Remote Control Highway Robbery

[easysurfer]

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...

 

[davebarnes]

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.

 

[GrayHare]

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!

 

[jollystomper]

Any reason a generic universal remote would not fit the bill?

 

[easysurfer]

Any reason a generic universal remote would not fit the bill?

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.

 

[MRG]

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]

 

[jollystomper]

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.

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.

 

[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.

 

[easysurfer]

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.

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.

 

[easysurfer]

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.

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.

 

[Sunset]

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

 

[T-Minus]

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.

 

[Big_Hitter]

I'd just get a new player

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I'd just get a new player

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

 

[Big_Hitter]

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

oh geez if it's like a tivo then yikes!

 

[easysurfer]

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

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.

 

[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.

 

[easysurfer]

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.

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.

 

[easysurfer]

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.

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.

 

[ERD50]

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

 

[easysurfer]

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

Good point to get rid of any soap suds residue from the bath.

 

[easysurfer]

Okay, good news and bad news.

The good - remote is fixed in that the button giving me trouble now works fine!

The bad - because the remote was held together as two plastic sides snapped together, I did scratch the plastic in order to separate.

Still, a decent trade off. Function wise, remote now works as good as new .

 

[kcowan]

I just wanted to relay my experience with replacing a Samsung Smart TV remote. The original had gone missing. I got an app for my iPad which worked fine. It was an image of my remote on the screen. Simultaneously, I ordered a exact replacement on eBay for $6.28

It seems that it pays to order popular items.

 

[easysurfer]

Yep..I got taken

Should have did my homework before ordering.

True to form, one place that I ordered a replacement remote, I did not get what was shown on their website as an OEM remote but some generic one with a piece of paper saying that remote is no longer manufactured, try this one out for a few days, if you don't like, you can return (minus postage both ways).

I should have known something was up since the remote was priced at $19.95.

I'm getting a refund, but did try the generic remote and it has the similar functionality but things like some buttons are really tiny and cramped and a big rocker button that I use a lot is replaced with a tiny key.

Here's a picture of my Magnavox remote and the generic that I'm sending back.

 

[Sunset]

Should have did my homework before ordering.

True to form, one place that I ordered a replacement remote, I did not get what was shown on their website as an OEM remote but some generic one with a piece of paper saying that remote is no longer manufactured, try this one out for a few days, if you don't like, you can return (minus postage both ways).

I should have known something was up since the remote was priced at $19.95.

I'm getting a refund, but did try the generic remote and it has the similar functionality but things like some buttons are really tiny and cramped and a big rocker button that I use a lot is replaced with a tiny key.

Here's a picture of my Magnavox remote and the generic that I'm sending back.

That is so weird they would send you something different.
If it was amazon or ebay you could complain and get a refund, and amazon would pick it up for free or tell you to garbage it.
Each has happened to us.

Did you try it, though ?

Maybe they are really just trying to be helpful and it will work.