Must i rent an Explorer HD box or can I buy one - Tampa, FL

trippnwo

I ama bright house customer in Tampa with an HD TV and the Scientific Explorer 8300 HD Recorder. I currently rent this box (basically charged on a per month basis for the box and for the remote).

Is this mandatory or can i purchase one from say eBay or some other souce? I assume i would still get the HD signals and all since i have the HD package from them, as well as the DVR capability.

Or is there something that mandates the use of their equipment to use the DVR capability?

Thanks

amf1932

From my understanding, the SA8300HD box is only distributed to cable companies and not sold to individuals in the US.

Edit: This is from Scientific Atlanta's website under FAQ's:

How much does an individual unit of the Explorer 8300HD DVR cost and how do I order one?
The Explorer 8300HD DVR is not available for retail purchase in the US. It is currently available only through select cable operators on a lease basis. Please contact your local cable company to find out if the Explorer 8300HD is available in your area.



Alan

trippnwo

I read that too when i first noticed how much I was paying on a month to month basis.

However, there have been a few that have been on eBay that have sold from between 130 and 255.

I would love to buy one and return the one i have to save on the monthly fees, this way, over the long run, i have something to show for my money spent.

amf1932

It might work, or not, since all cable companies send signals to the DVR boxes to make them usable with their service.
Example: I have a Cablevision Explorer SA8300HD box, and on the front panel it has a plaque that say's, "Cablevision" in bold letters.

They might not send your DVR the necessary signals unless you pay them.

Alan

amf1932

Think about it this way.

I pay Cablevision $9.95 per month for the use of this DVR. If anything happens to this unit, or if they come out with a newer type of DVR, all I do is go to their local office, or ship it back to them and I get the newest DVR they offer. You can be sure that with this new technology there will definitely be newer upgrades, so you'll be stuck with an old box. If you happen to get a box from ebay and it breaks, the repair costs would be enormous. Actually, this insurance of leasing a DVR from your cable company is still the best deal. What do you think?

Alan

trippnwo

Yea - i thought of that. I havent really decided if i want to take the risk yet, which was why i am asking about it .

goober22

If it is on ebay, you are buying a stolen box. I believe Canada is the only place where any of the 8000 series boxes have been sold. If you buy one, you will certainly loose your money. The box MAY work at firsat but as soon as it is polled, it will be deactived and a US company WILL NOT activate it. I am sure most of the ones on ebay are stolen or left overs when a tenant has moved out and left the box.

dachay2tnr

Actually I believe you are paying $14.95/month for this box.

You are probably confused in the sense that your bill only went up by $10.00; however, remember you were already paying $4.95 for the existing box that you returned when you got the DVR.

I agree that it is convenient to be able to get the latest equipment available and to not have to worry about repairs - but at $180.00/year in lease costs, I'm not sure it makes the most financial sense (assuming you actually had an option to buy one ).

amf1932

I am paying Cablevision for the use of this DVD recorder, $119.40 + Tax, per year. I look at it this way.......Since a cable converter is required for reception anyway in my area @ $59.40 + Tax, per year, I still find the use of a DVR such as the SA8300HD a bargain. Do you realize how much it would cost you up front to buy a DVR such as this, even if was possible to purchase? I would estimate this box to cost about $700.00 plus, which in turn figures out to approximately 6 years of use. If in this time the DVR stops functioning, how much do you think it would cost to get it repaired....mucho bucks! And, in 6 years of use, don't you think that Scientific Atlanta will come out with a newer model with more features....I'm sure they will!
So you see, I'm really not confused. I weighed the plus's and minus's and it still is a good deal for my uses, 'cause I always like the newest technology.
Don't get me wrong though, I wish my cable bill was lower, but that's the name of the game.

Alan

Blue Goose

Wow! I was just thinking about this myself! I use Adelphia and would like to get HD up in my bedroom. I currently have it in the living room and am using a SA8300 HD/DVR box. The TV I would be putting in the beroom is a 32" JVC AV32S575. It is HD Ready so I would need a box in order to receive HD signal (cable wise at least, gotta have my NESN and ESPN HD)

Found out it would be an extra 9.95 a month for an additional box...so I also looked on Ebay and found a whole bunch of 8300's for sale. Called Adelphia and asked if I purchased my own SA8300 would it work? He said absolutely not(as mentioned here).

Even if I got a HD TV with a built in tuner I don't think I could get ESPN HD could I? I think that does require a box...anyone know?

brianwat

My educated guess is that unless the box you buy has the appropriate "Tweek"
you will only receive the basic(unscrambled0channels. Similar to any other "black box" you buy underground.

goober22

It depends on if your provider encrypted the channels. If your tv tuner supported qam and your provider left the HD channels unencrypted, then it would. Mine, Comcast, only has about 12 digital channels not encrypted and only 1 is HD (ABC).