I'm curious if anyone know this..

If I bought the same DVR that I have from comcast, which charges $9.95 a month for the usage.. could i return the original box back to comcast and then use the one I got online and not be charged the $9.95 per month?

IE: i'm thinking of upgrading the harddrive (max of 160gb x 2?) in this unit, but would rather have my own than open a comcast owned unit?

Thanks

If I bought the same DVR that I have from comcast, which charges $9.95 a month for the usage.. could i return the original box back to comcast and then use the one I got online and not be charged the $9.95 per month?
Will not work. The box is a door stop until Comcast sends the authorization commands to the box. They will not authorize a box that they don't own.
(The preceding doesn't apply if you live in Canada.)

Will not work. The box is a door stop until Comcast sends the authorization commands to the box. They will not authorize a box that they don't own.
(The preceding doesn't apply if you live in Canada.)


ok.. thanks...

but I wonder if I just upgrade the HDD with another size, if it will work...

ok.. thanks...

but I wonder if I just upgrade the HDD with another size, if it will work...Comcast owns the box, so you can't modify it. However, the software on the box will support up to a 160Gb hard drive.

Comcast owns the box, so you can't modify it. However, the software on the box will support up to a 160Gb hard drive.

Since the last posting on this thread.. I saw a few other comments elsewhere that people have been able to add new harddrives and it autoformats and works just fine.. except one comment was that there may be sensors in the box that would alert if anything was opened/changed.

Since the last posting on this thread.. I saw a few other comments elsewhere that people have been able to add new harddrives and it autoformats and works just fine.. except one comment was that there may be sensors in the box that would alert if anything was opened/changed.
There's no "sensors" in the box that alert the cable company that you are "trespassing" in their unit, but their may be some type of low-tech seal that will let them know if it's been opened while in your possession once they take the unit back.

Since the last posting on this thread.. I saw a few other comments elsewhere that people have been able to add new harddrives and it autoformats and works just fine.. except one comment was that there may be sensors in the box that would alert if anything was opened/changed.
The people that have modified the box probably live in Canada where they are allowed to own the box and can do whatever they want with it.

It is POSSIBLE to buy your own Moto or SA HD DVR (or other STB), but the real hurdle lies in getting your cable provider to authorize the unit for use on its system. Because of many factors, including the probability of it being a stolen unit, and the fact that you won't be paying them "lease" fees for an HD DVR, most cable operators will probably not authorize this type of private STB use.