Cable tv and Cable Internet Question

[CyberCowboy]

I have a question that no one seems to know the answer to.
Maybe someone here can help.

If you have cable internet w/out having cable tv, can you just plug the cable line into your tv and get free cable tv?

 

[Electrode]

Technically, yes.
Legally, no.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

If you have a cable-ready TV (like... 100+/200+ channel ready), then yes. They have built-in decoder boxes.

<-- has worked for three high-speed cable internet cable companies.

nik

 

[Dedpuhl]

Cox Communications requires users to have basic cable in order to have cable internet. A few months ago, they changed the internet signal to a channel in the expanded basic package. Now they have to give me free expanded until they decide to fix their system.

edit: Apparently the answer is yes...

 

[Murphyrulez]

If you do, they will find out. They have guys come out and check the cable boxes that are in the neighborhood, and they can put a meter on the line and see what you have hooked up. They can tell the difference between a tv and the modem. They will bring the cops out and take your TV's AND computers and sell them at the cop auction.

You will be FUBAR. Your life will be messed up. You will have a criminal record. You will get let go from your job. Your kids will laugh at you. Your kids friends will call you a thief behind your back.




Go for it. It's worth the risk.

 

[CyberCowboy]

are you sure they really log it?
I've seen these cable interfaces on the telephone poles... and they don't have any meters to log usage.

and by the way, isn't a cable broadcast downstream only? I don't think you can log cable tv transmissions, since they are broadcast to everyone.

 

[freebee]

I suspect you can and the cable companies are well aware of this. Thats why road runner (time warner cable in NYC) charges 60 bucks a month plus assorted fees for cable internet access without cable tv. If you have basic cable tv I think its only 39 a month.

 

[Lucky]

they will find you. i remember reading a HORROR story on the net-really famous but i cant find it-of a person who was arrested for cable theft...dammit, where is that story...

 

[WhiteWonder]

<< If you do, they will find out. They have guys come out and check the cable boxes that are in the neighborhood, and they can put a meter on the line and see what you have hooked up. They can tell the difference between a tv and the modem. They will bring the cops out and take your TV's AND computers and sell them at the cop auction.

You will be FUBAR. Your life will be messed up. You will have a criminal record. You will get let go from your job. Your kids will laugh at you. Your kids friends will call you a thief behind your back.




Go for it. It's worth the risk. >>



my life is already messed up, i probably have a criminal record, i have a crappy job, and i don't have kids!


noting to lose!

 

[mdennison]

<< Cox Communications requires users to have basic cable in order to have cable internet. A few months ago, they changed the internet signal to a channel in the expanded basic package. Now they have to give me free expanded until they decide to fix their system.

edit: Apparently the answer is yes... >>



I use cox and have cable internet and cable tv. My neighbor has cox cable internet only, no cable tv.

I'm not sure about free cable tv when you have cable internet though....

 

[CyberCowboy]

i remember checking out the prices awhile back. To get cable internet without having cable tv was 10 bucks more than the regular price.
so it would be 30 bucks with cable and 40 bucks if you didn't have cable.

eh.. maybe I'll just signup and find out.

 

[Nocturnal]

<< I have a question that no one seems to know the answer to.
Maybe someone here can help.

If you have cable internet w/out having cable tv, can you just plug the cable line into your tv and get free cable tv? >>



Yes, but I believe it is illegal to do so.

 

[bozo1]

Here it's also $10/month more if you don't have cable-tv. I have one friend who had internet only and spliced his TV in. Works just fine. I have another friend who did the same and it worked for about a month until the cable company came out and put a filter on his line. Now no-TV.

 

[killface]

Most cable companies require you to have basic service in order to get cable internet. Both Adelphia and Time Warner make you get up to channel 13 or something, which costs you an extra 7 bucks or so.

 

[LordSnailz]

Have anyone tried this with att cable? I heard that you had remove some filter of some sort before it works? true or myth?

tia,
ls

 

[AmigaMan]

That would be nice. I don't have to have cable tv to get cable internet here with TWC/Earthlink and it's $41.95 a month. I'm getting hooked up tommorrow to replace my slow DSL. I'll see if it works, and report back here.

 

[StageLeft]

i did this for several months. I doubt they'll find you, although they could - and I doubt they'll punish you as much as murpheyrulez said they will, but since basic cable is so cheap combined with internet it's worth paying a few extra bucks to know you're not gonna get the death sentence.

 

[dOrKuS]

.

 

[tigerbait]

<< i remember reading a HORROR story on the net-really famous but i cant find it-of a person who was arrested for cable theft...dammit, where is that story >>


here
Get a Cable Modem, Go to Jail