Remote Control Problem - Pioneer DVR-330-S

[wmedia]

I am in the United States and have a PAL Pioneer DVD Recorder DVR-330-S especially for transferring PAL VHS recordings to DVD.

This recorder has operated perfectly until recently. NOW the remote control appears dead. Naturally, the first thing I did was replace the batteries. No change.

What I want to know is:

How can I determine if the remote is broken or if the sensor on the DVR is no longer operating? If I can determine that it is the remote, I can then try to replace it. (Actually I think all I need is a remote that can allow me to go "up," "down," "left," "right" and "ok".) As it is now, I can not finalize any DVDs recorded on this machine.

Is there any remote that a Pioneer recorder will respond to? Will any sort of universal remote work with a Pioneer DVD recorder? If not will any Pioneer DVR remote work with this model, or are all remotes model specific?

[wabjxo]

On the remote, press and hold the RETURN and #1 buttons for about 5 sec, or until the display changes on the unit.

If that works, your recorder and remote are now back in sync. If it doesn't work, press and hold RETURN and #2, then try with #3.

Pioneers offer the option for matching codes with up to three devices so the remote doesn't control another component. If your remote got "disconnected" to the recorder, this should get them back in sync.

Normally, with the remote working, you'd first set the recorder for Recorder 1, 2 or 3, then do the remote setting, but since your remote doesn't work, this might work to synchronize the unit and the remote. If it doesn't work, ???

[Seeker47]

I am in the United States and have a PAL Pioneer DVD Recorder DVR-330-S especially for transferring PAL VHS recordings to DVD.

This recorder has operated perfectly until recently. NOW the remote control appears dead. Naturally, the first thing I did was replace the batteries. No change.

Is there any remote that a Pioneer recorder will respond to? Will any sort of universal remote work with a Pioneer DVD recorder? If not will any Pioneer DVR remote work with this model, or are all remotes model specific?

IF it turns out to be your remote that is at fault, rather than something at the DVR end (I have had other remotes for other devices die outright or become semi-useless *), it is highly likely that you could program one of the Logitech Harmony remotes to replace it, from their large online database for remotes. If you don't happen to have a Harmony (the model 880 is on sale at Amazon for $99. delivered, through March, using code GXWCVCLQ at checkout -- this is quite a bit cheaper than most Ebay listings for this item, whether new or used), there are a number of online vendors who sell whatever model-specific remotes are still available. Pioneer remote codes are probably all drawn from the same "pool." I bought a Pioneer model VXX2967 remote -- separately -- from one of these vendors, after it was recommended on AVSforum as offering several advantages over the remote that is provided with the model 640, and this proved to be good advice. I think I paid about $35. for that remote.

(*) One common reason many remotes stop working is that they become gunked up by dust & misc. crud. {Reaching into that bag of Cheetohs, then reaching for the remote is probably not the greatest idea ... No, seriously, even a somewhat dusty environment can do it, over time.} While it is possible to have them cleaned with the right solvent, this might not work, and could easily cost more than buying a new one. I do recall seeing a do-it-yourself cleaning kit for remotes being sold online for around $20. It does require popping the remote cover, or whatever it takes to get at the contacts for the buttons. Since I do have one remote that is rare, expensive and not readily replaceable, I was thinking of giving this kit a try.

I've also had remotes, flashlights, and other things get messed up because batteries were left in there too long without the item being used, and they discharged.

[bigstusexy]

Here is a nice tip to know if your IR remote is actually lighting up.

Most digital camera (not Digital SLR's) tend to not have or have strong IR filters. DSLR's tend to but this might work. Take you remote and point it right at the lens and look through the EVF or Electronic View Finder, if you don't have live preview take a picture, you may want to over expose a bit.

[wmedia]

Many thanks for the brain bank here. I tried the RETURN and #1, #2, #3 button exercise with no luck. However the tip about visually monitoring the IR signal with a digital camera was invaluable: comparison with five other remotes in conjunction with the misbehaving Pioneer remote confirmed that the Pioneer IR bulb is inactive.

So now I know it is the remote that's out of service. The remote itself is in very good condition and there was no dust or grime to prompt the problem. I have a suspicion the IR bulb itself is no longer working as everything else in the remote is a printed circuit or the battery connection.

Pioneer is selling a replacement remote for about $40 so I guess I'll bite the bullet and purchase another. I gather this is a pretty unusual situation.