Zenith DTT901 - Page 75

I didn't know they had that. My ChannelMaster has a nice EPG, goes out about 10 hours and can click on each program for details; can also scroll the EPG channel by channel (vs. having to tune to a channel then hit EPG).

One of my Zenith-clone Artec models has a half-dayish EPG but I can't remember if the other model has it. I think it only detailed the now/next stuff though.

Those DTV Pals are supposed to be the ones to get for EPG, multi-day (maybe a week) and detailed. I think I've heard they can be [EPG] buggy though, take awhile to update which I think required leaving powered up or at least plugged in (I powerstrip everything to turn off those vampires GW dislikes).

Then there's the Apex DT-502 with a multi-day EPG. Now I've heard to avoid Apex, esp the 250 models (and I wouldn't waste money on their TVs, DVD players, etc.) but a reliable poster here said that one model is pretty decent. This one's feature-rich with stuff like s-video.

The ultimate box 'appears' to be a TRT model, feature-rich/s-video like the Apex plus maybe more (cable tuner?) and week-long EPG. Mysterious box due to lack of marketing, most of us didn't even know it existed until the CECB program had just ended when like one poster here bought one. It looks great on paper and he liked it. He had to buy it direct from TRT too and it wasn't cheap, sort of CM full retail price. Looks built like a CM too, big metal box, amp/antenna design company look, etc.

I believe there is/was a thread or two here dedicated to EPG topics.

In other words you made backup disks... which is what I had to do on my HP as instructed on the first boot.

I re installed 98 on the one machine as it was the only clean install OS I was able to get my hands on.

Hmm, all I get is my 20 channels here (including subs).. our PBS affiliate operates an audio only on 25.9 that reads the local paper... only thing out of the ordinary.

That guide would be a great service in all cities.

Floydage, this is why I don't think Artec is really a Zenith clone, though seeing the screen art it may have been modeled after it.

I was going to pick up an Apex as a secondary option with my extra coupon, though they were bumped up an additional $20. They claimed the tuner wasn't as good, but the video & sound was better, being in the fringes I was satisfied with the Zenith. There was sopmething funky going on with the pass through on the Sylvania.. I think it was defective. I opted for the 3 Zenith boxes! (I only wish they didn't have that cold weather problem! )

I had a bad experience with my Apex DVD player in 2002 I evaluated for 30 days, then returned.

Not that I've done many but the same here, they all instructed me to make backup disks on first boot; somehow I suspect that's the norm for safeties sake.

I base it on having the same major chipset and similar looking OSD from what I've seen posted here (could be due to code in the brain chip though). Me wonders if Artec went the extra mile with the EPG as I suspect the boxes in general are capable of more; costs extra development, time, and test (certification). Of course there's my loose terminology for clone - modeled, knock-off, etc.

Do you remember which Apex model? I think said poster stated the tuner was better on the 502 too. What's weird is it appeared to me that the 502 is the precursor to the 250; wouldn't surprise me in this wonderful world of cost-reduction that the 502 is a better product. I was going to buy one at a Best Buy here that claimed to have one left but after further review it was an inventory error and all they had going forward were 250s (and lots of them).

Deja vu. A friend gave me an Apex DVD player they said quit working, it worked when I hooked it up. Thereafter it worked sporadically, I would have to power reset it when it wouldn't work then it would work again. Still have it as a bedroom/backup.

Yes it was the 250... I purchased my 901's in the Spring & Summer of '08, all BB had was the 250's at the time. These were suppose to have a better picture & decoding, but if it had a poor tuner & I'm out in the fringes, & had Canadian interference, what's the point? BB's return policy is kind of strict, I didn't want to go through the BS, so I never bothered to include in my tests.

Smart move from what I've read about the 250. It and the 502 have s-video output. They looked real good on paper. I'd consider a 502 on the cheap mainly for its EPG although the other features are a bonus; I'm assuming it's a better box per what I've read here.

I tought I taw a putty tat! [a post came and went on this Apex subject confirming the 502 did come before the 250 and something else about BB).

Poor reviews on the 502 ....

http://www.amazon.com/APEX-DT502-Analog-Digital-Converter/dp/B001KVMMJU

Yeah I saw that some time back but it looked like the 250 and 502 reviews were convoluted with each other (who knows with Amazon?). But it is an Apex...
Of course maybe the few AVX folk here that praised it were just lucky/timely.

Speaking of Amazon, what frustration today! I thought I found some great deals on my pool pump parts from one particular seller. Spent hours determining what to buy, blah blah blah and even some email with them to confirm info about the parts (mfger/OEM, some the same part with different prices?!). Then I go to check out only to see a $150 shipping fee for $50 worth of parts! Turns out they charge a significant shipping fee for EACH item. Even gets multiplied for each instance of the same item. So a $1 part suddenly became $6. No wonder the deals looked so good.

As the Cold weather is settling in, I've decided to just leave the 901 'on', With the Power fluxuations post 'Sandy' I've been unplugging everything before I leave for work, upon plugging the master tap in, the 901 is reluctant to come on .. takes a few power cycles to just get the red standby on.

Still works, though my 2 units in use just don't like the cold. (Temps 65 F or Below)

Decided to post again in case anyone found a concrete solution on exacty what components are fickle.

My 901's still work fine. I had eight boxes for myself and elderly relatives. Over half of the tv's have died (or been replaced with new ones). The three 901 in use still function fine, but are not used everyday (more like weekly). I think the tvs will die before the boxes do.

Aside of the cold weather quirks, these boxes function great. I'm surprised that these arent' being dumped in goodwill & usables stores yet. I leave the one box always on in the bedroom, the one downstairs I just use as an add-on for a VCR for time shift purposes... which I haven't done a lot of lately.

I've nailed down the problem to April/May 2008 production dates.