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Re: WOW So, the money we pay for our cable goes into a dark void? |
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fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3
1 edit | The money YOU pay for cable comes back through your television. Your statements that you've made, though small, are pretty intense towards the fact that you have any say where your money goes in the first place.
You don't own the cable you pay for.
You don't have say how they spend THEIR profits.
You don't have share or stake or even vote in the company.
You pay a bill and get your service each month and that is where your relationship with the company ends.
But, along the lines of is THEIR money going down a "dark void" as you say.. again, I ask, are you serious? Any idea how much it costs to upgrade systems that have 750 thousand active customers? DVRs are cheap, ADS conversions aren't cheap, phone builds & conversions aren't cheap. Hell, do you have ANY idea how much one single mailing campaign cost to send out just to sell that service?
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown |
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Interesting how it says in the article that comcast is dropping analog signals because the new law requires "all broadcasters" (which comcast is NOT) to use a digital platform by 2009.
And then, they claim they wont raise prices on thise who now have to get digital boxes. I'm sure comcast will give up their $3 a month ripoff for box rental.
Never mind that now you HAVE TO USE their equipment, which nullifies fcc rulings about standard channel plans and customers being able to use their TV's to recieve cable.
Ahhhh...The good old cable monopoly days are back, let the ripoff profits roll...
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fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3
1 edit | Do you not understand there is an issue with down-converting of the digital signals that will happen when the broadcast signals are cut from OTA transmission? This DOES affect cable. They will either have to get waivers or negotiate that ability from the local broadcasters.. it's not an easy argument.. but I'm glad you come here like you know it all.
What happens this July with boxes? Look it up..
Satellite charges $5 per month per box and the consumer usually owns them.. you want to talk about a rip off? ..take off your blinders. So please file your $3 rip-off argument for someone who cares.
People wanting to keep analog is like someone crying for their windows 95... really.
Ahhhhh.. The good old cable rants are still going.
My post was valid.. I used to post here and not have problem joining in until attacked. Now, I can agree with half or agree with the other and it doesn't matter.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown |
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 Titus PulloI came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
kudos:1
 ·Embarq Now Centu..
| reply to fiberguy
said by fiberguy:You pay a bill and get your service each month and that is where your relationship with the company ends. Yes, it does  and that's a relationship that cuts both ways. |
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| Well, I think Comcast has nothing better to do with their money. So, they waste it away for tax write offs. |
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RadioDoc58ef2c0Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
1 edit | reply to fiberguy
When Comcast hands out free cable boxes (no install fees either) to allow all of the analog-only sets hooked up to basic cable to continue to receive, then I'll believe you.
Ending analog is entirely to the benefit of Comcast with no benefit to their customer base. It's a pure money grab. If it weren't they'd make this a zero-expense changeover for all customers.
Nice flames, by the way. Bad week at work?
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Toolmaster of La Grange. |
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 MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | reply to fiberguy
said by fiberguy:..are you just being looney? or are you really being serious...? (serious question) The money YOU pay for cable comes back through your television. Your statements that you've made, though small, are pretty intense towards the fact that you have any say where your money goes in the first place. You don't own the cable you pay for. You don't have say how they spend THEIR profits. You don't have share or stake or even vote in the company. You pay a bill and get your service each month and that is where your relationship with the company ends. But, along the lines of is THEIR money going down a "dark void" as you say.. again, I ask, are you serious? Any idea how much it costs to upgrade systems that have 750 thousand active customers? DVRs are cheap, ADS conversions aren't cheap, phone builds & conversions aren't cheap. Hell, do you have ANY idea how much one single mailing campaign cost to send out just to sell that service? Dood, you're talking to someone who probably would come here asking for help because they can't get their laptop working behind their Linksys router.
You REALLY expect them to understand the upgrade of 750k+ people?
You need to lower your expectations of the average user of this site man.
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Use the OS tool for the job. |
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| reply to fiberguy
Downconvert? What are you talking about? The 2009 cut-off doesn't end 480 resolution transmission. As far as muxing a 1080i/720p signal and dropping it down to 480i on the fly, it's not that hard. It's not like you'd need to do it for every customer.
And satellite charges 5$ per extra box. The initial one is part of the service charge.
Many people have good TVs with great responsive tuners and they don't want to deal with a slow digital box that doesn't work well with their universal remote control. |
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| reply to RadioDoc
quote:
Ending analog is entirely to the benefit of Comcast with no benefit to their customer base. It's a pure money grab. If it weren't they'd make this a zero-expense changeover for all customers.
No benefit? What the hell are you on? Better picture quality, more spectrum for not only for future use but to relieve current digital compression. I honestly can't wait for the day when Time Warner tells analog cable subscribers to say pay up or leave. Analog only customers are leaches, using the precious bandwidth that could be used for crystal clear HD or improve SD. Satellite is 100% digital, they change extra for additional receivers, why can't the so called 'cable monopoly' do this? Every cable customer should be FORCED to have a digital set top terminal. It's called progress, in 2007 analog cable should not exist.
I have Digital Cable with every movie channel, the Sports Tier, the HD Tier, just ordered MLB Extra Innings, not one but two HD DVRs, Premium broadband service and would have phone service if I could get it, but yet Time Warner would rather cater to the wants of grannys and the poor who pay a measly $40 or whatever, then a high end subscriber like myself. ANALOG CABLE MUST GO!!! Kudos to Comcast for have the balls to do this, the backlash will be great for sure, but screw ‘em.
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Time Warner Cable Subscriber
Digital Cable & Road Runner Premium
252 Channels, HD DVR & 15/1 Broadband |
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Reviews:
 ·Bright House
| reply to RadioDoc
said by RadioDoc:When Comcast hands out free cable boxes (no install fees either) to allow all of the analog-only sets hooked up to basic cable to continue to receive, then I'll believe you. Ending analog is entirely to the benefit of Comcast with no benefit to their customer base. It's a pure money grab. If it weren't they'd make this a zero-expense changeover for all customers. Nice flames, by the way. Bad week at work? {A$$HOLE ON}
Well, just thank your local FCC office. I'm sure if enough people take their bill to them and complain, they will do something about it eventually.
{A$$HOLE OFF}
On a more realistic note, this is definately a decision that was made to "test out" how well this launch will benefit, and to find out the "quirks" involved. But the FCC's decision to force everyone to move to the new HD channel map for OTA (Over The Air) signals IS to blame for this "change of plans". Quite frankly, you will need a damn box for your "analog tv" even if it isn't from Comcast, and very likely the first few "basic cable" channels will come in with this HD downconverter. The downconverter is a Digital to Analog converter of course, and is the same converter the FCC is handing out $20 or $40 vouchers (I forget the exact amoung) for. So even if the cable company doesn't "screw you" for a cable box, the government will if you want that analog TV to keep on workin. It's bull, but you have other options, for which you'd still be paying a box fee/programming fee for each TV. I myself can see charging install fee's though, because it cost gas and labor to do, and that stuff isn't cheap. Those techs in the field get a company truck, gas, and good pay, so to spend 15 minutes at your house to hook up a box you can pick up at any payment center, really takes close to 45 minutes all together. 15 minutes to get to you, 15 to hook it up, 15 to politely explain how to use it, and have you sign his work order, call the dispatcher to close the order, and then move on. Thats 45 minutes that could be spent on fixing a real problem with service, so someone could be canceling service because you didn't want to pick it up. Oh well, I understand where you're coming from though. 
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SIPPhone/Gizmo # 17476200648 / PIMPNET Chatline / Ran by Asterisk & Slackware 10.1. |
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1 edit | reply to fiberguy
wow Fiberguy just shutup already, Everyone knows Comcrap is trash. ok $400 mil upgrade and all they get is a crappy upload powerboost. Well they definitely earned the name COMCRAP
my COMCRAP speeds ATM
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 Toguro
join:2003-10-23
Ottawa, IL | reply to fiberguy
You are going to give your self a stroke if you keep getting so angry over every little post you don't like. |
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RadioDoc58ef2c0Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11 | reply to Steve Mehs
You're certainly entitled to that opinion. The insults, however, blow your argument. The majority of cable customers just want to watch TV, not be a "high end subscriber" sending $150 or more each month to the cable company. If they weren't making money hand over fist (remember those obscene profit numbers from a couple months back?) from those low-cost analog customers they'd have pulled the plug years ago.
If they really want everyone off analog, cough up the box for free. It'll cost them less than the daily "triple play" flier I get in the mail, and they can write the whole thing off of their tax on that obscene profit, maybe even get a tax credit for keeping granny in touch with All My Children.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. |
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| What argument? I'm just staing my opinion. I’ve seen many of your posts which can be summed up with the words 'Cable Sucks'. I’m not playing your game.
Why should Comcast provide a box for free? They don’t get the boxes for free from Motorola or Scientific Atlanta. Comcast is a company, they are supposed to make money, they’re not a charity. When I left cable in 1998 for Dish Network, it cost us over $700 for a two room set up, with the most basic receivers around. Should I’ve gotten that for free? No. Hardware costs money, the installers have to get paid, 1998 was still relatively early on in the satellite TV world so prices were higher. In 2004, when I left Dish Network for DirecTV, I believe we paid $200 for hardware and installation. Should I’ve gotten that for free? No. Both satellite providers FORCE you to buy hardware or now lease it and you pay extra for each additional receiver beyond the first. I don’t see why cable should be different.
For Triple Play Subscribers, Time Warner doesn’t charge extra for the first digital terminal.
BTW - There is no such thing as an 'obscene profit'. Captialism is a beautiful thing, and there is not one CEO in this country who doesn't deserve what they make.
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Time Warner Cable Subscriber
Digital Cable & Road Runner Premium
252 Channels, HD DVR & 15/1 Broadband |
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| reply to RadioDoc
said by RadioDoc:When Comcast hands out free cable boxes (no install fees either) to allow all of the analog-only sets hooked up to basic cable to continue to receive, then I'll believe you. Ending analog is entirely to the benefit of Comcast with no benefit to their customer base. It's a pure money grab. If it weren't they'd make this a zero-expense changeover for all customers. Nice flames, by the way. Bad week at work? They are doing it in my area now after going to an all digital broadcast a few months ago.
So......now what do you want to complain about?
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I'm not really sure what I am doing, but I'm doing it anyway! |
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fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | reply to bogey780
Bogey.. now you just lost ANY credibility.. .
Down-convert... do you have ANY idea what that means? At this time, there is arguments going back and forth, because of yet ANOTHER fabulously written law where questions remain. Can a cable or video operator take a "digital signal" and "down-convert" it to an "analog" signal. If they do this, will they have to pay the broadcaster for the right to do this..? And, will this raise the customer's bill even more?
I said satellite charges $5 per extra box.. what's your point? Comcast includes 1 box per account on digital... so your point is.. what? The TOPIC was that cable is going to rip off customers with a $3 box fee per extra tv *to rent* something they don't have to box when SATELLITE has been doing this for YEARS since they started on equipment that the consumer PURCHASED! I believe they called this a MIRRORING FEE. I Know, because I was a satellite early adopter when MANY here were still in grade school.
The slow boxes are being phased out.. the 2500, 700 and other advanced boxes are in play now. The others are going... Motorola has one remote code and has for years. If the universal remotes don't operate a Motorola box I HARDLY find that the fault of Motorola. In YOUR logic, Motorola and all things cable should work with the makers of accessories.. maybe the accessories and TV makers should also try to work in return. Besides, you're just plain being wrong here. MANY universals work with Motorola and S/A! If you want some education here, far more satellite receivers don't work with universals than the two largest cable box makers in the country do. Next time, do your homework.
As for slow tuners... let me clue you into something else... you know those televisions that have built in digital cable tuners in them? Have YOU ever tried to channel surf with one? You'd be surprised at how slow some of those change channels. I've seen some TV's that make the DCT 2000 look like a dream come true. And how about the RCA 310 satellite boxes that you could buy for $200 a piece. There are plenty of slow tuning boxes out there. The fact is that digital signals are still rather slow to tune. It's nice that you want to spin things to blame an industry when you don't have your facts straight.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown |
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fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | reply to Matt
"You need to lower your expectations of the average user of this site man."
I understand that ... but this is also the same group that comes here and tells people that actually KNOW what they are talking about that they are wrong.
I actually know what I'm talking about on many of the subjects I post on.. and I get followed up by people who think they know and I'm told to shut it all the time.
I think one can only take it for so long.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown |
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fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | reply to stella
I'll take my TRASH line ANY-DAY! .... and I won't shut up.. well, maybe if you register for an account here, make it a premium one, I will. |
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| reply to fiberguy
"Downconvert" is where hyou take a signal and induce bitloss intentionally either by resizing the frame or changing the compression to a higher level. What you're talking about is a straight DAC. Did cable companies find a way to not already pay local broadcasters to rebradcast their signal?
I can buy several licensed boxes for DirecTv straight from retailers. If I should break the box then I'm out of whatever I paid and don't have to pay a bill that I don't get to negotiate. Ownership trumps rental every time because of that.
I was a satellite adopter back when you had a huge dish and it was free for the wildfeeds. I was a DTV adopter when the euipment was 800$ with a self-install in a single location.
Nothing changes the fact that this move is not consumer friendly in that it forces a higher bill upon them forfeatures they don't want. |
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