Major Mike's Musings » comcast

Comcast is Gone

Mike — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:14:17 +0000

The 1.8 year old TiVo HD finally started to look like it was recording, but actually dropping programs around the 1 minute to 11 minute recorded mark. I wasn’t sure whether it was the hard disk in the TiVo, the external hard disk, or Comcast signals. Not wanting to spend a bunch of money to find out, we switched from Comcast to Dish. Since the DVR service with Dish is less than the TiVo service, and the actual Dish service is cheaper than Comcast, we’ll be saving the big bucks.

I also switched our high-speed Internet service from Comcast to CenturyLink. It’s no longer required that you subscribe to local phone service in order to get DSL. Good deal. The DSL will be about the same as cable after the discounted price expires after a year.

So far things are working superbly and we’re learning the new system.

I’m officially retiring the static page titled “Comcast Saga” effective immediately.

It Never Ends

Mike — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:02:05 +0000

Apparently the Comcast Saga is not over. The overcharge was not taken off my bill: my credit card was overcharged today. Evidentally, Erika didn’t take the overcharges off my bill as promised.

It’s Magic

Mike — Sun, 11 May 2008 18:01:50 +0000

After much frustration, including no progress with Comcast and no replies to emails to TiVo, I decided to look on the TiVo forums to see if anyone else was having issues with cablecards. Lo and behold, I’m not the only who was having trouble.

One user suggested to repeat the guided setup.¹ In the cablecard installation instructions, TiVo recommends a guided setup before the cable guy gets there.

So I repeated the guided setup and, what do you know, both tuners are now working. This closes the Comcast Saga.

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A long drawn out process that sets up your TiVo when you initially install it or change service providers.

Comcast Saga Continued

Mike — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:22:08 +0000

5/2/08 Entry in the Comcast Saga.

Got my Comcast bill today. There were about $27 added charges for my second cable card which has never been installed correctly. I called Comcast and talked to Erika. She was very nice and took the charges off my bill. After a discussion with her¹, it is apparent that I’m not going too get our system working the way it is supposed to. So I’m giving up the fight with the following recommendation: Thinking about buying TiVo HD² and you have Comcast Cable? Don’t. You’ll only frustrate yourself. I can’t speak to other cable services, but I suspect they have the same problems because the cable card technology is the problem. The best way to get a DVR and HD service is with a satellite company. You can get lots of HD channels, a DVR that will actually have two channels, and spend way less money.

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The first person at Comcast who had any idea what the story with cable cards is and why there were delays and why they don’t work properly
which doesn’t work with satellite service.