I have some questions regarding my cable TV.
I do not have the slightest idea where to go and research this...but if anybody knows something about the subject, I figure it will be right here.

Up until this week, I have always had standard cable TV only. ( Time Warner in Raleigh)
This week I decided to go with Digital Cable and upgraded.
Of course they gave me the box and now I have access to quite a few more channels on the TV with the new box. (Although I did not opt for any movie channels)

The thing is though that I would like to put digital cable in the other 3 rooms of my house.
(I have cable connections in these rooms already.)
I do not want to pay rent on all of those extra boxes however.
And that is where my questions begin.
Are these digital cable boxes just dumb terminals or is there software in them?
In other words....If I were to buy a universal box on ebay, can I just hook it up and get my digital TV in another room too or is there programing that has to be done to the box.
If there is programming, how extensive is it?
Is it a simple reset and then the line activates the box or is it more complicated?

I would like to really understand what my options are in this area.
Any help would be appreciated.

8/30/2005 1:24:14 AM

you can buy your own boxes

but you cannot get them to work the same way as the official box because software is proprietary.

You could watch digital channels nonetheless.

Also, you need to notify your cable company by law

and refrain from using descramblers to get free PPV.

That said, I'd suggest paying for the extra terminals.

8/30/2005 1:36:22 AM

I am not interested in the PPV channels. I do not even watch the HBO's, etc..which is why I did not opt for them.

I still am interested in getting my own boxes.
When you say it will not work the same, what do you mean?
If I get the channels, how would it be working different?

Thanks

8/30/2005 1:40:50 AM

sounds like the time/cost/risk of not working right isn't worth screwing with imo. Might as well rent them. Even if you get it setup and working, whos to say TWC won't make a change in a couple months and your box you spent so much time/money on stops working. zAnd TWC is under no obigation to help you figure out the problem, I'm sure they won't even talk to you about it.

I'm not sure how much the box rentals cost you, but if you can manage to get hooked up with TWC's promotions department, you can rent DVR boxes for only $5 per box per month...and I can only assume the standard boxes are less than that.

8/30/2005 2:11:57 AM

dig. cable boxes are $6/mo

same price for standard def and high def

8/30/2005 2:20:29 AM

Hey, if I can get boxes for 5 dollars or less, I would be willing to do that.
I was being told that they are 10 bucks each though.

If somebody knnows how I can get in on the promotion price, that will work.

8/30/2005 2:27:04 AM

anyone having problems with audio right now?

8/30/2005 2:37:52 AM

the box is $6.. but it also has $3 in fees (for the remote, digital tier outlet basically).. so they're $9-$10 /month per box..

you can get any digital cable box that has a cablecard port or a DCR TV to work with TWC Digital if you rent the cableCARD from TWC..

the digital network is a bidirectional network, so there's no way to get digital cable without the card or a twc box..

8/30/2005 3:00:20 AM

^ you're wrong

Digital TV isn't bidirectional.

[Edited on August 30, 2005 at 10:14 AM. Reason : .]

8/30/2005 10:09:40 AM

the network is bidirectional. the mpeg2 stream is not.


and to the topic at hand, you might be able to haggle with them to provide the extra terminals for cheap.

[Edited on August 30, 2005 at 10:38 AM. Reason : .]

8/30/2005 10:34:05 AM

tell them you're going to switch to DirectTV because it's only 5/month for extra boxes.

8/30/2005 12:49:57 PM

1-866-563-6313

8/30/2005 12:55:37 PM

Quote :

"anyone having problems with audio right now? "

yes, esp. on programs that i have recorded
some have static and others audio not matching video while playing
plus, i think my modem is shot

8/30/2005 1:01:46 PM

^^^ or just actually do it

8/30/2005 1:40:41 PM

Quote :

"some have static and others audio not matching video while playing"

anyone else have these problems with the DVR box?

8/30/2005 1:56:58 PM

^ If you have this problem, either rewind or fast forward a few seconds, then hit play, audio and video should match now.

And as far as the movie channels you didnt opt for, they always give you all the premium channels for free for 1-3 days usually in order to hook you. They will disappear in a few days.

9/1/2005 6:44:26 AM