HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: cable boxes
From: jerry.stalnaker@grapevine.lrk.ar.us (Jerry Stalnaker) 
Date: 5 Jan 93 08:25:00 GMT
Reply-To: jerry.stalnaker@grapevine.lrk.ar.us (Jerry Stalnaker) 
Distribution: world
Organization: The GrapeVine BBS *** N. Little Rock, AR *** (501) 753-8121

II live in Little Rock Ar. and we have a cable co. ( STORER CABLE ), I
was given 2 jerrold wired remotes in 1980 when they first came to LR.

well three years ago I got a letter from them stating that this box was
outdated and could no longer supply ALL THE CHANNELS ( most have blank
screens ) and I sould have to get the new SCIENTIFIC ATLANTIC With
wireless remote control. Please return these boxes and get the new
ones..

Well after installing a phone line to each one ( ?? ) and going 12 miles
to exchange them HEY THESE THINGS DO IT ALL !

BUT <<<==== on the next bill it was $4.80 for EACH ONE additional on my
bill..... #$%^$                          ===============

.........

Is it legal for me to buy my own and tell them to take a hike ???
What and where do I get one ???
?????????
HELP
.........


They tell me know that is the only one they supply and pay it or get off
the cable... our PSC is bought and paid like so much politicians !!!!!
Well I checked there original contract and they guaranteed that we would
have fiber optics by 1990 ?????? YEA SURE, and a bunch of other stuff.
Now they say WHAT CONTRACT ??
ARE THERE ANY REGULATIONS ?????

thanks for any info or suggestions
jerry
---
 . SLMR 2.0 . The Big Bang is only the universe rebooting.
From: jml@norman.vi.ri.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: cable rumors
Date: 12 Jan 93 14:42:30 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.C0qwuv.9qn.2
Reply-To: jml@visus.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon

Vidiot writes
> In article <97@ravel.ati.com> duncan@ravel.ati.com (Jim Duncan) writes:
> I don't know about your cable system, but on the TCI system in Madison,  
WI,
> there aren't three channels missing because they were replaced with DMX.
> All of our channels were filled BEFORE DMX came around.  There isn't 18  
MHz
> available on our system, yet we have DMX.  Explain that one.

A while back, I saw some glossy brochures from Scientific Atlanta  
describing the DMX equipment.  If I remember right, DMX equipment can be  
tuned over a very wide range of frequencies, including frequencies that  
are supposedly "unusable for video" in conventional cable systems.

I don't know what "unusable for video" really means, but the message in  
the brochure was clear:  Even if your cable system is "full", there's  
still room for DMX.


  -- Jim Large.
From: jhansen@convex.com (James Hansen)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: CATV Operator Dropping MTS Signal
Date: 6 Jan 93 16:31:59 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In <1993Jan4.152119.24886@rtsg.mot.com> heape@rtsg.mot.com (Robert P. Heape) writes:

>Here in Chicagoland, my cable operator drops the MTS Encoded
>Stereo signal for the public channels (ABC/NBC/CBS etc.).

As an experiment, connect the cable directly to the TV.  Does the MTS
signal then come through?

I had this same problem when I subscribed to cable the first time.  Come
to find out, the older converter boxes that the cable company had would
wipe out the MTS signal from local broadcast stations.  They replaced my
converter box with a newer one and the MTS signal was passed through
just fine.

--
James B. Hansen                                  {sun,uunet}!convex!jhansen
CONVEX Computer Corporation                              jhansen@convex.com
3000 Waterview Parkway, P. O. Box 833851
Richardson, TX 75083-3851                              Phone: (214)497-4802
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: stevela@csulb.edu (Steve La)
Subject: Forsale: cable tuner (PIP, A/V output, remote, etc), $85
Organization: Cal State Long Beach
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 06:46:06 GMT

I have a MultiVision Digital Video/Cable Tuner forsale, it has RF AND RCA
outputs for those monitors that does not have any RF input.  Here is the
info...

MultiVision Digital Video/Cable Tuner
  * Remote control
    - Volume control [VOL]
    - TV/Cable selectable [CATV]
    - Memory Recall [MEM] & [MR]
    - [TiNT], [COLor], [TUNe], [MUTE]
    - Channel Up/Down [CHL]
  * Picture-In-Picture
    - 4 selectable positions [POS] & [TRIM]
    - 4 selectable sizes [SIZE]
    - Single frame freeze [FRZ] & [STRB]
    - Swap between two video inputs [TRIM]
  * Inputs/outputs
    - VHS/Cable RF input (1st video source)
    - UHF input (1st video source)
    - Audio/Video RCA input (2nd source)
    - RF output to TV
    - Audio/Video RCA output
  * Audio volume adjustor
  * STD/IRC/HRC selector
  * LED channel display

I paid $249 for this unit, asking $85 + shipping... Email if you are
interested...

-Steve
  
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com (Mike Northam)
Subject: Re: cable rumors
Reply-To: mbn@hfglobe.hf.intel.com (Mike Northam)
Organization: Shorter Software Solutions
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 19:49:59 GMT

>>>>> "jim" == jml  <jml@visus.com> writes:

jim> Vidiot writes
> In article <97@ravel.ati.com> duncan@ravel.ati.com (Jim Duncan) writes:
> I don't know about your cable system, but on the TCI system in Madison,
> WI, there aren't three channels missing because they were replaced with
> DMX.  All of our channels were filled BEFORE DMX came around.  There
> isn't 18 MHz available on our system, yet we have DMX.  Explain that
> one.

jim> A while back, I saw some glossy brochures from Scientific Atlanta  
jim> describing the DMX equipment.  If I remember right, DMX equipment can be  
jim> tuned over a very wide range of frequencies, including frequencies that  
jim> are supposedly "unusable for video" in conventional cable systems.

jim> I don't know what "unusable for video" really means, but the message in  
jim> the brochure was clear:  Even if your cable system is "full", there's  
jim> still room for DMX.

The digital radio ads in the trades have said things like "CD audio
delivered in the roll-off" and stuff like that.  I've always taken that to
mean that the signal is delivered in those nooks and crannies of the cable
system where there isn't enough bandwidth for video, but more than enough
for multiple channels of high-quality audio.

Of course, on satellite, there are dedicated transponders to deliver these
signals to the cable headends (satellite transponders are 36mHz each).
--
Mike Northam, Shorter Software Solutions, on contract to Intel Corp.
(h) (503) 324-1831 (intel office) (503) 696-4860 (shorter) (503) 357-1010
mbn@hfglobe.hf.intel.com
"You ducks are really trying my patience...but you're SOOO cute. --Apu 9F01
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: gws@n8emr.cmhnet.org (Gary Sanders)
Subject: Re: CATV Operator Dropping MTS Signal
Organization: HAM BBS, 614-895-2553 (1200/2400/v.32/pep)
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 93 02:31:09 GMT

In article <2935249429@ARTEMIS.cam.nist.gov> miller@FS1.cam.nist.gov (Bruce R. Miller) writes:
>
>In article <1993Jan4.152119.24886@rtsg.mot.com>, Robert P. Heape writes:
>> Here in Chicagoland, my cable operator drops the MTS Encoded
>> Stereo signal for the public channels (ABC/NBC/CBS etc.).

Few if any cable companys provide stereo encoding on TV signals.
usually they provide stereo services as a stereo FM signal on the
FM broadcast band.

Many Satellite services (HBO,TMC,etc) are available in stereo, but
its very expensive to remodulate a TV signal stereo signal over cable. 

-- 
Gary W. Sanders gws@n8emr.cmhnet.org, 72277,1325
N8EMR @ N8JYV (ip addr) 44.70.0.1 [Ohio AMPR address coordinator]
HAM BBS 614-895-2553 (1200/2400/V.32/PEP) Voice: 614-895-2552 (eves/weekends)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: pascaru@dewey.etdesg.trw.com (Ted R. Pascaru 111200 ccC355)
Subject: universal descrambler
Organization: TRW, Inc., Redondo Beach...
Distribution: rec
Date: 30 Dec 92 15:23:21

does anyone have a listing of all the fixes amd mods for the radio
electronics universal descrambler?  if so, please let me know, mine
isn`t quite working yet. i get excellent lock, but crappy color.

thanks
ted
pascaru@etdesg.trw.com
 
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv,rec.answers,news.answers
From: serickso@ub.d.umn.edu (Scott Erickson)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: universal descrambler
Date: 5 Jan 93 16:40:23 GMT
Reply-To: serickso@ub.d.umn.edu (Scott Erickson)
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Conformist Thought
NNTP-Posting-Host: ub.d.umn.edu


Please excuse my ignorance, but I just started reading rec.video.cable-tv.
Could somebody tell me what the universal descrambler is.  Is it a
descrambler for scrambled cable channels. It sounds to me like something
that somebody could either make or easily modify, if so, where can I get it.

Thank you.

--
serickso@ub.d.umn.edu                                         Scott Erickson 
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: paris@zygon.dev.cdx.mot.com (Gregory M. Paris)
Subject: Re: Why is cable so bad?
Organization: Motorola Codex, Canton, Massachusetts
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1993 02:17:33 GMT

jebright@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (James R Ebright) writes:
>Those companies which do not have transponders rely on the following method
>to determine when and where they have trouble:
>1) Put a map of your network up on the wall.
>2) Mark the location of the amps.
>3) Wait for the subscribers to call in trouble reports.
>4) Mark the subscriber location on the map.
>5) See where the subscriber calls start in relation to the network amps.
>6) Dispatch to first non-working amp.

Hmmmm...  In my experience this method breaks down at step #3.
That step requires that somebody answer the phone!  :-(

-- 
Greg Paris <paris@merlin.dev.cdx.mot.com>
Motorola Codex, 20 Cabot Blvd C1-30, Mansfield, MA  02048-1193
"Your Plastic Pal who's fun to be with." TM Sirius Cybernetics
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: gilmore@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Kevin Gilmore)
Subject: stargate tuner
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 16:08:16 GMT

No it does not have Stereo audio outputs. I am also looking
for any tuner that has stereo outputs. Actually i want it
for over-air use, but it does not matter. So far all i have
found are
Zenith Ztac 1600 stereo series (a real hunk of crap and besides
you have to get a turn on chip)
Sony pro-series A/V tuner $450.00

And its silly to spend that much on the sony even though it is 
quite good when you can get a stereo vcr for under 300.00.

Teknika used to make a stereo unit. I had one, loaned it to my
parents and then they lost the thing
From: hennessy@acsu.buffalo.edu (DOG BASEBALL!!!)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: Why is cable so bad?
Date: 9 Jan 93 00:37:40 GMT
Organization: Ministry of Information, Lower Volta.

Inscribed upon tablet <1993Jan6.194354.4258@nynexst.com>, the mighty rsilvers@nynexst.com (Robert Silvers) records thusly:
::
::We need competition, like two cable companies in the same area.  Or the
::phone company providing video service (notice I work for NYNEX).  We are now
::doing a video trial and are using fiber for distribution to a given building
::then coax to each unit.  This should result in good quality.

	Damn straight..  In Buffalo the cable rates are awful, four freaking
god channels, grumble grumble.  A kick in the butt would do them a world of
good.
	ps:  Did you see all that cable propaganda awhile back?  boy they
must've been sweatin'..

::
::						--Rob.


-- 
   /I\          Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.
  /(*)\         hennessy@acsu.buffalo.edu                 
 /IIIII\        "Leave EVERYTHING to ME!" - Powdered Toast Man       
/IIIIIII\       Happiness is a warm gun.
From: jebright@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (James R Ebright)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: Money Grubbing Cable Operators
Date: 6 Jan 93 01:30:30 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University

In article <1993Jan5.224621.12757@gumby.dsd.trw.com> Judson West <jwest@r3vm.dsd.trw.com> writes:
>My mother lives in Lake Arrowhead, CA and is serviced (and how) by
>Falcon Cable. For Christmas I thought it would be a nice thing to do
>by eliminating some of the extraneous remotes around her house and get
>her that pre-programmed remote from RCA. It works very well with her
>RCA TV and Scientific Atlantic cable box. The remote for this cable
>box was costing her $5/month. When she went to return it, they asked
>whether she needed any remote access at all. She replied that she had
>this new remote so she didn't need their remote. But since she needed
>SOME remote access, she is being charged $2/month for "remote access".
>For about $45/month she gets 21 channels (no ESPN, VH-1, MTV, CNBC,
>Comedy channel, Sci-fi) and Showtime. She also doesn't get any MTS
>signal. Unfortunately, since she is in the mountains, it's either this
>or satelite.
>
>I know what I wanna be when I grow up.... a cable operator.
>
>Just venting some steam..  Thanks for listening.
>---------------------------
>Judson West
>Section Head
>IBM Operating Systems
>TRW Space & Electronics Group


YEP!  Being a cable is very very profitable.  In fact, the average
operator has a 50% operating margin.  This means for every $1.00 taken
in, only $0.50 is paid out for all operating costs.

Admitidly(sp!), they do have capital costs to amortize.  On average,
this brings their profit margin down to 5-15% of sales...

>---------------------------


-- 
		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: schuster@panix.com (Michael Schuster)
Subject: Re: Tape Rewinder Recommendations, please
Keywords: Rewinders
Organization: Panix Public Access Internet & Unix, NYC
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 15:57:09 GMT

In article <1993Jan07.172733.23620@edsi.plexus.COM> lon@edsi.plexus.COM (Lon Ponschock) writes:
>
>==>  I just returned for cash a rewinder which made a lot of 
>noise.
>
>	Recently in this forum there was discussion of how rewinders eat 
>tapes.
>
>	 A recommendation for an a/v quality rewinder from a catalogue 
>or magazine which is:
>
>                        Fast
>                        Reliable
>                   Brakes at the end of rewind
>
>
>would be appreciated.  I'm sure others would appreciate this 
>information as well.

Radio Shaft has a winder/rewinder which has a clear top. You put it
in one way to wind, and the other way to rewind. Closing the
hinged clear cover engages the sensor which starts the wind.
It's pretty fast and slows/brakes the tape towards the end. It
disengages the motor current if the ftape fails to move for a couple of seconds.

I've used this for years and it hasn't damaged a single tape.


-- 
_______________________________Mike Schuster________________________________
NY Pub. Access UNIX/Internet: schuster@panix.com | 70346.1745@CompuServe.COM
The Portal (R) System: schuster@shell.portal.com | MCI Mail,GEnie: MSCHUSTER
Xref: sparky rec.video:15617 misc.consumers:21718
From: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Newsgroups: rec.video,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Tape rewinder (Re: Tape snapped at beginning of tape)
Date: 8 Jan 93 03:43:35 GMT
Reply-To: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Distribution: na
Organization: Vidiot's Hangout

In article <C0HuDw.6qy@news.cso.uiuc.edu> acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng) writes:
<
<In article <4715@vidiot.UUCP>, brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot) writes:
<>Another hint.  Don't use those stupid tape rewinders.
<
<I have heard recommendation of using the rewinder instead the VCR to
<rewind tapes.  The reason is to reduce wear on my expensive VCR head
<mechanism.  Are there better brands of tape rewinders or are they
<all tape eaters?

When tapes rewind in VHS VCRs (most of them anyway), they are not wrapped
around the drum.  In fact, they are unwrapped.

To me, rewinders are another ploy to get consumer's money.
-- 
      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,sci.electronics
From: ferguson@cs.rochester.edu (George Ferguson)
Subject: Crummy CATV -- Who's fault?
Followup-To: rec.video
Reply-To: ferguson@cs.rochester.edu (George Ferguson)
Organization: University of Rochester Computer Science Dept.
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 17:28:36 GMT

I'm embroiled in a "discussion" with my local cableco (Rochester, NY)
about picture quality, which is lacking. I'm hoping that some of you
are more knowledgeable than I about this, and can either set me
straight or give me the ammo I need.

Anyway, the situation is that our reception on cable of the off-air
stations has gotten intolerable. Something happened when they were
working on the line behind our place, and there are now significant
ghost images on the off-air channels, which are at the same selector
position on cable. I complained, and the cableco said that levels were
down while they upgraded (to fiber, I think). They said it would
improve.

Needless to say, it didn't. I called again, and they sent a guy over.
He plugged a 75 ohm terminator into the back of the set and, sure
enough, you could see the off-air picture. He therefore blamed the
shielding in the set. I countered with the fact that it seemed strange
that it should all of a sudden lose shielding when something changed
out back, and further I didn't see how the shielding could "change".
He said that, no, there were mechanical parts inside the set (a JVC
21", no moving parts that I can see or hear) and that they "wore out".
This seems fishy; what's the deal on the shielding?

I will note that, as expected, watching through my very new JVC vcr,
with the TV at channel 3, the picture was fine. Last weekend, however,
I was getting ghosting even through it! That hasn't reappeared, and
I'd be hard-pressed to demonstrate it for a repairman!

Anyway, my TV aside, I said that it seemed to me that if even if they
were in spec, if a significant number of customers were suddenly
complaining, they ought to do something about it. Well, of course, the
service guy could care less. He agreed that it would be nice to not
spend the day telling people their sets are "broken". Apparently, what
he said and from personal experience, many people are having trouble.
The cableco blames the whole thing on the off-air channels wanting to
be at the same selector position.

With a rate hike kicking in this month, I'm pissed about the crummy
service we get from these people in almost every area. Picture quality
is just the latest. They have also reneged on committments to access
programming and the like.

Apologies for the diatribe, I would appreciate any help.

George
-- 
George Ferguson                 ARPA: ferguson@cs.rochester.edu
Dept. of Computer Science       UUCP: rutgers!rochester!ferguson
University of Rochester         VOX:  (716) 275-2527
Rochester  NY  14627-0226       FAX:  (716) 461-2018
From: shun@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (shun.cheung)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Difference between Sony SLV585 and SLV595?
Date: 11 Jan 93 22:20:51 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <y4+3cpk@rpi.edu> kimp@rpi.edu (Phil Kim) writes:
>In article <2136@coyote.UUCP> singer@almaden.ibm.com (David Singer) writes:
>>What, other than built-in VCR+ decoding, is the difference between the Sony
>>SLV585 and SLV595 VCRs?  The box on the 595 is a couple of inches taller than
>>the 585...is that just so innocent consumers will think they're getting more
>>for their money?

Another difference is that the SLV 595/696 have this "door" which
has to be opened before you can put a tape in. When you try to record
on a tape with the tag removed, the VCR will reject the tape by
forcing the door open. :-(

>>Also...how long a power failure do the clocks and programming in the Sony 
>>VCRs survive?
>
>About 5 hours.

Maybe a little less than that. We lost power for about four hours
when the North East was hit by that big storm last month. I needed
to reset all the clocks.
-- 
-- Shun Cheung,    electronic: shun.cheung@att.com    voice: (908) 615-5135
     AT&T, 480 Red Hill Road, Middletown, NJ,  07748  USA
Newsgroups: rec.video,rec.audio,sci.electronics
From: znpt01@trc.amoco.com (Norman P. Tracy)
Subject: Re: Looking for AKAI
Originator: znpt01@gpss43
Organization: Amoco Production Company, Tulsa Research
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 06:42:02 GMT


AKAI is still in North America, but not in home audio.  Try your local pro-sound
or music store.  AKAI currently markets synths, samplers, and multitrack (both
analog & digital using proprietary formants) to the pre/semi-pro markets.

Norman Tracy

In article <1993Jan4.203514.10275@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, carlwu@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Carleton Wu) writes:
> In article <1993Jan4.155908.19491@mlb.semi.harris.com> mdh@mlb.semi.harris.com
> (Mark Hanson) writes:
> >In article <1992Dec28.180216.13637@talos.pm.com>, vincent@talos.pm.com
> >(Andy Vincent) writes:
> >|> Anyone know where I can get in touch with AKAI Electronics or
> >|> at least where I can order a manual and parts?
> >Bad News....
> >Akai is gone.
> >Went out of business from what I heard.
> 
> I believe AKAI pulled out of the North American market because the dollar-yen 
> conversion made their products more and more unprofitable.
> It's too bad because they made excellent quality tape decks--right up there 
> with NAKs.  I believe Accuphase pulled out for the same reason.  Both make high
> quality equipment.
From: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: VCR PLUS code conflicts in TV Guide
Keywords: vcr+
Date: 10 Jan 93 03:39:39 GMT
Reply-To: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Vidiot's Hangout

In article <1ikj3oINNgc5@gaia.ucs.orst.edu> stanley@skyking.OCE.ORST.EDU (John Stanley) writes:
<In article <4730@vidiot.UUCP> brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot) writes:
<>Like I said in previous postings, can't help those who purchased poor VCRs.
<
<Unlike you, I tend to evaluate VCR's on things like picture quality and
<recording modes and input/output connections, not whether the clock
<keeps time when the power goes out.
<
<Now that VCR+ is available, the clock isn't even on my list of criteria.
<For you, the clock is the dividing line between poor and not-poor VCR's.
<How sad.

Hey, I never said that is the dividing line.  I'm saying that it should be one
of the criteria when purchasing a VCR.  If there isn't backup of the clock and
timer functions, when the power goes out, the VCR doesn't go into my house.

There are many other factors, including all of the things you mentioned.
-- 
      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
Xref: sparky rec.video:15446 rec.video.satellite:7588
Newsgroups: rec.video,rec.video.satellite
Subject: TV delay lines distributors?
From: ven0103@vax1.mankato.msus.edu
Date: 5 Jan 93 16:52:45 -0600
Organization: Mankato State University

Hello!

	Does anybody know a place where I can order delay lines for TV sets?

	I need two different times delays:
			1 micro second.
			64 micro seconds. (There's one with the reference DL710
but a different one may work too.)

		Thanks,


					EDDIE.

			ven0103@vax1.mankato.msus.edu
Newsgroups: rec.video