This month we received a couple of interesting letters from our readers pertaining to advertisements, in our magazine, as well as others, including Nuts & Volts and Popular Science magazine.
The first one pertains to an unclassified advertisement which appeared in the November 1996 issue of Satellite Watch News.
We received this information from one of our subscribers who called on this ad. We will not publish any names because no scam was involved, but will use Mr. X (subscriber) and Mr. Z (classified ad submitter).
Mr. X read the ad in our magazine and decided to call the number for more information. To make a long story short, Mr. X was told to send in his 3 cards along with $50 to Mr. Z and he would help him out. Below is what Mr. X received.... .
Dear Mr. X ,
Enclosed you will find your original 3 cards, just as you sent them. Also find enclosed your original $50 bill. I cannot help you, as I don't do chips, nor do I reprogram them either. The only programs I sell may be obtained from DirecTv or U.S.S.B. that is legal type subscriptions only. Sorry to lead you on like that, but someone has to do their part in discouraging illegal chips. Sign your customers up for subscriptions, that's the best way to stay out of trouble.
Please don't bother calling or contacting me again. By the time you get this I'll be in Arizona enjoying the sunshine.
Sincerely Mr. Z
The following ad has appeared in a few magazines, including Nuts & Volts and Popular Science....
We received a letter in January asking about this company, "Nassirian". One of our readers sent us the following letters after responding to Nassirian's ad.
Nassirian's response:
Dear Sir:
This plan has been used by many VCII and VCII Plus owners to get sound for various transponders without subscribing to them. This method offers them the freedom to hear the sound for a boxing match on HBO or the sound for wrestling on PAY-PER-VIEW. They get sound for transponders like HBO, Showtime, TMC, CMAX, PLAYBOY and much more. This method does not require any codes and the sound is permanent. Yes, that's correct, the sound is permanent. We guarantee you that this method truly exists or your money back.
Also, as a bonus, you will receive information on how to buy satellite equipment at wholesale prices for free. Never again pay retail on any satellite equipment. You will also receive information on how to get free subscriptions to Satellite TV Week, and On-Sat. The subscriptions alone are worth more than $100. So don't delay, order today!
You will receive four free issues of Satellite TV Week at not cost to you ($12 value). Send $13.95 to: NASSIRIAN Box 382-E, Rio Linda, CA 95673.
This plan is sold solely for Educational purposes only.
Dear Dan,
I've enclosed a response from Nassirian (for your readers questions, as well as mine), on exactly what he had to offer to obtain sound for the VCII and Plus units. You will notice he talks vaguely about a method or plan sold for educational purposes, just send in $13.95. Obviously this can not even be considered a technical hack or answer to be used within the VC to unlock the sound. Instead he is probably referring to the fact most cable systems deliver clear sound to those services, which one can feed to a VCR and the video from their satellite receiver. Properly set up with a video only chip, to bring both together for complete reception. For the uninformed public this may seem a great feat of engineering. Actually, as we know, its been around ever since the beginning of scrambling, but most people would not bother with it if they knew they would have to constantly be switching their VCR to the A/V input then switch to the correct sat channel, then switch their cable to the correct network and when they want to change to another premium, switch and match up the correct networks on both sat and cable again. Again and again, until they get tired of all the switching and then finally give up the idea altogether.
Respectfully,
J.K
Hibbing, MN
The Federal Communications Commission has received its first request to pre-empt a local ordinance covering the installation and permits of satellite dishes. PrimeStar Partners L.P. distributor and The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) has asked the FCC to enforce the new guidelines prohibiting local governments from enacting laws that effectively prevent consumers from owning satellite dishes. In this case, the local government of a small rural community, Meade, Kansas, requires the residents to obtain a permit before installing a dish and ordering that the dish be ground-mounted in the side or back yard.
According to reports, the city administrator, Dennis Eckhoff, has even threaten to issue a $500-a-day fine and shut off the electricity of anybody who violates the ordinance. Ironically, Eckhoff issued pre-emptions from the local ordinance that allowed him to install a large C-band dish is his own backyard, as well as a local physician to install a 9-ft. dish on his rooftop. Talk about discrimination!
One local business has joined the SCBA and PrimeStar request, Stargate Enterprises, a PrimeStar distributor who has customers that received written notices threatening fines because they hadn't obtained permits. Some even obtained permits but were then told that they had to pay the costs of moving their dishes to different locations. One resident, a dispatcher at the local sheriff's office was forced to get a permit, and then was informed that she had to move the dish to a location that would have put her in violation of the electrical code. She presented Eckhoff with the SBCA documents which verify that the local ordinance was in violation of the FCC rules. His response, he tossed the paper on his desk and said it didn't matter and then threatened to shut off her electricity for her part in the ongoing controversy. The City Council and city attorney didn't offer her any resolution either, they told her they'd have a good time fighting her on this. Meade Mayor Leroy Lemaster lacks the support of city council to rein in the city administration, but did agreed that Eckhoff cannot legally shut off any resident's electricity. It is speculated that Eckhoff is trying to prevent the entry of satellite dishes to protect