Mini box problems

I have been having problems with the video blanking out @ 1-2 second intervals ever since my mini box was installed. After 3 visits from a Cox technician the problem seemed to be fixed for 1 day until I lost all channels below 17. When I called tech support (for the 4th time) we went through the standard trouble shooting routine, and still no good. It was then that the young man at tech support informed me that 2 regular set top boxes come with each account. We scheduled a replacement of the mini box with a regular HD STB. I have to wonder, after all of the difficulty I have had with the mini box and all the visits by a tech, this option was never mentioned.