Bolt Plus Nightmare

The not pairing this sounds like a Comcast problem. The not powering on sounds like a TiVo problem.

 

Always two there are; no more, no less. - Yoda

 

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As he said.

I got mine today (directly from WeaKnees), and set it up with no issues.

I am always nervous with CableCards, as they are alway hit or miss. Even the official TiVo welcome email tells us to get FIVE CableCards just in case (copy/paste):

Cable subscribers, your CableCARD is critical!
While the cable setup process is easy, there are a few potential hiccups we'd like to help you avoid. But trust us, the TiVo BOLT+ experience is going to blow your mind. To get set up as quickly as possible, we recommend calling your cable provider to order a CableCARD™ now. Ask for five CableCARDs in case one doesn't connect to the BOLT+ on the first try. They can be finicky.

 

I got 2 regular Bolts a few weeks ago and 2 cablecards from Comcast. Each one worked first time (after a call to comcast to activate them) with no problem. I'm not saying my success is typical, but getting 5 cards (assuming an 80% failure rate) per unit seems extreme.

 

Definitely extreme. Likely bad TiVo Sw and new design blues and certainly quality issues. Have two Roamios and cable cards from comcrap paired with no issues on first try.

 

I agree. Definitely extreme. I was just posting the email I got from TiVo. I am sure you guys got the same email.

I would say getting three would be more reasonable. It happened to me once before with my previous brand new Roamio Plus at launch a few years ago. The one I had ordered was dead, and the only one that Cox tech had in truck was not working either. Had to wait for the third one in the mail to work.

Now with Verizon, not an issue, since I can easily drive a few minutes to the Verizon store and pick one up. Yesterday, I just swapped the CableCard from Bolt to Bolt+ just received, did pairing with Verizon via chat, and no issues.

 

Did you try the online Cablecard pairing website for "Con"cast, or call their Cablecard hotline number, or did you just call their normal CS #?

 

Unfortunately Comcast does not provide the dedicated CableCard phone number on that screen. Use the following number:

Comcast CableCard Activation Number
1-877-405-2298

or try their online tool for self-activation

https://activatecablecard.xfinity.com/cablecardactivate/

My experience with the dedicated phone number above was good when I moved a CableCard from one of our S3's to our Roamio last fall.

Scott

 

If they have it paired correctly on their end, shouldn't they be able to tell you the device id it is paired with so that you can confirm it matches?

 

Retail devices have a Uni directional CableCard slot so it can only receive messages from the cable headend. The TiVo can not send messages back so the cable company has no way of knowing if the card is paired correctly to the box.
Also it is extremely rare that CableCards are defective and if it is it will display a CableCard error code that will be in a large black box on your TV screen.
Most likely the CableCards are not staged properly or were used in another device and not reset. The pairing information will stroed in the card and if the previous pairing or failed pairing is not cleared then the card will not pair with your device as it is still going by the old pairing data stored in the card.

 

No, the connection should not care.

I would escalate with the Comcast cares email address, and make sure they document what they are doing on the account. I've even gone to the FCC to complain- can't hurt and its easy to do online.

On your first box, I believe that they were just not getting the right setting on their side. I've had to keep complaining until they got a tech who can work some of the non-CSR viewable screens to get it to work right.

Do not fall for a truck roll. Unless the cable is bad, it is NOT needed. They will just call their back-office contact.

 

Yes to both.

Glad you got it working, and smart you loaded up on spare CableCards

Enjoy your Bolt!

 

Does the Comcast website work if you are swapping the cablecard from one Tivo to another?

 

I don't have Comcast, but I just read the other day on another forum that it does NOT