Can MCE remote's sensitivity be altered?

mickbag · **10th September 2007, 02:19 AM**

Firstly, thanks to all here who help those less experienced... like myself. Your expertise is invaluable.

My problem is this: my MCE remote has started being *too* sensitive. That is, when I press (for example) the channel up button when watching 7, it will skip straight past 9 and stop at 10. Same goes for changing channels down, as well as scrolling up and down the MCE index (Online Spotlight, My Videos, My Pictures, My TV etc). It seems to like to skip to every second item in a list. It will eventually go where you want it to, but only with persistence. It's like I'm holding my finger on it too long, except that I am barely tapping it... it's impossible for me to tap the buttons for a shorter length of time!

I initially thought it might be my MCE install (which I only finished over the weekend... that's a whole other story) but my Shintaro keyboard works perfectly.

Is my remote faulty? Or can It be adjusted it in some way?

An afterthought: I am off to bed now... I will pull the batteries out of it and see if that makes a difference to it in the morning... I have read the posts about resetting them.

CraigMBecket · **10th September 2007, 10:13 PM**

Hi mickbag,

First I have to say I know nothing about remotes, mine has worked without a problem so far and I have not had to look at any fixes, however just a couple of thoughs that you may like to try if resetting the thing fails.

1, have read reports where they misbehave if the batteries are not 100% so may be worth trying new batteries.

2 seem to recall people saying that when cheap batteries used they had problems but replacing with good (duracell) problems disappeared, this may relate to 1 above.

3 Some people had problems with the light emitted from their tv's interfering with the operation of their remotes, the solution was to either move the receiver behind the tv, move it further back in their tv cabinet or cover it with, I believe red, translucent material. Now generally the problems here were they could not get the little darlings to work at all but its "just" conceivable that your tv may be putting out intermittant swamping light and as you press the transmitter the tv intermittantly swamps the signal and the receiver thinks you have pressed the button a number of times.

Failing the above, chuck it away and get a new one.

Best of luck

Craig.

mickbag · **11th September 2007, 01:08 PM**

Thanks for yur input Craig... I have replced the batteries and let it rest overnight without them as well (both remedies I have read in this forum).

i will move the receiver and see if that makes a difference... hadn't thought of that. It is in an enclosed cabinet.

Failing that I will be visiting the shop I bought it from... only had it a month... hope I can find the receipt!

dgaust · **11th September 2007, 01:19 PM**

Have you noticed the red light on the receiver flashing intermittently even when you aren't pressing the button on the remote.

I did, particularly when I bought the new TV, and had a similar issue. I moved the receiver all the way to the back of my cabinet which seems to have fixed the issue for me.

spludge · **11th September 2007, 03:24 PM**

That's the IR output of your TV or plasma causing a problem - also happens if you have high-intensity halogen lighting nearby.

If you can shield the receiver from the TV or lights, that may help.

Other fixes I've had included doing the reverse-batteries trick to reset the remote, and to unplug and replug the receiver after a reboot, to get it to re-detect the hardware.

logifuse · **11th September 2007, 03:32 PM**

I tried to post about an hour back, but the site timed out on me.

I agree with spludge, but it's also compact fluoros (the low energy Malcolm Turnbull globes).

Try shielding the receiver with a real pair of sunnies to see if that helps. Also, the receiver further back in the cabinet. Out of the cabinet might help if it's actually something like reflections.

I use a piece of smokey grey antistatic bag (that hard drives come in) to tone things down on mine.

Justin

mickbag · **12th September 2007, 01:10 PM**

...and now the stupid thing is working perfectly. Go figure.

I did move the receiver but it didn't make any difference so I put it back and the remote continued in its erratic fashion.

Last night: all good!

Not sure what caused it or why, but it is certainly as good as new. Saved me a trip back to the seller.

Fingers crossed it's not about to kark it properly.

Thanks for your input everyone.

mickbag · **12th September 2007, 08:07 PM**

... home tonight.. and now it's playing up again.

I think it's wonky. Back to the retailer we go.

mickbag · **15th September 2007, 12:30 PM**

latest update:

it appears that the remote is too powerful(!)

As I said, when I press the buttons it's like I press them twice... skipping every second channel/choice etc.

I have been experimenting... if I point the remote at the floor or away from the receiver, it works perfectly!

Any thoughts?

(the batteries I have been using are NIMH rechargeables... could that have seomthing to do with it?)

Nudge · **15th September 2007, 02:40 PM**

Mickbag,

This may be a long shot but what tuner card are you using - does it have an inbuilt IR receiver? Could that be sending the extra signal as well as the M$ receiver?

I find on my MCE 2 machine I have a Tiny USB tuner, if I use the remote within 2m it does exactly what you have posted - double press, when I am outside that range it behaves as normal. As I use it well outside of the range I haven't bothered with changing to the no-ir drivers.

Later,

Nudge

mickbag · **15th September 2007, 03:32 PM**

good pickup

it's a Compro Videomate E700... it does come with a Compro remote but I only use the MCE remote... and I haven't plugged any IR receiver into it.

Would the M$ receiver be feeding info to the tuner as well as MCE?

If so, any ideas how I could disable it? One of the things I don't like about the Compro is that it doesn't give you a lot in the configuration department...

logifuse · **15th September 2007, 04:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickbag

latest update:

it appears that the remote is too powerful(!)

As I said, when I press the buttons it's like I press them twice... skipping every second channel/choice etc.

I have been experimenting... if I point the remote at the floor or away from the receiver, it works perfectly!

Any thoughts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by logifuse

Try shielding the receiver with a real pair of sunnies to see if that helps.

I use a piece of smokey grey antistatic bag (that hard drives come in) to tone things down on mine.

Have you tried either of the above?

CraigMBecket · **15th September 2007, 10:55 PM**

As I suggested a similar thing may help in the first response to this thread I second justin's advice, at least try it.

Craig.

mickbag · **17th September 2007, 01:50 PM**

sorry guys... I am not ignoring you and I really appreciate your input and advice... I have been away for the weekend and got home late Sunday - haven't had a chance to try all of your suggestions but will do so tonight (if i get home at a reasonable hour).

Thanks again - I will keep you posted.

NailZ · **30th October 2007, 10:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickbag

sorry guys... I am not ignoring you and I really appreciate your input and advice... I have been away for the weekend and got home late Sunday - haven't had a chance to try al