Record tv with a tvtuner when a box is required?

terps49

Junior Member
Aug 12, 2010
4
0
0
I am a cablevision subscriber and they recently required every tv requires a cable box. I had been using an old Dell USB tv tuner to record tv? Now I cannot record tv directly from the coax cable. Anything I can do to continue to use my tv tuner?
 

Patranus

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2007
9,280
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You *should* still be getting local channels via analog. (Free)

You should also have a firewire port on your cablebox which you can hook up to your computer and use special software to record video. (Free - Time intensive)

You can also get a QAM tuner and see if any channels are available in digital unencrypted. ($75)

You can also get a tuner that takes a cable card to get encrypted digital. ($399)
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
Nothing can be done if they decide to go completely digital.
Most cable companies are transitioning to complete digital because it eliminates cable theft. No box with legitimate subscription, no cable. The ones that change to all digital usually leave the locals on clear qam but they are not required to . The law is that they must carry the channels not that they have to carry them in clear format. As long as any legitimate subscriber can view them with their box then they are being compliant with the rules.
 

Patranus

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2007
9,280
0
0
Nothing can be done if they decide to go completely digital.
Most cable companies are transitioning to complete digital because it eliminates cable theft. No box with legitimate subscription, no cable. The ones that change to all digital usually leave the locals on clear qam but they are not required to . The law is that they must carry the channels not that they have to carry them in clear format. As long as any legitimate subscriber can view them with their box then they are being compliant with the rules.

They cant go 100% digital. They have to carry local programming in "regular" format.

Secondly, all channels must be viewable with CableCARD. in fact all of the cable companies new boxes MUST contain a CableCARD.
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
They cant go 100% digital. They have to carry local programming in "regular" format.

That isn't what the laws say
For all-digital systems, carry those signals in digital format, provided that all subscribers, including those with analog television sets, that are connected to a cable system by a cable operator or for which the cable operator provides a connection have the necessary equipment to view the broadcast content.

If the cable system sells the lowest service tier as requiring a box then they are complying with the law since all their subscribers can view the content.


Secondly, all channels must be viewable with CableCARD. in fact all of the cable companies new boxes MUST contain a CableCARD.

CableCARD is not a requirement for new boxes. The FCC gives operators permission to use one way integrated decoders for their customers as long as they also provide the ability to use CableCARD based receivers for customers that choose to use it. CableCARD is too expensive to deploy to every home so the FCC allows cable operators to use the current receivers to those customers that do not want to pay more.

We conclude that this decision will not undermine the goal of common reliance, as we believe that the majority of operator-leased devices will continue to commonly rely on CableCARDs, and therefore cable operators will continue to have adequate incentives to support CableCARDs in retail
devices. Allowing operators to deploy one-way devices with integrated security will help lower the costs of set-top box rentals to subscribers and allow operators to dedicate more of their spectrum to broadband without undermining the effectiveness of the integration ban