Tech: Can damage be caused by...?

Subject: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 11:55 AM

My daughter keeps on constantly changing the channels on the TV which is an LCD one (god damn the remote control). We have a sky + box.

Does or can this cause early damage to the TV or Sky box?

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 12:01 PM

I would think that the most likely cause of damage will occur when you hit her with it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: jennyr
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 12:21 PM

Can't see how it would affect the sky box. She might eventually wear out the buttons on the remote control, if she tries really hard.

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: olddude
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 12:25 PM

can't hurt anything except her ears when you yell at her ....

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 12:33 PM

That's a shame, becuase you lot have just taken away my argument for shouting at her :-)

What excuse can I use now.

Youll go blind .... hmmmm maybe

You will get arthritis in your thumb

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Greg F.
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 12:35 PM

You'll grow hair on your palms?

I'll give you such a zots...?

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Gy Morris man
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 12:42 PM

She;ll end up with rsi.And sue the manufacturer for a tidy sum.

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: GUEST,Chris B.
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 12:57 PM

Actually - yes - you can wear out the contacts on the remote. They are only flimsy carbon-coated rubber. My t.v. one has worn out on the main 'OK' button - which means that I can no longer browse the digital version of teletext aka news etc. A new remote will be £25.

And my editing VCR (with hard drive) no longer has a button working for 'forward / fast forward' on its remote. A replacement will be £30.

I've tried taking said remotes to pieces and cleaning the contacts but to no avail - the defunct buttons really need re-coating with carbon / graphite.

I too surf the digital (Freeview) channels and have found that if I keep switching channels - before pausing to let any one channel 'settle' - eventually I have to do a re-installation of all of the channels. During this I lose all programmed time-shift entries, and then have to set up the recording lists all over again.

Another 'feature' of rapid surfing is that due to the close separations of the channel frequencies (or something like that) I tend to lose the ability to receive some of the weaker channels like 22 or 32. Then if I go to one of the programmes on those channels I get 'No signal.' The cure then is to re-install all of the channels yet again.

So in answer to your question - no and yes. No the t.v can't be damaged per se, but may require re-installation of the channels; and yes - it can wear out the remote contacts and the solution is to purchase a replacement - at great expense.

I would opine that if your daughter wishes to continue her irritating habit that you tell her when she's worn out the remote she can then buy you a new one - if you can get one that is.

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 01:19 PM

In whose house is this, and has it a door to the outside?

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 01:41 PM

Remote controls have a general life of ten years with average usage...that average can obviously be reduced by constant changing of channels.

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 01:52 PM

Remote controls have a general life of ten years with average usage

Any chance of some facts/research to back that up, Georgiansilver ?

Or did you just make it up?

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Bernard
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 01:52 PM

Ten years? My grandchildren see one off in around eighteen months!!

CPC (UK) do a repair kit for repainting the carbon pads when they lose conductivity, but they cannot replace buttons that fall out because the rubber has fatigued...!

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 01:52 PM

Put some dud batteries in when she's not looking - and then say "Well, I warned you you'd break it." Then stick new batteries in - when she's not looking...

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 02:06 PM

Best suggestion McGrath. hmmm, thinking of it, she is the one that changes the batteries, so that wouldn't work.

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 02:17 PM

Get some chip grease on the sender window of the remote if its infra red one.

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 02:20 PM

Tell her: zapping is a hazard to your mental health. Also, you're quite likely to miss the shows you'd really like to watch, or at least their beginnings. Better study the program on the 'net. Best get a good book or a good video. Optimally, break the TV and don't buy a new one.

I don't own a set at all, but when I'm in hotels, I must actively resist the temptation to zap the channels for want of a better way to spend my evening (too tired to read ...).

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: MikeL2
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 02:57 PM

hi arthur

I have a Sony hard-disk drive recorder and I use it constantly for editing ( eg removing commercials etc..) from the many programs that I record both for me & my wife and sometimes for the whole family.

The remote stands up to this constant use without complaints....so I can't help you there !!

But why not take the fuse out of the TV plug....that'll fool her for a while.

cheers

Mikel2

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 03:08 PM

<<<<<<<<
Any chance of some facts/research to back that up, Georgiansilver ?

Or did you just make it up?<<<<<<<<<

Always the GUEST who asks the question???

No written proof but when I recently purchased my new television I asked the Manager at Sony how long both the television and the remote would last.... He told me that most remotes are geared to a ten year lifespan. Oh and the same apparently applies to the television....

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 04:40 PM

PS will not answer such questions from non specific GUESTs again especially when there is an implication that I might 'make something up'....... May you burn in your own flame GUEST!!!!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 05:06 PM

Ignore guests who troll. Many morons out there.

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: olddude
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 05:39 PM

You could tell her, "an angel in heaven cries a tear every time you do that"   ... my mom's line ... never worked but she took a shot LOL

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 13 Nov 10 - 10:02 AM

I doubt an LCD TV will suffer from the changes. More likely to suffer if you have one image on constantly (eg digital radio).

Though to be truthfull I doubt LCD are prone to this.

Plasma - now that is a different story. I have seen posts about the icons the stations delight in, and burning an after image on plasma displays.

LCD's are more likely to suffer an ingress of moisture. It is the usual mode of failure of the liquid crystal, unless there are loose joints on the metal conductors or soldering. Modern LCD displays probably have largely solved the moisture (humidity) problem though I would avoid watching in the kitchen, myself.

Subject: RE: Tech: Can damage be caused by ............
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Nov 10 - 10:47 AM

It's in the lounge and has a screen saver and turns to off mode after that.
Never use it for the radio. Use my PC for that. Got good external speakers etc.

All good stuff. Thank you one and all.