Cable TV without subscription?

Astec

I currently have broadband with Virgin media, paying £10/month (retention deal). I don't need a landline so don't have one, never been much of a TV viewer so just had normal analogue (Channels 1-5), slightly fuzzy reception one a few channels, but did the job.

My CRT TV broke last week, so I bought a new 32" LCD as a replacement over the weekend. However, slightly fuzzy has gone to very fuzzy due to bigger screen and LCD.

Our ariel isn't great, so freeview doesn't work very well. Can't justify £15-20 a month for sky or cable when I'm happy with freeview channels.

Question is, can I use a splitter cable to attach a cable TV box to our existing cable connection? The connectors are the same for TV and BB. I'd be happy with just the freeview channels, I'm not after 'chipped' cable. Also, is this legal assuming I was just getting free to air channels?

samba

I don't think the analogue cable channels are broadcast in the same frequency range as terrestrial channels, so even if you are still in an area with analogue cable, then your new tv wouldn't be able to tune the channels anyway.

I think your main options are:
get a deal with Virgin ( dunno about this as I have never lived in a cable area )
get Freeview ( which would probably mean a new aerial if you are in a Freeview area )
get Freesat ( needs a satellite dish installed )

If you don't want an ongoing subscription, then I would go for Freeview or Freesat. Seeing as your new LCD TV is likely to be HD ready, I would probably go for Freesat as it would allow to watch some HD content, making the most of your TV. However, if you're strapped for cash and are in a Freeview area, then that is likely to be the cheaper option.

Astec

Cheers for the reply. Not sure what you mean by analogue cable?

I basically want to buy a cable box off ebay etc and plug it into my existing cable (broadband) connection point. Would this work without a virgin TV subscription?

Freeview or freesat will require either a new satellite or new ariel, which will cost more than the box.

gjchester

Astec wrote: »

I currently have broadband with Virgin media, paying £10/month (retention deal). I don't need a landline so don't have one, never been much of a TV viewer so just had normal analogue (Channels 1-5), slightly fuzzy reception one a few channels, but did the job.

My CRT TV broke last week, so I bought a new 32" LCD as a replacement over the weekend. However, slightly fuzzy has gone to very fuzzy due to bigger screen and LCD.

Our ariel isn't great, so freeview doesn't work very well. Can't justify £15-20 a month for sky or cable when I'm happy with freeview channels.

Question is, can I use a splitter cable to attach a cable TV box to our existing cable connection? The connectors are the same for TV and BB. I'd be happy with just the freeview channels, I'm not after 'chipped' cable. Also, is this legal assuming I was just getting free to air channels?

It may be worth asking neighbours what there TV reception is like and looking on the Freeview site. A simple aerial upgrade may cure the problem, or you may need to get the aerial pointed in the right direction (maybe been blown around by the wind?) or replace the cable if it's got damaged or filled with water and your not getting a decent signal.

You can buy cable boxes but there are no free to air channels over them, euphamisms aside they are sold to allwo service theft. VM give boxes to subscribers, there is no really valid reason to buy your own. Some cable co's broadcast standard channels (we get BBC1, BBC2, ITV, C4 and Five through a cable but only low def analog version not digital freeview channels.

gjchester

Astec wrote: »

I basically want to buy a cable box off ebay etc and plug it into my existing cable (broadband) connection point. Would this work without a virgin TV subscription?

No.

The box is locked to the viewing card and without that and a valid subscription you'll just get meesage son screen telling you to subscribe, even on free to air channels.

We had that last month as we moved and they turned if off as we were without service for a week due to when the enginners were available. NTL was live but as they'd closed the contract and started a new one they killed the card till it was resetup.