Universal Remote Difficulties

September 11, 2005 5:04 PM

I have a JVC TV/VCR combo. We have not been able to turn off closed captioning off for a week. It's not that we're stupid, it's that we're having complications with the remote. We apparently never had the original remote, and have to use a universal remote that does not work nearly as well as it should. I know the serial number of the TV VCR combo, I just cannot find the three digit code of the remote the universal should be emulating, even after extensive searching. The serial number is TV-20F242. Any advice as to how to fix this?

As it stands right now, the remote is able to enter the "menu" screen which says "VRC timer setup" "TV set up" and such, but it cannot navigate around the screen. Also, the "CC" button on the remote appears to be nonfunctional on this setting as well. This, of course, makes me very confused as to how is was even set on closed caption in the first place. This is all especially frustrating because the remote seems to be set on the only functional code listed in the manual. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Closed captioning is ruining all the punchlines to my shows.

posted by piratebowling to technology (11 comments total)

My TV has a tendency to reset to factory defaults after being unplugged. Have you tried this?
posted by trevyn at 5:06 PM on September 11, 2005

yup, unpluging did not work.
posted by piratebowling at 5:08 PM on September 11, 2005

Along the same lines, my old Toshiba had to be unplugged for many hours to "lose" its memory. If you haven't tried an extended off, it might be worth a try.

Or try getting another brand of universal remote? (I realize that's not what you want to hear).
posted by qwip at 5:28 PM on September 11, 2005

You can sometimes reset the memory of electronics by powering them up with one or all of the buttons held down. It probably won't work, but it's worth a try.

Does your remote have a mode for controlling a VCR? Using that might let you navigate the menu.
posted by cillit bang at 5:34 PM on September 11, 2005

yeah, I tried going through the VCR also, but that didn't do much either.
posted by piratebowling at 5:43 PM on September 11, 2005

Back in college I worked for a semi-evil electronics chain (starts with a R and ends with shack)...anyway....one time I had a similar issue with a remote and the need to emulate some button that wasn't on the remote it self. Was able to call the customer service number for the remote manufacturer and they walked me through a alternate setup for the remote that let me send the command for 'menu' in a round about way using some programing codes for the remote. If yah can find the remote booklet and it has a number give it a try.
posted by Captain_Science at 5:59 PM on September 11, 2005

Guess I'll be avoiding JVC's cheaper product line.
posted by rolypolyman at 6:09 PM on September 11, 2005

Perhaps this may help:
http://www.remotecentral.com/
posted by strangelove at 6:33 PM on September 11, 2005

You haven't mentioned which universal remote you have.

One, almost all universal remotes have an online repository of their codes. You might want to check there. Many universal remotes also have a 'stepping' function where you step through the generic codes for it.

Last you might want to pick up another $30 universal remote that might have the code. Possibly your Cable box has a universal ability (mine does) or you could just borrow one from a friend overnight.
posted by filmgeek at 8:04 PM on September 11, 2005

There might be a way to access advanced functions on the set itself, without using the remote. You might want to drop JVC an email to see if it's possible.

This discussion thread has the name of an actual JVC employee who offered to help with problems. You can get their email address by clicking on the link that says "Stacy Sample..."
posted by SteveInMaine at 3:53 AM on September 12, 2005

The serial number you gave was for the television.

That doesn't help.

What's the serial number/brand of the remote?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:24 AM on September 12, 2005