Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site ittvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!ittvax!schachte
From: schachte@ittvax.UUCP (Peter Schachte)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Cable ready TV, etc.
Message-ID: <1597@ittvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 14-Jan-85 10:54:05 EST
Article-I.D.: ittvax.1597
Posted: Mon Jan 14 10:54:05 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 16-Jan-85 04:42:58 EST
References: <293@mhuxm.UUCP> <248@terak.UUCP> <282@lsuc.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: ITT-ATC, Stratford Ct.
Lines: 34



Mark Brader writes:
> What there is a crying need for is component-based TV systems.
> [...]  Well, I should be
> able to buy a TV monitor and a videotape player/recorder without a tuner,
> and then buy the tuner or tuners with the degree of cable readiness (and
> remote controlledness) that I want.  And if the cable system changes, I
> should be able to go out and buy a new tuner if I want, and junk the old one.

This is a good idea, but not sufficient.  If you get cable and want to
subscribe to any scrambled services, you are stuck with *their* tuner,
making yours, and your remote control, useless.  What we really need is
a standard for the electrical interface of all unscramblers.  Then the
companies that design tuners would allow some number of slots for you to
plug in unscramblers, and let the channel number for each such slot be
settable.

With this system, you would call up your cable company and tell them you
want to get HBO.  You go to their office and pick up the unscrambler,
and they tell you that HBO comes in on channel 91.  You plug the
unscrambler in to your tuner and set it for channel 91, and bingo!  HBO
on channel 91, and your remote control still works.

The problem is, of course, that undergound unscrambler companies would
crop up to sell these unscramblers.  Once you found out which
unscrambler you need for your movie channels you could just buy one and
never pay for movies again.

Anybody have any other ideas?

-- 
				Peter Schachte
				(decvax!ittvax!schachte)