I Want to Buy an HD Cable Box Off eBay...

[eits]

i have the same model downstairs... i want one for my bedroom. anyone know if the cable company has any way of blocking cable boxes that they aren't leasing you?

i have charter communications and want to get the motorola dct4316 box.

 

[guyver01]

anyone know if the cable company has any way of blocking cable boxes that they aren't leasing you?

Yes.

If the serial has been reported as stolen/lost/damaged/non-returned, they will not allow it to be registered in their system.

and if they DO register it... since you're not leasing it... if it breaks or doesn't work.. your SOL.

not worth the risk IMO.

 

[Pardus]

i have the same model downstairs... i want one for my bedroom. anyone know if the cable company has any way of blocking cable boxes that they aren't leasing you?

i have charter communications and want to get the motorola dct4316 box.

Time Warner doesn't charge me to lease there cable boxes, and if the box fails for any reason, i can swap it out. No reason to buy one.

 

[Squisher]

All of Comcast's boxes are addressable and need to be registered to work. Even their DTAs (digital transport adapters) which are smaller than a pack of cigarettes and only give you channels 1-99 in analog require it.

 

[Ichinisan]

I work for a local cableco. Like cable modems, the system has to have the unique ID registered in order to authorize service.

However, our system has all of our boxes registered, even those with no active service. If the ID doesn't exist in our system, we will not add it.

 

[bruceb]

And on some systems, like Cablevision the box has an access card that must be inserted. I do not know if the program tiers are on the card, like Directv or Dish or if the tiers are in the head end computer and the card just makes the box decrypt the signal.

 

[CZroe]

I work for a local cableco. Like cable modems, the system has to have the unique ID registered in order to authorize service.

However, our system has all of our boxes registered, even those with no active service. If the ID doesn't exist in our system, we will not add it.

Why didn't you tell them about the box you bought from a thrift store?

He bought one from a thrift store that had been billed to the customer for not returning it. It was his box, free and clear. His boss saw that he was using it and asked him to return the box even though it was his property. :/ He complied because he didn't want to get anyone in trouble for setting it up (only for testing purposes).

 

[promposive]

Maybe a cablecard tuner box of some sort would be the answer? not sure of a specific model or anything, but most cable cos rent a CableCard for $3-$5 a month

 

[BoomerD]

Wait...Eits is a thief?
<shakes head in disbelief>

 

[eits]

Wait...Eits is a thief?
<shakes head in disbelief>

how is that me being a thief? and when the hell have i been a thief in the past?



i figured that if you own something that a company uses, then you won't have to lease it from a company. for example, i have a merchant account and terminal. i bought my terminal so i wouldn't have to lease one through the merchant service company. i just had to make sure it was compatible with their system.

edit: either way, thanks to everyone who informed me of what to do/not to do. i appreciate it. maybe i'll just get an hd tv tuner card and put it in my rinky-dink toaster in the basement.

 

[Lithium381]

don't do it, you'll regret it afterwards

 

[Newbie62]

i have the same model downstairs... i want one for my bedroom. anyone know if the cable company has any way of blocking cable boxes that they aren't leasing you?

i have charter communications and want to get the motorola dct4316 box.

I believe they do.
I'm on Time Warner and am renting the Digital Transport Adapter's.
I bought the exact same model number boxes off of a seller on ebay in the same state (150 miles away).
When I hooked them up they searched for channels like they normally would. but then came up with a 800 number to call, so I did
The representative told me that that model was not in their inventory even though it the same identical model number.
I then called a different 800 Time warner number and that rep told me that a used Digital Transport Adapter has to be sent back to the factory to be refurbished before using .
Hope this helps.

 

[CZroe]

NAFU

 

[Sonikku]

I bought my own Sb6121 modem off ebay for $30 because Time Warner wanted to lease me theirs for $10 a month. Total rip off. I'm good with it ever breaking down because I can simply buy another and still be ahead of the game. I don't get TV any more but I imagine it's a similar story with set top boxes.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I bought my own Sb6121 modem off ebay for $30 because Time Warner wanted to lease me theirs for $10 a month. Total rip off. I'm good with it ever breaking down because I can simply buy another and still be ahead of the game. I don't get TV any more but I imagine it's a similar story with set top boxes.

Preach It! SB6121 MAFIA 4 LYFE!!

 

[who?]

The FCC has been talking about opening the cable box market up to competition but I don't think they've done it yet.