Are QAM tuners designed to receive digital cable channels (like the triple-digit ones)? I talked to my cable company, but they said that no matter what, I need one of their converter boxes for each TV in the house that I want to watch those channels on. I don't know if they're telling the truth, or if they're just saying that to me so I will rent the boxes from them and they get my money.

Thanks,
Jordan

Of course they want to increase your monthly payment!

On many cable systems the local broadcasters and a few community service/public access channels (things like school board and council/supervisors' meetings) are distributed in the clear, thus accessible to ATSB/QAM tuners. Those channels typically form much of the lowest cost or "basic" programming tier.

Channels originating out of your area are typically encrypted. Reception of encrypted channels usually requires a rental converter or a combination of a rental Cable Card and a TV equipped to use the card (many TVs aren't compatible with the cards). The monthly rental fee for the cards is usually less than rental fees for a converter, but the cards may not be compatible with the cable provider's program guide, some "pay per view" and "On Demand" services.

Some customer service representatives may be inadequately trained on these issues or directed to ignore those issues unless the customer is already aware of them.

The digital tuner boxes are designed basically for over-the-air broadcasts. The QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) boxes that the cable companys use generally support a lot more features, such as encryption. Digital TV channels are usually sent as groups called epochs. That's why on over the air digital TV, you can get several channels, all with one base number (like old analog channel 3 could have channel 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3). With the cable company, their digital signal is composed of epochs with different frequencies and various encryption and protection, so that you can only get the channels that you pay for.

With the more advanced box you get from them, you usually also get features like pay per view, video on demand, a TV guide, and interactive TV.

So in short, yes, you almost always need the cable company's box. Sorry :(