Having got our box before Christmas I'm a iot surprised that the batteries went so early. Last week it was tortuous trying to change channels etc. Every time that a button was pressed the button on the remote flashed twice but the box didn't respond. Put new batteries in and there is no double flash and the box responds immediately. Expected a message on screen to say batteries buggered like it does with Sky.
Batteries in the remote
Just before my remote's batteries failed I notice that the white PVR or TV keys stayed alight for longer than usual.
Not quite as explicit as the Sky warning, on screen.
David
Not quite as explicit as the Sky warning, on screen.
David
Seriously, do people expect to be told their batteries are running out?
Isnt it a clue that the box doesnt respond properly?
Isnt it a clue that the box doesnt respond properly?
Originally Posted by Flyer 10:
“Seriously, do people expect to be told their batteries are running out?
Isnt it a clue that the box doesnt respond properly?”
“Seriously, do people expect to be told their batteries are running out?
Isnt it a clue that the box doesnt respond properly?”
If a box is capable of detecting the power of a remote then why not tell us. I put some of the lack of response down to
a. the dog walking in between me and the stb
b. my deleting about 50 episodes of Corrie, Emmerdale and Eastenders and the box getting in a tizz
c. my sitting at the back of the room
Originally Posted by Flyer 10:
“Seriously, do people expect to be told their batteries are running out?
Isnt it a clue that the box doesnt respond properly?”
“Seriously, do people expect to be told their batteries are running out?
Isnt it a clue that the box doesnt respond properly?”
When your remote batteries fail they will do so quite abruptly. About 30 minutes after first noticing that the white buttons stay illuminated longer I had nothing.
Also I recall many folk saying that the "the box doesnt respond properly" is SNAFU.
Sky introduce/invented the on screen battery warning & its
now the perceived norm.
Its like the invention of the wheel ! Obviously I'm not quite old enough to remember that particular iconic moment, but my father remembered that after they they had experienced the round ones people didn't want the bumpy ride they'd had with the square ones !
David
PS Has anyone else got non-working SMILIES ?
Perhaps the site's batteries are running out !
People need to get themselves more organised. In our household clock and remote batteries are replaced at the start of BST, that way they are all changed once a year, using decent alkaline ones, with no problems at all.
Originally Posted by suffolktoon:
“If a box is capable of detecting the power of a remote then why not tell us. I put some of the lack of response down to
a. the dog walking in between me and the stb
b. my deleting about 50 episodes of Corrie, Emmerdale and Eastenders and the box getting in a tizz
c. my sitting at the back of the room”
“If a box is capable of detecting the power of a remote then why not tell us. I put some of the lack of response down to
a. the dog walking in between me and the stb
b. my deleting about 50 episodes of Corrie, Emmerdale and Eastenders and the box getting in a tizz
c. my sitting at the back of the room”
Know the feeling. You missed the main one in our house. The dog dragging a pillow in front of the TV and STB's. Then lying down and blocking the signal. Being a big stupid dog this is a regular occurrence.
Why
Originally Posted by suffolktoon:
“If a box is capable of detecting the power of a remote then why not tell us. I put some of the lack of response down to
a. the dog walking in between me and the stb
b. my deleting about 50 episodes of Corrie, Emmerdale and Eastenders and the box getting in a tizz
c. my sitting at the back of the room”
“If a box is capable of detecting the power of a remote then why not tell us. I put some of the lack of response down to
a. the dog walking in between me and the stb
b. my deleting about 50 episodes of Corrie, Emmerdale and Eastenders and the box getting in a tizz
c. my sitting at the back of the room”
how about using common sense?
I have my computer tell me my mouse batteries are going 3 hours before they do so and its bloody annoying.
I havent once needed anything to tell me the batteries are going, I can tell that by the fact the remote stops working properly.
Id hate to have on screen messages to nanny me into changing the batteries.
Originally Posted by Analogue110:
“People need to get themselves more organised. In our household clock and remote batteries are replaced at the start of BST, that way they are all changed once a year, using decent alkaline ones, with no problems at all.”
“People need to get themselves more organised. In our household clock and remote batteries are replaced at the start of BST, that way they are all changed once a year, using decent alkaline ones, with no problems at all.”
My first batteries lasted 6 months.
On your system you would have an inert remote for the six winter months !
Perhaps you are too busy skying in the winter to watch TV.
David.
PS My "no-script" software was blocking SMILIES.
What I dont get on the batteries in the btv is that some things work and others dont. it'll do the on demand but not change channels. I'll change the batteries over and everything works fine.
Put the old set in again and once again its working fine.
Its almost as if every so often the remote decides its time to remind me whose boss and wants a bit of attention. Well I've got the hang of it now and it no longer annoys me so its attention seeking doesn't work any longer.
Put the old set in again and once again its working fine.
Its almost as if every so often the remote decides its time to remind me whose boss and wants a bit of attention. Well I've got the hang of it now and it no longer annoys me so its attention seeking doesn't work any longer.
Originally Posted by suffolktoon:
“Having got our box before Christmas I'm a iot surprised that the batteries went so early.”
“Having got our box before Christmas I'm a iot surprised that the batteries went so early.”
No surprise, they supply the cheapest crappest batteries they can find - stick some decent alkaline ones in, and they should last a LOT longer.
One tip - ALWAYS, ALWAYS fit alkaline, they not only last longer and are better value, but normal batteries leak and destroy your remote.
It's also vitally important that you NEVER mix old and new batteries, or different types (or makes) of batteries. These are all prime causes of leaking batteries.
Originally Posted by jonesyboy:
“Know the feeling. You missed the main one in our house. The dog dragging a pillow in front of the TV and STB's. Then lying down and blocking the signal. Being a big stupid dog this is a regular occurrence.
Why”
“Know the feeling. You missed the main one in our house. The dog dragging a pillow in front of the TV and STB's. Then lying down and blocking the signal. Being a big stupid dog this is a regular occurrence.
Why
”
I havnt the remotest idea !
Life is like that, if its not on screen DOGs its off-screen dogs.
I wondered if Humax/Freesat don't give low battery warnings because there is a $ly patent.
David
Originally Posted by SWIZZ?:
“
I wondered if Humax/Freesat don't give low battery warnings because there is a $ly patent.
David”
“
I wondered if Humax/Freesat don't give low battery warnings because there is a $ly patent.
David”
No they probably don't do it cos it's a pretty useless piece of technology, the batteries in my sky remote have been working for way over six months since the first on screen message about replacement appeared.
Originally Posted by suffolktoon:
“... the remote flashed twice but the box didn't respond...”
“... the remote flashed twice but the box didn't respond...”
Yep, the double flash is the low battery warning on my remote
Originally Posted by GaseousClay:
“No they probably don't do it cos it's a pretty useless piece of technology, the batteries in my sky remote have been working for way over six months since the first on screen message about replacement appeared.”
“No they probably don't do it cos it's a pretty useless piece of technology, the batteries in my sky remote have been working for way over six months since the first on screen message about replacement appeared.
”
Exactly, so it bugs you for 6 months to replace it, that would really annoy me that Im bugged because sky thinks people are too idiotic to notice their box isnt properly responding to the remote.
Originally Posted by Flyer 10:
“Exactly, so it bugs you for 6 months to replace it, that would really annoy me that Im bugged because sky thinks people are too idiotic to notice their box isnt properly responding to the remote.”
“Exactly, so it bugs you for 6 months to replace it, that would really annoy me that Im bugged because sky thinks people are too idiotic to notice their box isnt properly responding to the remote.”
Indeed and I wonder how many people throw out perfectly good sets of batteries because of this
I reread the OP because some of us have been going of at a tangent & I feel that there is still something to be learnt.
Item 1 Is probably due to poor quality batteries as some posters have stated.
Item 2 Button on the remote flashed twice & box didnt respond. What I saw was just minutes before totally not functioning the white button stayed alight for several seconds. I may have missed the double flash seen by the OP.
There is nothing in the manual so does anyone really KNOW if there is a warning sequence to be seen.
I keep spare batteries in house but would prefer to get an hours warning so that I am not forced to renew just as a recording clash & an urgent bit of other programming was needed. (Sods Law would decree a clash of all three!)
Item 4 The on-screen warning is not available & several people are thankful for that !!!
Incidentally I & probably the OP are talking about the Humax stadard remote. Are the rest of also or are you using something that also operates Jodderal Bank from southern Spain ?
I'll now retreat into my shell-proof bunker.
David
Originally Posted by suffolktoon:
“1 Having got our box before Christmas I'm a iot surprised that the batteries went so early.
2 Last week it was tortuous trying to change channels etc. Every time that a button was pressed the button on the remote flashed twice but the box didn't respond.
3 Put new batteries in and there is no double flash and the box responds immediately.
4 Expected a message on screen to say batteries buggered like it does with Sky.”
“1 Having got our box before Christmas I'm a iot surprised that the batteries went so early.
2 Last week it was tortuous trying to change channels etc. Every time that a button was pressed the button on the remote flashed twice but the box didn't respond.
3 Put new batteries in and there is no double flash and the box responds immediately.
4 Expected a message on screen to say batteries buggered like it does with Sky.”
Item 1 Is probably due to poor quality batteries as some posters have stated.
Item 2 Button on the remote flashed twice & box didnt respond. What I saw was just minutes before totally not functioning the white button stayed alight for several seconds. I may have missed the double flash seen by the OP.
There is nothing in the manual so does anyone really KNOW if there is a warning sequence to be seen.
I keep spare batteries in house but would prefer to get an hours warning so that I am not forced to renew just as a recording clash & an urgent bit of other programming was needed. (Sods Law would decree a clash of all three!)
Item 4 The on-screen warning is not available & several people are thankful for that !!!
Incidentally I & probably the OP are talking about the Humax stadard remote. Are the rest of also or are you using something that also operates Jodderal Bank from southern Spain ?
I'll now retreat into my shell-proof bunker.
David
Originally Posted by Flyer 10:
“how about using common sense?
I have my computer tell me my mouse batteries are going 3 hours before they do so and its bloody annoying.
I havent once needed anything to tell me the batteries are going, I can tell that by the fact the remote stops working properly.
Id hate to have on screen messages to nanny me into changing the batteries.”
“how about using common sense?
I have my computer tell me my mouse batteries are going 3 hours before they do so and its bloody annoying.
I havent once needed anything to tell me the batteries are going, I can tell that by the fact the remote stops working properly.
Id hate to have on screen messages to nanny me into changing the batteries.”
How about you took a chill pill? Jeppers, what a response.
I'd expect there are occasions when getting a warning three hours before your mouse gives up the ghost would be useful. e.g. when you've no spares and the shops close in a couple of hours. Just because you haven't had a scenario where the warning would have been helpful doesn't make it a useless function.
While batteries going might be the most common reason for lack of response it doesn't mean that it could be the only reason. For all I know one of the kids could have spilled a drink on the remote, dropped it or as they have when they've argued before thrown it one another in their temper. The box could have something wrong with it.
I was surprised how quickly the battery’s failed in the HDR remote, I have replaced them 3 times since December. In my old Sky Plus remote they lasted more than a year.
Having trouble with the remote today, and noticed the double flash. Only bought it at Easter. Never had batteries go so quickly on any av remote before. Hopefully they are just cheap, and the replacements will last a lot longer
Originally Posted by LIFE ON MARS:
“I was surprised how quickly the battery’s failed in the HDR remote, I have replaced them 3 times since December. In my old Sky Plus remote they lasted more than a year.”
“I was surprised how quickly the battery’s failed in the HDR remote, I have replaced them 3 times since December. In my old Sky Plus remote they lasted more than a year.”
Did you get long red glows in white buttons? or just had loss of functionality ?
Originally Posted by haggus:
“Having trouble with the remote today, and noticed the double flash. Only bought it at Easter. Never had batteries go so quickly on any av remote before. Hopefully they are just cheap, and the replacements will last a lot longer”
“Having trouble with the remote today, and noticed the double flash. Only bought it at Easter. Never had batteries go so quickly on any av remote before. Hopefully they are just cheap, and the replacements will last a lot longer”
Are you using alkaline or the older type zinc carbon.
The alkaline type (Duracell etc) last several times as long & give less corrosion problems.
Any idea how long between flashes & loss of function ?
David
Last edited by SWIZZ? : 07-06-2009 at 22:30
I stick my harmony remote back in the charge cradle at least once a week for the night and everything is good
The original Polish batteries in my HDR remote decided to leak whilst I was away last week. Can't really complain about their life of 3 years, however I was under the false impression that alkaline batteries didn't leak 
It might be advantageous to change them every two years?
After a bit of cleaning the Humax remote is functional again although the LEDs don't seem as bright as they were.
It might be advantageous to change them every two years?After a bit of cleaning the Humax remote is functional again although the LEDs don't seem as bright as they were.
Before changing the batteries as a 'knee jerk' reaction. Try re-seating the batteries first. The batteries in my Humax remote last well over a year, but I do have occasions where the remote seems dead or un-responsive. Running my thumb across the batteries (making them rotate within their cradle) seems to cure the problem until the next time. Maybe the Humax remote battery terminal design is poor or the materials used cheap. Just for info, I use Energizer batteries, they seem to last much longer than Duracell.
