We live with 3 remotes for our TV viewing, one for the TV, and one each for the DVD player, and VCR. I really don’t know how to use any of them, and I still can’t program the VCR that we have. So when the ominous TV commercials started to air, telling us that “ALL OF CANADA is switching from Analog to digital by the end of August, the world is ending as you know it” well that is a little far fetched….but you get my idea I was rather concerned.
Rabbit ears for non digital clickers.
Apparently the world is not ending after all, it’s just that the cable company is sending all cable households a digital box, “you will get many more channels then before.” And wait, here’s the kicker, they are sending out a universal remote. Goodbye to all your other clickers, no more fumbling, no more searching, no more pulling out the manual just to change the channel. Life will be so much better.
Or so we thought. Good thing we didn’t get rid of all the clickers.
Fact is, after much searching, reading, button pushing, and signal loss, we realize that this clicker is rather redundant and can’t really do much of anything. It can’t program the VCR, [well neither can I], it can’t play DVD’s, [well neither can I]. And judging by the 2 1/2 hour + wait for a call back from our techies at the cable company, many other people were finding it’s limitations, well, limiting.
My frustrated husband who placed the call in the evening, only minutes before he wanted to tape his favourite TV show, realized that he should have gotten up at dawn to get in line. “Take a number, we are busy, don’t call us, we’ll call you, the automated voice intones.”
So here we sit, waiting for a call back, with Four, yes 4 clickers, and I still can’t program the VCR to tape a show. Well at least the new remote can’t program the VCR any better then I can.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Oh I do feel your pain. We went all digital in the US a few years ago. For us, the transition was seamless because we use a satellite dish instead of an antenna. But still the remotes controls are a pain. I still need one for each unit: TV, Dish, DVD. Sometimes the Dish remote gets bumped and I have to call in to get help to reset it. Thankfully, the support with the Dish Network is very good and free. Sometimes I think a good book would be better entertainment.
ReplyDeleteWe could play remote control poker. I'll see your 4 and raise you 3 more and not only can I not program a VCR I CAN program a computer. Go figure Lol.
ReplyDeleteOh, person of my own heart....this too shall pass. Never worry, fret or stew....a new update is probably on the horizon as I type!
ReplyDeleteI have a similar pile of remotes and my husband has to remind me what they do, I'm afraid my solution has been to watch very little TV.
ReplyDeleteAnn, LOL I remember being at my sister's place and the wind bumps the dish, snow is lovely, especially when it's on your TV in summer.
ReplyDeleteLori, you are definitely the woman to play poker with, straight flush, or full hand anyone?
Marty, the only update I could use is a tutorial on all the clickers, Gar shows me and I forget instantly. Jen 2.0 on it's way please.
Gillian, my solution is to just watch what he watches, when he watches it, LOL. Hmmmmm could this be a male TV revolution?
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Ah yes, the clickers. Such a pain they are. We don't have cable or a sattelite dish but we have an antenna on the roof! Yay! And we have 2 new digital tv's that can pick up the 'new' channels clear as a bell! We don't need rabbit ears or a box or whatever they 'say' you need. Just a HD TV and an antenna. I'm so glad we didn't go to satelite. The best shows are on the 3, yes three!, channels we get and we're not sports fans so we are very happy. I hope you can get it all figured out soon. Times running out you know. It's the 'end of the world as we know it'!! Hugs, Pamela
ReplyDeleteOh, how I feel your pain! I think we have five or six (two of which are supposedly 'universal' but operate different things!) And with two little kids, we can never find the remote we need at any given time. I would pay a large sum of money for a truly universal remote!
ReplyDeleteJen girl .. your remote (Toshiba) with the rabbit ears ? is MY exact same remote so could you please make a pair of rabbit ears for mine too ? LOL
ReplyDeleteWe don't actually have a VRC here any more .. only DVD players and eventually due to harping from son we will graduate to a Blue Ray DVD player .. I have just began to get a little comfortable with my new computer .. I don't think I can handle anything else new for a while or I might start screaming ?
TOO MUCH INFORMATION !!!!!
Joy ;-)
I still remember the good old days when there were exactly three channels on the television, and there was no such thing as a remote. Life was simpler, and we children spent most our free time outdoors. But I do love the internet and all of the choices we have today, if I can find the remote!
ReplyDeleteI see that the remotes are driving you nuts..we hardly ever record anything..if we miss something oh well it will most likely be repeated sometime. I hate it when the Grands hide my remote..they know how to irritate me:)
ReplyDeleteOh yes. We went through this a few years ago. Once I got it semi-figured out, hubby goes and installs a different VCR. I think some people have the techie gene and some don't. Nice photos!
ReplyDeleteI can handle only 1 remote (2 at best) and have never learned how to program anything, Jen. Thank goodness for 'On Demand' to follow something that I missed (which is not much since I don't watch much TV)
ReplyDelete