Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!att!icus!limbic!gil
From: gil@limbic.UUCP (Gil Kloepfer Jr.)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: SpectraVision diagnostic mode?
Summary: Here's what was asked, repost of the queries...
Message-ID: <567@limbic.UUCP>
Date: 19 Sep 89 05:43:10 GMT
References: <21719@cup.portal.com> <80.UUL1.3#5131@mvac23.UUCP> <459@ctycal.UUCP>
Reply-To: gil@limbic.UUCP (Gil Kloepfer Jr.)
Distribution: na
Organization: ICUS Software Systems, Islip, NY
Lines: 43

In article <459@ctycal.UUCP> ingoldsb@ctycal.COM (Terry Ingoldsby) writes:
>I've missed most of this discussion, but I have seen SpectraVision
>in the hotels.  Is it coming down on satellite (which bird and
>transponder) or is it from tapes?
>  Terry Ingoldsby                       ctycal!ingoldsb@calgary.UUCP

There's been a real lack of response on this end, so here's a repost
of the question in the hopes more people see it this time:

While in a hotel recently and having some time to fiddle with the
SpectraVision (for in-room movies and hotel services through the
television) box, I discovered a way to get the box into what seems
to be a diagnostic mode.

If PAY8 is pressed, then channel 99 is immediately selected, the box
will begin displaying control information on the LCD readout on
the box.  Some of this information includes the mapping of the pay
channels to standard channels, what the room number is, what the high
and low channel is, and what the hotel information and menu channels
are.  Pressing any key seems to scroll one-by-one through the
information.

As any other "normal" computer person would do, I tried entering values
to see if anything unusual would happen, and it didn't.

My questions are-- does anyone know anything about this?  Are there
ways of changing the values from the box?  How does the box get
programmed (from the desk or is it in some kind of NV RAM)?  Are the
pay channels really mapped to regular "extended" channels (eg. cable
frequencies) and those channels are locked-out by the box so you can't
view the pay channels without paying?

Note:  These queries are for informational and educational purposes
only - no attempt at theft-of-service is intended by knowing this.
(Actually, aside from that little devilish temptation to get something
I'm not entitled to, I *really* am just curious :-)

Thanks in advance for any light that can be shed on this topic.  Any
information e-mailed to me will be summarized on the net.  Please indicate
if you wish to keep your name anonymous.

Gil
...!icus!limbic!gil