Can I purchase my own HD cable receiver box?

[Socal_Bong]

I am a Cox Cable (Orange County) customer.  I currently rent one HD DVR cable box for $6 or $7 per month.

I am now purchasing a 2nd HD TV so I need another receiver box.  I prefer not to rent as I anticipate using it for awhile and Cox Cable charges a $20 activation fee.  Would I have to still pay this activation fee if I purchase my own receiver (rather than renting a 2nd one from them)?

I see different models of Motorola digital cable boxes on eBay but some of them warn of compatability issues.  Are there really different formats or technologies that vary between cable providers?  Aside from buying the same box as the one I already have, is there a way to find out which boxes would work for me?  Cox Cable is not helpful as it is in their best interest to have me as a rental customer so they want me to believe that is my only option.

Note that DVR is not a concern either way.  If it has it great, if not that is fine too as I can do all the recording I need to on my existing DVR.


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[hannah_montana]

YES


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[Jasper]

By law, Cable companies are supposed to support ownership of cable boxes.  I have read that you might need to get a card from them, which goes into your cable box and lets your cable box speak to their network (theoretically removing the format issues).  The activation fee would still be likely, but you save on rent.  I am hearing more and more that this doesn't work that well, in the big picture.  Please see the second website.


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[Texperson]

As far as I know, no provider will activate any box except the ones they issue to you.  So you'd just have a paperweight if you buy one.

Your best bet would be to call Cox and ask them if they activate purchased cable boxes.


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[Grumpy_Mac]

Have you heard of "Cable Cards"?

Some TV's have Cable Card slots. Instead of a box - the CATV company gives you a card which plugs into the TV and the coax.  This takes the place of a external box.  Generally there is no monthly rental fee, but they may have to send someone out to hook it up and activate it so there might be a charge.

So ask about cable card when you look at a new TV.

The HD version of a Tivo box has cable-card slots so this would let you buy a $300 HD Tivo box to use with the cable card so you have DVR features as well.

Dont buy off of eBay as these units are probably stolen and are not compatible with your local CATV system.

The cable box's are usually different for each cable system so you cannot simply plug one from another company into your cable. This is part of the piracy protection.


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[classicsat]

You cannot buy and use your own box, exactly.

Providers only authorise their own boxes, and Cablecards.

If you insist buying your own box, you have to ask your provider which specific boxes they will authorise, if they will authorise customer purchased boxes.


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