Customer Reviews

TV-B-Gone Universal TV Power Remote Control Keychain

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This item is GREAT! When you put it on your keyring, it looks like it is nothing more than the remote for a car alarm.

If anyone asks you what it is, you tell them exactly that. If you have your keys in your hand as you walk through a store, it is not unusual, but just carrying this device by itself might cause suspicion. PUT IT ON YOUR KEYRING! Keep your keys in your hand, try not to be too obvious or point your keys at the TV sets! Keep your arms down at your sides, it has a fairly good range.

Going into stores that have large displays of television sets, it is fun to hit the button and watch the sets go off. Some go off quickly, others take a while as the unit gets to that specific brand. Some sets can take quite a while to turn off.

Sony must be the very first code in this unit, as Sony sets go off imediately. Panasonic sets take 5 - 10 seconds.

At best buy, when brat kids are playing the video games, this unit will turn off the sets so they can't play anymore.

The one thing people forget, is that the same signal that turns TV's off, is the same exact signal that also turns TVs ON!! So if a TV set is off, then using this device will turn it ON.

So another great use is when you are at a restaurant and they don't have the TV set on, you can turn the set on, you just can't change channels and volume, you are stuck with what it was last set at.

GE makes a universal remote in which you keep pressing a button called "CODE SEARCH" until your TV set goes on, then hit ENTER, and all the features of the remote then work with that TV set. However, bringing a regular sized universal remote everywhere you go is not much fun, so this "car alarm remote" disguised universal ON/OFF TV remote is a nice thing to have on your keyring.

NOTE: If you are using this in department stores with security cameras, remember that video cameras can SEE the infrared light that these remotes use, that your naked eye can not.

(Point your TV remote at your own camcoder or digital camera, and you will SEE it light up like a flashlight through the video screen. By the way, this is a great way to test to make sure if a TV remote is working or broken. If you see the flashes of light with your camera, then the remote is fine, your TV has the problem, or something is blocking or standing in front of the sensor on your TV)

So if you have this aimed in the direction of a security camera in the store, it could be detected by store security. Then again, you are not doing anything illegal, the worst they can do is ask you to leave the store if you are caught having fun with this device.

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UPDATE - Battery Replacement
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After using this device for several months, I noticed that it would not turn off all sets anymore. Mystery solved, the batteries were just getting low.

THIS PART IS IMPORTANT.... When you unscrew and open the device, you see ONE 3V battery. People might replace this battery, find that the unit still does not work and think the unit is defective. There are TWO MORE 3V batteries on the OTHER SIDE OF THE PC BOARD! Those power the LED and need to be replaced too.

The first side with just the ONE 3 volt battery was a thin 2016 battery and I happened to have a 2032 which is double the thickness and fit perfectly in the battery slot. Turns out the website for this device even says to PUT a 2032 in the unit, even though it came from the factory with the 2016 in it.

Both are 3 volt batteries, but the thicker one will last longer, just as a AA battery will have more power than a AAA battery, even though both are 1.5 volts.

On the other side, you can't use the 2032's since you need to fit TWO 3 volt batteries in the slot (to get 6 volts) and two 2016's will fit, but only one 2032 would fit in the same space.

So, you will need to get (1) 2032 battery and (2) 2016 batteries when it comes time to replace them. They are available at Radio Shack and I even found them at the grocery store with the other batteries, so they are not hard to find.

With new fresh batteries, the unit is again working as before.

While the batteries were weak, it would have enough power to turn off the first sets in the string of codes, but then the LED would go dim and not turn off any other sets. So if after months of use, you find it turns off some sets and not as many others as it used to, time to replace the batteries.

I use this thing a lot, so the batteries lasted as long as they can be expected to, considering the small size of the batteries.

I have been thinking of taking it apart and putting into a hat with bigger battery pack and 4 infrared LEDs around the hat so that it turns all sets off no matter what way I am facing.

Contrary to other reviews, this device will turn off 90% of all US/Asian TVs within 17 seconds (and the other 10% by the time it finishes its sequence). Some may not operate it properly.

While it's of questionable courtesy to shut off TV's indiscriminately--as the "extremist" anti-TV White Dot and other advocates of the TVBGone support--there are ample occasions of TV's being left on and providing little more than noise and electricity drain to its environment. It is great to have this tool to empower everyone to be able to do the right thing regarding TVs that "should not" be on.

Well, you can now escape other people's cigarette smoke, if you don't care to breathe it -- most of the time. But it seems there's no escape from TV in public places.

There you are, holding your seriously ill child on your lap in the emergency room at the hospital -- and the TV is blaring on about beheadings and rape. Great. Just what a five-year-old needs. Once we were the ONLY people in the emergency room, yet the nurse still refused to turn it off. I won't tell you what the show was.

Now you don't have to be helpless. Enter TV-B-GONE!

Just casually point the little black box at the tube and push the button. Within a minute or two (say 69 seconds), it will find the right code and stop the junk. If anyone else has been watching, they will blink, look around and pick up a magazine. Never, never, have I heard anyone complain when I've used my TV-B-Gone. And I've used it in plenty of doctor's offices and dry cleaners.

Mind you, I would never turn off the game in a sports bar to ruin other people's fun. For me, this fine little tool is about a bit peace and sanity.

OK -- batteries. After using this thing for a year and a half, it finally needed new batteries. That's a pretty darned good run. Radio Shack put crummy ones in, so they never worked. Off to the grocery store to try again. There's a new battery recommendation on the tvbgone website: use just two CR2032 batteries instead of three of the original 2016, they say.

Another reviewer complained that TV-B-Gone does just one thing, but . . . uh . . . check out the name. That's what it's for. Making TV be gone. Wanna watch TV? Then, dude, get a remote. (Or get up and walk to the tube, I guess.)

Another reviewer complained about regional TVs (NTSC versus PAL and so forth). There are TWO VERSIONS. Check out the tvgbone website for details. And note their disclaimer: "Although we tried our best to make your TV-B-Gone remote control turn off any and all TV's, there may be some few that it won't turn off."

It would be better if the device cycled through codes faster, but that's the only improvement I'd want. On the older models, you gotta wait those 69 seconds. Note that continuing to press the button is not necessary! The device is going to ignore you for next 69 seconds anyway, while it tries to do its job. (NOTE: I'm going to get the new, improved version. The "Instant Reactivation Feature" might make it work faster.)

I love the black plastic stealth design. Goes right on my key chain and keeps me anonymous as far as mean nurses are concerned.

And now, a word for another Amazon reviewer of this product, Aaron. I realize you are unlikely to read this, but since I can't get your mom on the phone just now, here it is. Aaron, your cruel treatment of young children (mentioned with glee in your review) reveals very immature and discourteous behaviour. Look, we've all played pranks. You probably meant to be funny. But please do pick on someone your own size. You could remember what it was like to be small yourself. What seems amusing at your age can cause a terrifying nightmare for a child -- which of course you would not be there to help with. At the very least, a ruined evening out is a pretty rotten thing to do to a kid or adult. If you read your review again, you might ask yourself how you made the world a better place that evening. How about you make up for it by turning off the TV next time you're in an emergency room at the hospital, okay?

I was hesitant to purchase this, thinking it really wouldn't do what it claims but oh my- it really does! I hate the sound of TVs left on in my house, or in restaurants, so I thought I'd give this product a try. In most cases, it turned off the offending blabber box within seconds.

You won't be disappointed- buy this product!

Terry
www.addconsults.com
www.myADDstore.com

This device WILL turn off the annoying, loud Televisions in Walmart that constantly play Walmart commercials. I used it on 2 and they turned off quickly, which made it possible for me to think! I'd never use it on their security TV's, that would probably get one in trouble. The security TVs don't bother me anyway since they don't make any sound. It's constant bombardment from televisions drive you crazy this device is worth the money. Use your power only for good!

It works... quickly on all of my TVs.

But, it is a lot bigger than I anticipated it being. Made of a cheap plastic. Other than that it does what is advertised.

What's great about the TVBGONE is the range on it is amazing. You can activate it and shut off TVs from more than 100 feet away. It seems to activate most common brand TVs pretty fast as well. If you're trying to be discreet about it there is no need to point it directly at a tv, the reflection of almost anything will work. I should also mention that you can use this with laptops as well, it turns my Macbook Pro to sleep.
It's pretty funny to be able to freak out your friends with. A little pricey, but it's worth it for the a good gag gift or gadget for the collection. They only issue I had with it is the first one I received was faulty. I did get it replaced quickly though, so that's a testament to their customer service. You'll have a lot of fun with this!

To all of the other reviewers that are having trouble with this little baby - GET A REPLACEMENT. Yours is clearly defective if it can't turn off TVs from across a dining room in a restaurant just sitting on your table. Mine works like a charm! This is the greatest thing to happen for human-to-human conversation in a LONG time, and the best $15 I have ever spent! When I was growing up, the only TVs in restaurants were at sports bars and pizza places that showed the games. Now, I CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THEM! Even in the nicer dining establishments... I just don't get it. When I go out to eat with someone, I'm going to spend time with them, not get distracted by the idiot boxes blasting me with images and commercials from every corner of the room! The TV-B-Gone looks much like a car remote when it's on your key chain, and as long as it's got a clear line of sight to the TV, it has switched off EVERY SINGLE ONE of the hundreds of TVs that I've used it on in the last several years. TVs in the student lounges when you're trying to study? DONE. Laundry-mat blasting drivel? OFF. Sushi bars with 360-degree-no-matter-where-I-sit-there's-the-freaking-TV? OFF, OFF, OFF, and OFF. Mexican restaurants that blare bad Spanish soap operas? ADIOS. Holidays at the in-laws and the TV on only because of habit? Bye-Bye Uncle Teevee. Nobody misses you. The best and most illuminating part is, hardly anyone EVER notices when the TVs blink off, and if they do, they just go back to having a real human interaction with someone that they are dining with. This product does exactly what it says it does - it turns the TV OFF. HALLELUJAH!

Though I did not buy this for the prank factor, my husband got a huge kick out of using it at Circuit City when the sales person was trying to sell a TV to a young couple. The "I-can-control-the-TV-with-my-mind" trick at a friend's dinner party was also a hoot, though that one was a team effort. We fight over who gets to carry it now, and I'm going to pick up another one so we can both have one.

I purchased this for the sole purpose of having fun. It works very well, and I have yet to come across a telvision that won't respond. Even weird brands that I hadn't heard of previously turned on and off. Some advice to save battery life--run it in "stealth mode" in order to keep that little LED light from draining the battery. To do this you simply click the button twice and the light will flash once before it runs through the codes, and six times at the end to let you know that it has finished. A great product that results in happiness everytime!

I was giddy with excitement when this product arrived on a Saturday morning. Like everyone else who got this product, the first thing I did was press the button.

And wouldn't you know it, my TV (regular projector TV, probably 17-inch) immediately turned off--despite the fact that I wasn't even facing it.

Many moons and shopping trips to electronics stores, restaurants and grocery stores later, I've noticed a few things about it.

First, the design. I don't know about anyone else, but the device looked much smaller in the pictures. In my hand, its diameter is bigger than a poker chip and its thickness is a little much. Also, it's very light, which makes me wonder why they didn't bother making it smaller because this isn't an easy thing to conceal during use. The shell is pretty hollow so it makes a lovely clunking noise with all your other keys and nic nacs.

Second, the signal is not that strong. It works almost instantly if you're pointing it directly at a TV within 10ft. Outside of that, it could be a little tricky. I wasn't able to shoot from inside the pocket of my wool winter jacket, but works through my light fleece.

Another thing, this also turns TV's on, so if you're trying to clear out a rack of TV's at an electronics store, you may end up turning a couple on accidently that you've already turned off.

The huge 'but', though, is that when this thing does work--and it really does--you feel like Jesus. My favorite time with it so far was when I turned off a huge HDTV with these two guys playing Guitar Hero at a Best Buy.

I plan on going to the local sports bar with it during an important game sometime. (but that could be a problem since.. it's a sports bar and I don't like wearing a backwards hat)

If you have $20 to spend and love harmless mischief, I'd definitely recommend it.