US Cable Support > Time Warner Cable TV/Voice > TV essentials in HD? Tech said to swap box!

TV essentials in HD? Tech said to swap box!

You would have to call sales for your area. In NYC on demand is not part of the package, but if you are receiving it, great. And HD boxes are not part of the TV essentials rate, here.

I did call a sales rep, they don't have a box they said that supports the HD channels for TV essientials and that I would have to upgrade to "Digital" cable to get those. That's bull! specially since the Scientific Atlantic 3100 has an HD version of that box, same thing, but has the HD input (I can do HDMI or component input on the TV). And yes they said they had that box, but I couldn't get it since I haven't subscribed to the Digital cable package. I'm not paying 60 bucks more just for HD that's just stupid.

It's not bull, it is the way the package is set up. "The Time Warner Cable TV Essentials package includes:

Time Warner Cable’s Basic tier (including local channels from ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS)
12 of the top 20 Nielsen-rated cable channels, plus other channels
Representative channels from each major genre: news/information, sports, kids, music, lifestyle, shopping, and general entertainment
Two standard-definition digital cable set-top boxes, featuring an on-screen guide and Music Choice
Enhanced TV features including StartOverTM and LookBackTM (where available)
Access to the library of new release movies through Time Warner On Demand (paid VOD only; no free VOD)"

Standard definition boxes - not HD. For lower budget minded or people who have not purchased an HD tv, myself included. My tv sets are perfectly adequate for my limited use. I put my spare change into a new computer with HD monitor instead.

i'm just saying that it's 60 bucks for HD, not that the package didn't include it LOL

When you tune to channels that are supposed to be HD, are they visible or are they blank?

If you can actually see them, then maybe try to see if TW will rent you a cablecard. Naturally, you would need a device that uses cablecards like a Tivo. If there is not even a picture on those channels, then there obviously there is no way to get HD since you only get SD.

reply to xwaretech
TV Essentials does not come in HD, as it is a budget-friendly service.

reply to btB
"If you can actually see them, then maybe try to see if TW will rent you a cablecard."

The renting of a cablecard will break his current package. TV essentials does not include HD channels.

Hob
--
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you Hobs! I just don't get why a tech would tell me that by swapping boxes that I would be able to get the HD TV essentials for free? If anything I just want better picture quality when I have the equipment to do so, but I don't want to break my promotion or pay 60+ dollars just for a quality upgrade.

At least I know I can trust you Hobs! 3's getting great speeds and no hiccups after they replaced all the lines in my house! signals seemed fine, but it seems they seen something during the night, was a short in the old wiring.

reply to xwaretech
I recommend you to re install it with new box.

Yea I have to call them, it's still getting a Error 1 and Error 100 on primetime on demand during the evenings and my uncorrectables and correctables read about 1-2 million PER day with drops in connection speed at times here and there

TV Essentials doesn't include (free) On Demand (at least according to description) , so it is possible the errors cannot be corrected.

Switching out the box could remove your limited access, assuming you are able to view free VOD during the day.

reply to xwaretech
If you haven't already, you might consider subscribing to Netflix, Amazon VOD, and/or HULU+. I believe they all stream in HD and would be a good option instead of Time Warner's InDemand channels.
--
An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last. - Sir Winston Churchill

I was told I got VoD from the channels that I got on Essentials, that includes fox, CBS and NBC (most of the channels that me and my wife watch in the first place). Access during the day is fine, at night we can't even get anything we get error 1 and 100 thew hole time, it's driving me nuts! (because we both work days and we are at home at night).

Added note: I have netflix, they don't get Hell's kitchen on there very often as I like, nor do they get cooking shows off food network, and I don't feel like subscribing to another just to get what I want...