I have an old clunker of a set, a combined TV and VCR that somebody gave to us, which works well enough so I keep using it. Or it did: For some reason the remote now only controls the TV and not the VCR: I press play, rew,, etc and nothing at all happens.
The remote that came with the unit was nort the original remote, but it worked okay until a couple of days ago when it suddenly stopped working rigt. Is the problem in the remote, or did something in the VCR finally give away and died on me?
Using a digital camera (iPhone, etc.) to look at the active end of the IR remote while pressing the buttons. You should see a 'white' LED when the button is live. Any buttons that don't work won't light the LED...
John :-#)#
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(Please post followups or tech enquiries to the newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9
Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."
Usually, those controls do nothing until a tape is inserted. Do the front-panel buttons still work? If they don't, it's likely the tape-insertion sensor switch is dirty. Insert and eject several times, it might clear up.
I have the same problem with my VCR/DVD combo unit. I just tonight = took the remote apart -- just one screw - pretty simple - maybe yours is = also. I removed the rubber piece with buttons and cleaned all the = contacts on both the board and the rubber buttons with an eraser. That = didn't solve the problem so I started simulated shorting the contacts on = the circuit board one at a time with a screwdriver and found that about =
1/3 of the switches don't activate, and that the problem was in a = circuit somewhere and not bad connections. The only other thing I did = was to look at and smell all the other components, but they all looked = fine. No wiring diagram, so in my case that's the end of my story.
The good news is that (a) I can still manipulate most of the channels by = pressing various combinations of working keys and (b) the keys that = work, work really well now that I have cleaned the contacts. LOL!!
Still.... it's not practical, so .... can anyone recommend a good but = cheap universal remote?
remote apart -- just one screw - pretty simple - maybe yours is also. I removed the rubber piece with buttons and cleaned all the contacts on both the board and the rubber buttons with an eraser. That didn't solve the problem so I started simulated shorting the contacts on the circuit board one at a time with a screwdriver and found that about 1/3 of the switches don't activate, and that the problem was in a circuit somewhere and not bad connections. The only other thing I did was to look at and smell all the other components, but they all looked fine. No wiring diagram, so in my case that's the end of my story.
pressing various combinations of working keys and (b) the keys that work, work really well now that I have cleaned the contacts. LOL!!
remote apart -- just one screw - pretty simple - maybe yours is also. I removed the rubber piece with buttons and cleaned all the contacts on both the board and the rubber buttons with an eraser. That didn't solve the problem so I started simulated shorting the contacts on the circuit board one at a time with a screwdriver and found that about 1/3 of the switches don't activate, and that the problem was in a circuit somewhere and not bad connections. The only other thing I did was to look at and smell all the other components, but they all looked fine. No wiring diagram, so in my case that's the end of my story.
pressing various combinations of working keys and (b) the keys that work, work really well now that I have cleaned the contacts. LOL!!
universal remote?
for rare units such as a Polk XM receiver. Chuck
I have several from Dollar Tree. $1 + sales tax that work with most sets that I've tried them on.
I kinda like some of the X10 remotes (starting at $5 from
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these have RF as well as infrared output, so you can use 'em with radio modules for non line-of-sight applications, including bridges to control house lighting and suchlike. Or as a mouse for a computer.
Thanks fellers! I'm off to (in this order) 99-cents store, Big Lots & = KFC.
I can't knock the Magnavox on quality of recording, but the remote make = it look bad. =20
My impartial review of this remote.... Impossible to use the remote = without studying the manual each time. Many common features are not = intuitive -- like having 2 different ways to turn it on and off, = depending on whether your timer is set or not.=20
Also, if you have the timer set and are watching something at the time, = it will just sit there and let you miss recording it. No warning on the = screen, etc. Then when you turn it off, it pops up and starts = recording.
Besides the programming and poor quality hardware, the remote's buttons = are all lined up, equally spaced apart and most are the same size, so = you have to look at it even just to change channels. The markings = identifying the buttons are also so small and hard to read, and I've got = normal eyesight. Also, you can't hit a button and find out the time.
Summary..... Designed by someone who doesn't watch TV.
ut studying the manual each time. =A0Many common features are not intuitive= -- like having 2 different ways to turn it on and off, depending on whethe= r your timer is set or not.
t will just sit there and let you miss recording it. =A0No warning on the s= creen, etc. =A0Then when you turn it off, it pops up and starts recording.
re all lined up, equally spaced apart and most are the same size, so you ha= ve to look at it even just to change channels. =A0The markings identifying = the buttons are also so small and hard to read, and I've got normal eyesigh= t. =A0Also, you can't hit a button and find out the time.
without studying the manual each time. Many common features are not = intuitive -- like having 2 different ways to turn it on and off, = depending on whether your timer is set or not.
time, it will just sit there and let you miss recording it. No warning = on the screen, etc. Then when you turn it off, it pops up and starts = recording.
buttons are all lined up, equally spaced apart and most are the same = size, so you have to look at it even just to change channels. The = markings identifying the buttons are also so small and hard to read, and = I've got normal eyesight. Also, you can't hit a button and find out the = time.
text -
- No, designed by someone who doesn't use remotes.
LOL! Yes, that's right. Have to say again though - the recording = quality is superb. Now that I have spent several years learning the = remote, it's been OK.=20
This is the only DVD recorder I have used -- it require you to = "finalize" a disk before it can be viewed on a regular DVD player or = computer. Is this normal for current recorders these days?
hout studying the manual each time. Many common features are not intuitive =
-- like having 2 different ways to turn it on and off, depending on whether= your timer is set or not.
it will just sit there and let you miss recording it. No warning on the sc= reen, etc. Then when you turn it off, it pops up and starts recording.
are all lined up, equally spaced apart and most are the same size, so you = have to look at it even just to change channels. The markings identifying t= he buttons are also so small and hard to read, and I've got normal eyesight= . Also, you can't hit a button and find out the time.
t -
uality is superb. =A0Now that I have spent several years learning the remot= e, it's been OK.
a disk before it can be viewed on a regular DVD player or computer. =A0 Is= this normal for current recorders these days?- Hide quoted text -
hout studying the manual each time. Many common features are not intuitive
-- like having 2 different ways to turn it on and off, depending on whether your timer is set or not.
it will just sit there and let you miss recording it. No warning on the sc reen, etc. Then when you turn it off, it pops up and starts recording.
are all lined up, equally spaced apart and most are the same size, so you have to look at it even just to change channels. The markings identifying t he buttons are also so small and hard to read, and I've got normal eyesight . Also, you can't hit a button and find out the time.
t -
uality is superb. Now that I have spent several years learning the remot e, it's been OK.
a disk before it can be viewed on a regular DVD player or computer. Is this normal for current recorders these days?- Hide quoted text -
Yes for Philips and their remote hosts a reset button right next to the pause button so that you can be sure to eject the disk and have to start all over instead of just going to the crapper for a few minutes. These remote designers need to be drug out back and shot so they can't do it again and again and again. I have several Philips, they are ALL horrible remotes to use, the French are simply insane. Apex, however is dream come true, intuitive, clever, quick - but no longer in business.
without studying the manual each time. Many common features are not intuitive -- like having 2 different ways to turn it on and off, depending on whether your timer is set or not.
time, it will just sit there and let you miss recording it. No warning on the screen, etc. Then when you turn it off, it pops up and starts recording.
buttons are all lined up, equally spaced apart and most are the same size, so you have to look at it even just to change channels. The markings identifying the buttons are also so small and hard to read, and I've got normal eyesight. Also, you can't hit a button and find out the time.
text -
quality is superb. Now that I have spent several years learning the remote, it's been OK.
"finalize" a disk before it can be viewed on a regular DVD player or computer. Is this normal for current recorders these days?- Hide quoted text -
the pause button so that you can be sure to eject the disk and have to start all over instead of just going to the crapper for a few minutes. These remote designers need to be drug out back and shot so they can't do it again and again and again. I have several Philips, they are ALL horrible remotes to use, the French are simply insane. Apex, however is dream come true, intuitive, clever, quick - but no longer in business.
LOL! I checked the dollar store and Big Lots and both were out of universal remotes. Walmart is next..... will update this later when I find out that works well.
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