Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxk.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!ihnp4!ihuxk!rs55611 From: rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher) Newsgroups: net.video,net.tv Subject: Re: Cable Ready TV/VCR Message-ID: <545@ihuxk.UUCP> Date: Mon, 30-Jan-84 10:06:17 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxk.545 Posted: Mon Jan 30 10:06:17 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 5-Feb-84 04:02:07 EST References: <667@eisx.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 28 Cable-ready just means that the tuner section of the VCR or TV can be tuned to some (but not necessarily all) of the frequency bands used for cable channels. Between VHF and UHF you get 82 channels. Unfortunately, UHF frequencies (ch 14-83) are too high for cable transmission. Therefore, the cable companies use the VHF (channels 2-13), the midband (9 channels in the gap between channels 6 and 7, along with FM radio), the superband (11 channels betwwen VHF and UHF). This gives 105 (oops, I think my 11 superband channels should be 14), which is the number of channels that many cable-ready sets can pull in. This only allows 35 cable stations. Too allow more cable channels, some cable companies cram more channels into the midband and superband, and also use something called the hyperband, increasing the total channel count to various levels like 117, 129, 136, etc. Thus, you should check with your cable company (or a local expert if you don't want to talk to the cable company), to determine how many channels will be needed. A cable-ready set doesn't solve the problem of scrambled pay channels, however, which means that the cable box may still be needed for HBO and other pay-extra channels. Another possibility to consider is the use of a block converter. Since cable systems don't use the UHF band, which has plenty of channels, a block converter "up-converts" the cable frequencies to the UHF band, so that any set can tune in the cable frequencies. This makes any old TV/VCR "cable-ready", although there may be some potential for interference between adjacent stations after up-converting. Bob Schleicher ihuxk!rs55611 AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, Ill.