Aggravating problems solved.....kinda

[camperkilgore]

It seems like, in these modern technical times, that the mantra is, "it kinda works", or "this is the workaround", or "possibly fixed in the next update".

Now to start off with, I'm not asking for solutions to all this. Just venting, and using the "misery loves company" approach to my post.

My experiences lately involve electronic devices. Specifically video and audio equipment. After buying what I thought were the most cost effective components, I discovered that there is something wrong with everything.

I bought a tv that has lousy audio but has audio out, but it is optical audio out, and that is the ONLY audio output(should have researched more thoroughly). So that led to a problem with my headphones. No way to interface them with the audio. I need those so that my late night tv doesn't bother DW.

I bought a DAC(d to a converter), again it was a cost effective selection. Well it allowed me to connect the headphones and feed analog audio to my sound bar. After doing this, I noticed that the audio would fluctuate in volume(very aggravating). It would require constant adjustment of volume with the remote control.

I scrapped the dac, and went back to optical audio to the soundbar, which fixed the varying volume, but I had to hook up the headphones to the audio output of the satellite box. Problem with that is that I can't use headphones when watching OTA tv, or firestick, or dvd.

Speaking of OTA tv. I could have paid upwards of $400 for a good OTA dvr device, but I went for the more cost effective device and found out again "there's something wrong with everything". The thing would not dvr a scheduled show. Again I had to wait for "fixed in the next firmware upgrade". It actually was fixed, but it was advertised as the best thing since sliced bread, but clearly not ready for prime time when I bought it.

Mixed in with all this, I got these really great Harmony Universal remote controls. They are much easier to program for all the devices I am using(up to a max of eight).....except the Firestick. It is bluetooth, and my Harmony remotes are IR only. Should have researched more. Might have just saved money and used each devices remote(all six of them). I am happy with reducing down to two however.

If I was only rich, I could hire someone to sort out all these problems and put together a non-aggravating media center. And this leads me to my final thought:
I've been told that the very intelligent people of the world don't watch tv. It ain't because of the content, it's because of the aggravation! Lol. :B

[2oldman]

You need an interface box like this one:

[DutchmenSport]

That's the problem with almost EVERY television sold today ... I mean EVERY ... and I searched high and low. The only audio output is with the optical-output because the volume on EVERY television is just pathetic. We wanted ear phones and of course the more-than-willing-young-kid at the Best Buy store was more than willing to sell me new headphones. But when I asked how do that plug into the television, he was 100 percent overwhelmed! He couldn't figure it out either. I told him, I'd purchase ANY television in the store if it had the old style jacks for headphones on it, so I could use headphones. He couldn't find any!

Yea... when it comes to changing the channel the channel on my television, I have to call my 4 year old grandson and ask him how to do it! It really is THAT bad!

[2oldman]

I feel your pain.

My new Samsung optical-only output feeds a soundbar. Every few minutes there's a 'white' spot in the sound, like the words are gone. Perhaps something to do with its Output leveling or something. I can't seem to find a fix.

The TV sound (yuck) is fine, so it's either something in the soundbar or the TV's optical output.

[bob213]

Sounds like more $$$ means less aggravation?? Hope you get it all sorted out.

[CA_Traveler]

I must not be very intelligent since I watch some TV. 😞

I really like my DTV RF remote as the receiver can be in a cabinet. Mine is mounted vertically in the back of the MH cabinet. The remote also turns the TV on/off but it's IR.