[chiguy50]

We are Comcast "auto-pay" customers, so instead of receiving a monthly statement by mail or e-mail, we just get an e-mail notifying us that they'll be posting a charge in a few days.

Bob, You appear to be well familiar with the technology, but there are a couple of areas that may need a bit more clarification.

Firstly, you ARE in fact getting a monthly statement from Comcast; if you fail to peruse it from month to month, you do so at your peril (I deal all the time with customers who are unaware of what is on their billing statements, including (sadly) in my own family). You can access your most recent statements (as well as a forecast of your upcoming statement's billing total) from your on-line Xfinity account under Billing > Bill details > Current statement ( or, alternatively, Statement history). From there, you can download/print the statement pdf. The statement history should contain a five-year archive.

If you click on the hyperlink in the e-mail notice you receive every month, it should take you to your on-line account.

Statements are also available on the Xfinity mobile app under Manage billing. Periodically, the statement will contain important notices regarding changes to the system, fee increases, or other advisories, some of which are mandated by law (such as privacy notices). It is possible (although not certain) that your CableCARD issue may have been addressed in this manner, allowing you to anticipate the interruption/disturbance.

With Comcast, the best we can get right now is their Xfi Complete package which provides up to 1.2Gb/s download and 35Mb/s upload, with unlimited data.

Secondly, xFi Complete is not a package, but rather what Comcast refers to internally as an add-on pack; thus, it does not entail, nor is it tied to any specific HSI service tier. It provides the Comcast gateway (a combination cable modem, router, and MoCA bridge), unlimited data, and a few other benefits.

Rather, what you are referring to (and which I assume is your current service) is Xfinity's Gigabit (nominally 1000Mbps, which, with Comcast's typical 20% overprovisioning, equates to ca. 1200Mpbs in real-world terms) or Gigabit Extra (nominally 1200Mbps) speed tier. If you have a term contract, it may have included xFi Complete at no additional or reduced cost for a limited period; otherwise, it is an add-on (which incurs an additional cost, typically $25 p.m.) that you can remove if desired. Perhaps this is what you meant; if so please excuse the quibble, but the way you worded it could lead to misinterpretation.

At least for now, we've decided to stick with Comcast TV and use our existing X1 DVR.

Thirdly, you are not tied to the X1 DVR. Of course, as mentioned above, it will be included as part of your xFi Complete service; but if xFi Complete is not being provided free of charge and you do not need its other benefits (e.g., waiver of the 1.2TB data cap), you can have it removed from your account and rely solely on the Xfinity Stream app.

Hope this helps.

Full disclosure: I am not affiliated with Comcast in any way but have been dealing with them for over two decades regarding both residential and bulk service contracts.

 

[CommunityMember]

Apologies to Comcast users for my snarky tone. They are indeed being screwed over by Comcast. It is similar to what some have experienced with Spectrum, but even more so -- Is it malice or incompetence? It appears Comcast was not at all transparent about the significance of obtaining a 900-series card before the October 24th deadline. It further appears that many cards, possibly 600 or 800 series are not capable of accepting the firmware upgrade.

It was well known that the older PowerKey CableCARDs were not going to be updated. It was incumbent on Comcast to make sure they would replace those cards with more recent ones on a one-for-one case because of their choices.

There is a long (legal) principal of "you broke it, you own it". The FTC has made some number of companies fix such issues. I doubt the Comcast CSRs can override the EOL dates, but I would contact Comcast Corporate Escalations, and file FCC and FTC complaints about the company breaking existing services, and that Comcast should fix it. Technically, Comcast may be able to claim they don't have to support CableCARDs anymore. And they may be technically correct. But even if that is the eventual answer it will cost Comcast significant amounts of money to have legal staff (even paralegals are not free) answer each and every complaint.

 

[rt1179]

Was coming here to see if others were experiencing the same issue we did, and I see I am not alone! We were watching TV on our TiVo Bolt Monday evening when suddenly all the channels stopped working and gave the V58 error. Reboot was no help. But channels were still working fine on our older Premiere. Figured maybe the cablecard had died, was annoyed because I knew I couldn't get a replacement but thought I'd maybe work on switching the card out of the Premiere and into the Bolt the next day. Channels were still coming through on the Premiere when I went to bed around midnight. Got up yesterday morning and the Premiere was also giving the V58 error. Spent over an hour on the phone with Xfinity "cablecard support", he said he tried unpairing and pairing, sending refreshes, and a couple "other things" on their end, and then gave the same spiel as others have gotten, "your cards are end-of-life, nothing else I can do, do you want our X1 box?" I pressed back on how both cards would suddenly die, not at the same time but within 12 hours of each other, and it not be something Xfinity had done, but got nowhere with that. So I got pretty pissed, cancelled our TV service, and we'll just stream. I will certainly miss TiVo, we have had various boxes for almost 20 years now. :-(

 

[Beryl]

Evidently they pushed a software update out in our area (Houston), which caused a lot of cablecards to be disabled - we weren't the only customer impacted by this update. They were backing out the software update and trying to reactivate the affected cards.

I’m in the area and that might be why it didn’t take a lot of pushing to get them to agree to approve me picking up a cablecard in Pearland. They did warn that it may not be activated though. I’ll keep checking to see if they were able to back out the update.

But what they did increases the probability that we'll drop Comcast completely and shift to a fiber internet provider with faster internet, unlimited data, and at a lower price.

AT&T fiber has been working near flawlessly for me since July. I do miss being able to record things impromptu but I‘m not missing much with so many streaming services which also include “live” TV channels. TiVo guides are still accurate so it is easy to see what is available.

My contract is up next month and Comcast will need to do something special to keep me even as a cable TV customer.

 

[johnd01]

One if my CableCards (the oldest - a PowerKEY Model PKM800) was deactivated by Xfinity this past Saturday afternoon. The phone technicians are clueless but finally talking to the folks that understand CableCards confirmed that Xfinity/Comcast is deactivating all PowerKEY cards.

They claimed they could not send me a new card of any kind and recommended visiting a storefront. The stores here in Houston claim the opposite - that they don't have any and I need to call technical support to have one mailed to me - a vicious circle.

My OTHER card in my newer TiVo is still working fine. For now.

What are the symptoms? Can you see a video?
One of my Romeo Tivos started rebooting about every 15 minutes. When I removed the network cable, the rebooting stopped, and I could watch Live and recorded shows.
After a few days, the guide data ran out, so I connected the network cable and forced a download. After the download finished, I still did not have any shows in the to-do list, so I found I did not have any guide data. It has been a week, and there is still no guide data or to-do list.
When I look at the guide, all the channels show "Title not available." Does the guide information come from the network download, or does it come down the cable connection?
If I can still watch live TV, does it indicate that the cable card is working?

 

[cwoody222]

One if my CableCards (the oldest - a PowerKEY Model PKM800) was deactivated by Xfinity this past Saturday afternoon. The phone technicians are clueless but finally talking to the folks that understand CableCards confirmed that Xfinity/Comcast is deactivating all PowerKEY cards.

They claimed they could not send me a new card of any kind and recommended visiting a storefront. The stores here in Houston claim the opposite - that they don't have any and I need to call technical support to have one mailed to me - a vicious circle.

My OTHER card in my newer TiVo is still working fine. For now.

What are the symptoms? Can you see a video?
One of my Romeo Tivos started rebooting about every 15 minutes. When I removed the network cable, the rebooting stopped, and I could watch Live and recorded shows.
After a few days, the guide data ran out, so I connected the network cable and forced a download. After the download finished, I still did not have any shows in the to-do list, so I found I did not have any guide data. It has been a week, and there is still no guide data or to-do list.
When I look at the guide, all the channels show "Title not available." Does the guide information come from the network download, or does it come down the cable connection?
If I can still watch live TV, does it indicate that the cable card is working?

The Gude comes from TiVo, from the network connection.

It has nothing to do with your cable or cable card.

If you can watch live tv, your cable card is working.

 

[BillyClyde]

I highly recommend Directv Stream. They have a free trial that I've used and has the same channel selection as Comcast.

Our cable cards still work but once those stop working we are going to Directv Stream.

Even better and more TiVo/cable box-like when you use their Gemini or Gemini Air devices!

 

[johnd01]

The Gude comes from TiVo, from the network connection.

It has nothing to do with your cable or cable card.

If you can watch live tv, your cable card is working.

Thank you. Tivo seems to download data correctly, but it does not appear in the guide. Where do I go from here?

 

[bob_p]

So far, our transition from TiVo to X1 DVR and Fire Sticks has gone pretty well. We lose commercial skipping on the Fire Sticks (which we can do on the TV connected to the X1 DVR).

It's unfortunate that TiVo didn't release an app version that would run on smart TVs or streaming devices (Google TV, Fire Stick, ...) - because if they had, it would be easy for me to reconnect just the TiVo Edge and set it back up again (if I could get a usable cablecard from local Comcast) - and if/when the cablecard stopped working, I'd be able to quickly shift over to using just the X1 DVR.

But at this point, with all of the TiVo Minis disconnected and our network of HDMI over CAT6 taken down (to share a Mini between TVs) - just not worth it.

Instead, we're hoping someone will be interested in buying our Edge, Bolt+ (with a dead HDD),6 Mini Luxes and 4 Minis on eBay.

 

[chiguy50]

So far, our transition from TiVo to X1 DVR and Fire Sticks has gone pretty well. We lose commercial skipping on the Fire Sticks (which we can do on the TV connected to the X1 DVR).

You are referring to the automated ad skip feature on the DVR; on the Fire Stick you have to skip manually via the transport controls (right direction or FF button).

BTW, be prepared for price increases as of January 1 unless you have a fixed-price term agreement. In most Comcast regions, almost all of the services and equipment fees will go up by at least a few dollars (e.g., across-the-board $5 increase in all the HSI tiers). The Broadcast TV and Regional Sports fees alone will hit around $50 p.m.; for comparison, you can currently get YouTubeTV for that price on a two-month discount.

 

[spiderpumpkin]

You are referring to the automated ad skip feature on the DVR; on the Fire Stick you have to skip manually via the transport controls (right direction or FF button).

BTW, be prepared for price increases as of January 1 unless you have a fixed-price term agreement. In most Comcast regions, almost all of the services and equipment fees will go up by at least a few dollars (e.g., across-the-board $5 increase in all the HSI tiers). The Broadcast TV and Regional Sports fees alone will hit around $50 p.m.; for comparison, you can currently get YouTubeTV for that price on a two-month discount.

I've tried YoutubeTV with free trials a few times and it works great. However, it is missing too many channels that I can get with Comcast or Directv Stream. I wish the Comcast and Directv Stream were cheaper but I guess you have to pay more for a better channel selection.

 

[chiguy50]

I've tried YoutubeTV with free trials a few times and it works great. However, it is missing too many channels that I can get with Comcast or Directv Stream. I wish the Comcast and Directv Stream were cheaper but I guess you have to pay more for a better channel selection.

Yes, channel selection is a highly personal matter, which means that there is no one right provider solution for everyone. However, the channel availability can change (addition or subtraction) over time due to expiring carriage agreements and other factors, so it's worth resurveying the field anytime you are open to switching.

This is an excellent resource for a customized side-by-side comparison of providers in your service area: Suppose... you could design your perfect TV service

 

[misterclick]

We are Comcast "auto-pay" customers, so instead of receiving a monthly statement by mail or e-mail, we just get an e-mail notifying us that they'll be posting a charge in a few days.

We have a TiVo Edge and many Mini Luxes (supporting up to 10 TVs, some connected using HDMI over CAT).

On Wednesday, 11/27, our TiVo system was working fine. When we next tried to watch TV using our TiVo Edge - all channels were not authorized.

I spent an hour and a half using Comcast's text message and phone support - and was told our cablecard was functioning and communicating - but it had been marked for "end of life". I tried a power cycle on the Edge and removed and reinserted the cablecard (which caused the Edge to go through setup again) - no change. They tried sending a refresh signal (multiple times) - no change.

On Sunday morning, I was able to reach the cablecard group - who confirmed the card was "end of life" - but tried to go through steps to get it to reactivate - and failed.

I was told I had two options. Since the cablecard group can no longer send out cards, I could try going to a local Xfinity store and see if they had any newer cablecards in stock - and then call back to get it activated. This was admittedly a long shot - even if they had cablecards in stock, Comcast is slowly deactivating the cablecards, so at best, we might only be able to extend service by a few more months - the end of cablecard service is inevitable with Comcast.

The other option - was to go to the store and get an extra X1 DVR (we have one included with our TV package). They would provide us the extra DVR for free FOR ONE MONTH, and after that, we'd have to pay $10 per month. To replace all of our TiVo Minis, we'd end up spending an extra $50-100 PER MONTH to go this route.

We have a fiber company in the process of laying fiber for home internet - and will soon be providing high speed internet as an alternative to Comcast, with the same download and upload speeds. $70 for 1Gb/s, $90 for 2Gb/s, $100 for 5Gb/s and $120 for 8Gb/s - unlimited data. With Comcast, the best we can get right now is their Xfi Complete package which provides up to 1.2Gb/s download and 35Mb/s upload, with unlimited data.

So we had been considering a switch from Comcast TV to a streaming service. But an initial review of our options wasn't encouraging - nothing yet appears to provide the same level as what we get from Comcast.

At least for now, we've decided to stick with Comcast TV and use our existing X1 DVR. We've been using that for remote viewing for over a year, since the TiVo android app has become increasingly unreliable (often unable to make any connections when away from home).

To replace the network of TiVo Mini Luxes and HDMI over CAT connections, we're buying an Amazon Fire Stick for every TV, plus a couple for use when we are away from home. These are surprisingly inexpensive - the HD version costs only $18 and the 4K Max costs only $32. Not only with the Fire Sticks provide access to the Xfinity Stream app (for live and recorded TV), we can also use them to provide full streaming support for all of our TVs - at a much much lower one time cost compared to renting X1 DVR boxes.

We'll miss using our TIVos. I was an early cablecard adopter - using ATI cablecard tuners and SiliconDust tuners with Windows Media Center - and when WMC became unusable as Microsoft shifted to newer Windows versions - we shifted to TiVo - and were one of their beta testers for new software and hardware.

The TiVo interface is still better than what we have with Xfinity. When it works, TiVo provided automatic commercial skipping - like we were able to implement with WMC and our older SonicBlue DVR. Xfinity does mark commercials - which can help when playing directly off the DVR or using the android app - but that doesn't appear to be a feature available on Fire Stick.

But if cablecards are going to soon be discontinued by Comcast, even if we could get running for a few more months, the end of TiVo use with Comcast is here.

I looked at listing our TiVo Edge, Bolt+ (with a dead hard drive) and many TiVo Minis and Mini Luxes on eBay. But there are already so many listings for TiVo hardware on eBay - it's pretty clear there's no market for used TiVo gear with the impending death of cablecard.

While we'll be using Comcast for TV, at least for now, one thing this has done is make it much easier to drop Comcast completely - and shift our internet, TV and landline to fiber from another company, providing much higher speeds - at a lower cost.

So... By dropping cablecard, Comcast is making it easier for them to lose those cablecard customers completely...

It's really unfortunate what happened to TiVo. They were in a fantastic position when we initially switched from WMC to TiVo. At that time, they had integration with Comcast - we could watch video-on-demand on our TiVo boxes. They had streaming apps - with search that crossed all of those apps. They had a smartphone app. They had all of the these features before any of the new streaming stick competitors entered the market. They could have positioned their products to be an integrator of over-the-air and cable TV and streaming services, providing access through their TiVo DVRs and Minis - and through apps running on smartphones, tablets, computers, and TVs.

But they blew it...

Farewell TiVo - it was a great ride - while it lasted...

Thank you so much. You make a lot of sense. I really really love my TiVos, but like you said: They blew it! That's really unfortunate.
I thought I was the only one with problems with the TiVo app, I could not get it to work half or most of the time. IT'S JUST LIKE MY CO-WORKERS!🤬.
Click.

 

[johnd01]

I hope I die before my last Tivo/cable card combination dies.

 

[emuman100]

The tech confirmed that even if they were able to resuscitate the disabled cards, this would only keep us running for a few months more - because they are planning to shut off the cablecards at some point. Sounded like this software update was planned to go out - but later...

On Wednesday, I'm posting our TiVo system on eBay for sale - Edge for Cable 2TB (lifetime subscription), Bolt+ (non-working, needs new hard drive), 6 Mini Luxes, 4 Minis, 10 TiVo voice remotes, 5 older TiVo remotes.

You believed false information and just gave up. That is exactly what Comcast wanted you to do. People like you are why Comcast wins.

No one wants your cable-only TiVos. Might as well take it down because you are wasting your time.

 

[Beryl]

Another 3 hours wasted.
1. They said they would send an X1 box a couple of weeks ago (no charge) but didn’t. Another call got a box sent but they charged me $25 which they promised to credit back.
2. After a chat and a phone call, the box can’t be activated. They offered to send out another. (I don’t think so as I only have a month left on my contract. This is another sign that I should dump Comcast.)
3. That agent sends me a link to generate a return label. It doesn’t work as the equipment is not on my account. (I don’t want to go to a store.)
4. Another 45 minute call to Xfinity to get a return box to be received some time after Christmas.
The last guy said that the problem was that they didn’t properly scan the box to my account and when they tried to do it again, it wouldn’t allow it because it had already been scanned. Whatever.

 

[Old Hickory]

What is the super secret 800# for Comcast cable card issues? I've not yet encountered this issue and want to avoid it.

Okay, just found this: For any questions about your CableCARD, please call 1-877-405-2298.

Thanks.

 

[luisdans]

The tivo documentation states that a romio can be activated without a cablecard. You can watch all except "encrypted channels". Anyone knows what channels what channels from basic can work? I would assume all premium tv channels are encrypted... Trying to determine if I can reactivate a tivo with a new lower cost basic package from Comcast.

 

[CommunityMember]

The tivo documentation states that a romio can be activated without a cablecard. You can watch all except "encrypted channels". Anyone knows what channels what channels from basic can work? I would assume all premium tv channels are encrypted... Trying to determine if I can reactivate a tivo with a new lower cost basic package from Comcast.

Ever since the completion of the cable digital transition all QAM channels are encrypted with the exception of the EAS channel (and the one channel that told you you needed to have a TV subscription, but I think that channel has since been removed in most markets).

 

[astrohip]

Yeah, there was a time you could get the basic channels (ABC et al) thru cable without any encryption. Even a TV could get them.

No longer.