A Brief History of the Remote Control

Remote controls help us manage our home entertainment centers, giving us quick and convenient access to various video and audio content. While remote controls became widely available in the 1970s and 80s, the devices actually have their roots in the late 1800s.

Nikolai Tesla created possibly the world’s first remote control, using radio waves to control a small model boat. The first work in television remote controls occurred in the 1950s, when researchers created an early remote control which used ultrasound to turn televisions on and off. The technology evolved, and remotes became more sophisticated and capable of managing more functions of the television, and, eventually, other devices, such as VCRs, cable boxes, DVD players, etc.

In the past, specific televisions could only use remotes made by that device’s manufacturer, but in last few decades universal TV remotes that can work with a variety of devices have become common. These remotes emulate the signals transmitted by remotes made by the television, cable box, DVD player, or other device’s maker.

Universal remotes also allow users to manage multiple devices, reducing the number of remotes households have to keep track of. (The average American home has about four remote controls).

Replacementremotes.com sells new and refurbished remote control devices for a wide variety of electronic devices. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and much more. The company also operates a repair service for certain devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

ANDERIC Simple DirecTv/Cable Box 2-Device Universal Remote Makes TV Simple

Modern home entertainment centers are rife with a confusing array of TV remotes and other remote controls. One for the television. One for the Blu-Ray player. One for the cable box. One for the stereo system. And let’s not even get started on gaming console controls.

Lose any one of these controls and you’re likely to spend an hour digging through your couch and turning your home upside down before you can watch your favorite shows or listen to your favorite music. For owners of hotels and other hospitality establishments, the trouble of keeping up with multiple remotes for multiple devices in multiple rooms is also a tough and expensive task.

The ANDERIC remote is helping people streamline their controls, combining the functions of several devices into one, easy-to-use remote. With this device, home users will spend less time having to search for lost remotes and figuring out complicated remotes. Hotel users will also have interchangeable and secure remotes for their facilities.

A major problem with remote controls is that they often have so many buttons it’s hard to find the ones that you really need. The ANDERIC remote narrows down the list of buttons, providing users with the core functions they need to operate their devices.

This universal remote works with a wide variety of televisions, DVD and Blu-Ray players, cable boxes, and other devices.

Hotels and hospitality industry professionals can also buy the ANDERIC remote with a security cable that can be attached to surfaces in hotel rooms or lobby areas, reducing the risk of theft or loss of the devices.

Replacementremotes.com sells new and refurbished remote control devices for a wide variety of electronic devices. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and much more. The company also operates a repair service for certain devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

Three Steps for Cleaning a Flat Screen TV

Flat screen televisions offer incredible picture and sound in a convenient, easy to position package. Keeping your flat screen TV clean will add to your enjoyment of it and help you get more years out of your home entertainment investment.

There are many wrong ways to clean a flat screen that may scratch or damage the screen. When cleaning a flat screen, follow these steps to do the job correctly.

  1. Turn the television off. It’s easier to clean when the screen isn’t warm, and you’ll be able to better see what you’re cleaning.
  2. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the screen. These cloths are specially made for cleaning glass and plastic, and won’t leave scratches. Avoid pressing too hard on areas where there is concentrated dust, dirt, or grime.
  3. If the screen is still dirty after a microfiber cloth wipe-down, use a cleaning compound made specifically for flat screens to wipe the television. Use a second microfiber cloth. Do not use regular glass cleaner and paper towels, as they may leave streaks or damage the screen.

By following these steps, you’ll keep your television looking great and avoid damage to the screen.

Replacementremotes.com sells new and refurbished remote control devices for a wide variety of electronic devices. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and much more. The company also operates a repair service for certain devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

Four Steps for Mounting a New TV

One of the benefits of modern flat screen televisions is that they can be conveniently mounted on the wall for convenience and safety. Your television is a big investment, so, if you mount it, you want the job done correctly. Follow the following steps for mounting a flat screen to the wall, and you’ll soon be enjoying this space-saving innovation.

  1. Start by checking the weight of your flat screen TV. You can find this information in the manual or online.
  2. If your television is lighter than 80 lbs., you can hang it from a single wall stud. If it is heavier, you may need to hang it from two wall studs. Use a stud finder to find the exact location on your wall.
  3. Place the mounting bracket or brackets for your television at the appropriate height you’ve selected for your television. Eye level works for most set-ups, although some people like to place their television higher up. Once you’ve found the right alignment, use a pencil to mark the places where you’ll be attaching screws and bolts to the wall. Next, predrill holes in each of these marks.
  4. Once you’ve attached the brackets by following manual instructions, then attach the television to the brackets as instructed. Once this is finished, your television has been successfully mounted. You can conceal unsightly cords by running a wire molding down from the television.

Replacementremotes.com sells new and refurbished remote control devices for a wide variety of electronic devices. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and much more. The company also operates a repair service for certain devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

Tips for Projector Care

LCD and HD projectors provide a flexible and highly useful medium for making presentations and teaching lessons via desktop slideshows. Projectors are also quite costly, so you’ll want to make sure that you take good care of your device to avoid repair and replacement costs.
To keep your HD or LCD projector in top working order, consider these tips for projector care:

  • Read the instruction manual. Knowing how to properly operate and maintain the device will make it more useful to you and your business.
  • Let the device cool before shutdown. Shutting down projectors too quickly will damage projector components. Users should allow the fans to run for a few minutes before shutting the device down.
  • Let the device cool down before packing it up. Packing up the device while it is still hot may result in broken lamp filaments and other wires.
  • Frequently clean the device. Airflow is important to keeping the projector from overheating. When projector air filters are clogged, they don’t get the ventilation they need, which can cause severe damage to the device. The air filters should be cleaned every few weeks.
  • Make sure the projector has enough room to get adequate airflow if it is mounted.
  • Avoid touching the projector bulb with your bare hand. If the bulb is hot, you can get a burn. And, hot or cool, touching the bulb puts it in contact with the oils of your skin, which does not react well with the glass used in projector bulbs.

Replacementremotes.com sells new and refurbished remote control devices for a wide variety of electronic devices. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and much more. The company also operates a repair service for certain devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

Extending Projector Bulb Life

Projector technology is finding a new lease on life in classrooms and business boardrooms, as they are now frequently used to display desktop computer slideshows and other presentations. Although the technology has evolved in recent years, bulbs used in projectors remain fragile and expensive. To save money in these cost-conscious times, finding ways to extend the life of projector light bulbs is an important task for facilities managers.

Follow these tips for extending the life of projector light bulbs:

  • Be careful when inserting bulbs into their sockets. Use a cloth or towel to handle the bulb, because oil on your skin does not react well with bulb components. Also, avoid bumping the bulb as you install it.
  • Power down the projector when it is not in use. If the device has a cool down mode, use it before shutting the projector off. The cool down mode will help the bulb avoid the shock of rapidly cooling down.
  • If you’re not going to use the projector for awhile, unplug it. This will help avoid power surges. Also, unplug the projector during electrical storms, as lightning strikes can cause power surges that may damage the projector.
  • Make use of the projector’s economy mode, as it will reduce the brightness of images on-screen and help extend the bulb’s life.
  • Let the projector bulb cool down before relocating the projector. 30 minutes usually is long enough.

Replacementremotes.com sells new and refurbished remote control devices for a wide variety of electronic devices. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and much more. The company also operates a repair service for certain devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

How to Replace Your Lost or Broken Remote Control

Remote controls are sometimes like the missing socks in the dryer. Absolutely no one knows where they are, but you know they were recently used. Worse, you go to watch your favorite show, only to find that you can no longer operate your television, DVD player, or other device that only responds to a certain remote.

What Are Your Options?

There are a couple of options when it comes to replacing a remote control. You can certainly go right to the manufacturer, but you might spend more than you like and, in some cases, you have to be certain that they send you the exact same model number so you can use all the functions on the device. The wrong controller from the right manufacturer may mean you can only turn the device off and on, and maybe change the volume setting. The other option is to buy a universal remote that can operate one or more devices.

The universal option uses remote control codes to operate one or more devices. This means you don’t have to worry about keeping track of multiple controllers, because you have one gadget that operates them all. They are easy to set up, and they don’t require any kind of special knowledge or even a model number, in most cases. You simply select the device you want to program, put in the code, and enjoy the ease of use. This is especially helpful if you have a multi-media living room or family room, because you never have to worry about trying to figure out which remote operates which device. It’s also great when you want to limit TV time for the kids, since you only have to hide one device.

How to Clean a Remote Control

Some of the most filthy items in your house are the things that you touch every day. The door knobs, faucet handles, and, yes, your beloved remote controls. Don’t wait until you are passing an illness around the house to get these items clean. Take a few minutes, and the tips here, and clean the key to your television viewing pleasure right now.

Rough Clean First
Get the crumbs and other large items off before you actually wipe down the TV remote, or you will cause those items to stick even harder. Just remove the batteries, and then take an old toothbrush and brush down all of the buttons, making sure to get in between the keys and the hard plastic.

Wipe It Down
Now, make a mixture that is 50{8c8ae2a71b30a2d8c6f534038a85ab39be2a915945a2526b1de25039d71b9e11} rubbing alcohol and 50{8c8ae2a71b30a2d8c6f534038a85ab39be2a915945a2526b1de25039d71b9e11} water. Dip a Q-tip in the solution and squeeze out the excess liquid. Now use the Q-tip to clean in all of the crevices. Repeat the process of dipping it in liquid and wringing it out as needed.

Now you’re going to wipe the whole thing down, including the keys. Dip a microfiber cloth in the mixture and wring out any excess liquid. Microfiber works better than things like toilet paper, because this type of material doesn’t leave any lint behind. These cloths can also pick up any cotton strands that were left behind from the previous cleaning.

Be sure to allow your remote control to dry out completely before you replace the batteries and try to use it again. If you happened to get any liquid inside, and you return power to it, you could short it out, causing significant damage.

Reasons Your TV Remote Isn’t Working

Sometimes remote controls go bad and they simply aren’t ever going to work again. When that happens, it is time to find and purchase a new remote that is made for your specific TV and its features. Sometimes there are other reasons that the remote may not be working altogether or when you try to use certain features. The problem may be as simple as having a switch on the wrong setting. If you have switched TVs and have a new brand, it is important to realize that your new Samsung remote is not going to work the same way that your older Philips remote did. New technology can lead to big changes in TV remotes, from the time you make one TV purchase until the next.
Common Reasons the Remote Doesn’t Work
Sometimes a remote that seems completely broken isn’t working for one of a few simple reasons. These include:

  • Dead Batteries – Sometimes one or more functions may continue to work, even though there isn’t enough power left in the batteries to make it fully operational. Even if your remote has a low battery alert, you may start experiencing problems before the remote recognizes the problem. Try a fresh set of batteries to see if that solves the problem.
  • Interference with the Signal – Pointing the remote at the TV and expecting a response becomes natural to us, over time. Setting a potted plant or box in front of the receiver may not seem like a problem, but it is. Make sure there is a clear path between the remote and the receptor on your TV or satellite.
  • Incorrectly Programmed or Not Programmed at All – When you get a new TV or other device that works with the TV, you will have to program the remote, either for the first time or all over again. Check the operation with each component to determine which areas still need to be programmed.
  • Remote Is in Battery Saving Mode – Depending on the type and age of remote you have, there may be a battery saving mode that you triggered without realizing it. If there is an SAT button, press it to release the lock.

If you find that your remote still doesn’t work after trying these troubleshooting ideas, it is time to order a replacement. Call us at 1-855-573-6683 to place your order.

Replacement Remotes Make the Ideal Father’s Day Gift

We know how much dad loves his remote. Men and their remote controls have become so interrelated in our minds that there is no denying the connection. According to study results printed in the Journal of Current Issues in Advertising Research, not only do men dominate in use of the TV remote, they are more likely to view multiple programs at once, including going back and forth between shows during commercials. The problem is that the remote control often fails long before the TV that it operates stops working. This is why a replacement TV remote control makes the ideal Father’s Day gift.
Many of us are familiar with the “Universal Remotes” you will find in the electronics department of the local discount stores. Not only are these remotes difficult to program, they don’t allow you to take advantage of any special features the electronics they are used for may have. If you have a specific model of TV, the best option is to use the type of remote that is made to use with it. You can purchase remotes for new and older model TVs in a variety of brands including:

  • Panasonic
  • JVC
  • Philips
  • Samsung
  • Toshiba
  • Sanyo
  • Sony
  • LG

Now is the perfect time to start your quest for finding a Father’s Day gift that he is really going to enjoy. A new TV remote control is both entertaining and practical! All you need is the brand name and model number off of the old remote, and you can order a replacement that works perfectly. If you don’t have the necessary information, contact us at 1-855-573-6683, and we can help.