Replacement remotes for old Bose?!

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stuffed

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Topic # 147148 10-Jun-2014 15:27

Ok you audio experts - any ideas on this one?!
We have a 15 year old Bose system that is working perfectly fine - it has about 12 speakers through 4 rooms (in addition it feeds another amp that has about another 8 speakers including the outside ones).
The Bose has a remote for the lounge and a separate one for the bedroom.
Both of these remotes are very "fragile" and slow to respond. So I know a little about what I am talking about when contact a Bose agent - can they be replaced bearing in mind their age?
I know they will want to sell a new Bose system but we are quite happy with this one at the moment!
Thanks

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

trig42

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Reply # 1062663 10-Jun-2014 15:36

Are they RF remotes?

I have a Bose system, although slightly newer than that (about 8 or 9 years old) and it has an RF remote. I found that the RF remote performed very badly when the system was placed on top of a MySky unit on our cabinet. I separated them and the remote has worked perfectly ever since (I even went into a Bose store and they lent me a brand new remote which did the same thing).

I now, however, hardly ever use the RF remote, as I have turned on the IR receiver in the unit to use with a Logitech Harmony.

Does your unit also accept IR input? If so, a universal remote (like a harmony) may be cheaper than a new remote from Bose (which I'm sure you can still get).

stuffed

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Reply # 1062678 10-Jun-2014 15:46

Yes they are RF remotes and don't think it takes IR (don't want to stuff round with that from the other room anyway). The Bose is on a separate shelf about 1/2 metre away from MySky.
Thanks

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

eracode

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Reply # 1062748 10-Jun-2014 16:59

We had exactly the same problem a year or so ago. Current Bose systems use similar but different RF remotes and replacements for older systems are not available from Bose, whether here or in the US.

I put a lot of time and effort on a couple of occasions doing a 'world-wide search' via google looking for new or second-hand remotes and came up with nothing. Very frustrating.

In the end we scrapped our nearly 20 year-old Bose systems - two Accoustimass units and two lots of stereo cube-pairs. I sold two systems separately on Trademe and a guy from Southland wanted the remote to try and cannibalise it to get his old remote going.

So - sorry - may not be good news for you.

The upside was that it gave me an excuse to replace them with Sonos gear which I absolutely love. I know audiophiles never really rated Bose and same for Sonos - but both systems are just what we want, each in their own era.

EDIT: Just remembered exactly what happened. The remote was failing (had to push some buttons really hard with a fingernail) but it was the head/control unit that finally failed. I think it was the internal power supply. I took it to a good repair place and they said not possible or economic to repair.

mattwnz

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Reply # 1062749 10-Jun-2014 17:01

Do logitech harmony do a RF remote?

stuffed

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Reply # 1062761 10-Jun-2014 17:15

I wonder why the remotes gradually get "fragile" and if there is anything that can do to them?!
Recall when got the system went out on the street and was able to still control the Bose!

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eracode

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Reply # 1062767 10-Jun-2014 17:28

I believe there's a conductive membrane inside that makes a contact when you push a button. Over time the membrane wears out or loses its conductivity in a spot that's frequently used.

I have read of a liquid solution that you can apply (dab it on) to the membrane (after opening up the remote) to try and repair the problem but I was not motivated to try it because Mr Sonos was already beckoning. In the end it was a failed control unit that drove us - see edit above.

jnimmo

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Reply # 1062803 10-Jun-2014 18:31

Check out this Logitech Harmony device compatibility site - pop the Bose model number in and see if they have anything (in case the Bose system does support IR and RF).
http://myremotesetup.com/EasyZapper/New/Main.asp?WebProcessAction=Start&ReturnUrl=%2FEasyZapper%2F.%2FNew%2FProcSpice%2Flanding.asp&ClassId=PrSpice.ProcSpice&RelativePath=ProcSpice%2F

You would likely be able to setup control over RS-232, but you wouldn't want to go to that effort then have the amp die on you shortly down the track..
Could be worth looking at replacing the amp unfortunately.. (depending on how many zones/remotes you need)

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

Reply # 1062814 10-Jun-2014 18:55

eracode: I believe there's a conductive membrane inside that makes a contact when you push a button. Over time the membrane wears out or loses its conductivity in a spot that's frequently used.

I have read of a liquid solution that you can apply (dab it on) to the membrane (after opening up the remote) to try and repair the problem but I was not motivated to try it because Mr Sonos was already beckoning. In the end it was a failed control unit that drove us - see edit above.

Or this stuff (took me a while to find!!) http://www.barclayent.com/featureditems/padmate.htm

bazzer

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Reply # 1063208 11-Jun-2014 10:10

eracode: In the end we scrapped our nearly 20 year-old Bose systems

At least something good came out of it!

sen8or

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Reply # 1063231 11-Jun-2014 10:34

Buy
Other
Stereo
Equipment

But it looks like harmony do a couple of remotes with RF, $230 - 500 depending on how many bells and whistles you want. It may be the cheaper option than replacing the whole lot if you are happy with your setup

http://www.logitech.com/en-nz/harmony-remotes