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COMCAST NOT COMCASTIC

T

Terraplane

I have Comcast Digital Cable and for the past few weeks I have been getting a tile effect break-up on an intermittant basis on screen. Sometime the picture will freeze for a split second and break up into tiles at mid screen level.

Have a new cable converter box so I don't think the problem is in my set or converter box.

Live just south of Boston and wonder if others have this problem and how to deal with it. The Teck's at Comcast are clueless.
 
> Live just south of Boston and wonder if others have this
> problem and how to deal with it. The Teck's at Comcast are
> clueless.
>

I think you are WAYYYY out of line to call the techs (Spelled TECH short for technician)clueless. You ever hear of something called "intermittent?" Have you ever worked on an intermittent problem before? I'm glad you assume the techs are clueless because they haven't resolved YOUR issue yet. Sometimes issues take a while to resolve, and are not overnight fixes. It isn't as simple as changing a burned out light bulb. In the complexities of systems like what the cable companies operate in this day and age, it isn't an easy fix, and if the problem is intermittent, it can take longer. Before you go on a mud slinging campaign against the techs at Comcast, walk a mile in their shoes and see what they need to go through.
 
> I have Comcast Digital Cable and for the past few weeks I
> have been getting a tile effect break-up on an intermittant
> basis on screen. Sometime the picture will freeze for a
> split second and break up into tiles at mid screen level.
>
> Have a new cable converter box so I don't think the problem
> is in my set or converter box.
>
> Live just south of Boston and wonder if others have this
> problem and how to deal with it. The Teck's at Comcast are
> clueless.
>
My suggestion would be to make sure that Comcast has the problem well documented. Speak with a Tech supervisor and make sure that they are working on it. I would ask the supervisor to personally follow up on the issue. Then, I would call every time the intermittent problem occurs.
 
Re: STILL,COMCAST NOT COMCASTIC

You missed the point entirely and don't get so defensive. I am sure your next Comcast check is on the way. The problem with Comcast and many of their tech's is that they think the problem is in your home first and not with any of their equipment when in fact it usually is their equipment. I was told by someone at Comcast that the Digital Boxes in the homes are out of date and were not up to standards when new. They are in fact "crap" I was told. The old analog converters which I also have on other sets are and were more reliable. So, in conclusion, the problem is a COMCAST problem and not a consumer initiated problem. But COMCAST will NEVER admit they are WRONG. Go cash your Comcast check now.


> > Live just south of Boston and wonder if others have this
> > problem and how to deal with it. The Teck's at Comcast are
>
> > clueless.
> >
>
> I think you are WAYYYY out of line to call the techs
> (Spelled TECH short for technician)clueless. You ever hear
> of something called "intermittent?" Have you ever worked on
> an intermittent problem before? I'm glad you assume the
> techs are clueless because they haven't resolved YOUR issue
> yet. Sometimes issues take a while to resolve, and are not
> overnight fixes. It isn't as simple as changing a burned out
> light bulb. In the complexities of systems like what the
> cable companies operate in this day and age, it isn't an
> easy fix, and if the problem is intermittent, it can take
> longer. Before you go on a mud slinging campaign against the
> techs at Comcast, walk a mile in their shoes and see what
> they need to go through.
>
 
Re: STILL,COMCAST NOT COMCASTIC

> You missed the point entirely and don't get so defensive.
> I am sure your next Comcast check is on the way.

OK, I think you missed MY point. I do not receive a penny from Comcast.
They've been receiving about $80 a month from me as a matter of fact.

> The problem
> with Comcast and many of their tech's is that they think the
> problem is in your home first and not with any of their
> equipment when in fact it usually is their equipment.

Because 9 times out of 10, the problem ISNT their equipment but infact the home user's. While yours is an exception, it is not the rule by definition.
And the people who tell you that the problem is yours and not theirs is typically customer service, or "tech support" but not the technicians themselves.

> I was
> told by someone at Comcast that the Digital Boxes in the
> homes are out of date and were not up to standards when new.
> They are in fact "crap" I was told. The old analog
> converters which I also have on other sets are and were more
> reliable. So, in conclusion, the problem is a COMCAST
> problem and not a consumer initiated problem. But COMCAST
> will NEVER admit they are WRONG.

While I am unsure of the converter boxes Comcast uses, I think it's funny they told you that over the phone. They're customer service is terrible. I had a customer service rep hang up the phone on me when I asked to speak to a supervisor!

> Go cash your Comcast check now.

If I had one, I would...

I'm not a cable technician, I just know a few. I am a broadcast tech by trade and just don't like it when people say we're clueless when a problem isn't fixed the next day. You're not the only one who's said that...
 
Re: STILL,COMCAST NOT COMCASTIC

I am sure you are not clueless. But the Comcast Techs seems to be paid to act that way. They always act as if the customer is ALWAYS WRONG and NEVER COMCAST.


> > You missed the point entirely and don't get so defensive.
>
> > I am sure your next Comcast check is on the way.
>
> OK, I think you missed MY point. I do not receive a penny
> from Comcast.
> They've been receiving about $80 a month from me as a matter
> of fact.
>
> > The problem
> > with Comcast and many of their tech's is that they think
> the
> > problem is in your home first and not with any of their
> > equipment when in fact it usually is their equipment.
>
> Because 9 times out of 10, the problem ISNT their equipment
> but infact the home user's. While yours is an exception, it
> is not the rule by definition.
> And the people who tell you that the problem is yours and
> not theirs is typically customer service, or "tech support"
> but not the technicians themselves.
>
> > I was
> > told by someone at Comcast that the Digital Boxes in the
> > homes are out of date and were not up to standards when
> new.
> > They are in fact "crap" I was told. The old analog
> > converters which I also have on other sets are and were
> more
> > reliable. So, in conclusion, the problem is a COMCAST
> > problem and not a consumer initiated problem. But COMCAST
> > will NEVER admit they are WRONG.
>
> While I am unsure of the converter boxes Comcast uses, I
> think it's funny they told you that over the phone. They're
> customer service is terrible. I had a customer service rep
> hang up the phone on me when I asked to speak to a
> supervisor!
>
> > Go cash your Comcast check now.
>
> If I had one, I would...
>
> I'm not a cable technician, I just know a few. I am a
> broadcast tech by trade and just don't like it when people
> say we're clueless when a problem isn't fixed the next day.
> You're not the only one who's said that...
>
 
Re: STILL,COMCAST NOT COMCASTIC

> I am sure you are not clueless. But the Comcast Techs seems
> to be paid to act that way. They always act as if the
> customer is ALWAYS WRONG and NEVER COMCAST.

Yeah, Crapcast acted like that when I worked for them. When I worked at CN8 in Philadelphia, problems that arose with employee vs. management issues were always the employee's fault and never management...when it was proven that management was out of line for ignoring an internal employee issue/problem and/or for not trying to solve the issue. It seems Crapcast treats their customers the same way. This thread proves even more why I'm happy I don't have cable at all...and why I'm glad I no longer work for those jerks.
 
COMCAST Now CRAPCAST

Love the new name "CRAPCAST". Mind if I steal it? -;)


> > I am sure you are not clueless. But the Comcast Techs
> seems
> > to be paid to act that way. They always act as if the
> > customer is ALWAYS WRONG and NEVER COMCAST.
>
> Yeah, Crapcast acted like that when I worked for them. When
> I worked at CN8 in Philadelphia, problems that arose with
> employee vs. management issues were always the employee's
> fault and never management...when it was proven that
> management was out of line for ignoring an internal employee
> issue/problem and/or for not trying to solve the issue. It
> seems Crapcast treats their customers the same way. This
> thread proves even more why I'm happy I don't have cable at
> all...and why I'm glad I no longer work for those jerks.
>
 
Re: COMCAST Now CRAPCAST

> Love the new name "CRAPCAST". Mind if I steal it? -;)
>

I usually go with "COM-CRAP" here on their system in New Britain and Hartford (CT).<P ID="signature">______________
The 2006 New York Yankees...on to title #27!</P>
 
> I have Comcast Digital Cable and for the past few weeks I
> have been getting a tile effect break-up on an intermittant
> basis on screen. Sometime the picture will freeze for a
> split second and break up into tiles at mid screen level.
>
> Have a new cable converter box so I don't think the problem
> is in my set or converter box.
>
> Live just south of Boston and wonder if others have this
> problem and how to deal with it. The Teck's at Comcast are
> clueless.
>
Your problem sounds like a lack of signal. With digital you get all or nothing. When the digital signal drops, the screen does what you describe. All of Comcast's programming going into the digital box is now digital, you'll notice a 2 second delay from analog.
I have Comcast/Garden State Cable from Cherry Hill, NJ. They found the problem, a bad cable under the street, down the street from me. Also, one of the amplifiers in my neighborhood had to be readjusted. It took them awhile to replace the wire but, they finally did. Have you had them come out? There is a little thing they attach to the cable wire to see how much signal is coming through right where the box plugs in and out at the street so they can see if the signal loss is in your house as well.
 
COMCAST wants to CHARGE the customer if it is a problem inside the house and for a non technical person there is no way for me to know if the problem is in my TV set which I do not think it is. Seems this is a ploy by COMCAST to discourage in-home calls. But if it continues I will follow your suggestions.

> > I have Comcast Digital Cable and for the past few weeks I
> > have been getting a tile effect break-up on an
> intermittant
> > basis on screen. Sometime the picture will freeze for a
> > split second and break up into tiles at mid screen level.
>
> >
> > Have a new cable converter box so I don't think the
> problem
> > is in my set or converter box.
> >
> > Live just south of Boston and wonder if others have this
> > problem and how to deal with it. The Teck's at Comcast are
>
> > clueless.
> >
> Your problem sounds like a lack of signal. With digital you
> get all or nothing. When the digital signal drops, the
> screen does what you describe. All of Comcast's programming
> going into the digital box is now digital, you'll notice a 2
> second delay from analog.
> I have Comcast/Garden State Cable from Cherry Hill, NJ.
> They found the problem, a bad cable under the street, down
> the street from me. Also, one of the amplifiers in my
> neighborhood had to be readjusted. It took them awhile to
> replace the wire but, they finally did. Have you had them
> come out? There is a little thing they attach to the cable
> wire to see how much signal is coming through right where
> the box plugs in and out at the street so they can see if
> the signal loss is in your house as well.
>
 
> COMCAST wants to CHARGE the customer if it is a problem
> inside the house

That's no different than the phone company.
The reason being is the customer is responsible for the wiring inside the home.
All utility companies do this. If you have a light switch that shorts out, you're not going to call the power company to come fix your switch for free. It's the same deal with them. If they come to your house and find your box is bad, OR if THEY DID THE WIRING, then absolutley they should be responsible for it. The problem is they are so big you could have a tough time fighting them.

OK here is what you need to do.
Go to the outside of your house where the cable drop comes into the lightning arrester. This may sound a little absurd but it's a good starting point. Disconnect the cable line to the lightning arrester (the line coming from the street) and hook it directly to your box. Then hook the other end of the box to your TV (you can always buy a long RF cable from Radio Shack if you feel the need to) or hook the end that goes inside to the other end of the box, and inside hook the cable directly to the TV set. Plug the box in outside and see if you still have the issue. If you do, then you can tell Comcast that the signal is their problem as your seeing it directly off of the drop from the street. (Basically proving back all your wiring in the house is ok). If the box works fine, then it could potentially be the internal wiring in your house which you will probably have to pay to get fixed. (Provided there is enough signal at the drop and the problem is the signal isn't deteriorating so much by the time it gets to your internal TV, you loose the signal).

So it will look connected like this:

[Telephone poll]------[Cable Box]---|---[TV Set]
 
Have you tried replacing any old wiring in your house? I had to change a cable recently because of the same problem. These digital boxes operate better with all fiber-optic cable installation. One bad wire can do some havoc, especially since now Comcast has all their channels digitalized.
 
> COMCAST wants to CHARGE the customer if it is a problem
> inside the house and for a non technical person there is no
> way for me to know if the problem is in my TV set which I do
> not think it is. Seems this is a ploy by COMCAST to
> discourage in-home calls. But if it continues I will follow
> your suggestions.
>
Not your tv. The digital box is not receiving a stong enough signal. When you lose signal, the picture cuts out. They never charged me for any visit and I had them out many times, especially after they told me there was a bad wire down the street. I remember the tech coming out right before Halloween and not wanting to run a wire across the street so no child would trip on it. They changed some splitters in my house and ran a new wire to my HD box b/c I'm forking over $181/month to to them in addition to having my DirecTv to give me NESN, FSN New England, and the Pats on NFL Sunday Ticket HD.

They shouldn't charge. Tell them that signal is being lost. Do you see snowy pictures on any analog TVs or does OnDemand or the internet go out when the digital picture is pixellated?

Mine got worse when the weather changed. Sort of like when a Comcast contractor cut right through the Verizon line when replacing another bad cable down the street. I lost my phone and it took Verizon awhile to find a good pair of wires to give me that worked in the rain. I got a free month of cable over that one!
 
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