VCR Or The Remote?

I have an old clunker of a set, a combined TV and VCR that somebody
gave to us, which works well enough so I keep using it. Or it did: For
some reason the remote now only controls the TV and not the VCR: I
press play, rew,, etc and nothing at all happens.

The remote that came with the unit was nort the original remote, but
it worked okay until a couple of days ago when it suddenly stopped
working rigt. Is the problem in the remote, or did something in the
VCR finally give away and died on me?

Ron

 

The Lady from Philadelphia sez...

"Borrow a friend's universal remote, and set it for this unit. That should
reveal where the problem lies."

 

Usually, those controls do nothing until a tape is inserted. Do the
front-panel buttons still work? If they don't, it's likely the tape-insertion
sensor switch is dirty. Insert and eject several times, it might clear up.

 

Have you checked the battery to see if it is weak?

 

It's possible that the remote is set to another function, like to control a
tv or other component.

If it were the original vcr remote this would not be the case, since REW, FF
etc would still work.

Mark Z.

 

I kinda like some of the X10 remotes (starting at $5 from www.x10.com); these
have RF as well as infrared output, so you can use 'em with radio modules
for non line-of-sight applications, including bridges to control
house lighting and suchlike. Or as a mouse for a computer.

 

No, designed by someone who doesn't use remotes.

 

Yes in my experience.

 

Yes for Philips and their remote hosts a reset button right next to
the pause button so that you can be sure to eject the disk and have to
start all over instead of just going to the crapper for a few
minutes. These remote designers need to be drug out back and shot so
they can't do it again and again and again. I have several Philips,
they are ALL horrible remotes to use, the French are simply insane.
Apex, however is dream come true, intuitive, clever, quick - but no
longer in business.