Help with those bloody TV remote controls again - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: Larryc001
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2021, 10:37:28 pm
content: Hi. I need some help with these tv remote controls again. I have a Telus (Bell) satellite receiver tv system. In the past all 3 of the remote controls developed the dreaded hard press syndrome, eventually not working at all. Telus sent me three more which I was able to program and have worked ok for quite a while. However now they too have caught the disease. Once again Telus sent me three new ones. However these ones will not operate the receiver. I cannot program them like I did the other ones. It appears that there is something different about their ability to communicate with the receiver. Can anyone give me any advice as to how to get the new ones to work? Thank you. Larry

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2021, 10:55:52 pm
content: I don't know about these specific remotes, but about 90% of the time I've been able to correct the hard button press issue by taking it apart and washing the membrane and the PCB with warm water and a bit of liquid dish soap. Then lay the parts out on a towel to dry for several hours and put it back together.

author: perieanuo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2021, 08:35:24 am
content: hi,looks like some ordinary ir remote, any 'universal' remote should do.and if it's not compatible with the universals (in case of rare ir implementation), i remember i used remote repair kits for siemens cordless phones, worked great for a few bucksmy bet is for 5-10 usd universal remote (don't you fine one to borrow and test, or buy a harmony or something alike, it will serve you for years, my harmony works with ALL ir receivers i had ove a decade

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2021, 09:36:09 am
content: Almost certainly just needs cleaning. The contacts get cruddy, probably skin oils, atmospheric pollutants, maybe some sort of degradation. Take it apart, get a cotton bud and some methylated spirits, and give each rubber pad and the pcb contacts a gentle clean, put it back together.

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2021, 11:04:53 am
content: I have bad experience with cleaning the membrane.They have, at the part where they touch the bare copper of the pcb, a thin layer of carbon that disappears over time.Cleaning doesn't magically re-apply the carbon. When it's gone, it's gone.In fact, by cleaning the membrane you risk to remove even more carbon!Best bet is to get a universal/programmable remote.

author: Le_Bassiste
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2021, 02:53:19 pm
content: the good thing about those dead TV remotes is: once they are dead, you can repair them to death w/o remorsehere's what i've been using successfully to repair carbon pads:https://www.amazon.de/repair-video-Infrared-remote-controllers/dp/B00IVSG2NW/ref=sr_1_5?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=rubber+remote&qid=1631285578&sr=8-5used some high-temp silicone glue instead of the included stuff, though.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2021, 08:16:01 pm
content: Modern cheap remotes seem to use just conductive paint on the keypads. It wears off fast.Best success I've had repairing is the keypad repair kits off eBay which have conductive rubber pads of varying sizes and just silicone glue them to the keypad."keypad repair KIT for IR remote controllers - 100pcs conductive pads ，1.5mm~10mm"It is thicker afterwards so the button press is less. For square buttons, I glued on a round pad and then side cutters to trim to shape.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2021, 10:48:37 pm
content: Most of the ones I've fixed don't seem to have any problem with the carbon, it's just silicone oil (or maybe skin oil?) that has leached out of the rubber and coated the carbon. Washing it off restores operation.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2021, 01:53:17 pm
content: Quote from: Larryc001 on September 08, 2021, 10:37:28 pmAre the new remotes the exact same layout as the original? as the rubber buttons seem to be the problem, could they maybe be swapped with the new ones, of course give the PCB a clean first.David

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2021, 01:59:03 pm
content: Next time you get a new remote, put it into transparent plastic bag or buy a special heatshrink for remotes. It will prevent skin oils getting into the remote and penetrating rubber buttons and thus worsening the contact and destroying conducive layer, so it will last basically forever.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33030709790.html?spm=2114.12057483.detail.3.591b478bphxx1f