Alas,there's no FAQ. Any volunteers? Most of the information is gleanable
from the archives of the list.
In the meantime, here are some quicky answers to your questions:
You buy X*PRESS from X*PRESS Information Systems Ltd., 4700 S. Syracuse Pkwy.,
Suite 1050, Denver CO 80237. Their phone numbers are 800-772-6397 in the USA
and 303-721-1062 in Canada. "Not available in any stores" from what I can tell,
you get it in the mail. I don't think that local cable operators sell them.
What you get is a special modem which you connect between your TV cable and
your PC or Mac (or other system... read on) and some software for the PC or Mac.
Last I checked, the price was $150 if you have a conventional cable TV service.
I believe that its $250 for C-band satellite customers, and $100 if you have
PrimeStar (whatever that is -- anyone know?).
The data is transmitted during the vertical retrace interval of one of the
TV channels. Your modem will be equipped to handle the appropriate frequency
for your cable system or satellite or whatever -- it can vary from one system
to another.
The output of the modem is a 9600 baud stream of partially unintelligable
stuff. Some if it is simply encoded, and some of it is encrypted. The
encoded stuff contains the basic information service which X*PRESS offers
for the cost of the modem only -- there is no monthly charge beyond what
you're already paying for cable. The encrypted stuff is for premium services
which X*PRESS offers for a monthly charge, and you need additional software
in order to get the premium service.
The PD software is available from the list archives. Send a message to
listserv@grot.starconn.com (not to the mailing list address itself, please)
with the following commands in the message body:
index xpress-list
quit
and you'll get a list of what's in the archive.
I should mention that the X*PRESS list was formed mainly to discuss decoding
and using the basic service with software other than what X*PRESS provides.
On UNIX platforms, using Netnews readers, for example. Other subjects about
using X*PRESS, including discussion of their software and premium services,
are also welcomed. However, we don't discuss decrypting the premium service
or reverse-engineering the modem. Basically, we don't talk about doing
anything which would deprive X*PRESS from revenue. And one can never say
enough that the information carried by X*PRESS is copyrighted, and so you
can't distribute it beyond the scope of permission that you get with your
X*PRESS modem (e.g. your home).
I hope that answers your questions. Any volunteers to get your 15 minutes of
fame by doing a FAQ? Please e-mail me directly...
-- -Brian Smithson brian@grot.starconn.com