My transition from Comcast Analog to Digital Cable

Author	All Replies
Jan Janowski join:2000-06-18 Skokie, IL ·AT&T Midwest 4 edits	My transition from Comcast Analog to Digital Cable If this wasn't so funny, it would be pathetic..... Wednesday Wife & I went to Comcast, Skokie, to pick up one digial box so as to replace the HBO & Showtime we lost off our analog cable. Fellow brought out two boxes, one held together with clear shipping tape, other banged & bruised. "That's all we have". (I had asked for a box with YUV video output, I'll take composite video or nothing!)... We took the least damaged box, and headed home. Partway home we realized we didn't have a remote. Go Back, get remote.. Ask... No instructions, nothing printed (except a bill). When home, I hooked RF up to it, and video and audio out to the TV system. On power up, it said "Program would be available shortly". Couple minutes later, it found correct time, later channel information, later, program information notes, then a red LED indicating messages (about a new cable channel). All this, but no picture or audio. I called comcast 20 min later, only to find out that their computer system is down, call back later. 4 hours later, their system is up, and they remotely power cycled & reset 'box', and when that didn't work, had me pull power for a minute, followed by more resets. Still no picture. They then decided box was bad, and scheduled Service on Saturday. (Fine by me, wanted YUV video, not composite anyway). Good Service guy shows up today. I pull no punches, tell him how cable system changed inside the house (distribution system)... Doesn't phase him, and he takes a signal strength reading and pronounces that the feed going to the box is 7Db better than normal -- Great. He goes and gets a newer box (which is HD ready if I ever want it, but I've an outside antenna that works great).... I reconfigure the Mits display from composite to YUV on that input, and Picture & Sound seen within a minute of power up!!! He calls in new code, indicating premium channels will be updated in 20 minutes.. I thank him profusely, and he's off!! Gee maybe this isn't going to be as painful as I thought it would! Now you just know this isn't the end of the story!!! 20 minutes later, box reboots and displays: "Program will be available shortly"..... On all channels, and it never displays program video & audio after that. Back on phone with comcast. They send reset codes, doesn't help... Had me pull power.. still no program picture or audio, just a reminder that it will be available "Shortly". So they tell me they will see if the service guy could come back. "We'll call back to tell you when".... Hour later, no call, still no work, (though I saw them issue a reset once or twice). So I called them... This person looks at the account, says Service guy didn't file data correctly. I'll issue codes... Call back in 30 minutes if not better. Not Better... Called again. Spoke with someone different who says they know what's wrong. Billing system codes wern't entered properly.... Aparantly even if the box turns on and passes video & audio, Billing can remotely turn the box off, and that is what happened here.... (I'm not making this up --- Just reporting what I've been told...) So she does whatever she needs to do to get the billing side correct.... and then says it will take 77 minutes for the codes to get to my box (Probably Billing system is busy turning things on and off!).... Sit back and wait... So I go off on the computer, and later wife says "The Box is re-booting!"... I approach the remote control with cautious optimism.... Swith display to 'box' (as it has been lovingly named!) and I see a picture and sound, too!! So show wife the channels we have, and immediately run into "Subscription Service" prompt, instead of picture and sound as expected... Even went so far as to look at receipt that service guy left, indicating that the channels I'm trying to receive, are part of my 'package'. Yeah, their on the bill!! So, I AGAIN pick up the phone and call comcast.... Get put on hold while they verify my comments.... Yeah... Someone forgot to type something, somewhere, in I'm not certain which Big Brother system, but they confirmed that I should get Picture and Sound on the channels I tried.... Of course, now there is a 2+ hour "Que" for data to be sent to our 'box' (probably billing system connecting & disconnecting people, and can't be bothered with fixing things....) Let's see: I was on the phone off & on Wednesday for 3 hours. and Today, from 10:50AM to 2PM. I'm taking a 2 hour 'breather' to have lunch, post this, and in general mutter to myself "No way to run a Cable system"..... And I still don't know if it will be successful!!! Analog Cable was never this bad... (I'm clicking 'I'm Feeling Lucky' but I really DON'T!!!) -- Looking for 1939 Indian Motocycle
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-08 15:21:28 ·
bshelly Premium join:2002-02-17 Schaumburg, IL clubs: ·AT&T CallVantage	Re: My transition from Comcast Analog to Digital C Wow, this sounds almost exactly like my experience at the Schaumburg office on Friday morning. The Phase III 6412 Box I picked up looked like it was tossed around the back of a technicians truck and never made it anywhere but back to the customer service center. I took that box because the woman was a real PITA and didn't seem to want to do her job let alone get out of her chair and bend over to get me a nice looking 6412 out of the cabinet. I haven't had time to call a second time, but I am still receiving the "Subscription Service" message. They were supposed to reset the box last night, but it never came through. I really think this is just crappy service. Now I'm worried they will blame me for beating up the equipment. Anyone else have experiences with banged up equipment given to new digital customers?
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-08 18:42:34 ·
RadioDoc 58ef2c0 Premium,ExMod 2000-03 join:2000-05-11 ·AT&T Midwest	It happened to me two years ago. It took them four tries to get me a STB which worked for more than an hour. All of them (including the one they finally got to work) looked like they had been rattling around loose inside a truck for a week. -- Let me see you make decisions, without your television.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-08 18:47:24 ·
ceboos join:2002-04-16 Evanston, IL	reply to Jan Janowski May I suggest Dish Network or Direct TV? Super customer service. I have had Dish for close to ten years, my daughter just installed Direct. Charles
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-08 22:56:59 ·
hdtvtechno join:2005-09-04 Chicago, IL	reply to Jan Janowski Re: My transition from Comcast Analog to Digital Cable I suggest Directv Authorization signal comes in instantelly -- »www.hdtvtechno.com
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-09 00:15:44 ·
The WalL join:2004-08-14 Aurora, IL	It happened to me recently with my HSI account when I moved. When I tried to connect from my new location using my username and password, the lady at the other end of the phone was like, 'oh that belongs to someone else, you'll have to choose a diff account'. It took a full 5 mins before she understood that the 'someone else' was infact me who was simply trying to transfer the account to a new location!!! I was actually thinking of signing up for digital cable since it has BBC America included for the lowest level of programming package they have. Now after your issue, I'm having second thoughts.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-09 01:50:59 ·
Jan Janowski join:2000-06-18 Skokie, IL ·AT&T Midwest 1 edit	reply to Jan Janowski Another comcast Soap Opera Update!!! When I got home last night, checked , and premium channels had not been upgraded, so I called comcast again..... They say they have NO RECORD of the premium channels I'm requesting on our records. So, I pick up my copy of the repair guy's printout for service yesterday, and read off the information regaring the premium channels that are indicated on our service. What I read off, and what the lady is looking at on her computer are two different things... I asked how it is that at 1:30PM the person I spoke to saw the premium channels, and now at 10PM there is no record of premium channels I'm asking for on their records???? She doesn't understand, but claims that the channels I'm asking for are not scheduled for our service, (according to comcast). Again I read off the numbers on our service sheet indicating the services we ordered on Wednesday. She says the codes I'm describing exist, but not on our servcie. I blew up.... Explained step by step how this 'simple' install starting Wednesday PM has turned into a fiasco.... So, she & I went over our 'service' records, and verified the services that we did, and did not want. She then sent more codes, and as of 11:30PM, the services that we had contacted for last Wednesday, were finally operational.... That was Saturday (last) night at 11:30PM. No, I haven't turned the box on today to find out what works, and doesn't work!!!! (Almost afraid to! ) I can't wait to see how badly the first billing gets screwed up!!!! -- Looking for 1939 Indian Motocycle
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-09 11:15:01 ·
Jan Janowski join:2000-06-18 Skokie, IL ·AT&T Midwest 2 edits	reply to Jan Janowski Got a call from comcast... Asking me if all was still good. Checked, it seems so, but I had some questions regarding my service and TV Guide. In my surfing, it's not exactly clear what channels I do and don't get. Where is the listing of channels per my service? So I can see what I do, and don't get? Lady on phone doesn't know. On my LG DVR, I can change the TV Guide around such that it displays only what channels I want it do, and I've got it configured for my favorites at the top, and suff I don't care about at the bottom... This prevents confusion on program selection... Want to do the same on the TV Guide on the comcast box... To move channels that I don't get to bottom, to avoid confusion... How do I do that? Lady on phone doesn't know.... But says she'll send a service guy.... OK. Service guy gets here, and we check system.. Seems ok, So I ask him where there is a list of what channels I get, and don't get. There really isn't a list for you, you just see what works and doesn't work! I show him the photostat I was given last Wednesday, and compare it against his. My Photostat is dated 6/1/05... Copies he has are dated 12/21/03. So much for updated information.... He plays kitten on the keys, looking for channels soas to make a 'map' for me, and while he does that I went into the TV Guide question. I'm trying to setup TV Guide like my LG DVR so that I won't in-advertantly select channels that aren't turned on...... "No way to do that" I'm on a roll now.... "I've got some more questions, but each involve manuals regarding the unit I was given... I'll bet that if I had manuals on this gear, I wouldn't be bothering Phone support or you.... "I don't have any more manuals than you do..." (He did eventually find a simple DCR4200 manual in his truck, along with other handouts). I guess "Ignorance is Bliss" when it comes to comcast...... -- Looking for 1939 Indian Motocycle
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-09 15:00:50 ·
RadioDoc 58ef2c0 Premium,ExMod 2000-03 join:2000-05-11 ·AT&T Midwest	said by Jan Janowski : I guess "Ignorance is Bliss" when it comes to comcast...... No, Ignorance is Comcast. -- Let me see you make decisions, without your television.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-09 15:13:08 ·
schja01 I need to get a life. Premium,MVM join:2000-04-27 Morton Grove, IL clubs: ·AT&T U-Verse ·AT&T Midwest	reply to Jan Janowski There is NO way to order channels in the Comcast lineup. I suppose you COULD define all the channels you want as FAVORITES. You can display all/only the favorites from the main menu bar. I do not know if there is a limit to how many favorites you can define. I only have a handfull. I was out of town and the B&B we stayed at had Dish-TV and the channel guide and remote blows chunks compared to Comcast. No way I would drop Comcast for Dish-TV. The ugly ass dish antenna doesn't do anything for the 1890 Victorian Mansion it was hung off either. J -- "Have I said something amiss?"
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-09 15:47:36 ·
Jan Janowski join:2000-06-18 Skokie, IL ·AT&T Midwest	reply to Jan Janowski I'm all set to complain about mis-adjusted levels on the 6200 box (Low Y on YUV), and even sent an IM to someone..... Then decided I had better re-seat connections..... And of course I found the Y connector not fully seated! Actually this only took 5 minutes to fix. 4 minutes to examine, and complain... 30 seonds to write an IM.... and 30 seconds to fix and verify it's OK!!! (and I didn't have to have 13 other people type in commands on remote pc's!!!) I'm BAD!!! -- Looking for 1939 Indian Motocycle
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-10 19:19:28 ·
Jan Janowski join:2000-06-18 Skokie, IL ·AT&T Midwest	reply to Jan Janowski Transition to Quasi Digital Cable Complete! Cable box feeding YUV direct to display, SVideo of same box to a CH4 modulator, and audio multed between display and modulator. No Hum in audio. Cable feed is amplified (Motorola) and split 3 ways: Test point, to Cablebox, and a third which goes to a CH 4 Notch/combiner. CH4 from modulator also goes to CH4 Notch/combiner. In Notch/combiner CH4 on Cable is notched out, Local CH4 inserted into cable. After a bit of balancing, Resultant RF is amplified (Another Motorola) and distributed through whole house to TV's & VHS decks. Whatever is received on Cable box is distributed to the whole house on CH4 along with the cable channels.... Took a bit of doing, and have to trim up gains in a couple rooms, but it's looking quite nice!!! -- Looking for 1939 Indian Motocycle
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-11 21:25:24 ·
RadioDoc 58ef2c0 Premium,ExMod 2000-03 join:2000-05-11 ·AT&T Midwest	Welcome to my world. I've got six of those little bastards running on 82, 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94. That and a channel 80 cutoff low pass filter and everything in the house is everywhere in the house. -- Don't kill 'em, just bill 'em.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-11 22:00:01 ·
Jan Janowski join:2000-06-18 Skokie, IL ·AT&T Midwest 2 edits	reply to Jan Janowski Re: My transition from Comcast Analog to Digital Cable I've a CH3 and CH4 notch/combiner... Only CH4 is in use, cause the CH3 steps heavily on CH2... I think notch/combiner is set for CH3/4 normal, and not with the Cable +.5Mc 'shift'. If I end up needing the CH3 unit, I think I'll open it and tweak the coils... If I get it, fine, if not... I'm out a few dollars... The channel 4 unit was pretty easily setup... even surprised me! With those high fq modulators, you obviously paid far more that I did, or they were a gift!! I think one more amp for the VHS feeds is necessary... -- Looking for 1939 Indian Motocycle
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-11 22:09:51 ·
RadioDoc 58ef2c0 Premium,ExMod 2000-03 join:2000-05-11 ·AT&T Midwest 1 edit	eBay. $50 each. NTSC Stereo w/surround support too. Life is good. I tried the channel 3/4 thing but at the time Fox was on 3 so I could only use ch. 4. Then I got one of these modulators and it worked so well I decided to rethink the setup. Comcast has nothing useful above 80 so I just hacked it off and am using that space for my stuff.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-11 22:12:34 ·
Jan Janowski join:2000-06-18 Skokie, IL	Got a link to them?
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-12 08:57:18 ·
RadioDoc 58ef2c0 Premium,ExMod 2000-03 join:2000-05-11 ·AT&T Midwest	Here's the four channel version. I can't seem to find the singles at the moment: »cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi···18077222 -- Don't kill 'em, just bill 'em.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-12 11:36:55 ·
andyross join:2003-05-04 Schaumburg, IL	reply to Jan Janowski Re: My transition from Comcast Analog to Digital C www.smarthome.com also carries some. I have a single-channel mono one. (Mine has phono jacks, not the 1/8 mini-jack in the picture for the sound.) »www.smarthome.com/7715A.HTML I don't have a channel block. I just found an open channel that had no interference, which just happened to be 80.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-12 18:16:24 ·
lev Napoleon is always right Premium,Ex-mod 2002-08 join:2001-05-30 Chicago, IL clubs: ·AT&T Midwest	reply to Jan Janowski I'm not trying to be a troll here... just pointing out DIRECTV install experience at my place, my mom's, and two friends. Installers come in. They connect the dish, and try to run the cable the shortest path possible. They'll go through outside walls when they can to save time, and don't want to fish. That's the downside. Upside? They connect the box, they make a call, and boom. Immediate service. I or someone else wants to make a change? Just a few minutes to talk to a rep, and boom! Change made. It is so refreshing after dealing with Comcast.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-12 23:56:46 ·
schja01 I need to get a life. Premium,MVM join:2000-04-27 Morton Grove, IL clubs: ·AT&T U-Verse ·AT&T Midwest	said by lev : I'm not trying to be a troll here... just pointing out DIRECTV install experience at my place, my mom's, and two friends. Installers come in. They connect the dish, and try to run the cable the shortest path possible. They'll go through outside walls when they can to save time, and don't want to fish. That's the downside. Upside? They connect the box, they make a call, and boom. Immediate service. I or someone else wants to make a change? Just a few minutes to talk to a rep, and boom! Change made. It is so refreshing after dealing with Comcast. As my boss use to say "Why do something simple when you can make it wonderful and complex?". Or as my mother use to say "As the number of components in a system approaches infinity the mean time to failure approaches zero". J -- "Have I said something amiss?"
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-10-13 07:12:02 ·


Sunday, 05-Jul 15:12:52	Terms of Use \| Privacy Policy \| Hosting by www.nac.net - DSL,Hosting & Co-lo \| feedback \| contact over 9.5 years online! © 1999-2009 dslreports.com.republican-creole page compression OFF