Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site psivax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!hao!hplabs!sdcrdcf!psivax!al 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 {trwrb|allegra|burdvax|cbosgd|hplabs|ihnp4|sdcsvax|aero|uscvax|ucla-cs| bmcg}!sdcrdcf!psivax!al