Local TV (Tustin Ranch) (San Diego: to buy, live, Walmart)

[jct55]

I have a question about how to get local channels in this area. I've since moved out of the OC but a family member needs some advice on this issue. In the past they used to hook up the wall cable to a QAM tuner which ran to an older LED TV to get local channels (if I remember right, an antenna did NOT work for some reason in this area; or maybe it was the TV's fault?)

But I think I read somewhere that the cable itself no longer carries the channels (making the QAM tuner useless), so really OTA seems to be the only option left. Does anyone know what the best way forward is at this point? Would a newer TV be able to pick up local OTA signals that the older LED TV was not able to (even using an antenna)? They are not looking to subscribe to some expensive cable company that we all hate anyway but would welcome the ability to receive local channels.

Thanks in advance.

[Electrician4you]

You need a new digital converter box of you are using a older TV. The signal is now digital. Walmart has them for $30 bucks

[timtemtym]

I'm not sure a regular antenna would pick up local OTA channels in the OC since they beam from way up in LA. My great Aunt in San Diego lived on a cliff and had a large roof antenna. We got channels from LA all the way down through northwest Mexico. But that was a super antenna and before the whole digital switchover.

[jct55]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

You need a new digital converter box of you are using a older TV. The signal is now digital. Walmart has them for $30 bucks

so running the cable through a digital converter box into the TV would allow reception of the major local channels? thanks

I ask because I previously used a QAM tuner box and attached the wall cable into that then ran another cable from the box to the TV and it worked, but my understanding was at some point the cable companies stopped transmitting signals through the cable for free?

[DriveNotCommute]

Originally Posted by jct55

so running the cable through a digital converter box into the TV would allow reception of the major local channels? thanks

I ask because I previously used a QAM tuner box and attached the wall cable into that then ran another cable from the box to the TV and it worked, but my understanding was at some point the cable companies stopped transmitting signals through the cable for free?

Who is the cable provider in that area? I know that there was a lot of noise not too long ago about Comcast encrypting the formerly open OTA channels through their cable. Maybe do a search to see if your family's cable provider has started doing the same thing.

See if you can find a manual online for that TV and check out its features to see if it has a Digital Tuner or not before going out to buy a separate box. The model number might be stamped somewhere on the back of the TV.

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by jct55

so running the cable through a digital converter box into the TV would allow reception of the major local channels? thanks

I ask because I previously used a QAM tuner box and attached the wall cable into that then ran another cable from the box to the TV and it worked, but my understanding was at some point the cable companies stopped transmitting signals through the cable for free?

I assume you plan in using a antenna correct? you can't use the TV coax cable thats coming out of the wall.

[jct55]

If I remember right, it used to be Cox who was providing the cable service in the area, and the LED TV as far as I know does not have a digital tuner; that was why a few years ago we used a QAM tuner box to run the coax into it and then a cable from the box to the TV to get the signals for local channels.