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post #211 of 14496
3/26/04 at 10:00am
Quote:


Originally posted by coatandthai
I am about to sign up for Comcast HDTV (Palo Alto) but I am concerned with all the problems I am reading here. Would anyone say, in hindsight, that they should have gone with a dish or some other alternative? Or is everything equally problematic at this point?

Thanks!

If you like the value of what you pay for comcast in comparision to the other vendors, you've got nothing to lose. No upfront cost and you can cancel at anytime with no cancellation fee (a luxury not available with most of the Sat setups)

Most of the griping is...we all want more HD channels (a common theme with subscribers to all services), some folks want firewire (again common theme)...we want our HD DVRs (pretty common, E* you can get a buggy one for $1000...D* you can get the HDTivo in a month or so for $1000 also...Comcast is coming for $5/mth within a couple months..hopefully soon...won't be as pretty as TIVO but seems to record HD fine)...CSRs don't have much forward looking info etc...

As far as existing HD service...the problems are no more then anybody else (I've had very little myself)

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post #212 of 14496
3/26/04 at 11:17am
No upfront cost?

Don't they still have an installation charge for the 5100? As I recall they charged me something like $50.
post #213 of 14496
3/26/04 at 11:23am
Quote:


Originally posted by hiker
No upfront cost?

Don't they still have an installation charge for the 5100? As I recall they charged me something like $50.

I just unplugged my old STB, drove down to the local Comcast office and picked up the 5100. Drove home, plugged it in, called to get it activated and there it was! HD was alive and well. No need for a technician visit unless there's a problem.

Albert
post #214 of 14496
3/26/04 at 11:28am
I upgraded from Analog cable to HD, and was told there was going to be a $15 charge. I also "added on" the 3 month trial of Digital Platinum for $29.99 a month and it was listed as free installation..so I am going to try to get my install fee waived.
post #215 of 14496
3/26/04 at 11:35am
Quote:


Originally posted by Zappcatt
I upgraded from Analog cable to HD, and was told there was going to be a $15 charge. I also "added on" the 3 month trial of Digital Platinum for $29.99 a month and it was listed as free installation..so I am going to try to get my install fee waived.

That might have been the difference - I already had a digital package so the only upgrade was to the HD box at $5/mo. They waived the fee the first 3 mos. Good thing to take advantage of any free installs that they offer. Paying $50 for someone to come in and just unplug one box and plug in another would make me unhappy. OTOH, if there are problems nothing like having someone on-site to help fix them.

ALbert
post #216 of 14496
3/26/04 at 12:30pm
Comcast's policy may have changed, but back in September, they were not allowing subscribers to pick up HD boxes at their regional offices... at least the one in Mountain View. I was given the run-around regarding this and after a few minutes, the CSR waived the install fee and called it an "upgrade".
post #217 of 14496
3/26/04 at 12:48pm
Quote:


Originally posted by hiker
No upfront cost?

Don't they still have an installation charge for the 5100? As I recall they charged me something like $50.

Maybe $15, but it should not have been $50 to upgrade to HD. Some folks have got it for nothing, some for $15 fee (which is fine by me). I've never seen $50. Very Few have been able to swap it at the local office.

The Original Poster didnt mention wether he was a new subscriber (where they always have $0 cost specials) or an upgrade (which would be $0 or $15...I consider either to really be no upfront cost (or next to nothing))
post #218 of 14496
3/26/04 at 2:00pm
I was a new subscriber so that's probably why they charged me $50. I wasn't offered a 0 cost special.
post #219 of 14496
3/26/04 at 2:18pm
Quote:


Originally posted by hiker
I was a new subscriber so that's probably why they charged me $50. I wasn't offered a 0 cost special.

That could be (at the time) It's unrelated to adding HD Service then

If you signed up as a new subscriber with comcast today, Install would be Free and they would give you Digital Platinum (basically everything they offer) for $30/mth for the 1st 3 months (might still have to pay the $5/mth for HD)....At the end of 3 months remember to call and downgrade to the service you really want (platinum is like $90). Downgrades are sometimes a worthless $2 fee.
post #220 of 14496
3/26/04 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
You can even go for the $30 per month special right now if you are an existing Comcast subscriber. Just call up the CSR "hotline" and ask them for the Digital Platinum $30 per month special. If you currently subscribe to anything above limited basic, you probably will save money for those three months (limited basic + $10 Digital Classic tier might be a wash).

So you can get ALL of Comcast's HD channels for 3 months for $30 per month (+ box rental cost?). Check them out and then, like davisdog says, downgrade to the service you want at the end of three months (for a one-time $2 charge).
post #221 of 14496
3/26/04 at 4:08pm
so I got Comcast digital cable today - the $30 for 3 mths deal with HD, but unfortunately, they delivered a 5100 rather than a 6200.

has anyone in the city of SF gotten one of these boxes? from what i've read on this board before that the firewire does not work for recording on the 5100 box.

I got a phone number of a local office and the 2nd installer (first guy didn't bring a HD box at all) told me to call him on Tuesday to check on the 6200. hopefully, its just a matter of switching the box at the local office.

I am pretty amazed otherwise... this is the first HD I've seen on my 50 in samsung and boy, does it look good. I watched a little basketball on InHD this afternoon (some old game from last year) and the picture was absolutely awesome.

randy
post #222 of 14496
3/26/04 at 4:28pm
Thread Starter 
The 5100's do not have firewire. Look at your 5100 box-- I would be shocked if it has a firewire port.

The 6200's have firewire ports but the firewire currently works only for recording to a D-VHS and even then there have been spotty problems. Also, if you watch analog channels (2 through 82) via your 6200, you may be concerned because there have been reports of audio cracks and pops on those channels with the 6200 (but not with the 5100).

As mentioned above, I think, the 6200 should have a firmware update by May which may fix certain bugs, including possibly allowing you to hook up an external hard disk drive and record to it via the 6200.

If you still want a 6200 and they don't help you out on Tuesday, call back on April 1st (Thursday). There is an FCC regulation which goes into effect on April 1st which requires cable companies to provide high definition customers with firewire-equipped HD STB, if such a firewire connection is requested by the customer.

Of course, the CSR's will not have a clue on April 1st when people start calling and requesting 6200's, but there will be ways to deal with that ...

And congratulations on your new Sammy and HD hookup. Pretty sweet, isn't it?
post #223 of 14496
3/26/04 at 7:14pm
Quote:


Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Just call up the CSR "hotline" and ask them for the Digital Platinum $30 per month special.

Sonoma, are you refering to the local 888 number we've talked about? I always call that for tech support but not sure if they actually deal with signing you up for the different specials? I may take them up on that, although I'd prefer to wait until they add cinemax/starz HD down here before starting the 3month clock ...who knows when that will be though...the 550-750 cutover is dragging it seems
post #224 of 14496
3/28/04 at 11:22am
too bad I couldn't get the promotion, I just got off one, and you gotta wait 90 days before you can get on another one apparently.
post #225 of 14496
3/29/04 at 8:18am
Thread Starter 
Quote:


Originally posted by davisdog
Sonoma, are you refering to the local 888 number we've talked about? I always call that for tech support but not sure if they actually deal with signing you up for the different specials? I may take them up on that, although I'd prefer to wait until they add cinemax/starz HD down here before starting the 3month clock ...who knows when that will be though...the 550-750 cutover is dragging it seems

I just called the 800 COMCAST number. On the website, it said the offer expires April 4th, I think; on a TV add, it may have been March 31.
post #226 of 14496
3/29/04 at 10:50am
Any updates on the FOX SportsNet HD offerings in the Bay Area? I know a few people are saying "30 days" but is that confirmed?
post #227 of 14496
3/29/04 at 12:55pm
Misc. ramblings on my HDTV experience: Comcast arrived 130 min. late for the install. I guess that is my "welcome to Comcast -- don't expect a lot from us" message. The guy was pretty nice though.

First thing he does is look at my just-installed Monster 2GHz splitter and says "that has to go." He never quite explained why, or at least I couldn't understand why. Something about too much bandwidth would cause distortion. Anyone know if this is correct?

Then, he only brought 1 box but I have 2 TVs. I guess that was my bad. I assumed they have a ton of boxes in the truck.

Also, my new TV is in a new room, and it isn't wired. He said I would need to order a full install for that. Or I could wire it myself (which I will). At least the one TV started working, though now I have another remote to deal with.

Thanks for the vine, i"m out.
post #228 of 14496
3/30/04 at 9:49am
Starz HD and Cinemax HD just showed up in Pittsburg. Still no sign of Inhd 1 and 2. Strange, because they sent out a card before stating that it was part of our channel lineup. Hopefully they will be added soon.
post #229 of 14496
3/30/04 at 10:24am
I also saw were they added CBS-HD in alameda yesterday. At least they are still working on cleaning up the systems. Still no Inhd or starz/cinemax in Saratoga/LosGatos/Milpitas
post #230 of 14496
3/30/04 at 3:19pm
Does anyone know what Comcast's plans for channel 77 are?

On the guide, it says Preview Channel..and in the last month it was HGTV, then IFC, this weekend it covered the Warriors game as FSN+..

Is it a random change of programming, or is it listed somewhere? TitanTV calls it LO Programming. Thanks.
post #231 of 14496
3/30/04 at 3:55pm
Thread Starter 
77 is just what the guide says, a "preview" channel. It takes digital channels and "previews" them for free to analog subscribers who don't subcribe to the digital tier that includes those channels. The channel being previewed changes regularly.

I guess they also use 77 as the FSN + channel. FSN + occurs when two FSN games are on at the same time or are likely to overlap, such as Sharks and Warriors or A's and Giants. One game is on FSN Bay Area and the other should show up on FSN +. The channel for FSN + may vary from system to system and even from one game date to another.
post #232 of 14496
3/30/04 at 4:13pm
Thanks..that is what I thought...

To bad they don't take the time to tell you what is going to show up on that channel...so that you can actually tune in to see if you like what is currently being previewed...

I can't imagine that it leads to many "upgrades" since you would have to stumble on it at a time that it has something you like running, and with modern TV's allowing you to disregard channels that you do not watch, I wonder how many users even know of its existance.(maybe they could do market research...), nah, that would mean they actually care what their users want.. ;-)

In the "Good Old Days", they used to have weekend previews of HBO, Showtime, etc..but they would advertise them ahead of time, so you could actually tune in and posibly be upsold.
post #233 of 14496
3/30/04 at 7:40pm
Quote:


Originally posted by davisdog
I also saw were they added CBS-HD in alameda yesterday. At least they are still working on cleaning up the systems. Still no Inhd or starz/cinemax in Saratoga/LosGatos/Milpitas

May I add Hayward to your list too? Been waiting so long for CBS-HD also
post #234 of 14496
3/31/04 at 8:44am
I got a card in the mail that says I should have InHD. Tivo shows channels 195 and 196. Quit toying with me Comcast.
post #235 of 14496
3/31/04 at 9:13am
Quote:


Originally posted by ohbrian
I got a card in the mail that says I should have InHD. Tivo shows channels 195 and 196. Quit toying with me Comcast.

ditto in Saratoga, its been on the channel lineup card for a while but isnt online here yet...the teasing is killing me!

BTW...Seems like they are allowing you to get HD w/o appointments now. My dad just walked into the Sunnyvale Office asked if he could sign up for HD and they handed him the box and let him take it home and plug it in himself...and it worked.

PS...just called and upgraded to Digital Platinum. As advertised its easy to do...Next 3 months @ $30/mth for all their channels (+$5 for HD box of course). Now I must remember to downgrade ($1.99 fee) at the end of June or it goes to $93/mth...ouch
post #236 of 14496
3/31/04 at 1:29pm
"I also saw were they added CBS-HD in alameda yesterday. At least they are still working on cleaning up the systems. Still no Inhd or starz/cinemax in Saratoga/LosGatos/Milpitas"

Do new channels simply 'appear' from Comcast, or do they require some sort of CS intervention? What channel is CBS supposed to be on in Alameda?
I'm hoping for it in time for the Masters.
post #237 of 14496
3/31/04 at 1:38pm
Quote:


Originally posted by GQB
"I also saw were they added CBS-HD in alameda yesterday. At least they are still working on cleaning up the systems. Still no Inhd or starz/cinemax in Saratoga/LosGatos/Milpitas"

Do new channels simply 'appear' from Comcast, or do they require some sort of CS intervention? What channel is CBS supposed to be on in Alameda?
I'm hoping for it in time for the Masters.


They simply appear (and you usually only spot them by flipping through channels and notice that a new channel appears...in this case on Channel 186). If your box can't tune to it then it probably isnt up yet. CSR's typically can only help if you can tune to the channel but it shows "not authorized" or something like that. If you punch in 186 on the remote and it doesnt change to that channel then you don't have it. Sounds like not all of Alameda got it the other day, but hopefully you did (Golf in HD should be cool)

-Steve
post #238 of 14496
3/31/04 at 2:26pm
Thread Starter 
As reported by member bpearse, who is in Saratoga, Comcast Bay Area does have 6200's. He just had one installed today.

Here is his post:

6200 Installed in Saratoga

So after the FCC rule goes into effect tomorrow, you can tell the CSR's that Comcast does have the 6200s in the Bay Area (if you are going to request a box with firewire).

Now I have to figure out which D-VHS I should buy (including whether I should wait for any new models which may be coming out) and how to get it for the best price...
post #239 of 14496
3/31/04 at 2:33pm
Quote:


Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
As reported by member bpearse, who is in Saratoga, Comcast Bay Area does have 6200's. He just had one installed today.

Here is his post:

6200 Installed in Saratoga


Ha...we are first in the Bay Area to get the 6200, but will probably be last to get InHD/Starz/CinemaxHD...I'll trade our 6200's for those channels

I'll have to verify what my dad picked up today from Comcast/Sunnyvale Office (whether it was a 6200 or 5100)...Anyway, I dont have firewire input anyway, and it sounds like the 5100's are a little more stable.

ps...update, I verified it was a 5100 that my dad got from the Sunnyvale Comcast office today
post #240 of 14496
3/31/04 at 10:13pm
Hey, did anyone else lose their DVI feed today, or in the last day or so? I seem to have lost mine (Menlo Park). I haven't been able to hook up component to see if that works yet.
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