Faulty remote -- how can I fix it ?

[james]

I have a remote for a Humax satellite receiver and it has stopped working [the remote is a Humax RM-F01]. I have just orderred another one. However I am willing to try to fix the old one. Any ideas ? I will take risks with fixing it since I am ready to throw it out ! There does not seem to be any way to open it ...

[It still lights up when I press a button but nothing works; the Humax itself is working because I can control some of the functions withe a Lidl universal remote -- unfortunatly I can set it to record but I can't access the recordings].

James

[Aleg]

I have a remote for a Humax satellite receiver and it has stopped working [the remote is a Humax RM-F01]. I have just orderred another one. However I am willing to try to fix the old one. Any ideas ? I will take risks with fixing it since I am ready to throw it out ! There does not seem to be any way to open it ...

[It still lights up when I press a button but nothing works; the Humax itself is working because I can control some of the functions withe a Lidl universal remote -- unfortunatly I can set it to record but I can't access the recordings].

James

I had some succes in the past with cleaning the internal surface where the buttons make the contact.
Over time it can become quite greasy and interfere with making proper contact.
After taking the remote apart (usualy it is just clicked together with two plastic halves, so a strategically placed thin screw driver in some places, might open it. Be carefull and see how it responds to pressure as sometimes there might be a hidden screw) you probably see a kind of rubber sheet with the buttons attached. In my case I needed to give that a proper clean and also the pcb below (don't forget to remove the batteries!!!). After that I could go on for many years and it is still working after a few cleans.

Good luck

Cheers

Aleg

[Diapason]

James, this is not meant in any kind of insulting way, but have you changed the batteries? I say this because I had an issue in the past with a remote still lighting up but not actually working any more. Convinced that the light meant the batteries were ok I didn't change them and, well, that was a mistake.

As I say, not meant to be insulting of your intelligence or anything, just starting at square one! :)

[james]

I had some succes in the past with cleaning the internal surface where the buttons make the contact.
Over time it can become quite greasy and interfere with making proper contact.
After taking the remote apart (usualy it is just clicked together with two plastic halves, so a strategically placed thin screw driver in some places, might open it. Be carefull and see how it responds to pressure as sometimes there might be a hidden screw) you probably see a kind of rubber sheet with the buttons attached. In my case I needed to give that a proper clean and also the pcb below (don't forget to remove the batteries!!!). After that I could go on for many years and it is still working after a few cleans.

Good luck

Cheers

Aleg

Hi Aleg,
I have taken your advice and opened the remote [which was quite tricky, I kept thinking I might break it]. I have washed the plastic bits [but not the circuit board] and I am waiting for everything to dry.
James

[james]

James, this is not meant in any kind of insulting way, but have you changed the batteries? I say this because I had an issue in the past with a remote still lighting up but not actually working any more. Convinced that the light meant the batteries were ok I didn't change them and, well, that was a mistake.

As I say, not meant to be insulting of your intelligence or anything, just starting at square one! :)

Hi Diapason,
I am not at all insulted and thanks for the advice. I actually first changed the batteries with a set I have had for ages [but believe were never used -- they were part of a pack of four where I just needed two] and when that did not work I actually bought new ones.
What surprises me is that not a single button works on the remote. Anyway I have cleaned the plastic/rubber membrane and I am waiting for it to dry.
James

[Diapason]

Ok so, best of luck with it!

[Ivor]

I have taken your advice and opened the remote [which was quite tricky, I kept thinking I might break it].

A good tip is to run a warm hair-dryer over the remote casing first to "soften" the plastic - not that I have a hair dryer myself but there's other reasons for that.

[Seán]

I have taken your advice and opened the remote [which was quite tricky, I kept thinking I might break it].

A good tip is to run a warm hair-dryer over the remote casing first to "soften" the plastic - not that I have a hair dryer myself but there's other reasons for that.

Ah Ivor, I love that quip, well done.

I have two remotes for my Primare set-up and the 'good one' gave up on me about a year ago, I have tried different batteries in it with no success so I must try and open it and clean it as suggested.

Thanks lads.

[james]

I took the remote apart, cleaned it and put it together and it started working. But it stopped again after 5 minutes . I waited a day and then took it all apart again and cleaned it again but all to no avail. But thanks again for all the suggestions. In the meantime the new remote I orderred has arrived.
James