Remote works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't !?

My remote on my MK2 seems to work sometimes and sometimes I press the buttons and it does nothing, over and over. I put in a new battery, and it still doesn't work all the time.
Any suggestions as to what the problem might be, of do I need a new remote? If I do need a new one, where do I get one?
Thanks in advance!

Checked out this FAQ entry?

/Michael

In reply to:

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My remote on my MK2 seems to work sometimes and sometimes I press the buttons and it does nothing, over and over. I put in a new battery, and it still doesn't work all the time.

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Sheck to see if the times it dosen't work is when the HD's are being read or spun up or otherwise active. Mine has a BAD problem with that.
Not too sure why, I'm not that technical, but something about the CPU using too much time paying attention to the drives.

OPh, and regarding your subject, I think we (we collective, as a world) needs to bring back the interrobang. It comes in handy at times..

Me.

When it doesn't work, are you using the remote in direct sunlight? Some the player doesn't recognise the IR commands when it's in direct sunlight. I've had this happening to me.

It's not because of the HD. It wont work even just trying to turn up volume, or trying to get to playlists. Then all of a sudden it will work for a min.
I;m gonna check the contacts on the inside.
It does seem to not work as well in direct sunlight either.

Always the batteries.

To second, it is always the batteries. Mine was doing exactly what you said, changed the battery and it works. I don't know who made the things but mine's been through the washer several times, dropped, nearly eaten by my one year old and a dog (almost simultaneously but that's another story) and it still works.

See if you can figure out some sort of pattern for when it works.

In my case, on my Mk2, I think there is something wrong with the IR sensor so that it doesn't work when it is in a particular temperature range. So the remote works fine when I turn the unit on, but then as the VFD starts heating things up the remote stops working. After a while it gets even hotter, and then everything is happy again. I haven't heard of anybody else having this problem, but I'm pretty sure that's what's going on in my case.

Is your problem anything like this?

It's a bit annoying, but I don't want to be without my car empeg for the week and a half it will take to send it backwards and forwards to England. The next time I go on a holiday without my car, I think I'll send my empeg on a holiday too!

Richard.

I put a NEW battery in already! Just a couple of days ago.
There really is no pattern for when it works and don't work,
I will be listening to a song, and try to use the remote and it won't do anything, I'll push and push the buttons - nothing, then all of a sudden it will work.
Does sunlight have any effect on it, I had been told that sunlight should not affect it at all?

I had the exact same problem with all three of my remotes. Nothing could predict when they would or wouldn't work. I sent them all back when I send my empeg in, and David replaced all three with new ones that all work great. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a batch of faulty remotes out there...

Matthew

How do I go about sending my remote in? I have no idea who to contact or how.
Thanks!

It's in the FAQ:

How do I contact Rio/empeg if I need support?

/Michael

Thanks,
David is sending me a new one right now!!

Man, he is awesome!

Is it possible that you're having the jiffies bug? What software version are you running and, if you're running it, what version of Hijack?

I have also had the same problem described here with the remote - it began to appear a few months ago. I've been through a few batteries already, and like the FAQ entry indicates, when the remote started to become "flaky", I replaced the battery. So, a few months ago, when it became flaky again, I replaced the battery, but it still continued to act flaky with a brand new battery. Furthermore, I took out my brand new remote that goes to my backup Empeg and put a new battery in it - and it too was flaky for a while.

I'm not operating in direct sunlight. I've noticed that removing and replacing the battery would sometimes remedy the situation - albeit temporarily. I'm at v2.0b13 - so it isn't that input lock problem either. It started getting so annoying that I rarely use the remote anymore.

My next line of troubleshooting was to get one of my old/spare/orphaned remote and configure the Empeg (using Hijack) to respond to it, then see if the problem also exists with a completely different remote.

To be honest I've never really liked the remote that came with the empeg - I don't like the tactile response of the buttons - so I've been in search of a replacement, something that offers an actual button that depresses.

I'm going to try to bend the contacts though... I was actually about to post about this problem to see if others were experiencing this problem too

I had the same problems with one version of the software/hijack. Make sure you are running the latest version of each.

I'm running 2.0 b11
I am going to upgrade to 2.0 b13
What version of Hijack should I run with it??

It appears as if 293 is the latest version. You can grab it here if you have trouble with sourceforge like I do.

Thanks
Now I feel stupid asking but... this is the first time I am going to attempt to add or upgrade software to my empeg, it was done by a friend before.
I look at the "how to upgrade firmware" section on RioCar.org, but honestly, I am lost.
Any help on exactly what and how to do it.
Currently I am running 2.0B11 Hijack 278

thanks!!
Sorry for the ignorance

1. Download the newest copy of emplode and the upgrade from here
2. Load the newest copy of emplode
3. Go via the start menu to Rio emplode -> Rio Car Upgrade Wizard and follow the wizard to install 2.0 b 13 (all you have to do is browse for the file you downloaded.)
4. Get the Empeg Logo Editor from here
5. Start the logo editor and go to File -> kernel flash utility.... and then select the hijack file you downloaded

Any questions, just post back here.

ok, I downloaded Rio Car (Empeg Car Mark 2) Consumer image and the upgrade wizard started, I went all the way through that and then ran Empeg logo editor and installed the hijack 293. Is that it?
You say download newest copy of emplode and upgrade, is the upgrade another file ??
When I boot up my empeg, it says Hijack 293 .. 2.0b13
Thanks for all your help!!!!

You must also install the latest Emplode, yes, which is beta 13. You will need to de-install Emplode beta 11 before you can install Emplode beta 13.

After I downloaded the Rio Car (Empeg Car Mark 2) Consumer image, and opened it up, the install wizard started.
I just followed the instructions on it. Did it uninstall 2.0b11 for me before it installed 2.0b13 ?? If not, do I need to go back and do it all over.?
My player says 2.0b13 Hijack 293
I appreciate your guys help, I am still learing this stuff.
Thanks!

You are confusing the "consumer image" (file with the extension of .upgrade) with the emplode PC connection software. As the FAQ says, they are two different things and must be installed separately.

They are separate things.

Go get and install EMPLODE beta 13, that's what you're missing.

Sounds like you got it. Let us know if your remote problems persist.

Man, I am sorry, Where and which file is EMPLODE beta 13 then?
After I get it, just install it?

Emplode is the link highlighted below:



Just uninstall the old version by going to Add/Remove in your control panel. Then install the new version.

Ok, I got it now.
Sorry for the hassle guys.
I am learning still, and you guys have been a great help, Thanks so much!!!

Tim