How can I be certain that my digital-to analog tv converter is not transmitting data?

Question

Who are the watch-dogs in this regard? How can I police this myself? U.L. laboratory licenses are pie-in-the-sky as to what is actually being distributed. Is there an actual city monitor/municipal sheriff addressing these concerns? Communication interception is the fastest growing industry and I have no doubt that there are those who have taken an offensive/aggressive position on reducing privacy to the n'th degree.

Answer 1

Wow.

Paranoia, the destroyer.

Silly boy you got so much to live for

So much to aim for, so much to try for

You blowing it all with paranoia

You're so insecure you self-destroyer

_____________________The Kinks

The box is a passive device. And your antenna is one-way. There's no way to ship back information about what you're watching. Besides, what's the worry.

Answer 2

Uh, here's how you know. Most are made by Chinese companies, and use the fewest and cheapest components available in an attempt to lower prices all along the distribution chain to their lowest possible level.  Not only that, but it doesn't make technological sense. Few wireless technologies can transmit far. The only one I know of is cellular, which would mean the networks would be recieving a ton of traffic from these boxes. All the techs would notice, making it not so secret. No, really, cellular bandwidth is expensive, and bandwidth monitoring people would notice changes in its allocation real fast. As for data, the only thing a box could know is when it's powered on, and what channels you watch at what times. Well, unless the Chinese spent ANOTHER three dollars on a camera module, and they didn't.

Also, the FCC is responsible for all communications systems. They're also responsible for ensuring that devices never interfere with eachother. Since cellular devices are very heavily regulated, they'd either also be in cahoots, or there'd be lots of warnings about interference and other stuff.

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Here's some pictures of a Zenith. Pretty lonely in there, no? Yeah, it has nothing that could be used to spy on you.Nothing at all but Taiwanese caps, a cheap PCB, and a few Taiwenese video converter ICs.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...

Answer 3

I don't think that there is anyone addressing these concerns as they do not think the situation warrants it.  I can tell you though that if you start calling city officials or your local sheriff that they will think you are a crackpot.

What are you worried about your box transmitting?  You will also need to consider the size of your box.  For it to transmit much data or to transmit it very far, it would need to be a fair bit larger than it is.  Or, there would need to be receivers every few blocks.  Fairly unlikely in my opinion.

Answer 4

If you are concerned, unplug and don't watch television....

What are you afraid that they will find out? that you watch "I Love Lucy" at 3am?

Besides the camera on the 7-11 across the street records everything you do, anyway.....