Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Hi all,

I have a General Instruments CFT 2100 anologue stb which works ok but is cosmetically damaged. I have been given a second hand identical unit and was hoping to simply replace the old one with the second hand one that I have aquired. I am no techie (so please excuse my ignorance!!!!) but will this work???

Not sure if its relevant, but the replacement box I have was previously working in a different region to me. It also goes up to channel 127, whereas mine only goes up to 45.

Any advice, greatly appreciated
Thanks!

Ps I did phone NTL to ask if they could supply a replacement and they said they are not available anymore.

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Where did you get this second hand one from?

Unless ntl supply you the box, it won't work. Also, unless ntl gave you the second hand box it's a fair assumption that the box you have is stolen. All boxes belong to ntl & they are not anyone elses property to be given away or sold.

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Just to put the record straight, I'm not into receiving stolen goods!! The person no longer uses the service and NTL said they don't want the box back. The person knows mine is damaged and offered it to me.

Can anyone explain (in simple terms) why this won't work?

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Most STBs have to be registered to the ntl network or they won't receive and decode the signal properly, especially any add ons such as pay per view. The card in each STB (that often cooks quite nicely), is coded to the STB too and it's that in combination with the STB chips that give ntl some security.

No doubt there are hacks to get round all this, but as that would be illegal, were no even going to go there.

BTW :welcome: to Cable Forum :D

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

will it have a card if it is analogue , i know mine didnt :erm:

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

er, I might be wrong on that. I do recall forever reading out numbers from things on the STB whenever my analogue went wrong and you tried to persuade CS that it was sick. So certainly something in the box has to identify it to the network.

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

No there is no card.

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

so have you tried it or not , i cant see there being any harm in trying it if you aint already :) , and secondly , what is the cosmetic damage ??? , could you not just swap the guts about , obviously being careful about it , if it is just the box top then it could be as simple as a few screws :tu:

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

If you do that, make sure that you dont screw it up, as if you have to get them to replace it after altering it, theyl screw you over!

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Already been stated that they wont replace it in a previous post i beleive without looking :)

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

:D :D
correct ;)

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Whats the point in the whole smart card lark? If its tied to the box, it seems like a bit of a waste of time?

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

i would imagine so it is easier to update it rather than updating the box , however i may be wrong :erm:

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

It would be much better to swap the outer casing as suggested, however in doing so would require that the anti tamper seal is broken.

mind you, if it's not been chipped & only had the case replaced they might not care, they might never actually see it again if they say they don't want them back.

Ignore any comments on it being possible stolen property as there are many ex NTL units around that are NOT stolen & have been quite legitimaly given away. (by the sounds of it, like your 2nd unit).

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

If it's working ok then why do anything to it ? - if you do fiddle, and break it, then you can expect to be charged by ntl.

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

But if NTL don't want them back, then how are they ever going to actually see it, especially if they will not/ cannot repair it.

It's likely to just stagnate till the service is switched to 1 channel so that the users are forced to go digital :D

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Analog is on it's way out.As a rule,we dont do it anymore,however,IF IT IS FAULTY(ring up & say it is!!!!!!!) we will swap it out for a 'new' one (well,i did today for a punter!)
M
ps,i am a I/R tech for ntl!

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

So what would they do if the box failed? :rolleyes:

Sometimes, ntl amaze even me with their boneheadedness......:dozey:

Didi you get the person's name that you spoke to?

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

A point of time will come when NTL do not have any analogue box replacements as they are no longer made anymore. In theory, with people upgrading from analogue to digital and returning their old boxes, that point should be well after analogue switch off so should not be a problem. However, the vast majority of people seem to imply that NTL cannot be bothered to pick up cable modems or even digital STBs so it would not suprise me if what NTL said was true! :rolleyes:

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

I think you've missed the point. The unit is not faulty, it works perfectly ok but the outer case is damaged (something to with the kids I think, but of course everyone in the house denies it!!!!!!) Presumably, a replacement one (if available) would be chargeable as its my fault and as I'm tight i don't want to pay for it!!! I thought this would be an easy solution as someone was willing to give me another box, but obviously not.


Anyway, thanks for all your input guys, I never even thought of swapping the outer casing, dooohhhh!!!! However, as I said before i am no techie and having looked at the box it looks like some sort of special screws for which i don't have the correct screw driver. Guess I will just leave it for now!

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Isn't the whole of Northern Ireland still on analog?

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

But that time isn't now, & ntl still have many customers on analogue TV, so if they are suggesting that those customers are stuck if the box fails-why are they continuing to sell a service/product that they cannot repair/replace as per their own T's & C's?

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Nope Belfast is Digital enabled. Its just Londonderry that still needs to be upgraded.

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Long nosed pliers & plenty of spare finger skin & patience get them out when you do not have the correct screwdriver attachment.

Re: Can I replace my damaged anologue STB with an identical unit?
 

Because they're NTL!!!