Televisions

[Texican]

I set up the 32" LCD 1080P TV yesterday. The remote lights up but does not operate the TV.  Called customer service and went through steps (removed batteries, pushed all buttons, etc.), pushed the TV button on the remote, to confirm that the TV was the receiving device.  I programmed my AT&T Uverse Remote for the TV to see if it would work.  The remote confirmed that it accepted the Insignia Code, but it also failed to operate TV.  My guess is that the sensor on the TV is not receiving the signal from any remote.  Any thoughts on correcting this problem?  Setup is difficult without the remote.  Help!!  Thank you.

[John-INSG]

Hello Texican,

Welcome to Community@Insignia™!

If you've tried both the factory remote control and a universal remote with no response, it sounds like your assessment is correct -- that it's the TV failing to receive or interpret the IR signal from the remotes.  While inconvenient, the best probable solution would be to return your TV to the retailer of purchase for an exchange.

Regards,
John
Insignia™ Support

[Texican]

Thanks John. 

I called Customer Service and was given additional Remote Control codes to try.  All codes attempted failed, which appears to confirm that this is probably a defective sensor on the TV.  The product was purchased at Best Buy after April 2009 (date on the UPC Code).  Best Buy has informed me that they will require a home visit for The Geek Squad to assess the problem prior to replacement of the TV.  In that I am unable to produce the receipt for the TV, I have been informed that I will be charged $150 for the home visit.  This is for a $499 TV.  There has to be a better solution to this problem.  I am open to suggestions.  Best Buy said that only Insignia, as the manufacturer, can overwrite Best Buy's requirement for the $150 service call.  I need this problem solved by the end of the day tomorrow, so that I can get the TV working for Thanksgiving.  Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide. 

[John-INSG]

Hello again Texican,

You may be able to obtain a copy of your purchase receipt by visiting your local store and providing details of the purchase transaction including exact date of purchase, the credit card used, etc.  Alternatively, you may be able to obtain receipt details by calling 1-888-237-8289, but you will still need a physical copy (any store can print it for you) to present at the time of service to avoid the trip charge.  If you didn't buy the TV yourself (you received the TV as a gift, for example), the original purchaser will have to visit the store or contact the number I provided to get the receipt information.  I hope this helps!

Regards,
John
Insignia™ Support

[Texican]

Thanks again John.  Unfortunately, the TV was purchased by my Cousin who passed away in September.  I'm trying to get the TV set up for his widow, and we aren't quite sure which Best Buy sold the TV.  We know it's Best Buy because of the UPC label.  I talked with Best Buy service and we weren't able to track down the store using his name or telephone number, so we've reached a dead end unless there is a way to trace this back using the serial number on the TV.  I'm not willing to pay the $150 for a home service call and will just have to live with the problem.  I would even be willing to spend the extra money to upgrade to the 37" and pay the extra money if Insignia was willing to authorize an exchange.  It just seem to make much sense to pay $150 to look into this problem.  

Quick queston:  On this model TV, I see where the IR Sensor is located.  There is a small dot next to it that doesn't light up when the TV is on.  Is there something on the front of this model that is suppose to light up when the TV is on.  I think I read it lights up red when off and blue when the TV is on.  The fact that this doesn't light up,  plus location next to the sensor makes me wonder if there was an electrical connection in that area that wasn't made.

Any additional thoughts or ideas will be appreciated.

John

[Gonzalo-INSG]

Hello Texican,

That light shows if the TV is on or off. However, if it does not turn on, doesn't really imply the IR sensor is not working. I would advise you, first of all, to be sure you press the TV button on the RC (located on the upper left side), so that you control the TV options, and then try it. Another thing to check is that our RC is actually working. Something you can try is to take the RC to the store to check if it works in other TVs to make sure it's not a problem that can be solved by getting another RC. Keep in mind that if the TV was bought with a credit card, you can track the purchase that also.

Regards,
Gonza
Insignia™ Support Team

[Texican]

John:  I've tried every approach and I'm convinced it's the IR Sensor.  Unfortunately, we cannot track down how the TV was purchased from Best Buy by my relative.  I'll call The Geek Squad to see if they have any ideas that I can try without them having to make an expensive service call.  The volume is really the biggest problem.  I can switch channels with the control for the AT&T Uverse box.  To solve that problem I can possibly run the TV out of a Home Theatre Audio system, which would eliminate the need for the Insignia RC Volume Control.  That's all I can think of to solve the problem.  Thanks for trying and have a nice Thanksgiving.

John

[coach482]

Try this simple solution if your remote stops working

---

I had the same problem. I have a few remotes that were programmed to operate the television. It was highly unlikely that all 3 of the remotes were defective or with bad batteries since the other components like stereo and the cable box would work with the same remotes. I assumed the problem lied with the receiver on the TV. It turned out to be the TV but not the receiver itself. Let me explain, there is a "REMOTE IN" jack on the back of the TV to connect an external wired remote. When you plug in an external wired remote, it deactives the IR sensor. But the problem was that I didn't have an external remote plugged in there. What happens is that some corrosion builds up in the connector behind the TV which causes the circuit to close and deactives the IR receiver, all that is required is to unplug the TV from power source, squirt some WD-40 (only a little) into the connector hole behind the TV and use any 3.5mm plug like a headphone jack and plug-unplug a dozen times to loosen any build-up in the plug which I did and now the TV receives the signals from the IR remote. It worked like a charm for me....the entire fix took less than a minute. I hope this helps anyone out there with the same problem.