DVR722 - IR Remote

[SFGREG2008]

Hi,
I've read a few threads on net about remote (IR). I have dvr722 with 2 tv's , tv1 uses IR and Tv2 standard. TV1 is a high def lcd tv. The remote is intermittent, sometimes not working until a full poweroff/reboot of the dvr, other times, it works only right next to the dvr, or at different places in the room. It could work from one area, and not from the other. There are no blockages of line of site etc? I had 2 technicians out today, who could not figure this out. We even changed the ir channel to various ones

Is there anything else you could suggest that I try ? This is baffling, we've been through numerous remote controls, (both the 1 and 2), numerous dvr (722) , and I don't want to have to cancel and go to Comcast.

Thank you for any insight into this.
Greg

 

[vegassatellite]

Did anyone try a different receiver. If this problem is happening at the TV1 location, it is possible that you have a bad IR pickup in that box.

Two ways to troubleshoot: Check that remote 1 on another receiver set to the same IR address and see if it works a different box. Probably not necessary since you've already tried different remotes.

Way #2: Take the TV2 remote, flip the blue chip at the bottom over, re-insert it. Press the System Info button on the front of the receiver (behind right door) and press record. You should see the TV 1 address on the screen change. Exit that screen and try operating TV 1 with that remote. If it works, then its the IR pickup on your box.

 

[SFGREG2008]

IR remote - dvr722

Hi
It gets WAY more interesting ..

1) I have tried multiple receivers and remotes.

2) If you put a piece of paper (get this!) over the dvr sensor(s) it works , if you remove it , it stops working. One might think its the other way around. However, after a time period (15 mins?), it will work with or without the paper.

3) On troubleshooting, i remembered i had made a change last week to my tv, the AV Mode setting on my Sharp lcd. There is an av mode setting which you can configure to (standard,movie,game,pc,user,dynamic fixed or dynamic). Any setting BUT standard will work, standard (which one would think is more the default causes the above behavior). Standard states "for a highly defined in normal lighting, enahnced picture on). However, dynamic and dynamic fixed also have enhanced picture on.

I called Sharp, they were unable to troubleshoot their own tv,want to send a tech out. The only other thing I can think is to see if I can set the settings and try to see what might be changed on the tv? Somehow this setting causes an ir conflict... Thoughts?

 

[cparker]

Not sure it happens with LCDs, but depending on the setting it COULD be generating IR interference. That might just be a plasma thing, I'm not sure. If you can put like... a toilet tissue cardboard tube in front of the 722 IR sensor. Placed such that ONLY by "shooting" the IR remote signal straight down the tube will it directly hit the sensors on the 722. If you create a "hood" like this and the symptoms go away, then SOMETHING is generating IR interference.

Also try this...
completely BLOCK the IR sensor on the 722. Make sure the RF antenna is connected and so you are using remote#1 as an RF remote instead of IR. If I remember right, the remote#1 puts out both IR and RF, while remote #2 is RF only.

If THAT solves teh problem, then, again, something is apparently causing IR interference.

 

[SFGREG2008]

Look at this thread regarding this

RC Forums: IR Interference from LCD HDTV Backlight

apparently a well known issue -> the possible solutions don't look that viable though. I'm wondering if I should send this to Dish Network for their response.

 

[Lord_Vader]

You can get another RF remote for TV1.

 

[cparker]

I thought Remote#1 output IR and RF by default. On my older receivers... single tuner... just one remote... they output IR and RF and I'm sure of it.

 

[Lord_Vader]

I thought Remote#1 output IR and RF by default. On my older receivers... single tuner... just one remote... they output IR and RF and I'm sure of it.

That's true, but you can get another RF remote at use it in place of the IR.

 

[vegassatellite]

I thought Remote#1 output IR and RF by default. On my older receivers... single tuner... just one remote... they output IR and RF and I'm sure of it.

On the old 500 series single tuner PVRs, the remote was IR/UHF. The ones that have a green chip with the #1 on it are IR only. An easy way is to look at the back and it will tell you if it is UHF capable.

 

[aonflux]

I had the same problem with my 722. nobody could figure it out. they sent me a new remote which still had the same problem. then i called dish again and the tech guy finally figured out it was my LCD Tv causing interference. He helped me switch out the "key" at the bottom of the remote to a green UHF TV 1 "key". (the new remote came with a bunch of "keys"). the remote, DVR works great now.

 

[SFGREG2008]

IR Remotes detailed post

Hmm dish told me that you couldn't have two uhf remotes.

Now, with my Sharp 46" lcd tv, Sharp LC-60C46U from costco to be precise.

There are various av mode settings ranging from dynamic, standard,movie,pc, game,user, etc. Each has their own 'backlight settings'. My tv is used in living room, a fairly bright room normally.

The default settings from Sharp seem to set a lot of these settings for backlight "high" (the range is from -16 to +16), so dynamic is set at +16 from sharp, movie +16,game at 0, pc at +12, and standard (which one might think is a default setting only at +5).

Now you turn the tv on (this seems to happen for a time period until the tv is on for awhile, then usually any setting will work, so it is most pronounced for the first n minutes).

**** If the backlight is set at +8 or more, the remote (from Dish 722) works fine. If it is set at +7 or less, (that is +7 to -16), including the standard setting at +5, the remote does not work! Clearly reproducable. If you put a piece of paper over the sensors of the dvr, it works fine at any setting.

Questions:

1) I called Sharp and Dish. Dish sent this to their engineers as tech support does not know. Sharp is having a tv repairman come to the house as they did not know. I want to probably try to escalate at Sharp.

a- anyone know for Sharp LCD 46" (in a regular lit room) what are the appropriate brighness settings? I don't see why the defaults for most are set so high.

b- It seems almost counterintuitive. If IR interference is caused because the lcd tv is sending off higher IR than the dvr can handle , wouldn't a higher backlight cause more IR than a lower one?

c- Do you think this is more of a bug/defect in the amount of IR that the tv is broadcasting, or the sensitivity of the sensors in the dvr (my guess is the second).

Thanks to everyone.
Greg