Customer Reviews

TV Guardian Model 201 Foul Language Filter

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Five Big "NON-Cursing" Stars!! TV Guardian is wonderful technology, but with some hookup limitations!

If you're tired of the incessant and unnecessary cursing on TV shows and DVD/VCR movies, this is a great gift for yourself and your family. It shuts down the cursing and specific foul language on any show that has a written closed caption track inbedded in the TV show, VCR, or DVD movie soundtracks. In my case, I have it set to detect any curse word or phrase, briefly mute the sound, and put up a bland written substitute word or phrase on the bottom of the screen so that continuty is maintained, and then restore the sound track immediately following the phrase. It works amazingly well. We have a TV Guardian on all three of our TV sets and we love them. It takes about a week to get used to it and it's clear sailing from then on. If a TV show, VCR or DVD movie doesn't have a caption track, it flashes a "No TVG" on the lower left hand corner of the screen to warn you that "you're on your own" with this show. If it does contain a caption track, it occasionally flashes a "TVG" in the left hand lower corner just to reassure the viewers that it's on the job.

It operates on three levels of filtering: "Tolerant, Moderate, or Strict" and it uses three large groups of targeted words: Religious, Sexual, and/or the specific words "Hell or Damn". Experimentation will reveal a happy medium for the viewer.

Hookup-wise, the unit, the size of a half carton of cigarettes, goes between the last unit of equipment (DVD/VCR/Cable Box, etc.) and the TV. It uses on screen programming to set up the amount of filtering. I have it filtering a cable box, DVD, and VCR using a three-way digital switch, so it 'nails' everything from everywhere. The manual is outstanding. It comes with a power supply and has three types of input: digital, composite video, and S-video; and a coaxial output. Follow the TVG input hookup instructions carefully. I have three TVGs: one hooked to a really old TV and the two more TVGs on two advanced TVs, but NOT on the most advanced HD TVs. All three using different hookups. And it looks sleek atop the equipment stack, although it should be placed in a cool place to prevent screen artifacts and false wording effects.

*****2007 UPDATE: Unfortunately, TV Guardian does not have the 'state of the art' HDMI or DVI connectors that the current HD LCD Flat Screen TVs demand and that could cause the picture quality to suffer if you only use S-video or RCA cables. So that becomes a tradeoff: foul language or picture quality on the best TVs available.********

Set to it's most strict settings, your TV sound will be totally devoid of cursing and "blue" language on captioned shows. Is it perfect? No, once in a six month period a word may slip thru, but that is usually the fault of the person who typed the caption track, not the equipment. But even if it fails twice a year, that still puts TVG miles ahead of the alternative of no filter at all. One day all movie theatres should offer wireless headphones that have this capability. I'm no prude but I've had enough of the 'potty mouths' ruining what is otherwise great entertainment. With TVG I can now watch "Scarface" and "Good Will Hunting" with no problem.

Just remember the connector limitations of the "update" above for HD LCD Flat Screen TVs for you "State of the Art" TV viewers. Investigate your cable connections carefully before buying. Five Big Stars!!!!!

It's very rare you get a product that works like it says it does!Gets 99% of the offensive language.Now you can watch a movie without all the @#$%&*.You don't have to explain to the grand kids anymore.A great addition to any American home.

This product does not handle High Definition input (anything over 480p), such as Blu-Ray, but I found a way around it. I have an HD TV, Blu-Ray DVD Player, and Dish Network HD. My TV has several input options so I hooked it up like this:
Sat Receiver HDMI to TV
Blu-Ray Composite video and Optical Digital Audio out to TVG (Input 1)
Sat Receiver Composite video and RCA Audio to TVG (Input 2)
Blu-Ray HDMI to TV.

I then hook the TVG Optical Audio output to my surround sound stereo. Then the video out put from the TVG and RCA audio output to the TV on a different input.

This gives me the option of watching Blu-Ray and HD Sat in the High Def video, and have the audio filtered by the TVG through my surround sound stereo. (I turn the TV volume down) I loose the benefit of having the closed captioned alternate words come on the screen, but can enjoy a movie like "Men in Black" with the foul language filtered and the video in HD. NOTE: This does not work with Blu-Ray movies, only regular DVDs played through the Blu-Ray, which up-converts the video to HD.

I also have the hookup directly to the TV that allows me to watch SAT and Blu-Ray movies in Standard Definition programming with the full advantage of the TVG.

Unfortunately you still have to get up and hit the A/V Input on the TVG when switching between Blu-Ray and SAT, but I could get a remote control operated A/B box for another $50, but I have not done that yet.

Bottom line: TVG needs to catch up with the High Definition technology with a new version that handles HDMI and can handle full 1080p video including movies from Universal.

For now, I am just glad to have this unit. It takes a while to get used to, but you will be amazed at the comfort level you will have when you and your kids watch TV.

We purchased this product to eliminate cursing and excessive use of God's name that today's shows and movies use. It does a pretty good job of that, but IMO this product is NOT state of the art. This device does not support movies made by Universal, so if you are purchasing or renting a Rated R movie you better check the back of the movie to see who made it. Also, we have experienced some movies that weren't made by Universal that the guardian did not block. I think it still needs some refining and for a product over $100, it should do a better job. Finally, the setup is quite simple, but can get somewhat complicated if you use surround sound. The best option I've found is to have all devices attached to an A/V switch and then attach the A/V switch to the guardian. If anyone has other recommended setups i'd love to hear them! And and BTW, if you use nothing but HD, this product is not for you since it does not support the latest technology.

I have had one of these constantly on my tvs for years I recently had to do without it for a few weeks when I had to order a replacement. I didnt realize how bad the language was on the dvd films and tv until I didnt have this guardian connected. I hear tv guardian has discontinued model 201 and 301 and similar items, I am seriously upset. I as a Christian and consumer have a right to hear or not to hear the words on my television and dvds, there are a lot of good shows out there that use filthy language that usual street people would not use. I don't want myself or my kids subjected to it. If i didnt use this item i wouldnt have more than the basic cable or rent most dvds today. I hope in time they will make more products like the portable tv guardian again.

TV Guardian is an excellent product. Have used it for years. When properly connected it cuts down the majority of filthy language coming out of your TV. Whether it be VHS, DVD, TiVo, DTV converter, broadcast... As long as it has Closed Captions in the correct format TVG will handle it. The 201 model handles Stereo Audio, 5.1 Dolby sound (Toslink optical or Coaxial inputs are supported), Handles Composite Video or S-Video... Can sometimes handle component Video if it is still in the 480i format. There is a workaround for using it with HD Component Video. Here is a clip of how it works on [...]

This product WAS GREAT, until the HD conversion stuff. Now we cannot figure out how on earth to get everything to work compatibly. Very disappointed over it. Hope TVG comes out with an updated version that is not so difficult to get hooked up with all the other boxes that are now required. Especially for us, as we do not have cable, and have to wire with an DTV antenna, along with converter box. It just doesn't work...and we can't get it figured out.

My mom and I purchased this product together a little over a year ago. Hers began acting up early and causing "ripples" in the screen. The TV went out completely soon after. We did not connect the issue with the guardian. My unit worked great for almost a year - suddenly the captioning began acting strangely, inserted nonsensical characters instead of words. No changes had been made to the settings or the set-up of our system. I turned all captions off. Then the screen began to roll and captions blinked at the bottom even though settings were set for off. I tried the reset several times and even had a customer service rep walk me through over the phone. Nothing helped. After another week, the unit - even when off - ruined the picture on the tube completely. Everything worked fine when I unplugged it. Customer service is still telling me to reset it. I would have appreciated the offer to replace the unit. What are the odds of two similar situations with two units at two different households with two different people doing the installation? Customer service needs to work on their attitude and follow-up.

I highly reccomend these to cut out the foul language that Hollywood feels we must be subject too. They aren't perfect, only as good as the close captioning, but much much better than nothing, and especially if you have kids, they definitely don't need to hear all the swearing. A must have, particularly for Christians.

Item works fine except for certain Blu-Ray discs. Why I don't know but I wish it worked with all Blu-Ray discs.