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No cable provider other than several small ones allows customer provided CableCARDs in their system
Xfinity - You can no longer order or change a TV Package without getting a X1 STB and Cable Card(s) must be returned.
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That is the same package that I have. They always charged me $8.50 for the X1 box I had for 3.5 years despite it saying that.
You get one "box" free per account. That would mean the first X1 box would be free, but a Cable Card also counts as a box so I assume you are paying for one of those.
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Sure, but that has nothing to do with the post I was replying to that was suggesting buying CableCARDs on ebay.
No, since Comcast stopped charging at all, for any CC's on but all of their systems...
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Where I am they made Cards free awhile ago no matter how many you have.
Then this is a change from when I was on Comcast. Seems an odd choice for something they want to get rid of, but good deal for you
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Comcast made CableCARDs $0/mo when the location moved to S&E (Simple and Easy) pricing (which is also when "the first box" was not longer included in many/most bundles). While S&E pricing was initially for only one region, at this point I believe it is everywhere (with Comcast, there are always exceptions). Note that if one is on a legacy plan/bundle one will need to move to new plan/bundle to experience S&E pricing.
Oops, looks like I replied to the wrong post. Apologies.
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Technically, the CableCARD price was primarily (initially called) the "outlet fee", later called "service to an additional TV" fee, but as they have moved to streaming solutions first, that "outlet fee" has disappeared.Then this is a change from when I was on Comcast. Seems an odd choice for something they want to get rid of, but good deal for you
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The issue is that (except for the toy operators) the CableCARD needs to be in the operators inventory, which means they (in their billing system) own them, in order to provision them. There is nothing to (technically) prevent someone with provisioning super powers (i.e. ability to edit the database) to add a non-owned CableCARD into the inventory, but normal CSRs, and even their supervisors, and their supervisors supervisor, do not have those powers, but behind the scenes such powers exist (amusingly, once in the operators inventory you would be billed at the usual CableCARD rates, and you would have to return it to the operator when you ended service or you would be charged for a non-returned device).
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Actually, the Digital Service or Additional Digital Outlet fee was always a separate line item from the CableCARD fee on the rate schedule (with the latter then typically reduced to $0.00). Comcast simply wanted to skirt any conflict with the FCC's suggested range of reasonable CableCARD fees by charging up to $10 for their use in customer-owned equipment under the guise of instead assessing a fee ostensibly for any CableCARD-enabled digital device on other than the primary outlet rather than for rental of the CableCARD itself.
This remains essentially how the S&E system continues to operate by charging a separate fee for each TV Box on the account, including the first one.
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I was a COMCAST customer since the old analog boxes first came into the market. I now live in an area SPECTRUM supports. They hate the cable cards and insist that every time there's a problem, it's the cable card. I finally insisted that a manager take responsibility for my reception issues (it's been off and on for 18 months).
He came to the house and said he'd have to get their "TIVO specialist" to come take a look. They don't have one tech that supports cable cards in my city (most tell me they've never seen a TIVO before me). Then, the clock starts ticking........they get on the phone with the mothership and after about an hour, they tell me that they have to charge me an hourly rate to further troubleshoot.
I decided to pass and did a little investigation of my own. One thing I discovered - the problem channels were switched digital video (SDV). I disconnected the channel adapter and immediately the problem disappeared. Problem is that two channels (only 2) are SDV on Spectrum's network. Odd I thought - I need this box for two channels?
When I called the manager back to tell him that I found the problem, he told me that Spectrum would be asking cable card customers to return their cards.
I was offered a cable box but WTF?? He told me that Spectrum management has lost most of their relationship with TIVO since XPeri.
I just bought a new Edge back in March with a lifetime subscription.....he said they may be able to offer me a limited discount when they ask for the cards back but he's not sure when that will be.
......I also will have to subscribe to one of the different tiers at that time.
Wondering if any other subscribers on other cable networks are experiencing the same? I guess you learn the hard way - when you buy a new TIVO with a lifetime subscription only to find out it's useless.
He came to the house and said he'd have to get their "TIVO specialist" to come take a look. They don't have one tech that supports cable cards in my city (most tell me they've never seen a TIVO before me). Then, the clock starts ticking........they get on the phone with the mothership and after about an hour, they tell me that they have to charge me an hourly rate to further troubleshoot.
I decided to pass and did a little investigation of my own. One thing I discovered - the problem channels were switched digital video (SDV). I disconnected the channel adapter and immediately the problem disappeared. Problem is that two channels (only 2) are SDV on Spectrum's network. Odd I thought - I need this box for two channels?
When I called the manager back to tell him that I found the problem, he told me that Spectrum would be asking cable card customers to return their cards.
I was offered a cable box but WTF?? He told me that Spectrum management has lost most of their relationship with TIVO since XPeri.
I just bought a new Edge back in March with a lifetime subscription.....he said they may be able to offer me a limited discount when they ask for the cards back but he's not sure when that will be.
......I also will have to subscribe to one of the different tiers at that time.
Wondering if any other subscribers on other cable networks are experiencing the same? I guess you learn the hard way - when you buy a new TIVO with a lifetime subscription only to find out it's useless.
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My bill says the same and they also charge me $8.50/m. I never questioned it because I took "Prem DVR Svc" as the software side of things that required me to rent (or buy?) the hardware like I have to with the modem.
As far as Cablecard, which Diane mentioned, I used to have a fee for both a card and an outlet. They stopped that nonsense a few years back and I now get two at no charge.
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My bill used to have a line item on it that the first cablecard was free and I had a small credit every month for "customer owned equipment", but I don't get that anymore. It does say again something to the effect of first cablecard free now that they managed to remove the X1 box from my account.
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Yes, the COE credit was granted to subscribers using their own digital receivers in lieu of Comcast's rental (CPE) TV Box when the CPE was included in the TV service fee (i.e., not a separately billed add-on item). But the COE credit has essentially been eliminated under the new Simple & Easy system since none of the offers for TV service includes the TV Box. OTOH, all CableCARDs are now free of charge under S&E.
Okay, I’ve just been looking thru all the TIVO issues and now leaving with great relief. My experience with Verizon has always been fantastic for 20 years or more! I never worry at all with my 5 various tivos with 5 cable cards. No one has ever suggested that cable cards will leave TIVO boat anchors around. I love my easy tv services over the years with all those subscriptions and streaming from Verizon. I wouldn’t change a thing! I do get OTA too with the $35 outdoor digital antenna. 😊
Verizon Fios TV and Comcast have been the most TiVo-friendly of all the major cable TV operators. And while I don't see Verizon Fios entirely dropping support for CableCARDs soon, they are also now starting to transition away from QAM cable TV (which is CableCARD-compatible) over to IPTV (which is not). This is currently happening in New York City where Verizon Fios has rolled out 2 Gbps internet service this year. As I understand it, homes in areas where 2 Gig service is available who sign up for Fios (or existing customers in those areas who wish to upgrade to 2 Gig service) will have a new style ONT installed. This ONT does not support QAM TV and therefore cannot support CableCARD devices like TiVo.
When Verizon launched 2 Gig service in NYC back in Feb., they told those customers taking it that they could not yet get Fios TV service, but that that option would become available to them at a later date. It appears that Fios TV is now available to them as a streaming IPTV service delivered to a new Fios TV box that runs a customized version of Google's Android TV operating system. In addition to Fios TV -- complete with live channels, cloud DVR, and VOD -- the box also features the Google Assistant plus the Google Play app store for downloading and installing a range of popular streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Tubi, etc.
Here's a little promo video for "the new Fios TV" showing the new box in action:
At this time, this new IPTV-based Fios TV box is only available to customers on the 2 Gig service tier. And from what I read in another forum, it may come with different TV packages and pricing than traditional Fios TV (although I'm not sure about that).
But the interesting thing I read in this article about the box is the following:
"The carrier said it will roll out the device to its entire Fios footprint beginning next year."
That strongly suggests to me that Verizon will soon phase out selling their traditional QAM-based Fios TV service and its range of set-top boxes and DVRs. My guess is that at some point in 2023, all customers signing up for Fios TV service will only be offered "the new Fios TV" which is IPTV-only and delivered to this new box. But I'd also guess that existing customers on traditional QAM-based Fios TV will be able to keep that version of their service and their existing boxes (and CableCARDs) for awhile longer. But how much longer? Who knows. As Verizon upgrades their network to support 2 Gig speeds system-wide, I expect that they'll want to reclaim the bandwidth/spectrum currently devoted to QAM TV.
So while I wouldn't say that the end of CableCARD is necessarily imminent at Verizon, I also would urge Verizon Fios customers not to purchase a new TiVo DVR (or an all-in lifetime service plan) at this point. It's uncertain how much longer you may be able to use it.
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FOMO? FOFO? There are only 4 hours of network shows for my demographic anyway. TV was almost open for a while and it is on its way to extremely proprietary. If my lifetime Tivo dies, if my Fios ONT dies, if I move... I will likely start new with satellite internet and no DVR. Time to get serious about Mac The Ripper and its competitors.
I still have my own modem I purchased myself for Comcast. I don't want their bloated junky modem. Plus I have a mesh network which actually gives me greater bandwidth than Comcast promises anywhere in the house. If you want maximum WiFi throughput everywhere in your home, you gotta get a mesh WiFi network!
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