I’m assuming you’ve already tried connecting your TV to the raw cable stream to check what channels you can still get, right? Some of your cable channels, including local networks, may still be available in HD, albeit channel numbers may not match what you see on your cable box, and certain channels that are included in your bundle may be scrambled or unavailable.
To answer your question, cable providers are required by law to support consumer ownership of external set-top box hardware, but their support for this type of device is at best restricted. Most cable companies don’t allow you to buy your own box, and you won’t be able to buy cable boxes in stores that will operate with your local cable service. Also, be cautious about purchasing used cable boxes on eBay, since they are frequently stolen or “non-returned” cable boxes that are tied to a specific cable service and will almost certainly not function with your own local provider.
BUT HOLD ON! There is yet hope! The CableCARD standard was created to make it easier for customers to utilize their own cable tuners and DVRs. A CableCARD is a simple card that is programmed for your account and may be obtained from your local cable company. After that, you must enter the card into your own cable box in order to receive your channels. However, because CableCARD is a one-way (receive only) technology, it does not support video-on-demand or PPV (Pay Per View). In addition, CableCARD-based machines usually have limited access to the program guide. CableCARD has never truly taken off due to these factors, as well as the fact that most cable companies only support it half-heartedly. However, CableCARD-based HD cable boxes and HD DVRs that work with most local cable providers are still available. Just be aware that getting the CableCARD activated and functional with your account will need some effort (and be prepared to wait on hold with your local cable company… for a very long time).
Is it possible to buy a digital box for cable instead of renting one?
may be the best choice for you. When it comes to acquiring your modem/router and Set Top Boxes, there are a few things to keep in mind. The FCC requires cable providers to allow consumers to purchase routers/modems and set-top boxes rather than renting them from them. When considering whether to buy or rent, you should consider how long you anticipate to use the equipment and what the company’s rental rates are. Purchase your satellite or cable equipment!
What is the best way to receive a free digital converter box?
Explain your circumstances to a representative of a local nonprofit organization, such as a church or senior center, or the situation of a senior citizen you’re assisting. Inquire if the group has access to a donated digital-to-analog converter box or can put you in touch with someone who does.
What is the price of a TV cable box?
I also went to Arris International, the world’s largest provider of pay-TV set-top boxes, and knocked on their door. I inquired as to how much a package costs the corporation on average.
I got an email from Jeanne Russo, Arris’ senior director of global communications, a few days later, explaining that “we don’t provide specifics on margins, manufacturing sources, or average/median pricing paid by our clients publicly, so we won’t be able to help you with those inquiries.”
She also wanted me to know that “set-top boxes” are becoming “the digital nerve center of the ultra-connected home,” and that “set-top boxes are premium products.”
There’s a chance Alexa and Siri will have something to say about it. And the price of smart speakers continues to drop.
I find it fascinating that something as common as set-top boxes, which are found in almost every American home, is wrapped in mystery. The suggestion is that customers should not be concerned about the true cost of the boxes.
That’s usually an indication that someone in the executive suite is giggling at our expense.
I was also curious as to what happened to the Federal Communications Commission’s push to standardize set-top boxes and provide much-needed competition to the market.
In case you forgot, former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler estimated in 2016 that the average pay-TV subscriber paid $231 per year to lease a set-top box from their provider. The total cost of the scam was $20 billion every year.
Even after the pay-TV firm recouped its bulk-rate investment in the equipment, you had to keep paying.
Wheeler’s approach was to create a set of technical standards that would allow any electronics company to produce one-size-fits-all cable boxes. Subscribers would be able to view television on any device thanks to free apps provided by pay-TV firms.
On an op-ed in these pages, Wheeler wrote, “If you want to stream Comcast’s content through your Apple TV or Roku, you can.” “You can watch DirectTV’s programming on your Xbox if you want to. You can route Verizon’s service to your smart TV if you desire.”
“These guidelines will promote innovation, spawning new apps and devices, offering consumers even more choice and user control,” he continued.
However, as President Trump appointed his own nominee to the FCC, a more business-friendly mindset took hold. Wheeler’s plan was immediately discarded.
Wheeler’s proposal “is no longer pending before the commission, and I have no intention of resurrecting it,” according to Ajit Pai, the agency’s new chairman.
He didn’t really explain why, other than to remark that standardized boxes didn’t support “a clear, consumer-focused, fair, and competitive regulatory framework for video content distribution,” which is obviously bullshit.
Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) asked all of the major pay-TV service providers to shed some light on set-top boxes a few years back. They, like me, were curious about the true cost of a box.
The average monthly box charge paid by Charter customers is “confidential,” according to the company.
Similarly, the revenue earned by such fees is “secret information” for the corporation.
“Much of the information you have sought is proprietary, business sensitive, and highly secret,” according to DirecTV.
“We do not divulge the secret, proprietary, and competitively sensitive information requested,” Cox Communications said.
Comcast stated, “This information is not publicly available due to competitive sensitivity.”
I contacted many Wall Street analysts that follow Arris. They were unable to disclose how much it costs the corporation to build set-top boxes in low-cost facilities in other countries.
However, it was widely assumed that Arris offers basic boxes to pay-TV companies for around $150 each, and more advanced boxes for around $250.
If the FCC is correct about the average customer paying $231 per year (as of 2016), that means the typical pay-TV operator recoups its investment per box in roughly a year or less, and any fees paid after that are pure gravy, even if maintenance costs are factored in.
Box fees aren’t a major source of revenue for pay-TV companies, according to every analyst I spoke with, but they do mount up.
Charter, for example, still has over 16 million residential set-top box customers, many of whom have numerous units.
The Spectrum price will increase to $7.50 per month in a matter of days, bringing the total to at least $120 million. Monthly. Or, at the very least, $1.4 billion per year.
Comcast, on the other hand, charges $9.95 a month for a high-definition box. There are approximately 22 million TV subscribers. As a result, it expects to generate $2.6 billion in yearly income.
Is a cable box required for a smart TV?
Yes, you still need a cable or satellite box if you want to keep receiving the same channels you have now, because no other choice will transmit the same channels and stations in the same way.
However, whether or whether you must maintain a paid subscription in order to continue receiving the programmes you want to watch is a different subject. Many networks have their own streaming apps, and popular shows are frequently available on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
When it comes to broadband, the answer is an unequivocal yes. You’ll need an internet connection if you want to use any connected apps or services anything that makes the smart TV smart. The speeds you require will vary depending on your intended use, however the following suggestions will assist you.
A minimum speed of 3 Mbps is required to stream video in DVD quality at less than 1080p resolution. You’ll need 5 Mbps for Full HD at 1080p (according to Netflix).
Is an HD cable box required for my HD TV?
Digital cable is not the same as HD. Digital cable uses the same cable that’s already connected to your television, so it doesn’t require a specific TV, but it does require an HD-enabled TV box (like an HD-DVR or HD TV Box).
What’s the best way to get rid of my cable box?
A live TV streaming service is the greatest option for immediately replacing your cable box. Each offers a live channel package that you can watch via a streaming app that, with a little practice, works just as well as (or better than) a cable box.
I don’t have a cable box, so how can I watch Comcast?
Check the compatibility of your modem. To view Xfinity Instant TV, you don’t need a TV box. You may also watch on your compatible smart TV, smartphone, tablet, or Roku device using the Xfinity Stream app. You may even use your PC to access the Xfinity Stream interface.
With a digital converter box, how many channels can you get?
Basic channels, frequently as many as 99, are viewable with a digital transport adaptor, but premium channels are not. It will also prohibit video-on-demand and pay-per-view programming. DTAs also allow analog televisions to receive digital signals through coaxial cable using RF output on channel 3 or 4. There are other DTA models available, including one with an HDMI output.
For Comcast, Pace plc created the XiD-P digital transport adapter, which allows for 4K service and the possibility of expanding the DTA from one-way to two-way. This would necessitate the addition of IP capabilities.
