Tivo Remote Issue

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robbyV

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#98704 4-Mar-2012 23:17

All,

I am running a Tivo HD with the latest software. There seems to be an intermittant issue with the remote where sometimes the buttons work with ease and other times you need to push the buttons multiple times to get the unit to respond (if it ever does).
The guide and select buttons generally seem to work OK, but the other ones particularly LiveTV, Tivo and direction arrows, channel buttons etc experience the issue mostly. But it is the situation where come back in a few hours and it all works fine again for a while at least.
It doesn't seem to be dependant on whether anything is recording either. (although obviously the thing is generally recording the last 30mins anyway)

I have tried:
1. Replacing remote batteries with brand new.
2. Resetting remote. using remote reset instructions online
3. Resetting Tivo
4. Eliminating potential sources of interference. (Cordless Phone, DVD Player plugged in, Turned off sensors on LCD TV)
5. The IR diodes on the remote are functioning as evidenced by looking at end of remote control through a digital camera and pushing a button.

I have no idea what is causing the problem and thought perhaps it is somehow related to the Tivo unit via a software bug. Given I only installed the unit a week ago I figure it has probably downloaded and installed the latest software, rather than receiving it from factory condition.

I really don't want to have to take the thing back (again), was wondering if anyone is either experiencing this issue or has experienced it in the past.

Edit.
Oh and the red light on the remote works fine.

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20147 posts

Uber Geek

#590333 4-Mar-2012 23:29

Have you tried using another remote, such as a harmony remote. That is probably the only way you can test it. You could go into the store to ask to borrow a remote to test it. If it happens on both remotes, it will be a tivo fault.
Also does it control your tv ok with no problems.

Gilco2

1556 posts

Uber Geek

#590337 4-Mar-2012 23:41

My Tivo remote wont work. The channel change work okay but the tivo, the arrow and below them the select wont work. I couldnt even set the tivo up. I then downloaded the Tivo 320 image onto my Harmony and that works well. Thinking the Tivo remote was faulty I swapped it. The replacement is just the same. No go but Harmony works fine. Surely 2 consecutive remotes arent faulty

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi

robbyV

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#590340 4-Mar-2012 23:46

@mattwnz
Thanks for the suggestions.

Yes don't want to shell out for a harmony unfortunately, but am definitely thinking of contacting Tivo for a replacement remote to see if this fixes the issue.
It does seem to control the Bravia TV ok, however I haven't found the correct code, the best I can do is volume, mute, tv input. For some reason the TV power will turn the Tv off, but not back on again.
(at least with the codes I've tried, but I'm not really too concearned about this issue).

The thing that makes me suspect the Tivo itself is at issue is the response of the orange light, which illuminates except at the times it becomes unresponsive (as if the Tivo has gone down for the count for a while)

mattwnz

20147 posts

Uber Geek

#590353 5-Mar-2012 01:24

robbyV: @mattwnz
Thanks for the suggestions.

Yes don't want to shell out for a harmony unfortunately, but am definitely thinking of contacting Tivo for a replacement remote to see if this fixes the issue.
It does seem to control the Bravia TV ok, however I haven't found the correct code, the best I can do is volume, mute, tv input. For some reason the TV power will turn the Tv off, but not back on again.
(at least with the codes I've tried, but I'm not really too concearned about this issue).

The thing that makes me suspect the Tivo itself is at issue is the response of the orange light, which illuminates except at the times it becomes unresponsive (as if the Tivo has gone down for the count for a while)

Does sound like a tivo problem. I believe the tivo ornage light illuminates for both TV function and tivo function.I got the remote to fully control my bravia tv, but mine is a new one.

gregmcc

2147 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#590367 5-Mar-2012 06:36

I've had a similar problem, some of the buttons appeared to work, but the tivo didn't respond, to start with new batteries fixed the problem, then it came back after a while, eventually the problem was there all the time, the programable buttons (tvpower/vol/mute) still worked.

A new Tivo remote fixed it

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#590381 5-Mar-2012 07:53

I have heard the TiVo remotes are prone to failure. Suggest you lodge a job with Hybrid and my guess is they will just send you a new one. It is common for TiVo remotes to only operate basic functionality on some TV's.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

RXV

124 posts

Master Geek

#590429 5-Mar-2012 09:25

Are you running CFL light bulbs? I had the same issue - worked during day (lights off) and not in the evening (lights on). Ended up swapping the bulbs above the TV and problem was fixed.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

Skolink

1081 posts

Uber Geek

#590917 5-Mar-2012 21:55

scuwp: It is common for TiVo remotes to only operate basic functionality on some TV's.

TiVo remotes only ever operate the basic functions on TV - on/off, source, volume and mute. Nothing else.

RobbyV if you are in Christchurch I have some remotes you can try (once you have tried with your CFL lights off).

dacraka

766 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#591184 6-Mar-2012 12:23

Huh, exact same thing happening to me two days ago!
The programable buttons used to work, now both the TiVo and the programable buttons intermitantly work.
Have TiVo updated the system recently?

old3eyes

9119 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#591195 6-Mar-2012 12:36

dacraka: Huh, exact same thing happening to me two days ago!
The programable buttons used to work, now both the TiVo and the programable buttons intermitantly work.
Have TiVo updated the system recently?

Yes. Over the past few weeks..

Regards,

Old3eyes

sxz

761 posts

Ultimate Geek

#591239 6-Mar-2012 13:21

I had this issue (Tivo Remote only worked sometimes) - and fixed it completely by turning off the power saving dimming functions of my TV. Worked a charm.

I tried that after finding an obscure reference in a TIVO support post about a year ago.

robbyV

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#595734 15-Mar-2012 17:24

Thanks for all the offers of help etc.

Got TiVo to send out a new remote, and lo and behold it seems to work perfectly, far better than the old one even when it was working.

Now to take the old one apart and see if I can I identify the problem ...

GregV

928 posts

Ultimate Geek

#604046 2-Apr-2012 17:56

I too am having this remote problem. Info, , Live TV, Tivo, down arrow are ones that consistently don't work. Guide, up arrow, select always work.

The red light on the remote lights up with every button push, but the orange 'received' LED on the TiVo itself does not light up for the above-mentioned 'faulty' buttons.

This carries on for a while, and then magically it all comes right.

Guess I will contact Hybrid for a new remote.

GregV

928 posts

Ultimate Geek

#605251 4-Apr-2012 19:06

so after ringing the 0800 MYTIVO number, they asked me to do the following:
Restart the Tivo (no change)
Reset the remote (no change)

The next step they have just advised me to take, is to reset the Tivo to an out-of-box state, which will remove all recordings and settings on the unit. I'm not too concerned about this, as it is a new unit, and not yet 'in production' in my household. However, the method they have asked me to take has me wondering...

They have said that all I need to do to do a full reset, is to unplug all cables, and leave it off for at least 8 hours, but the longer the better...

I replied by saying "so if I have a powercut of more than 8 hours, all of the data on my Tivo will vanish", to which the reply was basically "yes".

I queried why I wouldn't just use the 'Clear & delete everything' option in the menu, but was told that no, all I needed to do was leave it unplugged for at least 8 hours, and then go through the guided setup again.

I'm not particularly confident that this will solve anything, but will follow the process, so that I can say that I have followed the process...

robbyV

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#605368 4-Apr-2012 22:43

I just emailed them using the contact form on the website, with a list of things I had tried and they decided to replace the remote straight away.

I can't see how turning it off for 8 hours would solve anything, but there you go, helpdesks seem to love that sort of 'solution' ...

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