[montana girl]

Hello. I'm having a remote problem for my TV. This is the second remote that I have bought and it's having the same problem as the first one that originally came with the TV. It's a Panasonic (approx. 5 years old). I turn the TV on and the remote works for awhile, then I'll punch in a number to change the channel and nothing happens.  After it quits working, I can't get it to do anything (change channels, turn TV off, etc.) until I hit the TV button again on the remote. I bought another remote and after a few months it started doing the same thing, I have to keep punching the TV button on the remote to get it to work. Sometimes it works for a few hours or even a few days before it does this.  Could this be a TV problem or remote control problem? I'm thinking about buying a universal remote but thought I would check out this forum first. My TV is heavy and big and I don't want to take it to a service shop unless I have to.  Thanks.

[bubba966]

I haven't seen a Panasonic TV remote in a while, but it's one of those that controls other things than just the TV, right (like VCR/Cable Box/DVD/etc.)? Because that's what it sounds like it is when you're saying that you need to press the TV button to get it to work again.

To me that sounds more like a remote problem than a TV problem as it sounds like the remote is not staying on the TV function and is switching to one of the other functions on it's own.

I know this might border on asking a silly question, but how old are the batteries that are in the remote? Brand new fresh batteries might solve this problem. I've had remotes do odd things when the batteries were getting old & out of juice.

If that doesn't solve it is the new remote you bought still under warranty? I've not ordered anything like that from Panasonic in a while so I don't recall what their warranties are for such thing off hand. But if it's under warranty I'd get it replaced.

[montana girl]

Hi Bubba, that's not a silly question and, yes, I have changed out the batteries numerous times to new ones. It works better for a few days when I do that, but then it starts doing the same thing again. The remote does have VCR, DVD CBL, other buttons. It is past the warrantee date, I even tried calling Panasonic and also the service supplier for the remote, but neither could tell me what's wrong. I think it is the remote also, if it was my TV I don't think the remote would work at all. This is frustrating as it's happened with both remotes. I've owned some TV's for years and never had this problem before. I love this TV and want to keep it, I wonder if a universal remote would solve the problem. Do you know if the remote needs some kind of programming in, I don't remember if it had to when I bought it. Somebody told me since it's a Panasonic TV, it shouldn't have to be programmed as the remote is also Panasonic. Thanks for your reply.

[G Georgopoulos]

I wonder if a universal remote would solve the problem
----------------------------------------------------
Hi there sounds like remote malfunction, that doesnt explain why it fails repeatedly if its an
original from the manufacturer, maybe you press the button too hard and it jams the remote
as for universal remotes there are two types programable and preprogramable the later is the
cheaper you setup the code and off you go you will have no trouble finding one that could be
setup for your tv - a word of caution universal remotes malfunction more often than originals
that has been my experience with users

cheers
ps: just to make sure is not the tv sent them back to the manufacturer to be checked out

[bubba966]

So, as the batteries have been taken out of the equation and you said it is indeed a multi-function remote then it really does sound like the remote is the problem, not the TV.

Since it's a Panasonic TV remote (is it the exact same remote as originally came with the TV?) it doesn't need to be programmed to run your TV as evidenced by the fact that it works with your TV when it's set to the TV function on the remote. It is odd that it's switching to a different function on you all by itself...

But yeah, a universal remote should fix this problem since it's almost certainly the remote that's at fault here.

Sony makes a couple of models around the $20-$50 range depending upon how many things they control. I got one for a really old Toshiba I've got upstairs and it works fine even after 3 years or so. And my roommates have dropped it on too many occasions and it still manages to work. I guess someday they'll bounce it off the hardwood one too many times and I'll have to get another one. But until then it's fine as it does what it's supposed to and was really cheap (got it for like $12 as it was an open box special).

Check and see if Costco has any remotes that'd work for you. That way if you buy one and you don't like it or it doesn't solve your problem it can be taken back without any hassle.

[montana girl]

Okay, I will try a universal remote. When it doesn't work, it just quits working altogether until I punch the TV button again. I just think it's odd that both of them (the one that originally came with the TV and also the new one I bought) do the very same thing.  Thanks Bubba, and others, for your answers. Montana girl.

[bubba966]

Most welcome for the answers. Hopefully they turn out to be helpfull...

It does rather sound like some sort of design defect where after a certain period of time something fails in the remote to make it set itself to some other function than the TV or it just switches over to the next function whatever that may be.

Would be interesting to know if it's consistently setting itself to one other function (like VCR or DVD) or if it justs bumps over one function. Not that it would really solve anything as knowing exactly what it's doing doesn't fix it. Would just be nice to know exactly what was happening.

Let us know if a universal remote fixes the problem or not. My bet is that it does...

[MikeL]

I'd go with a universal remote like the brands from Home Theater Master.  I have owned two, one since they came out.. 8-10 years ago and the latest MX-700 for 3 years.  Love them.  Only remote that stays out on the coffee table and I have a lot of gear.  They are not that expensive.  I got my MX700 from an authorized internet dealer as an open box for like $150.  Have not found a thing it will not take or learn yet.

Universalremote.com

Good Luck
Mike

[montana girl]

Hi, just an update on my remote. I bought a universal remote from Sony, I only paid $15.00 for it. I didn't want to spend much money on a remote until I knew if this was the problem. I've had it for approx. 2 weeks now and it works flawlessly, so I'm assuming that the remote was the problem. My TV wasn't cheap when I bought it so I'm rather surprised that I went through 2 remotes in such a short time, with both doing the same thing. Anyway, I'm real happy with my new remote.