Comcast Digital Cable ~~ Happy New Year!!!

[SuperSlicker]

Ok, I have Comcast Standard Cable (Basic + Expanded) analog with channels 2-99. I just borrowed my friends HD DVR and tried it on my tv. It looks like I have pretty much evrey channel (1-500 +700 +900 or something like that) with HBO. I tried Starz but I don't think it worked.

So, I want to lower my bill, I'm currently payig $65 a month. I have no cable boxes other that the one my friend is letting me brrow. I chatted with comcast on live chat and they said to call 1800 number to try to get $30 Digital Starter Package. Will this cut my channels? I think the Digital Starter package (channels 2-99?) also includes 1 standard cable box. I have like 5 tvs. Please advise me on what to do.
Oh yeah, I probably want to add HD within a month. Edit: check below about HD.

Thanks so much and Happy New Years!

[SuperSlicker]

Edit: Ok, so I played around with it a little more and it looks like it has HD channels too (700+), local channels HD + ESPN HD, USA HD, TNT HD, etc . So please, anyone with some advice would be great. Thanks. :) I just want to save some money on my current $65 bill. Only have cable, no internet or phone.

So is this all due to my HD DVR box or what? I'm not sure what to make of it.

[Zilverz]

What your asking is not very clear to me. If you are asking if you get a similar box to your friends will you have all those channels when you hook it up and the answer is no. They will turn on whatever you pay for, for that new box.

[SuperSlicker]

What your asking is not very clear to me. If you are asking if you get a similar box to your friends will you have all those channels when you hook it up and the answer is no. They will turn on whatever you pay for, for that new box.

Thanks and repped. You answered my question.
I didn't know that the box is what gave you the channels, I thought it would be the signal that they sent to the house through the cable line.

So you are saying, if I change my cable service to even Basic cable (channels 2-30 i think), then I should still get all those channels (1-400+) with my friends cable box?

Thanks again.

[SummerSoFar]

Thanks and repped. You answered my question.
I didn't know that the box is what gave you the channels, I thought it would be the signal that they sent to the house through the cable line.

So you are saying, if I change my cable service to even Basic cable (channels 2-30 i think), then I should still get all those channels (1-400+) with my friends cable box?

Thanks again.

No, as comcast will likely put a filter on your cable line blocking all frequencies other than 2-30~

[SuperSlicker]

No, as comcast will likely put a filter on your cable line blocking all frequencies other than 2-30~

So I don't get it. Right now I have Standard cable (2-99) and don't have any cable boxes. I borrowed my friends HD DVR box and with it, I get 1-400+. So why am I getting those extra channels? They guy above said it was built into the box.

I guess I'll pick-up one of those free boxes and see if I get those extra channels and then report back. Thanks for the info.

[TheSawg]

It's not built into the box, the box is authorized by Comcast. A box will notwork on the network unless Comcast says it can.

[SuperSlicker]

It's not built into the box, the box is authorized by Comcast. A box will notwork on the network unless Comcast says it can.

My friends box has HD and DVR, he had the Digital Premium package I believe, so it authorized by Comcast to get those channels then?

I tested the box on my TV and it seems to have all those same channels but I only have analog Standard Cable I belive (that's what it says on the bill, with channels 2-99). I don't have a box of my own so I don't have anything to compare it too.

So since the box was from Comcast but for my friends house, I can get all those channels?

Also, if I change my Standard cable packge, will I still get all those channels from my friends HD DVR box?

I guess I'll have to wait till Monday to get my box and find out. All this stuff is confusing. Thanks for your help. :)

[Zilverz]

There is analog and digital signals both being sent down the cable line. You are viewing the analog when you have the coax hooked directly to the tv. If you use a comcast digital box you are using the digital signal. There is essentially a cable modem inside the cable box. The office communicates with it and activates what you pay for. Sometimes when all you pay for is the minimum analog package they may come out a place a filter on the line to trap out channels because that is the only way they can control the analog signal coming into your house.

[SuperSlicker]

There is analog and digital signals both being sent down the cable line. You are viewing the analog when you have the coax hooked directly to the tv. If you use a comcast digital box you are using the digital signal. There is essentially a cable modem inside the cable box. The office communicates with it and activates what you pay for. Sometimes when all you pay for is the minimum analog package they may come out a place a filter on the line to trap out channels because that is the only way they can control the analog signal coming into your house.

Thanks and repped for the info :) . I kinda understand now. So the filter only for analog channels right.

If change my package to Digital Starter, they can just control everything on the box they give me correct? Since I have my friends box, it has been "activated" to get all those channels, but if I go get one on my own, it will only have just Standard Cable channels since that is on my bill right. Thanks.

[TheSawg]

That is correct.

[SuperSlicker]

That is correct.

Thanks.

Let me ask this then. So no matter what, my friends box will always have all those channels since they can't filter out the channels since its already been actived and not analog right? :yummy:

[TheSawg]

As long as your friend is still paying his bills and has that box on his account. So, not "always"

[destro23]

Your comcast box has a UNIQUE ID / MAC address.. inside of comcast servers they know that someone is paying for HD and alot of channels for that particular box! It doesn't matter what you are paying service for. It matters what account that particular box is for and what "permissions" are set that account, thus for that box. So if you are in comcast country and you plug in that box... it will go to comcast servers and say... yes it's HD, yes it has gold package.. then go ahead and allow it to play those. Permissions are set by the box.. not by your house or location

Does your friend have another receiver?

[SuperSlicker]

Your comcast box has a UNIQUE ID / MAC address.. inside of comcast servers they know that someone is paying for HD and alot of channels for that particular box! It doesn't matter what you are paying service for. It matters what account that particular box is for and what "permissions" are set that account, thus for that box. So if you are in comcast country and you plug in that box... it will go to comcast servers and say... yes it's HD, yes it has gold package.. then go ahead and allow it to play those. Permissions are set by the box.. not by your house or location

Does your friend have another receiver?

Thanks all, I totally understand now. My friend is out of the country for a while and I asked if I could try it out since I've never seen HD before. Thanks for the quick replies all.

[jtroye32]

I was pondering the same thing - having my friend bring over his digital HD cable box to watch stuff on my huge plasma screen instead of his small one. it works but i was wondering if they would somehow flag it and suspend his box? I found this bit of info (below) but was thinking they must have so many of these "trunks" that they wouldn't monitor them for cable boxes at different addresses, and only use them to detect downed lines for repair. anyone know if he'll get deactivated?


"Digital CATV is a two way street, the box has an address and is transmitting that address back to the engineering room (on large systems), every trunk line (digital) has an address (26W-36E-1234S-4321N) the box was addressed on that trunk line location, this tells the engineer how many receivers are online on that trunk and can tell if there is a downed line by the loading, and are they up to date, (payment wise) his box showing up on a new trunk line may flag something at the head end, it may take a wile but they could find it, if they wanted to."

[TheSawg]

Possible, but I doubt they would care. It takes time and effort to hunt that stuff down. As long as your friend is paying his bill and the box is activated, they get their money.

[SuperSlicker]

Well sorta related question. If I go satalite, will I need boxes for all my TVs or can I do the same thing I'm doing with cable right now, use a splitter. Thanks.

[RUsum1]

similar question for me. my mother currently pays $17.99 for the cheapest form of cable that comcast offers yet she receives up to channel 99. I am wondering if ordering an HD receiver for her account will allow her to view all of the extra channels.