Re: Scrambled TV

[Eli Polonsky <elipolo@earthlink.net>]

> Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 10:09:55 -0500 (EST)
> From: Sven Franklyn Weil <sven@gordsven.com>
> Subject: Scrambled TV (was Re: WSMW 27)
> 
> On Tue, 22 Jan 2002, John-Philips wrote:
> 
>> Channel 27's subscription tv was not before Channel 68's.  I had them both!
>> Channel 27's was called PREVIEW.

I remember Ch. 68 coming on with Starcase in 1979. It was their first
programming if I remember correctly, and before Ch. 27 tried subscription.
A roommate of mine subsrcibed to it in the early 80's.

> How do you do subscription TV over the air?  Do you need to rent a set-top
> descrambler box like you have to with cable/sattelite TV?

Yes, you rented a box, and they gave you an extra UHF antenna with it, which
they mounted on your roof (or wherever) if necessary to provide decent
reception. We lived on high ground so they just gave us an indoor antenna. I
used to notice those little antennas on some houses back then.

> What did the picture look like on Channel 27 for someone who didn't have the
> descrambler?

A dark, distorted mess that doesn't hold either horizontal or vertical
holds. Same as if you see a scrambled channel (that isn't overridden by a
promotional screen) on your cable.

Eli