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Cox Mini Box Alternative?
Posted on 1/8/16 at 9:16 am
Posted on 1/8/16 at 9:16 am
Cox just cut off all my channels I was getting through my coax connection. Thus my cable service that came with my internet connection is no longer working.
I don’t want to get a mini box from cox, so is there an alternative box out there that I can buy that will work?
I don’t want to get a mini box from cox, so is there an alternative box out there that I can buy that will work?
6
Posted on 1/8/16 at 9:18 am to Modern
quote:
I don’t want to get a mini box from cox, so is there an alternative box out there that I can buy that will work?
Nothing legal that I know of.
Posted on 1/8/16 at 9:22 am to Modern
No, the signal is all-digital and encrypted, so you have to pay for TV service now. You either need a mini box or a cable card from cox, I believe.
Posted on 1/8/16 at 9:22 am to Modern
since they support HD they are your best option.
I'm running this:
Cable card tuner
+
Nexus media player
You need to rent a cable card ($1.95/month) + a nexus on each tv. The tuner is network attached and supports 3 streams at one time.
Running the math the new boxes since they support HD are cheaper for about 3-4 years. If you need the larger set top box for $9/month then the devices I linked are cheaper after about a year.
I'm running this:
Cable card tuner
+
Nexus media player
You need to rent a cable card ($1.95/month) + a nexus on each tv. The tuner is network attached and supports 3 streams at one time.
Running the math the new boxes since they support HD are cheaper for about 3-4 years. If you need the larger set top box for $9/month then the devices I linked are cheaper after about a year.
Posted on 1/8/16 at 9:25 am to Korkstand
quote:
You either need a mini box or a cable card from cox, I believe.
Some sort of box from Cox or CableCARD. I get free DVR through Windows Media Center and HD HomeRun Prime with CableCARD.
This post was edited on 1/8/16 at 9:52 am
Posted on 1/8/16 at 9:43 am to Modern
quote:
I don’t want to get a mini box from cox, so is there an alternative box out there that I can buy that will work?
Tivo Bolt is an all-in-one solution. It accepts a cable card and is a full-feature DVR. It also has all of the major streaming channels, i.e., Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, built in. Additional TVs each require a Tivo Mini but not an additional cable card. The only recurring charge after the first year is $12.50 a month for the program guide. Tivo is self contained so you don't need to tie up a PC.
This post was edited on 1/8/16 at 9:45 am
Posted on 1/8/16 at 10:22 am to Modern
Get a mini box on a relative/friends account. Set it up once at their place to activate it then bring it to your place.
Posted on 1/8/16 at 9:35 pm to SG_Geaux
quote:
Nothing legal that I know of.
Samsung gx sm530cf
HDHomerun Prime (requires smart tv)
Practically any TiVo model (must pay for guide data or buy a used one off eBay or Craigslist with a lifetime subscription
If in conjunction with a computer, Hauppauge and Ceton make a couple of tuners that accept CableCards
All will tune some channels. Renting a CableCard from Cox ($2.50-5 or so/mo) will get you the rest of what you pay for. The ailicondust will actually work for any DLNA-capable TV in the house. The others would e a single-tv solution without going into more details or adding more devices.
Posted on 1/8/16 at 10:25 pm to Hopeful Doc
quote:
If in conjunction with a computer, Hauppauge and Ceton make a couple of tuners that accept CableCards
Unless I needed the 6 tuners Ceton offers on a single card, I'd definitely go with the HDHomeRun Prime. Someday, SiliconDust may even have their own DVR software in a usable state. Until then, CableCARD implies WMC, which means the right SKU of Windows 7, unless you've already bought the Pro Pack for 8, which Microsoft stopped selling a few months ago.
Posted on 1/8/16 at 11:27 pm to Spock's Eyebrow
quote:
Until then, CableCARD implies WMC
I can view all but about 6 channels over DLNA without WMC DRM in my area. Those 6 channels aren't what you'd think either. NBC Sports, USA HD, I think LifeTime. None of the standard def are copy protected. And on the high def side, even my ESPN's can be viewed.
This, of course, varies with your location and is a worse option than the Samsung and TiVo boxes. Samsung has its own little nuisances, but it can view about anything and is way cheaper than TiVo.
Posted on 1/9/16 at 12:53 am to Hopeful Doc
quote:
I can view all but about 6 channels over DLNA without WMC DRM in my area. Those 6 channels aren't what you'd think either. NBC Sports, USA HD, I think LifeTime. None of the standard def are copy protected. And on the high def side, even my ESPN's can be viewed.
That's nice. For PCs, I always think about DVR capabilities with unrestricted access including DRM channels, and for that, WMC is implied.
What software are you using BTW? Does Kodi work as a DVR for all those unprotected channels? Supposedly, the HDHomeRun View Windows 10 universal app is going to be updated to support DRM, and that would at least give people unrestricted live TV. The SiliconDust DVR software is still very much unfinished from what I read on their forums, where the KickStarter backers are amassing torches and pitchforks. They're particularly pissed that SD is not implementing a traditional grid-based guide.Posted on 1/9/16 at 2:31 am to Spock's Eyebrow
quote:
What software are you using BTW? Does Kodi work as a DVR for all those unprotected channels?
I'm using WMC on Win8.1. You can't get protected channels on KODI through the ServerWMC backend with an HDHR-Prime, unfortunately (there are other options- I can't comment on them from experience. But I don't think they're functional). I've never really tried the alternatives out there.
Jriver was just recently trying to support adding DRM support for those channels. I believe the Kickstarter failed. I believe it raised about 10% of its goal.
I've read some awful things about the SDDVR. Computer-based DVR seems to be a dying niche, unfortunately.
Posted on 1/9/16 at 4:34 am to Layabout
You have a bolt? Been thinking of switching over to that.
Posted on 1/9/16 at 6:57 am to mctiger1985
quote:
You have a bolt? Been thinking of switching over to that.
You won't be sorry. I had been using WMC for almost three years but it's been deprecated by Microsoft and they started messing around with the program guide last year. I finally gave up on it and switched to Tivo. Tivo is a mature self-contained consumer product that just works--and works flawlessly--out of the box. I'm no longer 24/7 tech support which alone is worth the $12.50 a month for the program guide. I also have three Tivo Minis for the other TVs in the house.
Posted on 1/9/16 at 7:19 am to Layabout
I have a friends and family code that gives me a bolt with lifetime service for $600. I currently have cox whole home with two boxes that costs $35 a month. Does baton rouge get the cox on demand stuff with tivo?
Posted on 1/9/16 at 8:33 am to Spock's Eyebrow
I'm currently testing the new silicon dust DVR its not as bad as people make it out to be. Once it's finished it'll compete with a cable companies whole home DVR. You will be able to record to any pc or nas then playback on any computer, android device, Mac, or xbone. Right now they just need to get copy-once channels working. They are finishing up clients for android and win7/8 to access the DVR right now.
But as far as the prime, for DVR you have WMC. If you just want to watch TV with a guide then the nexus player or nvidia shield are the best options as they support mpeg2 (most cox channels are mpeg2).
But as far as the prime, for DVR you have WMC. If you just want to watch TV with a guide then the nexus player or nvidia shield are the best options as they support mpeg2 (most cox channels are mpeg2).
This post was edited on 1/9/16 at 8:45 am
Posted on 1/9/16 at 9:46 am to mctiger1985
quote:
I have a friends and family code that gives me a bolt with lifetime service for $600. I currently have cox whole home with two boxes that costs $35 a month. Does baton rouge get the cox on demand stuff with tivo?
The Bolt with one year of service included is $299. After that the service is $150 a year. A lot can happen in three years. Remember it's the lifetime of the Bolt, not your lifetime. The service is tied to the hardware so if you change hardware the service goes with it. I don't think that's a very good deal.
I don't have cable but anything that Cox feeds out to the cable card can be viewed on the Tivo.
This post was edited on 1/9/16 at 9:48 am
Posted on 1/9/16 at 4:35 pm to Layabout
Thanks, the thought of it failing just out of warranty did make me a little worried about it. Think ill just go the annual route.
Posted on 1/11/16 at 10:28 am to Korkstand
I pay for my TV service and it is still cut off without their mini boxes that I'm not interested in getting.
Posted on 1/11/16 at 10:53 am to TigerWise
quote:
Get a mini box on a relative/friends account. Set it up once at their place to activate it then bring it to your place.
Does this really work? Is it full-proof, or can they eventually zap it and make it stop working?
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