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From: bytebug@pertec.UUCP (roger long)
Newsgroups: net.tv,net.legal
Subject: Re: Illegal satellite dish cleanup in San Francisco area?
Message-ID: <183@pertec.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-Aug-84 23:12:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: pertec.183
Posted: Wed Aug  8 23:12:37 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 12-Aug-84 01:20:56 EDT
References: <645@ucla-cs.ARPA> <939@pyuxa.UUCP>
Organization: Pertec Computer Corp., Irvine, CA
Lines: 42

> In answer to one of your questions, it is very easy to determine
> whether or not you are watching HBO or any other channel.  There
> are certain pieces of equipment which can be mounted in a van
> and driven down a street which will record the channel to which
> you have your tv tuned.  They have been using this little device
> for some years now to gather ratings information.  If you are
> receiving illegal HBO or Showtime or whatever, it can be determined
> by simply driving up to your house and recording your channel
> selections.  Now don't start flaming, this is a legal operation
> since the FCC saya anyone can receive.  We may not like it, but
> ho-hum, so what.

Hmmm...  it's okay for them to listen in on my "broadcasts" (the
oscillator in my TV), but I get in trouble for watching theirs?
Seems like they're invading my home twice - first in broadcasting
their silly signal, and again to figure out if I'm receiving their
silly signal.  I think the "laws" that prohibit me from receiving
their signal should be thrown out.  If they don't want me to 
watch, then do something to the signal that makes it significantly
more difficult to watch, like the DES encryption stuff that HBO
and others are finally going to with their satellite feeds.

I liken it to parking my car in downtown LA and leaving it 
unlocked with the keys in the ignition.  Certainly it would be
against the law for someone to get in and drive off in my car,
but what do *you* think is going to be the policeman's reaction
when I inform him what I did?  Silly me.
--
	roger long
	pertec computer corp
	{ucbvax!unisoft | scgvaxd | trwrb | felix}!pertec!bytebug


p.s.  I might as well add a disclaimer that while I feel that anyone
should be free to use any electronic signal that enters their home in
any way that pleases them, I have chosen to go the more conventional
route to pay my $$$ and get said services legitimately.  All that 
anyone who cares to go poking around the outside of my home with some
electronic signal sniffer is likely to find is an earfull of RFI from
my IMSAI.