Illegal Modification of Cable TV decoders - Chipping TV Boxes

The police seized several cable TV decoders and a computer and produced a report that described how allegedly incriminating software on the computer could have been used in the modification of cable TV decoders.  The defendant was charged with theft of cable TV decoders, receiving stolen cable TV decoders and with modifying a cable TV decoder.

I inspected the computer and produced an IT expert witness report that described all of the content of the computer and described the allegedly incriminating software in context.  Each item of allegedly incriminating software was also discussed in the report to show, where possible, if the software had a use that was not related to cable television.

I attended each day of the trial and after four days of prosecution evidence, all of the charges were reduced to a single absolute offence of being in possession of an unauthorised cable TV decoder.

Note:    This report is reproduced exactly as it was when served excepting that company and personal names have been removed.

Personal

1. This report was prepared by Graham Dilloway of 39 Conham Hill Bristol BS15 3AW. I am a Member of the British Computer Society, the chartered professional body for the computer industry in the UK. I have worked with computers for 29 years. This work has all involved the implementation and configuration of computers, their operating systems and the core software applications of a computer environment (e.g. word processors and spreadsheets). I have worked with personal computers almost exclusively for more than fifteen years.

Collection of Mr A’s Computer

2. On 4 May 2001, I collected two copied hard drives from Mr B at his office. On 4 May 2001, I collected Mr A’s computer from Mr C at his office. I removed the original hard drives from the computer before I took the computer away and the drives were left with Mr C.

3. The hard drive(s) of a computer is the only place where information is retained when the computer is switched off. All documents and other material created by a person using a computer are lost if the material is not saved on the hard drive.

4. In his statement of 8 October 2000, on Page 3, Mr B describes how he was able to restore (i.e. recreate) images (i.e. copies) of the original hard drives and he describes that he installed the copied drives into the original computer and that the computer could then be "started and viewed as if it were the users own computer". Using the copied drives and the original computer, I was able to follow the same procedure.

5. The computer is a full size tower model. The computer is intended to stand on the floor and is about the same height as a desk. There are no markings on the case to identify the manufacturer and there is no plate containing a serial number or other identification. I conclude that a private individual assembled the computer from components. Several of my own computers were built in this way.

Content of the Computer

6. The first hard drive, the C: drive contains 6,469 files in 1,539 folders. The second hard drive, the D: drive, contains 43,384 files in 8,804 folders.

7. A file created by someone on a computer is broadly equivalent to a single document on paper. Some files may be smaller, for example, a single page letter. Other files may be larger, for example, a report of several pages. Files created by a person using the computer (or copied to the computer from, for example, the Internet) might by text documents, pictures, spreadsheets (i.e. tables of numeric values together with mathematical functions). A computer also has other files that allow the computer to operate and these include program files (i.e. a file containing the instructions that tell the computer what to do).

8. A folder (also known as a directory) on a computer is a container for files. A folder may contain none, one or multiple files. A folder may also contain none, one or multiple folders. The folder that exists on a hard drive before any other folders have been created is called the root. The root may contain none, one or multiple files and folders in the same way as other folders.

9. A typical and simple example of the use of folders would be used to store information relating to customers of some business. A folder called "Customers" would be created in the root. Within this would be a folder for each customer, for example, "Jackson and Company" and "Matthew and Son". The "Customers" folder might also contain files that relate to all customers, for example, a letter sent to all customers about opening hours at Christmas. The "Jackson and Company" folder might contain folders called "Letters" to contain all of the correspondence sent and "Invoices" to contain bills sent. The "Letters" folder might contain further folders, for example, one for each month to contain letters sent in that month.

10. Folders may be created (and deleted) using Windows Explorer. This is a program included on many computers that allows lists of files and folders to be displayed and managed. Windows Explorer also displays the date that a file was last modified (i.e. the content of the file was changed) and the date that a file was last accessed.

Operating System Installation

11. The D: drive on Mr A’s computer contains a folder called "Drive C Backup" and this is shown as having been last modified on 06/07/2000. For a folder the last modified date is the date that the folder was created. The "Drive C Backup" folder contains what is almost certainly a complete copy of everything that was on the C: drive on 06/07/2000.

12. The C: drive contains a folder called Windows. This folder is to be found on most similar computers and usually contains the files that are required for the computer’s operating system. The operating system is the software that loads when the computer is first switched on. The last modified (i.e. creation) date for this folder is 06/07/2000. All of the other folders in the root of the C: drive have last modified (i.e. creation) dates of 06/07/2000 or later.

13. I would appear that, on 6 July 2000, the content of the C: drive was copied to a folder on the D: drive, the C: drive was then emptied and a new version of the Windows operating system was then installed on the C: drive. This process is one that I would recommend when installing a new version of the Windows operating system.

14. Subsequent to the installation of Windows on 6 July 2000, additional folders were created in the root of the C: drive by, for example, the installation of software.

Content of Computer

15. The root of the C: drive contains the folders listed in Appendix A.

16. Software applications are usually installed by an installation program that usually places the files for the application in the Program Files folder. The Program Files folder on the C: drive contains the folders listed in Appendix B.

17. The root of the D: drive contains the folders listed in Appendix C.

18. It is highly probable that prior to 6 July 2000, the C: drive of the computer contained the files and folders that were in the "Drive C Backup" folder on the D: drive when this report was being prepared. The "Drive C Backup" folder on the D: drive contains the folders listed in Appendix D.

19. It is highly probable that prior to 6 July 2000, the C: drive of the computer contained the files and folders that were in the "Drive C Backup" folder on the D: drive when this report was being prepared. The "Program Files" folder in the "Drive C Backup" folder on the D: drive contains the folders listed in Appendix E.

Categories of Material on the Computer

20. The material found on the computer has been allocated to categories that are shown in the tables in the Appendices.

21. Folders categorised as "System" contain material installed as part of the Windows operating system and material installed to enhance the operating system.

22. Folders categorised as "Utility" contain software and related files that provide additional functions not found in the operating system. An example is protection against computer viruses.

23. Folders categorised as "Office" contain software and related files that provide functions to create the documents found in a typical office environment. Examples include text documents such as letters or financial and numerical documents such as spreadsheets.

24. Folders categorised as "Mods" contain photographs and other material related to the modification of DVD players, games consoles such as the Playstation and other equipment. The stated purpose of most, but not all, of these modifications is to remove region controls from the equipment. These controls are intended to prevent, for example, a DVD movie bought in America from playing on a DVD player bought in the UK. Company Z offers these "mods" for sale on the web sites found on the computer.

25. Folders categorised as "Internet" contain software and related files for communicating via the Internet. Examples include e-mail software and software to improve the performance of Internet communications.

26. Folders categorised as "Web" contain software and related files for building web sites.

27. Folders categorised as "Game" contain software and related files for playing games on the computer.

28. Folders categorised as "Business" contain software and related files for business software such as accounting.

29. Folders categorised as "Media" contain software and related files for the creation and use of files that display movies and still pictures and that play sounds and music.

30. Folders categorised as "Chip" contain software and related files for loading programs into PIC chips and similar types of microprocessors.

31. With the exception of about forty folders that do not fit any of these categories, the number of folders that I inspected and that are in each category is:

 

Category	Number of Folders
Web	41
Internet	41
System	37
Utility	36
Media	27
Mods	20
Chip	10
Game	9
Business	1

32. It seems reasonable to conclude that the primary use for this computer was to access the Internet and to build web sites. Appendix F contains a brief description of the Internet and the World Wide Web.

PIC Chip Programmers

33. PIC chips are described in a page on the Loughborough University web site as,
"A Cooper, M Kicks and W Ghee
Nottingham Trent University
Computers housed in a single IC package (programmable micro-controllers) have been manufactured since the eighties and are used in a variety of products including: remote controllers for TVs and car locks, washing machine and microwave programmers and communication devices. One popular range of programmable micro-controllers called PIC chips have been used by the Nottingham Trent University to explore their potential for Design and Technology education within secondary schools."

34. The same model of PIC chip may be used in a variety of devices. The program that is loaded into the chip defines how the chip operates in each device. Typically, the PIC chip programs are written on a computer and may be stored on the computer hard drive as a file. These program files can be transferred from computer to computer in the same way as other files. The program file can be transferred to the PIC chip using a programmer.

35. A PIC programmer is a device that is plugged into a socket on a computer. The chip is inserted into a socket in the programmer. A program is run on the computer that copies the program from the file on the hard disk onto the chip.

36. Mindstorms is a product from Lego that illustrates the use of PIC type chips. Robots containing chips can be built from Lego parts. The robots act according to a program written on a computer and copied to the robot using an infrared link.

37. The D: drive of the computer contains a folder called "CODE" within a folder called "unzipped". The file "PP87WORD.DOC" describes the content of the folder to be software to program PIC chips and the author of the document probably developed this content. The document has a typed signature of S.G. Willis with an e-mail address at "cus.cam.ac.uk". The web site for a computing centre at Cambridge University at www.cus.cam.ac.uk includes a link to find e-mail addresses and I was able to confirm that S.G. Willis has an e-mail address at the University.

38. It is reasonable to conclude that programming PIC chips is an acceptable use for a computer.

HEX Files

39. The programs for PIC type chips can be stored on a computer as files. It would appear that there is a convention to give names that end ".HEX" to these files.

40. A search using Windows Explorer for files with names that end ".HEX" shows that the computer contains several dozen such files. I did not find anything in the names of the files, the names of the folders that contained the files or in other documents in these folders that associated any ".HEX" file with cable TV boxes.

TCINIT

41. Appendix G contains a print of a web page that I obtained from http://www.psx1.buyandsell.ie/boo and describes a process for modifying a cable TV box to receive all channels. A web page at http://members.tripod.co.uk/techtrading/cablechip.htm contains a similar description to that in Appendix G.

42. From reading the content of the file "BABYJ.doc" on the D: drive of the computer and the content of Appendix G, I have the following understanding of how to modify a cable TV box to receive all channels.

43. There appear to be two methods of modifying a cable TV box.

44. One method of modifying a cable TV box appears to be to use a device called a "BabyJ" as described in "BABYJ.doc".

45. A second method of modifying a cable TV box appears to be to solder a PIC chip inside the box after first resetting the box using either a device called a "cube" or a computer program called TCINIT.

46. It is my understanding that a "cube" and a "BabyJ" are not the same thing.

47. It is my understanding that TCINIT is not used with a PIC Programmer to modify a cable TV box and that TCINIT only works when connected directly to the cable TV box by an appropriate cable. I did not find any evidence that an appropriate cable was found in Mr A’s possession.

48. My inspection of the computer convinces me that the computer contains a large quantity of material related to consumer electronics devices. A lot of material appears to have been obtained from the Internet. For example, the "unzipped" directory on the D: drive is reported by Windows Explorer to contain 807 files in 109 folders. I am not able to say with confidence why any particular material, such as TCINIT, has been obtained.

BabyJ

49. The "My Documents" folder in the "Drive C Backup" folder on the D: drive of the computer contains a file called "BABYJ.doc" that describes how to use a "BabyJ" device to modify a cable TV box. The properties of this file refer to the author as "g". It is likely that the file was created with Microsoft Word software and "g" was entered as the name of the person using the computer when the Word software was installed on the computer.

50. A search using Windows Explorer did not find a file containing the text "babyj" in any of the web sites on the computer. It seems reasonable to conclude that there was no intention to publish this document via the Internet.

Otherstuff1

51. The computer contains material for several web sites and these sites are in various stages of development.

52. The web site stored in the folder "copy_of _myweb" is incomplete. The only link, of several, on the initial page of the site that is working is the "DVD" link. The "DVD" link connects to page headed "Welcome to the Company Z website". The only link, of several, that is working is the "hacks via modchip" link. The "hacks via modchip" link connects to a page listing a single DVD player.

53. I did not find a sequence of links in the "copy_of_myweb" site that would lead to "otherstuff1.htm".

54. The web page defined by the file "otherstuff1.htm" in "copy_of_myweb" does not include any reference to Jerrold Set Top Boxes.

55. The web site stored in the folder "copy_of_copy_of_myweb" appears to be more developed than "copy_of_myweb" although nearly half of the links on the initial page of the site do not connect to anything.

56. The "other stuff" link displays a page that contains a menu of options. This menu includes an inactive link to an option about viewing all channels on a cable TV box. The link is inactive because the file for this web page does not include the information necessary to make the link work. It is not obvious to me why the necessary link information is missing.

2wheel.htm

57. A search using Windows Explorer did not find a file called "2wheel.htm" in any of the web sites on the computer. It seems reasonable to conclude that there was no intention to publish this web page via the Internet.

Otherfiles

58. I did not find any information about obtaining user and password information in any of the web sites that I inspected on this computer. I would have expected that a web site that contained hidden and restricted areas would have also included information about how to gain access to these areas.

59. The Microsoft web site includes technical notes (references Q170857 and Q247558) that describe circumstances in which a client computer might receive a message regarding authorisation to view files on a site. One of the conditions is to do with the absence (or incorrect naming) of an initial page for the folder. I did not find an appropriate initial page (usually with a file name of default.htm or index.htm) in any of the "otherfiles" folders in any of the web sites on this computer. The other condition is to do with a setting in the software running on the web server. I am not able to say what that setting was on 25th September 2000 for the Company Z web site.

Acefiles

60. It seems likely that the files in the "acefiles" folder on the computer are the files that constituted the web site at www.acefiles.freeservers.com and that the TCINIT program could be obtained from that site.

Graham Dilloway
Expert Witness

 

Appendix A

61. The root of the C: drive contains the folders listed in the following table. The entries in the Category column are the categories of folder content described earlier in this report.

Folder	Category	Folder Content
_RESTORE	System	Operating system files
ADDWEB	Web	Files that were probably obtained from the Internet and contain a web site maintenance program
clone cd	Utility	Files that were probably obtained from the Internet and contain a CD copying program.
Downloads	Empty	Empty folder.
Dvd8300	Media	A program to play video files from DVD or CD.2
FERRETS	Internet	Files that were probably obtained from the Internet and contain a collection of programs for searching the Internet.
Hackedstuff	Unknown	Contains a file that appears to be a very poor image of a display from a computer screen.
Hacker	Internet	Programs that appear to be for transferring files across the Internet.
ibmtools	System	Programs to support a specialised IBM keyboard.
ICQ	Internet	Files that were probably obtained from the Internet and contain programs to allow receipt of a type of e-mail.
MIRC	Internet	Program to allow people connected to the Internet to chat by typing messages on their computer.
My Documents	Utility	Folder for storing files created on the computer. Does not contain any files created by people using the computer.
Program Files	System	Folder containing folders that contain many of the programs used on the computer. The programs are described later in this report.
Recycled	System	Folder to contain files that have been "deleted" so that mistakes when deleting files can be rectified.
Rescue	Utility	Folder containing files to assist re-installing the operating system.
SUPERVOC	Utility	Program that works as a telephone answering machine and fax machine.
WINDOWS	System	Operating system files.
WINZIP	Utility	Files that were probably obtained from the Internet and contain a program to compress many files into a single file.

 

Appendix B

62. The Program Files folder on the C: drive contains the folders listed in the following table. The entries in the Category column are the categories of folder content described earlier in this report.

Folder	Category	Folder Content
Accessories	Utility	Utility programs such as a clock and calculator installed as part of Windows.
AccuTagger	Web	Program for use when creating web sites.
Addweb3	Web	Program for use when creating web sites.
Adobe	Utility	Program to display documents on the computer screen.
ahead	Utility	Programs to create CDs on the computer.
BlackWidow	Web	Program to collect information about web sites and to copy web sites for viewing when not connected to the Internet.
Common Files	System	Operating system files.
Creative	System	Operating system files.
Elaborate Bytes	Utility	Program for duplicating CDs.
FerretSoft	Internet	A collection of programs for searching the Internet.
HP DeskJet 720C Series	System	Program to support a printer.
ICQ	Internet	Programs to allow receipt of a type of e-mail.
Internet Explorer	Internet	Program to browse web sites on the Internet.
Messenger	Internet	Program to allow people connected to the Internet to chat by typing messages on their computer.
Movie Maker	Media	Program to create movies that can be viewed on a computer.
MSN Gaming Zone	Game	Programs to play games with opponents using the Internet.
NetMeeting	Internet	Programs to share information with people using the Internet.
Norton Internet Security	Empty	Empty folder.
Norton SystemWorks	Utility	Programs to protect files on the hard drive and to improve the speed of the computer.
Norton Web Services	Internet	Program to obtain updated versions of programs from the Internet.
Online Services	Internet	Files that were probably obtained from the Internet and contain a program to allow people connected to the Internet to chat by typing messages on their computer.
Outlook Express	Internet	E-mail program.
Padus	Utility	Program for duplicating CDs.
PCFriendly	Media	Program to allow DVD movies to be viewed on the computer.
PLUS!	System	Additional programs distributed with Windows.
Symantec	Internet	Program to obtain updated versions of programs from the Internet
Uninstall Information	System	Information required by Windows for use when a program is removed from the computer.
VR Sports	Game	A Pool game.
Windows Media Player	Media	A program to show movies and to play music on the computer.
WindowsUpdate	Internet	Program to obtain updated versions of programs from the Internet.
WinZip	Utility	Program to compress many files into a single file

 

Appendix C

63. The root of the D: drive contains the folders listed in the following table. The entries in the Category column are the categories of folder content described earlier in this report.

Folder	Category	Folder Content
_Restore	System	Operating system files
5552uniboard	Mods	Photos showing how to modify a Playstation to play imported games as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
7502 mod pics	Mods	Photos showing how to modify a Playstation to play imported games as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
9002mod	Mods	These are similar to the above photos showing how to modify a Playstation but nothing was found to confirm this.
ADAPTEC DRIVERS	System	Operating system files to support CD drives.
BANNERS	Web	Graphics for inclusion in a web site.
CDR RECORDER	Mods	Photos showing how to modify a CD Recorder to use any brand of CD disks as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
Company Z web backup	Web	This folder contains files for a Company Z web site. The content appears to be incomplete and is probably work in progress.
COLORBUSTERMK3	Mods	Photos showing how to modify a Playstation to improve screen colours as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
compularm	Other	Photo of a burglar alarm that can be attached to a computer as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
DESKJET	System	Programs to support a printer
DREAMCAST PROB	Mods	Photo showing potential damage caused when re-assembling a Dreamcast after modification as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
DRIVE C BACKUP	Other	Copy of the content of the C: hard drive taken prior to installation of a new version of the Windows operating system. The content of this folder is described later in this report.
DVD GRAPHICS	Web	Graphics for inclusion in a web site.
DVD WORKSHOP PHOTOS	Mods	This folder contains folders that are probably named after models of DVD players and these folders contain photos showing ways to modify DVD players.
FRONTPAGE PICTEMPS	Web	Graphics for inclusion in a web site.
GAMESWOP AWARD	Web	Photos of a certificate for "Newcomer of the Month" being awarded to GameSwop UK.
gatway	Web	Graphic for inclusion in a web site.
gazpics	Web	Photos of a man and his car.
ICPROG	Chip	Programs for loading programs into a PIC chip using a programmer device attached to the computer.
ICPROG PICS	Chip	Pictures of the ICPROG program as it appears on the computer screen.
ICPROG0.9D	Chip	Program for loading programs into a PIC chip using a programmer device attached to the computer.
IMAGES	Utility	Contains files that appear to have been created by the DiscJuggler program during the duplication of CDs.
INCOMING	Game	Game software.
JOHN	Web	Photo of a man.
MIKE PICS	Web	Photos of a young man.
MULTI3	Chip	Photos of a chip programming device as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
MULTISIG	Mods	Photos of a gadget that allows a consumer electronics device such as a Playstation or video recorder to be used with a computer screen as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
pic58a	Chip	Photos of processor chips.
PLAYSTATION 2	Web	Graphics for inclusion in a web site.
prog	Chip	Programs for loading programs into a PIC chip using a programmer device attached to the computer.
PROMOD	Mods	Photos showing a device that modifies a Playstation to play imported games as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
PSONE PLAYSTATION	Mods	These are similar to other photos showing how to modify a Playstation but nothing was found to confirm this. The folder also includes a program that could be loaded to a processor chip.
PSX 5552 BOARD	Mods	Photos showing a device that modifies a Playstation to play imported games as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
RECYCLED	System	Folder to contain files that have been "deleted" so that mistakes when deleting files can be rectified.
rockwell	System	Programs to support a modem.
samsung709	Other	I have been unable to discover the purpose of these files.
SAVVY	Mods	A program that can be used to modify a mobile phone as described elsewhere on the hard drive.
SHARP600MOD	Mod	Photos showing a device that modifies a Sharp DVD player as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
SITE GRAPHICS	Web	Graphics for inclusion in a web site.
SKY DIGITAL PICTURES	Web	Graphics for inclusion in a web site.
spindles	Other	Two apparently technical photos whose purpose I was unable to discover.
splitpea	Empty	Empty folder.
SUB SEVEN	Utility	The internet web site for Sub-Seven says that they supply software to protect computers from viruses and the like. I have been unable to discover the exact purpose of these files.
tcy	Other	Photos of women.
TEMP PHOTOS1	Mods	Photos of electronic components and of people in a workshop.
uniboard 55xx	Mods	Photos showing a device that modifies a Playstation to play imported games as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
uniboard 9002	Mods	Photos showing a device that modifies a Playstation to play imported games as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
UNIBOARD BASIC	Mods	Photos showing a device that modifies a Playstation to play imported games as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
UNICOLOR	Mods	These are similar to other photos showing how to modify a Playstation but nothing was found to confirm this.
VODA	Mods	Photos and graphics showing a way of converting a mobile telephone from BT Cellnet to Vodaphone as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.
VSL PROGRAMMER	Chip	Photos of a chip programming device as described in a web site elsewhere on the hard drive.

 

Appendix D

64. The "Drive C Backup" folder on the D: drive contains the folders listed in the following table. The entries in the Category column are the categories of folder content described earlier in this report.

Folder	Category	Folder Content
GOZILLA	Internet	File that was probably obtained from the Internet and contains a program to assist with obtaining files from the Internet.
host-news	Internet	File containing data related to a type of e-mail.
ibmtools	System	Programs to support a specialised IBM keyboard.
ICQ	Internet	Files that were probably obtained from the Internet and contain programs to allow receipt of a type of e-mail.
IDriver	System	Files to support a specialised type of telephone connection called ISDN.
IEXPLORER5.01	Internet	File that was probably obtained from the Internet and contains a program to install a web browsing program.
InetPub	Web	This folder contains about twelve web sites all of which appear to be for testing and development purposes.
INSTACC	Business	Software package for recording information about a company accounts.
INTERNET RADIO	Internet	File that was probably obtained from the Internet and has a name that suggests that it contains programs to receive radio over the Internet.
IOMEGA	System	Files that were probably obtained from the Internet and contain programs to support a tape device installed in the computer.
IOMEGA DRIVERS	System	Files that were probably obtained from the Internet and contain programs to support a tape device installed in the computer.
ITI	Utility	Program that displays movie and still pictures on the computer screen when the computer is not in use.
JNavigatorV55	Web	Program that displays menus in web pages.
JVCRIP	Mods	Nothing was found to identify the purpose of these files. Their names suggest that they are to do with the modification of JVC equipment.
KALI	Game	A program to install software that allows games to be played over the Internet.
KEYLOGGERS	Utility	Programs for recording the sequence of keys pressed on a computer keyboard.
KPCMS	Media	Files that are probably related to Kodak software for viewing photographs on the computer screen.
KREMLIN	Other	Programs that appear to enable The Mach 5 software described below to be used with a copied version of the software.
MAGIK FOLDERS	Utility	Programs to make invisible the folders stored on a computer hard drive.
MAILBOMBERS	Internet	Programs that send numerous e-mail messages to the same e-mail address.
Multimedia Files	System	Folder created by Windows to store sound and picture files.
My Documents	Web	Folder containing about eleven web sites together with documents and other material for inclusion in web sites.
My Download Files	Empty	Empty folder.
NCDTREE	Utility	File that was probably generated by a utility program.
NETSCAPE	Internet	File that was probably obtained from the Internet and contains a program to install a web browsing program.
NTPACK	Web	Programs to install web server software.
PICALL	Chip	Programs to program microprocessors.
PM6	Other	Folder that appears to be the remnant of an aborted attempt to install a software application.
PM65	Office	A software application for creating newsletters and many other types of publications.
PORTSCANNERS	Other	I do not know what these programs are for.
Program Files		The content of this folder is described later in this report.
PROGRAMMER SOFTWARE	Chip	Program to load programs into microprocessors.
Quake2	Game	Game software.
Real	Media	Software to play movies and sounds on a computer.
REALmagc	Media	This is probably a program that allows DVD movies from any region to be viewed on a computer.
SALESCART	Web	Software to add an online shopping facility to a web site.
SALESCART PRO	Web	Software to add an online shopping facility to a web site
screen capture	Media	Program to install a program that creates a picture file showing the content of a computer screen.
SOUNDBLASTERDRIVERS	System	File to install software that supports a soundcard in the computer.
SUPERVOC	Utility	Program that works as a telephone answering machine and fax machine.
TCINIT	Other	Contains the TCINIT program that is discussed earlier in this report.
TOOLS_95	System	Software to support a tape device installed in the computer.
TWEAK	System	Software to enhance the Windows operating system.
unzipped	Internet	Contains more than 100 folders of files that appear to have been obtained from the Internet.
VIPER DRIVERS	System	Operating system files to support a graphics card to drive a computer screen.
WEBSHARE	Web	Contains about three web sites in various stages of development.
WIN32APP	System	Operating system files.
Windows Update Setup Files	System	Operating system files.
WINDOWS.001	System	Operating system files.
WinHex	Utility	Software to display and change the content of computer files including files that contain codes that are not usually displayed on a computer screen.
WinRAR	Utility	Program to compress many files into a single file.
WINZIP	Utility	Program to compress many files into a single file.
xtreme	Internet	Software to manage e-mails.

 

 

Appendix E

65. The "Program Files" folder in the "Drive C Backup" folder on the D: drive contains the folders listed in the following table. The entries in the Category column are the categories of folder content described earlier in this report.

Folder	Category	Folder Content
3Com	Internet	Software to obtain updated versions of programs from the Internet.
3dfx	Web	This folder appears to contain the remnants of software that has been removed from the computer. The folder name suggests that the software created 3D effects for use in creating a web site and in other documents.
3Space Publisher 2	Web	Software to create 3D effects for use in creating a web site and in other documents.
Accessories	Utility	Utility programs such as a clock and calculator installed as part of Windows.
AccuSoft	Web	Software for including graphics and photos in documents.
AccuTagger	Web	Software for use when creating web sites.
ACDSee32	Media	Software to display graphics and photos on the computer screen.
Add Remove Cleaner	Utility	Software to assist with tidying the Windows operating system.
Addweb3	Web	Web site maintenance software.
ahead	Utility	Software to record data to CDs.
AnalogX	Media	Program that creates a picture file showing the content of a computer screen.
Anfiteatro	Web	Software to create special effects in web pages.
Anfy Team	Web	Software to create special effects in web pages.
AntiViral Toolkit Pro	Utility	Software to protect against computer viruses.
Applet Marquee Wizard	Web	Software to create special effects in web pages.
ASPLogin	Web	Software to add password protection to a web site.
AuraLine	Web	Software to create special effects in web pages.
CHAT	Internet	Software to allow people connected to the Internet to chat by typing messages on their computer.
Common Files	System	Operating system files.
Creative	System	Software that supports a soundcard in the computer.
CyberPhreack EEprom Burner	Chip	The folder name suggests that this is a program to be used with a programmer device to program microprocessor chips.
Diamond	System	Operating system files to support a graphics card to drive a computer screen.
DirectCD	Utility	Software to record data to CDs.
DIRECTX	System	Operating system files.
DiskFactory32	Utility	Software for copying diskettes in bulk quantities.
DNS Workshop	Internet	Software to help locate sites on the Internet.
DPA Software	Web	Software for use when creating web sites.
Elaborate Bytes	Utility	Program for duplicating CDs.
FerretSoft	Internet	A collection of programs for searching the Internet.
FrontPage Express	Web	Software for creating a web site.
Gearbox Connection Kit	Internet	Software to manage Internet connection.
Go!Zilla	Internet	Software to assist with obtaining files from the Internet.
HighPoint	Utility	Software to improve computer performance.
HP DeskJet 720C Series	System	Software to support a printer.
IBM PerfectPhoto	Media	Software to manage, display and edit photo files.
ICQ	Internet	Software to allow receipt of a type of e-mail.
Image Applications	Other	This folder appears to contain the remnants of software that has been removed from the computer
Image Creator Pocket Edition v1.0	Other	This folder appears to contain the remnants of software that has been removed from the computer
IMSI	Other	This folder appears to contain the remnants of software that has been removed from the computer.
Infoseek	Internet	Software to improve the performance of web browsing.
Internet Explorer	Internet	Software for browsing web sites.
Iomega	System	Software to support a tape device installed in the computer.
iPhoto Plus 4	Media	Software to manage, display and edit photo files.
Kodak Digital Science	Media	Software to manage, display and edit photo files.
LucasArts	Game	Game software.
Mach5 Software	Utility	Software to encrypt files so that other people cannot read them.
Macromedia	Web	Software to create special effects in web pages.
Messenger	Internet	Software to allow people connected to the Internet to chat by typing messages on their computer.
Microsoft FrontPage	Web	Software to create web sites.
Microsoft Games	Game	Game software.
Microsoft Image Composer	Media	Software to manage, display and edit photo files.
Microsoft Office	Office	Software to create text, financial and other documents and files.
Microsoft Visual Studio	System	Operating system files.
Movie Maker	Media	Software to create movies on a computer.
MSN Gaming Zone	Game	Files to play games with opponents across the Internet.
Mts	System	Operating system files.
NetMeeting	Internet	Software to share information with people using the Internet.
Netscape	Internet	Remnants of software to browse web sites after the software has been deleted from the computer.
NetSonic	Internet	Software to increase the speed of Internet access.
Norton SystemWorks	Utility	Software to improve the performance of the computer.
Norton Web Services	Internet	Program to obtain updated versions of programs from the Internet.
ntl45	Internet	Software for browsing web sites.
ODBC_30	System	Operating system files.
Online Services	Internet	Software to create Internet connections.
Outlook Express	Internet	E-mail software.
Paint Shop Pro 5	Media	Software to manage, display and edit photo files.
PGP	Utility	Software to encrypt files so that other people cannot read them.
Plus!	System	Operating system files.
QuickTime	Media	Software to display movie files on the computer screen.
Real	Media	Software to display movie files on the computer screen.
Shut Down To DOS	Utility	Program to shutdown Windows.
SiSoft Software	Utility	Software to diagnose problems with the computer.
Snapshot Viewer	Utility	Program that allows reports produced by database software to be sent in e-mails.
Sound Forge XP	Media	Software to edit sound files.
Symantec	Internet	Software to obtain updated versions of programs from the Internet.
Terminal Server Client	Empty	Empty folder.
Thumbs32	Media	Software to manage, display and edit graphics files.
ThumbsCD	Media	Software to manage, display and edit graphics files.
Trojan Defence Suite	Utility	Software to protect against computer viruses.
TV Viewer	Other	I can find no information about the files in this folder.
Ulead GIF Animator 1.5	Web	Software to create moving graphics for use on web sites and other documents when displayed on a computer screen.
Ulead PhotoImpact SE	Media	Software to manage, display and edit photo and graphics files.
Ulead Systems	Media	Software to create 3D titles for web pages and other documents.
VR Sports	Game	Game software.
Web Publish	Web	Software to create web sites.
WEBCAST	Other	I can find no information about the file in this folder.
Webs Unlimited	Web	Software to create web sites.
WEBSVR	Web	Files to run web server software on the computer.
Winamp	Media	Software to play sound files and to display movie files on the computer screen.
Winamp2	Media	Software to play sound files and to display movie files on the computer screen.
Windows Media Player	Media	Software to play sound files and to display movie files on the computer screen.
WindowsUpdate	Internet	Program to obtain updated versions of programs from the Internet.
WinZip	Utility	Program to compress many files into a single file
Xing	Media	Software to allow the computer to act as a web server delivering movie and sound files to client computers.

 

 

Appendix F

The Internet

66. The Internet is very many computers connected by telephone lines and by specialised equipment. On 19 December 2000, a company that provides software for searching the Internet (Google.com) was claiming that it had identified more than one billion pages of information on the Internet. I have calculated this to be equivalent to a stack of photocopier paper more than sixty miles high.

67. The computers on the Internet may be:

· Servers. A server is a computer that provides one or more services to users of the Internet. A service might be storing e-mail messages (these are messages sent by a person at one computer to a person at another computer) or storing information that people can view.

· Clients. A client is a computer that a person would use to access the services provided by servers.

68. A single computer may be both a server and a client but this is rare.

69. Most server computers and some client computers are always connected to the Internet. Many client computers connect to the Internet only when someone needs to access an Internet service. Most home computers in the UK only connect to the Internet when necessary.

70. The telephone lines and specialised equipment that connect computers on the Internet varies. Some Internet lines are the equivalent of the telephone trunk lines that connect cities and that carry very many simultaneous voice telephone calls. These Internet lines are able to carry large quantities of information at high speed. The Internet line to a home computer is usually the same telephone line that we use to make a single voice telephone call. The capacity of these home lines is low. Home telephone lines slow down the speed that information can be transferred from the Internet to the home computer.

The World Wide Web

71. One of the services available via the Internet is the World Wide Web.

72. The World Wide Web is very many server computers that store information containing a precise (more or less) set of rules about the way that the information should be displayed on a computer screen. Client computers are able to run programs that understand these rules and are able to display the stored information.

73. The term "World Wide Web" is frequently abbreviated to Web and will be for this report.

74. The usual way to gain access to a server on the Internet is by name. The names that are used to access Web servers usually begin www and the name is usually referred to as the name of a web site. A name that begins www identifies a web site that may be many computers working together to provide information about, for example, a large corporation. A www name may also point to a particular place on a single server computer that stores many small web sites with each small web site having its own www name.

75. Perhaps the most well known web site in the UK is www.bbc.co.uk. This is the name of the web site for the BBC and contains information about BBC programmes and much else.

Client Access to Web Sites

76. A client computer accesses information stored on a web site using a software program that understands the rules that specify how the information should be displayed. This type of program is called a web browser and two popular examples are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

77. Information on a computer is stored in files. The files that people create when they use a computer typically contain information plus instructions that a program can use. A file created with a word processor program would contain the words of the document plus instructions to tell the word processor, for example, how large the text characters should appear on screen or on paper. A file created with a spreadsheet program would contain numbers plus instructions to tell the spreadsheet program which mathematical functions should be used to obtain the desired result, for example, to add or multiply the numbers.

78. A web browser program reads a file from a web site on the Internet and uses the instructions in the file to display on the computer screen the information in the file. The display on the computer screen generated from a web site file is often called a web page.

79. There are several sets of rules used to create the files stored on a web site with some sets of rules relating to the display of documents that contain text and other sets of rules relating to the display of pictures. The web browser understands the various sets of rules and switches between them automatically.

80. Some web site files contain instructions that direct the web browser to display the content of other files that are not necessarily on the same server. A typical web site file would contain text that is displayed as words on the computer screen plus instructions to display other files that contain pictures. A single web page would be displayed on screen by the browser and this web page would be a composite of the content of the several files.

81. Many web pages include areas on the screen, or words, or lines of text that point to other web pages. Another web page is displayed when one of these pointers is clicked with a mouse. The pointers are called links. The web browser also displays a Back button on the screen that allows the original page to be re-displayed.

82. A web site is typically a collection of web pages containing links that point from one page to the next. A person at a client computer may browse from web page to web page through the web site by clicking on the links.

 

Appendix G

83. The following was obtained from a web site at http://www.psx1.buyandsell.ie/boo.

Home Page

The Automapping Automultimode Chip

Installation Overview

This is a two stage process:

1. Reset Your Cable Converter (Your "Box")

2. Install the chip.

Resetting Your Box

TIP: Prior to fitting ANY chip to ANY box, ensure that the unit is not faulty. Plug it into the cable service to see what you get. If you get a message saying the unit is switched off, or if the remote control does not work, this is a sign that the box has been turned off by the cable service this is not a faulty box and you can reset it. You can also press F4 on the box keypad or using a remote control. If you get E on the display, there is an existing data line fault.

This is best done in one of two ways:

A. Using a cube

B. Using The TCINIT program supplied

The cube method is simpler, but the TCINIT program will more comprehensively set up your box.

A. Using A Cube

1. Ensure decoder is disconnected from the cable service.

2. Attach the cube flylead to the Cable-In port on the rear of the decoder

3. Take the cover off the cube if your cube button is inside the casing

4. On the bottom of the decoder is a 12 figure serial number composed of both numbers and letters. Write down the first 10

5. Translate the letters into numbers using the following:

A=16 B=1 C=2 D=3 E=4 F=5 G=6 H=7 J=8 etc.

A Zero should be translated as a 16

You should now have a string of 10 numbers which will be entering into the

Decoder using the cube

6. Turn on the decoder and set it to any channel other than channel 2

7. Connect the cube to the flylead (on either connector = it doesn’t matter which)

8. Plug in the cube. You are now ready to enter the serial number

9. Enter each number in sequence pressing the button the requisite number of times (e.g. a 3 is three presses). You will see the LED flashing back to confirm the number of presses. Be very careful in counting the LED flashes as some cubes do not have "anti-bounce" buttons and entering the serial number can be tricky.

10. Once you have entered the serial number, the display on the decoder will change to channel 2. This means that you can disconnect and fit the chip.

11. If the unit does not change to channel 2, this means that you have made a mistake in entering the serial number or you have translated the serial number incorrectly. Reset the cube and decoder and re-enter.

Troubleshooting

If the box does not return to channel 2:

Double check the serial number translation, and your flylead and power connections. If you are using a variable voltage power adaptor on your cube, ensure that it is set correctly. Reset the power to both cube and box. You can also press F2 on your keypad or remote control. This will give you 10 pairs of numbers followed by 2 flashing pairs. Ignore the flashing pairs and write down the right hand digit of each pair. e.g. 01 02 45 67 87 23 10 99 65 23 becomes 1257730953. Translate the serial number as above, and check that it is the same as the number on the bottom of the box. If it is not, try entering this number instead.

A. Using TCINIT

The TCINIT program is used for loading the correct address into the cable box by entering the serial number when prompted, The program then sends the serial number and other code to the box. This is accomplished by means of 2 wires connected between your printer port and the ground and data lines inside your converter.

THIS MUST BE DONE BEFORE INSTALLATION OF THE CHIP.

Step 1: Find The Serial Number of Your Box

You will find the serial number on the base of your box. Write down the first 10 letters/numbers. Alternatively, press F2 on your keypad or remote control and you will see 10 pairs of numbers followed by 2 flashing pairs of numbers. Ignore the flashing pairs and write down the right hand digit of each pair:

e.g. 01 02 45 67 87 23 10 99 65 23 becomes 1257730953

TCINIT will allow you to enter the serial number either in alphanumeric form (as written on the base of your box (use capital letters), or in numeric form as you will get from the "F2" method.

NOTE: It is possible to get two different serial numbers one from the base of the box and another from the "F2" method. In this case you may have to try the alternate number if the first does not reset the box.

 

Step 2: Open Your Cable Box And Prepare The Connections

 

DISCONNECT YOUR BOX FROM THE POWER SUPPLY AND PLACE IT ON A GOOD WORKING SURFACE WITHIN EASY REACH OF YOUR COMPUTER.

Opening your box can be difficult due to the security screws used to fit the cover. Ideally the appropriate security tool should be used (either a Jerrold screwdriver or a Whitehead #3 bit). However, the can be opened using long nosed pliers or wire strippers and a lot of patience. You will also have to cut the black plastic anti-tamper plug at the rear of the box, using a Stanley knife BE CAREFUL.

Now you need to locate the ground and data lines inside your box using the appropriate diagram. If you do not have a diagram that matches, please contact me for one before proceeding.

Carefully cut the data line using a small sharp wire snips tool. Look closely to see that the 2 halves of the data line are separated. Try not to disturb it too much.

Get 2 lengths of wire (plastic coated) and strip the ends and "tin" them this is the process of coating the ends with solder.

"Tin" the points to be soldered and then solder one wire to the ground point in the box, and the other to the microprocessor side of the data link. As you look at your diagram, this will be the left hand side if your data line runs east to west, and the bottom end if it runs north to south. Closely inspect your work to make sure that the solder joint is sound.

NOTE: Prior to soldering, ensure that your soldering iron is fully heated up, and try to minimise the amount of contact it has with the links, as excessive heat can melt solder on the underside of the circuit board.

Step 3: Connect The Leads To Your Computer

Place your cable box so that it is within easy reach of the computer and a power socket.

Power down your computer, and remove the printer lead from your printer port (LPT1).

The Connections need to be made as follows :-PC Parallel Printer Port Pin 1 (Strobe) to the data wirePC Parallel Printer Port Pin 25 (Ground) the ground wire. The pins are as below: As it is a female connector, you can simply insert the "tinned" ends of the wire.

Step 4: Powering Up Your Cable Box

You can now switch on your cable box and twitch it to a channel other than channel 2. Please note that the cable box must be switched on and connected to the computer BEFORE running the TCINIT program.

SAFETY: It is very dangerous to place your hand inside the cable box whilst it is powered up. Take every care to avoid contact

Step 5: Running TCINIT

TCINIT must be run in DOS mode on your computer. This can be done by Pressing the F8 key on your computer keyboard when you see the words "Starting Windows …..", and selecting the "Command Prompt Only" option from the menu.. Alternatively, you can select the "Shut Down" menu on the Start Button Menu and click "Restart in MS-DOS Mode". This program will NOT run correctly in a DOS Window or under Windows NT.

You are now ready to run TCINIT.

In DOS mode, this is done by typing in the name of the program (TCINIT) and hitting the ENTER key. If you cant locate the TCINIT program, here are some useful DOS commands:

DIR tcinit.* This will list TCINIT if it is present in the current folder

CD|CABLE Change to the "CABLE" folder if this is where you stored the

Program.

If you run into difficulty in DOS mode, reenter Windows and copy the TCINIT program to the root directory (C:), and then reenter DOS mode.

Once you have entered the program, you will be prompted to enter the serial number of the box. You can enter this in alpha numeric form (capital letters and numbers) from the bottom of your box, or in numeric form (obtained by pressing F2 on your cable box).

When you hit the ENTER key the process of loading the address is done nearly instantaneously.

If the operation is successful, the channel number on your box will change to channel 2, and you are now ready to fit the chip.

Troubleshooting

The channel number does not change to .channel 2.

Double check your connections both in the box and the printer port (ensure that they are firmly inserted). Double check your serial number (see troubleshooting under cubes). Check the settings on your printer port. If necessary set it to address 0x378, This is the standard setting for LPT1. This can be accessed by entering your computers BIOS setup program, normally by hitting the DEL or F1 key as the computer boots up.The option you need is normally in the Integrated Peripherals menu.

Installing Your Chip

Locate the correct diagram for your cable box, locate the correct live, ground and data points and follow the instructions.

Once you have connected the live, ground, and 2 data wires, drill a small hole in the back plate and fit the switch so that you can access it when required. Fit a double sided sticky tab (or something similar) to the underneath of the PCB both to hold it in place and to insulate it. Replace the cover and connect your cable box to the power. Press F4 on your remote control or keypad to check for errors. If you see E you will need to recheck your installation. You can then reconnect your box to the cable service.

Superchip Information

The superchip will be fully functional in over 95% of areas. The defaults for full operation are to leave both jumpers off. When you switch on your box you will initially find that your channels numbers are different from normal, whilst the superchip is adapting to your system. You will also find that if you have any multimode channels they will initally be scrambled. Depending upon the time of day, and your local cable operator, your box will have full operation with all channels open within 10 minutes to 3 hours (but 20 minutes is a typical waiting time). If you wish, you can press the A/B button on your keypad or remote control to switch between channel maps

If you have any problems, using the options below will normally solve them.

Superchip Pin-Outs

Pin 1 Live(+5v) Pin 8 Ground

Pin 2. Optionally ground to disable Pin 7 data output

Automapping on power up

Pin 3 Optionally ground to disable Pin 6 data input

Superchip Options

If pins 4 and 5 are connected to a NORMALLY CLOSED switch the superchip will not reboot the box when power is applied.. The switch must be depressed while power is applied to the box to reboot it. This allows you to unplug the box without losing the channel map every time. If no switch is fitted when the box is turned on, it will usually take about 20 minutes for the normal channel map to be reloaded (depending upon the area and the time of day). Depressing the switch momentarily when the box is on will force the superchip to update the channel map with the next available map on the cable system.

IF pin 3 is grounded (i.e. the jumper is attached if you are using a PCB) this will DISABLE the address tracking system which continuously scans for updated channel maps. Leave this pin TIED HIGH (i.e. jumper off if you are using a PCB) unless the box constantly "JUMPS" between channel maps on a multiple map system.

IF pin 2 is grounded (i.e. the jumper is attached if you are using a PCB) this will lock the current channel map in place and prevent it being updated. It will disable the automap on power up - a function which causes the superchip to search for the first available channel map every time the box is powered up.

You must have this pin TIED HIGH (jumper off) for the superchip to initially automap your box, and then remove it to lock it in place.

If both pins 2 and 3 are grounded (jumpers on) all automapping systems will be disabled, and the chip will function as a normal 4 wire auto multimode chip.

Assembling You PCB (DIY Kits)

 

 

General Tips

· Use a small vice to hold the PCB whilst assembling components

· Use good quality electronic solder with a flux core– do NOT use plumbing solder.

· Do not use additional flux

· Try to work carefully but quickly. Try not to overheat components – particularly when working close to the chip.

Fit the jumper pins through the PCB; Then place it upside down on on the work surface resting on the jumper pins. Solder one pin of each jumper. You will probably find at this point that the jumper pins are not square on the PCB. You can now hold the PCB with one hand, and using a finger pressing on the jumper, melt the solder so the jumper sets square on the PCB. After doing this to both jumpers place the PCB back on the work surface or in a small vice to solder the remaining jumper pins.

Next fit the three 10k resistors and the 509 chip remembering that pin 1 (marked by dimple on chip) is towards the resistors side of the PCB.

Fit the connecting wire and switch as shown in the example supplied.

Assembling A Superchip Only (No PCB)

General Tips

· If you are not used to working quickly it is important to fit a heat sink whilst soldering wires to the legs of the chip. This will draw heat away from the chip, minimising the chance of heat damage. A crocodile clip with the teeth filed down is one way of doing this.

· Use a small vice as you will need both hands free.

· Carefully inspect your work for defects before fitting the chip

Tie pins 1 to 4 high. That is, connect these pins together by bridging them with solder

Solder the live wire to pin 1

Solder a ground wire to pin 8

Solder a data out wire to pin 7

Solder a data in wire to pin 6

Optionally solder a normally closed switch to pins 4 and 5 (see PCB section)

Insulate the chip using sticky tabs, or something similar, and connect the wires using the correct diagram for your cable box as described in a previous section.

NOTE: When the superchip is fitted without a normally closed switch, if power is turned off to the cable box, it will lose the channel mapping. It will take an average of 20 minutes after power up, for all functions to be restored.