Does anybody in Socal with TWC know if the cable service works without the cable box?

[The Stigenator]

I just saw my TWC bill, $150 a month (it used to be 128/mo two months ago)... for cable and internet. I am paying $25 a month on just the DVR Service and Box, another 6 bucks on top for the cable modem... what a rip!

So the question is can I go down to the basic starter level and not require a dvr/cable box to watch tv. I hardly watch tv, and when my parents are visiting they watch tv. The only channels I really watch are History, BBCA and HGTV (and NBCSN for F1). But I am willing to forego for some savings. Whatever TV I watch is minimal.

I know my upstairs tube tv works fine with an analog cable, but I dont know if the downstairs HDTV will work with clearQAM? Or do I need a box.

I do most of my entertainment over the internet, so I really dont need cable tv. I have a TV antenna on the tv with my treadmill (upstairs), but the big tv does not seem to do very well with the antenna (something to do with signal strength) because I live in a townhouse complex. It keeps cutting out (especially channel 7 which is a hard channel in my part of the west valley).

How much do you think I can save? I'd like to go down to sub $75/mo range.

 

[The Stigenator]

Looks like if I subscribe to Hulu+, Netflix (which I already do) and my Amazon Prime and just have internet, I will be way ahead of the 125/mo I currently pay.

 

[yhelothar]

You still need a cable modem but you can buy your own DOCSIS 3.0 modem and not get ripped off by their $6/mo fee.

 

[NutBucket]

Why not just get an antenna then? F TWC.

 

[The Stigenator]

Well I bypassed the DVR this evening (after the first post), and I am able to pick up local HD channels via cable. My issue with the antenna on the big tv downstairs is that it picks up interference, so I rather pay a tiny bit for local channels. But I am willing to forego for Hulu if needed.

But yeah I am going to have start cord cutting. Daddy needs more $ for hookers and blow!

edit:

I have tried antenna's on the downstairs tv, it works fine for the most part, though I need to make it more stable signal for downstairs. The antenna that i have attached to the tv with my treadmill works much better, but it is also located 15 feet above the tv in the main living room and picks up signals much better!

 

[KeithP]

I used to live in Huntington Beach. When I canceled my TWC subscription but kept Road Runner for internet, the basic video worked for awhile (3-4 months as I recall) without the cable box, however the connection was eventually killed by TWC (this took place about 6 years ago).

So even though you have access to it now, you may not have it for long after you kill your video services with TWC.

-KeithP

 

[ponyo]

Split the signal from your upstairs TV antenna to your downstairs TV. I placed the antenna in my attic and hooked it up to the old Dish TV lines I had canceled. I get around 52 local HD channels to all my TVs with a single attic antenna. All for free.

 

[RockinZ28]

F those rental fees. Ever consider a cableCARD? Rent was $4/mo for that with fios. HDHomeRun Triple tuner can often be had for under $100. Same with a new modem. Will pay for themselves within a year if you can't cut the cord. Worked great for me in a condo, just need a cheap laptop/pc or X box connected tothe tv.

Just be glad you have cable. TWC wants like $3-5k to run a line to my new house. I'm using my unlimited vzw for home Internet for now, but I get like 4-8mbps....

 

[mikeford]

TWC jacked prices like crazy first of 2014, I dropped everything but bumped internet to turbo for $10 more a month, 30/200, $52 a month now I think, but I still have a cable card and internet modem. Eventually they come out and trap your connection so no TV goes through, but I never checked, just wanted to keep my cable card for $2.50/ month to see if I change my mind and add back basic for $18/month.

Not missing TV at all so far, just streaming and downloading.