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From: al@psivax.UUCP (Al Schwartz)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Cable ready TV, etc.
Message-ID: <254@psivax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Jan-85 14:43:07 EST
Article-I.D.: psivax.254
Posted: Fri Jan 18 14:43:07 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 21-Jan-85 04:31:24 EST
References: <293@mhuxm.UUCP> <248@terak.UUCP> <282@lsuc.UUCP> <1597@ittvax.UUCP> <388@unisoft.UUCP>
Reply-To: al@psivax.UUCP (Al Schwartz)
Organization: Pacesetter Systems Inc., Sylmar, CA
Lines: 28
Summary: 

In article <388@unisoft.UUCP> fnf@unisoft.UUCP (Fred Fish) writes:
>I think I would much prefer something like the original suggestion where
>the cable company furnishes a box that goes into the video line AFTER the
>tuner.  This should be much simplier (cheaper!) than the current boxes,
>and allows full use of the remote controls, switchers, etc.
>
>Anyone see any technical problems with this?
>
>-Fred

Yes!  From the point of view of the cable company this will not allow them
to keep you from receiving the channels that you do NOT pay for.  My cable
company furnishes a tuner box with the descrambler built in.  There is a
plate on the underside of the unit that can only be opened by the cable
company (I could probably open it myself but I may destroy the box in the
process) that is used to select which channels the box will descramble.

I realize that another method of preventing the reception of channels that
you do not pay for is to put "traps" on the incoming cable line, but this
makes it necessary for a cable technician to come to your house to add more
channels for you.  The method they use now only requires that the customer
come to the office with his present box and exchange it for one that has
the descrabler enabled for the channels that you wish to add.
-- 
Take off! You hoser!                  Al Schwartz
                                      Pacesetter Systems Inc., Sylmar, CA 
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