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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!seismo!uwvax!heurikon!jeff
From: jeff@heurikon.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.tv,net.video
Subject: Re: cable ready TV/VCR (Showtime on VCR)
Message-ID: <198@heurikon.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 7-Feb-84 23:35:16 EST
Article-I.D.: heurikon.198
Posted: Tue Feb  7 23:35:16 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 10-Feb-84 01:16:32 EST
References: <555@ihuxk.UUCP>
Organization: Heurikon Corp., Madison WI
Lines: 21

Regarding being able to receive Showtime via a VCR w/o a special box:

I'm sure it's possible.
Here in Madison, they scramble Showtime by adding a (strong) signal
at about 3.5 MHz above the video carrier.  This drives most sets
crazy.  However, VCRs have signal processing circuits in them and
some just *might* be able to reduce this signal to a level which
the TV would accept.  No doubt the result was still full of noise,
but visible.  It is also possible for some old B&W sets, which have
a more limited bandwidth, to lock onto the "proper" signal and reject
the scrambling signal.

If the signal comes into your house (no trap) you have a fighting
chance to get the intelligence out of the noise.  Like here, with
Showtime.  It's interesting that our cable company uses a trap for
HBO.  I guess they like variety. (I think they switched because all
the traps cost them too much money.)
-- 
/"""\	Jeffrey Mattox, Heurikon Corp, Madison, WI
|O.O|	{harpo, hao, philabs}!seismo!uwvax!heurikon!jeff  (news & mail)
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