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From: richardt@orstcs.UUCP (richardt)
Newsgroups: net.dcom
Subject: Re: Eavesdropping from TV "dish" ???
Message-ID: <16500001@orstcs.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 25-Aug-85 20:43:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: orstcs.16500001
Posted: Sun Aug 25 20:43:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Aug-85 04:49:02 EDT
References: <171@kitc.UUCP>
Organization: Oregon State University - Corvallis, OR
Lines: 18
Nf-ID: #R:kitc:-17100:orstcs:16500001:000:1171
Nf-From: orstcs!richardt    Aug 25 16:43:00 1985

According to my info, signals are not digitized.  They are time-multiplexed,
if I remember correctly.  It would probably take someone who knew what they
were doing about a month and a half or so to set up a "satellite bug" for
telephone conversations.  This is primarily because they would need to (1) find
out where the telephone satellites are; (2) they'd need to either build a new
down-converter, and possibly LNA (Low Noise Amplifier -- the funny-shaped cone
in the middle of your 'dish'), or they'd have to modify the one they've already
got; and (3) they'd have to build they time demultiplexer and experiment a 
little to get the right settings for the whole mess.  However, in answer to the
implied question, if the NSA or CIA or ... has a grudge against you, they can
monitor all of your out-of-state long-distance calls.  This is only one of
the many (relatively simple) ways that big brother tactics can, and probably are
 being implemented today.  Happy phoning!

					orstcs!richardt
"As one of my friends put, if they're watching anyway, why bother trying to
 cover up?  Being open will just lead them off-track, and it will make your
 life a lot easier."