barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold) (04/11/85)
We recently got a cable-ready VCR and found it received most but not all the channels available on our local cable. (We can still get those three by presetting the cable box and tuning the VCR to channel 3.) We didn't feel shafted or nervous, becasue we got it at a store where we could return it in up to ten days if we weren't satisfied with it for any reason-- including the fact that it worked perfectly but didn't fit well with the local cable company. I'd suggest that anyone buying a cable-ready TV or VCR make sure the store is willing to extend that courtesy. (We paid about $40 extra to buy where we did rather than at a hyper-discount place. We feel it was worth it.) --Lee gold
brown@nic_vax.UUCP (04/13/85)
> We recently got a cable-ready VCR and found it received most but not all > the channels available on our local cable. (We can still get those three > by presetting the cable box and tuning the VCR to channel 3.) We didn't You didn't say if the three channels that you couldn't receive were pay channels or not. If they were pay channels that require a converter, there isn't a cable ready TV or VCR that will receive them. The only time you will get a pay channel on a cable ready piece of equipment is if that channel isn't scrambled (yep, it is still done that way in places). Most of the cable ready TVs and VCRs today will receive more channels than cable companys even use. I oughta know as I have a JVC TV, JVC VHS Hi-Fi VCR and a SONY TV that are all cable ready and receive more than is available. My cable company uses channels 2 thru 35 (2-6, A-I, 7-13 and J-W) and channel A-1. For your reference channels A-5 thru A-3 is the FM band. Channel A-2 is used for the Pay Service Decoder addressing carrier. Please tell us what the three channels are before blaming a piece of equipment. Mr. Video
snafu@ihlpm.UUCP (wallis) (04/17/85)
> You didn't say if the three channels that you couldn't receive were pay > channels or not. If they were pay channels that require a converter, > there isn't a cable ready TV or VCR that will receive them. The only time > you will get a pay channel on a cable ready piece of equipment is if that > channel isn't scrambled (yep, it is still done that way in places). > In my area, the pay channels are not scrambled. However, when the cable companay installs service, they filter out the channels that you don't pay for. The filters are on the line where they split it off a feeder outside the house, which is in a sealed box in the backyard (or wherever they happen to put it). I also imagine that the cable company can check the impdance on the line to tell if anyone has tampered with the equipment. All in all it's a nice setup, since it saves the company from having to supply the decoders (and me from having to rent one) and it also allows me to use my remote control. Dave Wallis ihnp4!ihlpm!snafu AT&T Network Systems, Inc. (312) 510-6238