Path: utzoo!censor!becker!geac!jtsv16!uunet!aplcen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!dftsrv!hq!illgen
From: illgen@hq.af.mil (Keneth..Illgen)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Undesired television reception: solution?
Message-ID: <660@hq.af.mil>
Date: 15 Nov 89 13:26:26 GMT
References: <938@swbatl.UUCP>
Reply-To: illgen@hq.af.mil (Kenneth..Illgen)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Air Force HQ, Air Staff LAN, The Pentagon
Lines: 40

In article <938@swbatl.UUCP> uusgta@swbatl.UUCP (Tom Adams 5-4237) writes:
>I'm getting ready to write a scathing letter to my cable television company.

>The problem is "ghost" images on network channels, when viewed through the cable connection.

     For the sake of your CATV company, I hope they gave you the wrong info.
If the same problem exists for everyone on the system then the CATV people
either need to move their antenna location or take a good look at their cable
plant. Normally ghosts that appear to the left of your picture indicate strong
reception of an off-the-air station at the same frequency. Ghosts to the right
indicate multiple paths to the receiving antenna and an impedance mismatch
on the cable plant. Either case should be fixable by your CATV company.
     If only people in your neighborhood have this problem then my comments 
below are worthy. Otherwise they're not.

>Am I reasonable in my irritation? 
  
     Absolutly! If the CATV signal is allowing that much signal to penetrate
their cable they have a serious problem.     

>Is there some minimum quality of service they are required (by whom?) to
>provide? 

     The quality of the service they have to give you could be enforced by
whoever licensed them (the local government for example). You could report
them to BBB and hope that others have complained. At least that's what I
think.
     The fact that their signal is being distorted by outside elements 
should concern them a lot if the FCC finds out. Because what comes in goes
out. i.e radiated emissions. Particularly those frequencies that ride the
cable that could effect aeronautical frequencies. If you have an airport
near your house call the CATV company and remind them of their respons-
ibilities to the FCC for leakage. For most signal level requirements a
CATV system won't worry about FCC enforcement; but when it comes to 
radiated emissions they'll be all over their cable plant looking for the 
fault (If they're smart; which they don't seem to be.)     

>Should I wrap my house in tin foil :) ?

     Nah!