[VoIP] A rather strange request... Old analog cable boxes
John Novack
jnovack at stromberg-carlson.org
Fri Aug 10 07:48:13 CDT 2007
The older block converters only convert a few of the now available channels.
Since you haven't related what system or how many channels you have
available to you, it will be difficult to select a converter.
There are also several cable system assignment methods in use, or that
have been in use in the recent past.
If you aren't aware of the analog off air frequency assignments,
channels 2-6 are in the low VHF range, and start at 54 Mhz and run, with
a 4 Mhz gap between Channels 4 and 5, to the FM radio start at 88 Mhz.
Off air Channel 7 begins much higher at 174 Mhz, with lots of unrelated
to TV assignments in between. Cable channels 14 up are assigned in
between beginning at about 108 Mhz. Early cable systems had problems
with the FCC and radiation in the aircraft assignments, and some block
converters didn't cover this range at all.
In addition, there are different carrier assignments depending on the
system.
You may want to first contact your cable company to determine if they
have any low cost/free offerings. I know that in many areas Comcast is
offering one free converter to all subscribers due to moving channel
assignments to digital.
John Novack
Lucky 225 wrote:
> radioshack sells 'em I think
>
> On 8/9/07, Jayson Smith <ratguy at insightbb.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'd like more info about the converter. Is it adjustable what block of
>> channels it puts where, or is it preset and can't be changed? Does it have
>> two standard cable connectors for its input and its output, or does it
>> have
>> an antenna for the output, or...
>> About the mobility aid, I don't do that much traveling, but I'm just
>> curious, what are you developing? I'm always interested in knowing about
>> new
>> stuff for the blind. We've recently gotten into the Braille+ from
>> Levelstar
>> and APH, a very nice product.
>> Jayson
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "R. Snyder" <rdsmit at hotmail.com>
>> To: <voip at lists.ckts.info>
>> Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 12:38 AM
>> Subject: Re: [VoIP] A rather strange request... Old analog cable boxes
>>
>>
>>
>>> Jayson,
>>> I've got an old Radio Shack TV block converter you can have if it will
>>>
>> work
>>
>>> for you. It's just a fixed frequency local oscillator and a mixer that
>>> moves a whole block of CATV down to broadcast TV frequencies. I think
>>>
>> it
>>
>>> has an edge-mounted pot on top to tweak the LO frequency for fine
>>>
>> tuning.
>>
>>> By the way, you mentioned that you're blind. I'm developing a mobility
>>>
>> aid
>>
>>> for the blind, and if you'd be willing to give me some feedback on how
>>>
>> well
>>
>>> it works or doesn't work, I could build a prototype for you and send it
>>>
>> to
>>
>>> you. I've sent a prototype to a friend of mine who is blind, but he
>>>
>> hasn't
>>
>>> gotten out of his apartment in the last few weeks to try it in
>>>
>> unfamiliar
>>
>>> surroundings. I figure it should take a couple of days to a couple of
>>>
>> weeks
>>
>>> to get used to using it, but that presumes a reasonable amount of time
>>>
>> spent
>>
>>> in unfamiliar surroundings. Please let me know if you're interested.
>>>
>> Also
>>
>>> let me know if you'd like the Radio Shack TV block converter.
>>> -Ross
>>>
>>>
>>>> From: "Jayson Smith" <ratguy at insightbb.com>
>>>> Reply-To: Voice Over IP Tandem for Analog Switches <
>>>>
>> voip at lists.ckts.info>
>>
>>>> To: "Voice Over IP Tandem for Analog Switches" <voip at ckts.info>
>>>> Subject: [VoIP] A rather strange request... Old analog cable boxes
>>>> Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:09:57 -0400
>>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>> We recently got cable TV service, and we're looking for some
>>>>
>> simple
>>
>>>> cable boxes, to avoid having to buy cable-ready TV's just before analog
>>>> on-air TV becomes a thing of the past. I've looked on eBay, but I'm not
>>>> finding much. What I'm looking for are old analog boxes, maybe even
>>>> operated
>>>> with a dial, a slider, or mechanical pushbuttons. In other words, way
>>>>
>> too
>>
>>>> old to have any sort of activation/authorization stuff. Does anybody
>>>>
>> have
>>
>>>> anything like that they're wanting to get rid of, or know of somewhere
>>>>
>> I
>>
>>>> might find it?
>>>> On another subject, on my recent eBay search, I uncovered
>>>>
>> something
>>
>>>> that sounds just a bit too good to be true. It's a software program by
>>>> Orbatel. Supposedly, you pay only once for the software, then after
>>>>
>> that,
>>
>>>> using nothing but a PC and an Internet connection, you can watch and
>>>>
>> listen
>>
>>>> to thousands of satellite TV and radio stations, and not have to pay
>>>> anything except the initial software cost. Now I know there's got to be
>>>>
>> a
>>
>>>> catch, but they certainly aren't saying what it is. Anyone know? I
>>>>
>> mean,
>>
>>>> there's either a big catch they don't want you to know about, or this
>>>>
>> is
>>
>>>> the
>>>> best-kept secret in the consumer TV industry.
>>>> Jayson
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>> _________________________________________________________________
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>>>
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