jagged
join:2003-07-01
Boynton Beach, FL
| Charging for HD tier on each cablecard?
Is this true?
Comcast CSR says I must pay $6.95/month for HD tier for each cablecard I have.
Even if it's two cablecards on same device - TivoHD.
Anyone here have two or more Tivos with cablecards and HD, how is Comcast charging you?
thx |
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bicker
join:2007-05-10
Burlington, MA
| They've charged me both ways over the years. It apparently depends on the other devices and services you have. With the DVR, I paid $5 per additional outlet; without the DVR, I pay $1.50 extra for the second CableCARD in the TiVo. There are evidently certain combinations in the computer, and they need to fit your services into the pricing they have set up. |
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caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Graham, WA
 ·Comcast
| reply to jagged
said by jagged  :Is this true? Comcast CSR says I must pay $6.95/month for HD tier for each cablecard I have. Even if it's two cablecards on same device - TivoHD. Anyone here have two or more Tivos with cablecards and HD, how is Comcast charging you? thx I pay $5.10 outlet fee plus $6.95 hd package for 2 outlets and $0.00 for the 2 cable cards for a s3 TiVo.
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Caddy |
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beavercable
join:2008-05-11
Beaverton, OR
| reply to jagged
Doesnt seem to ad up then guess Comcast charges differently in different areas or you need to call up billing to fix the problem. As of this year (in Oregon) comcast doesnt charge for the first ccard each additional is $1.79. They also offer m cards thats multistream so you only need one for your s3 tivo. Or you could have 1 multistream and use and additional single stream for a total of 3 feeds. |
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jagged
join:2003-07-01
Boynton Beach, FL
| reply to jagged
well the CSR told me I will be charged $6.95 HD access for each cable card, guess maybe I got him confused 
I did check their FAQ and it says 1st cablecard is free if you need two they'll charge you $2.01 for the second
for a second device the cost of the cablecard is included in the outlet fee which is $6.99 in south florida
right now we pay $9.95 for the first DVR and $11.95 plus $6.99 outlet fee for the second one. HD tier is included in the price of each, separately it's $6.95
I just thought it weird he said they'll charge me $6.95 HD on each cablecard. That's like charging $71 for each TV that you want to watch digital preferred tier on
I'll re-check with them a couple more times before I plunge buying Tivos
beavercable would the Tivo even be able to handle recording a 3rd feed? Seems kind of a lot
What about 2 multi stream cablecards in a TivoHD to get 4 streams? |
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neufuse
join:2006-12-06
Indiana, PA | I think the S3HD tivo's let you put in 2 cable cards or one MCard |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey | reply to jagged
cable card should be free, end of story. When DCAS comes around how will they charge, there is no card, its just software. Ridiculous. Tell your cable advisory board you want cablecard home service, in there next franchise agreement. |
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caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Graham, WA | reply to jagged
The TiVo s3 you have to use 2 cards ether s-cards or m-cards The TiVo hd you can use 1 m-card or 2 s-cards.
As by fcc the cable company can charge a small fee for the cards up to $2.50 each I believe
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Caddy |
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neufuse
join:2006-12-06
Indiana, PA | reply to DaveNJ
They'll still find a way to charge you for DCAS.. the thing registers your tv / device on their network still doesnt it? so they could probably keep track of number of devices and charge you for it... in theory... |
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Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL
| reply to jagged
said by jagged :well the CSR told me I will be charged $6.95 HD access for each cable card, guess maybe I got him confused I did check their FAQ and it says 1st cablecard is free if you need two they'll charge you $2.01 for the second for a second device the cost of the cablecard is included in the outlet fee which is $6.99 in south florida right now we pay $9.95 for the first DVR and $11.95 plus $6.99 outlet fee for the second one. HD tier is included in the price of each, separately it's $6.95 I just thought it weird he said they'll charge me $6.95 HD on each cablecard. That's like charging $71 for each TV that you want to watch digital preferred tier on I'll re-check with them a couple more times before I plunge buying Tivos beavercable would the Tivo even be able to handle recording a 3rd feed? Seems kind of a lot What about 2 multi stream cablecards in a TivoHD to get 4 streams? direct tv is better you just a box fee for each one you add. |
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BSD24
Premium
join:2008-04-30
Taunton, MA
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
 ·Verizon Online DSL
edit:
May 13th, @02:17PM
| reply to jagged
said by jagged :Is this true? Comcast CSR says I must pay $6.95/month for HD tier for each cablecard I have. Even if it's two cablecards on same device - TivoHD. Anyone here have two or more Tivos with cablecards and HD, how is Comcast charging you? thx The total charge for the 2 cablecards if you have Digital Starter package already will be - $3.50 if you have no other cable boxes. If you have other cable boxes then it goes to $6.50. The $6.50 includes cost of cablecard renting ($1.50 for 2nd, 1st one not charged) and Digital Access fee of $5.00 (only for the first card). It is a bit confusing, but they aren't charging you all these fees on each cable card, otherwise the cost for both would be $13 for 2 cable cards. So it is discounted greatly. It really depends on your package and equipment if you have other, because Comcast always gives its customers a large discount on the first piece of CableTV equipment. Usually each additional box is charged full price, so you are still saving money versus the box, plus you are getting 2 cards for your Tivo, which has 2 tuners in it, hence why you need 2 cablecards.
It doesn't matter if you are using it in the same device, you still are paying extra cause you are getting 2 cablecards. Your tivo requires the 2 seperate cablecards because it has 2 Tuners (Dual-Tuner DVR) which it needs the cablecards to get channels on both tuners, allowing you to watch one program while recording another thing on the other tuner, or recording 2 seperate channels/programs at same time (records one program on the first tuner and another on the second tuner). Each tuner requires a cable card to descramble and receive your content.
Now compare a HD Cable box from Comcast which full cost per month is $12.95/mnth versus what your paying for 1 cable card. A Comcast HDDVR costs $19.90 (full price) per month compared to your tivo with 2 cablecards price per month. |
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BSD24
Premium
join:2008-04-30
Taunton, MA
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to Joe12345678
said by Joe12345678 :said by jagged :well the CSR told me I will be charged $6.95 HD access for each cable card, guess maybe I got him confused I did check their FAQ and it says 1st cablecard is free if you need two they'll charge you $2.01 for the second for a second device the cost of the cablecard is included in the outlet fee which is $6.99 in south florida right now we pay $9.95 for the first DVR and $11.95 plus $6.99 outlet fee for the second one. HD tier is included in the price of each, separately it's $6.95 I just thought it weird he said they'll charge me $6.95 HD on each cablecard. That's like charging $71 for each TV that you want to watch digital preferred tier on I'll re-check with them a couple more times before I plunge buying Tivos beavercable would the Tivo even be able to handle recording a 3rd feed? Seems kind of a lot What about 2 multi stream cablecards in a TivoHD to get 4 streams? direct tv is better you just a box fee for each one you add. Same thing with Comcast, first Digital Cable box is free, each additional is $6.95/mnth. Used to be different years ago, but Comcast doesn't charge or discounts your advanced boxes now. HD box and DVR boxes are charged for the first box but discount is applied. But if you have a standard box only then thats free for the first one. Now if you have one HD box which is discounted to $6.00 instead of full price of $12.95, and you have a Standard Def Digi Box as well, the digi box will be $6.95 per month. |
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myosh
join:2001-05-03
Cupertino, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
edit:
May 13th, @02:28PM
| reply to jagged
Over the years, I've come to realize that these charges vary region to region. Your best bet is to go visit your local Comcast office. They might be more helpful than a CSR in a call center. At the very least, you should be able to pick-up a rate card that explains all the fees in your area.
Where I live, I have a Series3 TiVo with 2 S-Cards and a TiVoHD with a single M-Card. The first S-Card is free and I pay $1.79 each for the second S-Card and the M-Card. There is no "HD Fee" because HD is included in the price of the digital cable packages and I do not pay any additional outlet fees. My monthly cable bill is around $85/month for everything except the premium channels (HBO, etc). Rates, charges and fees may (and probably will) be different in other areas. |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
·Patriot Media
 ·Cingular Wireless
·Verizon Online DSL
| said by myosh :Over the years, I've come to realize that these charges vary region to region. Your best bet is to go visit your local Comcast office. They might be more helpful than a CSR in a call center. At the very least, you should be able to pick-up a rate card that explains all the fees in your area. I have a Series3 TiVo with 2 S-Cards and a TiVoHD with a single M-Card. The first S-Card is free and I pay $1.79 each for the second S-Card and the M-Card. There is no "HD Fee" because HD is included in the price of the digital cable packages and I do not pay any additional outlet fees. My monthly cable bill is around $85/month for everything except the premium channels (HBO, etc). Thats totally reasonable. the outlet fee, is a something leftover from the 80s. I cant think of any reasonable explanation for it.
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“Say no to fear. Don’t let anxiety crush your life. Live life free and unfettered.”
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BSD24
Premium
join:2008-04-30
Taunton, MA
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Verizon Online DSL
| said by DaveNJ :said by myosh :Over the years, I've come to realize that these charges vary region to region. Your best bet is to go visit your local Comcast office. They might be more helpful than a CSR in a call center. At the very least, you should be able to pick-up a rate card that explains all the fees in your area. I have a Series3 TiVo with 2 S-Cards and a TiVoHD with a single M-Card. The first S-Card is free and I pay $1.79 each for the second S-Card and the M-Card. There is no "HD Fee" because HD is included in the price of the digital cable packages and I do not pay any additional outlet fees. My monthly cable bill is around $85/month for everything except the premium channels (HBO, etc). Thats totally reasonable. the outlet fee, is a something leftover from the 80s. I cant think of any reasonable explanation for it. said by DaveNJ :said by myosh :Over the years, I've come to realize that these charges vary region to region. Your best bet is to go visit your local Comcast office. They might be more helpful than a CSR in a call center. At the very least, you should be able to pick-up a rate card that explains all the fees in your area. I have a Series3 TiVo with 2 S-Cards and a TiVoHD with a single M-Card. The first S-Card is free and I pay $1.79 each for the second S-Card and the M-Card. There is no "HD Fee" because HD is included in the price of the digital cable packages and I do not pay any additional outlet fees. My monthly cable bill is around $85/month for everything except the premium channels (HBO, etc). Thats totally reasonable. the outlet fee, is a something leftover from the 80s. I cant think of any reasonable explanation for it. Well the term Additional Outlet is how Comcast refers to the "Second Cable Box or Second Equipment". As I said before the first one is discounted. Thats the difference. If it happens to be that you have 2 Std Def Digi boxes, 1st one is free just like DirecTV does, and each additional outlet/box is full price. |
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MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19
·Comcast
| reply to jagged
I think the CSR you spoke to was confused. The $6.50 charge is for the rental of an HD box. For cablecards, they usually charge a nominal fee for each one. In my area, I believe it's $1.95 each. From there, you pay the monthly price of whatever package you are subbing to. (digital starter, preferred, HBO, Starz, etc.) Both the starter and preferred packages include the HD channels. |
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to caddyroger
said by caddyroger :The TiVo s3 you have to use 2 cards ether s-cards or m-cards The TiVo hd you can use 1 m-card or 2 s-cards. As by fcc the cable company can charge a small fee for the cards up to $2.50 each I believe FiOS charges me $3 for each cable card I have. So I pay them $24 a month for 8 cable cards.
Comcast charges me zero for the two cable cards I have with them. |
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