I am getting free cable, but is it really stealing ?

[Modelworks]

I've been trying to put together some low cost antenna solutions for people in low income homes that wouldn't cost much. I settled on the clothes hanger hdtv antenna using clothes hangers+pvc pipe, some hot glue and soldering. The antenna works good for most people, but maybe too good.

I just finished up a new design, I made some changes off the original plans, and placed it on my patio and did the channel scan. The tv had a bunch of new channels in the 2-13 range, cable channels, first noticed WGN was almost clear, and I live a couple thousand miles from Chicago

It seems there is a cable box installed on the wall on the other side of the division between my apartment and theirs and the antenna is receiving all the regular cable channels, they aren't encrypted here. There is no amplifier , just straight coax from the antenna.

So is it stealing ? I wasn't intending to get the cable channels, but there they are !

 

[FelixDeCat]

Unless we are talking HBO and Cinemax, I dont think so....WGN, etc is commercial television, so no.

 

[spidey07]

At first I would have jumped up and said yes. But if you're getting it through bad design of the cable system or their box, then no. Technically you aren't using their system, just receiving broadcast leakage.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Unless we are talking HBO and Cinemax, I dont think so....WGN, etc is commercial television, so no.

Out of curiosity I switched the tv from air to cable and scanned again. It picks up channels 2-58, showing Nickolodeon, History channel, etc. I think the cable company has their amp turned just a tad too high.

 

[BoomerD]

Based on my reading of the title...YES!

However, after reading the OP, nope. You're just reaping the benefits of a crappy cable system.

 

[JTsyo]

I would say no.

 

[silverpig]

Oh geez that's nuts!

Definitely not your fault. They're essentially broadcasting it into your place for free.

 

[MotF Bane]

Nope.

 

[Viper GTS]

With cable I'm of the opinion that if you didn't actively circumvent their restrictions then it's fair game. If they neglect to filter my line I'm certainly not going to alert them to their oversight.

Viper GTS

 

[BoomerD]

Hey...Lawyer up. You might be able to sue them for broadcasting into your living space without your permission...

 

[Via]

Upon moving into an apartment in the 90's a friend of mind soon became aware that the cable company had neglected to shut off cable service to the unit.

What's the legality on that?

He did nothing to steal the service, and the cable company's negligence left the cable connected. Obviously he had no signed agreement with anyone.

 

[EagleKeeper]

You are not physically connecting into the cable system.

Cable is intended to be coming in by wire, not over the air.

Cable system design flaw - you are picking up channels over the air - perfectly legal.

Eventually, the cable system may correct and people that are expecting such will be disappointed - oh well.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I'd say you're clear since you're not connecting with their equipment in any way, nor circumventing any protection. However, they may be violating FCC rules regarding radiated emissions.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Via
Upon moving into an apartment in the 90's a friend of mind soon became aware that the cable company had neglected to shut off cable service to the unit.

What's the legality on that?

He did nothing to steal the service, and the cable company's negligence left the cable connected. Obviously he had no signed agreement with anyone.

Start your own thread...

 

[Via]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: Via
Upon moving into an apartment in the 90's a friend of mind soon became aware that the cable company had neglected to shut off cable service to the unit.

What's the legality on that?

He did nothing to steal the service, and the cable company's negligence left the cable connected. Obviously he had no signed agreement with anyone.

Start your own thread...

I thought it was relevant to the OP.

 

[Demo24]

I'm going with no as well. Also I don't see how they could ever catch your or really prove it, so watch away!

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I'd say you're clear since you're not connecting with their equipment in any way, nor circumventing any protection. However, they may be violating FCC rules regarding radiated emissions.

One of the reasons I was re-designing the antenna is because I could not get the antenna to pick up the channel 9.1 . Someone in a home about a mile away I know gets it fine with just a poor set top antenna. So I was altering the design to improve in that frequency that the station uses. I still can't get it higher than about 20% and I think the cable system is why. If I scan their channels the channel on their system that is equal to the frequency of the broadcast channel 9.1 is crystal clear. I think that is the reason I can't get it good with antenna.


I thought it was a large water tower near by causing the issue, but seems cable is at fault.

 

[lxskllr]

It's absolutely ok. Radio waves are free for the taking. If somebody doesn't want their RF emissions used, they either fix the design, or encrypt them.

 

[holden j caufield]

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter on antenna building.

 

[SonnyDaze]

No it's not stealing. It's like finding a twenty dollar bill on the ground. It's someone elses error but a stroke of luck for you.

 

[Safeway]

Can you post a picture of the antenna and the plans you used to build it?

 

[SunnyD]

The cable company and its lawyers will disagree with you. They will say that you designed your antenna specifically to tap into the box even though no physical connection is made.

That being said, it's pure gray area. Being a HAM, I'm of the mind that if it's being broadcast, it's free game. But then again, the courts have started saying otherwise about unsecured wireless access points lately. Caveat emptor.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Can you post a picture of the antenna and the plans you used to build it?

Its poorly built, not like the final ones I put up, but it is very easy to build. Materials.

Plastic pipe.
Vinyl coated clothes hangers - helps prevent rust
plastic squares to attach hangers to.
Hot glue.
Total cost is about $5

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/585/antenna.jpg


Notice the elements are not all the same size, that is because it is tweaked for a certain frequency, the 9.1 channel I have been having trouble with. I also used no balun for the connection because of cost , makes little difference in my case.


I'm doing these for a lot of people , mostly seniors in apartments that can't afford $40 antennas so I needed to cut cost and also reduce size. Overall length is under 20 inches.

Works best here when horizontal like in the picture and only needs to be about 3 feet off the ground so I'm mounting them with another plastic pipe, stuck in a two gallon plastic jug filled with water. They work well outside and the wind isn't an issue since there is so little cross section for the wind to blow against.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
The cable company and its lawyers will disagree with you. They will say that you designed your antenna specifically to tap into the box even though no physical connection is made.

That being said, it's pure gray area. Being a HAM, I'm of the mind that if it's being broadcast, it's free game. But then again, the courts have started saying otherwise about unsecured wireless access points lately. Caveat emptor.

Yeah, I'm not about to use it for regular tv, just thought it interesting. I have directv which looks 100x better than the cable here. I think they run it through 50 filters as even a subscribers tv here looks like crap.

I probably will call them to get it fixed though because it is interfering with broadcast channels. Hope nobody else out here is using it, they will be pissed.

 

[theeedude]

No, it's not. Plus cable company could be in violation of some FCC regulations.