Thread: The impossible quest for a cable card?

This company just seems absurd.
I work for another MSO in this area, so i'm well versed in cable tech, and currently live in MC territory, getting employee pricing through a reciprocity agremment all the MSOs in MN seem to have.

2 weeks ago, i put in the paperwork to switch my Motorola DVR with a Tivo Series 3 i just acquired, so i needed 2 Single-Stream cable cards.

Got a call about a week later, yup, paperwork went through. when she called, she offered to let me go pick up some CCs and do it myself.. HOORAY! i can handle it today! but i was cautious, i asked her to confirm, because protocol at my MSO is all cable cards need to be installed by a tech. she called her depot and confirmed, yes, it does need to be done by a tech. fine. setup a techroll for saturday afternoon.

So saturday rolls around, and i get a call. NO TECHS HAVE ANY CABLE CARDS. yes. seriously. this is what i was told by the operator, and the warehouse is closed on the weekends. ATRGHHHHAHH! at this point, i ask again if i can just do it myself. initially, she said the same thing, then noticed i had an employee acct, and said sure. again, i asked if the stock was available at the chanhassen location, and I'm assured it was. great. i'll swing by and get it today during lunch.

So i walk in with my dvr, throw it up on the table, and let the lady behind the desk know why i'm here. "We don't give cable cards out. they have to be installed" okay, got past that hurdle by explaing the situation... but there's a catch. She she only has one M-Card at her desk. i need to S-Cards! well, this is a warehouse right? Yup! but... there's a catch... the warehouse is only open until 10 AM?!?!? So, while what i need may or may not be sitting in a room directly behind her, no one can get it because it's closed.

THIS IS ABSURD! how can you guys operate like this? if your up working in Wayzata area or minnetonka, and you need a box, you need to drive all the way to mound?!? i even asked if there were any in mound, i'll drive down there, i just want this done! she called down there, and they said they only had one S-Card

So, she took down my #, and says she will "call you in the morning, if we have any".

/Bangs head against the wall

The mediacom folks have stated many times in here that cooperation in this area is very very minimal. Probably just enough support to not get in trouble from whatever regulatory body. The FCC? I guess I don't know. Cable card support may be mandated but the level of support is not.