Samsung Lcd Tv Cable Questions?

Greetings. I have Time Warner Cable but its basic cable. Pay $22 for it. I have the box that Time Warner Cable gave me as well. However, last time i unplugged the box from the TV last year Is this okay? The reason why i did this was b/c for some reason the TV looked better without it.

I have a samsung lcd tv and most of the time, some channels move to another channel. For example a channel that is TBS HD that is on one channel where i add it has a favorite channel, later on it is no longer there and i have to search for it. Thus its not on Channel 2 like when i have an old tv. But my other problem is many times, most of my channels say weak signal and to check my antenna. Thus i cant even see some channels like CBS sometimes b/c of it. Is this because i have no box or antenna attached to my Samsung LCD TV?

I am very confused with tv as in if one needs an antennea or cable box. Is the reason the channels keep changing for me b/c i removed the cable box?

You are seeing digital channels on the cable without a box because your TV has an optional QAM tuner, which will receive unencrypted digital cable channels. T-W has some of those, and some may be in HD.

Some of them, your local broadcast stations, will be on fixed channel assignments, like 3.1, 7.1, 10.1, etc. Others, as you've noticed will be very unstable. Those latter channels, like TBS, are cable-only channels and their apparent channel number will change frequently. As you've noted, you can't scan for channels on one day (or even hour) and expect those channels to be watchable on the same channel number at a later time.

The reason for that is that you're not supposed to be seeing them with your basic cable subscription. Those channels are intended for T-W's digital subscribers. They're not encrypted yet, but they will be eventually, at which time you won't see them at all. The bottom line here is that you can only count on your local broadcast channels via your QAM tuner.

The way to avoid all channel number changing is to reconnect the digital converter box that T-W gave you. But then you're limited to the few channels that are included in your basic subscription, and the box most likely only has an analog output. So the HD capability of your TV will be wasted.

The fix, of course, is to upgrade your subscription to an HD digital package. You'll get a new box from T-W and you'll get all those channels like TBS in HD. But that's a bigger monthly expense.

You might be able to get your local broadcast stations in HD with a very good antenna, depending on your location. If you want to explore that option, edit your question with your approximate location (nearest large city) for a detailed followup.