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- HackersCatalog.com
Technical notes section is an online guide to
help in answering some general questions, at
no time will we answer questions on how to
use our products or information for illegal
purposes. All information sold on
HackersCatalog.com is for educational
purposes only.
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- Technical
Notes:
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- BULLET
BUSTERS
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- WHAT IS
THE BULLET?
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- On
Wednesday, the 13th of March 1991, American
Cablevision of Queens, New York, sent the
first electronic "Bullet". This so-called
"Bullet" was in fact, an electronic signal
directed to unauthorized cable boxes causing
them to turn-off. Approximately 300+
unsuspecting customers then called the cable
company to complain and were subsequently
taken to court for cable theft.
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- The "Bullet"
works by ordering the computer processor
within the cable box to lock-up if it is
authorized for all channels. Since pirate
chips installed in a cable box would
authorize all channels, the TV "goes
black".
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- HOW THE
CABLE COMPANIES CATCH PIRATES
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- There are
several methods; here are some of the more
popular. The first method is somewhat costly
to the cable company, and is used usually
only when they think they have a thief. A
device called a Time-Domain
Reflectometer(TDR) is used to send a timed
signal from the cable line outside you home
to your decoder.
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- The
reflected energy of the signal is measured
and then compared to previous measurements to
find a time difference which would indicate
that the box has been tampered with. Pirates
were able to get around this by installing an
in-line amplifier which would weaken the
reflected signal. One problem with TDR is
that you need previous readings, which are
not usually taken at the time of installation
for a reference point.
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- The second
way is to modulate an identification signal
onto the cable line at about 108 MHz. This
signal sounds something like a "cuckoo", and
"leaks" from the converter box where it can
be picked up by cable company employees
outside of suspected pirates homes using hand
held receivers. Unfortunately the signals
sent by the cable companies can also cause
interference with FM reception within the
home.
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- A third
method is to program all cable boxes from the
headend to display a message. This message is
displayed only by boxes which have had a test
chip installed and left in. The message
informs the customer that they have won a
free t-shirt or something similar. They only
have to go to the Cable Company HQ to pick up
their prize. And what a prize it is! A FREE
trip to jail! Don't fall for this. There is
no free lunch.
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- IS THERE
A FIX FOR THE BULLET?
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- Yes, there
are a couple of solutions to the problem. The
"Bullet" as sent from headend causes the box
to lock-up, and not output a picture. The fix
is simple - unplug the power cord. After a
few minutes, plug-in the box again and it
should reset. At worst, the box may stay dead
for up to 24 hours. If this doesn't work - go
to the next fix.
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- The second
fix is to install an in-line trap to filter
out the actual message or "Bullet" before it
can get to the microprocessor. This is
accomplished by inserting on the cable going
to the box, a small F-M trap. This trap is
designed to "filter" out the frequency
carrying the "Bullet" information.
Unfortunately, there are a few side effects.
One is that the box will not be updated with
time-of-day, special messages and other
"housekeeping" instructions. These small
traps are popularly referred to as "Bullet
Busters".
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- BUILDING
THE CIRCUIT
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- Addressable
cable systems use a data channel to address
or "instruct" the cable descrambler as to
which channels you are authorized to watch.
Typically this is done by modulating control
data at 106.5 MHz. This is not the same as
the "cuckoo" sound which is typically sent at
108 MHz. To see if you have the either of the
modulated signals present, simply attach a FM
radio to the cable using a suitable
splitter/adapter Scan the band around 106 to
108 MHz listening for beeping noises. If
noise or interference is located, the "Bullet
Buster" will usually eliminate it once
installed.
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- The "Bullet
Buster" is a passive band-rejection or notch
filter configured as a type-T trap. The
filter gives about 40 to 60 dB of attenuation
using only one resonant circuit. Tuning is
accomplished by turning a small trimmer
capacitor to set the frequency, while a trim
potentiometer permits critical adjustment of
notch depth.
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- The entire
circuit can be built on a small piece of PC
material. Mount the in/out jacks first and
the pot, trimmer and finally the rest of the
parts. To adjust, turn C2 for frequency and
R1 for notch depth until interference is
blocked from reception into your FM radio
receiver. Once adjusted, remove and reinstall
into the cable line just before the
decoder/descrambler. Plans for the BULLET
BUSTER are in the CABLE HACKERS BIBLE Volume
2. Finished units are available for $15.00 to
$25.00 from other various venders. We do not
sell them. Check the back of any issue of
ELECTRONICS NOW magazine (available from
newsstands everywhere).
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- Although the
"Bullet Buster" will eliminate the
interference signal, it will also eliminate
all programming instructions from reaching
the set. This means that if you order a PPV
program with the filter still in-line, the
box will NOT accept the instruction, and of
course, you will NOT be able to see what
you've paid for. If, after installing the
trap, the converter shuts down, unplug the
filter for a while to allow the converters
microprocessor to update.
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- Alternatively,
try unplugging the power and then plugging in
again forcing a computer reset condition
within the converter. Do not use the "Bullet
Buster" to circumvent the cable companies
right to de-authorize the converter, or in
any other unlawful manner.
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- For
Educational Use Only
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