QAM channels for Time Warner Cable Cary (Morrisville: home, to buy)

[neighbor1]

If you have Time Warner Cable Basic, you can get all your locals in HD for free over cable via a QAM tuner, which most newer HDTVs have built-in. You don't even need an antenna. Best part, there is no charge for this service.

I've successfully been able to get channels 11-1, 11-2, 17-1 (NBC-17), 17-2, 4-1 (UNC-TV), etc. for over a year. About 2 months ago, Time Warner Cary changed somthing so that WRAL (CBS 5) no longer seems to be found via my TV's QAM tuner on channel 5-1. I've rescanned the channels on my TV, but WRAL does not seem to show up. All the rest of the local HD channels via QAM channels seem to be fine.

Is there some manual channel that must be entered on my HD TV, in order for it to find the QAM channel being used by Time Warner Cary to broadcast WRAL-HD?

Thanks.
[LEFT]

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[darman1484]

Originally Posted by neighbor1

Is there some manual channel that must be entered on my HD TV, in order for it to find the QAM channel being used by Time Warner Cary to broadcast WRAL-HD?

Thanks.

Using an antenna, WRAL-HD is UHF 48. I don't have TWC, just an antenna, so I don't know if this is exactly what you are looking for.

[twoisbetter]

Originally Posted by neighbor1

If you have Time Warner Cable Basic, you can get all your locals in HD for free over cable via a QAM tuner, which most newer HDTVs have built-in. You don't even need an antenna. Best part, there is no charge for this service.

I've successfully been able to get channels 11-1, 11-2, 17-1 (NBC-17), 17-2, 4-1 (UNC-TV), etc. for over a year. About 2 months ago, Time Warner Cary changed somthing so that WRAL (CBS 5) no longer seems to be found via my TV's QAM tuner on channel 5-1. I've rescanned the channels on my TV, but WRAL does not seem to show up. All the rest of the local HD channels via QAM channels seem to be fine.

Is there some manual channel that must be entered on my HD TV, in order for it to find the QAM channel being used by Time Warner Cary to broadcast WRAL-HD?

Thanks.
[LEFT]

[/LEFT]

I think ours changed too...I want to say its 82 or 92-1 or -2. It went way up the dial...sorry I can't be more certain.

[CHTransplant]

Much discussion of this topic here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...47473&page=132

[WDJ]

When I had cable, I used to look up the QAM channels here: hdhomerun/channels - Silicondust. Looks like WRAL is on 85 for TWC in Cary.

[neighbor1]

Thanks. Channel 85-1 is indeed the channel I needed for WRAL. After about 5 seconds on that channel, my HD TV automatically mapped that channel to 5-1. I also got channel 5-2 (WRAL 5.2) on my tv at the same time.

Thanks for everyone's help. I'm now getting all my local channels in HD without having to pay TWC extra for a digital converter box and HD package.

[frankpc]

Originally Posted by neighbor1

Thanks. Channel 85-1 is indeed the channel I needed for WRAL. After about 5 seconds on that channel, my HD TV automatically mapped that channel to 5-1. I also got channel 5-2 (WRAL 5.2) on my tv at the same time.

Thanks for everyone's help. I'm now getting all my local channels in HD without having to pay TWC extra for a digital converter box and HD package.

Just so folks are clear .. the above is correct. TW provides "free" HD (really "no extra cost" HD) w/o a converter box if your HDTV has a QAM tuner (most do). TW does, from time to time, remap channels. You will probably need to rescan your set if that happens. So if a channel goes missing do a rescan first.

I mention this because this seems like an endless source of confusion if you call the TW customer assistance folks.

Frank

[gmcjetpilot]

I Just solved my issue in Cary / Morrisville NC, with Time Warner and QAM channels. I have the digital box, but some times I like to use the QAM tuner in the TV when the box is busy recording something. I got PBS UNC-TV channels 4, 4.1 (HD), 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 & 4.5

The UNC PBS decimal stations went away months ago. A rescan did nothing. I still had ABC, CBS and NBC in HD decimal QAM stations. Since I have the digital box, I did not worry about it too much, but I still like to use the TV tuner alone when the box is used for other programing. I called Time Warner many times over the last few months and they were clueless, getting different stories. I could hear their blank stares. It went from we don't offer this service to UNC is the problem. I called UNC today and they were helpful. One trick you may want to try is set your TV back to factory settings, delete all your settings, then rescan. I did not have to do this. The last scan worked. It might take several scans to get it. Also make sure you cables are good. You want a good signal for the QAM stations.

Apparently from UNC they are getting lots of complaints from TW customers. Also TW is confused and giving different answers or none at all. Another scan today the UNC PBS stations finally came back. I counted the total stations and I with the basic QAM to be about 100-105 stations, some duplicates, but some HD. Here are the HD channels

4.1 UNC PBS HD
5.1 WRAL CBS HD
11.1 WTVD ABC HD
17.1 WNCN NBC HD
22.1 WLFL CW HD
28.1 WRDC My RDC HD
47.1 WRPX ION HD
50.1 WRAZ FOX HD
79.7 Univision HD (Spanish)

My stations go from 2 to 123.1
The scan turned up many other stations with no signal. Some say audio only but there's no audio. I had to manually "Hide" these. The TV is a Sony Bravia. I think at different times of the day some channels may be active but not 24/7. Most of the high decimal stations seem to be shopping, religion, traffic cameras with reading for the blind and duplicates of lower channels. TW customer service argued that they don't have or never sent these signals.

[wizard-xyzzy]

TWC carries local HDs in the clear on basic cable because the FCC requires them to (the "must carry" rule). This rule lasts until February 2012, but everyone expects the FCC to continue it in some way.

I'm surprised that the local OTA stations don't publicize must-carry availability on TWC. Instead, their silence leads consumers to believe the TWC marketing pitch that local OTA HD requires TWC digital cable.

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by wizard-xyzzy

TWC carries local HDs in the clear on basic cable because the FCC requires them to (the "must carry" rule). This rule lasts until February 2012, but everyone expects the FCC to continue it in some way.

I'm surprised that the local OTA stations don't publicize must-carry availability on TWC. Instead, their silence leads consumers to believe the TWC marketing pitch that local OTA HD requires TWC digital cable.

WOW! Thanks for the info. Great info and insight. Does the FCC "must carry" applies to ATSC HD TV (16:9 & 720p or better). From my experience I think the customer service is ignorant by poor training from TW. Now that ignorance could be intentional, but you are right, they don't advertise the QAM or digital signals on basic cable. They only show the whole integer number stations: 0, 2 through 72 and 98.

You would think they would advertise how great their basic service is, but as you say they want you to buy the Digital. Of course if you have a TV that is over 10 years old or even 5 years ago, any typical 4:3 CRT TV, you can't get QAM or ATSC directly.

Also TW is going through their usual negotiations tactics by threatening to drop channels that want a rate hike.... Last year FOX, this time it's CW. CW has transmitters in the area, but I am tired of TW playing all these games. I do watch or recorded one show on CW, it's called TMZ. I have 100's of channels I don't watch, but they are always trying to drop stations I watch.

Of the basic cable channels I watch: Networks (over the air) CW, NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX. I also watch cable only* channels Fox, MSNBC, Disc, TLC, History, FX, Comedy Central, FX, VH1, E!. On occasions USA, TNT, A&E, ESPN, Verses, WX channel, TV Land and CMT. So of the basics I watch 15 stations, 5 regularly and 10 occasionally to rarely. Yet I get 72 stations, over 65 I never watch. The situation gets worse with digital TV.

I have high speed internet (also through TW). Most networks, CBS, NBC, ABC and even cable networks like Comedy Central have shows online. I already have my computer connected to the TV with my homemade PVR, Personal Video Recorder ... I record shows onto the hard drive to view later. I like it better than TiVo or Time Warner's recorder because I have more control over the file once recorded.

I seriously need to think about dropping cable TV completely, getting a good antenna. I know I can get 20 stations over-air, from some experiments years ago with rabbit ears. I am an engineer and into RF/radio. An antenna installation would not be an issue, except for the Home Owner Assoc, which as far as I know bans outside antennas, so that means an antenna in the attic.