Comcast installation

Posts: 9 · Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:02 am Post subject: Comcast installation

This is a bit off-topic, but wanted to get some feedback...

Today, I called up Comcast to get information about basic cable and high-speed internet. They asked me how many tv's I need hooked up, and said that the installation fee ($49 - for both cable television and internet) is for 1 tv, and that any other televisions/outlets required an additional $15 EACH! Now, the house I am buying soon already has cable outlets thoughout the house, and to the best of my knowledge are fully working. I don't see why they need to charge any more than the basic installation, since the wiring in my house will distribute the signal to each room. What do they do for this $15/each? The lady further said that if I did not activate additional outlets, they may still work, however if you are watching channel 7 on the main outlet, then you will only get channel 7 elsewhere. I asked her if there is a cable box involved, and she said no. This seemed like a load of BS. Does this make sense to anyone? It seems like they are trying to take advantage of people that don't know any better so they can get more money. I'm thinking of saying, when I actually make an appointment for installation, that I only have 1 television, and 1 computer too (even though, I plan on hooking up my Linksys wireless router w/Vonage). I'm thinking also that I will not even mention Vonage when the cable guy comes out, in fear that they will charge me another ridiculous fee....

Posts: 72 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 72

Sounds like a load to me unless you are opting for digital cable. The digital cable requires a box to convert the signal for your tv set. If you are not going with the digital cable then you can hook up your tv's through the existing cable. I have comcast and have 5 tv's, none of which Comcast charged me to install. Do not say anything to Comcast about the router or additional sets and do them yourself.

Posts: 12 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 30, 2005 Posts: 12

First off, if you already have wall jacks for cable, Comcast can't do anything for you except run cable from the wall plate into the back of your TV. Obviously, that is unnecessary.

As for what she said about Channel 7 and all that, that is ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY FALSE. Even if you have digital cable with, say, 300 channels, you can have a digital cable box on any TV you want and switch them independently from one another. For TV's without cable boxes, just plug the cable into the back of the TV and you'll get analog cable with about 90 channels.

Don't listen to them. They obviously don't know what they're talking about.

Posts: 176 · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:24 am Post subject:

That $15 for each line will cover them running the cable and verifying it works. Since you already have the cable, they will then claim the fee will cover them verifying your line is connected correctly and it works. Like it is so hard to plug, I mean screw on a cable connection. You can't even hook it up backwards or upside down. They just want extra cash to help Brian Roberts' salary over the $30 million dollar mark again this year. Wink

Don't order it, just your 1 set and HSI and do the rest after he leaves. Make sure he doesn't try and do it and charge you on the back end, read what you sign.

Posts: 492 · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:20 am Post subject:

No doubt about it! Comcast can be a real pain in the tukas.

Posts: 9 · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 7:44 pm Post subject:

Another quick question related to Comcast...

When I have them come out and install my basic cable television and high speed internet, I am only going to show them my Linksys BEFCMU10 cable modem and my laptop (and keep hidden my Linksys WRT54GP2 wireless router w/Vonage and desktop system upstairs).

Someone told me that the Comcast installer will get the MAC address from my laptop, so that Comcast can limit the traffic to a single machine. Then (after the installer leaves), when I hookup my Linksys router to the output of my cable modem, I will need to spoof the MAC address on the router, so that the cable modem will think its talking to my laptop and not the router. Is this true? If so, does anyone have any details on this (i.e., is there a Linksys admin option)?