Can mini box be programmed for favorite channels?

Hi kj32,

There is a way to lock channels out of the lineup. These steps can also be used to avoid those channels. This may be the work around you're seeking.

The Program Guide lets you restrict access to programming several different ways. Setting Locking Status is the first step to turning on Parental Controls.

1. Make sure Parental Controls is highlighted.
2. Press the RIGHT arrow or SELECT button to open the Parental Controls Menu.
3. Use the UP or DOWN arrow to move the highlight bar to Parental Locks. Press the RIGHT arrow or SELECT button to edit the lock settings. A new set of cards will appear, with the highlight bar on Locking Status in the left card.
4. Press the SELECT button or RIGHT arrow to shift the focus and highlight bar to the center card.
5. Use the UP or DOWN arrow to highlight On and press SELECT.
Whenever there is a request to change Locking Status or any of the Parental Controls, a dialogue box will appear asking you to enter the four-digit PIN. It will happen only once, triggered by the first change request. This allows you to easily change multiple settings during any single visit to Parental Controls.
6. Use the LEFT arrow to return to Locking Status or press EXIT to close Settings.

Lock Channels

After turning on Parental Controls, you have a number of different ways to restrict access to programming, including by channel, by ratings and by content advisories.

Begin at the Settings Menu:

1. Make sure Parental Controls is highlighted.
2. Press the RIGHT arrow or SELECT button to open the Parental Controls Menu.
3. Use the UP or DOWN arrow to move the highlight bar to Parental Locks. Press the RIGHT arrow or SELECT button to edit the lock settings.
4. Use the UP or DOWN arrow to highlight Lock Channels. Press the RIGHT arrow or SELECT to choose this option.
5. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to highlight channels that you want to lock. Alternatively, you can simply enter the channel number using the number (0–9) keys. Press SELECT to lock the highlighted channel.
6. Use the UP or DOWN arrow to select additional channels. Press SELECT to lock each additional channel.
7. Press the LEFT arrow

kj32, 

The minibox will allow you to lock channels and set parental controls but not to totally skip them. This is an option available only on the full feature cable receivers. I apologize. 

I was not aware the big boxes allowed you to skip channels. I am tired of changing channels and hitting ones I'm not even subscribed to. How do you program the box to skip channels?

chattycat, 

It depends on the box that you have. Can you tell us the model number of your box? 

Scientific Atlanta 4240HDC

Hi Chattycat,

To set preferences within the menu of your Scientific Atlanta 4240HDC, press the Settings button on your Cox remote control, and then press the A button for "More Settings." Use the up/down arrow keys on the remote to scroll to "My Preferences." Press the Select button (or the right arrow key) once "My Preferences" is highlighted to access Favorite Channels, Skipped Channels, and other settings. To add channels to your "Skipped Channels" list, highlight "Skipped Channels" and press the Select button. You can then press the Select button to choose the channel numbers that you would like to skip.

Thank you for your reply, Becky. When I tried that on both of the 4240HDC boxes I have, I can set favorite channels, but there is no skipped channels option among the other available settings.

I also wish there was a way to have the Guide only show the channels I'm subscribed to or receiving, like the MiniBox guide, but I do understand having all the guide listings showing is advertising for the available channels/programming to anyone scrolling through the listings.