EntertainmentCommon

Set-top box or streamer

Also called cable box, satellite receiver, streaming stick dock.

Same idea as a router, with a better infrared receiver and sometimes a hard drive. The tuner is not useful.

A donor is the dead machine. The parts below are what is still worth removing from it. “Leave it” is a part that is physically in there and should stay in there: too dangerous, too worn, or only useful as part of a repair you are not doing.

What you are looking at

A scrapped machine is a box of parts that failed at different times. The reason it was thrown out is often one bad piece. The motor, the cord, the supply, and the screws are frequently still good. This index says which is which.

Why it is in the trash while the parts are not

A provider swap. Hardware is often fine.

Before you open it

Do this while it is still unplugged, cool, and not leaking. Unplug. Some have a large 12 V brick.

Mains voltage

Where the dead machine usually is

Living room and entertainment stack — In the house
Office cleanout — Commercial
Bulk trash day — Curb

Provider boxes may be their property. Salvage the ones that were actually given to you or thrown out.

How it comes apart

The IR receiver is often on a small front board with a cable, which is the piece to keep whole.

Tools: Phillips, Spudger.

What to take

The table is the short version. The notes under it describe that part inside this machine, not only the general description.

Parts in this donor
Part	Call	How many	How often	Where to look
Switch-mode wall supply	Prize	1	always	External brick or internal board.
Infrared remote receiver	Prize	1	usually	Front panel.
Wi-Fi card	Bonus	1	sometimes	Internal, on later boxes.
Neodymium magnet	Bonus	2	sometimes	Inside a DVR hard drive, if the box has one.
Enclosure	Worth pulling	1	always	The shell.
Tactile switch	Bonus	several	usually	Front buttons.

Prize

Prize — take this firstSwitch-mode wall supply1 · always
12 V is common.
External brick or internal board.
Label it.
Good.
Prize — take this firstInfrared remote receiver1 · usually
A three-pin demodulating receiver, often still on a handy little board.
Front panel.
Keep the board and the connector.
Good.

Worth pulling

Worth pullingEnclosure1 · always
A stackable plastic box with vents.
The shell.
Clips break if you pry the lid.
Usable.

Bonus

Bonus, if you are already in thereWi-Fi card1 · sometimes
A USB or PCIe radio.
Internal, on later boxes.
Only if the connector is standard.
Mixed.
Bonus, if you are already in thereNeodymium magnet2 · sometimes
Open that drive as its own donor. The platters are not the prize.
Inside a DVR hard drive, if the box has one.
Four screws, then the drive lid.
The drive may be dying. The magnets are not.
Bonus, if you are already in thereTactile switchseveral · usually
Small tact switches.
Front buttons.
Desolder if you need them.
Good.