[sci.electronics] VCR plus + codes

kinsman@ssd.kodak.com (Andy Kinsman (253-XXXX)) (05/13/91)

     . note that codes 1 & 2 are both listed! and I
       only have 4 pages ripped from friends
       TV guides.

     . Shows in same locations on the "quick
       view" grid almost always have the same
       number of digits, day after day. clue?

     . Shows during prime time have low numbers...
       or is it that (7pm EST is 0 GMT clue?)
       Global thinking or concern for customers?

     . channels listed below are from New York Times
       newspaper.  These vary across country.

     . 1-800-4321-VCR salesman says the device
       fits in your hand.  It requires a code
       to identify your VCR, and a code to
       identify your cable decoder box.  Provisions
       exist to translate the vcr_plus+ selected
       channel to a new one via a costomer loaded
       translation table.  Devices retail for about
       $60 at big chain stores... Sears, Silo,
       Monkey Ward etc.

     . tables below list local (EST, then recently
       EDT), so correct the time before digging
       in to Zulu first.  I can't remember when
       the clocks changed.

     . I stared at the tv guide for a half hour the
       other day and happened to spot 6 or more that
       ended in 807.  After typing in a whole page,
       each number backwards and padding to the
       right with enough zeros to make 8 digits, I
       noticed a pattern.  Lots of the numbers on any
       given page fall into a small set of 3 digit
       endings!

     . When are numbers re-used? I still have insufficient
       data to prove when they get reused... monthly, yearly?

			1/2hrs  local VCR plus+
   date     day   chan  len     time  code        backward

   91 04 01   m     2     1     1830        30    03000000
   91 04 01   m     2     1     1900      2197    79120000
   91 04 01   m     2     1     1930         2    20000000
   91 04 01   m     2     1     2000      8517    71580000
   91 04 01   m     2     1     2030      4492    29440000
   91 04 01   m     2     4     2100      3159    95130000
   91 04 01   m     2     1     2300   2427807    70872420
   91 04 01   m     2     1     2330   8156888    88865180

   91 04 01   m     4     2     1800     96284    48269000
   91 04 01   m     4     1     1900      7265    56270000
   91 04 01   m     4     1     1930        10    01000000
   91 04 01   m     4     2     2000      8468    86480000
   91 04 01   m     4     4     2100      1555    55510000
   91 04 01   m     4     1     2300      3807    70830000
   91 04 01   m     4     2     2330     20062    26002000

   91 04 01   m     5     1     1830      7994    49970000
   91 04 01   m     5     1     1900      2739    93720000
   91 04 01   m     5     1     1930      3178    87130000
   91 04 01   m     5     4     2000     55975    57955000
   91 04 01   m     5     2     2200     67710    01776000
   91 04 01   m     5     1     2300     25246    64252000
   91 04 01   m     5     1     2330     39826    62893000

   91 04 01   m     7     1     1830      2062    26020000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     1900      7807    70870000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     1930      8246    64280000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     2000      6555    55560000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     2030      5062    26050000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     2100     48197    79184000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     2130     22623    32622000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     2200     90536    63509000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     2230     13064    46031000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     2300     43642    24634000
   91 04 01   m     7     1     2330     24994    49942000

   91 04 01   m     9     1     1830      6826    62860000
   91 04 01   m     9     1     1900      3523    32530000
   91 04 01   m     9     1     1930      5710    01750000
   91 04 01   m     9     2     2000     15371    17351000
   91 04 01   m     9     2     2100     81997    79918000
   91 04 01   m     9     2     2200     31474    47413000
   91 04 01   m     9     1     2300     70710    01707000
   91 04 01   m     9     2     2330     77517    71577000

   91 04 01   m    11     1     1900      5081    18050000
   91 04 01   m    11     1     1930      7178    87170000
   91 04 01   m    11     4     2000     11555    55511000
   91 04 01   m    11     2     2200     90062    26009000
   91 04 01   m    11     1     2300     72178    87127000
   91 04 01   m    11     2     2330     73284    48237000

   91 05 01   w     2     1     1830        59    95000000
   91 05 01   w     2     1     1900      3826    62830000
   91 05 01   w     2     1     1930         1    10000000
   91 05 01   w     2     1     2000      9246    64290000
   91 05 01   w     2     1     2030      1081    18010000
   91 05 01   w     2     2     2100      4265    56240000
   91 05 01   w     2     2     2200      7352    25370000
   91 05 01   w     2     1     2300   6954333    33345960
   91 05 01   w     2     2     2330   8034352    25343080

   91 05 01   w     4     2     1800     97913    31979000
   91 05 01   w     4     1     1900      8994    49980000
   91 05 01   w     4     1     1930         9    90000000
   91 05 01   w     4     2     2000      9197    79190000
   91 05 01   w     4     1     2100      2791    19720000
   91 05 01   w     4     1     2130     69130    03196000
   91 05 01   w     4     2     2200      2420    02420000
   91 05 01   w     4     1     2300      4536    63540000
   91 05 01   w     4     2     2330     21791    19712000

   91 05 01   w     5     1     1830      8623    32680000
   91 05 01   w     5     1     1900      3468    86430000
   91 05 01   w     5     1     1930      4807    70840000
   91 05 01   w     5     4     2000     56604    40665000
   91 05 01   w     5     2     2200     75739    93757000
   91 05 01   w     5     1     2300     26975    57962000
   91 05 01   w     5     1     2330     30555    55503000

   91 05 01   w     7     1     1830      3791    19730000
   91 05 01   w     7     1     1900      8536    63580000
   91 05 01   w     7     1     1930      9975    57990000
   91 05 01   w     7     1     2000      7284    48270000
   91 05 01   w     7     1     2030      6791    19760000
   91 05 01   w     7     1     2100     49826    62894000
   91 05 01   w     7     1     2130     23352    25332000
   91 05 01   w     7     2     2200     60807    70806000
   91 05 01   w     7     1     2300     44371    17344000
   91 05 01   w     7     1     2330     25623    32652000

   91 05 02   r     2     1     1830        55    55000000
   91 05 02   r     2     1     1900      2032    23020000
   91 05 02   r     2     1     1930        89    98000000
   91 05 02   r     2     2     2000      9753    35790000
   91 05 02   r     2     2     2100      7579    97570000
   91 05 02   r     2     2     2200      4686    68640000
   91 05 02   r     2     1     2300   6921005    50012960
   91 05 02   r     2     2     2330   8001024    42010080

   91 05 02   r     4     2     1800     51937
   91 05 02   r     4     1     1900      5260
   91 05 02   r     4     1     1930        85
   91 05 02   r     4     1     2000      1208
   91 05 02   r     4     1     2030      3043
   91 05 02   r     4     1     2100      2395
   91 05 02   r     4     1     2130     56482
   91 05 02   r     4     2     2200      5734
   91 05 02   r     4     1     2300      7840
   91 05 02   r     4     2     2330     96463

   91 05 02   r     5     1     1830      2685
   91 05 02   r     5     1     1900      4014
   91 05 02   r     5     1     1930      8869
   91 05 02   r     5     1     2000      9482
   91 05 02   r     5     1     2030      5289
   91 05 02   r     5     2     2100     38024
   91 05 02   r     5     2     2200     31111
   91 05 02   r     5     1     2300     61127
   91 05 02   r     5     1     2330     90937

   91 05 02   r     7     1     1830      7753
   91 05 02   r     7     1     1900      5802
   91 05 02   r     7     1     1930      3937
   91 05 02   r     7     2     2000     43956
   91 05 02   r     7     2     2100     23192
   91 05 02   r     7     2     2200     33579
   91 05 02   r     7     1     2300     91005
   91 05 02   r     7     1     2330     85005

   91 05 07   t     2     1     1830       197
   91 05 07   t     2     1     1900      3804
   91 05 07   t     2     1     1930       991
   91 05 07   t     2     2     2000      3945
   91 05 07   t     2     4     2100      2084
   91 05 07   t     2     1     2300   6723465
   91 05 07   t     2     2     2330   8803484

   91 05 07   t     4     2     1800     44649
   91 05 07   t     4     1     1900      1200
   91 05 07   t     4     1     1930       587
   91 05 07   t     4     4     2000      9129
   91 05 07   t     4     2     2200      5736
   91 05 07   t     4     1     2300      8692
   91 05 07   t     4     2     2330     72787

   91 05 07   t     5     1     1830      6649
   91 05 07   t     5     1     1900      2656
   91 05 07   t     5     1     1930      5533
   91 05 07   t     5     4     2000     36668
   91 05 07   t     5     2     2200     11303
   91 05 07   t     5     1     2300     86129
   91 05 07   t     5     1     2330     92397

   91 05 07   t     7     1     1830      7945
   91 05 07   t     7     1     1900      5804
   91 05 07   t     7     1     1930      3129
   91 05 07   t     7     1     2000      4552
   91 05 07   t     7     1     2030      6587
   91 05 07   t     7     1     2100     96552
   91 05 07   t     7     1     2130     76216
   91 05 07   t     7     2     2200     33571
   91 05 07   t     7     1     2300     69787
   91 05 07   t     7     1     2330     87465

   91 05 07   t     9     1     1830      9571
   91 05 07   t     9     1     1900      1620
   91 05 07   t     9     6     1930    873200
   91 05 07   t     9     1     2230     73200
   91 05 07   t     9     1     2300     44113
   91 05 07   t     9     2     2330     58200

   91 05 07   t    11     1     1900      9216
   91 05 07   t    11     1     1930      9133
   91 05 07   t    11     4     2000     78668
   91 05 07   t    11     2     2200     53303
   91 05 07   t    11     1     2300     39281
   91 05 07   t    11     1     2330     16991

   91 05 07   t    13     1     1830      2007
   91 05 07   t    13     2     1900     92262
   91 05 07   t    13     2     2000     37610
   91 05 07   t    13     4     2100     11397
   91 05 07   t    13     1     2300     82397
   91 05 07   t    13     1     2330     30194

   91 05 08   w     2     1     1830       953
   91 05 08   w     2     1     1900      3408
   91 05 08   w     2     1     1930       137
   91 05 08   w     2     1     2000      2156
   91 05 08   w     2     1     2030      1663
   91 05 08   w     2     2     2100      3595
   91 05 08   w     2     2     2200      6682
   91 05 08   w     2     1     2300   6790137
   91 05 08   w     2     2     2330   8870156

   91 05 08   w     4     2     1800     85791
   91 05 08   w     4     1     1900      8576
   91 05 08   w     4     1     1930       205
   91 05 08   w     4     2     2000      8427
   91 05 08   w     4     1     2100      8311
   91 05 08   w     4     1     2130     12866
   91 05 08   w     4     2     2200      1750
   91 05 08   w     4     1     2300      6476
   91 05 08   w     4     2     2330     67137

   91 05 08   w     5     1     1830      2663
   91 05 08   w     5     1     1900      3040
   91 05 08   w     5     1     1930      1175
   91 05 08   w     5     4     2000     92040
   91 05 08   w     5     2     2200     11175
   91 05 08   w     5     1     2300     62311
   91 05 08   w     5     1     2330     56311

   91 05 08   w     7     1     1830      7359
   91 05 08   w     7     1     1900      5408
   91 05 08   w     7     1     1930      6243
   91 05 08   w     7     1     2000      4156
   91 05 08   w     7     1     2030      3663
   91 05 08   w     7     1     2100     52934
   91 05 08   w     7     1     2130     43750
   91 05 08   w     7     2     2200     49953
   91 05 08   w     7     1     2300     64779
   91 05 08   w     7     1     2330     58779

cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us (gordon hlavenka) (05/14/91)

kinsman@ssd.kodak.com writes:
>     . 1-800-4321-VCR salesman says the device
>       fits in your hand.  It requires a code
>       to identify your VCR, and a code to
>       identify your cable decoder box.  Provisions
>       exist to translate the vcr_plus+ selected
>       channel to a new one via a costomer loaded
>       translation table.  Devices retail for about
>       $60 at big chain stores... Sears, Silo,
>       Monkey Ward etc.
>
>     . When are numbers re-used? I still have insufficient
>       data to prove when they get reused... monthly, yearly?

The way I had this explained to me was that the VCR+ knows your cable box and
VCR so that it can produce the proper IR codes to operate them.  This is pretty
obvious.  The way the codes work is that a local FM radio station transmits
the code number and an "on" code at the start of a program, and the same code
number with an "off" code at the end.  The VCR+ contains an RF scanner which
demodulates these codes.  The codes themselves have nothing whatever to do with
the info for the program.

I would guess that the patterns you see are an artifact of the code number
assignment process, rather than a "key" to crack a "code" that probably
doesn't exist.  The numbers will be reused when they get back around to them.

The broadcasts are made by way of an "SCA" (Subcarrier Channel Authorization)
which transmits on an extra sideband of the FM radio program.  Digital infor-
mation can be transmitted without disrupting the normal program material.

My parents live in a small town in Arkansas.  They checked on these boxes and
were told that even though they can get the Little Rock TV stations on their
cable system (They don't have paved roads or running water, but they have
cable!) they cannot use the VCR+ outside of Little Rock because it can't
receive the FM radio station which carries the SCA.

DISCLAIMER:  All the information I have related here is thirdhand.  That means
you are getting it fourth hand.  Treat it accordingly.  I do not use the VCR+
and so I have no experience with it myself.


-- 
-----------------------------------------------------
Gordon S. Hlavenka            cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us
Disclaimer:                Yeah, I said it.  So what?

mycal@everexn.com (Mycal Johnson) (05/18/91)

In article <1991May14.070536.1571@vpnet.chi.il.us> cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us (gordon hlavenka) writes:
>kinsman@ssd.kodak.com writes:
>>     . 1-800-4321-VCR salesman says the device
rest deleted
>
>The way I had this explained to me was that the VCR+ knows your cable box and
>VCR so that it can produce the proper IR codes to operate them.  This is pretty
>obvious.  The way the codes work is that a local FM radio station transmits
>the code number and an "on" code at the start of a program, and the same code
>number with an "off" code at the end.  The VCR+ contains an RF scanner which
>demodulates these codes.  The codes themselves have nothing whatever to do with
>the info for the program.
What does the VCR+ scan? RF? transmitted from what? the tv the vcr? Yea, right.

>
>I would guess that the patterns you see are an artifact of the code number
>assignment process, rather than a "key" to crack a "code" that probably
>doesn't exist.  The numbers will be reused when they get back around to them.
>
>The broadcasts are made by way of an "SCA" (Subcarrier Channel Authorization)
>which transmits on an extra sideband of the FM radio program.  Digital infor-
>mation can be transmitted without disrupting the normal program material.
>
So what you are telling me is my VCR+ remote that works with my standard vcr
is getting an "SCA" signal from my TV or VCR which have no "SCA" circutry
and it is mistiriously being transmitted to my remote. I say it once more, 
yea right.


>My parents live in a small town in Arkansas.  They checked on these boxes and
>were told that even though they can get the Little Rock TV stations on their
>cable system (They don't have paved roads or running water, but they have
>cable!) they cannot use the VCR+ outside of Little Rock because it can't
>receive the FM radio station which carries the SCA.
>
>DISCLAIMER:  All the information I have related here is thirdhand.  That means
>you are getting it fourth hand.  Treat it accordingly.  I do not use the VCR+
>and so I have no experience with it myself.
Oh so thats it, sorry for the sarcastic remarks above.

>
>
>-- 
>-----------------------------------------------------
>Gordon S. Hlavenka            cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us
>Disclaimer:                Yeah, I said it.  So what?

Mycal

Disclaimer: I try to think before I post.