JP1 Remotes

Hi - My two month old Comcast remote worked fine until recently. Now it takes a full 5 seconds for the channel to change when using the channel +- button. All other buttons work fine with quick response. I changed the batteries, but that didn't help. Any ideas? Thank you!

Let's start by trying to find out if the problem is in the remote or perhaps in the cable box.
When you press the channel +/- key, do you need to hold it down until the channel changes? Or is a short press sufficient? The cable button should illuminate red when you briefly press any key that is active when in cable mode. Is the light on briefly? For 5 seconds? Only after 5 seconds?

Does your cable box have front panel channel +/- keys? Are they quick? We have Comcast, and I need to unplug the power from one of the boxes every week or so, wait 15 seconds, and then plug it back in. This resets the box, and in our case restores normal behavior.

My opinion, based on our experience, is that the problem is likely in the cable box rather than the remote.

Hello, and thanks for helping me!

3FG wrote:When you press the channel +/- key, do you need to hold it down until the channel changes?

No.

3FG wrote:Or is a short press sufficient?

Yes.

3FG wrote:The cable button should illuminate red when you briefly press any key that is active when in cable mode. Is the light on briefly?

Yes, the red cable light briefly illuminates when I press the channel +- button, then it goes off and I wait for 5 seconds before the channel actually changes.

3FG wrote:Does your cable box have front panel channel +/- keys?

No, I just have a plain Motorola box with two lights. Checked it, but no other panels/buttons on it.

I don't think the remote is the problem. All of your answers are consistent with the idea that after you press the channel button, the remote immediately sends the command, but the cable box doesn't respond quickly.

Try unplugging the box, waiting for 15-30 seconds, and plugging it back in. It will probably take the box a minute or so to synch back up with the cable system.

Will try when I get home from work - I'll let you know! Thanks!

Yes, that did the trick! You're the best!

Thanks for responding, and have a great weekend!

I just wanted to say I was experiencing the same issue with my remote (or so I thought). I changed the batteries thinking they were running low and didn't notice any difference. But pulling the chord for 30 seconds and then plugging it back in brought it back to good as ever. I can't tell you how frustrating it was the last 2 weeks of hitting the channel up button 3 or 4 times, and waiting 5 seconds for my cable box to respond.