What IS this left-over from a rental house? Cable, modem, router, alarm system, what?

[Isaac]

Keep in mind I mentioned we use the TV's remote. In addition to the up/down/left/right buttons around the OK button, it also has channel and volume up/down buttons. Those are the ones that work to change channels.

Interesting I'm not sure I have a remote to this TV other than the Roku one otherwise I would try it

 

[moke123]

Interesting I'm not sure I have a remote to this TV other than the Roku one otherwise I would try it

I have 4 TV's with Rokus and I'll be damned if I can find the original remotes for any of them. I think the dog took care of a couple of them.

 

[Isaac]

My TV's remote also changes the channels with the up/down button. It works the same for YTTV, Netflix, Disney, and Prime.
View attachment 121783

My goodness @BlueSpruce and @pbaldy I'll have to see if when I use a generic remote with the tv (the only tv remote i have is the roku consolidated one as it's a roku tv), it will do that for me too - thanks 4 the info

 

[Isaac]

But my roku tv is relatively new, and it only came with a single remote - the roku remote, which controls the entire tv.
There is nothing missing.

 

[Isaac]

However, I can try your method on my other tv, which is a regular tv with a roku box hooked up. I'll try the regular 'tv remote' to see if it changes yttv channels. oh wait, i might have to reenable yttv for that. i'll tuck it away in my mind for if i reenable yttv

 

[Isaac]

Good old DVDs!
May I ask why you don't stream it somehow? Or was that a gift from someone from before streaming became big?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I tend to like video disks, tool. Since we're still on cable, we can't search a video library so easily.

Then again, I usually wait until what I want reaches the Wal-Mart "cheapie" rack.

OK, so I'm dirt-cheap, well beyond frugal, and in the general direction of penny pinching.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I looked up the numbers visible on the side - no luck. That cord on the bottom is clearly a wall-socket plug for electric power. Are there any other sockets on the top or bottom?

I see a standard flat-head screw/hex screw head at the top. Might be one on the bottom as well, hidden by the angle of that shot. Since you have unplugged it, you should be able to safely unscrew it to see if there are part or model numbers on the back of the device.

 

[AccessBlaster]

According to chat:

It’s a Verizon power supply unit—specifically the type used to power a Verizon FiOS ONT (Optical Network Terminal) or other Verizon network equipment.

Key indicators:​

• The Verizon logo on the casing.
• The “POWER OK” indicator light on the bottom.
• The cable bundle coming out of the bottom, including what looks like low-voltage wiring and a regular power plug.
  

What it does:​

This device converts household AC power to low-voltage DC power for Verizon’s network hardware (typically the ONT, which is often mounted outside or in a utility area). Without it, internet and phone service from FiOS would go down.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Regarding the first picture in post #46, the right-hand box is a cable junction box. I won't say that EVERY cable company uses that design, but a majority use it. From the thickness of the cord coming out of the left-hand box, it might be a power convertor of some kind. But that would be hard to say without brand names and model numbers.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Why wouldn't they just run the fiber all the way into the home so the modem is indoors?

Networks run under the ISO 7-layer model of networking, for which the lowest layer is Point-to-Point physical connections. If their modem uses Ethernet-over-CAT7 but what is coming into the building is Ethernet-over-fiber, they need a convertor.

I've got table-top convertors in two places because my house was wired for COAX cable when it was built over 40 years ago, and when we changed to fiber from copper, there were some issues requiring conversion at the physical layer. It is commonplace when dealing with new networks in old buildings. The alternative would be to tear out a wall to replace the connecting cables with newer signal carriers and then replace the sheet rock or whatever else you have for a wall. It's far easier to just provide a convertor to carry the signal for the short leg between the building junction and the individual modems.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Understood, however, placing the modem outdoors exposes it to the elements, as can be seen in the pic, plus anyone could plug into an ethernet port. I also think most people wouldn't be able to leverage speeds above 1Gbps, unless they have newer devices with NIC's and Wifi receivers > 1Gbps.

None of those are problems for the company unless they have leaky equipment. However, most of these housings are sufficiently tight to be waterproof.

Someone can plug into your modem? Who pays the bill for usage and how is it the ISP's problem if someone is stealing your service at a point where it shows up on your bill? As to getting >1 Gbps speed, if you want it - pay for it by getting the new, more expensive devices. Since you usually get that by signing up with the ISP for the new, expanded service... how is that the ISP's problem? I can hear them saying "cha-ching" all the way to the bank.

 

[AccessBlaster]

I found an unusual piece of equipment in my garage the other day, and I was hoping someone could identify its purpose. It appears to have four wheels and seems capable of movement. Inside the top, there are several chrome looking components. Next to this unknown device are two large white metal boxes with various dials and buttons. Any help would be greatly appreciated these items are causing me a lot of anxiety. Thank you, sincerely Access Blaster.

 

[AccessBlaster]

sure

 

[AccessBlaster]

Find any relics in your garage you want to remove?.. I cleanout my garage once a year.

Yeah, here's a small project that stalled out a few years ago.

 

[AccessBlaster]

Yes, spare edger engine

 

[Isaac]

I tend to like video disks, tool. Since we're still on cable, we can't search a video library so easily.

Then again, I usually wait until what I want reaches the Wal-Mart "cheapie" rack.

OK, so I'm dirt-cheap, well beyond frugal, and in the general direction of penny pinching.

I've parted ways with disks, but I can't say it's because streaming is so 'great' - it's often a terrible customer experience, they have a long ways to go before the interfaces are smooth sailing. I'm cheapo deapo too, but I find my monthly 'subscriptions' to all kinds of stuff - from gym to netflix to chatgpt to the carwash place - are skyrockteting. every year or two I turn off one of my credit cards to see who complains, try to get a handle on my monthly costs.

 

[Isaac]

not sure how to articulate this, but I kind of miss the days of 'live' tv. you turned on the tv and you hoped a channel had what you wanted and you'd surf until you found something with a show you really wanted to see - then you paused your surroundings and sat down to watch it. I realize I just described the least efficient and most inconvenient method possible, but somehow I kind of miss those days of tv watching. now there is no need for 'live' - anything, because you just decide what show you want to watch and you watch it, period. Yet there must be some people like me, because all the streaming services are climbing all over each other to proudly offer a "live tv" feature (despite theoretically having no need for that any more)
am I making any sense
I think I find myself watching less tv overall, since the decision is less "I wonder what is on tv?" which was exciting, to now: "do I or do I not want to watch x-show", the deliberate decision to do so results in less doing, which is probably good for me, of course I've replaced it with a 4" screen so.....lol

 

[Isaac]

yeah that was one thing i enjoyed about YTTV, was their live local channels. i like to briefly get the local news scoop each day, mostly because I currently live in a not very good area of town, and unfortunately the news around me is often 'exciting'