[sci.electronics] Cable TV problem - VCR doesn't work now

grimesg@magic (George Grimes) (09/20/89)

I just moved to California from Texas and the cable company here forces me
to use a Scientific Atlanta box to receive HBO(ESPN, etc) [which renders the
remote control for the TV useless, but that's another problem].  Last night
I wanted to record a movie on HBO for later viewing.  All I got was sound and 
a black screen.  As long as I have the VCR on all I see on the TV or end up
with on the tape is a black screen.  If I connect straight to the VCR and 
bypass their #$%^&* box then everything works fine.  Does anybody have any 
idea what's going on?

George

P.S.  The channels that the box will descramble seems to be controled by a
prom.  Does anyone know anything about the prom and how it is programmed?

What?  Would I do what?  Good heavens no!  It's only idle curiousity...but I 
did find out that it will not work without the prom in the socket(I assume it 
is the prom since it was the only IC in a socket).


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