Remote Control Issues

[Hespy]

Just posting this encase anybody has similar issues.
I fitted a 2.5" internal harddisk to my new solo2 immediately upon receiving it. When I booted it up, it seemed to be working perfectly. However, after about 10 minutes, the remote became very unresponsive, especially when I was trying to open the channel list. Sometimes I'd have to hit the button 10 times before the list came up, other times it would remain unresponsive until I switched off the box. I noticed the longer I left the box switched off, the longer I'd get before it started to be unresponsive again upon startup.
I tried Blackhole, VIX and VTi, with no difference. I dug out an old Harmony 885 remote, set it up and it performed exactly the same. I then removed the harddrive, plugged it into another TV and it seemed to work a lot better. It also worked a lot better with the case off, even with the harddrive in. So I dug out an external usb laptop fan base and sat the box on this, case on with the drive in. I used it for two hours last night and again this morning without any issues.
I can understand a smaller, fanless box like the DM800 having overheating issues with a harddrive plugged in, but the Solo2 has much more space inside and already has it's own fan, albeit a small one. If it wasn't such a phenomenal box in every other way (it laughs at tasks like epg downloading), I'd be disappointed.

[lotar]

no problem with HDD 2,5 in my solo2 ; everything is OK; works fine and no hot

[Rob van der Does]

I've seen more R/C-problem reports. I use a Harmony 900 that has no issues at all, but a 600 does.

[Hespy]

The box itself feels quite cool compared to a DM800. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who has issues with the remote. The Harmony 885 is very powerful, will work when pointing completely in the wrong direction. But when the original remote became unresponsive, so did the harmony. I'm going to be watching TV again shortly, hopefully the fan is still doing the trick. Would be gutted if I had to send it back, been waiting for the box since it was announced!

[Techno007]

Remote problems here too, but I'm convinced not temperature related as re-storing to stock vu+ image fixed it instantly and box is running at cool at around 42c.
VIX image currently running without remote problems.

[MGT]

If you have a Plasma TV you may have issues with Remote Controller on Solo2 Responding to commands very slowly and sometimes commands been ignored completely due to "Plasma interference"

The work around is simple,if you have a energy saving intelligent sensor mode on Plasma Tv switch it on,it will dim picture and will minimize the "Plasma interference" enabling the solo2 RC to work like it should

[Trial]

hi MGT,
also LCD and energy saving light bulbs can cause problems.

ciao

Gesendet von meinem GT-P1000 mit Tapatalk 2

[Hespy]

Its very interesting you mentioned plasma interference. i had never heard of this before, but reading up on it, it seems to be a common enough problem. It was an LCD tv that I had the box plugged into temporarily and it worked well. I'll keep the fan going though after testing ur theory, as it is silent and can't be doing anything other than good!

[Hespy]

MGT, I think you hit this one on the head! I switched on the intelligent sensor on the tv (50" LG), removed the fan and it's been running splendidly for over 30 minutes now!

[MGT]

I have had my solo2 for about a week ,and for the first few days the remote was non responsive ,so i tried box on my lcd tv and solo2 worked fine

Then did a google search and found a few others with similar probs ,so you can imagine in a few weeks gonna be a lot of unhappy people with this new box

[Rob van der Does]

The above mentioned IR-problem is for sure not temperature related.
As to possible interference with other devices/lights: although I can't rule that out, the Solo2 is one in a pile of 8 STB's, all connected to the same devices, and only the Solo2 has this issue.

[Hespy]

Before I put the fan under the box, it was sitting directly underneath one corner of the tv. Putting the fan under it meant it was too high for this position, so I moved it forward on the table. It could have been as simple as changing the placement of the box on the stand that fixed it first time.
It's now back in the same position as it was, with the Intelligent Sensor on the TV switched on, and it has been working perfectly since.

[Rob van der Does]

Indeed: a (small) change in position (regarding interfering with whatever) can have a huge impact.

[v8rick]

Fitted 1Tb hard drive yesterday after 6hrs still showing 39 degrees and no probs

[fenris209]

I had the exact same issue with my Solo2 and my Panasonic pv80. After reading on other forums I've put a piece of masking tape over the front of the Solo2 where the IR eye is located and now it works like a charm :)

Admitted, it does not exactly improve the looks of the otherwise good looking box but I'll take that any time over the nightmare the IR interference issue was giving me.

[Hespy]

My solo and the tv are both on the same table. I can now easily replicate the IR issues by moving the box to a certain point on the table. Not sure where ur solo is in relation to ur tv, but try removing the tape and moving it to a different location. Would be a shame to spoil such a good looking box! :p

[fenris209]

My solo and the tv are both on the same table. I can now easily replicate the IR issues by moving the box to a certain point on the table. Not sure where ur solo is in relation to ur tv, but try removing the tape and moving it to a different location. Would be a shame to spoil such a good looking box! :p

Interesting. I'll try that and get back with the results. Also, I have another Panasonic plasma tv (px 800) that I want to try hooking up the box with to see if that makes a deifference.

[fenris209]

Interesting. I'll try that and get back with the results. Also, I have another Panasonic plasma tv (px 800) that I want to try hooking up the box with to see if that makes a deifference.

Tried removing the tape and moving the Solo2 to a different position. I even tried putting the Solo2 under and besides the table. None of it solved the issue with the lack of response to remote control commands.

Then I tried hooking up the Solo2 to my Panasonic PX800. The issue disappeared immediately.

I now seriously consider swithing the two TV sets so I can avoid the three layers of masking tape which are needed to completely solve the issue when using the Solo2 in combination with my Panasonic PV70

[drhans]

same issue here... 2 of my TVs are plasmas (philips and samsung d550 series) and both influence solo2 remote.. the philips in my "lab" is closer and the interference is much bigger than in the living room, where the 51 inch samsung has smaller influence. the remote works best when I used the solo2 in the bedroom, where I have only a small 40inch LED

I certaily dont accept turning eco mode on as a solution!degrade pic quality to make the tv plasma compatible? no way...

[Hespy]

One way of looking at this is if you had the solo2 for a number of months, then bought a plasma, you'd probably blame the tv!
I read your review on your blog drhans, and agree with the lot. The vast majority of problems with this box are thankfully software related, and with so many groups getting behind vu+ products, I'm sure that these will quickly be sorted and the real power will be unleashed.

[Rob van der Does]

I read your review on your blog drhans,
Where do we find that?

[Hespy]

http://drhans.janreznicek.com/solo2

[OldSkulRide]

Interesting that Solo2 has problem with interference from plasma screens! I do have 51" plasma but my current receiver - DUO is placed under TV in special "box" only for AV stuff so its well seperated from TV. I guess i wont have these issues if i decide to buy Solo2?

[Hespy]

Mine is a 50" LG plasma. Even moving the box a few inches forward on the desk sorted it for me. It's unlikely that you will have any problems if the box is in a separate cabinet.