Paul wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:

John McGaw wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:

Assuming "router" actually means the cable modem, not some separate
router you have downstream of the modem. The modem losing power means
you lose networking services, not cable TV (CATV). You don't even need
the modem if all you want is CATV service. The coax runs from the

Damn! I didn't think of the possibility that there were still old coax
cable TV feeds around any more. I though that all went away at least ten
years back.

Are you're paying for CATV (networking not involved) or streaming TV
(requires networking) or both?

The coax (RF) connector on the cable modem goes where? To a splitter at
the service entry point. The cable to the RF connector on the set-top
box goes where? To the splitter at the service entry point.

Um, you thought CATV went away 10 years ago as though being old meaning
it was no longer used. How old do you think is the Ethernet protocol
for networking?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet

Neither are new technologies. Neither is under 10 years old, or 20
years old, or 30 years old. Try over 40 years old for Ethernet and 60
years old for CATV. They both still work. Nothing your paying for
CATV, voice, or Internet is new technology.

You probably need a CableCard now, due to encryption.

I doubt traditional cable would work by accident,
it takes planning and the cable company won't exactly
be helping you.

It means they don't have to send a guy skulking around
your house, sniffing for stolen CATV. If you don't have
the proper CableCard, you're not going to see anything.

And an added benefit, is extra CableCards are rented
for $5 a month - the CableCard scheme makes them extra money.

Paul

The CableCard was the result of an FCC ruling (Telecommunications Act of
1996). It was and is how the CATV providers retain control over use of
their system and content while complying with a ruling saying customers
could use equipment other than that supplied by the CATV provider. The
set-top box or CableCard are only required to decrypt the encrypted
digital transmission over the coax (to convert to signalling that TVs
can use). You can lease a set-top box from your CATV provider. Or you
can lease a CableCard from your CATV provider. They haven't
relinquished access control over their encrypted content. If there is
unencrypted CATV content on the coax, you don't need a set-top box or
CableCard for that.

The cable modem, assuming one is even present, is not involved in
encrypted CATV. The coax comes into your home, optionally to a splitter
(if more than one radio device uses the CATV content or you connect a
cable modem), and goes to the set-top box and then to the TV. CATV,
encrypted or not, doesn't go through the cable modem.

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides...tem-encryption

The FCC requires the cable providers include the local OTA channels
which is what you likely get with the cable provider's basic service.
If all you want is the basic service (you don't want anything more) then
you don't even need a set-top box. The coax can go from outside
directly to your TV (the splitter is only needed to connect more than
one TV or to other services, like the modem). As I recall, although
required to carry the local channels, the cable operators move them up
to frequencies beyond the tuner of your TV, so you get stuck with a
set-top box (whether theirs or another using the CableCard) to reach
those local channels on their cable.

There are even CableCard-ready TVs, so the coax goes straight to the TV.
No set-top box, no 3rd party CableCard device, just a cable from wall to
TV - and that cable doesn't go through the cable modem.

https://www.lifewire.com/intro-to-ca...d-tech-3276161

You still have to get the CableCard from the CATV provider. I haven't
gone that route, so I don't know if they'll sell it or just rent it.
From what I've read, the CATV providers usually rents them ($3.99/mo).
Some customers didn't have a rental option and had to pay $150 per
CableCard. Of those, some got the cost offset with a "Dump the Dish"
promotion at the time. The CATV provider has to activate the CableCard;
else, it's non-functional hardware.

In any case, the CableCard or set-top box does not involve the cable
modem which is for Internet and voice services. The coax goes straight
to the set-top box or whatever device in which you plug the CableCard.
That's all about encrypting the content, not how CATV works. Simple
(unencrypted) CATV can go straight to your TV (if its digital tuner can
reach all the channels).

https://www.google.com/search?q=veri...ions#kpvalbx=1

Notice they're connecting the coax (coming into the house and possibly
from a splitter) directly to the set-top box (or a CableCard device, if
you're using one). The cable modem isn't in the circuit. You don't
need a cable modem to only get CATV service. If you add Internet and
voice services, the CATV content to your TV is still through the coax
from your service entry point, not from or through the modem.

There may additional services the set-top box or CableCard device can
supply to you that require networking but those services are outside or
in addition to the CATV service. You could just have:

service coax ---- set-top box ---- TV

No cable /modem/ is involved nor needed just for CATV service. Since
most CATV consumers also have Internet service, they also have a cable
modem and mistakeningly believe the modem is involved with CATV service.
That's why the OP got confused why CATV was still working when his
Internet access disappeared when he powered off the cable modem. One of
the first questions I get from tech support when I call in to report an
outage of Internet or voice service is if the cable TV service is still
working. If CATV is still working then they know the coax connections
are okay from entry point to set-top box to TV (and probably are also
okay from entry point to cable modem). Thereafter to fix an Internet
outage has them having you putz with the cable modem which on a separate
coax from the splitter.

https://www.timewarnercable.com/cont...de-tv-east.pdf
https://frontier.com/~/media/HelpCen...ons.ashx?la=en

Notice a cable modem isn't even mentioned. A CableCard just means you
get it (leased or purchased) from your CATV provider and can use it in a
CATV (set-top) box that is from your CATV provider or somewhere else.

https://www.verizon.com/support/resi...local-tv-setup

Here you see a cable modem shown but that is not for CATV service. A
splitter is used upstream of both the CATV device (TV or set-top box)
and the modem. One path is for purely CATV service (to the TV). The
other path to the modem are for Internet and voice services or whatever
requires networking protocols (wired or wireless).