New HDTV gets HD off of TWC with no STB

[zoothorn]

Curious if anyone can give me the lowdown on what's going on here. I've searched around here and AVS and not really gotten a good explanation.

Just upgraded a TV for my son's birthday in his bed room. He's a big xbox360 gamer so I went with and inexpensive HDTV capable TV. Looked at a 19" Samsung LN-T1953H but ended up with a VISIO VX20L as it had another inch, 2 year warranty, and what appeared to be more DTV tuning options. Hence my question...

When I plug TWC directly into the back of this (not going to rent another HD box for him) and scan it finds the normal analog channels between 1 and 75 or whatever it is but it also finds 30 digital channels. I was half expecting that it would find all the digital channels over 100 and below HBO but that wasn't the case. What it did register was 30 channels just over 100 that come in with channel numbers like 101-1, 103-1, 103-2, 103-3, 106-1, etc. The number looks like what I'd see with OTA digital signals but there is no OTA hooked up.

What I'm seeing on these channels are the HD versions of NBC, CBS, Fox, and a slew of MPTV channels. First of all that's great news!!!! Being able to get these local HD channels without the STB is a big plus. Also picks up that channel four weather channel not in HD and it seems like a few other SD channels. Oh, and for some reason it picked up 524 HD as channel 524 rather than one of the 'weird' 106.4 or something channels.

Anyone have a clue of what's going on here? I'm assuming it has something to do with the DTV tuners on the tv that include QAM, ASTC, and 8-VSB. Here are the specs on the TV.

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-and-plasma/vizio-vx20l-hdtv/4507-6482_7-32165928-.html?tag=sub

I'm not very familair with VISIO but have seen the name. It's highly rated by users on CNET and for under $380 to pick up HD channels with no cable box...I think it's a winner. I immediately went and scanned channels again on the 'old' Sony XBR 37" (one of the 250 lb jobs...) that cost 7 or 8 times that and...no digital there.

Maybe if I switch to D* to get all the HD channels I'll get a deal with 3 HD STB so it won't be an issue but right now I pay TWC enough and only have a box on the 60" Sony downstairs...

Any info on how or why this works would be interesting. Not complaining mind you, just didn't expect to see this channel setup.

Thanks!

Zoot

[zoothorn]

Looks like it's not going to let me link out to CNET but if you google VIZIO VX20L REVIEW you'll see the specs...

Thanks.

[kevbeck122]

The TV is using the QAM tuner. TWC sends out all of the local channels and some preview channels unencrypted. Those are the only channels you will get without a STB.

[Doug Mohr]

The TV is using the QAM tuner. TWC sends out all of the local channels and some preview channels unencrypted. Those are the only channels you will get without a STB.

This is actually good to know. A friend of mind down the hill and blocked by a tall building and can't get decent OTA reception, so they want to get the TW Local Reception package. Would that package also deliver unencrypted QAM locals?

Doug

[kevbeck122]

I don't know for sure, but I would imagine any cable package will get you the QAM locals... as long as they aren't somehow blocking those frequencies.

[patnshan]

Yep, I have a 32 inch vizio. I was able to get all those channels as well. I now have an 8300HDC:D A QAM tuner is the magic here, not vizio.

Pat

[zoothorn]

I think it's a nice feature for those who don't want to rent a converter box for every TV in the house. We have three TVs and only one on a STB. The others just run with the analog channels. Now one can pick up the HD locals as well!

I have RR and cable and the $139 I give to TWC every month is already too much. I'm going to look closely at DirecTV at the end of the year. At the very least TWC is going to have to drop the price if they want to keep me.