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1. Are converters legal?
YES! Converters are legal. If your
cable TV company can possess & rent the box to you then you
can own the box yourself. An example in time would be when AT&T
rented telephones to consumers. The federal government directed that it
was legal for consumers to own their own phone. Now you wouldn’t
consider buying only from AT&T. The cable TV industry is in its
early stages is relative to this development. It is legal for you to
purchase and it is legal for you to own. When you buy a cable box it is
your responsibility to inform the cable TV company that you are
accessing their signal. It is illegal to receive their transmission
without paying for it. This holds true even if your cable box is
purchased as a non-addressable non-detectable, and "bullet proof" unit.
2. Are all converters alike?
No. Prices can range from $15 to $400
depending on the quality and amount of features included in the
equipment. Some sell old converters that are barely in date and
likely to be replaced by the cable companies by higher
technological grades of equipment Some cable box sellers provide systems
that hardly provide any benefit to the purchaser where the quality of
reception is poor, without recourse. State-of-the-art cable box
companies will provide the most recent technology in a variety of
packages tailored to fit the customer’s budget.
3. Do you need a converter if you have
the cable company box, VCR or a cable-ready TV?
Yes you do. In order to establish a
non- addressable system, it is essential to have a converter. A
cable ready TV, VCR and a Cable Company box do not provide for this
feature and in not doing so, cannot replace a converter. You must
have a converter to use a descrambler. This is especially true if you
desire a converter / descrambler that cannot be altered or addressed
by your cable company.
4. Which converter is best for me?
You have two choices when purchasing
your cable equipment, a single-unit (one-piece) system or a
system containing two units (two-piece). Combination box advantages:
The one-piece system is based on a combination of converter and
a descrambler, installed in a single box. This unit is referred
to as a combination unit. The pluses: Easy to hook up,
Available in both generic or name brand , similar to systems
used by cable companies.
We recommend one piece units. It has been our experience that one piece
units work better to replace your cable company’s converter than a
2-piece unit. Although 2-piece units tend to be less expensive, they
tend to work less efficiently as well. As the saying goes, "You get what
you pay for! " Additionally, our 1-piece units cost less than other
companies’ 2-piece units.
5. What is a cable converter /
descrambler?
An electronic tuning device that
transposes all available channels from the cable company into either
channel 3 or channel 4. A converter is simply a "channel changer" that
cannot by itself descramble encoded premium channels. It allows you to
receive all basic channels if your TV is not the cable ready type.
When you add a descrambler to your converter, it allows you to view
all premium channels.
6.
What is a descrambler?
A descrambler is a
device that restores the picture and sound of a scrambled channel. A
descrambler must be used with a converter (in a two piece configuration)
to be able to descramble all the premium channels of a cable system.
7. What is a converter-descrambler?
A single (one piece) unit capable of
descrambling premium channels. This unit contains a converter
and a descrambler, enclosed in a common box. This is also the most
common type of equipment supplied by the cable company to subscribing
customers. Customers usually pay a specified monthly rental fee for
such equipment.
8. What is an addressable converter-
descrambler?
This is a converter-descrambler that
can be controlled by the cable company from their office location.
Through remote coded messages sent via the cable system, the cable
company can "address" the customers’ unit to begin descrambling
selected premium or pay per view channels. An addressable unit allows
the cable company to access your cable box to change the descrambling
configuration or program. This function provides the cable company the
ability to add or delete descrambling on the channels that come in
through your cable line. A non-addressable unit does not provide the
cable company access to the cable box program. The program remains
stationary and is unchangeable. Both cable box designs have the
potential of receiving all channels, none or somewhere in between
dependent on the box program.
9. Cable terms: Basic cable, Premium
cable, Pay-Per-View services?
Basic cable service: the least expensive cable
service provided by cable companies to their customers. This service
usually includes local TV channels which can be received directly from
the broadcast signal of the TV stations. Premium cable service:
additional programming service provided by the cable company to
subscribing customers. The extra fee for such additional
service may be based on per channel, per group of channels , or
any other combination of channels. Pay per view: selected
channels that offer movies and special events such as sports or adult
entertainment, for an additional fee, on a per movie or per program
basis. A special "addressable " converter is furnished by the cable
company to subscribers of this service. Through the use of special
equipment, the cable company can "address" the customers converter to
descramble the program for which the fee was paid.
10. Can your converter work
anywhere?
NO. Converters are specific to
each cable system. Different cable companies use different
cable systems, characterized by manufacturer’s brand name and model
number. You must use a compatible converter that works in your area,
but it may not work in a different area. The universal ones we
sell work on 99% of all cable systems.
11. What do you do if your
converter doesn't work?
Call your Converter box source
. Let them know that there are problems. Most companies want to
correct any problems you are having . If you are working with a
customer oriented company , they will work diligently or remedy your
problem . Don’t just let it go. They will want a satisfied customer
who will refer them additional business . The company may not have a
quick answer for about 5% of the problems out there. Be patient and
work with your cable box company until you find the right Converter box
for your area. Sometimes technology changes for your area and the
source may need to do some additional research to get the
desired image. Do this before the warranty / guarantee has run out.
Even then there may be a solution.
12. How can you improve the
quality of your converter reception?
Amplification may be needed to
correct the problem . Whenever a cable signal is split between two or
more TV’s or routed to some other video components such as VCR’s ,
the signal weakens and produces a poor quality picture. The weak signal
may cause a "snowy" or gray picture, or may even result in weak
color or lack of color. Since most cable viewers use several
different video components, it is recommended that an amplifier be used
to restore the signal strength and the picture sharpens. In most cases,
the amplifier brings the picture " back to life " and restores it’s
original quality. Consider using a 10db amplifier to improve signal
strength.
13. What happens when there isn't a
replacement for your cable company box?
Most converter sources will
carry the common brands such as Jerrold (General
Instruments ), Pioneer, Scientific Atlanta, Oak, Tocom, and Zenith. When your company doesn’t carry
your brand then you need to find out if they either have it in stock or
have a source for your uncommon make and model. Usually the source has
another outlet or may need to do research on your request.
14. What are "bullets"?
The terms "bullets" is very
misleading and has grown way out of control in this industry. Cable
companies transmit data, this is how all addressable cable systems
work. Both, cable companies and cable dealers alike use the term
"bullet" to describe this transmission of data . Bullets are nothing
more than transmitted signal which affects the cable box program. It
does not fry the guts of the equipment but rather may shut the box off
temporarily, reprogram the box, or shut the box down in an error mode
. The box can easily be reset by unplugging it for 15min. This will
allow the unit to reset and correct any error that has occurred.
15. How do you
determine the replacement for your cable box?
1) Get the brand name and model of
the converter unit that was supplied to you by your cable company.
The brand name is located on the front of the box. The model # is
located on the bottom of the box on the tag.
2) Look at the companies list of cable box products and their
corresponding replacement description (your equipment model number) in
their online catalog. From
this you can determine what you will need or consult in conjunction
with your cable box source for the right replacement.
16. How can you
tell if you're dealing with a professional converter company?
First, of course, trust your
own judgment. A company you can trust will be one that has at a
30 day guarantee, and a 1 year warranty on their products. Offers of
variety of equipment for most areas of the country and some areas of
the world. The company will have the capability of delivering
your equipment within days on your purchase not weeks. The
staff will be capable of answering most technical
questions.
.
17. What if my
cable company upgrades or changes to a different converter?
All cable companies eventually
upgrade-as technology progresses and new sources become available older
equipment becomes obsolete. The fact is that cable companies do not
change quickly or often. It is a huge expense for cable company to swap
out all of its customers converters and replace them with brand new
ones and upgrade the system to support the new scrambling
methods. It usually takes a cable company a year or longer to complete
an upgrade. Most cable companies upgrade every 10-15 years. Some sooner
-some later.
18. What is
the difference between filtering and scrambling?
Most cable companies scramble all premium channels. (Premium channels
refer to regular movie channels like HBO, SHOWTIME, etc and
pay-per-view). Some cable companies, usually older systems, will filter
some movie channels. Filtering and scrambling are totally different
methods and one has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Please
note: Pay-per-view channels must be scrambled. Only regular movie
channels (like HBO) can be filtered. A descrambler will allow full
viewing of all scramble channels ( not filtered). A descrambler
descrambles a scrambled signal. When filtering is used, the signal
is not scrambled - it is being filtered. This requires something
different.
19. How do I
determine if filtering is being used by my cable company?
Remember, only regular movie channels can be filtered. Tune to a
pay-per view channel on a T.V that has no converter connected ( the
cable is connected directly to the T.V ). The picture should be
clear ( no snow ) but will be unstable, wavy-this is a scrambled
picture. Any channel that looks like this can be viewed with a
converter. if the picture on any premium channel looks any
different or has any snow in it, then it is being filtered and
will not be viewable with a converter.
20. What kinds of channel
filtering are there?
There are two types of filtering - positive and negative. Positive
filtering is when a cable company injects cable noise or interference
into a particular channel at the head end. This interference will cause
this channel to appear snowy, may have flashing lines, and usually has
beeping type noises. Sometimes positive filtered channels are almost
viewable, sometimes they are very bad and not viewable at all. The
solution to positive filtering is to get inline filters that screw into
the cable. These filters remove the interference and clean the channel
up so that it is viewable . Each channel that is being positively
filtered requires a filter ( this means one filter per channel is
required ).
Negative filtering is when a
cable company broadcast a certain movie channel unscrambled ( just
like all the basic channels ). If a customer does not order this movie
channel, then a filter is put inline outside at the pole or in the lock
box. This filter completely blocks out the channel from reaching the
home. The only solution for negative filtering is to subscribe to
channel (s) that are being filtered (or trapped out) and then the filter
(s) will be removed-thus allowing the signal for these channels to
reach the house. Negative filtered channels are usually completely snow
-sometimes a very faint picture can be seen.
Satellite FAQ
1. A test card is new software loaded onto a satellite access
card to authorize the user to receive ALL CHANNELS available on that
system.
2. An "HU" card is the current type
of access card used by DTV to authorize satellite
programming on the DSS system.
3. All you do is turn your access
card over and look at the bottom right hand
corner. If the string of numbers start with an
"HU", or there is a football player on the front
then your in luck!
4. When your access card is in your
receiver you should get a preview channel like 100. If you get that
channel, your card is ready to be cleaned of all previous
subscription or test card software, put into a virgin
state, and then loaded with your choice of software.
5. The "HU" card, also know as the
P3 or football card may become the only valid
access card late 2001. Current DTV subscribers are
using the "H" series access card to receive
programming. New subscribers who purchased a
satellite dish are using the "HU" card.
6. There is test card programmers
available for the new "HU" card for home use. We are currently
working on the fix. When it is available, you will be able
to purchase it here.
7. It could mean many things, but
most likely it has been ECM'd by DTV. There is no
unloopers available at this time for the HU cards
but we will have them soon to purchase or unloop
your HU cards.
8. ECM stands for: Electronic
Counter Measure. News Datacom, a company that
supplies their, "VideoGuard" security for DTV,
occasionally attempts (and quite successfully) to
shut down unauthorized subscribers, like test card
users. We monitor this activity in the signal, learn from it, and then
re-release the software or a patch. Many of our customers get the
complete DPM package with software and support. This way you will
always have a working test card.
9. If News Datacom / DTV is
successful in shutting down your card, (because it
really is a cat and mouse game) then you will have
to send the HU card back to be reprogrammed. All
we ask is that you send in $20 and the card. The money is for the
return shipping.
11. The best and fastest way is
FedEx COD delivery. Simply email back your name,
address, phone # and what you would like to order
and we will send it out asap.
12. No, we are unable to accept
personal checks because of the length of time that is required to
clear the check at our bank. If you don't want to use a
credit card then we accept International Post Office Money
Orders.
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