HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jebright@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (James R Ebright)
Subject: Re: Cable TV Rules
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 23:24:43 GMT

In article <4401@vidiot.UUCP> brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot) writes:

...much discussion about cable companies charging for extra outlets...
>
>Maybe you should call TCI headquarters and find out what corporate has to
>say about it.
>
>Like I said check headquarters.  If this isn't a national TCI policy, it
>should be.  Maybe as part of the new cable law, the FCC can declare that
>it will be.

The new cable act will be changing much of this.  The FCC will be able to
regulate rates and charges.  But for now what a local company charges is
up to the local company and its associated franchise agreement (signed
with the local government) and the old cable act.

Basically, cable companies can charge whatever they want for whatever.

Jim Ebright, Member
Columbus (Oh.) Area Cable TV Advisory Commission
-- 
		Jim Ebright (james.ebright@osu.edu) 
    "Spam, eggs, sausage and spam - that's not got much spam in it."
    Fax # 614-785-0292.  Tel # 614-785-0282.  Beeper # 614-646-1093
     >>>    All kids can be educated -- even yours and mine.    <<<
From: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: Cable TV Rules
Date: 8 Nov 92 07:32:35 GMT
Reply-To: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Organization: Vidiot's Hangout

In article <EDDY.92Nov6163451@pcad.uunet!pcad> eddy@pcad.uunet!pcad (Eduardo Juncosa) writes:
<In article <4389@vidiot.UUCP> brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot) writes:
<> Even though many people don't like TCI, they did one thing right.  They
<> deregulated themselves regarding multiple sets.  You have been able to
<> connect as many items as you like to the cable that comes into your house.
<
<Not MY TCI affiliate.  They still charge $6.95 per extra hookup, whether
<you want their descrambler box or not (most but not all the basic chanels
<come in the clear).  They DO allow me to do my own wiring, if I don't want
<to pay for installation.
<
<> The basic rules are:
<> 
<> 	1) You are responsible to leakage.  If you leak it, they fix it and
<> 	   charge you.
<> 	2) You overload the signal with too many splitters, they come out and
<> 	   find the signal level going into the house is at spec, you get
<> 	   charged for a service trip.
<> 	3) You can connect as many TV, VCRs and FM receivers to the cable as
<> 	   you like, for the same "low" :-) price.
<> 
<> Bitch to your cable company, telling the managers that the big company, TCI,
<> doesn't charge for multiple sets anymore. They haven't done it for a few years
<> now.
<
<I called them and told them this.  Their anser was that TCI owns many
<systems, and they can each set pricing however they pleased.  They charge
<for extra hookups, and that's that.

This is strange, considering that TCI published the information in their cable
guide.  Maybe your system isn't wholely own by TCI.  One of the things that
this system did was charge for extra sets and for a FM hookup.  Then TCI
changed the pricing and removed multi-set pricing.  Our local company sure
wouldn't want to give up that income.

Maybe you should call TCI headquarters and find out what corporate has to
say about it.

BTW, TCI is slowly rewiring all of the input cables to houses and are adding
boxes to the outside that will be used to house future products and used as
the connection point to the house.  The customer will connect to that box.
What they connect to inside the house is up to the customer.

Like I said check headquarters.  If this isn't a national TCI policy, it
should be.  Maybe as part of the new cable law, the FCC can declare that
it will be.
-- 
      harvard\                          spool.cs.wisc.edu!astroatc!vidiot!brown
Vidiot  ucbvax!uwvax..........!astroatc!vidiot!brown
      rutgers/            INTERNET:vidiot!brown%astroatc.UUCP@spool.cs.wisc.edu
                                   brown@wi.extrel.com
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: wdp@gagme.chi.il.us (Bill Pfeiffer)
Subject: Re: HBO "filtered" out
Originator: wdp@gagme
Organization: Gagme Public Access UNIX, Chicago, Illinois.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 08:11:58 GMT

In article <1d7ls2INNjjp@uwm.edu> karlb@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Karl Buschhaus) writes:
>Several years ago I was informed that HBO insisted that it be filtered as
>opposed to scrambled, and that all systems do it in this manner.

No.  Systems use whatever sheme they find cost-effective, be it traps,
encoding/decoding or whatever.  There is no industry standard for
controling access to pay channels.  

>Does anyone know for certain that their system merely scrambles it, and
>uses no notch filters on the feed.

Prime cable of Chicago encodes ALL premium, pay-per-veiw, and many
'basic' channels using the Pioneer 6000 system of in-band gated sync
(tri-mode).  This system is addressable and level of service can be
changed remorely from the cable head end and billing office.

Traps and filters, while archaic and a bit more trouble for cableco to
change service etc, are, in the long run, more secure.  While many
people are hooking up bootleg decoders to their cable line, it takes
more guts to climb a pole and remove a trap.  Besides, the missing
trap can be easily seen by cable crews, while unauthorized decoders
are a bit trickier to detect and deal with.  Also, many traps are
housed in security sheaths, which require a special tool to unscrew.
A unique socket wrench with a split side, that can be placed over the
cable and slipped inside to remove the trap.. These tools are NOT
readily available.
  
Bill
From: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: Stupid question
Date: 10 Nov 92 21:55:22 GMT
Reply-To: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Distribution: na
Organization: Vidiot's Hangout

In article <1992Nov9.213114.29900@linus.mitre.org> sdo@lossage (Sean D. O'Neil) writes:
<
<As I was channel surfing the other day a thought occurred to me.  The
<cable system in our area provides a basic package in which some
<channels are sent in the clear and some are scrambled but are included
<as part of the basic service and descrambled by the box.  In addition,
<there is a set of premium channels like HBO, etc., which are not
<included in the basic service.
<
<My question is as follows.  Suppose one got a tuner that demodulated each
<channel down to channel 3, for example, or for that matter, to any
<channel that the box is set to descramble.  Why wouldn't the following
<set-up work to descramble premium channels--pass the cable signal first
<through the demodulator, then into the cable box which is set to channel
<3 and descrambles it?  If it matters, I believe the cable system in our
<area uses a Jerrold 450 box.
<
<Possible answers:
<
<(1)  Yes, it would work.
<
<(2)  Yes, it's possible but tunable demodulators like you're talking
<about aren't readily available. (But don't VCR's filter and demodulate
<everything down to channel 3?)

No, VCRs demod to baseband.  They have an internal RF modulator for channel
3 or 4.

<(3)  No, it wouldn't work because it's not that simple.

The answer is 3.  There are hidden signals that are needed by the descrambler
that are lost when going through the VCR.

Nice try.
-- 
      harvard\                          spool.cs.wisc.edu!astroatc!vidiot!brown
Vidiot  ucbvax!uwvax..........!astroatc!vidiot!brown
      rutgers/            INTERNET:vidiot!brown%astroatc.UUCP@spool.cs.wisc.edu
                                   brown@wi.extrel.com
From: adhir@cygnus.umd.edu (Alok Dhir)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Jerrold
Date: 7 Nov 92 23:32:34 GMT
Organization: /etc/organization


Can anyone help me figure out how to program my cable box?  It is a Montgomery
Cty, MD Jerrold box with a f(unction key) and a bunch of features.   What I
want to do is rearrange the order that the channels are in.  Anyone?

-- 
 ============================================================================
 Al Dhir                      			   Technical Consulting Staff
 Internet: adhir@cygnus.umd.edu	  	 University of Maryland, College Park
 Bitnet:   adhir%cygnus.umd.edu@Interbit      (301) 405-1500 * (301) 405-3014
From: ahummel@ems.cdc.com (H. Austin Hummel)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: Cable Box Remote Control
Date: 12 Nov 92 15:13:07 GMT
Reply-To: you@ems.cdc.com
Organization: Empros Systems International, a division of CDC

In article <1992Nov10.192952.44610@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>, 2ftntold@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
|> How would I go about getting a remote control for my cable box?  The cable
|> company charges a monthly fee for one and I refuse to let them rip me off like
|> that.  Is it possible to build a simple up/down remote or is there a place that
|> will sell me just the remote?  The box is a Scientific Atlanta 8550-321.
|> 
|> Also, does anyone out there know what scrambling method that this box uses? 
|> The scrambled image on the television screen appears to just be missing the
|> horizontal sync and is not inverted or anything.  The audio is also present.  I
|> think it uses one of the gated sync methods, but I don't know which and don't
|> have access to a scope to find out.

Brett,
are you in for some bad news. I had the remote control device
and when I got a new TV it's remote control had the Scientific Atlanta
built in, so I returned it to the cable company thinking I would save
$2.95 per month. Well they reprogrammed the box so my new remote
no longer works. I have since taken the box completely off and
use the cable ready features. I also canceled all premimum services 
and no longer use pay per view. net -net is the cable company
no longer get any thing more then bacis services out of me.
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: dattier@ddsw1.mcs.com (DWT)
Subject: Re: VCR Plus
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 23:32:11 GMT
Organization: Contributor Account at ddsw1, Chicago, Illinois  60657

rst@spl1.spl.loral.com (Raymond Tom) asked in
<1992Nov5.012531.1074@wdl.loral.com>:

| Has anyone tried VCR Plus???  I was reading on the box that it can be
| programmed to turn on cable box as well as your VCR.  Is VCR Plus smart
| enough to set your VCR to channel 3 and set the cable box to the correct
| channel?

Yes, correct, and yes respectively.

| And how does it know how the cable company map the channels (HBO is on
| channel 14 but for some else outside of cable company, HBO may be on a
| different channel)

In a step that destroys all of Gemstar's advertising of the VCR+ as the
panacea for people too helpless to program their own VCR's, you code in
a translation table.  For example, I believe VCR+'s code for HBO is 33 and
VCR+ codes for shows on HBO decrypt to an event on channel 33.  But you've
set your VCR+ to substitute 14 on your cable box for 33 out of the formula,
and since I get HBO on 37 I coded my VCR+ to translate 33 to 37.

In fact, I've abused that feature to record PPV events by finding an event of
the same start and end times on another channel (shows on a single channel
adding up to the same slot could work as well), mucking with the translation
table to trick the VCR+ into recording from the channel of to PPV event,
coding in the number for the show for which a code is listed, and later
changing the translation table back.

| And how many events can be stored by VCR Plus?

Fourteen.

| If VCR Plus really works the way I think it should, it could save me the
| trouble of programming the cable box to change channels at specific times.

That's why I bought one: to change the cable box's channel in my absence.

David W. Tamkin   Box 59297   Northtown Station, Illinois  60659-0297
dattier@ddsw1.mcs.com    CompuServe: 73720,1570    MCI Mail: 426-1818
From: cvenkat@aspen.NSA.HP.COM (Chandra Venkatraman)
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 22:42:53 GMT
Subject: Bay area teletext - question
Organization: HP Networked Systems Architecture - Cupertino, CA
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv


  Do any of the Bay area stations broadcast teletext signals?

  Any information will be appreciated.  Please send me e-mail.

  Thanks a lot,

  Chandra Venkatraman

  chandra@hpl.hp.com
From: rwed@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (N7YVM)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: VCR Plus
Date: 6 Nov 1992 05:24:03 GMT
Organization: /etc/organization
NNTP-Posting-Host: hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu

Hey! Anybody cracked the VCR+ code yet?


Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: rxv9839@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Subject: Re: VCR Plus
Reply-To: rxv9839@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 15:02:38 GMT

In article <1dcvhjINNkt2@life.ai.mit.edu>, rwed@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (N7YVM)
 writes:
>Hey! Anybody cracked the VCR+ code yet?

I realize that there is a certain attraction to discovering the unknown.  Like
climbing a mountain because it is there.
I have been told that home dish users would like to crack the code soe they
could use VCR+ for programming their dishes.

Are there any other reasons I have missed??  Why does anybody care??
Disclaimer-I do not work for any law enforcement agencies, VCR+, nor anyone
else.  I'm just curious.
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: "tony camara" <tony.camara@canrem.com>
Subject: our wedding
Reply-To: "tony camara" <tony.camara@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 5 Nov 92 01:50:32 EST

I'm looking for a title called our wedding . I would like anything with
specific themes ex:weddings,christmas,parties,baptizms etc. Any help
would be great . I'm running an amiga 1000 with 1.5 megs..
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
From: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: Cable TV Rules
Date: 5 Nov 92 06:30:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: vidiot.4389
Reply-To: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Organization: Vidiot's Hangout

In article <3NOV199209490893@utrcv1> wjm@utrcv1 (Bill) writes:
<I have a question regarding cable TV rules.
<
<If someone is already paying the monthly subscription fee for a television 
<set hooked up to a cable service, the cable company wants to charge an 
<additional monthly fee if you want to watch cable on a set in another room.
<
<This is the case even if both sets are cable-ready, and it doesn't matter 
<if you use a: 
<* splitter (able to use both sets at once)
<* switch (use one set at a time)
<
<These products are readily available from electronic stores and most 
<technically minded people would have no problem in connecting them and 
<running the cable.  In fact, many new houses already have the cable itself 
<installed in all rooms.
<
<The cable companies insist upon doing the installation AND charging you a 
<monthly fee.  This seems unfair, especially if you use a switch (one set at 
<a time.)  Granted, it may be a good idea for the company to check an 
<installation (for RF leakage etc...) and even charge a fee for that, but an 
<additional monthly fee, come on now!
<
<After checking with my state's consumer information service, they tell me 
<that the cable companies are within their rights to enforce this rule.
<
<Anyone have any info on this?
<What's the deal here?
<Is this because of the strength of the cable lobbyists?

Even though many people don't like TCI, they did one thing right.  They
deregulated themselves regarding multiple sets.  You have been able to
connect as many items as you like to the cable that comes into your house.
The basic rules are:

	1) You are responsible to leakage.  If you leak it, they fix it and
	   charge you.
	2) You overload the signal with too many splitters, they come out and
	   find the signal level going into the house is at spec, you get
	   charged for a service trip.
	3) You can connect as many TV, VCRs and FM receivers to the cable as
	   you like, for the same "low" :-) price.

Bitch to your cable company, telling the managers that the big company, TCI,
doesn't charge for multiple sets anymore.  They haven't done it for a few years
now.
-- 
      harvard\                          spool.cs.wisc.edu!astroatc!vidiot!brown
Vidiot  ucbvax!uwvax..........!astroatc!vidiot!brown
      rutgers/            INTERNET:vidiot!brown%astroatc.UUCP@spool.cs.wisc.edu
                                   brown@wi.extrel.com
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: Kevin Tavenner <kevin_tavenner@gateway.qm.apple.com>
Subject: Teletext, etc. on lines 1-22 ???
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 21:43:44 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.

When examining the first few horizontal scan lines on many cable channels
(Heritage Cablevision, San Jose, CA), I often find that several of the
scan lines contain bursting or continuous digitally encoded data.  I
assume that at least some of this data (Teletext and closed caption audio,
for example) is intended by the broadcaster for use by the television
consumer.

1.  What standard (and affordable !) equipment is available to decode this
information?

2.  What is the format?  There seem to be eight pulses at the beginning
of the line that could be synchronization for the digital portion of the
recognizer.  Is there some sort of bit encoding scheme (like NRZ or
Trellis) or are the data bits sent in clear?  How many bits per line?
etc. etc. etc.  Is there a chip that will recognize this data stream if
the output of an LM1881 (or like) sync decoder is pumped into it?

3.  If the data is not encrypted, can the data stream be used legally
without paying tariffs?  An example of this would be the quote stream
on Financial News Network.
Kevin Tavenner, kevin_tavenner@gateway.qm.apple.com, 1-408-862-5406
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: rxv9839@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Subject: Re: VCR Plus
Reply-To: rxv9839@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 17:45:08 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.012531.1074@wdl.loral.com>, rst@spl1.spl.loral.com
 (Raymond Tom) writes:
>Hey Cable-TVers,
>
>Has anyone tried VCR Plus???  I was reading on the box that it can be programmed
>to turn on cable box as well as your VCR.  Is VCR Plus smart enough to set your
>VCR to channel 3 and set the cable box to the correct channel?
Definitely smart enough to set the VCR.  I think it will set the cable box
but there may be some boxes it is not set up for.  Check with VCR+ at
   1 (800) 432-1827

>And how does
>it know how the cable company map the channels (HBO is on channel 14 but for
>some else outside of cable company, HBO may be on a different channel)
>And how many events can be stored by VCR Plus?
You must program it for your local channel lineup.

>If VCR Plus really works the way I think it should, it could save me the
>trouble of programming the cable box to change channels at specific times.
>
>For your information, the cable company is TCI and the cable box is made
>by General Instruments.
>
>Ray
>rst@spl1.spl.loral.com
From: guido+@pitt.edu (Robert T Novotnak)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: ghosting
Date: 10 Nov 92 01:21:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: blue.9376
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Pittsburgh


        
        Doe's Anyone know anything about DMX- Digital Music eXpress ?
Where to get the Scientific Atlanta audio receiver ? Are these converters 
addressable ? The user manual seems to imply that they are, but the capability
is not being used. Yet !
        In case you haven't heard about it. It is 30 channels of true digital CD 
quality audio over your cable system.
        Or, does anyone know anything about X*PRESS the catv data service ?
Where to get the RF modem's also from scientific atlanta ?

                                thanks 
                                guido
From: lito@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Angelito Lucena)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: ghosting
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:39:09 GMT
Reply-To: lito@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Angelito Lucena)
Distribution: usa
Organization: David Taylor Research Center, Carderock

hi,

i'm a subscriber to arlington cable in virginia.
the cable is split in the house (living room and
basement) and connected directly to our vcr's (to 
drive the stereo).  i'm getting fairly strong ghosting
on channels 4 and 5 and have been told that the problem
is the cable is acting as an antenna.  The cable appears
to be of pretty good quality with decent connectors (the
connectors are heavier construction than F-connectors).

any tips on how to minimise the ghosting??  (i'm sure it's not
the vcrs, the one downstairs is below ground level).  

thanks in advance, and
email to:

lito lucena
lito@oasys.dt.navy.mil
 now at  :  dtmb, cdhq, nwsc          'if the defaults weren't good enough,
 formerly: dtrc, carderock                  they wouldn't be defaults.....'
							bill's sister
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: RE Universal Descrambler source!!
From: dseaman@oread.cc.ukans.edu
Date: 7 Nov 92 09:05:46 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Serces

If anyone wants to get a kit for the Universal Descrambler in RE, just
drop me a note. The kits costs $93.95 S&H included. Once you build the
descrambler, you can send it back to the company and have then adjust
it for the best possible picture for $15, which included return S&H.
You can e-mail me at: DSeaman@oread.cc.ukans.edu. 


-- 
DSeaman@Oread.cc.ukans.edu
Derek Seaman


Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: alan@apple.com (Alan Mimms)
Subject: Two cables --> one cable box?
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 06:59:27 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.
Followup-To: rec.video.cable-tv

I live in an area where the old-style 36-channel cable system is sent out
on two physical cables, resulting in a maximum of 72 possible channels. 
Users are supplied with a cable descrambler box that can switch between two
sources to make this marginally convenient.  However, I often want to set
up timed recording on my VCR to record something from a cable A channel and
then something else from a cable B channel.  I'm screwed -- I can't do this
unless I physically throw a switch.

I BELIEVE in theory it is possible to up-convert, say, cable B to lie in
the frequency range above channel 36 and mix the result with the channel
1..36 found on cable A so I could tune ALL of both cables with a
sufficiently studly cable-ready VCR.

Is there such a box available cheaply?  If not, do you know what the
parameters are?  I have not found any particularly reliable printed source
to indicate the actual frequencies of the cable channels, so info about
this would help.  Are the frequencies between, say channel 40 and channel
76 contiguous?  Is this a pipedream?

Please respond by email -- I will summarize if responses warrant it.  I do
not regularly read netnews (I have children and a VERY taxing job), so
PLEASE EMAIL.

Thanks a bunch.

Alan Mimms (alan@apple.com, ...!apple!alan)   | My opinions are generally
Macintosh System Software                     | pretty worthless, but
Apple Computer                                | they *are* my own...
Art without engineering is dreaming.  Engineering without art is
calculating.
	-- Steven K. Roberts in "Computing Across America"
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: Kevin Tavenner <kevin_tavenner@gateway.qm.apple.com>
Subject: Teletext, etc. on lines 1-22 ???
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 21:48:00 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.

When examining the first few horizontal scan lines on many cable channels
(Heritage Cablevision, San Jose, CA), I often find that several of the
scan lines contain bursting or continuous digitally encoded data.  I
assume that at least some of this data (Teletext and closed caption audio,
for example) is intended by the broadcaster for use by the television
consumer.

1.  What standard (and affordable !) equipment is available to decode this
information?

2.  What is the format?  There seem to be eight pulses at the beginning
of the line that could be synchronization for the digital portion of the
recognizer.  Is there some sort of bit encoding scheme (like NRZ or
Trellis) or are the data bits sent in clear?  How many bits per line?
etc. etc. etc.  Is there a chip that will recognize this data stream if
the output of an LM1881 (or like) sync decoder is pumped into it?

3.  If the data is not encrypted, can the data stream be used legally
without paying tariffs?  An example of this would be the quote stream
on Financial News Network.
Kevin Tavenner, kevin_tavenner@gateway.qm.apple.com, 1-408-862-5406
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv