Fixing key-lock on TV without a remote
September 27, 2010 9:53 AM Subscribe
I cannot change my Westinghouse LCD TV's channel, and it's driving me bonkers.
I got this tv as a gift from my cousin- a hand-me-down of the best kind. However, it came sans remote.
This hasn't been a problem, because I just use my cable box's remote to operate power, sound, et cetera.
However, somehow the channels on the TV itself got screwed up and instead of being on channel 4 (the input for the cable box) it's ended up on channel 57. The cable remote can't change it- when I try to, it turns the cable box on and tries to change the channel there. The 'Video Source' button on the remote also does nothing.
I cannot use the side button panel because when I press anything except 'Power' it brings up a big 'Key Lock' image on the TV screen. Preliminary Googling suggests this can't be fixed with a universal remote and I must buy a remote from the manufacturer to get this fixed.
Is that true? Are there any alternate solutions?
I got this tv as a gift from my cousin- a hand-me-down of the best kind. However, it came sans remote.
This hasn't been a problem, because I just use my cable box's remote to operate power, sound, et cetera.
However, somehow the channels on the TV itself got screwed up and instead of being on channel 4 (the input for the cable box) it's ended up on channel 57. The cable remote can't change it- when I try to, it turns the cable box on and tries to change the channel there. The 'Video Source' button on the remote also does nothing.
I cannot use the side button panel because when I press anything except 'Power' it brings up a big 'Key Lock' image on the TV screen. Preliminary Googling suggests this can't be fixed with a universal remote and I must buy a remote from the manufacturer to get this fixed.
Is that true? Are there any alternate solutions?
Shoot didn't read that last part about universals - too trying to be helpful. Anyway if your remote is universal it might be worth a shot.
posted by bitdamaged at 10:07 AM on September 27, 2010
posted by bitdamaged at 10:07 AM on September 27, 2010
Response by poster: Oy vey. Tried Cablevision's remote programming and now I can't turn my TV on and off via the remote like I used to. Digging a deeper hole...
posted by rachaelfaith at 10:27 AM on September 27, 2010
posted by rachaelfaith at 10:27 AM on September 27, 2010
Response by poster: Bleh. Okay, one of the codes 'worked' and I can control the TV's power and volume like I could before, but trying to use the channel up and down buttons only changes the channel on the cable box, not the TV itself.
posted by rachaelfaith at 10:31 AM on September 27, 2010
posted by rachaelfaith at 10:31 AM on September 27, 2010
The cable remote probably has a mode which causes the cable box's channel up/down to "punch through" the other modes. In other words, even when you are controlling the TV, the channel up/down buttons will control the cable mode. This mode would be enabled by default for obvious reasons, but it can probably be turned off, allowing the channel buttons to control the TV when the remote is in TV mode. The trick is finding the sequence of buttons that will do this...
posted by kindall at 10:33 AM on September 27, 2010
posted by kindall at 10:33 AM on September 27, 2010
Usually pushing the "TV" button and then the channel up/down will send the signal to the TV.
But that's my Comcast experience talking.
Plan B. is if you have an HDMI out on the cable box you could connect the cable box via HDMI and switching to that video input (does the video input button work on the TV?)
Note don't pay more then $8 for HDMI cables you can order them on Amazon for about $3
posted by bitdamaged at 10:48 AM on September 27, 2010
But that's my Comcast experience talking.
Plan B. is if you have an HDMI out on the cable box you could connect the cable box via HDMI and switching to that video input (does the video input button work on the TV?)
Note don't pay more then $8 for HDMI cables you can order them on Amazon for about $3
posted by bitdamaged at 10:48 AM on September 27, 2010
The cable remote probably has a mode which causes the cable box's channel up/down to "punch through" the other modes. In other words, even when you are controlling the TV, the channel up/down buttons will control the cable mode. This mode would be enabled by default for obvious reasons, but it can probably be turned off, allowing the channel buttons to control the TV when the remote is in TV mode. The trick is finding the sequence of buttons that will do this...
I think this is what is occuring also. At least with the changing channels bit. But if you are using a cable box why is this a problem? Just use the input function.
I wonder if you can do a hard reset somehow of the tv, which would theoretically return everythig to default.
posted by Big_B at 2:48 PM on September 27, 2010
I think this is what is occuring also. At least with the changing channels bit. But if you are using a cable box why is this a problem? Just use the input function.
I wonder if you can do a hard reset somehow of the tv, which would theoretically return everythig to default.
posted by Big_B at 2:48 PM on September 27, 2010
Westinghouse has a pdf file with remote codes for many makes/models of universal remote (if the link changes, here's the source page, or just go to westinghouse and search "remote codes").
Also, here's a thread at Remote Central that discusses the process of getting a computer programmable universal remote up and running. I don't know too much about the topic, but you can definitely solve this problem with some effort.
posted by Chuckles at 9:02 PM on September 27, 2010
Also, here's a thread at Remote Central that discusses the process of getting a computer programmable universal remote up and running. I don't know too much about the topic, but you can definitely solve this problem with some effort.
posted by Chuckles at 9:02 PM on September 27, 2010
Response by poster: Spoke to Westinghouse's tech support, they recommended I buy a new remote. I pushed a bit and got them to say that a universal remote should work just fine.
Bought one, programmed it, works like a charm.
Thanks, all.
posted by rachaelfaith at 1:06 PM on September 28, 2010
Bought one, programmed it, works like a charm.
Thanks, all.
posted by rachaelfaith at 1:06 PM on September 28, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
For example here's Comcast's
posted by bitdamaged at 10:06 AM on September 27, 2010