Can I Buy My Own DVR Box?

[mushulou]

I have been getting conflicting information as to if I can buy my own DVR box from a retailer. Does cablevision allow it, and then just rent a card. Just switched over to digital cable and am now renting 4 boxes but wanted to purchase my own DVR box since hooking up my vcr with the new boxes is virtually impossible for me to understand.
Any info would be appreciated.
Mushulou

 

[cforrest]

Yeah it's called the Tivo S3, will allow you to get HD and SD encrypted channels, but you need 2 CableCards if you want both tuners to be working. Problem is the S3 is around $800 & VOD will not work with it.

 

[RemyM]

There are also regular Tivo's that don't take cablecards that you can use to record analog channels without a cable box. Sony used to make DVR's but I don't see them on their website anymore. It all depends on your setup, if you want to record encrypted or HD channels then I think the Series 3 Tivo is the only alternative to the DVR from CV. You can't buy a SA8300 box and get a smart card from CV though.

 

[mushulou]

Thanks for the info, all I wanted was a DVR box to replace my vcr so I could record regular channels. I thought maybe I could buy a Scientific Atlantic 8300 box on Ebay and then rent the card from Cablevision, guess not.
Mushulou