ComCast Installation: Take Two - Live Blogging

After failing to properly set up my cable service Monday, ComCast will be sending another technician out to my house today. What fun!? My friend Amanda gave me a great idea with her comment yesterday, I think I’ll live blog today’s experience. Check to this post around 11a as I’ll be updating by the minute.

Update 11:00a It’s 11 o’clock and I’ve yet to hear from the technician. No surprises yet. My scheduled window is 11a-2p.

Update 11:18 Still no word. The tech is supposed to call 15 minutes before arriving. That shall be challenge #1.

Update 11:35 Made some Easy Mac.

Update 11:57 Ironically enough, I just received an email from ComCast letting me know my online statement is ready for viewing. I know they have little control over it but it’s kind of an ass move to send me a bill when I’m having to take time off work to wait for them to do something they should have right the first time.

Update 12:16 Carol from ComCast just called. Her technician will be here between 12:45p and 1p. We’ll see about that.

Update 12:40 Holy shit. They’re early. That’s right, “they.” Two guys, both seem nice enough and actually brought me two new CableCards. Let’s see how this pans out.

Update 12:42 After telling the two guys that both CableCards could be installed and configured together, they are proceeding by installing one at a time. They put the first card in the Card #2 slot. I had to tell them why it wasn’t working. I knew because I read it on the screen.

Update 12:45 After calling the info on the first card and getting an all clear from HQ, they are attemping to install the second card. They’re getting errors. I think I know what to do but I shall remain silent.

Update 12:48 CableCard #2 was bad. Installing a new new card now.

Update 12:52 A call was made to HQ to give the new CableCard information. Right now the two techs are just talking. No word back from HQ. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on right now.

Update 12:54 Communication has resumed. The lady on the other end was waiting for the two guys to give her the new card information. So basically each person on either end of the phone call was doing nothing. Sounds like what I would expect from ComCast.

Update 12:55 HQ reports back that both cards should be operable.

Update 12:56 Testing the cards now. HD channels not coming up yet. They’ve checked ABC, FOX, and ESPN.

Update 12:57 They’re testing basic cable channels now. Basic cable channels work without need of CableCards. Just like the last installer, they checked channel 72, BET. I couldn’t care any less if that channel didn’t work. It did.

Update 12:59 They obviously have no experience with a TiVo. While looking for Settings, they viewed my Wishlist. I only had one, to record anything starring Katie Morgan, the pornstar. Hehe…

Update 1:02 They’re talking to HQ again. I think somehow when my account got transferred, they took the HD and HBO off my account. Dumbasses.

Update 1:04 Whatever HQ did, they messed something up. Now some channels that were coming in, no longer are.

Update 1:08 Back to where we were. Basic works. No HD or HBO.

Update 1:13 HD and HBO are finally coming in. Also, it looks like all channel numbers in Atlanta are different than the channel numbers in Alpharetta (great way to standardize ComCast) which means I have to re-do all my Season Passes. Great.

Update 1:16 I’m not sure what they’re doing right now. Just watching TV?

Update 1:19 Appears I was wrong. The HD channels are coming in, HBO still is not. Back on the phone with HQ.

Update 1:36 Still no clue as to what’s going on or exactly what’s wrong but now they’re doing something with the outlet in the wall.

Update 1:42 They’ve been here for one hour. They’ve removed the CableCards from the TiVo, reinserted and are back on the phone with HQ. Dog is whining like crazy (I locked him out on the patio when they got here).

Update 1:52 After a reboot of the TiVo, it looks like it’s all working.

Update 2:01 Sorry, Internet went out. Go figure. There was another problem but it appears to all be working. Something about a package issue at HQ. They had to give me the highest package for things to start working. I just checked and I don’t have all the channels though … guess they were able to fix it afterwards. Oh well.

Recap

They’re gone and it took just under an hour and a half for them to install two cards. There were problems with the cards and there were obviously problems at HQ. All in all they left with my service working the way it should and the two guys were very pleasant (although they didn’t talk much, not that I wanted them to). If I were giving a report card on this single service call, I would rate it a C+. The guys didn’t know there way around the TiVo (there should be training on that, at least a manual) and HQ apparently was doing something screwy. Regardless, all is well … for now.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 at 11:21 am and is filed under Live Blogging, My Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.