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From: brown@nic_vax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Does cable-ready still need a converter?
Message-ID: <153@nic_vax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-May-85 21:28:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: nic_vax.153
Posted: Wed May  8 21:28:02 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 11-May-85 00:00:58 EDT
References: <596@udenva.UUCP>
Organization: Nicolet Instrument Corp. Madison WI
Lines: 44

> I just purchased a cable-ready TV; it really does accept/convert the
> cable signal on all 56 (?) channels that United Cable of Colorado
> sends out.  I went to return my converter box this morning, and the
> people at the cable office said that EVEN THOUGH I had
> cable-ready, operational equipment, I still needed to run the cable
> signal through their box, because of something called 'influx' or
> something like that.  It was explained that my TV accepts signals
> between 50 and 300 (ohms? mhz?) and that United Cable sneds the signal
> at 500 (ohms? mhz?); since my TV can't handle the excess signal then
> it screws up the viewers down the line.
> 
> My question:  Is this for real?  Why buy cable-ready if I have to keep
> the converter box?  Etc.

Boy, is this one weird.  

1. A 56 channel system is 50 - 400 MHz.  36 channel system is 50-300 MHz.

2. Infux? You got me.

I have never heard of whatever they are trying to tell you.  A good cable
system will have taps (feed to individual house or apartment building) that
is meant to withstand things like shorts and signals being fed back into
the cable system.  Nothing the users does to the line, bar putting 120 vac
on the line, should cause any problems.

I suggest that you call and talk to their chief engineer.  Get the scoop
straight from him.  Never, and I mean never, trust font office poeple.
They are just hired help, and normally don't know what they are talking
about. (Here come the flames!)  If that engineer says that you have to
use their box, get accurate details about why, send them to me and I will
talk with our cable engineers and find out why.  If they say you have to
use their box you could also sue them for the cost of the TV that you
didn't have to buy.  Either way I still would like to find out their
reasons.

-- 
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