Purchase Converter Box for Comcast Digital Cable

[unhappycomcaster]

Wow...I'm just blown away by the level of intentional deceipt here. They know they're going to charge a rental fee and there is absolutely nothing about this in any of their literature they are sending out to customers. When I asked about cost on the phone, they emphatically stated "no cost" and "no monthly fee", and it states that on the flyer they sent out. So if what you are saying is accurate, this has to be illegal. I've already told my wife if they pull this on us, we're pulling the plug. I'll pay twice as month on principle alone.

Thanks for the info....we're in Fred Co...I guess Fred is 6 months behind Montgomery in the transition. I just cannot believe they are trying to pull this off nationwide. They have to know there will be class action suits and congressional inquiries. Maybe they just don't care. Gotta be one of the worst run large corporations in the country.

If you think about it that's pure genius marketing. Deceptive but Genius!!! Let's think about it. They know that there are going to be a number of complaints and threats to disconnect so every time you call in they will just tell you that they will waive the charge and give you another promo period (for the DTA's). Then every time the promo ends and you call again they will just keep resetting the clock so to speak. Now for the ones that didn't notice a few extra dollars on there account or chalk it up to normal rate increases will oversee this "forced charge" and pay them for there crappy equipment for months and years to come. They probably did a lot of research and analysis on just how many customers they can scam over and make millions of dollars on and for us to pay for there Digital Conversion. If you think about it (as stated before in another post) it's a win win for the cable companies. They control the content and monitor our usage and data mine the results so they can sell it to advertisers.... and all paid by us there customers. I was just fine with there extended basic 70 channels and high speed internet for $65 a month and now my bill has doubled because they control the content I can and can't recieve. Let's not mention all the jobs they cut because they don't need as many techs out in the field when all the control is controlled by computers and data bases and what little work that does require a tech they farm a lot of it out to 3rd party contractors with no benefits. And they wonder why the Country is failing!

 

[rockfish]

They would not be able to do this if not for the virtual monopoly that they now have in most markets. Period. Think about it. In no other business would you be able to screw over your customers like this, multiple times, and probably still only lose a fraction of them. That's why I've always had an issue with the "cable company", whoever that might be. I've had cable since the late 80s, and nothing has changed, except the cost.

 

[Guest]

Just started having my channels start dropping off with the "we are enhancing chant on 3-23-10. And Ironicly it's the who cares channels like scyfy cartoon network, the weather channel and other off beats. yet I'm still getting disney, mtv, speed and all these other high end channels. what the freek? What really pissed me off as I was lead to belive by comcast, that if your a customer and you would have no problems. Also was missinformed about the whole converter thing. I just baught today(You know the one with the stupid cupon(that by the way is now expired*payed the full amount for it*) only to find out that it didn't get me my channels back!!! It's so getting returned. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay double for internet and cable in my area. not at $170.00 a pop. Oh and if you live in p.g. county MD, and only got internet. check your bill comcast raised the bill by almost $20.00.

So now the race is on to creat a box that can descramble comcast digital codes so we arn't paying rent.
I've heard nothing but complaints on how cable rapes the general public, from my parents and everybody sence it first came out.

 

[jassman]

Chicago area;
Comcast is pure crap, pure scam. "Saving bandwidth, preventing theft" my ass. It's all about these greedy bastards getting paid for a DTA box for every TV in your home. An annoying slow one, one that screws up scheduled recording, one that you'll be dying to upgrade from, netting more $ for the pr#&%s.

I had all the channels in my package, through an old 1994 Proscan CRT, no problems, until today. My cable was damaged at the HV pole by a neighbor. A Comcrap tech came out and ran a new cable, simple right?.. BS.. I immediately lost 14 channels, they now say "the TV you're watching isn't prepared for Comcast's digital network enhancement" ...uhm, it was perfectly fine 20 minutes ago, before "the new cable line".
...

Idiocracy

I'm in the north Chicago Suburbs, and Comcast has just started encrypting almost all non-local channels on QAM. I was just about to purchase a QAM card for my HTPC. This sucks!!!

This change most likely affected others in my service area which includes: Beach Park, Country Faire Village, Great Lakes Naval Station, Grayslake, Green Oaks, Gurnee, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Mundelein, North Chicago, Park City, Third Lake, Wadsworth, Wauconda, Waukegan, Winthrop Harbor, Zion, and portions of unincorporated Lake County, IL.

 

[PhuctheFCC]

Cable, and satellite companies have come up with a guarantee way of separating your money from you. And what is it? Digital TV.
You need a converter box from your prospective entertainment provider in order to receive their broadcasts. PERIOD! They are not going to allow you anything for free.
What keeps me up at night is this. Did the FCC deliberately move all broadcasting from analog to digital, just so you would have to buy new TV's, and digital tuners? Also, did the cable providers support this move in an attempt to get more of your hard earned money?
Remember when you could order cable TV service for one TV in your home. Then when the cable guy left, you could use a splitter to feed every TV in your home for the price of just one? (which was too expensive anyway!) Not anymore!
The reason they went all digital was due to the communications problems we experienced during the 9/11 attacks. I've worked for Direct TV for 3 years. Trust me, there is plenty of bandwidth to go around! Somebody got paid very well to make this decision. Cable companies saw how satellite companies were able to prevent you from splitting signals to multiple TV's in your home. And wanted in on your money.

 

[Guest]

Wow...I'm just blown away by the level of intentional deceipt here. They know they're going to charge a rental fee and there is absolutely nothing about this in any of their literature they are sending out to customers. When I asked about cost on the phone, they emphatically stated "no cost" and "no monthly fee", and it states that on the flyer they sent out. So if what you are saying is accurate, this has to be illegal. I've already told my wife if they pull this on us, we're pulling the plug. I'll pay twice as month on principle alone.

Thanks for the info....we're in Fred Co...I guess Fred is 6 months behind Montgomery in the transition. I just cannot believe they are trying to pull this off nationwide. They have to know there will be class action suits and congressional inquiries. Maybe they just don't care. Gotta be one of the worst run large corporations in the country.

Actually there is several purposes for the digital change, implying that the whole reason cable companies, such as Comcast, are going through the enormouse hassle of a digital transittion just to make more money on equipment leases is ridiculous.

There are three major reasons the digital change is important.

#1 The old analog signal requires about 10 times more data for a cable channel than a digital signal. This means the digital transition is freeing up about 3/4 of their data used for video services. With Comcast's plans to add more channels and broadcast more HD the need is there for more free data.

#2 There are coutless people out there getting free cable, either they went out and connected their own cables or the technician didn't disconnect the cable after someone moved/canceled. Who wants to pay for cable when it's coming in for free, this will add more customers that wouldn't need to pay for it before the switch.

#3 It costs allot of money to send technicians out to disconnect people's cable, with equipment being required for all cable channels they have the ability to do away with disconnecting homes from cable sources and most installs and upgrades can be done via the cable office and the customers themseles.

+ from what I know they are sending out the first two cable converter boxes at no charge and any extra after the first two are 1.99/month.

People saying this change will make or break their relationship with their cable provider sounds pointless to me. Things change, get used to it.

 

[arniem00]

@ jherome:
http/www.tomshardware.com/forum/52040-4-purchase-converter-comcast-digital-cable#t370610

THANK YOU, jherome, sooo much for breaking this switchover down for us. I thought I somewhat understood it, but really didn’t think it applied to me.

Anyway, to the Forum Family, I GOOGLED the phrase, “PC TV tuner connection is run thru cable box, but I'm still not getting all of my channels,” which is how I got to this forum:

Sorry, for being long, but this is my set up below:
•Comcasat Digital Cable
•Comcast Broadband Internet
•Cable cord from wall is attached to a 1000MHz 2-way splitter
•Split one-of-two, is attached to my broadband internet connection
•Split two-of two, is attached to the “IN” connection on my digital cable box, where I receive channels in the upper 200+ range (including HD, if I had HD television equip)
•The “OUT” connection on the digital cable box is attached to the “IN” connection on a 2300 MHz 4-way splitter (but, I’m only using 2 of the ports)
•Split one-of-four, is attached to my TV
•Split two-of-four is attached to an AVerMedia Volar MAX USB TV Tuner
•The AVerMedia Volar MAX USB TV Tuner is attached to my DELL XPS 630i (500GB hard drive, 8 GB RAM)
•I’m running Windows 7 Ultimate (along w/Windows 7 Media Center)
•The tuner is only recognizing channels up to channel 69, which I’m assuming are all “unencrypted . . . ?”

QUESTION:
What am I doing wrong? Why can’t I get all of my channels, thru my PCTV connection? Is a remote control, of some kind, needed, here?

Side note: The picture in Windows Media Center is absolutely gorgeous! The DVR capability is fantastic & just too easy to use! I just want ALL of my channels 🙁 !

 

[Guest]

im sorry im sure this question has been asked 20 times over but i didnt have time to read all the posts here...my grandmother owns a 2 family house she lives downstairs and i live upstairs she allows me to pay half her cable bill to use her tv illegal yes i know but whatever shes got a cable box and i do not about 2 weeks ago my TLC channel just turned blue whatever i dont watch it much but last night all but the basic 16 channels turned blue....is it because i font have one of those boxes? we have comcast btw my tvs and older box tv prob 10 years old or so? i just thought it was weird since this "digital" change happened over a year ago and i had full cable and all the sudden i dont? any ideas on what to do please? im so clueless to this stuff

 

[Faitho11]

did you ever get your cable box? I bought one on ebay from a comcast user who switched to satellite. It's the identical Scientific Atlanta box that Cox uses but somehow they know it's not theirs so all I get is a screen with an 800 # to call and be told I have to rent from them. Seems illegal, especially under the present administration that just wants the rich to get richer and let's the cable companies do whatever they want to make more money.

If Comcast would allow you to use it, I'm only asking $20 + shipping from Mesa, az, 85207. Mike fortunare@cox.net

When you hooked up the ebay bought box, did you have another already tuned cable box with concast? Was this an additoinal unit you were trying to hook up on a second tv?

 

[johnfuller5565]

If you have an old cable-ready VHS VCR lying around, you could use that. Plug the cable into the VCR, and use its tuner to tune into the analog cable channels. Connect to your kitchen TV over S-Video, Composite, or RF (if that's your only option), and there you go.

As it happens, our kitchen TV is one of those TV/VCR combinations. Comcast didn't charge for the two DTAs for two of our other sets, but getting a third one incurs a monthly rental fee. On principle, I'd rather buy my own converter for the kitchen set.

Is there any chance that that set will be able to receive digital signals through its VCR when the analog signal is abandoned?

 

[Guest]

So, here's my beef! I know, and it has been confirmed by Comcast folks, that they can not block my upper channels (like Food Network, HGTV, etc.) since I have broadband Internet access with them, too. However, with the conversion to digital channels, I now don't have all of the channels I was once getting b/c they couldn't block it. Now they can - however, all I need is that darn box. They won't let me rent it b/c I'm not paying for the more expensive plan. Anyone found a workaround yet? I've read through several pages of these posts but I don't see an answer. Really don't want to sign a contract for satellite, but really don't like this either. Grrrrrr.

 

[Guest]

Here is my question, can one home order like 5 cable boxes, and split the cost with family or friends? Can Comcast tell where the physical location of the box is if the bills are paid?

 

[irnard]

Here is my question, can one home order like 5 cable boxes, and split the cost with family or friends? Can Comcast tell where the physical location of the box is if the bills are paid?

Cable network is build upon nodes that distribute signal to vicinity of couple of blocks around them. Cable company can see which node the box is on and if the node doesnt match address they got you. They can also come to your connection on the street, disconnet you for a minute and see if box responds. If it does its not in your house.

 

[kat303]

Comcast in my area provides 2 types of digital converters. One, a DIGITAL ADAPTER, is a tiny, cigarette sized unit. The other, which is bigger is a DIGITAL SET TOP BOX. Both, as far as I know are free. There is no monthy rental charges or any charges to get one of these. Just go down to your local Comcast office to pick one up, or give them a call and they will ship one to your house. It's very easy to set up. You can do it yourself. Once set up, you can get back the history channel, cartoon channel and any other channel that has been taken away.

Kat

 

[Guest]

We are also a Comcast subscriber. The big change that has us disgruntled is the fact that Comcast is now scrambling many channels even ones such as the Weather channel! We rent a dvr from them for our main viewing TV but I can't justify monthly fees for bedroom sets!
Comcast gives away at N/C, 2 additional digital converters for unscrambling signals on such "Premium" channels as the Weather Channel but these give away converters also degrade the signal to Low Definition - 480p on all channels!

So now any other Hi-Def tvs we own are all down converted to low def by Comcast unless we pay for additional hi-def converter boxes with monthly rental fees! Even channels that are normally broadcast for free in hi-def such as Major networks are now premium channels by comcast!!!!

You hit the nail on the head!! More $$ for lower quality. You buy a nice new HD tv and little by little the channels dissapeared as the scrambled them. Then you have to use those crappy little boxes so 1/2 the stuff on your tv remote is useless now. Then all the major networks broadcasting in HD that you could get over the air get scrambled and downgraded to standard definition. That whole scam seems downright illegal to me. They probably need to have a class action suit brought against them downgrading the quality of customers new HD tvs and screwing up most of the remote control function capabilities. Pretty blatant rip off if you ask me.

 

[Guest]

Hello all:

Not sure if my exact situation has been covered, so I'll be brief. Bought a condo 5 years ago, a neighbor told me to plug the coax from the wall into the back of the TV, as the place was wired for Comcast basic. I did just that and the 50-ish channel Comcast basic service appeared, which was fine for me as I don't watch a ton of TV.

Lately, as others in this forum have lamented, channels are disappearing quickly. Is there a converter (other than the Comcast DTA) that would work to restore those channels? Analog is fine, I'm not picky. I simply can't afford to pay for Comcast's lowest level of new service, which is quite pricey compared to the zero per month I'm used to. 😉 Thanks!

 

[scream4fan]

scientific worked well on mine there were several channels there is of course cartoon network and disney channel and ABC Family, showtime ,comedy central,and some other channels i don't watch much tv at all only when i am bored or waiting 😴 or just kinda hanging around the living room but i kinda usuallly pay may origanal but i don't have it anymore because we where just checking it out our neighbors let us borrow it comcast worked okay including scientific atlanta 2100

 

[Guest]

If you really want to save money on CABLE TV, then drop the service altogether. I did. And I still watch enough TV to keep me from doing more important things... oh, well.

Here's what I did:

Dropped my phone service with AT&T (saved $23/mo.)

Dropped my cable TV (but kept the High-Speed Internet...saved $70/mo)

Dropped my Brinks alarm service (saved $28/mo)

Signed up for NetFlix ($9/mo)... you can watch unlimitted movies and TV shows (older ones, but hey... cool).

Purchased OOMA for my phone and had my current number ported over ($239.00 ... no monthly fees, ever)

Purchased a Wireless WebCam and programmed it to send me an e-mail to my cell phone if it detected motion (pointed at my back door) ... Camera ($150 on eBay).

Purchased a Panasonic VCR/DVD with built in ATSC tuner on ebay ($100) ... this recorder records on DVD-RAM disks which can be erased and reused over and over ... like a DVR. I set the DVD/VCR to record the shows I want that are broadcast over-the-air (and since the digital conversion, there is a LOT to choose from!!)

Hooked up and OLD PC (with video out and WiFi card installed) to the IN1 connector on the VCR ($30 for the WiFi) ... I can watch anything that's on the Internet. With my high-speed internet connection from the cable company, there's no lag, it's clear, full screen, just like a TV (bonus... less advertising, and can pause when I want). Some of the websites that I frequent: HULU, NETFLIX, HGTV, FOOD, ABC, YOUTUBE, FOXNEWS ... it's pretty awesome ... and FREE!

Using my iPod Touch with Remote Mouse, I can control the PC from my couch... really cool (the iPad would be even better!)

The ONLY monthly bill I have now is my cable internet ($39.99).... no phone bill, no alarm service, no cable TV ... but with all the services that I had before ... if not more to choose from... (go ahead, pay for cable TV if you want to)

Google TV stole my idea (www.google.com/tv) ... well, sort of.

 

[Guest]

comment and question

all you need is

a 2 way coax cable splitter.

2 extension remote control sensors

1 male (3.5mm/1/8 inch) to 2 female (3.5mm/1/8 inch)cable. (y cable)

and an extension cable 1 male (3.5mm/1/8 inch) to 1 female (3.5mm/1/8 inch) length depending on your situation

MY comcast dta box has a plugin on the back for an extension remote control sensor one sensor came with my dta box(has about a 3 foot cable.) this allows you to hide the dta box(behind the tv, under the tv stand etc). and still be able to control the dta box. just make sure the extension sensor is where you can see it(so the remote control can see it).
Take the cable comming out of the wall connect it to the cable box then take the output of the cable box and use the coax splitter to send the box to 2 tvs(example one in the kitchen and one in the family room)
now use the y cable, the extension and the 2 extension remote sensors and place a sensor in front of each tv. Use 2 tv's that you dont think you will ever be using at the same time. This saves you renting an extra cable box.

I havent checked recently but they use to make remote control extenders, it was for people with satellite dishes so they only had to have one satellite reciever and connect it to multiple tv's and be able to change channels on the satellite reciever when you were in one room and the sat reciever was in another.

But I think the way I mentioned is cheaper. There was a video on this but I cant find the web address

 

[christiner]

If you think about it that's pure genius marketing. Deceptive but Genius!!! Let's think about it. They know that there are going to be a number of complaints and threats to disconnect so every time you call in they will just tell you that they will waive the charge and give you another promo period (for the DTA's). Then every time the promo ends and you call again they will just keep resetting the clock so to speak. Now for the ones that didn't notice a few extra dollars on there account or chalk it up to normal rate increases will oversee this "forced charge" and pay them for there crappy equipment for months and years to come. They probably did a lot of research and analysis on just how many customers they can scam over and make millions of dollars on and for us to pay for there Digital Conversion. If you think about it (as stated before in another post) it's a win win for the cable companies. They control the content and monitor our usage and data mine the results so they can sell it to advertisers.... and all paid by us there customers. I was just fine with there extended basic 70 channels and high speed internet for $65 a month and now my bill has doubled because they control the content I can and can't recieve. Let's not mention all the jobs they cut because they don't need as many techs out in the field when all the control is controlled by computers and data bases and what little work that does require a tech they farm a lot of it out to 3rd party contractors with no benefits. And they wonder why the Country is failing!

Chicago area:

I have to rant first, and then I have a techie question. One poster said, "Things change, get used to it". Are you kidding me?? This is a test. This is only a test. Merely a test to see how much more money Comcast can suck out of ordinary people who can ill afford one more nickel these days. (Seeing as how some posters don't seem to be enraged by this, they evidently do not fall into that category. Whereas I DO!)

Watching TV on my 10-year-old dinosaurs (can't afford to buy new TVs either) I freaked when the "over the air" channels went digital. (OH - that was after spending $200 for rooftop antenna that after two years became useless.) Averse to buying converter boxes for every single TV, I tried re-hooking up an old Comcast antenna and voila! Admittedly, I was receiving "free" basic from Comcast. But I did absolutely nothing illegal to receive this “service”. I received it due to the fact – and ONLY to the fact - that some dude was too freaking lazy to turn off the feed at my pole when I (lost my job of 12 years) canceled my service and brought their box back in. I was one happy camper…meanwhile snickering at Comcast as their monopoly had been averted (albeit temporarily as I knew they would eventually audit the neighborhood and force the ape to climb that pole).

As the channels slowly started to disappear I "got used to it". The first couple of them…hey, no problem. I don’t shop for my fake CZ’s off of TV. The next few ghosts ticked me off…I really missed Breaking Bad on AMC. But I got used to it. However the most recent phase-outs have simply enraged me with their timing; one day before the Chicago Blackhawks had their first pre-season exhibition game – after bringing home Sir Stanley’s Cup - all channels except analog local disappeared. Thanks to Rocky, Chicago finally gets to watch these guys on TV and….not! Not unless you pay Comcast - or an alternative. Strategically gruesome.

Frankly, I don't give a flying Wallenda about HD/ATSC/NTSC/QAM or any of the other high-tech crap I’ve learned about in the past couple of months. I just want to watch something other than Jay Leno after 10pm - and live sports. I think I’m pretty easy. And I think that should be able to be had for less than $70 per month. Which is Comcast’s offer.

I’m all AMEN BROTHER with rockfish who said he’d pay double to another provider just on the principle. I certainly would if I could. I also agree with unhappycomcaster, HryThdBst, and a couple others of you regarding the marketing deception. All of you out there who are happy with your DTAs will be in for a big surprise down the road. You’ll probably end up paying up the ying-yang unless you conform. Might as well do it now and get it over with. Bend over and let Comcast take over.

So I’m in the market for something else that will bring basic back. And it looks as if I’m SOL.

I tried purchasing a DVR with a QAM tuner. (Money spent on that “principle”.) Now I can shop from TV if I choose! Not interested - I want my Hawks. If I were fluent in Spanish I would be ecstatic. Though the Mexican soft-porn held my attention for about three minutes, no habla Espanol - I want my Hawks. If I wanted to watch Rob Petrie for the six thousandth time I would become a couch potato(e). Though I do love the guy, I WANT MY BLACKHAWKS!!

Finally, after my rant I’m getting to my techie question/comment: As far as I can tell, the QAM tuner brings in local digital – and, for some reason Weather & Travel Channel - only. Everything else has been encrypted beyond its capabilities. Evidently can’t borrow a friend’s registered Comcast box either. From what I gather after spending hours reading these threads and many others, my next option is to try one with a “Clear” QAM tuner. Will this make a difference?? IS there a difference?? I think not, but I’ll try. Again, on that principle, I’ll not pay Comcast one nickel.

Anybody with any suggestions other than to tell me to pound sand would be very greatly appreciated.

For more threads along this same line, and many more recent ones, visit: http/www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1277455&goto=nextnewest