You’re using your TV remote WRONG – three things that can interfere with your controller and how to fix it

IS your TV remote is playing up or not working like it used to – but you’re unsure what the culprit is?

Here’s three things that could be interfering with your remote and how to fix them.

1

• Wi-Fi interference

Wi-Fi can interfere with your TV remote because of the infrared rays it uses.

Both the Wi-Fi router and the remote use infrared light to communicate with the telly and other devices.

So when there’s too much infrared light in an area, the TV remote’s rays can’t connect properly.

To fix this, consider moving your Wi-Fi router away from your TV.

Alternatively, if you have a TV with a Wi-Fi connection, disable the connection when you’re not using it, or try using a different Wi-Fi channel.

• Line of sight

Having a proper line of sight between the remote and the telly is a very common issue – and the root cause of why your remote might not be working properly.

Having big objects in the way of the TV box, such as a coffee table or a large kids toy, is something most people are guilty of.

But the remote needs to be able to directly see the TV in order to work.

If there’s objects blocking the path between the remote and the telly, it can also interfere with the signal.

So, it’s always best to keep the line of sight clear and to move any big objects out of the way.

• Weak battery

Lastly, you could have a weak battery on your hands.

Changing batteries in any device – let alone your TV remote – is always at the bottom on the to-do list.

Very few people regularly replace them, and typically wait until the device dies completely before doing anything about it.

But before a total black out, TV remotes will often flick between working fine and not.

This is because it doesn’t have enough power to properly send the signal.

So, if you find yourself having to click the same button over and over again for the telly to pick up what you want from it, it’s likely your remote needs new batteries.

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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk