Can TV-VCR-DVD Remotes be affected by interference?

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ...

A most unusual thing has happened - remotes for a JVC DVD player and a Panasonic DVD recorder have suddenly quit working from across the room. Now, the remotes will work only if you hold them very close to the units.

For a time the remote for my Sanyo HDTV was also misbehaving, but now seems to be working OK.

I have checked everything on both the units and the remotes including batteries, surfaces and various line-of-sight paths from remote to unit. All is well there.

This all just happened today, some three days after the last time I used the DVD units, and only one day after last watching TV.

I have yet to test the DVD units in a location other than where I live (apartment). If I find that they work OK elsewhere, then the question will be what might be affecting the communication between remote and unit. I've checked with neighbors, but no one's had remote issues, and no one's installed any type of new electronics in their apartments.

Has anyone out there experienced anything like this, and if so what should I be on the lookout for?

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Video

[lordsmurf]

Remotes are generally IR, so not really.

[jagabo]

IR remotes can be effected by IR interference. If you have a bunch of IR remotes sitting around make sure one doesn't have a button stuck down. I've had that happen before.

[orsetto]

Have you recently switched to energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs in your room lights? Or is there an existing fluorescent fixture that may be failing with age? I once had a baffling remote problem which turned out to be interference from fluorescents. It can usually be cured by changing the brand or voltage/brightness of the bulb, or changing the room lighting to halogen or incandescent.

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ....

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!

It was dust on the transmit lens of each remote. A simple wiping off of each lens did the trick.

WHEW!!

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Video

[Seeker47]

Remotes are generally IR, so not really.

My odd experience with IR is that I got an IR-repeater / control gizmo. (Channel Vision IR-5000, installed due to some new cabinetry.) If the doors are closed, it works as expected. But, if the cabinet doors are open, exposing the decks, the remotes really don't work at all. (DirecTV remote also stops working !) The only exception is the volume control button on the remotes. However, if I move to an oblique angle off to the side of the tv, the remotes work again, even though the doors are still open. (Although that should be much worse line-of-sight.) Why these results ?

[fritzi93]

So, can someone give an example of audio/video equipment using an RF remote? Even my iMon is IR, (claimed range of 45 feet). AFAIK all my remotes, past and present, have been IR.