After four years, I left the cable company. Ask me questions

[Ichinisan]

Are failure rates with DVR's high? With Comcast here, in less than a year we are now on our 3rd DVR. Never had a problem with DirecTV's DVR, but Comcasts HDD seem to goto shit fast. Or have I just been unlucky?

Yes. They have a mechanical HDD that's going 24/7 and failure is far more likely than with a typical PC.

Remember, it doesn't just record the shows you tell it to record, it's also recording a time-shift buffer. Even when you turn it off, it still uses the same amount of power when it records your shows.

Some DVRs (TiVo) don't have the option to turn-off. TiVo does this to get the most out of 2 tuners with TiVo Suggestions that are pre-recorded for you. With our dual-tuner TiVo Premiere, ALL tuners are always recording a buffer (Press the "Live TV/Swap" button to switch to the other tuner/buffer).

 

[Ichinisan]

I don't know how you call it dead when a lot of cable-co set tops use cable cards.

They are secured with a security screw and tamper seal. The security device is "modular" for one reason only: To comply with the FCC's separable security mandate.

For the user, there's absolutely no functional difference between an Explorer 8300HD (built-in security device) and an Explorer 8300HDC (cableCARD).

We won't let you take it out, so you can't really pretend it's any different than the built-in security device.

 

[Ichinisan]

Last time I was at the office there was a line out the door and 90% of the people were returning dvr or hd boxes.

After a really bad storm? Is that why YOU were there?

 

[jaha2000]

Based on your location i know exactly who you work for.. DO you know John Hillary by chance?

 

[sze5003]

After a really bad storm? Is that why YOU were there?

No I was there because I didn't want to pay 10 extra dollars for an hd box since I rarely ever watch tv, only my gf will when she is over. I wanted to get an sd box and I had to go back 3 times to get one that would work.

 

[Ichinisan]

No I was there because I didn't want to pay 10 extra dollars for an hd box since I rarely ever watch tv, only my gf will when she is over. I wanted to get an sd box and I had to go back 3 times to get one that would work.

"SD" makes me recoil with horror...but so does "STB." I hate them all.

The other option:
Build an HTPC and get a cableCARD tuner like HDHomeRun Prime. Unfortunately, Windows 8 nixed Media Center unless you pay for an upgrade, so it's better to go with Win7.

WMC is a really great DVR interface if you can get it set up correctly.

 

[rudeguy]

Based on your location i know exactly who you work for.. DO you know John Hillary by chance?

We had so much turnover that I lost track of who all I knew. In the four years I was there we had to have gone through 1500 people minimum

 

[kinev]

I've been with Comcast Xfinity for a year now and my bill was $29.99 for the first 6 months, $44.99 for months 7-12, and it's up to $64.99 now for 25/5.

If I "upgrade" to Blast (50/10) do you think I'll be able to get the new customer promotion (39.99/59.99/72.99) or do I need to be without service for 6 months? I don't think I could handle DSL's 3/1 plan...

 

[John Connor]

WTF! I have blast and it is no where near 50/10 More like 20/6 and that is from Speedtest.net Where do you live? I'm gonna give them a call after I log out.

 

[It's Not Lupus]

Why is my upload speed so shitty? 16 down 1 up

 

[rudeguy]

I've been with Comcast Xfinity for a year now and my bill was $29.99 for the first 6 months, $44.99 for months 7-12, and it's up to $64.99 now for 25/5.

If I "upgrade" to Blast (50/10) do you think I'll be able to get the new customer promotion (39.99/59.99/72.99) or do I need to be without service for 6 months? I don't think I could handle DSL's 3/1 plan...

You can always try. You might not get the new customer rate but maybe they have something.

Sorry I don't know about specific promos

 

[alkemyst]

Why is my upload speed so shitty? 16 down 1 up

Don't know what service you have but DSL especially tends to be killed if you have many uploaders on your segment.

Being you are getting still 16 down, I am betting there is something throttling you.

 

[Perknose]

Nothing slower except in some parts of Cali where the lines were older than Olds' mom (literally).

It's well known in the basement that Olds didn't have a mom, per se. He was a test tube baby. Olds' mom was known in the lab as "quite the piece of glass" and "a real beaker, bro."

The sperm donor was an orangutang with anal halitosis but lovely orange hair. When Olds once said he was researching his family tree, few knew he meant that literally.

I do not lie. In vitro veritas.

^ Stunning Family Resemblance! ^​

 

[rudeguy]

It's well known in the basement that Olds didn't have a mom, per se. He was a test tube baby. Olds' mom was known in the lab as "quite the piece of glass" and "a real beaker, bro."

The sperm donor was an orangutang with anal halitosis but lovely orange hair. When Olds once said he was researching his family tree, few knew he meant that literally.

I do not lie. In vitro veritas.

^ Stunning Family Resemblance! ^​

You sir have taken mama jokes to the next level

 

[GoPackGo]

The company is Charter.

My internet just went up to $50. They don't have any deals any longer...I know as soon as CenturyLink is done laying fiber in our area it will be buh-bye

 

[alkemyst]

You sir have taken mama jokes to the next level

Bro, your mammas are no joke.

 

[Ksyder]

I need some advice as to what to do.

Currently I have Insight Cable and internet. However, they were bought out by TWC, and now I'm a Time Warner customer. I'm also going to be moving in 2 months. Currently I'm a TWC customer due to the acquisition.

I also need to set up "only internet" at the new place. I want to get the best rate. Should I wait until my service is cancelled at the current address? Or should I do it while I'm still a customer? I'm hoping to get a promo rate on broadband only.

 

[sze5003]

Just have them set up internet at new place and when the cable tv at your current place is set to cancel it will do that. Tell them you want to cancel because you are moving. They should check if service is available at the new place and give you a promotional rate. At least that is what Comcast did when I moved.

If that does not work, have them cancel it and sign up as a new customer for the new address.

 

[Ksyder]

^That's kind of what I was figuring. I'll give it a whirl. Thanks.

 

[OCGuy]

Went with DirecTV last year and wont look back. Picture quality, free NFL Sunday Ticket, and the ability to switch between DSL and Cable for internet if one wont give the introductory rate on renewal.

 

[z1ggy]

RudeGuy I hope you answer this question because I don't want to call Comcast to ask-

MY internet connection is ALWAYS cutting out while I game. Is my service where I live that terrible? Or is it a bad modem? I always need to hard reboot the modem by pressing in the little button on the back. I don't think it's my router, but it could be. It's pretty old, but when I look at the green lights blinking, a lot of the time the one that says LINK will stop (meaning a signal to the router is broken).

What say you?

 

[RPD]

RudeGuy I hope you answer this question because I don't want to call Comcast to ask-

MY internet connection is ALWAYS cutting out while I game. Is my service where I live that terrible? Or is it a bad modem? I always need to hard reboot the modem by pressing in the little button on the back. I don't think it's my router, but it could be. It's pretty old, but when I look at the green lights blinking, a lot of the time the one that says LINK will stop (meaning a signal to the router is broken).

What say you?

One possible issue could be the cable signal making it to your modem is weak. If the cable is split or not run in an efficient manner before making it to the modem the signal decreases with each split. I had a problem with the picture quality on the TV and finally had enough to have them send out a tech. He hooked up a meter and found it was really far below normal. Don't quote me on the numbers but the strength for a good signal should be like -1 to -2 and the way the wiring was run it was at a -8 or -9 in the house until he redid it.

 

[z1ggy]

One possible issue could be the cable signal making it to your modem is weak. If the cable is split or not run in an efficient manner before making it to the modem the signal decreases with each split. I had a problem with the picture quality on the TV and finally had enough to have them send out a tech. He hooked up a meter and found it was really far below normal. Don't quote me on the numbers but the strength for a good signal should be like -1 to -2 and the way the wiring was run it was at a -8 or -9 in the house until he redid it.

Signal comes right out of the coax hook up in the wall. Can Volt Meters read dBs? I haven't used mine in a while.

 

[JBT]

Signal comes right out of the coax hook up in the wall. Can Volt Meters read dBs? I haven't used mine in a while.

It may come right out of the wall but there may be numerous splits between there and the junction box on the outside of your house.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

RudeGuy I hope you answer this question because I don't want to call Comcast to ask-

MY internet connection is ALWAYS cutting out while I game. Is my service where I live that terrible? Or is it a bad modem? I always need to hard reboot the modem by pressing in the little button on the back. I don't think it's my router, but it could be. It's pretty old, but when I look at the green lights blinking, a lot of the time the one that says LINK will stop (meaning a signal to the router is broken).

What say you?

call the cable company and schedule a trouble call. anything else is pretty useless.

One possible issue could be the cable signal making it to your modem is weak. If the cable is split or not run in an efficient manner before making it to the modem the signal decreases with each split. I had a problem with the picture quality on the TV and finally had enough to have them send out a tech. He hooked up a meter and found it was really far below normal. Don't quote me on the numbers but the strength for a good signal should be like -1 to -2 and the way the wiring was run it was at a -8 or -9 in the house until he redid it.

the downstream power window for a docsis modem is -10dB to +10dB, the upstream window is +35dB to +50dB, and the upstream SNR minimum is 37dB.

Signal comes right out of the coax hook up in the wall. Can Volt Meters read dBs? I haven't used mine in a while.

technically yes, practically no.