IR's

[nwtv2003]

Well I know very little about these, so if anyone can explain it would make a bit more sense.

I bought a new DVD Player (Pacific DVD900 from Asda for £29.94, nice it is too ) the other day and on the front it has an IR logo and the light flashes every time I use the DVD remote, but now everytime I use my TV remote (Sony TV/Video KV14STVU (I think)) and my NTL (Pace) remote the light appears on the IR display on the DVD!

Now I was wondering how is this possible, considering that all the remotes have different functions and are from different manufacturers.

[Neil Jones]

Well I know very little about these, so if anyone can explain it would make a bit more sense.

I bought a new DVD Player (Pacific DVD900 from Asda for £29.94, nice it is too ) the other day and on the front it has an IR logo and the light flashes every time I use the DVD remote, but now everytime I use my TV remote (Sony TV/Video KV14STVU (I think)) and my NTL (Pace) remote the light appears on the IR display on the DVD!

Now I was wondering how is this possible, considering that all the remotes have different functions and are from different manufacturers.

They are probably sharing the same frequency; the fact that they are from different manufacturers is irrelevant as I believe there's a finite "slot" in the radio spectrum for these, inevitably some will overlap. The signals are so weak though that they don't pass through walls hence how you can have three of the same TVs in three different rooms and they won't collude providing there's no direct path.

Your DVD player remote probably works on the same frequency as your TV and NTL remotes so it will blink everytime one of them is used. It won't understand the commands though issued by your TV remote so it'll just blink. If its designed properly the command issued for something common, like power on/off shouldn't clash between the two so you shouldn't have any problems with the player just blinking. Sky Digiboxes insist on blinking in this fashion when you press something that's not appropriate to what's on the screen, although they're dual carrier anyway seeing as they control the telly too.

[nwtv2003]

Cheers for the info, I was thinking it would have something to do with the frequency of the remotes. Thanks for making it more clearer.

[Neil Jones]

Whilst on the subject of remote controls, why is it that they all seem to be built with the Etch-A-Sketch v1.0 operating system? What I mean is if they stop working, just pick them up and shake/bang them and Robert's-your-mother's-brother; it's working!!

My theory:

They're done cheaply and so break full stop exactly 366 days after you bought it so you have to either phone Sony up for a new one and pay for it (as it is now outside the 1yr warranty you get by law albeit by one day) or go out and buy a decent one that controls the telly, video, DVD and Sky digibox all in one.

While inside this 366 day zone, you can use the Etch-A-Sketch solution ("pick it up and shake it") to bring it back to life by design. Come day 366, it stops working lfull stop.

[Gavin Scott]

IR stands for Infra Red. The remotes emit pulses of light rather than radio frequencies. Different appliances are generally 'coded' differently, in that they use different flashing sequences, repeat rates and so on, so that conflicts don't commonly occur.

There are dozens of websites which list manufacturers codes, handy for those all-in-one remotes which can be programmed that way.

If there is a conflict between appliances in your room, I'm not sure its easily resolved. If it only results in flashing sensors, live with it.

[Andrew Wood]

Interesting little snippet - if you've got an oldish webcam, turn it on and point your remote at it and press away. If you've got the right kind of sensor in the cam, you'll see the IR pulses as a bright light. Turn the room lights out for more 'fun'! (Bit like BB in the bedroom at night.)