Just curious here. The reason I ask is because I recently realized how ridiculously easy it is to steal cable and have since wondered if I really want to keep paying to watch Rocket games.
Not that I've heard of, no. I have a couple friends skirting the law on this issue and they haven't reported any trouble, but of course the risk of getting caught is sort of part of the deal. Anybody ever gotten caught? What happened?
are you talking stealing cable as in splicing off the line or stealing as in getting a descrambler box?
This is from 5 years ago, but It used to be if a cable guy saw someone stealing cable, they were to disconnect it, and get who did it. As long as you called them up, they'd just rehook you up. Of course, you had to pay then. Time-Warner won't do squat. It's like subscriptions. Time-Warner incorporates unauthorized users as part of who is watching the commercials. Why do you think so many Mag subscriptions are free?
Used to, but then they zapped two of my boxes. Now I'm legit and paying through the nose to subsidize the Oxygen and E! channel. As for you thieves, I didn't think you can steal digital cable, because the cable company sends a signal to your box to make sure it's one of their own. You can probably still steal the analog channels and PPV.
Here's my thought...if i'm going to steal ANYTHING...if i'm going to be tempted...it's not going to be for something as petty as cable. It's gonna have to be an Ocean's 11esque score. Not anything that includes the Lifetime Channel. No way I could do it. My conscience would eat me alive.
Neither. Bear in mind, I'm not advocating doing this, nor am I currently stealing cable. But if you live in an apartment like I do, each apartment builing has a cable box on the side of the building, just like neighborhoods have a box in somebody's back yard. These boxes aren't even locked. You just open it up, find the cable with your apt. number on it, and plug it in. Sometimes there will be a little lockout device attached to try to prevent this, but you can easily yank it off with pliars. Cable companies sure don't seem to spend a lot on security. Now, I have heard that this move towards digital cable is in part because it makes it impossible to steal, because to view it you need a box that's in constant communication with the boxes at the home office. But as long as "basic" cable is still around, stealing it is about as hard as downloading mp3s.
I used to use a descrambling box. I still have it, and it works fine. But it only works on the analog cable feed, and that feed has absolutely nothing worth bootlegging (they've done this intentionally). In the past, the hackers have always kept pace, but I think they're slowly losing. If the broadcast flag passes, it will be a devastating blow to all TV audiences. -- droxford
I did when everything was analog, but digital ruined everything. I even tried slipping the cable guy a 50 when he did installation at my house last year, but he said there was nothing he could do because it was digital. He sang the same tune when I upped the ante to 100.
I have a wireless card for my laptop and everything, but I'm too much of an idiot to know how to find hotspots and hook my computer up to them.
For people who do steal, why cable and not other things? Seriously. Why not steal groceries? Why not take somebody's wallet or purse when they're not looking? It's pretty cut and dry that taking something that doesn't belong to you is just wrong.
For awhile, you could get free cable with Road Runner without doing anything illegal. How? The cable guy would forget to put a filter on the line. Time Warner has started checking homes with Road Runner only to make sure the filter is on. Taking the filter off without the proper tool is tough. It's too risky now. I heard Time Warner measures signal power and can spot unauthorized use. I don't know what they do when they catch you and I don't want to find out.
Most likely moving into a duplex next door to a few friends of mine, and thinking about running it from their house to mine. This way we would break the cost of it through 6 people.
