On-Demand Error CL-17

Same here--error code began last night when I tried to access On Demand.  I use On Demand daily and this is the first time it's happened.

Interior wiring is not the problem, as all access equipment placed last summer in my utility room by a Comcast tech shows a steady green light--he said if the light stayed green, my interior connections were good.  Repeat unplug/plugging in, repeat signals sent, checking/tightening already tight connections, a call to customer service, etc. did nothing.  This error code shows up on all three of my tvs. 

I'm guessing on this, but other forum posts about this error code point to a problem exterior to the home that Comcast has to fix. 

My call to customer service this morning led to a ticket being created but no assurances a tech would address this any time soon.  I wish I had an answer but wanted to at least chime in on this problem.  And I agree with previous posters that if On Demand remains inaccessible, a credit is due for a significant reduction in services.

Update: I got an appointment for a tech to come out.  Just before he stopped by, he called to ask what the problem was and after I explained the error codes of CL14/CL17 on all my TVs when accessing On Demand via cable, he said my legacy boxes needed to be swapped out for an X1 box, that Comcast had stopped access to On Demand from legacy (old) boxes.  I said I'd gotten no notice of this, the error codes didn't suggest that, and to double check.  He said he'd call around to other techs/Comcast before stopping at my house.  

He came by about 15 minutes later and asked to check one of the TVs connected to my cable box.  And voila the On Demand was working--I'd checked it not 30 minutes before and still got error codes.  His explanation: between his call with me and his arrival, he'd called someone else at Comcast.  Apparently, there was a problem in the last few days with some update or other making the connection to legacy boxes and other customers had complained.    

The timing was a little odd, as I don't know how my On Demand connection suddenly began working shortly before or right when the tech arrived.  I didn't see him checking or working on the outside connection.  I'm not sure if getting the glitch resolved requires a phone call and tech appointment, but, nonetheless, the issue was on Comcast's end and is resolved for me.  

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@mabel09 wrote:

Update: I got an appointment for a tech to come out.  Just before he stopped by, he called to ask what the problem was and after I explained the error codes of CL14/CL17 on all my TVs when accessing On Demand via cable, he said my legacy boxes needed to be swapped out for an X1 box, that Comcast had stopped access to On Demand from legacy (old) boxes.  I said I'd gotten no notice of this, the error codes didn't suggest that, and to double check.  He said he'd call around to other techs/Comcast before stopping at my house.  

 

He came by about 15 minutes later and asked to check one of the TVs connected to my cable box.  And voila the On Demand was working--I'd checked it not 30 minutes before and still got error codes.  His explanation: between his call with me and his arrival, he'd called someone else at Comcast.  Apparently, there was a problem in the last few days with some update or other making the connection to legacy boxes and other customers had complained.    

 

The timing was a little odd, as I don't know how my On Demand connection suddenly began working shortly before or right when the tech arrived.  I didn't see him checking or working on the outside connection.  I'm not sure if getting the glitch resolved requires a phone call and tech appointment, but, nonetheless, the issue was on Comcast's end and is resolved for me.  

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Hopefully it does NOT require a phone call as that's the main reason I come to these forums as I DE-SPISE dealing with phone based CS. Either way we do not have a newer type of TV hooked up to the line right now so an "X1" box that's likely HDMI only would be a massive waste for us. So hopefully they can send out the signal or whatever is required to get our "old" box working again. While they're doing that they darn well better remove the $5 a month "DVR" charge from our bill for a DVR box we don't even have.

Agree with all you said.  

I hesitated calling customer service, as my experiences with the call center are difficult at best.  But I hadn't seen a firm answer here on the forum despite repeated complaints.  The problem was resolved but not without a good bit of debate by me with the call center and then with the tech, when he called just before his arrival, both saying I needed an X1 box to resolve the error codes.

Since the X1 box became available, I've heard too many times that I needed an X1 box to resolve a problem when, inevitably, the resolution involved something else entirely.

I also have SD tvs, so I hang onto my legacy boxes.  One of my SD-only boxes tanked about 18 months ago, and I was given an upgrade HD/SD combo box.  I could only use the SD part of the box, and it kept showing pop up messages to change the SD channel I was watching to the HD version--with no way to deactivate the pop up.  Trying to get an SD-only box again was one of the worst experiences I've ever had with any company, much less one that I routinely pay a lot of cash to each month.  As a result, when the "You need an X1 box instead of those legacy boxes" solution is trotted out, I have a few things to say about it.  

Overall, the solution to my error codes of CL17/CL14 and lack of On Demand access rested with someone at Comcast admitting the problem was on their end and fixing it.  In my 19 years of experience with Comcast, that is virtually never as straightforward as it should be.

Hi Jakeysmom94:

Error codes CL14/17 showed up for me on April 27.  The tech who resolved it for me on April 29 said that some ?update? or other was pushed through the system and didn't connect to some cable boxes--in my case, multiple legacy boxes.  He found this out by texting other techs to see if they had encountered the same problem, which they had.  The fix required something be done on Comcast's end, presumably on a case by case basis.  Between the tech's pre-appointment call with me and his arrival 15 minutes later, the problem was resolved.  The fix did not require that the tech come into the house; it was completely external.  Getting to this solution took multiple phone calls and a debate between me and my tech before he found the fix by reaching out to other techs. 

I'm trying to watch a few shows on demand but am not able to. When I try to watch it brings up an error about there being a problem and to try again. I did a system refresh thinking it would help but it seems to not have. Why am I not able to watch shows on demand?

Hi Jakeysmom94:

Interesting that you should mention this--just this morning, I encountered the same thing.  I couldn't access any TV shows via On Demand--when I chose "TV Shows" on the main page, I got a weird page with single list of choices, headed with "By Network," and nothing happened when I chose any of the options.  It resolved on its own within a few hours.  

I also had my CL14/17 error code come up again briefly the day after the tech resolved it last week.  Several times during the day, and only for a few minutes each time, I got the CL14/17 error code.  It resolved on its own but I don't know if I've seen the last of this.

I'm noticing a few more recent forum posts asking about these error codes, too, with little to no response from Comcast here--certainly no definitive response as to what's going on.  I hope your access to On Demand TV Shows clears up as mine did.  None of this, though, is very encouraging.

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@mabel09 wrote:

Hi Jakeysmom94:

Interesting that you should mention this--just this morning, I encountered the same thing.  I couldn't access any TV shows via On Demand--when I chose "TV Shows" on the main page, I got a weird page with single list of choices, headed with "By Network," and nothing happened when I chose any of the options.  It resolved on its own within a few hours.  

 

I also had my CL14/17 error code come up again briefly the day after the tech resolved it last week.  Several times during the day, and only for a few minutes each time, I got the CL14/17 error code.  It resolved on its own but I don't know if I've seen the last of this.

 

I'm noticing a few more recent forum posts asking about these error codes, too, with little to no response from Comcast here--certainly no definitive response as to what's going on.  I hope your access to On Demand TV Shows clears up as mine did.  None of this, though, is very encouraging.

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The conspiracy theorist in me is saying this is them trying to push those of us with 'legacy' boxes to "upgrade" to the X1 variety. If the big issue here is that the right update didn't get pushed out to the older type of boxes or the WRONG update got pushed out to them and it requires a rollback, then DO IT ALREADY instead of sitting idly by or doing it on a case by case basis. 

The thing is there are other ways to view the content from the On Demand offerings, like via a PC and surfing to Xfinity's website. But even with a 60 Mbps (supposed to be "up to 200 Mbps, used to get 150+ at one point) download speed and a 4-6 Mbps upload speed I'm encountering a lot of stuttering and other issues. Though that's probably from extraneous programs installed on my PC that I really don't need to have on here.

Another option is if you have a "smart" TV you can download the Xfinity app and watch it that way I believe. I have a smart TV downstairs but apparently it's too 'old' (2017 or so Samsung) to be able to get the app on it. 

A final option is to go to the channel's own website as sometimes they have a spot where you can put in your cable login information (username and password for Xfinity) and watch the content directly from those sites.

I've tried options 1 and 3 already and both had unsatisfactory results. Actually with the second option you're able to eliminate the monthly box rental fee from Comcast altogether as you can use a 'smart' TV to stream your programming through their app.  It's why I'm kind of annoyed my TV is deemed "too old" to get it.

I have the same CL-17 issue on both DVR's.  They swapped out both DVR's (I lost my beloved saved shows) and now the problem is worse.  I can only see the TV Guide for the next 3 hours - which means I cannot record anything more than 3 hours away.  I can only set up series recording on some shows but not on others.  They've re-wired from the pole to the house, underneath the house, etc.  They don't know what to do and meanwhile I can barely use my tv.  I am so fed up - did anyone get this resolved while knowing WHAT they did to resolve it?  Please help... if you can.  Thx.

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that On Demand no longer offered TV Channels as an option -- only Premium.  As I frequently would search channels such as Turner Classic Movies, I tried the Xfinity Assistant.  I asked what had happened.  Of course no person answers that, but it was suggested that I unplug the box and restart.  I did, and now I get the CL-17 error message -- no access to On Demand at all.  So I'm worse off than I was.  

And here I am almost a year later and the problem still exists.  Latest suggestion by Comcast phone support was the "I'm sending a refresh signal.  Wait an hour and if it doesn't work, we'll contact you."  Worthless advice.

I’m new to the CL-17 horror story. No on demand on any of the three boxes in the house. One is a super old Motorola box, the other two are Cisco RNG150N boxes. Chatted xfinity on Sunday and they actually admitted it was a “server issue” on their end and that they were working on it. Two days later… still no on demand… going on several weeks now without. This is bordering on false and deceptive business practices.