A Few Cable Channels without Cable Box?

[penpole]

Hi,

I know someone who has just moved into a house. They have a tv aerial to their main front room, there is also a cable tv point in the lounge and in a bedroom upstairs but they don't subscribe to cable tv nor have any boxes.

When I went around today they said 'guess what, we've got QVC and The Box in the bedroom'! I thought they had a chipped box and connected it but thought that these analogue Gerrold boxes were all obsolete now. Anyway I challenged them and sure enough I couldn't believe it when I saw it.

They had just thought that the 'cable' cable was an aerial and forced it into the back of their TV and sure enough, the five terrestrial channels and QVC and the Box. After a bit of scanning we also found BBC News 24, Sky One and Eurosport. I am yet to see if there are more. Does anyone know how this is possble or shed any light??

Many thanks, Alex.

[altis]

Those channels are supplied as part of the analogue TV service and happen to be unencrypted - which is why you can see them.

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by altis

Those channels are supplied as part of the analogue TV service and happen to be unencrypted - which is why you can see them.

Mmmmm, interesting about sky 1, where my cable modem feed comes into the house i've put a splitter, straight to the back of the tv, we have about 13 channels, sci-fi, cartoon-network etc etc, are you saying that with a bit of tunning i could get more ??

I had never thought about it, just accepted what i have. I will look tomorrow, right now it's law laying down time with the g/f's kids........... be right back

[altis]

I think it all depends on which region you're in. IIRC here there is only channels 1 thru 4. Just get your TV to autoscan and find what's there.

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by altis

I think it all depends on which region you're in. IIRC here there is only channels 1 thru 4. Just get your TV to autoscan and find what's there.

Will do thanks can't remember what i did after install, but will a have look tomorrow

[penpole]

So are you saying that if a household has broadband it is possible to split off the back of the modem and get a small selection of channels? I thought that they had to 'switch on' the various services?? Perhaps this is another myth.

This brings me to another question, many years ago I used to babysit and there they had an old Gerrold box with a splitter going to their stereo and they had FM stations from around the UK, is this service still possible or again, does one have to subscribe to such a service?

Thanks, Alex

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by penpole

So are you saying that if a household has broadband it is possible to split off the back of the modem and get a small selection of channels? I thought that they had to 'switch on' the various services?? Perhaps this is another myth.

Yep, thats basicaly what i've got, cant remember the splitter code / size but will look if need be

Originally Posted by penpole

This brings me to another question, many years ago I used to babysit and there they had an old Gerrold box with a splitter going to their stereo and they had FM stations from around the UK, is this service still possible or again, does one have to subscribe to such a service?

Thanks, Alex

Wouldn't know about that one, sorry
HTH

[Jonboy]

take a look here http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...030#post297030

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by penpole

This brings me to another question, many years ago I used to babysit and there they had an old Gerrold box with a splitter going to their stereo and they had FM stations from around the UK, is this service still possible or again, does one have to subscribe to such a service?

Thanks, Alex

Try Altis's site : http://homepage.ntlworld.com/altisuk/fm/

HTH

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by bopdude

Yep, thats basicaly what i've got, cant remember the splitter code / size but will look if need be

A QQ69A 2-way F splitter from Maplins should do the job. Along with some satellite grade coax, with properly fitted F plug connectors, to go from the splitter to the modem (can't remember the code for that though), plus a lead with an F on one end, & a coax plug on the other end, to go from the splitter to the TV. A filter is also needed to stop anything going back up the cable from the TV, & screwing the upstream signal (as Jonboy's link mentions)

[penpole]

A filter is also needed to stop anything going back up the cable from the TV, & screwing the upstream signal (as Jonboy's link mentions)

Anyone know which filter is needed, and will this be needed if they aren't even subscribing to cable anyway?

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by penpole

Anyone know which filter is needed, and will this be needed if they aren't even subscribing to cable anyway?

I think Maplin sell a "High Pass Filter" of some sort. Not sure how ideal it is though.


I think it is necessary, even if not actually subscribing to any cable services, as if there is no filter, "noise" from the TV can travel back up the cable & affect the services of your neighbours etc.

[stoop]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me which connector I need so that I can connect the wall box directly to my aeriel socket on my TV?

The reason I ask is because my aeriel is rubbish and I understand that I can get chanels 1 -5 through my cable box.

I have the original cable that came with the cable box and set top box but we are now dis-connected from NTL. This cable obviously fits the cable box but does not fit the back of my telly.

Thanks

Stoop

[Jonboy]

do a search plenty of info well documented on these forums if u take the trouble to look

[stoop]

Jonboy,

I have actually taken the trouble to look and used the search facility. Unfortunately I am not that technically minded and did not see the answer to my particular question.

I have seen threads for people wanting to put cable into another room etc but not for people wanting to connect directly to their tv from the wall box.

Stoop