How do I turn off the blue stand by screen

[TexasCoyote]

I like to leave the TV on for my dogs while I'm at work during the day or when I go out of town. When I get home, all the TVs are silent and showing a blue ATT screen. I could turn the screen saver off when I had DishTV. Can someone tell me how to turn off the blue screen with Uverse? Thanks for the help.

[ScottMac]

There is no setting to turn off the "power saver" "feaure."

If you can find a cheap programmable remote, you can set it to fire off a pair of channel changes (by macro function, one up, one down) and keep the screen active.

An alternative is to use a Microsoft Media Center PC (with the IR shooter) to change the channels (set up a one minute recording every couple hours, for every weekday).

[TexasCoyote]

Thank you for the information. I do appreciate it. But I have two questions. One, how often do I have to change the channel to keep the blue screen away. Two, do you have any recomendations for the aforementioned remote or should I just call Logitech tech support? Three, why the heck doesn't ATT give the consumer a choice, power saver or no power saver????? Thanks again.

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

The stbs go into standby at 8 hours of inactivity from the remote.

[TexasCoyote]

Thank you for your help.

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

YW

[ScottMac]

The "feature" is part of the "Energy Star" certification package, I believe.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Expert]

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ScottMac wrote:
The "feature" is part of the "Energy Star" certification package, I believe.

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If that's the claim, it doesn't make sense.

I measured the STB and DVR power draw over the weekend to answer another user's question about monthly cost for the power consumption of these units, and found that they draw the exact same amount of power whether operating or in standby.  (STB = 10 watts, DVR = 17 watts, RG = 9 watts).

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

That is what I have wondered ever since the boxes started going into standby mode.  The fans still blow, the lights still blink, and the stb is still displaying an image.  The only real difference is the power light goes out.  When I first got UV I realized that the way the dvr could still record programs was because the box never turned completely off.  I woul love to hear what ATT has to say about the effectiveness of their Energy Star initiative.

[hpmsrm]

I'm glad to see my suspicion confirmed, S.J.   Did you check power consumption when the DVR is turned off? Or is that the same as "off"?  Just curious.

For the OP:    Would it not be just as effective and a lot more efficient to just leave a radio turned on during the day to keep the pups company?  We have a transistor radio which operates off either AC or battery.  Draws practically nothing from the power line.  Just a thought.

[ScottMac]

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

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ScottMac wrote:
The "feature" is part of the "Energy Star" certification package, I believe.

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If that's the claim, it doesn't make sense.

I measured the STB and DVR power draw over the weekend to answer another user's question about monthly cost for the power consumption of these units, and found that they draw the exact same amount of power whether operating or in standby.  (STB = 10 watts, DVR = 17 watts, RG = 9 watts).

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Yup, I know.

As far as I can tell, at best, it saves bandwidth utilization because in the idle state, there is minimal traffic to/from the box. The "Energy Start Compliance" comment is what I was told when I asked about why it's there, and how I can get rid of it.

I tested it on an Agilent N6705 DC power analyzer and saw no significant difference in either mode (as you mentioned).

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Expert]

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ScottMac wrote:

As far as I can tell, at best, it saves bandwidth utilization because in the idle state, there is minimal traffic to/from the box.

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That's been my thought all along.  AT&T doesn't want bandwidth used unnecessarily.

[JefferMC ACE - Professor]

I hear the DVR spinning up and down the harddrive in my DVR while on standby.  Are you saying that even the additional amount of power needed to spin the harddrive is neglible?

I can see that the spike needed to spin it up doesn't last long enough to affect much.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Expert]

I measured about 2 watts extra to spin it up (peaked at 19 watts), and about 1/2 watt less when the HD was spun down (sometimes read 17 watts, sometimes read 16 watts).

[dhascall ACE - Master]

If the OP wants to step around the 8 hour U-Verse timeout for dogs or home security, why not use another TV input?  

OTA TV: If the TV is manufactured in the last few years, it should have an ATSC tuner.   If you live within 30 miles of a TV transmitter (especially a high powered UHF one) an indoor antenna should get you at least one station, and that should be able to keep the dogs at bay (so to speak).

DVD: Many DVD players have a replay feature.  Let it play all night.

Now if the TV itself has a timeout "feature," why then, you might be out of luck!

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

I like that ota suggestion DH.  If it is a really big deal about leaving a television on for pets for noise or something to watch ota is always available.

[TexasCoyote]

Believe me, I've thought about a radio, but it just isn't the same. I like having the light dancing around and people talking at night in case someone might be passing by or what ever. It looks and sounds more occupied with at least the TV on. (Cheap security device) We usually leave it on Turner Classic Movies, the old black & white classics. Believe it or not, when UV goes to blue screen in the middle of the night, our cocker spaniel starts to wail. Go figure. Anyway, I'm looking for a remote that will do micros. I've contacted Logitec Tech Suppt and I'm waiting on a real person to respond. Almost seems like I should just wait till my two years are up and go back to Dish .?.?.?

Thanks for all the help.

[dhascall ACE - Master]

TexasCoyotte: I think that either of my suggestions (OTA TV or a DVD player running) would be the best way until (if ever) AT&T shows us how to disarm this unneeded "feature."  That being said, you are serious of switching providers over an 8 hour time-out feature?  Wow.  Good luck. 

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

There was a time when the stbs just stayed on.  I had UV before they introduced this energy saving feature.  I don't see them changing it.  But dare to dream.

[mikedamirault]

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TexasCoyote wrote:

Believe me, I've thought about a radio, but it just isn't the same. I like having the light dancing around and people talking at night in case someone might be passing by or what ever. It looks and sounds more occupied with at least the TV on. (Cheap security device) We usually leave it on Turner Classic Movies, the old black & white classics. Believe it or not, when UV goes to blue screen in the middle of the night, our cocker spaniel starts to wail. Go figure. Anyway, I'm looking for a remote that will do micros. I've contacted Logitec Tech Suppt and I'm waiting on a real person to respond. Almost seems like I should just wait till my two years are up and go back to Dish .?.?.?

Thanks for all the help.

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Is the given TV an HDTV?  (not an HD ready TV, but an HDTV), if so, the TV itself shouldn't have a screensaver mode, so you could always connect an antenna (using the internal ATSC tuner) for the pets and security, then just switch over to U-verse when you want to watch TV

[TexasCoyote]

Or I could just go back to Dish TV and not have to worry about it???

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

That'll show ATT.

[oufanindallas]

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TexasCoyote wrote:

Or I could just go back to Dish TV and not have to worry about it???

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Yeah, that's really logical.

[mikedamirault]

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TexasCoyote wrote:

Or I could just go back to Dish TV and not have to worry about it???

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It's up to you what you want to do, but don't you find it a bit much to switch back to Dish just because of a simple screensaver?  The replacement of hardware, the hassle of cancelling U-verse and reordering Dish, the installation, etc., I would find it a lot easier to simply connect and antenna and forget about it, of course if your cocker spaniel has a thing for classic B&W movies on TCM, then maybe there would be a problem

But like I said, it's your choice, if you want/need to switch back to Dish, go for it

[TexasCoyote]

Gee Mike,

You sure make it sound difficult to swap out a DVR. Maybe I don't feel that I should have to make special arrangements because ATT doesn't offer me a, oh yea, like you said,  choice!

[mikedamirault]

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TexasCoyote wrote:

Gee Mike,

You sure make it sound difficult to swap out a DVR. Maybe I don't feel that I should have to make special arrangements because ATT doesn't offer me a, oh yea, like you said,  choice!

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The only issue with that is, it may not be as simple as a DVR swap

Because you switched to U-verse, you don't know the quality/shape of the LNB on your dish, you don't know if it's still pointed properly, and depending on your installation (unless your Coax connections were left untouched), the Coax could be used for HPNA for U-verse, and not connected to the dish at all, therefore you could connect the Dish DVR, and not get any service whatsoever

On top of that, unless you are still subscribed to dish (and just not using the services), and you still have your Dish DVR, you will still need to (re)subscribe to Dish and wait for the DVR to be delivered, and if your dish does need to be repointed, or the LNB does need to be replaced, unless you can do it on your own, you will have to wait for an installer to come out and fix it

As for using an OTA antenna, you can use any old pair of bunny ears (or even a thin piece of wire to stick into the hole of the coax connection on the TV), there is no special HD or Digital antenna, all you would have to do is connect the antenna to the TV's Coax connection, do a scan, and get free HD and Digital local channels in no time (which I think your cocker spaniel should enjoy just fine)

I don't know about you, but I would much rather plug in a simple antenna and do a scan instead of going through the hassle of cancelling a service, then having the previous service reinstalled (and no, it's not as easy as a DVR swap)

But like I said before, it is your choice, and if you think that cancelling U-verse and resubscribing to Dish is more worth it than connecting a simple antenna and doing a scan just so you don't get a screensaver, then go ahead and switch to Dish, none of us really care

[willyb]

I think I've read here or somewhere that this is not a power save issue at all, even though it may be advertised as such.  Since Uverse is TV over IP, when the STB is playing a program, it is using bandwidth.  AT&T for whatever reason--to benefit AT&T or to benefit other users--is saving bandwidth by timing out.  It seems shorter than eight hours to me, though.

A few months ago I switched to a radio on a timer instead of a TV on a timer, as someone else here did.  The loss of moving light from the TV screen, though, makes this a less effective security device.  Other ideas here sound worth pursuing.  I guess we've had cable, satellite, and Uverse for so long, we forgot that there is still a broadcast TV option.  My kitchen TV is an old pre-digital CRT TV, so I can't even use the antenna option, so it may be time to replace our last non-HD TV.  Too bad.  Like the last old VW beetle.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Expert]

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willyb wrote:

A few months ago I switched to a radio on a timer instead of a TV on a timer, as someone else here did.  The loss of moving light from the TV screen, though, makes this a less effective security device.

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Check out this device.

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

Now if that could fool our pets...

[clin36]

hi, I am having serious issue with this 'press ok to watch u-verse TV'

I use a VCR-like device (Panasonic DVD player/recorder with built-in hard disk which can record TV programs) and don't want to use ATT DVR.    Tried DVR, and don't like it for many reasons which I won't elaborate here.

Wiith Comcast (before) was able to request Comcast to configure so my box does not go into standby, so TV signal is always there being fed into my Panasonic.

Now with ATT, last night Panasonic started recording 4 am to 6 am, and today I only got a 2-hour recording full of blue screen and bouncing 'press ok to watch u-verse TV'.   That sucks.

Call ATT Tech Support on phone.  Person told me my box (1225) does that, but higher model STB can be configure to not go into standby.

After that conversation, searched Google and found many posting on ATT forum, but none indicate that there is a solution from ATT.

Also started a online chat with ATT support, and was told there is no way to stop STB from going into standby.

I totally agree with previous postings that the 'energy saver' is bogus.   Always believe reason is ATT trying to save bandwidth.   Under any other circumstances I am all for saving energy and saving bandwidth with I don't need them, but this is the situation where I do need to have my TV signal always there for my Panasonic to record.

If ATT cannot accommodate that then I'll have to go back to Comcast