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From: jimb@tekcbi.UUCP (Jim Boland)
Newsgroups: net.video,net.politics
Subject: Re: Satellite Signal Scrambling (FLAME!)
Message-ID: <547@tekcbi.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Mar-86 17:33:12 EST
Article-I.D.: tekcbi.547
Posted: Fri Mar 14 17:33:12 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Mar-86 08:35:42 EST
References: <156@jc3b21.UUCP> <733@ihlpm.UUCP> <529@tekcbi.UUCP> <728@olivee.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR
Lines: 29
Xref: watmath net.video:2162 net.politics:13958
Summary: true, but ---

In article <728@olivee.UUCP>, gnome@olivee.UUCP (Gary Traveis) writes:
> 
> Also wrong is the line that states that HBO is not after the individuals
> with dishes.  HBO's standard policy is to use a firm that hires local
> geeks (for minimum wage) to drive around neighborhoods taking pictures
> of any antennas that look suspicious.  How do I know this?  Because
> I got the chance to see that pictorial list that they carry.  If
> an antenna looks like one of the drawings on the list -- CLICK.
> The photos and addresses are forwarded to a discount trash-bin
> legal office that sends out hundreds of letters threatening criminal
> prosecution to those who don't settle-up, take down the antennas, and
> subscribe.  
It is true that this task is performed.  I can't comment on the type of
people they employ but in this town they did the picture taking by
helicopter.  They got a good lawyer, took the cases to court and "basically"
won.  All rooftop antennas were to come down.  Microwave dish Distributors 
were ordered to pay fines.  
This was done not by HBO but by the local outfit who had the franchise to 
distribute the programming.  Notice that this is for microwave fed 
programming from a local station on 2GHz.  This did not apply to satellite
signals as we have been discussing.
> Many HAMs in my area (myself included) have run into this
> problem because the mobile zombies can't tell the difference between
> a microwave dish for amateur use and a dish used to watch commercial
> broadcasts.
You are absolutely correct.  The problem then stems from the point of proving
that you are "hammin'" and not "stealin'".  However, those with a ham license
and demonstrating that they had the proper equipment for ham tv were not
pursued.