Zenith DTT901 - Page 65

I've still got two DTT901 models (of April 2008 manufacture) set up for occasional use.

In my area (Portland Oregon) the Zenith DTT901 models still show up once in a while on Craig's List. Most brands are priced around $20 but Zeniths and Insignias usually command premium prices, sometimes as high as $60.

Here's an exception, a bargain priced "new" DTT901 for $35:

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/ele/2741399469.html

Great info, thanks! Sounds like $20 would be more like it.

I checked my Artec and it does do that too. Makes me suspect that all converters with the same main processor IC (MPEG decoder/something or other) can do this given the implementation of the IC's feature set.

Based on the clone attributes of the Artec using the same major IC chipset I would suggest to folks that are hard up for a Zenith or Insignia but are having a hard time finding one for a decent price to try an Artec; I think they still sell new for $35-$40. They also use a wall-wart rather than a complex failure-prone integrated power supply and are compatible for automotive use. From what I've seen of their guts they appear well designed and cleanly manufactured. I checked out their power supply scheme and they can accept a wide range of DC input - 3-4V to 12V; I tested with a Zinwell 5V wall-wart and used one with my van's cigarette lighter jack.
Disclaimer: I don't have a Zenith or Insignia to truly compare with the Artec.

Until the channel is removed or reset it seems to hold the aspect ratio. I nwould really like to use the 'Set By Program' setting, letterbox is fine though I don't like wondow frames.

I was watching Seinfeld the other night on my Fox affiliate & it was in 16x9 mode, I always thought Seinfeld was in standard 4:3 ratio?

All things considered for the cost of any surgery I likely could buy a truckload of 40" flat screens unfortunately... now I hope I don't hurt myself trying to get the 32" out. A recent routine 45 minute office visit without insurance, I was billed over $800. (there's my new TV right there... & then some)


Never knew any such animal (recording device with an OTA ATSC tuner) existed! ?

That's a decent one, but still too rich for my blood. Here's a better deal, but I still won't go for it because I don't have any use at all for the TV or the DVD player.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ele/2743732280.html

This is an example of the type of ad I look for: Text that is clear, concise, spelled correctly, grammatically acceptable, and revealing of a person who cares about their equipment. The pictures show the same: clean electronics framed well and in this case even laid out like a display piece. Well worth the $20 asking price I'm sure but I don't want to have to dump the TV just to get the DTT-901. This is the type of ad I responded to when I snagged my free Panasonic Tau CT-34WX54. The owner made sure to tell me that the HDMI input didn't work and two of the composite inputs rendered dark images, even noting it in the operating manual! In short it pays to be careful because sometimes even free items are not worth the price. My wife and I watch the Tau more than any other TV in the house, which says more than anything about how great are its picture and sound.


Thanks, good to know as I always wondered if any other boxes performed the same way. I will definitely keep my eyes open for the Artec. I am biding my time because my desire for another box to use at work is definitely in the want category as opposed to the need.

I was able to reset all the channels back to Cropped (my fav) in the menu but it was kinda weird to get it to stick for all channels. I had to try it on a few of the channels I experimented with. It might have been the one I had Set By Program that did the trick. No detail in the manual on this. I was also using the Ratio button on the remote to set each channel indepently. Now this is an Artec but I suspect similar to Zenith.

Hmmmm, maybe reformatted for modern use? (Seinfeld).

Based on medical costs it would probably be worth paying for help moving these heavy TVs if free help is unavaliable.

Now that's a heck of a deal! Esp with the popularity of the Zenith box. One could recoup their money (maybe plus some) reselling the other pieces if they felt like hassling with it. Yeah I wish all the ads were that nicely set up. I got took on a 'free' 27" TV boat anchor once that I had to dolly down two flights of stairs. P-poor ad but I specifically asked if it worked 'well.' It was on the patio with no outlet to test it but they kept telling me it worked fine. Got home and the pic was all over-magnified, none of the front buttons worked except for power and it appeared the controller processor was bad. I was gonna take it back and dump it out front but it was a gated apartment complex. I only went for it because it was a block away.

You're welcome! Too bad they weren't widely sold, might have been online only. I don't think I've seen one in a CL ad. But for others looking for something new and Zenith-like they're probably still available at a good price.

I emailed the Craig's List North Portland seller early yesterday morning when I spotted the listing. I have yet to hear back. (I'm also in North Portland.)

I don't resell equipment. Everything I purchase is for use in our household. When a piece of equipment no longer fits into our regular or standby usage profile it's given away or donated to a charitable organization if it's still functional or recycled if it's no longer functional.

I hope to use the Samsung 20" CRT TV for my home office main equipment table replacing a too large ancient Magnavox 25" CRT TV with RF only input, use the Zenith CECB as the tuner for the Samsung TV and use the Magnavox DVD player to replace a little used Toshiba DVD recorder in the living room. (I have a better use elsewhere for the Toshiba DVD recorder.)

Unlike Bernie's Bargain Bin here that snaps up the best stuff in the CL Free section and sells it at a couple of those two car-sized warehouses. Then if the stuff doesn't sell fast enough he puts it back in the CL Free section. There otta be a law.
You should see the Mexicans in their pick-up trucks roving my neighborhood on bulky waste pickup week, although that's actually a good thing as long as they don't pick up what they're not supposed to.

Now I don't see anything wrong with someone doing what I suggested if they really need the box but are hurting financially.

Yeah that was a nice-looking little Samsung TV. GL!

Today I purchased this "package." The seller is located on the same street as I am and just eleven blocks away.

The Zenith DTT901 is from August 2008. The Samsung TX-P2036 TV is from July 2004. The TV has a good assortment of inputs and outputs, even a set of "Monitor Out" jacks, see the second photo. Notice that I need to clean the dust off the jacks. The Magnavox MDV456 DVD player is from April 2004. I opened it and cleaned the laser lens and rubber hub (that had very little soiling).

I'll start setting up and checking out these devices tomorrow.

Wow that's some loaded 20" TV, even component inputs and does 480i. Nice locale luck too, I see good deals too but too far away in this big ol' metroplex.

My Technics 5 disk turntable CD player starts like it will play a disk but then goes onto the next disk as if there's no disk in the slot and this repeats all the way around regardless of slot. I hadn't turned it on in a while before this started. It has a dust cover but could a dirty lens be the culprit?

The main channel is usually settable & sticks, though the ratio on the subs cannot be changed (at least in my area). I liked the cropped setting too with the 4:3 sets. Once you remove the channel & add it will have to be reset again though.

I live on the 'Angry' planet, free help isn't available. (with the price of gas too, who can blame anyone for not wanting to go out of their way anymore).

Since I had to sell my van a few years back I haven't been able to haul anything sizeable, come to think of it I may not even have a vehicle to properly bring home a 42 flat screen.

Yeah you can pay the geek squad $150 to come out & haul it away, I guess that would be worth it.



A lense cleaning is where I would start, even in a non smoking environment these lenses apparently get a film, I have had several skip & freeze CD & DVD machines instantly cured with just a swipe of alcohol across the laser lense.

The manufactures continue to try to bury this lense too to make it inacessable.

That Samsung 20" is a sweet package!

My finder's fee is payable in cash, check, or money order...

Same here on the subs although I don't recall if they all are fixed. In my experiment I only used mains. I wasn't very clear but in my experiment the sticking was to get all the channels I modified individually to return to the state where they were all at the same ratio.

Of course here one can drive to certain areas and pick up some cheap labor.

No telling where they buried the lense in a turntable CD player. I can't wait to give it a try!

Since none of the subs are in HD here, the aspect raito seems to be fixed, on the mains which most if not all are in HD the aspect ratio can be changed 9at least that's how I think it works).

Lot of seasonal nursery/landscape workers here too, though I don't know where they hide otherwise other than the local Wal*Mart on Saturday & Sunday nights!

That's why I frown on combo players, you can try a disc with the brush, but they are no where near as effective than swabbing the lense.

I think you're right. I'll have to play around with the subs here and see if any are in HD but I think it takes too much bandwidth vs keeping a good quality main. WB here has two subs for movies but I wish they would eliminate one as neither is worth viewing due to the poor quality, esp when anything is moving; at least the main is solid.
I hate it when they force LB on me as my 27" is too small as it is.

I heard they have pick up points near downtown areas but I suspect the locations change as the federales catch on. Sort of a drive thru and hop in the back of the truck system. Maybe bus stops for smaller scale?

The laser lens is suspended in a fixed assembly under an opening in the disc tray near the spindle. The below linked posts are from the DVD Recorder sub-forum. DVD Player drives are of similar design.

This post describes and illustrates cleaning procedures for Panasonic DVD Recorder drives:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...8#post14479898

This post describes and illustrates cleaning procedures for Funai-manufactured DVD Recorder drives (Magnavox, Philips, Sylvania, later Toshiba, Emerson, Symphonic, PYE, TruTech, etc):

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...2#post19647592

I have 4 subs on my PBS, 2 on my Ion, all others have 1 each with the exception of Univision which has none. They eliminated a decent weather service on the NBC in favor of a radar only. They will be adding another sub on 'My' after the first of the year. I tend to watch most TV on these subs This!, Me, & Antenna.... though the area lacks Retro, Pb&J & that music video service, the name escapes me, I miss the old 'Tube'.

The migrants may be sparce here in the winter, but every year more & more are hanging around for snow removal, better pay etc.

Excellent info, thanks! Now I know what to look for and clean once I figure out the turntable version.

Only one PBS sub but I like that it appears to be the same PBS content in a different timeframe than the main. Two on Ion and a spattering of subs on others but many of which I've deleted. Lots of Mexican and religious stations and a few I keep (probably the subs for many) because they show old shows&movies in English, quasi-MTV, and hot Latino babes; I knew I should have bought some Univison stock long ago. We had a nice weather service on NBC too which got booted for some local scene-type station; ABC has one but I liked the NBC version more. We have a my TV (lowercase m here) but it has no subs. Have This! and Antenna as subs to CW (the WB one I mentioned before). Don't recall a Me station.
BTW I found a sub that has adjustable aspect ratio but isn't HD, that NBC sub with the local scene-type station.

These southern regions may be running the migrants further north via local politics. You may have heard of Farmers Branch, seems they kinda started it; a north Dallas suburb, I partly grew up there and my Mom still lives in the same house.

Hey does the Zenith/Insignia have adjustable picture settings in its menu? (I suspect it does like its Artec clone).

I don't have multi-DVD turntable players. I would assume that the turntable rotates to position the selected DVD over the spindle that lifts the DVD off the disc tray and spins the DVD while the lens assembly moves along the mounting rods while reading the DVD.

I'm attaching two photos of a Magnavox MDV456 from 2004. Recent Magnavox DVD Players don't have so much vacant space.

Yes, very good! At least I can see it lifting the disk up, no spinning but probably because it won't initiate. The upper part looks like a bridge that goes between the center of the turntable and the spindle/lens assy; I was hoping the bridge would open for easy access but have not been successful getting it to lift thus far (I haven't gone 'full out' in trying to repair it yet, the unit is still hooked up to my stereo system). But given the info you supplied me I may be able to perform the cleaning method without disassembly if I can get a swab in the bridge/disk gap.
I wish it played DVDs as it's only an audio CD player. Was pretty cool when it worked. I bought the turntable type because back then everyone I knew that got a drawer type had mechanical problems with the drawer (hey at least mine lasted longer!). The only catch is I have to be careful with its mechanical fastening latch on the bottom for moving/shipping; if I bumped it too hard cleaning house it might have 'upset' it and it also gets 'upset' if turned on with the latch fastened; both have happened before but it snapped out of it with a power reset.

Here's a new one, my 901's remote seems to lose the code for the TV power code. The battery is sufficent, t& sometimes removing & replacing the battery works, though it seems quite often every few days.

Occasionally I have to reset it, though still loses the code in a few days.

We have two of the Best Buy Insignia clones. Ran into that problem with the CECB we use with the bedroom TV. Swapped remote with the one I use on my PC, that does not need power switch function.

When it happened I assumed it was an intermittent battery contact since the control forgets the code when the battery is removed.

Try tweaking the battery contacts to apply more pressure to the battery. If that does not work I think you are out of luck.

/tom

Hi,

I am interested as "some" DVD's almost will not play.

I have a Panasonic DVD CV51 turntable player.

SHF

That Panasonic dates back to 2001. By now the laser assembly might be nearing the end of its lifetime. As laser power levels decrease there will be regular read failures until the laser fails. Some lasers have gradual deterioration while others are fine one day and dead the next day. With Panasonic DVD Recorders I've most often observed sudden laser failure.

I would attribute sudden failures to the use of inferior 16x retail brand media that has a higher current demand on the laser than does 8x media. I use nothing but Taiyo Yuden 8x Premium Line DVD-R for archival work with my Panasonic, Magnavox and Philips recorders. 16x media is satisfactory for use only in duplicators and computers, not stand alone recorders.

Another problem is media format. If one attempts to play some burned media, especially the DVD+ formats in a ten year old Panasonic one should expect read failures. DVD+ format media generally started entering the marketplace around 2004. During the 2006 model year Panasonic started promoting their products as DVD+ "compatible." Panasonic power users deem this claim as a marketing ploy. Even today, the latest Panasonics are unfriendly when used with DVD+ format media. The DVD+ formats were not officially recognized as a valid format by the DVD Forum until 25 January 2008.

http://www.ehow.com/info_8764207_dif...n-dvd-dvd.html

I didn't know you could remove the Subs or the main channel only?

Strange I don't think I can change the Aspect ratio on Univision 61, as they are not broadcasting in full HD (at least I don't think)... & they could handle several subs, & for me they are the most trouble free station reception wise.

Our WB is carrying a Sub that runs a static screen, & broadcasts only in the mid mornings & from 9pm to midnight, it was proposed as a 24 hour Ernirst Angley channel, but due to finances are only able to program for a couple of hours here & there.

I have a Sony CD player from 1989 that I haven't cracked for a cleaning yet & works great.

Yes but may be brand dependent to some degree. I would guess it's easier to remove subs than the main (while leaving subs). My Zinwells tend to 'bring back' the main when I try to keep just subs.

Based on my previous example it doesn't appear they have to broadcast in full HD to have adjustable aspect ratio; my guess is most don't allow it with their subs to save on bandwidth.
It should show 720p or 1080i in the info box for the station if it's HD. I don't recall seeing any with 720i or 1080p, at least here.

Interesting. Yeah I've stumbled across some subs that are active than some other time they're not. Also some with a test pattern or some weird counter that's running on a blank screen.

Yeah that makes me wonder about my CD player. Has a dust cover and I haven't used it that much.