From: Ted_Eugene_Viens@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Cable TV Rules
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 18:02:49 PST
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
  <1992Nov5.122636.5499@hemlock.cray.com>
  <1992Nov19.160325.9847@gmuvax2.gmu.edu>

>In article <1992Nov5.122636.5499@hemlock.cray.com> andyw@aspen32.cray.com (And
y
> Warner) writes:
>>
>>In article <720883631snx@nlbbs.UUCP>, paula@nlbbs.UUCP (Paula Stockholm) writ
e
>s:
----
--some deleted---
----
>>It seems to me any of the charges seem excessive.
>>--
>>andyw. N0REN/G1XRL
>>
>>andyw@aspen.cray.com   Andy Warner, Cray Research, Inc.        (612) 683-5835
>
>Bad analogy. You are talking about additional power versus the use of a
>signal already there. It is my belief the duplicate cable signal used
>changes their power requirements little. I'd be interested if somone
>knowledgable could confirm or deny this.
>
>Secondly, the power use to amplify the degraded signal is my own, from
>the electric company. The electric company had to crank up consumption
>of fuels, etc. The cable company doesnt do squat. It is just a way to
>rip people off because they are a monopoly. It is a serious abuse of
>power and is why they need regulation.
>   ---Ken
>
>--
>Ken Bass (kbass@gmuvax2.gmu.edu)              |   Telecommunications
>George Mason University                       |   Techniques Corp,
>Student, Department of Electrical Engineering |   Software Engineer
>
Some times these subjects seem a bit silly.
I have been working with a cable company for a few years....
I have understood why cities franchise them...
But I don't always understand the way people respond to them.
I can easily see how the well-being of a community is radically affected by
the quality of electric, telephone, water, and sewage services...  I mean I
really drive through areas near me and really look at people unfairly denied
common public utilities...  I have also driven through communities that both
have and do not have Cable.  I have been unable to see any difference in these
communities...  Now, I am more of a media adict than most people and I
certainly understand the angst of being without it...  But I cannot picture
Cable as a fundamental social right nor even a necessary community utility.
The franchise protects a communities public easements from being trashed by
the cable companies and gives some assurance that the service will be wide
spread and also that some municipal services will be provided.  This seems
like reasonable government intervention...  The cable company remains a
private enterprise regulated only by the terms of its franchise agreement,
the NEC code, and some recently imposed FCC regulations...  The first thing
to consider if you are upset with the service is to simply give it up until
something better comes along...  Admittedly, many companies have been bought
up by large corporations who just want to bleed there customers dry. This
corporate mentality of leverage buy-out and suck-dry was the principal
business contribution of our passing national administration.  If you find
your cable changing ownership and your rates tripling, do the right thing and
organize community-wide subscriber cancelations.  These companies are just
following the first commandment of business:  take all you can get away with.
Only you and other customers can tell the company what they can not get away
with...   Enough of this social babble...  Lets get technical...
----
The power of the signal delivered by the cable is fixed by the system distri-
bution level and the tap loss that feeds your drop.  When you want more than
one drop two things can be done.  A separate line can be run from a new tap
which would actually give you twice as much power, or the new line can be
split from the first line which would use no additional power but would cut
the power to each set in half.  Cable companies have no practical method to
monitor the number of sets in your house so whatever additional outlets you
install yourself should never be noticed.  To get a good signal at each set,
start with a small cheap broadband amplifier (10-15 dB of gain with a 
CONTINUOUS bandwith from 50 to 450 mHz) at the original outlet.  Follow this
with a splitter that has enough ports to feed your additional sets.  Route your
new coax lines safely and discretely, sit back and enjoy all of the sets you
can stand.  If you buy pirate converters and get an innocent message to call
your cable company on your screen... DONT DO IT...
I hope this helps...  Ted..
Newsgroups: sci.electronics