Comcast: upgrade from standard to HD

markrr23

I live in suburban Chicago and currently have standard cable with Comcast (i.e., the ~$52 per month package). I just bought an HDTV and I'm considering upgrading my service to get the HD channels that Comcast offers. Comcast's site is not very clear, so hopefully you guys can help with a few basic questions:

1. Can I keep the same basic channels and just add the HD? I don't want any of their packages, just the HD feeds.

2. Comcast has two options for high def: High Definition and High Definition Equipment Rental. I'm assuming that I would need both (totaling $14/month) unless I use a Cable Card. Is that true?

3. It appears that to get HD I must upgrade to digital cable. Here's my question: what about the other TVs I have that are non-HD? I just want to continue to receive the standard cable for all of those, without adding a box. Is this possible without incurring additional monthly and/or one-time fees?

Any other comments you might have about this process would be welcome. Thanks!

Shazkar Shadowstorm

well, the only price difference to digital cable is the rental fee of the box, i believe, because we had our TV in the basement with digital TV and the one upstairs just normal cable and didn't have to pay double fees or anything... and then to upgrade to HD, it costs an extra $5 a month to rent the HD digital box instead of the regular digital box

if you don't want to wait for installation or anything you can just go to a comcast service place (check online, there are many many) and can just go there and pick up a box and bring it to your house. i did that when switching from regular digital to HD. saved on time and no installation fee.

EggyToast

yes, the overall cost is essentially nothing -- comcast doesn't seem to care whether you're signing up for an HD service or not.

I did a trial for 6 months, canceled after 3 since I never watch TV. I said "so this trial, it's X amount, but I have an HD TV. Can I get an HD box?" And they said "yeah there's no extra fee," so it was the same as a regular box rental where I'm at.

Now, I wholeheartedly agree with Shazkar -- GO TO THE CENTER. It took them 3 tries to actually bring the HD box. Each time, the dude only had the standard box, with no component output or anything. I said, as they were getting it set up, "So this is the HD box right?" And they blinked at me, said "uhhh," and then scanned their sheet. Then they said "No, this is the regular box, but you do have HD on here. I don't have any on me, though, so we'll have to reschedule." Same thing the 2nd time, only I asked them before they even got close to my TV -- "So, this is the HD box right?" 3rd time they actually brought it with them.

I've found that it's the same with scheduling cancellations -- if you try to set one up, you'll get weird times and have to wait around forever. And that may even bump you into another billing cycle, making it even more of a headache. But if you just take your junk back to the service center, you get a receipt right there and no more stuff at your house -- it's perfect.

deadonthestreet

If your TV has a built in tuner, you already get ABC/NBC/Fox and the like with your cable subscription. You need a box to get stuff like ESPN and the like, however.

You'll be paying extra for digital cable each month, and the digital channels only work on TVs with boxes. Your other TVs will work as they always have, with the same channels.