legality question

[lost-and-found]

Hi guys and gals...I recently acquired cable internet, and I specifically stated that that's all I want, no cable tv or anything. There is currently one cable in the house and it runs to the modem. Yesterday I unhooked it and hooked up a cable tv box (I own one legally from a really really long time ago) and I can receive the basic broadcast channels. No discovery channel or anything like that, but basically channels 1-30 (Nasa TV , PBS...all local stations, ansd some other channels). I didn't remove any filters or modify any connections whatsoever. Now, if I install a splitter to split the wire to the modem and to TV to receive those channels, would that be considered legal? I ask taht cause the clarity of the broadcast channels I get is horrible by regular antenna, and I could finally watch simpsons without the horrible ants running over homer's head.

[Theophylact]

Probably not legal -- it might be considered "theft of services" -- but since you're not using any illegal equipment, or modifying the existing equipment, it's unlikely that you'll get in trouble.

I get HBO on my cable system. I don't pay for it (all I have is extended basic service). It came as a "one month free HBO" offer when I signed up for cable fifteen years ago, and they never cut me off. So I suppose I'm a service thief, too. It's the only channel I ever watch, anyway, and not all that often; I record Six Feet Under and watch when I find the time, and that's about it.

[lost-and-found]

so basically now my question is whether I am allowed to install a splitter so that I can get the coaxial cable to the living room.

[Epidemic]

I do not know if your cable company works the same as mine but there is no reduction in price on my cable provider for basic cable and modem or modem alone.

So you may be paying for it and not enjoying it. Check out the pricing plans

[golfcart]

Legal? I dunno. Would I plug the TV in? Yes, assuming that is all you would have to do. I don't recommend blatantly stealing it.

[lost-and-found]

ok I called the cable co about it. The lady was surprised but said since it's there, it must have come with my internet, although I am not billed for it. SO she said I can add a splitter and watch my free basic broadcast service while surfing my paid for cable internet connection

[Solid Snake]

The same cable runs to every house, they cut off the upper channels using a low-pass filter. I think if they added any more filtering, your internet wouldn't work.

[jman01pa]

I have similar service. I signed up for broadband over a year ago and was given cable tv with all the channels including premium pay channels free for a 3 month free trial.

I cancelled the TV portion after the 3 months electing only very basic (channels 2-13) tv. After all this time I still have all the channels and only pay $8.00 a month for premium cable tv.

I called them several times to do the right thing and in fear that I might be billed at some point and was told they would take care of it. I gave up and took advantage of it.

You did your part and contacted them. Enjoy it.

[Redwolf]

On a similar note, around here some people downgrade their cable service and still continue to get the same service they got before, only they don't pay for it. This can go on for years. Don't know if it;s illegal, but you didn't 'hack' into the lines or anything, and it's their fault you still get the channels. Around here, no one cares.

[Ed_S]

Two things - first, I've been told by the cable co that they have no say in what you do with it within your house.
Next, be careful with the splitters! Poor quality splitters or bad connections can screw up the internet connection w/o disturbing the TV. Be sure only ONE two-way splitter is on the modem line, and it should be rated specifically for the modem. Different resistance, I forget the specs. The TV line can run to a 2nd splitter for additional TV's. When we first got cable internet, they had mine all screwed up & had to re-do it twice!! It would work, but poorly and intermittantly, all because of improper splitters.

BTW, we had cable TV totally free for about 12-13 yrs because of their error & laziness! When we bought the house, the previous owner called & cancelled, but they never bothered to disconnect - guess they just assumed that new owners would want it & they'd get paid for "installation" w/o lifting a finger.... instead, they gave it away for years! I've never felt the slightest guilt either since I didn't have one thing to do with it! I didn't hook it up outside, and I'd never even set up service at all.
Finally I accidentally turned myself in - a cable guy was outside looking at the line so I went out & said "Can I help you with something?" He said he was just checking the line. I said "What line? You mean that thing works?" Then one thing led to another, you get the picture.
Turned out he was checking the condition of every line, and if I'd just kept quiet, he'd have repaired it w/o ever knowing better... DOH!!
No fine or anything, they knew it was their error!!!