Help with cable box issue....

hopefulfirefly · #1 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 09:00 AM

We have a finished basement that has several TV's, each attached to a cable box. We only go downstairs and use the TV"s when we are entertaining, so in an effort to save $$, I've been unplugging the tv/cable boxes. I went to turn on the TV/cable box this weekend and it wouldn't work. Apparently, after a box is unplugged for 2 months the cable company de-activates it and you have to call and have it reset (which is always an annoying & long process to wait on hold, transferred to the right person, etc.).

I want to keep this stuff unplugged because I think having 2 tv's, cable boxes, & DVD players plugged in is a giant waste of electricity. Does anyone else have this problem with unplugging their cable box? Is there any way around it? I suppose for now I need to keep the cable box plugged in and unplug the rest of the stuff. Any thoughts? Thanks!

kork13 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopefulfirefly

I suppose for now I need to keep the cable box plugged in and unplug the rest of the stuff. Any thoughts? Thanks!

I suppose this is probably your best option. Besides, a cable box off but not unplugged sips well less than 1W (guessing about .1W or .2W--if you have the manual, it should list it in there), just enough to keep the LED's/IR reciever on, and to keep the system on a standby to turn on when needed. Personally, I would just leave it plugged in and suck up the extra $.06/mo that it costs me.

mom-from-missouri · #3 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 10:13 AM

I would just unplug everything except the box, or write it on the calander and once a month go down and plug it back for a day, then unplug it again.

I guess my question is, if you are only using these when you entertain, is it worth paying the montly fee on them? I would think the monthly fee would be more than the electric.

Why not just take a box from upstairs to downstairs when you entertain and save the monthly fee and the cost of the electric??

Back when I had cable, I moved my one box from the living room to the bedroom and to the kitchen as needed.

hopefulfirefly · #4 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

I guess my question is, if you are only using these when you entertain, is it worth paying the montly fee on them? I would think the monthly fee would be more than the electric.

We dont' pay a monthly fee for them.

Quote:

Personally, I would just leave it plugged in and suck up the extra $.06/mo that it costs me.

This is what I will probably end up doing. Currently-I have everything plugged into a surge protector because the outlet is not near where I have the TV's, so I was trying to avoid running another extension cord to keep just the cable box plugged in (because I turn off the surge protector that the tv & dvd player is plugged into).

bjl584 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 10:45 AM

Leaving everything plugged in isn't costing you that much. I read somewhere that appliances and other devices left plugged in and not being used adds about an extra $30 a year to your electric bill. It may be worth it just to leave everything plugged in to avoid the hassle of calling the cable company everytime you want to watch tv.

osadg · #6 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 01:55 PM

I personally use something called SmartStrips. Basically they are similar to surge protectors/extension cords except they prevent the electricity that runs from unused devices from being used-just like unplugging them. The main difference is that the strip is set up so that when you have an item plugged into it-like the tv-when you turn the tv on it also turns on all the other specific devices you want to turn on with it-like the vcr/dvd player and such. We have dvrs so we don't want them to be devices that shut down completely, but everything else is connected so that when we shut the tv off, everything else goes off too. And, we don't have to run another cord, because the SmartStrips allow for "Hot" items-items that you don't want the power cut off to-like our dvrs, or your cable box. The nicest thing is, I don't have to stuggle behind things to plug/unplug things when we need them, it's all as simple as a switch. Even the computers are plugged into ones, so that when we turn the computer off-out goes the printer(s), speakers, external harddrive, desk lamp, etc. I really love them, but they are pricer than I would like and I waited until I had a 50% coupon.