In message <3A0B4435.CF079B00@auckland.ac.nz>, Lance Allen writes >Interesting guy... I learnt how Satellite Boxes draw almost the same off as on >and the new home stereos draw like 30 watts on or off (eeeeewwww). There's a simple reason for satellite boxes drawing the same amount when 'on' or 'off' - they don't have any on-off switch!. All they do when you set them to standby is turn off the RF modulator, mute the video and audio outputs, set the box to a particular channel, and update the display in some way - often just change the colour of an LED. There are basically two reasons for this, firstly (and most importantly) the broadcasters want to be able to access your subscription card at all times - so even when you think your box is switched off, it isn't really, it's actually set to the best channel for them accessing your card. Secondly, it's fairly important to keep the LNB powered and warm, if left un-powered they can suffer from condensation and damp, plus they use simple free running local oscillators (around 10GHz) and these drift about from cold. -- 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.