Motorola DCT5100

Andy Polo · 07-27-2003, 11:32 AM

I was wondering if there is any place where I can buy this box. My cable company is offering to sell it to me for their HDTV service for 400 bucks. And Motorolas site is pretty insane, in that I can't find anywhere to buy this.

Garrett Adams · 07-27-2003, 02:53 PM

I've read that the Motorola boxes will eventually be available for sale to end users. Up to now Motorola's customer has been the cable operators themselves, and I haven't read whether retail sales will open up to other retail channels. Fortunately for me Comcast rents the DCT5100 for an additional $5.00 per month which I think is quite reasonable.

Be aware that the Motorola DCT6208 HDTV/SD PVR should be available before year end. When that happens the DCT5100 will pale in comparison (think 56k modem vs. broadband).

Andy Polo · 07-27-2003, 09:33 PM

Do you think that the Motorola DCT6208 will be compatable with the 5100?

JeremyFr · 07-27-2003, 10:53 PM

The box's typically have to be issued by the cable company due to the box being encoded for there service and what is available in your area, also I would see if you can rent the box from your cable company as if you buy it and it breaks it comes out of your pocket not theres where if you're leasing the box then they're responsible for replacing/fixing it, if it fails. One last thing yes the Motorola 6000 series are out and some companys are starting to offer them but as of yet I have not heard of a single american cable operator offering these box's yet. Most like Comcast will not offer the 6000 series since they are going full steam ahead with Video On Demand eliminating the need for an expensive PVR unit.

Garrett Adams · 07-28-2003, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Most like Comcast will not offer the 6000 series

If VOD is free and equals or betters the capability of a 6208 box then fine. If not I'll bail to Dish and their upcoming 921 PVR.

**HTF Ads**

Andy Polo · 07-28-2003, 03:12 PM

So if I buy a Motorola 5100 from say an on-line store, then it won't work with my cable at home? Has anyone else had to purchase their box from the company? Like I said, they are charging 400 bucks for the box and then 6 bucks per month for the local channels in HDTV like ABC, CBS, and FOX and then 11 bucks for HDNet Movies and Espn HD and Discovery HD.

JeremyFr · 07-28-2003, 05:13 PM

who's your cable company??? as much as I hate to say this if they're gonna ask you to purchase the box you'd probably be better off getting dish or directv

kevitra · 07-29-2003, 12:33 PM

"Better off with Dish or DTV.."

Well, it depends on what you want. Personally, I want all of my local channels via cable. I have an antenna, but reception is hit-or-miss depending on the day.

With DTV/Dish, you get HDNet + HDNet Movies, ESPN, Showtime, PPV. This requires a ~$500 HD recevier.

With my Comcast I get NBC, ABC, Fox, WTTW, ESPN, HBO, and hopefully soon CBS and WGN (hopefully). The HD box is $5/month here, but even at $400 it is cheaper than D*.

The locals are much more valuable to me than HDNet. What is important to you?

Andy Polo · 07-29-2003, 07:00 PM

Well, the local channels are important but as of right now my cable company, BuckeyeCable System, Located in Toledo, Ohio, is only offering CBS and FOX. So with FOX's crappy HD service I'm paying 6 bucks a month for CBS. Not to mention the 400 bucks for a cable box that I'm sure will be obsolete in a couple of months anyway.

Dan Stone · 07-30-2003, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Most like Comcast will not offer the 6000 series since they are going full steam ahead with Video On Demand eliminating the need for an expensive PVR unit.

Comcast is currently testing the DCT6208 in select markets back east. The 6208 will be deployed in addition to VOD since not all channels will be VOD for quite some time.

Dan Stone · 07-30-2003, 10:12 AM

More info regarding Comcast using Motorola's new DCT's is posted here:

http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/...224_23,00.html

as well as over at the AVS Forum.