t42
@equant.net
| Can I Get Comcast HD with my own tuner box?
I'm a Comcast triple play customer, and pay a surcharge for HD, and pay for a premium channel package. I also pay 12.95 a month for a HD DVR and pay a smaller monthly fee for Comcast's non-HD digital tuner box.
My question is rather than paying $12.95 per month for a third box, can i buy a Motorola HD tuner from eBay or Craigslist or where ever and get all the HD and premium channels that i'm already paying Comcast for on a third TV?
I live in Boston, MA suburbs. |
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Comcast Guy
join:2008-01-16
Harrisburg, PA | Short answer: No. You will be throwing your money away. Only other option is a Tivo. |
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t42
@equant.net | reply to t42
Thanks Cable Guy! If I went the Tivo route on the third TV, i wouldn't actually be able to receive HD and premium channels on the third TV directly thru the Tivo without need for a Comcast decoder would I? |
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CleanGene
Premium
join:2008-04-09
Manassas, VA
| With the addition of a cablecard that Comcast will provide to you, a Tivo will be able to receive your digital and HD channels, just like a Comcast box would. You won't have access to VOD, but everything else will work just fine. A cablecard-ready TV would do the same, BTW. |
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Greg2600
join:2008-05-20
Belleville, NJ | reply to t42
Never ever buy a receiver from anyone but the Cable company, because the cable company will not activate for you. They will look up the number and probably see the box listed as stolen or lost. |
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jupiter
join:2001-03-09
Chicago, IL | reply to t42
You don't have to get another DVR for $12.95 month. You can get an HD box and pay about $7 a month. I just went through this with Comcast. They got me so angry with all of their ridiculous charges. GL |
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Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL
| reply to CleanGene
said by CleanGene  :With the addition of a cablecard that Comcast will provide to you, a Tivo will be able to receive your digital and HD channels, just like a Comcast box would. You won't have access to VOD, but everything else will work just fine. A cablecard-ready TV would do the same, BTW. everything else will NOT work as comcrap uses SDV and you will miss channels. |
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CleanGene
Premium
join:2008-04-09
Manassas, VA | SDV is in testing in a few markets and has barely been deployed anywhere. In the mean time, a cablecard-ready Tivo or TV will work just fine. |
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Snake Doctor
join:2008-07-22
 ·Verizon FIOS
| said by CleanGene :SDV is in testing in a few markets and has barely been deployed anywhere. In the mean time, a cablecard-ready Tivo or TV will work just fine. Yep,get a Tivo!
That's what i use and i get al the HD and other channels just fine |
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Barovelli
join:2002-04-03
Pacific Grove, CA
 ·Comcast
·Comcast
| reply to Comcast Guy
said by Comcast Guy :Short answer: No. You will be throwing your money away. Only other option is a Tivo. Don't forget that Tivo charges a monthly fee too.
Cablecard HDTV is the best answer here, but try and find one these days . . |
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gpatrick900
join:2008-08-30 | reply to Greg2600
Since when can you not buy your own receiver? You be able to in the past. I am not talking from ebay. |
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scanpa
Premium
join:2006-09-06
Lebanon, PA
| said by gpatrick900 :Since when can you not buy your own receiver? You be able to in the past. I am not talking from ebay. In the USA the STB Manufacture & the MSO's do not sell current used STB equipment to the end user. You must rent them from the MSO's.
The only current available options outside the MSO, is TiVo S3 or TiVoHD. |
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gpatrick900
join:2008-08-30
edit:
September 1st, @05:45PM
| I am going to have to disagree with you. If I understand the FCC rules, You can buy your own equipment and hook it to cable. What I was referring to was those old analog converter boxes that you up put on TV's that was not cable ready. So, the same rule should apply to digital boxes just as it did for analog boxes. I even bought analog one at k-mart. You also forgot the Some tv's have cable card slots. So, you do not have to rent the box. Cable and satellite companies need to find a better option then a digital box. I have 3 TV's, I do not have room for 3 boxes. Especially since, it is huge. I am going to have to give up a few channels because I do not have room for them. |
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caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Graham, WA
·Comcast
| said by gpatrick900 :I am going to have to disagree with you. If I understand the FCC rules, You can buy your own equipment and hook it to cable. What I was referring to was those old analog converter boxes that you up put on TV's that was not cable ready. So, the same rule should apply to digital boxes just as it did for analog boxes. I even bought analog one at k-mart. You also forgot the Some tv's have cable card slots. So, you do not have to rent the box. Cable and satellite companies need to find a better option then a digital box. I have 3 TV's, I do not have room for 3 boxes. Especially since, it is huge. I am going to have to give up a few channels because I do not have room for them. I'm going to disagree with you on this.Those days where long gone years ago where you could buy a box at Kmart. Comcast uses SA or Motorola Boxes. They are not interchangeable with each other. SA or Motorola sells the boxes to the public. If you buy one it is stolen and Comcast will not provision.
Yes the fcc made the rule that you can own your own box but only TiVo are making them for the public. If they are not made how can you buy one.
The only one available now is The TiVo brand. No other manufactures are making them.
When the cable company's come with the OCAP hardware and software then you can get away with not having box. Yes there are tv's with cable cards I got one with a cable card but they not that many that does except cable cards.
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Caddy |
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gpatrick900
join:2008-08-30
| Myself, I think cable and satellite companies need a better way of providing people channels without a box. Until that time comes, I will possible give up cable. Yes, I know I will need converter boxes but they are smaller and it is only temporary until you get a tv. Once I can buy a tv with a cable card, then I will consider getting cable back. |
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caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Graham, WA
·Comcast
| said by gpatrick900 :Myself, I think cable and satellite companies need a better way of providing people channels without a box. Until that time comes, I will possible give up cable. Yes, I know I will need converter boxes but they are smaller and it is only temporary until you get a tv. Once I can buy a tv with a cable card, then I will consider getting cable back. They will when OCAP come out but you have to buy a tv to get it with a box.
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Caddy |
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gpatrick900
join:2008-08-30
edit:
September 1st, @08:09PM
| Could you explain what OCAP is? I think I know a little. |
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Rob
In Deo speramus
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| reply to gpatrick900
said by gpatrick900 :Myself, I think cable and satellite companies need a better way of providing people channels without a box. Until that time comes, I will possible give up cable. Yes, I know I will need converter boxes but they are smaller and it is only temporary until you get a tv. Once I can buy a tv with a cable card, then I will consider getting cable back. Better ways are on the way - tru2way technology. |
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caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Graham, WA
·Comcast
| reply to gpatrick900
said by gpatrick900 :Could you explain what OCAP is? I think I know a little. If a tv is set up with Tru2Way (OCAP) each cable company can upload the software to the tv to get the channels that you pay for. This will eliminate the boxes and provide protection for the cable company's. It might be out next year. But in my case I just bought a 72 in dlp tv last year and I will not be buying another tv just to get Tru2Way (OCAP)
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Caddy |
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