What is a cable box descrambler?

A cable descrambler is a device that decodes a cable television signal, so that it will display on your television. Cable boxes also permit cable customers to watch pay per view and on-demand programming, and often to purchase movies and television shows.

Does cable TV require a box?

As cable service providers continue to convert to all-digital and scrambled service, customers who own older analog, and even newer HD and 4K Ultra TVs, will have to have a box to access basic cable channels.

What are cable TV boxes called?

set-top box
A set-top box (STB), also colloquially known as a cable box and historically television decoder, is an information appliance device that generally contains a TV-tuner input and displays output to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the source signal into content in a form that can then be …

Can I buy my own cable box?

Most cable companies don’t give you the option to purchase your own box, and you normally cannot buy cable boxes in stores and get them to work with your local cable service either. The CableCARD standard was introduced to help faciliate the use of customer-owned cable tuners and DVRs.

Can cable work without a box?

Most cable service providers offer the option of receiving cable television without a digital cable box, which saves the customer from paying equipment-leasing fees. However, cable customers who subscribe to service without a cable box will not receive scrambled digital cable channels and other digital cable services.

Are cable splitters illegal?

Cable splicing of your own signal is not illegal and there are devices and methods to ensure that your split cables do not diminish your television signal or Internet service. Stealing cable from a neighbor, however, is illegal, and sharing your service is a violation of your cable TV or Internet service agreement.

What is the purpose of a cable descrambler?

A cable descrambler is a device that decodes a cable television signal , so that it will display on your television. Cable subscribers ordinarily get a cable box directly from the cable company when they sign up for regular or digital cable. Based upon the subscription they select, certain channels are descrambled while others remain scrambled.

Is there a descrambler for digital cable?

A digital TV descrambler is often built into a set-top box. Digital TV signals are either UHF, or Ultra High Frequency, or VHF, or Very High Frequency, and they generally reach up to 70 miles away from their broadcast towers. Descramblers can be used in both satellite and cable systems. A display that can work with a digital TV.

Is a cable box needed for digital TV?

You are going to need a cable box if you have a mix of analog and digital channels, though many new and advanced television sets come with a built-in cable receiver. So, you clearly don’t need a cable box to go along with every TV in your house.

Can a cable box be purchased?

Most cable companies don’t give you the option to purchase your own box, and you normally cannot buy cable boxes in stores and get them to work with your local cable service either. Also, be very wary of buying used cable boxes on eBay as these are frequently stolen or “non-returned” cable boxes that are bound to a specific cable service and will most likely not work with your own local provider.