Cablevision: no box, no service

Cablevision is now insisting that you rent a cable box from them, even if you’re getting the same old basic analog service we’ve been plugging directly into the back of the set since forever. [Consumerist]

1. [geekd]

   your link is broken.

2. [Sean Eric FAgan]

   Looks like it should have been http://consumerist.com/5158096/cablevision-its-impossible-to-hook-up-basic-service-without-a-converter-box.

3. [mnemonic]

   @ZUZU a Clear QAM Tuner will only tune and display digital cable channels that are unencrypted, or in the clear. The parent could either buy his own set top box or get a cablecard, if their TV supports it.

   A great number of cable companies are going all digital. It just depends on where you live.

4. [AirPillo]

   The link is broken, and the post is broken too. It lacks the usual widgets attached to every post.

5. [zuzu]

   It’s simple: You don’t need to rent a box. If Cablevision has migrated to all-digital, you need a Clear QAM tuner — nearly all HDTVs have these built-in. That’s all.

6. [jesseg]

   I had Time Warner Cable in Brooklyn and tried hooking up the cable up straight to my TV without a box. I got like three channels, and they were on different numbers than normal. I called about it and was told the same thing this guy was told.