Zenith DTT900 HD Converter Box

Tech Tips from the In-House Engineer

As you might have already realized, most electronic devices do not really have an OFF condition, they just 'go to sleep' until something tells them to 'wake up'.  Any device with a remote control, in particular, can never be OFF.  If it was OFF, how could it respond to the remote control to turn ON?

This is not usually a problem - the power usage is minuscule and the devices are ready to respond when you want them without physically having to push a bunch of switches.  The process is usually so reliable that some manufacturers no longer include a real OFF/ON switch.  (There is no need for it.  Right?)  A real physical switch costs money and serves no purpose.  Yeah, right.  Anyone who has had to 'push the button' on their computer knows better.

The Zenith DTT900 HD Converter Box has a problem which reminds us that OFF/ON switches always have a real purpose.  At first, the problem seems to be connected to power outages or electrical storms, but now it just seems random.  About once a week, the box stops responding to the remote control.  It is still ON and still receiving whatever channel it is set on, but...  It will not change channels.  It will not change volume.  But, most importantly, IT WON'T TURN OFF!  Even pushing the 'real on/off switch' on the front of the box doesn't work because IT ISN'T A REAL SWITCH!

I'm sorry, you have probably guessed the punch line to this joke.  The only way to reset the operating system of this computer (yeah... It's a computer.) is to TURN IT OFF!  In this case, turning it off means unplugging it.  Of course, since it is installed in an entertainment center, all of the electric cords are conveniently and esthetically well-hidden and inaccessible.  In my case, near the ceiling.

After having to precariously stand on a chair (Don't try this at home?  Where else would we NEED to try this?) for the 4th or 5th time, I finally decided that problem was consistently recurrent and required fixing.  I put one of those switched extension cords in line with the HD cord so I could have a real switch where I could get to it.  A real low-tech solution for my high-tech device.  They should be readily available in any low-tech discount store, especially now since they are frequently used to switch Christmas lights.

Remember, sometimes low-tech is better.  Paper may cover Rock, but Rock can beat the crap out of Paper later.

Update 12/6/2012 It just died completely.  I wonder what will be wrong with the next one...