[mythtv-users] Time Warner & Firewire

[Craig Partin]

On 5/14/05, Tom E. Craddock Jr. <sigtom at sigtom.com> wrote:
> Mario Limonciello wrote:
> > Tom E. Craddock Jr. wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Mario Limonciello wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Tom E. Craddock Jr. wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Howdy,
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>Had similar problems as well with TimeWarner/Brighthouse in Tampa Bay
> >>>>last year when I first wanted to get a 1394 box;  only way I got it
> >>>>was by going to the local office and waiting for about an hour in
> >>>>their lobby till I got a manager who knew what I was talking about.  I
> >>>>wouldnt trust that the tech tommorrow will bring a 1394 tech (they
> >>>>work on sundays up there?)  I just recently started as a cable
> >>>>installer for Brighthouse down here, and I can tell you at least from
> >>>>my experience, none of the contractors are aware of the 1394 box
> >>>>because TimeWarner/Brighthouse doesnt make us aware of it.  Hecked, I
> >>>>even asked the managers at 2 of the offices that all of the
> >>>>contractors for the county I work in about the 1394 box, and they had
> >>>>no idea about it; when I asked why they didnt being in such a
> >>>>position, I was told (by thier manager) that since it was such a
> >>>>specialty item TimeWarner/BH wont/doesnt go out of thier way to make
> >>>>them available (ie make the customer come to the local office to pick
> >>>>it up).  Weve been instructed to tell any customer that wants one to
> >>>>go to thier local office and speak to a customer service rep or office
> >>>>manager to get one.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>So best advice, go and camp out in thier office till you get the box
> >>>>in hand that you want.
> >>>>
> >>>>Tom
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Well I guess I have to figure out where that local office is now.  The
> >>>only places actually posted on the TW website seem to be the customer
> >>>care centres.
> >>>
> >>>Further, looking the box they gave me is a Explorer 3250HD.  It "does"
> >>>come in a firewire variation, just I obviously didn't get it.  Which box
> >>>did you eventually end up getting from them?  An 8000 or 8300 series DVR
> >>>box?  I'm planning on printing out some pics of these boxes with the
> >>>firewire ports to show the tech tomorrow.  I'm still pretty surprised
> >>>myself they work sundays, but hell I won't argue.  Not to intrude, but
> >>>Tom - Being an installer for them, do you have any contacts up here you
> >>>could help me pull strings with now?  I'd really hate to have to go
> >>>through too many hoops getting this going, I'm only living in the area
> >>>for 3 months, but still want to beable to enjoy summertime HD from
> >>>myth :)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Mario,
> >>
> >>
> >>I ended up with the 3250HD w/1394.  Now, they dont make that exact
> >>model available in all areas, but they will have SOME vs of a digital
> >>cable box w/1394 avail (could very well be the 3250HD w/1394, just
> >>dont want to say that it will be for sure, as I cant).
> >>
> >>Unfortunately, no I dont have any contacts up there.  I am just a
> >>subcontractor for a ANOTHER company that subs the work from
> >>TimeWarner/Brighthouse.
> >>
> >>When I say local office, I mean the office where you can pay your
> >>bill, and they should also have hardware (cable boxes, DVRs, Cable
> >>Modems etc) there as well.  If no one at the counter can help you
> >>(which they wont), tell them youll be sitting in thier lobby and they
> >>need to find someone that knows what your talking about, as if they
> >>dont you will be filing a complaint with the FCC for non-conformance;
> >>make sure you mention once again theyve had almost a year since the
> >>regulation when into effect. If the office youve been going to is no
> >>help, they SHOULD have another office somewhere in your area.  Either
> >>go to one of them, or call them up.
> >>
> >>
> >>Tom
> 
> >
> > Okay, if the office is open tomorrow, I'll head there tomorrow.  If not,
> > I'll head during my lunch break from work on Monday.  I'm also
> > considering grabbing one of these 3250HD's off ebay, only 30 or 60 bucks
> > or, and then I never have to deal with this headache no matter what
> > cable company I'm with down the road (Several moves up ahead).
> 
> Wont work for TimeWarner/BH.  You have to get the cable box from the
> cable co.  The cable box has to be approved to run on their network, and
> they will only authorize boxes they distribute.
> 
> Tom
> 
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> 


I believe there is also an FCC mandate that forces the cable companies
to allow you your own box.  AFAIK they have something akin to a MAC
address and you have to get that to them.  It works that way with
modems as well.