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[CATV] Digital Transition QuestionsCurrently I have only HOA-supplied basic Charter cable service (a coax sticking out of the wall, with a splitter serving another tv, no set-top box, and no premium channels). In about a month, my service will go all digital and we will be required to have a set-top box. Being new to cable (formerly DirecTV), I dont know what to expect.
Q1. The written Charter announcement states that the first STB will be free, with no further details. Can I expect that to be forever, or will a monthly fee likely appear after some time period elapses?
Q2. Can I still get by with a splitter (after the STB, of course) and continue to send independent and simultaneous channels to the other tv, or will I need a second STB for the second tv?
Q3. If the answer to Q2 is no (i.e. NOT independent AND simultaneous), can I at least continue to see the SAME channel simultaneously at the other tv (with a splitter and no second STB)? |
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B4Knight Premium Member join:2014-03-20 Colon, MI 2 edits |
B4Knight
Premium Member
2014-Jul-18 7:59 pm
I believe that the first STB will be free for 12 months. Each additional STB will be $6.99/month.
Each TV you own will require its own STB in order to receive service. |
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CoolMan join:2008-01-07 Maryville, TN ARRIS BGW210-700 Netgear R7000
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to missingwings
said by missingwings:Q3. If the answer to Q2 is no (i.e. NOT independent AND simultaneous), can I at least continue to see the SAME channel simultaneously at the other tv (with a splitter and no second STB)? You should be able to do this but I think it will require running composite out of the cable box then into a RF modulator (converting back to coax) then you should be able to have it output the same channel to each room. |
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cork1958Cork Premium Member join:2000-02-26 |
to missingwings
Don't know about California, as Charter is different in different areas about everything, but I just went through this.
I got 2 "free" STB's for a year because I never had any and a third one I have to start paying for effectively immediately. My letter even stated the 2 free ones.
Each STB is about a $7 rip off/cash grab a month at regular pricing. |
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mixdup join:2003-06-28 Alpharetta, GA |
to missingwings
said by missingwings:Currently I have only HOA-supplied basic Charter cable service (a coax sticking out of the wall, with a splitter serving another tv, no set-top box, and no premium channels). In about a month, my service will go all digital and we will be required to have a set-top box. Being new to cable (formerly DirecTV), I dont know what to expect.
Q1. The written Charter announcement states that the first STB will be free, with no further details. Can I expect that to be forever, or will a monthly fee likely appear after some time period elapses?
Q2. Can I still get by with a splitter (after the STB, of course) and continue to send independent and simultaneous channels to the other tv, or will I need a second STB for the second tv?
Q3. If the answer to Q2 is no (i.e. NOT independent AND simultaneous), can I at least continue to see the SAME channel simultaneously at the other tv (with a splitter and no second STB)? For question 1, you need to contact Charter and/or your HOA and their Charter rep. For normal residential customers these are the rules: If you have NO digital set top box in your home, you get *two* for free for a year, after that you have to pay normal fees on each. If you currently have ANY digital set top box in your home, you can get *one additional* set top box for free for a year, and after that you pay normal fees. However, since you're on a bulk account with the HOA, the rules may be different. Question two and three: both TVs will need a set top box to watch independent shows. With one box and a splitter, both TVs will get the exact same programming (because you'll have to split the OUTPUT of the box to both TVs) |
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mdavej join:2004-06-09 united state |
mdavej
Member
2014-Jul-19 11:34 am
There's absolutely no reason you must have any cable boxes at all. Just look into cable card solutions from Silicon Dust, Ceton, Samsung and Tivo. With my Ceton based system, I have live and recorded TV on 5 TVs and pay only $2/month. No cable boxes from Charter, and no equipment or DVR service fees. Upfront cost is a few hundred dollars, but you make that back in the first year or so. |
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to missingwings
If your HOA provides and pays for your basic cable services then you are eligible to get one cable box free for the lifetime of the bulk agreement Charter has with your HOA and you can also get a 2nd box free for 24 months and then that goes to the standard rental rate which for having basic only is $6.99 for standard def and $11.99 for high def. |
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1 recommendation |
to mdavej
said by mdavej:There's absolutely no reason you must have any cable boxes at all. Just look into cable card solutions from Silicon Dust, Ceton, Samsung and Tivo. With my Ceton based system, I have live and recorded TV on 5 TVs and pay only $2/month. No cable boxes from Charter, and no equipment or DVR service fees. Upfront cost is a few hundred dollars, but you make that back in the first year or so. I would surmise that people currently not using a box don't want to mess with al of that. Look at it this way people without a box don't want to pay $7 a month they certainly aren't in a the mood for a "few hundreds" dollars upfront. If they truly only have basic and not expanded basic, Charter gives those out for free for 2 years. The payback of using your set up would be another 5 years after the free 2 years is up. that's 7 years. Who know where someone will be in 7 years. |
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mixdup join:2003-06-28 Alpharetta, GA |
to mdavej
said by mdavej:There's absolutely no reason you must have any cable boxes at all. Just look into cable card solutions from Silicon Dust, Ceton, Samsung and Tivo. With my Ceton based system, I have live and recorded TV on 5 TVs and pay only $2/month. No cable boxes from Charter, and no equipment or DVR service fees. Upfront cost is a few hundred dollars, but you make that back in the first year or so. This is a complication that the OP probably doesn't want to get into. If he has zero boxes at all, he probably either doesn't want to or doesn't have the technical expertise to setup a Windows Media Center setup nor any other cable card devices. I have a couple of TiVos myself but it's not necessarily the right solution for everyone (and would be more expensive than just renting a non-DVR box if he doesn't need DVR service) |
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mdavej join:2004-06-09 united state |
mdavej
Member
2014-Jul-19 4:47 pm
I'm simply pointing out that if you don't want any Charter boxes, even free ones, you don't have to get any. If the numbers don't work for you, don't do it. I've saved hundreds. |
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mixdup join:2003-06-28 Alpharetta, GA |
mixdup
Member
2014-Jul-20 11:36 am
said by mdavej:I'm simply pointing out that if you don't want any Charter boxes, even free ones, you don't have to get any. If the numbers don't work for you, don't do it. I've saved hundreds. Compared to Charter DVR, yes, but it's very, very hard to make the numbers work when replacing a basic non-DVR box, which I would assume the OP would be getting. |
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to CoolMan
Thank you for your comment. I have done this with DirecTV (rf modulator) so at least I have that option. |
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missingwings |
to mdavej
Actually, I do plan to eventually go with a TiVo Roamio Plus. I cannot handle no information on what I'm watching, not being able to pause/rewind, and having no on-screen programming guide (DirecTV Genie has spoiled me), and the Charter DVR (record TWO programs simultaneously vs. 4 - 6 with TiVo) is a joke. |
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