Splitting signals

[kom526]

Is it legal to split an incoming to cable feed to as many TVs as you want? I have heard two different stories about this from the same company.

I figure if the feed is coming into my house and I am paying for it, I should be able to split it as many times as I want.

 

[kwillia]

Is it legal to split an incoming to cable feed to as many TVs as you want? I have heard two different stories about this from the same company.

I figure if the feed is coming into my house and I am paying for it, I should be able to split it as many times as I want.

Yes you can split as many times as you want. In fact, I recently had Metrocast come out because we have split to over 6 different additional connections and some of them were not clear enough for our liking. The tech spent about an hour replacing connectors and ensuring we had good quality reception at all sources... at no cost to us.

 

[kom526]

The installer from Metrocast told me that it was illegal since I am paying for "internet only" access.

 

[CMC122]

Yes you can split as many times as you want. In fact, I recently had Metrocast come out because we have split to over 6 different additional connections and some of them were not clear enough for our liking. The tech spent about an hour replacing connectors and ensuring we had good quality reception at all sources... at no cost to us.

It's usually satellite that limits you on how many outlets you can have.

 

[kwillia]

Another note, we added a 2,000 sq foot addition on to our house a year or so back. We had the electrician run the cables in the addition when he was running the electric wires. Metrocast wasn't involved with that at all and obviously had no problem with it because they fixed a couple of the jacks that weren't getting clear signals.

 

[kwillia]

The installer from Metrocast told me that it was illegal since I am paying for "internet only" access.

Dur... of course that would be illegal. You didn't say that in the first post.

 

[kom526]

Internet access and basic cable come in on the same signal, if they don't want me to have basic cable then they need to be able to eliminate the basic.

 

[Warron]

If you are only paying for internet, then its the cable companies responsibility to filter out any signal they don't want you to recieve before it enters your house. They can't tell you to not hook a tv up to it.

Just make sure you call and tell them that you are still recieving a telivision signal. Talking to the installer doesn't really count for much.

 

[pappascw]

The installer from Metrocast told me that it was illegal since I am paying for "internet only" access.

This is the reason most cable companys charge a surcharge for Internet Only Services. I believe Metrocast blocks channels 23 and up, the cable modem runs somewhere below 23. I guess they could block 2- where ever the cable modem exists but then theres a cost per household to put the filter in, prolly not worth it. I'm happy with Metrocasts Internet plans for 40.00 a month it complements my DirecTV (for tv) nicely.

 

[dustin]

If you are getting basic cable then I would think you should still be able to split it if you use the excuse you want to watch cable TV in different rooms. :shrug:

 

[kwillia]

If you are getting basic cable then I would think you should still be able to split it if you use the excuse you want to watch cable TV in different rooms. :shrug:

The issue is that he is not paying for basic cable. He is only paying for the use of internet. It just so happens that the cable source that provides access to the internet, provides basic cable access as well. The moment he split the incoming cable to use it for something other than internet, he broke the law.

 

[CableChick]

The issue is that he is not paying for basic cable. He is only paying for the use of internet. It just so happens that the cable source that provides access to the internet, provides basic cable access as well. The moment he split the incoming cable to use it for something other than internet, he broke the law.

And even the judge will tell you it's just as much your responsibility to inform the company that the signal is in your house without you paying, as it is the company's respnsibility to QC their lines. :shrug:

 

[Warron]

The issue is that he is not paying for basic cable. He is only paying for the use of internet. It just so happens that the cable source that provides access to the internet, provides basic cable access as well. The moment he split the incoming cable to use it for something other than internet, he broke the law.

I disagree. Splitting the cable is meaningless. Most new houses and apartments already come with the the cable split and run to every room in the house. Currently, as far as I am aware, cable companies have no legal control over what you do with the wiring within your house. You can run as much cable as you want and have as many cable outlets as you want.

Based on what others have said in this thread, metrocast seems to only block channels above 23 for people who pay for internet only. As such, there is nothing illegal about anyone hooking up a tv (or multiple tv's) and watching any channels that metrocast has chosen to leave available.

Like I said before. Just give them a call and ask if it is normal for you to recieve those channels. It they say yes, then you are covered. If they said no, then tell them to fix it.