Has anyone had problems with non-responsive Remote controls

[JYbarra]

I got Verizon FIOS TV on April 30th and have had problems with remote controls that do not respond at all.  I have chatted with Verizon FIO TV support and now they are shipping new remote control. The first time I called they had me change the batteries, that was 2 weeks ago.

I had directTV before and it never had any problems stopping DVR...THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING.

If this doesn't work it is going out the window...What a pain in the butt.

Does anyone have an address to ship this crap back?  I cant find a address anywhere on this site.

[Zowar1363]

I am having the same problem with my Fios TV service, and so is my family. I've had Verizon send me new remote controls but the problem continues. We've replaced the batteries, had new remote controls and new set-top boxes, but nothing has corrected this problem. I believe the problem is due to the low quality of the Verizon set-top box and remote. Verizon needs to improve this or risk losing customers. Both my family and I switched from Comcast to Verizon, but we may switch back again because we never had this problem with Comcast!

[Chutsman]

I wouldn't call it non responsive totally, but I have noticed that the tv sometimes doesn't respond right away to the command sent from the remote ... I have to press the button two or three times for the system to respond.  Even when pressing the OFF button is sometimes so frustrating that it is easier to get up and press the off button on the TV.  And I also have changed the batteries.

[spacedebris]

Do you have a Plasma screen TV?

If you do, then you may be getting interference from it. Move your STB at least 2 feet from your screen. Then the remote should work normally.  This ONLY affects Plasma screens, so if you have anything other then Plasma, then this wont apply.

EDIT:

the post below mentioned LCD backlight. didnt know about that one. learn something new all the time. so add that to the possiblities

[wombat33]

I have responsiveness problems with my dvr, but it has nothing to do with any interference.  The red light blinks on the dvr, showing that has received the signal. Also, when the buttons become unresponsive, and you push the buttons multiple times, it will remember every button that you pushed, in due time, it's just up to the dvr as to when. I have had five different dvrs, two different remotes, and a new modem.  I reboot every few days, hoping that will help. Nothing has so far.

[PJL]

What type of TV do you have (plasma, LCD, etc.)?  Is the FiOS STB located near it?  There are known issues with some LCD backlights that cause IR interference with the FiOS (and many other brands from other cable companies) set top boxes.  Some plamsa TVs also cause problems.  If you search the web using "LCD IR interference" and "plasma IR intereference" you'll see discussions of the problems and how people have solved them.  The bottom line is that it's not a FiOS STB issue -- it's the LCD or plasma interference. 

[fiosmonkey]

If you do a search on for 'IR extender" you'll find many topics about this dating back to 2008. I myself had this issue when I first got FIOS. They'll give you new remotes etc., but none of these things will fix it. My problem as others have mentioned was the brightness of my 50" plasma screen causing interference with the remote. If I went into my TV menu and turned the picture brightness down it resolved the issue, so I knew this was the direct cause. I ended up buying an IR extender and plugging it into the jack on the back of my DVR. It's tucked right under the bottom of my plasma screen, but this fixed my issue. No more remote issues since for almost 2 years.

Like this one: http://infrared-resources.com/Infrared-Receiver-Extender-Cable-for-HD/M/B002JSDHCY.htm

[GaryDoug]

There is a lot of IR emission from the backlights of many TV's, which can conflict with the IR signals from the remotes. This can be compounded by reflective surfaces in the room. Look around the room and see if there are such things, like mirrors, shiney table tops, anything made of glass. Try covering them with a sheet or towel temporarily and see if your issues go away.

[steelz22]

I have also just switched from Comcast to Verizon and I am having the same ir issues with the Cisco STB.  I have had no issues at all with my motorolla STB from Comcast.  I also have a panasonic plasma tv.  Does anyone know if Verizon offers any other boxes besides this junky Cisco one?

[Hubrisnxs]

It could be one of two things.

it could be a setting in the box.

For me I was able to go to menu>settings>video settings>SD override   and I had to select off. 

I have given this fix to a couple friends who already had it off, and they changed to 480i and that fixed the problem for them.

I inferred that it was some wierd video processing issue, if that was the actual fix.   So your mileage may vary, but try this first.

It's worked for nearly everyone that I have tried it with.

the second thing, is that it could be legitimate IR interference, as described earlier.   That would require a IR extender, and verizon usually will send them to you if you have a compatibility issue like what's being described here, or you can buy them for about ten bucks online at any retailer, verizon also offers them here.

[GaryDoug]

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@steelz22 wrote:

I have also just switched from Comcast to Verizon and I am having the same ir issues with the Cisco STB.  I have had no issues at all with my motorolla STB from Comcast.  I also have a panasonic plasma tv.  Does anyone know if Verizon offers any other boxes besides this junky Cisco one?

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There is your problem: "panasonic plasma tv". The plasma screen emits way more IR than an LCD one. The Verizon box has a wide-angle IR receiver and will work from almost any direction. That is why it is more vulnerable to this problem. Try covering up any shiny surface in the room (as I stated above) and it will probably go away. This is a no-cost solution.

[PJL]

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@GaryDoug wrote:

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@steelz22 wrote:

I have also just switched from Comcast to Verizon and I am having the same ir issues with the Cisco STB.  I have had no issues at all with my motorolla STB from Comcast.  I also have a panasonic plasma tv.  Does anyone know if Verizon offers any other boxes besides this junky Cisco one?

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There is your problem: "panasonic plasma tv". The plasma screen emits way more IR than an LCD one. The Verizon box has a wide-angle IR receiver and will work from almost any direction. That is why it is more vulnerable to this problem. Try covering up any shiny surface in the room (as I stated above) and it will probably go away. This is a no-cost solution.

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Actually, you might try masking the STB IR receiver area some.  Plasma does not necessarily emit more IR than an LCD back light by the way. 

To steelzee:  I have a Panasonic plasma too, and have no issues.  But the STB is not very close to the TV.  Can you move it away from the TV?

[GaryDoug]

from LG, mfg of the Plasma Pentouch TV:
...First, it’s based on plasma TV display technology, which produces its own infrared waves that are invisible to the naked eye, with each cell on the TV’s display emitting its own signal organically...

From Pioneer TV division, mfg of plasma screen TVs:
Plasma Display Systems emit slight amounts of IR (Infrared Emission) through
luminous discharge technology. This IR (Infrared Emission) is not harmful to living
organisms, but may interfere with the operation of remote controls for other
equipment, or cause static in equipment using IR (Infrared Emission) (such as cordless
headphones or cordless microphones).

from Vishay Technologies, a designer of Infrared transnmission and receiving equipment:
www.vishay.com/docs/49860/0811wd_d.pdf

review from flatpanels.com about Lintronic Inc., mfg of IR converters:
http://www.flatpanelshd.com/review.php?subaction=showfull&id=1241462939
...For this test an external IR eye has been used with active filtration of the IR-noise emitted by plasma-TV’s. This unit is supplied by B&O, but is also distributed by Lintronic. It is an absolute must to have this additional shielded IR eye if you plan on using a plasma-TV, as the TT455 box would otherwise be incapable of distinguishing the IR signals from the Beo4 remote. This is valid regardless of the placement of the TT455 box – the IR noise from a plasma-TV will find its way to it! In addition, a power adapter (bought separately) and an extra pair of low-power IR emitters, used for hidden installations, is used. For the actual programming of the box a RS232 cable and a RS232->USB adapter is used...

from Aton, IR equipment mfg:
The ATON AIR5 is a miniature 'plasma-friendly' IR receiver designed to sit on a shelf, cabinet or any flat surface. This receiver uses advanced IR filtering technology which allows it to work even in areas that receive normally harmful interference (near plasma TV's, compact fluorescent lights, etc.).

from Elan Home Systems, mfg of high-end home automation/entertainment systems:
"There are two Extreme Plasma Sensors that provide reliable IR control
under even the most severe Plasma emission situations."

[Subman6191]

Had this problem with my Panasonic TH-50PX60 U. As stated in this and other forums it is a problem between this and other Plasma TV's and some Verizon boxes due ro IR interference. I have solved it twice (2 different boxes) once using 400 speed 35 MM film taped over the cable box display (found that on a forum). Worked fine and when the cable box was replaced with a different one the problem went away. Today I moved that TV to a different location with an older box and the problem returned. Found n another forum that somebody used post it notes. Taped a double layer of yellow post it note over the cable box display and problem solved. Yes you can no longer see the display channel etc., but the new Verizon boxes don't have that anyway.