Re: Muting Problems

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

Very miniscule # of plasma users have any remote problems unlike the many LCD users that do. Those that have, have moved the DVR/STB a bit away and problems disappeared. I have a plasma and this 'info' turns on the Uverse 'mute' has happened twice. You are experiencing an enhanced version of this, that has not been reported before now.

I'd try moving the DVR/Set Top Box away. I have mine sitting next to the TV, facing the same way as the TV, but the face of the DVR is about 6" in front of the TV screen, trying to stop any IR from entering the DVR. I would have to say, it's possible to bounce an IR signal off something, but since IR is line of sight I don't think reflections are interfering from the dongle in the USB port to the IR receiver just to the right of the red recording light.

Chris

_______________________________________________________________________

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-800-983-2811 to avoid Mr. Voice Recognition
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

truckasaurus · ‎08-30-2010

I did not have this problem until i switched my living room TV from LCD to Plasma. My STB is in a cabinet, and the plasma is mounted to the wall above, so the IR sensor of the STB is at least 12" forward of the plasma and is shielded from above so that very little plasma signal should reach the STB. However, my plasma, at 63" is very large and all my lights (recessed ceiling cans) are CFL R40 bulbs, so either of those may be a deciding factor.

The bigger issue is, why on earth does the STB even have/need a mute function? I mean, who actually uses the mute function of the STB (with no other device programmed on the remote)? Seems to me the solution is to deactivate the STB mute function.

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

Some users use the DVR/STB for volume and the mute is part of it just like a TV.

Chris

___________________________________________________________________________

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-866-465-1496 for direct TS to avoid Mr. Voice recognition
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

CharityBarnes · ‎09-10-2010

pennmw83,

I tried this and it worked wonderfully. Just like it says. I was having terrible problems and tired of interrupting tv shows to reset the box. I am so glad that I read thru all the posts here. This was a tv lifesaver.

Thanks

Charity

pennmw83 wrote:
FSU wrote:
I have the same problem. This only happens on one of our TVs, a Phillips LCD. It only happens occasionally. I have reset the remote and it has not fixed the problem. The only way to "unmute" the TV is to reset the cable box.

Well since you were the first to respond, you get the answer. I have a Samsung 32" LCD HDTV. I had the same issues for 2 months without any resolve from AT&T tech support or service techs, only answer that I got was "I dunno" and "it's something in your house". What great words from a company that wants customers... Although I am not letting this turn me away from the service since I love it.

I first thought it was the DVR, and that is why I had a service tech come out and take a look at it. Sucks for me, they swapped it, and now I lost all my recordings. BOOOOOO!!!!!! But after they swapped the boxes, the issues still occured. After about another 2hrs with the service tech there and looking at everything and talkng to their teir 2 support, they couldn't give me any answers. After they left, I decided to swap the boxes from my bedroom and the living room (since I have only 2 boxes). Low and behold, it starts to work. I was shocked beyond all belief! Next i put the non-DVR in the living room, and it started screwing up again. So I got to thinking, what in the HECK could be causing this?!?!? I just started out simple and turned everything off in the room, and systematically started testing the box when turning one thing on at a time. The last item I turned on was the TV, and then it went all haywire on me! So I turned it off, then back on again. Did it again! GAH!

So then I Googled TV interference with IR, that is when I came up with my answers...

Supposedly LCD HDTVs put out wads of IR interference, and ONLY when energy savings mode is on and when the color mode is NOT set the the brightest factory setting. Google helps out alot, but it is very strange how this is the only time I have EVER seen this issue. Never came across this issue with my Wii, my TWC boxes, and even my Sony camera's IR.

Some people have said that CFL bulbs put out the IR that remotes put off, but found that this was not the issue, even though I have the CFLs in my living room. This place and like one other forum is the only place I have heard of people complaining about it.

To program the remote to control the STB, press and hold the AT&T button then press the "OK" button. All the device buttons will flash twice. When they flash immediately type in 955, and you will see the AT&T button flash twice. Press the AT&T button again, you will then see it flash 3 times and now it is programmed to Control the volume and mute on the STB.

To program it to go back to the TV, just follow the same steps, but on the last AT&T button push, push "TV" instead. Now the remote is programmed back to the TV.

I hope this helped you out.

Just be thankful YOU didn't have to waste time with CSRs and tech support reps that thought you were freaking crazy.
Message Edited by pennmw83 on 10-29-2008 09:51 PM
Message Edited by pennmw83 on 10-30-2008 03:00 PM

arimus00 · ‎09-28-2010

The info button worked for us, thanks for the post. While pressing the info button down the menu's go crazy and it actually took several attempts for it to work. We're replacing the battery in the remote now, because the info button immediately sent it back into Mute.

These basic uverse IR remotes just suck really bad and that's been obvious since we got the stupid thing. We have a couple buttons that cause other random things...like random channel changes when adjusting volume. Sigh, just one more reason we'll be giving up uverse TV in favor of other things.

Cheers

wlschwartz · ‎02-19-2011

This totally works! My goodness, what a crap way to solve an issue. ATT tech should be aware of this fix. What a life-saver. Thanks so much for sharing this solution. And for me, it happened right after the tech had left the house fixing another unrelated service issue.

MANY, MANY thanks!!!

dave18 · ‎05-06-2011

I have a 50 in plasma tv. I can't believe there are others w/ the same problem. I have a tech coming out tomorrow. can't wait to what he says. This has been going on for years and know one can tell me why. They act as if This is the first time hearing of such problems. it is a huge hassle to restart everytime This happens(only on one tv). I will try the suggestions and see if that works. Thanks for your post!

aviewer · ‎03-11-2010

Here is the reason why (watch the video) -

http://www.nilesaudio.com/media/ir.php

Since it is a design problem, the tech can not do anything. Maybe show him the video.

Best solution I have is tape a cardboard tube, such as toilet paper or paper towel coming out from the IR receiver. Try different slight off center angles on the STB.

If you get the muting often, leave the remote in the mode that contrls the STB instead of the TV. Relief is just a button push away.

jmart84 · ‎05-17-2011

Thank you to whoever posted this! It cured my problem right away!!! Thanks so much!

GB2012 · ‎07-07-2012

For months our TV would go MUTE when we fast forwarded it. Not the MUTE that you actually have a button for towards the end of the remote, but another MUTE that can only be taken off if you reboot the whole system.. This only happens to the TV with the Recorder attached to it. Both our TV's are LCD's. It drives us CRAZY. We've called and called for support... it would always end up with us having to reboot... which means we loose a good portion of what were were recording, We never know when it is going to happen. There isn't any rhyme or reason for it. But wait... that's not all! It also does other screwy things like jump to live TV (when we are watching a recording and fastforwarding through a commercial) or knock us off to the ATT think possible screen. I've already replaced the remote...so that's not it. I'm at a loss and so are the support techies.

It's very irritating... I would appreciate any one's input.

aviewer · ‎03-11-2010

GB2012 -

Your primary problem is the IR signal from the remote is too fragile & is corrupted by ambient light,

Make sure any auto brightness settings on your LCD TV are turned off. LCD may be source of corrupting light.

You can try hiding the STB or changing the angle or cover the IR receiver (between the green light & the big button) wiyj black electrical tape.

I believe the DVR is worse than the regular STB. You can swap the two.

The phantom mute is the STB mute. Your remote is programmed to control the TV volume/mute.

Reprogram - att/ok - 955 - att - To have the remote control the volume/mute on the STB.

You can either leave it this way all the time or change back and forth when the mute comes on.

No need to reboot.

Here is link explaining the IR corruption - http://www.nilesaudio.com/media/ir.php

GB2012 · ‎07-07-2012

That is for sure... I just talk to an "agent" who never heard of the problem. She wanted to send out a Tchnician to check the wires (already did that, that is not the problem). Then she said they could exchange the Recorder/Receiver, but we'd loose all our saved programs (we actually did this twice. Nothing chaged the problem). So most agents do not know there is a problems and if you call up a technician they can not help you fix it at all... they either have you do a reboot, or they do one from their end.