Question about Samsung Bd-H8900

I have also replaced the Cablecom set-top box with this device. No CI+ card is necessary, the TV cable can be connected directly to the box. Without the CI+ card, only the TV channels of the Cablecom Basic TV package are available, which is enough for me. The above statements are correct: there is no longer any on-demand from Cablecom. But other services such as Netflix, for example, work perfectly.

Are recordings possible like with the horizon box?

The player is connected directly to the TV socket and the TV is connected to the player.
In principle, a CI+ card is sufficient if it is installed in the player and can be used to watch and record the digital package.
The HorizenBox is no longer absolutely necessary, but then neither On-Demand can be used nor can programmes from the past be played. This is only possible with the HorizenBox.