Simplifying the TV remote

G

Gulph

Guest
Hi, folks

I've got a friend in another state who said a TV repair shop near her
has a minor-but-steady sideline: It simplifies customers TV remotes by
removing everything but the basics. You know, channels, volume,
on-off.

She said they open it up and somehow disable the "non-essential"
functions, then shave off the dead buttons.

Anyone ever heard of this elsewhere?

Mark
 
Gulph wrote:

Hi, folks

I've got a friend in another state who said a TV repair shop near her
has a minor-but-steady sideline: It simplifies customers TV remotes by
removing everything but the basics. You know, channels, volume,
on-off.

She said they open it up and somehow disable the "non-essential"
functions, then shave off the dead buttons.

Anyone ever heard of this elsewhere?

Mark
Click to expand...
:)
 
Mark / Gulph:
What is so great about that ? ? ...... without the special menu function
keys you can not setup the channels, picture brightness & contrast, color
and tint and other important parameters that can easily change or revert
back to possibly unacceptable default values in the event of a power outage.
If you are confused with the "extra" buttons on your factory remote I would
suggest that you purchase a cheapie universal remote for under $10 and then
keep the factory remote handy for the technician at the repair shop if you
have to take the television in for service.
--
Best Regards,
Daniel Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


"Gulph" <gulph@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ae54728d.0404301809.79e0f65b@posting.google.com...
Hi, folks

I've got a friend in another state who said a TV repair shop near her
has a minor-but-steady sideline: It simplifies customers TV remotes by
removing everything but the basics. You know, channels, volume,
on-off.

She said they open it up and somehow disable the "non-essential"
functions, then shave off the dead buttons.

Anyone ever heard of this elsewhere?

Mark
Click to expand...
 
sofie wrote:

Mark / Gulph:
What is so great about that ? ? ...... without the special menu function
keys you can not setup the channels, picture brightness & contrast, color
and tint and other important parameters that can easily change or revert
back to possibly unacceptable default values in the event of a power outage.
If you are confused with the "extra" buttons on your factory remote I would
suggest that you purchase a cheapie universal remote for under $10 and then
keep the factory remote handy for the technician at the repair shop if you
have to take the television in for service.
Click to expand...
There's an awful lot of folks who get into the basic menus and screw
things up totally. yes, selling them a $10 universal remote that keeps
them out of the menus is much easier.

-Bill
 
Ken Weitzel <kweitzel@shaw.ca> writes:

Gulph wrote:

Hi, folks
I've got a friend in another state who said a TV repair shop near her
has a minor-but-steady sideline: It simplifies customers TV remotes by
removing everything but the basics. You know, channels, volume,
on-off.
She said they open it up and somehow disable the "non-essential"
functions, then shave off the dead buttons.
Anyone ever heard of this elsewhere?
Mark

:)
Click to expand...
Which would then leave the customer in quite a pickle if those
"non-essential" functions were ever needed. Like setting up channels. ;-)

It would probably be cheaper to buy a basic universal remote.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Home Page: http://www.repairfaq.org/
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Important: The email address in this message header may no longer work. To
contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites.
 
Sam Goldwasser wrote:
Which would then leave the customer in quite a pickle if those
"non-essential" functions were ever needed. Like setting up channels. ;-)

It would probably be cheaper to buy a basic universal remote.
Click to expand...
There's a business opportunity here for somebody here -- market a remote
called "just the basics" with big buttons for volume, channel selection and
on/off on the front. The button(s) for brand/model setup would be inside
the battery compartment.

--
John Miller
Email address: domain, n4vu.com; username, jsm

Scintillation is not positive identification for an auric substance.
 
On Sat, 01 May 2004 12:40:09 GMT, John Miller <me@privacy.net>
wrote:

Sam Goldwasser wrote:
Which would then leave the customer in quite a pickle if those
"non-essential" functions were ever needed. Like setting up channels. ;-)

It would probably be cheaper to buy a basic universal remote.

There's a business opportunity here for somebody here -- market a remote
called "just the basics" with big buttons for volume, channel selection and
on/off on the front. The button(s) for brand/model setup would be inside
the battery compartment.
Click to expand...
Well, over here (the Netherlands) they are on the market.
No word about the commercial success though :)

--
Kind regards,
Gerard Bok
 
Which would then leave the customer in quite a pickle if those
"non-essential" functions were ever needed. Like setting up channels.
;-)
Click to expand...
It would make more sense to take out the rubber button sheet and shave the
tops of buttons for less common functions down to flush with the housing or
slightly below (the way some of the buttons already are like channel
add/subtract and cable/over-the-air). The buttons would remain functional
and can be pressed with a fingernail or other assistance but would be far
less likely to be pressed by accident. Disable completely if there is a
2nd remote available when needed. I can see this as being useful for a
senior who just wants to watch TV and doesn't bother with DVD's or VCR's
and is likely to get confused when they accidentally hit the VIDEO button
and the set goes black or they hit the MTS audio button and lose sound.
 
And... The customer can no longer adjust the set, if he ever has to. Why
not just get a low cost universal remote? These will only allow the basic
functions anyways, and you will still have the factory remote.

I always recommend the customers to use a universal remote for general use,
and use the main remote when there are set-ups to do. This way, the original
will last a lot longer.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"Gulph" <gulph@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ae54728d.0404301809.79e0f65b@posting.google.com...
Hi, folks

I've got a friend in another state who said a TV repair shop near her
has a minor-but-steady sideline: It simplifies customers TV remotes by
removing everything but the basics. You know, channels, volume,
on-off.

She said they open it up and somehow disable the "non-essential"
functions, then shave off the dead buttons.

Anyone ever heard of this elsewhere?

Mark
 
First thing I do whenever I buy ANYTHING that has a remote control is I go
out and buy a basic remote for around $6.00. I immediately put the new
remote away. With 2 kids, remotes last less than a year, and its
easier/cheaper to buy a new univ. remote for $6.00, and the original is
still around for extended programming functions. Any Wal-Mart, or Radio
Shack has remotes with only power, volume, channel, or power, volume,
channel, fwd, rev, pause buttons on them, so why spend your time screwing
around, disabling buttons. Lately original remotes are made so you
practically have to destroy them, to get inside of them.
Kim


"Jerry G." <jerryg50@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c71lf4$rig$4@news.eusc.inter.net...
And... The customer can no longer adjust the set, if he ever has to. Why
not just get a low cost universal remote? These will only allow the basic
functions anyways, and you will still have the factory remote.

I always recommend the customers to use a universal remote for general
use,
and use the main remote when there are set-ups to do. This way, the
original
will last a lot longer.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"Gulph" <gulph@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ae54728d.0404301809.79e0f65b@posting.google.com...
Hi, folks

I've got a friend in another state who said a TV repair shop near her
has a minor-but-steady sideline: It simplifies customers TV remotes by
removing everything but the basics. You know, channels, volume,
on-off.

She said they open it up and somehow disable the "non-essential"
functions, then shave off the dead buttons.

Anyone ever heard of this elsewhere?

Mark
Click to expand...
 
"Simple" remotes are getting hard to find (been looknig for some
with the smallest number of buttons). To disable the remote
buttons, open the remote. This is the hardest part without
breaking the small tabs holding it together (if the tabs break,
just glue the halves back together when done). Careful probing
can find the tab locations. The buttons can be disabled by
cutting a trace at the particular button, or cover the button pad
with something like fingernail polish (or paper to undo later for
reprogramming) . The below link shows some of the remote insides.

http://www.geocities.com/zoomkat/irmods.htm

On Sun, 2 May 2004 00:49:47 -0400, "Neil" <ksleep@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

First thing I do whenever I buy ANYTHING that has a remote control is I go
out and buy a basic remote for around $6.00. I immediately put the new
remote away. With 2 kids, remotes last less than a year, and its
easier/cheaper to buy a new univ. remote for $6.00, and the original is
still around for extended programming functions. Any Wal-Mart, or Radio
Shack has remotes with only power, volume, channel, or power, volume,
channel, fwd, rev, pause buttons on them, so why spend your time screwing
around, disabling buttons. Lately original remotes are made so you
practically have to destroy them, to get inside of them.
Kim


"Jerry G." <jerryg50@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c71lf4$rig$4@news.eusc.inter.net...
And... The customer can no longer adjust the set, if he ever has to. Why
not just get a low cost universal remote? These will only allow the basic
functions anyways, and you will still have the factory remote.

I always recommend the customers to use a universal remote for general
use,
and use the main remote when there are set-ups to do. This way, the
original
will last a lot longer.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"Gulph" <gulph@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ae54728d.0404301809.79e0f65b@posting.google.com...
Hi, folks

I've got a friend in another state who said a TV repair shop near her
has a minor-but-steady sideline: It simplifies customers TV remotes by
removing everything but the basics. You know, channels, volume,
on-off.

She said they open it up and somehow disable the "non-essential"
functions, then shave off the dead buttons.

Anyone ever heard of this elsewhere?

Mark
Click to expand...
 
Oh well, I have Sony LCD remote that controls every single component in my
home theater... No need to simplify - I just choose component from the list
and get on-screen buttons for required component =P


"Gulph" <gulph@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ae54728d.0404301809.79e0f65b@posting.google.com...
Hi, folks

I've got a friend in another state who said a TV repair shop near her
has a minor-but-steady sideline: It simplifies customers TV remotes by
removing everything but the basics. You know, channels, volume,
on-off.

She said they open it up and somehow disable the "non-essential"
functions, then shave off the dead buttons.

Anyone ever heard of this elsewhere?

Mark
Click to expand...
 
Hi!

There's a business opportunity here for somebody here -- market a remote
called "just the basics" with big buttons for volume, channel selection
and
on/off on the front. The button(s) for brand/model setup would be inside
the battery compartment.
Click to expand...
Universal Electronics/One For All did this at some point. I had one. It had
nothing more than big power, channel and volume buttons as well as large
shaped play, stop, rewind and fast forward buttons for a VCR.

As I remember it could run 1 TV, 1 VCR and maybe even a cable box...but it's
been a long time since it disappeared.

William
 
Here's an ultra-basic TV-only one:
http://www.ofausa.com/remote.php?type=URC%201030

William R. Walsh wrote:
Hi!


There's a business opportunity here for somebody here -- market a remote
called "just the basics" with big buttons for volume, channel selection

and

on/off on the front. The button(s) for brand/model setup would be inside
the battery compartment.


Universal Electronics/One For All did this at some point. I had one. It had
nothing more than big power, channel and volume buttons as well as large
shaped play, stop, rewind and fast forward buttons for a VCR.

As I remember it could run 1 TV, 1 VCR and maybe even a cable box...but it's
been a long time since it disappeared.

William
Click to expand...
 
William R. Walsh wrote:

Universal Electronics/One For All did this at some point. I had one. It had
nothing more than big power, channel and volume buttons as well as large
shaped play, stop, rewind and fast forward buttons for a VCR.

As I remember it could run 1 TV, 1 VCR and maybe even a cable box...but it's
been a long time since it disappeared.

William


I've go one of those. Its a "One-For-All" and is Magnavox branded.
Click to expand...
It'll do a TV, VCR and cable box. I don't watch TV enough to be able to
'learn' the buttons on the original remote and I'd need to use my
bifocals or grow longer arms to read the darn thing. The big-button one
is perfect for me. Got it at K/Wal-mart a few years ago. I'd be
surprised if they don't still sell them.

-Bill
 
I have a couple of these. One is marketed by X-10 and is called the "TV
Buddy" remote. It also has a bottle opener and corkscrew. A real couch
potato necessity.

Another is GE-branded, and my wife and I just call it "the stick." It is
about the size of a long cigar and has power on/off, mute, chan up/down and
volume up/down ONLY.

- ESJ

"John Miller" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:c705co$3ed$1@n4vu.com...
Sam Goldwasser wrote:
Which would then leave the customer in quite a pickle if those
"non-essential" functions were ever needed. Like setting up channels.
;-)

It would probably be cheaper to buy a basic universal remote.

There's a business opportunity here for somebody here -- market a remote
called "just the basics" with big buttons for volume, channel selection
and
on/off on the front. The button(s) for brand/model setup would be inside
the battery compartment.

--
John Miller
Email address: domain, n4vu.com; username, jsm

Scintillation is not positive identification for an auric substance.
Click to expand...
 
the "One 4 All" remote is still available down under in Aussie land.
"William R. Walsh" <newsgroups1@idontwantjunqueemail.walshcomptech.com>
wrote in message news:XTjlc.19362$0H1.1894910@attbi_s54...
Hi!

There's a business opportunity here for somebody here -- market a remote
called "just the basics" with big buttons for volume, channel selection
and
on/off on the front. The button(s) for brand/model setup would be
inside
the battery compartment.

Universal Electronics/One For All did this at some point. I had one. It
had
nothing more than big power, channel and volume buttons as well as large
shaped play, stop, rewind and fast forward buttons for a VCR.

As I remember it could run 1 TV, 1 VCR and maybe even a cable box...but
it's
been a long time since it disappeared.

William
Click to expand...
 
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