4 remote controls - what kind of madness is that?

[buchanan]

Flicking between our mutiple remote controllers to try and get Channel 5 through the digi box. Successfully worked the DVD player earlier today - the technology gods smiled on me but have abandoned me now when I need them most - I'm missing CSI. Why do these things only happen when my husband isn't around? Am I turning into my Mum? she still can't work the video.

[Oneeyedvic]

This only happens when your husband isn't around as I presume that being a man he takes control of the remote when he is around.

[buchanan]

Unfortunately not Oneeyedvic, its that he's the one who understands the permutations and settings between the TV remote, the video remote, the dvd remote and the digi box remote.

[SteveD]

Check out www.rentasprog.com. This organisation will supply a 10 year old child to do all this stuff for you. Worth every penny! Don't worry - you are not alone!

[buchanan]

LOL! Thanks goodness, a child-based solution. I'll get my e-mail sorted at the same time.

[Phantaxus]

maybe you need one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000C1WO6/qid=1095 586077/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/026-4264845-2556402 expensive but very highly configurable or if you have a palmtop try this http://www.pdawin.com/tvremote.html

[MrsCheeks]

why dont you just go up to the digi box and click on the UP or DOWN channel buttons if the remotes wont work?

[LeMarchand]

If you only have the 3 items going into the back of the TV, consider a manual SCART switchbox. (Maplins or a similar store should have them - they're not expensive). One of mine allows three sources to be plugged into it which the you can then choose manually which to use, and for you to choose between 2 options for taping. As you would only need to tape between the digibox and the VCR, this can be permanently set the appropriate way. When you want to watch something, you turn the TV and the appropriate appliance on, and press the corresponding button on your switchbox. SCART leads can usually be found for a couple of quid in your local "pound" shop, but are one of those items where if you buy a decent quality one it can apparently make a great deal of difference to picture and sound quality. (I can't say I've ever been able to tell, though!) P.S. Argos do the boxes, too: http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?stor eId=10001&catalogId=2501&langId=-1&searchTerms=scart - the 5 in 1 block looks as if it would do the trick, and the 3 in 1 at the bottom of the page says it does. (I guess you can always take it back if it doesn't manually switch)

[buchanan]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions. Will be using one of them to make sure I don't miss CSI next Saturday night. Mr B is due back from the stag do soon so televisual normality will be restored shortly.

[Kev_UK]

I'm not 100% sure what your problem is, but maybe I can help. I have 6 remote controls, video, tv, dvd, satellite, freeview, hi-fi (I listen in surround sound). Anyway, you must have your video (vcr) on channel 5 to record it (or whatever channel you want to record), although you may be watching it on freeview. If however you have a video channel set to record off your freeview then you can set the vcr to that channel. I guess there are a lot of people on here who have sat watching BBC1 on the vcr's receiver (the tv on AV channel) thinking they were recording ITV while watching BBC1, only to find out they'd recorded the same channel they were watching. As my tv has 2 scart sockets, I have a 2 into 1 scart box that goes into the 2nd scart socket on the tv and the satellite and dvd share it. All I have to do is put one of them on stand by while watching the other so they don't interfere with one another. I hope that helps.