Newbie to Cband

[C64C64!!]

Just wan'ted to know a few things. I bought an old cband setup off of ebay. Looing for the Fta stuff to use and maybe suscribe. I wan'ted to know if chiped boxes are ilegal, you know suscribe for a channel and all other channels come in video only. I am not looking into doing illegal stuff! I learned my lesson and had to pay for it.
What do the different colored descramblers mean?
Mine is pink and says Video Cipher RS
Texas Insterments
Personal Cable
2295

If this is post is not alowed please do not ban me and just take this post down
I am trying to get all the legal channels I can that are up there!

 

[C64C64!!]

Now looing at the internet I am pretty shure This is Illegal.
But do the different collors of the descramblers mean anything?

 

[Shawn95GT]

The color isn't terribly important. Some good info here:

http://www.bigdish.info/mainten/vcii.html

VC2 is all but dead right now besides porn, and there are cheaper options for that.

I have a pink one that sounds just like the one you have. It is usable to subscribe to what little is left for analog subscription TV. When I activated my 4DTV, they didn't even want the info for the VC2 side.

If anyone has modified a module (aside from changing the battery), the intent is almost surely for illegal program reception.

 

[C64C64!!]

Cool thanks for the information on the modules!
That is something that confused me for a long time

 

[daveyhouse]

Black Modules

Yes they are illegal to use but not to own for testing purposes
The earlier black boxes are the only ones that can be chipped.
If the module is any other color than black, it cannot be chipped. Another thing about the older modules is that they will not work in a 4DTV receiver. If it is any other color than black then it will work in 4DTV

 

[gizzer777]

Grey...

Yes they are illegal to use but not to own for testing purposes
The earlier black boxes are the only ones that can be chipped.
If the module is any other color than black, it cannot be chipped. Another thing about the older modules is that they will not work in a 4DTV receiver. If it is any other color than black then it will work in 4DTV

I think Grey VCII units also will not work in 4dtv.

I have a dark blue one, a pink one with RS, and a Red one. The only thing that one should even consider changing is the battery!!!! (if you have some knowhow and have read the article in the Faq!) I bought my "spares" cheap enough and for $7 ea, put a new battery in them
Jeff