# USB Connector on my Cable box? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2006, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868 "2006-01-07T06:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/1 "2006-01-07T06:40:51Z")
Does anyone know what the USB port on my Comcast cable box might be used for? I have a Motorola High-Def Digital Cable Box with built-in DVR. It has a built in USB jack along wth a bunch of other connectors. Anyone have any thoughts what one might use that USB port for? The manual is totally useless in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/2 "2006-01-07T06:46:19Z")
Transferring recorded programs to or from your computer? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/3 "2006-01-07T06:50:12Z")
I was thinking that might be the case, but I’m wondering if anyone can say for sure or it it’s been done. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/4 "2006-01-07T07:09:28Z")
It might be used for cable internet. I know on the back of my DSL modem/router there is a USB2 port meant for the DSL hookup if the computer does not have an ethernet port. (Not a problem for me, as I’ve got both a 10/100 and a 10/100/1000 ports back there configured as a LAN bridge.) Or does Comcast send out a special cable modem? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/5 "2006-01-07T07:28:30Z")
Yeah, they send out modems. Indeed mine does have a USB there too, not sure if that is a function of the one on my cable box or not. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/6 "2006-01-07T08:39:19Z")
[Comcast DVR - How to transfer content to Computer?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=352103) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/7 "2006-01-07T09:43:45Z")
Interesting. Still, that begs the question. If the manufacturer wants to prevent transfer of saved material to a PC, why did they include USB and Firewire jacks on the box? Do they have another purpose? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/8 "2006-01-07T16:48:05Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Interesting. Still, that begs the question. If the manufacturer wants to prevent transfer of saved material to a PC, why did they include USB and Firewire jacks on the box? Do they have another purpose? AFAIK the manufacturer (Motorola) manufactures that cable box with the intent that it be compatible with multiple needs and systems so they packed it with multiple IO features for maximum flexibility & potential future needs. Each cable service provider decides what features it wants active and inactive. The ability to easily export video toa PC is currently not something many cable vendors want enabled. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/9 "2006-01-07T16:55:07Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Yeah, they send out modems. Indeed mine does have a USB there too, not sure if that is a function of the one on my cable box or not. Ah, I see. I just wondered if they sent out an all-in-one box instead of two seperate boxes. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-connector-on-my-cable-box/338868/10 "2006-01-07T19:15:04Z")
As was posted in the other thread, you can’t use the USB port for file/video transfer. If you want to check out [TFM](http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/dct6208.asp) for a random Motorola DVR (likely similar to the one you have), it says it “Connects to supported devices”. :rolleyes: Moving on, it doesn’t look like it lists them, but on page 33 (40 of the pdf), it shows some little icons, including what look to be a printer, PC, mouse, keyboard, digital camera, and external HD.