XfinityTV and Equipment

[Wasa]

I have the RNG 100 set top box and the two free DTAs.  I now want to hook up a fourth TV.  Comcast wants $1.99 a month for a new DTA.  I can buy a used one on eBay for $15.  Does anyone know whether Comcast will activate a DTA that I buy (I would buy the same model that they use)?  I'm assuming it needs to be activated.  Thanks

[commanguy]

Comcast, and most other cable companies, consider purchased boxes like that "stolen" and will not activate them since they don't sell them in the U.S. they were rental boxes that should have been returned.

If you purchase one it is a pricey paperweight.

You can always purchase your own modem for Internet use and Comcast won't worry about that.

[MN_PatS]

For me the real question that needs to be answered is whether or not Comcast scrambles the signals using proprietary algorithms.  If they do, then third party DTAs won't work.  If they don't scramble signals and the DTA is simply converting digital signals to analog, then it would seem logical that third party DTAs should work.  I hope you find your answer...good luck!

[Wasa]

I'm not even talking about a third party DTA.  I would buy one of the used Comcast DTAs from a Comcast customer who moved and no longer needs it.  Does anyone know if that would work?

[rog286713]

odds are comcast will not activate that dta because its not associated with your account,  They want their money for the box.  If they are goingt to charge 1.99 get the digital box for 10 and get all the channels.  DTAs are meant for old tv's tube type to get channels after the digital migration but people are trying to use them for new tv's to get a signal for free. 

[Queen-Evie]

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Wasa wrote:

I'm not even talking about a third party DTA.  I would buy one of the used Comcast DTAs from a Comcast customer who moved and no longer needs it.  Does anyone know if that would work?

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It wouldn't. The equipment is Comcast property. When no longer needed by the customer it has to be returned to Comcast.  If it isn't returned Comcast could consider it stolen property.

If you did get one that way, it would have to be activated. The number of the unit would show up in the database as belonging to someone else.

Don't waste your money on it. As stated above, you would end up with nothing more than a paperweight.

[BearHooks]

Also the MAC on the box from a customer will be seen in less than a milsecond and then it is abit dangerous, for it would be a stolen box. There are no multiple MACS and each are different and unique for every sinlge device. It is nothing at all like an IP. V4 or V6. Thats why never buy a device from anyone anywhere. They are the property and owned by Comcast.