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Official Comcast CableCard Thread!

3M views 9K replies 2K participants last post by  laria 
#1 ·
There seems to already be a lot of CableCard talk on many threads so in an attempt to keep them consolidated by company here is an official thread for Comcast, I just made this thread since I am a Comcast customer, if others want to make official threads for their cable companies go for it! Making one thread for each cable company should ease everyones diging through 100 different threads for cablecard info.

Some relevant info that I have read about comcast so far is the following:
-If you explain to Comcast that both cable cards are for one device people have been successful in no additional monthly charge, one user reported getting good success with calling comcasts 800 number and speaking with a cable card department
-Others have had good luck with going to their local comcast office and getting cable cards directly from them, this saves the installation fee and is quicker

Myself...I called Comcast and got the same spiel as most others have heard, free card for the first one and additional charge for the second of 5.95 (may not be exact, I didn't write it down) and installation charges for both the install of both the first and second cable cards of 20something bucks and 15something bucks. I realize now that I left out some details about my device that may have lead on to these extra charges, I am out of town now but plan on hitting my local Comcast office on Saturday and just trying to get them to give me the cards and I will do the install, or I will call back and try and speak to someone who understands and get the second (additional outlet) monthly charge dropped as well as the installation costs. BTW I live in the Chicago area since some people have experienced different things with the different areas of Comcast. Let me know your thoughts on my experience, what you have heard and try and keep comcast details on this thread so we can all have an easier time keeping up with what others have heard. Also post your region so we know which flavor of comcast you are dealing with.
-AJ
 
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#7,376 ·
So, question -- My HDTivo appears to be dead (stuck in the reboot loop, can't get into kickstart, ready to scream)...tomorrow will try divorcing the MyDVR expander and see what happens. At any rate, my old machine has one M card set up by Comcast; if I need to run out and buy a new Premier tomorrow, will I need to have Comcast come out again, or can I just transfer the cc from one to the other? (I have a feeling it's not all that simple)....
 
#7,377 ·
... if I need to run out and buy a new Premier tomorrow, will I need to have Comcast come out again, or can I just transfer the cc from one to the other? (I have a feeling it's not all that simple)....
You are right, it's not that simple, but you SHOULD be able to do it over the phone with Comcast.

Having said that, the last time my Series 3 got stuck in a continual reboot cycle, I put the whole unit (unplugged) on a work table, took the cover off, unplugged the Hard Disk drive cables, replugged them in, put the cover back on, reconnected everything, plugged it in and it worked. I know that sounds crazy but that was months ago and it never failed again until the recent goofy stuff it's doing (see above).
 
#7,378 ·
Comcast just wants to frustrate people over M-card. The whole process should done from the tivo, without having to call or have a visit. The box has a internet connection, so comcast could get the info off the box, without having some bozo having to call from a cell phone, and wait to tell them numbers. Its just so the need for cable gateways. If the user cant do it themselves, then its a failed technology...
 
#7,381 ·
So, question -- My HDTivo appears to be dead (stuck in the reboot loop, can't get into kickstart, ready to scream)...tomorrow will try divorcing the MyDVR expander and see what happens. At any rate, my old machine has one M card set up by Comcast; if I need to run out and buy a new Premier tomorrow, will I need to have Comcast come out again, or can I just transfer the cc from one to the other? (I have a feeling it's not all that simple)....
In my experience, when my expander crapped out it corrupted my TiVo internal disk image as well. I wasn't able to get to the point of "divorcing", because even with the expander unplugged the TiVo wouldn't reboot.

I have since retired the expander and replaced the internal disk in the TiVo. The box has been working fine since (about 2 weeks).

Given that the Premiere is still flaky, you should consider buying an internal replacement disk for your TiVo or DIY if you have another TiVo to copy the image from. If no other image, you can also buy InstantCake and DIY from there.

But you then have to Clear & Delete Everything, which means a truck roll by Comcast to re-pair the CableCARD(s).
 
#7,382 ·
There is buzz in the AVS Forum that Comcast has started encrypting possibly everything but the basic channels in the Atlanta, GA area. Can anyone here confirm/deny?
Hasn't happened in S. Cobb yet, I'm still seeing all the SD expanded basics in the 30's and 40's. Looks like their original channel locations in the 80's are gone though, which is probably what the complaints are about. They put dupes of all the SDs in the 30's and 40's when the HD migration was done, probably because that's part of the trapped out range for limited basic. Hopefully they'll stay in the clear there, but I kind of doubt it.
 
#7,383 ·
Comcast in Richmond VA has apparently dealt little in cable cards until recently. During my recent Premiere installation, it took three visits to get things working. In each case, the installer had little cable card experience. The problem, from the first, seemed complex: some of the channels that were supposed to be active (Digital Classic level, apparently now called Digital Preferred) were not, e.g. channels 2,3,4,5, 24, 150, etc. No amount of repeating setup made real changes, however some channels would appear after several seconds -- too long for the TiVo to lock them.

It appeared allmost by accident that the third installer found the problem was that the operator back at the local Comcast office had entered cable card ID for host ID, and vice versa. Once those were changed, everything worked fine. The problem is, not only my own time and inconvenience meeting technicians in a 3-hour period during each of three days, also the time it took for them ... and how much effect that inefficiency must have on Comcast's prices.
walt
 
#7,384 ·
I Had a cable card install scheduled for Friday 4/16 between 10am-12pm. Of course the guy never showed up. I called Comcast and they said he had been at my house at 10:23 am!! They said he couldn't find me. I said this was impossible, since I was basically looking out my window the whole morning. No phone call, no nothing.

Not only are Comcast techs incompetent, but they are liars, too. I told them I wanted a $20 credit on my account, as per their policy, since he never showed up. They said he did show up, at 10:23 am. I went round and round with them, talked to a supervisor, etc. They said the best they could do was schedule another visit, only seven days later! I already took the day off of work for this.

Another Crap-tastic experience!

I've just about had it. I'm thinking about returning the TiVo. I'm tired of being a slave to the whole Comcast evil empire.
 
#7,385 ·
I Had a cable card install scheduled for Friday 4/16 between 10am-12pm. Of course the guy never showed up. I called Comcast and they said he had been at my house at 10:23 am!! They said he couldn't find me. I said this was impossible, since I was basically looking out my window the whole morning. No phone call, no nothing.

Not only are Comcast techs incompetent, but they are liars, too. I told them I wanted a $20 credit on my account, as per their policy, since he never showed up. They said he did show up, at 10:23 am. I went round and round with them, talked to a supervisor, etc. They said the best they could do was schedule another visit, only seven days later! I already took the day off of work for this.

Another Crap-tastic experience!

I've just about had it. I'm thinking about returning the TiVo. I'm tired of being a slave to the whole Comcast evil empire.
Email your experience to we_can_help@cable.comcast.com.
 
#7,386 ·
4-13-2010 Naples, FL
Hooked up new Premiere XL on Tuesday April 13 2010 and it worked great without cable card. Called comcast who insisted that i needed two cards even when i read the instructions that clearly say one multi stream card. After three so called tech came over to try and get something they made to buy a Premiere XL at their headquarters and try and get the codes to work. Now others have called with new Premiere XLs so this is where i am. No channels 1-101 and spotty HD. Today i was told tomorrow for the fifth time.
frustrated but now going to quit. georgetivo:D
 
#7,389 ·
General Question to us Comcast CableCard Group.

How many are experiencing CC Bytes issue?

I am in the North East Area and have not had any issues with CC Bytes for anything. I don't have premium channels (E.g. HBO, Showtime, etc ... ).

Just wanted to poll the group and see how's it going. I dread the day Comcast my flag the CC Byte to 1 in my area since it will kill MRV.
 
#7,392 ·
Called Comcast to set up an appointment to get a new cablecard for my premiere today, and was told that I can just come pick it up!

They charge a $15 installation fee to bring it to you, but no fee to pick it up.

Very interesting! This much be a change.

I'm in the San Francisco east bay area...
 
#7,397 ·
Back again after a year. Dealing with CableCARD issues is just so much fun. The digital conversion here in South King County whacked all the SD channels from 53-69 a few months ago, but I ignored it since the HD versions were available. Then more and more channels disappeared, with the entire process coming to a head when the HD version of the local NBC affiliate vanished. For the most part, everything appeared to be OK, just no programming on the frequencies associated with the channels. My theory was that the channel map was out of date.

My first contacts with Comcast were useless. The usual crap about "you need a Comcast HD Box to recieve HD channels". The we_can_help email address got me a phone call, but I returned the call twice and never spoke to a real person.

Finally called 800-COMCAST again Thursday night, and they scheduled a truck roll. Chris the tech out of Auburn just left, after spending most of the day wrestling with it.
He swapped the CableCARD, removed a superfluous splitter, and generally waved all the usual dead chickens at the problem. The dispatcher realized that 6-7 other customers were reporting the same problem, and eventually got him connected with someone at the head end who knew something.

Josh the head end guy was able to fix it by checking the settings on the account and pushing various buttons that appeared to clear and reload the channel map, but he wasn't quite certain exactly what did the trick. At the end of the day, however, all the missing channels, plus 5-6 new ones, appeared.

The TiVo CableCARD line was able to convince Comcast it was an issue on their end, but not a lot of help beyond that.

Long story short, if you have disappearing channels, the fix is going to be some combination of head end configuration and cable card hits.
 
#7,398 ·
The digital now transition is just happening in frederick, md area. I received some new channels in the 800's, namely 879 Nick hd, spike HD which is the last of the new HD ones coming. I am pretty happy about that.

Does anyone know why comcast is completely duplicating HD channels in 200s and 800's?

I have a premiere and a series 3 HD. After a lot of issues getting the new M card working correctly in both units. Cable cards obviously are not straight forward and not something the tech's and other admins at comcast are used to dealing with, at least not at the customer interface level.

Anyone else have "to be announced" guide data on the 800's with comcast? I have NO guide data for any of the channels starting at 803 on up. I really want to get rid of the NON HD channels, can't really do that without the data showing whats on so tivo can record it right?
 
#7,399 ·
The digital now transition is just happening in frederick, md area. I received some new channels in the 800's, namely 879 Nick hd, spike HD which is the last of the new HD ones coming. I am pretty happy about that.

Does anyone know why comcast is completely duplicating HD channels in 200s and 800's?

I have a premiere and a series 3 HD. After a lot of issues getting the new M card working correctly in both units. Cable cards obviously are not straight forward and not something the tech's and other admins at comcast are used to dealing with, at least not at the customer interface level.

Anyone else have "to be announced" guide data on the 800's with comcast? I have NO guide data for any of the channels starting at 803 on up. I really want to get rid of the NON HD channels, can't really do that without the data showing whats on so tivo can record it right?
See if you have any alternatives available for your channel lineup. When they transitioned to World of More in my area I had to manually tell the TiVo to use Comcast Atlanta World Of More instead of just plain old Comcast Atlanta. That took care of the guide data concern.
 
#7,400 ·
The digital now transition is just happening in frederick, md area. I received some new channels in the 800's, namely 879 Nick hd, spike HD which is the last of the new HD ones coming. I am pretty happy about that.

Does anyone know why comcast is completely duplicating HD channels in 200s and 800's?

I have a premiere and a series 3 HD. After a lot of issues getting the new M card working correctly in both units. Cable cards obviously are not straight forward and not something the tech's and other admins at comcast are used to dealing with, at least not at the customer interface level.

Anyone else have "to be announced" guide data on the 800's with comcast? I have NO guide data for any of the channels starting at 803 on up. I really want to get rid of the NON HD channels, can't really do that without the data showing whats on so tivo can record it right?
Seems like this happened here when Comcast added a bunch of new HD channels. Eventually they moved the channels over to the 800's and then disconnected the old ones. It took a couple of weeks but eventually they got it right.
 
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