Funny Philips motel TV

[electroking]

I recently stayed at a motel that provided TV service with a Philips
CRT set manufactured September, 1997 at a Greeneville, TN plant.
The funny thing wat that this set had no rear (or front) connectors
except the 75-ohm cable input. No audio or video input of any kind.
Cycling through the cable channels with the remote control, I found
an AUX setting at the end of the list, but no way to feed it. Has
anyone else seen such a (relatively) recent set with no auxiliary inputs?

The model number was OCV725 C107, and also a chassis number was
listed: 25B700-7562. Thanks for any comments.

[zenith2134]

I've seen a lot of later-model TV's with only an F-connector for input. One that comes to mind is with the late-90s RCA/Thomson sets (CTC-203, IIRC)

[Kiwick]

Sony also made cheap 13" Trinitrons without AV inputs in the mid-late 90s for the European market, Orion also made sets without Av inputs in the mid 90s

The main reason for omitting AV inputs in modern sets is the use of a live chassis, which is probably cheaper than a fully isolated chassis.

[radiotvnut]

I've seen at least a couple of 25" RCA CTC203's from around 2001 without A/V jacks. They were basic mono TV's. Also seen some later Sanyo's without them. I've seen several Magnavox and Zenith sets from the late '90's without them. I can remember when A/V jacks meant a high end TV. Now, they are standard equipment on most any modern TV. Probably because DVD players and newer video game consoles only have line out jacks.

[willyrover]

I'd bet that literally the only thing missing was the RCA jack and that there were connections on the board to accept the input.

[dr.ido]

Hotel mode and child locks are often the bane of my existence. I've scrapped many otherwise working sets that were stuck in either mode simply because it was impossible to return them to normal operation without the missing remote (and a universal failed to activate the necessary menu). Sometimes I've gotten around this by changing out the RAM IC with one from a similar chassis, but often there are enough differences that while this will unlock the set it leaves other settings corrupted. I could attempt reprogram the IC with a PC based programmer, but so far the sets I've found in this state haven't been worth the effort.

At least some sets have the decency to power up and display a lock symbol or message. Others won't even power on. Just recently a Teac/Vestel 16:9 set had me confused in just this manner. I was almost ready to swap out the microcontroller when I remembered they had this "feature" and found a remote that would unlock it.

I've had a few of those late 90s 14" trinitrons without AV inputs here. The ones that I found do not have a live chassis. I have added AV inputs to one in the past. It is a hack job as the microcontroller can't select AV so you have to connect a switch to the select pin on the jungle IC (or just hardwire it if you don't need the tuner). I didn't bother to document the process, but that datasheet for the jungle IC makes it obvious.

Otherwise, the latest set I remember finding here without an AV input was a 1997 Sanyo 21" American set that someone must have brought over with their personal effects not realising it was completely useless here. I found it strange that such a late model stereo set lacked such a basic feature. It made more sense when I opened it up and found the live chassis.

I've got a little 5" AWA that was a hospital rental set that I think I've posted here before. In order to prevent patients from bringing their own set (or stealing the rental sets) it was fitted with a strange triaxial connector that carried DC power and the RF input. Internally it was fitted with a DC-DC converter that took 32VDC from this connector and supplied 12VDC to the chassis. The original AC/DC connectors, RF connector and AV connectors were fitted to fill the holes in the cabinet, but the related circuitry is missing (not removed, it was never fitted). I've since removed the DC-DC converter and reconnected the original DC and RF connectors. It now runs from a 12VDC supply and accepts a standard antenna input, but I've yet to fit the missing AC power supply or get the AV input working.

[OvenMaster]

Originally Posted by zenith2134

I've seen a lot of later-model TV's with only an F-connector for input. One that comes to mind is with the late-90s RCA/Thomson sets (CTC-203, IIRC)

My present CTC-177 is like that. Bought 12/1995.

[zenith2134]

In 1995, lots of sets only had an F connector. But by 2000 or so, it was becoming commonplace to have composite inputs even on small sets. I bet the last RF-only TV sets were Daewoos like the ones sold in Walmart up until 2006 or so.

[Red October]

My grandparents had a 26" RCA with just an F input, and a very simple remote. They were notoriously cheap and I think my grandmother wanted it just because it had a simple remote. My buddy has an early-90s Sanyo with just an F-type input as well. They suck. As I work in a Radio Shack, I see a surprising number of people in after the RF modulators that let these old sets use modern stuff.

[MRX37]

The hilarious thing is I have a 13 inch GE dial TV from 1984 that can accept composite and S video input.

[Red October]

I saw a little Toshiba, I think, from about 85 or so with Composite inputs. Almost took it but I had no use for it. Cute little thing, too. It was for sale at a local TV shop, but the owner knows me and was willing to let me have it for free.

I've got to see pics of that TV with a dial and A/V inputs. That's awesome. I've got an old Sony varactor B&W 21" set with a full jackpack; it was designed to accompany Sony's Home VTR lineup. It is awesome.

[radiotvnut]

The schools used to have a bunch of RCA CTC39 chassis tube color sets that had a jack panel on the rear. I don't remember the details on the exact inputs and outputs since it's been about 15 years since I've seen the back of one.