I've had Cox for internet service for a few years and been generally pleased with them. Recently, I contacted them for an issue and they offered me a package of increased internet speed plus freebie HBO for a few bucks less per month than I am already paying. What's to not like, right?
My internet experience continues to be very good. The increase in speed has been noticeable and measurable. The TV service? Not so good.
I have a mid-range digital monitor (20 inch) connected to my PC and it has TV capability as well. I used it to see how Cox signals matched up to OTA TV and that streamed through my PC. I was not surprised.
Using my OTA connection for local HD channels the picture and audio are perfect. I can use either an indoor or an outdoor antenna with results being equal. Feeding that signal to the TV and using Windows Media Center provides a picture that cannot be determined to be different than the OTA picture. Now for the Cox box.....and it is very disappointing. So much so that I cannot figure out why people would pay for it at all. The SD channels are, in a word, terrible. Virtually unwatchable. The HD channels are remarkably better but not up to either OTA signal. I am assuming this is because Cox's HD signals are still compressed to some degree whereas the OTA signals are not.
Obviously, the only way I can watch HBO is through Cox however after reviewing the HBO schedule I found absolutely nothing of interest to me so I doubt I will be using the Cox box for anything and just enjoy the increased internet speed. BTW, HBO was the first premium service offered by my first cable service back in 1980 and aside from the occasional movie we never watched it then. Nothing seems to have changed.