From: barryc@mpd.tandem.com (Barry Chalcroft)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: Cablevision lies
Date: 3 Sep 92 22:25:57 GMT
Reply-To: barryc@malamute.UUCP (Barry Chalcroft)
Organization: /etc/organization

B. J. Catlin posts:

>Actually, it does cost the cable company extra.  (A _very_ little extra).
>When adding several sets, the cable company must supply you with a stronger
>signal, which also takes some of the signal away from the rest of the people
>farther down the distribution cable.  If you get enough people connecting
>extra sets when the tap-off is only made for one, then the signal will be 
>below acceptable limits by the time it reaches the next amplifier or the 
>end of the line.

NOT...

The cable signal is reduced by the insertion loss of your splitter (~2-4 db)
but extra sets do not take "some of the signal away from the rest of the 
people farther down the distribution cable". The dbm of the signal at your 
drop is fixed and usually non adjustable. If anything it is usually rather
'hot' to make up for any filters (silver bullets) that may hang between the
tap off and your house (unless you are lucky enough to have addressable
scramblers, sorry...). If they had to adjust the level of every drop it 
would co$t too much time and money. The most they might do is crank up the 
gain if your trunk has a long run from the line amp. The real reasons the 
cable company wants to charge you per drop:

1) Make MO MONEY. Nickel and dime you for every little thing (remember
   Bell Telephone before Carterfone, deregulation and the split? 

2) Technical - The cable company is responsible for controlling leakage
   from their system, cheap splitters, coax and connectors can leak like a
   sieve. This can get the FCC rather disturbed, along with people like 
   Hams, Aircraft, Government and Commercial users of the spectrum. If you 
   add drops use good materials (stay away from cheap coax especially,
   use some good Belden or Columbia cable). I have actually heard of one 
   person using bell wire to wire up extra drops, they could`nt understand 
   why they got such crappy reception. Alot of yo yo`s use 300 ribbon cable
   too, bad idea. Incorrect installations can also cause ghosting, problems 
   with EMI from PC`s etc. (that 75/300 balun is a weak link here), just for
   two examples. As a Ham I am very aware of problem of cable leakage, it`s
   real hard to explain to someone that it is the cable companies job to keep    my signal out of their cable system (as long as I have a setup that
   conforms to FCC regs of course) not my job (although I'll help as much
   I can).

3) Copyrights - lets here from the lawyers on that one.

Personally I feel that if my installation is done properly using quality 
materials and obeying any codes that may exist it should not be any
of their business. Give me a drop point and let me do with the signal
what I wish (in my home only of course).

My 2 cents....


-- 
Barry D. Chalcroft / N5NWI       Let`s start thinking about tomorrow...
EMAIL: barryc@mpd.tandem.com              *****************************  
       76500.2177@compuserve.com         ****   Clinton/Gore `92  ****
       barryc@cactus.org	        *****************************					       
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv