Sky remote volume control suddenly not working

[antonm]

It was working earlier today, and we haven't touched a thing!

I've changed batteries and checked that the remote's IR LED works (with a digital camera).

I've turned off the Sky box and the TV, waited a while, and turned them back on again (which usually fixes occasional no-sound problems), but to no avail.

The other buttons on the remote seem to work (but I haven't tested exhaustively) -- only the volume controls don't.

The light on the Sky box blinks when other remote buttons are pressed, but not when the volume controls are pressed.

Grateful for any help!

[Kenedin]

Is the tv turning off using the 'off' button on the Sky remote? Press 'tv' then the off button.

[antonm]

Wow... that was quick! Thank you.

I tried what you suggested -- pressing "TV" and then the off button on the remote. The Sky box's light flickered when I pressed "TV", but the TV did not turn off.

[Koala5]

Your remote has lost it's programing then. You will have to reprogram the code in for your make of TV. This can happen if the batterys have been removed from the remote for more than a few minutes.

Common TV Codes for your Sky Remote

[antonm]

Thank you! -- I'll try that tomorrow.

[NewsreadeR]

Wow... that was quick! Thank you.

That's exactly what his missus says.

[antonm]

I programmed the RCU for our Toshiba TV using the information you so kindly provided.

The RCU turns the TV on and off, but I still cannot adjust the TV's volume using the RCU. Also, I didn't test whether or not I could turn the TV on/off with the RCU before I programmed it this evening, so I can't be 100% sure that what I did actually achieved anything.

Evidently the RCU does talk to the TV, as it can turn it on/off.

Is there anything else I could do to get the volume control working?

Many thanks for your patience!

[Kenedin]

Looks like the contacts under the volume buttons are contaminated or just plain duff, with use. I had this problem with my Sky HD remote, so I opened it up and cleaned the offending area.

See:

My remote control handset won't work

[Kenedin]

That's exactly what his missus says.

More like.......The Way We Were ....great song

[antonm]

Looks like the contacts under the volume buttons are contaminated or just plain duff, with use. I had this problem with my Sky HD remote, so I opened it up and cleaned the offending area.

See:

My remote control handset won't work

I've no qualms about tinkering, as long I'm moderately confident that I won't actually knacker the kit!

I've looked at the link you gave, but it describes a slightly different model of RCU from the one I've got here (mine's got a wee label which says "Sky rev. 8", if that's any help). It has a crosshead screw amidships, just north of the batteries, under the compartment lid, which I've unscrewed. I slipped a shiv in the seam on one side to try to get the two halves to part, but there's a lot of fairly determined resistance fore and aft.

Am I missing any other screws?

And -- would it be a better idea to simply get a new RCU?

Edit: It's okay -- I got it! There's another screw under the IR LED cover (which is the devil's own job to remove) -- undid that and all resistance crumbled. I took off the rubber mat and rubbed the contacts really hard with a piece of cheap loo paper (cheap = rough!), and now it works.

Here's another link to how to undo it all.

Thanks everyone, for your help!