Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!floyd
From: floyd@brl-tgr.ARPA (Floyd C. Wofford )
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Wanted: satellite dish info
Message-ID: <10987@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 23-May-85 17:14:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.10987
Posted: Thu May 23 17:14:04 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 24-May-85 22:37:24 EDT
References: <5100001@faust.UUCP>
Reply-To: floyd@brl-tgr.ARPA (Floyd C. Wofford (MMW) <floyd>)
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 34

In article <5100001@faust.UUCP> milos@faust.UUCP writes:

>After hearing all the recent cable-related horror stories, though,
>I'm wondering if the satellite dish route isn't the way to go.
>
>Anyone out there got any insight/experience/opinions/flames?
>
>Bob Milosavljevic         UUCP: {ihnp4,harpo,esquire}!inmet!faust:milos
>Intermetrics, Inc.
>733 Concord Avenue
>Cambridge, MA  02138

It seems that most of the movie type channels are being scrambled.  HBO is
on an intermittant schedule for scrambling as is Showtime. I am assuming
Cinemax and the Movie Channel are scrambled or are in the process of being
scrambled.  The scrambling is supposed to be coded with a key changing daily,
so the use of homemade devices should be marginally effective without
knowledge of the key.  Perhaps its not as sophisticated as that.  I am not
heavily into video so my interest is minimal.  Decoders or descrambling
units would be available from licensed dealers (you can bet they will cost).

The rest of the situation is not too dismal.  There are a number of channels
which provide sports, news, music, religious and family programming which
are not being scrambled.  The quality is commensurate with the viewer's
taste.  There are a number of satellites from which to choose so there is
also variety.

I don't advocate getting a dish (my tastes run towards the movies) but if
you do don't get burned by thinking you are getting a great deal which
won't exist in the future.


Floyd Wofford
floyd@brl-arpa