Bullet Busters :: essays research papers

On Wednesday, the 13th of March 1991, Ameri domiciliate Cablevision of Queens, NewYork, sent the first electronic " bullet train". This so-called "Bullet" was infact, an electronic signal enjoin to unauthorized telephone circuit buffetes causingthem to turn-off. Approximately 300+ unsuspecting customers hence called the telegraph company to complain and were subsequently taken to court for cabletheft.The "Bullet" works by ordering the computer processor inwardly the cable concussionto lock-up if it is authorized for all channels. Since pirate runsinstalled in a cable box would authorize all channels, the TV "goes black".HOW THE cable length COMPANIES CATCH PIRATESThere are several methods here are near of the more popular. The firstmethod is somewhat costly to the cable company, and is utilise usually onlywhen they think they have a thief. A kink called a Time-DomainReflectometer(TDR) is used to send a timed signal from the cable lineoutsi de you home to your decoder.The reflected energy of the signal is measured and indeed compared toprevious measurements to find a time difference which would indicate thatthe box has been tampered with. Pirates were able to get around this byinstalling an in-line amplifier which would weaken the reflected signal. adept problem with TDR is that you need previous readings, which are notusually taken at the time of installation for a reference point.The second way of life is to modulate an identification signal onto the cable lineat about(predicate) 108 MHz. This signal sounds something like a "cuckoo", and "leaks"from the converter box where it peck be picked up by cable company employeesoutside of hazard pirates homes using hand held receivers. Unfortunatelythe signals sent by the cable companies can also cause interference with FMreception within the home.A third method is to program all cable boxes from the headend to display amessage. This message is displayed only by boxes which have had a test chipinstalled and left in. The message informs the customer that they have wona set down t-shirt or something similar. They only have to go to the Cable corporation HQ to pick up their prize. And what a prize it is A publish trip tojail Dont fall for this. There is no free lunch.IS there A FIX FOR THE BULLET?Yes, there are several solutions to the problem. The "Bullet" as sent fromheadend causes the box to lock-up, and not output a picture. The misrepresent issimple - unplug the power cord. After a few minutes, plug-in the box againand it should reset. At worst, the box may stay dead for up to 24 hours.