Owner`s manual

CUSTOMER HANDBOOK
50
Customer Guide to Cable and Home Entertainment Equipment (06/08)
An online version of this notice is accessible at www.timewarnercable.com/socal/customer under the Customer Service link.
CUSTOMER GUIDE TO CABLE AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT
EQUIPMENT
With cable TV connected to your home entertainment system, you enjoy the
best choice, convenience and value. Extra steps may be required for cable TV to
work effectively with various equipment. This guide provides information about
when cable TV is compatible with your equipment and when it may not be. If you
don’t find your particular situation described in this guide, please call us. (You’ll
find our phone number on the accompanying billing statement.) We’ll work with
you to determine the cable setup and equipment appropriate for your needs.
CONVERTERS ARE NECESSARY WHEN...
Some TV receivers and other consumer electronics devices directly connected
to the cable TV system cannot tune to all of the unscrambled analog channels
that we provide. (Either a digital set-top box or a CableCARD-equipped TV
or other Unidirectional Digital Cable Product (“UDCP”) is required to access
digital cable services and/or scrambled analog channels; see discussion of such
devices in the following section). For example, older TV sets with mechanical
tuners typically cannot receive any broadcast stations or other channels other
than VHF 2 through 13. Many “cable-ready” TVs, VCRs, and DVRs can receive
all unscrambled analog channels, although some models may not be able to
receive all of them.
In cases where a TV, VCR, or DVR cannot tune to all of the channels provided
as part of your cable service, an extended tuner called a converter can be used
to receive the channels and send them to a TV set ,VCR or DVR. Converters
are available for a nominal fee from our company or may be purchased from a
retail store (where available).
To help ease the confusion about whether a TV, VCR or DVR is really “cable-
ready,” the Federal Communications Commission will not allow TVs, VCRs and
DVRs manufactured or imported for sale in the United States after October 31,
1994 to be marketed as “cable-ready” or “cable compatible” unless they meet
certain bandwidth tuning and other performance standards.
ALL SCRAMBLED SIGNALS REQUIRE A DESCRAMBLER
Because all customers do not subscribe to every programming service offered,
we may use scrambling technology to deliver a secure signal to authorized
homes. Scrambling is a method of changing the components of an analog signal
or encrypting a digital signal at the cable television transmission center
(headend) to render it unviewable without an authorized descrambler.
The number of scrambled channels and service levels vary among different
cable systems. Whenever customers subscribe to service levels or channels
which are scrambled, they will need a descrambler - even if their TV is “cable-
ready.” For example, all Pay-Per-View and Video-on-Demand, and most digital
programming, will require a descrambler. With a descrambler, customers may
then choose from several different service options and often can change
packages without the need for a home appointment.
In many cases, the descrambler and converter are incorporated in the same
device, generally referred to as an “integrated” set-top box. In accordance with
Federal Communications Commission rules, however, beginning July 1, 2007,
new digital set-top boxes that we place in service must rely upon a separate
descrambler module, called a “CableCARD.” Non-integrated third-party set-top
boxes and television sets equipped with CableCARD slots also may be available
for purchase at retail outlets in certain locations, although the availability of
such devices from third parties is outside our control. Moreover, due to device
limitations, the current generation of retail CableCARD-compatible devices
(referred to as Unidirectional Digital Cable Products (“UDCPs”) or Digital Cable
Ready devices) only can receive what are known as “one-way” cable services.
Such retail devices will not receive “two-way” cable services, such as Time
Warner Cable’s electronic program guide, Pay-Per-View, Video on Demand,
StartOver
TM
(where available) or switched digital video (“SDV”) services.
In particular, you should be aware that we intend to continue to expand our
deployment of SDV two-way technology. SDV allows us to use bandwidth more
efficiently by delivering certain channels only an as-needed basis. As a result,
SDV enables us to expand the number of HD channels and other programming
services we offer. Channels that are delivered using SDV cannot be accessed
on the current generation of one-way CableCARD devices, which were not
designed or sold to receive two-way services. All our two-way services can be
received through set-top boxes available from Time Warner Cable. In addition,
as we continue to deploy Tru2way technology in our cable systems and as
devices incorporating Tru2way technology become available at retail, customers
will be able to access our two-way services using such devices, as well.
Please note that we are the only authorized provider of any CableCARD or
other type of descrambler used to receive our services. You should be aware
that the use of any descrambler on our cable system obtained from a third party
and not authorized by us is illegal and is subject to criminal prosecution pursuant
to 47 U.S.C. § 553. If you have any questions relating to the need for separate
descrambler and converter devices, please call us for additional information.
PLEASE NOTE . . .
If you require a converter or descrambler for service, some features on your TV,
VCR or DVR may be limited. For example, without special additional equipment,
you may not be able to use picture-in-picture, channel review and display
features. You may not be able to record one program while viewing another or
record consecutive programs on different channels. We can provide you with
special equipment you may need to better enable utilization of these features.
Except in the case of descramblers, this equipment may also be purchased from
local retail outlets. If such equipment is purchased or leased from us, a custom
installation fee and/or a monthly equipment rental fee may apply. If you can see
images or hear sound from scrambled channels that you do not subscribe to,
you may request those channels be blocked. Please call us for details.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE
In cases where you require a converter and/or a descrambler, special
equipment is available to make your cable service more compatible with your
existing home electronics equipment.
BYPASS SWITCHES
If you would like to receive the portion of your cable lineup which is unscrambled
directly from your television rather than through the converter, a “bypass
switch” feature is available. A bypass switch will allow for the simultaneous
recording and viewing of different programs, the consecutive recording of
programming on different channels, and the use of picture-in-picture displays in
most cases where at least one of the channels is not scrambled. Depending on
availability, the switch may be part of your converter or descrambler, or it may
be a separate device.
PARENTAL LOCKOUT DEVICES
If you find any of the channels included in the service levels you have requested
to be objectionable, you can arrange for the installation of a device to restrict
the viewability of such channels. Please call us for details.
CUSTOM SETUPS
If you would like to receive two scrambled signals at the same time (for
example, so that you can watch one channel while recording another) it may be
necessary to install different equipment or even two descramblers on one TV or
DVR. Please feel free to contact us so that we may discuss the cable setup and
equipment appropriate for your needs.
We’re committed to helping you get the most out of your cable television
service. Please let us know if you are experiencing equipment compatibility
problems and we will work to find the best solution for you. Installation and
equipment charges may apply. As new technology becomes available, some
equipment compatibility problems may be resolved.
As new technology becomes available, some equipment compatibility problems
may arise that may require other special equipment or solutions. Installation and
equipment charges may apply.
COMPATIBLE REMOTE CONTROLS
We use converters or descramblers that work in conjunction with some
universal remote controls available for purchase at retail stores. These universal
remotes may be used in place of the ones we provide at a nominal monthly fee.
The following is a representative list of compatible universal remote controls
currently available from retail stores.
Customer Guide I
880; 966208-0403; H659
966193-0403; 915-000002;
966230-0403; 966187-0403;
9662300-0403; 890
LOGITECH HARMONY
BRAND
MODEL
RFS 100; RSF 200
MASTER REMOTE CONTROL
URC-8820; URC-613N
ONE FOR ALL
PH301S; PM435S; TSU500
PHILIPS
RMVL600; RMV310;
RMV202; RMAX1400
SONY
RCU310; RCU300TMS;
RCR450; RCR460; D770;
RCR860; RCR660;
RCR412C; RCR612
RCA
R5G; R7G; FX1; URC-R76;
URC-R5G; URCRF10;
URCRF20
UNIVERSAL REMOTE
ZEN760; ZN5DSS
ZENITH