IMO – the problem Time Warner, ATT, and the rest have – instead of constantly trying to blow away Tivo with their latest incompatiblity scam … why not work with Tivo users instead of punishing them.

I just sent into Time Warner for one of these things … and hopefully I’ll hear from them. But … I’m not happy. As a matter of fact – if I have to give up Tivo … I’m going UVerse … ATandT … screw Time Warner.

And … finally … what these people don’t get is Tivo is about the OS. A DVR can in principle do anything a Tivo can. Why do people use Tivo? Because its OS is so much easier and cooler to use than the monstrosity of a DVR recorder. It’s entireley analogous to Windows and a Mac. Why does Mac exist? Because the OS is so cool. Windows tried to blow Apple away for years (like Time Warner etc. blowing away Tivo now). Finally Windows at least realized the point – it’s the OS stupid. I feel like I’m in the PC wars in 1995. …. Time for these guys to grow up. Like … maybe Tivo has some great ideas – which is why people like it, and Tivo users aren’t all a bunch of nut jobs.

Anyway … end of rant … I eagerly await Time Warner to get my Tivo back working. If not – I’ll go to AT and T … and at least deny Time Warner the satisfaction.

In the mean while – (probably) no high def for Christmas.
Thanks a lot Time Warner.

And no … I’m not going to respond any more in the flame wars. It won’t get me back my hi-def anyway.

http://robgtx.blogspot.com/2008/12/tivo-s3-sdv-tuning-adapter-installation.html

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/octqtr/pdf/47cfr76.640.pdf

Good luck…

I do still like the mental picture these trolls bring to mind, the cave troll from LOTR, an ugly beast destroying eveything in it’s path, simply because it is too stupid to do anything else.

As for the requirement that cable companies provide CC support, please see: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/octqtr/47cfr76.640.htm/
as this should clear up the fact that they must support these technologies.

Therefore, it is indeed an FCC issue, but I would have also called the Better Buisness Bureau in my city as well (and let the cable provider know I was issuing a complaint by sending them a copy od the complaint letters).

Purchase the newest Tivo and wait till an adapter is available though your provider and everything will be good. Itll cost you though – lol – direct those frustrations @ 600.00+ to Tivo. All over a cable card – ok – Like I said in my first post – this is ridiculous. Do you call the FCC everytime windows blows up?

Oh yea, they did try that with Microsoft and I suppose money is good for something. Ill keep that in mind when I build my next division and install a couple of my people on Obamas cabinet. The FCC is definitely due for “house cleaning” anyways – lol – Anyways…

I am concerned Keith, that when you own a Tivo, and you dont have all of the channels others in your system do have, but instead of complaining to the FCC and flaming every provider thinking its their fault, think about directing those energies towards those that can make things happen for the product. Thats Cable Labs and Tivo.

You cant blame your cable provider for stepping up to the plate and innovating ways to deliver more digital and HD channels to their subscribers which may or may not require 2-way communication.

Cable Providers have gotten a very bad wrap for the most part and in my own experience, they do make every effort to accommodate every subscriber regardless of how “retarded” they might think it is.

As to standards and agreements, having a cable card device does not guarantee accessibility to every channel and that should be in your “contract” which is spelled out. When you signed up for cable, you have analog or digital. Digital requires a cable box and a cable card is available, but some channels may not be available that require 2-way communication.

I sympathize with your predicament in that you prefer to use your own equipment over your providers, however when you decide to go with “aftermarket” technology, your subject to limitations they might have when improvements are made (provider side) that benefit 100 of thousands / millions of subscribers. Is it fair that stop their progress because they do allow a freedom of choice but at a cost? It is because the FCC has a personal vendetta against cable providers that the FCC complaint even saw the light of day on this issue.

With this being said, you ought to look into DTV and OCAP which are agendas dictated by the FCC. Compliments of “the-left-wing-people”, I was specifically targeting in my first initial post. Are you one of them Keith? IMOP – OCAP should have been an option instead of a mandate because it does allow more freedom to develop. Once again, these hurdles are overcome by cable providers.

You have no idea the complications this has caused providers involving their “crappy” boxes. However Im happy to inform you that the box I have is 2+ years and no issues. This must be a conspiracy though because Im connected right Keith?

I going to make a very very very very good recommendation. This recommendation is directed to anyone reading this blog. What is needed is a REAL Tivo forum. You see the crap troubleshooting section Tivo has? Its crap, and if you want CABLE PROVIDERS to take your product seriously, then invest your efforts in helping them solve your problems.

The first step in addressing all of your TIVO issues is getting your provider to embrace them and help them UNDERSTAND YOUR PRODUCT.

On a side note, Ill be honest, there is not one tech in the field that likes dealing with a cable card issue. Cable Cards in general are crap and they only carry them because the FCC mandates it. ok – the secret is out. Its not a secret, but once again, a mandate created by waccos – what ever – im not a player hater – moving forward @Keith

I know I am digressing here a little, but the first thing that needs to be addressed is troubleshooting cable cards as they are NOW. Not what they should or should not be. As I said before, the more comfortable your provider is in working with them, the better off the cable card community will be, not just Tivo owners. As i said already, Im not hating on Tivo specifically, but I am hating on the lack of leadership your group has and it is a small group. Lets work together – @Keith

What this forum and other forums involving cable cards need to do is pressure TIVO and the other manufacturers to make a couple minor mods to their diagnostis page that caters to the cable provider fixing the problem. What is in place now suck.

Diagnostics menus are buried, cryptic and if the cable industry is expected to support them, then maybe they ought to submit a complaint to the FCC of their own that every cable card device locates the necessary information to troublshoot effectively in different locations and they need to meet the cable industry half way if we are forced to troubleshoot the crap that some manufactures produce.

The reason I say this is because there are only several things a cable providers tech needs to know to understand what the problem is when your not getting channels and those are (it might vary from system to system) but:

1) CPE Authorization Recieved
2) EMM Count of 32 or higher
3) CID and HID

This is all he/she needs. I think every cable card device ought to have a diagnostics button named (PROVIDER DIAG) as opposed to dicking around with trying to find what a tech needs. Like I said, Im not a hater, but a realist and if the shoe fits, wear it @Keith.

With this said, if your missing channels, check these items out. If your EMM count is at 0 (Zero), it means your cable card cant decrypt dick. lol @Keith – you listening

So when you call your provider because your missing channels while your 3 sheets to the wind and several shades of red, relax and ask them if they did a channel map change recently. Ranting and raving isnt going to solve anything when you call your providers call center. They are there to help, but they are not to be insulted because your third party device is broke. REMEMBER that. Every person that works for the cable industry believes one thing. If the customer is happy, I am happy. If your provider does not operate on this level, then I definitely want your business. Moving forward > > >

If there was a channel map change done on the DNCS, you need to run a rescan and/or reboot your tivo (or TV – unplug power – not warm reboot). Make sure that once you have done this, check out your diagnostics and look at those several items I pointed out already.

0 EMMS = Missing some or all channels.

If you have done everything and I mean everything and you still have 0 EMMS, then you need to call you provider and not for a service call. You need to have customer service make sure that billing info is sending to the cable card, via, the DNCS a (Ping/hit/tap) from their billing system.

If you still have 0 – EMMS – your screwed and I hope your provider has someone that knows how to deprovision and reprovision the cable card. If they dont, do the cable industry and yourself a favor – dont schedule a trouble call. Ask the rep to send an email on your behalf to instruct the DNCS group to rock your card in the am. It will save the company time/money and you from having to stay home for a service call that honestly is not needed.

If cable card users are serious about getting their devices into the mainstream, then more needs to be done to build communication between provider and subscriber. Complaints will only warrant substandard support and it is because of mandates that no one really knows what the hell they are doing. When was the last time you called your local provider and tech support knew there stuff? Im sure Ummm and Ahhh was said alot.

I am not pompus, but I am am a$$ – get it straight @Keith. Ive contributed something to this forum other than rants now.

Hopefully now, everyone will get the idea that working together is more productive than complaining. FCC Complaints are not necessary. Blogs with complaints dont solve anything either. Talk to your provider and find out what you can do for them to help you.

I digressed ALOT from the specific topic of the adapters being available for Tivos. Believe me, they have them, and if they dont, they are testing them to become more familiar with the product. Hating on the industry isnt going to make things happen quicker. Whats your position @Keith?

I welcome further criticism on this matter to facilitate more critical thinking so that all parties can benefit from the dialogue. @Keith

Last note – Do yourself a favor and let the provider figure out the problem. Dont call the call center and tell them what the problem is. Dont have a tech come to your house and tell them what the problem is. This is what you pay them for. The nature of RF and the technologies they support are run on many independent platforms that must co-exist. Tell them the information you have and let them do their job. If I came over to your house, would you like it if I stood over your shoulder the entire time? Give them breathing room.

last last note – get rid of your junky surge protector cable power strips – they mess up the RF. If your going to DIY, use their cable – not something you bought at best buy or radio shack. Dont use radio shack splitters. A house with less than 150ft drop and no more than 3-4 outlets does NOT need an amplifier if the plant has been balanced correctly (towards terminating may though). Check your fittings (tighten). Ground block outside, is it corroded? Ghosting in analog with locals – dam squirrels.

@Keith – look forward to your next flame

Well, I happen to be a “Right Winger” and I am a Cable Card subscriber because that is what my cable company (Comcast) provides. I think you and all of us should be concerned that TWC is doing this. TWC is displaying some monopolistic characteristics that scare me a little. It’s totally irresponsible on their part to not consider Tivo users (and other DVR users who DO NOT USE A TWC DVR). You can kind of see it happening. Thankfully, there is at least a solution for Tivo users in the form of a USB dongle. If the dongle is not so expensive, then I won’t mind so much to pay a little extra for more features.

TWC didnt develop the 2-way capability of cable cards. Talk to the developers of the crap your buying (ie: TIVO,etc). Why should it be the responsibility of the provider to support 3rd party solutions fully. It takes time. Why dont you complain to the FCC about letting cable provider innovate instead of keeping them down all the time? An example of this would be having to keep analog. Im sure you dont realize that by major cable providers having to keep old school video delivery on their network greatly impacts their ability to deliver 2 times or more channels than satellite.

This is the reason you have a choice of provider. Find something else worth while to complain about like how you local politicians are serving you. If people spent half the energy on worth while causes that they complain about something as trivial as their TV, maybe peoples voices would really be heard.

Cable Card subscribers definitely do not make up the market share of subscribers in a major providers network. I highly doubt you will find a system with more than 2000 cable cards in them.

Cable Card Subscribers = Left Wing – Wing nuts that have nothing else better to do than complain. Because cable providers are a service driven market, you should cut them a little slack because they do try to accommodate every subscribers needs. Even you. Complaining to the FCC was a low blow. @-Way communication for cable cards has been in development for over 8 months also you retards.

Thank you for your business