I just love America. Here are two more reason to add to my list:

1) We now have a flat panel TV for the bedroom and we are getting rid of the old analog TV. So I call Crapfest..I mean, Comcast, and asked them if I could turn in the old DTA box for a digital box to get all the channels upstairs. Sure thing, no problem. The new box will cost me $10/month. So, as I'm arguing with the douche at Comcast I was looking at the bill in front of me and realize that I'm also renting the main box in the living room. So let me get this straight. I'm buying a package from Comcast that costs me $155 a month and I'm also spending $10 / month for an HD box and an additional 15 a month for the DVR.

Now, they I have to RENT another box to get the channels that I'm already paying for, but I can't watch without renting their proprietary box.

I asked the question, so what would happen if I stopped renting the box I currently have? The answer was: "you wouldn't be able to watch most of channels you are paying for." Is there anywhere else I can buy a box? Nope. So, I have buy the channels, then RENT the box so i can watch the channels I buy. I don't know why I never caught this before.

This is like buying a car and then having to rent the keys for $25 / month from the dealership. It is time to look for other options. My contract is up in may.


2) Just before xmas I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. No biggie, just a lot of antibiotics and probiotics for a while. I was given two antibiotic prescriptions. Augmentin XR 1000mg and Biaxin. Both are 30 day prescriptions. My insurance company will only fill scripts for antibiotics for 10 days at a time. This means instead of one $15 copay, I have to make 3 @ $15 for a 30 day supply X ($15 x 3 prescriptions).

When I called and asked why, I was told there is never a need for a doctor to proscribe antibiotics for more than 10 days at a time.

Add on to this that they only cover half the cost of the Augmenting and it will run me almost $400 a month and I wonder why I even have insurance.

I'll also note that if I could, I would buy the Augmentin in Canada and it will cost me less than what my insurance company is charging me for my share.

 

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Lets just say you would have paid a lot less for everything over here.

 

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No and no, respectively.


Check your TV or DVR(s) and see if they support CableCards.


If your TV doesn't, go buy two DVRs that do.


You don't have to rent anything from Comcast if you supply your own hardware - and they have to let you do it too, since that's FCC regs.

 

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How do they handle the decryption? Nearly everything above channel 100 (which is where I normally watch) is encrypted and my understanding from what reading I did this morning is that only comcast boxes will decrypt the signal.

 

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Exactly the same as a set-top box does.


A cablecard is really nothing more than the brains of any set-top box crammed into a PCMCIA card. You plug it in to your DVR or even directly into your TV, connect Comcast, then Comcast configures it remotely to handle whatever service level you're getting from them.


Edit: If you decide to go this route check with Comcast before purchasing to make certain the card you're getting will support the service level you receive.

 

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This work with directv as well?

 

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No idea on that. Probably, but satellite isn't as regulated as cable is so I dunno.


That's right. I said I don't know.


Dude, you all right? You're looking a little green...

 

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