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From: finn@mojo.UUCP (Finn Markmanrud)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Cable TV descramblers / Rental movie stabilizers
Message-ID: <235@mojo.UUCP>
Date: 12 Jan 90 15:57:37 GMT
Reply-To: finn@mojo.UUCP (Finn Markmanrud)
Organization: NEC Information Systems Inc., Boxborough, MA
Lines: 22


For the past year or so, I've been subscribing to Video Review Magazine,
and in every issue there are lots of advertisements for so-called "Cable
TV Descramblers" and "Rental Movie Stabilizers" by Oak, Hamlin, Jerrold,
and more. Does anyone have any experience with these things, or know if
they work or not? I am most of all wondering what the "Descramblers" are 
capable of descrambling. HBO, Cinemax etc. (i.e. "pay channels"), or just 
ESPN, FOX, etc. ("basic service channels")? 
Why does one need a rental movie stabilizer? Does it really help? I assume
that the device is mostly used for copying rental movies, something the
advertisers ofcourse state in their ads is highly illegal. 
I have been contemplating buying my own cable box, since the one from the
cable company is at least 10 years old, and distorts the picture substan-
cially. I need a box, even though my TV is cable ready. I get about 12 of
36 channels w/o the box. Before I go shopping, I would like to know a little
more about these descramblers, and other TV/Cable gadgets not mentioned here.


-- 
+=====================+========================+=============================+
|   Finn Markmanrud   |   finn@mojo.nec.com    |   "It can't happen here."   | 
|   (508) 264 8668    |      Boxboro, MA       |                     F.Z.    |
+=====================+========================+=============================+