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CM7000 compared to RCA STB7766G1

post #1 of 17
6/3/09 at 8:53pm
Thread Starter 
I recently purchased 2 CECBs, the Channelmaster CM7000 and Target's RCA STB7766G1 (which is like the Venturer STB7766G1 and Winegard RC-DT09 models.) I used a Gateway FPD2485W PC monitor that has NTSC S-Video and Composite inputs, which may show up more flaws than a normal TV.

Compared to RCA, The Channel Master's picture is cleaner and fine details on graphics are noticeably better, even using Composite. S-video was only a slight bit sharper. Reception was superior to the RCA on 2 channels (45 and 58 UHF) but worse on another (16 UHF), using the same antenna. Unit had Thomson tuner module inside. Remote awkward for simple surfing of channels, menus quirky. I think the engineers designed it without user trials. Closed caption has small font, can be adjusted however. "Subtitle" button should be CC for closed captions!

Compared to Channelmaster, The RCA picture had more jagged look, not as smooth on network logos, graphics. Color and contrast and sound were comparable on both boxes. RCA box has simpler small remote but I found it more convenient for regular surfing and menus are easier as well. Closed caption font larger, remote has CC button. I kept this box because I can use the Winegard battery holder RC-BP9V with it in a power outage.

CM wins for picture quality on a good SDTV set. RCA wins ease of use and unique ability to use in power failure.
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post #2 of 17
6/4/09 at 8:08am
What kind of EPG does the RCA STB7766G1 have?
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post #3 of 17
6/4/09 at 8:49am
Venturer (RCA) 7766G1 thread is here... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1031202 and there's pics.
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post #4 of 17
6/4/09 at 11:23am
Thread Starter 
That's a good thread! I checked for audio distortions, found none, but I purchased my RCA/Venturer box 1 week ago, maybe it's corrected now. NBC has trebly but not distorted audio on the news, any TV receiver I have used.
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post #5 of 17
6/4/09 at 11:44am
So the RCA and Venturer are the same exact CECB's (like the Zenith & Insignia)?
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post #6 of 17
6/4/09 at 12:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by systems2000 View Post

So the RCA and Venturer are the same exact CECB's (like the Zenith & Insignia)?

Seems so. The CECB business model has morphed to... if you can't beat 'em relabel 'em.

I've had a Venturer 7766G1 (from Target) running for about 5 months and it's a nice little competent box that can be bought (with a coupon) anywhere there's A Target. With Target, you get 90 day exchange privileges. No return for refund on coupon CECBs.

As a bonus, the Venturer 7766G1 can be run by the $1 remotes from the Dollartree Dollar store.
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post #7 of 17
6/4/09 at 6:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by systems2000 View Post

So the RCA and Venturer are the same exact CECB's (like the Zenith & Insignia)?

Yes, if it's the RCA STB7766G1.
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post #8 of 17
6/4/09 at 8:42pm
That's what I was referring to.
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post #9 of 17
6/4/09 at 9:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by systems2000 View Post

So the RCA and Venturer are the same exact CECB's (like the Zenith & Insignia)?

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdre View Post

Yes, if it's the RCA STB7766G1.

I wonder, then, if the RCA STB7766G1 has the same bug of shutting off when it tries to display a program synopsis with a long string with no spaces, as the Venturer STB7766G1 does, and as all but the last runs of Zenith DTT900s and Insignia NS-DXA1s did.
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post #10 of 17
6/4/09 at 10:01pm
The "RCA STB7766G1" link that someone posted above linked to the Spanish version of the manual !

The http://www.1800customersupport.com home page apparently has links to both the RCA and Venturer manuals, just select the brand you want on the first page. In some of the Accessory pages they have a picture of a different remote but the fine print says "Picture is a representation only. Original equipment will be provided." It would have been better to display the correct remote, or no remote at all and instead print "Graphic not available".

I thought the Zinwell 950's "Now/Next" guide was skimpy but these units have current program only !

Still, these units (and the Winegard RC-DT09A) have the no-brainer version of the analog pass-thru feature, a definite plus along both borders and in areas with low power analog stations.
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post #11 of 17
6/5/09 at 6:25am
I was wanting to clarify the WIKI information:

RCA STB7766G1 No Yes No Yes Thomson LG LGDT1111D SoC Integrated LG Innotek TDVG-H152F Unknown C, D, L, P
and

Venturer STB7766G1 STB7766G1 No Yes No No Venturer Electronics, Inc. Unknown Unknown Unknown Current (Banner) E, L, V
Seems to be some listed differences.

I'll assume they both have external power supplies, analog pass-through, energy star rating, digital closed-caption, & that neither have waking PSIP scan. Does the RCA really have a universal remote?
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post #12 of 17
6/5/09 at 9:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeM View Post

I thought the Zinwell 950's "Now/Next" guide was skimpy but these units have current program only !

I had a Venturer STB7766G1 for a while, and its EPG went out several hours, usually giving synopses for about four or five coming programs on the currently tuned channel.
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post #13 of 17
6/5/09 at 10:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dattier View Post

I had a Venturer STB7766G1 for a while, and its EPG went out several hours, usually giving synopses for about four or five coming programs on the currently tuned channel.

Then maybe its just the Venturer STB7766G that displays the current program only.
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post #14 of 17
6/5/09 at 10:41am
I'm surprised the Venturer STB7766G thread didn't include more brands of the universal remotes that could control the box. Well here they are:

http://halfbyte.spaces.live.com/Blog...D06!1088.entry

The One-For-All code 0790 in the table worked for the STB7766G1 (menu included). The good news is that the STB7766G1 doesn't appear to conflict with the Zinwell boxes.
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post #15 of 17
6/5/09 at 11:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeM View Post

I'm surprised the Venturer STB7766G thread didn't include more brands of the universal remotes that could control the box. Well here they are:

http://halfbyte.spaces.live.com/Blog...D06!1088.entry

The bad news is that the Venturer, Channel Master, Zinwell and Digital Stream boxes use the same set of codes ! Can anyone verify that this is also true of the RCA STB7766G1 ?

The DollarTree $1 remote controls the Venturer 7766G1 under "cable" code.
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post #16 of 17
6/15/09 at 4:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dattier View Post

I had a Venturer STB7766G1 for a while, and its EPG went out several hours, usually giving synopses for about four or five coming programs on the currently tuned channel.

Are you sure about that ? I suppose you didn't write down the serial number of that unit.

Since the minimum show length is 1/2 hour, I think it would be more informative to state the number of 1/2 hour shows a CECB can list. On my STB7766G1 (s/n ym200id094368) when I press the INFO button it displays the current program title with an indicator stating "Next". When I press the RIGHT Arrow button it displays the next program title with the indicator changing to "Previous". It won't go forward anymore, just back. So in effect it's just a "Now/Next" type guide (but certainly better than the Current only guides in the STB7766G, Winegard RC-DT09 and RC-DT09A).
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post #17 of 17
6/15/09 at 8:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeM View Post

Are you sure about that ? I suppose you didn't write down the serial number of that unit.

No, sorry; I returned the unit in November of 2008, not out of dissatisfaction with it, but rather because I had one too many and of the two that were still within their return period, I thought that the timers on the Zinwell ZAT-970A made it a better choice to keep than the Venturer STB7766G1.

Quote:


Since the minimum show length is 1/2 hour, I think it would be more informative to state the number of 1/2 hour shows a CECB can list. On my STB7766G1 (s/n ym200id094368) when I press the INFO button it displays the current program title with an indicator stating "Next". When I press the RIGHT Arrow button it displays the next program title with the indicator changing to "Previous". It won't go forward anymore, just back. So in effect it's just a "Now/Next" type guide (but certainly better than the Current only guides in the STB7766G, Winegard RC-DT09 and RC-DT09A).

Fair enough to ask for the number of programs, but I just cannot remember.  Maybe it did display only the very next program (but it gave the synopsis, unlike the Now/Next guides of the Zenith and Insignia); it's been seven months since I returned it.
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