My Samsung Blu-ray, a few years old, was pausing intermittently, but only when playing a DVD or Blu-ray disc. About every 13 seconds or so, it would pause, just like I hit the pause button.
Figuring the player was dying, I bought a new one (also Samsung). Same problem. Which leads me to believe something in my apartment (or my building, since I live in a condo building) is sending these signals intermittently. I tried shutting everything electronic in my place off (cell phones, tablets, printers, etc.), in sequence, while trying to play a DVD, but nothing seemed to work. It’s possible I missed something, but I’m not sure what it could be. I suppose I could try another brand, and see if it had the same problem. But it’s very strange. Any ideas?
Cover the remote sensor with black tape to eliminate the possibility of a stray IR signal. Then search around the room, especially around the chair and couch for a stray remote that may be dying and sending out stray signals. If your phone or camera has and IR mode, sweep the room with it and you should see a red glow if there’s a remote transmitting a signal.
That’s a good idea – I’m not sure where the sensor is, but I covered the whole player as best I could with pillows and blankets such that the remote wouldn’t work unless I slipped it under the blanket, and played the movie… but had the same result. Does that mean the signal is so powerful that it can get through pillows and blankets? Or are there just always gonna be gaps?
Does the player have a display? Does it change in the intermittent pauses, indicating being paused? That would be a clear sign of a stray IR signal. And if I think about it, in this case it should also be indicated at your screen somehow.
All the discs are regular purchased discs, and I’ve tried with different movies with no change. I sent an email to Samsung customer service, so we’ll see what they say.
Yes, it indicates it got the pause signal. And sometimes when it’s between display or boot screens, it gets an indication that it gets some sort of signal that is “not available”, just like if I try to press the button when you can’t pause (i.e. during menu screens).
Look at it through a digital camera–you’ll be able to see into the case where the sensor is. (You’ll also be able to see the flashing IR diodes on any remote.)
Hmmmm…This info combined with the fact that you shielded the sensor with thick fabrics can mean that the problem is internal, i. e. that the electronics or even the software on the player acts up. Though it may be very unlikely to have that same issue on two different devices in a row, I can assure you that in my long years working in IT I have seen stranger coincidences…
Didn’t notice lingyi’s mention, so I’ll add that every digital camera has an IR mode, in that they all see pulses from the IR range of remote controls (as white light, not red) and see into visually opaque but IR transparent plastic panels. Or if not every digital camera, then at least every one I’ve ever had, from the cheapest cell phone camera to the most expensive prosumer “stand-alone”
Doesn’t the camera have, to have an infrared mode as I mentioned above? I just used my phone’s camera and while I can see the IR on the remote, I can’t see were the sensor on any device is.
Yeah, that seems to have the sensor more obscured than just behind a plastic panel. But it isn’t fundamentally import to see exactly where it is anyway. You can still watch the room through your camera to look for flashes from diodes. And it doesn’t have to be something facing the player–with a strong enough source you get enough light from reflections off walls.
Since it’s a Blu-Ray player, do you have it connected to the internet. If so, by wire or wireless? I’m wondering if it’s searching for a firmware update or keys for the discs, especially the Blu-Rays.
That’s what I’d suggest. I’ve had several Blu-Ray players and they all seem to to get glitches in them. Getting the latest firmware update usually clears up the problem.
I came across the below from the Bestbuy.com reviews and wonder if it’s somehow getting a stray signal through the HDMI cable. Try changing the cable.
“It has an IR remote, however, if you have a Samsung TV with Samsung BD-Wise, you can control through the television. It does have HDMI anynet CEC, so if your Samsung TV isn’t smart or doesn’t have BD-Wise, you’ll have some control via the HDMI cable, if your TV isn’t Samsung, you’ll at least have “power on/off” to match the TV if you configure, so when you turn on the TV the bluray will turn on and when you turn off the tv, it will also turn off the bluray. With Samsung BD-Wise, RF isn’t necessary provided you have a high quality hdmi cable, you can control the player from the TV through the HDMI cable, so no need for IR line of site, you can hide the player away, if the HDMI cable is 3 meters (a little over 9 feet) make sure to get a high quality cable so the signal can make it from the TV all the way back too the bluray.”
There’s also a couple of posts on Amazon about the player pausing, so you’re not alone.
I looked in the manual and saw where the IR sensor is, but covering it up as best I could didn’t have any effect.
Another thing I noticed that’s weird – if I press “pause” while it’s already paused, I’ll get a “step” notification, advancing the video by one frame. But if I do nothing after it pauses, this “step” notification doesn’t come again. So it’s not like it’s getting some sort of “pause” signal ever 13 seconds that’s mimicking the button – rather, when the video is playing, every 13 seconds (not of video time but real time) something will cause it to pause, and then if I do nothing it will stay paused forever (or at least for the minute or two I’ve tried), with no further notification.
All this wouldn’t be so strange if it wasn’t happening exactly the same to two different Blu-ray players – same model, but purchased a year or two apart.