Is mini box needed for DVD recorder?

Hi Chuck88,

If the DVD recorder is connected to the TV with the Cox (Cisco) digital receiver, then you will not need the mini box for that TV. You will need a mini box for the TVs that have a direct cable connection from the outlet to the back of the TV. Hope this information helps.

From your description, Chuck, I assume you have a splitter, connect cable feeds directly to both the Cisco receiver and  DVD recorder, then the 2 devices to separate inputs on the TV.  If that is the case, yes, you will need a minibox for the DVD recorder.  The signal off the cable will be encrypted rendering the digital tuner in the DVD recorder useless.  Hopefully the DVD recorder also has an analog tuner as that is required to receive the coax out of the minibox.  Also, the DVD recorder won't be able to change channels, the channel is selected in the minibox and must be set with it's remote.

Sorry Renee, your answer assumes the DVD recorder is in series with the Cisco box & TV, Chuck stated it is in parallel.  Chuck, please correct me in I'm wrong.

ReneeG, Does "If the DVD recorder is connected to the TV with the Cox (Cisco) digital receiver" mean connected to the TV through the Cox receiver? The Cox receiver and DVD recorder are connected to the same TV. At the cable wall outlet, there is a splitter which feeds coax to each device in parallel. One path goes through the Cox receiver to the TV. The other path goes through the DVD recorder to the TV. So, effectively, the DVD recorder is connected directly to the cable wall outlet. Does this change your answer? Chuck88

AllenP. Your connection scenario is correct.

Chuck88,

You will still need a mini box to connect between the wall and the DVD Recorder as Allan stated.