dvr

[arredondosha]

can i buy a motorola cable box off of ebay to stop paying the monthly rental fee from verizon.... its crazy paying 15 bucks a box every month and i have 3 boxes... i would rather pay a 1 price fee upfront then this monthly rental fee.

[prisaz]

---

@arredondosha wrote:

can i buy a motorola cable box off of ebay to stop paying the monthly rental fee from verizon.... its crazy paying 15 bucks a box every month and i have 3 boxes... i would rather pay a 1 price fee upfront then this monthly rental fee.

---

Answer is no. All STBs belong to Verizon. Any STB or DVR on Ebay is stolen property. Read here.

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-TV-Technical-Assistance/Purchasing-a-DCT700-from-eBay/m-p/37165#M1...

And here

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-TV-Technical-Assistance/Verizon-STB-on-EBAY/m-p/8034

You can howerver change all three to TiVO HD boxes and get three cablecards from Verizon at $3.99 each. But then you must pay a service or subscription fee to TiVO. TiVO does not support any of the additional Verizon Features such as VOD, Widgets, PPV, or the Verizon Guide. But does provide other features and thier own guide. There has been news lately that Verizon is coming out with a new guide and additional features. Cable Card configurations are changing, so be sure you get a newer HD or greater TiVO that supports the change. My TiVO costs. Verizon Card $3.99 TiVo subscription $12.95. Total $16.94 so there are reasons for a TiVO purchase but not to save money.

[GaryDoug]

Some other cable companies allow you to supply your own DVR, but then most charge you an access or service fee that is almost as high. When I was with Brighhouse, they would allow us to own an identical Scientific Atlanta box ( like from Ebay...) by paying them $10 a month for "dvr service".  And then if it breaks, you are on your own.

[Hubrisnxs]

i saw the SD Tivo's at blockbuster for 49.99 and the HD tivo's for 99 

so that was a sale, I am not sure if they are still on sale, but if you'd rather buy your boxes then rent them,   that might be the way to go.   I couldn't find them online at blockbuster.com, but give a call to your local store.    

you have to still pay for the cable card from verizon, 3.99 but it might float your boat. 

[prisaz]

Do not buy the SD TiVO unless it will not support the new cablecard changes on Sept. 15. I know that the newer Tivo HD and Tivo Premier will, but I do not think the older TiVO SD will support the change. It migh be a good idea to wait until there are users that  start getting the updates on or after Sept 15th. I have a TiVo HD and have been told that there is no problem.

Read this thread. There is a number that you can call.

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-TV-Programming/Cable-Card/m-p/233593#U233593