Comcast Cable boxes.

[Thermo]

Any Cable techs here? I have two Comcast digital cable boxes made by motorola. One is just basically a tuner, the other has a hard drive and can record and replay. My question is what do the USB and Ethernet ports do? Is it just for flashing and diags, or can they be networked?

[Recon]

worked for comcast 3 years ago, at that time both were disabled without openeing the box and reflashing..

[ksuohio]

Some of the boxes allow you to hookup an external hard drive and store more video. WD just released an external 500gb box that works with various models including Motorla and SA.

[vairox]

the comcast boxes have their ports disabled because they don't want you getting the stuff onto your pc...

however, you can get an HD box with the port enabled but they won't record....once again, they don't want you saving stuff on your pc.... the FCC mandates that they provide you with a box with functional ports, look it up....it's just that they don't have to give you one that records, loophole comcast rapes u FTL

comcast is FTL since they throw the nfl network on a premium sports tier...losers.

here you go... fcc mandates firewire ports be enabled

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/...m/981003649631

but oops! companies can get waivers, which means it's all just a bunch of baloney and they don't have to do squat.... I love all those laws that make other laws useless, *** is the point.

heres a much better scoop from folks actually trying to get an HD box with firewire enabled from their cable companies...

http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/s...postid=3667733

apparently the companies play you for stupid, pretend they know nothing about it, thens end you a box with no firewire....don't be surprised if the company in concert with the MPAA sends guys in black suits to your door to kill you.