HDTV via Antenna

[Old Hubbard Rd]

Originally Posted by jmen24

Question:
Can you still receive the over the air HD channels "through" your cable line?

When we had cable, one of our tv's was on the basic (no box) cable. With the cable attached directly to a somewhat newer LED TV in the bedroom (4 years old or so), we had all the basic cable channels, plus about 30 HD locals in all kinds of languages and from different states. No antenna just the cable line screwed directly into the TV.

We have ZERO line of site, I look at the summit of two 3000' mountains from my deck, they are both within 2 miles (as the crow fly's) in relation to my yard, which is in a valley. Kearsarge is in the South-Southwest and Ragged is East-Northeast We are at 780' of elevation. This is also not taking into consideration Sunapee, Bald, Black and Cardigan that overlap the two closer peaks. The only open area is toward the Northwest, but my house is perched into a side hill that has an elevation gain of 85' from yard and completely blocks that direction even before adding the trees to that elevation gain.

The only answer to the "how" was that the cable line was acting as an antenna for the TV's with a built-in digital tuner. The LCD TV in the living room could not do this (early LCD from the LCD vs Plasma days), but the other LED downstairs could, which was the newest of all the sets (new as of 3 years ago).

Interesting?? I will look forward to peoples thoughts on this. Is it possible the cable company may have forgotten to turn off the service?