Upc Box Remote Unuseable

Myrddin

I know this topic has risen before, but am looking for suggestions/help as I can't find any solutions

Basically using the UPC remote control to change channels, change volume, browse guide etc is for the most part unusable for me. Browsing forwards through the channels for example will be fine for two or three presses, then on the next one the box will do something completely random like go to channel 100, change the volume, exit back through menus etc.

Changing volume more often than not changes the channel, then when you try to change the channel back, the volume might change or go to a random numbered channel.

Pressing numbers on the remote is largely hit & miss. There's no lag even, it'll just go to a random number. So as I said, the box is largely unusable & puts me off watching the tv. I've tried covering the IR sensor with tape as suggested before, I've tried pushing the box back away from the tv...nothing works.

I called UPC about it, & they more or less acknowledged it's a common enough reported fault. The only advice I was offered was to 'turn off the backlight' in my tv. Now, I'm no tv engineer, but I do know what the backlight does. Turning it off effectively turns off the image on screen. Not to mention on my plasma tv, there is no option to turn it off.

Also they said Sky have the same problems, which is strange considering I came from Sky to UPC & never had this issue - same room/same tv. But anyway, I'm strongly considering dropping the tv service because it's not really usable, you'd have to see it to see how frustrating it is.

Has anyone ever managed to reduce this effect & have the box even semi-usable?

califano

Have you tried a universal remote to see if there is any improvement?.
Have you tried placing some electrical tape over the IR on the box?.
By the way what make/model is the tv and is the UPC box a sd or a HD box?.

Myrddin

rounders123 wrote: »

Have you tried a universal remote to see if there is any improvement?.

I havn't tried a universal, is there one available that can offer the menu functions etc?

Have you tried placing some electrical tape over the IR on the box?.

Yep, tried it & it made little to no difference.

By the way what make/model is the tv and is the UPC box a sd or a HD box?.

Tv is a Pioneer PDP427-XD
Box is a Thompson SD DVR

califano

I have a logitech harmony 600 from a clear out sale at logitech as they are only selling more upscale models these days i think. Someone on a boards bargains thread said he got one in currys for €30.
That said i dont think a different remote is the cure as i still have the stupit timeout back to info channel if a press its not precise or sometimes even if it is!. I was just wondering did you try one to determine if there happens to be any noticible difference.

They made a right balls of rolling out the remote before fully lab testing them properly. I see your tv is a plasma with illuminating backlight is probably too good which may make your case worse than the average LED's most people have with their average problems. Just to determine if its definitely made worse because of the backlight did you try disabling the backlight even though there is little or no picture just to see can you scroll up and down the channels and volume up and down without difficulty?, the box display ticker display should tell what the channel is on. Its not fixing anything just proving something more.

I started on HD myself so have no experience of the sd boxes but from everything ive read its so much superior a box even in every respect even without without the HD content. So i think it would be way too hasty of you to bail for SKY. Instead id pay the extra €5(i think a month) and upgrade to a HD box and im sure your problems would at least be greatly lessened if not solved. At least try this first before bailing to SKY.

Myrddin

rounders123 wrote: »

I have a logitech harmony 600 from a clear out sale at logitech as they are only selling more upscale models these days i think. Someone on a boards bargains thread said he got one in currys for €30.
That said i dont think a different remote is the cure as i still have the stupit timeout back to info channel if a press its not precise or sometimes even if it is!. I was just wondering did you try one to determine if there happens to be any noticible difference.

They made a right balls of rolling out the remote before fully lab testing them properly. I see your tv is a plasma with illuminating backlight is probably too good which may make your case worse than the average LED's most people have with their average problems. Just to determine if its definitely made worse because of the backlight did you try disabling the backlight even though there is little or no picture just to see can you scroll up and down the channels and volume up and down without difficulty?, the box display ticker display should tell what the channel is on. Its not fixing anything just proving something more.

I started on HD myself so have no experience of the sd boxes but from everything ive read its so much superior a box even in every respect even without without the HD content. So i think it would be way too hasty of you to bail for SKY. Instead id pay the extra €5(i think a month) and upgrade to a HD box and im sure your problems would at least be greatly lessened if not solved. At least try this first before bailing to SKY.

Cheers

I'll try disabling the backlight, it can be done actually through the power saving menu. There will be no display output, only audio, but I can see by the box itself...will report back on that.

This isn't when I'm not accurate pressing buttons, this is holding the remote normally, pointing it straight at the box, & pressing the volume up button once...it'll just do something erratic.

I'm not bailing for Sky either, no massive interest in watching tv on the tv if you get me...but it's nice to have there. Has this issue been known to happen with the HD box at all, I have heard about channel change lag but I can put up with that.

califano

EnterNow wrote: »

Cheers

I'll try disabling the backlight, it can be done actually through the power saving menu. There will be no display output, only audio, but I can see by the box itself...will report back on that.

This isn't when I'm not accurate pressing buttons, this is holding the remote normally, pointing it straight at the box, & pressing the volume up button once...it'll just do something erratic.

I'm not bailing for Sky either, no massive interest in watching tv on the tv if you get me...but it's nice to have there. Has this issue been known to happen with the HD box at all, I have heard about channel change lag but I can put up with that.

Most of what i read is mainly the channel change lag issue. I really havent read anything from anyone with a led display having the extremes your experiencing. There may be one or two but that wouldnt be representative of the how many thousands of users.
Yeah do try disabling the backlight and testing the channels & volume and it that works ok i guess you can just curse the choice of tv you bought through no fault of your own. Then perhaps tone down the backlight to a level you can live with and see if there any improvement. In reality there is no great need for these super backlights unless you are playing blurays on a 1080p tv and want to experience the max. But this tv is a lesser HD ready 720 so you could easily live with toning down the backlight if it helps without noticeable compromise hopefully.

Myrddin

Ok taking the backlight down to it's lowest level seems to have definitely improved the usability! I'll keep testing for another while just incase, but so far so good...

zg3409

Try seperating the box as far as possible from the TV.

It might seem mad but try covering the front of the UPC box with tinfoil except with a hole where the infra-red sensor is on the box. Cover the entire unit, except for a pinhole. Only do this as a test as it may overheat quickly.

califano

At least you know you've determined the backlight is the culprit. Hopefully you can get it to a level you can live with.

ted1

It's IR interference move the box to a shelf below the television and recess it. You can see the interference by pointing the camera of your phone at it and looking at the tv on your phone, more effective in a room with the lights off.

Kintarō Hattori

I have exactly the same problem OP- it's infuriating as feck. I'll be following the advice on here.

Myrddin

ted1 wrote: »

It's IR interference move the box to a shelf below the television and recess it. You can see the interference by pointing the camera of your phone at it and looking at the tv on your phone, more effective in a room with the lights off.

It's already two shelves under the tv & recessed back.

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

I have exactly the same problem OP- it's infuriating as feck. I'll be following the advice on here.

Infuriating isn't the word. Lowering the backlight has significantly helped [I think], but it still isn't working as it should. I still get a volume change when browsing channels etc, it just doesn't happen as often now