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This guide was written to educate interested parties on Cable Television
descrambling, descramblers and some of the various methods used to defeat scrambling methods on
premium cable or pay cable television stations. The author of this guide
is simply exercising every Americans First Amendment right, Freedom of
Speech. The intent of this writing is not to defraud or promote the
theft of cable services. This guide should not be interpreted as legal
advice, if you have legal questions contact a lawyer or your local
authorities. Be warned that stealing cable services is illegal, and
there are severe penalties for anyone caught doing so.
The majority of cable companies in this country use a device that is
called a converter. Most people recognize this device as a small to
medium sized box that sits on top of their TV. The box will usually have
one input cable coming from the wall and one output cable leading to the
TV. However, there are some cable systems that use a dual line input.
One line carries the basic channels and the other line carries the
premium channels. When this is the case, either an A/B switch is used to
alternate between the cables, or the box itself has two inputs and you
switch between cables from the remote control. The technical function of
the box is to take the signal from the input cable(s) and convert it
into a viewable television picture. Converters normally output their
signal on channel 3, this means that you must tune your TV to channel 3
in order to view the cable channels. Sometimes a cable system will use
converters with a channel 2, or a channel 4 tuner output. The reason
because in some cities, there are UHF television stations that broadcast
on channel 3. This can sometimes cause interference with a cable system
that is using a channel 3 output, so they usually switch to a converter
that has a channel 2 or a channel 4 output. If you have a cable ready
TV, you can still use a channel 3 output box (even if your cable company
uses a different channel for the output). You would simply switch your
TV to the cable mode and tune to channel 3. When the TV is in cable
mode, it is tuned to VHF, not UHF where the interference is generated.
There are two different types of converters: addressable and
non-addressable. Non-addressable converters can be purchased by anyone
(at stores such as Radio Shack and Wal-Mart). By themselves, these can
be used to view basic cable channels only. Addressable converters, are
usually supplied by the cable company and can be used to view basic
channels as well as premium channels that are subscribed to. Addressable
converters are the most popular method by which a cable company uses to
control who gets the channels. (Addressable converters will be discussed
in greater detail in the next chapter.)
If your cable company gave you a converter, it is a good idea to write
down the model number and have it handy when you are calling around and
pricing replacement boxes. If your cable company did not give you
converter, then chances are you have a cable ready TV and do not
subscribe to any movie channels. If you subscribe to movie channels, or
order Pay-Per-View events, your cable company will supply you with a
converter, for a monthly rental fee. If you are receiving movie channels
without using a converter (using just your cable-ready TV) your cable
company is using filters. (Filters are discussed in chapter four.)
Throughout the country, there are dozens of different cable converters
being used by the Cable companies. The most popular brands of converters
used by cable companies today are Jerrold, Tocom, Scientific Atlanta,
Pioneer, Zenith, Oak, Hamlin, and Panasonic. Jerrold and Tocom
converters are both manufactured by General Instrument Corporation.
Within each brand name, there are usually several different converter
models. This is by no means a list of every converter in use by every
cable company, but is rather a compilation of the most widely used
brands and model numbers currently in use.
Most of the models are made up of a series of numbers, or of numbers and
letters. For example:
the Jerrold model DP 7xxx is the same as the DPV 7xxx, except that the
DPV 7xxx has volume control,
hence the 'V' in the model number.
If you have not already done so, check the bottom of your cable box and
write down the brand
and the model number. If you do not have a box, and are not sure whether
or not your cable company uses a box, try calling a friend (who
subscribes to any of the premium channels or P.P.V. events) who lives in
your town AND subscribes to the same cable company you would. Ask him
for the brand and the model number from the bottom of his box. If you
determine that no box is used in your system, skip ahead to chapter four
on filters. The next chapter will explain the difference between the two
different types of converters, addressable and non-addressable.
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