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Remote Control Highway Robbery
12-18-2017, 04:35 PM
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#1
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,146
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Remote Control Highway Robbery
To be clear, I'm not talking about using a remote control to rob somebody.
Instead I'm talking about getting fleeced buying a replacement remote control.
The remote on my Magnavox DVR/DVD player has a button which is failing. It's a button I use often which replays what I'm watching back 15 seconds.
So, I need a replacement remote. Looked at Amazon and one seller shows out of stock. Another shows $79.95 + $4.95 shipping. No way, will I pay that much. That's like if you buy a $30K car, but the key costs about $2K.
I did look around and ordered the same model remote for about $29. Still high, but more reasonable. Unfortunately, I made two orders . One while rushed (haste makes waste) from a place with very negative reviews. A place that according to complaints does a bait and switch and tries giving a generic remote instead of an OEM one.....We shall see...
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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12-18-2017, 04:53 PM
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#2
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gone traveling
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Berkeley, Denver, CO, USA
Posts: 1,406
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FYI.
If you have a newer car, do not lose the key.
And, if you do, take your relaxation meds before inquiring about the replacement cost.
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12-18-2017, 06:29 PM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,902
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Remote controls are always in demand. When I dropped mine it broke, so I bought a replacement for a few dollars on ebay, used it until the unit it controlled broke, then sold the remote on ebay for a dollar or two more than I had paid. Bitcoin look out!
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12-18-2017, 07:14 PM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,180
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Any reason a generic universal remote would not fit the bill?
__________________
FIREd date: June 26, 2018 - "This Happy Feeling, Going Round and Round!" (GQ)
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12-18-2017, 07:44 PM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jollystomper
Any reason a generic universal remote would not fit the bill?
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I doubt a generic would work and there are pretty may buttons for both DVR and DVD and even a dubbing button for DVR to DVD.
Probably begs the question, "How about a learning remote?" At the very least, if possible, would entail much remapping of buttons.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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12-18-2017, 08:38 PM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,078
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I'm guessing there's a seasonal demand for remote control devices.
The ending weeks of football season seems reasonable. I'd suggest there's a correlation between the number of broken remotes in areas where fans became upset.[emoji4]
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12-18-2017, 09:43 PM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,180
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Quote:
Originally Posted by easysurfer
I doubt a generic would work and there are pretty may buttons for both DVR and DVD and even a dubbing button for DVR to DVD.
Probably begs the question, "How about a learning remote?" At the very least, if possible, would entail much remapping of buttons.
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Yeah, I meant to say "universal"... many advertise advanced DVD/DVR functions. You might be right, but given the cost of the native remote, I would be tempted to see of the $10-$11 unversal learning remotes with DVD/DVR support might fit the bill. Just me though... if you can find the actual remote at a reasonable price that is best.
I've been saving the remotes from my various devices as the devices fall out of my use or break, maybe I'll put them on Ebay when I have more time.
__________________
FIREd date: June 26, 2018 - "This Happy Feeling, Going Round and Round!" (GQ)
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12-18-2017, 09:57 PM
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#8
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,681
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When we have had buttons that stop working DH has opened the remote and cleaned the contacts. It's usually the button that gets the most use. Might not be a long term cure but I know he has extended the life a couple of times.
Check YouTube for videos on doing this.
__________________
Married, both 69. DH retired June, 2010. I have a pleasant little part time job.
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12-18-2017, 10:11 PM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jollystomper
Yeah, I meant to say "universal"... many advertise advanced DVD/DVR functions. You might be right, but given the cost of the native remote, I would be tempted to see of the $10-$11 unversal learning remotes with DVD/DVR support might fit the bill. Just me though... if you can find the actual remote at a reasonable price that is best.
I've been saving the remotes from my various devices as the devices fall out of my use or break, maybe I'll put them on Ebay when I have more time.
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The remote for my TV is actually a learning remote. The original remote is pretty crappy with tiny buttons and very hard to aim to the TV. So, I programmed to a learning remote which I had laying around. Works great.
As for the Magnavox DVR/DVD, some buttons (like the skip forward, replay rocker or DVD open/close) I don't see on many universal remotes, so I'm going with the actual instead.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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12-18-2017, 10:17 PM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sue J
When we have had buttons that stop working DH has opened the remote and cleaned the contacts. It's usually the button that gets the most use. Might not be a long term cure but I know he has extended the life a couple of times.
Check YouTube for videos on doing this.
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Watched YouTube and learned something new. More specifically how to test the remote buttons with a cell phone camera. I tested my remote and the button is question does need a harder press to register.
After I get my replacement remote, I'm tempted to operate on my trouble one to see if I can fix.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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12-18-2017, 10:45 PM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Spending the Kids Inheritance and living in Chicago
Posts: 17,094
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Our TV remote is getting cranky, have to press harder to make a button work, and sometimes it takes a few presses.
A friend who has the same tv told me it cost $50 for a replacement on a tv that was originally $500
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12-19-2017, 09:35 AM
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#12
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: The Desert
Posts: 311
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I always use universal remotes (or learning remotes) to capture the subset of key features I use in our entertainment devices, leaving the originals in a nearby drawer - with the batteries removed. For esoteric features, I’ve only had to grab and power up one of the originals two or three times over the past five years. HIGHLY recommended strategy.
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12-19-2017, 09:57 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
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I'd just get a new player
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
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12-19-2017, 10:02 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_Hitter
I'd just get a new player
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I think the device the OP is referring to has a DVR (recorder) which is usually not a very cheap device. If it was *just* a DVD player, then sure...
Yeah...a similar model on Ebay is $300. Without a remote...
https://www.ebay.com/i/112443069279?chn=ps
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
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12-19-2017, 10:30 AM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ExFlyBoy5
I think the device the OP is referring to has a DVR (recorder) which is usually not a very cheap device. If it was *just* a DVD player, then sure...
Yeah...a similar model on Ebay is $300. Without a remote...
https://www.ebay.com/i/112443069279?chn=ps
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oh geez if it's like a tivo then yikes!
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
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12-19-2017, 11:32 AM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ExFlyBoy5
I think the device the OP is referring to has a DVR (recorder) which is usually not a very cheap device. If it was *just* a DVD player, then sure...
Yeah...a similar model on Ebay is $300. Without a remote...
https://www.ebay.com/i/112443069279?chn=ps
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Yes, that's my situation. The device is not cheap and is a combo DVR/DVD player and recorder. Haven't seen a universal that supports both with rocker buttons for features like skip 1 minute forward and skip backwards so may seconds.
I've been observing my current remote on pressing the "replay" button in question. On a quick press, that button often doesn't register. But if I do a long press and aim directly at the device, then most of the time, the button registers.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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12-19-2017, 12:17 PM
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#17
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 520
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I highly recommend the Harmony 650 universal. Less than $40 on Amazon and it is fully programmable. It can also copy commands directly from your current remote.
It not only programs for individual devices, but also for "activities" (i.e. Watch cable, or Watch DVD). These activity commands will start all of the necessary devices in a sequence, so you only need the one remote from start to finish.
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12-19-2017, 03:51 PM
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#18
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oneill225
I highly recommend the Harmony 650 universal. Less than $40 on Amazon and it is fully programmable. It can also copy commands directly from your current remote.
It not only programs for individual devices, but also for "activities" (i.e. Watch cable, or Watch DVD). These activity commands will start all of the necessary devices in a sequence, so you only need the one remote from start to finish.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I already ordered a replacement. But looking at buttons on the Harmony 650, see that it does have skip and replay buttons. I bet if force, that remote would map pretty well my remote.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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12-20-2017, 09:52 AM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sue J
When we have had buttons that stop working DH has opened the remote and cleaned the contacts. It's usually the button that gets the most use. Might not be a long term cure but I know he has extended the life a couple of times.
Check YouTube for videos on doing this.
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Okay, curiosity got the best of me and I took apart my remote and gave it a bath.
First thing I noticed is there was moisture buildup on the circuit board around the button that was giving me a problem. So I cleaned the circuit board with cotton and rubbing alcohol.
The remote is still drying but I shall see in an hour or so if the bath fixes the problem. Don't want to jinx, but I'm pretty confident it will.
I do remember knocking over a glass of water months ago on the remote.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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12-20-2017, 10:21 AM
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#20
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
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The back of that keypad is conductive (contacts with the circuit board), so clean that with the some distilled water to wash off any soap from the bath, then alcohol swab as well.
-ERD50
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