The Zenith Converter remote is too small for Granny. The buttons have small lettering that has poor contrast. The Zenith Remote operates well enough, and can turn On/Off most televisions. But for my Mom, something better was needed. I briefly considered the Harmony programmable remotes. Learning Remotes also could work. In general, TV’s come with poor remotes. There should have been standards set decades ago.
DigaDo said: “The inexpensive Philips remotes ($6-$10) use code 0267 for the Zenith/Insignia converter boxes.” From:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14995013&postcount=987
The Zenith Converters use some of the same IR remote control codes used for Zenith satellite receivers. With luck, the SAT button on some multifunction remotes can be used, if the remote isn’t an old design that doesn’t have the latest codes.
Since I am out of coupons, I haven’t been hot on the CECB trail. Want more coupons! Oh well, can’t have everything.
I don’t hang out at malls, but I saw a remote there yesterday on sale. What caught my eye at Brookstone was the “Brookstone Super-sized TV remote”, model 538744, UPC 8 83594 00004 1. I asked the clerk if the Remote would work with DTV converters. The clerk hadn’t heard of them. I asked if I could return the remote with its receipt if it didn’t function as expected, and she said yes. Sold. I found that programming the SAT button with code 013 did allow this Remote to mostly operate the Zenith DTT900 or DTT901. The Remote is a huge 5 inch by 11 inch and 0.75 inch thick, and weighs nearly a pound (including a pair of AA bateries).
On the Zenith Remote, the 7 millimeter diameter button at the bottom right is labeled “RECALL” in letters 1.5 millimeters high. Contrast that with the big bright “Z” logo at the bottom. The Brookstone Remote buttons are 22 millimeters diameter. I find that using the Brookstone Remote requires two hands. It isn’t fussy about orientation, and easily sends its signal across the room. The buttons that work with the Zenith are Power; numbers; channel+ and -; mute and volume + and - which changes the sound on the Zenith; menu; back; the pause button will act like select. The Brookstone Remote doesn’t access the program guide (EPG), or the signal strength. Input and OK buttons don’t send anything. As for Mom, she isn’t concerned about the transition yet.
I just wanted to know if you would be interested in selling the original Zenith remote. I lost ours and need a new one.
Thank You,
Nathan Perkins
The Biggie is very limited in the commands it issues to the Zenith. That’s a good thing when my Mom uses it, as it limits the chance of her getting lost in advanced functions or menus. I still need the Zenith remote so I can access those functions. You might consider a better replacement for your use than the Biggie. Perhaps the following can help:
from http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15487809#post15487809
I use the Philips Universal Consolidator 4 device remote, model PM435S (around $6). This remote has larger buttons for better visibility than the original Zenith remote. As programmed with the 0267 activation code, this remote lacks the Zoom feature (but I have not experimented with the eight other “codes” listed for Zenith under SAT/DTV/WebTV).
My PM435S is set to operate the Zenith converter box, a Dynex TV, a Westinghouse TV and a RCA TV. There are twelve pages of “codes” and a “code search” procedure for undocumented products such as my six month old Dynex TV.
Other inexpensive Philips remotes are similar in size but the learning remotes have many more buttons, some rather small. I also use the 6 device learning remote, model PMDVD6 ($9.74 at Fred Meyer, a local Kroger-owned store).
from http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14225384#post14225384
I spoke with the very nice lady Hytek yesterday at length and provided them with converter lists and some other references, including this forum. She was
very appreciative. They do see the need for a remote that can control the CECB’s and have had quite a bit of interest from users wanting a large remote.
And the $10 Innovage Jumbo Universal Remote from CVS and overstock.com will control the Zenith/Insignia just fine.
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Bob
Once I found the “missing step from the manual” for code retrieval, I was able to read code 212 for the Innovage Jumbo Universal Remote for the Zenith / Insignia using the SAT button. The innovage manual says 212 is a DirecTv satellite code.
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Bob
Hi, I lost the box of Zenith and do not know how to program the zenith DTT901 remote to turn on/off my Panasonic TV. Could you post if you can find the instruction from the manual?
Thanks
The manual on page 14 says:
1. While pressing and holding down the TV POWER button, press the CH^ repeatedly until your TV is turned on or off.
*Each press of CH^ button sends a code (1 thru 45) to your TV one after the other.
2. Release TV POWER button when your TV is turned on or off.
The manual doesn’t say:
1. Leave a couple of seconds between presses of the CH^ button.
2. If no luck after 45 presses, consider getting a remote switch cord. It has a male and female electrical connection at one end of the cord, and a rocker switch at the other end.