FORCED TO SWITCH TO CONTOUR
Cox has probably mandated Contour for 4-5 years. What were you using until now?
This reads like you have a faulty cable-box. Replace it. These boxes aren't new but reissued. Another subscriber either had the same issues, returned it and Cox reissued to you...or the subscriber dropped a serviceable box while returning to Cox.
Cox issued my first Contour box with its AC receptacle dangling inside the chassis. The HDMI port on the second box was dead. I noticed dead stinkbugs through the vents of one box.