In message <4.3.2.7.2.20000920174321.00c531d0@mail.cedar.net>, David VanHorn writes >Obviously you've seen some real junk, but trust me, they can be made to >last a LONG time. >VFD filaments and mag head weardown are a bigger factor in this design than >keypad wearout. >In fact, I don't ever remember ANY failures of the keypad itself that >weren't induced by severe trauma (bullets or 2x4s) or "tasty beverages". As a TV service engineer for over 29 years, I've seen a great many failures of rubber key switches, particularly in remote controls, and occasionally on the TV (only a very few sets use them on the TV). However, a great deal worse are the membrane type keypads often used on microwaves and TV's, and occasionally on remotes, these have a huge failure rate and are also expensive to replace. A particular range of Tatung TV's used them, and despite Tatung saying they came from the same source as IBM ones (Tatung manufacture many IBM monitors) they were totally crap and eventually redesigned to use a rubber keypad!. -- Nigel. /--------------------------------------------------------------\ | Nigel Goodwin | Internet : nigelg@lpilsley.co.uk | | Lower Pilsley | Web Page : http://www.lpilsley.co.uk | | Chesterfield | Official site for Shin Ki and New Spirit | | England | Ju Jitsu | \--------------------------------------------------------------/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.