Inventor Open Sources "TV-B-Gone," and Why

ptorrone writes "Inventor Mitch Altman explains why he open-sourced his TV-B-Gone kit, the original stealth keychain fob for defeating TVs in public places. The title of the article is 'Patent-B-Gone' and perhaps the most interesting fact is that Mitch's brother is a patent attorney, but he still decided to release an open source hardware version of the TV-B-Gone, with pretty impressive results."

Comments

Re:A Necessary Addition

[Meest]

I don't even know how many places this will work? Are there alot of places that do not have Professional grade TV's installed in their places??

I just recently left a commercial installer and all the professional TV's we were installing had no IR/RF it was all RS232 control. If they did the IR was on the back, and we would cover up the sensor with a backup IR control eye with a patch so nothing else could controll it.

Most places I've gone to have done it right and installed TV's that you can't mess with.

There are a few bars that have normal TV's. But if you're in a bar why would you be shutting of someone else's TV's in the first place?? what gives you the right?

I just don't get why you don't just move/leave/go to another establishment...

Re:purpose?

[hal2814]

"go to any bar and I will almost guarantee that the sound is way too loud and NO ONE is watching/listening."

I'm not a big bar patron but I do go to watch the occasional sporting event. I can guarantee you that the vast majority of the bar is watching and listening during that time.

"I like TV, but not all the time. Don't *I* have a right to some f*cking peace and quiet?"

In someone else's bar or airport? No, you don't.

Re:A Necessary Addition

[turtledawn]

Personally I find it to be the other way around- I don't like the slack-jawed, dazed fool I become when there's a TV in the room anywhere I can see it, which is why I try to avoid patronizing businesses that have them. Only hearing it is (usually) no worse than listening to any other inane conversation.