I FOUND a Jerrold 450...now what?

[Software Pig]

I was dumping trash at my local recycler. They only accept paper, cardboard,
and glass...and people leave things there that they cant recycle legally.
The other day I found a General Instrument Jerrold 450 model DRZ-3DIC.

What can I do with this box? Can it be hacked? I am assuming it is an
addressible converter. It initially would not turn on, the power switch and
channel up/down switches were broken from hard use...they are the small
metal disk that "clicks" much like an old atari joystick used to use.
I figured out the matrix (not hard) and replaced the power and +/- switches.
There were only five switches used (cable a, b, channel +, -, on/off)
out of a 20 switch matrix. Anyone KNOW what these other switches do?
Any info you can give would be appreciated.

Dont bother flames. Even if I find out how to hack this box (like get a
test chip to replace the GI PIC 1655XT-290) I dont think Ill bother. I
already have one for a Tocom, and I dont use it. Its the KNOWLEDGE thing...
where all TRUE hardware and software hacking is based!

[Software Pig]

Wont anyone answer this message? What a bunch of useless hoseheads.

[Chris Howell]

Software Pig wrote:
>
> Wont anyone answer this message? What a bunch of useless hoseheads.

If you want to know what you should really do with this box...ok...I'll
be happy to tell you. You should either turn it into the cable company
to which it belongs (no, they're not going to give you a reward but I'm
sure they'll at least say thanks) or turn it into the police because it
is probably stolen. Abandoned converters happen, usually either because
a cable customer is leaving town and figures its easier to dump it than
to take it back or someone who breaks in and steals an entertainment
system realizes that the converter will time out so its useless. They
don't usually take them to pawn shops (unless they're morons) because
pawn shops are usually closely watched by police (some even have
agreements to call police officers when the pawner {is that a word?}
doesn't have proof of ownership). Fences don't bother with converters
because there isn't a large market for them.

Now, the "gentlemen" from Transam will be sure to tell you that if you'd
like, they can sell you a test chip which will fit the box so that it can
receive scrambled channels and PPV...but of course that's only if you're
going to use it for "educational purposes" or if you're a cable engineer
in which case you wouldn't have any need for Transam. Otherwise its
illegal to use, besides you're in possession of stolen property.

[centa...@gmail.com]

I us to work for American cable company in Massachusetts back in the Mid 80's. That was the cable box we use to install in homes and business's. I was an installer but I never did learn to program those box's or work with the electronics inside the box. That was the technicians job back at the office. I think Mr. Howell is carrying it a little bit to far, Those box's are pretty much useless in today's electronic world. What more than likely happened was a customer had it and over the years it failed to operate properly and tossed it aside, then one day ran across it in his junk pile and decided to finally get rid of it and threw it in the trash.