Comcast has done a TERRIBLE job training their staff about cable cards. I had to walk their installer through the process. Willful ignorance on the company's part, I'd say.

Nightmare. Our experience was pretty much the same. At least twice they sent a "contractor" who wasn't allowed to mess with cable cards, perenially late, bad cards, etc etc. Utter Nightmare.

My RCA Scenium has been connected with a CableCard via Comcast since June 2005. Every time the signal gets weak (storm or maintenance work on the line), the Card re-boots and is "waiting for channel list from the cable company". Within less than 2 minutes, I usually get the expected 420 or so channels. I suspect that at every interruption, however short, the Card has to be recognized by the Provider and authenticates the Subscriber's package. As posted, Comcast seems to willfully ignore the system. Could it be because box and remote rental is more profitable?
Ah, greed! (Pun intended.)

So they give you a window for answering questions as well? I have to say, I'm not surprised.

Having worked for the aforementioned company I can honestly say that service is not something that they are very high on. For the past 5 years whenever they either take over a company their first move is to reduce the work force and hire contractors so they can return more money to the bottom line. This is clearly evident in the fact that most of your "installation technicians" arrive in unmarked trucks. And if you're lucky they may have a few months of training regarding the work that they are to perform. Anything of a real techinical nature you're pretty much on your own. And I might add that Comcast is not the only communications company that will do this ... Communications company ... now there's an oxymoron ...

I feel bad for those of you who can't get satellite.

I've inquired of Cox as to what type of service will be provided after the Analog sunset in 2009, and what equipment I will need; I was given the "corporate will decide that, we don't know" form letter. CableCARD wrangling is still going on- See article in industry publication TV Technology: http://www.tvtechnology.com/pages/s.0082/t.7725.html

DirecTV has its own faults. Each of the three times I've had an antenna installed or upgraded, DirecTV's antenna company has failed utterly. I had to hire my own antenna company at my expense to have it done correctly. DirecTV provides virtually no antenna service.

James E. Griffith
202-966-3287

Just heard back from Comcast's publicist; there was a misunderstanding of my schedule (in part because of a typo in my original e-mail). Look for an update to this post later today with their response to my questions.

- RP

The CableCard issue is really just emblematic of the Comcast mindset. Every business strives to be as successful (i.e., profitable) as possible, but too few recognize that the way to get there is by putting customer satisfaction first. Why this obvious fact is completely ignored by so many "service" companies is mystifying. Perhaps Congress will step in and mandate "a la carte" service. (Oops, shouldn't have opened that can of worms!)

TV what about just plain old cable for you PC. I recently purchased a new modern cable modem the store staid was compatatable with Cox. I thought that meant when i booted it up and ran the software the system would work, no too simple. I had to call cox and then they had to sync up my modem to their system. 100% improvemane t in signal strength with new modem. My problem, why did not Cox tell me they changed their system and a new modem might work faster. They never did. I just decided to do it.

I live in rural Iowa, in a town of 11,000 which is served by a for profit cable provider that is similar to ComCast; and a local municipally owned utility that has a communications operation that provides phone, cable and internet.

In addition; I retail consumer electronics. Say what you want about government, but the muncipal utility here runs circles around the for profit company when it comes to cable card.

Cablecard is on the "outs" with many consumer electronics manufacturers right now and it is in large part due to the resistance that cable companies have offered. You practically had to put a gun to the head of the for profit cable company to get them to even admit there was such a thing as cable card.

As a earlier poster wrote; the best weapon in the world of retailing - whether it be cable-card or selling widgets, is to provide good customer service. The profits will follow.

Unfortunately for the big, publically traded cable companies, that means investing in something other than lowest common denominator - and it's a good thing for retailers like me. Cable card is a good example of conflicting business models retarding the adaption of technology that would make consumer's life easier and better.

The sad thing is, if cable companies would have taken cable card technology as a opportunity instead of a threat; they would have made far more money.

With Cablevision it is same story, same problems. Except, I had to wait 3 weeks.

Like Hemisphere posted:

1) You knew that they wouldn't give a response at the promised time--I'd call to reschedule.

2) When you do get a response, expect it to be labelled "BAD".

FWIW, I've been pretty happy with RCN. They at least seem to try to please customers.

Well, don't I feel left far behind. I don't know what a cable card is and what it is supposed to do. Further more I am wondering what people with their TV's, and other electronic viewing devices when the analog is past. Will we have to buy everything new and replace our current one's? I am in the dark about all of this and being a disabled veteran I am on a fixed income and having to replace everything would be a disaster for me and everyone on fixed income's. I barely survive as it is. Can someone clear up this for me?

I really wish I felt that the installation of the Cable Cards was more than just pushing some buttons on a remote and sliding in a card. It really was just that simple. Slide in two cards, wait for phone authorization.

Hillguy:

Go to http://www.dtv.gov/ to find answers from the FCC to your questions.

Rob, If you think getting a cable card ready box such as TIVO to work or your average HDTV with cable card.... Wait till you try to get a PC IE Media Center Edition Computer (VISTA only supposedly supports the Cable Card) to work with a cable card. First of all the Cable Labs people who certify all cable boxes, cable modems etc.. on behalf of the various cable giants like Cox, Comcast, et al will only provide the cable card adapter under very very strict contractual relationships.

Additionally the only people even building a mother board that will support a cable card/Media Center Cable Card is some AMD special mother board!! After several hours researching this for a client you can find 2-3 companies building such a box for sale at very high prices because it includes various software improvements to MCE.

I found this whole mess completely unrealistic and after contacting the only authorized people they are very clear about the unreliability of the cable card/cable industry.

Customers could in turn by their own cable cards one day and install them, but the part is getting them to work and thats why you have a tech come hook it up for you and bring extras in case one does not work. Now I totally agree with the guy who wrote about how comcast doesn't hire enough techs to work directly for them and is cutting costs by contracting out a huge percentage of their work. I as a contractor know all the ins and outs about cable as far as from the pole into your houses and comcast is in no hurry to change things as far as contracting out their work. Give us a break, if you only knew how long we have to work and what we have to deal with on a daily basis.

they have no competition, unless you can get satellite; so prices go up and service is terrible.

No luck here. I use FIOS TV. I bought my second TV for our bedroom with a cable card slot so that we wouldn't need a set top box (actually paid more compared to models that didn't have the option). After one month, three different technician visits and 4-5 cable cards I told them to take it away. I now use an antenna on that TV to get OTA HD signals. FIOS TV service in general is very good, but they get less money from me every month because they could not make it work. By the way seven months later I am still trying to get my billing corrected from trying to get this service. Sadly Verizon billing doesn't operate to the same standard as the FIOS service.

In Phoenix, AZ cox requires a $49 technician install and $2 a month card rental. I found I got a little more help when I prefaced my queries about setting up a media center with "the satellite company claims I can set up my media center with their card, etc. But I'd rather stay with my current Cox service. What do you offer and what are the costs?" I feel I could probably get them to drop the service charge by playing off the satellite service against theirs. Still, though tech service claimed I was the first inquiry they'd had about setting up a media center and I had to go through 3 service techs/sales to even get that answer. They all sound coached to play dumb about cable cards.

More on Fios... I just placed an order online which explained all of their services in detail. Except, there was not so much of a mention of a cable card option. I pulled up their "chat with a rep" window and learned that option must be ordered online.

Even more irritating, Fios essentially requires a set top box for every tv (even to get CNN or CSpan). You would think they would be pushing a cable card option.

I had a Comcast tech come to install CableCARDs in my TiVo HD last week. The guy pretty much knew what he was doing, but couldn't manage to get the second card to pick up all of the channels I subscribe to. Turns out the problem was in dispatch--they weren't sending the correct signal down the line to authorize the second card. The dispatcher just told him to leave and go to his other jobs, even though mine wasn't complete yet.

Once he left, I solved the problem myself with a quick call to Customer Service, but I think I got lucky and just got the rare representative who knew what they were doing.

Based on what I've read in other online forums, I'm going to have problems when (if?) Comcast implements copy protection on its DC system, since the technician didn't properly "pair" the cards with my TiVo box... but that's a fight for another day.

Just a couple of comments-Security is becoming more of a factor in every day activities. Cable card is just a removalable digital security/encryption/decryption system used by service providers to protect the content and allows consumer electronics manufactors to provide equipment on what is a closed communications system. Most content providers (movie studio, HBO, Showtime, etc) require encryption (think DMCA & encrypted DVDs). Verizon got a waiver from FCC with respect to having to provide cable card by promising to be all digital only service (that is why you need a set top box). The security was built into set top boxes and was downloadable to the box. Encrypted signals also prevent unauthorized reception (stealing) of service. Satelite TV services have gone from "removable" security cards to "built-in" security built into the receivers to prevent "card cloning" and theft of services.

Don't forget that the new high definition inputs and outputs (HDMI) has encryption as well. Older devices with HDMI may not work with new HDMI outputs on boxes. this is driven by the fact that digital content can provide "perfect copies" if not "protected".

But we get more options because Digital TV transmission does allow for 6 to 12 standard definition channels in the space that one analog tv channel uses.

It looks like Cable operators are dragging their feet with the CableCard. They want to keep the set-top-box rental fees! I don't like those set-top-boxes. I want too be able to use the features in my set that CableCard allows you. The FCC should look into why Cable is stalling the upgrade for the consumer. Cable nickle and dime you too death with no service or upgrades...

Maybe the POST should do a story on why cable operators don't promote the CableCard to it's customers?????

we have service electric cable near reading pa.they allowed me to install the card. it works fine. the cbs channel is the best. we own the card, which gives you about 10 hd channels, nfl and lots of music channels,and the 80 or so regular analog cable line up.the tv with the cable card has a quam tuner. we paid around $150 for the card and about $7.00 a month more on our cable bill.direct tv has the better price, but the local channels are limited and no comcastsports channel at direct tv.

Comcast has installed two cable cards in my Tivo HD. The first card was installed in December 2006. The tech had never done a CC installation, and arrived at my residence without any cards. He returned the next day with a card that wouldn't install properly. His supervisor brought some more cards to him, but he was interrupted by another service call and had to leave. When he returned, he was able to install the card properly. The second card was installed a couple months later without any problems. In both instances, the tech had to call Comcast to report the CC Host ID for activation (displayed in the Tivo settings screen). The problem with bad cards apparently is quite common. They can be damaged if removed during the firmware update process, which starts when the card is inserted. A tech told me they just throw those cards into a box back at the office, and they are sometimes reissued without any indication they are bad.

I don't think the techs are at fault, but Comcast as a company hasn't done all it can and should do to promote and support the use of cable cards.

CableCARDS could have been the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Cable operators HATE them as it costs them lost revenue.

It is really too bad. Most CE manufacturers have now dropped the slots from the majority of the sets. This is because less than 3% of the sets that had them ever got activated.

A very typical experience with all providers goes like this:

1. When ordering..... Huh? What is a CableCARD (ask for a supervisor!)

2. On install date if you succeeded insisting on one... Cable Guy: I don't know how to install, but I have this lovely box that will give you pay per view and TV guides.

3. Finally... If you really get one installed, they just don't know how to deal with them or play dumb.

Damn those cable companies!

Lucky me, thanks to my dear departed hubby, I have a satellite dish, but in reference to installation woes, Radio Shack
does the installing here--no other choice.
I got under the house (was 70 years old then) and connected the cable so that we had the choice of different TV programs in my husband's office where he had installed his phone line (Qwest wanted $60 for that five minutes work.)Qwest's truck came roaring up our hill even after we had told them we would install ourselves. Qwest: "So happy to have you let us install!" Husband:"Sorry, you're too late!"
Also Hubby worked like a son-of-a-gun to get computer access on our hill (1,500 feet up our LONG 1,800'gravel drive. You know the bit: power pole, electrical vault, everything underground, AND permit after permit after permit...Well, the deer like it!

The cable card issue has consistently been a loser for the consumer when it should be a panacea. I recently purchased two top-of-the-line LCD televisions and spent an incredible amount of time trying to find the specific features that would make the investment truly worthwhile -- features that would eliminate the need to install shelves, power, and cabling for any other box such as a DVD, DVR, or Digital Cable box.

No joy.

The number of large screen (40" and larger)high-end HDTV LCD televisions with built-in DVD or DVR players was zero. Cable card support was equally dismal. The HDTV manufacturers all claimed that cable cards often did not work and features like pay-per-view would not be available without the cable company's digital box. As far as the options for built-in DVD and DVR players, apparently the manufacturers only see demand on the smaller HDTV sets -- typically less than 32".

Bottom line: I want the dream of a single flatpanel LCD HDTV hanging on my wall with the minimum of cords to deal with and no external devices attached. After all, don't all of the great commercials show that lovely wide-screen HDTV levitating above the floor with no visible means of power or attachment to anything?

This is a compelling vision and it reminds me of the commercials showing a simple, elegant, and cool MacIntosh that "just works out of the box" vs. the complex and often frustrating experience with a WinTel PC.