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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!orca!mako!seifert
From: seifert@mako.UUCP (Snoopy)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.video
Subject: Re: Cable TV
Message-ID: <709@mako.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Apr-85 00:08:10 EST
Article-I.D.: mako.709
Posted: Thu Apr 18 00:08:10 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Apr-85 01:34:26 EST
References: <5250@tekecs.UUCP>
Reply-To: seifert@mako.UUCP (Snoopy)
Organization: The Daisy Hill Puppy Farm
Lines: 31
Keywords: can you say "rip-off" ?
Xref: watmath net.consumers:2183 net.video:1109
Summary: YACTVV - Yet Another Cable-TV Variation

In article <5250@tekecs.UUCP> tomb@tekecs.UUCP writes:

>Most local cable companies are now moving to FULLY SCRAMBLED
>service in order to combat what they perceive as a threat by
>folks with cable-ready TVs. Once all your cable channels are
>scrambled you can't get anything without a box. Of course
>they'll give you a second box for your VCR at a significant
>discount.   :-)

At the apt complex I used to live at, they put in a rather
hacker-hostile system.  They brought in two fiber optic lines,
one brought in a single channel, and the other sent control signals
to the distribution box.  The cable-box had connections for these
two fibers, power, and a 75 Ohm line to your tv.  It sent signals to the
distribution box requesting whatever channel you wanted, and if you
were subscribed, the distribution box would send it down.

The quality wasn't as good as broadcast, there was no way to
get two channels at once, and for US$30/month there were two or
three movies worth watching.  Needless to say, when the free trial
period ran out they got their box back.

What was really sad was the people who couldn't pay their rent, utility
bills, or even buy *food*, but they *had* to have cable.   -sigh-


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