Question
Can I buy my own DVR or cable box?
Answer
Yes. You can purchase your own device or DVR available from a legitimate retailer and-or authorized reseller in the United States. Below are a list of a few of the models of "purchasable equipment" that Comcast supports:
Company
Model #
ADB
DMX-CT1
Diego, Inc
HDDMR7000
Mitsubishi
HD-6000
Mitsubishi
HD-4001
Motorola
HDT300
Samsung
GX-SM530CF
Sony
DHG-HDD 250
Tivo
TCD652160
Tivo
TCD648250B
Tivo
TCD658000
Tivo
TCD748000
Tivo
TCD746320
Tivo
TCDA90000
Tivo
TCD750500
Tivo
TCD848000
Tivo
TCD840300
Tivo
TCD758250
Tivo
TCD846500
Any customer owned device (above) would need to be activated via a Comcast-supplied cable card.
Will I be charged to use a CableCARD? The first CableCARD in a retail CableCARD device is free to Comcast customers. If a second CableCARD is needed for the same device (as is the case with certain older model TiVo devices), a charge will be applied based on your area.
Will I receive an equipment credit if I use my own CableCARD-compatible retail device? If you own a CableCARD-compatible device with an activated CableCARD and subscribe to an XFINITY TV service package that includes equipment as part of the service, you will receive a monthly equipment credit of $2.50 for each CableCARD-compatible retail device on your account. To learn more, see our Customer Owned Equipment Policy. http://www.xfinity.com/equipmentpolicy
Some additional detailed information can be found at the links below:
http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/cable-tv/about-cablecards/
https://customer.xfinity.com/help-and-support/cable-tv/how-to-get-a-cablecard
Question
What about Motorola or Scientific-Atlanta or Cisco or Pace cable boxes on online auction sites?
Answer
Comcast is compliant with the FCC ruling that we offer customers the option to purchase a digital descrambler through authorized retail outlets. Comcast would then supply the customer with a POD (point of deployment) authorization card (cable card).
However, we are not aware of any Motorola/Scientific-Atlanta/Cisco/Pace digital converters being offered through authorized retail outlets in the United Sates. Since we know of no authorized retailers or cable companies yet selling these digital converters in the United States, any such device could be the property of Comcast or another cable company.
If we determine by the serial number that the box is lost or stolen and/or the property of another cable company, we would not support it. Information received would then be turned over to the proper authorities.
**NOTE**:
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Question
Can I buy used Comcast TV Boxes?
Answer
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, please 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, please ask the reseller who sold you your device for instructions for activation and troubleshooting problems. Please be aware, not all models are supported in every location. Resellers of these devices typically do not 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, and 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, you would like HD service, and your Xfinity TV subscription does not include HD service, a charge for HD Technology* may apply.
HD DVR Service: If your Off-Market TV Box is DVR-capable, and you would like DVR service, and your Xfinity TV subscription does not 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 will be responsible for the applicable Service to Additional TV Fee.*
Customer-Owned Equipment Credit: If you use your Off-Market TV Box and have no rented Xfinity TV Box from Comcast, you will receive a Customer Owned Equipment credit in those cases where the price to rent an Xfinity TV Box is included in your package price. Where Comcast rented equipment is offered and charged a-la-carte and not included in the package price, or where you are using an Off-Market TV Box as an additional outlet. You will not receive a credit; instead you simply will not 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.
* Note: These fees also apply to customers using our rented Xfinity TV Boxes.
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