I do not know if this is the correct forum for this question.
My appologies if it is not.

I just moved from my parents house to an apartment. The apartment came with basic cable. I decied to hook up my DVR box from my parents house to see what would happen, and to my surprise, it worked just the same as it previously had. (HD channels, HBO, ...)

Can I leavie it hooked up without reprications? I am assuming it will have to continue to be paid on my parents bill, but is the box "visible" to the cable company and do they care that it is at the wrong address?

I did not expect it to actually work, so now I just want to know what my options are.

Thanks for the help.

I would assume your local cable company has a policy against using one account for multiple locations, you need to check their fine print.

If your apartment is on a different node, at some point they may notice your box is not attached to the node it should be anymore.

I decied to hook up my DVR box from my parents house to see what would happen, and to my surprise, it worked just the same as it previously had. (HD channels, HBO, ...)So long as you and your parents are serviced by the same cable company node (and for so long as your parents continue to pay for the service) it will continue to work.

I often take my DVR to a friend's for the evening to watch a movie I have previously recorded; they have basic service but are serviced by the same node and everything works fine.

I have never seen any fine print restricting this seeming loophole but then I have never looked very hard either! ;)

Be careful about PPV porn ... you may think you have privacy in your new apartment but your mother will not be happy when she gets the bill! :eek:

Thanks for that info guys.

But one thing... What is a "node". I am guessing it is a specific geographical region?!


I moved across town, lets say 3 miles away. That is probably on a different node, right? So then it will become a problem I guess.

What is a "node"?A group of subscribers connected to the same equipment.

Basically, as long as both you and your parents are serviced by the same cable company "head-end", it will continue to work.

Thanks cavu.

Last thing. It is the same provider, but like I said, we are about 3 miles apart.
So that is probably on a different node, or "head-end", right?

So that is probably on a different node, or "head-end", right?If your DVR is operating with your parent's subscription features, it is "handshaking" with the same head-end.

If you were not connected to the same head-end, your (parent's) DVR would not work at all; it would not be recognized by the cable head-end.

I think you are gonna get reprications.

Whenever I have moved or changed cable service I have often received a few extra channels at first, for marketing or whatever reasons. But they usually seem to magically go away after a couple weeks.

- Tom

I think you are gonna get reprications.

"reprications" ?!?! :confused:

As long as you are paying for the service you are getting regardless of physical location,
you should be fine.

Since you asked about the legality of this, I can almost assure you that it's against their service agreement. You, or your parents, won't go to jail or even court over something like this. They could have their service canceled but most likely, they'll be told it's not allowed and "don't do it again".

As long as you are paying for the service you are getting regardless of physical location,
you should be fine.

But he isn't. The payments made by his parents provide service for his parents' house, NOT for service at 2 locations. It's clearly not kosher, but not something you'd go to jail for. If caught I expect he would be liable for unpaid accumulate fees, local municipality might allow fines and other charges.

The payments made ... provide service for his parents' house, NOT for service at 2 locations.Show me a copy of Comcast's (or whoever's) terms and conditions that state this. :rolleyes:

Show me a copy of Comcast's (or whoever's) terms and conditions that state this. :rolleyes:

Walk into any Comcast office and ask for a copy.

Walk into any Comcast office and ask for a copy.I'm nowhere withing a hundred miles of a Comcast office so that's not an option and I'm too lazy to even try to locate their website! :p

My cable provider states that equipment owned by them cannot be moved to another location without prior permission:Shaw may install or cause to be installed the Equipment in your home. The equipment is provided solely for your use of the Services and will at all times remain the property of Shaw. You may use the Equipment only at the address you have indicated to Shaw at the time you subscribe to the Services. You will not relocate the Equipment to another address without Shaw’s prior written consent.There is no such limitation or even reference to equipment owned by the subscriber. I own three DVRs and have moved them about at my pleasure for a couple of years with no hassle whatsoever.

The OP should simply contact his cableco (whoever that is) and ask them what their policy is if he is really concerned. He doesn't have to identify himself and could block his caller ID for the sake of anonymity till he knows their rules.

But remember, it is often easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission! ;)