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Topic:
How To Unscramble Cable Channels
This thread has 8 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Friday November 2, 2007 at 22:46
jmrobertson100
Lurking Member
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November 2007
1
Ok, I have a really odd situation. I canceled my HD cable HD package after the provider's 6-month offer had ended. After I returned the box to the cable provider, I realized they never did come out and disconnect my cable. I still have the basic cable channels and my TV is recognizing like 100 - 200 extra CATV channels, but some of them just say "scrambled". Also, on some channels I let the TV sit for like 10 seconds and finally the channel viewable. I have been receiving free cable for about 9 months and am wondering if there is any way for me to get these extra movie and HD channels. What can I do?
BEAR
Post 2 made on Saturday November 3, 2007 at 00:26
pilgram
Loyal Member
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5,684
On November 2, 2007 at 22:46, jmrobertson100 said...
Ok, I have a really odd situation. I canceled my HD cable
HD package after the provider's 6-month offer had ended.
After I returned the box to the cable provider, I realized
they never did come out and disconnect my cable. I still
have the basic cable channels and my TV is recognizing
like 100 - 200 extra CATV channels, but some of them just
say "scrambled". Also, on some channels I let the TV
sit for like 10 seconds and finally the channel viewable.
I have been receiving free cable for about 9 months and
am wondering if there is any way for me to get these extra
movie and HD channels. What can I do?

Silly me........I just pay the cable company for their services.............

I guess you could break into your neighbors house and steal their cable box!!

When that one gets de-activated due to theft, just move up the street to the next house..........:-(
Every day is a good day.......some are just better than others!

Proud to say that my property is protected by a high speed wireless device!
Post 3 made on Saturday November 3, 2007 at 00:35
Ernie Bornn-Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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December 2001
30,104
Of course there's a way! You rent a cable box from the cable company.

Somewhere on this site there's a thread from about three years ago that discusses a problem a lady had with the cable company. I believe her problem went as far up as the state attorney general. And SHE was the one in trouble, although it was not her fault.

She had ordered cable internet and the installers accidentally let a cable TV signal into her house. There was a later SNAFU and they didn't fix it, that is, disconnect her. Even though it was not her fault, and she wasn't even watching the cable, she was cited for theft of service. And hounded. And almost put in jail. I don't remember the details except that there are laws that can put a person in jail for doing what you asking us about. This happened to a lady by accident, and you are asking how to put yourself in the same situation by your own doing.

It's not an odd situation, actually. The cable company doesn't have the money to send out a truck to disconnect everyone the moment they cancel. They audit their connections by some kind of pattern, and they will eventually disconnect you. Whether you are fined or charged depends on how innocent you look. Some kind of digital decoder would make you look really really liable. You still don't HAVE cable service even though it is present in your house. If I were you, I'd watch what I could watch as long as you can and just shut up about it. Actually, that's not true. If I were you I'd get satellite or sign up with the cable company again.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 4 made on Saturday November 3, 2007 at 15:10
OTAHD
Super Member
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October 2005
4,679
You can't unscramble cable anymore (it's all digital). You're picking up encrypted QAM...and encrypted is, there's nothing you can do to get it except order it from your provider.

Besides, it's illegal if you theoretically could do it (as people do with satellite), and you're the kind of person that is driving up my prices as an honest customer.
LET'S GO BUFFALO!!!
Post 5 made on Saturday November 3, 2007 at 16:52
tweeterguy
Loyal Member
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Posts:
June 2005
7,713
and you're the kind of
person that is driving up my prices as an honest customer.

Right on. What's your street address and zip code again?
Post 6 made on Friday April 10, 2009 at 11:16
Catize
Lurking Member
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April 2009
1
I have a quick question. I don't want to steal cable channels but in an effort to save money...we have decided to drop our cable and get the converter for local channels. My question is this. Is there a different converter to allow us those local channels in HD. We just bought an HD tv and all the local channels come in HD now. I am just not sure how to get them without cable if there even is a way. Help please if you can. Thanks. Oh yeah...and to the first guy....HOW DARE you when we are all struggling to stay ahead of this economic MESS, cause the rest of us to pay for what you steal!!!!
Post 7 made on Friday April 10, 2009 at 12:15
hd fan
Long Time Member
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425
Catize, Welcome and the OP was 2 years ago, either he/she has cable legally or who knows and the economy was quite good back then.

If you bought a new HDTV, as you said you are already getting the locals either in HD or SD but in both cases in the new digital format. New HDTV sets already come with the Digital tuner so you do not need a converter box, only if you have an old analog TV set.

In other words you do not need cable or satellite services to watch the local channels since they are FREE Over the Air via even the very old TV Antenna.
Post 8 made on Thursday December 6, 2012 at 08:21
webster7
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December 2012
1
I am paying for analog TV Channels but the cable company has deleted all analog channels from thier service. They want me to pay extra per month
for a converter box. The box does not allow me to watch HD channels with
my two HD televisions. They are sending me the HD channels but I can't view
them - they say only 'SCRAMBLED CHANNEL'. i called the cable company but
they just say that I am not paying for HD channels. I live in a townhouse that
disallows a sattelite dish. I am living on Social Security and I can't afford another
sixty five dollars for the HD package. What can I do?
K Hoffman
Post 9 made on Friday December 7, 2012 at 13:17
hd fan
Long Time Member
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Posts:
March 2006
425
Webster7 , Welcome to the Forum. The converter box being supplied by the cable co is intended only to allow you to continue to watch the previous analog ones. For access to other features like on demand or hd they would have sold you their regular digital boxes.

In other words either they give you a FREE converter box so you can continue subscribing to the old analog package (now being sent in digital format of course) or they upsale you the current digital lineup with a current digital cable box for a fee or even an upgrade to hd service if you want.

If they insist on you paying for the new hardware (aka converter box ) you should contact your local representative and ask them why it happens.

Now, with the understanding that you already have 2 new HDTV sets ,and on fixed income, and depending where you live , your best bet might even be to consider cancelling their service and using an antenna system to get the FREE HDTV signals already on the air.

Try using and indoor antenna first , preferably UHF capable, even if it is 50 years old , still works , and see what stations can you get. factors like distance to transmitters , your home building materials, surrounding obstrucytions like trees,buildings, antenna height play a big role , but in general , for isntance , anywhere in the GTA, with any indoor youl will get at least a couple of channels just to compare.

Stations available are major US and Canadian networks like CBC, CTV, CBS with local news and weather, traffic , etc, so in other words it will be a good substitution to basic analog cable, for cable only channels like CNN, ESPN , Weather and such on the whole analog cable line up , then such an antenna system is not suitable.

BTW, if I may ask , in which area the local cable co has removed the analog ones already?


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