What's the deal with UNIVERSAL CABLE TV DESCRAMBLERS? DO THEY WORK? ARE THEY LEGAL?

02-23-2003, 12:05 PM

I'd dearly love to lose hundreds of dollars in annual cable TV expense given that I watch TV so rarely. I got this offer in my email for a "100% Legal Descrambler, $197 shipped" and they even quoted FCC law.

My question is, how exactly does this work? I mean, I would still have to maintain some cable TV connection wouldn't I? Could I just get the most basic & cheapest one then — and plug in this device and have all 183 channels without getting into trouble with AT&T Broadband (my current carrier)? Thanks for any info!

cpbaby · 02-23-2003, 02:17 PM

I think this is just to keep you from having to "rent" a descrambler box from the cable company. If you dont pay for the cable, theres no signal coming into your descrambler box. Here, at least, your cable is hooked up manually outside on a pole and the channels you subscribe to are activated and controlled via computer at the cable company. If you dont pay for channels, you WONT get them, even with a descrambler.

I dont know for sure, but this is what I figure they are.

John · 02-23-2003, 02:23 PM

Descrambler cable boxes are illegal. Unless you got the cable box from your cable company. You can buy it but you are not allowed to use it.

02-23-2003, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John
Descrambler cable boxes are illegal. Unless you got the cable box from your cable company. You can buy it but you are not allowed to use it.

Now, that's what I always thought John! But this outfit swears they are legal tsk. Well shoot. Nice dream. Glad I asked.

lingirl · 02-24-2003, 04:51 PM

some are illegal, except the ones you buy from YOUR cable company. The one my friend had worked if you pay your cable company for basic cable and you get all the rest of the channels inlcluding HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Pay-per-view etc. But if you get caught there are HUGE fines. You will have to pay a certain amount for each pay-per-view movie you could have watched for as long as you had it, even if you didn't watch them all.

02-23-2003, 12:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tyt Budget Posts: n/a	What's the deal with UNIVERSAL CABLE TV DESCRAMBLERS? DO THEY WORK? ARE THEY LEGAL? I'd dearly love to lose hundreds of dollars in annual cable TV expense given that I watch TV so rarely. I got this offer in my email for a "100% Legal Descrambler, $197 shipped" and they even quoted FCC law. My question is, how exactly does this work? I mean, I would still have to maintain some cable TV connection wouldn't I? Could I just get the most basic & cheapest one then — and plug in this device and have all 183 channels without getting into trouble with AT&T Broadband (my current carrier)? Thanks for any info!

02-23-2003, 02:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
cpbaby Member of the MOB Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: I have to stop pretending people arent psychotic... Posts: 9,144 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 116 Thanked 312 Times in 168 Posts	I think this is just to keep you from having to "rent" a descrambler box from the cable company. If you dont pay for the cable, theres no signal coming into your descrambler box. Here, at least, your cable is hooked up manually outside on a pole and the channels you subscribe to are activated and controlled via computer at the cable company. If you dont pay for channels, you WONT get them, even with a descrambler. I dont know for sure, but this is what I figure they are. __________________ (\__/)(\__/) (\__/)(\__/) (='.'=)(='.'=)(='.'=)(='.'=) (")_(")(")_(")(")_(")(")_(")

02-24-2003, 04:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
lingirl Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 158 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	here's the deal some are illegal, except the ones you buy from YOUR cable company. The one my friend had worked if you pay your cable company for basic cable and you get all the rest of the channels inlcluding HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Pay-per-view etc. But if you get caught there are HUGE fines. You will have to pay a certain amount for each pay-per-view movie you could have watched for as long as you had it, even if you didn't watch them all.

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02-23-2003, 02:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
John Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: NYC Posts: 1,539 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Descrambler cable boxes are illegal. Unless you got the cable box from your cable company. You can buy it but you are not allowed to use it.