Access DTA1080D supposed to turn the tv off/on?

If they did it would be with a separate button for TV power. Some CECBs had a somewhat universal remote that would control TV power and volume. The only way to do it with one button would be something like a Harmony and for what the CECBs sell for, they ain't no Harmony
Also note with the separate button remotes they generally need to be setup for the brand of TV you have although if you have the same brand TV as CECB the TV power button may be default for that brand.
It's also possible that the remote code for your CECB's power is the same as your TV, but not very likely.

Not sure if it'll conrol the Access, but I have a similar model of the same brand remote, and I believe it will at least turn on and off, and control the volume and channels of my Zinwell CECB.

Best thing to do would be to find the Access thread here and look and/or ask in it to see what kind of code it uses. If it's from a common brand of a common device, that remote might have it.

(The Zinwell is available from Amazon.com for $40.00 w/free shipping, in case you'd be interested.).

Overkill, or at least for the smaller setups. I use an inexpensive Philips universal remote that was on sale for $10 at CVS drug store with a $10 ExtraBucks rebate so my net cost was free. Lists Access HD as code 1676 which is the same code it lists for a few others including the Zenith/Insignia, thereby leading me to believe the Access HD is pretty common for the u-remotes. It's only a 3-way (TV, DVD/DVR/VCR, and Sat/DTV/Cable) but ones that control a higher number of devices are available for a little more money. I suspect there's plenty of other economy u-remotes at Walmart, Best Buy, etc.

BTW I had an older model of this same remote. The packaging didn't advertise that it worked for converter boxes (DTV above) but the manual and code list show that it does work; uses the cable button. Many of the converters use cable box codes.

If you still have any of the cable box remotes you may be able to use those if they're programmable and you can dig up the codes. Maybe in the Access thread. Some u-remotes have a code search function too.

You'll recover your money in no time, doesn't take long at $65 a month.

With one of my CRT TVs connected to a CECB through the composite connections the TV appears as if it is powered off when the converter box is placed on standby (off).

The TV does not actually power off, it just appears that way due to the lack of a signal through the composite inputs.

Then, when the INPUT button on the TV's remote is pressed to select the RF input, the picture fed from a Comcast Pace DTA appears.

Yeah that code may be specific to my remote. What's the model number of your Philips consolidator?
Here's my remote:

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SRP100.../ref=pd_cp_e_1

and I see down the page there's a 4-way with Glow buttons for $9.99. Of course you can probably find better remotes/deals with a "universal remote" search and sort by price (remember I got mine because of a drug store sale). I would suggest verifying the one you like has your code in their manual (web search the model number and it should show up in a link to the manufacturer's website). Love that Amazon free super saver shipping, sometimes slow though.

I'm not familiar with the AccessHD boxes although I thought they were OK, I think similar to a Tivax. Wiki lists it with one of the better tuners although for some reason there's a ? by the tuner info. As far as the heat, if it has an external power supply/wall wart than it shouldn't be that hot; boxes with built-in power supplies do get hotter.

I noticed some of the AccessHD boxes come with a universal remote; are your boxes supposed to have them? If so refer back to jjeff's post #2.

I have several of those Zinwells and got most of them via Amazon. One of the best boxes IMO and it has a rare timer function to use in conjunction with a recorder. Only has a now/next EPG that only gives the show titles though.

Yes, many of the boxes have standby. If lighted it usually goes to red or yellow.

Well I found the manual but no codes. I did find this:

http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/d...k_RCCodeFinder

and unfortunately this:

http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/d...6965&faqview=1

The only hope is if there was some cross-functionality to another brand (ex: a ChannelMaster cross refs to a Pioneer cable box).

There's that note "When your remote is able to learn key's you can use this option to control your DTV box" but that one is beyond me.

The RCA CECB's remote is indeed universal.

None of the boxes' volume controls have very much range. Most people use the TV's volume.

On the one CECB I'm using (a Channel Master), the TV volume works when I have my universal remote (RCA RCR4383) set on the box input (it doesn't even control the CECB's volume).

I think you're right on the DTA1080U for u-remote. I originally thought it was DTA1080D-U. That's a good price on that Amazon>Tiger link.

My Mom has an RCA that looks like that but not sure of the model number. I can't attest to its performance in detail because she has it connected to a tiny TV using a very cheap UHF antenna in her sunroom, but it seemed to tune in well and look OK given the setup. I do recall that the remote is very basic for the TV side, like only controlling TV power and audio; it also had a cheap look to it.

Here's another website you may want to look at if you're not familiar with it:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/e...d-notes.htm#30

Don't take everything there as gospel as some folks here say there were some problems with their analyses, but it's a good general overview. The forums here are better once you're ready to 'zoom in' on specific models.

Try looking at the audio menu in that Access box. My Zinwells have a feature selection for RF and Line Modes; RF is louder and I suspect mono while I suspect Line is stereo (they fail to explain why other than to use RF for coax and Line for composite although both modes output sound through both connections in either mode setting).

I personally like using a fancier (vs basic) u-remote because they have so many functions I can control like menu, guide (EPG), VCR, DVD, etc. There's still a few unique functions I infrequently have to grab the device remotes for like TV PIP, converter aspect ratio, etc. (maybe the high-end u-remotes have these functions?). And like Ramm stated you can control the TV volume independent of the converter; my Philips has a punch-through feature where I can set certain functions of one mode to work in other modes like that. I suspect most of today's u-remotes will control converters. You can tell them to open the package so you can read the code list (some have a list on the package but say '...and many more - see code list inside') or return it if it doesn't work . Maybe you should buy just one and give it a try first.

BTW, do you do any timer recording? If so you might return a few of those Access boxes and buy some Zinwells. I use a ChannelMaster for my main TV (s-video picture quality) and Zinwells for my VCRs and other rooms (although I just added an Artec to my bedroom TV/VCR setup because it has a nice EPG).

I have a 1080U with universal remote, but only has one AUX-which i use for my VCR. The RF is in stereo (Dolby digital downmix to stereo if something's in 5.1), as well as the RCA's, of course. It's a good box, apart from having to press TV to change the volume if you just looked at the EPG to see what was next. God, that's annoying.

There's a lot of codes for this remote, surprisingly. I just wish it had one more AUX so I can control my audio reciever with it.

Looks like the next model up from mine or maybe newer although I just bought mine during the holiday sales. Amazon claims it has bigger buttons yet it looks the same to me. I noticed it no longer has the setup button at the top and they state it has easier setup, does twice as many models, and somehow has and knows most of the models without you having to set it up yourself (or so they claim). Maybe you'll get lucky and it'll let you program those ABCD buttons with your favorite channels (for mystery cable or sat functions on mine); I had a VCR remote with those buttons for favorite channels, I miss that feature. I'll trade ya! You got the 20% discount based on the Amazon price too.

I'm surprised it would punch through the TV volume while in CBL mode without you having first programmed it to do so. See if the volume bar display looks the same in CBL mode as it does after you push the TV button.

You're welcome!

My remote's punch-through programming procedure was a little tricky per the manual, one missed button push or take too long and...

Some of my boxes (certain models) are slow to change channels. At first I though it was due to slow tuners but after playing with them I think it's due to delays they put in to give folks time to punch in all the numbers and dots/dashes. They're a lot faster if I hit ENTER/OK after the digits, use the up/down button, or use the previous channel button. Some boxes have favorites or channel edit functions that allow quick selection from lists and also may have preview screens.