# Internet access via Cable **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 11, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343 "2002-08-11T01:22:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/1 "2002-08-11T01:22:27Z")
Am I missing something or, wouldn’t it seem as though you could access all of your cable channels through your computer if you were getting Internet access via your cable service? ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/2 "2002-08-11T01:23:32Z")
Well the cable modem goes to an ethernet card or USB connector and without a Tuner there is no way to tune in a TV signal ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/3 "2002-08-11T01:32:05Z")
Wouldn’t this seem to be an obvious and simple “program” to add to a computer for this purpose? ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/4 "2002-08-11T01:45:42Z")
I guess if you had some sort of combo cable modem/TV tuner with a patch-thru to the video card, it would work. A program wouldn’t cut it, as far as I know, you have to have TV tuner hardware, I’ve never heard of a software based TV tuner. The cable comes in through the wall and is split. One goes to the TV, one goes to the computer. They are interchangeable, both cables carry the computer data and the TV signal, so no problem there. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/5 "2002-08-11T02:03:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omnipresent \* > \*\*Wouldn’t this seem to be an obvious and simple “program” to add to a computer for this purpose? \*\* No - the cable signal doesn’t reach the computer. The cable modem transforms the cable signal into an ethernet signal\*. The only information reaching the computer is ethernet information\* - it has no idea whether this is coming from a T1, DSL line, Cable Modem, or whatever. \*Yes, I’m aware that Technical people are cringing. But it answers the question. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/6 "2002-08-11T02:09:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Genseric \* > \*\*I guess if you had some sort of combo cable modem/TV tuner with a patch-thru to the video card, it would work. > > A program wouldn’t cut it, as far as I know, you have to have TV tuner hardware, I’ve never heard of a software based TV tuner. > > The cable comes in through the wall and is split. One goes to the TV, one goes to the computer. They are interchangeable, both cables carry the computer data and the TV signal, so no problem there. \*\* Not necessarily. 🙂 You may find your cable TV/modem connection actually has a filter on one of the cables. As explained to me when ours was installed, the technician “tuned” each connection specifically for the comptuer and for the TV signals, respectively. I can plainly see the filter right now. I’m also aware of filters installed in the main cable box outside, too. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/7 "2002-08-11T02:37:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mister V \* > \*\* > > No - the cable signal doesn’t reach the computer. The cable modem transforms the cable signal into an ethernet signal\*. The only information reaching the computer is ethernet information\* - it has no idea whether this is coming from a T1, DSL line, Cable Modem, or whatever. > > \*Yes, I’m aware that Technical people are cringing. But it answers the question. \*\* Hmmmm, not sure about this. I’m almost positive I’ve seen video cards with coaxial connections on them for the express purpose of receiving cable broacast. There must be a program incorporated with that card that acts as a tuner. And if so, why can’t it be incorporating in a new ethernet nic? Cable comes in, split to TV and cable modem. From cable modem via either CAT5 or USB into computer where it’s “tuned” for cable broacast. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/8 "2002-08-11T03:02:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duckster \* > \*\* > > Not necessarily. 🙂 > > You may find your cable TV/modem connection actually has a filter on one of the cables. As explained to me when ours was installed, the technician “tuned” each connection specifically for the comptuer and for the TV signals, respectively. I can plainly see the filter right now. I’m also aware of filters installed in the main cable box outside, too. \*\* Not the case on my system. I’ve monkeyed around with it a hell of a lot, and I’ve got on cable to a standard splitter, one cable to my VCR and one to my cable modem. They’re completely interchangeable. I guess different companies have different setups. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/9 "2002-08-11T03:15:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omnipresent \* > \*\* > Hmmmm, not sure about this. I’m almost positive I’ve seen video cards with coaxial connections on them for the express purpose of receiving cable broacast. There must be a program incorporated with that card that acts as a tuner. And if so, why can’t it be incorporating in a new ethernet nic? > > Cable comes in, split to TV and cable modem. From cable modem via either CAT5 or USB into computer where it’s “tuned” for cable broacast. \*\* Those inputs are for cable video signal (or other RF signal) output. The way the setups are run currently you have no access to the RF (ie video) portion of the cable signal from a cable internet connection to yur PC. It’s nothing but a digital network connection extracted from the cable line. I suppose it would be possible to do what you request but to what end? You can get a 24 inch flat screen, cable ready TV for 250.00 - 300.00 that will outperform most $ 1000.00 + PCs with respect to displaying a cable video signal and it will have a remote control. There’s just not that much demand for cable on PCs. TVs are too good and too cheap in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/10 "2002-08-11T03:19:30Z")
Or just use a video card with TV in. I have Composite/S-Video in on my video card (You can watch TV, but you have to tune the channel from VCR or cable box). I never use it. I guess if I was into video capture, I would, but I haven’t bothered yet. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/11 "2002-08-11T03:23:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omnipresent \* > \*\* > Hmmmm, not sure about this. I’m almost positive I’ve seen video cards with coaxial connections on them for the express purpose of receiving cable broacast. There must be a program incorporated with that card that acts as a tuner. And if so, why can’t it be incorporating in a new ethernet nic? > > Cable comes in, split to TV and cable modem. From cable modem via either CAT5 or USB into computer where it’s “tuned” for cable broacast. \*\* There are video cards with coax inputs to receive cable (or antenna) signals. The receiving and decoding features of these are in the hardware and it is controlled by software. (The exact same way your cable box or TV tuner works.) This is very different from a cable modem, which transmits and receives data on specific frequencies on the cable line. There is no way to get the video signal into the computer via the networking interface. So yes, you could have one cable line going to a TV tuner card and one going to a cable modem quite easily, but the modem itself does not have cable tuning features. It would not be impossible to build a combined cable tuning/cable modem device, however. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/12 "2002-08-11T07:22:30Z")
I have cable internet and for a time my main television was my computer, using an ATI All-in-Wonder card. I used a standard cable splitter to hook up the cable modem and the video card. I’ve since rearranged my AV setup to include a digital cable decoder, a VCR and a standard television. All of these, plus the modem, are splits off the original cable. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/13 "2002-08-11T22:10:06Z")
Do _not_ buy a splitter and feed you broadband signal to an ethernet card and a tuner card. As mentioned in other posts, most systems require a _filter_ on the TV side. Operating without the filter (which you just can’t buy at RS) _degrades_ the broadband signal. This harms _your_ Internet connection _as well as your neighbors_. This is a _much_ more sophisticated system than old analog CATV. Our cable company has sometimes sent out a tech, who discovers we have broadband and won’t work on the system. A specialized tech is required. Repeat, a regular CATV tech isn’t qualified to work on such a system, so almost certainly _you_ aren’t. Do not try to “do-it-yourself” on these systems _ever_. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/14 "2002-08-12T13:26:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\* > I suppose it would be possible to do what you request but to what end? You can get a 24 inch flat screen, cable ready TV for > 250.00 - 300.00 that will outperform most $ 1000.00 + PCs with respect to displaying a cable video signal and it will have a remote control. There’s just not that much demand for cable on PCs. TVs are too good and too cheap in comparison. \*\* Oh, I don’t know, I guess there’s a unique and specific need for anything in life. But, I can see the need for an all-in-one system. While working on the computer and a tv isn’t around and one wants to tune into a normal channel that normally comes over cable. Besides, isn’t the future big picture to have a computer in a home which controls television broacast which may be distributed throughout the home via a control panel, telephone controlled via the pc, etc. Maybe it’s a little “future-world” for some but, it seems to make sense rather than one “point-of-entry” for cable tv, another for internet access, another for telephone etc. l ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/15 "2002-08-12T13:37:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ftg \* > Repeat, a regular CATV tech isn’t qualified to work on such a system, so almost certainly _you_ aren’t. > > Do not try to “do-it-yourself” on these systems _ever_. \*\* Gee ftg, you sound like a person who calls an electrician to change a light bulb. Don’t be so afraid of futsing with things. If Ben Franklin listened to you, we’d be sitting here in the dark! Also, if there doens’t seem to be a need for cable on computer, what’s the deal with watching DVD movies on the computer. Seems interchangable to me. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/16 "2002-08-12T19:13:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omnipresent \* > Gee ftg, you sound like a person who calls an electrician to change a light bulb. Don’t be so afraid of futsing with things. If Ben Franklin listened to you, we’d be sitting here in the dark! Gee, did your username go to your head? I have a PhD in Computer Science. I have been working on electronics of all types since the 1950s. My step-father wired the town for CATV in the 50s and I used to go out with him on service calls at the age of 6. I am one of the vanishing few that has actually repaired VCRs, CD players, TVs, CRTs, etc. I can change a light bulb. But I have the brains to turn off the light first. What some people are talking about here is the equivalent of changing the bulb with the switch on. Bad, dangerous advice. Also, **you** obviously do not understand the electronics of these systems. If you don’t understand how it works, there is an excellent chance of harming you, your equipment, or, in this case, the picture and connection of others. I understand how these things work. I’ve got Cat-5 and quad shield cable all over my house. But when I need a change to my broadband wiring, I call the cable company. (And hope they send out a qualified tech.) You, **Omnipresent** , are not a qualified tech. ---
**Author:** ![AmbushBug](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ambushbug/32/4600_2.png) [@AmbushBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmbushBug)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/17 "2002-08-12T23:51:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ftg \* > \*\*Do _not_ buy a splitter and feed you broadband signal to an ethernet card and a tuner card. > > As mentioned in other posts, most systems require a _filter_ on the TV side. Operating without the filter (which you just can’t buy at RS) _degrades_ the broadband signal. This harms _your_ Internet connection _as well as your neighbors_. > > This is a _much_ more sophisticated system than old analog CATV. Our cable company has sometimes sent out a tech, who discovers we have broadband and won’t work on the system. A specialized tech is required. Repeat, a regular CATV tech isn’t qualified to work on such a system, so almost certainly _you_ aren’t. > > Do not try to “do-it-yourself” on these systems _ever_. \*\* Well, I’d better call my cable company _right now_ and tell them to stop distributing those “self-install” kits at Circuit City! You’ve just saved my life! -AmbushBug [sub]1. low voltage; 2. ingress; 3. sarcasm[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/18 "2002-08-13T00:37:28Z")
I think you guys are misunderstanding ftg’s warning. His warning was given in relation to someone using a (assumedly standard) coax RF splitter to feed the cable modem. This is [u[not a good idea. The "do it yoursel"f cable modem kits you refer to come with specialized splitters that have filters incorporated into them for ease of assembly. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/19 "2002-08-13T04:52:27Z")
By the way, you CAN actually change a light bulb with the switch ON safely. As long as you have an opposing thumb! I wonder what was being broadcast on cable in the 50’s? A standard splitter will work just fine. You’re receiving this message via that very same splitter. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343/20 "2002-08-13T05:23:31Z")
I can’t be sure mine is a standard splitter, I suppose. It was installed by the cable company, and looks like every splitter I’ve ever seen. No special markings or cable only/pc only jacks (one in jack and two out jacks). I’ve had cable internet service for a year and a half using this same splitter, and [dslreports.com](http://dslreports.com) shows my data transfer rate to be right about 3000 kpbs downstream. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-access-via-cable/123343.md?page=2)