range.

Will all this get worked out when it has the CableCard??? I'm very concerned that I'll insert that card and my Guide won't have all the HD channels on it, when the HD channels are what I watch 90% of the time. I can't imagine the Tivo System Architecture would have such a gigantic hole in it as this, but as a new subscriber I'm nervous. As an OCD new subscriber facing 3 weeks of no definitive answer, I'm going crazy.

[kurva55]

I suggest you go to the office that does cable box exchanges and ask for the MCard. When I first inquired about the card, over the phone, the rep said that they only have SCards and it would require a truck roll.

The next day I went to the office in person and asked for an MCard. Guess what? Not only did they have MCards, they gave it to me for a self install. (I live in Los Angeles).

[a68oliver]

Everything seemed to go very smoothly, although without any CableCards I clearly couldn't actually test live TV reception. What I did NOT do was plug the cable into the coax on the back - my reasoning was that there was no point in doing this until I had a CableCard decoder anyway, and getting at the cable would have been about 30 minutes of disassembly to the home theater.

Finally, here's my current biggest worry that maybe someone can help me feel better about: During my broadband-connected-but-cable-disconnected Guided Setup, the Tivo downloaded the channel lineup for Comcast. Channels ranged from 1-86. I have the HD Digital Preferred package, meaning that I have ESPNHD, WMAQHD (local NBC HD), etc etc all on channels in the 150+ range.

Will all this get worked out when it has the CableCard??? I'm very concerned that I'll insert that card and my Guide won't have all the HD channels on it, when the HD channels are what I watch 90% of the time.

You certainly can test live TV reception without CableCards. The Tivo HD works very nicely with analog only cable. I suggest you go ahead and plug in the cable and begin enjoying/testing the unit thoroughly. You will eventially have to dissasmble the home theater anyway, won't you? Also, if you do a channel scan now, you probably will find some unencrypted local HD channels on the cable which you can watch now (without guide info).

Your current channel lineup is correct. When you add the CableCards you will repeat guided setup and the additional digital package channels will be detected and magically appear.

[Desade]

I suggest you go ahead and plug in the cable and begin enjoying/testing the unit thoroughly. You will eventially have to dissasmble the home theater anyway, won't you?

I will definitely have to disassemble the home theater eventually, but I suspect the other important viewer in the house (The Wife) won't be thrilled about losing her SciFi-HD for 3 weeks while I fool around with the Tivo on analog cable. So that means I would have to disassemble, test Tivo, and then put the Comcast DVR back. So really I'm just trying to reduce my disassemble/reassemble count from 2 to 1. :)

Your current channel lineup is correct. When you add the CableCards you will repeat guided setup and the additional digital package channels will be detected and magically appear.

I like magically appear - that works for me. Thanks.

[jrm01]

When you have the cards authorized by the installer, part of that process is to download a channel map and indicate which channels you are authorized for.