First Week Review of Comcast Xfinity X1 cable and internet

I made the change back to Comcast.
I got two of the X1 boxes

I have had a week to test out the x1 boxes, here is my review of Xfinity’s X1 package.

Everything looks good. The colors are crisp. The black is a hard black, the colors are a vibrant and the whites are strong whites. You can read and see everything in the menus.
You can crank resolutions up to 1080p 16:9. but The signal is in no way 1080p. There is just no way. The images are not 1080p quality. Maybe slightly better than 720p. Which is still called 720p.
The menus on the X1 boxes are convoluted. There are barely any options or functionality. The menus load so slow. I have yet to find the channels I like, lord knows how the heck I am supposed to preprogram a show that I want to watch. You know, like on Direct tv, you find the title of the movie, highlight it and click. You get the menu … bam there it is.. Where is that option in X1? I just want my tv to automatically change to the channel when it is time. Should be simple right? All of the effort they put into looks, they could have put some into function.
but again. Did I tell you the menus load at a snail’s pace? I even tried this weird (far off in the menu) thing where you can test out options, which the menu “fast” option was off, I turned that on…  well that did squat for me. I understand the design theme with having everyone’s logo on the left for the channel but really, I bet that is what is slowing down the menu.

If you are looking for a specific channel call letters, good luck looking for the title of the channel (which is usually right under the logos), what is there is tiny. This feels more like “Hey we know you are too stupid to actually read these, so here are the pictures that represent your favorite channels”.

The truth is the X1 feels like it is a prototype for something I’ll probably have to pay to upgrade to later. or as if they did a random hat draw of crap that people like and said “Okay we will make it look like 50 of these 500 things, just make it pretty they will eat it up, so we can charge more”. Then, they did, and nothing is useful together. Or actually useful at all.

x1_ready_rebootSometimes the signal flakes out. I also get notices that the device is ready to reboot. Right when I turn the tv on. and I don’t think the X1 ever turns off. At all. Weird thing is I contacted Comcast about an issue and they asked me which cable box I was having an issue with, and I told him the bedroom, he said “hang on it is rebooting now” It rebooted….. This kind of creeped me out. Nilson family intrusion junk .
When the X1 wants to reboot, it takes about 5 minutes to complete. and nothing seems to work any faster or any better.

There is some sort of bundled thing in this box that allows me to “stream” movies. Why? Can we just call this “on demand? and not whatever they call it now? How cheesy is that? Why does the sales rep and the installer want to tell me how it is like netflix “and similar’ blah blah blah.. it is dumb, it feels like netflix menu on dial up…. I’ll have to check more into that. Right now it seems pointless.

Maybe that’s the big problem. Maybe it just needs to have a wifi adapter so it can connect to my modem, because the x1 built in modem is sucky. and might need more ram.

Then there is the low def and high def channel flip flop the x1 does.
Say I click on channel 11. Which is a local station here. Since channel 11 is in low def and there is a high def duplicate at 611, the tv automatically changes to channel 611.
Why not just make 11 high def and forget 611? or make all local stations only in the 600s or even how about this option… If the channel is in low def and in high def, the low def option disappears so that when I go back to the guide, and resume my channel flipping, I don’t have to scroll through all of the crap i scrolled through to to get to channel 11? Because just below 611 is about 200 channels in different languages that I don’t speak. Can I turn all of that off? even the channels I am not subscribed to, can I turn those off also? When that dang menu or narrative bubble pops up telling me I don’t pay for that channel, the fricken x1 locks up for what feels like an hour but is more like 2-3 seconds.

The x1 box does not turn off. I guess so they can count you as a viewer even when you are at work… or asleep.

Not happy with X1
Even the xr2 remote is dumb. The shape of the xr2. Sure the form is great in your hand, but the xr2 shape is kind of figure eight. Both ends feel exactly the same. If the room is dark and you need to turn down the volume… good luck. You’ll likely press the number 6. Why would comcast do this? Come on. Make one end feel different. And why did Comcast put the mute next to the power button? That’s just rude. I’ll put a sticker on the bottom at the back end. to prevent smashing wrong buttons in the dark,that should fix that. Prevent me from hitting the number 8 when I am trying to go to bed.

Maybe I will wait for x2 or x3 and pay for my upgrade and cross my fingers I don’t have to try and learn another piece of junk.

 

If you came here for the remote codes for your x1 box, and made it down this far, look here

Program xfinity x1 xr2 remote done easy

Program xfinity x1 xr2 remote done easy as I can make this.

IMG_20141013_011502I just had Comcast come and install my x1 boxes and xr2 remotes. The technician programmed one remote with 1 tv easily. The Comcast technician had a bit of trouble with the other remote.
The tv that the Comcast guy had trouble with is a spectra 32 inch tv.
I googled like crazy for a good while before I found the instructions I need for this remote. Since the instruction pamphlet only had 5 codes and I tried them all. I was worried. But here is how I got my xr2 remote to work with my spectra tv.

Bottom left tiny button says “set up”
Press and hold the set up button until the all power button lights up and then turns green.
Once that happens
Start tapping the channel up button.
Took me about 30-35 presses of the channel up button before the remote went through the codes and found a suitable remote code for my spectra tv. Some tvs probably take less or more.
When the xr2 finds the right code the tv will shut off. At that moment do not press the channel up button again. In fact do not press any button except the set up button. Just press the set up button one time. After that just press the all power button. The tv should come back on. Test the xr2 remote by turning the volume up and down and power the tv off and back on.

You should be good.
If the code doesn’t work right start over. There may be another code built in made for your tv.

Verizon or Netflix throttling video streaming

So a guy decided to use a proxy (which he says is a vpn… but okay) to connect to Netflix to see if he can get his videos to stream faster.

This being his internet provider, which is Verizon is accused of slowing down video streaming via Netflix.
and Verizon is accusing Netflix of throttling the videos . (throttling means slowing down the downloads of media)

One of these two services is kind of “slowing down productivity” for a greedy motive.


This video could very well verify that someone is throttling the streaming speeds. Or the guy that uploaded it is a troll.

Throttling is illegal. been deemed illegal for a good five years. Consider it to be something that can be used for extortion. and here we have another problem.
Verizon and Comcast and a few other ISPs are pushing against Net Neutrality to enforce a “fast lane” streaming for companies that only allows fast streaming to their customers only available to websites that pay for “Fast lane”.

Meaning you pay your ISP for fast internet. It comes out of your pocket from your hard earned money. The video is on a site that pays their host for fast uploads so people can stream movies and music at fast speed. Now your ISP thinks they deserve money from the people streaming the video and you, or you will not be able to see the video any faster than the guy who pays less for a slower internet connection.

This is unfair to their customers and to the website owners/people streaming the videos. Such as Netflix or Youtube and the like. This wouldn’t even be fair if the ISP decided to charge everyone the same rate and give them the exact same speed at a super discount, then charge Netflix and youtube the difference. because… Netflix and youtube are already paying for their consumption through their host and their hosts ISP…

Comcast Hotspot plan

comcastscamsComcast has a plan to turn your home into a hotspot. It is believed that this will be an “opt in/opt out” program.

Now… remember when Comcast was the first company to put a monthly limit on our internet downloads? and now all of the cell phone carriers have them. I guess that now the trick is to opt in, turn off your modem, connect to neighbor’s…. download entire internet.

see, now you can get around the issue of cloud computing. What is this issue? well it’s where you pay an internet provider to take you to places on the internet. One of the places on the internet, is the place where all of your files are stored. but wait. They aren’t there for free. I mean why would someone convince your to store the crap that you already have stored on a hard drive/flashdrive/dvd/cd somewhere in your house, for free? I mean something you already do, why would they give you that and make it their duty to care for it for free?
So, now you have a limit to how many files you can download a month. but all of your crap is out there in the “Cloud’ (say with spooky ghost fingers) and you can’t get to it. How do you get around this issue next month?

Easy. Go around using up everyone’s file limit each month (file limit that is mythical because the internet is not a bucket that they have to refill like a some mythical servant to a dungeon master) Comcast was busted lying about this right here. so if this is a social experiment to teach us about bandwidth hogs, it is a control experiment guided and leading (misleading).

We all know how this will play out

After the second year “demand so high we have to increase the cost but give you a free button for your shirt says “I get &(**&ed by Comcast”.
and of course that co-worker who always makes bad decisions and stand proud of his Anti-accomplishments will be happy to wear that pin and laugh at you for not having the pin.. These are the typical Comcast users.

Or more people will die quickly because the stranger in the car sitting out in front their house, might just be borrowing internet.

More on this topic

Someone please make this freaks go away.

How Comcast is Giving you less asking for more and killing your rights

comcastscamsAs many have suspected, Comcast is in the spotlight and exposing their corruption by wanting to charge websites for bringing us to their websites. Yes you read that right.  You pay an isp to allow you on the internet, now the largest company on the internet is about to force website owners to pay a fee for letting them have visitors.
Basically, it’s like I rent a limo and go to a party, the limo driver goes to the party host and charges them for bringing me to the place I already paid the limo driver to take me
Worse than that is Comcast also wants to offer faster streaming speeds to higher paying customers.
So if I wanted to open my own video service on the web. I build a massive server and pay outrageous fees to my isp so I can deliver the content people want, I would still have to pay comcast per speed I would like the people receiving my streaming videos. Basically the party host paying for the limo driver to drive a little bit faster. Even though the limo driver has already been paid for the server as contract.
Comcast is trying to ruin what we call net neutrality. and it looks like it is happening now. but all kind of saw this coming when they wanted a bandwidth cap, and we settled  for a high one. Knowing in our guts the same excuse will come up later, as they push further into removing net neutrality, or reducing that 250 gigs a month limit we used to think we could never hit. I mean why wouldn’t they? Since Comcast’s 250 a month cap, all providers have put out caps, most are under 5 gigs per device on their service.
Level 3 the company that provides internet to our internet providers, has finally spoke up.  and it looks like this is either going to get real good and Comcast is going to get Bslapped for exagerating the strain they go through for providing internet to the public, or worst case, comcast sues  Level3 and takes over the internet in it’s entirety.

Level3’s blog

BGR site

Comcast has and will always treat you as if you have no choice. Even worse when you have no other choice. Their fees are impressively high and their help staff is impressively lax about all services. They will put a smile on their voice as they tell you  it will cost you money to hear there is nothing that can be done, and will gladly send you another technician back out (at $45) to tell you again.

Speedtest.net and Comcast


I do not use comcast. In fact, I use Clear 4g. I have been testing my bandwidth on Speedtest’s website.
http://www.speedtest.net/
and I think I found something fishy.
When I go to the speedtest website and check my Internet speed, I assume that since one of the closest servers to test with is Comcast server, I would get great results. True results of my speeds maximum capability. but instead Comcast seems to only show good results for Comcast ip addresses. I’ve tested from my clear 4g connection, my buddy’s at&t connection, My mom’s Comcast Internet connection and my work t3 connection
Houston has two test locations. Comcast and University of Houston.
Houston Comcast shows me with only 2.8 megs a second while University of Houston shows me at 4.5 megs a second.

While Dallas Frost wire shows me at 5.1 megs per second.
and Dallas Soft Layer Tech Shows me at 5.1 megs per second
Austin Grande Communications shows me at 5 megs per second
Muleshoe Texas Five Area Telephone shows me at 5 megs per second
Cedar City Utah

The issue here is that I live in Houston. I can go to any Texas test site outside of Houston, and get better results. but if I take any computer using comcast service and test with the Comcast server, you get wild high results, but test that computer on any other bandwidth test server and you will see low speeds with about 1/3 of the bandwidth results that comcast showed, not really happening.

I have done these tests at work on the T3 line and again, Speedtest’s Houston Comcast server shows my bandwidth test at 1mps per second

Take from this what you will.

Direct Tv Experience 1 week after Comcast

If you haven’t been following the site, I left Comcast a week ago and moved my Television to Direct Tv.

Seeing that I now get 720p resolution on Direct Tv for two televisions at $33 a month, as apposed to 480i resolution I was getting with Comcast for some very basic 70 channels or so for $88 a month one cable box and a modem. I am very happy with my Direct Tv Satellite receiver. Rain has not been an issue. And there has been a bad storm. BAD storm.

I am so far, very happy with Direct Tv’s  picture on one tv, but not very happy on the other. The smaller Tv in my bedroom has the crummiest picture ever. Of course the smaller television has a higher resolution and an all together better built flat screen that the television in the living room. So there is something wrong with that box. I assumed it was because that Tv Tuner doesn’t have an HDMI connection on the back, and the rca wires supplied are very thin and cheap. Probably should give a shot with some of the rca jacks I have in the electronics closet.

The tv tuner in the living room, just got a software patch and slowed it way down. In fact, the box gets super hot now. So switching to and from the guide or menu. Takes a few seconds to load. Same with changing channels. So if you just got your tuner box and get a notification about a software update, and your Tv tuner is already kind of warm, you might want to reconsider accepting that software update. It just turns the blue section into black gloss. I haven’t noticed any new features. I may search for a way to role back to the old software.

direct tv bill

Direct tv bill

Loving the remote options. Favorites custom and favorites custom 2 menus. Lets me split content type channels, and lets me filter out channels that I am not paying for with a “Channels I Get” option in the menu when you hit the “info” button and look in favorites area. These are options that Comcast never gave. Here’s what I got with Comcast cable box. Not a whole lot going on there.

No WGN Chicago, but I do get two BBC America channels.

I have never really used anything but cable and local broadcast. This is my first Satellite receiver. Loving it. Except the big bolts they put through my roof to fasten the dish to my roof.

I score the Direct Tv service:
Ease of use: 9/10
Resolution : 8/10
Look : 10/10
Cost : 10/10
Channels : 9/10
Signal : 9/10

Total score: 9/10

Comcast chat

**Warning: Angry Typos Ahead**

Today, I will be taking my Cable box back to Comcast. They have taken it too far
I have been dealing with my neighbor’s dog (she’s a puppy) digging up my comcast connection, for several months now.
I have received insane bills from Comcast And a few other issues that I don’t feel like looking up so here it is in Bing.

Yesterday I decided to try the chat thing, because phoning in my issue of the neighbor’s dog resolved nothing.

TruXter: My Issue: Neighbor’s dog digs up my cable, I have had you guys out a few times re-bury the line. I requested conduit, was told over the phone it would be used. Technicians all say it can’t be done.. I just now came in the house after covering chewed

analyst Dani Mae has entered room

Dani Mae: Hello TruXter, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Dani Mae. Please give me one moment to review your information.

Dani Mae: Hi

Dani Mae: Welcome to comcast

TruXter: hi.

Dani Mae: Thank you for that information TruXter

Dani Mae: May I know what would you like to do?

TruXter: Is there any way I can get a manager or a foreman to come out with the technician next time to bury my cable? and can you ask them not to request to come in my house anymore? the issue is in the neighbor’s yard.

TruXter: They have replaced the splice in my attic 3 times now as if that solved the issue. I need the cable in conduit or something that a dog can not bite through.

TruXter: The cable box is in my neighbor’s yard. 6 feet of cable gets dug up with in just house of the tech’s burying it.

TruXter: hours*

Dani Mae: To answer you suggestion about a manager, I believe that is not possible since only technician process that

TruXter: Someone needs to come out and over see this. This is the very last time I will let this happen. I will change services. I am sick of this.

Dani Mae: And about your request about conduit

Dani Mae: We do not have that, but we only can drop bury your cable line

Dani Mae: For conduit, you can buy that at your local store

TruXter: I can’t watch tv while the dog chews on the line. I can barely surf the internet that I am paying crazy fees for. this is nuts.

TruXter: You mean. with all of the customers that this company has, I am the only person?

Dani Mae: I understand that, where is your cable lines now placed?

TruXter: why did it cost me $200 to get my house connected? they used wire that I already paid for to begin with.

TruXter: the cable box is in the neighbor’s yard. 6 feet from my fence.

Dani Mae: I see, please inform the owner and let them contact Comcast, so we can schedule them.

TruXter: The neighbor and I buried the cable last time while the tech watched.

TruXter: This needs to be fixed, and someone who can make these guys give me the service I am paying so much for.

TruXter: needs to make sure it’s done.

Dani Mae: Sure

Dani Mae: Have you tried calling 1-800-XFINITY (934-6489)

TruXter: can you check my records and see I have done this several times?

Dani Mae: Sure

Dani Mae: It shows here that Drop bury has been completed as requested already

TruXter: ….

TruXter: and dog dig has already happened.

Dani Mae: Would you like to request another drop bury?

Dani Mae: And have you called already for a schedule?

TruXter: yeah sure. and when he is done, can you send him back three hours later to replace the line again because the dog is just going to dig it back up. and tell to take a lunch and come right back… Or send someone with authority to look at this and see it is a slop job and someone is milking your clock at my expense.\

TruXter: Thank god I run a website and have a good camera. This is my final month. you people are leeches.
Type Here:

After this. I called Comcast to solve the issue of the lightly buried cable in the yard with a big puppy who digs a lot, and to understand why just last month I was told that on this bill, my bill would be reduced, yet it’s still at regular $88. When she told me this month my bill would show the changes I asked why she said “because you already paid this month”. Ok. Makes sense.
So I call and start asking why my bill isn’t reduced. The lady that answered, forwarded me to another person who I assume is their “quick excuses guy”. because this dude was just out to win an argument.
I asked why my bill was regular price, and the guy said that it was because I owe $160 for not paying last month’s bill. I told him he was nuts and explained that I paid $160 last month also, and 160 the month before, and keep getting told I am late on my bill. The guy said and I quote “we bill for service before you receive service”. My eyes rattled in my head. I explained to him that every month I have been going through this, and I have not have had service. Since the dog eats my cable. The man said “then you need to speak to the neighbor” and I flipped out on him. “No, you need to get your stuff straight because I am a customer and you are providing a service, you are asking me to make this an issue between the neighbor and I. You can’t tell me that will all of the customers you guys have, I am the only person with this issue. ” Considering how many houses have dogs, there is a really good chance this has been issue on many occasions.

Now understand, the last time I talked to a technician, he was watching me and the neighbor bury the cable ourselves while he just stood there telling me I should kick the neighbor’s dog and cover the spot with rat traps. The neighbor didn’t like that, and I didn’t like that. I asked the Comcast technician why they don’t just bring 8 feet of conduit and get this over with he said and I quote “Job security, we always make sure each other has work”. At my expense no doubt.

Comcast. Your service has done me no service and I will forever refuse you. I will warn everyone I know, just how you treat Customers and how your answering team and all of your help team, are the trashiest people you can have work for you. When you guys go out of business, you might want to worry about the scum you hire, and possibly the way you treat them and tell them to treat you customers. I love your bandwidth, I hate your bandwidth cap, and I hate that your basic cable is lower resolution than any other broadcast. Local resolution from antenna is 740p minimum where I live, your basic cable is less than 480i. That is pathetic and nothing justifies charging for that.

Can’t say I will miss you when you are gone.

 

**Update**

Just got off the phone with comcast. Called to cancel my service. Man asked me why I was cancelling service. I rattled on for 15 minutes . taking maybe three breaths while trying to think of everything that has gone on since I signed up.
He was like “yeah, I would leave also, Sorry this has happenned to you, you will be receiving a credit soon”.
and that was it. no telling me I am wrong, no selling me a bigger bundle.

Doin it right. for once.

 

**Update 2**

 

Logged in to see my Comcast bill information and to make sure that all of the statements were true, that I would recieve a credit to my account and got a notice to provide a valid email address.  but in back I could see my bill. Lots of junk going on back there. Of course I tried three different ways of handling that page so I could see the bill. They all signed me out instantly.

My Comcast Bill

My Comcast Bill

 

I have no idea what is going on below that point. Could be a pot of gold, could be a bag of chewed up rubberbands.  The reason I am trying to log in is to see if  I got the credit I was told I would get, since they ripped me off of last credit, and to see if I upset someone enough they decided to change my bill up and really stick it to me. You can’t doubt people anymore in either direction. Good or bad.
Needless to say. I have not been able to scroll all the way down. That stupid pop up asking me to show another email address blocks my view.

 

**update 3**

 

All devices were taken back the day I posted this. No arguments, no denying anything. In fact i think the little lady behind teh counter kind of wanted me.

here is their big technical wall of tv screens updated from earlier this year.

ghettovision

ghettovision

Now here is what comcast says I was supposed to pay last month.

comcast bill

Comcast bill

Now… If that was in fact what I was “supposed to pay”. Then why in the blue hell would I pay this ?

comcast payment

Comcast payment

It’s as if the kid I was trying to get help from but only wanted to argue with me, decided to make it look like I am a moron and don’t know how to internet. Now, understand, my bill is usually $79 before “additional charges”. So um. $200 minus 141, but this month’s bill is only $88.06 ? What? Which idiot in that establishment is going to show me how this works, and which idiot in that company is going to translate what that guy said, to non bull %^&*  and make it make sense?

But I have to thank him for showing me I needed to open my mind. I love direct tv and uncapped 4G Internet.

 

 

Dear Verizon Fios

Are you not in Houston?
No matter what address I type into the Verizon Fios website to see what deals are in my area, I get a notice saying that I can’t be found.

Come to Houston please. 25/25 bandwidth would crush Comcast and take half of their unsatisfied customers away.
Every person I ask information about Verizon Fios, responds with “What’s Verizon Fios?”. I tell them the deals I see online and they look at me in disbelief.

Tell me Verizon, Do you have Fios in Houston area?
I need to get away from Comcast and I need to now.
I have done months with no service because they didn’t bury the line properly. When I finally got help from them, I got offered $20 discount for last month only. Not the previous 8 months. From the start they stuck me with a $200 install fee, to use my wires. After I called about it, the girl who barely spoke English (but still answered the English line[I pressed 1 for English]) told me “I can do nothing, your bill is your bill

The alternative is AT&T, and they are worse with customer than Comcast, and that’s a big statement. I can’t quote anything because I left their cell phone plan almost 10 years ago and vowed I would never go back again.

I am considering ditching all internet and television (except local broadcast) April 1st because of circumstances here. Which leaves me letting go of quite a few websites.

Please. Tell me Verizon, are you sporting Fios in Houston?

Google Or Comcast -Trust

Who do you trust more? Google or Comcast?
One is in your phone and in your web browser and in your toolbar and in your operating system and is very well known for saving your data.
The other is known for throttling bandwidth (implies already capable of filtering your traffic), feeding you super high speeds but setting ridiculously low monthly download max.

Who seems more like they have a scary trick up their sleeve?

[poll id=”16″]