TWC HD Question

[K10]

right now i just have basic cable through TWC.  if i get their hd upgrade, can i just pick up the HD STB from their retail store (mayfair) and hook it up myself? or do they have to send someone over to hook it up?

[Gregg Lengling]

right now i just have basic cable through TWC.  if i get their hd upgrade, can i just pick up the HD STB from their retail store (mayfair) and hook it up myself? or do they have to send someone over to hook it up?

You can pick up at their store or local office, they have a self install number to call then to authorize it.  Simple to do.

[jkscherk]

Be advised, the DVI output on the 3250HD is not active.  I just found this out the hard way yesterday.  Not sure if the 8300HD DVR's HDMI output is active.

[jrowland96]

That's what I did...  as he stated above.  I changed from analog to digital package with HD at the store, they gave me the box, I hooked it up, called a number and she verified the service was turned on.  Very simple and easy, and the people at Mayfair are much better then the people I talked to on the phone.  

[LoadStar]

That's what I did...  as he stated above.  I changed from analog to digital package with HD at the store, they gave me the box, I hooked it up, called a number and she verified the service was turned on.  Very simple and easy, and the people at Mayfair are much better then the people I talked to on the phone.  

Agreed, I've always been impressed by how the people at the Mayfair store are quite professional and genuinely nice to talk to. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the people working at the other stores... some of the other stores are like going to the DMV.

[K10]

is it possible to buy your own HD STB instead of renting it from TWC?  if yes, would you guys advise against or for it?

also, does the extra $6.95 for their HD package include the fee for renting their HD STB?

[Gregg Lengling]

is it possible to buy your own HD STB instead of renting it from TWC?  if yes, would you guys advise against or for it?

also, does the extra $6.95 for their HD package include the fee for renting their HD STB?

Yes it does...the charge you the same fee for any digital standard box, whether it be regular or hd.  So you need to rent a box at $7.65 a month plus 30cents for the remote.  So after thinking, if you are paying $6.95 extra for the extra HD channels you already have digital and are renting a box, so it's just a box exchange for the HD box.  BTW you don't have to subscribe to the HD package to get the box, any digital package includes a number of HD channels, such as the locals, FSN HD, Discovery HD and 533 (what is that TBS or something just the HD version of 33).

[Mark Strube]

Say what now? The HD package is a completely separate charge from the box rental fee. The HD Package (which is a channel package, nothing to do with equipment) is $6.95 a month (however it may be cheaper now, they run a lot of specials on it). Any digital box you rent (HD or non-HD) is $7.95 a month, per box. As far as I know, there's no way to "own" any of the boxes.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Getting a cablecard capable TV is the only way around having the set top box.  However your capabilities are limited with cablecard.  Also, they do charge a fee to rent the card  I do think the card fee is less expensive than the box fee.

[Den Mayer]

Up in GBay, WI the SA-3250-HD DVI 'out' port from TWC was not active

 2.5 years ago.....      2 Years ago the SA-3250-HD DVI port was

 activated by SA & TWC and has worked fine ever since..   and works Today!

 What does not work is having both the '3 cable' component cable

 and DVI cable plugged into the SA-3250-HD at the same time.

[Gregg Lengling]

Up in GBay, WI the SA-3250-HD DVI 'out' port from TWC was not active

 2.5 years ago.....      2 Years ago the SA-3250-HD DVI port was

 activated by SA & TWC and has worked fine ever since..   and works Today!

 What does not work is having both the '3 cable' component cable

 and DVI cable plugged into the SA-3250-HD at the same time.

Normally on any box with DVI or HDMI outputs, when an active cable is connected to them they automatically shut off the component outputs.

[K10]

can i go to bestbuy or circuit city and purchase my own HD STB?

[MarkK]

I second the comment regarding the cable card.  I went from TWC's basic (analog) package, which cost $44.95 (even without a cable box), to TWC's Digital Access Package, and my total monthly fee went down to $39.90, including the cable card fee (which is $1.75, on top of the $38.15 fee).  If you don't have a cable card slot, you need the box, and the package costs $44.90.

Included in the Digital Access package are seven HD channels -
504 NBC
505 CBS
506 Fox
510 PBS
512 ABC
533 TNT
541 Discovery HD Theatre

The HD Package adds four or five more
530 ESPN HD
545 INHD
546 INHD2 (may be discontinued now...)
547 HDNet
548 HDNet Movies

[Mark Strube]

can i go to bestbuy or circuit city and purchase my own HD STB?

Only if you're getting satellite.

[Den Mayer]

Purchasing your own Set Top Box (STB); note there are 3 different types!

   Circuit City & Best Buy STB purchase possibilities:

     Over the Air Antenna (OTA) ATSC STB :     Yes, like a Samsung T-451
                                 or a built in Digital ATSC tuner.

     Cable QAM STB:   No, except as installed in a HDTV that works with
                                 unscrambled Digital channels only and a T-451 ASTC &
                                  QAM tuner.

     Satellite STB:  Only if you buy "Dish type" HD service......
                           These units are usually both an OTA & Satellite combo units.