Scientific Atlanta CATV Converter Box Model 8528300

[reddtsock]

I used to have one of those but I don't know where it went.

[MIKON8ERISBACK]

To avoid arousing suspicion among my non-tech savvy peers, I refer to these as "external analog cable tuners" because that's what they are. They really don't convert anything, they just act as a tuner or remote control for older TVs that didn't conform to the FCC's at the time new bandplan for cable TV.

[pepsiru1es92]

I have a similar box. Maybe I'll make a video response someday.

[compwiz878]

sadly but i have 1 of those boxes but it no longer recieves channels above chan 14 and higher as comcast has moved channels 14 and higher to digital only service

[CenTexVideo]

Time Warner Cable used to have boxes similar to this, but these are obsolete as they have some basic channels on the digital tier now to 'save bandwidth'. So even channels that could be tuned with cable-ready sets and boxes like this now are in the digital realm. Eventually, they will convert everything to digital and the only way to get programming is with a new TV or digital box. They do charge a rental fee.

[Bluetailvappy]

I had one of these when I was young as well. I think I got that PRG button to work one time. Had something to do with programming the channels or something. AU, I have no idea what that button did. I don't think anyone does.

[spunker88]

These are pretty hard to find nowadays. Most people gave them back to the cable company when they eventually bought a cable ready TV or got a digital box. The powered outlet is a nice feature for the older knob TVs. Most newer Tvs will not power back on by themselves. There was also a version of this box that did premium channels and pay-per-view back when it was all analog. Brings back memories of watching scrambled channels hoping the image would be stable for a few seconds

[tiger7577]

I actually had one of these years ago. The cable company took it back when they decided to go without set-top boxes unless necessary. This was before they had digital cable available.

[BlueShepp]

I might have a remote for that box, I will look in the bin

[CoolDudeClem]

I remember when we first had cable installed in our house, it was one of the best days of my life! And the cable box I had was also by Scientific Atlanta, but it was a a little different. Now wer'e using satellite, but the cable line is still connected and I use it for my broadband connection.

[james42519]

that is interesting. newwave here is still doing analog over cable and have cable going to tv with out cable box or anything and get upto channel 77. guess that might change sometime.

[Jallge]

how does the box make the TV turn off as well? i've never seen that before

[james42519]

@Jallge the tv plugs into the power jack on the back of the cable box. the new cable boxes have that too.

[Jallge]

@james42519 hmm interesting... could you connect a power strip to it and make it turn off two or more things. like a VCR or DVD recorder for example?

[james42519]

@Jallge you can also change it in the settings too on the new one to make it so it turns off or not too with the cable box.

[james42519]

@james42519 maybe but i don't know what the limit is on them. don't want to over load it.

[sonic503789]

oh yea, i remember those damn things. my grandma used to have one of those, she actually had that kind of TV but it was a different brand. i loved it so much, and its in her garage. i could get it x3

[apctech1]

its a basic cable box that most cable provders used back in the 1980s and 90s

i own 2 of them given to me by a cable tech because the company no longer uses them or wants them.

[BlueFoxTV]

My mom had one of these when i was a kid along with two descramblers all chained together with short pieces of coax.