HDTV not connected to cablebox

[olilugo]

Hi all,
Have any of you tried to connect your HDTV directly to cable without the use of a digital cable box?

Do you get the digital channels?

I am in the middle of deciding to get digital cable but I hate the cable box, I don't have room for it and I rather have the most simple of setups.
TV connected to the cable line, just like I have it today, with the only diference is that I only get analog, plus I get digital local channels but I think they are being pick up through the air .

Any advise would be very welcome.

[danger boy]

i haven't tried it.. but I would think that your TV needs the cable box to decode those digital cable signals. yes you can receive the OTA digital signals from your local stations... but that would be it.

[olilugo]

So what is the point of having a HD tuner?

They all say that the tuner can decode NTSC, QAM, ATSC.

[Marty913]

Hi all,
Have any of you tried to connect your HDTV directly to cable without the use of a digital cable box?

Do you get the digital channels?

I am in the middle of deciding to get digital cable but I hate the cable box, I don't have room for it and I rather have the most simple of setups.
TV connected to the cable line, just like I have it today, with the only diference is that I only get analog, plus I get digital local channels but I think they are being pick up through the air .

Any advise would be very welcome.

Yes, I hooked up my friends new HDTV (Samsung) two months ago. He has Basic cable (70 channels unscrambled) from Cox so no cable box. When we did the channel scan he picked up 6-7 local HD channels. The had the typical interim naming convention (3-1, 5-1, etc.) so you couldn't tune them via the keypad but they were in the channel menu.

Having said that, Cox & the other cable companies are doing a lot of converting & reconfiguring right now. He decided to stay with "no box" and last week two of the HD channels "went away". I suspect he will lose a few more in the coming months. He has now decided just to get the box.

Maybe the short answer is "Yes - Maybe", and even then perhaps only for a while.

[avguytx]

So what is the point of having a HD tuner?

They all say that the tuner can decode NTSC, QAM, ATSC.

The point of that (the ATSC tuner) is for people that don't have satellite or cable and just watch via off air antenna, or people (like me) that still have HD satellite or HD Cable with some HD stuff and like having the ability to watch the locals just in case the cable/satellite happens to go down. Like that ever happens. :D

[olilugo]

I see what you guys mean,
In order to get the digital channels, I will need a cable box because these channels are in scramble format and the box will decode them.
The TV will only pick the digital channels with its own tuner if they will not scrambled.

This is bad for me because now I need a cable box for every TV or TV tuner in the house.

Right now our local cable provider has a deal for Digital Cable + Internet + phone for 99.00 for 2 years with no increase in price.
But I have 2 TV and I also have a TV tuner on my computer which is nice to have a small TV right on the monitor while I am working on the computer... sorry I don't have a laptop...
this means I will need to also have a cable box for the computer tuner which I don't have the space or the plug available for it...
Dam!, this is one of those that technology is not simplifiying my life....

[Marty913]

So what is the point of having a HD tuner?

They all say that the tuner can decode NTSC, QAM, ATSC.

Actually, this is a pretty good question as it relates to QAM. avguytx has answered the ATSC part (I also use both a roof antenna for local HD and have Directv HD so it does come in handy. As for QAM heres a quote from Wikipedia that pretty much nails it.

"An integrated QAM tuner allows the free reception of unscrambled digital programming sent "in the clear" by cable providers, usually local broadcast stations or music. Which channels are scrambled varies greatly from location to location and can change over time; the majority of digital channels are scrambled because the providers consider them to be extra-cost options and not part of the "basic cable" package."

Scrambling enables the cable companies to charge you $4.95 a month for each extra receiver so expect them all to be scrambled before long, thus rendering the QAM tuner in your TV useless.

[mutelight]

Some providers offer cable cards which allows you to view the channels on a compatible display.

[olilugo]

I just call my cable provider. they have a deal 2 years of fix prize for 99.95 + tax and other mega charges is about 113. This is what I get.
1 cable box, so only one tv will be in HD.
Other boxes are 8.00 each extra.
any TV that does not have the box will be able to get the old analog channels
1 Internet(Road Runner)
and DIgital Phone all included in the price.
As far as the digital phone, it has free local and long distance as long as you never call a cell phone, if you do then there is an extra 10 to 15c a min dependeding where you are calling to.
If you call international, then it is by the min example 7c to England, 10c to Spain and Portugal. again if they call is not to a cell phone...
Any way, thanks for all your imput, I wish I didn't have to put more boxes in between my TV, receiver, dvd and speakers.

I just don't think something that the cable company let you have it will be that high fidelity... I might be wrong.

[apc]

Over The Air (OTA) HD signal can be acquired by any TV with an HD tuner given there is a signal from local stations I am told. I have a Knology bundle with basic cable and pick up the major network HD signals during primetime and weekends. We tried the digital cable package but found that we only watched a handfull of stations anyway, so dropped the digital along with tons of HD channels. We are considering Direct TV for the stable of HD it offers. Several of our friends have it and give favorable reviews. I just have trouble paying that much every month for it when we don't watch tons of TV.

[john22614]

I recall reading somewhere that Federal regulations require all cable companies to transmit unscrambled digital signals via cable that air transmitted locally OTA. That includes all the major networks and as well as local OTA stations. I have received FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC and PBS HD channels for years via a direct cable feed to the back of my plasma with no cable box and except to continue to do so. I also get them over the air, but sometimes not so well when the weather is bad because of all the trees in my area, especially on windy days. Lately, I've noticed Comcast is moving these channels around a lot, I suspect they're making lots of changes in preparation for the 2/09 all digital requirement. Just remember, they are required to transmit these network channels unscrambled in HD by Federal Law, I'm sure if they had the choice, they wouldn't do so. Lately, I've had to do a lot of channel scans to find FOX and PBS that they seem to be moving around a lot. But, I suspect that will settle down as they complete the transition of all channels to digital in the coming months.

[Ricardo]

Over the Air HD has the best picture quality available. Just buy a decent antenna and you'll get all the local HD channels.