dslreports logo
 
    All Forums Hot Topics Gallery
spc
Search similar:


uniqs
2938
Metal6
join:2012-09-04
Sterling Heights, MI

Metal6

Member

Wow broke my house...


I just dumped Uverse for Wow ultra, The installer was here all day running new lines and getting things installed BUT... didn't he notice every blueray player in my house, every bedroom computer, xbox, Playstation or media server was plugged into the Ethernet port on the back of my Uverse box?
Now, none of our TV's have netflix, none of my boys can play video games in their rooms and I'm pretty pissed off since the guy obviously just unplugged all the Ethernet cables left them hanging behind our devices and didn't say a word that oh by that way hope your kids don't like like playing games and you didn't use those blueray players or media center PC for anything and left.
Now what?

ftpqnh
@comcast.net

ftpqnh

Anon

I can understand where your coming from, he should have mentioned this when installing the boxes.

On the other hand you should have maybe researched the ultra system a little more because the ethernet on the media players doesnt give you internet through them. I think this should also have been brought up when you were ordering your service. They have no idea how you have your network set up so by letting them know they could have let YOU know it wouldnt work like that. just sayin.

usa2k
Blessed
MVM
join:2003-01-26
Westland, MI

usa2k to Metal6

MVM

to Metal6
Is the Media hub in the same place the Uverse was?
There are four ports on Ultra and you can add a switch to expand.

(I've never really seen a Uverse setup BTW, but have Ultra now. My Blurays are wireless.)
He certainly should have discussed the strategy.

mix
join:2002-03-19
Romeo, MI
GL.iNet GL-B1300
Netgear CM500

mix to Metal6

Member

to Metal6
You're the first person I have ever heard of who has relied on what is essentially a cable box (okay it's a Uverse box) for home lan connectivity for all their gear. What did you do before the advent of Uverse a few years ago? No computers, xbox, netflix enabled tv's and blueray players I take it?

OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH
Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)

OSUGoose to Metal6

Member

to Metal6
Frankly, WOW needs to own this. Their technician should of seen that you was using the u-verse boxes as ethernet bridges, and at the minimum asked why they were connected to the u-verse box. Ya know being proactive vs reactive to the customer. I thought part of Ultra's install was getting wireless devices onto the network, since thats part of the fees. He could of very easily gotten the PS and xbox (depending on what versions of each you have) connected via WiFi. At minimum that could of then let you decide if continuing with the install was worth it and what if any solution WOW could offer to replicate what you had. Thats were the pre-install walk through is supposed to find when he first gets there. And I speak to this from a ex-direcTV installer where I was one of the few in my garage to go around and see the setup and make sure my stuff would work before I disassembled it.
Metal6
join:2012-09-04
Sterling Heights, MI

Metal6

Member

When I got Uverse my kids were young, we had no netflix, a couple regular old DVD players, no HD TV's and a replay DVR in the living room. None of the kids had computers and the only video game system we had was a SEGA Dreamcast. As they grew up the boxes we're the perfect fit to expanding our home network.
My house is a quad level. If Wow wants to wire it for cat5e great but at this point I don't see much choice but going back to uverse.

Big Jimmy
@wideopenwest.com

Big Jimmy to Metal6

Anon

to Metal6
How is it WOW's responsibility to bridge the gap of a (really cool that I've never heard of) feature that U-Verse provided? Yeah, it would've been nice of the installer to give you a heads-up that they weren't hooked up, but those guys aren't network engineers, they're cable guys. It does put you in a crappy position, but they're paid to run coax, not CAT5/5e/6, and even though it's someone's problem to fix, it isn't WOW's.
Matt7
join:2001-01-02
Columbus, OH

Matt7 to Metal6

Member

to Metal6
said by Metal6:


I just dumped Uverse for Wow ultra, The installer was here all day running new lines and getting things installed BUT... didn't he notice every blueray player in my house, every bedroom computer, xbox, Playstation or media server was plugged into the Ethernet port on the back of my Uverse box?

I don't see that's wow's problem.. HECK AT&T UVerse does NOT support you using their Ethernet port on the back of their IPTV receivers as an "internet connection" .. In fact they have said multiple times in the UVerse forum in the past that a reboot or update on the Uverse box can cause your Uverse TV to not work properly if connected that way (the Ethernet port on a Uverse box was designed to plug into the Gateway to get the IP connection to the Uverse box instead of via Coax to the gateway) not to provide an extra internet connection.

mackey
Premium Member
join:2007-08-20

mackey to Metal6

Premium Member

to Metal6
Get a MoCA bridge.

It'll complicate the wiring a bit, but you could repurpose a bunch of MI424WR's which can be found on ebay for about $15 ea.

/M
NuclearXP9
join:2012-04-12
Trenton, MI

NuclearXP9 to Metal6

Member

to Metal6
It isn't the WOW installer's responsibility to maintain your home network. Their job role is to install and configure the WOW cable/phone/internet package you requested. Nowhere on their pricing & packaging page: »sales.wowway.com/OnlineS ··· ing.aspx does it outline home network installation or configuration.

You either need to go wireless like most people, go MocA if you don't want to re-wire, or use the wall plug ethernet adapters wherever you have equipment. You could also re-purpose old wireless routers with dd-wrt into bridges and run short wires within a given room.

OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH
Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)

OSUGoose

Member

Wrong, it is the WOW's installer to do a walk through top ensure everything is correct on the order. At that point in time it would of been discovered that the OP had that configuration and the WOW installer could of, 1) If possible offered a WOW solution, which may of involved extra charges, 2) Notified the customer that those devices will not be able to hooked up in a similar fashion and allowed the customer to decide if he still wanted services.

It sounds like the OP got a contractor that just came in and threw WOWs stuff in without any regard to the fallout.
alan92rttt
join:2012-02-27

alan92rttt to Metal6

Member

to Metal6
Do you honestly expect the WOW installers to understand that the OP was using an unsupported feature of a competing system and tell him that their was going to be a problem?

Its the OP's responsibility to know how his home network works, know that he's doing something unsupported and find his own solution. That may sound harsh but this is not WOW's fault or their problem to fix.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK to Metal6

Premium Member

to Metal6
Install a good router and you're golden.
NuclearXP9
join:2012-04-12
Trenton, MI

1 recommendation

NuclearXP9 to OSUGoose

Member

to OSUGoose
said by OSUGoose:

Wrong, it is the WOW's installer to do a walk through top ensure everything is correct on the order. At that point in time it would of been discovered that the OP had that configuration and the WOW installer could of, 1) If possible offered a WOW solution, which may of involved extra charges, 2) Notified the customer that those devices will not be able to hooked up in a similar fashion and allowed the customer to decide if he still wanted services.

It sounds like the OP got a contractor that just came in and threw WOWs stuff in without any regard to the fallout.

Correction: it is the WOW instalelr's responsability to do a walk through of the installed WOW services. They have no responsability for peoples complicated one-off home network setups.
comp
Premium Member
join:2001-08-16
Evans City, PA

comp to Metal6

Premium Member

to Metal6
I agree. I would never expect my cable company to support or know about my network.. Just there devices.. If i choose to use there devices to bridge network gaps, that is on me, not them
Metal6
join:2012-09-04
Sterling Heights, MI

Metal6 to mackey

Member

to mackey
said by mackey:

Get a MoCA bridge.

It'll complicate the wiring a bit, but you could repurpose a bunch of MI424WR's which can be found on ebay for about $15 ea.

/M

Thanks this is the first truly useful post in this thread.
And to any of you who think it's ok for the installer guy to just unplug all my stuff and not say a word that's pretty damn pretentious.
ajwees41
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Omaha, NE

ajwees41 to Metal6

Premium Member

to Metal6
were the uverse boxes still hooked up? if you were switching wouldn't you have to turn them in?
25139889 (banned)
join:2011-10-25
Toledo, OH

25139889 (banned)

Member

he said he was switching and yes you have to return the boxes to AT&T or be billed for them.

The OP should have known that WOW would NOT support his setup. The Installer does NOT have to install anything and they only have to make sure THEIR equipment is working and one computer can get on to the internet (if you purchase) or you have dial-tone (digital phone) that is IT.

kettlepot
@wideopenwest.com

kettlepot to Metal6

Anon

to Metal6
Well like others have said it really is not WOWs responsibility. Most installers dont know how the UVerse equipment works and I'm sure he didnt know what it was for. Yes maybe he could have asked but you need to take the responsibility of your home network. Do a little research before jumping in when you know that you have all these devices trying to connect. Instead of putting the blame on WOW man up and realize that your in the wrong for not opening up your mouth and asking. You had plenty of time to ask, when you called to get service and when the tech showed up. Be a little more pro active and stop passing the buck.

I think you should just man up and setup a network like a NORMAL household would. And no WOW doesnt run network cables for residential.
Metal6
join:2012-09-04
Sterling Heights, MI

Metal6

Member

Dude the stuff was hooked up, he disconnected the Uverse boxes and unplugged my stuff.
You try wiring a quad level house. Since half of it is on a slab getting wiring upstairs is going to be a PITA,
I'm glad my kids figured out those Uverse boxes coax connections were live or they wouldn't have the stuff up there and they'd be in my living room (where they are again)
I'll man up to the point of thinking that guy should have told ME I'm breaking virtually every piece of equipment in every room of your house sans the actual TV's.
Like Belle Tire saying I installed those rims you wanted but damn your old tires didn't fit so your car's out back with the tires in the trunk.
cya

mix
join:2002-03-19
Romeo, MI

mix

Member

Isn't this why they invented wireless routers and network cards 10+ years ago?

Big Jimmy
@wideopenwest.com

Big Jimmy to Metal6

Anon

to Metal6
Is it the WOW guy's fault if your TV breaks too? Or if by disconnecting the Comcast line into your house to hook up the WOW line you lose Comcast internet service? Maybe he should be responsible for your microwave too? Point is that he installed the service you requested, and you dropped the ball by not understanding that it didn't have a particular feature that you relied on. Like I said, it sucks, but it's not his fault that you were daisy-chaining your hardware together. Yeah, he should've given you a heads up, but pitching a fit about it won't change anything, because WOW doesn't run ethernet drops, not to mention that you never paid them to install ethernet. At this point about all you can do is call WOW and have them come out and hook up the Cat5 from your internet devices to the otherwise disconnected U-Verse boxes, unless you want to jump ship back to U-Verse.
Metal6
join:2012-09-04
Sterling Heights, MI

Metal6

Member

said by Big Jimmy :

Is it the WOW guy's fault if your TV breaks too? Or if by disconnecting the Comcast line into your house to hook up the WOW line you lose Comcast internet service? Maybe he should be responsible for your microwave too? Point is that he installed the service you requested, and you dropped the ball by not understanding that it didn't have a particular feature that you relied on. Like I said, it sucks, but it's not his fault that you were daisy-chaining your hardware together. Yeah, he should've given you a heads up, but pitching a fit about it won't change anything, because WOW doesn't run ethernet drops, not to mention that you never paid them to install ethernet. At this point about all you can do is call WOW and have them come out and hook up the Cat5 from your internet devices to the otherwise disconnected U-Verse boxes, unless you want to jump ship back to U-Verse.

When I ordered I specifically indicated I wanted Apples to Apples service. I suppose I should have known Apples to apples service is well our equipment isn't exactly as good and we don't have as many channels (no west coast feed) and we charge more per box per TV but yea... apples to apples. Just don't use all your stuff... (I should pay my bill in apples)
I'm going back to Uverse and reclaiming my living room.

mmmmk
@wideopenwest.com

mmmmk

Anon

The only problem with that train of thought is that its not apples to apples. Its a totally different system. That didnt send a flag up to you? Your just one of those people that blames everyone else and never takes responsibility for anything. Have fun with uverse!!

dfs
@wideopenwest.com

dfs

Anon

You need to go back to Uverse then and use their internet connection from thier dvr as i did for awhile. All other cable companys are like WOW.
You need to run cat5 or go wireless with them for internet. Maybe down the road WOW will update our media players to do the same.
Expand your moderator at work

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

battleop to alan92rttt

Member

to alan92rttt

Re: Wow broke my house...

"Do you honestly expect the WOW installers to understand that the OP was using an unsupported feature of a competing system and tell him that their was going to be a problem?"

Well you are posting this on DSLR and everyone here knows that all employees from the janitor to the CEO are expected to have at a minimum 30 years of senior level administration experience.
sparkydm
join:2012-05-10

sparkydm to Metal6

Member

to Metal6
It seems logical they would say something but, I make a point of telling them what I have when making the appointment and BEFORE the friendly tech ever touches anything! Then he can't be shocked when I tell him to put it back or fix it. I like the car wheel/tire comparison! I've been fortunate with the installers/techs I've had out, all have been thorough and informative. Keeping my fingers crossed!
pparks1
join:2002-01-01
Westland, MI

pparks1 to Metal6

Member

to Metal6
I'm going to agree with the original poster that the installer should have at least mentioned this issue.

A simple "Hey, I noticed that you plug all of these devices into the ethernet port on the back of the U-verse box, but our boxes don't have an ethernet jack, so you are going to have to figure out a way to hook all of them back up".

It's not WOW's responsibility to engineer a solution to this, or even understand what the OP was doing, but to simply leave everything unplugged and then jet out doesn't seem right. Obviously this isn't going to leave the customer happy or satisfied.

I had no idea you could hook up u-verse in this fashion. Wireless could be a solution, but unsure on your distances, walls, etc. I don't use wireless for my gaming consoles or anything else because it's less than 100% reliable. Another option you could consider is a power line network adapter, unsure if they great because I've never personally had a need to try them as my house is very easy to physically run wire in.
adam1991
join:2012-06-16
united state

adam1991 to alan92rttt

Member

to alan92rttt
said by alan92rttt:

Do you honestly expect the WOW installers to understand that the OP was using an unsupported feature of a competing system and tell him that their was going to be a problem?

Its the OP's responsibility to know how his home network works, know that he's doing something unsupported and find his own solution. That may sound harsh but this is not WOW's fault or their problem to fix.

+1.

100% agreed.

The OP bought a system that did A, but never understood that. OP wanted B, and assumed the world would seamlessly and invisibly accommodate that without his saying a word or doing anything else. So he sits there like Jabba the Hutt, then complains when things don't unroll his way.

OP has a problem with entitlement. He thinks he's entitled to the world just automatically going his way no matter what.