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From: whit@milton.u.washington.edu (John Whitmore)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: cable TV and better black boxes
Summary: Cable companies are not providing services; they are SELLING them
Message-ID: <8627@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 5 Oct 90 02:00:48 GMT
References: <TIMS.90Oct3212314@infidel.infidel.lanl.gov> <1990Oct4.133730.28246@mlb.semi.harris.com> <229@nachos.SSESCO.com>
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Lines: 19

In article <229@nachos.SSESCO.com> elmquist@nachos.SSESCO.com (Chris Elmquist) writes:
>IMHO, the best way to solve this problem is to get the TV and VCR
>manufacturers to provide descrambler loops on the back of the
>piece of equipment.  The loop brings out the signal after the tuner

	and allows any channel you tune to be descrambled, regardless
of whether you paid extra for that particular 'premium' channel.
It's necessary for the cable company to know exactly which channel
is being unscrambled, and whether that particular channel SHOULD be
descrambled.  

	A less elegant solution is available in 'universal remote
control' systems; program it to change the cable box's channel
selection and activate the VCR.  It'd be nice if such a system
could change over to a local antenna, and aim it, as well.
	Then all we'd need is a box that can watch the stupid
taped TV show, and tell us not to bother...

		John Whitmore