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Equipment·If I buy a digital cable box from a web site like EBay, will it work?
·What do I need to get digital cable?
·What do I need to receive HD service?
·Cable Card, TiVO, and Comcast STB: What's best for me?
| | | More likely than not digital cable boxes for sale on Ebay or sites like Craigslist, and others, were stolen. Comcast will not activate stolen boxes bought off the internet.
If you have bought one, you should return it to the closest Comcast location and pick up a legal box from that center.
If you want digital cable service, you should rent a cable box from Comcast or purchase a TiVO or a Moxi unit.
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by sansri88  edited by Travelfan1
last modified: 2008-12-16 10:47:44 | | | First, congratulations on making the step forward into the digital realm!
In order to receive digital cable from Comcast, it is recommended that you rent a cable box from Comcast.
If you wish to order HD service, please see this question.
For digital service in standard definition, you need to get one of the following cable boxes from Comcast. Note, you may also order DVR service. In that case, you may receive an HD DVR (if no SD-DVRs are available).
In Motorola areas, you may get:
-DCT700
-DCT2500
-DCH100
-DCH70
In Scientific Atlanta/Cisco areas, you may get:
-Explorer 940
-Explorer 8300 DVR
-Explorer 8240 DVR
-Explorer 8000 DVR
-Explorer 4250C
-Explorer 4250
-Explorer 4240C
-Explorer 4200
-Explorer 3250
-Explorer 3200
-Explorer 3100
-Explorer 3000
-Explorer 2200
-Explorer 2100
-Explorer 2000
-Explorer 1850
-Explorer 1840
-Explorer 1800
In certain systems, Pace set top boxes may also be available. Please inquire at your local office for the availability of the aforementioned cable boxes.
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by sansri88 | | | To receive HD service from Comcast, you need the following equipment:
-An HD capable television
-High Definition set top box, from either Comcast or a 3rd party, or;
-Cable Card slot in television, or;
-QAM tuner in television.
In order to access all the HD channels on your service level, you must have a set top box or a cable card slot in your TV. A QAM tuner may only pick up your local channels in HD and nothing more.
High Definition boxes that are currently offered by Comcast are as follows:
In Motorola areas, the HD boxes that are offered are:
-DCT6200
-DCT641x (DVR)
-DCT341x (DVR)
-DCH6200
-DCH641x (DVR)
-DCH3200
-DCH341x (DVR)
In Scientific Atlanta/Cisco areas, the HD boxes that are offered are:
-SA 8300HD (DVR)
-SA 8300HDC (DVR)
-SA 42x0HD
-SA 42x0HDC
-SA 3xxxHD
You may also purchase a TiVO or Moxi unit for use on a Comcast system. It does require a Cable Card from Comcast, which may need a truck roll for installation.
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by sansri88
last modified: 2008-12-13 21:11:13 | | | When you get digital cable, you have several choices for service. Today, those choices consist of the (1) Comcast STB or DVR and (2) existing one-way CableCard devices like TVs, the TivoHD, and Moxi. Next year, customers in most markets will have another option: (3) CableCard devices with true2way. There are advantages and disadvantages to each solution.
With a Comcast STB/DVR, you receive all the SD and HD programming that you pay for, plus access to Comcast's On Demand and PPV services. Comcast is responsible for troubleshooting problems and replacing dead/defective equipment. Cost varies by market, but the typical premium over basic cable is $6 to $9 per digital outlet (includes one STB). HD adds $5-8, and the DVR adds another $13-$15 on top of that. Contact your local office for more information.
By using the Comcast STB/DVR, you are limited to whatever software and hardware capabilities that Comcast offers in your area. With the Comcast DVR software, you cannot remotely schedule recordings, you cannot download recordings to your computer, and you cannot remotely access the recordings stored on other DVRs in your home. Comcast does plan to add remote scheduling to their DVRs before the end of the year. In most markets, Comcast uses Motorola DVRs that do not support storage expansion beyond the built-in 20-30 HD hour capacity. In some markets, Comcast uses Scientific Atlanta DVRs that unofficially support external expansion with eSATA drives.
Existing CableCard devices like the TivoHD and Moxi receive all the SD and HD programming that you pay for, but they do not support Comcast's On Demand services or IPG; furthermore, some Comcast PPV content must be ordered over the phone. The TivoHD and Moxi provide their own program guide with 14-days of program information; they download this guide information from their servers used a wired or wireless connection to your home network. Advantages of the TivoHD and Moxi DVRs include superior DVR functionality, usability (ex: no remote lag, improved commercial skipping), up to six times the capacity (157 HD hours), support for external hard drives (up to 300+ HD hours), remote scheduling, and PC/Mac integration. Other TiVo features include multi-room viewing and the ability to download SD and HD recordings to your computer.
CableCards are essentially access cards; they plug into the device and authorize all of the channels you pay for. The TivoHD and Moxi both support dual tuners with a single CableCard (M-CARD). Comcast will provide one free CableCard as part of digital service, but additional CableCards will cost $1.50-$2.50/ea. If you have another Comcast STB/DVR in your home, or buy a second TivoHD, you may be assessed an additional "outlet fee."
You do not pay Comcast STB or DVR fees to use CableCard devices like the TivoHD and Moxi. The purchase of a TiVo or Moxi DVR typically results in lower monthly fees, but it takes years for that savings to offset the purchase price. People who buy a TiVo or Moxi typically do so because they want the improved DVR functionality, usability, and storage capacity. If you decide to buy a TiVo or Moxi, do so with the knowledge that that Comcast is not responsible for replacing dead/defective equipment (with exception to the CableCard).
TivoHD
The TivoHD DVR is available in 160GB (21 HD hours) and 1TB (157 HD hours) versions; it also supports 500GB and 1TB external drives. The 160GB and 1TB versions are $250 and $480, respectively, from Amazon.com. One of the following subscriptions is required for the first TiVo: $12.99/mo, $129/yr, $299/3yrs, or a one-time payment of $399. Subscriptions are discounted for each additional DVR. TiVo essentially gives you two options; you can (1) buy the box below cost at $250 and pay monthly or yearly subscription fees, or (2) pay $250+$399=$649 upfront and never have to worry about fees again.
Video Demos of TivoHD: Basic functionality | Netflix, Youtube, Video Podcasts | Viewing Computer Videos
Features:
• dual ATSC (OTA) / QAM (digital cable) / analog tuners
• support for MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264), and VC1
• program guide with filters, favorites, and fully customizable channel list
• 14-days of program information available on all channels (except ClearQAM channels), downloaded using your choice of ethernet, wireless, or a phone line.
• pause and rewind liveTV on both SD and HD channels
• record high-definition at 100% original quality
• record one HD channel while you watch another HD channel on the same box
• record two different HD channels simultaneously, while you watch a third, previously recorded show
• separate coax inputs for antenna and cable (split internally), with direct support for all digital cable channels without a cable box (using CableCard); will integrate cable and OTA in a single guide
• highly responsive "trickplay" functions (pause, replay, rewind, ffw, rew, 30sec skip, slow mo, etc) with no lag
• simple commercial skipping with 30sec skip (or 60x FF)
• name-based recording (aka "set it and forget it" recording), with ability to record only new episodes and ignore repeats
• always buffers both tuners (30 minutes each), so you can pause one live TV channel at a commercial, switch to another channel to watch for awhile, pause that, and then switch back to the first channel to resume where you left off, skipping commercials as you go
• when watching a liveTV program on either tuner, pressing record will save it from the beginning
• remembers where you left off in every recording, so you can resume watching from where you left off at any time
• conflict management with automatic rescheduling so programs missed due to three-way conflicts are automatically recorded the next time they air
• overlap protection to eliminate conflicts when three or more programs overlap by up to five minutes
• recorded history to tell you when a series program did not record and why (ex: because it was a repeat, because there was a conflict, etc)
• simple search by title (searches 14 days of listings)
• advanced search options with boolean operators, including the ability to automatically record all future programs matching a search
• multiple episodes of the same program are grouped into folders to reduce clutter and simplify navigation
• separate recorded lists and channel lists for adults and children (four-digit passcode required to switch from child list to adult list)
• undelete through a "Recently Deleted" folder at the bottom of the recorded list
• external drive expansion (with select 500GB and 1TB external drives)
• ability to download SD and HD recordings from the DVR to your computer in MPG format (note copy-protected recordings from premium movie channels cannot be downloaded)
• ability to view DVD rips and PC videos from your computer
• multi-room SD and HD viewing with another TiVo
• remote scheduling via the web and mobile phone
• variety of output modes, including "native" to output all formats as is without conversion
• 16:9 anamorphic SD output through s-video and composite outputs
• all SD and HD outputs active simultaneously
• support for internet videos / podcasts; and
• Netflix SD/HD streaming and Amazon Unbox SD/HD PPV
TiVo recently announced plans to support On Demand with cable providers that use VOD systems from SeaChange. This capability is coming to the TivoHD later this year, although no further details are available, beyond what is mentioned in the press release. Comcast uses SeaChange to deliver its On Demand in most, but not all markets. Comcast has not said whether it will support this upcoming functionality on TiVo in markets that use VOD systems from SeaChange.
If you would like to learn more about the TiVo, or are a new TiVo owner, see the AVS TivoHD FAQ.
Moxi
The Moxi DVR includes a 500GB drive (75 HD hours); it also supports external drives up to 2TB. It costs $799 from Amazon.com, but that price includes a lifetime subscription for guide data and updates, so there are no future fees.
Video Demos of Moxi: Demo for Engadget | CrunchGear
Moxi advantages compared to the TivoHD:
•16:9 HD menus with crisper, sharper, text and graphics
•Picture window on every menu screen that shows the current liveTV channel and/or current recording.
•1.5 hour HD buffer per tuner (compared to 30min HD buffer per tuner on TiVo)
•Can record three cable channels at the same time (two digital, one analog) when the free WinTV-HVR-1950 USB tuner is connected.
•Clear QAM channel mapping through a web interface to fully support HD locals on cable -- with program information-- without the need for a CableCard.
•DLNA 1.0 client support allows access to music, photos, and videos on computers, network attached storage, mobile phones, and other devices without proprietary software.
•Conflict management allows you to choose which of the two conflicting programs you would like to skip. You aren't limited to skipping the lower priority program.
•No advertising whatsoever in the UI.
•Storage expansion works with any external eSATA drive up to 2.0TB, not just the My DVR Expander (500GB, 1TB).
•External drives can be added and removed at will to archive recordings; recordings are not split across internal and external drives, so recordings are not lost when a drive is removed.
•Adjustable duration on skip button (30 seconds, 3 minutes, etc).
•Ability to display a small guide at bottom of the screen.
•On-screen widgets for weather, sports scores, stock quotes, etc, updated in real time.
•Online scheduling with real time conflict resolution and the ability to edit/delete recordings online
•Includes backlit remote (included with 1TB TivoHD XL, but a $50 option on the standard TivoHD)
Moxi disadvantages compared to the TivoHD:
•$799 @ Amazon.com with lifetime service and 500GB drive; there is no option to purchase for less with monthly or yearly fees
•No ATSC (OTA) support; the Moxi is cable only.
•No built-in support for analog channels; customers must request a free USB device to add a single analog tuner to the box.
•Cannot download or transfer recordings to a computer; cannot view DVR recordings on a computer.
•No support for multi-room viewing (Moxi plans to add this feature later this year).
•No wishlists or comparable functionality (can't record based on search).
•No overlap protection, so 1-2 minute program overlaps cause conflicts that can result in missed recordings.
•Does not keep a record of recorded programs to prevent re-recording the same programs after they are deleted from the DVR.
•No display of recorded history or missed programs due to conflicts; if a program is not recorded due to a conflict, there is no record of that on the Moxi.
•Lacks "traditional" grid-based program guide and shows less program information on screen than TiVo.
•No manual recording screen. You can only create recordings from the program guide or by selecting a search result.
•When you stop or finish a recording, the Moxi always displays a liveTV window, even when that is a recording-in-progress (such as a sporting event); there is no way to exit a recording without seeing the liveTV window.
•No option to use a phone line for guide downloads; a network connection is required, using a direct run of ethernet cable, a wireless bridge, a powerline adapter, or a MoCA adapter.
•No support for Netflix's HD; only supports Netflix SD, and only does so when a Windows PC is on and running the PlayOn software.
•No support for Amazon Unbox's HDTV VOD service with series and movies downloads in 1080p24 with DD5.1 ($4.99 per HD movie, $2.99 per HD episode).
•Auto-correction on FF / REW not as accurate as TiVo (subjective)
•Interface not as intuitive (subjective)
If you would like to learn more about the Moxi, see the Moxi web site.
Moxi and TiVo have different design philosophies. Moxi provides more features and options for liveTV viewing and display, whereas TiVo provides more features and options for recording. If you watch 60% liveTV and 40% recorded, you'll probably be happier with Moxi; if you watch 20% liveTV and 80% recorded, then you'll probably be happier with TiVo.
Tru2way devices require and use the same CableCards as the TivoHD and Moxi, but they also incorporate a bidirectional hardware receiver and a Java virtual machine. Tru2way devices download and run a Java version of the cable company's STB/DVR software. This allows the cable company to provide their own interface, guide, and VOD on customer-owned hardware. In 2010, users should be able to purchase tru2way DVRs for under $400 with much greater capacity and support for external storage.
The obvious disadvantage of true2way is that functionality is limited to whatever Comcast offers in your particular market. With true2way DVRs, Comcast retains exclusive control over what options you have for the software and interface. If the Comcast STB/DVR software is chock full of advertisements, or it limits how you can skip commercials, then that is what you get on the tru2way box. At this time, it is unknown whether customers will be able to eliminate their DVR service fees with the purchase of a tru2way box. Tru2way equipment still needs Comcast software to function, and there is nothing that says that software must be completely free.
A hearty thanks to KenAF and miscDude for their contributions to this FAQ entry.
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by sansri88
last modified: 2009-05-18 21:19:54 |
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