As I recall the HDHRPrime with Optimum did allow the basics to come through without the CABLE CARD then some few years ago they locked them down and made sure your CALBE CARD was installed. So the answer is no y ou can't use the box to get the basic channels free and clear through QAM tuners. Now your idea of a firmware update to make the box usble for OTA is interesting and dont know if it requires more hardware within as they sell other boxes specifically for that use and I always wondered why our HDHR primes did not support OTA by default. I doubt they can simply make a firware change to allow it.jkarkut wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2024 5:42 am I have Optimum service as well. Disappointed...but renting cable boxes is their bread and butter. My question is this...how can the HDHRPrime be used from today on? Does is have the capability to pick up broadcast basic channels that may be available on the cable line itself? Another is...with SiliconDust push a firmware update to allow the HDHRPrime to pickup OTA signals from my antenna? I have two of these units. Avoiding tossing them in the trash...
Regarding STBs as bread and butter yes. But I was lucky that with the FREE CABLECARD though only 2bucks if we paid and given free during the original digital transtiion you may recall some what 15years ago, the STB that came with my basic package was NOT charged to me because they saw the CC active. And I was told not to return it because that would reset my discounted package pricing. So I held it for 10 years now and its so old it would not work when I plugged it in but got another. I have not given back the CC yet. Its recognized and authenticated but what Optimum seems to have done is reduce the transmission speed to you for each channel thereby making them unsusable. I know this becuase via your web you can see the status of the HDHR Prime and each channel my PLEX tried to start showed this then failed. One channel of a local GOV TV was left alone and streams fine but is otherwise useless. So yes this is the final nail in the coffin I think they are doing to get you to rent their boxes UNLESS we all boycott and simply go to full streaming with internet only. But if you do that they jack up the internet prices a bit. Time will tell. My 2024 reduced package negotiated through RETENTION group expires this month and I will setup a new plan for Dec and into 2025. Time will tell and will be interesting if they simply leave my package as is but now I use the box and no CC. The CCard was of course more friendly to use because on my 85inch tv i was able to stream tv, do email, surf web on browser all on 1 screen and now I cant let alone recording without paying them which they charge as much as renting the STB. Maybe its time to just turn it all off and stay on the basic internet package of 100mb down and 5 up...SO BE IT! They still lose pushing these things around and locking things up.