Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 25, 1995 TAG: 9507250048
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY DAVID BUTLER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: Technology is beginning to endow parents with more control over the types of TV shows their children watch. Congress is considering legislation that would require programmers to transmit yet-to-be-determined ratings within the video signal, using what's known as Extended Data Service. Future TV sets and set-top boxes would have special decoders and software, giving parents the option of automatically blocking shows based on these ratings.
Until then, you have two alternatives. First, contact your cable company. When a cable operator upgrades its set-top boxes, the conversion process can take several years. If your cable company already offers a model with parental control, you may be able to get an upgrade simply by asking.
Otherwise, you can choose from a growing number of stand-alone parental control devices. Like your previous set-top box, some models allow you to block specific channels. Others give you the ability to block specific shows. And for parents whose main concern is the amount of time their children spend watching TV, at least three companies now produce time-based controllers.
Of the blocking devices, the first model to be introduced replaces the cable box and includes its own remote control. Once the parent keys in a list of "approved" channels, all other channels are blocked. The initial version only tunes unscrambled channels. Another model is planned that will work in conjunction with cable boxes.
More sophisticated products will soon debut. One parental controller generates an on-screen grid with times and channels. This gives parents show-by-show control, an option previously unavailable. The device has two modes: control by blocking shows and control by approving shows. A special "pass-through" feature allows parents to watch scrambled channels via the existing cable box.
Time-based controllers serve a different function - they allow parents to limit television viewing time. In order to turn on the TV, each child must enter a personal ID code or swipe a plastic card through a reader. In either case, the parent controls the maximum number of viewing hours for each child.
Time controllers also allow the parent to block out certain time periods - for example, when the kids should be doing their homework or after bedtime. The child can share hours with siblings or "save" hours from one week to the next, instilling the virtues of cooperation and time management.
One company will soon introduce a product that allows parents a full range of options: blocking by time, channel, time and channel, and total time. Parents can even limit the amount of time their children spend watching video cassettes or playing TV-based video games. The product is designed to work with cable decoders.
To receive a list of companies that manufacture TV parental control devices, send $1.50 (please don't send cash) and a self-addressed envelope to David Butler F-522, Department TWN, 14713 Pleasant Hill Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28278-7927. The list includes toll-free phone numbers and a summary of each company's products. You'll also receive information on time-based controllers for telephones.
Q: Although my TV and VCR have stereo inputs, my cable box doesn't have stereo outputs. Is an adapter available that would allow me to receive cable channels in stereo?
A: Many cable systems now use MTS stereo encoders. Instead of providing stereo output jacks, most set-top boxes simply pass the MTS signal to the TV or VCR over the coaxial video cable. If the stereo indicator on your TV doesn't light up, either your box isn't MTS-capable or the cable signal isn't stereo. If the latter is the case, you're out of luck. Otherwise, you have two options: Ask your cable company for a stereo converter box, or purchase a stand-alone MTS decoder (available at many electronics stores).
by CNB