Loosing Tivo button function

[rmcentee]

I have been loosing the function of my Tivo button and the guide button. I see a yellow light flash on the Tivo box but nothing comes up.
In the past I have pwered off the unit and powered up to get the function back.
This is happening more frequent now. Any suggestions? Thanks

[GA flyer]

I see the same problem. Started happening a few weeks ago. Got so annoying that I swapped out my main Tivo with my basement one. Now it's happening on the second also. Today the Tivo wont pass the video through to the TV.

[JimSpence]

Check for IR interference in the room. Compact fluorescent lighting or another remote with a stuck button can cause unresponsive operation.

[davemcs]

Hmm..same here...had to shelve my Red Tivo remote for a spare black one just to get the unit to respnd to any remote commands. New batteries (2 sets) didnt help at all prior to swapping remotes

Coincidence???

[rmcentee]

Funny my second unit upstairs does not have this problem. Only other remote is in the basement with a Playstation unit. We do have a few flouresent lights in the room, which I will change out.
Thanks to all!

[Kerry]

I've used both my AT&T Series II TIVO (peanut) remote and a Radio Shack 8 in 1 Model 15-2116 remote for several years.

Recently both remotes started acting like the batts were dying but they tested like new. The problem begins early in the evening when I surf though the TIVO guide and instead of going from channel to to next lower one it skips in increments of two or even three. As the evening progresses the pause and play hesitates and requires several presses and then several rewinds because of over shooting the end of a commercial.

The sound works fine as does the TV on and off.

The Standby is hesitant and tonight when pressed via either remote it required that I press the settop Standby button.

Any ideas what might be happening?

Thanks, Kerry

[wscannell]

Sound like IR interference like mentioned previously in this thread. Note that the TiVo seems to be affected by IR interference while other devices are not (like your TV).

[Kerry]

Hi wscannell:

My bad. I thought I was starting a new thread. I've read everything in this thread and nothing seems to apply. Nothing has changed in my surroundings. The system has been working reliably for several years. I'm the only one in the house. Both remotes are in my view at all times.

Kerry

[wscannell]

Do you have any compact flourescent bulbs?

Note that IR interference can come from any remote, not just a TiVo remote. It could come from an air conditioner remote.

You can make a tent with a heavy blanket and determine whether the remote works properly. If it does, you probably have interference with IR from some source.

[Kerry]

I don't understand how the tent game works. Do I press the remote's buttons while it's under the blanket? What happens other than the signal from the remote bounching around under the blanket? For sure I'm missing some point here.:=)

Thanks,

Kerry

[wscannell]

Use a blanket to surround the remote and the receiving TiVo. Aim the remote at the TiVo and see if you get the proper result. If you do, this would indicate there is IR interference coming from the region outside of the blanket.

[Kerry]

I sure am having a block about this.

Cover the peanut remote with a thick blanket leaving room for my hand to enter it so that I can press buttons. Tape a thick swatch of blanket-like material over the IR receiving eye on the AT&T TIVO unit. Then, insert my hand into the blanket and press the peanut's buttons. You're saying that the signal from the peanut would somehow cause a signal from something else other than the TIVO to cause the TIVO to work? How does the signal get out of the blanket to anything? Arggh. What am I not understanding?

My house lighting etc., has been the same for years. No florescent bulbs. I've removed the batts from the other remotes such as the DVD player and the cable co's Scientific Atlanta 3250HD. I seldom use or move these remotes as my RS Remote is programmed to handle everything except the peanut's thumbs up/down.

Isn't the TV's remote IR also, as well as the signal from the peanut that varies the TV's vol? This what confuses me, that vol works but not other buttons.

I sure appreciate your patience,

Kerry

[wscannell]

Use the blanket as a tent. Inside the tent you should have the remote and the TiVo. The blanket is used to eliminate all outside sources of IR interference. Make sure that under the tent the remote and the TiVo IR receiver can "see" each other. Now use the remote in the tent and see if you it works.

Again, the blanket is used to isolate the TiVo and remote from the rest of the room. They need to be able to see each other.

Another source of IR interference are plasma TVs.

[Kerry]

Thanks, I understand tenting now.

Update: I have no idea what happened other than sheer intention. All appeared to be back to normal this evening.

I'm wondering if it had to do with the terrific, totally unusual electrical/thunder and lightening storms we've been having this past week.

In any case, my appreciation to all who help with their intentions.

With aloha,

Kerry

[mick66]

I sure am having a block about this.

Cover the peanut remote with a thick blanket leaving room for my hand to enter it so that I can press buttons. Tape a thick swatch of blanket-like material over the IR receiving eye on the AT&T TIVO unit. Then, insert my hand into the blanket and press the peanut's buttons.

ESL?

You (or just your hand holding the remote), the remote and the Tivo are under the thick blanket/tent.

Get a blanket. cover the tivo with it. hold the remote in one hand and place it under the blanket. Aim it at the Tivo making sure that there is a line of sight from the remote to the Tivo's IR sensor. Press buttons and watch the TV to see if the button presses have the desired result.

[keenfrenzy]

No, I have this problem too and it definitely can't be blamed on IR interference. We've noticed it more frequently in the last month or so...possibly since the last service update.

When pressing other buttons on the Tivo remote such as Thumbs Up/Down, Info, Volume, Channel, TV Input, TV Power, Play, Stop, FF, RW, Pause, etc. it responds just fine.

If we press the Tivo button or Guide, it gives us the Tivo "drip!" sound, the light on the front flickers from green to yellow for a second to indicate it received a signal, but nothing happens on the screen.

I knew the "tenting" idea was not going to work the second I read it, but I did it anyway just so I could say I had tried it so I don't have to jump through those hoops later.

Anyone else had this issue and actually spoken to Tivo Support people regarding it? As I search Google on this issue, I see several people reporting this happening recently, and most of them report the problem comes and goes.

Add another person to the list, because I also am affected.

[maxfior]

No, I have this problem too and it definitely can't be blamed on IR interference. We've noticed it more frequently in the last month or so...possibly since the last service update.

When pressing other buttons on the Tivo remote such as Thumbs Up/Down, Info, Volume, Channel, TV Input, TV Power, Play, Stop, FF, RW, Pause, etc. it responds just fine.

If we press the Tivo button or Guide, it gives us the Tivo "drip!" sound, the light on the front flickers from green to yellow for a second to indicate it received a signal, but nothing happens on the screen.

I knew the "tenting" idea was not going to work the second I read it, but I did it anyway just so I could say I had tried it so I don't have to jump through those hoops later.

Anyone else had this issue and actually spoken to Tivo Support people regarding it? As I search Google on this issue, I see several people reporting this happening recently, and most of them report the problem comes and goes.

Add another person to the list, because I also am affected.

I too have the exact same problem. All the buttons seem to work except when I hit tivo or guide. It has to be a software glitch or something. :mad: It happened again to me this evening and it's making me angry ( :mad: ) that I have to yank the power and then it works fine again. I'm sure others are having this issue. Does any one know if there is a fix for this or a update down the road? Thanks!

[Stressed Fred]

I had this problem originally with my silver Thompson Remote control. I then bought a Phillips Tivo remote (black) This cured the problem. I then found somewhere on the forum instructions on dismantling and cleaning the remote. I did this with my old silver remote and it cured most of the problem but it still tended to jump two channels in the guide when moving around. My black Tivo remote has just started to play up - jumping around in the guide and refusing to stop when you fast forward. So this morning I took it apart and cleaned it and now it is working fine. From reading the thread it appears that all your problems & mine are with the buttons you use the most.

To clean your remote - remove the batteries and then remove the screw at the end of the battery compartment. You then have to lever the two halves of the case apart, the bottom of the case clips into 5 slots each side of the top of the case. So you have to use a thin bladed screwdriver to lever the bottom of the case outwards to release the clips. It is easiest if you start from the battery end and work up one side. Once you have unclipped a couple it becomes easy to pull apart. Once you have it apart you will find a circuit board and the rubber button pad. With a cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alcohol clean all the contacts on the circuit board (little black circles corresponding with the button positions) Then use the same method to clean the backs of all the rubber buttons. You will be amazed at how black the cotton buds become so use more than one. Put it all back together and (hopefully like mine) it will be working perfectly again with only a light press of the buttons required