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Premier Upgrade TWC Question

Discussion in 'TiVo Premiere DVRs' started by Pilot20, Apr 4, 2012.

  1. Apr 4, 2012 #1 of 18
    Pilot20

    Pilot20 New Member

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    Mar 5, 2005

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    I currently have a 4-year old Series 3 that has worked great with the exception of a ton of TWC cable card and TA problems. I know that is not the fault of Tivo, but I really don't want to have to go through all of that mess again.

    I got so disgusted with TWC the last time I had issues, I almost switched to satellite.

    I would really like to have 4 tuners, which would eliminate the numerous recording conflicts that I seem to have.

    My question is...if I replace my S3 with an Elite, can I just use the current cable card and call TWC with serial numbers etc., or will I need a truck roll?

    Anyone have any experience with this?

    Thanks,
     
  2. Apr 4, 2012 #2 of 18
    rodalpho

    rodalpho New Member

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    Sep 12, 2006
    You'll need a truck roll, and they will make you pay for it. This sounds like it should be unnecessary, but the truth is that TWC still has problems with cablecards, now almost six years after they were introduced. The last time I had them come by it took 90 minutes to get it working. My installer kept calling back into the head offices until he found someone non-stupid. It took forever.
     
  3. Apr 4, 2012 #3 of 18
    rogmatic

    rogmatic Member

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    Sep 17, 2009
    No. You don't need a truck roll. You can switch the cards yourself and just call in the numbers. But I have had a lot of troubles with my Elite that I never had with my Series 3.
     
  4. Apr 4, 2012 #4 of 18
    Teledatageek

    Teledatageek Member

    31
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    Jun 26, 2004
    I just did this and it required a couple of phone calls to get the cable card reactivated by TW but not that painful...
     
  5. Apr 4, 2012 #5 of 18
    rodalpho

    rodalpho New Member

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    Huh, maybe it changes by region. They will not allow me to do it myself in NYC, no matter what.
     
  6. Apr 4, 2012 #6 of 18
    Johnwashere

    Johnwashere Member

    298
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    Sep 17, 2005
    Columbus, Ohio
    http://www.fcc.gov/guides/cablecard-know-your-rights

    No, self install cable cards are allowed EVERYWHERE by law:

    "The Federal Communications Commission announced in its latest report an order on CableCARD rule revisions that cable TV companies have until Nov. 1, 2011 to comply with a requirement to offer CableCARD self-installation to customers, according to a Light Reading Cable report.
    Cox Communications and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) are among TV service providers that already offer self-installation, and Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) reportedly is preparing to offer CableCARD self-installation kits to customers who are interested. Cable TV companies can save money on truck rolls by offering self-installation, so it seems like a no-brainer, though as LRC points out, self-installation is just another Band-Aid on a much-maligned technology requirement.


    Read more: FCC requires CableCARD self-install by Nov. 1 - FierceCable http://www.fiercecable.com/story/fcc-requires-cablecard-self-install-nov-1/2011-07-28#ixzz1r6MDu0Me
    Subscribe: http://www.fiercecable.com/signup?sourceform=Viral-Tynt-FierceCable-FierceCable"
     
  7. Apr 4, 2012 #7 of 18
    sbiller

    sbiller Active Member

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  8. Apr 4, 2012 #8 of 18
    rodalpho

    rodalpho New Member

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    Sep 12, 2006
    Nice! My last encounter with TWC was before that. Thanks for the correction.
     
  9. Apr 4, 2012 #9 of 18
    Thinkdiff

    Thinkdiff New Member

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    Oct 13, 2003
    I just upgraded a TiVo HD to TiVo Elite on TWC. As others have said, you just call their 24 hr tech support number and they'll re-pair the card to the new TiVo within a few minutes. Pretty simple process.
     
  10. Apr 4, 2012 #10 of 18
    robertgp124

    robertgp124 Ordinary Member

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    Mar 14, 2004
    Morgantown, WV
    If you need a new cable card, make sure you say you want it mailed unless they are available for pick up locally. TWC tried to insist on a truck roll, then the tech didn't show. I checked around, found what the others have mentioned (the FCC regulation, thanks Dave Zatz!) and when I called to complain about the phantom tech, told them I wanted to do it myself. Magically, the cards could be delivered by mail (they claimed not to have them at the local office).
     
  11. Apr 4, 2012 #11 of 18
    Teeps

    Teeps Well-Known Member

    2,161
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    Aug 16, 2001
    Torrance,Cal...
    If your S3 has "S" cards the answer is no.
    The Elite needs a single "M" card. That you should be able to order from TWC or if you're close to an office, go there and get an "M" card.
    If you are shelfing the S3 then return the 2 "S" cards to save a couple of bucks.

    If SDV has infested your area, a tuning adapter will be needed; but again if you already have a tuning adapter on the S3. You can swap it to the Elite.

    Authorization will be required for both; but should not be a major problem. I would allow a couple of hours to go through authorization, just in case.
     
  12. Apr 4, 2012 #12 of 18
    MeInDallas

    MeInDallas Member

    924
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    Jul 31, 2011
    Dallas, Texas
    Where exactly are you located at? That would help to know. I'm in Dallas so I just went to the local office here and they gave them to me and I came home and set them up myself. If you already have a Multistream card and tuning adapter then you should just be able to switch them out and call the hotline and get it paired up @ 1.866.606.5889
     
  13. Apr 5, 2012 #13 of 18
    pmiranda

    pmiranda Member

    676
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    Feb 12, 2003
    Austin, TX
    If you already have an M card and a TA, don't even bother with the local idiots and just call the national self-install hotline. Those guys (and gals) know their stuff and have been able to fix every problem and change I've had lately quickly, knowledgeably, and without any BS.
    They know TiVo's and they know how to actually debug issues instead of punting to a truck roll at the first opportunity. It works so well I hope it's saving TWC money even though I hate their copy protection lockdown.
     
  14. Apr 5, 2012 #14 of 18
    Pilot20

    Pilot20 New Member

    255
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    Mar 5, 2005
    My location is the Harlingen, TX area, just north of Brownsville. When I first got my two S3s, it took forever to get someone who knew how to set them up using M cards. After 4 truck rolls and 6 techs, I finally wrote a letter to the V.P. of the regional TWC office and within several days, I got a call from the district supervisor. He sent out a guy that knew Tivos and within an hour or so, he got it working. That was round #1.

    Round #2 was when we went to SDV and I had to have the TA. That took another 4 truck rolls, 3 different TAs and several weeks before they could get that working. The techs were sure that it was cable infrastructure in my house which is fairly new. They ran new cable from the street to the house. Changed out the splitter in the attic and added an amp. Still didin't work. The techs didn't even know what a TA was.

    One guy finally called someone at the head-end that had some idea of what was going on, and got it working.

    Round #3 was one year later when my TA slowly died. It would work after a re-boot, but would slowly loose channels. It took another two weeks and numerous truck rolls to get that fixed. I kept telling the techs that we had all new cables etc. but each new tech ran the same signal checks, changed equipment with no positive result. I kept telling them to bring a new TA, and finally they did. But again, it took several weeks to get it going.

    Even though I really would like to upgrade to the Elite, I'm just afraid of opening Pandora's box all over again. If I can just call in the numbers using the same TA and M card, I think I will give it a shot.

    Sorry for the long rant, but this Tivo in S. Texas has been a nightmare. I think TWC doesn't want us to have Tivos. They want to rent their lousy DVRs instead and they seem to make the Tivo experience as painful as possible so that we just give up. However, if I ever give up, it will be Direct TV with a Tivo box that gets my business.

    Thanks for all of the helpful replies.
     
  15. Apr 5, 2012 #15 of 18
    rodalpho

    rodalpho New Member

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    Sep 12, 2006
    Well, yeah, obviously. Was that ever in doubt? Supporting TiVos and cablecards in general over their standardized hardware costs them money. Also TiVos can't get PPV, so they're cut off from that revenue stream.
     
  16. Apr 6, 2012 #16 of 18
    randymac88

    randymac88 Member

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    Feb 29, 2004
    I live in NYC and picked up the cablecard from the 23rd street office, and performed a self-install, called in to pair and activate, no problems. Buttery smooth.
     
  17. Apr 6, 2012 #17 of 18
    nycmiddle

    nycmiddle New Member

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    Oct 21, 2010
    I actually have had success doing it over the phone in NYC.
     
  18. Apr 6, 2012 #18 of 18
    rodalpho

    rodalpho New Member

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    Sep 12, 2006
    Yep, read on a bit-- they're forced to allow it by law as of late last year.
     

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