Destroying cable box? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 03:12:40 am
content: I have acquired an ATT Uverse cable box for free, and I don't really like cable companies. SO my question is, how to destroy it spectacularly. WIll 12v down the JTAG be enough?

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 03:31:29 am
content: Why the holy hell would you do that? Can't you find a way to make use of it, or give it to someone else who would want it, or something else that isn't completely useless?And no, 12V down the JTAG wouldn't be enough. You'll release some magic smoke. It takes some creativity to do anything truly spectacular, usually you just blow out one section of the circuit and it smells a bit. Your best bet is to attack the main PCB with a Widlarizer...

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 03:39:09 am
content: AT&T is a phone company... (Not that it makes them any less "evil"...)I suggest tearing it down for parts. Or if you really want to see it go bang, take it outside on New Year's day, open it, bypass the fuse, rip off the optocouplers on the power supply, throw in some fireworks (if allowed in your area), then plug it in from a safe distance.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 04:01:48 am
content: No. It was broken anyways. And yes, I know what a JTAG is. It is a PCB level port that allows for testing the board or flashing the firmware in. There are no parts I see that can be harvested. A few bulging CapXons, some LEDs, and a whole hell load of 0402 smd components. Also, ATT offers internet and TV service here in the US, NiHaoMike.

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 04:10:05 am
content: Quote from: StevenWhitney on October 20, 2013, 03:23:11 amtoo righteous for some destructive behaviour? don't you know that's the whole point of your existence on this planet?

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 04:11:59 am
content: Oh, it's an AT&T box, I missed that. Forget 12V up the JTAG, and forget Widlarizing it, you need a proper exorcist for this one...

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 04:33:40 am
content: Destruction is finished. I just sent 60V DC down the Video In, TV Out, and the 12V dc lines outside. A bit of sparks, and poof. a whole load of magic smoke. As expected, no LEDs light up anymore. Pics will follow.

author: JoeO
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 01:11:39 pm
content: Don't bother.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 01:35:15 pm
content: Quote from: echen1024 on October 20, 2013, 04:33:40 amIf you had sent 60kV DC, that would be something nice to watch!BTW, I had AT&T Uverse for a brief period of time, and their STBs were really horrendous... You did a favor to the world.

author: TMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 02:06:50 pm
content: no microwave oven transformer no care.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 02:36:09 pm
content: Ah microwave.... Just to be sure take the pcb out and put it in the microwave for a few minutes.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 02:47:44 pm
content: And this achieved what exactlyBlowing up kit =Why not just connect a 6V Electrolytic capacitor to a 12V power supply and make a bang if that is your objective in life.Little things please little minds I suppose

author: atw60444
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 02:50:39 pm
content: I had a colleague who wanted a new radio pager. So he applied 48 volts from the telephone exchange battery jack across the AAA battery contacts. It didn't flinch. Happily carried on working afterwards. So he resorted to 240 volts mains AC. An undramatic small puff of magic smoke and it finally gave in.Jon

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 02:59:28 pm
content: You are in the US, take to the local rifle range and arrange a proper execution, stake blindfold the whole shebang and then have a firing squad do the honors.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 03:11:30 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on October 20, 2013, 03:03:20 pmThat would be the best option, but I value my freedom...

author: LoyalServant
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 03:32:00 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on October 20, 2013, 01:35:15 pmYeah.. I would like to see 60kV on it too.... ultimate destruction.Also... they pushed a firmware update in the last 6 months that really improved the boxes.The newer boxes are also a lot better than the older ones.Still a STB... and I think they are evil.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 04:05:26 pm
content: This box had a 2008 datecode, so, It was pretty shit...

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 04:23:11 pm
content: Motorola pager right? those were pretty much indestructible, though a few were lost to being run over by aircraft tractors or the aircraft they were towing. Some had other unfortunate accidents, when it comes back in a plastic bag it is not likely to be repairable.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 06:31:02 pm
content: No, a Motorola set top box used with ATT uverse.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2013, 06:33:19 pm
content: And when a plumber was needed to recover it.....you don't want it back