Queue up for a digital set top box coupon for CT-100, etc...

[wa2ise]

I just ordered a CM 7000 at http://www.solidsignal.com/

You type in your coupon's number as you check out on their web page order form pages. Obviously afterwards you have a spent coupon card you get to keep...

On the product guide web page they had specs:

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_disp...d=CM-7000#MORE

TUNER:

Frequency Range: 54 to 864 MHz
Input Impedance: 75 Ohm
Input Connector: F-Type, Female
Channel Bandwith: 6 MHz
Input Dynamic Range: -83 to -5 dBM / SNR - 15 dB

No other box had specs, so I don't know if the above are exceptional performance specs, or lousy...

Seems that there is an inactive RCA jack for digital audio, and they left out a buffer circuit inside to make the box qualify for the coupon. A handful of transistors and resistors and caps (probably a 75 ohm driver circuit to buffer a chip's output).

From http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1004274&page=3 post 81

Originally Posted by dingo99 View Post
Fry's has the CM-7000 on sale again, so I went and picked one up. See attached for a closeup view of the digital output circuit.

Missing are 4 resistors, 3 capacitors, and 2 transistors. Using a DMM, I measured +1.65V @ RA7, +5V @ RD60, and +5V @ CD28/QD9. Any theories what the missing component values should be?

@drlava, actually it does support anamorphic widescreen. Simply hit the "Wide" button on the remote to select the "Full" picture setting.
Excellent info!
Here's a quick visual analysis:

The 1.65V is the rms voltage of the 3.3V biphase manchester encoded data coming from the chip. This goes to the amp/buffer PNP transistor QD10 whose emitter (and base of QD9) is biased by RD60. QD9 may be a NPN transistor with a buffer cap on its collector (CD28). Its output goes to impedance matching/filter network RD61, 62, and CD29, and is finally AC coupled to the coax output through CD30.
RA7 may be necessary for signal integrity to cut down on ringing, or provide additional pull up or pull down current.

With one of these in hand, I could probably have a working solution in an hour or less.

This box has S video, so one could split off the luma channel to in turn feed a TV modulator that then feeds a B&W TV set. Like my 1950 Admiral.

[kbmuri]

Originally Posted by Pete Deksnis

Also Kbmuri, maybe there's something I don't understand about this, but I'm looking for a feed-through with mechanical switching that's not going to lose half the power...

This is what I read:

I'm watching CSpan this morning, and a senator asked why the FCC did not require pass-through as a feature in the eligible boxes, and Meridith Attwell Baker, acting assistant Commerce Secretary for Communications & Information said it was because they determined that there would be a signal loss of 3dB in boxes with that feature. Sad...

from here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1014511

But it's just hearsay on a forum. Who knows how true.

Check here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1008310 and search the page for "passthrough". I guess there's some setup to make passthru work better in the Philco maybe?

I didn't notice a problem with mine.

[bgadow]

Hmmm...I'd rather send my money to Bulgaria than China, but if it doesn't work...

[Pete Deksnis]

Originally Posted by bgadow

...but if it doesn't work...

How right you are, Bryan.


[1]Yes, this operator had some difficulty interpreting the menu, but that finally got resolved.


[2]Unfortunately, about three minutes after the CM-7000 tuned to a channel, it would crap out. A check of the signal strength meter showed it fluttering down into the mud until a 'no signal' message appeared on the 15GP22. After a short 'off' period, the whole thing repeats.

Called Frys yesterday who agreed to send another one for exchange.

Received email today saying Frys cancelled the order because they couldn't confirm my credit card.

Checked my bank and saw the withdraw pending.

Called Frys today who agreed to send another one for exchange.

Stay tuned...!

[andy]

---

[peverett]

Here are a couple of articles by people who are not too keen on the switch. Some of the comments are entertaining also.

http://www.edn.com/blog/1700000170/p...&rid=738728466

http://www.teletruth.org/DTV.htm

Some of the second persons problems could be due to the low power levels being used for transmission at present. However, I have had issues in windy or stormy weather and I am only about 30 miles from the transmitters.

[kbmuri]

SolidSignal says this:

Solid Signal apologizes that we could not fill your order promptly while abiding to government regulations on your Digital Converter Boxes.

More so, I want to apologize for not updating you sooner on your order.
We are waiting for more stock on the CM-7000 and should have them back in inventory early next week. We will ship out your complete order the same day.

Please know, we value you as a customer and again apologize that you did not get an update.

Audrey Chapman
Customer Satisfaction Manager
SOLID SIGNAL

Maybe there's some sort of a reliability/recall issue with CM-7000

[Pete Deksnis]

Originally Posted by kbmuri

Maybe there's some sort of a reliability/recall issue with CM-7000

My thought too; we'll see... anyone else have experience with the CM7000 yet.

Frys just shipped my replacement CM7000 and at their expense. Due here in Asbury Park on Monday the nineteenth.

Pete

[Pete Deksnis]

A replacement CM7000 from Frys arrived on time yesterday, got set up today, and works great. It has a double zoom selection, which makes the diminutive image on a 15GP22 screen easier to see.

This you will recall is one of the few with an S-video output as well as RF and composite.

There is no apparent difference in performance of watchable signals between the Magnavox and this unit. Sometimes a weak signal will pixelize with the Magnavox, but show 'no signal' on the Channel Master; but you can't watch either so it doesn't matter.

Pete

[kbmuri]

Originally Posted by Pete Deksnis

My thought too; we'll see... anyone else have experience with the CM7000 yet.

Frys just shipped my replacement CM7000 and at their expense. Due here in Asbury Park on Monday the nineteenth.

Pete

An update on my CM7000 order...

SolidSignal.com got some in stock last week. Then they went about fulfilling my order, only to report that my coupons are no good.

Most of the regulars here know I've been wanting to put together 7 DTV converters into a whole-house VHF rebroadcaster on channels 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 13. I have been buying various DTV converters at retail and evaluating and reviewing them here. Figures, the last two I need I try mail-order and try using coupons. I've been 30 days trying to get satisfaction on them. Looks like not. Today I gave up and cancelled the CM7000 order entirely. If SolidSignal will cooperate, I should receive a Winegard RC-DT09 from them, by pooling the cash portion of both converters into one and ignoring the coupons altogether. Unless they can't do that without breaking some kind of red tape.

I know we're not supposed to talk politics here, but why is the government so incompetent at everything??? Sending me coupons that don't work? How challenging is that to get right, really?

Oh, well. Live and learn.

[NoTransistors]

I have a coupon-exempt Samsung adapter that had I purchased this winter. Channels 2, 11, 13, 21, 25, 31 and sometimes 5 are all too weak to receive with a roof antenna, even though I live in Brooklyn. The unit has a 10-bar signal strength meter, and even a good station can occasionally go down to zero then back up to 5+, in the midst of viewing.
Are the transmitters going to dedicate more power to digital when ANALOG goes byebye?
Or am I fucked?

Seth
Forever Analog [mostly] and Covered In Parrot Poop

FYI - Folks over on the AVS forum have verified that the audio problem with the Zenith / Insignia boxes appears to have been remedied in recent production runs dated April 08. For example, locate the sticker on the side of the carton and look for:

84Exxxxx (2008, 4th month)
or a SN# that begins: 804SHYxxxxx (again, 2008, 4th month)

Any unit prior to April will still exhibit the audio glitch.

[zenithfan1]

Originally Posted by sleddogman

FYI - Folks over on the AVS forum have verified that the audio problem with the Zenith / Insignia boxes appears to have been remedied in recent production runs dated April 08. For example, locate the sticker on the side of the carton and look for:

84Exxxxx (2008, 4th month)
or a SN# that begins: 804SHYxxxxx (again, 2008, 4th month)

Any unit prior to April will still exhibit the audio glitch.

I agree, I just picked up a few more Insignias and they seem to work much better than the first one I bought. Signal strength seems better too.

[Dave S]

Picked up a Zenith box yesterday. I'm about 30 miles from the Empire State Building and I get NO New York area network stations on the rabbit ears, just a couple of local Spanish-language UHF stations. Some of them pixellate badly.

[fdrennen]

Originally Posted by Dave S

Picked up a Zenith box yesterday. I'm about 30 miles from the Empire State Building and I get NO New York area network stations on the rabbit ears, just a couple of local Spanish-language UHF stations. Some of them pixellate badly.

What part of NJ are you in? I get a few NY stations and of course all of the spanish speaking staions. I just got my coupons and bought a digital stream from Rat Shack, I am still dealing wit hte best way to use the antenna. But the staions i get are as clear as cable!