Maybe some of you guys tried it? (Time Warner Cable NYC)

Right now I have an account with Time Warner Cable for digital cable and high speed internet (they call it their "The Best Package"). I only have two digital cable boxes in the house but would like two more. I don't want to "rent" more boxes from TWC. Considering that I will have to pay for cable tv for the rest of my life, I rather buy my own box. Eventually if this works I will replace all my "rented" boxes and buy my own, but of course I know you still have to subscribe to Digital Cable for them to work. I've tried =X

So before I go out and by a digital cable box, I borrowed one from a friend. The digital cable box is identical, is use for TWC in his home and is working 100 % (tested). Why doesn't this new box work in my house? Is it that TWC only sends signals to the two registered boxs that they originally gave me and I would have to call TWC and tell them that I have an extra third box in order for it to work?

I tried calling them and they sent a signal to turn it on and still no good. =( After troubleshooting for over 45 minutes, they finally asked to read the number off the back of the box to them. The number is on a sticker under the bar code, starts with a "PY". This leads me to belive that they only send signals to the "registered" boxes that they provide you with...I THINK. I've even tried using the new box in place of where my original boxes are. All my cable lines are working properly (checked and tested).

Can anyone help? Has anyone tried? Can anyone explain how this works?

From what I have been told by co workers the unique number on the back of the box is required to make the friends box work "at his address. Now don't hold me to this but I believe on TWC's end they have your name associated with the numbers off the back of the two boxes you own and consequently your two HD boxes work in your house/address only.

But your friends box's unique number is matched to his address only and won't work at your house.

I understand where you are coming from, since you are renting from them but still paying for digital one would think that you could get a box from another source. Maybe you could if you could get them to register the third number to your address.

Maybe some one else can elaborate on this.

My Samsung 451 OTA HD tuner has cable QUAM capabilities. It says in the event that your cable provider is allowing non scrambled Quam thru your cable connection you may be able to receive HD cable. But than it also has a disclaimer saying it will not pass QUAM. Go figure !!!

-Don B

I think we're right about the "registered number" on the back of the box. That is the only way it makes sense why it doesn't work.

Now does anyone know if it's "allowed" for you to own your own box and have Time Warner Cable register that box for you?

Can anyone shed some light on this topic? THX!

Just got off the phone with TWC. They said it was ILLEGAL to purchase your own equipment and use it even though you currently PAY for service.

...end of discussion

In Nebraska, Cox cable used to sell their boxes. They stopped doing that about a year ago. I have a hard time believing that it is illegal to buy your own box, but.....hmmmm.......they would sure lose alot of money if everyone owned their own box wouldn't they?

Well your other option is to switch to satellite and own as many boxes as you wish..

I checked into buying a HD box from my local cable company. I tracked down the company that made the box for my cable company and it state specificially that it only sells there boxes to cable companies, which led me to believe their is no way to get my hands on one without renting one. Oh well...

Well, they wouldn't lose A LOT of money. You will still need to subscribe to digital cable in order for teh boxes to work. They would lose about $10 a month from equipment rental.

Yeah, for one person, but $10 times a few hundred thousand subscribers in Omaha alone. That's alot of cash!!!

It is not illegal to own your own cable box. The FCC changed the rules to open up competition. You have to have a box that will interface with your local cable company.

Gary Ling,

I would not be surprised if you call TWC again, you will get another person and another answer.

Remember when land line telephones in your house were basically a rent from the telephone company. But than the phones were bullet proof reliable if not ugly.

Don

I am not holding you to this but I don't think this is the case. I had customers move and I reinstalled their boxes at the new address with no problems. Even when the cable was "left on" from the previous owners.


Were you getting a message on the screen? maybe the box detected a different signal and went into some security mode? There are ways to get the box to call back to the cable co and restore an IP address. That could of been what happened. you failed to mention what brand of box you were using.

I am using Time Warner Cable's most popular provided box...PIONEER. It looks identical to this one:

I emailed TWC to asked about owning your own equipment, and this what they reply with:

"Thank you for your most recent message to Time Warner Cable of NYC.

You are correct that, under the Cable Act, "cable operators may not prevent
customers from using their own equipment if such equipment is technically compatible
with the cable system."

As you may be aware, under rules recently adopted by the FCC, cable operators are
required to provide separate security components to customers who purchase
compatible converters from third party retailers, to enable use of the converter.
While the separate security components are available from Time Warner Cable, it is
our understanding that compatible converters are not available at this time from
third-party retailers. Once these compatible converters have been made commercially
available at retail, if you elect to purchase one, we will be happy to provide you
with the necessary device."

My box, your box, their box, all the SAME box.......TURN THE DAMN THING ON!!!!!! Seriously, what security measures would they need, and wouldn't the same model cable box be compatible?

I think that mostly refers to the TVs with built-in boxes, etc. The cable companies will fight tooth and nail to keep the rental fees pouring in. They'll probably make you "rent" the card that goes in the integrated TV, or something.

I live in Queens , New York and I have TWC, I bought the pioneer 3510 box for my bedroom thinking it will work since I have one in my living room.But when I plug the box up the passport logo comes on and it starts to load then it goes to a blck screen telling me to call my cable operator . I know the box works but I dont know what to do . Can some one help me please?