In the last 6 mos i moved to Chicago and switched from Direcv to Comcast - to get more HD. And now with 4 TV;s I need to rent 4 HD and/or HD DVR boxes - renting is about $10 per month - is there a better option out there like buying recievers?

Also, my one year trial price will end and then i am worried about the big price jump - any advice on dealing with Comcast on this - i don;t really want to switch because I like all the HD options and the On demand features but maybe there is some strategy that will help me keep my costs down

thanks!

There are only a few options for purchasing your own receivers if you'd like to continue to receive premium programming. You'd need a cablecard enabled STB like the new series 3 Tivo or a cablecard enabled Windows Media Center setep with extenders. Both are going to require cash up front and the Tivo will also require a subscription.

In the last 6 mos i moved to Chicago and switched from Direcv to Comcast - to get more HD. And now with 4 TV;s I need to rent 4 HD and/or HD DVR boxes - renting is about $10 per month - is there a better option out there like buying recievers?

Also, my one year trial price will end and then i am worried about the big price jump - any advice on dealing with Comcast on this - i don;t really want to switch because I like all the HD options and the On demand features but maybe there is some strategy that will help me keep my costs down

thanks!

In the USA, the cable cos own all the boxes. And they only rent them to users. Also, the brands available - Motorola or Scientific Atlanta - depend on what equipment is being used at the so-called "head end" of your specific cable system, where the distribution equipment is located.

Dana

In the last 6 mos i moved to Chicago and switched from Direcv to Comcast - to get more HD. And now with 4 TV;s I need to rent 4 HD and/or HD DVR boxes - renting is about $10 per month - is there a better option out there like buying recievers?If any of your secondary TV's have a QAM tuner, you could use that. You'd lose any channel that is encrypted, but you would still get the HD-locals. I'm not sure what Comcast-Chicago leaves unencrypted (SD and HD both) since they went all-digital.

Alternatively, if your TVs had CableCard slots, you could lease them from Comcast at a lower cost than the STBs.

Also, my one year trial price will end and then i am worried about the big price jump - any advice on dealing with Comcast on this - i don;t really want to switch because I like all the HD options and the On demand features but maybe there is some strategy that will help me keep my costs down

thanks!I've never dealt with Comcast and their retention folks because I can't be bothered with haggling with them every six months. But some other folks have had success in retaining their "low introductory rates" by threatening to leave. Just be ready to have your bluff called.

ft