I signed up for cable TV today.
I have already come to the conclusion that it was in fact a mistake.
I like to purchase things and have them work right from the start, not never work, right from the start.
This was my fault or I would probably be upset. I told the installer to check the signal at the splitter in the cellar to be sure I was getting a proper signal throughout the house, meaning both TV’s.
The battery in his signal tester was dead. He warmed the battery, but I didn’t see him check the signal after doing this so I assume, the signal wasn’t checked.
He left me a cable box, which I said I would install because I really did have to leave the house and there just wasn’t time. He replaced the ends/connectors on the cable for both TV’s at the splitter.
There was no problem programming either TV as long as it was just the cable. Once the box that provides the HD was hooked up, it would not boot properly. The fact is, 7 hours later and many tries it still will not boot.
I called and told the tech the error that I was getting and he wasn’t familiar with the error. I thought that was somewhat interesting. there was no audio and it wasn’t anything anyone could possibly watch, basically there was no picture.
After many tries, I did get it to boot once. I found that many of the channels wouldn’t work and the HD just had the small familiar squares of poor reception, just like the small digital antennas for about $40.00.
Here I sit, paying for a service and not getting it on a Friday night.
I know it can be fixed. I also know I paid $40 for an install that didn’t work. I am not aware of just what is considered an install. If it is to the house, then this cable was already connected, if it includes inside the house, then it was already there, possibly faulty, but none of this was checked from what I could see.
I mentioned Direct TV and Dish Network only because I know people with both. I also know their only problems have been in storms and the like. I didn’t call Direct TV so I won’t comment on them.
I might have gone with Dish, but I couldn’t understand the person on the phone. He had a very heavy what I called “Indian” accent so that I had difficulties, enough so that I would never be able to make any repairs myself if I called tech support. I don’t mean this in a bad way, but I do need to be able to understand the person I am talking with if it involves technical issues.
The cable company here does have the very long phone menu. I don’t think those can be avoided.
My plan is to go back to my small, inexpensive, antenna, and just watch a couple local channels. I seldom watch much more than the news anyway.
Has anyone else had any problems with the cable companies in Maine?
Tags: Cable, Dish, or Direct TV?