Is this possible

[leprechaunshawn]

I want to try something but I'm not sure if it will work, so I figure there is enough knowledge here to find an answer.

To save money I would like to drop my digital access with TWC at about $7 per month.  Unfortunately that would mean losing our local channels in HD.  I have the 8300HDC.  Would it be possible to run an antennae through the cable box ant input and be able to tune to local channels and record local channels with the HD-DVR?

I'm sure somebody here knows how to do this or that this isnt possible so I appreciate all your input.

[RonH]

I'm going to go with "no" because the cable box accepts QAM signals not ATSC signals from over the air.

However, if you have even the most basic cable package, maybe even just roadrunner and no TV, I believe you can use your TVs built in QAM tuner (if it exists) to tune to the HD locals via TWC.  Of course, this doesn't help you with the DVR aspect.

[kevbeck122]

I believe you need digital access at minimum in order to have a box... or the family choice package which starts at channel 1900.

[nick3092]

I'm going to go with "no" because the cable box accepts QAM signals not ATSC signals from over the air.

However, if you have even the most basic cable package, maybe even just roadrunner and no TV, I believe you can use your TVs built in QAM tuner (if it exists) to tune to the HD locals via TWC.  Of course, this doesn't help you with the DVR aspect.

I think TWC is sending the HD locals in the clear to everyone.  My grandma has just basic cable, no roadrunner, no digital cable (she doesn't even have a cable box) and the TV we got her for Christmas picks up all the locals in HD.  Previously I think TW was doing some kind of filtering of the digital channels if you didn't have the digital package, and they had to take the filter off for RR.  So some people with just RR were able to pick up the HD locals.  But that no longer seems to be the case.  It would seem they are there for any cable subscriber now.

[mhz40]

No... connecting an antenna feed into a STB will not work.  But I think you will continue to get the get the local broadcasters for free.  Last I knew, it was illegal to encrypt them.

[ArgMeMatey]

You do not need a TWC STB to get most OTA DTV channels via TWC as long as your TV has a QAM-capable tuner.  

I pay about $18 a month for the lowest tier from TWC.  The cable goes straight into the back of the TV.  I have no TWC equipment whatsoever.  

I get these channels on QAM In The Clear:

4-1
4-2
6-1
10-1
12-1
18-1
24-1
36-1 thru 36-8
58-1 thru 58-3

Notes:

They do not provide 49-1 but WBME is on 19 analog
They do not provide 55-1, 2, 3, 4 but Ion (55-1) is on 15 analog, I think.  
The ATSC program info data does not reach my TV

[brewtownska]

I can also confirm that with only Roadrunner coming into my house, I still get all the local HD channels via QAM.  Works well for me as a backup in case my locals via Dish Network don't have a good signal, or if I want to watch CBS 58 in HD.

[leprechaunshawn]

So, it sounds like I should be able to cancel my digital access package and still have my local channels in hd.  It is very important to me to be able to record the locals on my dvr.  I guess I could always call to cancel it and if I lose channels I dont want to lose, I can call back and have them put the digital access package back on.

[WPXE ION]

They do not provide 55-1, 2, 3, 4 but Ion (55-1) is on 15 analog, I think.

Do you see them now with a QAM tuner? 55-1, 55-2, 55-3, 55-4.

Yes Ion is 15 on TW.

[ArgMeMatey]

Do you see them now with a QAM tuner? 55-1, 55-2, 55-3, 55-4.

No.  I rescanned last night and there were no changes.  Still no 49.x and no 55.x on TW basic.  

Is something in the works?  I don't recall any more what is required for "must carry" if anything, given the negotiations that must take place now, but I wondered how that might affect this situation.  That is, the station is "in" Kenosha but it broadcasts from one of the Capitol Drive towers, if I remember right.  Is any of that significant for either Kenosha or Milwaukee?

[oz]

So, it sounds like I should be able to cancel my digital access package and still have my local channels in hd.  It is very important to me to be able to record the locals on my dvr.  I guess I could always call to cancel it and if I lose channels I dont want to lose, I can call back and have them put the digital access package back on.

I'm pretty sure that TWC requires you have the digital access package in order to have their DVR.

[WPXE ION]

No.  I rescanned last night and there were no changes.  Still no 49.x and no 55.x on TW basic.  

Is something in the works?  I don't recall any more what is required for "must carry" if anything, given the negotiations that must take place now, but I wondered how that might affect this situation.  That is, the station is "in" Kenosha but it broadcasts from one of the Capitol Drive towers, if I remember right.  Is any of that significant for either Kenosha or Milwaukee?

Last week TW and Charter switched from carrying our analog signal to the digital signal. Since 36-1 thru 8 pass and also 4-2 passes I figured the 55-1 thru 4 would pass. Maybe they have another encoder in the plant to get those sub channels in the QAM realm. I will send an e-mail to my contact at TW and see what I can find out.

Not sure if QAM falls under the Must Carry law. Must Carry usually deals with getting a signal over the air to a cable head end.

Kenosha is our city of License, but we can pretty much broadcast from anywhere as long as we "cover" that city. Moving our Digital transmitter off Capitol Drive still allows us to cover Kenosha, but it was a somewhat strategic move to gain viewers to the north. The analog signal just barely makes it to Sheboygan, but the digital can be seen up in Appleton. Since WCPX is the Chicago Ion station there was no need to overlap and keep the digital transmitter in Raymond where the analog is located.

Station is in Glendale moved here just over 2 years ago from the TMJ building.

HD coming very soon. WPXE will be part of the first phase of HD upgrades for Ion. Lucky I'm next to Chicago or else it might have been later this year, summer or fall. Equipment is in Florida the logistics of the installs being worked out. Getting 60 stations upgraded to HD is quite the task.

[Will]

Do you know yet what will happen with your subchannels, once the HD feed goes live?  Will all three subchannels be squeezed in, or will one get dropped?

[WPXE ION]

I believe that all three sub-channels will be there. Our Tampa atation has been HD for quite some time now, because of an agreement to broadcast Devil Rays Baseball, with our mux there is no degradation of the main channel. The sub channels will be run at around 1M to allow bandwidth for the HD channel.

I believe that other stations that pass the sub channels to the QAM tuners is made possible because they are fiber into TW and we are not.

We will be in 720p.