| Author |
Message |
Joe Blow
Guest
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 Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 5:41 am Post subject:
Detecting Cable Boxes |
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I have a question that I figured someone in this newsgroup would be able to
answer. I'm a little worried about a certain relative of mine. Here's the
story:
The person in question works in real estate rentals. Recently, he found a
cable box that was left behind in an empty apartment. He has cable internet
(Comcast), and found that he could plug this box into the extra line and get
cable. Sort of. He gets no "regular" channels - only movie channels and the
"guide" channels, (you know, the ones that scroll the upcoming shows). This
already seems suspicious to me. You would normally expect the opposite, right?
The box looked kinda Brand-Xish, but I really wouldn't know. I don't remember
what the brand name was on it. Could this be one of the illegal descramblers?
Anyway, I said they can easily tell if he's using this thing, and he'll get
caught, that they can "see" the box, just like they can "see" his cable modem.
I'll be the first to admit I know diddly about cable TV, but from what I do
know, few devices are just passive. In other words, doesn't this box
communicate something to some server? He says I'm paranoid, etc... I should
mention that he has two cable lines coming from outside. One from the cable
modem, and one for the TV service he used to have. I don't know how it is on
the outside, if they're on a splitter, or what. Again, I know nothing about all
of this, but can't a change in load be detected automatically?
So in a word, can they detect this thing, either remotely, or from outside
the house? Or should I relax, buy a six, and head over to watch flix at his
crib?
--
Joe
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Gary Tait
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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Joe Blow <lovespam@mac.com> wrote in
news:A5WdnYbvPMYmKPveRVn-sQ@comcast.com:
| Quote: |
I have a question that I figured someone in this newsgroup would be
able to answer. I'm a little worried about a certain relative of
mine. Here's the story:
The person in question works in real estate rentals. Recently, he
found a
cable box that was left behind in an empty apartment. He has cable
internet (Comcast), and found that he could plug this box into the
extra line and get cable. Sort of. He gets no "regular" channels -
only movie channels and the "guide" channels, (you know, the ones that
scroll the upcoming shows). This already seems suspicious to me. You
would normally expect the opposite, right? The box looked kinda
Brand-Xish, but I really wouldn't know. I don't remember what the
brand name was on it. Could this be one of the illegal descramblers?
|
It depends.
| Quote: | Anyway, I said they can easily tell if he's using this thing, and
he'll get
caught, that they can "see" the box, just like they can "see" his
cable modem. I'll be the first to admit I know diddly about cable TV,
but from what I do know, few devices are just passive. In other
words, doesn't this box communicate something to some server? He says
I'm paranoid, etc... I should mention that he has two cable lines
coming from outside. One from the cable modem, and one for the TV
service he used to have. I don't know how it is on the outside, if
they're on a splitter, or what. Again, I know nothing about all of
this, but can't a change in load be detected automatically?
So in a word, can they detect this thing, either remotely, or
from outside
the house? Or should I relax, buy a six, and head over to watch flix
at his crib?
|
They can detect it if they want to. If you rare really paranoid about
it, you could simply not use the box. |
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Joe Blow
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:55 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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In article <Xns9700C9F80F0A3wonkynillmailnil@142.77.1.194>,
Gary Tait <classicsat@yahoo.com> wrote:
| Quote: | They can detect it if they want to. If you rare really paranoid about
it, you could simply not use the box.
|
Gary,
Thanks for responding! I think your answer wins me my $10! He fully
intends to use it, and says I'm crazy. But if I understand what you're saying,
there would have to be some kind of effort at detection? How would that work?
--
Joe |
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nooflack
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 5:10 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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On Mon, 31 Oct 2005 18:24:26 -0600, Joe Blow <lovespam@mac.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
I have a question that I figured someone in this newsgroup would be able to
answer. I'm a little worried about a certain relative of mine. Here's the
story:
The person in question works in real estate rentals. Recently, he found a
cable box that was left behind in an empty apartment. He has cable internet
(Comcast), and found that he could plug this box into the extra line and get
cable. Sort of. He gets no "regular" channels - only movie channels and the
"guide" channels, (you know, the ones that scroll the upcoming shows). This
already seems suspicious to me. You would normally expect the opposite, right?
The box looked kinda Brand-Xish, but I really wouldn't know. I don't remember
what the brand name was on it. Could this be one of the illegal descramblers?
|
possibly
| Quote: | Anyway, I said they can easily tell if he's using this thing, and he'll get
caught, that they can "see" the box, just like they can "see" his cable modem.
|
They can see his cable modem because it has an address and they know
what the address is. The "box" is not likely to be seen as cable
companies do not TDR scan, it's not worth the effort and it is not
fool-proof.
| Quote: | I'll be the first to admit I know diddly about cable TV, but from what I do
know, few devices are just passive.
|
From not knowing diddly, how do you know about "passive"?
| Quote: | In other words, doesn't this box
communicate something to some server?
|
depends on the box. What's the make/model?
address intentionally spoofed
sick o' SPAM |
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Joe Blow
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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In article <t0jem1dhv47uea080ng5sf6296kdd0r5hs@4ax.com>,
nooflack <hoojie@floppy.org> wrote:
| Quote: | On Mon, 31 Oct 2005 18:24:26 -0600, Joe Blow <lovespam@mac.com> wrote:
I have a question that I figured someone in this newsgroup would be able to
answer. I'm a little worried about a certain relative of mine. Here's the
story:
The person in question works in real estate rentals. Recently, he found
a
cable box that was left behind in an empty apartment. He has cable internet
(Comcast), and found that he could plug this box into the extra line and get
cable. Sort of. He gets no "regular" channels - only movie channels and
the
"guide" channels, (you know, the ones that scroll the upcoming shows). This
already seems suspicious to me. You would normally expect the opposite,
right?
The box looked kinda Brand-Xish, but I really wouldn't know. I don't
remember
what the brand name was on it. Could this be one of the illegal
descramblers?
possibly
Anyway, I said they can easily tell if he's using this thing, and he'll
get
caught, that they can "see" the box, just like they can "see" his cable
modem.
They can see his cable modem because it has an address and they know
what the address is. The "box" is not likely to be seen as cable
companies do not TDR scan, it's not worth the effort and it is not
fool-proof.
|
Yeah, but wouldn't a cable box have a unique MAC number that would be on
file in their server (if it were one of theirs), like for the modems?
| Quote: |
I'll be the first to admit I know diddly about cable TV, but from what I do
know, few devices are just passive.
From not knowing diddly, how do you know about "passive"?
|
Well, I know radios and computer devices aren't, so it stands to reason...
| Quote: |
In other words, doesn't this box
communicate something to some server?
depends on the box. What's the make/model?
|
That I don't know. I'll check it next time I see him. Thanks for your
help.
--
Joe |
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Gary Tait
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:06 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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Joe Blow <lovespam@mac.com> wrote in
news:yNGdnQmII7_lHfrenZ2dnUVZ_sidnZ2d@comcast.com:
| Quote: | In article <t0jem1dhv47uea080ng5sf6296kdd0r5hs@4ax.com>,
nooflack <hoojie@floppy.org> wrote:
They can see his cable modem because it has an address and they know
what the address is. The "box" is not likely to be seen as cable
companies do not TDR scan, it's not worth the effort and it is not
fool-proof.
Yeah, but wouldn't a cable box have a unique MAC number that
would be on
file in their server (if it were one of theirs), like for the modems?
|
A legit box would have some sort of autorization number (different
security systems have their own term for it). If it is their box, it
would be on their server. A pirate box would have no ID, let alone relay
it to the cable company.
| Quote: |
I'll be the first to admit I know diddly about cable TV, but from
what I do know, few devices are just passive.
From not knowing diddly, how do you know about "passive"?
Well, I know radios and computer devices aren't, so it stands to
reason...
|
They could detect certain RF signatures with a TDR or whatever, but as
said, they susally aren't troubled. In this sense "Active" means the
box will communicate both ways with the provider.
| Quote: |
In other words, doesn't this box
communicate something to some server?
depends on the box. What's the make/model?
That I don't know. I'll check it next time I see him. Thanks
for your
help.
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nooflack
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:07 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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| Quote: | They can see his cable modem because it has an address and they know
what the address is. The "box" is not likely to be seen as cable
companies do not TDR scan, it's not worth the effort and it is not
fool-proof.
Yeah, but wouldn't a cable box have a unique MAC number that would be on
file in their server (if it were one of theirs), like for the modems?
|
The cable box will have a MAC address if it has ethernet capabilities.
MAC addresses are not used to manage cable boxes. Cable boxes contain
some type of unique serial numbering mechanism provided by the box
manufacturers. These serial numbers are used by the billing systems to
authorize the boxes (I'm speaking about digital boxes here). If the
box does not get a visit from the billing system every so often, it
will shut itself down.
| Quote: |
I'll be the first to admit I know diddly about cable TV, but from what I do
know, few devices are just passive.
From not knowing diddly, how do you know about "passive"?
Well, I know radios and computer devices aren't, so it stands to reason...
|
ok, just curious.
address intentionally spoofed
sick o' SPAM |
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Cymbal Man Freq.
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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Somebody once told me the cable company has the power to figure out exactly what
channel(s) you are watching from afar. That might explain why I get an Emergency
Test Tone on my screen within one minute of turning on my TV somedays. |
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nooflack
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:05 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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| Quote: | Somebody once told me the cable company has the power to figure out exactly what
channel(s) you are watching from afar. That might explain why I get an Emergency
Test Tone on my screen within one minute of turning on my TV somedays.
|
If you have a digital box, yes it is possible. This is valuable
information as they can sell this to advertisers. Do they actually do
this? I do not think so.
Tivo keeps track of what you record and they upload that information
to their servers. They sell that info to advertisers.
address intentionally spoofed
sick o' SPAM |
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weitrhino
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 03, 2005 7:25 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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"Cymbal Man Freq." wrote : > Somebody once told me the cable company has
the power to figure out exactly what
| Quote: | channel(s) you are watching from afar. That might explain why I get an
Emergency
Test Tone on my screen within one minute of turning on my TV somedays.
|
Can you justify this hypothesis? Exactly how does the possibility of
knowing what channel you are watching explain an emergency test tone? What
has led you to believe the two things are interrelated? Perhaps you could
expound upon your reasoning so the rest of us may learn?
weitrhino |
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Mike Rush
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 03, 2005 11:52 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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"Cymbal Man Freq." <Don't Bother@ForgedPostsAnonymous.unorg> wrote in
message news:4lcaf.35912$Bv6.29747@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
| Quote: | Somebody once told me the cable company has the power to figure out
exactly what
channel(s) you are watching from afar. That might explain why I get an
Emergency
Test Tone on my screen within one minute of turning on my TV somedays.
|
All cable companies are required to do random weekly tests of the Emergency
Alert System. If you watch a lot of TV, you're bound to see the tests once
in a while since they are on all channels. |
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litleBoPeep
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:04 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 08:25:51 -0500, "weitrhino"
<weitrhino@spamfree.net> wrote:
| Quote: | Can you justify this hypothesis? Exactly how does the possibility of
knowing what channel you are watching explain an emergency test tone? What
has led you to believe the two things are interrelated? Perhaps you could
expound upon your reasoning so the rest of us may learn?
weitrhino
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You shouldn't strain yourself so much, stick with stuff that u cn
handle. |
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nooflack
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:46 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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| Quote: | Can you justify this hypothesis? Exactly how does the possibility of
knowing what channel you are watching explain an emergency test tone? What
has led you to believe the two things are interrelated? Perhaps you could
expound upon your reasoning so the rest of us may learn?
weitrhino
You shouldn't strain yourself so much, stick with stuff that u cn
handle.
|
Well anyone that thinks the cable company sends an emergency pattern
because you are watching a channel has some issues that should be
looked into by a professional.
address intentionally spoofed
sick o' SPAM |
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Ed Nielsen
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:52 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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nooflack wrote:
| Quote: | Can you justify this hypothesis? Exactly how does the possibility of
knowing what channel you are watching explain an emergency test tone? What
has led you to believe the two things are interrelated? Perhaps you could
expound upon your reasoning so the rest of us may learn?
weitrhino
You shouldn't strain yourself so much, stick with stuff that u cn
handle.
Well anyone that thinks the cable company sends an emergency pattern
because you are watching a channel has some issues that should be
looked into by a professional.
address intentionally spoofed
sick o' SPAM
And not a cable professional, either. |
CIAO!
Ed N. |
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weitrhino
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:14 pm Post subject:
Re: Detecting Cable Boxes |
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Asinine statements deserve to be exposed for what they are.
weitrhino |
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