So I own a LG lcd hdtv and i was able to recieve like hbo channels and such without a box and subscription but now it says those channels are scrambled is it something i did? i dont have a problem paying for the channels but it was nice that it came in for free ;) i live in a apartment complex with at least 3-5 satelite dishes outside im guessing i was picking up there signal?

Stealing cable service is a serious crime. I'd suggest you delete the content of your message, if you still have time, and either way never admit to the crime online again.

Sounds like you were just seeing the new digital channels while they were being tested "in the clear". Now, they've finished testing, and they are scrambled. Occasionally, they will come unscrambled, due to technical problems, or while channels are being repositioned....that makes for some fun "hunting", if you have the time and inclination.

BTW, usually, your locals will be "in the clear" full time.

Analog HBO and Showtime have often had free preview periods. I expect there to be occasional free digital HBO and Showtime intervals also.

Yeah, a while back the digital HBO channels had a free preview period for my area (TWC).

You can either start paying for HBO or wait until they preview again, which happens every once in a while (I forget the intervals.)

whats the whole deal with the "QAM Tuner" isnt that what gets me those channels? i mean the channels came in for about 2 months or lil longer yea it could have just been previews, but the weird thing is sometimes the movie im watching would fast forward and rewind by itself like someone is controlling it. and NO im not stealing anything cuz i never deliberately wanted the channels they just were viewable.

What you are seeing are the video-on-demand streams that your neighbors are viewing, that explains the rewinding and fast forwarding.

...but the weird thing is sometimes the movie im watching would fast forward and rewind by itself like someone is controlling it...
What you're seeing is Video On Demand. In some areas (including where I live BTW), On Demand content is sent in the clear. It may be that your cable company chose to start encrypting on demand streams to prevent eavesdropping (people like you watching what neighbors are viewing on demand). It could also be that the cable company remapped the channels to different frequencies, so you may want to search the full digital lineup to see if the on demand channels were moved. Finally, it's possible that no one is watching anything on demand at the present time, which would prevent your TV from finding anything.

Stealing cable service is a serious crime.

It's a good thing the OP isn't stealing anything then, otherwise you'd have to report him.

Read the post, get a clue, shut up.

i mean the channels came in for about 2 months or lil longer yea it could have just been previews, but the weird thing is sometimes the movie im watching would fast forward and rewind by itself like someone is controlling it. I'm guessing that what you were experiencing was most likely a combination of the free HBO channels preview that many providers had a couple or so weeks back, and which lasted for about a week, and the neighbor's Video On Demand.