Two devices, two remotes, one brand

August 21, 2005 12:02 PM

I have a Phillips DVD recorder (DVR75) and recently bought a Phillips DVD player (DVP630) which sits underneath the recorder. However,when I try to turn on the new player using the remote for it, it's turning on the recorder instead. Is there a simple way to fix this?
posted by gfrobe to Technology (9 answers total)

Do you mean "as well" rather than "instead"? If so, the answer is in the title. Take back the DVD player and buy a different brand.
posted by cillit bang at 12:41 PM on August 21, 2005

Not easily no. But a small index card blocking the infrared port is a real world solution.
posted by filmgeek at 1:16 PM on August 21, 2005

Response by poster: I mean instead of. I can't take the player back as I bought it on eBay. And I don't want to block the infrared port on the recorder as I use that as well (with the recorder remote control).

Essentially what I want is the recorder remote to control the recorder and the player remote to control the player. Is that possible?
posted by gfrobe at 1:46 PM on August 21, 2005

Likely not, since they are both the same brand, and products of the same brand tend to use the same remote codes for the same functions. I've seen gear with this capability (i.e. you can control two separate Sony VCRs with a single remote, and the VCRs have a switch on them that tells them to be "VCR 1" or "VCR 2") but if your DVD player and recorder don't have this, you are basically SOL.
posted by kindall at 1:55 PM on August 21, 2005

Response by poster: Damn. Well, I guess that's the last time I buy two devices of the same brand.

Thanks.
posted by gfrobe at 1:59 PM on August 21, 2005

I wouldn't go so far as to say that you shouldn't buy the same brand for multiple devices. I have a Sony TV, DVD player, and VCR and they all turn on normally, when selecting the ON/OFF function for that particular device. Philips may not have thought this through that well.

Anyhow, if the DVD-R includes the type of remote that controls many brands, by selecting codes from the user manual, then you can try an alternate code for the DVD player. Some brands have multiple codes (early vs. more recent models will respond to a different code). So inputting a different Philips code for the DVD player may solve the problem. If you don't have the manual.

Or you can get a universal remote. Or you can contact Philips support, if you haven't already done so.
posted by Blue Buddha at 2:20 PM on August 21, 2005

So you're saying the presence of your DVD recorder prevents the player from responding to its own remote. Hein?
posted by cillit bang at 2:41 PM on August 21, 2005

Response by poster: I do have a universal remote but if the codes that I need to program in for each remote are the same, I suspect I'll have the same problem. I haven't tried programming the new remote into my universal yet though so maybe that will help.

Cillit, it's not that bad. If I turn the DVD player on manually (making sure the DVD recorder is off), I can use the player remote with no problem. I just can't use remote to turn on the power as it turns on the wrong machine.
posted by gfrobe at 3:01 PM on August 21, 2005

I would go the universal remote route. Pick one up for $10 or so and try all the Phillips codes indicated -- often multiple codes will work, and if you luck out, one will work on one box but not the other. May take a good bit of trial & error though.
posted by Vidiot at 9:00 PM on August 21, 2005