Are boxes allowed to be sold?

[raefil]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Yes it is. Since you never own the box (it is rented from VM in the monthly cost), it is technically theft and buying one would be handling stolen goods.

I repeat what I said earlier, "It is not illegal to purchase or sell a cable set top box." These can be legitimately sourced in many ways. However you quite rightly point out that it is illegal to handle stolen goods.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by raefil

I repeat what I said earlier, "It is not illegal to purchase or sell a cable set top box."

Lets make no mistake - people don't buy STBs to just look at it - they are either buying them to sell them on or using them for illegal means - so which ever way you want to look it at, to use a STB legally, you have to be subscribed to the cable company.

[raefil]

Originally Posted by Mick

Lets make no mistake - people don't buy STBs to just look at it - they are either buying them to sell them on or using them for illegal means - so which ever way you want to look it at, to use a STB legally, you have to be subscribed to the cable company.

Absolutely!

However lets be clear that the offence is not commited by purchasing but by attempting to use them. Quite rightly, you say, whatever other reason would people buy them.

it makes me angry that I know quite a few people who are using these type of boxes and getting the same and in some cases more services than I am paying for.

[Rob M]

Originally Posted by raefil

it makes me angry that I know quite a few people who are using these type of boxes and getting the same and in some cases more services than I am paying for.

You know what to do about that then

[Mr_love_monkey]

Originally Posted by Raistlin

You know what to do about that then

Burn their houses down?

[Rob M]

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

Burn their houses down?

Sounds like a plan to me

[raefil]

Originally Posted by Raistlin

You know what to do about that then

I have never subscribed, nor never will, to the snitch culture that has developed in this country since the Thatcher days. I do believe in other peoples right to take the opposite attitude to me, of course.

[foreverwar]

Snitch culture?

Do you mean not standing idly by while others commit theft?

[AntiSilence]

Originally Posted by Rob

I've emphasised the bold bit. In other words, however difficult VM might make the return of kit, they seem to expect their ex-customer to run through hoops to get the stuff back to them.

When we moved house, ntl (at the time) gave us a new STB and a 250 modem. A couple of days later, someone from ntl came to collect the old STB. I asked if he wanted the modem as well, but he said no. This was 2 years ago, and I still have the 100 modem sat around doing nothing.

I'm not going to try to re-use it, or sell it, or even give it away. But, I have took it apart to see what sort of IC's and other components that it uses, from an educational point of view, as I design my own processor circuits. I have also decided to use the casing of the modem to house something of my own design... Just not sure what yet. I will probably chuck the modem's PCB in my cupboard (not much of use on their, just a big BGA QAMLink modem chip; I have a datasheet on that now so I know how that works ) where it will stay.

[McGraw]

I have an STB from the NTL days (contract ended about 18 months ago).

After 3 no shows (where I'd made sure either myself or other people in the house would be in) I gave up chasing for them to take it and they gave up ringing me.

What should I do?

[Rob]

Dispose of it at your local recycling facility.

[Rob M]

Originally Posted by raefil

I have never subscribed, nor never will, to the snitch culture that has developed in this country since the Thatcher days. I do believe in other peoples right to take the opposite attitude to me, of course.

....and there's part of the problem right there.

'Snitching' is nothing to do with it, it's about doing the right thing.

[McGraw]

Originally Posted by Rob

Dispose of it at your local recycling facility.

Good idea but knowing my luck they would start chasing again the day I throw it away!

[Rob]

After 18 months they've lost track of the STB. One of the reasons why there are so many on the grey market

Provided you can demonstrate you made a more than reasonable attempt to facilitate the return, it would IMO be difficult for anyone to expect you to retain it indefinitely. Indeed if that was the case ex-customers up and down the county would be charging VM storage fees.

[McGraw]

Okay, cheers.