First world problems...

[Wounded Bear]

So, not looking for sympathy here, just kind of venting/recounting...whatever.

The other day, the remote to my TV started acting up. Wasn't sure what it was, but was kind of intermittent and seemed to work a bit better or at least more often after I changed the batteries. Well, yesterday it crapped out altogether. None of the functions worked and the TV kept flashing "command not available" or some such. As a matter of fact, I didn't even have to push any buttons, it happened just when the remote was so much as pointed at the TV. Ugh. Had to take the batteries out altogether.

This sucks, because I don't much like commercials and other than news or The Weather Channel I don't watch a lot of commercial TV but rely on my rather extensive library of old TV series and movies stored on hard drive. Of course, my access to those was through my TV. It's a smart TV, not a new one, but new enough to cycle through my directory of stored media on a couple of external hard drives. Oops!

There is still a power switch I can use to physically turn it on and off with, at least. Kind of sucked that I couldn't control volume and such.

But, today I was able to sit down and program my cable remote so it would control the TV, and even access my library. The Tron God taketh, and the Tron God giveth. Technology throws a curve, and technology swings for the base hit.

First world problems, I know. I'm surprisingly techno-phobic for being a retired engineer who worked in electronics for my entire career until my late fifties. At least, given a little time I can usually figure out the simpler problems. I was an old hardware guy, always hated software. When doing code, I always felt like I was trying to teach quadratic equations to a 3rd grader.

Oh well, life sucks and then you die.

[Tetrachloride]

1. I once worked with Sperry Univac. the very worst in ease of use

[Wounded Bear]

2. Not sure the actual manufacturer. It's a Samsung TV and remote...

[rurallib]

3. You can get a universal remote at Best Buy

or whatever electronics store.

They are real simple to set up. Just enter the code for your TV brand that comes with the remote and - voila - remote works.

There are simple instruction videos on YouTube. But it is really simple. I just set up a couple last month.

Mine were $25 a piece + batteries.

Good luck

[Wounded Bear]

4. Like I said in the post, I'm using my cable remote for now...

I'm considering a change there, so won't be making any other changes until I figure out what that entails.