Comments on: Comcast To Begin Beta Testing Their HD TiVo?

By: cosmid

cosmid — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:13:26 +0000

I live in Massachusetts and recently got the comcast Dvr with tivo software. I’m on my third box and I wish I purchased a TIVO box. The software is buggy and very slow. Comcast service is good but the equipment sucks.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:43:45 +0000

I have had the new TiVo installed for four days now, after jumping back to Comcast from DirecTV. I have been using a Phillips TiVo on DirecTV for years now, so the that was why I chose TiVo over their own POS DVR. Anyway, I am totally frustrated. Not only are there far fewer features than my really old low def TiVo (upgraded over the years), but it locks up constantly. Now this wonderful TiVo is unable to figure out how to record anything, almost like it forgot that it has a hard drive. They have sent the software three times in four days, each time blowing away any settings, wishlists and recordings I have done. THIS THING IS GARBAGE!!!

I hated the DirecTV HD DVR as well, with it never working right, and now I hate the Comcast HD DVR/TiVo running on a Motorola DCH3416. Is it that hard to record things in high definition? My low definition true TiVo on a Phillips box always ran like a champ so why are companies trying to run TiVo software in emulation mode?

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:24:25 +0000

Just had the comcast/Tivo box installed a few weeks ago. Pretty happy with it so far. You can read my full review on my blog here:

http://comcastenthusiast.blogspot.com/2008/01/comcast-and-tivo.html

By: John

John — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:18:43 +0000

and FYI, I live in the southcoast region of Mass, New Bedford/Fall River area..

By: John

John — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:17:37 +0000

had Comcast install Tivo software over the weekend, Techs were very good, but still took several days to figure it out. My screen would keep losing video signal, that problem is still ongoing, I think the box is now heating up since the new Tivo install, swapped out boxes with same results. Ive been around Tivo for many years, 9 years with Directv before jumping back to cable, comparing Tivo services, comcast version is lacking alot, stuck with 1 type of guide menu, software is very slow,it looks alot the the Tivo of old, but its a distant second for now. I replaced the Tivo box twice and now at the point of removing all Comcast Tivo’s from the home, lost video signal twice during the pats game and had several viewers scrambling to the kitchen to watch the game on a 12 inch tv, while the 15 minute reboot was going on. i will agree, its a step in the right direction, I just got in too early and it’s obvious that they did not learn too much from the beta release, because after spending 2 days at my home , they still left scratching there heads..

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:54:00 +0000

Matt -

What is your location?

Jeff

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:10:04 +0000

I had the Comcast Tivo update installed yesterday. I have only used it for a few hours but I can tell you this, Its worth it.

Here is my experience with the install. My brother had it installed 2 weeks ago and he hates it.
My brother had never used tivo before. I have a series 2 box that I still use. The comcast tivo usnit was installed in my bedroom. He is not used to the remote, I was. He said it was slow. I think its faster than the comcast motorola os that was installed. My brother lost all his recorded shows. ALL my shows were kept.

I called last week and had a Saturday install scheduled. The tech arrived promptly at about 8:15. When walking in he noticed my tivo box in my living room. I instructed him that we were updating the dvr in the bedroom. When getting in the bedroom, he said he would go get the tivo from the living room. I said “no, you are going to update the os on this motorola box.” He said “You can’t do that, you don’t know what you are talking about.” It went downhill from there. I said ” you are 100% incorrect.” He left angry.

Five minutes later he returned, and said another tech would be out later that day, and that he was incorrect.

The second tech arrived around 1PM. He had his act together. He had just done 1 other tivo install that AM. The first one was a nightmare he said. He said the signal strengthg was very important. He tested my lines and I had some number that was a 46. He sdai it had to be lower than a 55 or something. He rand the update and was done in an hour.

As compared to my series 2 tivo, I think its pretty quick. I would reccomend this service at this point. The giude is a little slow. I found that paging down was much faster than going line by line. The only change I did was the info screen at the top, I made it smaller. It was too big and distracting. The info screen seems to stay longer than you would expect.

I give this service 2 thumbs up.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:05:14 +0000

I’m having the Tivo/Comcast service installed as we speak in Massachusetts. It’s an unbelievably cumbersome process. They’ve had a tech here for 2 hours talking with someone at Comcast on the phone to a)get the software downloaded and b)get it to work on the existing box. The idea that this will simply download to your box overnight and you’ll be ready to use it in the morning is a myth, at least at this point. Plus I’m apparently going to lose my existing recordings on at least one of my boxes. I’ll post more once I get a chance to use it.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:32:16 +0000

Well, apparently some people have it…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWOcymQBxT4

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:50:14 +0000

So, my Motorola DVR has been agonizingly slow lately.

When the hell is Comcast going to get moving already? I’m so tired of the substandard software in this DVR box! I WANT MY TIVO!!!

By: chris

chris — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:20:00 +0000

soory for the really late reply, but it has been released to the hardcore tivo ppl in the new england area. and as of monday 1/7/07 i know in the new england area it will be open for purchase.

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Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:02:55 +0000

[...] with their box’s. Though rumor has it that cocmast will be implementing the tivo software/interface on to their box’s, we’ll have to wait and see about [...]

By: Jason Livingston

Jason Livingston — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:44:21 +0000

Comcast has a tivo page at http://www.comcast.com/tivo that tells a little bit about it and allows you to check for availability in your area. Unfortunately for me, it’s only available in the new england area at this time, but I was able to sign up to be alerted as soon as it’s available here. Hopefully, that will be soon….this DVR I currently have from comcast is driving me insane!

By: Rob Hamilton

Rob Hamilton — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:55:22 +0000

There won’t be any of those options Paul. Pretty much a very plain jane TIVO.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:35:57 +0000

Hi,
I too love Tivo, and have been a comcast customer of all 3 services. Chris, can you tell us what type features will be support? Like tivo2go?
Thanks.
Paul

By: chris

chris — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:19:01 +0000

i am a comcast tech in the new england area. i actually have been beta testing this thing for the past few weeks. i have been the lucky one deemed with this task. it is alot better than the comcast gui. and u can use the tivo box with the comcast remote but it has a nasty delay, i would highly suggest ordering the tivo remote.
as for the boxes, there is a brand new box out there that is ocap cetified that we r working on getting it on there but it is available with the older style hd dvr boxes, all it is, is a download they will sent to the box and wholla u have the interface, it is going to be 3 bucks more a month extra and the download takes aprox 10 mins. and is scheduled to be released in 2 weeks, but i heard it has been pushed back to mid november to early december
if anybody has any questions on this topic feel free to ask.
first time i have seen this forum so i am saving it to my favs since i will/am a new comcast/tivo owner

By: Rob Hamilton

Rob Hamilton — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 22:17:36 +0000

WOOHOO! They just had it on the news! It will be “out in the next couple of weeks to ALL Comcast users”

Channel 7 Chicago News!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:25:07 +0000

It sounds like the technology is only going into Alpha now (Alpha = internal, employee testing), regardless of the CNet article, from what “Bob” is telling us. God, I hope it happens soon. I’m so tired of the crappy interface on the Comcast DVR!!!

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:56:29 +0000

I just moved into a new house and had comcast out to hook up my service. I only receive extended cable that is connected to my Tivo. In making small talk with the tech, he told me he just received the user guide to start learning about the new Comcast/Tivo offering. He showed me the user guide and it had everything a user would need to start using the new service. I only read through it for a few minutes but the screen shots and features were fully integrated into one box and looked GREAT. The website on the sheet was http://www.comcast.net/tivo. This site is not active yet but I keep checking.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 21:48:11 +0000

CNet is reporting more delays: http://tinyurl.com/yumgl7

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:20:50 +0000

OK guys I am a Comcast Tech in Florida….. I have heard this rumor for over a year and nothing yet.

We are launching alot of other services as well that Im sure will make alot of you very happy..

1 new service coming is cell phones slated for spring of 2008. When and if I hear an announcement about the Tivo box I will post more

By: Jesse

Jesse — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:12:40 +0000

Just talked with a Comcast rep. about when we’d get service out here in the SF Bay Area. Apparently the rollout in NH is still in the “testing” phase, but when that’s done they’ll be doing some sort of media announcement. So in other words the frustration will continue for an unknown amount of time…

By: matt

matt — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:22:19 +0000

What is up with this, i just spoke with a comcast rep. at the nation call center today as they haven’t even heard of this. I give them this link and they told me to talk to my local comcast rep. for information. Why is comcast not marketing this or even making employee’s aware? do they want to keep there shitty DVR service alive a little long? i would buy a comcast cable and internet service TODAY if they told me i could get Tivo software on my box, but they couldn’t so i continue to hold out. So, no TV at my new place cause comcast is being little bitches with the Tivo software. I am really close to saying F***K it and getting DirectTV service just for the Tivo box. If anyone know a time frame for northern California to get Tivo software please let me know.

By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 21:00:54 +0000

What is taking so long?? The software on the Motorola DVR is amazingly crappy. Comcast needs to get on it.

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:59:24 +0000

HEY COMCAST WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO START MARKETING THIS PRODUCT!!!!