Cable TV without cable box, why it does not work for my old tv?

Hi, everyone,
I have a comcast basic plan. My new TV (Sharp, LT-42SB45UT) gets all TV channels without connecting to a cable box. However, if I connect my old TVs (several years old) to the cable directly, I got only a few channels, #77-79, which are not really public channels such as ABC, NBC or PBS. I tried connecting the cable to a DTA box then to my old TV, and this did not help my old TVs to get more channels. the DTA box seems only working for antenna.



I understand that with a comcast cable box my old TVs will work. My question is why my new TV can get all channels without the cable box? What device I can purchase except comcast cable box, so I can make use my old TVs? Thanks in advance!

Simon

Did you mean a Sharp LC-42SB45UT?

To answer your first question, why does my new TV receive channels without a cable converter box? .....That's because your Sharp is equipped with a QAM tuner, which allows you to receive digital cable in the clear. Check out the QAM wiki for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAM_(television)

Aaron,

I clicked your Wiki link and this is what I received. "Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. Please search for QAM (television in Wikipedia to check for alternative titles or spellings."

Jim

Originally Posted by Jim In Seattle

Aaron,

I clicked your Wiki link and this is what I received. "Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. Please search for QAM (television in Wikipedia to check for alternative titles or spellings."

Jim

Jim, I fixed the link but clicking on my original link. Looks like Aaron left out the last part of the parenthesis.

To answer your second question...

Originally Posted by simon321

What device I can purchase except comcast cable box, so I can make use my old TVs?

There were a few QAM tuner boxes available for sale a few years ago -- at the time they were running $180 and up. Sales were really poor. Customers never really gave consumer electronics manufacturers a reason to continue offering them, so most the stand-alone boxes were discontinued. Silcondust still offers HD Home Run... It can be found for from $80-$125.

Originally Posted by simon321

I understand that with a comcast cable box my old TVs will work. My question is why my new TV can get all channels without the cable box? What device I can purchase except comcast cable box, so I can make use my old TVs? Thanks in advance!

Simon

Comcast will give up to 2 devices for free that will allow you to get your channels in. Then each one after that is $2 a month.

Simon indicated that he has "basic plan". I had the service one higher than that, Digital Economy, and was not eligible for free DTAs.

Originally Posted by bicker

Simon indicated that he has "basic plan". I had the service one higher than that, Digital Economy, and was not eligible for free DTAs.

Here's the info from the Comcast website

Comcast: What is the World of More!


*Equipment is necessary to receive Limited Basic in certain markets. Customers in these areas receiving only Limited Basic are eligible for up to three digital adapters at no additional monthly cost.

Yup, not the proviso: "in certain markets". There are a few cities where they have indeed truly gone "all-digital". Atlanta, and some portions of Chicago, I believe.

Originally Posted by bicker

Yup, not the proviso: "in certain markets". There are a few cities where they have indeed truly gone "all-digital". Atlanta, and some portions of Chicago, I believe.

and you know he's not in these markets because.......I'm just trying to help.

Atlanta and portions of Chicago represent a small percentage of Comcast's subscriber-base. I'm sure Simon will let us know if he's in one of those two areas, and then we can provide locale-specific info from there, as we so often do.

Thanks guys! I really appreciate your answers.
I do have one cable box, but I have multiple rooms, and I found my Sharp TV is the only one that works without a cable box.

Simon

If you upgrade your BASIC service for a few months, just to get the boxes, then switch back... they may not ask for their boxes back. Of course, you don't need to tell THEM what you're up to.

Worth a try.

(COMCAST World of MORE??? More money for comcast, Thats funny right there, LOL~!)

Originally Posted by MrPogi

If you upgrade your BASIC service for a few months, just to get the boxes, then switch back... they may not ask for their boxes back.

I got a notice within a few weeks of downgrading my service, letting me know that if I didn't return the boxes that were not included with my downgraded level of service (in my case, I downgraded from Digital Starter to Digital Economy) within a certain period of time, they'd turn the issue over to their collections department.

Originally Posted by MrPogi

(COMCAST World of MORE??? More money for comcast, Thats funny right there, LOL~!)

If you feel that something isn't worth the money, you can cancel your subscription and do without it. All the control is in your hands. Take responsibility for your own actions.

I got a notice within a few weeks of downgrading my service, letting me know that if I didn't return the boxes that were not included with my downgraded level of service (in my case, I downgraded from Digital Starter to Digital Economy) within a certain period of time, they'd turn the issue over to their collections department.

Well It was worth a try, huh?

If you feel that something isn't worth the money, you can cancel your subscription and do without it. All the control is in your hands. Take responsibility for your own actions.

I am in control, they don't get my money. I just thought it was funny... What color is the sky in Comcast's "world of more?" Pay TV always is looking for MORE ways to nickel and dime you.

Remember these are the same people that said "you don't have to worry about the digital transition if you have cable" and even gave you "special pricing" to get you hooked. Now a lot of those same people are being moved to digital cable, along with higher fees and rates. And some (notably, senior citizens) don't know there are other options... short of "No TV".

Originally Posted by MrPogi

Pay TV always is looking for MORE ways to nickel and dime you.

Every for-profit company is always looking for ways to increase revenues. Pay TV is not special in that regard.

Originally Posted by MrPogi

Remember these are the same people that said "you don't have to worry about the digital transition if you have cable"

And they were correct. The OTA DTV transition did not affect cable company subscribers at all.

Originally Posted by bicker

Every for-profit company is always looking for ways to increase revenues. Pay TV is not special in that regard.

And they were correct. The OTA DTV transition did not affect cable company subscribers at all.

Pay TV is adopting the airline industry model for making profits... fee for this, fee for that. I just think they should be upfront about their pricing.

True, The OTA digital transition didn't affect them. They neglected to tell anyone they would be going digital as well. A lie by omission is still a lie... not "the truth, the WHOLE truth," etc.

Originally Posted by MrPogi

Pay TV is adopting the airline industry model for making profits... fee for this, fee for that. I just think they should be upfront about their pricing.

Unlike the airline industry, cable companies are pretty-much upfront with their fees. When I was a Comcast customer, I received a very detailed list of every single fee Comcast charges, every year, once a year, for as long as I remember.

Originally Posted by MrPogi

True, The OTA digital transition didn't affect them.

That's the digital transition that was of-issue at that point.

Originally Posted by MrPogi

They neglected to tell anyone they would be going digital as well.

They also haven't told you about the 3D channels that they're going to add next year. No one tells consumers about things like that that far in the future. They'd be morons to confuse things in that way.

Originally Posted by MrPogi

A lie by omission is still a lie... not "the truth, the WHOLE truth," etc.

It wasn't a lie. It was not of-issue. It isn't even clear whether decisions were made yet, but regardless, companies are never obligated in any way shape or form to reveal proprietary plans for the future. You really must dissuade yourself of this unreasonable notion that you are owed anything of the sort. You're just setting yourself, and anyone who happens to be unfortunate enough to listen to you and believe you, up for a never-ending death-spiral of dissatisfaction and disaffection.

You can expect only what you are promised... not whatever you want.

Yes. You are right. You are always right. How silly of me to think or even have an opinion of my own, when yours is the only one that is right or matters..

If anyone on this forum should ever doubt that fact, we will just ask you. You'll set us straight, and we can all stop posting, because our opinions are wrong.

You are right. You are always right.