rawboard
join:2004-08-05
Woodbury, NJ
| Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? Hi everyone. I have a bit of a problem. Like many Americans, this holiday season, I finnally decided to get a HDTV. Two infact.
So about a week ago, I figure I better get the HDTV box right away, so it would be here when the TV comes. So I go in to my local comcast office in Woodbury NJ. Lady says they don't have any, I can't goto another office to get one, but another shipment will be in tommorow between 11:00 and noon. So I come back the next day, the same lady says there was a delay, come again tommorow. I hear other angry customers saying things such as this is the 5th time they have come here, ect. So I wasn't expecting much the next day when I went in again right at 11:00AM. This time the lady says its still delayed, but this time wrote down my name, address, and phone number( on a notepad). I was now on a list, with about 6 names infront. She said she would just call me when they come in.
With 6 names infront of me, I figured I would get a call as soon as the first shipment of boxes het there. However day after day went by, and nothing. I figured the list was just BS at this point (given she wrote it on a notepad, not down on a computer or anything), so I called up comcast. This is when comcast tells me the hd box is on backorder, and it could be as far away as February before I can get one.
So is this just BS? How can comcast be so behind knowing HDTV's was gonna be the hot seller this season? Why is comcast advertising a free HD box for triple play sign ups, if they don't have any?
I feel i'm getting lied too, since I haven't seen any other talk on several forums about there being no hd boxes, and the lady at my comcast office the other day said they were awaiting a delivery.
So does anyone know whats going on, and if there is anyway I can get an HDTV box ASAP??? | |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs: | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? Does your TV have a cable card slot? Are they possibly offering cable cards? Would you be opposed to getting a Tivo HD and having cable cards installed? | |
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| | | helter
join:2007-09-11
Silverdale, WA
| Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? per their FAQ, item #1
»www.samsung.com/us/support/faqs/···N-T4665F
Only 2006 Tv's were manufactured with cablecard slots, in 2007 they gave them up.
The user guide indicates it can pick up unencrypted digital channels, so basic should get him local HD channels then, he'll have to wait for ESPN/HBO/Discover/etc though. | |
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bicker
join:2007-05-10
Burlington, MA | These boxes are apparently in short supply. Rest assured, they'd surely love to start charging you for them.
You can always purchase a TiVo... | |
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jwhite4
join:2002-03-21
Philadelphia, PA
| Anyone go to the NE Phila office recently? I was going to go the weekend before Christmas to get 2 HD boxes, I'm wondering if maybe I should eat the half a month extra cost to make sure I have them.
My father was there the Sat after Thanksgiving, no problem getting as box then.
Jeff | |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| HDTV has been "the hot seller" for the last couple of years at this time.. It's not necessarily comcast's fault that there are no boxes... they don't make them, just buy them from Motorola.
Also.. if you want HD now, then you should take a DVR for the time being. What you'd be out is about $15 to $20 until February until you can swap for a regular HD.. you don't have to keep the DVR for ever but it would at least get you through the time being.
Lied to? I wouldn't say "comcast" is lying to you.. when boxes are short, there is no "official" receiving date. You are simply being given the answer that the rep 'hears' in passing.. again, there is no official bulletin that goes out, usually, that says "boxes will arrive..."
Each year, about this time, you can pretty much count on HD shortages..
Additionally.. if they are advertising an HD box for the triple play sign up, they could have budgeted 20% extra boxes for the promo and the promotion could take off 10 fold..
Take the DVR for now and swap when they come in. It won't set you back much or you'll likely have to wait a while longer for one.
(another way to look at it is.. when you go into a store, and something is advertised, do they always have an ample supply for everyone? .. answer,.. no. It happens) | |
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owlyn
Premium,MVM
join:2004-06-05
Newtown, PA
clubs: | I agree with the others- get the DVR box. It is HD, and it is what you will ultimately want anyway. Once you have one, you'll never go back. | |
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| dishrich
join:2006-05-12
Springfield, IL | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? Damm, it's funny seeing that you guys can get HD (non-DVR) boxes AT ALL. Insight here ONLY offers HD DVR boxes & has NEVER offered non-DVR HD boxes - if you want an HD box from Insight, you're gonna take DVR. | |
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celeritypc
For Lucky Best Wash, Use Mr. Sparkle
Premium
join:2004-05-15
Caldwell, NJ
| How about this: if the tvs have QAM tuners, hook up the cable directly and scan. You will get at least the OTA channels that your system carries in HD plus perhaps some other ones (anything carried in the clear). Once the boxes become available, you can then get one. I am also assuming that based on where you are, your system is SA, not Motorola. Not that it makes a difference as I am sure both companies are having a hard time keeping up with orders from the cable companies. | |
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| impulse101
join:2007-01-30
Beachwood, NJ | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? he probably doesn't understand anything you said. | |
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jwhite4
join:2002-03-21
Philadelphia, PA
| Not wanting to wait until the pre-Christmas rush, I went to my local office (NE Philly one) last Sat to pickup an HD & HD-DVR boxes. Got there around 9am (open at 8am), walked right up to a waiting attendant. No problems getting the 2 boxes (both the new DCH boxes). Unlike ~3 weeks ago when my father got his HD box, no question of, "Do you want hdmi or component cables?", she just gave me 2 hdmi cables (which is what I wanted anyway).
I'll be going back after Christmas to return the old boxes, I'll have to remember to ask what the box inventory levels are then.
Jeff | |
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| bicker
join:2007-05-10
Burlington, MA | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? So are you just rubbing salt in rawboard's wounds or what?  | |
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| | jwhite4
join:2002-03-21
Philadelphia, PA | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? No. Just wanted to let others know that not every market has the shortage.
Isn't all of Comcast 'COMCAST'? If so, if an office in Jersey runs low on equipment, can't they get it from another office?
Jeff | |
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sansri88
Go digtal you analog laggards
Premium
join:2005-12-17
New York, NY
clubs: | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? I actually called today to find out if my office has the DCH cable boxes, they said on the phone no, and call back tomorrow. Does that mean they get shipments on Tuesdays? | |
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Meester_Serg
join:2003-07-01
Nottingham, PA | Hd onlly boxes are indeed in short supply locally , however many Comcast markets DO offer direct ship HD boxes. Please inquire in your local area and see if this is an option for you. | |
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Joedub
join:2005-10-30 | this happens every year around x-mas and it is hard to judge how many every office will need based on the growing popularity of HD. | |
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| rawboard
join:2004-08-05
Woodbury, NJ
| Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? Well good news. On Tuesday I found out that I can indeed goto other local offices. I don't know why the lady at the woodbury office said I couldn't. So ofcoarse I decided to check out other comcast offices. Luck was on myside, because apparently Tuesday is the day of the week the comcast offices around here get there stuff.
So I went to a pitman office. Really nice lady there. She tells me, her delivery just got there 10 minutes ago, and altough she ordered 10 HD boxes, they only got one. So I got the one and only box fopr the week potman NJ was getting. Still I needed another. Went to the franklinville office. This lady was not so nice. I think they also got some HD boxes, but she after she found out I wasn't from that serving area, she told me no. I then went to the turnersville office. They did have some HD boxes, but were on a waiting list, so i couldn't get them. However I ended up getting the DVR box there.
BTW, according to the lady in the pitman office, the DVR boxes are in short supply too. She didn't have any delivered (which is why I didn't get one there) | |
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sansri88
Go digtal you analog laggards
Premium
join:2005-12-17
New York, NY
clubs: | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? Alright so I guess I'm taking a road trip on Tuesday and I'm going to visit my Avenel office and the Union office to get one. I called em up today and both were out of stock, they both said Tuesday come and see. | |
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mdelcorso
@comcast.net | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? I just picked up a HD box from the Union, NJ office. They just got 4 crates of them in today. | |
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sansri88
Go digtal you analog laggards
Premium
join:2005-12-17
New York, NY
clubs: | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? I called them up again, they said I have to have a service call to get that box installed?!?!?? I'll drop by the Union office tomorrow morning and see. | |
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| rob316
join:2005-10-17
Carteret, NJ | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? Thanks for the heads up Sansri, I called Comcast on the Dec 27th and will be receiving the DCH3200 box for my son's new Westinghouse on Jan 3rd via UPS.
Rob | |
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| | rob316
join:2005-10-17
Carteret, NJ
 ·Comcast
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? Just an update Comcast came this morning and swapped out the DCH 3200 with a DCH 3416. I was having an issue with Cartoon network and a couple other channels not coming in like SCi-Fi. Well everything worked out the bix is great and all channles come in. | |
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sansri88
Go digtal you analog laggards
Premium
join:2005-12-17
New York, NY
clubs: | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? Are you getting free DVR service for 3 months? For the inconvenience, Comcast gave me DVR free for 3 months. | |
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| | | | rob316
join:2005-10-17
Carteret, NJ | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? 6 months, I have 3 other tv's hooked up to comcast and also a Triple Play subscriber , so they hooked me up. | |
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Richie61
join:2006-02-14
Jacksonville, FL | So what can I get with just a QAM tuner on COMCAST in Jacksonville, Fl??? Can I get all the Locals in HD? | |
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Pimpinelli
@comcast.net | Just picked up hd box however they did not have any hdmi cables and told me they are back ordered but that I should buy one. They cost $60 to $80 for a 6 footer. They should supply them but you know Comcast. Mike | |
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See 9 replies to this post |
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tdance
@comcast.net
| Boy, are you lucky! You can have my box as I am moving. I am turning it in tomorrow!!The HDTV reception is non-existent, we have the full package and to put it best "It SUCKS" Can't watch a movie or just about any program without it constantly breaking up or the famous screen notice "This channel will be available shortly" You'll die before it is available. Comcast has serious problems, don't know if it is the box or just maybe their bandwidth due to the HD. Right now I don't care as I will cancel and move....Forget TIVO too!! | |
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| bicker
join:2007-05-10
Burlington, MA | Re: Comcast says no HD boxes until possibly February??? One of the most common causes of the problems you mentioned is poor wiring, either from the head-end to your home, or within your home. As you said, you don't care anymore, since you're moving. Good luck in your next home. | |
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PaulHikeS2
join:2003-03-06
Merrimack, NH
·Comcast
| said by tdance :
Boy, are you lucky! You can have my box as I am moving. I am turning it in tomorrow!!The HDTV reception is non-existent, we have the full package and to put it best "It SUCKS" Can't watch a movie or just about any program without it constantly breaking up or the famous screen notice "This channel will be available shortly" You'll die before it is available. Comcast has serious problems, don't know if it is the box or just maybe their bandwidth due to the HD. Right now I don't care as I will cancel and move....Forget TIVO too!!
Usually, the problem you are referring to only affects one customer at a time. When it does, it's usually not the box. Without proper test equipment, there's no way to tell if the problem is outside (Comcast's problem), or inside the house (your problem). You don't indicate any attempt to fix the problem, so I'm not sure if this is simply a rant, but normally this problem is neither the box nor the bandwidth.
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Jay: What the @#$% is the internet??? | |
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