dvr and remote problems
jff2
Enthusiast - Level 1

I have FIOS.  I have a tv and dvr in the living room.  I can record programs, etc using that box.  The other tv/box is in my bedroom and I can't record on that set.  After I turn on my dvr and tv in the living room, it can take 30 minutes or more before the dvr recognizes the commands from the remote (change channels, pull up the guide).  Volume control on the remote works fine.  The remote works fine with my other tv.works fine immediately.  It is such an odd problem, I can't figure out where to look for assistance.  Is anyone else having this problem?  I seriously don't think it is the remote.  I think it must be something with the dvr.    

0 Likes
1 Solution

Correct answers
Re: dvr and remote problems
GaryDoug
Specialist - Level 1

Sounds like you are having IR interference issues with the living room tv. It's mostly an issue with plasma tv's, as I understand, although LCD ones can be a problem too. The tv gives off quite a bit of IR emission, especially while it warms up and that conflicts with the remotes signal (flooding it out). Is there a lot of glass or a large mirror in the room? Those contribute to the problem. If you search on the internet for IR Interference, you will find out a lot about your problem and some potential fixes. One fix is to place some tape over the IR pickup on the DVR, at the left end of the clear plastic lens over the display. If you use a flashlight to see behind the surface of the lens, you will see it. Try tape of various opacities. you want to block out some of the TV's IR while still letting through the IR from the remote. You can test this out by reducing the brightness of the tv screen temporarily and see if the problem disappears or lessens. The reason the volume control function works is because the remote is probably set to adjust the volume of the TV and not the DVR.

View solution in original post

Re: dvr and remote problems
lasagna
Community Leader
Community Leader

Well ... the remotes are interchangable ... so what happens if you take the Bedroom remote to the Living Room?

0 Likes
Re: dvr and remote problems
jff2
Enthusiast - Level 1

Same problem regardless of which remote I use.

0 Likes
Re: dvr and remote problems
GaryDoug
Specialist - Level 1

Sounds like you are having IR interference issues with the living room tv. It's mostly an issue with plasma tv's, as I understand, although LCD ones can be a problem too. The tv gives off quite a bit of IR emission, especially while it warms up and that conflicts with the remotes signal (flooding it out). Is there a lot of glass or a large mirror in the room? Those contribute to the problem. If you search on the internet for IR Interference, you will find out a lot about your problem and some potential fixes. One fix is to place some tape over the IR pickup on the DVR, at the left end of the clear plastic lens over the display. If you use a flashlight to see behind the surface of the lens, you will see it. Try tape of various opacities. you want to block out some of the TV's IR while still letting through the IR from the remote. You can test this out by reducing the brightness of the tv screen temporarily and see if the problem disappears or lessens. The reason the volume control function works is because the remote is probably set to adjust the volume of the TV and not the DVR.

Re: dvr and remote problems
jff2
Enthusiast - Level 1

I have a cabinet with a very reflective surface near the tv/dvr.  I covered it with dark fabric and that seemed to fix the problem.   Thanks for the suggestions.

0 Likes