Can a person buy a HDTV Cable box instead "renting" from cbale company

[tyler811]

Years ago I bought my own cable modem to stop paying the cable company $5 a month "rental" fee. My HDTV box costs $10 a month "rental" fee

Is there any where to buy a HDTV cable box so I can send back the cable company's HDTC box

 

[gorcorps]

cbale company?

Is that like a company that christian bale owns or something?

 

[Gibson486]

get off your high horse, you know exactly what he is talking about.

 

[gorcorps]

I don't have a horse, not enough country side out here. Plus they're really expensive to care for.

 

[SKORPI0]

You still have to "rent" a CableCARD so you can access the channels (not the local ones). You're better of renting to get the latest updates or replacement of the box if/when it fails. Just my $0.02.

 

[ChaoZ]

Nope.

 

[Locut0s]

My guess is probably not. Our cable provide here offers us the option of renting or buying the box. When you bring it home and set it up you have to call them to get it activated. On their end they have access through the cable to all the boxes in your home and can pull up quite a lot of data about them. Up time, current state, and more. I would be surprised if they didn't also tie your service to the box's serial number. Most cable companies are a monopoly in the geographic areas they operate in and they want it to stay that way.

 

[davmat787]

Yes you can. The new line of DVR's from SiliconDust comes to mind. As Skorpi0 points out, you still need a cable card to authorize the access to your subscribed channels. I am sure there are other brands out there too, just remember reading about some new DVR's from SiliconDust on newegg the other day.

EDIT: http://www.silicondust.com/ looks like they make software and cable card readers so you can roll your own. If not this company, I know there are a few others that make stand alone DVR's that utilize cable cards. Probably should check the proper AT tech forum for better/accurate info.

EDIT2: Here is what I was originally referring to: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815345009&Tpk=N82E16815345009

 

[HardcoreRobot]

you could go the cablecard route, but you have to rent those too. when i looked into it before, didnt make a lot of sense

 

[TwiceOver]

For me cable card rental is $2/mo. Cable Box rental is $16/mo. So I'm still ahead using 2 TiVo Premier units = $24/mo with cable cards.

Far superior to any cable box I've used anyway.

 

[monkey333]

I've found some of the menu's and guides for cable boxes so antiquated. I guess I got spoiled with Direct tv

 

[LikeLinus]

FYI: You need to ask YOUR cable company if they charge for the CableCARD. Comcast gives you the first CableCARD free. I do not pay for my CableCARD as these others are suggesting.