Author Topic: This is not for real, right? (Read 38077 times)

zapta · « **on:** July 29, 2016, 02:15:55 pm »

Unblocking cable TV channel using CRDOMs and duct tape.

rrinker · « **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2016, 03:07:51 pm »

These days the signal is digital and encrypted. No amount of CDROMs duct-taped to the cable will decrypt that.

German_EE · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2016, 03:26:24 pm »

These days the signal is encrypted

However...........................

I know that on our cable TV system the Internet data and the TV signals are contained within different frequency ranges. The cable TV feed from the street is fed into a locked box which can only be opened by the cable TV engineers, this is also where the signal splits.

If you want cable TV and Internet there are no filters on your line

If you want cable TV only then you have a low pass filter fitted inside the locked box

If you want Internet only then you have a high pass filter fitted inside the locked box.

As for the video, 'amplifying' a signal using CDs taped to the cable? Not going to happen, never in a million years.

rrinker · « **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2016, 03:45:01 pm »

Yes, that's the way it used to be, and many people would find and remove the filter and get TV for free - at least until the cable company did a check and reinstalled the filter. But usually that only happened if a neighbor purchased cable tv and they had to go on the same pole as your link.

helius · « **Reply #4 on:** July 29, 2016, 05:05:52 pm »

LOL, that video is funny, thanks.

[Removing filters for premium channels] never really worked on every cable system even decades ago when it was all analog. There were conditional access (colorburst/sync suppression, etc) systems in use even back then. And the reason for that is the same reason that it's used today.
It's simple to use filters to block channels above 100, or from 60 to 90 or whatever. But you can't just use a bunch of filters to allow an arbitrary set of channels through, it causes signal quality problems. Plus the inability to deliver PPV is a big problem for CATV company revenue. The conditional access stuff wasn't necessarily secure, though, so there were underground products that were used to bypass it (like image stabilizers/TBCs can bypass Macrovision)

German_EE · « **Reply #5 on:** July 29, 2016, 05:18:20 pm »

I just checked (because I still have it in my connectors box. When we moved into the apartment our cable connection was upgraded to TV and Internet and the cable engineer removed a 650 MHz 75 ohm low pass filter.

Actual viewing rights (because there are some channels we cannot watch) are handled by the set top box and if you go to a locked channel there is a static screen showing the phone number of the call center and a request to call them with your customer number if you want that channel unlocked. This, of course, is not free.

Kilrah · « **Reply #6 on:** July 29, 2016, 05:29:35 pm »

Here when I subscribed to cable internet they had to remove a filter that was common for everybody in the building.
Now analog has been shut down, digital has a few free channels and the rest needs CI+/smartcard authentication that links to your account.

bitwelder · « **Reply #7 on:** July 29, 2016, 06:31:39 pm »

Quote from: German_EE on July 29, 2016, 03:26:24 pm

As for the video, 'amplifying' a signal using CDs taped to the cable? Not going to happen, never in a million years.

If the method would work, why stop at the cable box. I'd put CDs around the power cables and save in the electricity bill!

Kilrah · « **Reply #8 on:** July 29, 2016, 06:37:20 pm »

Nooooo don't give such ideas!!!

Everybody hide, we're gonna be hit by a new Kickstarter in 3...2...1...

zapta · « **Reply #9 on:** July 29, 2016, 07:51:57 pm »

Quote from: bitwelder on July 29, 2016, 06:31:39 pm

Quote from: German_EE on July 29, 2016, 03:26:24 pm
As for the video, 'amplifying' a signal using CDs taped to the cable? Not going to happen, never in a million years.
If the method would work, why stop at the cable box. I'd put CDs around the power cables and save in the electricity bill!

Considering the low frequency, you will need really big CDs and duct tape.

Red Squirrel · « **Reply #10 on:** July 29, 2016, 08:52:23 pm »

His videos are hilarious, some of the stuff is technical and makes sense, then it's like "wait what?".

System Error Message · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2016, 10:55:50 pm »

his channel is just making jokes.

If you want free channels, hack a smart card or the authentication they use.

Brumby · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2016, 06:48:30 am »

.... and if you have fibre it might be worth a try....?

Seriously ... how does this guy keep a straight face?

ANTALIFE · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2016, 08:20:16 am »

Sweet, thanks for the free cable

EEVblog · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2016, 09:45:10 am »

ThioJoe is great!

Be sure to read his About page...

zapta · « **Reply #15 on:** August 01, 2016, 05:26:15 pm »

Just found this independent video that tests some of his claims.

edy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 01, 2016, 05:50:05 pm »

No no no... today you need to use BluRays and zip-ties, interwoven to produce a harmonic amplifying field that through capacitive induction is able to realign the scrambled channel's signal to properly display.

Buriedcode · « **Reply #17 on:** August 02, 2016, 12:36:08 am »

He is a bit of a gem. Not sure how he keeps a straight face, and I wonder just how many people fall for it... really does highlight those who will believe anything, or rather - lost the ability to question anything..

karoru · « **Reply #18 on:** August 02, 2016, 03:03:40 pm »

Every video about lowering your electricity bill or getting these dirty cable TV channels for free has 100% more authenticity value by including Maxwell equations. Another 100% if units are CGS or c=eps0=1.


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Author Topic: This is not for real, right? (Read 38077 times)

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