Two questions: broken remote and extra dtivo

[blhirsch]

Ok. My peanut remote seems to have kicked the bucket. It used to work intermittently and then I would take the back off, roll the batteries while still in the case, and bingo it would work again. I figured it was just a low battery issue and when it finally died, I'd replace the batteries. Well, it stopped working altogether, but when I replaced the batteries with new ones, no go. Nada. Nothing works, and no red light at the top when any buttons are pushed. The batteries are definitely good.

Is this a dead remote? If it's not dead, is there anything I can do to get it working again? If it is dead, where should I get a new one? I see lots on eBay, but I'm wary of it. Should I be?

Second issue: I have two working hdvr2 units. One is my oldest unit and it was relegated to the bedroom after I got the new unit. The hard drive died on the bedroom/old unit. I went to go get a new drive, but friends of mine who cancelled their dtivo service (they hated it) and picked up comcast dvr (they love it) gave me the hdvr2 the directv people left behind instead. I tried the unit, the card was nonfunctional. I put my existing card in the new machine, but the machine said no way on the card from the dead machine. So I yanked the drive from the new machine, stuck it in the old machine (after hacking it so it can get on my network like the old one did), and voila.

But now I have a hard drive-less directivo in my basement. I have been holding onto it in case armageddon occurs and there are no places to obtain directivos. But maybe there's something I can do with it that I haven't thought of.

And no, this unit from my friends did NOT come with a remote. They couldn't find it. Bummer. That would have solved issue #1.

[thepackfan]

You could put in an old drive in. and use it as a slave unit, if you have set up your machines w MRV. I have one in my office that I use.

[MurrayW]

Why would you be wary of a $10 purchase from EBay? Just pick a seller who has good feedback and go for it. Or order another one from DirecTV or a reputable on-line vendor.

I've never looked that closely at the battery connection on my peanut remotes, but on your current remote, you might try bending the "prongs" where one end of the battery connect so that they provide a "snugger" fit than it does now.

Murray

[blhirsch]

Why would you be wary of a $10 purchase from EBay? Just pick a seller who has good feedback and go for it. Or order another one from DirecTV or a reputable on-line vendor.

I've never looked that closely at the battery connection on my peanut remotes, but on your current remote, you might try bending the "prongs" where one end of the battery connect so that they provide a "snugger" fit than it does now.

Murray

I'm not terribly wary, I guess.

However, I did run a search and none of them seem to have my beloved "list" button, nor does it have the ability to change inputs on the TV.

My exact remote I only found on Weaknees, and it's $49. What a bummer.

I'll try bending the prongs and see if that gets it working again. But I'm guessing the problem had its genesis with the number of times my toddler dropped the thing on the hardwood floor. It's already sporting a nice crack in the IR window and it's been snapped back together after the two sides separate slightly more times than I can recall. Frankly, I think it's paid its loyal duty to our family and it's time to lay it to eternal rest. Oh Tivo Peanut Remote. We Knew Ye Well.

[blhirsch]

You could put in an old drive in. and use it as a slave unit, if you have set up your machines w MRV. I have one in my office that I use.

I do, indeed, have my machines set up with MRV. That's an intruiging idea. I could get it filled up with a bunch of Angelina Ballerinas and Cliffords. The kids love watching the same shows over and over again and I could connect it with their TV in the basement that they rarely watch.

This is a GREAT idea. Thanks! Now I gotta get my hands on a cheapy 40GB drive. There's one in my basement somewhere, I'm sure.

'Course then I gotta find yet another remote.

[willardcpa]

Put the batteries in backwards and push a button or two and then put them in right and try it. Sometimes this procedure "resets" the remote.

[jsl108]

My exact remote I only found on Weaknees, and it's $49. What a bummer.


I purchased a replacement from Weaknees and it's worked like a charm. Totally worth it.

:) jess