The real purpose of the Mini-box - clarification needed.

It isn't just Cox, the FCC allowed all cable providers running digital networks to encrypt their networks. As for why providers want to encrypt their networks, yes, profit is probably one of the reasons. There are other reasons too, but those have already been discussed on this forum before. What clarification were you looking for?

Tecknowhelp said:

It isn't just Cox, the FCC allowed all cable providers running digital networks to encrypt their networks. As for why providers want to encrypt their networks, yes, profit is probably one of the reasons. There are other reasons too, but those have already been discussed on this forum before. What clarification were you looking for?

cablewhipped said:
I didn't know that an FCC decision was behind this.

FYI: https://www.fcc.gov/guides/cable-system-encryption

cablewhipped said:
Some clarification seems appropriate because

By clarification do you actually mean justification? I think you have a sound understanding of the reasoning. 

cablewhipped said:
the new system is designed to restrict our "video experience"

I don't disagree that the message isn't accurate. Some of it is spin, but some of it is simplification for the laymen. There are plenty of technical reasons, from avoiding ingress, decreasing the difficulty of disco/reconnects, and preventing theft. Those things are hard to fit into a one liner though. In the end, the only important reason they have is "because we can". 

cablewhipped: "... After 12 months I'll be charged an EXTRA $144 per year FOR NOTHING. If COX changes the rental-cost of the mini-box, then it could cost more. COX is forcing their customers to pay for limiting their own service. Please correct me if anything I've said is inaccurate."

Well, you will now receive HD versions of the ex-analog channels, and the video noise so prevalent in analog video transmissions  will no longer be present.

Cablewhipped...I couldn't agree with you more.  These boxes are unnecessary to provide a digital signal to a digital TV.  We're happy with the way it is now.  We, too, are going to see a large annual increase if we were to put a mini-box on each of our seven TVs that don't currently have a box.   One thing I'm curious about is will ALL channels be encrypted or will our local network stations stay unencrypted?  The reason I ask is because in one of our recent bills, Cox printed this:  

Starting on January 19, 2016, select channels in our Cox TV Essential package will convert to a digital-only format. With this change, all TVs must have digital equipment - such as a mini box, CableCard, or Advanced TV Receiver to receive the full TV Essential channel lineup. The following channels will move to a digital-only format on January 19, 2016: Animal Planet channel 78, Food Network channel 60, E! channel 83, TV Land channel 84, A&E channel 76, ABC Family channel 89, AMC channel 93, FX channel 81, History channel 77, TBS channel 17, HSN channel 34, and QVC channel 24.

Since they mention select channels are going to digital-only and need the mini box, will some channels stay unencrypted?

Viewer, I assume you are talking about the ClearQAM channels, if so, they will be encrypted too when the conversion is complete.  I think what you are seeing is the phased-in conversion, some channels at a time until all are converted.  Unless your market is different from mine, you won't get anything direct off the cable, not even the ClearQAMs.

Now, if you only want the locals & can receive them OTA, that's an option.  You can cut the cable on those TVs and just use an antenna.

Viewer in VA said:

Since they mention select channels are going to digital-only and need the mini box, will some channels stay unencrypted?

I emailed them in September asking if the switch was going to be all at once or a piecemeal slow roll. Their reply:

"While you will start to see some analog channels make the change to digital in the next month, we do not have the dates for when All Digital will be complete. Please continue to view your statement as more information will be released as to when a converter will be needed."

They probably have some technical reason for which channels get encrypted when but eventually all channels will be encrypted. Even the locals. The 1992 Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act, where the "must carry" (local channels) rule comes from, does not mention encryption.

The cable cabal convinced (hornswoggled?) the FCC to allow encryption by touting the benefits to consumers. If you want to read the cabal's arguments and the FCC's reasoning and finding here's the pdf: https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-12-126A1.pdf 

It's 43 pages. The short version: They're doing you a favor. Almost everybody has an STB nowadays anyway. With more available bandwidth you can get more services. Fewer truck rolls. Lower operating costs translate into lower prices. Everybody wins!

Viewer in VA said:

Cablewhipped...I couldn't agree with you more.  These boxes are unnecessary to provide a digital signal to a digital TV.  We're happy with the way it is now.  We, too, are going to see a large annual increase if we were to put a mini-box on each of our seven TVs that don't currently have a box.   One thing I'm curious about is will ALL channels be encrypted or will our local network stations stay unencrypted?  The reason I ask is because in one of our recent bills, Cox printed this:  

Starting on January 19, 2016, select channels in our Cox TV Essential package will convert to a digital-only format. With this change, all TVs must have digital equipment - such as a mini box, CableCard, or Advanced TV Receiver to receive the full TV Essential channel lineup. The following channels will move to a digital-only format on January 19, 2016: Animal Planet channel 78, Food Network channel 60, E! channel 83, TV Land channel 84, A&E channel 76, ABC Family channel 89, AMC channel 93, FX channel 81, History channel 77, TBS channel 17, HSN channel 34, and QVC channel 24.

Since they mention select channels are going to digital-only and need the mini box, will some channels stay unencrypted?

Note the stated "starting on." The others will follow later.

Jerry said:
......... They're doing you a favor. Almost everybody has an STB nowadays anyway. With more available bandwidth you can get more services. Fewer truck rolls. Lower operating costs translate into lower prices. Everybody wins!

You should have included and they assume we’re so dumb, that we buy all that garbage. about Everybody wins!

no like AllenP said all channels will be encrypted they are most likely based on renewing or changing channel contracts to allow encryption or channel placement.