screwy cards

This means that your cards are not paired (or validated). See this FAQ from TiVo and it will show you what the cableCARD diagnostic screen should look like.

http://tivosupport2.instancy.com/LaunchContent.aspx?CID=f8f40dc6-5fb6-4ed8-ac41-d8cd0d5c0824

 

99% of the time (I'm willing to bet) it's the cableco's entries. They have to enter 4 id numbers in to 2 of their computers for each cableCARD to work. One screw-up, and it won't work properly. I had a perfectly fine TiVo for 9 months. I add a second pair of cableCARDs to a second TiVo and by the time the tech left, both TiVo's were screwed up. Long story short, they removed the pairing on one of the cableCARDs from my existing account. I'm guessing they mixed them up when entering the pairing info. And of course, the cablecos HATE TiVo, which doesn't help any.

 

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In my system, the phone techs have to only enter the host ID into one computer. Unfortunately, sometimes they do screw it up . As far as cable co's hating Tivo, I have to disagree. If a customer buys an S3 or HD, they are pretty much going to subscribe to a level of cable service for a long time. Sure, they would love to rent you their own dvr, but they still love the fact that you are a subscriber and paying them every month. Just my opinion.

 

Maybe the Company, but the techs hate it because it causes them the most headache. That's what the Super told me. Then add on the fact that the regular techs are clueless and the CSR's are clueless, and all the calls are for TiVos with cableCARDs. He said cableCARDs with TV's are fine. And, just so you know, I'm with you. I try to tell CSR's all the time, if it weren't for TiVo, I'd be with a satco.

EDIT: Plus, now cablecos must use cableCARDs in their new STB's. But that didn't phase the Supervisor Tech, since they will have full control over it's production. And as he continued to complain about TiVo, it was totally their own people at Comcast who screwed up.

 

You are absolutely correct that techs hate cable cards. From my experience though, I love working on Tivo's. The diagnostics they give, the quickness that they pair with the cards and receive the channels is leaps and bounds ahead of any TV with cablecards that I have worked on.

 

And you know, in EVERY issue I've had with Comcast and my TiVo, it was their operator error. The tech was even shaking his head saying "I told the kid it had to be entered into the DAC." And, of course he didn't do it, so we had another 45 min. on hold. All their fault, but no, TiVo's the problem, NOT.

 

I definitely hear you. Happens so much it's like a broken record . It's not exactly rocket science. It's listening and typing. I have to use the "bang head on wall" sign quite often.

 

Let me ask. Do you think a two way solution, like the SDV dongle, maybe even using the SDV dongle, might be a future solution?

 

Yes, but it will be up to tivo to make it. It is going to be a tough task with having to work with Motorola and SA to make it work for everyone and pass Cable Labs certs. I certainly hope they can do this soon.