needthebox
@sbcglobal.net
| no signal message
I was attempting to record the Nascar Nationwide Series race today on my Panasonic DMR-ES40V - it was unwatchable as the video and audio was breaking up and a small black screen kept popping up on the left that said "no signal". I have just moved from New London to Waterford and have expanded basic service. (Prior to moving I had Dish Network with a epg digital box) I never had this problem with the Dish service. I am disabled and on a limited budget - when I went to Myrock Avenue to see if I could rent a box I was told I would have to give them $200.00 which they will keep indefinitely in order to get a box.
I connected the dvd/vcr combo unit to another person's tv who had a Metrocast box and did not have the problem (I believe my signal issues are related to not having a digital converter box -) since I am paying for the service and not getting what I should I don't think it is unreasonable for Metrocast to provide the digital box without the exorbitant $200.00 fee, $7.00 rental a month is payment enough.
If someone from Metrocast is reading this and can assist I would appreciate it. |
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nelamvr6
High-End Headphoniac
Premium
join:2000-11-28
New London, CT
clubs:  | I would disagree.
If you want the service you should have to pay the same price as all of us. |
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flush75
join:2008-10-30
Waterford, CT
| said by nelamvr6  :I would disagree. If you want the service you should have to pay the same price as all of us. You paid a $200 deposit on a converter box? |
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nelamvr6
High-End Headphoniac
Premium
join:2000-11-28
New London, CT
clubs:
1 edit | reply to needthebox
Ooops! Having re-read the OP's post, I guess I missed his point originally.
No, I didn't pay a $200 deposit, and that does indeed sound unreasonable.
Sorry! I guess I read too fast. |
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needthebox
@sbcglobal.net
| reply to nelamvr6
"The service" does not work properly without the box, so I am not receiving the service at the same level as you. Why would I pay the same for a lower level of service? I should be paying LESS for the service, not more. It is not right I should have to pay a nonrefundable deposit of $200.00 down to correct an issue caused by Metrocasts' system. |
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needthebox
@sbcglobal.net
| reply to flush75
This is what they told me at Myrock Avenue would be the fee necessary to get a box. I did not pay it as I feel this is an exhorbitant fee. A few days later I attempted the recording and had the problem I stated earlier. When I connected the dvd/vcr to a Metrocast customer that had a box I had no more "no signal" popup blackboxes appear.
I don't feel it is unreasonable to request a box to eliminate this problem - will I pay 200.00 down to get the box? No. Other avenues are available to resolve this issue, I wanted to give Metrocast the chance to make this right first - over twenty-four hours now and no response from them. |
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jsz0
join:2008-01-23
Jewett City, CT | reply to needthebox
I would suggest a service call instead. A set top would very likely have the same problem. All RF tuners in devices want basically the same signal levels. If it doesn't work on your ES40V it won't work on a MetroCast box either. |
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Fluke
join:2008-06-24
Plainfield, CT | reply to needthebox
who informed you this was non-refundable? The "deposit" is refundable when you turn the box back in.
--
Get cape... wear cape... fly! |
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needthebox
@sbcglobal.net | reply to jsz0
As you can see from my earlier post, I connected it to a Metrocast box and did not have the problem while connected to the box watching the same program through the Panasonic dvd/vcr. |
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needthebox
@sbcglobal.net | reply to Fluke
Poor choice of words on my part - I hand over $200.00 and never see it again until I return the box I need to correct the problem with the Comcast service. Still not sounding like to great a deal. |
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needthebox
@sbcglobal.net
| Problem corrected - AT&T U-verse being installed. Comes with a DVR and allows up to three tv's to be connected - three hundred dollar credit for dumping Metrocast and switching to AT&T, DSL Pro included, one bill to pay a month now instead of two. Not ONE response from Metrocast about my problem. Now I remember why I dumped them (back then it was Eastern Connecticut Cable) in favor of Dish Satellite 14 years ago - poor customer service, lousy channel lineup and too high a price for their service compared to the competition. |
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nelamvr6
High-End Headphoniac
Premium
join:2000-11-28
New London, CT
clubs:
 ·Metrocast Communic..
| said by needthebox :
Problem corrected - AT&T U-verse being installed. Comes with a DVR and allows up to three tv's to be connected - three hundred dollar credit for dumping Metrocast and switching to AT&T, DSL Pro included, one bill to pay a month now instead of two. Not ONE response from Metrocast about my problem. Now I remember why I dumped them (back then it was Eastern Connecticut Cable) in favor of Dish Satellite 14 years ago - poor customer service, lousy channel lineup and too high a price for their service compared to the competition.
I hope your service is good. But I wouldn't be too quick to call your problem "solved".
If Uverse works well for you count yourself lucky. Personally I would wait and see. |
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billh491
join:2001-08-09
Pomfret Center, CT
| reply to needthebox
needthebox I guess you must live in a rich area of the state as The Death Star has no plans of rolling out Uverse in NE CT as we would not be a good return on investment.
Most of the reason for lack of higher speeds here at Metrocast is they can beat the slow speeds of DSL hands down from the Death Star because they have no plans to run fiber like Verizon.
Oddly Metrocast made the front page of BBR with news of being one of the first cable provider to use a new fiber products. But guess where it will be used? In high end towns of VA. Do you want to guess who the Telco is in VA? My bet is Verizon and not ATT.
Also good luck with the Death star one of the leading opponents to net neutrality. They even told all their managers to email congress from their home email to stop any laws that makes ATT carry all net traffic equally. |
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flush75
join:2008-10-30
Waterford, CT
| reply to needthebox
Wait until you have problems with their service. I hope you are fluent in Indian b/c all tech calls go over there. Then get used to saying "I already cycled the power on my modem".
I had the worst DSL problems and it took nearly three weeks for them to acknowledge the problem. Then they call me a day later to see if I want to sign up for Uverse. Sure, they can't get one service right so why not give them more business. |
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needthebox
@sbcglobal.net
| reply to billh491
Actually billh491, I live in a very depressed part of Southeastern CT - good-paying opportunities are very scarce. That is what got me so po'd when Metrocast wanted $200.00 dollars for their stupid box! Who's got that kind of money to just throw away indefinitely? I don't. As to your comments about differences between cable and DSL, I don't agree completely.
The speed of DSL Pro ($30.00 a month, if ordered online $19.95 credit is issued to your account for 3 months and you are given a free wireless gateway or modem after rebate) is advertised at downstream up to 3.0 Mbps, upstream is up to 512 kbps. Metrocast basic is 29.95 a month - the download speed is 1.5 Mbps, the upload speed looks to be 256kbps - for a nickel more a month I get better downstream and upstream speed as well as a better price with the AT&T package.
Connection is unique and speed is not affected by the number of users on-line at the same time. DSL speed is more consistent. Upload speed is comparable to cable. One study indicated that dsl is faster than cable modem service. Based on a month-long benchmarking study by Keynote Systems, DSL was found to be 11% faster than cable modems.
Dsl also is not as affected by the number of users on your network as is Cable service. Also I will be able to log on from multiple hotspots across the country when away from home, and should there be no hotspots as long as I have access to a dialtone and portable twisted pair cable I can use my modem to access the 'Net.
As to Net neutrality there are pros and cons for it on both sides, I will keep a watchful eye on the debate. |
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nelamvr6
High-End Headphoniac
Premium
join:2000-11-28
New London, CT
clubs:
·Metrocast Communic..
| said by needthebox :
Actually billh491, I live in a very depressed part of Southeastern CT - good-paying opportunities are very scarce. That is what got me so po'd when Metrocast wanted $200.00 dollars for their stupid box! Who's got that kind of money to just throw away indefinitely? I don't. As to your comments about differences between cable and DSL, I don't agree completely.
The speed of DSL Pro ($30.00 a month, if ordered online $19.95 credit is issued to your account for 3 months and you are given a free wireless gateway or modem after rebate) is advertised at downstream up to 3.0 Mbps, upstream is up to 512 kbps. Metrocast basic is 29.95 a month - the download speed is 1.5 Mbps, the upload speed looks to be 256kbps - for a nickel more a month I get better downstream and upstream speed as well as a better price with the AT&T package.
Connection is unique and speed is not affected by the number of users on-line at the same time. DSL speed is more consistent. Upload speed is comparable to cable. One study indicated that dsl is faster than cable modem service. Based on a month-long benchmarking study by Keynote Systems, DSL was found to be 11% faster than cable modems.
Dsl also is not as affected by the number of users on your network as is Cable service. Also I will be able to log on from multiple hotspots across the country when away from home, and should there be no hotspots as long as I have access to a dialtone and portable twisted pair cable I can use my modem to access the 'Net.
As to Net neutrality there are pros and cons for it on both sides, I will keep a watchful eye on the debate.
You're giving theoretical limits, I will be very surprised if you ever see the advertised speeds.
Theoretically cable can experience slow speeds during peak hours, but I've never seen that happen with Metrocast.
It's too bad you couldn't get them to drop the deposit, service in SE CT from Metrocast is really good. I fear it is way better than you're going to get from Uverse.
But I hope I'm wrong, I hope it works out for you. But until it's at least installed you won't know.
I guess the first test will be if the install goes OK. Please keep us abreast on how it goes. |
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needthebox
@sbcglobal.net
| reply to flush75
I already had problems with the Metrocast service, their response was to offer no response. A relative of mine also experienced problems with their dsl line, I spoke to their service representatives in India and was able to resolve the problem in about an hour. They were intelligent and knowledgeable about network connectivity and understood when I told them I could not ping the remote server but a localhost ping was successful - if you give them good information you will get further.
On the other hand a relative of mine had an ongoing issue with Metrocast service. The signal had lines all through it and the audio was breaking up. Three separate technicians came out and said they fixed the problem, they had not.
I took every wire off of the tv's and vcrs in the house and tried just a basic cable connected to three different tvs, the problem remained. Finally a midlevel engineer came out with an installation technician. He had the tech rerun all the same tests, and we were told "the problem is with your equipment".
I stated this cannot be as if you connect any one of the tv's or vcrs to a Metrocast cable connection at the neighbors the video is fine. I convinced the middle level engineer to replace the wire running from the incoming splitter coming into the house that ran through the wall and supplied all the tv's in the house. He reluctantly agreed, saying "if this doesn't eliminate the problem would you agree the problem is with your equipment?" I agreed.
c
The moment the tech replaced the wire with a new one and the connections were made the problem was GONE! I now have a neighbor who ever since the switch to digital experiences a green-black screen and loss of audio every time someone in the neighborhood receives a cellphone call. Also, their inability to keep the sound level the same between channels is ridiculous. Your comment about "they cant get one service right" is exactly why I am leaving Metrocast. You pay too much to have their services compared to their competition and they constantly mess up the system. |
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billh491
join:2001-08-09
Pomfret Center, CT
| reply to needthebox
There is not doubt if you travel the hopspot is attractive. Also I am glad you understand that DSL is a shared service just like cable it is only a matter of where the sharing goes on. DSL is closer to the office (well in the office) while cable is at the node but both can be over sold.
And a note about down load speeds DSL has PPoE over head of 15% so ATT is playing loose with the numbers kind of like hard drive makers.
Broadband has always come down to a per house experience. I have had great service from Metrocast and would not trade it. I can get ATT and Charter at my house. But then all my neighbors have ATT.
As far as a free modem/router. I would not like to have an all in one. I want full control over my router thank you. Time Warner customers are finding that out.
»www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/1···r-cable/ |
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needthebox
@sbcglobal.net
| I had dsl with SNET in the past, their basic plan was somewhere around 768k - I usually was able to download at speeds closer to 1200 to 1500, rarely dipping below 900. So if anything I have found SNET/ATT dsl speeds to be conservative for their claimed average speed.
As for the TimeWarner problem, it doesn't surprise me. Look at all the security violations and exploits Windows in all it's many configurations has to deal with. I worked in IT support for over 15 years, I left one company because of the average 18 calls a day I took, 13 of those were repeat customers.
The reason? They would work on a Word document then save it to a remote server at the end of the day. It would get reinfected with the same virus once saved they would have to call us to disinfect the file. We learned the reason the files were constantly being reinfected was the company was too cheap to hire someone to run a virus scan on the server at night where our customers were storing their work files. The server had not been cleaned of the virus so reinfection on a daily basis was a reoccuring nightmare. Our and our customers productivity plummeted as a result. When we asked if anything was going to be done about it, we were told "we have to run a tight ship" meaning no additional tech support would be added to address the issue.
We were told not to tell our customers this, if they had complaints they could bring it to the attention of their management who would call our management. Companies do stupid things as long as they can get away with it, like charging 200.00 deposits on their equipment to fix a problem with their service. As for all your neighbors having ATT or Charter, maybe they are on to something? |
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flush75
join:2008-10-30
Waterford, CT | reply to needthebox
I still don't get the $200 converter deposit fee. As far as I know they only demand a deposit if they've been stiffed in the past or there is a credit issue. |
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