No TV Party Tonight

March 30, 2009 11:46 AM

My TV remote control has ceased functioning. In order to reset it, I tried the most logical solution: unplugging the TV and plugging it back in. Well, that made things worse.

Now when I turn the TV on, I get a message stating that the TV is "updating the GuidePlus blah blah blah press 'cancel' to exit". Well, I can't, because there's no 'cancel' button on the TV itself and the remote doesn't work. Then the TV turns itself off. Turn it back on, same deal.

And now the "input" button on the TV doesn't seem to respond, so I can't watch DVDs or play games on my Xbox360.

So here's my question(s):

Will replacing the remote fix these problems? I found one online, but they want more than a hundred bucks for the damn thing. I don't want to buy something that won't fix my problem, especially if it's a hundred-dollar something.

Is there a way to reset the TV to the original factory setting without using the remote? I can't find any controls that would allow me to do so.

Relevant info: Mitsubishi TV, remote control model #290P080-B10, no owner's manual. The TV is huge, ancient (it has a picture tube! How quaint!), and still has a great picture. It's so big that it will take more than two people to move it, so replacing it is an option that is very low on my list due to hassle and cost. Yes, I tried replacing the batteries in the remote control. I tried yelling. I tried begging. My next plan is to weep uncontrollably while propitiating the Gods of Television with animal sacrifices.

posted by BitterOldPunk to technology (19 comments total)

Universal remote!
posted by soma lkzx at 11:49 AM on March 30

Do the five dollar universal remotes not work? If it's an old tv, you don't need the controls to do anything fancy. I'd say this is your best bet. (Caveat: I know nothing about tvs or remotes except that I've programed about 100 universal remotes in my day.)
posted by phunniemee at 11:49 AM on March 30

Instead of weeping uncontrollably, have you tried asking your friends to see if any of them have a universal remote that might work with your tv? Most setups with digital cable use a universal remote, and they're usually pretty good at supporting tvs (and you'll be able to find the lists/codes on the web).

If you can confirm that a working remote doesn't control your tv, then sacrifice.
posted by Lemurrhea at 11:50 AM on March 30

Oh, excuse me, I meant 3.50.
posted by phunniemee at 11:52 AM on March 30

Will a universal remote work on a TV that's approximately a billion years old? I know nothing about universal remote controls. Can I program it without access to the original remote? Will a universal remote allow me to switch inputs on the TV?
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:53 AM on March 30

Will a universal remote work on a TV that's approximately a billion years old?
Yes, my house only has tvs that are a billion years old. We break the controls all the time. We actually have a drawer of cheapo remotes for backup.
I know nothing about universal remote controls.
You soon will.
Can I program it without access to the original remote?
Yes, it comes with a code booklet. Find your tv model, follow the directions, and you will have a working remote.
Will a universal remote allow me to switch inputs on the TV?
Probably, you'll have to read the directions.
posted by phunniemee at 11:56 AM on March 30

Probably.

Not really--you'll want one that's preprogrammed (most are--look for a big list of supported brands on the back), and then you'll just tell it what brand of tv you have.

Probably. (The cheapest ones just have channel/volume, but the not-quite-cheapest ones should support the function. Look for one that has a button labeled source, or input, or vcr/tv, etc. etc.)
posted by box at 11:58 AM on March 30

Now when I turn the TV on, I get a message stating that the TV is "updating the GuidePlus blah blah blah press 'cancel' to exit".

This sounds like something a cable-box would display spitting out, not your TV. Is the TV connected to cable or satellite? If so, I'd call the cable/satellite provider and see if they can trouble-shoot the message. Usually we got this sort of thing when the cable box was wonky or the neighbors inexpertly tried to steal our cable.

Disregard if you're just connected to the regular over-the-air television signal.
posted by muddgirl at 12:02 PM on March 30

OK, so where do I find the model number on a Mitsubishi TV? This thing's the size of a VW bus, I can't move it or look underneath it.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:11 PM on March 30

The universal will come with a list of codes for Mitsubishi -- you'll just have to try them all. It won't really take all that long. Usually one of the first two or three codes will work.
posted by spilon at 12:15 PM on March 30

Thanks for the help, folks! I'm off to Sears CompUSA Circuit City Best Buy to go universal remote control shopping.

And if that doesn't work, I'm sacrificing adorable innocent fluffy little kittens AND ITS ALL YOUR FAULT METAFILTER
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:23 PM on March 30

I'd go with the universal remote.

Oh, and in regards to the batteries, check your contacts. I've had remotes which stopped working. I replaced the batteries — no love. Turns out that the contacts had accumulated some small level of corrosion. It's not very likely, but it's quick to test and a relatively easy fix.
posted by adipocere at 12:24 PM on March 30

I have an ancient (1996) MItsu tube, and I can attest that universal remotes work on them. Almost too well - "up volume" on my DVD player also ups the voume on the TV.
posted by notsnot at 12:31 PM on March 30

Yes, clean the battery contacts. You'll find that a universal remote is the EASY answer---you'll be surprised at how easy it is! And it may have many more workable functions than your old remote.
posted by ragtimepiano at 12:32 PM on March 30 [1 favorite]

Seconding muddgirl; especially if your TV is older it isn't likely to have a built in TV guide function, which is what the error you see is talking about. If you unplugged it by flipping the switch on a power bar you probably also reset the cable/satellite box which is now trying to download the program information from somewhere.
posted by odinsdream at 1:13 PM on March 30

I cleaned the battery contacts: no love. The TV is hooked up to cable, but there is no set-top box. The TV model number is CS-40509.

Hopefully I can find a universal remote that works with this model. Thanks, again, folks!

Maybe I should just stop watching TV. Yeah, like that'll happen.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:38 PM on March 30

Problem solved with an $8 universal remote control. Hurrah!

*returns to semi-vegetative state before flickering screen*
posted by BitterOldPunk at 3:16 PM on March 30

uh... I'm assuming the batteries are not dead? Point the remote at a digital camera / video camera with lcd, and look at it through the lcd. You will see the little light flashing at the end of the remote. If it's not, then yes, your remote is really dead.
posted by defcom1 at 3:19 PM on March 30

*doh. preview fail. glad it's working.
posted by defcom1 at 3:19 PM on March 30