If I cancel my cable TV service, will I still be able to get my local channels off their cable lines?

[Lifer]

I've heard this is sometimes possible.

i don't need ESPN, MTV, etc. I just want the local networks, ABC, NBC, etc.
i have cable modem with OOL. the CATV is cablevision.

 

[ElFenix]

no.

the cable does act like a really large antenna so thats probably what you're refering to as "sometimes possible"

 

[ObiDon]

It may be different in your area, but at my place it's not possible. So, I just have uber-cheap $8/month basic cable. The only decent non-local channels I get are Discovery and WGN despite the fact that I get something like 30 channels. 😕


Edit -- I have lived in a couple places where it was possible but that was a long time ago and old technology. 😉

 

[Ranger X]

I doubt it. We moved into a new house and we don't get anything using their cable line. You may have to downgrade to get the local channels.

 

[Siddhartha]

"If I cancel my cable TV service, will I still be able to get my local channels off their cable lines?"

Not where I live.

 

[SunnyD]

No. When they cancel cable service, the put an RF filter on your cable line which basically gives you static across the board.

 

[Azraele]

I'm guessing no.

 

[Thegonagle]

In some systems/parts of some systems, if you subscribe to cable modem service, they don't filter out the sub-basic ($8-12/mo) cable service, so you can enjoy that for free sometimes. The equipment that serves my apartment building is an example.

But, no, in general, when you cancel service, they completely disconnect you. You will need an antenna, because the coaxial cable that the cable company uses is too well sheilded to act as a giant antenna. If anything leaks in, it's not enough to give you a good picture.

The best antennas are the ones that go on the roof. If you don't live far from the transmitters, you can also just toss the antenna in the attic, and then you don't need to worry about grounding it against lightning strikes.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Lifer
I've heard this is sometimes possible.

i don't need ESPN, MTV, etc. I just want the local networks, ABC, NBC, etc.
i have cable modem with OOL. the CATV is cablevision.

with comcast you can.

 

[NutBucket]

We haven't paid for cable tv in 8 years but we still get basics. Its what we feed all the TV's in the house (the one in the living room has DirecTV) and we don't have cable internet either (DSL).

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: Lifer
I've heard this is sometimes possible.

i don't need ESPN, MTV, etc. I just want the local networks, ABC, NBC, etc.
i have cable modem with OOL. the CATV is cablevision.

We also have Cablevision and OOL.
I am pretty sure that you will not get any channels at all if you cancel your cable TV service.
I think the cost for OOL will also increase if you don't have cable TV.

 

[arcas]

Why bother? You can construct your own simply antenna for a few cents worth of wire and it'll often be superior to what you can buy in the stores for $50. You'll need 8 thumbtacks, a 75ohm-to-300ohm impedence matching transformer ($0.75 if you don't already have one), and about 15 feet of solid core, insulated wire. Here's how to do it:

Arrange your thumbtacks in a grid:

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

Now, connect the numbers in the following order: 7, 3, 4, 8, 7, 3, 2, 6, 5, 1, 2, 6, 7

I threw together a quick sketch here. Be aware that these are supposed to be squares. The lines are slanted in the sketch just to illustrate how to loop the wires.

How big to make the loops? That depends on the channels you're going to watch. More specifically, it depends on the wavelength of the channel's broadcast. Here's how to calculate it:

Frequency of channel = 386 + 6*(channel number)
example: channel 18 => 386 + 6 * 18 = 494 MHz
example: channel 62 => 386 + 6 * 62 = 758 MHz

Wavelength (in meters) = 300 / frequency
example: channel 18 => 300 / 494 = 0.607 meter = 23.9 inches
example: channel 62 => 300 / 758 = 0.396 meter = 15.6 inches

Take the average frequency of the channels you plan to watch and divide this by two. This is how big to make your loops. It's pretty forgiving, though. My current antenna is roughly a full-wavelength instead of half and only has 2 loops instead of 3 but the results are still cable-quality unless there are storms in the area. Whatever length you pick, though, you must make sure each loop is exactly the same size.

You don't need thick wire for this. You should be able to use 38gauge or finer laminated magnet wire. Just make sure your wire is insulated because the the wires cross paths a few times in the antenna design. In fact, if you use magnet wire, you could probably attach it to the wall and paint over it and never know it's there.

In theory, this antenna design offers around 12db gain. Not bad for a few minutes work and less than $1 worth of materials.

 

[phreakah]

Originally posted by: arcas
Why bother? You can construct your own simply antenna for a few cents worth of wire and it'll often be superior to what you can buy in the stores for $50. You'll need 8 thumbtacks, a 75ohm-to-300ohm impedence matching transformer ($0.75 if you don't already have one), and about 15 feet of solid core, insulated wire. Here's how to do it:

Arrange your thumbtacks in a grid:

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

Now, connect the numbers in the following order: 7, 3, 4, 8, 7, 3, 2, 6, 5, 1, 2, 6, 7

I threw together a quick sketch here. Be aware that these are supposed to be squares. The lines are slanted in the sketch just to illustrate how to loop the wires.

How big to make the loops? That depends on the channels you're going to watch. More specifically, it depends on the wavelength of the channel's broadcast. Here's how to calculate it:

Frequency of channel = 386 + 6*(channel number)
example: channel 18 => 386 + 6 * 18 = 494 MHz
example: channel 62 => 386 + 6 * 62 = 758 MHz

Wavelength (in meters) = 300 / frequency
example: channel 18 => 300 / 494 = 0.607 meter = 23.9 inches
example: channel 62 => 300 / 758 = 0.396 meter = 15.6 inches

Take the average frequency of the channels you plan to watch and divide this by two. This is how big to make your loops. It's pretty forgiving, though. My current antenna is roughly a full-wavelength instead of half and only has 2 loops instead of 3 but the results are still cable-quality unless there are storms in the area. Whatever length you pick, though, you must make sure each loop is exactly the same size.

You don't need thick wire for this. You should be able to use 38gauge or finer laminated magnet wire. Just make sure your wire is insulated because the the wires cross paths a few times in the antenna design. In fact, if you use magnet wire, you could probably attach it to the wall and paint over it and never know it's there.

In theory, this antenna design offers around 12db gain. Not bad for a few minutes work and less than $1 worth of materials.

:light:

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: Lifer
I've heard this is sometimes possible.

i don't need ESPN, MTV, etc. I just want the local networks, ABC, NBC, etc.
i have cable modem with OOL. the CATV is cablevision.

with comcast you can.

any details on this? does comcast operate differently?
what channels are you getting?

 

[MrHappyMonkey]

Originally posted by: phreakah

Originally posted by: arcas
Why bother? You can construct your own simply antenna for a few cents worth of wire and it'll often be superior to what you can buy in the stores for $50. You'll need 8 thumbtacks, a 75ohm-to-300ohm impedence matching transformer ($0.75 if you don't already have one), and about 15 feet of solid core, insulated wire. Here's how to do it:

Arrange your thumbtacks in a grid:

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

Now, connect the numbers in the following order: 7, 3, 4, 8, 7, 3, 2, 6, 5, 1, 2, 6, 7

I threw together a quick sketch here. Be aware that these are supposed to be squares. The lines are slanted in the sketch just to illustrate how to loop the wires.

How big to make the loops? That depends on the channels you're going to watch. More specifically, it depends on the wavelength of the channel's broadcast. Here's how to calculate it:

Frequency of channel = 386 + 6*(channel number)
example: channel 18 => 386 + 6 * 18 = 494 MHz
example: channel 62 => 386 + 6 * 62 = 758 MHz

Wavelength (in meters) = 300 / frequency
example: channel 18 => 300 / 494 = 0.607 meter = 23.9 inches
example: channel 62 => 300 / 758 = 0.396 meter = 15.6 inches

Take the average frequency of the channels you plan to watch and divide this by two. This is how big to make your loops. It's pretty forgiving, though. My current antenna is roughly a full-wavelength instead of half and only has 2 loops instead of 3 but the results are still cable-quality unless there are storms in the area. Whatever length you pick, though, you must make sure each loop is exactly the same size.

You don't need thick wire for this. You should be able to use 38gauge or finer laminated magnet wire. Just make sure your wire is insulated because the the wires cross paths a few times in the antenna design. In fact, if you use magnet wire, you could probably attach it to the wall and paint over it and never know it's there.

In theory, this antenna design offers around 12db gain. Not bad for a few minutes work and less than $1 worth of materials.

:light:

ok...

 

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: Lifer
I've heard this is sometimes possible.

i don't need ESPN, MTV, etc. I just want the local networks, ABC, NBC, etc.
i have cable modem with OOL. the CATV is cablevision.

with comcast you can.

any details on this? does comcast operate differently?
what channels are you getting?

I have Comcast and it wasn't possible when they turned me off sometime last year. Since I've lived here, the cable company here has changed ownership at least a couple of times. I don't remember what the company was originally when I moved here.

The equipment for any given cable company probably varies with area.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: ObiDon

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: Lifer
I've heard this is sometimes possible.

i don't need ESPN, MTV, etc. I just want the local networks, ABC, NBC, etc.
i have cable modem with OOL. the CATV is cablevision.

with comcast you can.

any details on this? does comcast operate differently?
what channels are you getting?

I have Comcast and it wasn't possible when they turned me off sometime last year. Since I've lived here, the cable company here has changed ownership at least a couple of times. I don't remember what the company was originally when I moved here.

The equipment for any given cable company probably varies with area.

I have Comcast Cable Internet. I had them take ALL TV service off my bill. when i connect a TV to the cable i can still access all the basic channels from 01 to 99.

 

[abc]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Originally posted by: Lifer
I've heard this is sometimes possible.

i don't need ESPN, MTV, etc. I just want the local networks, ABC, NBC, etc.
i have cable modem with OOL. the CATV is cablevision.

We also have Cablevision and OOL.
I am pretty sure that you will not get any channels at all if you cancel your cable TV service.
I think the cost for OOL will also increase if you don't have cable TV.

thats the thing, if you have both broadband & tv through the same cable, then decide to cancel the tv aspect of it, they cannot disconnect any of the wiring, as you still paying for broadband.... so if they do do anything to stop the tv data, they send a field guy to do it? I don't see how something can be done back at the office /backend side to control your line without affecting your whole block etc.., do they.

 

[arod]

In some systems/parts of some systems, if you subscribe to cable modem service, they don't filter out the sub-basic ($8-12/mo) cable service, so you can enjoy that for free sometimes. The equipment that serves my apartment building is an example.

It is like this where I live.

 

[Lifer]

damnit guys that can get it to work!
details, please!

like where do you live, and who's your cable carrier, etc. 😛

 

[Wag]

In some systems/parts of some systems, if you subscribe to cable modem service, they don't filter out the sub-basic ($8-12/mo) cable service, so you can enjoy that for free sometimes. The equipment that serves my apartment building is an example.

ATT/Comcast figured this out and raised the cable-modem rate $15+ if you don't subscribe to cable TV. Since Basic Cable is only $6/mo in my area, I had no choice but to subscribe to their TV service.

Sounds like extortion to me.