Digital Cable Question....

[bubbadu]

I have Adelphia digital cable, but the main tv is in another room.... I was looking to get it in my room, but would like to avoid the 5.95 month fee from Adelphia. Do you guys know if its possible to get the same make/model cable box (Scientfic Altanta 2000), from Ebay and use it myself... or would the cable company know? I just think it would be stupid to invest 6 bucks a month on top of the 105 we pay for the modem and tv :/... any ideas? Thanks

-Bubbadu

 

[KK]

WOuld you mind getting analog cable? You should get analog cable if you run a line in there.

KK

 

[pulse8]

I believe you're completely within your rights to own your own cable box.

 

[bubbadu]

Originally posted by: KK
WOuld you mind getting analog cable? You should get analog cable if you run a line in there.

KK

We have analog on every tv in the house.... i just wanted to possibly pick up a cheapo box on ebay for like 30 bucks or so and get EVERY channel ... its not like that I watch it that often, but if we are already paying a crapload of money for it, I figured I might as well take advantage of it.

-Bubbadu

 

[bubbadu]

Originally posted by: pulse8
I believe you're completely within your rights to own your own cable box.

Yeah screw Adelphia those crooks.... I am just worried about a flash card that is programmed into the box.... my friend just recently cancelled his digital cable and adelphia sent him a 600! dollar bill for both boxes. I wonder if I were to plug those here if they would work.... I also semi remember someone saying that they would assign a IP to each box.. hmmm

-Bubbadu

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: bubbadu

Originally posted by: KK
WOuld you mind getting analog cable? You should get analog cable if you run a line in there.

KK

We have analog on every tv in the house.... i just wanted to possibly pick up a cheapo box on ebay for like 30 bucks or so and get EVERY channel ... its not like that I watch it that often, but if we are already paying a crapload of money for it, I figured I might as well take advantage of it.

-Bubbadu

I don't believe they'd let you do that. Not without contacting them and giving them the information about the box and they would charge you for it.

I don't believe they have come out with black boxes for digital cable yet.

KK

 

[bubbadu]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: bubbadu

Originally posted by: KK
WOuld you mind getting analog cable? You should get analog cable if you run a line in there.

KK

We have analog on every tv in the house.... i just wanted to possibly pick up a cheapo box on ebay for like 30 bucks or so and get EVERY channel ... its not like that I watch it that often, but if we are already paying a crapload of money for it, I figured I might as well take advantage of it.

-Bubbadu

I don't believe they'd let you do that. Not without contacting them and giving them the information about the box and they would charge you for it.

I don't believe they have come out with black boxes for digital cable yet.

KK

Ok thats what I was thinking... damn... I do legally get every channel they have to offer though... I just want it in two rooms. I am going to have to just experiment with his boxes and see if it works.

-Bubbadu

 

[pulse8]

It's not about having a black box, it's just about owning your own cable box. I believe it works just like a cable modem.

You can own your own or you can rent it from them.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: pulse8
It's not about having a black box, it's just about owning your own cable box. I believe it works just like a cable modem.

You can own your own or you can rent it from them.

Yes, but if you own one and want it "turned on" then you have to pay them.

KK

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: pulse8
It's not about having a black box, it's just about owning your own cable box. I believe it works just like a cable modem.

You can own your own or you can rent it from them.

Yes, but if you own one and want it "turned on" then you have to pay them.

KK

Not if it works like a cable modem. You can own your own and not pay them a dime for it.

 

[bubbadu]

Originally posted by: pulse8
It's not about having a black box, it's just about owning your own cable box. I believe it works just like a cable modem.

You can own your own or you can rent it from them.

Yeah I would treat it as a cable modem... I can rent it from Adelphia for 5 bucks a month... or buy my own and use it free of charge. I have tried going onto Adelphia's website to get more info, but of course it is horrible and offers no real information :/ I dont see how they can force me into paying..

-Bubbadu

 

[pulse8]

I would just call them and ask them. It couldn't hurt any.

 

[KK]

I think it works more like satellite. I'm not sure on that, as I don't have digital cable, i have the 13 analog basic. With the satellite you gotta have your receiver programed on that little card, that way they can keep track of your subscription and ppvs. If the cable company has no record of your reciever then how would you get your HBO's, showtimes, etc. You got to let them know, I would think. I don't know if they would charge you or not for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

KK

 

[bubbadu]

Originally posted by: pulse8
I would just call them and ask them. It couldn't hurt any.

Yeah thats what i'll have to do tomorrow... Adelhpia has always been a big joke to me though... in the fall I attempted to get a cable modem for my dorm, but the stupid college would not allow it. It turns out that one of the states main servers was in the basement about 200 feet from my room Since them I have returned home, but it was still quiet funny trying to hijack a l33t connection I do hope they go under soon and are bought out quickly.

-Bubbadu

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: KK
I think it works more like satellite. I'm not sure on that, as I don't have digital cable, i have the 13 analog basic. With the satellite you gotta have your receiver programed on that little card, that way they can keep track of your subscription and ppvs. If the cable company has no record of your reciever then how would you get your HBO's, showtimes, etc. You got to let them know, I would think. I don't know if they would charge you or not for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

KK

Satellite is a little different, though. With cable you're hardwired into their system. It'd be a lot easier to just send a signal in and out of the box to their central system. I believe all channels are done at their end and not within the cable box.

 

[bubbadu]

Originally posted by: KK
I think it works more like satellite. I'm not sure on that, as I don't have digital cable, i have the 13 analog basic. With the satellite you gotta have your receiver programed on that little card, that way they can keep track of your subscription and ppvs. If the cable company has no record of your reciever then how would you get your HBO's, showtimes, etc. You got to let them know, I would think. I don't know if they would charge you or not for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

KK

I always believed that they controlled that from there central offices though. When my friend was about to get his shut off, all the HBOS/Showtimes etc would always cut out first, and then in order to acuatly disconnect the cable, they would have to come out and climb the lines. I wasnt home at the time when they installed it, so I have no clue how the smartcards work.

-Bubbadu

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: bubbadu

Originally posted by: KK
I think it works more like satellite. I'm not sure on that, as I don't have digital cable, i have the 13 analog basic. With the satellite you gotta have your receiver programed on that little card, that way they can keep track of your subscription and ppvs. If the cable company has no record of your reciever then how would you get your HBO's, showtimes, etc. You got to let them know, I would think. I don't know if they would charge you or not for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

KK

I always believed that they controlled that from there central offices though. When my friend was about to get his shut off, all the HBOS/Showtimes etc would always cut out first, and then in order to acuatly disconnect the cable, they would have to come out and climb the lines. I wasnt home at the time when they installed it, so I have no clue how the smartcards work.

-Bubbadu

Was it the digital channels that got cut off first? I could see those going out before the analog stations. I would think that they'd have some type of addressing on the box for them to remotely turn channels off and on.

KK

 

[Praetor]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: bubbadu

Originally posted by: KK
I think it works more like satellite. I'm not sure on that, as I don't have digital cable, i have the 13 analog basic. With the satellite you gotta have your receiver programed on that little card, that way they can keep track of your subscription and ppvs. If the cable company has no record of your reciever then how would you get your HBO's, showtimes, etc. You got to let them know, I would think. I don't know if they would charge you or not for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

KK

I always believed that they controlled that from there central offices though. When my friend was about to get his shut off, all the HBOS/Showtimes etc would always cut out first, and then in order to acuatly disconnect the cable, they would have to come out and climb the lines. I wasnt home at the time when they installed it, so I have no clue how the smartcards work.

-Bubbadu

Was it the digital channels that got cut off first? I could see those going out before the analog stations. I would think that they'd have some type of addressing on the box for them to remotely turn channels off and on.

KK

And that's pretty much how it works. All the digital channels will always be addressable, meaning they can shut them off from the main office. It's possibe that the analog could be addressable, but that's a lot more money than most cable systems have been willing to fork over.

But back to the original question. While you are within your legal rights to buy your analog/digital convertor box, in order to recieve the channels legally, you must first make Adelphia aware of the box. Say "hey, I have an SA/2000, serial number blahblah, that I bought myself, would you have it flashed for me so I can recieve my channels?" In theory, the systems are supposed to allow such an occurance, but not all are actually trained/setup to do so. You'd have to ask.

Oh, btw, if memory serves, the Scientific Atlanta series of boxes are all analog boxes. Specifically the 2000 series at that. Look for either a General Instruments 2200-2500 series or a Motorola of the same flavour. That's what we use here, don't know about Adelphia though, so I could be mistaken.