# Aviation and cable theft **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 31, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187 "2001-03-31T01:03:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zydecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e480ec/32.png) [@zydecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zydecat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187/1 "2001-03-31T01:03:33Z")
I work in the aviation field. Rumour has it that the local cable company is using an airplane to look for homes that are stealing cable TV. The aircraft flies low level over the neighborhoods in a grid pattern. Is it really possible that they can tell by flying 500-1000 feet or so over your house what you are watching on TV??? This sounds incredible to me and so wacky that I must say, yes this is a serious question. How does it work? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2001, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187/2 "2001-03-31T01:11:35Z")
Unless something really radical has happened in the science field recently, no, I doubt that one could tell what you were watching on TV from an airplane. What they **could** observe, however, is/are lines of cable going from the hookups outside to houses - the view from over top would be easier than from the street for example, since the cables aren’t often (IME) attached in front of houses. that’s all I could think of. ---
**Author:** ![zydecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e480ec/32.png) [@zydecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zydecat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187/3 "2001-03-31T01:27:13Z")
I don’t think they are looking for extra strung wires. They are doing this at night and the wires wouldn’t be visible. The people I work with swear that they are looking for some type of leaking signal or can somehow tell what type of signal is being sent over the line. I’m an air traffic controller. This rumour has been circulating for quite a while. I know for certain there is a plane out there doing _something_. They were out there all last fall. They just started work again. Someone said that they asked the pilot and he confirmed the rumour. I just don’t see how this is possible. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2001, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187/4 "2001-03-31T02:13:50Z")
From the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations): > [@](#): > > **Sec. 91.119 Minimum safe altitudes: General. > Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:** > (a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface. > **(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.** > (c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. > (d) Helicopters. Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator. If they’re flying over houses at less than 1,000 feet, get his number. Section (d) is why I like flying helicopters. 😃 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2001, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187/5 "2001-03-31T03:14:12Z")
WAG, but maybe this is it? From [http://www.fcc.gov/csb/facts/sig\_leak.html](http://www.fcc.gov/csb/facts/sig_leak.html) : > [@](#): > > Signal leakage occurs when the frequencies transmitted within a cable system are not properly contained within the cable plant. … As a further precaution, the FCC requires cable operators to have a periodic on-going program to inspect, locate and repair leaks on their systems. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2001, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187/6 "2001-03-31T12:07:29Z")
Maybe they’re not actually looking for cable leaks - they’re just spreading rumors and renting a plane&pilot to fly overhead at night to scare people into paying for cable instead of stealing it? ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2001, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187/7 "2001-03-31T12:23:11Z")
Well, I doubt they’re using airplanes, but yes, they can see what you’re watching on TV. It’s called Tempest technology, and it’s been known about for a long time. They use Tempest technology in the UK to catch folks who have a TV but who haven’t been paying their TV tax. I don’t know what the maximum range is on the equipment, but I can’t imagine why they’d fly an airplane over folks’ houses, even at 1000 ft. clearence, when they could just drive a van around the neighborhood and get within 100 ft. For an enlightening read, check out [http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/ih98-tempest.pdf](http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/ih98-tempest.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2001, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187/8 "2001-03-31T13:15:58Z")
Tempest is also covered in the latest PopMech, p. 71. As for range, they’re not too specific, but say, “You never know who might be looking over your shoulder, from a half mile away.” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2001, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-and-cable-theft/60187/9 "2001-03-31T21:38:28Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* \*\*From the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations): > [@](#): > > Sec. 91.119 Minimum safe altitudes: General. > Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may … (remainder snipped for sanity’s sake) \*\* Ya know, Johnny, while I, too, enjoy quoting chapter and verse from the Aviation Bible I actually come here to unwind, not read regs. Besides, everyone knows chopper pilots don’t fly - they just beat the air into submission. 😉 That said - it IS possible to fly a fixed wing lower than normally permitted in the regs. You just have to fill out a bunch o’ forms in triplicate, come up with a reason to convince the Feds, and not get yourself or anyone else killed while doing it. Personally, I think that it just happens to be someone out doing a little nightflying and completely unrelated paranoia on the part of cable TV cheats.