Ok, I have read a few things on here that mention that you now have to have a cable box from the BX to get cable. This is differnt from when I left there 2 yrs ago, and I headed back on Aug 1st.
So do you have to pay monthly rent on the decoder and for cable or what?
Is this the decoder that I need?
http://cgi.ebay.com/AFN-decoder-Box-...QQcmdZViewItem
or is it this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/AFN-Decoder-powe...QQcmdZViewItem
can I just buy one of these decoders and say to hell with AFFES?
Will these boxes work down town or do you have to be on base?
thanks for the help

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TSGT USAF

Well the deal is Everyone has basic cable (AFN and some local channels) If you want hbo,cinemax,showtime and so forth then you gotta pay for the upgraded cable. Thats when they give you the cable box. Not sure how the cable box works cause I refuse to pay for t.v. heh. If there is something I want to watch there are plenty of good sites that stream t.v. shows for free. Not sure on the rules for linking something like that in the forums so if you are interested just pm me.

Apples and oranges...

The boxes you have linked to on eBay are not for cable - they are AFN satellite receivers.

If you live on base, you don't need an AFN satellite receiver, because you can get most (all?) of the AFN programming for free. However, if you live off-base, you can't receive on-base cable - so no AFN (except the one AFN over-the-air channel). So you have to have one of these satellite receivers to watch AFN.

If you do end up living off base, look around for a deal on a satellite dish. While you only rent the satellite receiver (for $25 month), you have to buy the dish. People leaving have no use for the dish, so they will practically give them away.

Note: The ONLY accepted means of payment for satellite service is with a Star Card. I never had a Star Card, but had to get one so that I could get a satellite receiver (can't live without the sports broadcasts!).

And DON'T hire the guy the PX (at Yongsan) recommends for setting up your dish. He charges $150 and takes way too long to come to your place to do the job. Just go to your neighborhood electronics shop. The guy there will be over to your place in half and hour and he'll only charge a fraction of what the PX guy charges.

Or you can try using a Slingbox (www.slingmedia.com)

It sends your cable signal from the U.S out over the internet. you can watch streaming live TV from your computer anywhere you have a broadband connection. No dumb AAFES commercial and you get to watch all your favorite shows. We hooked ours up to a TIVO so we don't even have to worry about the time difference.