Comcast HD Box Giving Free Cable Channels Away?

[brb84]

I'm curious to see if anyone else has experienced this before...


I subscribe to Comcast limited basic cable. This means I pretty much only get the local stuff with the benefit of not needing to have an antenna. I recently built a HTPC with a couple of digital tuners to pick up some QAM channels. At first, I was able to pick up the digital version of all the local channels as well as the HD versions of the major stations. Lately, though, the HD signals have gotten weaker, and I can't pick them up well at all.

Since the signal was weak, I decided to try and see if Comcast's own HD box would have the same problem with low signal. That way, I would be able to get Comcast to get their act together and come out to fix it. It was my understanding that all the HD box does is basically provide you with a digital tuner that allows you to pick up the local HD stations (nothing my HTPC shouldn't already be able to do). So a couple days ago, I went out and rented one from them.

Once I got home and plugged it in, I was quite shocked to discover that the box wasn't just displaying the local stuff -- it was actually showing around 30 or so regular cable stations that certainly DO NOT come with my limited basic package (HBO, Food, Discovery, History, Disney, TLC, MTV, VH1, Animal Planet, etc.) even some of them in both SD and HD!

Is this normal to get all these channels just by renting the cheap HD box?

What's interesting is that the HD box confirmed my theory about the weak HD signal - you can still see glitches in the picture on certain channels.

[up2ng]

Usually to get HD you have to have a certain tier of programming (not basic).
as for the HBO you might be getting that as a trial.

[evilpenguin]

The box should prevent you from getting any channels outside of your package via software so either someone entered your info wrong at the headend or your getting charged for more than you think (knowing how Comcast works it could very well be either). I'd say check your bill to just to make sure you're not paying for it if you don't want to and otherwise just sit back and enjoy you're free gift

As an added bonus, if you check out the firewire recording thread in the hardware section you should be able to get a lot of that extra content into Sage.

[CyRex]

Originally Posted by brb84

I'm curious to see if anyone else has experienced this before...


I subscribe to Comcast limited basic cable. This means I pretty much only get the local stuff with the benefit of not needing to have an antenna. I recently built a HTPC with a couple of digital tuners to pick up some QAM channels. At first, I was able to pick up the digital version of all the local channels as well as the HD versions of the major stations. Lately, though, the HD signals have gotten weaker, and I can't pick them up well at all.

Since the signal was weak, I decided to try and see if Comcast's own HD box would have the same problem with low signal. That way, I would be able to get Comcast to get their act together and come out to fix it. It was my understanding that all the HD box does is basically provide you with a digital tuner that allows you to pick up the local HD stations (nothing my HTPC shouldn't already be able to do). So a couple days ago, I went out and rented one from them.

Once I got home and plugged it in, I was quite shocked to discover that the box wasn't just displaying the local stuff -- it was actually showing around 30 or so regular cable stations that certainly DO NOT come with my limited basic package (HBO, Food, Discovery, History, Disney, TLC, MTV, VH1, Animal Planet, etc.) even some of them in both SD and HD!

Is this normal to get all these channels just by renting the cheap HD box?

What's interesting is that the HD box confirmed my theory about the weak HD signal - you can still see glitches in the picture on certain channels.

I just traded in my Comcast HD box w/ DVR for an HD box without DVR, after Comcast decided to start charging me for the DVR service which I never ordered. For about a week and a half after I installed the new box, I was able to view just about any channel in the lineup, while my subscription is only the extended digital package.

I took advantage and recorded a bunch of HD movies off HBO and CineMax while I had the chance, but after about 10 days the box started showing the "Not authorized to view XXXX" message. Not sure what the deal was, interesting to hear that you are seemingly experiencing the same phenomena.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

-Dan

[brb84]

I figured it had to be a mistake. I was pretty clear that I don't want my actual service upgraded, and they didn't send anyone out to remove any filters.

Anyway, I'm still stuck with my original problem of not getting sufficient HD signal strength to my hauppauge 1600 cards. As much as I love getting this content for free, it's basically worthless to me if I can't record it, because I rarely watch TV live anymore. I'd look into just using comcast's box to record with, but that's only a single tuner, and I definitely want at least 2, probably 3, which is more HD boxes than I care to rent at the moment.

I think I'll still give Comcast a call to see if they'll send someone out to take a look at possibly putting an amp on or something. If not, I guess I'll look at installing my own amplifier again.

This has really got me rethinking my whole HTPC strategy.

[OneThomas]

Actually, I do not believe the Digital boxes are restricted by those older analog filters. It is all programming with the new boxes...

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by OneThomas

Actually, I do not believe the Digital boxes are restricted by those older analog filters. It is all programming with the new boxes...

Not true. I had signed up for a single tier of Premium channels and Internet. The internet guys got to my house first so they got to string the wire to the house. They put a filter on the line that only allowed every other channel through. Then the TV guys showed up and installed three separate boxes before they when to check for a filter - since I wasn't able to tune all the channels I was suppose to get. It was actually better with the filter in some respects because I was getting every other PPV channel as well. After the filter was removed I only got the channels I was suppose to. I wouldn't have called the TV guys back but one of the channels I didn't get was the one I wanted MOST.

[waynedunham]

I just got an HD PVR so I went down to the local Comcast payment center and picked up an HD box after calling the 1-800 # and setting myself up for HD and the sports package (MUST GET SpeedVision! <grin>). On the phone they said I had 2 options, one a service call to get a box at my house, or go pick one up at the nearest payment center.

The box I got at the payment center was a used box.(Do they even still make NON Dvr Hd boxes?)
When I got it home and plugged it in it was getting all kinds of channels I wasn't subscribed to but they weren't where they were supposed to be. I'm guessing that the box originally came from a nearby Comcast lineup that was different from mine.
I just called the 1-800 # and went through the voice menu and had them send a refresh signal to the box and that fixed it up. I was sad to see the "freebies" go, but having them spread all over the place wasn't going to work. Plus there were a few channels I should have been getting that I wasn't.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by waynedunham

I just got an HD PVR so I went down to the local Comcast payment center and picked up an HD box after calling the 1-800 # and setting myself up for HD and the sports package (MUST GET SpeedVision! <grin>). On the phone they said I had 2 options, one a service call to get a box at my house, or go pick one up at the nearest payment center.

The box I got at the payment center was a used box.(Do they even still make NON Dvr Hd boxes?)
When I got it home and plugged it in it was getting all kinds of channels I wasn't subscribed to but they weren't where they were supposed to be. I'm guessing that the box originally came from a nearby Comcast lineup that was different from mine.
I just called the 1-800 # and went through the voice menu and had them send a refresh signal to the box and that fixed it up. I was sad to see the "freebies" go, but having them spread all over the place wasn't going to work. Plus there were a few channels I should have been getting that I wasn't.

In my case the cable guy I called back told me the Internet guy had put a filter on the line that was for Internet only subscribers. As soon as he removed the filter I only got standard cable plus my tier of channels - basically just Encore. It hadn't appeared to be reset or anything (unless he called them while he was up on the pole) he certainly didn't when he came down. He just used the remote to change to the channel I wanted that I couldn't get to verify that it worked. If it wasn't for that I could have gotten every other hard-core porn channel in PPV.

[brb84]

Update: I came home today to find all those extra channels blocked with a big fat "NOT AUTHORIZED" message, hehe. Oh well. I guess now I'll just focus on getting the signal boosted.

[mistergq]

the STB today seem to be holding the authorization better than the orginal digital STBs. So when you bring home a new box, they will have channels from the last person that had the box. I believe the box checks in with the hub every so many days to make sure you are authorized to have what you have. If you have more, it shuts those other channels off.

[jo3456]

Can I buy a comcast box and it work on my EXISTING cable I am purchasing. Does the new box have to be called in to be authorized or will it work on what I am already subscribed to

[Conejo]

Can I buy a comcast box and it work on my EXISTING cable I am purchasing. Does the new box have to be called in to be authorized or will it work on what I am already subscribed to

Most cable boxes decode encrypted QAM signals and need to be refreshed to continue to work.

In some locals cablecos allow you to purchase your own STB and register the Electronic Serial Number with them so they can send firmware, channel mapping, lineup and tier authorization information. Other cablecos only let you use their supplied boxes.

With the DTV transition it will be interesting if the cablecos go the route of allowing 3rd-party STBs so they can reduce their analog load and carry more in SD Digital format.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by jo3456

Can I buy a comcast box and it work on my EXISTING cable I am purchasing. Does the new box have to be called in to be authorized or will it work on what I am already subscribed to

If you bought it on eBay from someone in the US it is likely a stolen box. Most (but not all) are from what I've read. If it is stolen the cable company will most likely refuse to authorize it.

[Fluffdaddy]

Originally Posted by jo3456

Can I buy a comcast box and it work on my EXISTING cable I am purchasing. Does the new box have to be called in to be authorized or will it work on what I am already subscribed to

It has to be authorized.
And even if it is a 100% legit box the comcast will make you jump through hoops to do it. CC's do not want any privately owned boxes on their system, even though it legal for you to have one.

It took me 2 weeks and a call from my City Council person to get Philly Comcast to admit I had the right to buy and get authorized a cable box. They finally agreed to send a authorization signal but my box would not authorized. The comcast csr/tech said the box (Motorola DCP501) must be defective, and basically said good-bye have a nice day. They had me by the short hairs, how could I prove my used box wasn't defective and they actually sent a authorization signal? I couldn't..............they won.

Good luck to you

[jo3456]

Thanks, I guess its another way the cable company makes a buck. The American Dream