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

[Ichinisan]

Why can't they make a cable box that can output more than one video format? Or do they and I just don't have it? It sucks having to constantly hit the "wide" button on my TV because my cable box is too stupid to tell the difference between 4:3 and 16:9 content (or SD/HD). Not the greatest cable question lol ....

That's a dumb question. Your TV without the box can't tell. Your box cannot tell.

The networks mess with the aspect. Commercials change constantly. Nothing you can do.

Some stretch. Some crop. Some do both.

It drives me insane.

 

[Sonikku]

Why is the cable modem they "lease" me for $4 a month some cheap generic $10 piece of crap made in China, while the only modem I can buy to avoid the lease fee that is "compatible" with their approved list is some crazy high end $100+ Motorola thing?

 

[sze5003]

Why is the cable modem they "lease" me for $4 a month some cheap generic $10 piece of crap made in China, while the only modem I can buy to avoid the lease fee that is "compatible" with their approved list is some crazy high end $100+ Motorola thing?

Check out the Motorola sb6120 that's what I replaced the rental one with. Of course depending on what company you have maybe you can find that compatible modem on eBay.

 

[jaqie]

Not directly on topic but if you look in the right places you CAN find used cable and dsl modems cheap. I am actually on 12/1Mbps centurylink (used to be qwest) and found an actiontec M100 modem thats compatible with their service for $1 in the local goodwill. Works awesome. $100 purchase for their new one, or $7 a month. no thanks.

 

[drquest]

Why is the cable modem they "lease" me for $4 a month some cheap generic $10 piece of crap made in China, while the only modem I can buy to avoid the lease fee that is "compatible" with their approved list is some crazy high end $100+ Motorola thing?

Swing by Wal-Mart and pick up a modem. Just because it's not on their compatible list doesn't mean it won't work. Your best bet is to buy a Docsis 3.0 modem rather than Docsis 2.0, but any of those will work.

 

[rudeguy]

Swing by Wal-Mart and pick up a modem. Just because it's not on their compatible list doesn't mean it won't work. Your best bet is to buy a Docsis 3.0 modem rather than Docsis 2.0, but any of those will work.

But chances are they won't activate them. We quit activating customer owned modems a year ago because people were using junk and then calling in for a million service calls for slow speeds.

It all comes down to dollars. If the company can buy a modem for $35 and charge you $4/month, why wouldn't they?

 

[who?]

Cox cable will no longer activate the DOCSIS 2 modem that Wal-Mart still sells. Make sure you buy the Docsis 3 modem.

 

[almightyobo]

I see online that the current bundle prices are a much better deal than what I am currently paying.

To get these prices should I just cancel my current subscription and then start a new one? Or will they adjust prices/give me upgrades as an existing customer?

 

[sze5003]

I see online that the current bundle prices are a much better deal than what I am currently paying.

To get these prices should I just cancel my current subscription and then start a new one? Or will they adjust prices/give me upgrades as an existing customer?

That's what I've always wondered too. Most likely this is for new customers.

 

[rudeguy]

I see online that the current bundle prices are a much better deal than what I am currently paying.

To get these prices should I just cancel my current subscription and then start a new one? Or will they adjust prices/give me upgrades as an existing customer?

You would have to have your service physically disconnected, then call in as a new customer. If your account is active, there us no way to get that pricing.

Believe me, it's not that the rep doesn't want to give you that price. It's just not possible. Corporate would rather see you as a new add than a retained customer.

 

[Jadow]

this ain't Reddit

 

[Raincity]

You would have to have your service physically disconnected, then call in as a new customer. If your account is active, there us no way to get that pricing.

Believe me, it's not that the rep doesn't want to give you that price. It's just not possible. Corporate would rather see you as a new add than a retained customer.

Is one service canceled considered physically disconnected or does the all the services need to be canceled. I noticed the Cox site will now quote the new pricing contract deal with me as a existing customer . That never happen before. The only thing stopping me is that they want another deposit again. I rather not have them hold on to my money for another to years before they credit it back to me. I would also like them to upgrade my modem to docis 3. Do you think a CS rep could get me the existing new customer pricing without requiring another deposit and tell the installer to replace the existing modem also.

 

[rudeguy]

Is one service canceled considered physically disconnected or does the all the services need to be canceled. I noticed the Cox site will now quote the new pricing contract deal with me as a existing customer . That never happen before. The only thing stopping me is that they want another deposit again. I rather not have them hold on to my money for another to years before they credit it back to me. I would also like them to upgrade my modem to docis 3. Do you think a CS rep could get me the existing new customer pricing without requiring another deposit and tell the installer to replace the existing modem also.

Call and find out. That is way too specific for me to know. Sorry.

 

[alkemyst]

Pick up the spillage and use it to powder random objects; such as door handles, toilet seats, and outgoing set top boxes??

ok?

 

[Soundmanred]

ok?

You tried to troll, somebody actually answered what you asked.
Seems pretty simple to me.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Sho'Nuff: If you were to cancel your service, who else would you go to? Do you even have other options available?

I have several options for decent internet service.

TV is something my wife cares about, and I have been pondering going with the streaming options that are available.

Home phone I don't need (I have a cell) and there are other options popssible to.

So, only thing I really need is internet.

 

[drquest]

But chances are they won't activate them. We quit activating customer owned modems a year ago because people were using junk and then calling in for a million service calls for slow speeds.

It all comes down to dollars. If the company can buy a modem for $35 and charge you $4/month, why wouldn't they?

Charter has self activation and you can activate just about any modem by plugging it in and going through the activation process. Your best bet is a 3.0 modem, but most of the cable systems still have thousands of Docsis 2.0 modems on their networks.

 

[who?]

Is one service canceled considered physically disconnected or does the all the services need to be canceled. I noticed the Cox site will now quote the new pricing contract deal with me as a existing customer . That never happen before. The only thing stopping me is that they want another deposit again. I rather not have them hold on to my money for another to years before they credit it back to me. I would also like them to upgrade my modem to docis 3. Do you think a CS rep could get me the existing new customer pricing without requiring another deposit and tell the installer to replace the existing modem also.

Buy a surfboard extreme Docsis 3 modem at Wal-Mart, connect it, then call Cox with your account number and the MAC address to get it put on your account.

 

[Staples]

Is it possible to steal PPV now that everything has gone digital.

I bought a descrambler off Ebay in 2000 or so but the joke was on me. TWC moved all their PPV to digital format a few months later. Now I was stuck with a paper weight (not that I paid much for it, $80 or so).

 

[sze5003]

Buy a surfboard extreme Docsis 3 modem at Wal-Mart, connect it, then call Cox with your account number and the MAC address to get it put on your account.

I had issues with Comcast when I purchased my own modem. Since I had their business class internet I went through the online activation process and it would not activate. It would complain that my address or account number was incorrect...my guess was that the self activation is for residential customers.

I was without internet for a couple of days because I had to call in and the support representative would send a signal but nothing on my end would happen. This is a docsis 3 modem listed on their site.

After calling another three times and getting a rep that did something correctly, I finally was connected.

 

[John Connor]

Do they care if I use a hacked DOCSIS modem? J/K ROFL

 

[alkemyst]

You tried to troll, somebody actually answered what you asked.
Seems pretty simple to me.

I was asking the OP.

Go back under your rock and hide.

The OP said nothing about toner and it has nothing to do with the cable company practices so your question was trolling, and Soundmanred's post was baiting - which you rose to and took. Why don't you each put the other on ignore and give Reported Posts a rest.
admin allisolm

 

[Rudee]

What career misstep resulted in you having to work at a cable company to make a living?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I was asking the OP.

Go back under your rock and hide.

you can avoid similar awkwardness in the future by not asking or saying stupid things

 

[Ichinisan]

Do they care if I use a hacked DOCSIS modem? J/K ROFL

Why bother to specify "DOCSIS?" You probably can't even use a non-DOCSIS modem.