Why is Charter Communications so retarded?

[SSSnail]

So, I'm moving to my new house, and in the process, am subjected to another monopolized service of Charter internet and TV services.

I scheduled for an installation today, and, because there's nothing in this new house right now, I told them to just install the modem, and run the cables to the four rooms that I'll have TVs in.

The installer came, and told me that if I don't have all TVs in the rooms where he'll be running the cables, then he can't perform the installation. To which, I told him I can grab one TV, and he can perform his installation in a room, perform signal and service checks, and I can move the TV to the next room. That approach apparently won't work, because "we can't have a TV disconnected because it will result in poor quality of service for the entire block". I shit you not.

So, why are cable/internet companies allow to create monopolies? I swear, whichever running candidate for the POTUS seat will get my vote if they abolish the monopolies.

Edit: Anyone here works as a cable installer? What secret handshake or password do I tell the installer to get him to install it?

 

[NutBucket]

Wtf. That's nuts. I get unterminated cables but that's assinine. Plus, the cable terminates into a splitter when it comes into your home. I wonder what would happen if he tried telling that to an engineer.

 

[SSSnail]

Wtf. That's nuts. I get unterminated cables but that's assinine. Plus, the cable terminates into a splitter when it comes into your home. I wonder what would happen if he tried telling that to an engineer.

The funny thing is, each of these would be connected to their own cable boxes. For shits and giggles, I asked them what communication protocol they used to determine null terminal if I disconnect my TVs once everything are installed.

 

[TheGardener]

I guess internal wiring without a TV or computer is not their responsibility. Kind of makes sense.

My dad use to go outside and chat with cable and telephone workers. Then he'd offer soup on cold days or a cold drink on hot and humid days. They'd be appreciative, and they'd offer to do free wiring or give him free landline equipment. Amazing what people might do for you when you treat them like human beings.

 

[BxgJ]

Wtf? Ask him what happens when people do that normally, when their tv breaks, or they take it away from their kid or something.

 

[SSSnail]

I guess internal wiring without a TV or computer is not their responsibility. Kind of makes sense.

My dad use to go outside and chat with cable and telephone workers. Then he'd offer soup on cold days or a cold drink on hot and humid days. They'd be appreciative, and they'd offer to do free wiring or give him free landline equipment. Amazing what people might do for you when you treat them like human beings.

You're the kind of customers that these responses from cable companies were designed for.

Anyways, this is the first thing the installer told me, don't know how or where the "treat them like humans" touchy feely part came in...

 

[SSSnail]

Wtf? Ask him what happens when people do that normally, when their tv breaks, or they take it away from their kid or something.

Believe me, as a technologist, I had a pretty interesting conversation with the installer, his supervisor, and the dispatcher. But of course none of them could answer any questions, was just for shits and giggles because at that point I've already given up on the notion that I'll get my internet and TV service installed today.

 

[TallBill]

If you were so much smarter than them, you'd have internet and television right now.

 

[SSSnail]

If you were so much smarter than them, you'd have internet and television right now.

Hold on, let me go get my 19 months old son to respond to this post.

 

[TallBill]

Call 911, I need to go to the burn ward.

 

[MtnMan]

The TV and Internet leak out and will fill your house if you don't have the pipes capped with a TV.

Of course here, you can't get TV without a cable box because it is all encrypted, which would also keep the TV from leaking out and filling the room.

 

[Elixer]

The installer came, and told me that if I don't have all TVs in the rooms where he'll be running the cables, then he can't perform the installation. To which, I told him I can grab one TV, and he can perform his installation in a room, perform signal and service checks, and I can move the TV to the next room. That approach apparently won't work, because "we can't have a TV disconnected because it will result in poor quality of service for the entire block". I shit you not.

So, why are cable/internet companies allow to create monopolies? I swear, whichever running candidate for the POTUS seat will get my vote if they abolish the monopolies.

Edit: Anyone here works as a cable installer? What secret handshake or password do I tell the installer to get him to install it?

Since you don't understand how things work, you blame the installer because the lack of knowledge you have?

The installer is technically correct.
He can't adjust the signal correctly without having devices on each tap/leg.
So, in your case, moving the TV form one room to the other won't work, since that is another leg, and he can get ingress and egresss RF leaks, and can't do anything to the signal to make sure you have a quality picture & sound.
While he could have put terminators on the legs that aren't active, they tend not to do that if they know there is going to be an active device there, so, it would require another trip for them to come back and fix any signal issues.

This is also why line guys come around looking for signal issues, and in extreme cases, they will ask to fix the problem in your house, since it is causing issues down the road, like idiots having amps hooked up incorrectly or the wrong type, (or unterminated splitters or...) and is causing chaos at the headend.
Remember, you are all connected.

Now, you should apologize to the installer (if you see them again), and quit giving them a hard time.

 

[LTC8K6]

Back in the day they had terminator caps that you screwed onto unused lines.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-To...6efDjuf9erRrL8GrB0vn8aAvFH8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[ctbaars]

A unterminated splitter is a really bad idea. Reeks havok on VSWR, insertion loss and variation/ripple over the band.

 

[SSSnail]

Since you don't understand how things work, you blame the installer because the lack of knowledge you have?

The installer is technically correct.
He can't adjust the signal correctly without having devices on each tap/leg.
So, in your case, moving the TV form one room to the other won't work, since that is another leg, and he can get ingress and egresss RF leaks, and can't do anything to the signal to make sure you have a quality picture & sound.
While he could have put terminators on the legs that aren't active, they tend not to do that if they know there is going to be an active device there, so, it would require another trip for them to come back and fix any signal issues.

This is also why line guys come around looking for signal issues, and in extreme cases, they will ask to fix the problem in your house, since it is causing issues down the road, like idiots having amps hooked up incorrectly or the wrong type, (or unterminated splitters or...) and is causing chaos at the headend.
Remember, you are all connected.

Now, you should apologize to the installer (if you see them again), and quit giving them a hard time.

So, what do the cable boxes do? What if you remove a TV?

 

[Elixer]

So, what do the cable boxes do? What if you remove a TV?

The outside box that connects to the house is basically just a box with a X-way splitter in it. Sometimes, it can have filters in it as well (like to prevent CATV if you only paid for HSI).
Some also have a amp, but, it really depends on the area.

If you remove a TV, and you don't have a terminator on, then you can cause RF leakage. This can usually be detected outside, when a line tech guy comes around looking for noise, and depending on the cable box type, they might be able to terminate the splitter there, or they try to gain access to the house.

If you mean the cable set-top box that Charter uses, those are the things that the cable goes into now, and they are all digital (unless you aren't in a digital area), and hooking it up to that is basically enough to fix the signal level for all devices to be optimal.

If that was your scenario, where you had 4 set-top boxes, but only 1 output device, that is a whole different story. With the boxes all activated, and on, you could have dragged a monitor to each box, and he could indeed check the signal level there and then, and move on to the next box, and do the same. Sure, it is more of a PITA thing to do, but, if you weren't being a jerk, lots of installers would have done it, though, the rules do state that they need to have a output device active & working. It has to do with lawyers, and the damn liability that goes on when the tech starts moving things.

 

[SSSnail]

That is precisely my scenario. 3 set top boxes, and a box with DVR. That's why they're retarded.

I was only a jerk after half an hour pleading. And as I mentioned, I don't think the installer had any intention of doing four rooms on a Friday afternoon as mine was the last appointment. The first thing I told him was it's an empty house, and I can grab one TV to facilitate the installation.

Thanks for all the assumptive jump to conclusion bashing though.

 

[Elixer]

That is precisely my scenario. 3 set top boxes, and a box with DVR. That's why they're retarded.

I was only a jerk after half an hour pleading. And as I mentioned, I don't think the installer had any intention of doing four rooms on a Friday afternoon as mine was the last appointment. The first thing I told him was it's an empty house, and I can grab one TV to facilitate the installation.

Thanks for all the assumptive jump to conclusion bashing though.

LOL, hey, you didn't spell out the full details.

But, it still isn't Charter's fault, it is the lawyers, and all the other idiots who sued to get this crap written into the rules on what an installer must do, and what they can't do.
One of these days, someone should put a pdf up of all the stupid rules they must now do. It is insane.

 

[TallBill]

That is precisely my scenario. 3 set top boxes, and a box with DVR. That's why they're retarded.

I was only a jerk after half an hour pleading. And as I mentioned, I don't think the installer had any intention of doing four rooms on a Friday afternoon as mine was the last appointment. The first thing I told him was it's an empty house, and I can grab one TV to facilitate the installation.

Thanks for all the assumptive jump to conclusion bashing though.

So you were a jerk, and continue to be one. It goes back to my previous statement; maybe if you were smarter you'd have cable right now

 

[SSSnail]

So you were a jerk, and continue to be one. It goes back to my previous statement; maybe if you were smarter you'd have cable right now

My son says this is beneath him, and he doesn't have time for it.

 

[TallBill]

He should have plenty of free time, as you don't have any cable or internet.