[Snoo]

I think I might have done something pretty stupid, here.


I currently have my Replay 5K connected to a DirecTV receiver via s-video input 2, controlled by the serial connection, and my local channels are piped in via basic analog cable (Comcast) into the Replay's internal tuner. As many of you know, the Replay's tuner isn't the best in the world, and all of my local channels have that annoying hiss in the audio. I had hopes that a high quality amp might reduce the hiss, but that didn't happen. (I bought an Electroline amp, and while the video quality did improve, I couldn't hear any noticable decrease in the hiss. Not the fault of the amp, fault of the Replay's tuner.) Very frustrating, especially when you go from watching one DirecTV channel, with crystal clear audio, to watching a cable channel, it makes the hiss that much more noticable.


So I decided to buy a used cable box off of eBay, and use it in parallel with the DirecTV receiver. Back when I first got cable installed here, Comcast gave me a 3 month trial run of digital cable, and it used the Motorola DCT2224 to receive both the digital *and* analog channels. Since I know that the 2224 works with the cable system here, and that many people in this forum have said that the Replay's IR blaster works fairly reliably with it, I decided that the 2224 would be my best bet. I realized that it was capable of getting the digital channels, but I just *assumed* that when I had canceled the digital channels and returned the old STB a few months back (the service was too expensive, that's why I got the dish) that the digital channels were here on out somehow blocked from me.


Well, I won a used DCT2224 on eBay, and just got it today. I hooked it up this morning to see if it could get the basic local channels, which after initially acting a little flaky (in retrospect, I think that what it was doing was rebooting itself, as in, after a software update???), all the appropriate analog channels were present, looking and sounding quite nicely if I might add. No hiss!!


I flipped through the channels to see if it would reboot anymore, and I noticed something. After a few minutes, the on screen guide, which I figured would stay blank since my digital channels have been blocked for months now (or so I thought), started getting filled with guide data. Name shows, episodes, ect... Okay, this thing is obviously exchanging data with Comcast. Concerned, I checked the higher numbered digital channels. D'oh! They were coming in clear! I immediatly unhooked the box, fearing that I might have set a flag at Comcast HQ.


Now, I never have, and never will, steal any kind of service. It's obvious that if this thing is capable of getting channels that I am not paying for, then I shouldn't use it, and I won't. So I ask anyone who might be in the know. Is it possible to use this box as just an analog cable box. If I call up Comcast and tell them that I am still getting digital channels, would they be able to block those channels without disabling my cable internet service? Or is it possible that the box will eventually stop receiving those channels after not getting a refresh signal of some kind from the Comcast mothership?


I just thought I'd get some input from here before I call Comcast, who is a nightmare to deal with. (They gave me grief when I canceled the digital channels.) I just want a good STB that will get the analog channels and work with my Replay. If that isn't possible with this box, then I might as well just cut my losses and look else where.


Any input would be helpful.


Snoo

 

[sfhub]

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoo Is it possible to use this box as just an analog cable box. If I call up Comcast and tell them that I am still getting digital channels, would they be able to block those channels without disabling my cable internet service? Or is it possible that the box will eventually stop receiving those channels after not getting a refresh signal of some kind from the Comcast mothership?

I'm under the impression authorization for digital service is tied to the box,

not the cable drop, so the previous user of the box was probably able to

get the digital service also.


You could request your box be put on the analog-only profile and certainly

you have a right to use your own equipment, but the request would be

out of the ordinary and might cause you to jump through a few hoops

until you find someone who can properly assist you.


Some of the cheap splitters block the return path of the cable signal

and maybe you could just add one of those and reboot your box so

it can't get authorization for digital cable.

 

[Wrecks]

Most likely the digital channels will work up until the day that they do their next audit and then they will stop working.


My advice would be to avoid the hassles. Just don't use the channels above 99.

 

[chain777]

I don't know exactly how these digital boxes work, but when I had mine installed it went through the whole set-up and I had access to all the channels for the first hour or two. It eventually configured itself to only give me access to what I subscribed to, so I imagine your's would do the same.


Maybe that's what wreck's means by "audit"?

 

[Snoo]

Thanks to all for your advice.


I went ahead and hooked it back up this morning, and it's been connected for about an hour so far. Just as all of you suggested it's seems most, but not all, of the digital channels are blocked, bringing up a screen stating something like "Press select for ordering information". Hopefully after a few hours everthing will be updated and all I will be getting are my analog channels, making everything nice and legal.


Snoo

 

[Snoo]

Quote:

Originally posted by Wrecks My advice would be to avoid the hassles. Just don't use the channels above 99.

Well, as long as the Replay's RI blaster does it's job, it should never go over channel 74.


Speaking of which... well, I think I'm going to start a new thread.


Snoo

 

[Snoo]

Okay, now I'm freaked and upset!


After spending a few hours hooked up to my cable system, while most are disabled, there are still a few digital channels that arn't blocked. Since most of the eBay auctions for these Motorola boxes say to "Check with your local cable provider to see if it will work in your area.", I asked both at my local Comcast office (I had to pay my bill anyways) and on the phone with tech support. Basicly I asked them if it was possible to use a used Comcast digital cable box won off of eBay to recieve only the analog signals. Both gave me the same response: Comcast does not sell their boxes, and any sold on the internet, included eBay, are stolen. I asked them if they realized that they are indeed being sold on eBay, and they said that they are aware of it, but there's nothing that they can do about it.


I'm not quite sure if they are just telling me this to scare me into renting equipment or not, but regardless, I unhooked the box. I'm kicking myself now! I assumed that if it were for sale on eBay, then everything must be on the up and up. I guess I'm still ignorant of things like this.


I guess I'll try looking for analog only boxes, but everything I saw on eBay looked like it was built in the late '80s.


Snoo

 

[icecow]

Last I checked it's legal to sell cable boxes (that aren't stolen) in any state except where the cable box is being used. That is, everyone has to buy from state other than the one in which they live. This is ~10 year aged info, much could have changed over the last 10 years. The reason people are allowed to buy their own cable boxes is because cable companies can't have a monopoly on cable box rental. Of course, people who buy generic boxes that recievel all channels are required to report them to the cable company and pay for those channels (that may have changed, that sounds way too easy, sounds like a sure lawsuit nowadays). Unless the company that makes that model number sells exclusively to comcast or comcast makes their own cable boxes, there responce , "Comcast does not sell their boxes" sounds like a FUD job (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) to curb you, much like the printer people make it seem dentramental to use anyone elses ink.

The question of the moment is: Does the box say "COMCAST" right on it as the manufacture?


Also, I'm not a lawyer. But if the box is made by, say, Motorola, ya should check into it further and see if your box is legit.


cow

 

[sfhub]

Well, they can't stop you from using your own box and clearly you are not

trying to steal service you weren't paying for. AFAIK motorola hasn't

been retailing their boxes, but that doesn't mean some liquidator

didn't get a hold of some and was legitimately selling them.


I guess that leaves the gray area of using a box where you don't know

the true origins. It could be legit, it could be stolen. There's no easy way

for you to really know in your situation.


I guess if they really wanted to someone could go after you for possession

of stolen property, but in the grand scheme of things, I just don't think

anybody would waste their time to do so.


You purchased one in what you think was a legitimate transaction for

a legitimate purpose. The worse that one could realistically conceive of

happening is they repossess the stolen property (and we don't know

that it is), in which case you are out the money you bid on the item, which

it seems you are anyway if you stop using the box and can't return it.

 

[icecow]

I see the box is made by motorola. However, this fact does not conclude that the box wasn't once owned by comcast and stolen. Perhaps you could call comcast with your caller ID turned off (don't call their 800 though, 800 numbers can see the caller ID info even if you have it turned off). Heh.. call from a payphone under an assumed name and find out if the serial number of the one you bought was ever owned by them. I'm not sure how that phonecall would go down. They might not participate. Or they might want to call you back. you could leave a fake number then call them back in several days to see what they found. It's amazing what we need to do now adays just to do the right thing without getting rolled over by a steam roller.


It is whimsical to think that they would have to prove 'intent' to get you for criminal charges, but the fact that the potentially stolen box is in your possession would say alot. Also, 'intent' is not required in civil charges.

In any case you'd lose no mater what, because if they sue you in a frivilous fashion you would be lucky to settle under 5k, and legal expenses fighting it could go well above 5k.


How Comcast actually handle these maters I do not know.


It is hard to find out a box like that (assuming it is stolen). The most probable way is if someone in your household answers the door and lets a cable guy check out the cable setup. Something horribly probable.


cow

 

[Wasatch Rider]

Snoo, I'm curious. Why don't you just get your local channels (or the national channels) from DirecTV? They come in almost as good as the other sat channels and it only costs 5 bucks a month. Unless you get analog cable for free, $5 a month must be cheaper.

 

[Snoo]

Well, after quite a bit of reserch, I've become a little more enlightened concerning this situation. I just wish I would have had the sense to reserch the subject more before making my purchase. Maybe someone will learn from my mistake.


The cable box not only has the Motorola name on the front, but also has "Comcast Digital Cable". Through what I've read on various forums, Comcast does not sell their boxes... well, not under the usual conditions. The only time a box can be offically considered as not belonging to Comcast any more is if a customer either refuses or cannot return the box to them, and Comcast succeeds in getting the price of the box out of the customer. I'm sure that doesn't happen a whole lot. Therefore, it's highly probable that my box is considered stolen.


This is no longer a situation of "I'm not going to steal service.", but a situation of "I'm not going to be guilty of possession of stolen property." I'm taking the box back to Comcast. It blows big time that I lost some money, but I don't think it would be right for me to keep it, even if I never use it to watch a single digital channel.


So everyone, beware buying any digital cable boxes off of eBay, or anywhere else for that matter!


Quote:

Originally posted by Wasatch Rider Snoo, I'm curious. Why don't you just get your local channels (or the national channels) from DirecTV? They come in almost as good as the other sat channels and it only costs 5 bucks a month. Unless you get analog cable for free, $5 a month must be cheaper.

Two reasons. First, when I first signed up for DirecTV, my local channels were not supported yet. Secondly, I get Comcast cable internet. I know it sounds weird, but I would actually pay more if I only got the cable internet service by itself. The combined cost of Comcast HSI plus their most basic cable package is actually about $5 less per month than the cost of Comcast HSI alone. Freaky!


Thanks to everyone for their advice.


Snoo

 

[icecow]

Ask the guy you bought it from for a full or partial refund because 'you don't want to get involved/no fowl attitude', then--optionally, after recieving the potential refund --report him to ebay anyway.


cow

 

[Wrecks]

It's too late now. Somebody should have said something like: "My advice would be to avoid the hassles. Just don't use the channels above 99." You could have stayed blissfully unaware of issues like stolen property on eBay auctions...