What ports on comcast cable boxes are active?

Worst, most overly used and potentially lazy response. Only the cable providers can't seem to get past the "copyright" issues and yet still provide sub-par (understatement) internal drives.

The only way to "pull" programs from your DVR is through either a DVD burner/VCR using the S-Video or RCA ports or you can supposedly use the Firewire to "stream" media to a computer. ( Delete or Edit for 15 minutes )

Not even all of them force you to use the WD MyDVR Expander, DirecTV let me hook any external hard drive up. The info isn't "usable" on a computer.

And per a rep/tech/monkey that I spoke with 1-2 weeks ago, the Motorola boxes haven't even entered the "beta" stage of testing, they're still doing inhouse "alpha" testing and there is no ETA at this time. Why Comcast is leeps and bounds behind everyone else (other than they're a monopoly and can be) is beyond me. The SA boxes have the ESATA port active, but you have to be somewhere that the headend equipment is configured for them. ( Delete or Edit for 15 minutes )

Sarien, I have been told that as well with the Scientific Atlanta boxes. But my question is, if other regions in the country are offered this box and service, why not everywhere? It was also brought to my attention that other regions pay different fees for monthly DVR service. In the Philadelphia area that we are located, we are actually paying more than some of those areas throughout the country who have access to the better SA box. Yet Comcast can not reduce my fees because that is "just how our pricing structure works." Paying more for less, makes a lot of sense to me... ( Delete or Edit for 15 minutes )

I don't see how this would be a hardware issue rather than an issue of the firmware Comcast is supplying for the box. I have been told that only the SA boxes have an active SATA port. I still don't get why this can't just be activated for Motorola boxes as well. ( Delete or Edit for 15 minutes )

Its a "copyright issue", which I personally don't understand. I'm allowed to tape shows for my own use, if i then try to sell/distribue said tape that is when I cross the line. To me, it should be MY responsibility for ME not to break the law.

Stop trying to police what I do and let me have that responsibility. In all actuality, if people were that determined to distribute the programs, crippling the equipment isn't going to stop them.

Worse/Best case, by not allowing me to expand the space, I am being forced to make a permanent copy so that I don't run out of space. ( Delete or Edit for 15 minutes )

You are right, Sarien. I can actually more easily pirate things by splitting the cable rather than this false notion that Comcast has that activating the SATA port like every other company out there does will somehow give people easy access to mass produce copies of video illegally. The hard drives connected through the SATA port CAN NOT then be hooked up to a computer for this purpose. If they are connected to a different device other than the DVR that they were hooked up to, the hard drive is wiped clean. ( Delete or Edit for 15 minutes )