southsider2k5 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 We just go the new HD TV last night, and I want to upgrade to be able to get all of the standard HD channels on Comcast. They want $8 a month to lease it, but I want to see if I can buy one. I have been looking on Ebay and Motorolas sites, but I am not sure if a specific box is exclusive to a specific cable company. Does anyone out there know which HD and/or HD/DVR boxes belong to comcast if necessary? Any advice in looking for the box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitetrain8601 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 As far as I know, you can't buy your own. Comcast straight up will not let you use them. Most of the ones if not all of them on Ebay or any other site are actually illegal to sell. The boxes are tied to an account number that's tied to an individual. Comcast will not activate those boxes for anyone else. Most of the people who do sell them have loads of PPV's on them and the seller doesn't want to pay for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 Interesting. I called comcast to ask them yesterday, and they did say I could buy one, though they said through Motorola's website (which doesn't have any for sale, instead redirecting you to your service provider.) The person I talked to said that I could buy one and hook it up. I wonder if I just talked to someone who has no idea what they are talking about??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapkomet Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 2, 2009 -> 07:24 AM) Interesting. I called comcast to ask them yesterday, and they did say I could buy one, though they said through Motorola's website (which doesn't have any for sale, instead redirecting you to your service provider.) The person I talked to said that I could buy one and hook it up. I wonder if I just talked to someone who has no idea what they are talking about??? Having worked for both, you CAN buy one, but then they've gotten to the point where you have to have the cable card anyway to get the channels. It's a racket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 I used to have an illegal one that gave me all the channels. Actually I still have it but it stopped working after almost a year. Another one only lasted a few months. It's a motorola. Anything I can do with it?? I sure could use it if it can be converted into just a regular one that I can use with the cable package I have. But as for now, I'm loyal to my FTA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitetrain8601 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 QUOTE (SleepyWhiteSox @ Mar 2, 2009 -> 12:00 PM) I used to have an illegal one that gave me all the channels. Actually I still have it but it stopped working after almost a year. Another one only lasted a few months. It's a motorola. Anything I can do with it?? I sure could use it if it can be converted into just a regular one that I can use with the cable package I have. But as for now, I'm loyal to my FTA Depends. Did yours have a filter that you plugged on the back of it? When I spoke to a technician, it was explained to me that Comcast would not activate any that are bought from someone else. Now I could see them allowing you to buy your own box from Motorola, but not from any others. As far as FTA, what kind of setup do you have? Receiver and such? I've always been interested but it seemed like there is no set answer on how to set it up. How often does it go out as well? PM me if you feel more comfortable that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 QUOTE (kapkomet @ Mar 2, 2009 -> 08:45 AM) Having worked for both, you CAN buy one, but then they've gotten to the point where you have to have the cable card anyway to get the channels. It's a racket. Can you get a cable card? Also if I have a regular box already, does that contain the cable card? Would I be able to take out that one and put it into a new one? Basically I am looking at it as they want $9 a month for an HD box, or $16 for an HD/DVR box. If I pay upfront, what I would pay in a year anyway, I want to just buy the damned thing, and not pay for it in perpetuity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanOfCorn Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 3, 2009 -> 09:45 AM) Can you get a cable card? Also if I have a regular box already, does that contain the cable card? Would I be able to take out that one and put it into a new one? Basically I am looking at it as they want $9 a month for an HD box, or $16 for an HD/DVR box. If I pay upfront, what I would pay in a year anyway, I want to just buy the damned thing, and not pay for it in perpetuity. Get Uverse...$9 for an HD/DVR box. If it is in your area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve9347 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 2, 2009 -> 07:24 AM) Interesting. I called comcast to ask them yesterday, and they did say I could buy one, though they said through Motorola's website (which doesn't have any for sale, instead redirecting you to your service provider.) The person I talked to said that I could buy one and hook it up. I wonder if I just talked to someone who has no idea what they are talking about??? I don't see the advantage of purchasing one. Once you re-coup the amount you pay, the technology will likely have changed to hold more data and receive better quality feeds. (no idea the price on these, but $8/month is over 3 years to make up $300) Just rent the thing, that way if it goes bad you just head to Comcast and get an exchange. I heart my HD DVR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Mar 2, 2009 -> 06:33 PM) Depends. Did yours have a filter that you plugged on the back of it? When I spoke to a technician, it was explained to me that Comcast would not activate any that are bought from someone else. Now I could see them allowing you to buy your own box from Motorola, but not from any others. As far as FTA, what kind of setup do you have? Receiver and such? I've always been interested but it seemed like there is no set answer on how to set it up. How often does it go out as well? PM me if you feel more comfortable that way. No filter. It's just a big black motorola box. I've heard there's still ways to get a maybe not-so-legal setup for digital cable and internet off of comcast. PM me if anyone has any info on that. As for FTA, we just payed someone to set it all up. We have a viewsat lite box and a dish network dish. It could last a month but usually every week or two a new code is needed. Just takes a few minutes to download the new code off of various sites and put it into the receiver. You won't have tv for a few hours until the codes come out, though. FTA is well worth the hassle, as far as I'm concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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