Maybe I'm becoming one of those peevish old guys who hates change, but I really have to wonder about the changes to the channel lineup on Cox. They say this is due to user demand. I'm not entirely sure that's truthful. Supposedly the new layout puts similar channels in contiguous blocks. Regardless, I can seldom find what I want and end up turning it off in frustration. It's easier to use my laptop. Supposedly, cable tv is declining and this is a good illustration of why that's happening.
Much of this could be avoided by using color coding or header information for blocks of channels. Indeed, if the boxes were smarter, we could simply hide those shopping channels or big-hair evangelists.
Sure, I'll figure this out eventually, but for today I'm channeling my inner irrascible old man. Think John McCain clutching his remote and muttering very bad words.
Ed W
Ed. I can solve your frustration and save you money at the same time. Nothing calms the nerves like extra money. I have done it for a few of the TNF fellas and would gladly like to help you too. PM me if you are interested. Yes it's Satellite but I think you already knew that.
I don't get nor want any channel above 24. not too hard to keep track.
Quote from: sgrizzle on December 13, 2014, 10:03:03 AM
I don't get nor want any channel above 24. not too hard to keep track.
On DirecTV, channels 2,6,8,11,23
are on
channels 2,6,8,11,23.
Quote from: patric on December 13, 2014, 12:17:30 PM
On DirecTV, channels 2,6,8,11,23
are on
channels 2,6,8,11,23.
On Cox they are 2,5,6,8,11... Knowing that 23 is 5 doesn't hurt my brain too hard.
Quote from: DolfanBob on December 13, 2014, 09:19:19 AM
Ed. I can solve your frustration and save you money at the same time. Nothing calms the nerves like extra money. I have done it for a few of the TNF fellas and would gladly like to help you too. PM me if you are interested. Yes it's Satellite but I think you already knew that.
Dolfan Bob sold me Direct TV three years ago and I have been happy with the service. I love the special sports channels and my wife and kids use the DVR's to record many shows.
PM him and tell him I convinced you. If I get the referral bonus I will buy you liquor.
It's getting close to the time to call me. ;D
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/cox-communications-will-soon-require-customers-to-use-boxes-for/article_4255626e-b170-5d3e-aeba-65d3e97825fd.html
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 16, 2015, 03:50:09 PM
It's getting close to the time to call me. ;D
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/cox-communications-will-soon-require-customers-to-use-boxes-for/article_4255626e-b170-5d3e-aeba-65d3e97825fd.html
Boxes are free though. Not advocating either direction as since mother has passed I'm evaluating my TV usage to see what I'm wasting. I might go satellite, I might downgrade to a smaller cable plan. Not sure yet.
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 16, 2015, 03:50:09 PM
It's getting close to the time to call me. ;D
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/cox-communications-will-soon-require-customers-to-use-boxes-for/article_4255626e-b170-5d3e-aeba-65d3e97825fd.html
Eh, if that was going to make me quit, I would've given up a long time ago.
With Netflix, Amazon Prime and news available online I'm having a hard time justifying any cost over having just internet.
Hell, my big TV's are becoming a bit of an eye sore. I might as well face my furniture toward each other for conversation instead of toward a television.
I like how the article didn't mention the monthly fee. I'm sure we can trust Cox to not charge anything since they haven't been about raising subscription costs at all. ::)
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 16, 2015, 03:50:09 PM
It's getting close to the time to call me. ;D
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/cox-communications-will-soon-require-customers-to-use-boxes-for/article_4255626e-b170-5d3e-aeba-65d3e97825fd.html
They have been trying to convince me to quit subscribing for years! This may just do it.
Quote from: Hoss on March 16, 2015, 04:21:14 PM
Boxes are free though. Not advocating either direction as since mother has passed I'm evaluating my TV usage to see what I'm wasting. I might go satellite, I might downgrade to a smaller cable plan. Not sure yet.
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 16, 2015, 05:21:55 PM
I like how the article didn't mention the monthly fee. I'm sure we can trust Cox to not charge anything since they haven't been about raising subscription costs at all. ::)
Reading the article now, it's only free for the first year
QuoteThe good news is that one new, palm-sized hardware per household will be available at no initial cost for one year; some Cox customers may qualify for an extended use plan. After the first year, Cox will charge $1.99 per month for each box in a household.
This is going to give them the bandwidth needed for gigabit internet. If that's of interest to anyone. I personally have u-verse and AT&T internet speeds are lacking especially on large downloads.
Quote from: swake on March 16, 2015, 09:03:37 PM
This is going to give them the bandwidth needed for gigabit internet. If that's of interest to anyone. I personally have u-verse and AT&T internet speeds are lacking especially on large downloads.
I looked at U-verse..even if it was available at my house (it isn't), the video compression is worse than that of Cox. The only reservations I have about satellite are two-fold. Rain fade and carriage disputes. And while I understand that cable has carriage agreements in place also, you almost never hear about any issues with them. And rain fade in Oklahoma is a given. I'm not a huge Cox fan, but all providers jack up their subscription rates. I've been able to mitigate that some by my practice of threats to leave. Oh, and I have two pretty good friends who work for them.
Quote from: Hoss on March 16, 2015, 10:22:25 PM
I looked at U-verse..even if it was available at my house (it isn't), the video compression is worse than that of Cox. The only reservations I have about satellite are two-fold. Rain fade and carriage disputes. And while I understand that cable has carriage agreements in place also, you almost never hear about any issues with them. And rain fade in Oklahoma is a given. I'm not a huge Cox fan, but all providers jack up their subscription rates. I've been able to mitigate that some by my practice of threats to leave. Oh, and I have two pretty good friends who work for them.
We certainly need more competition in Tulsa, at least from an internet provider perspective.
What does this box convert from and to? Cox is getting rid of the analog channels. Does it convert digital to analog? The article said it may affect up to 70% of their customers. It sounds like 70% still are using analog TVs.
The original Tulsa World article failed to mention the box was free for a year and then $1.99/mo after that and you only get one at that deal.
My understanding is that this box will convert their scrambled digital feed to an analog signal for transmission thru COAX or you can use an HDMI cable for a digital TV. My question is that I'm paying $7.99/mo for my digital TV boxes. What is better about that one.
Quote from: rdj on March 17, 2015, 08:08:53 AM
The original Tulsa World article failed to mention the box was free for a year and then $1.99/mo after that and you only get one at that deal.
My understanding is that this box will convert their scrambled digital feed to an analog signal for transmission thru COAX or you can use an HDMI cable for a digital TV. My question is that I'm paying $7.99/mo for my digital TV boxes. What is better about that one.
I'm sure it's just a dumb DTA box, the cable guide probably only goes out a couple of hours. No VOD or any other services.
The rumor is Apple TV is coming June 25th. 25+ channels for $30-40 a month including all the major networks except the ones from NBC/Comcast. With HBO Go already on Apple TV for $14.99 now you may have a real alternative.
We are getting screwed on Cable and on Satellite service. Fees, fees, and more fees
Quote from: swake on March 17, 2015, 09:29:10 AM
I'm sure it's just a dumb DTA box, the cable guide probably only goes out a couple of hours. No VOD or any other services.
The rumor is Apple TV is coming June 25th. 25+ channels for $30-40 a month including all the major networks except the ones from NBC/Comcast. With HBO Go already on Apple TV for $14.99 now you may have a real alternative.
I just read about Apple TV also.
Here is the problem that I have just started having with Cox internet now that I have moved to a large neighborhood. I have been paying 61 Dollars a month for the 50 meg download speed. Sounds great but my problem is that after 7 p.m. My gaming Son comes home and so does all the other neighbors who I'm guessing are the cord cutting millennials that are doing all their content online. The speed drops to around 20 meg or below and since we have 3 cell phones, 1 tablet, 1 desktop, a genie dvr and a Roku. All connected to a wireless router. You see where I'm going here.
They are not all logged onto the web and doing something but they are separating the router and adjusting the streaming speeds accordingly.
When we lived in a neighborhood of 5 houses on each side of the street and the age of the residents were not millennials. We had no problem whatsoever with the speed that I am paying for. So for 5 Dollars more a month(for 6 months). I upgraded to the whopping 100 meg download speed. Woo Hoo!
Ahh but not so fast Quai Chang Cain. You have not snatched the pebble from their hand. Two days into this internet Heaven. The problem is still there. Had a tech come out. Must be the router. But it does the exact same thing just hooking up the computer to the modem. It might be your modem(since its mine not theirs)It's less than a year old.
And of course this service call was done in the hours of 2 to 4 in the afternoon. And man was that speed awesome. No problems here sir.
So being in the Satellite biz and kind of the old school guy. Hearing all this wonderful stuff about how great the internet is going to serve all of mankind for everything entertainment. Kind of grates on an itch I just can't scratch, or want to.
By the way. And I'm sure you guy's already know this. Cox internet is not unlimited data. Wow there's a shocker! Well at least it was to my son. He maxed out 250 gigs last month and the throttling was on. It must be all the devices, or doing VOD on the Genie. It can't be the countless hours of whatever the popular game is at the moment. >:( phew! I feel better! carry on......
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 17, 2015, 10:40:28 AM
Here is the problem that I have just started having with Cox internet now that I have moved to a large neighborhood. I have been paying 61 Dollars a month for the 50 meg download speed. Sounds great but my problem is that after 7 p.m. My gaming Son comes home and so does all the other neighbors who I'm guessing are the cord cutting millennials that are doing all their content online. The speed drops to around 20 meg or below
I always think of the water pipe analogy. Cable internet is the big pipe that supplies your whole neighborhood, and its great when your the only one in the neighborhood using water, but the pressure drops the more people start flushing. DSL/U-verse is a smaller pipe, but it runs directly from your faucet to the water tower so you have some flush-immunity.
Also, unless everyones been sleeping, crews around Tulsa have been running fiber and/or coax at a maddening pace, and small WiMax or WiFi boxes have been showing up on utility poles.
Im not sure if this is going to be a new service, or a municipal-only WiFi like OKC has, or a mesh for "Smart Meter" networking.
What many people don't realize is that the local channels on Cox were carried without encryption, meaning that anyone with a cable signal could get them for free. Cord-cutters who kept Cox internet or VoIP phone service could hook their television directly to the cable and watch major network programming over cable without any TV package at all. The FCC passed a rule in 2012 that allowed cable providers to encrypt their local channels as long as they didn't run afoul of the "must carry" rules. That meant they had to provide a free converter box to each subscriber for 2 years, then charge only a nominal fee for continuing to rent the box, or provide third party providers with a software solution that would allow them to offer the decrypted channels. Cox seems to have avoided the 2 years free box requirement by waiting a year or more to encrypt their local channels.
Cox hasn't actually said this, but I suspect that in addition to freeing up bandwidth by eliminating analog signals, if any still exist, they are trying to rein in the "free riders" who have been watching TV over cable without paying even for the basic cable TV package.
This is significant for those few viewers who want to watch local broadcast programming but whose access to the signals is compromised by the terrain, distance, or other factors. Do the digital broadcast signals include error-correction technology?
Quote from: cynical on March 17, 2015, 02:52:49 PM
This is significant for those few viewers who want to watch local broadcast programming but whose access to the signals is compromised by the terrain, distance, or other factors. Do the digital broadcast signals include error-correction technology?
It's probably going to be an MPEG-4 stream that the box can down convert to SD.
The box thing is a non-starter for me. I have local channels only and internet-based services make up about 80-90% of my TV watching. Most of my inputs are in use and I don't need another dang remote. The only reason I didn't go antenna for locals is I didn't want to hang something off of all of my TVs. If It have to do that either way, might as well save myself the $20/mo.
Quote
Customers will enjoy numerous new benefits. To start, the box will allow customers to get high-quality digital signals on their televisions, as the direct-to-wall method only provided analog signals.
That's funny, since I am watching 1000-series (digital HDTV) channels right now.
Quote from: swake on March 17, 2015, 03:27:34 PM
It's probably going to be an MPEG-4 stream that the box can down convert to SD.
That puts them only two years behind DirecTV instead of four. Progress.
I got my two free Cox Mini-boxes. Will see if I can try them out tonight and report back. The option for COAX pass-through on channel 3 gives me a warm and fuzzy 1985 feeling.
Quote from: Red Arrow on March 16, 2015, 11:42:19 PM
What does this box convert from and to? Cox is getting rid of the analog channels. Does it convert digital to analog? The article said it may affect up to 70% of their customers. It sounds like 70% still are using analog TVs.
I have several TVs and no converter boxes to date. All of them are HDTVs and viewing HD programming.
I've only tried on one TV so far, but here is what I have...
Negatives so far:
1. It's another dang box in my house.
2. They want you to use HDMI (which I have no available ports on some TVs)
3. You can use COAX, but if you use COAX, it crops to 4:3 and down-converts to SDTV
4. The remote is IR and my viewing location is not always line of sight from my equipment location
5. The sound quality is bad on COAX and actually seems worse on HDMI
Positives:
1. It came with the cables and batteries.
I'm going to amazon fire TV and Sling TV.......Sling is 20 dollars a month....The Fire TV is 49 after rebate.....Bye Bye Cox.....
Quote from: sgrizzle on March 19, 2015, 12:48:47 PM
I got my two free Cox Mini-boxes. Will see if I can try them out tonight and report back. The option for COAX pass-through on channel 3 gives me a warm and fuzzy 1985 feeling.
I wonder if my old 36 channel box from the 80s is worth anything. ;D
I would post a picture but I don't have anyplace to send it. :(
Quote from: sgrizzle on March 19, 2015, 01:22:12 PM
I've only tried on one TV so far, but here is what I have...
Negatives so far:
1. It's another dang box in my house.
2. They want you to use HDMI (which I have no available ports on some TVs)
3. You can use COAX, but if you use COAX, it crops to 4:3 and down-converts to SDTV
4. The remote is IR and my viewing location is not always line of sight from my equipment location
5. The sound quality is bad on COAX and actually seems worse on HDMI
Positives:
1. It came with the cables and batteries.
Great. So now I will need 2 remotes for each TV?
Quote from: Red Arrow on March 19, 2015, 07:44:21 PM
I wonder if my old 36 channel box from the 80s is worth anything. ;D
I would post a picture but I don't have anyplace to send it. :(
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2452/4200488702_a15ee7a63f_z.jpg)
Quote from: Red Arrow on March 19, 2015, 07:46:52 PM
Great. So now I will need 2 remotes for each TV?
The new one supposedly can be programmed to control your TV so theoretically you can use just one remote, theirs, but it has only basic buttons.
Quote from: patric on March 19, 2015, 08:22:38 PM
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2452/4200488702_a15ee7a63f_z.jpg)
Ours has a rotary dial with channels 1 thru 36. On the back are a cable in and cable out connection. The box plugs in to 120V from the wall and has an auxiliary 120V outlet, 2 prong.
I talked with Cox Technical Support on the phone this evening. Analog TV's will need the box. If your TV has an internal digital tuner, you won't need the box but the box will offer some extras. We already don't get a couple of channels (Nat Geo is one) that the tech guy said we should looking at our service level and channel line up. Without the box but with an internal digital tuner there may be some channel number anomalies.
The minibox will work with universal remotes.
We only have expanded basic so your results may vary.
Quote from: patric on March 19, 2015, 08:22:38 PM
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2452/4200488702_a15ee7a63f_z.jpg)
I think I still have one of those...
Quote from: Red Arrow on March 19, 2015, 10:53:50 PM
I talked with Cox Technical Support on the phone this evening. Analog TV's will need the box. If your TV has an internal digital tuner, you won't need the box but the box will offer some extras. We already don't get a couple of channels (Nat Geo is one) that the tech guy said we should looking at our service level and channel line up. Without the box but with an internal digital tuner there may be some channel number anomalies.
The minibox will work with universal remotes.
We only have expanded basic so your results may vary.
NatGeo is pretty good. I see it on DirectTV connection I get access to once in a while.
AHC is another good one that I would like to see on Cox. And Science channel.
Am missing a lot with basic cable...
That is the first incarnation converter box we used until the smaller wood grain Jerrold came in. Having to carry a case of ten everyday and check them in was such a pain. Tangle much? It was still a great place to work in the 80s.
Quote from: Red Arrow on March 19, 2015, 10:53:50 PM
I talked with Cox Technical Support on the phone this evening. Analog TV's will need the box. If your TV has an internal digital tuner, you won't need the box but the box will offer some extras. We already don't get a couple of channels (Nat Geo is one) that the tech guy said we should looking at our service level and channel line up. Without the box but with an internal digital tuner there may be some channel number anomalies.
The minibox will work with universal remotes.
We only have expanded basic so your results may vary.
Sounds like I should call. The news story and letter I got in the mail made it sounds like no box = no TV. This makes it sounds like QAM tuner TV's (about everything made in last 5 years) are fine.
Thanks Mark Savage......!!!
Quote from: Breadburner on March 20, 2015, 08:29:28 AM
Thanks Mark Savage......!!!
The best General manager Tulsa Cable had. And I worked for three of them.
Quote from: Breadburner on March 19, 2015, 05:07:14 PM
I'm going to amazon fire TV and Sling TV.......Sling is 20 dollars a month....The Fire TV is 49 after rebate.....Bye Bye Cox.....
What do you (and others) do for internet access? I still use a cox internet only option. It was the best option for where we lived when we moved here, but I have not really evaluated other options recently.
We are very close to dumping everything but internet now. We spend most of our TV time with Netflix and Amazon Prime on our Roku or ChromeCast.
Our U-Verse seems to only exist for Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. TV programming has gone so far down-hill that we basically have 230 channels of garbage that we pay a monthly fee for.
Quote from: Ben on March 20, 2015, 10:45:55 AM
What do you (and others) do for internet access? I still use a cox internet only option. It was the best option for where we lived when we moved here, but I have not really evaluated other options recently.
I have Uverse.....
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 20, 2015, 09:29:07 AM
The best General manager Tulsa Cable had. And I worked for three of them.
He ended up owning all or part.....Then sold out....
Quote from: Breadburner on March 20, 2015, 01:49:43 PM
He ended up owning all or part.....Then sold out....
Well sorta. He had a contract agreement with United Cable in Denver. And basically it cost United Artist a cool Million to buy him out.
And that was 1989 Dollars. He did very well.
I always heard it was much more than that......His biggest mistake was marrying that chick off the shopping channel.......
Quote from: Ben on March 20, 2015, 10:45:55 AM
What do you (and others) do for internet access? I still use a cox internet only option. It was the best option for where we lived when we moved here, but I have not really evaluated other options recently.
Cox gets you the best speeds for Internet. They try to give you the "yeah but it's shared" argument but I can speedtest 103Mbps down (not on the highest package either) and the Uverse salesman offered me 1.5Mbps.
Quote from: sgrizzle on March 20, 2015, 04:04:13 PM
Cox gets you the best speeds for Internet. They try to give you the "yeah but it's shared" argument but I can speedtest 103Mbps down (not on the highest package either) and the Uverse salesman offered me 1.5Mbps.
The neighborhood I recently moved to seems to be a problem area for Cox internet. I'm paying for 100 meg download but after 7 p.m. I'm seeing 20 and below. A tech is coming out in the next couple of hours. This is the second one this week.
I betting it's all you cord cutters causing this. And I can't wait till everyone goes to internet only and experiences this wonderful world of it's not us it's your equipment.
I didn't have this problem in the last housing edition where there were a total of five houses on one side of the street. And average age of residence was 40 and above.
Quote from: Red Arrow on March 19, 2015, 10:53:50 PM
I talked with Cox Technical Support on the phone this evening. Analog TV's will need the box. If your TV has an internal digital tuner, you won't need the box but the box will offer some extras. We already don't get a couple of channels (Nat Geo is one) that the tech guy said we should looking at our service level and channel line up. Without the box but with an internal digital tuner there may be some channel number anomalies.
I was told in store today that after August, no box means no channels at all, even if you have an internal digital tuner.