Getting cable internet

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: KK
Are you the same person that said that the more people recieving the OTA transmission the weaker the signal gets?

Technically that is true, but I doubt on a level that would affect the performance of any of the customers.

Care to explain??? :shocked:

(Maybe I'll learn something new today.)

The electromagnetic wave has to excite the currents on the receiving antenna. There's no way around this and due to the finite conductance of materials, energy must be used to do this. In addition to the energy loss due to the resistance of the antenna itself, it is desirable to extract a signal to amplify and use. So any antenna system is hooked up to a load of some sort (be it an amplifier, or just the receiving device itself, like an AM radio) that will consume energy as well, which is sourced by the incoming signal. It isn't unheard of to have the entire receiving system to be powered by the incident signal alone, like a crystal radio for example. So just exciting the signal on the receiving antenna and system draws power from the incident wave. Considering how little power needs to be sapped from the incident signal, I would expect that the distortion of the wave (via mutual coupling and/or retransmission from the receiving antenna) would have a more dramatic effect on a nearby antenna's signal strength than the actual reduction in power density.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: KK
Are you the same person that said that the more people recieving the OTA transmission the weaker the signal gets?

Technically that is true, but I doubt on a level that would affect the performance of any of the customers.

Care to explain??? :shocked:

(Maybe I'll learn something new today.)

The electromagnetic wave has to excite the currents on the receiving antenna. There's no way around this and due to the finite conductance of materials, energy must be used to do this. In addition to the energy loss due to the resistance of the antenna itself, it is desirable to extract a signal to amplify and use. So any antenna system is hooked up to a load of some sort (be it an amplifier, or just the receiving device itself, like an AM radio) that will consume energy as well, which is sourced by the incoming signal. It isn't unheard of to have the entire receiving system to be powered by the incident signal alone, like a crystal radio for example. So just exciting the signal on the receiving antenna and system draws power from the incident wave. Considering how little power needs to be sapped from the incident signal, I would expect that the distortion of the wave (via mutual coupling and/or retransmission from the receiving antenna) would have a more dramatic effect on a nearby antenna's signal strength than the actual reduction in power density.

Thanks. Every day that I broaden my knowledge base is a good day. :thumbsup:

 

[larciel]

It's more like I don't report it because I'm afraid there will be high fees and even prosecution now. I certainly hope my house didn't cause any stoppage on other house, wherever they might be.
I'll go ahead and talk with the cable company to straighten these out w/out any fees if possible.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: larciel
It's more like I don't report it because I'm afraid there will be high fees and even prosecution now. I certainly hope my house didn't cause any stoppage on other house, wherever they might be.
I'll go ahead and talk with the cable company to straighten these out w/out any fees if possible.

Say you just purchased a television and realized you're getting free cable today.

 

[Lifted]

What do you mean by free cable? Are you getting all channels or just OTA type stuff? When I moved into an apartment, I ordered a cable modem from TW NYC but not TV service, and simply plugged the line into my TV and got OTA programming, NY1, public access channels, TBS, and one or two other channels. I wouldn't consider getting OTA programming stealing. I don't know the legality of it, but the fact that TBS and one or two others came in clear seems to me to be the cable companies fault.

The cable guy saw the line plugged into my TV when he came to setup my modem, and even installed a splitter to run another line from near the TV to the computer. He didn't say anything, but perhaps this is just a NY thing.

 

[larciel]

Free basic cable. 1-99 channel. Golf channel, MTV, etc etc

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Lifted
What do you mean by free cable? Are you getting all channels or just OTA type stuff? When I moved into an apartment, I ordered a cable modem from TW NYC but not TV service, and simply plugged the line into my TV and got OTA programming, NY1, public access channels, TBS, and one or two other channels. I wouldn't consider getting OTA programming stealing. I don't know the legality of it, but the fact that TBS and one or two others came in clear seems to me to be the cable companies fault.

The cable guy saw the line plugged into my TV when he came to setup my modem, and even installed a splitter to run another line from near the TV to the computer. He didn't say anything, but perhaps this is just a NY thing.

If you're getting TBS or any other cable channels you have basic cable, which is different from over-the-air programming and is stealing if you are tapping into it without permission. The cable company has to pay for TBS and those other channels, and in some cases has to pay for the OTA channels as well.

I don't care either way but just wanted to note the difference.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: Mike

Originally posted by: smack Down

Originally posted by: Mike
Depends on the cable company. In my area, you'd get shut down, refused service (even if willing to pay), sent a bill for the cable usage (they can see exaclty when and how long you've used the connection), and then prosecuted (misdemeanor).

Complete BS.

?

The cable company knows when you tap into their "hot" signal so no bs at all. They can find out the day it was done and thus how long it has been going on.

haha no they don't. If they did then how has the cable not been turned off for the OP? Why would they keep giving him free cable if they knew he was getting free cable? lol that's rich.

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: beat mania
You do not want to let the cable guy come out to your house for ANY reason if that's the case.

Bingo. They can absolutely come after you for theft of services. You can and will be convicted, and probably have to pay a pretty steep fine.

Even if the line was never disconnected or deactivated, it is still theft of services.

In America you have to prove people are guilty. Good luck to the cable company proving anything.

Originally posted by: 1sikbITCH

Originally posted by: Homerboy
Im confused. How is your house "wired" for free cable?

Obviously they spliced into the neighbor's feed or broke into the box and hooked up there.

As to the OP's assertion that he/she simply didn't act as a good Samaritan by reporting the theft, that is like finding stolen money and then deciding to spend it. You still are in possession of stolen money. From Time Warner's website:

Passive Theft

Passive theft occurs when someone moves into a new residence or business facility, notices that the premises receives cable services without an account, but nevertheless does not take any steps to become a subscriber or have the service disconnected.

If they have patched into the neighbor's feed, they might prosecute, but otherwise I doubt they will do anything other than disconnect the service.

hm never heard of anyone being arrested and charged with "passive theft."



And like Deeko said, you might be able to set up the internet yourself with your own modem and they would never know about the cable.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: Mike
Depends on the cable company. In my area, you'd get shut down, refused service (even if willing to pay), sent a bill for the cable usage (they can see exaclty when and how long you've used the connection), and then prosecuted (misdemeanor).

If thats true, then it isn't theft.

If the cable company knows that he has been using the cable without an account and continues to allow it, it's their fault.


Analogy: restaurant with self-serve drinks allows customers to get free refills. Three months later they say that the refills were not free and they try to back-charge all the customers for the extra drinks they took.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: Mike

Originally posted by: smack Down

Originally posted by: Mike
Depends on the cable company. In my area, you'd get shut down, refused service (even if willing to pay), sent a bill for the cable usage (they can see exaclty when and how long you've used the connection), and then prosecuted (misdemeanor).

Complete BS.

?

The cable company knows when you tap into their "hot" signal so no bs at all. They can find out the day it was done and thus how long it has been going on.

haha no they don't. If they did then how has the cable not been turned off for the OP? Why would they keep giving him free cable if they knew he was getting free cable? lol that's rich.

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: beat mania
You do not want to let the cable guy come out to your house for ANY reason if that's the case.

Bingo. They can absolutely come after you for theft of services. You can and will be convicted, and probably have to pay a pretty steep fine.

Even if the line was never disconnected or deactivated, it is still theft of services.

In America you have to prove people are guilty. Good luck to the cable company proving anything.

Originally posted by: 1sikbITCH

Originally posted by: Homerboy
Im confused. How is your house "wired" for free cable?

Obviously they spliced into the neighbor's feed or broke into the box and hooked up there.

As to the OP's assertion that he/she simply didn't act as a good Samaritan by reporting the theft, that is like finding stolen money and then deciding to spend it. You still are in possession of stolen money. From Time Warner's website:

Passive Theft

Passive theft occurs when someone moves into a new residence or business facility, notices that the premises receives cable services without an account, but nevertheless does not take any steps to become a subscriber or have the service disconnected.

If they have patched into the neighbor's feed, they might prosecute, but otherwise I doubt they will do anything other than disconnect the service.

hm never heard of anyone being arrested and charged with "passive theft."



And like Deeko said, you might be able to set up the internet yourself with your own modem and they would never know about the cable.

Please educate yourself before making posts like this.

Cable companies can and do employ people that drive around with equipment that can check to see if the lines are active and being used at locations that do not subscribe to their service.

You ever hear of a tap audit?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: Mike
Depends on the cable company. In my area, you'd get shut down, refused service (even if willing to pay), sent a bill for the cable usage (they can see exaclty when and how long you've used the connection), and then prosecuted (misdemeanor).

If thats true, then it isn't theft.

If the cable company knows that he has been using the cable without an account and continues to allow it, it's their fault.


Analogy: restaurant with self-serve drinks allows customers to get free refills. Three months later they say that the refills were not free and they try to back-charge all the customers for the extra drinks they took.

You'd be doing yourself some good if you actually read up about theft of services.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: BigJ
You'd be doing yourself some good if you actually read up about theft of services.

Uh, that was my opinion obviously, not legal advice.

However, I am fairly certain that if the cable company knows a person is stealing internet and choose not to prosecute or even inform them, nothing is going to happen.

 

[BudAshes]

Originally posted by: Mike
Depends on the cable company. In my area, you'd get shut down, refused service (even if willing to pay), sent a bill for the cable usage (they can see exaclty when and how long you've used the connection), and then prosecuted (misdemeanor).

yeah thats what they want you to think they will do, but in reality they probably wouldn't do shit.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: Mike

Originally posted by: smack Down

Originally posted by: Mike
Depends on the cable company. In my area, you'd get shut down, refused service (even if willing to pay), sent a bill for the cable usage (they can see exaclty when and how long you've used the connection), and then prosecuted (misdemeanor).

Complete BS.

?

The cable company knows when you tap into their "hot" signal so no bs at all. They can find out the day it was done and thus how long it has been going on.

Ignore him. He has a knack of calling BS with nothing to back it up. He just says it and runs off without giving any explanation and I have a sneaking suspicion he does it intentionally. Even if he isn't wrong, he contributes nothing of value to the thread, so there's no point in wasting your time.

 

[alkemyst]

I would own up and start paying for everything.

Call the cable company and tell them you had been just watching tv over an antenna and make up some story why you decided to hook up to the existing cable jack. At that time you realized you got all the stations your TV could pick up.

I would then just tell them you want to sign up for cable with internet.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: BigJ
You'd be doing yourself some good if you actually read up about theft of services.

Uh, that was my opinion obviously, not legal advice.

However, I am fairly certain that if the cable company knows a person is stealing internet and choose not to prosecute or even inform them, nothing is going to happen.

Thank you captain obvious...however; why would the cable company know that someone is stealing cable and choose not to at least turn it off?

 

[AliasX]

Do you think the dopey cable "dude" is going to give a shit?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
Im confused. How is your house "wired" for free cable?

eh, you just screw it in.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: BigJ
You'd be doing yourself some good if you actually read up about theft of services.

Uh, that was my opinion obviously, not legal advice.

However, I am fairly certain that if the cable company knows a person is stealing internet and choose not to prosecute or even inform them, nothing is going to happen.

Thank you captain obvious...however; why would the cable company know that someone is stealing cable and choose not to at least turn it off?

Thank you, that is *EXACTLY MY POINT*

It was "Mike" that I originally quoted who said the cable company already knew exactly how long he had been stealing internet. Why would they have not informed him or prosecuted him or shut down the internet the whole time, if they knew?

The point I was trying to get at was one of the following is true-

either A- Cable company doesn't know anything- Mike is wrong.

or B- Cable company knows what is up, but chooses not to prosecute or shut off the cable even though it is being stolen the whole time, Mike is correct.

A seems a lot more likely to me as well, but to make the point I was playing devil's advocate.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: BigJ
You'd be doing yourself some good if you actually read up about theft of services.

Uh, that was my opinion obviously, not legal advice.

However, I am fairly certain that if the cable company knows a person is stealing internet and choose not to prosecute or even inform them, nothing is going to happen.

Thank you captain obvious...however; why would the cable company know that someone is stealing cable and choose not to at least turn it off?

Thank you, that is *EXACTLY MY POINT*

It was "Mike" that I originally quoted who said the cable company already knew exactly how long he had been stealing internet. Why would they have not informed him or prosecuted him or shut down the internet the whole time, if they knew?

The point I was trying to get at was one of the following is true-

either A- Cable company doesn't know anything- Mike is wrong.

or B- Cable company knows what is up, but chooses not to prosecute or shut off the cable even though it is being stolen the whole time, Mike is correct.

A seems a lot more likely to me as well, but to make the point I was playing devil's advocate.

I think your point is you don't know what you are talking about.

first, you don't even understand what theft is.

next you fail to read the whole thread to learn he is receiving analog cable tv.

then you fail to grasp how cable providers work.

if he was stealing digital cable tv, he would have been caught by now. Where I live you can't steal cable internet. All modems are supplied by the ISP (Rogers) and registered to your residence. The service has to be activated on their end for it to work for you.

Where I live you will receive 2 different punishments for stealing cable tv. 1 you get charged by the police for theft. 2 you get banned from receiving cable tv again.

They don't even need to visit your residence to know if anything is up with digital tv or cable internet. They can check an entire apartment complex for anything odd, too. Here the cable company (Rogers) owns the cable in all apartment complexes and in most homes as well. This gives them the authority to inspect your premises for violations.

While they don't actively search for cable thieves, they monitor things nonetheless.

Having been the victim of cable theft twice in a 3 month period, I know how things work here. It helps to make friends with some of the techs.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

blah blah blah

That has nothing to do with what I was talking about! You write fairly well but your lack of comprehension makes me wonder if English is your second or third language.


There are two possibilities here:

1- The cable company knows the OP has been stealing cable all along.

2- The cable company doesn't know the OP has been stealing cable.

Can you dispute my logic so far? Is there a 3rd possibility I am missing? Either they know, or they don't, this isn't quantum physics where there cable company can be in a quantum-superposition of knowing and not-knowing at the same time.

Given situation (1), the cable company knows the OP has been stealing cable, but has done NOTHING to prevent it for the last several months- I find this hard to believe and extremely unlikely. If you think this is the case, please explain why the cable company would allow the theft of it's services for months, maybe even years, without doing anything.

So, unless you have some amazing explanation that makes sense out of situation (1), that leaves situation (2) as the only remaining possibility.

 

[Chiropteran]

Oops, double post.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

blah blah blah

That has nothing to do with what I was talking about! You write fairly well but your lack of comprehension makes me wonder if English is your second or third language.


There are two possibilities here:

1- The cable company knows the OP has been stealing cable all along.

2- The cable company doesn't know the OP has been stealing cable.

Can you dispute my logic so far? Is there a 3rd possibility I am missing? Either they know, or they don't, this isn't quantum physics where there cable company can be in a quantum-superposition of knowing and not-knowing at the same time.

Given situation (1), the cable company knows the OP has been stealing cable, but has done NOTHING to prevent it for the last several months- I find this hard to believe and extremely unlikely. If you think this is the case, please explain why the cable company would allow the theft of it's services for months, maybe even years, without doing anything.

So, unless you have some amazing explanation that makes sense out of situation (1), that leaves situation (2) as the only remaining possibility.

My comprehension is fine. Your's is the one in question.

So now you insult my character when your position is in error.

Wow.

I think there are 2 possibilities here:

1- you are truly ignorant and therefore lack reading comprehension.

2- you are just trolling.

I find 1 hard to believe, so 2 must be the truth.

your questions were answered in my original post.

hint: he is stealing analog cable tv.*

* I even bolded it for you so you can read it easier.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
My comprehension is fine. Your's is the one in question.

hint: he is stealing analog cable tv.*

You just don't get it. It doesn't matter what he was stealing. He could have been stealing gold from Fort Knox, the actual crime is irrelevant to the logic.

If he has been doing *insert any crime here* for months, and no action has been taken, chances are the person or business he is committing the crime against is UNAWARE.

I hope you can understand this post, I can't really break it down any simpler.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
My comprehension is fine. Your's is the one in question.

hint: he is stealing analog cable tv.*

You just don't get it. It doesn't matter what he was stealing. He could have been stealing gold from Fort Knox, the actual crime is irrelevant to the logic.

If he has been doing *insert any crime here* for months, and no action has been taken, chances are the person or business he is committing the crime against is UNAWARE.

I hope you can understand this post, I can't really break it down any simpler.

yup, I was correct it was 2.

see ya.