HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gilmore@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Kevin Gilmore)
Subject: DMX box
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 01:51:57 GMT

TCI in the chicago area (wheeling, schaumburg...) uses the only
DMX box available which is made by Scientific Atlanta. The box is
addressable, and can be shut-down like all other addressable boxes.
I personally do not subscribe as i get 99% of the stuff on my
satellite dish. The boxes are too new, and none of the pirate cable
companies have them yet. In addition they are built a little like
the GI vc2+ boxes in that the eprom has epoxy glued over it, and
tampering with the box is a little hard. In addition the sound is
not as good as advertised, probably because they take the feed off of
satellite in dual narrow band fm, then digitally encode it ala cd's
But the bit rate is less than the 44khz and its only 14 bits instead
of 16. So when they say same as cd quality they lie... Besides that
to get the good remote controll you have to buy it and its about
100 bucks. Thats the only way you know what is comming next.
Waste of time and money...
	....kg....

Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: wisner@netcom.com (Bill Wisner)
Subject: Is there such a thing as a "passive" converter?
Organization: Trailing Edge Technologies, Mountain View, CA
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 22:05:37 GMT

A little item on my wish list: a converter that does not double as a
channel tuner, but rather descrambles premium channels and passes *all*
channels through to a cable-ready TV set thus allowing the TV's tuner to
be used.  Such a device is certainly technologically possible; my question
is, does it exist?  And is it available?

w. <wisner@netcom.com> Gryphon Gang Mountain View CA 94043
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: cro69@cas.org ()
Subject: Re: How to listen to cordless phone on AM/FM radio???
Organization: Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 18:19:13 GMT

In article <1992Dec10.180116.1@oread.cc.ukans.edu> dseaman@oread.cc.ukans.edu writes:
>Does anyone know how to receive cordless phone transmissions on an
>AM/FM radio? There was an article in my school newspaper that said it
>was possible, but gave no specifics. Any info would be apprecaited!
>
>--
>DSeaman@Oread.cc.ukans.edu
>Derek Seaman
>
I believe a police scanner will do the trick for you.
-Chuck
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: jebright@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (James R Ebright)
Subject: Re: How to listen to cordless phone on AM/F
Summary: Digital Phones Provide security
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 19:00:43 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.175206.18467@newsgate.sps.mot.com> jennings@ssdt-tempe.sps.mot.com writes:
>
>Sorry, meant to put this in the previous posting. Motorola has a 
> cordless that has a scrambled signal that cannot be understood on a 
> cordless. To my knowledge this is the only phone that has this capability. 
>Understand that the security features on other phones keep other cordless 
> handsets from picking up your signal but not police scanners. They come 
> through plain as day.
>----------------------
>Timothy J. Jennings 			"I Yam What I Yam."
>Motorola SSDT Division			--Popeye
>email: jennings@ssdt-tempe.sps.mot.com
>

Cincinnati Microwave and someone else market such phones.  A Popular Science
article earlier this year detailed how they work.  Basically, they digitize
the audio.  Scanners just pick up digital hash when listening in.  (Note the
phones currently retail for about $325 but have a longer range than regular
cordless.)

BTW, NEVER assume privacy when using either a cordless or a cellular phone.
Recent court cases say even cellular calls are not protected from wiretap.

-- 
		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.    <<<
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: tweek@netcom.com (Michael D. Maxfield)
Subject: Re: How to listen to cordless phone on AM/FM radio???
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 07:08:58 GMT

In article <1992Dec11.181913.7991@cas.org> cro69@cas.org () writes:
>In article <1992Dec10.180116.1@oread.cc.ukans.edu> dseaman@oread.cc.ukans.edu writes:
>>Does anyone know how to receive cordless phone transmissions on an
>>AM/FM radio? There was an article in my school newspaper that said it
>>was possible, but gave no specifics. Any info would be apprecaited!
>>DSeaman@Oread.cc.ukans.edu
>>Derek Seaman
>>
>I believe a police scanner will do the trick for you.
>-Chuck

There are three types of cordless phones now... The first type is almost
illegal to use nowdays.  The original "Cordless Phones" used two different
radio bands.  The handset transmitted to the base unit using 49mhz FM via
the extendable antenna, while the base unit transmitted back to the handset
using 1600khz AM Carrier Current transmission.  A common trick with these
units was to disconnect the AM band output from the AC-line coupling caps,
and connect a long wire to extend the range beyond the area available to the
carrier current/ac wiring.    The part of the radio spectrum which the base
unit transmitted on, has been re-allocated to the AM Broadcast band.

The current "COMMON" cordless telephones operate in the 46 and 49 mhz bands.
Base unit 46mhz FM
handset   49mhz FM

The new generation operates in the 900 mhz band.  The technology may vary
from brand and model.  Possibilitys range from standard FM to Spread Spectrum
technology.

**** Since this is in the CABLE TV newsgroup, let me bring the topic closer
to the group.  Other consumer electronics devices which operate in the 900mhz
band include the TV-Rabbit type videocaster units.  

Question...   Has any cable companies issued notices that you cannot use these
devices to transmit any signal received off of their cable system since it is
simmilar to adding a second cable outlet?  What about retransmitting HBO/MAX/
DISNEY, etc to your neighbors through one of these devices?

BTW: Any further questions about the cordless telephones... May I suggest
inquiring with alt.radio.scanner.  Those are the folks who would know more
about the topic... and BTW:  Cordless telephones, although the range for the
user is about a mile or so MAX, can be received up to 5 miles out by a scanner
with a good antenna.... except in California where it is illegal. (right,
physics follows the laws too. |sarcasm.talk)



Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: jtl@ddsw1.mcs.com (Joe Lynn)
Subject: Re: DMX box
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 00:02:50 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.


I am a DMX subscriber in the NW suburbs of Chicago.  I've had it for
about six months.

Kevin Gilmore writes:

> ...
>In addition the sound is
>not as good as advertised, probably because they take the feed off of
>satellite in dual narrow band fm, then digitally encode it ala cd's

I partially agree here.  The sound is not quite CD quality and is prone to 
"bumps" when there are hits on the cable line (high winds, lightning), 
but the sound quality is better than FM, and I use a pretty good antenna.

>But the bit rate is less than the 44khz and its only 14 bits instead
>of 16.  So when they say same as cd quality they lie... 

I just saw the president of International Cablecasting (the company
that owns DMX and licenses it out to cable companies) on C-SPAN last
week, and he stated very explicitly that DMX uses the "Philips/Sony
16-bit standard" for their service.  He mentioned another service (Jones?)
who uses 14-bit technology.  He was very adamant about this.

> Besides that
>to get the good remote controll you have to buy it and its about
>100 bucks. Thats the only way you know what is comming next.

I rent the "DJ Remote" from TCI for about four and a half bucks a month.
It contains an LCD that provides the user with the song's title, artist,
album, catalog number (which is occasionally incorrect, or the catalog
number of an old, out-of-print LP).  Yes, you can buy the remote for
about $100, and you can buy the decoder for around $50.00, but you
don't have to.

>Waste of time and money...

Chacun a son gout.  For my purposes, it's a good value for the money.


Joe Lynn
-- 
jtl@ddsw1.mcs.com
From: nhmas@gauss.med.harvard.edu (Mark Shneyder)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: HBO 2-DAY FREE PREVIEW in January
Date: 20 Dec 92 18:54:12 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: HMS

Hello to all of you who are cable-ready HBO-deprived,

Circle your VCR calendars and check your local preview channel because
HBO will have a 2-day national(practically all systems are aboard for this one)
FREE PREVIEW on :

Sunday,January 23rd and Monday,January 24th. Movies to be shown but not limitted to :
My Girl,Addams Family,JFK,Prince of Tides.

Sorry, no Cinemax preview that weekend.

-PPV Mark
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv,rec.radio.shortwave
From: docgen@hardy.u.washington.edu (Dan Braimage)
Subject: Corless phones on AM/FM radio
Organization: Wangifesto Press, Inc
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 09:54:30 GMT



   I realize this thread is a bit off topic for rec.video.cable-tv. But I 
don't think it's entirely off, since it deals with TV.

  John Switzer quoted the following......
>In article <1992Dec10.180116.1@oread.cc.ukans.edu> dseaman@oread.cc.ukans.edu writes:
>>Does anyone know how to receive cordless phone transmissions on an
>>AM/FM radio? 

Get out your radio and hunt around.  

One place to look is the very bottom of the FM 
band, 87.9 or even lower. I discovered that a cordless phone some friends
own transmits there. Where I used to live, I often heard an answering machine
there. And sometimes there's audio from TV channel 6 bleeding over.

    John also wrote:
>Cellular phones, though, are a different matter because their 800MHz 
>bandwidth is much higher than FM radio's. Some shortwaves can tune them
>in, though. 

This is true depending on how strictly one defines a shortwave radio. Many
receivers designed to receive worldwide shortwave broadcasts go into
some strange frequencies which telephones might be found on.

My boom box includes a shortwave band which goes straight from the 19
meter band to the 90 meter band. As well as Radio Moscow and the like, 
I've heard CB and all kinds of junk.

I used to pick up what seemed to be a voice mail system. I'd hear low beeps
that went on and on, till I heard a high pitched beep followed by someone's
message. Being recorded or retieved, I have no idea. Does anybody know what
this could have been doing on the airwaves? It seemed to be in constant use.

>I used to have an old black-and-white TV with analog tuner
>when I lived on top of a hill, which if the weather was just right, I 
>could tune to the high end of the dial (channel 89 or so) and pick up
>some long-distance phone calls. Never figured that out. 

This is getting to be a FAQ.

UHF channels 80 to 83, the highest UHF channels, have been reassigned 
to cellular phones. Plug an antenna into you UHF terminals and you'll
be set. It's best to have a UHF knob that does not click, or at least
can fine tune.

As ridiculous as it is, doing what I've just described is a federal 
offense.

  Chuck wrote:
>I believe a police scanner will do the trick for you.
>-Chuck

A police scanner will get you police radio. Many scanners will, of course,
receive phone calls, even those in the cellular band, but the point of the
original post was to avoid that kind of expense.

******************************************************************************
	|
 -------+-------
	|
    ----+----
	|
 -------+-------
	|   deprogram, pob 45622 Seattle WA 98145
<><<><<><><><<><><>>><><<<><><><<><><>>><><><><><><><>>><><><><><><><>><><<><<>
"I'm not much of an actor, I have enough trouble just pretending to be me."
	-George Harrison
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: gilmore@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Kevin Gilmore)
Subject: RE: power line interference
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 14:45:04 GMT

Over the last couple of years, i have had a problem similar to this
that was much lower level, and came and went. I could never find the
problem. A couple of months ago i added a sattelite system to the
whole mess, an things got worse. It showed up as a audio hum on
a particular hockey game that i was watching. I noticed that when i
stepped on a particular cable things went away. I traced it down
to a loose ground on the cable companys line. What i did to fix it
was right where it entered the house i attached a ground strap from
the cable company ground to the cold water pipe inlet. Haven't had
a problem since.
	....kg....
From: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: Sharing FM and TV Cable
Date: 19 Dec 92 19:01:40 GMT
Reply-To: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Organization: Vidiot's Hangout

In article <1992Dec18.042404.2694@ultb.isc.rit.edu> rxv9839@ritvax.isc.rit.edu writes:
<In article <1992Dec16.135312.1841@sei.cmu.edu>, rlm@sei.cmu.edu
< (Richard Murphy) writes:
<>
<>Is it feasible to "share" video co-ax cable with FM and TV signals?  Problem
<>is my need to locate an FM antenna high in my house and get signal down to
<>lower room.  Is there a way to share the cable?  I want to avoid another cable
<>run if possible.
<
<Yes definitely, just do it.  If you are carrying only regular off-air assigned
<TV channels (2-13 & UHF 14-83) there is no frequency conflict with the FM band.
<Use a splitter (two-way splitter--Radio Shack & lots of other places have them)
<backwards as a combiner.  Feed the FM antenna in one output and your TV antenna
<in the other.  "input" line (which is now the output) goes down to your TV.

Everyone seems to be forgetting that if you combine an FM antenna with a
currently existing VHF TV antenna, you could end up with multi-path, since the
VHF antenna is already picking up FM, since it is between channels 6 and 7.

I don't suggest it.  Just try the TV antenna lead on your FM and see how it
works that way first.
-- 
      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: tweek@netcom.com (Michael D. Maxfield)
Subject: Re: How to listen to cordless phone on AM/FM radio???
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 22:52:41 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.213809.22427@netcom.com> anson@netcom.com (Anson Kennedy) writes:
>carllr@sluggo.sdsc.edu (Rich Carll) writes:
>
>>Cordless phone conversations are held on only 10 channels. The handsets all
>>talk in the 46mhz range and the base units in the 49mhz range. All obtainable
>>via police scanners. Unknown how you would do it on a fm radio.
>
>>I'm sure you know this is illegal, of course. And will put a get deal of
>>mistrust between you and your friends if they know you can hang outside
>>their house and listen to their conversations! <commentary.h>
>
>Actually, it is not illegal to listen to cordless phone conversations.
>It is illegal to listen to cellular phone conversations and (if I
>recall correctly) it is illegal to reveal any info you learn when
>listening to a cordless phone call.
>-- 

Unless, of course, if you live in California, then it is illegal to
listen to cordless telephones,  unless you don't believe that the
States heve the power to make certain types of radio communication
illegal.  Yes, believe it or not,  The wonderfull reps in the
CALIF Senat and Assembly believe they have the power to create
rules involving FCC authorized communications.

       tweek@netcom.com  tweek@tweekco.uucp  WWIVNet 5@5058  4@5056 
          I'd rather get my cable service from the phone company,
                than my phone service from the cable company.


Xref: sparky rec.video.cable-tv:2184 rec.video.satellite:7150 rec.video:14824
From: wstasior@lcs.mit.edu (Bill Stasior)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv,rec.video.satellite,rec.video
Subject: Re: TCI announces 500 channels on its systems in 2 years?
Date: 16 Dec 92 23:48:53 GMT
Reply-To: wstasior@lcs.mit.edu (Bill Stasior)
Organization: MIT Laboratory for Computer Science

In article <BzBCpA.M7L@cup.hp.com>, jem@cup.hp.com (Jim McCauley) writes:

|> In an earlier posting, I mentioned "packet video" technology, in which
|> programs are transmitted in small portions (perhaps a dozen fields at
|> a time).  This video-on-demand technology would allow the user
|> VCR-like control over the received program.  It occurs to me that the
|> same technique could be applied to a live broadcast, which could be
|> "archived" by the cable service as it is received.  Viewers could
|> "break" from the live program to review previous portions at any
|> desired speed (including freeze-frame) and in forward or reverse
|> order.  Obviously, this would be a pay-per-view service -- who would
|> sit through the commercials?

In this scenario the cable is pretty much a computer network with the
cable company acting as a giant file server.  Even though the bandwidth
may be high enough (which I actually doubt) it seems unlikely to me that
a server capable of serving tens of thousands of asynchronous video clients 
will be economically feasible anytime soon. 

I imagine that the cable companies will continue to act as a broadcaster, sending
the same signal synchronously to many users.  The capability that you describe
would be achieved by having smart receivers which buffer the video digitally and
allow one to control what one sees locally.  With proper regulation (to keep the
cable companies from defeating home viewers) the service would not be chargeable
by the cable company since the capability is built into the viewers TV.  

- Bill Stasior
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: mutrh@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Todd R. Haverstock)
Subject: TCI : Digital Music Express
Organization: Educational Computing Network
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 18:24:20 GMT

Anyone out there subscribe to TCI/Chicago Cable's Digital Music Express
service or is familiar with the equipment they use?

Todd R. Haverstock
INTERNET: mutrh@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
BITNET: mutrh@ecnuxa.bitnet

Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
From: aaronm@boy.com (Aaron McClure)
Subject: Re: How to listen to cordless phone on AM/FM radio???
Organization: Beach Systems / RTFM UN*X Solutions, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 04:03:07 GMT

In article <1992Dec11.044739.12377@netcom.com> jrs@netcom.com (John Switzer) writes:
>In article <1992Dec10.180116.1@oread.cc.ukans.edu> dseaman@oread.cc.ukans.edu writes:
>>Does anyone know how to receive cordless phone transmissions on an
>>AM/FM radio? There was an article in my school newspaper that said it
>>was possible, but gave no specifics. Any info would be apprecaited!
>I don't know about cordless phones, but I would imagine it would be true
>since they are short distance broadcasters and would be unlikely to use 
>the high bandwidth of cellular phones (circa 800MHz if I remember right). 
>You'd have to be a block or so near the phone, perhaps less, because they
>are pretty low power.
>
>Cellular phones, though, are a different matter because their 800MHz 
>bandwidth is much higher than FM radio's. Some shortwaves can tune them
>in, though. I used to have an old black-and-white TV with analog tuner
>when I lived on top of a hill, which if the weather was just right, I 
>could tune to the high end of the dial (channel 89 or so) and pick up
>some long-distance phone calls. Never figured that out. 
>-- 
>John Switzer               | "What we have here is a failure to 
>                           | masticate."
>Internet: jrs@netcom.com   | TV's Frank is unable to eat his 13th turkey.
As you can see John has little knowledge of communications.  
First of all standard AM/FM radios can not tune into 47 Mhz as john
thinks they can.  John is having trouble determining the difference between
bandwith and frequency with his statement that cordless phones are short distance so they the high bandwith of cellular phones.  
John also has decided that shortwave receivers (typically 100khz to 30Mhz)
can tune in cellular phones.  Finally John has decided that the weather 
plays a part in his tunning in "long distance" phone calls by his TV.  
He should know that at one time the upper end of the UHF broadcasting
TV channels were re-allocated by the FCC to the Cellular.

I should probably not pick on John so mutch but I sent him a message
asking him why he was replying to a post that he knew nothing about
His reply was that I was an asshole and that he knew what he was
talking about since he had been working in this area for quite some time.
I hope john's life does not depend on knowledge of communications.

See Ya
aaronm@boy.com
From: tjones@access.digex.com (Tom Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: How to listen to cordless phone on AM/FM radio???
Date: 14 Dec 1992 08:18:34 GMT
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com

In article <1992Dec10.180116.1@oread.cc.ukans.edu>
 dseaman@oread.cc.ukans.edu (Derek Seaman) writes:
>Does anyone know how to receive cordless phone transmissions on an
>AM/FM radio? There was an article in my school newspaper that said it
>was possible, but gave no specifics. Any info would be apprecaited!

When I had an antique cordless in a dorm, my next-door neighbor pointed
out that my conversations were being broadcast on three distinct spots 
on the standard AM dial.  I *presume* that the newer cordless models
(which I recall are advertising that they have new frequencies) don't
have this problem.

-tom jones
From: kfriedman@desire.wright.edu
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv
Subject: Re: Sharing FM and TV Cable
Date: 19 Dec 92 19:32:13 EST
Organization:  Wright State University 

In article <168C19856.M02449@mwvm.mitre.org>, M02449@mwvm.mitre.org (Joe Gems) wr
>  
> Wait a minute - am I missing something here???? My answer would have been a
> simple "yes", since the entire FM band is right smack in the middle of the
> VHF TV band (either between channels 5 and 6, or between 6 and 7 - I forget).
>  
>    Joe

Some years ago, I called our cable company to ask if they had an FM service
available.  They said yes...for an extra fee, of course...and that they would
send someone out the next day to hook it up.  Well, after the installer left I
looked to see what he had done.  He just added a splitter and ran a cable to my
FM receiver.   Hell....I coulda done that!  And I have ever since.  

Some problems I've noticed...the stations received do not usually correspond to
their usual location on the dial.  I put up with this though, because I can get
a station I really like to listen to that I could not otherwise receive.  I've
never really noticed any sort of interference problems, though there may be
some problems with leakage that others postings on this topic have mentioned.

	Jay
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv