Is it legal to use HDTV card watch cable channels?

[metalmania]

Suppose the HDTV card can pick up QAM HDTV channels and some other channels which are not included in the cable package?

 

[Slick5150]

Sure. In fact they're required to provide the local channels via unencrypted QAM, but often carriers leave other channels unencrypted as well. If you can pick them up, that means the cable company chose not to encrypt them which means they're fair game.

 

[AnyMal]

As long as you're not circumventing encryption I do not see any problems.

 

[A5]

Anything broadcast as unencrypted QAM is freely available to anyone with basic cable.

 

[royaldank]

I get 1 or 2 HD pay per view channels here over QAM from time to time.

 

[flawlssdistortn]

Yes

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[mugs]

Are you sure you don't pay for them?

I think that could be considered theft of services, although they made it pretty easy for you...

When I was in college the local cable company apparently wasn't able to give you cable modem service without basic cable, so if someone signed up for cable modem only, they also got basic cable if they hooked up their TV. Some unscrupulous students took advantage of that.

 

[Fritzo]

I wasn't aware there were HDTV cards that could get anything but OTA HD.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: mugs
Are you sure you don't pay for them?

I think that could be considered theft of services, although they made it pretty easy for you...

When I was in college the local cable company apparently wasn't able to give you cable modem service without basic cable, so if someone signed up for cable modem only, they also got basic cable if they hooked up their TV. Some unscrupulous students took advantage of that.

No, they're mandated to offer the locals as an unencrypted QAM feed if you have basic cable, but some cable systems also leave other channels unencrypted, and by doing so they are making them freely available. Its their choice.