Turning Off TV

DoctorDowntime · Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 22 Location: California, USA

Although the reactivation feature on the new version might come in handy at times, I find that if a tv does not turn off right away, it usually has something more to do with either my distance from the set, blockage between me and the tv's IR sensor, or being at a poor aiming angle.

Since my own primary-use TVBG is secreted into a hat, the secondary LED showing activity would be useless to me. And as for "now coming with a bigger battery, that can even shoot through glass"...The basic TVBG can *already* do that, if you are not too distant from the window, and there is a minumum of glare on the glass (*and* if you have a good angle aiming through the glass, also). I've tested it...many times.

In addition, there is *already* room for a second CR2016 battery to be added to the flip side along side the other one there, and the double-wide insulator like on the reverse side's battery holder is easy enough to fabricate. So there is actually no need to use a single CR2032 on the flip side, when a second (totalling 4 batteries in all) CR2016 can be added, giving even *more power* than 2 CR2016's plus 1 CR2032 (as the manufacturer suggests). And the components used are rated with tolerances such that they can easily handle the extra voltage, without risk to the TVBG unit. I've been a tron tech and engineer for an *awfully* long time, and I know of what I speak...

Have fun,

~Doctor Downtime
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Doctor Downtime says:

"Turn it off, and go outside. Your Real World adventures await you!"
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Jackal · Guest

I love using my TV-B-Gone remote, so when it stopped working due to dead batteries, I quickly sought to replace them.

I stumbled upon this a while ago, and when I opened up the TV-B-Gone device, I saw how easy it would be to slip the extra battery in.

So, I stopped at an Alberson's store and picked up 2 double-packs of CR2016 batteries. I got into my car and replaced the batteries. 2 on one side, two on the other.

It worked great for about a week, but suddenly it stopped working.

The batteries couldn't possibly be dead already. So I opened it up to see what was happening.

I immediately realized my mistake. In my haste to get it working again, I forgot to make an insulator strip for the second battery slot. The remote worked when I removed one CR2016 battery from the slot, but would not work when 2 were in the slot. I used the original insulator strip as a template, and I carefully traced it out onto a sheet of white paper. I cut it out and folded it just like the original one, then i replaced the original and I inserted my strip into the second slot. Then I insterted the 2 batteries. Nothing. I removed one battery, and it worked. The paper was exactly the same size as the original srip, so I don't see why it won't work.

Strange. Do you have an Idea why it doesn't work?

DoctorDowntime · Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 22 Location: California, USA

Try double-checking that the metal battery holder is still making good contact, with the added battery slipped-in. Also be *very* sure that your new battery insulator is indeed the same size as the original one, and that it is folded to keep the side of the battery from touching where they aren't supposed to. And, make sure you have all new batteries, if all else fails. Other than that, I'd have to see it to troubleshoot it. Both my original style TVBG's have been modified as I describe, and work perfectly well (both the one I built into the hat, and the usual hand-held version). If fact, I still have the same batteries in them I put in since I upgraded them both as of my previous post above.

Hope this helps,
~Doctor Downtime
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Doctor Downtime says:

"Turn it off, and go outside. Your Real World adventures await you!"
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clearcreekfan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Oklahoma

I just received my TV-B-Gone yesterday, and I can't for the life of me get the Instant Reactivation feature to work. Here's what I'm doing:

1. I click the button, then wait (forever) for the TV to go off.

2. Usually, the TV-B-Gone continues flashing for a long time afterward (seems like a minute at least).

3. When it finishes, I press and hold down the button again for at least a second, but instead of instantly reactivating, it goes through the cycle again and I have to wait until it finishes for it to reactivate.

I'm starting to think I've been shipped an older unit.

Any tips?

Mitch · Guest

Hi,

I am the inventor of TV-B-Gone, here to answer all of your questions. Smile

Instant Reactivation Feature:

When you push the button on a TV-B-Gone remote, it starts transmitting its hundred-plus codes. Each time the visible LED blinks, a new code is sent out. (If you don't want your TV-B-Gone to blink its visible LED, then double-click it to start -- then it will only blink once quickly at the beginning to let you know it started, and then 8 times at the end (after about a minute) to let you know when it is finished -- this is called "Stealth-Mode".)

At any time while the TV-B-Gone remote is transmitting codes, you can push the button for at least one second, and it will start the transmission sequence over from the beginning. You won't be able to tell that it started over, but it did -- and it will take about a minute from after you push the button to transmit all of its hundred-plus codes. (Though, if you double-clicked the TV-B-Gone remote to start it in Stealth-Mode, then holding the button down for at least one second will make the visible LED blink once to let you know that it started over.)

If you have a TV-B-Gone remote that has a visible blinking LED inside (you may have to look carefully if you have a black or grey model), then you have the newest version. (The older versions did not have a visible LED inside, though some models without a visible blinking light do have Instant Reactivation Feature.)

Another way you can tell if you have a TV-B-Gone with Instant Reactivation Feature is the packaging (if you still have it). We have two versions of packaging. If you have the packaging with the distressed 1960s housewife turning off the TV, all of the models that have "IMPROVED" in the upper right-hand corner of the packaging have Instant Reactivation Feature. If you have the packaging with the 1950s-looking teenagers with eyeballs popping out, all of these units have Instant Reactivation Feature.

Here's another way to tell if your TV-B-Gone remote control has Instant Reactivation Feature. Go somewhere that has a Sony TV. Point your TV-B-Gone remote at the Sony TV and click. It will turn on or off instantly (since Sony is the first TV in the TV-B-Gone transmit sequence). Then, while still pointing at the Sony TV, press the button for at least one second -- if your TV-B-Gone remote has Instant Reactivation Feature, the Sony TV will turn off or on instantly.

Batteries:

Please do not use two CR2016 batteries in the battery holder marked B2 (this battery holder comes from the factory with one battery installed in it). This battery holder powers the microcontroller chip, and if you use two batteries, you may damage the microcrontroller chip.

Here's that again in tech-speak: The microcontroller chip runs on 3 volts. CR2016 and CR2032 are both 3 volt batteries. If you put two CR2016 batteries in the B2 battery holder, then the microcontroller chip will get 6 volts, which is more than it is designed to handle. In order to protect itself, the microcontroller chip attempts to shut itself off if the voltage is too high. But more likely, the microcontroller chip will be damaged if you give it 6 volts. So, please do not use two batteries in the B2 Battery holder.

Battery replacement suggestion:

What I have discovered recently is that it is fine to use only CR2032 batteries: one in each battery holder. So, if you need to replace the batteries in your TV-B-Gone remote, please use one CR2032 in each battery holder. The visible light will be much dimmer, but the important emitter at the front will be much brighter (though you can't tell, since it emits invisible light).

Tech-speak: TV-B-Gone remotes come from the factory with two CR2016 batteries in the battery holder marked B1. The idea was that with twice the voltage, the emitter would have a greater output, and therefore a greater range. But it turns out that the CR2016 batteries have properties that make two of them less powerful than one CR2032 (for those into the more technical aspects, the reasons are that CR2016 batteries have a very high internal resistance, and also have a low amp-hour rating).

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Mitch.

DoctorDowntime · Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 22 Location: California, USA

Actually, most components are rated for *tolerances* greater than those stated by the manufacturer, and I have never experienced any problems with my using 4 CR2016 batteries *at all*. So using 6 volts is not going to harm your TVBG...You just need to make certain that your second insulator is constructed of the same materials and dimensions as the original B1 insulator, and you will be fine.

As I say, I have never experienced any problems with using 4 CR2016 batteries (and any added resistance is negligible) and have enjoyed nothing but success with my modified and original TVBG units (and it shoots through windows *really* well).

So although I am glad to hear that using 2 CR2032's will still yield a viable signal (and reduce battery costs), any other implication seems geared to get users to purchase the new model, with the "neato flashy light" and "bigger battery" (the former simply being an extra power drain on your batteries, and your wallet, for having to buy new batteries sooner, due to the extra power required to power the "flashing visible LED").

And again, any unit with a flashing light that calls even *more* attention to itself is, as common sense dictates, simply foolish. That's techy talk for "don't believe the hype", or it will simply get you tossed from public venues even swifter than before.

~Doctor Downtime

"Edison may have invented the light bulb, but Nick Holonyak took the idea so much further, when he invented the LED. It's not about where you start, but where you go to shine your light."
-- Dragya Korep
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Doctor Downtime says:

"Turn it off, and go outside. Your Real World adventures await you!"
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