FreeAgent Theater and GoFlexTV

[despair78]

Got the Freeagent Theater recently - great purchase and serves me well, BUT the IR remote is a total pain to use! I have tried almost everything but this is possibly one of the most unresponsive remotes I have ever used - I have to press each button repeatedly (usually 10+ times) just to get the device to recognize the keypress, and it doesn't even register at times. I have checked whether the IR is working, changed battery, tried the remote up close and from far, even tried using it in a completely dark room... NOTHING works. It's a really irksome issue. What I need to know is - is this a norm? I cannot imagine it to be (at least I hope not!), so next question is should I be sending in the device or the remote for exchange/servicing?

[bodhi78]

I think your remote must be defective. Even though this remote is very weak, I had no problem if pointing directly to the unit from a few feet away (it would not work if I did not point directly to the unit, doesn't matter how close).

[dromens]

Pretty sure it's the norm.  I got a FAT1 for my folks.  The remote is almost entirely worthless. Tried new bats, the whole nine....nothing.  By the time you get close enough to use it with accuracy, you are literally close enough to push the bottons on the actual media player.  Looking for alternatives....

[dromens]

Are there any other remotes besides the Logitech Harmony's that are compatible?

[bodhi78]

The only remote that has the FA Theater codes in database is the Harmony. However, you can use ANY universal learning remote and learn the FA Theater remote buttons. It's quite easy to do that. Within 5 to 10 minutes, you can control the Theater using a much stronger remote, no need to point directly to the unit. A recommendation is: go with universal remotes that use AA batteries.

[usermac]

This is a major problem. My remote no longer works. I moved the FAT+ to a friends home for a party. Upon returning home and plugging all in it no longer works. Not only does it not sense a signal meaning the FAT+ itself doesn't turn red to indicate a signal which it does with all other remotes I have ( but they don't or can't control it ), this is the second unit that I've had this happen. I returned the first one within the return period of purchase. This one however is a few weeks out so I suppose I can spend 4-billion-ninety-six dollars ( USD ) on a Harmony remote or call Seagate for warranty repair. What a pain. Yes, I replaced the batteries. I guess their is a chance it needs a very full charge so I'll do that before calling for warranty repair.

P.S. The FAT+ seems to show a better picture if you use the separate progressive ( the three RCA's ) than the single component cable. At least that is the new setup I did upon return and for the first time the menu is very clear. BTW, I never had any trouble with content before but it helps the menus are now clear. Too bad I can't get past it even after a reset of the box.  

UPDATE: I tested my batteries with a proper battery tested I actually received as a gift ( who knew ) and they reported "good" but just the same I put my rechargeables back in the charger to fully charge it and sure enough, it works now. The lesson is the remote must have fully charged batteries.  Solved. 

Message Edited by usermac on 01-05-2010 03:03 PM

[bodhi78]

Buy a $20 learning remote and learn the FAT+ remote signals. You don't need 4-billion-ninedty-six dollar

 Harmony :-).

[Zelpheriz]

Its posts like these that makes me remember why did I invest top dollars on harmony :-)

I advise everyone to get the harmony 1 , its an excellent choice and once you get the hang of it , you will accept no substitute :-)

[gummyb]

Mine stops working around 30 minutes into play...when the unit gets hot.  I'd like to think it's a crappy remote but the remote is not the device that gets hot.

[boatmantyler]

After much fustration with my Freeagent Theater remote, I may have found the cause of the problem.  I have all my equiptment mounted in a cabinet and I use IR repeaters to re-transmit the signals to the cabinet.  When I purchased the repeaters I was too cheap to purchase one that filters out interfearance from LCD televisions.  I was working in the cabinet and noticed that the Freeagent Theater has a LED behind the remote reciever lense.  The LED was dimly blinking even though none of the emitters had any visual light.  After removing the emitter from the unit, the light stopped blinking and the remote behaived like you would expect it to.  Guess i am off to the store to buy a new IR reciever that filters out interfearance from LCD televisions,  The moral of the story is, Seagate used probably the cheapest IR reciever they could find when manufatcuring these units, not thinking people would like to use these units near their high-def LCD tvs.  Until i make it to the store, I have used the rubber grip off a pen, split at one end, and taped it over the IR reciever to creat a tunnel and help block LCD interfearance while still allowing me to use the remote.  It works great, but isn't great looking...