How to Switch Off Any TV, Anywhere

I do believe that the first thing you think of when reading this title is "Simple. Just unplug it". But it's not that easy, because there are quite a lot of situations when, although the respective TV really annoys you, you can't do anything about it, because the owner does not agree with you. Well, it looks like this is a pretty common situation, and it makes enough people mad for someone to invent a solution. And this solution, TV-B-Gone from Cornfield Electronics, looks like the remote from your car alarm, but can switch off almost any television set.

But let's see how this wonder-device works. All the user has to do is point it at the target-TV set, and then press the button. The manufacturers inform us that most TVs will go out after about 17 seconds, but there are some situations when you must press the button a bit longer (69 seconds, to be exact, depending on the TV model).

2 models of TV-B-Gone are available on the market, one for the TVs in the United States, Canada, Mexico and some Asian countries (so, the countries using the NTSC system), and the other for the European system (PAL-SECAM), it's secret being the 209 turn-off codes included in the device.

Here are the most important technical specifications offered by the manufacturers:

- Turns off virtually any television; - Perfect for carrying on your key ring; - May take up to 69 seconds for the television to turn off (90% of televisions should turn off within 17 seconds); - Range: 20 to 50 feet (7 to 17 m), depending on the maker and model of the TV; - contains 209 turn-off codes; - Regular Version works on TVs in US, Canada, Mexico, many Asian countries (European version also available!); - Lithium batteries included (last about 3 months to one year depending on usage); - Dimensions: 1.92" x 2.27" x .675"; - Weight: 26 grams with batteries.

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