ANSWERED: Can I buy my own DVR or cable box?

Cable operators purchase TV Boxes from TV Box manufacturers that they then rent to their customers. While these boxes are generally not intended for retail sale to consumers, some of the boxes find their way into the marketplace (lawfully or not) and are sold by resellers to consumers ("off-market TV Boxes").

If you have purchased your own off-market TV Box from a reseller, take the time to acquaint yourself with the requirements of qualifying equipment pursuant to Comcast's customer-owned equipment policy. Comcast will support such devices only if they comply with the requirements set forth in that policy.

You may contact us with questions or to find out if your new device meets the requirements of qualifying equipment.

• In addition, ask the reseller who sold you the device for instructions for activation and troubleshooting problems.
• Be aware — not all models are supported in every location.
• Resellers of these devices typically don't provide an on-screen guide with the device, but rather rely on Comcast's on-screen guide.
  • If an on-screen guide is available in your location and is compatible with the TV Box you purchased, Comcast will make that on-screen guide available for download – free of charge.

Note: These off-market TV Boxes available from resellers are different from retail CableCARD-compatible devices like TiVo that are specifically developed for consumers. They are also different from retail streaming devices such as Roku and Samsung Smart TVs that are compatible for use with the Xfinity Stream app as part of the Xfinity TV Partner Device Program.

For more information, please see FAQs about CableCARDs and Xfinity Stream for Xfinity TV partner devices.

Additional service information

Please also note the following service-related information for customer-owned off-market TV Boxes:

• HD service: If your off-market TV Box is HD-compatible, and you'd like HD service, and your Xfinity TV subscription doesn't include HD service, a charge for HD technology* may apply.
• HD DVR service: If your off-market TV Box is DVR-capable and you'd like DVR service, and your Xfinity TV subscription doesn't include DVR service, charges for DVR service* and HD technology* will apply.
  • Note: Comcast DVR service is only available to HD customers.
• Service to additional TVs: To the extent that you use your off-market TV Box on secondary outlets, you'll be responsible for the applicable Service to Additional TV Fee.*
• Customer-owned equipment credit: Where Comcast rented equipment is offered and charged a-la-carte and not included in the package price, or where you're using an off-market TV Box as an additional outlet. You won't get a credit.
  • Instead, you simply won't be charged a rental fee when you use a customer-owned TV Box in place of a rented Xfinity TV Box.
• Activation process for CableCARD-compatible devices: As set forth in the customer-owned equipment policy, CableCARD activation for customer-owned TV Boxes requires verification that the device has not been stolen from Comcast. Such verification can take up to several days.

*These fees also apply to customers using our rented Xfinity TV Boxes.

​Additional Information​

​https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/about-cablecards​​ ​

​https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/how-to-get-a-cablecard​​ ​

​https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/pair-activate-cablecard​​ ​

​https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/customer-owned-set-top-box​​ ​

​http://www.xfinity.com/equipmentpolicy​