pmokover
join:2001-12-02
Ventnor City, NJ
| Cable Card From Comcast
Is there anything I should know about ordering or installing a cable card from Comcast before I make the phone call to order it?
I am getting a TiVo HD box which needs an M type card. I currently have a HD box from Comcast with DVR. I will change to a non-DVR HD box from Comcast in one room and the TiVO HD will go in another room.
Peter |
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Barovelli
join:2002-04-03
Pacific Grove, CA
 ·Comcast
·Comcast
·Comcast
| Just a couple of FYIs
Run the Tivo setup without the card to update the Tivo
software BEFORE installing the card.
Check if your Comcast system offers self install of cable cards.
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To get back on your feet, miss two car payments. |
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jacktaw
join:2003-01-03
Derry, NH
| reply to pmokover
Yeah....one thing to know....Comcast is clueless when it comes to Cablecards. 
Make sure you double/triple check your bill, and make sure they are billing you correctly once done.
If you are getting the Tivo HD, it can take either 1 M-card or 2 S-cards. Try to get the M-card so they don't charge you more. Also, since you'll be having an regular HD box on one outlet, the cablecard will most likely be considered your second outlet, which will carry an additional charge.
Like the other poster said, get Tivo up and running and make sure it gets the latest software before Comcast comes to install the card.
Here's a great FAQ to reference:
»www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/sh···t=363797
-k |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
·Patriot Media
 ·Cingular Wireless
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Good luck i still haven't gotten mine activated yet. This is week 2. So far i have heard, there are no cablecards. Then we will schedule you tommarrow. ? Then we scheduled you but we missed your appointment.
So be prepared for no shows, and total denials that even cable cards even exist. |
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jacktaw
join:2003-01-03
Derry, NH
| said by DaveNJ  :Good luck i still haven't gotten mine activated yet. This is week 2. So far i have heard, there are no cablecards. Then we will schedule you tommarrow. ? Then we scheduled you but we missed your appointment. So be prepared for no shows, and total denials that even cable cards even exist. That was about my experience....although they did finally show up the first time and install the card.
When I first called Comcast, I got this punk on the phone. I asked, how much do you charge for cable cards. His response "around 5 bucks".
I could have jumped through the phone at him. First, he was wrong....second...you don't tell me "around" anything. How would Comcast like it if the next time I paid my bill, I paid "around" the full amount 
Anyway, make sure you get all the right billing info.
Comcast doesn't like cablecards....lot less money coming in when you go CC.
-k |
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pmokover
join:2001-12-02
Ventnor City, NJ
| reply to DaveNJ
said by DaveNJ :Good luck i still haven't gotten mine activated yet. This is week 2. So far i have heard, there are no cablecards. Then we will schedule you tommarrow. ? Then we scheduled you but we missed your appointment. So be prepared for no shows, and total denials that even cable cards even exist. What part of NJ are you in? |
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pmokover
join:2001-12-02
Ventnor City, NJ
| reply to Barovelli
said by Barovelli :Just a couple of FYIs Run the Tivo setup without the card to update the Tivo software BEFORE installing the card. I was under the impression that the TiVo box would not work until the cable card was installed. I guess I was wrong about that. How much functionality will the box have without the cable card?
Peter |
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caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Graham, WA
·Comcast
| said by pmokover :said by Barovelli :Just a couple of FYIs Run the Tivo setup without the card to update the Tivo software BEFORE installing the card. I was under the impression that the TiVo box would not work until the cable card was installed. I guess I was wrong about that. How much functionality will the box have without the cable card? Peter You will get all of the locals channels and the unencrypted channels. You won't get the guide information, you will have to manually inter the program to record. This will let you get all of the updates for the box.
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Caddy |
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Verizon Online DSL
edit:
July 1st, @11:30AM
| said by caddyroger :said by pmokover :said by Barovelli :Just a couple of FYIs Run the Tivo setup without the card to update the Tivo software BEFORE installing the card. I was under the impression that the TiVo box would not work until the cable card was installed. I guess I was wrong about that. How much functionality will the box have without the cable card? Peter You will get all of the locals channels and the unencrypted channels. You won't get the guide information, you will have to manually inter the program to record. This will let you get all of the updates for the box. If comcast in your area still has analog channels you will get the guide data for all the analog channels. Before I got my cable cards with my TiVoHD connected to Comcast, I had it setup and it was receiving the guide data and programming for the analog channels, once I got the cable cards I had access to all the digital channels and of course all the guide data for those. |
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MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19 | reply to pmokover
Don't set your heart on an M card. It is possible that the office may not have them in stock. Cable Card customers are few and far between and MSOs will go through current stock before acquiring new stock. |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
·Patriot Media
·Cingular Wireless
·Verizon Online DSL
| said by MadMANN :Don't set your heart on an M card. It is possible that the office may not have them in stock. Cable Card customers are few and far between and MSOs will go through current stock before acquiring new stock. What are the plans for when all the tru2way stuff comes out. Doesnt it make sense to always have some in stock? |
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MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19 | I am sure when that time comes, they'll have them. I am just throwing the possibility out there that right now at this exact moment, they may not have them in stock. |
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sragle
join:2005-08-08
San Jose, CA
·Comcast
| reply to pmokover
I installed 2 Tivo HD for my house, and found that my 1st self install was a pain in the rear because comcast tech on the phone did not setup the card correctly on their end.
For the 2nd Tivo I was having a problem setting it up so I called Tivo and Tivo was able to get the 2nd card working with out a problem, Tivo will get your cablecard info from you and they will call Comcast themself and tell the tech what to do the right way. |
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crischen
join:2000-11-07
Anderson, IN | reply to pmokover
So, how much does one actually cost? lol. I've been eyeing the HD Tivo and ditching Comcast's DVR.
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-Kinsey
Geeky chix0r |
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MRCUR
join:2007-03-09
Columbia, PA
·Embarq
| said by crischen :So, how much does one actually cost? lol. I've been eyeing the HD Tivo and ditching Comcast's DVR. There's a few different costs that vary depending on plans on your local Comcast market. The price of the box is one thing, as well as the Tivo service price you pick. Those are all set though, and you can see them on Tivo's website.
Comcast is another story... First you have to pay for a CableCard. If you only have ONE STB and you're replacing it with a CableCard, then you should get the card for free. If the Tivo would be a second (or higher number) additional outlet, then you pay for the CableCard (usually between $0-$5), as well as an A/O charge ($8.90 in my market). Also, you may have to pay for two CableCards if Comcast doesn't have M-Cards available. |
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