Nick
08-15-03, 10:55 PM
Unexpected visit.
I sub to local Adelphia cable as a backup to sat, and for locals from two add'l cities. It's come in handy lately with all the 'pop-up' T-storms we've been having this summer.
I've been wanting to get a cable feed run to the unwired back bedroom of my ground-floor apartment. I called the local cableco (Adelphia) a while back and was told that 'they' didn't run additional outlets in apartments. I called again this week, hoping for a different answer. The csr said they would do it with apt. mgmt approval, and referred me to apt. management who told me that, coincidentally, the cableco had installed an another outlet on the property just recently. Called the csr at cableco back, faxed apt's letter of permission and got a date and time for the $32 install of the new outlet. I even talked to a cable tech/installer working on-site who told me he has done several apt outlets here. That was day before yesterday.
Yesterday, the local Adelphia GM himself called to tell me that 'they' don't do additional apt. outlets. I explained that the apt mgmt ok'd it, the csr booked it and asked why is he calling me now saying that 'they' won't do it. So he says it's because additional outlets have to be run outside from the box, and the outside wiring "might" get pulled loose (not lose) creating a hazard and a possible liability for the company.
Well, he and I went back and forth over the phone. I told him that I was disappointed he wasn't even offering an alternative avenue for me to pursue. He then said that "perhaps" an inside run could be split off and snaked from an existing cable outlet in another room, and that he would send someone out tomorrow to look at my apt.
Oh goody!
That was yesterday. Today, a knock on the door and the Adelphia GM himself is standing at my door. Knock me over with a feather! He said he came to see my situation for himself. After looking around the apt., he said he would have one of his contractors come out and "fish" a run through the walls to the unserved bedroom (actually an office/computer/junk room). When I asked about the cost, he said "don't worry about that -- we'll take care of it". Knock me over again!
We then talked about an ongoing intermittent cable 'co-channeling' problem that adversely affects the PQ of some area broadcast channels picked up OTA from two cities, both some 60-70 miles distant. I mentioned that I had done some research on 'co-channeling' and I would bring him my findings and a possible solution in a few weeks for review by his engineers.
He showed interest in my racked sat gear, especially the two DPs, and how I managed to distribute the output wirelessly to five TVs.
I asked how the Adelphia corporate bankruptcy was affecting local operations, and was Adelphia going to offer HD channels anytime soon. His response came as quite a surprise. He said that Adlephia has secured some $2 billion for operations and system improvements, and that the local physical plant has just completed a major upgrade; that Adelphia expects to be out from under the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy referee soon, and they will be rolling out HD programming in certain 'test' cities, with one particular HD testbed being launched in October in an "unnamed" small coastal Georgia city in which I just happen to live! :)
In all, the visit from my local Adelphia general manager lasted about 25-30 minutes, and I got much, much more than I had expected.
I sub to local Adelphia cable as a backup to sat, and for locals from two add'l cities. It's come in handy lately with all the 'pop-up' T-storms we've been having this summer.
I've been wanting to get a cable feed run to the unwired back bedroom of my ground-floor apartment. I called the local cableco (Adelphia) a while back and was told that 'they' didn't run additional outlets in apartments. I called again this week, hoping for a different answer. The csr said they would do it with apt. mgmt approval, and referred me to apt. management who told me that, coincidentally, the cableco had installed an another outlet on the property just recently. Called the csr at cableco back, faxed apt's letter of permission and got a date and time for the $32 install of the new outlet. I even talked to a cable tech/installer working on-site who told me he has done several apt outlets here. That was day before yesterday.
Yesterday, the local Adelphia GM himself called to tell me that 'they' don't do additional apt. outlets. I explained that the apt mgmt ok'd it, the csr booked it and asked why is he calling me now saying that 'they' won't do it. So he says it's because additional outlets have to be run outside from the box, and the outside wiring "might" get pulled loose (not lose) creating a hazard and a possible liability for the company.
Well, he and I went back and forth over the phone. I told him that I was disappointed he wasn't even offering an alternative avenue for me to pursue. He then said that "perhaps" an inside run could be split off and snaked from an existing cable outlet in another room, and that he would send someone out tomorrow to look at my apt.
Oh goody!
That was yesterday. Today, a knock on the door and the Adelphia GM himself is standing at my door. Knock me over with a feather! He said he came to see my situation for himself. After looking around the apt., he said he would have one of his contractors come out and "fish" a run through the walls to the unserved bedroom (actually an office/computer/junk room). When I asked about the cost, he said "don't worry about that -- we'll take care of it". Knock me over again!
We then talked about an ongoing intermittent cable 'co-channeling' problem that adversely affects the PQ of some area broadcast channels picked up OTA from two cities, both some 60-70 miles distant. I mentioned that I had done some research on 'co-channeling' and I would bring him my findings and a possible solution in a few weeks for review by his engineers.
He showed interest in my racked sat gear, especially the two DPs, and how I managed to distribute the output wirelessly to five TVs.
I asked how the Adelphia corporate bankruptcy was affecting local operations, and was Adelphia going to offer HD channels anytime soon. His response came as quite a surprise. He said that Adlephia has secured some $2 billion for operations and system improvements, and that the local physical plant has just completed a major upgrade; that Adelphia expects to be out from under the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy referee soon, and they will be rolling out HD programming in certain 'test' cities, with one particular HD testbed being launched in October in an "unnamed" small coastal Georgia city in which I just happen to live! :)
In all, the visit from my local Adelphia general manager lasted about 25-30 minutes, and I got much, much more than I had expected.