[NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV

Fri May 22 16:55:59 UTC 2026

The cable box they installed on Wednesday was defective and kept crashing our wireless, so they brought a new one this morning.  It is working, and the cable guy knew better how to set it up and gave me some helpful hints.  

When he left, it was talking and I was able to access channel info, the DVR, and the guide.  I haven’t tried it since, but it seems good.  Not as simple as the old one, but it should be fine, once I get used to it.

It installed Google Play without my wanting it too.  I suppose that has Google apps, but we don’t have a smart TV, so I don’t think those will do us much good, or harm either.

Tracy

From: NJTechDiv <njtechdiv-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Serena Cucco via NJTechDiv
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2026 12:14 PM
To: New Jersey Technology Division List <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Serena Cucco <serena.c.cucco at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV

Hi Tracy,

How did things go with setting up the accessible cable box?

Thanks,

Serena

On Mon, May 18, 2026 at 9:28 PM Andy via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

I know some people who not only canceled cable, but severed their relationship with the provider as a whole, opting to use 5G to access the internet  instead of traditional cable or fiber.  I'm told that it's remarkably stable and would work for most people.  That might be another way to save money too.

> On May 18, 2026, at 3:54 PM, Beatrice Oliveti via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> > wrote:
> 
> Sorry to piecemeal you but I’m at work and I thought I had to take care of someone at the window but my co-worker did it. I disconnected cable because it’s too expensive! I can get free stuff on pluto, youtube, and plex. They’re all free apps! Other than that I do streaming! 
> Warm Regards, 
> Beatrice Oliveti 
> National Federation Of The Blind 
> Of NJ. Northeast Chapter 
> Vice-President 
> National Federation Of The Blind Of NJ. Braille Group Co-Facilitator 
> Bayonne, NJ.  Lions Club Administrator 
> Cell: 2019838124 
> Email: beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com <mailto:beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com>  
> 
>> On May 18, 2026, at 3:45 PM, Lori Falk via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> > wrote:
>> 
>> HI B!
>> Hoping all is well with you.
>> Book Club was good. First time I read that author. I liked that it was about New Jersey Patterson, Teaneck, Alpine, Paramus.
>> 
>> Yes, you really have to be persistent with the cable company and also searching on their website.
>> I just don’t watch the TV anymore show the TVs are already set up the way they are and I couldn’t even tell her where the microphone button is on the remote I just know the on off.
>> Also, I just know it does work.
>> 
>> 
>>> On May 18, 2026, at 3:37 PM, Beatrice Oliveti via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> > wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi Lori, I had to set it up through settings. I don{t think I could do it with the button. Actually the cable guy set it up for me. I told Tracey she has to be persistent. How was Janie{s book club today_ I couldn{t go due to work.
>>> Warm Regards,
>>> Beatrice Oliveti
>>> National Federation Of The Blind
>>> Of NJ. Northeast Chapter
>>> Vice-President
>>> National Federation Of The Blind Of NJ. Braille Group Co-Facilitator
>>> Bayonne, NJ.  Lions Club Administrator
>>> Cell: 2019838124
>>> Email: beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com <mailto:beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com> 
>>> 
>>>>> On May 18, 2026, at 3:13 PM, Lori Falk via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> > wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Yes, if you can also find the microphone button on the remote you can simply speak turn on voice guidance.
>>>> 
>>>>>> On May 18, 2026, at 2:43 PM, Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> > wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Bea says to go to Settings, then Accessibility, then turn on either Voice Guidance or Talkback, whichever it says.  Then she says it will say everything.
>>>>> We have an appointment for Wednesday morning, so we'll see. But Bea says that worked in March, so it should be good.
>>>>> Tracy
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: NJTechDiv <njtechdiv-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Mario Brusco via NJTechDiv
>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 1:55 PM
>>>>> To: Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> >
>>>>> Cc: Mario Brusco <mrb620 at hotmail.com <mailto:mrb620 at hotmail.com> >
>>>>> Subject: Re: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV
>>>>> 
>>>>> Tracy, could you share what you told the cable guy to do in order to turn on accessibility? After it's on, what exactly can be spoken?
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -------- Original Message --------
>>>>> From: Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> >
>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 at 1:06 PM EDT
>>>>> To: 'New Jersey Technology Division List' <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> >
>>>>> Cc: carcione at access.net <mailto:carcione at access.net> 
>>>>> Subject: RE: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV
>>>>> 
>>>>> I talked to Bea, and she says the Optimum box is accessible; the workers
>>>>> just have no clue.  She told me exactly what to tell the cable guy to do
>>>>> to turn on accessibility, so we made an appointment to try again.
>>>>> 
>>>>> NJTech comes through again!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Tracy
>>>>> 
>>>>> *From:*NJTechDiv <njtechdiv-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv-bounces at nfbnet.org> > *On Behalf Of *Beatrice
>>>>> Oliveti via NJTechDiv
>>>>> *Sent:* Monday, May 18, 2026 9:53 AM
>>>>> *To:* njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> 
>>>>> *Cc:* Beatrice Oliveti <beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com <mailto:beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com> >
>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hi Tracey. I remember you and I used to talk about this all the time! I
>>>>> can{t believe Optimum took away their accessibility options. I
>>>>> disconnected cable to save money. I do cable and an airial antenna now.
>>>>> But it was only a few months ago that I had cable. And I had a streaming
>>>>> box and it had the accessibility. Is your box a streaming box_ If you
>>>>> buy a smart TV it{s only going to read you the channels on the TV not
>>>>> the cable box. But you can use optimum through the optimum tv app on
>>>>> your phone. That will allow you to use your phone as a control and the
>>>>> voiceover will talk back to you. You can also watch your dvred
>>>>> programming on your TV. You might also consider switching to Hulu with
>>>>> live TV, Youtube TV, or Directtv. They{re very accessible on your phone
>>>>> and IPad. Hope this helps.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Warm Regards,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Beatrice Oliveti
>>>>> 
>>>>> National Federation Of The Blind
>>>>> 
>>>>> Of NJ. Northeast Chapter
>>>>> 
>>>>> Vice-President
>>>>> 
>>>>> National Federation Of The Blind Of NJ. Braille Group Co-Facilitator
>>>>> 
>>>>> Bayonne, NJ.  Lions Club Administrator
>>>>> 
>>>>> Cell: 2019838124
>>>>> 
>>>>> Email: beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com <mailto:beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com>  <mailto:beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com <mailto:beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com> >
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On May 18, 2026, at 9:17 AM, Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv
>>>>> <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org>  <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> >> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> For a long time, we had software on our Optimum cable box that would
>>>>> announce the channel and what was playing, and I could also use it
>>>>> to access the DVR.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Optimum doesn’t support it anymore, and their new cable box doesn’t
>>>>> have any accessibility at all.
>>>>> 
>>>>> They think that maybe a smart TV would have it, but I don’t know.
>>>>> 
>>>>> If I buy a smart TV, and turn on Talkback or whatever it has, will
>>>>> it tell me what’s playing on a channel and have ways to access the DVR?
>>>>> 
>>>>> For instance, I was able to move through the shows on a channel
>>>>> until I found the one I wanted to record, then hit record.  Later, I
>>>>> could go into the DVR, scroll through the recordings, find the one I
>>>>> wanted, watch it, then go through the menu to either keep it or
>>>>> delete it.  Imagine that.  Can I get those same features on a smart TV?
>>>>> 
>>>>> I have 0 interest in using Alexa.
>>>>> 
>>>>> It’s extremely annoying that Optimum had accessibility, and then
>>>>> just ditched it completely.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Tracy
>>>>> 
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>>>>> 
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>>>> 
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