[RebeccaD7]

Okay first of all I want to start this thread by saying I hate Directv tech support. Okay, so my remote stopped working. My first thought was batteries, so I changed the batteries and it still didn't work. The remote worked to turn my tv on and off, but nothing worked for my hr-21. We haev another hr-21 in the house so I tried their remote, and it didn't work on my receiver. But I used my remote on the other receiver and it worked. So putting all that together I'm assuming I have a problem with my receivers sensor not working.

So I called tech support and she had me try to reprogram the remote...but it didn't work. So seh said she would send me a new remote to first try, and if it didn't work then I'd return it and get a new receiver. I asked if I have to pay shipping for the remote, she said it would be $15. I said "so if the remote doesn't work (which it won't because I've already tried another remote), then do I get my $15 back " she said NO. Then I asked how much the reciever would cost and she said she has no idea and wouldn't know unless she put the order in but she can't until I try out a new remote first. I said I wanted to speak to her manager, she said okay and HUNG UP ON ME. errrr...

okay so I called back to someone else and I explained the situation and she said she could send me a new remote and receiver for $20. I was like "why couldn't the other girl do that" she said she had no idea. Directv really needs to get their act together. I know my dad has had tons of problems with their tech support for other things as well. Anyways, my point of this post is to see if this problem has happened to anyone else? I find it wierd that out of the blue my remote sensor just stops working??

Oh and my other question is: Is there a way to pause, fast fowrard, and rewind by using the controls on the reciever? I can get to my tv shows, but I don't think there is a way to pause, rewind, etc , is there?

 

[spartanstew]

Do you know where the IR sensor is on the unit?

If so, try putting a piece of black tape over it with just a very small pinhole in the center (of the tape).

 

[Edmund]

Could the receiver be in RF mode? And just the remote dropped out of RF mode, and so won't communte with each other?

If you originl remote is a RF remote, with a FCC sticker on the back, try the following on the remote:

1. dtv
2. press and hold MUTE & SELECT for two blinks
3. enter 0 0 0 0 1

4. press and hold MUTE & SELECT for two blinks
5. enter 9 6 1
6. press CH UP
7. enter the last 6 digits of the receiver ID # (RID), found on a sticker in the access card compartmet
8. press SELECT

 

[RebeccaD7]

Could the receiver be in RF mode? And just the remote dropped out of RF mode, and so won't communte with each other?

If you originl remote is a RF remote, with a FCC sticker on the back, try the following on the remote:

1. dtv
2. press and hold MUTE & SELECT for two blinks
3. enter 0 0 0 0 1

4. press and hold MUTE & SELECT for two blinks
5. enter 9 6 1
6. press CH UP
7. enter the last 6 digits of the receiver ID # (RID), found on a sticker in the access card compartmet
8. press SELECT

WOAH! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Well I actually wasn't in RF Mode, and I tried what you said but it didn't work, BUT then I went to settings and changed to RF Mode, and then did the thing it told me to do, and WALA! MY REMOTE WORKS! So RF Mode just means that I don't have to point the remote to the receiver? Is that what it means? Wow I want to thank you! woohoo..now I gota call directv and cancel that order. Okay first of all, how come their IDIOT TECH PEOPLE couldn't have me try that? wow...such idiots. Can't believe you can get better tech support online by people that don't even work for directv. Thank you so much, I owe you! I was so sad that I was giong to have to be without DVR for a few days!

 

[rudeney]

There is no problem using the HR2x in RF mode. In fact, some people prefer. I have two HR20’s (kitchen and guest room) where I used the OEM D* remote in RF mode because the receivers are located in closets and thus don’t have line of sight. The only problem with RF is that if you did want to switch to using a sophisticated universal or programmable remote, you will need the receiver to communicate via IR because (so far) none of these after-market remotes can send RF signals compatible with D*’s transmissions. Another problem might be RF interference. I have found that some key sequences from the kitchen’s RF remote cause my house alarm panel to beep. I am guessing it thinks it’s getting a “low battery” signal from an RF door sensor or something.

By the way, these IR sensor failures and sensitivity issues seem to be quite common and lead me to believe there is a defect here. My HR20’s worked for well over a year with Pronto emitters right over the sensors, but they eventually failed. I had to move the emitters several inches away from the IR sensors to get them to work. I guess this could have been a firmware upgrade that caused it, but that really doesn’t make much sense. My guess is that there is a defect in the IR sensors.

 

[RebeccaD7]

There is no problem using the HR2x in RF mode. In fact, some people prefer. I have two HR20's (kitchen and guest room) where I used the OEM D* remote in RF mode because the receivers are located in closets and thus don't have line of sight. The only problem with RF is that if you did want to switch to using a sophisticated universal or programmable remote, you will need the receiver to communicate via IR because (so far) none of these after-market remotes can send RF signals compatible with D*'s transmissions. Another problem might be RF interference. I have found that some key sequences from the kitchen's RF remote cause my house alarm panel to beep. I am guessing it thinks it's getting a "low battery" signal from an RF door sensor or something.

By the way, these IR sensor failures and sensitivity issues seem to be quite common and lead me to believe there is a defect here. My HR20's worked for well over a year with Pronto emitters right over the sensors, but they eventually failed. I had to move the emitters several inches away from the IR sensors to get them to work. I guess this could have been a firmware upgrade that caused it, but that really doesn't make much sense. My guess is that there is a defect in the IR sensors.

I won't be getting a universal remote , so I think I should be fine. So can the RF "Sensor" stop working too? Sorry I don't know much about RF vs IR.

 

[rudeney]

I won't be getting a universal remote , so I think I should be fine. So can the RF "Sensor" stop working too? Sorry I don't know much about RF vs IR.

Well, it "could", but that would be rare. I haven't heard hardly any reports of RF failures. I had an H20 that was very flaky on RF, but it turned out to be the remote.

 

[JACKIEGAGA]

I only use RF mode only way to go

 

[GregM5]

By the way, these IR sensor failures and sensitivity issues seem to be quite common and lead me to believe there is a defect here. My HR20's worked for well over a year with Pronto emitters right over the sensors, but they eventually failed. I had to move the emitters several inches away from the IR sensors to get them to work. I guess this could have been a firmware upgrade that caused it, but that really doesn't make much sense. My guess is that there is a defect in the IR sensors.

You might be right. Both of our 2 HR21P's also appear to have IR remote issues. They are very, very picky about where you point the remote and don't always recognize the remote command. Remote commands recognized by the HR21's hesitate for varying amounts of time, but that might be a another issue. We have tried using Harmony Ones in addition to the remotes that came with the HR21's - same problem. We have an HR10-250 right above the HR21 and it has no IR remote issues at all.

 

[groove93]

Get yourself a Harmony Remote. My 880 is a lifesaver. I haven't verbally abused my HR21 for days!!!!!!!

 

[rudeney]

You might be right. Both of our 2 HR21P's also appear to have IR remote issues. They are very, very picky about where you point the remote and don't always recognize the remote command. Remote commands recognized by the HR21's hesitate for varying amounts of time, but that might be a another issue. We have tried using Harmony Ones in addition to the remotes that came with the HR21's - same problem. We have an HR10-250 right above the HR21 and it has no IR remote issues at all.

Some people have reported improving IR reception by restricting the sensor. Covering it with a strip of opaque tape (such as black electrical tape) with a pinhole in it or even just a few layers of matte-finish clear tape (like Scotch Magic Tape) may work.