Methods for Bypassing Faulty VChips?

corporal_clegg asks: "I bought a Sharp 27" TV a year or so ago to serve as a second TV and PS2 gaming platform. When I recently attempted to play a DVD through the game console, the VChip kicked in and presented a beautifully rendered black rectangle on the screen. No amount of menu manipulation on either the game console or the TV can remove the VChip blocking; both system menus report the VChip as disabled, yet it continues to block all programming: golf, kids shows, everything. This occurs if the game console is attached and operating or completely removed. Of course the operating manuals provide no help on addressing these issues, and the manufacturers' web sites are likewise useless. So the question is: does anyone out there in slash-land know how to identify and remove, bypass or hardware reset the VChip/ blocking technology? I am very comfortable working at the board level and would much rather crack my case and fix this problem myself than take an 80lb TV to a repair shop only to be charged it's replacement cost to address the problem."

DMCA violation?

[Anonymous Coward]

Will giving out information on how to bypass the V-chip violate the DMCA?

Re:DMCA violation?

[jsewell]

do we care?

Re:DMCA violation?

[duplicate-nickname]

Maybe not the DMCA, but possibly the lesser known AMCA.

Re:DMCA violation?

[Anonymous Coward]

No.

Turn on a TV that doesn't have a V-chip and notice that you can see the image. Ergo, there is no "technological measure that effectively limits access" to the work.

Re:DMCA violation?

[Tom7]

No, unless that information is also a circumvention device (like source code, perhaps).
There are some laws on the books in some states regarding things like cable theft (sometimes slashdot calls these super-DMCA laws), that might, though.

Re:DMCA violation?

[Coke in a Can]

Although the other people are also right, I believe the correct question is not "will it violate the DMCA", it's:

DOES ANYONE REALLY GIVE A SHIT?

SledgeHammer

[justanyone]

Try the trusty tool available from any Viking Supply House.

Re:So let me get this straight...

[gmhowell]

If the TV is over a year old, it's likely that the warranty is already expired.

Re:So let me get this straight...

[cgenman]

Right, and why bother upgrading to XP on your existing computer when you should just buy one freshly pre-installed from Dell? Why replace the cracked screen on your PDA when it isn't nearly as fast or as colorful as the latest and greatest? Your car is five years old: It will break down any minute. You should chuck it and buy a new one. Why go through the hassle?

You don't know how technology works anyway. Even if you did, you wouldn't know how this one would work, so don't bother trying. It's safer and easier to throw it out and get a new replacement than it is to diagnose a problem and improvise a solution. There is a reason electronics ship in black boxes, right?

(You did buy the extended warranty didn't you?)

This comment shouldn't be modded "insightful." It should be modded "sad."

Re:So let me get this straight...

[tha_mink]

Hello!!! Why the fuck would you even consider cracking open a TV that's a year old to hack a chip in it to fix a problem that you're not even sure is the v-chip in the first place. (the rectangle described by the poster is probably only the closed caption setting which can cause problems on sharp TVs)

I am all about fixing stuff but dude, cmon, it's a new TV set that is under the SHARP warranty. Just bring it in and at least let them tell you it's the v-chip and not some other problem caused by miscon

Re:So let me get this straight...

[uncoveror]

Dude! They are watching you! Here is some info about the V-chip, [uncoveror.com] and how to disable it. [uncoveror.com]

Re:So let me get this straight...

[stevew]

You forgot to put the smiley face after your post - after all - that REALLY is a joke. Using the TV as a camera - right... wink wink - nod nod.

At least

[duffbeer703]

the children will be protected from the filth & violence on tv!

maybe it isn't the vchip

[vancleve]

i had a problem like that on a hitachi 52" projection
what the problem was that the captioning was turned on and was just putting the aformentioned black rectangle on the screen
i turned off all captioning and it fixed the problem

Re:maybe it isn't the vchip

[seinman]

Same thing with me. If you have the captions set to TEXT mode by mistake, a big black box will cover the screen, but since so few stations actually use text, it'll just be empty. Turn the captions back to CAPTION mode, or turn them off all together, and see if it fixes your problem.

Re:maybe it isn't the vchip

[Jahf]

Ditto ... this happened to me when I switched to DirecTV from analog cable. I never knew I had it enabled until I turned on my DTV signal, then bang, big black rectangle with words to the effect of "this is a test of the text messaging system" on my TV. Called DTV and they quickly diagnosed it and had me turn off closed captioning. Worked fine.

Re:maybe it isn't the vchip

[corporal_clegg]

That did it! I thought I had checked all the settings but must have skipped that one in my haste. I know that this post will prolly never be seen by human eyes, but just in case someone has the same problem, it's here. Thanks much for your advice.

Are ya gonna want that chip?

[the darn]

Because if you're not, we could implant it in a potty-mouthed 3rd grader and endow him with super-electro-zappy powers..

Re:Are ya gonna want that chip?

[JDWTopGuy]

I recently had a V-chip implanted in my brain. Now I no longer need clothing, as the V-chip places a nicely-rendered black rectangle over my parts.

That's one V-chip you don't wanna turn off, trust me.

Seen too much...

[jolshefsky]

Perhaps you've seen too much already. V-chip knows.

Are you sure it's the VChip?

[DeComposer]

A black rectangle? If it was the VChip, the entire signal would be blocked [howstuffworks.com], not obscured by a black rectangle.

I think you're barking up the wrong tree; you should look at the captioning.

Re:Are you sure it's the VChip?

[b_pretender]

I agree. This whole "Ask Slashdot" is probably covered in the "Troubleshooting" section of the manual.

Re:DID YOU CALL SHARP?

[Anonymous Coward]

Harsh words from someone who can't spell "TV" correctly...

Just don'

[Futurepower(R)]

Please don't visit a story in which you have no interest.

Re:Just don'

[arcadum]

Their point was valid and truthfull.

Re:Can it be so?

[Sxooter]

Whomsoever modded this as a troll was not paying attention. The author speaks the truth and is right. Mod him for flaming maybe, but not trolling.

Oh boy....

[EnVisiCrypt]

I am usually a vigorous defender of ask slashdot, but christ-on-a-crutch is this ever dumb.

You've got text mode captioning on, man. Turn it off and watch the amazing pictures flashing in the magic box again.

Re:Oh boy....

[EnVisiCrypt]

Ok, I'm sure the "christ-on-a-crutch" bit was a tad offensive, but a troll? Come on, he really probably does have captioning on.

Re:Oh boy....

[Sxooter]

I think somebody was modding today looking for anything nasty and calling it a troll.

Even I thought, dumbass has the captioning turned on. Poor guy, maybe next time he'll ask a 12 year old for help first. Of course, his shame is no lesser, just kept out of public view.

Re:Oh boy....

[DeComposer]

And the 12-year-old will forget in fifteen minutes that an adult had to ask for technical help from a kid; hell, the kid probably answers half a dozen tech questions every day! :)

Re:Oh boy....

[EnVisiCrypt]

I agree, it was a bit harsh, and if anything should have been a flamebait, but it was nevertheless true.

Re:Oh boy....

[tomhudson]

... how about vchips for bypassing defective users?

seriously, ... unplug tv for 24 hours, replug ... usually returns to factory defaults, so cc would be turned off/reset - problem solved (this is an el cheapo tv w/o battery backup, etc.).

after all, if a cold reboot is good enough for M$, should be good enough for everyone :-)

Nice try, Junior!

[L. VeGas]

We know you're really 9 years old. You're going to have to wait a few years before we'll let you watch "The View".

Ok, so he doesn't have a real problem

[cgenman]

But it does pose an interesting technical question: how does one bypass the V-Chip? Assuming the V-chip only blocks audio and video transmissions, a simple bridge might suffice. However, the industry might have come up with a few more difficult technical hurdles, despite having to retain backwards compatability.

Does anyone have a pinout diagram for a V-Chip? I can't seem to google one.

Re:Ok, so he doesn't have a real problem

[kenthorvath]

Why would they bother to make it hard to by-pass the V-chip? This isn't some DRM technology designed to enslave the masses, it's just a parenting tool. If your child is tech saavy enough to open the case, and flip so much as a dip switch, he is probably mature enough to watch Jenna Jameson dipping somebody else's switch. This is most likely to prevent 5 year olds from watching mom n' dads late night subscription to PBTV or getting violent bad mouthing ideas from HBO.

yay V-Chip

[mattsucks]

report the VChip as disabled, yet it continues to block all programming: golf, kids shows, everything.

As it should.

rtFm

[pagercam2]

Good thing all these techies are saving you from "reading the F****** manual" I'll send you a bill for the time wasted reading your post.

hmm

[XO]

When I first read this, I thought "wow, a beautifully rendered black triangle???"

Then I realised that it was actually a RECTangle not a TRIangle, and that I needed to sleep. And, the question asker needs to adjust his closed captioning settings.

Oh, and that Slashdot does occasionally need a "Delete Story" button when someone makes a mistake that seems that moronic. I'm not saying that the person who didn't realise it was CC was a moron, that letting this story stay in the light of day is moronic.

Corporal...

[Tralfamadorian]

Is it true that your leg is made of wood?

Revocation of Acceptance

[mbstone]

Under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) a buyer can revoke his acceptance of purchased goods if there is an undiscovered inherent defect that significantly impairs the value. (Google "UCC revocation acceptance" for more info.) Then, write to the mfr. and/or retailer citing the UCC and stating that you are hereby revoking your acceptance of the TV set, and you are hereby requesting a full refund and a prepaid RMA number. If after receiving the letter they do not accept return of the goods, take them to small claims court.