They should provide two-piece systems, refurbished RAN baseband boxes in conjunction with the latest tech versions. Of course, you get what you pay for. But there are reasonable values out there. 3. Do you need a cable converter if you have the cable company box, VCR or a cable-ready TV?Yes you do. In order to establish a non- addressable system, it is essential to have a cable converter. A cable ready TV, VCR and a Cable Company box do not provide for this feature and in not doing so, cannot replace a cable converter. You must have a converter to use a descrambler. This is especially true if you desire a converter / descrambler that cannot be altered or addressed by your cable company.

9. Cable terms: Basic cable, Premium cable, Pay-Per-View services? Basic cable service: the least expensive cable service provided by cable companies to their customers. This service usually includes local TV channels which can be received directly from the broadcast signal of the TV stations. Premium cable service: additional programming service provided by the cable company to subscribing customers. The extra fee for such additional service may be based on per channel, per group of channels , or any other combination of channels. Pay per view: selected channels that offer movies and special events such as sports or adult entertainment, for an additional fee, on a per movie or per program basis. A special "addressable " cable converter is furnished by the cable company to subscribers of this service.

8. What is an addressable cable converter-descrambler? This is a converter-descrambler that can be controlled by the cable company from their office location. Through remote coded messages sent via the cable system, the cable company can "address" the customers’ unit to begin descrambling selected premium or pay per view channels. An addressable unit allows the cable company to access your cable box to change the descrambling configuration or program. This function provides the cable company the ability to add or delete descrambling on the channels that come in through your cable line. A non-addressable unit does not provide the cable company access to the cable box program. The program remains stationary and is unchangeable. Both cable box designs have the potential of receiving all channels, none or somewhere in between dependent on the box program.