I pit modern electronics

The BBQ Pit
1

To the idiots that design all the modern TVs, digital cable boxes, DVD players, etc: Have you motherfuckers completely lost the concept of redundancy?

My TV works fine. Great even, but the damn remote control has developed some kind of short. I change channels with the digital cable box remote, but I need the TV remote to be able to switch the inputs from cable to DVD or Wii. You fucking idiots left out the capability to do that without the remote. Would it have killed you fuckers to put buttons on, let me think here, the fucking TV itself?

I’m stuck on “video one” and the only way I can use the DVD or Wii is if I crawl back there and change the RCA cables. Why? Because you fuckers didn’t put any buttons on the damn TV!

2

They’re there. You have to reach under the bottom of the frame.

3

Not on this model. Trust me, they don’t exist.

4

I agree with you in general and I have been burned by this problem. Remote controls have so many functions that it isn’t practical to put them all on the device itself or it messes up the look and design of it. However, there are some like mode, channel, and volume controls that should be on the device itself and made to be perfectly obvious.

I don’t want to interrupt a good rant but you can solve your problem with a universal remote. The problem is so common that even some supermarkets carry them. Even the really cheap $10 models work but it may be best to get a better one that can program itself just by pointing it at the device in question.

5

I know. Hell, I work part time in a hardware store and we carry 'em. But it’s Sunday and we’re closed, damnit!

6

Still, there’s no reason not to put buttons.
My cable box has tiny ones, ideal for the enterprising 2-year old. changing channel takes hours.

7

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10110

8

Yes there is. They have to have one stripped down model to compete with the lowest priced model offered by their competitor. Buttons cost money, you know.

9

Is there a button labeled “Menu” on your TV? That should let you access all its functions from the set itself.

10

No, that’s what I’m bitching about. I got a power button, volume, and channel. No menu and no mode. The damn thing has four hook ups in the back (seven if you count the coaxials), but there is no way to switch between them on the TV itself.

I’m stuck on “video one” because the engineers never stopped to think that maybe, just maybe, they should put some redundancy in.

11

Universal remotes usually, in my experience, have the INPUT switch or the SUBTITLES function for DVD players.

12

I assume you’ve tried wrapping the channel selector around? Some run through the other inputs using the channel buttons when you go below ch2.

13

When you bought the TV, did you check if it has redundant controls on the TV itself? If you did, did you consider paying extra for a TV that does have such controls?

I didn’t think so. That’s why they didn’t put the extra controls: Because they cost money, and customers either don’t care, or aren’t willing to pay extra for them.

14

If I’m paying 1000 for a tv, I wouldn’t mind an extra 5 for buttons that actually worked.
It’s not like they cost 100.

15

deleted

16

But evidently you didn’t look up the specs and choose a more expensive model that does have such controls.

17

No, but you can be damn sure I am going to look for that when I replace it.

eventually.

18

Since my cable box was free and was part of the installation package, I didn’t chose another non-existent model (for there were no others at that time).

You make the good point of checking before buying, but even then, it’s a nice rant about tiny buttons.

19

So you’re too stupid to read the manual, is what you’re saying?

20

Christ, that’s a dick post.