# Uncontrollable volume on HDTV **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126 "2016-05-18T23:08:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/1 "2016-05-18T23:08:59Z")
I have a long-out-of-warranty 32-in flat (O-----) tv with uncontrollable volume control. I turn it up (via the remote) and it zooms up to max. I try to lower it and it zooms down to minimum, both randomly and not all the time. I turn it off and retry and sometimes it works ok. Is this an easy fix (by whom?) or should I e-recycle it? I’ve seen some generalized reports of some brands having the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/2 "2016-05-18T23:44:03Z")
I am not a tech, but I wonder if it is your remote, not your TV? If the contacts in the button stick the TV could “think” you are holding the button down. Can you get a universal remote that is compatible with your TV? ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/3 "2016-05-18T23:54:42Z")
I have another, bigger, tv of the same brand. I’ll try that one’s remote after I reconnect the problem tv. I’ve been using a newer S-----g one that is on a shelf above it. But the industry does have some lemons that have had the same problem so I’m not alone. No urgency- just trying to decide if it’s salvageable or not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/4 "2016-05-19T00:01:13Z")
You’re allowed to use the brand name of the TVs here. We’re not a sixties sitcom. BTW, I get that S-----g is _Samsung_, but what is O-----? Also, does the problem TV have local controls you can try (maybe along the bottom edge or behind one of the side edges)? ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/5 "2016-05-19T00:39:40Z")
Olevia (Office Depot house brand of the day) ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/6 "2016-05-19T12:10:29Z")
Just put your hand over the remote transmitter LED and see if the TV stops changing volume. No need to get a new remote just to test. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/7 "2016-05-19T13:45:53Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > I am not a tech, but I wonder if it is your remote, not your TV? If the contacts in the button stick the TV could “think” you are holding the button down. Can you get a universal remote that is compatible with your TV? Or, [as suggested by **muldoonthief**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19341944&postcount=6), block the remote’s IR transmitter (put it into your pocket, throw it outside, push it into the couch cushions where it belongs :o ) after pressing the “volume up” button. So that it’s not longer transmitting to the TV if the button is stuck. Also, try using the volume control buttons on the TV itself, if accessible. See if those have the same effect, which would tend to shift blame to the TV rather than the remote. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/8 "2016-05-19T14:10:50Z")
If all else fails, you could mute the TV and by some speakers and hook them up to the cable box. (If you even have a cable box connected to the TV.) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/9 "2016-05-19T15:58:11Z")
You can also look at the remote through a cell phone camera to tell whether it’s continuously sending commands. The IR emitter is visible in a CCD camera. –Mark ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/10 "2016-05-19T17:20:00Z")
I’d also check the remote’s batteries and also try the old unplug the TV for several minutes and plug it back in method. But having a flaky remote seems most likely. Do you have a universal remote you can set to control the TV and test that one? ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncontrollable-volume-on-hdtv/755126/11 "2016-05-19T22:41:54Z")
Thanks for all the ideas. I’m looking for the remote and the tv which has been out of use for more than a year, is behind a bookcase and I’m in no hurry. I’ll report if/when I get a round tuit