Comcast Cable Phone Service?

[Woodie]

Hi folks!

I've had Comcast cable internet for a couple of years, pretty solid. Currently using a DLink router/firewall combo. I ordered the phone service, and they're coming out next week to install it.

Near as I can tell, they have to install a device:
-inside the house
-doesn't require power
-connects to the cable coax
-connects to a phone jack

This will allow my existing phones to work w/ the VOIP that Comcast is providing. (They're also porting my number over).

Does anyone have any additional info/experience on this?

I'm concerned about:
-Where are they going to drop this box?
-What will the finished install look like?
-If I don't like what they're going to do, can I stop them right there?

Most of the cable installations I've seen/had have been pretty much hack jobs: Not finished, not attractive, and not convenient.

 

[Cooky]

I know someone who had Comcast's "digital phone service". As I recall, he doesn't have a device for the phone inside his house.

In my opinion, you can get much better VoIP service through companies like
Vonage or BroadVoice
w/ the same price.

 

[Woodie]

I've "heard" that the quality of the comcast service is better. Anybody compare the two?

 

[anarchyreigns]

Originally posted by: Cooky
I know someone who had Comcast's "digital phone service". As I recall, he doesn't have a device for the phone inside his house.

That's because digital phone service isn't the same thing as VOIP.

 

[Devistater]

Since its your house, and your property, you can stop them at any time if its inside (unless of course he tells the local city council that they can get more taxes out of your house by siezing your property and giving it to comcast as per the recent supreme court decision ). If its outside, well it depends. If its on thier part of the cable stuff, you can't stop them. If its being screwed into the side of your house, you can probably stop them.


As for the other questions, why not call them up and ask them?

 

[syco83]

I have cox telephone.
And they gave me a modem with the two telephone hookups on it they ran a telephone line to the main telephone box outside so they could use existing wiring.
The telephone service cox gave me uses the internet connection but uses seperate bandwidth. So it won't effect my internet downloading and internet downloading won't effect my telephone.
but that is cox and not comcast.

 

[Woodie]

I suspect it's similar to syco83's experience w/ Cox.

I know that the underlying technology is VOIP, but it's done seperately from the cable modem. Digital Voice is the product name they're giving it.

I think I'll have a long chat with the installation guy when he comes. I may become one of his longest, most PITA installs!

 

[Woodie]

Just thought I'd let y'all know how it went.

Tech came out and installed...generally poor internal communications at Comcast throughout. He didn't realize I already had a cable-modem for internet. He installed a new fancier modem, which required an outlet (order-taker said they didn't need one), as well as access to the cable, and a telephone wire to connect to.

The modem: about 2.5 times the size of the regular cable-modem I had. Includes 2 batteries as internal UPS. It's black, as is the power cable. (, since I have white walls)

Install: Took him the full 4 hours. We were on hold w/ Comcast Tech Support for >45 minutes (ended up hanging up on them), since we couldn't get internet working w/ new modem. Tech finally gave up on tech support, and went out to his van, got a new modem. Installed that, 2 mins later we were on the internet, and he could continue. Finished install, tested, working ok, including caller id.

Service: About 3 hours later, I noticed that I didn't have dial tone. Called support...they rebooted the modem (remotely) and everything worked again. About 4 days later, no dial-tone again (no power failures). I was on vacation (away from home), so didn't call until the morning afer I returned. CSR said the diags showed a short in the line, probably outside the house, but he couldn't tell for sure, and tried to schedule dispatch for 48 hours later. I said "NO"...not good enough. Got disconnected (cell phone probs)...called back, new CSR, said she'd get someone out later the same day (12-4PM). At 4:00, started calling to check on service call. High call volume, can't talk to CSR. This went on for about 90 minutes, so I went to their online chat area. (BTW, internet/cable TV never went out, just the phone). Got a CSR in <2 minutes. He looks up record, says: Tech should be there tomorrow 4-7pm. WTF????? I complained (reasonably politely) about this extensive service outage and lack of support when I had stayed home to be there. He gave me 5 day credit (the period where I could PROVE that I was OOS), and many apologies. :[

Tech showed up on the right day, a bit earlier than scheduled. Futzed around for a while (~1 hr), then "replaced the drop"...not sure what that meant. (Wife was home, not me). Phone service began working. Has been working since then (<24 hrs).

Options: Called local Bell co...was told that dispatch right now (it's seasonal) would be in the 24-48 hr range for a single house telephone outage. Cut over time to switch phone back would be 8-10 business days (about the same as switching in the first place). Pricing package within a few $$ of the cable phone package, also a 12 month period. No DSL available , and satellite not an option due to trees.

Going to let this go for a month or so, see how it goes. Just concerned about 2 outages in 2 weeks (cable) vs 2 outages in 14 years (Ma Bell).

 

[tjaisv]

So how's your Comcast Digital Voice been working?

Btw, replacing the drop meant that the tech had to replace the cable line running from the telephone pole (tap) to your house.

 

[Woodie]

Sad to say, cancelled Comcast Digital Voice.

We continued to have outages, about 1 every other day. We did discover that we could reset the modem ourselves, which meant we didn't have to call in anymore. The Mrs. was not happy about the service level, and the sound quality wasn't very good either. So, switched back to SBC. No outages in the 6 weeks we've been back on "regular" phone service. (No internet/cable outages either). We did lose power once (large tree took down all the lines about 1.5 miles down the road).

 

[amdskip]

My dad was ready to switch over to mediacom voip because of the unlimited calling. I explained to him what it really was and that he should wait a while until they can improve the technology more. Thanks for the follow up report.

 

[Woodie]

I should have added above:

When I called SBC to arrange switch-back, I got a very competitive deal from them, basically matching Comcast on price w/ unlimited USA long distance. So I guess the switch paid off for me, since it cut my phone bill significantly.

Features are different: "Privacy Manager" w/ SBC, voicemail w/ comcast. Whatever.