Does anyone know if there are units you can buy that will allow you to control the power and volume of a very old tv?
I remember old cable boxes could do this but have never seen a stand alone product that could.
please copy my email on a reply since I do not frequent this forum.
-wsware
The very old, early consumer TV remote controls used ultrasonics. They used the principle of small hammers striking some little metal bars inside. Each bar was resonant at a particular frequency. The receiver would follow its command according to the frequency it was recieving. These remotes are no longer available. The same is for many of the remotes for the early models of sets. The next generation of remotes used IR (infared). They tranmit the command data over an IR beam. All the new remotes are using IR for their data transmission.
There is a newer generation of remotes that will be coming on the market in a few years. These are going to be using 2.4 gHz RF (radio frequency). The data will be sent on an RF carrier. This is going to soon be low in cost for the manufactures to achieve. It will also be able to through walls, and around corners, because it is RF, and not optical as like the IR type transmission. Each TV set will be able to address its own security code, so that there will not be any conflicks or crosstalk.
The best place to find the very old remotes are at the flea markets. Sometimes you can find them at a garage sale. The only problem, is that it has to be the right one for your set. I tell people that since the prices are very cheap at the flea markets, they should buy a number of them when possible. This way there will be parts to make one out of a number of them.
-- When I was about 8 years old, I saw a remote control TV for the first time. This was very facinating for me. This was back in the 1950's.
I think you're giving this guy way too much credit.
The way I read it, he doesn't need a replacement clicker. He's got an ancient t00b set and he wants to put a stepping motor on it to twist the channel changer knob.
LOL!! that made me laugh, hehehe.
-- Myron Samila Toronto, ON Canada
Many years ago, a friend had a set with exactly that, factory standard. Plus motorized volume, brightness and contrast (B/W only!). It was considered
*very* high-tech! :-) His next set had an ultrasonic remote - we had endless hours of amusement pressing buttons to make the cat twitch its ears, scratch it's hindquarters, get up and leave......Ken
I'll bet it never got lost, and you could tell when one of the children was sat on it. It was obvious by the look on their face.
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