Comcast cable won't let me buy my own digital cable box.

[Pakman]

I'm trying to buy my own digital cable boxes so I don't have to rent the digital cable box from them. Anyways, I found someone on craigslist that's selling them, but when I called my cable company to check for compatibliity, they told me only their cable boxes will work on their system. Is this true? I thought it was illegal for them to force you to rent their equipment.

 

[MrChad]

Unless you're planning on stealing cable, I don't see why you would want to buy your own digital cable box.

 

[imported_griffis]

I do not know about legalities but it does seem legit. They could have filters set-up to where only systems they support will register the cable. I was curious to try something similiar myself but was not sure if it would work or not.

 

[MagicConch]

I heard there are boxes that use CableCards that are coming out. In those cases you still need to rent the cablecard from them (although there will still be two-way stuff that you won't be able to do)

 

[Pakman]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Unless you're planning on stealing cable, I don't see why you would want to buy your own digital cable box.

I'm not planning to steal cable. I'm buying it for $60. The cable company is charging me $13/mnth to rent the box from them. You do the math.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Pakman

Originally posted by: MrChad
Unless you're planning on stealing cable, I don't see why you would want to buy your own digital cable box.

I'm not planning to steal cable. I'm buying it for $60. The cable company is charging me $13/mnth to rent the box from them. You do the math.

I thought the $13 / month was for the digital cable service, not the box.

 

[KLin]

Good luck with getting them to fix problems if they do let you buy a different box. They'll no doubt blame your equipment before anything else. Sounds like a a better idea to rent than to waste time with them trying to troubleshoot a problem.

 

[Pakman]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: Pakman

Originally posted by: MrChad
Unless you're planning on stealing cable, I don't see why you would want to buy your own digital cable box.

I'm not planning to steal cable. I'm buying it for $60. The cable company is charging me $13/mnth to rent the box from them. You do the math.

I thought the $13 / month was for the digital cable service, not the box.

Nope, $13 for the box. I have the digital platinum package which includes all channels. The package comes with 1 box, but I have like 4 TVs in the house. Each additional box is $13. I think it's a ripoff and I should be allowed to own my own boxes. It's not like I'm trying to get free cable. I have their highest tier package and Internet service from them.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Unless you're planning on stealing cable, I don't see why you would want to buy your own digital cable box.

:roll:
I guess in your rush to equate owning the box with a desire to steal you missed the "so I don't have to rent" part of the OP.

 

[sonoma1993]

it just a way for all cable companies to make more money. Most likely the cable box you are looking at will work but hey comcast and all these other companies will say no it wont. for we can rent there equipment and fork out more money to them.

 

[Pakman]

Originally posted by: sonoma1993
it just a way for all cable companies to make more money. Most likely the cable box you are looking at will work but hey comcast and all these other companies will say no it wont. for we can rent there equipment and fork out more money to them.

I'm just afraid if I buy them and call them up and give them the serial number or whatever that is behind the device so they can program it, that they will refuse to do it because it is not their box. Damn, I hate cable tv providers. Comcast seems to be the worst when it comes to customer service.

 

[brxndxn]

It IS illegal for a cable company to force you to rent their equipment.. There were a lot of people up in arms about that when cable companies tried to force subscribers to rent cable modems..

After you buy the box, you can call them and ask them how it needs to be set up. If it has a unique code that needs to be registered on the system, it is required of them to register it - as long as you are paying for the service.

 

[kranky]

This may help.

 

[tw1164]

I have comcast (Harrisburg PA), and I'm charged $5 for each additional digital box. I would just call them up and mention dish/direct tv deals. They'll give you a better deal.

 

[dmw16]

They have the service...you want to use it.

As the saying goes... "You gotta pay to play"

suck it up or get some rabbit ears.

 

[Pakman]

Originally posted by: kranky
This may help.

Thank you very much. That did help ALOT! From what it says in that post, the ones I was trying to buy will not work. Thanks, but I'm still pissed that they won't let u buy your own cable boxes.