Can you Buy Cable Boxes?

[romantico]

I have Comcast and I get one cable box a month for free. I'd like to get a second box to put in the bedroom but I am told I will have to pay an extra 6.95 a month for this. I'm basically renting the 2nd box for almost $7 a month. I know Comcast won't tell me, but is it possible to buy cable boxes elsewhere so i don't have to rent a box that will more than likely pay for itself within a year? Anyone know? Thanks!

[Madrone]

1. Depends on who you know.

I can, yes. But I work for a small, local (among other things) cable company so.... thanks to some money and ebay I got a nice HD hookup without the added monthly expense. It's an "unspoken" thing @ the office.

For the rest of ya'll... outlook not so good. IF you can get comcast to agree to allow you to supply your own box - it certainly CAN and will work if they configure it for you. I think that you'll find that they are unwilling, however. One way around it that you might try is to get a tivo box and have Comcast get you a cablecard for it.... but then, I think you have to pay tivo, so you're in the same situation. And that's IF Comcast won't also charge for the cable card.

Before kicking out any money, call Comcast and ask if they'll configure a box for you that you supply. IF they will, they probably will NOT activate an eBay purchased box ... so you'll have to find another source. I am unfortunately not optimistic.

[quakerboy]

2. According to comcast here

No. There are some on Ebay, but they refuse to allow them to connect. I had the same question, and as yet have not found any way around it.

[romantico]

3. It SUCKS!

It SUCKS because they are charging you for a box over the years. If I keep it for 3-4 years that's well over $300. On top of that, I signed up for a $99 bundle deal about 2 years ago. After the year was up by cable went up to $115 a month. I get voice,internet, and cable all for that by the way,which is a nice deal. However,it really sucks to see this $99 bundle to new subscribers. I asked if I could get the same deal and they said it's only for new customers. So, in order for me to save I would have to cancel my Comcast,wait a month and sign up again as a new subscriber.What I do not get is AT&T offer the same thing at $79.95 a month,and that is not a intro rate but a regular deal. I would go with them but I really do like Comcast I just don;t understand why their prices are not the same as their competitors.

As for the cable box,it's just robbery. I can not justify paying an extra $7 a month for God knows how long for something that is hardly worth what I am going to put into. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

[quakerboy]

4. only one month?

The small print here reads you cant get the deals unless you haven't had cable for at least 12 months.

And here its Verizon, not At&T. But Ive seen the service at my families homes. Not the same level. Lots of signal issues over there. Plus a contract locking you in for 2 years. And more restricted channels and bandwidth. Which is why I have never switched over.