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Cable boxes serve two key purposes:
- Allows TV sets that are not cable-ready to recognize cable input and expand channel capacity
- Allows cable subscribers to view premium/optional channels
To view channels offered in any of our cable services, your TV needs to be "cable-ready" or have a cable box. A TV is cable-ready when it has the capacity to reach a larger number of channels and recognizes cable input. A cable box allows you to select cable channels 2 through 78. Your TV set is always tuned to channel 3 whenever a cable box is used.
Viewing Subscription Channels
Some channels on cable are optional "subscription" channels that are not part of your basic or standard services. These subscription channels include HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, TMC, Nippon Golden Network, etc. A cable box is required to view subscription channels, even though you have a cable-ready TV. These channels are available for a small monthly fee. If you are a subscriber, the cable box "unscrambles" these channels so you can view them.
Recording with a Cable-Ready VCR
Similarly, to record cable channel programs with a VCR, a cable box is required for optional "subscription" channels such as HBO or ESPN2. A cable-ready VCR recognizes cable input and can record any subscription-based cable channel. To record from a cable box, the VCR is always tuned to channel 3.
Variety of Cable Boxes
Besides tuning cable channels, some cable boxes offer a wide variety of features and advanced functions.
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