CableCARD Hell

I have been silent lately about the great HDTV/CableCARD/Tivo/Comcast Mosh pit, mostly because it has been working fairly well for me for over a year or so. For more on the past, click here.

I have had problems on and off with CableCARDs in my Tivo Series 3's. Most of those issues have been with Comcast, I believe. They simply don't have adequate control of their network, or provisioning, or … oh yeah and THEY HATE CABLECARDS. Once in a while one Tivo will stop getting some part of my service plan, like HD – or ESPN or something. A good percentage of the time you can just pop the card out and when the card reboots it starts working again. Sometimes they insist on sending out a monkey-boy that basically calls a special phone number and proxies questions and answer between you and Major Tom "the wiz with CableCARDs" back at launch control. Monkey-boy is in the loop simply because he understands how to insert a PCMCIA card into a hole – the singular talent each of the 10 guys I have had in my house at one time or another have possessed.

Sunday, I had a bad feeling when all three of my Tivo's (that's 6 Cablecards) all stopped getting HBO at exactly the same moment. The bad feeling - was knowing - exactly what was going to happen next.

This afternoon, I called launch control and told them that my HBO had stopped on all 3 devices.. The woman was very nice and said she would "hit the cards" again. I'm not sure what that means, but I know it's some kind of signaling that happens between the cable head-end and the end device that says something like "here's your new encryption and service keys – insert this new brain and continue".. I also know from experience that sending a "hit" can take hours sometimes because they get "backed up". Whatever the hell that means. In any case – it didn't work – like I knew it wouldn't.

Wait for it….here it comes…wait for it. "Sir, I'm going to send out a technician to check your Tivo's"..

KAAAAHHHHHHHHNNNNN -- Who here thinks that this is a problem with my Tivo, or more specifically all three of my Tivo's at the same time? That's like calling public service about a power failure and they want someone to come out and check your lightbulb.

I begged her to connect me with "Major Tom" directly. She said he would call me, I know he won't – knowone can have access to Major Tom.

She then went on to predict the end of CableCARDs. I tried to explain to her the new legislation that basically requires even the cable providers to use CableCARDs on their own stuff to promote fair competition. She didn't like the sound of that. She was concerned how "Major Tom" was going to scale into this brave new world.

I am too. Thankfully HBO is between shows and I have the required 6 weeks to figure this out.

Comments

[Ari]

Todd - I'm dealing with the same crap right now. Just got a TivoHD w/ 2 cableCARDs. They were both working when the tech left, and shortly thereafter one of the cards stopped decoding anything outside of the analog-basic package (ch1-22). Same hell, called Comcast, they tried to "hit" the cards but couldn't even see them?!? Sent a tech out who had never used a cableCARD or a Tivo. Said "your cards are used", so we will bring out new ones. Different tech showed up next day, without any freakin' cards! And so the drama continues. Sure seems like a problem with the signal encoding/provisioning because clearly the card isn't "broken" since I can get the basic channels but it's not able to decrypt the higher ones.

Knowing that you at least got your setup working for a year gives me hope. I'm about to jump in with both feet and buy another TivoHD box. Any other tips?

[Todd Vernon]

@Ari, patience is the best strategy. I still haven't had time to call Comcast back yet..

[austinMINI]

Perhaps it’s time to swing things back over to DirecTV. They have worked most of bugs in their HD-DVR not to mention they just launched 20 new HD channels. Me being a huge Tivo fan myself (my first one coming from Raindance circa ‘99) I have to admit DirecTV has created a pretty solid HD-DVR. Believe me I never thought I would type those words after their rocky start last year. Would you ever consider switching back?

[Todd Vernon]

@Austin: I just go back there man.. I really do like the quality of Comcast most of the time. They just need to “care” a little more.

[Jim]

Settle down Shatner - it’s just a ride.