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New Contributor
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Cox SLA
So Cox has this 2-year agreement that locks you in, they now want an extra $60/month to maintain the same level of service I was originally getting, WTF?
ChrisL
Former Moderator
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TriDave
New Contributor
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No, that's not what I'm talking about at all. By moving channels to the Contour package that I had before, the level of service has decreased. Cox has changed my service and I have to pay as $700 / year more to get comprable service. Not only that but by doing so Cox is also violating FCC Rule 76.1205(b)(4) by not making those not on-demand channels available with use of a cablecard ready device. (Yes, I've filed a complaint w/ the FCC).
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Domino
Valued Contributor III
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All of the channels in the Contour package are HD channels that require 1GHz/H.264 compatible tuners to receive. If your CableCARD ready device is 1GHz/H.264 compatible, then those channels are available to you. To what specific channels are you referring? Plus, what math are you using to reach $700/year?
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TriDave
New Contributor
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I've been told by tech & sales that all Contour channels require the Contour receiver & service. So take your pick. The ones I was getting was 1100 & 1265. I'm still getting & paying for the SD versions but now Cox wants more money for HD, that's a change in policy. So much for the 2-year price guarantee or that just the price not the service? The funny thing I know the frequency thing is hog wash, I'm still getting the audio on the channel, they botched the setup....not the first time that's happened.
The tuners I'm using are Ceton IInfiniTV 4 PCIe.
Specs:
Four QAM 64/256 tuners
The math is to match my setup would a Contour Service & Equipment $35 /month+ 2 remote viewers $17 /month = $624 + taxes.
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Allan
Moderator
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Hello TriDave.
I can understand your frustration and we are going to assist you. We need to be able to access your account and check to make sure that everything is in order. Please email us at cox.help@cox.com so we can research and resolve this issue for you.
Allan
Cox Support Forums Moderator
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Domino
Valued Contributor III
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The "Contour Channels" are nothing more than the "Plus Pak" renamed, which is a group of HD channels that require 1GHz/H.264 (MPEG4 video) tuning equipment. In the specs you gave, tuning bandwidth and MPEG4 compatibility are left out. Also, what programs were "switched" into this package? Stating 1100 and 1265 means nothing to me unless you tell me in which city/state you live. What is your location? I know many HTPC users that receive the "Plus (Contour) Pak", and at no charge!
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TriDave
New Contributor
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The specs are Cable Lab specs with to the best of my knowledge have not changed in 3+ years & I'm in Gainesville, Fl. That was my understanding as well w/ the Contour channels but that is not the information I have been getting hence the escalation to the FCC for clarification. Although if I get a channel in SD and have to pay for another package whatever it is called to get HD, hard to argue Cox isn't charging more for HD. For that I have no problem w/ other than marketing and I'll make sure those channel providers are aware of the practice and are getting their piece of the pie.
And thank you for not just having some knowledge on the matter at hand but willingness to share and investigate the issue, a rarity at Cox.
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Domino
Valued Contributor III
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First, I'm not a Cox employee. I do have two contacts with people with middle-management positions within Cox.
As far as the two channels you mentioned, they are transmitted above 860 MHz with MPEG4 (H.264) video. Yes, the SD channels are in the "Bonus Pak" and "Sports & Info Pak" respectively. This is indeed contrary to Cox's long time policy of "If you pay for the SD channel, the HD version is free!" I submitted to Cox a list of 25 HD channels in the Plus (Contour) Pak that had SD versions in various other "Paks" that Cox offered. I maintained these HD channels should instead be offered in the normal "HD Channels" section, with a * note that 1GHz and MPEG4 (H.264) equipment is necessary for reception. No response. It will take complaints from more than one or two of us to change this policy.
As far as your tuner card goes, I still have no idea whether or not it is 1GHz/MPEG4 (H.264.)
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TriDave
New Contributor
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Should have known, actually giving a response and all is so uncharacteristic of Cox.
I'll try to verify the detail of specs, Ceton claims it will work with all cable tv channels and knowing the 'heck' they went through to get Cable Labs certification I can't imagine it is compatible. My guess is the local and regional people at Cox just have such limited knowledge the probably just give a canned answer. I imagine having to give the FCC a response will change the response a little since it is a fairly clear regulation.
I just wish the Fed had the foresight to put the same requirement on satellite, if the used the same method I would jump ship in a heart beat.
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bryaninphx
+6 more
Valued Contributor
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The Ceton InfiniTV 4 PC tuner is capable of receiving all the Contour (Formerly Plus Pak HD) Channels, and Cox does not charge an extra fee for Retail CableCARD devices. The extra fee is only if you lease their equipment.
http://ww2.cox.com/residential/centralflorida/support/tv/article.cox?articleId=b8889a60-d706-11df-66a2-000000000000
Cox used to have a support page that specifically addressed the Plus Pak HD channels and Retail Devices and that there was no fee above the standard corresponding Channel Package.
EDIT: One note the Intel Core i3/5/7 Integrated GPU HD Graphics cannot display H.264 Copy Protected channels.
It should work on an WMC Extender, just not the HTPC
So if by chance you are using an Intel Core i3/5/7 without a dedicated graphics card you will see no video and only get audio. This is true for Windows 7, I have heard that this was fixed in Windows 8, but I cannot confirm.
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Domino
Valued Contributor III
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The high-end of the tuner bandwidth was 860MHz up until a couple of years ago when they pushed it to 1GHz. MPEG4 (H.264) is just making its way into the cable market. Cox only uses it on the Plus Pak (Contour) HD channels. I could find no mention of either on the Ceton website, but I see that bryaninphx is stating your card supports both. Since a television commercial is involved (Cox vs. AT&T and free HDTV), I suggest notifying the FTC along with the FCC.
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TriDave
New Contributor
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Nice find on the integrated graphics card, I'm sure that's the issue there. As far as the rest, that's what I figured but when I called about the blank channels I was getting the run around and the answer I had to get their equipment.
As far as the extra charges for HD, I'm just going to make sure that the channels know that Cox is charging extra for them.
Thanks all!
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