TiVo : Why do you now need to cap off an old VM TV connection.

[RichardCoulter]

I was going to leave VM, but everything has now been sorted out and I'm now staying, so this is just a hypothetical question for myself and on behalf of those that have actually left VM.

I received some packaging to send the equipment back and inside there was something included to cap off the old connection to "stop interference to your TV".

Is this a new initiative, I've never heard of this before?

Is this because the digital TV signals can leak out and be picked up by a Freeview receiver?

I imagine that those moving to a satellite based service wouldn't be affected as it's wired in like cable TV.

Are there any benefits to VM of doing this eg noise being somehow fed onto the network from an uncapped connection?

[heero_yuy]

An unterminated cable that is still connected at the cab end can resonate at certain frequencies possibly causing poor signal strength. If the cable was being shared by, for example your neighbour, it could cause them problems with some TV channels pixelating.

The cap is in fact a terminating resistor that matches the cable impedance and is always good practice. This prevents resonance occurring.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

An unterminated cable that is still connected at the cab end can resonate at certain frequencies possibly causing poor signal strength. If the cable was being shared by, for example your neighbour, it could cause them problems with some TV channels pixelating.

The cap is in fact a terminating resistor that matches the cable impedance and is always good practice. This prevents resonance occurring.

Thanks.

So it's more to do with protecting the integrity of the network than preventing problems for a former customer as claimed?

Maybe they think that appealing to a persons selfish nature will encourage them to do it more?

Do you mean "poor signal strength" for the ex customer or the network?

If the former, would this only affect Freeview as I assumed?

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

So it's more to do with protecting the integrity of the network than preventing problems for a former customer as claimed?

It's for both. An unterminated connnection works like a little aerial and will transmit signals into the air as well as picking up signals from the air.

It isn't just Freeview that is affected. Many other services such as FM and DAB radio use frequencies that overlap with those on cable

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Thanks.

So it's more to do with protecting the integrity of the network than preventing problems for a former customer as claimed?

Maybe they think that appealing to a persons selfish nature will encourage them to do it more?

Do you mean "poor signal strength" for the ex customer or the network?

If the former, would this only affect Freeview as I assumed?

No effect on any other services like freeview. If the cap is not fitted the VM signal gets reflected back to its source rather than escaping hence the possibility of resonances. Think open topped organ pipe, the physics is much the same.

It's a network issue and I guess with the increased possibility of customers sharing connections with splitters VM are doing the right thing with providing the cap for you to fit but providing an "incentive" of self interest to encourage you to fit it.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

It's for both. An unterminated connnection works like a little aerial and will transmit signals into the air as well as picking up signals from the air.

It isn't just Freeview that is affected. Many other services such as FM and DAB radio use frequencies that overlap with those on cable

Never thought of it affecting the radio!

So VM must be able to use frequencies assigned to other parties, but can get away with it because it's a closed system.

Does the VM signal ever leak out into the open from the infrastructure itself?

Edit: Found this:

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides...signal-leakage

It's an American site that shows that it can happen.

Apparently, Comcast actually visit people's houses to deal with any leaks!

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads...rents.2194887/

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

No effect on any other services like freeview. If the cap is not fitted the VM signal gets reflected back to its source rather than escaping hence the possibility of resonances. Think open topped organ pipe, the physics is much the same.

It's a network issue and I guess with the increased possibility of customers sharing connections with splitters VM are doing the right thing with providing the cap for you to fit but providing an "incentive" of self interest to encourage you to fit it.

I wouldn't think that a splitter would work, wouldn't the unauthorised TiVo box just reject the signal being syphoned off?

[Stephen]

I got that cap thing in my returns pack too. Never bothered using it, not had any problems.

[RichardCoulter]

But your neighbours might have...

Besides, you might end up with a wet carpet, each time a Sky Q box is powered up, your severed cable connection is said to shed a tear!

[Stephen]

Well I should have a flooded neighbour below me as my Q box is always on.

[nodrogd]

The cap is stopping ingress, not egress.

VM re-use the frequencies used for Freeview TV & DAB Radio. These signals need to be kept out of the network. You will not get problems from VM's signals unless your equipment is actually has contact with the coax core of VM's cable.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by nodrogd

The cap is stopping ingress, not egress.

VM re-use the frequencies used for Freeview TV & DAB Radio. These signals need to be kept out of the network. You will not get problems from VM's signals unless your equipment is actually has contact with the coax core of VM's cable.

Well, I guess that if the cable is still connected to a tap in the cabinet, all the TV signals (even if encrypted) will still be there if any equipment has any contact with the coax core.

[sollp]

Originally Posted by nodrogd

The cap is stopping ingress, not egress.

VM re-use the frequencies used for Freeview TV & DAB Radio. These signals need to be kept out of the network. You will not get problems from VM's signals unless your equipment is actually has contact with the coax core of VM's cable.

It prevents Ingress and Egress of any signal.