Can I use my Digital Box at my Friend's / Neighbour's?

[soliduz]

I have a full subscription to Rogers digital cable and HD channels. If I was to take my digital box to my friends house and hook it up to his tv to watch a game or an event would it work? Would we be able to get all my channels at his house?

[hugh]

This question has been asked many times and the answer is maybe.

If you took it to a Rogers house in Ottawa, then it wouldn't work. If you took it to your neighbours then it would likely work.

The only way to know for sure is to try it out.

(search for other threads and you'll probably get a technical explanation on how it works or why)

[soliduz]

Yea I figured the only way to know for sure is to give it a try, just wanted to make sure Rogers didnt have anything that prohibited me from moving it in their ToS or what not. Thanks for the help guys. Ill keep ya updated =D

[Paolo]

it will work, for a few mins, then it will stop and say not authorized..

looks like your SOL

[57]

Originally Posted by Paolo

it will work, for a few mins, then it will stop and say not authorized..

It all depends on the friend's location (and whether there are any filters, etc). Usually, on the same node, and often in the same city, the STB will work, as mentioned by Hugh.

[Juggie]

I emailed their online helpdesk before and asked this same question, i wanted to bring my box to a friends so we could watch NHL Center Ice (on his big screen tv a few years ago, before hd center ice even) Anyways, the lady on email told me it would be no problem and asked for my friends address to confirm that his address provided him with the same level of service as mine. Knowing that it did anyways, i declined to give that information.

Later that evening i went over there.. watched a couple of games and came home... no problems, nothing about an un-athorized stb etc. I have no idea if we are on the same node or not. Because to be honest i dont remember where i lived when i did this. I did live like a 5-10min drive from him at one point but that may or may not have been when i brought my receiver to his place.

[nfitz]

I've done it before, within a few kilometres, and not had a problem - the subscribed channels followed me.

What was odd though, when I moved from Kitchener to Toronto, I brought my box with me. I thought I'd prearranged everything with Rogers, but they'd made a mistake and never processed anything. When I first plugged it in, I discovered I suddenly had ALL the channels (and I mean ALL) - and this lasted for about 4 days. And then I was completely locked out until I phoned them and sorted it out.

Everything already sitting on the PVR survived the move BTW.

Nick

[dmccorm140]

I transferred one of my digital boxes to my parents when I bought a PVR. Luckily I set it up at there place. Because I happened to check the channels and noticed they had the sportspak which only I had. Then it struck me to Check Hustler, PlayboyTV etc which I also have. All the adult channels I had were there. Only after calling Rogers Customer customer service did they get deleted.

[thenewdc]

If you're being fed from a different server from where the box was originally installed then it wont work. You can try. I know in the north, if you cross Steeles into York Region then it wont work if the box is from Toronto. I think Scarboro and Toronto have different servers as well. Good Luck.

[lubs]

This is my first post, this seems like a good board to find A/V related information.

I have a rental property and the last tenant left 2 Rogers digital boxes. I could make use of an additional box, but I'm not sure if I can just plug it in and start using it. I'm not sure if these boxes were rentals or purchased, the tenant has left the country so I can't ask. I'm under the impression Rogers can retrieve box information when they're plugged in, so I'm wary to do anything until I know for sure.

Otherwise I suppose I'll just surrender the boxes back to Rogers. Or maybe burn them in a ritualistic fashion on the next full moon.

[dcomp11]

I've brought a box that was activated on someone's account in downtown Toronto to York Region and it worked when I plugged it in. It downloaded the York Region lineup, and had all of the other person's services (such as Super Sports Pak, which I do not have) authorised. This being said however, Rogers WILL notice if you do this for a prolonged period of time and they will eventually shut down the box and/or take some sort of action against you.

[rad_sci_guy]

When I moved out of my condo to stay in my parent's place until my house was ready I took the digital HD PVR to their house and used it as a digital cable box, however the PVR function was not working and I could not watch the PVR content.

[klaatu2]

Thanks for the replies, everybody. I assume that if it fails to work, I'll just call Rogers and have them 'reactivate' it.

I've brought a box that was activated on someone's account in downtown Toronto to York Region and it worked when I plugged it in. It downloaded the York Region lineup, and had all of the other person's services (such as Super Sports Pak, which I do not have) authorised. This being said however, Rogers WILL notice if you do this for a prolonged period of time and they will eventually shut down the box and/or take some sort of action against you.

AFAIK, the PVR works because its activation is still being paid for. I assume when the box powers up, it requests channel lists from Rogers, and only the paid channels are enabled at that point.

[Candyman]

I have 2 active STBs. One is the 8300HD PVR and the other is a standard 3200.

If I were to unplug my 3200 and bring it over to a friends place (who only has analogue cable through Rogers), will the 3200 work there in Digital?

[hugh]

merged, purged and stickied.