Hello, I am planning to buy a 8300HD (Sceientific atlanta) from a person. He describes it as "The box powers when plugged in, runs through some sort of mapping sequence then 4 lines (- - - -) appears on the LCD."

What does that mean ? Does 4 lines (----) means it is dead ? Or does it mean, it is working but need configuration ?..... (I am subscriber to Comcast Basic Cable). All I want to do is to occasionally record programs on clear QAM channels for later viewing. I believe I do not even need interactive guide. i.e. all I want is, clear QAM tuner and NTSC (SD cable) tuner to work and be able to record during selected time.

Please reply, I need to make payment today.

Not in the USA!
No US provider has the authentication codes, other than the original cable company who purchased and actually owns the unit, not the individual selling the cable companies property.

vegggas

veggas, does that mean it will not work in USA even for clear QAM channels.

Another Qs, so does that mean it is a stolen property ? Then why ebay is allowing to sell so many of these ? I do not want to buy any stolen/illegal propoerty and I am not ready to pay monthly ransom to cable company either to record couple of hour programs per month.

Guess I have to stay without any QAM recording for a while till FCC forces cable companies to allow third party equipments.

It will not be authorized because it's a cable company owned device with the authorization sold to the original cable company during purchase. Most likely, it's stolen property. A valid 8300 can be purchased and sold in CANADA as long as the unit was for the Canadian market and not use in a US market.
You can buy third party equipment that is available at retail. Tivo s3 is good example as well as the discontinued Sony units and a few others in the recording synopsis. There are also several TV's with QAM tuners and some of them allow for HDD connection to store programming.

vegggas

But the TIVO 3 is so damn costly, it will be cheaper for me to dolw out monthly ransom. I have QAM tuner in my TV, but to record any program, I need to switch on TV and then take the o/p to a VCR and record there.

I guess, I will settle for a QAM DVD recorders which record QAM channels but only after downconverting to SD.

There is no "low cost" solution that works great. Even the more expensive solutions have their issues.
You could look for a used Sony unit...

vegggas

"used Sony unit"

Any model number in particular ?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=537711

First page of the recorders thread currently 5 posts below this one - called Sony DHG official thread.
You should read through the recorders section a bit...

vegggas