Okay... My dad claims that there was someone from Comcast that wanted to install a cable trap. I'm kind of clueless on what this is so I'm hoping someone here can help me out. We've got cable internet through Comcast right now. About a week or two ago, they put a terminator on our cable box because my sister forgot to pay the bill. After she had paid the bill, I realized what they put on and took it off. Could this have any possibility to show reason for a cable trap?
What's a cable trap?
- Thread starter TrueBlueLS
- Start date
Sometimes with cable modem service, you can plug a TV into the line going into the modem and get basic cable for free. Most of the time cable companies put filters on that prevent this and then run a seperate line for cable TV if you have it. My guess is the cable trap is a line filter so you can only use your cable modem for internet, and not TV. Some companies weren't using them, but word is out that you can steal cable TV that way, so most companies are installing them now.
A "cable trap" was referred to as a filter to block out cable TV when I was working for Comcast. Sometimes they were also referred to as a filter for cable internet.
nik
nik
Ffmcobalt, thanks. I just wanted to make sure I was telling my dad the right thing. He's being whatever about it because I removed the terminator so that they wouldn't have to "reconnect" the cable back into the box. It's just a BS fee the way I see it.
MichaelD
Lifer
- Jan 16, 2001
- 31,528
- 3
- 76
They are charging you to install a filter on your line? That's absolute usury! As has been said the exact reason they're installing it is to prevent you from getting free cable. Do you not already have cable tV? Guess not since they're installing this filter. Do you have a dish or something?
No, someone didn't pay the bill. They come out and cut off your service. If you pay the bill, they come back and remove the trap.
nik
A cable trap is used to block certain frequencies and was widley used up till the 90's. Only a few areas use them now, Cox in the Warwick area of Rhode Island is one for example.
Multichannel negative filters (traps) block groups (or tiers) of channels from nonpaying subscribers. The trap filters out selected frequencies, utilizing a passband that allows (or passes) the frequencies (channels) purchased by the subscriber and a reject band that blocks the frequencies from subscribers who did not pay for them. By blocking groups of channels, there is no descrambling of signals, eliminating the need for expensive subscriber equipment. Instead, filters are installed outside the subscriber's home, either on the directional tap port at the pole or in a lockbox mounted on the side of the building.
Management of a customer's premium channels was a pain in the ass in those days. it also took a lot longer to activate new channels, etc. Plus, bad traps were constantly ignored in service calls. I'm glad they're almost gone.
There is also what is known as a terminator that is installed to block all signals, it is just like the 75 ohm loopback terminators uses to prevent signal leakage on amps. They use a security driver to ensure they can not be removed by hand just like traps, and they look identical in most cases, but traps are quite a bit more expensive and are labeled.
DC
Multichannel negative filters (traps) block groups (or tiers) of channels from nonpaying subscribers. The trap filters out selected frequencies, utilizing a passband that allows (or passes) the frequencies (channels) purchased by the subscriber and a reject band that blocks the frequencies from subscribers who did not pay for them. By blocking groups of channels, there is no descrambling of signals, eliminating the need for expensive subscriber equipment. Instead, filters are installed outside the subscriber's home, either on the directional tap port at the pole or in a lockbox mounted on the side of the building.
Management of a customer's premium channels was a pain in the ass in those days. it also took a lot longer to activate new channels, etc. Plus, bad traps were constantly ignored in service calls. I'm glad they're almost gone.
There is also what is known as a terminator that is installed to block all signals, it is just like the 75 ohm loopback terminators uses to prevent signal leakage on amps. They use a security driver to ensure they can not be removed by hand just like traps, and they look identical in most cases, but traps are quite a bit more expensive and are labeled.
DC
What he said.
Except I learned early on to check signal before/after the trap, especially since I replaced everything from the pole to the TV (new drop, splitters, lines, ground, etc) before I checked the filter. I learned my lesson. TRENDING THREADS
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