Quirky Remote Control Problem

[piratefan98]

Just thought I'd see if anyone might have an idea of what could be causing my problem. It really is a strange one .....

Equipment:

Brand new Samsung 26" LCD TV (Bedroom)
Brand new DirecTV H21 High Def receiver

Installed both on Wednesday. Here is the problem I'm having .....

I went through the steps for programming the remote to operate the TV (as I did for the other 4 tv's in my house). That went fine, and my DirecTV remote now controls both the H21 box, as well as many Samsung TV features (Volume up, down, power on, off, etc). Okay .... that's all pretty normal so far.

The problem I'm having is ...... when I turn everything on, it takes about 30 seconds for the remote control to work for the H21 box. When first powered up, the H21 won't do any channel up, channel down, info, menu, etc. etc through the remote. If I just wait 30 seconds, then all of those functions miraculously start to work. I tried this at least a dozen times, and it's always the same thing .... approx. 30 second delay before the remote will work, and then once it does work, it works just fine.

Now, to make this a whole lot quirkier ..... I tried something else, and was REALLY surprised at the result. With both the H21 and TV on, I turned ONLY the TV off (using the Samsung tv remote) leaving the H21 on the whole time. Then, when turning the TV back on, the DirecTV remote was again dead for about 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, it worked like a charm. I repeated this several times, and got the same result each time as well. I have no idea how turning ONLY the TV on and off, without using the DirecTV remote, could affect the functioning of the DirecTV remote, but it does. Time and time again.

I did some of the common fixes ..... tried "restarting" the receiver ..... and also did the "reset everything" attempt, re-did the remote control programming, etc. all to no avail.

Any ideas??

Jeff

[bzam]

This was covered here recently in a message about LCDs emitting (I believe IR) when they first startup which blocks the remote for a while.

Since that posting here I see this happening clearly. Now I first fire up my DVR before the TV which gets around the inability to start the DVR. Then I find to change a channel on the TV like for OTA or change the sound level, if I point my remote at the TV it won't work for a minute or two, but if I point my remote toward the lower left below the TV it does work. After a while I can change things pointing directly at TV. I do have to wait a short while to change the channel on the DVR. I have not timed it but its around a minute or little more with my 52 inch LCD TV.

So whoever that poster was he seemed to hit it right on because not I understand and work around those first few seconds or minute.

P. S. Yes, I am old fashioned and turn off my DVR at night like I do my other electronic things!

Originally Posted by piratefan98

Just thought I'd see if anyone might have an idea of what could be causing my problem. It really is a strange one .....

Equipment:

Brand new Samsung 26" LCD TV (Bedroom)
Brand new DirecTV H21 High Def receiver


The problem I'm having is ...... when I turn everything on, it takes about 30 seconds for the remote control to work for the H21 box. When first powered up, the H21 won't do any channel up, channel down, info, menu, etc. etc through the remote. If I just wait 30 seconds, then all of those functions miraculously start to work. I tried this at least a dozen times, and it's always the same thing .... approx. 30 second delay before the remote will work, and then once it does work, it works just fine.


Jeff