Why does Comcast's Hardware SUCK so much?

[Zartan]

Used my own Linksys for 6 years until I moved

[wisefire]

Comcast tech are mainly untrained in my experience and talk out of their ***. Had problem with 2 tv boxes that wouldn't activate, so I had a tech sent out. Guy came and said talking **** about the wiring in the whole neighborhood and it not even worth it to try and activate it. He said I should upgrade all the wiring and give them a call back. Called the supervisor and *****ed about what just happened, she talked to the tech and said I was lieing and he never said that. Went back and forth and demanded a new tech sent out asap. Another guy showed up in 2hr and activated the box in 10 min. Wiring my ***, he just a fat lazy *******.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

[JDay]

The modem is a Ubee, the one that has the telephone connection built in. They set up an appointment for Monday to replace the modem.

Ask for an Arris TM602G/CT for a replacement. They are rock solid.

and I will ask for a Motorola box, but I'm fairly certain they're not going to give me one, because I'm fairly certain that Comcast doesn't have a Motorola box that does telephone also.

The one I listed above is their best VoIP/Cable modem combo.

[JDay]

Just be careful, even their field techs are hit and miss(they're contracted out through local companies).

No they're not. One of my friends is a lead field tech for Comcast up here and not only are their field techs Comcast employees but Comcast sends them through 6 months of training before they ever go into the field.

Oh, I know how awful the field techs are. I've only ever had one or two that was worth a damn.

They're not really allowed to do anything that isn't on your work order, you need to let them know when you call and schedule that you want a complete diagnostic done on your line.

[JDay]

If you have splitters in the house they can effect your speed.

Not if you terminate the unused connectors and use cabling that is of the proper rating.

[Merc1138]

No they're not. One of my friends is a lead field tech for Comcast up here and not only are their field techs Comcast employees but Comcast sends them through 6 months of training before they ever go into the field.

Not every one of them is a comcast employee with 6 months(lol, really?) of training. They do sub-contracting(dude, come on. They don't even host all of their own call centers, and you think they wouldn't contract out through other companies for installers?). That doesn't mean I'm saying there are no direct comcast employees out in the field, but the average guy that shows up at your door because tech support scheduled a truck roll because your cable tv/internet/whatever quit working, probably isn't a comcast employee.

[Peter.Steele]

Well, resolution at last, and I am completely satisfied.

The modem was fine, but there were several other issues. I was able to find the default username and password for my modem, and it turns out that the signal was ridiculously low. All the channels were between -11 and -15 dBm. After repairs, I'm getting about -4 dBm instead.

The issues were:

1. The last tech (a subcontractor) had used the wrong coax connectors where the line enters the house. They were cheap POS Harbor Freight type, and the grounding wire wasn't really connected well.

2. Further, at the splitter inside the wall box, the line that the modem was connected to was on one of the high-impedance legs of the splitter.

3. Down the street at the next junction box up-stream of mine, the main signal feed line had some badly deteriorated insulation and an intermittent short, which was causing problems for pretty much everyone on my block.


I have nothing but good things to say about this particular tech. He knew his s**t, and showed me each and every thing that he found, and each and every thing that he fixed. For once, I am 100% satisfied with Comcast's service.

No they're not. One of my friends is a lead field tech for Comcast up here and not only are their field techs Comcast employees but Comcast sends them through 6 months of training before they ever go into the field.

Negative, Ghostrider.

The tech that showed up yesterday was the very first actual Comcast employee that I've ever had out on a trouble call. EVERY single one prior was a contractor.

They're not really allowed to do anything that isn't on your work order, you need to let them know when you call and schedule that you want a complete diagnostic done on your line.

This is irrelevant.

My complaints have pretty much always been related to techs that didn't correctly do the job that they were there to do, or that didn't know what they were talking about and / or doing, durability (or lack thereof) of hardware, showed up 6-7 hours late causing me to miss a whole day of work, etc.

Oh, and getting a cable box FULL OF ANTS one time. THAT really pissed me off, too.

[Merc1138]

Strange... that's not the first time I've heard someone complain about getting a cable box full of ants from comcast.

But yeah, good to hear it was fixed. Annoying that as a user you need to be the one to login to the modem and look at the signal strength to be able to tell the techs how to do their damn jobs, but at least you were able to get the info.

[JDay]

Not every one of them is a comcast employee with 6 months(lol, really?) of training. They do sub-contracting(dude, come on. They don't even host all of their own call centers, and you think they wouldn't contract out through other companies for installers?). That doesn't mean I'm saying there are no direct comcast employees out in the field, but the average guy that shows up at your door because tech support scheduled a truck roll because your cable tv/internet/whatever quit working, probably isn't a comcast employee.

Yes they really do get 6 months of training. The techs do a lot more than just home installs, they have to do repairs when there's outages and network upgrades/expansion. Next time you have a tech show up look at what they're driving. I've never seen them show up in anything but a Comcast van, and if they're in a Comcast van they're a Comcast employee. As for the call centers, everyone outsources that these days.

[Merc1138]

Yes they really do get 6 months of training. The techs do a lot more than just home installs, they have to do repairs when there's outages and network upgrades/expansion. Next time you have a tech show up look at what they're driving. I've never seen them show up in anything but a Comcast van, and if they're in a Comcast van they're a Comcast employee. As for the call centers, everyone outsources that these days.

Ok, and because some of their techs are comcast employees with 6 months of training, does not change the fact that the bulk of them are subcontracted.

[JDay]

Ok, and because some of their techs are comcast employees with 6 months of training, does not change the fact that the bulk of them are subcontracted.

Maybe it depends on the market. I know they do not hire contractors in his area, I just confirmed this.

[icenix]

All of my Comcast stuff works perfectly. My internet is super fast and never has any issues.

What doesn't work for me is my bill. Absolutely ridiculous. I have been with them forever and like what they offer, just not the price.

A helpful hint. If you always pay your bill on time, call and ask if you are eligible for any new customer pricing.

The first time I just called and said I was switching to Direct TV (totally bluffing, but was very nice) and they sent me to a person who's job it is to make me happy and want to stay. They saved me about $40 on my bill for the next year and told me that after that if I pay my normal bill on time for like 3-4 months that I could call and asked if I was eligible for new customer pricing. So, I did, and I was eligible, so they were able to cut another $40 off of my bill for another year, I got free home phone, and movie channels for a year.

I need to call again this weekend and get my new bill adjusted for the next year

[glock 357]

What doesn't work for me is my bill. Absolutely ridiculous. I have been with them forever and like what they offer, just not the price.

You can say that again

[Coded-Dude]

Comcast Business:

Download Speed: 82235 kbps (10279.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 26101 kbps (3262.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

I think we pay for 30 down 10 up.

SMC modem. Every now and again(less than once a month) it will loose connection and reboot a few times before it comes back on. Other than that, no issues.

[JDay]

Comcast Business:

Download Speed: 82235 kbps (10279.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 26101 kbps (3262.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

I think we pay for 30 down 10 up.

SMC modem. Every now and again(less than once a month) it will loose connection and reboot a few times before it comes back on. Other than that, no issues.

If you have a loose connection you should tighten it so that you do not lose your connection.