# TV engineers - Help. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 18, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-engineers-help/384644 "2006-12-18T16:23:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-engineers-help/384644/1 "2006-12-18T16:23:25Z")
Waily! Waily! Waily! My TV remote has gone dead. And part two of Hogfather is on tonight! I just bought a universal remote but the reprogramming instructions all start with the set turned on. Trouble is when I switch the set on it is in standby mode, you need the remote to wake it up. There are channel up/down switches and volume controls on the set itself so I suppose there has to be a way to get the bloody thing properly switched on without the remote, am I missing a trick here? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-engineers-help/384644/2 "2006-12-18T16:29:06Z")
It doesn’t matter what state the TV is in when you reprogram the remote. They tell you to start with the set on so you can quickly check the buttons to see if the programming code worked. Go ahead and program the remote; start with the first code in the series for your brand of TV. Once you’ve programmed it per the instructions, see if pressing the POWER button on the new remote turns the TV on. If it does, test the other functions (volume, channel, menu, etc.) If not, repeat the programming steps with the next code in the series until you find the one that works correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-engineers-help/384644/3 "2006-12-18T16:59:13Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] It doesn’t matter what state the TV is in when you reprogram the remote. [/QUOTE] I think this calls for a :smack: The list for the make is about twenty five codes so it might take me a while. But all I need to get working for tonight is one frigging button. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-engineers-help/384644/4 "2006-12-18T17:01:52Z")
The odds are very good that the first or second code will do it. They typically organize the codes by how common they are, so the ones most likely to work are higher up on the list. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-engineers-help/384644/5 "2006-12-18T18:44:21Z")
When you do finally figure it out, write down which code works on a very small piece of paper and tape it inside the battery cover. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did when the batteries die and you need to repeat the process. The remote I have has a feature where you press a couple of keys then hold down one key while the TV is on. The remote will cycle through the codes automatically. When the TV turns off, let go of the button and try to work the TV with the remote. If it works, you are done. If not, repeat the process until you find the code set that makes everything work. It’s nice in that I don’t have to manually punch 14 bizillion codes into the dang thing to make it work, but I don’t know how well it would work with the OP’s TV since they can’t seem to get it “on” without the remote.