CABLE AND SATELLITE SUBSCRIBERS

All satellite and most cable subscribers do not use the televisions built-in ATSC tuner when receiving a signal. Instead, they use their service providers set-top box to receive and decode the digital signals. The only exception are those people who use a CableCARD, which is a small credit card type of chip that takes the place of a set-top box. It is inserted into the television, and is only available through certain cable providers.

Because most cable and satellite subscribers don't use their built-in ATSC tuner, some might think that they made a mistake by paying extra for an unused feature. I contend that the tuner is an added benefit, and not a burden. Here's why:

Cable and satellite providers will charge at least $9.95 a month to receive HD channels. While the HD tier is growing, not all people want to pay ten dollars a month for channels they don't watch. Some people just want their local stations in HD. By purchasing an antenna from the local electronics store for $25-100, a person with a built-in ATSC tuner can now enjoy their local stations for free. In the process they will save a few bucks for a rainy day.

As analog signals cease and digital becomes the standard, cable and satellite providers will probably provide the local networks for free if they don't do already. However, you will still have to buy or lease the HD box, which right now costs a minimum of $199. And the problem with leasing a HD box from a cable or satellite company is that they will probably charge you for the HD programming.

WOW Wrong again! Unless you are cheap and get one without most have HD Tuners. Mine does. Unless you are paying $300 for your tv there is a more then likely chance it has one built in.

I was asking this question because I was curious if it was just bullshit they add on to add onto your bill or is it really necessary?

I get normal tv but it is HD and since there is a huge antenna in my attic it comes in pretty clear. My question is is Cable HD better? Because I can't see why you would need a little "HD box" and pay extra when normal channels broadcast it for free.

Everyone else here seemed to get it except you.

Well thats my question if OTA can do it why cant cable? If its marketing I understand but I wanted to know if it was only marketing or if it was really impossible. People have brought up the answer already and I thank them. You on the other hand did nothing useful, thanks too.

Any tv with a QAM tuner can receive LOCAL HD (no TNT, HBO Universal type channels) for free WITHOUT a box per FCC rules. To repeat, I said any LOCAL HD or subchannel signal that the cable company company pipes through will be available on all digital sets with a QAM tuner. Customer service reps are ignorant of this and sometimes so are the techs. Plus they make more money by not informing you of this.

A QAM tuner is a device present in some digital televisions and similar devices which enables direct reception of digital cable channels without the use of a set-top box. QAM stands for "quadrature amplitude modulation," the format by which digital cable channels are encoded and transmitted via cable. QAM tuners can be likened to the cable equivalent of an ATSC tuner which is required to receive over-the-air (OTA) digital channels broadcast by local television stations. Many new digital televisions contain both and are labeled "with ATSC/QAM Tuner". Unlike the case with ATSC tuners there is no FCC requirement that QAM tuners be included in new television sets, but the same hardware is used for both and QAM is commonly included.

An integrated QAM tuner allows the free reception of unscrambled digital programming sent "in the clear" by cable providers, usually local broadcast stations; however most digital channels are scrambled because the providers consider them to be extra-cost options and not part of the "basic cable" package. Which channels are scrambled varies greatly from location to location, and can change over time. In the United States a television that is labeled digital cable ready can have a CableCARD installed by the cable provider to unscramble the protected channels, allowing subscribers to tune all authorized digital channels without the use of a set-top box.

QAM-based HD programming of local stations is sometimes available to analog cable subscribers, without paying the additional fees for a digital cable box. The availability of QAM HD programming is rarely described or publicized in cable company product literature.

Although technically most digital and high-definition programming on cable uses QAM, the term is generally reserved among viewers for discussions of unlabeled channels. These are not included in guide information on devices like TiVo DVRs, and can be unexpectedly moved from channel to channel. This makes watching QAM channels frustrating for the casual viewer, encouraging them to purchase a "digital cable package" which includes a set top box and guide data.