From what I have been told by co workers the unique number on the back of the box is required to make the friends box work "at his address. Now don't hold me to this but I believe on TWC's end they have your name associated with the numbers off the back of the two boxes you own and consequently your two HD boxes work in your house/address only.
But your friends box's unique number is matched to his address only and won't work at your house.
I understand where you are coming from, since you are renting from them but still paying for digital one would think that you could get a box from another source. Maybe you could if you could get them to register the third number to your address.
Maybe some one else can elaborate on this.
My Samsung 451 OTA HD tuner has cable QUAM capabilities. It says in the event that your cable provider is allowing non scrambled Quam thru your cable connection you may be able to receive HD cable. But than it also has a disclaimer saying it will not pass QUAM. Go figure !!!
